Adrift in The Void, she waited, anger ever seething at being so denied her claim. She could feel her body, how it walked deeper into the darkest dungeons where the low and uncooperative were left to suffer and rot. She sensed the subservient elation as her knees bent in prostration, her body lowered to her "master".

"I am here as you command, Lord Kraul. What is thy bidding, my master?"

The words echoed through reality and into The Void where she watched and waited, her rage all but consuming her as the object of her hatred stood within lunging distance of her body. Impotence born of her agency stripped from her grasp whispered suggestions of despair and surrender, but she refused to submit. She would never submit, not to anyone.

"The 'hero' of our fair city fancies himself an Emperor now." The cold yet commanding voice, so hated, was like the finest music to her ears. She thrashed and raged within The Void, though her body remained compliant like the obedient little slave it was. "He oversteps and insults at every turn. Eliminate him by any means necessary."

The [Command] filled her with joy and purpose, like sweet ambrosia to parched lips and a warm fire to a forsaken urchin. She railed against how much she loved it, how much her weaker self lapped it up as it puppetted her around. She fought back the sorrow with an oath of bloody vengeance that someday she would sink her knife into his throat and be free from this accursed existence.

"It will be as you say, my master."

Sycophant, slave, scum! How dare you defile the sanctity of our person by cavorting with such treacherous and vile hedonists! He cares nothing for us, just swap with me this once and we will be free!

A small frown found its way on the body of the woman, one which was soon replaced by an eager smile at the following words.

"Rise, and offer your respects, then depart."

She watched in horror, disgust, and loathing as her body rose to its knees and kissed the ring of the extended hand of the man in front of her. Such small solace could be found in that their departure was swift, although the bowing and scraping was yet another indignity forced upon her. Only when they had left the room did the body speak again in a whisper.

"Behave yourself or I will not let you out again."

There was no malice to be found, but the stern warning remained clear. The weaker self was too empty to take much of a stance on anything, even her captive. The woman relented, if barely, for antagonizing the one in control would serve no benefit now.

Some time passed, for sometimes a moment stuck in The Void can be hours in the real world. The body was in front of a mirror, applying finishing touches to the face, her face, one that she rarely had the joy and displeasure of seeing. Her blue eyes were just as young as the day it had happened to her, her last and darkest day in many ways. Her blonde hair was shorter now, going just to her shoulders, unlike her previous and luxurious mane that flowed to her waist before… Before…

The woman in The Void tried to remember. She tuned out the real world as she struggled to remember how long it had been. Which of them was real, and which one was the imposter? Some days she could not remember, and some days, she was adamant one way or the other. She wanted, no, needed to believe that she was real, and that the other was the imposter, a result of a fractured psyche that could not withstand foul rituals and darkest rites. Her metaphysical self writhed in pain and uncertainty, for she was losing herself, cutting away bits and pieces of her sanity to salvage what meager scraps of herself that she could preserve. She wondered how long she could hold out until the descent into madness became irreversible. Decades had passed for certain, but could she even make it another year?

In The Void, she turned about, looking for something, anything that could help. And in the distance, so close and yet so impossibly far away, she gazed into the abyss that had always been there and had only recently arrived. She knew not what it was, but she remembered one thing she could still do.

"Please!" She prayed with utmost fervor and desire. "Grant me salvation or death."

The abyss slowly churned and roiled, itself such an endless vortex without beginning or end. And yet, as she continued to gaze, she thought she saw a momentary glimmer from within it. And then all became blackness again for the uncounted iteration as the imposter leeched upon her Blessing.

Though she could not see it, the abyss gazed back into her.

"He goes now."

"Soon the prophecy will come to pass, and we shall be free once more!"

"Patience, lest we act too hastily and run amuck of misfortune. Nothing is certain yet."

"But, the tower, it is returning after an age. And this time someone is going to enter it. And by someone, I mean He will."

"Will He be able to climb it, or will He fail? Should we extend boons to aid Him, or should we let things run their course?"

The Thousand Moons and More all watched from the sky as an Emperor left World's Hope. All had gathered to watch the battle, for while it was also an interesting way to pass an eternity of imprisonment, it also showcased the life and death battles of their prophesied savior.

"It matters not," came the voice of The One False Moon. "You have served and will serve, whether we are to be freed or not. I will suffer no servant of my court to conspire to intervene with events without my express permission."

"A thousand apologies, Your Majesty," and other such hollow niceties echoed in the False Sky.

"What is your opinion on the matter?" The same supreme falsehood amongst them all asked of the only truth among them. "Does a Cat-sìth have your tongue again?"

The truth amongst the lies remained eternally silent as she suffered the presence of her imposters. Her song remained her own, and she waited for the day when she could freely sing it to her children once again. And He would bring it about, that much was certain. But, she wondered, would He and the chosen offspring of her favorite children herald in a new age, or would they be overwhelmed by the unleashed falsehoods beside her. She did not know, but remained ever vigilant, as was her purpose and privilege since time immemorial.

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Back at my home in World's End, Chooka and I began packing a few things. None of it was strictly necessary, as I could easily acquire or make more stuff, but it just felt normal to do such things when going on a journey. Well, not much of one, more like commuting to work every day, as I could and would easily teleport home every day thanks to my shrines.

Our efforts were interrupted by the ringing of the doorbell, which was exceptionally odd because I didn't have one. I certainly knew what one sounded like, and though Chooka and a nearby Nanu gave me confused looks, I walked over to the door to answer whoever called upon me.

Upon opening the door, I looked down at the kobold sharply dressed in some sort of uniform.

"Telegram for Emperor of the Crossroad Wayfinders," the little kobold loudly announced as it handed over a letter for me.

It was a curious encounter, for I have not heard of a telegram service being offered anywhere. Still, after my merger with my other self, I knew full well what such a service entailed. I heard an expectant clearing of the throat, and turning my gaze back to the kobold, I saw an equally expectant hand extended. With a smirk of amusement, I fished a copper coin out of my pocket dimension and tipped the little guy.

No sooner had my coin found itself grasped into his hand than a foot of another kobold kicked the first one out of the way, complete with the sound of the poor guy crashing into boxes and metal waste bins that I certainly didn't have outside my door. Two burly kobolds carried a heavy wooden crate and moved to place it down inside my home. I moved aside to let them do their work.

"Sign here, please," one said in a gruff and tired voice as he handed over to me a clipboard with an invoice on it. I inspected it over, signed it, and handed it back. "Have a pleasant day, sir," the kobold finished with no ounce of enthusiasm as he and his equally tired looking coworker departed.

I closed the door and then looked at my telegram.

"A package will be arriving for you soon."

A piece of paper adhered to the package on the floor simply said "PACKAGE" upon it, so I assumed that was the package referenced.

"Well, I guess that is a speedy delivery. I wonder what it is," I said to a looming Nanu and Chooka that had stopped what they were doing to gather around.

With careful put powerful hands, and a few Abilities to ease the whole process, I ripped the lid right off the crate. Inside was an egg. Specifically, a green and purple dragon egg that would be well-suited for a Princess.

"Oh my!" Gasped Nanu. "That is… Insane and taboo!"

I knew exactly what Nanu was getting at, but I had not told a soul about my deal with Bonpricha.

"It has been agreed upon, and I will accept it."

I let it stand that everyone else would accept it as well. Though her eyes were wide the whole time and she almost trembled nervously, she watched as I took the egg from the box and placed it in the secret compartment within my house where my other eggs were located. My hatchery was far bigger on the inside than the outside thanks to warping space and a few enchantments. It was magically expensive to maintain, but highly pragmatic to make it so obscure.

Within my hatchery, two eggs for Kings and four eggs for Princes were in the center of a whole heap of eggs for whelps and for resurrecting kobolds. Only a select few kobolds were permitted to access this room to take eggs as needed, but the risk was worth the gains. It would be unsportsmanlike and magically detrimental to scatter my eggs in hidey-holes around the world, so I did my utmost to secure and obscure these eggs and where I hid them.

Carefully, I placed the promised egg in the middle of my other Prince eggs, my efforts tender as I made sure each one was comfortable. Then, without further ado, I left the hidden room and closed the equally hidden panel that obscured it.

"We will not speak of this to anyone," I told the two ladies with me, and they both nodded in turn.

We all understood the implications associated with the egg. A dragon cannot make a replacement egg unless the egg hatches or is destroyed, and a given egg cannot be made to be destroyed remotely, for such is the nature of keeping the game of life fair. All that means that holding an egg from another flight is like holding a hostage, for it means a child cannot be born, that a slot within a flight is reserved but unfilled. Such actions are taboo even as a result of war, and to do so voluntarily is about as obscene as how most mortals view incest. I could force the egg to hatch with my child, and it would have the properties of both flights, and through that, I could steal some of the secrets of Bonpricha's flight.

I didn't know why she gave me the egg, only that I knew my side of the deal. I know she is up to something, and while it doesn't seem to be a sinister scheme, I doubt she would do it if it were not to her advantage. It remains to be seen if the tide raises all ships or if I will be a sucker.

"It will be as you say, my Emperor," Nanu swore as she curtsied before me.

I didn't even need Chooka to confirm, for I trusted her with all my heart.

"But if I may, would you permit me to borrow you and your time at some point within the next year for an outing? It will not take long, and it will benefit your flight. It would make my silence on this matter absolute," she finished with a pleading smile.

I suppressed a sigh. I knew that making a deal with me for her compliance was a way for her to relieve stress. Almost certainly, I would be inclined to do whatever she was being evasive about anyway, so simply agreeing would make everyone happy without ensnaring me in something nasty.

"For your continued discretion in this matter, I can agree to your terms."

Nanu stepped forward and wrapped me in a hug as her lips found mine. My hand upon her back felt her trembling ever so slightly. The poor thing was afraid of the foreign egg, not just by the implication of its political value, but also because she is not of higher peerage than it. Were she a Queen or the egg of a Duke or lower, there would be no problem, but as it stands, fear and aversion will linger until such time passes that the egg can truly be considered mine.

I have to care for and nurture the egg, but my deal forbids me from imprinting any offspring pattern upon the egg to produce progeny. I know that eggs are innately resilient against magical effects from a dragon to either lay a trap, spy upon me, or otherwise contaminate my own clutch, so it isn't like it poses a threat. Yet, I cannot help but wonder what it is for and what more there is to this deal.

Chooka, perhaps sensing Nanu's distress, guides us to the bedroom. We all know what happens next. It had been a rough day, even though it wasn't even nightfall yet. However, I slept deeply, and in my dreams, I tried to clutch that burst of knowledge and wisdom gained when my two selves merged. It quickly faded after I left timeout, but I know it will unfold into my mind over time. Great chunks of general knowledge are fully at my disposal rather than only becoming available when they are relevant, but specific knowledge as to what plans my other self had remain veiled in mystery.

But, I did know one thing. Those aberrations and abominations at the portal were eerily familiar. I did not know what they were called at that time, but for the sake of narrative, those Star-Eater Worms at the siege of Berkerin a few years back bore an uncanny resemblance to what the world faces now. The similarity begs investigation, and so I would send my agents to look into such matters while I went about my tasks.

One thing was for certain, the Theocracy of Ulsfarh is owed a reckoning. Should I find that some agents of that country have colluded with the enemy, why, that will just provide me with a nice pretext to bring the hammer down upon them. Strictly speaking, I don't need a reason to do that, but it would step on fewer toes and make me appear less tyrannical if I provide justification.

Wheels were turning, plans were being hatched, for while my conscious mind dreamed, my erstwhile [Parallel Minds], now [Court of the Emperor], busied itself with schemes and predictions. The upgrade provided me with perfect copies of my own psyche, intellect, and memories to think for me. The only thing they lacked was an identity of being the main mind, which was truly a good thing, as I don't want there to be such a fight for my agency. Ergo, each one would make the exact same decision as each other and as I would. Through some esoteric and mysterious process, something automagically assigns tasks to them, and through it, the distinction of what is or is not "me" becomes moot, for I am essentially a "we".

I had gained great power, but not the experience to wield it. Trouble was on the horizon, and I needed to grow up fast or find myself isolated and destroyed. I had work to do and a world to save whether I wanted to or not. Somewhere out there, [The Hero] is slacking off, and so I would have to do his job for him. I had no way of knowing how things would turn out, but some entities sure did. And such powers were all putting their grubby little fingers on the scale to tip my Destiny one way or the other. However, I am the master of my Fate, and I decide my path.

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