Gillywix the Great and Intelligent and Best of All Imps followed the one that called himself Silverbeard as the fat dwarf carved a path through the city, going from tavern to tavern and brutally slaughtering every demon he encountered.

Every demon, except Gillywix. Yes, for only Gillywix possessed the level of intellect needed to properly deal with the stinky dwarf. Only Gillywix was brave enough and amazing enough to—

Gillywix cut his self-praise short for a moment and ducked behind a wooden crate, cowering in terror as the dwarf turned at an intersection and seemed to ponder where to go next.

The continuation of the dwarf’s rattling armor told Gillywix the dwarf had chosen his route and as it was away from Gillywix’s current position, the little imp gave a relieved sigh.

He slowly peeked his horned head above the top of the crate he hid behind and saw the dwarf round the corner.

Emboldened by the lower sense of danger, Gillywix the Brave and Incredibly Cunning strutted out from behind the crate that had only just recently served as his great and terrible operations center from which he’d… Gillywix frowned for a moment as he tried to think of something that sounded suitably impressive…

“Not hiding. No no. Gillywix was planning. Yes yes. Laying plans. A planning crate! Mhm!” Gillywix said as he nodded to himself and crept along the street, keeping his wings tucked close as he hopped along lightly and peered nervously around the corner Silverbeard had taken.

There, Gillywix saw the dwarf run toward a massive demon with the head and horns of a bull and then leap at the demon, belly-first.

“Balance check!” Silverbeard yelled as he slammed into the demon paunch-first like a cannonball.

All the air left the demon’s lungs in a whoosh as it sailed through the air and crashed through the stone and wood wall of a bakery. It lay there, struggling to get up and gasping for air as Silverbeard walked over to it and brought his axe down with a brutal chop.

Gillywix flinched at that and a cold shiver ran down his spine at the thought of being the next demon to meet that axe.

But, Gillywix kept peering around the corner at the dwarf as the fat brute set his axe down against one of the counters near the gaping hole in the wall and rubbed his hands together.

“A bakery? Good timing. I ran out of scones some time ago, and all this demon killing has worked up my appetite. Baker? Oh, baker? Come out come out wherever you are for there’s a hungry dwarf in your shop!” Silverbeard bellowed as he patted his armored belly, “you see this? I’m just wasting away here! Baker!”

There was no response and the dwarf sighed. “Perhaps you’ve gone out for lunch yourself? Well, I shall leave payment upon the counter for when you return. Let it never be said that Silverbeard was a thief!” The dwarf bellowed as he pulled out a heavy-looking pouch and dumped it on the counter shortly before digging into the various goods on display with a savage gusto that reminded Gillywix of the multi-headed Parnax demons of the lower reaches.

So engaged was the dwarf in his cakes, sweets, and flagon of mead that he seemed utterly oblivious to all the world, and Gillywix’s gaze turned to the axe resting so very near the ‘entrance’ to the shop. The demon blood glistening wetly over the blade made Gillywix shudder with fear, but ultimately, the brave Gillywix was determined not to let this opportunity go to waste.

Gillywix smiled evilly. “This is my chance. Oh yes yes. Gillywix will take fat, stupid dwarf’s axe. Gillywix will do what other demons could not. For Gillywix is smarter. Much smarter mhm! Gillywix will be demon hero. Gillywix will be rewarded by Cassandreth, the Dread Princess. Mhm! Gillywix will have slaves and servants and become most powerful imp in all the realms!” Gillywix said.

His own words and the fantasies which played in his mind gave Gillywix an increased sense of bravery and he crept out from around the corner, stalking silently along the street with his wings tucked close.

As Gillywix drew closer to the bakery, the dwarf’s smacking lips, chewing, and appreciative moans grew louder. Gillywix shrank in on himself, feeling far too vulnerable and beginning to question the wisdom of his current plan more with every step.

But, the glistening axe was not far now and the thought of all the slaves and treasures that would soon be his spurred him on.

Gillywix kept his eyes locked on the fat dwarf’s back as he reached out and grabbed Silverbeard’s axe by the hilt.

It was heavier than Gillywix anticipated and rather than easily picking it up, Gillywix merely tipped it over so it fell like a tree toward him. The imp’s eyes widened, afraid of it making a noise and drawing the attention of the deadly dwarf.

Driven by an overwhelming sense of self-preservation, Gillywix hefted the axe with all his strength, though it was about as large as he was. With a muffled groan, he managed to lift the heavy thing. Only to freeze up as he realized he’d made a sound.

His spine prickled and his wings quivered against his back as Gillywix slowly turned his head over his shoulder, expecting an angry dwarf to be scowling down at him.

But, the dwarf was too engaged with a collection of chocolate eclairs to give the imp any notice and wolfed each down with frightening speed.

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Gillywix suppressed a relieved sigh and struggled to carry the heavy axe out of the bakery as quietly as he could. Once out of the bakery, he picked up speed, running as fast as he could down the street and very nearly falling over himself as he struggled to keep his balance while carrying the heavy axe.

He saw a large pack of a variety of demons ahead and called out to them.

“I have his axe! Have his axe I do! Gillywix the brave! Gillywix the bold! Gillywix the—”

“Silence runt! Whose axe? What do you speak of, you worthless sack of excrement?” said a hulking brute of a demon with powerfully muscled arms, great feathered wings, and a beak that could snap Gillywix up in a single bite.

“Mmmmwwwiirrmm…” Gillywix gave a sad whimper at how the demon spoke to him despite his great success of stealing the dwarf’s axe, “Silverbeard. The dwarf demon slayer. Killing all the demons he is. But not Gillywix. Gillywix stole his axe. So, now he can’t defend himself against any of you. Unarmed he is. In the bakery.”

The demons looked over at the bakery and smiled savagely. They ran over to it, bumping into Gillywix and knocking him over onto the cobblestone street.

“Watch it half-pint!” laughed a demon as it stepped on Gillywix.

Gillywix gave a startled squeak as the demons half-trampled him on their way to Silverbeard. The dwarf that Gillywix had gone to so much trouble and personal risk to ensure was unarmed.

Feeling his fantasies crumbling around him, Gillywix hefted up the dwarf’s mighty axe once more and walked down the street, his head low and his wings drooping.

“Gillywix did better than any other demons… Gillywix is smart. Gillywix is brave…” Gillywix said softly, his lower lip quivering as he pitter-pattered his way along the street. He sniffed and continued muttering to himself as the demons howled with laughter behind him. He heard a dwarf’s voice behind him.

“Hope fat dwarf beats them up. After all I did for them. Gillywix is better than they deserve. Gillywix is much too intelligent and amazing for silly, stupid demons that step on Gillywix! Gillywix is… flying!?” Gillywix squealed as the axe he was holding levitated up into the air with him still clinging to it.

Then it whirled back the way Gillywix had just come.

“AaaaAAaaahhhaAAaaahh!” Gillywix cried as he held desperately to the axe, but his claws slipped free of the haft and he landed face-first into a puddle with a Sploosh as the axe spun back along the street, carving a path through the pack of demons and returning to its master’s hand with a meaty smack.

Gillywix climbed out of his puddle, still dripping the filthy water, as the last demon fell over in two separate pieces with a squelch.

The fat dwarf licked cream off his gauntleted fingers, then turned his eyes to Gillywix himself.

“Ho! Another demon! And a little one at that! Did you like my axe, little one? It’s not the strongest of my axes, but I dare say I find it the most fun! Bahaha! Pray tell, why don’t you come over here and I’ll give you a closer look, hmm?” Silverbeard said.

Gillywix sprinted away and took flight. His wings beat the air furiously as he screamed, “I’m much too handsome to dieeeeee!”

Gillywix watched over his shoulder, afraid the dwarf would hurl that great axe at his retreating back, but the dwarf merely laughed uproariously and continued on his way.

Just as Gillywix felt a sense of relief, slender, clawed fingers closed around his neck and brought him to an abrupt stop.

“Uuurk!” Gillywix cried as he struggled to breathe against the vice-like grip.

The beautiful yet dark and utterly terrifying face of Cassandreth the Dread Princess glowered down at him.

Gillywix stopped struggling and curled in upon himself instead, a strangled whimper in his throat.

“And where do you think you’re going? Surely, none of my loyal minions would ever be so foolish as to flee the field of battle?” Cassandreth said with a cruel smile.

Gillywix tried to croak out a response but found that even he, the Great and Wondrous Gillywix couldn’t talk around the grip upon his throat.

The Dread Princess rolled her eyes at the inconvenience of his needing to breathe and released him.

Gillywix dropped to the floor of her hovering platform and coughed violently even as he tried to inhale around his bruised throat. He tried to talk but only coughed several times, his fear building as he was ever-conscious of the fact she may grow bored and kill him at any moment.

Finally, he managed to croak out the words, “Fat dwarf. Killing every demon.”

“What fat dwarf?” Princess Cassandreth asked, incredulously.

Gillywix massaged his aching throat and continued, “Silverbeard he says his name is. Brave and Intelligent Gillywix tried to steal his axe. But axe not want to be stolen. Oh no. Killed all the demons it did then fat dwarf looked to Gillywix and Gillywix performed strategic retreat. Mhm!”

“You ran away from a fat dwarf even though you had other, no doubt, stronger demons around you?” Princess Cassandreth asked.

Gillywix chuckled and shook his head. “Not stronger. Not now they’re in pieces they’re not. No no,” he said.

“Be silent, worm,” Princess Cassandreth snapped.

Gillywix clamped his mouth shut and tried not to whimper.

“Aurelia,” Princess Cassandreth said as she beckoned to one of her succubus attendants.

“Yes, Dread Princess?” Aurelia asked.

“Have this imp take you to the dwarf he claims is killing our demons and slay the wretched creature,” Princess Cassandreth said.

Aurelia licked her lips. “The imp or the dwarf, Dread Princess?” she asked.

Princess Cassandreth shrugged. “If there really is a threat our forces are struggling with, I want you to eliminate it. After that… I don’t care,” she said, “now go. This talk of dwarves is tiresome when there’s so much slaughter to bask in.”

Aurelia bowed low with a sinuous grace that made Gillywix hate and envy the beautiful succubus. “As you wish, Dread Princess,” the succubus purred before turning to Gillywix, “come, slime, and take up a weapon. You look pitiful.”

Gillywix looked to the racks of weapons upon the floating platform. Most of which he couldn’t even hope to lift “Uh… perhaps Gillywix would be better suited to a more managerial role?” he dared to say.

Aurelia glared at him and grabbed him by the throat. She stuck a helmet on his head that was several sizes too large and pressed the hilt of a blade as long as he was tall into his small hands so forcefully that she smacked his own hands back into his stomach and knocked what little air he’d managed to get into his lungs back out through her stranglehold.

“There. Now you could fight a whole army,” Aurelia said with a laugh and tossed him off the platform.

Gillywix dropped like a rock for a moment as his little wings strained against the weight of the helmet and sword, but he dared not relinquish either lest Aurelia decide to punish him further.

She flew down beside him as she inspected her fingernails.

“Take me to this dwarf, slime. One kiss and I’ll suck his soul right out of his body,” she said with a sinister smile.

Gillywix hesitated. If the dwarf saw him again, the world may be forever deprived of Gillywix’s bravery and intelligence…

“Now, slime!” Aurelia snapped.

But, then again, if he didn’t do as the succubus ordered, she’d kill him just the same.

Gillywix let out a resigned sigh. “Yes, Lady Aurelia…” he said as he began flying in the direction of the last place he’d seen the dwarf, his pace slowed by the weight of his new equipment…