DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN THE DISNEY VILLAIN RECRUITERS OR DISNEY VILLAINS THAT IS INVOLVED IN THIS STORY EXCEPT THE STORY AND PLOT ITSELF. THE DISNEY VILLAIN RECRUITERS IS A CHARACTER CREW PART OF THE JAPAN DISNEY PARADE THAT THEY HAVE AT HALLOWEEN. THIS IS JUST A FANFICTION STORY THAT I WANTED TO SHARE.
Chapter One
The beauty of winter is that spring soon follows to reawaken the land. When the land reawakens, the Spring Sprite dances and frolics about the land painting everything green on her vast white canvas. Everything that was once white would be blooming full of colors in the flowers, in the sky, and all over the Realm! Well, only the things that were white, she could never reach the volcano where Chernabog ruled. They had a very distinct silent agreement of never crossing into one another's territory without formal invitation or in their proper seasons. The Spring Sprite ruled from spring to the end of summer and from there Chernabog took his turn of melting the world away and causing ashes to snow upon the earth along with the snow. Winters were dreadful, especially since Chernabog would go the entire Autumnal Equinox and Winter Solstice without sleep and would eat little. The demon from hell would literally use his hangriness and lack of sleep to fuel his rage so he could use all of his powers to their fullest to wreck havoc to the Realm and cause more work for the Spring Sprite.
In all honesty Ashe hated the fact that Chernabog would purposely cause extra work for Sprite. She already had enough to do in tilling the land and preparing it for its next cycle. She also had to wake all of the animals, help them move, and even wake the few humans that lived in the valley and help them prepare for the planting months before they harvested things. Sprite was so kind, she always helped others, and the strangest and best part was that she actually liked to help others. She wanted to do it, not because it was her job even though it was a part of the job, she just really enjoyed making others smile. She was the total opposite of Ashe.
Sprite was an actual daughter of Mother Nature and Father Time, so she was always young and high spirited. Sprite was green and could change colors depending on her mood and she could walk on land and water without causing damage to anything. The animals and people all really loved her, even though most of the humans claimed she was a myth; just a pretty sprite they told children to ease their minds and hearts at bedtime. How unjust they were to merely treat her like a legend, yet at the same time she was. Without her, the Winter Solstice would never end and the Realm would either freeze or burn to death. Everything in nature was naturally drawn to her since she practically brought it all to life!
Not Ashe though, no, she was the entire opposite. She did not sleep for a few seasons then wake up beautiful and full of magic power, no not at all. Ashe was born from the literal ashes of a woman that Chernabog ravaged to death. Born out of wedlock, from death, and out of destruction Ashe was the absolute opposite of Sprite. She was pale like ashes and her dress was always black and could be a little too sultry from time to time. The few times she had been interested in a few of the human boys, well, they almost always got burned. Not to a crisp, but they definitely knew better than to try to mate with the daughter of Chernabog. She always did her best to be good and to help others, like Sprite, but thingsnever turned out as nicely as she hoped. She burned down one too many villages in the past to know better than to try helping the humans anymore, not to mention the poor woodland creatures that suffered from forest fires. No, Ashe could only be of use during the Autumnal Equinox and Winter Solstice when her father put her to work in destroying the land. And as much as she hated giving Sprite more work to do, she secretly enjoyed causing chaos and destruction; but only to the land, never the living creatures and humans since she was half human.
Ashe sat in her bedroom cave and watched the last of the snow fall. Chernabog and the other devils and minions from hell were still out and about causing as much destruction as they possibly could on their last day before they had to hibernate for the next two seasons. For once Ashe actually looked forward to her father's return, despite whatever temper he would return in, she looked forward to his return because it meant that Sprite would soon awaken; so long as that stupid groundhog did not see its shadow that is. Ashe had spent all morning looking for its damn burrow to no avail. Every year to ensure that Sprite came on time, or even a little early, Ashe would follow the groundhog around and stand in the trees, or rocks, or wherever she needed to be to make sure it did not see its shadow. In the past years it was particularly easy, but this year was rather difficult.
She had returned to her cave to take a break and to see what was left of winter before she could properly greet her friend in the next few days. Yes, her friend. Although Ashe was Chernabog's daughter, Sprite was Ashe's best friend; her only friend really. For whatever reason Sprite had taken a liking to her and never seemed to mind cleaning up her accidents and messes during the Vernal Equinox and Summer Solstice. They had become accidental friends, but since they both had rather odd parents who gave them odd responsibilities, they bonded over the long talks about what they enjoyed about their jobs, what they disliked (never hate since Sprite could never truly hate anything), and what they wish they could do in the future. They always seemed to change every year.
A sigh escaped from her and the clacking of claws from deep within the cave echoed on the walls.
"Princess Ashe," it was a simple fire minion. "I did not know you returned. Is your father on his way?"
"Not yet, Fuego," she glanced to the sky and had yet to see the blackness come into the silver sky. "He will more than likely return before the moon is at its highest peak."
"Ah, very good," he tapped his fingers together nervously. "The staff and I were worried that he had decided to retire early. . ."
"He would never retire early during the last few days of the Winter Solstice. It is when he has his most fun." She snorted and walked over to the little fire minion. He wasn't taller than the top of her knees and was primarily made of lava and pumice stones. He was one of the odd little entities her father made to watch over her when he slept for the Vernal Equinox and Summer Solstice. He and the other staff did their best to keep an eye on her, but she slipped away from them for the most part and enjoyed being away from them as well as the wretched volcano. Although she was Chernabog's daughter, her human self did not always enjoy the heat from the volcano and sought after the coolness that spring offered.
"Come Fuego, show me what it is that you and the staff have prepared for the Winter Solstice Feast." She threw on a smile and walked towards the back of the cave that led to the other parts of the inner sanctum of the volcano.
"Oh, yes, yes!" he clapped his little hands together and sprinted ahead of her. "It shall be the most marvelous feast we've had yet! There will be roasted duck, turkey, chicken, deer, boar, fish of all sort of varieties here in the Realm - All of Master Chernabog's favorites, of course."
"Of course," she smiled when he beamed up at her, but immediately rolled her eyes whenever he turned and continued to yammer on about the feast. Every year for the last few decades since Ashe has been alive, they always had a giant feast to mark the end of the Winter Solstice. Every year it seemed to get bigger and bigger and the poor staff tried to make it grander. However, there was only so much that they could do within the volcano since everything dried up quickly or burned. And every year Chernabog was never impressed, and only ate and drank his fill, took a long ass piss, then slept for the next few seasons. In the past Ashe used to try just as hard as the staff to do something to win her father's favor, however, he has made it clear that she could never do anything to seriously impress him. Unlike the staff, she already gave up in trying to impress him since he never wanted anything to do with her unless she was causing destruction. There were just some things in life that just weren't worth his attention.
"What do you think, Princess Ashe?" Fuego looked up expectantly and excitedly as he showed her the long feasting table.
"He is going to thoroughly enjoy this," she blinked rather quickly and smiled reassuringly down to him.
"What drink would you recommend for the feast then?" his smile was more nervous.
"What do we have?" she looked at the large barrels that were full of ale, wine, whiskey, and other forms of alcohol that they made over the year.
"Just leave them all out," she put her hand to her chin. "He'll drink any and all of them. It would do us allfavor just to leave them out so he can make his own choices."
"Very wise, Princess Ashe," he chuckled nervously. "I will notify the staff immediately."
"Very good, Fuego," she patted his oddly rock shaped head. "Is there anything else that requires my opinion?"
"Not at the moment," he put his hand to his chin and mumbled a list of things off to himself. "If we need your opinion on anything else I will let you know immediately.
"Then I shall return to my room," she turned on her heel and tried to escape, but Fuego held the hem of her skirt and pulled her back slightly.
"W-Wait!" he bellowed frantically. "Wait, I just remembered, you need to look your best this evening!"
"I beg your pardon?" She yanked her skirts from him and glared down at him.
"I meant no offense, Princess," he waved his hands frantically. "You always look your best, but what I meant to say is that you need to step it up a notch, not by much of course since you are a natural beauty but your father has requested, well more like demanded that you - "
"Fuego," she inhaled deeply through her nose to regain her patience. "What is it?"
"Your father wants you to be dressed more primly and properly because he is bringing a suitor home." He spoke quickly and hid under his hands.
"He's bringing a what?" she blinked in disbelief. He wouldn't; he would never even consider that!
"M-Master C-Chernabog is b-bringing a suitor home to meet you." Fuego spoke much more quickly with his eyes shut and his hands covering his head.
"You must be joking." She glared down at him. Suddenly there was a large and looming presence that boomed in silence.
"There is no joke about me bringing a suitor home, daughter." Chernabog's low and rumbly voice growled behind her. "You know that I never joke about anything."
"Welcome home, Father," she curtsied as she immediately turned around. Her head was low, and she waited until his clawed hand went under her chin and guided her head upwards before she looked at him.
"I see you have just received my message," he smirked and those yellow eyes glowed ominously in amusement. "Is this what you have decided to wear?"
She wore a long black dress, just like all of her other dresses. This dress was off the shoulder with a plunging V neck neckline that went to her naval and had a slit that curved upwards and rested on her right hip. She wore black and gold four inch heels so that she would be a little taller. Her hair was down and not properly attended to since she herself had only returned a few moments before Chernabog. No makeup was painted on her face; no jewelry, save her emerald amulet that was the last remnant of her mother, adorned her ears, wrists, or finger; She was plain an entirely herself.
"Since I only just heard of your news, yes." She cast a glare at Fuego who was still bowing and shaking in fear.
"You're in luck, for once." He released her chin and draped his wings about him as though they were a cape. "Our guest will be arriving shortly so you will have time to do something with that hair and face of yours."
"Yes, Father," she clenched her hands that rested in front of her. "I shall do so immediately."
"Good." He held his arm out to her, and much to her chagrin, she slid her hand onto his elbow. Although her father was a menace and a literal asshole to the entire Realm, he for some odd reason liked to act like a gentleman and escort her to her room from time to time; typically when he had something serious to discuss with her. "Fuego, finish preparing the feast and set another plate at the table for our guest."
"Yes, Master," he bowed repeatedly while shaking. "And what is the name of this guest to whom I should formally address his seat?"
"Astaroth." Chernabog chuckled over his shoulder. "From the inner most circle of Hell."
"What an honor, sir!" Fuego sputtered and immediately barked orders to the other staff minions. Ashe could not help but feel her blood run cold. It was certainly an honor, but not one that she wanted. The Great Duke of Hell Astaroth was a demon best known for using logic as a manipulation tool against all creatures. He is very knowledgeable about many things and is Lucifer's right hand man, so to speak. The title of being the Great Duke of Hell is barley scratching the surface of this demons greatness and cruelty. He has magical powers over time and sees the past, present and future and uses that with his logic in manipulation. His only redeeming quality is that he is forever, for whatever reason, always honest; even when he is manipulating creatures. That is what makes his powers so frustrating when he uses his logic, because it is honest and believable, but also a trap to cause anxiety and disturb the minds of the weak. Rumor has it that he is both hideous as well as beautiful; all depending on what age he wants to represent with his time manipulation.
"How, dare I ask, did you manage to make Astaroth a suitor?" Ashe asked simply as they walked to her cave room.
"Simple, really." He gave a shrug and patted her hand. "I asked him if he was interested in you, and after he did something with his powers, he said yes."
They arrived at her room and she was very happy that there was still a chill in the air from winter residing in her room. The heat of the volcano did nothing to calm her nerves.
"Oh, how . . .nice." She gulped and could not help the grimace that followed.
"It is quite an honor that only a handful of people have ever had." He boasted as he sat her down at her vanity and brushed her hair.
"But, why, father, have you found me a suitor?" she gulped as those claws ever so carefully touched the back of her neck to have her sit up straight before he ran a brush through her hair.
"Despite the fact that you are my daughter," his face became stony and serious. "You are half human and whether you realize it or not, you have caught some attention from some of the demons here in this Realm."
"Such as Master Astaroth?"
"Not quite that high." He twisted her hair up in a bun and began to add diamond pins into place in her hair. "You are female, half human female at that,and most of the staff here are male. . ."
"Ew." Her nose wrinkled in disgust.
"And although I created Fuego to be your guardian -"
"Baby sitter, you mean." She corrected politely as she pulled out her makeup pallets from the vanity drawers.
"In the past, yes." He nodded his head with a shrug. "But it was necessary since I am hibernating for eight months."
"Yes, sir." She huffed and delicately applied the makeup to her face.
"You are also coming of age to either blossom with power under me, or to follow the path of your weakling mother and resort to being turned into ashes." He turned to her jewelry box and used his pinky finger to look through her small items. "This surely can't be all you have. I know I have plundered much more for you!"
"I think you forget what you give me with how long you hibernate, father." She teased carefully and earned a half serious glare form him. "Your spoils from the land are typically furs to provide comfortable bedding."
He huffed and snorted and set the jewelry box back on top of her dresser. He came back with a pair of simple gold chain dangly earrings. "Wear these. These will do." He commanded. She did as she was told and put them in her ears almost immediately. "Much better." He sounded pleased, though he did not look it. "Come, Astaroth will be here any moment now."
He escorted her back to the dining room that held the feast and lost and behold a handsome man stood waiting at the entry way. He wore a black suit with ruffled cuffs and a red brooch at his necktie. He was elegant, and almost vampire-like.
"Astaroth, welcome, to my Realm!" There was no smile on his face as he gestured to the inner layer of the volcano.
"Yes, quite lovely." He mused with the most judgmental and distasteful look. "Such warm colors, creates such a humid atmosphere."
"Come, let us eat. The feast is all ready." He did not laugh at the joke that Astaroth tried to make and escorted Ashe into the dining hall without even giving her an introduction. She was to sit at her father's side this evening instead of across the table from him; she could feel her palms sweating. Although it made her anxious to sit beside her father, it did give her the opportunity to get a better look at Astaroth.
Although she knew that he was ancient, he only looked to be a few years older than she perhaps his early twenties. His hair was platinum blonde, long and tied back into a ponytail that rested at his waist. His eyes were ruby red in the particular lighting and fangs casually glistened in his smile. He had wisdom, this Ashe knew for sure, but there was something about him, besides him being a demon, that she did not like.
"It is quite a pleasure to be at your Winter Solstice Feast," He held up a cup of wine to honor Chernabog. "I hear, and I know, that it is quite rare that you have visitors on such a grand holiday for yourself."
"It is merely a feast to prepare me for the hibernation."
"And should I assume that you have occasionally eaten your guests?"
"Only fools." He reached for the boar with the apple in its mouth. "They are still far and in between."
"And your daughter is just a lovely as you described." Those red ruby eyes bore into her golden yellow ones, and she did not like it. For a man who was supposed to be known for his honesty, he was telling a boldface lie right in front of her father Chernabog. Chernabog would never speak of her in a loving or complimentary way. He only used her for her powers of destruction and chaos and refused to have any relationship with her outside of being her father in title alone. He would never describe her in detail.
"Of course she is, she is my offspring." He earned a chortle from Astaroth and a glare from Ashe. "I told you she was considered to be beautiful and a prize to be won by the fact she was my daughter alone."
That sounded more like him. . .
"But of course, Chernabog." He sipped his wine and eyed Ashe as though the wine could not satisfy him. She did not like it.
"Do you still wish to marry her?" She began to choke on the turkey breast she had decided to start with. She coughed so loudly she earned a glare and nostril flare from Chernabog as she reached for her own drink and swallowed hard.
"Not one to waste time, are we, Chernabog?" he chuckled and set his wine cup down.
"Time is very little in what I have left before I hibernate." He snapped. "What is your decision?"
"I am both interested in her, as well a disinterested in her." His eyes finally moved from hers to look at her father.
"Why is that?"
"Because she has come from interesting origins, being born form her mother's ashes, that is." Those red eyes rolled over to her again. Her skin began to crawl. "And she will most definitely do something interesting in the future that is still yet to be determined. But at the present, though she has been painted nicely, she is boring and uninteresting. . ."
He chuckled towards the end and Ashe became more anxious. She did not like the fact that he could see her future, and he especially did not like the way he chose his words to tell her father. She suddenly felt as though she had been pitted against her father, and she knew she was going to lose.
"And what is it that she will be doing in the future?" Chernabog exhaled through his nose.
"Ah, that, Chernabog, I cannot tell you , because even I do not know." He pulled a leg from the turkey and snatched a bite from the bone and quickly devoured the meat. "Simply because not enough has happened yet to determine anything."
"Then what is your decision?" he ignored the last bit of information and merely continued to eat his food. "Do you want to marry my daughter, or not?"
"I would like to get to know her first," he mused and intertwined her fingers and rested his chin on his hands. "I shall have my answer to you by the end of the week."
"Absolutely not, you shall answer me now!" He slammed his fist on the table.
"Then you shall receive no answer from me." He shrugged, leaned back in his chair, and propped his feet up on the table. "I will give you my response before you fully go into your hibernation mode."
"Very well," he hissed with a glare. "You have one week to decide. In that time you shall not touch my daughter; I will know otherwise."
"But of course, Chernabog." He chuckled and continued to dine. "I wouldn't dream of it." He held out his glass to Chernabog, but he looked at her before he took a long dragging sip of wine.
"Fuego." Chernabog barked Aand the fire minion suddenly appeared. "Prepare a plate for my daughter and return her to her room. I have many things to discuss with Astaroth."
"Yes, master!" He bowed, then saluted, then snapped his fingers and grabbed Ashe by the hand. "This way, Princess!"
She had never been so thankful for her babysitter to drag her away from a business meeting before like she had now. With success of being escorted to her room, she devoured her own plate before flopping onto her bed with her hand over her heart trying to calm it's anxiety.
She had hoped that he would make his decision earlier and leave without her, especially with how close spring was arriving, but she knew that was futile dreaming. She turned her head to gaze at the star filled sky that was above the vast fields of white canvas.
"Oh Sprite, I do hope that you come early. . ." She sighed and lied down on her bed. She hoped that she would be able to meet Sprite at least one last time . . .
Thank you for reading, I hope you enjoy this one!
In case you have not pieced together yet, this is the backstory that I'm giving to Ms. Scatter. As I have mentioned in my other two stories, Another Chance for Disney Villain Recruiters and Black Apple Poison, I'm writing a few backstories for the Recruits. Most of them will be tied into their actual story I intend to write them, but Ms. Scatter and Mr. V have the least amount of information on them, so I'm digging through some old files to see what I can create. ^_^
I do not intend to make this a very long backstory, but just enough to give more detail to Ms. Scatter's past and why she has ended up in the Anti-Realm.
Thanks for coming along the journey with me, stay tuned!