"So you finally have arrived."
Mana turned and stared at the brown hair-demon.
"Who are you?" Mana asked.
The brown-haired demon smiled.
"I am that which Demons have feared for so long, for I possessed powers that not even the Queen herself had."
Mana's eyes widened. "The Soultaker."
The Demoness nodded. "That is what they came to call me."
"You're dead."
The Soultaker sighed. "I suppose I am, in the physical sense. But apart of me still lives in her." Sayoko appeared beside the Soultaker. "And of course, part of me lives within my grandchild."
Mana's eyes widened. "What?"
The Soultaker smiled. "You never knew did you? Your father was my son. That makes you my grandchild." The Soultaker chuckled and slowly circled Sayoko. "Ironic isn't it that the Goddess I once possessed in my power is your friend and doublet. The Fates were always a bit off. Of course, those particular Fates are long gone, and your friend and her elders are in control."
Mana glared at the Soultaker. "What do you want?"
"The young are so demanding these days." The Soultaker sighed. She then turned and narrowed her eyes at Mana. "You are my Grandchild, and thus, are the inheritor of my power."
"Maybe I don't want your power."
"You will find my power to be useful in the coming days." The Soultaker said, "With it, you could take down Hild herself." The Soultaker glanced of to the side. "Now you'd better rest up. Your conscience will be arriving soon."
"My what?" Mana asked confused, but already the Soultaker had vanished.
Mana sat up abruptly and looked around. The morning sun was just beginning to creep into the sky. From the kitchen, she could hear the clatter of pans moving on the stove, a sign that Belldandy was already up and about. Mana laid back down and stared at the ceiling.
'I really need to ask Sayoko how she put up with that bitch of a demon.' She thought.
Mana sat across from Sayoko, watching the young Goddess take more delight in playing with her food, then actually eating it.
"You know it's more healthy if you actually eat that Munchkin." Megumi said with a smile.
Sayoko just giggled and continued to play with her breakfast.
"Yoko dear." Belldandy said as she sat down. "You know better then to play with your food."
Sayoko looked down at the table. "Sorry Momma."
Mana chuckled as the Young Goddess finally started to eat her food.
"Something funny?" Mana looked up to see Belldandy looking at her curiously.
"I just realized." Mana said, "Sayoko would just die if I mentioned this to her kids."
Belldandy blinked. "That's right. I forgot you mentioned that last night."
"Bell's a Grandmother?" Megumi asked.
"Well...yes." Mana said, watching as Belldandy paled. "Kristine is about 16 now, and Sentaro is like 11."
"Goddess and God?" Megumi asked.
"No. Sentaro is one hundred percent mortal. Kristine made First Class goddess about a year ago."
"Bet that leads to some problems." Megumi said.
Mana sighed. "You really have no idea."
"What kind of problems?" Belldandy asked, curiously.
"Well," Mana said, "I'm pretty sure Sentaro is jealous of the fact his big sister has powers and he doesn't. Thus, he tries to get more attention by misbehaving."
"Misbehaving?"
"I'm here aren't I?" Mana sighed, "I wonder what Sayoko is up to?"
"Maybe she's trying figure out how to get you back?" Megumi asked.
Mana was about to reply when a loud beeping began. Megumi, Belldandy and Young Sayoko all looked at Mana who reached into a pocket and pulled out a small circular device.
"What is that?" Megumi asked.
"God's Communicator." Mana said, "Since there aren't many phones, they needed a new way of communicating. Aunt Skuld gave me this to keep in touch."
"So they found you?" Belldandy asked.
"No." Mana set the communicator on the table and hit a button. A 3-D map flared into view over the table. It floated a second before zooming in on one specific area where a red dot blinked rapidly.
"Damn." Mana muttered standing up. Her Demoness outfit flashed into existence around her, complete with helmet.
"What is it?" Belldandy asked, pulling little Sayoko to her and holding the child tightly.
"God Distress System." Mana said, "It's activated when a God or Goddess is in danger."
"Do you know who?" Megumi asked.
Mana hit a button and an image flashed up over the table. Megumi and Belldandy each let out a gasp. Mana let out a low whistle.
"Guess she got sucked in too."
Megumi and Mana walked down a street in downtown Nekomi following the distress signal.
"You sure it's this way?" Megumi asked.
"Positive." Mana said. She then paused and looked at the communicator's screen. "I think it is."
"Lovely."
"By the way, you think you could change out of that outfit? You look ridiculous."
"Fine." Mana's outfit flared for a second, then she reappeared in her t-shirt and jeans again. "Happy?"
"Yes."
Mana looked up from the communicator and looked around.
"Where are we?" she asked.
"Nekomi Tech." Megumi replied, "Which I think you would have asked before you changed."
Mana ignored Megumi, and looked down at the screen, then back up.
"What's over that way?"
Megumi looked. "The Motor Club's clubhouse is over there."
Mana sighed. "Then I guess we don't need this anymore." She put the communicator away and started walking towards the clubhouse. "I should have known."
The two reached the Motor Club and opened the front door. The interior was still dark as all the shades were pulled.
"Shouldn't someone from the club be here?" Mana asked.
"Too early." Megumi replied, looking for a light switch. "They'd all still be asleep from the partying last night."
"Belldandy hung out with these people?"
"She was the clean up crew and they usually made sure they didn't get too far out of hand when she was around." Megumi glanced over at the Demoness. "Ever had her glare at you?"
Mana shivered, "Fortunately no. But I have seen the results."
The two explored the first floor of the Clubhouse. Mana was all set to give up on the first floor when Megumi called out to her from the kitchen. Mana walked in to find the mortal staring at a large pile of empty soda bottles.
"Empties from the party?" Mana asked.
Megumi shook her head. "The Club has gotten better at cleaning up after themselves."
Mana hated where this was going. "Oh man..."
The two walked upstairs. They were about to check the first room, when a loud thump came from further up the hall. The two looked at each other, then hurried up towards the sound.
"What's in there?" Mana asked as they reached a door.
"Infirmary." Megumi replied as she opened the door.
Both looked in to see a person laying on the floor next to the cot. The person was in full goddess dress, and had long dark brown and grey hair.
"Oh man." Mana muttered as she knelt beside the goddess.
"Who is it?" Megumi asked, "Looks like she has my hair color."
"She did." Mana rolled the goddess over and found herself face to face with a rather drunk Sayoko.
"Mana!" Sayoko slurred, "Whatcha doing?"
"Why are you on the floor?" Mana asked.
"The room's been acting funny and the bed kicked me off."
"Who is that?" Megumi asked, "She looks like she could be Belldandy's mother."
Sayoko sat up and glared at Megumi.
"I am not my mudder's mudder." She declared. She then started to fall back over.
Mana grabbed Sayoko and held her upright. Sayoko looked over at Mana quizzically.
"When ya get here Mana?"
"I've been around." Mana replied, "Sayoko, how much did you drink?"
"I have not been drinking much." Sayoko said, "I have been drinking heavily." She then fell asleep.
"I see." Mana said with a smile
"That's Sayoko?" Megumi said in shock, "But she's so...so..."
"It would be wise if you didn't say the 'O' word." Mana said, "She doesn't like the fact she's got the grey."
"But how did she...?"
"Remember I told you Sentaro has a jealous streak? Imagine 8 years of that in a row, plus the typical sibling fighting."
Megumi winced. "Ouch."
"Thus," Mana said patting the sleeping Sayoko on the shoulder. "A prematurely grey goddess."
"So," Megumi said, "How do we get her back to the temple?"
"Ever teleported?"
Belldandy had just finished the dishes from breakfast when a loud thunderclap echoed over the temple grounds.
"Momma! Momma!" Young Sayoko called out as she raced from the living room.
"It's alright." Belldandy said as her daughter jump into her arms. "Nothing's going to hurt you."
She then looked up as the back door to the house opened and Mana and Megumi walked in, holding another between them.
"Who is...?" Belldandy asked before she saw the face and markings. "Sayoko?"
Mana nodded. "She's asleep."
"And drunk." Megumi added.
"Drunk?" Belldandy asked.
"Apparently she hit the Motor Club's soda supply."
Belldandy's face paled at the mention of soda. Megumi and Mana carried Sayoko into the living room, then laid her down on the couch.
"Yoko." Belldandy said softly to her daughter, "Could you watch her while your Auntie Megumi, Mana and I talk?"
"Ok Momma."
Belldandy led the other two back into the kitchen.
"Is she here to rescue you?" Belldandy asked.
Mana shook her head. "If she is, she went around a strange way of doing it."
"What I want to know is why didn't she just teleport here." Megumi said, "Like we did bringing her back."
Mana thought for a moment. "If she got sucked into the device like I did, she might have ended up on an empty Terra 2, just like me."
"Terra 2?" Belldandy and Megumi repeated.
"Never mind that now." Mana said waving her hand. "The important thing is that she would have had to teleport here to earth." She looked at Megumi. "You saw her, she couldn't even stand on her own feet."
"She was drunk." Megumi replied.
Mana looked over at Belldandy. "When you got drunk, you were still able to function right?"
Belldandy blushed. "I granted wishes to anyone. I ended up stuck to Keiichi before I passed out."
"But why did you pass out?"
"I used up all my energy granted wishes." Belldandy suddenly looked over at Sayoko. "Are you saying she's out of power?"
"Her secondary source of energy is sleeping." Mana said.
"I see." Belldandy replied. Suddenly she brightened up. "I have an idea." The goddess quickly stood up and ran out of the room.
"What is she getting?" Mana asked.
"Haven't a clue." Megumi replied.
Belldandy returned a moment later holding two bracelets.
"These are moon rock bracelets." The goddess said, "We used these before when we were cut off from Yggdrasil. They might help her to recharge faster."
"It's worth a shot." Mana replied.
"Hakuna Matata. It means no worries."
Sayoko opened her eyes and blinked. She was laying on a couch, looking towards a television. A television playing the Lion King, one of her favorite shows when she was four.
"Hello."
Sayoko turned slightly and found herself staring into her own face.
"Momma said I was supposed to watch you." The young Sayoko said.
"Did she?" Sayoko asked.
"Yep." Young Sayoko nodded her head. "Are you an Auntie? You look like Momma."
"Sorta." Sayoko said. "I'm...Sayoko."
"Oh!" Young Sayoko smiled wide. "I'm Sayoko too! Only Momma calls me Yoko for short."
"So did my Momma." Sayoko said softly.
"Of course she still does." Sayoko turned to see Mana in the entryway. "As well as your Auntie Skuld. Maybe a few of your really close friends. I think you'd flip if Sentaro or Kristine called you that though."
Sayoko turned and looked at Young Sayoko. "This isn't one of your mirages is it?"
Mana shook her head. "I wish it was."
Sayoko sat up and hugged herself. "I feel so... empty."
Mana walked over and knelt in front of Sayoko. "You're not connected to Yggdrasil. Our Yggdrasil at least."
Sayoko sighed. "We're really in the past."
Mana nodded. "Same one you went to with Asuka back in High School."
Sayoko's eyes widened. "You mean...?"
"Hello again." Sayoko turned to see Belldandy in the entryway. Belldandy cocked her head to the side and smiled. "If it makes it easier for you, you can still call me Mom."
"I often wondered what happened after we left." Sayoko said.
"I've wondered about you and Asuka." Belldandy replied, "I understand you got married and have kids, what about Asuka?"
"She married her sweetheart." Sayoko replied, "And also has a daughter."
"Momma!" Young Sayoko called out.
"Yes Yoko?" Belldandy replied.
"You're interrupting Lion King!"
"Oh my." Belldandy replied. "We'll go into the kitchen and talk then."
"And there is a lot to talk about." Mana said to Sayoko as they entered the kitchen.
"Oh you're awake." Megumi called out from the table.
"Hello Megumi." Sayoko said with a slight bow.
"What? No Auntie?"
Sayoko sighed. "Is this going to happen to everyone I meet?"
Skuld then entered the room, looking down at some papers.
"Onee-sama! I think I found the spell that other Skuld used and..." She finally looked up and saw Sayoko. "Onee-sama! What happened! You look old!"
"Oh shit." Mana muttered as Sayoko's eyebrow began to twitch.
"Skuld dear." Belldandy called out. "I'm over here."
Skuld looked over at her sister, then back at Sayoko.
"Sayoko?" Skuld finally asked.
"Yes." Sayoko squeaked.
"What happened to you?" Skuld asked, "I mean, Mana looks young for being over 500, but you...you look..."
"Don't say it..." Mana cried out.
"...old." Skuld finished.
Sayoko blinked several times before finally bursting into tears.
"I HATE grey hair!" she cried out.
"I'm sorry!" Skuld shouted. Mana walked over and put an arm around the Goddess.
"Just let her get this out of her system." The Demon said as Sayoko cried, despite Belldandy trying to calm her. "She'll forgive you when she's done."
"I hope so." Skuld replied, feeling really bad.
"WAAHH!" Sayoko continued to cry.
Hild sat on her throne looking out over Hell.
"Mara." She finally called out. The blond Demoness appeared before the throne on one knee.
"Yes Milady." The Demoness said.
"There is a new wrinkle in my plan for the half breed. Go and see if you can't iron it out."
Mara bowed lower. "Yes Milady." She then vanished in flame.
Hild turned her head and resumed looking over Hell.
Keiichi walked up the walkway to the house followed by Chihiro.
"You sure she'll be ok with this?" Chihiro asked.
"It's Belldandy." Keiichi replied, "She'll understand."
"How about that Demon?" Chihiro asked, "You still think she's alright?"
Keiichi shrugged. "In those matters, I leave it up to Belldandy and her sisters.
The two reached the front door and opened it. A small brown haired blur slammed into him.
"DADDY!"
"Hey there Yoko." Keiichi said as he hugged.
"Daddy!" Sayoko said, "There's anudder Goddess here!"
"Another Goddess?" Chihiro repeated.
"Maybe Peorth?" Keiichi wondered out loud.
"No!" Sayoko said, shaking her head. "Not Peorth."
"Well let's go meet her ok?" Keiichi said.
"K!"
Sayoko led them inside towards the living room. There, Megumi, Skuld, and Belldandy were sitting with Mana the Demon, as well as another Goddess that looked like a much older Belldandy with brown and grey hair.
"Hey Belldandy!" Chihiro called out. "Is this your Mother?"
Everyone in the room winced as tears came to the new Goddesses eyes.
"I am NOT her mother!" the Goddess yelled as she cried.
A memory flickered in Keiichi's head when he heard the voice. A bit like Belldandy's but off just enough to not be her.
"Sayoko?" Keiichi said.
"Keiichi." Chihiro said, "You're daughter is right there."
"No." Keiichi said, "That Goddess is Sayoko, at least, one from a future alternate universe." Keiichi then scratched his head. "I assume you're from the same time as Mana and are here to rescue her?"
"I am from Mana's time." Sayoko replied, sniffing slightly. "But I got stuck here just like her."
"A Morisato from another Universe." Chihiro said, "Interesting."
"She was here before." Keiichi said, "Even took in a motorcycle race."
"Wow." Chihiro turned and looked at the older Sayoko. "It's a pleasure to meet you Sayoko Morisato and welcome back."
"Um." Sayoko said, "It's not Morisato anymore. I'm now Sayoko Aida, Goddess Class 0."
Belldandy and Skuld both perked up.
"Class 0?" Belldandy repeated, "But that would mean you're on the council!"
"No." Sayoko replied shaking her head. "Mom is. I just work in her office."
"Um," Keiichi began, "I thought we were dead."
"You were dead?" Chihiro asked.
"Things happened and you two came back." Sayoko said, "More things happened, and you both eventually went to Heaven. It...let's move on to other things ok?"
Keiichi was about to say something when he noticed Belldandy shake her head.
Belldandy had sensed a building up of sorrowful memories within Sayoko. She decided to ask Mana about it later. Meanwhile, Chihiro was now talking to a more relaxed Sayoko and Mana, mostly about motorcycles, which seemed to cause Mana to pale several times. Young Sayoko had gotten Skuld to set the TV back up to play Lion King for the Goddess knows what time. Megumi and Keiichi were talking quietly about something. Which left her basically alone to begin dinner.
Mara sat on the roof of the building just outside the temple walls. The wards set up around the temple as well as the brat's robots kept her at a distance. She used a mortal device, called binoculars, to see into the temple grounds. They were the best way to see what the goddesses were doing in a way that they wouldn't detect.
Hild was right though. The plan she had would have to change. Not only was there that woman that seemed to be a Demon, but now there was a new Goddess, one that looked like an older Belldandy. Mara briefly wondered if it was Belldandy's mother, but then remembered from her youth that Belldandy's mother was no longer around.
Mara let out a sigh. Regardless who she was, Mara needed to figure out any weaknesses involving the two so that Hild's plan for getting Belldandy and Keiichi's kid would succeed. Not the Mara was all for kidnapping, but Hild said it would benefit Hell, and break up Keiichi and Belldandy.
And that is something she had been trying hard to do for years.
That night.
Sayoko sat on the back porch looking up at the sky. She wondered what Kensuke was doing right now. What her kids were doing. She really wasn't mad at Sentaro. She knew he'd probably be feeling really guilty at the moment. She'd forgive him, and all would be well...until he found something else to cause trouble with.
"Can I sit here?"
Sayoko turned to see Belldandy standing beside her.
"It's your porch." Sayoko said softly.
Belldandy sat down beside Sayoko and looked up at the stars.
"Seems like we've been in this position before." Belldandy said.
Sayoko smiled slightly. "We have."
"Much has happened here since you left." Belldandy said.
"A lot more has happened to me since I left." Sayoko said sadly.
"I'd like to hear about it."
Sayoko shook her head. "No you don't. It will just upset you."
"Better to share the pain then baring it alone."
"Just like Mom." Sayoko said, "So much has happened, from meeting Mana, almost dying, being possessed by a Demoness, to lose one you loved..." Sayoko sighed. "Mana hasn't had it much better." Sayoko looked over at Belldandy. "Of the two of us I think Mana has had the worst."
"Her eye?" Belldandy asked.
Sayoko sighed. "She was raising a mortal girl that she well, adopted. Her parents were dead, killed by rogue demons. The Demons paid mortals to go after the girl, and...they succeeded."
"Oh my..." Belldandy held her hand to her mouth.
"Mana went crazy in her grief, "Sayoko said, tears coming to her eyes as she remembered it. "In the end she sent me to the infirmary, and killed several mortals."
Belldandy started to worry about Keiichi and Megumi when Sayoko raised her hand.
"She was punished and felt guilty for it. Even after she returned from her suspension, she was still guilt ridden and wasn't herself. Then she was battling a powerful demon when..."
"He sliced at me and took my eye." Mana said, walking out and sitting down next to the goddesses. "I defeated him, and took it as a wake up call. I recovered a bit, but something was still missing, until Kristine and Sentaro came."
Sayoko smiled, "My kids wanted to get me something good for my Birthday and they found out about Mana, so they brought her."
Belldandy smiled, then looked back at Mana. "But why don't you have it healed?"
"It's a reminder to me." Mana said, "Of what I could have been. Also, it will never fully heal because a demon blade caused it."
"Demon blade?" Belldandy asked.
"Demonic blades are cursed." Sayoko said, "Mara told us. Any wound they create will never fully heal." She then pulled her shirt up slightly to show the scar along her side. "I know from experience."
Belldandy's eyes widened at the sight of the scar.
"Please," she said, "Tell me more. I want to know everything that has happened to you."
"Alright." Sayoko said.
From across the way on the rooftop, Mara watched and listened carefully, hoping for something she could use against the Goddesses.