Demi-Humans Versus Humans

Once all dried off I leave the hot spring again. This time with an ecstatic Ash in tow on my shoulder wearing his new swag. I see the dragon I noticed earlier that uses dark magic. He is all black and charcoal gray in color and MASSIVE. I approach them and introduce myself officially, "My name is Zoe. What is your name?" The dragon replies, "We usually don't name ourselves until our magic awakens. Right now I do not have one. Do you have an idea of what my name should be?" I then ask to verify since you know what they say about assuming, "You use spatial/abyssal magic correct?" The dragon nods, "That is correct." I thought about it for a moment, "What about Abysio? Using 'Abyss' in the name and it sounds cool. At least I think so." The dragon is pleased with my response, "I like it. I shall refer to myself as Abysio from now on. Thank you for the honor." He says bowing his head showing his respect.

I then replied by petitioning for aid, "Would you be able to help me with a project?" Now I am sounding like Aruna. I giggle to myself inside my head. Abysio replies in that deep tone of voice of his, "I can do what I can. What is it that you need, Zoe?" I take a deep breath to try and keep control over my emotions to prevent a tightening, "There is an earth magic user that hurt me deeply with a forced photosynthesis and he is a very bad man. He is trying to use his ill-gotten powers to hurt the people of this country and he needs to be stopped. You have the power to stop him. You have the power to seal his power away and prevent him from using photosynthesis again." The dragon replies after a moment of self-reflection, "Now that you say that and I ask myself, you are right. I can do the things you said. My magic core says so. If he is a bad man I will gladly use this power to seal his abilities."

 I then tell him, "He is the prince of Hedia. Prince Julio has very tanned skin and he has very long blonde hair with a very long beard. At least the last time I saw him was more than 6 months ago so his appearance may be different. I can identify him for you though I probably will tighten when I see him again. I am not sure how helpful I can be." Abysio replies, "I will gladly help you. He hurt our wonderful savior deeply. We know of photosynthesis and why humans deemed it forbidden. It can be very cruel indeed, but that is not how it was designed." I cross my arms defensively in reaction as if I was naked though I am not. I wasn't even aware I was doing this as I reply, "I haven't experienced it how it was meant to be yet. I have been too scared. Terrified, something similar may happen again." Abysio replies in a soothing deep tone, "That horse in your party loves you. We were talking when you were unconscious and she would take care of you. I know for certain. Have faith and trust your heart." I reply, "I will try. Thank you." 

Before we can leave, a wyvern flies up frantically from what seems to have been a patrol, "Bad news! Humans are invading Raja! They are battling outside of the capital now!" The news of this sends me tightening. That means HE is here. He has to be. Invading this country was his project after stealing my powers. 

I feel so helpless. 

I feel so weak. 

I feel so much despair. 

I feel hate for my magic.

I feel hate for my beauty.

I feel so disgusting.

I feel so violated.

I feel pain.

The next thing I feel is something pressing against me and it is so warm inside. I look up to see Em holding me with her neck. I hold her and embrace the feeling. The feeling of my despair withering away. Embracing the warmth behind it that is chasing it out. Em shines brighter and her mane grows out so much. Her tail is so long it is dragging a few meters behind her and her mane is touching the ground now. My chest is not tightening anymore but I stay here holding her crying now happy tears, "Thank you, Em." Em replies, nuzzling her face into me in support, "I have your back Zoe. I love you." I reply, squeezing her tight, "I know. The feeling I felt was similar to what I feel with the goddess but instead of feeling like her it felt like your love instead." She then says, "Well I do love you. I love you a lot actually. You are my first real human friend." I respond, still crying happy tears, "I love you too, Em." I held her a brief moment longer thinking 'why would an army be attacking in the winter?'. This is a different world and magic does change everything. Who knows they might have the same enchantment I have or they have garments with an enchantment to fight the cold. 

I released her due to our immediate circumstances. I then address everyone, "For those that couldn't hear, the wyvern said that the humans are invading the capital! I think I have a plan to help prevent casualties, but I will need to borrow the dragons' presence! I would like to use you for a bluff if I can to make both sides stop fighting! Abysio, I want you to stay with me when we confront the prince who is most probably leading their charge with his superpowered abilities! Once we see him and I identify him, I want you to roar as loud as you can before landing on the battlefield! Do your spell immediately so he can't try to hurt you because he will try! He may be at a type disadvantage but he is severely powered up right now! I want everyone to hear you and I will use that opportunity of surprised silence after to speak to both sides! My plan is to threaten violence on both sides if fighting doesn't cease but I don't plan on using you all like weapons. Your mere presence on the battlefield should bring terror to everyone there without you having to do anything! All dragons and wyverns, but Abysio here can line up to the side of the battle field far enough away to be away from danger but close enough to be a huge threat to them! All you need to do is just sit there! Does this sound like a plan?!" King Dante who is heavily invested, "I like this plan let us go with it. Let us make haste to the battlefield at once!" Glacia nods her head in support of our plan.

As I mount Em I say as she moves in place restlessly ready to go, "I know this plan is only going to work for today's battle! I am not deluded enough to think that this plan would rid this world of systemic racism that has been deeply rooted into this world's culture! The goal for today is to save lives on both sides!" Everyone understanding the mission rides into battle while I am riding on this most gorgeous steed. 

Vi, Sir Maria, and Sir Carlos are by my side and Ash is flying around the battlefield with his flight jacket. Sir Carlos is smiling ear to ear using a lot of lightning magic freely and is gliding on his steed, who ice skates ever so gracefully. Sir Maria is combining Ruby's fire magic with her wind magic to level up her attacks and embracing her creativity focuses solely on the earth magic from prince pervert to avoid serious injury or death on either side since her magic got a boost from Ruby. When I saw Vi engage in battle I was in awe. She was beautifully working with Comet who was using very bright light magic to blind enemies. When Vi's magic hit Comet's beams of light, the most beautiful rainbows emerged. An arrow hit my shoulder while I was distracted looking at Vi, but it just bounced off and didn't even scratch me. 

Ash is flying around using storm magic to pick up people from both sides that are currently fighting and drop them. King Dante creates fields of absolute darkness and when the darkness is gone all of the opponents within are dead with only him emerging. His retainer who appears to be a fox man upon closer observation is dancing capoeira-styled creating collapsible earth shields and shooting rock bullets. Sid is adeptly moving through the shadows of the field and biting people and some of their horses in their legs and disappearing before they can strike him. The very same horses I healed in Lilia. I keep going until I reach the front lines. As we are going Em is using her power to restrain all of the fighters on both sides with her new upgraded power. Here I see the prince pervert who is using his power to fight many demi-humans at once. Due to him being so overpowered right now, even though they are technically stronger than humans they are not enough to take him on in his superpowered state and many are dying. The once very white snow here in this field is now a sea of red and green from all of the vines and carnage. 

I am sure I would feel tightening right now but since my legs are actively touching Em I think she is actively making sure I don't tighten right now. I point him out to Abysio and he lets out a mighty roar and lands. Both sides are stunned into silence for a moment while a few on both sides run in terror from the dragon in front of them and I yell, "HEAR ME! CEASE THIS FIGHTING NOW IF YOU WANT TO LIVE! THE DRAGONS DEEMED THIS LAND SACRED AND YOU ARE IMPEDING ON IT DESECRATING IT WITH BLOOD! THE GODDESS CRIES AT THIS BLOODSHED! IF YOU DECIDE TO CONTINUE, THOSE DRAGONS AND WYVERNS WILL ATTACK ANYONE WHO IS STILL FIGHTING! HUMAN OR DEMI-HUMAN! IF YOU ARE DETERMINED TO FIGHT YOU WILL DI-" A glowing vine tries to pierce my skin in my chest and with the powered up vine the force throws me from Em and does manage to cut me some. I would have been skewered and killed if not for this new defense ability. His vine felt like a truck punched me though regardless.

 He said baffled, "What is going on, why did that not pierce you, you whore?!" I reply while standing up, "I have been blessed by the goddess that is all you need to know." I say directly to him and not yelling anymore so everyone doesn't hear it. He tries to attack Abysio as well but by this point Abysio is done with his powerful spell and engulfs the prince pervert in darkness. When he finally emerges from the darkness he is screaming, "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE TO ME?! WHAT DID YOU DO?! WHERE IS MY MAGIC?!" He lets out a pained scream. I then yell, "THIS FIGHT IS OVER! GO HOME! INSTEAD OF FIGHTING IN THE FUTURE THE DRAGON GUARDIANS AND THE GODDESSES ALIKE WANT YOU ALL TO NOT FIGHT BUT LIVE TOGETHER IN HARMONY AS THE GODDESSES INTENDED! IF YOU DESIRE TO DIE, KEEP FIGHTING! ALL EXCEPT THE PRINCE! HE MUST LIVE THE REST OF HIS LIFE WITH THE CONSEQUENCES OF HIS ACTIONS HE HAS TAKEN UP TO THIS DAY!" 

Weapons dropped on both sides and Em released everyone she had ensnared in her vines. Which was everyone besides the prince at this point. Everyone then started leaving the battlefield. It was now that Comet was racing to me with a bloody and barely conscious Vi on his back. We race to meet him and I see she was hit in the chest with an arrow. I am panicking right now. I can't imagine losing her in this world. Comet yells, "She refused to let me interrupt your speech. Please help her quickly!" It looks like it may have pierced one of her lungs and it isn't looking good. Since I don't want to heal the arrow into her skin, I break off the feather part of the arrow and before I continue I tell Vi, "This is really going to hurt. Bite on something." She nods and puts the leather strap from her bag in her mouth. 

I then pushed the arrow all the way through her body while she let out a muffled scream into the strap. This was the best way I could think of to get it out in the heat of the moment and I pulled it all the way through. Once there was no arrow I thought with intent, 'HEAL'. Her wound closes up, but she goes unconscious in the process. We take her off the battlefield for care. Sir Maria is beside herself right now because Vi is injured severely when it was her duty to protect her. After everyone left the battlefield all that remained was the prince kneeling on both knees screaming, "MY MAGIC!" "NOOOOOO!" Over and over again mourning the loss of his beloved magic he has had for so long surrounded by corpses both demi-human and human in a sea of red.

After the fight I thank the dragons for their very important part in the resolution though they didn't do anything besides Abysio besides 'roll to intimidate'. Their presence was just as powerful as I thought it would be. We get back to Raja and I immediately tend to the wounded while trying to not think of Vi. I have to think happy thoughts and do what she would want me to do instead of worrying about her. I probably should have healed the humans too but there was a lot going on. They do have their share of light magic users now thanks to me so they should be fine though. The people of Raja celebrated us. They were calling me the "Queen of Beasts". I do like that more than the Saint one but I don't know about 'Queen'. That would imply my word has power over the animals I talk to. My words don't hold that kind of power. I am just a person who happens to be able to talk to them. Just because a person can communicate with something doesn't mean they are qualified to be labeled a monarch. A common thief could become king using that logic. Though just like with the 'Saint' moniker, there is not anything I can do about this one either. 

After I finish healing all of the wounded, the King addresses the people in the capital in his mighty voice, "Zoe, the Queen of Beasts, has saved our capital city Raja! Celebrate her and her party! LET US FEAST!" The people roar in excitement and the festivities officially begin. Em using her maxed out photosynthesis powers is summoning fruit for everyone but on a massive scale. This was unheard of in winter months even with earth magic due to the cold. Since Em's magic was powered up, the fruit can withstand the elements and the fruit she emits when she is powered up has a stat boosting effect I realized over our time together which is why her fruit always seems to hit the spot. Now more so than ever since her photosynthesis. Their whole city is now green with her power and her power alone completely covered in fruits and flowers and beautiful greenery. 

The people of Raja are amazed and are having a blast in their city that is now filled with so much color. Ash is using that storm magic he was using on the battlefield but with children instead flinging them into a pond in a garden area in town. A water magic user that could also harness steam magic heated the pond with precision for the children so they wouldn't catch a cold while playing. Some fire magic users made some bonfires around so spectators wouldn't get as cold. I head to where Vi is and grab a lot of food on the way because you know me. Sir Maria is right by Vi's side beside herself crying. Vi is still unconscious and I go up to her and hold her hand. She then stirs and sees me there stuffing my face very unglamorously while holding her hand. 

A small smirk comes across her groggy face, "Zoe." She squeezes my hand and I ask her with a voice filled with worry, "How are you feeling, Vi?" She replies after lightly chuckling in her weakened state, "Like shit, but a lot better thanks to you." I cry some, "I was so worried. When I thought I was going to lose you I realized that what I feel for you is similar to what I felt for my wife. Just like she has a permanent residence in my heart, so do you. Please do not leave me." I will never love my wife less and Vi can never fill the hole Liz left in my heart. Though Vi does have her own separate spot. She uses the hand she is holding my hand with to weakly pull me in for a hug and says, "Don't worry. I do not plan to. Sorry for making you worry today." 

She looked around to see the festivities and said, "I know you are hungry for more. Go get more food so you can get your fill. This is all for you after all. I will be here resting, don't you worry." Wanting to make sure she has everything she may need out of worry, "Is there anything you need? Are you hungry or anything?" She shakes her head squeezing the hand she is still holding weakly, "I am fine right now. Go eat your fill, my love." I reply, "Ok, please flag me down if you need anything, Vi." Still can't believe that she had to tell me to eat twice. I used to joke saying she didn't have to tell me twice about food, but today her safety was more important to me. Sir Maria then bows to Vi still crying and beside herself, "I am so sorry I wasn't there to protect you, princess. I am incompetent in my role as your personal guard." Vi then responds while gently shaking her head, "A battlefield is a crazy place and one cannot control everything. Do not worry yourself. I knew the risk of injury to myself when I stepped onto that battlefield. I will be perfectly fine thanks to Zoe, so don't you worry and go join them and have fun. I will have plenty of fun just watching you all have fun." She says this warmly smiling and patting Sir Maria's shoulder weakly as she bows next to her.

We had fun and stayed up late partying and having a great time. I ATE A LOT. Sir Maria and Sir Carlos are drinking together and he is using his electric power to make her hair all staticy and frizzy. She is very annoyed with him now and there may be violence if this continues. Even as I think that, I am also thinking 'Ahhh, It will be fine.' The longer I see the two of them together, the more I think that they like each other and that they haven't taken the next step yet to make things official yet.

We stayed here a few more days so Vi could get much needed rest. During this time I gave Em a much needed haircut. Vi asked during this time while she was recovering if I could sing for her today since it had been a while since she made a personal request. I sang the song 'Warrior' by Demi Lovato. That song encapsulates a lot of what I am feeling now and I quite literally have thicker skin now. Well tougher technically. She loved it so much. Also during this time, I got to talk with the dragons and ask all of those questions I was wanting to ask. They live thousands of years which is amazing. Humans lifespans must be that of a fly to them. They know more about magic and that is why more of them were awakened when we got there initially.

 They told me the powers of the Daruna and Daella flowers. They said that there is a way to make a potion with the Daella flower to reverse the powerups of earth mages, too, and provided us the recipe. They said that Daruna flowers haven't been seen in several hundred years, but Daella flowers can be found on the peak of Dark Flame mountain. Not many can withstand the journey though due to strong dark magic that envelops the mountain causes people not protected by light magic to lose their minds and wander the mountain until they die and their life energy feeds the magic in the mountain. Like a circle of life. Our next general destination will be that mountain so we can harvest some of those flowers. While we are here, the dragons recommended Sir Maria level up her wind magic in the spring as well similarly to how we did Ash. Sir Maria can now use storm magic as well. She was strong before but now she is a formidable beast. I really want to spar her again now that we are both powered up.

On the night of the third day Vi is feeling back to her usual self. I have been using 'heal' on her everyday just in case it does something more to help with recovery. Don't know if it worked, but I am glad she is back to her usual self. She does have a scar from the arrow now. Women with scars are sexy though. I kiss her scar and say, "I am so glad you are still with me." I keep kissing her slightly exposed chest. I ask her really wanting to touch her, "Are you up for sex?" She purrs, "I am always up for sex with you, my love." For the first time since we have been together I do not picture Liz while having sex with her.

 I see her.

 I see Vi. 

I continue kissing her with care all over her body. Letting every inch of her know I am thankful that she is still here. Before we got too heated she says, "I actually picked something up I found on our travels that looked fun so I just had to buy it." She reaches into her bag and pulls out a leather harness for a strap on. She then pulls out a dildo for it. It feels similar to the dildos I used on earth, but made out of a different material that I can't identify. I put the harness on and the dildo so I am fully strapped in. Before I go to mount Vi I continue getting her riled up and ready to go. I grab her wrists exactly how she likes it and get my thigh and do the grind thing she likes while kissing her tenderly on the lips. She is moaning softly with anticipation. I can feel the wetness coming from her. She begs me after moaning in my mouth, "I need you now." I use her juices to lube the strap while still holding her wrists. I can hold her wrists since the harness is holding the strap for me so only one hand is needed. 

Once the strap is all lubed up while still pinning her down, I ease the strap into her slowly so she can adjust. She lets out a pleasurable moan. Once she is fully adjusted to the strap I pick up the pace slowly and gradually picking up the pace and intensity over the course of several minutes. Knowing she likes intense passion. I give her a hickey on her neck while still holding her wrists and pumping passionately into her. She yells moans of pleasure, "Yes! Goddess, yes! Yes! Right there!" I continue to suck with my mouth as I pump and I use my free hand to grip roughly tender on her breast and she orgasms explosive as always in wave after wave after wave. I stop pumping when she is done and I crawl off of her and plop beside her still wearing the strap. 

I kiss her then say, "I think I am ready for you to touch me." Vi moans sexily while catching her breath, "I have been waiting for this for so long. I have been looking forward to returning the pleasure you have given me time and time again." As she continues to kiss me she is undoing the strap. She pulls away and pulls the strap off and just looks at me, "Zoe, you are always a vision to behold. I love to look at you." She takes the view of me a bit longer then she starts by treating me exactly how I did her the first time we had sex. She got her fingers and dragged them across my body like Liz used to do which is almost exactly what I needed right now. I am about to cry now but not necessarily sad tears. Happy memory tears. I fully embrace the moment. 

Feeling everything she wants me to feel.

 I feel the sensation of getting goosebumps from the very slight touch. I feel her mouth meeting my breast. Kissing it ever so tenderly and slowly making her way to my nipple where she latches on and sucks ever so gently. I moan slightly to the sensation while she continues to drag her fingers across my flesh. After a while she switches over to the other nipple so it can have some love too. After a while she then kisses me all over with tenderness and care. When she starts getting closer to my privates she asks, "Are you sure this is still ok? We can stop at any time if it gets too much." 

I nod feeling very flushed in the face ready for her touch, "I think I am ready." Vi then goes down on me and starts licking me. She starts by licking the labia teasing me with her mouth like I have teased her in the past. Moans of pleasure escape my lips as she continues to lick me. When she feels like she has teased me enough she takes her tongue and takes it to the hood by my clit and swirls it. Starting slow and getting faster and faster. I start to moan louder as she goes on and when I am close to orgasm my moans are almost nonstop. She takes this time to then do the 'soul snatcher' on me and I come wave after wave after wave with great intensity. If I didn't get this defensive power up I feel like I might have thrown my back out with the sheer intensity of this orgasm. 

Once the waves stop and my back plops down on the bed, Vi comes out from between my legs and comes up beside me. She starts to stroke my skin again ever so gently, purring sexily, "Mmmm. I love the sounds you make. I will be thinking of those sounds until I can next lay with you. Those sounds are like a drug to me. I need more." She says as she kisses me and continues, "I love you, Zoe." I reply back, "I love you, too." This time meaning it out of a romantic love instead of platonically which it had been this whole time. She then asks, "Want to go for another round?" I giggle thinking this is just like Liz and I were always going back and forth during 'sexy time'. Without saying anything I let my body say the words and I roll on top of her and we continue making love multiple times.

The next morning after breakfast I told King Dante as we said goodbyes, "Your highness, we are heading out now. We need to finish healing the rest of your country and can't do that while staying here in the capital." He takes my hand in his and holds it the Gaos way as his eyes get all big and adorably and his ears pointing to the side, "I knew this day would come. Thank you for all you did and continue to do for my people. You will always be welcome here." 

We head out to continue our journey of healing the people of this world. Healing all the life of this world. Most importantly though. I am learning to love myself better each day. Everyday still hurts just like the first when thinking of Liz and it will remain that way for the rest of this life. It is now I realize that it never mattered whether or not I was thinking of my old body or face or not. That was me. That was never the issue. It was just not fully loving myself to include the body I am currently in. It doesn't matter what body I am in. I am me. I say to myself, "I love me."