I promise I haven't forgotten about this story! Sorry for the long wait, I hope the quality of this story makes up for the amount of time that has passed since I posted a chapter. And I feel like I'm the worst, like I just left you guys on a cliff hanger too! Like a really big cliffhanger! Oh man!

Maou was collapsed on the floor in Emi's empty apartment. Her keys were still on the table and the green tea was still warm. A few moments passed before he regained his composure and shakily stood up. He left with clenched fists and a cloudy mind; thoughts swirled around his head, unable to form coherent thoughts, all plagued by anger and betrayal.

"How could she do this?" Maou thought, doing all he could from punching the closest person to him on the way home, "Why would she do this?"

Maou got home late at night, or extremely early in the morning; he must've been walking for hours trying to clear his head. He had all these questions and no answers. Before opening up the bland wooden door of his apartment, he glanced at the door leading to Suzuno's house. He shuffled over to her door and took a deep breath in before knocking. After a few moments the locks began to click and the door cracked open. The light coming from the hallway lit up half of Suzuno's sleepy face. Her eyes weren't fully open and she was wearing some olden nightgown, as what Maou could only assume, as pajamas.

"Maou?" she mumbled, rubbing her eyes, "What do you want?"

"Do you know where Emi is?" he hurriedly asked, suddenly full of energy and a slight glimmer of hope

"No, she's your girlfriend, shouldn't you know?" she snapped

"She's not in her apartment or anywhere around there, her tea is warm, her keys are on the table…" Maou continued to spill out random facts about the way Emi lived and why it was so obvious that she had left.

"Alright, I get it, she's gone. What do you want me to do about it?"

"Help me find her," his eyes were pleading

"How do you expect me to do that?" she grumbled

"Go to Ente Isla and ask around," he looked at her dissatisfied face, "Please!"

"You're pretty desperate there for a Demon Lord," she mused, secretly enjoying him in this level of pain

"There is a war coming Suzuno," Maou grew serious, "Malacoda is planning to wipe out the humans in Ente Isla tomorrow,"

"Well there's your answer, Emi went back to stop them," Suzuno stepped back and was about to shut the door when a foot blocked its path

"Why wouldn't she tell me though? Doesn't she trust me?"

"It was probably a spur of the moment thing. Go to sleep Maou. Or at least leave me alone so I can. I'll go home tomorrow morning and ask around,alright?"

"Alright," he breathed, moving his foot from the door and hearing the click of the door as he walked back to his measly apartment. He slid down the door and sat on the ground, his head in between his knees. Worrying over what could be nothing, or what could be everything.

The sun tickled his face as it rose up through the windows of the apartment complex hallway. At some point he managed to get a few hours of sleep before sunrise. He opened the door and found Lucifer and Ashiya slurping on noodles.

"Sire, where were you?" Ashiya yelled, nearly choking on his mouthful of noodles, "We were worried sick!" he added in between coughs

"I had some thinking to do,"

"Yeah well so did we," Lucifer chimed in, "Why are you so keen on believing Malacoda all of a sudden?"

"Because he was right, Emi is gone," Maou sighed, starting to shake again

"Well honestly, who cares?" Lucifer added with a hint of sass, "If the humans and demons want to wage war again, let them,"

"But I'm their king," Maou began to raise his voice

"WAS their king," Lucifer rebutted, setting down his noodles and standing up to face Maou, "Why are you so upset that Emi left anyways? Let her destroy them, who cares?"

"I care!" Maou finally snapped, "We promised that we'd be done with Ente Isla, that Earth was our home! She lied to me, Lucifer. She probably used me to try and keep me here,"

"Why were you promising Emi anything?" Ashiya seemed honestly confused

"Because I love her," Maou lowered his voice to a whisper, but the sound echoed off the walls of the bare room and Ashiya practically fainted, his bowl of noodles landing all over his apron and spilling onto the floor.

"We should just stay her-" before Lucifer could finish his sentence a giant burst of light flashed into the room. The light spiraled into a circle and wildly spun around. Malacoda stepped from the newly emerged portal, running has fingers through his blonde hair.

"Ready to go my Lord?" Malacoda lowered his head in respect and lifted his eyes to meet Maou's. Sensing his hesitation, Malacoda cleared his throat and stood up straight, "If we do not hurry, the humans will have the jump on us," he smiled. There was something off about the smile though. Lucifer noticed it, but Maou was still in a cloud of raging emotions.

"Yeah, we probably should," Maou looked back at Ashiya who was slowly sitting up, "Lucifer, help me with Ashiya,"

"I'm not going," Lucifer boldly replied

"Lucifer, one of the four generals of the Demon King, backing down from a fight?" Malacoda sneered

"Yep," he said with absolute

"Well, um, let's just get Ashiya and go then," Malacoda was taken aback by Lucifer's bluntness. Maou dragged Ashiya up to the portal and gave one last look to the purple haired boy returning to his computer.

"Are you sure about this Lucifer?"

"You tell me, Maou," with that, the two dragged Ashiya back through the portal, which soon collapsed in on itself and vanished, leaving Lucifer alone with his computer and a bowl of cold noodles.

"Maou are you in there?" a feminine voice called, furiously banging on the door, "Maou?" Lucifer sulked to the door and slightly cracked it open.

"Suzuno?"

"Lucifer, where's Maou? It's important!" she ignored his look of surprise

"He went to Ente Isla with Malacoda,"

"What?!" she yelled, "How could you let him do that?"

"I tried to convince him, why are you yelling at me?" Lucifer raised his voice in defense

"Emi didn't go back to fight in some war,"

"What are you talking about?"

"Malacoda lied to Maou, and tricked Emi. He wants war; he wants demons to rule,"

"How did you figure this out?"

"I pieced together some things. First of all, Emi would not just get up and leave unless there was an emergency. She was sent a letter by one of the high officials, and was supposed to be there when I arrived, but she never arrived. They think something happened. And the worst part of it is that the guy doesn't recall every sending Emi anything. The humans weren't even planning to attack the demons,"

"So she was set up?" Lucifer began to slowly put all the information together, "All this was a trap to get Maou to slay the humans again? How complicated,"

"But it worked. We have to stop him. I already warned the generals of the plan. I'm going back there to try and find Emi,"

"I'll go with," Lucifer interjected

"What, you will?" Suzuno was honestly shocked, she never knew he had a compassionate side

"But not to save you and those damn humans, but to save Maou,"

"I hope you realize you're a human now," she rolled her eyes and began to summon a portal. Colors and lights swirled around in an oval shape, "Come on, before it's too late," she grabbed Lucifer's hand and they jumped through the portal.

Arriving in Ente Isla was not an easy task for ones accustomed to Earth. Suzuno and Lucifer landed in a dark room filled with alchemy items and enchantment devices. The portal seemed to evaporate as they fell from the opening between dimensions. Lucifer fell with a thud into the hard, wooden ground; his purple hair falling over his eyes as he readjusted to the feel of having a seemingly endless supply of magic again. Meanwhile Suzuno gracefully landed on her feet in a battle ready position, scanning over the room before making sure that it was clear to go.

"Be quiet! We don't want anyone to know that the Demon Lord's general is hiding out in here," Suzuno shushed him.

"You try and get all this magic shoved in you at one time," he started to push himself off the ground, "It doesn't feel as good as you think it would," standing up fully, he brushed the dust off his earth clothes and groans, "We're going to need more appropriate clothes,"

"One step ahead of you," Suzuno adds, pulling out a bag of clothes from under an old alchemy table. She pulls out two dark grey cloaks and tosses one to the still wobbly Lucifer.

"Thanks," he mutters, draping the cloak over his now demonic body and pulling the hood over his demonic head. "Ugh," he thinks to himself, "Why am I doing this again? I could be on the computer,"

"Let's go," a monotone voice cuts through his thoughts

"Alright," he replies with an equal tone. Suzuno quietly opens the door and glances both ways down an empty street of the usually bustling city, "Where is everyone?" he questions, letting his hood fall back and revealing a less than human face. His purple hair draped over his slit pupils and a pair of pointy ears stuck out. He glanced over at Suzuno who appeared to do the same.

"It appears they are preparing for the Demon Lord's attack," she observed

"So where should we go?"

"To find Emi,"

"That narrows it down," he replied sarcastically

"Shut up and let's just go, I have an idea on where to start," she grabbed his hand and yanked him down the street.

Meanwhile

Malacoda, Maou, and Ashiya landed in a dark castle entrance. The walls were a dark gray, absorbing a majority of the candlelight and casting eerie shadows across the floor. The floors were dark stone covered with blood red ornate rugs. Somehow the castle managed to stay intact after the last battle, and all minor damages were repaired after the humans left or the few were killed when trying to re-civilize the island.

"It's like I never left," Maou chuckled, getting used to his old form, clenching and unclenching his fist. He ran a hand through his hair and was greeted by a broken horn jutting out from his ruffled hair.

"Your usual robes are on your bed," Malacoda waved with his hand as he walked further into the large entrance hall.

"Thank you," Maou nodded and instinctively walked in the direction of the stairs, it was strange, he hasn't been here since their empire fell, yet he knew exactly where everything was.

"When you are ready, Ashiya and I will be in the throne room," the blonde general smiled and tossed some silken robes and clothes to Ashiya before strolling through a small metal door and into a much darker room. A small noise, maybe a cry for help, maybe a muffled scream, and some rattling chains escaped out the crack of the door before it was slammed shut and locked from the other end.

Maou journeyed up the stairs, running his hand along the dark wood banister and slowly moving through the hallways filled with dark paintings and flickering candles. He opened the door at the very end of the hall and was greeted with velvet curtains shielding the daylight, a large oaken dresser, and a bed large enough to comfortably fit at least three people sat where he left them. It felt like home. Wait, what was he thinking? This wasn't home, Earth was home. The tiny apartment that his bedroom was larger than was home. Ashiya and Lucifer were home. Emi. Emi was gone so why does it matter to him anymore? He threw himself on his bed and was greeted with plush and soft fabric. Staring up at the intricate design of the canopy coverings above him he rubbed the bridge of his nose before stretching his arms out and feeling a different texture above him.

"My old war robes," he chuckled to himself, noticing some of the holes that used to be there were neatly patched. He slowly removed his shirt, but decided to leave his pants on. He had grown accustomed to the feel of jeans on his skin. He pulled over a smooth black shirt, it snagged on his horns momentarily, as he forgot about the new protrusions coming from his skull. He lifted his typical black cape and threw it over his shoulders. He let muscle memory take over as he absent mindedly fixed his large collar and ran a hand of the armored plates coming off of his shoulders. A knock on his door brought him back to the real world. Well the world he used to call home. Does call home? Will call home again? This is so confusing. Shaking his head and hopefully these thoughts away, he cleared his throat before declaring, "Come in,"

"My Lord," Ashiya bowed slightly while slowly moving his way inside, "As happy as I am to be back, something does not feel right," he said with hushed tone, on the off chance that these walls literally had ears. Damn warlocks.

"I feel it too. Perhaps we were just gone too long," Maou turned to hide his face, as it might reveal the fact that he is doubting this plan too, "Or maybe it's because we're missing a general,"

"Or perhaps," the light blonde haired demon spoke, "It is because you are having to fight the Hero," at that, Maou spun around, anger filled his red eyes and a flicker of something else that was cast aside before Ashiya could say what it was.

"Do not speak of her!" he roared, throwing his hands to show emphasis, "We will not lose to her this time,"

"That is not what I meant, sire," Ashiya bowed before ducking out of the room, "I am sorry to have bothered you,"

"No, I'm-" click. The door to his room shut and he was alone again, "AGHH!" he yelled to no one in particular. Flinging the door open, he raged back into the hall, down the stairs and stormed into the throne room; practically slamming himself into the seat that he had been absent from for so long.

"My Lord," a smooth voice called, "Shall we begin the meeting?"

"I, uh," Maou was taken by surprise as he completely forgot about the meeting and was surrounded by the other generals, "Yes, let's begin,"

The meeting went on for hours, or so it seemed. Strategies were discussed, pawns were moved, words were spoken and yelled, risks were taken, and lives would be lost. All this for power.

"Then it is settled, we shall attack when the red moon is in full glow,"

"That is too late, we must attack sooner," Maou's voice boomed. He was posed on his dark throne, one hand under his chin, he was leaning to one side, "We will not let them build their defenses. We attack tomorrow night," his eyes darted around the room and were met with an equal amount of terror, respect, and doubt, "I expect the armies to be ready by tomorrow at dusk," with that, he rose and walked out of the grand hall and past a metal door which emitted a strange noise. He walked up to the door and attempted to open it. The handle jiggled but was locked from the other side.

"Malacoda!" Maou barked

"Yes my Lord," he bowed

"What is on the other side of this door?"

"Your old torture room and dungeon, sire. I advise you to not go inside though," he quietly urged, "We have a particularly rowdy prisoner in there as we speak, I am handling it on my own, if they were to see you, we'd only lose progress," he fumbled with his hands

"Very well," Maou eyed the blonde demon but retreated to his room for a sleepless night.

Back in the streets

"It's been hours and we are no closer to finding Emi than we were when we got here," Lucifer hissed into Suzuno's ear. They had to resume wearing their hoods as people soon flooded the streets, whether they were forging weapons, sharpening spears, or fitting themselves for armor. Suzuno was basically going door to door, person to person, and asking about the famous hero and if she will join the battle. Each reply was along the lines of, 'I hope so,' and, 'She better or we're doomed,'

"I am aware of that," she growled back, "Do you have any ideas?"

"Actually yes, we're going to go to Demon headquarters and ask the guy who brought Maou here,"

"You'll get us killed,"

"No, not if you listen to me and follow my every move. My. Every. Move," he reiterated getting closer to her face

"Fine," she retorted, not backing away from his piercing gaze

At the Castle

"Maou, I'm sorry to disturb you at this hour, but Lucifer has returned. With a prisoner," Ashiya bowed and opened the door fully to see Maou staring out the open curtains into the dark, decrepit world of the demons.

"I miss the sun, Ashiya, and the parks. Hell, I miss flipping burgers," he smiled into the glass

"Sire? Did you not hear what I said?"

"Of course, I will be down shortly," Maou stiffened and grabbed his cape from the dresser before following Ashiya down to the dining hall. There was Lucifer, his feet, still covered by Earth sneakers, were on top of the table, his arms folded and head down, "Lucifer, you decided to join us," it wasn't a question, but a statement. Maou knew he would come.

"Yep," he replied with the usual edge in his voice

"Ashiya said you came with a prisoner?"

"That is correct, she's in your throne room now. Malacoda is roughing her up a bit before you get in there," he flashed a sinister smile and flicked his head in the direction of the large doors leading to the throne room. Maou cautiously strolled in and he stopped dead in his tracks when he saw a small girl with long black hair and a kimono laying on the floor in chains.

"You will say NOTHING to him of this, do you understand?" Malacoda sneered, he dawned his skull mask and skeleton gloves and was circling the girl like a hawk

"That is enough Malacoda, I will take it from here," Maou ordered, and the skeleton did not leave, but merely backed away, "What are you doing here, girl?" he spat out, but made immediate eye contact.

"I was helping the humans, they seemed to have lost their-" a swift kick was delivered to Suzuno's side and she doubled over in pain.

"I said enough Malacoda," Maou yelled

"She is going to fill your head with lies, like she tried to do with me," he bowed his head

"Then let me hear her lies, I could enjoy a good laugh before this war," he sat back in his throne and peered down at the girl on her side, struggling to pick herself up.

"Maou," she looked up at him with worried eyes, "Emi," she huffed out before she collapsed. Malacoda clearly did a number on her before he got in there.

"What?" he barely squeaked out, "What about her?" he repeated, louder.

"She'll be able to speak in the morning, I'll just move her to the dungeon," he casually spoke, removing the skeleton mask and gloves before snapping his fingers. Two disfigured demons walked in and dragged the unconscious girl out of the room. They disappeared around the door and two resounding slams could be heard coming from the metal door, "There. Now that, that little problem is taken care of," he smiled

"Yeah, if you say so," Maou shrugged, getting up; he walked past Lucifer who was sitting it the table, picking at his nails, and stopped for a few seconds in front of the metal door before continuing up the stairs to get to his pitch black room.

"Lucifer," Ashiya hissed from the door way. Lucifer rose from the dark wood chairs and followed Ashiya to the hallway by the metal door, "There's something going on,"

"You think I don't know?" he whispered, "That's why I came back. We have to get inside there," he made a motion with his head to the metal door.

In The Dungeon

Suzuno wakes up to feel water being poured on her open wounds. Her eyes shoot open and she forces herself to sit up, adjusting to the darkness around her a stream of light flushes from a crack in the stone wall. The only bit of light falls upon long white hair cascading down a body hidden in the shadows. A gentle hush clams her down and another stream of water washes the hardening blood off her legs.

"Emi?" she breathes

"Why did you come here?" she asks sternly, she shifts her body to get more water and soon half her body is lit up

"To save you," she looks on in shock as she sees Emi's wounds, far worse than the ones she sustained

"You could've been killed," the hero reprimands

"You are being killed!" Suzuno raises her voice.

"Tortured, there's a difference," Emi tries to joke, "Don't worry about me,"

"Emi, I am worried about you! They are planning on destroying this world! Without you, the humans will be annihilated!"

"I know that!" Emi snapped, "I can't do anything in here, and I already tried getting out, there are enchantments on this place, in this metal," she shakes her shackle and Suzuno finally gets a good look at where they are. The walls are grey with dark red splotches from past victims, the floor is covered with a bit of straw, chains, and bones. They are in a cell in the basement of the Demon Lord's castle. The only way out is through enchanted metal, up two flights of stairs and out a locked door, "Besides, it won't matter anyways, their army starts to march tomorrow morning to reach the first battle point by dusk,"

"Why did you leave Earth?" Suzuno asks, adjusting the shackle on her wrist

"I received a message from one of the high priests. So I immediately knew to be weary, but there was something about the way it was written, I knew there was something wrong. They said it was something about my mom; a woman who I never met, never talked to, and only dreamed about. I thought about the risks of it being a trap, but I figured it was me being paranoid, Maou threatened Malacoda after all. But I was wrong. I got back and was immediately ambushed. I held the demons off for as long as I could, but it wasn't enough. I collapsed and then I've been here since. Why are you here? How did you know I was gone?"

"Maou," was all she replied, unable to comprehend the fact that Emi blew caution to the wind just to see her angel of a mother

"Where is he?" a glimmer of hope seeped into Emi's voice

"Upstairs," another one word reply. Then Suzuno went on to explain the whole story. Malacoda, Lucifer, Ashiya, the war, the betrayal, and worst of all the heartbreak.

"But he should know, I'd never do anything like that," she held back tears

"We thought so too," Suzuno shook her head and leaned against the stone. The cell was soon filled with more light and Emi's body came into full color. Her eyes were red from tears or bruising, she couldn't tell, her back was covered in whip lashes. She was wearing a white tank top, ripped and stained red, while her pants were shredded, barely covering enough to be called shorts. Her nails were down to the nubs and covered in blood, the wall by the crack of light had streaks of red falling from it. The only thing still pure and unscathed seemed to be her hair, an angelic white that withstood whatever torture she had been enduring, "She's been here for two days," Suzuno thought, "and she's already this battered?" the darkness enveloped them and they fell into a restless sleep, much like the Demon Lord who slept above them.

I'm leaving this chapter here because it is REALLY long, and I don't want to seem like I'm babbling.

Once again, thank you so much for reading, I appreciate and enjoy all your reviews, favorites, follows, and even if you don't do any of that, I still appreciate you reading my fanfic. Thank you for being so patient with this story!