Chapter Text
This is the story of how a thief called Will Soot almost died. But don’t worry, this is actually a very fun story, and it’s not even about him. It’s about a boy called Theseus. And it starts with the Sun.
Once upon a time, a single drop of sunlight fell from the heavens. And from this small drop of sun grew a magic, golden, flower with the ability to heal the sick and injured. Those with even the most horrible afflictions would be healed instantly by sitting next to it and simply singing a tune.
Well, centuries passed and a hop, skip and boat ride away, there grew a kingdom called Corona. The kingdom was ruled by a beloved king and queen, as well as their five year old son, the crown prince. Their family was happy, spending long days under a willow tree in their garden. And their joy could never have been more than when they found out Queen Kristin was pregnant with a boy. The young prince, Technoblade, ever stoic, was noticeably more happy, a small smile always apparent on his face, pink hair up in a messy braid. The queen, however, was sick. The doctors hoped and prayed, ultimately diagnosing her with a terminal illness. She was running out of time, and with her, the kingdom’s baby prince.
By this point, most people tend to search for a miracle. In this case, it was in the form of a glowing, amber flower. Now is the time to introduce a greedy, wicked man by the name of Dream. Dream had found the flower’s magic decades ago, and instead of sharing its beauty with the world, he hid it away. He selfishly only healed himself when he could be allowing the flower to serve the many sick and injured of the broken world around it.
All he had to do was sing a special song.
Flower gleam and glow,
Let your power shine,
Make the clock reverse,
Take back what once was mine,
What once was mine.
Gray streaks fade back into pale blond, and wrinkles immediately smooth, leaving behind pristine skin; there is no mark of the weight left by hundreds of years of life. The green-clad man breathes a deep contented sigh, heavy burdens lifted from his body.
The sound of metal footsteps jolts Dream out of his stupor, quickly hiding the flower underneath a fake bush before putting up the hood of his cloak, grabbing his lantern, and disappearing into the night. Unknown to Dream, however, his rushed escape had caused the bloom’s hiding spot to be pushed away, leaving the bright yellow flower glowing in the clearing.
The king’s guards flood into the clearing and a shout brings everyone’s attention to the bloom in the middle.
“We found it!” The guards pulled the flower out of the ground, revealing a tangled root system snaking through the dirt.
The magic of the golden flower healed the queen, and a healthy baby boy with glowing golden hair was born.
< I’ll give you a hint. That’s Theseus. >
The kingdom rejoices, and the royal family quickly falls in love with their new addition. His fluffy golden hair spreading out from behind him and his bright eyes contributing to an attitude screaming out sunshine. The castle was so excited about the baby’s birth, they celebrated by launching a single glowing lantern into the sky. A golden light, spreading out over the kingdom; bringing hope reminiscent of the young child’s birth over the entire realm.
For one night, all was perfect.
If only the serenity had lasted.
Not long after, as the prince peacefully slept, an intruder approached.
A dark cloak over his shoulders and a wide-brimmed hat atop his fluffy brown curls to shadow his face, the trespasser creeps through an open balcony door. The crib is spotted behind tinted glasses and he advances further, slowly singing a haunting lullaby.
Flower gleam and glow,
Let your power-
But he needn’t go any further, for the boy’s hair begins to glow, rising and floating ethereally around his sleeping face. Continuing forward, the invader sings his song, gently pulling out a pair of scissors and reaching for the golden curls.
A gentle snip , and the lock comes loose, but suddenly the glowing is gone, the effects of the magic spirited away as the lock turns dull and brown. Suddenly, the child wakes from his slumber, sobs suddenly erupting from his chest. Steps can be heard from the next room over and in a panic, the dark cloaked man picks up the child and runs out to the balcony, tucking him away in the fabric. King Philza and Queen Kristin run through the opening, giving only a moment’s hesitation at the door before seeing their beloved child in the arms of a stranger.
The Queen cries out, and the prince sobs louder, as if calling back for his mother. But it is too late. By the time the king has called for the guards, the thief has jumped over the balcony railing, gracefully landing on a horse below and galloping away towards the forest.
And the kingdom grieves.
The miracle prince, spirited away in only a few moments, gone without a trace.
And the royal family mourns.
The entire kingdom releases lanterns, searching for the hope they lost.
And the young prince is declared gone.
The crown prince is given the right to name his baby brother. So as the small mythology enthusiast prince remembers gazing down at his brother’s chubby cheeks as he cries in his mother’s arms, he decides.
“Theseus,” he declares. “Because he is going to make it home, against all odds.”
And silently, they hope.
❊
Deep in the woods, a small blonde prince dozes on a wooden chair at the top of a tower. He is gently awakened by a man in a forest green cloak with poison eyes.
“Prince,” he says sharply. Theseus wakes slowly.
“Dada?” He reaches a small hand out.
Dream flinches backwards, disgusted; the action brings tears to Theseus’s eyes. “Dada.” he insists.
And despite the baby’s insistence, a wicked smile comes across Dream’s face.
“Oh, yes. You’ll do nicely.