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BAD END THEATER | CAPTURED HERO END
Rating: T
Fandom: BAD END THEATER
Characters: The Hero, The Underling, The Maiden (brief)
Relationship: The Hero/The Underling
Words: 960
Content Warnings: Dehumanization, major character death
Tropes: AU - Canon Divergence, Developing Relationship, Relationship Study, Major Character Death
Summary: The Hero valorously returns to the demon castle alone when the villagers don't believe The Maiden's story! He is then not-so-valorously captured.
(An alternate ending which focuses on The Underling and The Hero, written in the style of canon.)
This route takes place in the routes where The Maiden and The Hero return to the village, and the villagers don't believe The Maiden. In the game, The Maiden can either return to the castle by herself, or return to the castle with The Hero. This is an alternate route where The Hero has the ability to go back by himself!
Special thanks to NomNomNami for saying (re: The Hero/Underling ship) that "they could both change each other's lives in a really positive way", and thus kicking me in the ass to finally write this fic, lol
You totally believe her, but to placate these fair citizens, you volunteer to speak to the demons personally, juuust in case.
The crowd breaks into a hushed whispers. You're too busy thinking about what a great and reliable hero you are to hear what they're saying.
The town elder's voice breaks you out of your thoughts. He implores you to meet with The Overlord immediately, and says they'll all keep an eye on The Maiden until you return. You figure that sounds alright, but the mood is kind of intense for some reason. Did you miss something? You aren't sure what's going on, but you get the feeling it might be bad to leave The Maiden on her own...
But she seems to be okay with being left alone! Still, her body language is tense...
Leaving a maiden alone like this doesn't seem very heroic.
You give her your sword, then turn to the crowd, announcing that you will leave it behind as a sign of confidence in The Maiden's claims!
The Maiden can now defend herself if worst comes to worst.
So, you dash valiantly off with not a worry!
Only when you are approaching the castle do you think wonder: did The Maiden even know how to handle a sword?
But your thoughts are interrupted when you see a group of suspicious-looking demons standing near the entrance.
They're talking about assassinating their overlord! So The Maiden was a fool to trust these foul creatures, after all!
And those same creatures have just noticed you eavesdropping. You reach for your sword to destroy them, but find nothing.
Of course...! Your sword is still with The Maiden.
Seeing your defenseless state, the demons rush to imprison you before you can end any of their miserable existences.
A demon underling is instructed to watch over you. Even without your sword, a hero is still a threat, the group from the entrance says.
The runt of the litter is told by the other demons that it will be called upon when its time to be useful comes.
So, despite the protests of both yourself and the runt of the litter, you two are left alone.
You glance around for a means of escape, but find nothing. You press your hand against all the available walls, but nothing buckles.
Instead, you notice that, in the fight to resist being captured, your glove was torn!
You can't do anything heroic in this state. You sit down on the floor and take your needle and thread out of your pocket.
The little demon guarding you asks why you have those items. You ignore it, and start mending your damaged glove.
Even though its bangs are covering its eyes, you can feel it watching you as you work. It's creepy.
The demon, again, speaks to you, remarking that you work very quickly. You recognize it as likely a manipulation tactic...
But flattery goes a long way with you. You break your silence to express pride with your work. Perhaps even mindless beasts are able to appreciate a good hand-stitch!
"If you like sewing so much, why don't you do that? Tailors don't slaughter us all the time, unlike heroes."
What a ridiculous question! You inform the demon that you were born for this role. You'd always been told that, and there was no reason for everyone around you to lie!
The demon doesn't seem convinced, though. It just tells you that maybe you shouldn't think so hard about your destined path.
You think that it just thinks that because your destined path involves ending all evildoers! You tell it as much! It cackles. Then, to your surprise, it agrees.
It poses a question to you.
If the destined path of all demons is to be evil, then why did The Overlord not slaughter The Maiden?
You have an answer for that: The Overlord was pretending. But, more than that, you're in awe.
You had been told the average demon was of a low intelligence level. Killing them is comparable to killing a bug! If bugs used what limited intelligence they had to cause death and destruction!
But this mere underling was now maintaining a conversation with you. Not just that — it was posing counterarguments, questions. It was being honest about its motives instead of hiding them.
Were all demons this articulate? Able to act friendly to even those that they are ontologically opposed to? You think you've perhaps been taught a lot of things that aren't quite true.
After all, despite the circumstances, conversing with this demon had been nice. Perhaps in a way different than with anyone else.
Suddenly, the hoard of other demons burst through the door, demanding the presence of The Underling. You're stunned to silence as they're rushed out.
They manage to look behind them and wave before the door to the dungeon slams behind them.
You imagine they'll be back soon.
You wait, but no demon enters the dungeon again — much less your demon.
You remember the plot to assassinate The Overlord. Did that have something to do with this? Maybe. If you find a way out…
But, in an instant, the dungeon bursts into flames! What kind of demonic magic is this?!
You try to pry the bars of your cell open with with the help of the heat, in a last-ditch effort to escape, but they still don't budge.
Suddenly, your thoughts about The Underling resurface, and you stop struggling, your arms going limp at your sides.
You get the feeling you deserve this for abandoning your heroic path. Even if only in your mind.
That is your final thought before you are consumed by the flames.
CAPTURED HERO END
(For those wondering: The Maiden definitely does not know how to use a sword, so her fate isn't changed by The Hero's gift.)
Fandom: BAD END THEATER
Characters: The Hero, The Underling, The Maiden (brief)
Relationship: The Hero/The Underling
Words: 960
Content Warnings: Dehumanization, major character death
Tropes: AU - Canon Divergence, Developing Relationship, Relationship Study, Major Character Death
Summary: The Hero valorously returns to the demon castle alone when the villagers don't believe The Maiden's story! He is then not-so-valorously captured.
(An alternate ending which focuses on The Underling and The Hero, written in the style of canon.)
This route takes place in the routes where The Maiden and The Hero return to the village, and the villagers don't believe The Maiden. In the game, The Maiden can either return to the castle by herself, or return to the castle with The Hero. This is an alternate route where The Hero has the ability to go back by himself!
Special thanks to NomNomNami for saying (re: The Hero/Underling ship) that "they could both change each other's lives in a really positive way", and thus kicking me in the ass to finally write this fic, lol
You totally believe her, but to placate these fair citizens, you volunteer to speak to the demons personally, juuust in case.
The crowd breaks into a hushed whispers. You're too busy thinking about what a great and reliable hero you are to hear what they're saying.
The town elder's voice breaks you out of your thoughts. He implores you to meet with The Overlord immediately, and says they'll all keep an eye on The Maiden until you return. You figure that sounds alright, but the mood is kind of intense for some reason. Did you miss something? You aren't sure what's going on, but you get the feeling it might be bad to leave The Maiden on her own...
But she seems to be okay with being left alone! Still, her body language is tense...
Leaving a maiden alone like this doesn't seem very heroic.
> Lend her your weapon
You give her your sword, then turn to the crowd, announcing that you will leave it behind as a sign of confidence in The Maiden's claims!
The Maiden can now defend herself if worst comes to worst.
So, you dash valiantly off with not a worry!
Only when you are approaching the castle do you think wonder: did The Maiden even know how to handle a sword?
But your thoughts are interrupted when you see a group of suspicious-looking demons standing near the entrance.
They're talking about assassinating their overlord! So The Maiden was a fool to trust these foul creatures, after all!
And those same creatures have just noticed you eavesdropping. You reach for your sword to destroy them, but find nothing.
Of course...! Your sword is still with The Maiden.
Seeing your defenseless state, the demons rush to imprison you before you can end any of their miserable existences.
A demon underling is instructed to watch over you. Even without your sword, a hero is still a threat, the group from the entrance says.
The runt of the litter is told by the other demons that it will be called upon when its time to be useful comes.
So, despite the protests of both yourself and the runt of the litter, you two are left alone.
You glance around for a means of escape, but find nothing. You press your hand against all the available walls, but nothing buckles.
Instead, you notice that, in the fight to resist being captured, your glove was torn!
You can't do anything heroic in this state. You sit down on the floor and take your needle and thread out of your pocket.
The little demon guarding you asks why you have those items. You ignore it, and start mending your damaged glove.
Even though its bangs are covering its eyes, you can feel it watching you as you work. It's creepy.
The demon, again, speaks to you, remarking that you work very quickly. You recognize it as likely a manipulation tactic...
But flattery goes a long way with you. You break your silence to express pride with your work. Perhaps even mindless beasts are able to appreciate a good hand-stitch!
"If you like sewing so much, why don't you do that? Tailors don't slaughter us all the time, unlike heroes."
What a ridiculous question! You inform the demon that you were born for this role. You'd always been told that, and there was no reason for everyone around you to lie!
The demon doesn't seem convinced, though. It just tells you that maybe you shouldn't think so hard about your destined path.
You think that it just thinks that because your destined path involves ending all evildoers! You tell it as much! It cackles. Then, to your surprise, it agrees.
It poses a question to you.
If the destined path of all demons is to be evil, then why did The Overlord not slaughter The Maiden?
You have an answer for that: The Overlord was pretending. But, more than that, you're in awe.
You had been told the average demon was of a low intelligence level. Killing them is comparable to killing a bug! If bugs used what limited intelligence they had to cause death and destruction!
But this mere underling was now maintaining a conversation with you. Not just that — it was posing counterarguments, questions. It was being honest about its motives instead of hiding them.
Were all demons this articulate? Able to act friendly to even those that they are ontologically opposed to? You think you've perhaps been taught a lot of things that aren't quite true.
After all, despite the circumstances, conversing with this demon had been nice. Perhaps in a way different than with anyone else.
Suddenly, the hoard of other demons burst through the door, demanding the presence of The Underling. You're stunned to silence as they're rushed out.
They manage to look behind them and wave before the door to the dungeon slams behind them.
You imagine they'll be back soon.
You wait, but no demon enters the dungeon again — much less your demon.
You remember the plot to assassinate The Overlord. Did that have something to do with this? Maybe. If you find a way out…
But, in an instant, the dungeon bursts into flames! What kind of demonic magic is this?!
You try to pry the bars of your cell open with with the help of the heat, in a last-ditch effort to escape, but they still don't budge.
Suddenly, your thoughts about The Underling resurface, and you stop struggling, your arms going limp at your sides.
You get the feeling you deserve this for abandoning your heroic path. Even if only in your mind.
That is your final thought before you are consumed by the flames.
CAPTURED HERO END
(For those wondering: The Maiden definitely does not know how to use a sword, so her fate isn't changed by The Hero's gift.)