The Former Demon Queen Decides To Battle

"Sister, I have come to play. Come out, come out, wherever you are."

The moment Emilia said those words, Mary felt something stir inside her.

She wanted to attack.

All of her rage and anger surged forward, demanding that she direct it at Emilia, to punish her for bringing such violence and pain to this peaceful town.

Even if Emilia could not possibly be blamed for everything that had happened, Mary couldn't help feeling that way.

But before she could make a move, one of the girls, Lydia no doubt, quickly grabbed her arm and pulled her inside, shutting the door immediately behind them.

Now, like many of the other panicking townsfolk, Mary was locked inside the main hall of the Adventurers Guild.

"Please, my daughter. She's still out there."

A woman from the audience screamed through her tears as she knelt down in front of Leafy and some of the other girls.

"All right, ma'am. I'm going around and taking down the names of people who are missing. We'll find them. Don't worry, okay?"

Leafy reassured the woman, gently placing a hand on her arm to keep her from panicking any further.

Mary was taken aback by the girl's ability to compose herself despite the situation.

Every now and then, the building shook from a nearby explosion as demons, knights, and orcs clashed outside.

"What does she want anyway?"

Maria growled as she stomped over to where Mary, Snowpoppy, Chanchan, and Minimo were seated in the corner.

"That crazy demon chick..."

She glanced out the window.

"She says she's looking for her sister and comes here of all places. What the hell do we have to do with that? How the hell are we supposed to know where the Queen of All Evil is?"

Following Maria's words, Snowpoppy shot Mary a look. She shook her head slightly, indicating to Mary that she didn't have to go out if she didn't want to.

Mary shook her head back in response, indicating to the bunny girl that she had no choice. To stop the madness, she had to go out, and soon.

"All right, I have the numbers," Leafy announced as she walked back toward the group. "There are about twenty families here missing their loved ones. Some children, some elderly people, some husbands and wives, and even a few pets too."

Mary suddenly perked up.

"Wait... Gustav?"

She looked around frantically.

"Where is Gustav?"

She had been so caught up in everything that she had completely forgotten about him. And just when it looked like the girls were about to get up and help search, Mary heard a familiar voice in her head.

"Don't fret, my lady. I am right here."

From the endless sea of legs in the crowd of people before her, a tiny black shape emerged, with small red eyes and a tail flicking from side to side.

"So, how was the trip?" Gustav asked, continuing to flick his tail. "As you can see, at some point during your absence, your sister Emilia chose to grace us with her kind presence. Quite the surprise, don't you think?"

Mary rushed forward and scooped him up, wrapping him in a hug. She was extremely excited to see him. She had thought she had lost the only connection she had left to her old life in the Demon Realm.

"My lady, please compose yourself. There are people watching, you know."

Flashing a nervous smile, Mary gently set him back down on the floor.

"Looks like the little guy is doing just fine," Minimo said.

Mary nodded.

But she needed to talk to Gustav.

In private.

She couldn't exactly have a conversation with a cat right in front of everyone. People might start thinking she was crazy.

"Listen," she said. "Miss Leafy?"

"Yes, Mary?" Leafy replied.

"Can I use the bathroom?"

"Of course you can use the bathroom, Mary. Why ask me?"

"Thank you."

"Wait, wait. You're going with your cat?"

But Mary wasn't even listening anymore.

She picked Gustav up and rushed toward the back of the guild. She entered the bathroom and quickly shut the door behind her. Thankfully, the place was clean, like usual, with fewer people in the other stalls.

"Okay, Gustav," Mary said, setting the cat on the floor. "I don't think I can keep my identity a secret for much longer, so I need you to listen carefully."

"What do you have in mind, my lady?" Gustav asked.

"I'll have to go out there. I'll engage Emilia in single combat."

"Are you sure that's safe, my lady?"

"Yes. It's the only way I can end this madness. She wants me and only me. If I go out there and give her what she wants, she'll have no reason to keep attacking the town. Once she realizes she's been defeated, she might retreat."

"But, my lady," Gustav interjected, "Emilia's pride may not allow her to accept defeat. She could simply refuse to back down and continue fighting you."

"Then I'll just have to knock her out. If that stubborn girl doesn't yield even after being defeated, then I'll just have to incapacitate her again."

Gustav briefly looked to the side, thinking.

"However, if you do that, my lady, although that will ensure Emilia is unable to continue fighting, her Queen's Guard will be another matter. If they see their general taken down, it might throw them into a frenzy, driving them to protect her at all costs."

Gustav looked back at Mary.

"You will have to get Emilia to forfeit the battle. And if she doesn't, then after you knock her unconscious, you'll have to take out every single one of the army."

"Then so be it."

Mary glared into the distance, folding her fists and hardening her expression.

"If that's what I have to do to ensure the safety of these people, then I have no choice. Gustav, I basically brought the war to their front door. They were living in peace, and now they are in danger because of my involvement. Because of me coming here. Because of my selfish goals.

"And if it wasn't for my stupid, self-destructive nature, always wanting to do good and protect people, I never would have gone to the eastern front to protect those holy knights. I never would have run into Emilia, and she never would have found me and tracked me down to this town. I never should have thought about coming here in the first place."

Mary's voice cracked slightly on the last part.

"It's because of me. All of this is because of me."

She clenched her fists tighter.

"If I have to kill every single demon here today to protect these people, then I will."

Gustav briefly looked off to the side again, taking in Mary's words before letting out a quiet sigh.

"First of all, my lady, your desire to do good is not a flaw. It does not make you selfish. It is simply who you are. It is your heart."

He looked back at her.

"And if protecting these people is what you have decided to do, then I will stand beside you. Now, what will you have me do? How can I be of assistance?"

"First," Mary said, lowering herself into a squat to get closer to Gustav, "I have to undo your sealing magic and release your full power."

"My lady, are you sure?" Gustav asked.

"Yes, but you must contain yourself. You need to remain in this form long enough to jump out of a window before unleashing your power and growing to your full size. I will need you to keep the guild safe."

As Mary said that, another explosion caused the entire building to rock.

"Okay, my lady," Gustav nodded.

"Please remember," she said. "You must keep the girls safe at all costs."

"Understood," he replied.

"Meanwhile, I have a feeling said girls are about to form a search-and-rescue party for the missing family members. I'm going to join them. Then, while we're out there searching, I'll use the opportunity to sneak away and go battle Emilia."

Another brief exchange then occurred between the two of them, one that Mary would rather not remember. But ultimately, Gustav agreed.

"Very well, my lady," he replied. "Please be careful."

"I will."

Mary picked up the cat and gave him a quick hug. When she finished, she set him back down and recited the words to unseal his magic.

Gustav gradually began to steam, a steady stream of black mist rising from his body before quickly intensifying.

He leaped onto a nearby surface and then jumped onto the window.

"For Empress Vesperia," he said.

"Thank you, Gustav," Mary replied.

He nodded.

Without another word, Gustav jumped out into the street.

Mary caught a brief glimpse of him through the window as his transformation began. Black smoke mixed with red lightning, sparks crackling through the air around him. Then she turned away.

She didn't wait to watch the rest. She didn't need to. Gustav could handle himself.

Mary quickly exited the bathroom and headed back into the main guild hall to join the others.

Upon her arrival, Mary was a bit startled to find the girls already prepared and ready to head outside.

"Oh, Mary, there you are," Lydia said, stepping forward with Leafy beside her. "We were waiting for you. We were just about to head out to find the missing family members. So, will you help us? We could really use your strength."

Mary briefly gave a sweeping glance over the area. All of them wanted to help: Chanchan, Minimo, Snowpoppy, Maria, Leafy, and Lydia. They were all dressed haphazardly, with additional trinkets, tools, and weapons they had armed themselves with.

Minimo had a bat.

Chanchan held a small, fire lantern, keeping it close to her chest.

Maria held a pair of kitchen knives, with a dagger resting across her back.

Snowpoppy carried a single long needle from her sewing equipment.

Leafy had her sword.

And Lydia had her bag of oil containers slung across her shoulder. Mary could already get a whiff of holy oil coming from inside.

One look at the girls, and anyone with combat experience would be able to tell none of them had any real fighting experience, just from the way they stood. But somehow, despite the overwhelming odds, they were ready to jump headfirst into chaos. For each other. For others. For the people they wanted to protect.

"I will help," Mary nodded in confirmation.

"Good. Oh, and Mary." Lydia stepped forward, placing a hand on the former Demon Queen's shoulder. "We haven't forgotten what you were trying to tell us. After all of this is over, we'll talk. Okay?"

Mary gazed solemnly into the elven girl's eyes. Even if her plan worked, even if the town was saved, whether or not the girls would accept her for what she truly was remained another matter entirely. She might never be allowed to come back to them ever again. And that, more than anything, was going to break her heart.

But for now, she simply smiled.

"All right then," she replied. "Now let's go kick some demon butt."