Pain and Hatred: A Stray Devil's Tale
is a High School D×D fanfiction story by SeerKing. The story begins with Rias and the rest of her Peerage trying to rescue a brainwashed Issei from the clutches of Stray Devil Queen Mei Schwarzwald. But, as we explore what led to such an event, it becomes apparent that everything is not what it seems.
- Brainwashed and Crazy: Issei spends much of the story under Mei's control. Unlike most examples, this is implied to be a voluntary case.
- Deity of Human Origin: Mei, originally a human, goes from Devil to God as part of her plans, though it's apparently only temporary.
- Family of Choice: Mei views her Peerage mates as her sisters, and goes through both metaphorical and literal Hell to revive them.
- Gravity Master: Mei's Sacred Gear, Fatal Attraction, allows her complete control of gravity in a set area.
- Hate Sink: To put it lightly, Amadeus Bael, Mei's former master, is an absolute piece of SHIT! Not only is he a classist jerk who hates the concept of Reincarnated Devils, he's also a misogynistic, cowardly, speciesist slimeball who loathes powerful female Devils. Within seconds of coming back to life he calls Rias a slut and a walking baby factory. He murdered his own Peerage, trapping their souls within their Sacred Gears, while Mei and Chiaki watched. Oh, and he's part of what's essentially a death cult that plans to kill every single Reincarnated Devil and Devil who either accepted an Evil Piece or became a King in existence.
- How We Got Here: The story starts with Rias and her Peerage storming Mei's base, where she waits with a brainwashed Issei. It then cuts to a month earlier to show how things reached that point.
- Meaningful Rename: Mei changed her first name from Evumeimei when she learned how her father had abandoned her and her mother.
- Offing the Offspring: Mei's father tried to have his former lover, along with his daughter from her, killed so he could ascend to be the head of his organization.
- The Last Dance: Mei had taken fatal damage to her soul during her quest. Rather than allow herself to die a slow and painful death, she made sure that while under her control, Issei would only hear the worst things about her, allowing her to fight one last glorious battle and go out in a blaze of glory.
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech: Mei deconstructs Armitrage Asmodeus, pointing out that for all he might be the Last True Asmodeus, he and his comrades in the Old Mao Faction are ultimately nothing more than whelps flaunting their purity of blood, while the current Four Great Satans have proven through their leadership of the New Devil Faction in the Devil Civil War that they have the strength and skill needed to lead.
- Sequel Hook: Besides Mei's recording at the end claiming that she might have included a way to resurrect herself eventually, the last scene of the story has a pillar of flame appear with a figure within, promising Mei that Wrath will not be denied.
