“OF ALL THE BONE-HEADED CRAP YOU DID, THIS TAKES THE CAKE, ORBAK!” Arsha shouted at the Under-king as he was learning how to pop a wheelie in his new wheelchair.
“I’ve heard that from my own family, the rest of your lovers, your parents, Lardeth’s parents, and Marshii,” grunted Orbak, “and, frankly, that’s too much!” He set the front wheels back down.
“There’s a thing called necessary violence, and what you just did TOOK IT PAST ALL THAT!”
“Arsha, I will bet my crown that YOUR father would do the same thing if he had the same abilities as me!” Orbak grabbed the handles on the driving wheels’ covers and he left the room at the same speed as someone walking. Arsha snarled…then sighed.
“I hate it when you’re right,” she muttered to herself.
“Stubborn man, ain’t he?” asked Malnar as she entered the room.
“He had hobbies, many of them requiring legs.”
“Knowing Daddy, I’m pretty sure he can find a way to at least still be able to bake.” Arsha smiled.
“…It would be nice for that to happen. He’s always loved that.”
The Gorgons and Gryphons met with the Falchineve Driders the next day. They sat down at the table, with some trepidation from the Falchineve delegation. “Your Majesties,” began Hanjar, “our first discussion here was one where we accused you of encroaching on our lands. We believed only your Driders could be capable of such acts. …We were proven wrong. Someone played on our pride and hid the details from us. Realmfleet then sent those who opened our eyes on who was really behind the encroachment of our lands. For the Gryphons, it was a rogue human, a member of the Under-king’s family, that convinced others that his way was the only way to stay neutral when they would have been the first target. Orbak swiftly dealt with that problem and has given us ideas on how to use the fort for our purposes.”
“For the Gorgons, the object was the result of a careless Realmfleet Captain who ignored the Dwelga Accords and constructed a cloaking device so long ago,” continued Erudsa. “Realmfleet was made ignorant of it thanks to a high-ranking Admiral and now the Supreme Admiral had to clear the mess. We’re using the ship now as a multipurpose facility for housing, gardening, trade, and medical care.”
“But there IS something we need to settle,” supplied Hanjar. “King Hekcho and Queen Yumbii, how can we ever make amends for the slander we threw at you?” The two Driders looked at each other, equally confused.
“I…er…” stammered Hekcho.
“I mean, I suppose…” Yumbii was just as lost for words.
“It’s not our usual manner, we’re aware,” assured Erudsa.
“We have long held the belief that Oyed would settle things quicker than Realmfleet,” explained Hanjar, “but his forces have forgotten us, and we were reduced to a low end on the totem pole. So, if we may be selfish for a bit, we would like to stick it to him.”
“…You know, that’s something we ALL can get behind,” chuckled Yumbii. “Let’s discuss new relations.”
While that went on, Arsha decided to go for a little stroll with her, her lovers, her parents, and her future in-laws. She was feeling very proud of herself. “With the once-buried races now on our side,” she mused aloud, “we actually have a shot at winning this!”
“I know it seems like we’re winning,” cautioned Jeefef, “but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. We still need to dismantle Dr. Borg’s economic system.”
“She’s right,” remarked Orbak as Elgrad pushed him along. “We need to keep on our guard. The Blood Contract hasn’t been fulfilled yet.”
“Yeah, but we can smash them at a faster rate now with fewer casualties!” insisted Arsha.
“Are you quite sure of that?” asked a voice. Everyone turned their heads to see Oyed stepping towards them.
“It’s over, Oyed!” proclaimed Arsha. “Your buried races defected to our side!”
“And for that, I am absolutely livid!” snarled the Titan. “However, I’m also impressed. You managed to keep your faith in my children despite what they did to them!”
“They humbled themselves when they realized their mistakes, something REAL Gods do!”
“I AM a real God! I will not bow to any of you defective insects!”
“And that’s why you fail! You believe yourself perfect, but your children don’t see themselves as such. They did, once, but that led to the War of the Depths. They’ve long accepted that they are as imperfect as the rest of us!”
“That is THEIR stupidity! Everything is according to MY design, NOT theirs!” Oyed then fired an energy wave and knocked everyone to the ground. He then spoke in a commanding voice that echoed and froze them all in place, speaking the long, yet powerful speech of the Gods. “I am the First Being: Oyed the Titan, the Father of Gods, who was before the One World before the Realms and made it! The darkness of my design lies upon this fractured world and all that is in it bends to my will in the fullness of time! But, upon you and all whom you love, my desire shall weigh as a cloud of doom, and it shall bring you and your precious ones down to darkness and despair! Wherever you go, you shall be confronted by my warriors and beaten down! Whenever you speak, your words will fall upon deaf ears! Whatever you do, your actions will bear no fruit! You shall die without hope, cursing both life AND death!”
“If that’s your curse,” growled Arsha, “then here’s mine for you, Thrall Oyed! What I say doesn’t come from the teachings of your children, the Divine Ones, but from my heart in this very hour! You are NOT the Master of the Three Mortal and One Immortal Realms and those who dwell within both, and never WILL be! All Realms may yet fall under your dominion, but, beyond the Circles of All Realms, you will not pursue those who refuse you!”
“True, beyond the Circles of All Realms I will not pursue them, for I have no reason to, as beyond the Circles, there is nothing! Within the World, however, none shall escape me until they fade into nothing!” Arsha’s face contorted into angered disbelief.
“You lie as usual!”
“You shall see, and you shall confess that I do NOT lie about this!” Oyed then snapped his fingers and his enemies’ eyes burned for a good minute. Arsha’s, however, did not. She tried to cast healing spells, but it did no good. The treatment stopped and something went wrong. They weren’t seeing their immediate surroundings, but Oyed’s! They could see Arsha leaning over their bodies and could see themselves picking their bodies up.
“Wha…what’s going on?!” demanded Elgrad.
“Look you now through me!” replied Oyed as he advanced on Arsha and grabbed her by the throat, hoisting her above himself and strangling her. “Look as you witness how darkness and despair shall come upon your savior whom you have delivered to me! You have dared to mock me and have questioned the power of Oyed, Master of the Fates of the Realms! Therefore, with my eyes you shall see, and with my ears you shall hear, and the death of your hope will never be hidden from you, even as you shut your eyes!” Oyed then rocketed up to the sky with Arsha in tow, then stopped when he neared the clouds. He then slammed his fist into Arsha’s face, sending her flying straight backwards until Oyed zoomed past her and grabbed her head before pounding her spine. The pain shot straight through Arsha as she cried out. Oyed then continued pummeling her for a good minute until she was covered in bruises, cuts, and her own blood. She was too weak to lift a finger. Oyed then formed a blade of dark mist from his hand and sliced across Arsha’s abdomen before letting her tumble to the ground. He floated there for a minute until he raised his hand to his head. “Did you get all that, Doctor?” he asked.
“Every grisly detail,” confirmed Dr. Borg’s voice. “Good work, My Lord. We’re setting the charges on the Realmgates now.”
“Excellent.” Oyed then vanished and ended his curse on Arsha’s family and lovers. Elgrad and Hanako had long fallen to their knees in disbelief as they saw their daughter defeated in such a violent manner and left for dead.