Separating Carbuncle from Arle had been the easy part. Rulue never anticipated how powerful he was on his own. Requested by a tumblr anon!

Bribery and Blasting

Rulue thought she had won. She thought she had finally done it. Separating Arle from Carbuncle, having Carbuncle within her grasp, she thought she would finally win over Satan.

Having a massive laser shot at her face certainly wasn't in her plans.

She was currently ducking behind a bush, her blue hair frizzled and dotted with leaves. Shuddering, she watched Carbuncle yawn and plop down underneath a cool shady tree. She looked over her shoulder, trembling all the way and gulped as she saw the carnage.

The laser had cut through a deep swath of the forest. Smoke lingered and rose up to the heavens. Trees had toppled over, reduced to nothing but black dust. Humble fires crackled on the dying leaves and fizzled out by sharp gusts, their sparks reduced to pale embers. Other trees quaked, their trunks carved out and slowly fell behind Rulue, causing her to flinch with each subsequent collapse.

She heaved out a sigh. Wiping sweat off her brow, she rose to her feet and ambled towards Carbuncle. She felt like she could have been like those trees, falling over in a tired, broken fit, but one look at Carbuncle renewed her vigor.

If she could give him to Satan, then she would be his bride. It was her one opportunity, and she wasn't going to let his wild, uncouth, rambunctious actions deter her any longer. Sucking down a deep breath, she stomped over to Minotauros' fallen body and kicked his side.

"Get up! That tiny branch didn't hit you that hard!" she barked, the nearby branch that had fallen on him quite imposing and large.

Groaning, he stumbled to his knees and glared over at Carbuncle. He definitely didn't want to embarrass Lady Rulue anymore, but watching the little creature giggle left him seeing red. Clutching the ground, he broke into a dash and roared, holding his mighty hands out to snatch him.

Carbuncle blinked and then immediately fired off a second laser. Minotauros was blasted into the sky, and Rulue listened to him scream her name as he crash-landed onto the distant moon. Shivering from head to toe, she fidgeted with her white dress.

"You...really are something else," she mumbled as Carbuncle plopped back down.

"Gugugu! Gu gu," he said, crossing his arms as best as he could over his round body.

"I'm not sure what you're saying, but I know how to win you over." She clutched her knees and bent forward, her blue hair trailing past her shoulders. "How about some curry? Isn't that your favorite food?"

"Gu?" Carbuncle perked up and raised his ears.

"Yes, curry. Spicy, delicious curry. Hotter than the sun and tastier than anything Arle could ever make." She clapped her hands. "If you'll just come with me, then I'll make you the best curry in the world."

Although, it was a promise she couldn't exactly keep. Minotauros was the cook in her mansion as well as her bodyguard. He made all of her meals when she couldn't be bothered to make anything for herself. She willed Minotauros to find his way off the moon and return so she could make good on her promise as Carbuncle bounced closer.

"That's right. Come here, and I'll make you the best curry imaginable." She offered her hand, and Carbuncle stood still, his smile etched on his face. Patting his head, she scooped him into her arms and could already feel Satan envelope her in a warm, loving embrace. She squealed, holding Carbuncle high up in the air and cried, "Oh, Carbuncle, you are going to make me one happy wife!"

"Gu!"

"Gu indeed my little husband ticket!"

"Gu gu gu!"

"That as well!"

As Rulue fantasized about her life with Satan, she failed to notice a crucial detail. Carbuncle's jewel glimmered brighter and brighter, a brilliant red that could have blinded anyone. As Rulue opened her eyes, leaving behind her dream of an apron-wearing Satan making her breakfast in bed, she didn't even have time to scream.

If only she realized Carbuncle had shouted "no" and "let me go" then maybe, just maybe, he would have found it in his heart to be merciful.

He blasted her into the ground, sending her spiraling through the planet. She didn't feel any inkling of pain, too engrossed in her fantasy to stop smiling. The earth split, and the ground devoured her, shooting her deeper down into the molten core and out through the other side. Landing flat on her face with her limbs awkwardly bent, she slipped into uncomfortable unconsciousness, Satan's smile lulling her off to dreamland.

As Minotauros slammed down from the moon wailing his lady's name, Carbuncle skipped off to Arle's cottage, completely unaffected by the carnage he caused.