Good Princess, Bad Princess - Part 2
In the Dark Kingdom, Queen Beryl sat before her court. She was beyond bored. It was just another day of business-as-usual in the Negaverse. She had heard reports from her generals, and then threatened them with several fates worse than death should they fail her again. Good minions were so hard to find. Why did all her nefarious schemes end up thwarted by sailor-suited adolescent space cadets? She sighed. It was time to report her progress to the Negaforce. She had some serious bootlicking to do.
Queen Beryl kneeled before her sovereign. It was always the same old routine. Gather more energy blah blah blah. She replied with the usual platitudes and excuses. Today, however, the monotony was broken when a inter-dimensional vortex appeared and green-haired girl in a black and gold bikini tumbled out. The strange-looking girl shrieked as she fell to the floor. She landed in a most ungraceful position. Before she passed out, she managed to utter, 'Zoamelgustar-sama?'.
For quite a few moments all Queen Beryl could do was blink. This was just too weird. Even the Negaforce seemed shocked by this bewildering event. After discussing it with the Negaforce, Queen Beryl judiciously decided to take the girl prisoner and interrogate her.
Martina awoke to find herself tied to a chair in a dimly lit chamber. She shivered, not because she was cold, but because this place was just damn CREEPY. She was definitely not in Zoana anymore. She looked around the room she was in. It had a rather cave-like atmosphere and was empty save for herself and a tall woman with long wavy red hair who seemed to be watching her. The woman stepped towards her. She was wearing a long blue dress and a crown, and carried a scepter. Martina surmised that she was royalty of some sort. She looked evil, too.
"So," the woman said in a rather harsh voice, "you're awake now. Good. I have a few questions for you. Answer truthfully and I might let you leave in one piece."
Martina simpered. "Who? Who are you? Where am I?"
Queen Beryl bopped the girl on the head with her scepter. "I'M GOING TO BE THE ONE ASKING THE QUESTIONS HERE!"
Martina bit her lip and mustered her courage. "I'm not afraid of you!" she said, trying to sound self-assured. She hoped that the woman wouldn't notice how much her legs were shaking. "I am protected by the great and powerful monster Zoamelgustar! I'm also a princess, so holding me for ransom would make much more sense than dismembering me.....eh heh." She hoped that the woman wouldn't hit her again. That really hurt.
"A princess, are you? What is your kingdom?"
"I am princess Martina Zoana Mel Navritalova, of Zoana."
"Zoana? Never heard of it. Quit lying to me, girlie," She pulled a large, menacing pair of scissors from behind her back and held them to Martina's hair.
"Aieeeee! It's true! It's true! It was destroyed in the height of it's glory by an evil sorceress named Lina Inverse!"
Queen Beryl paused. A sorceress? They hadn't existed on Earth for centuries. Of course. This girl was from another world entirely. She may be telling the truth after all. "Next question. Who or what is this 'Zoamelgustar' that you spoke of?"
Martina got a starry look in her eyes. "Zoamelgustar-sama is my patron monster. It was His great power that sent me here.....wherever here is."
"Here is the Dark Kingdom. My kingdom."
"Nice place you have here."
"Why thank you. Now how did you get here?"
"I don't really know. I remember invoking Zoamalgustar's power to perform a curse on my hus..... on a man who had wronged me. Then I fell through a void. Just before I blacked out, I believe I saw the true face of Zoamelgustar."
This girl certainly had strange powers. Perhaps she could be useful. Queen Beryl decided to be merciful. After all, she received guests at the castle so rarely. She began to untie the girl. "Princess Martina, I shall grant you refuge in my domain."
"Oh, thank you, your highness! How can I ever repay you for your generosity?" Martina exclaimed.
"Please, call me Queen Beryl. All you have to do is help me take over the world."
"You're trying to take over the world? Cool! That's what I was trying to do back in my world before my kingdom was destroyed! I'll help you in any way I can!"
Zoycite leaned on the door with an ear pressed against it, listening intently to the conversation taking place between Queen Beryl and the prisoner.
"What are they saying?" said Jedite.
"What's going on in there?" said Nephlite.
Malachite gestured for them to keep silent.
"The prisoner is a princess from another world...," Zoycite whispered, "and she....Aack! They're coming!
The four generals scrambled to act like they weren't spying as Queen Beryl and the strange girl walked out. Beryl paused when she saw them standing in the hallway. It was a bit strange to see them all together like this. "Oh, you're all here. I'd like to introduce you to Princess Martina. She is my guest and I expect all of you to make her feel welcome here," she said.
Martina hopefully wondered if all men in the Dark Kingdom were this attractive. She slowly and deliberately looked each one up and down as Queen Beryl introduced them. The first one had short blond hair. His name was Jedite. The second one had long, dark, wavy hair and a raspy voice. His name was Nephlite. The third had long pale green hair. The first buttons on his coat were undone, affording a nice view of his chest. He was Malachite. She hoped she wasn't blushing. The last one was a rather androgynous-looking creature that clung to Malachite's arm. Martina couldn't help but stare in confusion. Was this a guy or a girl? She didn't think that it was possible for a woman to be more flat-chested than Lina Inverse. But it would be impolite to ask. She decided that it was safe to assume that it was female, and probably Malachite's girlfriend. Her name was Zoycite.
"Now go to!" Queen Beryl barked at her henchmen. "Don't you four have anything better to do than loiter about?" She turned to Martina. "Come on, I'll give you a tour of the castle."