I've been eager to get this one out and ready! Just felt the need to wrap up Bow's appearance mini arc in the short stories/one-shots fic I have. For those that do read it or have read other ones, this takes place a little after Hattie's trip with Bow, which is also after the Arctic Cruise. Hope this will turn out good. x)
.
.
.
Snatcher was floating through a deeper part of the forest, just past the swamp. Thankfully, this new strange presence he was sensing wasn't near her manor.
Just minutes ago, Snatcher was reading one of his law books until he felt something strange enter the forest. It felt...abrasive. More abrasive than the kid's was when she first came. He was quietly grateful that the kid decided to visit those bird directors today, helping with their movies, instead of bothering him.
His minions sensed the strange presence as well, a couple going to their boss, concerned. He reassured them that it will be taken care of and went off to find it.
Now, he was looking all around the trees, his guard up. The presence feels so close and yet he can't see them.
"Whoever you are, show yourself now!"
"My, my. Is that any way to treat a guest?" Snatcher almost jolted upon hearing this new calm regal voice. He quickly turned around to see the source. A sort of silhouette hidden in the shadows of the forest was floating a little high up in the trees.
Snatcher had his magic warmed up. "Funny, I don't recall inviting anyone to my forest."
"Still have your wits about, I see." The silhouette floated around him, slowly circling. Chains could be faintly heard rattling, quietly echoing in the area.
"I will get to the point then. Leave now or your soul will be in my possession."
"Not sure if that is possible...but I simply came to talk and ask for a favor."
Snatcher showed a scowl as he kept his magic warmed up in his hands. "And you think I'm willing to listen to a stranger that wandered into my forest?"
"Oh, where are my manners?" The silhouette then floated up more so he appeared to be in front of the moon from Snatcher's point of view. In the light of the moon, Snatcher could see the details of this intruder.
The stranger had an oddly shaped head, like a sort of crescent mixed with a mask. His eyes were red and he had a grin similar to Snatcher's showing. He wore a broken monocle, a royal red torn coat that looked strangely familiar and chains on his wrists. He had no legs, much like Snatcher, but more like a ghost tail. He also had a few strange black pixels floating around him.
"You may call me Moonjumper."
"Whoever you are, I don't care. You're not welcome in my forest."
Moonjumper floated down, getting a tad bit close to Snatcher. Not too close, as he noticed the purple and yellow fire in his talons. "As I said, my friend, I'm only here to ask for a favor. You certainly can't turn away a deal now, can you?"
Snatcher's serious expression remained the same. But he remained silent. Moonjumper took this as an opportunity to continue speaking.
"You see, I've been around as long as you have and I know of the things that have happened in the past for you. That is why I'm willing to help you recover from them."
Snatcher didn't believe him. What could this freak do anyway?
"I've been very observant of recent events...including the hatted child that had wandered here and survived."
Snatcher's eyes widened. A sort of growl escaped as the flames in his hands increased a little in power and size. "The kid is none of your business."
"I think she is both of our business if she holds the one thing that can change what has happened to the village. To you. Those Time Pieces that you saw as your property...are you aware they can rewind time?"
"...Yeah. So?" Truth be told, Snatcher didn't know at the start. They gave off a sort of strange powerful aura. But he had more self control unlike that red-hooded kid that used them last. He just wanted to keep them since they fell in his forest and he could probably use them for energy, much like consuming a soul.
"I think you're missing the point. With a Time Piece, maybe more, we could go back to before all this began. Before she ruined your life."
The fire in Snatcher's hands started to diminish at the thought. He could go back...before he died? Stop himself from becoming the monster that he appeared to be?
"All we would have to do is have the child out of the picture."
Snatcher blinked. Take out the kid? He has already tried before. She's tougher than one would think...despite her child-like attitude. And was going back to the past worth taking out the one kid that didn't see him as a monster?
After a moment in thought, he looked up to Moonjumper with a serious expression, stating his answer.
"No."
Moonjumper's smile seemed to have lowered a little as he looked down to Snatcher with a seemingly raised eyebrow.
"I've seen what those things can do. And frankly, I don't want a relapse of what that red-hooded brat did when she had them. On top of that, getting rid of the kid isn't as easy as it sounds. So, sorry Moonboy. I'm gonna have to pass on your offer. And kindly ask you to get the heck. Out. Of my forest!"
Moonjumper's eye seemed to twitch upon hearing the nickname Snatcher gave him, but his smile seemed to have returned as he let out a small chuckle.
"Oh no. I'm afraid you misunderstood, my dear friend." He then held up his arms. Red strings tied around his fingers stretched out and quickly coiled around Snatcher, pinning his arms to his sides and leaving him suspended in midair.
Snatcher let out a sharp gasp as he started to struggle. Why won't his magic work on these things?!
Moonjumper then got close to him with a wide smile.
"Ḭ̶̀ͅ ̴̥̮͝w̵̭̖͊͛ā̷̫̘̈́s̸͕͍̏͗n̶͈̐̆'̵͝ͅt̶̳͊ͅ ̶̮̳̈́́a̴͙̱̔̓s̵͈̽ͅk̸̤̈͘í̴͈͠n̸̜̘̕g̴̥͎̓͊ ̸͚̦̍f̴͓͉͒̽ȍ̶͔͚r̷͓̎̚ ̸͚̭̃y̷̘͕̿̍o̸̯͈͒̚u̵̳̕r̷̹̀͛ ̸̫͛p̵̟͘e̴͖͝ȑ̸̦̠͌m̸̰̤̓i̴͈̊ŝ̵̛̼s̸͈̅̊i̴̩͈̐̒o̴̖͎̒n̵͙̭̂."
He then phased into Snatcher, trying to take possession of him within his subconscious. Snatcher, still caught in the strings, began to scream. He tried to fight. He tried to use magic. He had to do something. Anything!
The minions were also noticing this sudden shift in auras and began huddling together as they heard their boss' screams of agony and terror echo through the forest.
Then after a few moments, there was silence. But there was no peace felt throughout the forest. Instead, something dark was felt throughout the forest. Something dangerous and with ill intent.
Snatcher was released from the red strings that ensnared him. He floated limp for a second, then his head rose up. His eyes had their normal golden glow, but there was a dark expression on his face. A wide golden grin that seemed to stick and malice behind those eyes.
He looked at his own talons. Red strings appeared at the tips of them. Then, with Snatcher's magic, they changed to blue, powered by his magic.
With them hanging off his talons, he looked up to where Hattie's ship was.
"Time to meet the hatted child."