A New Goddess in Town

by Darkglade

God's death had left them broken, devoid of their original purpose. Their numbers dwindled as they fell one by one to despair, until hope herself came to raise them back up. (No Rebellion)

5. It's all for my wish

"Hey . . . what did you mean by Heaven still having hope even though God is dead?"

Xenovia seemed frazzled: her hair was unkempt, and her posture was slumped. But even so, her eyes glimmered with hope as she peered at Homura for an answer.

Irina stood nearby, looking none the worse for wear, but clearly still troubled by what Kokabiel had said.

After doing their share in the clean up of Kuoh after Kokabiel's attack, they had collected the remainder of the Excaliburs and returned to the church. Just before the exorcists departed to return the stolen swords, Xenovia froze everyone in place with her question.

Asia, overhearing the question, had gone rigid as well, looking at them with wide eyes. "Wha – what are you talking about?!"

Irina subtly pulled her aside and quickly explained what had happened.

Homura hesitated, wary of drawing unpleasant attention by revealing facts that were contrary to common Church beliefs, but a mental nudge reaffirmed her resolve.

She spoke slowly. "While it is true that God, the original God, is dead, there is no reason that another cannot take His place."

Xenovia's face contorted in fury. "What?! Are you saying that there is a usurper on the Throne of God?!"

Homura quickly shook her head. "No; Michael-san freely passed control over to the new deity."

Irina, done with her explanation, frowned. "I find it hard to believe that Michael-sama would just hand his position over to someone else, especially to an entity that is not well versed in God's teachings."

Homura thought back to the sheer affection exuded by Madoka.

Soothing, like a mother's cool hand on her feverish child's forehead.

"One does not have to know God's teachings to embody his virtues. Kindness, righteousness, and affection are present in all of us. A deity with these characteristics can fulfill the role of a caring parent just as well as God."

Xenovia looked at her suspiciously. "You seem to know a lot about this. You know Them, don't you? This new entity in charge."

"I followed the Goddess before she took on her new position in Heaven," Homura replied.

"Goddess? So, the new "God" is female?" Irina said.

"A – ah, I remember you telling me that, Akemi-san," Asia murmured.

Homura nodded at the two of them.

Xenovia sat down with a heavy expression. "Hah . . . all this time I thought I was fighting for God, but really I have been following someone else instead. Has my whole life been a lie?"

"Even if God is dead, His will remains. You do not need to be the original teacher in order to teach others his lessons, and even if someone else sits on the Throne of Heaven, so long as the spirit of Heaven remains pure, God will never truly die," Homura said.

Xenovia looked at her pensively. "Can She really do it? Can She keep Heaven together?"

Homura furrowed her brow in thought at the question. They already know of God's death; it won't hurt if they realize the true situation in Heaven. Besides . . .

She thought back to the dilemma Madoka had spoken to her about.

It might help Madoka get more faith.

"Would you all like to see Her? I have already been invited to Heaven for a visit, and I'm sure She won't mind if more accompany me."

The other three girls were frozen in shock.

Irina was the first to recover. "Meeting God – err – the Goddess? I don't know if we're worthy!"

Homura quickly reassured her. "Don't worry about that; She'll be happy to see you all."

"Madoka? I'll be bringing a few others with me on my trip to Heaven."

"That's great, Homura-chan! I'm so glad that you made some friends that you can bring over!"

"Wha-? I was just thinking that maybe they could help you accumulate more faith."

"Pshhh, don't think like that, Homura-chan! Just enjoy yourself!"

". . . I'll keep that in mind."

Homura turned her attention back to the others. "I will make arrangements. Get your things; we're heading out."

xxx

Madoka hummed a cheery tune as she bustled around the kitchen.

Such facilities were not usually found in Heaven, but as a deity, territory creation was something that came naturally to her.

Pink ribbons adorned many of the cabinets and cutlery, a personal touch of hers.

Michael walked in and sniffed the air. "I did not know that you were experienced in the culinary arts, Madoka-sama."

"As a deity, I have a natural affinity for anything in my domain. And what brings more hope than a warm, home-cooked meal?" Madoka replied with a smile.

He chuckled. "I suppose you are right in that regard. Speaking of, what is the special occasion? I do not believe that you regularly do this."

She wiped her hands on a towel. "Homura-chan is coming over with some of her friends! I would be a poor host if I did not have some snacks prepared for their arrival."

Michael eyed the veritable feast laid out on the table. Foods of all kinds had been prepared, from soups and sandwiches to various exotic cuisines. "I think you already have an adequate amount prepared for most guests, Madoka-sama."

Madoka looked at the table and seemed genuinely shocked, as if she had just noticed the enormous quantity of food she had made. She began chuckling weakly as she flushed in embarrassment. "Oh, it seems I have gotten ahead of myself. I was so excited that it all just became a blur."

She began packing some of the longer-lasting food into boxes. "Well, no matter. We can just donate some of the extra to charities!"

Michael coughed politely to get her attention. "Apologies for interrupting you, but I have some important news that you should hear. There is going to be a peace summit between the three factions held in Kuoh – "

"Don't worry, I'm going!"

Michael blinked. "I see. I thought you would have some misgivings, seeing as you do not know any of the other major political figures and because your presence may raise some . . . difficult questions."

Madoka straightened up after stacking several boxes on top of each other and turned to beam at him. "I love peace. Nothing would make me happier than seeing everyone get along."

She looked down at her hands sadly. "I want to help make this peace a reality, but I can't do that if I hide away in Heaven."

She stared off into the distance as if she were looking at a different place, in a different time. "There once was someone who sought to protect me from myself, no matter the cost to her own wellbeing. But by doing so, she hindered me from being able to save others."

She turned back to look at him. "But in the end, she helped me get to where I am today, and I will always be grateful for her efforts."

She grabbed a tower of boxes and began carrying them off. "Besides, I can take care of myself now."

Suddenly, Madoka stumbled and the boxes she was carrying began to tip over, causing Michael to cry out in alarm.

"Madoka-sa – !"

A loud crash cut him off, burying the goddess under several of the packages.

He approached the rustling pile slowly. "Are you alright, Madoka-sama?"

Madoka's head popped up, dislodging several of the boxes, and gazed at him sheepishly. "I guess I'll need some help with this."

Michael smiled warmly. "With pleasure."

xxx

"So, you three are Homura-chan's friends? I'm so glad you all came! She's told me so much about you all!"

"I barely told you anything about them . . ."

"Shhh . . . they didn't need to know that!"

Xenovia, Irina, and Asia were sitting at a table in Heaven. Before them was a vast assortment of dishes that could make even the most skilled chefs on Earth jealous. A band, composed of several young girls dressed in colorful and frilly clothing, played upbeat songs off to the side. Angels routinely passed nearby, some occasionally stopping to gaze at the event, eventually causing a small crowd to form. These phenomena all competed for their attention.

But what they really couldn't take their eyes off were the interactions between the magical girl and her goddess.

"You've got to try this new dish, Homura-chan! I made it myself!"

"I . . . appreciate the sentiment . . . but I don't think I'll enjoy escargot . . ."

"Just try it! You won't know for sure until you try it."

". . . Fine . . ."

Irina leaned over to whisper in Xenovia's ear. "I never imagined that God would act like this."

"Well, that's because She's not actually God, you know?" Xenovia whispered back.

"Even so, I've always thought that deities would be a lot more serious than this!"

A burst of laughter caused them to glance to the side. Michael had approached Asia, and the two of them were engaged in an animated conversation.

"So, Xenovia and Irina, right? It's nice to meet the two of you!"

The exorcists' heads snapped back to the goddess, who was gazing at them warmly. Homura, finally free from the goddess's attention, was taking the opportunity to fill her plate with more conventional food.

They quickly stood up and gave a small bow.

"It's an honor to meet you, Goddess," Xenovia said.

"L – likewise," Irina said.

Madoka waved a hand at them. "Please, just call me Madoka."

The exorcists briefly glanced at each other with a hint of surprise. "As you wish, Madoka-sama," they said in chorus.

Madoka smiled sadly at them. "I'm sorry that I'm not who you wanted me to be."

The two of them stiffened.

"A – ah, we weren't thinking – that is –!" Irina stuttered.

Madoka chuckled softly. "It's alright. I know that God left some awfully big shoes behind for me to fill, but I hope that you will be able to accept me." She gazed at them thoughtfully. "Hmm . . . tell me, what is your purpose? What are your goals in life?"

They seemed surprised by the question, but after a quick glance at each other, Irina answered for them both. "We became exorcists so that we could help people! To protect those that cannot protect themselves!"

Madoka smiled. "A good answer! One I wholeheartedly approve of."

Her expression grew melancholic. "I too desire to help others. To raise up the downtrodden and give to those that are less fortunate than most."

She let out a tired sigh. "But all the good intentions in the world won't do a thing when the people in need of aid won't accept your help."

Xenovia and Irina looked puzzled by her statement.

"What do you mean?" Xenovia asked. "Who would refuse help from a deity such as yourself?"

"Gods and goddesses are beings of faith," Madoka replied. "And right now, most of my constituents do not have much faith in me."

"Wh – what?" Irina asked. "How can that be?"

Madoka smiled sadly. "Because I am not God, nor will I ever be. Many people in the Church still cling to Him, even though He is no longer with us."

She sighed again. "Most of them still do not know the truth, but I fear that when they do, many would rather suffer while clinging to their old traditions rather than embrace me."

The two exorcists looked at each other knowingly.

"Many of the higher-ups would most definitely not handle such a revelation very well," Irina said.

"But why tell us?" Xenovia asked.

She looked at the two exorcists with a gentle expression. "Because I wish to ask the two of you for your help. I can't replace God, but I can carry on his legacy." She glanced upward. "As He said in the Book of Matthews: 'Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.'"

She turned her gaze back towards the girls. "Even if He is no longer with us, we can still honor Him by carrying on the spirit of His teachings. To aid the impoverished and shelter the weak."

She held out her hand towards them. "I am much weaker than He was, and that is unlikely to change in the foreseeable future. So now I ask: will you help me so that I can better help others? Will you trust that I want what's best for everyone? But above all . . ."

Her eyes gained a steely tint.

"Will you believe in me?"

Xenovia and Irina were briefly stunned by what the goddess asked of them.

"Are you asking us . . . to place our faith in you? Instead of God?" Irina asked.

Madoka smiled sadly. "I know that what I ask of you is difficult. After all, it goes against what you were raised to believe, so I understand if you choose to decline. However, every shred of strength is valuable in the never-ending battle against the hate and sorrow that infects humanity."

She looked fondly at the various people that had flocked to the outskirts of their gathering. Angels and brightly-dressed young girls mingled and laughed together.

"God loved humanity, and so do I. I will do my best to save them from themselves, but I'm afraid that I cannot do it alone. So, again I ask . . ."

Her eyes blazed with an inner fire. "Will you help me fulfill God's dying wish: to protect mankind and bring happiness to those lost in a sea of despair?"

Xenovia stood still, indecision and hesitation briefly warring in her mind. Soon, she made up her mind and squared her resolve.

She clasped Madoka's hand. "I think . . . that God would be proud to have someone like you leading Heaven after His death. I will put my belief in you, that you will make things right."

Madoka smiled warmly at her newest follower. "I shall do my best to live up to your expectations."

She stepped back and gazed at the remaining exorcist without a hint of judgment in her expression.

Irina, who had been wrestling with uncertainty, made her choice after seeing her partner commit.

She, too, took the goddess's hand. "True ideals live on after the teacher's death. So long as you act with the kindness and compassion He would have . . . I will give you my support."

Madoka grinned and suddenly wrapped the two of them into a tight embrace. "I'm so grateful to both of you! Homura-chan is very lucky to have friends as great as you two!"

The exorcists yelped in protest, but the goddess ignored their pleas, much to the amusement of those nearby.

xxx

High up in the clouds, far away from the Earth and all the troubles that plague its surface, a goddess and her magical girl sat together, basking in each other's presence.

The festivities had died down, and most of its participants had already left, creating a brief lull of peace and quiet.

Wordlessly, almost instinctively, their hands had sought each other out and wrapped themselves together in a firm embrace.

I'll never let you go.

The silence stretched on, but neither of them was bothered; both were content to simply be in the other's company.

Eventually, the moment passed when Homura tentatively asked a question.

"Do you like it here? In this new world?" she asked.

Madoka turned to her with a smile. "Of course, I do! I can do so many more things here than I ever could in our old world." She glanced to the side. "Before, I could only help magical girls that had fallen into despair. Now, I can interact with so many more people! Like those friends you brought over!" Her expression grew wistful. "It was nice, talking to them. It's been so long since I've met new people."

Homura smiled warmly. "I'm glad you enjoyed it." Her head dipped "Do you regret it? Taking up all this responsibility, it must be hard for you. Especially since it cost you a happy, normal life."

Melancholy swept over Madoka's face. "I do miss some things. I know that I probably won't be able to talk to Mom or Dad, won't be able to hold my little brother and dote on him, and won't be able to tell my family how much I love them ever again." She straightened up. "Even if they don't remember me, a daughter who never existed, I'll always cherish the memories I shared with them. And even if it hurts to be away from them . . . I'm happy that I made a difference. That these girls have a second chance thanks to my efforts."

She turned to look Homura in the eye. "So . . . no. I don't regret my decision. I would do it all over again if I had to."

Homura sighed. "That's just like you, Madoka. Helping others even if it means hurting yourself." Her expression darkened. "Why did it have to be you? Why couldn't it hav –"

Madoka reached over and wrapped Homura in a tight hug.

Homura's body stiffened from the sudden contact, but she quickly recovered and returned the embrace. This is what I've always wanted.

"Shhh, let the past stay in the past, okay?" Madoka said as she began gently stroking Homura's hair. Her fingers moved on their own, interweaving long strands of silky black hair into braids that looked so familiar.

Homura relaxed in the goddess's embrace and soothing ministration. "Don't you have other duties to attend to?" she murmured.

Madoka smiled wryly. "I'm sure Michael-kun can take care of them for a little while. For now . . ."

She adjusted their positions to more comfortable postures. "I'll think I'll spend some time with my favorite magical girl and watch the clouds drift by."

The two of them sat under the clear blue sky, watching day turn to night until the passage of time slowly lulled them to sleep.

xxx

Elsewhere, the sister of a certain self-proclaimed magical girl was about to receive a very unpleasant surprise.

"SO-TAN! SO-TAN!"

Sona froze as she heard that dreadful voice that she never wanted to hear while inside the school.

No no no why is she here what do I do –

Her train of thought was cut off as a blur of pink, white, and black rushed through the door of the Student Council room, vaulted over her desk, and picked her up in a suffocating hug.

Although her vision was partially obscured by her sister's long black hair, she could still see the various members of her peerage looking at her with bewildered eyes.

I am never going to live this down.

"Isn't it great, So-tan?! There's finally someone else who understands me!"

Sona swayed as Serafall released her, stumbling a few steps before regaining her balance.

Deep breaths. Deep breaths. I must retain my composure.

She sent her peerage a quick glare that spurred them back to work before turning back to her sister. "Onee-sama, what are you talking about?"

Serafall smiled brightly at her. "That magical girl who lives nearby."

Sona froze. What?! How does she know? I made sure to omit Homura's "profession" from my report!

"Wha – how did you – "

Serafall's smile grew even wider, like that of a Cheshire cat. "You didn't think that I would leave my poor sister all alone in a town with a newly restored church, did you?"

Sona buried her face in her hands. Ah, of course. As the head of Foreign Affairs, she must stay abreast of any new developments with other factions.

It also gives her a convenient excuse to have people in place that can give her updates on me as well.

She sighed and looked her sister in the eye. "Onee-sama, I'm not a child anymore. I can take care of myself."

Serafall tilted her head to the side ever so slightly. "Can you? That big, nasty, fallen angel that wanted to cut my cute little sister up seemed to think otherwise."

Her grin shifted ever so slightly, becoming vicious and cruel. "It's too bad that I didn't get the chance to tear him apart. He would have looked nice as little tiny chunks of an ice statue."

Her face morphed back into an innocent expression, leaving no hint of the bloodlust that had been so apparent a moment ago. "I'll have to thank that girl later for dealing with him. What was her name? Ho - . . . Homer - . . . Homu - . . . Homura-chan!"

She eagerly looked at Sona. "You've met her several times, right? So, what is she like? What does she name her attacks? How many bad guys has she beaten up? Reports from my agents can only tell me so much with just observations."

Sona was momentarily stunned by her sister's rapid-fire barrage of questions. "Uh, well, she seems like a fairly reasonable individual. When I confronted her over a violation of proper procedure, she admitted her fault and apologized. She doesn't seem to call out her attacks, so I wouldn't know what she named them, or if she names them at all. As for how many foes she has defeated, I can only recall that she took out an entire hideout of fallen angels with only two young exorcists as backup."

Serafall nodded. "I see, I see. That tells me a lot. Thank you, So-tan!"

Sona coughed politely. "Now if you'll excuse me, it's the middle of the school day, and I still have a lot of paperwork to do."

"Of course, So-tan! I'll leave you right to it."

Serafall gave her sister one final hug before turning and skipping out the door.

"Don't forget to write!"

Sona sighed and kneaded her forehead as she mused over her sister's parting message.

No, I don't want to encourage her.

Well, at least Serafall wasn't her problem anymore.

I pity the poor soul who catches her attention next.

xxx

Homura walked through the streets of Kuoh, a novel feeling of satisfaction filling her. That was nice.

When Madoka had been a mere magical girl, Homura had admired her. She saved me. And gave me a purpose.

Now that She was a goddess, it wouldn't be far off to say that Homura was Her most devout follower.

She could still remember the feeling of Her hands running through her hair, the sound of a melodious voice carrying her worries away.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

Homura was startled by the sudden appearance of a strangely dressed girl walking next to her. The other girl's outfit was very bright and colorful, arranged in a cute fashion that was reminiscent of a typical magical girl uniform.

The other pedestrians occasionally gave the girl weird looks but did not react beyond that.

Either she's harmless, or skilled enough that she has enough self-control to appear harmless.

She gave her a calculating gaze without breaking stride. "Normally people introduce themselves first before asking questions."

"Ah, but you seemed so engrossed in whatever you were thinking about! I just couldn't help but ask," the other girl replied.

She paused briefly and flicked her hand.

A brief distortion seemed to settle over the area around them before fading away. The sound of people bustling around them was muted, almost indiscernible.

Homura stopped as well and glared at her. "What was that? What did you do?"

The other girl grinned at her. "Don't worry, it's just a precaution to ensure that nobody overhears us." She bowed slightly. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Homura-chan! I am Serafall Leviathan." She looked up and winked at her. "But please, call me Levi-tan!"

Homura froze in shock. Leviathan? That means she's one of the Four Great Satans. Why is she here?!

"I am honored that one of the leaders of the Underworld would grace me with her presence," she coolly replied.

Serafall frantically waved her hands at her as she continued walking. "Now, now, no need to be so formal! After all, we're both magical girls here."

Homura looked at her skeptically as she followed.

A devil as a magical girl? The Incubator didn't follow us here, and I don't think it exists in this world. So, she couldn't have made a contract with it, unless . . .

She narrowed her eyes.

There's a different system for creating magical girls in this world?

"Is that so? Why would you refer to yourself as such?"

"I have a magical girl TV show in the Underworld called MiracleLevia-tan! Starring yours truly!"

Homura's brain stopped. Then rebooted, as it finally processed those lines.

She calls herself a magical girl because of a TV show!?

TV shows often glorified unpleasant subjects such as war and other forms of violence. The life of a magical girl was no exception.

She doesn't understand our struggles. Not the fear of battling terrifying abominations, not the loneliness of being isolated from your peers, and not the feeling of despair when you realize that there is no justice in this world.

"The life of a magical girl is nothing at all like what is portrayed in TV shows."

Serafall tilted her head, intrigued. "Oh? How so?"

Homura turned her gaze away, a haunted look settling into her eyes. "Not everyone is the hero of their own story. Most magical girls don't last a month after becoming one. The ones that do . . . the ones that stay alive . . . some of them are so jaded that they're nothing like what the shows portray them as. They become ruthless hunters, doing whatever it takes to stay alive. Including driving off other magical girls from their territories . . . even killing them if necessary."

"And what about you?"

Homura looked back with a questioning expression.

"You seem to have stayed alive for quite some time. Would you consider yourself one of these 'ruthless hunters'?" Serafall asked, tone carefully nonjudgmental.

Homura shook her head. "No . . . all I do, I do for the sake of my friend."

My very best friend.

Serafall smiled sadly at her. "You're probably thinking that I don't deserve to call myself a magical girl, aren't you?"

Homura did not break her stride. "It's not a label that I would apply liberally."

Serafall sighed melancholically. "You said that some magical girls fought others for territory, yes? That there was some sort of competition, and the winner gets to live?"

Homura nodded. "Even friends weren't safe from each other. When the resource they sought grew scarce, a girl would always have to wonder if her partner would stab her in the back to get it."

"Well, I'm no stranger to fighting friends. Killed a few of them too. Civil wars are very unpleasant."

"The devils were involved in a civil war?"

"How else did you think the current system of governance is in place today? All those old stories about devils being evil creatures that preyed on humanity were true once, you know. Before we kicked those old geezers out and established a new regime that focused on peace and coexistence with humans."

Homura nodded slowly. "You have my respect for going against the established norm. Not many have the courage to do that."

"It's not hard when you have something to fight for. Friends and family that would be hurt if you stood by and did nothing. But I'm sure you know that already, don't you?"

Serafall stopped walking and turned to face her. Her eyes gleamed, and her smile was razor-sharp as if it would cut Homura if she made one wrong move.

"Thank you, by the way, for helping my cute little So-tan against that big, bad fallen angel. If she had gotten hurt, then I don't know what I would have done!"

She tapped her chin as if lost in thought. "Hmm, that's not quite true. I probably would have gone on a rampage through the Grigori. And Sirzechs-chan would be right next to me if his precious Rias-chan got hurt. And then this peace conference would just be a pipe dream!"

She looked at Homura intensely. "You're neighbors with my sister, and neighbors have to look out for each other. I'm sure they taught you that in church. So, be a good neighbor and we'll all get along just fine, yeah?"

Homura caught the implicit threat buried in those words. "I understand."

Serafall grinned at her. "Good, good! Well, it's been nice meeting you, but I must be off! My fans are awaiting my return."

The noise of the people around her returned with a POP as she watched the Satan saunter off.

The crowd quickly swallowed her up, allowing her to disappear just as suddenly as she had appeared.

xxx

"She sure is a feisty one, isn't she?"

Homura spun around to see a tall man with black hair, golden bangs, and a black goatee speaking to her.

She narrowed her eyes at him. "And just who are you supposed to be?"

He laughed as he raised his arms in a placating gesture. "Peace, peace. I'm just here to scope out where the conference will be held." He gestured at her invitingly. "I'm sure you must be tired after walking for so long. Why don't you let me treat you to some coffee? I know a great restaurant!"

Homura frowned.

If he's here for the peace conference, then he's likely from one of the biblical factions. In that case, I should not antagonize him unnecessarily.

"Very well then."

They leisurely walked into a nearby building. Very few other people were present, and they quickly found an empty booth to sit in. After placing their orders, the man spoke.

"I'm Azazel, by the way. You might know me as the Governor General of the Grigori."

Homura froze. Why do the leaders of the other factions walk around in public so brazenly?!

"Homura Akemi," she replied with only a slight delay.

He grinned at her. "I've heard a lot about you; you've made quite the impression on the people that live here. I was talking to one of Rias's peerage a while back, and he couldn't stop going on about how awesome you were when you took down Kokabiel in a single blow."

"The others weakened him beforehand, and I had others that empowered my attack," she replied.

"Ah, but Issei wasn't the only one that gave you a Boost, now was he?"

Homura looked at him flatly.

Azazel chuckled unashamedly. "Sorry, sorry, I couldn't help it. But in all seriousness, I'm right, aren't I?"

Homura remained silent.

He leaned forward, prepared to speak again when suddenly their drinks arrived.

Homura took her drink and sipped it, savoring the flavor.

Azazel flashed the waitress a wink as he took his cup. "Thanks, sweetie."

The woman blushed before turning away.

Homura gave him another flat stare as he turned back to her.

"What? It's just a bit of harmless fun. And besides, that woman will be in a state of pure bliss for a few hours now that a handsome rogue like me complimented her, so you could say that I did her a favor."

He threw back his head and gulped his coffee. "Ah, now that's the stuff! Now, where were we? Oh yes – "

"I've interrogated several of Kokabiel's lackeys that were left behind. I would've questioned the man himself, but a pile of ashes in a jar can't exactly speak." He leaned forward again. "You put on quite the show at the end there. Not many people could produce so much holy fire at once. Nor could they produce enough in such quantity to overwhelm the Star of God himself." He narrowed his eyes at her. "Of course, if one had a Sacred Gear that specialized in that, say, the Longinus known as Incinerate Anthem . . . well, it wouldn't be too hard in that case, would it?"

Homura frowned. "And exactly what point are you trying to make?"

"Nothing, really. Nosing around Sacred Gears is a hobby of mine, you see."

"Is that so?" She recalled the voice she had heard during her battle with Kokabiel. Perhaps this would be a good time to consult someone more experienced? "Is it normal for Sacred Gears to talk?"

"Talk?" Azazel looked far more intrigued than before. "It is not unheard of. There are several Gears with mythical creatures sealed into them, such as Ddraig in the Boosted Gear and Albion in Divine Dividing. Gears with such a guest tend to be able to communicate with their host." He tilted his head in thought. "But I did not think that Incinerate Anthem had such a being! How fascinating . . ." He looked at her with a gleam in his eyes. "If you came to my lab, I'm sure we could conduct some experiments to ascertain the true nature of whatever voice you heard."

She shivered. That gaze alone was enough to make her feel like a specimen about to be dissected. "I think I'll pass."

He sighed. "A pity. Well, no matter." His expression shifted back into neutral. "I'll admit, I'm also curious as to why the Church allowed the wielder of a Longinus walk around so freely."

"I am on a mission."

"Are you now? In that case, I wish you luck. Unless your task involves bringing harm to me or mine, in which case I would most certainly not give you my blessing."

"I assure you that will not be an issue."

"I'm glad to hear it." Azazel folded his arms. "On a related note, I've been hearing some interesting rumors lately: that there is a deity in Heaven again."

Homura narrowed her eyes at him.

He leaned back and crossed his arms behind his head. "Now, normally I would have dismissed the claim out of hand. There was no way that Michael would let someone else sit on Father's golden throne. But the more reports I heard saying the same thing, the less certain I was about them all being a hoax."

He turned to look out the window, at the clear blue sky that hung over them. "At one point I thought maybe Father had come back to us, that he was alive all along. Michael would certainly have no problem relinquishing leadership back to Him. But it can't be God. Because if Father really was alive, the angels would all be spreading the news in joyous wonder, and the Heavens would rejoice for days on end. Which means . . ."

He turned back to her. "Is there really someone else? Someone who Michael would trust to be God's successor?"

Slowly, ever so slowly, Homura nodded.

Azazel smiled and closed his eyes. "I see . . . looks like I was right after all. In that case, I only have one more question."

His violet eyes sought out hers and held firm. "If I proposed a peace treaty, would they be willing to accept it?"

"They would love nothing more," Homura replied evenly.

Azazel sighed and leaned back. "That's good. I hate unknowns in my plans, and a new leader in Heaven was not one I was expecting."

He returned his gaze to her. "Thank you, by the way, for sparing my subordinates in the church. Michael gave me quite the earful for not keeping them in check. They can be a handful at times, but they're still my people."

"They were not a grave threat, so I saw no need to kill them."

He nodded in understanding. "Well, it's been a nice chat, but I must get going. My dastardly schemes won't concoct themselves!"

They stood up and shook hands.

Azazel gave her one last grin as he left. "I look forward to seeing your new god at the conference."

"Farewell," Homura replied.

She watched him disappear into the streets just like his devil counterpart had earlier.

Sighing, she slumped into the booth, feeling very stressed out.

I wonder if I could visit Heaven again before the conference starts?

She could really use another session of relaxation with Madoka.