I'll spare you the boring details of our weeks worth of hide and seek. To sum it up, a few more groups of my people came. Not as much as I hoped for, but more than I thought would come. In total, we made a group of about a thousand. A strong team of trained soldiers who were willing to follow me to the end.

I gave three of them the title 'Commander'. Lucifer, an Angel named Josie, and a Demon named Celes. My friends were given the name 1st squadron. The others called them the Royal Advisors. Lucifer was 2nd squadron, Josie was 3rd, and Celes was 4th. We split the army into four section, one for each of us.

As of now, the three commanders, myself and my Royal Advisors were in a makeshift tent, discussing battle strategies. Tomorrow was the day we invaded Heaven. Once we invaded Heaven, Hell would be easy.

"What do you suggest, your highness?" Josie asked, looking at me with big blue eyes.

I looked at the map. To my surprise, Lucifer had managed to find a map of both Heaven and Hell being sold by a peddler. I didn't need it, though. I remembered my homes like I remembered the feel of Peter's hands.

"We go in like they did," I said, simply. "Obviously it's a good strategy. We charge straight through the front doors, free the slaves, demand to get the throne back. If that doesn't work, we force them off. With minimal casualties, however. Whatever humans can be captured I want moved to the prison after they're disarmed."

"Your highness," Lucifer said, "are you sure a strategy like that's going to work? Won't they be prepared for an attack similar to theirs?"

"It's been twelve years and as far as they're concerned, I'm dead and the others of my species are to afraid to do anything."

"I have a proposal," Celes said, "if you don't mind?"

I nodded. I was getting used to this respect thing.

"Why don't we attack at night? Our vision is clearly superior at night to the humans. If we'd have any advantage, it's be at night."

I nodded, thinking the idea over. If we attacked at night, we'd have the upper hand, which we needed. I looked back to my human friends.

"What if I free the other Demon Hounds?" Zero suggested.

I looked at him and smiled. If he took my humans with him to where the Demon Hounds were being held, I wouldn't have to worry about keeping them safe quite as much. Demon Hounds were loyal to the Queen and King only, so if I sent Zero to free them and protect my humans, that'd be plus fifty or so men with the power of one hundred, each.

"Yeah," I said, "I like that. Zero, I want you to take the others, as in the humans, to wherever the Demon Hounds are being held. Tell them that, as Queen of Heaven and Hell, I command them to protect them. I'm sorry, guys," I said, turning to my human friends, "I don't mean to make you sound weak or anything, but I'd feel more at ease if I knew you were protected."

They smiled and nodded, understanding. Well, everyone besides Peter.

"I'm staying with you," he said.

"No," I replied, "you're going with Zero to be-"

"Akira," he said, sternly, "I'm going with you one way or another."

"Peter, I want to keep you safe."

"Remember the last time you got in a fight with a higher Angel?"

"What happened last time?" Lucifer asked, seeming concerned.

"This won't be a repeat of that," I replied to Peter.

"But if it is, I'll be right besides you to save you. Just like last time. Remember, you're not alone anymore."

He gave me that lopsided smile that I couldn't help but give into.

"Fine," I sighed.

"What happened last time?" Lucifer asked again

"Any of you have any complaints?" I asked my other human friends.

My dear human friends, plus Haru, shook their heads.

"I think we can all trust Peter to keep you in check," Jessica said. "We'll go with Zero to free the Demon Hounds and then come find you after that."

I sighed. "Do you guys not see the point in this?" I asked. "Most of the fighting a going to be centered around me, the Queen, and the only possible heiress of Heaven and Hell. Being by me's more dangerous than anything."

"That's why we're going to be by you," Luke said. "Did you actually think we'd let you fight alone?"

"Haru, what about you?" I asked, praying for he opposite of what I knew he'd say.

"I'm sticking with you the whole way through," Haru replied, standing proudly with his arms crossed.

I knew it. "I really can't get out of this, can I?"

"Nope," they replied in unison.

I heard chuckles from my Commanders and I turned a glare towards them. They still stood respectfully but avoided eye contact with me.

"Something funny?" I asked.

"No ma'am," they replied in unison.

"Thought not. Back to the plan. I'll take half of squadron one and storm the castle while my 'Royal Advisors' take the other half to free the Demon Hounds and meet me in the palace. Lucifer, I want you to keep squadron two by the entrance and reduce the amount of runners. Josie and Celes, I want you to keep your squadrons surrounding the palace."

"Yes ma'am," they replied in unison. They had, obviously, taken pride in our plan. They were smiling happily, even if tomorrow was going to be an all out war.

"Tomorrow night, we attack," I said. "Make sure everyone knows it."

They nodded and left the tent. When they were gone, I let out a long sigh and slammed my head against the table. By now, it was night and I was ready to sleep.

I felt Peter's calloused hand rub my back.

"You're doing fine," he said. He moved his hand to my wings and rubbed his fingers through their feathers. "You're doing exactly what you need to do."

"But what if what I need to do isn't right?" I asked. "What if..."

"What if what?"

"I don't know! That's the problem! I don't even know what I'm doing anymore!"

"You're giving us a place to live where we won't be ridiculed," Haru spoke up. "A place where we won't be ridiculed, or abused, or hated, or...worse."

"You're making peace," James said.

"You're reclaiming what's yours," Jessica said.

"You're defending what you believe in," Luke said.

"And you're doing it all for the sake of the people you care about," Zero said.

"You're doing everything you can and that's all you need to do," Peter said. "Let us worry about the rest." He pulled me close for a very much expected hug.

"See," I said, pushing myself off him, "that's another problem. I don't want you all involved in this. I want you to stay here safe on earth and leave a portion of my men to protect you but I can't! Because you're all too dammed stubborn!"

"You're more stubborn than any of us," Zero said.

I was about to reply, but Peter lifted me up, bridal style. He carried me away and planted a small kiss on my head before laying me down on the cart and pulling a blanket over me.

"You're exhausting yourself," he said. "For now just rest and worry about the details tomorrow. Remember, I'm here if you need me."

He was about to walk away, but I tugged on the back of his shirt. When he looked at me, I gave him my biggest puppy dog eyes.

"Please stay," I begged.

Smiling, he tucked himself in the blankets with me. I buried my face in his chest and listened to his beating heart as I fell asleep. I prayed to whatever God or gods or almighty being was out there, I prayed that his heart would just keep beating through the rest of whatever the hell the world had to throw at us.