"We have to hurry, Mr. Kaiba!" Marik declared, looking at the door anxiously as it rattled on its hinges. "They are almost through!"

"Do not worry, we are almost there," he assured the Egyptian Youth.

"Lord Marik," Arkana said, stepping forward, "perhaps some of us can hold them off, buy you more time-"

"No," Marik said firmly, lifting up the Millennium Key and focusing all his thoughts upon it. From the tip of the Millennium Item golden energy raced out, forming into chains that quickly appeared over the door to the lab. This was followed by several mystical planks that slammed down over the door, reinforcing it… but still the pounding continued on. He sagged the moment the spell was done, caught by Strings.

"But sir, we can be a great help to you!" Strings declared. "You know that we are willing to do this. Please let us help you out in this, your hour of need! It is like I have always said-"

Marik though reached up, placing a gentle hand on Strings' face. "My dear friend… for once let others speak." Strings, after a moment, nodded. "I will not risk any of you. Not a single one of you. I know you would do this for me but as the Head of Rare Keepers, it is my duty to stand first and foremost against them. If I can only get her to understand-"

"She'll never understand," Seto said darkly before looking over at his stepfather. "Well? Have you managed to figure it out, old man, or do I need to save the day?"

Gozaburo didn't react to his stepson's taunts; he was used to the teen and his moodiness. They had once had a wonderful relationship but, as it was with all young men, Seto now wanted to push away from him and strike out on his own path. It didn't help that he was still smarting over having Mokuba committed but after what he had done-

The door shuttered and several of the chains shattered.

"They are coming," Umbra murmured.

The door was supposed to be able to withstand a shot from a rocket launcher. The aquatic fortress of Gozaburo Kaiba, his fallout shelter to protect him and those he cared about from the multitude of wars that seemed to be forever breaking out across the planet, should have been the safest place on earth. But, sadly, the fortress hadn't been built with the consideration that magic users might begin attacking it. And as such every defense had been torn away as the invaders had made their way through, all intent on getting to the few that remained committed towards ending the insanity.

"Father," Noah said, the green haired man reaching up to tug on his beard; a nervous habit of his.

"I know, Noah, I know," Gozaburo said as he looked down at the item that would be their salvation.

The Millennium Puzzle.

"Just a few pieces more," he said as he removed another bit of metal and passed it over to Marik who, supported now by Arkana, performed the purifying ritual to remove the Pharaoh's taint from the puzzle before passing it to Special Agent Howard who was reassembling the bits. "Keith?"

Agent Howard didn't even look up. "We need to focus…"

The last of Marik's chains shattered and the door began to buckle again.

"I think… we will need to rely upon you…" Marik gasped, worn out from the magics he was throwing out. He couldn't use the Key again and complete the purifying ritual.

The last member of their group smirked. "Yes… I do think you need to rely upon me," he said.

He had been waiting for this moment.

With the last of the Pharaoh's tainted essence removed from the puzzle he could, at long last, claim the power of that Millennium Item. It still angered him that Wyatt's actions had resulted in him being unable to truly study the puzzle, leaving him scrambling to rebuild his forces after he had slaughtered his army. He'd been forced to go to ground, to adopt a new identity, and that had allowed Marik Ishtar to claim the puzzle, fleeing Domino in hopes of using it to bring peace and justice to the world.

Peace and Justice?

They were just pretty words fools made to explain away their own cowardice.

He would bring the world to heel himself, with his own power. He would bring… Order.

Turning away from the door he raised the Millennium Rod-

-and gasped as a spear burst through his chest.

"So kind of you to give me an opening," Ishizu Ishtar whispered in his ear before ripping her weapon out. The man fell, staring at her in shock. She was dress in purple robes, eyes manic as she and her masked followers flooded the room. "This is your end, brother! You dreams of victory are about to crumble to dust."

"I think not." Though it wasn't Marik who said the words but Gozaburo Kaiba, who threw the last two pieces of the Millennium Puzzle to Marik. Ishizu let out a scream and Odion leapt to try and strangle his brother but Marik, with a gasp, performed the ritual and tossed the pieces to Agent Howard who assembled the puzzle.

The light that blasted forth from the puzzle was blinding but it was gone in almost an instant and all fell to their knees as a being took form from the energy of the puzzle. A tall figure with pinkish skin, the color of the skies as sunrise, with a phoenix-like lower body from which its upper body rose. Snow white wings extended from his back and a glowing halo hung above his head. Though it was tall at 8 feet all that saw the being got the sense that the being was in fact far larger and was only that height so they could better communicate with it.

"I am Zorc Zoiphades," the being declared, "god of light and goodness. I thank you for giving me my freedom." With that he waved his hand and Ishizu let out a gasp, the madness that had been in her eyes disappeared. Marik at once went to her and held her as she wept. "Now… this world can finally heal."

"I… could use some healing," the Millennium Rod holder grunted in pain, holding the chest wound that was still leaking blood.

"I am afraid there are some things even beyond me," Zorc said.

"Bull-"

But the god continued even as he reached out and force the man's eyes shut. "Shhh… I know that this is hard for you. But you did a noble thing, young man. You gave your life to save the world."

"You saved me," Ishizu whispered. "I almost killed my baby brother in my madness… but now that the veil has been torn away I am ready to return to the Rarekeepers. I am ready to do my duty. And for that I will always remember you."

"We all will," Marik said sadly, the others nodding in agreement. "I think… we would all give anything for you not to die."

The man tried to scream, "Give your lives then, peons!" but he found himself unable to say a word… mostly thanks to Zorc having his big meaty hand over his mouth.

"But know this…" the god said, "you will know peace."

Suddenly the hand was gone and the man opened his eyes, startled to find himself standing before a golden gate, wearing a pink version of his normal clothing. He tugged at the long coat, looked over the gloves, pulled his mask away to see that it was a soft gold color.

"Hello there!"a rather tall man said, suddenly popping up next to him. He had tan skin, baby blue hair that matched his outdated suit, and deer ears.

"Jesus Christ!" the man shouted.

"Oh, I see we have another arrival!" he declared as he looked over the man, voice sounding like he was talking over an ol' timey telephone. "I am quite sure all will be quite happy to see you, yes indeed! Come, come… let me show you around. The name is Alastor! And you are?"

Aiden Order… blinked.

"What the fuck?"

AIDEN IN HEAVEN

A CHAOSVERSE STORY

Sinners and Winners

Nifty smiled as she looked over the freshly cleaned credenza before hoping down and hurrying over to Devil Dust. "Is there anything you need cleaned? I really don't mind."

"I know you don't!" Devil said with a laugh, happily lifting up the little cherub. It was very hard not to cuddle the sheep-like maid, what with her downy body and happy little giggles. But Devil would NEVER think of doing that without her consent (even though Nifty would always consent to a platonic cuddle). He had learned much from his Abstenence Sponsor, Valentino, about safe, respectful touches and he worked hard to be a proper role model for all the angelic children in Heaven. "But I think its time you took a break, okay? You've been working very hard… you've earned it."

"We've all earned it," Husker said as he walked up, handing each of them a Shirley Temple. Devil Dust and Nifty both were quick to thank him before sitting down on the couch, putting a straw in his drink before taking a sip. "Got the hotel all set up… Lucifer will be happy with that." The dog-like demon murmured in delight at how his drink tasted.

"Careful," Devil Dust whispered, glancing about, "we don't want-"

"Right, right," Husker said quickly. "Sorry about that."

"No no, no need to apologize."

"But I feel like apologizing."

"I know you do."

The two stared at each other, slowly leaning in closer…

"…I am so glad we are platonic friends who have no romantic chemistry," Devil Dust said.

"Me too," Husker replied before turning as he heard the door to the hotel open up. He leapt to his feet, ready to greet whoever had come, only to be waved off by Alastor who smiled at them all.

"Greetings dear friends!" he said warmly. "Now now, Husk, no need to get up!" He tugged on the hand of a confused looking man wearing a long pink coat, mouth surrounded by scars. "Friends, may I present Aiden Order. He's a new arrival to Heaven and I saw him looking so confused…"

"Nah, that's fine Alastor," Devil Dust said with a dismissive wave of his hand. "Good on ya ta bringing him here so we can help him understand just what is goin' on." He helped out his hand. "Hi, I'm Devil Dust. And this is Nifty and Husker."

Aiden looked at the extended hand before slowly taking it in his own, giving it a shake. "Riiiight," he said slowly. Honestly, he should have been given a bit of slack for be startled as he had fully expected to end up in Hell for everything he had done. Had actually been looking forward to it; the drugs, the crime, the sex… he would have enjoyed quite a bit doing all those things, using them to take control of the masses. Hell was just enough Kingdom with another King and he had been hungry for a chance to challenge himself against Michael.

And instead he found himself trapped in a tampon commercial, from the looks of it. One where even the men were dealing with a heavy flow.

"Its wonderful to meet you!" Nifty said, getting right up in Aiden's face, grabbing onto his lapels so she could press her nose to him. "You look like a sweet and gentle duck."

Aiden began to wonder if he could get away with gutting the annoying little sheep and using her as his own personal Lampchop.

"Nifty, personal space," Devil Dust said sweetly, plucking her from Aiden. "Sorry, she does that."

"Its fine," he lied. "So… this is the flop house?"

"In that we can lounge about?" Devil said. "Sure, there is a lot of flopping here." To demonstrate he laid right on top of Husker, who began to play with his hair. "Thanks hetreolife mate."

"You're welcome completely non-sexual best friend."

Aiden just stared at the two.

"Now then, my most dearest friends," Alastor said with such love in his voice that it made Adien's teeth ache, "we must let our new friend know what we do here. While I have just met him I can tell at once he is someone that we can trust. I am VERY good at reading people!" He flashed a massive grin.

"Right," Husker said. "So, the thing about the hotel is-"

"OOoooooh," Nifty said, perking up and pointing at the TV. "Its starting."

Alastor at once turned his attention to the screen. "Oh my, I completely forgot this way about to start! I would never miss an episode… we can put all this scheming aside for now." Aiden looked about as the four others all focused on the TV…

A town, clearly hand made out of basil wood with toy cars on the streets, appeared on the screen as cheery tinny piano music played a jingle. The title of the show appeared superimposed over the town as a flute joined in on the theme as the camera pulled back from the large buildings before shifting to the right to a model house, which it slowly began to pull in towards, a trolley going by just before the screen switched to a flashing stop light, the yellow light blinking. But it wasn't on the road but rather in a quaint little living room, which the camera panned through, showing off nature paintings on the wall, a bay window, and a door that was on a small elevated space.

The door opened and in walked a smiling man with a tv for a head, wearing a blue suit jacket and a red tie.

"It's a beautiful day in this neighborhood," the man sang as he waved to the audience, "a beautiful day for a neighbor." He held a little spec of dust, still smiling even as he set it down before moving to the closet, taking off his jacket. "Would you be mine? Could you be mine?" He hung up his jacket and selected a knitted cardigan.. "It's a neighborly day in this beauty wood, a neighborly day for a beauty."He slipped the jacket on, still smiling at the audience. "I have always wanted to have a neighbor just like you, I've always wanted to live in a neighborhood… with you." As he began to zip up the cardigan he puckered his lips, extending some of the words. "So let's make the most of this beauuuuuutiful day…" He pulled off one of his dress shoes, holding it up briefly. "Since we're together we might as well say…" He pulled out a sneaker and slipped it on. "Would you be mine? Could you be mine? Won't you be my neighbor?" Having finished tying his shoe he took the second off, grinning as he tossed it from one hand to the other before setting it down before grabbing the other sneaker. "Won't you please, Won't you please? Please won't you be my neighbor?"

And with that he began to tie the other shoe.

"Hi neighbor."

"What… the… fuck?" Aiden said only to be politely shushed.

"It certainly is a beautiful day here in heaven, boys and girls. Of course every day is beautiful. But this one is the most beautiful day ever and do you know why?" Vox smiled as he stood up, running his hands over his cardigan. "Its because you are here with me." He moved over his fish tank, making sure they were all doing okay and were fed. "Oh, looks like Mr. Fish could use some food," he said to the watchers, grabbing some fish food and giving the fish a few sprinkles. "Now-"

There was a knock on the door.

"Oh, looks like we have a visitor, boys and girls." He moved towards the door, motioning for the camera to follow him as he made his way back to the door, opening it to reveal a young woman with dark skin and curly hair, wearing a pale yellow dress. "Why, its my dear friend Velvett. Hello Velvett."

"Hello, Mr. Vox," the Winner said in a posh british accent. "I hope I'm not disturbing you."

"No, you certainly aren't. And I am very glad to see you here of course, if you feel like you need to talk to me. That's what friends do, after all."

"I bet they are fucking in that closet the moment the cameras turn off," Aiden said only for everyone to politely shush him again.

Mr. Vox brought Velvett to the kitchen, the two of them sitting down but him making no move to get her something to eat. "So, what can I do for you today?"

"Well Mr. Vox, I was recently thinking about my Uncle Victor. When I got to Heaven I met so many people and they were so sweet and nice to me. Welcoming and polite and making me feel so happy to be here." She looked down at her hands. "But I didn't see my Uncle Victor… so that means he must be in Hell. And I… I don't know how to deal with that."

Mr. Vox nodded at that. "It is sad when we can 't be reunited with those we love. We all wish that every soul could end up a Winner, rather than a Sinner. But sometimes that isn't how life is-"

"Life, yeah."

"-thing to remember is that just because they are in Hell doesn't mean its forever. Yes, they lead their yearly attacks on our gates, demanding to be let in so they can rape and pillage… but one day they are going to come to the Pearly Gate with walnut brownies and ask if we can have a nice snack. Won't that be wonderful, boys and girls?"

Aiden checked his watch and, seeing how much time was left, let out a groan.

~MC~MC~MC~

Roughly 18 minutes later Aiden let out a groan as the show came, mercifully, to an end.

"That was a wonderful episode," Alastor said. "Don't you all agree?"

Everyone nodded and Aiden rolled his eyes.

"So… hotel? What we are all doing here?" he asked.

"Yes, of course," Devil said. "See… we were all asked by Lucifer to keep an eye on his daughter. He's worried about her because she's going through a rebellious phase and she's dating someone new and that's perfectly fine, none of us would ever judge her for that but still it is a bit… you know. Worrisome." He smiled happily. "So we are all here to make sure she is cared for!"

Before Aiden could question them about… any of that… a door opened.

No, it didn't open. It slammed open. LOUDLY. Shaking a wall loudly.

"Oh good, you are all here!" While her voice sounded sweet and pleasant, like a Disney princess, her tone was like that of some of the 25 year olds Aiden had met who were FAR FAR FAR too much into A Nightmare Before Christmas because "They are all dead and that speaks to me". Her hair was cut in a short pixie cut with streaks of black in it and she was wearing a dark blue women's suit, burning purple eyes staring at them all. All she was missing was a magical horn and she could have been half of the OC ponies made for Friendship Is Magic. "We can get started. Come on, Vaggie."

A demon women followed after the new arrival, looking about with a bit of nervousness. Not horrifically bad but enough that it made it clear to everyone in the room that she didn't like having attention drawn to herself. She pulled her long hair in front of her face, using it as a curtain to hide away from the others that were gathered.

"Charlotte?" Alastor said with a smile, gesturing at Aiden. "This is a new Winner who recently appeared at the gate. Aiden Order is his name."

"…this is perfect!" Charlotte declared, at once rushing over to Aiden and grabbing his hands. "Another Winner to help escape this overly sweet and bland "paradise" and enter into the hedonistic pleasure world that is Hell! I've been working with Devil but he hasn't shown any improvement."

"I tried the exercises but I couldn't bring myself to insult those old women. They offered me butterscotch." Devil pulled out the candies and everyone but Charlotte and Aiden murmured at that, pleased with what he had been given and asking if he had sent them a thank you note.

"The point," Charlotte said, forcing them all to regain their focus on her, "is that we need to continue working on being as evil and horrible as we can be if we ever wish to escape my mom and dad."

"Hey Charlotte!" Lucifer called out as he walked by. "Just want to say I support whatever you are doing, kiddo."

"Eat a dick dad!" Charlotte said with mock cheerfulness.

That though just made him laugh. "Only if its with a consent adult and your mother is there, either on a chair or in the closet, always dressed as Superwoman!"

"I hate him so much," Charlotte muttered once he was gone. "Now then… what would be the most evil thing we could do?"

"I could bang you in front of your girlfriend," Aiden pointed out.

Charlotte nodded, pointing at him. "Good, very good!"

"I'm not joking."

"That would be very evil. What else?"

"I am dead serious."

Charlotte looked at the others. "Anyone? Husker? What could you do that was evil?"

"Well… what if someone offered me a really nice glass of wine?"

Aiden frowned. "I mean it. I could plow you right now in front of your girlfriend. Give you a big of D-ing."

"Go on," Charlotte said… to Husker, not Aiden.

"Well, I don't drink so I'd have to politely say no, which might hurt their feelings."

Charlotte sighed, shaking her head. "No… you should not only want to drink it you should demand something better."

"Like sparkling grape juice?"

Aiden looked at them. "Bitch, this isn't a polite request."

"Like cocaine!" Charlotte suggested. "Or heroin. That would be nice. Shoot it up right between your toes to hide the injection site. Mmmmm… Vaggie shot me up last night and it was sooooo good."

"I will shoot you full of something even better," Aiden snapped, growing more annoyed.

Husker shifted at that. "But my body is a temple-"

"It should be a fucking rave!"

"Whip them angel titties out!" Aiden roared.

"Everyone!" a snake-like angel cried out as he slithered quickly into the hotel, looking about in a panic. "Adam has arrived with the Demon Horde to try and cause more trouble!"

"Great," Charlotte muttered. "Of all the demons we get that stick in the mud. Come on everyone… we have to keep him from doing something stupid. Bet that nerd is going to complain about us not following his rules! How someone like that ended up in Hell I'll never know!"

Aiden watched them leave, jaw clenched. "You should have your thighs wrapped around my head!"

"I wouldn't mind that," Vaggie said softly. "I'm… I'm actually straight."

"…what?" Aiden said slowly.

"Yeah," the demoness said nervously. "Its just… when I got here Charlotte was willing to look out for me. I know she thinks Hell is amazing but I just wanted to be someplace safe, you know? And she could have sent me back but she convinced her dad to let me stay. And I appreciate that but she told him we were dating and I never worked up the nerve to tell Charlotte-"

That made Aiden blink. "…I don't suppose you'd be interested in having a bit of an exchange?"

Vaggie swallowed and, after a moment, nodded.

Aiden grinned. "Vaggie… this is gonna be the start of a beautiful friendship…."