CASTLE EMBER
KINGDOM OF EMBER
OCTOBER 1292 AY (530 CY)

        It was a bright and sunny day in Ember, the Kingdom in the
Sun, when a young man with bright red hair appeared in the courtyard
of its castle.  It had been a while, Shizumaru realized, since he last
saw his Aunt Corrine, now Queen of Ember, and so many things had
changed in the wake of the Annadil Crisis several months ago.
        The castle courtyard and environs was much as he remembered it
from his past visit to Ember.  Five glowing plasma fountains arranged
in a cross sprayed towards the tangerine sky, and neat gardens filled
with native Emberite plant life spread off to either side.  It was
also warm, as to be expected, but not as oppressively so as Shizumaru
remembered.  He would have to ask Corrine about that, when he met up
with her again.
        If he were able to do so, that is.  After all, queens were
busy people, and Corrine was no exception.  However, it could not hurt
for him to ask, so he found a passing servant, and timidly asked -- as
was his nature -- if he could get an audience with the queen sometime.
        Fortunately for Shizumaru, the servant recognized that the
young prince was one of Corrine's favorites from his prior involvement
and temporary residence in the kingdom several months past.  He
directed him towards the queen's offices in the Royal Suites on the
fourth floor of the castle, where she usually handled her morning
administrative work.
        Shizumaru bowed and thanked the servant, and then headed up to
the fourth floor.

        It did not take Shizumaru long to reach the Queen's offices.
Upon arriving, he looked at the door with its gold gilt lettering
("Corrine I, Queen of Ember, Princess of Amber -- Knock Before
Entering"), and then knocked quietly.
        A female voice answered the knock through the door,
immediately familiar to Shizumaru as Corrine's.  "Who is it?  If
you're asking for Campus Crusade for Chaos Donations, talk with Lonz!"
        Shizumaru blinked slowly.  "Aunt Corrine?  What are Campus
Crusade for Chaos Donations?" he asked through the door, the oddness
of his aunt's request superseding his original intention to ask
permission to enter.
        There was an audible pause, and then Corrine's voice replied,
"Shizumaru!  Come in, come in!"
        Shizumaru smiled and opened the door.  "Hello, Aunt Corrine,"
he said as he entered the queen's personal office. "I am sorry that I
did not come talk with you earlier.... I have been preoccupied, I
guess."
        Corrine I, the Queen of Ember (among other things), smiled as
she got up from behind her desk, the office long since repaired since
the unfortunate incedent with the Shadow Water-Storm so many months
ago.  She was clad in her royal colors, lush red fabric trimmed in
gold and silver, and her skirts made a soft brushing sound as she
moved around to the side of the desk.  "Oh good Unicorn and Pyricorn,
it's been -too- long, Shizumaru.  How did your search go?"
        It became quickly recognizable that Corrine was also five
months pregnant and starting to show it.  The increasing curve of her
abdomen distorted the lower edges of her sleeveless jacket, and the
waistline of her skirt had to be adjusted to compensate.
        Shizumaru did not appear to notice as he scratched his
head. "Oh...well...."
        He shook his head, trying to think of a way to answer his
aunt's question.  "I am not even sure where to begin.  Apparently I
met Queen Sakura, who tried to kill all of us, but Angus-san from
Juri-san's universe managed to stop her.  Oh, and Queen Sakura was in
Touga's real body."  He paused.  "I realize as I say this that it does
not make much sense."
        Queen Corrine blinked at that.  "... bwa?"  She moved over
carefully, and went and and sat down on the nearest couch.  "Sit,
sit...  I know Angus was in our universe, I met him before he left the
Keep, but..."  She shook her head.  "He never mentioned anything about
that..."
        Shizumaru nodded slowly, and sat down next to the older woman.
"Let me try to start from the beginning.  Hm."
        She nodded.  "Please, do."  Her expression was still rather
perplexed at Shizumaru's brief report, but her momentary confusion did
not prevent her from being a good hostess for her guest.  "Oh, do you
want anything to drink?" Queen Corrine asked her nephew.  "Something
to snack on?"
        Shizumaru shook his head, smiling. "No, thank you, Aunt
Corrine. I am fine."  He leaned back in the couch, looking skyward to
gather his thoughts, and then he began his recall of the past month's
events.  "Cousin Michelle and I started walking through shadow, toward
my mother, along with Gabrielle, of course."
        Corrine nodded, straightening her skirts as she made herself
more comfortable.  "I remember seeing you three off."  She smiled
fondly.  "I'll admit, that was an... interesting 'Amber' we ended up
in."  She shook her head, looking apologetic for the interruption.
"Anyway."
        Shizumaru nodded.  "Anyway.  After a few days of travel, we
ran into a shadow enclosed within a red barrier.  It appeared that my
mother was within, and we could not break through."
        He paused, and then continued, "At this time, I still had
suspicions that Touga was really my father, despite Wasyuu-sensei's
tests, so I decided to trump him for help."
        Corrine raised her eyebrows at that, and gave a slight nod.
"Sensible, all things considered."  She shook her head.  "I don't know
-what- happened to that woman's brain; I'm sorry, but I doubt Utena
was about to be the mother of Juri's child."
        The young man politely paused for Corrine's commentary, then
continued his story.  "He told me that this was Derith's work, and
with Gabrielle to help, it took them a couple of days to create a hole
large enough for us to pass through.  We used the Logrusfoil as a
doorstop, with Kafuin monitoring its status through a manifestation."
        She gave a thoughtful hrm in the back of her throat.
"Hm... interesting.  A sealed-off Shadow?  What had Derith locked
away?"
        Shizumaru sighed, and looked at Corrine as he answered her
question.  "Well, within, we found a wasted, barren land. It was
awful.  Twisted trees, mutated creatures, rotting fields.  It took us
about a day to get through it to the Castle Amber that we found there.
Touga enchanted a handkerchief that belonged to my mother, saying that
it would lead us to her.  We snuck into the castle and followed its
progress, while invisible.
        "We quickly bypassed a ball that was in progress, and went
down into the dungeons, to where the Pattern chamber would be.
Inside, we found a huge yellow sign instead of the Pattern, and what
appeared to by my mother, bound, on a bier, while a cleric performed
some dark rite over her."  His face darkened.
        Corrine stared a bit at the description of what he had found.
"Good Unicorn," she murmured and reached over, gently squeezing one of
Shizumaru's hands to convey reassurance as well at to bolster her own
spirits.
        "This was when Angus-san arrived, suddenly.  After some quick
explanations, he agreed to help us.  The man did not notice us, so we
took places around the room to attack him."
        The queen nodded, quietly.  Shizumaru sighed, apparently not
having noticed Corrine squeezing his hand.  "I fired with both of my
crossbows.  The ones that happen to have Resume True Form in them.
One hit the cleric, which disrupted his ritual.  The other hit my
mother.  Except then it wasn't my mother, but a gibbering beast. Its
true form."
        Queen Corrine stared some more, not bothering to hide it now.
"So, she -wasn't- there..."
        "At that precise moment, Touga--or who we thought to be
Touga--tried to cast a spell on Angus.  But Angus shot him in the
throat, which ruined the spell."
        Corrine arched an eyebrow.  "That would do it."
        Shizumaru frowned.  "It was rather blurry after that...
Angus-san chopped Touga up into pieces with his Logrusfoil, and then
we escaped from the dungeon.  But we were confronted by their King
Tylor, wearing a yellow mask.  We almost were stopped, but barely
managed to escape.  It was a long, hard chase through the woods out
through the barrier."
        She mmmed at that, quietly.  "... Derith was wise to seal that
place away, then.  The barrier still holds?" she asked, and then
tapped her chin thoughtfully.  "Wonder why Angus turned up -there- of
all places, though...  Juri of Avalon was never around -that- neck of
the woods, so far as I was aware..."
        Shizumaru shook his head.  "He knew who I was.  Perhaps he
found some way to track me, specifically...the Logrusfoil, maybe?  And
thought that Juri-san might be with me."
        She nodded back.  "Perhaps.  I'm not up on the capabilities of
the foils, but given how much you associated with her near the end,
it's as good an expliantion as any."
        "Fortunately, we made it out alive. Angus-san, Michelle, and
myself.  Oh, yes, once we removed the Logrusfoil, the barrier sealed
up again."  He scratched his chin, looking a bit pensive. "It was
Embra, apparently.  We had been led into a trap.  It was not an
experience we wanted to repeat...  After that, we headed back to the
Keep to rest and recover."
        Queen Corrine nodded thoughtfully to that, as an old question
from the Crisis was finally answered.  "So -that's- why we didn't hear
much from them after that point..." she murmured quietly.  "... so
Derith did some good, after all."
        Shizumaru looked slighty tired as he recounted the next part
of his story.  "We decided to...take it more slowly, next.  And get
more help.  We called Uncle Saionji for assistance, and then decided
to restart the search from my home in Lipun.  We then got Keiko-san to
aid us, by performing her...scrying spell, I think it is.  To see what
happened to my mother after I left."
        Corrine made another concerned sound at Shizumaru's apparent
tiredness, and squeezed his shoulders gently to reassure him, before
replacing her hands on her lap.  "Temporal Scrying... I've heard of
it, but never seen it in action."
        "We discovered that she had escaped by a trump while I was
fighting with the Drake from Embra.  Afterward, she returned with
Touga--apparently--to reclaim some of their possessions."  Shizumaru
looked faintly bitter as he continued.  "They looked happy.  I
wondered why, since I was not with them."  His lip twitched
momentarily.  "But I will explain about that later.  After that, we
all started riding through shadow toward my mother again...and once
more ended up at the borders to Embra.
        "It was beginning to get very frustrating.  But Uncle Saionji
has much more experience in these kinds of things, more than either
Michelle or myself, and he decided to ride toward his brother Touga.
At the time, we were not sure who that Touga was that I had managed to
contact for help. It led us away from Embra, so apparently that was
working.  Then he switched to moving toward my mother... and was still
heading in the same direction."
        "Interesting," Corrine interjected during Shizumaru's latest
pause.  "And it's good that Saionji was able to get out and do
something positive -- I heard he was rather embarrassed after that
entire battle on the plains."
        Shizumaru chuckled softly, and nodded.  "We finally found
ourselves in New Catala, a kingdom built around a broken Pattern.
After some inquiries, we discovered that a revolution had recently
taken place, that Prince Touga had been slain and Princess Atsuko was
being forced into marriage by Blake, the man who overthrew Queen
Sakura's government.  And that their son, Prince Luke, who looks like
me, was wanted."
        Corrine looked at Shizumaru.  "... New Catala."
        Shizumaru nodded.  "Queen Sakura was not dead after all, it
appeared.  We did not know how, though, not at that time."
        "... run by -Sakura-?  Not a Shadow of her?"
        "I will come to that in time," he replied, with a faintly dark
smile.
        Corrine nodded, accepting that answer.  "So, you got leads
towards your mother, finally."
        "Anyway," Shizumaru continued, "We devised a plan to sneak
into the palace.  I pretended to be Prince Luke, while Uncle Saionji
and Cousin Michelle posed as bounty hunters who had captured me for
the price on his head.
        "We infiltrated the palace that way, and met up late that
night within. I escaped easily from prison with my shapeshifting
headband."  He blushed slightly.  "Uncle Saionji and Cousin Michelle,
er, waited for me during that time by enjoying some of the rewards for
having 'captured Prince Luke'."
        Queen Corrine chuckled a bit at that, fully capable of
imagining what Saionji could have gotten up to, given Shizumaru's
reaction.  "Well, whatever works...  A brother, eh?" she asked, to
distract him from that line of thought.
        Shizumaru smiled.  "Yes. He is fighting to retake his rightful
place as ruler of New Catala.  I think I will go and help him, when I
can."  He paused for thought, and then returned to his narrative.
        "Hmm...  during this time, Michelle found out where my mother
was being held, so we snuck out there.  It was easy to find her, and
the guard on her was very light.  Erm.  Yes." He blushed again, but
did not elaborate.
        Queen Corrine arched one fine eyebrow, but said nothing on
that particular topic.  Instead, she asked, "Was she in good health?"
        "Yes... she had not been harmed by Blake.  Otherwise, I would
have had to kill him."
        Corrine nodded to that, seriously.  "Good.  I'm glad that you
were able to be reunited... I wanted to go along, but I suspect that
if I'd even -tried- following, Misaki would have sat on me."  She
looked quietly wistful.
        "When she first saw me, my mother thought I was Luke.  She
thought that I had died years ago, eaten by a dragon."  He fell silent
for a moment.  "It turns out that the Touga who rescued her had found
a shadow of me just after escaping, who had gone through exactly the
same thing I had, so my mother thought that was me.  This was decades
ago by her reckoning... the time flow in New Catala is much faster
than outside.
        "But I managed to show her that I was her real son, and we
broke her and her, um, friends out of the castle.  On the way out, we
decided to raid Queen Sakura's vaults--ones that Blake had no idea
about.  It was here that we discovered, in a small bottle, what
appeared to be Touga.  The brother of Saionji's that he was riding
toward."
        Queen Corrine blinked at that, surprised.
        Shizumaru continued, "This Touga had no idea that the year was
now 1292.  His last memories were of being ambushed by Queen
Charlotte, having his body stolen, and having his mind imprisoned in
that bottle."
        "Sakura's doing?  Good Unicorn... which means..." Corrine
shuddered.
        Shizumaru nodded slowly.  "The Touga who 'helped' us break
into Embra was Sakura.  She probably intended to kill us, or strand us
within Embra."
        "So she -didn't- die on the Pattern... that explains so much,"
she said quietly.  Corrine closed her eyes, downcast.  "And none of us
knew."  She murmured as a thought occured to her, "Though perhaps
father suspected... that would explain 'Touga's exile, then."
        Shizumaru nodded again.  "And, as it turns out... Queen Sakura
in Touga's body seduced my mother."  He shivered.  "It is very
disturbing to think about."
        Queen Corrine twitched, and then shuddered again.  It became
quite clear to her now why Shizumaru had not been calling Sakura his
grandmother during his entire story.  She had not been inclined to
comment on what she had noticed, and now she didn't have to.  She let
out a sigh, instead.
        "... so far a fall."  Corrine shook her head, and opens her
eyes again, running her hand through her chestnut hair beneath her
gold tiara.  "... good unicorn, the lengths she was driven for revenge
against father."
        "The way I was actually conceived, though, would appear...
Annadil impersonated my mother to get some of Touga's... Sakura's...
whatever... seed.  Then he changed into Touga and slept with my
mother, adding some of his seed.  I am one third Touga's blood, one
third my mother's, and one third Annadil's."
        Corrine's only reply was a blank stare.
        Shizumaru looked down. "It still astounds me, the lengths that
Annadil went to to create the Five Children.  I find the less I think
about it, the better."
        She nodded quietly, and reached forward, and squeezed
Shizumaru's hand again.  "Mmm."
        He sighed softly, letting Corrine do this thing. "Anyway... we
rescued the real Touga and my mother and her friends, and made it back
to Amber, finally."
        Corrine smiled a bit.  "And so you returned, with things
answered and family found.  Overall, a successful quest, despite the
rocky parts in between."
        Shizumaru smiled a bit weakly.  "So, please excuse me for not
having come to see you earlier. It has been an interesting time for
me, these past months."
        The queen chuckled softly.  "You're forgiven,
Shizumaru... it's been busy over here, but a good sort of busy."
        He shook his head, reflecting all that had occured during the
past year of Amber time.  "It is a miracle I am still alive, much more
so that I was successful."  He laughed. "I suppose the Unicorn does
watch over me, after all."
        Corrine grinned, glad for her nephew's laughter even with all
he had experienced and recounted, and then looked thoughtful.  "Well,
I always knew you were special, Shizumaru... even without 'Child of
Wood' or 'Master of the Keep' added to your name."  She leaned back a
bit, fondly remembering things of the past.  "Good Unicorn and
Pyricorn, I still remember that day when Utena trumped me after
'Drake's attack..."
        Shizumaru smiled. "I am glad you were there to help, Aunt
Corrine.  I am very glad that I met you."
        "As am I."  She considered something for a bit, then blushed
as she laughed, somewhat embarrassed.  "Y'know... I remember Juri
telling me later, after I got my brain put back together, that Mikage
had heard a rumor of Annadil sleeping with me... I'll admit, the
thought was disquieting, and I'm glad that he didn't... but there was
a little part of my mind that -wouldn't- have minded... because I
could have easily seen you being my son if that had happened.  But oh
well, such is life."  She squeezed Shizumaru's hand as she said this,
smiling at him.
        Shizumaru chuckled softly. "Though at first it seemed like I
had lost my mother when this all began, instead, I have gained two
more.  Aunt Utena and you."
        Queen Corrine nodded, the smile still on her lips and in her
blue eyes.  "And even as an Aunt, I'm proud to be related to you,
Shizumaru."
        He blushed faintly. "Thank you, Aunt Corrine," he murmured,
glancing over at her again, and then finally seemed to notice
something he hadn't paid attention to before.  "How is the baby coming
along, Aunt Corrine?" he asked, glancing down at her waist.
        Corrine blushed and grinned, looking down at the
now-more-noticeable curve of her stomach.  "Oh, Kanna?  She's cooking
along -just- fine, Shizumaru."  She patted the curve of her abdomen,
fondly and protectively.  "Doctor Tofu says she's likely to be a big
one."
        Shizumaru nodded. "So, you will name her Kanna?  I am sure she
will be strong and healthy."
        "Kanna Darako Kusanagi for her full name," she confirmed.
"And I have no doubts about that... she's a Harad woman, how else
could she be?" Corrine winked, and grinned.
        He laughed.  "Of course."
        Queen Corrine smiled, resting her hands upon her knees.  "But
that's for the future... her path will be her own, as was mine.  I
hope to give her all the opportunities I didn't when growing up."
        "So much has happened, it makes me dizzy to think about all of
it."  Shizumaru sighed.  "I hope things slow down."
        "...It makes -me- dizzy, and I'm supposed to be a 'big
picture' woman now," Corrine admitted, then shrugged her shoulders.
"Ah well, that's what Queens have staff officers for."
        Shizumaru glanced over at her.  "You are lucky.  I have to
deal with all of this directly."
        His aunt chuckled softly at that.  "Perhaps... but at the same
time, you can narrow your focus.  The Keep.  Your immediate family.
Rimururu."  She winked.  "Rulers don't have that luxury."
        "Well."  Shizumaru looked thoughtful.  "Tylor-sama has asked
me to be the ambassador to Lipun, once things are cleared up
there...."
        Corrine nodded with clear approval.  "Good, good... Lipun's a
good country, and we could use somebody who knows both sides of the
story there to smooth over tensions.  I need to think of somebody to
appoint to send there as well."  She sighed.  "The longer I have this
job, the more I appreciate some of what my father, mother, Queen
Anthy, Yuriko, and Queen Moire have had to go through.  I envy
somebody like Rimururu, who doesn't have to worry about stuff like
that.
        "Speaking of whom..." Corrine grinned.  "How -is- Rimururu
doing?  I haven't seen her since the big wrap party when you two were
smooching."
        Shizumaru blinked, and laughed nervously, blushing badly.
"Oh.  Um.  She...she yelled at me for making her so worried.  Not
talking to her at all in the past five months.  Urm."  His shoulders
sagged.  "I think she is still angry with me, actually."
        He lamely mumbled, "I tried to trump her during the brief time
I spent at the Keep after escaping from Embra, but she was off
somewhere, apparently, on a mission for Frostspire, and was not taking
calls."
        Corrine let out a soft sound of concern before chuckling
softly.  A slight smile played about her lips as she gently squeezed
his shoulder.  "That just means that she still loves you, Shizumaru."
        Shizumaru smiled wanly. "I... I know, but it hurt a little
that her first words to me after so long were that of a scolding."  He
looked down.  "And I think she was almost crying."
        His aunt mmmed at that, and sighed.  "Seperaration can be
painful, I know.  On both sides.  Sometimes it expresses in different
ways... detachment, worry, frustration, anger... but better -some-
emotion than none at all."  She reached over, and pulled Shizumaru
over into a gentle hug.
        "Take some time off and be with her if she wants you there,
and do things together.  Casual stuff, not clinging.  Perhaps explore
Shadow a bit, just the two of you.  That's -my- advice, Shizumaru."
        He sighed and hugged Corrine back. "I...I will call her again
today, yes.  I do not know about wandering through Shadow... I have
had enough of that to last me for a while."
        Corrine nodded.  "Perhaps some time at the Keep, then.  Or in
Lipun, once that stabilizes.  Though given the political stuff, that
might be a while."  She considered.  "If you want, I could loan you
the use of my Beach House... we had to move them since the original
became Shaft's Universe...." She rolled her eyes in mute exasperation.
        Shizumaru chuckled, his mood lightening for the moment.
"Thank you, Aunt Corrine. I think the Keep will be fine.  Although...
maybe your beach house might be nice."
        She smiled, letting go of her nephew.  "I always like showing
it off, and I even managed to get a better location with the move.
It's long and low, and got lots of art inside and a stables in the
back on the edge of the tree line."  She mmed a bit, rueful.  "It's
not likely that I'll be able to go there as often as much anymore, but
I still would like to think it'd be useful."
        He nodded.  "Thank you very much, Aunt Corrine.  I will
discuss it with Rimururu.  Once I get her to stop yelling at me."  He
tried to smile.
        Corrine chuckled softly, and patted his hand.  "She will.
Part of being in love is learning to deal with the minor upsets and
frustrations.  Believe me, this is minor."
        Shizumaru grumbled softly. "Yes... I have been told that no
relationship is without its pitfalls.  I suppose this is the first one
we have run into."
        "And once you get past it, you'll both be stronger for it.
I'm sure there'll be other times..." She nodded.
        He looked thoughtful again.  "I suppose something like this
strikes her particularly strongly, because... she thought I had died
once before.  After the failed reconnaissance mission to the Keep, so
long ago."
        "Yes, that I remember.  Good Unicorn, decades for me, by now."
Corrine shook her head, rueful.  "It's a fine line we walk, those of
the blood and with the power to walk Shadow.  You never know what's
going to pop up and waylay you."
        Shizumaru nodded glumly.  "I remember how bored I felt the
afternoon before Drake of Embra arrived.  Sometimes, I wish I could
have those times back again."
        "But if that hadn't occured, and if you had stayed in Lipun...
you wouldn't have met Rimururu," Corrine commented softly.  "Nor would
have events transpired to cause me to meet the Red Knight, or Hiko the
Green Knight..."
        He smiled, a faint smile.  "Yes.  When I think about it a
little more, I realize exactly that.  It has been a trying time, but
in the end, it has been worth it, too."
        She chuckled.  "The pain and hardship only makes the things
that are -truly- worthwhile... family, friends, etcetera... all the
more special."  Corrine smiled softly, and leaned over to kiss
Shizumaru on the forehead.
        "And on the whole, I'm glad to have met you and known you,
Shizumaru of Amber."  She then sat back, quietly thoughtful.
        Shizumaru blushed slightly at his aunt's display of affection.
"Thank you, Aunt Corrine. You honor me with your words."
        "And you honor me with your presence, for taking the time to
come up here to talk.  To tell the truth, it's been a while since I
was back down in Amber... not since the various weddings..."  Corrine
blushed, and ran a finger along a gold ring, set with a series of
diamonds and rubies, set behind her usual ruby signet.
        Shizumaru blinked and stared at the ring.  "...I missed the
wedding, did I?" he lamented.  "I wanted to be there, but..."  He
sighed, and shook his head ruefully. "Oh well..."
        Corrine chuckled softly.  "Well, part of me wanted to delay,
to make sure ALL of my family could be there... but if I did, Kanna
would be grown up by that point."  Her smile faltered a bit, and she
let out a deep breath, as thoughts of who she had truly wanted to
attend crossed her mind.  The queen rallied with a crooked grin.
"That, and if we waited too long, everybody including the bride and
the maids of honor would have been noticeably pregnant."
        He nodded. "I understand.  I was away for a while... I might
not have even been coming back."
        "But you did come back."  Corrine smiled slightly as she
pointed this out.  "And you've got family members who wouldn't have
rested until you were found again.  That's just how we are.  We may
get distracted, but eventually..."
        Shizumaru smiled back. "I am glad to have a family that cares,
now."
        "Good." She then hrmed, changing the subject as another
thought occured to her.  "Hrm.  How has Touga been taking all this,
all the changes?  For that matter, -how- is he doing, period?  I doubt
he'd want to stay in that bottle for much longer."
        Shizumaru tilted his head.  "Hm?  As for Touga, er...
Anthy-sama has provided him with a body created from her blood.  It is
much weaker than his original body, apparently, but it is better than
being stuck in that bottle."
        Corrine paused, and blinked at the news of Touga's body.  She
blinked again, clearly surprised at this turn of events.
        "Ah...by the way...the true story about what happened to Touga
and Sakura is not meant for most ears," Shizumaru added.  "I know that
you deserve to know, given what happened between yourself and Touga so
many years ago, but... it is best kept a secret from the population at
large."
        Corrine nodded.  "Perfectly understandable.  It'd be a
vulnerability he wouldn't want to be revealed.  I'll have to go back
downstairs and talk with him about it... about many things, actually."
        Shizumaru nodded.  "I think Touga would welcome the chance to
speak with you, Aunt Corrine."
        Queen Corrine considered something and laughed, somewhat
bitterly.  "I always DID wonder why Touga insisted on posing for his
trump with his shirt open.  I guess I've have to do a mass recall
now."
        Shizumaru nodded, then blinked and shook his head. "Actually,
that will not really be necessary.  Now that Sakura is dead, or at
least severely inconvenienced, those trumps now contact the real
Touga.  Michelle did that as a test when we found him in the bottle.
        "However, he might want a new trump done of him anyway," he
added.
        Corrine hrmed.  "Well, it may depend on which trump Michelle
was using.  If it was one of Grandfather's of Touga, then yes, that
would be true."
        She quirked that cockeyed smile again.  "But, you see, -I-
learned Trump and painted those of 'Touga' -after- my exile, after the
real was sealed away, so..."
        He nodded.  "Well...we will have to see."
        "Indeed."  Corrine smiled.  "I'm glad you came up here,
Shizumaru.  It was a pleasure to see you again."
        Shizumaru nodded and stood up from the couch, smiling.  "I had
to come and say hello, at least.  Not doing so would have been
remiss."
        Queen Corrine stood as well, and hugged Shizumaru once more
(and not crushingly so, both for his comfort and the still-cooking
Kanna).  "And I need to visit down in Amber more often as well.  It
doesn't pay to be a stranger."  She smiled slightly.  "Ah well, at
least I visit Anthy regularly."
        Shizumaru chuckled and hugged his aunt back. "Come to the
Keep, too, when you can.  You are always welcome there."
        Corrine smiled.  "I will."  She released her nephew, and
looked rueful.  "Well, I suppose I'll see you later then, Shizumaru."
        Shizumaru bowed towards her. "I will talk to you later, Aunt
Corrine."
        She returned his gesture carefully, and then stood and waved
as he headed for the door of her office and departed.

        It took Corrine a day and a half before she could get a free
moment in her schedule to head down to Amber.  As it turned out, the
only block of free time that she could claim that week was after
Ember's dinner hour.  This worked out better than she had originally
hoped, for this meant that she could spend most of the evening talking
with Touga, if circumstances warranted it.
        Corrine had a feeling they would have a lot to talk about.
        "So, are you ready to go, Misaki?" the queen asked as she made
her own last-minute preparations.
        The Queen's Bodyguard nodded, ironwood staff in one hand, a
bouquet of Emberite flowers nicely wrapped and held in the other.
"Yes, my queen, but..."  Misaki glanced down at the flowers she held,
and then over at Corrine, who held a bottle of Ember Firewine ("Byles'
Best" with the crest of the flaming wombat, bottled in 505 CY) and a
quickly-sewn (but no less professionally done) Touga rag-doll in her
own arms.
        "... why is it that -you- get to carry the wine and the Touga
doll while I have to carry the flowers?"
        Corrine smiled indulgently.  "First, it's rude to come calling
on your -real- brother whom you haven't seen in far too long without
bringing some form of gift.  Second, I was the one who made the Touga
plushie, not you, so it'd be more appropriate for me to give it to
him.  Third..."
        At this, Corrine coughed.  "... given -some- of the rumors
running around these days, I felt it best that -you- carry the
flowers.  Just to keep people from getting the wrong ideas about
myself and Touga."  She muttered something under her breath as she
placed the doll and bottle into a nice hand basket, and only the word
'harem' was audible from her lips.
        Misaki blinked.  "Oh.  Well, that makes sense, your highness,
but..."  The taller, blue-haired woman looked longingly at the
red-headed stuffed toy that sat in the basket.  "... Are you -sure-
you don't want me to carry the Touga doll?"
        Corrine rolled her eyes, quite capable of determining why her
bodyguard was asking this.  "Yes, Misaki, I'm sure.  Tell you what.
When we get back home, I'll go and make you a Touga plushie too, all
right?"
        Misaki grinned, and bowed towards Corrine.  "Thank you, my
queen!"
        Corrine chuckled softly, and gestured with her free hand as
she concentrated on her destination.  A rainbow-edged Trump Gate
opened to her old quarters in Castle Amber, and the two women stepped
through.

        It did not take long for Corrine and Misaki to walk the halls
of the Royal Suites to Touga's quarters.  They were not accosted along
the way; the majority of the castle's populace was finishing up dinner
in the castle's Dining Hall, so the upper floors were sparsely
populated.
        "What if he's not in, my Queen?" Misaki asked as they finally
reached the fine oak door with 'Touga' engraved in Thari on it.
        "Well, I suppose we'll just have to stand outside his rooms
and wait, then," Corrine replied, and then tilted her head towards the
door.  She could hear the sound of things being moved in the room
beyond, and she smiled.  "But I doubt we'll be left hanging."
        Corrine raised her left hand, and knocked on the door.  The
sounds of activity continued, but a deep, smooth voice answered.
        "Who is it?  Did you bring the cleaning supplies I requested?
If you did, the door's unlocked!  If not, I'm busy!"
        Corrine raised an eyebrow and opened the door, gliding into
the room, followed by Misaki.  She barely kept herself from laughing
out loud as she was confronted with the image of her brother Touga,
tall and masculine, clad in a more casual version of his usual white
dress uniform, with his long red hair tied back into a pony-tail with
a kerchief, a feather duster held under one arm, and a polishing rag
held in one hand as he shifted several knicknacks from one shelf to
another.
        "Well, I forgot to bring cleaning supplies, but would
housewarming supplies be all right?" Corrine asked as Misaki closed
the door behind them.
        Touga blinked, then turned at the unexpected but familiar
voice, and smiled.  "Corrine!  You're looking..." Touga's eyes glanced
downwards towards her waist, and his pupils widened slightly with
surprise. "...  very pregnant.  Congratulations are in order."  He set
his cleaning items aside, and finally bowed towards her.
        Corrine chuckled and blushed, raising her free hand to her
warming cheek.  "Observant as always, brother Touga.  I figured you'd
notice that."  She then grinned and set the basket aside on the
nearest table.  Now that her hands were free, she gave her brother an
abbreviated curtsey.  Corrine stood, and then moved forward to give
Touga a quick hug, taking care not to poke him in the eye with her
tiara.  "Oh good Unicorn and Pyricorn it's good to have you back at
last," Corrine murmured so only he could hear her.
        Touga arched one slim red eyebrow, and chuckled.  "So, you
know?"
        Corrine nodded as they separated.  "Shizumaru came to me the
day prior and told me what had happened during the search for his
mother.  I've told no-one else, however."  She sighed, and shook her
head.  "I still can't fathom it all, but after hearing... I had to
come down here."
        "I see."  Touga nodded, and reached up to remove the kerchief
that secured his hair.  "He's a good young man, Corrine.  His mother
should be proud of him."
        "I'm sure she is."  She smiled slightly.  "As is the rest of
the family."
        "Indeed."  He looked thoughtful for several moments.  "Who's
your lovely friend, Corrine?" Touga finally asked as he nodded towards
Misaki, who had been standing near the doorway.
        "Oh!"  Corrine blinked, and gestured behind her, stepping to
one side so that the blue haired woman could step forward.  "This is
my bodyguard, Lady Misaki."
        "Hi!  It's a pleasure to meet you at last, Prince Touga,"
Misaki proclaimed before bowing towards him.  She then remembered the
bouquet she held, and handed it towards the curious prince.  "Oh,
these are for you, your highness."
        "I'm sure they'll brighten up the room considerably."  Touga
arched an eyebrow again as he accepted the bouquet in one hand and he
glanced down at the glowing blooms of the Emberite flowers.  "Thank
you very much, Lady Misaki.  They're as beautiful as the woman who
presented them."  He smiled, set the bouquet aside, and leaned down to
kiss her hand.
        Corrine chuckled as she watched the byplay, and observed the
slight blush that graced Misaki's cheeks.  "Thank you, Misaki, that'll
be all for now."
        Misaki nodded.  "I'll be right outside should you need me,
your majesty."
        "I sort of figured that."  Corrine wryly smiled.  "Thank you."
        Misaki bowed towards Touga again, excused herself, and left
the room to guard the entrance from the hallway.
        Touga watched Misaki depart, and then glanced at Corrine
again.  "Quite an interesting woman, Corrine."
        "Oh, Misaki's been with me for a good while now, Touga."
Corrine smiled as she moved over to pull out the bottle of firewine
and the rag-doll from her basket.  "She's very dedicated, and a good
friend."
        "I don't recall you ever needing a bodyguard before, however."
Touga added.  He looked at Corrine again, his eyes taking in the
silver and gold-trimmed red sleeveless jacket, red pleated skirt, and
golden tiara that she wore.
        Corrine coughed, and blushed with embarrassment, noticeable
even through her deep tan.  "Er, yes.  Well, there's been a few
changes in my life, as you probably guessed.  I'm now the Queen of
Ember, the Kingdom in the Sun."
        "That explains the interesting bouquet you brought, the
glowing bottle of wine, your change in garments, and your rather
noticeable tan, then," he commented with an amused tone of voice.
        Touga selected an empty vase from one of the shelves, wiped
the dust from it, and unwrapped the bouquet, arranging the flowers
within the vase.  "How long have you ruled there?  I recall you
stating long ago that you never had any interest in any form of
rulership.  Quite vehemently, in fact, in front of father and the
council."
        Corrine pursed her lips, and looked down at the floor.
"That's true," she admitted, quietly.  "I came into it quite purely by
accident, honestly.  I'd like to think that I've done mother proud,
though."
        Touga nodded.  "I'm sure you have, Corrine."  He picked up the
bottle of firewine, gave a bemused little smirk at the label, and
uncorked it.  He extracted two wine glasses from a cabinet, poured the
glowing liquid into them, and handed one filled glass to Corrine.
"May I be so bold as to propose a toast to your reign?"
        Corrine blushed again, smiling slightly as she glanced down
into the depths of the flute of firewine she held.  "Yes, you may."
        Touga smiled, his blue eyes alight with amusement, as he
lifted his wineglass towards Corrine.  "A toast, then, to my sister,
Corrine the First, the Queen of Ember.  Long may she live and her
kingdom thrive, her reign endure, and may she not get into nine tenths
the troubles father got into."
        Corrine laughed, and lifted her own glass in response.  "I can
certainly drink to -that-," she agreed, and tapped the edge of her
wineglass against Touga's.  A gentle chime rang out at the contact
before they pulled away and then sipped from their respective flutes.
        "Won't you sit down, Corrine?" Touga asked after he'd savored
the warm alcoholic beverage for a moment.  "Give your feet some rest?"
        Corrine nodded in thanks, setting her wineglass on the table
next to the chair before carefully sitting down.  She let out a sigh
as she settled in.  "And to answer your earlier question, quite
recently, Touga.  It's been a little over thirty years for me and my
kingdom in Ember, while only several months passed in Amber during the
Crisis.  Events... somewhat necessitated such extreme measures, for me
to get up to speed quickly."
        Touga moved to sit in his own chair.  "Sensible.  So I take it
that you're no longer the Warden of Arden."
        She sighed, and sipped her firewine.  "Yes."  She looked up at
Touga, a wry, somewhat pained expression on her face.  "Oh, -believe-
me, I -didn't- want to give up the Wardenship.  I served for four
hundred years, give or take, and it was one of the one few things
father gave me that I cherished.  You would have had to pry my bloody
fingers from the post before I gave it up unwillingly.  But no woman
can ride two horses, dear brother.  Something had to give, and the
wardenship lost out."
        Corrine sighed again, and glanced towards the windows and the
setting sun.  A faint smiled played on her lips as she thought of all
that had transpired, and of the places she now called home.  "Do I
regret it?  At times... yes.  I think I'm finally beginning to
understand how Derith felt about Rebma and Amber ... feeling forever
out of place."  She glanced back at her older brother, quietly rueful.
"He's one of our younger half-siblings, in case you hadn't been told
yet."
        Touga nodded calmly.  "I'd heard of him in passing, yes, in
the past few days.  Generally not in favorable terms."  He sipped his
own firewine, and then spoke again.  "So, who serves as Warden now?"
        The queen's mood lightened, and she shifted in her seat to
face her brother more fully.  "Oh, Hiko does.  Given her devotion and
marriage to the Green Knight of Arden, she was really the only logical
choice."  She grinned. "I gave my full recommendation and support
behind her appointment after the Crisis ended.  She's got some
adjustment to do, growing into the role, but she and the elves are
already working well together."
        "Well, that's good to hear," Touga replied, a slight smile on
his lips.  "I can't see you doing anything less.  Who's Hiko?"
        Corrine arched one chestnut eyebrow.  "Hiko's my niece ... and
Juri's daughter."
        Touga blinked, his glass of firewine part-way to his lips.  He
blinked again, for good measure.  "Oh... really," he calmly replied.
"Well, I suppose more congratulations are in order, this time for
Juri.  And for the lucky man who managed to snatch her," he finished
with a grin.
        Corrine's momentary internal amusement at having caught her
older brother by surprise was muted by his trailing comment.  She
glanced down into the glowing depths of her firewine, her expression
pensive.  "I'm not sure if 'congratulation' is the exact term you'd
want to use, Touga."  Her head jerked upwards, a hand raised to cut
off any commentary that her brother might utter, given his perplexed
expression.
        "It's not that Juri and Hiko don't love each other as mother
and daughter; far from it!  The two DESERVE happiness after all
they've been through, and I'm glad that they managed to have some
before the end of the Crisis.  It's just..."  She sighed, and lowered
her hand.  "Perhaps I should start at the beginning."
        "Perhaps you should," Touga quietly replied, once again taking
a slight drink from his glass.
        Corrine nodded.  Her fingers tapped against the side of the
wine glass.  "... it's really not entirely my story to tell.  I
shouldn't be talking about this.  But given how the close members of
the family found out what Annadil was truly attempting, and that Juri
isn't around to tell you and likely won't be anytime soon, and how it
ties into everything that happened now and in the past..."  She hefted
her wineglass, and knocked back the rest of the firewine in one gulp.
        "T'hell with it.  Wether from me or Juri or Hiko, the story'll
be the same.  And I'm the eldest of the Harad line around and about at
the moment."
        Her brother arched an eyebrow again, but remained silent.
        "Touga?  How much do you remember about the First Alan War?  I
know you resigned your post after father declared Juri a traitor, and
exiled me; and that you came back before Sakura tried to destroy the
Metal Pattern with Nanami's blood... but I never did figure out -why-
you did that."  Corrine looked at the older man, levelly.  "Given that
Sakura took your place and all, I'm no longer inclined to believe the
official stories, or what explanation -she- gave when we finally met
again," she continued, a slight bitterness in her tone, though more
self-directed than anything else.
        Touga considered Corrine's questions for several moments,
taking the time to sip his firewine as he gathered his thoughts.
Finally, he stood up from his chair, still holding his half-filled
wineglass.  Corrine watched him as he started to move around the room.
        "I'd read the reports, of course, Corrine.  Those of Juri
marrying Ludovicus after killing Drake's fiancee, of leading the Alans
and parts of Harad in revolt.  You know as well as I do that your
sister would -never- have done such an act so casually.  Either it was
preplanned, like 'Charlotte' had suggested... or that it was so
blatantly -wrong- that even father should have seen it."  He paced,
turned, and sipped from his firewine, glancing out the window at the
dark sky and stars beyond.
        "I'd heard rumors of something bad about to happen; the
assassination of your mother was just the tip of the iceberg, as it
were."  Touga looked at Corrine again, a focused intensity in his deep
blue eyes.  "But I was absolutely CERTAIN that neither you OR Juri had
designs on the crown, Corrine.  Both you and she had served Amber
loyally to the best of your ability, for as long as any of us could
remember.  And the thought of Juri engaging in casual relationships in
a man?  You know your sister better than I, but I feel you'd have to
agree that wouldn't be damn likely."
        Corrine raised an eyebrow, and chuckled dryly, a sad note in
her voice.  "And you'd be right, Touga.  Oh good Unicorn and Pyricorn
you'd be right, on all counts."  She closed her eyes, and she rubbed
at them with her hands.  Although no tears fell to need cleaning away,
her body still sagged with the weight of what she'd learned long ago
and more recently of what her sister had endured.
        "So I resigned my post.  I was desperate, Corrine, -desperate-
to try and force Gendo to see what the hell was going on.  You know
how father got when his mind was made up.  And if he wasn't about to
see what was blatantly happening in front of his eyes... well, staying
around in the castle, cooling my heels, while somebody kept feeding
the Alans intelligence wasn't going to help matters any."
        "So you left, figured out what you could while out in Shadow,
and then finally returned around the time when Nanami was born,"
Corrine added.
        Touga nodded.  "I'd heard rumors of the Alans gathering allies
from beyond Yig; ones who could change shape, take our forms and
memories, and could teach those skills to others.  And of ways of
destroying the Pattern, if only they could get the blood of a
descendant of Grandfather.  The conclusion was obvious, so I returned
to Amber, to observe, watch, and wait."
        "Then sis escaped from the Alans in the middle of winter with
Yui, -somehow- convinced Drake she wasn't a traitor, and then that
forced Sakura's hand when he crushed the Alans' main army," Corrine
replied, filling in another portion of the known history.
        "Right.  'Charlotte' tried to destroy the Pattern with
Nanami's blood, I went down to confront her... and she stole my body
as she died and stuck me in that damn bottle for Unicorn only knows
how long."  Touga shook his head, and drained the rest of his
firewine.
        Corrine let out a long breath as she sighed.  "And father came
downstairs, saw 'Touga' standing over 'Charlotte' who gave the story
of how she planned to destroy Amber, and so the history books recorded
it.  Or words to that effect, anyway."  She shook her head, and looked
down at her empty wineglass.
        Touga moved over to the bottle of firewine, and refilled his
own glass.  He looked over at Corrine, lifted the bottle with a
questioning expression, and she shook her head.
        "Thank you for the offer, but no.  One glass is enough for me,
given everything."  She smiled slightly, and patted the swell of her
belly.
        "Very well," Touga acknowledged, smiling in return, and
returned to his seat.  "Now... what does this have to do with Hiko and
Juri?"
        Corrine's smile fell.  She closed her eyes.  "You were right
about Juri, Touga.  She would -never- marry a man casually.  Nor even
willingly, ESPECIALLY someone like Ludovicus."  Her voice dropped to a
whisper.  "-Un-willingly, however, is a different matter."
        Touga blinked, and looked at Corrine.  His wineglass partially
to his lips, but not reaching them, as things began to click into
place inside his head, facts and suppositions suddenly realigning
themselves into a bigger picture.  "You mean..."
        "While Juri was held captive, Ludovicus and Sakura had a
shapeshifter stand in for her whenever the cheiftan made a public
appearance.  It was that 'Juri' who murdered Drake's fiancee, fought
against our armies and pretended to be in love and willingly married
to Ludovicus.  But behind the lines...
        "Six times," Corrine whispered, her eyes still closed tight,
one hand clenching the armrest of the chair she sat in.  "Ludovicus
got Juri pregnant -six times-, from raping her.  The first five were
stillbirths, courtesy of herbs and magic Yui provided her in secret.
But the last time... right before she and Yui escaped ... Ludovicus
raped her again.  And then she killed him, and fed him to his dogs."
        Corrine opened her eyes once more, and let out a bitter laugh.
"Of course, wether it was -really- Ludovicus or not is a moot point by
now.  Annadil sired the Children of the Elements, we know this for
certain, and he could have easily taken the Alan warleader's form on
some night before that to impregnate Juri while leaving the real one
unknowing.  Or he could have easily been Ludovicus the entire time.  I
don't know anymore, and I don't care.  He's -dead- now, and he, and
Sakura, have finally paid for everything they've done to my sister."
        "As well as for everything else," Touga finally said, shaking
his head.  "Such -hatred-, Corrine.  That she would willingly ally
herself with the Alans... and perhaps Chaos as well, just to get
revenge against father.  Arranging for the assassination of Haruka,
selling your sister into slavery, convincing father to exile you --"
        "Well, my slamming a knife into the middle of the council
chamber's table in a fit of frustration didn't help matters much,"
Corrine blandly interjected.
        "This is true," Touga dryly replied.  He took another sip of
his glowing firewine.  "I'm almost willing to overlook her stealing my
body, too; given that she didn't manage to erase the Pattern with
Nanami's blood, and she must have realized that after her death,
having 'myself' attempt to erase the Pattern would have looked too
suspicious."
        Corrine nodded, sitting back.  "Exactly.  Or something like
that, anyway.  Who can say what was going through her mind at the
time?"  She considered a moment, and concentrated slightly as she
stared off into space and reached forward with her left hand.  With a
rainbow shimmer, a bottle of chilled spring water appeared in her
grasping hand.  She pulled on the little stopper, and poured the water
into her empty wineglass.
        "I'm afraid your reputation's fluxuated a bit since she took
your identity, however.  At least you won't be blamed for what
happened during the Succession Crisis.  We got that entire business
sorted out years ago."
        Touga watched Corrine's actions with calm interest.  "Oh?  And
interesting trick, that."
        Corrine blinked, and then looked down at the water bottle she
had pulled through via trump.  She blushed with embarrassment.  "Ah.
It's a little thing I do, Touga.  Don't worry about it.  Though that
-does- remind me..."
        "Hm?"
        "Have you been able to get a new Trump Deck since your
return?"
        Touga shook his head.  "No, not yet.  What with settling back
into having a real body again, and cleaning and rearranging my room
since Sakura lived in it, I haven't had the time to see grandfather."
        Corrine smiled, and glanced down at the gold cuff bracelet she
wore above her left wrist.  "Gabrielle?  Could you get me one of my
spare regular distribution decks for your Uncle Touga?"
        The hexagonal ruby that was inset within the bracelet glowed
briefly with an inner fire, and there was another rainbow shimmer next
to Touga's elbow on the table as a Trump Case appeared.  A female
voice emanated from the bracelet.  "There y'go, mom!  Hi, Uncle
Touga!"
        Touga raised his eyebrows once more, and reached over to pick
up the case.  He popped open the wooden box, and pulled out the Trump
cards within, shuffling through them.  "So, you're a Trump Artist as
well as on top of everything else, Corrine?  Quite impressive."
        Corrine smiled wryly.  "Yes, on top of everything else."
        "And who was that who spoke just now?"
        Corrine grinned.  "Oh, that's my -other- daughter.  Gabrielle?
Could you come out for a little while?"
        There was a flare of fiery trump energy next to Corrine, and
through the flames stepped a woman; tall, broadly built but wearing it
well, clad in a sleek white gown with gold trimmings.  A fall of rich
red hair fell down her back in waves, and her amber eyes took in the
room from a face that bore a striking resemblance to Corrine's.  "Sure
thing, mom... cool, so this is what Uncle Touga's room looks like."
        "Yes, it does, dear," Corrine smiled.  "Touga?  I'd like you
to meet my elder daughter, Gabrielle.  Gaby, this is your Uncle Touga.
The real one, not the ones we've met before."
        Gabrielle grinned, and curtseyed towards Touga.  "Hi there!
It's a pleasure to meet you for real this time."
        Touga smiled, and stood to bow towards her.  "And likewise,
Gabrielle.  It's only fitting that your mother would produce a
talented beauty such as yourself."
        Gabrielle blushed, and reached up with one hand to touch her
collarbone.  "Well, I -am- all the wonders of creation," she
proclaimed proudly, to the amusement of Corrine.
        "Indeed."  Touga chuckled.  "Might I offer you some wine?"
        "Ooo, Byles's Best, from the five-year anniversary stock Lord
Byles provided.  You really -did- go all out, didn't you mom?"  She
nodded towards Touga, who produced another wineglass and poured into
it.
        "Well, I -did- feel the occasion warranted it, dear."  Corrine
sipped from her own flute of chilled water.  "Sit and stay a while...
I was just about to inform Touga on what 'Touga' had been up to while
he was away."
        "Okay!  I've got nowhere else I critically need to be,
anyway."  Gabrielle accepted the firewine and sat down in another
chair.  She glanced over at the unoccupied fireplace, and casually
gestured with her free hand.  The fireplace roared to life, flames
crackling merrily.  "Ah, better."
        Corrine smiled at her eldest daughter, and gathered her
thoughts.  "Hm.  Actually, now that I think about it, there's weren't
exactly many 'notable' things Sakura did in your stead until much more
recently.  There was a decent amount of Shadow travel... and your
exile, back in the middle of the 1200's.  Probably father was starting
to suspect 'Touga' was a ringer, but couldn't exactly figure out why.
We never got the story from him, anyway."
        Touga nodded.  "Most likely, yes."
        "After that, 'you' didn't come back until the Crisis, where we
picked you up at your beach house... which I think is -still- totaled,
by the way.  There was a raid on Rebma to free Moire from Derith of
Embra's control, and 'Touga' participated in that.  I don't have the
details on that, unfortunately.  Then again, most who can contradict
you are either lost in the Vortex or out in Shadow somewhere.  Then
Yuriko assigned your doppelganger to command Amber's western armies
against Talma, Ulia, and Singh when they went at each other's throats.
She did well... well, until the Psychic Attack Fungus started
overrunning the area."
        "... I see," Touga replied, in a tone that clearly implied
that he didn't.
        Corrine shook her head.  "It was the Red Death... some sort of
Outsider-spawned fungal abomination.  At least it didn't reach Arden,
thank the Unicorn."
        "It burned really well, but the army had to pull back before
they could really get rid of it.  I hear there's still parts infested
that they're having trouble cleaning out," Gabrielle interjected.
        Corrine nodded.  "Well, I'm sure they'll figure something.  At
least we don't have the end of the universe to worry about, anymore."
        Touga chuckled softly, and looked down at the remains of his
own firewine.  "Things certainly sound like they were eventful."
        Corrine laughed.  "That's putting it mildly.  The troubles
I've seen since all this started... and the triumphs, are staggering."
        "And your part in them no less so," Touga commented.  "It's
going to take a good while for me to get up to speed, I admit."
        Corrine smiled softly.  "Well, if you don't have anything
better to do, Touga, I'd be glad to fill you in of what I know."
        Her brother smiled back.  "I'd like that, Corrine."

        And so the evening hours passed, as Corrine recounted for
Touga the story of the Annadil Crisis.  From the Gathering of the
Children to the Quests for the Icons, from the Reconstruction of Ember
to the Second Day of Darkness, Corrine spun her tale while drinking
fresh water from her wineglass.  She also told Touga of her own
adventures across the universes to bring back allies and information
that had proved critical to the defeat of Annadil.  Gabrielle
interjected her own perspective on things, and did a quick
demonstration of her wondrous fire powers for her uncle, much to her
mother's amusement.
        But finally Corrine's narrative drew to a close, and she
unsucessfuly suppressed a yawn.  She glanced over at Touga, who still
looked as awake and aware as she'd first seen him earlier that day.
        "Time for all queens to head to their beds, hmm?" Touga asked
with a smile.
        Corrine blushed with embarrassment, chuckled, and then yawned
again, much to Gabrielle and Touga's combined amusement.
        "Yes, something like that," Corrine admitted, draining her
wineglass, and handing her empty water bottle to Gabrielle.  "If I
imagine Misaki's fallen asleep by now outside..."
        Gabrielle tilted her head, and then shook it.  "Nah, she's
still awake, mom.  I'll let her know you're ready to go, though."
        Corrine smiled.  "Thank you, dear," she replied, and then
extricated herself from the chair she had been sitting in for the past
several hours.  Touga got up from his chair as well, and helped the
pregnant queen steady herself.
        "Thank you, Touga..." She hesitated, as a thought occured to
her.  "... mmm... Touga?"
        Touga once more gave Corrine a curious look.  "hm?"
        "I... well, I just wanted to thank you... and I'm sure Juri
would too, if she was here... well, for believing in us, even when
no-one else did, back then.  Even with it getting you stuck in a
bottle for almost four hundred years.  I just wanted to thank you for
-real- this time, not thanking a Shadow or a shapeshifter of you."
        Touga chuckled softly, and bowed.  "You're welcome, Corrine.
Don't worry about it."
        "And I'm still sorry about nearly strangling you on the
ramparts of Castle Amber back during the First Cimbri War,
Touga... can you ever forgive me?"
        "Apology accepted, Corrine," Touga replied, though he rubbed
his neck reflexively in recollection of what transpired back then.
"And you're forgiven,... though I already said that a long time ago."
        "Well, I just wanted to make sure."  Corrine smiled.  "Well, I
guess that's it... see you sometime soon so I can paint a new Trump of
you so we can replace the ones that were actually made of Sakura?"
        "I'll be looking forward to it, Corrine."  Touga nodded.
        "As will I."  Corrine smiled, waved, and gestured with her
free hand as she collected her empty basket.  A Trump Gate opened in
the room, just as Misaki entered.
        "Oh, we're leaving already?" Misaki asked.
        "That's what I said, Misaki," Gabrielle commented. "G'bye,
Uncle Touga!"
        "Goodbye, Gabrielle, Misaki.  It was a pleasure meeting you
both."  He bowed again, and kissed both their hands with a roguish
smile.
        Corrine smiled and waved to her brother as they piled through
the Trump Gate.  Touga waved back to them as the images of Corrine,
Misaki, and Gabrielle vanished as the Trump Gate closed.
        Touga stood standing for several moments, staring at the space
where they had been, lost in thought.  He then turned and emptied the
rest of the firewine into his wineglass, and sat down in his chair,
staring into the depths of the fire.
        Touga reflected on everything he had been told by Corrine and
her daughter, of all the changes that had been wrought in his absence.
He had grown up during the early years of Amber's history; but the
things that had come afterwards, after his captivity, surprised even
him.  He had been telling the truth when he had admitted that it would
take him a while to get up to speed, and he admitted to himself that
this was not necessarily a bad thing.  Let others think what they
would; he would learn of the new possibilities his homeland and Shadow
had in store for them all, and put his own particular talents to their
best use for the kingdom and his family.
        Touga smiled a small, private smile, and drank from his
wineglass, watching the flames crackle in the fireplace.
        Yes, it was certainly going to be an interesting life.

FIN

=======

Troubles I've Seen
A Story of Through A Mirror Darkly and Unicorn No Seishi.
Written by Philip J. Moyer and Andrew Huang on 5/25-6/7/2001

Shizumaru, Prince of Amber, adapted and played by Andrew Huang.
Corrine, Queen of Ember, created and played by Philip Moyer.
Lady Misaki, Queen's Bodyguard, adapted by Philip Moyer from the OAV
Series _Tenchi Muyo!_.
Touga, Prince of Amber, adapted by John Biles from the TV Series
_Shojou Kakumei Utena_.
Gabrielle, Princess of Ember, created by Philip Moyer.

Disclaimer:
This story was inspired by events in the "Through A Mirror Darkly" and
"Unicorn No Seishi" Amber Diceless Roleplaying campaigns
conceptualized, designed, and Game Mastered by John Biles, 2000-2001.
No money is being made from this story.  It is copyrighted to Andrew
Huang and Philip J. Moyer, 2001.