Puff grunted as he made his way into his Forge. He had a lot of work to do if he was going to finish the new weapon one of their recruits had asked for. Under normal circumstances he wouldn't have wasted such effort and materials on someone a snot nosed rookie. But since the kid was talented, he figured it was worth the effort.

He began grabbing all of the equipment and material he would need to craft the weapon. But as he went down the list, he realized he was short on a certain something. He grunted before taking another look around, but found nothing. He had been so busy lately he hadn't seemed to notice he was running low.

The goliath let out a growled as he turned towards the back of the forge before slamming his fist on a panel near the small pool of magma. It clicked, and then the wall began to move. A wave of heat rushed up from the stairway that had just been revealed, though it didn't seem to bother him at all.

The hidden gate to the Underworld was only known to a handful of people. The previous captain and lieutenant, the Butterfly family, and of course the Lucitor family. He honestly only used it whenever he had to travel there to get new material. It was close to the local village he bought from.

He reached up and took off his helmet, and soon the rest of his armor followed. After he'd finished removing it and getting down to his civilian clothes, he made his way down, closing the entrance behind him.

Puff never liked removing his armor. He felt naked without it. Years of survival instincts had made him used to hiding his appearance, useless as it might be. And even fewer people in mewni had seen Puff without his armor then about the forge's entrance. But he didn't like sticking out more than he already did during his visits to the Underworld.

Since Goliaths weren't as well known in the Underworld, fewer people were bound to recognize him. He did still get stares obviously, but nobody bothered him beyond that, which was more than he got up on the surface.

It was a long walk down the staircase to the Underworld, but one he'd become used to making. The entrance let him out right near an entire lake made of magma. There was a steel wheel sitting near the cliff, which was raising the magma up that ran through the forge. He made a mental note to check on it and make sure it was being properly maintenanced, and then made his way on.

His destination was close by, and soon enough he found himself at the edge of the small village. He made his way in, ignoring the handful of stars some of the people passing by gave him. Most of them were curious, but used to the stranger passing by. They were still curious about him of course, but they knew better than to confront or ask him about it.

He approached a small hut that had a sign with a hammer and stone up above it. This was a small little place, but had some of the rarest and unique materials for crafting. The person who worked it had an eye for such things, picking up on stuff that amateurs or even 'experts' would look over.

The only thing he didn't like about the place was-

"Hey, it's the giant!"

Puff grunted at the sight of the young fire nymph boy who ran towards him excitedly. "I knew you'd be coming back soon! You came back for more fire crystals, right?" he asked excitedly. Puff ignored him and kept walking towards the counter. Every time he came here this little runt had to pester him the entire time.

He supposed he should have been grateful. Most Fire Nymph villages, from what he heard, would have attacked him on sight. But the most he got here were stares and an annoying kid. Still, it didn't mean that he liked dealing with it. He never said a word back to the kid, but he just chatted anyway.

"Hey, will you finally tell me if you're a giant today?" he asked. "Because I have never seen a demon as big as you before… well, I've heard there are some out there, but they're not like the demons we usually see. They're more like big ol beasts and stuff. C'mon, you are a giant aren't you? You can tell me! I promise I won't tell anyone else!"

"Ashton, what I tell you about bothering the customers…" another voice said. Puff felt a tinge of relief when a woman stepped out from the back. She had to be about nineteen or twenty, and had short orange hair tied into a bun on top of her head.

Her attire was one that clearly reflected her work, being a simple t-shirt and shorts covered by a leather apron. She wore leather gloves and a pair of goggles around her neck, along with a pair of dirty brown boots.

The boy pouted and looked down. "Sorry Ashly. I just wanted to know if he's a giant thought. I mean he totally is. Look at how tall he is," he said.

She shook her head. "Whether he is or isn't, it isn't your place to be badgering him about it. Now leave him alone," she ordered. She then turned towards Puff. "Hey there Sinner. Here for the usual?" she asked.

Puff grunted in response, when she took as an affirmative. "Hasn't been that long since the last time you were here. I don't have quite as many in stock. But it should tide you over until the next haul. Provided you don't burn through them again anyway," she said.

The goliath scowled. Between that sword he made for Breeze's squire, and the new weapon upgrade he'd given Topaz, he'd been using more than the usual amount of fire crystals and elemental material he usually did. He'd have to make sure to use them carefully and make them last. Whoever needed anything after this was out of luck.

He nodded in response, and she turned around. "Anywho, I've got them in the back. Just need to bring them in with the rest of the stock. Hope you can forgive me for asking, but would you mind giving me a hand bringing them in? Would really help me out," she said.

Puff was silent for a moment, but then began making his way towards the entrance in the back. Ashly was someone he could tolerate. She didn't pester him too much, and usually got right to the point. She kept things simple. So he didn't particularly mind helping her out. Especially if it meant getting his crystal faster.

"Thanks Sinner."

Puff sneered at the nickname she'd given him. He had never given her his real name, since he didn't want to be recognized down here. So she had just started calling him 'Sinner' one day and gone with it. Said that most surface walkers only ended up in the Underworld for some wrong thing or another, so it fit. He didn't particularly like or dislike the name itself, but the way she'd addressed him with it so casually bugged him for some reason.

He approached a stack of crates, reaching down and easily picking the entire thing up and making his way back towards the shop. "Whoa! He's even stronger than he looks! See sis, I told you he has to be a giant! There's no demons that strong!"

"Ashton…" she said warningly.

"Sorry."

As Puff made his way towards the shop, he spotted something moving from the corner of his eye. He looked over towards the shed nearby, and saw a pair of glowing red eyes looking at him. He narrowed his eyes, glaring right back. A low growl came from the shed, and suddenly the door was pushed open, and a beast that could only be described as enormous made its way out.

It easily dwarfed him in size, and it's dark red skin was packed with nothing but sheer muscle. It's claws and teeth were rather sharp, and the large horns sticking from his head looked like they could run a man through with little effort. The black hair trailing down it's back looks like spikes, and it's tail swayed back and forth dangerously.

Puff had never seen any creature like it, so he assumed it was native to the Underworld. He got ready to drop the crates and rush at it, but Ashly quickly stepped towards it. "Oh c'mon, didn't I tell you to stay in there," she said. The creature seemed to loosen up as she approached, though still kept his eyes locked on Puff.

It was then that the goliath noticed that the creature had cuts and scars over some of its limbs. Most of which looked fresh. What the hell could have done that to something this big and fierce looking? "You gotta stay inside the big guy," Ashton said running over towards the creature. "If you don't those hunters might find you."

Puff raised an eyebrow as Ashly walked over and began petting it, slowly easing it back inside. "C'mon, just a little bit longer now," she said. "Ashton, go get her some food."

The boy nodded and ran back inside, and Ashely turned towards Puff. he apparently hadn't been able to hide the curiosity on his face, as she began to explain. "The hunters from the main tribe have started going after Behemoths now since they pretty much hunted all the Warnicorns to extinction. I guess they see them as the next big game," she said shaking her head. "This girl came wandering over in pretty bad shape, and well… we felt like we had to help it."

"Why?" Puff asked.

She was a bit surprised to actually hear him talk, but quickly collected herself and answered him. "I guess we just sympathized. We saw her coming in all wounded and desperate and alone. We just didn't have the heart to turn her away. Most of the people here left from the main tribe. Didn't have a place to belong, were lost and scared before we came across this place. So we know the feeling," she said. "It would have felt wrong turning her away and leaving her to them."

Puff grunted and turned towards the shed again. He never got the whole thing with hunting. Not unless it was for material or food anyway. What was the point over bragging about killing an animal? It was a stupid animal. Of course you could kill if with the right equipment, weapons, and armor.

His curiosity now satisfied, he picked the crates back up and began heading inside as Ashton passed by him with the food and headed to the shed. At the end of the day this really wasn't any of his business. He needed to get the rest of his stuff inside and get his fire crystals already.

Puff had just set down the last of the crates when he heard a scream and commotion from outside, followed by a loud roar. The goliath quickly made his way back outside to see what was going on.

By the time he got there, all he saw was the behemoth charging off into the distance, and what was left of the shed crumbling to the ground. "Damn, he got away!" Puff looked over towards a group of Fire Nymphs, one he hadn't seen before. The three of them were all carrying weapons and looking towards where the behemoth had run. "We were this close too!"

"Don't worry about it. It's better this way. You know Scorch is going to want to make the kill himself," another answered. "Let's send a signal. We might be able to cut him off."

"Hey! Knock it off!"

Ashton, who had been standing over by his sister until now, ran over towards the three hunters. Ashley quickly ran over and grabbed her brother, and then glared at the three. "What the hell do you think you're doing?! Invading our property! Are you mad?!"

The hunter laughed. "Don't play dumb with us. We know you were hiding that thing here. Trying to keep up from our game. Just be lucky all we decided to break was your dinky little shed," he said.

"Leave her alone!" Ashton yelled angrily. "She didn't do anything to you!"

The hunter shook his head. "You actually pity that thing? I should have expected such a weak attitude from a short haired outcast. C'mon guys, the stench of this place is going to make me vomit if I stay here any longer." They turned and began making their way after the behemoth.

Ashton looked like he wanted to run after them, but Ashly kept a firm hold on the boy. "C"mon sis, we gotta do something! They're gonna kill her!"

Ashely bit her lip. She felt for her brother, and the behemoth. But she couldn't go chasing after those guys. She was no fighter, and she knew just how dangerous they were. "Ashton, I'm sorry but-"

She got off as she heard Puff suddenly toss aside a piece of the shed. The siblings looked over towards him as he dug through the remains of it. He eventually stopped and then picked up something. It was a shovel. He grunted and as he held and weighed it in his hands. It was a bit small for his taste, but it would have to do.

He turned and began walking off. "Wait, where are you going?!" Ashly called.

"Hunting…"

They both looked surprised. "You're going after them?!" Ashley said stepping forward. "I can't let you do that! Those are Scorch's men! They're dangerous!"

"The fuck is Scorch?"

"He's their leader! The strongest warrior in the tribe! He's not someone-!

"I'll make sure to kill him slow."

With that Puff marched off towards where the hunters had left. Ashley and Ashton looked after him, feeling a mix of worry and regret. They knew he was a big guy, and he looked like he could handle himself in a fight, but Scorch was a mad man. If he crossed him and his gang, there was no telling if he'd make it back.

It didn't take long for Puff to track down the other hunters. After clearing the village and heading back into the forest, which was composed of all dead trees, they'd stopped to signal Scorch and his group by way of a smoke signal. "C'mon, I don't wanna miss when he delivers the death blow," one of them said.

The other two looked up to answer him, but then their eyes widened. When he noticed them staring he looked confused. "What? What are you two looking-?"

CLANK!

They watched as their comrade fell to the ground, his face caved in from the blow. Puff growled as he stomped forward them, shovel raised to strike again. The first of the remaining two ran at him, weapon drawn. Puff swung again, this time knocking his feet from under him and sending him to the ground. Then he lifted his foot.

"Wait! Wait!"

STOMP!

CRACK!

Puff turned towards the last just in time to get a knife striking him in the gut. But rather than the blade piercing his skin, it snapped right off it's handle. The nymph looked shocked as he stared at what was left of the blade, but didn't have much time to register what had happened before Puff grabbed him by the throat. He lifted him up into the hair, gripping his neck tightly.

"What are you?!" he asked. He'd never seen a demon like this before.

"Where's your leader? Where's Scorch?"

"F-fuck you!"

Puff narrowed his eyes, tightening his grip around his neck. "Those gonna be your last words? Fuck you?" he asked. "C'mon, you can do better."

He tightened his grip again, and the fire nymph gasped for air. "Ah! Ah god! North! He's North of here! He'll be after the behemoth!" he shouted, desperating trying to claw his fingers from around his neck. "Please! For the love of let me-!"

SNAP!

Puff tossed the body aside and then began marching onward. He could see small signs of tracks, so the guy must have been telling him the truth. He kept making his way north, doing his best to follow the trail, and then heard another roar off in the distance. As he approached, he could make out three figures up ahead.

And just past them was the behemoth, who was laying on the ground and looking rather exhausted. It had a wound on it's side, and it didn't look like it was even trying to put up a fight anymore. He grunted as he made his way towards the scene.

"Not a bad hunt for a beast as mindless as yourself," said the largest figure. Judging by the skulls and warnicorn horn around his neck, Puff assumed this was Scorch.

"I'll have a special placed on my wall to mount your-"

CLANK!

"Holy shit!"

"Scorch!"

He was right.

Salvo and Braze watched as Scorch stumbled to the side from the blow. He turned around with a glare, and then found himself having to do something he so rarely ever had to do. He had to look up. Puff towered over him, glaring right back at the fire Nymph as he gripped his shovel tightly.

Scorch scowled. "I don't know who you are, or what in the hell you think you're doing getting in my way, but I promise you're about to regret showing you face in front of me," he said, grabbing the hilt of his sword.

Puff growled before nodding towards the behemoth. "Leave or die. This one is mine…"

Scorch stared him down, and then smirked. "So, you're a hunter too. That makes a bit more sense. But you'll have to find another prize to claim. This prey is mine."

"Fuck your hunt," Puff said threateningly. "It's coming with me."

Scorch chuckled and pulled his sword out before pointing it at him. "You're planning on fighting us with nothing but a shovel," he asked.

Puff tossed the shovel aside. "I only brought it to bury you…" he said cracking his knuckles.

Scorch hummed as he looked at the larger foe. Big as he was, trying to fight the three of them bare handed was nothing short of foolish. Or perhaps just overconfident. He would find out soon. He put his sword away. "Don't interfere," he said as he walked forward to meet the goliath.

Salvo and Braze looked at him surprised, but before they could argue he charged at him with a yell, leaping into the air and punching him across the face. Puff stepped back, and then returned with a punch of his own. Though Scorch managed to block it, he had knocked him back a few feet.

This one was strong. He'd be a worth foe to topple.

Scorch rushed back at him, jumping up and kneeing him in the face. He then began to follow up with a flurry of punches on the stumbling goliath. "You're large, and a strong one, but you clearly don't have the speed to-" Puff suddenly reached up and grabbed Scorch's fist mid punch.

The fire nymph grew wide eyed, and Puff tightened his grip and let out a yell before pulling him up into the air and slamming him back down. He turned around and then slammed him on the other side, and Salvo and Braze winced as they watched their leader slammed into the ground.

Puff looked like he was about to swing him again, but Scorch yelled and pulled his fist back, kicking Puff's leg as he did. It sent him falling forward, and Scorch used the momentum and both of his feet to kick him away and send him flying. He hit the ground hard, and Scorch quickly got up and capitalized.

He grabbed Puff's hair as he tried to push himself up, and then began kneeing him in the side of the head. No matter how big and sturdy he was, a blow to the head was bound to do some damage. "Finish him off Scorch!" Braze yelled towards her cousin.

He kept going, and it was clear Puff was feeling it, but he wouldn't go down. He kept trying to pull himself up. "Fall you bastard!" Scorch shouted, preparing to knee him again. Before he could, Puff reached out and grabbed his other leg, along with the sash over his chest. He stood up, lifting him over his shoulder.

"Holy shit…" Salvo said stunned.

Puff began spinning around, picking up quite a bit of momentum before he threw Scorch. The hulking fire nymph slammed onto the ground with a thud, and Puff charged at him and leapt into the air, both fists raised. Scorch rolled out of the way before his fists came down, making a crater underneath them.

Scorch got back up and ran at him again, and Puff raised his foot to kick him in the face. Scorch managed to duck underneath the kick however and slipped behind him. He leapt at him from behind, grabbing into his head and then smirking. "Burn…" He began heading his fist up, and Puff felt a burning sensation shoot out from his hands and across his face.

The goliath growled and tried to shake him off, but Scorch kept his hold on him. "You should have turned and walked away when you had the chance. Now you're going to die right along with this beast," he said chuckling. His Molten Grip was able to melt through practically anything, and this foe would be no different.

Slavo and Braze both smirked. Looked like another skull was going to be added to the collection. Puff looked like he was slowing down. The burning sensation across his head was painful, even for someone as used to as much heat as him.

But two could play at this game…

He reached back, managed to get both of his hands around Scorch's head.

Then he began to squeeze.

Scorch grit his teeth in pain as Puff kept tightening his grip, trying to crack his skull like an egg. The two were in a deadlock, seeing who would give out first. Despite the searing pain in his skull, right now Puff was only focused on trying to pop Scorch's head like a grape. Scorch grit his teeth angrily. How was his head still attached? Just what was his skin made of?

"You're gonna die here…" Puff said, tightening his grip even further. A small trail of blood began to leak down from Scorch's nose, but before things could go any further, Puff felt something strike him in the stomach. He looked down and saw Salvo swinging his spiked club towards him.

Scorch always seemed surprised as his alley stepped in, and in the moment both he and Puff loosened their grip, the Goliath shook him off before swinging at Salvo. He nailed him with the back of his fist, sending him to the ground. But then he felt another blow to his side. Braze brought her axe back and swung again.

The blade didn't pierce his skin, but the blunt force behind it managed to knock him off balance. When he turned to swing at her, Scorch yelled and jumped at him from behind, slamming his elbow into the back of his head and knocking him to the ground. He stood up and then looked down at the goliath, kicking him in the side of the head as he tried to get back to his feet.

"I told you not to interfere…" he muttered angrily.

Salvo got back up to his feet, looking annoyed. "It was looking a little sketchy there. Not that we thought you were going to lose or anything but… c'mon, we have a real hunt to finish right?" he reasoned. He didn't want to hurt his pride by implying that they thought he would lose.

Scorch grumbled before looking back down at Puff. The goliath was one again getting back up to his feet. Just what was this guy made off? He reached for his sword, ready to end this once and for all, but then they heard a roar behind them.

"GAH!"

Scorch turned his head just in time to see the behemoth slam into both Braze and Slavo, knocking them into a nearby tree. So the beast still had some fight in it after all. He drew his blade and prepared to run it through, when suddenly something struck him right between the legs.

Puff had swung his fist up and struck him in the cotch, sending a wave of pain shot through his body. "Y-you cowardly piece of-!" Puff grabbed his hair before he could finish, turning around and throwing him over her shoulder. He slammed him into the ground. Scorch groaned and tried to get up, but Puff grabbed his head.

"Go to sleep, bitch!"

He raised his knee, and heard a crack as he hit him right in the nose and sent him falling back. Scorch was laid out cold, blood spilling from his nose. Puff looked down towards the fire nymph, scowling and spitting down near him. He was a tough bastard, and would have prefered having his armor and real weapons during the fight.

But that didn't matter now. He was standing, and the fiery head asshole wasn't. He was about to make his way over and finish him off, but when felt something nudge him. He looked at the behemoth, who was nudging him with its head. He grunted and reached up, patting her. "Good girl."

Puff didn't consider himself an animal person, but seeing as this one had saved it's life he would make an exception. He had to get her back before her wounds got infected or something. "C'mon…"

"Well, it's a patch job, but it should hold up until we get her some reason medical attention… you wouldn't happen to know anyone who could do that, would you?" Ashley asked, looking towards Puff, who had just finished up fixing their shed. He worked pretty fast for such a big hulking guy.

Puff turned and saw that she had bandaged up most of the behemoth's wounds. It was hardly real first aid, but it'd slow the bleeding down at least. "I know someone," he said, surprising her. "I'll take her to the surface. Bring her back later."

"Wow there Sinner, you really are a man of mystery huh?" she asked, smirking.

"Is it a giant doctor?!" Ashton asked excitedly.

"I'm not a giant…."

"You're not?! But I was so sure!"

Puff finished hammering the last nail into the shed, and then walked over towards Ashly. He pulled out a pouch from his bag and then tossed it to her. She caught it, and was surprised when she heard the sound of jingling coming from it. "Payment for the fire crystals," he said.

"What? But this is at least five times worth what I gave you. I can't accept all of this," she said stunned. She wasn't even given him the full amount he usually got.

"I'll take it!" Ashton said.

"Shut up Ashton!"

"It's for the shovel…"

"That's still too much!"

Puff ignored her and turned around, patting the behemoth and signalling for her to follow. The creature seemed to understand, and began walking after him. "Hey, wait. Can I ask you something before you go?" Ashly asked. He looked over his shoulder towards her. "Can you… can you keep her? Up there with you on the surface. She won't be safe here. They'll come back for her."

If felt like salt in the wound, asking him for something after everything he'd just did. But she knew those hunters. They were far too stubborn to give up. They'd be back sooner or later, and if that behemoth was still here she was done for.

Puff scowled. Hadn't he done enough for this place already? "Whatever…"

She smiled, feeling a bit relieved. "Thank you. The next few shipments of your material are on me. I promise," she said. Puff just waved her off.

"Aw, I was hoping we could keep her. But sis is right. She's probably way safer with you. So hey, what are you gonna name her?" Ashton asked. Puff grunted. He guessed he had to think up a name to call this thing…

"Captain, you're back." Flink made her way over towards the goliath, who was once again covered head to toe in his armor. "Where have you been all this time?"

"And why the hell did you call me here?" Slick asked, yawning. Arty sat beside him, also looking curious. It was rare their captain actually called for them himself. Usually unless they were headed out he just let them do whatever they want.

Puff stood with his arms crossed. "I need you to heal someone…"

Slick raised an eyebrow. "Huh? Just who the hell is.. holy shit…"

"Oh wow!" Flink said wide eyed.

Arty looked just as shocked as she did. Slick reached for his spear, but Puff grabbed his wrist and then shook his head. "Wait, this thing?" Slick asked. "Why… why do you want me to heal it? Where did you even get this?" Puff didn't seem like the type to just randomly pick up strays.

Puff just grunted in response, and Slick knew instantly he wasn't going to get a clear answer. "Is it friendly," Flink asked, flying up towards it. Arty approached it cautiously, then smiled as it began sniffing over him. "Does it have a name?"

"Her name is Sinner…"

A/N: Wow, this was a lot longer than I planned. But yeah! I wanna do one-shots with more of the Queensguardd characters since their going to play some pretty significant in the next arc. And I always wanted to have a fic with Puff and Scorch just having a slug fest! Hope you guys enjoyed!