~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~CHAPTER TWO~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Life in the Black Lake had been peaceful for the last century, at least ever since the defeat of the Mighty Saiyan Knights, a fierce and ruthless warrior army from the planet Vegetasai.
However, that peace was to come to an end, with an inevitable war between three of the galaxy's most powerful warrior races.
Deep beneath the Black Lake, inside the royal palace of the noble Gycians, a gargoyle-like race, two female fighters are too busy with their training to give any thought to the impending war.
The two were the royal Princess, Mariam and her first handmaiden and also bodyguard Lady Kelly.
They were among the top elite fighters in the Royal Guard. So training like this was very common to their morning schedule, on top of school training for their royal duties.
Princess Mariam stood at one corner of the mat, glaring at Lady Kelly as she awaited her next move. Her wings were open and flared ready to be of use, her tail twitched anxiously. She flexed her hands into fists, deciding not to use her claws in this next match.
Her training gi, a color of white with a purple sash tied around her waist declaring her royal status, was slightly soiled and torn on one shoulder.
Lady Kelly on the other hand had her wings relaxed behind her. Her tail merely swung back and forth, not anxious nor excited but infuriatingly calm. Her own gi was soiled but not torn, her sash of a deep blue swayed lightly back and forth, matching her bouncing movements. She grinned at Mariam's glare. Knowing that it only made her even madder.
"Come on Kell, quit playin around and fight me!" Mariam said it as if it were an order instead of the plea that it was.
Kelly just chuckled. "Well, if you insist. I was just giving you a chance to catch your breath first before kicking your butt again."
Mariam growled and charged toward Kelly, claws and teeth bared. Kelly swiftly moved out of the way and grabbed Mariam's arm firmly, sending her even further than planned.
Getting angry again Mariam jumped at Kelly now, sending a flying kick to her chest.
Catching her foot easily Kelly twisted it to flip Mariam onto her back, forcing her to land hard on the mat. Then she slammed her leg onto her chest, knocking the air out of her.
Gasping Mariam finally yielded. Kelly smiled and held out her hand to help her Princess up.
Grabbing Kelly's hand Mariam shook her head as she accepted her fifth defeat for the morning. "Kell, we're gonna have to up our trainin time. I'm tired of getting my butt whooped by you every day."
Kelly laughed loudly as she sat down on the mat and began to stretch her stressed muscles. "Well, Princess, maybe if you'd come down here on your own time and perhaps train with the males as well you'd get better and might actually come close to beating me in a match."
Princess Mariam just gave a quick glare as she lay back on the mat across from Kelly's. "Sure thing, Old One." Before she could even run from Kelly's attacking hands a palace messenger came in. By the red sash tied around his waist indicated that he was a personal messenger of the Queen.
"Your Highness," He began giving a formal bow, "Your mother requests your presence in the throne room. She asks that you be there within the hour and that she has urgent matters to discuss with you."
Mariam nodded, "Thank you. Tell her I'll be there as soon as possible." She dismissed him with a wave of her hand.
Suddenly she was tackled to the ground from behind. "GOTCHA!" Came Lady Kelly's voice.
"AHH! Oof…" Mariam hit the ground hard. Kelly pinned her chest down with her arm twisted painfully behind her.
"Kell, please you're hurting me…owowow. Do you think it'd be too much to ask you to please, GET OFF!"
Kelly gave an unseen smile, "I don't know, maybe. If you take back that "old" comment."
Defeated once again. "Alright, alright I take it back. Now will you let me up?"
About an hour later…
The two girls are seen racing down the hall to the throne room in their royal attire. AS they approached the large throne room door they skidded to a halt and began to straighten each other's clothes and hair before entering. Finally acceptable Princess Mariam opened the door and led the way in.
The simple size and design of the doors doesn't really leave one to expect such a large room. However, the throne room was far bigger than the doors suggested, one would have to walk a few hundred kilometers just to reach the throne itself. There were exquisite vases lining the walls in perfect semetry of their counterparts across from them. All of them display the beautiful arts of the Gycian civilization. There were rugs and tapestries hanging from the walls, while the windows were made of a strange yet beautiful stained glass.
Statues, relics, and strategically placed servants completed the grand effect.
Directly opposite of the door sat the Queen, waiting patiently for her daughter to approach.