The Second Archon War: Animula Choragi 19

Animula Choragi 19: Can You Hear the People Sing? 

Early on in Furina’s reign, she had visited the Fortress of Meropede and established it as Fontaine's penitentiary. It had already been a place of exile for criminals and was an autonomous region, but she still visited and inspected the facilities to ensure that Fontainian prisoners were given adequate shelter, food, and work. Then she unfortunately forgot about the entire thing for a few centuries until Wriothesley reformed the place, but she had at least made an effort to ensure that Fontaine’s prisoners were treated well. 

She suspected that whoever was in charge of France’s prisons had, at some point in the last century, also forgotten that they were supposed to do inspections and checks. 

Currently, she, Barbara, and Julie were all crammed into a single cell. It was at least new, with a great deal of high-tech machinery and electronics that was so different from what was in Fontaine that Furina had a hard time understanding it, even though she had a working knowledge of mecha design and creation, having made several of her own devices to assist her in various tasks in the past. 

Their prison, however,  had not been designed for comfort, but rather to contain powerful parahumans, and now Vision holders. It was made of some heavily reinforced materials that even a gardamech would be stymied by, and insulated from various kinds of energy attacks, as well as most psychic ones. 

It was not, however, Archon proof. Furina could still sense the people outside, and even more or less see what was happening if she concentrated. She was currently using her new constructs, also locked into the cell with them, as focal points for a bit of scrying so she could see what was going on. 

“How are you doing that?” Julie asked as Furina checked up on Yennifer, who was meeting Mayor Jeanne. She could even hear them, having created a fourth hydro mimic in the shape of an Oceanid she’d named Singer of Many Waters, who was reproducing the voices. 

“Oh, just a bit of scrying, anyone with a little hydro can do it,” Furina said absently as she peered into the back of Mademoiselle Crabaletta. That was, more or less, true. Though they usually couldn’t be this precise or hear voices. Indeed, she’d practiced scrying when she’d just been an ordinary mortal. It had taken more than a century of practice, true, but it was very useful to check on people or places from a distance. 

“Worried about your girlfriend?” Julie asked, sitting cross-legged across from Furina on the hard floor. 

Furina blushed. “Um, she’s not my, ah, that is…we’re just roommates.”

“Really?” Julie blinked a few times and glanced over at Barbara, who was hugging Surintendante Chevalmarin to her chest. “Just roommates?”

“Don’t the two of you sleep in the same bed? There are only two in that apartment, and I know you’re not staying in Charlotte’s room,” Barbara commented. 

“W-well, um, yes, b-but, er…it’s…normal for two friends to share a bed?” Furina said.

“Uh, no. It’s not,” Julie said flatly. “Very occasionally, I’ve shared a bed with Ling, but she’s my cousin. And I’m not gay. Yennifer is, and I’m pretty sure you are too.”

The image dissolved as Furina lost all concentration and turned a deep scarlet. “I, um, I don’t think…I’m not…” She trailed off. This was quite honestly, not something she’d thought about. Ever. 

Barbara hopped off the bed, which was a metal plate with a thin mat on it, screwed into the wall, and scooted closer. “Hold on. Before we go any further…can you do anything about the cameras and microphones? They’re definitely listening, and this is private.”

Furina glanced up at the camera. 

Focalors piped up with, Hmm, I suppose I could use Hydro to-

Furina formed a bit of water, then made it into a lens over the camera. She then distorted the light passing through, thinking of how a kamera was made. She was quite familiar with their construction, having been an avid photographer and even learning how to develop her own film. She used that to form a false image.

Next, she did the microphones. Water could also absorb and change sound, that she knew from her own research, and the gramophones that had become popular. Easy enough to form another layer of water that changed their words. With her new godly abilities, she could even change both image and sound in the back of her mind without really even thinking about it. 

-that. Very nicely done. You’re becoming rather adroit as the Archon. 

“They can still see and hear us, but I’m distorting the images. They’ll hear us gossiping about nothing and see us crying,” a tear slid down Furina’s cheek, “which isn’t too far from the truth because I’m still desperately afraid.”

“Ok. Uh, first question then…are you really the Hydro Archon?” Barbara whispered. 

Furina shot her a scandalized look, but Julie followed it up with, “Are you a god? I’ve heard stories about the Devil of Japan, and she doesn’t act anything like you. Neither does Nahida Saeed, from what I’ve heard, she doesn’t go to the bathroom or really have any bodily functions, but I’ve smelled your farts and know you have periods.”

“Julie!?” Furina gasped, going deep red as Barbara giggled. 

“What? We’ve worked together for two months, and if you think your shit doesn’t stink, I’d invite you to have to clean the restroom after you’ve had too much dairy,” Julie sniffed. 

Furina groaned and put her head in her hands. “Yes, I have to go to the bathroom! I always have! Why would you even think I don’t?!” 

“Because you can turn water into wine,” Barbara said bluntly. “I’ve tried, and unless there’s some trick I’m missing, that is not in the standard array of Hydro Vision powers. Also, Charlotte told me you’re from Teyvat, which makes me think you are.”

“That’s what that language you were singing in when we met was!” Julie gasped. “You speak Teyvan! Just like the other Archons!” 

Furina let out a strangled sob. “Am I really that bad of an actress?!”

“So it was Teyvan?” Julie prompted. 

“No, it was Fontainian, which is a bit like Old French but with more Liyuan loanwords and a bit of Eremite grammar mixed in from our long-time trading with them,” Furina said, peeking through her fingers. “I really shouldn’t be telling you this…”

“We figured it out already,” Barbara said confidently. “You told Yennifer, right? You are sleeping together.”

“No! I mean, we’re not sleeping together, but I told her the truth,” Furina hesitated. “Well, it was the truth then. I didn’t used to be the Hydro Archon.”

“Seriously? You’re not sleeping together? I’d have been more likely to believe you weren’t the Hydro Archon,” Julie scoffed. “I’ve seen how you look at one another. You’re clearly in love.”

“Charlotte thinks you were made the Hydro Archon because of your selfless sacrifice for your people on Teyvat,” Barbara said with a nod. “Also, I don’t believe you’re not sleeping with Yennifer. And if you’re not, you should be.”

“You’re 14! You’re too young to even be thinking about that…that kind of thing!” Furina sputtered. 

Barbara rolled her eyes. “I’ve kissed three boys. And Charlotte. Neither of us really liked that one. I think she was mildly disappointed she wasn’t gay like her sister is. Though I also know she hasn’t kissed any boys, and is very worried about the fact she’ll die a virgin. Which is dumb, we are only 14. We just need more experience. Mother was very frank about how men would try to take advantage of me, so I’m waiting until I’m older to do more.”

“My first time was when I was seventeen, I thought I was ancient,” Juile admitted. “Lucas was a sweet boy, but so, so dumb. We broke up not long after we graduated Lycée.”

Furina groaned and flopped back on the floor, covering her eyes with her forearm. This could not be what they were talking about. 

“Who was your first kiss?” Barbara asked Furina curiously. 

“Yennifer. I mean, no one. Sort of. We just…I sort of kissed her. A few times. Friends do that, right?” Furina said, lifting her arm slightly. 

Julie and Barbara exchanged a look, then burst out laughing. 

Furina would take that as a no. 

Come on, mother. You have to help me here!

Honestly, I’m as lost as you. Also, since when did you fall in love, young lady!? Why didn’t I notice that?!

I…honestly, I’m not sure? Maybe…maybe it was when…when Yennifer was the only one…who loved the real me…even as useless and alone as I was…

Being lonely is a condition I am all too familiar with, unfortunately. While I have never desired another as a lover…I greatly missed companionship in my 500 years of solitude. I can understand your yearning for one to share your life with. 

I think…I think I might have carnal desires too?

Ah. Well, I suppose that makes sense. You are fully human, after all.

Aren’t I supposed to be a god?!

Oh, you are. You’re simply also completely human. I’m not entirely certain how or why it works, but I’ve certainly seen stranger things. The Pyro Archon is human, after all. Though not a god, they channel divine power. I would say they grow old and die, but honestly, I’ve never heard of a Pyro Archon not falling on the field or giving themselves to the Eternal Flame after they are nearly killed by their injuries. 

Will…will I at last grow old and die? I don’t…once, I might have welcomed it, but now…there’s so much to do.

Hmm, well, there’s plenty of ways to prevent that. I can just temporarily lock your body again. That would stop the periods.

Oh thank the Seven. Please, do that. I’ve only had three, but they’re miserable. 

Later, I’d have to figure out the ramifications first. Right now, we do have a crisis on our hands. 

Ah, yes, being imprisoned. 

That, and this thing with Yennifer. Do pay attention.

“You’re doing it again,” Julie commented as Furina talked with her mother. 

“Doing what?” Furina asked.

“That thing where I can tell you’re not just having a conversation with me, but something else. Are you handing out Visions?” Julie asked curiously. 

“Oh, um, well, yes. I’m nearly always doing that. I hand out a few dozen a day,” Furina admitted. 

“How did you disguise yourself as Focalors? It didn’t sound like you at all,” Barbara mused. 

“Oh, that. Um…I am Focalors,” Furina said, feeling a bit guilty. 

The two exchanged looks, then looked back at Furina. “Ok, but I thought Focalors was the previous Hydro Archon, from what Charlotte said.”

“Oh, she is. She’s my mother. I’m just…also her,” Furina explained. Both looked confused, so Furina added, “I’m her daughter, but really I’m her humanity. She separated from me, and she’s my divinity. We’ve sort of…reunited.”

Barbara’s eyes went wide, and she put a hand to her heart in shock as Surintendante Chevalmarin looked up at her in concern. “Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,” she gasped. 

Julie sucked in a breath, jerking back from Furina at first, then slowly, crossing herself. “Are you…are you the Second Coming?”

“Er, I’m the second incarnation of Focalors,” Furina said, almost certain Julie was asking something else. 

“No, she means, in the Bible, it says that Jesus Christ will come back one day. Are you…Him?” Barbara frowned. “Or, were you Him?” 

Furina stared blankly at Barbara. “Are you serious? I know I’m flatter than a 10-year-old, but I can assure you I am a woman. Besides, from what I understand, Jesus would be more than 2000 years old. I’m only 500.”

“Only five hundred, she says,” Julie said, rolling her eyes. 

“Compared to the rest of the Archons, I’m practically a child,” Furina sniffed. Then hesitated. “Except for Nahida. We’re approximately the same age, actually. Oh, and the Pyro Archon, whoever they are. They’re always mortal.”

“We really need to talk,” Julie muttered, then took Furina’s hands. “Look, whoever you are…you’re our friend. And we’ll keep your secret. I don’t completely understand why, you know, you don’t just bust us out of here-”

“-it wouldn’t be right for the God of Justice to break out of jail, even if I was wrongly imprisoned,” Furina sniffed.

“Didn’t you say you were completely human?” Barbara asked.

“Yes, but I’m also a god. I…don’t understand it either,” Furina admitted. “Anyway, um, please do keep it a secret. It’s…it’s because of the one called Scion. He…he’s a demon.”

“I knew that after he helped the Raiden Shogun destroy China and kill millions, and then he tried to rape the Hopebringer. He’s pure evil,” Julie said with a firm nod. 

“So, you’re not just going to break us out?” Barbara asked, looking disappointed. “I was hoping this would be your dramatic reveal.”

“No, I’m keeping my head down. I…I honestly don’t want to be the Archon,” Furina admitted. “I spent 500 years pretending to be something I wasn’t…and now I am.”

“Why don’t you tell us about it? I’d love to hear the story,” Julie encouraged. 

Nodding, Furina began to weave her story for the second time. It was…cathartic. She might still have to pretend and hide her true nature…but she wasn’t alone any longer. 

Yennifer, please hurry. There’s…there’s so much I want to talk to you about…

The walk from the Hôtel de Ville to the École Militaire was only about four and a half kilometers, and shouldn’t have taken more than an hour or so. The first leg of the route was along the Seine, Past the Louvre, the National Assembly, and then past the Hôtel des Invalides, where Napoleon was laid to rest. When noon struck and Yennifer emerged from the Hôtel de Ville along with Jeanne and her entourage, she was gratified to see that they would not be marching alone. 

“Hey, hey Yen!” Ling called, waving excitedly. There was a large gathering of obvious immigrants with Asian features on the left, many of them carrying signs in French with slogans like FREE FONTAINE and the old standby of "Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité.” Ling, however, had a sign with Julie’s picture on it and “CITIZEN OF FRANCE: WHERE’S HER JUSTICE?”

“Let her through,” Yennifer told one of the guards, and Ling and Chef Mao hurried to stand beside them. 

On the right, Yennifer recognized Marcel, Emile, and all of the actors from Furina’s theater company, all of them bearing signs with slogans from Les Misérables, with ‘WE WILL NOT BE SLAVES AGAIN’ a rather popular one. 

“Well, I’m ready for a brisk walk,” Jeanne said, glancing at the third group: a collection of heavily armed members of the USIP and several costumed Mousquetaires. There were plenty of vehicles and lots of guns. Yennifer felt a slight tremble, and for a moment, she heard the screams of a distant battlefield and smelled the mud and blood of Riga. Then she shook her head. For Furina, she would brave even a Harbinger. Compared to the Thief, these goons were nothing. 

Just as they set off, heads began to turn in one direction, and Yennifer held out her hand as if to summon Splendor of Tranquil Waters. “Wait. What is that?”

“I think…it’s singing?” Ling said, cocking her head to one side. 

Do you hear the people sing?

Singing a song of angry men?

It is the music of a people

Who will not be slaves again

The USIP troopers began to talk into radios and move about, while the various members of the press began to move towards the song that Yennifer could more and more clearly make out as “Do you Hear the People Sing?” She could now make out a drum beat, along with what was sounding more and more like an entire marching band. Just what was happening? 

When the beating of your heart

Echoes the beating of the drums

There is a life about to start

When tomorrow comes

Down the street came a parade, not of the military, but mostly of school-aged young people between the ages of 10 and 20, though there was a heavy smattering of older individuals who had to be teachers. There was indeed an entire band, with drums, flutes, brass, and even a few accordions. 

And there, at the head of the parade, dressed in a grand marshal’s uniform and with a pink beret at a jaunty angle, was Charlotte. She’d found a large brass baton she was pumping up and down in time to the music, and she had a huge grin on her face. Yennier could only stare in shock as the students marched up, and Charlotte came to a stop, then swept a bow to Jeanne. 

“Madam Mayor! Your parade is ready!” Charlotte declared, standing up and beaming. 

“So I see,” Jeanne said, looking down the ranks of eager students, who had paused in their song. “Where, Miss Lustria, did you acquire said parade?”

“I posted an ad online! It was a frantic few hours, let me tell you! We were texting back and forth furiously, but we got it done!” Charlotte said, puffing out her chest in pride. 

One of the older men with a sign with Barbara’s picture on it and a “THE FUTURE, NOT A CRIMINAL” sign, stepped forward. 

“Monsieur Lemoine?” Jeanne said, clearly surprised. 

“Hello, Mademoiselle Mayor,” Lemoine said, bowing slightly. “I couldn’t very well stand by when one of my best students was locked away, now could I? The whole faculty is here, along with most of the Teachers’ Union. Charlotte was most persuasive. If she doesn’t go into reporting, I think she has a career as a politician.”

“I want to expose the Truth! Not hide it!” Charlotte laughed, but she looked rather pleased. 

“Well? Shall we? I’d hate to keep Iron Mask and his stooges waiting,” Charlotte said, a twinkle in her eyes. 

“Indeed, we shall,” Jeanne said, and nodded to Yennifer. The crowd of students parted for them, and they made their way to the front of the parade as the music struck up again. 

They hadn’t even gone a kilometer when the USIP goons seemed to get their act together, and a block of several dozen of them, along with half a dozen Mousquetaires appeared, blocking the road, riot shields at the ready. 

One man in a USIP captain's uniform stepped forward and raised a bullhorn. 

ATTENTION: YOU ARE ENGAGED IN AN UNLAWFUL ASSEMBLY. YOU ARE IMPEDING TRAFFIC, AND MUST DISPERSE AT ONCE. 

Jeanne smiled grimly, and she and Yennifer stepped forward, presenting documents, freshly signed by Jeanne and Judge Morel. “I think you’ll find our paperwork is entirely in order.” 

The captain glared at Jeanne. “Your request is denied by the office of the President!”

“Mégret has no jurisdiction here. Approving protests and parades is firmly given to the office of the Mayor of Paris. My office,” Jeanne said, her eyes glowing an ominous green as winds began to swirl around her. “Are you impeding the freedom of my citizens, Captain Cazeneuve?”

“Are you threatening me, Mayor d’Orleans?” Cazeneuve demanded, resting his hand on the club at his hip. 

“I’m telling you that this parade has my approval, and that I and those with me are exercising our right to peaceful assembly and protest. And if you and your officers attempt to disperse this parade…then this will devolve into a less than peaceful public demonstration,” Jeanne growled, and her Vision shone brightly enough that Cazeneuve had to look away. 

“You’ve got what, three Vision Holders? I have a dozen capes who are experienced in law enforcement, and fifty officers,” Cazeneuve sneered. “Do you want this to turn into a bloodbath, Jeanne?”

“Captain!” a voice called, and Cazeneuve pivoted to keep an eye on Jeane and Yennier, while half turning to his subordinate. 

“What is it?”

“Sir! There’s a second group, coming at us from behind!”

“What? How many?”

“Hundreds, sir! People are coming out of nowhere, pouring into the streets!” 

“Oh dear, did they see the video I just uploaded?” Charlotte said, popping out from behind Yennifer and doing her best to look innocent. “Darn, I forgot I set it to go live, oh, ten minutes ago! Then there’s the news, broadcasting live…gee, maybe more people are mad than you thought!” 

Cazeneuve looked furious, but turned aside to talk into his radio. After only a minute, he motioned to his men. “Pull back! It’s the damn firemen! They’ve got their trucks and hoses! And they’ve got the Police Municipale with them, and somehow, they’re armed!” 

Jeanne grinned savagely. “Looks like you’re not the only one with officers. Now get the hell out of my way. I’m going to see my daughter.”

“You’re going to regret this, d’Orleans! You just got into a pissing match with Iron Mask,” Cazeneuve sneered, then hurried off with his retreating men. 

Yennifer glanced at Jeanne. “Where did the weapons come from?” 

“The one benefit to belonging to an ancient noble family is that you tend to collect an inordinate number of old weapons. Normally, a few rusty old swords and spears would be useless. However…the world has changed,” Jeanne said, then summoned her Favonian blade, and raised it aloft. “ONWARDS! Double time! Don’t give Iron Mask and his thugs a chance to regroup!” 

Her followers raised a cheer, and soon, they were joined by fire trucks and members of the Municipal Police, who were indeed carrying a variety of old weapons that now glowed with power. Yennifer grinned. 

Hold on, Furina! I’m coming! 

Iron Mask stormed out of the École Militaire. “You were supposed to stop them!” 

“There were too many, sir, and we were boxed in. It would have turned into a blood bath,” Cazeneuve said, hurrying alongside Iron Mask. 

“Idiots. Fools!” he fingered the cuffs on his wrists, then shook his head. “Bah! How many capes do they even have?! The Lustria sisters, one of which is a 14 year old girl, and an old woman!? You’re afraid of that!?”

“They’ve got more than 5000 people marching with them, sir. And more all the time. We were ready for a few hundred. Not thousands,” Cazeneuve said stiffly. 

“Well, now we’ll have that bloodbath,” Iron Mask snarled as he began to hear the music, and see the parade marching towards them. Below him, the USIP was forming up. Not fifty troopers, but over a hundred, with automatic weapons. A contingent of mounted officers trotted up, several of them carrying lances from the Napoleonic wars. A dozen capes flew in the air, and two dozen more were mixed in with the USIP officers. 

“I will not fall this day,” Iron Mask growled. “I will restore order, and I will have…I will have…”

A rain drop struck his head. Then another. In moments, a steady drizzle began, even as dark clouds rolled in. There had been odd weather ever since the Great Storm, but now!? If there was one thing that made Vision Holders dangerous, especially a group with Hydro, Cryo, and Anemo all together, it was weather. Especially rain.

“Sir! The rain!” one of his own Vision Holders, a man with an Electro Vision shouted. 

“Yes, I know. We have our own Visions, and I can copy one to create elemental reactions of our own,” Iron Mask said dismissively, though he was growing worried. 

“No, sir, look! It’s…it’s glowing!” the cape said.

Iron Mask instantly copied the Electro Vision, then opened his elemental sight. To his horror, it was no ordinary rain. No, this rain was infused with Elemental Energy. 

“Merde,” Iron Mask gasped. Was she here?! Was the Hydro Archon herself here, in France, and taking an active hand?! Was it Lustria?! No, impossible, she had a long history. Although, it was said the Archons could alter their forms…

“Sir!” an aide ran out of the building with a radio. “The storm, it’s coming from the English Channel, racing up the Seine! And, and we think we know what’s causing it!”

“Why am I only hearing of this now?!” Iron Mask demanded, reverting to his base form and turning in hot anger. “I should have heard of this hours ago!”

“Because, sir, she only started…only started…oh, God…” The man trailed off, and a dark patch appeared at his groin. Iron Mask whirled, and very nearly wet himself as well. 

Whale song fluted through the air, as a massive serpent, easily over 100 meters long with glowing blue eyes, rose up out of the Seine. The dragon slithered through the air, climbing to the low clouds, then dipping down again. Her head was enormous, large enough that she could have swallowed Iron Mask and a dozen of his capes in a single bite. Flying capes dove to get out of her way. Against this threat, they would be as useful as if they fought the ocean itself.

MORTALS. WHAT INJUSTICE IS THIS?

Iron Mask swallowed, then forced as much calm into his voice as he shouted, “You violate the sovereign territory of France, Keiga! This is an internal matter!”

A great forked pink tongue flicked out, and Keiga spoke once more. I AM RESTORATION, MORTAL MAN. YOU SEEK TO CREATE A WOUND. TO CAUSE AN INJUSTICE UPON YOUR OWN PEOPLE. THAT IS MY MATTER.

“Does Japan now declare War on France? Does the Raiden Shogun seek to impose her will upon a free people?” Iron Mask demanded, and his heart sank. He had his strongest capes here. Forty seven of them, himself included. And they would be as nothing before the Raiden Shogun. He wasn’t even certain they were a match for the Tide Star. Keiga had fought an Endbringer, herself and her husband, to a standstill. No one here was a fraction as powerful. 

And the Keiga that had stymied the Behemoth had been a shadow of whatever this new creature was. 

I DO NOT ACT IN THE NAME OF THE SHOGUN. I HAVE DEPARTED HER SERVICE. I SEEK THE HYDRO ARCHON. 

That matched with reports that Iron Mask had read. Keiga had been turning up all over the world, though most recently in the North Atlantic, stopping various crimes or preventing maritime disasters, and inquiring about the Hydro Archon. Japan had also released a statement that the Hydro Dragon was no longer affiliated with their government, but they still considered her a divine dragon. Whatever that meant. 

“Well, there is no Hydro Archon here! France is a free country!” Iron Mask roared, feeling impotent fury. 

SO I SEE. BUT I HAVE HEARD A CRY FOR HELP, A CRY FOR RESTORATION. A CRY FOR JUSTICE. AND I HAVE RESPONDED. KNOW THIS: THE THREE WOMEN YOU HAVE IMPRISONED, YOU DO SO WRONGLY. I WILL BE…VEXED…IF YOU THEN SLAUGHTER INNOCENTS TO UPHOLD YOUR CRIMES, MORTAL. 

This bitch couldn’t even address Iron Mask by name. He seethed, but he knew he was helpless. “Very well. As a gesture of goodwill, I will release the prisoners, provided you agree to depart France, and not meddle further in her affairs, until and unless you are invited back!” 

VERY WELL. BUT I HAVE ONE FURTHER CONDITION, LEST YOU PROVOKE MY IRE.

Keiga leaned down until her great jaw was a mere meter from Iron Mask. Her eyes were nearly as big as he was, and within their swirling blue depths, he saw the endless sea, and the great power of all the oceans of the world. Before such might, he was as the smallest minnow. 

Power. More power. He had to gain more power. 

“Yes, what is it?” he said through gritted teeth. 

KEEP YOUR RIVERS CLEAN. THIS ONE WAS SO POLLUTED, IT BURNED MY SCALES AS I TRAVERSED IT. IT PUMPS POISON INTO MY OCEANS. I WILL TOLERATE SUCH THINGS NO MORE. I HAVE PURIFIED THESE WATERS WITH MY PRESENCE, BUT IF I DETECT YOU SOILING MY WAVES AGAIN, MORTAL, I SHALL VIEW OUR AGREEMENT AS NULL AND VOID, AND YOU SHALL PERSONALLY KNOW MY DISPLEASURE. 

He blinked at that. The Seine? It had been a noxious flow since well before Iron Mask had been a boy. Though recent days had only seen it worsen. “I…I will see that legislation is passed to clean up our waters.” He hesitated, then added, “And if you have cleaned the Seine…you have my gratitude. And the gratitude of France.”

THEN OUR BARGAIN IS SEALED. RELEASE THE INNOCENT. SPILL NO GUILTLESS BLOOD. AND BRING RESTORATION TO YOUR LANDS AND WATERS. DO THIS, AND YOU SHALL HAVE MY FAVOR, JEAN-PIERRE LEFEVRE. 

And with that, the Hydro Dragon dove back into the waters of the Seine. A few minutes later, the rain slackened, then vanished.

Closing his eyes, Iron Mask breathed out a sigh of relief. Then, he turned to Cazeneuve. “Well, what are you waiting for? Go get those putains out here!”

“I…yes, sir,” Cazeneuve said, his voice shaking. He shook his head as he turned to go. “Merde. A dragon. A putain de dragon. Christ.”

Iron Mask found he was trembling all over. Not just with fear, but rage. Lustria. This was all Lustria’s plan. She had summoned the Hydro Dragon somehow. She had connections to the Archons and their pet lizards. And this…this was just another reason she had to die. 

“Blasphemy,” he growled to himself as he looked at the parade, which was now drawing up to the École Militaire, That Woman at its head. “This is Blasphemy. And I shall respond in kind.”

Still furious, he turned on his heel, and marched back into his stronghold to plan. This slight would not go unanswered. 

Furina ran down the wet steps, laughing and crying. Yennifer waited for her at the bottom, her face lighting up with joy as she saw Furina. Heedless of the watching crowd, Furina flung herself down the last few steps and into Yennifer’s waiting embrace. 

“You came for me,” Furina cried, hugging Yennifer tightly. 

“I always will,” Yennifer promised, stroking Furina’s cheek tenderly. “I…I love you, Furina de Fontaine. And I know you think of me as a sister, but I shall always-”

“No,” Furina said.

Yennifer paused, looking deeply wounded. “No?”

“I…I don’t think of you as a sister,” Furina said. “Yennifer, I…I love you too.”

Then, Furina kissed Yennifer. At first, Yennifer was clearly so surprised that she didn’t know what to do, and Furina drew back, thinking she’d ruined everything. 

“You, you mean it?” Yennifer gasped, gripping Furina’s arms tightly. 

Furina nodded, tears in her eyes. “Sorry, I…I’ve never had a lover. I didn’t…I didn’t realize…I think I prefer women, though it might just be you. So, um, I-”

After that, Yennifer cut Furina off by locking lips with her, pulling her tight against her chest. Furina closed her eyes, and let herself melt into Yennifer. For this moment…for this moment, she was deliciously human. 

Behind them, Barbara flung herself into her mother’s arms, weeping, then a minute later, into Charlotte’s, who was crying and hugging her tightly. Julie was embraced by Ling and her uncle, and the watching crowd cheered excitedly. 

“There's something else I have to tell you,” Furina whispered to Yennifer, still clinging tightly to her Champion, her Knight in Shining Armor. Even if she was dressed in a business pantsuit and heels at the moment. That walk here must have been awful. 

“Whatever it is, it doesn’t matter,” Yennifer said, sounding giddy. “I told you, I’ll always love you, and protect you.”

“Yes, but-”

“No buts. It doesn’t matter,” Yennifer said firmly.

Furina closed her eyes, then leaned close to Yennifer’s ear and whispered, “I…I’m the Hydro Archon. I’m sorry. I just…I didn’t know, at first. But…but I do now.”

Yennifer stiffened slightly, then laughed. “You know…I think I already knew that.”

“You did?!” Furina gasped. She really was terrible at hiding this secret. How on Teyvat had she gone 500 years with an even more terrible secret before?

“It will be our secret. Well, ours and Charlotte’s. She’s going to be insufferable,” Yennifer shuddered. She kept her arm around Furina, then guided her away from the École Militaire. “Let’s get you home.”

“Um, I, just so you know, I, um…I would like to go to bed,” Furina said, biting her lip. 

“Of course, you must be exhausted,” Yennifer agreed. 

“No, um…would it be possible for, er, Charlotte to, ah…spend the night elsewhere?” Furina asked. 

“Oh don’t worry about me,” Charlotte said, popping up next to Furina and nearly giving her a heart attack. “I’ll stay with Barbs! We have so many videos to make now! This is the story of the DECADE!” 

“You will not publish any secrets of Furina’s,” Yennifer said, her tone nearly as icy as her sister’s vision.

“Me?! Wouldn’t dream of it! But I got that whole dragon conversation on camera! Ooo, this is going to be EPIC! The Hydro Dragon in France?! And the Seine, clean!? Hohoho!” Charlotte strode off, chortling to herself, and joined Barbara and her mother. 

Yennifer blinked, then turned to Furina, a lecherous grin on her face. “So. Never taken a lover?”

“Um…b-be gentle, please?” Furina said, blushing deeply. 

“Oh, my lady…I shall be ever so tender,” Yennifer purred. Then she licked her lips.

On the one hand, Furina was terrified. On the other…she hadn’t been this excited in all of her five centuries. 

The night was wonderful. Furina learned things about herself, and about Yennifer, she’d never known before. Focalors, by mutual agreement, went and attended to their Archonly duties. Far away. And didn’t eavesdrop. Which was good, because what happened was the sort of thing you most certainly did NOT want your mother to be party to. Even if she was also you. 

They stayed up for hours, holding one another, talking, and making love. It was an experience Furina would remember for the rest of her life, no matter how long it was. And one she promised herself she would continue to have with Yennifer. She’d lost too many dear friends over the long years of her life. But Yennifer, she resolved, would not be one of them.

Still, when they fell asleep together, exhausted, Furina was pleased. Finally, she was herself. Truly and simply, Furina. Yennifer didn’t love the Hydro Archon. She hardly seemed to believe Furina even was a god. Which was fine, Furina preferred not to think about that too hard most of the time anyway. She would have loved to spend the next few days in bed with Yennifer, doing nothing but making love and learning more about a subject she was very much a tender novice at. 

Which was why when their bedroom door banged open at the crack of dawn, Furina sat up and was ready to murder Charlotte. She reached for her powers, then froze.

“MOTHERS!” a jubilant voice boomed. Furina’s eyes very nearly crossed, as a naked child deposited a dead rat at the foot of her and Yennifer’s bed, ignoring the sword that appeared in Yennifer’s hands and pointed right at her. “BEHOLD! I HAVE SECURED OUR MEAL! PRAISE ME, FOR I AM THE MIGHTIEST OF HUNTERS!” 

“Furina,” Yennifer said slowly, as both of them regarded the grinning waif who was looking down at them, crouched atop the foot of the bed, a calico tail swaying back and forth behind her. “Please tell me this is some sort of illusion, or dream.”

“Ha! Of course it isn’t! Now get up and cook me breakfast!” the nude girl huffed, now standing up on the wooden frame and planting her hands on her hips and grinning maniacally. “I have already tried to eat the rat, for I was very hungry, and you were sleeping far too long! However, I have decided, I will no longer eat cold food! I demand hot food! A proper meal, prepared as the ones you eat from the magic cold box!” 

“D-Diane?” Furina gasped, her mind catching up to her powers as she recognized the soul before her.

“Yes, mother? Do you wish to praise my prowess as a huntress?” Diane, who Furina could have sworn had been a kitten the night before, said, licking the back of her very human hand, then using it to smooth back her mane of wild orange hair. 

Yennifer groaned and put her head in her hands. “Why? Why is there a naked child in my bedroom!?”

“Because your daughter is hungry, and she demands breakfast! Now, put my rat inside the magic box that goes brrrrr and makes things hot, and we shall eat!” Diane declared, then grabbed the rat, and tossed it at Furina.

Furina, of course, screamed and jerked away, though Yennifer caught the rat by the tail before it could hit Furina.

“No. People don’t eat rats,” Yennifer said, making a face at the dead animal.

“No wonder you’re so skinny then. You need meat! Come, I will teach you how to catch the rats, and the cockroaches! They are also very tasty!” Diane said, then hopped off the bedframe, bare feet pattering against the linoleum of the floor. 

Yennifer turned to Furina, a harassed look on her face. “Furina. I am too gay and too young to have a six-year-old daughter.”

“Um, surprise? Because I’m pretty sure she is mine,” Furina sighed. “I blame mother.”

Yennifer groaned, then grabbed her night robe as beeps were heard from the kitchen. “DIANE! Do not touch the microwave! I’ll make you breakfast, but we’re having eggs and ham, not a damn rat!” 

“YES! We can save the rat for supper!” 

“NO RATS, YOUNG LADY! WE EAT PROPER FOOD IN THIS HOUSE!” 

“WELL IF YOU DON’T WANT IT, GIVE IT TO ME! I’LL SHOW YOU HOW TO COOK IT! HOW HARD CAN IT BE?!” 

Furina slowly got up, feeling dizzy. 

Ah, good morning, dear. What did I miss? Focalors said, picking that moment to return. 

Shrugging on her robe, Furina sighed. You’re a grandmother now. Congratulations. 

I- what? Young lady, you are not supposed to be having children after the first- this is a joke? Right? You are pranking- wait. Oh. Ha. Hahahaha! Oh, I had thought to not acquire any grandchildren, but this, this is marvelous! 

Glad you think so. You didn’t have a rat thrown in your face to wake you up, Furina mentally grumbled, then went out to see if she could help Yennifer prevent their cat-turned-daughter from lighting their kitchen on fire. 

Author’s Note:

I’ve heard of people getting pregnant after a single night, but this is ridiculous!