**(Celestia POV)**
Today's the day.
The day...we might finally find our missing prince.
I was currently sitting alone within the conference room of the white palace, preparing for what I'm going to tell the other leaders of hell.
Especially Lucifer and Lilith — they have been especially excited ever since I informed them of this information.
Though I haven't told them everything yet. I needed to make sure the information my sister had given was correct.
For the last 30 years, my sister has sent her best and strongest changelings into the human realm in search of the dark knight Sparda and our lord Stygian.
It has been...slow, to say the least, but the changelings aren't to blame. Instead, it was the demons that have broken free from hell somehow...
Thankfully, despite all the setbacks and distractions, they finally found something.
Raising my hand, I summoned the photo taken by one of the changelings that was posted in a place called...Detroit.
Looking at the photo, it revealed a man with pale skin and white hair, and as I examined it more and more, I was certain — this was Lord Stygian's human disguise.
And as I looked at the photo examining his human features, I suddenly heard a knock. Looking at the door ahead of me, I spoke.
"Please enter." I spoke.
And with that, the doors began to slowly open, revealing the 8 rulers of hell. Along with them were the princess Hornet and Knight Commander Shakra.
As they walked inside, taking their usual places in the conference room, they gave me a kind bow as a sign of respect...well, everyone who wasn't Mammon.
Once they were fully seated, I stood up to finally address them.
"Greetings, Lords of Hell. Thank you for taking the time to come and attend this urgent meeting." I said before giving them a bow.
"Ahh, it's fine, Cely! It's always nice to visit you!" Lady Beelzebub spoke.
"You say that, but we all know you just like the food here, you fat fuck." Mammon said as he munched down on a large chicken leg.
"Oh, you're one to talk, Mammon. You and your fat ass might want to go on a diet once in a while." Beelzebub replied.
"Hey! This body is perfection." Mammon said as he rubbed his belly.
"Enough! You two, be quiet!" Satan roared out.
"Yeah, I mean, honestly, Mammon, go on a diet." Asmodeus said.
"Hmmmm, no." Mammon said before continuing to munch on the chicken leg.
And as the other sins watched Mammon scarf the bird down his gullet, I looked to my left to see a sleeping Belphegor.
She was blissfully unaware of the chaos that was happening in front of her.
Sitting back down, I simply waited for them to settle down and get everything out of their system, and after about 20 minutes of this, they finally settled down.
"So, everyone...did you all get it out of your system?" I asked them.
As I looked at them, they simply looked at one another and scoffed.
"Well then, allow me to show you why I've brought you all here." Grabbing the photo of the disguised Lord Stygian, I used my magic to create copies and began giving one to each of them.
And as they grabbed the picture and began to examine it, they quickly realized who the pale-skinned human is.
"No way..."
"After 50 years."
"He's finally back!"
"My...my sweet boy." Lady Lilith spoke, her voice soft, and as she caressed the photo with her hand, tears began to fall. Not long after, a stream of tears began to fall, and the queen's composure finally broke down.
And as I watched the queen of hell cry for her child, I looked over towards the king and saw something different.
He wasn't crying. In fact, he looked determined. Suddenly getting up from his seat, he moved towards a lone corner of the room and summoned a golden portal that crackled with red demonic energy.
And as he summoned the portal, that same red energy began to shoot out like lightning, trying to hit anything.
Quickly standing up, I called out to him and spoke.
"Lord Lucifer! What are you doing!" I called out to him.
"..." He didn't speak, simply looking at the portal.
And not long after, he began to enter the portal...well, tried to. As he entered, something began to hold him back, and as he fought to go through, golden chains began to appear throughout his entire body, holding him and stopping him from fully entering.
As this went on, red scars began to slowly form all around his body, and as they grew bigger and bigger, he began to scream in pain.
Worrying for his safety, I looked towards the sins and Lady Lilith to see if they would do anything, but as I did, I saw them simply staring.
Fearing for his life, I quickly flew closer towards him, and grabbing him by the shoulders, I tried pulling him away.
But the moment I touched him, I felt an immense amount of pain. It felt like I was being stabbed by a thousand knives all at once.
But I didn't let go. Holding on tight to Lord Lucifer, I used everything I had and pulled him completely out of the portal. The moment I did, he fell towards the ground with a loud thump.
Breathing heavily, I felt my hands shake as the pain lingered for a few seconds before finally disappearing.
And once it did, I looked at the other leaders — except for Belphegor — in anger.
"Why didn't any of you stop him! He could have died!" I said in anger and disappointment.
None of them spoke, all except Lilith.
"And what would you have us do? My husband is the most powerful being living in hell right now. Even if all the sins combined their forces to try and stop him, they would ultimately fail." Lady Lilith spoke.
"Still! You could have tried!" I replied.
"My husband, despite his childishness...is still their father, and he will do anything to protect our children, even at the cost of breaking his father's rules." Lilith spoke.
"What do you mean by his father's rules?" I asked, confused.
"Lucifer...is a prisoner. He isn't allowed to leave hell." Lilith spoke.
And as she said those words, I could only reply with a single word.
"What?"