"Are you sure?" Sun asked one last time only to be shoved forward by Mikel.
"Okay, okay, I'll do it."
The blonde walked forward, his hand extending towards a giant seal. The barrier shrunk carefully, all of its magic aiming to block those violent wind currents surrounding Sun. Winds began pushing the freshly vulnerable cloaked figures back.
"Okay! Here I go!" With one more straining step forward Sun's hand got dangerously close towards the vibrating portal-like orb.
"ME TOO!" Mikel screamed while lunging himself against the blonde with all his might.
Azul suddenly vomited pools of lava, with the currents blowing it wildly towards the masked strangers, their shields strengthened around themselves leaving Sun exposed to both wind and attack.
Currents and cries turned violent, ceasing its opportunity to blast both thief and blonde.
Azul transformed into a large cloud, throwing himself against his new ally and riding down a current with them.
"Prisoner?!" Sun gasped, struggling to comprehend where they came from.
"I am feeling real good about you right now!" Mikel was grinning from ear to ear while Azul's flames boosted them towards the very beginning of the cave.
Without wasting a second he raised his hand and pinched the blonde's neck turning him limp instantly. Azul was quick to grab onto the two men more tightly and torpedo head first through the waters while Mikel used his free hand to cover both mouth and nose of his unconscious baggage.
With a high splash the entire lake shook as a fire ball burst out carrying two bodies with it, surprisingly not sizzling. With a roll and crash all three land on the nearby grass field.
"Wow! I didn't know we could do that!" Azul barked while shifting his form once more.
This time he stood tall as a fiery horse, its eyes burning red.
"I hope you know, you're the coolest dude I've ever met so far." Mikel gasped out while jumping onto his high horse.
He propped up Sun's body and held on tightly.
"GO!"
Azul immediately burst into a sprint, a flying orb bursting out of the waters and chasing after them.
I KNEW IT!
"Azul!"
"Understood!" His fiery horse roared.
From running across the grass he began soaring upwards with his platforms, speed increasing dangerously. Flames shot back at a target he couldn't pay attention to, yet it was enough to earn themselves some distance.
Mikel lowered his head once that horse really began to take off. Azul was pacing so fast that the orb could barely keep up, despite its light magic shots it still couldn't put a dent into the giant animal.
He kept his eyes focused below attempting to look for a familiar ravine.
Just when he stopped paying attention a large ball of magic shot directly at Azul's side, sending Azul's makeshift horse stumbling.
The impact managed to throw both men off, Mikel immediately released Sun allowing Azul to grab onto his unconscious body.
Just as Azul was about to grab onto Mikel as well, another shot extinguished the fire shifter's head entirely. His hand reached out to clasp onto any bit of flame he could find only to drop from a height at a speed his pounding heart couldn't realise.
Azul's flame body faded into the distance followed by a bunch of tree crowns turning visible for just a second before everything snapped to black.
—
A loud bell managed to echo through the entire world, sending a burst of magic out to replenish all creatures living in it both dead and alive.
"AH!" Mike yelped without warning, suddenly falling into his elven man's arms with a completely drained look.
His body seemed to practically shine, only dimming seconds after. His horn flickered faintly before extinguishing with a cloud of smoke releasing from it with heavy breath, which only worried the men surrounding him more.
"Are you okay?" Atlas questioned after seeing his beloved fall so weakly.
Mike couldn't explain why his body felt like it took a massive blow, is that how pregnancy felt in this world?
"I'm okay.." He smiled helplessly, propping himself back up with a bit of effort.
"Are you sure?" Another man questioned, clearly concerned as well.
The room was filled with men guarding every wall like their lives depended on it.
"Yeah… Do you have the letters?" The prince beamed while looking around.
"Yes, are you certain you want them back?" Atlas lowered his head respectfully.
"Yes, please." Mike insisted while keeping his hands extended.
Once all his letters were counted and some final readjustments were made a voice suddenly spoke up.
"Are you sure you don't want him to be a part of the baby's life, if you are indeed pregnant." He spoke from among the bandits.
"That's what we agreed to, it's fine isn't it? I carry the baby, I go through all this effort, and then I leave." Mike tilted his head.
Atlas almost fell to his knees in frustration yet he couldn't bring himself to voice it.
"And what if he wanted to be a part of the baby's life?" Another spoke instead of him.
"He can have it then, I can look for another baby." Kioshi hummed in thought, clearly not thinking much of their interaction.
Every man in that room clearly stirred with frustration.
"And? Why are you so insistent on raising a baby alone?" They all spoke, prying for answers.
"Do you not love him?"
"Do you not wish to start a family with him?"
"Was he not the perfect mate?"
"Do you love him?"
Love?
"I never thought of it like that.." Kioshi seemed at a loss of words while folding his arms over his stomach.
I love them, but do I love him the same way? I just wanted a healthy child.
Mike sat down on a pile of cushions while in thought.
"Well? Do you love me?" He finally turned his head to focus on his sperm donor.
Atlas suddenly stopped in his tracks.
His prince's words hung heavy in the air, what were they? He only wanted a baby, while the other immediately assumed more.
What was going through his head?
Everyone fell silent, their eyes focused on their leader.
His next words were critical after all.
"I already have what I want, some plans that I need, and friends to help me through it."
His voice echoed through the men filled room.
"Why should I involve you in those goals? What would you be to me? Is loving you gonna influence my decision making?"
"I can't see myself loving someone who I don't know."
"BUT YOU CAN BIRTH HIS CHILD!?" A man finally snapped.
"It's my child." The prince frowned. "He only helped in making it."
Everyone fell silent, some even pausing their breathing just to take in those words.
My child.
That's right, it's mine. Why is everyone trying to take what's mine!
"What we had was an amazing night, but that's all it was! A night." Mike huffed while turning away. "Not until you show me I can remember it as something else."
Was it hormones turning him this unreasonable?
The elven man stopped to consider his words and suddenly nodded.
This room smells stuffy…
"I wanna go outside!" Mike got up, not taking no for an answer. "And I have to go home soon."
He shuffled out of the room as men reluctantly stepped aside to make way. Atlas followed close by, taking his time to glare at a few men on his way out.
Once fresh air filled his nostrils and Mike finally calmed down he sat on a lush patch of grass.
"Please be careful your majesty, we have sensed someone entering our ravine, we wouldn't want anyone to jump out on you after all." A familiar brunette smiled.
"Did you find them?" Mike pouted.
"No, we checked our ravine over and over during your stay but still couldn't find anything suspicious." He sat down with a grunt, throwing his arms over his knees.
"Well? You got a handsome man to impregnate you! What's your big plan?"
"I'm gonna raise it! With my friends of course." He spoke determinedly.
"Raise a baby with your friends? Why would they raise another man's child?" The larger man hummed.
"I'm not any man, I'm their close friend. And if not then I would still wanna raise my baby." Mike dug his fingers into some dirt while explaining.
"Why so focused on a baby? Is that all you want?"
"Yeah! I wanna raise a child! I always did, I just had no way of achieving that goal until now." Prince Kioshi smiled while meeting the man's eyes.
"Besides, it's not guaranteed that I'm pregnant yet. I don't see a belly nor do I feel sick."
"That could be because our captain is in peak physique, it's always important to stay in tip top shape for your bride to have a guaranteed smooth pregnancy." He gave a thumbs up with a cocky smile. "And believe me, our captain worked out day and night after the first day you arrived!"
"Really?" Mike suddenly perked up at his words.
"And he overworked us! Every night he sent out a few of us to watch you run around at night like a lost ghoul." He smirked while flexing his muscles. "Then again, anyone is safe once I take over the shift!"
The prince let out a chuckle, amused by the blatant boasting.
"So I was watched every night?"
"Yeah! By this man, him, them over there…" He pointed at a few men when he suddenly yanked some grass. "And those vampire twins you met! But they've been avoiding you like the plague, speaking of which.."
He suddenly moved closer.
"You gotta teach me that double knock out!"
Double…
"Oh! When I went past them that day?" Mike suddenly considered.
"I wasn't there so I wouldn't know. But they haven't stopped whining about you being a wench who plans on using our captain for royal matters.." The other whispered almost conspiracy like.
No wonder I haven't seen them since!
"So you guys never heard of it?" Mike smiled contently.
"Now is your time to introduce it!" He nodded eagerly.
"I can't! I'll have to ask my friends first if I can share it with you!"
"So there's more of you that can do this move!?" He gasped. "Who are your friends? I feel like we would get along greatly!"
"I don't think so.."
"No way!"