Goatman Saves the Day

*thunder and lightning, wind blowing, windows shaking*

It was a dark and stormy night in Gotham City, and crime was afoot; but the Bat Signal isn't working.

What were the citizens to do? They had no hero now...or did they?

A big, misshapen shadow swooped through the dark, casting its form onto the bricks of the buildings alongside the street. Narrowly avoiding street lights, the shadow made its way into the alleyways, sniffing for criminals and evildoers alike. Pausing, the figure sniffed the air. The smell of screams wafted through his nose. It was time.

"Ha ha ha, we've got your bag now, lady!" One goon, holding the purse of the terrified young woman nearby.

"What are you gonna do, call Batman?" The second goon, stalking towards her, eyes sparkling with delight at her terror. They laughed, watching her back farther into the alley.

A pair of red, gleaming eyes appeared behind her, burning into the souls of the two goons. Taking a glance at each other, they knew that trouble was coming. Dropping the bag, the first goon turned to take off; but a swooping sound caught his attention. Next thing he knew a man--nay, a goat--nay, dared it be a man and a goat, stood in front of him at a staggering height, his red eyes gleaming in the light of the street lamp. The goon shuddered in fear.

"What the hell?" The second goon, still at a distance, exclaimed, hands riding to pull at his hair in disbelief.

"Dare not take that bag," a deep, growling voice threatened. Fire rose up behind him, blocking the goons from running past him. Glancing back, the criminals could see that the woman was no longer there, her bag gone.

"Who are you, a monster?" The first, gaining courage, demanded, trying not to seem fazed.

"Monster?" The voice bellowed, fire rising in his eyes and around them. "I am no monster! I--" the two were suddenly frozen in fear, their only movements being the quaking of their limbs. "I am Goatman; and only I have the true intention of wreaking havoc and death upon all!" His menacing voice took over their ears, and they screamed in pain. The dumpsters and old, loose trash were ablaze, the atmosphere hot, almost as if they were in hell.

"Forgive us, Goatman!" The second goon was quick to cower in fear, pleading for mercy before this mighty cryptid could bestow death on him.

"Stop your villainy, or burn." With one last threat, the flames exploded only to disappear, the only hint of them ever being there being the burning dumpsters and charred ground. The two goons fled for their lives, leaving the dark alleyway and Goatman behind.

Sighing, the creature rolled his red eyes. Dumb humans. They don't understand that evil is a demon's job.

It was now time to wreak havoc on the city. Eyes glowing an intense red again, he was ready for destruction--but a sudden lone string of claps paused his preparation. As he turned around, more applause joined. What he saw behind him was a line of police officers, the chief in the middle, all cheering.

Goatman stared, watching the flames flicker in their eyes, which only held what he thought was appreciation.

"You did it, Goatman," the chief announced, the applause returning to silence. "You saved the city!" He couldn't believe his goat ears. He what? Saved the city? How could he have done so? "We've been chasing those purse-snatchers for months! They were always gone from the scene when we'd arrive. They ran straight to the station, turning themselves in! You're a hero!"

A...hero? Goatman had never been called such a name before. Demon, cryptid, creature--that was what he'd been called. Yes, that is what he was, but this...sparked something up in his heart. He loved being feared, having respect, but this...appreciation? He didn't want to admit it, but he liked it.

A smile rose to Goatman's demonic face. "Thank you." His growling voice did not match the tone he wanted to convey, but he meant it very sincerely. He wanted to feel like this again--and he would.

From that day on, Goatman, with a previous reputation of evil, began a new one of saving the day, leaving the city a burning, hot mess, one alley at a time.

THE END.