How long had it been? Almost a year... Skeletor's plan had failed. Didn't they always? And he had made a hasty retreat. As usual. But this time, it had felt different... Like he had lost more than a battle.
He had done a good job of hidingit, though. Goiing right back to his old ways, plotting from his throne in Snake Mountain, perpetrating various attacks and schemes across Eternia. But never once had he returned to her kingdom. Nor had he allowed any of his minions to go near the place. If one didn't know any better, they would have said the terrible Skeletor was deliberately protecting this one kingdom from his machinations...
This was the closest he had been since that day when he and his forces had slunk away, returning to Snake Mountain. But even this close to Arendelle, he had never expected to see his wife.
The "illegal business" charge is total BS. Charlie's been openly advertising the hotel for over a year now, starting with a very live, very memeable newscast with Katie Killjoy. If that's the case, why is CPS going after her now. Also, how are business and labor laws in anyway within the jurisdiction of Hell CPS?
My point is that there's clearly something deeper going on. Lucifer, Charlie, if you need a subject expert for your case, I've worked in both the Labor and Industries agency and with state education. There's more holes in these charges than swiss cheese.
Lucifer: You’re absolutely correct. Those charges are flimsy at best — laughable, if the situation weren’t so dangerous. H-CPS has no authority over commerce or labor, yet they filed charges as though they did. Which means either they’re overreaching deliberately, or they were given orders by someone with the power to pull jurisdiction out of thin air. That’s not enforcement — that’s a coordinated strike. And if they waited over a year to care, it’s because they’ve been waiting for the right leverage… or the right distraction.
Two months later…In the Envy Ring
Reapers and Envy’s private guards moved in and out with crates of confiscated documents, ledger books, and enchanted safes. The names they’d uncovered — the “minor royalty” of Hell — were whispered like curses in the halls.
Lucifer: *using his cane as support as he holds his 9-month belly with his other hand* Disgusting. Look at all of this. These were kids who had been taken away from there families without cause!
Leviathan’s Right Head: *snarls at the sight of another bound official being dragged past* Parasites. Selling children like livestock… and making more of them just to keep their pockets fat.
Left Head: *voice shaking with anger* The fertility potions were the worst. Artificially forcing Hellborn conception to create product. It’s industrialized evil.
Lucifer: The major production sites are gone. Every lab burned, every beaker broken. But we can’t account for the vials already sold. That rot is still out there.
Leviathan: *nods grimly, both heads speaking in rare unison* Then we hunt them down… one by one.
Lucifer: *looks down at his hand that rested on his stomach. A flicker of weariness passing his face* I’ll see this purged before my children take their first breath. That, Levi… I swear.
Left Head: *tilts head and eyes narrowing with concern* You should rest, Lucifer. You’ve been on your feet since dawn.
Right Head: *smirks faintly, though there’s no mockery in her tone* You look like you’re about to collapse.
Lucifer: *chuckles dryly* It’s only pregnancy exhaustion. The twins aren’t due for another three weeks. Trust me, Levi, if I was truly about to fall apart, you’d be the first to know.
The Left Head still watches him with quiet worry, but the Right Head exhales through her nose, conceding the point — for now.
Lady Rowena has aged up into a child, Lady Elizabeth was born, and has aged up into a toddler. Princess Nicola and the Duke of Fairfoss have aged up into adults, and the Princess is pregnant again.
Though I’m a puzzle, I’m a mystery, baby
I’ll be your puzzle, be your mystery man
But there’s one thing I have to tell ya
That I’m the kind you don’t understand, oh
Blaine was mentally exhausted, completely at his whits end by the end of his last concert in Washington DC, but the thought of seeing his best friend kept a smile on his face as the whole team packed up for another trip to another state. The flight was peaceful and Blaine managed a power nap before they landed in Hartford.
Knowing Tina was in town truly made Blaine excited so he grabbed a few hours sleep, got tackle hugged by her and got to catch up with his now third family before he had to hurry back to the hotel for a quick rehash for the show. By this point he was mentally okay but his body was tired, the naps did wonders but by the time it was near 5pm he was tired and knew he needed to keep the excitement up if he was going to make it through the show so when he finished sound check, he headed to his dressing room where he put his head on the vanity, just humming to himself.
