New Legacy

Ch.31

The guards immediately tried to assault and or pacify the woman with sword, spear and magic. In response without moving, speaking, or other form of articulation, she used some invisible force to pin her assailants and then yank us all into the room to float about while slamming the doors shut. “You’re doing good work, Milly. I had a feeling you were the right choice.”

“You’re the one that Displaced me!” I accused her with a finger pointing at the intimidatingly burly yet beautiful bear babe, to which she simply nodded and looked at us all with keen eyes.

“Correct. I would have preferred to have been direct about it, but Eris and Hermais do love their plotting and told me that you were the best candidate after I already told them that. Then they went on and on about how stubborn you could be if you felt you were tricked or bamboozled, yada, yada. You’re the right person for the job, I picked you, end of story.” Dongoruas approached me and I winced when she grabbed my chin and examined my face.

“Why are you here?! What are you going to do to her?!” Kalameet demanded furiously, causing me to fear for my life. She was the one who knew about this woman out of all of us, if she was scared for me, what could be about to happen?

“I wish I could say nothing, but direct intervention has become necessary. You’ve done well to get things in motion, but you were too slow and reluctant to act immediately. Because of this, without intervention, you and half of the people in this room will die in the next month. Eris has concluded that with this turnout and the alterations you’ve succeeded in making, Sombra will be the victor. You must survive, so now I’m afraid I need to do something I won’t enjoy.” Dongoruas ominously stated before blinding pain struck me into oblivion.

🥚

I gasped and convulsed upon waking. My slumber had been wracked with pain and half-remembered nightmares. My chest. My chest feels like something is squeezing the air from my lungs, the blood from my heart. My breathing was being assisted somehow, air was being forced into my lungs and then allowed to relax, as if I was in an iron lung.

My limbs felt like they were made of lead, my vision was blurry, my thoughts muffled and slow as if my skull was stuffed with cotton. I couldn’t reach out to anyone, I could barely even feel Roran. What I could feel was confusion, quite potent confusion. I tried to sort myself out, but I kept coming back to wondering how I ended up here.

I blacked out and came to some time later feeling much better. I felt less like death warmed over and more like a cripple coming out of a seizure. Then I blacked out from a sudden and unexpected spike of pain from my chest. Finally, I awoke feeling better. Not just better, greater than I felt before whatever happened to me.

I sat up and took a breath on my own power without the aid of whatever was breathing for me earlier. I screwed up my snout in bemusement when I felt like everything was...off. Like my perspective was altered somehow. It was when an elegant and beautiful elk cow in a simple dress who looked as if she were feminine elegance personified entered, that I realized my line of sight was almost level with her collarbone rather than her lower chest.

Everything is smaller. Or, rather, I’m bigger. “It is good to see you have recovered from your brutal assault, Lady Shimmer. I will inform the palace physician that you have awoken.” She looked intently at me, her lips moving silently in what had to be the Ancient Language before she nodded and left the room.

I took the moment alone to examine my body and holy fuck, whatever happened to me seems to have decided to hit me with the essence of beefcakes. I was fit before, but now I have guns. My arms are well defined with muscle, my whole body too. I wasn’t obscenely bulky or bulgy either, I still had a healthy amount of feminine curviness from my prior state. Holy shit, I think I could crush someone’s torso between my thighs!

“Shimmer!” I heard Roran’s telepathic voice and I perked happily at feeling my Rider in my mind again.

“Roran! Whatever happened to me, I look and feel like a competitor for Miss Universe! Although I still have huge baps and a booty that doesn’t quit, they’re just firmer.” I squeezed a breast and buttcheek to verify and felt relief that not every inch of me was muscular hardness.

“Hold on, Shimmer, just rest a bit until the physician releases you. I’m with the Masters and helping train some of the recruits. I’ll see you in the evening. Be wary, Queen Islanzadi may choose to speak to you.” Roran warned me and I groaned at the idea of having to engage in politics.

I didn’t have to wait long for the palace physician. He wore a simple white robe with red filigree and was also unnaturally handsome. It seemed elks who specialize in the healing arts tend to simply amplify their natural traits rather than augment them with traits from other species.

He didn’t say anything, just looked me over as he muttered silently to himself and then nodded and left. The nurse came back and handed me an oversized robe. “You are well, please follow the guard outside of the healing hall.” I mentally bemoaned the obvious place he was going to take me and put the robe on before doing so.

It felt weird to be standing at the same height as the elks after so long of being average height and having to look up at them all the time. I wasn’t lithe or svelte like them though. I easily weighed as much as three elk cows and was as wide as two of them hugging closely. My musings on my new stature and figure were put aside when the guard opened a door.

I entered and felt dread as who could only be Queen Islanzadi looked up from her desk in what had to be a private study. Thank gosh she didn’t summon me to her throne room or other courtly setting. “Lady Shimmer. I’d ask you to sit, but I know better than to try and tell a dragon what to do.” She offered the chair in front of her desk anyway, but I stood behind it. I’d rather not try sitting in that flimsy-looking thing right now. My tight bubble butt might crush it.

“Sorry if I stand. I’m not exactly used to my new stature.” I spread my wings from the open upper back of the robe and my wingspan took up most of the space. I could only assume this was a unisex robe and the extra-large opening was so elk bulls could more easily fit their antlers through, so I took advantage of it to allow my wings to breathe.

“Indeed. I requested your presence because the interloper, an extra-dimensional entity young Kalameet identified by the name Dongoruas, has altered you greatly.” The queen didn’t look away and spoke almost entirely in the Ancient Language, likely some political tripe so I knew she spoke the truth or some silly thing. Even if she spoke in a language that could tell no lies, she’s a politician. Lying by omission or misdirection is still a possibility.

“I had figured as much, your highness. The physician and nurse did not speak to me about it, would you be willing to impart this knowledge?” I, of course, did not speak in that voo-doo hoo-doo language. I’m not about to speak a language that binds the speaker to even idle promises.

“That is why I have summoned you. Please steady yourself.” Islanzadi requested and I put my hands on the back of the chair before widening my stance a bit. “First I have a question or two. Do you hear voices? Not the ones of your Rider or others you converse with, but voices unfamiliar or oddly familiar?”

“No. I did feel like that in my sleep, but by the time I awoke that notion was gone.” Those nightmares, I can’t remember them clearly, but I still feel hints of what they were.

“Troubling, but good. The reason I ask is because the interloper had somehow forcibly implanted several Eldunarya from dragons long-passed in your chest.” Islanzadi’s words made me go cold and instinctively reach out from my Heart-of-Hearts. I felt warmth all around me, power practically suffused me and threatened to drown me along with the faint memories of minds long gone and sundered by madness to the point of vegetation.

Is this what Kala feels, only with a much more sinisterly aware mind in the mix? “That explains the extra power and sudden increase of body mass if I have 8 Eldunarya in my chest now.” Dear gosh. What could be coming for Dongoruas to forcibly infuse me with the power of seven much older and greater dragons?

“The extra mass was created by your body in response. At least as far as we can tell. Now then, since we have ascertained your mental stability and physical wellness, I wished to speak with you since you are the mother of the remaining 76 eggs.” Ah, here we go. I was expecting Islanzadi to try and bargain for my children.

“They will hatch for whom they will hatch. I have no issue with helping elks discover if they suit any of my children, but to deny other races further chances to become Riders is the sort of thing I wish for the new Order to move away from, to avoid the social and racial pitfalls of the prior organization.” I declared and looked at the map on the queen’s desk. “I doubt the rest will hatch solely for elks. It would be best then that we deal with the Empire as soon as possible. Illrea would be a good place for the new Order to operate out of.”

“It’s geographical location is indeed convenient. It is, however, Sombra’s seat of power. Until then, I request that you aid as many elks find their partners so that should the conflict draw out for months or years, then we’ll have more Dragon Riders to help deal with the usurper.” I nodded at Islanzadi’s request, because that was basically my intent.

“Don’t expect too many. I’ll help, but I know better than to think they’ll latch onto people so readily. Is there anything else, your majesty?” I took the beautiful elk’s dismissive wave as a sign I was allowed to leave and promptly took it. At least she didn’t have any schemes beyond what I expected. I’ll have to be on my guard at all times to ensure my eggs don’t get stolen by ‘bandits’ or whatnot to be sequestered away by the elks.

“I have been directed to help you navigate to the Crags of Tel'naeír, where your eggs and the Riders are for their safety and training.” The guard who had escorted me here stated before promptly guiding me outside and pointing to where I felt was the northwest. “Fly above the trees in that direction to reach the crags. You will find your companions easily from above.”

“Thank you good sir. Be sure to visit if you wish to find out if you could be the partner one of my children awaits.” I then took to the air and waited until I was above the canopy and safely away from the Menoa Tree’s much greater reach before I transformed. I felt the same up here in the air, but when I flew down closer towards the mountain crags and the people, I felt like everything was too small. “Roran. I am here, but I do not see any space to land.”

The plateau atop the crags was not small, but with all the people spread out and the multicolored rugrats running about, I didn’t have anywhere I felt was safe for me to land. “What do you-dear gods. Just transform and land. I don’t think we need to worry about you needing to grow bigger.” I gulped at Roran’s comment and turned back to anthro form before flying down and landing next to my Rider. It felt so weird to stand a foot taller than my 7-foot Rider.

I drew everyone’s attention when I flew up from the forest, but now everyone was gawking at me. I felt fairly flustered and wrung my hands together in front of my heaving chest out of awkwardness. This increased when Kala gave a wolf whistle and she winked at me with a saucy grin. Damn it Kala, you’re not helping!

“My gosh. Shimmer, you’re so...big.” Katrina breathlessly commented as her eyes drank me in and Roran squeezed my bicep when he sent feelings of comfort and acceptance to me. The fact his large hand barely grasped half of my bicep only made me feel larger than I already was.

“I know and I’m mixed on it. So, what are we all doing? Am I still going to be watching over my eggs? Have any new Riders been found?” I questioned, but Oromis approached.

“I’ll take it from here, you get back to training.” The ancient elk half-chided and my fiance and fiancees reluctantly left to get back to training in weapon styles. “It is good to see you survived and thrived after what that interloper did to you, Shimmer. We have not vetted any new Riders since it would be distasteful to do so without you to refine the process. Not to mention we don’t know how your Pact works. You were present for each Bonding and we don’t know if that is key or not.”

“I don’t either. I suppose it’s for the best since I’ve been so consistent. Send word that my eggs are available for finding partners. In the meantime I...need to retrain. Ugh. All my hard work was for someone two feet shorter, now I’ve gotta remaster my stances.” I grumbled and Oromis nodded in understanding.

“I can understand that. Having to retrain to compensate for my disability was hard, but worth it. Get to it then, Glaedr will help you.” Oromis turned and staggered slightly, but only slightly rather than the full seizure fit I’d seen him have before. Whew, I thought he was going to fall down.

“Do you need assistance finding new clothes, Shimmer?” I turned to Master Glaedr and gasped in surprise. “Yes, many who know of me have had similar responses.” Glaedr held up his new left arm and clenched his new fist. “That interloper, Dongoruas, restored my arm with a wave of her hand and relieved my Rider’s disability with an unknown healing serum she put into him through his skin.”

“Not just that, we’re the same height now. This is so weird!” I mewled in dismay at how odd it felt to be so massive.

“At least that means we’ll be suitable sparring partners. I understand you trained for the spear, a refined weapon. I too was once adept in its use, let’s both work on regaining our skill.” Glaedr muttered words in the Ancient Language and two huge spears rocketed into his hands from the distant home that stood alone on the plateau. Hoo boy.

🥚

Our training and recruiting continued for a week. In that time, dozens of elks made a pilgrimage to the top of the Crags of Tel'naeír. Of my remaining 76 eggs, 7 Bonded to new Riders, yet did not hatch right away for any of them. I had also adjusted to my new stature and bulk. I had to move like I could break something by accident all the time, because that’s exactly what happened many times over the week.

I’ve broken furniture, the door of Master Oromis’ house, his front steps, his mailbox because elks have mail. I was thus banned from his home for logical reasons. I didn’t mind sleeping outside with the rest of the recruits, especially not since I had a whole section of the plateau to myself in my gigantic birth form.

Roran, Katrina and Kala all insisted on staying with me too even though Oromis’ guest room was offered to Roran as his direct pupil. It was one thing to act as a tent, but my new size meant my old saddle was now too small, so Oromis commissioned a new one that was big enough for over a dozen people and Roran used both his craftsmanship and magic to convert my old saddle into a collapsable tent that could be attached to my saddle. My saddle has a convertible top! I’m a convertible~! Now I just need it to be motorized! Wrr~!

“Your mind is floating in the sky again, Shimmer.” I barely noted my Master’s words before I hissed when his spear stabbed into my stomach and barely made it an inch past my rock-hard scales, firm flesh and harder muscles before he yanked it out and promptly began healing me as I winced from the pain. Master Glaedr was a brutal instructor, he believed that since minor wounds could be healed immediately, that using practice blades was redundant.

“Sorry. I find it hard to focus. I tend to sort of meditate when I’m training even if usually my mind goes to odd places.” I tried to get out of that, but I just get so bored that if I don’t mentally check out, I just want to give up and go lie down or something. Gosh, I haven’t been able to be lazy since my pregnancy! Gah! The swim in the lakes and being trapped in the Dragon Jar were the closest I’ve gotten!

“Hm, perhaps you are not meant to master a single art. Have you considered other fields of martial study?” Glaedr questioned and I hummed with a look over at Roran who was practicing with his halberd. Despite the elks offering, Roran refused to ‘upgrade’ from the weapons forged for him by the wargs. His mace was a warhammer meant to be used one-handed and his halberd was a Lucerne. Technically it was a hammer too, but it was a polearm.

Both of them would ignore conventional armor and make Roran a nearly unstoppable force on a battlefield when it came to a combat of arms due to his strength, training and finesse with such brutal blunt-force weapons. Especially since they both had armor-piercing beaks too. “Maybe. I would prefer to try something unexpected. Maybe caestus? I don’t know. Something with less reach than my spear in case I have to fight in close quarters.”

“I would not suggest sacrificing too much reach. With your height, the use of a shorter weapon would disadvantage you when the enemy closes with you rather than the other way around.” Master Glaedr considered, at least until he stiffened and Oromis did too. “Come.” Glaedr led me to Oromis’ house and his Rider led Roran into the home as well.

“I’m afraid our time to train has run out. Our allies to the south have taken Feinster and secured the Burning Plains, at least so much such a locale can be secured. Our spies in the Empire have noticed a drastic decrease in soldiers stationed in Ceunon and Gil’ead. We will launch an immediate surprise attack while Sombra has his forces focused in the south.” Oromis declared and I felt dread and foreboding fill me.

I’d warned them that should they encounter Murtagh in Gil’ead, he would likely slay them both. I also assured them that he was not our enemy by choice. He was as much a victim as any other pegasus forced into service by Sombra. “Considering how things have changed, hopefully Murtagh will be too busy stalling their advance to be at either Ceunon or Gil’ead.” I muttered worriedly and Roran patted my back since he would have to reach up for a shoulder.

“Whatever comes, we will face it together. Where are we headed?” Roran questioned our masters and Oromis rolled out a map of Alagaesia.

“Because I am still recovering from my spasm fits, I will lead the army group being sent to Ceunon to stop them from cutting down our trees and preparing siege engines to assault Du Weldenvarden. Since you are still unhindered, I felt it wise to send you to Gil’ead in the case that Murtagh and his dragon are there as Shimmer foresaw. Unlike Glaedr and I, you two have a better chance of defeating them in combat due to how clever you are with magic, Roran, aided by how powerful you are, Shimmer.” Oromis informed us and I gulped.

I hope I’m ready. I may be even bigger than Master Glaedr, but I am not an expert in combat. I’ve had very few experiences with conflict and most of those involved fleeing from it. I worry that I will either flounder against Thorn, or accidentally kill him. My children notwithstanding, we need all the males we can get what with-wait!

“What about Saria and Nuanen? They are the fourth oldest set of Riders of this new generation. I’ve barely seen hide or hair of either of them.” It has been well over a month since Nuanen had hatched I believe. Roran informed me at some point that Nuanen hatched for her friend on the journey from Tronjheim to Du Weldenvarden according to Eragon.

“They are not yet ready. Saria has had great difficulty adjusting to learning the Ancient Language to the point we believe she has a learning disability like young Katrina.” Oromis looked out the window towards our lover, who was one of the few stuck on their language studies. “That said, they will remain here and help maintain the physical regimen.”

Okay then...well...time to shine, Shimmer.