The Golden Feather AU || Tommywingit inspired stories

The Significance of a Golden Feather

Every member (besides Eret, who was a traitor and deserved nothing) of L'manburg was eventually the holders of their very own feather. Wilbur had explained the importance of such a sentimental thing to them soon after they got it, and so they treasured it just as they would a diamond.

Fundy held his within the red fur of his tail, only noticed when hitting the light just right. Niki had had hers long before the rest, due to being Wilbur's friend during the early days of their childhood (Tommy wouldn't admit that he loved her company and friendship more than he did Fundy's). She would go on to create a necklace piece from it, encasing the delicate feather in glass and draping it around her neck at all times.

As conflicts arose and more people joined the SMP, Tommy's flock would change. The original four remained constant for a while, even if Phil and Techno weren't physically there.

When Quackity, another avian, joined, Tommy was quick to accept the man into his flock. They hit it off near instantly; Tommy and Quackity being an infectious duo of jokes and laughter. The duck would receive a feather by the end of the first week. He hid it under his beanie, a clothing article almost never removed.

The Pogtopia vs Manburg was had instilled a massive divide in the young avian's heart. Quackity and Fundy were the first of many to lose their place in Tommy's flock. Quackity, contrary to what Tommy believed, kept the feather safe throughout the conflict, stashed safely in his dark roots. Fundy's feather was lost to the flames of the burning flag, creating the first tear in the fox-hybrid's judgement and heart.

Wilbur ended up losing the precious golden plume too, during their escape from Manburg the guitar was lost and forgotten in the older's memory. Tommy was more than willing to replace the feather, as he was molting due to stress and many new golden feathers were bound to fall. But Wilbur, as his first act as leader and to instil his place as Tommy's superior, turned down the sentiment. What was the point in receiving such an object if it was only a temporary status?

Tommy had been torn from then on out; the feather was only a symbol, but it was still as important to the bot as his disks were.

Even Wilbur was no longer part of his flock, eventually losing himself in his insanity and breaking away from his family.

When Techno finally answered their call for help, Tommy's heart soared at the sight of the gold feather tucked behind the piglin's ear (when was the last time he was actually able to fly anyway?). If Wil wasn't part of his flock, at least Tech was!

But, as all things are, it just wasn't meant to be.

The feather had been withered away just like the rest, consumed by hell-fire and reduced to ashes, among the ruins of L'manburg once more.

Tommy had been happy to see his father's bane appear on his communicator, a beacon of hope on an otherwise one-sided battle field. Phil was family, Phil was part of his flock and would help.

But, once again, history was doomed to repeat.

Phil not only bathed the stone floor in his brother's blood, but also the once yellow plumage. The golden soaked crimson and stained the bright hue red. It was left to rot, much like Phil would later do to Tommy for some time.

The last of his flock- Tubbo, Quackity, and Niki -were held close. Niki may have been drifting away, but her comforting presence was always welcome. It was always such a solid ground for Tommy.

Tommy ended up welcoming another to his flock, an enderman hybrid named Ranboo. They had worked together to steal from George, and that's when Ranboo was given the feather. He would later attached it to the top button of his suit (Tommy was so eager to accept new flock members that he didn't even bother to make a real relationship with them).

Exile would boil the blond avian to nothing but a simmering pile of nothing. He was a fluff of easily manipulated feathers to Dream, that was all. Every part of his once full and social life was torn from his hands, replaced with a shell of his brother and the wretched masked man.

His once beautiful, pristine wings were coated in muck and dirt. The gold would fade and become dingy in the light. What was the use of preening and presenting his wings if there was no one to flash them off to?

Dream was eventually presented with a feather too, when the man convinced the poor boy that he was his only friend- his only flock . Dream took it with honey-coated words and false appreciation. He would later cradle the feather and use it to further tear the young boy apart.

The vile man- creature, more like -would set aflame the land Tommy worked too hard to fill, releasing the dull, once golden down into the heat. Dream would rip and take more feathers from the once beautiful wings, leaving the boy with clipped feathers and a broken resolve.

The next feathers to be given would be to the boy's dear father, but not from Tommy's hands.

Dream would give the man, Philza, the gold, red, and white feathers as a form of fake condolences. "Your son is dead" Dream would pretend to mourn, faking a suicide would be easy.

Phil would take his youngest away from the cursed man and nurture the young one until the feathers grew back and his flight returned. Tommy would soon see family in them again, replacing the lost and destroyed gold with new. They would replace the old and return the sentiment.

Tommy would finally have a sign that they weren't just part of his flock, he was also part of theirs.

A crystal emerald adorn his ear and a feather of black would nestle within his own. He felt happy, whole, and welcomed for the first time in years.

Tommy's wings would unfurl at their full length once more. He'd accept Tubbo and Wilbur again and his heart would keen at the prospect of his flock returning.