A few hours earlier...

After a rather sentimental talk with Husk, GM had been planning a special day for him and his granddaughter ever since...well. Yesterday.

When he met her.

It had only just recently occurred to him how fast time had flown by already.

GM then smiled wide when he saw his granddaughter walk out. "Good morning, Charlie! How did you sleep?"

Charlie giggled, her eyes sparkling. "I'm great! I'm just really excited to spend time with you. I always wanted to meet you, but...you know...Dad..."

GM's smile faded slightly. "Yes, uhh...that's another road that we'll go down another day. But today's road! I have something fun planned! I did come down to spend time with you after all!"

Charlie grinned. "Yeah? What is it?"

GM walked over. "A quick little trip! Just you and your grandpa! But where to is a surprise!" He said as he booped her nose.

Charlie snorted. "Alright. Dad knows I'm with you, so I hope he won't worry too much..."

"We'll be back before he even knows we're gone." GM said as he snapped his fingers and summoned a portal. "I'd leave a note for Vaggie and the others though! Since you are their friend and the owner of this hotel."

Charlie smiled and nodded, grabbing a piece of paper and a pen. "Good idea!"

GM patiently waited, even imagining a little tune in his head and lightly bopping his head before Charlie walked back over. "Alrighty then! Let's go!"

The two then walked through the portal and it closed behind them and after a brief flash of light...Charlie found herself in a bright green forest right beside her grandfather.

Charlie's eyes widened and she looked around in shock. She had never seen a place so...green, before.

"Grandpa? What is this place?"

GM smiled wide and then spread his arms wide, presenting the massive forest. "Charlie Morningstar...welcome to Earth!"

Charlie's eyes bulged. "E-Earth?! Where...where my friends come from?"

"Where all humans come from." GM smiled. "And the very planet I focus the most on."

Charlie looked around, her eyes wide as she took in the most beautiful place she had ever seen.

Green, luscious grass...trees with brown bark, a river nearby, birds singing and chirping their song, bramble bushes...

It was breathtaking.

Not even Heaven could compare!

"W-w-wow..."

GM smiled before he noticed something nearby. His grin only grew and he gently held Charlie's shoulder...and he began to sing in a soft voice. "~Come with me...and you'll be...in a world of pure imagination~"

He then gently turned Charlie around to show them a little fox was looking up at them, clearly confused as to what they were. The fox looked young, likely not an adult fox. Its black eyes had this shine to it and its fur was as fluffy as a cloud.

"~Reach out, touch...what was once...just in your imagination~" GM smiled before he knelt down, gesturing for the fox to come closer. "~Don't be shy. It's alright...if you feel...a little trepidation~"

The fox then slowly crawled closer, looking up at Charlie specifically.

Charlie slowly knelt down, hesitantly reaching her hand out for the little fox to sniff. She...she had never touched earthly animals before. What if she hurt it?

But then, the fox gently nuzzled her hand, making an adorable little purring sound.

"~Sometimes these things don't need explanation~" GM smiled as a bird landed on his shoulder and he petted its little head with his finger before watching it fly off. "~If you want to view paradise...simply look at them and view it~"

The fox then gently crawled into Charlie's lap, still nuzzling her hand.

Charlie giggled, gently petting the little creature, and then she looked up upon hearing what seemed to be a calling sound.

Another fox stood, looking older than the little one. It's the mother, Charlie realized, and she smiled softly. She gently set the little fox down, watching it scamper back over to its mother.

It...reminded her of her and her own mother. Charlie knew that her mother had struggled with fertility due to a curse after the Fall, but somehow, she had come to be.

And she and Lilith had been close ever since.

Then, she noticed her grandfather looking at the river close by, where a family of ducks were swimming across. There was the parent, and 9 little ducklings following.

"~Somebody to hold onto, it's...all we really need~" GM sang softly, his voice even cracking a little like he was crying for a moment. But then, his smile grew as he looked at Charlie. "~Nothing else to it~"

The wind then blew, causing Grandpa Morningstar's cape to blow and Charlie's hair as well...and the wind almost sounded like music.

GM's smile then grew almost goofy as he held out his hand to his granddaughter, looking excited.

Charlie raised a brow, but she smiled and held out her hand, reaching for her grandfather's.

And when she took it, GM then began to spin them around the forest. "~Come with me and you'll be in a world of pure imagination!!!~"

They then went through another portal and arrived in a small neighborhood, but it seemed that none of the humans there could see them or the portal.

And in nearly every yard were families. Some were talking, some were playing in the pool, and in almost every one were children. Laughing, smiling, running around, doing whatever they wanted without a care in the world.

GM then summoned a golden cane as he pointed to several of the scenarios. "~Take a look! And you'll see into your imagination!~"

He then began spinning around as they suddenly appeared in the city, which unlike Hell and even Heaven, was covered in a bright blue sky with all sorts of colors instead of just red and gold. And instead of demons or angels walking around, it was humans.

"~We'll begin with a spin traveling in the world of my creation!~" GM sang as he took his granddaughter's hand and they began walking down the sidewalk, admiring all the sights and sounds. "~What we'll see will defy explanation!!!~"

They then suddenly leapt onto the top of a moving car, with GM holding onto his tophat so it wouldn't fall off. "~If you want to view paradise, simply look around and view it! Anything you want to, do it!~"

The two then leapt onto another one, and then another one before the cars all stopped as a group walked across the crosswalk.

GM then leapt onto the crosswalk, even doing a little quick tap dance routine. "~Want to change the world? There's nothing to it!~"

Then, GM held his granddaughter's hand again and they went through another portal as they went into an entirely different continent, on top of the Great Pyramid of Giza, being able to see a small city across from it.

"~There is no life I know to compare with pure imagination!!!~" GM sang as they began traveling the entire planet through his portals, seeing all the sights and places and people it had to offer.

Cultures, monuments, technology, families, it was all so much to take in. And so many moments of...well. Humanity.

Friendships being made, adventures being had in the sky or on the ground, romance of all kinds, inventions that Charlie once thought were exclusive to Hell alone, and even families being made through the little infants being held by their parents in various hospitals after hours of struggling.

It all felt even bigger than Heaven. Grander almost.

But then, they suddenly landed at a lake, but Charlie was on the docks while GM had landed on the water, but he was staying afloat with a large grin.

"~Living there, you'll be free...if you truly wish to beeeee!!!!~" GM cried as he shot fireworks into the sky, all of them in various and bright colors.

Charlie laughed, clapping her hands. "Oh, Grandpa!!! This place is wonderful!"

GM smiled as he walked on the water back to her before hopping onto the dock and then taking a seat. "It really is, isn't it? Oh! And we're just in time for the sunset. Pop a squat, Charlie! It's beautiful."

Charlie giggled and sat down. Her eyes widened and she gasped softly. "Wow..."

And the sunset in itself was almost...indescribable. It lit up its half of the sky in a beautiful golden-orange that was mesmerizing to look at. And as the minutes passed, it went down more and more.

GM sighed softly, even closing his eyes as he took in the sounds of the lake's water washing onto the shore. And when they opened, he looked at Charlie. "So. What do you think of Earth?"

Charlie beamed, admiring one of the most awe-inspiring beauties she'd ever seen. "...It's imperfect...but that's what makes it so beautiful."

GM laughed. "Couldn't have said it better myself...I may have shown you everything great about this planet and its people, but you have seen firsthand the bad that can come from it in Hell...but in all honesty? That just means you should appreciate the good things that are there and strive to make more of it. Earth won't ever be perfect, especially if not even Heaven can be, but I don't think I want it to be. Not anymore."

He then held up his hand, manipulating the water into the shape of the Earth. "Many humans and even some people in Heaven are disappointed with how Earth turned out. And I can't deny the wars and terrible tragedies that happen everyday...but...I think some of it is exaggerated. People call me an optimist, but I like to see myself as a realist...and that reality is just not so bad."

Charlie giggled, smiling wide. "It's really not. Sometimes people forget that, but...that's okay."

GM turned to his granddaughter and ruffled her hair. "You're most certainly my granddaughter, Charlie. And the best one I could ask for!"

Charlie beamed. "Really? I'm surprised my aunts and uncles didn't have children of their own."

GM hummed before he beamed. "Well, I technically do have one other grandchild in Heaven, but by adoption. You would love her. She reminds me a lot of you, actually! But, a lot more of...err...Angel's kind of jokes."

Charlie giggled. "He'd probably get along with her then. Angel's very sweet...just in a tough situation."

"I'll have to get to know him more then. Perhaps I can help." GM smiled before he sat back. "For now though, let's just enjoy the moment."

He then summoned a small handful of stones and set it in between them. He then grabbed one of them and skipped it across the lake.

Charlie smiled and picked up one, skipping it across the lake herself. Then, her face fell.

"...Grandpa?"

"Hmmm?" GM asked as he skipped another stone. "What is it, Charlie?"

Charlie skipped another one. "...Do you know where Mom is?"

GM's four eyes widened and he turned. "...she...hasn't been with you?"

Charlie shook her head, sniffling. "...She disappeared 7 years ago...Dad told me they had an argument and...and she didn't come home."

GM's heart clenched because he knew where Lilith was. But if she had gone to Heaven of all places, then that meant she didn't want to be found.

And while he badly wanted to tell Charlie...it wasn't his place. Not yet anyway.

He then reached over and wiped away his granddaughter's tears. "Wherever she is, I'm sure she's so proud of you for what you have accomplished. I don't know where she is or why she left, but...I will find her."

It hurt him to lie to his beloved grandchild, but...truth be told, he didn't know why Lilith had left. He didn't know what had changed between her and Lucifer. But, now he had a reason to discover that.

"So, chin up." GM smiled. "I haven't known you for very long, but I already hate seeing you cry."

Charlie sniffled, and smiled weakly, wiping at her eyes. "Sorry...I just want to know if she's okay. If she's safe. I...I figured she may have been struggling. After all, she was busy a lot when I was a kid."

GM's eyes softened. "...I...think I know why. She must have been ruling over Hell alone since...your father..."

He then took a deep breath. "Your father didn't want Hell. He didn't want to be a king, truth be told...your mother on the other hand? It seemed she had embraced her new role, but we both know leadership can change anyone's point of view. However, I know your mother. She's strong and absolutely fearless. She's not going to let anyone, not even Heaven and Hell's armies combined, harm her. She's alright out there..."

Charlie smiled, feeling a little better as she looked at the sunset. "I hope so. I really hope so."

GM then stood. "Speaking of Hell, how about we get back there? It's starting to get late and a growing girl like you needs your sleep."

Charlie laughed. "Grandpa, I'm 200. I'm not little."

GM grinned cheekily. "200? You're right! To me, that's barely an infant! Perhaps I should've brought a stroller."

"Grannnndppaaa!"

"I'm kidding, my child." GM laughed as he snapped his fingers, with the two walking back through.

(Song used: Pure Imagination from Wonka.)