He was the last one standing. If you had asked him so many years ago what he would be feeling at this moment, he would have answered elation. A joy he hadn't felt since his treacherous brother ruined his life, a bone deep satisfaction that came with vengeance. Instead he stood across from the urn, whatever demonic forces that powered it laid dormant for years, and just last night the final dregs of its power had burned out.

First his 'father', Paul Bearer, met his end at the hands of the brothers he attempted to control, to set them against each other. Now, finally, after all these years his accursed brother was dragged to hell with the demons he so happily served. His only regret is that it wasn't him that laid the betrayer to rest, instead a beast in human skin did the deed. The Deadman was finally dead, the Phenom was proven mortal, the Undertaker would never rise again.

There was no joy, he still couldn't remember what happiness felt like, the fires that claimed his parents had purified him of those emotions long ago. All he saw when he stared at the urn was years of anger, sadness, and insanity. So many battles fought, against each other and together, their destiny tied together by their bonds of blood and mutual hatred. All this and he could still find no solace, no peace, even when his enemies lay dead before him.

How much had he sacrificed chasing that goal, praying that it would restore some of what has been stolen from him. So many monikers he had gained in his crusade, 'The Big Red Machine', 'The Demon', 'The Red Monster' none offered him the comfort he craved, they only fueled the insanity. Here he stood craving peace, but the only thing that answered was the call he had always heard. Hellfire and Brimstone.

"Our deal is complete Kane, now it's time to take your place in my service." He needn't look over to know who had spoken. It was a voice that was in the back of his head since he made the deal that gifted him the fire he lamented now. A shadowy figure, smaller than Kane by a head at least, yet those piercing snakelike red eyes and curved horns cut a intimidating figure themselves.

"He didn't die by my hands, we warred for years and yet you never gave me the power to truly end him." He was surprised by the lack of anger behind his words, just a sense of foreboding acceptance that swept over his core. Lucifer merely shrugged.

"I collect the soul whether he died by your hands or not, his actions will see him barred from the heaven gates and I will have my pound of flesh." Those piercing eyes locked onto Kane, who still absent mindedly stared at the urn as if it would answer the questions of the soul, "As for our agreement, your brother is dead and now you serve." A shadowy hand extended, and Kane could feel something closing around his soul. He could feel tentacles closing around him, ready to pull him to his knees, behind Lucifer he could see shadowy figures of those who served him in the past and to this day.

"LUCIFER, I KNEW YOU'D COME!" The feeling disappeared, and he heard a snarl escape the lips of Lucifer. Matt Hardy had simply appeared, Kane hadn't felt any magic, it was like the man

had always been there. "Why, we haven't spoken since the last battle of Heaven, my last vessel Michael truly found you a worthy opponent!"

The horned god looked ready to spit venom at the man, "This has nothing to do with you creature, stay out of my affairs!" Matt simply laughed as sat at a table that had appeared. Kane wasn't sure when he and Lucifer had sat, and it appeared that Lucifer was shaken by it as well.

"But dear Lucifer, this is an urgent matter, my nemesis Sister Abigail is making plans to cause chaos in a world I have a vested interest in, yet I have no available vessel to battle her forces when they come." He looked pointedly at Kane, "But your current servant could serve me, and that world well."

Kane remembered choke slamming Matt many a time, he wondered how many times it would take to break the little man here and now. Lucifer looked uninterested in Matt's proposal, "You may have vested interest in this world or yours, but I have put years of effort into Kane here and I have no interest in losing him."

Matt smiled, "Dear Lucifer, I know we could reach an agreement, you are a deal maker after all." Matt extended a hand that Lucifer regarded cautiously, "In exchange for Kane, I will not take a vessel in your next battle for Heaven, I will lament potentially losing this world but the other is much more interesting."

Lucifer smiled toothily, grasping the hand, "Very well, Kane is now yours." With that the horned god faded away laughing joyously. Matt merely shook his head.

"King Maxel will deal with that, now dear Kane-" Kane smirked in evil satisfaction as he felt his hand grip Matt's esophagus tightly, how easy would it be to snap the older Hardy's neck and be free of service forever. "Now dear Kane, let us discuss your task."

Kane looked shocked down at the teacup that was now in his hands, where he was sure had once been a Hardy. Matt smiled calmly at him, sipping from his own cup, "A terrible war comes from the North, a war that will plunge the war in eternal winter, their warriors will not be prepared and your fire is their best chance."

Kane could almost laugh, "You expect me to be a hero, I have tortured, I have killed, I am a monster and you wish to unleash that on this world." Matt merely nodded.

"I think you will do well here dear Kane, it's a chance for redemption for you without the specter of the past hanging over you." Matt seemed to pull a pocket watch out of the air, "Either way you don't have much of a choice, toodle-oo!" Kane was about to grab Hardy by his neck again but was engulfed in a bright light.

-

"Congratulations Lord Clegane, you have two healthy boys." Kane's eyes shot open as he looked around the room, "the youngest twin does have a rather concerning issue with his left

eye, he may be blind in it." Lord Clegane merely grunted as he looked at his two sons.

"Their names shall be Gregor and Hegor." Kane hated both names with a passion.

-

Kane snarled as he swung his practice sword, the force of the blow knocked the sword of his opponent from their grasp. His opponent, matching his own fury charged in for a punch only for Kane to hit him with an instinctual chop to the chin knocked the large man on his ass. "Gregor, Hegor stand down now!" Both boys continued to glare at one another, pig-like eyes staring into

a Milky white eye and brown eye.

It was known that the Clegane twins despised one another, both large for boys their age of ten and two namedays, both stronger than any man had a right to be, and both prideful and lacked fear of the other. With the birth of their little brother, Sandor, many wondered if House Clegane had ties to the Firstmen and had giant's blood. It was already near legendary the scuffle the two had burst into when Kane heard the blood curdling screams of their younger brother Sandor, the

older Clegane trying his damnedest to roast their younger brother's face.

Kane had nearly become a kinslayer that day, it took nearly every man in service to their father to separate the two warring boys, and by the end of the scuffle both looked like they had exited a torture room. It seemed even in this life he had to suffer a brother with too much of an interest in fire, but unlike Undertaker, Gregor would die painfully before he lost his family to the flames

again.

Both boys hadn't backed down at the order of their father until the man came down and tore them away from each other. "I will not tolerate this foolish rivalry between you two for much

longer, Gregor you give me more problems I will name Sandor my heir, Hegor I will send you to the Wall if this keeps up." A part of Kane welcomed the idea, he despised Clegane Keep, but he

couldn't leave Sandor alone with their brother.

His father couldn't contain Gregor, as much as he liked to bluster about like he could. Gregor only respects power, and Kane had that in spades, the only reason the boy wasn't fully

subservient was the fact that he was the older brother and would be my rightful Lord one day. That would be the day Gregor would be burned by Hellfire.

"There will be a tourney in King's Landing, the hope is that you two fools can get knighted and grow into men, rather than quarreling boys." Lord Clegane looked at his steward, "We leave in

the morning, have the servants seen to their packing?"

The frightening steward stuttered out a yes, his fear bringing forth an old satisfaction Kane once indulged in. Their father saw them dismissed to their quarters, citing that any more fights would

see them both whipped.

"Pray that you die before I come into my rights, because if you don't I will kill you painfully and fuck your polished skull." Kane snarled, the familiar fire building in his chest at Gregor's threat

"No, be thankful you have the protection of being my blood, otherwise I would have seen your head dash across the wall of Clegane Keep."