A/N: This idea came to me in a dream... And... I just thought it was an awesome concept... I don't think ANYONE has done a HTF story like this one before... And this one has ABSOLUTELY NO connection to ANY of my other stories!
Disclaimer: I do not own HTF. HTF belongs to Mondo Media. I only own the story, plotline, and a few random characters you people have probably never heard of before!
"Honey, look at that poor child looking out the orphanage window," a blue female squirrel said, looking over towards the orphanage where she saw a small beaver staring sadly out into the rain.
"Yes, indeed, Dear, it is quite a sad looking child, isn't it?" her husband, also a blue squirrel, stated, also looking from where he and his wife stood under their umbrellas. "But what can we do? The child's happiness is not our problem."
His wife looked at him, then said, "Dear, you know we could always adopt the child... Splendid needs to have someone to spend the day with, instead of simply staying at home and doing domestic chores."
Her husband pondered this for a few moments, then agreed. They then began making their way over to the orphanage across the street.
Splendid was laying boredly on his bed, waiting for his parents to come come. He'd just returned from his first day of third grade, and he hated it, just like he hated every other grade so far. Most people thought him to be a freak due to the fact he saw things in a much more mature manner, and he was only seven years old in third grade. Everyone else was either eight or nine...
Splendid heard the door open and close, then heard his father call to him to come. Splendid jumped up, then went into the kitchen to greet his parents. He noticed another child with them, a purple beaver, who seemed to be younger than him by maybe a year or two. Splendid didn't know what to think of this, so he looked up at his parents in confusion.
"Splendid, dear, this is Toothy. We saw him in the local orphanage and he seemed depressed, so we'd decided to bring him home with us," his mother said kindly. Both his parents were expecting Splendid to be resentful of Toothy, if only for a little while, but they were hoping SPlendid would warm up to the idea of having an adopted brother.
Splendid looked at Toothy with a blank expression. Toothy noticed this, and waved slightly. Toothy himself had been surprised about being adopted and he, too, didn't know what to think about Splendid.
"Now you two boys talk while we head out to our business dinner. Splendid, if you have any homework, do it. We'll be taking Toothy to school tomorrow to be enrolled in the academy. He'll be in second grade, only one grade below you," his father said, opening the door for his wife. "The cook will make your dinners."
When they were alone, Splendid scowled. He turned back to the beaver, who had decided to hide behind the counter. Splendid figured Toothy had sensed his hostility. That was fine with him.
"I don't get it, why'd they adopt you? You're a beaver!" Toothy continued hiding behind the counter. He was afraid, though he'd never admit it. He was terribly afraid of the older boy.
"Mother, does he have to be enrolled in the same school I'm in?"
"Of course, Dear. You'll only see him during recess, don't worry, he won't embarrass you."
Splendid was silent as they drove to the school. Toothy hadn't made one sound since coming to their home, and Splendid was perfectly fine with that. When they reached the school, Splendid jumped out and ran down the cement path to the hall his class was on. Toothy got out of the car hesitantly and went with his adopted parents into the office, where they had to fill out paperwork.
Toothy was hesitant to give his age and date of birth, but he told them after a few moments.
Toothy was then led to his class by one of the office officials; His new parents were to busy to take him themselves.
It was recess, and the playground was big enough for everyone in grades 2-3 to come out on the playground. The first graders had a separate playground altogether, as did the pre-schoolers and kinder-gardeners. 4-5 used the same playground as the 2 and 3 graders, but there was no recess above fifth grade.
Being in a private academy, their school had all fourteen grades, from pre-school to twelfth.
Splendid was sitting on a bench out on the playground, kicking at the dirt with his foot. He heard someone start speaking from a little distance off and glanced up to see what was going on.
Toothy was sprawled on the ground, fear written all over his face. One of the third graders who had been held back from fourth the year before was standing over him with his cronies, laughing at him for being the out-of-place newbie.
Splendid thought about letting the should-be fourth grader beating Toothy up like he did to every new kid at school, but knew his parents would be angry if he let it happen, so he got up and walked over there. He knew the boy, Statix, and had actually once been pretty good friends with him, but simply refused to join his crew of bullies, and his refusal ended their friendship.
"Hey, Statix, leave the kid alone," Splendid called. Toothy glanced over at him, then back at Statix. Upon seeing Statix and his cronies turn their attention to Splendid, he quickly got to his feet and ran off and hid behind a tree.
"Oh, Hey Splendid, why should I? He's new meat, an-wait, where'd he go?"
Splendid rolled his eyes, saying, "Statix, he's the new kid, yes, but just give him the cold shoulder like I do."
Statix turned back to Splendid, confused. "You know him?"
"Yea, his name's Toothy, and yesterday my parents adopted him from an orphanage," Splendid stated, suddenly looking very angry and miffed. Splendid didn't know why he was resentful of Toothy, but Statix could immediately tell why, and he smirked, deciding to play off of that anger.
"Aww, Splendid, is your mommy and daddy replacing you? And with a beaver, of all creature?"
Splendid glared at Statix, but he realized that was exactly how he felt; he felt like he was being replaced.
"Shut up, my parents are not replacing me," Splendid growled. "Now just leave before you do something stupid to get yourself suspended or expelled."
Before Statix could say anything, a teacher came up to them telling them that they had five minutes until recess was over.
Statix grinned as the teacher left. He said, "Ah don't worry, we'll get the new meat tomorrow. Right now we got bigger fish to fry."
With that, the group of bullies all ran off.
Splendid turned to look at the tree, where he knew Toothy was hiding. He went over to it and looked behind it and saw Toothy sitting on the ground, arms around his knees. He had his chin on his arms, staring ahead.
Splendid was silent for a moment before saying, "Come on, recess is almost over. Go ahead and go to your teacher." Splendid turned and began walking away.
"W-wait!" Splendid paused. It was the first time Toothy had said anything. He looked over his shoulder and saw Toothy watching him, still half hidden behind the tree.
"What?"
Toothy was silent for a moment. "T-thank you..."
Splendid was surprised for a moment, but quickly pushed his surprised feeling away. "I didn't do it for you."
"I know," was the simple reply.
Splendid and Toothy watched each other for a few moments. Splendid started to say something, but then one of the teachers blew a whistle, signalling the end of recess. Splendid glanced at the teacher, then looked back at Toothy.
"Whatever," he said, though that wasn't what he was originally going to say. He then begn running towards his teacher.
Toothy watched him leave before starting to follow the other students to his own teacher. He tried his best to stay secluded and away from the others, but someone managed to run into him every few moments.
Toothy was sitting in the room he had to share with his "brother". Splendid's parents seemed to believe that if they shared a room, they would bond better. Toothy, on the other hand, didn't think this was true. It had been two whole months since they adopted him. He'd taken to writing in a little journal he got from school to write in whenever something was bothering him. It had been given to him by the school counselor, who told him no one but his family was to know about it.
Toothy knew the counselor thought he was depressed, but he wasn't; he was afraid. Sure, his new home wasn't like the orphanage at all, he was treated a lot better, but Splendid scared him sometimes. He kept sending mixed messages of contempt and concern...
Toothy wrote a lot about the orphanage in his little journal. He wrote about how the bullies treated him, how even the officials didn't care about what happened to him. He never knew why they did all that to him, but he was always wanting to know. He told his adopted parents, but refrained from telling Splendid. Splendid wouldn't care anyway, he didn't even like Toothy...
And speaking of Splendid, he walked through the door at that moment. Toothy quickly shut his little journal and shoved it under his pillow, but he wasn't quick enough; Splendid saw this action.
Splendid looked suspiciously at Toothy, who watched him right back, slightly nervous as to what the older boy would do. Splendid came closer, eying the pillow where Toothy had shoved the journal. He looked at Toothy again, who seemed to be trying to block the pillow from Splendid's suspicious eyes.
"What... are you hiding?" Splendid asked finally, his curiosity getting the best of him.
Toothy glanced towards the pillow, then back at Splendid. "Nothing..."
"You're lying."
"No I'm not."
"Yes, yes you are!" Splendid suddenly tackled Toothy, and easily got the journal out from under the pillow, despite Toothy's desperate pleads to just leave him alone.
Splendid sat up and looked curiously at the journal. "What's this?"
Toothy glared slightly at him. "It's a journal."
Splendid rolled his eyes. "Yea, I see that. What's it for and where'd you get it? Mother and Father didn't buy you this, I was there when they bought your school supplies."
Toothy glanced to the side. "The school counselor gave it to me... he seems to think I was depressed or upset or something... it's to write in when I'm sad or something..."
Splendid eyed the notebook, suddenly interested. It meant he could find out more about the beaver he had to share a room with. "Oh? Is that so?"
"NO! You cannot read it!" Toothy suddenly exclaimed, as though he read Splendid's mind. Splendid rolled his eyes and dropped the journal on the ground.
"As if I'd want to. Now go to bed, I'm tired and I don't want to go to school tired tomorrow."
Splendid then went over to his own bed, glancing over his shoulder as Toothy picked up the journal, looking extremely upset. Splendid then snuggled under his covers while Toothy turned his bedside lamp off. Splendid couldn't see in the dark, but his keen sense of hearing let him know where Toothy hid the journal. He waited a few hours, listening for Toothy to fall asleep. When at last he was sure Toothy was sleeping, he got up and went over to where he heard Toothy hide the journal. By then his eyes were adjusted to the dark and he could see.
Splendid had never needed as much sleep as other kids his age, something neither Toothy nor his parents knew. He grabbed Toothy's journal, just too curious to ignore it. He slipped out into the hallway and walked over to the bathroom. He turned on the light and locked the door, then sat down on the side of the bathtub. He opened the journal to the first page and began reading it.
Umm... this is stupid... but I gues it wil help me a litle... I dont understand why that counsoler thinks he nos wat hes doing. Im not deprest or anything like that. No, Im not deprest, Im just scared. I dont belong here, no one wants me here, just like at the orphnage. I dont even remember why I was in the orphnage... I dont no wat hapend to my own mom and dad... somthing obout a fire tho, I remember... the fire, the police, being taken away... I dont understand... but I gues Im just not ment to understand. Everybody at the orphnage told me mom and dad wood come bak for me, but they never did... do they not like me anymor? Do the parents I live with now like me mor than my own mom and dad? I dont understand... but oh well... I gues I wil stop riting for tuday...
Splendid paused. Toothy didn't realize his parents were dead! Toothy didn't realize his parents weren't ever going to come back for him... And he didn't realize that he was legally a member of Splendid's family, that he was in the orphanage because he had no other who was willing to take him in.
Splendid pondered whether he should read the next entry or not. Then he turned the page, curious to see what else Toothy had to say.
The bruses ar almost gon, at leest. The bruses wher peple in the orphnage hit me. It took a few weeks, but theyr almost gon... But it dosnt change the fact Im stil afraid...
My teacher tels me I need 'tootouring', whatever that meens... she says my speling is horid... Im only six, why shood my speling not be bad? Besides, she only tels me wat I do rong, never how to fix it... I would ask for help, but Im afrayd of being laffed at. Everyone in this famly is so smart, but me? No, I cant even use the simple rools of speling...
Splendid read that again. Toothy thought he was inferior? Truthfully, Splendid himself had spelling problems, but not as bad as Toothy, and Splendid knew his parents would believe Toothy was inferior for that simple fact... He turned the page, not wanting to read the rest of that page.
The next page made him really regret taking the journal... and treating him the way he did.
I hate it here! The adults are never here, theres nothing to do, Splendid is either ignoring or insulting me, Im not aloud to go anywere without an adult-THEYR NEVER HERE THO-, my teacher blames me for everything, even when theres proof Butch did it, she always fails me even when Im rite, those bullies always mess with me at school, and it feels just like the orphnage, just without the beatings! What do I do to make everyone hate me? I dont ever talk to anyone without them aproching or asking me a question first! What am I suposed to do here?
Then again, I guess it is better than the orphnage... theres no unjust beatings, no being sent to my room for no reason, no going throu the day without food... But no, everyone here hates me still. I dont understand why I was adopted... I have a family somewere... rite? Do I? Or ar they gon, do they hate me like everyone else? I just want to run away, but I cant... theyd find me too easily, and I wood be sent back to the orphnage... but... maybe thats just were I belong...
Splendid didn't read the rest of it. He simply closed it and stared ahead, thinking hat maybe he should have been nicer to Toothy.
He went back to his and Toothy's bedroom, replaced the journal where he had fund it, then went back to his bed.
"Wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up, wake up..."
Toothy opened his eyes and saw Splendid leaning over his bed, looking oddly concerned. Toothy nearly jumped out of his bed.
"W-what are you doing that for?" he demanded. He noticed his throat began hurting the moment he spoke.
"You don't look so well," Splendid stated, watching him. Splendid had realized soon after waking up that Toothy was sick. He looked really pale...
Splendid suddenly put his hand to Toothy's forehead. "You're burning up!" Suddenly Splendid was out the bedroom door. Toothy was confused, but he couldn't wonder long; he suddenly went into a coughing fit.
Splendid came back in with his mother, who had been getting ready to leave for work. She took one look at Toothy before deciding he had to stay home.
"Splendid, how about you stay home, too, and keep him company? I'm sure he could use it."
Splendid hesitated for a moment, thinking about Toothy's journal and how he seemed to dislike Splendid, then he agreed to stay. Maybe he could fix the whole dislike thing...
During the day, Toothy slept and ate, and Splendid read while Toothy was sleeping. When Toothy finally awoke and wasn't tired enough to fall right back asleep, Splendid began talking to him.
He spoke of simple stuff at first, knowing Toothy didn't like him enough to tell him much, but throughout the day, that started to change
By the end of the day, the two of them were laughing together and talking about things that had happened to them in their lives. Splendid was sure not to ask about the orphanage or his parents. Maybe he would someday, but not that day...
..To..Be..Continued..
A/N: So, that was the first chapter, nice and long.. or so it looked in the document...! So what'd you think? The next chapter will go all the way up to until their teens, so it'll probably be even longer than this one. I apologize ^^ Review please to tell me what you think!
And by the way, I don't think this will be a SplendidxToothy story. If it does become one, it'd be many many chapters away, because this is more of a family/friendship story between the two. It MIGHT become romance, depending on what you all think... be sure to tell me in a review if you want it to be simply Family/friendship or friendship/romance or what!