Ending

Some time has passed since Lucy's failed takeover of Hell. Everyone has mostly forgotten or not noticed the events that took place previously. At the Hakurei Shrine, Reimu, as was her custom, hosted another gathering filled with laughter and camaraderie. Amid the revelry, Marisa stood alone, nursing a punch and lost in deep contemplation.

Reimu, ever perceptive, noticed her friend's pensive demeanor and approached with a concerned expression.

"What's on your mind, Marisa?"

Marisa, sipping on her drink, sighed before sharing her thoughts:

"I keep thinkin' about what Lucy said, ze. Extreme as her methods were, she had a point about, well, everything! I know her ways were over the top, but maybe if she had just toned things down a bit, she might've really made everything better."

But Reimu, wise from her role as Gensokyo's guardian, was more skeptical.

"I'm not so sure, Marisa. Balance in the world is delicate, and when that balance is upset, bad things happen. Lucy's plan would have caused a major offset. I'm just hoping Tenshi meant what she said about fixing Heaven. I want to go to Heaven when I die, dang it!

"Lucy does have that effect on people." Called the voice of Hecatia from behind them both, "Her sheer charisma was always one of her greatest strengths." They turned to see the aforementioned goddess approaching them.

"Oh, Hecatia." Greeted Reimu, "Is everything back to normal in Hell?"

"Yes. I simply cannot thank you two enough. Not only did you let me keep my job, I, well I just shudder to think what Hell would be like under Lucy's rule," Hecatia sounded genuinely grateful to them, which they both appreciated, "You really did get off easy. You have no idea how truly terrifying that woman can be. But… That's not why I'm here."

"Then why are you here?" Asked Reimu.

"To give you a warning," Hecatia's expression and voice turned grave, "Lucy set things up so only she would be punished should her plan fail. She is now banished to the Pit, buried up to her neck where she'll stay for 666,666 years. But before I did that, she told me that she wasn't going to stop her plans to fix the state of the world she hates so much. She would just try again later, in a different way."

"So she'll try again, eh?" Stated Reimu, obviously unafraid of facing her again, "Well we've beaten her before, we can-"

But Hecatia quickly cut her off. "Ah… You don't understand. Lucy's plans span the centuries if not millennia and have "wheels within wheels," as you humans put it. You two will probably be dust in the wind by the time she makes her next move. So… If you have any successors, you might want to pass this warning along."

"You don't need to worry, Hecatia." Said Reimu, her face serious and stern, "I already have some ideas about who will take my place when I die. All I need to do is choose the right person."

"Me too, ze!" Marisa chimed in, "I've always wanted to get an apprentice when I grow up!"

Hecatia smiled in relief. "That's good, that's good."

Meanwhile back at the Pit, Lucy was indeed buried up to her neck in ice. Chains tethered her to the ground from a new metal ring around her waist. The six other Archdevils surrounded her, engaging in a conversation that carried an air of apology and determination.

"Thank you for all of your help." Lucy seemed genuinely grateful for their help, and the other six Archdevils weren't surprised by that at all, "I hope you all can forgive my failure. Rest assured, I still intend to hold up my end of the deals I made with each and every one of you."

"YES! MONEY!" Shouted Mom-mam with avaricious glee, but realized who she talking to and changing her tune, "I-I mean that's good to hear, Queen Lucy!"

"Aw, we aren't mad at you, Queen Lucy!" Said Ririsu. Despite their failure, she was as bright and cheery as ever, "Good guys like those two tend to win around here. Trust me, I should know!"

"Yeah, yeah, sure, whatever!" Natash was very obviously impatient, not that this was anything new for her, "You called us here for more than just some apology and promises! WHY ARE WE HERE!?"

"Oh… I just wanted to tell you that I'm coming up with more plans to fix this wretched world. You don't have to continue helping me if you don't want to, but if you want to, well… You know where to find me."

"Oh, I'd love to, Queen Lucy!" Agreed Ririsu, who joined Lucy because she liked helping evil plans succeed, wholeheartedly before turning to the other Archdevils,"Right ladies? And Faygir?"

"Yes." Said Faygir, who joined because he emphasized with Lucy's big plan.

"Yeah, yeah, YEAH!" Shouted Zaybulle, who joined Lucy because her plan sounded fun and because she said she would help take care of her twelve younger sisters.

"But of course, Lucy." Agreed Mom-mam, who joined Lucy because she wanted more money and power.

"Do ya even need to ASK?! HELL YEAH!" Roared Natash, who joined because Lucy said she would give her a powerful army to take back the Hell from the alternate timeline she came from.

"Sure thing, boss. Whatever you say." Confirmed Levy, who joined because Lucy paid her and said she would help her reach an accord with her imprisoned sister Steery.

"Ah, this is truly wonderful to hear!" Said Lucy with a genuinely kind, joyful tone as her smile grew, "We can reconvene in Judecca after my punishment is over and done with. I just hope you can wait for 666,666 years."

"I can wait, boss." Replied Levy, and she seemed to speak for them all as she did so, "We all can except for Zaybulle."

"Hey, hey, hey!" Said the clearly offended gluttony devil queen, "I can wait too! I just choose not ta. But don't worry. I'm still with this."

As her smile grew ever bigger and slightly sinister as she heard this, Lucy started to laugh. As Lucy laughed, the other Archdevils left, each returning to their respective Levels, leaving Lucy alone to contemplate and plan in the solitude of the Pit.

The End?