Chapter Text
"Look!"
Tubbo came running at Tommy's request, gasping as they leaned against the window of the inn they were staying at. Some of the other kids grumbled and rolled over, though none of them shouted for the two 8 year olds to be quiet. Everyone knew that would only make the problem louder.
"Woah!" Tubbo breathed. There were a line of the largest icicles Tommy had ever seen on the lip of the roof of the house across the lane from them. They sparkled and almost seemed to sing in the sunlight that streamed down on them through a gap in the seemingly ever present clouds.
"I didn't know that they made icicles that big," Tommy said, his breath fogging up the window.
Tubbo nodded. "Maybe.... maybe this wouldn't be too bad. Snow is fun."
"Yeah! Snow is fun! I'm sure the people here all know the spell Puffy knows to keep warm, too, which makes it extra fun," Tommy said hopefully. There was a small, hateful, voice in his mind that warned him that he was setting himself up for failure, that he was going to find himself desperately disappointed if he wasn't careful.
We aren't staying. Don't be an idiot, the voice whispered, sounding somewhat disappointed itself. Puffy told Madeline that she wouldn't have to stay here. That the Antarctic Empire wasn't a good place for humans.
Normally, he wouldn't care about a place not being suited for humans. He wouldn't mind looking forward to warmer places with families more prepared for a human child, but his best friend, Tubbo, was a satyr. One built like a mountain goat. Satyrs did well nearly anywhere, which was why he and his best friend lived in the quiet plains town for so long together with their families. However, when the... when.....
Tommy blinked hard against the thought. When they had misplaced their families and Puffy collected them all, he had found out that Tubbo had an uncle in the Antarctic Empire. Tommy, having lost nearly everything in his life, was determined not to lose his best friend as well. He would become adapted to the Antarctic Empire and stay, or he would die.
He was surprised when Tubbo knocked his fluffy head gently against Tommy's head.
Tommy turned to look into his best friend's strange eyes. There was a deep sadness there. One that Tommy himself understood all too well. He wrapped his arms around Tubbo and they hugged each other, shivering a little in the chill of the window, but they wouldn't allow themselves to leave that moment. They both knew what was going to happen later that day.
..............................................................................
Puffy counted the children she had with her again, glad to see that the maths came back around like it was supposed to. She nodded and turned again, mentally checking the strength of her enchantment. She had managed to find a good thick jacket or coat for each child, but she knew it wasn't enough to face the Antarctic Empire's morning chill, so she had placed a strong warmth and comfort charm on the little group. If all went well today, they would be on the ships to warmer seas soon enough by evening.
She glanced back at Tommy and Tubbo, who walked together silently, holding hands.
That wasn't going to be good. A quiet T&T was a dangerous T&T. This was a phrase that had taken over her life since she added those two to her collection of orphans.
She sighed to herself and turned forward. She was starting out with the other two children who had family in the Empire before she tackled that particular problem. That gave her time for her to steel herself up to becoming the bad guy in this. Tommy would never forgive her for this, and Tubbo likely wouldn't either, but at least she wouldn't have to live with Tubbo for another couple of months. Tommy didn't have any family that could take him in, as far as she had been able to track down, but she was sure she could find a home for the bright young boy.
The first two placements went very well indeed. So smoothly, in fact, that she knew she was going to be in for it on the third. When things started to go to well she knew she was going to have her comeuppance soon enough. Always. She thought she had rid herself of the curse for 20 years, but alas, when it came crashing down on her, she found she had 38 children to take care of and a duty to find homes for them because on some level she felt it had been her fault.
The estate they approached was a large building made of quartz and black stone. Most of the Antarctic empire was made that way, with a layer of insulating materials and then covering in rich, imported wood from allied countries. This particular building was a lot nicer than the ones they had visited already. The children watched with awe, a couple of them whispering about how much they wished this was where they were going to live. All except for the child this place was actually meant for.
Puffy stepped up the stairs, glancing over her shoulders to count the children again. They were still all there. She gestured for Tubbo, and Tommy came along with him, his shoulders set and his eyes squinty in that endearing way of his. He seemed to think if he squinted hard enough he could get adults to do whatever he wanted. Maybe he didn't realize how cute it made him look, but the hard look in his eye and his increasing age was beginning to work against that squint.
Puffy sighed, preparing to go into her speech when the door opened and a surprised butler looked around at them all through thick satyr bangs. "Ah, we-"
"I'm sorry," Puffy said, turning quickly, "I am Puffy. I sent a message ahead to Lord Schlatt. I have his nephew here."
"Oh! Oh, yes. I apologize. I will retrieve him. You and your... ah, your party are free to wait in the foyer where it's warm in the meantime."
Puffy nodded gratefully and shuffled all of the children in, counting them all as she did so. The butler disappeared in the beautiful mansion after securing the doors against the cold and making sure the warming stones were turned on for them.
Puffy turned to Tubbo and Tommy, who were both eyeing a tapestry in the same way a cat would. To prevent any destruction to property, Puffy dove into the conversation she was not looking forward to.
"Tommy, Tubbo. Come here, I need to speak with you."
She crouched on her cloven feet as they approached, feeling a bit like a dragon watching a pair of under prepared knights sidle up to her.
"Alright," she sighed. "We should have talked about this earlier, but better late than never. I know this is very difficult for-"
"I'm not leaving," Tommy said, puffing up his chest and giving her his best squint. "You'll just have to tell Lord Slat that he's going to have to take me too. That's it."
"His name is Lord Schlatt," Puffy said gently, "And Tommy, this is no place for a human. You have seen how cold it is out there, and it is much colder in the dead of winter. You wouldn't be able to leave the house at all! You wouldn't want to keep Tubbo inside as well, would you?"
Tommy's squint slipped, but he redoubled his efforts and said, "He can play outside on his own! We'll play together in the summer. And after a little while I'll adapt. I'll grow fur all over and-"
"Tommy," Puffy said in a stern voice. One that brooked no argument.
Tommy was the only person she had ever known that brooked anyway. "I will not leave! Tubbo is my best friend and we're not going to separated. Understand?"
Puffy wasn't able to respond when the Lord of the estate appeared. The older man was clearly shedding his winter coat as his richly made suit was covered in little hairs. His curled horns were decorated with gold rings embedded with rubies.
"Hello! You must be the great Puffy! I am surprised to see you helping out with a job like this, not that it is too low. Helping the orphans of the world is an incredibly important task," Lord Schlatt said warmly. "Are you retired from you, hem, past occupations."
"If you mean being the Witch Pirate King, then yes. I quit that half a century ago," she said coolly.
Lord Schlatt nodded genially and looked down at Tubbo. The smile he had been using on Puffy, which had looked like it had been purchased in a store, changed into something real and warm. "Hello, Tubbo. My, you have grown, haven't you. You're 8, yes?"
"Yes," Tubbo said softly.
"And he's a big man for it!" Tommy exclaimed. "He's started growing his horns!"
"Oh, has he?" Lord Schlatt asked with real interest. "I am glad to hear it. Did you receive the gift I sent for your birthday?"
"The game set?" Tubbo asked. "Yes. I... it burned in the....."
"Oh," Lord Schlatt said softly. "Well, I will get you another, alright? And anything you want. This is your home now too."
Tommy cleared his throat impatiently, giving Puffy another squint.
She shook her head sternly, opening her mouth to try and cut him off, but she was never quite quick enough when it came to Tommy.
"And where will I be staying? Tubbo and I are good at sharing a room."
Lord Schlatt blinked at Tommy. "I... what?"
"And I am human so I might need an extra coat, but I 'spect that I will get used to the cold soon," Tommy continued.
"Tommy!" Puffy snapped, and for the first time, her tone seemed to actually have an effect on him. All of the other children had frozen in some sort of fascinated horror, fearful of what was about to happen, but unable to look away.
Tommy turned to her, eyes wide and somewhat damp.
Great, Puffy thought. Just my luck, isn't it. I'll have to find him a family next. A really, really nice one if I'm ever going to live with myself.
"You are a human, and as such, you cannot live in the Antarctic Empire. You could very easily die here with one wrong decision about going outside. Understand? You cannot stay here and you will not stay here. We will be finding a family for you next, but it is time that you say good bye to Tubbo because we need to be leaving soon."
"But-"
"No! Obey me, Tommy. This is for your own good. Say goodbye."
Tommy's lip trembled and he turned to Tubbo, hoping for some help there.
Tubbo gave a weak, sad smile. "I'll be happy here. Uncle Schlatt always sent me nice gifts and fun letters," he said softly. "You deserve someone nice too, and I don't want you to stay somewhere dangerous for you."
"But-"
"I'll be fine, Tommy. Thank you for being my friend," Tubbo said, tears running over the soft fur on his cheeks. "Puffy can tell you how to write to me, and I'm sure Uncle Schlatt will take me to visit you sometimes."
Tommy was stunned into silence. Puffy shielded her heart against the tears she saw creeping from Tommy's eyes, only just barely beaten to the outside world by his runny nose. It was hard. It reminded her of another small child she had once cared for. One that had cried when she stroked his hair and called him her little duckling.
She stepped forward, bending and picking him up gently, putting his head in the crook of her neck.
"I'm sorry, Lord Schlatt. That have been friends for a long time," she said softly.
Lord Schlatt waved his hand. "Oh, that is alright. I understand. I'll make certain they stay in touch. I certainly have practice in doing so."
She nodded. "Thank you. Goodbye, Tubbo."
She leaned down and kissed his forehead gently. Tommy sobbed quietly at that moment, and Tubbo hiccuped, on the verge of sobbing as well.
Puffy turned, herded the children together, and left before this could become even more a mess.
Tommy squirmed and she put him down quickly as the door closed behind them.
Tommy stared at the door, wiping his face on his sleeve as he tried, unsuccessfully, to stop crying.
She counted the children, and started to guide them all to the docks where she could use some favors to get them shipped off today.
She kept a close eye on Tommy, who cried for an hour no matter what child came to comfort him. Then he sniffled, then he walked in silence. She smiled when she saw the docks and spoke with several captains until she found one she recognized.
"Hello, Puffy! It's good to see ya," Yarrow said, grasping her forearm. "Wha' can I do ya for?"
"Well, I need a ship to take me and mine to the warm isles," she said. "I believe you owe me a favor from the Gilford battle."
"Aye, that I do. Twas only a boy then, but I certainly remember. There won' be much room, 'm 'fraid."
"We'll make do," Puffy said with a nod. "I have about 13 children left now, I think."
Yarrow looked over her shoulder, his sharp eyes darting until he frowned. "I only count a dozen, Cap'n Puffy."
She whirled around. Tommy was missing.