Fluffy. A fluffy sensation was dancing on the edge of Granberia's senses in an attempt to drag her out of unconsciousness. It poked and prodded at her face, searching for her most sensitive spots. Eventually, the fuzz found it, and began to relentlessly assault the dragonkin's nose.
She couldn't take it anymore. Bolting upright, Granberia let loose a massive sneeze of fire and smoke, blasting away the ball of fur that was sitting on top of her.
"Wawa! That's hot! TOO HOT!" screamed Tamamo as she bounced around the room, clutching her burning tail.
Severely startled, the swordswoman leaped out of the bed she slept in and flailed her arms around as she tried to calm the flaming kitsune. "S-so sorry! That was involuntary, I swear! Let me hel-"
"Don't worry, I got this! STOP, DROP, AND ROLL!" With a shout filled with determination, the nine-tailed fox tripped over her own feet and began to roll spasmodically across the ground until the flame suffocated. Bouncing right back up, she gingerly held her burnt tail and began to brush the ashes off.
After a brief and awkward silence, Granberia spoke. "...Are you okay?"
Finished cleaning her tail, Tamamo reached into her kimono and pulled out a folded paper fan before pointing it accusingly at the dragonkin. "Okay!? I'm surprised I didn't get a heart attack, considering my age!"
"Good for you?" Granberia blurted, a single drop of sweat sliding down her face.
"...You're not good at this 'socializing' thing, are you?"
The unbearable silence that followed confirmed it for Tamamo. Sighing, the fox slid her paper fan back into her kimono before speaking. "Then I'll do the talking to save you the trouble. So! Where to begin?" Jumping into the air, all nine of her tails clumped together to form a stool, which she sat on while crossing her legs and clasping her hands together.
"We'll start with the first question that most people ask when they wake up in a room unknown to them: where am I? Well, the answer might surprise you!" Tamamo squirmed in place as she built up anticipation, relishing in Granberia's apprehensive look.
"It's Alice's sex dungeon!"
"No it isn't."
"Darn! Usually works with the humans..." Sighing, the fox threw her hands into the air in admittance of defeat. "But you're right, it's actually one of the many guest rooms of the Monster Lord's Castle. Feel free to enjoy our accommodations for the rest of the morning!"
Swiveling on her tail stool, Tamamo pointed to a small table in the middle of the rustic room. A single, steaming oriental cup laid on the furniture. "I brewed you some tea to get you started-" She continued to swivel, this time stopping as she pointed towards a wooden cabinet next to an unlit fireplace. "-and your armor is in there. I repaired it, so now it's in peak condition."
Her rotation finally stopped as she faced Granberia again, this time pointing next to the dragonkin. "Ares is next to the bed, keeping you company while you slept." Tamamo smirked. "Also, I see what you did with the name there. Very cute."
Granberia shifted uncomfortably, tugging at the collar of her white undershirt. She didn't know how to handle such a compliment, so she settled with changing the topic. "What does Alice plan on doing with us losers? You should know, since you're close to her."
The kitsune frowned, folding her arms in irritation. "Yeesh, not even a thank you for fixing you and your gear up. You youngins are so disrespectful these days..." she muttered, sinking a bit into her fluff chair. "You're right, though. I do know what she has in store for us. But I don't want to spoil the surprise!"
Now up to her own midsection in tails, Tamamo continued to talk as if nothing was happening. "However, I'll at least give you a hint. Whatever she has in store probably doesn't end with us being raped, murdered, eaten, or all of the three combined." She sank up to her head, but this didn't stop her from persisting. "Ooooh! One more thing! Alice did tell me to round you guys up and head to the throne room. That's where we're receiving our evaluation."
"Should I bring my sword?" Granberia asked, more than curious as to what Tamamo was doing.
Nothing was left of the kitsune as she completely sank into her own tails, only leaving a ball of fur on the floor. "Yes, actually. Just in case. Also, isn't it kind of funny how you're the only one who brought a wea-" Her muffled voice was cut off as the ball bounced into the air and shrank into itself before disappearing entirely, leaving no trace of the fox left.
Granberia continued to stare at the spot where Tamamo disappeared before shaking her head. "...Maybe I should've said thank you."
...
While the palace was designed with beauty and comfort in mind, the throne room was made for the purpose of conveying doom. The lair of the final boss, heavy and oppressive, with bleak stone walls and pillars laying the side of the hall. It was perfect for setting the mood of despair.
But that despair came at a price. It was really, really uncomfortable. No seats besides the menacing throne of stone, little ventilation, and that one cobweb in the corner no one bothered to clean up.
However, all of this meant nothing to Erubetie. With a body of ever-shifting slime, one can be comfortable in all environments. Though, as she leaned back against the pillar, body melting and wrapping around it, she couldn't help but feel annoyed at the cobweb in the corner. Seriously, the entire place was pristine except for that damn corner.
Just as she made up her mind to eradicate the stupid cobweb from existence, a loud groan filled the air as the wooden double doors to the throne room slowly creaked open. Granberia stood outlined against the open frame, clad in her armor with Ares sheathed at her hip. One hand still on the door, she scanned the room before making eye contact with the Slime Queen.
Erubetie blinked once before retreating from her attempts at annihilating that god forsaken cobweb, melting and reforming as she returned to the pillar she was leaning on. Folding her arms across her chest, she stared blankly at the ground, ignoring Granberia.
The dragonkin herself wasn't feeling any less awkward. With a hesitant cough, Granberia left the door open as she walked to a pillar opposite of Erubetie. Upon arrival, she too leaned against it while folding her arms and staring at the ground.
"I should say something. Something conversational. But...what would Erubetie even like to talk about? I don't think she even uttered a single word during the free-for-all." Biting her tongue, the swordswoman shot a quick glance over at the slime, who was still staring at the unremarkable floor with a bored expression on her face.
"Do you like boomera-"
"No." Erubetie's facial expression didn't so much as twitch, but she did unfold her arms and let them hang loosely by her sides.
"...Is that a red flag? Oh Salamander, that's a red flag." Granberia's face flushed with panicked embarrassment as she struggled to avoid looking anywhere else but the floor in front of her.
The following silence was unbearable. A single bead of sweat dropped down the dragonkin's face as the tension in the room escalated. Battles she could handle. Being ruthlessly pounded by the strongest monsters of this generation she could handle. Being promised a candy cane but never given one she could handle. But Heaven forbid being caught in a socially awkward situation for any time frame longer than five seconds.
It had to end. Granberia opened her mouth to speak. "I-
"I know you."
Choking down the urge to cough, the swordswoman stared blankly at Erubetie. "P-pardon?"
The slime continued as if uninterrupted, her low, whispery voice filling the stale air of the throne room. "I know you. You're that dragon child Salamander took in, right?"
Granberia gave the Queen Slime a scrutinizing glare, trying to get a read on whatever emotion she was feeling. "...Yes, that would be true. I don't recall ever telling you that, though."
"No, you haven't. However, Undine did tell me about Salamander taking in a pupil. Well, less of a pupil and more an actual daughter." A flicker of something passed by Erubetie's eyes as she relived the memory. "To think something so small could grow so powerful so quickly...It's ridiculous."
Not wavering as she made eye contact, the swordswoman relaxed ever so slightly. This outcome was certainly better than stewing in painful silence. "Thanks?"
"You're welcome," Erubetie mumbled, her face, eyes, and voice remaining impassive. Despite that, the Queen of Slimes avoided Granberia's gaze and instead stared at the now familiar floor.
"I really can't read her at all. Well, at least we left off on a positive note. I think." Despite her uncertainty, Granberia still managed a small smile as she relaxed against the stone pillar.
The following silence, thankfully, lost most of its awkward air, and instead was a comfort for the two. And as the silence progressed, the dragonkin found herself closing her eyes and clearing her mind.
Granberia mastered the serene state at the young age of five. It was a valuable ability in battle, allowing her to tap into the flow of the world and read her opponent's killing intent like a book. However, one had to maintain a clear state of mind, and let nothing pull you out of that peaceful, focused state.
While there wasn't any fighting going on (at least not yet), the serene state of mind was a great way to pass the time. And thus, Granberia listened to the rhythmic flow of the world, intermingled with Erubetie's unique presence.
However, their peace was short lived, for a dark, lecherous existence made itself known, disturbing the flow of the world in its wake. It was a being who cared not for others, and only thought about indulging every wicked desire that came to its enigmatic mind. Closer and closer it approached, and at last, at the brink of climax, it came.
"Hi Betie! Hi Granberry! Sorry for being late, Alice kept me up all night yesterday with endless, forceful, pounding work." Alma Elma's teasing voice completely shattered any sense of peace that Granberia had, while Erubetie just ignored everyone and continued to stare at the ground. "I mean, I know I lost, but she could've at least been more gentle with me."
Mentally bracing herself, the swordswoman reluctantly opened her eyes. Between her and Erubetie, Alma hovered midair, leaning back and folding one leg on top of the other as if relaxing on an invisible chair. With large leathery wings, flowing mantle, long hair, and thick, bull-like horns, she made quite the intimidating figure, despite the friendly grin and the amount of skin she was showing.
Granberia cut straight to the point. "Why the hell did you join the Monster Lord Coronation if you were going to give up before it even started?" growled the dragonkin, unfolding her arms and resting a hand on her hip.
Alma Elma, for the briefest moment, looked faintly surprised. But her initial shock was quickly replaced by coy amusement as she uncrossed her legs and descended onto the ground. "Oh, aren't you a feisty one!"
In a single gust of wind the succubus disappeared. And just as quickly as she vanished from reality, she popped back into existence right in front of Granberia with a slightly wider grin than before.
To the dragonkin's credit, she managed to not flinch at Alma's stunt. Although, her heart did skip a beat. "So, are you going to answer my question, or are you just going stand there and stare into my eyes?" Granberia desperately fought to ignore the way Alma smelled as she attempted banter.
"Well, to be fair Granberry, they are really pretty eyes." The Queen Succubus winked as she stuck out her tongue, letting a single strand of saliva break off and disappear between her generous breasts.
Reeling internally, Granberia was on the verge of melting into a hot mess on the spot. Luckily for her, Alma left the swordswoman's personal space before her composure could crack.
"Since you asked so nicely, I suppose I could tell you." The Queen Succubus took flight and folded one leg on top of the other, relaxing in her nonexistent chair once more. "To be perfectly honest, I never wanted to be here in the first place."
This grabbed everyone's attention. Even Erubetie looked up from the ground to stare in mild surprise.
"Excuse me?" Granberia's eyes widened in shock and a little bit of anger as she struggled to comprehend what she just heard.
"It's true! The only reason I'm here is because a friend submitted a participation letter without my permission. And, since I didn't want to disappoint her, I decided to at least show up." Alma shrugged dismissively. "Besides, being at the Coronation did present me quite the unique opportunity..."
She wasn't wrong. While Alma Elma did give up before the battle officially started, she did get one move off.
The five towering pillars of power and skill faced off in the training hall, each participant's minds branded with their own goals. Alice the Sixteenth, descendant of Dark Goddess Alipheese herself, was beginning the countdown that would mark a potential turning point of who took the throne.
One of these participants had a different idea, though. Large leathery wings flaring, Alma took flight and hurtled towards Alice before she uttered a word. The Monster Lord, however, didn't look surprised and merely adjusted her stance. Fists clenched, Alice prepared to intercept the daring succubus if she didn't vanish from reality and reappear behind her.
It was at that moment when Tamamo, Granberia, and Erubetie were treated to the hilarious scene of Alma firmly grasping each of Alice's breasts. The room went deathly quiet, and the only thing that moved was Tamamo's childish body as she desperately struggled to retain her laughter.
The stillness continued for a good few seconds until Alma started her groping in earnest. As soon as one of the succubus's hands twitched, Alice whirled around at absurd speeds and slammed her fist into Alma's careless face, sending her crashing into a wall. Luckily for the succubus, Tamamo's wards did their job and prevented her body from flying through the castle and into the night sky.
Face locked in an expression of horror, embarrassment, and anger, the Monster Lord could only stare at the Queen Succubus as she fell to the ground in a dazed heap. It was there Alma waved the metaphorical white flag of surrender and announced her defeat, punctuated by Tamamo's hysterical laughter in the background.
Granberia snapped back into the present when Tamamo's hysterical laughter filled the desolate throne room. Emerging from nothing, a small ball of fur rapidly expanded midair before falling onto the floor in front of the still open doors. The kitsune's laughter died into the occasional giggle as the ball blossomed into a flower of tails, from which Tamamo leaped into the air and bounced back onto her feet.
"S-sorry, so sorry! It's just that- Well- It was so funny! The look on her face I can't!" Doubling over in mirth, Tamamo wiped a tear from her eye. She managed to compose herself after a few more giggles before skipping over to be among her fellow losers.
"Alma! Up top!" The succubus responded accordingly, raising an open hand and allowing Tamamo to jump up and give her a high five. Now sporting matching smirks, they waved each other off as the fox bounded towards Erubetie.
Swiveling back around to face Granberia, Alma was faintly surprised to see the dragonkin glaring at her. "Aww, such an intense look~! But, I did answer your question, so forgive me if I fail to understand the source of your anger." Her voice took on the tiniest bit of ice as her eyes narrowed.
"Finally, she's starting to get serious." In a single sudden movement, Granberia reached out and seized Alma by her jeweled choker, before forcibly dragging her down to eye level.
"Oh my, so forcef-" The succubus never got to finish her innuendo before Granberia headbutted her.
Alma didn't so much as flinch at the impact, but her usual cheery expression was replaced by one of cold stoicism.
"Listen here you flying obscenity, I came to the Coronation for one reason and one reason alone: to fight the strongest monsters that this day and age had to offer! So, I'm understandably a little miffed when one of them just up and walks away from the greatest battle of my life!" snarled Granberia, the frills behind her pointed ears flaring as she ground her head against Alma's.
A tension filled silence followed. Tamamo stopped nagging Erubetie and peered at the confrontation, paper fan open and covering her mouth. The slime herself gazed on with her usual indifference, though her constantly shifting body stiffened.
Sure that her point was made, Granberia let go of Alma's choker and returned to leaning on the pillar. "You. Me. Tonight. Courtyard. I'll be waiting."
The Queen Succubus's blank expression turned into one of smug desire. "I'll take you on that offer. Besides-" With a single flap of her wings, Alma blurred as she dashed forward. Thrusting an open palm, she slammed it next to Granberia's face, cracking the pillar and buffeting the swordswoman with the force of impact. "-you warrior types are always the funnest to break," she whispered, her hot breath delicately caressing the tip of Granberia's ear as her body pressed against the dragonkin's.
"Please, for the love of Tamamo's exceptionally well cooked thin-fried tofu, don't destroy the throne room!" A magnified, exasperated voice thundered throughout the room, shaking everyone to their foundations. In a bright flash of green light, a magic circle littered with numerous runes grew outwards from underneath the throne. Another bright flash and a pop before Alice slipped into existence, her lower half coiled around the stone seat while her upper half rested upon it. And in the Monster Lord's hand was a single sheet of thin-fried tofu, which she promptly began to nibble on.
The others were quick to react to their new Lord's appearance. Granberia took this opportunity to wriggle out of Alma's grasp and make a beeline for the throne, sliding to a halt at the base of the stairs that lead to the glorified chair. Alma herself followed shortly, lazily drifting over before settling down alongside the dragonkin. Erubetie and Tamamo each arrived at the same time, the Queen of Slimes as a slithering liquid before reforming next to Granberia, and Tamamo by casually clearing the distance with a single bound and landing next to Alma.
The kitsune frowned upon noticing Alice's snacking. "Where did you find that tofu?"
"Shut up, losers don't talk unless told to." Tossing the last bit of tofu into her mouth, the Monster Lord chewed and swallowed before letting out a happy sigh. "Delicious~!"
No one told her to hurry it up as Alice licked the last crumbs off of her gloved hand. Her long forked tongue made quick work of the remaining scraps, and at last she turned her attention to the four assembled before her. "So, as you all know, the reason I sit upon this throne is because I kicked all of your asses at the Monster Lord's Coronation. No surprise, really. My family did hold this position for fifteen generations and counting." Alice smugly folded her arms underneath her bust and smirked.
"Though, there was something that made this particular coronation special. And that was the quantity and quality of the fighters that dared challenge me. Seriously, you guys were some tough bastards." The Monster Lord's amber eyes lingered on Granberia before returning to her general scan of the others. "So, instead of the usual rape-murder-eat (sometimes but not always in that order), you all are spared..!"
Not a single one of them took the bait, though Tamamo did speak up. "Seriously, where did you find that tofu?"
Alice's only response was to glare at her and raise the end of her tail before slamming it into the ground, shaking the throne room with a mighty shock wave. "Anyways, while I am indeed sparing you all, that doesn't mean I'm letting you off the hook just yet." Unfolding her arms and spreading them outwards, a terrible, crushing pressure emanated from the Monster Lord. "First, you must kneel."
After but a moment, almost everyone complied. Granberia got onto one knee and bowed her head, along with Alma and Tamamo. To them, it was the obvious thing to do. It's only natural for the loser to submit to the winner's will in a world where power means everything.
Erubetie, however, hesitated. Her usual composure, for the first time since she got here, cracked. Eyes wide, body trembling, it looked like she could melt into a puddle at any moment. But, with the queen's iron will, she managed to hold herself together and kneel, even forming legs to complete the look.
A delighted, fangy smile spread across Alice's face as the four proved their complete submission to her. "Excellent. Welcome, to your new lives as my Four Heavenly Knights!" Her menacing aura disappeared as she waited with held breath for her knights' reactions.
The only response she got was the four returning to standing followed by a bland silence.
"...Come on, I stayed up all night yesterday thinking that one up. Give me some damn feedback!"
"Well, I think it has a nice ring to it, my lord," Alma cheered, cupping her own face with her hands.
"You know what, I take it back. I don't want to hear anything from either one of you anymore. Tamamo! Take over." After barking that command, Alice clasped her hands together, and the green magic circle reappeared underneath the throne. In a bright flash of light and with an audible "pop" noise, the Monster Lord's serpentine body dissipated into nothing, along with the circle.
Tamamo immediately took advantage of her student's absence and front flipped onto the throne. Upon landing, she formed a cushion with a few of her tails and sat down before bouncing around to face her fellow knights. "Oooh, I always wanted to sit up here, but Alice complains about my fur getting everywhere. Honestly, she's such a child," fondly chuckled the kitsune as her tails swished side to side.
"So, to be completely honest, nothing much changes with our current lives. Except for the fact that we now serve and completely obey the whims of our new Monster Lord." The fox didn't seem bothered at all by the sudden change from mentor to servant. "Don't worry, she's no Black Alice. We wont be forced to massacre countless innocents for slaughter's own sake."
The room's atmosphere took a slightly colder turn at the casual mention of Black Alice. Alma and Erubetie in particular stiffened, though Granberia herself couldn't care less for the long dead rulers of the past.
"Moving on-" Tamamo used her tails to propel herself upwards, only to land on her feet on the way down. "-we'll all be using the same telepathic mind line for communication. Also, in the case you three want to live here, you all have assigned rooms. I even have them listed with directions on these pamphlets I brought, along with tofu recipes!"
She continued to talk about pamphlets and tofu, not noticing that the remaining three gradually lost interest. Erubetie liquefied and slithered over to the cobweb in the corner, her malicious killing intent growing stronger the closer she approached.
Meanwhile, Granberia was struggling to find a way to politely ask Tamamo to stop talking about the fifteen different ways to cook tofu. Her line of thought was interrupted when a pair of arms wrapped around her midsection and pulled her in for a hug.
"Something on your mind, oh Heavenly Knight of Fire?" Alma's friendly but ever so invasive voice tickled the side of the dragonkin's neck. The sensation elicited a swift elbow jab from Granberia, but the succubus let go and dodged to the side, all while smiling pleasantly.
"As a matter of fact, I do." Turning to stare Alma down, the knight of fire pointed a single, clawed finger at the Queen Succubus. "Do you think I'll look good with a cape?" A small grin spread across her face as she delighted in the confusion she caused Alma.
"...Actually, you would. It's the one piece that's missing from your outfit." And just like that, the power shifted. "If you want, I could make you one as a reward for losing to me in our upcoming duel," teased Alma, leaning over and flashing a wink.
Now it was Granberia's turn to be confused. "W-wait, you can sew? And shouldn't rewards be given to the victor, not the loser?"
"First, yes, I can. How do you think I got my outfit?" The succubus stuck her hips out and struck an alluring pose that displayed all of her curves. "Second, if I were to do that, I would feel bad asking the impossible from you."
The dragonkin let out a frustrated shout, complete with sparks flying out of her mouth. "Oh, that's it! You've been teasing me for far too long, and I can't take it anymore! We're fighting NOW!" Granberia drew Ares out of its sheathe and pointed it at the amused Alma.
"Aww, is Granberry all hot and frustrated?" giggled the Queen Succubus, taking the power of wind into her body. A devastating gale flooded the throne room, and Alma's wings flared as she adjusted her stance.
"YES, I AM!" Literally on fire, the roaring dragonkin dug her claws into the ground before lunging forward, flaming sword raised above her head for a powerful attack.
"CAN YOU TWO NOT!?" With a shrill squeak, Tamamo clasped her small hands together, and a green magic circle large enough to encompass the combatants grew from nothing. In a bright flash of light and with a "pop" noise, the two disappeared along with the circle.
Sighing, the kitsune slumped down on the throne of stone. "Don't want a repeat of the training hall. Isn't that right, Eru-" She cut herself off when she realized she was completely alone in the throne room. "...Darn, when did she leave? Welp, you two can come out now!"
Two balls of fur materialized alongside the throne, one pale red and white, and the other yellow and black. And from those balls of fur exploded forth two kitsunes, each with their own unique oddities.
Yao stood on Tamamo's right, all eight of her white-tipped tails twitching. "Wise of you to warp them to the courtyard. Though, I have a feeling they'll still manage to break something." Her angled, mask-like face didn't change from its usual grin despite her worried tone.
"Ah, relax. The fight will be over sooner than you expect." Coming from Tamamo's left, Nanabi spoke, her large, bestial lower-half settling into a sitting position. "Seriously, have you seen the sleeping lust inside of Granberia? I'll be surprised if she lasts more than five minutes." The seven-tailed kitsune folded her arms beneath her naked bust and closed her eyes, smirking while doing so.
Tamamo cleared her throat, drawing her closest advisers' attentions. "I'm sure you all know why I called you here, but I'm gonna say it anyways." She suddenly hopped to her feet. "How the hell did Alice find my tofu stash!? I even told you two to guard it while this meeting was being held!"
"W-well, my lady, it appears the twelve scent-concealment wards we placed on it were useless against the Monster Lord." A single bead of sweat dropped down Yao's unchanging face as she bowed. "When she found us, Alice immediately clotheslined me through a wall. And when Nanabi tried to help, the Lord inflicted over a dozen status effects on her. All while laughing!"
Nanabi shuddered as she relived the memory, though for some reason, she kept her eyes closed as she balanced a dry leaf on her head.
The Heavenly Knight of Earth let out a long sigh and rested against the throne once more. "Alright, I'll forgive the two of you. But seriously, how am I going to get back at her..?" Dismissing the thought, Tamamo shot a sly look at the still-concentrating Nanabi. "Hey, how's the fight looking?"
The seven-tailed fox didn't open her eyes, but she did respond. "Oh, it's looking juuust great."
Rising from her bow, Yao's lips peeled back to reveal a row of sharp, smiling teeth. "Granberia lost, didn't she?"
"Horribly so. It's embarrassing to see someone that brought Alice to her nonexistent knees come apart with a touch, both figuratively, and very literally." Nanabi suddenly flushed. "My goodness, that's the third time and Alma isn't even slowing down! Such sadism!"
Tamamo let out a short bark of childish laughter. "That's the Queen Succubus for ya. Now I want to see this 'battle' myself. For educational purposes, of course." The nine-tailed kitsune stood up. "Foxes, lets roll out!" With that, she back flipped into the air and disappeared into her own fluff before vanishing entirely.
Yao followed suit, though instead of a flip, she jumped and elegantly twirled as her tails swallowed her. She too shrank into nothing.
It took a while for Nanabi to realize she was alone. "E-eh? Oh, right, wasn't there in person." All seven of her tails straightened and pointed towards the leaf on her head. Clasping her hands together, she evaporated into a large cloud of gray smoke which quickly cleared.
The throne room was left empty and desolate, though ever so slightly cleaner then before.
Author's Note: At long last, I finally did it. This concludes the little story I've set up here. Like always, feel free to give me any feedback that comes to mind. I need it desperately.
Anywho, now I'm wondering what to do next. Maybe something with MGQ Paradox, but I have no concrete ideas yet.