Demon Within
"Well, Miss Reina," Marino stated, "Let's get down to business. I have ways of making you serve the Empress, or rather, serving me. For I have no intention of helping her out until the end. All I need is supreme power, and then I can stop her plans at world domination once and for all. Isn't that what you want? If so, you can join with me and together, we can defeat this evil force. I've seen the truth of Empress Sabrina's behaviors ever since I came to Moradis. I would like to rid the world of this threat."
"Sorry bub, I can't trust you. Something within you just screams out, 'Here I am world, and I'm evil' but I can't say exactly what yet. So find someone else for your little scheme," she said.
Marino asked, "But why, how can you say such a thing? I've been careful for twenty years, hiding my identity behind this shell of a creature. How can I be caught by a child?"
Reina smiled. "Because your intentions are too easy to see. Remember, I'm not an Empress who you can entice with the promise of ruling the world, or a Dark Dragon easily strayed from the path if it gets them gain. I am a member of the Light Dragon Clan, I guess that's the reason."
"I forgot what powers your clan had," muttered Marino, "I guess there's no choice then. You will have to die by my hands, child." With that, he transformed into a large green humanoid demon, with ugly red eyes, black horns sticking out of his head, and black spikes going down his back. More black spikes were on his shoulders, a trident of black spikes were on the end of his tail, and he had fangs like that of a vampire. He moved in towards the young Dragoness, ready for the kill.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. "Marino, would you come down to the throne room. And bring little Reina with you. The Empress would like to speak with her some more," called Celia.
But when the Dark Dragoness entered, she saw the demon that Marino had become. Celia could see the terror in Reina's eyes, and the wicked demon's attempts to kill her. Instantly, the young woman knew what she must do, in order to ensure the Empress's investment was kept safe.
Celia transformed into a Dark Warrior, and attacked. But Marino was a demon, so Dark attacks were practically useless. It did, however, buy Reina enough time to get free. She came to the woman's aid instantly, and became a Light Warrior. The two Dragonesses, then attacked simultaneously with their swords. But they were unable to kill Marino. If anything, he just laughed at their attempts.
He then levitated and told them, "You Dragons are quite an interesting bunch. But killing you will only get me in trouble with the Empress, and you know too much to keep quiet about my identity now. So I will retreat for the time being. But mark my words, I'll be back." Then, he disappeared.
* * *
"My head feels like its been in a fog," stated Sabrina, "What have I done in the past twenty years while under Marion's control? Oh, gods, how could I have been such a fool?"
"It wasn't your fault, your highness. The demon had complete control of your mind, and was forcing you to commit acts of violence. I never did trust that guy," assured Falkner.
Celia asked the Empress, "What should we do now? We've got to find a way to make it up to the people we have wronged. I always thought I was doing what was right for the world, never suspected that a demon was controlling the woman who saved my live and was like a mother to me."
Sabrina turned to Reina and Katrina. "Can you two ever forgive the wrongs I've committed against your family? If there's anything I can do to make it up to you, feel free to ask."
"Nothing you can do will bring mom, dad, and Joshua back," sighed Katrina, "But you can help me find my missing kid sister. Her name is Shannon, and she's got brown hair and eyes."
"Yes, I will get on it ASAP. But first, we need to deal with Marino," Sabrina reminded her.
Just then, a bright flash of light lit up the room. When it cleared, two figures stood there. One was a Serpentine Clanswoman with a green tail, blue hair and eyes, and wore a purple shirt and cape. The other looked like a Winged Clanswoman, but she had several little wings floating around her back, instead of two attached to her back. She had blond hair, blue eyes, and wore a pink low cut dress.
The Serpentine woman said, "Darn right you'd better get rid of that demon. I've watched what he can do before, and it's not pretty. But I can't do anything without the aid of a brave Dragon Clansman and his Winged partner. Now, where in the heck is Ryu? And is Nina already with him?"
The second scanned the room. "No Dies, it looks like the only Dragons are those two girls. And the only Winged Clansman here is a male. I guess Ryu and Nina decided to go fishing this time around. And just when a threat so big comes along that we're actually fighting on the same side."
"Of course Ryu and Nina must be here Myria," Dies told her, "They're destined to come and fight for the world whenever it is in danger. Or when you decide to wipe out the Dragons again."
"Do I need to be reminded of that every time we see one another, sister? I said that the threat we face this time is so big that both of us must band together, and I'll keep to that promise," Myria replied.
Reina asked, "Excuse me, ladies. What are you talking about anyway?"
Dies looked at her. "Oh well, I guess you'll have to do. Why, the legend of King Ryu and Queen Nina of the Dragon Clan. The two of them come back to life whenever danger is about to enter the world, Ryu as a Dragon and Nina as a Winged princess. Then, they fight the evil, fall in love all over again, live out their lives together, die at a ripe old age, and repeat the process next time it happens."
"Sorry to tell you this," Nida said, "But the only member of the Royal Family of my generation is me. I don't have any sisters or brothers, or any cousins, let alone one named Nina."
"Guess I was right, the two of them went fishing and let these kids handle it," Myria gloated.
Dies muttered, "Don't rub it in. I guess I really got my work cut out for me this time. I've got to guide these kids towards the demon's hideout. But can I stand working with my 'dear sister', the word dear used very loosely, long enough to accomplish my goals?"
- - - -
Ya know, I wouldn't want to go to Myria and Dies's family reunions. They probably are real battlefields. I so changed from originally having her revive Myria. In the end, I wanted to do something that the games hadn't done before. So I had manipulation by a Demon, and the two sisters being forced to put aside their differences.
"Well, Miss Reina," Marino stated, "Let's get down to business. I have ways of making you serve the Empress, or rather, serving me. For I have no intention of helping her out until the end. All I need is supreme power, and then I can stop her plans at world domination once and for all. Isn't that what you want? If so, you can join with me and together, we can defeat this evil force. I've seen the truth of Empress Sabrina's behaviors ever since I came to Moradis. I would like to rid the world of this threat."
"Sorry bub, I can't trust you. Something within you just screams out, 'Here I am world, and I'm evil' but I can't say exactly what yet. So find someone else for your little scheme," she said.
Marino asked, "But why, how can you say such a thing? I've been careful for twenty years, hiding my identity behind this shell of a creature. How can I be caught by a child?"
Reina smiled. "Because your intentions are too easy to see. Remember, I'm not an Empress who you can entice with the promise of ruling the world, or a Dark Dragon easily strayed from the path if it gets them gain. I am a member of the Light Dragon Clan, I guess that's the reason."
"I forgot what powers your clan had," muttered Marino, "I guess there's no choice then. You will have to die by my hands, child." With that, he transformed into a large green humanoid demon, with ugly red eyes, black horns sticking out of his head, and black spikes going down his back. More black spikes were on his shoulders, a trident of black spikes were on the end of his tail, and he had fangs like that of a vampire. He moved in towards the young Dragoness, ready for the kill.
Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. "Marino, would you come down to the throne room. And bring little Reina with you. The Empress would like to speak with her some more," called Celia.
But when the Dark Dragoness entered, she saw the demon that Marino had become. Celia could see the terror in Reina's eyes, and the wicked demon's attempts to kill her. Instantly, the young woman knew what she must do, in order to ensure the Empress's investment was kept safe.
Celia transformed into a Dark Warrior, and attacked. But Marino was a demon, so Dark attacks were practically useless. It did, however, buy Reina enough time to get free. She came to the woman's aid instantly, and became a Light Warrior. The two Dragonesses, then attacked simultaneously with their swords. But they were unable to kill Marino. If anything, he just laughed at their attempts.
He then levitated and told them, "You Dragons are quite an interesting bunch. But killing you will only get me in trouble with the Empress, and you know too much to keep quiet about my identity now. So I will retreat for the time being. But mark my words, I'll be back." Then, he disappeared.
* * *
"My head feels like its been in a fog," stated Sabrina, "What have I done in the past twenty years while under Marion's control? Oh, gods, how could I have been such a fool?"
"It wasn't your fault, your highness. The demon had complete control of your mind, and was forcing you to commit acts of violence. I never did trust that guy," assured Falkner.
Celia asked the Empress, "What should we do now? We've got to find a way to make it up to the people we have wronged. I always thought I was doing what was right for the world, never suspected that a demon was controlling the woman who saved my live and was like a mother to me."
Sabrina turned to Reina and Katrina. "Can you two ever forgive the wrongs I've committed against your family? If there's anything I can do to make it up to you, feel free to ask."
"Nothing you can do will bring mom, dad, and Joshua back," sighed Katrina, "But you can help me find my missing kid sister. Her name is Shannon, and she's got brown hair and eyes."
"Yes, I will get on it ASAP. But first, we need to deal with Marino," Sabrina reminded her.
Just then, a bright flash of light lit up the room. When it cleared, two figures stood there. One was a Serpentine Clanswoman with a green tail, blue hair and eyes, and wore a purple shirt and cape. The other looked like a Winged Clanswoman, but she had several little wings floating around her back, instead of two attached to her back. She had blond hair, blue eyes, and wore a pink low cut dress.
The Serpentine woman said, "Darn right you'd better get rid of that demon. I've watched what he can do before, and it's not pretty. But I can't do anything without the aid of a brave Dragon Clansman and his Winged partner. Now, where in the heck is Ryu? And is Nina already with him?"
The second scanned the room. "No Dies, it looks like the only Dragons are those two girls. And the only Winged Clansman here is a male. I guess Ryu and Nina decided to go fishing this time around. And just when a threat so big comes along that we're actually fighting on the same side."
"Of course Ryu and Nina must be here Myria," Dies told her, "They're destined to come and fight for the world whenever it is in danger. Or when you decide to wipe out the Dragons again."
"Do I need to be reminded of that every time we see one another, sister? I said that the threat we face this time is so big that both of us must band together, and I'll keep to that promise," Myria replied.
Reina asked, "Excuse me, ladies. What are you talking about anyway?"
Dies looked at her. "Oh well, I guess you'll have to do. Why, the legend of King Ryu and Queen Nina of the Dragon Clan. The two of them come back to life whenever danger is about to enter the world, Ryu as a Dragon and Nina as a Winged princess. Then, they fight the evil, fall in love all over again, live out their lives together, die at a ripe old age, and repeat the process next time it happens."
"Sorry to tell you this," Nida said, "But the only member of the Royal Family of my generation is me. I don't have any sisters or brothers, or any cousins, let alone one named Nina."
"Guess I was right, the two of them went fishing and let these kids handle it," Myria gloated.
Dies muttered, "Don't rub it in. I guess I really got my work cut out for me this time. I've got to guide these kids towards the demon's hideout. But can I stand working with my 'dear sister', the word dear used very loosely, long enough to accomplish my goals?"
- - - -
Ya know, I wouldn't want to go to Myria and Dies's family reunions. They probably are real battlefields. I so changed from originally having her revive Myria. In the end, I wanted to do something that the games hadn't done before. So I had manipulation by a Demon, and the two sisters being forced to put aside their differences.
