It was now three days later,
High time for them to return back to Mondstadt...
...
Yet a certain Archon was having a dilemma...
-I am glad that everyone changed back to their normal age, I really do. -Venti started, trying to look and sound reassuring, yet badly failing. -...Even though my adorable babies are all grown up now...-He couldn't help sadly adding, making said "adorable babies" blush in growing embarrassment. -...But getting back to Mondstadt, now, while also taking all those squirrels with me, per our agreement...-He turned to look at said squirrels in barely hidden annoyance, which only rose the more of them he noticed there were. Seriously, why were there so many of them...? Why did they have to reproduce so much...? -...Maybe I should just collect them all up in a big pile and yeet it all the way to Mondstadt...?
-HEY!
-How cruel of you, wind god!
-Are you really planning to toss us across?!
-Just like you did with our ancestors!
And more angry yells were soon heard from the pissed looking squirrels,
All of them now agitatedly stomping their feet, their cheeks puffed wide...
*A reaction that Venti, in his current confusion, noticed over their words,
As he was now wondering why they were suddenly looking so comically mad...
...
It wasn't due to something he said, was it...?
Because he didn't remember saying anything that would...
-Venti, instead of yeeting the poor squirrels, how about we think of a more careful way to get all of them across...? -His thoughts were interrupted by a conflicted looking Amber, who was currently trying really hard not to look towards a specific sibling duo. -Flying is really fun, but not like this and for such a long distance. They might get motion sickness. -She added in some concern, pretty certain that it's going to be the case. But flying was still really fun, so if they just found another way, one that...Wait...-Venti, remember that time during the Ludi Harpastum when you sent those jerks flying in an air bubble...? You can do something similar to that, just without pilling them all together and instead making an air bubble around each squirrel and then...!
-Or I can just put them all in my "Hammerspace" for the duration of our trip back. Should do the trick, right...? -Venti interrupted her, looking annoyed about the whole thing. -...It would be way easier than having to make air bubbles for all of them individually, that's for sure...
He soon added, looking between the squirrels with an amused smirk on his face,
One which they all noticed, before long their expressions turning from confused to mad again...
-Stop it already, wind god!
-Stop making fun of us!
-We are not luggage!
And more mad and raisingly annoyed yells were soon heard, ones which a certain Archon was acting as if he wasn't hearing,
All the while Vennessa and Dvalin were looking at him with a weary expression, while the others were having various reactions of their own to this scene...
...
Everyone but Barbara and Jean, that is,
Who were currently frozen in place, deep red in embarrassment...
*And unknowingly worrying their parents, who weren't sure what to do about this,
As both Frederica and Seamus realized why their daughters were reacting this way...
...
It was due to the events of the last few days:
Becoming babies and getting dotted on by Venti,
And even now when they are back in their usual forms...
"...Even though my adorable babies are all grown up now..."
...
It was definitely too much for them both,
Which soon made the two completely unresponsive...
...
...
-...Seamus, I can't really blame Venti for getting so attached to our daughters. -Frederica couldn't help quietly saying, as she soon took the Kamera out of her Vision's "Hammerspace", looking at it fondly. -Our daughters were truly adorable and precious...So much so that I can't help wishing they would have stayed small for a little bit longer. And this time, as a family, we could...
Her voice cut of right there, as she started to imagine all the things they could do,
All the things they could do in the past, before the split and the divide of their family...
...
A divide which both of them were responsible for,
Especially her, who was way too stubborn at the time to realize this was wrong...
*Even if she and Seamus didn't want to live together anymore, splitting up their daughters was just cruel...
...
Jean and Barbara shouldn't have paid for their parents mistakes,
And as a mother, she should have loved them both equally...
...
...
If only she was less stubborn and more understanding at the time,
Maybe then their family could have...
-Frederica, love, it's alright. Thanks to our Archon's blessing, our family is together now, all of us alive and well. -She suddenly felt herself being enveloped in a hug, one which was so gentle and warm. -It's still not late to make amends with our daughters and return to being a loving family again, just like we were in the past. -At these words, Frederica gratefully returned the hug. -...We are already, slowly but steadily, working on rebuilding our familiar relationship. Hopefully, in time...
-KLEE IS NOT GROWN UP ANYMORE! -The little pyromaniac suddenly yelled out, sounding distressed and looking like she was on the verge of tears, both her words and expression instantly turning all the attention towards her. -I won't be able to look after others like mom or take all the fun stuff she left for me! I wanted to take it all back to Mondstadt with me, but now...!
-I can put them all in my "Hammerspace" for the time being, Klee. -Venti reassured her, before glancing towards the squirrels standing nearby. -After all, apparently staying in a separate and big space while we travel is just too hard for some "people". -He added, his expression turning amused. -Oh, my bad, they are not really "people", are they now...? And not even truly animals, either. They are actually small and annoying balls of brown fur that you just want to YEET somewhere far far away so they would stop bugging you~
He couldn't help saying in even more amusement, a smirk soon appearing on his face,
And before long, the "Mad Squirrels skit" started once more...
Xiao looked really cute right now,
Even while back in his usual form, he looked so cute...
...
Just like a little kitten~
...
-...Traveler, can you stop looking at me like that...? -Xiao couldn't help saying, starting to get embarrassed again, especially when he remembered what brought this about. Honestly, he wasn't even sure anymore if traveling to Mondstadt was a good idea...-...I still feel ashamed for how I acted when I was in the form of a mere toddler. The way you are looking at me now doesn't make things any better...
He admitted, feeling himself become even more embarrassed,
As the Yaksha berated himself for reacting in such an emotional way...
...
He should have been better than this,
To act so childishly, even now...
...
...
Even though he was back in his usual, Yaksha form,
The time when he was turned into a toddler and got his wings back...
...
Truthfully, it wasn't so bad...
...
...
If only everyone weren't acting so embarrassingly clingy towards him,
Coddling him so much, as if he was a mere human child!
*And what the Traveler did to him was even worse!
These photos of his embarrassing state, the blackmail!
...
...
He still had to repay Lord Barbatos for temporarily returning his wings to him,
He still had to repay him for making him small, which caused everyone to show him so much attention...
*And after what happened in the Chasm, truthfully, he really needed it,
But he was never going to admit it outloud...
...
...
For the last remaining Yaksha of Liyue and the Conqueror of Demons,
Showing this shamefully embarrassing side of himself to one of his saviors...
*He already showed it to Yánwáng-dìjūn and was so ashamed he felt like dying...
...
...
...
Why did he suddenly become such an utter embarrassment...?
Why couldn't he keep his emotions in check, even a little…?
…
Did the time in the Chasm affect him this much…?
Was this a remaining negative effect from becoming a child…?
…
Or was it actually both of these things…?
"IT'S RAINING SQUIRRELS!"
Was a really weird thing for anyone to yell, sure,
And yet, the people of Mondstadt were currently experiencing just that:
Numerous brown squirrels raining down from the sky,
All of whose descent slowed down right before reaching the ground...
...
Slowly but surely creating a big furry circle of the poor fainted critters...
-It's that stupid bard's doing, I am pretty sure of it. Is he perhaps dead drunk again...? -Diluc couldn't help saying aloud, already starting to feel a headache coming. -...A shame I didn't bring an umbrella with me, isn't it...?
He asked in a deadpan voice, looking at the squirrel-fall with a blank expression,
This reaction making Kaeya, who stood on his right side, hold himself back from laughing...
*This whole insane situation and his brother's reaction to it were just way too hilarious to keep a straight face!
...
But since things were supposed to be "serious", he would try acting appropriately this once,
After all, who would have expected the Impromptu Meeting to have such a dramatic start~
-..."Venti" knows how to make an unexpected entrance, that's for sure...~ -Kaeya couldn't help admitting aloud, still feeling really amused by the whole thing, his amusement rising when a big shadow suddenly appeared above the city. -...And it seems like the "show" is going to continue~
He added as the shadow suddenly shone in an aqua light, quickly making the familiar dragon form smaller,
And before long, the now humanoid form and eleven others were slowly floating down from the sky,
The remaining falling squirrels making quite the hilarious and dramatic background for their descent...
...
-YAY! VENTI IS REALLY FEELING BETTER NOW!
-Daddy seems to be happy again!
-Looks like he is having a lot of fun!
-My friends would have done a better job than those squirrels!
-The squirrels seem to be sleeping now! They look so cute!~
And more enthusiastic yells were soon heard from Mondstadt's children,
All of them have been looking at the scene with interest until now...
*Something which was quite apparent to everyone watching...
...
As the adults and even most of the teens were still really confused about this whole thing...
...
...
They all were asked to gather at the Statue Plaza,
In order to welcome the group back and start with the "Meeting"...
...
The same group whose members left Mondstadt almost a week ago,
On a vacation in order to help their Archon overcome his grief and finally start feeling better about himself...
...
And then it suddenly started raining squirrels,
Out of practically nowhere...
...
Literal squirrels...!
...
...
Even for Mondstadt standards, the whole thing still felt really weird...
...
...
...
But it really looked like "Venti" was feeling better now,
This kind of dramatic entrance was something he would surely do...
...
So even if the whole scene felt like a fever dream, it was surely worth it, right...?
...
-Hi everyone, I am back! And feeling better than ever~ -Venti happily said at the end of everyone's dramatic descent, reassuring those gathered around that he was really alright now. -...And I have you all to thank for it, for staying with me for all this time and helping me feel better. You truly saved me again.. -He soon added, his smile turning warmer, before it suddenly fell. -...Ever since I...Lost my friend again, everything felt just so bleak that I...-He deeply sighed, before looking at everyone gathered around, his expression turning warm again. -Thank you, for accepting me as I am even with all my faults. Thank you for still showing me so much love and care. It makes me feel so happy~ -He couldn't help adding, while happily twirling in place, creating a small wind current around himself. -...When I was depressed and closed myself off from the world(literally and fugitively), you still supported me in which ever way you could. Even though it must have felt like a seemingly impossible task...-...When he just kept blaming himself for everything and worrying everyone...-And even after that, accompanying me to the "Golden Apple Archipelago", even when I was still so irritated and prone to lash out...-...When he was so easily getting mad at the slightest inconvenience...-...And then, the backlash of me using my Time Powers...No one blamed me for what happened. On the contrary, even if people looked annoyed or inconvenienced by it, they reassured me that it wasn't my fault. -...They never blamed him for suddenly making them younger or older...-...We just continued the "quest" given by Alice, while taking care of the de aged group members. Seamus and Frederica even let me hold and play with their adorable daughters, while settling on following us around and taking photos! -He soon added while turning to look towards said "daughters", his expression turning fond. -And I am truly grateful for their immense trust in me! Babies Barbara's and Jean's adorableness healed my old soul~ -At these words, the two sisters started blushing again. -...And then, during that same evening, when half of the group went to sleep...-He added in a quieter voice, soon telling a summary of what happened and his ultimate realization. One which he should have made way sooner...-...I should have realized it sooner, the true relationship between myself, Mondstadt and its people, between you all. All the sights were already there, but in my guilt and self loathing, I didn't want to accept even the possibility. Even though, for all this time, from the Fatui attack and until now...-...They never hated him or were disappointed in how their "Lord Barbatos" turned out...It was all in his own mind...-...My decision from before: "I will let go of the past with my friend and would no longer dwell on it and what might have been...But I can't forget about it.", I am going to follow it through, so there is no need to worry anymore. -He promised, while looking between everyone gathered with a warm smile. -So if you will still have me, even as imperfect as I am...-He soon made his bard outfit disappear and a familiar robe appeared in its place. -...I will gladly stay here with you all. This should be alright, right...?~