[Shen]

The Empire has stood for almost 2500 years. and in that time, they have to maintained the stability of the ruling house, and prevent dynastic infighting, though there succession

all children of the God-Empress, or God-Empeor, are eligible to take the throne, but only one can get the job

the rest must die.

the last time this happened was in 1936. the succession of 1954 was with an only child

for the first time in almost 100 years, there are multiple contenders, for the Heavenly throne.

and for the First time, in almost 100 years, there will be a true Succession

[Shen]

9:30 pm. Jade Garden duck pond, Heavenly Palace, Celestial Palace Complex, Sharanfo, Shen Empire

'How long has it been since I took tea while watching the sky' Wu Zhou, God Empress of the Shen Empire, Lord of the South Dragon, Heavens chosen Arbiter of balance on Earth thought to herself.

She honestly couldn't remember. It was once her favorite family activity. Her long-deceased father making time to spend time with his only child. A luxury so rarely found in the Royal Family.

She still has vivid memories of those nights. Resting her head on her mother's lap as her father made her look skyward, pointing out the constellations and explaining their meanings. It all seems so mysterious to her then.

Not like now. It was all so much less magical. The moon wasn't a mysterious orb. Some ethereal object, Illuminating Earth in the glow of heavenly glory. Now it was just a ball of dust. In her lifetime she has seen men walk on its surface. Like so many Grand Illusions, the curtain had been pulled back and the secret revealed to all.

She remembered trying to pass on that sense of magic that's the world used to carry for her, on to her children with less than successful results.

She had seven children, not just one, and while her father's rain had been far from simple, the complexities and difficulties of ruling took up far more of her time then it had his.

In the end, it had left the old woman with 7 children, that she had never truly bonded with.

And left her where she was tonight. Drinking tea alone on the shores of her small private pond. Only the ducks to keep her company.

Feeling her weak skeletal fingers tightly wrapped around the warm porcelain cup as she lifted it up to her lips to take one final sip, she turned her head skyward. Focusing on the moon. Letting that heavenly glory fill her eyes one last time before turning in for the night.

Trying to forget what it really was, just so she could relive the mystery and Magic she had experience in this Garden as a young girl.

And for a moment she could. For a single moment, the old Empress was back there in the warm embrace of her mother. And her mind filled with fantasies of playing with the Jade Rabbit on the surface of the Moon. Looking down towards the pale blue dot where she lived.

Turning her head down to the pond, she watched the family of ducks slowly float as they slept through the evening

"... I think that's plenty for tonight don't you?"

The old woman reached towards a small plate, with a half-eaten sweet Roll On It. Breaking off a piece she placed it on the ground, to serve breakfast for the ducks, before finally rising to her feet.

the elder Wu quickly retrieved her crown that had been sitting next to her. Carefully putting it back on her head and replacing the large hairpin, that kept it securely fashioned, she adjusted the silk Veil, once again obscuring her face from those not holy enough to look at it, in its entirety.

The clicking of her heels as she stepped off the soft ground and onto the hard oak flooring of the hallway, in between her private garden and her personal bedchamber, alerted the man who had been patiently standing at attendance for when she returned.

" my empress." Won said as he offered a bow towards the origin of the noise he had just heard. The empress smiled at the old man. Her favorite servant. Standing just 1.6 meters tall (( the same height as the empress herself)), without a single piece of hair on his head, his milky eyes look forward. The obscured Moonlight still finding their way into the white spheres that had never seen the glory that was now reflecting off of them.

" I'm turning in for the night Won," she responded as she began to walk towards her Chambers. The blind man nodded. He reached over to the side of the wall and found the railing, running his hand across it to guide him as he walked behind her.

" of course. I trust that you enjoyed your tea?"

She was about to reply when a wave of fatigue washed over. Tiredness sweeping through every muscle of her being. She had been more or less awake a moment ago, but just now felt like she was about to fall over. And what's worse there was a strange pain in her jaw.

The sudden silence alerted the ancient servant " Are you alright my empress?"

Reaching up to massage her jaw the old woman nodded before realizing she was trying to send a visual cue to a blind man

" I'm fine, I'm just tired that's all. And the tea was delicious as always. It really made watching the Moon that much more enjoyable. It's so beautiful tonight"

A small check eliminated from the man as they stopped for a minute outside the doors to her private bedchamber " I'll just have to take your word for it”

The woman slowly began to pull open the door turning her head back to the old man "... you know we need to go back to the Moon. The last time we went, we didn't find the Jade Rabbit. Obviously, we didn't explore it thoroughly enough"

“Perhaps we should. Now Good night my empress…"


" good night Won… oh before I forget, it's supposed to get chilly tonight. If the temperature drops I'd like you to bring me some warmer blankets"

Won gave his Empress a confirming nod " as you wish. I'll see you in the morning"

The old man heard the door closed behind him. He waited a moment before finally making his way down the hallway to continue with his nightly routine

[Shen]

11:22 pm

A coldness had rapidly descended over the heart of the Empire. Quickly chilling the Celestial Palace to its bones. It wasn't unusual at this time of the year to have nights this bone-chillingly cold. But it had come unusually rapidly. A superstitious person might even suggest it was a bad sign.

Won found himself pushing open the large oak doors of the Imperial Chambers. He was carrying thick cotton blankets under his right arm as he headed to the bedchamber.

Silently he walked over to the bed, expecting too soon hear the silent rhythmic breathing of the Empress

But to his shock, there was only silence. He had served this woman for decades and he had never heard her sleep so silently. As he stood at the foot of the bed he set down the heavy blankets.

" my Empress?"

No response. The quiet that had come over the bed Chambers continues. Nervousness and dread soon began to fill the old man's mind. He took a step upward reaching onto the bed until he felt the outline shape of the empress.

"Empress? Empress Wu? Zhou? Zhou!?"

He finally found his way up to her shoulders. He reached up to her neck. It was cold. And there was no pulse.


" oh, no…oh gods in heaven no...not now..."

The old man burst into a flurry of energy. Running towards the door almost colliding with the walls as he ran into the hallway

" Help! HELP! The empress is dead!"

[Shen]

11:37. Amber Villa pool room, Celestial palace, Shen empire.

There was nothing quite like a late-night swim. Well, nothing quite like one for Wu Shi, eldest daughter of the empress. the middle-aged woman was swimming more and more recently. Her age was finally starting to catch up with her. She spent her life as an athlete. Pushing her body to its limit. She even managed to represent her Empire in the Olympics, walking home with a silver medal. But that was when she was a much younger woman. Nowadays she found the after-effects of exercise to be strenuous. Her old frame taking days to recover after long-distance runs. She still kept up, but it was harder. Now she relegated her exercise mostly to the swimming pool. It was better for her joints and still allowed her to remain active.

Climbing up on to the starting parapet overlooking the Olympic size swimming pool, located within the Amber villa of the celestial Palace, she positioned herself, resting her legs against the platform. With a single movement, she projected herself forward slamming into the water like a knife slicing its way through butter. Powering through the clam liquid, bringing her head up only to take rhythmic breaths before bringing it back down.

When she reached the other side of the water, she turned around and positioned herself against the wall ready to burst forth with another shot of speed. While she was stationary, she looked up through the clear water, to see her bodyguard standing there patiently. Another man had just walked into the room and was talking to the Imperial Guardsman who was assigned to her. She didn't think anything of it, choosing to continue doing laps. Projecting herself forward with everything her middle-aged body could manage.

Slicing through to the other side she repeated the process. Pressing her legs against the wall and springing off shooting herself forward.

She was approaching the wall again. Getting ready to turn around and press against the wall with her feet to send herself flying as she had with her previous lap when suddenly, a loud sound of splashing and the feeling of water being pushed around alerted her to something happening. She tried to swim up to the top to see what was going on but before she broke the water and breathed, a hand grabbed her by her shoulder and forced her down.

Suddenly the feeling of shock radiated over her body. She desperately tried to push up, attempting to get to the surface. Struggling upwards inching forward. Millimeter by millimeter. She felt her muscles starting to grow weak. Her body begging for a fresh breath of oxygen, as everything began to grow dark. She felt the brim of her head break the water. The feeling of air on her forehead. She was about to do it. She was about to breathe. She would have a chance to fight back. She would survive. But it all ended just as quickly as it had begun. The second sound of splashing was heard. A second arm was on her other shoulder pushing her down. The weight of two anchors slammed her into the water. Her body had no more energy left and it gave out. Silent screams and she finally released her breath watching as the bubbles rose to the surface. It was only a moment longer before she could not stop her eyes closing for the last time…..

[Shen]

11:41, 63 RENMIN LU, Singse, Shen Empire

Wu Yun had always been an intelligent man. His intelligence only matched by his lack of ambition. Being born the child of an Empress meant that he never needed to be ambitious. Everything was already his for the taking. And so he had chosen a life of quiet study as an academic.

That is how he had ended up here. Sorting through his large personal library, he kept his private estate in SingSe. Running his fingers over the volumes of Forgotten lore. Fealing the leather of the covers. Aged and dried after years, of inspiring and educating those who had picked up and read what they had to say. He had spent the last few hours traveling through the disorganized mess, cooming through countless titles and first editions that he kept in his collection. He had never gotten around to organizing this massive Library. He would just add new books without much consideration for where they were placed. It gave him more time to read his newer books, but it made trying to go back and locate older editions to his collection that he wanted to re-read quite difficult. Like tonight when he had a desire to reread a certain book of ancient poetry. The Danxing Empire that had once stretched across the modern-day Shen Empire, and ruled as far north as lareal. But the Empire had collapsed nearly as quickly as it had been built and left only its culture as a legacy.

But what a legacy that was. Some of the greatest poetry ever written. It really was a shame to the world that's so much of it had been lost during the Warring States period. Minor conflicts between regional Lords wiping out so much of the nation's cultural heritage.

Thinking about the beauty that had been lost could bring Yun to tears. But tonight wasn't a night to mourn. Tonight was a night to enthrall oneself in what survived of that history. And the academic intended to do just that. Finally, after hours of searching, he found the book he was looking for. A thirty-year-old republishing of preserved poetry in its original manuscript. a language preserved by academics as the modern tongue had long since drifted away.

" there you are" he muttered to himself. Smiling at the leather-bound book located at the end of the Shelf between a book on the Chang expedition south and black holes.

Yun carefully Slide the book out of its spot on the Shelf. Making sure to not allow the other two to fall. Quickly placing it underneath his shoulder he walked back from his library to his little reading corner. It was a quaint little area. A small chimney where he could start a fire if it was cold. His comfortable reading chair. A little side table where he could set things down. And on the opposite side a lamp allowing him to illuminate the reading area when the fire died down. The Log he had thrown into the fire hours before had long since burnt down to its embers. Emanating a faint glow over the red leather reading chair and the table. He placed the book down on the table and reach for the plate of food that he had left there so many hours ago. A small handful of dumplings that he had made for himself as a late evening snack were there. Grabbing his Chopsticks he wasted no time in squeezing one of them between the two wooden utensils and bringing it up to his lips.

His mood soured slightly as he bit down into the treat. They have gone cold in his absence. An annoyed sigh left his lips. He honestly didn't feel like cooking more food so he settled on having the cold dumplings while he read. Sitting down in his chair, he reached upwards and activated the lamp allowing the light to shine over his lap. Placing the book on his lap and cracking it open, he started quietly murmuring the words themselves. Reading aloud the ancient syllables just to make sure he was pronouncing them right.

With each sentence he found himself getting more and more lost in the ancient texts. Enchanted by metaphors and soliloquies of those who had long since gone into the next world and left a legacy of beauty behind.

he paused every few moments to reach over to his plate to grab a cold dumpling and quickly scarf it down, but besides that, he allowed no distraction from his reading. He was totally engrossed in the Fantastic world of these poems. Epic love. The tragic heroes.

He didn't even hear the door open behind him.

A shadow slowly spread itself across the floor. The dim light of the hallway casting It Forward directly towards the unsuspecting Prince

Wu Yun, slowly began to turn the page when he saw the shadow crawl over the yellowing pages of the old text. His eyes slowly began to move up towards the door.

" Shenon?" He asked, saying the name of the head of his security detail expecting it to be him. Before he got a response or could even finish looking up the shadow lunged forward. The man who had just entered the doorway rapt a garotte wire around the neck of the intellectual. Before he had any time to think it was being pulled tightly against his neck.

An ocean of fear consumed him as his hands instinctively shot up to his neck trying to loosen the wire. His book went flying forward, landing in the dying embers. The dry paper sparking against the dying spark of the formerly roaring fire, igniting it's in brilliance light. Red and orange climbed into the chimney as the work was consumed.

Yun, reached out with his left hand as his right-hand desperately Clawed at The Wire. Trying to reach for his book. Doing his best to save a piece of literature he loved so much. but there was nothing he could do. The last sensation the dying man felt was a single tear falling down his cheek. In his last moments, he had failed. The last desperate Defence of his collection of books ending in tragedy, as everything went black.

[Shen]

Heaven's Gate Dam. 23:42 military time.

Brigadier General Wu Sangui, Prince of the Empire and commander of the Heaven's Gate defensive Brigade, performed his nightly ritual of walking across the entire length of the dam. The 2km walk before he turned in for the night allowed him to visually judge the defenses of the most important strategic asset in the southern shen Empire. The Heaven's Gate Dam provided a sizable portion of the nation's energy. It also regulated the flow of water downstream preventing Mass flooding in the Grand River Valley or the Blue River Valley. It was a symbol of the Empire's March into modernity. One of the modern wonders of the world, as great an engineering achievement to Modern Man, as the Golden Tower in the celestial Palace was to the citizens of the Empires' glorious past.

That also made it the most tempting military target in the entire nation. A catastrophic failure of the Dam would result in millions of deaths from flooding and a catastrophic level of destruction downstream. An atrocity so grand that it would completely reverse the course of the Empire. No longer steadily building up its economy and emerging as a regional power, but rapidly declining with the central government struggling to hold the nation together.

Ensuring the safety of the dam was a full Brigade of Imperial soldiers. 15000 men and women of all three branches of the military, prepared to defend the dam, all under the command of Brigadier General Wu.

The prince found the orderly and routine life of the military to his liking when he was a young boy. Choosing to study at the military academy and even taking courses in military academies abroad, he had gained a reputation as a brilliant tactician and one of the nations leading experts on anti-guerrilla warfare and anti-terrorism tactics. He was a logical choice to command the Heavens Gate garrison.

The prince pulled his thick standard issue wool Overcoat a little tighter as the wind started to pick up. A chill had started to blow in from the north and it was nipping at the prince's nose. His Command Staff including Colonel Shi, Lt.Col Feng, and intelligence specialist agents Shun, followed him as he walked.

"... I have my agents who are stationed in more problematic rebel villages on high alert." Shun replied, seemingly unaffected by the nipping cold even though she only wore a pencil skirt and a matching black capelet jacket over a thin white blouse. The chilling temperatures seeming to not affect the middle-aged woman even though the other three people present we're almost shivering through their thick coats.

"... if one of these foreign agents makes a move you will know about it General"


"... I think you're blowing this all out of proportion." Colonel Shi replied, starting to physically shiver as another gust of wind blew through his thin black hair, his Olive Overcoat not providing him nearly the amount of warmth he would have desired in the cold conditions.

" how many of these agents could there really be? The sheer amount of resources it would take to even train a single class of them would be monstrous. There can't be more than a handful throughout the entire nation. And honestly, what could a handful of foreign agents due to an entire nation?"

".... never underestimate the determination of an individual Colonel," General Wu said as the trio walked along the length of the Dam.

" We gain nothing from underestimating our opponents. The Empire has enjoyed a century of peace and prosperity under my dynasty. That Prosperity will continue, as long as we do not grow complacent. When my mother ascends to heaven and it is my turn to sit on the throne, I will not allow our prosperity to breed indolence."

" you seem very sure that you'll be the one chosen General" shun said, her old devious smirk illuminated by the ignition of a cigarette.

"... do any of you agents not smoke? I've worked with members of the Shingzi Ren since I was a Lieutenant and every one of them smokes. Is your entire pension invested in the tobacco industry?" The colonel said changing the topic with a joke. The topic of succession was not one he liked to talk about, especially not openly.

" smoking reduces stress," she replied back before sucking in a long huff of smoke and keeping it in her lungs for a moment before exhaling through her nose
" it might reduce my life expectancy, but people in my line of work don't tend to enjoy retirement for too long if they're lucky enough to get to it"

The chilling comment, caused the colonel to go silent. He looked back at the Lieutenant Colonel who served under him hoping that the younger Fang had something to say.

But the youngest of the group wasn't even paying attention to the conversation. His head was drawn back looking along the length of the dam that they had just walked.

" do you guys hear anything? I thought I just heard foot…"

As Fang was about to finish his comment two individuals burst out from behind a truck. They have been concealing themselves there waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

But the lieutenant had spoiled their plans. They were forced to jump out prematurely.

The General began to instinctively reach for his pistol. Time seemed to slow down as he attempted to draw the pistol to defend himself.

The two assailants began to line up their shots. Clearly intending on making this quick.

They were just about to line up a clear shot on the Prince when the sound of gunfire rang out from their side. The lieutenant colonel, already having put his hand on the grip of his gun after hearing the footsteps, drew to the hip and squeeze the trigger 4 times, in rapid succession. The sound of four 45 caliber bullets screeching through the air and breaking the sound barrier echoed over the dam. Soldiers stationed across its entire length suddenly look towards the sound of gunfire. The entire defense apparatus roared to life.

Just as for the sirens began to blare, the first of the 4 rounds slammed into the rib cage of the assailant. Shattering his lower ribs before ripping through his organs, and traveling out to the other side.

Nearly simultaneously a second bullet entered through his chest cavity. Piercing his heart and ending his life.

Just as the other assailant was looking towards the source of gunfire a third bullet ripped through his right hand. He yelled in pain as his hand slowly lost the grip of the gun and his pistol began to fall to the ground.

The fourth bullet flew over the head of its targets and embedded itself in the concrete of the dam

As one of the assailants crumble to the ground dead, and the other one fell backwards, screaming in pain, agent Shun, slammed her boot on to the bloody stump of his arm before reaching into her coat pocket and pulling out a butterfly knife. With a single flick of her wrist, the blade was brought out and pressed against the neck of the would-be assassin.

" Who are you!? Why are you trying to kill the General? Answer me, and I will only punish you for treason and not your whole family”.


Another scream of pain Echo throughout the cold valley

" I'm not….a a traitor... I'm part of the Imperial Guard"

Bewildering shock found itself on the face of the entire company. If what this man said was true and he was a member of the Imperial Guard, there would be only one reason he was trying to assassinate the Prince

The agent stopped pressing the knife against the guardsman's neck.

"...oh no...is she…"

He weekly nodded "... the Empress is dead"

with that news, everyone quickly traveled down the same thought process. If the empress is dead that meant her children would be killed. And if the Imperial Guard was going after General Wu it meant he was not the chosen successor.

Realizing that since the Imperial Guardsman has failed it was now up to her, Shun slowly moved her kife. Ready to throw it into the neck of the general.

when she was getting into position, the clicking of a Hammer being drawn back made her stop.

" don't you even think about it" Colonel shi shouted, pointing the gun directly at her head. He had come to the same realization and was quick to make sure the agent couldn't fulfill one of her primary missions which was to secure the succession.

"... General this is insane. You're clearly the best candidate from amongst your siblings. Look you have the support of the Garrison here. I bet you if we started to March North we could rally other troops to our Banner. We could walk into the Imperial Palace and take it."


" Traitors!" Shun shouted. She sneered at the colonel. Rage and hate emitting off her face, like heat from a fire. Caused by his open discussion of triggering a civil war " may you die a thousand deaths!"

General Wu had been motionless since the assassins had been dealt with. His hand was still on his pistol, but he had been unable to draw it in time. The realization that is Mother was gone, had chosen someone else to succeed her, and that his second-in-command was now proposing starting a civil war to put him on the throne, all slammed him at the same time. Crushing him internally like a ton of concrete. It was like he had been put underneath the great dam on which he stood.

The world came to a sudden stop. Everything Stood Still. Even the water rushing through the dam was a solid as ice. The general was left with just his own thoughts for a single solitary moment. His decision right here could affect the fate of an Empire. He had been offered a crown. Not a crown of Heaven but a crown of blood. One that he could put on at this very moment and used to claim The Sovereign right of Heaven. The colonel was right about one thing. The soldiers here would follow him if he were to give such an order. But this was just one part of a vast Army. How many more units would rally to his cause? And more importantly, even if he could rally an army and march on the capital, what would that accomplish? It would set the nation on a path to Civil War. A destructive conflict that would undo all of the progress of his entire Dynasty. No. The Empire wasn't worth the ambitions of a single man. It was bigger than that. The God Empress knew what she was doing when she chose a successor. And if it wasn't him then so be it. He would not abandon his beliefs.

Everyone watched as he finally pulled his pistol from his belt. He looked down upon that cold steel case. The world sped back to real-time as he breathed in and out knowing what he had to do.

They watched as he put the pistol up to his head and looks defiantly at the colonel who had suggested treason and Civil War

"LONG LIVE THE EMPIRE!"

and with a simple pull up his own trigger, it was all over

[Shen]

9:56

Royal Danxing casino, Althea, lareal.

It was so silent in the main Poker Room of the casino that you could hear the ice inside the martini shaker, collide with the metal case before being forced back down to the glass.

All Eyes stared in shock at the green felt table as the clear liquid was poor through the strainer into a chilled glass.

When the drink was finally carried over to that green felt table, Wu Suling had just finished pushing the last few chips from her massive pile into the center of the table.

" all in," she said confidently as she reached for her martini glass. Repeating the words that had brought silence to the room.

The dealer turned his attention from the pile before looking across the table to her last remaining opponent. An older man. White. With a foreign accent, she couldn't quite place.

" sir... the pot is currently at 156 thousand marks…"

The emerald eyes of the princess directed there royal glare towards the man on the other end of the table, as she sipped down the mixture of vodka, gin, and Kina Lillet. She broke her gaze only for a single moment. Looking down at the three cards that had already been dealt out.

The two of spades. Jack of Clubs. And the two of hearts. She rested her drinks down on the napkin, before looking down at her own cards.

A three of clubs and the two of clubs.

She already had three of a kind and they hadn't even drawn the last two cards. She stood a good chance of winning and she knew it. Now she just had to tempt her opponent to think she was bluffing. Going all-in seemed like she was trying to buy the pot. Forced him out of the game at this crucial moment.

Now she just had to wait for the


"...call.."

YES, she had done it. She had to bite her lip to avoid a cocky smirk crossing her lips as the man pushed his own chips into the center of the table.

Her opponent seemed unfazed by the move. Keeping that Stern expression he had worn throughout the entire tournament like it had been chiseled out of marble. It was impossible to read him with any sort of certainty. But even without the certainty of reading his expression, the princess was almost certain she knew that she was about to win.

The dealer looked between the two opponents and quickly put out the last two cards


An ace of spades was soon placed down on the felt. A slight gasp was heard throughout the room. Such a high card. A symbol of good luck. Slight murmuring.

The dealer wasted no time in drawing the fifth and final cards from the top of the deck.

The five of hearts was the fifth and final card drawn.

" players showdown"

Suling did as the dealer instructed, quickly flipping over her cards. The dealer quickly took them

" 3 of a kind. "

That smirk was finally allowed to blossom across her face. The assured victory was about to be hers and she would walk out with a very nice chunk of change. She playfully shrugged towards her opponents as he pushed his cards forward towards the dealer. A smile, saying better luck next time was directed at him from the Princess. His chiseled face remained Unbroken. An ancient monument that had stood unmoved at the table and been offered gifts of other people's money.

But she wasn't about to give the temple offering to the monument, she was going to take her money and go. Or so she thought.

That smirk could not have vanished any quicker. The unflinching expression of her opponents finally broke. A small smile came to his lips.

The princess didn't even have time to think about why he was smiling before she found out.


" full house. "

As everyone's attention turned to the man who won the poker game, Suling had a moment to herself where the realization that she had just lost a small fortune sunk in.

As her opponent slowly collected up his winnings and took congratulations from the crowd that had gathered to watch, she only had one thought that was going to repeat itself over and over again.

"Tai Si is going to kill me…."

10:05, Imperial Standard Bar, Royal Danxing casino, Althea, lareal.

Tai Si was waiting at the bar nursing her third gin and tonic and she finally heard someone walking up to approach her. She didn't even turn around, recognizing the sound of those heels. She just looked at the bartender

" I'm going to need a Vesper martini, in a chilled glass"

The bartender nodded and walked away just as the clicking heels came up right behind her and sat next to her.

Wu Suling, buried her head in her hands a frustrated sigh escaping through them out into the world

"...how did I lose?"

Si, place her own hands on her on the woman's back. "Sou, you can't win them all. Sometimes I think you take for these games of yours too seriously"

The princess was about to speak, but the bartender returned with the Martins. She was a bit surprised for a second, having not ordered the drink but realized Si had ordered it for her. Turning back to the other woman she gave her a smile

" Do you ever stop being perfect?"

Si chuckled back "Are you ever going to stop being so cheesy?"

" you think you would have spent the last 25 years of your life with me if I wasn't?" the princess responded taking a sip of the martini before letting out a much more relaxed sigh. Letting the liquid wash away her bad move as she looks back at the woman.

" I don't know, you're cheesy remarks aren't the only thing I love about you," Si said reaching over and placing her hand on top of hers.

" well… I'm sure my money doesn't hurt…"

Si just rolled her eyes at the comment. " I thought you wouldn't get to keep the money when we started dating. That was what you told me. But I guess your mom would never want you living a middle-class lifestyle"


" no she would not. " the princess said before taking the last sip of her martini. " but enough about the past. Let's just celebrate the present"

The two women motion for the bartender to return ordering another round of drinks

11:25 56th floor of Primus building, penthouse suite, Althea, lareal.

The sound of drunken laughter echoed into the main hall of the penthouse suite as the elevator finally opened up allowing the two intoxicated occupants and their security detail of two Imperial Guardsmen, to walk into this spacious abode.

"...and then...and then remember when he found out, he ran all the way across campus…" the princess said in between fits of hilarious laughter as she held her hands tightly around the love of her life

" oh my...yes...yes I remember… what was his name Johnny? Johnson? Joseph?" Tsi Si said as she slipped out of her hands and took the opportunity to take off her shoes


" Joseph, he was from...Lauchnoria I think...I don't know... anyway, after that he always was giving me weird looks at International student meetings."

The two women continue to laugh for another few moments before they finally were able to calm down. Finding themselves in the kitchen, the native Larian looked at the foreign princess before looking to the fridge " I'm still a little hungry. Want me to make you something?"

" um...sure... what are you thinking of making?"

" I'm not sure. I just know I'm going to make something."

" ok… I'm going to go out on the balcony and have a quick smoke. Ok?"


She got a disappointed frown in return "... I thought you said you were going to quit?"


" I am going to quit. I've been smoking far less over the last few weeks. I'm just not going to quit cold turkey"

She rolled her eyes at the comment clearly not believing her "so sincere" promise.

" fine. Just shut the door on the way out. I don't want the smell getting in here"

She obliged her girlfriend's request and went outside leaning over the balcony and staring out on to the city that she had called home for so many years.

reaching in their purse she pulled out the crinkle packet of cigarettes, delicately removing one from the box and grasping it lightly between her ruby red lips.

slowly she brought up a lighter and ignite it. adding another drop of light into the endless ocean that was her home when the moon came up.

[Shen]

11:30, Central, shuell

Wu Genbao couldn't tell what he hated most about this godforsaken country.

Maybe it's because when he looked to the sky to see the constellations, chunks of steel and glass piercing skyward. ugly horrendous shapes, offering an affront to the Heavenly Glory of the moon and stars, that they concealed behind there hulking form.

Maybe it was because of the constant bathing neon lights all throughout Central City. Hanging and dangling from every single building was monstrous displays of flashing neon. Puddles of water, leftover from a light shower, reflecting those harsh light upwards. Making it impossible to escape the glow. The Prince felt like he was in a processing room every time he walked down the street of this country.

Maybe it was their excuse for food. So hardy. And so little pork?

The prince had left the Olympic Stadium grounds to grab a bite to eat and had stopped by a local fast food restaurant called Crowley. He settled on this fried fish sandwich but was already full after a few bites. It tasted so Bland. As fast-food often did. And it was only exacerbated by those damn lights.

He held it up to his Imperial Guard detachment offering it to one of them, but all three refused to. They were not allowed to eat while on duty like this. Even now when there was no one who would possibly report them for breaking their regulations and rules, they still followed them like gospel.

Shuell had also provided the price with 4 guards, to act together as a seven-man security detail for the Shenian royal.

They had been professionals the entire time and he couldn't say anything bad about them. He tried to offer the sandwich to them but they also refused for the same reason.

Tossing it in the trash can, as he walked back towards the Olympic area he finally realized why he hated Cental so much

He didn't hate it because of what it was. He hated is because what it wasn't. It wasn't Shen. It wasn't the Celestial Palace with its ancient palaces and towers, stretching skyward not out of greed, but with heavenly purpose. He missed the calm diffused light that came out of the network of electric lamps that lit up the celestial Palace during the night. And most of all he missed how open it was. There was never any real crowds anywhere because of its nature as a complex of government buildings.

He didn't know why his mother had sent him here. He what's the most critical of these international events. Purely to generate prestige, keep Shen on people's minds, so they would vacation there, and demonstrate the Empire's commitments to global projects. The prince did not have any inherent issues with the pageantry of statecraft. After all, growing up within the Imperial family made him well aware of the necessity of pageantry. But even so, he couldn't stand what he saw as unnecessary pageantry like this. All the money that was being spent here could have been put back into the empire. The economy of the nation has become so reliant on foreign trade, that its foreign policy directives, we're almost entirely tied up in maintaining good relations. Being foreign minister has turned into a popularity contest, and the nation's embassies had turned into Festival grounds with cultural ceremonies being held regularly with the goal of generating an appreciation or even genuine curiosity in Shen.

When he ascended to Godhood the Empire would look inward once more. It would focus on strengthening its own economy and building a self-reliant state. Able to pursue its own agenda without the rest of the world dictating what would happen.

Many would argue that isolation would stagnant the Empire. But opening up to international trade and had caused the rapid decline of the last dynasty and the loss of the majority of the nation's territory.

No. The best path was one walked alone. Certainly, his mother could see the logic in that. And certainly, she would pick him.

Of course, his mind shifted onto the obvious issue of the succession. Only one of his siblings would be able to live through it. The man could care less about most of them. But there was one that he always had a close attachment to. His twin sister Wu Suling.

She had been the favorites to succeed for most of her life. But she had thrown It all away years ago when she had returned home and professed her love for a woman from Lareal that she had met while attending University. Another Corruption of foreign influence. But regardless she had made her decision. And in exchange for permanent exile, she had received a monthly stipend and a luxury condo paid for by the Shen state.

All she had to do was never return home. Most of the rest of the family had abandoned her after that. But not her brother. The bond between the twins had not been severed by the harsh punishment or even his sister's bold defiance of Orthodoxy and choosing love over Empire.

He had kept in contact and even gone to visit her several times. Now on this rainy night in a strange city, in a strange country, so far away from the comforts of normalcy, Genboa thought to himself that maybe this was the time to hear a familiar voice.

The prince rested under an awning just next to an alleyway as he reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone. Scrolling through his contacts, he found the one he was looking for and quickly called
________________

Back on the balcony overlooking the city, Suling was just adding the butt of her cigarettes to the small ashtray she kept outside. Looking back down at the pack, debating whether she should smoke another one. It had been a long day maybe she should…

But before her fingers could grab another cigarette, she heard her cell phone ringing. Digging through her overstuffed purse she was able to pull out her cell phone and press her finger against the Green accept call icon just before it was about to go to voicemail.

"Hello, ?"
____________

The prince was about to put his phone away (( assuming she must have already gone to bed)) when his sister finally picked up.

" Hey, big sis." He said it's a smile came to his face. She was only a few minutes older than him, but it’s what he had called her since they were kids

___________

"Genboa! Oh heavens, I didn't realize it was you! Just calling me up to wish me a happy anniversary?"

________

Genboas face went stone-faced as the color drained from his face. He had completely forgotten about that

"....um...offf course Sou...how...how could I forget your anniversary...22..23 years together! Hows Si?" He stuttered out trying to come up with a cohesive statement after being caught so totally off guard
__________

"... you had no idea it was today did you?"

_________

" no…" he sheepishly admitted

_____

She let out a somewhat annoyed groan at her fraternal twin " you know I always send you and your wife something nice on your anniversary. Would it kill you to remember mine?"

________

" I'm sorry...just… this crap with the Olympics. Look how about I make it up to you?"

___________


" oh?" She said with anticipation


________

" how about me and my wife and the kids come up and visit? I'm sure they'd love to see their aunt. "

_______

" wow. Really? You know I would actually really enjoy that. It's been so long since I've seen any of you. But it won't cause any trouble right? Like with Mom and the foreign Ministry?"

_________

" oh I dought it, honestly I think Mom is starting to regret banishing you. I mean maybe I could talk to her about...lifting your banishment?"

_____________

"... you think she would let me bring si?"

__________

Genbao, pause for a moment as he physically cringed at the memory that came up. The last time she had brought her girlfriend to the celestial Palace, only to be banished by the God Empress.

"..anything is possible"

_______

"So no?"

__________

"I...look...do you really think that would be a good idea after what happened the last time?"

_________

"I don't care if it is a good idea, Si may not be legally my wife, but she has rights as the concubine of an imperial princess. If Mom won't respect those rights then I'm not going back. Plane as that!"

______

" Alright, alright. No reason to get loud I'm on your side here. I'll see if I can ask Mom but I am not promising anything."


_______


" thank you. So… besides the Olympics what else is going on?"


_________

" nothing really spectacular. Zhao and her daughter have been spending a lot of time in the Celestial Palace so it's been nice to catch up with her. Ever since the….incident…"

_________

" oh….ya… Lord, I still remember what a disaster all that was…."

She was cut off so by the sound of sliding door opening. " ill be in a sec si... I just…"

_______________

Genbao heard the sudden sounds of struggle. His sister confusingly asking what he was doing out there. Then the sounds of her resisting being grabbed.

A quick and desperate plea to be let go and then the sound of screaming. The wind rushing through the speaker as the screening got farther and farther away.

And then nothing. The call cut off. Ended abruptly without a single sound. The prince was too shocked to move. Did he just hear his sister getting murdered? Being pushed off of her privates' penthouse to certain death on the streets below.

He was still. Standing as motionless as the streetlights that glared down at him. His mind slowly processing what had just happened. The sudden realization that his twin was gone and he had to listen to it and then not be able to do anything.

He's mine shifted onto possibilities of what could have happened. Who could have wanted her dead? And more important why?

His gaze turns downwards as he looked into a puddle questioning exactly what was happening. As he looked into the reflective surface of the undisturbed pool of water he saw one of his guards starting to reach for his pistol.

That simple act brought one possibility to his mind. His mother was dead. And he hadn't been chosen.

Having no intention of dying here, Genboa made the first move. Tossing his cell phone at the face of the guard reaching for his pistol, the metal external case slammed into the nose of the guard.

As the guard gave a confused grunt of pain, the prince lept into the alleyway quickly pulling down a stack of pallet boxes, causing them to collapse into the entrance, praying to the Gods in heaven that he could Escape.

The prince shouted at the top of his lungs, yelling to the Shuellian Security officers in their native language. " Stop the Guardsmen! They're trying to kill me!"

The prince's head was facing forward, but his ears heard the commotion erupt behind him. It was impossible to tell exactly what was happening. He heard yelling in two languages. The sound of groans and fists against flesh. The smashing of objects as agents and guards pushed against each other and slammed each other into the walls. The fight gave him a chance to escape. He didn't know how well trained his local security guards were in compared to his Imperial guards but the fact that there were four of them and three Imperial guards meant that it was at least in their favor. At this point, it was all up to them. And he put as much distance between the fight and himself as he could.

His feet pounded against the pavement and his breath heaved in and out like a locomotive. The adrenalin of survival thundering through his veins, giving him strength he hadn't known since his youth. Every fiber in his being screaming for him to run with all his might. His brain was barely even functioning, his body running on pure instinct. When he made it about halfway down the alleyway, he found another Alleyway leading to a busy Street. As he turned and ran towards it, his brain finally caught up to his actions.

He began to bellow towards the streets. Slowing down a little as he yelled out towards the bustling crowds making their way through the neon tinted night.

" Help!help! My guards are trying to kill me!"

The Neon Lights of the street began to hit his face. Passerbys were looking at him with shock and confusion. It was almost over. He was almost free.

And then he felt it. The shooting pain from his leg. The small red mist floating up from his knee.

He hadn't heard the shots fired. 45 caliber subsonic rounds with a suppressor was a near-silent killer. And the pounding of his heart filled his ears with the sound of drums.

He fell forward. The tips of his fingers just pulling out of the alleyway as the crowd stared in shock. Desperately he tried to reach up and plead for them to help him, but they all recoiled back. Footsteps approaching behind him. He rolled onto his back and looked up into the face of his bodyguard.

The man's face was swelling. Having taken several punches. One eye was swollen almost completely shut and there was blood pouring down his nose. The prince looked into his one open eye. The Cold black dot.

No empathy. No humanity. And no chance for mercy.

The Imperial Guardsmen just looked at Genbao. Not even meeting his frightened eyes. He simply pointed his pistol at the man's head and pulled the trigger

[Shen]

11:50 isolation containment center, [[ redacted ]], Shen Empire.

You weren't supposed to stay in these cells for this long. They were meant to be temporary containment for the highest value targets during processing. The infamous concrete cube. A form of solitary confinement where the perpetrator was locked into a cold concrete cell with absolutely no light for days on end. It said that you couldn't last a month in one of these without losing your mind to the loneliness.

But when you where the child of an Empress who wanted to forget you ever existed, you spent more than a few weeks here. You spent every waking moment from the time you were 18.

40 years in the concrete Cube. Forty years in solitary. All he did was join a pro-democracy society and start to advocate for reform. And his mother put him in a concrete cell.

With no sunlight and a feeding schedule that has no consistency, he had lost track of the days so quickly. Now he didn't even know how old he was.

All he knew was the screaming inside his own head. The voices echoing inside that empty chasm that kept him company. beating him and insulting him. Clawing at the inside of his skull.

Sanity was the first casualty of his imprisonment. And it had only gotten worse every year from there on out.

The old man was pondering another shapeless thought, stretching it out in order to fill the emptiness inside of his cell when he heard the heavy concrete door start to open. He stops the process of wrapping locs of his long unkempt hair around his fingers and pulling on them ever so slightly to look up.

There were several men dressed in the uniform of the prison service, and one wearing simple black robes

The man in black robes stepped into the cell and again to reach for something in his pocket

"... she's dead isn't she?" Wu Lie asked, causing the man in the mysterious black cloaks to pause for a second

"....yes. the God Empress passed away in her sleep tonight "


The old man let out a small chuckle. But before long it began to grow. Demented and twisted as each sickening cackle Echod throughout the small concrete room.


" finally….its over…."

The man in the black robe pause for moments, before continuing to reach into his pocket. Producing a small black pill

" I suspect that i don't have to force you to eat this?" He asked holding out the pill

" if it does what I think it does, then no you don't. But can I make just one request?'

The man in the black robe cocked his head to the side, before nodding slowly

"I suppose"


"... I could really use a cigarette"

The final request brought smirks to all of the faces presents. Small bouts of laughter began to escape from there formerly stone faces. Within moments they were all starting to crack up. One of the guards obliged the request reaching into his pocket and pulling out a pack of cigarettes. Another one got a lighter and handed it off to the prisoner.

Wu Lie took both and quickly ignited the cigarette before reaching for the black pill, ingesting it.

As the sensation of burning finally began to singe the hairs on his knuckles, and the laughter grew to the point of insanity the old man finally closed his eyes

[Shen]

12:04 am Lotus cinemas, Shanranfo, Shen Empire.

The lights finally came on in the dark screening room as the last of the credits finally rolled up on the screen. A disappointed Wu Biyu looked up at her mother

"I thought there was going to be an after credit scene"

Wu Zhao shrugged, as she got up out of her seat. She looked around and saw that the overwhelming majority of the theater had already emptied out. Only a few people, who were also disappointed that there was no end credit scene included with the latest installment of the Boa Boa franchise of pirate movies, that dramatized the great river pirate Wars of the Warring States period.

" I guess not. still, it was fun wasn't it?" She asked as the pair began to descend the stairs, and make their way to the exit

"I mean...ya I guess… I think the last one was better. You think with a movie called Boa Boas Revenge it would have more Boa Boa"

" ya I guess. You know I'm not the biggest fan of these pirate movies."

" oh yes. Not enough forbidden Romance, and cliche romantic dialogue for you?" The fourteen-year-old said playfully teasing her mother as they walked out of the theater in into the hallway leading to the concession area

" maybe I just prefer something beyond explosions and bloodshed?" she replied back trying to return the youths jab. But it wasn't nearly as effective. Her daughter had thoroughly burned her.

Making it to the second floor of the concession area, they boarded the escalator ready to make the quick walk back to the celestial Palace.

When they were about halfway down, Biyu pointed towards the door

"Those, are Palace guards, what are they doing this far from the palace while still in uniform?"

"I don’t know, let's find out. "

The two members of the royal household started to walk towards the Imperial Guards. When they noticed she was coming towards them they move forward as well to greet them.

" princess Wu, we have been waiting for you. You're needed at the Golden Tower at once"


" The Golden Tower? why? Has the Empress summoned me?"

The guards looked at each other awkwardly. Exchanging stairs that made concern grow on the face of the princess. And excitement grow on the face of her young daughter as she put together what was happening even before her mother

"... your Majesty the God Empress died in her sleep tonight."

The Guardsmen gave her a moment to process the shock. And it was shocking. She had just been speaking to her mother not a few hours ago as they had shared dinner in her Chambers. Speaking of the path of the empire and talking about the issues facing the world. Kerlille, Lareal Launchnoira, LOM, shuell, and there ancient Ally Xiomera

She merely nodded her head confirming that she understood what was happening. The fact that the guard had told her and hadn't just killed her meant one thing

"We just confirm that her decree of succession has been fulfilled. Which means we need to head to the Golden Tower and prepare you for coronation"


The Imperial Guardsmen took a step back each and bowed their head. Her daughter who at this point was smirking with such Glee that she had trouble keeping in the sounds of Joy she realized that she now had a chance at becoming the empress herself one day.

The middle-aged woman finally gathered herself. She took a deep breath and stood up straight.

Giving her first command as the empress

" take me to the throne room."

[Shen]

( with Xiomera)


he Gate of Tlahuizlampa (Gate of the East) was one of the four major gates into the Palace of Flowers. Dedicated to the deity Xīpe Totēc, the Gate of Tlahuizlampa was one of the less-used entrances to the Palace grounds. It led to the high plain next to the Palace, and was mainly used by visitors who didn't necessarily want the spotlight of arriving at the much bigger, and more famous, Gate of Huitzlampa and its grand plaza on the southern side of the Palace walls.

When Zhu Qing, the Shen ambassador to Xiomera, arrived at the Gate of Tlahuizlampa, it was in the middle of the night. He had arrived unannounced, and at this late hour, no one was really expected normally anyway. The Palace guards did their best to provide a proper arrival for the ambassador, who was urgently requesting to speak to the Empress.

An escort of palace guards led Zhu Qing to the Throne Room. Empress Yauhmi had been roused from a sound sleep. Having been the wife of an Emperor for almost two decades, however, she was experienced in making herself presentable at a moment's notice when a crisis sprang up. When Zhu Qing arrived at the Throne Room, the Empress was already sitting on the Obsidian Throne waiting for him. "Good morning, ambassador," Yauhmi said calmly as the ambassador was led in. "Your presence is always most welcome - although, admittedly, unexpected at this hour. I hope nothing serious has occurred," the Empress added. Even as she said the words, however, a shiver of doubt went down her spine. She knew nothing trivial would have brought the Shen ambassador to her throne room in such a way. She was afraid to hear his response.

In the splendid presence of a well-groomed empress sitting with all of her majesty upon the throne, Zhu Qing couldn't have looked any more out of place. We usually well-groomed man was standing there wearing his Brown raincoat wrapped tightly around his body. Droplets of water still running off and dripping onto the ground after he'd walked in from the rain. He took off his hat exposing what could only be described as bad head. His face was stubbly Whispers could be described as a 3 Shadow over his chin and cheeks.

And to top it all off he was wearing tennis shoes.

The Ambassador bowed his head towards the sovereign.

" my deepest apologies for waking you at you at this ungodly hour empress. But my orders come from the highest Authority"

He stood up straight and took in a deep breath.

"...per the final requests of God Empress Wu Zhou... I am dispatched as her loyal servant to tell you...that she is no longer with us"

Yauhmi sighed. She had been afraid that was the message Zhu Qing had come to deliver, but had been hoping to hear almost anything else. A single tear rolled down her cheek, before she wiped it away.

To the surprise of the Xiomerans in the Throne Room, Yauhmi stood up and walked down from the Obsidian Throne to where the ambassador was standing. She placed a single hand on his shoulder - an unheard-of gesture in normal times.

"I am saddened beyond the ability of words to express at the passing of the God-Empress. She was a great friend to me, and to Xiomera. Her passing is a great loss for us all. The Xiomeran people and I mourn with you and the Shen, and we will stand by you and do whatever we can to help your people now. It is what my friend would have wanted, ambassador."

The Ambassador was as shocked as everyone else but accepted the small display of compassion nodding his head as the empress spoke

"... I cannot properly express my thanks empress Yauhmi. Truly the God Empress was most wise in her choice of friends."

Taking a moment to compose himself he looked it back up and tried to speak without his voice quivering slightly. A quiver that would beyond the voice of every Imperial subject either out of genuine love for the woman who claimed to be mother of the nation or out of fear of what would happen if they weren't seen sufficiently morning.

"... at sunrise, Wu Zhao will Ascend to Godhood and become the 139th Sovereign of shen, and the next God Empress. Only then will we released the news to the media..."

"I understand. Your mistress had communicated this to me prior to this day. We will wait until your official announcement before making any statements of our own. No mention of this will leave this room until the proper time," Yauhmi replied, returning to her seat on the Obsidian Throne. "I am prepared to support Wu Zhao's ascent to the throne of Shen just as her mother supported me in my own rise. Honoring this final request is....a proper and fitting last favor."

The Ambassador gave the empress a shocked look as she revealed that this most deeply hidden secret about the health of the god Empress was already known to her.

"... yes well I'm sure the God Empress will be most appreciative of all the support. As for me I must head to the Embassy and prepared statements to be delivered to Xiomeran media outlets "

The Ambassador gave the empress one final bow before placing the Hat on his head, and walking back out into the pouring rain

[Lauchenoiria]

Chiu Residence, New Fanshe, Kerlile
Approximately 5:50am local time

“She’s dead!” Mingxia ran inside the house, yelling. She took the stairs two at a time and ran down the corridor which contained most of the bedrooms yelling. “Wu Zhou is dead! The enemy of our family is gone!”

“Good morning to you too, Mingxia,” groaned her grandmother, Councillor Lia, as she appeared at the door of her bedroom. “Why are you up at this hour?”

“I thought you were in Grapevale?” she asked the Councillor. “And I was on my way to swim team practice when I got the news.”

“Session ended early because of Letitia and Electra being in Shuell. Now, what is this news you thought it was worth waking everyone up for?”

“The Empress is dead,” beamed the 13-year-old. “Wu Zhou is dead.”

Lia paused in shock for a moment, and then let out a gleeful laugh, something what was echoed by another couple of Chiu who had appeared in their doorways.

“May she rot in hell.”

*

Krieg-Metzger Hotel, Central, Shuell
Evening local time, 6am Kerlian time

“Councillor Greenwood, I have a call for you from your sister,” one of Letitia’s security personnel appeared at the door of the bathroom where Letitia had been soaking in the bath, trying to get rid of the omnipresent smell of cigarette smoke that seemed to permeate all of Central and attach itself to her hair. She had just finished drying off and was in her dressing gown when the bodyguard had knocked.

“If this is about the Xiomerans, I told her I cannot speak of it right now.”

“I don’t believe it is, ma’am.”

“Very well,” Letitia sighed, holding out her hand to take the phone. The bodyguard handed her the phone wordlessly. “Juliette, is it not the middle of the night in Kerlile? What do you want?”

“Empress Wu Zhou is dead,” her sister said calmly.

“What!?” Letitia, who had been moving to drain the water from the bath straightened up in shock, almost dropping the phone and having to catch it. “Have you spoken to Lia?”

“She is up west in her family home. The Council ended the session as they had run out of things to talk about. I am sure she will have heard the news by now. The question is: will this have an effect on our mother?”

“I… do not know. The last thing I heard was that she had accepted a job at Biaking University. I see no reason it should change. I really ought to speak with her…”

“Word on the street here is that the Chiu want our family removed from the Council for ‘treason’ because of our mother’s decision to go to Shen,” warned Juliette. “Thankfully they have no further support, but we ought to be careful. We need to speak to her.”

“We do. But now is not the time. When I have returned, I think you should perhaps consider a visit to Shen. I cannot go myself. Being a Councillor, it would present a… certain image, and I do not want the Chiu to think something is up.”

“What is our game plan with regards to Shen given recent events?”

“I am not yet certain,” sighed Letitia. “I need to speak to Mother. Or you do, and then you can report back. We will not know more until then. I have the feeling if we want to keep our family safe, we might well need to anger the Chiu.”

“And the death of the Empress?”

“I… suppose I shall send my condolences to the new one. It seems the safest thing to do.”

*

Hale Residence, Virtus Region, Kerlile
6:05am local time

“Sleep my darling,” soothed Jennifer as she rocked her wailing baby Amelia in her arms. “It is all going to be okay. I will sing you some nice Lauchenoirian nursery rhymes if you like? They’re much less disturbing than the Kerlian ones.”

As if she had found the joke amusing, Amelia stopped wailing and gurgled happily. Jennifer continued to rock her for a few moments more, and then placed her back in her cradle when she noticed the baby beginning to look sleepy once more. Jennifer then slowly crept out of the room and shut the door, sighing in relief.

“Sorry, Emma, what is it you wanted to tell me?” she turned back to Emma Woodward, her most trusted member of staff who these days, did everything from act as a political aide to act as a boss to her household staff. They were almost friends, by this point – if it was possible for a Councillor to be friends with a normal citizen. Emma had woken her with news, but Amelia had started crying.

“The Shen Empress, Wu Zhou passed away last night.”

“Oh, poor woman. I can’t say I agree with her, but I would never celebrate someone’s death,” she said sadly. “I fear Lia will though.”

“And the rest of her family,” agreed Emma. “Do you want to say anything?”

“Honestly, I just want to go back to sleep. I know I could get a nanny or something but I want to do as much of the child raising as I physically can with my job. I want to be the one to raise Amelia, not the paid staff of the Council… no offence… but it is damn exhausting, I tell you.”

“That’s fair. And I’m not offended, it is the way things are here. You’ve treated me and the others far better than your sister ever did. We’re all incredibly grateful to you, and to the fact you want to change things.”

“I do want you to feel like you can speak freely, Emma. Please, if there is ever a problem, come to me, okay?”

“I will, Councillor,” Emma smiled. “We can discuss the situation in Shen later.”

“I’m grateful. Next time I wake, I’ll get up and begin writing a letter to her successor, wishing her good luck and condolences. One should always treat others as one wants to be treated, Emma. Even those you disagree with.”

*

Arnott Residence, Grapevale, Kerlile
6:30am local time

President Rebecca Arnott pulled back her hair into a pony tail as she walked down the corridor to breakfast. She had slept decently, a change in recent times. She was so incredibly stressed, and she slept only 5 hours a night – 1am until 6am on a regular schedule. She had perfect timekeeping abilities and she did not take kindly to being woken regardless of the news.

So, by the time she got to the breakfast table, she was the last person in the Kerlian government to find out about the death of the Empress. She knew something was up the moment she walked into the dining room to find her daughter Rosemary, the Councillor, standing waiting for her, rather than on a train to Hazelton as she had thought.

“Rosemary… what happened?”

“Empress Wu Zhou is dead,” her daughter told her.

“Ah,” replied Rebecca, pausing for a second. “Has Lia been in touch?”

“Four missed calls, despite being told to wait until six-thirty.”

“Well. I should probably make a public statement expressing my condolences and my best wishes to her heir. Who was chosen?”

“Wu Zhao. The youngest daughter. Mum, if you make a statement, Lia will be angry.”

“Yes, I expect she will. Nevertheless, if I do not, it might indeed be worse. It is difficult. I shall have to speak with the rest of the Council. This is not a decision I should make on my own.”

“I agree. And mum? If you want my vote? Don’t do it. Chiu has told us what happens in the succession. Chances are, the rest of the world is going to be pissed with the Shen. That should factor into things.”

“I will take that into consideration, Councillor,” chuckled Rebecca, grabbing a pastry off the table and heading back out of the room. No time to eat this morning, time to get to work.

*

Chiu Residence, New Fanshe, Kerlile
6:45am local time

“Daughters, President Arnott is not returning my calls,” Lia announced in Chinese to her gathered family members, ensuring that if any others were listening in, they would need a translator.

Her four daughters, ranging in age from 38 to 50 were there, along with most of her granddaughters, with the exception of Xia, who was in Shuell, and Hwei-ru, who was three. Even twelve-year-old Huian was present, looking like she wanted to be asleep.

“Typical,” sighed Jian, the 50-year-old heir. “She is probably going to make a statement of condolences in an attempt to seem polite.”

“She will. There is nothing we can do to stop that. We can ignore it, diplomatic niceties are not what I am interested in here,” the Councillor said firmly. “What we need to do, as a family, are two things: one, we need to make sure that this does not lead to Kerlile developing a relationship with Shen that would put us in danger.”

The gathered daughters and granddaughters all nodded at each other and murmured in agreement (apart from Huian, who had fallen asleep in the corner).

“And two… we must all remember at all times that just because Zhou is dead does not mean we are safe. As long as a single Wu breathes air, we are not safe. Because we know that as long as a single Chiu breathes air… they will never stop wishing we were dead.”

“There are so many of them,” sighed Yin, her second daughter. “We will never be able to feel safe I fear.”

“There are so many of us now,” Jian replied. “There are over a hundred living female descendants of our great-grandmother Yijun. That is not even counting the number of males that will be out there, both that we know of and that we do not. They cannot kill us all.”

“Daughters,” soothed Lia. “We must not become complacent, but we must also not allow fear to rule our lives. To that end, I will be hosting a family ball next week. All one hundred plus of those descendants of my grandmother will be invited, along with the rest of the Council and their daughters. We will dine on the finest foods we can get our hands on in this nightmare that is rationing. We will wear our finest clothes, and we will dance until the middle of the night in celebration of the joys of family. The ball will take place on the 30th November.”

“Is that not the day of Wu Zhou’s funeral?” asked Mingxia.

“What a coincidence,” smirked Lia.

[Shen]

White Temple.

Celestial Palace complex

Sharanfo

9: pm

The soft voices chanting prayer. The rhythmic banging of gongs, and the noise of flutes and trumpets. The monks of the Union of Masters, that sacred order that maintained the official religion of the empire we're saying another prayer for the deceased God-Empress.

In their ancient religious beliefs their prayers eased the journey from Earth to heaven. Weather it did or not was ultimately irrelevant to the body, that laid there inside the open coffin. The Empress had been laying in state since the day after her death. It certainly had not complained about its arrangements.

Around the coffin stood piles of food. Mounds of Fine clothes. Piles of Jewelry. Solid gold effigies of massive Boats and horse-drawn carriages. All the items needed for the empress to travel to the next life in the same luxury she had enjoyed in this one. On a great golden ship and on a golden horse-drawn carriage. Behind the coffin was a great flame where envelopes were tossed in carrying messages and sometimes even money for the deceased

The Palace had been receiving gifts from wealthy Aristocrats and Friends of the Wu Dynasty to help them as they went through their morning process. Many where stored in the black temple, while the Empress laid in state.

The monks were just finishing up their last prayer when the door to the black Temple finally opened.

For the past 7 days the coffin within had been moved from the black Temple to the white temple and then put on public display. Millions have made their way to the capital and had walked in a slow and steady procession to take a look at their deceased Empress who had taken their Nation so far.

Some did it out of a genuine love for what she had done to the country. Others just to make sure that she was actually gone and she couldn't haught their nightmares anymore.

But whatever reason had compelled them they had to enter the slow precision throughout the celestial Palace main gates to the white temple and then back into Sharanfo, they had done it.

But not today. Today the gates opened to a group of eight Imperial Guardsmen walking inside. The monk bowed to the soldiers of the Guard who return the bow

"... I entrust the care of this holy vessel unto you. May you protect it loyally" the monk said.

" I swear that my loyalty shall never waver and I will protect this holy vessel as it makes its way to heaven" he responded.

The two men stood up straight and offered each other one more nod of the head before the guards walked to the coffin.
The 8 guards all looked away from the coffin as they heard the monks close the lid and nail it shut ceiling the Empress inside. It was bad luck to see a coffin being sealed. They turned around and faced it. Each one took one of the eight grooves at the bottom of the black wooden coffin.

Picking it up They carried it outside the Temple.

Waiting for them was a massive funeral carriage pulled by six horses. It was two and a half meters tall. The guards worked together to put the coffin onto the top using the same grooves that they had used to pick it up to securely fasten it to the top. They double and triple checked their work. If the coffin fell off for any reason the embarrassment felt by the entire nation would eventually find its way to them. Heaven knows what punishment they would suffer for not doing their job right.

With the coffin secured the guards walked along side the carriage as they made their way from the black Temple to the main parade boulevard that ran down most of the center of the celestial Palace complex, only breaking from its path to circle around the central hill and the central Palace that's just below it.

when they got to the main parade boulevard thousands of their fellow Imperial Guardsmen were already waiting for them. dressed in their fine green dress uniforms.

The conical hats covered in fine black and green fabric.

And the small feather that was suspended by a thread from the top of their hat.

Everyone's had their dress uniform ironed to Perfection. Not a wrinkle or crease could be seen. Some of them were polishing up their ceremonial halberds, others their sword that hung from their belt.

But as soon as the coffin of the empress arrived all attention turn towards it. The men and women whose uniforms marks by distinctive golden mark on their shoulder began to shout for everyone to form together into small groups.

Other men with larger gold symbols on their shoulders moved those groups into position.

The commotion of Guardsmen quickly getting into parade position was joined by the sound of hoofs against the boulevard.

12 Riders. Each one representing one of the 12 tribes of Monogon, each took their position around the casket of the woman they didn't know as Empress, but as Khagan

With the large formation in position the man at the front of the formation, who's sash of yellow and gold with a dragon on it marked him as the captain of the Guard gave the order to begin the march.

The procession made their way up the boulevard. They moved around the central Hill and began to walk past the Imperial Guard Armory. Several floors up there was a large platform built exclusively for the viewing of parades.

Assembled there was a small group of selected on Lookers. The elites who had been given an invitation to attend the burial of a god. The Columns of troops in marching formation moved past the assembled guests and they're new empress. Marching towards the walls of the celestial Palace.

As they approached The Towering red walls, the two large doors of wood and bronze creaked open. The sound of over a million people whaling poured it into their ear. And the first drops of rain fell onto the hats of the Guard.

The procession began the slow march through the city. Trying to make a large loop around as much of the city as possible. It was planned to take 3 hours to move the casket around. It ended up taking 20 minutes longer than expected.

In those two hundred minutes the guards and the Horseman stood in a protective formation around the empress as they slowly passed through the city. Massive crowds of mourners pouring out of every building. Sticking their heads out of every window. Standing On Top of every roof.

The crowds were bellowing out in mournful screams. Professing their sadness to the world. Like some kind of macob competition to prove who loved the empress the most. Some rushing into the street or pushing against the formation only to be tossed back into The wretched gutters and the bursting walkways filled with people.

From the sky rained a nearly constant stream of paper. Flowers were also tossed some making their way onto the carriage and Coffin, but most ending up sliding off the hats of the guards before being crushed underneath thousands of marching feet stomping against the ground with their leather boots.

The overwhelming noise of it all rang out for miles in every direction. Screaming. Crying. Marching. Prayer chants that were meant to be whispered we're screamed outward. The Symphony of sycophants continued onward. With each mile of the march producing another tightly packed wave of mourners performing the same routine. Each step forward brought another set of deafening whales into the ears of all present. Each creaking of the cart as it moved along roads built for cars echoed a million fold by every voice there.

The multicolored sea of people parted by the black lines of Imperial Guardsmen, pushed against each other as they tried to get as close as they could to the coffin itself. To be physically close to the corpse of a god. Each time it was ended, with them being forced back by the outer layer of guards. They're Stoney emotionless faces flashing with the fires of Rage towards anyone who tried to touch them and get past them. Quickly sending the crashing waves of Flesh and Bone back just as quickly as they had risen up.

TV cameras watched as this went on. Each display of reverence for their holy God Empress captured and projected outward so that the whole world could see. Broadcast on every TV in the Empire. Play by plays belched out of every radio in the entire nation. Even on Factory floor and office people paused from their daily work to spend a moment to watch and observe a nation mourn.

Only as the procession finally came to an end as the carriage looped back to that grand gate from which it had first entered into the main city did the did the deafening noise of the city finally start to return to normal. The hearing of anyone who was there partially taken away by the loud noise. The voices of those with bellowed gone. While both would return within a day or two, it was a sign of the physical toll of the millions who had made their way out to say one last goodbye to the woman who had totally transformed their Nation.


As they moved past the enormous gate back on to be Parade Boulevard the streets were no longer lined with citizens but with soldiers and bureaucrats. Government officials given their own private time to watch the procession go by and mourn in their own way. There was quiet. A couple of Tears heard amongst the Mass from soldiers and bureaucrats who truly loved their empress was the only sound besides marching feet and hoves.

The procession finally stopped at the foot of the central Hill. On top of that small hll stretching into the heavens was the Imperial mausoleum.

The eight Guardsmen who had attach the coffin once again got on top and undid the restraints. The group removed the coffin and walk them up the short staircase to the front of the mausoleum.

At the doors another group of priests from the union of Masters met them. The eight guards carefully set down the coffin, on a prepared slab of White marble before bowing to the priests. The priests returned the bow and proceeded to take the coffin.

Before is brought into the mausoleum one of the Guardsmen removed his hat and placed it atop the Imperial coffin.

" travel to Heaven well my empress" he said giving one final bow before it was brought inside.

This was the last thing the rest of the world saw. Inside the mausoleum no cameras were allowed. Even the phones of those in attendance we're either required to be turned off or to be left with staff outside of the mausoleum

The large and open main chamber of the mausoleum was already nearly filled with people. In the center there was an altar with a two burning flames and offerings already placed upon it. A selection of the best offerings and gifts that had been kept at the black Temple.

The mourners who a few hours before had been on the arsenal's viewing platform we're now within the temple. They were rings of seats around the altar. The first row was occupied by people who have been personally selected by the empress before she had passed. Her friends. And the new Empress. Behind them where the rose of her grandchildren. They wore blue robes to signify their rank.

Behind them were the foreign dignitaries who did not have a personal friendship with the empress. Presidents and princes. Ambassadors and ministers. And beyond that circle was the government ministers who were high enough to be allowed to attend. Finally in the outer most roads were privileged aristocrats. People's who's ranked allowed them an invitation here regardless of their relation to the monarch.

The entire mausoleums stood up as the body was brought in and placed in the center, behind the altar. The priests, priestesses, monks, and nuns in attendance made their way to that altar. Together the assembled holy people began to offer prayer. One final chance to ease the passage from earth to heaven for the dearly Departed.

The chanting was soon joined by the rithmic banging of gong's from the walls of the Mausaliuml. The music mixing with the mantras turing into ascending prayer.

as the tone began to shift from solomon to something faster, God-Empress Wu Zhao stood up and walked over to the casket. The empress set a jade necklace on top of the coffin. The image of a dragon carefully carved into the tiny piece of green stone.

As the empress returned to her seat the music finally stopped. Ropes began to descend from the top of the mausoleum and were carefully attached to the coffin. The floor underneath the corpse open. The coffin was slowly lowered into the mausoleum proper dug into the hill.

People below them undid the cables which were raised back up. And as the door closed the monks gave one final bow to their former God.

The era of Wu Zhou was over.

The era of Wu Zhao had finally begun.

[Xiomera]

(Joint post with [nation]Great Shen[/nation])

It was all over. All the pomp and circumstance of the era of mourning. All these visits from foreign dignitaries. All the condolences. Her mother was finally in the ground. Entombed within a sarcophagus of solid jade below the central hill.

The age of her mother was officially over. And Wu Zhao had never felt more lost.

It was getting late at this point. The sun had gone down and it was approaching midnight. The empress sat on the steps of her throne. She had a full ashtray and an empty pack of cigarettes next to her. She had ordered everyone out of her throne room and had taken off her crown, setting it on the Heavenly Throne itself.

As she took the last drag of the last cigarette, she slowly exhaled through her nose. Looking to the Golden Dragon that was to her right.

It had been quite late in the evening, after the funeral, when Yauhmi had received the message requesting that she come speak with the new Empress, Wu Zhao. Late hour notwithstanding, Yauhmi knew that she would not be given such a request if it was not truly needed. She made her way to the throne room, escorted by the palace guards. They let her in, discreetly announced her arrival, then left. Yauhmi made her way to the steps of the throne, giving the new Empress a respectful nod from one royal to another. "Good evening......may I ask how you are feeling?" Yauhmi asked.

The new Empress looked up as the current Sovereign of Xiomera entered the enormous chamber. It was so much more empty with just two people. And felt so different without people following the traditions of meeting with the Empress.

Zhao ashed her last cigarette before speaking again.

"Lost... I feel completely lost Yauhmi..."

She looked up at the throne that was currently only occupied by the crown that she was supposed to wear.

"... I don't feel right sitting there. Like I don't belong."

"Your mother clearly did not feel that way," Yauhmi replied. "She had many to choose from, when deciding who would wear that crown. She chose you because out of everyone she could have chosen, she knew you were the one who could bear that crown's weight and not be crushed by it."

The younger woman looked up towards the surroundings for a second before looking back towards Yauhmi.

"I don't know if anyone could wear the crown like she could. Do you know why she was so successful?"

Yauhmi sighed for a moment. "She was successful, I think, because she was utterly devoted to her cause. She was always devoted to doing what was best for Shen, even if it was challenging or controversial. She let nothing stand in her way. I will say, however, that if you merely try to copy what she did, this will probably not work for you. You can look to your mother's example for inspiration, but you must find your own way to rule. You will face different circumstances, and different challenges, from the ones she faced."

The new Empress picked up her ashtray and set it behind her, before motioning for Yauhmi to join her on the golden steps.

"You're right. She was utterly devoted. Nothing stood in her way. But you know how she made sure nothing stood in her way? She cultivated a culture of fear. Everyone was afraid of her. Even I was terrified growing up. I mean, she sent one of my siblings to a cube. Banished another one because of her homosexuality. "

She turned her attention from the Dragon to the golden rat that was to the left side of the throne.

"I definitely can't make everyone fear me like she did. I couldn't do to my own children what she did to my brother and sister."

"Perhaps. I know how it can be difficult to replace someone. I'm just learning how to do that myself," Yauhmi said sadly. "My own husband was a tough act to follow, after all. Topilpopoca led Xiomera for a far shorter period than your mother led the Shen Empire, but it was still almost two decades. When I became Empress, I knew that I could never do it in the same way he did. So my mission became clear: find my own way to rule. That is your mission also. You can't make people look upon you the way your mother did - find your own way to make them see you. And even if the traditions that placed you on this throne are not what is in your heart.....you are an Empress. You get to decide what the rules are. Trust me, I plan to do the same in Xiomera."

Yauhmi paused for a moment. "While it is not my place to tell you how to rule, I can hopefully offer my advice and my experience. And my support, as well. That was your mother's wish. And it is also mine."

Those hypnotic green eyes that were the distinct marker of her Dynasty turned up towards the throne as the Empress spoke.

"I need all the advice I can get, Yauhmi. I don't have many people I can truly trust yet. My ministers were picked by my mother, not me. And while I do intend to make some changes certain things have complicated that."

Finally she got to her feet, stepping up on the stairs and placing her hand on the throne.

"Do you remember the first time you and your husband met my mother? I do. I was standing right over there by that rat statue, with the other courtiers and Court officials. I wasn't even thinking about eventually ending up on the throne. Never thought I would be up here."

"I do remember that day," Yauhmi said with a smile. "I remember seeing you standing there with the others. I was impressed with you and your siblings, even then. I could see that your mother had raised you to be strong, as I have done with my son. Just as you followed your mother, it is my own hope that someday, my son will follow me and be Emperor." Yauhmi smiled again, a bit sadly this time. "It's natural that you didn't think about being on the throne. People rarely see it coming. They may scheme, and plot, and bide their time and seek power.....but when the time actually comes....I certainly didn't see it, for myself."

Yauhmi moved a bit closer, so that Wu Zhao could hear her. "Having people you can trust, absolutely trust with everything, even your life, around you, must be your first order of business. If there are those in your advisors or in the circles around you who are not yours....replace them. And don't have a second of regret about it. To truly be effective as a ruler, everyone around you must fully believe in your vision and support you."

The young Empress listened intently to the older woman. She nodded. Slowly she took the crown off of the chair and placed it upon her head before sitting down on the Heavenly Throne, leaning forward to look down.

"There is only one man in my entourage who has my trust. Only one man whose advice I believe. I shall empower him like no one in his position has been empowered before. That will be my first move."

She sat back in her chair and pointed to the statue of a rat. "Have you ever noticed how these 12 statues are out of order?"

"I had not," Yauhmi said, surprised. "Is there a reason for them being out of order?"

There was a small chuckle as she nodded. "The dragon is supposed to be opposite the dog - that's how the Zodiac in our culture works. But the dragon sits opposite the rat. My great-grandfather did that when he assumed the throne. He was the Grandmaster of the Shingzi Ren. Born in poverty and grew up an orphan, but ended up on the throne. When he came to power he moved the dog back a spot and let the Rat sit on the side of the throne. Because the jade rat is the symbol of the Shingzi Ren. That small act of symbolism showed where the power of the throne comes from. If I am to rule as my mother did I need to make sure I command the Shingzi Ren."

Yauhmi nodded as she contemplated the nature of the placement. "The Shingzi Ren are indeed important to have on your side. Ideally, you have a way to ensure their support. As you're aware, my opponent in the Great Selection was in charge of our security apparatus. It made things much more challenging than they would have been otherwise. I had to...replace quite a few people once I became Empress." She paused for a moment. "If you secure the loyalty of the Shingzi Ren, everything else will fall into place."

"Then that will be my first step," the Empress said as she sat back in her throne. Truly getting comfortable in the seat for the first time. Like she belonged there.

"Thank you, Yauhmi... I really needed someone to talk to. We are a different class, people like you and me. Sovereigns that rule over millions. Honestly, I think you're the only woman on the planet who truly understands what it's like to be me right now. I hope I can call upon you for advice throughout these next few years as I establish my own era of rule."

Yauhmi nodded with a smile. "We are the last of a breed. We do indeed need to stick together. This world seems intent on eliminating the last of the ancient empires.....only we understand why we do what we do. I will always be available for advice or support. It does help to have like-minded rulers to talk to."

"That it does... you know, one of the great mistakes with my mother's reign was never formalizing the relationship between our two peoples. I think it's about time we abandon Heavenly neutrality and enter into a formal alliance. Don't you agree?"

Yauhmi nodded in response. "Given certain threats that have been emerging in our part of the world - threats that exist to both our countries - I think that time has indeed come." The rising tensions in Catica had been a huge concern for Yauhmi, especially given the fact that Xiomera only had an informal alliance with one country in the IDU, and nothing formal with anyone else. "It would definitely help if we faced those threats together."

"I will bring up this topic at the security conference. Perhaps we can create something that will truly keep us safe from any aggressor. Something that will secure both of our reigns."

She stood up again and walked down the steps, standing next to the slightly taller older woman.

"I think it's time we both retired for the night. Depending on how this security conference goes, we will determine the shape this alliance will take. "

"I agree. I have enjoyed this conversation. Hopefully, we will have many more of them in the future," Yauhmi replied. "And together, we will shape that future."

The Empress nodded as the two began to walk out of the throne room.

"The future belongs to those who have the will to seize it and shape it. Jaguars and Dragons working together cannot help but forge a future."