Slayzer: I'm sorry for the delay but just when I was getting this all together life hit me with a hard one-two punch.
Laharl: You got fired and a death in the family?
Slayzer: No, Suikoden V and Kingdom Hearts 2 came out and killed all my free time.
Laharl: I can't believe you got up early just to get Suikoden V right when it got in. I'm ashamed to know you.
Slayzer: Yeah, I'm a gaming junky but there no such thing as a video game treatment center.
Laharl: You just don't want to be cured do you?
Slayzer: That too. Any how as always Disgaea and Phantom Brave are own by Nippon ich Soft and not I, a lowly gaming addict. I also like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all who reviewed.
Keikun4283
General Badaxe
Blade1986
Kid-author
Osilus
Goldamon X
Blu Rose
Lacto3.1415
Maronakins
And thanks to everyone else who read.
-Episode Six-
Symphony of Silences
Nyx was running thru a black void of nothingness but she still didn't put any distances between herself and the man chasing her. She was thrown to the ground by her pursuer and then he was on top of her a heartbeat later, his powerful hands crushing her beautiful neck.
"I've always loved you."
Nyx could only remember his words not his face, the face of the man who killed her. She tried to forget everything she could about her death, where, when, why but that only made her feel the pain and fear clearer. What did it mater if Nyx could not remember a dame thing about her life, it still happened and that was more that painful enough. Then the memory was over but Nyx's dream, her hell, continued on.
She just lay there curled up in a ball as silent tears pooled around her face. Her cloths were ripped apart and barely covered her. Why is it that she felt such shame and guilt? Why did was she the one feeling dirty when it wasn't her fault? Why?
"Because of your thoughts of betraying me." The abyss of darkness said to Nyx.
This was no longer a dream or a horrible memory, it was her 'patron' talking to her. Years ago when Nyx was a phantom she had forgotten everything about herself but the final few moments of her life, her murder. Where she was from, family if any and even her name were lost. Yet her death remained horribly vivid.
Then mad with loneliness she made a deal with a real devil. "Go to Phantom Island and keep your eyes on the girl Marona and the other world demon Laharl. Act as one of them but your loyalty is with me. Just keep quite and watch them for me. Do this and I will give you a new life without your pitiful and shameful past."
Nyx had jump at the chance but now that not what she wanted. Everyone was so kind and they reminded her of the joys of living not the pain of death. She wanted to be with them and free of this darkness that watched over her in her sleep.
"You will never be free Nyx. Have you forgotten that it was I who gave you that name when you were just a ghost half crazed with sorrow? I know everything you think and not even your dreams will offer you sanctuary from me."
Nyx felt a tug and was suddenly being dragged into the darkness by a long black thread that wrapped around her ankle. There was nothing the healer could do but struggle uselessly against it.
"My, my ,my this will most certainty not do at all."
A hand clamped down on the thread tied around Nyx and stopped the darkness from her pulling into it. There was a powerful moment of shock from both Nyx and her vile patron. There for no reason at all was Leo in his full armor holding the black sting with one hand. He was pulling against the darkness to keep Nyx safe.
"What the hell are you doing here?" The black void screamed.
"Nyx's cries for help reached my heart and as a knight I could not just stand idly by."
"But how the hell can you be in Nyx's mind?"
"A valiant knight never lets small details like reality keep him from his duty."
The blackness pulled even harder and the sting bit into Leo's hand. Yet Leo did not give up and held fast even as his blood started dripping to the floor.
"Nyx you have to help me fight off this evil! The only reason he has power here is because your fear gives it to him. Trust in yourself, in your comrades and in the love we all have for you!… … Or if you'd like just untie the string around your ankle."
Nyx had been so terrified that the simple idea of just untying herself from her captor had never accrued to her. A few hurried seconds of fumbling with a knot and Nyx was free and the nightmare was over.
Phantom Island- Marona's Kitchen
For what must have been the first time in her life Nyx woke up peacefully. There was no sudden snap back to realty for an unending terror. She just laid in her hammock stretched over the kitchen table and slowly woke herself up.
"I'm free…" Nyx softly said to herself just to make sure she was not fooling herself.
The Darkness was gone and how she felt the differences. It was as if a cancerous tooth had finally been pulled and all she felt was relief. Nyx felt so good she started to giggle and then laughed uncountable so.
Nyx's laughing woke up Gao who was tying to sleep off a hangover on the Kitchen floor.
"Mmmhhh what's with all the racket?"
The answer Gao got was Nyx falling out of her hammock and right on top of the silver haired Amazon and even that didn't stop the healer's laughing fit. Even in her hangover state Gao knew something was up when quite as a church mouse Nyx started laughing like a school girl.
"You feeling alright?"
As if the day wasn't already odd enough at that moment Laharl and Marona were having a fight in Marona's room. Leo, Sanjuro, Rosenqueen and Natsuko all had their ears to the door but you could have heard the two of them from down the hall.
"Stop being so damn stubborn!"
"You're the one being stubborn!"
It was hard to tell who was who, when their tempers rose both Laharl and Marona sounded like any other bratty children in a schoolyard spat.
"That's it! We're going to the Isle of Healing Waters, like it or not!" That was Laharl with out a doubt.
A second later the Demon princes kick open the bedroom door and stormed out with a struggling Marona over his shoulder.
"Put me down! I told you I don't fell like going on a mission today!" Marona cried.
Rosenqueen put herself between Laharl and stairway and tried to reason with him. "Look the last few jobs were hard on all of us and more so on Marona. You can understand if she wants to let this one slide."
Laharl didn't even brake his pace as he pushed past Rosenqueen. "If I let Marona give up for one day I may as well let her give up for life."
"Wait a minuet Laharl!" Marona yelled form his shoulder.
"All your opinions are rejected for the rest of the day!"
"Do you think you could let me change out of my Pajamas?"
Laharl had been so angry that he hadn't noticed that Marona was still in her nightgown and his face went three shads of red. He then let Marona down and tried to hide his face. "Oh right, sorry about that."
Marona didn't say a word to Laharl as she headed back toward her room to change. It was decided then, they were all going to the Isle of Healing Water and like Marona they all needed to get ready.
Somewhere Else- A Dark Room
The darkness sat atop a high backed black throne but this was not a typical throne room. Spread out before the throne where dozens of steal folding chares with a musical instruments resting on top of them an stands of sheet music in front of them. It was set up just like an orchestra pit with the darkness's throne placed were the conductor would be. The still instruments only highlighted the deathly quietness of the place.
"So your little ghost spy got away from you did she." a soft but sultry voice said with a hint of mockery added.
The speaker was every man's nurse fantasy come true. Sun tanned skin, long blond hair, full red lips and a full bust line all wrapped in black nurse's uniform. The uniform's skirt was cut much shorter then any hospital would allow. She also had red high heels and black nylons to go with her long legs.
A second voice very much like the first but more consoling instead of mocking. "Don't worry about it master, we still have Laharl under surveillance."
The second women was just as sexy as her the other one and still dressed like a nurse but this uniform was white and not altered. The two women had identical faces but this had her blond hair was cut shorter. She didn't wear makeup and she had on sensible shoes but was no less stunning then the first.
The two women dolled up like nurses were, if you couldn't guess, identical twin sister but from comply different worlds. Tearra, the one in black, so conferrable with her sexuality that it was almost ferries. Sharte, the one in white, seemed almost shy that she would blush and try to hide. They did share one very important trait beyond mere physical appearances. Each one had a powerful Mana aura that could make even the most confident demon Overlord pause.
"I don't see what the big deal is. I could take out Laharl and anyone else no sweat." Terra said looking forward to some wholesale carnage and destruction.
"Be quite the both of you." The darkness had spoken and while just as powerful as it was in Nyx's dream it had an almost child quality in real life.
Sharte and Terra fell into abashed silences.
"This world has been tuned to my likening for over a millennia. Yet these past eight years the sound has become flat and my music suffers. Laharl is a problem but we must not damage my harmony anymore then it already has. So removing him request the fine touch of a maestro, in other words. I'll handle this personally."
"Yes, Lord Ledgem."
The Darkness had a name, Ledgem and as he rose form his thorn you could just see what looked like bunny ears before he teleported away.
-Isle of Healing Waters-
The small green hovercraft that belonged Marona docked at the Isle of Healing Waters. A rash of disappearances had swept the poplar vacation spot. Fear was keeping many people away and was damaging business.
This job seemed like a real gem. The resort owners had no shortage of money and if it all went well Marona would be known for ending the freighting disappearances. God willing she could even save everyone who had vanished. Yet the last few jobs had left a bad taste in Marona's mouth. She was still in a dark mood as they reached the home of Saffron, the man who hired Marona. He greeted Marona and her friends with his wife Joan by his side.
"You must be Marona. I've hired you to get to the bottom of the bazaar disappearances that have plagued our island as of late. You can do it, cant you?"
"Yes, sir." Marona answered but without her usual energy. Mr. Saffron looked like a good man but Marona could see a kind of coolness in his eyes. It gave her the feeling that this man too would betray her.
Joan steeped forwarded passed her husband and smiled politely to Marona. "We have a daughter named Castille and she has been very eager to meet you Marona."
"She wants meet me?" Marona was suppressed by this as most sane people tried to avoid her.
"Laharl as well."
Laharl just shrugged and followed Joan and Marona up to Castille's room.
-Castille's Room-
Castille was about the same age as Marona with long chocolate hair and dressed in pink pajamas and her bedroom was truly amazing. So colorful and bright with only the finest in handcrafted furniture and knitted blankets. China dolls and first edition books line the shelves. Still even if a cage is made out of gold it's still a cage and the bird dose not fly.
Maybe it's more actuate to say the real cage for Castille was her body. Sick and weak from the day she was born Castille could never leave the safety of her house. To her the world was this room and the view from her window.
When Marona heard the whole story she didn't feel sorry or guilty but a strong determination. Marona really wanted to help Castille and her family. All Castille wanted was to hear all the tales and adventures Marona and Laharl had been on. The hours slipped by as they joked and laughed and soon it was nightfall.
"So tell me Laharl, are you really a demon?" Castille asked.
"WHAT! DON"T I LOOK LIKE ONE?" Laharl was outrage at the implication.
"No, in the books I read demons had red skin, goat legs and horns and are really evil things. But your nice, kind and sort of cute." Laharl keeled over as if sick when Castille said that to him.
"Nice, Cute! I cant stand words like that!"
Marona and Castille couldn't help but share a laugh at Laharl being over dramatic as usual.
"I wish I could be like you Marona, going off on adventures and meeting such wonderful people. I've been sick my whole life so the only adventures I've ever been on are the one's in books. I don't think I'll ever get better."
"Don't say that! You cant give up on getting better Castille. So I don't want to hear anymore of that kind of talk. If you don't give on your health then I won't give up on being a Chroma."
"Ok, it a promises but when I get better your taking me with you on one of your missions."
"Deal."
And that's how Marona made her first human friend.
After chatting with Castille for most of the day Marona and Laharl decided it was time to get to work and rally the troops so to speck.
"Alright everyone failer is not an option this time. So we're going to win, right?" Marona said to everyone gathered in Saffron's living room.
"Right!" They all chorused.
"Then we're off to the Bloody Fortress but I think someone should stay behind and make sure nothing happens to Castille while were gone. For this task I'm volunteering Laharl."
"ME!" Laharl was not crazy about the idea.
"This could be your big chance to erase your dishonor at losing Penpen for us." Rosenqueen said as she slapped Laharl on the back none too gently.
"Yeah, right. You can leave everything to me."
"I knew I could count on you Laharl."
And then they were gone leavening Laharl with Joan, Saffron and Castille who was still safe in her room. With nothing to do but wait Laharl made himself at home by taking a seat on their sofa and putting his feet on their coffee table.
Saffron turned to his wife Joan and whispered. "I knew Marona was kind of young but that Laharl kid is even younger. How is he going to keep us safe?"
"There's nothing young about being over 1300 years old, human." Laharl answered before Joan could say anything.
Sensing the atmosphere had become unconformable Joan thought it best if she leave the room if only for a few moments. "Well why don't I go and make some tea while we wait. Would you like some Laharl?"
"Five sugars, no cream."
"Yes, right away."
While Laharl waited he looked over some of the family's photos and smiled as he saw someone he recognized. Joan came back later with the tea and saw Laharl holding a picture of her disowned son.
"That's our son, was our son, Faded. He was the only one who played with Castille but he ran away from home about six years ago. The poor boy, such a trouble youth and with an ill sister we didn't have the time we should have had for him. Everyone in town said he grow up to be a villain."
The young Walnut in the picture hadn't changed much from the man Laharl had met a few days ago. That fine blond hair in a ponytail and that scowl that could stop a crying child. Even the pose he had in the picture was similar to his body language in life.
"Villain? I think he looks more like an antihero." Laharl said as he took a cup of tea.
Joan then handed her husband some tea when the two heard Laharl's cup shatter against the floor. They turned to see Laharl with a look on his face that approached terror.
"Lock the doors and don't open them for anyone!"
"Is something wrong?" Joan asked as she moved closer to Saffron.
Laharl didn't say another word he just picked up his sword and left. For a brief moment he felt something powerful and it was close. It wasn't form the Bloody Fortress either. It was just outside of Castille's house and it was waiting for Laharl.
-Spirits' Path-
Evil comes in many shapes but whoever said then never imaged the odd balls Overlords of the Netherworlds. Like the cool Overlord Zetta, sexy Overlord Salome or the comic sideshow that is Overlord Valvoga. In the company of such peers Ledgem seemed oddly normal.
For the most part Ledgem looked like a normal human boy of about sixteen years of age but with pale skin and spiky medium length blond hair. He was also way overdressed by the standers of demons wearing what looked like a military dress uniform. Black jacket buttoned up, black pants, black shoes and a white under shirt and red tie. The cuts of the clothing had a real military feel and they didn't have one thread, or cress out of place. Still the very serious dress could take away from the comical white bunny ears that flopped out from Ledgem's head and went down to his waist.
But Laharl was not looking at Ledgem's body or his dress he was looking at his Mana. Every living thing had Mana but the way they used it was as individual as a snowflake. A demon Overlord didn't wear crowns of such junk, their Mana and how powerful it was is the only symbol of authority they needed. Ledgem's Mana was like a black hole sucking in the light of dieing stares and that shouldn't be possible.
"It's nice to meet you face to face Laharl. My name is Ledgem a messenger of fate and the god of darkness."
"And a stand in Easter Bunny on the side, right?"
Ledgem smiled a little and tossed on of his ears over his shoulder. "You shouldn't talk boy. What you did you think spiking your hair and wearing a red cape will fool anyone? Fact is your a half breed demon without horns or wings. And just for your information the last guy who dared to make a rabbit joke about me is still screaming in pain."
"You sure it wasn't endless laughter? Eight years and I thought the dark evil force of this world would be all sinister and it's Peter Cottontail ."
"So you knew I've been keeping taps on you and Marona. May I ask what tipped you off?"
"C'mon. The whole endless struggle against a relentless evil force just screams setup. The Dark Mana that Sulphur beings into this world doesn't go away when he sealed, it's taken by you. Now what you do with it I don't know, I've just been working from baseless paranoia from day one."
"Well I guess I should say bravo but it's time for your final curtain call. Just try and last a few minutes so I can really enjoy using my Ax again."
Blazing red energy flowed between Ledgem's hands as an electric guitar stated to take shape in his hands. A stratocaster guitar in superb condition that was the red you get only with equal parts blood, fire and sex. For a finishing touch Ledgem snapped his fingers and a large speaker shaped like a demon's skull arouse for the ground. The Invasion From Within by Tsunami Bomb started playing thru the hellish speaker. With the music in the background Ledgem was now ready
"Let's Rock!" Ledgem yelled as he stroked his guitar like a lost lover.
"Overlords…!" but before Laharl could even begin the attack his target blinked out of existences and reaped a spit second later right in front of him.
Ledgem placed his middle finger gentle between Laharl's eyes as black lighting sparked between his other fingers. "Tch, your so slow Laharl. Banish!"
Laharl was then absorbed into a large ball of black lighting, he didn't even have time to scream. When the darkness recited after a few seconds it revealed Laharl's divested form. Burns and cuts covered his body and his eyes had rolled back into his head as the proud demon fell to his knees.
"Here I was hoping you'd make it thru the opening act but you couldn't even survive the tuning. Disappointing Laharl, very disappointing." Ledgem said with a cruel smirk.
Ledgem grasped a string of his guitar and give it a pull and the metal string extended a few meters. Laharl barely managed to open in eye before a flash sliver cord wrapped around his neck, he just got his left hand under the wire and that saved his life.
Ledgem laughed as he pulled tighter on the cord he now had looped around Laharl. "Now what should I do, suffocate you or just pull so hard you head come flying off. Both have their amusing points so I'm not quite sure."
Time was running out for Laharl, already he could feel his body going numb from air loss. 'I'm not going out like this!' Laharl then started whispering something with the last sips of air he had left.
"What are you doing wasting your last breath in prayer?" Ledgem said but then he noted the furry animal look in Laharl's eyes.
With a sudden burst of power and speed Laharl ripped the cord off his neck, cutting his left hand up badly in the act. At the same time Laharl lashed out at Ledgem with his sword still clenched in his right hand.
There was almost a sound of a musical note as the guitar sting snapped and Laharl was free. Ledgem dashed backwards and had cleared most of Laharl's slash, that's most of not all.
"Pain, real physical pain. It's been so long I may as well enjoy the novelty of the sensation for a while." Ledgem said as he felt his own blood run thru his fingers pressed angst his check.
Ledgem cast a healing spell but the cut across his left check didn't heal. The wounded turned black like it was infected as blood started to flow faster.
"GUAHHH! What the hell happened? What the hell did you do?" Ledgem cried out as the cut worsened instead of healed. Then he remembered Laharl praying under his breathe before he attacked.
"A curse? You put an anti-healing curse on me before you attacked!"
Laharl just got back up to his feet and rolled his shoulders to help get the stiffness out of them. "Silly Rabbit, I'm a demon and I don't play fair. Now come on, it seems your concert has hit it's intermition but I've just begin to fight!"
"Stop bluffing! You're a mess Laharl and you have the nerve to say you've just begin to fight!"
"Man, those big ears of yours must be only for show."
Ledgem was now enraged. He griped his guitar and played a quick heavy metal rift. Seconds later a dozen or so Summon monsters appeared out form the shadows, their shapeless purled body's still hideous in the dark of night. The Summons didn't stay wait around but took off running.
"Well Laharl the shows over for the day so I'll leave everything else to my Summon monsters. They always do good work when I want to keep my hands clean. I just sent them off to do away with Castille and while you may not have noted it I also sent a nice Dark Mana power up to the Wraith waiting for Marona. It's sad, if they hadn't meet you Laharl they could have become heroes and saved this world but that scenario no longer interest me. Ciao." The night air seemed to twisted around Ledgem and when it stopped he was gone.
Laharl was left stunned of a moment. Even with his boasting he knew Ledgem could have ended this fight and his life easily. That moment of rest pasted quickly as he remembered that both Marona and Castille where now in mortal danger. To Laharl's left was the path back to Castille's home and to his right the path for the Bloody Fortress.
Laharl hesitated for only a second before tuning toward the Bloody Fortress and shouted. "I swear Old Man if you mess this up and let Marona die I'll ever forgive you!" Laharl then took off running after the summon monsters but they had a head start and he was not gaining ground.
-Tragedy's Stage-
The roof of the Bloody Fortes and it's surrounding ramparts was apparently called Tragedy's Stage. Here beneath the open sky and stars Marona and her demon fighters would meet their most fearsome enemy yet.
"Angle Slash!" With skill the belied her young age Marona bisected the last of the Ghost. The odd blue monster faded into nothing without some much as a cry of pain.
With the last ghost gone there was only one monster left to take care off, but it was on heck of a monster. The feared Wraith an engine of death and destruction waited patiently at the other end of the field. So far it hadn't even moved let alone attack.
"Damn it, that ugly bastard is really pissing me off!" Gao said, she actually took offense to the idea that it was to good to fight with her.
"The plan is we lure it out to us then we all attack it as one. So until it stats moving we wait." Rosenqueen said.
"Hell with that. I'm going to show him that war is not a spectator sport!"
"Wait, Gao!" But it was to late and Gao went charging into to battle the Wraith.
"Drill Kick!" Gao cleared the last of distances with a single jump and a powerful kick that knocked Wraith to the floor. Gao then grabbed him by his spiky head and them started spinning the gigantic monster around and around.
"Roundhouse!" Gao then let Wraith and sent him flying over the edge of the fortress.
"-Pant- -Pant- -Pant- To easy."
Gao had just started to saver her victory when one of Wraith's disembody hands shot out of nowhere and took hold of her. Moments later the rest of the undead beast rose back onto the rampart.
"Natsuko blast that freak with a magic spell." Marona ordered as the rest of the team ran to help.
"Okay, Uno can of whoops ass à la MP coming up!"
Natsuko didn't get the chance as Wraith used off his powerful "Soul Burn" skill. A beam of burning red light shot out at the witch girl and exploded right infront of her, setting the near by trees and bushes ablaze. Rosenqueen didn't hesitate and ran thru the flames to get to her friend.
"Natsuko can you hear me?"
Cutting her way thru a burning branch of a tree Rosenqueen found Natsuko laid out on the ground, here eyes wide and panic stricken. When Rosenqueen touched Natsuko, the young girl freaked out.
"Please don't leave me behind sister. I'm sorry just don't leave me here and I'll be good.… I DON'T WANT TO DIE! THE FIRE! IT'S COMEING BACK FOR ME!" Natsuko screamed at the fire and phantoms in her mind. Then she went into shock, her eyes glazing over and her body going limp.
Rosenqueen didn't waste any time in pulling the broken witch girl out of the blaze and over to Nyx for some healing.
While those two took care of Natsuko; Gao was being slammed into the stonework like hammer. The Amazons whole body was like a rag doll trapped in the death grasp of the Wraith's hand. As bad as it was she could make out Sanjuro running up to her thru the haze of a concision.
Wraith made a grab for the Fighter but Sanjuro was too fast for the monster and slide under it's clumsily grasp. Sanjuro wasn't even looking at the monster his whole being was focus only on Gao's plight and the hand that held her.
"Sword Dance!" Sanjuro split apart into eight copies of himself. Each copy then surround Wraith's hand and started cutting.
The sharp knives probably only hurt the monster as much as we would feel a paper cut. Yet the shear number of cuts made the Wraith released Gao and draw back.
The real Sanjuro managed to catch Gao before she could fall as the other copies of himself disappeared. Gao was barely conscious so Sanjuro had to half pull and half drag her away.
"Damn your heavier then you look."
"heh, It's all muscle." Gao said with a weak smile.
"Yeah, your head too."
The Wraith started mover toward the two heroes like a white mountain of death. It thru back it's spiked white head and bellowed in rage. Before the Wraith could attack an ax blade cracked into it's forehead.
It was Leo's ax embedded in the monster head as coagulated blood flowed around the gash. However the man holding on to that ax and using the Wraith's face like a platform was not the foppish knight they knew.
Standing out in relief of the moonlight was a young man in black bellbottom pants and a black jacket with a red lapel and cuffs but nothing covered his stomach. His hair was long and lavender colored and he had the telltale demon ears and red eyes. He pulled Leo's ax free from the Wraith and spun in midair so he could hit the thing's head with a powerful sidekick that sent it crashing into a tower down the rampart.
The handsome young man land perfectly on his feet. As Marona came running up he began his introduction. "Wherever lonely fan girls cry out. Whenever a maiden's tears fall open barn earth and the heavers call out for justice I, The Dark Adonis, will be there to crush evil."
"Hey Leo, what are you doing playing dress up?" Marona asked.
Vyers stopped in mid speech and sweat drooped. "I'm afeard I don't know what your talking about little girl. My name is Vyers the Dark Adonis."
"Okay but your using Leo's ax and his fake French accent."
"Non, non, non, you see I found this ax just now and I don't know bout this Leo person but my accent is genuine French flux."
"Then how do explain having Leo's face." Sanjuro asked as Gao leaned against him for support.
That one had Vyers at a loss and he sought something to get this inquisition over with. Lucky it was bout that time that the Wraith was pulling it's out of the rubble.
"Ha ha, no time for small talk. I have to ride the world of this vile beast." Vyers then dashed off to do battle and but distance between the observant young Marona.
'I don't between it! Even Laharl and Etna back in the Netherworld didn't put all the pieces together till I practical told them in the last episode.'
Putting such discouraging thoughts aside for now Vyers came face to face with the Wraith once more. "Alright you pitiful little Mini-Boss time to show you the power of the universes most powerful Mid-boss!"
Vyers's sky blue Aura covered him as he formed a giant ball of blue light over his head. "Adonic Shot!"
The Wraith was blasted by the swirling blue ball of energy and ripped into thousands of itty-bitty demony bits. Such is the power of a comic relief Mid-Boss.
'Now to get to were I stashed my knight armor and resume the unsuspected roll of Leo.' Vyers turned around and saw the Rosenqueen, Nyx and Natsuko had joined the others but what got his attention was that Rosenqueen had his Leo clothes with her.
"Look what I fond stashed away behind one of the pillars? Maybe you'd like them back to change huh Leo." Rosenqueen said with a smile.
"Those aren't mine. In fact I've ever seen them before in my life." Vyers defended.
"Then Leo must be out here somewhere butt naked."
"Leo,… … …naked." Nyx said as a rose like bush crossed her milk white face.
Vyers knew the jig was up and he was left with only one cores left to him, pleading. "How about we just keep this between us and not tell Laharl?"
"Come on we don't have time for this. I want to get back to Castille as soon as possible." Marona said before turning around and heading back. 'I just have a bad feeling. Like something terrible going to happen.'
-Outside of Castille's Home-
Castille rolled her wheelchair as fast as she could down a stone pathway with Summon monsters right behind her. The monsters attacked her home so quickly that she had just gotten in her wheelchair when they broke thru the front door. Her dad and mom helped her out the back door and told her to get as far away as she could.
The Summons showed no interest in her mom or dad and went right after her. A Grudgebomb exploded right next to her and sent her wheelchair up riding on one wheel for a bit before crashing back down on both wheels. She just made it to a large steep hill and her wheelchair speed up what Castille thought was an unbelievable speed.
Castille's home may be gone or her parents injured and her own life in danger but all that didn't even enter her mind. Her brain was totally jacked up more adrenalin then her weak body could take. Her shortness of breath wasn't from illness but excitement and her heart had ever felt so strong as it pounded away in her breast. Castille had never felt more alive in her life then she did right now riding down that hill, then the ride was over.
A Grudgebomb hit the back of Castille's wheelchair and blasted it to slivers as well as sent the girl flying. Castille land hard and rolled for a while before stopping on her back and looking up at the sky. The monsters where getting closer as she could hear them drawing closer with every breath.
Then the sky lit up in brilliant golden light as Castille could hear Laharl yell out 'Overlord's Wrath!' and the sounds of battle followed. It was a short fight and Castille could only hear the fighting not see it.
When it was over Laharl stood over Castille and the two just started at each other.
"Laharl, you look awful." Laharl was still messed up after his fight with Ledgem and running all the way here didn't help.
"Yeah, well you got a hunk of wood stuck in your gut." Laharl said like it was a comeback.
Castille looked down at her stomach and saw a beautifully carved splinter of her wheelchair impaling her. Her pink dress was starting to turn red.
"I'm not going to make it, am I?"
Laharl couldn't bring himself to answer her.
"That's okay, I'm never really lived anyway. My parents well be better off without me around." Castille said and then felt a sharp slap across her face from Laharl.
"Idiot! Don't just give up and die!"
"Then what the hell should I do! I was born sick and pitifully and I knew I'd die the same way! This is just a bit sooner then I thought!"
"So you want to die?"
"No, but I didn't want to be sick and bedridden either. I just lived with it because there's nothing I could do about it!"
"Don't be so weak…"
Castille looked at Laharl but now he was different or maybe the way she saw him was different. The cold night wind wiped at Laharl's scarf and his outstretched hand glowed red with demon magic. At that moment Castille saw something in Laharl she hadn't before, something that was old, dark and powerful.
"Castille. Spite your fear, your humanity, even God Himself and take my hand. So what do you say, do you want to see the world beyond the horizon of your window?"
Castille didn't hesitate, she sat up with the last of her strength and took Laharl's hand. Laharl quickly dropped down to one knee and held Castille in his arms.
"I'm so cold and it feels like I'm about to fall…"
"Then fall and I'll catch you."
"Promise?" with that last word Castille's heart stopped and she died but Laharl would not let her stay dead.
The blood red light of Laharl's Mana covered Castille as her body started to levitate in the air. Laharl's face was a mask of control as bit by bit he let his Mana be absorb by Castille. Then the young girl's heart started to beat once again. The wound to her stomach knit closed and the sickness that hounded her from birth disappeared. Castille then started to breath again but she was no longer a sickly human girl.
When it was over Laharl allowed the hate and anger he was hiding play across his face. He thought of all the good people who had die just infront of him that he couldn't save. His mother, Flonne, Marona's parents and now thanks to Ledgem, Castille had joined that list.
"Ledgem I swear the next time we meet I'm going to slaughter you!" Laharl cried out in the night and he was sure that jackrabbit son of a bitch could hear him.
Meanwhile, Marona and everyone else made there way back to Castille's house and found it in a wreak. Saffron and Joan were thankfully alright. They where about to go and search for Castille when they saw Laharl waling toward them holding Castille in his arms.
Marona, Saffron and Joan ran up to thank Laharl and see if Castille was hurt anywhere.
"Oh, Laharl thank god you saved Castille." Marona said as she ran up to Laharl.
Laharl just let Castille down and she surprised everyone by standing on her own feet. He then brushed back her long brown hair to show off her new pair of demon ears.
"Sorry everyone but I kind of died." Castille said with a sheepish smile and her red eyes shinning.
Marona's eyes were reduced to little dots of shock as she held Castille. Castille started to get worried when Marona just stood like that for a few minutes.
Laharl just left them to there own devices and walked over to were the others were. "Hey Vyers quite the play acting already. You know that stuff only works in cartoons and comic books."
The knight sighed defeat and removed his steal helmet and the blond wig. Soon the rest of the armor followed and Vyers was his flamboyant self again. "I guess my brilliant disguise wasn't as brilliant as I thought."
"So do you want to join up with us. I was still wary of you but you did save everyone from that Wraith monster so I guess I can go against my better judgment. Just know that if you join us it's as Vyers and the man you were before is dead to me."
Vyers stared at Laharl's as his words sunk in. To tag along now he would have to do it as this alternate persona Vyers and not his turn identity. "I shall take you up on that offer, after all I can't let such beautiful ladies face danger without moi to protect them. The Dark Adonis is on your side!"
Laharl smiled viscously. "Good, welcome abroad Mid-boss."
"Hey you said I could travel with you as Vyers. I thought that meant the whole Mid-boss thing was over?"
"Tough Luck! You're a Mid-boss and you'll always be nothing more then a Mid-boss."
Mid-boss started throwing a fit. "Come on I'm on your side 100 now. Can't I just be Vyers, I'll even leave out the Dark Adonis part?"
Nyx put her hand on Mid-boss's shoulder to comfort him. "I think Mid-boss is a lovely name."
"Well I guess if you like that name it must be alright then."
"Good then it's settled." Laharl nodded as everything was wrapped up. That was till Marona whacked him over the head with one of her shoes.
"Nothing stetted! What about Castille?"
"We take her with us."
"I can't believe you Laharl, how could you be so cold?"
"Hey it was Castille's decision to become a demon I didn't force her! She could have die in the dirt if she wanted!"
"Castille was dieing…"
"I'm sorry but it was the only way."
"Still you cant just do things like that without thinking about the consequences."
"It's all good so don't worry. This is our first really successful request yet."
"You call this a successes? You let Castille get killed and then you turn her into a demon!"
Laharl nodded his head somberly as he thought over the night's events. "Okay, okay I get what your saying…. … we'll give them a 15 discount."
"Your incorrigible!" Marona yelled before hitting Laharl again with her shoe.
Sanjuro, Gao, Rosenqueen and Natsuko just watched the chaos unfold before them. Castille trying to explain everything to her shocked parents. Vyers or Mid-boss being consulted by Nyx on his pet name. Laharl and Marona were off arguing over how much to charge for this fiasco.
Natsuko turned away for the dram and asked the gather adults something. "I'm a little lost, are things looking up or looking down?"
Rosenqueen, Sanjuro and Gao didn't have an answer for her as this mess counted on till the early morning.
(Because your all just dieing to know)
Persimmon watched as Walnut slammed back another glass of that cheep swill he calls a drink and sighed. 'I wonder if he even taste the boze.'
It was quite possible that Walnut didn't care what he was drinking as long as it got him drunk. Still Walnut had been in an even worse mode then normal.
"It's not like jobs just fall form the sky you should have taken it."
"Shut up, I told you I only do the work I feel like doing."
"Fine, I'll drop it for now. You shouldn't need money anyway after that big job at Windmill Promontory."
"I spent that money already."
"What!" Persimmon's shades almost slid off his beak when he heard that.
"Just drop it alright! I don't even want to think about that job or that brat demon."
A shadow fell over walnut as somebody walked up behind him. "I'm sorry but could you tell me more about this 'brat demon' you were talking about."
Before Walnut could say anything else the stranger had taken then seat across form Walnut and called the waiter.
"What can I get you sir?"
"Water for me but bring them another round and I'll be picking up there tabs."
Walnut and Persimmon gave there new drinking buddy a hard look in the better light. He was tall and thin but not frail looking. He was dressed in a black open trench coat but instead of sleeves he had a lot of small black belts with brass buckles on his arms, black pants and with a yellow t-shirt and a red scarf draped over his shoulders. It was his face was soft like a women's with pale skin, spiky sea blue hair and red eyes.
Walnut leaned back little and smiled. "It's funny but you and that brat demon look a lot like, you brothers or something.."
The stranger smiled but it was cold and humorless. "You know I could kill you for saying that to me."
"Then leave or at the very less give me your name so I can tell you to blow off properly!" Walnut said slamming his bottle on the table.
"My name is Ash and I'm going to kill Laharl even if it takes my last breath to do."
-Episode Five End-
Castille: Hi, I'm Castille a new cadet at the Space Forces. It's been my dream to work on the renowned space battle ship "Unicorn" under the handsome and dashing Captain Ash. But when I'm finally accepted into the crew it's as a Robot Pilot!
Slayzer: That is odd, normally robot pilots are angst laden crybabies boys.
Marona: I even thought of you as a robot otauka, Slayzer.
Slayzer: Don't lump me in with that lot. It's not like I make Gundam master grade models or anything like that.
Castille: On the first day of live pilot training my comrades are attacked by the Colony Powers ace pilot, Walnut, The Burgundy Star. Somehow I not only mange to survive but using my Newtype skills force him to withdraw. Now I'm the last pilot of the Unicorn and a heroine.
Laharl: I guess piloting skills run in the family.
Marona: Don't go around give out spoilers like that!
Laharl: I'm sure everyone reading his has played the games.
Marona: You shouldn't just assume that.
Castille: But I don't what to pilot robots and fight massive space battles. All I wanted was to be a bridge Bunny with a cute uniform and fawn over the handsome Captain. Instead I'm always on duty or training and I have to ware form a fitting neoprene suite. I ASK YOU HOW DOES SKIN TIGHT CLOTHING HELP IN A SPACE BATTLE!
Laharl: Castille shouldn't have a fit about it. I mean it's not like she has anything to show off or be embarrassed about.
Marona: Laharl you have no tact when it comes to a girl's feelings.
Castille: Luckily I get some help for the replacement pilots, Rosenqueen, Jennifer, Salome and Pirere.
Rosenqueen, Jennifer, Salome, Priere: Tada! (They show off there sexy skin tight pilot uniforms)
Laharl: Thud! (he passes out form sexy women shock and a massive nosebleed)
Castille: So come back for more "Mobile Gun Girl Castille" in Episode Six "Sakura Serenade"
Laharl: (The blood is really staring to pool around him now)
Marona: Hey Nyx could you give me hand healing Laharl and a mop for the blood?
Rosenqueen, Jennifer, Salome, Priere: Tune in and we'll give you lots of fan severs!