A woman in a pink dress and nine fox tails rested on a grassy hill and had a writing pad in her hands. She wrote on the pad with a quill, then looked up as if she were searching for the words. \u201cWhere to\u2026ah yes!\u201d she said. She then wrote again and read her writing aloud. \u201c\u2018Concerning\u2026Citizens. Despite\u2026what politicians\u2026may say\u2026the citizens\u2026of our great\u2026Realms\u2026are\u2026the backbone. Without\u2026their\u2026hard work\u2026there\u2026would\u2026be\u2026no\u2026kingdom\u2026anywhere\u2026in either\u2026the\u2026original\u2026Three\u2026or\u2026the-\u2019\u201d Her writing was interrupted as she heard a man and woman singing together. She peered down the hill and saw a carriage being pulled by a horse with a ten-armed woman with dog-features and wearing a wedding dress. At the woman\u2019s side was a man with a red eye on his tunic. The fox-tailed woman headed down the hill and raised her hand to stop the carriage. \u201cYou\u2019re late,\u201d she remarked. The man stared the woman down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAn Emboramii is never late, Arsha Royana,\u201d he said with a slight rebuking tone. \u201cNor are they early. They arrive precisely when they mean to.\u201d The dog-woman also stared the fox-woman down. They all stared at one another. \u2026None of them could keep a straight face as a warm smile sprang onto their faces.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s great to see you again, Orbak and Elmpam!\u201d cheered the fox-woman, Queen Arsha Royana, as she leapt into her in-laws\u2019 arms. Once the embrace broke, the dog-woman, Elmpam, chimed in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou didn\u2019t think we\u2019d miss Yufantel\u2019s Tour\u2019s End Ceremony, did you?\u201d she asked with a smile. \u201cI promised all my grandkids I\u2019d see them come home and I\u2019m not about to break that promise with my youngest grandkid!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHow\u2019s the family these days?\u201d asked Orbak as the carriage got moving again. \u201cI hear they\u2019re all pitching in.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYour daughter\u2019s idea,\u201d replied Arsha. \u201cMalnar insisted we all get involved with our kids\u2019 respective returns home.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat explains the big order I got a week ago,\u201d chuckled Orbak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWelmaf and Eemaf also got pretty big orders too,\u201d said Arsha. \u201cThey got here two days ago.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAh, good, some help!\u201d replied Elmpam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHalf the Realms are invited to tune in,\u201d continued Arsha. \u201cThe rest will probably tune in anyways. Other than that, life here in Largandra goes on, pretty much the same way it\u2019s been since this Age of Unity started. People and goods come and go, with change coming a bit slower than I would personally like.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat tends to happen when peace replaces war,\u201d remarked Elmpam. \u201cThere\u2019s no real urgency for survival anymore. Now we focus on thriving.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIn all honesty, though you may not like the pace of change at the moment,\u201d mused Orbak, \u201cI\u2019m enjoying it. These days, we\u2019re making things made to endure the ravages of time, passing down from one generation to the next.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI guess I\u2019m still a little antsy,\u201d muttered Arsha. Her in-laws each arched an eyebrow. Arsha then realized she revealed something she didn\u2019t mean to and decided to explain. \u201cTo be honest, I\u2019m getting a bit odd lately. I mean, more than I would consider usual for me. Lately\u2026lately I\u2019ve been feeling Dr. Borg\u2019s metal hand on my shoulder.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDidn\u2019t you decapitate her?\u201d asked Orbak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOrbak!\u201d admonished Elmpam.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s all right, Elmpam,\u201d assured Arsha. \u201cAnd I did, but it feels like her ghost is watching me, always right behind me. \u2026I don\u2019t know, maybe I should see if Thengo\u2019s in town.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cJust like her,\u201d mused Orbak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Her?\u201d asked Arsha. Her in-laws then looked elsewhere as if it were nothing important. Arsha grinned. \u201cAll right, keep your secret!\u201d she teased.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSecret?\u201d asked Orbak.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI know you\u2019re talking about a member of my old crew.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGoodness me!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou know, before last year, people held us veterans in high esteem.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIndeed?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNever had any accidents or did anything too crazy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf you\u2019re referring,\u201d remarked Elmpam, \u201cto that incident during the Summer Solstice, Orbak and I were barely involved. All we did was give Dr. Borontho a little nudge out of the door.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhatever you call it, the Morgonthor trench has labeled you both Disturbers of the Peace.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Did they now?\u201d muttered Orbak. He pouted comedically. Arsha and Elmpam laughed, then Orbak joined in. Arsha then saw a carriage stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOrbak, Elmpam, I\u2019m glad you could make it,\u201d she said as she hopped off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSo are we, Arsha!\u201d replied Elmpam as their carriage went on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Ceremony was held in the park Arsha had hers. The aisle was lined with the ship\u2019s new crew and Arsha, her spouses, and all 17 of their kids that had already completed their tours were at the head of the aisle. Walking down it was a young woman in a cloud dress and wearing a pink bodice. She stopped in front of the Royanas and knelt. \u201cYufantel Royana,\u201d said Arsha, \u201cyou have been away from home for five years now. You have served Realmfleet and expanded your knowledge. What have you learned?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ve learned that the people are the real movers and shakers of the Realms,\u201d replied Yufantel, the youngest of the Royana children. \u201cWithout their help, I would be nothing. I vow to do everything in my power to make sure they are happy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYour tour has been instrumental in your growth,\u201d declared Arsha. \u201cWe have no doubts that you will lead us well when you ascend to the throne. Rise, Yufantel Royana, Crown Princess of the entire Under-realm!\u201d The crowd clapped as Yufantel turned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEveryone, it\u2019s been a long time since I first set foot on the Grelnak<\/em> as a kid,\u201d she said. \u201cI never thought I would be able to command effectively, but I was happily proven wrong. Now, I wish my successor luck! May he command better than me!\u201d She turned to an Orc\/Centaur Blender man.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m surprised you want me to be better than you,\u201d chuckled the new Captain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLook, let\u2019s be honest,\u201d replied Yufantel, \u201cI didn\u2019t exactly come onto the Grelnak<\/em> with a humble attitude. You, on the other hand, have that in spades. Good Luck, Captain Nartugh!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThank you, Your Highness.\u201d The new Captain then trotted off with his new crew in tow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Once the ceremony ended, the Royanas had a party celebrating the fact that all 18 of their kids had finished their tours and learned something to help them be better leaders. The partiers were the Royanas, the kids, the grandparents, and family friends. A Genie woman popped up in front of Arsha. \u201cYour guests have arrived,\u201d she announced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAll right!\u201d cheered Arsha. \u201cDomesta, I wish for you to bring me to the door!\u201d Domesta snapped her fingers and Arsha teleported to the castle door. She opened it to reveal a Goblin woman, a Homunculus man, their daughter and son, a woman in a gray dress with pale-gray skin, and a man in purple clothes and dark-gray skin. \u201cWelcome, welcome!\u201d greeted Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGreat to be here, Captain!\u201d chuckled the Goblin woman, Bashoon Barmek. Her husband, Delselii, then shook Arsha\u2019s hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGreat to see you too, Your Majesty!\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh, come on! We\u2019re all friends here!\u201d Arsha chided slightly. \u201cNo need for titles!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHard habit to break,\u201d chuckled the gray woman, Endea, the living extension of the Endeavor<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEndea, great to see you again!\u201d cheered Arsha as she hugged Endea. She then got a look at the man with her. \u201cIs that little Glanthel?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNot so little anymore, is he?\u201d said Endea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGood evening, Your Majesty,\u201d greeted Glanthel, the living extension of the Glanthelantir.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLike I said to Delselii, no need for titles!\u201d Arsha looked Glanthel up and down. \u201cMy word, you\u2019ve gotten so big! The last time I saw you, you were barely up to my knees!\u201d Glanthel gave a small smile. Arsha then looked Bashoon and Delselii\u2019s kids. \u201cAnd we can\u2019t forget the younger Barmeks! Hejema, how\u2019s the Homunculus Pet business?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDoing great!\u201d replied Bashoon\u2019s daughter, Hejema. \u201cHomunculus pets are selling like hotcakes, especially in the Under-realm!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd Torya, how\u2019s the life of a College Wizard?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s a little hectic,\u201d replied Bashoon\u2019s son, Torya, \u201cbut I can manage. I\u2019m a Vorsholstein AND a Barmek.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGood to hear! Now, come in! Come in!\u201d Arsha and her guests went inside and the party began. As the music for the dance played, Arsha looked at her parents, Elgrad and Hanako. She then did a double take. For a moment, Elgrad was white, beardless, and had a full head of pumpkin-orange hair. Hanako also shrunk, lost her kitsune features, and wore blue. Arsha rubbed her eyes and her parents were back to normal. Her son, Farmee, then came up to her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cStanding alone, Mama?\u201d he chuckled. \u201cThat ain\u2019t like you!\u201d Arsha was snapped out of her thoughts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEr, Farmee, sweetie, this is gonna seem weird,\u201d she said, \u201cbut did you notice anyone going missing?\u201d Farmee arched an eyebrow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cN-no, can\u2019t say that with any honesty.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c\u2026All right.\u201d Arsha rejoined the party, leaving her son confused. Hejema then tapped him on the shoulder and pointed her thumb towards the fireworks. Farmee nodded and grinned with Hejema. Time for some mischief!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" A woman in a pink dress and nine fox tails rested on a grassy hill and had a writing pad in her hands. She wrote on the pad with a quill, then looked up as if she were searching for the words. \u201cWhere to\u2026ah yes!\u201d she said. 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