Casting Stars

.12.

"This is star infused gingerbread." Zyla smiled holding up a cookie to the large oni. They were in the middle of the parade near food stands. The music was loud as dancers and musicians passed behind them.

Some citizens would even smile as they watched their queen. Zyla watched as he was hesitant about trying it. She sighed and shoved it in his mouth. His eyes went wide before he started to chew feeling the cookie melt in his mouth. When he finished he looked at Zyla who was grinning.

"It's one of our treasured desserts." Zyla took one from Benimaru who grabbed two more for himself. She laughed watching as he ate them. "Oh! Try these!" She grabbed him floating to what. "Hello! Can I get 2 please." She told the octopus like monster that smiled and nodded.

"Queen Zyla!" A few mermaids waved at her as they sat on a rock. "HI!!"

Zyla smiled and flew over to them waving at them and missed the splash of water from a few small kid mermaids. She laughed as a large blob of water fell onto them. Benimaru smiled to himself watching as she communicated with the merfolk.

"She's amazing isn't she?" The octopus monster said as he held up two trays. He watched Benimaru furrow his eyebrows at it in confusion. "It's hydra delights." He told the oni the name before looking back at the queen. "Many would think just because she's a Demon lord she's strict and cruel but here she is playing with regular monsters."

"Yea. You all seem to adore her."

"Of course we do. She saved most of us, gave us a new meaning in life. She's a very understanding person. Best queen in my opinion so don't you go and hurt her feelings boy."

"Huh?" Benimaru looked at him but before he could ask more Zyla came over and took the extra tray from him eating it.

"Theses are amazing!" She smiled at Benimaru leading him away and more towards the center of the parade. They finished the food when a certain song came on. "Let's dance!" She grabbed him pulling him into the dancing circle.

Zyla laughed as a bunch of children began to crowd around her each wanting to dance. She reached for their hands and twirled them around to the beat of the music. The kids laughter filled the area and Benimaru noticed a drink shion dancing in the crowd as well.

He was pushed further in by citizens till he was back by Zyla's side. She grabbed his hand lifting it allowing herself room to spin, he laughed watching as she entertained herself despite him being awkward.

"She looks happy." Rimuru said as he sat on a barrel watching Zyla and Benimaru.

"Yes, the Parade is one day she can forget about her title and be with her people without worry.  It puts her at peace." Acer explained drinking his booze also watching. "She seems happy with that Oni. I hope he doesn't do anything to hurt her." 

"Benimaru? I doubt he will. He seems to take a liking to her. He's a kindhearted guy and very respectful." Rimuru reassured him. 'Plus, why would he when a hot demon lord is dancing around with him' the slime thought. 

Benimaru pulled Zyla from the circle with a laugh. He nodded to some place quieter and she seems to get the hint urging him to follow her. She led him to a small cliff with wildflowers and a little pond. They could still hear the parade going on but not as loudly. "This parade is a yearly thing?" He asked being careful not to trample any flowers.

Zyla laughed snapping her fingers summoning her floating pillow, it expanded and she sat on top patting the spot next to her. "Yeah, it first started as a celebration to help the citizens forget what this place was before I took over. Then it became something we have to forget everything, I really enjoy watching them dance and have fun with it worrying about dark times."

When he was seating the pillow rises higher into the air overlooking the city and small floating islands. The moon was shining bright and it looked like the parade was nowhere near done. "Can I ask what those dark times were?"

Zyla looked over at him, she didn't really care to tell. It was in the past and she wasn't ashamed of it. "It was centuries ago, right before I became a demon lord. I was a terror, I went around wiping kingdoms and villages off the map for fun. I came to this island and was planning to destroy it as well but I somehow felt connected to it. Back then it was a slave trading island, a lot of the civilians ancestors were slaves."

"The king at the time was a disgusting excuse of a person. I witnessed him do unbelievable things to the people, usually I don't care and go on but for some reason I couldn't. So I murdered all the guards, all the nobles, everyone who owned a save and saved the king for last. Oh I can still hear how clearly he begged for mercy, I can see the fear on his face when he watched me kill his strongest warrior with one blow." A smile crept onto her face.

"It's obvious what happened next. I killed him without even using magic. It was pathetic." She rolled her eyes. "After that I took the throne and began queen, I rebuilt this kingdom soon Acer, Chase and Reiki came along. Now it's this, I still go around destroying kingdoms i it's fun the look of terror on everyone's faces. However there's something that's bothered me a lot about the citizens."

Benimaru watched as the moon shined on her skin making it seem like she was glowing. He doesn't know why but he felt like he knew her forever and that he could trust her with everything. "What's that."

"I wonder Even though I'm a demon lord and i can wipe islands and nations off the face of the world with a snap of my fingers...  how can they be okay with that? I mean... they trust me so much. What if one day I just decided to kill them all because I felt like it?"  Zyla expressed her thoughts turning from looking at the city to Benimaru that stared her directly in the eyes.

He sat up straighter before speaking, "maybe it's because they know somewhere in their heart they trust you deeply. That somewhere in your heart you care for every creature on this island. They know you have a kind soul underneath all the destruction. Even lord Rimuru can see it, you are worth trusting." He told her, he doesn't know where those words came from but they seemed to flow out of his mouth with ease.

"Do you trust me?"

They both seemed to lean in toward each other slowly. "I trust you, I trust that you have the sweetest heart." He said as his hand found its way to her cup her chin.

Zyla rested her forehead in on his with a slight laugh. "You have a way with words Benimaru." She whispered before closing the gap kissing the red haired monster.