Tzakuto Zantaria

Life is not born.

Life does not appear without a cataclyst.

Life is created.

Once upon a time there was a daughter of a poor and homeless family. They lived in the rotting slums of the Talibar capital without hope nor meaning. A father, bent on drinking his problems away and a mother, framed and imprisoned by a influential noble, was everything that this street urchin had in her wretched life. Most of the time she would be all alone in the dark corner of a street, vigilantly awaiting her father's return. She was on many occasions beaten down by her intoxicated father when he finally returned home in the middle of the night, but accepted it with a smile, clinging to her father for as long as she could while taking his wrath, for she knew that inside his chest, his heart was aching, crying red tears for his imprisoned wife, for his daughter's mommy.

To ease her father's pain, the little girl worked tirelessly, day by day, week by week. She sold clothes and other items on the street, gaining little more than a few cobber coins per week. It was barely enough to feed herself, for most if went to her father whom went to the tavern whenever he did not feel well. And that was all the time. The other children, having happy families and warm, safe homes, would stop and stare at the girl as she worked herself to death, tears of agony escaping her eyes. They would laugh, point fingers and glare. Their mothers and fathers would just pretend not to care.

Days to weeks, weeks to months, months to years. The suffering never ended. Five years passed, the young girl losing hope. Her father no longer with her, as he had slit his throat. She was now a restless soul, much like the damned. One could compare her to a dead person now, for she just sat there and awaited her descent. The girl, she had stolen a knife one day. She wanted to see her father again. However, as she was about to end her existence, a man in robes appeared, his face obscured and no so very clear. The young girl spoke for the first time in many years, her tone making light and weak, like music to the ears.

"Have you seen my mother..?"

The man shook his head, but extended his hand. In it, was a letter. The letter had a familiar scent, as if she had smelled it before. It was sweet, caring, and something to adore. The man insisted that she opened the letter, and the girl obeyed. Why shouldn't she? was there anything to gain? Many thoughts rushed through her mind as she opened the letter with filthy, rugged hands. Inside was a note, she pulled it out ever so gently. She started to cry, but didn't know why. She couldn't read, but the note contained the writing of the girl's mother. She remembered, long ago, when her mother was still with her, she used to watch her write beautiful poems. You see, this girl's family was not always poor. However, she was born after that time, and did not know.

She reached out for the man, begged him and pleaded. She wanted him to take her to where her mother was kept. The man nodded, and darkness took her.

She awoke later, scared and afraid. Wondering what happened, while put in chains. She was in a cell, it was cold and it was damp. The moon's light, shined through a single window high above her. The rats was feeding on a corpse, laying near the dimming light of a torch. The girl closed her eyes, she swayed back and forth. She did not want to see these horrors anymore. She wanted none of this, she wanted release. She wanted freedom, food, and a house. She wanted her family back, though that was impossible now. Suddenly, the door to the cell opened, robed figures entered the room, with them, her mother and the man that had framed her. The little girl smiled at first, but looked closer and realized that her mother was not hurt. She did not look poor, nor was she suffering. She was covered in fine clothing, and bright jewels that made the young girl's eyes sting. The mother drew closer, she grabbed her daughter by the hair.

She then spat in her face, and told her she was going to die this day.

What happened next, was heresy. An act of which no man would be able to atone for. The daughter's mother backed away, a disgusting smirk appeared as a man passed her. He was holding something, it left a buzz. He opened his hands, and there was a wasp. It buzzed and buzzed, it started to fly. It landed on the girl's chest, and did not move from the spot. The girl was scared, and feared for the her life. She was betrayed by her mother, and did not know what was going to happen next. These men wished to hurt her, she thought. There was no explanation. She could not understand what they said. Her mother just watched, as the room started to turn red. It glowed, and it was the color of blood. It was then, the daughter's tears broke out. She cried and screamed with all her might, but it was to no good.

There was nothing she can do. She was helpless where she stood. She fell to the cold ground and cursed her mother. She cursed everyone. She wanted everyone dead and gone. She cursed the gods at the top of her lungs, a thunder being heard in the background. Outside the cell, it started to rain, a storm was brewing, as this foul act went into play. Suddenly, a bright light emitted from the girl, a sudden searing pain went through her body.

She cursed the gods one final time, and all faded into black.

The girl awoke, she was under water. She rushed to the surface and gasped for air. Her body trembled as she clawed her way to safety, coughing and gasping for air. It was then, at that point, that terror consumed her, for as she looked upon her hands and body she realized she had become a monster. Her memory had been destroyed, she remembered nothing. She just looked around, and cried over nothing.

It was then, voices entered her mind. Thousands of people were clawing inside. She felt as if she was going to lose her mind, and ran into the forest, hoping she'd be saved. However, the voices only became stronger, and her eyes looked up in awe. She saw a massive hive, thousands of wasps. They looked so familiar, as if she had seen them before. She looked upon herself, and lost all hope of knowing who she was anymore. She became their queen, their leader. She grinned, as she gained power, love, riches and influence. She became feared by human hunters, whom went into the forests of which she had claimed. These were her lands. The humans were fools. She rallied the troops, and prepared for war.

She scouted ahead, wanting to see the human town. Accompanied by royal guards to keep herself out of harm, she looked in confusion. The town named Surna, was filled with warfare and chaos. Everywhere she looked, there were magicians and warriors. They were all heroes, monsters or lawyers. The queen swallowed hard, for she knew what had to be done. She could not show weakness, and landed in the plaza. She pointed at everyone, yelled her demands. However, her speech was short as she was chased out fast. Her wrath provoked, demanding vengeance for this embarrassment, called forth the entire power of her army. A swarm of wasps went over Surna, a battle ensured, but she was easily bested. These were not normal people. They were gods among men, adventurers whom could do anything. For the first time in her new life, the queen felt fear.

She wasn't killed however. She was spared. For some reason or another, the townsfolk left her alone. They said they had forgiven her, but gave her a warning. If she tried anything like that again, she'd be impaled and put on the tavern menu. The queen just nodded, amazed yet enraged. She could not believe her army was decimated. With what little she had left, she started to grow again. However, she went quite often, out of her hive. To the town of Surna, to see what the people did. It was then, she met the strangest little man.

The man's name was Zaku, an odd fellow. He seemed handsome, and made the queen's interest grow with each move of his brow. She had to have him, there could be no one else. It was then his wife came along, and the queen's heart went to dust. Furious and jealous, she would not stand for this. She started to make Zaku's life a living hell. This was her way of showing love, as she did not know any other way.

Zaku took the punishment, he got quite annoyed. It was his wife however, whom seemed to lose her temper. She attacked the queen, and lit her ablaze, the pain was excruciating, but it quickly went to fade. For Zaku had come to the rescue, and it was in the nick of time. For his wife, Naria, was about to destroy the queen's hive. Afraid of his wife, she started to stalk Zaku, only speaking to him, when the wife was not around. She confessed her love one day at the tavern. Zaku said maybe, but his wife pulled out a sword. She claimed she would kill the queen, if she persisted any further. However, the queen just provoked the wife some more, and all hell broke out.

After having been caused so much pain, Zaku had lost his temper, he cursed the queen and rejected her love. He told her to vanish, and never return. And that he'd kill her if she showed herself in town ever again. Broken and crying, the queen ran, she went back to her hive, to make her master-plan. It was all so simple. It was a miracle she hadn't thought of it before. If she couldn't have Zaku, nobody could anymore. She sharpened her stinger, she readied her guards. She went back to Surna, and kicked Zaku's ass. And it happened, over and over. The pain inflicted to him made the queen laugh and get bolder. But one day, she went to far- She stabbed Zaku, and nearly took his life. She was bent on revenge, but never wanted his life. Everyone around her however, started to fight. Her guards were bested, she was forced to flee. She wanted to help Zaku, but it was to no avail. They would not let her near him.

Feeling pitiful for hurting her only love, she returned to Surna one day, to find Zaku with another, young girl. A cat girl. Her name must not be mentioned, for she was the biggest bitch in history, and the name gives everyone a shudder. But enough delay, on with the story - The queen's fury had been activated once more. She cursed, and asked what this was. Why he had gone over to such a small little thing. She was laughed at and mocked by the little cat girl, and the queen snarled back. Though for some reason, Zaku protected her. It stung the queen's heart. She could not bear it. She stabbed Zaku once more, and ran off, crying. She had been rejected once again. Her love for Zaku faded.

The queen left Surna, and the townsfolk. She had met many strange people while staying there. Everything from vampires to barbarians to giant spiders and cat people, but that was behind her now. That was in the past. Her hive was destroyed, and the few followers she had and herself left to the mountains, cutting through like a sword between the Wastes and Talibar. The journey was rough, and many followers died in the process, but the queen reached the mountains at last. This would be her safe haven from this cruel and heartless world, she thought to herself. But little did she know, that these mountains would ruin everything she had attempted to rebuild.

She started to build up her hive underground, as the mountains were cold as ice. At the very peak the construction took place, far away from man or monster alike. The queen ordered the hive to go deep. And her command was obeyed. When the hive was finished months later, the queen was not satisfied, she made more followers, and demanded that they dug deeper, away from the cold. Once again, she was obeyed. They dug deeper, but it was from that moment on it all went wrong, for they dug into a goblin capital, and a war broke out. The goblins were small, but fierce creatures. However, the queen had the numbers. The war went on for four years, isolated from every and all others. Four bloody and cruel years of warfare between these two races was left unnoticed until one fateful day. A group of adventurers, powerful heroes from the great desert, arrived to save the goblin hordes. They burned the hive tunnels, and used foul magic. The queen was beaten, and exiled from the mountains.

Tired and having had enough of this, the queen decided to roam aimlessly, hoping to find a purpose in her life. She roamed the lands for a whole year, going from town to town, city to city, forest to forest in hopes of finding something to make her life worth while. And one fateful day, she found it.

She came across a town. It seemed oddly familiar. It was then she realized, she had returned to Surna. Her eyes widened and her jaws dropped. The people had changed to such an extent. There were more heroes and more magicians than before, and the town prospered. Needless to say, the queen settled down, making a hive nearby, that Razel quickly took down. He grabbed her and said that she should live with him and his wife, that she can't build her Kingdom near Surna or anywhere at that. The queen reluctantly accepted the man's offer, and now stays in his house. She often fights with Zaku, she pulls pranks on Razel's wife, but they accept the queen, though in somewhat disgust.

And her name is Tzakuto, a young girl, betrayed by her own flesh and blood and turned into a monster. She will never know the truth, and she does not want to either.

She is right where she belongs.

The End.