Chapter 3

Mana stood alone in the antechamber of the throne room, looking out a window over hell. In just a few short moments, she would be crowned its Queen. In the throne room itself, the courtiers of Hild, as well as Mana's friends milled about talking and waiting for the ceremony to begin.

Mana still wasn't all that keen on becoming Queen. But then she remembered that if she didn't, there would most likely be more fighting among the demons as a successor to the Queen tried to prove their dominance over the rest. Hell was still divided due to the actions of the Rogue Demons, more fighting would just splinter hell even further to the point that no one would gain control of hell. Anarchy would be the norm at that point, and that wouldn't do Hell or Heaven any good.

The door to the antechamber opened to reveal the Demon Official.

"It is time Milady." He said.

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"Hell sucks."

Shinji sighed. He, Asuka, and their daughter Yui were standing among a crowd of Demons, waiting in the throne room for the ceremony to begin.

"Asuka," he said, "I thought you weren't going to say anything embarrassing?"

"This is Mom you're talking about." Yui replied from where she was standing beside her parents. "It wouldn't be her if she didn't speak her mind."

Asuka glared at her husband and child, then scanned the room. They weren't the only people from Heaven present. Belldandy, Skuld, Urd, and Sayoko stood off on the far side of the throne room with Mara. Urd's eyes were still red, so Asuka assumed she still hadn't gotten over her mother's death.

Mist and Dawn were also in the room, hovering near Belldandy. Mist had been determined that nothing happen to a Councilor of Heaven while in Hell. Dawn appeared both excited and nervous. Excited for what was about to happen to her adopted mother, nervous because of all the demons present in the room and the close presence of her superior, Mist.

Off by themselves in the corner were Rei, and the Angel, Arael. Arael had originally not wanted to come, but Yui had convinced her to. Rei stood near to keep Arael company.

The conversations in the room ceased as a deep gong sounded. The Demon official entered the room, followed shortly by Mana. The Demoness was wearing a black dress with a slit up the side, typical demon attire. She also wore a cape so black, it seemed to swallow all the light around it.

The Official led Mana to the throne and helped her to sit down. He then moved to the side as various demonic retainers moved to either side of the throne. The Official began speaking in the Demonic language. Asuka whined at the sound of the language. She'd always found it harsh, like fingernails scratching a blackboard. The Official snapped out an order and the retainers moved back behind the throne. Two then approached the official with a crown. The Official took the crown and moved towards Mana. He started to raise the crown to her head when the main doors to the room opened with a loud crash. Five figures dressed in black hooded cloaks entered the throne room. The other demons parted, allowing the group to approach the throne. There, they stopped.

"What is the meaning of this?" The Official demanded.

One of the figures removed their hood, revealing the face of Draco. Many present gasped in shock as they recognized the Rogue Demon leader. Asuka and Shinji immediately moved closer to the Rogue, while Mist moved between the Rogue and the Goddesses.

"Draco." The Official stated, "You are no longer welcome in Hell! Queen Hild declared if you returned you were to die!"

"But Queen Hild no longer lives." Draco replied, "Thus all her orders are null and void unless the new Queen enforces them."

"And when the next in line is crowned she will." The Official replied, "Lady Mana has made no secret of continuing Hild's policies."

Draco pointed at Mana. "She is not the next in line."

"WHAT?" The Official shouted, as well as many other Demon present.

Draco folded his arms. "The Demoness Mana Kirishima is not the next in line to the Throne."

The Official pointed to where Urd was standing.

"Hild's daughter has turned down the Throne!" he exclaimed, "She has given up all rights to it! Thus it has passed down Hild's sister's line to Lady Mana!"

Draco smiled. "But those before her must step aside before Mana can ascend the throne."

Now the Official was confused.

"What do you mean?" he asked.

"For Mana to ascend to the throne," Draco stated, "All her blood relatives must be dead."

"The closest relative to Mana is Urd!" the Official replied.

"No." Draco replied, with a smile, "There is one. And there she is!" He whirled about and pointed to one of the other five figures. That figure removed their hood to reveal a Demoness with long brown hair.

Mana rose to her feet in shock. Sayoko let out a gasp and nearly fainted.

The Demoness was the Soultaker.

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In the ensuing uproar in the throne room, the Demon Official had tried to maintain order. This failed as many of the Demons panicked as they realized just who Draco had brought into their midst. Mana could only stare stunned at the Soultaker, her Grandmother. Then Mara was at her side, pulling her out of the room.

Mara led her through a hallway and into a sitting room. There she sat Mana down in a chair.

"You alright Milady?" Mara asked.

"Yeah," Mana replied. She then looked up at Mara. "And knock off that Milady stuff."

"Right kid," Mara said with a smirk, "I'll remember that."

The sound of voices in the hall outside then drew their attention.

"What the hell is she doing here!" Mana heard Asuka say, "That Demonic bitch should be dead and buried beneath several thousand tons of debris!"

The door to the room opened, admitting the four guardians, the four Goddesses, two Valkyrie, and one Angel. Sayoko immediately headed to Mana's side.

"Are you….?" She began.

"Shaken up a bit." Mana replied, "And having as much fun as you did years ago with those Reapers. Here I was just getting over my nerves being crowned Queen and then this happens." Mana rested her chin on her palm. "How about you?"

"I think my heart stopped." Sayoko replied.

"Can anyone tell me how that bitch is even here!" Asuka shouted again.

"Who was that?" Yui asked. Dawn and Arael moved next to Yui, both wanting to know as well.

"That Demon is known as the Soultaker," Belldandy began, "She was Hild's sister and tried to take control of Hell away from her. She failed and was banished. She came back about five hundred years ago and worked with SEELE." Belldandy glanced at her daughter. "She took Sayoko and made her her servant."

"There was a big fight at the SEELE base," Shinji said, picking up the story. "Sayoko had by that point been freed from the Demon's control. Sayoko defeated the Demon, then the collapse of the base finished her off." He glanced at a still fuming Asuka. "At least we thought it did."

"It did." Sayoko said, "That can't be the Soultaker."

"Is that Draco?" Shinji asked, "I thought Arael was told by her brother that he was dead."

"Leliel did say so." Arael said, "Draco was crushed by Sachiel."

"So how can he be here?" Shinji asked.

Before anyone could reply, the doors to the room then reopened. The Demon Official entered, followed closely behind by Draco, the Soultaker, and one of cloaked figures. Dawn moved closer to her adoptive mother while Shinji, Asuka, and Mist moved between the Goddesses and the Rogues.

"We seem to have a situation here." The Official said nervously.

"That's putting it mildly." Mara replied, "What are we going to do about it?"

"Simple." Draco replied, "The Soultaker will take her place as Queen, as is her birthright."

"Like Hell she will!" Mara shouted. She glared at Draco while pointing at the Soultaker. "She led a revolt AGAINST Hild. Hild banished her from Hell for all eternity! There is no way anyone here will obey her!"

"Yet they will accept a half-breed as their Queen?" Draco said, unfazed by Mara. "I think not."

The Official suddenly appeared very weary.

"Then there is but one course to take." He said, "One which would satisfy all parties."

Draco smiled. Mana and Mara both paled. The others present in the room, save the Soultaker and the cloaked figure, all looked confused.

"What exactly would satisfy all parties?" Sayoko asked hesitantly.

"The only one that would leave one party alive." Mana said slowly. Her eyes met Sayoko's.

"I have to fight her."

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A bit later.

Mana sat on the bed in her room, staring off and out the window. A breeze was coming through the window, causing the drapes to move slightly. Outside, the skies of Hell were darkening. The Demoness let out a sigh, then looked over to where her friend was sitting.

"You've been quiet since you came in here." Mana said, "What's wrong?"

Sayoko stared at Mana. "I can't believe you're so calm about this."

Mana shrugged. "I guess I wasn't all that surprised."

"Not surprised!" Sayoko shouted, "Mana, you have to fight the Soultaker, your Grandmother, in a fight to the death for the right to rule Hell!"

"And to think Urd turned this down………."

"Mana! This is barbaric!"

"This is the Demon way. It's been this way since the beginning." Mana replied, "Maybe if I win, I can change it as Queen."

Sayoko blinked. "What do you mean 'if'?"

"Soultaker was the most powerful Demon ever." Mana said, "Even Hild was afraid of her. What can I possibly do against…."

"Listen you." Sayoko said as she leaped to her feet. "I defeated her! If I can do it, so can you!"

"I'm not you." Mana said, "Besides, didn't you just weaken her enough so that you and the others could escape that base."

"I still defeated her." Sayoko stated, "And if my memory serves, you knocked me out in an alley a few hundred years ago."

"Yeah there was that." Mana muttered.

Sayoko sat down beside Mana on the bed.

"You'll win." She said, "I know you will." She then looked out the window. "There is one thing that's bothering me."

Mana looked at Sayoko curiously.

"What's that?"

"Why the Soultaker appeared in our heads." Sayoko replied, "And why she was so…….."

"Nice?"

"Well, yeah."

"I don't know." Mana said, "Maybe it has something to do with why Draco is alive."

"Twisted basted." Sayoko muttered.

"Yes he is." Mana replied. She then leaned back on her bed and sighed.

"Who knew royalty had it so hard?"

Sayoko chuckled. "You remember that old movie of Kensuke's? 'It's good to be the king.'"

Mana turned her head at the Goddess.

"Technically, I'm not the 'King' yet. Maybe that's why this sucks."

"No one ever said it was going to be easy."

Mana closed her eye. "Someone did once."

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2030

A bedroom in Hell.

Mana stared at the picture in her hands. In it, her mother and her three year old self smiled back. There was no sign of any of the unhappiness that was to occur in a few short years in the picture, only a carefree and happy child with her mother. Mana let out a sigh.

"Is this where you finally tell me why you've been so depressed ever since you got back from Heaven?"

Mana turned her head and stared at the Demonic Cat that had sat down beside her. Welsper saw she had her attention, and continued.

"I didn't think the deaths of so many demons would upset you." She said, "Especially this long after."

Mana shook her head. "It wasn't that."

"Then what?"

"I went looking for my Mother."

Welsper's eyes widened slightly, then narrowed. "I see. And did you find her?"

"No." Mana whispered, "No one in Heaven knew where she was."

"That's understandable."

Mana's head whipped around towards Welsper.

"What do you mean by that!"

Welsper cursed herself slightly before responding.

"Your Father was once part of a group of Demons that had an…….alternate view of how Hell and Demons should operate. They were led by a Demoness who challenged Hild herself for the throne."

"I assume by the fact Hild still reigns that she was defeated."

Welsper nodded. "Most of her followers were gathered up and punished. Some, like your Father, slipped through."

"But why isn't my Mother in Heaven!" Mana shouted.

Welsper took a deep breath. "The Demoness developed a technique where she could draw power from 'consuming' mortal souls. This technique made her almost as strong, if not stronger then Hild herself."

"So she drew power from the souls." Mana said, "What happened to the souls after?"

Welsper sighed, "We don't know."

"WHAT!"

"We I say 'consumed' I mean just that. It was like they never existed."

"But when she was defeated…." Mana began before Welsper cut her off.

"She was banished." The Cat said, "No trace of the souls she took were ever found. I'm sorry Mana, but your mother is gone."

Mana stood up and glared at Welsper.

"I can't believe that." The Demoness whispered, "There must be something."

"Nothing." Welsper said, "Nothing at all."

Mana turned and stormed out of her room. Welsper sighed, then followed the Demoness out of the room. Only she turned in the opposite direction Mana had gone.

The Queen needed to be informed.

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Rain poured down from the heavens. The sky above lit up as lightning flashed across it. Thunder soon followed. Then in the midst of the storm, a fireball blasted into existence. When it vanished, it left behind Mana.

A quick look around revealed she had arrived in the place she had wanted to:

A cemetery.

The demoness walked slowly past graves, taking care not to step on them. Soon she was soaked to the bone, water streaming off of her head, but she did not care. She continued to walk until she reached a particular headstone, one she knew all to well.

Her mother's stone.

Mana fell to her knees on the grave and stared at her mother's name.

"Why?" she finally whispered, her voice barely heard above the storm. "Why are you gone?" Tears fell from her eyes. "Just when I thought I could see you again, that's taken away from me too." Mana bowed her head, her wet hair falling in front of her face.

"You were right." Her voice whispered, "You were right to be afraid. Demons are monsters of the dark."

"And that is what we'll always be!"

Mana whipped her head up just in time to see a force bolt ripping through the rain filled sky towards her. She dove to the side, the force bolt just barely missing her head. The bolt slammed into the ground and exploded, sending grave markers and wet earth flying.

Mana stood up and stared in the direction the bolt had come from. There floating just a foot off the ground was another demon, one she had met a few years before.

Dejerak.

"You cost me Half-breed." Dejerak said, "I was on the fast track to being the most powerful Demon in the universe until you stopped me. I owe you for that. I had to settle with joining Draco in ravaging the Heavens. I must say, that was fun."

"Draco is dead." Mana said, "Those who followed him are now disgraced."

"And you're at fault for that too!" Dejerak sneered, "It's because of you Hild has gotten so soft. She would never have conspired with Heaven against her fellow Demons before you."

"Makes you wonder how Urd was conceived then doesn't it?" Mana replied with a slight smirk.

"She was obviously tricked by Kami-sama." Dejerak snarled.

"Tricked the Queen of Hell? Kami-sama would make a great Demon……"

"Enough talk!" Dejerak pointed at Mana. "You're to blame for Hells current state."

Mana crossed her arms. "And here I thought it was because Draco was an ass and took half of Hell with him."

Dejerak let out a growl of frustration and hurled another force bolt at Mana. Mana raised her shield and blocked it. The Demon continued to send bolt after bolt of energy at Mana. Each one, Mana successfully dodged or blocked. She then sent forth a bolt of her own. Dejerak dodged the bolt, then charged at Mana. As he ran, a demonic sword formed within his hands. Mana's only warning of the blade was when lightning flashed above, causing a slight glint from the blade. She leaped quickly to the side, the sword slicing through where she had just been.

Mana whipped around and pulled out her own blade. It slammed into Dejerak with a loud crash. The two brought their blades together again and again. Each time steel struck steel, sparks burst out, only to vanish into the wet ground with a sizzle.

Mana backed away from Dejerak as he continued his onslaught. She knew he would eventually tired, but it was taking most of her strength just to hold onto her own blade. Crash after crash of their swords jerked Mana's arms one way and another.

The rain continued to pour down from the sky. Several times Mana nearly was sliced in two by Dejerak, as rainwater from her hair and dripped into her eyes. Dejerak roared as he swiped at Mana's legs. Mana leaped over the blade. The blade continued on and through a tombstone, cutting it with ease.

Mana tried an attack of her own, slicing at Dejerak with both hands on her sword. The demonic blades came together with another shower of sparks, then remained locked. Dejerak began pressing his blade into Mana's forcing both swords closer to the demoness. Mana let out a slight grunt as her sword was forced back until it was resting against her shoulder. Dejerak's eyes flashed with impending victory when the Heavens struck.

A bolt of lightning slammed into both swords, sending both Demons hurtling away from each other. Mana slammed into a tree and fell to the ground at it's base. Dejerak crashed through several headstones before slamming into a mausoleum. Both Demons lay on the rain soaked ground, small arcs of electricity still flashing over them.

Dejerak recovered first. He stumbled to his feet and walked to where one of the Demonic blades lay. He picked it up and then moved to where Mana lay.

"Now it ends Half-breed." Dejerak said, raising the sword high.

Just as he started to plunge the blade downward, Mana rolled onto her back and thrust her own blade, hidden beneath her body into Dejerak's chest. The Demon cried out in rage and pain before dropping his sword and collapsing to the ground. He gave out one final cry before all movement ceased in his body. A second later, it vanished.

Mana dropped her sword and lay on her back, breathing heavily. The rain continued to fall downward.

Finally the Demoness sat up. She took her sword in her hand, then grabbed Dejerak's. She stumbled away from the scene.

Two figures on the mausoleum watched her vanish into night.

"Not bad." Mini-Hild said, "She could use some work on her technique though."

Welsper glanced at the Queen.

"Dejerak was renowned for his skill with the sword. He defeated three Valkyries before the Doublet system came online."

"True." Mini-Hild said, "I suppose the fact she was able to stand against him without being cut by him does say something for her." The Mini-Queen tapped her chin. "And she did remove a major threat to Hell from the Rogues."

Welsper looked at the Mini-Queen curiously.

"What are you thinking?" she asked.

Mini-Hild smiled.

"Wait and see." She then vanished in a fireball.

"I hate secrets." Welsper muttered before following the Queen in a fireball of her own.

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Mana hurried down the corridor towards the throne room. She had only just received the summons that demanded her presence before the Queen.

It had been sent nearly an hour before and woe to the Demon or Demoness that kept the Queen of Hell waiting.

Mana reached the doors to the throne room and paused only to adjust her clothes slightly before entering.

As usual, the Courtiers were present, muttering silently to themselves about one thing or another. At the end of the room, Hild sat waiting on her throne. She seemed to be bored, staring at one of the wall murals, drumming her fingers against the armrest of her throne. Mana approached the throne and bowed.

"I sent for you an hour ago." Hild said, still staring at the mural.

Mana kept her head low.

"Forgive me my Queen, but Welsper……."

"You blame your teacher for your tardiness?" Hild asked.

Mana clenched her teeth. "I did not know she had left me a note…….."

"So now you claim ignorance?"

"I……." Mana began, frustration seeping into her voice, "I…..have no excuse."

Hild finally turned to Mana and smiled.

"I see you know better then to argue with your superior." The Queen said with a smile, "If only others would take that to heart. But then most Demons don't have hearts……"

This caused many courtiers to laugh. Mana remained silent.

"Mana, Demoness Second class." Hild said, rising to her feet, "You have been a loyal servant to me."

"Thank you my Queen." Mana replied, her head still low.

"In addition, you removed a Demon who dared to turn his back on his Queen." Hild said, "Such devotion and loyal service must be rewarded."

Mana blinked at the floor. Could it be……….

"I bestow upon you the rank of Demoness First Class, unlimited." Hild stated, "Let all those below you stand in awe of your power." At that the floor around Mana glowed. Mana felt raw power coursing through her body.

"Arise Mana Kirishima," Hild commanded, "Demoness First Class Unlimited."

Mana stood up and stared at Hild, still in shock. Hild only smiled before nodding off to the side. Mana glanced over to see Mara standing against the wall with Welsper. She quickly moved towards them.

"Congratulations." Mara said, "You know how much ass I had to kiss to get my First Class?"

"I don't want to hear about it." Mana replied, "Mostly because you probably enjoyed it."

"Yeah I…..Hey!"

Mana and Welsper snickered at the look on Mara's face. Mara let out a groan.

"This sucks! I can't kick your ass! I no longer outrank you!"

"This also means you have to polish your own boots." Welsper said.

"Not like I did that anyway." Mana said.

Mara frowned, "You didn't?"

"No."

"Then who did?"

"Don't know."

"Dammit! Then who's been polishing my boots?"

Mana chuckled as Mara continued to mumble to herself. She then glanced down at Welsper.

"So what happens now?" she asked.

Welsper shrugged. "You'll be assigned to a Demon Office, or the Demonic System. Or you could be like Mara and be given a long term assignment."

Mana frowned. "You mean I could be assigned to cause my childhood friends grief too? Oh Joy."

Mara mumbled something about pain in the ass brats while Welsper responded.

"That is possible." She said, "But Hild will most likely assign you somewhere else." The cat glanced at the still mumbling Mara. "Hild will never send a Demon after those particular Goddesses ever again."

"That's good." Mana said with a sigh, "As much as I'd like to see them, being their enemy isn't how I'd go about doing it." Mana then glanced at her watch. "I think I'll head up to the surface and see Chiyo. She should be off work by now."

Welsper raised an eyebrow (Cat's have eyebrows?).

"Still fraternizing with mortals? You know that's…."

"Unbecoming of a Demon of rank." Mana finished, "Yes I know. But as everyone has said many times, I'm a different sort of Demon." Mana then turned and walked out of the room.

"She's gone?"

Welsper turned to see Hild standing behind her.

"Yes My Queen."

"To the surface?"

"Yes My Queen."

Hild was quiet for a moment, staring at the door that Mana had left through.

"Very well." She finally said, then turned and moved to the Demonic Official. Welsper glanced up at Mara.

"Think she's in trouble?" The cat asked.

Mara shook her head. "No. Until she's given an assignment, Mana is free to do what she wants."

"But the constant trips to the surface," Welsper said, "and her associating with the mortals……."

"We associated with Goddesses." Mara replied, "Hild's own daughter is a Goddess." Mara turned and looked at the door. "Mana has become another daughter to Hild. Visiting the surface world won't harm her in anyway in Hild's eyes."

Welsper stared at Mara for a moment longer, then turned and padded off.