Part 28: Mother's Pride

nightmaster000: Well, short term they know exactly what they're doing. Long term…err…well, it's Junior and Chi. Some things never go quite according to plan.

Emeraldalex123: Drastic is Chi's middle name (though, technically, it would be her last name, as I don't think Aku has a last name to give her). But stick around for the next chapter, because that's when Chi strikes.

Guest: Short words, but ones I can appreciate. Thank you.


Chapter start

Just as with the last time he'd seen her, there was a good mix of emotions spinning around within the Grim Reaper, mainly consisting of guilt, love, and unyielding rage. In spite of this Junior stood straight and presented a calm demeanor, not allowing for there to be any weakness for the former queen to spot.

As Mandy's translucent soul floated above where the scythe was embedded into the floor, her eyes shifted slowly at her surroundings, recognizing that she was in her late husband's former office. She started putting together what her situation was from there.

With almost fifteen years being how long it had been since they'd last seen each other, there was really only one way this conversation could start.

"You look like crap." She said.

"Yeah, well, that's thanks to a couple of old family friends of ours." Junior stated simply. He could stand as straight as he wanted, but even his thick black robe was not enough to hide all the injuries he'd sustained from the Black Demon Reaper, so there was little point in hiding it. Not that he had to say it was MJ who caused them. "Hunson and Kare. Oh, and by the way, great job there. You managed to destroy everyone within the Land of Tainted Souls with that damn bomb of yours except for the one guy you were aiming for."

"Kare's still alive?" Mandy asked. Whether or not she was surprised by this news, she didn't show.

"Not anymore." He stated.

Mandy eyed him carefully, studying his face and his words. Again, it wasn't like he had to tell her the full truth of everything that happened, especially not in in regards to Kare's final words with him.

Still, Junior believed it was probably a good idea to change the topic, lest he accidentally give her something to hold over him. "What's the last thing you remember?"

"You killing me." She stated simply. Given how her usual demeanor was, it was hard to tell if she was even angry about falling that day. From the sound of it she was stating it as simple fact. "And I'm guessing you reaped my soul right after and trapped me inside the scythe." She said, eyeing the Reaper's weapon embedded in the floor.

Junior nodded. She always was one to catch on quickly. "Surprised that I've let you back out again?" He asked.

"More surprised that I'm not waking up in Hell." She commented. "With all I've done throughout my life, I'm sure there are a plethora of beings down there that would have been delighted at the opportunity to beat and rape me for all eternity. And there certainly wasn't enough lost love between us for you to think I didn't deserve that."

"We both know that you'd be running that place in a week." Junior pointed out, causing Mandy gave a small shrug. "There was no way I was going to leave someone like you where I couldn't keep an eye on you. And suspended animation within a magic artifact only I have access to? Hard to beat that. Bet you don't even know how long it's been since you died, which is the idea."

Mandy gave no noticeable reaction to his bragging, simply saying "You could have just eaten me and been done with the whole thing."

"According to the stories dad told me and Minnie growing up, the last thing that ate you found you a little too…spicy." Junior defended. "True or not, I like being in control of my own brain and figured it'd be best not to tempt fate."

"Fair enough." Mandy said with another shrug. "So, did you bring me back here just to gloat at me or do you actually want something?"

"I need to know about your contingency plans." Junior stated.

Mandy raised an eyebrow at his words. "Contingency plans?" She asked, noticeably not denying anything.

"It's no secret that you wouldn't be happy unless you had all the Underworld under your boot." Junior explained. "But just because you're a power-drunk old bat doesn't mean you're stupid. You didn't go around picking fights with the other lords unless you were sure you'd win. Even when HIM started causing us trouble during the Halloweentown incident, you didn't go at him right away. You had plans, you had connections, and you knew weaknesses in each of the other lords, at least enough of them so that no one could force your hand when you weren't ready. I need to know these. All of them."

Mandy looked at him quietly for a minute before answering. "Even if such plans did exist, why the hell would I tell you?" She challenged.

"Because I said so." He stated.

If Mandy was any less of a bitch she might have snorted at his statement. "Junior, I've done what you're trying to do many times before and done it far better. I know all the tricks to intimidation and, believe me, you've got a long way to go before you're at my level."

"I'm not trying to intimidate you." Junior said calmly. "It's just like I said: You're going to tell me what I want because I said so."

There were no scoffs or snorts that came from the former queen this time, for the moment she was about to talk back to him her body stiffened and it felt like something became lodged in her throat. Her chest tightened greatly and it was all she could do to not keel over.

The tall black form of her son made no change in expression as he watched. "You've probably never been on this side of the situation before, so allow me to explain." He said darkly as Mandy struggled to move. "I am the Grim Reaper. I am the lord of Death and master of souls. I decide what happens to those I reap and there is no being, mortal or non, who can overrule that. You are not the great mighty queen you once were. You are a soul that I have collected and decided to keep for my own. In case it isn't clear, let me spell it out for you." Junior grabbed her by the neck, pulling her forward to his face to better emphasize his point. "I own you!" He let go of her and tossed her back to where she was. Her anger was quite clear, though she still could do nothing about it. As her paralyzed body glared at him, Junior continued, normal voice returning. "You have no choice in this matter. You are going to tell me what I want to know and you're going to do it now."

At his words Mandy's body nearly convulsed as she tried to fight it off. She could feel the words trying to make their way out of her throat as her mind betrayed the rest of her and wanted to give in to the one who declared himself her master.

Junior watched as calmly as he could as his mother fought his power through her sheer force of will. She was not spilling her secrets, though it was clearly taking everything she had to do so.

"Stop fighting me." Junior said. "Just tell me what I want to know and this will be over."

His eye twitched as she still refused to give in. Even through her pained expression, her demonic eyes made sure to never back away from his.

Junior anger started to flare up. "You are dead! You are not ever going to come back! These plans are of no use to you anymore! It's over! Just tell me what I need to know!"

Mandy's body started shaking slightly more as her mouth started to open. Junior's eyes lit up in anticipation.

And then she spoke.

"Go to Hell."

Junior sharply backhanded her. She fell, but the scythe prevented her soul form from going through the floor. Junior grabbed her again by the neck. He couldn't actually strangle her, but the intention was clear.

"Just tell me!" He roared, his hands shaking as they gripped around her throat.

Pain shot through Mandy's entire being. The Grim Reaper was a being of great power and no soul was exempt from his dominion. The act of defying him, let alone for this long, was unheard of and should be impossible. But still, though the agony it caused her was clear, Mandy still refused to give in.

"…No." She finally managed to say.

The sheer power and rage of Junior's aura filled the room. It could not be seen but it could certainly be felt, like a typhoon of blazing darkness, with wave upon wave of power crashing into the former queen, demanding that she give in.

And even with that, it was clear she would not.

Junior's storm of power ended and he let go of her neck. He back away from her and clutched his head, both from dizziness and failure. His leg felt like it was going to give out from under him again and he was half-tempted to let it.

Mandy rubbed her throat where he'd been holding her, finally able to move freely again. She breathed slowly to recover from the ordeal, doing so more out of memory than need, as she didn't have lungs anymore.

She glared at her son, who was not facing her at the moment, still reflecting on his failures. Her anger with him was quite clear. However, there was something else she was feeling now too. Something she'd sensed from him just moments ago.

"If you were like you were the last time we met, you may have been able to win that battle of wills." She said, catching Junior's attention, though he still didn't turn to face her. "But just now, you weren't fighting me with will. You were fighting with desperation. You didn't want my plans, you needed them. And believe me, that makes a difference."

Junior stayed facing away from her.

"If what you've said is true, about Kare being gone, then your only real threat is Hunson, correct?" Mandy asked. "I know Grim was wary of him because of his deathless nature, but Hunson has never been that much of a threat to the other Big Five realms. He primarily cares about the Nightosphere and Ooo."

"It's not just him I'm going up against." Junior explained, finally turning to look at her. "I haven't exactly been living a paragon life since I took your throne. I tried scaring everyone into playing nice with each other and made a lot of enemies doing so. Now all those enemies are joining up with Hunson because they think he has the best chance of taking me out."

"If you had enough power to scare everyone that badly in the first place, then I'm sure you have enough to actually take them on. What do you need my help for?" Mandy asked honestly.

"I'm trying to avoid a war!" Junior stressed. "I'm trying to avoid destroying everyone's life like you did!"

"If all these people are taking a stand against you, then what do you care?" She pointed out. "If I recall correctly, your problem with my war wasn't that I was trying to crush Kare (you believed even more than I did that he deserved everything that was coming to him), but that I was going after other realms that weren't involved. If these people are taking the fight to you, why would you feel any need to spare them?"

"Maybe because unlike you I don't feel the need to beat the universe senseless until it bows down at my feet." Junior spat. "Maybe because I'm fine with live and let live."

"Oh, for God's sake." Mandy rolled her eyes. "I think I'm actually having flashbacks to similar arguments I've had with your father."

"You know, it really says something when Death has a higher regard for life than you do." Junior shot.

"Yes. It shows that the Underworld let itself get too content with all their rules and safety measures." Mandy shot back. "The council did everything in its power to appease me after Kare took a swing at my empire, all because they were afraid a war coming that was long overdue. And now you are doing same." She added with disgust. "You have half of existence that wants to wipe you out and you're doing everything you can to play nice and hope they'll go away."

"I don't have the luxury that you did!" Junior screamed. "Unlike you, I actually give a damn if the people I love get hurt!"

It took Junior a minute and then he realized what he'd just revealed to her.

"…So that's it." Mandy said in realization as her son avoided her gaze. "You have a family now…"

Junior stayed quiet for several minutes. He wanted to tell her nothing. And he also wanted to tell her everything.

"This war is happening partly because of them, isn't it?" She asked, slightly softer than her normal tone.

"…..my daughter…" He said quietly. "Hunson and Kare knew the best way to get to me was through her. They went after her. Things…things went very badly."

"Reminds me of when you were a child." Mandy commented.

Junior took in a small breath before continuing. "…She nearly died… it was too close... And with this war coming…MJ…Chi…I can't lose them to it."

"Then protect them."

"I can't." Junior stated.

"Why not?" Mandy asked sharply.

"Because I can't." Junior stated again.

"Why not?" Mandy asked again, not accepting this as an answer.

Junior boiled within until finally he snapped. "Because when have I ever been able to protect anyone?!" He yelled. "Look at me! I'm not just Death, I'm the fucking Demon Reaper! Everyone I've ever known and cared about has died, some worse than others! You killed dad, I killed you, Minnie died twice because of me, Mimi gave up her life to save mine. Hell, I couldn't even save my own wife when the time came and hours ago, I nearly killed my own child, for the second time!" His rage and sadness etched through his features clearer than ever before, every last thing that had built up within him finally being allowed to be let out. "I've…I've never been strong enough! …If this war comes…if I can't stop it…I will lose them! …I honestly can't see it going any other way…"

As his words trailed off, Junior rage quelled and he dipped his head, amazed and ashamed with himself for such a display in front of his mother. Part of him wanted to just and end the talk and run away, but the rest of him just didn't care anymore.

"I just… I can't do it…"

The soul of Mandy floated silently before the defeated Reaper.

"Did I ever tell you about the day your father and I met?" She asked.

"The entire Underworld knows that story." He sighed. "Your friend Billy's hamster was about to croak. Dad showed up to collect him and the two of you played a game of limbo for its life and his freedom."

"Have you ever thought about what should have happened that day?" Mandy asked, placing a good deal of emphasis on 'should'.

Junior tilted his head back up, looking at her in confusion.

"He should have taken Mr. Snuggles and left. That's it." She stated. "Contrary to popular belief, Grim was one of the most powerful beings in all the Underworld, certainly powerful enough to have become one of the Big Five lords without my help. And even I'm not arrogant enough not to realize what the difference in power between the two of us was back then. I was a dark child with unmatched potential, but still just a child. If Grim had wanted to, he could have destroyed me and Billy in seconds for daring to defy him.

"But he didn't. He tried to compromise. He tried to play nice and because of that he ended up losing everything, all because he let himself be pushed around by beings far beneath his notice. A trait you unfortunately seem to share with him."

"Hunson is one of the Big Five rulers of the Underworld." Junior pointed out.

"And what are you?" She asked. "I don't know what you've done since I've been away, but like you said, you're the Demon Reaper. You fought off the greatest warriors of the Underworld when you were ten and killed the Queen who brought all of existence to its knees years later. I didn't exactly let you win that fight, Junior. I fought to end you. Hell, I would have if I hadn't underestimated you. That's a mistake I certainly won't make next time."

Junior raised an eyebrow skeptically. "What do you mean next time?"

Mandy made a small smirk. "The scythe is a well thought out prison, I'll give you that, but it's not going to hold me forever. I'll find a way out. I always do. And when I do I'm going to crush you and take back my empire. But until then I want to make sure it's a kingdom worth taking back. So you'd better take good care of it."

"It's unnerving how what you're saying runs parallel, yet almost in the exact opposite direction of what Kare's last words to me were." Junior commented. "He wanted to make sure there was going to be someone after him to cause strife throughout the Underworld. You just want me to hold onto it until it's your turn again."

"I've never exactly been good at sharing, even if it does serve me in the end." Mandy commented. "Always found it strange that a devil like Kare could be so ok with it."

"You are known for being worse than the devil, so that's not so surprising." Junior pointed out.

"True." Mandy shrugged. She then got to the point of what she was saying. "For now, this empire is yours. Which means what happens next is your choice and no one is going to make it for you."

"But I…I don't know what to do." Junior said.

"Yes you do." Mandy stated evenly. "You're just looking for someone to give you permission to do it or someone to forbid you from it. Either one takes the guilt off your conscious. And that's why I'm not going do either for you. I'm not going to tell you what I would do. I'm not going to tell you to run or fight. The only thing I will tell you…the one bit of advice I will pass to…whatever you decide, do the one thing your father never did until the very end of his life. One of the final things I can respect him for: make your decision and don't back down from it."

Junior stood quietly for a moment, before finally reaching down to the staff of the scythe. "…It was nice talking to you again, mom."

"Next time we meet, it won't be as pleasant." She warned him.

Junior took a moment before looking back at her. "Wouldn't have it any other way."

He pulled the scythe out of the floor and as it left, Mandy's soul was sucked back within it, buried deep down until her presence was felt no more.

Junior stood silently and reflected. He hadn't gained anything he'd wanted from the conversation he'd wished to never have. Interestingly enough, it may have caused him to lose something instead.

His doubt.

He had a plan. One that had been forming in his skull long before any of this mess started.

Junior curled his fist and turned to leave his office.

It was time to show them all what they'd been scared of.

Chapter end


Author's notes: This chapter feels hit and miss to me, so I would appreciate some feedback on it to see what you guys think.

Anyway, Junior's not running anymore. His kingdom and his family are in danger and it's time for him to strike back. See how that goes in the upcoming chapters. Until then, good night everybody!

QTP: What's Junior about to do? What did Mandy mean by "the final thing she can respect Grim for"? What's Chi going to do in the Nightosphere? Will there be any consequences from Junior's secret imprisonment of the Bitch Queen? And will the Bitch Queen ever rise again?