"So who will you take?" Kier wagged his tail while Katil turned tense.
"I have to decide?" Kemal was surprised. He assumed that the dragons would decide for him.
"I wish to come." The black dragon suddenly stepped forth. "I wanna be just as useful as Azul, as you see my brother. You've always run off with them."
Oh you dragon!
Kemal's heart flattered. "Well, I would love that, if Kier is okay with it, we've spent enough time together."
Kier seemed to be surprised and turned to look at his brother.
Katil spoke in an unknown language, but his brother's voice seemed to carry undertones of shock.
"I'll take charge of our ships then." He immediately agreed, his eyes softening despite their threatening appearance.
They both smell so nice… I wanna kiss them!
"I hope you'll be protecting me then." Kemal blushed faintly while extending his hand.
Katil suddenly knelt while kissing the back off his lover's hand. "I'll make you regret ever doubting me."
Suddenly a large tail coiled around the smaller man's waist. Kier turned away acting unsuspicious but it was clear from whom this sign of affection was.
I think.. I think I actually love them.
Something shook in the man's heart and he took a step back.
LOVE!?
He immediately covered his face with his other hand and turned to face the vast ocean.
I totally forgot my cock blockers are still watching!
"Whatever!" Kemal quickly dismissed, clearly flustered.
"AZUL!" A voice called from afar.
A few of the crew turned towards the direction of the ruckus. Flying in on a flame cloud were Azul's parents who seemed to practically glow when seeing their son.
Azul didn't speak and only swished past Mikel to the other ship to see them landing.
Crap!
Kemal immediately moved as well, Kier's tail around him unfurling.
"Azul!!" His mother immediately wept, the man's tears came out in floods as he embraced his son.
Azul didn't return his hug.
"Azul, it's mama.. Do you recognise me?" He took his son's hand and rested it on his face.
"Yes." Azul responded, his voice sounded normal.
Before his father could speak Azul turned away, clearly not wanting to hear him.
"It's okay, only mama will speak if that's what you want." His mother reassured while the large fire shifter stepped aside while still in hearing range.
"Azul." His mother called out once more.
"Yes?" Two voices responded back simultaneously.
His mother stiffened.
Silence filled the deck.
"Yes mother?" The voices added.
Azul's mother finally released his son and took a deep breath.
"Are you willing to listen to your mother?"
"No." Azul immediately rejected.
Kemal gasped and began fidgeting with his fingers.
"Will you listen to me?" Azul's normal voice was gone. Only one spoke back.
"You're not Azul." His mother frowned despite the tears. "I want my Azul."
OH COME ON!
Kemal suddenly groaned in frustration earning him some looks.
"Why? Why am I not?" Azul questioned once more. "Did you not feed me and raise me as well?"
The atmosphere grew so thick anything could cut it.
Azul's flames slowly emerged from his back as they formed a little tail and ears both aimed down.
"Or am I a dog?" Azul repeated his eyes slowly moving back to Kemal.
As if spoken to, the smaller one shook his head causing the other to smile.
"Why can't I be your son?" Azul's normal voice finally returned.
"You are!" His mother immediately smiled while reaching out towards him.
"WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE!?" His voice returned to the shadowy mess it was before, sending his mother a step back but his father forth.
"Why can't you accept me.." His voice returned to speak alongside the other. "Why did it only begin to matter when you could tell the difference."
"Azul, we always knew." His father stepped in which only enraged their child more.
"NO YOU DIDN'T!" He burst into a set of flames which didn't seem to burn the deck.
"DO NOT." Before his father could raise his flames as well Kemal burst in and yanked Azul aside.
"YOU!" His father twitched.
"Yeah, me? So what?" The smaller man immediately scoffed while holding out his hand.
"This is going nowhere, I don't think you deserve a son like Azul."
The fire shifter immediately took his hand and seemed to dim any flame that would have touched him.
"You don't.."
"Get it?" Kemal interrupted.
"You're right, I don't. Because I don't get how someone can refuse to listen to their own son after their method clearly didn't work."
Katil stepped forth and stood beside Azul with a high held head.
"The voice you're trying to ignore is the one speaking the most reason!!" Kemal pointed his finger at them accusingly. "Whether you like it or not, both are Azul. You just can't accept that you neglected a piece of him that needed to grow as well."
With those final words Kemal released his hand and stepped away with a huff.
"Is that true..?" Azul's normal voice spoke.
"Is that what I couldn't put into words.." His other voice seemed to respond back through his body.
"I'm disappointed in myself." Katil suddenly spoke, which grabbed everyone's attention.
"I saw one of my crewmates in a great struggle and chose to do nothing despite my better judgement."
"It took an outsider to point out the obvious, our mistake." With those words he extended his hand out to Azul's father.
"I will not be keeping your son to suppress his flames any more. He may live on my ship like the rest of my men, but the same won't go for you."
A few crew mates seemed to perk up, their eyes all on Azul.
"This time it will be his choice."
Azul's father glared at the dragon's hand.
"Let's talk about this at home." He crossed his arms over his chest.
"You're not home." Azul's normal voice suddenly spoke.
"Azul!" His mother immediately called out attempting to reach out for him only for the man to puff up into flames and swish away, only to manifest once more on the plank.
"I'm going home." He spoke with both of his voices filled with confidence.
Wow… He even flew past me.
Kemal admired the shifter's determination only to realise he was swishing back to Mikel's side.
Nevermind! He's back on duty!
"Hey!!" A black wolf barked.
"GET OFF OF OUR SHIP!" Another beastman hissed.
"You've done enough to Azul! Enough to deceive us!" Yasing suddenly chimed in with the crowd.
"OFF OF OUR SHIP!" The men began chanting which even took the two captains by surprise.
"Katil." Azul's father spoke but the black dragon only spread his wings out in a warning manner.
"What shakes a ship will undoubtedly wake the captain."
The large man grabbed his wife before flying off taking one last look back at Azul.
His mother seemed to be extra quiet at the moment which only worried the man more.
—
"Are you ready to take off?" Kemal grinned while sitting on Katil's shoulder.
Azul was shaking his body and stretching his flames while shivering. Everyone had little pouches strapped to their hips.
"Since we arrive in the morning we should depart tonight." Mikel explained while helping Mike onto Azul's back.
"I'm ready!" Mike cheered while helping his friend up as well.
A few crew mates checked their surroundings before giving out their signals of approval.
"Brother." Kier called.
"Best of luck." He smiled which made his twin laugh.
"None needed!" Katil smirked proudly before taking flight first.
Azul swiftly followed close behind as their group made their way all the way back.
"We keep coming back to that stupid place, huh Azul!" Kemal laughed while the fire shifter seemed to chase with more confidence.
"Sounds like home!" His voice came out just as it should, with both sides of him talking.
"We depart around the beach, Azul, you should keep going straight forward until you see the field of life beneath you." Katil explained while quickening his pace.
"Field of life? That's what it's called?" Mikel hummed.
"I totally ran through there a few times!" Mike proudly proclaimed.
"Don't forget to drop off Mike first before going." Kemal recalled while the others nodded.
Once they flew for long enough Katil began flying down while the rest followed.
"Going!" Mikel gave a thumbs up once the prince was off.
With a swish the fire shifter began sprinting in a straight line leaving the three behind.
"Go little decoy." Kemal joked while nudging Mike towards the direction of the camp.
—
Prince Kioshi carefully walked through the grass.
"AH!" He suddenly screeched when a shadow swept him off of his feet.
"You said you'd leave me for good..!" Atlas spoke, his eyes filled with an unrecognisable emotion.
"Should I not have returned?" Prince Kioshi asked with doe eyes.
"Thank divine you did." He gasped out in exhaustion before vanishing into the camp with him.
"I don't want you raising my child all alone, what if there are complications?" The elven man sighed clearly worried.
"It's okay! I wouldn't be alone, why are you taking me to your camp?" Mike seemed confused while holding onto the shadow man's shoulders.
"Let's keep you safe here, until we're certain you're pregnant." Atlas explained with seemingly loving eyes.
I've never seen him look at me like that…
Something twisted in Mike's heart. A spark seemed to grow in his dark elf's eyes.
"Go." Kemal demanded as he and Katil flew into their ravine unnoticed.
"What are we looking for?" The dragon hummed while landing on a stuck out rock.
"I'm sure I'll know once I see it." The smaller man whispered. "Can we go deeper?"
"Not recommended." Katil frowned but that didn't deter his mate.
"Thanks for the suggestion." He smirked before climbing down first.
"This is not a proper ravine, this is self made." Katil followed close by, his fingers shifting into black claws.
"What do you mean by that?"