Todd knew his dreams were usually disturbing, but this went far and beyond anything he ever thought his damaged psyche could come up with. Upon closing his eyes, he had fallen into a dream world he had never experienced before. Everything was so bright, and floral fresh. There were happy animals everywhere, and small lights hovered in the air right above his head, and moved with him when he walked. A light breeze played over his skin, and there were bird songs all around him. Schmee was there, strolling beside him, and Todd had such a feeling of relaxment and contentment that he had never felt before. It was a good dream, for once. No monsters trying to eat him, no aliens trying to kidnap and dissect him, no blood or gore or anything scary.

With a happy sigh, Todd flopped backwards and rolled in the green grass, not caring if he dirtied his white pajamas. This felt so good, so nice. It was too bad it was only a dream. Another thought drifted through him, one not wholly from himself, but with his voice, nonetheless: If life could be like this, I would do anything to have it.

Todd stilled and pondered a moment over it. Anything was a big word, but it was also very true. There were a lot of things he would do to be happy. Yes, many things.

As he let his mind wander, he stared up at the bright blue sky, and immediately noticed how a few puffy clouds were coming over the horizon. Interested and not yet alarmed, Todd sat up and watched as the clouds sped towards him and were right over his head in a matter of seconds. Nothing was that fast, what could it mean?

The animal noises around him began to ebb, and the animals left the hillside clearing for the denser forest. Suddenly alone, and in the growing quiet and darkness, Todd turned to his best friend for an explanation and support. But Schmee was gone! Where could he have-

Todd looked up into the bi-colored eyes of his recent tormentor, who had Schmee in one hand, and a round piece of metal in the other.

"What are you doing here!?" he stuttered out with surprise, and couldn't tear away his eyes from the death-grip that was around Schmee's throat.

"I," those piercing orbs pinned him to the ground, "am here to give you what you've always wanted. I've constructed this dream for you, Todd, and I watched you enjoy it. This can be yours," he swept out a bear-squeezing hand and motioned to the ever-menacing darkness encroaching on them, "if you only do one, small thing for me."

Todd gulped, knowing what the devil boy wanted, but just to be sure, "What?"

Pepito seemed to grow in that instant, so that he towered over Todd, and lightning crashed and thunder boomed behind him, making him so menacing that Todd cried out and tried to scuttle backwards. "Join me, Todd!" his voice thundered, "and I will give you everything you've ever wanted!"

"No, please!" Todd yelled in fright, "Don't make me! It's bad, I know it's bad!"

Pepito, back to his normal self, allowed the skies to clear a little, and the wind to rustle Todd's hair once again. "How is it bad, Todd? Everything about it is good."

"How can that be?" Todd snatched Schmee back when the slightly crinkled bear was held out to him.

Pepito sat heavily beside Todd, and ignored how the boy shivered and inched away from the close contact. "Think about it, Todd. Do good people go to hell?"

"No." Todd whimpered.

"So how do you think bad people get there? Because of people like me and my Dad! We take evil people and put them away forever, so that they can't be mean to the good people. Doesn't that make sense?" That special light was beginning to shine in his eyes again.

"I guess so," Todd ducked his face into his curled-up knees, getting a far- away look in his eyes.

"And you're not doing anything good right now, Todd. You're a good person, you should be doing things to help others. Wouldn't you like to help others?" Pepito leaned in closer.

"Of course I would!" Todd gasped, "But, still, you're evil."

"I'm only thought of as evil! I'm really very good! How many times have I helped you, Todd? Saved you from others?" a few birds chirped now and again.

"Well, more than once, I guess. But you hurt those people! You didn't have to." A family of rabbits crept out from the underbrush, followed by a young doe.

"Oh, yes, I did. Pain is the only thing dumb-asses like them understand. Besides, I'm also the son of Satan. What kind of reputation would I have if I calmly told people to 'stop, or I'll tell the teacher?' I'd get walked on by everyone." The fierce pride in his eyes gave his words power.

"Like me?" Todd finally looked up at him with those wet eyes.

"Yeah, like you." Pepito gave him a pitying look. "Why do you let yourself be scared and hurt? Don't you want to be strong, stand up for yourself?"

"So much. But, I'm just not like that. Why can't people just all be nice to each other?" He absently reach out a hand and rubbed the back of a curious squirrel.

"Because of the evil in them. The world would be much worse off without demons to clean it up. Do you see now, that I'm good, and that Hell's good?" He shot a look behind himself at the encroaching quail, who immediately skittered back into the tall grass.

Todd didn't answer right away, only clutched Schmee tightly to his chest. "I can understand, but, I don't think I can-"

"-think about it, Todd." Pepito interrupted him, and put a hand on his arm. "I'll give you all the time you need, if you just promise to think about it. You can be happy, Todd, and brave and strong and help others. I know you can do it. You just need the right guidance, and the right friend. I want to be your friend."

Todd only had a moment to look over at the earnest sincerity on the boy's face before he woke up with a gasp, sitting straight up in his bed. He looked down at the rumpled bear in his arms, and murmured, "Schmee, what should I do?"

The toy was uncomfortably silent, only staring at the 'Hell Is Cool' campaign button sitting on the bedside table.

~~~

Believe it or not, this was supposed to be at least a little comedic. Whoops.

This length make you any happier, Kurumi? ^_~