Chapter Text
Zam was having such a good day.
Wemmbu (and his brothers) had decided to visit him! And on such a good day as well! The empire was booming with activity, his people were running around and going about their days happily. They greeted him as he and his friend passed, Zam waving back with a calm smile.
Wemmbu grinned and nudged his arm, "Should we get some lunch, Your Highness?"
Zam scrunched up his nose in disdain, "Never call me that."
"Why not?" the dragon teased, "That's your title!"
"Not for you, idiot." Zam grumbled, dragging his friend along to one of the places he loved to get lunch when he was out in town.
It was a small cafe, hidden deep in one of the alleyways off the main street. A little secret retreat for the ruler. Of course, it wasn't actually a secret that he liked to go to this particular cafe, but his citizens knew when to clear the cafe so he could have a peaceful meal for once.
He was glad that his subjects didn't overcrowd him with their affections.
Wemmbu hummed as he looked over the menu, ordering a sweet dessert and hot chocolate. Zam ordered his normal piece of cake and coffee.
Zam raised an eyebrow as Wemmbu grinned down at the foam art of a bunny in his hot chocolate, "You are very easily entertained."
Wemmbu hissed lightly, "No I'm not!"
Zam chuckled as he took a sip of his coffee, sighing happily as the warmth filled his stomach. It had begun to get colder in the empire as autumn started to fade into winter. Zam had started o wear his warmer attire and it seemed that Wemmbu had as well.
Or Mane and Flame had forced him into warmer clothes…
Zam and Wemmbu thanked the waitress as she placed down their food and dug in. Zam always got a strawberry cake when he was here, it was perfectly sweet and had the juiciest fresh strawberries on top! It seemed that Wemmbu had gotten a brownie cake. It was two large brownies sandwiching a ball of ice cream and there was a blob of whipped cream and sprinkles on top.
"Holy shit, this is so good!" Wemmbu grinned around his mouthful.
Zam chuckled at the chocolate smudge on Wemmbu's cheek, passing him a napkin, "I'm glad you like it. This is one of my favorite places."
"I can see why!" Wemmbu laughed, "We'll have to bring Egg here one day!"
"Where is Egg?" Zam asked, swallowing another bite of cake.
Wemmbu groaned, "In the End. We worked so hard to get that man out of the End, but he keeps going back to use Minutes library!"
"Isn't it technically your library?" Zam raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah," Wemmbu snorted, "but it's not like I'm ever going to use it!"
Zam laughed, it was very true! Wemmbu wasn't stupid. In fact, Zam would say that his friend was actually very smart. PVP smart, but smart nonetheless. He just could not sit still long enough to read a book, it was too boring and under stimulating for him.
Fair enough.
As they continued to chat and enjoy their lunch, more people started walking in. They decided that it was time to leave, thanking the staff as they walked out. They started towards the castle, not wanting Mane and Flame to send out a search party for their little brother.
Don't laugh, they've done it before.
Just as they left the alleyway, the cracking of glass could be heard as liquid splattered all over Wemmbu. The dragon hissed, feeling a slight tingle where the potion split over his covered skin.
Zam pulled Wemmbu to him, shouting after the fleeing attacker, "GUARDS! ARREST THEM!"
Zam turned away from where some of his hidden guards ran after the attacker, yanking Wemmbu close to look him in the eyes. His friends purple eyes were glazed over, like he wasn't really conscious.
Zam shook Wemmbu by the shoulders as gently as he could, "Wemm? Wemmbu?! Are you alright?!"
Wemmbu moved with the shaking, his body limp and unresponsive. Zam gasped as a glow took over the dragons body, the glow changing into a small child like shape.
When the glow finally disappeared, there was a small child left behind. Go figure.
The purple skinned and haired boy sitting on the ground before him was incredibly small, maybe five or six years old if Zam had to guess. He had tiny black horns and a little tail that limply lay beside him. Zam knew who this boy was.
Zam knelt in front of the boy, connecting their eyes as he put on a gentle smile, "Hello, Wemmbu."
The boy frowned at him, burying himself further into the large red hoodie he wore. He didn't say anything, just continued frowning as he stared up at the man.
Zam didn't know when Mane and Flame took Wemmbu in, but he sure as hell hoped it was around the age the boy was now, "My name is Zam! I'm here to take you to your brothers."
That seemed to get Wemmbu's attention, the boys head tilting slightly as he stared harder at the aquatic hybrid. Zam continued to smile softly as Wemmbu seemed to go over his options, finally landing on trusting him.
The ruler almost squealed as the boy held out his arms, asking (demanding) to be picked up. He easily lifted his now small friend into his arms, letting his remaining guards guide him back to the castle, where Mane and Flame were sure to be waiting.
~
Mane paced around the courtyard, visibly shaking as he had to restrain himself from storming out into the town to look for his younger brother.
Mane heard Flame sigh somewhere off to the side, "He can take care of himself, Mane."
"I know!" Mane hissed, about three seconds away from pulling his hair out, "It's just… after everything, I would just prefer it if we all stayed together more."
Mane ignored Flame sighing once again, trying to focus on the fact that they were in the empire, a place that Wemmbu knew very well and that had proven to be very safe. And then his thoughts started to drift to the mafia and his own capture and his brothers getting hurt-!
Mane needed to take deep breaths and calm down.
He was in the process of calming himself down, almost getting his heart rate back down to something normal When Zam and a group of guards came running towards them. Already a bad look, but then Mane couldn't see Wemmbu anywhere in the crowd and his heart rate spiked instantly.
It was only as they got close enough that Mane could see the bundle of purple in Zam's arms. The sight - although confusing him greatly - made Mane relax a little. Mane rushed forward to meet them, Flame's footsteps following close behind him.
The bundle of purple lit up at the sight of the two large hybrids stopping before them. A much younger Wemmbu reached his hands out, leaning almost completely out of Zam's arms. He whined until Mane reached out and plunked him from the rulers hold.
"M-ma-mane!" Wemmbu stuttered over his cheer, "Fl-lam-e!"
Mane's pupils widened and a purr raised in his chest. He pulled Wemmbu closer and rubbed his head against his baby brothers, causing the boy to purr back at him.
Faintly, he could hear Flame's amused voice somewhere off in the distance, "Oh, he's gone."