the twelfth
Art: https://www.pixiv.net/en/artworks/76532859
“This is a perplexing situation indeed…” The room was mostly dark, illuminated only by the braziers on the walls and the flickering candles on the desk at its centre. Celes sighed as she put down the scout’s report amidst the countless pieces of paperwork already on her table. “And you are absolutely sure that he hasn’t been seen at all?” From her position reclining against a wall, Liesl’s brows furrowed, as if deep in thought. “No… none of my spies have caught even a hint of his presence.” “It seems that we’ll have to begin searching for a new Knight Captain, then… Do you have any candidates in mind?” “As a matter of fact, I do - shall we summon them now?” “Certainly… at least we’ll get this whole matter over with.”
“How long will it take-” Celes opened her mouth to speak, but stopped short. A smirk spread across Liesl’s face as she raised her hand, a small orb of throbbing purple energy slowly gathering into existence. "Oh, this will just take a moment~" Liesl flicked her fingers and the orb flew towards Celes, sinking into her chest without leaving a trace. “What did you do… ahh!” A searing pain filled her chest and Celes winced, glaring up at her sister with narrowed eyes. “Why…?” Liesl only giggled, her eyes dancing with joy. “I’ve been preparing for this moment for a long time, my dear sister~ and soon your position of Crown Princess will be mine!” “So the Knight Captain disappearing… was part of your plan all along?” “Of course… with the right pieces in place, even the strongest and most outstanding of men can be brought down, and I need someone loyal at my side when I ascend to power." Celes groaned as she felt pain all over her body, her slender form gaining copious amounts of muscle to result in a physique that looked as if it belonged to a warrier who had been through countless battles, instead of a noble lady who had been schooled in diplomacy and fine arts for as long as she could remember. Her spine cracked painfully, bringing Celes’ already tall form up even higher until she reached over six feet in height. The colour of her blonde hair slowly darkened, becoming a shade of dark brown as its style started to resemble an unkempt mane more than a princess’s well-maintained locks. “What… are you doing… to me?” Celes’ voice slowly became deeper, almost growling out those last words as her face became more rugged, makeup vanishing to reveal a beauty that was cold and harsh, but in a league of its own nonetheless.
"You will regret this…" Celes gritted her teeth through the pain as her breasts expanded, filling out into a generous size she had only dreamed of achieving as a young girl, ass and thigh expanding with muscle and fat and tearing the posterior of her gown with a loud rip. Seeing the smug look on Liesl’s face, the glee in her eyes as she watched her own sister transform into a muscle-bound monster, Celes resolved herself to wait. She’d wait until Liesl let her guard down, and then she’d - a blinding pain shot through Celes’ mind and she howled, sinking to one knee and cradling her head. “Oh, I see the mental changes are already starting?” Liesl walked closer, closer, close enough for Celes to easily reach out a hand and crush - another flash of pain, another scream. “I’m afraid disobedience simply won’t do in a subordinate of mine~” Liesl laughed, “Though that fact may have to be reinforced a little more.”
Slowly, a dark brown shade started to spread across the surface of Celes' porcelain skin, serving as the sign of a different ancestry entirely, instead of simply more time spent in the sun. At the same time, various scars of faded wounds appeared all over her body, and to her horror Celes found she remembered every single one of them. This one suffered in a fight against a tiger, that one earned when defeating the best warrior of another tribe… no, that was wrong! She was… she was… "Confused, my dear? Maybe this will help…" Liesl snapped her fingers, the crisp sound reverberating through Celes' mind, clearing away the confusion and turmoil and leaving only still calmness behind. Why would she be confused? She was Drava, fiercest warrior of her tribe - though now her allegiances lay somewhere else entirely. And those clothes would not do, of course: her tattered and torn attire vanished, replaced by a simple bra and loincloth that only served to protect her modesty, complemented by furred gauntlets and boots. Finally, a giant broadsword appeared on her back, complete with the knowledge and expertise required to wield it well. Drava went on her knees, bowing her head towards Liesl. “I await your orders.” Liesl smirked, bidding her new bodyguard rise to her feet. “Come, Drava; we have much to do.”
It was only a few weeks and copious amounts of panic later that Crown Princess Celes was finally presumed dead, and Liesl elevated to her sister’s former position. Of course, there were many who suspected the younger sister had a hand in the elder’s disappearance, but they were swiftly persuaded otherwise with just a little of her dark magic. And even if there were anyone else who secretly harboured their doubts, what would it matter? They would have to explain themselves to Liesl’s Knight Captain, bodyguard, loyal lieutenant, and former sister - though none was wiser to that last fact.