"Mikel!" Mike called out running through the forest holding a small salad bowl.
"Mikel!!" The Prince called out once more
And again.
And again..
The branches beneath him crunched feeling a sense of discomfort he looked around. He thought he saw someone duck behind the bush but when he checked there was no one.
"Mikel?" Mike yawned out, unaware that something was coming from behind.
Before it could pounce a beam of shadow sent his hair and clothes flying with the wind.
When fully turned he saw a dark furred animal twitch and breathe heavily on the ground with a man coming out of the bushes.
"Ah! My soon to be baby giver!" Mike beamed while the dark elf sighed. "What are you doing yelling in the night with incoherent words."
As much as he wanted to scold him, he was the one who had to keep sending someone out to watch the irresponsible prince.
"I'm just looking for the owner of my salad!" The prince beamed a toothy smile.
The elven man felt a pressing migraine coming. "Go home, I won't protect you another time."
Mike saw him vanish behind the trees and took a deep breath. "MIKEL!" He resumed his search, his eyes glowing dimmer.
And dimmer.
His salad was tightly grasped between his hands, unwilling to let it go.
Once it was day the little prince ran off to visit his sperm donor. Not caring about sleep his eyebags began forming but his smile never seemed to waver.
"Where's your leaderrrr?" Mike hummed while running past the bunch of people who already got used to his visits.
One greeted him especially cheerfully but his smile froze when he saw the prince carry a salad.
"On a diet?" He mocked but Kioshi froze.
"I wanna give it to someone dear to me. Maybe I'll find him here." Mike answered honestly.
Assuming the prince was after their leader he pointed at the largest tent sending the man going.
"Baby please!" Mike was grinning from ear to ear but the elf was long done with answering that question.
"Come on! Doesn't it sound like a great deal!!!" He attempted to immediately persuade but was quickly dismissed.
"Bang a royal?" The prince leaned over the man's shoulder seeing him look at the freshest letter he sent.
"Yes no?" He smiled but the dark elf finally let out a deep sigh.
"Why?"
"i think you're handsome! Plus! Imagine! You wouldn't even have to be a papa and still get to bust one into another man!"
The prince's crude language could even make the most stoic of men falter.
"And if you run and point at me to get out of an arranged marriage? I'm an offender?" The elf retorted, pushing his face aside.
"I won't." Mike looked genuine.
"I just want a baby, a baby that will grow strong enough to protect itself and healthy enough to keep going."
The elf leaned his head into his hand.
"If I agree, will it be the last time I see you?" He asked uncertain.
"Yeah, I promise I won't bother you for three months! If I don't see any signs I'm pregnant I wanna retry!" The prince's eyes were glowing with determination.
"I'll consider, if it means ridding of you for good." He handed the prince his letter back.
"A baby? That's all you seek?"
"Yes sir!"
"And your salad? Is it so I have the stamina?" He laughed without any mirth.
"No…" Emotions lacking joy flickered through the man's eyes.
Taken aback, he was gonna question it but the prince quickly stepped back as if defending his salad.
Everyone wanted his salad.
"I'll come tomorrow again, okay?" The Prince smiled.
"I'll see if I feel like it." The man dismissed. "Just one last thing." He called out, halting Prince Kioshi in his tracks. "What's my name?"
The other stopped to ponder for a second and shook his head. "I don't know, do you wanna tell me?"
The elf's hand dropped onto the table with his head. "Dismissed."
"I was leaving anyway?" Mike mumbled while leaving.
There was one last thing on his mind, the awakening. He didn't wanna do it anymore.
To solidify a marriage and be locked away in the palace forever with a man he doesn't love, to bear their child.
The ceremony was the safest way to awaken a creature. The seal protects them from any outside interference leaving them to peacefully unfurl the power buried deep in them.
But.. Mike wasn't sure anymore, if he'd awakened it would mean he's officially earning his alicorn powers. But, surrounded by so many people.
Mike stopped in his tracks.
Alone.
Alone.
Alone.
Tears rolled down his cheeks, the cold of the wind making him shudder.
"I don't wanna be alone.. Mikel…" The prince weakly called out into the sun but there was no response back.
He's been training vigilantly and even taking care of the family garden.
Maybe, maybe that's where I need to go.
Mike wiped off his tears unaware of the little rustle behind him.
Once he arrived home his smile was reaching from ear to ear while he was rolling his little brothers around the garden's grass, leaving trails of green all over their bodies and clothes.
This garden was peaceful, he'd been using it to avoid Prince Zikan and any other visitor.
Watching his brothers chuckle and kick around a sense of warmth washed over his aching heart.
Mikel.. I'm sure you would've gotten to me by now, you never left me in the rain of my heart.
His eyes softened watching the little boys finally fight back without much success. He could hear the whispers and bustling around them from the servants but they didn't matter.
One was clutching onto a sheet of paper, his hands trembling while looking at the peaceful prince.
"Let's not tell him."
"Yeah.."
—
Sitting besides his brother, Mike was reading through papers explaining better how to use his abilities.
"Has…" The unicorn mumbled, unaware if he should continue or not. "Has Tair asked you yet?"
"I think so, I'm sure his wings are tired from always protecting himself." Mike nodded while flipping through a page.
"Will you.. Take him tonight..?" Shine cautiously asked while tapping his finger against the table.
"Only if he comes to me, if you wanna-" "I can't." The unicorn quickly interrupted.
"I can't leave this place.. Not yet." He explained without saying much.
"I'll send Tair flying, and if he takes you with him then that's not for me to decide."
Mike smiled gently at his big brother who clearly seemed to be burdened by something.
"As much as mother is trying to rush the ceremony, he cannot force it sooner than a month or two.. The sigil has to be perfect for you-"
"One month is all I need." Mike turned serious.
"I'll fight our parents, and win!"
Because that's what they would have done.
"Then…"
"Then?"
"Horu and Sako?" Shine questioned. "They're so young, they might not even understand why you'd attack their mama and papa.."
Prince Kioshi put down his papers and looked off into the distance before focusing back on the table.
"They will eventually.." Kioshi smiled sweetly.
"I hope training hasn't been too rough on you." Shine hummed, a rare expression of calm.
"The guard sure has given me a beating or two! But nothing little bro can't handle!!" Mike flexed his arms with a cocky grin.
"I'm sure.." The unicorn mused his horn glowing faintly.
"Then," Tair stood before Mike, the sun was long gone and the stars were all that could be seen. "You'll let me come?"
"Have you thought it through?" Mike smiled, noticing Shine hidden not so obviously behind a pillar, staring at his twin with great concern in his eyes.
Before he could say anything Tair not just unfurled his wings but started morphing into a horse, no, a pegasus.
His hooves clicked softly against the brick beneath him, his black mane as long as it could grow, bangs covering his eyes, and tail cut short. His fur was as white as possible but started to fade into a terrifying black once nearing his wings.
"i'll bring you back anything useful." Tair huffed before stretching his wings across the free space with ease.
"Will I have that too?" Mike's eyes were glowing looking at his horse brother. "You will have something more beautiful."
Tair sighed before pouncing up the wall aiming his wings.
"Let big brother teach you to fly once you do." Tair smiled faintly before dropping behind the wall and emerging back up in flight.
His large wings truly were extraordinary; they carried his large body with such ease it seemed almost ethereal watching him disappear into the distance.
"Look at him," Mike sighed. "He's flying, I hope with your horn you'll find your light instead."
With a huff he mounted the same wall with no issues before vanishing behind it.