New Year's Special: The Dawn of a New Year
AU-Destiny: Skyfall (Same timeline as the Christmas Special)
NOTE: AGAIN, SPECTRE IS KNOWN AS 'NERO' OR 'SPARDA'.
2347 Hours, December 31, 2724
Pendragon Residence, Red Veil Territory, -OMITTED- Location (Earth)
"I can't believe you talked me into staying, brother."
"Light, give your hunt for the Cyphers a break for one day. We're undoing their tyranny and what we're doing is what we wanted for a long time." Sparda said, staring out into the blackened sky where dots have scattered the sky. But tonight, there were fireworks starting to explode in the sky. Patterns of many colors spread out in the sky, preparing the rest of the Dark Knights and Guardians among them for the New Year.
"But─"
"Come on, Auntie! Pleease?" Rose begged, sitting on her auntie's lap and resorting to wrapping herself in her cloak to stop her shivering as well as leaning her head on her shoulder. "I missed you! Why can't you stay with us for a while?"
Lightning looked down at her niece, her emerald eyes practically looking similar to a certain mutt's puppy dog eyes. Smiling faintly, she ran a hand over Rose's hair and under the hood of the cloak. She was careful to mind her feet, since her brother's dog was sleeping at her feet. Damn mutt, sleeping on my boots… At least Hayate has the decency to sleep at my side or lap without snoring. Lightning rolled her eyes, remembering why she preferred cats over dogs.
"You really did miss me that much, huh Rose?"
Rose nodded eagerly. "You never come home lately! I wanted to have fun with you!"
"I…I have work to finish. Serious work, Rose," Lightning said. "Besides, you have Neo to play with."
"Light, I think that's enough. Besides, who else practically begged you to stay for New Year's?" Sparda chuckled, taking his daughter in his hands and letting her sit on his shoulders. "I don't want to beg again, but please. Do you want what happened to us to happen to Rose? With mom and dad?"
Lightning looked down at her hands, contemplating on should she repeat it again or actually give it a rest and let the rest of the kazoku handle her mission. For years, she had brushed away the offer for help no matter what it was. That was excluding the times the rest of the kazoku had insisted on it. "…No. I don't want to repeat history."
Neo started to stir, the light snoring coming to an end. The dog stretched and yawned before staring up at its owner, sitting on its hind legs and panting. It barked, wagging its tail for some attention.
The leader of the Dark Knights knelt down and started patting Neo's head. "Hey bud, had a nice nap?" His companion for many years barked. At the same time, Rose's Ghost had come close with the canine, scanning it curiously before inching away with a commanding bark.
Rose pointed a finger at Neo, Hikari returning over her shoulder like it was scared. "Bad boy! You scared Hikari!" Neo whined, giving the puppy eyes at the little girl.
The door leading to the balcony of the residence slid open, and in came Vesper with a tray of hot cocoa to counteract the cold. "Did I miss anything?"
"Mommy!"
Lightning stood from the balcony couch and helped her sister in law with the tray, setting it down next to the bench. "Been a while, huh Vesper?"
"Please, it was only six days since we saw each other. And that was on Christmas." Vesper said, folding her arms and grinning. "I swear, it's like you and Cloud are off doing something we're not aware of! Can't you spare some time with us as well?"
Tohsaka only scoffed at the comment. But Vesper saw better as a faint red was on her face. "You must be too up in your marriage to think that Cloud and I─"
"Oh, c'mon Light. You're starting to act like him. I mean, it's not like someone you loved dearly passed away from this world anymore," Vesper said, playfully imitating her sister-in-law. "Cheer up! The New Year's gonna be here soon!"
"But, I─"
"Ah ah ah. None of the 'brooding' here, Lightning. Besides, you might make Rose cry with that kind of behavior."
She had given up. There was no way that she would talk her out of it otherwise with her change in the past twelve years. Lightning shrugged. "Even after being married and having a daughter in the past twelve years, you're still the same Vesper we all knew and loved."
"There's no way I'll change! Not in a million years!"
In the midst of it all, the little girl giggled at the small 'argument' between her mommy and auntie. Hikari cocked its shell sideways and looked up to its partner's father. Her tiny hands reached for a cup on the table and her daddy reached one for her. She thanked him and started blowing down on the hot cocoa. "Cloak not enough to keep you warm tonight?" Rose nodded.
"It's cold, daddy." Smiling, Sparda set her down on the couch and sat down next to her. Rose looked down on the cup and frowned if it was too hot for her. He reassured her it was safe for her to drink and she took a sip. She watched as her father took a cup and hold it with both hands. "Daddy?"
"Yes Rose?"
"Why do you fight with Auntie?"
Sparda was slightly taken aback at this question asked to him by his young daughter. He looked down at his cup and sipped from it. He assumed she picked up on how he and Lightning talk every time she comes home. From hunting the remnants of the Cyphers. "Rose, your Auntie and I don't fight. We just…have some disagreements."
"Why, daddy? Is it because she doesn't come home a lot?"
Sparda wanted to say 'yes', but this was a little girl he was talking to. His little girl. "It's because of how she wanted to get back at the people that hurt her. In here," he pointed at both his heart and head. "Those bad people also hurt me. Even your uncles, Aunt Aqua, and your mommy. So, those years of being under their rule caused us to loathe them. And eventually, we overthrew them."
"And you became king!"
Sparda chuckled at his daughter using the word 'king' to describe his place in power now. "Well, I guess you could say that," he looked out into the skies, where the fireworks were starting to increase in frequency. Guess it'll be time soon. "Do you know what our last name means, Rose?"
Rose shook her head. "What does it mean, daddy?"
"In some old language, Pendragon means 'head dragon.' Your grandfather chose that name for us all."
"So do we have an actual dragon's head in the house?" Rose asked, shakily taking another sip. "That's gross. And scary."
"No, Rose. 'Head dragon' means that we are leaders, like the leaders of the pack. A pack of dragons or wolves. So, I guess that makes us kings and queens as you'd put it."
Rose's eyes lit up happily. "Is that why we have a dragon for the family symbol?!" she pointed at her daddy's jacket, where the family crest was sewn onto the sleeve clear to see.
"Funnily enough, yes. I didn't question it, not even once." Sparda looked around the balcony for Neo, only to find him gone. Must've gone down to the front lawn or backyard. Always did have a habit of wandering off to some part of the house to avoid the commotion… Hopefully he and Hayate don't run into each other again. The last thing I need is another torn up couch or carpet from their scuffle.
Rose had finished the last of the hot cocoa and set the cup aside. "Daddy, what do you wish for?"
Sparda looked down at his daughter and smiled warmly. "It's already happening, Rose. Ever since I took my rightful place as leader of the Dark Knights," he said, bringing his daughter close to him and watching the fireworks with her. "I wish for the Dark Knights and Guardians to come as one once again. Just as it was over a hundred years ago."
It was then that Vesper and Lightning sat down on the couch alongside the two generations of the Pendragon name, exhausted from their 'argument'. Vesper picked up her daughter and set her on her lap, turning back the cloak into a scarf. Rose hugged her mother and snuggled up to her. "Mommy?"
"Rose, I already have what I wished for. Your father, you, and peace at last amongst us all. But I wish this peace will last forever, and this family." With that said, Sparda simply smiled and rested his head against his wife's, taking her hand into his. "And you, Rose?"
Rose had clutched at her cloak-turned-scarf and looked at her Ghost, the turquoise light as though in agreement with what she will say. She looked over at her aunt, who smiled at her and knew what she would say.
"All I want this New Year is for everyone to be happy," Rose stared up towards the sky, illuminating with countless fireworks. "And no one fighting."
Even as the three adults knew what she would say, the next generation Pendragon gave them a feeling of warmth. Vesper hugged her daughter back as the Pendragon twins smiled and ran a hand through her hair.
"Mommy…daddy…auntie…" she murmured, yawning and embracing them as best she could.
"That's my little rose," Sparda whispered softly. He looked at his watch. 12:03 AM. "Happy New Year, Rose."
Rose nodded softly, Vesper's eyes filling with tears of joy before they closed.
"Happy New Year…daddy…"
Happy belated New Year, Guardians! I hope you had a fantastic New Year and I'll see you guys in II-XVII!
