Disgaea: Hour of Darkness

Title: Forgotten Memories

Author: The Rogue Shadow

Genre: PG-13

Rating: Drama/Humor

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Chapter 5: No TLC for the Vassal

- Laharl -

"Damn it! Where'd the hell did she go?! I've been looking around for her for hours and I still haven't found her! I should never have let her out of my sight!"

What felt like hours on end was in reality about a good 20 to 30 minutes. Recklessly running and searching around a castle will have that effect on you. Every minute counts, especially when you think that person might be in trouble.

I stop for a moment to catch my breath, resting my hands on my knees. Even a demon prince can only take so much before he runs out energy.

"Ugh, I can't keep on going about this haphazardly. Otherwise, I'll just be wasting more and more time. I have to think about this logically."

First of all, what would be the reason for her disappearance?

"Well it's quite possible that someone managed to take her when I wasn't looking. After all, I was pretty into scaring up Gargo. It's possible that whoever it was waited until I was distracted enough, then they made their move."

I almost smirk at the nerve of them before I realize how serious this situation could actually be. I quickly straighten my face and get back to thinking.

"That means someone could use her for blackmail and if I don't agree to their terms, then the next thing I know I'll be receiving a finger in the mail telling me it's from you know who."

My eyes widen and I shake my head frantically.

"Alright Laharl, calm down. There's no guarantee that it'll happen. Though the real question is would I still comply to their conditions just to keep her safe?"

I know the answer but I refuse to say it aloud. I can never admit to weakness, never accept it. Even so, I know that without a doubt I would agree if it meant keeping her safe. I guess she means that much to me.

"Ugh, forget it! That's just one scenario. There's still others. What if I'm making a huge deal about this when it really isn't?"

I calm myself down and try to relax myself at that possibility.

"I mean, there's still the chance that she left willingly. Though in that case, the question would be why she left. I don't really see any reason that she would leave. I mean, it's not like I said anything that would scare-"

I don't finish my sentence, knowing full well that there was something that could be it. The story I told about my old man turning Fae into a Prinny and making him to explode.

She might think that I would do that to her if she betrays me. After all, she couldn't choose between my old man and myself. She must've been freaked out at the thought of it and ran off. So, wait, that makes this my fault?!

"Damn, that can't be it. It can't."

I shake my head to myself and look up with a dark shade of red in my eyes.

"I know she was kidnapped... I don't care if it was by some wayward vassal out for revenge or some idiotic brats. No matter who it was, they will pay. Dearly."

I tighten my grip on my sword and head out to check out her old spots with one thought in mind.

Just wait Etna, I'll be there soon.

- Etna -

I open my eyes, unaware of my surroundings. I try to sit up before I feel a pulsing headache overtake me.

"Ugh, my head's killing me. What the heck happened?"

I put a hand to my forehead and try to think.

"Okay, last thing I remember was I was going to become the Prince's vassal. Then we were interrupted by some talking stone thing."

What was it?

"Oh yeah! It was that gargoyle vassal. His name was... Gargo. There we go."

I give a little smile and then notice that I'm no longer in the hallways.

"That still doesn't explain how I got here."

I try to look around and find that I am in some sort of dungeon with barred windows.

"There's not a lot of light coming through the windows, so wherever I am must be a good way into the ground. This place is too secure to be a holding cell. That must mean this is one of the dungeons. Great..."

I take a few calming breaths to steady myself.

"I don't know how I got here, but I think its high time I should leave now."

I try to start walking to find that my feet are shackled down. I look down at the chains with a little curiosity.

"How'd I miss those before?"

"Well, well, well the little princess wakes up. It's about time."

I turn my head to find a shadowed figure leaning against the stone wall.

"How do you like this setup I have here? Just give me camera and I'll be able to sell each photo for about 1,000 Hell a piece to some indecent magazine. What do you think?"

He gave a small chuckle and I growl.

"After all you already have the outfit down. Only thing I'm missing is a straddle. Heh, heh."

I flare with anger at his words.

"Shut up! Who the hell are you?!"

He faked a gasp and started to walk towards me.

"I'm surprised you forgot me already, Miss Etna."

As he comes closer, I'm able to recognize him as Sid, an old acquaintance. He's the kind of guy who I'd rather bite my own tongue off than to be forced to stay within a 5-foot radius of.

I watch as his eyes slightly narrow and his voice turns from a taunting one to a more serious tone.

"Then again you seem to be forgetting a lot of things lately. I'll be frank. Madares isn't pleased with your work. Lately, the things you've been taking from the castle have been getting cheaper and cheaper. And what exactly were you doing hanging out with the Prince, hm? Hope you haven't forgotten your deal with us. Your brother's still our captive. We wouldn't want another repeat of the episode with your pet dragon now would we? I doubt your little bro would very much enjoy being tortured to death."

How dare he bring up what happened to Flame! That dragon was my only friend and they killed her! Now he's threatening to the same thing my only family.

He gave off a smirk that made me want to rush up to him and strangle his scrawny little neck till his head fell off. I probably would have were my feet not chained down.

"Dammit, you bastard! Don't you dare touch Arimas! If you do, I'll make you regret the day you ever crossed paths with me! You got it?!"

"Ohh, a pretty big threat from someone who's pretty much immobilized. At least, that's what it looks like from where I'm standing."

He walked around me with his hands folded behind his back.

"He's pretty young you know. I'd hate to see what Madares would have us do to him. He's the only piece of family you have left. It would be a shame."

My eyes narrow.

"Don't forget that the only reason I took this job was to help support Arimas and myself. If you mess with him, then the whole deal's off."

"Not to worry Miss Etna. We won't do anything of the sort. However, we were instructed to rough you up a bit, just to make sure you don't get any thoughts on betraying us. You've been getting a lot bolder lately and Maderas thinks you should be brought down a notch. Personally, I like a girl with a little more flare, but oh well."

He then turns his head to the wooden door and calls out.

"Come on down boys. It's time to do your job."

The door creaks open and I hope I can prepare myself for whatever comes through it.

More bruises, more scares, more pain.

I sniff.

Prince. Wherever you are, please come soon.

- Laharl -

"Okay, fine. So she's not in the kitchen, dinning area, throne room, my room, or any freaking room on this floor!"

I lean against the wall, now more out of breath than before.

"Where else can she be?!"

Unknown to me, Ghoss the Ghost comes through the wall I'm leaning on and hovers right beside me.

"Boo!!"

"Guah!!"

I quickly unsheathe my sword and swing at whatever snuck up next to me. My sword slices into the wall with pieces of the wall crumbling as any sign of what was there.

I look at the wall questioningly wondering what the hell was there.

"Jeez, that was a close one. You almost took of my head there!"

I see Ghoss's form emerge from the wall and then I realize it was him who startled me. I narrow my eyes at him.

"Serves you right for trying to scare me."

I sheath the sword, angry that I'm wasting precious time.

"Trying? I think I succeeded pretty well if you ask me."

He turns around to look at the sliced wall and then back at me, then grins.

With a growl, I put my hand on the handle of my sword, ready to pull it out.

He sees this and his eyes widen. Waving his ghostly hands through the air, he tries to plea with me.

"C'mon, I was just joking with you!"

After another growl and some consideration, I relax my grip around the handle and drop my hand down by my side.

"Whatever. I don't have time for the likes of you."

Before I can start walking though, Ghoss floats right in front of me.

"That's what I've been meaning to talk to you about. I hear you've been cooking up a storm around the castle. Are you looking for someone by any chance?"

He gives a knowing smile that succeeds to piss me off.

"And what exactly would you know about it?"

Ghoss gives a grin and put his hands behind his head.

"I dunno... what do you have that a ghost, such as myself, would have a use for?"

My eyes flare up and I growl.

"Here's a better question! What's the only thing that a ghost, like you, values in death that I can hack off?!"

With those words said, I pull my sword out the sheath once more and point it to Ghoss's lower half.

"Now if you're done screwing around, tell me what I want to know! Or else!!"

Ghoss presses up against the wall, out of complete and understandable fear.

"Okay, okay! The red haired chick you've been hanging out with, she's being held captive in the dungeons! There was also a group of demons there and they didn't look like the kind of demons you'd invite to your mother's house if you know what I mean."

I growl louder with my fangs bared.

"Next time, if you have something that important you better tell me right away!! Otherwise you won't be so lucky!"

I quickly rush off to the dungeons, ignoring the half-frightened to life ghost.

"If those bastards even try to do something to her, they'll feel an wrath of an Overlord!"

Ghoss, seeing that he was out of danger, slid down against the wall.

"Whew! That was close... In that moment though, he reminded me of King Krichevskoy as a kid. Very hot-headed and very dangerous. Hm, he might make a good Overlord after all. Heh, heh, heh..."

With those words, Ghoss faded into the wall, glad to be all in one piece.

- Etna -

"Ugh!!"

I try to keep from making any noises, since I know those sadistic freaks get off on hearing sounds of pain.

My feet are still shackled to the floor and I'm outnumbered 5 to 1. Things aren't looking very good. Right now, I'm at their mercy and I doubt they're going to be feeling merciful anytime soon.

I can't pass out though. If I do then there's no telling what they'll do to my body.

Sid gets off the stone wall and raises his hand as a single for them to stop.

"Poor Etna. I hate to see you suffer like this. You know, I could get you out of this. All you have to do is become my partner once again. Maybe even something more. If you know what I mean. Heh, heh."

I move from my fallen position to a kneeling one. I look up at him and despite my bruised and slightly bloody face, I manage to grin.

"If you think I would willingly go back to working with you then I have two words for you."

Sid raises his eyebrow and crosses his arms against his chest.

"And what words would those be, hm?"

I fill my voice with the commanding and arrogant tone of the Prince. He's such a bad influence on me.

"Drop. Dead."

I then swish up the blood in my mouth and spit it right at his cheek.

It hits like a bull's eye and Sid's face goes from a smirking one to an outraged one. With a growl, he backhands me against the floor.

"Fine then!"

He grabs a mace from one of his lackeys and taps it against his hand. He does this for a bit until he regains his superior look and smirks at me.

"You've had your chance. Now you'll suffer the consequences."

I growl and notice much to my dismay that my feet are still shackled to the floor.

Think Etna, how can you get yourself out of this? There's got to be something you know that could help. Hm, Sid always was big on things like pride. Maybe I can use that to my advantage.

"So you're going to mace a defenseless girl? Who's chained down? How brave of you. Wouldn't you get more satisfaction from beating me in a fight, where I actually had a chance? I thought you had higher standards than that."

He glared a little before smirking yet again.

"Fine then, if you think it'll make any difference. Hurry up and grab a weapon from one of my men, then I can then proceed to paint the floor with you."

I slightly grinned to myself, glad of his insufferable pride.

At least, now I'll have more of a chance.

I look around and find one of his goons holding a spear. When I see it, I'm reminded of the king and how he helped me through the hard times after Flame was killed.

With some determination, I wrench the spear from the idiot's grasp.

"I'm going with the spear."

"Whatever. Makes no difference to me."

He then points to the one I took the spear from.

"You. Unlock her feet so that she won't complain about how unfairly I beat her."

He gives a question glance before shrugging and doing what he's told.

I take a deep sigh and try to calm my nerves. This is the first time I've been in a real fight. And with such stakes on the line, it's only natural to be a little nervous. Especially when the only experience, I've ever had was watching the king practice. I get into the stance I saw the king take before and ready myself.

"Let's go!"

I lunge at Sid, who wasn't expecting such a sudden move. With a mighty heave, I thrust the spear right at his torso.

Sid quickly regains his focus and sidesteps out of the way forcing me to continue charging.

Before I realize what happened, I feel myself out of breath and pain in my ribs. I struggle to breathe in and slowly turn around, leaning against my spear.

Sid chuckles and points his mace at me.

"Not bad, but you won't catch me off guard next time though. Consider that blow I gave to your side as a compliment. The next ones won't be quite as merciful."

Damn, this isn't good. I can't fight like this. I'm out skilled and outmatched. Maybe with some training I could've been able to win.

I'm sorry Prince. Looks like I won't be able to become your vassal. I was really looking forward to it to.

"So that's it, then? You'll just give up?"

My eyes widen and the sudden memory of the Prince when we first met.

He said that he would help me a common vassal like me, as if it were one of the most understood laws of the Netherworld.

"My name is Laharl. I am the soon to be Overlord of the Netherworld."

He was so sure of himself. He had a huge level of confidence that I didn't possess. The kind I wanted; the kind I that needed and still need.

"Now that's the girl who I made a promise to. A girl who wouldn't back down from something she believes in. That's the girl who I will train into an unstoppable killing machine!"

My breathing slows down and I'm filled with realization.

I already have the courage and confidence I need. The Prince saw it, even though I couldn't. I can't back down now.

Too many people believe in me for to just forfeit. Armias is relying on me to support the two of us. King Krichevskoy found me and decided I was worth saving. And the Prince... He chose me to be his vassal. I can't let him down now. I won't.

Remembering a move I saw the king practice, I crouch into position, imitating it the best I can. I believe he called it Impaler.

Well here goes nothing...

"Yeah!"

I jump up high into the air and aim my spear for Sid's head as I come down.

Having only a couple of seconds to react, Sid jumps backwards and looses his footing, trying not to fall down.

This is my chance!

At the last minute, I flip the spear so it's pointing forward and land on my feet. Then I lunge once more and jab the spear at Sid, stabbing it right into his arm.

"AGHHH!!!"

Sid drops his mace and falls to his knees, clutching his arm.

"Yes! I did it!"

Sid looks up at me and glares with hatred.

"You bitch! How dare you do that to my arm! I'll kill you!!"

I smirk at him, kneeling in front of me. I start talking in mocking tone of his voice, just to piss him off even more.

"Really? That sounds like a pretty big threat from someone who can only use one arm. At least, that's what it looks like from where I'm standing."

"Grr... I may be temporarily disabled, but my men aren't. Guys! Make her pay dearly..."

They grin and pull out their weapons, gathering around me in a circle.

Crap. That's right. I'm still outnumbered 5 to 1.

Dammit! I should've just made a break for the door and ran. Now I'm surrounded by spears and swords.

I look around and see that things are pretty much looking hopeless.

Is this the end?

Before they can make a move, the wooden door of the dungeon bursts open and lands on the stone floor, covered in flames. As the fire dies down, I see Laharl standing in the doorway.

I'm ready to exclaim in joy before I notice the Prince's expression. It's a look that's full of anger and hatred. A look that says he's out for blood.

He walks over the flaming door, ignoring the fire and withdraws his sword.

As he slowly walks towards the circle of weapons, I notice that his narrowed eyes are glowing a dark crimson. Truly like a demon. And for some reason that I can't quite explain, I find myself a little scared. Not from the goons surrounding me, but the Prince walking towards us.

He stops his growling, long enough to look up at those surrounding me and gives a threat, so terrible and so unlike the Prince, that it imprints itself in my head.

"By the time I'm done with you bastards, you'll be begging for me to kill you..."

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A/N: Yes! Another deadline completed! The great part of this is that it's coming more naturally now. I hope you guys liked this chapter. When I originally wrote this, kid Etna seemed too much like teen Etna from the game, so I toned it down a bit. After all, she is supposed to be a timid kind of girl, at least until the Prince starts training her. So I'm trying to ease her personality into the storyline. Hope she didn't seem too different from the previous chapters.

If you guys have any requests, suggestions or something you'd like to see, feel free to post them as reviews. Of course, motivation reviews are more than welcome as well! They are much loved and helped with the progress of this fic!

In case most of you don't know, I'm posting response to the reviews in the chapter that was reviewed. I'll also put this notice in the first chapter at the top. It just seems to work best for me. Sorry if it's inconvenient for the rest of you, but I want to be able to respond even if I haven't updated. If any of you want to know if I made response to the reviews, check my profile. It'll be in the section for this fic. Hmm... I guess that's it! Keep the reviews up guys!

Stay tuned for the next installment of Forgetting Memories, Chapter 6: "No Limit for the Demon"!!

- Response to the Reviews -

Goldramon X:

Wow, you're review just made my week. No one has ever said that about any of my stories. I doubt the quality of my past work would have been good enough, but still. Thanks a lot for the comment! I'll be sure to continue updating!

Bella:

Hey thanks a lot! I try to keep this as accurate as possible. I mean I can't do a 100 percent job since I'm not the creator of Disgaea, but I still try. I, too, believe that Etna and Arimas are related, though I'm not sure if what you meant by Arimas calling Etna his sister was just out of respect or literally. Eh, I don't know. I'll try to make a new chapter soon!

Kei-kun:

Glad you liked the chapter. No doubt you're disappointed in me for my lack of updating. . Things got rather hectic during winter break and now mid-terms are coming up. I know I'm just making excuses though. I'll try to make up for it by putting out a new chapter this weekend.

Black-wings91:

I completely know what you mean with Laharl being the strongest character in your file. Laharl's stats in mine beats anyone elses by quite a bit. Him being equiped with legendary leveled up weapons doesn't help much either. When I was writting the dungeon scene I got completely engulfed in the emotion of it all. I hope it came out the way I intended it to.

Wanda:

Yes! Another new reviewer! Very sorry bout the not writting it soon. It'll be up this weekend if I have anything to say about it. Me, being the author, I think I do have some say in it. I hope you enjoy the next piece!

LuSheeta:

Thanks! It's good to know that you enjoyed it. I hope you'll either equally like the next chapter or like it even better ...Possibly not, but here's hoping!

Dan heron:

Hey! I was kinda wondering where you where! Glad to know that you were still reading and just forgot to review. Nothing like having your readers loose interest in a fic. Though I suspect that some already have looking at the first reviews to the latest. At least I got some new ones too. (grins) I got the Maderas idea from another fic. Not the whole using him like this, but just including him. Now that I think about it he's quite the useful story device. And yes, Arimas is the little boy controlling the zombies. Including the one with the assorted horse weiner. (laughs) Now that was funny... Go Etna! I completely agree that she rocks. Hope you continue reviewing!!