Laharl: Don't go around acting like your the only one who has it hard!
Flonne: Wow, is Laharl being empathic toward others. A Miracle!
Slayzer: I think is because he saw me playing my new copy of Disgaea 2 not that I'm trying to brag.
Laharl: Damn ungrateful losers at Nippon Ichi Software! I put them on the map and this is how they thank me? I'm not even the main character in my own sequel but Etna gets a staring roll!
Etna: What can I say, It's hard being this beautiful.
Laharl: Disgaea Three better be called "Laharl's Magnificence Conquest of Everything!"
Slayzer: Anyway, Adell would you like to give the disclaimer.
Adell: All right! Slayzer gave me his word that he's making no money off this fanfic. Also everything Disgaea, Phantom Brave and Rhapsody is own by Nippon Ichi Software.
Laharl: That's it! I'm ripping your fake red hair out by the roots!
Adell: Bring it!
Slayzer: No fighting in the author's notes!
Episode Six
-Sakura Serenade-
Forestia
The lush and abundant Island of Forestia was nearly untamable. Truthfully not many had tried as their where islands with resources far more easily available then the jungles of Forstia. It was this inhospitable island that Marona and her crew where on and in search of Scarlet the Brave.
Castille was now dressed in olive green combat gear and slung over her shoulder was a rifle from the Makai world. Laharl had the gun made after giving a quick lesson in ballistics to a blacksmith. He also said it suited Castille as the groups Gun Bunny.
Castille marveled at the life all around her far more impressive then any book. "Wow, this place is so amazing. The trees, flowers and everything is so big."
Sanjuro slapped a bug that bit his arm. "But the damn bugs here are big as well. Why the hell would Scarlet the Brave live out here?"
"That's the information Count Malt had when he sent us out here." Marona said.
"Did Count Malt say what this Scarlet guy looked like?" Laharl asked.
"No, all Count Malt said was Scarlet has a flame shaped birthmark. This shouldn't be hard; all we need to do is ask everyone we meet if they're Scarlet."
"And you think he's just going to say, yes, here I am. Don't you think he's on Forestia is to stay away from the limelight?"
"Well a Hero like Scarlet should be easy to spot. I bet he's handsome, strong and larger then life with a voice that booms into the heavens. You could try and learn a thing or two from him Laharl." Marona said that last part with a cute teasing smile.
"There's nothing in the universe any human can teach an Overlord!"
"But Scarlet defeated Sulphur, ending decades of terror."
"Five minutes against me and Sulphur would be licking the crap I kick out of him off my shoes. I don't think a scrawny guy named Scarlet could have beating anything like Sulphur alone."
"Still it's our job to search this island for Scarlet and we're going to find him."
The two were still sore at each other over the whole Castille debacle and walked on in since. About a half hour later they all come to area Bed of Flowers and a rather odd sight. A dozens Saber Kitty's with a phonograph, a few speakers and all heading the same direction.
With no other leads they decided to carefully follow the Saber Kitty's. Then thru the dark forest they saw a pink light. The closer they got the larger and bright the light. The Saber Kitties ran right in the light and without waiting as Marona's group when after them. What they saw was breath taking.
Sakura trees.
Groves and groves of Sakura trees raining down pink petals. Not only was it the wrong time of the year but Forestia was the wrong clement zone for such trees. Everyone took a moment to enjoy the sight but you know the myth about how Sakura's got their red color, right. The blood from a corpse buried beneath a Sakura tree. The dirt under the trees looked freshly disturbed and Zombies where now rising slowly out of the ground.
Everyone had there weapons ready in an instant but the zombies did not attack. The zombies seemed stiff and not in a dead way but more in 'I just got up form a long nap' kind of way. In fact some of them where yawning, starching and giving one another helloes.
One lady Zombie noticed Marona and walked over to her. "Are you all here for our sakura viewing festival?"
Everyone was still on guard because polite or not she was still a zombie. Slowly it dawned on them that the zombies were not swarming at them in waves like gory B movie cliché.
Marona worked up the courage to talk to the zombie lady. "Sakura viewing?"
"Yes. We live here and the Sakura are always in bloom but about once a month we have a viewing party. We make our own brand of sake here and the Saber Kitties bring over their Phonograph so we can sing Karaoke, it's a lot of fun so you should join us."
"Well were looking for Scarlet the Brave, he'd have a flame like birthmark."
"I don't know any Scarlet but Milon has a mark like that."
"Well then I guess we will take you up on your offer."
"Great! We haven't had visitors in so long."
Everybody then walked into a clearing were the festive was being set up by this lively zombie colony.
Yggdrasil Sleep
"You mean to tell me that you came all the way here because you thought I was Scarlet the Brave? Ha ha ha ha ha hah!" Milon, a zombie himself, laughed and downed another glass of sake.
"So we where mistaken then." Marona said with a heavy sigh.
"Come now, it's a party so don't be a pooper."
And what a party it was, Mid-boss was an island to himself on the dance floor. Everyone was giving the demon baron plenty of room so he could bust his dance moves to the thumping bass. He was so happy to be the center of attention that he didn't care they were chanting. "Go Mid-boss, Go Mid-boss, Go!"
Nyx was one of Mid-boss's chanting admirers. The two had been thick as thefts after the island of healing waters fiasco.
Gao was over by a large sake barrel laughing it up with some zombies and Saberkitties. The way there were rolling around on the floor you'd think something funny happened but when you're that bombed anything is hilarious.
Sanjuro was out on the dance floor as well with a cute zombie lady. Her bandages were wrapped around him as they grooved to the beat. He leaned in close and took a heave waif of her neck.
"Tell me what is that scent your wearing, it's making my head spin."
"Formaldehyde." she may have blushed but its hard tell when she didn't have a pulse.
"Really? Well baby it and you are making me feel good all over."
Sadly, not everyone was having such a grand old time at this party. Natsuko was resting angst one of the trees and looking banefully at the sakura petals. Rosenqueen was a little worried about Natsuko and sat down next to the witch girl.
"What's wrong Natsuko it's not like you to be so down?"
"I don't like this place."
"Well I'll agree the zombies are a bit creepy but they all seem like a nice bunch."
"It's the damn flowers I don't like."
"What, sakura blossoms?"
"I can't stand people who go on about how simple and beautiful Sakura's are. To me they just a reminder of something painful." Their had been a Sakura tree at her old home and it's blazing branches was first thing she saw as a phantom.
"You know Natsuko I feel the same way about the ocean."
"You do?"
"Yeah, I haven't really told anyone about it but I drowned. No mater what anyone says about ocean sunsets, that deep water will only be an endless cold grave to me."
Some how that made Natsuko feel better. In a strange way your pain seems to lessen when it's shared with someone who understands. She guessed it was just part of being human.
Marona's gaze then fell on Laharl and Castille who where off on the other side of the clearing. Marona couldn't hear them but it looked like Laharl was giving Castille more tips on using her new riffle. Laharl's hands where guiding Castille's as she tucked the butt of the rifle under her arm. They were so close it was almost like Laharl was hugging Castille.
Marona stated to work on the emotion knot that had been tied in her heart when she saw Laharl and Castille being so close. Her thoughts were soon interrupted by Milon.
"Hey Eon, you made it back!" the Zombie leader called out to an approaching human silhouette.
"The sake you gave me the last time I was here ran out. So I'm back for a refuel." Eon said as he brushed some of his spiky orange hair out of his face.
Eon was a ninja dressed black baggy pants and a blue karate vest with a black mesh shirt under it. His long green was held back by a pony tall but a few long bangs fell over his forehead. Tucked under his right arm was Naginata, a kind of Japanese spear.
"Well we never get some many guest here at one time, let me introduce you. Marona this is Jet and old friend. Eon this is Marona she came her thinking I was Scarlet the Brave."
"I can believe that."
"You can?"
"Yeah, if the information she got said there was guy with a flame shaped birth mark and left out the obvious fact your dead."
"I guess that makes sense in some way." Milon said and sheepishly scratched his head.
Eon looked over to Marona. "Then you must be Chroma."
"Yes, but I'm still new at this sort of work."
"Then you can't be very strong." Jet said and turned way rudely.
"What's his problem?" Marona asked Milon.
"Well he's on a training mission to seek out powerful opponents in order to become stronger. The first time we meet was when he was trying to kill me. It started with a few rounds of fighting and ended with a couple rounds of drinking. Let's just hope he doesn't pick a fight with anyone."
Marona didn't think it would be long before Eon's standoffish manner lit one of her friend's short fusses. Unfortunately that happened just as she finished that thought.
Gao was sent tumbling onto the center of the clearing and music stopped. The proud Amazon got to her feet and glared at Eon who threw her aside like trash.
"What the hell's your problem?"
"You were keeping me from my drink. I've killed stronger men then you for less then that." Eon said as he helped himself drink.
"Alright tough guy, come on! You just got yourself a ticket on the pain train!"
"Pain train?" Eon said after finishing his drink and heading over to Gao. He left his spear near a tree; he thought he didn't need it.
"You're going to regret challenging me hand to hand. I'm this team's best grappler." Gao said with a wolf fanged grin.
"Then I hope your fist can hit what your eyes can't see." Eon made a hand gesture of some old eastern mysticism and he vanished in a storm of leafs.
Gao's body went rigged with apprehension. Eon had been standing right infront of her but now he was gone. Her sharp eyes scanned the clearing for her opponent it but there was nothing, she couldn't even senses him.
"Is that how you win your fights? With cheap ass ninja magic tricks?"
"If you didn't like it how about I pull as Scrabbit out of hat?" Eon said standing just next to Gao.
Gao didn't even have time to be surprised before Jet took her out with a knee to the stomach. That was it the fight was over with one move delivered with deadly ninja accuracy. Even as she fell Gao couldn't believe that it had happened.
'Damn it, he took me out like I was a rookie.'
Marona was the first to rush over to Gao. She tried to wake Gao up the Amazon was knocked out cold.
"Why? Why did you do that?" Marona said as the others moved toward Eon.
"The weak should yield to the strong, that is the cardinal rule of nature."
"So you like strong people. Then how about you fight me next?" Laharl said as he walked up to Eon. It seemed a mismatch, the young child demon Laharl angst the physical imposing Eon.
"A child who doesn't know his limits isn't worth my time."
"Don't tell me you're afraid of little old me, you worthless bastard." The insult was delivered with a conversational tone that add to the sting.
The air went cold as a pale ice aura flashed around Eon. Laharl had found a nerve and he keep up the presser. "I know what you are and everyone knows. You're the child of a hundred fathers everyone of them trash like you. I think it be a waste to use my sword on a nothing like you." Laharl said as he throws his sword out of the clearing.
It had been a while since Laharl fought barehanded and that was back in the Netherworld and many transmigrations ago. He hoped the skills where still there.
"Fine, I'll show you. I'll show you the power I have learned in my years of travel! Ninja skill, Chameleon Vanish!" Eon said as his eyes burned with ice blue light.
Eon used his vanishing technique and disappeared from Laharl's sight. A heartbeat later Eon's fist meet with Laharl's face. The demon prince staggered back but regained his footing. There was a burse on his face the would swell in the morning but the worst of it was Eon was still invisible.
'He was right in front of me and I couldn't see him. Eon really is completely invisible.'
Before Laharl could get his bearing Eon's assault continued. Punches and kicks assailed Laharl that seemed to come for everywhere and nowhere. He swayed like a punching bag but refusing to fall down.
Marona could take anymore and was about to enter herself into the fray when Mid-boss stopped her.
"Fear not little one, Laharl has advantage."
"How?"
"Laharl knows that relying on sight and sound will only lead to delusion. He must open his mind's eye!"
"He can do that?" Marona asked in awe.
"Let's hope or he'll be killed."
Eon landed a powerful kick to the side of Laharl's head but Laharl caught Eon's leg between his arm and shoulder just after the hit. Eon was still invisible but now he was wide open for an attack and Laharl happily took that invitation.
"Blazing Knuckle!" a cyclone of fire wrapped around Laharl's right fist and was unleaded on Eon. The Ninja was knocked to the ground and was made visible again after being hit by blazing fire.
"Haahahaha, I knew it. The only time I knew where you were was when you attacked and that was my window of opportunity!" Laharl gloated as if he solved a grate puzzle.
"Is that what you meant by 'mind's eye' Mid-boss?" Marona asked.
"Well something like that." Mid-boss said with a sweat drop.
"Damn it! This isn't happening, this just can not be happening!" Eon yelled as he picked himself of the ground.
"What's the matter want to go again?" Laharl asked smugly.
Swept up in blind furry Eon forgot his Ninja pride and ran for his spear. Once Eon had his weapon in his hand it blazed power as he called on his best attack. "This is it, Truth Lasher!"
A large ball of red energy formed on the spears tip and was sent smashing in Laharl. Dust, leafs, rocks and sakura pedals were sent flying as everyone shielded their eyes from the blast.
"Nothing human or demon could take that and live!" Eon said as he watched the dust settle.
Eon's victory was short lived as the dust was dispelled by the summoning of powerful magic. Laharl was a little worse for ware but still standing. One of his hands was outstretched as he called his sure kill.
"Human? Demon? Don't use those labels on me, Overlord's Wrath!" The blast of gold light that fallowed took out Jet and a few unlucky trees as well.
The next thing Eon knew he was flat on his back, his naginata slipped form his grasp. His world now consisted of the blue sky, pink sakura flowers and the pain that wracked his body. He felt someone prodding his shoulder with their foot and turned to face who was.
"Come on Ninja boy, your not dead yet." Laharl said and Eon meat his gaze was well as he could. Laharl was a mess his face and body bruised and hair disheveled.
Eon said nothing.
"I want to apologies for the way I ridiculed you before, it's just that you reminded me of someone I use to know. So he wanted to become strong because if power was everything then it wouldn't mater what who he was. Well later he found a girl who was a lot like him, orphaned, hated by her own people and alone. But she didn't despair or get angry, she just loved them all the same. That's were he learned about another kind of strength a kind you can't get by needless fighting, the strength of heart."
"What happened to that friend of your?" Eon asked as Laharl started to walk away.
"Who knows but I sure he happier now. " Laharl said and stared to walk toward Marona who was running up to him. Suddenly out of nowhere Milon tripped Marona and she tumbled forward and into Laharl's arms.
"What the matter with you! Your eyes rot out?" Laharl snapped at Milon as he held Marona.
"Sorry kid, but that story yours was so sweet me eyes all wet."
"Zombies can't cry!"
"Oh yeah, that's right. I comply forgot."
"Hey Laharl are you going to help Marona up or just hold on to her the whole day." Castle said with a sly fox smile that Etna would have envied.
Laharl was so angry at Milon that he forgot that still held Marona but she wasn't complying. In fact she enjoyed Laharl smooth skin and strong arms. Of course now that Castile pointed that out the two quickly push apart to avoid anymore embarrassment.
Castile could help but laugh at the two but not everyone thought it was that funny. Natsuko quickly hit the newbe demon over the head with her spell book.
"Oww!" Castile cried as she rubbed the soft spot on her head.
"You dummy! Laharl and Marona were all like kisses kisses but then you had to ruin the moment."
"Don't be too hard on her Natsuko, less we remember the rooftop fiasco of yours." Rosenqueen said.
"I thought Laharl and Marona are a couple?" Castile asked.
"They are but don't tell them that." Sanjuro said.
"In that case we should turn around so they can get all lovely." Castile said. Then everyone, demon, zombie and saber kitty turned their backs on the couple and started humming tunelessly.
Laharl and Marona looked at them all then at each other and knew what they had to do.
"Stop making fun of us, you jerks!" they cried and gave chassed.
Marona went after Castile and Laharl after anyone who got near him. In moments everyone was laughing as the music picked up and the good times rolled on.
Off to the side Eon leaned against a near by tree and smiled. "I can't believe I lost to a bunch of weirdoes."
About the same time Laharl and Marona were playing around with their friends a soul many worlds away was about to be pulled into their story.
-Another world all together-
It was a dark night in an abandon and derelict church. The paintings of angels and saints had started to rot and fade as if all where forsaken by god. A life sized stone effigy of the goddess this world worship still stood bathing in the light of a dozen candles. A dark clocked person sat hunched over the pipit but instead of a holy book it was a gun that was the focus of his attention.
The gun was a massive sliver revolver with a riffled barrel that was almost a foot long and bullets that must have been an ounce each. The handle was old-fashioned as if it came from an old dueling pistol. This was a gun that was made with demons in mind and was too much for any normal man to use. The clocked man's right hand which was warped around in bandages took hold of the large firearm and held it as if it was a toy cap gun in his delicate fingers. A thumb pulled back the hammer and the camber and barrel aligned.
A soft glow of light appeared at the church's door as an angel teleported in. A long white rob hide his face and large white wings hung off his back. A gold emblem around the angel's neck marked him as and Archangel Second in rank only to a Seraph. The man with the gun eased the hammer down so the gun would not fire.
"So I take it you have need of my skills once again?" The gunfighter said his voice surprisingly young but with an acidic and hateful tone.
The archangel walked over to the human and placed two gloss photographs and a sliver necklace on the pipit. "This necklace will take you to a world called Ivoire and the two in the pictures must die."
In a sudden outburst the human swatted both the picture and necklace. "What the hell is this? Why do the all powerful angel's need a human to do their killing?"
"In this case there are political matters that halt our direct involvement. Not that it matter to you, Culotte."
In blind furry Culotte tore off the black clock he was wearing and got in the angel's face. Culotte had changed in a short year, thus still dressed in the same dark blue of La Pucelle he no longer had the skull cap or any holy marks that affiliated him with the church. His orange hair was now cut shorter but was uneven and his eyes held a dark hateful gaze clashed with his innocent face. Most notable was the gun belt; a knock off of Croix's and his right arm was now kept bonded in white bandages like a mummy.
"Was it politics that keep you form helping us against the dark prince?"
The archangel said nothing.
"When Alouette died was it just to even out your book keeping?"
"Human's live and die by the decision they make and the repercussions of those actions. You could go to war and come home alive or you could be killed just crossing the street but it is not always in god's hands. This however was all you're doing!" The said and archangel grasped Culotte's right arm.
A pulse of energy passed form the angel's hand and into Culotte's arm. Black wisps of miasma seeped thru some of the white linen. Culotte flinch in pain as his right arm fought against the rest of his body.
"It was your carelessness that cost you your real arm and desperation that led you to get this fake imitation. The technology of the Church of the Divine Mother that is what you used to make your new arm."
"I already paid for that sin and was banishment for the Kingdom!"
"You gave yourself to us, an instrument of the gods to hunt down evil and it is no longer in your ability to refuse us." the archangel said and let go of Culotte, the boy cradled his painfully arm.
Then with all the dignity of a beaten dog Culotte picked up his belonging. His gun slid easily into the calfskin holster, and under the pipit was his satchel which he slung over his should and an ornate sliver quarterstaff. He then picked up the pictures of his targets and the necklace that would take him to them.
"So who are they?" Culotte said acting as if the confrontation hadn't happened.
"The boy is a demon and a former Overlord. Be careful, he will most likely be your fieriest opponent."
"I've killed plenty of Overlord's in the dark world, this brat is nothing. Now what about the girl."
"She has blasphemed against the gods and summoned vile demons. Only death will cleanse her soul, kill her at all coast."
Culotte nodded his understating and head for the door but stopped just at the threshold. With amazing speed he drew his gun and took aim at the goddess statue behind him. With rapider fire speed and deadly accuracy he took out her legs, wings and heart. The goddess's head was still in one piece as it stared fall off from the body and a sixth bullet, right between the eyes, shattered it.
The archangel whistled in awe of the young man's skill. Culotte smiled at the rubble of the once beautiful goddess. "In the name of the Maiden of Light."
-Back on Forestia-
Marona was leading her party back to the hovercraft. Everyone was fine now except, Gao who was semiconscious and being carried by Sanjuro.
"Worst hangover I've ever had." She moaned.
"So are we all here and ready to go?" Marona asked.
"Yeah all present and accounted for." Rosenqueen answered.
"Well I was just wondering if Eon was here to say good-bye or if he wanted to come along.
Everyone looked around but the Ninja was nowhere to be seen. That was until he steeped out for behind a paper screen he was using to blend into the background.
"How did you know I was here?"
"Lucky guess, so anyway are you coming or not?"
Eon looked at the others but no one made any moves to discoursing him. In fact the merchant girl was smile at him, or was it his imagination.
"Fine, maybe I get stronger if I stay with you guys."
"Welcome aboard, Eon." Marona said with a smile.
Eon was about to say something when Laharl kicked him to the ground.
"Come on I'm tired as hell and in need of a nap."
Eon glared draggers at the demon as Rosenqueen helped him to his feet.
"Believe it or not but you get use to him."
"Your right, I don't believe it." Eon said getting himself a smile form Rosenqueen.
End
Marona: Hello is anyone out here? Laharl? Mid-boss? Sanjuro? Slayzer?
-Nothing but-
Marona: Maybe we're not doing a next episode thing today. That's fine there silly anyway.
-Marona walks away but come back after a few minutes-
Marona: Well as long as I'm all alone, ahem!
- Cute J Pop starts playing-
Marona: Hi, I'm Marona and a new student at Disgaea Middle and High School. Like the name implies half is a middle school and the other half a High school. It's been my dream to enroll here for one reason only.
-A heart throb picture of Ash in a Disgaea High School uniform-
M: -Sigh- Ash. We grow up together and he often looked after me when my parents were away. I love him and now we're in the same school. I pour my heart on soul into a letter confessing my love but then before I can give it to Ash, I loss it. Even worse is someone finds that letter.
-Laharl dressed in a Middle school uniform wait's for Marona outside her home holding her love letter-
Laharl: Hey girly, this your letter?
Marona: Yes! Thank you, I thought I lost it. -She noticed it's been opened- You've read it!
Laharl: Well how was I going to find out who it belonged to?
Marona: Okay, forgiven but give it back.
Laharl: Not a chance. -Evil smile-
Marona: What? -Her eyes shrink to white dots-
Marona: The brat's black mailing me into being his slave or vassal as he call's it. Now I have to go to Laharl's classes and he gets way with it because his dad is the school principle. It a nightmare but Ash, my angle of light, sees what's happening and comforts me. I can't tell Ash it's over a love letter about him. But as then something unbelievable happens.
-Marona is alone at in the gym crying but Laharl finds her-
Laharl: What's with the tears?
Marona: Like you don't know? No of course you don't a spoiled brat like you could never understand love or heartbreak. All you care about is yourself.
Laharl: That's right anything I want, I take.
-Laharl leans forward and steels Marona's first kiss with his soft lips-
Laharl: And what I want now more then anything in the world is you, Marona.
-Marona stops crying and goes in for another kiss-
Marona: Now I'm falling for Laharl. I just don't know what going to happen or who I'll give my heart too.
Marona: So find out next time on "Teenage Love Triangle" episode Seven "Crossing Fates on Vapor Island."
Marona: Hee hee. You know that was kind of fun.
Ash&Laharl: -their jaws are on the floor-
Castille: Wow, you sly fox Marona getting two cute boys like that.
Flonne: I'm all for love but I think that's a sin…
Etna: The Hussy! If you're going to steal Laharl then at least leave Ash for me!
Ash: What am I? A door prize!
Etna: Your more like a toy I can keep in my closet and pull out even now and then to play with. -She says sweetly and grinds against Ash-
Rosenqueen: I didn't think you were that kind of girl Marona, I'm shocked!
Sanjuro: Yeah, who know she had it in her.
Laharl: -still shocked-
Marona: How long have you all been here?
Slayzer: When the music started but we thought we just watch on, really this is a whole other side of you.
Marona: It's not me! No takes the stupid 'Next episode' things seriously and you know that!
Slayzer: I've nerve done a "High School" Fanfic. This just might be the plot line I need. Yeah I can work with this.
Marona: Don't you dare!