The next morning Vuthe was, as always, the first one to wake up. As a queen, she always had long days, but today she was up even earlier than usual. Tizanta was still asleep next to her, a sight that was always way too adorable for Vuthe. Technically dragons could live without sleep for a few years. But in recent years the everlasting exhaustion from constant fighting made that a lot harder than it would normally be. Perhaps once they took care of the immediate situation that would change again.

Vixus was already waiting for their Queen. Vuthe didn’t know if they never slept or just did so in hiding, but in the end, it didn’t really matter. They had compiled a report for Vuthe, a quick rundown on their army guests, including a headcount, a general understanding of their ranks and resources, and knowledge about magic.

Vuthe was a little surprised at how well the people of earth knew magic. Sure, it couldn’t hold a candle to the other world, but it appears that earth has made some more breakthroughs in that regard than she had thought they would.

With that matter dealt with, Vuthe was sure they wouldn’t try anything funny, or that they could do anything if they did, she woke up Tizanta and they began to work on the day’s agenda.

Not long after that, the first point on the agenda of the day arrived. Breakfast time. Tizanta and Vuthe usually ate together with the rest of the Council in the Council tent, but for today Vuthe wanted to invite Major Durr and some of his upper ranks for breakfast.

She was a little surprised how readily Blake agreed to it, considering that he would be eating with a group of Dragons and an Outworlder Cyborg. Despite that, he seemed almost eager. She supposed that had more to do with the presence of Castaphiel and Corellanium rather than the prospect of having breakfast with the council. At least it meant that that situation had a good outcome.

They sat together in the council’s tent and ate, mostly speaking politely about this and that, carefully not bringing up any topic that might upset the good mood, yet still prodding here and there when it could be done safely, to get an idea on how long the Major was to stay and when their government contact was to arrive.

They had just about finished up breakfast when Tizanta suddenly perked up and looked at Vuthe. „My Queen. It appears that a Helicopter has entered the airspace around the camp. It bears a Symbol I am unfamiliar with and is headed directly to our location“, she said with a slight bow of her head. Usually, she’d be a lot more casual during breakfast, but with the foreign guests present they decided to stick to the more formal approach if only to keep up the image.

Blake looked at Tizanta as she spoke, „What kind of Symbol is it? Maybe I know it“, he asked, still nibbling on a piece of bread. Tizanta waved her tail and an illusory image of the helicopter appeared in the middle of the table, enabling the others to see.

Blake’s eyebrows rose, as did the ones of his fellow soldiers that were present before he spoke. „Wow… Okay. I didn’t think they sent the KISS out here as your liaison. Well, I suppose it does make sense considering Her Majesty’s previous identity“, he said, scratching his chin in thought.

Vuthe and Tizanta looked at each other, and for a moment Tizanta could see the horror and anxiety on her Queens’s face before Vuthe managed to reign in her emotions. „Tizanta, see to it that our newly arrived guests have a place to land“, she ordered, before turning to Blake, „Major, I’m afraid I have to cut my presence here short. I do hope you enjoy the rest of your meal, as paltry as it might be“, she said with a respectful nod, as both she and Tizanta got up.

Major Blake nodded, „Certainly, Your Majesty. I do wish you good luck with these new visitors. If you require anything of us, please, just send me a message.“

Vuthe nodded to him and together with Tizanta left the tend. Even if she wasn’t outwardly showing it, Tizanta knew of the emotional turmoil running rampant in her, clearly visible in her friend’s aura.

Tizanta waved her tail once more and reality shifted, forming a platform in the middle of the camp for the Helicopter to land, with the typical „H“ on it to designate it a Helicopter landing space. To achieve that she had to extend the space a little bit, but that was barely worth mentioning the effort considering her strength.

The Helicopter arrived fifteen minutes later, fifteen minutes in which Vuthe was barely able to fight down the turmoil of emotions she felt. It had to be the longest fifteen minutes of her life, and that was saying something.

When the Helicopter finally touched down, it had waited mid-air for a moment upon arriving at the camp, apparently unsure of what to do, Vuthe tried her best to act calm and collected, but Tizanta realized she had to do a lot of the talking this time around. Vuthe was in no state to do that herself at the moment.

Not that that was a new experience for Tizanta. It had been like this for quite a number of years already, which is why Tizanta dearly hoped that she could find someone that could help with Vuthe’s state of mind.

The Helicopter doors opened and four people in black combat attire wielding very obviously magical rifles stepped out to secure the perimeter. Two of them were men and two women, one of the men being part of a demi-human race Tizanta had not seen before. He was a type of Fairy race she guessed, although to normal human eyes that wouldn’t be obvious.

Behind them, an older woman around seventy stepped out. Despite her advanced age she looked very well and carried herself with grace coming from a long life. The woman looked around, then stopped at first Tizanta, then Vuthe. A hint of recognition flashed on her face, but she cooled it and stepped closer to them.

„Good morning. My name is Scarlet Savart. I apologize for our unannounced visit, however in the context of things I thought it would be best to visit personally. Whom am I addressing?“, she said with a voice that had a lot of authority, but also the undertone of someone who cared a lot about the people around her.

„Good Morning Miss Savart“, Tizanta spoke and stepped forward with a smile, „I am Tizanta isk Thesekar and this is Shade Dragon Vuthe de Thal, the Dragon Queen of Thelvadore. However, you would most likely recognize her by her former name, Rin Savart.“

That declaration produced a loud silence that somehow managed to be even louder than the sound of the camp and the Helicopter engine winding down. Even the four Bodyguards, or whatever they might be, looked astonished.

Scarlet however was the most stunned, her mouth open in shock, as she stared at the younger-looking girl. Vuthe did her best to not crumple up in emotion, only barely managing to keep her expression neutral. Tizanta noticed that her friend wouldn’t be able to keep this up much longer.

Before Scarlet could say anything Tizanta spoke again, „Would you be agreeable to find a more private venue for our talk? I’m afraid that the middle of the camp is not the best place for our discussion.“

Scarlet simply nodded and followed Tizanta as she led both her and her friend to a nearby tent. She quickly changed the insides to be more suitable for the discussion, fearing that if she didn’t hurry Vuthe would break down in the middle of the camp.

The four bodyguards, Tizanta was increasingly sure that’s what they were, followed Scarlet and waited in front of the tent.

The moment the three entered Tizanta could see the mask on Vuthe’s face cracking. She turned to Scarlet and tears began forming in the younger dragon’s eyes.

Scarlet looked at Vuthe with an unsure, but hopeful expression and Vuthe could no longer keep it together. She jumped Scarlet, hugging her tight, tears freely running down her face as she clung to her now younger sister. „Oh my god, you’re alive! You’re alive! I was so afraid!“, she said through body shaking sobs, holding her sister tight. She had to actively fight her own emotions to not crush the woman in her embrace.

Scarlet slowly returned the embrace, „Is that really you Rin?“, she asked quietly, still not entirely believing the situation she found herself in. Her life’s work has been to defend the people from whatever had stolen her younger sister and to find a way to bring her back if at all possible. And now her lost sister Rin stood right in front of her, hugging her tight.

„Yes. Yes, it’s me, I’m back Sis. I’m finally back!“, Vuthe exclaimed, not letting go. She buried her face in the other woman’s chest, just enjoying holding her sister once more. She had thought for so long that her family was gone, forever out of her reach, yet here she was, her older sister in the flesh.

They stood like that for quite a long time, just enjoying the presence of each other, while Vuthe cried all the tears she had left after a long, long life of uncertainty. Tears of joy and relief.

A good five minutes later the two separated, Vuthe looking up at her sister with a small smile. „You have no idea how relieved I am to see you’re alive. I thought after all those centuries I’ll never see any of you ever again“, she said quietly.

Scarlet rose an eyebrow, „Centuries? You were gone for five decades, that’s not centuries“, she said with confused humor in her voice. Tizanta stepped forward and spoke for the first time since entering the Tent.

„Yes, for you it has been fifty years. For us it has been nearly three millennia“, she explained with a friendly smile. She was glad that Vuthe seemed more relaxed for once, although she had a feeling that this would only help so much, especially considering that the chances her parents were still alive were not good. They had to be over eighty or ninety by now. Still, that was an issue for another day, she wanted her friend to enjoy herself a little.

Scarlet looked at Tizanta, then at Vuthe in abject horror. „Three Millenia?!“, she exclaimed in disbelief, „That’s three thousand years! How are you alive?!“.

Her sister smiled at her sadly, „The boon of rebirth, I suppose. I’m no longer human, I’m a dragon these days. Well, a boon and a curse.“

Scarlet looked at Vuthe with a mixture of conflicting emotions evident on both her face and in her aura. „But… still… that’s a long time. How are you doing?“, she asked, finally noticing Vuthe’s mixture of emotions.

Vuthe averted her gaze, not having the strength to withstand the worried glance of her sister. „I’m… not… doing too great. Honestly, I’m just short of crumbling. It’s been a hard, very hard time…“, she trailed off, her memories once more bubbling up and she spent a few seconds stuffing them back down again.

They sat down on a comfy sofa that Tizanta materialized behind them. She stayed but kept out of the way. Not wanting to leave Vuthe alone, but also not wanting to interrupt her moment with her sister.

„Do you want to talk about it?“, Scarlet asked. It was apparent to both Vuthe and Tizanta that she was still a little unsure, but it was outweighed by her worry for her long lost family member.

Stolen story; please report.

Vuthe looked at Scarlet, uncertain. „I’m not sure… I think so… But I’ve done so many things… I… I don’t want you to hate me“, she said carefully, „I’m not the same little girl anymore…“

Scarlet smiled reassuringly and embraced her sister once more, „Don’t worry. No matter what you have done I’ll be here for you“, she said.

Vuthe slumped her shoulders, still uncertain. Tizanta decided she had to give her friend a push, otherwise she would never talk about it to anyone but her. „Vuth, you gotta talk to someone. And it’ll be easier for both of you if she knows. I know it’s hard, but you need to open up.“

Vuthe shuddered, but nodded, „You’re right…“, she mumbled, then took a deep breath and began to tell Scarlet everything. Every last detail of the past three millennia, every deed she did, good or bad, everything she experienced while she was in the other world.

She talked about her first memories, hazy at best, in dark, damp cells, being used and abused for so long she couldn’t even remember. She spoke about her escape at the hands of adventurers, then her subsequent recruitment by a royal assassin’s guild.

Through tears she spoke of the crimes she committed, the people she murdered and tortured, the despicable orders she blindly followed. Only when she found a child she had kidnapped in the royal chambers of her guilds king, half-dead and raped did she realize what group she was helping.

This was her first breaking point. Feeling betrayed and used as a tool she tried to kill the king right then and there, only to be stopped by what she had thought to be her friends at the time. Just barely did she escape with her life, only to be left to bleed out in the slums of the capital.

The only reason she didn’t die was a person calling herself Abyss, who had helped and nurtured her back to health, despite all the distrust Vuthe had given her. That was the first time she felt safe. Abyss told her a bit about her Heritage, the blood of Ga’zeith de Thal running through her veins.

Now that she was healthy again, she started her revenge against the guild and the kingdom. For a week she fought, killing the assassins, often only barely surviving, before she finally arrived at the Capital gates.

History would remember that night as the Night of a Thousand Screams, the birth of the Bloody Queen, the Massacre of Corentolim. Vuthe butchered every single person in the City with no regard to age, gender, or social status. She didn’t care that she murdered the innocents, her only goal was revenge.

Scarlet could only listen in abject horror as Vuthe described in meticulous detail how she disposed of the Royals and nobles, utterly shocked by the complete apathy in her sisters tone. Vuthe’s eyes spoke of the horrors of war and killing, the madness that lingered in them broke her heart.

Only after she had razed the Capital did Vuthe realize what she had done and that was her second breaking point. Completely lost and mad at herself and the world she went on a rampage, killing and destroying everything she came across, hoping that someone would come to end her, to finally free her from all she had suffered.

That was when she finally met her closest friends. Calagrophy, Tizanta, Castaphiel, and Corellanium stopped her, and instead of killing her or punishing her, they helped her, helped her remember her previous life, and helped her heal, emotionally and physically.

Her body had long since been scarred beyond repair, not even the strongest magical healing could undo the damage that had been done. Those scars were what Vuthe motivated in the end, to overthrow the evildoers and oppressors.

She told Scarlet of their efforts to build a rebellion, then a kingdom, then the army. They dedicated their everything to the task, sacrificing everything necessary to achieve their goal. Vuthe didn’t want to rule. She wanted Freedom and safety for herself and her people.

Which is why she never once even thought about abusing her power. At first people were skeptical, the tales of the mad dragon had circulated of course, but she managed, slowly but surely, to convince the people she wasn’t a power hungry asshole.

She achieved that by doing everything in her power to help her people, she bled with them and for them, threw herself in front of them to protect them, even sharing her own magic and flesh, as disgusting as it was, in times of starvation. With her entire being, body and soul alike, she worked for the people and their freedom.

Eventually the people started to trust and to help. No longer did she have to carry the burden alone, yet she always carried the largest part. She had led wars and watched those she worked so hard to safe die in their fight for their own destiny.

Despite the horrifying tales, Scarlet didn’t judge her sister once. She knew how hard this was for her and she admired the determination her sister showed not to stop, to keep talking, to keep reliving those painful memories.

At some point Tizanta left to take care of the business in her Queens stead. She knew Vuthe trusted the Council, or at least the Reincarnators, and it was their job to pick up where the other failed. That’s how they worked the Council ever since it was formed.

Vuthe spoke for a long, long time. It was late afternoon before she was finished with her entire story. All the while Scarlet had listened, here and there asking a question, or simply helping Vuthe through a recollection of a particularly bad memory. By the end Vuthe had no more tears to shed, just looking up at Scarlet in anticipation and anxiety.

Scarlet embraced her sister tightly, „I’m so, so sorry you had to go through all this. I’m not even sure I could ever understand any of the hardships you went through. But it’s okay Rin, I’m here for you, we are here for you. Whatever you need you can ask me. I don’t blame you for anything you did. I might not like it, but I won’t blame you for it. You… experienced a lot. And I’m sure if I would be in your shoes, I’d long ago gone mad. I’m proud of you that you’re still holding it together despite all the shit you had to wade through.“

With that a huge pressure lifted off of Vuthe’s heart and she returned the embrace. „Thank you, Scal. I’m… I’m not sure how I managed to keep it together for so long. I guess it’s always been about saving my people. It gave me focus. But I’m not sure I can go anymore. I’m tired off all of it. Tired of fighting. Tired of political games. Yet I just can’t hand in my crown and be off. Those people rely on me, they count on me, they believe in me. And I can’t repay that with betrayal.“

Scarlet nodded with a smile, „Once in the game, always in the game. I might not be some fancy queen from a far away magical land, but I am the CEO of a rather large company. I understand your troubles. Maybe we can help each other out?“, she asked with a chuckle.

Vuthe nodded, „I’d like that. But I also recognize that you are here as a government liaison. I will not be working against my people, even if it’s you that’s asking me“, she said sternly, the authority of a Queen returning once more into her voice.

Scarlet looked at Vuthe in surprise. „You are mistaken. I am not here in the function of a government liaison. In fact I do not work for any government in specific“, she explained, leaning back in the sofa, „I have influence, yes. A lot of it, in fact, as I am the most important person in the magical defense initiative, but I am an independent.“

Vuthe looked at her sister in confusion, trying to unravel that statement. „But why are you here then? Even Major Blake thought you would be the government liaison, considering your connection with me. It would make sense politically to send you, as it might mean I’m more forthcoming in my cooperation. I would have done the same, if I was in their position.“

Scarlet chuckled again, a warm smile working its way on her elderly face, „Rin-“. She was interrupted by Vuthe who held up a hand, „Please, Scarlet, if it is alright with you, please call me Vuthe. I’m no longer Rin Savart. Rin died a long time ago in that hellhole I woke up in in the other world. My hands are far too stained with blood to be compared to that little girl, or to sully the Savart family name…“

That brought a frown on Scarlet’s face. „I don‘t agree with you, but if you prefer it this way. Although this is something we need to talk about another time“, she said, shaking her head before she continued, „Either way, Vuthe. The Government has not yet confirmed anything. I was approached on the topic this morning, but the reason I am here is because I received a message from someone calling themselves a ‚close family friend‘ that there is an urgent family matter that needs attending. You can understand my concern when not a minute later I received a message from the German Government about someone claiming to be my long lost sister. They left out any details, of course. Perhaps they will approach me for the position for liaison, but as of right now, I’m here as your sister.“

Vuthe let out a long breath she didn’t even realize she was holding. „That’s… very reassuring to say the least. I don’t want to argue against you, but at the same time I cannot forget my people. It would be a huge conflict of interests, which is precisely why it is such a good idea to spring it on me from their perspective.“

Her sister nodded, „Indeed. And that is something I wanted to talk to you about, because of that specific reason. Would you want me to take that position? I personally am against it, but if you wish I‘ll help you. Just keep in my mind that their interests and yours are very different. If you choose you rather I don’t take that role, I will stay as a personal curtesy, an advisor of sorts. I will still keep in mind my own goals, but those are way more open for changes than the government’s plans are.“

The Dragon Queen nodded, holding herself with a little more authority as she spoke, „I agree. That being the case I would like to ask you to refrain from taking that position if possible. It would be more helpful to have you in an advisor role and as a personal friend, rather than the liaison of a political entity I am yet unsure to what extends I can cooperate with“, she said, then shrugged sheepishly, „I can only imagine what shitstorms your support of me in that regard would kick up. It’s not going to be pretty.“

Scarlet nodded, „Yes, but it wouldn’t be pretty either way. Either I piss you off and loose a family member I just found again after a long time, or I piss off the people, either by helping you, or by refusing to help them. No matter how you look at it I’m going to take some flak from either side“, she smiled wryly.

Vuthe laughed, producing two glasses filled with a light red liquor, for that was all it could be considering the sweet aroma, handing one to her sister and taking one for herself with her long tail. Scarlet marveled at the dexterity with which Vuthe was capable to use her tail to hold such a frail piece of glass, despite the massive black spike at the end. It was a gruesome, yet elegant looking weapon, a sleek obsidian with a visibly sharp edge that piqued Scarlet’s curiosity.

Vuthe sighed in content, taking a sip from the glass. „It does appear that way, yes. Well, just another problem on a long, loooong list of problems that just refuses to shorten“, she said, then chuckled.

Scarlet rose an eyebrow in confusion about her sudden outburst of humor, but waited for Vuthe to elaborate without saying anything. Vuthe waved a hand dismissively, „I just recalled our talks before this whole disaster. It looks so childish how we complained about why that or that guy didn’t talk to us, or what homework sucks most. My biggest issues back then were to get homework done on time and not failing out of school, now I’m responsible for five thousand souls, comprised of anyone from simple farmers to war-hardened generals, all tired to the n-th degree by centuries of fighting, and all just wanting me to find a save place. At the same time I am now stronger than my entire army combined, with a World-Travelling Elite Sharpshooter that has a nuclear railgun genetically locked to her, an Apocalypse Dragon that’s just waiting for a chance to wreak havoc on the world with the full force of a ragnarok style apocalypse, a child of mine that is so elusive even I don’t know what their deal is, and a government, or maybe even an entire world, that has heard warped explanations of my tale and is just waiting to either shackle me and mine, or kill us outright. The sheer scale of change is mind boggling, even to me“, she mused.

Scarlet looked way less relaxed by that statement, her face full of concern as she spoke softly, as if afraid to be the cause of just the thing she was asking about. „Apocalypse Dragon?“, her voice was a careful measure of admiration and concern, with just a hint of abject terror lurking beneath.

Her sister frowned, „Oh, yeah… That’s something you don’t know about. I told you about the mad dragon I subdued on the east coast. Apocalyptica Impendium? He is an Apocalypse Abyss Dragon, dead set on spreading madness everywhere. If it would not be for me controlling him, and my certainty in his loyalty to me, I would not have brought him here“, she shrugged, „In a way he is less dangerous than most of my troops. Since he knows I can put him down if I so choose. And while my troops are less dangerous individually, do you really want five thousand mad super soldiers run around? Even my friends and I would need some time to subdue them.“

Scarlet shivered, obviously put out by that statement. „Its… a lot to take in. Our highest level threat so far has been what we call a Tailblade, a form of supermassive tiger with a tail blade not unlike your own. That thing needed some serious firepower to bring down, and we lost more than a thousand people in the process. I don’t even want to think about what we need to keep one of yours in check.“

At that moment Tizanta returned, „My Queen, Miss Savart. I wanted to ask if you would like to join us for an early dinner?“, she said with a friendly, inviting smile. A smile, Vuthe realized, that belied all the terror Tizanta could bring. Her heart sank at the thought that she might scare her sister off more than their stories might have. No matter, she doubted her sister would go back on her word to support her, at least on a personal level. Probably.

Vuthe looked at Scarlet with a questioning look, inquiring if she would want to. Scarlet thought for a moment, then nodded. „Yes, I’d like that. Maybe that way I can get to know your friends?“, she asked Vuthe, who nodded with a warm smile.

„I think that is a great idea. Both because getting to know them will take the scare out of them, but also because I believe it would be good for them. Especially Calagrophy, as she has not spoken of friends or family in this world in any length since we returned.“