“You have been here for so long I cannot fathom the thought of you being gone. Now I can. It is wonderful.” Homage sniped as we stood before him in his office, idly paying attention to us from his computer at his desk as we were all packed, leaving with WAY more than we came here with in terms of both souvenirs and bodies.

“Oh, Homage. Don’t be like that.” I said, patting the Claptrap unit on the back after rounding his ridiculously huge desk by floating overhead. “I know you’ll miss us.”

“Like a virus. Now begone with you. I need Wave and Wash back on duty and they’ve spent literally almost a year pandering to your needs.” Homage brushed my hand away and then handed me a familiar red orb, only it was far more technological with light blue Echo-lit runes over it instead of chalk. “And here’s one of the first successful Hyperion Portal Devices. Avarice whined about it not being a ‘portal gun’, but I see no reason to improve on the current method’s remote activation compared to a manual guidance.”

“Wow, thanks-.”

“Do not thank me, Avarice paid for it, so it’s a gift from him. Now begone with you and your ridiculously naughty companions. Stop spamming me baby pictures Athena.” Homage growled as the massive motherly griffoness claptrap just cheekily grinned as she held her three sleeping Cyboid griffon cubs to her enormous breasts. Luna and Tia were doing much the same with their children, but Bluebelle could only hold two and levitate the other two in cradles, all too protective and proud to allow someone else to carry them.

“Hey, keep ordering my future wife around and I’ll start spamming your inbox.” I said. “You REALLY don’t want to know what I’m capable of spamming.”

“You really don’t want to know, Homage.” Athena said. “I spammed him once, he sent back something that I’d rather not talk about.”

Athena, myself, and even oddly Sapphire and Emerald were suddenly bombarded by a wave of hundreds of incoming messages all from Homage, and we looked up at him, his gray eyes glaring, daring us to continue our threat. Yeah...maybe taunting a Claptrap unit DESIGNED for high-capacity processing with something like that was stupid, especially when suddenly our UI’s were hacked, and clicked open a HORRID audio file! I just stared at him.

“You have incurred the wrath of the son of the Dungeon Master.” I said. “Expect something horrible. And because of your choice of annoyance, expect it to be random.”

Immediately, there was a ping on Homage’s screen. I just stared at him and motioned for him to continue. He narrowed his eyes, and accessed the file, only frowning slightly. “Begone.” Suddenly a portal opened in front of us, and actually moved over us, seamlessly leaving us now standing in the foyer of our home’s empty throne room without jostling anyone and the sleeping foals and cubs all remained so, but Loki made a fuss since he was especially attuned to magic like me and Blue had to calm him down.

“And that’s only part one!” I yelled back into the portal. “Expect annoyance!” The portal immediately closed afterwards. “Well, that’s that. Hey Athena, later on, wanna help me write a virus for him?”

“For an Homage? Dox, there’s a challenge, and then there’s stupidity...sure!” Athena nodded, but moved one of her cubs on top of her shelf of a bosom as she sighed and started walking towards the wings with our quarters. “But first we have to get these little darlings all situated and start actually planning the wedding. They’re overdue for a feeding anyway.”

“Oh yes, we must indeed get a nursery set up before anything else! Come sister!” Luna trotted after the griffoness, and both Tia and Blue followed. I watched them leave, their widened hips and bigger butts being very lovely sights in their Hyperion one-piece swimsuits. Damn their pregnancies made them even sexier….

“Aw~ you don’t look at us like that much anymore.” Sapphire teased as the sisters got on either side of me and also watched our fellow herd members leave. Huh...I didn’t realize I towered over them now as a king until just this moment. I’ve been so involved with the others and they so busy with their activities I hardly even spent time with them the whole year. Aside from all the orgies we had of course, but they were still happy, but I wasn’t happy myself at realizing they hadn’t actually spoken to me outside of meals or sex for nearly the past year.

“Girls...am I neglecting you?” They both blinked and looked at me in confusion, and then made faces as if they understood my concern.

“Oh, not at all! In fact, you’re a model Changeling Dox. You’re there when we need you, and are always willing to make yourself available, that’s the most we could ask for.” Emerald replied, but then looked towards where my other loves had left with their offspring. “I wish we could’ve kept our living bodies right now though...Athena’s got those mutations that made her even more alive than we are.”

“Android and AI specifically. She’s perfected compared to us, and she can split small parts of herself to make redundant system AIs that she can control idly as if it were an afterthought.” Sapphire grumbled, folding her arms under her fairly impressive bust, but she looked down and felt inadequate. “Are we...outmoded Dox? After all, your other lovers are all so sexy, plump, and bouncy….”

“Girls, you’re just perfect the way you are. You don’t have to have melons bigger than your heads or hips wider than your shoulders or table-top booties to make me horny. In fact...how about I remove any of your doubts right now if you want?” I offered puffing out my chest and making them giggle with my antics. Best thing was, I’m still wearing a thong, only I upgraded to a Hyperion speedo. Logo and everything on the butt for added humor.

Though, if I were honest with myself...they were partially right in one aspect. I couldn’t feed off their emotions. So they couldn’t actually drive me crazy with love or lust like the others. It made me sad, but I would put forth the effort, because I loved them too much to let such a small thing impede that. They were my firsts. They need to remember that.

“Dox….” I didn’t know how, but they could sense my feelings on the matter, and they both kissed me on the cheeks by hovering up and doing so at the same time, making me chuckle at how cute the action was. “You really have matured from that little man we fell for.”

“Thank you-whoa!” They both grabbed an arm and hovered, flying me through the halls. “Hey~! I can walk!” I laughed, knowing where this was headed.

Gosh that was refreshing. A simple and slow loving session of sex, no addled head filled with lust or love, and the tenderness of it all. Yeah, I loved these two so much that even without spiking emotions or hormones I could truly make love with them.

After that had happened, we checked on their eggs to find they’d all hatched! That meant Homage sent us back as we asked, a month after we’d left our world. It took a little frantic questioning to find out that the staff had already made a nursery proper on Princess Twilight’s order. Bless my world’s Twilight! So pragmatic.

Also...uh…. “Any questions?” An overly eager and excited Princess Cadence asked as she practically bounced on her hooves alongside Twilight, who seemed to have grown even more in all aspects since we’d been gone. It seemed that Magic and Friendship were indeed properly popular if she was already as tall as Cadence within a month of us being gone, said Princess of Love had gotten a little taller too at that.

“Yes, is there anything I need to clarify?” Twilight asked as she accidentally squeezed her huge breasts together with a movement of her arms and her tight sexy secretary outfit she was wearing with half-rimmed glasses on her face, squirting milk into her tight coat as she sighed and magicked the mess away. “Damn it Solaris, stop sucking them would you?”

“Yeah, you didn’t name my kids, did you?” I asked. “You better not have. It’s not going to sit well for you.”

“Of course not! That’s just beyond rude!” Twilight defended, and then held a chart up. “Instead, I settled for labelling them by individual characteristics and genders so you can think up names easier yourselves.” The reason I was sat down, being lectured, was because they hadn’t just made a nursery. Oh no. Twilight took it upon herself as Regent to order my Homages to arrange my Loaders into a construction crew, and help repair the castle. It was done in a week apparently. And now she and her sister Cadence were eagerly explaining how things have been since we’ve been gone.

“And why do I need to know girls? I’m glad you bothered, but why?” They both blinked at my question, and scoffed as if I’d asked something stupid, which I likely did. Damn it DM, why’d you make me a rambler?

Because I am.

“I don’t know. Twilight?” Cadence asked sarcastically and Twilight took on a fake thinking pose, not caring that said hand to chin motion pressed on her taut breasts and soaked her coat again.

“I’m not sure. He’s not marrying into becoming the highest authority of the most powerful nation on the planet, isn’t he?” Fucking damn it Twilight, you don’t get to be sarcastic!

“Oh, ha ha.” I said. I noticed a loader walking by in the hallway and waved it over. “Hey, Loader. Can you get the head Homage and send her my way? I need to talk to her about Twilight here’s privilege with ordering around you guys.” I turned back to Twilight and Cadence. Twilight was giving me a ‘what the fuck’ look. “What? I can see the cameras everywhere, among things. I don’t know where they’re connected, and I don’t care. That, and who really gave you the right to become Regent and order my Loaders? I know I’m sounding like a selfish bastard, but we only gave you control for a freaking month! We didn’t give you full rights to everything!” Just then, the Homage I had asked for walked over.

“You sent for me, Dox?” The femme Homage unit said, she was not much different from a standard model’s shape, so she was average in appearance across the board. “I was told it was about the Regent?”

“Yeah, remove her privilege for that.” I said. “She had no approval from me or my to-be wives to do such a thing. Also, I want to know where all the cameras I’ve seen are hooked up to.”

“They’re all hooked up to a central security station, sir.” The Homage said. “Well, all but several, your bedrooms. Those are actually hooked up to a private link that can be traced back to Twilight’s castle.”

“Remove and destroy them immediately.” I said. “As in YESTERDAY. I don’t care if most of them are hooked up to a security room, I don’t like it.” I took a second to admire the looks I was getting from Twilight and Cadence. “Actually, set them all so they’re hooked up ONLY to my bedroom. I want them hidden in a closet, and I want them locked in there with a key that only me, Emerald, Sapphire, or Athena can open. Understood?”

“Like crystal, sir.” The Homage said. She then took off in a brisk walk, no doubt calling a bunch of Loaders via Echo.

“What the buck Dox! Luna left a note!” Twilight shrieked and I blinked.

“When?”

“Before we left.” Luna entered, the Homage I’d sent out following her in, her looking rather annoyed while Luna was imperiously posed with hands on her broadened hips and leering down at me.

“When did you give her the right to order the Loaders, though?!” I asked. “Those are my jurisdiction. I gave them plans and everything!”

“Since thou art our betrothed, we had assumed thou would be willing to share a valuable asset to the security of our home and nation. Also, since we art thine Ruling Princess, tis our right to seize any assets we see fit, or appoint a regent we feel capable.” She narrowed her eyes at me, and I felt as if my very soul was going to burst into aetheric flame. “Dost thou think so little of us?”

“Of course not, Lulu.” I said. “Just next time, tell me what you’re going to do. I’d rather have someone else in control of the Loaders. Someone that I trust won’t be creepy about it. Seriously, Twi? A camera in our rooms linked to your castle?!” Luna smiled cheekily as she blushed slightly, and I gawked at her. “YOU ordered it?!”

“We wanted to record any of our future...sessions together. And we also know that whilst she would enjoy viewing them, Twilight would also be responsible in their security so that they do not become public, and we may even...watch them later.” Luna suggested, and I blushed so hard I think my chitin nearly turned from black to ruby.

“Lulu...that’s incredibly creepy...and incredibly hot.” I took a deep breath and sighed as I sulked and crossed my arms. “Just warn me from now on….”

“And ruin the surprises? The look on your face? Never!” Luna laughed haughtily and with false malice like a cheesy villain and the other mares also started laughing, save the Homage mare who merely quirked a small smile.

‘Some King I am...I’m totally whipped.’

Son, a man who isn’t under the thumb of his woman is a man with no restraint.

Not now dad!

“Okay, so! Can I assume the wedding is on for soon?” I asked eagerly, only for the girls to all sigh, what now?

“Dox, last time we were prepared, but now we have to send out invites again, get caterers, all the rest. This needs to be a fully recognized Herd Union and coronation for You, Bluebelle, Athena, Sapphire, Emerald, Arbok, AND alerting the public of all of your offspring. You’re also not just getting married to them Dox, you’re all marrying each other.” Twilight explained, and my mind kinda went very, VERY dirty places and my nose erupted with my rainbow blood.

“Wives?” I knew they played with each other as much as with me when we had group sex, but...marrying each other too? I hadn’t considered that. They love me so much, they’ll also love each other too...wow.

“Oh~ you’re so genuine Dox! I can feel it from here!” Cadence beamed at me as she shifted around happily. “The Love, so much of it. Ah~! I love my Aspect!” Geez mare calm down! Stop jumping! “He even has enough love in him to nearly latch onto me!” WHAT?! NO! “It’s not cheating Dox, you’re just so full of love it’s obscene!”

“For the last time Cadie! I don’t want a herd!” Shining’s voice shouted over a PA system I couldn’t see. Why were the cameras obvious but the PA not?! “Dox! Don’t let her get to you! She WILL get to you if you let her!”

“Shiny~! Stop ruining my fun!” Cadence shouted at the camera in the corner, ah~ I see, doubles as a PA too.

“I’m sorry, I’m with your husband on this one.” I said. Oh crap, I can just feel her channelling her Aspect in my direction now. NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE! I started shifting back to my original form, only for Cadence to interrupt my focus by exerting her magic on me and stopping the change altogether. Crap! I can feel myself slipping….. Slipping…. I gasped as I suddenly found myself in a small room filled with monitors, a familiar Guard Captain/Prince/Future Emperor of the Crystal Empire seated before me at the desk with his swivel chair facing me, his horn shining with his magic as sweat ran down his brow.

“That was close! Almost ended up falling madly in love bro. I just saved you and I from becoming butt-buddies.” Shining informed me, and I sighed as the drunken high I was getting off her pure, raw, undiluted Love started abating.

“Dude...your wife is crazy.” Shining nickered at my comment, clearly he agreed, but he was madly in love with her and accepted her insanity.

“I’m more concerned that she might include US in your union, make it a Double Wedding.” Shining shivered along with me. “I like you as a pal Dox, but I don’t swing that way.”

“Uh, yeah, me either….” ‘When did he suddenly become attractive?!’ I demanded of myself. Sure, I’d been...noticing the zebra stallions while we were on vacation, but I just thought I was jealous or something...shit, is Avarice right? Am I becoming so absorbed in my changeling nature that gender is starting to become meaningless?

“Shining! You give him back this instant or I will rut you so hard into our bed tonight your pelvis will break!” Cadence’s voice shrilly demanded and threatened and he gulped.

“Dude, your wife is threatening you with sex.” I said, still feeling drunk off the effects of Cadence’s Aspect. “Just go with it, man. Just go with it.”

“Man, you have no idea. I’m not immortal or super-powerful like you. Or her. She HAS broken my pelvis before! Look...I’ll be a bro and let you escape, you don’t want to be around right now. Besides, with all the fancy decorations, invites, foreign dignitaries and whatnot for a wedding with this much political weight, it might even take a month for everything to be in order for your wedding and coronations. So...I’d suggest you make yourself scarce around here for a while.” Shining winced when his wife roared and and tried teleporting in, but he erected a shield along the walls that stopped her.

“LET ME IN RIGHT NOW ARMOR! I AM GOING TO RAPE YOU BOTH!” We both were sweating and he mouthed “run” to me, and I quickly nodded before turning to shadowstuff and he let down the shield, only to instantly be pounced on by his wife who toppled the chair when she teleported in, and began molesting him as I made my escape.

As I ran, all I could hear was: “CADENCE WANT SNU SNU!”

“AAAAAAAARRRRRRGH~!”

Damn Aspects you scary!

I fled to Blackreach, it was the safest place I could think of on such short notice. Considering how Twilight and Luna both backed away from Cadence as her Aspect had started overriding her sensibilities, I figured I wasn’t going to be safe even around my betrothed right now.

The city itself was still abandoned. Dust and cobwebs were littered everywhere. There were still a few undead roaming around, and Loaders running around destroying them.

Yes, this place was so much safer than being up above ground with my betrothed and being possibly raped by Cadence.

I just hope that they can calm her down and get everything sorted out for the wedding.

Well, while I’m down here, I might as well finally get to chatting up Blackreach, that dude’s been so patient with me. I approached the stable portal to his personal chamber that I’ve been told was the Vault and leaned over to peer into the darkness.

“Hey, Blackreach!” I called out to the giant mechanical dragon. “How’s it going?”

The long neck and the fierce head of the giant automata rose up out of the portal and looked down on me like one of the Primordial Serpents from Dark Souls. Hell...did he get even bigger somehow? He didn’t look as ornamental though...did the Homages actually help him with proper maintenance and things like that? “Greetings once more Dox Ad Finem. I am pleased to see you’ve returned. Your vassals have graciously seen to my upkeep, and have zealously kept vigil against the lingering undead of Shadowfell.”

“Yeah, well, can’t let them keep haunting the place. When the other clans get together they’re going to have a moot to-.”

“That is unacceptable. My Maker will not wait for petty political squabbling to delay his people’s return to the world any longer. The Dwarves and Low Elves are to appear to the world once more as a people, and not as a legend or forgotten entirely as they’ve been so content to be. Seek the deepest place within Blackreach, and there you shall find my Maker’s altar; The Aetherium Forge. Commune with him, and he shall set you on the path.” Blackreach’s head then retracted into the portal, and said portal vanished, before the ground shook, and the fountain moved away from me, revealing a stairwell below that also had the pipeworks for the fountain cleanly disconnected, and the portal reopened before Blackreach’s head rose back out. “Go now Savior. He will not waste his time upon those who would dally with petty things such as politics.”

“Alright then. Wow, the Aetherium Forge...I’m geeking out right now!” I admitted as I giddily began descending to the depths of the city, not caring that it closed behind me and Blackreach shook his head before retracting back into his Vault. But just how freaking long was this staircase?! I’d just started hovering down the angle with my gravity powers and my loader shoes for a while now. GEEZ how deep was this forge?

Actually...now that I look behind me, I can’t see the top, so this place is actually just gently curving oh-so-slightly, giving the illusion of being straight. To do that would require meticulous attention to detail, AND an obscene amount of space and distance. The effect was similar to the world appearing flat to the naked eye up until the horizon, so this meant this thin stairwell was leading me deep, DEEP into the bowels of the mountain, deep enough….

Yep...magma. I’m not surprised at all honestly, after all, the Aetherium Forge in Skyrim used the intense natural heat of magma to help in the shaping of Aetherium, and this place looked almost exactly like it at that, save the Aetherium literally growing around the place like the crystal caverns under Canterlot, or the lack of Dwarven Automata trying to rip me to pieces. And then a giant Dwarven Centurion like the ones I fought in Mechanus with the hedgehogs walked out of the magma like it was out for a stroll. Lovely!

“Who intrudes upon this sacred ground? Has Blackreach granted you passage? Or are you a plunderer.” The mechanical and breathy voice called from the massive construct as it eyed me, the voice was almost reminiscent of a man’s, so he wasn’t a chick stuck in a masculine monstrosity, good.

“Blackreach sent me down here to commune with his Maker. Are you him?” I asked, and the gushes of steam and sparks from him as he slightly shook seemed to indicate laughter somehow.

“That is amusing. No. I am not Him. He is the one who had hewn the Dwarves from Stone, and the Low Elves from the True Dark. He is the one who gifted them Knowledge, Skill, and Magic. He is our Patron God. Aule. God of the Craft.” I was kinda gobsmacked for several seconds. I mean, AULE?! He’s a J.R. Tolkien work! He’s exactly as he’s being portrayed here too! Geez, how many legit High Fantasy settings does my world shamelessly steal from other awesome series?

“Uh, wow, okay. How do I talk to him? I mean, I’m sure he would’ve chatted me up earlier if he wasn’t indisposed. These realms of Equestria place Gods in the physical plane more often than not.” My response got the giant magical robot to nod his head.

“That is indeed so. Ever since the Collapse, the Dwarves and Low Elves have been scattered, and Aule sealed in another realm by the machinations of Shadowfell and those who sought to weaken the world. However, those beings have long left this mortal coil, fended off by the other gods and goddesses who had not known Aule since he kept to himself. Here, in this forge, his most sacred and personal refuge, communing with him is still possible, and you might even be able to aid him. Simply begin forging at the station. He shall speak to you.” The guardian then ambled off back to the magma, wading into it until it was submerged as if we hadn’t just spoken. Okay then!

I walked up to the forge, before realizing I had nothing to craft with, and had not consulted any sort of blueprint. Wow, failure on my part. So, if this place is like the Aetherium forge in the Skyrim game, then there should be a little nook with…..

I turned my head to the left, only to find that instead of a storage area like in the game with bits and pieces of metal, a few ores and what not, I found a small open door that had a glowing blue cave behind it. Holy crap! The ore in there was Aetherium, and there was a metric crap ton of it! I thought the stuff just sprouting on the walls was impressive, but holy hell that’s a lot of solidified magic!

“The hell?!” I said as I approached the small ‘mine’. “How did this come to be?” I stared around at the little ‘mine’ for a little longer before snapping back to the task at hand. I used my changeling blade to break some Aetherium off the wall by willing it into a pick, which I was amazed to find I could do since picks are a bit more complex than people think, then went to the other side of the room to search through what I found to be a little crafting area, most likely meant to store materials and do last touches on projects. I grabbed a few ingots that I didn’t recognize and brought them over to the forge with the Aetherium before throwing them in.

“Ah~, it’s been so long.” I heard a deep bassy voice say. Made me feel tingly and strange. It seemed to come from the forge itself when it spoke. Hell, I even saw the blue-white flame pulsate a bit when the voice spoke. “Well met, crafter. Who is it that brings me forth from my sleep?”

“Hello?” I called out to the voice. “Are you Aule?”

“The one and only.” The voice now identified as Aule called back. “And you have yet to answer my question of who you are. You are obviously not a Dwarf, or a Low Elf. You look almost like an elf, but not one. Who and what are you Not-Elf?”

“I’m Dox Ad Finem, sir.” I said as respectably as I could. What? You think I forgot manners? I don’t even know this guy! “You’d be right to say I’m not an Elf. I’m a Changeling.”

“And what are you doing here, Changeling? Last I checked, your folk followed the Traveller or the various gods of Fertility.”

“Well, I’m friends with one….. And betrothed to another….” I said, somewhat embarrassed. I continued to mess with the metal in the forge, not sure as to what to make with the materials I had on hand.

“That sounds exciting, and impressive.” Aule said. “I’d like to say that you did- HEY! Don’t throw the Aetherium in yet!” It was then I felt a force pull away the Aetherium that was in my hands right as I was about to throw it in. I turned to look for the source of said force to find what looked like a combination of a Low Elf and a Dwarf. Ya know, I couldn’t remember what Lord of the Rings said he looked like, if it did at all. But in all, it was impressive. He was about 5’11, like I had seen some of the shorter Low Elves, but had the massive features of a Dwarf. He looked as though he could bench press the Aetherium forge if he felt bored, probably with the giant centurion that I had seen earlier in it. “That is not how you forge with Aetherium! What are you trying to even make?!”

“I’m not exactly sure.” I said. “Would you like to help me make something?”

“You must learn somehow.” Aule said. “Aetherium is not like metal. You cannot treat it like one. You must treat it like a resin, fragile, and very picky about how it bonds. It is best used as a coating, or as a core. This.” He held up my right arm, and my Changeling Blade erupted out as he traced it. I didn’t do that…. “Is a splendid example. It used a unique formula for the shell, but it used an Aetherium core. This method, when finished, bonds the material with the Aetherium, imbuing it with it’s power, and not at all interfering with the chosen alloys durability or other attributes. The only material I have thus far been unable to meld with Aetherium is Orichalcum for obvious reasons. Not even I can make such a blasphemy work….”

“Wow.” I said. “So, what is this ingot that I’m using?”

“You mean you don’t even know?!” Aule screamed at me. “How can you start forging without even knowing what you’re using?!” He proceeded to bitch-slap me for my ignorance and growled/sighed somehow at the same time. “How have you survived so far if you cannot even maintain your equipment?”

“Ow! Hey, I just...had very skilled allies.” ‘Damn that hurt! Shit, it was like my SOUL was smacked!’

“Well then...if you are truly so ignorant….” I suddenly found myself shoved back and I gasped as I fell into a chair made of the bronze-colored unknown metal the Dwarven-Made items from Skyrim all seemed to be made of as a ghostly chalkboard suddenly hovered behind him, with...oh gog no! “First. You must become familiar with the physical elements of the world.” He said as he pointed out the Periodic Table of Elements to me. “And then some.” And then he EXTENDED it! WHY?! I HATE SCHOOL!

I...hate...school...science was never a favorite either…. Chemistry was good, yeah, but still far from my favorite…. So! Apparently...I was trying to use Dwemer Alloy, which was approximately somehow a perfect 33% copper, 33% zinc, 33% iron, and 1, JUST 1, percent carbon. The result was obscenely dense, strong, and brittle yet malleable. A decent go-to alloy for most uses, but not a spectacular alloy for specialized things. Also it was softer or harder depending on the forging process, the shape, the size, it went on, and on, and ON! And that was just the ONE alloy!

Good GOG! How does Avarice have the PATIENCE for this?! Speaking of him, I think I took on his Gog thing, huh. Wonder when I started doing that? “Cobalt is best used for what?”

Oh shit right! Pop quiz! Uh…. “Not as a base for any striking implement?” He just stared at me, like he was expecting more. “High friction and heat equipment?” He motioned for me to add on more. “A catalyst?” Same motion. “A good electricity conductor.” He gestured for more and this one I knew for sure. “And especially for it’s delightfully distinctive blue coloration when taken down to base. For decoration in many different fields.”

“Yes, very good DAF.” Ugh, WHY did he insist on calling me by my initials?! “That covers our fifteenth metal, now on to the alloys that it’s made-.”

“Hold it! Look, Aule, I appreciate what you’re trying to do, but...I’m not a smart guy. I can get by, but I can barely remember half of what you’ve already crammed in my head! It’s not that I’m not trying either, this is awesome, but...I’m just not cut out for it….” I moped, and Aule sighed disappointedly.

“Apologies, it has been so long, and I forget that not all are so gifted with the Craft as my children are. Learn at your own pace, but do learn; it is a beyond valuable skill.” Aule insisted, and I had to give him that, Avarice got by before Hyperion with his own guile from what he’s told me when finally visiting during my vacation once and having a lengthy chat. Turns out he was mostly busy with hunting Die Leucht and securing the North at the time from Sombra, so I rarely saw him our whole trip save those few times he dropped in.

“Yeah, I’ll do that. But...what was I sent down here by Blackreach to do?” My question got Aule blinking, and he hummed as he ran a hand over his epic beard. Even as a physically manifested ghost that shit was legit.

“The Savior...saved a clan...found Blackreach and...oh! Right! Yes, well, I want my children to return to the world stage as it were, no longer HIDING down here in the caves. THey can live down here all they want, but no more hiding, it’s despicable. But, they’re so heavily mired in their political nonsense they’ll likely plan to just dig deeper and forget the sun. I refuse to let that happen, and so YOU are going to help me return to the Material Realm!” Aule stated, and I blinked before I shrugged. Gods. I’m too used to them by now to be at all fazed by such a concept as helping a god come to the mortal plane.

“Meh, sure. What do I gotta do?”

“First! I need you to collect some innocuous brown rocks.” My UI suddenly popped up with a mission objective to obtain WHAT?! 3,748,926 ROCKS?! “Then! I need you to climb to the stop of Mount Shuler, and retrieve my staff!” Well that was self-explanatory at least…. “And THEN I need you to defeat Shaggoth, Destroyer of Worlds!” Say what? Ugh...I think I remember what he’s clearly referencing now…. “And LASTLY! You shall DANCE! FOR MY AMUSEMENT! HAHAHAHAHA~!” I stared at him blankly, until the automata guardian from earlier reached a huge arm from the magma, and poked a point on the wall, which crumbled to reveal an exact replica robot of the god standing before me. “Or...you could just help me into my backup body over there...damn you Guardian….”

Borderlands...why? Why u no leave me alone?!

Author's Notes:

Some thanks are in order to GameJunkie, who helped me out with Aule, as I know next to nothing when it comes to forging and smithing.

Well, this is Music Mod, posting a chapter in the morning for once. XD