Divine Arbiter

Hey now, I was just teasin ya a little. No need to air out anybody’s dirty laundry.

Aw, I was just teasin a little.

Sorry. :(

Still rude.

Maybe you need one of those tin foil hats! ;)

Hard to sleep knowing everyone’s horny thoughts, huh?

You are absolutely, utterly charmed by Sleuth standing up for you. Even though it’s not necessary. But you’re a soft woman under everything, and him being sweet is darling. You give the Guards a gentle smile, and in the blink of an eye you’re on the dais, standing next to the Queen. 

“You may want to rethink your actions. I am a Queen myself, and a Goddess besides. And killing me would bring hell upon you in the form of several furious mages.” Then you’re back next to Sleuth, folding your arms behind your back. “Now. Are you willing to discuss things? Or are things going to have to get…rather unfortunate?” 

You might be showing off, just a tad. People just don’t fear you like they used to. Might as well use your powers for good! 

You watch as Snowman intimidates the Queen, and The Queen looks first surprised, then angered, then distraught. You figured that she realized that there’s nothing she can do here, and you take the Tectrix of The Arbitor and place it in your jacket pocket.

“Wendy, things don’t have to end with someone dead. Please. Just give Stray the cloning technology. You have to let things go.”

The guards step back as you step up onto the dais. Wendy looks up at you, and you smile, a little.

“Nothing will ever bring back the people we lost. But the Dersites lost so much as well. They’ve lost their home, their loved ones, their ability to have families of their own. Haven’t they suffered enough?”

She takes a seat at her throne, tears welling up in her eyes. 

“I...I suppose they have.”

Tears draw wet lines down her face, and you pull a handkerchief out of your pocket, handing it to her. She dabs at the tears on her cheeks, sniffling a little and looking over at the King’s Crown on his empty throne. You put a hand on her shoulder.

The wave of magic is powerful, yes, but it doesn’t have nearly the same effect on you that it does the other people. You stand tall, feeling electrified by the magic, and smile at the Queen as if she is a misbehaving child. 

“Are you done throwing a temper tantrum, my dear? Or do you want to rant and rave further, to feel better?” You start walking towards the throne, without fear and without pause. “What a queen you are, to have to force your will on your people like this. On your cousin. How impressive, to be unable to have a conversation about things. Yes, well done.”

You give a slow clap as you stop at the bottom of the dais. 

“So, if you’re finished, would you like to join the grownups and have a talk? Or do you need to take a nap to feel better?”

Mocking? Oh, yes. But it’s the most fun you’ve had in a dog’s age.

The Queen looks shaken when Snowman remains standing among the room of kneeling people. How could she have resisted her will so easily? Even Sleuth, The Champion of Pulchritude himself is struggling against her magic.

Snowman approaches the dais, mocking her, and you watch her approach. You think that now is probably the wrong time to think that you wife is incredibly sexy, but here you go.

The Queen seems flabbergasted at Snowman’s attitude before snarling and gesturing at Snowman. The Guards stand, you’re not entirely sure by their own will, and lower their weapons at Snowman.

“Kill her.”

You watch as the Guards close in, encircling you and Snowman, and you strain against The Queen’s Will. You would not sit idly by and watch Snowman get hurt because of your stupid, racist cousin.

The glass ceiling of the throne room shatters as lime green lightning strikes the marble floor in front of you, The Tetrixcalibur embedding itself into the marble in a shower of green sparks and glittering multi-colored glass. You grip the handle and stand, withdrawing it from the stone and sweeping it in front of you. The Guards hesitate and begin to step back.

“Wendy you have lost your Goddamned Mind! I will not sit here and let you try to kill my Wife!”

You move closer to Snowman, eyes locked onto The Queen. She looks incredibly displeased.

“You would use that sword against your own people? Against your Queen?”

You grit your teeth, tightening your grip on the sword.

You keep your cool perfectly well, gliding across the floor like you did so many times back on your own Prospit. You look up at the Queen, though from the way you do it it seems more like you’re looking at her head on. It’s a talent you’ve…cultivated, over the years. 

You settle a comforting hand on Sleuth’s shoulder. 

“I believe we should honor the Queen’s wishes.” You say, giving her a smooth smile. Completely devoid of any real emotions. 

The Queen locks eyes with Snowman when she smiles, before turning her attention back to Sleuth. You look to Snowman’s hand on your shoulder, relaxing a bit at her touch, before looking back to your cousin, reaching into your jacket pocket and retrieving your phone. The Queen arches a brow at you.

“I have evidence that you are willfully withholding information on technology that would assist the Dersites in their survival.”

The Queen’s eyes turn icy when you speak, and you’re almost certain you can feel her gaze piercing through you.

“You can’t do this to them. They’re people. Just like every person on this planet. The war ended nearly 20 years ago.”

You step forward, towards the platform the thrones are atop.

“Please, Wendy. The Dersites will fade out of existence. You can’t just let them die.”

The Queen very suddenly stands from her throne, and a hot wave of magic bursts out, staggering the guards in the room and nearly dropping you to a knee.

“You will address me as your Queen! And I will not allow some absent Princeling to walk into My Palace and tell me what I can and cannot do!”

Your brows furrow in frustration, and you glare back at her as she does at you. She points at you.

“You have been playing around in that city so long that you have forgotten what they did to Prospit! You have forgotten what they did to our people! To my husband! To your Father! I will not allow those monsters to continue on with life after what they have done!”

The people in the throne room begin to mutter and murmur to each other, and she sweeps her arms, sending out another staggering wave of magic.

“Silence!”

You adjust his suit a bit, until you seem satisfied. Maybe it’s nerves, maybe it isn’t. 

“I know it.” You feel perfectly confident in both him and you, after all. If it were only one of you, maybe less so but with both of you, you can at least stand a chance. “Let’s go.” 

You take hold of Snowman’s hands when she finishes adjusting your suit, squeezing them gently and kissing her. You feel better about confronting The Queen with her at your side. You adjust your transportalizer watch for the correct coordinates, taking her hand as it teleports the both of you.

When you both materialize in front of the Palace doors, the Guards initially ready their weapons at the both of you, before realizing who you are. They both apologize profusely before you wave them off.

“Open the doors. I need to speak with The Queen.”

They immediately open the doors, showing the Throne room filled with people, milling about, repairing old tapestries, maintaining plants, discussing upkeep of the palace. The Queen sits on her throne, speaking with a Dignitary, before her attention is drawn to you when the doors open.

Everyone goes quiet, their eyes all on you. A Guard by the door announces your presence.

“Announcing the arrival of The Hero of Prospit, The Champion of Pulchritude, The Golden Prince, Personable Soldier, and his wife, Captain Snowman of The Metropolis Central Police Department.”

You swallow the anxiety rising in your throat, squeezing Snowman’s hand and walking down the aisle, towards The Queen, who has her eyes locked on you in an unreadable expression. When you both are standing before the throne, she rises from her seat, holding out her arms in greeting.

“Well, the Prodigal Son returns. After all these years. Have you had enough of playing Detective in Midnight City?”

You roll your eyes.

“No. I have not, thank you.”

You cross your arms across your chest.

“We need to talk. It might be best for you to dismiss all of these people.”

Her lips curl in a smirk, before she takes a seat back in her throne, looking down the bridge of her nose at you and Snowman.

You’re dressed absolutely impeccably, and watch Sleuth for a moment. It isn’t a surprise that he’s scared. If you were in his place, you probably would feel similarly. As it is, you just feel a bit…excited. It’s been a while since you’ve had to deal with someone on your level whom you could actually beat. 

“You’ll be able to. It’s the right and just thing, after all. And we all know you’re good at that.” You lean forward and give his cheek a gentle kiss. 

Your suit is clean and pressed, at least, though you can’t stand wearing neckties, so you leave that out. Snowman kisses your cheek, and you look up at her, smiling, a little nervously. It’s good that one of you has faith, at least.

You take her hand and press your lips to her knuckles.