In a street where it seemed that no life remained, there was a dark, abandoned convenience store. The shelves were torn apart, most of the supplies being gone, save for some empty wrappers, boxes and bottles scattered around the floor. In the back of the shock, there was a flickering light, struggling to stay alive. By that light, there could be heard a quiet static. A radio was still functioning, with the sound of a voice too subtle to understand because of the static. Out from the shadows, there came a large, hairy hand that carefully turned a dial on the radio. The further it was turned, the more the voice could be understood.

Heavy, panicked breathing could be heard from the source's end. From some of the gasps that there caught by the speakers, it could be told that a demoness was speaking. "H-Hello? Is there anyone out there? If this reaches anyone, any where, y-you have to help us! Sinner City has been taken over by a fucking madman! He's made an army from the citizens, and those who haven't joined him are being hunted down! Demons are dying left and right, and the number of soldiers keeps going up! There's some outside right now! I don't know how much longer we have before we're discovered, but if someone hears this, we're hiding out in the radio station at Grimfield Street. Someone, anyone, please! Help us!" The radio then cut out.

Grimfield? That was only a few miles from here. It would definitely take a while from the need to avoid the soldiers that plague the streets, but they are never too difficult to avoid. Perhaps it could be possible to save those demons from being found. It would require the need to be very careful outside, but maybe, just maybe, he would be able to save some souls. Big Softie then switched the radio off and left the store.

It has been just over a week since Goliath Hendrickson took over as mayor, and almost immediately after did the city fall into total chaos. All of a sudden, demons that were once friends had turned against everything they once loved and joined the mayor's army, and the ones that did not follow were taken away, never to be seen again. It is assumed that the demons who don't bow before Goliath were killed, so now the streets are essentially a wasteland. Almost anywhere you could look, demons could be found hiding from the patrolling, armed soldiers, with the odd one occasionally scouting out for supplies or running away screaming. Sometimes, there could even be found a rebellion of demons trying to fight back, resulting in bodies from both sides littering the road. The entire city has been split in two. The streets have become a battlefield. It was as though an all out war had been declared.

As Big Softie slowly walked down the street, he kept an eye out on his surroundings. How jarring it felt to suddenly have to feel scared of what could be hiding somewhere. What a difference a single man could do in a single night. After Goliath was elected mayor, it was announced that the beginning of this downfall was caused by none other than Sunset Shimmer, the one behind the murder of Rattingsbottom. Then not long after, he came back with the news that she had been dealt with. But it just couldn't be true. Big Softie knew Sunset. She wouldn't kill, she would always try to help. Sunset helped Softie, and now he is more free than ever. And what happens to her? She is punished for something there was no way she could have done. It wasn't made clear what Goliath did to her, but as far as anyone knew, Sunset Shimmer was dead.

And that just made Big Softie think of something else. Barbed Wire. His old friend. Where was she during all of this? Knowing her, she might have tried to protect Sunset when it all happened, but that would have led to an entire city fighting against two demons. So, if Sunset was declared dead, Barb may not have been far behind.

Big Softie couldn't help but feel that he could have done something then. If he hadn't lost the trust of the one demon that believed in him, perhaps he could have provided enough to help her. Given that weird condition Sunset had that made her stronger, she, along with him and Barbed Wire, may have made a force strong enough to take the tyrant down. But then again, maybe not. Softie knew that he was never really all that strong anyway. All he's ever been is a burden in both life and afterlife, constantly making things worse for everyone he ever met. While he was free, it came at a cost of pushing away every family he ever had. In this world, Big Softie was truly alone.

Wait, what was that sound? Big Softie stopped in his tracks and listened closely. It sounded like a pair of voices, and they were getting closer! Softie looked all around him, hoping for a space for him to hide. There was a car rolled onto its side nearby. He ducked behind it and remained silent as the approaching demons passed by.

"Wait, you're mom was against you joining Goliath?" one demon asked.

"I don't know what her fucking deal is! One second she wants me to 'get off my ass and get a job,' and next she wants nothing to do with me when I finally get one!" the other demon explained.

"What did you do then?"

"What else? Handed her over to the Injustice Officers and they do whatever it is they do."

Injustice Officers? This was the first Big Softie was hearing of this. They must deal with the demons that are caught hiding. And if there were separate divisions of Goliath's army, it may be far larger than he initially thought.

But while Big Softie was lost in thought, his arm accidentally nudged the car, causing it to slightly rock and lightly creek. This caused the voices of the passing demons to suddenly fall silent. Softie's heart nearly stopped as he heard footsteps slowly approach the car. He was about to be discovered!

Then suddenly, a beep was heard and the other demon began talking to someone, possibly over a radio of their own. This seemed to bring the approaching demon's attention away from Big Softie.

An exchange was shared between the demon and his radio. Softie couldn't hear exactly what the caller was saying, but from the way it sounded they were very frantic. "Apparently, there's a big gang of demons resisting a few blocks away. They're needing some backup now," the soldier explained.

Eventually, the soldiers' footsteps had faded away, leaving Big Softie in the clear. He's come across plenty of close encounters with Goliath's army, but he has yet to actually fight against them. Since his rule began, Softie has managed to maintain a low profile, especially surprising given his size. That was the magic of being a part of the right gangs that taught you how to keep a low profile. At least he can still use some of his skills for something.

But now, it was back to the road. If he had any chance of helping those at that radio station, Big Softie needed to pick up the pace. His journey became a repeated process of slowly and carefully making his way through the streets, keeping an eye out for any soldiers doing their routinely hunts. Surprisingly, he did not run into any others after that first time. At least, none others that were still alive.

While he's had to bear witness to it before, it still horrified Big Softie to come across the aftermath of an all-out battle. On any other occasion, Softie would have avoided this and went around another way. Unfortunately, this street was the quickest way to Grimfield. As he walked over the bodies of so many demons, he could see just how everyone had been shot dead or brutally beaten. The brains of one demon were scraped on the sidewalk, the arm of another was torn apart and another's body and head was plagued with bullet holes. Those were only the ones he couldn't help but look at. Just the sight of those few corpses alone made his stomach churn. Just how could one man turn an entire city against each other? Why was this the reality to come true?

Big Softie had just about made it to the end of the unsightly battlefield until he felt a hand wrap around his thick ankle. He jumped back around in shock, catching sight of a demon trying to climb up Softie's body. The demon looked to be barely clinging onto life, with a trail of his own blood showing where he had crawled from. The demon stared at Softie with a single, bloodshot eye, the other eye having been slashed at. "Help... me..." he said with little to no air in his body. As soon as he finished talking, the demon's grip loosened from Softie's jacket and his body fell to the ground, no longer moving.

If the sight alone hadn't caused him to throw up, it was this experience that sent him over the edge. Big Softie tried to run away, falling to his knees to vomit on the ground at his feet. What horror. Throughout this horror show, Big Softie was only ever an observer. He couldn't imagine what it must be like to actually be part of the fight. The image of the demon was not going to leave his mind anytime soon, if not ever, but Softie still pressed on, trying not to look back.

The radio station shouldn't be too far away now. The city only had few actual landmarks, but Big Softie knew the ins and outs of it. Having lived under a highway most of his afterlife, he had time to learn. But now he felt he couldn't recognise his own home. What used to be packed streets with the occasional mugging or even a murder in an alley here and there, is now a desolate world of carnage. It all changed so quick. Softie had barely enough time to process it at first.

It was only just over a week ago. Big Softie was fast asleep in his man-made shack by the sewer line. The sloppily nailed together wooden boards, which made the bed frame, bounced as he turned in place. A radio sat by the bed, not switched off, but not set to a specific channel. It just lightly played static, with Softie's snores drowning out the sound.

He was awoken suddenly by a hard knocking on his door. Softie jumped right out of bed and quickly made his way to answer the knocking while letting out a yawn. He wasn't sure who would be here at this time of the day. What time was it anyway? It didn't matter. Softie opened the door to a pair of demons that he didn't recognise. How did they find this place?

"Can I help you?" Softie asked.

"Afternoon, sir. We're representatives of the mayor, and we've been going from door to door recruiting demons as part of a new initiative," one of the demons explained.

A new initiative? That didn't sound like anything Rattingsbottom would ever do. This was very confusing. "I'm sorry, what's going on right now? I don't think I'm following."

"Have you been following the news lately?" the same demon asked. Softie returned with a shake of the head, causing the door-demon to sigh. "By order of Mayor Goliath Hendrickson, those following under his rule are issued to recruit new heads, and especially new muscle, to become part of his growing army."

Goliath? But that was impossible! Goliath never won elections! Just what had Big Softie slept through? "I-I don't think so. I think I'm gonna pass." Big Softie began to close the door, only for the demon to stick his foot in front at the last second.

There was a sinister frown on his face. "I believe I need to elaborate. Refusing our leader may prove to be a grave mistake. By doing so, it implies fear, weakness and disobedience. For the future of the city, he plans to remove these imperfections. I suggest you think before you decide. You wouldn't want to defy your new ruler, right?"

The more the demon went on, the less Softie could understand. It was clear that something had happened, and if Goliath was involved, he was certain it was nothing good. Big Softie was probably going to have to figure out more by himself. "Get out of my home!" he growled as he kicked the intruding demon's foot out of the way and slammed the door.

He went to grab the radio beside his bed, twisting the dials to find a channel in hope that he could gain an understanding of just what was going on. The static soon turned into a voice. "In the wake of the morning after yesterday's shocking news, our new Mayor Goliath has returned with a major update for our city going forward."

The news reporter's voice then switched to Goliath's. "Yesterday our city was met with a great tragedy. Our beloved Theodore Rattingsbottom was found murdered by the mysterious activist, Sunset Shimmer. She was immediately wanted for her crimes with an award placed for the one to bring her to me. I am here to announce that Miss Shimmer was found, and I will not hide it, she attempted to rebel against me, perhaps to end me as well. Her intentions were unknown, but alas, we can rest easy in knowing that Miss Shimmer has been brought to immediate justice!" A cheering crowd followed the announcement.

"This experience, however, has provided me with a realisation. We never know where demons, like Sunset Shimmer, who only wish to stand against their leaders could appear. We cannot go on knowing that there may most likely be criminals like this spread throughout the entire city! So, I propose a new solution. A new order! A chance to fight along my side as part of a large scale team that fights for power, freedom and equality! By serving under my hand, you open yourselves up to a better world. One with eradicated crime and newly built protection. We cannot allow refusal in these testing times. We cannot allow weakness anymore! This is where the future is pointing to, and I am now the guide towards a better tomorrow! Join me, and I'll give you a world of perfection in return!"

How, after an entire day of not listening to the radio, did Big Softie manage to miss so much? Rattingsbottom, dead. Goliath, mayor. And Sunset... No, it couldn't be. She couldn't have! There had to have been a mistake! Sunset wasn't a murderer! What did that son of a bitch do to her?!

Before he could figure that out, there was still the matter of the current state of the city. It looked like big changes were coming all for the worse, and if refusal was what Goliath called imperfection, then big trouble stood behind Softie's door. Or what was going to be left of it as there then came a loud banging from it. Within seconds, Big Softie's front door was gone, allowing for what seemed to be more demons than before inviting themselves inside. He grabbed his radio and stuffed it in his jacket. If he managed to make it out of this, it may prove to be useful.

However, there were no other exits or windows in his house, and any attempt of smashing through a wall would definitely result in the whole place coming down on top of everyone. Not only that, but Softie was also seriously outnumbered. If he even tried to fight, he's in for getting his shit kicked in. So, how was Big Softie going to get out of here? Well, there wasn't any time for thinking, so he tried the first thing that popped into his head. Charging out of this bitch!

The demons in his house seemed to range from big to small. While the big ones got knocked aside like a granny on a bus, the small ones were the ones to put up a better fight to his surprise, with one demoness managing to jump onto Softie's back as he ran, who then began to gnaw on his shoulder. Big Softie shouted in pain as he reached back and grabbed the tiny bitch, going in for a throw to the sewer line as he found himself outside. The demoness flew through the air and landed in the dirty water, being whisked away towards the unknown. And by 'unknown,' the ocean of lava that surrounded the city.

The demons inside of his house recovered rather quickly and attempted to fit outside the door at the same time. However, this resulted in everyone getting wedged together in the doorframe. This gave Softie a small window for him to escape. While the intruding demons tried again and again to not become one with the doorframe, Big Softie lifted the sewer lid on the ground and climbed down, making his quick getaway.

Before he ventured through the tunnels beneath the city, Softie remained still and quiet as he reached the floor, making sure that he wasn't seen climbing down here. He couldn't hear those demons anymore, and by the looks of it, they didn't try to open the lid he climbed down from. It would appear that Big Softie was safe. For now that was. He was safe to roam the underground, but who knows how long he would stay safe down here for.

Out of curiosity, Softie decided to take a peak at what was going on in the city. He slowly raised a lid just enough for him to look around. Immediately, something was very wrong. There were demons everywhere, all sporting some kind of uniform. Everyone looked like an army soldier that wore only black, even down to their thick vests, their paddings on their arms and legs, and their caps. Upon closer inspection, Softie could see a white logo of the front of a snake's face with very long, protruding fangs.

Some of these demons were escorting away other demons that weren't wearing their uniforms. There were some that seemed to be casually walked. However, some other demons looked to be forcefully made to walk, with the soldiers holding their arms behind their backs and pushing them along. There was one scrawny looking demon that managed to escape from the soldiers' hands, running towards where Softie was. He watched in horror as the escaping demon was tackled to the floor, followed by the soldiers beginning to beat him to a bloody pulp.

Looking around, no one seemed to be helping this poor soul. In fact, no pair of eyes even bothered to look in this direction. Everyone just moved straight with their heads fixed forward like an army of robots.

The lid was suddenly shut on top of Big Softie's head. Someone probably walked on it. He took this as his signal to leave. Any longer, and Big Softie may have become like those other demons.

The surface wasn't safe right now. Big Softie may have to reside down in the sewers for the time being, perhaps occasionally going back up when he was in need of supplies or things. But who knows how long the underground would stay safe for. Soon enough, those guys would end up coming down here too. He couldn't get a very good look, but from the way it seemed, this army was big. Possibly overwhelmingly so. No doubt this was Goliath's doing. He's got a hold of the city now, and it looked like he was acting immediately. From this point onwards, no one was safe.

And here Softie was thinking his life was finally starting to calm down.

In the present once more, Big Softie found himself nearby the radio station now. Hiding in a dark path right by the building, he peered around the corner and looked around. The voice on the radio really wasn't lying, there were a lot of soldiers roaming around the place. On one side of the building, four demons stood by a closed shutter-door, three of them being armed. Meanwhile, many other armed soldiers surrounded the other sides, some looking very impatient.

One of the four demons by the shutter-doors began to speak through a megaphone. "You have five more minutes to come out and surrender yourselves! Come out now or we will force our way in!"

Big Softie was going to have to act fast! But how was he going to get inside without getting caught? He saw a high-up window on the wall he was closest to, and there was only one guard standing by it. It shouldn't be too hard to get through this guard, but he still would need an idea. By looking at his own surroundings, Softie found a full trashcan and a decently sized rock. A mischievous grin formed on his face. He had an idea.

The lone soldier patrolled around their spot, kind of wondering why they were sent to this side by themself. All other sides had three demons at the least! So why was this wall the only exception? As soon as this mission was finally over, they were going to give a stern fucking talking to to their squad leader!

But then, out of nowhere a rock flew past their face, landing close by to the wall. The soldier looked back to where the rock could have come from and they were immediately met with a grey, metal can flying towards them, crashing into them and completely knocking them out, at least that's what Big Softie had told himself as he then snuck by the totally-not-dead guard.

With the trashcan being conveniently thrown to be right under the window, Big Softie hauled his body up on top of the box and then pulled himself up and through the window. Now, Big Softie was finally inside the building! Not without a little accident of course. The window turned out to be very high above the ground floor, not all being where he expected that window to lead. Suffice to say, Big Softie fell to the floor with a painful smack, letting out a painful groan as he picked himself back up.

"Oof. I think I broke my snout," he said to himself. He brought his giant hand to his face to find that, yes, his nose was a bit off-centre. Softie then placed his palms on each side of his snout and snapped it back into place with a satisfying crunch. What relief it was.

But getting his head back into the game, Big Softie was inside now. All he had to do was find the demons in trouble and, somehow, get them out of here. He began walking down the dark hallway he found himself in, leading him into what seemed to be a lounge or something. It was a large, open room, and it seemed to be the same room that those shutter doors led into.

From the look of things, no one seemed to be in this room. There wasn't much time left before those soldiers were going to force their way inside, so Big Softie had to act fast. He walked towards a path that led into another hall. He couldn't see anything from the darkness, which would make a rather effective hiding spot, which made him more sure that they would be there.

Just as his foot entered the hall, something sweeped him and sent him flat on his back. Emerging from behind a reception desk right beside where Softie was entering was a demoness aiming a shotgun directly at the big bull demon. She had short black hair and white skin, wearing a torn black t-shirt with some rockband he's never heard of on it, accompanied by black jeans and boots.

"Who are you?! How did you get in here?! Are you with them?!" the gothic girl frantically asked with a low, gritty voice, not taking an eye off Softie's vulnerable self.

Softie quickly held his hands up, trying to scoot away from her weapon's barrel. "What? No! No! I just-!"

Suddenly, another demoness came out from the shadows. She pushed the other girl's shotgun down, away from Softie. "Stop! Stop! He's not one of them!" she said with a more soft, higher-pitched voice. Big Softie immediately recognised this voice from the radio message. This demoness appeared to be much more shiny than the other one. With glittery silver hair and light grey skin. She wore a white dress that had been damaged and made dirty, and had a horn poking out from the right side of her forehead. She also appeared to be cradling a blanket in her arms. "Look. He's not wearing the logo. He's okay."

The darker demoness altered from deadly intent to sympathetic in just about an instant, now holding her gun at her side. "Fuck, I'm really sorry, man. I thought you were gonna try and hurt us. But what are you doing here? It's not safe, you know."

Big Softie picked himself up from the ground, presenting himself in a more orderly fashion. "I got the message on the radio and came to see what I can do," he explained. "And yeah, you really weren't lying, there are a lot of guys out there."

"You got my message?" the lighter girl asked, a surge of joy coming over her. "That's amazing! We can finally get out of here!"

"Hold on there just a minute." The attention was turned towards the gothic dressed demoness. "I don't like the way you said 'see what you can do.' How are you actually planning on getting us out? Do you even have a plan at all?" the goth pointed out, causing Softie to realise how far he really thought ahead.

"Oh, cut someone some slack for once, would you?" the lighter girl pinched the other's cheek. "I'm sure he's got a great plan! Right?" Softie didn't answer at first, causing the girl's smile to fall a bit. She laughed nervously. "R-Right...?"

Big Softie rubbed his arm, continuing to not answer. His silence told the girls everything, and were both sent into disappointment.

The goth one gave an angered groan as she held her head in her hands. "Great. Just fuckin' great! Random guy comes to our rescue without a plan, and now there's four of us that are gonna die."

Big Softie raised an eyebrow at the goth's statement. "Four of us?"

The lighter demoness cleared her throat, signalling for Softie to turn to her. She then showed him the blanket that she held onto, pulling back a piece to reveal the small, chubby face of a demon baby, with dark grey skin and black and white striped hair.

Big Softie's eyes widened at the reveal. Such a small and innocent little soul, being forced to endure such a chaotic war at such a young age. No doubt in his mind, with as little remorse as he had that Goliath would never hold back for something so pure amidst his evil. It made Big Softie furious at the thought of this child's future having to be ruined by the mayor and his army. At first, he figured that this mission would end with either him saving a life, or die trying, but now, seeing for himself how much was truly at stake did he now realise that he absolutely had to save these demons, no matter what.

The squad leader outside could be heard once more. "You have one minute left to surrender yourselves before we open fire!"

It was now that an idea finally came to Big Softie's head. It was stupid, it was dumb, and by God it was dangerous. Not like this whole experience of trying to just survive wasn't dangerous already. Regardless, Big Softie believed that he had found a way out. "I think I have a plan," he said.

Big Softie stood still, waiting patiently for the right time. Everything had become completely silent, and time had slowed down to a crawl as he waited for the perfect moment. On his back sat the two demonesses, holding onto eachother closely as they prepared themselves for what was about to happen.

It was then that a sound could be heard from behind the shutter-doors. Rays of light began to shine from under the doors. The soldiers were finally making their way inside the station. It was almost time.

Big Softie waited for the very moment that the shutters reached the top. He readied himself for the absolute second to go. When that time finally came, he blew steam out of his cow nose, sounding like a steam engine, and began charging on all fours out of the station. He pointed his horns outwards, allowing himself to ram down the demons that stood in his path. Up to this point, Big Softie never took part in any of the fighting, but for the sake of everyone's lives today, it was about time he did. Goliath wasn't winning today!

The trio were outside once more, but Big Softie was stopping for absolutely nothing. He turned on the road and continued running down the street, leaving the remaining soldiers in a state of shock from the sudden escape. The squad leader was especially stunned by the attempt that it took a moment for him to realise that he had to somehow act upon this. He quickly blurted out, "F-Fire!" and all the soldiers turned their weapons towards the rampaging bull. They lit the streets ablaze with their bullets. However, Big Softie was far too quick for their efforts to mean anything.

Big Softie turned towards the alleyway that he came from, hoping to escape from the heat through there. He didn't falter in his charge for a single moment, but suddenly, one soldier seemed to have picked up on his escape route as one of their fired bullets managed to successfully follow Big Softie, going straight through his leg just as he made it through the path.

His body collapsed from the agony, flinging the demonesses forward by the sudden halt. The light demoness held her baby tightly and close into her body as she braced for impact. They all fell to the ground, but were all luckily not hurt too bad. They both recovered rather quickly and came back to Big Softie's aid.

"Hey! Big guy! You okay?" the goth girl asked, trying to pick Softie up from under his giant arm.

"Yeah. Yeah, I'm fine. I'm-" But as soon as he put weight on his injured leg, a surge of pain shot through the entire length of his leg, causing him to cry out.

The goth visibly hissed at the sight of the injury. "That's not good. We gotta go and get that thing looked at, and fast! How fast do you think you can hop?"

"I was renowned for being fast at hopping when I was alive," Softie explained, voice straining from the pain. He raised his leg with the support of the demonesses on either side of him.

"Good enough! Let's go!"

The trio then all made a break for it down the alley, going as quick as they could given the new circumstances. They still had Goliath's army hot on their trail, but if they all still had the smallest bit of luck left, they just might make it out of this alive.

Eventually, after a good while of running and hopping, the group found themselves a quiet place where they could hide for the time being and let Big Softie rest his wounded leg. It was an abandoned pharmaceutical. By scouting the place for supplies, the demonesses found a roll of bandages and a bottle with some alcohol still inside. While Softie put his foot on top of a box, the goth demoness dabbed a rag they found with the remaining liquid and applied it to the open wound, much to Softie's dismay as it hurt like hell.

Big Softie could feel a shout about to escape him, so he tightly shut his mouth, causing his cheeks to puff up with his own breath. To compensate, he pounded on the table beside him.

"Hey! You wanna keep it down! We're trying to lay low right now!" the goth hissed.

"Easy for you to say! You're not the one with a hole in their leg!" Big Softie retorted.

"Could you both be quiet please?! The baby's still sleeping you know!" the light demoness scolded the two loud mouths.

Softie and the goth just glanced at eachother and then back to the angry mother. "Sorry," they said in unison.

After that, the treating of Big Softie's bullet wound continued. The gothic demoness rolled out a very long piece of bandage and began wrapping it around his leg. It was then that she realised something. "You know, I don't think we've properly introduced ourselves yet. I'm Raven Wing. The girl over there's my wife, Dove Wing, and the kid's name is Silver Feather."

"Name's Big Softie," he said, now being more calm as the burning pain was over. However, he would still have to go through one last twinge of hurt as Raven Wing came to pulling the bandage in order to tighten it. It was so sudden that Softie couldn't help but react.

Raven recoiled from the sudden reaction. "Oh, sorry about that." She proceeded to finish her work in a more gentle manner. "Thanks, by the way. For getting us out of there. We had just about lost all hope before you came."

"Eh, it was nothing, really," Big Softie awkwardly replied. "I just can't believe that idea actually worked."

"It's not 'nothing'," Raven said coldly. "We really thought for a moment that we were gonna die. We knew that it was probably a long shot that a sinner of all things would respond to an SOS, but you actually did. You actually came and you saved us. So, thank you... for saving my family."

Big Softie didn't say anything else in response. Instead, small smile creeped onto his face. "It... must be hard trying to raise a kid during a time like this."

"Heh. It isn't half," said Raven. "Fuck. You can't imagine the close calls we've had cus the little guy was hungry or needed a change. It's actually how we found ourselves in that mess in the first place. And... done. How does that feel now?"

Big Softie lifted his leg off the box and back onto the floor. Putting some weight onto it again, it still hurt quite a bit, but he could walk on it at the very least. "Yeah, that's much better. Thank you."

"Don't mention it." Raven Wing gave him a nod. "So, what about you? How's the war been treating you?" she asked, resting her head on her knee.

Softie sighed. "Not too good, if I'm being totally honest. I've really done nothing but run these last few weeks. I got no home, no plans, no friends. It's pretty much taken away everything I had left. Now all this lonely husk can do is try to survive. That Goliath can kiss my ass if he thinks I'll ever join him."

"Well, if you've not got anywhere else to go, perhaps you can stick with us," Dove Wing suggested, sitting on a chair further away from the two as she held her baby. "We were going somewhere that's said to be a sanctuary for demons needing a place to stay."

Big Softie raised his eyebrow at the idea. This was the first he was hearing of this. "Really? Where?"

Dove continued, "Some bar called... oh, what was the name? Raven, dear, do you remember?"

Raven looked all around, trying to remember herself. "Oh God, now you're asking me? Umm... something about a volcano, I think."

"'Volcano's Eruption'?" Big Softie asked. That was certainly a place he knew all too well, having going there all the time with Barbed Wire back in the good old days. "It's been a while since I've last been there."

"You know where it is?" Dove's eyes lit up with joy. "Could you show us the way perhaps? We've been looking for that place for ages."

"Of course I can show you. It's the least I can do after you helped fix my leg"

Raven snickered at his response. "Well, I personally think you've paid your debt off nicely with that rescue, but one last deed wouldn't hurt, I suppose. Let's get to it then." She patted Big Softie on his wide shoulder and already started making her way back into the streets.

"Hey, wait just a minute." Softie stopped Raven in her place. "I didn't say we were taking the streets to get there."

Raven scoffed. "What? You know a better way?" she asked.

"I know a... safer way." While Big Softie knew it was a safer way, it wasn't necessarily a better way. He himself was very used to it, but for other demons using it for the first time? It might not end well.

"Fucking hell! That smells awful!" Raven complained, pinching her nostrils shut. "Do you seriously take this path all the time?!"

Big Softie took the wives into the sewers, and just as he expected, neither of them were too keen about it. Dove Wing was willing to do it for the safety of everyone, but Raven Wing on the other hand was very close to turning away. If it hadn't been for a pair of soldiers they could hear in the distance, Raven may have never come down.

"Eh. If you've spent as much time as I have, you don't even notice the smell anymore," Big Softie reassured, limping his way at the front. "But trust me, when you know what paths to take, this is the safest way to travel through the city."

"And you do know how to get there, right?" Raven glared at Softie from behind in suspicion.

"Yeah! Of course I do! It's just... all coming back to me a bit slower than I thought."

"Are you serious?! Are we lost?!" Raven suddenly shouted. Her voice echoed all throughout the underground tunnels.

Everyone immediately stopped right in their place, keeping as quiet as possible as to make sure that nothing suddenly appeared and causing a major issue mid-mission. Luckily, nothing came from Raven's sudden outburst, allowing everyone to stop holding their breaths.

Dove rested a hand on Raven's shoulder. "It's okay, sweetie. I trust that he knows what he is doing. How much farther now, Big Softie?"

"It shouldn't be too far. Just a little more now and we're home free."

Dove nodded. "I'm glad. You're a very good demon, Big Softie."

Big Softie didn't respond, but he knew he wanted to. After everything he has done in the past, he knew it would take a lot more than a few good deeds within a day to rectify the years of hurt he had been a part of or he had caused by himself. Of course, neither Raven or Dove knew about any of this, and it was for the best they continued not to. "Thanks," he half-heartedly said.

Soon enough, Softie came to a stop beside a ladder. By looking at the very specific details of the rust on the metal and the dirt patches on the wall and floor, it only told Big Softie one thing. This was the one. He climbed up the ladder with the lovers following from underneath. His injured leg almost caused him to slip off, but he caught himself before anything bad could happen. Reaching the very top, Softie lifted the sewer lid slightly, just enough for him to peak at the street outside to see if anyone was close by. Seeing that the coast was clear, he slid the lid away and climbed out and into the surface. Raven followed after Softie, holding her hand out to help her wife out.

The four demons had returned to the surface once more, now in an entirely different location, far from the radio station now.

"Where are we, Softie?" Dove Wing asked, looking around the empty street.

"Take a look," Big Softie said.

The demonesses turned to face the direction Softie was facing, seeing a sign that hung off the wall with a flickering neon sign. 'Volcano's Eruption'. They finally made it.

They all walked towards the bar. Immediately, they noticed that it was weirdly dark inside the window. Big Softie continued to take the lead as he slowly pushed the door open, lightly ringing the bell that the door pushed by. The pub had certainly seen better days. Chairs and tables were all either thrown over or were smashed to bits. The bar itself didn't have any of its display lights turned on. There wasn't even a single bottle left.

"This place looks completely abandoned," Dove commented quietly.

"Yeah. Are you sure this was the place?" Softie asked.

"This has to be the place," Raven said. "You don't tend to find bars with similar names in this city."

"H-Hello?" Big Softie hesistantly called out. They were then met with a very unnerving silence. It seemed that this rumoured sanctuary had definitely run its time. If this was the case, was there any safe place left in the entire city? Did Goliath's army really manage to take over everything?

Big Softie's head suddenly turned to the sound of creaking somewhere in the building. Perhaps they weren't alone after all. He held his arm out in front of the demonesses, trying to get them behind him. Footsteps could be heard. They seemed to be coming from behind the bar, but what could possibly hide behind there? The closer the footsteps became, the faster his heart began to pound.

And then, a figure emerged from behind the bar. A grey hyena demon who was all too familiar to Big Softie. "Volcano?" he asked.

Volcano signalled everyone to follow him, not even speaking a word before he went back down into the bar. The trio all looked at one another in confusion. They knew they had nothing else to do now, so they all shrugged and followed the canine. They found where he came from. A hatch that blends into the wooden floor revealing a staircase leading into an cellar deep underground. Perhaps this was the safe place. Everyone went down the stairs, ensuring that they closed the hatch behind them.

As they reached the bottom, they found themselves in a large storage cellar with walls filled from top to bottom with alcohol. Sitting against every inch of the walls of the cellar were many other demons, all seeming to be taking refuge from the chaos outside.

"Damn, Volcano. How many demons are you hiding here?" Softie asked, looking around at the different faces.

Volcano sighed as he sat upon a storage crate. "I've been getting at least a few demons everyday since it all started. I'd like to keep safe as many as I can, but I don't know how many more I'll be able to hold. We can only pass around so many supplies."

"Don't suppose you have space a few more, huh?" Big Softie gestured to the family standing just behind him.

Volcano hummed nervously. "Mm... I don't know, man. We're spread thin as it is. I've got demons going out to get food and stuff, but it's getting more and more scarce."

"Please, Volcano? These three have been through enough already. The least you could do is just give them a place to rest, even just for a little bit."

"Look, I feel for them, Softie. I really do, but I'm already handling too much at once. We only have two demons that are willing enough to even go back out into that madness just to find any scrapes of food left or medicine and supplies for the injured.

"We had more about a week ago, but after one guy didn't come back, most of them became too scared of what might happen. Now, most of us are growing more hungry from the pathetic portions we have to split, and then some others..." Volcano looked back to the poor demons with a sad look. "I don't know how much longer they have left. I'm sorry, Big Softie, but I really don't know if we can take in any more."

This was the last thing Big Softie hoped to hear. He wasn't going to take it lightly that even the little bit of light that was left can't even save them now. He, Raven Wing, Dove Wing and Steel Feather have all come too far just to be denied as little as a rest. "What if I helped out too?" Big Softie suggested.

Volcano looked back up at Softie. "What?" he asked.

Big Softie's face was determined. "Let me help out too. I know this city better than anyone. The fastest routes, the most secure spots, the places with the most stuff. You name it, I can get it done. Just please promise me that you'll let them stay."

There was a pause after Softie gave his proposal. Volcano was constantly looking between Big Softie and the family, seemingly trying to make a decision. Big Softie would do anything at this point to ensure everyone was safe, but at the moment, the make or break was in the bartender's claws. Volcano kept them wating for his decision for a good minute before sighing finally. "Okay. They can stay," he decided.

The wives were overjoyed by the announcement. At least, Dove was, jumping, shouting and kissing her lover on the cheek. Raven, on the other hand, just had a smile on her face and not much else. Softie himself was very relieved at the decision.

"Thanks, Volcano. I promise, I'll get you everything you need," Big Softie said, holding his hand out to the pub owner.

Volcano scoffed and took the bull demon's hand. "You better. You're just lucky it's nice to see your ugly mug after so long. You can sit tight for now, but when it's time for another excursion, your ass is going out there. Got it?"

"I got it." Big Softie turned back towards the demon family. Their faces only grew brighter as they all looked at eachother again. "See? Told ya I'd get you here."

"I'll admit, you weren't half-bad," Raven said, crossing her arms.

"We can't thank you enough, Big Softie!" Dove said with glee. "But are you sure you're going to be okay out there?"

Big Softie chuckled. "Don't you worry, I'll be fine. I've faced with plenty of bad situations before. It'll be no different now, not even with a bum leg."

Dove hummed. "Just always remember to take care of yourself, okay?" She held up her baby closer for Softie to see. "Silver Feather will miss you," she said in a playful, childish voice.

"I'll make sure I stay safe for little Silver Feather here." Big Softie lightly held one of the baby's tiny hands in his large finger and thumb.

It was then that they all proceeded to find a place to sit. Dove and Raven went over to the wall on the other side of the cellar, and immediately they were met with demons gathering round and commenting on how cute their child was. As for Big Softie, he just stayed where he was. There wasn't much room for him anywhere, and he would be needed soon enough anyway. He figured it would be best to just wait for his time to venture back outside.

It was a strange feeling. The actions of his past, Softie could never seem to get them out of his head. They conflicted with his thoughts to help out others. He had always wondered if what he's doing is even worth it. If he even had the ability to help anyone. All his life, he would to rely on others to help him whenever he needed it, all while giving nothing in return. It was a state of mind that he felt sick to his stomach just by thinking about it. His mind always asked him, 'Do you really think you can change?' Only for it to flash the memories of Sunset Shimmer and Barbed Wire and how he hurt them. It gave him a feeling that maybe he was reaching for something that wasn't there. But now, as he looked towards the family, safe, smiling, happy, knowing that he was the reason for them being here now, he felt that he finally had the answer...

Yeah, maybe he could.

In the highest floor of the mayor's tower, there sat Mayor Goliath Hendrickson, looking over his city. It was a quiet moment. He always liked the quiet, the sound of a waking era of peace. His dream may not be fully achieved yet, but soon enough, everything would be perfect.

The office door then opened, ruining the ruler's moment of silence, and in came the sheep demon, Montgomery, Goliath's second in command. He approached the mayor's desk. "Good evening, sir. I've brought you the update that you requested."

There was another second of silence between them before Goliath decided that he had enough. He let out a long drawn breath as he turned to face the small sheep. "That's wonderful, dear Monty." He gestured for Montgomery to continue while he sat patiently.

Montgomery sorted out the papers he was holding, clearing his throat before talking. "Uh, let's see... The plans for your big project have made very consistent progress. At this rate, we'll be way ahead of schedule! And with the army growing at an incredible rate, also, we'll have more than enough soldiers for the big day."

Goliath nodded. "Good. Good. Tell me, how has our lovely guest been keeping?" he asked.

"Her condition remains stable. However, she's yet to awaken," Monty explained.

"Pity. I'd love to have a little chat with her. Oh! That reminds me of a little thought I've been having lately. Montgomery, what can you tell me about Sunset Shimmer?"

"I-I'm afraid I don't follow sir," Monty answered.

Goliath stood up. "You know. Sunset Shimmer? The greatest thorn in my side? The one who insulted me in my own home? The one who tried to stop me on my big night?"

"Umm, well, she's dead. You dealt the final blow yourself, you told me."

"Ah, yes. I did tell you that. How I finally set her free of everything and let her fall to her pitiful demise. That certainly did happen. There's just one small issue, however..." Suddenly, Goliath pounded the desk with both hands. "Where. Issss. The body?" he hissed.

Montgomery visibly gulped. He never enjoyed being in his boss' presence when he was angry. "I-I'm s-s-sorry, sir?"

Goliath slid across the table, becoming uncomfortably close to the small sheep demon. "If someone fell from that great a height, I would expect to see their insides splattered against the pavement! I go out that front door and I should expect to see Sunset Shimmer's blood staining the road! However, all I find is torn leather! Tell me, Montgomery, why don't I see her blood?!"

The sheep demon didn't respond to the tyrant's fury. Instead, he was shaking from head to hoof from sheer, absolute fear. His eyes were closed, but he could still feel Goliath's face coming up against his fluffy ear.

"Do you know what this means, Monty?" Goliath whispered.

Montgomery slowly shook his head.

"This means... that Sunset Shimmer... is... ALIVE!!" Goliath screamed. He turned around and suddenly kicked his desk, sending it and his chair through the window and plummeting down towards the ground. Goliath was left a raging, heavily breathing mess as he stared out the, once again, shattered window.

"S-Sir... Your chair..." Montgomery pointed out.

Goliath took a long sigh, relieving himself of his sudden anger. "That's... fine. I've been looking for a new throne anyway."

In the underground cellar, Big Softie looked across all the different faces that took refuge down here. Everyone looked like shit, to say the least, but from the way it seemed, everyone was keeping on. It was a funny thought, how the closest these demons may ever be, and it was all because of their home being taken over by a mad snake. At least they were coming together when it mattered. Big Softie could imagine how Sunset would feel if she saw this. Her endless optimism seeing this as some glimmer of light that's left in the growing darkness. He could probably use her advice right about now, about how he could stay as upbeat as her amidst the horrors.

"Damn you, Goliath," Big Softie muttered to himself. He swore, he wasn't going to let Sunset's death be in vain.

Suddenly, the hatch at the top of the stairs was opened, and climbing down the stairs with a large sack on their back was a really short demoness.

"Kiki! Where the hell have you been?" Volcano scolded, putting his claws on his hips.

"Hello to you too, asshole!" The newly arrived demoness stumbled as she came down the steps. "You gotta take a look at this! I think I found something you're gonna wanna see." Kiki carried the sack to a nearby crate.

"The way you say that makes me scared that you didn't get any new supplies. I hope you're not picking up some random ass shit!"

Kiki glared at the hyena demon. "Will you shut up and look?!"

Many demons got up from their spots and gathered around the crate. Big Softie was in amongst those at the front. The short girl placed the big bag on the crate where everyone could see it, trying to pull the sack away but was having a bit of trouble with it. The shape of the sack looked off to Big Softie. It wasn't shaped like anything he really recognised, or at least in terms of anything that would be useful. It wasn't until a strand of what looked like red hair fell out of the opening...

It couldn't be...

Big Softie swiftly ran over to the crate, helping Kiki with pulling off the rest of the sack. The thin fabric came flying off, letting itself slowly glide down onto the floor now being free of what was inside. Everyone simultaneously gasped, and Big Softie's eyes widened as far as they could possibly go at the sudden reveal.

He couldn't believe it. "Sunset..."

Next time: What hasn't she told...?

Fun fact: The title of this chapter is based on a title I had for a Spider-Man crossover that I stopped in favour of this story. Sun-Spider: Broken War. It was one of two large-scale stories I stopped for this one, actually. Perhaps a history lesson on this story's early conception wouldn't be a bad idea at some point.