Chapter Text
Corona Australis - The Southern Crown
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It was late into the evening in the Nether Kingdom; not that one could tell, of course, in the realm of heat and lava. Nor were the two deep inside the new castle well known for their timekeeping skills. Glittering blackstone halls stood out against the surrounding warped woods as the rooms fell dim for the night, save for the soul lanterns glimmering in the large study of the prince’s quarters.
“...and I think with this, we might be able to create temperature-controlled areas so that both the End and Nether inhabitants can be more comfortable in either realm!” came a voice excitedly explaining a new invention.
A gasp. “No more freezing when I visit!” was the reply, eager to learn more.
“And I won’t overheat here!”
New statuses of King, of Prince, of Gods, mattered not to the two busy at work. Just as much a scientist and one of his lab assistants as ever, Rae and Athena talked through his latest proposal.
“Do you have an idea in mind for where to get the supplies?” Athena asked, looking over the blueprints Rae had brought along.
“That's the thing…” a gentle pause, “I think we might be able to-” Rae started, flipping the pages of his notebook through the lists of scribbled ideas when he was cut off by the sound of the door opening. The pair turned, unsure of who to expect at this hour, but both were taken by surprise at the site in the doorway. A small piglin child, still clinging to the doorknob, looked up at them with wide eyes. Rae could have mistaken them for a younger Oscar, if not for the lack of zombification clear on the little one's face.
“Hello there,” Athena greeted softly, and Rae picked up on the child's look of alarm. It wasn't rare to see citizens about the castle, as many of the wings were open housing for refugees as more villages were under construction. However, the two were clearly not who the piglet had been looking for. The young piglin stood frozen in the doorway, distress clear in the child's eyes as they glanced around the room.
“Can we help you find something? Or, perhaps, someone?” the void king asked, crouching down so that he was at eye level with their guest. He kept his hands on his knees, in clear sight of the piglin so they could see he was unarmed. It might not be something a child would actively pay attention to, but at the same time, the past had been rough on everyone, children included.
The little one seemed hesitant still, but after a few moments gave a silent nod but no other answer. Rae glanced at Athena, sharing a concerned look between them before the scientist turned back.
“You know, I think we missed dinner time. Would you like to join us up to the dining halls? They're pretty close to the Gold Wing. Is that where you're staying?” Rae asked, smiling as the little piglin seemed to light up at a familiar location name. They finally released the door handle and nodded more eagerly this time.
“That alright with you, Athena?” Rae asked, and Athena blushed as their stomach replied for them with an irritated growl. He wasn't lying; they had completely worked through meal time and it showed.
“Food sounds good to me, yeah,” Athena agreed with a laugh. Rae stood back up, looking over to the little piglin as they joined them at the doorway. The child looked up at them, still a bit nervous as they seemed to be chewing their lips, working up the nerves to talk.
“Are you really P’ince ‘ena?” Rae's heart melted a bit at the quiet little question. Spoken so nervous, yet so hopefully excited.
“That I am! What about you? What's your name?” The prince asked, offering her hand to the piglin as the child's eyes lit up. They seemed almost in awe at the offered hand before eagerly reaching up to hold it as the three of them started down the hallway.
“‘m Nora,” the child replied before looking up at Rae. “Who ‘re you?” they asked, while to the god’s surprise, reaching up with their other hand to him.
“My name is Rae, it's nice to meet you Nora,” he said as he gently took the offered little hoof hand.
“Are you a end-men? You’re half ‘urple like one, but you ‘ave a tail,” Nora asked, that same nervous curiosity in their voice as they started walking down the hall between the two royals.
Rae chuckled and nodded. “A little bit,” he started, doing his best to explain why he looked so different as they passed through the castle. He trusted Athena to lead the way, focused more on the litany of questions the piglin had the more they seemed to warm up to him.
Eventually they found their way to the Gold Wing, where a familiar figure stood in the hall before them, talking with two worried and haggard piglin adults.
“I'll have the guards start looking through the halls, I'm sure we can-” Soul spoke, easing worried parents only to be cut off by an excited squeal. Rae lurched as Nora jumped forward before remembering to release his hand. The piglet let go and raced forward as Athena let out an amused chuckle at the site.
“Nora!!” One of the piglins called, and soon the hall was filled with a slew of excited and tearful snorts and squeals of piglin. Rae did his best to keep up, still a learner in the spoken aspect of the Nether language, but he didn't need to be fluent to understand the meaning. He stepped back, letting Soul and Athena take over in talking to the parents, waiting patiently until the reunited family headed back into the wing behind them. Little Nora paused at the hall entrance and waved at him, bringing a soft smile to his face as he waved back before the piglet rushed off with their parents.
“Thank you for your help, Rae,” Athena spoke up, looking over to him once the piglins were taken care of and on their way.
Rae blushed and waved his hand. “It's nothing. You're the one that actually led the way, and besides, we probably needed the break,” he chuckled, a bit embarrassed about how long he'd monopolized Athena’s time.
“Yeah, but you're the one that got them to talk. And listened that whole time,” the prince pointed out.
“Yeah, well, they were just asking questions,” Rae shrugged; honestly, it had been rather endearing to him.
“Come on, just admit that you're good with kids already,” Athena snickered, elbowing him playfully.
“Oh hush! Now come on– we both still need dinner,” Rae replied before looking over to Soul. “I know it's late, but you're welcome to join us if you'd like,” he added.
“I'm alright, but thank you for the offer,” she smiled, a fond look in her eyes before she looked at Athena. “Maybe it's time to bring up the idea we spoke of?” she asked, and Athena paused.
“The idea…? OH! That idea!” Athena caught on, leaving Rae glancing between the two of them.
“Care to share…?” He asked, only for Athena to grab his arm.
“Not before we get dinner! Now come on!” She said excitedly, dragging Rae towards the dining hall. “Thanks Mom! See you tonight!” They called after them before turning down the corner.
Rae was more amused than alarmed, allowing himself to be led along until soon enough they were scrounging through one of the kitchens for a quick meal. Their conversation drifted back through inventions and ideas they had been discussing before as the two got to cooking. The meal passed by similarly, even including Rae scribbling an idea on a napkin as he'd left his notes back at the study. It wasn't until the void king realized he should probably head home for the night that the topic finally came back up.
“Hey Rae…?” Athena started as the scientist gathered up his notes, tucking the napkin into the pages of his book.
“Mhm?”
“This is for you,” the prince said, picking up a letter from the far desk to offer to him. Rae quirked a brow, confused, but accepted the note, noticing the address was to himself and Fenris.
“Athena…?” He said slowly, and the nether hybrid just smiled.
“Look, I just… I think you'd make a good dad. And I talked to Mom, and we had an idea,” She explained, and Rae froze. The topic had come up a few times in the past. Typically as a small joke or a wishful thought. Never something he'd thought could be in his future. Hell, it still felt like they'd only recently got to have a future. “It's no pressure. Just… consider it, okay?”
“I… yeah. Yeah of course. I'll take a look,” If they noticed the way the scientist choked up, they didn't mention it. “Thank you Athena,” he added and the prince smiled brightly.
“Of course, Rae,” Athena hummed, heading for the door. They had a mother to get back to and knew that Rae knew the way to the portal. They paused in the entry for a final moment though. “You…you deserve it, Rae. Whatever future you want.”
With that, the prince left the king to his thoughts. His thoughts, and the letter that would change his life, clutched in his hands.
Dear Rae and Fenris,
I’ve been reading through some of Len’s old Journals and something he wrote got me thinking
“I am forever grateful to the son of orchid. My duty was always to look after the princes of Mind and Destruction, but it seems that he has been able to help raise Athena in their later years for me. Rae Morningstar is as excellent a parent as I remember Isla to be, and I have faith that one day he will make an excellent father.”
And I realized that he was right. And Fenris is already a parent in Oscar’s life. So mom and I talked and we think it would be possible to make you two a… me. A baby crafted from your soul bond.
We know you would both be great dads. Write back soon!
Love, Thena and Soul