Into the same field from which they departed, the war party arrived in the Core Realm. In the immediate timeframe, agents of the Offices of Para-Universal Investigation and the Firstborn began organizing gates for those needing to return to the Sister Realms. The army collected materials, ranks and the fallen. Their leaders put in the final orders. One more realm had been united with its family.

 Lauren glanced at bodies in coffins, bags and trunks, and although she knew what awaited souls in the afterlife, that they had volunteered their lives out of the ultimate loyalty of faith and that death was becoming a domain more worshipped by those that believed in her, she had a growing sense that she could do more for mortality.

 Lauren looked over Nadalia, among the Guard-Knights. She was talking with Phamen, who was lecturing her present Commanders, who were in turn organizing the bulk of the Guard-Knights.

 â€œI'm not sure I was ready to leave so soon,” Bates remarked.

 Lauren turned her head to see her siblings with their pets in tow. Amusingly, her siblings had already sent their packs to their homes in other realities.

 â€œYou and Terrica both,” Lauren said, half-smiling.

 â€œThere's a lot left to explore in the Coarse Realm,” Bates said, smiling over at Lauren. “We uncovered very little, I think, but now that we have permanent access.” Bates clasped his hands together. “There's much we can study. I was so focused on the Elementalists' and AniÅ›a's magic that I hardly tapped into the native spells.”

 â€œI totes agree, Bates,” Anna said, holding up an unspecified bone from an unknown creature. “I could spends years there.” She laughed. “But I need to get back to get back to my pad, first. I need to put things in the fridge.”

 â€œMmm, I think I'll take a bath,” May said. “It was so sunny there, and their baths were all so casual.”

 â€œI've gotta check on all my servers, emails, chats, farms, matches, et cetera,” Vanessa listed off. “Going to have so many fucking notifications and hackers to sort out.”

 â€œDon't get too relaxed, guys,” Axy said. “We still have things to do. Just because we sorted out the asshole problem in the Coarse Realm doesn't mean we can turn a blind eye for a while.”

 â€œYou aren't giving us enough credit, X,” Ray said, patting his brother on the back. “The job has only just begun, of course. The ball is still rolling. Personally, I'm excited to work on the upcoming projects.”

 â€œLike getting to the final Sister Realm,” Del said, trying to hide excitement.

 â€œYes Del, it's on the priority list,” Lauren said, chuckling.

 â€œYou'll be the first to know,” May said to Del.

 â€œMm, that's kind of you,” Del responded, with a smile, “but Ume should be, really.”

 â€œNo doubt,” Lauren said. “Now, there's things we need to talk about…”

 She glanced over at Nadalia again.

 â€œâ€¦ but I have something to do, first.”

 â€œSure,” Axy said. “Diner?”

 â€œPerfect,” Lauren said.

 Lauren hopped down off of Emma Wister's saddle, and she guided her horse by the reins over to Nadalia.

 â€œThank the fucking gods we don't have any bodies to take back,” she heard Phamen say as Lauren got nearer. “Trip back is going to be quicker: During the first Coarse War, it was the lowered morale rather than their weight that slowed us down.”

 They both noticed Lauren, and the farmer and the knight side-hugged, as Phamen saluted Lauren.

 â€œWhat's the time frame?” Nadalia asked Lauren.

 Lauren knew Nadalia's purpose, and so it seemed did Phamen.

 Phamen sighed. She opened her mouth to answer Nadalia.

 â€œGo ahead, Nadalia,” Nicholas said, walking up. “You aren't restricted by the barriers between realms anymore. We have everything handled.”

 â€œYes, get on to Grecinma,” Phamen said. “You're free of your duties here. We've sent word that we've returned. She's probably waiting.”

 â€œTh-thank you,” Nadalia said, bowing her head.

 The knight faced Lauren. Lauren gestured with her head at Emma Wister, holding up the reins. In the next minute, Lauren was in the saddle with Nadalia sitting behind her. Lauren waved at Nicholas and Phamen, and they waved at the duo's departure. E.W. gallopped for Grecinma. It would be a very short trip. The hilly plains passed by, a blur in green and yellow.

 Emma Wister whinnied.

 â€œE.W. wants to let you know that you're the third best rider she's ever had,” Lauren said, smiling at her horse's comment and back at Nadalia.

 â€œThank you for the compliment, Emma,” Nadalia replied to Emma Wister.

 Emma Wister neighed.

 â€œCan you guess who the second is?” Lauren asked, trying to keep the mood light.

 â€œMaybe later,” Nadalia said, staring at the landscape. “I know what you're trying to do, but my thoughts are growing too cloudy.”

 â€œDo you know what you're going to say to her?” Lauren asked, dropping her smile into a face of concern.

 â€œNo,” Nadalia replied.

 She left the answer there.

 Swiftly, the magnificent walls of Grecinma came into view, the second wall well into its construction. To show off and to make another attempt at brightening Nadalia's mood, Lauren encouraged Emma Wister to jump over the outer wall. As they soared over the bricks and shocked workers, Nadalia did smile a bit, as the wind blew through her hair and tugged at her cheeks. Then, E.W.'s hooves hit grass, and her visage went serious once again. Emma Wister gallopped through the western gate of the inner wall. They passed citizens, pilgrims and guards as the horse gallopped through the streets. Lauren slowed Emma Wister into a canter, and once they reached the grounds of the imposing Overchurch, Emma Wister decelerated into a trot. At the main doors of the Overchurch, Lauren and Nadalia dismounted from Lauren's horse. The Guard-Knights opened the doors for them and knelt.

 â€œShe can take care of herself,” Lauren told the Guard-Knights of Emma Wister before they could inquire.

 Nadalia and Lauren strode into the main hall of the Overchurch, receiving more gestures of praise and respect from the clergy, scribes, scholars, knights and assassins of the Protective Core within. The two Guard-Knights at the doors to the Approaching Chamber likewise opened the way and knelt. The couple walked into the Approaching Chamber, the doors shut behind them. On their thrones were Bryta, Madeline and Whitney, but not Giselle. The High Priestesses bowed from their thrones.

 â€œO Giver of Hunger and Chief Nadalia, you've returned… early,” High Priestess Bryta said.

 â€œYes, we received the initial messages once the army returned to the realm,” High Priestess Madeline said. “We didn't expect anyone to return till the end of the day.”

 â€œIt's just us two,” Nadalia said. “We rode ahead. Everyone else will be back when you expected.”

 â€œAh, now that You've defeated those false gods and brought the Coarse Realm to heel, did You come to confer with us another secret plan?” High Priestess Whitney asked, eagerly leaning forward to Lauren.

 â€œActually, I was hoping to speak with Giselle,” Nadalia said. “Alone”

 â€œOh,” High Priestess Whitney said, leaning back.

 â€œWhat for?” High Priestess Madeline asked.

 â€œThat's between me and her,” Nadalia said with a hard stare.

 The three High Priestesses looked at Lauren.

 â€œYeah, it's private,” Lauren said.

 â€œIn that case, we did expect her to be here to greet your return,” High Priestess Bryta said, making a certain hand gesture. “However, as soon as the return message was relayed, she excused herself.”

 â€œDo you know where she went?” Lauren asked.

 â€œActually, I might know where she is,” Nadalia said.

 Lauren looked at Nadalia.

 â€œWell, we hope you will inform us later on the specifics of your excursion,” High Priestess Bryta said. “I think we're all very interested in having access to a new Sister Realm.”

 Nadalia nodded at the High Priestesses. She and Lauren turned to leave the Approaching Chamber.

 â€œWhy do they call it the Coarse Realm, anyway?” High Priestess Madeline asked High Priestess Whitney.

 â€œIf I recall, it has something to do with lutes,” High Priestess Whitney replied.

 Nadalia strode through the Overchurch with a steady gait on a memorized path, and Lauren followed. They received more attention, but they reached halls with less foot-traffic. Then, they exited to the rear of the Overchurch, and Nadalia walked them to the gardens. The knight entered the hedge labyrinthe, and Lauren kept following her. They could have fit side by side, but the narrowness of the paths, the closeness of the hedges encouraged them to go in line. For the few seconds Lauren was beside Nadalia, she saw that Nadalia had her eyes closed, yet she still navigated the maze without effort.

 The knight and the farmer reached the center of the labyrinthe. Giselle was there, on her knees next to the bench. The tall statue of Greci stared with lifeless eyes at her. Giselle was holding her Blue Bone helmet, tracing the scar in metal with her fingertips. Nadalia took Incisor off of her back, and she set the poleaxe down on the bench. Their arrival had not been quiet, but it was the clink of Incisor on stone that alerted Giselle. She whipped her head back over her shouler in alarm. Then, her shoulders slumped as she stared at Nadalia. Giselle stood up, twisting towards her Nadalia. She magically stowed her helmet. Giselle's expression was full of hurt and regret.

 â€œYou've returned,” Giselle said.

 Nadalia went forward, and she hugged her mother. Arms shaking, Giselle hugged her daughter.

 â€œYou don't need to hide it anymore,” Nadalia said softly. “I know.”

 Giselle Seren teared up, and releasing decades of pain, she cried. She squeezed her daughter tighter.

 â€œI'm sorry,” Giselle said through tears. “I'm sorry I never told you. I never should have kept it a secret. Not from you, my daughter, my amazing, amazing daughter.”

 â€œIt was not easy to accept,” Nadalia said. “But accept it I did. I remember the Coarse War, mother, and by Greci, you have suffered. My anger wasn't worth hurting you more.”

 â€œYou're too good a daughter for me, Nadalia,” Giselle said, cry-laughing.

 Nadalia and Giselle gave one hard squeeze, and they ended the hug. Giselle put her hands on the sides of Nadalia's head.

 â€œI love you, Nadalia,” Giselle said.

 â€œI love you, too, mother,” Nadalia said.

 Giselle looked past Nadalia at Lauren.

 â€œDid she yell at you too much?” Giselle asked. Lauren chortled.

 â€œNot enough,” Lauren answered, with a slight smirk.

 â€œI disagree,” Nadalia said.

 â€œBy the way, if you're going to start calling me 'Great Aunt', we're going to have problems,” Lauren said to Giselle.

 â€œI wouldn't dream of it,” Giselle replied, chuckling, wiping away her tears.

 Nadalia perked up.

 â€œCan I see them?” Nadalia asked her mother.

 Giselle blinked, tilting her head, and then she smiled, nodding.

 Giselle let go of Nadalia. She took a step back. Giselle handled her blue and white robes and moved them around to expose a section of her back. Then, Giselle's wide wings sprung out, grand and regal. Her golden feathers did not gleam under the sunlight, but they shone all the same.

 â€œWow,” Nadalia said, face in wonder.

 Lauren whistled.

 â€œThey're so gold,” Nadalia said.

 â€œI had…” Giselle began. She choked up for a second, but she swallowed that painful memory away. “I had a mentor who used to call me 'little quince' because of them.”

 Nadalia laughed.

 â€œHow did grandmother respond to that?” Nadalia asked. Giselle smiled at the word “grandmother”.

 â€œNot well,” Giselle said. She folded her wings up. “But she tolerated Bieduas' use of it. She was one of mother's best generals. I'm glad you asked me to show them, Nadalia. I hardly get time to stretch them, these days.”

 â€œThere are memories, fragments of memories, that I thought for the longest time were dreams…” Nadalia said, scratching her chin. “Of flying through the air, a pair of brillaint wings above me.”

 â€œIt was the only way that I could make you calm when you were born,” Giselle said, smiling at the memory. “Your father and I were concerned, because you cried day and night. I took you to the skies to bring you peace. And it worked.”

 â€œI'm glad,” Nadalia said. “Those were some of my best dreams, er, memories, I guess.”

 â€œHm, speaking of generals, you'll have to tell me who you met,” Giselle said. “There are a few I've thought about over the years. Old friends and teachers, you understand.”

 â€œOf course, mother,” Nadalia said.

 Nadalia reached out and picked up Incisor. She held it between Giselle and herself. Giselle also placed a hand on the haft of the poleaxe.

 â€œBut today, I was hoping we could visit father,” Nadalia said.

 â€œYes, that sounds like a lovely idea,” Giselle replied, a touch of water leaking from her eyes again.

 They both turned to Lauren.

 â€œOh, no, you go on ahead,” Lauren said, holding up her hands. “I've got my own family thing to take care of.”

 Nadalia nodded at her lover.

–

 Lauren and her siblings at their usual table in the diner. Lauren waited until the meal was midway through before broaching her most concerning subject.

 â€œWe've got a problem,” Lauren said, after taking a bite of fried chicken. “A time problem.”

 â€œBates has been sorting that out,” Del said, sipping on a chocolate malt shake.

 â€œWell, I've ironed out the timestream, and I've pinned together the time-jump wrinkles,” Bates said, cutting a forkful of pecan flapjack.

 â€œSounds fixed to me,” Vanessa said, drinking syrup from the pitcher that had been brought with Bates' flapjacks.

 â€œExcept, we've overlooked something,” Lauren said, before drinking some iced tea. She pointed at Bates. “You said that the Burning Realm was already equalized on both ends.”

 â€œThat's right,” Bates said, taking his bite of flapjack.

 â€œBut after we came back from the Burning Realm, my friends and I ended up almost two-thousand years ahead, and your 'viewports' also got jumped ahead,” Lauren said.

 â€œDamn!” Bates said, dropping his fork.

 He pushed his chair back and stood up. He started pacing, catching the attentions of other diners.

 â€œDamn, damn! Damn.”

 â€œIs everything alright, hun?” their favorite waitress asked from across the room.

 â€œHe's fine,” May answered, waving down. “His team just lost.”

 â€œAww, I'm sorry,” the waitress said, placing a hand on her chest. “There's always next year.”

 The waitress went back to taking her current table's order.

 â€œI went forward and back, up and down, diagonally, inside and out,” Bates muttered.

 â€œDid you go loop-da-loopy?” Ray asked, salting a sausage.

 â€œYes!” Bates replied.

 â€œDistressing.” Ray peppered the sausage.

 â€œI also ran across the Gadget right after we got to Hilpoapolis,” Lauren said, sticking a waffle fry into her mouth.

 Bates mumbled.

 â€œDid you talk to her?” Axy asked, squeezing a hand grip while spooning chili into his mouth.

 â€œDidn't get a chance,” Lauren said, shaking her head. “Looked like she was chasing someone, and I lost her. Besides, that was during the Nadalia situation.”

 â€œPriorities, right?” Del said, laughing. Then she coughed, sputtering on her shake.

 â€œShe's involved,” Bates said, sitting back down.

 â€œMaybe,” Lauren said. “Someone should talk to her, at least.”

 â€œDo you think she caused it?” Anna asked, flicking toothpicks between Vanessa's raised index fingers.

 â€œShe doesn't seem the type,” May said, deconstructing her garden salad, including the vinegarette.

 â€œThat Mark Alistair guy, the detective,” Ray said, chewing on an onion ring. “He's pretty close to that Gallant Gadget. Maybe he can go talk to her. She'll be more receptive to him, than the Auroris at least.”

 â€œThe Gabby he talks to might not even be the one who Lauren saw,” Bates said, rubbing his temples. He turned to Lauren. “Do you think Alba would let me look at her 'wedding gift' for a while?”

 â€œProbably,” Lauren said.

 â€œLooks like I've got a headache ahead,” Bates said.

 â€œI don't even know if that was a fucking pun, but I like it all the same,” Lauren said, smiling at Bates.

 â€œEhh,” Bates said, shrugging.

 â€œAnything else you want to shock us with, Lauren?” May asked, slipping Del the sliced olives from her salad.

 â€œI was thinking about giving more of the people who follow us some blessings,” Lauren said, taking a bite of apple pie.

 â€œThat's not surprising,” Vanessa said, dipping a chicken tender into five different sauces.

 â€œThey've done a lot of hard work,” Del said, combing the olive slices back into whole olives with a press of the thumb. “And other gods reward their believers all the time. Maybe we should do the same.”

 â€œI was also thinking about ascending our friends,” Lauren said, putting down her food.

 Her siblings put all their attention on her.

 â€œAre you serious?” Axy asked.

 â€œThat's too much,” Vanessa said.

 â€œThat's fucking insane,” Ray said.

 â€œWhy would you even suggest that?” Del asked.

 â€œLauren, why?” May asked.

 â€œYou shouldn't have said that,” Bates said.

 â€œI can't even imagine,” Anna said.

 â€œI am serious,” Lauren said. “Let me explain.”

–

 Lauren rode Emma Wister into her garage, and she put down the kickstand. She turned off the engine, and she got off the bike. Lauren patted the fairing.

 â€œYou did good, girl,” Lauren told her motorcycle. “Yeah, the AniÅ›a situation was embarrassing for you, I get it, but you helped Nadalia get throught that last battle.” Lauren scratched E.W.'s horns. “Who's momma's favorite cruiser? You are!”

 Lauren pat her motorcycle one more time, and she hung up the keys on a wall-mounted hook shaped like a spur. Lauren hit the garage door button to close the garage door, and she entered her house. Lauren went to her laundry room and stripped down, shoving all her clothes but her belt and armpit holster into the washing machine, loading it up with soap, and running it. Carrying the belt over her shoulder, Lauren went into her office and grabbed an amplifier and cord. Then, she went into her living room and tossed her belt, holsters and all, onto her sofa, but not before taking her bag off the belt. Clenching the bag between her teeth, Lauren put her blue revolver back into her hearth revolver case and picked up an electric guitar off her wall. Lauren carried the instrument and equipment up to her bedroom, and she plugged the amplifier into a wall socket and the guitar into the amplifier. Lauren set the distortion and volume with the limited controls of that specific amplifier, and she set the bag down on her nightstand. Naked, she lay down on her bed. She began to strum and pick with her fingers alone. Thirty minutes into her relaxation, Lauren reached into her bag, grabbed a vial full of pink liquid, popped open the vial, and she swallowed its contents. She tossed the empty vial into a trashbin. Less than two minutes later, her copy stood at the end of the bed. Lauren kept playing.

 â€œNo Nadalia?” Laurne asked.

 Lauren shook her head.

 â€œShe's got her own emotional thing going on,” Lauren said, lowering the guitar to Dâ™­ tuning. She played a A maj7#5 chord on the second, third, and fourth frets, and she frowned at the sound. Lauren tuned the guitar back to Drop C and kept playing. “I didn't want to ruin the tone of her stuff.”

 â€œUh-huh,” Laurne said, crossing her arms. “By the way, are we going to address the fact that you're autosexual?”

 â€œThe fuck is that?” Lauren responded, wishing that she had installed a whammy bar on that guitar.

 â€œI mean clearly you are attracted to yourself, and you have a twin,” Laurne said.

 â€œCareful, or I'll eat you right now,” Lauren said, giving her double the bird with her right middle toe.

 â€œBut you aren't attracted to her,” Laurne continued, unphased.

 â€œThat's co…rrect,” Lauren said, lowering her foot.

 â€œAnd neither was May,” Laurne added.

 â€œYup,” Lauren said.

 â€œI have your knowledge, but I guess I don't have your comprehension,” Laurne said, putting her chin in her hands.

 â€œBeing a potion clone must suck,” Lauren said, setting the guitar down by her bed.

 â€œSo it's time?” Laurne questioned.

 â€œYou got it,” Lauren said, beckoning her copy with a finger.

 Laurne sighed, with a roll of her eyes. Lauren enjoyed that her double copied her own mannerisms. The identical woman crawled onto the bed. Lauren grabbed Laurne by the shoulders and flipped her onto her back. Lauren leaned over her clone, breasts hanging over her face.

 â€œChrist,” Laurne said, staring at the original's chest. “What are we, an I-cup by now?”

 â€œThat doesn't mean fuck all without band size,” Lauren said.

 â€œI kn-”

 Laurne was interrupted by Lauren's right breast dropping onto her face. Lauren pushed her nipple into her double's mouth as her breast covered her face. Laurne began to suck, Lauren's milk flowing into her mouth. Lauren moved her head down, and she pressed her lips around the mirrored nipple. Face squeezing into breast, Lauren sampled duplicate milk. As she drank (and was drunken in return), she perceived her identical copy's arms moving around, but she cared little. Around the time she was deciding to switch to a crotch-related act, she felt her double's left hand grab her left buttock, and then there was an insertion into her anus. Lauren felt liquid pour into her rectum, and the insertion was remove. Lauren lifted herself up, and she looked back over her shoulder. In Laurne's hand was another empty vial. Lauren blinked. Then she shrunk.

 The shrinkage was rather rapid, and she ended up on the breast whence she had sipped. Her copy lifted her head and smirked down at the first.

 â€œWho's the plaything now?” Laurne asked.

 â€œI didn't even realize I had one of those in there,” Lauren responded.

 Laurne pressed her hand down upon her breast, squishing the diminished Lauren against fat and flesh and milk. More cream leaked out as Laurne massaged herself. Then, Laurne moved her initiator to her nipple. With one press of the finger, the double pushed the original through the nipple into that cavity of milk. Lauren scrunched her lips. Ripples and small waves formed in the calcium-rich liquid as the breast walls caved in and out as Laurne squeezed her own breast. Bobbing her head side to side, Lauren sank to the bottom of the breast, and she began to drink the milk. At such a time when her stomach contained so much milk as to make her seem eight-and-a-half months pregnant – with quadruplets – a suctioning force acted upon the milk. In the current, Lauren was carried to the nipple, and after a stronger suctioning force applied, her belly popped through the narrow mammary passage. Lauren passed into a mouth that rolled her over with its tongue. Then, the mouth dropped Lauren into a palm, and she was held up between two faces. She glanced down at the breast she had come from, and it did not belong to the same person that held her. There were now three versions of the same woman on the bed, but one of them was smaller than the others. The third one squeezed Lauren, and milk come out of both ends.

 â€œThose are expensive, you know,” Lauren told the first copy, milk running down her chin.

 â€œWhat can I say?” Laurne said, with a shrug. “The more, the merrier.”

 â€œBut, three is a crowd,” the third one said.

 In haste, the third version of Lauren, the copy of a copy, grabbed the second with her free hand, and she shoved Laurne into her mouth. That third woman swallowed down the second, leaving her with a squirming stomach and a bemused Lauren in her palm.

 â€œWhat should I call you?” Lauren asked the victorious duplicate.

 â€œHmm, how 'bout 'Loren'?” Loren answered. “Does that work?”

 â€œFine by me,” Lauren replied.

 Loren smiled.

 Loren bent over, belly smushing into the mattress, and she moved the fundament around to her fundament. She pushed Lauren between her (their) grand butt cheeks, but she did not press her all the way inside her anus. The fingers moved downward while the buttocks clenched Lauren. Loren's fingers went to her sex to masturbate. The copy of a copy eventually leaned back, and Lauren was essentually between mattress and anus. However, Lauren had long since realized that those shrinking potions by Cammia did not have any consistency to their timing, so when she suddenly regrew, she was not surprised. Of course, she was still covered by a very bountiful behind (her own, in fact). Lauren's sudden regrowth interrupted Loren's masturbation.

 â€œThat was quick,” Loren remarked.

 â€œSo will I- So I am- I can I b- Fuck!” Lauren failed to quip.

 Lauren opened her mouth, and although spherical of belly, Loren folded as Lauren swallowed her down. Lauren sat up, smacking her two-in-one stomach. It was three Laurens in a row. She slid off the bed. Lauren went to her hidden drawer, and in a rare occasion, she retrieved a sex toy. It had dual blue insertions, both of which were half the length of her arm (and about as thick). Lauren moved to the middle of her bedroom floor, and she put the sex toy down. Lauren crouched, one insertion filling her vagina and the other filling her colon. The farmer moved up and down the sex toy, never bottoming out. Her stomach bounced with each cycle. Her identical occupants wriggled.

 Lauren spent a whole night digesting and masturbating with the sex toy. She orgasmed five times, hitting the bottom of the toy with loud cry, and each climax brought about a sharp period of faster digestion. By dawn, her midriff was flat, but she had not channeled the mass of her copies into growth nor restricted their use. They became milk, that would puff up Lauren's chest temporarily. Derivatives derived into dairy. Lauren stood up to her full height, schlicking off the insertions. With a snap of her fingers, she cleaned the sex toy and the mess on the floor and stored the embarrassment into secrecy once more. Lauren went downstairs, and she milked herself into glasses until no milk remained in her breasts. She labelled each glass with the name of her friends: marker on tape. Finally, Lauren returned to her bed, and she picked up her guitar. As she came up with a tune, a last byproduct of her horniness came to the forefront of her mind – something to do with her friend Strea. Lauren grinned, and she played a D maj13 chord on the fifth, sixth, and seventh frets.