hi everyone! this is a collaboration between me and my lovely friend tey, who's MyCatIsOn in AO3 where she's going to publish it! it's been an idea for a while, so we decided to get off our butts and finally write it lmao.
we'll update once a week!
all odd chapters are written by tey, all even chapters are written by me!
disclaimer: i don't know hetalia nor kiki's delivery service, they belong to hidekaz himaruya and studio ghibili respectively!
Arthur sat on a hill, staring at the creamy clouds as they slowly rolled by the sky. A light summer wind blew, making the tree he was leaning against sway and creak.
Arthur's short black robe fluttered a little, and his pale legs stood out as a huge contrast to the dark, lush, green grass under him.
Sitting next to Arthur was his bag, a couple of his things sprawled out upon the grass. His small bottle of pills in case he got a horrible migraine whilst he went out, and his small notebook with a pen.
Leaning against the old oak tree too stood a pale, old, yellow radio. It's static, combined with the yammering of commentators were one of the only things keeping Arthur awake as he rested. His hands kept on fidgeting, clasping and unclasping as he waited with enormous anticipation for what the weather broadcast would be.
This small broadcast would determine if he were to leave tonight, to start his journey to become a professional witch. His trial of apprenticeship, and of learning to operate by himself with his magic.
Arthur opened his clear green eyes wider as he heard an old truck go down the road he was near. He watched the old blue machine roll its way up the steep hill.
He turned his head as it slowly passed the white fence of his house down the road. His hands fidgeted again.
Then, suddenly, the music changed. Arthur quickly glanced down at the small radio. It was time.
Arthur knew this music almost by heart now-he had listened many a time to the broadcast when he was small, dreaming when he'd get better and it would finally be his turn to leave home and prove himself.
He held his breath as the weatherman introduced himself, and then it began.
"And tonight's night will be a fine summer one! Clear skies, and no storms at all; even for the next week! It will be cloudy, but only for three days this week!" the man said in an exuberant voice.
Arthur shot up as he heard the news. He quickly shoved all of his strewn stuff into his bag. Turning up the volume of the broadcast, he also put the radio in his bag.
With no time to waste, Arthur took off in a light jog. Although running tired him out, and his mother greatly discouraged it for fear of a health relapse, Arthur hastily clambered down the hill.
As he crossed the road and slipped into his yard from the gate, Arthur wished he had brought his broomstick.
"Mum!" he cried out, excitement rushing from him like an overflowing sink. "Mum! Allistor! Dylan! Patrick!"
Arthur reached his front door and swung it open. To his satisfaction, the hinges didn't a make noise. That meant his magic had worked-once again!
"Hey! Wait!" A sharp call cried out behind him. Before Arthur could even turn around he was pushed forward by a heavy weight leaning on his shoulders.
"What's the deal here, Arthur?" A questioning, annoying voice asked right in his ear.
"Get off, you fat arse!" Arthur shrugged, trying to get the big, fluffy white cat off his shoulders.
"What's the what?" The cat asked again, wrapping himself even tighter around Arthur. Arthur then bumped into the umbrella stand, and then walked backwards. His back collided with the old grandfather clock that was pressed against the side of the entryway.
With a sigh of defeat, Arthur stopped struggling and looked up at the ceiling.
Catching his breath, Arthur answered slowly, "it's time, Popcorn. Tonight's the night."
As Arthur rose to his full height again, he adjusted the cat on his shoulders. Being used to what Popcorn liked to do, he made his way around the stairs and into the kitchen.
"Ey! Why're ya making such a' commotion?" Arthur heard Allister call to him. Arthur lazily deposited his bag on the kitchen table, and looked up at his fiery haired brother.
"Allistor, tonight-I'm going to leave tonight! This is one of the best weeks this year, and Mum agreed I could go." Arthur said excitedly to Allistor. He walked next to his brother's side, watching as his brother prepared a sandwich.
"Are you making lunch?" Arthur asked, tipping his head to one side.
"Oh! Get me some tuna-now that I'm thinkin' of it I'm pretty hungry too!"
"Yeah, ma' lunch. Don't know what yer thinkin' of. Yae can maek yourself one!" Allistor rolled his eyes, staring at Popcorn. "I don't think Ma will approve with ya leavin' yet."
"She will," Arthur declared. "She has to… I've waited this long."
Allistor looked down at his youngest brother. A small smile slipped on his lips.
"I'll back yae up," he mumbled. "This is important to yae af'ter all." Allistor lifted his sandwich up to his mouth, and then, to just annoy his brother, reached down with his sticky hand and ruffled his head.
"Oi! What the bloody hell are you doing?" Arthur jumped back, causing Popcorn to dig his claws further into Arthur's shoulders.
"Arthurrr~~ don't swear, my sickly wee one," Dylan's voice drifted through the air.
"He got ya there," Popcorn meowed into Arthur's ear. Arthur gave a humph in response.
"Hello Dylan," Arthur said blearily. Dylan, with his short brown hair, smiled. Before the brothers could launch into conversation, Arthur asked, "Where's Mum?"
"I believe she's making potions in the Potion Room," Dylan answered, heading over to the magnet covered refrigerator.
"Thanks," Arthur said. He left his bag and his brothers in the kitchen and went back to the stairs.
"Are you really sure about this?" Popcorn whispered cautiously in his ear.
"Why?" Arthur questioned. "You too scared to come? You don't want to leave?"
"No, no! You know I'll always be by your side, Artie," Popcorn replied, the fluffy Maine Coon nuzzling into Arthur's neck.
With his cat's reassurance, Arthur felt better, even more excited. He had always hoped that Popcorn would come with him when this day arrived-though he'd never admit it to the cat. They had been together for a long time.
Once Arthur got to the top of the stairs, he walked down the short hallway and turned left at an iron entrance.
"Mum?" Arthur asked. "You there?"
Inside the poorly lit room, tables both big and small were crammed to either wall. Bottles upon bottles were crammed onto them, and papers were messily strewn around. Some ragged band posters hung from the walls, and some old cauldrons sat together under a wide window that filtered warm sunlight onto the wall.
"Yes?" Arthur's mother answered. "Arthur, what do you need, dear?"
"Remember last week, when you said I could start planning for my apprenticeship..?" Arthur started. His mother hummed in question.
"I…" Arthur paused, asking his mother this might be the hardest part of him leaving. She never wanted him to leave-especially ever since his illness happened.
But then it was his illness that had stopped him from starting his journey, and that thought alone fueled Arthur.
"C'mon, you've been waiting for this. Don't let it slip," Popcorn hissed in his ear. Popcorn's whiskers prickled his neck. Arthur also took courage from his fluffy friend.
Taking a deep breath, Arthur smoothed out his short robes. His green eyes flicked to his mother, who's back was still to him, blond hair cascading around her shoulders.
"Mum, tonight's the night. I-I'm going to the city. I've already missed most of my years I can go-please, Mum I need to do this. I'm sixteen!" Arthur began slowly.
If she had heard her son, she didn't seem to acknowledge it.
"I don't think that's quite wise," she finally said. "I think you should…" She stopped talking when she turned around. She saw the look on Arthur's face, and she knew that Arthur wouldn't give this up.
"Mum," Arthur said, opening his mouth and coming up with a good argument for her.
"I see, there's no more getting past you on this, is it?" she stated, going back to whatever potions she was mixing
"N-no," Arthur muttered.
"Yeah!" Popcorn meowed. "We're gonna fly on clear skies tonight!"
"You're going too? Actually, never mind." Arthur's mother said. "I'm glad you're coming with him Popcorn."
The cat settled on purring contentedly as a response.
"I suppose we should start packing then," she said. "Go get your bag, and start. I'll get your broom. I'm going to make sure it'll have enough enchantments to hold your weight, your luggage, and that fat cat."
"Hey! What's that supposed to mean?" Popcorn hissed, standing up as best he could and his hackles rising.
The rest of Arthur's day flew by fast. By dinner time, he was packed, and his luggage and broomstick stood by the front door.
His mother, Allistor, Dylan, and him all sat around the small kitchen table. They were eating pasta, and Popcorn sat dutifully by Arthur's feet, devouring the mashed beef in his bright red bowl.
"Is Patrick gonna' come already?" Dylan wondered aloud. At least I don't have to say this out loud, Arthur thought.
Patrick had always been more of a lone wolf within the family, and now that he had gotten a job in town the family never really saw him much. Arthur had always spent more time with Allistor and Dylan than Patrick even when he was small.
The light hanging from the ceiling cast a golden glow on Arthur's blond head as he lowered his head to take another bite.
"Still, he should have figured Arthur would choose to leave tonight," his mother objected. "He's been meaning to leave more adamantly these last few weeks."
"It's all right," Arthur said calmly. He took his last bite of the pasta. "I know Pat walks to his own drum. It's not like I won't see him again. Seeing that I've started off late and won't be as gone for as long now…"
"Relax, you will have fun," Dylan said. "'S a long time, you know."
Right after the dinner plates had been cleared and Arthur had finished helping washing up, Popcorn scampered off to the broom.
Arthur followed his cat slowly. Although he was excited to finally, finally leave, he definitely knew he was going to miss home as well.
"So this is it," Allistor stated. The three Kirklands stood around the front of the house.
The cool air made Arthur especially alert. He was going to do this!
"Man, it's chilly," Popcorn meowed, stretching languidly and fluffing out his tail. With a little effort, he jumped up on Arthur's shoulders once again, the huge feline making his shoulders seem small.
Taking a deep breath, Arthur mounted his broom. He looked over at his family, all of their green eyes glistening with sweet goodbyes.
"Well, I'll write to you all when I'm settled." Arthur promised, waving lightly.
"We know you will," his mother said tearily. She seemed to be brushing a small tear from her cheek, to the chuckles of his brothers.
"Artie'll be fine, Mum," Dylan said lightly, patting her shoulder.
"Have a saef trip, wee bairn!" Allistor called, waving energetically in a movement that reminded Arthur of a propeller.
Arthur took a deep breath, and close his eyes. He bent his legs, and without hesitation, he took a deep breath, his mouth rounding with the precious words.
"Fly!" he rasped.
PS: this chapter was written by tey! popcorn is Americat, and we settled on that name because her favourite food is popcorn and we found it fitting haha.
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