The Long Way Home

Okay, long story short, since I can't draw a doodle to save my life, this is the place where I wrote original, science-fiction fantasy short stories inspired by reposted/reblogged pictures; short stories ranging from solemn, dignified space opera, cyberpunk slice of life and even some high fantasy like chivalry, knights and dragons, sword-and-sorcery etc...! All of which are written in the form of short prosaic verses, lengthy essays and sometimes crude, speculative scripts. If you like to read ramblings from a sci-fi fantasy addict, do come in but LEAVE YOUR DROIDS AND DRAGONS OUTSIDE! There, all plainly said! Welcome and Fair Days Eternal all ye far-flung souls!

[silencedminstrel]

LOOKING BACK - CYBORG SPACE PIRATE LEADER TURNED POPE REMBRANDT ROSWELL AND HIS SON MELVIN ADMIRING HIS LONG LOST PORTRAIT

...Can I please open my eyes now, Mel? Not yet Dad, just a few more seconds...! Sweet Mother Matrix this is--Tada! (Gasp) So what do you think? Mel, where did you get this? I thought this portrait was lost ten years ago? Well Uncle Patrick found it during one of his "business" trips...wanted to give me the best housewarming present he could find! (Sigh)

Yeah I remember...we've just won our fiercest battle with the damned Pal-Qurkurmery Inc (Revenant Collectives bitter rival) and...one of my crew had a knack for painting; he drew me while we're still celebrating, heheheh! Mother Matrix I missed you, Qlep old friend! I actually wanted to replace my left optics (damaged during the battle) but my crew

They insisted I leave it like that, heheh! For the longest time this portrait was hung on the bridge of The Grieving Widow (their former flagship) before...! (Sigh) Before Union Patrols attacked us near the Qol-Velr Interchange...had to abandon ship as they...! (Sniffle) As they incinerated it...! (Sigh) Yeah we had a good run, my friend! We've seen

A lot of action...! And now this painting will be hung right here! To remind the Roswell's future generations about the Pirate turned Pope, a hero in his own right and savior of the downtrodden Psi-Borgs! (Snicker) Yeah I suppose...! Need to remind myself to thank Proscotra for his troubles...! Great! Well I'm starving Dad, let's eat! Lead the way son...!

[ether--net]

[silencedminstrel]

WEEKEND DAY TRIP - THE TRIO ROB, VAL AND VIMAKTA WINDING DOWN AFTER PURSUING A THIEF HALFWAY ACROSS THE GALAXY

(Sigh) Finally we got back what that Klenpathuan stole from us! I swear if we ever get reincarnated remind me to choose our friends wisely, Val! You? Rob? Believe in reincarnation? Well, yeah! Both my parents were Buddhists and they always told me to do good or I'd be reborn a toad!

(Snicker) Yeah, and the galaxy would've been a better place if that toad became a quantum physicist...! Oh, you hurt me Val! How am I gonna get a job then? Well it's better than being that snivelling weasel Kretik Obsalom! Heheh, true that, Vimakta! Well I better get this scratch fixed

Soon or I'm gonna look like a demolition derby racer, heheh...! So...what happened back there, Vimakta? What do you mean? You had that weird look when that Obsalom mentioned the...erm...what's that name again? Akephalos...! Right, that Akey-whats-his-name! Rob's right--you looked

Like you've seen a ghost! (Sigh) I've had some dealings with those tech cultists before and occasionally--they'd shout out that name before they come after me! (Gasp) You've had several run-ins with those hostile tech goons...and survived? Say, Vimakta, if you don't mind me asking, who or what the hell is this Akephalos? I hope you'd sleep soundly tonight, Val!

[the-wolf-and-moon]

NGC 2170, Angel

[silencedminstrel]

TALES FROM THE SHRINE OF REFLECTIONS - PRESIDENT SAIF MINTAKA PAYING GREAT SEER ROYGBIV AN UNAUTHORISED VISIT

You have no business coming here, Mr President! You've been branded a criminal and I am legally bound to report you in! And a fair days eternal to you too, Great Seer! For we both know the origin of that illustrious mirror of yours...or am I mistaken? (Just like the President's sentient

Sword of Wisdom, the all-seeing Mirror Of Fate is also a gift from Akephalos) Heheheh, you are as high-strung as ever, Saif Mintaka! Forsooth! For even the Headless One will be as clueless as to what transpires from our meeting today...! (Those who received the gift of

Akephalos are forever invisible to his eyes and ears) And you are a good actor, Roygbiv! That's what I like about you, heheh...! So you've heard the news I reckon? Yes...for that headless one's very presence is negatively affecting XNROE's ecosystem, and if nothing is to be done then the

Planet itself will physically purge him! Which may only banish him but will destroy everything else around and under him! And I assume you are already with a plan to address this? (Both Roygbiv and the President cannot magickally scan each other) You read my mind...! (Sigh) I don't like that sigh, Mr President! Tell me this doesn't involve killing yourself?!

[chieffoxtheorist]

[silencedminstrel]

THE FOREST IS RESTLESS - NATURE SPIRIT CHIEFS GATHER AROUND THE CHIEF OF THE NATURE WIZARDS HAROUN AGLANDIR

Fair days eternal, Green Keeper Haroun! (Gasp) Lord Sumbuz-Tri, Duke Kuneke, Master Brum, Sage Ruli? This is...this is an unexpected visit! And to what do I owe the pleasure of--Master Haroun, forsooth the Headless One's presence is beginning to sully our world! What? How--The Silver Birds of Time is late for its annual migration! Seven out of

Fifty seven major rivers are being polluted by dark, ominous liquid! And the (usually docile) Meandering Trees of Begellon had started attacking their Tremellin caretakers! Please send some more Green Keepers (Nature Wizards) to tend to these, Master Haroun! And please uproot that vile Akephalos out of this world as soon as possible? My peers

Speak the truth Green Keeper! We and our underlings can contain the detriments for only so long before--Before we'd be looking at a scale of pollution that's second only to the Three Great Wars, Green Keeper! The longer that monster stays in our backyard the more threatened our ecosystem gets! But I can assure you that...everyone in my Order and

The rest of The Hall of Wizards are doing the best we can despite our shortcomings! We're channeling all our resources into the Dance of Life ritual but I can assure you that we would never--Please do, my friend! Or else our sacred world will take its only available course...and all life will cease to exist! (Gasp) Oh, no! The Purging! Not when we're so close!

[the-wolf-and-moon]

Enceladus

[silencedminstrel]

A PROLONGED GOODBYE - XEDDBO AND HIS HUMAN WIFE FELICIA RETURNING HOME AFTER HIS FATHER'S FUNERAL

(Sigh) Agfarlelazisk...! At least he did get to see his grandson for one last time! I'm glad my Dad passed on with a big smile--he hardly ever smiled ever since my Mom's...!

So...what did he said to Xeqimo before he passed? It doesn't sound Lep-Omarchian as far as I can tell? Okay, so in my tribe's Lehur dialect that's what we called Ifth-Thalasa

Something that roughly translates to "Words of Wisdom!" A time-honored tradition where the Patriarch conveys some cryptic message to his eldest grandson just before he dies...!

It symbolizes the continuity of our lineage, analogous to the human's passing of--what's wrong? (Sniffle) So that means...our son...is now...? Yeah...! And my planet's government will have no choice but to comply now...!

[cyberpunklifestyle]

[silencedminstrel]

ALONE IN THE CITY - TEENAGE CYBORG BRIAN YAP TAKING A WALK IN THE DOWNTOWN AREA OF XIAN GAN PRIME

Hey Brian, what are you doing out here all by yourself? You're supposed to follow the President back tomorrow morning...! Oh? Hey Donnie, can't sleep so I thought I'd take a walk for a bit...! So are you and Caleb okay? You sounded so stressed just now...! Yeah, we're okay...why wouldn't we be? You sure? Yeah! Then why did I got a CC from Caleb

Just now saying "I'm sorry" a million times? Why did you cut ties with him Brian? Is it because...? (Sniffle) Caleb, him and me we, we grew up together...! He was always there for me and...even after losing his parents he still looks out for me but...! (Sniffle) But now? So what am I supposed to tell him, Donnie? That I'm...I'm an alien...from another planet?

Mr President said I'll only put...everyone...in danger if I stay here so I think...I think...it's best that...we...stopped...being...! (Hugs) There, there Brian...that's okay, that's okay! I understand...! (Sigh) We'll figure something out...! I know you have to go back to XNROE tomorrow so...just message him saying that you're trying to adjust to a new life here on

Xian Gan Prime, that you're going to contact him as soon as everything got settled over here...! (Hugs) Thanks...Donnie...! Hey no problem, dude! We only have each other now and...! And things are going to get weird after this...! What do you mean? (Sigh) Let's just say you're a celebrity now, Brian! And the longer you stay here the more complicated galactic affairs would get...! Yeah, sucks...!

[gothredy]

[bludov]

Sooo beautiful 🥰💙🦋

[silencedminstrel]

A VIDEO CALL FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE GALAXY - CYBORG BRIAN ENDING HIS FRIENDSHIP WITH HIS BEST FRIEND

Hey Caleb, how are you? Hey Brian, I heard what happened and I'm sorry I couldn't call you up sooner...are you okay? Yeah, I'm okay Caleb, nothing that a full body skin grafting can't fix, heheh! That's not funny, Brian! That gas explosion took out the entire street...you could've gone offline or worse! Sorry Caleb, I'm okay; just some bruises and a high fever

For a couple of days...! So how's your first week in school, Caleb? Have you started learning how to shoot yet? Are you still mad I enrolled, Brian? Maybe...! (Sigh) Like I said it's just like any other highschool except that you'd do basic training after classes...we'll only get to learn the heavy stuff right after graduating, when we became recruits...!

You know you could've told me first, right? I thought we were friends, Caleb? Friends don't keep secrets from each other, okay? Look, I know how you feel about being a soldier but, a part of me is tired from feeling helpless, a victim of some war that shouldn't have happened! But those Faceless Horde don't care how we feel, Caleb! You know that

We're not the only orphans of that damned invasion, okay? I know...I know we've lost our parents but...I don't want any other kids to lose theirs...to suffer like we did! So that's why I chose to fight and not, doing, nothing, about it...! (Sniffle) I thought we were friends Caleb...I don't think...we should...see each other...anymore! Goodbye...! No, wait! BRIAN!

[lehooes]

merton wu

[silencedminstrel]

UNEASY LIES THE HEAD THAT WEARS THE CROWN - THE CHAIRMAN OF THE GALACTIC UNION PONDERING THE FUTURE AFTER HE RESIGNED

A penny for your thoughts, sir? (Sigh) I was wondering Ms Wink-Qwem; will this galaxy be worst off when I leave than when I came in? Coming from you it's as absurd as any sane person could ever sounds like! You're the hero of the Milky Way, remember? Ah I'm really going to miss your sharp wit when I stepped down next year, Ms Wink-Qwem!

Here's hoping the next Supreme Chairman would benefit from your company as much as I did...! But why's the sentimentality, sir? You're not...gonna cry on me now are you? Actually Glerkia, I don't think I should just leave everything to some other hands when there's so much to be done! The rebuilding, the fate of the Messenger of Shairo, those

Deviant tech cultists going at each others' throats, this here universe in general? Well you cared too much--that part checked out! But the galactic public will forever remember you as the only Chairman who took office during our darkest of hours--you controlled the army that defeated the Faceless Horde damnit! Why can't you just cut yourself some

Slack? That's because Ms Wink-Qwem, there are powers at work that do not have our best interest in mind and...! (Sigh) Though I don't have any crystal ball hidden somewhere but we are in for darker nights...and I don't think anybody else understands it as much as I do! (Sigh) I really...don't...get you...Mr Chairman! You're so impossible sometimes...! It's for the best that you never would, Ms Wink-Qwem!

[newesprod]

[silencedminstrel]

VOICES OF THE LITTLE PEOPLE - A NEW HESPERIAN CYBORG LAMENTS ON CURRENT EVENTS HAPPENING IN HIS WORLD WHILE GOING OFF TO WORK

Mother Matrix this really feels like a fever dream: a band of Sacred Survivors, hiding in plain sight, on New Hesperia, for more than two decades? And two of them are cyborgs? Hardly a wonder everybody started looking strangely at each other these days; cyborgs, meatballs, Neo Sapiens? We've all started getting wary of each other now, wondering

What if that last person we passed by on the street today was one of them? Heck, so much so that our new pontiff had issued a statement, saying everything is fine but yeah, rumor has it that his own son had befriended one of them since before the Epsilon Call (human/cyborg civil war)! Great, and what about that so-called underground

Gas explosion down in Xian Gan Prime last Tuesday? Eyewitness reports said a cyborg teenager torched down giant bat-like aliens but the authority denied it? (Scoff) Mother Matrix can't believe the things I read on the Interweb lately but hey! Strange things did happen these past four years but now? Everybody has it on tape just to prove it!

Heheheh, oh well...! Let's just leave it to the City Sentinels John--life's already hard enough as it is! And soon the Union will have its first ever General Election since the failed invasion...! Yeah I still remember what happened alright--the Dark Legion came and nearly wrecked the place! I shudder to think what would happen this time around...!

[silencedminstrel]

VIRTUAL TEMPTATIONS - CHAMPION OF THE VIRTUAL ORDER CYBER KNIGHT TALMOV TARKONEN MEDITATING ON RECENT EVENTS, COURTESY OF THE WISE BUT DESPERATE HEADLESS BEING

"You will rethink on my said offer Master Tarkonen...!" (Scoff) After you eradicated ten of my best men you still wanted to rub salt into my wound? Forsooth my young foolish self would have either fallen into your trap (Akephalos taunted him as he made his escape) or started having second thoughts about his cause...but not this me! Master

Tervlen was right to worry about me but he's the reason why I draw my sword out for the Order! I have learned who my enemies were and who were my friends...but that damned headless being doesn't deserve to live! I will hunt him down and then I will deliver the final blow...and see if he has something to say about that! (Akephalos sees and hears

Everything in this universe) But for now I must meditate, I must ruminate on what went wrong; I must calculate on my future encounters--even more so as the sacred Dance of Life ritual draws near...! He may have the advantage of infinite senses but if he values his existence (Akephalos is mortal on XNROE) he will find means to achieve his

Goal real fast! And that is his weak spot! His desperation is an open secret, and from what (Head Wizard of the Holy Estate) Master Kevga said, he needs the Holy Estate intact! Doubtless that we shall see him again, but until that time comes I shall keep my blade sharp, and my mind--even sharper! "For Life in a better light, and our Future a better place...!" (Virtual Magick Rede)

[intj-porn]

[silencedminstrel]

LAMENT OF A LONE WATCHER WORKING TO GATHER INFORMATION FROM THE COMFORTS OF HIS STUDIO APARTMENT

(Sigh) This is madness! Thirty skirmishes across the Milky Way all at once? As much as I have seen my share of battles but this? Is overkill! I know that those deviant tech cultists started offing each other ever since the failed invasion but why's this senseless violence? Number One did told me not long ago to watch out for "outside" interventions

But...! (Sigh) He didn't mention Akephalos would be meddling with our affairs! What am I going to tell my clients? A wise, immortal, headless being from the beginning of time is behind all this? How am I supposed to produce a proof of his existence if I can't even see him? Damn it! Things were way easier when we Watchers were still as one

We'd have access to higher powers that we can even watch the movements of higher beings but now? I am severely handicapped as it is; the best I can do is to observe and present my findings to my clients...! At least they haven't made a move on either leaders yet...the Valley City and the Synod HQ are safe for the moment! Soon the Galactic

Union will begin its transition to a new administration and...experience tells me if anybody wanted to make an impression, the General Election will always be their avenue! Damn it I'm used to be working as a team so this might get a litt--No! Focus, Noxidam! You can do this--you need to do this! Or else this galaxy will go to the dogs again...! (Sigh)

[memoirsofthealphaking]

The bond

[silencedminstrel]

FORBIDDEN TRYST - ESTRANGED COUPLE SHYAIR AND AYESHA AFTER A NIGHT OF ENDLESS, UNINHIBITED PASSION

Oh Ayesha my twice beloved! How I missed thine softest of touch and thine sweetest of embrace! I wish for naught but to extend this here night forever; so as to continue with our lovemaking till kingdom come...! *(Oh Shyair there's not a thing in this great universe and beyond that I'd covet more than to remain in your arms forever, but alas time will always

Envy us!) Forsooth! For both sides took a lot of risks to see us here together--you might lose your crown and mine my life! *(For too long we've been apart, and longer still I've felt like ending it all! But still I'm glad, to feel your everlasting love inside of me tonight...!) The masked politician was true to his words; albeit he himself is a wanted man he...!

*(Indeed he is, but there's nothing I could do if both of you gets caught, Shyair! So please be careful; I could almost feel the perverted gaze of that headless being as we touched!) Akephalos will remain mortal for as long as he's on XNROE, my love; the entire Hall of Wizards are let loose upon him as we speak! Hence why we could even be here tonight...!

(Smooch) *(I wish this night would never end as well but alas! It's almost dawn and the Knights of the Red Wind (Imperial Guards) they'd as soon sense my absence!) (Sigh) I know, so give my thanks to your sister Fatima for arranging our meeting tonight; I still remember our adventures from days long past--bless her golden heart! (Smooch) Fair days eternal...my twice beloved! (Sniffle)

Note: *(Sign language)

[materterrae]

[silencedminstrel]

PSI-BEING SOLDIER GENERAL JENSEN MACREADY STANDING ABOVE A MOUNTAIN OVERLOOKING THE FORMER WATCHERS' SECRET BASE WHICH HAS SINCE BECOME THEIR NEW HOME

(Sigh) Finally we're able to transport the Preseglin Daiti Crystal (the Psi-Being Order's most sacred relic) safely down, maybe now I can breathe while our Brothers and Sisters meditate before it, settling it down in its new home...! The Order of The Blessed had endured so much it seems

Starting from the time when Gus accidentally murdered hundreds (while trying to release his brother Ted), the departure of our beloved Patriarch and...! (Sigh) And our helping the galaxy win over the Faceless Horde two years ago; all at the cost of losing several thousands of our...!

I know we Psi-Beings should not have material desires but...maybe it's better that we didn't go in over our heads once the news got out (they played a huge part in the galaxy's fight against the Kltua-Lymonzs but chose not to make it public) but now? About this Wise Headless One

(Akephalos) loose upon the sacred planet trying to steal back his head? The Synod had sent agents last month to ask for our help but our (new) Patriarch has yet to issue a reply! What's he waiting for? I just hope that the launching of The Messenger Of Shairo starship tomorrow goes on smoothly...! Oh Jensen just...just give it a rest, will you? That's an order!

[karagin22]

[silencedminstrel]

THE MEETING OF HEADS - THE CYBORG POPE, DIRECTOR THADDEUS SHARPE OF DECORUM-58, BENNY CHAN OF XIAN GAN PRIME, LEADERS OF THE UNION AND THE SYNOD AND THE MASKED POLITICIAN ON THE EVE OF A MOMENTOUS OCCASION

(Sigh) So they're still going to launch the Messenger of Shairo starship, Mr President? Despite knowing very well that the Final Prophecy is no longer valid? I'm afraid so, Your Eminence! And with my connection to Akephalos is made public on that sacred planet, the news stopped coming from my formal sources...! But what I want to know is

Did those hostile tech cultists have aligned themselves with this...headless being? Unconfirmed Mr Sharpe, but according to reports from my local agents, several factions seemed to have "supernatural" backings; these are closely monitored so we'll know exactly when they'll strike again...! But how reliable are your info Mr President?

Our Supreme Chairman can vouch for me, as also The Synod's Madam Chancellor...! Reports have been sketchy at best Mr Sharpe, but recent activities seemed to center around Xian Gan Prime and its immediate vicinity...! And from what I've gathered, they're occupied in finding a recent refugee from that sacred planet

A cyborg with supernatural abilities or something? Yes...a Fire Wizard...Mother Matrix confirmed it...hence it's up to the Synod's White Legion to keep them safe! So are we in an agreement that this delicate matter stays between us? To the letter Mr Chan! At least until my term ends next year, afterwards it's anybody's guess! Oh you worry too much Mr Chairman! I hope not...!

[world-beauty]

Simeis 147: Supernova Remnant

Credits: David Lindemann

[silencedminstrel]

COMMUNION - NEW HESPERIAN CYBORG PONTIFF REMBRANDT ROSWELL CONVENING WITH HIS GODDESS THE GALACTIC SUPERCOMPUTER MOTHER MATRIX VIA A VIRTUAL HOOKUP

Mother how could you do this!? Allowing the people from XNROE to come and stay in our world? Now it's only a matter of time before the Ja-annites or what else would come to our world and--You needn't worry, Rembrandt! For I know about your fight against the Dark Legion, and I know the Ja-annites were far worse than them! But I can't let those refugees roam aimlessly in the universe while their headless enemy bides his time in capturing them! Remember that nothing comes in and out of our galaxy without my prior knowledge Rembrandt

And to whomever that I decided to reach out and welcome, nothing in this galaxy could stop me! Forgive me Mother, for the memory of the Dark Legion is still fresh in my mind...! So tell me, are these two children flesh and blood or...? They were trans-humanoid when i first saw them, hence I had deduced it would be easy for them to live amongst the cyborgs of New Hesperia! So I gave them new identities and separated them as requested by their elder...! So Melvin had been in contact with one of them all these while! (Melvin and Donnie met before joining

East Esplanade's cyborg gangster The Mean Streak; later on Melvin rose in rank to become their leader and Donnie his second), if I only knew--You're a wanted man at that time Rembrandt, and New Hesperia was on the verge of another Epsilon Call (human/cyborg civil war)...! But, how come it took Akephalos this long as to realized where those children were hiding? My husband (former Kltua-Lymonz leader Moiko-Stitska) blessed those two so as to shield them from that monster's eyes, but he knew that his protection has limits! And now with the

Final Prophecy gone haywire (Rembrandt learns a lot after becoming the Bearer of the Holy Paladin) what only knows...? You needn't worry Rembrandt, for the President knows what he is doing; we just have to carry on as if nothing happens...! I understand Mother, though it still bothers me that even after that failed invasion, the fate of our galaxy and our universe is still...! I feel the same way too, Rembrandt! Let us hope that when this Fire Wizard finally comes around, he will not forget about his second home, and comes to our aid when his help is needed...!

[machineteethepoch]

[silencedminstrel]

DOWN THE TUNNELS - VIMAKTA, ROB AND VAL ON THEIR WAY TO NAB A SCALY ASSED ALIEN WHO STOLE FROM THEM

Dang blasted! That Klenpathuan scratched my finish! See, I told you that Dr Obsalom's craftier than he looks; we wouldn't have spent two years after him if he didn't give us the slip! (Groan) This scratch'll cost me a thousand creds to fix! Rob have you got a fix on his position? Yep, but I got some bad news Val! (Sigh) Don't we ever...? He's gone

Down the Plekostomos Tube (a VIP level underground train service), we needed at least a Gold Clearance to acess it! Then we go down the maintenance...! I know how to jump that creep before he reaches the next sub-junction! If we missed that one he'll be on that other planet and--And another two years of cat and mouse...! Rob, have you

Started cooking our bodies yet? Yep, in case he bombed us to kingdom come like last time...! (Rob and Val have Lep-Omarchian blood serum vats back home that would clone them each time they died--they've been using them repeatedly for the past four years!) Alright, he's going down this time! But, but this tunnel ran halfway across the

Planet and he already has a--Oh I've got a few more surprises left, Rob, Val! (Originally a triple changer, Vimakta received some cool upgrades since becoming a Guardian) (Gasp) Is that...a Tube Jumper? (A sub-warp vehicle that is almost always "used" for boarding interstellar trains) I feel better already, Rob! Yippee! I've always wanted to "Rob" a train, Val! (Sigh) Alright...let's go get that sucker!

[vorpalfae]

[silencedminstrel]

A FRESH START - THE DARK EMPEROR AZABUEL AND HIS WIFE EMPRESS FATIMA INSIDE THE ONLY SURVIVING JA-AANITE PROPERTY ON XNROE

Damn it it's been a week since we fought and Akephalos hasn't made a move! What is he planning!? Nobody knows dear, but at least we've revealed his secret to the public! He must have realized that Kevga and his chief wizards are on to him now...! (Sigh) Yes, you're right, my love! And knowing what we know, he won't leave XNROE without his

Precious severed head! It's only a matter of time before his desperation gets the better of him...! True, and now we must prepare our house for the royal banquet this weekend!Ayesha was kind enough to have given the Flospeiden Estate back to us...never thought we could be here for real! (The Flospeiden Estate belonged to the Ja-aanites during

The Golden Age, when they were still part of XNROE) Yes, father spoke highly of this place: a fertile valley overshadowed by the Northern Range (one of which that towers over the planetary capital The Valley City), where children learned and played, the air is sweet and the harvests are always plentiful! Yes, he would have loved being here, the only

Existing legacy of our ancient--Right, and our first task is to fix the moat, next restore the old menagerie and then train our staff to handle the guests! Later we...! (Sigh) But Fatima dear, do we have to? Now, Azabuel! Remember you're a royal figurehead so you need to brush up on protocols...! Afterwards you...! (Sigh) I shouldn't have left Kryutopia...!