~Alternative Ending~

Please play the song above when the ♦️ symbol shows up!

Since some people were unhappy about the sad ending, I decided to write a... happy alternative ending for those who don't enjoy sad endings! please enjoy :)

---

 Aquatic Desiccant.

The potion made from a single drop of Osial's blood.

The potion strong enough to kill gods.

The potion that ended up in the hands of the Fatui.

The potion with only one antidote known to mankind.

Zhongli, despite being one of the oldest gods still alive, had only seen the antidote once in his whole life. 

The antidote, which is made of the tears of the Great Balachko (a legendary, three headed giant found in the Viliyuchinsky Volcano of Snezhnaya), is nearly impossible to obtain, with only 4 vials of it ever known to exist.

Zhongli needed to get one, and fast. 

Tartaglia's condition was deteriorating at an unreal speed.

It would take too long to make the potion himself, as slaying a Balachko takes a lengthy time for even a god, not to mention, collecting the other ingredients. By the time the potion would be ready, Tartaglia would be long gone.

Zhongli racked his brain for any one person who could own a vial of the antidote for the infamous poison.

Then it hit him.

The Fatui.

Trading with the very people who injected the poison into his boyfriend didn't exactly strike him as the best option, however he had no choice.

Frantically looking around, Zhongli spotted the nearest teleport waypoint, picking up Tartaglia and teleporting to Madame Ping.

---

"Zhongli? What are you doing here?" The adeptus squinted her eyes, noticing the injured male Zhongli was holding. "Oh my.. it appears that I'm getting quite old.. in any case, this isn't the best place to chat. Please, follow me."

Madame Ping trotted to the little table next to her, lifting the lid of a petite teapot that sat on it. Waving her hand, she gestured Zhongli to enter it, who immediately complied, knowing very well how the teapot worked.

---

Both Madame Ping and Zhongli appeared landing gracefully on the grass of the realm of the teapot which had appeared majestically in front of them.

"Madame Ping, I must ask a favour of you." Zhongli said, his voice cracking, as he placed Tartaglia, who was now unconscious, on the soft grass.

"It'd be my pleasure, Rex Lapis." Madame Ping nodded towards Tartaglia. "Those blue marks around his wound... oh my, Aquatic Desiccant. It has been a while since I've seen those signs."

Tartaglia's breathing was now shallow, sweat forming on his pale face, his eyes shut tight and his arms shivering.

"I trust you know what to do." Zhongli nodded at Madame Ping.

"Of course, I've dealt with this poison many times." She replied, bandaging Tartaglia's wounds. "Of course, my healing isn't nearly enough to save the boy. Bring the antidote quickly, if you can."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"So, how did you end up saving me? Don't just stop there." Tartaglia smiled at Zhongli, who buried his head in Tartaglia's blankets.

"I traded the only thing worth your life." Zhongli began, looking up sheepishly at Tartaglia. "I gave Tsaritsa my gnosis in exchange for the serum."

Tartaglia's smile quickly contorted into a stern frown.

"You WHAT?" He reprimanded, poking Zhongli's forehead. "Your GNOSIS is way more valuable than my life, you stupid rock headed man!"

"I couldn't just let the love of my life die in my arms, you know." Zhongli stroked Tartaglia's hand.

"R-right- a-AhEM." Tartaglia stuttered, faking a cough for an excuse to cover his blushing face with his free hand.

"I'm really glad you're alright now." Zhongli closed his eyes, resting his head. "You have no idea how scared I was."

Tartaglia nodded. "I'll have to quit the Fatui. D'you think they'll let me?"

Zhongli looked up. "They better. I gave them a gnosis, and not to mention, one of their own harbingers almost killed you."

..

"I'm no longer immortal, you know." Zhongli whispered. "Since I gave away my gnosis, I'm not an archon anymore."

Tartaglia's eyes suddenly widened. 

"Wait, didn't the geo archon control the Golden House? How are they going to make mora without you?!" 

..

"That... is a detail I might've overlooked." Zhongli confidently said, as if it was a positive thing. "At any rate, mortals are very crafty, I'm sure they'll figure something out."

"Did you at least set some funds aside for yourself..?" Tartaglia uncertainly asked, preparing for a 'yes'.

"Certainly.." Zhongli began, Tartaglia looking at him with a glint of surprise in his eyes. "... that would've been a good idea. Such a shame that I didn't think of it before giving away my gnosis."

Tartaglia facepalmed. 

"It's fine. I have my savings from my job as a Harbinger."

Zhongli nodded.

"Oh! Before I forget, isn't Lantern Rite tomorrow? We should go!" Tartaglia exclaimed.

A frown appeared on Zhongli's face. "Tartaglia, don't you need to properly heal? I don't want you getting hurt."

"Oh c'mon, Zhongli! I'm fine. I'm an ex-Harbinger, remember? Can we go? PLEase??? I really want to see the robes you bought! Pleaaaaase??" Tartaglia pleaded, attempting to make a cute face.

Zhongli felt attacked, just looking at his face.

"Err- eurgh... f-fine." He gave in.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

♦️ 

The streets of Liyue Harbor were bustling with locals and tourists alike. Xiao lanterns hung from almost every door, lighting up every inch of the city. 

Shops advertising their products, gleeful children running about. Citizens crowded the dock, releasing their shining Xiao lanterns, that carried their wishes and desires up to celestia.

"Zhongli, come here! Let's release a lantern!" Tartaglia grabbed Zhongli's arm, dragging him towards one of the crafts tables lined with Xiao lanterns.

Tartaglia paid for the lantern, grabbing a pen from the crafts table.

"I'll write on one side, you do the other." Zhongli said, Tartaglia nodding in agreement.

"...and.. done!" Tartaglia sighed in satisfaction, looking at his side of the lantern. "I want to grow stronger with Zhongli at my side!"

Zhongli, who was still writing, chuckled at Tartaglia.

Soon after, he removed his pen from the lantern, preparing it.

"Okay, done. It's ready to be released, so let's go to the dock."

Tartaglia and Zhongli walked towards the dock, spotting many familiar faces. 

Ningguang and Beidou, at the Mora Meat stands, Xiangling at Wanmin restaurant, serving food with a bright smile on her face, Chongyun chugging water and Xingqiu eating Jueyun Chili Peppers, Lumine and Xinyan laughing with Chen The Sharp, and Hu Tao, who waved to Zhongli, only to be ignored, as she got dragged away by Yanfei to the Mingxiao Lantern's construction area.

As they walked, Zhongli waved at Aether, who was jogging towards the exit of Liyue Harbor with 3 Grilled Tiger Fish in his hands, Tartaglia scowling at the thought of the person Aether was likely going to.

--

"Here we are!" Tartaglia sighed.

The two had been walking for quite a while. They had finally arrived at the location. The backside of Liyue Harbor, along the ocean. Tartaglia removed his shoes, Zhongli following suit, and ran towards the sandy beach.

"This place is gonna have an amazing view once everyone releases their lantern!" Tartaglia exclaimed, gazing up at the twinkling stars in the night sky. 

"Then let's do a countdown." Zhongli replied, checking his watch. "The lanterns are released at 11PM every year.. we have 10 seconds left!"

"10... 9.. 8.." Zhongli and Tartaglia counted, completely in sync. "..7..6.."

"5.."

"4.."

"3.."

"2.."

"1.."

"0!"

The peaceful night sky was bombarded with glowing Xiao Lanterns, floating higher and higher, hundreds of wishes being carried up to the clouds for the gods to hear the prayers of the people of Liyue. 

Glittering, sparkling hopes and dreams, compacted in the lanterns escaping into the sea of the night sky. 

The enormous Mingxiao Lantern, shaped into the form of the adeptus, Moon Carver.

Hundreds of glowing lanterns engulfed the sky, outshining the moon, the stars, and Celestia itself.

In the middle of the beauty stood two young men, hand in hand, watching the scene unfold.

"Ready?" 

"GO!"

Zhongli and Tartaglia let go of their lantern together, watching as it peacefully floated into the air. 

'~I want to live like this forever~'

In the soft, lantern-lit night, they shared a tender kiss, one far from their last.

Duty

united them.

Duty

kept them together.

END.