I woke up in the big room again. It was clean and nothing was broken like how I had left it. Everything hurts… Why… My eyes went wide as I climbed out of bed and looked around the empty room.

  Blinking over to the doors, I opened them. A maid was standing there, her hand was near where the door knob was. What a silly name door knob! But Saki said it was really what it was called.

  I giggled before remembering. Grabbing the maid lady, I snapped at her. “Where is Saki! Where is Kita!” The maid, pale faced and shaking, passed out.

  I frowned and let her drop to the floor before stepping over her. I turned to blink to the throne room but paused. I rolled my eyes. “Almost forgot! Saki would have killed me!” I summoned my dress and underwear, then made sure they weren’t seen through.

  I turned and blinked down the hall towards the foy-thingy. As I reached it, aside from maids running this way and that, there was no one else here. I blinked into the kitchen, but it was also empty.

  It smelled of.. Cookies though.. I looked for the cookies, but there were none. Frowning I blinked out of the kitchen and down the other hall. I blinked all the way around back to my bedroom, then the foy-thingy.

  Where was everyone?! I turned and blinked to the double doors leading to the throne room. I reached out and grabbed the doorknobs.. No wait, Saki called these handles… I opened the door and looked inside.

  I blinked in confusion. Everyone was here.. But they were quiet. On the throne was.. Me!? I tried to blink, but it didn’t work. The me on the throne suddenly spoke. “Royal Advisor Saki, what are we looking at for economic stability?”

  I looked over to see Saki step forward, she fell to her knees before bowing and I felt anger. “Your majesty, the taxes have risen as you requested and your enforcers have made quick work of the resistance.”

  The me on the throne nodded and I took another step forward. My dress suddenly flowed off and Anna appeared. “Your Perfection, I have finished enslaving the villagers from that small village.”

  I clenched my teeth. NO SLAVES!! I tried to scream, but nothing came out. Tears fell from my eyes as I watched this evil me do things, say things. Tama will kill you! I sobbed quietly as once again, nothing came out.

  Then she looked at me, the high queen on her high throne. Her eyes imperiously looked down at me. She smiled before speaking with amusement. “What do you think? I think we make a perfect pair.” After a moment, everyone faded and the fake me stood up. She shifted and Manna was standing there.

  I still couldn’t move, but my hand reached for Serenity anyways. “Oh relax little one, I thought I’d pay you a visit. Your future is great after all, I have no problem with some fun before your destiny.”

  As she said this Saki appeared and Manna leaned. She kissed Saki on the cheek. “Yes Tama, join Manna!” Saki said, her voice reverent and almost empty.

  “See Tama, even your best friend sees the use in being all… mine.”

  AHHHHHHHHH

  I jerked awake. I was staring up at the blue sky. “WHAT HAPPENED HERE!” I heard Saki scream. There were footsteps and Saki fell to her knees next to me with tears in her eyes.

  She looked at me for a long moment before she smacked me really hard across the face. “HOW COULD YOU!” She screeched at me before grabbing me into a hug and squeezing. “You almost died, you idiot!”

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  I was hurting everywhere. But I hugged her back. She sobbed into my shoulder. I held her close as I looked around. I was still in the Arena. Kita and Sabi were standing to the side watching us.

  After a moment Sabi, who had red puffy eyes, turned to Kita. “See?” I frowned but Kita seemed to understand.

  She kicked the sand and looked pissed. “Yea, I get it now.” Sabi just nodded and handed Kita a piece of paper. Kita took it, then shook her head.

  “I am still gonna do it, but I’ll be more careful.” Sabi sighed but nodded. Kita vanished into thin air.

  My tail lashed angrily. “Nya! Saki! Tama has to stop her! She is going to turn herself into a slave!” I cried out as I tried to pull away. But Saki held me tighter.

  “No.” Was all she said as she held me tight. Her single tail expanded and covered me. “Never again. You won’t leave me ever again.” She swallowed and after a moment, she pulled back, but she kept hold of my hands. “The coronation is in less than a day, Tama. Tomorrow is the big day. You aren’t leaving my sight until you are Queen. Then, we are getting out of here.”

  I wanted to protest, but her last words caused me to pause. “Where are we going?” I asked curiously as I leaned in. She looked at me with her emerald eyes, no illusions, just her standing there.

  “Tama, I don’t care. But after all this, we need somewhere private. Just us… Maybe Lyran and Sabi. Somewhere.. Anywhere safe.” Her voice choked as she spoke. “I can’t handle this forever, I need rest.”

  “Wow, can’t say I’m shocked. The great Princess herself loses a single fight and now her and the Royal advisor are just gonna run off into the sunset huh?” Drake’s voice cut through the noise and we both turned to see him standing in the arena.

  “You kick my ass, barely I would like to add, then go and get your ass kicked before I can enact vengeance. Now you think you are just gonna up and leave like that?” He snorted as he disappeared and reappeared next to me. “You want to go somewhere, fine, but I am coming with you.”

  “Who the void are you?!” Saki asked incredulously. “And why should I care what some random idiot wants!” Saki sounded upset. Drake's eye twitched and Saki was suddenly gone.

  I instantly attacked Drake, but he caught my blade. The pain in my body increased and Sabi rushed over. “Stop! She can’t fight yet please!”

  Drake rolled his eyes. “Obviously, that's why I didn’t attack on sight. To attack someone in a weakened state is a cowardly move. I need her at her best. So when I beat her down, I can genuinely say I am the best.”

  I glared at him. “Where is Saki!” I said as I tried to push my dagger. He barely seemed to be trying and I felt my arm give out.

  “Relax, I teleported her to the throne room in the castle, she is fine.” Drake said as he yawned. After a moment he paused. “Crap! I forgot to ask for my job back!”

  “Nya! Why should you! You just attacked the Royal Advisor!” I snapped angrily, my tail painfully lashing back and forth.

  Drake’s eye twitched and I felt magic swelling in me. I instantly focused on it and forced it out of me. Drake’s eyes went wide and he vanished. “Jerk!” I snapped as I turned weakly to Sabi.

  Drake reappeared a moment later. “Okay, that was epic, you turned my own magic back on me. For a Princess, you are freaking awesome! But can you do it again?” I frowned at him as I felt the air mana enter me again, this time I let it almost finish. Then I grabbed him and forced it all in him right as I blinked into the air.

  “Wha…” Before he could finish, he was gone again. I blinked back down and everything instantly went black.

  I sighed as I watched Tama, who had a torn up body! Not blink once, but twice in quick succession. Honestly the fact her body held out long enough after the first one was a miracle in and of itself.. Then she blinked down and instantly passed out.

  I sighed and walked up to her. I loved her so much.. But sometimes Tama was just… Tama. Sure enough, she had torn at least a dozen ligaments, a few of her bones were shattered, and don’t even get me started on her brain. The stem was snapped. The only fact she was alive is because that was the first thing I healed before her soul could leave her body.

  “You are so stupid!” I cried at her. I covered my mouth.. That felt.. Cathartic. “And you're a dumb dumb! And you always cause problems.. And.. Tears welled in my eyes and I began to sob on Tama’s unconscious form.

  The crowd was so loud.. It had been hours. I stood and brought my hands above my head. I would make them leave..

  A massive orb of water formed above the stadium. I slammed it on the outer edge of the arena stands. The water flooded the entire area and washed everyone away. I watched as they screamed and cried and fled.

  Good.. I turned back to Tama, fell to my knees, and just held her.