Master Vanity
* * * Chapter One: Desire * * *
"Why? Why, why, why, why, why?"
The eyeball monsters sweatdropped as they watched their leader rant and rave. Eyes blazing verdant flames, the pixie hybrid sprayed crackling bolts of golden lightning across the massive chamber. Her servants cringed as the energy bolts ricocheted off of the gleaming crystal walls and bounded around wildly before finally striking any of the eyeball monsters unfortunate enough to be in their path.
"I've pulled out all the tricks. I've blackmailed, backstabbed, and manipulated my way into becoming a respectable monster in Moo's army, and yet he refuses to bestow upon me the honor of being one of his Big Bad Four! Why, why, why, why, why? I am perfectly suitable for the position…perfect in every way! So why does he refuse to give me that honor?"
The monster slammed her fists down on the arms of her throne, glaring down at the rabble cowering at her feet. Many of them were unable to bring themselves to gaze upon her face. The being might have been extremely attractive if her elegant features were not screwed up in an expression of uncontrollable rage. A fine-boned face with delicate features, a shapely body, and a graceful gait could not conceal the hatred and anger that boiled within her.
Vanity caught a glimpse of her grimace in her magic mirror, a small, round looking glass that she kept constantly floating near her, usually before her face. Her frown became even deeper, but she quickly schooled her features into a more pleasing expression. The half-Pixie, half-Suezo began to preen, brushing the stray strands of platinum gold hair away from her face.
"You may go now," she dismissed her loyal minions with a wave of her slender hand. The Suezo-types hurried to comply, several of them hastily uprooting the lost discs she had created during her magical temper tantrum and hauling them away. Vanity ignored the sight; it mattered little to her that her loss of control had cost some of her servants their lives. She could always find more of them; it certainly wasn't like Suezos were all that rare.
Sighing, the pixie hybrid leaned back in her crystal throne, stretching her body sensuously. She caught a glimpse of her many reflections in the multi-faceted walls of the clear crystal room, and she smirked. The sight of her gorgeous body always lifted her spirits. She certainly lived up to her name: she was obsessed with herself, even more than she was with power.
Vanity bit delicately on a knuckle, her eyes narrowing into slender glittering slits. How could she get Master Moo to notice her ability? Or, more importantly, how could she impress Lord Naga?
She smirked to herself as she thought of the reptilian. The purple fool actually believed that he had her wrapped around his little talon, just like that wench Night Flyer was. He had no idea that she was the controller, that she was the one using him to get closer to Master Moo. Naga had been quite helpful so far: it was with his influence that she had finally managed to secure this wonderful crystal tower, her Tower of Mirrors. Even the information that her eyeball monster spies had brought to her hadn't gotten her as far as he had.
But still it was not enough, and Vanity was beginning to find the reptilian harder and harder to control. She grimaced, thinking of an incident from a few days before:
"Lord Naga, come with me," she had pleaded with him, drawing him closer to her bedchambers. She wrapped her slender arms around his muscular chest, arching one eyebrow suggestively. She had carefully adjusted her silken outfit a few moments before: experience had taught her just the right amount of bronze yellow skin to expose.
"I have no time for your games," was his reply, and he shoved her roughly away. "The time is drawing ever closer; I must be ready to strike when the moment comes to overthrow Moo!"
Vanity pouted, her perfect ruby lips trembling. "But Lord Naga…" she pushed, reaching for his arm.
She had pushed too far. Naga's hand tore across her face and sent her spinning to the hard, cold marble floor. Her cheek burned, and she hastily brought her hands up to her face.
"Stupid pixie, you cannot understand the importance of this mission!" he thundered. "The little rabbit and the Phoenix's Tear must be in my possession when the time comes!"
Then he stalked off into the darkness, leaving the stunned Vanity alone in the cold hallway.
Vanity's fingers gently massaged her cheek, her eyes hard as jade. She was extremely fortunate that he had not scarred her perfect face. So, too, was Naga.
The pixie hybrid sunk deeper into her chair, fingers drumming against its cold arms. All he cares about anymore is that damned rabbit. If I could only get my hands on it…But I'm not about to fight those rebels! Not with their reputation. Plus, I could break a nail… The thought of that made her shiver. No, there had to be a better way to capture the pesky little rabbit…
Sighing, Vanity gazed into her gleaming mirror. The magical looking glass was one of her most prized possessions; she had owned it since her unlocking by a mere wisp of a girl who had believed that the pixie would become her dearest playmate…ugh! As if I would ever want to be tied to a snot-nosed little brat so obsessed with her dolls and her toys! Still, the child had freed her, and Vanity had repaid her assistance by simply sneaking away one night instead of murdering the little idiot while she had slept
No, I am destined for much greater things than being some child's playmate, Vanity thought to herself. I am destined to rule this world alongside dearest Master Moo!
Her magic mirror had shown her this destiny long ago. The looking glass held many special powers now, thanks to an enchantment that Gali had put on it for her. Vanity sneered, remembering the now-lost monster: she had possessed more control over him than she had even over her Suezo-type soldiers. The fool had actually believed that she loved him, and had eagerly made a gift for his 'golden-skinned beauty'.
As she gazed into her mirror, she idly asked it to show her what was currently occurring in the rebel's camp. The smooth glass shimmered, and then an image slowly began to appear upon it. Vanity watched as the image slowly became sharper, clearer, and voices began to echo in her ears as she allowed the vision to flow into her mind's eye…
* * *
"I am soooo tired!" Suezo announced at the top of his lungs, flopping down on the ground. The other searchers sweatdropped as they stared at him.
"Obviously not tired enough to shut up and get some rest while you can," Hare observed dryly. Suezo glared at the rabbit, muttering under his breath.
"Well, we're setting up camp now," Holly reassured her friend, even as she started working on getting a campfire going. Genki started helping her, and after a few moments, a cheery blaze burst into life. The searchers started to gather around as Holly started cooking some soup for them.
* * *
These are the dreaded searchers? Vanity thought, a disbelieving smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth. Still, she knew better than to make the mistake of underestimating them: too many monsters had died doing the same. Instead, she studied each of the members critically, trying to gauge each one's abilities.
The rabbit, she knew, was the same one that her dear 'Lord' Naga was searching for so desperately. While, at the moment, he didn't appear to be all that threatening, Vanity knew from reports that he was truly able to control the Phoenix's Tear, even if he rarely used that power, even now that his friends knew about it. She frowned, puzzled; how anyone could possess so much power and not want to use it was beyond her understanding.
Shrugging off her confusion, she turned her attention to the youth beside him. Vanity grinned; now, this was a fine young man indeed! She suddenly had a clearer understanding of why Master Pixie had abandoned her post as one of Moo's generals after meeting the boy. While he was still young, she could see that his childish features held the promise of a man who would be quite handsome after becoming a little older. Although he would never become older if he continued to oppose Moo…she sighed, a little regretfully.
The little pink fluffball that was next to the boy, she barely glanced at. He was a worthless baby, with the eyes of a kitten that has just learned to walk. There was no reason to concern herself with him.
Nor was there anything particularly interesting about the girl, other than the fact that Vanity knew that she was somehow related to Master Moo. It certainly didn't show: the maiden she saw in the looking glass bore little resemblance to the pixie hybrid's beloved master.
The stone giant…Vanity sighed, looking over the monster's sculpted muscles, staring at his solemn face, gazing into his deep, dark eyes…What the heck am I thinking? Blushing, she quickly tore her gaze away from him and focused on the blue wolf.
Yes…this one will be a real problem, she told herself, wincing a little as she noticed the long, jagged scar that marred the side of the blue wolf's face. What a horrible fate, to carry such a horrid scar on such a handsome face…uh oh, I'm doing it again. Shaking her head, the pixie moved on.
Ah yes…the Suezo. Emerald eyes glittered as Vanity narrowed her eyes, looking over the eyeball monster. He was currently engaged in a heated argument with the little pink monster over something, she wasn't quite certain what. The eyeball was screaming such nonsense that she wondered if he had any idea what he was saying anymore.
Something moved at the very edge of her sight, and Vanity started with surprise. She could barely glimpse something moving near the rebels' camp. Mentally, she ordered her mirror to focus on the movements.
The scene rippled, then morphed into a new image. Vanity could now see clearly what was moving around, and a grin spread over her face. I can use this, she told herself, and she called out a mental command. With a flash of light, she vanished from the room, leaving behind the cold glittering walls of crystal.
* * *
Chishi growled low in his throat, leading his warriors closer to the rebels' campsite. The pack of fifteen Cabalos slunk forward, following his every movement.
I'll make the rebels pay for murdering Master Grey Wolf, Chishi thought grimly to himself. Raising his head, he howled out a battle cry.
* * *
The rebels jerked as one, and Tiger of the Wind leapt to his feet, snarling, "We've got company, people!"
"Gee, what was your first clue, Tiger?" Hare quipped as he got up, paws balling into fists. The blue wolf glanced back at him with a growl, but had no time to reply as the baddies rushed toward them.
"I'm in the zone!" Genki called out, smashing his foot into the snout of the nearest Cabalos. The others reacted normally: Golem scooped up Holly and stepped away from the battle, protecting her; Mocchi mimicked Genki and flung himself into the battle; Tiger launched his Torpedo attack; Hare landed his Guru-Guru punch on another purple wolf's muzzle; Suezo panicked and ran in the opposite direction of the battle.
"Hey, look out!" Hare called, knocking one of the Cabalos away as it leaped at Suezo's back. The eyeball monster blanched as the baddie went flying past him.
"Why don't you use the Phoenix's Tear?" he asked Hare as the rabbit stood at his back. "You could blast all of these guys at once!"
"Because I don't want to, that's why!" Hare screamed back at him, a little too loudly. Suezo stared at him, backing up, and the rabbit muttered something along the lines of, "You wouldn't understand," and turned back to the fight.
You're damned right I don't understand. I've seen how much power that pendant gives you; you could take out an entire army of monsters with one attack if you wanted to. So why don't you?
My thoughts exactly, Vanity thought as she materialized behind Suezo with a small smirk on her face. Her narrowed eyes glittered like twin pieces of jade, and she mentally reached out to the eyeball monster, whispering his name.
"Huh?" Suezo turned around, confused. Something was behind him, but even his incredible eyesight was unable to make it out. That registered in his mind as being truly odd, and the eyeball felt a distinct sense of dread as he called out, "Who's there?"
And then the most beautiful woman he had ever seen stepped out of the darkness. Suezo felt his mouth fall open, and he gaped at the sight. The woman smiled, her bronze-yellow skin gleaming golden in the soft light from the moon, and her verdant eyes glittered like two finely polished emeralds. Brushing shimmering golden hair away from her perfect face, she gestured for him to come closer.
Suezo felt his body move forward, almost beyond his control, and he moved closer to her, his eye widening as a glassy fog slowly spread over it.
She was so beautiful.
She was so beautiful.
She was so beautiful.
The thought filled his head, and he moved farther into the darkness, all other things forgotten.
* * *
Chishi heard another one of his warriors cry out, and he snarled out, "Retreat!" As much as he longed to take revenge for his dead master, he had no desire to sacrifice any of his pack members. The fifteen Cabalos fled, explosions from Tiger's torpedoes and lightning at their heels.
"Come back! Cowards!"
"Let it go, Tiger," Holly told him, smiling as the others began celebrating. Genki and Mocchi were already cheering, dancing around Golem's feet as they shouted out victory cries.
Hare smiled and laughed, seeing the excitement of the two, and was about to make a comment to Tiger when he suddenly felt a presence at his back. The Phoenix's Tear grew warm, something that often signaled danger to the little rabbit. Whirling around, he smiled in relief as he spotted Suezo behind him.
"Hey, buddy, where you been?" he teased. Turning back to point at the others, he said, "See, look, the fight's over already. You missed out on all the fun, pal. Although that probably doesn't bother–"
Hare's words were cut off with the abruptness of a slamming door as he felt white-hot fire erupt across his back. A choked off scream erupted from his throat, and the other rebels turned as one to see what was wrong. Holly gasped, covering her mouth in shock, and Golem reached out to steady her as he stared in mute horror. Genki exclaimed something, and Mocchi echoed it, his eyes wavering as they took in the scene.
Suezo's mouth was locked around Hare's back, half-engulfing it. The moment seemed to freeze in time, each detail searing itself into the rebel's shocked minds: the sight of the eyeball monster's white teeth digging into the rabbit's brown fur, drawing blood. Hare's shocked expression, his eyes wide, his mouth open in a now silent scream, his entire body rigid. And the glassy, dark green-gold pupil of Suezo's eye, as cold and hard as jade.
Time slowly unfroze, and Suezo released his hold on the rabbit. Hare dropped to the ground, eyes closing, his body becoming limp as he slipped into a merciful faint. The eyeball monster raised his chilling gaze to the others, a strange, neutral expression on his face. No hint of remorse or regret showed in his darkened eye, and an almost demonic smile played at his lips. Even Tiger winced slightly as the rebels saw the bloodstains on the eyeball monster's teeth.
"WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU DOING?" Genki demanded, on the verge of leaping forward to smash in Suezo's face. Only the fact that the eyeball monster was supposed to be a friend kept him from knocking some of those horrible reddened teeth out of that grinning mouth.
"Whatever I tell him to do," an alluring female voice replied. The rebels glanced around in confusion, and Mocchi cried out as a golden-skinned pixie stepped out of the darkness and strode up behind Suezo. A haughty smirk twisted her ruby lips, and she leered at the group triumphantly.
"What do you mean?" Genki asked, his hands balling into fists. Vanity's eyes glittered like sparkling emeralds, and she grinned at the boy.
"I mean that your dear friend Suezo is now my dear servant," she replied, enjoying the shocked reaction from the rebels. She ran one hand along the eyeball monster's side lovingly, saying, "You see, all of his kind exist only for one purpose: to lay down their lives for my beautiful self. I merely awakened this desire inside of him."
"What?" Genki exclaimed.
"No…Suezo…" Holly breathed, her wavering chestnut-brown eyes locked on her friend. Suezo gazed impassively back at the girl, no emotion at all in his clouded, green-gold eye.
Vanity smirked again, and she crouched down next to Hare, lifting the rabbit's body from the ground in one smooth movement.
"Don't touch him!" Tiger snarled, his torpedo racing toward her. Vanity merely glanced at it, unconcerned, as it streaked toward her.
"Power reflection," she whispered, and her magic mirror glowed as it suddenly moved between her and the missile. The torpedo raged right into the smooth glass surface and vanished, the looking glass shimmering with its light for a moment.
"What the he–" Tiger's question went unfinished as a bolt of silver energy shot out from the mirror and streaked back at him. The blue wolf howled as he was blown backwards, the beam lancing through his shoulder.
"TIGER?" Genki and Holly cried out in unison, and the rebels turned toward their fallen friend for a moment. As the blue wolf struggled back to his feet, Vanity took advantage of the distraction to yank Hare off of the ground, wrapping her arms tightly around his body. The little rabbit groaned, and his eyes fluttered open.
"Wh…what hap…happened?" he asked, his voice weak and trembling. The rebels whirled back around, and Vanity quickly sent a shockwave into the rabbit's body to keep him from reviving. However, it had the opposite effect, and Hare's eyes shot open as he saw Tiger still half-sprawled on the ground.
"Ti-GAAAAAHHH!" he screamed as the pixie hybrid shocked him again. Realizing what was happening, he started struggling to break out of her grasp, to no avail as Vanity tightened her grip and started to back away from the group. Screaming at her to stop, Genki dived at her, Mocchi beside him. The two passed through empty space as Vanity levitated herself upward, hovering over the group.
"Sorry, rebels, but I'm afraid I can't grace your sorry group with the honor of my presence any longer," she told them, a haughty laugh escaping from her. Glancing over at Suezo, she ordered, "Come!"
A silver light enveloped the eyeball monster, and he suddenly floated up toward where Vanity hovered above the others, Hare still squirming in her arms. Golem shouted something and tried to grab him, but Suezo was already out of even the stone giant's reach.
"Come back, you damned coward!" Tiger snarled, his bared teeth flashing as he struggled to support himself.
"Suezo!" Holly cried out, eyes wavering as she stared up in a stupefied horror at her unresponsive friend.
"Hare!" Genki shouted, his eyes locked on the trio that floated over him.
"GENNN-KIIIII!" Hare shrieked, wavering eyes overflowing with tears as he reached one hand helplessly, imploringly toward the group. The cry hung in the air as the three teleported away, Vanity's mocking laughter echoing with it. The rebels stared into the sky, now empty except for the stars that still shone down upon them, unchanged.
Genki felt his trembling hands slowly ball into fists, and his clear eyes shone as he continued to stare at the space where they had been mere moments before. At his side, he could hear Holly begin to sob softly, and behind he could hear Golem bend to comfort a terrified Mocchi. Golden eyes locked on the sky, Tiger of the Wind slowly padded up next to Genki.
"It looks like we have a real problem now, kid," he growled softly in his throat.
Genki nodded, his gaze never leaving the sky. A soft breeze whistled through the clearing, the only other sound other than the soft sobbing from Holly and Mocchi in the valley. It ruffled Tiger's fur, and Genki's bangs waved in the slight wind, unnoticed by either of them.