The Safety In Evil

Chapter Two

It's time.

Pearl smiled prettily at MythicalSausage.  "Well, you see," she said brightly, "He's on my side now."

"What do you mean, Pearl?  There's no way you- Pearl, no, you- you gotta get out of there!" He exclaimed.  Pearl giggled.

"Oh, but you used to be on his side, and then you betrayed us both, somehow!" She pointed out.  "Why aren't you happy for me?  I'm powerful now!" Mythical shook his head.

"No, Pearl, you don't know what you're getting into," he argued.  Pearl shrugged.

"Actually, I do," she replied.  And then she stabbed him in the heart. 

"I underestimated you." She heard Xornoth's voice in her mind.

She smiled a bit.  "Everyone does," she said.  "It's always their downfall.  But now, someone on my side has underestimated me.  Now it's a good thing for us both."

"I think it's time for you to meet your new ally... And I can help you with that." Pearl blinked in surprise as she felt her skin turn into smoke, and she fizzled away before reappearing in a lush jungle- a lush jungle filled with corruption, that is.  She felt as though she could melt into the trees.

"Hello there, Pearlescentmoon," a voice said.  There was a hint of aggression, a bit of interest, and a whole lot of jealousy in the tone.

"Hello, Joey Graceffa," she replied.  The ruler of the Lost Empire pushed through some ferns and made eye contact with her.  He had deep red eyes and a dark crown atop his head.

"I heard that my Xornoth corrupted you," Joey began, "And I'm a little bit... I'm a little bit concerned, you know, because he said he owes you something, and I don't- I don't like how that sounds." Pearl laughed.

"Oh, don't worry, Joey," she assured him.  "It's only because I freed him from his crystal.  He asked me to in return for his debt and power." His eyes widened with rage.

"He asked you to free him and not me?  Doesn't he trust me?  Ugh.  Xornoth!" He called the demon's name frantically. 

"Xornoth," Joey said, "Why didn't you have me free you?"

Xornoth sighed.  "You weren't there.  You wouldn't have been welcomed openly into Rivendell at the time, and that's where I was imprisoned!  Pearlescentmoon was a perfect recruit.  Trust me," he explained.  Joey glanced at the queen, who nodded.

"No feelings involved?" Joey asked after a few seconds.

"No feelings involved, Joey," Pearl promised.  Joey nodded tentatively.

"Fine," he said.  "Now I did hear that you killed MythicalSausage, who happens to be a traitor.  So... Good job." Pearl smiled.

"Of course.  He betrayed me and Xornoth.  I couldn't let that slide," she responded confidently.  Joey grinned.

"You're not such a bad ally, Pearl," he said.  Pearl studied her weapon, a wicked smile alight on her face.

"Of course not, Joey.  I'm a servant of Xornoth.  There's nothing about that which tells you I'm a bad ally," she said.  "Now, I think I should go."

She took off into the sky, sitting back in her castle, eyes glinting as she relaxed on her throne.  She flashed a wicked smile.

I expect that Scott will arrive soon.  Word on the street was that he wasn't too happy about Xornoth's escape.  She heard footsteps echo throughout the chamber, as if on cue.  She closed her eyes, opening them when she heard a voice.

"Pearl?"

She smiled.  "Welcome, Scott."

He stared at her, blue eyes filled with horror.  "Pearl, what are you doing?  Why are you fighting for Xornoth?  Why did you free my evil demon brother?" She rolled her eyes.

"He's helping me, I'm helping him," she said casually.  "It makes perfect sense to me." Scott glared at her.

"You won't get away with this," he warned her.

"Says who?  Look at my allies," she countered, raising her arms.  "I am stronger than you."

Scott's eyes darkened, and his mouth was set in a grim line.  "You don't know what you're getting yourself into," he said softly, turning around.  "Goodbye, Pearl.  I hope I can free you."

I need not be freed.  But before she could attack, Scott vanished, and she cursed under her breath.  Pearl knew that Xornoth intended for her to get the crown for the three of them to make their own rule.  But to do that, there were three very important people that needed to be defeated.  One of them held the power of the crown, while two of them could defeat Xornoth.  Jimmy, Scott, and GeminiTay had to be destroyed, and she, Pearlescentmoon, would ensure that it happened.  "I am more powerful than they know," she whispered, tucking some hair behind her ear.  "They cannot defeat me."

She looked over at a tapestry hung on her wall- a beautiful image of each empire.  She took a look at her sword and sliced through her own face.

"I'm not that Pearl anymore," she said.  "I'm better." She hung a photo of her current state there, power rippling from the map.  Suddenly, she heard a noise, and went outside.  It was coming from the temple.  She entered, and was greeted by Xornoth.

"Hello, Pearlescentmoon.  I thought you might like to know that Jimmy is no longer in possession of the crown.  It is now worn by none other than my brother," he said.  Pearl disguised her surprise.

"Oh, really..?" She murmured.  "Thank you, Xornoth.  This situation just got a lot more interesting."

Xornoth vanished, and Pearl returned to the map, circling GeminiTay's photo once and Scott's twice.

"Yes, indeed.  This has complicated the situation... But it has also made it so incredibly easy."