Chapter Text
Sweetpea couldn’t believe it. This was it. Today was the day. He bounded through the den excitedly, almost knocking some framed pictures off of the walls in his exuberance. He couldn’t help it. He’d been waiting and today was the day.
Today was the day he was leaving for the Imperial City in the Lunanoff’s Constellation. Today was the day he was going to start his training to become the Guardian to the unborn Lunanoff heir. He’d been training with his mother since he was a kit and his skills were far known and respected. He’d been chosen, out of all the Imperials, Pookas and all of the other species - he had been chosen to be the Guardian for the soon to be born Lunanoff heir. He’d been given a new title and property within the Constellation borders – he wouldn’t be using it anytime soon but it was a small outpost and he hoped to take his mother there some day. He also had his own quarters in the royal wing of the Lunar Palace.
It was an honour and Sweetpea could barely contain himself. He wanted to run outside and soar with the winds! To head into town and start the biggest snowball fight this planet had ever seen! ...But he couldn’t. Not today. Today was the last day he would be spending with his mother before he left for the Imperial City and he wasn’t going to waste it by not spending it with her. She deserved better than that.
He stopped before he entered the kitchen, where he knew his mother was, his hands tightening into fists momentarily. He would be better than his father… He would never just leave. He would visit his mother and write at every opportunity. Sweetpea would never abandon his mother the way Aster had.
Sweetpea was leaving, to serve the Lunanoff family but… it was different. He was different.
He was leaving today and as much as he was going to miss his mother he knew that this is what he wanted to do with his life. So shaking out his fur – he’d brushed it until it shone this morning in his excitement – he finally entered the kitchen.
His mother turned to meet him, her fur shining like her namesake. Snowbell was so pure and white that she always seemed to glow. For the longest time Sweetpea had been convinced that his mother was an angel sent from the stars – just for him… He wouldn’t admit it out loud but he still kind of believed that.
“Sweetpea! About time! Did you have to sleep in today of all days?” She turned and Sweetpea just took a moment to look at her and commit the image to his memory. This was his mother. Her fur was as white as his own, although slightly sleeker as Sweetpea seemed to be stuck in an eternal winter coat. Her arms held the patterns of her clan in a light grey, sharp icicles jutting proudly down her arms with snowflakes resting atop them. Her forehead was marked similarly in light grey but with an intricate patter of lines that swept up her ears and down the sides of her face and neck. Any Pooka would be able to tell her affinity was with the wind. Apart from her markings her fur was pure white.
Sweetpea was mostly white, like his mother, but his markings were light blue. In addition to his markings the tips of his ears, feet and hands were also pale blue. His forehead was decorated with a single, blue snowflake showing his affinity with ice and his arms were marked with his Sire’s clan markings, a three-point flower with two arrows below it. Sweetpea hated those marks the most because he knew that no matter where his father was, they would share the same markings. It was bad enough they had the same last name. He was more of a Frost Pooka than a Nature Pooka anyway. It was actually a little embarrassing to have a Spring Pookan clan name when he was so obviously frost aligned.
Sweetpea stared at his mother for a moment longer before darting forward and pulling her into his arms. “Dam…” She was still slightly taller than him, more muscular than him as well. Snowbell was strength, speed and grace. She was so strong and so beautiful and so compassionate. Sweetpea always felt so safe in his mother’s arms. Sweetpea cared – it was just a part of his personality. He cared a lot about everyone and there was always a special place in his heart for children, he would do anything for a child in need. His mother was different. She was the only person who had ever found their way to the deepest part of Jack’s heart. Past the walls of ice and snow that distanced him from everyone else and right into his core. She fuelled his Joy and he was going to miss her so much.
“Hey now, my little Sweepy. It’s alright. You’re growing up and I’m so proud of you. I can’t believe you were chosen! This is amazing! Your father would be so proud of you Sweepy.” Snowbell laughed. “Or should I call you ‘Nightlight’ now?”
As much as he wanted to enjoy the moment, Sweetpea couldn’t help but tense at the mention of his father. His mother noticed, she always noticed.
“Don’t worry.” She soothed, “I’ll keep my promise. For now, let’s just enjoy the day. I made your favourite fruit loaf for breakfast and I thought we could head out to the lake today?” So after breakfast they did just that.
They went to the lake, they went into town and then, for the last time, his mother guided him through his katas. Running through the routine they’d been doing for years, with Sweetpea allowing his mother to lead. Even though they both knew Sweetpea had surpassed her years ago. He was a prodigy and as far as anyone could tell his ice powers had no limit. Sweetpea had been training his entire life to help him control himself.
Sighing, Sweetpea wished that he had the time to spar with his mother before he left. But the day was getting late and his ship was due to sail before nightfall on this side of the planet. Instead, he allowed his mother to scent mark him and brush his fur – because it was comforting and even though it made him feel a little childish, it made his mother feel better. Of course, even though he wouldn’t admit it to anyone, he was comforted to be covered in her scent. At least when he ventured out to somewhere new, where everything would be so different then it was here, he would smell like home.
Snowbell helped her son make sure he’d packed everything he needed. His clothes (the other races preferred the Pookas to be clothed – although on their home planet and colonies it was more a choice of preference), his favourite books, a few family photos and without his knowledge she slipped in a photo and a recent letter from his father. She understood Sweetpea’s anger at his father, the Doe could understand but… She loved her mate and she believed in him. The war was still going on and it had changed all of them, some more than most. Even if she forced Aster home now – he would still be fighting. He wasn’t ready to move on yet. Snowbell understood and she hoped that as her son grew up and more experienced that he would grow to understand too. She hoped they would have a chance to reconcile – it was her dearest wish.
They both took his bags and headed out to where the Sunstroker was docked. It was a smaller vessel, build for speed. A smaller cabin that was only large enough for three or four rooms with a deck roughly the same size, long sails spread out almost like wings. The Sunstroker was cross-sailed for better manoeuvrability. It was solid metal but painted like wood and looked antique in a delightful way. Sweetpea would be in the capitol in a little over a day. He held his mother and promised to write as soon as he arrived and as often as he could after that. Knowing letters weren’t enough he also promised to visit when he could.
Sweetpea wasn’t doing this all for the money but his new position paid extraordinarily well so if he couldn’t always afford the time go to his mother then he could afford the money to have her come to him. He refused to abandon her.
They held each other tightly, with snowflakes falling from their eyes. This was it. This was the moment that Sweetpea had been waiting for. Even though he’d reached the age of majority a few years ago, doing this, leaving home for a new life among the stars… Sweetpea finally felt like a man. He was doing it. He was really doing this… and it felt amazing.
“Goodbye Dam, I’m going to miss you… a lot.” Sweetpea spoke quietly, his trademark grin somewhat wobblier than usual.
“As will I, but I know you’re going to do amazing things. I’m already so proud. I love you Sweepy, be safe.”
He managed to send his mother off with a smile and she did the same for him. Seeing the pride in his mother’s eyes just made this all the more worth it.
He didn’t know what awaited him out there but… Sweetpea was looking forward to finding it for himself.
He was given a small room to himself for the voyage to the Imperial City and once they had left the dock he opened the cabin wardrobe – there was a mirror on the inside and he smiled at his reflection. Sweetpea, all fluffy and white. But far too obvious. There was one person out in the Sea of Stars that he didn’t want to recognize him.
With a concentrated thought, Sweetpea changed his shape to look closer to the Imperials. His form shortened and his fur receded, leaving pink, smooth skin its wake. The only fur that remained became his eyebrows and the hair on top of his head, he left it a little lanky and unkempt, short enough that it didn’t get in his eyes and still white like his fur. His eye still shone bright blue and his skin was pale but after a few moments of twisting and turning, admiring his naked reflection he decided it would pass. He was slim now by Imperial standards, and short too, but he’d always been that way compared to other Pookas so changing that now felt wrong. Besides, he thought as he smirked at his new, tiny body. People always underestimated small things and he would more than happily use that to his advantage.
He dressed slowly, understanding the need for modesty when privates weren’t internal – a downside to the Imperial form. Sweetpea had been training in various forms all of his life and he could fight almost as well in his Imperial form as he could as himself. He pulled on a pale blue, sleeveless tunic and tight white leggings, the tunic sat low on his thighs and looked a little feminine but he was a male Doe so he wasn’t too worried about it. He opted to keep his feet bare. Even in this form shoes just didn’t feel right, he used his feet a lot in battle and to him they were practically a second set of hands. With his shapeshifting he could turn them into hands if he wanted to and had on several occasions – usually to prank someone but he was sure it would come in handy during his years of service.
Turning again to admire himself in the mirror, he allowed his markings to glow. Even without his fur his markings were a part of him and the snowflake on his head began to glow blue. So did the tips of his ears, hands and feet… as well as the markings on his shoulders but for his sanity’s sake he chose to ignore them.
“Nightlight.” Sweetpea announced triumphantly to his reflection, watching the light he was emitting bounce playfully across its surface, reflecting all around the room.
The glowing wasn’t an abnormal effect of using powers among the Pookas but Sweetpea had always glowed more brightly than most. As it was Fearlings and Nightmares that he was to protect the unborn Lunanoff heir against, he’d received a new title for the new position that had been created for him. He was Nightlight, Guardian of Childhood – soon to be protector and playmate to the tenth child in the Lunanoff line. The Lunanoffs were the most prominent of all the Constellations and the shining hope at the head of the Fearling War. They were a bastion of hope in what could be a very frightening universe. The Golden Age wouldn’t be the same without them. Sweetpea was honoured to serve them and he would wear his new face and new name with pride.
His glow faded and he stretched a little, this skin would take some getting used to but not having so much fur to brush would be a blessing. They newly named Nightlight smiled to himself, testing out his name.
He gave himself a cheeky grin in the mirror, please to note similarities between his forms. His mother would recognize him for sure – and not just because of his scent.
Nightlight decided to turn in and catch some sleep while he could. Training would start almost as soon as he arrived but he was ready to shock them all. Many underestimated him due to his rural upbringings but honestly – whatever they put him through he could almost guarantee his mother would have trained him harder. She was a strict taskmaster and amazingly skilled. Nightlight couldn’t wait to show off to his new instructors. It was going to be great.
Sweetpea or Nightlight? He hummed to himself. For the Imperial City? Nightlight, definitely.
But he would still always be Sweepy to his Dam.