Tribunal 2

We passed upon the stair

We spoke of was and when

Although I wasn't there

He said I was his friend

Which came as some surprise

I spoke into his eyes

I thought you died alone

A long, long time ago

Oh no, not me

I never lost control

You're face to face

With the man who sold the world

********

"And here comes the ELDEN LORD!?" I heard some sort of TV announcer scream into their microphone as we landed on the red carpet.

Driving was for chumps who couldn't fly.

"Elden Lord! What did you donate?"

"Elden Lord! Any truth to the rumours you are trying to marry Dragon next?"

"Elden Lord! How strong are you?"

"Elden Lord! Please bring back my husband! I'll do anything!"

"Elden Lord, I'll be your next consort!"

"""Elden Lord! Elden Lord! Elden Lord! Elden Lord! Elden Lord! Elden Lord!"""

The flashing lights of the cameras, the clamour of reporters, the cheers and the venue's noise were overwhelming to the poor little introverted abomination that I was.

So I did the only thing I could.

"Smile and wave, girls. Smile and wave."

Of course, none of my severe discomfort showed on my face as I put on my best charming smile and waved to the crowd as I led Ranni and Yoruichi down the red carpet.

"Are you really a goddess?"

"Where is Panacea?"

"Marry me!"

"Who are you wearing?"

The gathered crowd exploded in noise, security having to actually fight back some more determined reporters and paparazzi who tried to climb the fence or duck under ropes. The only reason I didn't flinch was because I was already pretending to be calm. This many people so close was sending my skin crawling.

I may have underestimated my fame a bit.

Smile and wave. Just smile and wave.

My companions bore the attention better than I.

Ranni's face was expressionless even as she lifted one of her four blue arms to wave, another wrapped around my left arm while the last two were held demurely in front of her. She had eschewed her hat and cloak, replacing it with a wolf fur shoulder wrap to let her long hair flow. Her silver dress was conservative, as was most of her wardrobe, but did nothing to hide the curves of her body.

Yoruichi, by contrast, had chosen to go with a backless purple dress, slit at the leg and showing generous cleavage. She wore it well, with feline grace and a composure that many women would envy. A playful smile flittered across her face as one arm lifted to the spectators.

It was easy to forget with her playful demeanour, but she had been raised as the Lady of a Noble House of Soul Society. She had led them, on top of being a Captain of the second Squad, for centuries before her exile to the human world. Yoruichi might not like stuffy politics, but she knew what to do.

That was one reason I had chosen her and Ranni to accompany me tonight.

"So, what's the plan tonight?" The shinigami asked me quietly from the side of her mouth, even as she continued to smile and wave.

"You know the plan," I answered just as discreetly.

A loud place like this was better for secrecy than any hidden room. The noise drowned out our words, but I weaved a light illusion over us anyway.

"Not that," Yoruichi wrapped her free arm around mine, leaving me with no hands to wave.

That was okay, I thought as I snaked them around my wives' waist and pulled them close. My hands had better things to do.

"You can't tell me you don't have a plan for a prank," she continued, her stride automatically adjusting to my hold. They were used to matching my pace, as I was generally a pretty cuddly type of guy. "Not tonight. It's too perfect an opportunity with too many targets. I want in."

"There will be no such thing," Ranni denied, sounding incredibly happy. "Our Lord hath promised me he shall maintain himself to the pinnacle of decorum and propriety."

Yoruichi sent me a quick, deadpan look before resuming her crowd work.

"She's right," I admitted. "Look at me."

"I am," the dark-skinned woman smirked as she sent me a smouldering look. Ranni glowered in her own way. "You clean up nice."

"I do," I admitted with no shame.

I was in a classic suit and bowtie, black and white. No floral print, no shorts, no powerplay. I looked good.

It was terrible.

"Tonight, I am not Mikael, friendly neighbourhood dragon and househusband. I am The Elden Lord. A man of position and power. Dignity and gravitas."

Ranni gave my arm an affectionate squeeze, happy as a clam any time I behaved as 'befitting the title of Elden Lord.'

Yoruichi looked at me, her raised eyebrow asking me, 'Really? You can't be serious.'

"I shall observe all etiquette and formalities," I continued as if I didn't see it. "I shall not make a single pun nor bring up a topic unsuited for polite company. Any humour shall be high class, and my laughter subdued." Even as Yoruichi looked more and more forlorn, Ranni radiated more blue Smug than ever before. "I shall be charming, witty, but not crass. I will converse about the weather and the economy and put forth my full effort to make you two the envy of every woman here."

"I wouldn't have agreed to come if you were going to be this boring," Yoruichi sighed.

"And when people familiar ask me why I am acting different than usual, such as Superman, I will deny any difference at all. For I am the very picture of a modern Gentleman at all times. Those who I meet tonight will all agree." Yoruichi's frown froze before righting itself into her smirk, a small giggle escaping her throat. "Anyone not here tonight will have no choice but to believe the newspapers, articles, and people who will no doubt be interviewed about tonight. Leaving anyone who has met me in person before even more befuddled. And those who meet me in the future even more confused."

Ranni sighed in fond exasperation.

"At least I shall have tonight," she muttered to herself. "Thy madness can wait for the morrow."

"I love it," my other companion said with a thumbs-up as we were ushered into the building. "Should I play along? Act all stuffy?"

"You act however you want," I said graciously as we passed servers, guards, and several other staff Stark had hired for the gala. "Just by being here, you are playing your part." Yoruchi sent me a curious look, so I explained. "The video? Of Glory Girl's resurrection? The one everyone in the world has seen?"

"They've all seen me naked." Golden eyes widened in realization.

Yoruichi knew about the internet and modern communications. She knew that night at the park had been filmed without us being aware, but it never sank in. She had never really given thought to what it meant for her in particular since she rarely, if ever, interacted with the average person.

The internet was such a new thing to her, relatively speaking, that the centuries-old woman hadn't internalized what it meant to be caught naked on camera and for the footage to leak and become the most-watched video of all time.

"They did," I smirked. "And now everyone has to go the entire night, surrounded by the richest and most powerful men and women in the world, acting like they haven't. It will be all they can think about when we are talking. While I drone on about economic policy, they will be thinking about your bare ass."

"Mikael," Ranni sighed.

"Apologies," I straightened my shoulders and formally bowed to Yoruichi. "That was crude of me. I shall not bring it up again."

Yoruichi's breathing had become shallow, her eyes dilated in desire, and her erect nipples pressing into her dress clearly.

"You," she said, her breathing husky with desire. "Are a terrible man."

"When married to so many women," I explained with a smirk. "I must find ways of satisfying more than one at a time."

I was not only giving Ranni the 'ballroom' experience she wanted as a princess of Carria, but I was also triggering every one of Yoruichi's exhibitionist tendencies while doing it. And with people like the stuffy nobles she hated.

I had no doubt I would have to deal with a cat in heat when we were done tonight.

It was regrettable, but I could put off interrogating the Faerie Queen's Spirit till tomorrow.

Truly, I lived a life burdened by terrible responsibility.

I had to fight to maintain a charming but relaxed smile instead of a wild grin as we finally reached the stupidly large ballroom.

Tony Stark, in his typical flamboyance, had gone all out. Symbols of heroes, flags, the PRT, and memorial plaques hung on the walls like banners.

Around the back of the hall, sets of tables were laid out, mini alters on each to showcase the variety of donations the patrons could anonymously bid on. A table for food was set aside, almost forgotten in the hubbub of people, as well-dressed servers walked the room laden with drinks.

A large stage, currently occupied by a band, overlooked a large dancefloor where a few couples danced to a slow beat. Around the center of the room, the rich and powerful mingled, talked, and made plans to shape the world.

I was sure more business deals would be made tonight than on any other day of the year.

And all under the looming figures of the Endbringers.

Three statues stood along the walls of the massive room, one on each wall not occupied by the stage. Behemoth and Leviathan shrunk to half-scale their actual size, but Simurgh's statue was life-size, her wings folded over herself to tastefully hide her nudity. The Ziz statue was placed opposite the stage, behind the tables of donations.

All this was the same as last year's Endbringer Charity Gala.

New this year were the massive white teeth that framed the back wall, poised to swallow the smallest Endbringer whole.

"Mikael! You made it! And with such fine company." A loud, self-assured voice greeted us as we took in the sight of the ballroom. Several eyes turned to us as Tony Stark walked up, accompanied by two redheads, one male and one female. I recognized them both. "I was worried you wouldn't come."

"Mr. Stark, I would not miss this for a world," I greeted the billionaire with a polite smile and a shake of hands. "You've met them before, but this is Yoruichi Shihouin and Ranni. Two of my wives. Ladies, this is Tony Stark, the Invincible Iron Man."

"A pleasure," Yoruichi said with a dip of her head.

All three sets of eyes flashed to her, and I saw them flash with recognition and desire. I internally grinned, but my face retained its polite curve as Ranni held out one of her hands.

To his credit, it only took a heartbeat for Tony Stark to understand the gesture, his genius mind no doubt flashing through hundreds of scenarios before he dipped his head to gently brush his lips against the extended fingers.

I saw his eyes flash to me, but I looked on, as if his kissing of her hand was perfectly normal and pretended not to notice the way the redheaded woman's eyes narrowed.

"Greetings, Man of Iron," Ranni said softly as she dipped her head in the barest of movements. Acknowledgement of his existence and nothing else.

Princesses. Am I right?

"And your companions? I do not believe I've had the pleasure," I prompted despite knowing who they were, unwilling to let a pissing match start between the two.

Call a goddess a blueberry one too many times, and she will never let it go.

"Pepper Potts," the woman spoke for herself, extending her hand in an imitation of Ranni's earlier gesture. I saw Yoruichi's mouth twitch up in amusement as I responded much more fluidly than Stark had, repeating his light brush across her fingers.

If I wasn't honouring my promise to Ranni, I would have done something... amusing, but I held myself back.

"My much better half," Iron Man continued as I straightened. "She runs Stark Industries and her own non-profit while I am off galavanting with dragons and demons. And this is my drink... my buddy Lex. We've been pals since college. He was recently elected senator here in New York." He stumbled over the words 'drinking buddy,' and I did note his cup drink of choice for the night was non-alcoholic.

"Alexander Luthor Jr." The redheaded man held out his hand, glossing over Tony's fumble, and I shook it. "Please call me Lex. It is an honour."

"Mikael," I greeted. "I am afraid I do not follow politics, but I will congratulate you on the win nonetheless."

"Thank you," he nodded graciously. "It is not much, but I am trying to do my part. I hope my new position will allow me to help more people. But it is nothing compared to what you have done for us."

"Do not denigrate thy victory," Ranni lightly admonished. "While the notion of 'democracy' is foreign to me, leaders and rulers must maintain pride in themselves and their achievements. Only then will their retainers entrust them with their hopes."

"I will bow to your wisdom, Goddess," the redhead said with a smile. "But I meant what I said. I may help in some small way, but I am not the one who rid the world of an Endbringer. The Simurgh at that. We all cannot thank you enough."

"I am curious," Yoruichi chimed in, looking to the back wall where the fifteen-foot tall statue of the Simurgh stood, surrounded by massive teeth. "Why did you decide to put in those? Why not simply remove the statue? She's dead."

"Like it?" Tony grinned. "I'm pretty proud of the idea myself. Now that we know they can be killed, I figured I could give people some incentive. I'll announce this later when the auction is done, but from now on, anyone who kills an Endbringer gets their own statue to commemorate it on top of the reward money."

"One day, there will be no more Endbringers," Pepper continued. "Tonight is not just about celebrating the fallen or raising money for those hurt, but also to give hope."

"And what will you do when more show up? This room isn't big enough for much more, even if they are scaled down."

"I have a gallery if it comes to that," Iron Man sighed at Yoruichi's question. "Let's hope it doesn't, yeah? Three. I like three. A nice round, small number. A lot of good things come in threes."

"Even if more did show up," I tried to lighten the mood. "They won't be a problem now that you know how to kill them. I'm sure you already have a bunch of ideas for getting their cores."

"Cores?" Luthor asked, and Pepper looked curious as well. Tony's eyes narrowed in confusion.

"It's how I destroyed the Simurgh and how the Endbringers operate," I explained, not getting into how I had done so. "They have cores that project their bodies in this dimension. Their bodies are like clothes. No matter how damaged they get, they aren't the Endbringers themselves. Destroy the core, and the things are gone for good."

"Really?" Tony asked, rubbing at his goatee contemplatively. "I hadn't heard anything about cores, or I would have worked on something. Have you told anyone else about them?"

"I told Dr. Strange," I answered with a frown. Both Luthor and Stark frowned in turn. "I thought he would have told others."

"He didn't tell me," Tony shook his head. "It is good to know now. I will talk to him tomorrow. For now, eat, drink, talk and spend ludicrous money. My favourite hobbies." Pepper rolled her eyes but smiled at her husband fondly.

"Mine too," Yoruichi said with an easy smile. "So, if you will excuse me, I shall get a drink. Save me a dance?"

"Of course, dear," I answered as she pecked me on the cheek and sauntered her way to the tables laden with alcohol and attended by servers.

"Lady Potts," Ranni said. "Might I request formal introductions? I am unfamiliar with the women of note in this world."

"I'd be happy to," Pepper agreed easily. "I have a few friends that would love to meet you."

"Then I shall quit you for the moment, My Lord," Ranni said with a slight bow of the head to me and a look at the other two men. "Gentlemen."

And then the redhead led the Goddess away, leaving me alone with Iron Man and Eidolon.

It was, once again, thanks to my promise to Ranni that I didn't make a pun about the irony of the situation.

Between Tony Stark, Lex Luthor, and myself, I didn't know who had the most oversized ego.

I took solace in that mine was at least proportional to my body.

********

Yoruichi, drink in hand, faded from the foreground of the party.

She wasn't using any powers or actively hiding, but she was diminishing her presence to the point where most people's eyes would slide right over her.

A bit of a shame after Mikael's delicious prank on her, but for the moment, the former shinigami captain wanted to survey the room without being watched in turn.

She would be getting back at him later.

The shinigami's role tonight was small but significant. If Emma found anything, Yoruichi would be the one to deal with it.

For now, she just enjoyed her drink as she watched the people mingle. Heroes mixing with the rich and famous in a chaotic mess that had her grinning in amusement.

Superman deftly fended off the attention of a gaggle of starlets. The Flash wasn't nearly as successful with a couple of businessmen, the yellow hero clearly uncomfortable judging by how much he shifted and twitched, even as he demolished a plate of food.

One day, when she was a higher tier, Yoruichi wanted to race him.

It wouldn't do for the Goddess of Flash to lose her title to a man, now would it?

Captain America was chatting amicably with European dignitaries while Myrddin performed some tricks for a group of celebrities. At the same time, Rime danced with a movie star Yoruichi was unfamiliar with, and Vixen deftly manipulated a bunch of young men.

Some heroes were here incognito, of course.

Bruce Wayne was surprisingly subdued, talking with some wealthy entrepreneurs instead of carousing. Oliver Queen danced with his fiance to the slow beat of the band. Shuri, princess of Wakanda, and her wife Ororo Munroe walked between the tables of donations, occasionally making bids. Sunspot was here as Roberto Da Costa, a billionaire in his own right and trying to put moves on the White Queen.

Yoruichi smiled maliciously at that last one. She hoped Emma wouldn't have too much fun at the man's expense. Or at least not without telling her about it later.

Other heroes, those without secret identities, also walked the hall.

Charles Xavier, accompanied by Warren Worthington III, was talking with Silvija Sablinova. Zatanna sauntered between guests, occasionally doing a magic trick at their request and shooting challenging looks Myrddin's way.

Only about a fifth of all people present were 'in costume,' but the actual number of supers in the room was closer to a third.

And Yoruichi had investigated almost all of them.

Thanks to a mixture of Emma and Diana's experience, as well as Mikael's meta knowledge, Yoruichi had spent the months since landing on Earth confirming or denying some preconceived notions of who was who, as well as abilities.

Most of the Family's foreknowledge panned out, but there were a few clear exceptions.

Yoruichi's eyes slid to her husband, and her smile fell into a frown at his current companions. Tony Stark, despite his intelligence, was of little concern. Unless he invented some of his more... outlandish armours she had heard about, there was little risk of him posing a threat to the Family.

On the other hand, Alexander Luthor was a headache and a half.

According to Mikael and corroborated by Diana, Lex Luthor was a villain in most continuities. A genius-level intellect leading a multi-trillion dollar company, the man was a staunch enemy of Superman in all his forms. Protected by an army of lawyers, the man usually managed to roam free even if it was a public secret that he was a villain.

Only here, that wasn't the case at all.

Or at least, as far as Yoruichi could find.

Certainly, some 'rogue experiments' had been linked to Luthor's company, such as Bizarro, but the CEO always claimed they had been accidents. His actions, charitable donations, philanthropic work, and general actions as a political figure also lined up with his narrative as a good guy.

Then there was his powers.

As Eidolon, Luthor had one of the most diverse and powerful skill sets of any hero on the planet. More importantly, he was not the 'Eidolon' Mikael was familiar with. That one had been, unconsciously, responsible for the existence of the Endbringers, so of course, he was a subject of concern for the Family.

But things weren't lining up.

There shouldn't be an Eidolon in this world where the two Entities were alive but brain dead.

The only reason that power, the 'High Priest' Mikael had called it, existed in Worm was that one of the Entities had died, and its body was scavenged for powers. Otherwise, there was no way the multi-dimensional worms would have released one of their primary abilities to the natives of this world.

After landing on Earth, Mikael wanted her to locate the man believed to be Eidolon, possibly for assassination. It had been a simple job.

She had followed the hero as a cat and watched him return from a shift as a PRT hero, go to a house in Houston, the city he operated out of, turn into a middle-aged man, then disappear entirely from her spiritual senses.

Only by following his spirit ribbon, the unique wavelength of all souls, could Yoruichi correlate the overweight middle-aged man with Lex Luthor.

The redheaded bastard had four power slots, not three like everyone believed. One of which he used to create a body double to act as either Eidolon or himself. If the powers were the same as the Eidolon from the book, he probably wasn't responsible for the Endbringers, who had one slot dedicated to sustaining them, limiting his abilities to only three.

Which left the Family with a situation on their hands.

Eidolon was undoubtedly a hero, a bit aggressive, but there was no doubt he was a hero. He had never acted in any way contrary to that. Combined with the lack of even a hint of evil from Luthor, they could not justify killing the man or removing his power. Especially since doing so wasn't guaranteed to stop the Endbringers.

It hadn't stopped them in the book.

So the Family was content to watch him for now, prepared to act if it looked like Luthor was going down the road of his comic counterpart.

And as Yoruichi watched Luthor introduce Mikael to another senator, she was surprised when a young voice spoke to her.

"Can you turn into a cat? Please? And introduce me to your husband?"

Yoruichi didn't jump; she was too experienced to do so, but her head did whirl to meet the young girl's gaze staring up at her, eyes wide with wonder and a broad smile on her lips.

********

"And this is Emma Frost of Frost Pharmaceuticals," Tony introduced with a playful glare. "Don't let her pretty warm demeanour fool you. She's a cold bitch."

"Stark," Frost nodded back, her voice an unamused drawl. "Must you be so crass? It is Frost Enterprises now, as you well know. Jealousy is such an ugly colour on you. What would Pepper say?"

"Do it again?" Stark said with a laugh. Despite the barbs, the conversation was friendly in a rival sort of way. "Emma, Mikael. Mikael, Emma."

"A pleasure, miss," I bowed and kissed her hand as I had done to all the women I had met tonight. Wouldn't want anyone feeling left out, now would I? And Ranni was the one who started it, so she couldn't even complain.

"Yes," the platinum blond purred, mouth curving into a pleased smile. "It is."

"And your companion," I nodded at the woman beside her.

"White Queen," the woman held out a white-gloved hand, and I took it, lingering longer on it than anyone else that night before straightening. Blue eyes behind a mask crinkled in pleasure, and silver-painted lips quirked in a pleased smile.

Both women were dressed in white, to little surprise, but where Frost wore a long evening gown, Emma was in more comfortable and easy to move in attire.

For her, at least.

Leather pants, a corset, and a fur-lined cloak were not what I considered comfortable, but man, did I like the look. Her face was covered in a mask of white diamond, leaving only her hair, eyes, nose and mouth exposed.

"My bodyguard," Frost explained with an amused smile. "She's relatively new on the super scene, but she has been making her name known."

"She was a major help with that whole mess in Australia and helping coordinate the Doomsday response," Stark said, his smile just as amused as all the others as his eyes flittered between the two women.

"Thank you," Emma said with a tilt of her head. "My duties to Miss Frost leave little time for heroics, but I try when I can."

'Don't laugh,' Emma's voice echoed in my head. 'No matter how much you want to, don't laugh.'

'But it's so goddamn funny,' I complained, using all my considerable self-control not to burst out.

'I know.'

All four of us stood there for a second, polite yet amused smiles exchanged between us.

We all believed they were 'in' on a joke the others were unaware of.

Tony Stark believed that the 'White Queen' was just a body double. An excuse for Emma Frost to use her powers while maintaining the fiction that she was a regular if skilled, businesswoman. He found my ignorance funny.

Frost found it amusing that Stark was unaware that both women were the same person from different dimensions. They were both Emma Frosts, with the same power and goals. She knew her counterpart was my wife but believed me to be ignorant of her 'true' plans. She laughed internally at duping two men.

Emma and I?

We were laughing at both of them.

Emma, because she still hated her past self and was using her. For her resources and to prove a point to me.

I internally laughed because the situation was funny.

Fun fact, while I was 'freeing' a telepath, it meant their abilities bypassed all mental barriers, and the owners were unaware. In a room with some of the world's richest, most powerful people, my wife had access to all their minds, and no one had any idea.

How could I not find that funny?

No matter the awkwardness between Emma and me, sometimes a couple needs to have fun together. That this meeting was the culmination of weeks of work and would allow for more in the future made the situation all the better for me.

Even as the conversation continued, I continued to chortle inwardly as I subtly cast an illusion to hide that my fingers were still slightly touching the White Queen's gloves.

"Emma's recent moves have placed her as the wealthiest woman in the world," Tony explained. "What is your net worth now? Eighty billion?"

"Ninety-seven," Frost corrected. "And it was good luck. I met some talented people and made a few deals."

'He's staking her out to join the Illuminati,' Emma told me.

'Who are the other members?'

"What sort of deals?" I asked out loud. "My experience with business is, I am afraid, quite limited."

'Xavier, who brought her to their attention after I helped with the Hellfire Club, Batman, Strange, Luthor and Peter Parker are their current members. The last was added recently after Doom, and Reed Richards retired. They are looking for one more member.'

'Anything we should be aware of?'

"Only the biggest merger in business history," Tony drawled sarcastically.

'Their main goal is the survival of Earth. You are currently the biggest risk, even more than the Endbringers. They don't plan to attack, not confident they can win, but they would love to know more about you and us.'

'That's fine. Is anyone here our mastermind? Our 'hand' behind the curtain?'

"You are exaggerating," Frost denied with false humility. There was a pleased lilt to her lips. "It is just a few other companies wish to come under the Frost name for mutual benefit. It hasn't even passed through regulation yet."

'You are the worst,' Emma mentally sighed at me.

'If I can't make puns out loud, let me make them in my mind! I need to get my fix, damnit!'

"It will," Iron Man insisted. "The market would not have reacted like that if there was any chance of it being shot down. The Frost name has practically become a Zaibatsu in its own right."

'The worst. And Robin should stop encouraging you. But no, nobody here is bankrolling the hand or is their shadowy leader, as far as I can tell. I can only go so fast through all these minds.'

'Focus on the ones with protections. The others can wait for a later day.'

'I know.'

"Then, can either of you help me?" I asked, and both turned to me, looking intrigued. "I need recommendations for who to contact about getting a singing career off the ground. One of my wives, Priscilla, wishes to pursue music, and I always support their hobbies." I had their curiosity, now to get their attention. "I would consider it a personal favour, and money is no object."

"Really?" Stark asked, looking intrigued, but he was beaten to the punch by Frost.

"My company did gain a record label in a recent bid," she explained. "Not a famous one, but I had planned to expand into the entertainment industry." Of course you did. That is why I asked. "Your wife is a fabulous singer, and I would love to sign her on."

"It would mean a lot to her and to me."

"Will you be joining her?" Frost asked eagerly. "You are also quite good."

"Perhaps I will join her once or twice on stage if it wouldn't be a problem? I am not star material, however. Too introverted."

Stark gave me a look of complete disbelief that I ignored. It was technically accurate. I just faked being an extrovert really well to achieve my goals.

"I disagree, but we can iron out details later. Here is my card," she handed me a business card, white with silver writing. "We will need to go through a bit of a process, image, song choice, and other such bothers, but I see no reason this cannot be the start of a long, profitable relationship."

'Told you,' Emma transmitted smug satisfaction to me.

'I never denied that Emma Frost would want the benefits I could provide. Most women won't turn down eternal youth and a bunch of powers,' I mentally sighed, wishing I could roll my eyes. 'I denied that she could come to love me as you do without going through the same thing. Without changing who she is.'

"You work fast," Tony said to the woman with a shake of his head.

'We shall see,' Emma continued to sound smug.

'We don't have to,' I replied, almost pleading.

"Never let an opportunity slip away," Frost answered, completely unrepentant.

'Yes, we do,' she insisted. 'Or you will continue to doubt me and my love for you.'

'I don't doubt your love,' I insisted in turn.

'But you doubt your trust in me. In the very nature of our relationship. Emma Frost will fall in love with Mikael. Without any mind control. I'll prove it to you.'

'You hate her!' I tried a different tact.

'I do. I hate her. I hate what she, I, did. I hate what I would have done. I am glad to be who I am. The person I was before is not who I am now. You have to accept it. And the truth is I love you more than I hate her.'

What was I supposed to say to that?

The simple truth was I had mind-controlled Emma.

On accident, sure, but there was no getting around the fact that the Emma Frost summoned to the Island died when she invaded the mind of an Eldrich monster. The woman who replaced her might have her habits, face, and memories, but the core of her being was dyed in my colour.

Two Emma Frosts stood before me, one a white diamond and the other a white dragon scale.

I had done the one thing I had never wanted to do, and there was nothing I could do, even with my limitless power, to undo it.

We still loved each other and still worked together, but there was tension between us. A tension born from my guilt and fear and her 'betrayal' while I was imprisoned.

Just because I now understood her motivations at the time didn't mean it didn't still hurt that she had gone behind my back. I was in a really dark place after that, and if it weren't for meeting Melina so soon (relatively), I do not know what I would have done or become.

Combining that with our different ideas and goals, Emma arguing for active involvement on my part in shaping the world while I wished to remain more passive, and things got awkward pretty quickly whenever we weren't 'working.'

The awkwardness returned, so I focused on the physical world once more.

"Have you placed any bids," Frost asked me as we walked along the tables laden with depictions of donations.

Some were objects, like a yacht, a car, or even a mansion, but others were experiences. Tickets to cruises or events. One was for a weekend getaway to a highly exclusive lodge and country club in the Rockies. The kind of place that wasn't even online, only known about through word of mouth.

"I have not had the chance to peruse the offers yet," I admitted. "Tony has been kind enough to act as host and introduce me to everyone, which has occupied my time. I am afraid, however, that my tastes are different than humans. I do not believe I will find much here of interest, so I will content myself with the donation I gave and the money it will bring for the charity."

I indicated the small statue as we walked by it, and they stopped to read the description on the card next to it.

The statue was one of Medea's lesser works, only about a foot in height. It depicted my dragon form curled protectively around the Jewel, six wings spread and my long neck extended as yellow eyes seemed to watch the people as they passed by.

"Does it work," Tony asked curiously.

"It does," I nodded at Frost to try it after she finished reading the card that explained what it was and what it did. She did, hand extending to lightly touch the top of the dragon's head as she muttered the 'magic words.'

"Muda muda muda."

I had to bite my cheek, hard to keep from laughing out loud even as Emma sent me a glare.

"Hmm," Frost hummed as she glowed a pale white for a fraction of a second. "How wonderful. I imagine it will fetch a large price. I am tempted to bid myself."

"What language is that?" Tony asked me.

"Japanese," I answered glibly, my voice calm despite my hysterical internal laughter. "It means wastefulness. I believed it was appropriate for something like this."

"And it clears hangovers, too," Frost verified, and I nodded. "Incredibly useful. I might have to ask for one myself if we work together. It is made with your scales?"

"Yes," I lied. "Shards of them, at least. One of my complete scales would be the size of this city."

Of course I wasn't stupid enough to actually use my body parts to make this thing. Ignoring the possibility of cloning, voodoo, or targeted scrying, since the Defences protected against those, having parts of me floating around the world was just a bad idea for everyone involved.

Instead, Medea had dyed some drake scales white and infused them with a targeted version of the 'cleanse' spell I knew. I had gotten the idea from my night out with Superman and Batman. It only worked on alcohol and its effects, not poison, but I was sure plenty of people would pay for an on-demand hangover cure that also cleared all alcohol from their system.

This little 'donation' served four purposes.

One, it was Jojo reference.

Two, it was a subtle dig at whoever bought it, calling them and their wealth worthless. I also appreciated the idea of a statue of me looking at some hung-over smuck and judging them.

Three, it served as my ticket to the gala in the first place. I could have just shown up, and I doubt they would have turned me away, but it looked better this way.

And four, it was bait.

Someone out there, someone who had broken into the Sanctum Sanctorum, stolen from the Sorcerer Supreme, and tried to steal weapons from me, was plotting against me and my Family. Even if they weren't here tonight and Emma didn't find them, they were bound to hear about this statue made from 'my' scales.

A statue with a tracking spell on it.

And, since it was made and donated before tonight, I wasn't breaking my promise to Ranni to not get up to shenanigans.

"I do believe I need another drink now if you will excuse me, gentlemen," Frost said as she dipped her head at me. "Elden Lord. Meeting with you was an absolute pleasure, and I hope we will talk soon. Stark, thank you for hosting another wonderful evening, and I look forward to the auction."

"A stone-cold bitch, but man, do I love watching her walk away," Iron Man sighed as Frost and Emma left us for the drink table, talking mentally to each other, I am sure.

It was a good thing I wasn't a jealous man, or I would have sucker punched the man.

But I was a petty man, and the opportunity was too perfect.

"Hello again, Ms. Potts," I greeted loudly.

Tony started, spinning to see his wife standing behind him.

His unamused wife.

"Elden Lord, may I have a moment with my husband?"

"Of course," I said with a polite smile. "I was just about to go look for my own partners. I believe I owe them some dances. Enjoy the rest of the night."

My good deed done for the night, I went in search of Ranni, judging her to be the most likely to want to dance.

Yoruichi found me first.

"Oh, sweetie," she singsonged playfully, instantly putting me on edge. Yoruichi had never called me that before, and she looked like the cat who got the canary. Or the dragon. "I have someone I'd like you to meet."

"I would be happy to," I answered, wondering where she was going with this.

She gestured to a man behind her, a famous one, accompanied by a young girl, no older than thirteen at most.

"Reed Richards," the retired hero said, shaking my hand. I fought not to flinch as we touched. What the fuck? "My daughter, Valeria Richards, is a big fan of yours."

'Emma!' I called in my mind.

"Hello, Elden Lord," the young girl curtsied, a broad smile on her face as she gazed up at me.

'What's wrong?'

'Are you getting anything from this guy?'

'No. There is no mind there.'

'That's what I thought. He's a robot. Not the self-aware kind either, like Dragon. The girl is real, though. So why is a little girl here with a puppet?'

'The girl... Something is wrong with her. Seriously wrong.'

"Your wife won't be able to get anything from me," the smartest girl in the world told me, smile undiminished.

'Her mind's not protected. She's letting me in,' Emma explained. 'But it is wrong. Bent. It's been moulded deliberately. Forced into a certain shape.'

'Who did this to her?' I asked, planning on freeing her as soon as we got a private moment.

"I need your help," Valeria Richards continued.

Her smile was honestly creepy, but then again, I thought all little girls were creepy.

'She did it to herself.'

"We need to save the world."

That was when the Endbringer sirens started screaming.