UnknownUserFound: Haha yeah, figured I'd tie in the canon interpretation of Cronus at some point.

The ceremony was otherwise entirely uneventful. She did recognize a few more trolls. Some highblood actors and musicians she had grown up admiring were apparently power hungry assholes. Disappointing, but not surprising.

Her mother was beaming at her. Her speech to celebrate Feferi's arrival was beautiful, in its own completely fucked up way. The pride, the sheer honor of having another fuschia blood in the gang, was overwhelming. A good omen. An omen of success in restoring the hemocaste. Feferi Peixes, the hero they had been waiting for.

Murderer of the Summoner.

She had put down the head of a revolutionary group.

There was a mention of the sins of the Signless, which she tuned out. Oh god, Karkat. Tavros. Two of a kind.

She was able to get permission from her mother to leave early. She didn't go home immediately. She dropped by the Serket household, managing to catch a glimpse of Mindfang. She spent a few minutes with Meenah, who held her while she cried. Feferi accidentally let it slip that Cronus was being a creep, and Meenah had to be restrained by both Feferi and Aranea.

"Summer is almost over," Vriska said.

"Really?"

"Yeah. The summer just kinda disappeared."

"Crap, I didn't even realize."

"You know, next year you have to submit college applications and stuff."

"I'm not gonna lie, I'm a little surprised that you remembered that."

Vriska laughed. "Don't worry, I'm just repeating every word Kanaya says. She's doing the Mom thing where she makes sure I check up on everyone who she hasn't been able to talk to."

"At least I have one positive mother figure in my life," Feferi sighed. "I don't even know if I'll be able to go to school. I'll be busy doing gang things."

"You'll definitely be going to school. It'd look suspicious if you quit going, especially because you're not one of the druggies who're always absent."

"I need to talk to Calliope about handling all of this," Feferi admitted. "I'm not an expert at this."

"No shit. But she was home schooled her entire life, so you won't learn much." Feferi stared at her. "What?"

"Vriska, how much do you know? Why aren't you an informant."

Vriska grinned, and Feferi got the sudden of spider carefully arranging the threads of its web. "Oh, Feferiiiiiiii. I have many, many irons in the fire. I need to have all the information I can get so that fire doesn't blow the fuck up in my face."

"Why isn't your mother in the Protectors of Alternia? She seems the type," Feferi asked.

"Power hungry and probably evil? Yes. But keep in mind, she was in love with the Summoner and didn't have the best track record. Sure, she was involved with that one scandal of slave trade of lowbloods, but she alo owns a casino that cheats highbloods out of their cash. Everyone hates her."

Feferi took this in. "People talk at bars."

"People talk anywhere."

"But Vriska, what if Mindfang tells us any plans PA members talk about in there?"

"She doesn't want to get involved with anything."

"Then get Aranea to do it." One look from Vriska dispelled that idea. "Fine, well what about Meenah?"

"Huh. That might work. She fits the type of young money Mindfang usually gets from PA."

"Let's host a team meeting soon!"

"Oh god no, let's make Karkat do that. Everyone is far too annoying to come over to my house all at once."

They talked for a few more minutes before Feferi did leave. She went home and decided to find some information. She searched through the files left out on the table. All of them consisted of public relation documents, and she was blessed with the opportunity to see a picture her mother look very uncomfortable with a small group of toddlers of mixed species.

She glanced at the clock. Midnight. Her mother could get home from any moment between now and noon. She locked her study whenever she wasn't home, but Meenah and Feferi had both found the key years ago (Feferi was convinced their Gristmas presents would be there).

She looked out the window. There weren't any cars, and the Amporas still weren't home. It was more than worth the risk. Feferi reached behind the key rack hanging up in the kitchen. There was a small indent in the wall that held the key to her mother's study.

Her study and bedroom were connected for the sake of convenience. The only entrance was to enter through her mother's bedroom. This in itself was a risk. They were strictly forbidden from going in her bedroom.

She hadn't been in the study since she was young. It was for a school project. She had to interview her parent about her job. Feferi wanted to make it official, like it was one of the interviews she saw on tv or in the paper. It hadn't changed at all.

There was still a large portrait of her hanging over the fireplace. It was of her mother, dressed in the traditional attire of the Alternian empress. The paint was faded and the paper appeared to peel in some places. She didn't believe it was truly from Alternia, but it was certainly an ancient picture.

Her mother's desk was in front of the large window. It would be a death wish to turn the light on, as the window would turn the light bulb into a beacon. Feferi settled for using her phone as a light. She opened each of the cabinets, rummaging through bills and trinkets. Then she came across a cabinet that looked smaller than the rest. She took all of the envelopes out and rapped the bottom with her knuckles. It moved. She pried her nails between the edges and pulled the bottom up. Jackpot.

There was a picture of one of the current presidential candidates. Notras Trelgi, a big purple blood. He was heavy into the juggalo religion, but otherwise a strong politician. Next to it was a letter. It was addressed to her mother, and read:

'Dear Her Imperial Condescension,

It is my utmost pleasure to inform you of the success we had while recruiting Notras Trelgi for our cause. He is most excited to help, and it is in our best interests that we get him an official initiation as soon as possible. Regardless, he has agreed to all of our plans. It is almost certain that he will become president. He is more than willing to give up leadership to you, and will pave the way to your coup by passing minor laws to limit the rights of all non-trolls. I have included his private number in the envelope, it would be best if you discussed the more important details with him.

Sincerely, Orphaner'

Lights shone in, and Feferi glanced behind her to see a car pull into the driveway. She rushed to put everything back in order, locked the door behind her, and sprinted to the key rack. Just as she was pulling her hand out, the door opened. "Mom! Hey!"