The Queen's Double, Epilogue
Story by JoyfulNocturne - several months after Zeydaan/Isabella became the double of Queen Nia, they had no memories of the time before. Yet they get used to their stuffy castle life. Including running into various people from former lives of theirs.
Epilogue ~
Nia was… bored. She’d felt like being Queen was stuffy enough back in Agnus, but it was at least offset by the occasional opportunities for action and adventure as crises game up.
But as a diplomat, with a very specific role to play as a third party to the new government Melia was establishing, things were quite different. It was nothing but all the formal meetings and decision making that made her wish for something, anything to happen that might get things livened up.
…Hold on, didn’t someone at some point establish the threat of wishes creating eldritch monsters? Maybe if she…
“M’lady Nia, the afternoon meeting with the architectural team has been moved to a luncheon meeting at Queen Melia’s request. I believe it relates to the latest group of visitors welcomed to the castle?” The castle guardsperson spoke through the communication relay, but Nia could practically feel how he no doubt bowed respectfully as he delivered the news about the change of lunch plans.
“My thanks, Irven. I will attend the lunch, and I do very much hope that Ansel stew is on the menu again.”
She’d come to appreciate some of the new opportunities that came from living in this world though. Like the food. She still missed Gormott and the rest of Alrest though. It probably wasn’t good to already be counting down the days of this diplomatic exchange until she could return home, given the circumstances. But still.
Nia briefly took to the mirror in her chambers, running a brush through her hair and adorning herself with the newest set of bangles and flourishes of her elaborate dress.
To everyone here, it seemed they only understood Alrest as some far-off land, beyond the Bionis and Mechonis. She was the only tangible thing they had to connect to, other than any deeply subconscious memories of the third world.
So as much as she wanted to not care about getting every part of her look in careful perfection, it was for everyone back home that she put her best foot (paw?) forward.
“Ahem, m-m’lady, it would seem some visitors are seeking to speak with you, although… I do not believe they are part of the visiting delegations? They r-really insi-”
“HEY! Shut it and let us in, Jeeves!”
“Rest assured, Regicide is not on our agenda, I promise!”
“Unless there’s an evil monarch oppressing the populace! We rock at fixing those sort of things!”
“Lilith, please…”
Nia hopped out of her seat and hurried to the door, swinging it open to find two figures she mostly did not recognize, who were… well she sure hoped they weren’t planning on Regicide, though what else that giant gun would be for was unclear.
They looked like run-of-the-mill Homs, except… well actually, they weren’t that run of the mill at all. Nia had never seen a man with such peculiar dark blue scales accenting his muscular body, and nor had she seen a lady so… green, before. They seemed friendly, if a bit out of place, and were not-so-subtly pushing between each other to stand in front of the doorway.
“Oh, ahem…”
Both stopped muttering to each other about past run-ins with monarchies and . As she’d practiced, Nia put her hands together and bowed slightly, in a way that was polite but also all I’m a queen and bloody important apparently.
“H-hello there, y-you… you’re highness, yea! We’re your… well, we’re friends of a friend, and we just really wanted to stop by and make sure you’re doing well and, since we won’t be able to later, you know… gosh, uh.”
“You two are… travelers, then? Ones who thought it wise to sneak in here uninvited?”
The two strangers both kept their smiles, although there was a subtle shift in the man’s eyes that suggested something deeper.
“We just, ah… I… wanted to make sure you weren’t just in there moping about on your own, you know? By your lonesome as a Queen.” He spoke with a suave, deep voice that was, to Nia’s thinking, pretty charming.
“And I came too! You know, in case there was any problems that needed taking care of.”
The cat racked her brain trying to make sure she wasn’t missing something here. Who… were these two? It seemed plausible they were from Alrest, but also not likely. They were treating her with such casualty, as if they knew her well. That or they were simply oblivious as to what sort of propriety was meant for meeting with a royal emissary.
“Course there isn’t any problems, Lil! There’s a whole kingdom’s worth of soldiers and such here now!”
“Zach, but what about, you know, crazy stuff!”
Sounded like the latter. But they were sweet about it at least, in a way that was… nice.
“Okay, and speakin’ of those soldiers, you two, whoever you are, can’t just be bargin’ on in here like this, or I’ll have to call em. I appreciate your concern, but I’m doing just splendid!” And that was the truth, despite the intense boredom she sometimes felt, Nia was proud to be managing this whole situation with aplomb.
“Well then… good! Just, you know, stay splendid like that then.”
For reasons not quite within her understanding, Nia felt herself raise one of her hands up towards them in a fist. Zach and Lilith nodded, as if this meant something to them, and bumped that fist with their own.
The three parted ways soon after. The strangers went to the same window they used to invite themselves in uninvited. Mantling over the castle wall, Lilith turned and looked at Zach, who even now hid his melancholy under a suave smile.
“Hey, chin up. We got to see them. Now’s time for the brilliant escape plan…”
“Yea…”
“Zach.”
“I know, I know, I should be happy that they’re, er, she’s doing-”
“ZACH. Do you have the parachutes charged this time?”
“...Um…”
Nia distantly heard the sound of heavy objects splashing in the moat outside as she continued down the halls and stairways down into the inner chambers of the castle. By the time she finished walking down the stairs into the large meeting hall, she’d shifted easily back into the measured, regal gait of the foreign Queen.
Melia was in the antechamber as well, along with other ministers and advisory folk. After the standard route routine of bowing and introductions, Nia “The Esteemed Emissary of Alrest” took her seat at the table, and grabbed a plate of food while listening in on the conversation. The architecture nerds had even brought a rolling data-screen in to show notes on. Truly riveting stuff, these rivets.
While everyone started discussing reconstruction and construction material procurement and yada yada yada boring things, Nia discreetly scanned the long table of dining guests. Surely someone here was just a wee bit more interesting than this bloo-oooooh, whose this?
A young man with bright blue eyes and long black hair pulled up in a ponytail. He gazed forward, as if deep in thought, a hand resting against the sheathed sword at his side.
Nia waited very politely for a lull in the conversation to get Melia’s attention, nodding towards the teen and inquiring with utterly civility who he was.
“He’s a boy from the Lower Bionis. A Brog infestation was causing trouble in the beaches in the Colony 9 region, and this Noah fellow here helped take the leader down. He asked to come along back to the castle, for he is looking for jobs. In fact… Noah, I do believe you mentioned being interested in wanting to do some sightseeing of the rest of Bionis, yes?”
The young man caught Nia and Melia’s gaze, and wordlessly nodded. Nia felt something stir in her chest, trying to place what it was about this young man that interested her, other than the simple fact that he looked substantially more fun than these scientists.
“If you are interested, Nia, perhaps you might consider a…diplomatic mission, soon. And as an envoy of the Queen, you would be good to hire some bodyguards, and Noah has shown himself to be quite the swordmaster.” The fair feathered Queen didn’t even need to drop a coy wink or anything, Nia knew exactly what she was getting at.
She couldn’t act upon it right away, as it would be far more regal and fancy-like to wait until the meal had finished and the parties were beginning to leave the table. Nia rose and gracefully walked down towards this fellow, and as she got closer, something clicked within her mind. A realignment of a memory that even she had forgotten, from what felt both like distant memory and unrealized dream. It caused a hint of confusion, even worry for a moment, but then… elation. Enthusiasm, even!
Optimism.
“Well, roight good to meet ya… tell me, you up for a bit of adventurin’?”
It was good, to make new friends.
Epilogue ~
Nia was… bored. She’d felt like being Queen was stuffy enough back in Agnus, but it was at least offset by the occasional opportunities for action and adventure as crises game up.
But as a diplomat, with a very specific role to play as a third party to the new government Melia was establishing, things were quite different. It was nothing but all the formal meetings and decision making that made her wish for something, anything to happen that might get things livened up.
…Hold on, didn’t someone at some point establish the threat of wishes creating eldritch monsters? Maybe if she…
“M’lady Nia, the afternoon meeting with the architectural team has been moved to a luncheon meeting at Queen Melia’s request. I believe it relates to the latest group of visitors welcomed to the castle?” The castle guardsperson spoke through the communication relay, but Nia could practically feel how he no doubt bowed respectfully as he delivered the news about the change of lunch plans.
“My thanks, Irven. I will attend the lunch, and I do very much hope that Ansel stew is on the menu again.”
She’d come to appreciate some of the new opportunities that came from living in this world though. Like the food. She still missed Gormott and the rest of Alrest though. It probably wasn’t good to already be counting down the days of this diplomatic exchange until she could return home, given the circumstances. But still.
Nia briefly took to the mirror in her chambers, running a brush through her hair and adorning herself with the newest set of bangles and flourishes of her elaborate dress.
To everyone here, it seemed they only understood Alrest as some far-off land, beyond the Bionis and Mechonis. She was the only tangible thing they had to connect to, other than any deeply subconscious memories of the third world.
So as much as she wanted to not care about getting every part of her look in careful perfection, it was for everyone back home that she put her best foot (paw?) forward.
“Ahem, m-m’lady, it would seem some visitors are seeking to speak with you, although… I do not believe they are part of the visiting delegations? They r-really insi-”
“HEY! Shut it and let us in, Jeeves!”
“Rest assured, Regicide is not on our agenda, I promise!”
“Unless there’s an evil monarch oppressing the populace! We rock at fixing those sort of things!”
“Lilith, please…”
Nia hopped out of her seat and hurried to the door, swinging it open to find two figures she mostly did not recognize, who were… well she sure hoped they weren’t planning on Regicide, though what else that giant gun would be for was unclear.
They looked like run-of-the-mill Homs, except… well actually, they weren’t that run of the mill at all. Nia had never seen a man with such peculiar dark blue scales accenting his muscular body, and nor had she seen a lady so… green, before. They seemed friendly, if a bit out of place, and were not-so-subtly pushing between each other to stand in front of the doorway.
“Oh, ahem…”
Both stopped muttering to each other about past run-ins with monarchies and . As she’d practiced, Nia put her hands together and bowed slightly, in a way that was polite but also all I’m a queen and bloody important apparently.
“H-hello there, y-you… you’re highness, yea! We’re your… well, we’re friends of a friend, and we just really wanted to stop by and make sure you’re doing well and, since we won’t be able to later, you know… gosh, uh.”
“You two are… travelers, then? Ones who thought it wise to sneak in here uninvited?”
The two strangers both kept their smiles, although there was a subtle shift in the man’s eyes that suggested something deeper.
“We just, ah… I… wanted to make sure you weren’t just in there moping about on your own, you know? By your lonesome as a Queen.” He spoke with a suave, deep voice that was, to Nia’s thinking, pretty charming.
“And I came too! You know, in case there was any problems that needed taking care of.”
The cat racked her brain trying to make sure she wasn’t missing something here. Who… were these two? It seemed plausible they were from Alrest, but also not likely. They were treating her with such casualty, as if they knew her well. That or they were simply oblivious as to what sort of propriety was meant for meeting with a royal emissary.
“Course there isn’t any problems, Lil! There’s a whole kingdom’s worth of soldiers and such here now!”
“Zach, but what about, you know, crazy stuff!”
Sounded like the latter. But they were sweet about it at least, in a way that was… nice.
“Okay, and speakin’ of those soldiers, you two, whoever you are, can’t just be bargin’ on in here like this, or I’ll have to call em. I appreciate your concern, but I’m doing just splendid!” And that was the truth, despite the intense boredom she sometimes felt, Nia was proud to be managing this whole situation with aplomb.
“Well then… good! Just, you know, stay splendid like that then.”
For reasons not quite within her understanding, Nia felt herself raise one of her hands up towards them in a fist. Zach and Lilith nodded, as if this meant something to them, and bumped that fist with their own.
The three parted ways soon after. The strangers went to the same window they used to invite themselves in uninvited. Mantling over the castle wall, Lilith turned and looked at Zach, who even now hid his melancholy under a suave smile.
“Hey, chin up. We got to see them. Now’s time for the brilliant escape plan…”
“Yea…”
“Zach.”
“I know, I know, I should be happy that they’re, er, she’s doing-”
“ZACH. Do you have the parachutes charged this time?”
“...Um…”
Nia distantly heard the sound of heavy objects splashing in the moat outside as she continued down the halls and stairways down into the inner chambers of the castle. By the time she finished walking down the stairs into the large meeting hall, she’d shifted easily back into the measured, regal gait of the foreign Queen.
Melia was in the antechamber as well, along with other ministers and advisory folk. After the standard route routine of bowing and introductions, Nia “The Esteemed Emissary of Alrest” took her seat at the table, and grabbed a plate of food while listening in on the conversation. The architecture nerds had even brought a rolling data-screen in to show notes on. Truly riveting stuff, these rivets.
While everyone started discussing reconstruction and construction material procurement and yada yada yada boring things, Nia discreetly scanned the long table of dining guests. Surely someone here was just a wee bit more interesting than this bloo-oooooh, whose this?
A young man with bright blue eyes and long black hair pulled up in a ponytail. He gazed forward, as if deep in thought, a hand resting against the sheathed sword at his side.
Nia waited very politely for a lull in the conversation to get Melia’s attention, nodding towards the teen and inquiring with utterly civility who he was.
“He’s a boy from the Lower Bionis. A Brog infestation was causing trouble in the beaches in the Colony 9 region, and this Noah fellow here helped take the leader down. He asked to come along back to the castle, for he is looking for jobs. In fact… Noah, I do believe you mentioned being interested in wanting to do some sightseeing of the rest of Bionis, yes?”
The young man caught Nia and Melia’s gaze, and wordlessly nodded. Nia felt something stir in her chest, trying to place what it was about this young man that interested her, other than the simple fact that he looked substantially more fun than these scientists.
“If you are interested, Nia, perhaps you might consider a…diplomatic mission, soon. And as an envoy of the Queen, you would be good to hire some bodyguards, and Noah has shown himself to be quite the swordmaster.” The fair feathered Queen didn’t even need to drop a coy wink or anything, Nia knew exactly what she was getting at.
She couldn’t act upon it right away, as it would be far more regal and fancy-like to wait until the meal had finished and the parties were beginning to leave the table. Nia rose and gracefully walked down towards this fellow, and as she got closer, something clicked within her mind. A realignment of a memory that even she had forgotten, from what felt both like distant memory and unrealized dream. It caused a hint of confusion, even worry for a moment, but then… elation. Enthusiasm, even!
Optimism.
“Well, roight good to meet ya… tell me, you up for a bit of adventurin’?”
It was good, to make new friends.
Category Artwork (Digital) / Transformation
Species Feline (Other)
Gender Trans (Female)
Size 2000 x 894px
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