Disclaimer: I own nothing. All of it belongs to Nintendo and Intelligent Systems.

I remember the day I spared that little brat's life. I'd entered the manse the night before, dressed in rags and carrying an infant-like doll. I shudder in disgust to think how pitifully naïve the two most powerful mages were. How did they possibly survive so long? Hindered by such a repellant amount of trust, they should have been assassinated long ago. Once inside, it had been easy to control them. After all, the Trinity of Magic allows Dark Magic to easily defeat Anima, and Nergal was with me. And they were reluctant to strike back, for I seized their son and used him as a shield. As I said, so pitifully weak. Surely they must have known I would kill them all anyways. Had they the common sense to strike me and the boy, they would have had a chance at a happy life with their remaining daughter. Instead, they were helpless.

I captured her and the boy, using them as hostages to force the parents to talk. Oh, was I clever. They spilled their hearts out – about magic, about the dragon's gate, about powerful spells – all for their children.

"Anything," they begged. "Anything. We'll tell you anything, just spare the children."

And so I made them tell me everything. I had no intention of letting them live – they probably had already realized that we were planning to open the Dragon's Gate, and once we left…they would summon a formidable army of mages to stop us. How could they be so naïve, to actually believe that I would spare anyone?

No, plans like these were best kept secret, and the only way to ensure secrecy is death.

So once they were done, I killed them all. All but her – Nergal's hand stopped me from casting the final spell.

"Stop," he had commanded me. "She is from a long lineage of powerful mages and has the potential to become one. Besides, she is far too young to remember any of this bloodshed. Take her in and bring her up, and one day, she could be useful to me."

I had obliged. What else could I do? It was Lord Nergal, after all. But I admit I was rather disappointed at being saddled with such a burden. I thought that such a task should have been designated to one of those mindless morphs. She pestered me day and night – it was obvious she adored me. After all, I was perfect. Nergal himself said so. But I had neither the time nor the patience to deal with snot-nosed little children, and I usually ignored her. She adored me so much that I think if I'd given her a suicide mission, she would have done it. Too bad Nergal didn't permit it. I was surprised at how disgustingly cheerful the girl could be, even though I treated her like the refuse she was. She befriended the Reed brothers, and even had the nerve to try to befriend Jaffar. But of course it failed. Jaffar is incapable of feeling emotion.

Then came the day Nergal asked me to marry Brendan Reed. It was stupid and silly, but I suppose someone had to do it. Don't be ridiculous, of course I didn't love the man. But I suppose those empty puppets that Nergal creates are incapable of even feigning emotion – only a perfect human like myself could properly do the job.

It was simple. After all, I am a beautiful woman. Just a little bit of flirting, a flash of skin, and a few charming smiles was all it took for him to become besotted with me. Nino had been thrilled. She'd gained new brothers, and finally, finally, had her doting, loving, parent within Brendan. It still didn't stop her from doggedly following me and trying to gain my approval though.

It's too bad, really. I only value power, and I see it within Nergal. But with Nino…even if she became a world-class mage, even if one day, however unlikely, she was able to best me in magical power, she would never gain my approval. Sentiment, trust, and naiveté like hers, all precious genetic souvenirs passed to her from her foolhardy parents, would prevent her from ever attaining true power.

Just like Nino, Ursula, another member of the Black Fang, idolized me. But she was weak and unworthy, and I paid her no attention.

Then came time for the prince to die.

Jaffar had to be the one to do it. Nobody would be more suitable for the job, Angel of Death that he was. And a scapegoat was needed…what better way to rid myself of that pesky little brat? After all, Nergal was so close to victory, and what need for powerful mages is there when you have dragons on your side?

So I sent her off with the task of assassinating Prince Zephiel. I told her he was evil, one who deserved to die. I even promised to hold her hand and brush her hair if she succeeded! Well, only because I knew that she wouldn't be coming back. I played the part of the concerned parent perfectly, even telling her to be careful. After she left, I gave Jaffar the rest of the orders. He was to kill Nino after he killed the prince.

I had no delusions about Nino's abilities. Perhaps she did have the power to kill the prince. But, bleeding heart that she was, she would be unable to assassinate him while he slept. So, the job would be entirely up to Jaffar.

But I had begun to suspect that Jaffar was starting to become dangerous. Why, sometimes I could even see faint hints of emotion on his face when he was around Nino. So, just to be safe, I sent Ursula and her henchman Maxime to follow him and see if he carried out his orders to the letter. If not, they could then carry out the Law of the Fang. And if they all ended up killing each other, so much the better.

I returned to the water temple, where I gleefully awaited the return of Brendan Reed. I had now completely taken over the Black Fang, and there was no more use for him. I could dispose him at my leisure now.

Limstella appeared before me and called my name. I shudder to think about it. Such filthy lips should not be given the honor of speaking my name. Morphs have always given me a bad feeling. Those empty, soulless eyes…Anyhow, she told me that Eliwood was still alive, and that I had not yet fulfilled Lord Nergal's orders. I'd been extremely annoyed. The Four Fangs were considered the best of the Fang, yet they still managed to bungle things up? I resolved to kill Eliwood and his friends myself.

Then, Brendan arrived, demanding to speak to me. Spotting Limstella, he began to become suspicious. I had no more use for him anyways, and Nergal had said that it would be okay to kill him. I could finally tell him how masterfully I had manipulated him, how I had been the cause of the deaths of his sons. I giggled at the despair on his face as he realized that the Black Fang now consisted almost entirely of Nergal's henchmen and morphs. His sons had suspected me from the beginning, and he had been stupid enough to ignore their doubts.

Then, I asked him to die for me, his beloved wife. He called me an inhuman monster and rushed at me. I killed him, but not without sustaining a wound. Why did he have to live up to his reputation until the end? His dying words asked for forgiveness from his two dead sons. How disgustingly sentimental.

The puppet rejoined me, and admired his "magnificent essence." The soulless creature said that she would deliver it immediately to Nergal. I was wary that she might try to steal the credit for my achievements, and ordered her to inform Nergal that I was the one who brought an end to the famed leader of the Black Fang.

She saw that I had been injured, and tried to take away my position. I didn't need her damn pity. I could do my job fine. I would be the one to kill Eliwood and Hector, I would be the one who claimed the glory of defeating Nergal's worst enemies, not her.

She had no choice but to oblige and leave. I settled back on the chair, waiting for their arrival.

The brat and the assassin came first. Jan found them first, managed to give them a garbled warning before I appeared before them and he ran off hysterically, completely terrified. Idiot. I would smoke him out later, I vowed. But first, I had to deal with Eliwood, Hector, and my own dearly beloved daughter.

I took pleasure in revealing the bloody backstory to our wonderful parent-daughter relationship. I told her that if I'd known how utterly useless and annoying she would have become, I would have killed her along with her parents. Actually, I had wanted to kill her along with her parents. Only Nergal's command had stopped me.

She was in shock. Truly, stupid beyond reason. How could she possibly have believed that a perfect being like me could ever beget a child so useless and brainless?

Then the assassin had stepped in, calling me an inhuman monster with a soul black and devoid of warmth. Funny, isn't it? A few months ago, he was just the same. Perfect. Unhindered by naiveté and trust. Although to be honest, he was rather lacking in the entire emotional department. Now, he was rash and impulsive, wont to act on emotion.

Why, the whelp even threatened to kill me! How rich. So, I told him that I would gladly enact the Law of the Fang. All traitors must be killed.

Then the rest of the pests arrived, and they had a wonderful, touching little reunion. Poor little Nino was almost moved to tears. It really was too bad they would all die now.

I looked forward to their deaths. I would make them suffer before they died in fear and agony.

Jaffar came to me first. I raged at him. Did he not realize that he owed his life to Nergal? How could he repay him with such a despicable betrayal? Oh, I would enjoy killing him.

Except I didn't kill him.

He killed me.

I didn't understand. Lord Nergal told me I was perfect. How could I have been defeated by such a weakling? True, he may have been the Angel of Death, but I was me.

In my last moments, the puppet I hated most came before me. I ordered her to leave me be, to let me die in peace. I weakly cried to Lord Nergal for help, but none came. Instead, she told me that I had no essence to harvest. That I was a puppet, just like her, and that I had outlived my use.

I refused to believe her. I was not a puppet. How else could I feel so many emotions, such burning hatred, such complete despair?

I desperately forced out my last few words. "…I am…hu…ma…"

I cannot ignore the voice in my head that tells me I am wrong.

It tells me that I fabricated my humanity to fill the emptiness inside.

It tells me that I am no better than the puppets I loathe.

It tells me that I hated Nino because I envied her emotions.

It tells me that I despised Limstella the most out of all of them because she was my mirror image.

It tells me that she was exactly like me, but more perfect and without my flaws.

And in my very essence, I know the voice is right.

I turn to dust.

A/N: Sonia was an interesting one to write :D