Chapter One: The Demon of the Village
"So, Velvet, how does your witchcraft work?"
"I'm not a damn witch!" Velvet turned around, yelling at the blonde holding onto her. "And, watch where those hands are grabbing or I'll turn you into shish kebab!"
"Do you have sensitive boobies?" Yang asked. "Are they sore?"
"Shut the hell up!" Velvet shrieked. "You don't just ask people that! Especially not pretty girls like me!"
"You're pretty?" Yang asked.
Velvet took a deep breath, counting to ten so she wouldn't punch Yang out of the car. She knew Yang didn't get how that question was asked, so she couldn't hold it against her. She was also still pissed about leaving her orbs (particularly the ones with her clothes and mobile home) back at Yang's gramma's house. But, with the amount of time they'd been driving, three days' worth, it was way too late. They were on a time crunch and she knew that going back may jeopardize her chance to get her wish.
"So, your gramma and you lived all alone?" She asked, changing the subject.
"Yeah, we lived in the mountains. She found me and took me in. I don't know who my real parents are and she didn't know. But, Gramma was fun."
"Well, it's weird to see people with purple eyes," Velvet turned back to driving, feeling bad for opening that can of worms… though Yang didn't seem fazed by it.
"It's cool," Yang leaned back, her tail curving around Velvet's waist a little due to the car's space, being only for two people.
"Can we go faster?" Yang asked. "I can run faster than this. I'm bored!"
"Even if that were true, I can't take this car this fast until we're out of the woods. The path's too windy and twisty. I told you the same thing when we left the woods where you lived."
"Then why are we ridin' it?"
"Because I can't run that fast!" Velvet shouted.
"Is it because you don't exercise enough?" Yang asked. "Gramma says—"
"That's none of your business!" Velvet fully turned around letting go of the wheel as she shook the blonde girl. "Someone your age should know that! Wait, how old are you?"
"Uh…" Yang let go, beginning to count on her fingers. "Twenty?"
"You're not twenty!" Velvet shouted.
"Oh, then it's fifteen!" Yang grinned. "I knew it was either fifteen or twenty!"
"You mean to tell me your gramma could help you become strong enough to get shot and walk it off but didn't teach you to count?"
"She wanted to teach me to be a better fighter," Yang said. "She said we'd work on numbers later."
"I suppose I could do that later on the quest," Velvet rolled her eyes.
"Hey, why is that big square thing getting bigger?" Yang asked, pointing in front of them. Velvet turned around with a confused look on her face, letting out a scream as she saw the building coming up quick.
She slammed on the brakes, but it was too late. The car slammed into the building, the airbags deploying to protect the occupants. Velvet suddenly tasted the material of the airbag, Yang's face smashing into her back. She hoped whoever owned the building wouldn't be mad. Or they were dead or not home.
"Who put that big square in the road?" Yang asked, pushing out of the car with no difficulty. She pulled Velvet out of the car, the rabbit eared girl in a daze with a dopey look on her face.
"Velvet?" Yang asked. "Hmm, I think she's sleeping. I guess I could take a nap too."
"Officer I swear I'm not drunk this time," Velvet's muttering, caused Yang to tilt her head. "It was only six… I mean, I could make it worth your while."
"Make what worth my while?" Yang asked, looking down. "Do you wanna exercise now?"
"No!" Velvet recovered, standing up over Yang and yelling. "Let's just see what the person in this building is doing. There's a Relic right here anyway. We will have three by this time."
"Who goes there?!" A voice shouted as someone came out of the house. It was a muscular man, a gun in his hand as he exited.
"Uh, my brakes failed and I crashed into the house," Velvet quickly rubbed her hand behind her head, bowing in nervousness.
"Why are you here in this village?" The man asked.
"We're just passing through," Velvet said. "Why, what's going on?"
"If you are Ilia, forgive me for questioning," The man bowed quickly, his whole body shaking in fright.
"Who the hell is Ilia?" Velvet asked.
"Y-You are not Ilia?" The man asked. "The, why am I forgiving you for crashing into my house?!"
"I'll pay for the damages!" Velvet held her hands up as the gun was pointed in her face.
"And, how do you expect to do that?" The man asked.
"U-Uh, we can take care of this Ilia?" Velvet stammered.
"You think you can?" The man asked. "I'll give you twenty four hours to do so. If you fail, I'll be taking other forms of payment."
"L-Like?" Velvet asked, striking a sensual pose. "I think I can make due if you like."
"Money obviously," The man said. "Now, I'll take you to the village. This house is the guard house so I can alert the village of Ilia's appearances."
"Well, thank you," Velvet said, nodding as the man put away his gun. He opened an orb, a bigger car popping out of it. He gestured Velvet and Yang enter, the blonde getting pushed in by Velvet.
"I hope this one goes faster. I could outrun that one easy."
"Best not be tryin' to boast, little boy. That doesn't get anyone anywhere."
"This little girl is the one that would be able to beat this Ilia creature." Velvet countered.
"At this point, I would take help from a monkey," The man sighed.
"This isn't about the house, is it?" Velvet asked.
"I mean, I'm upset about it, but I can fix that myself," The man sighed. "Ilia is a monster that has been terrorizing our city and stealing our women… teenage girls just get stolen by that monster."
"Creepy," Velvet shuddered. "Well, we'll take care of that. Just out of curiosity, have you seen green spheres around here?"
"I believe that one person in our village saw something like that and took it home," The man said. "If you vanquish this monster, we will give you that as well."
"So, what's your name?" Yang asked.
"My name is Aqua," The man nodded. "Who are you two?"
"I'm Velvet," Velvet crossed her arms. "The blonde there is Yang."
Yang reached up, patting the man's chest. "Hey, you don't have boobies. Did you get hurt?"
"Men don't have those, you idiot!" Velvet knocked her over the head.
"You're absolutely sure this one can defeat Ilia?" The man seemed disturbed by Yang, but said nothing, deciding to not stop the one that may be able to rid their village of monsters.
They soon arrived at a village, driving into the square. The people came out, worried looks on their faces.
"I-Is Ilia coming?" An older woman asked. "Th-That monster is early!"
"No," Aqua shook his head. "But, I have a couple of people who say they can solve the problem."
"Are you crazy?!" The woman shouted. "Ilia will be even more strict if they fail, and they will!"
"We won't let her know we enlisted them."
"And, what have these people requested in return? They probably want tons of money to stop this monster."
"They only want a green orb that may be in this village."
"Like this one?" Another woman held up a green sphere, a twisted crown of thorns inside of it, the Crown Relic.
"Yes, that's it!" Velvet's ears perked up, the teenager hopping out of the car and running up to it to look. "That's the one right there."
"Well, if you can beat Ilia, then you can have it," The woman pulled it away. "We don't have the time to debate."
"Oh, I'm not gonna beat this Ilia," Velvet pointed back at the car, where Yang climbed out. "She is."
"She?" The villagers asked. "She'll beat her?"
"She's just a puny little thing," One person chimed in.
"That's a she?" Another added.
"I'll prove it." Velvet pulled out her pistol, firing a shot at Yang's head. Yang was knocked backward, shouting.
"What the heck was that for?!" She stood up, holding her head. Everyone around them was shocked, most of all Aqua.
"Just to prove a point." Velvet said. "I'm sorry I hurt you, but now they believe us."
"You definitely have weight to your words," Aqua bowed in respect.
"So, why is this Ilia such a problem anyway?" Velvet asked.
"You don't know about the demon Ilia?" Aqua asked.
"Only something about kidnapping," Velvet said. "She's from the sticks and I'm from Vale City. No demons there. Well, maybe something about some old legend of martial artists past, but that's just a legend."
"You will need to understand this to hear our plight," Aqua sighed. He gestured them into a restaurant, ordering them each a sandwich. "I think it's best to do this on a full stomach."
"I'll need a lot more than this to have a full stomach," Yang said, her sandwich gone in one gulp. Velvet punched her in the back of the head, causing her to slam into the table.
"Don't be rude!" She chided. "This nice man that was pointing a gun at my pretty face earlier bought you that!"
"It started six months ago." Aqua decided to just continue. "The demon Ilia came and stole one of our girls. She was only fourteen and that monster took her away." The next month and another girl was taken. Then the next month. Then the next month. So far, six of our girls have been taken, all by that monster. That woman who has that green orb thing, Ms. Chartreuse, her daughter is next, due to be taken in just an hour."
"What does this demon look like?" Velvet asked.
"She takes many forms, all scary and of a different color, but we've never seen her true form. But, none of us were brave enough to try and see it."
"Well, I think we have a solution to take this Ilia out and save all those girls." Velvet said.
"What is your plan?" Aqua asked.
"Where's Ms. Chartreuse's daughter?"
"Little Marigold is getting ready for her being taken by Ilia. Such a shame. She was turning fifteen today."
"Hmm, I have an idea." Velvet grinned, her genius coming to her aid once again.
"What idea?" Yang asked.
"You come with me." Velvet grabbed Yang's hand, dragging her out. "Which way's Marigold?"
"Uh, that way." Aqua pointed toward a nearby house. "But do hurry. We only have forty five minutes before Ilia is due to arrive and she is always on time."
When Velvet arrived at the house indicated by Aqua, she knocked. There was no answer. Yang punched the door open, revealing the inside of the house. Yang's punch also shattered the door, making it unusable.
"Don't do that!" Velvet shouted at her, ears bristling.
"No, Ilia, please don't come yet!" The shouts of presumably Ms. Chartreuse could be heard in the living room. "Marigold isn't ready yet."
Standing in the living room, the opening room of the house, the older woman stood, working on a dress while a girl about Yang's height stood, a defeated, saddened look on her face, as she was wearing the dress.
It was a pretty dress, a strange cross of a maid's dress and a schoolgirl's dress, though more modest, reaching the ankles of the girl. It was a nice dark purple color, a white lace pattern going across the front. It tied in the back with a bow. It had long sleeves, the girl wearing gloves. She also wore slightly heeled shoes, though she seemed a bit wobbly. Her hands were clasped in front of her like a prayer, looking as if she were trying to plead from a deity to save her from this hell she would be entering into.
"Relax, lady, it's just us." Velvet held up her hands.
"Oh, the supposed saviors." Ms. Chartreuse sighed in relief. "Well, what brings you here?"
"We came to enact our plan to stop Ilia and bring back your children."
"And, what sort of plan would that be?"
"Give me your daughter's clothes." Velvet pointed.
"How will that help?" Ms. Chartreuse asked.
"Well, Yang here's gonna wear 'em." Velvet pointed at Yang, who walked up to the girl, patting her on the chest.
"You're a girl!" Yang grinned, pointing at Marigold as the girl blushed in embarrassment. Velvet punched her in the back of the head, fuming as Yang rubbed her head.
"Don't do that!" Velvet shouted.
"But, I can't tell the difference." Yang said.
"Well, learn!" Velvet said. "You're not going to go around touching people like that! It's rude!"
"How do you do it?" Yang asked Velvet.
"I use my common fucking sense!" Velvet pulled on her ears, starting to reconsider Yang as her bodyguard. She decided to swallow this idea because as irritating as she could get, she really wasn't a bad person. She was also the strongest person she'd encountered on this trip. She hoped that she could get through this whole thing and make it safely back, provided she didn't kill Yang first…
"What's that?" The purple eyed girl tilted her head. "Does it taste good?"
Velvet was about to comment that the irony was too evident when she noticed the people scurrying into their homes. She then realized that Ilia must be coming.
"Hurry, Yang, put on the damn clothes!" She shouted at the blonde, who was being handed the outfit the girl was wearing. Yang put it on over her own clothes, scratching her rear under the dress.
"Don't scratch yourself, we have to get you out there!" Velvet ushered Yang out the door to stand in the town square.
Yang stood there, looking around. She felt bored, itching to break out her Gramma's weapon, having prepared to do just that to the demon.
After about five minutes, something came walking up to them. It seemed like a strange reptilian monster, of beautiful colors. It seemed to shimmer in the light. Its teeth, however, weren't so shimmering, a sharp white shade, like blades stuffed into the gums of the creature. It was twice Yang's height, standing on its hind legs. Yang just looked up at it.
"Ah, you must be the cutie I've come to grab," The chameleon creature said, licking its lips. "You do well to be dressed so pretty."
"You're Ilia?" Yang asked, pointing at the creature.
"Ah, do you not recognize me?" The creature asked. "How about this?"
The creature shifted into an elegant looking woman, tall and beautiful, flowing black hair and piercing golden eyes. She wore a reddish brown dress, lips of the same shade.
"Yowwow!" Velvet slammed the door open, her jaw about on the ground as she drooled over this woman. "I'll take a piece of that ass!"
"Yeesh, talk about a granny!" Ilia spoke, looking at her. "But, your tits are great looking."
"I'm sixteen, you uncouth bitch!" Velvet growled, clenching her fists. "Yang, beat the crap out of her!"
"Huh, two years older than me." Ilia thought to herself, turning her focus to the blonde in front of her.
"Okay!" Yang grinned, ripping the dress open and delivering a swift kick to Ilia's gut. The elegant woman flew backwards, smashing into a crate and breaking it. She stood up, angered, glancing at the clock. Her eyes widened and she clenched her fists.
"Look over there!" She pointed behind Yang. When the blonde turned to look, Ilia took off, running out of the city gate.
"What is it?" Yang asked. "I don't see it."
"She's getting away!" Velvet pointed out the gate. "Go get her!"
Yang turned to where Velvet pointed, taking off running. She made it outside the city gate, looking around.
Unbeknownst to her, Ilia had stood next to the wall, a small puff of smoke coming around her as her transformation ended.
Standing where the elegant woman had been was a girl of fourteen. She was wearing a pair of grey shorts and a reddish brown shirt with a black jacket over it. Her skin was covered in spots, though not completely. Her hair was in a long brown ponytail, her eyes of gray partially closed in her smirk.
"Those morons would never guess that the demon Ilia is just a little chameleon like me." She snickered. "I just need to fool that blonde idiot and that girl will be mine. Why did my transformation have to end? I suppose using invisibility would have been better."
"Hey, you, lizard girl!" Yang pointed at her. "Have you seen a demon?"
"That way," Ilia pointed, hiding her smirk well.
"Thanks!" Yang waved, running the way she was told.
"Fool," Ilia smirked, feeling she was ready to transform again.
"You fool!" She shouted, having transformed into an invisible ten foot tall person. "You can't find me if I'm invisible! Now, your end will be—"
Yang turned around, landing a kick square in her chest, knocking her over and out of her transformation. Ilia moaned in pain, looking up at Yang.
"You were really loud, so I could hear where you were," Yang pointed out. "But, it's you. You're Ilia?"
"Uh, no?" Ilia tried. "I think she went that way?"
"That's Ilia, Yang," Velvet walked over, standing over Ilia. "So, the great demon Ilia's just a kid, huh? I suppose I owe her a few blows for those remarks about my tits."
"But, they are great," Ilia stared hard at them, a swift kick in the side from Velvet distracting her.
"So, uh, what were we fighting her for?" Yang asked. "I got bored since it wasn't a fun fight."
"We're supposed to be saving those captured girls, you dunce," Velvet rolled her eyes. "Now, make her take us there."
"Okay," Yang pulled Ilia to her feet, tying a rope around her arms and binding her hands in front of her.
"Where'd you learn to tie a knot like that?" Velvet asked, looking at the defeated looking Ilia, whose whole body turned a red shade from embarrassment, likely a minor transformation.
"Gramma taught me so I could tie my shoes." Yang grinned. "It should hold. But, if she turns into an ant, I'll squish her."
"Well, so much for that plan," Ilia grimaced inwardly.
"So, what makes you think you can get away with insulting my perfect and lustrous body?" Velvet crossed her arms.
"Well, she could be talking about your dirty butt," Yang said.
"For the last time, my butt is not dirty!" Velvet knocked Yang over the head. "Just because you're too dense to understand what a privilege it is to touch this ass of mine doesn't mean it's dirty!"
"I'll touch your ass," Ilia said.
"Put a sock in it," Velvet growled, Yang tilting her head. She reached over and touched Ilia's chest. Ilia let out an 'eep', her body shifting to a crimson shade, but this seemed more of an angry crimson.
"What was that?!" She demanded.
"You're a girl!" Yang pointed.
"You can't just do that!" Ilia shrieked.
The villagers walked out at this point, seeing the commotion had died down and they could see Yang and Velvet standing next to the captured Ilia.
"Have you vanquished the demon yet?" The villagers asked.
"Huh?" Velvet's attention was directed at them. "Oh yeah, we got it covered. We'll have Ilia take us to the village girls and then we'll take her with us."
"Well, okay then," Aqua, who took the lead, nodded.
"Now, march," Velvet lightly, yet very fiercely jabbed her knee into Ilia's rear, pushing her forward.
Ilia, yelping at the sudden force, stumbled forward, leading the group to the castle in the distance. The castle was huge, at least by the villagers' standards. It had a huge wooden door, which Yang pushed open upon Velvet's command.
When the door opened, the villagers following them all saw their children completely unharmed and well. In fact, they seemed better off than they were in the village. They were dressed in very fancy dresses and were sipping juice from wine glasses.
"This is a miracle," Aqua ran over to his daughter, hugging her tight. She had blue hair and was dressed in a blue dress like a goddess. She hugged him back, being picked up by the man.
"You want us to go back to farm work?" Another girl asked, fanning herself with a fan that cost probably as much as one of the houses in the village. "No thanks. This is the life."
"They're all more trouble than they're worth," Ilia muttered, slumping her shoulders a bit. "I figured they'd be great to stare at, but they're all such prudes."
"Well, we can't thank you enough for saving our children." Aqua turned to Velvet and Yang. "That orb thing is yours."
"Here you go," Marigold's mother handed Velvet the orb. Ilia looked at it curiously, noting the design of the crown inside.
"So, what is that?" She asked. "And… can you let me go?"
"Now, let's deal with this monster." The villagers began to crowd around Ilia, grabbing for her. Velvet was quicker, however, pulling her away.
"Sorry, but this one's coming with me," She began to leave.
"Why are you taking her?" Aqua asked. "Do you want to make enemies of us?"
"Because while I believe perverts should get their comeuppance, I have more use of her than you would. Besides, it's not like your kids were harmed anyway. So, we're going to leave. You got a problem with that, Yang over there will be more than willing to knock some heads."
"I see…" Aqua stood down, only a couple of villagers not following his example.
"And, why should we listen to you?" They asked. "Our demon was really weak, so how do we know you're actually strong?"
"Yang, knock the castle down," Velvet pointed to the main support pillar.
Yang walked over, giving the beam a swift kick, shattering it. She looked at Velvet, giving a V sign with a huge grin on her face.
"Now, you can either let us go or get crushed in the collapse of the castle," Velvet said. "I'm no killer, but I'm certainly not going to not get my way."
"Just let them go," Aqua said. "They've proven they could take care of the monster."
Velvet took this opportunity to run, dragging Ilia. Yang ran ahead of them, Velvet nearly getting lost.
"Wait for me, you dolt!" Velvet shouted. Yang ran back, standing in front of her.
"You're so slow!" The blonde complained. "You need to hurry up!"
"Just carry me there." Velvet said. "And, this one too. We need a car anyway."
"I have orbs," Ilia chimed in. "We can use those."
"Really?" Velvet asked.
"But, I'll only let you use them if you let me see your tits." Ilia said, a devious grin on her face.
"Fat chance!" Velvet knocked her over the head.
"Okay okay, fine!" Ilia held up her still bound hands in front of her in defense. "At least let me go then!"
"Will you run away?" Velvet gave her a hard look.
"Are you kidding?! That blonde monster would beat the crap out of me!"
"Smart girl. Fine, let out the orb with the car and I'll untie you."
"Can you set me down first?"
"Fine fine."
Velvet sat her down, the chameleon girl reaching into her pocket and taking out the orb, opening it to reveal the convertible car.
"This is a nice model," Velvet said. "Alright, I suppose I'm a girl of my word."
She freed Ilia, opening the door of the car and getting in the front.
"Why can't I drive?" Ilia asked.
"How old are you?"
"Fourteen, but I can totally drive it."
"Nope. My quest, my driving. And, any house orbs you have will be useful as well."
"Why do you even want me along?"
"Your shapeshifting ability will be useful."
"It doesn't make me any stronger." Ilia said. "I can't carry your fat ass if that's what you're asking."
"My what ass?!" Velvet turned around, glaring full sized longswords at the chameleon girl.
"I mean your nice, very very cute looking ass." Ilia shrank down. "Speaking of—"
"No, you cannot look at my ass!" Velvet shouted.
"So, uh, what do these Relics you're collecting do?" Ilia asked once they were out of earshot. "You didn't want me to ask then, but I'm curious."
"They grant any one wish you have," Velvet continued driving, Yang in the back seat with Ilia. "So, I'm collecting them to get my wish. Yang there is my bodyguard and she has the one her Gramma gave her."
"Well, let's get going," Ilia said. "Whatever your wish is I want part."
"What if it's a boyfriend?" Velvet asked.
"Well, then I'll not share that one," Ilia crossed her arms. "But, you better make this worth my while."
"I didn't leave you to those villagers to do whatever they wanted to you," Velvet said. "Of course, that one may be the kindness of this pretty heart of mine. Couldn't let them do whatever they wanted to a kid, even a little pervert like you."
"Uh, thanks," Ilia felt a slight blush creep across her face. "But, how do you know where they are?"
"My scroll radar," Velvet held it up.
"Well, I suppose this is an adventure," Ilia said.
Next time on Dragon Sun, the gang encounters a mysterious pink creature that seems to be in trouble. In helping her, will they find the key to the next Relic? Find out next time on Dragon Sun.