Book Three Chapter Twenty Eight: DBG_End

Book Three Chapter Twenty Eight: DBG_End

Greetings, my most loyal of minions! the Evil Emperor boomed as his cape flapped in the wind.

Oh no. Oh no. The Evil Emperor still thought of Definitely Bad Guy as his Mage Advisor! He didnt know that the Mage was secretly working for the Exiled Prince and Exiled Princess!

Sencha Bard and Sexy Screamy Spider Lady wrenched around to look at Definitely Bad Guy, whod gone white. Qube frantically waved her hands at the pair, trying to get their attention so they wouldnt attack the Mage over such a simple misunderstanding.

They just had to trust Definitely Bad Guy.

Thats right! the Evil Emperor threw back his head and gave a very Evil laugh. Your pet Mage has secretly been working for me the entire time! Hes been feeding me information about your movements, and has directed me to the very location where you have stored the other gems! You have been fooled, pathetic, false Hero!

Qube mentally scoffed. As if the Evil Emperor had needed Definitely Bad Guy to lead him to the gems! The precious items needed to save the kingdom were in the exact same inn as last time, which Qube was rapidly realising how bad an idea that had been, and the Evil Emperor was just lying to try and sow discord amongst the party.

My liege, Definitely Bad Guy said, and knelt before the man whod slaughtered Qubes village. The Mage looked at Qube, an apology in his eyes.

A very sincere-looking apology.

This was not a conversation I wished to have in public, Definitely Bad Guy continued, still watching Qube. I had meant to meet you later in your castle.

You fiend! Sencha Bard cried, drawing his rapier. You betrayed us for this monster?

Why? Sexy Screamy Spider Lady asked in an anguished voice.

Definitely Bad Guy continued to look at Qube. Just her.

I have always been loyal to the Evil Emperor, he said. And all those who work for him. But, my liege, he finally broke away from Qube to look at the Evil Emperor, who had followed his minions gaze and now seemed stuck staring at Qube, I have recently begun to have doubts.

You seek to betray me? the Evil Emperor shouted, pointing at the kneeling Mage while still staring at a frozen Qube.

No, never that, Definitely Bad Guy said earnestly. But your concubine and I have come to the conclusion that

His what? the Chosen One spluttered.

My concubine? the Evil Emperor asked, his voice losing its edge of booming power.

Whos that? Qube asked, totally lost.

The Mage blinked as he looked back at her.

Qube looked at him.

Wait, you thought she was the Evil Emperors concubine? the Chosen One exclaimed, catching the exchanged stares. How the [fiddle] did you come to that conclusion?

My apologies, Definitely Bad Guy said, bowing his head at Qube. I was unsure if you had told him and did not wish to reveal your secret without authorisation. I had been waiting for a chance for us to break away from the group and speak to him about our doubts. I had hoped he would see reason.

I mean, Sexy Screamy Spider Lady, sure, shes got the whole sultry and mysterious thing going on; I could see how youd think that, but Qube as a concubine? the Chosen One continued ranting. Shes got the sexuality of a-a-a a [fiddling] potato, nevermind that fact that you thought she was hooking up with the guy who the Chosen One abruptly cut himself off. He killed her whole village, he finished in a slower, much more serious tone.

My precious sweet would never sully herself so, Sexy Screamy Spider Lady said indignantly. Nor, I would like to add, would I, she added, glaring at the Chosen One. Sencha Bard nodded.

Even with her naive innocence, she would never fall victim to the lures of one as foul as the Evil Emperor, the Bard stated emphatically.

Definitely Bad Guys jaw tightened as he continued observing Qube.

Qube said nothing.

We believe, the Mage said, ignoring the protests of his party, that the Chosen One and his people are not threats to your overall quest for ultimate power. They are mostly sensible beings, willing to fight against the true menace to our world. To kill them would no longer be right.

The anger found a focal point. It unleashed.

Im nobodys lover! she nearly screamed at the Mage. Not you, not the Chosen One, and never, ever, the Evil Emperor! Her head snapped over to the Evil Emperor, who was still fixated on her.

And you, she continued with a snarl, you killed my whole village. You murdered everyone Id ever known. They were kind, and gentle, and sometimes annoying, but they were my family and you slaughtered them. And for what? To teach a stupid lesson to some s-stupid Hero? He didnt even care! Only I cared!

Qube had started crying. She furiously swiped away her tears, made only angrier by the fact she was displaying weakness in front of her greatest enemy.

I hate you, she told the Evil Emperor passionately. I hate you for what youve done, and I dont want to save you, and I hate that youve ruined my friend and made him Evil just like you and I hope one day you become special so you can realise just how horrible you are and die!

Qube stood panting and messily crying in front of the man whod massacred countless people. A man so powerful he could kill her in an instant. A man they needed all the gems from all the Temples to defeat. Gems of which they currently had none.

If shed been less angry, Qube would have been horrified at herself. All the times shed told the Chosen One to be careful when speaking to authority figures, and shed just told one so Evil it was in his very title that she hoped he died. If any of her logic skills had been functioning, she would have immediately hidden behind the Chosen One.

But her reasonable self had clearly given control to her curse-loving self, so instead she jerked around in the direction of Definitely Bad Guy and glared at him.

Tell me, she ground out at the kneeling Mage. Her hope clung to the doubt hed shown, to the friendship theyd had. At the pain in his expression. Are you loyal to the Chosen One, or to the Evil Emperor?

The Mage looked at her.

I believe we can work together to he started to say.

Never, Qube interrupted him. Choose. The Chosen One, or the Evil Emperor?

The traitor looked at her.

The future hung in the balance.

You, he said softly. I give my loyalty to you.

The fury bled away from Qube. She looked at him. There was a soft simplicity to his words that she couldnt even begin to process. The Chosen One was looking at the pair, frowning in confusion.

You have failed me for the last time, worm, the Evil Emperor said to his former Mage Advisor. Not shouted, or boomed, or even accompanied by so much as a cackle. Just said in a normal speaking voice, for all the world like he wasnt a maniacal ruler. He sounded, if anything, just the tiniest bit confused.

Wait! the Chosen One said, throwing up a hand as if to ward off the Evil Emperor. I dont like that line. Just take the gems and go.

The tattoos on Definitely Bad Guys chest began to glow.

When you joined my service, I knew the day might come when you would turn against me, the Evil Emperor continued at the same, normal volume. He took a step back from Qube, and returned to his original position. You have outlived your usefulness.

No-no-no, the Chosen One said hurriedly, yanking at Definitely Bad Guy, trying to get him to stand up. Hey, Evil Emperor, look at me, hey, Im talking to you, lock on to me, get stuck in some dialogue, hey! He yanked harder at the Mage. Get up! he hissed. Run!

The Evil Emperor reached out a hand, and slowly clenched his fist. Definitely Bad Guys tattoos seemed to constrict, crushing his chest.

[Heal]! Qube managed, trying to offset the damage being done to Definitely Bad Guy. She was mad at him, but she couldnt stand to see him in pain. Sexy Screamy Spider Lady shot a crossbow bolt at the Evil Emperor, which stopped dead on some invisible shield around him and fell to the floor.

Cover your ears! Sencha Bard cried, unslinging his lute.

Definitely Bad Guy, the man once known as Sebastian, convulsed.

Time for you to be rewarded as a traitor deserves, the Evil Emperor said almost wistfully. [Traitors Curse].

Im not having you kill him with such a cliche line! the Chosen One said, trying to grab the Evil Emperor and running into the same invisible wall that had hindered their Hunter.

All right, thats it! he shouted as Definitely Bad Guy fell to the ground. Before Qube could cast [Revive], the Hero reached out and swiped in front of himself, making a strange, complicated gesture Qube vaguely recognised.

Save scum attack! he said, as if he was performing a powerful spell, and everything warped.