Chapter Text
Here I am, the hero standing before the demon queen in her royal chamber. She merely sits upon her throne with a smirk on her scaly muzzle and a quirked brow directed at me. Coming this far in the past would’ve had me drenched in the blood of her followers; however, that would only hinder my current goal. It was a tremendous effort, but I made sure there were no casualties on the way.
We are alone, just her and I, eyes locked as I wield my blade. Her eyes are a clear blue, in stark contrast to her crimson scales. The two long horns atop her head curl back toward her skull before pointing skyward. If you asked the average person, they would probably guess that she was a kobold, but I know that this is only her humanoid form.
Taking on her actual dragon form, she is far more terrifying. Easily growing to a size that could demolish a fortress and having a wingspan vast enough to engulf a whole city. I was summoned to this world to eliminate her since the conflict began, yet many years have passed with little more than a stalemate. I grow tired, and that is exactly why I’m here today.
After some careful thought, I’ve come to realize that not all wars are fought on a battlefield.
“It appears it’s that time again,” Azure, the demon queen, speaks out as she stands from her throne. “Prepared to go running back to your kingdom?”
I don't pay attention to her efforts to provoke me. Instead, I fling my sword out of the way and to the side. She frowns in response.
“Have you come to die then?” She asks.
“Azure, we have been at war for how long now?”
“Thirty years, I suppose.” She answers.
“Yet neither of us have won?”
“Yet.” She agrees.
“I’ve come to realize that you are an unstoppable force, but I’m an unmovable object. Our battles scar the land and only assure the victor nothing more than dust to take claim of when all is said and done.”
She laughs. “So, have you come to ask me to surrender? I wouldn’t hold my breath.”
“I wouldn’t be so stupid as to ask you such a thing,” I state. “I’ve come to propose an even crazier idea.”
She chooses to retake her position on the throne and seems amused for the time being.
“Well, Mr. Unmovable object, what is this idea?”
“It’s quite simple.” I take a single knee. “Will you marry me?”
It takes a second for her to register what I’m saying as her eyes widened in bewilderment.
“Excuse me? Did you just ask me to marry you?”
“That I did.”
“Have you gone mad?” She starts to cackle. “Perhaps you’ve taken too many hits to the head, Hero. To think you’ve become so desperate to beat me that you’ve turned to subterfuge.”
I stand back up and start walking toward her, but I start removing my armor on the way. It was one of the many things that helped me survive clashes with the demon queen, and without it, I could easily die. Already on her feet and in a combat position, she seems even more bewildered to see me standing there in my street clothes.
“This is not subterfuge.” I maintain eye contact. “This fighting is pointless but should we marry; perhaps we could learn to live peacefully together? Neither of us age, and I can’t stomach the idea of an eternity of this war.” I open my arms wide. “I’m done playing this game, Azure. Strike me down if you wish. I will not struggle. However, in my recent thinking, I’ve realized something else too.”
“What’s that?” She asks, holding a sneer on her face.
“You actually enjoy fighting me,” I state with confidence as I drop my arms. “We’re the only creatures on this planet that can exchange blows as equals. If I die, you’ll be alone with no other heroes or champions to meet you eye to eye, fearlessly as I do. I know my idea is insane. We barely know anything about one another, but that doesn’t mean we can’t start.”
After a little huff, she begins rubbing her temples while she looks me over suspiciously.
“It would be boring if you were to die in such a pitiful way,” she admits. “However, I decline this proposal.”
“Very well, then how about a date?”
She groans. “I meant I declined the entire concept. We cannot date! I’m the demon queen, and you’re the hero!”
“That means we’re the only forces that matter in this war. If we stop, everyone else will too.”
“I can’t believe I’m still talking about this,” she whispers to herself. “And what then? What of my people, the land? Do you believe the other races will allow us to live in peace?”
“I believe they will.”
“What if they don’t?”
“Then we’ll kill them.”
Once again, her eyes widen as she locks them with my dead serious gaze.
“Excuse me?”
“Either human or demon, if they can’t accept our terms, we’ll kill them. Like I said before, we are the only forces that matter in this war. Together, we cannot be beaten.”
“Maybe you have taken too many hits to the head? That’s not a very hero-like thing to say.”
“I come from a world where necessary evils are needed for a greater good.” I look away from her. “It’s true this marriage could just be political to meet that end, but a part of me does want to at least try and have a connection with you. As we’re both ageless, I’d ideally like us to be friends at the very least.”
“So then, Hero. Paint me a picture of what happens next?” Azure asks.
“First, we’ll issue a temporary cease-fire between our races under the guise that our supplies are low. This will buy us two years to get to know each other and draw out a plan should we decide to get married. By the end, I hope you will agree to my proposal, and from there, we can build a better world.”
“What of our armies? I don’t believe everyone will remain silent during this cease-fire.”
“I already have my most trusted to keep everyone in line. What of you?”
“I as well.”
“So the only question that matters now is... Are you open to my idea, or shall we continue our usual song and dance?”
She gives me a long and strong gaze. After a while, she crosses her arms and falls back onto the throne, her tail slapping the seat in annoyance.
“Tch... Very well, Hero. I will humor you for the time being, but only because this idea could prove an entertaining intermission from our usual battles. Understand this, we shall never be a thing, and should I grow bored, I will not hesitate in taking your life.”
“Fine by me.” I turn my back to her and collect my things before putting them back on and looking her way. “You already know my name is Alexander Fellwind, but you may call me Alex.”
“Azure Glintfallen. Azure if you’re so inclined.” She responds, rolling her eyes.
With nothing more to be said, I leave her throne room and prepare myself for the cease-fire announcement.
Teleporting back to camp, I find many soldiers doing random things. Some even stare off into nothingness. I’m sick of all this. Many die and all for an ideal that doesn’t exist. Maybe my mind has become more jaded as I saw the horrors of war firsthand. But that is all the more reason for me to make this plan work! I walk into a command tent where I find my party members huddled around a map talking amongst themselves.
“Where did he go?” Asks Alice, a blond elven male who screams androgyny.
“I don’t know, but we must find him quickly!” A large human man shouts, but as he turns my way, his eyes widen as they meet mine. “Alexander! We’ve been looking all over for you!”
The rest of my party looks over at me with a mixture of relief and some frustration.
“Where did you go!” Alice runs up and into my arms, crying a bit in my chest. “I was worried sick!”
I roll my eyes. Such a trope.
“I have important news to share with you all,” I announce.
“What’s up?” Ben, the large human, asks.
“You’re all aware of our supply shortage, yes?” They all nod. “If we continue this campaign, we’ll choke the life of the citizens. I know you must feel we’re so close to achieving victory, but we cannot allow the people to suffer!”
“But if we back down, then the demons will make a push,” Jessy says as she steps from the shadows, a pale woman covered in a black cloak.
“I understand your concern, but this war has become more complicated.”
“How so?”
I put on my best poker face for the next step. “I didn’t want to burden the people anymore, so I took the initiative and stormed the demon queen's castle on my own.”
“You did what?!” They all shout.
I hold up my hand. “That is not the surprising part. During our battle, we exchanged words. It appears her people too are running low on supplies. It was risky, and I know many may come to hate me for it, but I proposed to her a temporary cease-fire.”
“Y-You actually spoke with the demon queen?” Ben asks.
“I did.”
“And she agrees to this cease-fire?”
“That she did.”
“How can you trust her!” Alice shouts. “She’s killed so many! What if this is just a trick!”
I pull Alice to my side as he blushes hard and walk him over to the tent and open the curtain.
“Alice, look at our soldiers. They’re running on fumes. The people back home are beginning to starve. What world is worth saving if no one is left?” I sigh. “I do not trust her as I trust you all, but I know she also doesn’t wish to inherit an empty planet in the end. So we just need to bide our time, get some much-needed rest, and begin anew.”
I can tell Alice is looking at me with stars in his eyes.
“A fine sentiment, but I agree with Alice. A demon who cares for her people? Surely that’s a joke?” Jessy adds.
“It’s a tough pill to swallow, but I need you all to believe in me. Above all, I need your help in keeping everyone calm. This cease-fire will last for two years. I know fear or dark motives will drive others to urge the war machine to continue, but we cannot allow it! I will assure the demon queen keeps her word, and I can only trust you three can see the bigger picture here.”
Alice nods in excitement. “I’m all for it! I know everything will work out as long as you’re on our side!”
Ben and Jessy look at one another before shrugging with a tired smile.
“This isn’t the first crazy idea Alexander has had.” Ben states.
“Truer words have never been spoken.” Jessy agrees. “Even though we won’t be fighting in a war, I have a feeling our workload has only become more tiresome.”
“Sorry.” I do feel genuinely bad, not only for the work but for lying too.
“No need to fret. As you said, it makes sense on a grander scale.” Jessy remarks. “We can’t come back victorious to cities full of corpses.”
“Thank you for understanding.”
Everything becomes silent for a few moments before Ben looks over at me nervously.
“So... What was it like talking to her?”
“Strange,” I admit walking to the center of the room, leaving Alice behind, as I overlook the battle map they have laid out. “During our previous battles, we’ve exchanged a few words but nothing of substance.” I sigh, shaking my head, knowing I must play a part to plant a seed in them before making my moves. “Am I an idiot?” I ask.
“What?” Ben replies.
I fully face my party as they look my way with concern. I’ve lost so many people who only wanted to see this war end. I’m sick of all of this, of saying goodbye to fallen comrades or holding them as the life fades from their eyes as they plead for a loved one. The pain is too much to take, and the weight on my heart is unbearable. This war has only assured all those who follow me are fated to die, but I’m tired of following fate's plans.
“What do you mean?” Alice asks.
I’ll lie, kill, and do what I must to stop this cycle forever! I take a long breath to steady myself for my next grand lie, the seed that will hopefully bear sweet fruit from the ashes of my past friends.
“I’ve never told any of you this, but I haven’t slept in ten years.” They all gasp at hearing that, but I hold my hand to maintain their silence. “The burden of this war has begun to take its toll on me. So much so that I’ve contemplated many ideas to put this all to rest.” I raise my hand and reach into my pocket dimension and pull out an amulet.
“A-Alexander, is that what I think it is?” Jessy is trembling as she looks at what’s in my hand.
“What is it?” Both Ben and Alice ask.
“It’s an amulet of demon kinship,” I answer, and now the other two turn pale white.
“W-Why would you have that?” Alice asks.
I look at the amulet closely. In my research, I found that it’s possible for humans to transform into demons given a few criteria are met. One is holding this amulet, and the other is slaughtering a number of innocent lives. It’s said that once a human turns into a demon, they become powerful beyond their wildest dreams.
“What do you think it takes to kill a monster?” I ask as I look at my friends as they remain silent. “Another monster.”
“Wait...” Jessy shakes herself from her terror. “You’re not saying you’d turn into a demon, are you?”
“All I said is that I’ve contemplated many ideas.” I put the amulet back into my pocket dimension. “I know this all must be difficult to hear but there’s one last thing.”
Ben swallows hard. “What would that be?”
“The reason I asked you if I was an idiot is because as I was fighting the demon queen, I kept thinking about turning myself into a monster to kill her but then she began talking about her lacking supplies, her people starving. In that moment, despite all the hell she’s put humanity through, I felt sorry for her and it’s why we’re here right now. So I ask you, am I an idiot?”
Jessy walks up to me and for the first time since we met five years ago, she hugs me.
“Of course you’re an idiot.” She laughs before pulling back, a smile and tears running down past her hooded visage. “You’re human.”
Alice runs up and hugs me too. “You’re our idiot, and we love you no matter what!”
Ben wraps all three of us into his arms as he lifts us up together.
“Alexander, you’re the only human on this planet who would consider turning into a demon to save humanity. To lack empathy, even for a soulless beast like the demon queen, would be your first step as a demon. I believe you’re an idiot but not because of what I just said but because you bore this burden alone.”
I let out a breath I wasn’t even aware I was holding as a weight lifted from me.
“You’re right, I am an idiot,” I admit as I look them all in the eyes. “I swear I’ll stop keeping things to myself. I hope you can bear with me till then.”
“We’re with you till the end!” Alice says, to which they all agree.
“Alright, we have a lot of things to do, so before that, let’s inform our men they can relax. They’ve earned it.”
“Will do!” Ben drops us. “You three figure out the main stuff, you know it goes over my head.”
“Very well,” I say before turning to Alice and Jessy. “We need to present everything to the king. Above all else, we must be adamant that I will remain by the demon queen to assure she is kept in check.”
“Isn’t that dangerous to be there alone?” Jessy asks.
“It’s fine,” I answer, knocking on my chest piece. “My armor will keep me safe, not to mention I have teleportation on my side.”
“That is true.” She relents. “Very well. Where do we start.”
I nod to her before turning to Alice. “Alice, write down my recollection of the battle with the demon queen that led to this cease-fire.”
“Can do!”
This is it. The start of my plan. I can only hope this works, because I’m done fighting this war.