Seraphim are gone and all lands are immersed. Humanity survives on floating towns, struggling for resources.
Sorey, a young artisan, is fascinated by legends and spends all of his free time looking for old books and studying his father journals. He developped quite a knowledge when it comes to the old era when Seraphim and mankind were said to live in harmony, a long time before the big Wave that swallowed the world.
So when Ladylake send an expedition to the Aroundite forest, a sacred place where giantic trees raise from the water, princess Alisha appoints Sorey as a guide, trusting him to lead the Woodsmen troupes. The mission consist in finding new ressources and finding clues about the seraphim whereabouts, without profaning the sacred forest.
But the true meaning of this expedition is hidden. Ladylake's leaders hope to capture a seraph and use its mana as fuel for an ancient machine found in the ruins laying under the town, in the depth. With it they plan to go at war for ressources, and enslave more seraphim to shape the world into a better place for mankind.
In the forest Sorey separate from the group and meet Mikleo. He then learns that most of seraphim are sleeping into the Earth Pulse but a few live in place protected by elements, like an underwater town at the bottom of the sacred forest.
But as they're talking, both fascinated by this being they never thought they would met, the Woodsmen catch up and capture them. Betrayed, Sorey tries to protect Mikleo but fail. They're bring back in Ladylake. There Chancelor Bartlow threatens to emprison Sorey for life if he refuses to track more Seraphim for the city's sake, while Mikleo is connected to the machine.
Thankfully the process is interrupted by the Sparrowfeather guild, called to the rescue by Alisha, and the seraph Dezel, but too late. Mikleo can barely hold his physical form and is forced to conclude a pact with Sorey to not disappear. The group manage to escape to the Sparrowfeather's boat and leave the town.
As the group sets on a quest to restore Mikleo's mana, the world changes.
Called by the great seraph Zenrus, Seraphim are waking.
In Ladylake, more ancient devices are discovered and the population divide between Bartlow's and Alisha's sides.
Seraphim have left the human realm, leaving behind them a group of humans blessed with their powers. Those people call themselves Malakhim. In order to use their power, a Malak must bond with another being. Like a flower, the power will takes root in the vessel's soul, feeding on the vessel's trust for the Malak. If there's no trust the roots won't expand and the Malak can never leave their vessel's sides or the flower will wilt. If the Malak uses their power despite the lack of trust, the flower will bloom using the lifespan of its vessel.
Once a bond is made, cutting it will most likely result in the Malak's death; a flower cannot survive long without its roots.
Humanity came to reject Malakhim, deeming them responsible for the Seraphim's disappearance. So the Malakhim ran away to save their lives, going on an never ending journey and letting history forget about them.
Centuries later, the world awaits for the return of the Seraphim, believing in the old tale of the Shepherd, the messiah who will one day open the door to the heavenly realm.
Sorey is a Malak, one of the very few left. Mikleo is the heir of the last Shepherd, born left handed and therefore believed to be blessed by Seraphim.
Sorey is an optimistic and naive person despite living a rather lonely nomad's life. Mikleo has always been surrounded by shady people trying to obtain the Seraphim's blessing through him.
One day as he is travelling with his escorts to Lohgrin, Mikleo crosses Sorey's path. Stricken by Mikleo' beauty, Sorey accidently bonds their souls.
...No really, he didn't mean too, he was just so tired and thirty (no not like that Zaveid oh gods why did you have to put it like this in front of Mikleo now he's going to think I'm a creep), and suddenly there was that beautiful, gorgeous person, with a water like aura, holding out their left hand to him, Sorey thought a seraph had come for him and accidentaly released his power when he took the offered hand.
It was just a normal day. Sorey was going home with Alisha, still adjusting to his newly blind right eye and too engrossed in his book to pay attention to the road. He never had problem with this bad habit before and Alisha was there to prevent incidents. Except when she was eagerly listening to his rambling and not looking in front of them either. And that’s how Sorey ended up toppling over a wheeling chair and its owner.
It was just a normal day. Edna was walking her nerd cousin to the doctor and playing with his nerves like always, when this stupid guy toppled the Meebo on the ground. Moron. She was about to give this idiot the lecture of his life when she noticed the big history book he had dropped in his fall. Great, another nerd. And rather cute. Change of plan, she’s gonna use her umbrella to subtly render the wheeling chair useless (if it’s not already) and have the boy carry Mikleo to his appointment and take him to dinner after. You’re very welcome Meebo.
I am totally doubling Laurent's role so Sergei can spend most of his time reprimanding Zaveid about his improper attire
Alisha will have a bigger role than Gertrude (and more dignity)
The delay before the ball is a month instead of a week
Michael is still Mikleo’s uncle
Edna and Symonne are older for the story’s sake
Sorey is less “dumb” than Henry
Homophobia is not a thing, but royals have a hardest time marrying the same sex because of the heir question
The circlet replaces the glass shoe
Mikleo won’t accept Sorey’s proposal right away
Lot of post end moments…
I don’t know if Mikleo should still have white blue hair here or make it light brown. On one side, white would be a problem cause it would be easier for Sorey to recognize him, but on the other side, lot of characters have weird hair color soooo
So I finally received TOZ english vol.2 and found this when I opened the japanese version to compare them… The soul eater/shaman king au no one ever asked for and that I had completely forgotten about.
She's lying before him, unmoving. He wants to call her name. His throat tightens. Red spreads on her dress.
"Mom...”
He catches movements where that man and that woman stand. He doesn't care. He brushes hair off his mother's face.
Warmth is leaving her body, and he can feel it, already, softly filling his veins. It's oddly comforting, like an embrace. Her last embrace.
She couldn't even say goodbye.
It's so peaceful, he feels like this isn't happening. But it does. The witch is dead, her offspring shall inherit her power. He'd seen assimilations before, too much for his taste. None of the malhkim had survirved it. He had saw them writhing, suffocating, drowning, saw their mind shattering. And yet there's only peace washing over him.
The heat is getting stronger, calling to the water he's made of. He can picture it, like a fire on the shore, gently washed away by the tide. There will soon be no trace of it.
No.
His forehead feels too hot, metal burning his skin. Fingertips rest on the circlet there.
She had gave it to him a long time ago, saying it was something important. Someone had made it for him before his birth. A family tradition.
The fire spreads on the shore. Water boils.
There are many reasons why a malak's body would reject a witch's power. He'd never considered that one of those reasons could be love.
The water withdraws.
He won't let the flames be swallowed. He won't let what's left of her disappear.
He had made his choice. He had chose death. Sorey would have been safe. But she has decided otherwise. She has imposed a third option.
This is what she wanted but he can't let it happen. There's too much anger. Too much pain. He doesn't want her to fade away. He wants his mother back. And if he can't have this then everything shall burn. He will let her flames consume his body if that is what it takes.
Fire spreads through his veins. It burns but he doesn't care. This kind of pain his nothing. His left hand grabs the circlet, metal scorching skin.
The man who made it killed his mother. And for what ? Her only crime was to let Mikleo live. She had given up everything for it. She had thrown everything away without turning back to protect an innocent baby from a certain death. She had blamed herself for taking that child with her, away from his true family. She had never allowed herself to be called a mother.
And she loved the child so much she chose to die for him. He will never see her smile again. Never feel her warmth. Never hear her voice. Never hear her laughing at her own stupid puns.
It burns.
She's the only mother he needed.
Everything shall burn.
He can see flames dancing in violets eyes. He can see tears rolling on that woman's cheeks. He can see horror deforming that man's face. He tosses the circlet at them. They were never his family. His family is dead, lying in a pool of blood.
They deserve this. For all the guilt Lailah shouldered over the years. For leaving her no choice and blaming it on her. For all the innocent souls they'd "purified". For trying to do the same thing to him. For putting Sorey in danger. For killing his mother.
Wonderland AU, where Mikleo wakes up in a blue dress and his traveling companions gone mad and do their best to make him loose his shit.
White rabbit Sorey being a little shit and happily tormenting his boyfriend (and relishing in the sweet sight of Mikleo's long milky legs)
Lailah as the red queen yelling "off with their hat" at her normins army whenever they dare not laugh to her puns.
I don't know yet for the rest of the cast but...
Embarrassed Mikleo trying to cover himself until too much teasing makes him stand with pride in this ridiculous outfit and try his hardest to act like normal.
Dorky Mikleo, not graceful and collected at all in his dress, easily loosing his cool at everyone bullshits.
Sorey not giving a break to his boyfriend, like he may be Mikleo's number one fan but he knows how to be a little shit to him and enjoy it very much also maybe he will find a interesting way to be forgiven later~)
I'm gonna call this "Mikleo in whatthefuckiswrongwithyoupeopleland"
July 22nd, Day One of Sormik Week:
Prompt: Elysia (Innocence/Beginnings)
(a bit late but it’s still the 22 somewhere right ?)
Pokemon AU: It's always been our dream!
Read on AO3
Sorey and Mikleo were given their first pokemon at age 8.
Two Eevee with blood stained fur. Barely a few weeks old.
Michael had found them near Aroundight forest, exhausted and pressed against their dead mother's body, the smaller harboring a deep cut on his right eye, the other hissing fiercely at anything approaching his brother. Taking them home hadn't been an easy task, if Michael's scratched hands were anything to go by.
The sight of blood had stopped little Mikleo dead from jumping in his uncle's arms, little Sorey's smile fading into worry. A million questions had fallen upon Michael, the boys not slowing down as they pushed him toward the house. It was certainly in that instant the man had decided to entrust the creatures to them.
The first contact hadn't been the best.
Sorey immediately set his heart on the injured one, pointing at his own eyepatch and claiming they were the same before grabbing the medical kit Kyme had brought, eye filled with determination. He swallowed hard, ready to treat his new friend, or at least try, only to be met with sharp claws and teeth. Sorey yelped, taking his hand away but the protective Eevee did not let go. Not until Mikleo took the opportunity to lift the weaker one in his arms. Sorey was then quick enough to grab the protective creature before he could reach Mikleo.
Zenrus could still remember the astonished look on Michael's face. Sorey did not spill a tear, carefully holding the wild pokemon, whispering reassuring words to him while Mikleo did his best not to flinch in front of the cut and assisted Kyme to treat it. Only when it was done and the brothers were reunited Sorey seemed to become aware of the pain. He would later proudly show off his scar, matching with the ones on Michael's hand.
It took a lot of patience, careful movements and offerings of food but the protective Eevee eventually let the children near them, once the other one finally showed signs of recovery. It took a few more days for Sorey to be allowed to take his Eevee in his arms and to eagerly shove him at the face of any villagers passing by.
Then came the struggle to give them a name. Sorey first started to call the protective one Mikleo because of the haughty look he would give Sorey when he came near. To which a pouty Mikleo stated he should call the injured one Sorey as they were both messy eaters. Zenrus quickly put an end to the upcoming quarrel by giving them a book, and suggesting to search for names in it together. It took the children a few seconds and a shared look to push Zenrus out of their room, claiming they would do it themselves, we're old enough we don't need you Gramps!
When Zenrus came back later, he found them all asleep among books, both Eevee comfortably tucked between the boys.
"Say Mikleo," Sorey had asked the following day "what would you want your Eevee to evolve into?"
Mikleo looked up to him, then back at his little friend. He was happily swimming in the pond, Mikleo himself lazily waving his legs in the water. The boy then nodded to himself and smiled. "I want mine to evolve into a Vaporeon."
Sorey crossed his arms and closed his eyes, humming, not paying attention to the Eevee biting unto his shorts in hope to obtain a treat faster.
"I want mine to become a Jolteon!" he said, eyes sparkling and fist held in front of him.
Mikleo wasn't happy with that answer though.
"That's unfair, you choose this one to have the advantage!"
"What, no! I just want to be as cool as Gramps and Zapdos."
Zenrus never felt as fond and proud of Sorey as he was in this instant. Until the child had to ruin it.
"I will become even cooler and stronger than Gramps! And better looking!"
"You ungrateful little brat come back here!"
Too late, Sorey was gone faster than light, taking cover behind Mason, snickering, while the red headed teenager laughed wildly.
"You'll still have the advantage though," pouted Mikleo.
Sorey didn't need to hear more. He ran to the pond and grabbed Mikleo's hands.
"I won't because we're gonna team up and become the strongest together!"
"And then we will take down uncle Michael and win his champion title!" quickly added Mikleo.
"Yeah we'll be invincible and we'll explore all the places he hasn't gone to!"
Sorey held out his arm with the brightest smile Zenrus ever saw, Mikleo bumping it with his wrist without hesitation.
Sorey's Eevee choose this moment to jump in the water to remind them he was still waiting for his treat. Sorey reached in his pocket, while a smirk flashed across Mikleo's face and soon the boys toppled in the water. Mikleo mercilessly went for Sorey's sides saying he would became a water type specialist capable of beating any electric pokemon on his own, I won't lose to you Sorey!
That was one of the rare times Mikleo won a tickle fight, his Eevee resting triumphantly on Sorey's head, the other one nuzzling his way into the boy's pocket.
The two Eevee were named Shokk and Acqua.
Zenrus watched as the four of them grew closer and closer each day.
They would have bad days too, like that time Shokk had shred to pieces a picture of Mikleo's mother. Mikleo had been inconsolable, blaming Sorey for not watching over his Eevee and letting this happen. Sorey had first tried to comfort his friend, but he had gave up on it because it wasn't his fault! It had taken long hours for them to make peace. With a lot of disapproving starring from Acqua for Sorey to stop complaining about Mikleo's unfairness. And even more effort on Shokk's end to extract Mikleo from his uncle arms and make his cutest face ever to obtain forgiveness. And some lectures from Zenrus and Michael for the boys to understand how the other was feeling and to finally meet as the sun was setting and apologize to each other.
So many memories in the ten years following that day.
Zenrus had watched Shokk happily following Mikleo around, looking out for every occasion to snatch the food the boy was making. He watched Acqua claimed Sorey's lap each time he would sit down with a book.
He had watched over them when the boys would go play and explore in the Mabinogio ruins, the two Eevee testing their courage on who would get closer to the temple guardian without him noticing, and then taking refuge on their owner's shoulders when the legendary bird would get tired of them.
He had watched the boys start training on their own, refusing Michael's help every time he would come back to Elysia. He had watched them eagerly listening to the story of the man's adventures. Had watched them impatiently waiting for his letters when he couldn't come home. He had watched them prepare for the day it would be their turn.
He had watched them grew into gorgeous boys, full of dreams yet to be fulfilled.
And of course he had watched their feeling for each other evolving, and he had laughed at their awkward attempts to hide it from each other, secretly seeking the help of their older friends. Well, as secretly anything could be in their small mountain village. Poor Nathalie and Mason had a lot to deal with. Even Shokk and Acqua looked perplexed by their owners’ behaviour.
All those fond memories, and now they were leaving without a word.
Zenrus took a puff on his pipe, resting his back against the legendary bird guarding the mountain.
Of course those boys wouldn't wait any longer to go on their dreamed adventure. He always knew no one could ever hold them back. He saw it in their eyes since they were kids. He had seen this desire grow deeper in them when Michael had disappeared five years ago. He just wished they wouldn't depart in the night like strangers.
He could see Mikleo adjusting Sorey's coat from here. It made Zenrus smile.
Mikleo had always took to heart his responsibility as the older one. They would be safe as long they had each other.
And now they were running toward the forest, toward the unknown, Shokk and Acqua following close.
