The Survivors

One

The Empress was sitting on her throne, her people in the field below her platform. Four flags waved In the gentle breeze. One was black with a white circle, representing the Village of Magic, the village she came from and lived in. The people there were powerful and used their magic to do good and to grow food for the other villages. The second flag was red with a black star, this flag represented the Village of Animals. They had ears and tails, some even had wings or scales. The third flag was white with a green triangle, the Village of Food. They had unique quirks, making them seem like edible objects. The last flag was completely black, and no one sat beneath it. The Village of Monsters was late- like usual- to the meeting.

Red wine, the emperor of the food souls, was sitting in a similar throne, but always below the empress. His eyes were as deep as the liquid he impersonated. On the other hand, Yellow wine didn't want a throne made out of gold. She sat on a more humble, wooden one. She fumbled with her hands, tracing the rim of her lucky cup. She was intimidated by Diane.

Empress Diane slowly rose, bowing to her subjects in her usual way, showing them she was just as they were: a survivor of the deadly plagues that had swept over the world, killing more than 99% of its population and turning the rest into mutations. Everyone else rose and bowed. They spoke as one: "Thank the stars for our gifts." She answered them: "And thank the moon for our lives." They all sat and she looked at the other rulers. "It seems Emperor Tiss is late...again...," she spoke with a tiny smile.

"Pff... I don't know why we haven't bumped that idiot off!" Red cackled softly and looked over at her. His eyes were dark, not welcoming at all.

Yellow gently pushed him, "brother! You can't say that!"

Empror Tiss came running, his people following him. The man had three, black eyes hidden behind a cloth. His gaze killed anyone who met it, so he had to keep his eyes hidden. He sat in his throne made of black marble and smiled sheepishly. "My apologies, your Highness! It seems some of our less solid friends got things stuck inside!" He motioned to a few people made of green sludge, each one having leaves or branches stuck in them.

"It is quite alright. I understand." She gave a laugh.

Red sneered and looked the other way. "Put them in the freezer and get it done, you freaks...," he muttered under his breath. Yellow looked at her brother and turned her nose away from him. She sympathetically looked at the sludge people. Her eyes also noticed a black skinned man with his skeleton glowing fluorescent blue. How strangely fascinating the monsters were.

The Empress of the Animal people looked around, her white rabbit ears twitching. Her large, black eyes met Red's and she winked, blushing. Diane clasped her hands together. Her elegant white gown shifted around her beautiful body as she stood, her brown eyes sparkling with joy. "Today marks 25 years that our villages have thrived! That they have grown, that they have survived! We have survived as an Empire!"

The crowd broke into cheers, some even whistled or shouted compliments like "Because of you!" or "Marry me!"

Red didn't even notice the rabbit. His eyes only stuck on Diane. They were lusty, watching her body. Yellow clapped softly and watched the empress. She wasn't able to say a thing, she wasn't in a position of power. Red could speak, however, "because of you..."

Diane bowed her head humbly, accepting the compliments with a faint blush upon her porcelain cheeks. Her eyes flickered around her subjects. "I have turned 22 recently, and by the law that our founders created, I am to be married soon or one of the other rulers will take over. I will give 2 weeks for someone- anyone- to court me. This will be decided through a tournament! Anyone may fight, and the last 10 standing may continue on to the second test!"

Yellow almost jumped out of her seat. She was determined to fight for the empress. Red pushed her back and smirked, "I will win your heart, empress..."

Diane met Red's eyes. "The second test will be a ball. All may come, but I shall dance and mingle with the ten winners of the fight. Whoever cannot get me to laugh shall be disqualified from the competition." She smiled and looked at Yellow next. "The last test will be a stay in the wilderness outside of our safe haven!"

"Empress Diane, that is insane!" Tiss stood, shocked. "Those who enter the world never return! And those who do, take their own lives! You would let that happen?!"

Even Red thought through this, not speaking up at this point. "I volunteer!" Yellow said out loud. It was the first time she had spoken in this meeting, and she never had spoken so loud, thus shocking her twin, the emperor. Her eyes sparkled, a deep, soulful yellow.

Daine grew a bit grim. "I need someone who is strong and brave, able to survive the destruction beyond our borders. They will camp out there and they will stay gone for 3 days. Of those who return, I shall choose who to court."

Yellow still looked determined, prepared to take it on. Red didn't want to participate, yet he wanted the girl... He pondered on as he watched his sister. "Whoever wants to rule beside me will get the chance in two weeks. Train and be prepared for this competition. You will battle then, on the first Sunday of May!" Diane sat in her throne of silver.

Red grit his teeth, embedding his fangs into his lower lip. He knew he would never survive outside. He looked at his sister and smirked, "are you going to battle?" Yellow gave a cute nod.

Empror Tiss thought it over, looking at the blue sky. "Outside of our sanctuary, the sky is orange and the clouds rain down molten glass. The water is poison and the ground is 300° Fahrenheit. Nothing is edible and animals are ten times the size they were years ago. The air holds sickness and is nearly too dense to breathe... I will not force any of my creatures to participate!"

Yellow gulped, starting to get uneasy. She didn't care about it that much. She knew what she had to do to win her heart. She happily tapped on her lucky cup. The monsters spoke softly to each other, none wanted to risk death. They wouldn't participate. The Empress Bun shook her head sadly. She wanted Red, not Diane. "My Animals may do what they please." Yellow watched as a few different opponents appeared from the animal realm. She smiled softly and memorized them.

Diane laid her eyes on her own Village, many champions came from the magical ranks. They were brave and strong, but also foolish. Not even they could survive the real world, it was thought no one could. No one but Empress Diane. She was born in the outside, and she came to the villages one day, a wall of flames behind her as she marched to the empty throne. She had been appointed to rule, and so she had for 8 years.

Yellow hid behind her notepad, scribbling away. Red looked at his subjects. Only a few volunteered. Many were too afraid of the repercussions of leaving safety. The Empress waited for a moment before speaking. "I see... I hope you all know what the risks are, and I want you all to do this freely. You are all dismissed. I hope you get to your villages safely. Farewell, peace be with you all!"

The crowd answered back, returning to their villages. Red dragged Yellow by the collar of her dress as she kept strategizing. The Empress got down and looked at her Uncle. He was the last Ruler of the villages, and not really her uncle, but she still addressed him as Uncle Fredrick. "I hope someone comes back from the world beyond... I get so lonely..."

And, with that, the meeting was over.