a mother's regret
hi. this isn't as much of a showdown but i tried my best ok. idk what to really put here but i hope u enjoy it
part 1 | interlude 1 | part 2 | interlude 2
The Anemo Archon is one that's quite difficult to find. He is a free spirit, moving gracefully along with the wind. It can be an admirable trait but it also makes him impossible to find. Meili also personally thinks he may be avoiding her. Unlucky for him, she will not give up on her search. If anything, the avoidance is only making her more irritated and more determined to find the little pest.
Barbatos is not in any of his regular spots, but she expected something of the sort. That annoying wisp is avoiding her so any spots he frequents are now all places he avoids. If there's anything the Anemo Archon is good at, it's running. However, Meili is a dragon. Meili is a predator and she is good at tracking down prey.
At the edge of Starsnatch Cliff is where she sits for now. When she finds Barbatos, she will need to tell him that the cathedral really needs more security. The Holy Lyre der Himmel was quite easy for her to pick up without notice. The illusion on it was easily shattered but it doesn't take much energy to truly mend it.
(Meili was quite tempted to destroy that statue of his in front of the cathedral down to rubble. She refrained. It would not be good to get undesired attention drawn to herself. Perhaps another time.)
Embedded into the earth behind her is the Vortex Vanquisher, the power pulsing towards her in calming waves as she carelessly plucks at the lyre's strings. Would her little gem enjoy a lyre? This one is much too worn down for them, even with her mending. She will have to gather another one for them.
Her attention is grabbed by the flowing wind as it rushes around her. It's not the wind of that little pest, she notes. Meili pushes her hair out of her face as she waits, turning her attention back to the lyre in her lap. She hums, waiting for the wind to settle to talk to who has joined her.
"Dvalin," she greets without looking. She feels his rumbling in response more than she hears it. She turns her head when the other dragon nudges her arm. Meili finally looks over, before pausing. "You've grown since I've last seen you," she notes with a fond smile. "I have missed you, little hatchling."
"Little?" He replies with an amused snort. "I have missed you too, Mei. It's been a long time." His tone sounds fond and wistful, thoughtful. She wishes she had visited him sooner. It truly has been too long.
Meili laughs as she stands, turning to look at Dvalin as she speaks. "Whether I take a human form or not, you will always be a little hatchling to me, dear Dvalin." She hums and leans forward with a rueful smile. "However, I am not here for a reunion today."
Dvalin leans his head down, resting on the ground to talk face to face with her. She can't help but smile as he gives her his full attention. Meili has always adored this little hatchling. She places a hand on his snout, a content rumble emitting from her chest.
Meili sighs as she pulls away, the content purr trailing off as she becomes serious. "Barbatos. Do you know of his current location?" She asks as she tugs the spear free from the ground. Meili shoves the lyre into a satchel, tugging the strap over her head to keep it with her.
"He has committed a terrible crime to Our Divinity and to my little gem. It's time for me to have a chat with the wisp," her voice drops into a snarl. She shakes her head and takes a deep breath. It would not do to lose her temper. Not here. Not to Dvalin.
He hums as he considers the request. "He currently resides in Old Mondstadt. He has hidden there ever since Morax has sent over a message. I can take you there if you wish. He has been tense since he sensed your arrival."
Meili smiles fondly. Perhaps one day she'll bring her little gem to meet him. Dvalin is kind and even if he can sense her rage, he still brings her to the Anemo Archon. She does not get angry over little things and he knows it. He knows her anger is over something serious.
"I would appreciate that, little hatchling," she says. It doesn't take long to pull herself onto his back. Shifting forms would take too long and she wishes to face the annoying wisp as herself. Dvalin launches them up into the sky, the wind whipping around them as he flies. Curiously, she leans forward to ask, "are you aware of what Barbatos has done?"
"Not entirely," Dvalin replies. It's a leisurely flight, a comforting air around them. Perhaps it's because they have missed each other all these years. "I have my suspicions however. Mei, you never truly get involved unless it has something to do with you or something against your morals. If you are here to talk to Barbatos, it means this is something that is truly important."
"It is," she hums as she watches the scenery of the nation fly by. "He has done something both against my morals and something to do with me. More specifically, to do with my little gem. They're quite dear to me and Barbatos has hurt them severely. It's due time for us to have a little chat."
Old Mondstadt is in the distance and she knows they will be there soon. Meili truly does wish to share what has happened with Dvalin. She wishes to go into detail, explain everything, explain why she's so angry at the wind wisp and her stupid brother-- not her brother! Morax, the blundering fool. An explanation to Dvalin is something she wishes to give but talking to that little pest is something that she finds far more important.
"You will inform me more of his actions another time, yes?" Dvalin asks, curiosity colouring his voice. She chuckles and places a hand on the back of his neck, rubbing comforting circles on the skin.
"Of course, little hatchling."
He rumbles and shakes his head, as if annoyed by the pet name. Meili knows it's all for show and so she laughs. She knows when they arrive in Old Mondstadt, this calm and peaceful air will dissipate. She knows that this is a temporary peace. Dvalin is free to side with whoever he chooses, but deep down, Meili's worried that one day they will be on opposing sides.
Dvalin is loyal and for most of his existence, he has loved Barbatos. Meili, while endlessly fond of Dvalin, was not a constant presence. She did not check in often. Barbatos is flighty at best but even he has spent more time with the little hatchling than she has. She loves him but she knows she was not there for him, was not aware when he was taken advantage of. She only wishes that she could go back in time to take care of him.
"That spear," he starts. They're just now entering Old Mondstadt and she can tell he's slowing down. "Are you using it as a means to an end?"
"Do not worry," Meili says. She watches as they descend, as Dvalin latches onto the crumbling tower. "I do not plan to kill him. However it is good for Barbatos to remember that I could. They forget that I am not weak. I did not survive the war just to be labeled as a damsel in distress."
He snorts, shaking his head as Meili slides down. She grins up at him as she straightens up. "They forgot you are a healer by choice?" He questions. She nods with a scoff and Dvalin sighs. "Barbatos is in the tower here," he continues on. "I don't know which part he is in currently. If he attempts to leave, I will inform you."
Meili smiles, her heart flooding with warmth. Truly, what did she do to deserve Dvalin? He has been too kind when he doesn't even know the full story. "Thank you, little hatchling," she ducks her head. "I swear to you that I will explain everything in depth soon."
Dvalin nudges his nose against her gently, a soft rumble in the air. "I trust you, Mei. Talk some sense into Barbatos. I will keep watch." With that, he launches up into the air and she watches as he starts to circle the ruins.
Meili sighs and summons the spear, twirling it in her hands before she starts her search. The wind is unnaturally calm, as if the little wisp were trying to hide. Her boots make quiet thumps as she travels through the tower ruins, the only sound cutting through the eerie silence.
"Little songbird?" She calls out. The pet name tastes of ash on her tongue but she ignores it. If she pretends that everything is fine then perhaps… Meili takes a look around and pouts, a crafted look of sadness. "My little wisp?" She calls, her tone carefully sounding meek.
There's a slight breeze and she bites the inside of her cheek to suppress her smile. Barbatos was once someone she loved as a child, but if he thinks he can run into her arms as if nothing happened… Then he truly has deluded himself.
"Mei?"
Meili turns and meets the gaze of the Anemo Archon. He peers out behind some ruins, a hesitant but hopeful look on his face. If she drops the facade now, she has no doubt that he will bolt.
(Barbatos once called her mama. All cheerful and playful as he ran from an angered Morax. She remembers smiling, laughing at the annoyed noise that escaped her brother. Her little songbird ran towards her and she wrapped her arms around him. He presses his face into her side, breathlessly giggling as she glares playfully at an irritated Morax.)
This is not her little songbird. Meili must remember that. Even if a part of her protests against her planned harshness, she will carry on. One day, perhaps, he can earn that title back. Far, far in the future.
She swallows through the lump in her throat and forces a bright smile. Meili takes the Vortex Vanquisher and sticks it into the ground. He brightens, still hesitant but shining with hope. He lets out a happy noise when she opens her arms.
(Meili caught her little wisp in her arms as she laughed loudly. "What are you doing, you little rascal?" She teased as he grinned up at her.
"What are you talking about?" He blinked innocently. It would be believable if it weren't for her brother, fuming and soaking wet as he tore into the room. "Mama!" Barbatos cried as he burrowed into her arms. "I didn't do anything! I love you!!")
Barbatos crashes into her and she stumbles. A part of her warms at the feeling of him in her arms. Mine, it whispers. She denies it. Not hers. This isn't her little wisp. This isn't her songbird. Her little songbird wouldn't..
("I.. I was in Mondstadt first," they said. They shrink into the pillows, curling up in a way that she warned against. It disturbed the bandages, their injuries, but she knows better now to insist on it. "I was happy, you know? This was a place I dreamed of being able to experience. I don't really know how I got here in the first place but I wasn't going to waste the opportunity that I had!"
Meili placed down her pencil and paper, the ones she used to doodle, and looked up at her little one. "They were harsh and attacked you?" She guessed. They nodded with a light sniff.
"I knew of Venti, of Barbatos. I thought he'd be able to help me, you know? I didn't know of whatever All-Creator they were talking about. I wasn't trying to… to pretend to be some deity! I just.. I just wanted to make friends.. " They trailed off. She stood to make her way over to their bed and they had shuffled over to make room for her to sit.
"Barbatos hadn't helped you," she said.
They shook their head. "He pointed his bow at me and said I was a disgrace.")
"Mei! I was so worried that you were going to be angry with me!"
("Meili, he hunted me down.")
"Zhongli sent me a letter explaining what happened and I was kinda scared you know? I should've known he was just being a blockhead again!"
("I couldn't stay in Mondstadt because he was always watching. If I stopped for a single moment he would be there.")
"I told him that he shouldn't have pushed so hard! You would've figured it out eventually! I knew you would never forsake the Divine One!"
("He kept calling me a slippery pest who needed to be put down.")
"Mei, I always believed in you! Morax is a fool sometimes. I know you're too smart to be played like a fiddle by some impersonator~"
("I was so scared I was going to die..")
In her arms is Barbatos. For a single moment she lets herself mourn for her little songbird. Her little wisp. He has grown into something she cannot stand and she cannot let her heart be soft for such a person.
Her arms are loosely wrapped around his shoulders. She's hunched over, her body tense as she squeezes her eyes shut. Her sweet innocent songbird is dead. It didn't hurt this much when she confronted Zho-- Morax. Perhaps it's because she can still see parts of her little wisp. It's an illusion, she tells herself. He's gone.
(She lets herself think of her little gem when they were bed ridden. She thinks of the broken pieces of arrowheads that were embedded in those wounds. She thinks of her little gem smiling and finally remembers that this little pest is still trying to kill them.)
Meili lets herself laugh, her voice sounding broken and slightly unhinged. She can feel his confusion but he doesn't tense even when she tightens her grip. It's only when sharp claws tightly keep him in place does he realize. "Oh, Barbatos," she croons. She leans back to look him in the eyes. Her little wisp is gone and all that's left of him is this pest. "I am flattered with your belief in me but I do believe it is misplaced~"
Barbatos blanches and tries to pull away from her grasp. She doesn't let him, grabbing his chin roughly to dig the claws into his skin. She never brings out more than her horns, but her feelings of rage and undertones of mourning has let some parts of her hidden draconic nature emerge.
"My little wisp," she says mockingly. There's a part of her that aches at the pet name and she lets it fuel her rage. "Do you truly believe that I will let you hurt a child?"
"M-Mei!" He cries out and she tightens her grip. "You- you don't understand! They're a criminal, Mei!"
"Oh, I'm aware," she spits. "I've heard the explanations from Morax, of the excuses. The impersonator who walked into Mondstadt one day and was immediately ridiculed. Tell me, little songbird, did they even claim to be the Divine One?"
He struggles in her grip and she drops him to the floor. She digs out the spear and twirls it in her hand as he stumbles, scrambling to stand up from his place on the floor.
"Did they truly impersonate the All-Creator? Or did they simply exist?"
Meili looms over him as she slowly stalks back over to him. He's shifting in place, one foot behind the other as he looks ready to bolt.
"Little wisp," she whispers mockingly. "If you run, I will find you. We're just here to have a little chat is all."
Barbatos takes a glance at the spear in her hand, at the Vortex Vanquisher and she simply grins.
"Oh, this little thing? It's just a precaution, you know how it is~" She flicks dirt off the tip of the spear nonchalantly. "Morax was the one to start our little fight. Did he mention that or did he say I was too aggressive and he had to do something to amend that?"
He stays silent, his body tense as he keeps his eyes on her. A big difference than her encounter with Morax. Perhaps he will actually listen to what she says. Whether or not he believes it is another issue altogether.
"Now," she starts. "Let me put it like this." Meili straightens with a grin, eyes narrowed as she stares at the little pest. "Imagine that you wake up in a different realm than you were used to. It looks beautiful and resembles something that you remember. You go to make friends and you're immediately scorned."
She hums and stalks forward. Meili throws an arm over her shoulder and puts her claws beneath his chin. She lifts his gaze as she continues. "You don't know what they're talking about or what they're referring to. You just got there after all. You see someone you think you remember and you go to ask for help. Someone who you're fond of, who you trust. They call you a disgrace."
Meili tugs him closer and he stares at the arm thrown over his shoulders. More specifically the spear she's wielding. She shakes it in her grasp and laughs. "Then they start a nationwide hunt!" She gasps, as if truly shocked.
She lets out a low growl and shakes her head. "Somehow, my little gem knew you as the God of Freedom. They had hoped, out of everyone, you would help. Instead you trapped them and now you continue to try and take their freedom."
Meili twirls the Vortex Vanquisher idly as she steps away from him. She clicks her tongue and sighs. "Little songbird, I am truly disappointed in you. They had asked for help and instead you tried to kill them. They wish to have the freedom to live peacefully and here you are, trying to ruin that. Do you really think I would go along with something like that?"
"Mei, they're-"
"-Don't call me that."
Barbatos startles at the hiss and ducks his head. "Meili," he says slowly. "They ruin the image of the All-Creator. Surely you understand that…?"
"Pathetic," she sneers. "You truly are a little pest. The only resemblance you have to my dear songbird is your appearance and that's not even your own."
Meili doesn't blink as he flinches back, instead pulling out the Holy Lyre der Himmel out of the satchel. Without a moment of hesitation, she throws it full force to the ground and it shatters into splinted pieces. "You should get the cathedral to increase their security," she hums. "It's pretty bad."
She lets the spear vanish in with sparkling lights and pushes past the pest. "Don't come near my house, little pest, I'll tear you to shreds if I see you anywhere near my little gem."
"Oh, and Barbatos?" She calls over her shoulder. She continues before he can respond, holding up a lyre in the air. His personal lyre. "Take care of your belongings better. You're pretty bad at it."
Meili leaves without another word. Hopefully her little gem would like a lyre? She hopes they will play her a tune with it.