Eventually, I returned to the real world and reunited with Raiden. Of course, it was the good ol' Red Keep tower. By now, the sun was rising as the world ushered in a new day.
"I noticed you changed your hair ornament?"
The core of it was a real flower, flowing with electro energy that was reminiscent of my own.
"These flowers were born of your power… I thought it fitting to keep a part of you with me."
"Gold looks good on you," I smiled. I didn't expect the reason to be so romantic.
I'd say I need to do something similar to match, but I possess the essence of her power. She is always a part of me.
"So, what do you plan to do since you're reborn? Rebuild what was lost?"
"Of course," I nodded, grabbing her hand. "Settle down, spend time with my family. It's about time I enjoyed some peace."
"Says the harbinger of war," She glanced up at me.
"Eh… I suppose it is a little hypocritical."
I was going to say that those days are behind me, but… I was not certain.
"What of conquest? It doesn't interest you anymore?"
"If I hogged all the glory, what would be left for my little dragons? It could make for a good learning experience in the future."
"I see… you've changed considerably in my absence. The Edric of that time would likely see you as a tired old man."
"Hahahaha, would he?" I laughed. "There is a part of me that still yearns for a worthy battle. However, I know that no one in the known world is capable of providing that."
"No one?" Raiden raised an eyebrow as her lips curled into a playful smile. "I wouldn't be so certain of that."
"You can try me if you'd like… after childbirth, of course,"
"Such a burden this little thing is," Raiden remarked. "I hope it is worthwhile."
"They always are, in my experience."
"I didn't know you carried them."
"Hey, I still put in the work… ploughing the fields and all. It ain't easy."
"Mhm," She chuckled. "It didn't seem difficult for you."
"I am so brilliant I make it look easy, that is true…" I nodded. "On a serious note, there might be some public doubts regarding our relationship."
"Does that matter?"
"I don't wish for you to be known as my mistress or anything of that nature. There should be no doubt,"
I took her hand into mine and put a ring I had worked on.
"I want you to be my wife, in heart, mind, soul and name."
"The wedding ceremony we never had with an unknown septon that never existed didn't make for a convincing story?"
"I'd imagine it didn't."
"... It would be fitting to celebrate our bond, regardless," Raiden put on the ring and gave it a closer look. "Oh... you made it yourself?"
"A product of many sleepless nights," I nodded. "It's as special among rings as you are to me."
I had forged the base out of a small chunk of Dawn from the alternate timeline, which was made of the heart of a fallen star… some form of meteoric material, at least. It fittingly shone like the stars. At its heart was a large natural purple diamond, which was supremely rare. It carried a small part of my soul with it, granting it a few special properties.
"It is truly beautiful. Almost as wonderful as you."
"It is shaped in my image, after all..." I smiled.
"Would that make me queen?" Raiden wondered. "I was never concerned with your throne, in truth... but this might complicate matters."
"I plan on succession being decided solely by me," I replied. "The matter of birth will not be too relevant. Only the most fitting shall inherit my crown... should I ever give it up."
"Do you not think your second son fitting?"
"Oh, he would make quite a great king, of that I'm certain. But... It's too soon to say that he'd be the best of all of them. Mayhaps when he's older, he won't desire that burden in the first place."
"Fair enough... but are you certain that you can be unbiased in your choosing?"
"I can trust my judgement," I smiled. "My direct successor is not something I'd take lightly."
"Mayhaps it's best that you do not step down."
"Ruling for all of my immortal lifespan?" I raised an eyebrow.
"Why not?" Raiden shrugged.
"Seems tedious..."
"Think of all that you can accomplish, pushing this world forward. Continuously. You may even be able to soar among the stars."
"Once space opens up, it doesn't end..." I remarked, looking up at the sky. "A planet, a solar system, a galaxy, a universe - where would it end?"
"You seem to desire retirement... but I do not see you accepting such a life for too long."
"Truly?" I blinked.
"Yes. You are a warrior... a conqueror at heart, and that can never change. If you do not seek out the stars, what goal is there that is worthy of you? What would satisfy you?"
"..."
Such a prospect was... a little terrifying. The thought that one day, everything would become stale and dull. An immortal existence without purpose, without direction. Without desire, yet forever uncontent. An empty void... forever unsatisfied.
Could that happen to me?
Surely not, it sounds utterly miserable.
"A little optimism, eh?" I sighed, shaking my head. "I just got back, and you're thinking of the possible distant future."
"It's rather natural to do when you live for so long. The present does not concern me nearly as much as the future..."
"Whatever it is, great or terrible, I know we'll find a way through it."
"..." Raiden managed a smile. "Yes, you're right. We only have all of eternity."
"Suggesting I go full Emperor of Mankind..." I chuckled, shaking my head.
"Well, you were already declared as the Seven in physical form. It might be all too inevitable. Who's to say in thousands of years there won't be some form of invasion from space? The humans from your world were able to dramatically develop their technology in only a few hundred years."
"... It is a possibility," I admitted.
I had no idea how vast this universe was. It could just be Planetos in a dead universe with nothing else in it... it could have many advanced alien species out there... hell, it could even be in the 40k universe. Who really knows what Aerion cooked up?
"Better to be prepared for a non-existent threat than unprepared for an existing one," Raiden remarked. She sighed afterwards. "... Forgive me for straying from the topic at hand-"
"Oh no, it was quite insightful. You're right," I nodded.
"What shall I wear for the wedding?" Raiden wondered, reeling it back. "The all white?"
"White would look stunning on you... I'll figure something out."
"Do I choose your attire as well?"
"What would you want?" I wondered.
"You do look quite dashing in your armour..."
"You want me to wear armour?" I laughed.
"Why not... it is you at your truest. The attire that you are most comfortable with."
She had a good point. While I enjoyed wearing well-made fancy garments, they did get a little tedious at times. My armour always made me feel... in my element. I did wear it far more than ordinary clothes for years, after all. It almost felt like an additional layer of my skin.
Still, for a wedding, it would certainly look odd.
"Am I fighting a battle or what?"
"I'll give you one if you'd like," Raiden winked.
"Uh-huh..." I chuckled. "I find that rather tempting."
~
There was plenty of celebration... a bit too much, even for dear old me. I started the wedding preparations immediately. Since I was acknowledged as the Seven already, I didn't need to bend the rules of the faith. Still, the move was not without its issues. It put me in direct conflict with every faith... the Old Gods, Drowned God and those who aligned with the 'Old' Faith of Seven within my borders and R'hllor among countless others in Essos.
I could strengthen the Faith, purge the others... or simply exist. Turning my Realm against itself was not something I was interested in. Although this might be inevitable. People of zeal will take my name as a shield and a sword to act against those with different beliefs. At that point, I'd be forced to act regardless...
For now, I'll let this simmer.
I made a change in Daenerys' title, naming her Empress. It really didn't make much of a difference in her influence since it was already unmatched... but it was something that felt right to do, given that she was my wife.
The days passed by quickly. Before long, it was the day. Long overdue, some might say. It was a bright, windy summer day. As per Raiden's suggestion, I wore my armour. It was definitely weird but... it was my wedding. I could wear whatever I want. Who's gonna stop me?
The Stormguard lined the streets from the Red Keep to Baelor's Sept, grander than ever. Stormfyre banners soared in the wind, unchallenged. It reminded me of my first wedding, although much had changed since then. With the blossom of summer, all were joyous. The world was a better place... thriving.
It seemed as if all of King's Landing was concentrated around the Sept, smallfolk fighting to grasp even a glance. Maybe I needed a bigger city.
I hopped off my steed and walked into the Sept.
"Does it stop at two?" Renly wondered as I walked by, chuckling.
I grinned slightly, shrugging.
Raiden was already waiting, looking all too enchanting in a white dress with purple and golden trims and patterns. It was aligned with my mostly black armour, which shared purple and gold as its secondary colours. Although it wasn't merely paint, it was the glow of my magic enchantments.
I walked up to the altar, observing my group of children standing at the front. Alysanne wore a bright dress adorned with flowers she made herself, Victoria wore a pure black dress which contrasted that completely, Garth wore his modified garments... fidgeting with small Geo constructs in his hand, while William wore regal clothes bearing Stormfyre colours, and Elizabeth had the fanciest dress of them all, a golden dress with purple and black trimmings, adorned with jewellery featuring gemstones of all the colours of the rainbow. She did like to look pretty, far more than any of the others.
The High Septon was a new face. A shame what happened to the old one... he had been quite useful throughout the years. His replacement was a former member of the Stormguard, whose loyalty and zeal couldn't be questioned or even matched. Given the direction the Faith is going in, it was fitting.
"Your Eternal Grace," He lowered his head in acknowledgement. "Thy divine presence brightens the Sept."
I smiled. I wasn't too keen on being treated as a god... but I couldn't have my cake and eat it. This was unavoidable.
"All observe:"
The High Septon announced, his voice loud and clear.
"This historic union between divinities - the Seven manifest in living form, our glorious divine and immortal Emperor, the First of His Name, the unfallible, the indomitable, the Reborn, Edric Stormfyre... and his eternal companion, the Shogun and divine guardian of the Realm, the Goddess of thunder and lightning, Raiden Tenmei."
Tenmei... so she went through with her idea of a name change. Thunder of Divine Destiny, not too bad. It rolls well off the tongue, mainly, and marks her evolution from the puppet 'Raiden Shogun'.
"Tenmei," I spoke. "Quite a beautiful name."
"I knew you'd like it," She smiled.
I removed my cloak and wrapped it around her. Time to get the traditions out of the way.
"With this kiss, I pledge my love."
We shared a prolonged kiss.
"And take you for my Empress and wife..."
"And take you for my Emperor and husband... for all of eternity,"
She added, going a little off script.
"For all of eternity," I smiled, nodding.
The High Septon nodded.
"One flesh, one heart, one soul, now and forever."
I briefly closed my eyes, reminiscing about the beginning.
How long this path has been...
At long last, I'm here.
Everything I wanted was in my hands.