Jung-ho let out a cheerful laugh as he flew through the fields, hearing his father say something along the lines of, “just don’t step on the crops, son! We just had the fields flooded.”

His father was walking on the trail next to the field, watching his son with a content smile on his face. Then he glanced back at his home with a frown, thinking of his wife’s constantly scorning face towards him.

Netwing was really trying his best to keep his smile up for his son, he could only pray to the Gods that he’d somehow be happy in his marriage. That is if he could even pass the matchmakers test next week, Netwing barely passed his despite the fact he cheated!

“Papa, look what I found!” He turned his head to see his son holding up a colorful rock, so he said in an overly amused tone (as parents often do with children), “oh wow! That’s really beautiful.”

“Right?!” Jung-ho put it in his saddle bag and eagerly fluttered back to his fathers side.

Netwing swore he could hear his son buzzing from excitement, “ready for your second name, son?” Jung-ho nodded with a determined look in his eyes.

Right... his eyes.

Netwing just hoped that the other changelings in the village wouldn’t question Jung-ho’s appearance, he resembled one of the royals but as he explained several times to the villagers, it was impossible. He just hoped the facade would last for a little longer, especially when he looked down at his humming son, who looked back at him with a grin.

He was well aware that he was going to get the comment of his son resembling a changeling from Vietrot (thanks to his bright green hair), which he despised hearing. It was so tempting to have him disguise himself but he couldn’t, it was forbidden during such an important ceremony.

“Papa, do you think they’ll make me wear a hanbok?” Jung-ho asked.

Netwing blinked a few times in thought before mumbling back, “probably, I wore one during mine.”

Jung-ho pouted adorably, making his father crack a smile. “But they’re so itchy! And you know that they won’t give me a nice one like they do for the rich nymphs!” He complained, stomping his hoof in annoyance.

“Now son, that’s not true. They give it to you based on appearance, and you’re a very lovely boy!” Netwing squished the teenagers cheeks between his hooves, “I’m sure you’ll get a nicer one than the one that the Butterfly’s son’ll get.”

“You mean Ha-jun?” He remembered the bratty teen he met at one of the festivals, now don’t get him wrong! Ha-jun was extremely pretty and graceful, it just was overshadowed by his spoiled behavior.

Netwing nodded, then paused in his step. He then said, “you might want to look to your right,” Jung-ho did just that and screeched as he was tackled to the ground.

“Jung-ho!” A high pitched voice hollered as the teenager tumbled into the flooded field, it was Jung-ho’s best friend and partner in crime, Min-jun Lee.

Jung-ho spit out the water that got in his mouth and immediately exclaimed, “Min-jun!” He hugged his best friend tightly, earning a giggle from him.

“I’m so sorry Netwing!” A female voice said, the friends turned their heads to see a female changeling standing next to Jung-ho’s father.

She was taller than him by several inches, typical of female changelings but wasn’t as muscular as most. Her red cobwebby mane was in a loose braid that reached halfway down her leg, her face had the lightest bit of makeup.

Netwing shook his head, tilting his satgat hat (rice hat) in respect to the female. “It’s really alright Orchid, I’m sure that Jung-ho doesn’t mind,” he held out his hoof to help the teens out of the water, Min-jun took it first and pulled his friend along with him.

Orchid still scolded her son, who smiled sheepishly at her.

She was a strange case for a female, with softer and more kind behavior, which was usually displayed exclusively in males. She also wore makeup, which was seen as a taboo for females, as it was suggested that they were a concubine of some sort.

“I suppose that Min-jun is getting his second name as well?” He guessed, Orchid answered with a nod.

“That is if he doesn’t embarrass himself,” she grumbled, lightly glaring at her sheepish son, who gave a halfhearted apology.

Jung-ho excitedly grabbed his friends hoof and pulled him along down the trail, leaving the adults behind.

Netwing frowned, turning to Orchid to quietly ask, “is Min-jun eligible for the matchmaker next week?” Orchid winced before nodding.

“I worry for my son,” she whispered.

“As do I.”

“Yang Jung-ho.”

“Present—”

“Speaking without permission.”

Well the ceremony was going as great as Netwing expected, though it didn’t stop him from cringing at his sons eagerness. So he whispered a soft prayer to the luck goddess Fortuna, hoping for the best.

The plump female changeling that stood on a podium was holding a clipboard, she held a look of annoyance towards the teenager. Then she called out two other names: “Lee Min-jun” and “Nabi Ha-jun”.

Min-jun proceeded to call out a loud “here!” Most likely trying to make his friend feel better, it kind of worked so that was good enough for him. His mother flushed bright red in embarrassment, covering her face from the others as she whispered, “Sol help me.”

Ha-Jun on the other hoof, stood up with his head held high, not making a single sound. The female nodded in approval, even saying to herself, “very good.”

She gestured for the boys to follow her into the temple, two out of three of them trying not to trip over hanboks. Yeah by the way, Netwing was correct about them wearing the traditional dresses, which honestly annoyed Jung-ho.

His hanbok had a more green theme to it, with patterns of swallowtail butterflies decorating it. Min-jun and Ha-jun both had a more reddish-pink to theirs, due to their red manes.

All of them had their manes done up so it was out of their faces, giving her a more clear view of their natural looks (meaning makeup wasn’t allowed for this ceremony). Luckily for Min-jun, he was very pretty with a cute face in Jung-ho’s opinion.

It was a wonder how snail gel could hide the holes in their manes, in fact the males who were getting the boys all done up told both Min-jun and him specifically that they’d only get to wear it twice in their lifetimes. First for this ceremony, and the last time when they met the matchmaker, due to the fact that they could never afford it on their own.

The female introduced herself as Firefly, her cold smile sent shivers down the friends spines. Unlike them, Ha-jun looked charmed by her, even blushing a bit as she lifted his chin up.

“A member of the Butterfly Clan, it is an honor to be in the presence of a descendant from the Heliconides!”

Jung-ho had to force himself not to roll his eyes, he almost forgot that members of the Butterfly Clan were rumored to be descended from one of the nine Gods of Art, Poetry, Music, Beauty, and Butterflies... even though they don’t know which one it was.

Ha-jun batted his eyelashes before bashfully saying, “thank you kindly, Firefly. My family is very proud of our heritage!” Min-jun cracked a smile and glanced at Jung-ho, his look practically screaming ‘seriously?!’.

Firefly looked around the room, as if she was looking for something specific. The boys realized that they were surrounded by statues of Gods, Warriors, Concubines, and iconic figures from Changeling History. It honestly made Jung-ho a little uncomfortable.

She made a “aha!” Sound before pointing at one of the statues, it in a group of eight others. Jung-ho quickly identified it as Glasswing, the Heliconide of Beauty.

“I believe that your name was selected even before you got here, my young Glasswing.”

Jung-ho snorted on accident, causing Firefly’s head to snap towards him, saying through clenched teeth, “what’s so funny, Yang?”

“I-I mean,” he held back his giggles as he explained, “wasn’t there also a concubine named Glasswing?”

Ha-jun glared daggers at him, blushing as he snapped, “Glasswing was one of the four beauties of Fanghai, mind you! He’s practically worshipped as a God there, so show some respect you maggot.”

Firefly smirked as she said, “don’t worry Yang, I have a name in mind for you but first, I should give Lee his first.”

Min-jun straightened up with a nervous smile, it was wiped off his face when Firefly said with venom in her tone, “Cricket sounds suitable.”

Cricket... Cricket? Who was that again? It took Jung-ho a moment to realize that she was talking about a disgraced member from the Hwarang.

Then she turned her head back towards Jung-ho and in the same venomous tone, “I have the perfect name for you.”

“R-really?” Jung-ho stuttered.

She tilted her head towards a statue, Jung-ho gulped before slowly looking towards it. His breathe was caught in his throat as he uttered, “n-no...”

Firefly confirmed his worst fear, “your second name shall be Mothball, named after one of Empress Tsubaki’s favorite concubines.”

He didn’t even hear the cackle coming from Glasswing or Cricket’s horrified gasp.

This was not happening to him right now...

Author's Note

I actually a couple of reason’s for mothball technically being his second name, mostly because in this universe Mothball from Disneyfanatic2364 (check out her stories they’re amazing honestly) is a canon character. He comes in WAAAYYY later, but he is important tbh