Story: Countess Amelia, Pushing Forward

Something a little bit different while I put together thoughts on the next TC and Dogi stories. Hope you enjoy this.


Dawn broke out over the Juuban area, and Usagi found herself rising. Not shining yet. The smell of food coming from the kitchen proved to be quite intoxicating even to her sleep-addled mind. It was not so much her conscious thoughts that had her stumbling towards the delectable aroma, but rather her stomach.

Usagi soon found her friends gathered around a table as Makoto served them a wide variety of pastries. Were she more conscious, the question of where she found the time to make them might have occurred but - Eh, screw it. She took a bite and all of a sudden she was awake. Boy, was she awake. To describe this mysterious pastry as delicious did it an insult. She immediately engaged in her standard eating strategy, not particularly taking note that the others were behaving rather uncharacteristically similarly to her as they wolfed these wonders down.

“Wow, Makoto!” Minako said between bites. “You’ve really outdone yourself this time! Where did you get the recipe for these?”

“These little dumplings?” Makoto said with a wink and a smile. “That’s my little secret and don’t you worry about that!”

When the last of them were gone Usagi just stared at the plate, feeling kind of sad. She was still kinda hungry, really. She idly scratched at her breasts, which felt a little weird this morning. Eh. Nothing to worry about.

“We’re fully rested and our bellies are full,” Rei said, snapping Usagi’s attention towards her. “What’s our plan now? I don’t exactly intend to just sit around doing nothing all day!”

“Check our families,” Ami said, wringing her hands on the bottom of her shirt. “After what happened to my mother, there’s a chance that… That they might have…”

“That does seem sensible,” Minako said. “But we can’t go in alone!”

“Agreed,” Makoto said, picking up all of the plates with a quick flourish that was almost like a magic act. “Rei and I should check the temple, while the rest of you look in on Minako’s and Usagi’s parents. Those two are closer together, so it’ll be quicker that way.”

“Everyone be careful out there,” Usagi said. “We don’t know a whole lot about this enemy yet, but… Be careful, alright? The last thing we need is any of us to be picked off while the others aren’t around to back you up.”

<hr>

In the meantime, the real Rei was in the middle of waking up as well. She made to stretch and found her arms restricted by the shackles she had personally put on.

“Well, well, awake at last!” Parfait said with a sneer. “Have a pleasant night’s sleep?”

“Not that it’s any of your business, but yes. Yes, I did!” Rei snarled at her jailer. Ugh, what a repulsive creature this would-be guard was. She knew deep in her heart that a few minutes with her whip and those muscles would be for nothing. Parfait would be a quivering heap on the floor just like anyone else, strength or no. All that truly mattered was spirit and will.

“The burning fire rises,” she said, and the shackles opened up to allow Rei complete freedom of motion. She stared once again at Parfait with a demeaning glance, frustrated by that ever-persistent smirk upon her face… Ugh! So sickening! “What do you think you’re staring at, you worm?”

“Oh, nothing much,” the insect with ideas above its station retorted. “Just an ignorant bitch with no proper grasp of her situation.”

“No proper - How dare you address me in this manner!”

Parfait began to laugh this deep, infectious laugh, but with Rei it only served to make her increasingly pissed off with each second it lasted. She picked up a chair - a replacement doubtless made in the night - and threw it against the glass. Just as yesterday, it broke into splinters.

“Now, now. Temper, temper!” Parfait said, wagging her finger. “If you keep doing that, we’ll just stop giving you new chairs. Though I was wondering, is there anything else that seems at all off about your room at the moment?”

Was there indeed? Well, this wasn’t really her room. Just a simulacrum. Nothing more than that. Still, they were rather exacting. The thought had impressed her yesterday as well. Queen-size bed with black satin sheets, padded manacles connected to the bedposts with plenty of slack. Poster of Countess Amelia, being waited on hand and foot by the others…

It all seemed perfectly normal to her, so far as she could see.

“I see that you’re as oblivious as ever. If you can’t spot anything, why don’t you try answering the phone instead?” Parfait suggested.

Rei was about to point out that her phone wasn’t ringing and there was nothing to answer but then the silver chime went off.  Rei wasn’t sure what Parfait’s game was and gave Parfait a wary look, letting the phone ring until the noise was driving Rei to distraction. With any answers from the she-male unlikely, Rei answered, “Who dares disturb me?”

The voice on the other end was unmistakable, “Is that any way to address your Mistress, Rei? I would think someone like you would know that proper respect must be given to the one that takes care of you. Perhaps I need to educate you?”

Rei felt her mouth go dry even as her lips parted. “Countess Amelia, I didn’t realize it was you! I mean, this is the first time you’ve ever deigned to speak to me and I was getting so frustrated with Parfait. Please tell me when we can meet so I may pay you proper worship?”

Rei was speaking to a very powerful woman right now, one she had idolized when she had just started to experiment with this lifestyle.  Now that she understood her own needs, that she would never be satisfied subservient to anyone, Rei realized that a wonderful opportunity to take advantage of had presented itself. Rei’s behavior right now was only an act to fool Amelia, allowing her to get close, learn from the skilled master, and take the woman’s empire all for herself.

“Such an eager one. I’m glad that your stay hasn’t left you with any bad feelings towards me. That would have been so… tragic.”

“How could I have any bad feelings towards you?” Rei asked, buttering up the voice on the other end, all the better to get close enough to learn and demonstrate who had the proper will to take charge. “You are an inspiration! Why should I ever harbour anything less than adulation for your glory?”

“Such a shame your friends disagree,” the voice said. “Even now, they plot and they plan. They do not understand how wonderful it feels to embrace their inner lusts. They sit and stew in denial, while demanding that others do the same. Others like you, Rei.”

“When can we meet?” Rei asked.

“Soon. Very soon. I am rather occupied, you understand… Which is why I offer you a small fragment of my power. Help me open their eyes, and it will be yours for the taking.”

With her back turned to Parfait, Rei allowed herself a fully manic grin. She’d show Amelia soon enough who the real mistress was. “What do I need to do?”

“Arise, my Flame Mistress. Let your passions burn through you, and then burn into others still!”

The phone hung up, and just down the corridor Dumpling switched off the recording left there for this purpose by Countess Amelia. The rotund general chuckled to herself. Now it seemed that the game would be moving to the next level.

<hr>

Marzipan was quite pleased with how the morning had gone, preparing those pastries had drained her reserves but the effect they’d have on Usagi, Minako, and Ami over time would be well worth it. It had also been fortunate that her two bodies hadn’t ended up in different groups, as she had found out that even with the distance from the bedroom to the kitchen had taxed her concentration and actions she had intended for Makoto to take ended up being performed by Rei. Luckily, the still-waking Senshi had been too captivated by the sweet scent of pastries to notice Rei’s odd movements.

Working her way to the temple, Marzipan considered how she would deal with the obvious threat Grandpa Hino would present. Thinking it over, Marzipan got a large grin as settled on her plan, she went to a secluded alleyway and checked both ways to make sure that no one was watching. Satisfied that she was out of sight for the casual observer, Marzipan shifted her two bodies from Rei and Makoto to the stripper she had been before Countess Amelia had gifted her with power.

Marzipan was quite proud of her looks, and college loan payments had forced her into making the hard choice entering her current profession. With time, Marzipan had grown to enjoy the moment and regretted the fact that she couldn’t couldn’t change her major and pursue a career in dance. Marzipan had watched others dance and had known that she would never be that coordinated and she should continue with her degree in engineering. At least that was what Marzipan had thought before she had been given the power to take on another’s appearance, Marzipan was starting to rethink what was possible. Her change complete, Marzipan looked like two young women in their early twenties with shoulder-length brown hair and faces that could be called cute. Marzipan looked like a set of twins, avoiding the creepy vibe thanks to the different outfits the two were wearing even if they both appeared a little too tight along the bustline. The former Makoto looked like she in danger of popping a button and having her breasts spill out.

Satisfied, Marzipan entered the temple grounds looking for Grandpa Hino and after a brief amount of time located the old man sweeping one of the many pathways that crossed the grounds of this shrine. Deciding to put on a little show, Marzipan slapped her twin in the breast and let out a giggle as she ran towards the priest. Her double let out an insulted cry and chased after her, drawing Grandpa’s eyes up from the steps to the nubile women coming his way. “Oh, what a pleasure to see such spirited young ladies! Are you here for a charm or perhaps to learn the ways of a shrine priestess?”

Marzipan wasn’t really paying attention to his words and crouched behind to avoid the blows of her twin. This also put her in the perfect position to attack the priest from two sides. “Or perhaps you’re here to purify your souls of a great wickedness?”

Marzipan gasped as she was hit in the gut by a broom in both her bodies. Even though the blow was softer on the sweeping end, Marzipan was left gasping for air as the pain was felt equally in each. Clutching her stomach as she tried to catch her breath, it was only by the smallest of measures that Marzipan was able to dodge the follow up strike and dance out of reach. “How?”

The elder Hino readied his impromptu weapon. “After the first attack by evil I learned that I could not close my eyes anymore to the darkness that would seek to do harm. Let the Sacred Flame of our shrine purify you and return you to who you once were.”

Marzipan grimaced at his words and shook both her heads in synchronized movement, her voice coming out the same from both bodies. “Never! What I have now is worth abandoning every part of who I was, to willfully destroy every last part so it won’t have any claim on me.”

Blows were exchanged and fists flew but it was only a matter of time until Marzipan, already weak from her activities last night, was tiring out even faster than the priest. Marzipan soon found herself sitting on the ground, her other body cradled in her arms. Marzipan began to feel weak enough that the two bodies began to merge together, though it wasn’t the end of the fight as combining would fill her reserves and allow her to be more aggressive. Grandpa Hino was chanting, holding a string of beads in front of him and waving it vigorously in the air when there was a flash of light and intense heat.  Marzipan looked up to see a stunning woman wearing a pair of thigh-high boots and opera-length gloves made out of glossy leather.  With a flick of her wrist a retractable rod extended outwards and she brought it down to strike Grandpa Hino’s skull.

This newcomer wore a leather micro skirt with a silver chain belt, similar to a dog’s choke chain, and a bustier with a zipper on the front that fully covered her sizeable breasts. Marzipan was most struck by her application of black eyeshadow and liner, and pair of ruby earrings as an accent made her look bewitching. Her contemptuous look towards Marzipan made her want to beg for forgiveness, but with an upturned look and huff of displeasure, Marzipan realized that she had been dismissed. Her failures would be addressed at a later time once the real target was dealt with. Realizing that this person could only be the real Mars, Marzipan took the implied leave and headed to Rei Hino’s bedroom. It would need to be prepared lest it conflict with the memories that had been provided.

Marzipan entered the room and removed a crystal from her pocket, It would have been important to do this after Mars was released and her past not in flux. Setting the crystal on the futon and activating it, she watched with wonder as the room changed from the spartan decorations of a chaste maiden into the opulent den of an up and coming domme. Now it was time to get out of here and find some energy to recharge with before she returned to the Senshi.

<hr>

Rei didn’t bother watching the youma scurry away like an insect because her focus was on the man she had once called Grandpa. He was old and well past his prime but his fight had shown that the fires of his will still burned hot. Even if she had her fights with the old man and had faced his disapproval over her choices, that didn’t mean she wanted to extinguish him as punishment. Especially with the new power that had been gifted to her, Rei was finding it harder to think of people as something to protect from evil. Rei had the potential to be so much more than them; even before her encounter with Countess Amelia she had been looking at a very long future.

With her new point of view and freedom to act according to her desires, she realized her potential role as a Goddess of Passion and Pain. That she was more than those commoners could ever be. They were but kindling for her own glorious flames. Which made this particular shrine perfect for her needs, and Grandpa would be the first convert to the faith. Clutching the back of his head, he turned to identify his attacker and the sight seemed to cause his old heart quite the shock. “Rei? What did they do to you? What is with that outfit?”

Rei took another swing at his stupefied face but this time it was expertly blocked by his broom. Rei wasn’t sure why he was so confused so she decided to humor him. “Don’t act like you’ve never seen it before. It was one of my first and was there when you tore my room apart all those months ago. I’m sure that the shame of imagining me wearing such clothes has been a discomfort for you, but don’t worry, I’ll help change your mind.”

Grandpa struggled to fend off Rei’s aggressive strikes but her body hid a great strength that pushed him back and caused his grip to weaken just a little more. “What are you talking about, Rei? I have never seen you in such garb, nor done such a thing to your room. Your memories are wrong, you have been tricked by some monster. Try to remember! At one point you saved me from becoming a monster, please let me save you. Snap out of it!”

Did Grandpa really think that she would fall for such simple tricks and forget all the bad blood between them when he couldn’t accept who she was? Even now he denied the proof of his eyes as he stared into the flames of a truth as obvious as the Sun? That was fine with Rei; she would burn away his self-deception and out of the ashes a new man would rise.

“Rei!” Grandpa shouted again, as if thinking that his passion would overcome her own and convince her of his words and dim her ardor.

“Enough. I tire of playing with you,” Rei responded. Kicking out, her blow connected with his stomach and caused him to roll along the ground. Flames gathered around her body and the rod she held, her hair beginning to defy gravity. As it floated into the air black smoke began to billow from it. “Burn and be marked as one of mine.”

<hr>

Another person woke up just about then, shooting out of her bed like she’d been given an electric shock. Makoto stumbled onto her feet ready for battle, examining her surroundings and ready for absolutely anything. If she was to be taken prisoner, it wouldn’t be without a… fight?

“A kitchen?” she said to herself. “But… Why am I in…”

“Why else?” a voice asked. A wall slid apart, revealing a glass partition and behind it an identical room to the one she was standing in. The only difference? A rather ridiculously overweight woman sitting on the other side. “You’re here to cook, my dear! I’ve heard you are quite an excellent chef and I would like to sample some of your wares.”

“If you think I’m going to play along with your sick little game -”

“I’d be right!” the woman snarled. With a deep breath that same wicked expression became much friendlier, a perfect mask of welcoming innocence. “Oh, do forgive me. How rude. My name is Dumpling, and I was thinking it might be quite fun for us to have a little bit of a competition while we keep you prisoner. And should you lose this ‘sick little game’… Well! Then I’d have to direct your attention to the contents of my second oven, here.”

Dumpling grabbed some sort of claw on a stick, and used it to pull open an oven. Makoto felt green around the gills at the sight within. She wouldn’t. She <i>couldn’t</i>! What was she thinking? Of course she would! She was an evil monster!

Three pairs of terrified eyes stared back at Makoto, belonging to three civilians. Bound, gagged, helpless. Damn this woman! To threaten those people with such torture…

“Alternatively, you could just play my little game,” Dumpling said. “Nobody needs to get hurt, dearie, just so long as you cooperate and play nice! Win, they go free. If you’re worried about my food having some special added ingredient or something silly like that… Don’t! I assure you, sweetheart. There’s nothing strange about this food at all.”

“I’ll hold you to that,” Makoto said, thumping her fist hard against the glass and not being particularly surprised that it had absolutely no give at all. “Because if you hurt those people -”

“Hurt them?” Dumpling chuckled. “Why, that’s not my style at all! Come on, dear! All the ingredients and equipment you’ll need are in those cupboards. Chop, chop! Let’s see what you can really do!”