Blavitara was once a thriving kingdom. There were riches and happiness everywhere. The land was thick with tall trees and soft grass from coast to coast. Everyone was happy to live their lives the way that they saw fit. Darkness was nowhere to be seen. Everything was as it should be until the King fell ill one day. The King order many physicians to heal him, but none were successful. He even order magicians and healers to help him, but none were successful. After months of pain and waiting for death, the King died.

The kingdom of Blavitara mourned for two years of their beloved King until his daughter turned eighteen and was old enough to take the throne. Queen Vega worked hard to continue her father's legacy and succeeded at it.

Rumors started to spread around ten years in Queen Vega's reign that a smaller kingdom has emerged from the seas. That kingdom was ruled by the ruthless Queen Krathys. Rumors spread that her kingdom was getting too close to Blavitara's borders. Queen Vega sent troops to investigate the rumors and was met with a large army at their border.

Queen Krathys' army wasn't just huge in number, but huge in size. Men were dressed in matte black armor. Spikes were sticking out of their shoulders and their eyes were hidden by a dark visor. Some were holding matte black longbows while others had long swords at their sides. They stood straight and tall while watching Queen Vega's men on their side of the border.

A six-foot jaguar strode forward, splitting Queen Krathys' army. Queen Krathys sat on top of the jaguar dressed in the same matte black armor as her soldiers. She sheathed her sword and took off her helmet revealing a strikingly beautiful face. On her youthful face rested thin lips set in a straight line and dark, unhesitating eyes. Her skin was white as snow and the only color on her face was a hint of rose color on her cheeks. Her black hair was pulled and slicked back into a low ponytail.

Her lips curved slightly at the sight of Queen Vega's men gaping at them. "I am Queen Vega, and tell your Queen we're here to take her throne," she ordered them in a low, silvery voice. "We'll give you three hours to deliver the message, then we're taking what we'll claim."

Queen Vega's men looked at each other and worked at soothing their horses. One of the men spoke up, "You don't belong here." His voice shook, but there was a hint of commandment behind it.

Queen Krathys titled her head as she looked the man over. "I do," she said. "I've been admiring your little kingdom from the seas and I want it." She sat up straighter and unsheathed her sword. "I'm here to take what is mine. Once again, we'll give you three hours to go and warn your Queen before we devour everything in our touch." She stretched out her sword towards them, "Now go!"

Queen Vega's men didn't need to be told twice this time. They spun their horses around and sped off toward the castle to warn their Queen and gather up their army.

"Are we going to wait three hours, my Queen?" one of Queen Krathys commanding officers asked her. "I'm ready for blood."

She turned to look at the tall man standing next to her. "I'm a woman of my word, Commander. We will wait three hours and we will have this kingdom."

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Queen Vega met her men in the throne room as they stormed through the doors. "What's happening on the border?" She held her hands tightly in her lap to keep them from shaking. She had watched her father create and handle war plans, but in her ten years as Queen, she never had to make those plans. Those years had been peaceful; until now.

The men bowed before their Queen and her commanding officer said through jagged breaths, "Queen Krathys is here from the seas. She wants to take your kingdom and your throne. Her army is massive, your Majesty. We need to prepare!"

"How long do we have to prepare?" she sighed.

"She had given us three hours, your Majesty," the commander sighed. He dipped his head, "It took almost two hours to get here, we don't have much time."

Queen Vega stood up and kept her hands folded tightly in front of her. "Get everything together, Commander. Make sure everyone's ready." She sighed. "We're heading to war. I will not let the kingdom my father worked hard to protect and build to some new Queen."

The men stood up and bowed at the waist. "Yes, your Majesty!" They turned and ran out of the throne room.

Queen Vega flopped down on the throne and put her head in her hands. She never wanted to go to war. She wasn't trained in the art of war, her father never taught her. Her parents had been hoping for a boy to give the throne to, but instead, they ended up with her. Her father always thought they were going to have another child, but her mother had died when Vega was only twelve. Even then, she was never taught how to create and handle war plans. She was allowed to watch him talk with his commanders, but never picked anything up.

She didn't know how long she was sitting there before her lady-in-waiting burst through the throne room dragging a breastplate behind her. "Manila, what are you doing?" Queen Vega got up quickly and met her halfway. "You need to be in the catacombs."

Manila shook her head. "I'm sorry, your Majesty, but I'm not leaving your side. First, you need to put this on." She held up the breastplate. "If that scary Queen does get in here, you need to be protected!" She got on her knees. "Please, your Majesty?"

Queen Vega nodded. "Alright, Manila, help me put this on." Manila struggled as she lifted the breastplate over Queen Vega's head. "Thank you, Manila. Now, please, head to the catacombs - "

Loud bangs came from the throne room doors. Manila screamed as she turned around to see the doors open. An arrow came from the small crack in the doorway and lodged itself in Manila's throat. Queen Vega screamed as she caught Manila in her arms and sunk to the floor. Blood poured out of her throat. Gurgling sounds came from Manila as she looked up at Queen Vega.

"Manila!" Queen Vega screamed as tears streamed down her face. Her hands searched for some way to help, but there was nothing for her to do. She watched the life go out of Manila's eyes and listened to the gurgling quiet down until there was silence.

An eerily silence filled the throne room. Queen Vega held Manila tightly before closing her eyes and laying her down on the ground. She stood up slowly and started to back up towards her throne when she heard footsteps behind her. She turned around to see a woman sitting on her throne who she could only assume to be Queen Krathys.

Queen Krathys took off her helmet and set it on the arm of the throne next to her as she stood up. "Lovely kingdom you have here, Queen Vega," she said with a smirk.

Queen Vega stood up straighter. "Go home, Queen Krathys."

Queen Krathys shook her head. "Sorry, but no. Thing is, I want your kingdom and it's mine now. Your people are mine. They cower in fear in their homes - the ones who aren't already burnt down." She started to walk towards Queen Vega with her hands behind her back. "Your army has been defeated. My army was delighted in hearing the screams and begs from your men."

Queen Vega's hands clenched at her side. She was sure this was the day that she would die, she just regretted she didn't have anything to protect herself with. If she hadn't sat on her throne sulking, she could have prepared herself.

Queen Krathys started to circle Queen Vega. "Your kingdom is mine now." In a flash, Queen Vega was on her back and Queen Krathys was crouching over her with a knife to her throat. "There's no one to help you now."

Queen Vega looked into her dead eyes and saw silver specks moving around. She could swear she couldn't make out a pupil. "What are you?"

Queen Krathys smirked. "I'm revenge, sweetheart. Your father had a bad streak and I'm here for revenge."

"What are you talking about." She tried to move away but Queen Krathys pushed the blade harder against her throat.

Queen Krathys growled. "He let his little brainiacs perform experiments on me. I was the only one out of the twenty children he stole to survive. I was given special abilities that were supposed to help me be a pawn in his army, but I escaped. I ran to the seas and was embraced by their people. They saw my abilities and made me their Queen. I've trained, gotten stronger and more in control of my abilities to come here and take the throne." She pushed the blade harder and drew blood. She smiled showing teeth with razor-sharp canines.

Queen Vega shuddered. "Please, I'm sorry for what my father did to you, but I wasn't involved in what happened to you."

Queen Krathys tilted her head and sighed. "I guess you're right." She pinned her shoulder with her knee as she took her knife and started to carve her name into Queen Vega's arm.

Queen Vega screamed and tried to get out from her, but she was too strong. Tears streamed out of her eyes as the burning sensation of the blade slicing her skin intensified. What felt like an eternity finally ended and Queen Krathys stood up.

"You're branded as mine now." She clapped her hands together and two soldiers walked in. "Take her to the seas and make sure she's kept there until I say so."

Queen Vega watched through teary eyes as Queen Krathys sat down on her throne. She felt two pairs of hands grab her arms and drag her out of the throne room to wherever they were meant to trap her until she died.

Once Queen Vega was out of the throne room, Queen Krathys snapped her fingers and her commanding officer knelt before her. She smirked, "Now, go and bring me, children. Time for me to create my perfect army and this time, I'll make sure they can't get away."

Author note: Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed this chapter and if you did, please leave a comment and vote! Thank you!