Chapter 13
Written By Illuminet
Disclaimer: Refer to the first chapter.
"..."-Indicate Speech
'...'-Indicate Thought
:::TWF:::
#Flashback#
Unknown...
"It took a long time, but it looks like your life is returning back to normal, Laharl."
Flonne said as she sat besides Laharl on the shore of the lake. Laharl nodded.
"Yeah..."
Laharl said. His voice sounded a bit hesitant, though.
"Something is bothering you Laharl. I can feel it."
Flonne told him. Laharl sighed.
"I'm just a bit frightened. It has taken the past one hundred years to finally be rid of all my guilt and depression, and now that it's gone, your going to disappear. I don't know if I can handle that. I love you too much to let you go, so..."
Laharl kept saying, but Flonne put a finger to his lips, silencing him.
"I understand how you feel Laharl, but we both knew it would come down to this. I'm a bit frightened to, but you and I both know that we can't prolong nature's course. I've spent these past one hundred years with you out of love, trying to help you walk on your own two feet again without having to be weighed down by the guilt of your new inheritance of power you received from Baal. Now that it has been accomplished, I'll most likely leave you tonight. I have yet to become a Prinny, after all."
Flonne told him. Laharl lowered his head sadly.
"Tonight...I wanted to tell you to stay Flonne but even I know you won't let yourself. How do you let someone you love so much go? How do I live throughout the rest of the days without having to be depressed knowing you'll become a Prinny, and once absolved of your sins, will be reborn without memory of your past life and only a minimal chance of being reborn as an Angel? Doesn't it bother you that you'll forget about everything you once knew? Even me?"
Laharl calmed himself down, finding himself starting to go into a frantic tirade of words instead of remaining calm. But the more he thought about it, the more he wondered how he could stay calm when the first woman he loved in his life was going to be leaving him, and will come back to the land of the living without memories of the past life, and most likely as a different race.
"This is nature's course Laharl. Once your life ends, you will also become a Prinny and be reborn as someone else, without memory of your past life. You'll forget about me too. This is just the way life and death works. You and I both know it. Our roles may have been reversed if you had decided to sacrifice your own life to save my own when I became the flower. You might have ended up just like your mom...one who still exists in the life of the one she loved most but unable to tell that person of her feelings because it would do more harm than good."
Flonne said, her tone of voice a bit sad, but unfaltering. Laharl had always been amazed at her hidden strength. Had he been able to be this strong so long ago, he wouldn't have allowed himself to be taken down by his severe weak heartedness. Despite how dire the situation, Flonne always approached them with a smile, never allowing her heart to give in like Laharl had. He let himself drown in his guilt, but Flonne would never had let herself be taken down by it. She would rise above it, becoming her own master over it once again. He had recently realized this was what she was trying to teach him all her life, and when he thought he had grasped every word, he had grasped only a small piece of the whole. And all that time he had believed she was just simply trying to teach him love, when it was only partly that. Just like his mother. What his mom had started...it seemed Flonne had completed.
"Flonne..."
Laharl began to say, but never finished. He was astounded at the sudden rush of understanding. Of course, he had understood it some time ago, but it always amazed him every time. Everything that seemed so confusing to him when he first met her seemed to make more and more sense to him now. Flonne smiled.
"Your finally understanding...that's good Laharl. I'm very relieved."
Flonne said gently, with a small smile. Laharl smiled as well.
"I will continue to conquer over the negative feelings that made me weak, and I will approach them with a positive outlook. For everyone's sake, and my own."
Laharl said with a clenched fist and a look of determination on his face. Flonne nodded in approval of his words.
"That's right Laharl. It's just like your campaign to become the Overlord. You overcame great obstacles to obtain your rightful title, and you can do that with yourself as well."
Flonne stated.
"Okay, Flonne. I'll do my best. Still, you don't have to go quite yet right? We can still enjoy this dream together since it will be the last one I'll have with you physically in it, right?"
He asked her. Flonne smiled.
"Of course Laharl. Let's make this last time a memorable one."
She said cheerily. Laharl nodded, a warm smile gracing his lips.
"My thoughts exactly!"
He said. He would not hold her back anymore after tonight. As she said, nature had to run it's course, and she would have to have her soul transferred into a Prinny first and foremost. He wouldn't look to the negative side of the process of reincarnation, on the fact that the love shared between them would be forgotten once she was finally reincarnated. She would begin a new life, and as long as that was the case, he would be happy for her even if she never remembered his own existence.
#Flashback#
:::TWF:::
Netherworld, Overlord's Castle, Laharl's Room
Out of reflex, Laharl woke up. He removed the lid of his coffin and sat up. He looked down at his hands for a moment before closing his eyes in concentration. He could no longer feel the familiar warmth of Flonne within him. Of course he knew he shouldn't be surprised. That conversation had been one week ago. His lips upturned in a small melancholy smile. From now on since then, he had begun to walk the real world on his own two feet without Flonne to support him. As he promised himself one hundred years ago, and truly reaffirmed on a night around the fifty year mark of his atonement, he would not submit to his own darkness. He would live on and bare his burden without being overtaken by it's weight. He stood up gracefully and stretched, letting his joints pop audibly.
:::TWF:::
Netherworld, Overlord's Castle, Throne Room
Laharl walked into the throne room, hoping to speak with Etna, however, the Overlord in question was not there. Only Dratti.
"Oh, Laharl, is there something you need today?"
The Nidhogg asked.
"I was hoping to have a word with her Majesty, but I guess she's not here at the moment."
Laharl said, turning to leave. Dratti stopped him, however.
"Her Highness is having an important meeting with the other world leaders. She probably won't be done until late in the evening."
She said to him. Laharl nodded.
"Thanks."
With that he left the throne room.
:::TWF:::
Netherworld, Overlord's Castle, Balcony
Etna landed softly on the balcony of the castle. She let out an exhausted sigh of relief. She had decided to hold a meeting with the other world leaders in order to decide on Laharl's release back into the worlds. If it was just a matter of releasing Laharl from having to be confined to the Overlord's Castle and back into the Netherworld, she could hold the meeting with the Dark Assembly to decide, but since Laharl was the new Lord of Terror, and considered a possible threat to the safety of all the worlds, she would need to convince all of them first that Laharl would not follow in the footsteps of his predecessors. The entire process was tiring, but well worth it. Now that Etna had the approval she needed, Laharl would not be confined to just having to be in the Netherworld. Of course, save for the Alternate Netherworld, Celestia and Earth had rather strict guidelines for Laharl to follow should he feel the need to visit their worlds.
"So, you've returned."
Etna almost jumped in surprise when she heard Laharl's voice. He was leaning casually against the wall with his back.
"Oh, Laharl. Were you waiting for me to return?"
She asked him. Laharl nodded before standing upright and walking towards her.
"How was your meeting?"
He asked. Etna yawned.
"Boring, but I can't complain. I was able to have you given free reign to go amongst the different worlds, but you'll have to follow certain rules if you do decide to visit."
She informed him.
"Thank you Etna. I have two things I wanted to tell you then."
Laharl said. Etna looked at him questioningly.
"Tell me? What about?"
She asked him.
"First, I want you to know that Flonne is finally going to begin her process of reincarnation. Second, thanks to you giving me free reign to visit the worlds, I think I'll be heading over to Baal's Tower, to make it my permanent residence from now on."
He told her. Etna looked a bit taken aback by the information.
"I see..."
She said softly, her head lowering slightly.
"I'm thankful you've given me a room in the castle these past one hundred years, but it's time I moved on with my life. For Flonne's sake as well as my own. I'm also thankful for all the support you've given me. Without you or her, I would have been drowning in sorrow with no way of knowing how to overcome it. Now I think is the best time to try and make a new life for myself. I want to make use of this new found power I've inherited for a positive purpose rather than a negative one like my predecessors. Through that, I hope to continue to live and atone for the crimes committed by them and me."
He explained to her. Etna shook her head.
"There's no reason to atone for all of the Lords of Terror. You've already atoned for yourself, there's no reason to have to atone for them as well..."
Etna said, her voice trailing off. Laharl shook his head firmly.
"But you said it yourself, Etna. Because of my predecessors, I am feared by the races. Even if I'm allowed in their worlds, I must follow the guidelines they provide me because they don't trust me. I'd rather walk freely without being shunned for what I am. The only way to do that is by obtaining the trust of others. Too long has the title Lord of Terror been placed on the Demon who has the power and potential to become the ultimate tyrant who will reign over all the worlds with a grip of iron and the instillment of fear upon the masses. I want those words to stop being part of an association to the title I was given."
Laharl said. Everything he said was right. As long as he did nothing, he would continue to be the center of fear within the hearts of the masses. It was easy to sympathize with his plight. He craved freedom from the confines that restrained him, and if the only way to do that was by earning the trust of the people, he would have to stand tall and unfaltering.
"You will come back to visit, right?"
Etna asked him. She wanted to say something that would have more impact in allowing him to stay, but she decided not to. This was Laharl's first step in entering back into society, one that mostly were terrified of him and the disasters his powers could conjure up if he were just so inclined to do so. Laharl wanted to prove everyone who feared him that they were wrong in their judging of him, that he was not like Baal or the ones before him.
"You don't need to worry about that. I'll visit often enough anyway. The room you've had made for me would go to waste otherwise."
He said, a small smile gracing his lips. Etna nodded, trying to sound as happy as she could muster.
"I'll hold you to those words then, Laharl. Please...take care of yourself."
She said softly. Laharl nodded. He moved his hands in complex motions, opening a dimensional gateway.
"You take care of yourself, too, Etna."
He told her. Etna was surprised when his arms came swiftly around her to hold her in an embrace.
"Thanks for everything you've done for me, Etna."
He whispered in her ear. Etna leaned into his chest, not wanting him to see the blush that stained her cheeks. The two had grown very close over the years, yet the feelings of love could not blossom between them as long as Laharl's heart was still with Flonne. Even if the Angel was no longer residing within Laharl, his feelings were still only for her. Etna briefly wondered if Laharl was secretly heart broken now that Flonne had gone away. If he was, he was doing a good job of not showing it.
"I should get going. Good bye for now."
Laharl said, releasing the Overlord. He made his way to the dimensional gate, turning around once to wave good bye, then went through it.
:::TWF:::
Alternate Netherworld, Tower of Laharl, Outer limits of tower
Laharl teleported himself to a steep cliff that faced the tower that formally belonged to Baal. He usually teleported to the roof entrance where the formal Patriarch Seal was located that confined Baal to his tower. The tower now would serve as Laharl's home, so he wanted to inspect it from the main entrance instead. He was planning to fly down to the entrance but stopped himself when he heard the roar of thunder. He looked to the sky, which was rapidly filling with dark clouds and the heavy scent of coming rain. Laharl held out a hand from the folds of his cape, where a single rain drop fell onto it. Rain began to pour freely, and Laharl felt nostalgic. He briefly remembered the near beginning of his atonement where he ran from Etna back to the Infinite Darkness. After she convinced him to not give up, one hundred years of hard work and effort were put forth to bring Laharl back up from the depth of his despair.
'So much of my life is owed to you, Etna...maybe someday, I'll be able to repay the favor in full.'
He thought to himself as he was drenched in the shower of the rain. It was not hard for him to figure out her feelings for him during the past one hundred years they spent together. One time he had brought it up with Flonne who laughed at him and said he was very dense for figuring Etna out so late. Since Laharl still was very much in love with Flonne, he never let certain compromising situations between him and Etna grow into anything more. He knew that he was most likely hurting her inside, but he did not want to make it seem as if he were just playing with heart which he figured would have infinitely hurt her even more. Laharl shook his head to free himself of his thoughts of the past. He swiftly made his way down to the tower entrance. Before he got there, however, a sound caught his attention. Using the cover of darkness and the shower of rain to keep himself hidden, Laharl saw himself spying on some Demon children who were looking at the opened entrance of the tower. Laharl strained his hearing to be able to identify what they were saying.
"Come on, I dare you to go straight to the top."
A kid Manticore dared a kid Dragon. Laharl noticed that there were about five children in all: The Manticore, the Dragon, a Succubus, a KittyCat, and a Prinny. Laharl figured they were just some kids having fun, but he thought more deeply on it and wondered why anyone would be out here at the tower when civilization was so far away.
'How did these children get here?'
Laharl asked himself.
"I could do it if I wasn't so tired. You go first."
The Dragon said, clearly trying to cover up the fact that he didn't want to go up there. Laharl decided he better intervene before one of them do something stupid.
"You kids! What are you doing here?"
He said in a stern voice. He was met with surprised screams from the kids. They all scattered, but the Prinny ran right into the entrance.
"Hey, stop!"
Laharl warned, but the Prinny was no longer in hearing range.
"Wow, he really went in there."
The Succubus said. Laharl turned to the little girl.
"You and your friends stay here. I'll find him."
He told them.
:::TWF:::
Alternate Netherworld, Tower of Laharl, Patriarch Seal
Laharl didn't know how long he traveled but it felt like forever. The darkness of the tower was so thick, Laharl could barely see anything around him, even with his enhanced vision. Despite the foreboding darkness, Laharl was very comfortable. Unlike the Humans or the Angel, who felt their most comfortable in the light, the Demons felt their most comfortable in the dark. He finally hit the top floor which led to the balcony, the entrance at the roof. Lightning cracked across the sky outside, making light filter in through the entrance of the door way briefly. Otherwise, the room was in near complete darkness.
"Kid, are you here? I won't hurt you. I'll take you to your friends."
Laharl said. A sound caught his ear from behind him, and Laharl swiftly jumped away, rolling until he was a few feet away from where the sound came from. The Prinny had snuck up behind him. Laharl regarded the child from his kneeled position he had come out of after rolling. Something about the Prinny seemed off.
"Are you okay?"
Laharl asked him. He noticed something when lightning struck outside again, bathing the room with some of it's light.
'His eyes...'
Laharl thought to himself. The Prinny's eyes lacked the large black pupils within them.
"I was so looking forward to this moment..."
The Prinny stated as Laharl stood up from his kneeled position. Even the Prinny's childish voice sounded awkward. Laharl's eyes narrowed as he regarded the child.
"What the hell are you?"
He stated bluntly. The Prinny did not react. Laharl turned his head to the side, feeling other presences other then himself and the Prinny. Four small figures surrounded Laharl along with the Prinny. The Demon children he had left at ground level. They had the same empty gaze as the Prinny as well. Laharl's eyes widened slightly in mild surprise.
"It all makes sense now..."
His head turned towards the Prinny once more. Laharl's eyes narrowed into slits.
"I would have been able to sense you out almost immediately had you not divided your power into smaller segments..."
He continued to speak. Save for the Prinny, the other children fell over face first, as a black mist began rising from their backs, collecting over them until they became sphere shaped. The four black orbs of mist floated over the bodies of the children as the Prinny's skin fell apart, piling up on the ground in a small pile. Black mist spewed forth from the remains of the Prinny skin. The four black orbs combined with the rising mist, making the mist become larger and larger until it took shape of a very familiar looking giant.
"Baal...or should I call you Raol, the very core to the influence of the Lord of Terror?"
Laharl said. The black misted silhouette of Baal looked down at Laharl, it's gaze glowing of fierce crimson, as if his eyes were on fire themselves.
"Good perception, Laharl. I made one of the best choices when I decided to make you my successor."
Raol said. Laharl's pupil began to glow an eerie crimson to match the giant being of shade.
"You did this just to get me up here? By murdering innocent children and splitting your aura into each of them so I couldn't detect you?"
Laharl said through clenched teeth. He knew the previous Lord of Terror could sink very low, but he didn't know how low until he witnessed this tragedy.
"Of course, Laharl. I don't like it when other Demons think they can take something that rightfully doesn't belong to them. That power I gave you is only supposed to be used by your body, not along with your conscious. I intend to take that body of yours back."
Raol said in an arrogant tone. Laharl growled deep in his throat.
"Your mistaken if you think you can take me on anymore. I have no weaknesses."
Laharl stated. Raol nodded.
"As of now, I'm forced to agree. But I wonder...what if there was a way to bring that guilt back?"
Raol stated boldly. One of Laharl's eye brows lifted slightly at his words.
"What?"
He asked in a deep tone of voice. Raol chuckled softly.
"You may not have any inner weaknesses anymore as of now. But you still have one outer weakness. Shall we say...a certain Overlord that resides in the Netherworld?"
Raol said, in an almost jokingly manner. Laharl's form stiffened, his black cape and tendrils of hair seemed to also reacted to his emotions of rage, and began to bristle rigidly.
"You dare...!?"
He said in a deathly low voice, but Raol's voice came forth to interrupt his.
"Heh, let's just say me and Overlord Etna have a date with destiny."
Raol said, his tone of voice sounded amused at Laharl's reaction. The black mist went shapeless again and poured back into the Prinny skin, filling it up. However, the Prinny's form enlarged dramatically, the once grey colored skin of it's back turning onyx, and it's empty eyes glowed crimson. Laharl eyed the monstrosity of a Prinny. The sewed up areas of the Prinny's body looked like they were about to burst because it was so overstuffed.
"It's too bad you couldn't have just accept me. We would have had a good old time together."
Raol said. He moved swiftly towards the entrance to the balcony, so quick that Laharl almost didn't catch the movement.
"I won't let you escape, Raol! Stay here and fight!"
Laharl challenged. Their powers were close to dead even, but Laharl felt he had a slight advantage. He wasn't sure if it was enough to win, but he was confident that he would be able to.
"Sorry, but I can't risk losing all of my power to you. So I hope you don't mind if I decide to decline your offer for the time being."
Raol commented. He raised his winged appendages up in the air. Laharl was blinded by a stunning light that began emanating from the runic symbols that adorned the floor.
"NO!!"
Laharl roared as he rushed towards Raol, knowing what the previous Lord of Terror was trying to do. Laharl did not make it to him, however. An invisible barrier blocked his way. Raol began chuckling darkly.
"Ironic, isn't it? The very trap your father put me through will now be your temporary prison. Until I bring back Overlord Etna's head and let you wallow in your guilt for not being able to save her, anyway."
The giant Prinny said. He turned, leaving Laharl behind, who was mercilessly pounding against the barrier. No matter how hard he tried, the barrier held strong. Laharl slid to his knees, his palms resting on the barrier which he could not escape.
"Etna..."
He whispered out as his head lowered. He could not believe this was happening.
'Will it repeat all over again...? First Flonne...and now Etna...will I be powerless to do anything again...!?'
His hands were now clenched tightly into fists. So tightly, his fingers cut into his palms, drawing blood, letting the crimson liquid flow from in between his fingers. The feelings of hopelessness began building rapidly in the pit of his stomach. Was he going to fail a second time?
-TBC-
Note: To make up for the not so interesting and short chapter twelve, chapter thirteen is a good few pages longer and hopefully more interesting. I know I take some major leaps in between the years regarding Laharl, but I didn't want to dwell on his guilt trip too much, and hope readers got the general idea about what he's been going through. The reason I was lazy about that is because I'm not a very good writer when comes to anything beside writing action scenes for the most part. Maybe in the near future I'll improve on my writing so I can dish out more emotional content without totally messing up the story (which I probably already have for this one). Anyway, on lighter notes, I just want to bring up that when I finally got the chance to battle Uber Prinny Baal, I was really disappointed by the fact that he was only some souped up ordinary looking Prinny. I had expected more on the design for the Uber Prinny, but oh well. I have yet to beat him when he's at level 9999. His power is just too overwhelming, even when I steal his equipment...anyway, hopefully these two chapters will make up for not updating sooner.
