Chapter Text
King Hisashi awoke to shouting and screaming.
He hurried out to his balcony, fearing that something had befallen his children! Only to see his sons sparing with wooden weapons. Well, Izuku was trying to spar while Tomura just kept knocking him away with a condescending laugh.
The King watched Tomura send the thirteen-year-old reeling into the dirt, wooden weapon flying away. Hisashi opened his mouth to shout and reprimand the elder boy when a scream tore from Izuku who slammed his palms into the dirt. Tomura’s laughter was cut short when he was launched into the air, tangled in vines that tightened around him.
“HEY! YOU LITTLE CHEAT!”
“It’s not cheating!” Izuku shouted back and the argument went underway with the tired King watching. He really didn’t understand their relationship. He always gave Yoichi everything growing up, maybe because he knew that in the end everything belonged to him as future king and his brother would be left with far less. Left to one day go off and maybe marry into a noble house…
Hisashi stilled as his thoughts continued to wander… If their parents had never died… If their assassination had never happened… Little Izuku could have had cousins to play with! Hisashi stood straight and sighed, rubbing his forehead and regretting his wandering thoughts. There was no point in thinking of a life that never happened.
Returning inside he prepared for the night, having slept in, to his surprise.
He would spend most of his time poring over reports while the children had their lessons. Then while the children played, he would see Garaki and observe the experiments. Normally he would get involved since the manipulation of night and shadow magic wasn’t in a Troll’s bag of tricks.
He had to admit he did get a sense of pleasure from the writhing bodies of his enemies in agony as their physiology and mental states were altered into something completely new.
It was here he sat watching as Garaki dealt with new materials brought in by a few of his… Hisashi didn’t know what to call them… Servants? Slaves?
Whatever they were, they disgusted him. The very thought of creatures fabricated, combining Troll and Elven genetics! Unnatural.
But they were useful, able to comfortably move during the day without much discomfort. It was how Garaki was able to keep a steady flow of materials. As for the parts taken from Hisashi’s own people, normally they came from elderly on their deathbeds or criminals.
It was a delicate arrangement that the two maintained well… Too bad Hisashi planned to do away with it all once the Day Kingdom was no more.
“When will the next guards be finished to join the ranks?” he asked, eyeing a young creature as it scrubbed the stone floor, trying to remove the evidence of a recent failure. At first glance he almost mistook it for an elfling but a second glance revealed the stonelike texture of the skin and small jagged tusks. The thing looked at him from beneath dark hair before setting back to work.
“There were a few complications with a few but the ones remaining should be joining your shadow guards. I am sure Toga will enjoy some new friends.”
“Toga… I sometimes wonder if that thing was a mistake.” Hisashi scoffed, remembering a time he found her trying to latch onto his terrified son.
“What is done is done my lord. No use dwelling on regrets.”
Hisashi nodded in agreement.
Izuku was still with Tomura, following him like a duckling and watching everything he did. It annoyed the teen prince to no end yet a small part of him was flattered as well. His little brother wanted to emulate his talents after all!
What really annoyed him was when the little prince’s friends came for their scheduled play time and the flattery came to a stop. The Fukiyomi brat was teaching everyone how to properly hold partial transformations and Tomura didn’t approve of it. Why focus on magic when skill was all you needed in life? But in the end he guessed the true heir needed to know as much as possible. It was probably why the bird brain was hand chosen as a playmate.
He stood and watched the pale haired child run off with his companion, before heading off himself. After all, as the leader of the special guard he had important things to do.
“Tomura, you’re not bringing the cutie with you today?” Toga called as he approached.
Tomura scowled at her. “Leave him alone, Toga… I told you that many times.”
“Awwww I would think you would be fine with me playing with him… After all, you should be the next King.”
“Well, I’m not because I am not Father’s…” He stilled before shaking his head and continuing on. “Never mind any of it… Let’s just go.”
Tomura sat with his Father and King, crystals laid before him as he was encouraged to use them to channel magic. He struggled with it, his mixed ‘dirty’ blood making it difficult to process it. Though since his adoption no one dared bring up his day elf blood on the paternal side. He set the crystal aside in frustration as he studied the scales that he managed to manifest on his arm.
“It’s not your fault Tomura. One day you will overcome your handicap,” King Hisashi said, and Tomura frowned as he mulled the words over in his head.
“I will have it overcome before I become King…” Tomura waited for a response. Hisashi stilled, red eyes looking at him. White pupils meeting black as Tomura’s words hung between them.
“That is still my role, yes Father? It is the reason you took me in and called me son since I was four…” He pushed and Hisashi folded his hands before him as he studied Tomura.
“Tomura… My son… My intent when I took you in was for you to inherit my Kingdom when I left this world… But with the return of my birth child… Matters changed.”
Tomura could feel his body burn with hatred and disappointment. His entire life’s meaning had been stripped from him just as he had thought.
“Izuku is softhearted, Father. Hardly worthy of ruling a Kingdom such as yours. It would eat him alive.”
“He is only a child. In time he will grow and one day be worthy of my throne.”
“Even you say he isn’t worthy now…” Tomura pointed out.
Hisashi shook his head. “Tomura, until then you will need to be there for him. His wonderful big brother who will guide him.”
Tomura chewed his lip before finally breaking eye contact with his father. He always found it hard to hold that gaze. Discontent rolled around in his stomach.
Hisashi said, “And then Tomura said that Izuku isn’t worthy of the throne. Isn’t it his job as older brother to guide and protect the younger one? I swear, I never would have insulted you like that.”
Yoichi just stared at Hisashi. He was trying to figure out if his older brother was real or not. Ever since Hisashi had trapped him in his endless cycle of dreams yet again, Yoichi had increasingly struggled to tell real visitations from his hallucinations. Last time he’d seen Hisashi, Yoichi had begged his older brother to kill him and put him out of his misery. Hisashi had laughed, then strangled him. Yoichi was fairly certain that one had been a nightmare. The fact that he remained alive was a less-than-subtle clue. Besides, he knew his older brother was too possessive to ever let him escape into death.
Reading nonexistent meaning into Yoichi’s blank stare, Hisashi chuckled. “I suppose you’re right. I did tease you frequently when we were younger. Perhaps that’s normal for brothers. Tomura does care about Izuku despite his many complaints. Maybe I’m worrying too much.”
That tone of voice made Yoichi fear this conversation might be over. Real or fake, he didn’t want Hisashi to leave. Even though he hated his older brother for what he’d done, when Hisashi visited, he saw the garden again. The grass under his feet and tree against his back felt infinitely preferable to the endless darkness. And even listening to Hisashi drone on was better than meeting the nightmare version of his older brother again. The pain of being strangled had felt all too real.
Desperate to drag out this visit for as long as possible, Yoichi said, “You should be more understanding of Tomura’s complaints.” Even though he barely remembered what those complaints had been despite Hisashi’s long speech just moments ago. He might be losing his mind.
Hisashi said, “But he must understand that Izuku is my heir. You never acted like you resented me for being the crown prince.”
Yoichi said, “I never expected to inherit. I was the younger brother. A better comparison would be how you would feel if our parents had suddenly decided to disinherit you in favor of me.”
Hisashi frowned. “But that never could have happened.”
Yoichi vaguely remembered his father once coming to him and talking to him about designating him as heir to replace his older brother. Father had been concerned about Hisashi’s dealings with trolls and hostility with the day kingdom. At the time, Yoichi had protested, saying he’d never sought power and he didn’t want Hisashi to hate him. Father had promised to go speak to Hisashi and try to persuade him again. Then both his parents had been murdered. If Yoichi could go back in time, he’d have taken that offer. His parents had been right to fear Hisashi’s fitness to rule.
Yet Yoichi also doubted Hisashi would have accepted being disinherited without a fight. He said, “If it had happened, I bet you would have started a civil war.”
Hisashi tapped his chin. “Hmmm. You make a good point. Tomura is the older brother. He believed he would inherit. I don’t want him to resent Izuku. Perhaps after I conquer the day kingdom, I can offer Tomura land of his own. Surely that would make him feel more secure.”
Yoichi stared. He couldn’t accept this calmly delivered threat to destroy his home and all his old friends. Perhaps this was all a dream after all. He ought to protest, to try to save people. But he was afraid of being left alone in the dark again. He didn’t dare defy his brother, not when he still had a favor to ask.
When had he become such a coward? He hated himself.
His favor. Right. Yoichi croaked, “When is Izuku’s next birthday?”
“Hmm? Oh, right, his fourteenth birthday is coming up. I promised you and Izuku that you could attend if you both behaved. Last year I caught Izuku sneaking around looking for you, so the test failed. Since then he’s been more focused on his studies.” Hisashi shrugged. “You haven’t argued with me too much lately. Keep it up for another month, and then we’ll see.”
At least that hadn’t been a rejection. Yoichi’s hands clenched. He needed to see Izuku again. Izuku was his beloved child. Izuku was his touchstone. Izuku was what had saved him from his nightmares the first time. Izuku was the only person he knew for a fact to be real.
While he’d been lost in thought, Hisashi had said something, then departed. “Wait!” Yoichi cried. But it was too late. He fell back into the darkness.
When he opened his eyes, he saw Izuku standing before him, not looking a day older. “You came to see me?” Yoichi whispered, not daring to believe it.
Izuku snarled hatefully. “How could you abandon me, Uncle Yoichi? You left me alone! I hate you!”
This wasn’t the real Izuku. The real Izuku would call him Papa. This was all a nightmare. Yoichi closed his eyes and wished he could wake up.
Garaki’s experiments to force Day Elves physiology to adapt to the night environment were nearly complete. With the data gathered from the few successes he began to produce more and more successful beings he called Nomu. Cognitive enough to follow orders and hold conversations. They were also fairly obedient, every one of them, and he was filled with pride at this fact. Now he could turn to his personal experiments…
Creating Trolls that could harness magic just as the cursed elves. No longer would he need to rely on the foolish Night King. No longer would Trolls have to fear the wrath of either side of night and day! They would stand above all beings!
But so far what he produced couldn’t do magick at all. They were strong, fast, many were just as territorial as true Trolls. All failures in his eyes but useful enough when properly motivated.
Speaking of which.
Garaki had entered the room his personal experiments were held and saw one of the younger ones standing before one of the crystal coffins that held one of the more violent beasts in a stasis. He growled and the young one flinched and hurried away to find a task to do to avoid his creator.
Izuku stared at himself in a mirror as he was dressed. He had grown a bit since he had arrived in the night kingdom and he wondered if anyone from his old home would know him as the little elf who always cried. Or would they just see the little Night Prince, the nice clothes, the straight posture trained into him by tutors and Momo herself, and the golden crown.
For four birthdays in a row, Izuku had failed. A week before his tenth birthday, he’d asked if Yoichi would be coming so Hisashi had claimed he’d changed his mind due to Izuku’s nagging. The next year, he’d been perfect to the best of his knowledge but apparently Yoichi had said something to upset Hisashi. The year after that, he’d gotten caught searching for Yoichi. The very morning of his thirteenth birthday, he’d slipped up and called Yoichi “papa.” Hisashi had flown into a fury and changed his mind. Izuku still kicked himself for that.
After his failure last year, he’d been so careful. He’d done anything his father wanted, all in hopes of seeing his papa for one day on his birthday.
Izuku blinked when he saw Tomura enter his room, dressed in finery and also sporting a golden crown, standing beside Izuku and looking at them side by side. “Father said he has a surprise for you, Tomura. He said you will love it.”
Tomura scoffed at this and rolled his eyes. “Father hardly knows what would make me happy at the moment…”
Izuku pressed his lips in silent agreement before turning toward the door to leave, his big brother following behind him.
The surprise had Tomura spitting venom and pitching a fit, screaming at their Father in the study.
Introducing a surprise, possible fianceé could never have been a good idea.
“To start your own family Tomura! It’s a noble house so you won’t go without, and once my take over is complete you will get a generous wedding gift from me as a regional king. You would still answer to my authority but still have power over your own expanse of land and its occupants!”
“Who said I want to answer to a high king!? This doesn’t fix anything Father!”
Izuku sat watching this argument with his hands over his ears…
He was actually impressed Tomura had held his anger in through the whole luncheon. Only letting it out once the young lady and her family left.
Yoichi had a moment.
A moment where, after years of trying, he finally succeeded in fighting back against the darkness. After all, even if it was created by his brother’s curse, it was still in his own head! He should be able to banish the darkness and fill the void with whatever he wanted!
What did he want? Safety… warmth… peace.
It was slow going but sure enough he was able to create the only place he could bring to mind. Their little home. The place he and Izuku would sit together and eat dinner! The one place Hisashi hadn’t touched!
The image was blurry, and places looked like muddy water running together but it was there around him. Relief filled him as he stumbled toward the dining table and sat in the waiting chair. Fingers running over the wooden surface, and he frowned… He couldn’t remember the feeling so he couldn’t manifest it.
No matter… He remembered it was heavy and solid!
What was it he would be doing at this time? The light from the window suggested it was fading so… COOKING! Yes, he would be preparing dinner.
Slowly he stood, taking his place at the pot over the open fire in the hearth. Here he worked to push his own memory into a dream. He needed this to be his haven now… As flimsy as it was, he sat so focused on the memory as it grew more and more, drawing on his own magic to feed it.
There he sat stirring the pot, even if it smelled like he had burned the stew he saw it as a wonderful smell created by his own will. All he had to do was drown in his dream… Immerse himself until finally it was the comfort he needed. What HE remembered.
The sound of the door opening. The sound of little feet.
“You burned it!?” Izuku’s voice…
“No it’s not burned! It’s just a bit of flavor,” he whispered. Those were his go to words when he knew he’d screwed up their meal. He continued to focus on his stirring, helping ground him in the fabrication when he heard it.
“It really does smell burned, little brother. Perhaps a salad would be better for this meal?”
Yoichi’s head jerked around, and the sharpening edges of his haven began to run together as he looked to his brother who stood at the door. There was no Izuku anywhere and he looked around to be sure. Just his brother looking as if he was fully ready to play house.
Panic filled him and the image began to collapse, the void creeping in as he lost his grip on it.
Hisashi watched him flounder, reaching for the walls, the pot, anything to try and keep it together! When they just slipped away, he gave in and sank to his knees in the grass of his brother’s favorite illusion… The Lunar Garden.
“You should be careful manifesting your own illusions, brother. You don’t have much magic stored and you know how much energy it can take to maintain… Wouldn’t want you hurting yourself do we…”
Yoichi flinched when he felt Hisashi’s large hands, warm and gentle, on his back. But he didn’t draw away as he was pulled into what was meant to be a comforting hug. He didn’t fight, instead he closed his eyes and let it happen.
“See what I mean… It was such a small memory but you’re so tired now.”
Hisashi continued to hold his brother, kneeling in the grass and looking around the Garden. Yoichi hadn’t let him hold him like this in so long! Riding this new high he began to talk, mostly about the fight he and Tomura had about the arranged fianceé.
Perhaps Yoichi had finally learned his lesson… He deserved for the garden to remain once Hisashi departed.
Izuku enjoyed his afternoon strolls through the palace garden. To be brutally frank about it, he enjoyed the break from endless lessons and his father’s smothering. This was one of the few times he was allowed to be alone.
He stopped under an apple tree. It was one of the rare plants that grew in both the night and day kingdoms and reminded him of home.
A branch overhead wobbled. Izuku looked up. It stopped.
As soon as Izuku looked away, the movement started again. Several apples fell from the tree. Izuku looked up in time to see a filthy hand grab an apple, then vanish among the branches.
Someone was hiding and hungry. Izuku instantly formed his resolve. In a low voice, he asked, “Can I help you?”
The movement in the branches stopped.
“I could bring you food from inside. I don’t mean any harm. I promise.” Izuku wet his lips, afraid of pushing too far, but he had to deliver a warning. “My—King Hisashi is a bit extreme about security. You’re in serious danger if you’re caught here. I can help you escape.”
The voice from the tree whispered, “I don’t have anywhere to go. I couldn’t last another day in the lab. I thought about fleeing to the day kingdom—the doctor hates them, so I assume they’re good people.”
Izuku’s heart twisted with memory. “They are,” he said softly.
A head poked out from the branches. He looked young, perhaps Izuku’s age. He had fangs, pointed ears, and dark hair.
Izuku stared. This boy looked like a cross between a night elf and a troll, which should be impossible, but it would be very rude to tell someone that they couldn’t exist. Instead, he said, “I’m Izuku. What’s your name?”
The dirty boy said, “I’m Eijirou Kirishima.”
