The great destruction… the words rattled around in my head.

“We don’t know of it, Michael, just that it happened. The legends say that the races were scattered and that the gods went away. They seemed to have come back in our case, but…”

“The ship crashed.”

“What?”

“Think about it. The wyvern said that the gods went away… no… that the gods were cut off. But that they felt them now.”

“How would they know about the great destruction then?”

“My point exactly. Unless the galaxy is suppose to be ran by these gods. Something happened and we were the only ones who could deal with them… maybe something like burying their ship half way into a planet. Since we have been linking the worlds, they are coming back online one by one.”

“Why not tell us?”

I sighed. “That is the question. I can’t think of a reason that makes sense. That and why are they so afraid.”

“Michael, they are not afraid of the people. They are afraid of you.”

“What? That doesn’t make sense. You don’t take someone you are afraid of and give them the powers of a god.”

“You do if he is in a position to do something that you can’t.”

I started going over what I knew. Wyvern scouts and recorders. The wyvern could tell that the portal had came to their planet. The could feel magic? But that didn’t tell how they could gather the rest of the data. One thing was sure. They were created for a very specific role. Okay, that told me nothing. The ship was buried and I couldn’t see inside of it. I was also pretty sure my magic wouldn’t work on it, since it was what was generating the magic I was using. The other dragons would probably obey the gods, so I really wasn’t vital to this. What the hell was I missing? Then I thought about what I had become. Looking back, I had been a dragon well over a century now. I couldn’t remember half of it. It was like the only time I remembered something was if it was something I needed to address. The rest of the years just flowed by like water in a stream. I was outside of it all. Nothing could touch me. Puzzles within puzzles.

I flew down to my house and was met at the door by Ravina and Haladora. I was busy for the rest of the day. At least I felt better afterward. The only bad thing about being up at the caldera now was that I was alone. I was coming to depend on Haladora to keep me balanced. It was then that I got another piece of the puzzle. I felt a tingle, the same one that I felt just before we confronted Ta. I carefully got out of bed to keep from waking anyone and went to my office. Ta was sitting there in her normal place.

“Hadadoria can be like you.” She said without preamble.

“Why would this be of interest to you?” I said levelly.

“You are under great strain. It would be good for you, we think, if you took a mate.”

So, they were worried about me cracking. “I will ask her if she would be interested.”

Ta looked at me with a puzzled expression. “Why do you not just change her?”

“Because she is a being in her own right. She should have her own choices.”

“I… we… will think on this.”

“Free will. People are happier when they can make the choices, even if they are choices that are not easy.”

I could see her flicker. I was beginning to suspect that she was talking to the others when she did this.

“This is how you make the people follow you.”

“I do not make the people do anything.”

“But they… I see I think. They follow you because you lead them.”

I had a weirdest feeling that I was talking to a computer. I shook it off. “I do what I do to protect the people. They are my responsibility. When I accepted their crown, I became their servant.”

“But a servant doesn’t command?”

“No, a servant takes care of his charges.”

“They follow you because you take care of them.”

“Precisely. They know if I do command something, it is because I am concerned with their well being.”

“You would not place them in harms way.”

“Unlike most leaders in history, there is no need for me to do so. Nothing can challenge me, why would I wish for my people to be hurt when it is not necessary?”

“You care for them.”

“Yes. It doesn’t matter what form they take, they are my people.”

“We will think on this.”

“Would you tell me how your ship crashed?”

She disappeared.

I sighed and thought about what I had learned. They were actively monitoring my thoughts. They were also concerned with my mental state. It also implied that I had skills an talents that I didn’t know about. Damn, I wish godhood came with a manual. A second later a very large scroll appeared in front of me. I stared at it for a few moments then thought, wouldn’t a book be easier? It morphed into a large leather bound book.

“Thank you.” I said absently.

I opened the first page and stared, then looked at the size of the book. It was all in fine print. This was going to take a while. One of the first things that I found and activated was eidetic memory. The next was speed reading. Haladoria came in later and saw what I was reading. She left and came back with breakfast. Then lunch, then dinner. For the next three weeks, her and the girls kept me fed, but didn’t disturb me. When I finally reached the end, I closed the book and stared at it.

I could do anything. My mind boggled at what I was capable of. On a whim, I changed the book into a cat, then back again. It just required desire and a touch of focus. I literally had the ability to alter reality. I glanced around the room and realized that I was limited now in ways that I hadn’t thought of before. Altering one thing could cause ripples that would effect everything else. It would be a fine line that I would have to walk.

Stats was what bothered me the most. I knew how they were given now and the system could be altered. But if I altered it, the challenge would be gone. This was much as when I found out about being the most ancient. I could do anything, but what was I to do? I sighed and considered what Ta had suggested. I knew that Haladoria was lonely when I wasn’t with her, as I was lonely as well. I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to ask.

Haladoria jumped up and down squealing. “You would do that for me?”

For her? I thought I was being rather selfish. “I would. I can ease your transition somewhat as well. You will have to practice, however as you will find that having a few more limbs than what you are used to will be a challenge.”

Then she looked heartbroken. “But it will be centuries before we can be together.”

I looked at here strangely. “What?”

“I will be a juvenile.”

I laughed. “No, you will be an ancient. A special type of ancient. If you want this, you will be a planar who can withstand the heat just as I do.”

Her eyes widened. “Just like you?”

“Just like me. When I do this, you are going to gain a few levels as well.”

Her eyes widened. “What? I mean…”

“If I am to make you an ancient, you will have to have the skills of one. As a planar, you will have control of magic far beyond what most dragons are capable of. Your natural magic will grow as well as they are linked. This will fundamentally change not only your shape, but your very make up.”

She stared for a moment. “You would do this?”

“Only if you wish it.”

“I could be with you?”

“From the looks of it, forever and ever.”

“What else would happen?”

“Well, would you like to have children?”

Suddenly, I had a crying, laughing elf wrapped around me. “Oh thank you gods, thank you.” Then she looked up at me with tears and a silly grin. “I am to be mate to the most ancient god emperor!”

I sighed theatrically. “Figures, you married me for my money.”

She smacked me on the shoulder. “Silly dragon. I loved you before I made you emperor.”

I laughed. “Behind every successful dragon god emperor is a beautiful elf with a whip.”

She laughed as well. “I see as your mate I will have to work that much harder to keep you in line.”

I smiled. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

We were in the arena. Haladoria had invited all of the dragon, nobles and strangely, the wyvern. This was going to let them all know that I had ascended. Ah well. They would have figured it out anyway. The huge amphitheater was packed. Everyone knew I was to take Haladoria as my mate, but no one knew how. I had just thought to change her over, but she wanted to make the people part of it. So it was I found myself on stage with Haladoria in a green flowing gown.

“This day, before the gods and the people, I take Haladoria as my mate.”

There suddenly was twelve glowing beings hovering just behind us. Instead of a cheer, a hush fell over the arena.

“Lady Haladoria of the Horiel, Do you consent to become my mate?”

“I do wish it.”

“I accept your wishes and claim you as my mate from now till the end of all things.”

With that a glow enveloped her. I felt my magic flow and warp reality as she grew and transformed. The glow grew brighter as her wings and tail grew from her body. I felt the flow of magic from the caldera funnel through the gods and into her. I guided her skills and added the spells and talents she would need. Her body shifted even more as her scales became apparent. Long talons grew and her eyes took on the reptilian look. Smoke enveloped her body. Then it was over.

Before me lay a golden hued dragon, who’s scales shifted mist green to blue as she breathed. Her wings were the same mist green as the gown she had been wearing and the talons were a silvery white. Her eyes were a glowing blue. She had the same sleek body that I did, with no horns or spikes save the two silvery white ones on her head. She was beautiful.

Ta came down and landed before me. “She will need to go to the caldera to finish replenishing her mana.”

Ta then turned to the people who were watching stunned. “I give to you this day, Michael and Haladoria. This union is blessed by us. Let no one come between them. Long live the emperor and the empress!”

Then the crowd went wild.

I shifted and went to Haladoria.

“How do you feel.”

“I… I do not know? I can see things and feel things… I know things now… it is a bit overwhelming.”

“It will take time. Can you stand?”

She managed to get to her feet. I steadied her as she sought to find balance.

“It is hard. I have too much strength, It is hard to control.”

“Just move slowly. Try to relax as well. You will become accustom to it.”

“Gods, is this what it is like for you?”

I laughed. “No, I know how to walk.”

She tried to bat at me with a wing and fell. Laughing she got back to her feet. “You will pay for that.”

I made a mock sigh. “Ah the honeymoon is already over.”

“Silly dragon.”

“Beautiful mate.”

I lay down beside her and the people who had been there came up and gave us well wishes. They were in awe of Haladoria now. Hell, so was I and I had a hand in changing her. She was a stunning looking dragon. The other dragons seemed tongue tied around her which Arienach found immensely amusing. It was late afternoon when we finally got moving. It was slow going until we started climbing. I could have just ported us, but she needed to learn how her body worked now. The wyvern flew and circled around us. It was like they had adopted us. Late evening found us at the lip of the caldera.

“This is where you sleep.” She said with a trace of awe in her voice.

“Now this is where we sleep.”

“I can sleep in that?” She said incredulously.

“It will help heal you and make you stronger.”

She walked down to the edge of the lava, her steps more sure now.

“It is warm, but it doesn’t feel hot.”

“This is how it is for us. No fire will touch us.”

I watched as she slowly entered the pool. She let herself sink into it and looked back at me smiling.

“Ah, this feels wonderful. No wonder you spend so much time up here.”

“I do so because it keeps me charged.”

I slid in next to her and our necks intertwined. I put a wing over her and our claws met under the lava.

She smiled at me. “Welcome Lord.”

I smiled back. “Welcome my mate.”

She grinned. “This feels decadent.”

“Once your mana is recharged and we are sure you are adapting, I will show you something else that is decadent.”

The sun found us locked together on the shelf by the lava. It was noon before we went back into the lava sated. We both floated there and recharged. I knew that soon I would have to start teaching her how to fly and use her powers, but right now, we were both enjoying our time together and the worlds could move on without us.