Sylvia arrived with Alex, they were leaving Nathan and the twins studying with a maid to watch over them, and Sylvia said, "I am ready."
Dad looked at me. "Are you ready?"
"Nervous, but yes. I am." I said.
"Alright. Let's have ourselves a family outing." Dad said.
We headed to Ymir's Town in time to get tickets in elevated seating to watch the matches. Fighting wasn't Dad, Sylvia or Alex's interest, but they watched the matches nonetheless. I didn't pay much attention to the fights until Mother's name was announced. 'Blood Tears'.
Dad noticed the change of my interest as my mother walked into the Arena. Her match was the last of the morning ones. She systematically and brutally destroyed her opponent. She was declared the winner within minutes.
Sylvia then picked me up, made the sky darken, as she opened a portal in the middle of the Arena mere feet from Mother. She let the crowd get anxious before she stepped through. She'd taken a much more Fey appearance. Taller, antlers, the four seasons embodying her, and power emanating from her existance.
She had me mostly tucked behind some vine looking cloth, skewing me from Mother's view. She stepped closer to Mom, pausing when Mother raised her weapon wearily. Almost eagerly.
"Adelaide, the Sorrowful Mother." Sylvia said. Her voice clear above all. "I have come on behalf of a deal made."
"I have made no deal Fey." Mother said. "Unless you can raise the dead, I have no interest in making one."
"Yes. This is correct, YOU made no deal. However, Fey do not lie, and I am telling you, a deal was made that concerns you." Sylvia told her. "Are you listening?"
"Yes. I am listening." Mother said.
"Then behold." Sylvia said, wind brushing the cloth and her hair back, over her shoulder, revealing myself in the crook of her arm, gazing at my mother. "I believe you recognize this little one?"
"Mommy, father gave me to my daddy to clear a debt to my daddy." I told her, watching her. "Sylvia said she would bring me to you. I've got a letter." I took the letter I'd saved out and offered it to her. It was the one telling me about my mom going to the Arena to die. It wasn't dated.
She took the letter and started reading it. She seemed to be in significant shock, and lacking response. She tucked it into a pocket on her Arena gear. She reached for me through the Quori, and asked, 'Are you truly my boy?'
I understood her intent, I used my quori to form a bond with her, 'Yes, Mommy, though you were too sick to teach me this. I am Isarial Hearthry. You and I share this Quori.'
She teared up and looked at Sylvia. "May I take my boy?"
"There is much to discuss pertaining to that, but you may hold your son. Let's go to Isarial's mansion." Sylvia said.
She gently took me from Sylvia and said, "You have a mansion?"
Sylvia glanced with amusement into the stands, then raised her hand slowly and snapping her fingers. Mom, Dad, Alex and Snow all vanished from the stands, reappearing in the Mansion, where she resumed her normal form.
"Yes, Mommy. This is my mansion, but I live with my daddy in the Capital." I told her.
"You said your last name is.. Hearthry?" Mom replied. "So that fool.. traded you.. I'm going to kill him."
"Ok, but just not yet. Also, Mommy, you were tricked because that man isn't my father. I am partly Fey." I told her. "The spirit said so. And so did Sylvia."
"Well, that doesn't make any sense." Mom said.
"Madam, do you know of the god Pyreleos?" Sylvia asked.
"Yes, until recently, I was a follower of his." Mother said.
"Well, there is your answer, Isarial. Pyreleos blessed you because of your mother. As for your father.. I do not know for sure, but it could have been him that fathered you as well." Sylvia shrugged and shook her head, "Divinity can be divined for, unless cloaked and your blessings would cover it."
"Are you saying my son could be part god?" Mother asked.
"Yes. It is the only thing that makes sense, in my opinion." Sylvia said.
"I hope I don't mind my asking, but are you not a god?" Mom asked.
"I am a Noble Eladrin. A celestial Archfey. But no, not a god. We are most known to guard the Gods, though I do not." Sylvia replied.
She looked down at me, "How.. have you been? What.. have you been up to?"
"I have done a lot Mommy. Sylvia and her family live here with my friend Nathan. And I live with my Dad," I pointed at James, "And his wife, Snow Den. She spoils me. And I've built a city."
".. You've built a city?" She asked.
"Yes." I answered. "Truthfully, Mom, I have memories of the future."
"The fu.. what do you mean?" She asked.
"When I was sixteen I was sent to become an adventurer. After almost a year, I got into a bad situation because of a bad person. They banished the Quori and sent me to Dal Quor. I escaped using a glyph and went to the wrong reality, and a wizard friend brought me home, back to when I was four." I told her. "I know it's a lot, but it's let me go get you so you don't stay in the Arena."
"You're son is very much a hero." Sylvia commented.
"I don't understand a lot that's happening, but I understand my boy is a hero." Mom said.
"He saved my children's father, an innocent soul, freed an imprisoned man, released a woman from a magic effect, he brought peace to a lost and broken man, gave homes and livelihoods to homeless, and saved you from a life lost in rage." Sylvia replied.
"You have been busy for a four year old.. five.. five year old?" Mom asked confused.
"I'm four for a few more days. It's December fourth." I told her.
"Why do you want me to wait on killing him?" Mom asked.
"Because if you kill him now, my baby brother won't be born." I said.
"Ah. More of that.. future knowledge. Alright. I won't kill him, but how long do I have to wait?" Mom asked.
"Three and half years at least." I said, my face then went blank as it dawned on me. "If that man isn't my father, then that child isn't actually my brother." I blinked. "No matter. He was a good little brother when I knew him."
"Family is more chosen than anything." Alex said.
I nodded in agreement. "Yeah, that's why Dad and Snow are my family."
"I hope to be included in that." Mother said. "At some point."
"If you weren't, Mommy, I wouldn't have gone to see you." I said.
She began to cry, "I have missed you, my boy."
I took off the mask and patted her face with my tiny hands. "I'm sorry I let him lie to you, Mommy. I wanted you to get healthy and strong."
"Well, I am certainly healthy, and strong." Mother said.
"Mhm. You should chat with my Dad." I told her, as she calmed some.
"I.. suppose I could do that." She said.
"And then I can introduce you to my friends here, and maybe show you the city." I said.
"His nap time is at two." Snow said firmly, "And you should both have some lunch before viewing the city."
"His nap time is at two. Ok. That's fine." Mom said.
"It's when he gets tired anyways. He crashes by two thirty if not put down for a nap." Snow explained, "But if you just hold him, he'll nap anyways."
"Well, if it's alright with him, I don't intend to let go for a while." Mom said.
"Madam, before anything else, I want to make it very clear, I had never intended to take your son." Dad said. "It had not occurred to me that someone would.. just hand over a child like that. And as distressing as this may be for you.. he is my son."
"I don't know how to take that at the moment." Mom responded, her voice hard.
I felt her tension building. "Mommy, he's not preventing you from being around me, or from being my mother."
"Good. I am glad he's not. Just a little.. on edge, I suppose." Mom said.
"That would be expected in your current situation. It's a lot to take in." Dad said.
Snow suggested a conversation between the three of us, and she'd make some food. Sylvia said she'd help Snow, and I directed them to use the study nearby for the talk. It had children's drawings all over the walls, and four smaller desks for kids. The only other room set up similar was actually the balcony where Naga sunbathed as we studied. Some of the art was mine.
My mom and dad discussed the situation we were in, how he'd come to be raising me, and how he wasn't going to keep me from her, but I was going to be living with him. He would not restrict her access to me. She did cry some, but they eventually reached a proper understanding. About that time, Snow knocked gently on the door and let us know food was ready.
So we went and had a meal. I was the youngest kid at the table, and the only one held like the toddler I was. It only vaguely bugged me. Sienna was chatty as ever, talking to my mom about all kinds of things, like our studies and training and archery and music. She said I was really good at basically everything at my small age. Mom amazingly kept up with her and Sienna loved every bit of that.
Alexion was polite, but not friendly. That was just his usual personality, though. Through the Quori I told my mom about Nathan's family problems, and how he came to live in my home. She commented that she missed a lot in a short amount of time.
"I don't think there is anywhere that Isarial has been that he hasn't left the place or people better off." Snow commented during a lull.
"I should convince Haril to be the guard captain in my city. He could train up the guards much better." I said. "And I really don't think anything I've done is special. To me, it's just petty meddling."
"Your petty meddling has led to some fantastic things." Dad argued.
"The only questionable thing you do is try to sneak off." Snow said.
"Well, I have to try. If I can manage it, nothing can stop me." I said. "But I do also harass a dragon occasionally."
"You're harassing a dragon?! Why?" Adelaide asked, appalled.
"Because it's fun. I make sure no one realizes her identity, so she isn't gonna eat me." I said.
She looked at Dad, "Do you hear him?!"
"I hear him. And I trust him not to do anything he can't handle. Though, tempting a dragon is a little foolish." Dad replied.
"It's just a cat and mouse game." I said. "Besides, I could wake the Ancient one, then she'd be in a pickle. But he's a jerk, so I won't."
"And where is an ancient dragon at? And what kind?" Dad asked.
I looked at Alex. "Do you remember?"
"The last thing I remember he was somewhere inside a cave or atleast dark and damp." Alex replied.
"Yup. In the woods South of here in a kobold lair. He's in a magic coma." I said.
"Self induced or did someone put him in it." Alex asked.
"I think Azerime claimed it, but I think it could have been Archimedes. It's an ancient gold one, by the way." I said.
"I don't see why Archimedes would bother putting it in a coma." Dad said.
"I dunno. Doubt he knows. Lana claimed I killed it, though I don't remember doing so." I commented.
"We will simply let sleeping dragons lay." Dad recommended.
I shrugged and said, "That is my intent."
After lunch we checked out my city, and I fell asleep as Snow predicted I would, in my mother's arms. Snow had stayed at the mansion, not being up to the walk currently. When I woke the tour had completed and we were returning to the Mansion.
"That was a lovely place." Mom said. "Son, I'm beginning to believe that the fool trading you was a good thing for you."
"That man never liked me. But my Dad did everything I asked of him and provided me a safe environment. I can admit a lot of the things I know I learned on my own, but I could always rely on my Dad if I got into a tough situation. And he sits with me when I'm sick." I told her.
"I didn't know you were lucid enough to remember that." Dad commented.
"You did it before, even if I don't remember the times from this year that I was sick, I know it's what you'll do." I said. "If not you, then Snow will. And she'd give you a smack for not."
"Well, lucky for me, I don't need such prompting." Dad said.
"Yep. You probably want to stay in the Capital?" I asked my mom, looking up at her.
"To be honest, I haven't really thought about where I should stay. I don't have anywhere to go to." Mom said.
"Well, that's silly, Mom. If you want, I can add a personal quarters to the mansion for you, or I could set you up in a suite at the Inn nearby the Hearthry Estate, or design a house for you in the Capital or wherever. I'm good at designing, but to little to build it." I babbled.
"A place near you in the Capital would be good." Mom said.
"If you stay in the suite you can get pampered and treated very well." I told her.
"I have never had a treatment like that. I don't know if it's something I'd want or not." Mom said.
"Then try it. If you hate it then we know. It would be cheaper to set you up in the Inn for a year than to go through all the hassle of building permits and hiring someone up to my standard. Not that I care about the price, I just want you to be comfortable." I explained.
"Alright. We'll try the pampered thing." She said.
"Then you can meet my friends, Dean and Simon." I told her. "Simon just turned five two months ago."
"Simon.. Haril's child?" She asked.
I looked at her surprised. "Yes. You know of him?"
"I saw him a few times when he was a baby." Mom said.
"Oh. Mommy, you should try the strawberries and cream cookies that Kaz makes." I said. "I think you'd like them."
"I don't know what those are, but I can try them." She said.
I looked at my Dad. "If you'd like to take Snow home, I can have Plight keep us company. And I'll be home at a reasonable time."
"I suppose I could be persuaded into such a thing." Dad said.
"I'm just worried she may be worn out." I admitted.
"Alright. You can do that." He yielded.
Truthfully, he was concerned for Snow. Albinos have a hard time health wise. She'd been temporarily placed on bed rest when she'd pushed herself too much a little over a month ago. Taking things easy wasn't what she was good at. Though, Dad had taken to cuddling her a lot to keep her occupied.
With that being the situation, I reached out to Plight, who was with his sister and asked him if he could escort my mother and I. He agreed to it, so I opened a portal in the Mansion to bring to us when he was ready. As soon as he arrived, Dad took Snow home.
"We're going to Dueling Rivers for a bit, then playing in the Capital." I told Plight.
"Mm. Alright." Plight said.
"Is Lucretia well?" I asked while we were walking to Dueling Rivers.
"Yes, she's been having a lovely time with Phintias apparently." He said.
I grinned and said, "I'm just glad I'll get to play with his daughters again. They are a lot calmer than Sienna. Kinda like friendly Alexions."
"Well, that'll be interesting to see." Plight said.
"Was Phintias annoyed around noon?" I asked?
"He did seem particularly perturbed by something." He answered.
"Sylvia went Archfey in the Arena to collect my Mommy. Oh, Mommy, this is Plight. He's a dear friend of mine." I told them.
"Pleasure to meet you, Ma'am." Plight said.
"Nice to meet you?" She said.
I reached out to Phintias with my communication item. [Hello Phintias.]
[Hello, little one. Had yourself quite the time today, huh?] Phintias replied.
[It was outside of my planning and control.] I told him. [Sylvia wanted to amuse her lover.]
[Don't get me wrong, I found it amusing once I understood what was happening.] Phintias replied.
[I just expected to be teleported in with her and bring my Mom home, but Sylvia went all All Powerful Archfey.] I said. [But my Mom is ok.]
[Well, not that you warned me or said what may or may not happen, everything is fine here.] Phintias said.
[Have you picked out a name for your daughter?] I asked.
[We're still in talks. But Mercia seems likely.] Phintias said.
[That sounds like a lovely name. She's gonna be pretty like her Mama.] I said.
[Hooh, I'll have to get more guards.] He said.
[Two more months and you'll have your first baby.] I replied.
[And my thanks goes out to you.] He said.
[.. I didn't do anything. I just asked you to go get her.] I said. [I would have gotten her myself if I could've.]
[Whereas that is true, I was unaware of her predicament. With you bringing it to my attention I was able to correct it.] He said.
[I guess so. She would have died in 872 at the end of January.] I told him.
[And I fear that loss would have been one the world would have suffered for.] Phintias said.
[I'm just glad about how happy she is. She really cares for you.] I replied.
[And I her. If not, this wouldn't work.] He said.
[I've gotta buy cookies with my mom. I'll talk to you more later, we just entered town.. I wish you both happiness, Phintias.] I told him. I saw Ashtar walking away from the guild house.
[Good bye little trouble maker.] He said, amused as the connection ended.
"Mommy, that girl is crazy. But good." I pointed at Ashtar. She noticed and walked our way.
"What makes you say she's crazy?" Mom asked.
"Oh, you'll see." I said.
"Hey there, kiddie. Is this a new friend of yours?" She asked, looking at Mom in a concerned manner.
"This is my Mommy, Adelaide." I answered.
"Oh, pardon me, Madam. I had no idea." She said.
"That's alright, how could you?" Mom replied.
Ashtar jabbed Plight's side. "You coulda warned me, you turnip."
"And ruin this lovely moment?" Plight responded.
"What's the Baby got you both doing today? Want a tour?" Ashtar asked.
Mom looked at me, "Does she mean you?"
I looked up at her, "Yeah. Everyone calls me a baby because of how small I am. But I don't particularly mind, cause they aren't being hateful."
"To be fair he has grown a fair bit since I met him, his eyes have less shadows, too." Ashtar commented.
"Well, if she means no offense by it, then I suppose I won't be mad." Mom said.
"Sienna calls me a baby all the time." I told her. "We're here to shop, Ashtar. Oh, maybe I should introduce you to Kershka and Bibs, Mommy. Bibs brought me back to life once in the future."
"How did you die?" Mom asked.
"I blew up a church and myself by accident because I was bored and my companion agreed to set it on fire. I miscalculated. But we learned there was a monster in it before we blew it up, and it also died in the explosion." I explained.
Mom flicked my forehead. "Obviously be more careful. It's not ok to blow yourself up."
"On that note, isn't it bout to be your birthday, Ari?" Ashtar asked.
I nodded and said, "Yes. The Eleventh."
"One week and you're five, then. I've got your present all ready for your birthday." Ashtar said.
"Oh, I don't need presents..." I protested.
"Too bad. We gotta tell Kershka, come on." Ashtar said, starting forward.
We followed, not much of a point to not. "Mommy, I'm ambidextrous." I said.
"What is ambidextrous?" She asked.
"It means I can write and do things well with both hands." I told her as we rounded the building and saw Kershka sitting and carving some wood.
"Would you be able to write the same sentence with both hands at the same time?" She asked.
"Yeah. Or different sentences, but that's because I can separate what's going on in my head. I think the Quori makes that easy." I explained.
"I'm sure there are a few scribes that would pay anything to have an ability like that." Mom said.
"Probably. Mommy, that's Kershka." I said, pointing.
Ashtar had went up to Kershka and flopped her head on his shoulder, since he was sitting. She said, "It's Ari's birthday in seven days."
"Birthdays are fun." Kershka said.
"Sure. Kershka, did you see the jumping spiders in the grass?" I asked.
"I did. They like to be left alone though." Kershka said.
"When I'm older I'll get you a spider egg from the Fey. My parents won't let me now, and Bibs won't let you go." I said.
"That sounds nice." Kershka said.
"I dunno. I got in trouble with Bibs last time, though he said he wasn't mad.." I told him.
"That sounds confusing." Kershka noted.
I nodded emphatically. "Kershka, this is my Mommy, Adelaide."
"Hello. I am Kershka." Kershka greeted her.
"Hello, Kershka, I am Adelaide." Mom replied.
"Isn't that such a pretty name? Much better than 'Ashtar'." Ashtar complimented.
"Ashtar is pretty name, too." Kershka said.
"It means 'Weapon' or 'Sword'. Adelaide means 'Noble Kind', there was a story bout a queen named Adelaide back when I was growing up." Ashtar replied.
"Swords can be pretty." Kershka insisted.
Ashtar pouted at him. I chuckled. "Every time I feel sad that you're not Bryna, I am reminded that you're the same as her when you talk."
"Hey, now. Unlike you I have zero desire to relive puberty." Ashtar protested.
"Hmph. You were prettier as Bryna." I said, to annoy her.
"You cheeky.. that's fine. I'm plenty enough pretty as is." Ashtar said.
"Yeah, yeah." I said.
"You're a whole lot more pretty, though. Your Momma's gonna have to teach Plight to guard against girls chasing after you." Ashtar said.
"That's never been an issue." I said.
She raised her eyebrows and said, "Huh. Ok then.."
"That is a bit surprising. I would expect it." Mom said.
"I was a short and very angry man." I shrugged. "Even if my face is pretty, if you aren't inviting, no one will approach."
"Well, this time we'll make sure your tall and happy." Adelaide said.
"Well, I'm eating meals properly and I'm not gonna be torture, so I think I'll probably be just as tall as my other self in the other reality." I replied.
"Or taller, who knows." Mom said.
"I dunno. Mommy, Ashtar was alive back when it used to snow in the desert." I said.
"Snow in the desert? That's a little hard to comprehend, really." Mom said.
"Oh, yes. It used to be snow covered nine of twelve months a year. There was even a festival. Bibs said it quit snowing everywhere but the mountains three hundred years ago." Ashtar said.
"I used to live in the snow. Lots of it." Kershka said.
"Do you miss it?" I asked.
"Sometimes. But not a lot." Kershka replied.
"Once I'm older and stronger Plight and I will restore the seasons." I informed him.
"Just the two of you? And.. how?" Mom asked.
"Well, Plight's a healer. That's all I need in a partner. And really it's because I don't wanna go by myself, and I trust him. All I gotta do is talk to the elements and convince them to stop fighting." I shrugged. "It will be easier because no one will free summer before we can talk to Fall and Spring."
"The seasons themselves?" Mom asked.
"Yep. I have done it twice now." I said.
"Wow. That's just.. wow." Mom said.
"I can share the memories with you. I even betrayed a dragon." I said.
"Alright. Show me then." Mom said.
So I Mind Linked to her and played the memory of arriving at the mountain and entering through the cave of the black dragon. The bargain for passage I made, how I manipulated the green dragon into going down and fighting the black one. How Ash had banished the red one, and we killed the blue and I betrayed the white by promising to heal it, healing it, then killing it. We'd entered the large chamber with the four enormous skeletons sitting around a table.
Kali, Ash and I took a nap with Ohgrin, the one, to recover. We'd then climbed up a rope I'd attacked to an arrow and looked around. We found basically nothing but an orb on the table. Ash, drawn to Summer, sprinted to him suddenly. I'd been talking to Spring and Winter, and once Summer was free, it tried to kill me, so I took spring into myself and sprinted to the orb. Once Fall and Spring had also been freed, we bargained with Winter while Kali held Ash's body from getting to the orb.
Once winter agreed to not freezing the continent permanently, and joined Spring and Fall, Summer relented and agreed to continue as they had previously. Then they left it to me to decide which season should be first, and what to do with the three hundred years of seasons that had built up. I chose to release it in the Shadowfell, and to begin with spring.
As they released their seasons into the Shadowfell, the knight that was fused to me shouted, "Murderer!!" In my head, and I laughed. I then showed her how it went much easier the second time in the other reality. And still, I chose to release the pent up energy into the Shadowfell. To further shrieks that I'd also laughed at.
"Well, that was quite an event. I still don't know if I entirely understand it." Mom said.
"That's ok." I said. "It was fun. If you were wondering about the internal scream, it was the Shadow Knight from the Shadowfell that had fused to me."
"Why had a knight fused to you?" She asked.
"Peer pressure. I ran out of excuses to not touch the odd disk thing that the knight had become, so I did, and it fused to my left hand." I looked at it. "It allowed me to move in shadows, teleport and summon shadow soldiers."
"Well, that sounds.. handy." Mom said.
"Especially for a rogue." Ashtar agreed. "I'd probably seek out such an ability."
"Yeah, but if your mind is weak it will take you over. It nearly did once. My Mommy kept it from happening, though." I said.
"I did?" Mom asked, surprised.
"Uh-huh. I'd met you by then and got into a bad situation because of my companion. I failed to keep it in check and it started taking over my mind, which would have ended everyone in Ymir's Town before Phintias would be alerted, but Ash shouted to you I needed help, and you tried to Mind Link to me, couldn't because of the knight, and mentally pried him back and tossed him away." I explained.
"Hmph. No one invades my boy's mind." Mom said.
I laughed, then looked at Plight. He was being quiet, as per usual.
"Which shop did you wanna go to?" Ashtar asked.
"We were gonna get treats from the baker, Kaz." I said.
"Ooh. Nice. I rather enjoy the cookies you came up with for him to bake. They're great sellers." Ashtar said. "Did you want some sweets, Kershka?"
"Yes. They were good." Kershka agreed.
Ashtar rubbed his head affectionately, the led us to the bakery, though I could have easily. On the way, she chatted to Mom about all kinds of things going on around Dueling Rivers and Hearthstone Town. Something I wasn't used to was that Ashtar wasn't bacon obsessed like Bryna. I guessed it was a wolf trait.
She let us into the bakery and greeted Kaz, introducing my mom to him. After a brief conversation, we purchased a variety of goods and headed out. Ashtar ruffled my hair and told us she was gonna pass out her goodies. She'd gotten something to share with Gregor, so it didn't surprise me she wanted to dash off.
It was fine anyways, because I got my mom to set me down for a moment while I drew a glyph. Plight activated it and it took us to the Capital, where I sent a hand signal message to a thief that I wanted to see Dean in an hour. We headed to the guard barracks, then. Mom had started carrying me again. I had said I'd introduce her to my friends here.
Plight knocked politely on Haril's office door, and he told us to come in. He was used to random visits from Plight and I to play with Simon. Haril glanced up to greet us, and assure it was us, and paused.