Hey guys! Sorry about being absent for so long. Was swamped with grad school and a new job. Everything was so busy for the past year that it wasn't funny.

But I am back now with a much more stable schedule! So I should be able to update more regularly.

This chapter will be slightly shorter than the others because I am still trying to organize the story plot in my head. But keep your fingers crossed. Because I will try to update this story even more in the future!

Flashforward into the future

An aggravated grunt echoed throughout the throne room, and everybody was silent except for one person. The King. In front of the Iron Throne were two very young teens who shared great semblance to the King.

"Why do the Seven torment me with such reckless, destructive, idiotic sons!" He whispered and one of teens spoke out.

"Father, I..."

"Be silent! Your King speaks!" The King turned around and faced his two eldest sons. He sighed deeply. "I am trying to build an empire. And your only thought is to amuse yourselves by tearing it down!" He said the last words with great force, making everybody wince at the King's Wrath. The King hadn't been this angry since the Cub Rebellion.

"Have I failed you two in any way? Have I lacked in my lessons?" The King asked.

"No Fath-your grace. You have not failed us. It is we who have failed you..." The older of the two teens spoke, looking down at his feat. To say that he resembled the brown-haired King would be an understatement. He was all but the King's younger copy except for his eyes and body build. He was thinner than the King and amethyst eyes.

"You Grace...the fault is mine. I goaded my brother and thus I am responsible." The younger was slightly shorter than his older brother. He had slightly darker skin tone than his brother but had his father's blueish green eyes.

"Responsible. Hmph. And do you know the name of that word, Maximillian?"

"I do, your Grace."

"Then tell me how this happened. My heir. You. You allowed this to happen. Why? For your pride? Foolishness? Honor?"

The prince was silent as the King grunted. "When I was born, this empire was a fractured union of kingdoms. For more than 20 years, I have dedicated myself into uniting them and this world. I do not need my own sons to make this dream more difficult; it is difficult enough."

The King walked in front of his two eldest sons, looking at them with anger.

"It takes decades to create an empire. Far more so to stabilize it. But it takes one fool a single moment to ruin it all." The eldest son looked up at his father and saw disappointment.

The King sighed and looked away. "You have my leave to go..."

"Father!" Maximillian started to speak but saw his mother raise her hand and shake her head. He sighed and stormed out of the throne room in anger and disappointment. The remaining prince sighed.

"Father...you know it was really my fault...I...couldn't you just yell at me?"

The King sighed and turned to his younger son with much more gentler eyes. "Godric. You will never carry a burden like the crown I will pass on to Maximillian. After I die or abdicate, he will become the most powerful man in the history. He must have the discipline and the will beyond his peers to succeed where I couldn't. That means he must not be swayed by anyone...not even you...my son."

Godric nodded gently. "I understand, Father. Unlike myself, who has never been in the line of succession, Maximillian already prepares to succeed you. I think...he just needs the opportunity to show you his abilities."

"Maybe...maybe so...go now. I will see both of you tonight." The King spoke to his son, and the prince bowed before leaving.

Anduin's office, His Namesday

Anduin shook his head from the dream. He must have fallen asleep while he was resting his eyes.

The Crown Prince sighed as he leaned back on his chair. It was his namesday tomorrow, and every time it was eventful. Always. As the Crown Prince of Westeros, every noble on this continent and next came to "pay their respects", which was mostly kissing ass. And every nobleman brought their daughters to woo and seduce him for the distant possibility to make his daughter the Queen of Westeros. Sometimes they even sent boys, which disgusted the young prince.

And it wasn't as if he could keep his namesday silent. The entire city practically celebrated the day like a national holiday.

The Savior Prince.

The Divine Prince.

The Lord of All That Breathes.

Why couldn't they just recognize that he was his own person? That he made flaws like the rest of them? That he was mortal?

Ever since he could remember, Anduin's head was filled with questions, just like any other child in the Seven Kingdoms. The only differences between himself and them were that he was born a prince and he had people around him who tried to answer his questions. He always did wonder if any other child in his stead would have turned out like him.

The Prince shook his head and focused on the matters of state. Stannis returned after his victory at Lys, leaving Davos Seasworth and Crixus behind to handle the loose ends. Crixus made it seem that slaves and pirates had taken over Lys instead of Westerosi forces.

In Westeros, Prince Doran made sure to hold up his side, by sending in 3-fold taxes and weapons as a sign of a decrease in military power. His daughter Arianne remained at Kingslanding. After some debating, Anduin decided to make her his cupbearer, so that she could also taste his food for poisons. A bit of a grim fate, but there were worse fates for daughters of traitors.

Other matters were harder to juggle. Anduin had planned to teach the Tyrells for stepping out of bounds during Oberyn's treason. Sure it was game of thrones, but his family was too close to danger. Willas came to Kingslanding to become his new Master of Coin. Now that he had Margaery and Willas close to him, they were hostages if need be. His previous plan with Wildfyre, after some thinking and calculation, turned out to be just too wasteful. To create that much wildfyre, he would have to spend about 1,000,000 gold. Then the Royal Fleet, he would have to replenish and rearm. That was another million or two. And add to that, Wildfyre was too uncontrollable. To use it, the Royal Fleet would have to be far away from the Tyrell Fleet, which seem way too suspicious.

He wanted to...no...had to teach the Tyrells a lesson. But how to do it without alarming them...

And then there was the keeping-secret-from-every body. Now that Anduin had taken his first step to conquering the Free Cities, he couldn't just hide his actions from everybody. It was getting more and more difficult by the day and he knew that he had to reveal his full plans one day.

As Anduin was thinking, two figures ran into his office and jumped into his lap.

"Happy Namesday!" Myrcella and Tommen chirped as Anduin laughed.

"Thank you, cubs." The Crown Prince chuckled, seeing his mother coming through the office door, smiling.

"You will 19 this year." The Queen said, seeing the pile of books, raven messages, and melted candles at his desk. "You should really relax today."

"I wish I could..." Anduin spoke as he stood up, his siblings getting off of him. "But I have urgent matters."

"What kind of matters?" Cersei asked. "Dorne?"

"No, that has been settled." Her eldest son looked at her. "Other matters."

"Your secret plans?" Cersei recalled when he said that his plans were towards world domination. Yet she had no clue to what he was planning or doing. Not even her best spies could tell her, for his messages were always encrypted in some ancient tongue.

"Yes." Anduin sighed as he scanned the raven scroll right in front of him.

"Is it not something that you cannot discuss with me?" Cersei spoke in a sad tone, which Anduin recognized. "Keeping secrets from family is not healthy."

Believe me, I know. Anduin nodded. Perhaps it is time for me to step out of the shadows...at least have a bigger circle. Not that I trust anybody outside my circle, but then again, I don't have to tell them EVERYTHING.

He smiled and looked at her. "I shall reveal my plans to our family later tomorrow after the festivities have ended." That caught Cersei's attention.

Anduin looked down at Tommen, who looked back with bright green eyes. He patted his younger brother's head and ruffled his hair. "You are right, mother. Keeping secrets from family is tough...in fact, it is downright tedious."

Cersei looked at her son with greater surprise as he walked around his desk and up to her. "I shall show you and our family what I have been planning and doing for the past 5 years. If you think you can help me with this without becoming a burden, then you are invited to this meeting. If not, and you want to live in peaceful obliviousness, then you don't have to come."

Cersei was about to answer, but Anduin interrupted her. "Just remember. Once you say yes, you will be plunged into a level of game that you cannot even fathom. If you put as much as a pinkie, you won't come back out unless we win. Can you really handle this?"

Mycella and Tommen looked at his older brother and mother's exchange. They never saw his brother speak this seriously before. In fact, the air was so tense that one would need a knife to cut through it. Cersei's mouth was slightly open, as if she was caught off guard.

And by the gods she was.

Cersei looked into her son's eyes and for the first time in her life, she saw a man. Not just her son, or her lion cub, or her stag. But a man. A man whose mind and imagination could make her feel such fear and thrill. Her father made her afraid because he was her overbearing, intimidating, cold father. But her son, she saw something that dwarfed even that. Almost like a monster from the darkness of unknown...

"I can," Cersei answered and Anduin looked at her intensely, as if he was peering into her soul.

"Fine. After today's festivities, go to the Horned Lion's main gate. Say the password "valar morghulis" and the guards will let you in." Anduin sighed and smiled. "You wanted to know my plans, mother? Well, after this, you might regret it."

"Nonsense." The Lannister mother regained her composure. "Whatever the King requires."

There was knocking on the door. "Enter," Anduin spoke and Arianne walked in. Wearing much less daring attire, Arianne walked in with a tray of tea. "Your Prince, the tea is ready."

Cersei scowled as the Dornish Princess laid down the tea tray and walked back with her hands in front of her.

"Thank you, Arianne," Anduin spoke as Arianne stepped forward again to pour two cups of tea, immediately taking a sip and stepping back again.

"Why did you make her your cupbearer?" Cersei asked. "Pour us a cup as well." She commanded and Arianne humbly poured three more cups as well, earning a smirk from the Queen.

"I wanted to make her as useful as possible," Anduin spoke as he sipped the tea as well. "It was either put her in a cage or put her to some good use. And you know that I seldom waste."

"Even so..." Cersei was hesitant to take the tea. "She could poison you."

"Her moves are constantly being watched by my knights. Also, she has to eat or drink everything in advance before I do...as a precaution." Cersei understood her son's words. So Anduin was being cautious as well. Cersei looked at the Dornish Princess. She was still a beauty, with a great womanly figure. More modest than she was previously, but that was to be expected. Arianne was no longer eligible to be Queen due to her uncle's actions. And her station as a cupbearer showed the Crown's strength. So she decided to put it off, for now.

"I also wanted to discuss one of your potential brides, Danielle White-Silk." She said and Anduin lowered his teacup.

"What about her?" Anduin asked.

"That is my question," Cersei said. "A daughter from a merchant lord from Lys? Why did you even consider her as a bride in the first place?"

Myrcella took a cup and sip as well. "Danielle is kind and beautiful, mother. She and I discuss the history of Westeros all the time after Septa's lessons."

"Does she?" Anduin turned to his little sister. "What is your impression of her?"

Myrcella put on her thinking face, which was adorable in Anduin's eyes. "Quiet...gentle...but with a bit of a temper...and smart. Very smart. She is even teaching me to speak High Valyrian."

"Is she now?" Anduin recalled how he would teach her High Valyrian during their time together. "Interesting."

"Yes, she may be, but not politically impressive. Her family's wealth must pale in comparison to even the Starks. Why her?" Cersei could not help but feel something nagging whenever she saw Danielle. Something threatening, but she could not put a finger on it.

"Varys gave a list of options and I have seen no reason to send her back," Anduin remarked. By whatever means, he wasn't going to reveal that she was Daenerys Targaryen. That would have no good scenario no matter what.

Marrying a girl from a very powerful noble family may seem great to a simpleton, but actually, it was the very opposite. Noble families' power could be measured by several different metrics; wealth, the power of armies, fertile grounds, and more. If a noble family matched the Royal Family in any of those metrics, then complacency would surely rise. The bride's family would take more liberties in the name of family, or worse. Anduin was aware that if he married into the Tyrells, they would throw their support with fresh supplies of food. If any Tyrell performed a misdeed and Anduin was to punish him, the Tyrells would simply pull back their support from the shadows, putting him at a disadvantage. There was no way that he would have any power challenge his own.

Myrcella looked at her brother's desk and saw strange diagrams and designs. "Brother, what are these?"

Anduin looked at what his sister was looking at. "Oh these...well...these are designs for a new form of labor."

"New form of labor?" Cersei asked as she leaned forward to see the designs. They were unwieldy metal pieces with strange knobs and devices. "What are these?"

"Machinery." Anduin smirked. "If these forms of machinery can be built, then we can increase the productivity more than fivefold. I am sure of it."

"Machinery?" Tommen tilted his golden head in confusion.

"Yes, Tommen, machinery." The Crown Prince rubbed his brother's head. "Instead of people tolling for hours on end to do a simple task, we can use these machines to do things quickly. This particular one I like to call is the ink press."

Anduin got up and walked to a bookshelf. "Take this book for instance." He took out a book. "How many hours do you think it takes a single skilled writer to fully copy a whole book from beginning to end?"

Myrcella and Tommen put on their thinking faces. "Uhm...ten days?" The princess chirped, earning a small chuckle from her big brother.

"More like 30," Anduin commented. "But with machines like the ink press, book can be copied and published a thousand times faster. A book like this can be transcribed in less than a day by anybody."

Anduin put the book down on his desk and sat back in his chair. "I'm going to make my reign one of enlightenment. For too long books have been the possessions of the rich and noble. No, there are even nobles who cannot even read. Joffrey couldn't read even if his life depended on it."

"Aren't you too harsh on him, Anduin?" Cersei spoke gently. "He is not even here."

"Yes, and his birthright is the only reason he is still not starving," Anduin continued. "Under my rule, books shall be written and distributed to the masses. The masses will learn how to read and write, to learn to work hard and pay taxes. I shall raise the level of competency all throughout Westeros. Incompetency then no longer be the excuse of nobles."

Myrcella and Tommen looked upon their brother as if he were a god, their eyes shining brightly as their older brother shared his dream. Cersei was slightly less optimistic. If her son's dreams were to come true, then her Joffrey would no longer be safe no matter how far he was in Westeros. Her son would be left behind, with nothing to his name.

"And why stop at books?" Anduin smiled as he pulled out another pile of diagrams. "We can make machinery that mass-produces clothing, foods, buildings, even weapons! The future is endless, if we make it right."

He then stared squarely at Cersei, as if trying to read her expressions. Cersei stared back at her son and knew what he was saying to her silently.

Are you sure you want to know my plans?

Cersei didn't know if she could answer.

Suddenly, knocks sounded at the door, catching the royal family in surprise.

"Who is it?" Anduin commanded and Ser Barristan entered the door.

"My prince, the Maesters from the Citadel are here." He spoke.

"Excellent," Anduin stood up. "They came just in time."

"Maesters?" Cersei asked. "What are they here for, Anduin?"

"You will know soon enough, Mother." Anduin answered as he turned back to Ser Barristan. "What of our guests from across the sea?"

"They should arrive tomorrow, my prince."

"What of Lady Arryn?"

"She is arriving later today," Barristan spoke.

Considering it is treason to refuse a Crown Prince's namesday invitation, I would think she wouldn't refuse. "Good. Then everything is happening right on time. I want you to thoroughly search her escort for any suspicious elements. I will not have the same thing happen with the Dornish."

"Of course, my prince." Barristan saluted and walked away.

"Who are your guests?" Cersei asked.

"Two ruling families from Lys." He handed her a parchment. "Recently Lys was attacked by a pirate armada, and the ruling family was killed, and the two next highest families are vying for control. Instead of going through a civil war, they asked us to help decide the next ruling family."

"Why us? We are one sea away from Lys..." Cersei frowned, putting the parchment down.

"Because...one of the families happens to be Danielle's." Anduin looked at his mother. "The head of one faction is Danielle's father to be precise."

Cersei gasped. "Is that so?"

"Yes. Danielle's parents asked me to...help negotiate on the succession of power...considering she is one of the main candidates to be the next queen of Westeros," Anduin smirked. "This is a great opportunity for us to dangle our feet in the politics of the Free Cities, do you not agree?"

The Queen watched the excitement dancing in her son's eyes, something that happened quite frequently since he was a child, especially when playing a game. Her failure of a brother Tyrion had taught him Cyvasse when the boy was only 5. After losing to the imp several times, Anduin grew accustomed to the game and its rules. And after that, nearly no one beat him in the game. Not even she could beat her son, much to her delight and surprise. Only her father could give her son a good game. When she asked her son how he got so good, he simply said that he simply figured out the very central rule of any game. Apparently, he told only her father the central rule, and that day was the only day that Tywin Lannister laughed.

Now it was the same. He was playing a game. A very delicate, dangerous game...

"It's time for me to see to other duties," He stood up. "See you all later..." He patted his younger sibling's heads and walked out, with Arianne following him. Myrcella and Tommen looked at their mother.

"Mother, do you think Anduin is really alright?" Tommen chirped, and the queen mother brushed her son's head.

"I don't know, my cub. But I seriously hope so."

Daenerys giggled as Nymeria licked her hands. She and Arya were in the Garden, conversing when Nymeria began whining for food. Arya had pulled out some dried meat jerkies for Nymeria, and Daenerys offered to feed the direwolf. The Targaren-in-disguise fed the wolf, and the animal graciously licked her fingers.

"She is beautiful..." Daenerys scratched the wolve's fur.

"Nymeria is not beautiful!" Arya said. "She is a direwolf! She is supposed to be wild and dangerous!"

Daenerys chuckled. "I suppose, but even wild things can be beautiful. Like trees, flowers, mountains."

Arya put her finger on her chin. "How about dragons?"

Daenerys looked at Arya in surprised. "Why do you ask?"

The Stark shrugged. "I mean...dragons were wild too, right?"

"Dragons were said to be magical animals..." Daenerys spoke softly. "But nobody has seen a real dragon in over one hundred years." She remembered how her dead brother Viserys told magnificent stories of dragons, how they came to Westeros. Targaryens were Dragons, and dragons were Targaryens; her brother's words. She wondered if that was true...

"I always wanted to see a dragon," Arya smiled. "A big winged creature capable of breathing fire."

"I supposed I want to see a dragon too," Daenerys whispered. That was a lie. She NEEDED to see a dragon. The symbol of her family was the three-headed dragon representing Balerion, Vhagar and Meraxes, the three greatest dragons in Targaryen history. What she would have done to see them at their most powerful...

"Am I interrupting something?" They turned and saw Anduin approach them with a smile.

"Not at all." Daenerys straightened up. "I was just walking with Arya and her wolf."

"And what a delightful companion she is..." Anduin ruffled Arya's hair and Nymeria's fur, much to the former's dislike and latter's delight. "I actually wanted to give you something...in private." He said to Daenerys, who nodded.

"See you later!" Arya waved and continued to run around with her wolf in the yard, much to Anduin and Daenerys' amusement.

"She is just an innocent soul. Wild, but innocent," Anduin chuckled as they walked into the Red Keep.

"Arya wants to be a warrior, just like Visenya," Daenerys laughed as well.

"That is not so bad, is it? A female warrior? Visenya and the few female warriors were all great warriors." Anduin added. "Still, she has yet to know what it is to take a life..."

"Do you know?" Daenerys asked, and Anduin nodded.

"My first kill was when I was 11 years old," Anduin answered, much to the Targaryen's surprise.

"11? Why?"

Anduin sighed. "This was at Dragonstone. My uncle Stannis was teaching me when a couple of sea pirates attacked nearby ships. They were caught...and my uncle gave me the sword to execute three of them." He remembered that too well. Stannis had his men tie down three of the criminals they caught and had the rest executed. He gave his nephew the executioner's sword and told him to kill the three. Anduin still remembered how one of them begged, saying that he had a wife and two children to feed.

The Crown Prince had frozen for what seemed like an eternity before bringing down the blade on one of them. Only the blade had not gone all the way so blood had spurted out of the half-split neck and would have nearly sprayed Anduin with it if it were not for Davos Seasworth, Stannis's most trusted man. The man had argued against his lord, but Stannis was resolute to have the Crown Prince deliver justice. Davos stood behind Anduin and held his the blade with Anduin, helping him cut down the third head and finish the other two.

After that, Anduin wanted desperately to find the executed man's family, but Stannis just slapped him, saying that criminals must not be helped. But was that justice? Having a family starve just because one member did a misdeed?

"Needless to say it was not a pleasant experience," Anduin finished as two of them entered a room. In the room was a table with a box. "This was something that Illyrio Mopatis left by when he delivered you to me a few months ago." He moved the box closer to Daenerys. "Open it."

Daenerys slowly opened the box and gasped. Inside the box were three eggs that felt like stone. "Dragon Eggs... " She whispered.

"Mopatis said that they had turned to stone centuries ago...still...I suppose they could hatch given the right circumstances..." Anduin looked at Daenerys, whose face had frozen. "What is it? Do they not please you?"

Daenerys turned to Anduin with slightly teared eyes. "Thank you..." She whispered and tackled him into a hug.

Anduin welcome it and they looked at each for a minute before sharing a small kiss.

And that is that for now. I should have another chapter in like two weeks. That one will be long. I promise.

Again, please review. I have another story I am working on, called. Justice League New 52: SAINTS vs GODS vs MORTALs. Read that if you have the time. Review that too, if you are a Justice League fan.

Enjoy!