12 A Royal Mess

Sophie opened her eyes and found herself in a pure white room. The last she could recall was falling asleep. Looking down and her body was obscured by a white mist not dissimilar to the makeup of this hole in reality.

She took some deep breaths to keep from panicking when a voice spoke out.

"Welcome Champion," the disembodied voice said in an almost musical tone of voice.

She reflexively went to cover her privates but found that the odd mist was more substance than incorporeal. She let her shoulders sag a little bit, "Where am I? Who are you?"

"I am merely an intermediary of the powers of your world and the next. Unfortunately, through a ritual done by people of another other world to act as a champion, or 'hero' if you will. Sadly, I get no more choice in this than you do. I imagine this is a sad revelation you have to take in."

Her shoulders slumped in dismay. While she had only just met the disembodied voice, it had an aura of trustworthiness and empathy.

"I didn't have much family, just my nanna who is stricken with Alzheimer's.. but she lives in a care facility and I don't often get to see her," she said sadly.

"I sympathize with that. But, it isn't all bad. While I can't stop you from being summoned, I am given the ability as a cosmic intermediary to try and help settle your affairs from whence you come. For you, as recompense for being unwillingly summoned by .." he spoke to himself under his breath, "selfish..." he cleared his throat, "People of another world I can if you choose, heal your nanna's Alzheimer's. However, with the impact of that and the amount of meddling it will require in another world's affairs, that will be the only thing I can offer you."

Her eyes grew wet as she reached out to hug the entity before realizing she attempted to hug a disembodied voice and blushing. HE gave her a minute before proceeding.

"I can't give away any information of where you will go, and I will likely face repercussions for what I will say here, but be careful where you are sent."

She nodded and the white mist covered her body, almost merging with her before slowly displacing her. Her world went black and she could see the entirety of the universe. In the span of 1 minute seeing the heat death of the universe and the next one created.

She awoke with a gasp in the middle of a ritual circle, naked.

"Behold the Hero has arriv-..."

She looked around to see a group of robed men and women standing around the circle, and what appeared to be a priest with barely veiled disgust on his face staring at her, or more specifically her crotch. She looked down and gasped in horror at what she saw, between her legs was a cock."

"Hail great hero, what is thy name?" asked the wizard wearing the fakest of smiles on his face. One of the female figures passed her a robe which she gratefully put on to cover herself.

"My name is Sophie. Where am I." She asked in a manner that was less of a question and more of a demand.

"Why, great hero, you are in the great Alor kingdom. We have summoned you to aid us in our great struggle to regain our rightful place in the world," he said wearing a much brighter smile now, still not quite reaching his eyes.

"By traveling to our world from afar, the astral has granted you magical powers and greater proficiency in learning skills necessary to survive."

She remembered the words of the disembodied voice to be weary.

"You say you are trying to regain your rightful place, but what does that mean?"

"The destruction of the Shulkat confederacy and their barbarous ways!"

~~~

Tommy found himself standing in front of the young king of the Confederacy and his well-endowed companions. Silvia Lucy and Erwin kneeled in front of the king. When Tommy did not the king arched his eyebrow at him.

"You don't bow, why?"

"Where I come from we bow to no man."

The king had a bemused smile on his face as he gestured for the others to rise.

"Erwin told me that you were an interesting individual, and it certainly seems he was not mistaken. The one question I must get out of the way," he said as his gaze darkened, "Your beastlike companion is not a slave, is she?"

"I take great offense that you would ever suggest such a thing of me or my lover."

The king's expression turned to one of intrigue and respect as he looked at Tommy.

"Well, it seems you either aren't someone who judges by race, or you have a specific kink. The fact that you claim a futa as a lover as well most certainly gains my interest. As you can likely tell," he gestured at the two well-endowed women on either side of him in what could only be described as skimpy battle garb, "I have a little bit of a soft spot for them. However, the majority of the country lacks my opinion." his expression darkened into a frown.

"I have no one but my father and the previous generations of my family to blame for that, and the discrimination the beast kin experienced. While I have done my best to try and sway public opinion... deep-set hatred generations in the making isn't so easily swayed."

The king let out a sigh, "I apologize for my ramblings. Obviously, none of this is your problem, but you must be able to understand my surprise. However, I did not ask to meet you for your taste in women, though I do very much concur on said matter. That town you cleared... It was a remnant of my father's corruption. He had known about it for a long while, and let the influence of the Baron spread until even had he wanted to, he would be unable to depose him without backlash from other lords.

That is the situation I found myself in. Being forced to grit my teeth and let that bastard continue to rule without being able to do anything for retribution. But then an unknown came along and slaughtered the man's guard and presumably him as well. The thick bastard thought I would send forces to save him. Ha! However, I had to be sure it wasn't his bandit associates deciding they wanted a larger piece of the pie.

So you can imagine my surprise when I receive message that it is not bandits but a young man who occupied the town, as well as a militia all armed with the strangest of weapons. Not to mention an iron carriage that spits fire. Nor my surprise upon hearing that an alpha drake appeared in an area they've never been seen, and was then slain by said young man."

The king propped up his head in his hand, "My men say that they were being watched the entire way, however, they weren't the only ones being watched. I've had plants in that town for ages in case of an event like this. Though we always figured it would be under far worse connotations. We couldn't oust him due to political pressure, but we could keep watch for when his little evil empire eventually came crumbling down.

And again, I was very surprised, and secretly pleased, that he received a public lynching. While such wishes for one of my court are obviously scandalous, I'm happy to hear he was acting as wind chimes for a time. More then that, the fact that most of the corruption was rooted out, the guard replaced, and the ill-gotten gains of the baron being put to repairing the village and helping it's people.

Honestly? I should be rewarding you. However, at best all I can do is make you the legitimate ruler of the town, while on paper you would be my vassal in practice you would operate as an independent nation, and as such no aid would come from us. That said, while you are in my castle I will treat you as a dignitary, and a friend in our case."

The young king rose to his feet and extended his hand out to Tommy. Tommy took the man's hand and gave a firm shake prompting a nod from the king.

"When I heard this was a gesture seen in the town and had it explained to me, I figured I'd give it a go, and frankly, I think I will continue to," said the young king, "Not that you can ever say this in public, but since you've done me a great favor, in private you may call me Alois. Now, I imagine any number of people who wish you ill will have heard by now of what has happened, so I will be lending you Leina, one of my personal guards to guide and keep you safe. I imagine you can easily defend yourself against common thugs and such, but she has a presence sensing ability that will help in case more adept combatants are hired. Though, I hope for the both of us that doesn't happen."

The King's more happy expression slipped for a second to reveal that of a young man forced to grow up far too fast before he regained his composure.

Tommy took the queue. He and the girls left to go about the town. When they were gone and the doors to the room shut, Erwin turned to Alois.

"You know that I've always tried to be frank and not sugarcoat things my liege. I can't frankly imagine a scenario where they DONT get attacked."

As he was saying that there was a loud pounding on the doors and the sounds of a kerfuffle outside. Alois gestured to the guards and they opened the door to see the guards posted outside just about to get into a fistfight with a couple of the most prominent thorns in Alois' side. He had half a mind to allow them to continue but had to at least pretend to maintain professionalism.

"Cease at once!" He bellowed down the hall.

The two men immediately stopped struggling and kneeled to their king.

"My liege! We heard that the murderer was here and came immediately to ensure that the proper decision was made and the court brought to order!"

Alois rose from his chair with a domineering aura. The two men flinched but didn't stop. Before they could say another word he rose a hand to stop them.

"Do not even pretend to keep up such false pretenses with me," the king spoke acidly, "You and I both know that he did the kingdom a favor in removing that horrible excuse of a vassal."

"My lord! How can you speak such against the benevolent Barron? We must call upon the court imm-"

He was cut off by one word, spoken softly but with barely contained malice and rage.

"Silence. Do not attempt to talk circles around me. I know full well what that fiend was doing to his subjects. To the honest working subjects of this kingdom. Do not attempt to speak reverently against such a monster. We both know that I could do nothing about him. But he is gone. And that murderer has been pronounced the rightful ruler of the town he liberated."

The young king fixed an icy gaze that spoke of long and torturous murder should either one of the men speak back, "There will be no meeting of the court. I am king. And while you all may have ruled over my father, or had him play your games. I. Will. Not. Leave, now."

The polite visage of the two briefly slipped to show disgust and hatred before they stood, bowed once more, and were escorted out of the throne room. Once they were gone, and the doors shut, Alois slumped back into his chair. Tired on a level far deeper than physical. Knowing what was to come, and the costs it would bring.

"Erwin, the plan we spoke of. I want you to get it ready to be executed at a moment's notice. It won't be long now before things turn to the worst." the king leaned back sadly, "I just hope that I can look in the mirror without feeling great disgust when this is over."

Erwin nodded solemnly to his king. He had work to do to ensure that the kingdom would remain ruled by the rightful heir.