I was humming a little song, and going around my kitchen in the cloths I would wear to school. A new pair of jeans that fit me a little better, less baggy, and a long sleeve purple shirt with an Imp figure on it. Though I would still be wearing Daddy’s sweatshirt.

As it was, I was making blueberry pancakes for Jessica! I grinned, it was her favorite and I had promised her. While I cooked, I also went over some of what I had done last night with Leo, mostly just debating a new course of action.

Leo had debated that we should add one more separate Tribe, set right in the center of the Demon controlled area, just on the outermost edge of the influence of each of the other Territories. He could give suggestions to pull back and make it a no entrance zone for a time.

I debated that the numbers would end up being too small, that the area could not sustain a viable population of anything except the Imps, and they could hardly survive in the area without stronger protection.

Leo had been adamant however, stating he wanted to give me a late birthday surprise by experimenting with this smaller population of pure Imps. I felt he was up to something, something involving surprising me. I did not like that, and had pouted to be let in on his plans.

Leo had stubbornly resisted my attempts to sneak the answers out of him. But finally I had relented. I had taken a token Imp population of 500, it was all he needed apparently. The Imps came from Obsidians domain, while he separated the Territory in a semi large circle at the dead center of the Demon Nation. He requested we allow these Imps to grow naturally, based upon what was done to them through my influence and see if they would create a new Variant, or show a unique Evolutionary pathway without interference.

I frowned at that, but had agreed. And of course to ensure that they did not become embroiled within the war between the others, I had needed to spend points to have the Demonic land surrounded the area develope a large wall to keep the other Tribes out. It had cost me 80,000 points to erect it through Demonic Energy that the Imps had within them, rather than being built.

The chunk cost aside, the drain had killed 100 of the Imps, and I had wanted to cry over it. Leo had promised it was ok, they didn’t feel a thing but I still did not like it. From there, Leo had begun spending points left and right dealing with his own point expenditures not requiring my aid.

In the end, the nearly 190,000 Point I had was decimated to a mere 56,721 Points. I had asked what he had been doing, and he stated he had been purchasing the basic abilities that all the other Tribes have long since passed, and was shocked it had cost so much, or he had needed to do it at all. He had also added in a few extra things that had unlocked based upon the Population size limit do to the area.

I still found that odd, he had stated it was a limited population size now that we had reached the actual pop limit for purchase on the Imps a while ago, they would breed and grow based upon the amount that could be held in each individual town, or main area. The largest were the current Capitals of Red, Obsidian, and Specter of nearly 1,000,000 Imps each, while the town’s that they had developed within their territories were limited to a few hundred thousand based on size.

The Imps had begun acting their role, servants, builders, tinkerers and from them grew the crafting industry within each Territory.

I had asked for a list of the purchases in order, of course. When I had seen it, it had been a very long list of improvements, and each was needed of course. I still frowned though, the amount was rather disturbing for Imps only, he had said that until we either unlocked a new Variant, or Evolutionary pathway we should leave them as they are in this more natural environment, though unlike the Natural Spawning Demons that were appearing in each Territory, they would grow based upon my own interference with the Race, rather than the cruel and evil aspect of the Natural Spawned ones.

I was of course a little sad that Fluffy didn’t have Imps, but he seemed fine within his Canine only area. I was worried if he was dragged into the war though. How would they fight the flying Fiends? It was honestly a constant worry since I had come home and had the time to think. Maybe I would sneak a few controlled sections to keep it all even, and limit the damage outside of school. Surely they would not notice? Right?

I sighed, and went back to making my Pancakes, they were finished a little before the doorbell rang, and JEssica with Franny came in. The tail end of their conversation trailing behind.

“...Tell her already!” Franny said.

“No, I..I’m not brave enough yet.” Jessica.

I was really wanting to know what they were discussing, but they would just avoid it, or give me an excuse. I sighed again, calling out for them.

“I’m in the kitchen, I made blueberry pancakes!”

I heard them both squeal in excitement and rush in to steal several of my pancakes, and I watched with great pleasure as they ate them. I raised my finger, and wiped some syrup that had gotten at the corner of Jessica’s mouth off, then sucked my finger clean. I really liked syrup. Jessica went beat red when I did this, and scooted away from me some.

“Jessica?..” I asked, and she just ducked her head down.

“Ignore her, you know, you’ll make a wonderful wife one day Sid! These pancakes are amazing!” I blushed at the compliment but smiled at her.

“I hope so.” I did as well, I wanted to have a really big and happy family. Like with Mommy and Daddy but with more kids. Franny grinned, and poked Jessica then we all finished eating, before heading to school. Today was a full day, and would involve a great deal more things. I hope it was as good as the first day. I could hardly wait!

When we got off the bus for school, it was a buzzing hub of activity. Everyone was mingling in the common hall, waiting for the time to go to class. Franny had to go in a bit earlier than us so she left and headed toward her floor, while Jessica and I kind of wandered around the common hall and eventually found ourselves surrounded by a bunch of boys.

They were older, and were talking a little oddly. One of them had said ‘Honey are you an Angel, because I think I’ve died and gone to Heaven.’ I’d frowned at him, and had no idea how to react. Jessica had just sighed and told them all to beat it, that their cheesy lines were not wanted here.

I asked her what she meant, and she had stated they were hitting on us. I was just more confused, how was asking if I was an Angel hitting on us? It was a weird way to say something. I saw Jessica place her face in the palm of her hand, and she said very carefully.

“They were saying you were prettier than an Angel in an attempt to date you, it was a pick up line Sid.”

I had caught on to it with that explanation and blushed. I’d never been hit on before like that. Or called pretty by someone other than Mommy or Daddy, or Jessica and Franny. She adopted a somewhat pained expression and mentioned something about taking me aside with Franny and explaining how this all worked properly to avoid a disaster. The rest was mumbled to low, but she didn’t elaborate when I questioned her about it.

We were not bothered again by the ‘Cheesy’ gang though, according to Jessica they did it to every pretty girl, and that made me smile.

“I’m pretty? Not as pretty as you are, Jessica.” I did a little jump and held onto her arm and grinned up at her. She was blushing now, and stuttered a thank you but before I could pick on her more, the bell rang and we made our way to our class.

We entered, and were met with a hello from the only other one in the classroom right now, Georgie. She was fiddling with something on her PDT, Portable DUngeon Table.

“Good morning Georgie~!” I called out and waved.

She looked up, really seeing who was here. She asked if I had changed my mind about her Slimes, and using my Succubus to fulfill what she wanted, I had just blushed more and shook my head meekly.

“I’ll get you to see the love and power of the Tentacle!” She said in her excited manner, and Jessica threatened her with bodily harm for attempting to corrupt me to her ways.

I just blushed more and ducked a little into my sweater. One by one the rest of the class arrived, Weasel, Henry, Drake, and Suzuki (A.N She prefers this to Yuri.) Following all of them came Mr. Baxter who was smiling and greeted us. We responded in kind.

“Alright children! Are you ready for today's opening subject?”

I looked around, everyone seemed happy, and I remembered why. We were starting out with fights. Mr. Baxter said it would help us gain experience, and help to improve Drake, and Suzuki’s already present skills.

I wasn’t looking forward to it as much, and we were paired up to go one on one. Henry and Georgie. Weasel and Drake, followed by Mr. Baxter and Jessica. I would be against Suzuki.

“Alright, now then each match will not last long. Just a customary fight. You will be limited to a number of 20 Tier 0 creatures, NO variants are allowed. The winner will receive the points from the win, and the deaths involved. Understood?”

A chorus of yes met him, and then the first two went to the 20 by 20 table, Mr. Baxter said it was a miniature tournament table and would be scaled to a small section. Georgie and her Slimes VS. Henry and his Plants.

It was a very odd fight. Georgie selected her 20 basic slimes, and had sent them to go devour the ‘plantings’ that Henry had, they were based off of the venus fly trap. It took about an hour, neither were powerful, or quick killed. In the end Georgie had won due to being able to have her Slimes engulf the entire ‘Plantling’ and dissolve it before they could snatch one up within it’s trap jaws.

The next one between Weasel and his Sylvan, and Drake with his Goblins was what I was looking forward to. I watched him move to the table, peeking over my sweater, and heard Jessica grumble. I looked at her and she was glaring at Drake, why did she not like him?

I turned my attention back to them. The Sylvan Tier 0 species was something called a brownie. It was a short stubby thing with big eyes and a big nose. They looked really cute!

Apparently they served the same purpose as my Imps did, and they relied on swarming an enemy. Surprisingly, Drake had a difficult time winning. He almost lost, in fact, because of an inlaid trap the brownies had dug beneath the field of battle. THey were master diggers. But he did win, and I blushed when he looked over toward me and smiled. I ducked my eyes from him and fidgeted.

Jessica got up from her seat somewhat loudly, and went to the table to fight Mr. Baxter, her Ghouls against his Wolves.

She actually won! Her Ghouls had fought with a savagery that was really not normal for Jessica from what I had seen before. She was angry, but when she heard me cheering for her, I did my best to ignore the looks I got, she smiled. She had won, and I was cheering for her. She seemed content, though for some reason she threw a look of triumph at Drake that had him tilted his head. I was just confused.

Next, I was up against Suzuki. My actual idol. I was nervous, and wanted to impress her. She was using her Rabbits, no Variants, though they were slightly larger than normal Rabbits, she had stated they were meat eaters and it resulted in them evolving to be larger.

I had to pick which Imps to use, and Obsidians were the best choice because they were my largest and strongest Imps, having been trained for fighting, and hard manual labor above all else.

I connected with one, and the others followed him because he was stronger. Suzuki was using a large brown haired Rabbit as hers. I gulped in the Imps throat, and was confused on what to do, but had my Imps move forward with me in a small swarm rush.

I didn’t know how to fight others, and I was a bit afraid. When we met in battle, one of Suzuki’s Rabbits jumped up and latched his sharp buck teeth into the throat of one of my Imps, while two of my Imps ripped one of her rabbits apart. The blood was a bit too much, but I powered through it, doing my best to ignore it. I moved with a group of five Imps toward Suzuki who was mixed in the ranks of her Rabbits.

I didn’t make it far though, out of nowhere two Rabbits jumped and ripped into me in the Imps body, and the connection cut. I took the glasses off, breathing heavily. Scary, and...I felt some tears form as I realized I had lost, and that my Imps were dead.

Suzuki gave me a sad smile, and was walking around the table toward me, but Jessica beat her there and gave me a bit hug, whispering it was ok. That she was sorry I lost my creatures, but it would be ok. I would get better, and losing them would happen less and less as I gained experience.

I sniffled and nodded, at least I had not cried. Jessica ended up glaring at Drake who had said something about how caring for the creatures led to weakness, and I should just let the Demons be Demons in battle. I’d hid in Jessica’s Hug, and she had called him a bad word. Mr. Baxter had stepped in at that point and forced Drake to apologize to me. Suzuki was just regarding Jessica and I as we went to our seats. She had a frown on her face. It actually made her look like she was pouting and she seemed kind of adorable like that. But she went to her seat, saying Jessica was right. I’d get better, and then few of my Demons would die in battle as I gained needed experience.

I’d nodded, and tried to smile some at her. She had turned away from me, looking at her desk and the notebook on it. I felt like I had made her mad, but Jessica was keeping me from talking to her by going over the fight with me, like the others were with each other, and showing me what I might do better.

Mostly by using height and the natural speed I had trained better in diving maneuvers next time.

I felt mostly overwhelmed though, honestly. I’d just lost twenty of my adorable Imps, and I had not even made the sacrifice worth it, not that it ever would be worth it. But they had died in vain, because I was inexperienced. I would have to change this, I didn’t like the blood and violence, or the sounds and smells, but I would get use to them now. I wasn’t a little kid to have a panic attack anymore! Right?

The class continued, Mr. Baxter going over each battle and explaining what could be done better. TO both the winners and losers, he even said what he should have done and could have done to have had a better outcome. He was a very hands on man, and regardless of how it made me feel that he had asked I not interfere with my Demons when they went to war, he was a very nice man.

He took the time to teach each of us, one on one, and encouraged questions, as well as trying to show him where he might be wrong. I thought he was a very good teacher.

We also received our first assignments. We were required to build a farming community within each of our respective Races we were using for the class in one week. We had to do it from scratch, and prepare daily reports based on our progress and discoveries to share and aid our classmates to grow if they were having trouble.

So it was basically a daily homework assignment, and an end of the week test on our progress, and if we had done it properly. We were required to take direct control of a leading figure and guide the farming communities construction, and planting. We could not spend any points to assist us. It would cover several of our classes, management basics, Agriculture, and Science all in one.

We had even begun discussing between us, I’d ended up with Suzuki, and JEssica had pouted at it, but I was looking forward to it. Suzuki and I discussed a decent starting method, taking the natural plants that were used by basic prey monsters as a food source and taking seeds to grow them.

That was where I hit a snag though, the plants within my lands were corrupted, and unknown. She recommended experimenting using a powerful Demon within the area that had a high intelligence and could possible contain the knowledge of them. I had nodded, Red might be the best. But something told me for identification Fluffy would be the perfect choice. Not like I just wanted to control Fluffy or anything.

Suzuki seemed a little distant as well, and toward the end of the class period she had said why. She was sorry, that she had killed my Imps. I’d said the same about her Rabbit at almost the same time and I blushed. I’d only gotten a few, but I remembered her face after the tournament.

I had even said that her face had made me cry when I saw how she cared for her Rabbids in the Tournament and how it had hurt her to lose them. She had frozen, and then shown me such a peaceful and kind smile while she thanked me, grabbing my hand and giving it a small squeeze in the process that I blushed, and nodded mutely.

I’d just told my Idol I was sorry, and that I had cried with her that first time. Now I was stuck with her smiling like that, and I had a very confusing feeling that I didn’t understand, but kind of liked. Jessica had come over at that point, and sat down between us. Suzuki took her hand off mine and smiled at her.

“So, Suzuki, are you in the afterclass course?” Jessica asked, and she seemed a little hostile.

“Jessica?” She ignored me, looking at her. Suzuki just smiled wryly at her before answering.

“No, I completed most of those my Freshmen, and Sophomore year.” Jessica just smiled, it seemed a bit nicer at least.

We talked a little longer, before the bell rang and then the rest of the class left after saying their goodbyes. I received Suzuki’s personal phone number, I’d forgotten to get it yesterday. Jessica got it as well.

Once the others left, Mr. Baxter cleared his throat, and we looked at him.

“Alright girls, you two are the only ones for the afterclass course. I’ll explain a little about it. During this time we will be working on actually building and shaping your respective area, or areas for your Race into an actual Kingdom, not just separate Tribes, or a congregation of creatures under someone's leadership without the aid of others to run a smooth running area.

JEssica, yours will be a bit simple to manage as you hold one actual City sized area, the rest answering to your Vampire Species. Sidnie, yours will be far more complicated because you are already well on your way toward this in each of your Tribes, but judging by the history of your Dungeon World the ones in power have been elongated, life span wise, for so long they would not likely share power. It will take time, and your efforts to help form a base foundation of leadership and command. I know this one, the Husk area has a House system, an interesting combination of ancient Europe and Roman cultures. They are ruled by the Female Bruiser, and her brother according to the life spans. They would be the easiest to begin with. The foundations are there.

This one, the one with the Succubus has an amazing resemblance to what few texts we have on Amazonian culture. Ruled by females, the males are warriors and breeders only. YOur strongest is acting as the Queen, but you will need to appoint regents, generals, officials to go about her area.

The only Tribe that does not need it is this one, where the Dark Wisps are located. They have established the very basics of this on their own through your influence. That is a very smart leader you managed to grab, the Variant may play a huge part in this. What they need is a Culture, and that will be what we work toward for this class with them.

The Complication lies in the Hell Hound area. They are purely Canine, and seem at war with the Natural predators of wolves. YOu will need to end the threat of that boss, and work on building them further. The fact they seem to take on aspects of Indian Tribes is actually fascinating, so at odds with what we know of Demon behavior.”

He continued along those lines for the rest of the class, ending it with giving us an assignment to work on building a foundation for what he spoke with each of our respective Races, I was to focus on the Succubus, Red, and Husks, Obsidian’s Territories for now.

With that, we went home for the day. Franny joining us on our way out. A lot of information to digest, and work through. I’d ask for Leo’s help later, as well as Franny, and Jessica’s.

Fluffy POV -

Changes had begun to take place, they felt foreign, but held the same comfort I felt from the presence of Mother, it allowed me to accept the concepts easier, and through my acceptance the Packs accepted. Agriculture, something we had already begun. Identifying, and learning the use of the various plants that grew within my Corrupted lands. What was poisonous, and what was edible.

Science, that was more foreign and harder to understand, but I believed I would be able to make use of it somehow, I just needed to think on how.

Management Basics, the words foreign but he idea already well known. Juggling four Packs lead by different Alphas, two of them your own rambunctious pups had taught me the methods long ago.

As it was, I learned nothing from it that I did not know already. The History though, that opened a world of the past to me. How our people use to be, not just the stories. It was like the Spirits of our long dead flew through my mind and showed me how we were once, how we were more natural. It showed the change as it started with Mother, how it continued to change through me.

I smiled, my tongue lolling from both my heads seeing when Mother first made her presence known in a way I could understand. I also knew she had been visiting the bodies of my Pups, her grand children. She played with me through them, I could feel her love and warmth radiated in such great waves, far greater than my pups could manage when she did.

It was an enjoyable time for me.I had never truly been able to play with Mother when she was alive, and through her spirit I could play with her, and we would learn show her, her grand children. They had even gained some strength from this.

Mother had been making fewer appearances within me, and more within my Pups, but that was fine. I was never lonely, or missing her this way as much.

I walked the border between the Wolves, looking within the dark depths, seeing the sentries of the wolves within. I growled at them, and the weaker ones fled. One day soon they would be no more. That I knew, a gut feeling. The time of conflict would be soon.

I ended my patrol, my honor guard of Lava Orthos, and Lesser Orthos along with Lava Dark Hounds following in my wake. I would be seeing my eldest son soon, and his very first litter would be born later this year as well. I looked forward to seeing my own grandchildren, for some reason both he and his sister had held off having offspring for a time.

I looked forward to seeing if any of my grandchildren would be Liquid Flame Dark Hounds like my Pups. I smiled as I ran through our corrupted forest, and rocky terrain. I was moving faster, wishing to see them, and looking forward to feeling Mother's warmth once more.

Here you are my lovelies, sorry for the wait. I had a work related matter that kept me from releasing this on time. Expect a second later this afternoon. It will be Leo Perspective on what all is happening. You will all likely get a giggle in haha.

As always, much love and cookies. I hope you enjoy the Chapter. I know it's starting slow, and somewhat short. But that will be changing very soon. Just getting it all set up.