[A/N: Here's my second Dumont sibling fluff-shot originally posted August 3rd, 2024 on AO3. And I think this is the one I'm most proud of. Enjoy! And if you have anything to say, reviews are always welcome!]

Tickle Attack

It was a beautiful summer day in the royal gardens. The sun was burning bright with not a cloud in the sky. The crops were flourishing. And the smell of the flora was extra fragrant.

Laying in a bed of magically-grown lavender was 14-year-old Veruca Dumont. She heaved a deep relaxed breath as she watched the purple plants dance ever so softly in the warm breeze. But the calmer she became, the more she thought about Klaus. He had been oddly quiet that morning and she had not seen him since.

The young weasel got up and searched for her little brother. She asked the other mages if they had seen him: mostly the young mages. But none of them had any clue where he was.

She searched the gardens' more secluded areas and found 11-year-old Klaus Dumont sitting cross-legged at the shady pond; staring glumly at his reflection.

Breathing a sigh of relief, Veruca was about to approach him when a mischievous smile stretched across her snout.

Klaus was so absorbed in his thoughts; he did not hear the rustling of his sister's magical plants behind him. Suddenly, he jolted as they poked him under the arm. Then he laughed when they poked him a second time. And he laughed a little harder when they poked under both his arms at once.

"Veruca, stop it," the kit grumbled: smacking the tickly vines away.

Just then, another set of climbers crept up on him; curling around his belly and making him laugh the hardest. "Veruca, please stop it!"

Happy to see her brother smile, the teenager withdrew her trailing plants and let him catch his breath. She sat next to him upon the bank, dipping her feet in the water.

"What's eating at you, Klausy?" Veruca asked, mussing his fluffy head fur.

"Nothing, I'm fine," he flatly replied, fixing his fur.

"No, you're quite obviously not fine! Come on, talk to your big sis."

"I don't want to."

"Come on, baby brother."

"No!"

"Tell me what's wrong."

"Go away!"

"Not until you spill."

"Veruca!"

The older kit noticed tears brimming the little one's eyes.

"Oh, Klausy," she soothed, rubbing his back, "I'm just worried about you, I am."

"I know," he replied; his voice slightly breaking. "I promise nothing bad has happened."

"But something is clearly bothering you. Please talk to me. You'll surely feel better after."

Klaus wiped his eyes but kept his head low. "I don't belong here."

Veruca was gobsmacked! "Why would you say that, Klaus?"

"How old were you when you first discovered your powers?"

"Ten. Why?"

"As were all the others when they discovered their powers: either ten or younger. Well, I'm almost twelve and I haven't discovered anything! I'm not special like you are. I don't belong with the mages."

Veruca furrowed her brows at her little brother as she wrapped a loving arm around him.

"Klausy, you are special. And you absolutely do belong here."

"But I don't have any magic."

"You don't need magic to be special. And you don't need magic in order to belong here."

"Easy for you to say, you and your plants fit in perfectly."

"No, it's easy for me to say because nobody knows you better than I do."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean you already have all the qualities of a true mage!"

Klaus glanced at his sister, who smiled encouragingly at him.

"You're always putting your clever little brain to good use, you are. I may be able to control plants but you know far more about them than I do. And you probably know more about herbal goods than all of us combined."

Klaus smiled a little. "I only studied so hard to make up for my lack of powers."

"But you don't lack powers because your brainpower has helped us! Did you know the physicians have begun working on an all-healing potion?"

"Yes. I've been helping them."

"See? You do belong with the mages. We need that special brainpower of yours."

Klaus blushed beneath his fur as his eyes welled up. "They've begun teaching me alchemy. I've seen them dissolve whole flowers into the sample potions but I have yet to do it, myself."

"Just keep practicing. You'll get it when the time is right. I know you will."

Klaus smiled at Veruca as she gently wiped away his tears.

"Look into the pond, brother."

The little weasel gazed upon his reflection; this time accompanied by his supportive sister's.

"Now repeat after me: I, Klaus Ansel Dumont, am a valued member of the mages."

Klaus chuckled inwardly.

"Go on then, say it."

"I, Klaus Ansel Dumont, am a valued member of the mages."

"I don't need magic in order to belong."

"I don't need magic in order to belong."

"Because I possess a different kind of magic."

"Because I possess a different kind of magic."

"And that magic is me."

"And that magic is me."

Veruca patted his back as he smiled confidently.

"Listen, Klausy; don't keep your feelings pent up. We're all here for you: no one more than I. Promise me you'll open up next time you're having self-doubt."

Klaus looked his sister right in the eye as he crossed his heart. "I promise."

Veruca proudly grasped his cheeks; nuzzling her nose against his. "That's my little bro." Then she opened up her arms. "Now get in here."

Klaus rested his head on Veruca's shoulder as they hugged each other. And she breathed a content sigh as she kissed him between the ears.

The older kit then found herself giggling as the little one ticklishly nuzzled the side of her neck.

"Oi, what are you doing, goof?"

"Getting revenge!"

Veruca shrieked as her brother grabbed her sides.

"Oh, come here, you!"

Klaus squealed as his sister scribbled at his armpits.

And then, as siblings do, they got into a tickle fight! The pair happily wrestled until Veruca managed to pin her brother down.

"Ha! I gotcha!"

She lifted his shirt and blew a raspberry into his white furry belly. He chortled and squirmed in his sister's grasp. But as soon as she let him go, she also let him pin her down.

"Oh, you're in for it now, Veruca!"

She cackled as Klaus blew a raspberry into the front of her neck. And she kicked her feet as he tickled her ribs.

"Okay, okay, Klausy, you win!"

He stopped tickling her. "Really?"

"Yes, you've gotten the best of me, you have."

Feeling rather proud of himself, Klaus got off his panting sister and helped her sit up. But then she suddenly stopped panting and hooted victoriously as she pulled him onto her lap.

"Hey, you tricked me! Unfair, Veruca!"

Klaus could not help but laugh while he complained, as his sister tickled his underarms.

"Sorry, little bro; it was just too easy."

"Ow! Ouch!"

The older kit immediately stopped tickling the little one and fretfully checked him over.

"Oh no, Klausy, did I hurt you? I'm so sorry!"

But then he shot out of her lap and tackled her to the ground while he tickled her.

"Haha! I tricked you back!"

"Oh, you little charlatan!"

"Hey, you were a charlatan first!"

The duo laughed hysterically as they tussled some more. They rolled over top each other until they landed in the pond! It was actually quite refreshing.

"Call it a draw?" Klaus asked, splashing his sister.

"Sure." Veruca replied, splashing him back. "But if you ever scare me like that again, I'll get you, I will."

She wiggled her fingers teasingly at him and he grinned.

"Yes, ma'am."

They helped each other out of the knee-deep water and shook themselves dry.

"Now then, baby bro, why don't we go fetch some lunch? I don't know about you, but all that exertion has worked up quite an appetite. And that clever little brain of yours is hungry for nourishment, I'm sure."

Klaus hooked an arm around his sister's. "Sounds good to me."

And with that, the Dumont siblings serenely strolled off together.