AN: Alright, now that we have that last chapter done, we can return to the immediate plot lines.

KING'S LANDING-RED KEEP-SMALL COUNCIL

STANNIS

"So then. Dorne has finally made a move." Stannis said after Jon read Tywin's letter aloud to the council.

"Do we even need to do anything?" Renly spoke up in the silence. Once all eyes were on him, he continued.

"This seems to me like an internal matter between the Lannisters and Dorne. Can't we just let them fight it out without us getting involved?"

"You would have two of the Seven Kingdoms war amongst themselves while we stand by idle?" Stannis asked his foolish brother. He then turned to the other fool who shared his blood.

"I told you this would happen. As did Lord Stark. We told you to arrest Clegane and Lorch, but no, you had to let them go unpunished. You didn't even pardon them, so Dorne can claim the law is on their side in trying to attack the Lannisters."

"You think I could have?" Robert asked his brother.

"You were not here. When we finally reached King's Landing, the Lannister forces outnumbered our uninjured. Had I even thought about arresting Tywin, then we would have been cut to shreds, and Tywin could have claimed the throne for himself."

"I would remind everyone that Elia killed her own children and herself!" Pycelle yelled in an uncharacteristically loud voice.

"She despaired at the thought of what Aerys would do, so she killed them herself and then took her own life. Sers Gregor and Lorch were sent to try to save them, but they were too late. This Dornish attack is completely without justification!"

"Truly Maester? I must admit I have never heard of a lady of Elia's stature cutting herself in half with a greatsword she would never have been able to lift." Stannis shot back.

"Enough!" Robert yelled out.

"The past is done and written. What matters now is how we handle the current issue. Like it or not, this was an act of war. Stannis-you are now Master of War. Pick someone under you to take over as Master of Ships. Renly, call your banners. The Stormlords can patrol the border. Pycelle, send a raven to Sunspear with terms for their surrender. We still have those ships out near Dornish waters patrolling for pirates. Try to get a message to them to focus on Dorne." Robert said as he stood up and left, Barristan trailing behind.

Once the others started to disperse, Stannis stood and went after Robert.

Once he caught up to him, they were in front of Robert's chambers.

"So, how do you think this will end?" Stannis asked his brother and king.

"Dorne can't stand up against six other kingdoms united." Robert replied.

"They managed it against the Targaeyeans. For two centuries. They withstood Aegon and Daeron's invasions."

"Aye, but we have those failed invasions to tell us what not to do." Robert said before sighing and sitting down.

"It's strange. For years I've been yearning for something like this. A reason to get off my arse and put on my armour and go kill someone trying to kill me. My head has never been clearer than in battle. But after Trant, I remembered. The fear of an axe just missing, how many friends I saw die on the field. The gods are cruel. My dream came true once I no longer want it."

"So what shall you do now then." Stannis asked.

"Honestly, despite everything, a part of me is still looking forward to battle again. Even if it's with monsters and spells instead of swords and arrows. Still, you are right. If I had listened to Ned at first, and you later, we may have avoided this mess."

"Oh, so now you value my opinion, when it is too late to follow it?" Stannis said, grinding his teeth.

"Wha...Where has this come from? You always seem to take offense to things I mean as praise. Why?" Robert said. It had always been a source of friction between them.

"What praises have you given me? You took away Storm's End, a castle I defended while starving myself for you, and gave it to Renly. Meanwhile I get Dragonstone, a castle that while prestigious, has little in terms of wealth or resources. Then you deem me to be Master of Ships instead of Laws. Instead, you again give it to Renly. Have you been paying attention to him? When was the last time he was back at Storm's End? Before he had to refit the Gold Cloaks with cards, when did he actually do anything in his duty? Even now, he spends more time prancing about the Keep than doing his duty. My point is Robert, that every time you seem to 'honor' me for my services, you give Renly a more important role for DOING NOTHING!"

What had started as a calm dressing down had ended in Stannis shouting. He felt it. Decades of annoyances and insults, building up and being released in a few sentences.

Robert took a minute before he could speak.

"Stannis, we both know there is no love lost between us. Well...There should be. I gave you Dragonstone, because you were my heir. Originally I was going to give it to Joffrey when he became a man, but I know now he would be terrible." Robert sighed.

"Tomorrow, at the training yard, meet me there before breakfast. I know a thing or two about rage, you aren't gonna feel better until you can hit something. But for now, we have work to do."

"Aye Your Grace. That may be for the best." Stannis replied.

KING'S LANDING-RED KEEP-VARYS' CHAMBERS

VARYS

Varys rushed back into his chambers as quickly as he could while maintaining a calm appearance.

'This is too much.' Varys thought to himself. Things were going too far off course.

Baelish had not hinted at the Lannister's incest.

Jon Arryn had not been poisoned.

Robert was not preparing to summon Ned Stark as his new hand.

Instead, the Cards had come into the world.

Trant was killed in single combat. (Though that was by no means a great loss).

Oberyn had been killed by Tywin in self defense.

Once Varys was alone, he moved the bed onto a rug in his room. He checked under where the bed was for a key. Once he had the key he pulled out the fifth brick from left in the twelfth row on the wall with a window. He moved the bed back for now, He turned the brick around to reveal it was actually a box made with a brick's outside appearance. He pushed the key into the hole and opened up the box. Inside was something very dear to the Master of Whispers-the first thing he had ever stolen.

His master had owned it. He had bragged about killing a man who claimed to have traveled to Valyria and made it out by not going any further than the beaches. He had claimed that the tide had dug it out, as it was just right there on the beach. Once Varys had been gelded, he grabbed the item and stuffed it in his pants when the sorcerer had not been looking. It was the only revenge he could get against the man at the time. The man had so many supposedly magical items, Varys doubted he ever realized it was missing.

Inside the box, was a golden necklace. The only thing really of note about it was how thick the cord of the necklace was, and the strange eye that was right in front of it.

After being left on the streets, Varys had planned to bring it to a merchant and get however much it was worth in gold. But as it was night, he put it on as he found a place to sleep. That night he had a dream. A rich man left a pouch of coins behind and no one would notice it for a few minutes. When he woke up, he saw his dream come true. Every night he wore the necklace, he would dream, and in the morning he would steal what he saw in his dream. Until he dreamt about meeting Illyrio.

The rest was history. He kept the necklace safe at all times but he also built his web to get at the more minute details. Many times his visions from the necklace had been used by claiming it was his birds.

He foresaw Aerys using Wildfire to burn down the capital when Rhaegar brings a host of lords from Harrenhal to depose him. So he told Aerys to go there himself.

He foresaw the Sack of King's landing, but could do nothing to stop it fully. Instead all he could do was replace baby Aegon with a lowborn babe who also inherited Targearyean looks-likely from some forgotten bastard line.

Had he been on a normal time frame, he may have failed due to not having enough time, Or Elia realizing the babe was different, but the Necklace allowed him to make the switch the night Aegon was born. Rhaegar was attending to his wife, who had almost fallen into a coma from the strain. One bribed guard who was later found dead from a tavern brawl, and the Targaryen line was secured. Elia and Rhaegar had only seen Price Aegon the one time, and then the babe was replaced before his first feeding.

But still, the Necklace became finicky over time. He did not see what Rhaegar was planning when he took Lyanna, nor what happened at the tower where Lord Stark fought Ser Arthur.

Now, ever since the cards had first appeared, he had gotten next to nothing from it.

'Why? What will it take to get it to work again?' Varys thought to himself. If he was caught off guard much more, it would be the end of him.

KING'S LANDING-RED KEEP-TRAINING YARD

ROBERT

"All right, all you damned White Cloaks stand back. No one interferes in this until we are done." Robert bellowed to Ser Barristan, Mandone Moore, and Balon Swann.

"Are you sure about this Robert?" Stannis asked. "We could always duel instead."

"No, I've seen that rage inside of me before. Trust me. It's best to hit what you hate directly. But I won't just be your punching bag."

Robert put his arms up like he used to in taverns. "Besides, I need to get back into practice. Let's see what all my weight loss has gotten me."

"Fine then." Stannis said.

They circled around each other for what felt like an eternity. Robert decided to get it over with and went to punch Stannis square in the face.

Stannis moved out of the way with ease. He then landed a solid punch right to Robert's gut.

Robert crumpled, which Stannis took full advantage of. He grabbed Robert's hair and lifted his face for another punch right in the left eye.

After that Robert managed to pull away. His left eye was barely open, but he could see Stannis come in for another punch. Robert feinted to dodge and punched stannis with an uppercut right to the jaw.

This only served to make Stannis even more angry. He came back at Robert with full force.

The fight went on like this for another five minutes. Stannis was more fit, but Robert managed to use his own weight to pin Stannis. One final punch to Robert's gut caused him to collapse right on top of Stannis, knocking what remained of their stamina out of both of them.

Robert managed to roll off of Stannis-much to his relief-and they both stared at the sky.

"Alright, so...do we need to go another round? As your king, I order you to say no."

"An order I was already going to do." Stannis turned his head to look at his brother. "Why? How? What makes you so good? During the Rebellion, men who tried to kill you ended up toasting to you and dying for you. How can you inspire such loyalty? If you pissed in a goblet in front of court, Lords would praise the vintage. I offer them a cool glass of water, and they whisper about how queer it tastes."

Robert could not help but laugh upon hearing that. "Did...did Stannis the Serious just tell a joke? Fetch the High Septon, it's a miracle."

"No, a miracle would be if the gods didn't take our parents." Stannis said.

Robert's laughter faded. "Aye, that would have been a miracle."

"You left us." Stannis said. "You were six and ten. Father and Mother were coming home from Essos and you came back to Storm's End to greet them. Then we watched their ship sink before our eyes. And you went back to the Eyrie. You were of age, and the Lord of Storm's End. But you shirked your duty and abandoned not just the Stormlands, but me and Renly. He was too young to understand. But it was me and Cressen who had to tell him he would never see Mother or Father again. Now you are king, and you spent most of your reign doing the same thing. Running away from the hard parts, and taking advantage of what you can. You must have come back what? Two? Three times? Four years of peace between becoming lord and starting the Rebellion, and you only came home for short periods."

Robert took the speech in. It hurt more than the ache from his new injuries.

"What do you think they would say? If they saw us like this?"

"Mother would grab our heads and knock them together until we fall unconscious. Then she would order the largest Septon be brought to stand guard outside your room to prevent you from drinking or whoring. Meanwhile Father would make me share a room with Moon Boy until I finally laugh."

"Heh. Force us to handle something the other would not mind. So that's it then. We are complete opposites."

"No, you may shirk your duty, but when needed you can do it. It's not that we are opposites. Renly is my opposite. He has your charm, but none of my duty. Remember Donal Noye?"

"Ol Noye? The man who made our first swords, and my first hammer? Of course I remember him. Wait, is he still alive?" Robert asked.

"Maybe. He joined the Watch after losing an arm taking on an assassin who snuck in during the siege. Bastard grabbed one of his own axes to do the deed. He once told me something. 'You are Iron. More like to break than bend. Renly is Copper. Nice to look at but not worth much when needed. But Robert is the true steel. And like steel, he will rust if he is not careful.'" Stannis recited.

"Well, I'm finally removing the rust." Robert said as he began to try to get up. He ended up going from lying to sitting.

"Y'know...Steel may be the best overall. But some jobs iron can do better. I am me. You are you. Let's just leave it at that." Robert held his hand out to Stannis. "Ever need to do this again, let me know. But let's not stew over everything for years. For every time I insult you, you get one punch. Sounds good?"

Stannis grabbed his hand. "I suppose it is an adequate solution. At least for now."

Robert chuckled. "All right then. NOW you can help us!" He yelled at the White Cloaks present, who immediately sprang forward to carry the two men to Pycelle.

"Y'know...Tommen has been wanting to get a bird to keep Ser Pounce company. I seem to recall a certain boy who never gave up on his Goshawk, even when Uncle Herbert told him to abandon it."

"Aye. Proudwing. Oh, I forgot you made fun of me for him. I suppose I got another thing to punch you for."

"Feel free to. I hurt you. I may not have known it but I did. I intend to repay you. You have my word."

….

"So, what jobs does Iron do better than Steel?" Stannis asked.

"I don't know. I'm not a Blacksmith. Hmm. Maybe Gendry will know."

BEYOND THE WALL-HAUNTED FOREST

A MAN WITH A THOUSAND EYES

"Still nothing." The man in the tree said.

It had been eight years, and he still failed to see where the traitor was. He had been able to catch a glimpse of the chaos he left in his wake, but he was unable to warg into an animal to see him. Power that was his birthright from his father was stopping his mother's power.

'That one eye is worth more than my other thousands.'

In truth, it was the one thing he would honestly have thanked Aegor for. Had he not taken his original eye, then he would not have been nursed back to health by Shierra. Her attempts to recreate the sorcery of their ancestors had failed to heal him, but showed him a vision of how to see again. He had sent his agents out, but of twenty, only one returned, and he died soon after. He would never forget that sight. The Eye made sure of that. Any time he wished to use its power, he was plagued with that poor man's last moments. Of the THINGS that were inside him.

By combining the Eye with his warging, he had managed to halt many disasters. He had gathered an army to quell the second Blackfyre rebellion before half of Westeros was even aware of it. He had let the Greyjoys kill off some lords that had been planning on Usurping the Starks-though regrettably that had led to its own problems when the Ironborn managed to kill Lord Stark anyway.

And Aenys. The fool may have claimed an attempt at legal succession, but he had arranged for Tears of Lys to be sent over during the Great Council. Even his own arrest had been done in part to secure the people's support for Aegon, who would desperately need it.

But just when he thought he had finally found a successor, the man travels all the way to his cave, only to steal his Eye. He killed a third of the Children on his way out.

How the Eye had been unable to warn him of his apprentice's intentions, he had no idea. But it still happened.

'Euron...You will pay for your treachery.'

JADE SEA-COAST OFF OF YI TI

CROW'S EYE

"AHHHHHH-" The Yi Tish sailor screamed as the Fire Kraken Burned him alive before devouring his corpse.

Euron saw the man's spirit rise up, only to be pulled towards Euron, who took off his eye patch to reveal the golden orb that replaced his eye. The spirit entered the eye, and Euron felt an ache he had from sleeping in a strange position lessen.

Euron walked up to his Duel Disk, and scavenged the deck for cards. He took those that seemed interesting and handed the others off to one of his bastards to put on the Silence.

"Alright boys, lets see what haul we got this time!" He yelled to his men, who could not yell back to respond, and they scoured the foreign ship for all its worth.

By the time they were back on the Silence, Euron was an elephant's weight in gold richer, and had a dozen more women who either lost or surrendered.

The next day, they headed back west. It had been awhile since he had checked in on Slaver's Bay.

'In fact, I think it might be about time to revisit home.' Euron thought to himself.

AN: And so, preparations for war have begun. Robert and Stannis duke it out the old fashioned way. I thought it was sad when Stannis looked back and realized he actually did love his brothers, but he only realized it after they were gone.

Varys has the Millenium Necklace. Honestly it was a bit of a toss up between him and Melisandre. She would love to have a necklace that was spat out of a volcano, and would see it as a direct connection to R'hllor. But by giving it to Varys, I can give justification for why (F)Aegon would be the actual Aegon. I do personally believe in (F)aegon, but I am curious of how the story would go if Varys did actually save the young prince. He has used it to be able to know things even when people take precautions against his spies. But it stopped working for him. Same with Brynden and the Millenium Eye. It stopped working for him and found Euron a better user. For some reason. Maybe it was just bored.

The main question I'm sure is on everyone's mind-where are the others? And who will get them?

Next Chapter: The various regions react to the news of war. Or ignore it because those specific POVs would not be expected to go.