A/N: The chapter ahead is raw, which means not been proofread yet nor edited.
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"Lalala~ Hmmm, lala~"
Prince Zodiac carefully rocked his egg brother back and forth. The night is deep and cold. He's rocking the egg to sleep while singing him a lullaby and keeping it warm with his body heat.
"First Prince,"
The Ki'zaar entered the nest: a room with a nest in the Palace to accommodate the growing egg. The Ki'zaar skipped some days of incubating it due to the matters he had to handle. Their plates are now overflowing and they don't know how to start eating. They should've handled things when it's still less. Now, they are overwhelmed and are worried that they will miss the most important things as it overflow to the ground.
"Oh, hello!"
The Ki'zaar, now suspicious of him, took the Prince and distanced themselves a bit.
"What brought you here? And why are you alone?"
"You make it sound like I can't. I'm not going to do anything to my second Valy."
The Ki'zaar nodded, "I believe that. But First Prince, though I am pleased with how you approach and value my son Valerian, I noticed something vicious about you. And it's making me restless, it makes me overthink things I shouldn't. First Prince, assure me: do you truly mean no harm to my sons?"
Prince Zodiac maintained his composure and mood.
He didn't expect the Ki'zaar to be too straightforward and direct.
"This is all for us. For Mommy, for my brothers. I know you're losing it, but keep your trust and faith in me."
"What is your objective?"
"Ki'zaar, you're too wary of me."
The Prince stand up from sitting on the nest. He brushed the dirt off his clothes and presented himself to the Ki'zaar with an emotionless smile.
"My objective is to save you from the masterless fate. I will be the master of fate. I will make Mommy happy."
The Ki'zaar did not quite understand, for his simple words meant other things. He talked about fate---what do they know about fate? Then he came up with a thought that maybe the Prince can see through the future, that maybe he wield the magic of time. The First Prince is an enigma. What would he do next?
Prince Zodiac hopped to the other side to get off the nest, "Now, I advise you to nest in your land. My baby brother doesn't like it here. Look at its colors, very dull."
The Ki'zaar instantly checks his son, and it's true. If colors have faces and expressions, it would be crying. The colors of the egg is crying and lifeless.
"My adorable hatchling, forgive me. Yes, we're going back to our land. This foolish father of yours will incubate you now," the Ki'zaar mutter with a sorry smile while caressing the egg.
"Leave the matters to me, Ki'zaar. I have Valy with me. We have each other. I trust that you will put your faith and trust in me?"
The Ki'zaar looked deep into the Prince's eyes. He wanted to invade his mind and look deeper, but the Prince naturally blocks him from doing so. He have his doubts and hesitation, but---
"Please be kind to him still." That's all he could wish for: for his son to not get hurt. He'd rather be, but not his sons. Prince Valerian is young.
So the Ki'zaar thought, but he hasn't seen the other side of the Second Prince yet. He did see a glimpse of it but he took it as an outburst.
When it comes to their mother, the Princes are more than willing to show their darkest shades.
"I don't want to be only kind to Valy. I love Valy!" assured the First Prince before flouncing away.
The egg vibrated strongly and the Ki'zaar took it as impatience.
"Yes, yes, my sweet hatchling. Priedo," called the Ki'zaar, keep an eye on the Prinsiaze. Tell the other Archmages to take turns in checking us. I will incubate the Prince until the day he hatches."
"Were the Prinsiazis and Lord Feryzen informed about this, Ki'zaar?"
[Translation: Prinsiazis - plural form of Princes.]
"Yes. I have told them."
Priedo assisted them on the way back to their land. The Ki'zaar placed the growing egg on the nest first before transforming. He then positioned himself to incubate it the best position.
Priedo then left to instruct his fellow archmages about the Ki'zaar's order and dragon descents to not wander and play around so near the nest. They must not disturb the Ki'zaar. Their noises might stress him.
In the Imperial Palace of Vernignac Empire, First Prince Zodiac Astrophel is choosing which formal Imperial uniform to wear. Celia is the one assisting him while Cecilia is attending to the other Princes, specifically Prince Vars. Lord Feryzen and Prince Valor were tailing Prince Valerian.
It's been a month since Azarese gave birth, and also been a month since she fell into coma. Watts Xirquit, too. The cause, they cannot foretell, but it's related to his awakening.
Though the days were many, it passed so fast. Miracyne, together with Vulre, were imprisoned in the dungeons. The continuation of their 'punishment' is taking place in there. But they're not alone, because Prince Fiery and Prince Zephyrus followed them shortly. It was by the orders of Prince Zodiac. Surprisingly, their Imperial Mother, the Mistress of Death, did not refuse. She had no say about the order.
"News about Gerson Liorei?" Prince Zodiac.
A week after, King Liorei went missing. No, he was not taken. He left. Where he went, nobody knows. Where and when he was seen last, after he left Watts's Office. Daro is now completely healed and had been begging for Prince Zodiac to release the Matriarch's children. Seems like he had forgotten about his first son, the rightful Emperor.
What if the reason why King Liorei left is to find the rightful Emperor before him? Then how is he to know that his first son is alive? How and what he looked like?
"None, my Prince," Celia.
"I will wear the white uniform."
The Prince walked to check himself on the mirror as Celia prepare his chosen attire. He's in his child form. He squeezed his cheeks using his palms and made faces.
He's still beautiful no matter how ugly he tried to look like.
"It's so hard to be so perfect," he sighed so heavily. His perfection is one of his permanent problem. He's grateful, but it's a bother sometimes.
"Is my fiancée well?" He asked when he remembered about Solana.
They're not engaged.
"Yes. The future Crown Princess is cheerful and liked your gifts."
"She only liked them?"
Prince Zodiac spread his hands. Celia put on his clothes.
"The future Crown Princess is not materialistic. She fancy simple things."
"Why? She deserve the most luxurious of all luxuries in the world. I see that His Equal is not pampering my fiancée properly."
Prince Zodiac turned around to wear his slacks, "I don't want a basic and inferior fiancée. So, Celia, find a way to help her get used to it. Tutor her about proper etiquette while you're at it. All while being gentle to her. She's so cute."
Celia opened her mouth to say something, but she zipped it and kept the thought to herself.
When he's dressed, he sent Celia out to prepare the throne room. His suit is gilded with gold vein-like details that resembles his mother's markings before. He's wearing a sash with his brothers' emblems, which is also subtly incorporated into his clothing's designs. Like the scales on the edges of his suit to represent Prince Valerian, a brooch like an eye of a cat with the color of red and purple to represent Prince Ambren and Prince Maximilien, and sword earrings to represent Prince Ivarion.
He looked outside the window and found the Whitecloaks facing and watching him. He smiled at them and waved his hand.
"You're so obsessed with me, geez."
It's time to leave. When he arrived at the throne room, everyone's already gathered. Even before his arrival, they were already silent. His brothers are already seated in their respective thrones, with the one in the middle empty and reserved for him.
His presence and grace honored them. But his trail left them an chilling impression that prophecied their cruel endings if they were to dismay or offend the First Prince. His mood was light, a smile playing at the corners of his lips, yet there was an underlying intensity that none could ignore. His footsteps were echoing softly, the only sound they can hear. They could feel his intimidating power and confidence.
Their 'safe zones' are asleep. They don't have anyone to rely on but themselves. Their main goal is to make it out alive.
Only Emperor Maxism and Duke Paris bowed and knelt before the First Prince when he passed them by. They saw how the First Prince smirked at them and looked into their eyes. They only straightened their backs when he's standing on the stage.
Prince Zodiac roamed his eyes around, checking if all is in the room. There are people missing, like the Empress Clastigaufeas and earlier mentioned names.
"Where is the future Crown Princess?" He asked Celia when he found the seat beside His Equal empty.
"She left earlier to go to the restroom, Your Imperial Highness,"
Prince Zodiac nodded and sat down. His brothers followed.
"Remain standing," he stated when the Earthlings followed their leads, "You will not sit. We will begin once the future Crown Princess is back."
"You're a bad guy," said His Equal. She have her own seat and place. The only one with a table with lots of foods.
Prince Zodiac smiled, "Eat well, Mother-in-law. If you need more, Titania will cook for you."
His Equal stuck her tongue out, disgusted by what he called her.
Prince Zodiac turned to his brothers. First, Prince Maximilien. He's laying comfortably in his throne while polishing his guns. When he noticed his brother's stares,
"What?"
"How are you?"
"Why do you ask?"
Prince Zodiac's smile twitched, "Just because, so give me an answer."
Prince Maximilien rolled his eyes with a hiss, "I'm bored. Everything is boring."
"Hmm..."
Prince Zodiac contemplated deeply. What will cheer his brother up? Prince Maximilien is in love with chaos. He's got some weird taste. What's 'fun' for him is not to them. Always have been the black sheep.
And when he turned to Prince Valerian,
"Uwu~ My Valy is very handsome and cute today~ How's my Valy~? Are you bored, too? Are you okay? You're so cute~ Come here, Valy~"
Prince Valerian sighed and left his seat to go to his brother. Prince Zodiac nibbled his cheek.
"Nom, nom, nom~ Squishy Valy!"
"Eww! You're gay!" Prince Maximilien.
"Are you jealous?" The First Prince smirked, "Fine, I will give you some love."
Prince Zodiac teleported beside him and cupped his face. Then, he licked the Third Prince's cheek before biting it.
"Aaahhhh! Stay away! Eww! Stop! MOM! HELP! NO!"
Prince Zodiac laughed and licked the Prince while biting his cheek. Prince Maximilien burst into tears. No, it didn't hurt. He just didn't like it.
"B-Brother, that's enough!" Called the Second Prince and parted them. He held back Prince Maximilien from pointing the gun at the satisfied First Prince.
"Hmm! You're salty, but it's okay!" The Prince tease while wiping his mouth.
"I hate you! I'm gonna kill you! Let me go, Stupid Valerian! He's disgusting!" The Third Prince whined in fury while still crying. Prince Valerian kept his hands behind him, doing his best to resist him.
Prince Zodiac laughed louder to tease him more, and it tuned down when he heard the sweet chuckles and voice of Solana.
"My future wife---" He was frozen still when he saw flying companion of the lady.
Prince Vyldread is finally awake and back into action!
"Wahahaha! Stop, Vyl! You're so silly!" Solana giggled when the dragon Prince, who's a lot bigger and stronger now, licked her cheek in excitement. He's flocking around her happily. He's just so happy to see her again.
Prince Vyldread bumped his snout gently to her face, seemingly to 'kiss' her.
Goosebumps crawled all over their skin when they felt the terrifying aura coming from the First Prince.
He tried to compose himself and forced a smile when the two got nearer. When she noticed him, she became proper and wary of him.
"H-Hello, brother Zodiac..." She greeted. Prince Vyldread noticed the change in her demeanor. That made him look at the person in front of them.
He hissed at the First Prince.
"Who is he, MY LADY?" Asked Prince Zodiac as he step down to meet her. Prince Vyldread flew forward to meet him instead. He's still hissing and glaring at the First Prince.
"H-He's my uncle!" Prince Valerian answered, "He's my uncle, Kuya! He's Daddy's youngest brother!"
"Ah, is that so?" Prince Zodiac returned emptily with disinterest.
He tilt his head to the side to see the Lady and smiled, "Come, my lady. I've been waiting for you!"
He reached our his hand to seek hers, but Prince Vyldread lowered himself to bite the Prince's hand.
"U-UNCLE!"
"VYL!"
Some screamed and panicked internally, but for the dragon descents, they felt like their hearts will give out from what their family member did. He buried his teeth deep in the Prince's flesh that when Lord Feryzen and Prince Valor came to pull him away, they couldn't. He won't let Prince Zodiac go!
"Please, let go! Vyldread! That's Prince Zodiac! Let him go!" Lord Feryzen panicked while flushed in dread. They kept checking Prince Zodiac.
He's smiling. He's smiling and that's the scariest thing.
"Let go before I roast you like a turkey, you dumb dragon," he sweetly said in the kindest and happiest way possible, followed by a chuckle.
"VYLDREAD, PLEASE LET HIM GO!"
"Grrr!"
They tugged the dragon Prince and Prince Zodiac was moved. His blood is spilling and dripping already to the floor.
Solana stepped in and gently pet Prince Vyldread.
"Brother Vyl, he's not a threat. Let him go. If you don't, I won't fly with you. You don't want that, right? I don't want that, too! Because I like playing with brother Vyl!"
She hugged Prince Vyldread while patting him. Slowly, the Prince let Prince Zodiac's hand go. He wrapped his wings around the lady and clung on her.
Prince Zodiac's hand, still suspended in the air and healing, didn't like what he's seeing. So, with his abilities, he stretched Prince Vyldread's wings and threw him out the window.
Solana gasped and followed where the dragon Prince went but Prince Zodiac stepped in. He touched her with clean hands and kissed the back of her palm.
"It seems that he wants to fly by himself. Come sit with me here---"
"N-NO!"
Prince Zodiac was surprised, a lot more when Solana pulled her hand away.
"Brother Vyldread is a nice person! I mean, he's a nice dragon! I like him and Brother Valerian! I don't like you!"
Prince Valerian covered his gaping mouth. Why would she say that in front of his brother!? What if the Prince misunderstands!?
"S-She meant as a playmate, K-Kuya! We're friends! Very good friends!"
Solana faced Prince Zodiac and snapped, "You're not the Kuya Zodiac I used to know! You're not the Kuya Zodiac I met before! I don't like you now! You're very creepy like an old man!"
'S-She called him an old man!'
The lady is digging her own grave!
Prince Valerian wobbled, withering as he go to them to save themselves from his brother.
They thought Prince Zodiac will be mad, but he didn't.
"Then, how about we start over, My Lady?"
Solana calmed her erratic heart and stared at him with confusion.
Prince Zodiac tuck her hair behind her ear.
"I am still me. I will take it slow this time, so don't torture me like this. Don't dislike me, though you're cute when you're mad at me."
His eyes smiled with twistedness and His Equal can see where it's going, so she meddled.
"Why are you so obsessed with her? Leave my Eggo alone. Why not ask your mother to create the perfect wife for you? Or if the Bloodline is in you, create your own fantasy girlfriend. You're creepy as fuck. You're an old man and she's a little girl. Stop grooming my Eggo!"
Prince Zodiac didn't look at her but he heard her. He cupped Solana's cheeks and played with them like dough.
"Would you date and bed your own creation, His Equal?"
He returned to her, making her think about it.
"Eww, no."
"Exactly. Very weird, won't it be? Lady Solana is your daughter, His Equal. She's the only one for me. My other half as great as me, on the same level as me, and so. She's mine. You created her for me."
"Ain't no way. Did you not know that she's your clone?"
"What?"
Even Solana was dumbfounded.
Skadi Eira smirked, "Hell yeah~ She used to look like you. Your girl version. We just changed her looks because of your psychotic mother. That's why you can't, because she's basically you, but a girl. And she's not really my daughter. She's only one of my creations."
Prince Zodiac dropped his hand. His face turned blank and his eyes are looking through Solana. His eyes, golden like his mother's, mixed with space blue. There he found her true face. His face.
He smacked his face and shook his head.
"This can't be... I don't want to be single forever," he mutter his dilemma and almost fainted.
"K-Kuya, why are you in a rush? We have millions of years ahead of us. I'm sure you will find your soul mate someday,"
Prince Zodiac stray away, hurt, "No, Valy! You don't understand! I want to grow up with my future wife. We will be inseparable. We will go through adventures, through thick and thin, my enemies will kidnap her and I, her fiancé, will go and save her. I will go all out and lose control of myself and only she can snap me back to my senses. You don't know anything about romance, Valy!"
"Wow, look at him. Mental illness runs naturally in those genes," His Equal blurted in disbelief before biting the apple.
"Fine. My Lady, it seems we can't be together really. Let's be friends. I really wanted to fuse my blood with His Equal's."
"Why are you so disappointed!? And why are you so obsessed with crossing breeds!?"
Suddenly, the Prince had an idea. He faced His Equal with a bright face and she hated every inch of it. He's not saying anything yet but she hates it already!
"You should make a baby now! Find a husband and give me your daughter!"
"STOP IT, YOU FREAK!"
Skadi Eira threw the apple she's holding to him. The Prince dodged it.
"So, you're not ready yet? Hmm, or is it because nobody suit your taste? Aha! How about we find grandma's son, then you marry him? She wouldn't mind! You're best friends!"
Skadi Eira lost it and teleported in front of him. She grabbed him by his head and shook him. Prince Zodiac laughed while vibrating.
"You're insane. None of you is normal. And if I do, then what? The thing will be your aunt or grandma or so! Stupid kid! You're an idiot!"
She let him go only to pinch his cheeks strongly.
"Aww! B-But I won't mind! Incest used to be so common before---waaah! Stop! It hurts!"
His Equal clicked her tongue and released him.
"What if Gerson Liorei?"
Her eyes flared up and the entire room was coated in ice. An icicle elongated overhead and its tip is pointed against the Prince's neck.
"You're not stopping, I see. I'm gonna kill you and make a clone to fool your mother. So perfect that she wouldn't notice that it's a fake."
Prince Zodiac is not threatened at all and even laughed.
"Aren't you curious about what you and a Dragunovv-Deity can make? It's gonna be amazing---"
His Equal brushed her hands after throwing the Prince in a portal. Where it connects to, nobody knows.
"K-Kuya! H-His Equal, my Kuya!" cried out the Second Prince.
She smiled at him,
"If he's so oh-so powerful, he'll come back. Alive and whole, if he can."
And Prince Valerian wobbled to the ground with his hands pressed on his face.
"The Whitecloaks are still outside, His Equal!"