Trials of the Mad Queen

by Calico Yorki

If any of them had known what awaited them, they likely would have wept for the condition of their souls. And no wain ropes, nor the coercion of the lords of demons themselves, can ever take them back to that place. [Prologue Posted]

The collective history of the multitudes of Netherworlds is one riddled with intrigue, violence, and general shenanigans. There are demons whose power-play plots span centuries of their indefinite lifespan, demons who live for the tumult of war-torn battlefields, and demons who hoard innumerable treasures to satiate their greed. For every villain the Netherworld has produced, however, there seems to be a demon who takes responsibility for their subjects like a parental guardian, or a demon who chooses to build new possibilities rather than destroy lives, or a demon who rises up to become the savior of not just one, but perhaps many worlds.

Some demons, however, are quite different. They walk the sometimes blurry line between villain and hero, unchained by the expectations of others. Untamable, uncontrollable, they carve their own path through life. In little want for resources, they take an iron-fisted command of their subjects, and marshall them to do the amazing, the terrifying, and the phenomenally stupid. This kind of demon sacrifices thousands of their subjects to retrieve one sexy-ass pair of enchanted leather boots. This kind of demon ravages villages and cities with their beautiful power, extracting all sweets and snacks within. Yes, a demon which is quite powerful, but is only hampered by their laziness, and complete lack of ambition, and overall absence of charisma, and their flat chest too…

Etna was perched on her throne one day, in a little Netherworld that Laharl had annexed. She was understandably exasperated with the narrator, who will continue to sass her for the purposes of comedy. Far below, Etna's many subjects had been gathered to build for her a 'special project.' Her throne in particular crowned a huge pillar of rouge stone, spewing flames out of holes in its whorled sides, and with misbehaving Prinny souls being trapped inside spiked cages that dangled off of huge, rusty protrusions. Etna was watching as all manners of constructions were made, cages the size of buildings were ferried, and passels of snacks were delivered to her tower.

Whatever could be the purpose of all this? The main event, of course…Soon, all that would be required would be contestants.