Author's notes:
Inspired by AepuruARTS, GodSlayer2468, & ButteredSentret, Genshin Kid fics/art.
Here's my contribution for the Fandom.
Here is the Genshin Story enjoy!
Twinkle, twinkle…
Little, Stars…
Paimon, wonders, what you are?
Do you have your father's eyes?
Or your mothers' hair and guise?
Twinkle, twinkle…
Little, Stars…
Trav'ler, loves his..
Twinkling Stars~…
When Aether woke up, he felt a strange headache that persisted in the morning.
He didn't know why, yet a strange throbbing continued to pound lightly in his skull, even after getting up from bed and going through his morning routine.
The traveler guessed, even his companion from last night must of notice his mild distress.
As he felt a soft press of a kiss to his temple when he was in throes of waking up, the act help slightly alleviate the stinging sensation his head was experiencing. Before they left him with a soft whisper of goodbye and a suggestion for him to stay in bed longer.
While his bedmate from last night no doubt went ahead with their personal duties for the day. Aether did appreciate the small act and heeded his companion's advice to rest a little bit longer.
Unfortunately, the extra minutes in bed did little to soothe his headache, but the traveler found it to be a mild discomfort when getting up and concluded that it was nothing he couldn't handle.
And if it did get worse, he'll find the time to check in with a local doctor or even have Tubby inform him if one of his more medically inclined friends were visiting the teapot and ask if he can have an impromptu check-up with them instead.
Today was just too important for Aether to have a headache stop him. He had a lot of work to do, and commissions to finish for the Adventurers guild, with Mora to collect from those jobs to add to his funds for his next step in his journey.
Which was to travel to the Nation of Pyro, Natlan.
And with all the rumors, infamy, and trouble no doubt he was going to face from the land of war, and it's alleged ruler the Archon of War, Aether has to be prepared for everything and then some.
The funds and materials he'll need to collect would help in the long run should he face any obstacle in his travels of the Pyro nation.
Especially since he's heard the Fatui making their move in Natlan, as well as the harbingers who'll he eventually meet and their probably not so beneficial plans to the populace, in their goal of retrieving their Archon's Pyro Gnosis.
And so, despite the mild migraine in his head, Aether still headed out from his home in the Serenitea pot. Said a goodbye to Tubby, while retrieving Paimon, his ever-loyal travel guide and companion/emergency food.
Who spent most of the morning eating their stock of food in the house and depleting such valuable resources.
"Hey!"
"It's true Paimon. Part of our agenda today is grocery shopping… out of your savings. And no arguments."
"W-What?! But!—Oh…O-Okay… fine…"
And they both head off and teleported to their intended destination for the day, Fontaine. Specifically, to the Court of Fontaine: Palais Mermonia were one of their friends reside.
They had a planned appointment to visit with Fountaine's Chief Justice, Neuvillette, and to learn more of the nation of Pyro and what else they could expect from the so-called land of dragons.
And who better to learn from but the Hydro Sovereign himself, as one of Teyvat's reincarnated dragon lords.
While maybe even enjoying a cup of tea—and a glass of water for the Iudex—and treating their appointment as get together of old friends, especially when Aether and Paimon were planning to leave the nation of Hydro in the near future.
It was going to be simple meeting to chat, and nothing strenuous that traveler had to worry about his headache. Right?
.
.
.
Well… Little did Aether would know…
That he was going to regret ignoring his growing migraine until it was too late…
Because, as a traveler of many worlds, he should have known better that an alien entity like himself, does not simply get a headache with no reason.
And as the Fourth Descender of Teyvat, even more so.
Just as each and every Descender that came before him had the power beyond destroying worlds but shaping them as well. Whether his celestials powers were currently sealed or not, they too have already began affecting Teyvat.
His presence and actions alone, have already caused the threads of fate to weave and converge.
The results of such convoluted fate, no doubt will manifest themselves in time and be fulfilled in the future.
A Future… that no one said, can't be brought to the past.
"Hey Aether? Are you sure you're okay?" Paimon asked with worry.
"I'm fine Paimon. Just a little headache…" Aether responds, despite one hand absently clutching his head.
Paimon hovered around the traveler, she didn't look convinced that it was little headache, but Aether was quick to reassure her.
"It will go away in time… and if it does get worse, we can take a pause with our other agendas for the day and go see a doctor about it."
"Well… okay. At least Paimon's glad your taking consideration for your headache." Paimon said, as she finished inspecting him.
"You looked fine yesterday too…" She mused. Before suddenly floating in front of Aether's face, catching him a bit off-guard.
"And you were definitely fine last night, with all the noise you two were making." She then whispered with a flat look. "Paimon couldn't fall asleep quick enough to avoid hearing everything."
Aether flushed at the pixie's statement, before waving it off and responding quietly. "Sorry Paimon. You know how it is…And can we not talk about this in public?"
"Hmph… One day traveler, Paimon's going to stage an intervention with Tubby regarding your nightly escapades." Paimon huffs, before flying along and deciding the leave the other issue for now.
"And the importance of sound proofing, and maybe also where to place Paimon's room in the future… somewhere close where Paimon can get something to snack or keep herself occupied." The little pixie adds with a mischievous grin.
Aether simply smiles at her response, before teasing. "Oh…? Paimon you know I can't move your room next to the kitchen. Who knows what would happen if someone sleepwalked and mistaken your room for the pantry?"
The traveler jest, suddenly exclaiming. "I don't want to risk losing my emergency food!"
"Hey! Not this again! You promised Paimon to limit that joke to once a Month only! If not cut it out before we reach Natlan!"
Aether giggles lightly, while Paimon continues to float with indignation, just as the two companions arrive at their destination, the Palais Mermonia.
As they entered the building, the traveling duo were quick to greet passing personnel and guards patrolling the premises.
They even glanced on a few people they were acquainted with simply going on with their daily tasks, like Iaune and Roialte. The two Gestionnaires were discussing another document the former was struggling to complete, while the latter attempts to prevent his colleague from suffering another nervous breakdown, again.
There were also some Melusines walking about, who were also part of the staff of the Palais Mermonia, or in uniform and members of the court's Marechaussee Phantom.
Aether and Paimon even greeted Sedene as they neared Neuvillette's office, the diligent Melusine dutifully working behind the reception desk, but paused to wave at the traveler and floating pixie. Already expecting their presence and aware of the meeting between them and the Iudex of Fountaine.
Finally, the two companions reached the doors to their friend's office and entered after giving a polite knock signaling their arrival.
"Bonjour, Monsieur Neuvillette…"
"Bonjour Monsieur Neuvillette! Paimon and the Traveler are here! Hope we're not too late."
But upon opening the doors, both Aether and Paimon found Neuvillette not at his place on his main desk, but already seated at his one of his office's couches and ready to greet them.
"Ah, Traveler, Paimon, you've both arrived just in time." Neuvillette said, as he stood up and then gestured to a table with a surprise set up of snacks and drinks.
"I hope you don't mind, but I'm aware this meeting of ours isn't purely for business and is also a get together for friends. Especially when those friends will be leaving soon to Natlan for their journey. So, I had requested our staff to prepare some refreshments that would complement our time together, if that's alright with you." The Iudex explained with a small smile, as both Paimon and Aether were surprised at the gesture but appreciated it, nonetheless.
"Woah! Monsieur you shouldn't have—but Paimon isn't complaining!" Of course Paimon had a greater reaction, as excitement filled her from seeing the snacks and refreshments prepared for them.
"I mean this is more than enough for two people and Paimon!"
Indeed, examining the setup, Aether found the snacks were ranging from small pastries and desserts, like macarons, tiny cakes, and biscuits. While the drinks were a mix assortment of waters sourced from the different regions of Teyvat—no doubt from Neuvillette's collection—and pitchers of different juices and packs of different tea flavors present as well, for those who don't share much with the Iudex meticulous taste.
Neuvillette adds. "Well, for today Sigewinne and Wriothesley would also be visiting to report on the happenings in the Fortress of Meropide. But they would be arriving on a later time, around an hour after our own meeting ends. So I had the staff prepare the quantity of our snacks and drinks based on their inclusion as well. And if they do somehow come earlier than expected, I hope you wouldn't mind them joining us?"
"Well that would explain the assortment of tea—but we don't mind! Right Aether?" Paimon was quick to reply and turning to Aether for approval.
"I don't mind at all, the more the merrier really." Aether happily answers, and it was good he was going to meet more of his friends from Fontaine.
Especially when Sigewinne and Wriothesley had the opportunity to come up to the surface from the fortress, which wasn't so often. He would still have visited them in Meropide before leaving to Natlan anyway.
"If you're okay with us staying a bit longer Neuvillette, we don't mind meeting them too." Aether adds. "It's been a while since we visited the Fortress of Meropide to catch up with those two."
"Oh! Paimon likes that idea, and she can even ask Sigewinne more tips on fashion or the latest trends!" Paimon chimes excitedly in response.
While Neuvillette smiles, not against the idea. "There's no trouble at all Traveler. I suppose…if Lady Furina was here, she would have called this an impromptu tea party."
"Let's just hope there's still snacks left when they arrive, right Paimon?"
"Hey, Paimon can't make any promises!"
The group chuckled together before Paimon and Neuvillette continue to converse, going on the tangent of what kind of food and drinks were present at the table, as they made their way to take their seats.
But as Aether took another step to join Paimon and Neuvillette, he suddenly froze when he felt a tingle rise up from his spine. It being the only warning he had…
Before his headache, spiked.
"AAAUUGGHHHHHH!"
Aether shouted in pain, alerting both Paimon and Neuvillette, as both of his hands clutched his head while the pain continues to intensify.
It was like his head was being stabbed by a thousand needles, his mind feeling a foreign sensation thrust violently deep into his skull. Falling to his knees as the pain was starting to become unbearable, while unable to hide his cries of pain.
"AAAAUUUUUUHHHH!"
"AETHER!"
"TRAVELER!"
His companions called out to him in worry, but due to the searing pain he was enduring, he might as well be deaf to their shouting.
Yet, despite the agony, Aether somehow felt a familiar sensation going through both his mind and soul.
It was the same sensation he felt when he initially connected with Irminsul during his arrival in Sumeru after inhaling some spirit borneol. And similar to when later he traveled with Nahida to heal it from the forbidden knowledge plaguing it.
Then a warmer and pulsing sensation suddenly took over within his body.
Despite his limited capacity to think straight at the moment, Aether likened the new sensation as if a surge of energy was trying to fill in the gaps—no… the void of where his sealed celestial power once flowed in his veins and body—accompanied by the same feeling of receiving vast amounts of information and memories spilling into his head.
Similar to the time he connected with all of Sumeru through the Akasha terminal to face Hat guy, when he was still Scaramouche in his mecha-god body.
And whatever was happening to the traveler, continued to grow in strength. Which fortunately helped him pushed through the pain of his splitting headache and even alleviating it until Aether couldn't feel it anymore.
As if it became a passing thought and replaced with a new more pleasant one, before his entire body…
…suddenly begins to shine.
Moments before, in the seconds when Aether endured his agonizing headache, Paimon and Neuvillette witnessed the traveler collapses to his knees and begin to shake and convulse from the pain while clutching his head.
They immediately moved in response ready to take action to help the traveler, but both the fairy and hydro sovereign were stopped in their tracks, when blinding light burst forth from Aether's entire being.
"WAAAHHH! Aether! What's happening!" Paimon cried out with both fear and worry for her friend, while she covered her eyes involuntary from the glaring rays of the traveler's light.
"UGH—This Light?! Traveler!" Neuvillette grunted in dismay and also shielded his eyes from the intensity of the light that the traveler was producing.
And to the greater shock of the hydro sovereign of Fontaine, he could feel an immense power beginning to emanate from Aether.
Power that he could feel even in his bones.
An incredible force began to push Neuvillette back, no doubt caused by the energy amassing within his friend. Which nearly sent Paimon flying, before the iudex was quickly able to catch the fairy in his arms and then turns his back towards Aether, to shield her from the pressure his newfound power was producing.
All while a growing terror begins to rise within both individuals mixing with their worry for their friend. As both didn't know what's happening to Aether or why he suddenly began to produce a massive amount power.
Unaware that the entirety of Teyvat was also affected by this strange turn of an event… Feeling this sudden spike of energy sprout unexpectedly, as it equally manifest violently.
With Fontaine at its epicenter of this happening.
Outside of the Palais Mermonia, the entire Court of Fontaine shook and trembled, as the entire nation was besiege by an earthquake that to the public, is of an unknown origin.
As the power emanating from the traveler continues to grow, the entire nation of Hydro shakes with violent vibrations and powerful shockwaves running through the land.
Waves near the shores of the country threaten to become tsunamis, while the areas beneath the water's surface were not exempted to the violent shockwaves as they became concussive burst of force randomly sprouting in the dephts of the inland sea.
Many Fontanians cried out in panic and fear, their wails heard everywhere from the Court of Fontaine to even the farther areas like the Fortress of Meropide and Poisson. Within those cries were some individuals lamenting if their nation was suddenly facing another crisis or prophecy of destruction they didn't know of.
While those who placed themselves as protectors of their nation, struggle to bring order to the panicked populace, as even the guards and duelist themselves were also caught off guard by the sudden earthquake.
But while the people of Fontaine despaired, none were able to notice a number of comets suddenly appearing from the sky.
With golden contrails trailing behind golden spheres moving at highspeed across Teyvat's general airspace.
All blazing and flying with purpose, direction, and a goal.
A number of these tiny meteors were already nearing their intended destination.
Flying with intense speed and no change in their momentum to the Palais Mermonia.
And then crashing through Neuvillette's office windows…
Right straight to the traveler—
KRATTTOOOMMMM!
.
.
.
Finally, the shockwaves ceased. And both Fontaine and the rest of Teyvat stood still once more.
Unaware that this was just the beginning.
Paimon couldn't keep up….
One second she was fawning over the cakes and making a mental plan of what snacks and drinks to try first, while Neuvillette explained all the dishes he had his staff prepare.
The next second her best friend nearly gave her a heart attack when he gave a chilling scream of pain—that may haunt her dreams for a few nights— before watching as he fell to his knees and suddenly burst forth enough light that would make even Teyvat's sun to shame.
After that is when things became even more chaotic, as even Paimon could feel the power the traveler was also releasing, nearly blown away from it if not for Neuvillette, and they couldn't see anything due to the blinding light.
Then a loud crashing noise was heard and probably something hit something, before Paimon saw herself knocked out by the impact of whatever it was.
Now she was barely getting her bearings and hoping she would have enough brain juice to figure what the heck was going on.
"Ughh… Paimon doesn't think she was ready for today. She didn't even get to eat some cake yet…"
She heard a light groan and remembered that Neuvillette was still holding her, while fortunately prop on his elbows and preventing his body from crushing her.
",Paimon, are you alright?" Despite being daze, the Iudex still asked for her wellbeing.
"Yeah… Paimon's fine. Just a bit dizzy from everything." Paimon quickly flew up, as Neuvillette stood, and both began to look around. Surveying the room, while they got their bearings.
"Traveler!" Paimon was quick to spot her friend and immediately floated in a rush to his side. But when she arrived at where her friend was, she paused as she found Aether lying unconscious.
His body was still emitting a faint glow, not as glaring as earlier, but Paimon was also appalled as it was not the only thing glowing from the traveler.
As she spotted several spherical golden orbs, nearly the size of watermelons, piled on top of the traveler.
"What the heck?!" Paimon couldn't help her language, as she really wasn't prepared for…this.
She still hasn't wrap her mind around on what happened to her companion and then Aether suddenly has a bunch of glowing shinning orbs on top of him. Which she counts to at least 10 of them from where she's at.
"W-What… where did these things come from?" The fairy asked to no one particular, as more questions pop up in her head.
She was losing more brain juice as the seconds come by, fortunately she was reminded again that she was not alone.
"Apparently… from my window…"
As the Neuvillette made his presence known once more.
"WHAT?!"
Paimon turns to look at the Iudex incredulity, but found the hydro sovereign staring at his window…
…That had exactly 10 round holes, which wasn't there before when Paimon and the Traveler entered earlier.
The holes were also near perfect in shape, and if one to scrutinized them, it would seem that they were made by something melting through the glass panes and shooting through inside. Based on the lack of shattered glass, and remnants of the sizzling heat and melting damage on the office's large window.
Paimon was at loss of what to say, before Neuvillette turned his attention away from his damaged window and back to the traveler and the glowing orbs currently nestled on top of him.
The Iudex scanned at the Traveler's glowing form, furrowing his eyebrows.
"What exactly is going on here?" Neuvillette muttered quietly as he slowly approached his friend and kneeled down to have a closer look at the glowing orbs.
Paimon was quick to follow and floated lower to match Neuvillette's height to scrutinize the same objects.
"What do you think they are? And is the Traveler alright? He looks okay and Paimon thinks he's just sleeping…"
"I'm not too sure what these orbs are… but the Traveler is fine Paimon. Unconscious, yes, but also sleeping as you've guessed." The Iudex answered while his eyes glowed to look through the traveler with elemental sight. "I could still sense the great power he was emanating earlier, but it is now more subdued and locked inside him."
"Really?"
"Indeed, I don't think we would need to worry about him suddenly bursting into light or shaking the entirety of Fontaine."
"HE DID WHAT?!" Paimon exclaimed while switching to look between the traveler and Neuvillette with concern.
"As the hydro sovereign and with Fontaine as my domain, I could sense disturbances and energy surges within my territory. Including the scale, scope, and location of its source." Neuvillette shortly explained. "But I was caught off guard with how sudden the Traveler suddenly flared with energy, and despite how brief it was, I was… overwhelmed, realizing that the traveler's power was affecting all of Fontaine… and maybe even beyond…"
Paimon didn't like the sound of this, upon hearing Neuvillette word's.
Sure the Traveler has had power-ups before throughout their journey, but its normally during difficult and life-threatening battles, like facing the Raiden Shogun and Osial, literal gods or other threats of that level.
But now, Neuvillette was implying this power came from the traveler, and Paimon only heard a few snippets from Aether of what he could do if he had his original powers back, and most were in relation to traveling through worlds in the celestial atlas… or breaking them in self defense.
And if this was an omen that the traveler was going to face a tough opponent or situation soon, Paimon dreads what it could be and guesses even Teyvat as whole wouldn't want to know either.
"Oh… Paimon is getting worried. If Aether's original powers came back, does this means will be facing some super-duper strong enemy? Or even a super duper dee strong enemy?"
Neuvillette ponders from Paimon's questions. "I'm not sure… When it comes to the Traveler's more alien nature, only he can explain or give insight to what's happening to him."
"Ugh… your right, and he's currently knocked out. And Paimon has no idea when he's going to wake up." Paimon cried as she circled friend, before focusing back at the golden orbs on him. "Hey, you think these glowing orb things are related to this. I mean they probably are, but Paimon's grasping at straws here with everything that just happened."
"Your guessed is as good as mine Paimon." Neuvillette answered, before glancing at his broken window and back to the glowing orbs. "While we don't have all the truths for this matter, we can speculate that traveler's power may be related to the arrival of these glowing orbs. Seeing that their possible trajectory was aimed to the traveler and no doubt the caused for him to cease his flare, we can hypothesize that the traveler may have summoned them."
"Summoned them? What for?" Paimon now looked curiously at the orbs, before turning her attention back to Neuvillette.
"Are these Orbs special?" She asked, but the Iudex could give a wary shrugged.
"Again your guess is as good as mine. Without the traveler awake to shed some light to this situation I can only speculate with the given evidence we have."
The floating pixie grimaced. "Ughh… Paimon is drawing some shorts straw right now to make any guesses that would make any sense. And Paimon's too stress to think of any guesses with all that's happening."
"Do you have any ideas Monsieur Neuvillette?" Paimon asked and watched as the Neuvillette brought a hand to his chin in thought.
"I once read an Inazuman Novel about a story where the characters collect glowing orbs with stars within them. Once they gather all seven orbs, they can summon a wish granting Vishap to grant them their deepest desires."
Paimon looked at Neuvillette incredulously. "…What?"
The Iudex remained stoic, but there was light dusting of red at the tip of his ears, as he replied. "The Melusines often give me reading recommendations from time to time. Lately, they've somehow…learned of my preference, to fiction related or with mention of dragons and Vishaps."
"Huh…" Paimon gave him a flat look, but before she could make a reply to the Iudex's reading interest, her eyes caught another bright shine once more from the traveler's body.
Immediately, both Paimon and Neuvillette turned their attention back to Aether and saw the orbs resting on his chest begin to shine brighter and started to pulse with a rhythmic hum.
"Ahhh! What's happening now! Is Paimon going to witness a wish granting Vishap right now?!" Paimon cried in panic.
"No Paimon! Look, the orbs, their shapes…." Neuvillette directed her focus back to the orbs, as they began to contort and—"…. They're changing."
Indeed, all 10 orbs began to transform as their outline beneath the glaring shine they produced shifted and moved as if their entire being became malleable.
The two companions continue to watch in bated breath, as their eyes grow wider as they witness the golden orbs each sprout four limbs, a pair of hands and a pair of feet, their shape slowly forming the familiar body of a human being, but much smaller with proportionally larger heads.
Then as the light fades, more features are revealed, like hair and hair color, colorful clothes, and cute pudgy faces, currently with sleeping expressions.
Finally, after what felt like an agonizingly slow 5 minutes the golden orbs' transformation ceased, while Paimon and Neuvillette stared in shock…
….At the ten adorable toddlers, currently cuddling Aether. Their small forms, miraculously fitting well snuggling the traveler's body and the traveler's own arms involuntary draped around all 10 of them.
They were almost at loss of words.
Almost…
"OH MY ARCHONS! DID THE TRAVELER GIVE BIRTH?!"
"WE CAN'T RULE OUT THE POSSIBILITY MISS PAIMON!"
Author's notes:
That's all for now! More explanations at the next chapter as I would reveal more information for the fic too, as the plot thickens.
This chapter is more a of tease really, but I felt it would better to end it here at this point with the kids arrival and end on a sort of cliffhanger.
Likes, favorites, kudos and Comments (No flaming and keep it civil), are appreciated.
And hope to see you in the next chapter! Take care!
*Kid count:
FONTAINE – 10 (9 ladies)
SUMERU - ?
INAZUMA- ?
LIYUE - ?
MONDSTADT - ?