So are we still trying? / Or simply surviving? (magica x scrooge x poe)

[lifesa_witch]

 Their clothes still smelled like ash. Both children had wanted to bathe - if they understood what irony was, they would have noted on how they used to hate taking them before - to great rid of it, but Poe insisted they had to keep moving. Even though their feet ached and their stomachs growled and they were cold, they had to keep moving. Who knew when the Bad People would catch up to them? It had been days (they assumed) but they couldn't be sure.

But when Magica whined she really needed to stop, Poe finally relented. But only for a little while.

Magica sat under a tree, hugging her knees, while Poe kept watch. He was convinced, any second now, some hideous thing would pop out and try to eat them whole. Well, let them try. He'd protect his sister. His magic wasn't strong, but it was something. He'd die before he let his last living family come to harm.

Magica rubbed her eyes. When was the last time she slept? She couldn't be sure. And she was so hungry. How long would they have to live like this?

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[lifesa_witch]

The song was like magic itself, helping to settle him down. He was still vastly upset by the cruelties of the world, but at least now it wasn't so overwhelming. His sobs eventually turned into sniffles.

"I'm sorry," he hiccuped.

[richestduck]

"Don't apologize," she told him, her smile soft. "You did nothing wrong. You're a little boy who suddenly had to step up like an adult for his sister. That's more than enough reason to cry when someone offers you a shoulder to cry on."

[lifesa_witch]

Poe wasn't sure how to respond to that... but he wouldn't have to.

First was the sound of a window shattering - then came Magica's screams.

"MAGICA!" To hell with the consequences of Downy learning they had magic - he clutched his amulet, it glowed, his hand glowed, then the door glowed before being blasted off its hinges.

"POE!" Magica sprinted off the bed, trying to run to her brother to escape what the door just hit - the figure shoved off the door with a grunt.

A tall, imposing man clad in black, save for a glowing gauntlet on his hand. "Get back here!"

[richestduck]

"MAGICA!" Downy shouted at the same time Poe did. She hardly noticed Poe's usage of magic as she ran through the blasted-open door, racing between Magica and the stranger. "FERGUS! GET THE SHOTGUN!"

Without waiting for a response from her husband, Downy blocked the man's way.

"Don't you dare come another step closer to these little ones if you know what's good for you!" she snapped. "Get out of my house!"

[lifesa_witch]

Magica ran into her brother's arms, terrified beyond belief. "H-He's the one!" She screamed. "He made mother and father...!"

The man coolly looked down at Downy, seeing no threat from her. "Stand aside, woman. These 'little ones' are the hellspawn of the most wretched hive of magic to have ever existed! The entire family line must be extinguished before they cause anymore death and suffering to the mortal realm."

He clenched the gauntlet, and it began to glow. "I will have their heads."

[richestduck]

Downy raised her fists. "I'm warning you one last time: Get. Out. Of. My. House."

So this was the Bad Man who'd hurt the children. Oh, she almost hoped he didn't leave her house so she'd have an excuse!

[lifesa_witch]

"I don't want to have to hurt you, miss." His qualm was against magics, not mortals. He walked forward, intending to easily shove her aside - after all, what could a mere housewife do?

[richestduck]

He'd been warned.

Shrieking a battlecry like that of an enraged banshee, Downy charged forward and planted her fist firmly into the intruder's stomach. Into that punch she put all of her rage at his daring to attempt to harm a child, any child, in her presence.

[lifesa_witch]

"Oof!"

Clearly he hadn't expected that, and doubled over in pain, clutching his stomach. "I see you've... made your choice..."

The twins stared, shocked. She'd seen their magic, hadn't she? Then why... why was she protecting them?

[richestduck]

"Aye! I have! And I'll not be letting you have these wee ones!"

She cupped one hand around her fist as she prepared to bring her combined fists down on his bent-over head.

[lifesa_witch]

"Then you give me no choice, as well..."

He didn't want to use it on her, but she clearly was giving him no other option. He lifted his arm -

"Watch out!" Magica cried.

- But it was too late. The magic he stole made for a powerful weapon, using it to blast Downy at the chest.

[richestduck]

Downy went flying backwards just as Fergus arrived with the shotgun. She hit the ground in front of the children, groaning.

And then she started trying to get back up.

"Don't you dare touch them!" Fergus ordered, firing a shot directly at the intruder.

This man had attacked his wife and intended to harm these children. He didn't deserve a warning shot!

[lifesa_witch]

The man caught the bullet in his hand, crushing it easily. "I don't enjoy hurting men like myself! I convinced the entire village to finally stand up for itself to get rid of the Spell lineage! It's not too late for you either! But if you continue to align yourself with these demons, I will gladly-"

His sentence was interrupted by a flying bookcase.

There stood the twins, hand-in-hand, holding their amulets, their entire bodies aglow with magic. They'd been crying, yes, but now they were angry.

This woman had shown them love, kindness, and charity, wanting nothing in return. She'd risked her life for a handful of strangers. And now she was hurt.

"GO."
"AWAY."

With their combined power, they lifted the injured and furious attacker up into the air, and then slammed him hard into the main entrance of the castle.

[richestduck]

Fergus was momentarily startled. Then he positioned himself between the children and his recovering wife. He turned his head to one side where Scrooge was dragging a sword along, clearly intending to help. "Scrooge, go guard Matilda and Hortense! I've got these three!"

Scrooge looked towards his injured mother before screwing up his face with determination, nodding.

Fergus raised the weapon again, aimed, and fired.

[lifesa_witch]

The man had just barely gotten to his feet when the shot connected, destroying the gem in the middle. "No!" Flickers of green electricity swept across the gauntlet, and he clutched his arm in pain. Without the artifact, the man was unarmed.

He staggered to the entrance, snarling. "You'll regret this! Those children will be your end! The Phantom Blot WILL return!" he then shoved the door open, and scrambled out.

[richestduck]

He was chased by another blast from the shotgun, the pellets pockmarking the door and frame surrounding it.

Downy rubbed gingerly at where she'd been struck, sitting up. She looked around frantically. "The children! Are they all right?!"

[lifesa_witch]

The twins stopped glowing, taking deep breaths, as using that much magic had worn them out.

Then they began crying again. This nice lady had gotten hurt because they were there. It was all their fault. Now the family would hate them, because they had magic.

[richestduck]

"Shh shh shh shh! It's all right, my bairns. It's all right," Downy soothed, going over to hug them.

Hortense started wailing as did Matilda. Scrooge was sniffling as well, trying to be strong for all of his siblings.

Downy waved her first three children over to her and they hurried over to join the cuddle while Fergus chased after the intruder to make sure he was gone. "None of you were hurt, were you? Oh, my poor bairns!"

[lifesa_witch]

The twins, for the moment, were inconsolable.

"He followed us here!"
"This is our fault!"
"We shouldn't have stayed here!"
"You got hurt because of us!"
"We're so sorry!"

The more love and affection they were given, the more they felt they didn't deserve it.

[richestduck]

"Oh, little ones. It wasn't your fault." She kissed all five of her children on their heads.

Scrooge finally allowed himself to start crying, burying his head in his mother's shoulder.

"I'm all right. I'm made of sturdier stuff than that tall stack of pillows." She smirked. "Couldn't even take a dainty housewife's wee punch!"

[lifesa_witch]

Only then did they allow themselves to cling onto Downy, sniffling and hiccupping into her clothes. They had no idea what they'd done to deserve this generosity, but now they were afraid of ever losing it.

[richestduck]

"There there...shhh...it's all right," she cooed.

Fergus returned, a sour look on his face. "He managed tae get away."

"Then how about we all sleep together in the living room, hmm?" Downy suggested. "We'll make a big nest for ourselves with all the blankets and pillows!"

[lifesa_witch]

The twins looked up as Fergus entered the scene. They looked at each other, then nodded, knowing what each other thought. Loosely, perhaps unwillingly, they let go of Downy.

Holding hands, they approached Fergus. After all, he'd saved them too.

"... Thank you." They both said together.