Author's Note: A big thank you to both of my first reviewers, akumu keayo and Adana fukettei. I greatly appreciate your comments and interest.
I'm getting more and more ideas about where I plan to take this story but it's getting to be a much bigger story then the prologue implied. As such, instead of being a prologue really its just a hint of things that will come to keep readers interested while I get through the boring things of the current situation of the Netherworld and where all the characters are now---that's the what the next two or three chapters (this one is just insight on the relationship of this trio and me getting the hang of the characters) will be about till things begin to pick up so please hold on!
So just to make things clear for those who might be confused, even though the first chapter was written before this one, this one takes place BEFORE it.
PS- Still looking for a Beta Reader.
Chapter One.
"Prinnies? PRINNIES, GOD DAMMIT WHERE ARE YOU?" a voice, as was the norm, reverberated throughout the castle. Newcomers winced and cowered in fear but everyone else continued whatever work they had been---you got use to it after a while.
A certain red-haired, pig-tailed demoness was barreling down the stone halls, stirring up a storm of dust behind her which left anyone in her wake nearly choking to a second death.
Etna was not in a good mood, not in a good mood at all. She took her recent increase in rank quite seriously, and ever since then had been training both her prinnies and herself particularly hard each and every morning.
However, come time for today's practice she had found them all missing.
"Stupid, lazy, insignificant pieces of sh---" she was interrupted by the voices of the very prinnies she wanted to find.
"Dood! This isn't right! She wanted that picture up above the bed, right?"
"No, dood, seriously. She wanted it above the dresser."
Some shuffling and struggled squawks sounded before new steps entered "Oh prinnies! Don't fight!"
Just what in the Netherworld was going on?
Etna, being the kind and courteous person that she was, slammed the door open without so much as a knock and gaped at the scene which greeted her.
What had once been just another dank, dark-stoned and bleak looking room amongst many others could only be described as what she felt was the nursery of a very bizarre child. All around the room prinnies….HER prinnies carrying equipment and trinkets. The room had been paneled and now many of them were painting it with overly bright, fluorescent colors. However the background colors were a beautiful light periwinkle blue and a little lower on the bottom half there were bright green rolling hills with various differently hued green brush strokes to indicate blades of grass. It was far from anything professional or skillful even, but it was nice, simple, and obviously done but a very patient hand. It was alright, in fact in a way she kind of liked it. It was what was on TOP of that, which…worried her. Now that the prinnies were at it they were drawing little crude self portraits---giant large eyed freaky animals that she supposed were meant to be 'cute.'
A group of three of the demonic penguins were drawing a piece and were all gathered close to block it off from others. They were whispering to each other in secretive and mirthful tones. Curious, Etna pushed through the bustle of prinnies that were moving furniture around and leaned over them. The poor things didn't even notice the danger until one pointed out the sudden appearance of a shadow. It took a moment for it to sink into their bird brains but sink it did. They'd recognize that silhouette anywhere.
Now that she was certain they were quaking in fear, Etna casually kicked them all aside with one clean sweep of her foot.
The picture was poorly drawn but the gist was still there. A huge tower held Princess Etna at the top who was waving her handkerchief in teary admiration and hope at the Prince who had come to rescue her. Flonne rode on a great stallion, lancet and shield aimed upwards to the monstrous Laharl who loomed up above the tower and bore scales, claws, and monstrous teeth.
There was a moment of silence, and just as she was about to shish kabob the prinnies and serve them for dinner the voice from earlier called her name.
"Etna!"
Said girl turned away from her murderous rampage which was causing the prinnies to holler loud enough to warn the entire castle to see Flonne greeting her with an enthusiastic hug.
Etna gave Flonne a quick pat on the back before pulling away "Yea, yea. It's nice to see you too." She muttered unenthusiastically. It wasn't that she disliked Flonne, but she was still unaccustomed to her physical displays of affection and after seeing that picture she didn't want to give the prinnies anything to go on.
Why'd you take my prinnies?" she questioned grudgingly. She had intended to be angry and assertive but Flonne seem so genuinely happy to see her that she couldn't find the heart to raise her voice. Damnit.
"Oh, I just asked them to help me decorate the room, since nothing has happened in a long time I didn't think you were keeping them busy." Flonne said, beginning to look apologetic.
It was true, there hadn't been trouble of any important kind in a very long time but that didn't mean Etna wanted to get lazy on the job. "I'm still training them, each and every single day," she said firmly, then shook her head, "but whatever, I guess today can be an off day. I'm just surprised that you wanted their help. Have you seen the things they've been drawing?" she nodded towards the questionable picture.
Flonne looked at it curiously and after a moment giggled "Look! I'm saving you from the evil Laharl…heheh…though I'd think it would have to be the other way around."
No matter how many times it had happened before, Flonne's naivety still managed to surprise Etna.
"…..right. But it doesn't particularly look good, does it? I mean especially compared to the background, did you do that?" Etna looked Flonne up and down who was wearing a sweatpants and a tank top as opposed to her usual dress. She was splattered with paint and bits of saw dust littered her clothing, "So on top of being an angel and a ninja you are an artist and work shopper? What's next? A telemarketer, a monster, Godzilla?" she questioned in a sarcastically sweet voice.
"Yes!" she squeeled raising her hands triumphantly, "well…except the telemarketer one." Flonne answered with a face and a shudder.
Etna refused to comment.
"But no, I didn't do it. Kurtis did," she answered, "Yesterday evening." Ah. The scientist. That explained it. Speaking of the green prinny, he was probably back in the training room waiting on them all. She could go and tell him that they had off today….she should but….naah. She couldn't be bothered to go all that way just to inform him.
At about that moment Laharl entered in as much the same manner as Etna did---only this time he tore the door right off of its hinges. Behind him was on of his vassals. "Just what the hell is all the ruckus in hee—EEAAAHHHHHHH!" he bellowed out and covered his eyes at the sight of the overly bright room.
What a wimp, he had to be exaggerating because she couldn't believe even Laharl would stagger backwards at that—even at this. Throughout various parts of the castle cheers went up at his scream.
Etna tossed her head back and laughed "Seems like they aren't too worried about the health of their overlord, your majesty."
Laharl wiped at his eyes growling "I'll show them….Longius! Show them!" he said, ordering the vassal that had accompanied him.
Etna rolled her eyes "If you just send your vassal to do the work it won't really be 'showing' them anything, will it?" she pointed out as she watched him go.
"Shutup." That was the magnificent comeback of the overlord. He always knew just how to win an argument. Cautiously, as if he almost expected the walls to spring to life and devour him Laharl entered the room and looked around, wrinkling his nose in disgust. Prinnies were beginning to vacate since most knew that when these three were in the same room together, trouble usually happened.
"This is gross." He said, matter of factly when they had all gone.
"It is not!" Flonne denied hotly.
Without asking he took a large brush of bright red paint and smeared it over a bright, fluorescent pink…thing….she wasn't quite sure whether it was suppose to be a cat or a harpy. Or both. "Blood red! Much better!" Laharl declared, grinning toothily.
SPLAT! Flonne had taken a pink brush of her own and smacked Laharl with it leaving his face looking like a pretty flower. Etna dropped to the ground howling and soon met a similar fate when Laharl drew a long yellow line on her side. What ensued had to be the most frenzied paint fight ever. There was screaming, laughing, cursing and gibberish throw along with the paint and shortly all three were covered in every color imaginable. The sky had gone from a clear blue to an even pink and red. The floor now looked like a tie dyed shirt with splatters of colors here and there and sometimes swirls—there were hand-prints, and feet-prints and face-prints and….you get the picture. The only things that remained untouched were the green, green grass, and that solitary picture that had started all this trouble to begin with.
"I don't know why we left it." Etna muttered grudgingly, staring at her 'helpless' princess self.
"Because it is genius," Laharl declared with his purple arms crossed confidently, "look at how awesome I am! Look at how tall. One day I WILL be like that." He said shaking his fist.
Etna leaned over and rested her elbow on top of his head. "But until then, squirt, we like you just as your SHORT self."
Flonne laughed and also leaned on him "Yup!"