Mimi, The Queen

The week had passed, and as promised I was walking towards the gates of the innermost walls. The sun had started to set, and Richard was going over everything with Robert. My Hive was preparing for a war with itself, and hopefully the conflict would make them stronger. Raul had taken over Cynthia's job, taking her loss surprisingly well. Though I felt that had more to do with his daughter and Drake being safe. He understood there was nothing more we could have done, though he was still brooding over her.

I had no idea if Cynthia was alive, or if Beru even made it through the journey with her. The frustration was eating away at me, and I needed to know so I could makes plans accordingly. I was brought from my musings, as the guards at the gate bowed a little towards me. They were heralds, which meant they didn't report to Wyatt. This gate was one used rarely, meaning there were few people nearby. Most of them gawking at me, some doing a double take when the guards bowed slightly.

I walked through without a single word, four more of them bowing a little lower. They formed a circle around me as the gate closed, locking me in. One started to lead, the other three staying right by my side. We walked along the wall itself, to a warp station. There was no need for words, as I informed the Hive to be ready to reconnect quickly.

I stepped onto the platform, as the air itself shifted. Everything becoming colder, as I found a link to the Hive before going berserk. I looked around, finding that I was where the hole was supposedly, definitely underground and where it should be. The room itself was bare, save for the runes carved into every corner. Those strange holes that allowed my link to come through were there. I inspected one of the runes, before noticing another presence in the room. I turned to find the king sitting in a chair, a table in front of him, with another much larger chair across from him.

I walked to the table, taking a seat on the chair. I could feel the runes activate to ensure my weight didn't break the thing. I noticed him wearing a silver crown with deep sapphire gems embedded on it. More like a tiara than a crown, really. Still ornate and beautiful, and yet I couldn't recall him wearing it before. I looked around, seeing no doors or frames in the room. My magic sense telling me this crown was messing with my perception somehow.

Charles smirked, as he lifted the crown up, and placed it on the table. The table made of some kind of wood, but also made from metal. I felt my pulse inside my temple. I closed my eyes, leaning forward as I felt my connection with the Hive fraying. "What are you doing?" I couldn't see through their eyes, there was no way for me to escape. I gripped the table, as a sort of balance seemed to be struck. The other voices were quieter, but not disconnected.

Charles rolled his shoulders, "Showing you that you still have a lot to learn about your magic." He said it casually, as he leaned forward. "What we're about to talk about is not allowed to leave this room. I'm about to tell you the unfiltered truth about a lot of things you need to know before going outside on your journey. This room blocks talents, and outside magic, but I'm able to adjust it to be very specific and picky. Meaning this is my personal room for whenever I need time to reassert myself, and who I actually am, beyond the king of Eclipse. Who you see before you, is the lord of the Black March, Charles."

"The black march?" I uttered the words, memories trickling in of a small army of soldiers dressed in black attire. All of them were monsters, led by a single dark skinned human. A dwarf that looked like a younger Oswald by his side. My head throbbing, as I closed my eyes. I was able to slow the information down, I could even stop it, but it required a lot of focus. The room was spinning, the runes blurring together.

Charles nodded his head after I regained my composure. "The king of Eclipse is a mask I wear, one forced upon me by my talent. There are unspoken promises, rules, that I must adhere to. Yet, in this room I am freed from that burden to remember who truly am." He gestured to the crown, "This crown was made for someone important to me. They were made to do what you can naturally, linking minds and souls to a network of sorts. It is unpleasant for hive minds to be around it, but your power will exceed it one day. Think of this as training, since your connection to your Hive is lessened."

I focused on the crown, ready to crush the thing, but convinced myself not to. "What are you trying to train me for? What are you trying to teach me?"

He clasped his hands together, "You going berserk outside our walls is a problem. The crown is suppressing your connection, and I want you to replicate that suppression until you are able to fully disconnect and reconnect without losing yourself. You know when to hit things and risk limbs, you going berserk doesn't make you a better fighter. It has the highest chance of getting you killed, so here we are."

He tapped the crown, and my connections were compromised. More of them lost, as my vision swirled again. I felt my combat form starting to appear. I gritted my teeth, as the connections suddenly came back. I saw the bastard tapping the crown, demeaning me with every touch of his finger on it. I felt anger born from the pain that was crashing and receding like waves. The king just sitting there with a bored expression as he allowed me time to recover. "Stop." I half growled, half demanded.

I smiled a little, "We're similar in a sense. I never wanted to be king, and Alice never wanted to be Queen. Sure, we're fine with leading a group, an organization, and so on. A country though? A kingdom? Never would I wish such a burden on another. The ones pretending to serve the Fire Lord don't know what they are doing. Every other year they send so many to die, taking a set number from each city, town, or village. If they really tried, they could have taken Eclipse decades ago. Then the Elves would attack them, and the monsters. It's been such a difficult journey to get here."

My vision cleared up, the throbbing in my head stopping. He stroked the crown the burden becoming less, as I focused more on the magic the thing was using. How it was doing this to me. "This will be your crown when you are strong enough to wear it. Something to inhibit you, so that you may grow stronger still. Something to protect those around you, since you may grow so strong that your mere presence will potentially bring other minds into your Hive. It holds memories and ideas that you may find useful. Just as you felt a sort of understanding about the Black March when I mentioned it earlier."

I continued to focus on the magic, slowly starting to repeat it. The king's hand tapping another part of it, as the burden became lesser still. To afford me the opportunity to replicate the magic better. "How far ahead can you see? Why go through all this effort? What is the point of it all?"

He laughed a little, "I don't know how far I can go these days. As a rule I try to not go past fifty years. The further something is in the past, the less likely I am to change it as well. Never fuck with the past, shit can always get worse." He looked up as if remembering something traumatic, before snapping out of it. "As for the why? The point? Everything we do has a reason, even if we ourselves aren't aware of it. A child stealing cookies from their brother still has a reason for doing so. Even if they don't understand it. Instinct, perhaps? Hunger, who knows?"

I figured it out, not really enjoying the sensation. "Are you saying you are a child that doesn't know what he's doing and why?" The magic hindering my ability to think and process what he was saying. Subtle, but direct in a way that made less sense the more I thought about it.

Charles pulled the crown back, holding it between his hands. "You don't wake up one day and go, 'I'm an adult now.' It's just not how people grow. We are products of the mistakes and victories we achieved. We perform based on the experiences we've endured, and what drives us going forward. Everyone is a child, because adults are what older children decided to call themselves. Sure the concept works with creatures with distinct life cycles. Just not for sapient creatures that grow and evolve on an individual level."

"You're saying that you are a child?" I shook my head slowly, trying to make sure I understood what he was saying.

"I don't give two shits what someone thinks I am, just as you shouldn't. What I am saying is that concepts evolve based on culture and the influence around a given community. Just as the why and point of all this changes. Everything that can be thought of, is subjective without something physical grounding it all. I want to see my Queen again, but that doesn't really work since I spent hundreds of years with her while making certain things fall into place for her to come back. I want to stop being king, which doesn't work too well since I'm a damn good one and I haven't burned everything to the ground. Do you see my point?"

I squinted at him, "You're saying that your ability to see and live through the future makes it all meaningless? That there is no real point, no real reason?"

He smirked, "Which doesn't really hold up, since I'm doing so many different things to make sure people continue living. Everything turns to dust, or ash. Perhaps, all of this is one giant sand sculpture of a middle finger to the flow of time. Maybe, I just want the best outcome to ensure those I care about are taken care of. After all, we do become friends in time." He winked at me, "My life is my own while in this room, while the pacts outside compel me into action."

I looked him over, "You don't know the reason, or the point while in this room? The pacts themselves no longer moving you into motion?"

He gave a short nod, "Yes, and that brings me back to what I need to tell you. The more powerful the talent, the more likely it is to influence their holder. Your talent... devourer, it is unique. Monsters made by the mad god have names, they are given by those with sapience, or scryed by oracles and some of the creature's blood. A devourer is some kind of monster I do not know about, but from the interactions you'll have. It is a form of god eater. Coming into contact with divine creatures with true godly blood in their veins. It will trigger a reaction similar to you going berserk."

I raised a brow, "How often does this happen? Is there a way to control it."

He nodded, "I am going to form a pact with you, to help you suppress that part of your talent in a sense. You won't remember the pact itself being made, because we don't want it perceived. Not by devils, or lesser divine. The creature following you, the Old One, it is an actual demon. Unlike how the books define the monsters of our world. I know all of this sounds mad, that we are lying to people. I'm sure there is a good reason for it, but I cannot recall it at this moment."

"What if I decline the pact?" I watched as the crown itself vanished. Allowing me to use the magic I learned more. Annoyingly enough, it seemed that it wouldn't work on other creatures at all.

"If you did refuse, then we wouldn't be here. Something I say, will convince you, even if I myself am not aware of what I will end up saying to do such. Everything is a part of some grand plan, that I promised myself to fulfill. I'm just making you aware of these things, and trying to help you as much as possible. All to ensure that everything ends up with the best possible outcome."

"I'm surprised you didn't bring me anything to eat, if that is the case." I smiled a little.

Charles smirked back, "Feeding you too many things at once is a good way to kill you. Hence why the arena lacked some of the stranger monsters I have locked away in the hole. You may be tough to kill in a fair sense, but there are creatures with unique abilities that can leave you as a single stain on the ground. Most of them are in Dark Fell, though I'm not counting the talents some of the people and elves have that can destroy you as well."

I started to say something, when a fat bug appeared on the table. A strange creature with sickles for legs, much like an overgrown tick. Charles pushed it towards me, "I can sense you still practicing the magic the crown taught you. Here is a virgin splicer queen. They can take many different forms and shapes. In fact there is one in the Fire Kingdom, and the Old One fed a regular queen to you at one point. This one will make it easier to pick traits from the creatures you devour. Though the talent itself keeps you from taking the benefits a splicer queen should offer you. Mainly, eating anything and getting traits from them."

I reached for the bug laid on it's back, kicking its legs pitifully. I unhinged my jaw, swallowing it whole as a shiver ran down my spine. Charles smiled again, "That should make it a lot easier for you to help your Hive grow, as well as picking out the traits for your daughters, and so on. You won't notice much of a difference since it all goes on in your subconscious, but I've seen it in action. It will also help you so much when you reach your final form. By the way, do not kill or eat any dragons until you are certain you are ready to not evolve anymore."

I felt the virgin splicer hit my body, something changing. I wasn't sure what, but it was there. "You're telling me to not kill them, until I no longer need to evolve?"

"You can kill them, but the temptation might be too much for you to not eat them. I want you to become strong enough to overcome the limitations eating them will place on you with your true final form. Like having access to all types of magic. Which you can do by eating fiendlings with specific magic, creatures dedicated to a very specific type of magic like the Jub Jub. The trick to unlocking them is getting enough parts to make it sort of work. You can use fire, so you need to eat a fiendling with wind, earth, and water magic. That will make you a true elementalist, just like how the dreamer magic you have allows you to do so much mind magic. It isn't telepathy, and some soul magic. It's a combination of mind and soul."

"It doesn't work on people? Why is that?" This was turning out to be a very useful conversation.

"They have to want you to eat them without the influence of your magic. You have to accept their entire self into you, much like you did with Isaac. The different types of magic are called different things everywhere, but they fall into certain groups. Look for the monoliths and copy their drawings. I'll explain everything I know about magic when you bring it from your exile. I do plan on letting the Hive you have here connect with the rest on a monthly basis. So, just send in a perfect copy through them and have it recreated so I can get the exact copy myself. The more you help me, the more I'll help you in a sense."

"You're just sending me out on a errand, instead of exile at this point, aren't you?"

Charles leaned back in his chair. "It's the most likely way to ensure the best possible outcome. You will face many trials, and difficulties. If you die, then all of it was for nothing. The whole thing is a balancing act, between telling you too much, and too little. I need to tell you what you need to hear, when you need to hear it."

I leaned forward on the table, "Shouldn't you tell me what fights were the most difficult? How I can defeat them and win?"

Charles laughed a little, "Nope, telling you how to win a fight and winning it are two different things. Besides you need to feel stupid for not noticing something sooner sometimes to stay humble. I will tell you that there are fights where you need Richard and your other friends to help. You'll make plenty of allies along the way, because you are kind enough to test your healing stingers on people. Just don't let it go to your head, and do your best in the Fire Kingdom."

"What if I wanted to go to the Eastern Kingdom? What's stopping me from going North?" I raised a brow.

Charles rolled his eyes, "Me mostly, since I won't hesitate to kick your ass if you try and fuck up my plans. By me, I mean the king persona that rules Eclipse."

I shook my head slowly, "Is there anything else you need to tell me? Anything important? Who is this Queen you keep bringing up? The one your other persona says he did everything for."

Charles smiled warmly, "I see, it's refreshing to know hear it stated so bluntly. She was everything I feel a true ruler should be, without needing a pact to force her to be such. I could go on and on about her, though I feel our conversation here has come to an end. I told you what I needed to, and we both have things to tend to. I'd suggest you get a nice wagon so you can carry around your the Hive you'll be connected to out there."

"I see, and that means you're taking us out of the chamber. I'll be left to deal with your king persona, and hear what they feel like offering?"

Charles shrugged, "Essentially, as well as making the pact that we won't know about. Hopefully we'll never see a devourer on this world, or anywhere else. And, I'm sorry for not being able to help you more."

I started to say something, but the room shifted. My vision fading to black, as we were moved somewhere without my Hive. I woke up outside the innermost walls, my connection already reestablished. The early gloom of night settling over the city. A few precious memories helped me piece together what happened. Me going berserk while time itself was stopped. My body tiring itself out, before talking to the king. Seeing the egg, and having everything explained to me while a part of my mind was imprinted on the Hive growing near it.

I couldn't remember much beyond that, or it felt like I shouldn't try to force those memories. That all of it would come in time, perhaps a month after my exile. I was free to do as I wished while outside Eclipse, though it was hinted at my need to return after the exile period was over. I got up as the illusion around me was broken. The new magic I was experimenting with still doing it's thing. The Hive was learning to deal with its own pain without me taking on so much.

Looking around, I saw a few members of the heralds above me. A note slowly making it's way towards me. They waved, before disappearing, the note summarizing what I could remember. It explained that the heralds knew of the King's plans, and that they would serve me when the time came. Wings were sent out, to inform others to aid me if needed. This attention to detail was suffocating, but there wasn't much I could do about it.

One week from now I was supposed to be out of the city. I only had this last week left to handle any and all affairs. The Underground would handle itself, especially with Kobe failing to procure the youngest banshee. Something deemed too dangerous to be captured. I understood it, but it was just a little extra salt in the wound. I moved through the alleys, communicating with Douglas and the others in the Underground.

There wasn't much that needed to be said with everything mostly taken care of already. Everyone informed of the current plan, and the Hive war. The streets were quiet, even as I silently climbed a building. I stood on the top looking over the glittering lights coming from the windows. The few people that were moving about at night had lanterns to light their way, or used their magic to sense the world around them. The guards moved about their patrols.

I still needed to inform Vivian about my exile, though the news would be made public tomorrow. Most wouldn't bother looking, but those that did would see that picture from when I first arrived here. They would see that I was accepted with equal rights to every other person here, and given a 'fair' trial by the king himself. It would cause a stir in the population, the nobles would whisper. Though they didn't know the secrets their king hid from them.

I moved from building to building, quietly approaching the place she should be. A message sent through the screamers hidden in her ceiling, so she knew I was coming. I stood atop a building watching as she approached her window. I spread my wings, getting her attention then pointed up to let her know where we would meet. I jumped from my building falling into the shadows before making my way to the roof. Vivian arrived a few minutes later.

I took the time to explain what happened, and how my influence would still be here without her even if it didn't seem that way. She nodded along, promising a few jobs I needed to do before I left this city. A map was produced for the drop off points, as she asked me to get started tomorrow. She herself would put in the effort to keep Wyatt from blaming himself, as well ask keeping order within Eclipse.

Information was given to Gray, Argus, and Scix. They would have to find their own portals to get up here, but there was potential coin and information they could gain from Vivian as their ally. I saw Wyatt fly by in his new armor, looking over the streets as he headed towards outer walls. I smiled to myself, realizing that I was going to sit on top of one of those walls before I left. Richard and I deserved a proper view of forests we were going to traverse. It was just about finding the proper place for it.