Here's chapter one of A Legacy of Vitriol. I can't say how long this one will run for but I don't intend to make it too long.
ThatAnon: Silver Creek Hollow was mentioned in an earlier chapter of LoV, about number 13/14. But yes, a mild reference once again to Kingdom Hearts (Eraqus being Terra, Aqua and Ventus's master) Gou is the name I always use for Kai's first born son because it's from the Manga (No I haven't read it) and his mother of course varies. Why would Wyborg dispose of him? She has feelings for Seaborg so he's still alive. I'll try and do something with them in chapter two.
Chapter One
Tired. That's how Kai felt as he opened his eyes. Before him he saw Karrok the Sphinx. Looking around, he found the glass tank still surrounding him. Karrok noticed crimson eyes turned brown by the green liquid were staring evilly at him. "Vesper! He's awake!" Into view came the female Sphinx who Kai had never learned the name of. She looked thinner, an indicator that her offspring had been born. Kai shook his head to rid it of the water once his tank was drained. The door flew open, allowing a rush of cold air to contact Kai's naked body. The Sphinx he assumed was Vesper removed the mask that had allowed him to breathe, a smile on her angelic face. "That's a journey I won't be forgetting for a long time." "How do you feel young one?" "Groggy and in need of some ale. My throat is more parched than the driest desert." "We do not have ale here but I'll fetch you some water. Karrok, help our friend to get dressed." "Yes my dear." Kai's clothes were so clean they looked freshly washed. Karrok allowed Kai time to dry himself before helping the Firosian King to dress. Not only did the garments look clean but they felt super soft against Kai's somewhat sore skin. The sound of released air drew all eyes to the other container. Yonah's blue eyes were partially open. Kai stood at the ready with a dry towel, waiting for her to fall. And fall Yonah did. "K-Kai? Brother?" "Hush Yonah. It's all right." "Where are we? What's going on?" "It's a long story Yonah. Sit down and I'll tell you everything." Yonah would've done just that had she not seen Karrok.
With the loudest shriek Kai had ever heard, Yonah hid behind her brother for protection. Karrok looked quite hurt in Kai's opinion. "Calm down, Yonah. This is Karrok. He's a Sphinx." "W-Why is he here?" "It's thanks to Karrok and his mate, Vesper, that you're still here so show some respect." Finally Yonah identified she was wearing no clothes, her cheeks burning red. Karrok caught on to Yonah's discomfort and embarrassment, leaving the room with very pink cheeks. Looking at Yonah now, Kai noticed she'd grown and the clothes he'd brought her in were gone. Nearby sat some suitable garments along with the chain holding Yonah's wedding ring. Vesper came back not long after Yonah was fully dressed. "How do you feel young lady?" "I feel like a new woman. Thank you. We can go home now, right?" Kai looked to Vesper, hope glinting in his eyes. "Yes you are free to go. Come. I will form a portal to take you home." Into the room came five Sphinx cubs looking all excited. They gifted Kai new fastenings for his marvellous cape and Yonah a necklace. She and Kai also received gold bangles from the children. The air outside the ship was crisp and fresh. Kai and Yonah both took in a deep breath before assuming their Dragon forms. A hole of total nothingness appeared with the lifting of Vesper's hand. Kai made a silent promise to return one day and visit the Sphinx family. He was sure Yonah was thinking the same as they dove head first into the portal with a roar of farewell and eternal gratitude.
Dranzer sat in the throne room, fanning at herself to try and cool down. Temperatures were at a record high in Firos. All was quiet until… "Mama!" A little boy identical to Kai pounced onto Dranzer with an older, more adorable Aqua. They were no older than five at the most. With a light hearted chuckle Dranzer embraced the children. "Can we go play in the garden today mama?" Asked the boy. Dranzer couldn't say no to the face she was given. "All right Gou. Let me get my cardigan and we'll go. I hope you didn't make your uncle Freyan angry again." Said Hiwatari trudged into the room, hair a royal mess. His eyes portrayed annoyance at the children, grabbing the little Kai junior in a playful headlock. The sight made Dranzer laugh. It had been a long five years since Gou's birth. With every month that passed, everyone lost hope of Kai and Yonah coming home. Freyan tenderly kissed Dranzer on the cheek and gave her dainty hand a squeeze. "Good morning brother." "It would be a good morning if the kids didn't pull me out of bed by my thumbs again. Did you sleep well?" "The same as always. And you?" "Very little. I'm worried, Dranzer. It's been five years now." Freyan glanced to Gou, seeing Kai's crown hanging from the boy's belt on a Ruby red chain. Dranzer wasn't sure how everyone had coped over the years. They were all about to leave the throne room when a chorus of roaring split the air. Freyan's pulse raced, thinking that Salamulian had finally come to attack the city. What Freyan saw brought tears to his sleepy blue eyes. Outside the city walls were two Dragons, both of them familiar. At first Freyan thought he was seeing things, rubbing at his eyes but the Dragons were still there when he lowered his hands.
Dranzer knew something was wrong when Freyan pounced off the balcony in Serendin form, running skilfully down the castle wall. In no more than a few minutes Freyan was out in open, staring in disbelief at the creatures before him. "Kai? Could it really be?" In response the purple Dragon returned to the sky. Once there it curled up and breathed a trail of red hot flames around it. The citizens of Firos all looked up, cheering gleefully. Their King had come home at last! There was no room for doubt in Freyan's mind now, sprinting towards his landing brother. Kai's talons only just had chance to kiss the ground when his neck was grabbed fiercely. He growled softly to soothe Freyan as he wept tears of joy. In Kai's eyes Freyan was overreacting to him being gone nine days. Yonah soon grabbed Freyan's attention, kissing his cheek tenderly. Freyan was not blind to the increase in Yonah's size. She towered Kai by a few feet when he stood on all fours. While his siblings were busy cuddling, Kai unleashed a softer roar, hoping to draw somebody else out of the castle. To his glee Dranzer appeared on the balcony. She could scarcely believe her eyes, flying with haste once she took up her Phoenikrai form. In the garden, Max was just visiting the statue of his father with a fully grown Svarog and older Ventus. The boy was identical to Yonah in almost every way minus one eye and the blonde streaks in his hair. Max looked heavenward at feeling a strong draft flying by, spying Dranzer heading for the field beyond the gates.
Ordering Svarog to watch Ventus, Max went to see what all the fuss was about. In the sky above, Dranzer and Kai clashed and darted into the clouds while circling one another. With care not to restrain Dranzer's wings, Kai coiled around her affectionately. Down below, Max was rooted to the spot. In Freyan's arms he spied a now human Yonah, taking in all the changes she'd gone through. Most notably, she was wearing her wedding ring on the right finger instead of a chain. Without hesitation he ran to hold her. Yonah had never been happier to have Max's arms around her, sobbing into the crook of his strong neck. He shed his own tears of relief, not daring to let Yonah go. Her keen hearing picked up faint whimpers from Max, primarily one about him fearing she'd died and that was why Kai hadn't come home sooner. "That's a silly notion and you know it, cariad." "How could I not worry? You collapsed right in front of me. On top of that nothing could wake you up once your eyes closed." "I'm all better now. And I'll never leave you again. Not even in death." Freyan rolled his eyes and turned away when Max pulled Yonah into a very passionate kiss, feeling every inch of her figure with eager hands. Kai had come down from the sky with Dranzer. They sat snuggling and crooning softly, glad to be together again. Up on the balcony Gou and Aqua watched the reunions with confused faces. They were distracted by the doors of the throne room opening, allowing a much healthier Kyoya to walk in. "What are you two gawking at?" "Mom and uncle Freyan are with people we don't know." "Oh? Let me have a look and see if I can't identify them. There must be a reason your mother and uncle went outside the city."
Down on the field below Kyoya's blue eyes immediately caught on to who was visiting. Or rather, returning. Gou wasn't sure he liked the look of sheer happiness on Kyoya's face. "Uncle Yoya?" "I can see why they're so happy. Your father and auntie are finally home." "Dad's back?!" "Yeah. You want to meet him don't you?" Kyoya had no time to restrain the young prince as he vaulted over the balcony rail, his body transforming into a dark blue Phoenikrai. An adolescent dark blue Phoenix wasn't far behind him, a panicked expression on its face. A tiny shriek grabbed Dranzer's undivided attention, turning back to the castle. A fierce wind blew by, knocking Gou off balance, the Phoenix too. Dranzer's motherly instincts drove her into flight to catch the boy before he fell. Kai wasn't sure what to make of the situation. He did remember Dranzer going into labour the day he left but the chick before him looked too old to be his child. It seemed Dranzer had gotten a lot of practice catching the prince as she did so with ease. Now that Gou was in front of Kai, he was petrified. From afar he didn't look so big. Dranzer wasn't surprised that Gou hid under her wing out of fear for the Dragon in front of them. To try and look less intimidating, Kai shrunk down to his usual mortal size. "Dranzer, who is this?" "What do you mean? Surely you recognise your own son, Kai." "That can't be possible. I've only been gone nine days. How could he get so big in such a short time?" "Kai. You've been gone five years. We were worried something bad had happened to you."
Needless to say Kai wasn't taking the revelation well. Why had Vesper and Karrok not told him five years passed while he'd slept? Thinking back, it never occurred to him that the Sphinx cubs looked too big to be a few days old. Yonah's growth spurt was a clear indicator that a lot of time did indeed go by. For a fleeting moment Kai thought Vesper had sent him to an alternate world but if that were so, Gou probably wouldn't exist and he'd still be commander of the knights. In the end, all Kai could do was accept that he'd missed five whole years of his son's life, falling to his knees. Gou had imagined his father to be a strong man who did not fall victim to his emotions. Yet before him was his father, mentally exhausted and quite upset. Being young, Gou didn't have the energy to retain his alternate form, shrinking back to being a little boy. Kai's weary eyes snatched a glimpse of gold dangling from Gou's waist. "You must think me a horrid father, being gone for five years. Gou, I know you probably don't remember but before I left Firos to find the cure for Yonah, I left my crown for you to hang on to. Little that I knew you'd be born the same day we left. While it's true I wanted to turn back, to be there when you finally emerged, your mom insisted that Yonah should be put first. You don't have to be afraid, Gou. I'm home now." Said boy looked up to Dranzer, receiving a nudge in Kai's direction. Witnessing Kai holding his son for the first time warmed everyone. Kai knew Gou wanted to cry but the boy was too proud to let any tears fall. "It's okay to cry, son. You've been strong for so long and I'm proud of you for that. But sometimes, a good cry will make you even stronger." Kai's coaxing worked much to Dranzer's surprise.
Gou didn't weep for long, drying his bright crimson eyes hastily. He stood for a moment, gazing into the eyes of his father. The man Freyan described to him could finally be seen beyond the small smile Kai donned. Dranzer knew Kai would want his crown back, pecking at the headpiece chained to Gou's waist. "Go on. Give your dad his crown back. He'll be mad if you don't." Apparently Freyan had told Gou that Kai was not to be crossed at any one time given how quickly the boy moved. Gou squeaked loudly when he was hoisted up onto Kai's shoulder. "Dad, your hair is in the way." "Just drop the crown on my head and it'll fit into place." Gou did as he was told, releasing the golden crown over the top of Kai's head. Unfortunately Kai's hair had grown thicker over five years. Everyone laughed at the face Kai pulled. With care not to catch Kai's forehead with her claws, Dranzer dislodged the grey spikes of hair, allowing the crown to fall into its proper place. "I really need a trim. Thank you, love. As much as I've slept for five years, I still feel tired." "You can't go to bed yet dad. You haven't met the others." The idea of being surrounded by eager friends made Kai groan loudly. He just wanted to rest. "Maybe later, Gou. Down you go. You're heavy for someone so small. I trust he's behaved?" The question was aimed at Dranzer and she nodded. "Apparently your threat stuck firm, dear. But he does torture your brother in the mornings. You never said he couldn't." "True I didn't. But it stops now young man. I'm surprised Freyan hasn't killed you yet."
Once in the castle, Kai made a beeline for the bed he shared with Dranzer. No matter how much Gou protested and pulled on Kai's trouser leg, he couldn't stop his father from getting more shut eye. Aqua did what she could to cheer her brother up with some help from Ventus. Yonah had also gone to get some sleep despite wanting to see her son again. After two hours Kai emerged from the bedroom in only his trousers, finding himself immediately pounced on by Gou. "Dad!" "Ack! Can't you give your old man a break?" "But you just got home." Kai grumbled, scratching his head. Aqua watched with bewildered eyes as he sat on the throne beside Dranzer's. A few servants came in with trays of food and drink. Looking around the room Kai found nothing had changed, his tired eyes resting on Aqua. She nervously moved towards him when he gestured for her to do so. "Look at how much you've grown. Come on, don't be shy. I won't bite." "D-Daddy? Why you away so long?" "I wish I had the answer, Aqua. But healing takes time. Auntie Yonah was very ill. But she's all better now." Aqua's fear of Kai faded once she was sitting on his lap next to Gou. Yonah came striding into the room, Max at her side. Ventus was off to one side with Svarog. As soon as Max came into view however the boy burst to life. Ventus was a curious child in Dranzer's eyes. Without his dad he was nothing but a hollow shell but put him with Max and he'd never sit still. Max lifted Ventus high above his head smiling, bringing him down into a hug a few seconds after. Having no memory of his mother, Ventus shied away from Yonah, eyes fearful. "It's okay, sport. That's your mom." "M-Mommy? Why you go?"
"I was sick, baby. I'm so sorry I couldn't be there as you grew up. But from now on, I'll be here for you, Ventus." Yonah would've taken Ventus from Max if Svarog didn't grab her for a cuddle. At around six years old, the Alvaris Wyvern was taller than Suzaku. "Svarog! Gosh you got big. What've you been feeding him?" "Fruit, bugs and venison. He loves his venison, don't you boy?" Just hearing the word venison got Svarog excited. Seeing a Wyvern behaving like a playful puppy made Yonah laugh. "You big softy. Mama's home now." Looking in Kai's direction, Yonah noticed he'd fallen asleep. A boom of thunder woke him up, eyes darting around in fright. "Well aren't you a bit jumpy my lord?" In the doorway stood Kyoya, a big smile on his face. "What was that for?" "Come now, you can't rule a country fast asleep. I'd like you to meet my son, Taelyn." At Kyoya's side stood a boy no older than four with spiked back brown hair and the same blue eyes as the Gold Mage. When the child got closer, Kai saw the bottom half of his hair was lavender. "I see you took things further with Cryska." "If not for you my lord I never would have found the perfect woman. Taelyn, this is King Kai. He's been away for a long time to help his sister get better." Taelyn got down on one knee without being told, head bowed down low. Kai wondered if Freyan had any children over the five years he'd been gone. That nagging wonder was fulfilled when Freyan arrived, a boy and girl on either side. The boy, aged around five was Hiromi's twin. The girl was all Freyan, no older than two.
A short but sweet start I think. As a rough scale, Suzaku is around say 8ft tall whereas Svarog is tickling 11ft tall, likely around the same in length. I hope to have chapter 2 up soon if my inspiration stays with me