The Empire

The Never Ending Quest - Episode 15648

"The Empire." Dreven says with manafest pride. "The Empire is a nation of the the Land.......silly now to call it that when I know there are other worlds out there. Anyway, we are the oldest, most powerful nation on the face of the land. We've been lead by the Royal family....since the dawn of my world's time! Other nations, human and otherwise look at us and are jealou! That....might account for the machinations of Merkotos. I don't know how far the plot goes.....but anyway......You probably have guess the Dragon race is ruled by a heriditary ruler. I remember seeing Merkotos scrying your world, and.....well, Merkotos said that the Land was similar in many ways to your medivel period of Europe in most respects. Peasants, dukes, and other stuff."

"Now, I think I know where Merkotos kept his journel." Dreven says. "I think it is in a laboratory that he never let me enter."

"And maybe we can find something for your wound." Selania says, eyeing Dreven's wounds.

Dreven takes Selania through several dark tunnels to a room in the lower depths of Merkotos' place. Dreven makes several strange gestures with his hand, and mutters something. The door glows, and the two dragons enter.

Dreven takes one sight at what is before him and screams in anguish. Selania blinks and then tries to comfort Dreven as he cries at the sight of the body in front of him. The body is an almost exact double of Selania. The only exception is that various sections of scales and flesh have been....stripped away to reveal sections of muscle, bone, and internal organs. The body's eyes are open, but they see nothing. The body floats in the middle of the room and is enveloped in a blue glow, and the chest rises and falls. Selania gets the feeling that this body is on some type of magical life support. Selania knows that this other dragon will never do anything on it's own because.......Selania can see a gapping hole in the side of the head reveals a void where the brain USED to be.

"He even gave me the same jewlery." Selania mutters as she subconciously tries to twist a bracelet.

"They are a part of you." Dreven says, between gulps. "They are a sign of your royalty."

As Selania touchs the jewlery, he can feel the touch of her claws on the metal of each piece.

"You really love this Lady Selania." Selania says to Dreven as he winds down.

"Actually, I.....did have a crush on her." Dreven admitted shamefacedly. "She was....different from the rest of the Royals. She seemed more....alive.....more caring. She wasn't afraid to speak her mind and do what SHE felt was right. She was.....a bit of a rebel in the Family, to say the least."

"Kindred spirits?" Selania asks.

"Exactly." Dreven states with a nod. "But...now this!"

Selania stares at the body for another minute, and then helps Dreven look around the room for the journel. Finally, Dreven stumbles across it.

After reading it for a bit, he swears and throws it across the room.

"If what Merkotos has written is true, then as of right NOW, you are the LAST heir to the throne!" Dreven shouts. "Assasins have already killed the King and Queen....and the others in one fell swoop!"

"Wha....how?!" Selania gasps. "How can so many people be killed at once? Especially if they are as well protected as royalty usually is?"

"By using similar means as he used with you." Dreven says in a quiet voice. "Replacing a guard with a ringer is very flipping simple, for Merkotos. Thus, surrounded by guards that are supposed to protect you, but are there to kill you......."

"I get the picture." Selania mutters. "So, now what."

Dreven waves a hand and shouts out a sharp, alien word, and the body of the real Selania turns to ash. Dreven turns to Selania, the one who used to be called Scott, and looks quiet grim.

"Lady Selania, far be it from me to order a Royal." Dreven says. "Therefore, I'll only suggest. You must assume the throne, for the good of the Empire! You'll have the best advisors of the land at your beck and call, so you need not worry about that aspect of ruling. But for the Empire to NOT collapse, you must rule! And....only a suggestion, don't tell a soul about who you really are. That would...complicate things. The real Selania was of a cadet branch and was therefore allowed....her eccentricities. Any slips on your part, besides revealing your origins, can be explained THAT way."

"!" says Selania.

Then, gathering her wits, Selania says:

  1. "I'll do it....but only with you.....as my advisor and consort."

Go Back

View Forward Story Tree
View Back Story Tree


4/10/2001 6:48:16 PM

The Never Ending Quest Home

Extend-A-Story Home

21391908 episodes viewed since 9/30/2002 1:22:06 PM.

Do not click me.