Disclaimer: I'll get around to it.
A/N: Just to let you know, I'm making the demons ages about the equivalent of Ranma's age. Etna is slightly older than Laharl and Flonne is slightly younger than him.
Ranma casually chewed on a fry as he surveyed the three teens across the room. One was a she-demon he assumed to be about his age. She was radiating an aura that screamed trouble and the look she was giving him sent shivers up his spine.
The male of the group had a huge aura that almost rivaled Saffron, but it was unfocused and uncontrolled. If it came down to a fight it would be a close call.
His eyes widened as he examined the third person, it was an angel! Probably a trainee by the looks of the aura and wing size but still, what was an angel doing in the company of demons?
Getting tired of the standstill Laharl spoke up, "Well then foolish human, know now that I am the great and terrible over…"
Laharl's voice died off as Etna began to tap him on the shoulder.
"WHAT?" he shouted.
"Hey uh, prince? Can I go to the bathroom now?"
Laharl's ego deflated like a punctured balloon, "But what about…?"
He was cut off again, "Oohh! Special offer on Big Macs!" squealed Flonne before running to the counter. Etna took the chance to run off to the restroom.
Ranma heard the overlord mumble something about 'vassals' and 'pain' but he couldn't work out what he had said. Ranma's shrugged, "You were saying?"
Clearing his throat Laharl began again, "I am the great and terrible overlord Laharl!"
"Nice to meet you." Said Ranma before returning to his meal.
Flonne finished her order and took a seat across from Ranma. Laharl scratched his head, wondering why he was expecting a bigger reaction from him. Finally he sheathed his sword and joined them at the table.
"So Mr. Ranma?" asked the angel.
"Just Ranma, please. I don't think I caught your name though."
"Oh! I'm angel trainee Flonne. Its nice to meet you!"
Flonne, Ranma noted, seemed to be a younger version of Kasumi. She radiated an aura of peace and you could not help but like her.
"So," she continued, "What are you doing in the Netherworld? Didn't you know this is a dangerous place for humans?"
Ranma leaned back and put his hands behind his head, "Meh. Nothing here could be as dangerous as the situation at home. I just consider this a vacation. Come to think of it, what are you doing here? I didn't think that angels and demons were on talking terms."
"Well that's…" she began.
"A very long and painful story that I'd rather not tell." Finished Laharl.
Etna came over and sat next to Ranma, "What I'm curious about is how you got here in the first place."
Ranma explained his little trip to the magic shop and the scroll he had found there.
"Wow. What kind of an idiot would give that scroll to a magic shop?" asked Etna when he finished.
Somewhere up in heaven a certain trickster god sneezed.
"I'm kind of grateful actually," said Ranma, "I don't think any hell could be as bad as the hell on earth they made my life."
"Your life was really that bad?" asked Flonne worriedly.
"It is a long and boring story that I'd rather not tell you."
The four of them talked for a long time, telling them about their home-worlds and how they came to be Laharl's vassals. Etna had served under Laharl's father until he died 2 years ago by choking on a black pretzel. By the wishes of the late king, she now served as Laharl's vassal.
Flonne had been sent by Celestia, the city of angels, to assassinate King Kircheskvoy (sp?). Unfortunately that king was Laharl's father and had already been dead for 2 years. She had become Laharl's vassal, after they had fought, in an attempt to prove that demons had feelings and could love too.
Laharl himself was another story. He had been put to sleep for two years by a poison that should have killed him. During that time his father had died and the Netherworld demons had fought for the title of overlord. In a climatic battle for overlord-ship Laharl had crushed all opposition for the throne in one fell swoop.
"So why did you guys come here anyway?" asked Ranma curiously.
"Our dimensional gatekeeper said that she detected a huge power level coming from here. We were bored so we decided to check it out." Explained Etna.
"Just how does a human have such enormous power anyway?" asked Flonne.
"I've been training in the art ever since I was 6," deadpanned Ranma. He started talking in a near emotionless voice as he always did when he talked about his trip, "The first thing he taught me was to dirty myself up and beg for money. 6 months into the trip he wrapped me up in fish sausage and threw me into a pit of starving cats in an effort to teach me the Neko Ken."
Ranma explained his story to them leaving out a few select parts. Even though they were demons there were some things that no ones stomach could handle.
Somewhere in Celestia:
"This is… unexpected." Said one voice.
"True, but if we play this the right way maybe this can help further our plans." Said a second voice.
"Still I am… concerned."
"I would not worry too much about it. They seem to be getting on very well."
"…"
"Very well then. I understand. In the meantime, Starbucks on me? I heard that they opened up a branch here."
(I think that I've beaten that gag to death now Ne?)
Back in the Netherworld:
Everyone was silent for a few minutes after Ranma had told his story. Finally Etna spoke up, "Hey Ranma, Are you sure that your father isn't a demon? Even I couldn't have thought up all those torture methods."
Flonne had a sad look on her face and a single tear went down her cheek, "Th…that's so cruel! What kind of a father would do that to his own son?"
Like always, Ranma could never stand to see a girl cry, "Hey don't worry about it. I've been over it for a long time. Besides, there ain't much he can do to me now that I'm in hell. I don't think even he would come here to try and take me back." Flonne seemed to cheer up a little after hearing that.
Ranma stood up and stretched, "Well, I'll be seeing you around then, hope your overlordship works out for you."
Etna on a sudden impulse grabbed Ranma's shoulder before he could leave, "Do you have anywhere to stay?"
"Er… not really."
"Well then," said Flonne now smiling as she got up and placed a hand on his other shoulder, "Why don't you stay with us in the castle?"
"Well I wouldn't want to intrude or anything like that…"
He was cut off again by Etna, "Don't worry about it. The castle has been nearly empty ever since most of the late king's vassals left."
"Well…"
Ranma then fell victim to the one attack that no man had every been able to counter. Nations fell to it, worlds succumbed to it and Ranma had absolutely no defense against it.
It was the dreaded, feared and lethal PUPPY DOG EYES ATTACK!
2.5 seconds later Ranma was walking with his new friends back to the warp point where the dimensional gate was to take them back to the castle.
Laharl stood in the center of a small clearing where Ranma could feel a high magic signature.
"Scotty! Beam us up!"
A telepathic voice spoke into everyone's minds.
"Damnit Laharl! My name isn't Scotty!"
In a flash all 4 of them disappeared.
A/N: Ahh, another chapter done. In a horrible mistake I accidentally deleted all of my work hence, the long wait. I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Remember to leave a review on your way out please.
