The goddess sighed, and undid the straps the held her helmet on. She removed the helmet and let it drop to the floor. Skuld and Sentaro stared shock by what they saw.

"I am Skuld, Goddess 1st Class, Type 3 Unlimited, the Goddess of the Future." said the goddess. She gave a small smile as she watched their stunned looks. "How's that for a qualification?"

Chapter 9

The goddess led Skuld and Sentaro out into the living area of the apartment. A dusty table and chairs sat covered in empty ice cream containers. Old Skuld scowled and knocked away the containers.

"That's the downside to this." She said, "I don't have access to Yggdrasil so I have to rely on my backup source."

She sat down and motioned for her younger self and Sentaro to sit down. Both did so nervously.

Skuld watched silently as her younger self sat down, then reached over to grab Sentaro's hand. She felt a pang of unhappiness, then shook it off.

'Technically he's still with me," she thought, "just with the younger version.'

"Alright, I suppose it's time for your explanation." She said.

Young Skuld and Sentaro nodded.

"Basically, it started almost two hundred years ago....." Old Skuld thought for a second, "...Well.....two hundred years to me, ........well anyway.............It all started when that damn exhibit came to town. Belldandy, Keiichi and Urd went to it. I was.......elsewhere."

"Where?" asked Sentaro.

Old Skuld blushed, "On a date with a certain cute bicyclist."

Sentaro and young Skuld blushed.

"Urd started acting strange almost immediately after. She vanished completely within 2 months. We tried to search for her, but we never found a trace of her. About a year later, we received word that Hild had been overthrown and a new queen took her place. The new queen sent Kami-sama a message that basically called for him to surrender the heavens to here. Of course he said no. We didn't think anything else of it, after all the doublet system was in effect." Old Skuld sighed. "Unfortunately, we should have. Within days the doublet system was completely shutdown . A day later, a suicidal demon attacked heaven. The demon kill the entire council........and Kami-sama." Old Skuld looked down at the table. "The heavens were in an uproar, everyone ran about, confused at what to do, who was in charge. During that time, the demons attacked the surface world. By the time Heaven had sorted itself out, most of the earth was under the control of the demons. Peorth was now in charge, she ordered the Valkyries to drive the Demons from the earth. Just as they had begun, the Queen released Fenrir. The Valkyries and a number of Gods and Goddesses went to stop him. While they were busy playing with Fenrir, the Demons attack the Heavens. The Valkyries were forced to return to defend the heavens, leaving the Gods and Goddesses behind to defeat Fenrir. We stopped him........but the price was high. Within a year, we had pulled back into the Heavens, to try and recover from our losses." Old Skuld let out a sigh. "We never did. For the next 100 years, the demons lay siege to the heavens. They also solidified their control of the surface. 40 years ago, they finally broke through the walls of Heaven. We retreated to the city, the Valkyries sacrificing themselves for the rest of us. Now the 1st and 2nd Class Gods were called on to fight." Skuld looked up proudly. "We held out for 38 years. Then 2 years ago, the Demons launched a massive attack on the city. I was left in charge of Yggdrasil while Peorth led the 1st and 2nds against the Demons." Skuld looked down. "They never returned. We sealed up the Yggdrasil building as best we could and tried to plan out what to do next. We held out for 2 years. That was long enough to make our plan a reality." Skuld looked up at Sentaro and young Skuld. "The plan was to come back to before the trouble began...........and to kill Urd."

Young Skuld finally spoke up. "Why kill Urd? What did she do?"

Old Skuld's face became very serious. "For starters, she overthrew her mother to become the Queen of Hell."

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Flames burned brightly, more brightly then they normally would. A battered group of demons scowled as they were held prisoner by a well armed force of demons. Among them was Hild, Queen of Hell.

"Traitorous fools!" she called out, "I'll make you pay for this!"

"Oooooo....big words from someone in your position."

Hild turned towards the voice and gasped. "Belldandy?"

"No." Sayoko replied with a frown, "I am Sayoko, Demoness of the Present."

"There is no such position!"

Sayoko smiled, "Not yet. There will be in about 6 years or so."

Hild looked at Sayoko confused. Sayoko smiled and turned towards the doorway where a new figure entered. Hild gasped in shock while Sayoko bowed.

"Milady."

Urd, Queen of Hell, looked over the captives, taking a long look at her mother. "Hello Mother."

"Urd!!? What?!? How could you!" shouted Hild, "You chose to be a Goddess! You made it clear to me you'd never be a demon!"

Urd smiled, "Ah, the things I said in my youth." She walked over to the now disposed Queen and looked at her right in the face. "Would it surprise you to know that I am 200 years old?"

Hild looked at Urd shocked, "What!??! How!?"

"Easy." Urd leaned forward and whispered in Hild's ear. "I'm from the future, a future where I have done what you couldn't, conquer Heaven." Urd then stood up. "Take them to the dungeons. Make sure my mother has one all to herself."

The demons moved to carry out her orders, Hild glaring defiantly back at Urd as she was hauled out. Sayoko moved next to Urd.

"Milady, taking the palace by surprise is one thing. But how are you going to gain the support of the rest of hell?"

Urd turned and walked to the throne of hell. "All they care for is power. I will give them what they want." Urd smiled at her niece as she sat down. "Call in the heads of all the departments. The fun begins tonight."

From above, a miniature figure watched the two move about. The figure then stood and vanished.

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"Urd? The Queen of Hell?" Skuld started laughing, "Yeah right. She'd screw up hell up. I mean....come on... it's URD!"

Old Skuld just stared at her younger self. "You'll notice I'm not laughing."

Skuld stopped laughing and looked at the older version of her. "Well, What about Belldandy? She'd never let Urd become........."

"Belldandy disappeared." Old Skuld said softly, "Keiichi was killed by a demon. It happened right in front of her. She.........She........in her sorrow, she killed off 5 demons, including the one that got Keiichi. I stayed with her on the surface, to help her with her kids. I was injured during the Fenrir attack, and was in the medical area of Yggdrasil for 2 months. Belldandy visited me, along with the kids, but 2 weeks before I was discharged, she and the kids vanished." Skuld closed her eyes. "About 4 years later, the kids reappeared. As demons."

"Demons?" asked young Skuld.

"You met them." Old Skuld opened her eyes and fixed them on Skuld. "Demoness Sayoko, and Demon Keima."

"But don't they recognize you as their Aunt?"

"They know I'm their Aunt." said Old Skuld, "But they think I'm the reason their mother disappeared. So........the few times we've met, we have a nice fight. It usually ends in a draw. I can't bring myself to kill them, and they are unable to kill me."

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Belldandy sat at the table, knitting away trying to distract herself, Urd kept pacing by the phone, Keiichi was outside working on his bike, while Lind..........lurked. Finally Belldandy put her knitting down and looked at Urd.

"Please Urd, sit down."

Urd glared at Belldandy, "How can you just sit there and knit?! Skuld could be in serious trouble!"

"She is a Goddess 2nd Class, she has grown into her power, even though she chooses not to use it." Belldandy looked up at Urd. "If she had been seriously injured or even........" Belldandy's voice trailed off. ".......we would know. And so would the heavens. Until Yggdrasil can pinpoint her exact location in Nekomi, we can do nothing."

A loud shout, followed by several explosions outside got Belldandy and Urd's attention. They ran out to see Keiichi shouting at Lind, who was busy going after............

"MARA!" shouted Urd, recognizing the Demoness, "What the hell are you doing here?!"

"CALL HER OFF!" shouted Mara, jumping to avoid Lind's axe.

"Lind!" shouted Belldandy, "Let her explain herself."

Mara sagged as Lind stopped chasing her.

"Thanks Bell." She gasped.

"Of course if she doesn't have a good excuse, then Lind can do as she pleases....."

Mara eyed Belldandy, "...Gee, thanks Bell......"

Lind glared at Mara, "Why are you here Demon?"

Mara glanced at Lind before turning to Urd. "Your mother has been overthrown."

Urd's eyes widened. "What!? How?!"

"A group of demons stormed the palace and wiped out most of her personal guard." began Mara, "They didn't kill them, just.......defeated them. Hild was all set to go nuts on them when she was stripped of all her powers by a demon that looked like Belldandy."

"Huh!?!" Urd and Keiichi looked at Belldandy confused. Belldandy looked at Mara.

"Like me?"

"Yeah. She called herself Sayoko, Demoness of the Present. Seeing a demon that looked like Belldandy was a shock. But nothing could top what happened next. A Queen of Hell walked in." Mara looked at Urd. "You."

"ME?!" shouted Urd.

"You."

"How could it be Urd?" asked Keiichi, "She's been here for the past several days."

"Oh that's the kicker," said Mara, "You see she's........."

".......from the future." finished Lind.

Mara looked at Lind shocked. "Hey! How'd you know?"

Lind ignored Mara and looked at the others. "It makes sense. It also gives a reason why a Goddess would try to kill Urd."

"WHAT!?!" shouted Mara, "Who tried to kill Urd?!?"

"I must make a report." Lind turned and headed towards the phone. Belldandy turned and gave Mara a small smile.

"Come inside. We have a lot to talk about."

Mara followed the 2 goddesses and the mortal inside. Another figure stood outside the temple complex and watched for a few seconds more, before vanishing with his prize.

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A group of 12 demons sat at a table, looking at the seated figure at its head. Another stood off to one side.

"Queen Urd." Began one of the Department Heads. "Most of Hell is still in shock over the events of this morning. We must ask, what makes you think you will do a better job then Hild?"

Urd leaned back on her throne, Sayoko by her side. "It is simple gentlemen. Hild failed because no matter what she tried to do, she was stopped by the gods. I intend to simple remove them, permanently."

All over the table, the demons gasped in shock. One quickly stood up.

"This is madness! You can't kill the gods!" he shouted, "The Doublet System will kill demons in retaliation!"

Queen Urd smiled, "Of course it will. Unless it is shut down."

More mutterings from around the table.

"And how do you intend to do that? Milady?" asked one of the demons.

Urd motioned with her hand. The doors opened to reveal Keima. He walked in with a smile on his face.

"Gentlemen, my Nephew, Keima." Urd looked at Keima. "K, have you been a good boy and brought your Auntie what she asked for?"

Keima nodded happily and produced a picture which he placed in front of Urd. Urd smiled.

"Behold! The object that will gain us access to the doublet system?"

The other demons just stared at the picture. "A cat?" one asked.

"Not just any cat!" replied Urd. "Gentleman, there has only been one being, a demon, that has been able to access the doublet system and almost crash Yggdrasil. He was punished for his transgression and transformed into a lower life form. He still is aware though, and his mind is intact." Urd smiled as she looked down at the picture.

"Gentlemen, I give you......Velsper!"