CH 29: Option Select
=== BABW: A New Conflict ===
=== Chapter 29: Option Select ===
[ October 8, ????+1 – Somewhere on the Astral Plane near Equus ]
================================================================
“It’s been too long, Lady Celestia and Lady Luna, far too long…” a regal figure said[1] - eagle’s head of stormcloud gray with a golden solar yellow center, fringes ringed in rainbow colors; contrasted against a body of the deepest of midnight blue hues, with faint stripes of milky white and scattered pinpricks of the same.
“You were always so formal with us, Sir Aquileo,” Luna reponsed in greeting, giggling a bit with the somewhat stuffy nature of the Patron Immortal of the Gryphons.
The celestial eagle-and-pantera (no one was ever able to nail down exactly which big cat his body was modeled after) morph beat his four wings in a huff to show his mild consternation at the second youngest ‘sibling’ of the whole Pantheon of Equus.
“It is a shame that Lady Cadence could not join us. I do enjoy when we can get the entire Pantheon together to discuss the comings and goings of our world in the manner that only we are capable of,” Aquileo groaned in frustration, a bit upset that everyone was more content to do what they wanted with little interference from the others save formalities.
“Eventually we will before too many years pass in real-time,” Celestia assured her elder brother, which brought a smile to the face of the dual-toned creature.
“I can only surmise that you left her behind in order to let her attend Court, since it is the Day in your section of the world,” another Immortal figure surmised, his cloak[2] unmistakable amongst the entire cadre of creatures that surrounded the metaphysical space around Equus.
“I see the Master of Tales have graced us. If nothing else, this meeting of the Patrons of the Major Nations will have to assuage me for now,” Aquileo remarked, as the Zebra Immortal removed the cloak from his head.
The Zebra had glowing golden eyes, with irises of the deepest black, and stripes of all manners of shades of white, grey, and black. But the most striking thing about his visage was what was always surrounding him.
“You know you don’t have to have all that spiderweb around you. Even the little Ponies would say I was being a bit melodramatic with my costuming during Nightmare Night if I were manifest as such,” Luna mused aloud, a bit of a mirthful tone.
“I can imagine, Keeper of Our Moon. And yet, I find it necessary these days. The tales your new additions to your Herd have to tell… I may need to open a new Wing of the Celestial Library at this rate…” the Zebra replied; Luna catching a glimpse of his two eyes dividing into four for a split second, surmising the Master of Tales had formally recorded more information into said Library.
“Zan’Anzi, if the three of you actually agree to our proposal tonight, you are going to have to promise me one thing,” Celestia asked of her second elder brother to arrive to the meeting.
“And that would be?” the tall, and well-built Zebra replied, as he stood a few ‘inches’ taller than his sister Pony.
“You simply have to find a more efficient way to record from your ears on the ground, than keeping Astral Web on your person. At the rate we’re going, you will wind up cocooned in it,” the white Alicorn replied, trying to stifle a giggle as she imagined the tall Zebra strung up in cocoon of his own making.
“I will keep that in mind, Celestia,” Zan’Anzi replied with a chuckle, as he braided the loose spiderweb on his person into a long cord, and wrapped it around his body like a very-loosely coiled fiber-optic cable.
“A much better look for you, my Zebra compatriot,” they heard five feminine voices boom in unison. Each of the four immortals gathered holding their heads for a few moments as they mentally adjusted to her presence.
“That mild cacophony of dragoness tones can only mean the last member of this gathering is here,” Aquileo groaned, still not used to how the Patroness of Dragons spoke after all these eons, at least when she wasn’t already speaking.
A gigantic creature landed in the metaphysical meeting space the five of them had reserved, nearly the size of a large house compared to the slightly-larger-than-a-full-grown-man size of the other four. Her five heads[3] grumbled in a manner befitting a high-class individual who was persistently annoyed by something: as was evidenced by the fact her body scales hummed a slightly purplish-red tone.
“So how goes things, Tiamat?” Zan’Anzi asked has he looked up at the Spirit-Queen of Dragons.
The main-head, which shared the same purplish-red hue of her body, spoke while her other four heads rested along her shoulders. “Our younger sisters requested our presence, and while I reserve the right to be annoyed by having to leave my hoard, I ultimately cannot deny their request.”
The Wyrm head quipped up when the main head was done speaking. “And besides, the fact our Clutch has remained so small compared to the rest of your populations continues to be a sore spot for me. What the Keeper of the Moon has to propose can rectify this in relative short order.”
“On the one claw, our world is flush with enough resources to support a far bigger Dragon population than we have,” Aquileo thought aloud, speculation triggered by the rumblings of the slate-gray and brown Wyrm-head of the Dragon Immortal. “On the other, there is no telling what happens if the Dragon population were to grow to size comparable to our own.”
“True, it is hard to gauge that. Then again, on Terra, there was a much more robust population of Dragons with fewer pure crystal resources. Ultimately the Dragons only need Crystals for their natural dragonscale weave. I am… unsure where they got the idea that the majority, if not the entirety of their diet had to be crystalline in nature,” Zan’Anzi mused, his eyes having divided into four - showing more tapping of the second level of the Celestial Library.
“I will maintain I did not suggest such a thing to my Brood. Though, I also haven’t told them they were necessarily wrong in thinking how they do,” Tiamat replied, crossing her mighty arms/forelegs as she did.
“I am certainly thankful that the older amongst your Brood eventually come to learn that from themselves. Though we will need to teach any that avail themselves of this coming option the truth to your biology, at least as much as you are willing to divulge,” Celestia remarked, looking into the stern ruby eyes of the Dragoness.
Tiamat thought for a few seconds before replying. “I will have Wraithwind send you documents to be translated into Terran languages once the Ape scientists figure out the keys we are to cede to your possession.”
“It would also be helpful if you not refer to the Humans as such,” Luna chided of her elder sister.
“I will take it up with Gaea should she make her way over here,” Tiamat responded curtly.
“It seems like the Dragon-Human tension has not abated. I would guess that’s from the merging of the Equuan and Terran Dragon Horde into a singular family,” Aquileo thought aloud.
“That is a fair way to surmise it, Aquileo. Wraithwind and the others of the Nomad Council are learned enough to quell the instinctive distrust of the Humans, but the more… raw of my Brood will find themselves uncomfortable in the presence of too many of the…” Tiamat started; before she saw the doubly-stern look her near-youngest sister was giving her. “Sorry, uncomfortable in the presence of too many of the humans.”
“I will break you of that habit, no matter how many eons it takes, Tiamat,” Luna mused, with a bit of wryness to her voice.
“It will take you so long, I would wager,” Tiamat responded, as her Long head yawned a bit before dozing off again. “In any case, I trust that you will all not object to intervening of our own accord if one chooses to join us and we may have, concerns about that individual?”
“Not at all, Tiamat. In fact the whole purpose of these keys is to create a simulacrum that will process the bulk of your entries, while flagging those who may be of particular interest,” Luna responded.
“I have no further questions then,” Aquileo said, as he manifested an orb of golden yellow magic from between his four wings.
“Nor do I…” Zan’Anzi added, uncovering a green-ish orb of magic from underneath a spider-silk cloth.
“Any problems I have I have already stated, and rest assured if I think of any more, I will let you all know,” Tiamat rumbled, as she breathed dragonflame until it coalesced into a crimson orb like the others.
The Royal Sisters took the orbs and placed them into three card-like keys, each key glowing as the magic filled the channels etched into each.
“Before you return to our shared Reality, dear Sisters, have you thought about what you may do whenever it comes times for you to join us on a more, consistent basis?” Zan’Anzi asked of the two Alicorns before him.
“I have, at least. It would be comfort to retire to the role of Mentor and Watcher instead of one-half, and in the near future one-third of the Sovereign. Though, even given the thousand years I and my Ponies have been at work, I’m not sure if we have repaired all that Discord rent asunder. And then there is the curious case of Discord himself,” Celestia thought, as Luna seemed grumble in frustration.
“Yes, your intent in sealing him the very first time was sound. When you assimilated Her powers into yourself, you used the excess to bind Discord, body, mind, and soul, to magical stone – reducing him to a passive observer of all that went on around him. But you know as well as we do the nature of Chaos,” Aquileo stated, as he looked at the two Alicorns, each one seemingly representing a perfect half of their ‘mother’.
“Yes, brother. Discord, if we were to do absolutely nothing, will eventually break his bonds… again,” Luna responded, seemingly spitting at the last few words of her statement.
“If we want a permanent solution to our problem, we have to eliminate Discord as a threat to our world, and our cosmos in general…” Celestia started, before a thought popped into her head. “If I remember correctly, the reason why we defeated Discord at the height of his power to begin with was because we tapped into one of the reservoirs of Terran Magic that existed in Equus still; with the will of our ‘mother’ combined with that power from the leftover gift from Gaea, we could tap into a force so primal to reality itself, we could rewrite an entity of Chaos as one of, admittedly temporary, Order.”
“I think I can see this insight of yours: the Elements, and by extension, the Conduits of Terra exemplify the resuscitation of Terran Magic. As well as the Ancient Terran Dragon philosophy preaching balance between the ideals of Will and Power,” Tiamat thought and added. “Ultimately, if we want to neutralize Discord as a threat without trying to kill him, we will need to leverage the current Bearers of the Elements, both of Harmony and Terra, to show him the Trial of Insanity is long over with.”
“It would take some doing, since it was not too long that he was re-sealed in stone. But we do have quite some time before the new seal will start to fail,” Zan’Anzi mentioned.
“When Discord managed to break out last time, he seemed more interested in testing the new Bearers of the Elments than sowing Chaos in that immediate frame – which at the time I figured was just him trying to eliminate the one solid threat to him from re-establishing control. But now that I’ve had some time to think about it… I honestly believe Discord is interested in the Elements of Harmony, at least, as a group and individuals beyond them simply being the new holders of the Elements. It is possible we can leverage that in the near future,” Celestia responded.
“So do you still believe in deliberately unsealing him to see if the Elements can at least render him a non-antagonist?” Luna asked of her elder sister.
“Eventually. Their attunement to the elements is still quite raw, so I would not dare release him now. But I can see a day where Discord is less the malevolent force of destruction and madness he was before, and more of a trickster… somewhat like you, Zan’Anzi, when you’ve been piqued,” Celestia replied, with a smile toward the Patron of Zebrakind.
“Guilty as charged, little sister. I do enjoy the good amusing scenario here and there, especially when I can allow it to build over a long period of time,” Zan’Anzi chuckled as he responded.
“While I eagerly await that day, if for no other reason to have that Sword not hang over our collective heads, is it not time for you to make your way back to the Physical Plane to resume your incarnate duties?” Aquileo asked of the Royal Sisters.
“Ah yes, I do believe dear Cadence is probably at her wits end by now; wondering if she could get the petitioners to fall in love with some sort of inanimate object to spare her a few moments respite,” Princess Celestia thought aloud.
“While the thought of some of those Nobles lusting over a lamppost amuses me greatly, we should avoid increasing whatever enmity we might have with them. We may already be having problems in that regard as it stands, for other reasons,” Luna added, as the two of them began to re-manifest in reality.
“Just remember, we are always here to help you two and Cadence with the world, in whatever way that we can. Despite how we might sound about it at face value,” Tiamat bellowed to her younger sisters as they vanished from the Astral Plane.
=== -- ===
“Ugh I am so bored right now…” the pink Alicorn mused aloud, as her Crystal Guard shared her look of disdain and ennui, as they looked across the way to the Listening Hall, and a table that was conspicuously bereft of petitioners.
“Is it really that slow today, or are they avoiding us for some reason?” one of her Guard asked of one of the regular Solar Guard.
“It’s a little of both to be perfectly honest. I think most of our frequent visitors feel that they would not get a fair hearing from Princess Cadence, which I can only take to mean they don’t know how to work her or her aides,” the Solar Guard responded.
A pair of golden and azure flashes in a nearby room heralded the return of the Royal Princesses, and for their niece, it was a long time in waiting.
“Aunt Celestia, Aunt Luna, help me please,” Cadence moaned in plaintive need, as she laid out across the ‘arms’ of her throne, showing mock distress, but getting her point across to the two elder Alicorns quite quickly.
“It looks like everything is well under control here, I do not see an angry mob or anything of the sort,” Luna responded, as a Lunar Guardsstallion brought her court regalia, as a Solar Guardsstallion did the same for Celestia.
“At this point I might take a slightly churlish gathering over this fat lot of nothing I’ve had over the two hours you’ve been gone to consult with the others,” Cadence replied, as she visibly grumbled about the fact that few, if any, saw fit to petition the Court in the time she was sitting on the throne.
As Cadence de-materialized her throne and Celestia re-materialized hers, officially showing the handover from the Crystal to the Day Court, Celestia couldn’t help but notice a bit of a forlorn look in her niece.
“I get the feeling that I was doing something entirely wrong, but everyone was too afraid to tell me what it was. I guess either for fear of upsetting myself, of upsetting one or both of you,” Cadence replied, as she sat down near the throne, contemplating the last couple of hours’ events, or lack thereof.
“Night Court was a similar problem for me the first year or so after my return and cleansing. No one knew if the wrong word or phrase would send me into a relapse. And in addition, I could blatantly tell that a fair number, if not a majority, of the petitioners did not exactly hold me in high esteem,” Luna responded as she was ready to catch what sleep she could before moonrise later that evening.
“I should think we have been able to grow past those issues; though I think Cadence’s issues will take some time longer, simply because she will be in Crystalia most of the time,” Celestia figured.
“True enough, Aunt Celestia. I guess I could take this to say I need to engage more when I hold court. It is possible, due to the empathic link through the Crystal Heart, that I’ve allowed myself to grow complacent in trying to steer conversation. At least that is what I am figuring at the moment from my limited experience with the Crystal Court,” Cadence thought aloud.
“It is much easier when you have a rapport with the Nobles, then they can say things without having to utter them out loud, which makes it easier for them to save face. Don’t worry Cadence, you will learn these things with time,” Celestia remarked with a smile, as the her niece (and sovereign of the Crystal Empire) and the attendant Crystal Guardstallions made her their way out of the Listening Room, to take the air-carriage ride back to Crystalia.
[ October 10, 2081 – Safe Haven ]
=================================
“I wonder why your mom and dad wanted us all to get together here? They’ve been snowed under with work all of this time since we all moved here from St. Louis,” Vague thought out loud, as he looked at the message flashing on one of Hana’s pads.
“I guess they’re ready to show us the fruits of their labor on the new phase of the Project,” Hana surmised.
“I heard all manners of things about this Project, and I have read through some of the documents you all used with the first of the Converts. It is an interesting system you had set up then,” Kel’yual, one of the Zebra armorers, mused aloud, as he sat in the commissary with the rest of the Conduits and a few of the other-species volunteers.
“I have a bunch of questions to ask, but I guess that’ll have to wait for a bit,” Wyrazanie Slyzsa said, as her ears perked up a bit hearing the footsteps and last minute mutterings in that language that sounded identical to Neighponese.
“Huh?” Blaze started, to ask, before he saw the middle-aged Japanese couple, Doctors Hayato and Jun Isegawa, the nanomachine specialist holding a chrome-covered briefcase.
“Good news, everyone!” Hayato called out in loud and gregarious accented English.
“You found the universal cure for cancer?” Vague responded with a joking tone.
“In a manner of speaking, anyway~” Dr. Jun replied in kind, with a sly tone to match. “But in honesty, we do have something important to show all of you.”
The Doctors Isegawa pulled up another table to serve as a display, as the woman that was all of 5’6” turned the case over, spun it around, and opened it. What was revealed inside did not seem that impressive at first blush, until everyone witnessing put two and two together.
“Wow, they look a little brighter than the old ones used to look,” Hana said, as she looked at the slightly glowing potions of purple, gold, red, and green – each one in a stylized 8 oz vial, with a cap that was a tiny bust of each species.
“When did you all get time to design those vial-caps?” Storm asked of the Doctors.
“One of the lab techs is also a part time sculptor. He said all he needed was some good modeling software, a 3D Scanner, and a volunteer of each species, and there you go,” Dr. Hayato responded.
“Should be worthwhile for any administering nurse who is completely color blind,” Frederika said aloud, getting a nod from Blaze.
“In any way, it is all well and good that we have these resources now, but we also need a safe mechanism by which to use them. I doubt if we could re-establish the same network of Bureaus we had before…” Dr. Jun mused as her brain got to turning.
“If it were me, I would say we angle for a nice plot of land somewhere out of the way, but we can build transportation infrastructure out to. Then we can move those willing to this location, and teach them in relative safety,” Captain Julio said, as he walked in on the proceeding.
“Hrm, now that is a thought. It would be easier to protect a single location than it would myriad Bureaus scattered across the country,” Dr. Hayato concluded.
As the conversation about the new potions proceeded on, a pertinent question came up from Golden Storm. “So how exactly did you test all of these new potions? We don’t exactly have subjects just lying around like whoever did it before must have had.”
Dr. Hayato managed to keep his tongue in his mouth for a couple of beats, while he formulated the best answer that he could. “It was a lot of doing, but it basically boils down to virtual homunculi being designed much like what the combat volunteers use in their practice rooms. The Cyber-Fairies helped a lot with this, especially Alternate.”
“I’ll have to make sure to thank her when I see her next, then,” Storm concluded.
“If we could do all of this with just the few people we have here in Safe Haven, just think of all that we could accomplish with the whole world joined in,” Red Blaze wondered aloud.
“First thing first, we need governments that will accept our being here and our help. I believe our missions on the outside are not only helping with regard to how the public views us in general, but specifically allowing us to challenge the SPH overtly when the time comes to restore Aguillar and the other deposed heads of state,” Cpt. Julio contemplated aloud.
“You’re full of ideas today, aren’t you Captain. And good ones at that…” Dr. Jun replied, as she looked at the man roughly 20 years her junior.
“I have a lot of time to think. If we are going to make this work, we have to start pushing the issues out there in earnest,” Cpt. Julio responded.
“At the same time, we have to make sure our assets are protected from reprisal. I doubt the SPH or its allies and fellow travellers will just stop whenever we can winch them out of the government,” Blue Vague surmise aloud.
Everyone nodded in agreement.
“In any case, we have to be the examples that we want to see in the world, in the end. We can talk all we want through Miss Alternate and others, but action will speak so much more loudly,” Dr. Hayato concluded.
=== -- Meanwhile in one of the testing rooms -- ===
“Arms teleportation engaged: AP60 Automatic Rifle…” a feminine voice chimed, as a two-foot long rifle appeared in the waiting hands of waiting human test subject.
“Straight out of science fiction…” Terry said as he held the teleported rifle, making sure that no parts were obviously missing.
As Terry tested the rifle to ensure that it was still in proper operating condition, Shining Armor, who was there for the day to personally witness the testing, decided to wax poetic.
“The AP60 really is a marvel of ballistic engineering. The sheer accuracy that has been derived while maintaining that impressive rate of fire, makes it perfect when you have a clear target and need to neutralize it quickly while minimizing collateral damage. I would surmise the decades of mostly urban and semi-urban warfare that have been conducted here have led to these developments?”
“Indeed Cpt. Armor.” Nero replied, impressed by how fast the Pony had soaked up the military knowledge lingering on the ‘net and in the person of the Humans of Safe Haven. “Have you been studying behind our backs?”
“In a manner of speaking, yes. It is my duty to understand human tactics and capabilities. Since, not only have we brought in a number of military veterans through Conversion, and quite a few of those into our own Royal Guard ranks, but we’re also going to be interacting, both positively and negatively with a lot of Human armed forces and groups. SO it would behoove me to understand both formal and informal tactics as best I can, as well as learn as many of the tools as I can and what they are capable of,” Shining Armor responded, with a bit of a light to his eyes.
“You also have the eyes of a total War Gaming nerd, to be quite honest,” Nero concluded, almost looking past the face of the almost 30-year old stallion, and seeing a somewhat skinny teenager with books halfway up the ceiling of all kinds of different role-playing manuals and scenarios.
“Really now, Captain,” Klaudia started, a bit of mirth spreading across her golden eagle’s beak. “I would not have taken you for a rollenspieler[role-player].”
Shining blushed beet red through his white coat, feeling embarrassed for the sudden recurrence of his ignominious past. “Look, it’s not like I treat this like a game, or anything!”
Nero, waved a hand to brush away the implied accusation. “We never said you did, it’s just a bit surprising, that’s all. Then again, a lot of people on this side who end up going into the military were probably inspired, in some small part, by all the war games we’ve developed over the years.”
“The Gryphon Military Academies takes wargaming particularly seriously, since we must always be sharp against an outbreak of aggression amongst a rogue clan or state. That and it keeps a lid on what feels like an endemic streak of aggression and expansionism amongst the whole of the Gryphon Federation,” Klaudia added.
“Armor Swap Protocol Engaged: trading General Purpose Land Armor for Shallow-Water Amphibious Armor…” the electronic voice chimed, as Terry stood still and watched the outer plates of his armor appear to morph into a different configuration.
“These boots just got like three times as heavy, is that supposed to happen?” Terry asked to the observing trio.
“That’s to keep fast water from sweeping you away. Try walking and it should automatically adjust to the lack of resistance and lighten itself,” Shining Armor replied.
Sure enough, Terry started walking at the boots suddenly felt a lot lighter on his legs and feet. As he walked toward the simulated river, he could feel the weight increasing to resist the pull of the running water, something he immediately found quite useful.
“If nothing else, this should make for really good rescue equipment once we can find a way to produce this for civilian use,” Terry replied, as he went into a standard marching pace ‘upstream’ through the simulated body of water.
“I wouldn’t doubt it…” Klaudia concluded, as Terry started to work on balancing himself against the flow of the water to aim a non-automatic rifle properly.
“You could say we are rescuing the world… though I would hate to think that the lot of us have such an inflated sense of what we’re doing,” Nero mused as Terry continued practicing in the now bog-like conditions of the modified Training Field.
“The last thing we can afford is to have our own heads swell while we are engaged in all of this. Mission Creep is a dangerous thing, especially when it comes to us,” Shining Armor concluded, as the test began to conclude for this particular session.
=== -- And somewhere in the Mojave… -- ===
“Queen Chrysalis of the Hive of Envy!” a male changeling called, looking the same age as Chrysalis but sounding at least 20 years older, called out. “I, your humble lead alchemist, Bezzelisi, have completed the first stage of our plans.”
“Really now,” the Queen stated, as she stood from her throne, in her natural quadruped form, walking toward the silk screen said lead alchemist stood in front of.
“Yes, my Queen. And now without further ado,” the Changeling said, as he used his magic to draw back the curtain and reveal four humanoid figures, two masculine and two feminine.
“Oh~ You shouldn’t have, but I am so glad you did~” Chrysalis cooed.
“Yes, at long last, we have stabilized the Gene Matrix to accept human DNA into our base form, and now even the lowliest of lowly drone can alter their form to mimic such…” Bezeelisi crowed, silently directing the drones to turn around in place, to show their hybrid forms their Queen. Each drone was charcoal black with the same dull teal highlights down their sides that most drones had, with a large emotion-sensing fin-like ridge running down the back of their head down their neck. The trunks of their bodies were the most human looking, as their thin Changeling carapaces gave them a look of wearing body armor that was covered in thin felt, much like their normal quadruped forms. Their limbs terminated in either four-clawed hands with an opposable thumb, or mildly unguligrade hooves. Their wings laid flat along their backs, giving them an apparent sheen when they were still, and their backsides were topped by a teal horse’s tail.
“That is good. The more natural our drones look while disguised, the more humans we can abscond with before anyone has any idea what to do about it,” Chrysalis though aloud, striking a thinking pose. “I must make a point to recommend you for a promotion. You may land Head of MagiSciences yet, Bezzelisi…”
“Oh you are too kind, my Queen,” the valet-class Envyling replied, as he led the drones back into the residence hall.
----
“I’m sick and tired, Bombaud,” one Changeling to another, as she could hear through the psychic backwash of the Hivemind the praise Chrysalis was lavishing on Bezzelisi.
“You always say that when Chrysalis gets like this with him, Promethe,” the second Changeling said to the first, as he organized the alchemical concoctions that he used in his work.
“But this time he is getting beside himself. I put my own body on the line trying to get the balance of human DNA correct for the Gene Matrix, and then he just swoops in and takes all the credit for it?! I can’t even get some acknowledgement of the work I did and the risk I took in trying to get this done?” Promethe complained, as she groused openly about how she felt about Bezzelisi’s bad habit.
“You know how Queen Chrysalis feels about ‘lings using too many first-person pronouns,” Bombaud chided, as he was used to his ‘partner’s outbursts of frustration.
“Yes yes, ‘Too much ‘I’ destroys the Hive’, or something to that effect,” Promethe groused again, her frustration still evident in her voice. “I just want one of the higher-ups to recognize us little drones down here are making this whole operation work.”
“Just the way of our world, Promethe,” Bombaud started, trying his best to assuage the feminine second-class drone. “We do the work, they take the credit, and we get left enough space to carve out a little spot for ourselves. Eventually, some of us become soldiers or researchers or valets outright, and we get treated seriously. Myself, I don’t care if I’m drone or valet-consort - just so long as I get to keep mixing my little beauties.”
“I guess it’s nice to have dreams…” Promethe replied with an exceedingly depressed tone.
“Whatever helps us sleep at night, as the Ponies would say,” Bombaud concluded, as he trotted off to his ‘private’ workshop.
“Doesn’t stop it from being really unfair, and it’s getting to the point where it’s gonna be a real problem,” Promethe replied under her breath.
===== ***** =====
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So a zebra version of Anazi the spider god and trickster of Africa. Makes sense. And all AD&D roleplayers know Tiamat
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