SCENE 1: THE THRONE ROOM - NIGHT

[SFX: HEAVY THUNDER RUMBLES DISTANTLY. FOOTSTEPS ECHO DOWN A STONE

CORRIDOR.]

CHESTER
(Musing, to himself)
Quite the tumultuous night… then again, it’s nights like these when the deepest of bonds are
broken, and chaos abounds.

[SFX: A SUDDEN, WHISPERING SWIRL OF SHADOWS COALESCES ACCUSINGLY.]

CHESTER
(Laughs softly, a crackle of crimson magic fizzing in his hand)
Ah, Rauru, my old friend. It truly is an honor to be graced with your presence

RAURU
(Stepping from the shadows, smooth and unbothered)
You summoned me, Your Majesty. This was the fastest route.

[SFX: LARGE OAK THRONE ROOM DOORS CREAK OPEN. A CHORUS OF MULTIPLE
VOICES IMMEDIATELY DROPS TO THE FLOOR, CHANTING IN UNISON.]

CHORUS
All hail Chester! The All-Powerful, Omnipresent, Anime Lord, Supreme Lord of All Drugs!

CHESTER
Rise, my subjects. Vaeril, report to me. Then send in the Yiga messenger.

VAERIL
(Bustling forward, shuffling a thick stack of parchments)
At once, Your Lordship! The common folk are consuming our pharmaceuticals like candy.
However, (hesitates) our scouts report a group of travelers heading toward the old Zora
domain. One soldier insists... your Apprentice was among them.

CHESTER
(Voice dropping to a lethal, sharp calm)
I have no apprentice, Vaeril. Would you be referring to that miserable traitor, Draxion Holdorf?

[SFX: VAERIL HITS THE FLOOR WITH A LOUD THUD, SCRAMBLING.]

VAERIL
(Terrified, stammering)
Forgive me, Your Lordship! It was but a minor slip of the tongue!
CHESTER
Take care it does not slip again. Send in the messenger. Then, have your son Valvaris meet me
and Rauru, we have matters to discuss with him.

[SFX: VAERIL BACKS OUT, BOWING AND STUMBLING. HEAVY, SKULKING FOOTSTEPS
ENTER.]

CHESTER
Tell me Yiga. Has my request been completed?

YIGA MESSENGER
(Confident, bowing)
Most assuredly, Your Lordship. We sent our best to assassinate them. Neither was left alive.

[SFX: A FAINT, HUMMING GREEN AURA BEGINS TO GLOW FROM CHESTER’S LEFT EYE.]

CHESTER
Both dead, you say? Then why have my soldiers reported seeing them alive, entering the Zora
domain this very morning?

YIGA MESSENGER
(Gasping, boots shuffling backward)
T-They must be mistaken! We disposed of the bodies!

CHESTER
Oh really? Let us see if you happen to remember where.

[SFX: A VIOLENT SURGE OF MAGIC ENERGY. THE MESSENGER SCREAMS AS HE IS

TELEKINETICALLY LIFTED INTO THE AIR, GASPING FOR BREATH.]

CHESTER
(Lazily, rising from his throne)
You thought you could deceive me? That’s almost as pathetic as that sorry excuse for an
assassin. Nurrina, right? (Smirks as the messenger gasps out in astonishment) Oh, you like that
little trick? Reading your mind? There's plenty more where—

[SFX: A SUDDEN SWOOSH OF A HIDDEN DAGGER. CHESTER SWIFTLY DODGES TO THE

SIDE.]

CHESTER
(Begins tsking, which grows into outright laughter as a dark, black aura erupts around his entire
body, levitating him off the ground)
Really? A desperate stab? I was going to end you quickly, but now, I believe different
punishment is in order.
CHESTER
(Gaze turning cold)
Now. Die.

[SFX: AN OTHERWORLDLY, MUFFLED SCREAM AS BLACK FIRE EXPLODES FROM

WITHIN THE MESSENGER. A HOLLOW THUD AS AN EMPTY HUSK HITS THE STONE
FLOOR.]

CHESTER
(Sighing, landing softly)
Do not be afraid, my people! Court is adjourned!

[SFX: AN INVISIBLE WAVE OF PULSING MAGIC HUMS THROUGH THE ROOM.]

CHORUS
(Monotone, robotic, eyes glazed)
Of course, Your Lordship. Long live Chester, the All-Powerful...

RAURU
(Walking over, shaking his head)
I will never understand that mind-control trick of yours.

CHESTER
It’s best you don’t try to; you’d lose your mind. Come, Rauru. We must meet Vaeril's son,
Valvaris. I see a vicious loyalty in this boy, and you will mentor him to be Draxion's replacement.​
​
RAURU​
Very well, my lord.

[SFX: MUSICAL INTERLUDE. APPROACHING RUNNING STEPS BEFORE KNOCKING ON

LARGE DOORS. THE DOORS SWING OPEN.]

VALVARIS
(Out of breath, bowing deeply)
You called for me, Your Lordship?

CHESTER
Rise, Valvaris. I’ve wanted to speak with you since your exhibition match. Your techniques are
fascinating.

VALVARIS
(Flushed)
Thank you, Sire, but I lost—

[SFX: A FAINT RUSTLE IN THE SHADOWS.]

VALVARIS
(Grip tightening on his hilt)
Watch out, Your Lordship!

[SFX: VALVARIS SPRINTS FORWARD, DRAWING HIS SCIMITARS WITH A CRACKLE OF

ELECTRICITY. BLADES CLASH WITH A HEAVY METALLIC THUD. VALVARIS GRUNTS AS
HE IS FLUNG BACK INTO THE WALL.]

CHESTER
(Laughing, slowly applauding)
Well done, Valvaris. You can come out now, old friend.

[SFX: SHADOWS DISSIIPATE. RAURU STEPS FORWARD, HIS PROSTHETIC METAL ARM
WHIRRING SLIGHTLY.]

RAURU
You show promise, boy. Detecting me through the shadows? Only one other has ever done that
so quickly and struck with such accuracy.

CHESTER
And it is for that very reason that we have summoned you Valvaris. Come closer my boy​

(VALVARIS APPROACHES, EAGER)​

​
CHESTER​
What do you know, of the Emperor’s apprentice?​
​
VALVARIS​
It’s the highest honor in the land, outside of being your right hand man of course. The last
soldier to hold the title was said to have the greatest potential in the whole army, Draxion
Holdorf, who died serving, well, you, your majesty.​
​
CHESTER (SLIGHTLY DISGUSTED)​
Ah, yes, you know your history well. But there is one major inaccuracy. Draxion, did not die.
(Shock from Valvaris) Yes, dear little Draxion, has suffered a fate worse then death. The
miserable maggot has deserted our cause.​
​
(TAKES A MOMENT TO COMPOSE HIMSELF)​
​
But we have found him again, he is traveling with a party, and I wish to bring him back into the
fold. You, Valvaris, have shown great potential, potential that rivals Draxion himself. So I am
offering you this, become my new apprentice. Allow us to sharpen your skills into something the
world has never seen.

VALVARIS
(Gasps, dropping to one knee)
The Emperor's Apprentice?! I would be honored!

CHESTER
It will not be easy. You will train alongside a team of three. Your rival, Lidra, and a third, one
whom you know well.

[SFX: BOOTSTEPS STEPPING OUT OF THE CORNER.]

VALVARIS
Rhinehart?

RHINEHART
(With a small, serious smile)
It’s been a while, Val.

VALVARIS
That’s what we’re calling it now? It’s been two years Rhinehart, how did your quest go?​
​
(CHESTER CLEARS HIS THROAT, INTERUPTING)

CHESTER
I trust you have much to catch up on, but your training begins tomorrow, so I suggest you get
some rest (his voice brightens) I have high hopes for you three, do not let me down.

VALVARIS & RHINEHART

(Bowing in unison)
Long live Chester, the All-Powerful, Anime Lord, Supreme Lord of all Drugs!

[SFX: THE TWO BOYS EXIT THE CHAMBERS, CHATTERING EXCITEDLY IN THE
DISTANCE.]

SCENE 3: CHESTER’S PRIVATE CHAMBERS - MOMENTS LATER

RAURU
They show promise, Chester. But what of the girl, Lidra? You didn't summon her.

CHESTER
(Walking over to a painted portrait of Draxion on the wall)
Her strength is unrivaled, but her heart is not with me. She is far too similar to, him.
[SFX: CHESTER’S HAND BURSTS INTO FLAMES. HE SLAMS HIS FIST DIRECTLY
THROUGH THE PAINTING’S HEART. THE PORTRAIT CRACKLES AND BURNS AWAY.]

[SFX: A GLOWING BOX CLICKS OPEN FROM A HIDDEN COMPARTMENT BEHIND THE
PORTRAIT. PITCH-BLACK MALICE AND GLOOM ENERGY SURGE OUT, HUMMING
MENACINGLY.]

CHESTER
(Infusing the box with dark energy, then tossing it to Rauru)
If Lidra shows any signs of weakness, do not hesitate to use this. I refuse to allow another
'Draxion' to happen.

[SFX: EVERY TORCH IN THE ROOM INSTANTLY BLOWS OUT. TOTAL DARKNESS. THE
ONLY SOUND IS THE LOW, SINISTER HUM OF PURPLE AND BLACK MAGIC.]

CHESTER
(Voice echoing, deeply demonic)
Train them well, Rauru. With these three, we will finally bring this pathetic land down to its
knees, and plunge it into the darkness it always truly deserved.