Author's Note: This was the original story I had posted. The "extended version" starts in Chapter 2: Sic Semper Tyrannis, and I suggest you start there. I have simply kept this "Cliff's Notes" version for the sake of posterity.

I wrote this story simply to fix what I saw as a serious fly-in-the-ointment in Kuroinu. That is, the ending. I just had to give the ladies a happy ending. Especially Origa and Chloe, as I absolutely loved their design, and the fact that chocolate elves in general are pretty damn great.

As he stared at the sewer grate in front of him, Lucius, former Captain of the 6th Capitoline Guard, tightened his grip on the hilt of the sheathed sword at his hip. A full year of despair, pain, and planning had culminated in this moment. A full year since Volt and his Black Dog mercenaries had usurped the throne and established a new empire where rape and the enslavement of all womenfolk was law. It was tonight, while the Black Dogs lay drunk from their day-long celebrations, that Lucius and others of the Loyalist Resistance would strike all across the southern lands. With any luck, the morning light would find Volt dead and Celestine rescued.

"This passage will take us straight into the heart of the castle." He spoke in a hushed tone to the one dozen men behind him. They were all veteran soldiers hand-picked from the most elite units of the realm. All save for one rather scrawny man in a hooded cloak. "Once inside, we will make our way to the feast hall. Our spies inside say that Volt has gathered Celestine and the queens there for..." Lucius paused for a moment. "You all know why we are here. We all have mothers, wives, sisters, daughters. Every one of them have-"

"You do not need to give us a speech, Lucius." One of the men, a heavy-set soldier by the name of Saul, interrupted with a solemn tone. "As you said, we all know why we are here."

"Right." Lucius nodded. He turned to the cloaked man. "You have the... concoction, right, Doran? Are... are you sure that it will work?"

"Did you remember to bring your sword, Lucius." The man huffed. "Of course I have it. And of course it will work. The potency and speed of action will astonishing. For there is no greater alchemist in all the land."

"Or greater ego." Lucius muttered. "Now, let us open this gate and get to the task at hand." At his command, Saul stepped forward and the two pried the grate from the sewer pipe. Without further word, the group slipped inside.

With only a torch for light, the group trudged through the sewer for several minutes before coming to an open grate overhead. Lucius pointed upwards. Once again, Saul stepped forward. Crouching down, he wrapped his arms around Lucius's legs and hefted him up. As he was brought to the top of the sewer, Lucius raised the grate several inches and surveyed the room. It was the laundry, where the maids would was the royal garments. The room was empty, so the former Captain pushed the grate aside and lifted himself out of the sewer. Turning, he then helped Saul out of the dank under-passage. As the other loyalists followed, Lucius crept to the door and went to take a peek into the hallway, but quickly snapped back into the room as he saw movement out of the corner of his eye.

"Hey! Who's there?!" A voice called out from the hall. Lucius looked to his comrades and put a finger to his lips. It was unneeded as they could all hear the heavy footsteps drawing closer. "I said who goes th-mmph!" The the door swung open, Lucius grabbed the guard and pressed a hand against the man's mouth. As he dragged the man to the ground, another rebel leapt forward and plunged a dagger into the guard's heart. Lucius held tight as the Black Dog thrashed about, and once the body went limp, threw him into the sewer.

"May this be but the first dog we put down." The former captain spat, earning a nod of approval from the others. With the signal of a hand, the soldiers drew their blades and slipped into the hallway, moving stealthily towards their final destination.

"Alright, men." Lucius whispered to his comrades as they drew near to the corner that led to the feast hall. "There will be two guards at the door. We strike hard and fast and immediately press onward into the feast hall. I know not what we will find within, but I cannot imagine that it will be pleasant. Kill every Dog and conspirator you see, but be mindful of those we are duty-bound to protect." They all nodded and Lucius swung out his sword, signaling the attack.

Without shout or battle cry, they charged around the corner. Just as Lucius had said, two Black Dogs stood at the door with spear in hand. They were caught completely unawares and barely had time to take a defensive position.

"Intrud-Aaagh!" The Black Dog's shout of warning was cut off as a sword was thrust into his throat. The other guard, however, was able to skewer his spear into the gut of a rebel before a shorter blade swing in and separated his head from his neck. Not wasting a moment to tend to their dying comrade, the loyalists slammed into the massive double doors of the feast hall, forcing them open.

Again, it was just as Lucius had said: not pleasant. Between two long banquet tables, numerous men were passed out on the floor. A good two dozen, however, were still conscious. Some were naked, others dressed, but all were forcefully and violently sating their carnal lust within the flesh of nine women. The very same women that the loyalists had come to save. The scene disgusted Lucius's men, but what enraged them more than anything was the sight of Volt sitting at the far end of the room, his hand on the back of Celestine's head and forcing her face into his loins and his flesh down her throat.

"For the Goddess!" Lucius did not stop to gawk. He charged in and slashed at the closest Black Dog, his sword biting deep into the man's back. His comrades were not far behind. Several of the Black Dogs were cut down, but those still mostly dressed were able to react quick enough to arm themselves and form a defensive ring around Volt. The women, mind-broken as they were, still recognized what was going on and moved out of the way as best they could.

"Who are you? How did you get in here?!" Volt shouted as he shoved Celestine aside and stood. As he pulled his pants up to his waist and fastened his belt he regained his composure. "Okay, let us be reasonable here. I can tell by your armor that you all were members of the army. You probably fought against the forces of the Dark Queen, or perhaps lost buddies to her minions, yeah? How about you put down those weapons, loosen those codpieces and take your anger out the bitch herself." He pointed to Origa Discordia who sat the floor, her back against a chair. Upon hearing this, she spread her legs and gave a sultry smile.

"Yes. Use my-"

"Attack!" Lucius interrupted, deciding that he had already hesitated for too long. The loyalists rushed the Black Dogs and a brutal melee ensued. Doran, however, kept back. Reaching into a bag under his cloak, he grabbed a handful of powder and flung it into the air, and then another and another.

"Bah! You a fairy princess or something?" Volt coughed as the powder formed a cloud that filled the room. "You will need more than some shitty-ass pixie dust if you want to beat the Black Dogs!"

"You are right!" Breathing in, Lucius could feel a sharp tingling in his brain as he hacked down the mercenary in front of his and rushed at the usurper king. He swung his sword and locked blades with Volt. "But that was not just some 'shitty-ass pixie dust.' Nor was it for you."

"What?" Volt clenched his teeth as pain shot into his left leg. He turned to see Alicia holding a steak knife buried into his thigh, her eyes burning with hate. "Damn you-aaagh!" He cried out and twisted as Claudia thrust a carving skewer into his right side just under the ribs. Lucius reared back to swing the deathblow but before he could, Maia grabbed Volt's face from behind and tilted his head back. In the same instant, she raised a serrated knife to his throat and cut with such force that the blade nearly hit spine.

"Ggrhkha..." Volt gurgled as blood sprayed Lucius. Maia let go, and the mercenary king collapsed in a heap. Alicia and Claudia stood, and the three women glared down the king dog as he whimpered and died.

"Such is the fate of mad dogs." Lucius spat on the corpse. He turned in time to see Chloe stab the last Black Dog through the neck with a table knife. Of his own men, only Doran, Saul, and two others still lived. "Make sure the Dogs are all dead." He commanded before turning once more and rushing to Celestine's side. "My lady, my queen, my goddess." Lucius whispered as he removed his cloak and wrapped it around her naked body. "You are safe now. Your nation and your people are safe now."

"G-good." Celestine pulled the cloak tightly around herself and slowly stood up. "But I am no more a queen nor goddess, and it is no longer my nation."

"With Volt and the Black Dogs dead, your throne will be restored."

"No. I have failed as a leader, and before my own subjects I have been humiliated, disgraced, and defiled. With what they have seen, I have lost their respect forever. I am too sullied-"

"Lady Celestine." Lucius dropped to one knee and bowed his head reverently, his voice boomed with righteous devotion. "Even now, with everything that has happened, your people still love you. Look upon the men who have given their lives here and now. They were willing to lay down their lives out of that love, my lady. All across the realm, thousands upon thousands hold such devotion and are wresting control of the land back from these villains. The shame inflicted by Volt and his men was not yours for failing us, my queen, but all of ours for failing you. Not a day goes by that your subjects do no yearn for you to be restored to the throne. We-"

"I see, Captain Lucius." Celestine spoke quietly, interrupting Lucius's rambling. She looked over the scene around her. The dead on the ground, loyalist soldiers helping the other women cover themselves, and Lucius still kneeling before her. "Rise, Captain, and let us leave this place. Volt may be dead, but surely more of his men are still in the castle."

"Of course, Goddess Celestine."

"This is an outrage!" Grave Levantine growled as he stared out the window of his estate. The moonlit streets below were filled with people celebrating the one year anniversary of Volt's rise to power, or merely using it as an excuse for public drunkenness. "Claudia was to be mine and mine alone. To propagate my bloodline. But that damnable Volt demanded I give her to him for his party tonight. Now if she were to become pregnant, how many men might be able to claim parentage? Ten? Twenty? A hundred?" He sighed. "Still, I may not need to worry. After all, filling her vessel every night for a year has yet to result in any offspring. Perhaps my daughter-in-law is just as worthless as my son." He turned and looked at Klaus. The younger man sat at a dining table, his face blank.

"Dead seed bears no crop, no matter the soil in which it is sown." Klaus intoned, staring off at nothing.

"That is quite the impudent statement coming from the likes of you!" Grave spat. "Remember that it is by my grace that you are simply confined to this estate, and not rotting in the castle dungeon!" He took a deep breath and regained his composure. "The hour is late. I think I shall retire for the night."

Klaus shot up in bed, awoken by and crash and a muffled scream. From the faint light out the window, it seemed an hour or two before sunrise. With a yawn, he crawled out of bed and stumbled into the hallway. Shuffling through the corridor, he stepped over Black Dogs soldiers as they lay motionless on the floor.

"I guess they went a little overboard on the drink." In his groggy state, he could not see that the men were dead. As he reached the breakfast hall, he placed a hand on the door.

"W-w-wait! You would not do this to your own father, would you?" Klaus could hear Grave on the other side of the door. Opening the door, Klaus was shocked by what he saw. His father, Grave, was down on both knees with his hands clasped together. Standing over him, with her back to Klaus, was Claudia. She was clad in full armor and holding a sword out so that the tip touched Grave's throat. Around them stood a dozen armored soldiers wearing the heraldry of High Queen Celestine.

"That is quite the impudent statement after what you did to me!" Claudia roared. Gritting her teeth, she reared back and thrust her sword into Grave's chest. Placing a boot on his chest, the noblewoman kicked him off her blade. Grave fell onto his side as stared at Klaus.

"Klaus... my son..." The old man coughed as he lay in an expanding puddle of his own blood.

"Claudia?" Klaus spoke with wide eyes. Instantly recognizing his voice, Claudia spun around and their eyes met.

"K-Klaus?" Claudia stammered and dropped her sword. She took a step towards her husband, but stopped and quickly turned away. "N-no. I am dirty. Sullied. Defiled. I can no longer be-" She was interrupted as Klaus ran into her from behind and embraced her as tightly as he could.

"N-no. Y-you are n-neither sullied nor d-defiled." Klaus choked by tears. "You are my wife, and I love you. Nothing else matters."

"I... I killed your father." Claudia's jaw hurt from how hard she was clenching her teeth.

"You did not, my love. My... my father died a year ago. When he betrayed... he betrayed" Klaus fell to his knees. Claudia turned and kneeled as well. They embraced tightly and wept in silence.

Origa Discordia sighed with a shiver and lolled her head back as she sat within her private chambers. Taking a sip of wine, she placed one hand on the blonde-haired head between her thighs. There, Chloe licked lovingly at the Dark Queen while gingerly teasing her rosebud with an oiled finger. She looked up at Origa, the Dark Queen's nectar dripping from her lips. For a moment their eyes met and they shared a warm smile.

Suddenly, there was the creaking of an opening door. With lightning reflexes, Chloe rolled to the side and jumped to her feet. Just as swiftly, Origa crossed her legs and threw the hem of her dress over her thighs.

"My Queen!" The dark elf steward called out as he stepped into the room. Origa and Chloe stole a glance at each other and looked back at the steward. If he had seen what they had been doing, then he did a good job at pretending that he did not. "A message from Lady Celestine of the southern realms."

"Proceed, steward." Origa spoke with a haughty elegance as she set her wine glass on the table next to her. "What message does fair Celestine have for us?" With a curt nod, the steward produced a piece of parchment and began reading.

"'It is with great honor and fanfare that the High Queen Lady Celestine Lucross and her Princess Knights of the Seven Shield Alliance do extend invitation to Queen Origa Discordia of the North, her womanservant Chloe, and retinue, requesting their attendance, as guests of the Goddess, at the celebrations marking ten years since the defeat of the most vile Volt and his dastardly Black Dogs mercenaries. In addition, it is hoped that this event may cement a peace between our two lands forevermore.

Signed most sincerely,

Claudia Levantine
Alicia Arcturus
Prim Fiorire
Kaguya
Maia
Luu-Luu
High Queen Celestine Lucross'"

"Very good." Origa replied simply. "Draft a reply of acceptance, we are honored by the invitation, reciprocate the desire for lasting peace, et cetera, et cetera. You are dismissed."

"My Queen." The steward bowed deeply and left the room.

"Ten years already, huh?" Chloe muttered, her eyes downcast as the horrible memories returned to her.

"Think not of that time, my dear." From behind, Origa wrapped an arm around Chloe. With her other hand, she plucked a small teacake from the nearby table and lovingly fed it to her companion. "All those that betrayed us have long since suffered their just desserts, and we have ensured that such treason shall never again befall us. You are safe."