Hi, I'm Lindsay! This is a blog revolving around the Zelgan World that s-kinnaly and I have created. s-kinnaly does the illustration and I do the writing! I also write fics with @mrneighbourlove! We hope you enjoying reading!
Update: Cause Tumblr is just an ass, I created individual Master Lists for the stories! Please enjoy the new links!!! <3
Hello everyone! So, if you saw my post a few weeks ago, you’d know that some asshat reported my blog as NSFW. Due to this, I had to reconfigure my ENTIRE Master List which had all the stories on it. This was 7 years of hard work suddenly ruined all due to one person deciding to be the asshole of the century. Who does that to someone’s hard work? So, whoever you are, I hope you eat shit, step on a Lego, and fall into a vat of vomit.
HOWEVER!!! The asshat will NOT prevail! Thanks to @s-kinnaly and @mrneighbourlove, I was able to put together an even better Master List! Or should I say, Master Lists! Now, it’s all categorized for an easier viewing! We have 4 new tabs for you to enjoy! It has been categorized by what I wrote myself, what @mrneighbourlove and I wrote together, what @mrneighbourlove wrote himself, and now, a new feature that is fanfics of my Zelgan works!
Please enjoy!!! And, as always, please, please, please REBLOG the fics!!!! This helps us as authors and artists get more exposure!!! Thank you all for being patient and so kind over the years!!! Love you all!!!
Will we get any updates on Glacier’s Forge or Beyond the Sea soon? It’s been so long 😭
Hello @everybodylovesmesuga - yes! I will update soon. I’ve been dealing with some unfortunate real life issues that needed my full attention. The next chapter actually has five new pages already written!
Another question. Who owns most of the selkie characters of Uskar? Like who built the foundation of them from the beginning and are they like a separate clan of Uskar? Sorry for all the questions, but how many Clans are there in Uskar and who leads them besides the High King?
@s-kinnaly and I co-own all the selkie characters. :) We worked together to build them. We co-own most of the characters with the exception of the Zelgan children. She designed those; I designed their partners.
As far as the clans go in Uskar, it varies upon two things; a Handeh Direnor [aquatic] or a Rotar Direnor [land], and which animal they shapeshift into. So, for lack of a number, many different clans within one rule. The High Queen is actually over the High King; Queen Brigritta is the pure royalty while the High King married into the family.
I’ve got a question. I saw a post from years ago involving how ppl were once allowed to make ships of their own ocs with the Zelgan AU characters before it was stopped bc ppl started complaining and crap. Does it include those in relationships or all characters in general?
Unfortunately, all characters in general. Basically we had a few who ruined it for all. Now, the story only revolves around what @s-kinnaly and @mrneighbourlove and I write or plan. 😣
Deep in the tomb of Queen Wannaba, Leere and her dig team carefully excavated the Queen’s remains. “Alright, be careful. If you see any undead, shout instead of freezing.” Opening the grave of the Queen herself, Leere breathed away from the fresh dust. Looking down at the Queen she couldn’t help but smile. “We did it.” Pictographs took black and white photos of the dig team huddled around in celebration. After some organization, Leere separated the treasures into monetary value and what was personally important to the late Queen on what she guessed could be emotional levels, such as the mummified remains of a dog or a children’s toy. Carefully, she took the Black Thorn mask off the mummy for herself. She got what she wanted. Now it was time to give Fayruz what she wanted.
Returning to the palace, Leere thanked the Matriarch for her help. “Your bodyguards were very diligent. Thank you again. With the crown back in Hyrulian hands, I can study it for the betterment of all. Now. I believe I have one last thing to do for you. Are you ready?”
Fayruz was somewhat relieved that the dig was complete. It had been a long, hard work for the Hylian princess and rare treasures were found. She still felt somewhat guilty, disturbing the grave of two ancient lovers, but perhaps something good would come out of this. When Leere returned and thanks were presented, the matriarch felt slightly uneasy. Maybe this was not a good idea. Naunet sensed her mistress’ anxiousness and chirped lightly to try to calm her human.
Leere started making a circle made with chalk in a private courtyard. With a light hum, she was overly excited. “Matriarch. I’m not sure exactly what will happen step by step, but please don’t disturb the chalk. I need to keep the spirit contained.”
Leere split her time between three things. Recovery with sleep and food, uncovering the tomb further, and reading the Necronomicon. When delving into the book of the dead, Leere took notes on key sections, and carefully practiced some magic. She had to apologize profoundly to a servant when she spooked them. She looked like a witch with her hair levitating and red bolts crackling around her hands. At the tomb, she made a connection. The final door to the Queen’s chambers told of a passage in the book of the dead that spoke of a personal note made by the Queen. Leere wondered as to why the Queen would do this. Then she figured it out. Back at the palace, Leere was flush with excitement when talking with Fayruz. “Queen Wannaba found out how to access the ocean of souls. According to Nara customs, when people die, all souls come here. From here, you can communicate or even bring back a soul to the land of the living!!!”
“Dear, you look like you’ve seen the ghost of Walijah herself.” Fayruz noted Leere’s crazy hair, wild look on her face, and smudge of ink on her cheek. “Either that or you’ve been wrestling with books in my library.”
“You think I could see her ghost? That’d be fantastic!!!” Leere was as flushed as a girl at prom. “With this book, I could talk to anyone from the dead if they were willing. My Grandpa I never got to meet? Or maybe I learn how to become the greatest wizard on the planet by talking to the old masters of the arcane arts! Mom and Dad are going to be so happy about this news.”
“Dear, you need to calm down for now. And take a bath.” Fayruz noted as she finished brushing Naunet’s teeth. “Though most importantly remember, do not abuse the power of talking to the dead or raising their ghosts. The dead are not to be disturbed unless they come to you first.”
“Duh. Or you run risk of summoning a demon.” Leere took a whiff of her pits, laughing to herself. “You have a bath at the palace I’m allowed to use?”
Arriving, Leere was very clear to her team. Stay respectful, and to stay in pairs. Arriving at the palace, Leere had made sure to take the time to get bathed and wear a nice formal suit. Some of the Nara were intrigued by her crew, especially the Goron. Once drinks and food was served, Leere handed around the masks she uncovered. “For you, Matriach Fayruz. I found these masks next to the entrance of the tombs final level. The inscription inside the mask and on the walls suggest these were priests that served the Pharaoh. They have exquisite markings. I wonder if they may have served a duel function of that was similar to Hyrule’s ball dances.” The doctor laughed as she gently held one mask to her face.
“Careful of which mask you choose, dear child. Each has a different meaning from our culture.” Fayruz gave Leere a gentle warning. “Some have been known to contain even demons, to prevent them from spreading havoc. But wearer beware, for if the unfortunate soul places on the mask, they will certain be met with a terrible fate.” She pointed to the one that Leere chose. “That is the mask for our goddess, Lakamishi the of Wealth and Prosperity. It doesn’t necessarily always mean money or materialistic items. She is known to bless those who are patient and work hard.”
Leere revealed in wearing the mask for a few moment, breathing in and out the history. Taking it off, she smiled earnestly at the Matriach. “I like that.” Drinking from her wine, she set her mask down. “I need to tell you, I translated a hieroglyph that has me very, very excited. One of the items that might be buried with Pharoah Walijah was a copy of the Necronomicon.” Some the Nara looked over, troubled.
Digging up Trouble: Ch 1. Plover and the Crocodile
“Fuck off you bastards! And don’t you come back!”
Leere took the bow and fired off another arrow just for good measure. She knew Al-Daida could be dangerous, but she had hoped to avoid conflict by staying under the radar and being foreign. Heading back to the archaeological grounds, she checked on her team. At the age of 25, Leere’s current passion was discovering ancient treasures across the world. Her latest search brought her to the dunes of Al-Daida, looking for the remains of princess of Hyrule that married a matriarch of Al-Daida thousands of years ago. She hoped to find the remains of the princess and return her to Hyrule. The site was discovered three days into their arrival, and her team opened up a massive underground tomb. Each layer would take days of work to uncover, which made work slow. What started the trouble was finding a trove of jewels that had been buried away. All it took was slip of the tongue from one of crew mates and word spread fast. A group of bandits tried to raid them when they were tired after a day of work.
Returning to camp, Leere was thankful no one was killed. A few injuries and the account only herself and the one Goron she brought with her could fight put a pit in her stomach. They couldn’t afford to work by themselves now. After putting it to a vote with her crew, they decided to buy some protection from the local government.
The next morning, when things were calm, Leere journeyed an hour out towards the city by herself. Walking through the markets, she tried to not pry too much on the towns on goings. Adjusting her hat, she made her way up to the palace gates. “Excuse me? Is this the home of Matriarch Fayruz?”
Zannah sat back on the cold, metal medical bed. The room she was put in was pure white as snow. Everything about the environment was cold and empty.
The room was white. And red with her blood.
Screaming, Zannah was held down by noble men. She was in a painful three day active cycle of giving birth. No one to give her comfort, no father to hold her hand.
T0-D, ever faithful, took matters into his own hand, contacting the one ally the young Empress had.
Fayruz had been rather surprised when the robot infiltrated her palace in the dead of night. She had been awoken by Bennu and T0-D getting into a scuffle before she ordered her mate to stand down, her lover reluctant to do so. The piece of machinery would not have tried such a move unless it was an emergency. When Zannah’s robot relayed the news to her, Fayruz was unsure if she would make it in time to the Kikai Empire. Still, she could only hope that everything would be all right until she arrived… with Naunet, of course.
T0-D walked down the hall with his hands behind his back. “Elaboration: You see, Matriarch, the war council didn’t give Zannah much choice in matter of giving birth. She frail, having lost much blood. However, I sense she is losing much more of her, how you say, spirit.”
Funky Blue Ice: Ch 4. Heated Passion sure can be Warming
Two weeks later, Dreng was fully recovered thanks to the magic of the healers. He, of course, was still off duty as far as scouting went for a while, so he it would be working down at the docks moving imported goods for the time being. After the Direnor was approved to leave his house, Dreng went to gather some snow lilies before approaching Seer’s house. He barely remember the journey to the man’s abode since he was so exhausted, but wanted to check in on Lex. She was a fine lady, even though there was a touch of harshness to her. Besides, the least he could do was thank her. Knocking on the door, it was answered by Seer.
“Can I help you?” Seer asked and then sniffed a couple of times. “Oh! You’re the mountain lion that saved my Alexandria. Please, come in! I hope you’re doing better now?"
"Still a little sore, but fully healed, thank you for asking.” Dreng took his boots off at the door. “Is Lex in?”
“Dreng? Is that you?” Lex shouted, glancing around from the kitchen.
“It’s me.” Dreng heard her calling. “I wanted to check in on you."
"That’s sweet of you to do, and I believe Lex owes you a proper thank you anyhow for saving her from all that snow.” Seer then asked. “Would you like a cup of tea to warm you?"
"That’d be nice, actually."
"I’ll let you two talk.” Seer walked to the kitchen to fix their guest a drink.
Funky Blue Ice: Ch 3. Second Dates include Near Death Experience
“Lex, I’d really prefer if you waited to go looking for berries later.” Seer told his daughter as he heard her putting on her boots. “It’s not safe outside the walls of the fortress and bad weather is supposed to be coming this way.”
Lex chuckled, having just finished tying her shoelaces. “Dad. I can kill any Frost One in the blink of an eye. You should call me the Frost Queen I’m such a badass. I’ll have eyes in the back of my head if it makes you feel better.”
“I know you can protect yourself from those creatures, Lex, I’m worried more so about the weather.” Seer shook his head. “No one can control it. Please be careful, and come back home soon.”
“Well, I don’t have a magic wand to control the weather, but I can protect myself from the weather from hurting me exclusively.” She gave her dad a kiss on the forehead and went out the door. “Go find a lucky date and knock bones with them to stay warm.”
“Lex…” Seer flushed, but had an exasperated tone. He thought about seeking out a date, but more than likely would go to the Pleasure House. It was nice to feel wanted here and there, and at least, he would not get hurt if the relationship did not work out like intended. “I’ll be fine. Please try to be home in a few hours for dinner.”
“Will do. Don’t let up.” Lex quickly pranced her way outside. In the last month, she learned she could part a small path of snow ahead of her. Helped with watching her steps on slippery rocks. She needed to find enough berries to make a pie for Uncle Rat’s birthday, and she didn’t care about risks.
Dreng and a few men were scouting on the outside of the fortress wall, looking for any signs of Frost Ones. It had been a few weeks since the date with Lex. He had seen her in the market, but merely offered a kind smile and wave, not approaching the woman. Dreng was patient, and could wait until she was ready. However, right now, he was more focused on the weather. The wind was getting stronger…
Leere looked down to the spot they buried Sunny. It was traditional to be buried in Hyrule. The Royal Family was even kind enough to have her buried in the castle graveyard, an honour for princesses and princes. None of the nobles dared complain. But none felt the need to. Around Leere were grieving souls, family, friends, and those that respected the Ingo family legacy Sunny had built in her career. Despite all the people, Leere barely noticed them. As some started to leave, she merely stayed still over the patch of dirt and the grave stone built for Sunny.
“Come on, you old fart.” Ralnor approached Leere from behind, putting a hand on her shoulder. His beautiful blonde hair was now solid white and there were many wrinkles decorating his once youthful face. He walked with the best posture, but still had to use a cane to help with balance. Yet, his attitude never changed… except now, he had more humor, even if it was rather dark. “I still have a bottle of that wine you like in the cellar, but you’re going to have to go and get it. Stairs and I don’t really agree that much anymore.”
“I don’t feel like drinking.” Leere’s voice was devoid of any spark.
“Well, it’s either wine or it’s chess to keep you occupied.” Ralnor asked her again, “Which is it going to be? You’re stuck with me for the evening, so you might as well make the best of it.”
“The last time I drank after a funeral it was for mom… I don’t think I want to relive that again.” Leere looked up to the sky, watching a hawk fly over. Her attention turned to the layout of the castle. She pointed out towards an arch that was under reconstruction. “I’m going to outlast every life here. Even the castle will be a new model.”
“You’re probably right.” Ralnor was never one to sugarcoat any dire situation. “New castle, new town, new port, everything will be new at some point. But… you want to know the one thing that makes me laugh about this whole situation?”
You find humour in this? Do tell.”
“That water dragon of my dearest brother’s wife will be here to annoy you.” Ralnor grinned at Leere, knowing how much she found Ba'puu to be the most irritating creature on the planet… next to Malik. He was doing his best to get a laugh out of his sister. The old prince knew she understood his dark humor. “And check on you every. Single. Day.”
“Maybe he can kill me.” Leere looked back down at Sunny’s grave. “I can’t even bring her back. Her time is done. She lived and loved a full life.”
“Please, Ba'puu might be a giant pest, but he’d never harm you.” Ralnor waved off that notion of Leere’s. “You don’t want to bring her back. Would you want her to be ripped away from those she’s already lost?” The prince corrected his sister, “You did not lose Sunny, just like I did not lose Cass. They’re simply waiting on the both of us, and, unfortunately,” He shrugged a little, “Sunny is going to have to wait a little longer.”
Leere’s shoulders sank, and with it her desire to stay. Turning, she faced Ralnor. Black lines of stained massacre and bags of little sleep filled her eyes. “Ralnor. I appreciate what you are trying to do… but I don’t see the point. My sunshine is gone. The only reason I’m not burying my daughter is due to a technicality.” Leere took a quick glance to see Joy speaking with Skyla. “Joy’s opted to be cremated when she passes.”
The age of peace came by, every year building a golden age. Sitting on her porch, Leere strummed her guitar, trying to come up with a new tune. Walking onto the porch, Sunny took a seat beside her. The blonde rancher had a radiance to her, even with years of experience now. Leaning over, she kissed Leere on the cheek, looking at her with almost pure fascination.
Leere looked back over to her, being happily puzzled by her wife’s expression. With a chuckle, she stopped her strumming. “What?”
Sunny shrugged, shaking her head. “Oh, just admiring the best choice I ever made in my life."
Leere knew the feeling. Today, the two of them celebrated their 35th anniversary. It was a day of mostly relaxation, cooking each other their favourite meals, and receiving some gifts from old friends and family. The sage put her hand up to Sunny, brushing her cheek. "I feel the same way.”
Despite their difference in age, with Leere being much older, out of the two of them, Sunny was the one with wrinkles on her face. Some of the golden locks of her hair had also started to turn a silvery white. Looking her over, Leere had a twinge in her expression. This was something that Sunny picked up on immediately. “What?”
“What do you mean what?”
“Leere Dragmire Ingo. Don’t give me that. You have something brooding in that noggin of yours. What is it?”
Setting her guitar down, Leere knew she couldn’t hide anything from Sunny. Relenting, she spoke her mind. “Sunny. You only grow more beautiful to me with the years. But I look at you, and then I look at myself. I don’t have the same wrinkles as you. And I don’t think I can grow white hair.”
“You know many women would kill to look as clear and young as you.”
“Sure, girls maybe. Those who don’t have the wisdom to know that growing old with those you love is a blessing."
Sunny raised a brow, before chuckling. "You have a way with words. You’re probably a late bloomer. Maybe Mortuus are like those Hasai folk. You look amazing till you hit eighty or ninety, then age suddenly catches up with you. When that happens, I’ll still love you. Prunes and all.”
That got a roar out of Leere. Laughing, her worries were set to the side. “Prunes eh? I’ll hold you to that.”
Perched not too far away in a barn, Modoc, once known as Bonegrinder, shaman of the Echidnan’s and leader of the Hive organization, watched the couple carefully and quietly. After the war between Chaos and Balance, Modoc opted to live a relatively quiet life. For a while, Blue and White pestered him to return to Omisha. Yet, there were too many memories there for him of his mate and hatchlings. Mother even offered him a place in training the next generation of Echidnan shamans, but he declined for the time being, wanting some time to himself to reflect.
Of course, there was the very irritating fact that he could not be separated from Leere for long. Since she had brought him back, and his fate was tied to hers, being apart was physically painful. So, he had opted to stay on the farm with Leere and Sunny. This made it very easy for him to annoy the necromancer whenever possible, but he was always courteous to Sunny and did as she asked. When Joy visited, he was more than happy to be her mentor and spend time with his nephew, Napochi, as well.
Sighing, the Anagari lounged in a large cherry tree near the property. Galaxia had shouted at him to move his ass, but he had ignored her and the others. He did not necessarily care for Sunny’s siblings, seeing most of them rather shoot him on the spot instead of treat him like an actual being with a soul. Grumbling, he popped a few more cherries into his mouth and tried to think of when Joy’s next visit would be. She was very happy in Omisha with Napochi and expanded her studies of Echidnan magic and medicine.
Leere gave her wife another kiss, thinking things over. “How about this. No more magic.”
That certainly surprised her. “What do you mean by that?”
“Maybe if I stop using magic, I can actually start to look my age. I think I’m in my eighties. I’m a great auntie for crying out loud. I should look the part.”
Sunny held Leere’s hands gently. She knew how much of a commitment this was. “You sure?”
“I am. I love you my sunshine.”
“And you my moonlight.”
~
Leere kept her vows for another ten years. Time forever marched forward. Around her, those she loved grew old. People she cared for walked into the embrace of death. Siblings. Family in Law. Friends. Every day Leere looked in the mirror, looking for change in her appearance. But age had not touched her.
Her daughter was a fully grown woman now. Joy looked so much like Sunny in her prime. A prime that had since long vanished for her wife..
Sitting on a bench, Sunny was retired now. Her muscles had since softened, her hair had turned fully white, and her skin no longer smooth. This didn’t change the love Leere had for her, but it did break her heart.
Making her way over in a blue dress, Leere sat beside her wife. “Hello beautiful.”
“Hello gorgeous.” Sunny watched as Leere’s lip curled into a smile. Every compliment her wife was given was an easy way to get her to feel better. “How was your day?”
“Fine. Just fine.”
Sunny, seemingly satisfied, slowly offered a hand. “Come here.”
Hiding her pain, Leere took her wife’s hand and nuzzled her nose. These days, Sunny enjoyed sightseeing on the bench and around the ranch. Leere took a long look out over the land of Hyrule. After all she did, why was she being punished?
Sitting together, Leere felt Sunny gently rub her head against Leere’s neck. It was comforting for certain.
I’ve rest some of your stories on the Zelgan Babies and I’m very curious, how old is Halvar of Uskar really is? Because I assumed he was twelve or eleven, but reading one of your stories and realizing he has a girlfriend is making my entire mindset to change.
Halvar was young in “Glacier’s Forge”, around 11 or 12 like you said. However, in the other stories, he is in his twenties. It’s a bit of a time skip! Does that answer your question? 
Another gift commission for @mrneighbourlove from @ridersoftheapocalypse !
A family portrait of Prince Malakath (in green), Chione (in blue) and their son Nihilus (in lavender), taken shortly before an attempt to flee the prince by his wife and son gets his wife killed~
Had a fun trying to portray the growing tension between the parents! Getting a color palette for their clothing that made them look like a cohesive group was surprisingly difficult with their varied skintones lol. But in the end I like that Malakath's clothing colors represent how he was described as a seemingly wonderful man at first but underneath is someone cruel and manipulative. Nihilus has some of his father's attitudes in him so they share a lot of the same colors but where Malakath is covered up, Nihilus is happily exposed with less to hide.
Thank you for commissioning me once again @ridersoftheapocalypse!
@mrneighbourlove I hope you like your gift! It was a lot of fun working with @dreadlock-detective to bring these characters to life!
So, we have the manipulative and controlling Malakath, the beautiful Chione, who is strong and sweet, but trying to keep up appearances for the sake of their son, Nihilus. And then, the golden boy himself, who aspires for world domination, for every single soul will know the name of Nihilus… not to mention, he’s a huge flirt and show off, just like his sire.
Adda had the same dream again. One that she knew was impossible, but she didn’t care. Impossibilities were the best to achieve.
Sailing along the Danjur coast, Adda just finished stuffing a ball gag in one of the crown princes mouths. “Oh darling. Thank you so much for gift wrapping me this cargo boat full of imported rubies. You’re too kind.”
Behind her, the Crew of the Crimson Eye was taking out the boxes of goods from the hold of the Royal ship and transporting them to hers. As she blew a kiss to the hog tied prince.
Running back to her ship, she threw her hands around her number 1, giving him a kiss. “Your intel was perfect, Seer. Thank you.”
“Of course it is, only the best for you.” Seer laughed when she presented him with multiple kisses while he was trying to cook dinner. The kitchen on her ship was a bit more spacious and had room for multiple ingredients. He always took pride in cooking her a delicious meal after a raid. “Now, will you please tell Bakura to keep his hands off my ass while I try to fix him sushi? He knows it is a delicate process, but cares not for my troubles.”
Glass Love and Desire: Ch 5. Preparation for the Future.
The week after his wedding, Malakath was especially high in his glory. He didn’t care for the celebrations themselves; all that mattered was the rewards that were cultivated. All the Hasai loved him. He was the prodigal son; a new beautiful wife at his side and being a war hero gave him that honour. But events for Chione were starting to snow ball quickly. The Hasai, especially those deep in the Kikai Empire, wanted to know what kind of woman she was, and how she could be used politically.
There was very little time for a honeymoon period since Mally's people were eager to hear updates on their marriage. While Chione understood he had a duty to his kingdom, she did wish it was just a little more time for the two of them. Still, while he was away with meetings and diplomatic issues, she learned the Hasai language and tended to the beautiful garden that her husband gifted her. Within the short time Chione had been in the Kikai Empire, she had covered the greenhouse with a variety of plants. The botanist was currently trying to hybridize a Naran Kamazu with a Kikai Lily to produce a stunning red lily which could survive extreme heat and in a watery environment. So far, it was a waiting game to see if her efforts paid off in the end.
Still, it was a little lonely with limited interactions, waiting on Mally.
Coming through the door, Malakath entered with company beside him. Strolling in, the Prince gave his wife a kiss on the cheek. “How goes your experiment?”
"Mally!" Chione was delighted to see her husband after he had been in meetings all day. She purred loudly, her tail wrapping around his leg to pull him in closer for a deep kiss. Narans were especially affectionate with their mate. "I have growth for the hybrids. Soon, I hope to present you with a red lily. The white ones you have are beautiful, but imagine if I could grow these for you. It would be a blend of my home and yours, something truly ours."
“I like the sound of that. A mark I can leave on the lands of the Kikai Empire itself.” He enjoyed the deep kiss she gave him, a perk of a lovely woman like Chione. Pulling back, he licked his lips as he introduced his companion. “My dear Chione, may I introduce you to my confidant, Captain Bellum.”
The man before her was dressed in an onyx black uniform. With sharp blue skin and purple eyes, he was a Romtan. His gaze was analytic and stoic, and his tone was polite when he spoke. “Greetings, Princess Chione. We didn’t have a chance to speak at the wedding,”
"It is my pleasure to make your acquaintance." Chione's grasp of the Hasai language had improved immensely, despite Mally's sister teasing her about such a thick accent. "Captain of..." She paused, thinking of the right word. glancing at Mally for the correction translation. "Um... the fighters? All the fighters?"
"Simply a captain, Princess. I command my ship, the KE-Entrapment. There are many captains. Maybe one day I can be the first admiral of my kind in the empire." He smiled, breaking some tension. "I do lead the engineering department, however. I took the liberty in constructing your greenhouse."
"You built this?" Chione gestured to the greenhouse in surprise, but smiling so brightly at the revelation. Even her tail wagged from the thought of such a wondrous building in the stages of construction. Before she thought, the Naran blurted, "I want another one!"
Realizing what she suddenly said, Chione sheepishly then admitted, "I mean... it would be nice to have another one, but this one is plenty for now! It's just so... so at home. I feel at home in here with the plants. It's one of the best gifts I've ever received." She nuzzled foreheads with Mally, "My mate knows me well."
"You're a princess now, consider it a command." Bellum gestured to the plants she was making. "Tell me, Prince Malakath mentioned an experiment. What are you trying to create?"
"I do not wish to make a request of another greenhouse when I know the safety of the Hasai people takes precedence." Chione did not like the idea of being so demanding, but would not reject an offer of another building for her plants. "Only if you have time and wish to do so."
When Bellum inquired of the lilies, Chione bent down to show him the white Hasai lilies and Kamazu plant growing side by side. She explained, "This is a Kamazu plant from Al-Daida. It is good for all properties of healing, especially infection. Mally told me his favorite plant was the Hasai lily. He said the white lilies were good for increasing the hotness of a Hasai's flame in battle." She motioned to the tiny little buds starting to grow. "If these hybrids survive, I will have created a plant that is resistant to heat, thrives in soil or water, and may provide special healing properties to those who command fire here. A plus for all the souls in Kikai."
"Well, I'm sure the Skurge and Ocho will enjoy the practicality of the plant. While I can admire it myself, I think I will enjoy its beauty more."
Malakath patted his wife's back, enjoying the fact she and Bellum seemed to be hitting it off. "We're in times of peace right now. You can have all the greenhouses you wish."
"We still need a proper name for them," Chione thought a grandiose title was in place for the plant instead of a simple red lily. "What do you suggest, Bellum?"
"Oh, I dare not take away that honour from you. You're the artist after all."
"A good artist is always open to suggestions," Chione countered with a smile. "Mally? What about you? After all, they're my gift to you."
Malakath thought about it for a moment, then shrugged his shoulders. "I agree with Captain Bellum. It's your design. You're a princess of the Empire now. One day, you'll be a future Empress. It's up to you to leave your legacy. That means it's your name for your creation."
"Very well," Chione then stated, "Then I will call them kaji lilies, after the great fire that Mally controls, and many other fire users of the Hasai people. For the Narans, my native tongue, it will be Anwara Lilies, since their radiance will glow even with the lack of the sun."
"That's a beautiful name my dear." Malakath kissed her again, grinning happily. "Bellum, wouldn't you agree?"
"Yes my prince. It is a very fine name. I shall go put the order in to start building other green houses, unless either of you need anything further from me?"
"I would like to request your knowledge of the military system , Bellum." Chione asked the captain with sincerity. "I still have much to learn about the Hasai people. What better way to learn about the military than from someone who is in it?"
“Excellent. If you have time, I can teach you the devil in the details that help keep the empire running. Perhaps you’d also like some self defense lessons?”
"There are no dragons left. Not anymore." Bellum seemed to speak with a tinge of regret, but not enough to rouse Malakath's suspicions. "I speak of hand to hand combat. Wrestling is merely a sport."
"Sport? In Al-Daida, it is the main way females subdue their males." Chione did not realize the Hasai people considered wrestling a mere pastime. "Very well, I'd be happy to learn, though you might have your work cut out for you. The only weapon I've ever held is my carving knife for the plants."
"That's fine. Everyone begins from nothing. Even Prince Malakath had to learn technique." Bellum gave her a bow. "If you excuse me, I'm sure the prince can tell you where to find me."
Watching the Captain leave, Malakath nudged his wife. "What do you think of him?"
"From what little you told me about him before, I thought he'd be ten feet tall and super imposing." Chione admitted to her husband, before pouncing on him, knocking him to the ground. Smirking from ear to ear, the Nara then said, "But he's wrong about wrestling simply being a sport," She leaned down to nibble on his ear, "It's a way of passion to the Naras."
"Oh, I agree. This is far better than a sport. Wrestling for us is combat. Passion is far better." Malakath grinned ear to ear.
"What better place to find passion than here?" Chione grinded her hips downward to tease him. "In the beautiful gift you gave to me?" She was quite bold when it was just her and Mally together, especially pertaining to intercourse. "Just imagine. Each time I come here to tend to my plants, I'll remember how handsome you looked, sprawled out underneath me, just like this."
"Then why don't we make a sweet memory?"
"And have everyone smelling how we fucked?" Chione mused, teasing. "Scandalous. Although, it is my greenhouse."
The Nara slipped her tail into Malakath's pants, rubbing against his length. Her hands were busy sliding up his shirt, as her tongue traced from his navel to a nipple, giving a harsh bite, before going to his throat. She loved how his body was, and even more so, the noises he made for her.
They started kissing and feeling each up on another, getting more and more intense as they went on. Just as Malakath was pulling his member out of his pants, positioned right behind Chinoe with a horn in his other hand, his sister happened to come marching around the corner.
"Chione, are you- HOLY EXODRUM! What the fuck are you two doing?" She looked away, extremely embarrassed by the site of them. "Why here?!"
Malakath barely batted an eye. "I'm going to make love to my beautiful, strong wife. What does it look like to you?"
"Oh go fuck yourself. Just- please stop."
Chione was far from embarrassed. No, the Nara was actually very pissed. For the past two weeks, Silvia had made it her personal mission to interrupt any kind of mating session. Her tail twitched in irritation. She had tried her best to be kind to Silvia, but her sister-in-law had brushed off any attempts for conversation. Matter of fact, Silvia had been quite rude to Chione.
"Tell her to leave." Chione growled, "We haven't fucked in days because of continuous interruptions, and my heat cycle is ending in two days. If you want a child, we need to try. Now."
"I wanted to ask you a favour here, I didn't know my brother was here!" Silvia still didn't dare look at them. "I'll leave you to your debauchery."
"Oh come sister. Stay. You might actually learn how to please a man."
"Go to hell brother."
"Wait outside if you wish to speak so urgently." Chione nipped at Mally's bottom lip, having little to no filter during her heat cycle. "With how vigorous your brother is, it won't take too long for a rut. If he only goes for one round, that is."
Silvia held her hands up in defeat and turned to leave. "Goodbye."
Malakath grinned wickedly. Now his sister would know just how far behind she was.
"Finally," Chione purred in satisfaction as she wiggled her backside at Malakath. She made sure to move her tail out of the way as she lowered her head down onto her arms, on all fours. This was her favorite position, allowing him to thrust as hard, as fast, and as deep as he liked. "Some time for just me and you."
"Finally."
Silvia waited outside on a nearby balcony, tapping her fingers impatiently. An hour went by and there was no sign of Silvia. The last thing she wanted-
"Oh hello darling."
... was to be disturbed. "Hello father."
The Emperor smiled broadly, taking a seat across from her. "You know darling, you really need to learn how to knock. No one likes a pervert."
"I'm not a pervert, father."
"Your constant attempts to stop me from having grandchildren would say otherwise. From what I overheard, you can't make me believe you wanted to ask Chione an actual favour."
"I did..."
"Oh my dear, dear Silvia. I'm impressed you're still wanting to keep yourself ahead of the game. You're not a quitter, I'll give you that."
Silvia grimaced. For once she wished her father didn't want to play games. Yet, she never wanted to disappoint him either. "I never do."
After a very passionate and intense bout of love making, Chione was persuaded by her husband to at least hear Silvia's request. Five rounds of rutting had put Chione in a better mood to entertain the idea. Fixing her dress and her hair, the Nara walked through the curtains on the balcony, not realizing there was other present company.
"Silvia, what do you want that's so important you had to interrupt Mally and---oh!" Chione saw Emperor Chillowack and immediately extended a polite bow. It was customary in the Hasai culture. "I beg pardon, father-in-law, I did not know you were here as well. I hope I did not keep you waiting too long. Your son is quite..." She figured there was no way to sugar coat it, especially since Hasai noses were quite adept at scents. "Demanding."
"I'm sure he is." Chillowack winked with a chuckle. "Just pretend I'm not here. I would love to simply observe how my new daughter will get along with the old."
Silvia held a stare at her father that was cold and distant, yet held a barely contained hatred.
"In all honesty, father-in-law, that remains to be seen." Chione replied candidly to the Emperor. While she would not show weakness around him, the Nara was not above being blunt. Mally told her that his father appreciated the brutal truth... most of the time. For some reason, he found it amusing. "I've little time to know Silvia, but more with Mally."
"Then you two should get to know one another. After all, you're both big cogs in the machine that runs the Empire. Best you both get along."
"That all depends if she's going to keep interrupting your son and I." Chione retorted dryly, "But I will endeavor to be a good sister-in-law."
"You shouldn't have to rush into such things just to spite me." Silvia sneered, but remained in her seat.
"You shouldn't have judged me before you knew me." Chione snapped right back, tired of taking Silvia's constant snide remarks. "I have done no wrong against you, yet you are rude, short, and view me as inferior all due to the fact that Mally and I wed before you have found a mate." She went straight to the heart of the matter. "Your fear of being replaced by a child of ours is irrational. You are his sister, and he cares for you. I seek no ill will towards you and wish you happiness like I have found with your brother."
She then added, crossing her arms, standing tall. "But if you insist on being petty like a young teenager, then I will not indulge you. I would like to be friends, since I have so few here, but I will not be belittled nor made to feel beneath you each time we speak. I am not Hasai, but I am Naran, and I do commend the same amount of respect as you."
"Fine. Be naive." Taking a deep breath, Silvia shook her growing animosity off, least for a moment. "I need your advice as a botanist."
"I'd rather be naive than prickly like you." Chione growled in annoyance, but was surprised at such a statement. "You want to know about plants?"
“I want to know about romantic plants.”
"Romantic plants?" Chione could not believe what she was hearing. "The language of flowers? As in, nine roses means 'our love is eternal'?"
“Yes. I need to know what the best bouquet of flowers to give a mate would be.”
"Red carnation, apple blossoms, white lilies, daisies, yellow pansies, and red tulips would make for a grand gesture," Chione stated off the flowers she knew that proposed intentions toward another. "Unless you rather settle for a single rose to declare love."
“Thank you.” Silvia was quick with her response. It was all she could muster.
"I do not have all of those species in my garden yet, but you are welcome to gather a few." Chione figured it would keep Silvia out of her hair for now by giving the woman what she wanted. "My assistant will help you."
“That’s good to hear.” Silvia stood up, and grasped Chione’s hands to shake them. “You have a good day, sister.”
"... good luck with your romantic endeavor." Chione was confused by Silvia's behavior for sure. Why the sudden change of heart? Yet, the Nara was not convinced. Silvia was probably using her for whatever small benefit she could get.
Chillowack chuckled at the sight of his daughter barely being able to ask for a favour. "Run along princess."
After he left, he smiled at Chione favourably. "It's no business of mine to say where you should or shouldn't make love, but I would advise caution doing it in a public setting. We aren’t savages dear."
"I apologize," Chione's tail twitched slightly, not exactly wanting to discuss this topic with her father-in-law, but a Hasai's nose never lied. "The fault lies upon me. Naran heat cycles are hellish to endure, and your son will not deny me. I will be more mindful of my surroundings in the future."
“Good to hear dear. I am very excited to know what you name your twins.”
"... twins?" Chione blinked, a bit caught off guard. "What makes you think there's going to be twins? Is it common for Hasai to have multiples?"
Chillowack looked surprised. “You mean he hasn’t told you? It's a royal tradition. Those who give birth to Ocho children always give birth to twins. One boy, one girl.”
"No, I... well... I'm not Hasai." Chione wondered how the cross between their two races would work. "Does that mean I will still have twins?"
“Well, Malakath is. His blessed seed will be enough.”
"Well... I um..." Chione was not sure how to react to this news, but supposed it was not a bad thing. Names. What names would Mally like? What did she like? "I've always liked Zannah for a girl. I thought it was very regal for a lady." She thought for a moment more, "Maybe... maybe Nihilus for a boy. Or Seras. Both are strong names for a son." Curious, she then asked, "What about you? I'm sure you've discussed names with Mally before."
“Please, not my place. Naming was exhausting enough with him and Silvia.”
"Names hold meaning in many cultures, father-in-law," Chione reminded the Emperor with a small smile. "If anything, I want our children to be healthy, to be strong... and to be happy."
“Happiness? Oh that is just adorable.” The Emperor stood up, shaking his head. “Strong and healthy, I certainly hope so. But take it from me. Don’t promise happiness. You’ll often be disappointed. Good day dear.”
As the Emperor took his exit, Chione was rather confused. What kind of parent would not wish for their child's happiness? Even her parents, who were not rich by any monetary standards, gave her a lovely and happy childhood. Dismissing the thought, Chione returned to the inner sanctum of her greenhouse to check on the sprouts of the kaji lilies. She hoped the flowers would bloom soon so she could present the plant to Mally as a gift.
~
About a month in, something miraculous occurred. Silvia had stopped openly antagonizing her sister in law. And Chione received the first evidence that she was pregnant. When the news reached the other members of the royal family, there was a thick air of joy, but also tension. The birth of a new line was a momentous occasion, but one that always had a hint of vulnerability around it. The prince did not hesitate in taking precautions. "Chione. I won't have any arguments. You're going to have a bodyguard wherever you go."
Over the moon at the news, Chione was determined to be the best mother possible. She was excited for the arrival of the twins. Already, she had set to designing a nursery and collecting adorable baby clothes. Often, she wondered whether her children would have horns or a tail like her, or perhaps favor their father more in inheritance.
Yet, the pregnancy had not been easy. Chione had extreme morning sickness, confined to her chambers due to the fatigue and nausea, but luckily it had passed by the time the first trimester concluded. The doctors hounded her, but the Naran had lost her temper at several of them, hating to be touched by the foreign hands. After one doctor nearly lost his hand, Mally had at least ordered the physicians to leave her be for the time being. The arrival of the second trimester promised an easier storm to weather.
Though, Chione was a little concerned. Thus far, there was barely any bump visible. She had heard tales of many Naran women only showing evidence of pregnancy in the last trimester, so she tried not to fret over the thought too much. For now, Chione was spending time outside with Mally, enjoying the fresh air. The ten guards with them, however, she thought was a bit of overkill. If it made Mally feel better, Chione supposed she could tolerate their presence.
But the promise of a constant babysitter was a bit of an irritation.
"My darling, are you sure it is necessary?" Chione gently ran her fingers through his hair as he used her lap as a pillow. Both were enjoying the breeze and clear sky, the perfect day for a romantic picnic... despite extra company. "I will not argue with you, but we are in the palace. Surely it is quite safe here?"
"You never know my dear. There are certain political families that would love nothing more than to prove themselves our superiors and take the throne from us. While you are pregnant, you will be more vulnerable than usual." Malakath held his head, feeling a slight migraine. "I will not risk your health or the future of our line."
Malakath smiled slyly. “My dear. As much as I would love to, nothing would get done. So no, it will fall to someone else. I’ve trusted Bellum to find a suitable person to be at your side.”
Entering a doorway to a dojo, the captain gave a bow. “Princess Chione. Prince Malakath. Welcome.”
"Oh, what a shame, how would the palace survive without you?" Chione teased her husband lightly when he smirked at her. "While I understand, I cannot say I'm a bit disappointed. I am, after all, the perfect excuse to pull you away from your duties."
As Mally led her to a dojo, Chione admired the lovely structure. There were no such places in her homeland. All of the fighting was in the gladiator rings or 'the pits' as her people referred to the area. Once Bellum greeted both of them, Chione gave the captain a smile.
She said warmly, "How are you fairing, Bellum? Has Mally granted you the rank of admiral like I've asked him to do so?" Chione was not above some goodhearted banter with her husband, resting her head on his shoulder. "Do remember that you promised when the title was granted, I'd be the first to get a tour of your lovely ship."
"I did. And that will come soon. But first, business. I would like to introduce you to Zarun Thel. First Lady of House Thel, and your protector."
Malakath was completely surprised when he saw an Ocho step forward. The civil war had reduced their numbers to- well to be blunt, Malakath thought his blood family were the only ones left. She was certainly beautiful, and he had no doubt that she would be an excellent fighter. The woman, garbed in an unique onyx black armour with red striping among the shoulders gave a firm bow.
"Princess Chione. It is my honour to serve as your bodyguard."
"It is my pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lady Zarun." Chione was surprised to see an Ocho as well. She was expecting a Skurge at most, but this was far from her expectations. Not to mention, the woman was absolutely stunning. "I do hope we will be fast friends."
"Likewise ma'am." Zarun shook her hand by the forearm in a firm handshake. "I won't let you, or Prince Malakath, down."
Bellum nodded. "Lady Zarun will be your sword and shield. I'm sure you won't be disappointed."
"If you have Bellum's vote of confidence, then you have mine." Chione returned the handshake, being mindful of her claws. "I thank you for taking this job."
Malakath eyes went up and down the other Ocho. She was beautiful; incredibly so. Her eyes had a steep confidence, her hair was cut sharp, and her lips were flowerily. Above all else she smelled like-
Shaking his head, the prince felt his breath hitch. No. Why were these thoughts coming to him? He had mated with his wife. He was bound to her. He should not even be physically capable of feeling this way. Rather silent, he eyed both women back and forth. Finally, he gestured for Bellum to come forward. "Captain, walk with me. We shall leave the two women to... get to know one another while we discuss our project."
"As you wish my lord. Princess. Commander. I wish you both well."
"Tell me, Lady Zarun, I'm curious, what do you know of the Naran culture?" Chione asked as she motioned for the bodyguard to take a seat on a pillow next to the tea table. "I'd be rather happy to answer your questions if you have any."
“Naran? I was only given cliff notes. I know that you come from a desert across the sea, you have abnormal physical strength, and you have a cultural taste for jewelry. I must say that your Hasai is rather good.”
"My people are from Al-Daida," Chione clarified for Zarun with a soft smile. "We are supposedly the descendants of Aliyah, the sorceress, and her lover, the great drake of the desert, Daidan." She offered her bodyguard a cup of tea. The leaves were from the variety of plants from her greenhouse. It was soothing and calming. "Indeed, we are strong, and yes, I do appreciate fine jewelry, but there is certainly more to me than such trivial little things."
She encouraged Zarun, "Ask me your questions and I'll ask you a few in return. It is nice to get to know a friend in such a way."
"Very well." Zarun seemed to be deep in thought, then answered honestly. "Your horns. Can you use them in battle? Do you know magic if you are a descendant of a sorceress?"
"Of course!" Chione replied enthusiastically. It was refreshing to have someone else to talk to besides her husband or a servant. She took the tip of her finger and poked her sharp horn. "Naran horns are incredibly resilient. If broken, they grow back. Very useful to use to pierce or gorge." She then gave a slight shake of her head, "Some Narans are blessed with magical talent, while others possess strength. I, unfortunately, do not have magic to use, yet I was blessed in other ways." She motioned to the tea that was in the pot. "I was able to implement the usage of my ancestor's green thumb. She turned the desert into an oasis for us."
"You can manipulate plant life with magic? That sounds beautiful. Part of me is glad you fit so well in the Empire then."
"It's not a very flashy type of magic, but at least I can ensure that the Empire will never be hungry." Chione mused, "Though, here of late, I feel very drained by the pregnancy. I must admit, it's a bit out of sorts for me to lack such energy."
"I am more than willing to lend a hand when need be." The bodyguard walked around with the princess, keeping a steady pace. "I believe it's your turn for questions?"
"I have to admit, you are an Ocho," Chione asked Zarun, rather bluntly, but figured there was no reason to sugarcoat things. "I thought Ocho were all part of the royal family. Why are you working as my bodyguard?"
There was a little bit of regret on Zarun's face, but she kept her tone steady. "When the Waku went to war with the royal family, Emperor Chillowack called upon all the royal houses for support. Fighting the Waku was a struggle on its own. Fighting the dragons, it became a long term slaughter. Because the Emperor held the Crown of Exodrum, he was the most powerful Ocho among us, so we followed any order he laid out with obedience. Even if it meant dying with honour. And that, ultimately, is what occurred."
Reaching a balcony, Zarun pointed out the countryside in the distance next to the volcano. "Out there, in the distant plains. That's where my family laid down their lives fighting two dragons. We were allowed to command armies of Skurge and Romtan, but for my family, for the rest of the Ocho, honour dictated that we lead by example. That put us right in front of all the carnage. When all the fighting was done, I was one of the last remaining Ocho outside of the royal family. Certainly the last of mine. Now only a handful of families remain."
"Oh..." Chione did not realize there were other Ocho families besides her husband's. There was still a lot left for her to learn. The pain in Zarun's voice was evident. Loss was a wound which never went away, even with the passing of time. The pain only became easier to deal with as the years passed. "I'm sorry for the loss of your family."
The Nara frowned, and then gave Zarun's hand a soft pat as a gesture of comfort. "I know what it is like to lose someone you love. My parents have been gone for a few years, but I still miss them." She gave a brief pause and then stated, "I hope you find someone one day that makes you as happy as Mally makes me. Then, you can have your own family again. No, it won't be the same, but still..." Chione gave a small smile. "It will be less lonely for sure."
The Ocho smiled, feeling a sense of comradery between herself and the princess. "Indeed. I take it you've enjoyed your time here in the Empire so far?"
"The Empire is very different from Al-Daidan, but I have enjoyed my time here." Chione supposed that was a half truth. She was enjoying her time here, but felt so... alienated. There was hardly anyone here who she could consider a true friend. "It'd be nice if I could... go outside of the palace." The Naran gave a defeated sigh, "Mally is insistent that I remain within the walls for my safety, stating he does not know how the people will react to me."
"Well... you're safe with me. If the prince's first concern is safety, then that matter is settled. I can take you to see the countryside."
"Really?!" Chione lit up like fireworks in the sky, grasping both of Zarun's hands in excitement. She had her hopes up now. Even her tail wagged from the thought of visiting the lush countryside with so many new plants. "There's so many new plants I've yet to gather for my garden! I mean, of course, Mally told me he'd have them delivered here, but I want to see them in their natural environment! It might give me the opportunity to make more hybrids!"
"We can ride a Manticore. Come on, you're going to love the sights." Grabbing her hand, the Ocho was quick to lead the Nara down through the palace, down every hall to the monster's stables. Here, in zoo-like cages, various monsters were lying about. An incredibly large Wyvern rested, a few Basilisk's slithered in coils, some Griffins were putting together a nest, and finally, there was the Manticore.
Opening the cage, Zarun let out a whistle. "Myhrra, come!"
From the shadows of the cave corner, a large beast walked forward with heavy paws. The monster had the body of a lion, but on its rear was a massive scorpion-like tail with a rounded spiked tail. It had leathery wings upon its back, and its face was like a man with the main and jaws of a lion. Seeing Chione, it smiled with hunger. It seemed Zarun was on this behaviour right away, flicking fire at its feet.
"No! She is not food! This is Princess Chione. She's going to be a friend."
"A what now?" Chione was barely able to inquire what the hell a manticore was before being dragged by Zarun to the stables. This was new. She had never seen this part of the palace before. There were so many beasts in here that were new to her. Of course, Chione was a bit biased, since in her opinion, there was nothing which could compare to the majestic sand rays of her homeland. When the beasts licked its lips, Chione's tail stood on end for a moment, before flicking in warning. She would fight if necessary, though, thankfully, Zarun calmed her creature. "Are all your pets so bloodthirsty?"
“All the best creatures are.” The way Zarun petted the main of the creature made it almost seem docile, the way it slapped its foot up and down in happiness. Almost wasn’t good enough when it still had maddening eyes staring at Chione, yet it didn’t make any moves. Grabbing a saddle, the Ocho attached it to her pet, then instructed Chione to climb aboard the back. It was about the size of a horse, so just about enough room to fit together. “She won’t bite. Unless I command it~”
"If she bites, I bite back. Just warning you." Chione climbed up on the saddle, the feeling rather foreign. In Al-Daida, she rode the sand rays, camels, and every other mount without such equipment. She was curious as to why the Hasai used such a thing for their pets. "We do not have these in Al-Daida."
“Manticore are rare, even in the empire, so I’m not surprised. Myhrra here I found as a kitten. Trained her to be my companion in battle. Other Ocho gravitated to beasts like griffins, basilisks, or even minotaurs. Since they’re all mostly dead, I’d say I chose wisely. Come on Myhrra, show the princess what you can do.”
With a roar that sounded more like a woman screaming than a cat, the Manticore spread its leathery wings, then with a few paces of running forward took off into the air. Soon enough, the pair was flying over the walls of the castle.
As soon as the manticore took off into the air, Chione was laughing in absolute delight. This reminded her of the flights on the sand rays. It was not as smooth as the ancient rulers of the desert, but it was still wonderful to experience the wind on her face again. It made the kingdom feel a little less foreign, and more like home.
With a slap of the reins, Zarun had her beast take them down with a dive towards the hillsides. Carefully, they flew over rice farmers, going into the lush countryside. “That’s good you’re taking this so well.”
"In my homeland, there are sand rays that are larger than the palace." Chione told Zarun with her arms wide for emphasis. "I miss riding on them. Miss seeing them. Their calls were like music echoing across the desert."
“That sounds beautiful Princess. I can’t say we have anything like that. Least, not since the dragons.”
"I was rather saddened when Mally told me there were no more dragons here," Chione gave a small sigh. "I was hoping to see one. Yet, he told me the dragons and the Waku were evil."
“Corrupted is more accurate. They weren’t always that way. We used to have a powerful and peaceful relationship with the dragons, and the Waku were some of the greatest in our empire. But greed and pride spread through them. There are some beasts that are similar, like Wyverns. Look like dragons from foreign lands, but less intelligent and smaller. There’s also the Krayt. But we avoid them where we can, unless it’s to hunt.”
"It is a sad day when all an individual cares about is power and cannot see what is enough around them." Chione looked out over the farmland, her tail flicking in excitement. "There's so many beautiful plants here. Thank you, for bringing me to see all this. I really appre---um..." She paused, noting that quite a few Hasai were staring at her. "... do I really look that odd?"
"Oh, the Hasai used to have horns and a tail?" Chione did not know that piece of history. Taking Zarun's hand, she was so eager to explore, but knew better than to go running off into the countryside. Malakath had warned her that not everyone was friendly. "I don't want to interrupt their day. I know they have work to do."
Zarun nodded to Chione before addressing the crowd. “Your princess demands you carry on your tasks! We are merely observing. Dismiss your gazes!”
The farmers did as they were told, going back to their livelihoods.
"... that's... effective?" Chione could not believe how fast the people returned to their jobs. "I mean, I don't want to startle them, I just want to be... well... nosy." She admitted sheepishly, "For lack of a better word, I'm curious."
“You can travel wherever you wish. This is your land to observe. You are royalty, and even if you are not originally of these lands, you carry within you holy blood. Your respect does not need to be earned, it is cemented upon you already.”
"While I appreciate all the given respect, I don't want to be..." Chione had to think for a moment, translating in her head. "Perceived as a tyrant. I don't want the people to fear me, or think I'm merely a trophy for Mally. I want them to know me for me."
Zarun observed Chione rather curiously, a raised brow at her thinking. “That’s rather noble of you. If you feel that way, observe. See what you can do to give back to the citizenship. Or perhaps find something worthy of fighting.”
"Mally rarely addresses the topic of his people," Chione then asked Zarun, looking around the area. "What do they need? I might not be able to do much, but I will try."
Zarun gestured to the landscape, at all the people around them, and when she spoke, she did so with reverence. “What do they need? Nothing but to keep the machine that is the Kikai Empire running. As the workers of our land, they keep up all the happiness everyone could ever need. As leaders, those who are of royalty and chosen might hold power as both a weapon but also a tool. It’s up to us to share that power with the people. You want to stand out? Give them a project. After the civil war, much of our beautiful land was scorched. Perhaps you can share techniques or create inventions our people can use?”
Chione wanted to argue that people needed more than a job to feel happiness. Love, friends, stability, food, there was so much she could say a person needed. Yet, a fulfilling purpose was different as well. Taking a look over the land, the Nara thought for a minute. Just because the land was scorched did not mean nothing could grow.
"... do they need more food?" Chione asked Zarun. "I know of very resilient plants that will grow in any type of soil. Of course, it will need some treatment, but I have an idea of what will work." She pointed with her finger, "And spilt the water flow to run in-between the fields instead of having the farmers having to go get it. Irrigation is important."
Zarun smiled at the idea Chione crafted. “It will be done. Would you like to see the forest fauna for inspection?”
"Yes, please!" Chione started to follow Zarun, but stopped, noting some of the farmers lacked the proper equipment. "... and safety needs to be first and foremost. I see a lot of these people do not even have gloves. Some plants are poisonous or could cause a bad reaction. Please make note I want the people to have the appropriate gloves, clothing wear, and boots. Boots are important when working with such heavy farming tools."
“I’ll make a note in my report, princess.”
It only took a couple minutes of flight until the pair found themselves going through the forest line. Landing on the road, Zarun made sure to look around first before letting Chione off the Manticore. “You can look around, but don’t walk too far away.”
The forest was oddly quiet for a place of nature. Chione was quietly observing the different types of plants. Though, one certainly caught her eye. It seemed to be... watching her? It moved as she moved. Curious, she flicked her tail one way and then the other, watching the plant mimic her movements.
"Zarun," Chione called to her bodyguard. "What is this? It... copies me."
“Ah, that’s the Dabara Bush. It can sense movement next to it. In a bid to not be eaten, it follows the movement next to it to scare off animals. We have used it as a detection mechanism against pests in times of war. As long as you aren’t five feet in front of it, it won’t move.” Carefully, Zarun drew her sword. “The trick, however, is sometimes they can grow alongside Deku Baba. I’m sure you’re aware of the man eating plants?”
"The only man eating plant I know is extremely rare called a Jawstalk Mantrap," Chione told Zarun as bent down to observe the Dabara Bush with her tail thudding against the ground in excitement. "Grows to extraordinary lengths and can swallow a man whole. I only save a preserved one, once." She then said, "We can use these in the fields to keep away flies and other pests. They don't feed on other plants, right? So it can be a symbiotic relationship!" She suggested excitedly, "Minus the Deku Baba, of course."
“That would be ideal. Grab some seeds, I just need to feed Myhrra. She gets antsy if she doesn’t eat every 7 hours.”
"Very well," Chione then asked Zarun, "Does your manticore eat fruit? I saw some berry bushes along the way."
“Alas, only meat.” Grabbing a slab of chicken from a sack, the Ocho tossed it in the air. The Manticore rolled its tongue over its teeth, then snatched it with one gulp.
"As long as it doesn't develop a taste for Naran flesh, I'm good." Chione then asked, "... can I pet her?"
“You may. Just don’t show any regret with fear. It’s like blood for a shark.”
The manticore waited, its spiky tail resting as it smiled that monstrous grin.
Chione approached the beast. It was dangerous, that was for sure. Not to show any fear, right? She stepped closer, hearing a small, rumbling growl. So, Chione did the only thing she knew to do, and growled right back, giving the manticore a harsh pat on the withers.
"Don't test me, poofy," Chione told the manticore sternly, chiding it. "I'm nauseous all the time, I want to eat until I puke, my feet are swollen, and my boobs are huge. Go on, test me and see what happens. I dare you. I'll rip out a fang and feed it to you. I'm small, but I can still toss around your emperor like a rag doll."
The Manticore paused, tilting its head. As it seemed like it was about to let Chione pet her, it raised its tail over its head and fired off three metal spikes. Behind the princess, a man who was charging with a blade let out a death rattle as his chest was filled with the projectiles. Before he could even fall to the ground, the smiling Manticore leaped over Chione to swallow the would be assassin whole.
Zarun was quick to draw her katana, watching as other figures emerged from the undergrowth. “Princess, stay close!”
A number of red skinned men brandishing weapons strode forward. The hatred in their eyes was clear. “For our fallen brothers and sisters! For our children! Die!!!”
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Written with @ridersoftheapocalypse, prequel to War of Fire.
