playing charades chapter 4

in this chapter, Luke's story is revealed, and a new character appears.

Chapter 4: the misfit prince of the underworld
Ever since Luke was a baby, he had been strange, at least in the standards of the other demons. He was helpful, he was kind, and he would never turn down someone in need. Socially, he was an outcast. Every day, despite being the prince, everyone would mock him. so, he decided to just find a way to ignore them, but it was hard. One day he lost control, and that day started with an argument. "uncle" said Luke, "I'm going to school." "Well don't tell me." Said his uncle, "now I know why you need reforming." Luke looked embarrassed, "sorry," he said, "wait, I'm not supposed to apologize, I mean not sorry." Luke's uncle shook his head in disappointment, "just go already." He said "but shouldn't father be here to-" "no!" said his uncle, "your father is the king, so act like it! He won't look at you the disgrace of the family, until you get your act together!" "Well maybe I don't want to change!" said Luke, "I'm five years old, and I like who I am just fine!" "Well, you shouldn't!" his uncle replied, "you're an embarrassment to everyone in your family, so you should hate who you are!" that made Luke mad. Why should he have to change just because he was the prince of the underworld. His hair slowly turned a darker shade of red, his fangs appeared visible, and around him, there was black sparks of electricity. "don't tell me what I should do!" all around him, the ground started dissolving, the walls started catching fire, and Luke's uncle started burning. "This is how you should always feel!" said his uncle, "enraged!" Luke gasped, then calmed himself down. "don't try me." He said, then he went off to school. As usual, when he arrived, kids started teasing him. "Goody three shoes!" one said to him "well behaved weasel!" one yelled at him "Detention dummy!" another told him. the insults went on and on. Luke was already used to this, so he just ignored them. The school day went on, Luke aced everything. Of course no one congratulated him. they just teased him more. One of the insults made him particularly mad, one of the demons said, "Momma's boy!" that made Luke mad. Partially because everyone knew that Luke's mother was kind and merciful, and partially because Luke's mother was gone. At that moment, Luke lost control, he lashed out at the demons, his tail, wings, and fangs showed clearly. His eyes glowed dark red, so did his hair, as he lunged for the demon that mocked him. Luke was clearly more powerful, and was just about to kill the demon, when all the teachers came out and stopped him. it took a few minutes, but Luke regained his senses, and stopped fighting against the teachers. The principal praised him, and then Luke went home; disappointed in himself. When he came home, his caretaker was waiting at the door. "Luke- I mean, prince Lucifer, it is time for your test, this test determines whether or not you can overpower your uncle. He will cast a spell to permanently remove your powers. If you can use them again with ease, then you will pass the test. If not, you will be exiled." Luke had been preparing for this day his whole life. And he knew that if he overpowered the spell, he would again lose control and prove to everyone his true nature. But if he failed, his family would reject him, and he'd never again be able to show his face in his home again, or use his powers. "Ok," said Luke, he went to his uncle's room, his uncle cast the spell on him, and he couldn't use his natural powers. "Show me what you got kid." Said his uncle. "no." said Luke, "I'll go through this week without using my powers, and come back on Monday and defeat your spell." He casually started leaving the room. "Wait!" said his uncle, "you can't just-" Luke turned and glared at his uncle then left. As soon as he came to his room, Luke fell on his bed. He knew that there was no way he could go that long without using magic, especially since he couldn't control his emotions towards certain things very well. After finishing his homework, Luke went straight to bed. He had a disturbing dream. Nothing out of the ordinary for a demon. But the end of the dream was confusing. It symbolized him in the surface world; he was sitting next to an angel and a thirteen-year-old boy. The boy smiled at Luke offering him a piece of cake. On the cake it said "happy birthday Luke!" Luke couldn't believe his eyes; someone had taken the time to celebrate him being born? It must have been an illusion, a hopeful wish. This could never happen in real life. "Just think Luke," said the boy, "you and me, we'll be able to go to high school together. And then we'll both be free from the curse of our lives." Luke couldn't help it, he smiled. Then he woke up. Looking straight in his face was a small dog demon. "Oh," said Luke, "Akuma, you scared me." The demon tilted his head in confusion, then gave him an alarm clock. It was time for Luke to go to school. "Thanks Akuma." Said Luke, he patted the demon dog's head. Then the dog transformed into a three-year-old human. Er, demon. He had red hair, orange eyes, a white jacket, a black shirt, black pants, three tails, a dog tail, a Snake tail, and a Demon tail. and a sword hanging from a scabbard on his belt. "Can you stop that?" he asked. "Sorry Akuma," said Luke, "you just look so cute in your dog form." "No, I don't." said Akuma, "it's dignified, colorful, and graceful. It's an abomination." Luke sighed. His little brother hated transforming into a dog because they lived in a place where beautiful things were hideous. "I better get to school." Said Luke. "Me too." Said Akuma, "that's why I gave you the alarm clock." Then quietly he said, "also because I like getting pet." Luke smiled. Then he ran to school. When he arrived, everyone was staring at him. he assumed that they could guess that he was powerless. well, mostly. But when his first class started, everyone was staring at him, like they were scared of him. "Why are you looking at me like that?" asked Luke "y-you defeated the most powerful demon here." Replied one of the demons, "now you're the most powerful demon in the whole school." Luke was confused, how could that weak demon have been the most powerful one? "I'm not that powerful," said Luke, "I'm the misfit remember?" "Not anymore." Said the Teacher, "now, you're the best in class." Luke should have been happy, but he kind of liked being a misfit. But now, he was the best most powerful demon in the school. Luke went through the rest of the day miserably. When he got home, he just destroyed the no powers spell, and defeated his uncle in less than a second. He fell on his bed, started crying, and just wondered; why did he have to be the son of the lord of the underworld? Why did he have to be the prince? If only, just once, he could be more than just the feared Prince Lucifer. Then it happened, the moment he had been waiting for. He didn't know it yet, but this was it. "Prince Lucifer!" called the caretaker, "you and prince Azmodan get down here now!" Luke sat up, wiped away his tears, and went downstairs. "Alright." Said the caretaker, "both of you finished the test, both of you go to the surface world back in time." "Confusing," said Luke, "but ok." A portal opened, Luke and Akuma went through it, and ended up, on scarlet planet, in the scarlet galaxy. "Woah," said Luke, "it's so amazing!" "And bright," said Akuma covering his eyes. "Then just transform." Said Luke, "dogs are partially immune to the sun, and can see very well." Akuma grumbled, then transformed into his dog form and followed Luke as he walked along the planet. "What do you think we're supposed to do?" asked Luke "probably pillage something." Said Akuma, "or destroy a village, stop an organization from starting, stuff like that." "Hmm," said Luke, "looks like there's an organization that's just starting up right over there." They both walked over to the people, and introduced themselves. "I'm Luke." said Luke. He gestured to Akuma so he could introduce himself, but Akuma just hid behind him. "Doggie!" said a three-year-old girl running over to Akuma. "Palo," said the leader, "don't be rude." "Sorry daddy," said the little girl. "Sorry about that." Said the leader, "my name is Tortuga, I'm the leader of this organization. This is my daughter Palona." The little girl ran over and hugged her dad. "And this is my other daughter," said Tortuga, "Dragona." A two-year-old girl walked over from behind her dad. She had pink hair in braids, and she was wearing a pink dress. "If I may," said Tortuga, "what's a young boy like you doing out in the wild?" Luke stuttered to answer, if he answered truthfully, they might run him out of town with torches and pitchforks. "Just looking for something." Said Luke finally. "Well," said Tortuga, "you're welcome to stay with us for the night Luke. My daughters seem quite fond of your dog." Palona and Dragona dragged Akuma from behind Luke and started styling his hair. "Pretty doggy needs braids." Said Palona, "Rona please get the braider." Dragona nodded and ran inside to get their braider. Luke laughed, Akuma glared at him. "Sorry," said Luke, "but this is the opposite of how people treat you back home. Tortuga was confused, "where exactly are you from?" he asked. Luke was about to answer, when Akuma ran over to him and jumped on him barking a lot. "what's wrong Akuma?" he asked, "you know I don't speak dog." Akuma rolled his eyes. "Your dog's name is Akuma?" asked Tortuga, "that seems insulting." Akuma changed back into his regular form. "For your information," he said, "where we're from, that's the best compliment you can give someone." Tortuga was even more concerned. But he didn't have time to say anything because Akuma was warning Luke. "there's a Waru wave coming!" said Akuma, "we've got to get out of here!" Luke looked at the worried Tortuga, and the two scared little girls, and knew what he had to do. "no" he said, "Akuma, you know how to dispel this right?" "Kind of," said Akuma, "but the last time I tried it went horribly wrong!" "don't worry," said Luke, "I'll help." Akuma smiled, then readied himself. "Ok!" he said, "you guys get back! This could get dangerous!" everyone backed away. Luke and Akuma created a magic circle, and blasted it at the Waru wave. Luke and Akuma both passed out after using that much magic, at that age. When they woke up, the sun was shining, and the two girls were looking at them. "they're awake daddy!" said Palona. Tortuga walked over to them with a solemn face. "So," he said, "you two are demons." Luke stood up. But Akuma was still asleep. Luke stretched, then he realized that his wings and tails were showing, and Akuma's tails were too. "What is your real name?" asked Tortuga, still keeping a stern face. "Prince Lucifer." Said Luke, "And Akuma's real name is prince Azmodan." Tortuga was shocked. Palona was just playing with one of Akuma's tails. "Palo," said Tortuga, "come over here." Palona skipped towards Tortuga, then tripped. Luke went over to help her, but Tortuga stopped him, and instead Dragona helped Palona up. Then she walked the rest of the way. "What is it, Daddy?" asked Palona "we're leaving." Said Tortuga, "go tell your sister, and your friend." "Ok," said Palona sadly. "I don't get it," said Luke surprisingly calmly, "why are you mad at me?" "Because you're a demon." Said Tortuga, "and a danger to my family." Luke couldn't reply to that. Then Akuma woke up. He looked around, then figured out what was happening. "We just saved your lives!" he said, "if we're so dangerous, why haven't we attacked you huh?" Tortuga was surprised at that reply. "Thanks Akuma." Said Luke. He looked at Tortuga. "Look," said Luke, "I won't blame you for choosing to view us as dangerous. But if you ever do need any other members, we're here to help." He threw a notebook at Tortuga, "if you write anything in that, it will message me. Tell me if you need any help. Come on Akuma, let's go home." They started walking away, when Luke heard Tortuga clapping slowly. "Never in all my years," said Tortuga, "have I seen a demon react so calmly to an insult." That surprised Luke. He walked back over to Tortuga. "Well," said Luke, "I'm not an average demon." "Yes indeed." Said Tortuga, "despite being the prince of the underworld, you somehow stay calm, and don't burst out in flames." "Well," said Luke, "I do lose control sometimes, like when someone mentions my mom." "That is understandable." Said Tortuga. "Why are you mad at me?" asked Luke. "I am indeed mad at Lucifer." Said Tortuga, "But I am not mad at Luke. You saved my life and more importantly, my daughters' Lives." "What about Akuma?" asked Luke, "I don't know the Waru wave spell, but he does. And he did most of the work." "Well," said Tortuga, "your younger brother is a worse demon than the ones I've faced. But he seems to look up to you. So, how does this sound? I'll let you leave, and you'll be able to come back any time you want. And if you so choose, you can become a full member. Akuma can come back. But I don't trust him entirely. He'll have to prove to me how trustworthy he is." "Ok." Said Luke, "I'll think about it." He walked with Akuma and they went back to the underworld. When they arrived, they were both scolded for disrupting the Waru wave. However, it was mostly Luke. A few weeks later, he got a message from Tortuga, it said that he needed help. And that Luke was the only one who could. The mission? Ensure that the heir of Satan's power, didn't follow his destiny.