Author's notes: Hey everyone, since I got some free time to kill, I've decided to update NF. AnT is already getting to its conclusion, while NF is basically just starting. Plus, the battles in chapter 9 are becoming a pain to right. I will finish Aku no Tsubasa, I promise you that, but I need a break from the battles, so I've decided to work on Nostalgic Feelings. After all, I'm sure everyone wants to know what Flora's response. Also, I've decided to base Laharl's appearance on a fanart I've seen where he's older, which can be found on the netherworldgallery Yahoo group. Btw, I'm changing Flora's mother's name to Rose.
Disclaimer: I don't own Disgaea. I do own any names in here though. Also, I don't own the fanart of 'teen Laharl', which is the basis of his appearance.
Episode 3: Where do I belong?
"Me…? …an Overlord…?" Flora's situation has become even more confusing than before. After gaining access into the Castle, she had to fight off two incredibly powerful demons. Luckily, Laharl, the one she was determined to find, had come for her and defeated the demon vampire Brawd. However, his return sparked a question from the Netherworld Overlord Etna. Laharl's response, however, was not to become Overlord, but to become the vassal of who he deemed as Etna's successor, Flora.
Etna, who was surprised to see Laharl again, was even more surprised to find that he was here to become Flora's vassal, not to mention that he chose her to succeed Etna. "Prince, you're choosing her to succeed me?"
"Yeah, and she won this lil game of yours right? It's only right for her to succeed you."
Etna was a bit skeptical about this though. "Prince, first of all, this tournament was concocted in order to see who could become my successor. The winner isn't automatically my successor. There could be others out there with more potential. And even then, are you sure Flora-chan wants to become the Overlord?"
"Of course she does! Right Flora?"
Flora was unsure of herself. After all, she had been dragged into this unexpectedly. And to become the Overlord of the Netherworld was just hard to conceive. She was just a junior high school student from a demon slayer's city. "I'm sorry…Laharl-san…but I can't become the Overlord…"
Laharl, taken aback by her response, placed his hands on her shoulders, trying to change her mind. "What do you mean? Why can't you become an Overlord?"
"It's because I'm a human!"
"So?"
"I…just don't belong here…" Flora replied with her head down. "I'm sorry…but I'm from Earth. I have a family, I have friends, and I have school to go to. If I become an Overlord, I won't be able to see them again. I'm sorry, Laharl-san, but I have to politely decline." Laharl didn't know how to react. He didn't expect Flora to simply decline the request. "Excuse me, but I'm already late for school. I need to go back to Earth."
Etna, seeing the situation she was in, decided to help her out. "Alright, just go through the dimensional portal over there. Ask Julietta to transport you to wherever you want. Tell her I sent you, okay?"
"Okay. Thank you, Etna-san." Flora turned to Laharl, who was still shocked that Flora would reject the offer. Flora bowed to Laharl. "I'm sorry, Laharl but thank you for saving me…twice. I hope we meet again." And so, Flora headed for the portal and back to Earth.
As Laharl watched her leave, he kept muttering to himself. He couldn't believe she would say no to a chance to become Overlord. Etna, the only one left with Laharl, finally turned to him, with a serious looking her face. "Prince, what was your plan in making Flora-chan the successor? What made you choose her out of everyone else, and…how do you know her?" Laharl simply turned towards the dimensional portal, and walked away from her. However, Etna wouldn't let him out so easily. "I'm not the same vassal that woke you up five hundred years ago!!! I'm not letting you get away this time!!! Everyone get in here and secure the dimensional gate!!!" In that very second, almost all of Etna's vassals had appeared. Her top vassals, Aramis, Kai, Prinny Gordon, Prinny Jennifer, and Thursday were beside her. However, loud gasps echoed as some of the vassals saw Laharl. When Laharl left, he left control of his reign to Etna, which included all his vassals.
"It's the former Overlord!" Gordon pointed his fin at Laharl.
"Laharl-chan, has returned?" Jennifer gasped.
"Who in the world is he?" Kai asked, clueless of who Laharl was.
"He was the Overlord before Etna-san took over." Aramis informed him. "Why he gave up his position is unknown."
Laharl looked around him. Everyone there was willing to keep him from leaving, especially all those he knew. While he could probably defeat them all, he didn't want to leave the Castle ruins. Laharl sighed, and decided to tell Etna everything. "Fine, you win. I don't want to leave this place with lifeless bodies, so I'll tell you everything. However, this is something between you and me, so dismiss all your vassals."
Etna nodded in reply. After all, she was the only one who needed to hear it, not the other vassals. She motioned for everyone to leave, and they all did as they were told. When everyone left, she turned to Laharl. "Let's go to my room…or in this case, your former room. That way, we'll have some privacy."
"Right."
Back on Earth, Flora was staying after school and helping Alora with cleaning up. This was her punishment for coming to school AN HOUR before it ended. Of course, Alora had notified Flora's mom about this, and she was furious to hear she would leave like that. As Flora finished with the board, she headed for the desks, and started to clean them. Alora noticed that Flora had been a little too quiet today, and was really worried. "How are you feeling today, Flora-chan?"
Flora faked a smile, hoping to please her. "I'm fine, thank you for asking."
Alora shook her head. "Do you really think that fake smile of yours will please me?" Flora bowed her head, seeing that Alora could easily tell. "Well what happened?"
Flora, once again not wanting to make Alora upset, decided to tell her story in rhetorical way. "Well you see…my friend is asking me to take on this job…and well…this job is something I can't handle. It's too far from Tenkai and I don't want to leave this school or my family so…"
"So is that why you were late?"
Flora knew that Alora would know about it, and decided to nod. "Yes…I'm sorry for coming so late…"
"It's alright. I was wondering why you, a normally early student, would come an hour before the end of dismissal." Alora was a little curious about this new job and decided to ask her about it. "So Flora-chan, what is this new job?"
Flora hesitated for a bit, after all, she didn't want to scare Alora or anything. She decided to word it a little differently. "Well it's the type of job that…well…you lead people in…I think…"
"In other words, you were asked to become the Overlord of the Netherworld." This time, Flora was really shocked. It made her think that Alora was kind of psychic or something.
Flora politely nodded to confirm Alora's suspicion. "I can't become the Overlord…what will my mom say…?"
"But your mom hates demons and you don't agree with her." Alora said, making Flora pay close attention to her. "It's not different if you become an Overlord. Besides, you love demons, right? Wouldn't it be great if you could show your parents that you have complete control over them and that they have nothing to fear?"
"But still…"
"Flora-chan…" Alora began, in a very motherly voice. "…you must not listen to what others tell you to do. Listen to your heart and you'll find the answer you're looking for, alright?" Flora simply nodded and went back to cleaning. As she wiped down each desk, she saw her reflection in them. Each time she saw her reflection, she thought she saw two people behind her. When she turned around, it was just Alora at her desk. Flora just kept thinking about what she said. Listen to your heart… Flora looked down on the next clean desk, and she saw those two people again. Laharl-san…Etna-san…
Back in the Netherworld, Etna became silent after hearing everything Laharl had told her. After Laharl agreed to be alone, Etna took him into her room and listened intently on his story. He told her about an even that happened fifteen years ago: someone's voice rang through his ear and told him that she would be reborn. With the pain from the pendant gone, Laharl searched for the reincarnated girl, until she came upon Flora. Wanting to be with her again, he devised a plan to turn her into the Overlord of the Netherworld. After hearing that story, Etna finally gave her response.
"So you think she's the reincarnation of Flonne-chan?" Laharl nodded in reply to Etna's question. Etna, however, was a little skeptical about this. "But what if she's not?"
"She is!!! Flora is the reincarnation of Flonne!!!"
"But Prince, how can you be so sure? I mean, sure she kinda looks like Flonne-chan. She even acts like Flonne-chan, but are you sure it is her? Just because you're reincarnated doesn't mean you act exactly like your former self."
"This…is my proof." Laharl then reached into his scarf and pulled out a little pendant. It was decorated with a jewel and gold, and it looked like a key. "It's this pendant that Flonne gave me before she died…five hundred years ago. On the very same day, I lost the flower and the burning was gone, I found out that Flora was born. At the same time, my pendant starts to feel warm around her. Seriously Etna, it's her."
"I know how you feel about her…" Etna began in a very serious tone. "But even if she is her reincarnation, this is no longer Flonne-chan. Her name is now Flora Lammings, a human raised in a demon-hating city on Earth. This not the same Flonne-chan sent from Celestia. She isn't the same person you love. She doesn't even remember you at all. And like she says, she has a life. You cannot simply pull her out of what she has right now."
"But…!!!"
"Besides, even if she were to become the Overlord, do you think the demons would accept her?"
"But that's why I'm here!!!" Laharl exclaimed with his sword drawn. "I'll crush anyone who dares to go against her!!!"
"And what will that accomplish?" Etna's question stuck Laharl hard. He didn't know how to answer back to it. Etna knew exactly what response Laharl was going to give, as he remained silent. "Exactly! It won't accomplish anything! You knew that as a former Overlord! Crushing your opponents does not work always work. The minute they see Flora, they'll try to crush her until she steps down or dies. She probably has too much going on in her life. Do not pull her away to be here. Let her live life peacefully on Earth."
"What part of being ridiculed as a 'demon sympathizer' equals peace?" Laharl said with his head down. Etna didn't expect such a question to be asked. After all, she had no idea what was going on in Flora's life. "I have seen what happens to Flora. Her peers hate her for thinking about demons. Her mother even scolds her when she mentions the word 'demon'. Even if she is a human, she being treated just like any demon would on that planet." Laharl then looked Etna straight in the eye. His fiery red eyes made Etna pay full attention to him. "As for the reason why she should become the Overlord…I want to avoid anymore angels, demons, and humans from killing each other. At least…that's what they told me."
FlashbackIt is three hundred years after Flonne's death in Celestia. Laharl, who had been continually burned by Flonne's pendant, was trudging through Blair Forest in search for an answer. However, something caught his attention. It was someone presence, a familiar one.
"Who's there?"
"My my, why must you always call me out?"
Laharl instantly recognized that voice. He pulled out his sword and readied himself for battle. "So…you're back…"
"I don't stay down for long you know." The figure said as he jumped from the shadows.
Laharl charged at him with all his might. He needed to get rid of him and fast. However, the shadowed figure simply dodged it. "You haven't changed."
"I wish I could say the same for you." The Shadowed Figure said. "I cannot believe that you have gone so low."
"I don't need you pity!!!!" Laharl ignored the shadowed figure and kept trying to attack him. His mind was bent on erasing anyone related to the Celestia incident. I have heard many rumors about you. You and the Seraph had joined forces. You two were plotting from behind our backs. And…it was you… "YOU KILLED FLONNE!!!!!" Laharl's fist was now set ablaze as he tried to destroy his opponent. However, the shadowed figure caught it. Laharl clenched his fist so tightly and tried to push the attack in, but the shadowed figure wouldn't allow it. Suddenly, tears began to flood Laharl's eyes. The former Overlord cussed at the shadowed figure. "Damn…why…why did you let her die…why…she didn't do anything…"
"The Seraph's plan was not to kill Flonne." The shadowed figure told him. "Our plan was to test you. Flonne had taught you the meaning of love. When he turned her into flower, he needed to test whether or not you had learned from her. In fact, he would've spared her life however..."
"You expect me to believe that…?" Laharl pulled himself away from the figure and tried to punch him again. "If that's true, then that means I killed her! Do you expect me that I was the one who killed her!?!" However, the figure had grabbed his fist again, this time slamming Laharl to the ground. Laharl didn't get up this time. Instead, he slammed his fist into the ground, the tears welling up in his eyes. "…I couldn't have…I didn't want to…"
"Laharl…I understand how you feel, but acting like this won't help at all." The figure took Laharl's hand, and placed and his other hand on his. The presence made Laharl feel a little more comfortable. "Your love for Flonne was too great, you couldn't control yourself. Laharl, do you know what Flonne and Seraph Lamington have in common? They both have love for all beings. Angels, demons, humans, they would welcome any being. What they hope is that someone could continue to do the same. Laharl, will you aid them?"
"Even now…I don't believe in love…" Laharl groaned under his breath. "But I believe in Flonne. If this is the answer I'm looking for…then I will help bring unity to all the worlds…just for her…"
"Then let me give you this." The figure said as he place a small note in Laharl's hand. The figure then turned towards the trees and began to walk away. Before he left, he said one thing. "Laharl…I'll check on you again…200 years from now." The figure soon disappeared into the darkness, never to be heard from again.
Laharl grabbed the note and read it. His eyes widened when he realized who's hand writing it was. It's…
Dear Laharl-san
Please do not blame anyone in this. It was both my fault and Vulcanus' fault for everything that has transpired. Please do not drown yourself in this darkness anymore. If you care about me at all, please listen to me and do as I say. They say that I'll be reincarnated two hundred years from now. Please wait for me. Till then…I want you to become an Overlord again. This time, rule with love and kindness. I want you to be the one destroy this discrimination against all the beings, once and for all. You are the only one I know that can do it. I'm counting on you.
Love, Flonne
Laharl stared at the letter he received. His face was filled with tears, and for those few seconds, the pendant did not burn him. He then tossed the letter and prepared to leave the forest. I'm sorry, Flonne. I cannot become an Overlord again. It was the hands of Overlord Laharl who killed you. I cannot go back…not without fulfilling my new promise. Don't worry, I will help you end the hatred between the races…but I will not be the Overlord. You will see the new Overlord…two hundred years from now…
End of Flashback"So…this was all Flonne-chan's idea?"
Laharl nodded as he continued to stare at Etna. "If there is one person I know who can do this it's Flonne's reincarnation, Flora. I've seen her. The way she carries herself. The way she cares for everyone, even her enemies. Etna, you have to do this. Please."
Etna paused for a minute to think. This was a difficult decision for the current Overlord. Would it be worth it to have Flora as an Overlord and would this really bring a new era to the Netherworld? After taking her time in thinking this over, she nodded and headed towards the thrown room. "First of all, I'm only considering her as a possible heir. She's not going to be an Overlord just yet. There are still many candidates. One more thing…if you want her to become an Overlord so much…you'd better think of something that will get her back here…"
Later that night, Flora lay in the sofa of the living room. It was a rough Friday for her. Even after cleaning the furniture, some of her peers started to tease her about her 'demon friend'. As part of his revenge, Vulcan had spread the rumor to the entire school. Only Chris and Alora were able to comfort her. Everyone else teased her and poked fun at her. It was usually routine, so she wouldn't feel so bad, but the way they kept talking about how evil she and the rest of the demons were made her feel so awful about herself. Is it really that bad…to have demon friends?
At that moment, her mother came in. She looked very serious this time though. Something was up, and Flora knew it. "Flora-chan, may I please speak with you?" Flora sat upright and prepared herself for a scolding. "Flora-chan, there was a rumor that you cut class because you were hanging around a demon. Is this true?" Flora wouldn't reply. She felt so downtrodden that she couldn't bear telling her mother the truth. "Flora-chan, do you realize what you're doing when you become acquainted with a demon? First of all, your entirely family, not just you, are ridiculed. As you know, our family is one of the three greatest demon-hunting families. No matter what you think, it's true. Our family's name will be tarnished if you continue to think like that. Also, you're putting yourself in danger. Demons are nothing but evil. They will kill you in glance. They almost did the day you were born. We were lucky that someone killed them…but if you keep doing this you will die. Do you understand Flora?"
Flora's tears were streaming down her face. She couldn't hold in her feelings anymore. She didn't want to hear it anymore. She bolted up from the sofa and let out all her feelings. "No, I don't understand why you can be so cruel to them! You and everyone else in this city! Just because a demon tried to kill me doesn't mean all of them are evil. The one I befriended…protected me from harm. He protected me from my own classmate! I needed to see him again, so I went to the Netherworld to find him! It is true that demons there can be evil, but I've found good friends there! More friends than I have in this city! Why must you brand them as evil!!!"
This only shocked Flora's mother, Rose. She could not believe anything that Flora had said. "You went to the Netherworld!?! You skipped school to go to that retched place!?!"
"It's not retched!!! How come you can never understand me? Why do you always put me and every single demon down?"
"Flora, you are forbidden to go down there from now on! Do you understand me?"
However, Flora could not obey even her own mother. She loved the earth. She loved Tenkai. She loved all the people around her, but they could never love demons. It pained her inside that even her own mother would put her down like this. Flora's tears kept streaming down her face. She could not stop crying after going through all this. These people. My mother. I can't stay here anymore. I want to show them once and for all…that demons aren't evil. I want to learn more about the Netherworld. About demons. About Laharl-san and Etna-san. I want to…go back…back to the Netherworld…
"If you wanted to then why didn't you say so?" Flora gasped. That comforting voice belonged to only one person. That person was brushing the tears off her eyes with his soft hands. Soon, she felt his arms bring her into a warm embrace. The eyes of a forgiving moon. The antenna hair that made him look like a bunny. "Flora, my master, would you like return to the Netherworld with me?"
"Laharl-san…" Flora was crying was once again. However, these tears were tears of joy. The demon that protected her. The demon that saw past her appearance…has returned to her. Even after rejecting his offer, he was still here. Flora didn't know how to thank him. All she could do is nod in reply. "Yes, please let us return to the Netherworld…my vassal." As Laharl picked her up and headed toward the door, Flora's mother stood in front of Laharl, blocking his way out.
"So you're the demon everyone's been talking about! I'm not letting you out of here with Flora-chan! You can forget about her going to the Netherworld!"
However, Laharl simply took Flora with him and passed her mother. As he left, he said to her, "Ma'am, after saying that to your own daughter, you do not deserve to call her 'Flora-chan'…"
Later that night, on their way to the portal, Flora asked Laharl, "Laharl-san, I have school on Monday, so could we please return Sunday night? It's important that I go to school."
"Alright, but if those guys bother you again, tell me, and I'll beat their ass to ground."
Flora, normally a pacifist, did not want that to happen. "I understand that you'd like to help me, but please don't use violence on them!"
Laharl chuckled. "Alright, I won't."
"Laharl-san, am I fit to become an Overlord?"
"Well, what does your heart tell you?"
"Teehee…yes. I'll try my best to become a great Overlord…and maybe one day…the people of Tenkai will not hate me, you, or any other demon. Maybe there will truly be peace."
"I hope so too…Flonne…"
"Um…my name is Flora. Is this Flonne person a friend of yours?"
"I guess you could say that…" Laharl looked into the earth sky. There was a full moon, glowing in a bright blue color in the clear starry sky. Laharl began to smile, for this time the girl he wanted to see the moon with once again was with him…holding his hand tightly. Thank you…Flonne…
Yeah, abittersweet chapter. I know I said I was going to pay more attention to Aku no Tsubasa, but the Setsuna battle is taking longer than I thought it would. It was hard thinking up a lot of things and what to say and everything. The main story for it I have down, but it's the battle scene that's giving me the problem, so if you feel dizzy after reading the battles, sorry. Don't worry, cuz I'm already finishing up that chapter. Hopefully, the next few chapterswon't be as difficult.
Now that Flora is back in the Netherworld, she gets a real welcome from the vassals of the castle. However, Etna won't give make Flora the heir so easily. She as well as her head vassal, Laharl, must prove her worth. Can Flora pass this test? Tune in next time!