A New Morning

Sunlight beamed in through the small cracks of my blinds, just so perfectly landing right in my face. I groaned from a combination of waking up and the strangeness of having revisited the Hall of Ringmasters. I have got to start going there intentionally, and stop going when I sleep. I yawned and stretched, my hand running into something soft that wasn’t my pillow.

I turned over to see Vanessa, sleeping calmly and turned towards me. She had a gentle smile on her face and looked peaceful. Her gorgeous brown hair contoured around her cheeks, as if to outline them. Her breath was soft and relaxed, still fast asleep.

I looked in the other direction at my phone to see what time it was. Only 9 AM. No notifications that really mattered as I swiped them off my screen. I sighed and looked up at my ceiling, the memories of last night still fresh in my mind. A small tingle went through me as the sensations washed over me again of how Vanessa and I made love to each other.

But, there was still something else that felt weird and strange to me. It was almost like I wasn’t me. I held my hand up in the air and looked at the Reality Ring. For so long, I had been single romantic Maria, without any real serious relationship partner. And now, I had six girlfriends. For the first time in awhile, I had no idea how I was going to spend my weekend. What did I normally do?

I thought back to last weekend and what I did then. Watch TV or streaming. Work on my screenplay. Work on schoolwork. Eat. Sleep. My Goddess, was I really that boring? I sighed again and lowered my hand.

I mean, was there anything wrong with wanting a simple life? Getting to work on things that I love and watch what I enjoy? To me, that sounded like a really good life. I shouldn’t feel bad for wanting something simple, right?

“Mnngh.”

My train of thought was interrupted as Vanessa shifted in her sleep. She reached her arms around and wrapped them around mine, snuggling up tight to it. I couldn’t help but smile at her adorableness. She was positively wonderful and she was mine. Well, part of my polycule, anyways.

My mind wandered to the other girls and began to think about how they were all now affected by becoming part of the polycule. Vanessa had no issues at all. Danna and Summer seemed completely content with it. There was no doubt that Regina loved it. As for Lexi and Tae, I wasn’t sure. This must be really new to them. I hope that they’re adjusting well. Oh yeah, I wonder how things went with Regina and Lexi last night. I haven’t heard from Regina since lunchtime yesterday. I wish I had a better way to talk with her.

I winced a little as the ring flared up based on my thought.

“Huh? Maria? Is that you?”

“Regina?” I could hear her voice, but she wasn’t anywhere in the room. It was like I was hearing her in my head.

“Ooooh, telepathy between us. That’s what happened,” Regina thought. “Well, not the first time a Ringmaster’s done this.”

“Ugh, I have got to get better control of this thing,” I thought back to Regina. “It keeps activating subconsciously.”

“Again, you’re the one who controls it,” Regina responded. “And it’s not like you can’t undo anything you’ve done either. But undoing isn’t training, so keep that in mind.”

“Thanks,” I mentally said. “So, how were things with you and Lexi?”

“Oh, she’s so much fun, Ringmaster. She’ll let you do pretty much anything to her.” I could almost hear the purr in Regina’s thoughts. “She’s a good little toy who loves to be played with.”

Thinking of Lexi being a willing submissive slut got me a little wet. Ugh, it was only 9 and I was already getting horny.

“Though, you and Vanessa had one hell of a night together. Now that’s what I call lovemaking.”

“H-How did you know?” I asked, nearly blurting it outloud.

“Ringmaster, you forget that I’m aware of every change that you make, right? Including the change you made of making it so that you never forget that night. All the details and sensations? All etched into the changes of this reality.” I couldn’t see it, but I just knew that Regina had a massive grin on her face.

“You said this reality, right?”

“Yeah? What about it?”

“Last night, I visited the Hall of Ringmasters again. And I met some of the previous Ringmasters. Um, I think they were, like, Dmitry, Zotova, Otis and Rene. Do you recognize those names?”

“Man, I haven’t heard about them in a LONG time, some of those longer than others. Those were some wild nights with them,” Regina chuckled.

“Well, they were bringing up things like the United Kingdoms of America and the Panama Tundra. Those don’t exist.”

“Maria,” Regina started off. I gulped a little. Regina only usually called me by my name when it was more serious. “The artifact that you wield is called the REALITY Ring. People who have used it before have altered the fabric of reality and the timelines to their whim. In fact, the world and timeline that you live in? That was the state that the 608th Ringmaster left it in. I think that the last change they made was creating something I think was called velcro?”

“So, this world isn’t the first?” I could feel a strange tension in my chest. “There have been multiple timelines and restarts?”

“Look, Maria, don’t think too much about that kind of stuff, alright?” Regina said. “The important thing is the here and now of what’s going on. You have several lovely girlfriends, myself included. Focus on here and now, okay?”

“Okay, you’re right,” I said with a hearty sigh. I still felt that strange tension in my chest, but it was a little less now. “Thanks Regina.”

“No problem, Ringmaster,” Regina said. “Oh, mind giving me a key to your apartment? I’d appreciate it.”

“Oh, sure,” I said. I focused on the ring and Regina’s hand, editing the world so that a key to my apartment would appear in her hand. The ring slightly flared up.

“Thanks Maria. I’ll talk to you around. Hit me up if you need me, girl.” With that, I felt Regina’s mental presence disconnect from our telepathic phone call.

I sighed and turned over to Vanessa, just admiring her beauty. Gently, I leaned forward and gave her a kiss on the forehead. Though, she just happened to be my Sleeping Beauty, since she woke up as soon as my lips left her forehead.

“Good morning, Maria,” she said, pulling me in for a firm kiss on the lips. “How did you sleep?”

“I… I slept wonderfully,” I said. No point in telling her about all the craziness of the ring and reality altering and all that. “How about you?”

“Mhmmm,” she softly moaned as she nuzzled into my arm. “Oneiroi blessed me with a wonderful dream of us and the rest of the polycule.”

“Onei- Oh! Right,” I said with a bit of a chuckle. “I forgot you were a Helleist for a second.”

Vanessa curled up into my arm again and held it close. “I can’t blame you. I don’t bring it up that much.” She turned up and looked at me with those beautiful emerald eyes of hers.