"What can we see?" Lilith asked from where she rested in her small bed of hot coals. Azmodan had her outfitted with a chain to the wall, of course, but at least she wasn't hanging off a spike!
"I have noticed an influx of those notorious Greed Goblins infiltrating the Burning Hells," Azmodan snorted. "They have not gone unnoticed."
"What's driving them here?" she frowned.
"Newly acquired treasures. But...I have noticed something of interest. One of them was caught. And I actually scented something from it. Something that I haven't come across in a vast millennia. Not since my higher Three brothers were locked away after the war here."
"I have heard that my Father's soul was found again and locked away."
"WHAT?!" Azmodan suddenly reared up and faced her with shock. "And you failed to bring this to my attention?!"
"I had only just learned of this, too!" she growled back.
"You speak the truth. Very well. But..." he thought aloud. "my thoughts may be correct. The youngest of the Three is returning. I need to find him and cull him! Before he gets too strong! And I think I know where he may be."
"Where would that be?" she asked.
"In a realm I can only imagine on getting to. The only question is how to force myself into a place that can never be breached. I did have that little cretin in my grasp, but, of course, it got away. They are impossible to catch alive."
"Maybe I could help entice one..." she mused. Now he looked at her with amusement. "Put a few treasures around me. We'll see if it works."
"I will have to go with some of the new treasures we have been acquiring. Those treasures seem to be the ones these goblins are going after. Very well. I'll strap some of the found armor on you. If you get taken to their location, I will be able to follow."
"Good! Let's get to work," she nodded. But, instead of releasing her, he simply left her chained form where it was. He didn't trust me. She could only roll her eyes at this, but she sat down to wait. As she waited, she saw one of his minions trudge in to dump various armors at the base of the coal bed.
"Put on," the grunt snorted.
"Want to help me?" she said with a sly smile. He was just about to give in, but he was incinerated to ash when Azmodan returned. At the seething glare given to her, she sighed. I was his item. He didn't like to share. Now that he proved exactly how much she belonged to him in his own way, the Greed Goblin spying for the High Heavens in the distance was able to carefully skitter over and lock a small coin in a section of a piece of armor. Then it hooted and hollered, as it grabbed that particular piece and bolted. Azmodan was livid.
"Bring that back!" he thundered and charged after the goblin. At the middle finger retort given, he launched a fireball. But the goblin was already gone. He did notice the image of Pandemonium as the location the goblin went to. It was meant to be seen. He roared out his orders to the mustering troops down below his domain and opened a portal for them. They now marched into the opened portal to Pandemonium. Even as they marched, Greed Goblins were busy planting loose treasures that were stolen from the Baroness.
"You can all gain redemption!" Telanya urged her maddened brethren from within Malthael's old fortress. "It has happened to me! It can easily happen to all of you."
"So we see..." an Exarch hissed. "But...we have no leader..."
"Tyrael is now Wisdom," she said softly. "Our old Master is being reborn as a mortal. He will hold both Tyrael's aura of Justice and Imperius's Valor. Yes, he is made up of both of them."
"Not possible!" a large, floating Seraph hissed out. It had a very rotund body that seemed to give off a chilling aura, but it was all fear that was used to paralyze mortals.
"She speaks the truth," Agrius said when he appeared to hover behind her. When a few more of the old following appeared to show that Anu had forgiven them, many of the maddened angels were in shock. Then, very slowly, a few began to step forward. The ones that approached them saw reason at long last. The madness finally left their minds to let them see the truth. "You may go to Heaven. When you return, we need to lay a trap."
"For who?" a Death Maiden asked.
"Azmodan. And Diablo," Agrius muttered. Hissing sounds of anger and shock was given now. He rose up his gloved hands. "We know. The High Heavens is preparing for war. I came here with our sister to show how dire this is. Others will be here, too. We ask for your alliance."
"And, if we return to Heaven and come back?" an Anarch asked.
"You can still join the fight," Telanya nodded. Those that were still touched with madness simply slunk back into the depths of the fortress. They still had to choose. But, for those that now saw that forgiveness was in reach, they left quickly to seek Anarius at the Arc of Heaven.
"HELLO, MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS!" Anarius said, as he regarded them all.
"Who...?!" a Winged Assassin asked.
"I AM ANU REBORN! YOU MAY ALL REFER TO ME AS ANARIUS. MAY YOU ALL GAIN REPRIEVE AS OF NOW! YOUR HELP IN THIS DIRE TIME IS ALWAYS APPRECIATED."
"Anu..." a Death Maiden trembled. Then the small crowd watched Anarius focus between the crystal pillars of bone and Light. Before they would have lined up one at time. There was no need for it now, and time was of the essence. His form glowed vibrantly before he folded his prismatic wings around his form. Then he stretched them out with his arms to let a wave of purifying Light roll out from him to coat over the fallen ones in front of him. They screamed and howled with pain, as the essence of death left them at long last. The misting Light infused to their bodies to heal them and revive them back to what they were before.
"I'm healed..." an Exarch turned angel whispered. His wings flared out in their pristine white way once again. Anarius gave out a sensation that each angel was welcomed back home. The reactions were those of complete relief and contentment.
"Who do we report to?" a healed Winged Assassin asked.
"YOU ARE TO REPORT TO MY FATHER, TYRAEL. HE IS WISDOM NOW. MY OTHER SIRE, IMPERIUS, IS ONE YOU ARE TO OBEY AT ALL TIMES, AS HE LEADS THE ANGIRIS COUNCIL AS VALOR. YOU COULD SAY THAT EVEN ITHERAEL IS A FORM OF SIRE TO ME, TOO, YET HE PREFERS TO REMAIN UNATTACHED TO THE TITLE. TYRAEL HAS ASKED ME TO REFER TO HIM AS FATHER. SO, I HONOR HIS REQUEST. MY CHAMPION, ANAURAEL, IS ALSO MY MOTHER. SHE IS CURRENTLY WITH IMPERIUS. HOWEVER, SHE WILL SHOW UP SHORTLY TO ASSIST WITH A LIGHTSONG. FOR THOSE OF YOU THAT WISH TO ASSIST, PLEASE REMAIN. YOUR AID IS GREATLY NEEDED."
They understood this, and Tyrael soon found himself greeting his new brothers and sisters when they found him in Anaurael's chamber. A special warp was used again to bypass Imperius's sanctum, but it was always for instances like this. The warp would be closed off for emergencies, and it would not be able to be used by just anyone. Imperius couldn't allow his sanctum to be used as a traffic area. It was his personal retreat and Anaurael's last line of defense in the High Heavens.
"When should we perform the Lightsong?" Anaurael asked from where she was reclining on Imperius's chest. He was lying back on the chair and enjoying her presence. His helmet was off, and her hands were wrapped around the back of his head to give him a light massage.
"Very shortly," he nodded. At her small blink, he looked at her.
"Izarius needs to speak with us in my mind," she said.
"Focus with me," he said and held her close. She rested her face against his invisible neck and closed her eyes. She found herself being held by him, and Izarius was quick to gain a tight hug from her in her mental frame. "What do you need to report?"
"Azmodan's forces are heading to Pandemonium. Malthael's old fortress is being turned into a trap. Any of Malthael's prior following that have not yet rejoined us are waiting for the war to reach them. They have agreed to a temporary alliance to cull the filth. I have also been told that many of them are purposely wearing small pieces of treasure to lure the filth in as far as they can to ensure their demise," Izarius said. "Myriam also hinted to have many of the ancient beasts lurking out in the Pandemonium fields ready to attack, too."
"Aren't there abandoned tunnels and structures that many of them call home?" Imperius asked.
"Yes," Izarius nodded. "The goblins are setting up treasures within them, too."
"I also heard that we had some very...intricate weapons out there. They were left abandoned. Can they be salvaged to use from afar?" he asked now.
"I think the Nephalem should be up for that challenge," Izarius chuckled. "The heroes of Sanctuary did want to see what they could do to help cull the demons that appeared."
"They should also be culled..." Imperius grunted. At Anaurael's frown, he sighed. "However, they can be useful in this. I will not help them."
"That's fine," she smiled and pressed into him. "Let them help us even the odds with the Burning Hells. Besides, the Light in many of them only shows that they are more angel than demon."
"I am aware of that," Imperius admitted. "You know how I am around them."
"All too well," she chuckled. She snuggled into him to calm him down and looked at Izarius. "Do we know how many are in Azmodan's forces?"
"It can range up to the thousands," Imperius grunted.
"Love, the demons I fought there before. They were left behind, right?" she asked.
"They were."
"I wonder...how they would feel...if they saw Azmodan coming back," she mused. Now Izarius looked at her with amusement. "Would they want revenge for being left behind? Would they tell others of his army that they may get left behind, too? I wonder...if his army would turn-coat."
"I'll inform Greed to let the word be spread," Izarius seemed to snicker. Imperius was very pleased with Anaurael's insight on this and gave her a loving squeeze. Izarius left her mind shortly after to find Tyrael talking to Imperael. He told them what Anaurael suggested. They were both laughing with complete and solid amusement.
"We know how this needs to work. The sooner we get started, the better," Tyrael said. When Izual appeared, he was now informed of what was going on. He was shaking his own hooded head with laughter. He could only agree with everything.
"If we can cause inner turmoil within their own rankings, then we should pursue this," Izual nodded. "Demons always fought with each other."
"That we should," Imperael agreed. When Imperius arrived with Anaurael, she was quick to hug everyone there that was present. Then she paused at a gentle nudge in her mind.
"Ah! Anarius is requesting for us to go to the Crystal Arch. He has something that needs to be done," she said. At this, they were all quick to head there.
"GREETINGS! I NEED TO SEE DARIUS, MITHUS, AND AZARIUS, PLEASE. I WANT TO CEMENT SOMETHING NOW BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE," he said calmly. Anaurael blinked and found her brothers answering the call. Anarius had them kneel before him. "AS IZARIUS HAS BEEN GIVEN THE TITLE OF HONOR AS A LESSER ASPECT, IT HAS BEEN DECIDED TO GRANT YOU THREE TITLES AS WELL. DARIUS, I AM GIVING YOU THE TITLE OF TRUTH. AZARIUS, YOU ARE NOW KNOWN AS ORDER. AND, MITHUS, YOU SHALL NOW RISE AS WILL."
"Will?" Anaurael asked.
"YES. AS IN STRENGTH OF WILL. A SOLID WALL OF DIVINE FAITH THAT CAN ACT AS A BARRIER TO PROTECT YOU," he explained. She nodded at this explanation.
"I approve," Imperius nodded.
"IZUAL! IT IS GOOD TO SEE YOU, TOO. I AM GIVING YOU THE LESSER ASPECT OF TRUST. UPHOLD IT WELL," Anarius nodded. Izual was stunned at this, but he nodded deeply. Tyrael had to move and embrace his best friend.
"If there is ever a way for me to become your lieutenant again..." Izual started and paused when Tyrael rose up his armored hands.
"I never retired you from the position," Tyrael said with a soft smile. The large angel sighed with complete relief at this. "Granted, I may now represent Wisdom, but it is not frowned on to have more than one lieutenant. Besides, everyone knows that you used to be under me, anyways."
"I honestly would not feel the same, if I had to report to another," he admitted. "When your son comes of age, it may be better. But, for now..."
"I know," Tyrael chuckled. "As Agrius can assist with spells, you can assist with your sword."
"We shall make an excellent team," Izual nodded. Anaurael was giving them both a glowing smile of approval at this.
"MOTHER, WE SHOULD DO A LIGHTSONG. ARE YOU STRONG ENOUGH?" Anarius asked. At her consenting nod, Imperius moved into position with her. Itherael and Auriel were quickly called for to help, and she embraced them both in greeting. Many of the newly reformed angels were surprised at the sight of Anaurael, but they were in further surprise of how many angels came forth. And, with four new lesser Aspects joining this one, they were even stronger than before. After an hour, and over two hundred more angels joining the fight, Titharius was seen walking up to Imperius.
"Great Imperius, we need the training halls enhanced again. I fear that...for the first time that even I can remember...we have no room to train!" he said with a touch of mirth. It was also a rather serious thing, too. If angels couldn't train, they couldn't prepare.
"How is Mal?" Imperius asked Izarius.
"Content," Izarius nodded.
"Sleeping..." Malthael muttered when he appeared to prove it.
"Good. My ward, we are going to fix the training halls," he said to her. She nodded and let him carry her away. He could have left her in her chambers, but he wanted her to watch what was going to happen. Even Anarius was following them for this. They reached the training halls shortly after that, and Imperius held her in the crook of his arm. Letting her lean into him, she watched him focus and start to expand the floor. Anarius soon assisted with his own focusing thoughts.
"I noticed that Anaurael would use practice targets when she trained in her youth," Itherael said. He had to follow them for this, and even Auriel was still there to rally the training angels.
"We could do something like that," Imperius mused.
"There was also something I wanted to inform you of," Itherael said lightly.
"Oh?" Imperius asked.
"We could be looking at a few of Sanctuary's years before a true war is able to break out. Such is the way things may go," Itherael said.
"It's fine. It gives us more time to prepare. Besides, Hell may be warring on itself," Imperius said. At Itherael's sense of a puzzling glance, Imperius said, "Anaurael made a rather delightful thought come to us. For the demons left behind to see Azmodan returning. How would they react to this?"
"Oh..." Itherael actually found himself lost in intense thought. "I fear that they would not react very kindly. And it is rather doubtful that they would rejoin his forces unless pressured into it."
"I also thought of, well, would they tell others of their fate if left behind?" Anaurael smiled.
"The Lords of Hell will have much to answer for," Itherael could only agree. "But, it is doubtful they would care to give such an answer."
"They wouldn't spare the thought," Auriel said from where she hovered. "They simply expect to be obeyed. Such is how they are."
Anaurael yawned and pressed her face against Imperius's neck from within his armor. At this, he asked, "Are you exhausted?"
"I am. But not tired. I'm simply drained," she whispered. He nodded slightly at this.
"Do you thirst or hunger?" he asked. At how her hand came up to lightly caress his jaw, he pressed a kiss to her palm and sighed.
:Tell me.: She whispered in his mind. :What do you think will happen with Pandemonium?:
:I believe that all of the demon filth there will hesitate on seeing each other. The lost ones would be wondering if they should attack or stalk the new ones to see what it's all about. Demons don't trust each other, nor do they confide in each other. I am predicting an all out war.:
:Do you think it would be safe for me to watch such a thing with you?:
:It may be possible. Your offspring with me is far different than the prior pregnancy you had. We will see if such a thing can be done.: He chuckled softly and continued to cradle her. He enjoyed being able to speak with her like this. He could show his quiet, stern attitude and still give her the comfort she needed. He actually felt himself swallow when her finger trailed down from his jaw to his neck. :I am trying to oversee the troops. What are you attempting?:
:Should I attempt something? Or should you attempt something?: She seemed to ask with a slightly wicked tone. He gave a mental growl at her at first. Then she found herself rather grateful to be hiding her face from the massive blush she gave when he nibbled on one of her fingers.
:I already am.: He seemed to smirk at her. At the mental and physical kiss she gave him next, it had him go silent. And, if it wasn't for Tyrael lightly nudging his foot against Imperius's foot, it would have been even more awkward in front of the troops. Even as he came back around, he realized that he didn't mind what other angels thought of this. This was expected. Anaurael is my equal and bearing my offspring in full. And we had a mild ceremony in front of any and all there.
And, with that thought in his mind, he kissed her again. :My ward, we are going to retire for now.:
:Love?: She giggled softly in the kiss. When he simply teleported away with her, Tyrael had to cough to hide his laughter. Anarius could only nod and look over the training angels.
"I will want to know," Izual said mildly. "How much time do you think we have to prepare?"
"I think it really depends on who makes the first move. Will it be Azmodan? Or Diablo?" Tyrael said seriously. "Because, if Diablo makes the first move to find those treasures..."
"Let's hope that Greed hid them well," Imperael muttered.
"I'm sure he has them hidden in places that would need to be searched very thoroughly. Furthermore, I wouldn't doubt that he placed them in enemy factions in the Burning Hells, too," Izarius said. "Although, I wonder if there would be a trade-off."
"How so?" Itherael asked.
"If he's corrupting goblins, would they be easier to catch and kill?" Izarius asked, as he thought aloud. "Their minds would start to split to act more like demons than goblins. True goblins aren't demons. Could Diablo turn them into demons?"
"And...would they lose their ability to teleport if under pressure...?" Tyrael seemed to ask out loud. There seemed to be a pause in all of them now.
"Can we catch one to study?" Auriel asked. "If Diablo's influence is reaching them, can we monitor one? Would that be possible?"
"I know that when Malthael left a sliver of that Black Soulstone behind, we were able to watch it change. It was still connected. I'm not sure if it's possible with a goblin. Izarius, can you call on Greed?" Tyrael asked. "He may know."
"I can!" Izarius said and was quick to whisper into the mirror. When Gurzick appeared, they told him what they wanted to do. Greed was amused.
"We would need to catch one completely unaware," Greed said from Gurzick's crown. "As much as I could hold one in my domain, I do not wish to be discovered. I'd say that place of colors, but I lost connection with Gurzick. The cow place, though, I did have connection to him. Perhaps, we can use that place to assist with this?"
"It wouldn't hurt to ask and see if it would be agreed on," Tyrael said.
"I can inform the Nephalem," Izual said. "Allow me."
"Only if Darius goes with you. Or Agrius," Tyrael said. "We need to show our importance."
"Let me go with him," Imperael smirked. That got Tyrael clearing his throat from the laugh that tried to come out. "If any object, I'll kick them through a few walls."
"Go," Itherael nodded. Once they left to warn the heroes below, Itherael left to a viewing pool to watch what happened. He needed to keep track of what was going to record it properly for future records.