part 3

When the light died down Jacob was gone. In the place where he was standing, was a pile of clothes and in the center of that pile of clothes was a little boy no more then 6 years of age. He was in total shock, his eyes were wide and his body was trembling. The members of the council gasped at what they saw.

Zach's mouth hung open. His father was now younger then him. Mack had made him an orphan. His mom was gone so he had nobody. "What am I going to do" he said to himself "I'll be on the streets…their …n..not..going..t..to….want..m..me…here" his lip trembled as he began to cry. He hid his face in his hands so people wouldn't see his unmanly tears.

The slave boy was on his knees. When Jacob's scream began climbing in pitch he felt the runes connecting him to the man shatter as well as the runes blocking his mana core.

Mack looked at his dad and in that weird voice spoke. "Zach and his new little brother are going to need a mommy and daddy" he said as he glanced at Vorick who nodded.

"Hey mom I need to go see if Zach's ok" he asked. His mom complied by setting him down. He walked over and stood in front of Zach. He put his hand on the boys exposed hand but The boy gasped and squealed.

"Please spare me" Zach begged as he dropped to his knees if front of Vorick

Vorick smiled that cute little smile and giggled. "Hehehehe your silly, you're already a little boy." He then hugged the bigger boy "everything is going to be ok Zach. You're not going to be homeless goofy you're part of the royal family. My mom and dad are your mom and dad now. You and your little brother will stay here in the castle"

"I don't have a little brother. You know that" replied Zach still hugging the small boy

"Well you do now" he said gesturing to the shocked little guy on the floor who resembles a young version of Jacob "and he need his big brother. He just suffered a big trauma and needs comfort"

"How do I do that" he asked "will you show me"

"Sure I'll take you to him" said Vorick. They walked over and Vorick instructed Zach to get on Jacob's level "use his shirt like a blanket and wrapped it around him to hide his naked body. Sit him on your lap and just hug him and let your heart do the rest" he said as he went back to his mom

"Couldn't have done it better my self" said Mack/zhao "hehehehe you must be really sleepy but that ok it's been a long day for both of you. Mack is super sleepy to that's why I'm still here in his daddy's arms. I've almost forgotten what it's like to be held" he said smiling at Thomas who smiled back nervously. "Hey Alexander" he called out

The boy that was once the slave raised his head and looked at Mack. "Yes your grace" he responded then scurried over and bowed before his god.

"Rise young one, you are free from your bonds and can once again begin to cultivate" said Mack/zhao

"Thank you so much sir. I am forever in your debt. I'll do whatever you need. I am your eternal servant" he said

"Careful saying that to a god, child. Most gods wouldn't bat an eye at taking advantage of you. However, my newborn angelics here need a good friend they can trust, would you be interested in getting to know them" he asked "I don't want you to feel like I'm forcing you through, it's your decision in the end"

"But I'm so much older then them physically and getting older by the minute whereas they will be young boys forever" said Alexander "I'll be a man soon"

"I can take care of that, You have been very loyal" the god said "these two are going to need as much help as they can get when the deamon realm invades again.

"I've got nothing. When my small village got invaded by bandits they killed all the men including my father who was a priest at the temple. I was in charge of caring for your shrine anyway They also kidnapped all the children including me to be sold as slaves the mothers tried to protect their children but were cut down right in front of their children. This is a method bandits use called curdling it's used to break the will of a person and curdle their bravery. So I've got no home to go back to. I would love to except your offer your grace but it's not like the king and queen will let me live in the castle"

"My boys need friends" said Thomas "they need to be more social with kids their true age. That's going to be hard to do because of their physical age and the fact they both wear diapers. If they could have 1 loyal friend I'll be happy. What I'm trying to say is you can stay here. We are starting a foster program for orphans"

Alexander looked at Mack/Zhao "I'll do it as long as I don't have to wear diapers. No offense your grace"

"None taken" he replied "not everyone can pull off the diaper look. I also don't expect you to change any diapers so your safe in that regard. Now step forward child and receive my blessing"

Alexander step up to the boy in the kings arms who placed a hand on his forehead and chanted a slew of arcane words that most of the adults in the room could translate as:

I bless thee with everlasting youth, may you be young and full of life forever.

I enhance thy affinity of shadows and make thee a shadowlock a harbinger of the darkness, may you always protect the light.

Lastly I impart the knowledge to use your abilities as you discover them.

Mack/Zhao removed his hand to reveal three runes that was absorbed into Alexander's head. The whites of his eyes turned as black as the night itself while the irises turned a golden color. The opposite of Mack and Voricks and the shadows in the hall flickered a bit like they were greeting a friend.

The people in the hall felt as though their childhood fears of monsters under the bed and in the closet, the boogeyman, etc. had come back to haunt them. However they were able to use their auras to get ride of these childish fears.

"There that should do it. You will be able to evolve just like the twins here. You have also stopped ageing so you will be an 11 year old boy forever unless you decide to be younger someday. I also made your shadow affinity better but you'll have to discover its abilities on your own"

"You are very generous your grace" said Alexander before bowing

"Little Jimmy Pool" announced Mack/Zhao

"I..im right here" said Lord Pool as a bead of sweat rolled down his face. Was he next, he didn't want to be a kid again. He didn't enjoy the first time.

"The plan that Jacob had worked out with you …is it still on, yes? The one about sending the twins to the academy." Asked the boy god

"It doesn't have to be" he replied "we were just worried that they would be lose cannons like Xander and Caden were. No offense"

"legitimate concern but unwarranted. We never prayed on the innocent only the bad. It is morbid what we did to them. But all those people that went missing, got what they deserved. All of them were child abusers or spousal abusers, murderers, thieves, The victims would seek us out for help most of the time. We unbirthed nearly half of them. Regressed most of them back to toddlers or babies. But their were a few that were so bad we regressed them back to baby gravy. Like I said the deeds were morbid so I can understand the fear."

"That's actually a relief, thank you" said Lord pool

"Anyway my time runs short, so I think it's a great idea to send them to the academy. I'm not saying your private tutors arnt perfectly capable but they need social skills and a way to get stronger. The academy goes on missions and the twins can get stronger by absorbing the life essence of the hunted beasts and criminals. And Alexander can get stronger by absorbing their fear." Said Mack/Zhao

"With all due respect your grace the kids could get that from the criminals we have her and in the jails" said Mary

"Yes that is true and they would get stronger but they would lack experience and that would get them killed. I've seen many a prince in my time in your realm die on the battlefield because they lacked the experience in fighting foes that weren't training dummy's or guards ordered to act like living training aids"

"Honey, regardless of their current appearance, the boys arnt toddlers. They are 10 year olds with awakened cores. I myself attended the academy at that age and so did by brother" he said as he glanced at the little boy that was sitting in Zach's lap and sighed. They made eye contact and he could see tears in the boys eyes. He had been crying. When he saw Thomas looking he blushed and tried to hid his face in embarrassment.

As if reading Thomas thought Mack/Zhao said that Jacob was still himself just very very young. "We will do as you ask as soon as possible" he said to the boy god

"I wish I had a mommy and daddy as great and loving and supportive as you two when I was a true kid" he said "the love that these twins have for the two of you can't be measured. Vorick my child I've given you half of the life essence that Mack got from Jacob. He'll be ok Thomas. It'll take time for him to adjust to his new status as the youngest of 4 boys and to except you and mommy and daddy. This has been fun guys but I guess I should let Mack have control of his body again" he said as the light in Mack's eyes faded and he went limp in Thomas's arms.

After a few minutes Mack slowly opened his eyes and lifted his head. "Wow, that happened" he said blinking his eyes.

"Is that you Mack" asked Thomas

"It's me daddy" Mack answered "I was completely aware of everything but couldn't control my body"

"Are you capable of standing buddy or are you still sleepy…you look like a zombie" he asked

"I'm exhausted daddy but I think I can" said Mack as he rubbed his eyes "Jake needs you more right now"

"If you are finished your majesty we will take our leave" said Lord Pool

"Right I think we can wrap things up here. Thank you for you time today and the unexpected drama" Thomas said. The others then filed out of the hall leaving only Mary, Thomas and the boys. Thomas walked over to the teary eyed Jacob who was still sitting on the lap of Zach. "Can I take him off your hands for awhile" he asked the boy who nodded in response. He Put his hands under the arms of his former brother and lifted him up. His shirt that was wrapped around him fell to the floor leaving him completely naked. Which made him blush in embarrassment. "Are you ok" he asked as he wiped the tears from Jacob's eyes but it was useless, more replaced them.

"No…I'm not…ok" he said trying hard not to start wailing "what am I going to do now. How am I going to care for my son when he's older then me by 4 years now. He can't live on his own yet. I don't want to be a little kid Tommy"

"You haven't called me Tommy since we were kids" he said smiling as he rubbed the boys back. "But you don't have to worry about anything but being a little boy and having fun. You let me worry about taking care of your big brother" Jacob got a confused look in his eyes

"I don't have a big brother" said confidently "I am the big brother"

Thomas grimaced slightly "not…anymore. You're actually the second youngest kid in this room and my youngest son. Your former son is now your older brother and also my son which also means that Mack and Vorick are your brothers as well he said talking to both boys"

Jacob shook his head "no…..no...no" he repeated the same word over and over and with every word he was losing more control over his emotions and was now full on crying.

Thomas put his hand on the back of the boys head and pulled him to his chest "everything will be ok bubba all you have to do is let go. I promise to be a good daddy to both you and your big brother" he said as he tussled Zach's hair who smiled and hugged his new daddy. "Do you think you can carry your brother Zach"

"I can try" he said as Thomas handed the boy over to him "he's kinda heavy. I don't think I'm going to be able to do it"

"That's ok he can walk, just cover up his boy bits before letting him traipse around the castle naked. Do you know where Voricks room is" asked Mary. Zach nodded his head. "Good your room is going to be across the hall. Let Jake sleep with you tonight then in the morning we will set him up in the nursery go ahead and head to bed" she said and kissed both boys on the cheek before sending them on their way. Once the boys left, the king and queen turned around only to find Mack and Vorick both curled up on one throne fast asleep.

At that moment the door to the hall opened and Roy stuck his head inside "your majesty's, their is a young man out here who has an appointment to see Tony"

"Ah, yes his father is here. Please show him in" said the king. Roy entered followed by a boy no more the 13 years of age. He had pitch black hair, blue eye, a small upturned nose, with freckles across the bridge of his nose. His build was strong looking with broad shoulders with the start of some decent muscle. He was definitely at that stage where he was still mostly boy but with a sprinkle of young man in their. He walked up to the king and saluted like he was trained to do like a good little soldier. He glanced up to the throne area and noticed 2 little boys that matched the discription of the new angelics he heard about from some students asleep in the right chair. Then he noticed the older boy standing next to them like a protective dog ready to pounce at any second. His eyes were as black as night with golden irises which gave him an almost inhuman look. The hair on the back of his neck stood on end as he gulped. The boy was definitely younger then him so he was confident in beating the kid but his stair bothered him like he was looking into his sole.

The king glanced in that direction and noticed what the boy was looking at. "That's Alexander, you'll have to excuse him" he said. "He hasn't gotten his new power under control yet and it can be a bit intimidating. He really is a sweetheart"

"Of course sire, he just caught me off guard" said max

"Relax boy…breath..you did good. Now I'm sure you want to see your son" he asked the boy

"Man that's weird to here. Who would of thought I'd be a daddy at almost 14. Even weirder when you consider my son used to be my dad. Maybe I should keep that part to myself it'll be hard enough to convince people that I have a four-year-old son." Said max

"if you're truly worried about that sort of thing talk to my boys I'm sure they can make Tony younger" said Mary

"How Young would you suggest ma'am"

"if I were you, it'd be more convincing to have a newborn at 14 than a four year-old" she said

"I'll have to think about that. It's a big step that I'm not sure I'm ready for hell I'm not even sure I'm ready for this at all. I'm not even 14 yet" he said with worry "i'm not even sure how to be a dad"

"you know, I thought the same way right before the twins were born 10 years ago. If you wait until you're ready, you'll never do it. Being a daddy isn't straightforward, you have to take one day at a time." Said the king "you'll do great. Use all the lessons that your dad taught you. If you need help, there's a bunch of guys who are daddies, they can help you."

"Ok… i'm willing to give it a shot. If it doesn't work out with him being Four years old, I can just talk to Mack and Vorick and see if they can make him a newborn and keep him as a newborn until I'm out of the Academy. That may actually work as a four-year-old too. Can I see him" said max with pleading eyes

"You sure can" said the king as he gestured for the maid that was holding the sleeping boy, Who managed to sleep through the whole thing. He reached out and slowly took the boy from her and held him close patting his diapered bottom. "Hey sleepy head" he said as he tried to wake the boy. Eventually he opened his eyes and looked at the person holding him. It took Tony a few minutes to process who it was he was looking at but when it clicked he screamed out.

"MAX!!!!!" And burst into tears wrapping his arms and Legs tightly around the young man.