The Former Demon Queen Crashes a Party

As soon as night came, Mary took off from her house on top of the hill, her black wings carrying her into the sky. She was going on her usual nighttime vigilantism, but this time she was not alone. Gustav was with her, still in his little house cat form, riding on her back between her wings. The magic sealing spell was still active, keeping his true form hidden. However, this will not be for long.

After circling high above the town, confirming the streets were clear of crime and no one below faced any immediate danger, Mary turned east, toward her real targets of the night. The Skullcrusher Warband. The raiders who'd attacked the markets earlier that day.

As they flew, Mary knew she'd have to undo the sealing spell on Gustav. To face them properly, she needed to display the full might of the former Demon Queen. That meant making a statement with her familiar, the most powerful beast in the demon realm. She wouldn't hold back. Not after what they'd done to peaceful towns like Blendingbrook.

From a distance, she could already make out the spiked iron walls and watchtowers of the orc encampment. She deliberately kept her pace slow, mostly because of what she was about to do.

She recited a spell. A dozen glowing rings, six on each side, materialized along the ends of her wings. Her gliding now generated a high-pitched shriek as she flew against the wind, a technique designed to disorient the orcs long before she arrived. It was an intimidation tactic she had picked up during her days training to become a demon queen candidate. She wanted to sow terror into their hearts before they ever laid eyes on her.

She reached the encampment in seconds, her gaze sweeping over the tents, stables, and communal areas. This was their main base alright. They even had a bonfire blazing.

Well, time to crash the party.

Mary flapped her wings, climbing higher, and after reaching a significant altitude, she dropped straight down like an arrow, slicing through the air. The moment she slammed into the ground, the entire campsite erupted as if struck by an earthquake.

The ground shook, vibrated, and broke apart.

Chaos erupted instantly, orcs scrambling in all directions as they shouted. Those that tried escaping on horseback met a hoof to the face as the horses reared in confusion. Tents collapsed, watchtowers crumbled, and in the middle of it all, Mary stood at the center of the crater she had just created, dust and debris settling around her.

It was a good thing orcs didn't bring their young to war. Only the adults for fighting, and their females for pleasure.

Mary stood still for a moment, letting them see her. Letting them feel the weight of who, or what, had just arrived.

"Fools!" Her voice exploded, rumbling through the entire encampment. "Look upon me! Who do you think you are?"

Without waiting for an answer, she set Gustav down and whispered the incantation, briefly unsealing his magic. Dark aura exploded outward as the former house cat quickly regrew to its full size, a lion beast the size of a small house, with razor-sharp claws and foot-long teeth.

The crowd before her gasped in shock.

She had gotten their full attention.

"Empress Vesperia," one of them finally said, his voice hitching slightly from fear. "We... we heard you were exiled. But you're here. Why?"

She narrowed her eyes in his direction, glaring at the orc. He looked like he must have rushed out in a hurry, his armor hastily put on to cover parts of his body.

"Are you the leader of these people?" she asked him, her voice cold, devoid of emotion.

"Yes. I am the leader. Orc commander and lord chieftain."

"Very good. Now listen to me carefully," she said, her voice laced with authority. "From this day forward, you will break off from the demon empire and abandon this war. You will stop stealing. You will stop harming any and all living things in this world. Is that understood?"

Beside her, Gustav let out a low growl, the sound vibrating through the earth, emphasizing the weight of her command.

The chieftain appeared hesitant for a moment, his voice catching in his throat. He was deep in thought, no doubt deliberating on her demands.

"And what if we decide to go against your wishes?" he finally challenged, a smirk spreading across his lips. "You are no longer the Queen. Your uncle is in charge now. We listen to him. We take our orders from him."

"Are you really trying to test me?" Mary asked, her voice colder than before. Her red eyes bloomed with anticipation for battle, her hand already moving toward her sword.

Although the majority of the orcs recoiled at the sight of her threatening posture, a few of them, suspected to be captains, held their position with their commander.

"We are not scared of you. We will not do what you say."

"Stupid," Mary said flatly. "Honorable, but stupid."

She drew her sword.

"Go ahead then," she said. "Fight me, if you dare."

The rebellious commander and his officers picked up their weapons in preparation for battle. But that was as far as they got. In the blink of an eye, Mary shot forward and swung her blade, Black Steam, in a wide arc, cleaving through muscle, bone, and tissue. Blood splattered against her face.

The fight was over before it even began. The bodies of her challengers fell in a heap of flesh at her feet. Gustav turned to the rest of the bandit group, nearly three hundred of them, baring his teeth and growling, drawing all of their attention. Mary utilized the moment efficiently.

"And to the rest of you, my order remains absolute. Those who do as I say will live. Change your ways, or die by my blade this very night."

Mary's eyes glanced over the crowd, looking for any potential threats. But none dared approach, and instead, all dropped to their knees, lowering their heads in submission.

"If anybody else has any grievances with my actions, I urge you, come forward now. Though I promise, you will share the same fate as your commander."

The crowd murmured among themselves, but nobody stepped forward. Nobody dared to die by her blade.

"Good," Mary said. "Now listen carefully. The splinter group of your colleagues earlier today went into the nearby town and ransacked it, destroying buildings, shops, and causing fear. What all of you will do from this day forward is become workers. You will repay the town for the pain you have caused. You will work to rebuild everything you have destroyed. Is that understood?"

Slowly, each of the orcs nodded in understanding.

"Finally, the gold and payment you received from my uncle and the demon empire, show me."

A few of the orcs scurried off and returned moments later, dragging heavy chests filled with gold coins. They set them at Mary's feet, then backed away quickly.

Mary smiled. "This will do. This will help the town rebuild and grow again. To the peaceful place it was before you arrived. Before your past invasions."

"You." She pointed at one of the orcs that had initially stood beside the commander but was smart enough to pull back and not join the fighting. "What is your name?"

"R-Ragnar, my queen," he answered, his whole body trembling.

"You will be the new commander. I need a representative."

"Yes, my queen."

Then she turned to the crowd, her voice rising with authority.

"Henceforth, you are no longer tools in my uncle's war. The Skullcrusher Warband is no more. It no longer exists. You will become a peaceful race, helping to build and not destroy. Remember, if any of you dare to go against my command, the blade you see here will be the last thing you ever witness. I promise you, you will lose your life before you even realize it."