Aranea woke up in a warm bed in M83. It wasn't her usual bedroom, this one was much nicer. Slipping out of the covers, she realized her spider half was still out, her secret exposed. But there was nobody around. So maybe there was still a chance of escape. Walking over to the door and opening it, she realized it lead out directly into Roko's office. And Roko was right there at his desk, writing some documents or something. He didn't seem to have noticed her so Aranea thought she could still try and sneak away somehow. But when she tried,
"You're awake now?"
Roko's voice jolted the very guilty Aranea and she slowly nodded, turning back to face him.
"Good." Roko put his pen back down and stood up, walking over to the sofa in the middle of his office and gesturing for Aranea to take a seat on the sofa opposite him, "Then let me explain what happened."
Aranea obediently walked up to the sofa as Roko explained, "The defense of the base was a complete success. A lot of them dispersed into the sewer to chase after Naga but a few remained to try and kidnapped Corissa. She's fine by the way. M83 was not attacked so our reinforcements arrived just in time. We managed to find Pluteum, Medeia and Naga just fine and rescued them. They're safe in the underground base. They want to see you."
Aranea flinched, glad that her friends were still alive but not willing to believe that they want to see her. Roko noticed her reaction and sighed. He got up and opened a long drawer, pulling something out on a tray and placing it in front of Aranea,
"We found this by the way." Roko said.
Lying on the tray was Aranea's fake human body. The legs were still cut off but their pieces had also been recovered.
"This is your Spirit Doll I assume?" Roko asked.
Aranea nodded, only a little surprised that he knew.
"I know you were using it to hide your spider half and move around as a human. But I'm not sure how it works. Can you explain?"
Aranea looked up a bit surprised and a little nervous, "D-Dark magic."
"I'm going to need more than that." Roko said, "Start with the basics."
Aranea gulped and nodded, "Light magic...is the manipulation of a fundamental form of matter. Dark magic...is the opposite. Dark matter. It has different rules to it including creating and manipulating a separate form of space. I...I just create a subspace to place my spider half in and run dark magic through my threads as the gateway. With those same threads, I construct a false human body I can manipulate on my own in order to pretend to be human."
"I see..." Roko nodded, "Then what are you going to do with the husk now? Are you going to repair it?"
"Mhm." Aranea nodded, picking up the human legs she had created out of threads, "I...should still hide after all."
"I'm not going to stop you from doing that." Roko said, "But if you're going to make a new Spirit Doll, you're going to need to make it more comfortable."
"B-But then I'll have to make an entirely new Spirit Doll!" Aranea protested.
"I don't know much about this Spirit Doll technique but I know that what you had before could barely hide away your spider half. Barely is being generous, I would compare it to foot binding. That's why you always had trouble moving around in it. So if you're going to have to make a new one then do it because I'm not letting you deform yourself anymore, understood?"
"Y-Yes..." Aranea replied, disappointed.
"Good. Now then. There's a few people who've been meaning to see you."
And before Aranea could protest, Roko snapped his fingers and the doors to his office burst open, Corissa being the first to lunge through and grab onto Aranea in a tight loving hug,
"Oh Aranea, I'm so glad you're all right!"
"Calm down there Corissa." Helena smiled as she walked in with the rest of the princesses and knights.
"So Aranea was an arachne." Melia gulped, a little perturbed by the sight, "That's unexpected. I dunno any of us could've guessed that was her secret."
"I did." Kaguya stated, "Or rather, I suspected. Roko did name her Aranea after all. He doesn't do that without a specific purpose."
"I did too." Momo reported, "But not because of the name. I just figured the statistical total of a normal human kid would not be enough to knock trained adults around like Aranea did even with redistribution. So I figured she must've had some sort of supernatural strength or something."
"Damn." Helena blinked, "Did you know, Corissa?"
"I knew she had a secret." Corissa replied, petting Aranea's head in her arms, "But not much details."
"Damn. So it's just us three huh?" Helena sighed.
"Also, Corissa, I think Aranea needs to breathe." Melia added.
"Oh!" Corissa gasped and finally removed Aranea's head from her bountiful mounds, the young monster girl coughing as she finally took in air again.
"You...not afraid of me?" Aranea asked once she caught her breath.
"We've seen worse." Helena smiled, "Arachnes aren't really the most aggressive of monsters either and you didn't seem like you were going to do anything bad at all."
"If anything you were a hero." Kaguya added, "You saved your friends! And at such a young age too!"
"Medeia and Pluteum fought too." Aranea said, "They probably got hurt more than me."
"They were pretty scratched up but they're fine." Roko explained, "They'll recover just fine."
"Mmm..." Aranea nodded. Then after a meaningful pause she asked, "Do...they not want to see me again?"
"That's not true!" Corissa quickly shouted, "They said they want to check up on you but they want to bring Medeia along too so they're taking time to convince her!"
"O-Oh..." Aranea only looked slightly assured, "Medeia doesn't have to see me if she doesn't want to."
"No, she definitely has to." Helena stated flatly, "Even I'd be hard pressed to forgive her after what she did."
"T-Then at least let me finish repairing my Spirit Doll before then!" Aranea said holding up her damaged human half.
"I thought you were going to remake that entirely." Melia said.
"But...if Medeia's going to show up then this would make her more comfortable."
"Isn't that doll really uncomfortable for you?" Kaguya asked.
"I-I'm used to it."
"Absolutely not!" Corissa shook her head strongly, "I agree with Roko, until you can create a Spirit Doll that can comfortably fit you, you're not allowed to use Spirit Dolls at all."
"Uuuu..." Aranea sniffed, "But..."
"No buts!" Corissa insisted, "Why would you even make something that would damage yourself so badly anyway?!"
"The old mister wanted to sell me as an exotic slave but nobody would buy me so he told me I should hide my spider half so I can be sold as a normal human slave. So I made up the Spirit Doll to pretend to be a human."
"But you never updated it as you got bigger." Roko shook his head, "Now there's not enough room for you to properly carry your true body. You were crushing your spider half in order to use your disguise. That's not going to happen from now on."
Everyone in the room nodded along and voiced their agreement. Faced with such strong opposition, all Aranea could do was hide her face away shyly with her Spirit Doll.
"I see you're still alive."
"What a nice thing to say to someone after so long." Roko said sarcastically as he pet Nergal on the head, "Run along and call your dad for me, will ya kid?"
"You're so fucking dead." Nergal said as he drew his sword only for Nebo to grab him from behind and pull him away.
"Don't tease Nergal that much." Ishtar smiled, "He's a bit sensitive about his age."
"Sensitive nothing, he was clearly provoking me!" Nergal shouted.
"You were rude first." Nebo muttered.
"Hell's wrong with you?" Nergal said turning to his fellow policewoman, "You were the one who hated him the most out of all of us at first!"
"And then he helped us out." Nebo rolled her eyes, "What exactly am I supposed to be holding a grudge about?"
"How about his stupid face for one?!"
"Now now, calm down, Nergal." Merodach said as he arrived at the police station lobby, "Roko, I assume we're here to talk about the tip I gave you?"
"Indeed." Roko nodded.
"Then come on up to our office, nobody will disturb us there." Merodach nodded.
"I'll bring up some tea." Ishtar smiled.
"Thanks Corissa." Roko replied absentmindedly.
"Oh goodness!" Ishtar said playfully flushed, "Comparing me to the most beautiful woman in the world. You sure are a flatterer, you!"
"Who's Corissa?" Nebo asked.
"You don't know Corissa?" Nergal scoffed, "Shows how unsexy you are."
"Okay how do YOU know Corissa?" Nebo frowned.
"You don't need to know that." Nergal smirked.
"No, I think we do need to know." Ishtar said, "We might need to have a talk. About growing up."
"Aw damn it." Nergal said.
Roko quietly left before he could do anymore damage.
"So that's what happened huh?" Merodach poured the two of them more tea once Roko finished his long story, "I'm glad things could work out. The best of luck to your recovery."
"I see. So that's the extent of your help." Roko nodded.
"Oh, I'm sorry, did you need help?" Merodach said, surprised.
"No, but I was curious as to how big a favor you'd be asking of me." Roko said, "Our debt is deep enough without you trying to curry more favor by offering to help more."
"Now you're the one exaggerating." Merodach smiled, "We only gave you some exclusive information."
"And that information prevent an ambush that could've ruined us."
"I can't imagine it would've ruined you. You do have M83 after all."
"Still, I'm curious as to where you got this information." Roko raised an eyebrow, "Care to tell?"
"I still cannot reveal my sources." Merodach said firmly.
"I see. I won't pry you on it but I do hope I'll find out someday."
"With how you are, I'm sure you will." Merodach nodded, "But I have reasons as to why I can't reveal them quite yet."
"Don't worry, I have my suspicions." Roko replied, "But the important thing now is seeing what we can possibly do to repay this debt."
"You sure don't beat around the bush do you?"
"I try not to leave debts undefined."
"What if we wanted to help out of the kindness of our hearts?"
"I doubt it." Roko said plainly, "This conversation would've ended much sooner if it was simply a good deed."
"What if you're just a really good storyteller?"
"The more you dance around the point, the more I'll be forced to believe that you truly do not have any demands." Roko said sipping his tea, "Do you really not?"
"Oh my." Merodach's voice dropped it's playful tone, "I'd better start taking this seriously now."
"I figured you'd might." Roko sighed.
"...The Earthbounds are planning to raid Muldingirmus soon aren't they?"
"We do have plans that might come to fruition soon." Roko nodded, "What of it?"
"We want to join the fight."
"...The police wants to join in on the dethroning of Sirius?" Roko raised an eyebrow, "I thought the police wouldn't want to take a side so openly."
"We have our reasons for doing so." Merodach nodded, "Suffice it to say we won't be going after Sirius directly ourselves. Maybe just treat us as like any other rebels, though with a bit of our own autonomy."
"You just want to use our fight as an opportunity?"
"We'll do nothing untoward or illegal, I'll promise you."
Roko quietly considered this request, not for whenever or not they can or should allow this but for what possible motive could be behind this peculiar favor. But as there seemed to be no real reason to refuse, Roko replied,
"Sure. We won't be waiting for you to show up but if you want to join our fight, we can support you if needed."
"Thank you." Merodach bowed, "We will do our best to assist you."
"Well, it should be fine so long as you don't get in the way." Roko replied, "Since we owe this, I won't ask about your reasons, but I assume they are good?"
"Well...we're too weak to do something like change the entire city but we do look after our own. I'll say that much."
"...Alright." Roko stood up, "I think that concludes any business we've had remaining. And if I haven't thanked you for your help already, let me do so now. Thank you."
"We all want to get rid of Sirius just as much as you. We just...don't have the position to do so easily." Merodach replied, getting up to open the door for Roko, "If we can help in any way, I'd be happy to do so."
"Just stay alive." Roko said as he walked out, "I'd hate to be digging your graves after all this."
"So the raid was a failure huh?" Sirius sighed, bored at the report that his Starry Knights had given him, "You're all so useless. You can't even kidnap one girl?"
"I'd remind you that we have more pressing targets than just that Corissa girl." A stern looking woman said as she stood by Sirius' throne, tall wooden staff adorned with mystic embellishments in her hand.
"Naga went to see those rebels on his own right?" Sirius scoffed, "If he wants to join them then I'm not going to stop him."
"No, he was kidnapped and I'd hope you'll be more concerned about your son!"
"He's old enough to make his own decisions now right? What is he, 16?"
"He's only 12!"
"When I was 12, I was helping my dad with his shop. What's he doing siding with my opponents? Oh sorry, 'getting kidnapped'."
"He WAS kidnapped!"
"Ashlesha, I know you only want me to care so you can use my resources to get your precious 'heir' back."
"..."
"I'm not a heartless man. I'll help you. Or at least, I'll let you use MY Starry Knights. If you can convince one of the Planetary Stars to help you, I'll even allow that. But don't expect me to move heaven and earth for this."
"Like you could even do that to begin with." Ashlesha scowled, "No matter. So long as I have a way into Mulapin, I have a chance."
"Are you going to go in personally?" Sirius raised an eyebrow.
"...No, my magic would not be suited for enclosed combat like that. I will have to be more creative..."
"You really don't know how to hold back do you?" Sirius scoffed.
"I will do anything for my child."
"You mean for my position."
Ashlesha glared at Sirius who just chuckled, "Relax. I said I was okay with your little scheme didn't I? Who wouldn't want my position? But you know, I'd be happy to give up my throne early and leave this city if I happen to capture a certain beautiful princess."
"You're a disgusting man, Sirius." Ashlesha crossed her arms, "I will not be helping you find a new wife."
"Not like you're acting much like one." Sirius muttered.
"No, if I can't rescue my Nagaraja, I'll have to use an eye for an eye." Ashlesha thought aloud, "Perhaps they'll be open to...a trade..."
"Now we're the ones kidnapping kids?" Sirius smirked, "Whatever."
"Guards." Ashlesha motioned to one of the guards standing by the elevator, "Call Ursala. We'll need an expert on this subject."
The guard saluted and stepped on the elevator to ride it back down. For a moment Ashlesha stood there, satisfied with her order until Sirius spoke up,
"We have an expert on kidnapping kids?" he frowned, "Why'd we hire someone like that?"