[url=http://www.bungie.net/Forums/posts.aspx?postID=60122859]Link to all chapters[/url] Harlow massaged his aching head as another county leader entered the large antechamber that made up the flood's royal court. Green and brown tapestries shone brightly in the mid-day sun stretching through the room's fifty open windows. The light filtered in and danced with minuscule dust particles before they left the glowing shafts of light. Several patrons and servants littered the room, but half as many heavily armed royal guardsmen watched with eagle sharp eyes. The two highest ranking stood beside harlow and Jay. Gamerz was a given, she had been harlow's best warrior for years now, her protégé Erunner was the other high ranking guardsman, a recommendation by gamerz. Their green, gold, and brown armor glinted with the light dancing throughout the room. As lively as the room was with the company of so many and beautiful natural light, harlow felt like a dead man, and appeared just as he felt. His once bright and insightful eyes were dull and red-rimmed. Bags under them told the story of every one of the more than two hundred assassination attempts since over 9000, both by the flood and by bungie. Most of his hair was beginning to grey and his face was tarnished by deep stress wrinkles. Completely abnormal for a twenty nine year old man. Jay sat at his side and held his tired hand. She had been with him since he was count of sapphire, and she was the love of his life. Worry lines were beginning to cover her face as well, albeit very shallow and faint. Harlow averted his gaze from her worried stare. Sparten, iggy, and gazz had already made it to the castle for the meeting. It was good to have the power of SSO, coup, and his old home Sapphire under his roof. Now he had to wait for the count of Eros before the meeting could begin. Harlow reached into his pocket to make sure Recon's age old note was still present. He felt its crumbled paper and wiped his brow in releif. He sometimes fiddled with the piece of paper when he had to make a decision on whether to increase the national army, or introduce a few budget cuts. The note made sure the army never had want for anything. The doors at the end of the hall burst open. In the arms of a pair of royal guardsmen walked Wyldefire, the notorious furry king who supposedly haunted the southern forests of the flood. The two guardsmen carried him before harlow and plopped him onto his knees. The rather pudgy one of the pair saluted, then spoke. "We found him waiting outside the gates. Should we send him to the slaughterhouse?" Harlow walked his eyes up and down the furry. Wyldefire was foxlike, with fur that burned nearly red in the cascading sunlight. His black furred hands were worn from years on the run, but his eyes did not show any fear or lack of resolve. He hadn't been captured by accident. "I take it this was on purpose." The furry cracked a toothy grin. "Didn't take you for a stupid man harlow, I was begging to worry about the quality of your guardsmen." Harlow cringed and removed all cheer from his voice. "Pretty stupid for a wanted fugitive to walk right into the hands of the law. But I suppose the intelligence of furries is lacking enough to guarantee some level of stupidity." Wyld barred his fangs but did not attack. "Whatever you were planning to do with me, I feel I should tell you that I am here on purely diplomatic premises." Harlow frowned "There is no county for furries in the floodian empire." Wylde's barred fangs gave way to a sneering smile. "If a county is recognized as a city of 1,500 with a defendable castle, then we more than meet these requirements. For what it's worth, We KNOW why you are calling in this meeting." Harlow began an insulting response, but was surprised by Wylde's last comment. "What do you mean, "we know"? Wylde's toothy mask dissolved into a serious slate. "we've captured a few runaway ponies recently. I think you know the story they told us." Harlow hardened his face in thought. After minutes of internal deliberation, he turned to the chunkier of the two guards, The stolen fruit his name was. "Take him to the planning chambers, do no As he spoke, the doors to the courtroom flew open. From outside, blinding midday sun filtered in and Rogue strode into the room like a badass. Panzie followed behind portraying as much authority as his wife. "What in the he Rogue and Panzie walked toward harlow. Rogue was wearing the crown of Eros and her old, combat leather vest of yellow and black, with her tail swishing behind her and kicking more dust particles into the window filtered light. Panzie was simply wearing his armor. The bit of panic in harlow's eyes was replaced by incredulity. He raised his hand and several guards emerged into the room with weapons drawn. Gamerz and Erunner ghosted beside Harlow with their own preferred weapons. Gamerz held a combat short spear, and Erunner held a powerful automatic shotgun. Gamerz tightened her grip on her spear when she realized the representative in front of her was the same despicable creature that had beaten her to within an inch of her life with a steel pipe. Harlow still couldn't break the surprise on his face. "II thought you were.." Panzie kocked an eyebrow. "Dead?" Harlow stiffened. "Care to explain why I shouldn't have both of you killed on the spot? Panzie sighed, then gestured toward rogue. "I present to you, the royal countess of Eros, Rogue assassin." He flashed a smile under his helmet. Harlow tilted his head. "And that matters why? I can still kill you." Rogue's eyes flared and she stepped closer to the king. She stopped just out of stabbing distance of Gamerz spear. "Your own law states that any representative will be accepted into the presence of the king if they show no hostility in his presence. Now unless you somehow plan on killing me and numnuts here" She stopped to whip her tail into panzie's balls just hard enough for him to cough and playfully grab the tip of her tail, She tugged on it a bit, then continued speaking. "I suggest you let us into this so called "meeting." Harlow tilted his head back and squinted. "and why the hell would I let him in?" Rogue face palmed "Because he is my husband and the damn count of Eros you slow jackass." Harlow began to speak up, then realized he would be nothing but a hypocrite to deny them this small right. After all, he could always have them killed afterward for a reason of his own choosing. He groaned. "Fine then, The three of you may go." He motioned for Rogue, Panzie, and wylde to enter the meeting chambers. Then sat on his throne to think. The day's shenanigans had worn him down immensely. He slowly drooped his eyes and relaxed in his chair. His eyelids grew heavier and heavier until his mind began to blur and slow down. His muscles softened and his eyes closed. He drifted closer to sleep. He awoke with a start as he realized jay had shaken his arm. She spoke to him in a deep Austrailian accent. "Wake up honey, it's supposed to be a busy day, Remember?" Harlow grinned sheepishly, then stood from his chair with a drawn out moan. He planted a kiss on his wife's lips, then headed down to the primary meeting chambers on his lonesome. As he neared the chambers, the sounds of raucous yelling and insults reverberated from the walls of the underground hallway. Harlow neared the door and reached his hand outward to pull it. A loud bang shook him and the walls around him. It had come from inside. Harlow yanked the door open as quickly as it would give and was met by a room packed to the brim with screaming flood representatives. Gazz and wylde were the only two completely silent. On the far wall, harlow discovered the source of the loud bang. Panzie's fist was embedded nearly three inches into the wall. Beside him, Kezia patted him on the back with his hoof. Eventually the armored terrorist-count quieted his pained tears and faced the table positioned in the center of the room. Harlow neared the table and one of the guards resent saluted. "All stand for king harlow." Most of the members were too busy bickering to notice the order. Harlow sat quietly. "Everyone may sit." The majority were still standing, but those who had heard the order slowly sank into their chair. The rest slowly followed suit. Panzie and Kezia leaned near the wall together and were talking in a hushed tone. Panzie most likely punched the wall, due to the large crushed patch on it. Harlow couldn't make out what they were saying, but by the look on kezia's face, and panzie's helmet angle. He didn't need any imagination. The horrific line of stitches across Kezia's brow told of torture and hatred. Harlow pulled some papers from his pockets and laid them on the table. "You may be wondering why I called you here. Each of you represents a different arm of the flood. In your respective lands each of you either holds sway, or represents the man or woman who does." Gazz, the representative of the new count of sapphire, growled under his helmet and stood. "If that is the case, why is this table filled with ponies, furries, and mass murderers?"