Captain of the Guard, Lindell

I broke through the treeline, sound howling, as I saw Alice's head go flying. I couldn't hear anything, the helmet and new armor allowing me to go faster than I ever had before. The wisp mother would be repelled by the Minotaur, but the reports of something more dangerous needed to be investigated. I needed to report that a dragon was near the city, I needed to get backup.

Those thoughts were silenced, as the future I saw through the visor came to be. Even after pushing myself to come here as quickly as I could, I was still too late. A cold feeling washed over me, as I didn't stop my approach. I gripped my pipe, pushing my wind to carry me towards the dragon. I saw visions of myself splattering on its scales. I saw it mainly not noticing me as I adjusted my course to move past it. Then I saw the potential spots I could hit, and what those hits would do.

This helmet was maddening, the silver armor enchanted with powerful runes. I wondered why the King gave this to me a week ago, and here we were. The dragon's armor was too strong, and any good hit I might manage would be lessened by the fires it would emit to blast me back. Then there was the long red line on its foreleg that glowed like the fucking sun to me. The dragon would be stopped here, even if I had to tear its arms to kill it.

My pipe hummed, as I rolled with the wind behind the dragon. All the ways this could go wrong filling my vision, all the ways this could go right blinding me. I was grateful for the runes that helped me think faster, the visor that allowed me to see the future outcomes. I turned the visor off, the side of the beast filling my vision instead of the leg. My course set, as I dug my pipe into the dragon's wound. I twisted it, letting the studs rend into the flesh. The holes erupting with wind blades before the dragon reacted by jerking its leg upwards to see what happened.

I aimed an arm at the wound, forcing wind through the channels as five silver balls shot out. My talent already activated, but still not enough to outmatch the dragon. The pellets buried themselves inside it's flesh, going deeper with whichever one struck milliseconds later. I jumped back, as fire erupted from the beast, the runes on my armor glowing and refusing to melt as the explosive runes on the pellets exploded. The fire didn't follow me, as the foreleg was severed in half. The dragon roaring as fire immediately covered his form.

The visor activated again, visions of the future rushing towards me, as a wall of fire shot out. I used the shockwave of wind in front of the fire to push me forward. Riding along it, as I saw him leaping towards the two girls. I moved to intercept, as a tail threatened to kill one of them. I quickly swooped in, tackling the orange robed woman, as the tip struck the air, the other unconscious woman rolling.

I saw the dragon turn his maw towards us, breathing fire, how the woman would die if I tried to fly away with her. My armor would protect me from the flames, and I could use my wind with some dirt to drive a wedge as I struck the flames itself. I hugged the woman, that struggled, as the flames came, my wind picking up dirt rushing forward to meet it. My magic was pushed back, the edges of my indigo cape singing as the runes on my armor glowed brightly. "Cynthia! Damn it!" The woman in my hold called out.

I turned my visor off, to focus on the flames that were still washing around us. The woman clearly helping with her magic somehow, but the flames just continued for ten long seconds. When they were gone, the dragon was already up in the air. The woman with orange and blue eyes glaring at me, "What are you waiting for!? Fly after them, and take me with you!"

I turned my visor on, but all I saw was the dragon getting further away, surrounded by a sphere of flames as it soared in the direction of the isles. I shook my head, turning it back off. "He's too fast, who are you, and what are you doing here?"

The woman pushed me away, without so much as a thanks. I reached into the holder on my waist, pulling out a talking stone. "Vivian, there was a dragon. It's retreating, and it is carrying away a civilian." I got up, watching the woman run to Alice's body. It twitched, as her head connected with it, a feeling of relief washing over me. One that quickly soured, when I realized I needed to take her in for questioning. Still it was good that she was alive at least.

Mimi

My head landed and rolled a couple meters away from my body. I used the momentum to carry myself as the silver knight swerved his course at the last second, going for Bral's leg. I barely managed to reach my body, when the leg was severed, and Argus was tackled in an attempt to save her. Information came in, that the knight was actually Wyatt. That he came here when entomancers in the Guard were about to inform him about the potential danger on this side. I sent Gray a quick thanks for attempting such.

To my dismay, my body was partially covered in dirt, the exposed neck somewhat buried. I began trying to dig, while Gray brought a couple displacer bugs for me to eat as soon as I could. It was unfortunate that my body wasn't in the shade for him to help me beyond that. Beru reported that Cynthia was grabbed by Bral, once the stream of fire washed over Argus and Wyatt. The two thankfully managing to keep each other alive.

I did a quick check on the other things going on, finding that they were thankfully being dealt with much better than this. Bral flapped his wings, using fire to help him ascend quickly. Cynthia more or less protected by the sphere of fire that surrounded the dragon. Argus ran over to me as soon as she could, helping to prop the severed neck up while I reconnected with it. The strange thing was that the blood hadn't clotted, and some magic was used to keep it breathing. I started to thank Gray, when I realized he wasn't the source of the blood magic.

Pain sparked, as my nerves reconnected, my body twitching, as a healing stinger made everything right. I gasped, coughing up a few bits of blood taking a more concise stock of everything. The Minotaur's gang was keeping the wisp mother pinned between themselves and the Guard. Richard had joined Douglas in helping with the small gangs that simmered down once the Minotaur made his move. The mob was dealt with swiftly once Raul arrived on the scene, the Trio and Dem'neh backing him up.

I looked up at the sphere of fire, taking stock of everyone and where they were. Most of us were fine, but one of my eggs had been silenced, the other hurt. I used another stinger to try and keep them safe enough, but they were different now, quieter. Scix managed to complete his transfer, now moving around with a couple whisper hound bodies. Beru was with Cynthia, hidden under her clothes with about five hundred other bugs.

|"What are you doing Beru?"|

|"Protecting lady Cynthia, my Queen. I was hoping to provide a chance for you to rescue her, but I have another plan."| One that involved setting up a nest wherever the Bral lived, or where Cynthia herself was dropped off. I gritted my teeth, finding he was quickly moving too far for me to force him to come back.

|"Then my final order to you, is to survive. You're not allowed to die Beru, even if your plan isn't a good one."| I sent everything he might need to run his Hive to him. I wasn't confident he'd survive, but he'd at least have the best chance he could going forward. The bond between us grew weaker, before it finally severed. His last thoughts coming with them.

|"Glory to the Hive! Glory to the Queen!"| I lowered my head, informing the others of what happened. The feeling of failure coming over me. The sensation of such a defeat souring my mood towards the rest of our battles resolving well enough. I got up, grabbing the displacer bugs Argus brought to me from the shade. I bit into them, drinking their fluids, stinging myself to regain my ability to teleport, but also an attempt to try and repair the damage this fight did to my daughter.

Wyatt was talking to Vivian, giving his report still, doing his best not to look at me. It was a considerate gesture, given how complicated our relationship became. I sent a message to Douglas asking him to send Richard to our home near the orchid. The stingers I used pushing my egg laying forward. A request given that he bring food, since the Underground was too hostile to risk laying her there at the moment. I teleported to the outer walls, while Argus would stay behind to talk to Wyatt.

I wasn't looking forward to informing Raul that we couldn't save Cynthia. The Hive was already sad over the loss of Beru, and one of the daughters. I reflected on the actions I took, but there wasn't much I could have changed. The entire ordeal hurt, even as snuck through the outer walls through the shadows. I just needed a safe place for a few hours, a place to grieve the losses that occurred today. I needed someone that might be able to help me understand this new form of pain. I need Richard.

Richard Adams

I hurried to the shack Oswald had built for Mimi, and me. All I had on me was a small sack of meats she liked, a couple flasks of water, some bread, and even a little cheese. It wasn't much, but it was the best I could manage with such short notice. Douglas didn't tell me much, but I could feel something was wrong. Mimi's bond never felt like this, and so I figured I really did need to hurry to her. Even if it meant the whisper hounds had to be dealt with by Douglas.

I arrived outside the shack maybe twenty minutes later. I opened the curtain, to find the room completely dark. I could feel a sense of embarrassment from Mimi, but I couldn't sense a thing. She was glad I came, but still quite sad. I heard movement from where I sensed her, some kind of fabric. I clapped, as the light crystals came on to reveal her lower half covered as she squatted in a spot close by. I turned towards the oven to give her some privacy while I cooked. The realization dawning on me, as I looked back to see her crying a little.

She had a rough day, and then this was happening. I swallowed hard, "Do... do you need hot towels or anything?"

Her wings covered her with the addition of the fabric. She slowly shook her head, "I thought it might be a few hours, but I tried to wait for you. Then I panicked because you were on the way. I'm worried... there was a dragon outside the walls. He stole Cynthia, and the only reason I was given was that she had a hybrid."

The fire was going, and I didn't have to stand in front of the stove to cook. I walked towards her, hugging her even when she tried to move back a little. She was devastated, but I knew she was keeping more from me. I stroked the back of her neck, her stingers coiling around my arms before moving away. She was probably crying before she even got here, and I could tell she wanted to stop, but couldn't. "I'm here, tell me everything."

She hesitantly wrapped her arms around me, as she let out a small sob. She managed to recover, before going on about what actually happened today. How things were going wrong, and how she lost members of the Hive. She only stopped to take a few shuddering breaths, refusing to sob again. Her lip quivering, and finally taking a few more pauses while she ate and drank. Her body passed out, falling to the side after her labor was done. She would tell me more later.

I saw the bugs swarm over the sickly green egg, lines going along it with fractures of black cutting through them. The egg itself had some kind of bulbous growth at the top, about the half the size of the egg itself, as if it fused together with it. I swallowed hard, while the bugs cleaned it. We were supposed to have two daughters, but this... this was wrong.

I looked at Mimi's sleeping form, apologizing to her in my mind. I never thought she could experience emotional exhaustion like this. I almost thought she was incapable of feeling something like this. I looked at the bugs on the egg, feeling my bond to her there. She was cleaning the egg, still working when she needed to rest. Other bugs went to her body, probably to start cleaning it. I shook my head, grabbing a rag and some water from the sink. I wasn't just going to sit here.

"Mimi, can you get Gray to bring you some more food? I'll cook it for you, when your body gets up." I swallowed hard, "March once for yes, twice for now." The bugs on the ceiling marched while I grabbed her arm, the limb so heavy while she slept. "How many hours do you think your body will be asleep? March once for each." There was a delay, but she marched three times. I nodded my head, rubbing the damp rag over her chitin to get the char marks, and other debris off her.

I could feel her looking at me, as her bond moved around the room through the bugs. She started to spell words once I looked at her; T-H-A... "You don't have to thank me." I stopped her from finishing the word itself. "You don't even have to talk, just take your time. Mimi... this wasn't your fault. I don't blame you." I gestured to the egg that was recently cleaned. The bugs moving over it protectively. I smiled a little, happy for the fact that she didn't even try to ask if we should end our daughter here.

Gray dropped off some food with his 'good transporter' as he called it, which was two of his bodies fused together just to teleport goods. He left as quickly as he came, no doubt tending to something else. I cleaned Mimi's body as best I could, her bugs getting the bits I missed, or even marching on spots I needed to scrape for them. I got up after two hours, to start cooking. Just so she could enjoy a nice warm meal when she got her body moving again.

Mimi woke up, as I placed some food in front of her. Grabbing my own plate, and sitting beside her. She used one of her wings to hold me close to her, as we just ate in silence. The tension in the room still pretty heavy, but Mimi relaxed a little. The curtain opened, as the king himself stood before us. He smiled, holding a silver walking cane in front of him, that he leaned on. "About one hour ago, the bug mother would have taken control of your body."

He gestured to Mimi while talking about this. "What are you talking about?" I moved in front of Mimi, stepping closer to him as he took a step towards the egg.

He shook his head slowly, "At that time, you would have regained control within five seconds. However, the bug mother would have grabbed the egg. Her final act would have been crushing it. Then there was the affair with the banshee under the Raven's employ. Killing him ends a bloodline that summons a spirit. Something people would call a god, like Bo'chi really. I actually knew him before he ascended, his fucking talent was ascension." He laughed a little.

Mimi put a hand on my shoulder, stopping me. She wasn't in the right place to deal with this, she needed rest, not whatever this asshole was doing. "Do you have evidence for any of this?"

The king laughed, twirling his cane. "Bitch, I'm the king. I don't need evidence." He slammed the staff down, his eyes glowing as he stared at us both. "Ah fuck, we're not that close yet. Look, we become good friends later in life." He waved his hand dismissively. "I'm honestly here to help you, but the point is that when I tell you not to kill somebody, you really need to not kill them. I have a few letters scattered around where you'll go, but this is your official summons. I expect you to be up here and walking to my castle in one week at sun down. I'm going to exile you, because there is no real growth for you here anymore."

I balled my fist, wanting to say something, but I couldn't. Oswald wasn't here, and no body could fight off the king. It stung, but he seemed to have his reasons. At least he made it seem like he was trying to help us. "What about Richard?" I looked at Mimi, before turning back to find the king smiling.

"What about him?" His voice was low and soft now, as he leaned on his cane a bit more. "He's not exiled, he's free to do whatever he wants. I'm certain you realized that I let this happen in a sense. I get that you both are going to have a few things to discuss. What I'm really here for is to make certain your daughter doesn't die. You lack the resources and knowledge to keep her out of the grave, even though she'll always have one foot in it."

"You can't take our daughter." My voice was low, as I glared at the dark elf.

The king put his hands up, "Technically I can and will. That said, I have custody of the bug mother. She is making a hive for you to use inside my castle. Which is why you're coming up in a week for the fake trial. You can come as well Richard, but it will allow Mimi here to see why I couldn't leave Ember here with you. She will die, born as premature as she was, and the fight that kind of made me step in here."

"Why now? You knew about the dragon... you knew about everything." I started to tear up, as Mimi gripped my shoulder, pulling me back to her. Her wings wrapping around me. "What was the point of all this?"

The king paused, tilting his head back to look at the ceiling. He let out a deep sigh, "Because no matter how many times you see the future, no matter how many times I die. Nothing every falls into place tied up in a neat little bow. The future is never certain, and everything that happens is a percentage. Maybe you notice the dagger that can cut dragon scale in the market. Maybe you don't. Perhaps you get a lucky blow that knocks some scales off and you whittle him down from there. The chances of you losing that fight were extremely high, but Mimi wasn't going to die. I even had the Count buried under the ground in case the worst happened. Which it did."

Mimi spoke up, "He kept my blood fresh, so I could reattach my head..."

I winced, hearing her say that. She was still hurting, and that loss left her like this. She didn't even consider fighting the king for our daughter, or challenging his assertions. The king clapped his hands, "Exactly, in case the worst happened. You weren't killing Bral, not here, not as you are now. Any sufficient damage would just chase him off, and you couldn't stick on him. I would have interfered personally had he started to capture you, but that didn't happen. As for why? The answer isn't exactly the best."

He took a deep breath, looking back at us both. "Everything is connected in ways you don't fully understand. Little nuances even I can only guess at, from literally living through the future and jumping back to the point in time I left it at. Say you kill pedophile slaver in the Underground. Now their group is missing someone, they are on edge. Their choices reflect that, becoming a little harder to discern. More start dying, a sort of empty hole is left behind where there are less slavers. Now, brothels in the Underground use slaves for the most part. There are less now, because more slavers are starting to go missing. Small gangs kept together by coin start to struggle, because they needed a way to relieve themselves."

He waved a hand around in circles. "It all adds up, and finally the Bishop makes a move to his foothold into the South side. If I understand the causes, and reasons behind something. I can shift events that will happen by a few days, weeks, or even months. I mean, did you honestly think bringing an unknown monster would have been allowed if I didn't know about it ahead of time? Fuck, even Wyatt's armor was started a decade ago, and finally got used today. All of this was to show Mimi the tools I would use to destroy her. While also helping her understand how quickly hubris can destroy anyone."

I shook my head, "You didn't need to do this, you fucking prick." I looked up at Mimi as she kept her eyes closed, just hugging me.

The king shrugged, "This was the safest way to teach my future friend something very important and assure what I wanted to happen would most likely happen. Just so you two know, I come bearing information to validate my claims. I'm also handing this to you, to keep our terms beneficial. Mimi's breeding cycle is early Spring to early Summer, roughly three or four months depending on the weather and where she is. The best way to nurture your future offspring is to designate a personality, and cut them off from the Hive. Meaning Richard, you can take your daughter and raise them by yourself with some bugs for them to talk to, or with someone like Brick. Evidently he's the best one for your next kid."

I just stared at him, "Who is Brick?"

The king rolled his eyes, "Kind of like Scix, Mimi hasn't told you a lot. Though that's not really on her, she doesn't think you need to know every personality. Which she is right, and this should also prove how close we become as friends later. I wasn't joking about whoever fixes my wife gaining the kingdom. Though that's a good year off, when Kobe makes his move. I'm going to let him become king, since he's easy enough for you two to deal with. Plus, Mimi is a much better shadow queen. You both enjoy the freedom of going wherever you want and fighting too much to really be bound to this place. Though take what I just said with a grain of salt, given how everything could change since the future won't happen until we get there."

I looked down, at the egg sitting there still. Mimi felt convinced, even though she was still much too tired to really voice her concerns. "If we don't let you take Ember... what will happen to her?"

"She will die, and I'll have to wait a few more years before Mimi helps my wife. Which means everything gets pushed back, and it's more difficult to make everything work. Which is why you don't have a choice." I blinked, before seeing the bastard holding the egg. "I stopped time, to really make it a point. We won't meet again for a while, but hey when you get back to Eclipse, there will be a tasty bug mother for Mimi to eat. Later losers." He disappeared without a trace, the egg gone.

I closed my eyes, while Mimi moved to the wall. She held me in her lap, resting with me. Minutes passed in silence, before I finally spoke again. "Who is Brick? There's still so much I don't know about you." Mimi started talking, letting me know a little more about her Hive. There was going to be so much to do going forward.

Mimi's voice was quiet after she finished telling me about Clarice. I felt she wanted to ask me something, but didn't pry. She would do it on her own time. Minutes still passed in silence before she managed to ask in a hushed voice, "Will you go out there with me? I'm the only one being exiled, you can stay if you want."

I snorted, laughing a little. "What kind of question is that? I know I could stay here if I wanted, but we're in this together. No matter what happens, we'll make it work. I promise." We stayed together, while she sorted her feelings. Which was fine, because I really needed to think about everything that just happened.