CW: Murder. Poetic, but very gruesome.
After making a meal out of Outlook the Third, Dark!Dragon took a bit of a different approach when it came to his equally reprehensible wife and the obnoxious little toadie they had deluded themselves into thinking was better than Sabo. From all Dragon had heard from Sabo, she and her now very much dead husband wanted their son to ascend quickly to high society.
So, he would grant their wish.
Dragon's men dragged Didit to the highest point of the wall in Edge Town overlooking the Grey Terminal and forced her to watch as Dragon took Stelly in his Amaru claws and flew up to the point where he was only a speck. Then he did what comes naturally to lammergeiers. Dropped the shrieking little noble to the ground below.
Didit had to watch as her precious new golden child became more and more of an unrecognizable red smear on the stinking trash heap of Goa's own making.
When it was over, Dragon flew back to ask Sabo what he thought should happen to his mother now. She looked at the boy she threw away without a second thought and pleaded for her life.
And as casually as if he were asked about the weather, Sabo just points up.
I actually disagree, at least on half of that.
Stelly is- first and foremost- a child. An absolutely insufferable little prick of a child, yes, but still a child. Children change with time and experience. Dragon is aware of this more than most should ever have to be.
Dragon is willing to give the brat a chance to change. If he doesnât, then the option of killing is on the table. He does this because one, as stated before, children can change, and two, Kuma.
Kuma⊠adores children. He does his best to help them however and whenever they need. Killing Stelly without giving him so much as a chance for him to change would hurt him.
Dragon canât do that to Kuma.
Itâs such a fascinating phenomenon to witness⊠how quickly she is willing to turn on her shining star childâŠ
Dragon listens with feigned interest as she begs and pleads for her miserable life, telling him all about how taking Stellyâs would be so much more satisfying to take. Her bloodline is noble, yes, but Stellyâs? Stellyâs is of Goaâs royal family. Stelly is the crown prince of this kingdom! His blood would be the prettier shade smeared on the cinders of Gray Terminal, surely!
Dragon looks at her. Then he looks at Stelly.
âYour mother wants you dead, boy.â
And that⊠thatâs the truth. Heâs just heard his doting mother bargain his life away like he was pocket change.
Didit starts spouting off apologies that nobody buys, and when she knows thatâs the case, she changes her tune.
This is all Saboâs fault, dear Stelly. He should have known better than to associate with commoners, and now look at him! Scarred and ugly, clinging to the beast that slaughtered and ate his father! Do you want to turn out like that?! Then youâll forgive your mother right this instant!
Stelly turns to Sabo. Sabo looks back at Stelly.
Thereâs an understanding that passes between them.
âWhat do we do?â Stelly asks his brother.
Sabo looks to Dragon, and gives him a nod.
In the end, Stelly has to look away before his monster of mother hits the earth. He isnât as secure in the understanding of who she is as Sabo is. He isnât as used to the sight of carnage as Sabo is. He isnât as used to being abandoned like Sabo is.
Kuma guides both boys away as Dragon makes his descent with the carrion birds. Neither should have to see what came next, even at a distance.
