A Frog's Blessing in this Wonderful Galaxy: Chapter 9

The Birth of a Froggy Nation

Staring down at the large horn in his hands, Kermit couldn't help but whistle in appreciation. It was simple in design, a curved horn made of bone, but he knew he held something special the moment he laid his hands on it. "Oh wow," Running his hands across its smooth, bone like surface, Kermit swore that it felt like this thing was alive as warmth radiated from its surface.

"The first thing I made after getting out of that bitches stomach," The gruff Aeldari muttered as he nodded, "I'm a bit rusty but it'll do." If this is what he could make despite being out of practice, then he'd love to see what he could do once he got back to his peak.

"It's amazing," He whispered as he lifted up the horn. Despite being the size of a building, relative to his friend's size, the thing was as light as a feather, "This'll definitely come in handy!"

Looking up at him, the god asked, "You sure you don't want a sword?" He sounded hopeful but Kermit didn't really have any use for a sword. Why would anyone use a sword in this day and age? They have guns and lasers!

"Nah, I'm good," He replied. He felt bad seeing the man's shoulder sag but he didn't want to hurt the man's feelings. He looked like the type that would pour their heart out in making a masterpiece and It'd be criminal to just let it rust in disuse. Setting his new megaphone aside, he reached for his back before he showed off his loot, "Besides I have this!"

All his friends ducked for cover as soon he pulled out the gun that was used on him in the stadium. "Woah! Easy there," Lilith cried as she jumped down behind a large rock. Peeking over the top, she shouted, "Be careful where you point that thing!" It was a sentiment echoed by the gods as well as they nodded fearfully.

Snorting in amusement, Kermit assured them,"Relax." He was pretty sure that it was already out of battery. How else did it stop back in the arena? Pointing it up in the air, he squeezed the trigger to make a point, It's out of battery. See?" Only to feel the thing buck as the world was drowned out by a green glow.

He blinked as he saw the gaping up in the webway. "Ok…" He whispered as he slowly placed it down on the ground, wincing as the sound of panic echoed throughout the city. Turning towards Vaul, he asked the smith, "Can you work on this for me? Give it some safety features perhaps?"

The god gingerly lifted up the device, careful that his finger wasn't anywhere near the trigger as he told him, "It's something our old enemy made," Reaching down to the rubble below them, his hands pulled on the blackstone before tugging as if it was made of taffy. Fashioning a case for the device, Vaul sealed it inside before nodding, "But I'll see what I can do."

He nodded back, sighing out in relief now that he wasn't holding that thing, "Sorry about that," he apologized. He really thought that it was already drained. He wondered what filled it up because he may have some use for it in the future. Shaking his head, he then reached for his horn. He still had a city to speak to.

"Now, before we forget," He cleared his throat before he turned to Lady Maly, "Can you gather everyone? I have something to ask them." While he didn't approve of Lilith's plan, he still agreed that they had to do something. He just wanted something… a bit more constructive.

-x-x-x-

Under the shadow of the giant rock that now served as the new Gate of Khaine, people gathered. While he had hoped that all of the prisoners would be gathered here, he had to settle with the Archons of each Cabal that kept their allegiance with Vect. As for the man, he was still out at large but he wasn't important at this point. The city was already theirs and after what he did, he was a dead man walking.
"The stage is now yours," His companion, Isha spoke as she handed him his horn. He thanked her as he took deep calming breaths, trying to calm his beating heart. Wiping the slime dripping down his forehead, he steeled his nerves. He hated how nervous he felt right now but he had needed to do this.

Now the citizens of Commaragh were gathered, he can't back out now. Raising his horn, he tapped on the receiving end as he spoke, "Is this on? Oh!" His voice, ringing out to those that sat at the ruined bleachers of the stadium. He sounded clear and there was none of the annoying static that distort his voice. His respect for Vaul went even higher as he called out, "Ok, Everyone! If you can just give me just a bit of your time."

Soon, the voices from a stadium of millions would die down until all Kermit could hear was his own thoughts. Nodding in appreciation, he thanked the crowd, "Thank you." As he stepped forward, he suddenly felt all weak kneed.

Yes, he faced a god and lived to tell the tale but crowds were a whole different beast. He could feel their gaze on him; both of optimistic curiosity and apprehension. He just hoped that they wouldn't judge him too harshly. Gulping, he whispered, "Here goes nothing."

With a smile on his face, he started, "You might already know me as the frog that punched a bitch or Ahhhh! Giant Frog!" He wasn't shy being animate, earning well earned laughter as the mood lightened. "But to those that haven't let me reintroduce myself," Stepping forward, he gave them a short bow, "Good Afternoon everyone. My name is Kermit, your local Old One."

"Two weeks ago, I landed here in your beautiful city," He continued as he gestured out to the city at large. Even in ruins, the city had its charm. Now it rose from the ashes, its beauty shone. Placing his hands on to himself, he told them, "I was lost, confused and terrified; A tadpole fresh out of his pond."

"With a friend in need and nowhere to go, you guys took me in only to take advantage of me at every turn," Memories came up unbidden. He should have listened to his friend, but he was naive, ignorant of the world outside and the city took advantage of him, "I was deceived and misled before being offered up to sacrifice. To many of you, I was nothing more than fresh meat for the slaughter," He told them.

In his time here in Commaragh, he learned many things. His current species, the city at large, and the story that led to them gathering here. For a man from modern times, it was almost disheartening that the people of the stars weren't the enlightened beings promised of them by the shown runners and fiction authors. Instead, he saw a barbaric city of savage people.

"I should be angry at you all, I should despise you, yet I can't," He told them, his gaze disapproving of the Dhrukari… until they landed on the warden hidden amongst the crowd, "Yet despite the darkness I saw in this in this city and how its people made it that way, there are still people here who cared."

Gesturing to those in attendance, those who chose to take up arms, he spoke to them, "Today I saw the good people of this city rise up as one, under one banner, to defeat a tyrant." Never have he seen people more praise worthy in his whole life. In a place of evil, there were still those that wanted things to change.

"From the lowest of slaves, now freedmen and women, to the noble Dhrukari who decided to turn against their overlords," He turned towards Malys who laid her head against Jaghatai, "I saw that there is still some good in you all," He spoke to them. The couple might have claimed that the Dhrukari were evil yet he saw in her that there was still decency still left in them, "Even if your intentions aren't pure, mostly likely motivated by their own self interest, you still acted today. You did something!"

They weren't all evil, some of them at least have a heart. He refused to believe that there was no good left in them. "The only reason why good hasn't triumphed in this place is because of the tyrant that ruled from above, desperate to keep power as well as a thirsting monster that played with you all!" And how evil grew in this city.

"But no more!" He shouted, raising his fist up in the air, "There will be no more Tyrants to hold us back, no more demons to keep you shackled!" They have toiled together, shedding blood and sweat to achieve something beautiful.

"We are free!" He declared and he was met with cheers, "We have won the day! Together, we stand together as brothers and sisters," He shouted, letting his emotions free as joy filled his very being, "And the stars deem it fit that we shall not face it alone!"

"It wasn't the strength of a lone being that won this day," He told them before pointing at the crowd, "It was you! You the people! You who stepped up when you could have easily kept your head down!" If the city hadn't risen up, if they allowed themselves to be chained as they were, then even the forces of those that helped them wouldn't have mattered. It was through their wil that they were now finally free. They were only there to help things along.

Spreading his arms out wide, he called to the people, "Together, we have achieved what was thought to be impossible," He celebrated with them, cheered with them as even the stoic Space Marines that were Jaghatai's honor guard, clapped with them. "We are now the masters of our fate. Now, it is our turn to make things right," He told them as he waited for their cheers to die down.

Looking down on those that were chained before him, the archons that manned the slave pits and those twisted homunculi that mutilated and tortured so many innocent souls. Kermit had to stop himself from stomping on them after what he had learned. No, he wasn't going to be their executioner.

"Your oppressors might stand before you in chains, but don't strike them down now," He begged them even as cries of dismay filled the bleacher, "They have much to answer for, but not when they're dead," He reminded them and their cries died down. Death would be an easy escape for them after everything they did. They can still be of use. They can work

"Don't make the same mistakes as they did. Be better than them. Have them face justice that everyone deserves," He told them. They were some of the most reprehensible people he had ever laid his eyes on but… he believed they could change, "But it will be up to them if they want to change."

Leaning down, he asked, "So what do you say, friend? Will you help us out?" He offered his hand to them. Faced with the choice, they knelt. Some laughed, throwing insults at him, but others knelt, knowing where the wind blew.

He smiled as he gestured for those that rejected him to be taken away, their fate sealed. Turning the crowd, he made his case, "I offer them a chance of redemption because the enemy is still out there! Behind this very rock." He slapped the monolithic stone behind him, "Why should we turn from those willing to join our ranks when the great work is still not done!"

"We might be free but we need to keep ourselves free!" He told them, "We need to remind ourselves how it was our willingness to work together that brought us our freedom! How understanding of others and the friendships we made made us stronger!" He couldn't let them fall out. He wanted them to be reminded of the strength they had as they accepted each other, how they worked despite their differences and what they achieved.

"What I'm trying to say is…" He sighed as he knelt down before the crowd, begging them, "Please stop being dicks to others. The world is plenty dark enough, do you really want it to be darker?" Looking up to the crowd, he asked them, "Can you give them a chance like you gave your neighbor a chance?"

Silence met him and Kermit feared that he had turned against him, that he had overstepped. That was until one of the Archons, one of many that defected, stepped forward. "We can try, great Old One," they whispered, bowing low before them, "Now that we are free, creating suffering is no longer a necessity…"

"That's all I ask of you. Just try to keep it safe for everyone," Kermit nodded back. Unnecessary suffering was simply disgusting in his eyes though he wasn't so sheltered as to not know about those kinks. He wasn't going to kink shame them though unless they force it on people.

The Dhrukari perked up as they nodded eagerly, "Still… how would we know that such change would last?" They then asked, eyeing the giant gate behind Kermit, "You freed us from her grasp but we can still feel her. She can easily undone all the work we have achieved."

He nodded back, understanding their fears. "Then I will keep you safe," He offered without missing a beat, "I'll make sure she never comes back here or any of her friends! So long as I live, I will make sure no monster will ever prey on you because I see myself as a proud protector of Commorragh, no, this galaxy!"

He wasn't going to let a bully like her come back just like that after everything they've done, "We can do much good together and I want to see how far we can go with what we've made!" He told them excitedly. If he was going to make things stick, he was going to give them all the hope they'd ever need.

Looking up to his hopeful audience, he asked, "So who's with me? Who wants to make Commaragh a city that anyone, be they Dhrukari or any species can call their home?" It might be naive, it might be one of many fools who tried to change the galaxy for the better but he'll still try. Everyone was worth it no matter what they were before.

"I will," Isha, the goddess of life knelt before him. I give you my fealty oh great Old One," They declared as they looked up to him with hope in their eyes.
"My forge is your Great Old One as well," Vaul added as he knelt with the goddess. Soon, more people joined in, gods and Dhrukari alike. Even the Aeldari who joined in attendance were swept in the fervor, joining their city dwelling counterparts.

"Yeah, we're getting somewhere!" He cheered. It warmed his heart to see all these people putting their trust in him and his ideals. They could make this work, they could make a difference. He might not be a true resident of this galaxy but it needed a hero and it was time for him to step up for the task.

"Lead us Kermit!" the people asked him through the din, "We pledge our allegiance to you," They offered.

"Yeah!" He chuckled before realizing what they just said, "Wait, what?" He asked as he looked around, realizing his mistake. He was willing to be a hero, he was willing to be their guardian but not someone that leads them! He wasn't even remotely close to being qualified!

It was far too late to turn back now however, as Isha looked up to him expectantly. "Guide us Old One," She asked, bowing in worship, "Take on the mantle of the Phoenix King. Lead our people to a greater future!"

"W-wait, now hold on!" He tried turning the offer away but seeing the looks of all the Aeldari and Dhruakri who stand hand in hand along with the Jaghatai's expectant gaze, he realized that he had just become their king. Seeing no way out of his current situation, he reluctantly accepted the mantle, "I… I suppose?" What does being a Phoenix King even mean?

"All hail Kermit!" Kermit soon found his thoughts all but drowned out as those that gathered cheered, "All Hail the Great Old One!" Waving around awkwardly, he wanted nothing more than to just disappear right now. Jaghatai's and Malys' nod of approval only made him die just a little bit more inside.

"Kermit! Kermit! Kermit!" They cheered and Kermit could only take their praise because he didn't want to think what they would do if he rejected them.

"Hey…" Red whispered, giving him a comforting bop on the shoulder for his trouble. He really needed that given what he had just gotten himself into.

"Fuck…" From a normal office worker to leading an interstellar empire, his life had just become a whole lot more complicated. He wondered if there was a way for him to get back to his old life or if he was stuck here; for better or for worse.

-x-x-x-

Now that war was won, it was time to rebuild. The city of Commorragh was a hive of activity as its citizens picked up the pieces left from the great civil war. Much of the city was destroyed after all, flattened from the clash of titanic beings. There was much to rebuild but they weren't alone in such endeavors.

The Imperium of Man had lent a reluctant hand, one forced by a Primarch. One less enemy for the old Empire was a welcome reprieve. The Aeldari of the various craftworld too joined in the effort. The city was open to all. What better place could the Aeldari make port other than the place where their gods now call home?

With the gods blessing and the people from all walks of life working together, the city would come to life. Once the fetid heart of the Dhrukari Empire, now it became a gleaming symbol of hope and rebirth as it rose from the ashes. Now is the time to rebuild, now is the time to heal.

The cold stars that served as the city's light were reignited, washing away that dreary darkness that once hung over the city. The brutal structures that had choked the city are slowly replaced by sleek new spires of Wraithbone and Ferrocrete. The slave markets made way to gardens to Isha whose produce fed the city. The ports that once housed the corsairs opened up to the various Hiveworlds and even a few stray Rogue Merchants plying their trade.

There were still remnants of its brutal past. The fighting pits were still opened but they were now reserved for volunteers. The Homonculi's charnel house still spilled blood but they could now branch out to other more constructive matters. The spirit of the old city still lingered but no longer was it the place where hope died.

Vect's tower was left derelict, overgrown by plants, and served as a reminder of what happened to the old rule. Now, a new power took hold, one that is perhaps bright eyed and still hoping for a better future. After all, they do have the gods to guide them once more?

Temples were erected to the gods. While many were still missing, as Asuryan and the others still lay inside Slaanesh, their worship had once more continued. Amongst the temples that were being constructed, none would be as grand and big as that of the Old One; He who freed them from She Who Thirst.

Its monolithic size dominated the skyline as it sat just before the newly rebuilt gate to Khaine. What happens inside would be all but a mystery for it was the private domain of the Old One after all, a fact that said Old One was thankfully as they paced around nervously.

"I can't do this Red," Kermit told his companion as bit his nails, "I can't rule a city. I'm not made for this!" He exclaimed, throwing his hands up in the air. Even after the month that had passed, he still couldn't quite believe his change in fortune. From being homeless to becoming a god, it was almost unbelievable yet the responsibilities, oh the responsibilities, way down on his shoulders.

From directing how the city was getting rebuilt to what flowers the various new parks would have, it seemed like he was needed everywhere. Meetings with the Malys and the Archons, the Gods, and the people all expecting him to do stuff! He hasn't even talked about Jaghatai, the Emperium, and all the outsiders coming his city's way.

A great WAAAGH, something he was assured was very terrible, heads his way. Literal Space Locust seemed to have changed their direction and headed their way. The threat of war from the very Imperium his friend had to return to. There were also talks about Blue Skinned diplomats but he didn't have time for them. It was far too much for one frog to handle!

"You. Did. This!" Red reminded him as he floated by. While he could understand his friends better by the day, sometimes he wished he didn't. There were just some days where he would love nothing more than to bury his head beneath the ground.

"I was caught up in the moment, ok?" He hissed back as he ran his hand across his bald head, "I was just trying to get people to stick together. I didn't know they'd push me to be their God King!" he told his companions. He was still surprised that they picked him instead of Isha… or maybe Vaul (Though the latter was far too busy with his forge.)

"Well, only a few gods got freed. The rest are still inside the bitch," Lilith yawned as she laid on one of the cushions made for his size while nibbling on a giant berry that was far bigger than she was, "There's also the fact that you freed said gods so by default, you're the one in charge."

"But I'm not qualified!" He reasoned as he sat down, shoulder slumped. He was under no illusion that he had the talent for this. He could punch hard but he can't just punch away all the problems. He actually had to lead! "This is going to be a disaster!" He muttered as he clutched his head.

"Hey, being a king isn't all bad. Just think of all the perks!" Lilith said, clearly trying to just cheer him up. Tossing the fruit back in the plate, she gestured at the building around them, "They're building you a temple, giving gifts and you even have the very gods serving you!" As they plopped back down and got comfortable, she advised him, "Just relax and have people do things for you."

"Duty!" Red fired back, scolding the lazy Dhrukari. The woman in turn blew a raspberry back at the floating spirit. Sometimes, he was surprised that they haven't come to blows yet.

Shaking his head, he sighed, "Red's right, I can't just party all day. I need to have some responsibility," He dug his own grave, now he had to lay in it. "I have so many things to do and don't get me started on Malys and Jaghatai!"

Just thinking about all the meetings he had to attend made him sweat. Despite his incompetence, they were holding up? All he had done so far was just nod along with whatever the woman and the rest of the top archons said.

"But you don't have to have all the responsibility," Lilith told him as she turned over to her stomach.

"Thoughts?" Red asked, looking over at the Dhrukari in intrigue before frowning, "Not. Decision. Self." He argued back.

"He's a king, not an omnipotent being," The woman argued back before she turned to him, "You lead so you relegate stuff you aren't good at to people who are actually good at it," She suggested and Kermit considered. He could do that…

"You can protect us well enough so go do that while you leave the heavy lifting to us," Lilith then said before she flashed him a teasing smile, "Weren't you the one calling on people to work together?"

"I guess you're right," Kermit grumbled back. Maybe he was taking it too much responsibility. Perhaps, he was even being a bit too controlling.

"It's good that you actually care about us Kermit but we've handled ourselves pretty well since the gods were eaten," Lilith assured him, "We'll sort it out, eventually." Now that she mentioned it, she did

"Really? Slavers. Pirate," Red sassed, reminding all of them of Commoragh's brutal past.

"Oh hush you, I was trying to make a point," Lilith fired back, glaring at the sprite.

Still, Lilith's advice did make sense. Just because he was their overlord doesn't mean he was responsible for everything. Maybe what he was doing was enough. "Have I told you how you can be surprisingly insightful?" He complimented his companion.

"I might be a blood thirsty bitch but that doesn't mean I'm dumb," Lilith replied with a cheeky smile. He reminded himself to praise the woman from time to time.

"Hey" Red coughed, making Kermit gasp. Turning to Lilith, he saw the girl bristle at the insult thrown her way.

"Oh that's it," Getting up from her perch, she pulled out her swords. With a blood thirsty grin on her face, she then shouted, "I have enough of your sass! Come here!" Roaring out, she leapt from the table right at a panicking Red.

Kermit laughed at the sight, choosing not to interfere. They'll sort things out. Watching Lilith chase the spirit out of his room, he found his smile slipping away. Now alone in his thoughts, he finally had time to reflect. Picking himself up, he walked over to his bed before plopping down. Turning his gaze to the city, he sighed.

"Heavy is the head that wears the crown, is it not?" A feminine voice whispered as Kermit felt warm hands upon her brow.

"O-oh, Lady Isha!" He shouted as he tried to get up but the goddesses firm hand made the woman's intention clear. Reluctantly, he laid back down as Isha sat beside him. "I didn't notice you were there.. But yeah," He replied as he looked up the mural up in the ceiling of his greatest feat thus far, punching out a daemon god, "I'm just not sure if I'll be good enough for this," It might be self-deprecating but it was true. "I'm just a normal guy before this happened" He admitted, before he turned towards Isha,

Isha merely smiled before she replied, "But you stepped up when we needed you most," Stroking his head, she whispered, "You didn't bow when She Who Thirst tried to break you and now, you give us hope." Smiling, she then poked his cheeks as he asked him, "Are you really just… a normal guy?"

Kermit smiled before it slowly slipped away. Turning away from the goddess, he replied, "I was just trying to do the right thing," It was all he wanted to do. He just wanted to help. He could lend a hand so why not do so?

"If what you've done is simply trying to do what is right," Isha replied as he felt her get up and laid herself over his head, "Then I believe you will do great things my lord." It was comforting hearing someone believe in him so wholeheartedly yet his heart still felt heavy.

"If doubt still lingers in your mind, then perhaps we can help you train you?" She offered, making him pause. Glancing back, he wondered what she had in mind.

"You are young Kermit, you have much to grow," Isha whispered as she pulled herself away from himself. Walking over to the edge of his bed, she told him, "Despite the raw power you have now, there is still much for you to learn." Reaching out, she tapped in the air which rippled under her touch. He watched as a portal appeared before her, leading deep into the untold depths of the Webway.

Seeing his gaze, her smile widened as she turned back towards him, "Now while Vaul and I can teach you, there is a god far better suited at such a task," She told him as her amused smile turned fond, her gaze distant for a brief second before they came back into focus.

"Oh?" Intrigued, Kermit got to his knees, wondering who it might be? Amongst the major gods, only two actually got out. Who else could teach him the powers he now wields?
"Amongst us, he is the most learned in our craft," Isha told him, stepping aside as the tunnel glow behind her, "He might not be the most powerful, but he is perhaps one of the most skilled," She added, his attention fully on the portal as a figure stepped forward from the light.

"He is also a good friend that never fails to make us smile," Turning to the portal, she introduced the god that will be his teacher for the foreseeable future, "Cegorach, if you will?" Almost immediately, Kermit's expression soured as the clown stepped out from the portal.

"Kermit, Old Buddy, I'm so glad to see you~" The clown greeted, their grating voice making Kermit's eyes twitch, "Quite the performance you got down there. You really show that bitch huh?" The god told him as he suddenly appeared by his side.

Reaching up, he covered his face as he grumbled, "Why does it have to be him." Feeling the clown laugh while he patted his back, Kermit wondered if the Aeldari gods would forgive him if he just chucked the Laughing God back into the Webway.

A/N:

Finally done. Polls tommorow and while that's going... Imma try and get 2 chapters of Profiteering Up and running. 10k worlds in 7-8 days. Think I could do it?