Chapter Text
Prologue
Gazpaccio was in his factory, diligently working on his latest creation. A toy for his little granddaughter, Lucette. Though she already has more than plenty of toys for her enjoyment already, to Gazpaccio; there’s no such thing as too much for his little luce. At the moment, he was designing a little clockwork bird. It would’ve resembled a real bird if it weren’t for the shining metal and white porcelain mask for its face. After making a being like his son, Kane, making a little creature such as this was as simple as reading a book. After twisting the winding key three times, he set the bird down on the work table as it came to life with a tweet.
The old man let out a booming laugh as it tried to peck at the wood, but ended up falling on its face instead. He picked it up from its fallen position and once again sat it upon the table upright. It tweeted at him and started to peck the wood, this time not falling.
‘A quirky little thing.’ he thought to himself. 'Perfect for a small child.’
With that thought he picked the little bird up and twisted the winding key to the left two times, making the toy go completely still. He then put the little toy on a velvet cushion in a wooden carved gift box to present to Lucette when she comes to visit next week.
‘She will most likely have many new stories to tell when she arrives.’ he thought with a smile.
His daughter, Aleta, was a wild spirit, never like staying in one place for more than a few years. Always moving, always learning and exploring, and when she met Afolabi, another wild spirit, it only grew. When she became pregnant with Lucette, she did settle down a little for awhile, but as soon as Lucette turned five years of age, she was up and moving again. Luckily for him, Lucette, while still having her parents’ wild spirit, wasn’t as inclined to be active for so long.Thank goodness, for he thinks he wouldn’t be able to keep up with her otherwise. As Gazpaccio reminisced about his family, the door to his workshop started to slowly creak open, a pale white hand pushing it open. The door opened to reveal Gazpaccio’s first creation and son, Kane.
“Father.”
“Oh,” Gazpaccio said as he was startled out of his memories.”Kane you’re already home?”
Was it sunset already? It felt like time passed in the blink of an eye. He had sat down to work on the bird in the late hours of morning and hadn't moved since. Straightening his posture, Gazpaccio winced at the soreness and stiffness that made themselves apparent in his bones. He was not a young man anymore, and the evidence of that truth popped up during such times.
“Yes, Father. What is it you are creating?” Kane asked, tilting his head curiously, still standing by the doorway.
“Oh this little thing? It’s a gift for Lucette for when she comes next week. A clockwork bird,” Gazpaccio said with a small laugh, softly petting the little toy's head. He knows for certain that she would adore it. she's been begging him for a pet for months now, through her letters. Aleta already sent him a stern letter telling him to not give into his granddaughter's requests. But she said nothing about giving her a clockwork pet.
“Ah. You said that she comes next week, on what day will she arrive?” Kane asked, his dark gaze set on his creator.
“Hmm, if the weather stays pleasant, then she should arrive here by Wednesday.”
Kane raised his eyebrow, or at least the place his eyebrow would be if he was human, in surprise.
“So soon? What world is she in this time?”
“Ha.” Gazpaccio let out a small laugh at the question, proud that his son saw the pattern of her visits. "Mooshu, this time.”
“Hence her quick arrival.” Kane murmured, mostly to himself. "Perfect.”
“Perfect? What in the Spiral do you mean, Kane? Are you planning something for Lucette?” Gazpaccio questioned, staring confusedly at his son as a sense of unease starting welling up inside him. He doesn't know why, though. Kane was his creation after all, and he adored Lucette. The clockwork wouldn't harm her. Kane said nothing, only walking over to the workshop’s door with a dark chuckle.
“You could say that.”
Kane pulled open the door to reveal a group of large crabs. Not just any crabs, as Gazpaccio soon realized as the crabs grinned and leered at him from the doorway. The Tortellinis.
“Kane? What is this?” Gazpaccio asked, slowly backing into a corner as the crabs stalked closer like a pride of lions closing in on their prey.
“The dawn of a new era, Pater. The Gold Age shall rise upon Valencia, with me ushering it in as the Spiral’s god.” Kane explained, the shadows on his mask making him appear as a dark entity from the depths of the Underworld itself.
“But do not fear, Father. I will take good care of your little luce. She will never have to be afraid of the dark nor will she be tainted by the filth of other lowly beings. While she could never be a truly perfect being such as I, she will be the first of few who will be put on the road to perfection. After all, she is my little niece.”
“If you think that Aleta would let you have her-” Gazpaccio tries to say but is harshly interrupted by Kane's mocking tone.
“Now, now, Father. Did you really think that I haven’t already thought of resistance from darling little sister? I already have a plan for her and her husband when it comes to that.” Kane said dismissively.
Gazpaccio’s eyes widen when realization dawned on him at what Kane meant by plan. He couldn't mean...He couldn't possibly be thinking...
“No,” Gazpaccio whispered, staring up at Kane in horror. ”No, Kane, my son, please don’t, they’re innocent. Spare them.” He pleaded.
Kane looked down at him with an air dismissal. The arrogance and pride that Gazpaccio was once so proud of seeing in Kane now turned against him, void eyes glaring down at the old man.
“They’re flawed, father. Imperfect. Canvases full of mistakes. Mistakes that could’ve been easily fixed if they were taught better. I need a plain, unmarked canvas. A young, impressionable child who is unaware of the dark and mistaken ways of the world. Who could be put onto the righteous path leading the way to a perfection that even humans can achieve.” Kane explained, speaking as if he were not talking about stealing a child away from her family. He then turned to one of the crabs.
“Detain him in the tallest tower on the other side of the island.” Kane ordered with a wave of his hand, turning and walking out of the factory, watching as his new thugs dragged his pleading creator away.
“Now, all that is left to do is to wait for my little luce to arrive.” Kane said to himself, a smile evident in his tone
“Uncle Kane!” yelled Lucette as she ran down the gangplank into his awaiting arms. He let loose a small chuckle at his niece’s excitement.
“Hello, my little luce. Did you have a good trip?” He asked as he picked her up and waved his hand at the unicorn servants to take her bags into her room.
“Mmhmm” She hummed, nodding her head, making her black curls bounce around her head.Then her expression scrunched up in confusion as she looked around the docking area.
“Where’s Grandpa?” She asked, tilting her head curiously at Kane. Her grandpa was never late to pick her up from the docks.
“Don’t worry about him, luce. He’s in one of his factories. He told me to come take you to the house.” Kane said to her, the lie rolling out of his audio easily. Lucette’s little face fell when she heard and believed the lie, disappointment obvious in her features.
“Now, now Lucette, don’t be so disappointed. I have a wonderful surprise planned for you.” Kane said, patting her wild curls.
“Really?” Lucette asked, her eyes widening.
“Yes, but if you’re so disappointed, you might not be able to enjoy it.” Kane said, ending it with a fake sigh.
“No! No, Uncle Kane! I’m not disavointed! I’m happy, see?” Lucette exclaimed, showing off all of her teeth in a big smile to convince Kane. Kane chuckled as he pat her head, thinking about how easy it was to make her happy again. ‘Then again, she is a child’
“Weeeeelllll,” He said, drawing it out to tease her.
“Pleaseeeeeee, Uncle Kane. Pllllllleeeeeeaaaassseeeee.” Lucette begged, resting her head on his shoulder and looking up at him with big bright blue puppy eyes.
Kane chuckled at her insistence.
“You have certainly mastered the puppy eyes, Lucette. Alright, I’ll give you your surprise, but you’ll have to close your eyes.” Kane instructed. When Lucette eagerly followed his instruction, Kane made a silent hand gesture to the team of Armada soldiers standing by the side of a large ship. With his signal they all began to board, all clockworks heading to their stations onboard. The last one to board was a medium sized clockwork dressed in dark Valencian cassonova clothes, walking with a black cane that he may not actually need. The clockwork nodded to Kane who nodded back to him and climbed onto the ship as well. As the ship moved away from port, Kane carried Lucette to the palace.
“Keep those eyes closed, Lucette.”
“They’re closed, Uncle.” she replied, the excitement clear in her voice. Unsuspecting of what just happened right behind her back.
As he walked through the throne room doors, he strolled to the center of the throne room and set Lucette down.
“Alright, my darling. Open your eyes.”
Lucette timidly opened her eyes and gasped with an expression of delight as she caught sight of what was in front of her.
“Your Majesties, I happily introduce you to my niece, Lucette Favero, daughter of Aleta Favero and Prince Afolabi of Lioneria.
The King and Queen stood on top the dias at the front of the front room, dressed in splendid finery and jewels that glittered as brightly as the stars in the Valencian night sky.
Kane nudged her shoulder as she hadn’t moved an inch. Blushing, she hastily performed a low bow, Mooshu style.
“It is a honor to meet you, Your Highnesses
“Oh what a sweet child. Kane, you never told us that you had a family. Oh, come closer child. Let me get a good look at you.”said Queen Margherita, holding out her hand to Lucette. Lucette looked up at Kane for permission, and with an approving nod, walked up to the queen.
“My father’s granddaughter. My dear sister, Aleta, moves around too frequently to be tracked. It is only through her and this little one’s letters are we able to even have an inkling of their whereabouts.” he explained, keeping a watchful eye on Lucette and the queen as she cooed over her.
“Oh dear. How does she do her lessons, if she’s so busy moving all over the Spiral?” the queen asked, a concern expression upon her face.
“Lessons?” Lucette asked with a confused look.
“But of course, Cara mia, your dancing lessons, etiquette lessons, Literature lessons, Valencian lessons, very important mind you. Then there’s Latin, Polarian, Monquistan, English of course, and-”
“Ah, my darling, I believe your confusing and overwhelming the poor child.” King Casimir interjected, seeing the expression on Lucette’s face. He gently picked up Lucette from the queen’s lap and put her down next to him, holding her hand.
“Come child, let us properly welcome you back home to Valencia. Kane, send out invitations to all of the noble families. We shall welcome little Lucette in a style truly Valencian. A masquerade ball,perhaps. What say you, Cara mia? Casimir asked, looking at her inquisitively. Her little face bloomed with delight at the mention of a ball and she vigorously nodded, black curls flying around her head.
“As you command, Your Majesties,” Kane said as he bowed and turned to do as he was commanded.
“Come child, let’s see if I can find some of my childhood gowns. I’ll make you la regina della festa.” was the last thing Kane heard before the doors closed. As he walked down a corridor, a shadow falls into step behind him.
“It has been done?” Kane asked.
“Quite done, my lord. They will no longer be a problem.” The shadow replied, stepping into the moonlight to reveal itself as the dark clad clockwork from the docks.
“And Lucette will not find out. Ever, Deacon?” Kane asked.
“She will be permanently in the dark, my lord” Deacon replied with a nod of his head.
“The dark? No, not the dark. She will be in the sun’s rays of the Golden Age,” Kane said as he stalked off into the darkness. It is time for the dawn of Valencia.