The Safety In Evil

Chapter One

After the feast, after the Crown was claimed, Scott had placed down his brother's gemstone.  The blood-red stone glittered on the item frame.

"Just stay here, Xornoth.  I… miss you, brother," he muttered, a tear slipping down his cheek.  "Goodbye, Xornoth."

…

PEARLESCENTMOON

"Scott?" 

The queen of the farmlands entered the house of Scott Major, her footsteps echoing around the high-roofed room.  She tucked her brown and blonde hair behind her ear, adjusting the flower crown upon her head.  She shivered in the mountainous region.  She had lived in the warmth of the farmlands and sunlight for so long, and the snowy biome wasn't comfortable, but she really needed to confer with Scott.  He was a logical man.  Surely, even though both of them had fought for the crown, he would realize that the power needed to be shared.

"Scott?" She repeated.  "King Scott?"

There was no response for a few moments.  After a few minutes of waiting, a voice could be heard.

"Hello there."

It sounded like Scott at first hearing, the same accent, a similar smile in its tone.  But Pearl recognized it.  She recognized it as something much, much darker.

"What do you want, Xornoth?" She demanded.

"Don't you wish you could make things better?  Don't you wish…"  he trailed off, as if allowing Pearl to fill in the blanks, as if whatever she wished could happen- as if he could make happen whatever she wished.  But she couldn't allow herself to be tempted.

"I am happy, Xornoth.  I have turned you down before," she reasoned.  

"But now if you help me, I will be in your debt.  Wouldn't it be better to have someone as powerful as I am in your debt… than against you?" Persuasion filled the voice.  She stilled.  Don't consider it, she told herself.  Don't consider anything.  Don't consider it.  But it was an impressive offer.  It was impossible to ignore the demonic voice of Xornoth.  Finally, she spoke again.

"And the power?" She asked softly.  The gem glowed.

"Of course, of course.  And you will have the protection of The Lost Empire," the voice assured her.  Now that was a deal that she struggled to turn her back on.

She couldn't believe what was going on.  She couldn't handle this.  She couldn't take this.  The pressure was too much.  The offer was too much.

"I…" her whisper shook.

"I accept." She tore the gemstone necklace from its pedestal, throwing it against the ground.  She watched as the red crystal shattered, filling the air with dark fog.  A roar filled her ears.  Pearl shuddered, and her blood chilled.  She gazed up at a dark, horned figure, with glowing red eyes and a sharp-toothed smile.  It was tall, very tall, even taller than its brother, who happened to be a seven-foot elf.

"Hello, Pearlescentmoon," he said.  

"Hello, Xornoth," she murmured.  She wasn't sure if she should bow in his presence or simply lower her head.  She chose the latter.  Xornoth seemed pleased enough.  He held out a hand, eyes flashing with glee.

"Will you accept the power I give you, and in turn fight for me?  I will still be in your debt for you freeing me," he promised.  Pearl hesitated and then nodded her head and smiled a bit.

"Yes," she said, taking his shadowy hand.  "I accept." He shook her hand and she froze.  Her vision went red.  She looked at him.

"What's changed, Xornoth?" She asked quietly.  He led her to a puddle of water.  She gazed into it.

"Wow," she said.  Her flower crown's yellow flowers had gone red, and the greenery she wore had wilted.  Although her vision had gone back to normal, her right eye was a blood red.  She reached for her sword, which was embedded with dangerous poisonous plants she hasn't ever dared grow.  A glowberry sat in its hilt, and it emitted a red light instead of yellow.  Her wings had been covered in smoke.

"My, my," she said.  "Thank you, Xornoth.  I will never let you down."

He nodded.

"Consider the favor eternally returned," he replied.  "Now, I have a king to share my power with.  If you need anything, simply build me a temple and call on me.  Pearlescentmoon, I will be there."

Pearl vanished from Scott's empire, knowing that she had made a decision that would change her life forever.

This was the right choice, she told herself.  Look- you're surrounded by power!  It was true.  Corruption had rooted itself in her lands, and Pearl had no regret.  It was incredible.  She entered her chestroom, eyes scanning it warily.  She half expected someone to jump at her, angry that she had achieved more than them.  She shook her head.  I would be more powerful, she thought.  She dug through her building block chests, collecting the materials to build Xornoth's temple.  She had some corruption stored in a shulker box not far away, which she gathered as well.  It would be good to use in her temple to the demon.

She grinned, building the temple through day and night.  Red glass enclosed it, and it was filled with poison ivy and wither roses. 

"Xornoth," she said tentatively, "I hope this temple pleases you."

She left the temple, a heightened thirst for blood tangible on her tongue.  She could almost feel the adrenaline rushing through her veins.  She unsheathed her sword, running her fingers over the hilt.  It was a gorgeous weapon, a weapon fit for a queen such as herself.

She wished herself luck in a hushed tone and stepped outside.

I have a target, she thought.  The traitor.

The traitor, of course, was MythicalSausage.  He had first helped Pearl, then killed her in the name of Xornoth, then abandoned Xornoth.  In her interpretation of the events, it meant he had killed and betrayed her in vain.

She grasped the sword and entered Mythland, eyes glittering with malice, one red, one blue. 

"MythicalSausage?" She called.  The base was huge.  Last time I was here, our roles were quite reversed.

"Pearl?" Sausage asked.  "Where are you?  Lemme-" he froze when he saw her.  "You look- you look different, uh... You look different, yeah!" He sounded nervous.

"Do I?" Pearl asked.  "I hadn't noticed." She closed her eyes briefly.  It's time.