Laharl sat on his throne, deep in thought. Pulling out a breath spray, Laharl gave the inside of his mouth a few sprits.
"Hmhmhm…" He chuckled, and then frowned. That was a bit too deep.
"Hmhmhm…!" He chuckled again, but less-deep. He grinned. That was it!
"Haaaahahahaha!!" He laughed out loud, having now achieved that perfect pitch. His cackles of malice echoed throughout the halls of the Castle.
Flonne, staring up at the Pri-Overlord, felt a bead of sweat run down her temple.
"Geez…" She remarked, "You just keep laughing and laughing."
Laharl looked down at Flonne and ceased laughing. "How can I not?" He asked, grinning. "I'm now the Overlord. That means I'm the most eminent demon in all the Netherworld."
"I am aware of that." Flonne replied.
Boy, was she aware! Laharl wouldn't stop telling people, culminating in a self-sponsored coronation party that made several college frat parties, and certain wars, look quiet and peaceful. In the aftermath, several acres of Netherworld property had been devastated, while the eardrums and colons of 90 percent of the participating demons had to be replaced.
"But, ever since you've become the Overlord," Flonne continued, "You have done nothing but laugh."
Laharl shook his head. "You don't understand a thing," He said in a pitying tone, "Laughing is a very important aspect of being the Overlord. Besides, there isn't any urgent matter that's suitable for my first act as King Laharl the Terrible."
No sooner had the words left his fanged mouth did Etna, that ever-cheerful bringing of bad news, stride in.
"Oh Prince," She sang, "I got a job for ya."
Laharl shot Etna a look that, while it wouldn't melt glass, would cause it to burn anyone dumb enough to be touching said glass.
"Call me 'Your Highness'," He said firmly, "I'm the Overlord now."
Etna shrugged it off. "Aww, come on… That's a minor detail."
"MINOR detail…?" For a brief moment, Laharl fantasized Etna being burned at the stake, while being lowered into a boiling cauldron as Prinnies had her drawn and quartered.
After a minute of these fantasies, he asked, "…So, what kind of job is it?" A nasty smile grew on the Overlord's face. "You want me to rain pepper on Earth so they can't stop sneezing? Or, do you want me to give human kids an addictive video game that will deprive them of their sleep?"
Etna gave Laharl a weird look, the kind usually reserved for babbling lunatics. "Uhh… No." Looking over her shoulder, she called out, "Come in, Aramis."
In walked a small demon boy, only about an inch shorter than Laharl. He had long red hair that went halfway down his back, green clothing, and a black collar that hung loosely around his neck
"Who's this kid?" Laharl asked.
"Don't call me a kid," The boy, Aramis, responded, "You're more of a kid yourself."
"What?!" Laharl stood up and looked down on Aramis, his eyes red and antenna pointed. "Who the hell do you think I am!?"
"Now, now," Flonne said soothingly. "He is just a child."
"Shut up, flat-chest." Aramis told her shortly.
THAT did it. Flonne's eyes burned with the righteous fire of the heavens.
"WHAT DID YOU SAY, YOU…?!" For a minute, it looked like Flonne would throttle the child, until she caught herself at the last second.
"I mustn't!" She gasped, "At times like is the answer! With love, there is understanding!"
Aramis gave Flonne a weird look before looking back at Laharl.
"Hey, does she have a few screws loose or somethin'?" he asked, jerking his thumb at Flonne.
"Hmph…!" Laharl sat back down and crossed his arms. "You've got some attitude, kid." For some reason, he felt annoyed that Aramis had spoken rather poorly of Flonne.
"Just like you, Prince." Etna grinned.
"Yeah, right," Laharl grumbled. Louder, he asked, "So, what's he got to do with the job?"
"Oh, yeah," Etna had almost forgotten. "His pets are missing."
"Hm?" Laharl raised an eyebrow. "…And?" He prompted, having a bad feeling where this was heading. She wasn't going to ask…?
But she did.
"And your jobs to look for them." Etna said cheerfully.
Laharl's eyes went red again, and he boomed, "Why would I, the Overlord, look for some stupid little brat's pets!?"
Etna frowned.
"Ridiculous!" He ranted, "Absolutely ridiculous!! Bring me something more fitting for my first task as Overlord!!"
"I refuse!!" Etna yelled, a sour expression on her face.
Laharl almost fell of his throne. He glared down at Etna.
Off to the side, Flonne panicked. What would Laharl do in the face of this, something he would surely perceive as direct rebellion!?
"It may seem ridiculous to you, but it's important to him!!" Etna explained, "This is a perfect way to begin your rule as Overlord!" Gritting her teeth, Etna finished with, "And if you don't do it, I'm never gonna accept you as the Overlord!"
Laharl began to fidget in the face of Etna's resolve.
"W-what are you getting so mad for?" He asked uneasily, "It's not like you."
"Answer me!" Etna demanded, "Will you do it or not?"
Laharl didn't like this. In fact, he hated it. But what could he do? Etna controlled the castle's Prinnies, and without her support, none of the housekeeping would get done. He had no choice.
"Ugh…" He sighed, feeling the sting of defeat. "F-fine! I'll do it, I'll do it."
Aramis nodded. "Good!...And you better not slack off!" He added, and marched out of the throne room.
"Ugh…!" Laharl slumped back in the throne. "Why am I, the Overlord of the Netherworld, taking orders from this annoying brat…?
Episode 7
Of Being an Overlord
Laharl looked around the throne room. At their usual posts, Dratti, Manty, and Goleck were sleeping, recovering from the coronation party mentioned before. Watching them doze, he couldn't help but remember what they had said in between drinks, on his becoming Overlord…
"The Prince is now King…" Dratti sighed, forlorn.
"You don't seem too happy." Flonne remarked.
"I'm not unhappy," Dratti explained, "It's just that I've always thought King Krichevskoy as the one and only King."
"Yeah," Etna nodded, "I can understand that."
Meanwhile, Gargo and Manty had Laharl occupied with some banter of their own.
"It was only yesterday diapers, and now you're the Overlord…" Gargo said wistfully, "What is the world coming to?"
Laharl gave Gargo a mean look. "…And what are you getting at?"
Before Gargo could explain himself, Manty said, in a solemn tone, "Your true value as Overlord will be decided by your future, not your past. Please live up to your name, my Overlord."
This wasn't like Manty. Laharl felt an alarm go off somewhere in his mind. "W-what are you all serious for?"
"Hahaha," Manty chuckled, "Don't worry, Prince. It was just a joke."
"I don't get demon jokes…" Flonne murmured, having overheard the conversation.
"Prince!"
Laharl looked over. Goleck had awakened. However, he had also made a big mistake. Laharl glared at Goleck, refusing to answer.
Goleck seemed to realize the verbal blunder he had done, and corrected himself by saying, "You highness!" Goleck then frowned. "King Laharl!...There's no ring to that," Goleck decided. "I think I'll stick with Prince."
Laharl stared at the Golem. Why did he even bother…?
"Laharl?"
Laharl turned around to see Flonne.
"Are you ready to go?" She asked sweetly.
"Yeah, yeah…" Laharl muttered. Then he noticed something. "Hey, where'd Etna go?"
"I think she had to use the bathroom." Flonne answered.
D-I-S-G-A-E-A
In her secret room, Etna jotted down another entry in her journal, titled, 'Eternal Loyalty.'
Even though there are still gaps, my memories are slowly coming back...
One thing I remember... When I first started as a servant in the castle...
Every day was hard...
I lost heart, and my will to live was fading...
At times, I even welcomed death...
That was when the King reached out his hand to me...
I wanted to help him... I wanted to be praised by him... I wanted to be accepted by him...
I never felt like that before...
And so, I pledged my loyalty to him...
Even when I lost my memories, that loyalty remained...
Even now... and forever... My feelings will never change...
Satisfied, and maybe a little sad, Etna closed the journal and left for the portal room.
D-I-S-G-A-E-A
In the portal room, Laharl found Aramis by the portal, munching on some takoyai purchased at the Rosen Queen Co. Netherworld Branch.
"You took your sweet time." Aramis commented between chews.
"Shut up," Laharl growled, "I was making sure the Castle would safe in my absence. I'm in charge of the whole Netherworld, you should be glad I'm taking time from my busy schedule to look for your dumb pets!"
Flonne couldn't help but shake her head. ("All he was doing was laugh…")
It was then that Etna popped up.
"Okay! Is everyone ready to go?" She asked, grinning broadly, "All those little details taken care of?"
"Of course we're ready," Laharl snarled, "Let's get this over with." Turning to Aramis, he asked, "Okay, squirt, where'd you lose those pets?"
"Beats me where they are," Aramis snorted, "If I knew, I wouldn't be asking YOU for help. They just wandered off while I was sleeping."
Laharl facepalmed and restrained the growing homicidal urges building up. Were they going to have to search the entire Netherworld!?
It was at that time that Fiona spoke up.
"Have you heard what's happening at 'Salamander's Breath'? Supposedly, there's been a flood of Zombies there, Prince." She said.
Laharl thought about it. "Zombies, huh…"
"Could it be that Aramis' pet has been eaten by Zombies?" Flonne gasped, visualizing a puppy being chewed on by a Zomibe.
"It's as good as any place to start," Laharl decided. To Fiona, he said, "Open the portal there!"
D-I-S-G-A-E-A
Salamander's Breath, an area of the Netherworld located in the same volcanic region as the Blazing Core, only not as hot. It got its name from the smell of sulfur created by the many vents that pocketed the landscape.
When Laharl and company arrived, it seemed like the smell was worse than usual.
"Ah! Miss Etna!" Aramis cried, the only one not holding his nose. "That's one of my pets over there!" With another word, he charged off.
Flonne, wearing a clothespin over he nose, asked Etna, "Why is he only polite to you?"
Etna, wearing a gas mask, replied cheekily, "It's all about the special training I gave him."
Flonne smiled. "Oh, I get it! It's the power of love!"
"…Sure, whatever you say." Etna wondered how Flonne managed to turn everything to love, and if she should be impressed or worried.
D-I-S-G-A-E-A
In the Scorching Wind, known for the 'breeze' several lined vents created, the gang found a rotting Zombie, the smell of its flesh worsened by the high temperatures.
OooooOooooooooOOhhh…" It moaned, not liking the heat either.
"A zombie." Laharl remarked through the breath mask he wore.
"A zombie it is." Flonne agreed.
"Hey, brat," Laharl motioned for Aramis and waved at the Zombie. "Don't tell me this is one of your pets."
"Yeah," Aramis replied, "You got a problem with a that?"
Laharl shook his head. "No. Actually, I like it. You've got good taste, kid."
"A zombie for a pet, huh…" Flonne wondered, imagining what it must be like to groom and housetrain a rotting corpse that moved. "So… how do we catch it?"
Laharl shrugged. "Why not do the same thing we always do?"
"I guess that would work," Etna replied, "I mean, Zombies are already dead," She whipped out her spear, a mad smile on her face. "Then, let the massacre begin!"
"Agreed!" Laharl whipped out his sword.
As the two of them began to pulverize the reanimated corpse, Flonne couldn't help but say, though they weren't listening, "Um, are you sure that's okay…?"
She got no answer. Laharl and Etna were too busy. Looking at Aramis, Flonne asked, "How many of these Zombies do you have as pets?"
"Fifty-three."
"What!?"
D-I-S-G-A-E-A
It didn't take too long to deal with that particular Zombie, and soon it was stuffed into a large sack. Flonne couldn't help but notice that there were two distinct types of Zombies; the moaning, wandering, aimless ones, and the more energetic and talkative Zombies, like Zommie. When she brought this particular subject up, Aramis told her that it all depended on what condition the Zombie's brain is, and Zommie's brain was particularly well preserved.
Eventually, the party moved on to the Column of Fire, a giant mound of rock that seemed to jut out from the ground, like a big, hard pimple. It was crawling with Zombies.
Laharl was not happy with this. But he wasn't upset, either.
"Boring." He sighed.
"Quit complaining," Etna ordered, "You wanna be a great Overlord or not?"
Flonne was surprised to hear this. She had never seen Etna take such an interest in Laharl's ambitions to rule the Netherworld up until now. Before, all she had seen were hints that Etna was planning to take the throne the next time he wasn't looking.
"You are serious today, Etna," The Angel Trainee couldn't help but comment.
"I'm always serious," Etna replied. She sat down on a seat-sized rock, and bid Flonne to do the same. "Besides, the Prince needs to start acting more like his father."
"You mean, King Krichevskoy?" Flonne asked, raising her voice so it could be heard over the sound Laharl's merciless execution of the Zombies.
"Uh huh," Etna nodded. "Back when I started working in the Castle…" Etna trailed off, frowning. Her eyes clouded over as she regained her voice. "I was teased and picked on for being a commoner."
Flonne was shocked. "YOU were? That's hard to believe."
"At that time, I was still very naïve. I was a scared little girl," Etna explained, her eyes clearing. "The only thing that helped me get through the day was my faithful pet."
Flonne suddenly had an image of Etna, dressed as Dorothy Gail, skipping down the yellow brick road with Toto.
"But," Etna continued, her eyes clouding over again, "One day, I found him dead. Those damn demons killed him…"
Flonne felt her eyes tear over. "How cruel…" She was starting to realize why some angels thought demons were evil…with those examples, it was an easy conclusion to come to.
"With no way to get back at them, I just cried…" Etna said mournfully, "That was when the King reached out his hand to me…" As she spoke, Etna's voice seemed to grow stronger. "When I told him what had happened, he helped me bury my pet."
Hearing that, Flonne couldn't help but smile. "He must have been a kind man."
Etna blinked. "Kind…?" She repeated, confused. "I don't know what kindness feels like, but he was a great man, and one that I respected. That was why I pledged to him my deepest loyalty." Etna glanced to where Laharl was pummeling the Zombies, and her eyes hardened. "But, the Prince… He's still not fit to succeed King Krichevskoy as the Overlord."
"So, that's why you want Laharl to become just like his father…?" Flonne asked. She then giggled. "I see. You worry about Laharl after all. That's love."
"I doubt it," Etna shrugged, "If he fails, I'll just kill him."
"WHAT?!" Flonne shrieked.
"Ahaha…" Etna grinned, even though her eardrums were ringing. "Just kidding."
And with that, Etna stood up, dusted herself off, and walked over to where Laharl and a pile of unconscious Zombies were lying.
"Etna… You're starting to scare me…" Flonne murmured uneasily.
D-I-S-G-A-E-A
Defeating a Zombie, if you are strong enough, is no difficult trick. Zombies, if allowed to rot before being animated, are sluggish and slow moving. While their foul breath may be a serious factor, Zombies in general were not skilled fighters. However, the fact they were among the undead meant that they were also slow to stop moving when sufficiently beaten. By the time Laharl and company had moved to and past the Raging Earth to the Crimson Plains, where more Zombies awaited, Laharl was getting suitably fed up.
"GwoooooooOooOoooohhhhh…" They moaned as Laharl's group came forth and beat the snot out of them.
"Geez…" Laharl muttered, watching the Zombies get back up. "These Zombies aren't challenging at all, they're just plain bothersome."
"Well, they DO come back to life after you kill them." Etna commented.
Laharl closed his eyes in thought. Opening them, he said to Aramis, "Hey, brat. Is it okay with you if we tear your pets to shreds so they won't bother us for a while?"
"Go ahead," Aramis shrugged, "I take them apart and put them back together again all the time."
"I used to do that too, when I was a kid!" Etna laughed, "Ahh, those were the days."
"Stop reminiscing about your childhood." Laharl told her sternly.
Flonne watched this with a strange expression on her face.
"…Do all demon children play this way?" She asked.
"Don't worry. Just those two." Laharl answered, glancing at Etna and Aramis.
And so, with that little detail clarified, the capture of the Zombies went noticeably quicker, thanks to the revelation that Laharl didn't have to keep them in one piece. In fact, Laharl even went as far as to tear the Zombies previously captured into pieces, 'just to make sure.'
D-I-S-G-A-E-A
After effectively hacking almost every moving corpse crawling around Salamander's Breath, Laharl and company arrived at the last Zombie, in the Ember of Dreams, widely acknowledged as the most romantic point in region.
"GwooooooooooooOoooooOoohhhh…!!" The last Zombie moaned fiercely- well, more fierce than your usual Zombie.
"Kill one, and another appears…" Laharl groaned, "Zombies, Zombies, Zombies…!! I'm getting sick and tired of this…"
"You better stay alert, or else, you'll be sorry," Aramis warned, not taking his eyes of the Zombie. "Check out that Zombie."
"What about it?" Laharl scoffed. It was just another Zombie to him, another mundanely slow moving corpse.
"Amature," Aramis sighed, "THAT is my masterpiece," Aramis' voice took on a proud tone as he described the Zombie. "The fists of a Dark Karate master… The legs of the faster demon in the Netherworld… The brain of Mahogany, a famous sorcerer… The iron body of Hercules… And a horse wiener all combined into one: The Netherworld's ultimate Zombie!!"
Laharl didn't pay too much attention to Aramis' speech. While the other demon child was talking, Laharl let his eyes wander all over the Zombie's body. It wasn't until Laharl noticed an unsightly bulge between the Zombie's crotch that he heard the last part of Aramis' description.
"What'd you say!?" He exclaimed, horrified. "A horse wiener!? Now, THAT's dangerous! Guys, don't let your guard down!!"
No sooner had the words left his mouth did the Zombie charge at the group, moving with all the grace and power of a track star. The band quickly scattered, dodging the punch the Zombie threw. This act of movement had a very noticeable effect on the Zombie's body, that the live'uns could see, much to their regret and disgust.
"Ewww!" Flonne squealed, covering her eyes.
"Aramis, you're a great Zombie-caretaker," Etna cried, holding down her lunch. "But I think you went too far on this one!"
"Hey, when you make perfection, you go all the way!" Aramis defended.
"Well, I'm gonna go and blast that perfection to smithereens!" Laharl roared, and threw up an assortment of fireballs into the air. "Overlord's Wrath!"
BABABABOOM!
"Did I get him?" Laharl asked, looking at where his fireballs and the Zombie connected.
"Hey, Prince!" Etna yelled from afar, "You're supposed to capture, not burn to ashes!"
"Shaddup!" Laharl snapped, "If this thing's as good as the brat says, it should survive a love-tap like that!!"
Not only did the Zombie survive the attack, but it leapt out from the smoke, barely charred, and began to pummel Laharl with a series of quick jabs and kicks.
"Ow! Ow-owowowow! Stop that!" Laharl yelled as he got pummeled. As it turned out, this Zombie could really punch, and seemed to be targeting the joints on his body. Thinking quickly, Laharl swung his sword down-
SWISH!
-And chopped off the Zombie's left arm.
"Well, that's over…" Laharl was cut off when the Zombie gave him a punch in the jaw with its right arm. Furious, Laharl chopped off that arm as well, where it landed next to the left.
"Okay, now it's over…" Laharl was once again cut off, as the Zombie began to ram its head into Laharl. His ire now officially ready to be unleashed, Laharl began to systematically chop off every last limb connected to the Zombie's torso. EVERY LAST ONE.
"…Right, what say we call it a draw?" the Zombie's head asked at last. For that, Laharl gave it a good punt, where it landed in the sack.
Turning back to Aramis, Laharl said, "Here, I caught 'em all. So, quit your complaining."
Aramis said nothing, looking into the sack.
"…What? What's the problem now?" Laharl demanded, getting annoyed. IF this brat had some grip with how the Zombies ended up, it wasn't HIS fault!
"…Thank you, Your Highness." Aramis said at last, tying the sack up.
"H-Hmph!" Laharl snorted, "Well, it IS part of my job as the Overlord…" He smirked. "And don't bother to thank me. If you want to show your gratitude, you can repay me with your body."
"Hmmm…" Etna grinned, "I never knew you were like that…"
Laharl shot Etna a dark look. "Idiot!" He snarled, "I meant, become my vassal and serve me when you're old enough!"
Aramis actually bowed his head. "…Yes, Your Highness."
"Speak to me with respect from now on, got it?" Laharl ordered, enjoying Aramis' newfound humility.
"Yes, Your Highness!" Aramis replied earnestly.
As Aramis went to drag his sack of dead body parts away, Laharl chuckled.
"Hmhmhm… Haaahahahaha!!!!" Laharl laughed, "Did you hear that, Etna? That kid called me 'Your Highness'," He gave Etna a challenging grin. "So? Do you accept me as Overlord now?"
Etna gave Laharl an appraising look before shrugging. "Well…you pass for the time being. But be careful not to flunk out." She capped off her statement with a Cheshire cat grin.
"Ugh…!" Laharl grunted, "Why you…!"
"Talk about strict." Flonne giggled. ("Still, Laharl has changed quite a bit since the first time I met him. He is maturing little by litte as he meets new people. And it feels like I have changed, too…since meeting him and his companions. If you open your heart, you will surely grow and learn many new things…whether you're an angel…or a demon… If I can explain this to other angels, maybe they'll see that not all demons are evil… And someday…")
Episode 7
Of Being an Overlord
End
A/N: Well, I'm glad to get that one out of the way. You know, it's hard to do levels where the action isn't connected to the plot. I mean, the one problem with Disgaea is that each level is just another battle. It's hard to write a battle every other paragraph. So sometimes I figure, 'Aw, t'heck with it' and skip the fight entirely. By the way, you really do have to defeat 53 Zombies in this episode. I counted!
Aramis: …You copied my ultimate Zombie's final words from that human movie, Monty Python and Holy Grail, didn't you?
A/N: Yes, I did. It was too good to pass up! Anyway, what's next, Etna?
-Episode 8 preview-
Etna: Those seemingly innocent Prinnies... It turns out they were hiding a big secret!
Prinny: It wouldn't be a secret is it wasn't hidden, dood.
Etna: When the Prinnies' evil spirits join as one, they form Pringer X, the mighty super robot!!
Prinny: Dude, we can't do that...
Etna: Here goes! Pringer Spiral Plasma Chop! Gotcha! Pringer Aurora Triangle Kick!! This is it! Pringer Spinning Drill Attack!!!
Prinny: Uh, dood, hello...
Etna: Next on Lovely Mad Scientist Etna, Episode 8: Farewell, Pringer X.
Prinny: Dood!? You're killing us off!?
Etna: No worries! Pringer X will be reborn as the more powerful Pringer Z!
Prinny: I'm tellin ya, it ain't gonna happen, dood.
