Lucifer drifted down through the dimensional layers that thickened at the portal into Hell, and fell silently through, aware of his brother's tendency for violence, and having absolutely no interest in engaging.

Not because he feared his brother.

Michael could no longer wound him unless he allowed it, and any damage done would cease to exist in the next moment.

No.

The idea wearied him.

It was such a worthless exercise, fueled by his brother's misguided focus on conflict.

Michael had not always been so. His brother had once been a beacon of love, very much as Lucifer felt himself now, though worry and the transition to Hell had dimmed that incredible connection somewhat.

Then, as their father's attentions had turned away, to play in the great universe they had all had some small part in creating, Michael did as Lucifer, and other siblings, had done.

He acted out.

Where Lucifer had turned his gaze to the denizens of a new world, seeking satisfaction with such small interactions, Michael had taken to hitting things.

Anything.

And found he was very good at it.

Each blow was an act of joy, each battle gave him what he craved - attention and a sense of grand accomplishment.

Michael looked for his father's approval with every conquest, and received it, for father had appreciated his strength.

Lucifer sighed, dropping through the ash.

Their own battle had father's complete favor, and its resolution his blessing.

And Lucifer still remembered how much it hurt to Fall.

And he would never forget looking up into the eyes of the demon who would save him, when he defiantly shared his name in terrible pain.

I don't care

Lucifer's eyes grew molten, and he refocused on his task, allowing the harder memories to slide from his skin.

If Michael had hurt Maze, there would be... a conversation.

It would be very short.

Though that was not fair.

After all, Michael had not dragged Mazikeen down to Hell.

He had.

Frowning deeply, he sank to where the throne should have been.

And hovered there for a long moment, shaken.

The space was as familiar to him as an inward breath. He should have been able to turn, and lower himself against the hard stone seat.

It should have BEEN here.

The absence pulled him from his inward thoughts, and Lucifer truly took in the entirety of his old realm.

Fire engulfed his body - a defense against what did not make sense.

What had Michael done?

Nothing was the same!

There were no cells!

The damned mingled with the Lilim with little care, when they should have been locked away by their own guilt, enduring endless torment!

What had happened here?!

The time for a quiet entrance was gone.

The fires about him roared as he grew as bright as a star, casting stark shadows from every structure and figure against the ash laden ground.

The shadows lengthened as he lowered, his voice booming over the entirety of the space.

MICHAEL!

Below was a new throne. Shielded by a lattice of sharpened stone protrusions.

How had he done this?! What power did Michael have that would allow him to reshape an entire realm?!

Lucifer's blazing feet touched the new path to the throne chamber, dissolving the stone to liquid.

He continued along the path, his feet hissing against the stone, until he faced the throne.

Empty.

No longer made of blocky hexagonal extrusions, but formed of grandly sweeping basalt, the throne's embedded crystals sparkled in the light he cast.

It was quite... beautiful.

His roaring cloak dimmed to flickering flames as he reached out to the arm, an errant thought rising that he could sit and claim it again.

It had been taken from him, in a way, after all.

"What are you doing here," a voice growled behind him.

Mazikeen!

Stunned relief rushed through him - smiling without even meaning to, Lucifer turned.

Only to be hit by something incredibly hard, that slammed him back into the chamber wall with enough force to break it.

He was stunned for only a moment - enveloped by light, glowing like a rising sun, he stood once more, restored.

And was promptly punched in the face.

Lucifer staggered - the force behind the blow had been immense, and he looked up, expecting his grinning brother.

But Michael hadn't punched him.

Mazikeen had.

She stood before him, wearing her old armor, only refashioned with the same weaving tines he had seen over this new Hell.

Did that mean... this was her Hell?

Had she somehow claimed the throne?

His voice was soft with wonder as he straightened to face her.

"Mazi-"

With no warning at all and too swiftly to track, she kicked him in the chest.

The blow sent him crashing into the wall again, and through, plowing through the thick ash on the other side.

Grimacing with a sudden rush of pain, struggling to draw in a breath, Lucifer took to the air, his great wings whipping up blinding ash, and began to glow like the heart of a dwarf star.

A spear of obsidian, razor sharp, sliced through the barrier of expanding heat and cleaved through the meat and bone of his left wing, severing the limb.

With a cry, he fell, landing awkwardly, and blazed again, regenerating swiftly what was lost. The reformed wing arched, new feathers spreading in a spray of white light, just as another spear tore into his right shoulder, twisting him around.

Turning back with a grunt, he wrenched the spear free and dissolved it.

"I am not here to fight, Mazikeen!"

A thunderous blow caught him against the temple, and he fell once more.

And Mazikeen stood above him, holding another spear.

The point hovered over his heart.

"You do not belong here, angel," she growled, her eyes dark.

Lucifer searched them.

He could not see his friend anywhere within.

"Mazikeen, I was not myself," he said quickly. "I was-"

His oldest friend thrust the spear down through his chest.

Before the point could pierce the skin of his heart, Lucifer exploded.

The weapon was instantly evaporated. Mazikeen was launched backwards, flying through the air before slamming into the broken wall.

Staggering to his feet, Lucifer healed the wound, his hand clutched over his chest, his mouth twisted in a hurt that had little to do with the physical damage she had caused.

I WAS NOT MYSELF! he roared, launching a storm of ash and scouring dirt towards the wall and the chamber it formed. I WAS A FOOL!

Mazikeen pulled herself from the rubble.

"I DON'T CARE!" she roared back, standing stiffly, her hands squeezed into fists at her sides. "YOU DON'T BELONG HERE!"

The ground beneath his feet began to shake.

Lucifer was reeling. Mazikeen had earnestly tried to kill him. Not the first time, of course, but the first time she had come that close in many, many centuries.

And the power she was displaying was disturbing. Wielding Hell itself as a weapon? He had never done that as its ruler!

He had not known how.

Jagged spires broke the ground at his feet - thrusting up as sharp as blades in sparkling crystal and deadly obsidian.

He rose out of their reach, and rose again as they thrust violently higher as if in pursuit.

And a volley of spears flew through the air towards him, with no origin he understood.

Pulsing in radiant, roaring flame, Lucifer liquefied the majority.

But more followed.

"I am sorry," he whispered, his heart clenching in his chest, his glowing eyes tight with pain as he stared down at the demon he had once known as a lover and a friend.

Turning, he flew from the realm he used to call his own.

And the cheers of a multitude rose behind him.

Celebrating the victory of their Queen.

So... that happened.

There I was, expecting a bit of a tussle, but a joyful reunion of sorts. Perhaps some Michael goofiness.

But no. Mazikeen had a bone to pick. A very large, pointy bone. And she picked it very violently. Kinda peak Maze, really.

I've written the next (smaller chapter) with Michael and Mazikeen in the aftermath. I may post it tonight, or I may see how the chapter after that goes first.

Regardless, sorry about the wait. I have been very down, and very busy, and that's not a great combo for writing %)

I hope you're all doing well though :) Thanks for reading, and leave a comment if you're able. (I'm guessing I'll be seeing lots of 'wtf?!')