King Berry

We spent both day and night preparing for the potential of a trap. We disconnected from the other personalities, with very few cowards staying outside. Some of them were needed to keep the bugs running for the other personalities. We had abandoned stamping out the embers in Gray's Hive, as those were meant to be stamped out by the Count. I was grateful to the goddess for negotiating his return to us.

Carter modified the runes as requested, the ritual ready just in case we were pushed to the brink. The dukes and I had no idea if such a thing might work, if it could work against a dragon. We just needed to have faith. The scents of the dragons were committed to memory, while it was confirmed that Bral was among the group of five. There was some minor magic involved with disguising their scents, but after confirming our nemesis was there, we used him as a template to know what the true scents of the others were.

It was mildly amusing, and genuinely comforting, to see that Bral himself had not regrown the arm Wyatt had severed. He was weaker than the last time our Goddess fought him. I held no illusions that even she would lose to the five making their way towards the walls of Eclipse. It was an hour before they arrived, an hour before noon, that we noticed it. The walls were devoid of activity. The outer walls were barren, the guards were simply gone.

Before we could start investigating the inner walls, all of my hives behind said walls simply vanished. There was no connection to them, they were just gone. Then the pulse of magic washed over the outer walls, Aether spilling out. There were no slaves tending the fields, there were no wardens, no people watching the orchids. Every last person in Eclipse simply disappeared, an eerie sound echoing over the empty fields. A quarter of my kingdom had simply vanished, I could feel the strain starting to mount.

Others were starting to panic, advisers and couriers immediately coming to my throne room for orders. My talent flared, as I stood. 'Perfect Test Subject' was adapted. I couldn't be the perfect test subject if my power waned, I would be worse. Perfection required absolutes, the pinnacle of all test subjects. The strain lessened, as I shared the burden of my talent with the others. Losing power before the dragons showed up would not happen, not here, not now.

I pointed at my couriers, "You, you, and you. Tell the dukes to stabilize our power structure." They were gone, I pointed at the next two. "Both of you, inform the nobles that a quarter of our Hive vanished" They saluted, before disappearing. I looked at the last courier, "Tell the known rebels that we will either survive this together or die together."

An advisor coughed after the last courier left. "What will you have us do, my liege?"

My head was lowered in thought, then I looked at them. "Leaders are likely to die, spots will need to be replaced, our network has been damaged but not compromised. Inform them what transpired, then have the choir scout the inner walls. We need to know where a quart of our hive went. Promise positions of power for those that do well, valor shall be rewarded, cowardice shall be punished. We only get one chance at this."

Each advisor left to inform the lower berries, to turn that panic into desperation. To redirect those negative feelings into something constructive. Something trickled from my eye, a single black tear. Keeping our power through my talent was causing strain. It did not matter, if it wasn't a trap then the damage would be minimal. If there was, then we'd need every bit of strength we had.

The minutes passed slowly, as I rested on my throne. I pondered my orb, looking over everything, sending others out as needed. The network was restructured such that my talent was less needed to prevent a collapse. Plucking the orb from my table, I moved my magic through it to broadcast my voice across my entire kingdom. "The dragons are approaching, what we believe to be Beru's bugs have arrived on one of them. It is by the glory of our Creator that we stand here today, we were trusted with a holy mission. On this day, there is no difference between peasant and king. There is no difference between any one Berry and another. For the glory of the Hive, we shall fight any dragon that dares to spring a foul trap upon our kingdom. On this day, we will make any foolish dragon realize they cannot steal what is ours. On this day, there shall be retribution!"

Cheers and cries resounded throughout the kingdom, my words inspiring them. We were all berries, I knew exactly what to say to move our hearts. I knew why I needed to wait to give the speech ten minutes before they arrived. Time to steel ourselves, to prevent anyone from doing something reckless. Time to temper our nerves, to cool off, but not enough. We saw the path the dragons were taking, we knew where they would be. Eyes and ears at the ready, humming wasps watching from a safe distance. This was it.

Each of the five dragons stepped outside the treeline. None of them looked down at the countless bugs hidden in the shade of grass, each side watching, waiting. We were beneath their notice, we knew we couldn't take on all five of them. We bounced signals, focusing on a female dragon in a blue cloak. She was young, or perhaps slightly older compared to the other three following behind her. In the lead was a single older-looking dragon with a dull gray cloak.

The obvious leader marched up to the walls, the female directly behind him with Bral behind her. On either of Bral's sides was another dragon in human disguise, both looking as old as him. Bral himself was keeping his head high as he stared up at the sky, completely at ease. The bugs were not on our nemesis, they were on the female. The reason we focused on her.

She had long golden hair with blue tips, the same as her cloak. Her features were fair, almost beautiful compared to any human or elf. She was sporting a predatory grin, as the procession stopped. The two dragons kicked the back of Bral's knees forcing him to kneel. Our nemesis let out a pained grunt but refused to bow.

Charles himself suddenly appeared atop the outer wall, the gate wide open. He was dressed with armor that drank the overflowing Aether greedily. The king's eyes were glowing, while they shifted colors before finally settling on black. He leaned over the edge, resting on one of the rooks. "What brings a group of dragons to my front door, doubly so when I'm expecting an army."

The gray dragon spat on the ground, looking up at the king. "Cut the shit, Charles! You know why we're here! You gave a monster citizenship and had our rising star sever their head. You let these events play out because they benefited you the most!"

The king tilted his head, tapping his lips. "You should really know better by now, I don't give a fuck why you're in my city. I don't like you asshats, and I don't like how you run things. I already proved your oracles can't do shit to me, any one of you fucks already know what happens when we go into an all-out war. Yet, here we are, the kingdom of Fire marching to my gates. All because it's been roughly eighty years since the last war, and humans can't seem to remember what happens when I get pissed."

Grayscale let out a hiss, "We know you'll deal with the invasion, we're here to make a trade. Same shit as always. The one who offended you, two of my apprentices, and a female to take as queen." The other dragons froze, each of their eyes looking at their leader in a mix of surprise, betrayal, and curiosity.

Charles laughed, while my berries saw the chance to strike. They were off guard, there was no better chance than this to connect. Immediately memories came from the bugs on the blue dragon. More specifically they were in a pouch hidden under her cloak. Time slowed as every Berry moved in and grabbed every memory. Copies were made without checking the contents, as we felt another connection was made through the bugs. A blue dragon was laughing as the reports trickled in. |"You thought you could trick me, did you?"| Her voice was low and ferocious.

She was forcing her way through the paltry amount of bugs Beru had sent, into our mindscape, it was easier to get the memories to safety than closing the gate entirely. More so when cobalt blue flames erupted from her mouth and burned some of my kin. The flames were nasty, burning away at the mind and soul of everything it touched. She banged on the entrance, fully forcing her draconic form through. She was perhaps the size of a small castle, looking around in confusion. |"What the?"|

We took full advantage of the hesitation to secure the memories, nobles too afraid to fight sent off to reconnect with the rest of the Hive after they finished digesting the information. It gave them an out, and more importantly, made certain the goddess got Beru's message. We couldn't let this monster anywhere near the other personalities. They were ill-equipped to handle something like this. Their mindscapes much less built the way my own was. As it stood, we were perhaps the only bugs that could fight against a threat like this.

Power poured into the orb, projecting my voice far and wide, |"A dragon has breached through the messengers Beru sent to us! They are now directly connected, drop the link with the bugs! To arms!"| I felt the tide of panic wash over me, then the surge of resolve as every Berry dutifully manifested their weapon of choice. Some even donned armor, not that it would do any good.

The dragon started laughing, |"Oh! This is rich!"| Her voice projecting louder than my own had, power emanating from every subtle movement as she took in what she was seeing. She tilted her head back in howling laughter, |"Bugs! So many bugs! I had hoped this was Charles attempting to talk to me in private! Was this meant to be a trap!?"| The first arrows hit her, bouncing futilely off her shimmering blue scales. She lurched forward, breathing those same wicked flames over hundreds of berries.

All of them were lesser, from scribes to peasants. Generals rallied their forces as more arrows flew towards the dragon. Her power was overwhelming, but we would not fall without a fight. The berries that were burnt and died would have their bodies twitch before death claimed them. A creature comparable to our goddess was now striking against us. An advisor manifested, while generals gave their orders. I watched the battle through my orb.

Ballista were lined up as the dragon spread her wings, taking flight. I looked at my advisor, before pulling out a piece of paper and writing on it. Two favors from the goddess, two things to ask. We were going to die here, but we could be replaced. First, I asked her to finish my project on the perfect Berry. She could use all the resources she wanted, whatever was left of us. Second, she was to give the perfect Berry my talent and declare him a proper prince.

I knew that asking for help would have her come. She was too valuable to the HIve to risk, she would ruin any last-ditch efforts we could muster. Time was traveling so slowly, the way we learned from her. Not even a second has transpired as another chunk of berries were incinerated by those wicked flames. I wasn't giving orders, the generals and dukes were meant for that. I needed to focus on the bigger picture, to keep everyone at their best. The pyramid would not fall, it would not buckle, it would not break. So long as I stood, so long as I still drew breath, I would be the 'Perfect Test Subject.'

My advisor took the message, leaving immediately. The details were contained within it. I had told our Goddess that it was a pleasure serving her if we did not make it. Everything we could see from the flames and how it affected the other berries. This was just one grand experiment, the strength of my talent coming to bear. Processing how to chuck the dying into the ritual alter we made for this occasion. Using what was left of them to fuel the trap. Each death was painful, more of the stress from my talent resting upon my shoulders.

The orb followed the dragon, seeing it all, watching everything. I rocked on my throne, mutter, "You're out, you're out." Over and over again. Manually tossing each dying Berry into the trump card. Two dukes appeared, no doubt wanting guidance, but likely realized what was going on. One stayed, while the other left. Three of my four dukes teleporting through our connected mindscapes. The dragon providing the sky for herself to fly above and rain down death.

|"OH! This is so much fun!"| The dragon cried out, as she continued with her cruel mocking laugh. Our resistance was a mere joke to her. Our weapons couldn't hurt her, while she was simply enjoying the slaughter. |"You're so weak and pathetic! This is what it feels like to raze a town! I simply must thank you for letting me experience this!"|

The three dukes took their positions on their towers, each of them letting their capes catch the breeze generated from her flapping. The dragon's cruel smile grew even more as she stayed out of range from the catapults. Each duke raised their sword in their own stance, each of them stretching to the amusement of the dragon. She felt she was invincible, a goddess in her element. A tyrant exerting their power over those meant to be oppressed.

In a way, I saw my younger self in this dragon. All the cruel things I had done to the other berries without understanding the reasoning behind it. The cruel experiments I convinced myself to do to my copies because they were inferior. That sense of power, that unrestrained superiority oozing out. The heady feeling of simply dominating those beneath you. It was intoxicating, but I had grown up since then. I saw how toxic such a rule could be, firsthand. The constant rebellions, those that would rather die than serve such a petulant child.

The dragon ordained to wait as the three dukes gathered their strength. They were willing to give their lives for the glory of the Hive. Just as I was willing to do the same. Power went through my hand, allowing me to speak through the orb. |"Pride is greatest before the fall. Generals, order a retreat. We cannot damage her with the weapons we used to harm each other. Everyone get to safety, then when you are able, please give all the strength you can afford. This is not an order, but a plea from your king. I do not wish to see more of you die."|

She laughed at my words, crossing her arms, |"Are you done? That's your grand speech? Even after all this time, I spent allowing your three to prepare? I'm starting to get bored."|

Each duke looked at each other, nodding in unison. Each of them sent out a connection to share their strength with one another. The one in my room knelt, offering them their strength. I kept my hand on the orb, |"My apologies, I did not mean to bore you. We are the berries. My name is Berry, their name is Berry, all of our names are Berry. We differentiate ourselves by the task we do. We also had no intention of fighting you. This will be your last chance to leave."| The name of our little game was stalling for time for the survivors to retreat underground, to allow them to set up and offer their strength.

The dragon let out a long deep sigh, |"Counteroffer, you come out and I make it quick but painful. Otherwise, I'm going to crash through the front gate of this little shitstain of a mindscape you call a castle, crawl my way up to you and tear you apart. Bit, by bloody bit."| She grinned no doubt thinking it was a privilege to be slain by one such as her.

|"What about the others? You came with a trap, what happened to Beru? Lady Cynthia?"| A courier arrived, furiously scribbling notes.

|"Who?"| She tilted her head, with a grin.

|"Beru, a bug much like myself. The one that made the bugs, lady Cynthia..."|

|"Cares!"| She interrupted, laughing loudly. |"There's nothing you can do against me, you're weak. Dying is a mercy, I'll start counting down soon. Unless you want to give me a proper speech this time. Come on!~ This is much more fun than dealing with the outside world."|

|"I care."| I stated calmly.

She opened her mouth then closed it. She started howling, |"Oh poor thing! I must have burned so much of your 'people' that you lost the ability to understand a good joke! Welp, better put you out of your misery!"|

The dragon flew up a little, as power trickled to the dukes. |"Please tell me, before I die. I simply want to know, nothing more."|

She aborted her divebomb, and decided for a low glide towards the front entrance. The dukes sheathed their swords, saying how much they were completely fine with her killing me. It was an act, but hopefully, her arrogance would allow us some insight. She hummed, |"You can call me Shimmer."|

The dukes kept their swords sheathed, though she wasn't intimidated by them in the slightest. She landed in the courtyard in front of the double doors. |"Shimmer is a pretty name, about my earlier questions, however..."|

Shimmer didn't let me finish, simply smashing through the doors. The dukes following cautiously behind, the other one etching what was needed for our trump card to work. She breathed fire throughout the courtroom, everything catching as she laughed. |"You don't know a lot about dragons. Shimmer stands for the shimmer of the islands, the glistening of the waves. It means I'm not allowed to leave the islands we live on. Mostly because I'm a female and need to be protected."|

|"Interesting, your culture seems marvelously diverse."| She lazily looked about the burning room, the dukes giving her false directions so she wouldn't burn anything important.

|"Yep, dragons are the best. All puny little things like you should worship us. Just a few town burnings whenever someone gets uppity, a few public executions, we really want to make the world the best it can be. It can only be the best if we rule it."| She took on a haughty tone, making her offer sound as if it were the most appealing option in the world.

|"Even we have a place in it? All we need to do is bow and grovel for our lives? Such is all we bugs can do, will that be enough?"| All strength was going to the dukes, excess was heading to the alter.

Shimmer let out a small puff of smoke and laughed, |"So long as you don't mind being eaten in the end. Cattle that can talk, screams do make it more enjoyable. Don't worry, when we get bored we'll let you fight others for the right to exist."|

|"Your generosity and wisdom far exceed my own."| I complimented, letting her savor every word. |"If it is against other bugs, I believe we can win with ease. There are others of us though, surely someone as wonderful and intelligent as yourself. No, forgive my rudeness, I already asked twice, perhaps thrice now. You are showing me my place by not answering."|

The dragon busted through another set of doors, idly snickering at the banners. |"Now you're starting to get it!"| She made it seem like a compliment, |"Cynthia was the human Bral brought along with him, right? Don't worry his dick isn't big enough to hurt her, even in dragon form!"| She laughed, |"Pretty sure she was pinned down and just taken. Happens a lot, but what do I care? Boys do what they want with cattle, I stick with the elders and get special training."|

It was disconcerting to hear that lady Cynthia was being taken advantage of, the courier scribbled the information down. Just in case this wasn't in the memories. I mildly regretted not having the time to review them personally, but it was more important that the Goddess got them. Only a second had passed in the outside world. |"May I humbly ask about Beru? Another similar to myself, you did use the bugs in your pouch to connect to me, after all. A wonderfully laid trap, if there ever was one."|

Shimmer gave a wicked grin, looking at me through my orb. |"Oh, nothing too bad. Just erased everything he knew. I toyed with him for days, until he finally broke."| She was even saying it out loud for the dukes to hear. |"He said something about a Queen, begged for forgiveness. It was fun making him bring his bugs to me, then watching the kobolds pull off their wings. To have them put in a stew for me to drink. At least he had a backbone."| She winked at me.

I rubbed my chin, not having anything to base this off of. I was feeling something dark and wicked, the same feeling our Goddess let us all feel during the night of the Blind Eye. Ah yes, she had called it hatred, loathing. Pure burning rage, anger. |"Huh, thank you for telling me this."| I meant it from the bottom of my heart. It was a burden off my heart to know their fate was so vile. My anger was radiating off me, as I channeled power through the dukes. The emotion froze them as they processed the extent, how they probed the depths. It truly felt bottomless.

The dragon tilted her head, letting out a slow laugh. |"You are just another coward, I was hoping I could have a bit of fun."| Her fire burned the banners, rising a quarter of the way before being snuffed out. |"Oh? Am I hitting the right buttons? Come on, break~ Fight me! Let me destroy any visage of strength you think you have, let me..."|

My order was sent, the three dukes drawing their swords and drawing them in a quick slash across her flank. It made her quiet down as she idly swung at them with her tail. They teleported out of the way, burning fury in their eyes. |"My apologies for the interruption, I needed to make sure my courier left my kingdom safely."| She started to say something, but nothing escaped her mouth. |"I have been a terrible host, for that, I sincerely apologize. I am king Berry, by my power as king. The ruler of this kingdom, I decree that you shall suffer before you die. Dear dukes of mine, shall this motion be carried out?"|

Duke Berry the first bowed, |"As a proud Berry of this kingdom, I say the motion shall be carried."|

Second Duke of Berry gave a slow clap before returning to his etchings, |"Motion carried, my liege."|

The dragon was struggling, attempting to exert control to force her presence. Such a shame she was in our domain. Berry Duke, third of his seat tipped his hat. |"We find the king's decree to be reasonable in the face of such overwhelming power. Motion carried."|

Shimmer pressed harder, her eyes starting to glow. The seams were splitting, as she was getting angry. Smoke billowing out of her mouth. Master Berry, the fourth of his generation, holder of the fourth seat thumped his chest. |"Motion carried."|

I nodded, as the force on the dragon fell away. Her flames attempting to fill the room. They were suppressed, much as we did with the embers of the count's domination. There were too many minds asserting that this mindscape should look like this. That stone could not burn from these flames. A single finger touched the orb, removing all limitations on the dukes. |"Give her hell."|