It was at least a day before I dared risk meeting with Greatness. How does one meet someone for the first time, and tell them she's married to the guy who killed her mother without coming off as a complete asshole? In any other circumstance, I'd give her a small fortune to care for herself, and send her on her way into exile. But I was contractually and politically obligated to at least try and make this work, however possible.
It was mid-morning when I arrived. I took a deep breath, and approached the cell. Inside a simple bamboo structure with metal bars, metal sheets over the walls and floors and a simple stuffed mattress, a sad-looking Nightwing stared down at her claws. Cautiously, I tapped on the bars with my talons.
"Hi, Greatness, was it? I wanted to-" Was about as far as I got. She turned to look at me, and all I could see were her eyes. Orbs of silvery-blue - "Gunmetal Blue", they call that shade now - looked back at me with recognition, then rage. In the brief moment between her calling up her fire and me dodging out of the way, those same eyes took on an additional orange hue, like the last rays of sunshine at twilight.
I ducked out of the way, narrowly missing a torrent of flame to my face. "Okay," I said quickly, taking my cue to leave, "I'll come back later." I left the jailcell behind, as the princess continued to roar and curse and express her impotent fury.
"COME BACK AND FACE ME, YOU COWARD!" She roared. "WE'LL SEE HOW TOUGH YOU ARE WITHOUT YOUR TOYS AND YOUR MINIONS, YOU MURDERER! YOU MONSTER! YOU MOTHERFU-... Mother... mommy..."
The quiet sound of weeping behind me stabbed my heart just as much as a stinger. Worse, it struck my very soul almost as badly as Batty's look. I had turned into a tyrannical monster, killing parents and forcing their children into marriage. And no matter how much I hated it, I couldn't think of a way to fix it without making things worse.
"She'll be alright." Flying Fox assured me, suddenly at my side. "She's a tough one, I can tell. Give her a couple of days, and she'll start calming down."
"She's still going to hate me," I sighed, "She's got every right to."
"Yeah, probably." The Rainwing shrugged his wings. "But if this is what you want to do, you're gonna have to work your charm on her. I'm not saying you'll get her to love you or anything, but I think you can get her to like you, at least."
"Sure," I said sarcastically, "I just killed her mom, conquered her homeland, forced her into marriage and put her in a cell. All totally forgivable things. We're going to be cuddling in the moonlight in a month, tops."
"Hey, you chose this path," He reminded me, "You're gonna have to figure this out. But here's the thing, bud: I believe you can make this work. As crazy as it sounds-"
"How the hell can I make this work?!" I snapped. "The woman I want to marry won't talk to me, and the woman I have to marry wants to kill me! In what world is this even remotely salvageable?!"
"As crazy as it sounds," He repeated, "If you give everyone a little bit of time, let feelings settle down, and start working on a plan, relationships can be mended and built. You follow Maggy's lead with Batty, she knows these things. As for the Princess back there, give her a couple days to calm down. I'll talk to Grandeur about moving her into something more comfortable than a prison cell. We show her how awesome it is here in the Rainforest, give her all the stuff she never had and warm her up to the idea of engagement. In the meantime, you go talk to your ladies when they're ready, make your apologies, use your charm, win them back, you know? Be a good boyfriend. Batty might be mad now, but she still loves you, and I really do believe she'll come around."
I stared back at him, thinking it over. It was a plan, which was more than I had to work with a few hours ago. And more importantly, as much as I'm an expert in science and invention, Flying Fox was a master in the field of romance. If he thought there was a way to smooth things over between my girlfriends and my fiancée, then I would listen to and follow whatever advice he gave me.
I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Very well," I sighed, "I'll leave you to start making the necessary arrangements. I'll talk to Maggy. You just... do what you need to do and get her out of that cell."
Fox nodded, walking off to go find Grandeur. I went off to find Maggy and tell her. I couldn't help but feel increasingly frustrated by the whole scenario. Not only was I managing a kingdom and a war, but now my life had suddenly become a romance novel as well...
It was nearly a week after my return before I spoke to Batty again. I wanted to speak earlier, of course, but if a Rainwing wants to stay hidden, it's damned hard to find them. I considered demanding she show herself - firmly within my right as King, I was certain - but Maggy shot that down hard. We all had a lot to process and think over, and rushing things would only make things worse. She'd come to me when she was ready, and we'd work things out together.
Fortunately, there were plenty of things to keep me busy while we all cooled down. Mastermind and Morrowseer were visiting me every afternoon, giving me progress reports about aid shipments and resettlement. We couldn't relocate the entire Tribe overnight (not as long as the Sky Kingdom was a potential enemy), and at least through the portal we could make sure they weren't engaging in any backstabbing treachery. Mastermind and I were also exchanging notes and ideas on our various projects, commenting and critiquing them, inspiring each other as outside eyes to consider things we each might've missed. I'd even pay little Stonemover visits now and again, seeing how he was doing with the other Rainwings, helping him with his studies, showing him some of my inventions and ideas as he showed me some of his. At least he seemed to be enjoying his new home.
Finally, the 31st rolled around. Batty told Maggy she was ready to talk, and we decided to meet up in a secluded part of the Gardens - no need to have the Tribe eavesdropping on our drama. We gathered together in the shade of the giant ferns, later in the morning as the Village was starting to come alive. As the ladies approached, reflexively I leaned in to sniff her neck. She reared back, shooting me a glare as she flashed a bright red.
"You haven't earned that right back," She growled.
Yep, she's still mad, I thought, bowing my head apologetically as I stepped back. "You're right," I agreed, "I'm sorry."
"There's a lot you should be sorry for." She huffed. "You went behind our backs with negotiations. You did the one thing we Rainwings cannot stand! And then the moment you're out of Maggy's sight, you get engaged with a Princess! The daughter of the Queen you just killed!"
"I know," I agreed, "I'm a terrible King."
"You're not a terrible King," Maggy said, "But you were very inconsiderate as a lover. We understand that you have a lot of responsibilities, and sometimes you have to make a decision on the spot. But if we're your equals, you must remember to talk with us. There's three of us here, and we all should have a voice in matters that affect us."
"You're right, of course," I said, "And I'll do anything to make it right."
"Okay then," Batty told me, "Send Greatness away."
I winced. "You know I can't do that."
"Why?" She demanded, her tone thick with biting sarcasm. "You're King, aren't you? You can make the calls without the Council, right? You made the engagement, you can cancel it just as easily!"
"It's not that simple, Batty. I can't just send her back to the Night Kingdom, not with the old generals still in command. Mastermind's reign is extremely precarious. If Greatness goes back, we run the risk of a coup, and we're right back where we started."
"That's a pathetic excuse, and you know it!" Batty countered. "We kicked their butts twice already, and we can do it again!"
"Slaughter and Morrowseer work for us, Xero." Maggy pointed out. "The Nightwing Army's already back in the Sand Kingdom. All the dragons who'd fight us are fighting for us or heading to the Jade Mountains."
"But why risk it? Why send her back to that blackened hellscape they call an island? She's already been through enough."
"And forcing her to marry you isn't worse?" Fruit Bat demanded.
"Considering all other options, yes!" I snapped.
"Oh, so you do find her attractive?"
I blinked. "What's that supposed to mean?"
Batty sniffed. "I'm starting to think you have a secret royalty fetish. You had a crush on Burn. Then you come here and woo me with your smarts and your charm. Then when you've had your fun, you go and trade up for a younger, prettier, more special Nightwing Princess. What better way to make yourself look more powerful and legitimate than taking the heir to an ancient line of Royalty as your prize?"
My jaw dropped at the accusation. "You think I'd just toss you aside for a girl I've never met? After everything we've done together?! Do you really think so little of me?!"
Batty looked away, some of the red in her scales fading to dark purples and grays. "Do you think I wanted this?" I continued, my wings flaring in anger, "Do you think I wanted to kill another Queen? Do you think I want to be in an arranged marriage? Do you think that I would risk everything I have, with a dragoness I love more than I've loved anyone before, if the alternative wasn't so awful that I couldn't live with myself if I went through with it?"
They both stared at me quizzically. I sighed. "Her mother is dead," I explained, trying and failing to keep the guilt and pain out of my voice, "Her crown is gone. She's been banished from her home. She's a prisoner in a foreign land, and has no doubt been told that this whole war's been fought over her. So imagine if we just go up to her, tell her, 'Sorry, turns out we don't want you anymore, our bad,' and just turned her loose? Just hand her a bunch of gold and treasure, and hope for the best? At best, I'd be damning an orphan to a life of loneliness and grief. At worst, I'd be letting a potentially lifelong rival and enemy go and plot her revenge upon us. I can't stand by and let that happen. I won't."
"So rather than letting her be miserable and free," Batty asked sadly, "You're going to make her miserable and caged?"
"If that's what it takes to have peace and save the world," I answered solemnly. "Because at the end of the day, this whole thing is bigger than any of us. I am a King, and that means I have a responsibility to my subjects, my Tribe, and the world. And sometimes that means doing things that... that kill you inside." I held my head high, trying to keep some of my dignity, even as I felt angry, self-loathing tears fall.
We all stood and stared at each other, perhaps now finally knowing where we all stood. Maggy glanced between us both, before turning to Batty. "Fruit Bat," She asked solemnly, "Do you still wish to be with us?"
Her scales turned dark blue and dark gray. She closed her eyes, but not before a tear ran down her cheek. "I don't know," She said, almost sobbing, "I really don't. I love you, Xero. More than I've loved anyone. But I don't know if I can do this anymore. Not with her."
I felt like I was disintegrating. To hear her say that, to look so broken, made me feel like I was turning to dust. One strong gust away from blowing away to nothingness. I'd broken my lover's heart, and the only thing I could do to fix it would damn my soul to the deepest pits in hell.
"If I could make a suggestion," Maggy interjected, "Before we make any permanent decisions. Batty, if you're still unsure, why don't we take a break for awhile? We had been spending every single day with each other for a month, after all, and we haven't had much of a chance to see how we all are apart. We should all take time to think about what we want, who we are as dragons, and how we all feel about Princess Greatness. If, at the end of this time, you still feel like you don't want to be with Xero, we can separate amicably with no hard feelings. All I ask is that you try to give Greatness a chance, alright?"
Batty glanced up at her, then to me. She nodded. My guard then turned to me. Not knowing what else I could do, I also nodded. If this was my best chance of winning her back, then I'd do whatever it took.
"Very good," Majestic finished, "Then we're all in agreement. Fruit Bat and Xerophilous, you two are now taking a break. In one month's time, we will all meet up at this spot, and then you two will decide if you want to get back together or separate permanently. I will stay with Xero, but I will also council Batty if she ever needs it."
With that, our meeting was done. Batty left for the orchards - her lovely pink and green scales now sorrowful gray. Maggy left to continue training and drilling the troops, assuring me that she'd come back that night to keep me company. As for me, I...
I...
I needed to work. On something. Anything. Anything to take my mind away from replaying Batty's look of betrayal. I went back to my workshop. I sat down at my desk, pulling out scrolls and ink, and started writing. No schematics or designs came to me as I sat, and instead I wrote of the war, of politics, of my own personal life. These were the first drafts and notes of what would eventually become "Project Technocracy", and even this humble memoir. I must've been writing for a few hours, deep in thought, when I heard dragons approaching my door.
"And here we are," Grandeur said, opening the door as I looked up.
"Fuck you!" Beside the former Queen stood a tall, thin Nightwing dragoness, holding herself up defiantly as she dared me to respond. I felt my eye twitch with an annoyance I quickly buried - Spirits knew I had that coming. She had every right to be angry, just as Batty was.
"Yeah, I probably deserved that," I said, head bowing my head in exasperated defeat. "I was meaning to talk to you anyway. Grandeur, if you would?"
"Of course," she said, bowing her neck and then leaving the room, closing the door behind her, leaving me alone with Greatness.
"Before you say anything," I said, "I just wanted to say I'm sorry. It probably doesn't mean much coming from me, but I didn't want any of this to happen. To you, to Battlewinner, to the Nightwings. I didn't want to invade your homeland, or fight another Queen, or..." I couldn't finish that sentence. Hell, I couldn't even look her in the eyes, so great was my shame in that moment.
"I never planned for this, you know," I continued, "I didn't want any of this to happen. It was a bargaining chip, a negotiating tactic. I didn't want to marry a stranger. Hell, I didn't even want to keep your Animus. I only wanted to get myself a magic mirror, and for our Tribes to work together to save my homeland. I didn't think Mastermind was such a coward that he'd just give me both of you!" I felt myself getting worked up again, going over the same talking points, and I risked a look at Greatness. For what it was worth, the anger in her face had died down, now being mixed with confusion.
"Well, why didn't you say no?" She demanded.
"I couldn't," I explained, "Not if I wanted to keep our alliance. Mastermind made his conditions clear, and I'm already asking so much of him. Besides, I think he's afraid of you. As long as you're in the same kingdom, you're his biggest competition."
Greatness snorted, a most unladylike sound.
"Competition?!" She scoffed. "Puh-leeze, I don't even want to be Queen! What's he so scared of?"
I don't know what surprised me more: Hearing her say that, or her reaction to her own words. The look on her face was the same one a dragonet would make accidentally admitting to sneaking her parent's palm wine. Her jaw opened and closed as she tried to speak, but no words came out.
"You... don't want to be a Queen?" I asked, tilting my head curiously. "Why's that?" The Princess didn't answer. The thought was baffling to be. Having spent so much of my life among the Sandwing Royal Family, it seemed downright alien that anyone - especially someone of royal blood - would want to turn away from power and privilege. Granted, I could understand some hesitancy over taking up such a great responsibility, especially considering the state of the Night Kingdom, but to reject it outright? Why?
I waited for her to explain herself. She just stood there, tight-lipped, looking a lot more sheepish than she did a minute ago. The awkward silence stretched on and on, filling my workshop with a tense (though not violent) vibe. Realizing I had to take the next step, I sighed, getting up out of my seat. The Princess tensed, but didn't back away.
"You know," I told her, speaking low so only she could hear, "I didn't want to be King, either. When I first came here, I just wanted to work on my projects in peace, get away from all this political crap. But the Spirits have a funny way of blessing dragons they've taken a liking to."
She lifted her gaze, considering me curiously now. In the light, those Gunmetal Blue eyes were a deep purple, twin amethysts watching my every move. I smiled reassuringly.
"This whole King business," I continued, waving grandly at everything, "This was just dropped in front of me. But, by luck or divine intervention, I become King of a Tribe nobody knew or cared about. And, not to brag or anything, but I like to think I'm doing a pretty damn good job. And that means you can as well, my dear."
Greatness took a step back. Her mouth opened and closed, utterly at a loss for words. This wasn't what she expected to happen, I'm sure. I don't know what she expected, honestly (outside of maybe a fight), but I knew if there was any hope of creating some kind of bond between us, I had to be honest, sincere, and treat her with the respect and kindness she deserved and needed.
"This isn't what either of us wanted, I get that," I told her, meeting her gaze, "But this is what we've been dealt. Tomorrow, we're having a Council Meeting. If you're interested, I'd be more than happy to have you join us. I want to hear what you have to say."
She just stared at me, wide-eyed. Her expression wasn't... angry, so much as conflicted. I could see the gears turning in her head, as she thought it over, reconciling whatever emotions she was feeling. As the quiet stretched out long enough to start getting uncomfortable, she came to a decision, sitting up straighter.
"Alright then," She confirmed, "I'll be there, Xerophilous."
"Excellent!" I replied, feeling a big smile grow on my muzzle. "But please, call me Xero!"
