Small Things

"I transformed in front of them. They can sign my death warrant at any time with this information. They are poachers. They kill the adults and steal the young." I told him. "They wanted to cage me, too."

"I understand that it's a lot of terrible things that they can do. But that doesn't mean we can just kill them." Plight said. "The easiest route would be to wipe them out and not have to worry about them anymore. But that doesn't make it the right route."

"Do you recall what Sienna said about the pegasus?" I asked.

"Yes. I remember." He said.

"This ones parents were killed to obtain it." I said, touching the fool's cage. "This I know from Sarial." I sighed. "I am not saying you're in the wrong, Plight. We don't have to kill everyone who does something deplorable. I don't even care that they poach. I've said it before, and I'll say it again. I am not a good person. But, why did you not save those dirty guards?"

"Because they were beyond redemption. Which is not my decision to make. But I did it anyway." Plight said.

"What redemption do you want for these people? Poachers are no different to slavers in my book." I told him.

"The difference is they requested mercy. Had they not, then they would have gotten the flame." Plight said. "In this case, literally."

"Plight, to be merciful, you must know when to not accept the person's plea for mercy. There are people who would beg for it, swear to change, and then stab you when you turn. These people gave up because they saw their deaths. That doesn't mean they aren't bad people." I told him. "You have significant pity towards humans, had I not vouched for your sister, and told you who she was, you'd have treated her with disdain."

"I know of my short comings. It is hard to change. And there are many who do not deserve mercy. It's why I do not speak out against them going to the winter wolves. If they go, it will be their deaths. Is that not your plan?" Plight asked.

"It was payment for a service rendered. They won't die going after the wolves." I said. "They caught a little wyvern, which is about as strong as Winter Wolves."

"Oh." Plight said. "If they turn from mercy then the fire will come for them eventually."

I turned to the foal and in Celestial said, "; You understand me, little one?;" It inclined it's head. ";I am freeing you and taking you to my Lady. You may choose to bond to her, or I will hand you to a Celestial Fey.;" When it nodded, I opened it's cage. "I will not always listen when you ask me to be merciful."

"You are not my servant, nor I your master. You are my friend. You do not need to always listen to me." Plight replied.

"You are aware Sienna wanted to kill them? Poaching affects her homelands, too." I said, leading the pegasus towards the stairs.

"Poaching affects everyone." Plight said.

Once upstairs, I asked Sienna to drop the hut. Once she did, I said, "A friendly warning. Blab about my other shape, and you'll be hunted to extinction."

I activated the portal and nodded for the women to go through. Then I sent the pegasus and Plight through, I followed after with Sky wrapped around my shoulders. I immediately erased the glyph. I then drew another to just outside Tilton's home. Had us all go through that one. This is where I hesitated, uncertain what to do.

"What's our current objective?" Plight asked after a few minutes.

"Well, I don't know." I answered. "This is Tilton's house and Bibs' house is that one over there in town. I don't know where Alexion and his parents are."

"I'm afraid I don't know either." Plight said.

"I should have learned Sending." Sienna commented.

I looked at the door. "Nah, I'd rather head to Bibs' and check there. Alex is weary of Tilton because of his lecturing ways so probably didn't stay long."

"I feel Bibs would be a good choice." Plight said.

With that we headed there. The guards balked at the baby dragon, and were in awe of the pegasus. I simply told them we robbed some poachers before heading straight to Bibs' house. Kershka was outside and I remembered about the Fey spider egg. I went into the orb, retrieved the egg, and returned, catching and resettling the dragon about my neck.

"You seem to have gone on an adventure." Kershka said.

"Yes. This is a gift for you, Kershka. I think you know what it is." I offered him the spider egg.

He looked at it and lit up. He began nodding emphatically, "Yes. I know what this is."

"=Is Alexander and Bibs inside?=" Sienna asked in Giant.

Kershka accepted the spider egg, "=Alexander left a little while ago. But Bibs is.="

"=Do you know where Alexander went?=" Sienna asked. "=He is my father.="

"=Alexander went to the Inn a little while ago. Said he was going to get rid of some rust.=" Kershka replied.

Just then, the egg began to hatch. While watching this, we got to see a 'little' spiderling the size of the dragon baby emerge. It was pink and white. Kershka reached into his bag, pulled out a burlap sack, he waved the sack before the spider, enticing it to go for the bag. It was probably meant to be food for it. It tapped it a few times, before turning away from the sack and looking up at him.

"Hm. This spider is very different." Kershka noted.

"It's a fey spider." Sienna said. "I'll be right back." Before she skipped away, she briefly asked for coin, once she had a few pieces in her her hands, she wondered to the Square. She returned moments later and handed a sweet mango to Kershka. "Can you crush it for the spider?"

"Yes I can." He said, slowly crushing it. He then offered that to the spider, and just as Sienna thought, it ate it. Doing a happy tappy dance in Kershka's hands. Kershka's face became one of pure joy during this process.

I noticed that this spider didn't really have fangs. How odd. "I am glad you like.. her." I noticed it was a girl. "Can you let us inside to see Bibs? We won't stay long."

"Ok." Kershka said. Letting us inside. He looked at me, "Thank you. She is pretty."

"No problem, Kershka. I know you'll raise her well." I smiled, heading inside with Plight and the women. "Hi, Bibs." I noticed Bryna was here.

"Well, hello everyone. What can I do for you?" Bibs asked. "I see you found yourself a couple of.. New companions."

"Yes. This is Sienna, Alexander and Sylvia's daughter. This is Sky Piercer, and that one doesn't have a name, I think. This is Zeralidinria, or Zelda, my Lady." I introduced the new faces to him. "This is Bibs, Zelda. A man I have immense respect for. And probably the only person that can actually tell me what to do."

"It's very good to meet you. I didn't know there was anyone in this world he would just listen to like that." Zelda said.

"I didn't know he would either, but I can be very convincing I suppose." Bibs said.

I shrugged. "You brought me back to life when I died and weren't angry with me for blowing up the church. Not that that's happened this time. Speaking of, has Tilton spoken with you about it?"

"Yes. He has actually." Bibs replied.

"The construction is coming along quickly in Hearthstone Town, the cave we met in." I told him, "So we'll be able to evacuate everyone in a week or two."

"That gives us plenty of time to prepare for the attack." Bibs said.

"The hand grenades, and other ammo are being crafted in Ymir's Town currently. Along with fog machines." I informed him.

"Well, you have been making some interesting preparations." Bibs said.

"I have to. I assume Tilton told you what type hose are. It's the least I can do to ensure more people survive this fight this time." I replied. "That being said, do you want to help me get Asmodeus to sign that contract you read before? I'm sure Jack is eager to go free."

"Oh, I can assure you, he is ready to leave that tower." Bibs responded. "I am ready to go speak to the devil whenever you are."

I nodded, I took Sky off my neck and wrapped him around Plight's shoulders. ":Sienna, the Elf, can speak Draconic. I will ask them to see you fed at the Inn. Be nice to the little Gold dragon boy if you see him:" I told the baby, then, "You all go ahead to the Inn, you can get good food there. I'll join you when I'm done. Sky eats meat. If anyone has a problem with him, Sienna, you handle it. He should understand common, but can only speak Draconic at this moment."

"Where are you off to now?" Zelda asked.

"Hell. To meet the king of demons and devils. No, you can not come. He's dangerous and I don't want him latching to you immediately." I told her.

"That's it I'm going training so you can't just keep leaving me behind. I'm gonna learn explosions." Zelda huffed.

I took a deep breath and said, "You could be an all powerful goddess and I'd still try to keep you out of danger."

"Well, once I'm that strong you won't have a choice." She declared.

I mind linked to her, <Do you plan to quit having sex with me?>

<I should say yes! I should!> She responded.

<You could be pregnant or become pregnant.> I pointed out. <I don't want you hurt and to accidentally lose our baby.>

She raised her hand, pointer finger extended, then lowered it and glance away. <I should look into that so you can't use that as an excuse if I am not.>

<No more sex, then.> "Sienna, can you please cast Identify on Zelda?" I asked her. Zelda stepped towards me and started punching me.

Sienna looked confused for a moment, then said, "Yeah, I can." She began casting the spell.

"What is happening here?" Plight asked confused.

"Do you actually want to know?" I asked.

"That question makes me rethink if I actually want to know or not.... Do I?" Plight asked.

"I can almost guarantee you do not want to know. If you can not piece the situation together.. just let it be." Bibs recommended.

This one minute seemed to stretch on. I let Zelda vent her frustrations on me. It didn't bother me in the least. Once the minute was up. Sienna said, "Ooh. I didn't know that'd show up through Identify." She grinned, and leaned towards Zelda and whispered to her, "You're pregnant."

Zelda huffed, sat down, and said, "Fine. You can go to hell without me. But now, you have to come back to me. Or I'll hunt you."

I almost made a comment about her hunting skills. "Zelda, what have I done that you think I won't return to you?"

"You haven't done anything to make me think that." She replied. "There's just been a lot of good.. I'm waiting for the bad."

"I see." I said. "How do you wish to handle your news?"

"Oh, God's, I need to tell my grandmother. She may try to hurt you. I don't know." She said.

"That's fine. Do you want anyone else to know? Bibs and Bryna probably guessed. Sienna knows. My family does not, Plight may have heard." I said.

"I did hear." Plight said. "I keep forgetting you two spent a lot of time together in that orb of yours. I keep thinking that went really quick, but no. It wasn't."

"It was a little fast, I think. But it's not uncommon for commoners to be married with kids by now." I shrugged. "She's a year older than me, too."

"I would not have guessed that at all." Plight said.

I patted Zelda's hair and said, "Go with Plight and Sienna to get a nice meal, ok? I'll take you back to the Island tomorrow. I really will kill them if they're mean to you, though."

"I'm ok with that, for some of them." She said.

"Perhaps your grandmother would like to come to the mainland." I suggested.

"It's possible. She had some interest in coming with me, but decided she couldn't do the sailing part." She said.

I nodded. "Sienna.."

"Yep. No, totally got this." Sienna grinned. "See you soon."

"Daddy, I'm gonna go with Plight and them for dinner. I'll bring Kershka with me." Bryna said.

"That's fine. You all go have fun and I nice dinner. I'm gonna go smack a devil with paperwork." He said.

Once they left the house I said, "You know Asmodeus held her soul captive till recently, right?"

"I had an inkling. But no way to prove it to myself." Bibs said.

"He's always been truthful when I talk to him." I replied with a shrug.

"He doesn't typically bother with lying. He can, just doesn't." Bibs said.

Bibs then took out an item and activated it. It opened a portal to Asmodeus' palace, just like in the other reality. We went inside and found him in the same place. The conversation was somewhat different, but the ending was the same. He signed the contract. He had a copy and Bibs did. We then simply returned. I was a little lost in thought for a moment.

"Shall you or I tell Jack he's free?" I asked.

"Why not both of us?" Bibs asked.

"Alright. Can do." I replied. "I can draw a glyph to the outside of the tower."

"Well that's a handy trick. By all means, let's do it that way." Bibs replied.

While I drew the glyph, I said, "I made a wish to know the glyph of where ever I wanted to go."

"So you know exactly what glyphs you need at all times." Bibs asked.

"Yeah, when I think about it." I answered. "I think that and activating them is why I've been getting so tired."

"I would imagine. It does take quite a bit of energy to get that done." Bibs said.

I finished it and activated it. "All ready."

We went through and I called down the tower. We went up to the floor Jack was usually on and found him pretty quickly. "Hey Jack. Had dinner?" I asked.

He spazed initially, not expecting us, surprised Bibs was here. "Wha.. Bibs.. What's happening?"

"Well, we've gone and spoken with Asmodeus." Bibs said.

"Oh, that was quick. How did it go?" Jack asked.

"Successfully." I said firmly.

"So does.. that mean I can leave?" Jack asked.

"Yes, my friend. You can finally leave." Bibs said.

"I haven't built your house yet." I told him.

"That's ok, I can go outside and see things." He said.

"Yeah. This is true." I agreed.

"Well, if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go touch grass." Jack said, heading downstairs.

I followed Jack, Bibs was going to stay at the tower longer. After Jack checked out the greenery for a moment, I drew a different glyph and took us from next to Bibs' house to the Inn where my people were. I went and sat with Zelda, Sienna and Plight. The pegasus was checked into the stable at the moment, I was told. Jack joined us and I introduced him.

Zelda had pre ordered me some food, expecting me to arrive. Bryna and Kershka had returned to Bibs' house. Adorably, once it was brought to me, she helped me eat it. Of course, I didn't mind this at all. Jack got to get his own meal. It was the first time he'd ate something he hadn't had to cook for himself. I handed him some gold coins, figuring he didn't have any.

I Mind Linked to her again, <You didn't tell me how you want this news of your pregnancy handled.>

<To be honest, the only person I care to tell it to is my grandma. You can tell your family if you want to.> She replied.

<I'll be mindful with the information, then." I told her.

<Well, what's your opinion? What do you want to do?> She asked.

<All information is valuable. If I had expected the result, I wouldn't have asked Sienna to check you around others.> I told her. <I trust that the ones who know now won't blab to anyone unsafe. My family wouldn't as well, but I don't know if I want to say anything. But I need you to know, I am excited and looking forward to seeing our baby.> Sky Piercer climbed over and curled up in my arms, sleepily.

<He looks a little sleepy.> She said.

<Most importantly, I need to provide a home for our baby and you. This traveling around isn't healthy for you.> I replied.

<Is teleportation not healthy? Are there side effects to teleporting?> She asked.

<I'm constantly moving around. That's what is not healthy for you. You need rest and good food and stability.> I told her. <I'm so sorry that I haven't done so already. Do you want a wedding? Should it be extravagant?>

She rested her hand on my shoulder. <I have no idea what I'd want in a wedding, I've never thought of it.>

<I would probably tell my Uncle. I'm close to him, I've always known he loved me.> I told her. <He'll be happy. Are you?> I placed my hand over hers.

<I am ecstatic. And happy to the point I don't know what to do. I never thought any of this would happen.> She said.

I smiled and chuckled. "Do you want to go with me to chat with my father?"

"Sure. More than happy to." She said.

I nodded. "Plight, I'll get an item to communicate with you. I'd also like you both to conceal Zelda's condition, though Sienna's parents and brother are fine to tell, I trust them. Jack, the portal will still be there if you want to return to the tower, though you have the ability to not."

"I will probably go back when I want to pass out. But for now, I am wondering wherever I can." Jack replied.

"I could ask Alexander if he has anything he'll let me use." Plight said.

"He knows the spell Sending. He can reach Sienna." I told him.

"Well, that's one way, but I would like an item that would let us communicate back and forth." Plight said.

"I'll talk to my brother bout it." I said.

"Don't worry bout that one, I'll do it." Plight said.

"Ok, that's fine. I'll see you all later." I told them, taking Zelda and Sky with me. Sienna told me she'll watch over the pegasus for us. I thanked her, and near the wall created another glyph to take us to the Hearthry Estate, which I used to get into James' office. I managed to enter while Arity and Dirthin were there.

Arity's ears pricked forward, having noted us come in. She blinked in surprise, before her features settled into back to calm. "Good to see you, Isarial." She commented.

I took a moment to reply to her. "Same, Tyra. This is Zelda, my lover. Zelda, this is Tyra and my Uncle Dirthin."

"It's nice to meet you all." Zelda said.

She looked like she wanted to say more. "Go ahead and say whatever you want. I have a good feeling that the cat is out of the bag, because of a nosy feline. The sleeping dragon is Sky Piercer, by the way."

Arity flicked an ear and said, "You know to much about me. That is a gorgeous baby dragon."

I sat and pulled Zelda next to me. "Well, as I said. It's nice to meet you all. And I am here to cause problems." Zelda said, turning to James, "I am currently pregnant with your son's.. child. I don't know if it's a son or not."

"We can find out in a month or so from Lucretia." I told Zelda.

"Well, she's very forthwith isn't she?" Dirthin commented.

"She's adorable to me." I replied.

"Where did you say you came from again?" James asked.

"I came from an island to the West. I don't know the continent's name for it. But we're going there tomorrow to talk to my grandma." She answered.

"Do you have any other family besides this grandmother?" James asked.

She wrapped her arms around me, grinning and said, "Yes."

"Aside from her grandma, myself and the one she carries, no." I said, moving Sky so that I could put an arm around Zelda, since she wanted affection.

She looked up at me and said, "You said information is important and to not just hand it out."

"I also said my family wouldn't harm you with the information." I replied.

"Well, that's true." She said.

"I should rephrase. They won't do anything to harm me with that information. So long as you're mine, you're safe. We aren't good people, but we're never bad to each other." I told her.

"You say that far to often." She said. "It's almost like you're trying to convince yourself."

"No, he just can't seem to lie." James said. "Even to himself when he wants to."

"Not that anyone asked, but I think that's incorrect." Arity said. "You can do bad things and be a good person. It's not black and white."

"I agree." Dirthin said. "I can rip a man's arm off for the right reason."

"That right reason is usually because he pissed you off, or you were paid to." I pointed out.

"That's reason enough to me." Arity said.

"Everyone has their own ideals on what is good or not. You can't decide that for yourself. Someone else has to make that call." Zelda said.

"I'm inclined to agree with your woman." James said.

"Zeralidinria." I said, looking at him, "Or Zelda. She is not a possession, even if she'd like me to carry her around like one."

"Zelda, then." James said, conceding the point. "I was not expecting to need to remember the first ones name."

"Funny. But not funny haha." I said dryly. "Actually having a hard time understanding why you bothered saying such a petty and little thing. It's beneath how I view you."

"Simply trying to relax a little more with my mannerisms and thoughts. I tried the ribbing approach. Apparently it did not go well." James replied.

"Is that the case or did you perceive rudeness in my words?" I asked, directly.

"A mixture." He admitted.

"Then I am sorry. I hadn't meant to offend you, but I did mean that rather than treating her like that, I'd like you to see her as important to me." I told him.

James looked at Zelda and said, "I apologize that you have seen a lesser side of me. I will attempt a better showing of myself."

"I'm not sure if I was supposed to find that amusing, but I did." Zelda said.

"So, why do you have a dragon?" Arity asked slowly.

I looked at her. "I told Zelda about it-" I interrupted myself by yawning. "She decided she wanted to save it from poachers. So we did. I'll admit, I was a little annoying when Plight said he wanted to comply with their plea for mercy when they realized they'd lose."

"So they're alive?" Arity asked.

"Yes. I don't care to bother killing them at this point." I replied. "They have access to the other continent, though."

"I would like a word with them, then. I'll have to catch them when they dock." James said.

"Could, sure. But if you really want over there, I know the glyphs and how to establish a permanent one." I replied. "Though, I will also say they wanted to catch and cage me when I shifted."

"Dirthin set a patrol at the docks, we will be having some unwelcome guests." James said.

"Yup, I'm on it." Dirthin got up and started to leave.

"They're five hundred miles from landfall. Bout three weeks." I said.

"Then I can have everything set up and prepared at several docks before they arrive." Dirthin replied.

I nodded. "Oh, right. I got an interesting little trinket earlier, Dad."

"What have you come across, Son?" James asked.

I paused for a moment, surprised by the term. Then I took out the shadow soldier orb. "This. One of Denoirs late cronies tried to smash it in my face. Dean stopped that from occurring. Not that it would have been capable of possessing me."

"Ah. Dirthin, delay that order. My emotions got away from me. We have a previous debt to settle with the shadows. So, this orb can possess someone?" James said.

"Yes. Though I was once bonded to the Shadow Knight, so I know it can't control me. I used to control six at a time." I replied. "I figured it would be good to study for your people."

"Yes, I believe they can learn a bit with that." James said.

I offered it towards Arity first, "Want to study it?"

Arity looked at me for a moment, then nodded. "Very well. Let me see it." She took it from my hand, held it for a moment. "Too bad this one isn't stronger. It would be interesting to know what more it can do. But, I already have mastery of darkness..." She hesitated, then summoned three shadow beasts. "I think I can help with the understanding." She handed the orb to James.

"No beasts in my office, thank you." James said. As she dismissed them, he said, "Dirthin, you can leave, too."

Dirthin looked at him. "Don't make me punch you in your own office."

"Guess you decided that we're fine?" I asked Tyra.

"You clearly know about what I can do anyways, what's the point in hiding it? I don't see a point in killing you when you aren't trying to harm me or cause me problems." Arity said, her tail flicked, "Of course that also doesn't mean you shouldn't learn subtlety. Which is recommended."

"Nah..You're the most dangerous person I wanted to find here. Everyone else would either understand what I had to say or go with it. You're the only one I had to be cautious with." I replied.

".... That was you being cautious?" Arity asked incredulously, "What did you two teach him?"

"Not a lot, to be fair." Dirthin said. "If anything I was his practice dummy on how to be sneaky."

"Indeed, not enough." James said.

".. A child used you to learn to be sneaky?" Arity asked. "It doesn't sound like that was on purpose."

"Nope, he was just really good at staying out of sight. Distressed me a fair bit when I figured out he saw me rip people apart at a very young age." Dirthin told her.

"I was a little over five years old." I said, smiling. "His expression was funny, he tried to make himself small 'cause he thought I'd be scared of him. But I just insisted I could help."

"The little man even had a knife ready." Dirthin said, laughing.

"Not that he let me help." I said.

"Probably for the best, I'm happy to hear fond memories." Arity said.

"I wish we had many to share, but I have not been a good father." James said.

"I used to hide under Dad's desk while he was busy with papers and throw things at visitors from that gap." I said, thinking over past interactions. "And he used to lay on the floor with me to go over maps, and how to identify locations by land features. If I was scared when I hid under his desk, he'd scoot his chair closer to the desk which made me feel secure. He always answers my questions if I have any, and asks clarifying questions to figure out why I asked in the first place. He also never lashed out when I told him he wasn't my father. Which I did often because I was afraid he'd abandon me, too."

"I have wanted to tie you to a post to keep an eye on you, but never have I wished to throw you away. That I can assure you."James said.

".. I understand, and my views are different now, but previously I thought that was simply because I was useful." I said.

"You are certainly useful. Your success rate on missions is much higher than most other agents." James said.

I looked at Zelda, "Except for ones that were likely to kill me, anyways. But I didn't die, so in a way, that is a success."

"Eh, you were never in any kind of danger.. Probably." Dirthin said.

"Which was your argument with Dad, hm?" I raised an eyebrow.

"I've never argued with your father a day in my life." Dirthin said.

"Animated disagreement, then." I chuckled.

"Well, I mean I can't really disprove that." Dirthin replied.

"He argued with me because I tried to send you on jobs to show you failure is a possibility." James clarified.

"I heard, yeah." I nodded. "Amongst other things. I didn't sleep much back then."

"Yes, the nightmares were quite extreme." James commented.

"I'd say you should see Dal Quor, but you don't want to. It was legitimately spooky." I said.

"From the research I put into it.. It does sound like a 'spooky' place." James agreed.

She looked at Arity, "So what's your story? Everyone knows where I am from now, but I know hardly anything about any of you."