The Watcher of Tiros ran through the pros and cons of using the continent splitting as an excuse to introduce new animals to her world.

  On the one hand, fun!

  On the other hand, she’d have to do it all herself. All of it.

  She summoned a bucket of frosting, absently picking up a spoon, and got distracted by an alarm.

  Empress Athena had spoken Bonnie's name.

  Bonnie sighed, turning her focus to the industrial city of Winner. Inside the giant palace, inside the Empress’ private rooms, Athena was glaring at the ceiling. Echo, in her true form, was sitting on a couch, looking nervous.

  “Well?” Athena demanded.

  Sighing, Bonnie pulled both changelings into the Void and went there herself. She put on a forced smile. “I’m sorry, what was your question?”

  “Oh, aren't you omnipotent?” Athena sneered. “Don't you know everything?”

  “Mom,” Echo hissed.

  Athena waved at her dismissively. “What, she can't hurt me. There are rules.”

  “What do you want?” Bonnie asked flatly.

  Athena glared. “You gave my daughter that seismic report file. Out of all the spies in the country, you gave it to her. I told you to leave my people alone, and you not only ignored that order, you chose to speak to the one person-”

  “Order?” Goddess Bonnie repeated. “I'm sorry, you thought that was an order? No, sweety, what you gave me was a suggestion, and I have been generous enough to follow it.”

  “But you didn't,” Athena pointed out. “You decided it would be amusing to make the person closest to me one of your lackeys!”

  Bonnie put a thoughtful look on her face. “No? I haven't spoken to Pandora in like twenty years, I don't even know where she is these days.”

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  “Watcher!”

  “Mom, it’s ok,” Echo said gently. “She just wanted people to know there’s a giant earthquake about to happen, it’s nothing dangerous or nefarious.”

  Athena looked at her adopted daughter for a few seconds. “How long have you been in contact with her?”

  Echo flinched. “A… couple years?”

  “Echo, you know, I told you she’s dangerous,” Athena growled.

  “To be fair, so are you,” Bonnie said with a shrug. “But unlike you, I have rules. You get to do whatever the hell kind of messed up thing pops into your Machiavellian lil mind, while I just get to sit up here and grumble about things. You imprison people and play with them like puppets. I can only scream into the Void. It’s a great Void for screaming in, though, don't you think?”

  After another few seconds of silence, Echo motioned in Bonnie’s direction. “Come on, you really think she’s a danger to me?”

  “Yes,” the Empress stated. “Anyone who doesn't see people as people is a danger.”

  The Watcher of Tiros sighed. “There’s no use arguing about this again. I agreed I was in the wrong, agreed to leave your country alone, agreed to not interfere when you took Demelza’s throne, what else do you want me to agree to?”

  “Never speak to my daughter again,” Athena ordered.

  “As Echo is legally an adult, the choice is hers,” Bonnie said.

  They looked at the teenager.

  Echo took a deep breath. “Mom, you've sent me to some pretty dangerous places, and you sent me there alone. I couldn't have any message stones, so the only friend I had who I could talk to was Bonnie. I know you don't like her, but I do.”

  “No. I forbid you from ever speaking to her again.”

  Bonnie snapped her fingers, and Athena was sent back to her palace. Echo stayed.

  “Well? What do you want to do, kid?”

  Echo looked down, eyes focusing on the planet beneath them. “I don't know. The closer we get to my birthday, the more she's been pushing me to abdicate to her the moment I legally become empress. And I'm not going to. I mean, you heard her, she almost exclusively refers to me as her daughter now. Everyone will tell me to do what she says because she acts like she loves me. One way or another, she's keeping control.”

  Bonnie sighed. “Yeah, that might be a problem. For what it's worth, I really do think she cares about you.”

  The changeling’s eyes flicked up. “You do?”

  “Given what she did to your real mother, yes,” Bonnie shrugged. “She could have found some way of killing you, too, if she wanted. Sure, she hasn't exactly been making sure you're safe, but if she wanted you gone, you'd be gone.”

  “True,” Echo said softly. “I think- I think it’s time I see what the world is like outside the Empire. I just need to get away from everyone here. Until I turn nineteen, at least.”

  “Ok. If you don't mind, I’ll send you to a church in Owonyan, in a city named Mouse. The neko I introduced you to will be there in a few days. His group should take care of you,” Bonnie said.

  “Sure, I guess.”

  “Let me know if you change your mind.”

  “Ok. Well, let me get some things first, but then, yeah, Owonyan is good.”

  With a nod, Bonnie snapped, and the changeling was gone.

  Then she slumped, sighing. Now she had to find another spy in the Empire…