part one of a mini series, where Cheval is unluckily turned into a baby, and gets handed off to a former friend.
the scrivener commander, Lilia, paced her office. One of her childhood friends had been turned into a baby, a little over a year old apparently, and both her and said friend were stressed. The baby sat on her desk, not having eaten in some time most likely due to the current predicament.
the once fully grown man had been reduced to a baby, and could no longer verbally communicate with others, all caused by a spilt potion made by a scriviner from an unknown monster. Cheval had bumped into the scrivener when they rounded a corner, and upon the potion splashing him began to shrink to his current form.
at the moment he sat quietly, amber eyes locked on his now pudgy hands. Lilia couldn’t supervise her friend until the effect wore off and manage the guild at the same time, so she figured out a plan.
another childhood friend, y/n, also known as the legendary rider, could maybe take Cheval. The thing is.. with Cheval having fought y/n previously, they had distanced from him and seemed to fear him.
Lilia’s goal was simple; get Cheval and y/n to become close again, and get Cheval someone to watch after him until the effects wear off and he is no longer a helpless baby.
She was aware that y/n wouldnt willingly take the baby if they knew it was Cheval, so she devised a plan to get Cheval in their care.
She came back to reality upon Cheval moving, leaning forwards to grab at a picture frame on her desk. She grabbed it, turning it towards him and sliding it closer so he could grasp it.
The photo was of Lilia, y/n and Cheval as young children, playing with one of the villager‘s monsties. They were all about 7 at the time, and very close friends. Cheval held the framed photo in both hands, before moving one to point at y/n, and looking at Lilia with big golden eyes.
Cheval opened his mouth, trying to talk with Lilia and only resulting in babbles.
“You miss them, dont you?” Lilia asked, softly smiling at her friend. He pursed his lips and nodded a little, eyes going back to the photograph.
“It’s okay Cheval, i’m sure that you’ll see them again. I did send them a letter after all.” She smiled, giving Cheval a fond pat on the head.
She heard commotion in the city centre below, and smiled. They must’ve shown up in Lulucion due to all the chatter she could hear from her office. For a moment Lilia paused, before sending a scrivener to retrieve y/n.
Lilia then bundled Cheval in his scarf, tossing in a quickly scrawled note tucked into the fabric before covering Cheval’s face. without seeing the baby inside it appeared simular to the bundles of supplies Lilia sends y/n with for hunts, instead of potions and flash bombs, y/n would be receiving something else.
Placing the bundled Cheval on her desk, the door opened and the famous legendary rider themselves walked in, clad in their usual armor. their e/c eyes sparkled upon seeing Lilia, who went to give them a hug.
”long time no see.” Lilia chided playfully.
“had a few things to take care of, but i managed to come in at least.” Y/n retorts, smiling at Lilia’s antics.
upon hearing y/n, Cheval began to move in his scarf bundle, and Lilia picked it up, keeping the boy still.
”heres a little something, Ive got to head out though, you’re welcome back in the guild anytime.” Lilia said, smiling and handing them the bundle before walking out, and setting off on her expedition with Reverto.
y/n waved after their friend, before their attention was drawn to the bundle of supplies squirming. Supplies dont usually move…
unwrapping the object, e/c eyes met with amber.
“huh?“ y/n spluttered, eyeing the baby in their hands, who looked at them meekly with a small smile, holding the note in his pudgy hands.
they turned, placing the young boy on the desk and gently taking the letter. Cheval was almost ecstatic, he hadn’t been this close to his old friend (and crush) since they were younger, and since they had slain makili pietru.
their eyes quickly scanned over the note, widening at the ending.
”Cheval?!” They gasped, flinching when said man grabbed their armor, giving it a gentle tug and saying something in his baby language.
y/n dropped the note, and went to remove cheval’s hand from their armor, but he grabbed their pointer finger in his other hand, removing the hand on their armor and reaching up at them.
“Uh… I’ve gotta go.. can you let go?” They asked, pulling their hand back towards them but the boy didnt relent his hold, babbling something incohereant.
"𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵, 𝘯𝘰 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘥𝘰𝘯𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦!" Was what came from his brain, but what left his mouth was along the lines of “ah ba baa ah bah!”
Cheval was disheartend at their adversion to him, but determined to make things right, or at the very least apologize.. if only he could talk…
as they tried to free their hand he whimpered, causing them to freeze. Did they really hate him that much? What he did was horrible.. did he scar them beyond the point of forgiveness?
tears welled in the corners of his eyes, and he whimpered once more, y/n tensing up at the noise. He sounded pitiful, distraught even. They felt bad, but after all he had done they couldnt yet quell their fear response of him.
when tears brimmed in his golden eyes, the felt their heart strings tug. He was helpless, not to mention harmless as well.. in a moment of bravery, they put their hands under his arms and lifted him before placing Cheval against their chest.
they hesitated before placing a hand on his back, patting him gently as he whimpered into their armor. Soon he quieted, and they calmed as he did. He sniffled, looking up at their face.
they didnt seem repulsed at him, he noticed. They seemed to be more worried about when he was crying, they always worried when he cried as a kid.
”i… dont really know what to do with you..” y/n mumbled, grabbing Lilia’s note and reading it over once more. She was gone on an expedition for the next few days, the effects that made cheval a baby should wear off by then.
”well, i guess youre stuck with me.” They chuckled nervously. all they recieved was babbles in response, so they trekked out with cheval, stopping just before leaving the guild.
”so, first things first, i guess we’re going shopping.”
