Insanity (+18)

~~~~

"Pretty sure we have a follower."

You glanced over your shoulder to see the dutiful Sasquatch following you and Vil as you both moved through the city. As of yet, you had not been accosted by Paparazzi, but you figured they were lying in wait somewhere nearby. If not to get a picture of Vil, than to get a photo of you while you are visiting Maquillaville.

The lack of obsessed beasts approaching you did put you on guard, however. Even when you had gone to the Coral Kingdom- or even Fleur City- countless creatures couldn't help but approach you and speak to you. Perhaps it was because you were in a city actively setting up for a celebration of some kind. Countless folks were caught up in their own world, but you also knew that there were many who cast you and Vil curious glances.

Despite the lack of activity around you, it was clear you, Vil, and even Clay, were standing on guard.

As you walked with Vil, Grim snuggled safely in your arms, you barely had enough time to react when a feathered shape darted out at you. Vil reacted long before you did, using his wing to slap back the shape that had so carelessly tried to approach you. It wasn't until the feathered mass began cooing in confusion that you realized who the creature was.

With his feathers ruffled and a vaguely confused expression on his sweet face, Neige tried to orient himself before standing. His feathers were somewhat out of place and he was certainly fairly ruffled despite the way that he smiled at you and almost fell over himself getting up. He couldn't even help himself as he started cooing and lifted his wings to try and shield or hug you with them.

"(Y/n)! I didn't know you would be visiting! This is wonderful, I'm so happy to see you here!"

"Hey, Neige! What are you doing here? Thought you'd be home for the winter."

The Harpy giggled a short and chirpy sound as those large brown eyes stared at you affectionately. His porcelain-like skin dusted a delicate pink as he continued that warbling coo deep in his throat. You allowed him to cuddle into you, his wings fluttering as he snuggled into your shoulder, careful to not disrupt Grim in his affectionate behavior.

"I live here with my family! We used to live in a cottage in the woods before I started acting. Our home is still pretty out of the way, but I still like to come into town. Besides, with the Winter Film Festival, it's kind of expected for me to show up to a few of the events."

As you and Neige talked, you didn't see the way Vil's feathers had ruffled nor the glare on his face as he stared down the rival Harpy. True, he knew he was in a better spot with you than Neige was- proudly wearing his title as one of your prospective mates- but he still felt the pit of jealousy in his stomach. That pit only worsened as Neige hugged you fully, his smile coming across as smug when he glanced up at Vil from where he nuzzled your shoulder.

Unlike Vil, Grim was thrilled to see Neige, wriggling in your arms as he reached his little paws out to the Dove. Grim liked Neige quite a bit as the Harpy didn't mind when Grim jumped on him or played with his feathers. He certainly knew Neige would play with him where Vil would likely refuse to let his feathers be used for pouncing practice.

"Well, I am happy to see you! Maybe I can meet your family sometime?"

"For sure! Grum and Hop are the only ones home this week, but the others should be back soon! Right now they're out traveling."

"Aww, that's wonderful! Are they going anywhere fun?"

As you and Neige talked away, it was clear the presence of the two males was beginning to draw attention to your little group. It was known that Vil and Neige worked rather closely on movies, and also known that Vil had a chip on his shoulder when it came to Neige. The two males hanging out together and showering you with affection certainly drew more than a little bit of attention to your group. Simple visitors for the Film Festival and even several well-known actors clearly had an interest in the small gathering.

Clay kept a close eye on those that were lingering more than a glance, his hand resting on his crossbow in a clear gesture of warning. A few heeded the silent threat, but some simply ignored the untrusting gaze of the Sasquatch. How many of them could honestly say they saw Vil and Neige together? Even beyond just the two male Harpies, your face was as well known- if not more known- as the pair of actors. The group was certainly star-studded, so no doubt there would be plenty of beasts eager to interrupt.

"Actually, I was hoping you would be willing to be my date for one of the days during the actual Festival? I'm going to a few private screenings, and they gave me a plus one-"

"Absolutely not."

Vil hissed, his wings flaring out to the side as he glared at the sweet Harpy who was still hanging off of you. There were many things that Vil could tolerate- letting Neige hug you, letting him talk to you, letting him cuddle you- but Vil downright refused to allow anyone, especially Neige, to take his place as your date. A deep and indignant croak escaped the lovely Harpy as he quickly shoved the sweet little Dove away from you. He was not about to tolerate such a blatant offense.

"Did you honestly think I would stand idly by while you attempt to steal my mate? As if!"

The way Vil raised his voice and began loudly squawking in anger began to draw attention, many people staring on curiously. Neige practically folded in on himself, his wings folding around himself as he pouted and tried to avoid meeting the more colorful male's challenge. Where you wanted to interject and keep them from fighting, you felt it was important to Vil to be able to make his point. You didn't have many strong feelings for or against Neige, so hopefully Vil would be able to make Neige back down.

"Did you hear that?"

"Vil Schöenheit has a mate!"

"Is that the Human?"

"Are they actually together?"

"Don't they make such a cute couple?"

You tried to ignore the group as they all began making comments. A few people even got out their phones, so you were quick to turn away from the group to not get any clear pictures. It was at this clear sign of discomfort from you that Clay stepped in. He quickly joined the group and used his own broad shoulder to shield you from photos, glaring out at the onlookers with a deep frown. Apparently, this was enough to make several onlookers scatter, not wanting to tangle with the well known Ape-man.

Where you knew Clay was well known among certain groups- Deuce being an avid fan-boy of the Ape- you also didn't know the full extent of his renown. As you allowed the male to stand over you and shield you, it was clear Vil and Neige took notice of your discomfort. The pair was quick to break off from their scrap- Neige being faster to disengage than Vil- before joining Clay to glare at the group.

Those onlookers quickly made themselves scarce now that they had been caught, a few hidden beasts even scampering out of the bushes with their cameras in hand. Clearly, you had given these beasts far too much credit to think they weren't stalking you. Obviously, these were a tier above your usual stalkers and actually bothered to hide themselves instead of being blatant. As they ran, Vil was quick to usher all of you into a nearby building. Where you didn't believe he intended to being Neige, that was simply how it played out in the end.

"I was hoping it would just be the two of us... But I guess more protection couldn't hurt. I may even see if Rook is willing to fly down to join us. I'm sure he would be quick to agree."

"Rook can fly?"

"Not with wings, Peahen, be sensible! Rook is very skilled in flight magic and has plenty of stamina to make the trip with no issue."

"... So does he fly on a broom, or-?"

~•§•~

Deep in the lush lands of Briar Valley, many a concerned gaze turned towards the castle upon the mountain. It had not stopped thundering and storming since their beloved Prince had returned from his schooling for the season. They all knew the cause of his temper and that he was actively yearning for his beloved.

Most of their hearts were breaking to know their Prince was being denied his mate. Not only was it unfair to Malleus, but it was downright cruel from the standpoint of any respectable Fae. Day Fae or Night Fae, the idea that anyone being denied someone they so clearly adored made their hearts hurt.

Clearly, their Prince agreed with their sorrow.

As the blizzard raged and the newly mated pairs cuddle together for warmth, their Draconic Prince continued his lament. The deep roll of thunder couldn't even begin to compare to the long and mournful cries of the Dragon. Every lasting wail only emphasized the storm that continued to rage on above them.

Malleus had nearly torn the chains from the wall many a time, only the other Dragons- plus Lilia- could even hope to approach Malleus as he was. All others were either singed by flames or actively being treated for severe burns by the royal doctor.

"How are we doing, Malleus? I see you haven't even touched your food yet."

"..."

"Nothing to say?"

Lilia knew he was only safe thanks to how highly Malleus viewed him. Were he any other Fae, the Dragon would be actively spitting fire at him. He had even gone as far as snarling at his Grandmother and Great-grandmother when the flames didn't touch the other Dragons. The Bat was really the only one who Malleus would tolerate with limited fuss.

There was still fuss from him, just less so.

"... Longing."

"Longing?"

"I long for my Treasure... Her scent... Her touch..!"

The wailing began again as Malleus clawed into the stone beneath him, flames erupting from his throat. Lilia knew Malleus was yearning with pure unbridled desire. His mother- Maleanor- had been much the same when it came to her season, but she never had to be chained up the way Malleus was. If she could only see the state her poor son was in now...

She would free him herself.

"Soon, Malleus. You can see her soon. Who knows, she may even have an impressive set of horns when you get to see her next!"

Clearly this was not the thing to say to the Dragon, as the beast began to rage and yank on his chains from the thought alone. Lilia could only duck beneath the swinging chains as the Dragon rampaged and roared, doing what he could to break free and find you. Clearly, Lilia shouldn't be bringing up your horns around Malleus while he was in his season.

~•§•~

"So, remind me again what this is?"

"It is officially known as couture. Of course, I wasn't going to let them be alone with you during this fitting, but I figured you would enjoy the selection and some high-end clothes for our time during the Film Festival."

"I see... Did you intentionally request fabrics that matched your feather train?"

Vil flushed a deep pink at this, helping the various seamstresses pin the dress in place on you. He was very careful not to poke you with the pins and made it clear he would not tolerate you being poked by any of the others as he worked. Clearly, Vil had selected those colors in particular to claim you in a sense. The clothes were all familiar colors- as they could be easily found within Vil's feathers- and they were made of incredibly comfortable fabrics.

"Well, I figured we would be going to the events together, so we could be a good pair..."

"They're lovely, Vil, I'm just teasing you."

You giggled at Vil's almost bashful behavior, watching Grim playing with a string of pearls nearby. For as interested as the tailors were in you, they absolutely melted and fussed over Grim. Despite his scars and his clearly damaged eye, the group adored him and were keen to play with him. It certainly didn't bother you to see him getting to play, knowing that none of them could escape with him even if they wanted to.

Neige and Clay were stationed outside of the dressing room in the off chance you needed help or someone tried to escape with little Grim. Vil also made certain to tell you that Rook would be arriving shortly as well, having sent a message to the Drider requesting his attendance. In fact, Rook's arrival might even give you a chance to smooth things over with Vil and Neige.

"Vil?"

"Yes, Peahen?"

"Can we add Neige to our little group for the Film Festival?"

"Well," the Harpy curled his lip ever so slightly at the idea, "what purpose would we have for him?"

"If Rook is attending and you only get a singular plus one, he can be Neige's date? I know his feelings about you and I, but it would be improper to invite him yet not bring him to the events, don't you think? That way I can have more guards on hand, and that frees up your father's plus one for Clay or Crowley."

"... I see where you are coming from, I just worry Neige will take it as acceptance of his clear attracted behavior towards you. Even a fool can see how much that ugly little potato adores you."

"Don't be mean, Vil."

"I'm not being mean. I'm stating a fact. His feathers are such drab colors and he behaves far too childish for anyone to take seriously. He is an ugly little feathered potato."

Of course Vil would dislike Neige and call him such cruel things. He saw a rival in Neige and viewed the other Harpy as a direct contender for his position in the film industry and in his everyday life around you. On top of the way Vil felt pitted against Neige, Vil was a colorful bird species that valued such extravagance above all else when it came to the males. Neige was subjectively less valuable of a mate than Vil was in the eyes of Harpies. You found Neige to be more cute and Vil to be more beautiful, but you would never tell either of them that.

... Not yet, at least.

No need to make the males fight over your affections any more than they already did. As you continued to ponder and Vil fluffed with pride- pleased you didn't argue with him further about Neige- a sudden slam of a door nearly made you jump in surprise.

~~~~

The beasts stood in absolute silence as they stared, desperately trying to not earn your ire during your rather extreme anger. As far as they knew, your current state had been triggered by the amount of dust and debris in the dorm and sent you into a cleaning frenzy. Those you usually favored did their best to either help you, or get out of your way.

Even Hades stood to the side, silently using his magic to fully clean up anything you may have missed in your cleaning panic. If anything, the elder knew you were participating in what was considered 'Human Nesting', which commonly happened at this stage of pregnancy. He also knew that your stress was not only a result of your pregnancy, but a result of the impending visitors who would decide your fate.

The representatives had arrived on Night Raven College grounds and it had you completely on edge. As far as you were concerned, no one except yourself had the right to make these decisions for you. If you had to, you would hold your own life and that of your little ones over their heads in order to be the final decision maker. Hopefully they would take your comfort and words into consideration for where you would prefer to be.

"Look at these! They're absolutely full of holes and eaten away by moths! That won't do. They need to go!"

With a flick of your wrist, you tore down the curtains and kept going. Your swollen belly pressed up against your clothes, as you had already grown beyond the extra fabric Vil had put into your shirt. It was more than obvious that you were heavily pregnant and several students had also taken notice.

Vil knew because you told him and Rook, but the pair had clearly kept it to themselves and told no one else. Riddle was still in denial, insisting that he could sense you were a virgin in terms of magical presence on your body. Leona had taken to bringing you meat to try and feed you, having been able to sense your hormone fluctuations early on before you were showing. Malleus knew as soon as Lilia did due to the Bat relaying everything he learned back to the Dragon. Idia knew because of Ortho and had been dutiful in watching out for you alongside Hades. Kalim was clueless as ever, but he frequently offered to buy you anything you asked for no matter the cost. Even Azul seemed aware that you were heavy with young as he was extremely careful around you.

All of the staff had been made aware early on by the very Crow that roosted on the dorm roof. Despite how eccentric and odd Crowley was, it did seem like he was at least trying to respect your space and your autonomy. He was always the first to swoop in as soon as you stepped foot outside and he often angrily cawed his frustration when you refused to allow him to preen your hair.

Trein had become a rather apparent fixture in your dorm, frequently taking you on walks around the school and offering his insight any time you asked. The wizened and respectable elder Sphinx was happy to spend time with you and explain things to you that you didn't fully understand. Every day, he was closer to you and had even felt the twins move- with your permission- which resulted in him breaking down into tears. It had become routine for the older male to appear at your dorm and read with you in the afternoons.

Divus spent countless hours grading papers while with you and immediately jumping up to get you anything you were craving or wanted. The Selkie was very keen on keeping you protected and safe even if there was nothing to protect you from. The smallest of shivers always resulted in the Selkie laying his coat over you, letting you snuggle into the fur.

As far as students went when it came to your heavily pregnant belly, Grim and Ortho were keen to feel the kicks and movements. Ortho, whenever you allowed it, stayed glued to your stomach and constantly tried to feel the kicks. His small head pressed into your tummy as he even went as far as to occasionally remove his oxygen mask to snuggle just a little closer. Grim always slept on your distended stomach, purring whenever the twins moved. There were even a few moments where he would start kneading the soft skin on your stomach and purring, careful of his claws on your belly.

Those that knew of your pregnancy- either directly from you or from other close ties- had all shown an interest in touching your belly. They would always ask you first, none really willing to upset you by just brazenly reaching for you. Usually, they would sit in wonder any time you let them touch your stomach, slowly leaning into you and resting their heads against your belly. Even Hades would sit and just feel the twins move around inside of you with a small smile on his face.

It almost seemed like you and your twins were healing some part of the elder that he didn't know needed to be healed.

"I hate to interrupt," the familiar caw of Crowley sounded out among the group, "but the representatives have arrived and are eager to meet dear (Y/n)."

Hades turned to look at the Crow, almost tempted to tell the bird he could try and convince you to leave. Despite his internal musings, it seemed almost cruel to you and him if he decided to throw the Crow at you and watch you respond angrily. He would rather you stay calm and have to break the news to you himself. Goodness only knows how you would respond to the Crow who so rarely minded your personal space.

"They will know she is heavy with young. You realize that, yes?"

"Well, I haven't exactly told them anything about her other than she is Human. I was just hoping that she wouldn't mention it. It isn't like they know what Humans are like, right?"

Hades frowned at this, glancing back to you as you once again ripped down a section of moth-eaten curtains. You certainly didn't seem to be in the mood for entertaining guests, but he doubted you would be particularly happy at the end of it all. Maybe he would have to bribe you with a full renovation of the dorm to get you to agree to meeting the representatives.

It was not going to be easy.

"Little One," the elder flinched when you turned to look at him, "the representatives have arrived and are asking for you."

Your eyes narrowed as your lip curled in disgust, displeased at the idea of being paraded around like a prized pet. Besides, you were already angry with the idea that these beasts could possibly try to remove you from where you were comfortable. This place may not be your home, but you would be damned before anyone had the right to force you to relocate.

"And if I don't go?"

"They will come here instead."

"And mess up my hard work by tracking in mud and who knows what else?? Absolutely not! Out of the question!"

Your displeased walk was more of a waddle as you marched over to the tall elder, scowling fiercely at nothing. For being the smallest one in the room- and the most delicate, given your condition- you stood the tallest even as the others cowered. It was the elder Shinigami that you had waddled up to, one hand on your back and the other on your stomach. Despite how tall he was, you barely had to crane your neck as he folded in on himself, lowering to crouch before you.

"I don't give a damn what they want or where they want to take me, my ass is planted here! I've already scrubbed, I'm actively making this trash heap a home, I'm not leaving. You," your finger jabbed at the elder's chest, "have only one job as far as I am concerned. That one and only job is to make sure they don't try to strong-arm or bully me into leaving. Got it?"

"Yes, Ma'am."

"Good! Now, it is a long walk that I don't really feel like walking, so who is going to help me get there?"

~•§•~

There was an anxious hum among the representatives and those who had been appointed to confirm the presence of this Human. A fair number were truly dubious that this wasn't some kind of publicity stunt by the eccentric Crow. The others were wondering what the proper husbandry would be when it comes to caring for an extinct creature such as this new Human. Countless laws dictated the way Humans were supposed to be treated, so which laws do they follow?

As the visitors continued to murmur and hum in consort, the doors opening brought a wave of hushed silence. All eyes locked on the door while their awaited visitor was gently brought in.

From an outside perspective, what looked to be a smaller hairless Sasquatch was carried out atop the back of a lovely silver colored Cervitaur. Upon cursory glance, the creature was effeminate in shape and had rather swollen mammary glands to pair with their distended stomach. Their hair- which seemed mostly centered atop their head- was a lovely arrangement of (h/c) locks that had been clipped back out of their face.

To the trained eye of the royal scientists present, this was certainly no Sasquatch and they were actively gravid. A true, bona fide Human in Twisted Wonderland. After 500 years, Humanity- in the form of a single pregnant individual- had returned. The simple realization of your state sent the visitors into a flurry of questions, all of them buzzing in excitement.

"Headmage Dire Crowley, you did not inform us of their current state! This is unprecedented!"

"A Human actively carrying a litter of pups? What a treat!"

"To think, we could be studying such a rare creature."

"What do you think the amniotic fluid in them is compromised of? Could we get a sample?"

Among the chirping, whinnying, and barks of excitement, one individual with an elongated rat-face scowled. One Human was troublesome to begin with, but one who was pregnant? He could lose all credibility and his social standing the moment any of his theories were called into question. There was no doubt in Rattigan's mind, he needed to get rid of this Human and quickly.

"Pardon my interruption, but I feel it would be best to allow a closer examination of this new Human. After all, how can we even call them Human without confirmation? I propose-"

"Your request is denied."

"What?"

Rattigan stared at the elder Shinigami that persisted in myth. Shinigami were well known, but the elder Shinigami who sired all current Shinigami in Twisted Wonderland? He was an enigma and a very real threat to expose all Ratigan was trying to conceal. One defenseless Human was easy to dispose of, and those wretched creatures in their womb would die with them, keeping his legacy safe. But a Human defended by an elder Shinigami? Impossible to defeat.

"I was simply suggesting-"

"To have us trust none of you will harm her when she is completely alone with any one of you? You may know nothing about Humanity, but I do. Forcing a heavily pregnant Human to undergo intense medical exams and be completely defenseless around a group of unknown individuals is far too great a stressor and could result in a loss of this precious Human or even the young still growing within. Your request has been denied."

Rattigan desperately searched for some excuse to get you alone so he could remove you and your young from the equation. The longer you lived, the more likely his entire legacy and position were called into question. You needed to be killed or he would never rebuild his reputation. He didn't kill his own King just to have some useless brood-mother destroy his life's work. He needed to permanently remove you to save his own hide.

"All I will tolerate is questions- asked in clear view of this gathering- and respect for Little (Y/n) agreeing to this meeting despite how fragile their current condition is."

This caused a hum of voices to break out, all eager to have their nagging questions answered. During the excited chatter, a sudden and sickeningly loud thunk silenced the group. It was the unmistakable sound of a crossbow firing and that alone set the beasts on edge. Where had it come from? More importantly, where did it go?

Sunken deep into sensitive flesh, bleeding a dark red, was the offending crossbow bolt. You let out a wheezing hiss of pain as you held your arm, the bolt embedded deeply into the flesh there as you let out a pained cry from the sudden agony running through you. Silver had sensed the impending danger and moved just fast enough that the bolt missed your heart. The Cervitaur in question let out a distressed snort and even stared out at the group to try and discern who had the gall to injure you.

He didn't have to do anything.

The ancient elder saw where the bolt originated and felt nothing but unbridled rage burning in his veins. It was one thing to try and get a moment alone with you from pure scientific curiosity, but to attack you so brazenly? Had Silver not moved, the crossbow bolt would have killed you.

Hades wasn't the only one who was furious.

Overhead a rolling boom of thunder shook the very school. Neither Malleus, nor his Great-grandmother would tolerate a member of their Hoard being so brazenly attacked. Due to the overlapping of Malleus and Maleficent's hoards, anyone who harmed a Hoard member was as good as dead.

While the Dragons very quickly tore into the Rat man who openly attacked you, Hades was instantly by your side. As delicately as he could, he set to maneuvering you so he could assess your wound. He didn't want to risk exacerbating your wound by removing you from the back of the Cervitaur, so he simply assessed you where you were. He could deal with the fallout of this meeting later.

While the elder gently shushed you and used a numbing cream to soothe you, your mount stood enraptured with the scene before him. Silver stayed deathly still, his eyes drinking in the sight of the Dragons- one his Liege, the other his Liege's ancestor- tearing that Huoshu to pieces. He had long sworn to be your knight when he prostrated himself and begged you to grant him the honor of protecting you. That was two months back. Now he stood ready for anyone to try and harm you again, the worry that he wasn't fast enough to keep you safe weighing on his heart.

You were just busy holding you stomach with your one good arm, trying to keep your rapidly beating heart from getting any worse. The pain wasn't even at the front of your mind- though it was far more painful than one could even imagine- because all that your mind was focused on was trying to keep yourself calm. They weren't ready to be born yet, and you weren't ready to face the fact that they could be prematurely or even fail to survive if you went into labor this early. Not even your world had a great prognosis for infants born after only 20 weeks gestation.

"You need to take this potion, Little One, your pain is too great."

"No! No, what if it- what if it hurts them? What if it forces me to give birth early? I can't... I won't!"

"Okay," the elder did what he could to soothe you and calm you, "it's okay. You don't have to take it, but we need to move you. You are too exposed here and it is clearly far too dangerous for you."

You allowed Hades to gently steady you as he and Silver worked to get you out of that room. All thoughts of the representatives or the rat-man being ripped to pieces gone from your mind as you did your best to focus on staying calm. Thankfully that numbing cream did quite a bit to keep you calm, but your emotions were running dangerously high.

You could feel the way your rapid heartbeat practically echoed in your stomach, both infants moving restlessly in response to your distress. The more you focused on it, the more that sinking feeling in your heart stressed you. Despite all you were trying to do and focus on, you couldn't get yourself to calm down. Should you become more distressed, you worried it would push you into labor early.

You couldn't let that happen.

"Knock me out."

"Little One, what-?"

"I said knock me out! If I get more upset... If I can't calm down... I don't want them to be born too early! They won't survive! Please! Please just knock me out!"

The Shinigami felt his own stress heighten at the sound of your begging, worried what would happen if you continued to spiral. He had seen what happened to infants born too early, and had been the one to tell his precious Humans what happened to their young who failed to thrive. It would destroy him to lose these two precious souls and have to face you after you both tried so hard to help them thrive.

"If you wish."

The elder was well versed in Humans and how to safely render one unconscious. Lack of oxygen would harm your little ones, and too much stress on you could force you to give birth early anyway. It required a gentle touch and he had lived long enough to know exactly how to gently render a Human harmless to themselves and others. His large hands easily found that pressure point that would aid him, feeling you go limp in his arms as he carefully lifted you from the Cervitaur.

Silver was worried, but had to trust that the Shinigami knew what he was doing. Of course, Silver would immediately report back to his father and his Liege with everything he knew once you were confirmed to be safe. For now, he had to stay by your side so he could prove that he held you in just as high regard as he held Malleus.

"Young Silver, I have a task for you."

~•§•~

As the storm settled down with the Dragons, the various representatives huddled together on the far side of the room. It was not normal for any of the Dragons to even be present at one of these enclaves, let alone act against a representative of an outside country. However, they all had witnessed the blatant attack on you- an effectively extinct creature that was actively pregnant with young- and that was unforgivable. Even by the Queendom of Roses' law, the Huoshu would have been slaughtered publicly for his actions.

It was more than disturbing for those representatives to see the Huoshu ripped apart by the Dragons. Consuming other sapient species was rare and often frowned upon, especially in current day times, but the circumstances called for drastic behavior. Dragons were seen as primal creatures, along with most Fae, so it was more acceptable for a Dragon to consume someone as opposed to other species.

No one was going to fight the Dragons, at least.

As the pair returned to their smaller forms, Silver came trotting through the double doors to speak with his Liege. He had been given a task that was vital to the care of his precious Human, and was keen to complete it.

"Lord Malleus, Lord Hades has moved (Y/n) to her dorm to ensure the twins are unharmed by her distress. She is currently unconscious and he is treating her. He has requested your presence to ensure her rest is easy, as your Magic can let others sleep much easier than that of a Shinigami."

Maleficent stared at Silver for a moment, feeling as if she had seen him before somewhere long ago, but the thought quickly left her mind. One of her Hoard- her Great-Grandson's most treasured member and crown jewel- was wounded. That took priority above all else.

"Take us to them."

Silver didn't need to be told twice as the group departed from the congregation, leaving Crowley to try and bring order to the chaos. Truly, Crowley felt pleased that the offending beast had been effectively ripped to pieces by a pair of furious Dragons. Thankfully he was adept at bringing chaos into order.

He would have to check in on you as soon as those troublesome representatives were off of College grounds. Hopefully Lord Hades wouldn't take you away from him the way his last Human had been taken. He was trying so hard to be a good steward!

~~~~

You walked with the beautiful Harpy as he showed you around his home, ensuring to gesture to all the grand items at his disposal. From beautiful and hard to cultivate flowers, to lovingly carved statues of various species. Each item unique in its own way, yet still following the theme that seemed to preside over the lavish structure. Beauty. All things that could be considered beautiful by the common eye had been gathered here.

Apparently Eric shared the same taste as Vil did, both males keen to decorate their homes in whatever they considered to be beautiful. Each carefully selected piece of art either showed something beautiful, or was made up of seemingly expensive material. All manner of finery proudly displayed for anyone lucky enough to view it.

"Now they were have some time to just us, mind elaborating on whatever has happened to you?"

"What do you know about my... Recent illness?"

"Just that you were unwell and Lord Hades was concerned about it meaning your death... I am relieved to see you are well. No doubt the others who nip at your heels are also pleased to know you are well. You have told them that you have awoken, yes?"

"..."

"... Please tell me you have informed all of the others that you have not perished."

"... Well..."

"Peahen!"

Vil gave a loud and exasperated sigh, fishing his phone out of his pocket to begin poking away at his screen. All that filled the silence was the sound of his talons tapping against the screen furiously as you awkwardly waited for him to finish. No doubt he was informing the others about you miraculous recovery. Within moments of Vil lowering his phone, you own phone began wildly beeping and ringing for attention. It got to the point that you had to put your phone on silent to just get a few moments to think.

Perhaps you should have done that prior to falling off the face of the planet.

"What is happening to me now is actually a result of why I became so sick in the first place. Vil, do you know what Soul Successors are?"

"Of course I do. Only a very powerful being could even hope to exist long enough to persist after death, let alone pass their magic on to someone else."

"Well, apparently that Dragon horn I touched belonged to an ancient Luck Dragon, Fortuna. Apparently she has also selected me as her Soul Successor. As a result, my body is changing into that of a Dragon. I don't know how long it will take or what exactly will happen when that transition takes place... But I do know it has already begun. Those nubs you felt... Those are my horns growing in."

Of all the things Vil had anticipated you saying, it certainly was not that. He stayed in silence for a moment before he very gently reached out to brush your hair back with his hand. Sitting proudly on your forehead in your hairline were the twin horns that had begun to grow. They looked- at first- like intentional body augmentations. Gold struts that had been placed as a dermal piercing along the frontal region of your body. It was only when he looked closer that he could somewhat see the way those horns attached to your skull.

You were turning into a Dragon.

The idea alone sent some stress through Vil as he tried to parse out the best way to respond. He didn't know the first thing about pleasing a Draconic lover. How was he supposed to take care of you and make you feel comfortable if he didn't even know what you would want to hoard? There was a small and angry voice inside Vil that screamed he was inferior to Malleus now, simply because the Harpy didn't really understand what it meant to be a Dragon. No one but a Dragon could even begin to comprehend what you were going through.

Just because he wasn't a Dragon didn't mean he would stop trying to help you however he could.

"This is certainly unexpected... But it isn't a bad thing."

"It's not?"

"Not to me. You are undergoing a metamorphosis that I can't even begin to comprehend or understand, but you are still my glorious Peahen. I won't pretend to know how you feel about all of this, that isn't my place. I will, however, tell you I am here for you and be here for you. For now, we can cover up your horns if you don't feel comfortable flaunting them just yet."

A kind of warmth settled in your chest as you considered his words. For as full of himself as Vil could be, he was taking this news better than you were. Maybe it was because you seemed to uncertain about it. Maybe it was because it stroked his pride to know that he had effectively befriended- and is the potential mate of- a Dragon. Whatever his reasoning, it made you feel all the more endeared to the Harpy to hear him gently warble your praises and insist he would stay by your side.

... Would you receive the same understanding and welcome from the Humans of your world? Would they see the horns growing on your head and force you to remove them? Would you still be treated the same?

Of course, there would be individuals who are more attracted to you because of these horns. But... The thought of how much heckling you would receive just for something out of your control made your heart sink. Could you even tell anyone back home what you had been through, or would you be thrown in psychiatric care for mental degradation? If you got home, how could you even begin to explain everything you had gone through? Who could you turn to for help to readjust to a life without magic and without these odd creatures that obsessed over you?

Leaving this world to your home would be the same as a cult leader leaving behind their fervent followers to try and adjust to an office job where most feared or hated you. If you didn't leave early enough and more of your transformation took place, can you say with confidence you wouldn't be experimented on by your own species?

It was all too heavy and painful to think about for now. You couldn't let your fear of the unknown distract you from your ultimate goal of returning home. Everything could be dealt with once you were safe and home.

"I am certainly interested in how this may affect any future young we may have should you fully choose me, but I am not angry or disgusted with you. Even if you become an impossibly powerful and dangerous Dragon, you are- and always will be- my beloved Peahen. That won't change no matter how you may change."

The Harpy gently kissed your forehead, the slight brush of his skin against your horns forcing a rather embarrassing noise from your lips. It was some odd mix of a sigh and a moan that made heat rush to your face in embarrassment. Had you actually just moaned from Vil kissing your forehead?

The Harpy in question was frozen, his ears having heard your sweet little noise and his body warming in response. He certainly had not danced with you yet, but could he really blame himself for wanting to seek out your sweet little sounds? Giving plenty of time for you to pull away, Vil began slowly dragging his cheek across your horns, hearing you squeak and whimper from the stimulation.

"V-Vil-! They're too... Sensitive! Ngh... Please..!"

Vil slightly pulled back, letting you have a moment to calm yourself. Deep within your very being, something stirred angrily at the lack of attention. The soft Harpy had felt so soothing when he rubbed against your horns, surely you could tolerate more affection? It was getting harder to think about why you should argue and refuse when it felt so nice.

When you didn't push him further away, Vil slowly moved to start kissing your horns. His lips felt so unbelievably soft it had you almost melting into him. The way your horns were far more sensitive than you would have ever expected made you realize just how much Malleus was letting you get away with. What surprised you more than even that was how you leaned into the feeling and felt almost hungry for more.

It wasn't until a loud call for attention broke through that you even realized you were intentionally pressing into Vil's lips.

"Mama!"

You quickly separated from the Harpy who had been lightly mouthing at your horns, doing all you could to calm yourself and seem unbothered as the Hellcat ran up. Whatever was making you more receptive to the affections of the males could be pushed aside with enough effort. Grim was certainly effective in keeping your sanity grounded.

Vil didn't pursue you, willingly letting you pull away from him to address the quickly approaching kit. He knew that Grim came first in your eyes. He had once disliked the feline that demanded your attention at all hours, but he had also begun to soften his view. Grim was a consistent attention thief, but he was your kit. Why wouldn't Vil want to prove himself as a reliable father using the child you clearly cared for? His own nesting instincts also screamed that this little feline was close enough to a chick for him to obsess over. Perhaps even having Grim by his side would curb his own rut in the spring.

If he could make himself believe that he already had a child to care for, why wouldn't he get a reprieve from his own rut? Sure, the Hellcat was not his son, nor was he your son by blood, but he was close enough. It could temporarily satisfy his need for young to father the Hellcat now before he had his own clutch of eggs with you.

"Mama, I broke something... Old bird didn't look mad, but I think he's mad at me..."

"What did you break?"

"There was this pretty white bird with a lot of feathers, and I wanted a feather! I didn't mean to break it... Honest!"

You glanced at Vil to try and gauge your response off of his reaction, but he didn't seem concerned. Regardless, you knew it was likely an incredibly expensive item that would be no small hassle to replace. Odds are, you would need to have a talk with Eric about what you can do to replace the item that Grim broke.

"Did you apologize?"

"Yes... But I don't think Old Bird thought I was being truthful about being sorry."

"Okay, how about you and I go apologize and we help to find a way to fix it?"

"Okay!"

Vil followed the two of you, still a little ruffled from being interrupted when he felt like he was finally getting somewhere with you. If he stayed as he was, offering you support and company, no doubt you would warm to him eventually. You already showed such affection and care for Rook after the Drider gave respect for your wishes. He knew how to win you over, so he just needed to show you that same respect.

Easy, right?

~•§•~

Idia lay in the bed you had occupied, his face nuzzled into the pillows while he basked in the feeling. He didn't even bother to hide is obvious pining, just reveling in the feeling of being so close to you. For as much as Idia adored talking to you and following you around, he preferred this over his admittedly awkward interactions with you. You never seemed to be outwardly displeased with him or tease him for his behavior like the others. Any strange thing he did was met with a gentle tone and soft encouragement.

Still, even with all of your affectionate behavior, he was a nervous and anxious creature. He would rather lay in your unkempt bed over being forced to go anywhere. Even while you were exploring the Isle of Woe- his literal homeland- he couldn't work up the courage to walk with you. Idia was a spectator from a long line of spectators, the simple idea of interacting in a social capacity with anyone, even his own family, unsettled him.

"Young Idia, I am uncertain if this behavior is healthy for you."

Idia cringed and curled up as small as he could when he heard his ancestor speak. Hades had always been very understanding of the curiosity and attention avoidant behaviors of Idia, but that didn't mean that Idia felt any better being caught literally sniffing and snuggling your sheets. If anything, he felt he had the right to be a little freaky when it came to being around you.

"She's gonna choose me in the end. Even if she chooses Malleus too, I'm still in the running. It isn't weird if she is already as good as mine."

Hades sighed gently, sitting at the edge of the bed as he looked down at his little descendant. Could he really burst Idia's bubble and betray your confidence? Hades knew you only added Idia to your roster because Idia could potentially be unstable if he was not chosen. He himself had suggested as much when you first asked him for his feedback.

If you left Twisted Wonderland, you would effectively be leaving Idia as well.

Hades knew the pain of losing Humanity, and he didn't think Idia would fare well losing you. If anything, Idia would likely die from his withdrawals or fall to blot. Though Shinigami were very resistant to blot, that didn't mean they were immune. Idia was especially sensitive to it given he still blamed himself for Ortho's injuries. He was not mentally sound enough to withstand losing you.

Could he even ask Idia about losing you without raising the intelligent Shinigami's suspicion? Then again, would he feel right with himself for intentionally withholding information from Idia?

"..."

~•§•~

"And I'm very sorry, Old Bird!"

"... Old Bird?"

You quickly tried to step in, hearing the almost hurt tone in Eric's voice at the nickname. Grim was rarely able to remember the names of those around you, but typically his nicknames weren't viewed as offensive. Still, you could see how Eric may take offense to the name 'Old Bird'.

"I apologize, Eric, Grim doesn't remember names very well, so he gives others names he can remember. If you don't like the name he gave you, I can-"

Eric quieted you with a dismissive wave of his hand as he shook his head. The visibly expensive peacock statue in question was left in a heap at the Harpy's feet, clearly smashed beyond repair. Lucky for you that you had so much money at your disposal thanks to the ever annoying representatives. You could at least pay for what Grim broke.

"Think nothing of it. I was simply... Unaware of his propensity to naming others. Don't worry about paying for the statue, there are others available. It is your first time in Maquillaville, you should spend the day exploring and seeing the sights. I am aware that you will need security for this, and I am happy to contact my own security team to ensure you are safe. Sgt. Tibbs and the Colonel are both quite trusted and have been thoroughly vetted by myself. I would happily place your safety in their capable hands."

Crowley ruffled at this, hopping forward with his feathers ruffled as he squawked angrily. Crowley took your wellbeing personally and insisted on being part of every decision made, even if you should ultimately have the final say. As Crowley began kicking up a fuss, you relaxed with little Grim in your arms and watched the show.

Vil leaned over to whisper in your ear, clearly avoiding the attention of the two Harpies that angrily snapped at one another. Clay was an ever watchful observer, seeing the way you warmed to Vil and murmured back to him. Perhaps he would have to tail the two of you if you both slipped away. He was only employed at NRC for the sole purpose of training and protecting you, after all.

While you, Grim, and Vil sauntered off, the Sasquatch fell into step.

First question has been answered.

Second question:

Luck Dragons are similar but different from Night Fae Dragons.

Night Fae Dragons see others as possessions or pests depending on their personal feelings for the individual. Favored individuals are seen as property, something to own and protect. Others are seen as pests to be eradicated. Basically, they see all other living creatures as either domesticated livestock, or wild game. Night Fae Dragons tend to make living Hoards and non-living Hoards. The little creatures that scurry around their claws are to be ignored or crushed if a sufficient nuisance.

The Human is now technically a Human-Dragon Hybrid thanks to Fortuna literally passing on her essence and magic to the Human. This is known as choosing a "soul successor" by transferring will, magic, and the equivalent of their soul onto a living creature. Fortuna has basically fused her soul with the Human. Because Dragon genes are stronger than most, the Human is gradually changing into a Dragon. If the transformation completes, she will basically be a Human soul in a Dragon body.

~~~~

You carried Grim through the buildings of this unusual city, mostly unguarded beyond the Sasquatch who quietly followed your every step. He gave you some space while you tried to keep yourself busy, waiting for Vil to text you back about whatever accommodations he was setting up for you. The Harpy insisted on having a few hours to prepare for your arrival, clearly sounding excited over the phone when you asked him if he would be willing to host you.

Now that left you with nothing to do other than explore and search for Hades. The elder Shinigami had been uncharacteristically quiet and you wanted to get to the heart of the matter. For as much as you wanted to rave at the sky and scream the unfairness of your endless plight, it would do nothing other than upset the emotionally fragile beasts that snapped at your heels. You had to be calm and collected, even when you felt like crying. The alternative may very well end in your death if you weren't careful.

Most of the buildings on the island were vacant, holding only memories of those that used to live there. Countless Humans passed through this land before you, and now their voices had been silenced. All that remained were the lonely echoed memories of a place that didn't want to be remembered.

Humanity had tried and failed to thrive in this world, ripped to pieces by beasts that couldn't help themselves. If you were forced to stay against your will, could you really consider it ethical to bring more Humans into such a world? A world that would destroy them the same way it had tried to destroy you.

As you quietly pondered to yourself, you began to notice a blue light among the dilapidated buildings. That same gentle blue the Shinigami had for hair.

Rounding the corner, you cane across a rather secluded little spot tucked away among the mostly abandoned city. A serene lake sat surrounded by various fruit bearing trees, embraced along the bank by various reeds and water flowers. Honestly, it was a beautiful little place.

Sitting alone on the far shore was the elder, his gaze on the water. His bright yellow irises were clouded over with a thousand-yard stare that almost made it seem as if he had fallen asleep with his eyes open. You knew he was an older male, but it never really occurred to you how old he may be or how much he has lost. He was known as the protector of Humanity and he had lost all of his Humans. Where Humans weren't pets and shouldn't be treated as such, he still lost countless of those he cared for and it almost killed him.

"Papa Hades?"

Your voice snapped the elder to attention, his gaze lifting from the water to you as you approached. There was a tired warmth in his eyes as he invited you to sit with him during his contemplative silence. Only the smallest of smiles pulled at his lips while you settled next to him.

Grim was quick to climb out of your lap and into the lap of the elder, stretching his paws out as he snuggled down. Hades took the intrusion from the little Feline in stride, petting his little forehead ever so gently. For such a large an imposing male, he seemed to have a rather gentle heart. Even when he could have forcibly taken you away from Night Raven College, he waited to let you choose what you wanted to do. He could have been an awful person to you if he wanted to be.

"Did you need something, Little One?"

"Actually... I wanted to talk to you about... About what happened."

"I'm not angry, if that is what you fear."

"No, I just... I..."

You were struggling to find the right words to speak with him, feeling like a naughty child under the gaze of the elder. For all the trouble you had experienced since falling into this world, Hades had rarely been a source of conflict for you. He cooked. He cleaned. He stood at your side against those who wished to hurt you. He did so much for your benefit and didn't ask for much of anything in return. He spoiled you.

"They asked me to not tell you about them. They have found peace in choosing where their spirits wander and didn't wish to be forced to do anything by anyone... I wanted to respect their wishes."

"I don't blame you for not being forthcoming with me, Little One. You know all beasts suffer an addiction to your kind, and I was not always forthcoming with you. Truly, I am not surprised you would trust the spirits of Humanity over me. Young Clay has remarked on it before, but you truly are a crafty little thing. You know when to grant or withhold affection to get the responses you want. You have navigated countless delicate feelings and instinctual behavior as if you have been doing so for years. There is so much you do that impresses me."

"... Papa Hades, I want to go home."

"We can send you back to Night Raven-"

"No. I want to go home. To my home. I want to see my friends. I want to see my family. I want to go home to my pets. I want to go home... But I can't."

A moment of silence passed as you looked down at your hands, feeling the lump forming in your throat while you spoke to the ancient man. You didn't often speak of your home, nor did you express your wishes to the males that obsessed over you beyond the few moments you voiced your true wishes. Not even Hades could deny the way your pained voice stabbed at his heart.

The elder knew you wanted to go to your true home. He knew you didn't see this world as your home and he certainly didn't blame you for wanting to leave. It broke his heart to keep you here when you were clearly so unhappy, but it hurt even more to think of never seeing you again. Truthfully, he had only survived this long after his Humans died because his family needed him. How could he survive losing Humanity for a second time?

"... I have already sworn to assist you if I can, but I cannot be false with you and say I want you to leave. Long have I contemplated what I would do should we find a passage back to your world. I wondered if I should go with you and spend my final days among your kind. I wondered if I could convince you to let me research your womb before you go to bring Humans back here. I wondered if I could ask the Humans where you live to return with me. I wondered if it was more ethical to just let myself die off without the comfort of Humanity. None of my options are easy ones. Still, I will help you return, if I can."

Part of you wanted to divulge everything you knew to the kind and gentle elder. A stronger side of you knew better than to reveal all you knew. No, what you had to do was pick and choose your response carefully and see how he took it.

"The spirits have been looking for a way to get me home ever since I first spoke to them. They think they have found a way- though they aren't certain- and it is close to Night Raven College."

"That is wonderful news, Little One. Where is it?"

"... In the den of the Human-turned-Bear Mor'du."

"..."

~•§•~

The chains faintly rattled while the great beast settled into his binds. Burning green eyes smoldered in the darkness of the room as shadowed scales shined in the low light. The fragmented shards of his mind tried to hold a singular image in place. It was the only comfort he could call upon in his time of isolation.

For all he had endured- every moment spent alone and longing for the company of others- there was no agony greater than the pain running in his soul at that moment. Every movement and touch only brought burning pain that stabbed into his flesh beneath his armored scales. Even the regal crown of horns atop his head felt like iron spikes driven into the sensitive and fragile brain held within. His very bones ached with a constant throb, pushing against the backs of his eyes as if they would pop out from the pressure alone.

Within his mind's eye, he kept his most beloved and cherished treasure held captive. That soft form and even softer smile soothing the burning ache in his very being. It was the only comfort the beast could find against the cruel weight of the chains that bound him.

Somewhere in the Dragon's mind, he knew that he was the one who requested such a cruelty be enacted upon himself. It was the only thing that could keep him respectful of his beloved's wishes. He knew his most precious treasure was struggling with the gradual change taking place within them, and soon his beloved would be a Dragon like him.

The simple thought of his precious jewel, his beloved treasure, as a Dragon shattered any sense of control the beast had over himself.

Outside of Blackscale Castle, anguished roars of agony shook the very foundation as lightning split the very sky in two. Each roar more agonized than the last. The very sky reflected the pain and anguish that the beloved Prince was enduring bring forced to stay away from his precious mate.

Not even the usual merriment of the Winter Celebration kicking off could break through the worry all Night Fae held in their hearts for their cherished Prince. To think they were enjoying the start of their most prolific season while their Prince had to be chained and kept away from his beloved. Just the thought of their Prince suffering had soured the mood considerably.

A long and wailing lament began from the Castle, the Dragon crying out his loneliness as he longed for the company of his mate. Low mournful calls accompanied by repeated lightning flashes became a constant background to the merry-making of the common Fae folk. Each sustained and keening vocalization echoing the lasting sorrow of the great and scaled beast.

Malleus could feel the tears before they fell, burning trails down his face as he tried again to distract himself with thoughts of you.

This time, it was a peaceful scene where he sat by your side looking over Briar Valley. Your skin looked almost ethereal in the moonlight and it felt so right to have you laying in his arms. Behind the two of you sat a large bassinet with a beautiful egg- maybe even eggs- eagerly soaking up all the love and magic you two had to offer. Your lovely horns shining in the moonlight an ever haunting gold color as he traced the flowing notes that decorated them. Not even the silvery moon could outshine that which stood so proudly on your skull.

Everything was perfect.

A sudden bolt of agony ripped through the beast, like a pressure in his hips that threatened to burst his stomach open and spill his organs onto the ground. It was enough to shatter that absent fantasy into millions of pieces, leaving the beast screaming out harshly enough that his throat burned. He pulled against the chains, slamming his large head into the stones beneath him just to try and distract himself from that pressure. Even the pain of the stones did little to let the beast ignore the suffering searing through the rest of his body.

There was nothing that could be done to soothe the Dragon. Nothing other than offering you over to him. You had personally made it clear you did not wish to satisfy any carnal cravings until you were comfortable and he had longed to respect that. Now, blinded by pain and desire, he could scantly remember that he had agreed to this and personally begged his ancestors to chain him themselves.

His roars uselessly echoing in the uncaring night all while the pain poisoned him from the inside out.

~•§•~

"Are you ready, Little One?"

"As ready as I can be."

You sighed, looking out over the mirror in front of you. Crowley had been keen to ensure you were prepared and safe to leave, even having Hades check you for the fifth time to make certain. Once cleared, he nervously hopped around you and continued his cawing. Though Clay was going with you, it didn't really sit right with Crowley. How could he call himself a good father if he blindly trusted those young men to keep their talons and claws off of you.

"Wait!"

"What's wrong?"

"I have decided I will also be going with you! I have been shirking my duties as your guardian and papa. I simply cannot allow it to continue!"

You really didn't know why the Crow was so distressed over the idea of you leaving without him, but it clearly brought him some level of comfort to be near you. Besides, Crowley was technically your third strongest guard. Hades followed by Malleus were your two strongest, but Crowley was a fair third somewhere with Lilia. Where you didn't know his full strength, you did know that he was strong enough to get the others to fall in line.

That had to count for something.

"If you want... But don't think that means you can order me around as desired."

"I understand. I will certain be making sure those misbehaved ruffians keep their hands in respectable places, however! I know my students, and I know they are all sneaky and underhanded."

Crowley was quick to join you as he sent a quick message on his phone and the mirror began to shimmer. Part of you had wanted to use public transportation instead of the magic of the mirror, but you understood how that was a bad idea. Most widely available ways to travel would mean you are exposed to more people, and more beasts are exposed to the addiction your very soul carries. It was for the greater good and your own good to limit your exposure to the masses.

Unlike the other times you have visited a separate country or Kingdom, you went first into the mirror. It was safe for you to do this because apparently the mirror was supposed to drop you off right inside Vil's very home. All the other times you had to make a public appearance before entering safety, this time you were immediately dropped of in a safe location right off the bat.

It was disorienting to go from the darkened halls only illuminated by the blue flames of the dead into the well-lit and lavish home of the famed Harpy actor. The home itself had many white and gold accents along the architecture, the furniture clearly plush and expensive. Everything you saw gave off an air of elegance that was hard to find an equal to. Perhaps the times you had seen inside Pomefiore could bring a similar impression, but even the lavish dorm was old-hat in comparison.

Standing before you- clearly having posed himself and eagerly awaiting your arrival- was Vil. He wore a beautiful and somewhat loose purple top with gold accents. His pants were black with a flared leg cut. He was not wearing shoes at that moment, instead allowing his bird-feet to be exposed. Those light blond- near white- tresses were loose around his head, but clearly freshly washed. His outfit had a casual air to it which juxtaposed the obvious effort he had put in to being presentable.

The Harpy himself stood leaning against one of those plush couches, almost leaning back as if to give the illusion of laying down casually. His hand was up to sweep his hair out of his eyes, but he was clearly dragging out the motion. Vil obviously was trying to catch your eye and entice you to his side with his casual efforts.

Standing with a bit more formality was Eric, Vil's father. Eric wore a lovely muted magenta suit, neatly groomed and clearly eagerly awaiting your arrival. He was quick to offer you his hand as you exited the mirror, allowing you to put some weight on him and steady yourself.

Unlike most trips through the mirror, you were walking on your own two legs and it was a surprisingly unsteady experience. The particulars of the magic and how it transported you such distances was lost on you, but it was still surreal. Your two "guards" entered after you, but their presence did very little to deter Vil who happily rose up to see you.

Grim was eagerly wiggling in your grasp, held up by one arm as he squeaked and let out small excited mews. For as hesitant as Vil could be wit Grim, the Hellcat did like Vil quite a bit. Eric was all too willing to take Grim from your arms into his own, letting the little feline rub against his neck feathers while you greeted Vil.

The Harpy in question was happy to wrap his arms and wings around you in greeting. His face found refuge in the crook of your neck. Every part of your scent was more than intoxicating to the Harpy who hummed and drank in that comforting ambrosia. Finally having you in his home was just one more step towards his bed as far as he was concerned, and he was eager to leave the option open to you.

While he was nuzzling your neck and cooing to you, he paused as his moisturized skin brushed against something firm at the top of your forehead near your hairline. As far as he was aware, there shouldn't be anything firm on you in that location. Naturally, he was quick to look at you for explanation to this oddity he encountered. You were typically forthcoming and rarely tried to lead him astray. Certainly you would know what this odd addition to your form was.

"Peahen?"

"It has to do with what transpired during the visit from the representatives. I'll tell you everything in detail later, though. For now, care to show me around your home?"

"Happily."

Vil was quick to offer you his arm, leading you deeper into the home. Where Crowley was eager to follow you, it was Clay who stopped the well-meaning Corvid from crashing this little tour. The Sasquatch felt he could trust Vil after the painful lesson that Overblot potion taught him, so he saw no point in hovering around the two of you. All four males- Eric, Crowley, Clay, and Grim- watched you walk out of sight with Vil, eager to discuss accommodations as this had been a rather impromptu visit.

While they discussed the logistics, you were safe in the protection of the ever proud Harpy. This distance would hopefully give you time to explain to Vil the change that was infesting you and changing you. Perhaps he would have some insight to what plagued you. Then again, perhaps the Harpy was just looking for the same attention you had blessed Rook with.

~~~~~~

You slowly awoke to the faint sound of voices around you. A kind of low hum that became enough of an annoyance that you had to force your eyes to open and your body to move. Still in that groggy state between sleep and consciousness, it took you a few moments to realize you were not where you fell asleep.

As you woke, you found yourself in a bed surrounded by various machines and monitors. All those monitors were actively hooked to you and made panic rise up as you struggled against the wires in a moment of blind distress. That commotion seemed to alert whoever had moved you to your change in state. It wasn't long before the door across from you slid open near soundlessly and several familiar faces entered the room.

Many of those who entered were not familiar to you, but you could recognize their species given their features. Long black oily-looking feathers with faint blue tints framed their shoulders. Bright blue beacons of flaming hair moving among themselves like candles in the shadows of the room. As far as you could tell- save for three individuals- the group was primarily comprised of Shinigami.

"Calm yourself, Little One. You are not in any danger."

The soft voice of the elder Shinigami you knew best hummed in your ears as he approached, crouching so he didn't stand above you. He seemed more worn than usual, the blue streaks under his eyes wet with recently shed tears. It looked as if he hadn't slept in an extended amount of time. This sudden change in scenery and in the elder Shinigami's appearance had worry worming through you worse than an infested apple.

"W-what?"

Your voice was incredibly hoarse and it felt as if you hadn't had a proper drink in who knows how long. Hades noticed your struggle and was quick to offer you an unusual light blue liquid that shined the same way his hair did. Without much thought into what this liquid was, you gratefully accepted it and drank down the icy relief that soothed the ragged burn of your throat. It was somewhat fruity, but mostly tasteless and seemed to settle wonderfully in your empty stomach.

"You are currently on the isle of Woe... You have been asleep for some time."

"Wait, how long?"

"About ten days."

"Ten days?? Why was I asleep for so long? Where's Grim?"

"Little Grim is with young Alexandros and young Ortho at the moment. We," he nodded to the four others among the Shinigami, "decided it would be best to keep you under a sleeping spell for that time. I am uncertain what you remember, but you were wholly incoherent and extremely debilitated. You were incredibly unwell and it was our concern that you were dying. I am happy to report you are not dying, but there has been... A change."

"A change? What kind of change?"

Your anxiety was beginning to mount, not feeling particularly different from when you fell asleep. It was clear you certainly had more energy than you remembered having prior to waking, but you also felt like you were forgetting something important. What happened to make you so tired? Why did you feel like there was some kind of dread hanging above you?

The elder didn't answer you immediately, instead he began to unhook you from the machines you had been fighting against. As he quietly worked, you tried to see who the three non-Shinigami were. Standing among the flickering blue flames were four familiar faces that brought some level of comfort to you.

The first was that ever insistent and near annoying Harpy Crowley as he seemed to be eager to bask in your coveted attention. On either side of him were two women you only recently got to know. Maleficent and Malefica stood in silence among the bustling Shinigami who moved around them the way a river would move around boulders. Finally was the brown and gray fur of the bounty-hunter Sasquatch Clay, his wizened face near unreadable.

It was Maleficent who spoke up then, approaching you as she summoned a mirror to her side.

"The change Hades is referring to is your new additions."

Looking in the mirror confused you, as there was indeed a new addition to your reflection that gave you pause. Sitting atop your head, exactly where the pain of your migraine had been centered- were two golden nubs peaking through the skin. They weren't very pronounced, but even the bit that was peaking out was obviously covered in music notes. The same golden and scrawling horns as Fortuna.

This change sent a bolt of memory and anxiety through you as you began quickly checking for other changes. The Human ghosts had warned you that once the transformation finished, you would be stuck permanently in this chaotic world. What that full transformation was supposed to look like was still up in the air and uncertain, but it didn't look completed to you.

Your ears were only slightly pointed at the very tips, hardly noticeable if you weren't specifically looking for a change. Your canine teeth seemed slightly longer, likely not even a millimeter of growth at a somewhat more pointed tip. Your tongue was the same as it had always been. Your pupils were ever so slightly more oblong in shape than the usual circles.

Had those horns growing in really been the cause of your debilitating migraine? It made sense, the head was a sensitive and delicate part of any Human body, so keratin covered bones growing from your skull likely would cause more than a little bit of pain and disorientation. All of your energy had been unwillingly devoted to growing a pair of new bones, so no wonder you had been exhausted.

"Why..?"

Your hands unconsciously went to the nubs above your eyes in your hairline, stunned to actually feel your hands touching these nubs. It had been your understanding that Dragon horns were unfeeling like Deer antlers. Clearly, that was not the case. The oddly intense sensation had you thinking of the times you had grabbed Malleus by his horns and it made you internally wince. No wonder Dragons saved any touching of their horns for mates and family.

"Fortuna has blessed you and granted you her magic. You are her official successor- something Dragons rarely deign to choose- and thus, you will become one of us over the next few months."

"So... I am actively turning into a Dragon."

"Precisely."

The female Dragon purred gently to you, petting your hair the way one would lovingly stroke a cat sprawled across their lap. She was quite careful to not brush your new horns, but it was clear she wasn't being shy about showing you physical affection. Something about her purr soothed you and made that looming worry settle down. That purr made you respond like a worrying child being soothed by their mother.

"My Baby Bird, this quarter of school is wrapping up and there will be a break from classes for about a month. Lord Hades was of the mind to keep you here on the Isle of Woe while your guards are displaced. I am of the mind that you should spend this time fulfilling your visitation requirements to the various countries that wish to host you. As it is dangerous for you to be so woefully unguarded, I have brought along Professor Clay to be a consistent guardian as you travel."

"I guess that makes sense..."

"I will, however, request that you do not visit Briar Valley, as Winter is peak breeding season for Night Fae. Mr Draconia has already begun to enter his season, so he has been chained and sequestered."

That made you pause, turning to stare at the Crow in a mixture of worry and anxiety. You knew Malleus would be more than a little frisky given his mating season, but it sounded like he had been arrested and jailed, not sequestered. That worry must have been visible on your face, as Malefica was quick to chime in.

"It is for your safety and his safety that he stay chained for his season."

"... Dare I ask how it is safer for the both of us?"

"Dragons are... Persistent. During our mating seasons- provided we have a mate in mind- we can be incredibly difficult to deter. Little Malleus has been through several seasons before, but never with a mate of his own. Without a mate, it is tolerable enough. Perhaps a few mood swings here and there. With a mate in mind, well... It gets a little more difficult."

"Will he be alright being chained up for so long?"

"Yes. I will not be false with you, he will be in incredible agony until his season is over. It will feel to him as if his skin is being peeled off and his horns ripped from his skull, but he will survive. If he is freed he will hunt you down until he finds you. In the interest of keeping you safe and keeping other countries from becoming enemies to Briar Valley, Malleus must stay chained."

"So there is no way around it? He has to be locked away."

"Unless you are willing to be his mate for his season, there is nothing that can be done. He likely will refuse food for a few weeks while he is pining, but it won't destroy him. Just the reality of being a Dragon. He can last a season without satisfaction, you two have plenty of seasons ahead of you once you fully turn."

This made heat rise to your face at the implications of her words. It was only around now that you really began kicking yourself for even entertaining any kind of relationship with these males. If you truly did get trapped here, you already had several potential husbands lined up with your Dragon Fiancé who was actively pining for you. What had been a fast fix to a growing problem had quickly backed you into a corner.

It never really occurred to you what you would do if you couldn't leave. The simple idea that you had to start considering it as a possibility weighed too heavily on your heart to focus on.

"Once I fully turn... How long is it supposed to take? How do I know when... When I've become more Dragon than Human?"

"It should take several months, if not half a year to fully settle in. You'll know when your wings start to grow. They are among the last to grow and it will very likely exhaust you just as your horns coming in did. You will never truly be a full Dragon even at the end of your metamorphosis. Your soul and that ever addictive aura of yours will always be Human, even if you are physically a Dragon like myself."

Until your wings grow...

"... Papa Crowley?"

"Yes, my beautiful, and delightful, darling little-"

"When is that movie thing the representatives from the Shaftlands mentioned?"

"It should be happening soon. I know Mr. Schöenheit will be in attendance, as his films are well known along with his standing as an actor, and your attendance was requested."

"Do I have to stay here, or can I get these diplomatic visits out of the way?"

"It is your choice."

"I think I should go to the Shaftlands for this gala or whatever it is, and then potentially go to Sunset Savanna after that. I will be taking Grim with me, unless, of course, he doesn't want to go."

Before they could respond to you, the doors opened again and a little gray blur of fur shot out towards you. Grim was quick to throw himself into your arms, purring as he snuggled into you and nuzzled your shoulder with his little face. His small wing tips fluttered as he smiled up at you, cheek pressed so hard into you it was as if he were trying to meld into one being.

"Mama! Are your growing pains done?"

"Yeah. All done for now."

"I was really scared, Mama. Sad-guy thought you were dying... I don't want you to die..."

Grim's little voice began to waver, pulling at your heart-strings as he sniffled. Of course he was scared that you would leave him. He lived most of his early life barely surviving with no parents to speak of. The simple idea that anything could happen to you was terrifying to the little feline that hugged you and tried to keep himself from sobbing.

It was something no child should have to endure or think about, but it was always on his mind. For one so young and so small, Grim had gone through an incredibly difficult journey just to survive to this point. He had even spent a longer time alone than with a family. As far as Grim was aware, you were all he had.

"I'm not dying any time soon, I can tell you that."

"Promise?"

"I promise."

With a gentle kiss on his little forehead, you slowly started to get up onto your own legs. Where you expected some level of strain from not using them for at least ten days, you only found strength and comfort. It seems those Dragon genes were kicking in faster than you would have expected.

You had some time- not much, but some- and you had no clear way forward yet. There was still an annoying voice in the back of your mind reminding you that there was something you had forgotten. As you tried to think back on whatever it was, a side-eyed glance from Hades brought the issue into the light.

He had seen the Human souls. He knew you had been talking to them and had likely been speaking to them long before you sought his council. He knew.... Yet he did nothing.

As far as you could remember- though it was hazy at best- Hades had allowed the Human souls to escape and simply brought you back to bed. Perhaps you would have to pick his brain and see what it was he was thinking about before you left for the winter. Maybe you could spend a day or two just exploring the Isle of Woe until you were ready to head to the Shaftlands.

Goodness only knew how much your guards and prospective mates were handling your sudden illness. You would have to text them once you got a moment to yourself and see how they were doing. For as sudden of a turn as your life had taken, you were handling it quiet well.

There was no sense stressing over the time ticking away any more than there was sense trying to flee the beasts just yet. You weren't on Sage Island, and you wouldn't be for at least a month. There was nothing you could do for now, so you just had to try and bide your time until you could be free from all of it.