Anasi winced with some sympathy, as his imagination showed him a Kobold male standing before the elders with a pained grin upon his features. Yes. It was rather painful to witness such a thing, and caused the Arachne to shake his head with eyes shut tight. Afterwards, he lightly slapped both sides of his cheeks to remove the last remnants of the images therein.

Once through, and his eyes opened, did he notice one of the Ageless's orb-like eyes of darkness peering in his general direction as his lips stretched into a small smirk before vanishing. For the attention of the being before them had transferred over to a giggling Nox. Of whom laughed at the image which had planted itself inside his young mind. Whereupon it did transfer into the minds of the twins who were snuggled up against his chest, and were soon giggling at his father.

No. The Kitsune before them did not reprimand their persons, and instead simply smiled until, at long last, they did quieted down enough for him to speak once more. "Yes. It was quite the embarrassing time for one such as I," this was spoken as he placed the digits of his right paw upon the centre of his chest for a moment, then replaced it back upon the armrest it was originally resting upon.

"Nonetheless, I performed thusly, but do you know why?" His gaze fell into the eyes of each and every one of their own. However, the children simply shook their small heads when he looked upon them, which caused another smirk to form as he leaned back against the chair with his arms bending and twisting towards the centre so that his now splayed digits touched one another. "I had been sulking long ago, due to my removal of Terra, and was told by my own servants to go out into the various worlds to remove such behaviours from my mind. Therefore, I and a few of my own servants journeyed to this unknown world where a child was in need of rescuing."

*****

I shall be skipping ahead to a full turn, as the episode in which we had appeared from within lead up to another bout of embarrassment that I would rather not speak of. Therefore, we shall begin with my person, in the guise of a Kobold, standing before an odd throne within an equally odd great room. For you see, my dear children, the whole of their castle was not of stone, but of wood. What is more, it was within a great tree and was shaped by Druids, not carved out as one would surmise with these Kin.

In any case, the persons surrounding I and mine numbered in the tens of hundreds, as such a great room was large enough to contain a full civilisation of thousands. As a matter of fact, it did so and with the throne at the centre of it all for only the king to sit upon. Which meant that we were at the centre of attention as we stood before the feline Kin who wore a crown of white thorns upon his brow.

No. It was not impressive to my eyes, nor in the eyes of those that I had brought with my person. However, there were many varieties of Kin who would have disputed otherwise, and yes, with their weapons if needs be. Which also meant that they believed we should bow and pay homage to one such as he, but were shocked at our refusal.

"You should bow before the King," growled a male within bark-like armour which made him look more like that of a miniature faux Treant with a tan and white tail sticking out its hind end.

"I will not bow to one I do not recognise as such," came my declaration, which shocked those that heard us. Whereas the one who ordered us to bow took up a long halberd, and advanced upon our position. Yes. The king did order the male to stand down, but did so with barely a raised voice. Perhaps he doubted my person, or perhaps it was something else entirely.

Regardless, he simply watched as the halberd wielding male Kin continued to advance. However, the moment he was within striking distance, did I notice Brutus beginning one of his spells under his breath. No. They did not notice it, but as I moved my head to order him to stand down, the halberd wielder lashed out with the weapons.

There were many gasps in the audience, as the section between my shoulder and head parted for the blade, and lodge itself somewhere above my pelvic region. What is more, the body I chose to wore was illusory, which simply meant that it was only perceived as flesh so long as one believed it to be so.

Many believed my person to have been slain from such an encounter, which caused even the old king to sigh as he shook his head within the palm of his right hand. However, there was a commotion coming from those who were closest from my person, as my entire form held many red lines which raced all along my form. All of which came from the area around the blade.

"You have made a grave error, little King," came my booming voice, as a vortex of endarkened energies swirled around my person. Of which engulfed the weapon and its carrier, who screamed as his body was torn apart as he entered the area closest to my body. "You should have stopped your pathetic warrior before he had a chance to strike my person."

A pair of slanted, malevolent eyes of crimson appeared within the centre of the vortex, as it erupted towards the higher points of the tree we stood within. The eyes themselves quickly became orbs full of hatred for anything still alive, just as a shape within took form into a great beastial creature. One that was nearing eight metres in height, and four metres in width.

Two pairs of arms formed themselves within, which was only visible as outlines to those without. However, the first pair was actually much larger than the latter, as they attached themselves to the wide shoulders, whilst the latter fused with the central sides of the rib cage. What is more, from the base of the spine shot out a long, thick tail which stretched itself forty and five degrees away from the body proper. This was merely used as a counterbalance, by the way, so that the body would have some measure of balance. Of which was given more of such a thing by its massive, clawed feet that contained four digits, each with a claw at the end. Whereas a fifth sprouted from the heel, and dug into the ground somewhat.

As for the skull portion of the creature, which by now should be obvious to whom it belongs to.

"Papa!" giggled Nox as his father continued with a nod.

Yes. This was I, and as for the skull, it was in the combined shape of a Basilisk and an Ogre. Of which, by the by, was a rarity amongst the pairs races. For although an Ogre can create offspring from any of the races before it, seeing one of the combined pair never naturally occur. This is due to the fact that the two races would rather slay one another instead of holding a courtship.

On the other hand, once my body was complete, did I step out of the vortex so that all may view my true form of that time. Whereupon I did roar a mighty roar as each and every citizen within this unknown kingdom shrieked, hollered, and ran for their very lives as I advanced upon the king who had soiled himself greatly at my appearance.

*****

The Ageless, upon finishing this portion of the tale, clapped his paws together in order to dispel any sort of captivity within the children that was brought upon by way of his story. Of which caused the twins to twitch at the sudden sound, before yawning greatly and snuggling up to a very tired Nox. "The story will have to wait until much later," his voice lightly droned as he stood up slowly.

Whereupon he did make sure that his son, the Kitsune girl-children, and Anasi were comfortable upon the beds. Which also meant that he conjured up a small, white blanket to lay atop the Arachne. Yes. He did stir a little from the motion, but snuggled into the offered blanket with a small smile.

"Sleep well," smiled the Kitsune before them, and vanished into nothing.