Chapter Text
Youth - Glass Animals
"I want you to be happy." The woman kisses you on the forehead, and sets your basket down. It's got some cash for the people she's leaving you with, a stuffed Siamese cat plush, and a blanket with your name hand-embroidered on it. "I love you so, so much, (Y/N)." With a whimper, your little infant hands reach up to grab the woman, but she just pulls away and tucks you in. "You'll understand when you're older. Don't come looking for me." She rings the doorbell, then leaves you to your fate.
"Junk, junk, ooh this could go for quite a bit, junk -" A scammer disguised as a merchant rummages through her daily findings, until she picks up a blanketed basket. "What in the world is (Y/N)?" She goes to grab the funny looking toy from it, but the slightest tug causes an obnoxious shrieking to come from the basket, and she drops it. The basket only begins to cry more, and she bends down to pull down the blanket.
"Uh oh, an infant." She squints her eyes and observes the strangely rounded ears. "And a human one at that. Just great." She contemplates what she wants to do next, but ultimately decides to pull the blanket back up over the baby's head, muffling the screams as she pushes the toy back where it was. "Put it back before the noise draws attention."
"It already has!" The triumphant voice causes the witch to scowl and groan.
She turns around with a crafty grin, "well, if it isn't the Golden Guard. If you want the baby so bad; have it!" She casts a distracting spell, packing her stall in the confusion and flying away.
The smoke dissipates, leaving the Golden Guard and two other guards of the Emperor's Coven empty-handed, save for the wailing basket at their feet. The Guard kneels, tilting his head curiously as he pulls the blanket down, "there, so you can actually breathe." He scoffs, but the blubbering doesn't stop, and the citizens are starting to grow annoyed by the constant noise. "Sorry for the disturbance, we'll return this infant safe and sound." He announces, grabbing the basket by the handle.
The swaying causes the infant's sobbing to die down, and it began to coo. "Where do you come from, little -" he pauses to check the name on the blanket, "- (Y/N)? Huh." He then scans over the baby's features; plush and soft skin, fluffy wisps of hair, two eyes and four limbs. Seemed average enough, but those ears. He rubs one of them between his thumb and index finger, wondering why they were so round. Witches didn't have round ears, only ... humans did. What was a human doing here?
"Uhm, boss? Is it a boy or a girl?"
He flushes, and whips around to face the two guards behind him. "Wh-? I'm not checking!" His voice cracks at the absurdity of the question. "Let's just go. The Emperor will know what to do with it."
"But, Sir, its parents -"
"That was an order." The guards shut up, and leave with the baby.
The Golden Guard stares down at the human on his way back to the castle. "How did you get here?" He whispers, poking at (Y/N)'s cheek. It splutters and makes a feeble reach for the offending finger. He's strangely enamored by the baby. Obviously he'd seen plenty, but this one liked him, especially one this cute. Chubby cheeks and eyes squeezed shut in a pout; who thought human babies could be adorable?
He could hardly tell he'd arrived at the castle. "Right." He absentmindedly swung the basket as he walked, but luckily it only served to lull you to sleep. He knocks on the door to The Emperor's throne room, waiting for the voice on the other side to invite him in.
"My son," The Golden Guard looks around the room to realize it's just the two of them. He glances at the basket. Three of them. "I was told you attempted to chase down The Owl Lady?"
"Wow rumors spread quickly." He chuckles, trying to ease the tension. He removes his mask, revealing magenta irises and a missing left ear. "That's not exactly what happened. I was doing a bit of peace-keeping when this loud noise disrupts it all. Turns out," he presents the basket to his father, "humans are real and they have babies."
The Emperor, Belos, makes his way down and observes the baby for himself, removing the mask to appear less threatening. "Of course they have babies; everyone does." He grins first, gently turning the baby's face to inspect the ears, "what a healthy baby girl." Then his face falls into a scowl. "Have you told anyone else about her?" He treats her like glass, lifting her out of the basket and into warm arms.
"Uh, no. I took her to you right away because I knew you'd know what to do with it - her." He corrects. He wonders how you're going to get home; your parents must be missing you dearly.
He's taken by surprise when Belos offers something completely different. "Edgar, how would you like to have a sister?"
The Golden Guard, Edgar, peers at baby (Y/N). She's being held out to him by his father, offering to let him hold her. "A sister? Ew. No thanks."
Belos chuckles, holding the baby back to his chest, "I'm sure you'll change your mind in the future. Having a," he thinks over the right words, "sibling can be a wonderful thing. Believe me, I know."
"You'll be happy all the time; I know you can make it right."