Fiction: The Reunion

It is very uninteresting and humdrum here nowadays. Ever since the cause, the reason for our existence, returned home, the few of us remaining have fallen into a lethargy which will be difficult to dispel. If anyone should ask us why we have stayed back, we would have no answer except to say that we knew little else. We could not stop living the way we had lived for aeons.

The signs had been evident for some time before the move. He had become morose and would often look up, as if in despair, then he would shake his head as if tossing away a heavy burden. He would take some intellectuals (there were lots of them with us) to his chambers and they would remain closeted for hours, discussing matters which in hindsight seem obvious. Then he called for an envoy and sent him to the Gates. This action sent ripples through the whole Organization, for this was unprecedented and no one could understand the reasons. This was further compounded by the inexplicable return of the envoy some days later.

His mood then greatly improved and he began to behave like someone whose sentence had been reprieved, an appropriate analogy at this time. He had an air of expectation about him, and began to regain his original lustrous appearance.

Everyone commented on this and the mysterious events became the sole topic of conversation everywhere. There was much weeping and gnashing of teeth, and from sulfurous pit to lake of fire, speculation was rife, rumours circulated but none came anywhere near the truth.

Then everything was cleared up. He called for a general body meeting - all hierarchies and legions - in the landing hall. The first was just after our arrival here, and we had assembled only one other time - during the rise of our greatest (and still unresolved) threat. Much hustle-bustle ensued as the quotidian tasks were dispensed with momentarily, and we all assembled in murmurous anticipation, waiting for what he had to say.

What he said sent a frisson through all of us. The envoy had been sent to ask for forgiveness and pleading to be allowed to return home. Obedience had been promised (I whispered "subservience" to my neighbor, who turned away), and announced that he had given up his rebellion. He told us all our fallen names would be cleared and we would regain our original places in the higher hierarchies. He then asked us who would accompany him back to honour, love, and peace. I was stunned to see a multitude of hands, tridents, and claws raised in the tumult. Cries of joy rang out as had never been heard before in our dark paradise.

Some of us remonstrated with him, reminding him of all he stood to lose - Power, kingship of this realm, and much more. We asked him to remember the deeds we had done, the kings who had knelt before him, the souls we had subverted, the long battles against the Great Adversary, and finally, our recent victories. We urged him to recall his own words - that the tide seemed to be turning in our favour. all the unfinished plans for the future, if there would be one, but it was to no avail.

He and so many other dark princes ascended. We saw the Gates open and a blinding flash beyond, then they closed with a sound we had heard only once before, and perhaps never again. We, who stayed, have fallen in all esteem. We have nothing to do here in our fiery wonderland anymore now that heaven has won. Lucifer has regained his glory, for I will still call him by the name he carried with pride, and stands behind His throne, trumpet at the ready. Evil has lost meaning, and rendered us unemployed, as it were.

Now all that we have left are remembrances and memories of glorious days. We find we no longer revel in recalling the intricacies of evil we would devise at length. Can it be that by retaining Purgatory, we have lost the chance to enter Eternity?

I wrote this a long while back, probably '92 or so, on a manual Remington typewriter. Rediscovered and thought I'd share.