Disclaimer Disgaea Hour of Darkness and Phantom Brave and all things related to them are own by Nippon Ichi Software were brought to you by Altus. I don't own anything in this story but the time of my life I wasted making it.

Demon Brave

By Slayzer

Episode One

-A Demon at Heart-

Marona smiled happily as she folded some clothes she had just takin in for the cloths line. The thirteen year old green haired girl had some joy in the simple house work. Most likely this was because Marona remembers her mother doing the same tasks when she was alive. Still there was something about clean sun warmed fabric fresh from the line that was comforting in it's own. Marona's domestic joy was broken by a knock on her door.

"Marona."

The door opened to reveal Marona's guardian, a boy that looked about eleven years old. He was a few inches sorter then Marona but there were a few thing that really stood out about him. Even on such a sunny tropical island his skin was purl white. He was not wearing a shirt but he did have on a pair of red bell bottom pant and an a long blood red scarf. His red eyes and clothing clashed well with his blue hair. The most important thing about him was that eight years ago he was a lost Phantom and the former Overlord of the Netherworld.

"What is it Laharl?"

"I was going over the money you got form your last job and we're far short of the agreed pay. I had hoped you had a theory on why this is."

"You know there are things more important then money in this world."

"I DON'T BELIVE YOU! HOW COULD YOU LET YOURSELF GET SHORT CHANGED AGAIN?"

"If you can make people happy then that's all the reward you'll need in life."

"To bad Sienna doesn't take smiles and well wishing as rent. You do know that the money your parents saved for you has gone to pay the rent these past eight years and we're running low. If we don't start making sears money as Chromas then you can kiss this island good-bye."

"We'll pay the rent somehow but if I'm kind to others then one day…"

"… Everyone will except you no matter what gifts you have. You keep saying that Marona but in all the time I've know you no one other then me has treated you well."

"It'll just take some time. You cant expect everyone to like you right away no matter who you are but one day…"

Laharl could hardly stand Marona's strong faith in her parents. Even with most the people in Ivoire fearful of Marona's powers and hating her for having them; she still held to her parents words like a religion. Laharl on the other hand had spent most his life trying to spite the love nonsense his mother taught to him.

He was trying so hard to block out Marona that Laharl had missed her exiting the room. He could only guess that she was going to check the mail box for job offers. Sure enough that's where Laharl found Marona; sitting on the beach with a few discarded bottlemails around her. As he got closer he saw she was brushing away tears form her eyes.

"Oh Laharl, I didn't see you. We got more wrong address, funny how they keep ending up here."

"Let me see it Marona."

"It's someone's mail and we shouldn't…"

"Don't give me that! It's another insulting letter from cowards who talk big but can't sign their names."

Laharl ripped the paper out of Marona's hands and read it, his anger raising with every word.

"Forgive them Laharl. They just don't understand me or my gifts yet and you always get so angry it's scary."

"Well you just take their abuse and act like nothings wrong so I need to be incensed for the both of us. This is it, the rat bastards have gone to far. I'm not taking it anymore even if you will. I'm sending a reply."

With whitening knuckles, Laharl griped the Bottlemail it came in and started back to the house.

"Pleases Laharl writing hateful things back at them wont change anything."

Marona pleaded to Laharl's retreating back.

"Writing hateful letters is so childish that even I would never stoop that low. I'm sending this Bottlemail back to them with a more forceful message. Haahahaha!"

"Huh?"

"I'm going to rig this Bottlemail to explode when it's opened!"

"What if some on easels gets to first and opens it?"

"Your right, I'll need to send several of them to make sure they get the message."

Laharl was stopped in his tracks as Marona pulled on his two antenna like locks of hair.

"Stop it Laharl!"

"Owwwww!"

Laharl started back paddling and bumped into Marona who still had his hair in a death grip. He managed to grasp one of her legs just under her knee and tried to tip her off balances. Marona clamed into his shoulder in and started pulling on his checks with her free hand. Being a demon Laharl had amazing physical powers that far surpassed any human but Marona was taller then him and with the odd way she was hanging on him he started to lost his balances. Laharl was now running backwards try keep upright but as Phantom Island was small he and Marona ran into the surf.

The former demon Overlord was the first to get his head above water and was now even more angry. His hair was ruined and his red scarf, that had always blow around behind him no matter how little wind, was now water logged and limp. Laharl was contemplating on how long it would take to get his hair back to the way he liked it when Marona came up behind him and a splash him with water.

"What in the name of all this is unholy are you doing you?"

"Helping cool that temper of yours Laharl."

As Marona keep splashing Laharl ducked under the water and she lost sight of him. For a few tense second Marona was alone in the waves. Then Laharl rose out of the water behind her and wrapped his arms around he stomach.

"Gotcha!" Laharl yelled but with no anger or malic in his voice. In fact is sounded as if he was having fun.

"AHHHH Laharl, don't you dare."

"It's to late to beg for mercy, now feel my wrath. Forbidden Overlord Technique Super Splash Supplex!"

Laharl had done this to Marona many times before and she loved it, this was as closest thing to a rollercoaster as she ever experienced. Laharl would hold on tightly to Marona and use his demon powers to jump high into the air. Her house, island and the sky would all roll over in her eyes as her heart beat started racing. Then the two would break thru the water back first as the water slowed them down. The water and bubbles of air would rush over them both and then they would return them to the suffice and swim back to shore.

The two sat on the sand beach of the island and fought to fill there lungs with air not because of the water but because they where both laughing so hard. Marona's laugh soft and sweet like sakura petals floating on the wind and Laharl's laughing for once with childish joy and not spite or mocking cruelty. You could almost believe that Marona and Laharl were just children playing and not think of the hardships they had faced in they young lives.

"Come on Laharl we have to get ready to go. There was a real job offer in today's mail."

"Why didn't you say so before? This time make sure you get the full pay. There is nothing wrong with getting paid for the work you do."

Marona got up and exscinded her hand to Laharl who reached out with his own hand but It was then that their childish playing took them an awkward place. Marona's thin white summer dress was soaked thru with water and clung to her like a seconded skin. Laharl and Marona just froze there; their fingers just barely touching. Marona was to embarrassed to do anything and Laharl could only stared unabashedly.

Marona took her hand way form Laharl and their fingers just barely brushed against each other. Yet Laharl remand transfixed on Marona as her peach skin blushed to mach the redness of the eyes watching her. Marona started to back away a little bit.

"Excuse me Laharl but I ahhh need to go change."

Marona started to bow out of habit but caught herself half away. Had she finished Laharl might have bled to death via a nosebleed. She made a mad dash for the house, slamming the door behind her. Laharl just sat there, his face now matching his scarf.

Ounces safely back inside Marona changed out of her wet cloths and into a spear dress she had. Like her first dress this one was white with dark blue trim but this new one was strapless. She also put a blue sleeveless over coat with black embodying and lining, it looked like something a samurai would have worn. It was an outfit Marona had just bought it this Summer, she got it cheep because it was really made more of cooler Fall weather. What drew Marona to the outfit when she saw it in a store was that the blues in it matched Laharl's hair. Still Marona didn't have any dry stocking so she had to put on a pair of black laced sandals.

Marona was still hunted by the look in Laharl's eyes. It was more fiery then anger, deeper then sadness and all consuming like thirst. Marona was partly sickened by it and partly excited by it as well but over all she was feeling unsure. Unsure of herself and of Laharl.

"The best to do now is forces on the job at hand. After all the people of Terra Firma are in need of my help."

As Marona avoided this inner conflict, Laharl chooses to meet the problem head on. Laharl stood next to a palm tree as a evil red demonic aura washed off body and dried clothing. He reached deeper and deeper into the dark well of his soul so summoned more power.

'Damn it all to hell! I still cant reach the heights of dark powers I had before my death!'

Enraged by the memories of his own demise he hit the very limit of his power and his aura blazed like pillar of fire. It hurt Laharl like nothing else in the world to feel how much power he had lost.

"I had everything an Overlord could have wanted. All the Netherworld was under my sway and I had even brought Celestia to it's knees; an act no Overlord in history had ever accomplished. Yet I throw it all way for that damned love freak. That was probably her plan all along to fill my head with week thoughts of love. I swear that I Laharl will never feel love again! Not for my Mother or Father! Not for Flonne or anyone!"

Then Laharl thought of Marona's cute smile and the powerful aura he had been cultivating was snuffed out like a week flame in the wind. He feel to his knees in despair.

'Great, if everyone could see me now. Laharl the Overlord of the Netherworld being tamed by a human girl. I must have gotten this from my old man.'

Marona emerged for the house a few minutes later in her new clothes. Laharl had retrieved his sword, a long katana called a nodachi that was about two feet bigger then him. Yet to Laharl it felt more like a blade of grass rather then steel and he was deadly with it.

"So Marona what kind of job do we have."

There was an unnoticed twitch under Marona's eye.

'Way to avoid the recent events Laharl!'

"It was from Terra Firma and all they said was pleases save our island. It sounded like they were in trouble."

"Well you know what that means."

"Yes, we have to hurry."

"No. It means we can take them for every Bor they have! Haahahaha!"

"Laharl stop kidding around, this is very serious!"

"I know, I know. We're not going after lost pets or doing manual labor. This is real life and death Chroma work. Fact is I been saving a present for you when this day came."

"A present?"

"I've been saving some money these past eight years and just bought it last mouth."

Laharl dug a long and narrow wooden box out of the sand by a tree and gave it to Marona. She took the gift and was grateful but she was shocked at what she found. It was a beautiful Katana with mint a green scarab that was the same color as her hair.

"What's this for?"

"Killing. Now that we'll be facing real danger you need to be ready to defend yourself."

Marona took the Katana and strapped it across her back and then did a little spin to show off.

"So how do I look?"

"Very nice Marona-"

Laharl said and was hiding a blush at the same time.

"-but you know we'll need more then just swords to get this job done. Think about it, the two of us well always be outnumbered against any hoards of monsters we run across. What we need now our numbers of our own."

"You mean Confining Phantoms."

"No, I'm talking about demons. I've been reading your dad's old notes on the Confinement powers you have inherited. I think with your power, my Netherworld knowledge and the wandering phantoms we can summoning demons just like I used to do in the Netherworld."

Marona was more then a little wary on the idea of demons.

'I really don't know if a hoard of demons living here is a good thing and they say that Demons are pure evil. Then again they also say that about Phantoms are and me so what the hell do 'they' know anyway.'

"Ok, let's do it."

Laharl made a magic pentagram in the sand using the thirteen forbidden runes of Hell. Marona called forth Phantoms willing to be reborn into a demon body. We'll skip the mumbo jumbo for now and get right down to who they called forth.

One was a sexy female merchant but by the way she was dressed in chaps and hot pants you'd wonder what it was she was selling. Laharl refused to make direct eye contacted with her but insist that she be named Rosenqueen.

Next was a female healer and Laharl was thankfully that she was dressed connive. Marona named asked for her name. She replied so softly that it may as well have been the wind thru the grass.

"Nyx"

Nyx then bowed politely to both Marona and Laharl.

An unshaven male fighter was the next Phantom turned demon. Laharl and Marona both agreed on the name Sanjuro for this guy. Hearing his new name Sanjuro checked reflection in a pane of glass.

"Come on guys, I don't look a day over twenty-five. How can you name me that?"

The next was not so much chosen as she barged her way in. She was an amazon with short sliver hair and an even shorter temper. She said her name is Gao and told then don't even think about changing it.

"As long as I can beat the hell out of monsters, I'll join up."

Next was a knight named Leo who gave a sharp military salute to as he appeared. The way he cared himself was standard military discipline. Shoulders squared, chest out but his blond hair unruly and uncut. After being summoned he bowed and kissed Marona's hand like an old world gentlemen would have. Leo also spoke with a accent that reminded Laharl of a certain narcissistic mid level enemy leader.

"Ahh ha ha ha this is what they mean when say, Joie de vivre. To feel the sun and sea breeze on your face, to once again know your alive!"

Marona and Laharl felt needed some magic to round out the team so they summoned a witch. What they got was a girl who looked about twelve years old and dressed in a Santa suit. No doubt she was a witch but she seemed a little off.

"Wow oh wow! Just look at this place it's so cool! Oh my god look at you! Your ears are so cute, are they real?"

She then made a grab for Laharl's ears.

"Back off, In case you haven't realized it you have the same kind of ears."

The young witch then cheeked under her hat and felt her pointy demon ears.

"Snap I do! This is so awesome I could just die!"

"Well please don't do that after we just bright you back from the other side. But we have to find a name for you." Marona said with a smile.

"Then call me Natsuko!"

"My that was sudden."

"Yeah it was my big sisters name." A profound and deep sadness had entered Natsuko's voice when she said that.

Marona called all of her new demon allies over to her.

"Alright everyone one listen up. I'm sorry that this is so sudden but we have a job to do. So we're off to Terra Firma , please bored the hovercraft in a orderly manner."

Natsuko yelled out "Shotgun!" and was off running.

Sanjuro had his arm around Gao as they walked.

"Come on babe, how about we turn our seats into loveseats?"

"How about I send you back to next world? That way I can have the whole seat to myself."

Sanjuro wisely moved away form the amazon.

Rosenqueen crunched some numbers on an abacus and was she fixed her glasses as she walked.

"Let's see, with the fuel usage of the craft drastically raised by the number of passengers and with gas getting more expensive. We're going to be lucky if we even make a profit. It's going to take a lot work to get this sorry group up in the black again."

Leo lead the way for Nyx like a true gentlemen.

"Just stand back and let me do all the work in the battles to come my fair mademoiselle. After all we are all counting on you to keep us healthy and it would be most regrettable if something dreadful should befall such a lovely flower."

Suzan just smiled as it seemed she was not the talkative type.

"Well Laharl they seem to be a lively bunch don't they?"

"Yeah I just hope they be useful when the time comes. After all they did died once already."

There was a blaring honking noise coming form the hovercraft as Natsuko found the horn.

"Come on slowpokes we're not getting any younger. Let's GO!"

Marona ran off to the hovercraft optimistic as a new chapter in her life had opened. One she hoped would lead to many friends. Laharl walked slowly his mind in that past and the decision he'd have to make. Weather this life with Marona was more important then trying to regain his place as Overlord.

-Episode One End-

Laharl: Join us next time as the Demon Knight Laharl wielder the Dark Soul Blade fights for his ideals in a world gone sane!

Marona: Laharl what are you doing?

Laharl: (gasp) Can it be? The Holy Knight Raphael has captured the elfin love of Laharl's life to use in a ritual to revive the light goddess!

Marona: And who are you talking too?

Laharl: Is it to late for the Demon Knight as the ritual is complete and the Goddess awakens? Maybe with the powers of both his Dark Blade and Raphael's Light Blade, Laharl can over come the goddess and save the women who loves him.

Marona: Your really starting to scare me Laharl.

Laharl: Next Time in "Account of The Louts War: Saga of the Demonic Knight" Episode Two. Twilight of Love.

Laharl: I will fight for the sake of the Netherworld!

Marona: This can't be healthy.

Laharl: Yeah, this stuff will grow on you if you let it.