Stepping lightly, Parcrya entered their bedroom, trying not to wake Amarice.
She needn’t have worried. The lights in her little home were blazing bright. Removing her uniform, Parcrya quietly changed into a tee and shorts, getting herself ready for a night’s sleep.

Everything she wore was a bit tight. Parcrya frowned, the growth was relentless.

Lying down on the bed she scooted forward, until she could see within the little windows. There was Amarice hunched over a tiny drafting table, working away.

Parcrya had to smile, Amarice was incredible. Her lover was obsessed with getting the project done right; deathly worried that she’d not do a good job for Lady Sienna and the Empress.

“Amarice.”

At the sound of her name, the Mini jolted, sitting up in surprise, so immersed in the task that she hadn’t heard Parcrya at all. Her smile warmed the heart. Unlike many, Amarice was always genuinely glad to see her.

From the second story window, the mini clamored into Parcrya’s waiting hand. Just having her love near caused the stress of the day to fade away. With the Empress’ blessing they had lived together for some several months now, both women having to adjust to the day to day temperament of the other. From Parcrya’s perspective, it was Amarice who did the lion’s share of adjusting. Even though she had worked around Colossi, it was far different to live with a Colossi.

Parcrya’s long time personal friends within the Imperial Military were supportive of her relationship with Amarice. Still, things were sometimes a bit awkward, her inner circle of friends not quite sure how to relate to a Mini. Most Colossi were friends with Colossi, same for the haflings, and most Mini’s. While all now firmly regarded the other as equals, there still was little in the way of interactions between the groups. Halflings were still quite patronizing toward Mini’s and most Colossi tended to be aloof toward the smaller peoples.

Upon hearing about their relationship, the reaction of most Colossi ranged from amusement to disgusted contempt. Parcrya said nothing, did nothing, unless that contempt was directed at Amarice. There was no holding back her temper then. No one as large as a Colossi should yell at or threaten someone as small as a Mini.

On one occasion the Empress surprised all by making a personal appearance to bail her and Amarice out of jail. The Mini having steadfastly refused to leave her side, though not involved directly in the fight. Parcrya knew the Empress did so to underscore her support for the relationship. Once reported in the media, the vitrol the two faced diminished rapidly. Such was the respect for, or fear of, the Empress that none dared voice objection, at least not openly.

“It is late, you should rest.”

“Says the one working late designing the palace,” Parcrya replied while scooting to lay upon her back, then gently placing Amarice upon her breast.

“I know… I’ve been at it a long while now.” Amarice said sleepily it was difficult to stay awake, Cyra’s hand was so very warm and she so very tired.

“Its just, I’ve never designed anything like this before and with the growth happening to all of us, its difficult to know how much to scale everything up… I thought to make everything as big as possible, as I… don’t… know when the… um…growth will stop”

Parcrya smiled lovingly down at her Mini love. Amarice had fallen asleep and was snoring cutely.

“You’ll do wonderful love.” Cyra whispered before turning out the light.
**
“Any change?”

“No.” Sienna shook her head sadly.

Kyla thought as much.

“It would appear the environmental conditions are not a cause of your growth Empress.”
Kyla squinted, just able to pick out the speck standing in front of the Embassy as they called it. Soon the growth would make her and everyone else so big as to be unable to see the speck people at all without some kind of aid.

“Can you create a link to the leader of the great council?”

“Of course Empress.” Moments later the latest leader of the speck council, Alrun appeared on the viewscreen. The specks lived such short lives, seemed she was always dealing with someone new.

“I apologize for contacting you so late.” Kyla moved to sit upon the couch in the living room. All the while thinking talking with the Speck leader while in her nightclothes a bit unwise.

The information was important enough to breech etiquette. Sienna’s look told her that perhaps she should have worn something a bit less daring.

“Our scientists have a theory…” Kyla began, hating to be the bearer of bad news.

“We have been informed.” Alrun replied. “Sadly, in our efforts to rid our people of disease, we lowered our immunity to the virus generation after generation. While we will not shrink, we shall not grow either.”

“Yes.” Uncharacteristically Kyla looked down at her hands, not knowing what to say. “When the old Empire laced these worlds with the virus again, our bodies—“

“Reacted by growing larger, just as you did a millennia ago. Only this time, the Mini’s and Halflings, responded by growing as well.” Alrun finished.

Silence from both Sienna and Kyla. What could be said after that?

“Within months, we shall be so small that you Colossi will no longer be able to see us with the naked eye.”

“We know you are there, we shall continue to honor our agreement to give you protection.” Kyla spoke firmly.

“We are glad for it, Empress. As you are all continuing to grow, we ask our planet to be quarantined from future visits from Colossi, Halflings, and Mini’s.”

“I will see to it.”

Sienna could bear it no longer, her eyes filled with tears.

**
“Hard to tell with you, but I’m very excited.”

Kyla took Sienna’s hand in her own and gave it a bit of a squeeze.

“I’m more relieved than anything else.” Kyla shifted in the leather seat stretching out her long legs. Looking out the shuttle’s window, she watched the horizon for a moment before looking down at the trees whizzing past below. “Finally I may be able to stand up straight in my own home.”

The growth had continued, the cities forced to cope with buildings that were too small. Instead of tearing down structures in the old sections of town, they were left standing for Halfings and Minis to use. When the buildings got too small for them, then they would be torn down, the material recycled, and then rebuilt in larger form.

“There it is…” Sienna said with awe as their partially built home came into view. “Just like our old manor on Earth.”

“Except that it is absolutely massive.” Replied Kyla.

**
“Amarice, you must stop worrying, all will be fine you’ve done a fantastic job.” Parcrya spared a glance to her love seated on her shoulder.

“One never knows with the Empress.” Replied Amarice as the Imperial shuttle made its landing.

All present knelt as the Empress and her consort walked down the ramp. As ever the Empress was daunting in her dress uniform, her wife could not be more differently attired, Sienna wearing a shimmering dress of indigo blue with heels.

“Get up.” Both Parcrya and Amarice upon her shoulder stood.

“Great Gods Amarice!” Kyla looked way up to see the bottom of a window still, her gaze traveling farther up the monumental structure. “You’ve built on a massive scale!” she finally finished.

Amarice swallowed. “Yes Empress, I felt it best we prepare for the growth as best we can.”

“I think I have a greater understanding of what it feels like to be mini sized,” said Sienna while looking up, and up, and up…

Little Amarice giggled despite herself, causing the Empress to laugh.

“The Manor is far from finished,” The mini gestured to the main doors. Kyla took the hint and after clasping Sienna’s hand in her own, began to walk forward. “What you see here is just the main entrance hall and a cluster of five rooms.”

“Just five rooms!” Sienna was aghast. She looked about the space “I’m as tall as the granite baseboard.”

“Amarice, while I appreciate you taking the growth into account, this space is enormous.”

The Mini figited a bit at the Empress’ words, but as Crya had instructed remained resolute. “True, the space is very large, Empress, but I believe necessary due to the growth.”

“How high is the ceiling?” asked Sienna.

“600 feet my lady.” Replied Amarice.

**
“Well, you did want a bigger house.”

Kyla smirked down at her wife for a moment, then got into bed. “True. I was tired of bumping the ceiling with my head, but this…this…” her voice trailed off as Sienna snugged up next to her.

“Do you really think we will grow this big?” asked Sienna. She moved one of her hands, fingers trailing across Kyla’s incredible abs.

“Amarice sure thinks so.”

“Yes, but what do you think?”

“It is a distinct possibility.” Kyla replied. “I already stand nearly 35 feet tall, an unheard of height even for us Colossi.” She slipped an arm round Sienna. “You aren’t exactly petite either.”

Sienna huffed in false outrage, before chuckling. “Good.” She responded.

“Good?”

“We shall be more than a match for the old Empire.”

Kyla remained silent.

“Promise me something my love.”
“What would that be?” Kyla scooted a bit in bed, relishing the fact that she actually fit.

“Should the old Empire attack, show them no mercy, conquer them.”

Kyla lay stunned.

“I promise.”