Ah My Goddess Fan Fiction ❯ Valkyrie's Knight ❯ Act I ( Chapter 1 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

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A Seer flicked open an ever knowing Eye.

": The Page, turns.... :"

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It was a cool, calm and not very stormy semi-moonlit night. (Sorry, no Hild tonight.)

Urd and Skuld were arguing again over the tiny TV set that didn’t really work all that well. Banpei and Sigel were nowhere to be seen. Velsper was off somewhere attending to a biological imperative again. And one other goddess was nowhere to be seen at present. This left a somewhat lonesome mortal standing outside the Tarikihongan Temple, looking around at this late hour before bed time rolled around. (Hopefully this time not roll around 'him' at that.)

Keiichi wondered indeed where Belldandy had begotten to. The literal goddess of his dreams (waking and asleep,) having disappeared after having finished cleaning everyone’s dishes without complaint again, something Skuld prodded Urd about once again. Keiichi just kept clear of the nominal antics anymore, as Skuld eventually would just retreat to her mecha fetishes, and/or to have fun with Noble Scarlet again. In fact more and more, the angel side of the counterparts seemed to be brought to the fore at least once or twice a day now by each of the goddesses, ever since the Tenshigui incident, as well as when Blue Lance apparently became a part of the ‘circle’. It was like they wanted to be out in the open, more and ever more. Keiichi just silently kept feeling amazed by it all, still shuddering how easily it had become for him to become a vessel for such beings. No matter how many times he saw and felt it all occur.... "Nevermind weird." ....he put, to no other ears, save his own.

He stood outside in the cool evening air the same about Chiba Prefecture, and knew better to simply wait for Bell to reappear. He felt rather for a moment to not be too nosy, even if the goddess First Class wouldn’t be irked by such in any form whatsoever. Keiichi felt as proper of his own auspice to be this way, at least for the moment until he head that all too familiar singing again. Such that the thought to remain private of unknown matters, overcame him to investigate anyway.

He proceeded to check on the growing sound, as it came serenely off to the far right, towards the forested areas yet again. Experience told him what to suspect. This time however he thought he heard, vocalizing... “Eh? Is there someone else....?” Keiichi soon once again falls into whims of curiosity and puts on his shoes to go check out what sounds of familiar, and something anew along with.

He draws close into the barely moonlit trees, a one quarter opening crescent this night just rising in the night sky, the shadows of the usually easily avoidable trees making the going a bit more touchy. This as the mortal resident 'phwaps' more than a few branches into his head, one a good ding of a snap back unto his neck, as he misses a good hold on pushing a branch aside. Still, he finds his way, the clarion sonnets soothing the air once more, and indeed K1 hears more than one voice singing.

As he arrives in close enough sight, he’s surprised at what he sees. And of whom he didn’t expect to see so soon again.

He clears a bare moonlit tree trunk and sees his beloved goddess of three plus years, near a familiar and withered husk of a tree trunk he remembers Bell singing to. Apparently to give new life, if only for a little bit longer. A husk that keeps garnering such despite well past time for such things. Such done heedless and willingly by the loving goddess Norn of the Present. It’s however whom he sees as the second goddess with her own angel(s) presented, that the sight becomes unexpected indeed. This time however, it’s not the tree trunk that is the focus of Bell and Holy Bell, as the duo help a steel blue maned goddess with two single angel-wing angels sing unto a small glowing clover of three leaf clovers. Keiichi finds himself characteristically amazed as this display of rather effective singing makes the clovers grow a good amount in size.

Eye agape and transfixed, he barely notes again a certain white haired hybrid troublemaker float on beside him. (Again.) Urd does not however interrupt this time, not for Keiichi’s sake however. Urd is actually surprised at the sight all still too new to her as well, as Lind and Belldandy sing in near perfect sonnets. Bell of course the better of the two, giving some evidence of what is going on here. Both goddess First Classes have their arms out open, Belldandy's own more raised than Lind’s are, as the Valkyrie has her eyes shut tight, not so much as concentrating, rather of ‘bathing’ in this lesson being professed into the night. This last serenely for some time is seemed.

Eventually Keiichi is so engrossed, he never hears from behind him. “OH WOW! COOL!!” ....which makes Keiichi jump about a skyscraper or something in anime effect. Urd rolls her eyes as this distracts Lind too much, shooting all three mutual of her ‘heads’ at Skuld in annoyance. Keiichi just shoots back up from his goddess induced stroke and snaps. “Skuld! For pete sakes!”

Urd just snips in. “I see someone can’t keep to decorum as usual.”

Skuld just huffs as Noble Scarlet next to her (again) raspberries Urd. “So what? I was surprised. Who wouldn’t be.” Keiichi dryly retorts with a bland facade “Well we all are now, thank you.”

Bell simply however, with Holy Bell in simult, look as Lind sighs and shakes her head in concert with both of her angelic companions. Urd just scolds back at Skuld. “Maybe you should realize what you interrupted kid.”

Skuld looks indeed, and then realizes. “Oops.” ....this as Keiichi sighs, and then turns to look back at all the angels displayed once more. (Just like what he was getting used to anymore. Supposedly.) Lind meanwhile gives Skuld a dour glance and then notes as Bell imparts. “An excellent first try Commander Lind. You’re more at heart with your companions than I expected.”

Lind just smirks but professes. “Not anywhere as close as you are. Your singing is still exemplary in all of Heaven. I’m glad I came to you first for this lesson. Even off a tryst of a whim on this late mortal eve.” Bell just smiles and returns in kind. “With more time, you too will find equal peace with your angels.”

Lind however isn’t as sure, even though her two angels just smile verily beamingly, displaying the true happy heart within. The Valkyrie comments... “I still have a way to go nonetheless.” Keiichi then comes up and bows quickly. “Welcome back to our home Lind.”

Lind smiles and then has her angels hug Keiichi suddenly. “It is indeed so my friend. Cool Mint missed you.” ....this as Keiichi is glommed and tickled by two sets of feathers, much to Bell’s giggling. (Even Urd and Skuld in fact.) He muffles back out. “Nice to know. Hehe... hey, that... Hoheehee....”

As this is happening, Urd calls out from afar with... “Kind of a surprise for a Valkyrie to be seen singing like this, isn’t it?” Lind just smiles as Keiichi is smothered under two angels, (and soon a third as Holy Bell is sent to have a bit of fun too.) “My apologies on such a short notice entry. I wasn’t actually hoping for visitors to be honest.” ....she puts with a blush and closed eyes. Belldandy however openly imparts over her angel’s link cloud swirl. “Lind contacted me when she got close to Earth, and wanted me to teach her how to sing. I was actually surprised myself when she asked so, but I found her Angels were indeed wanting to learn.”

Keiichi manages to muffle his head out to breathe in a gasp, and comments... “Sounded great to me. Glah!” Lind just hides more of a blush, something most unused to her personage and station, and just tries to fend off with... “I only wanted to feel how both of my Angels really felt. That is all.”

“It was still cool.” Skuld remarks, this Lind returns with more amicable smile. The Valkyrie returns. “Thank you.”

Keiichi manages to get clear of the feathery winged lot and gather his person back together, when Belldandy offers. “It is late for you to return to Heaven Lind. Possibly a chance to stay the night and rest? We wouldn't mind the extra company.”

Lind considered this as she looked at the particulars present, as Skuld once again hugged Noble Scarlet to Urd’s annoyed disgust, and felt there would be no harm in allowing a chance to be amongst those that garnered her newfound trust in all things. (Or somewhat in such format anyway.) She allowed herself to open up again and smiled, imparting to Bell. “I would be most appreciative. If it indeed isn’t a burden.”

Bell and Keiichi shared a smile and Keiichi offered. “Not a problem. Great to have ya.”

Urd suddenly slaps her arms around Kei and Bell and yells. “Sounds like a party to me! That new Shinju Sake needs some love.” ....this Skuld whines at Urd in a huff. “Is drinking all you want to do in a party?” ...this Urd quips back blankly... “Is there anything else?” ....this Skuld snaps back.... "Karaoke for one, ya goddess twit!"

Keiichi however objects quickly... “Um, Chihiro won’t like it if I show up at work drunk again.” ....this Urd ignores (of Skuld especially,) and just pulls/drags Kei away from Bell, with Urd sniping back. “And still you come back for more. Let’s go!”

As Keiichi yelps and whines as Urd drags him back to yet another drunk-sake-fest, with Skuld in close pursuit in whining complaints, Noble Scarlet looking cute-worriedly back at Bell and Lind, and then chasing off after Skuld. Bell smiles (and teardrops a tic,) before she turns to see Lind laughing a good bit. Bell hears such a refreshing sound from the Valkyrie and giggles in turn as well.

Lind just utters out between giggles. “Everything is so.... fun here. I feel so free.” Lind imparts, still very much unused to all her emotions. Bell smiles and offers. “You should feel as such. Being who you truly are is wonderful.”

Lind innocently smiles at Ball and nods. “It feels good.”

Bell simply has Lind come with her, all the while Kei screams like a girl, trying to keep Urd from plastering him again. It ended up like this all night once again. Bell had tea and cake made, Skuld pigged out on more Ice Cream with Scarlet, and Lind discovered the ‘flavor’ of her named angels, thanks to Keiichi’s prodding and Skuld’s whinny parting of a cup of Mint Chocolate Chip. Velsper stayed out of the way once he knew what was happening, and eventually even Keiichi gave in to some wine and song.

Thankfully the night wasn’t as long as Keiichi feared. (Not so lucky with the hangover.)

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It had become a very long and cold night for him, trying to huddle around the bare fire spot he had managed to make from as much dry tinder he could from the soppy ground around of mixed snow and sleet mess around him.

His slate of magical talent wasn’t in fire unfortunately, and holy magic tended to attract too much attention these days. How far things had fallen, sitting before that bare measure of warmth in this morass of hills and broken trees in the north hinterlands near the Great Glacier. Having managed to escape from a Wight that had been following him, causing him to go in circles for two days, he found his path lost. Even the map attuning pixie he had was too worn out to help him now.

As far as the knight knew, he was up against the wall yet again. It had been for some time now in fact. After a trip to the Great Dale to deliver a simple document to the elven clerical order there turned afoul for reasons he never learned, he managed to pass through into the Narfell region but found few comforts other than haggled supplies.

A bad spate with a half-orc ‘gang’ got him in unexpected trouble with a local constable in a small township, another driven ride on a horse that ended up being eaten out from under him by a crocolisk of all things, ended up with him in this situation.

How much bad luck he could have and still be alive was astounding to him, though such a thought was barely a passing shiver as he rubbed his chest under his well dented and less than gleaming armor.

The mortal, still considered himself as such even after all this time, wondered though if time was finally up. He might be technically an enhanced being essentially reengineered by the goddesses of Intracel, but he was still born a mortal, and not a goddess. As such the hunger pangs and aches of the wild hit at him more than he cared for. It could be equal to what a goddess on a mortal plane could endure for all he knew, but no being he knew should have to endure this withered state he had found himself in.

No mount, food supplies in his bags were almost gone, two weeks at least since the last amicable town or village would allow him close, a week since the last really hostile one drove him ‘off’, and more, the last of his flint was now in that smoldering excuse of a fire plume.

The wind wasn’t helping it either. It bit deep, stealing heat as it may be actually eating at him in a fashion. He wrapped his tattered cloak and robes around him, holding the hilt of his cherished morphemic sword as if it was a child’s doll. A sad state he would consider of himself in just ‘that’ thought. It had become forever since a friendly facade graced him, maybe a punishment he didn’t truly know of.

A chastity beheld he should nay have. A curse easily imprinted. A foe of many a cause. Certainly no friend he knew of anymore it seemed. His bright outlook at life long since dwindled as his apparently foolhardy attempt to find more answer of many a form in the eastern regions of Faerun coming to near mortality of naught.

He shivered and shoved such thoughts aside, his lonely state bringing up much he both didn’t want to think about now, and actually couldn’t out of the same true curse he apparently had.

His amnesia apparently never bated. Worse memory of his old life what he learned he may have had, was as fleeting in mind as his supplies had become. And yet he shook that thought off, finding simply quitting not in his nature. If he could escape from that gelatin creature of all things about to wholly devour him, a mere nip of cold wasn’t going to fell him. Still the lack of supplies, even rock hard jerky, would probably hasten his demise. A fate he ‘did’ suspect he deserved in the end.

He didn’t ask for forgiveness. He only wanted to ‘know’ what his mind kept casting into his dreams essentially every sleeping moment now. He drifted off, and saw them again. He saw a misty, unclarified scene of majesty and grace, everything that Heaven should be. He knew this should be true, but the dreams were not confirmations.

They only drew wanting that always fleeted away as he awoke. Of such, one figure seemed to keep appearing and fading time and again. Something with blue hair of some fashion.

And he jerked awake again, huddled over a now dead flame, patters of sleet drops drop clumping onto the mush ground and his partially soaked form. Somewhere in those drops of melting ice upon him, a tear dropped amongst them. As silent as he kept to himself anymore, by choice and chance.

He wondered how it would all end. The way this was all going, it had to soon.

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Chrono yawned at her station, the day long and mind weary. At least it had been uneventful, for the most part. Three Wishes, a number of bug problems quashed, nothing seemed to be amiss as she looked over her System holographics.

“Extrêmement fatigué sont nous tous?”

Chrono wasn’t the only one to look back and upwise, as Ere commented to Peorth. “At least you’re here to join us in our fatigue for once.”

Peorth just droned out... “N'importe quoi.” ...with a hand flick. This just made the trio-controllers giggle at expense for a simple moment. Peorth still sighed nonetheless in another vector. “At least everything’s back up to speed once more.”

The Celestine Incident once again had reared its ugly head, but this time on Earth. Most likely why she was called back from her ‘vacation’ on Earth, one she had been dearly enjoying ever since regaining her full bodily form. The infirm experience was well welcome to be expunged from her personal history, even if the trio before her liked to rub such in a bit too oft.

It all still paled to what Belldandy and Keiichi had been forced to endure when Celestine returned and made his intentions known. The utter mess that the System had to be rectified from was finally well past. Morgan le Fey was apparently resided to her own chosen fate, and Celestine gone from the Planes apparently forever.

Peorth was ready for yet another stint of driving Keiichi silly. The thought made her giggle a bit reflexively.

“Huh?”

Peorth blinked and looked over at Ex. “What is it?”

The silver haired goddess looks back with... “Um.... ah.... apparently Thor and Almighty are not registering in the System at this time.”

Peorth just reacts in agape. “But that’s impossible! Even if they leave for a time, they would leave some kind of....” ...Peorth considers, as the three controllers look back at her, wondering what the rose themed goddess is thinking. Peorth then looks up from rubbing her chin in contemplation, and asks. “See if there is any kind of message for their departure. Anything at all. I don’t care how minor.”

The trio look at each other then turn to investigate this anew matter at hand. It doesn’t take long, looking through system packets and querying the War Section, for some kind of a hint. It comes in confirmed voice as Ere suddenly speaks up.... “General Hirund informs that a matter of reparation is at hand. I don’t understand....?”

Peorth blinks once more and delves. “Is there anything else?”

Chrono puts up. “A note from the Secretarial Section to the Almighty Office. All it says is ‘chevalier’ of the note.”

Peorth shot her head forward. “What did you say?!”

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It was a good thing they slept through that night in the end. Drunk or otherwise, they went to sleep never knowing of immediate detail of the tragedy unfolding in Hong Kong. Of how many died in one terrible blow by the hand of one that got to fulfill a last requirement of a form of a ‘wish’. This before for releasing control of his bodily shell. To the equivalent of a Soulless, it was to simply finish the last work of the subject victim before the plans of Voluspa was attended to. The last few times, all but one other were only mere puppets with no real desires, not even focus of their mismanaged lives. To find one like this, upon this morbid World Plane of a husk.

The last ill soul that this wrath had taken control of, when it occurred, an entire nation went into revolution, and caused worldwide traumas that lent themselves even into the here and now. From there, the word Czar was stripped for the word Dictator, and peasants became communists. The soul however didn't find much use to Her Will, and hence to the Torture that not even Nidhog was aware enough of.

It seemed fitting that this current form that was subsumed, had such equally horrid plans. Her Will would use this one to exacting effect.  It’s only problem in affecting them that passing night, was when only innocent victims were of target, and not of actual leadership. Not that the Wraith saw 'anything' as innocent, not before the Crime, before the Will. Still, it would be enough to affect drastic change in the city, and it’s aggressive neighbor for decades to come. The numbers of bloodshed rose in the high dozens, panic gripped the island city like never before. All well and ill to ferment the Supplicant to the Will.

And all of it without the culprit ever caught. Once the shell had accomplished it's goal, the Wraith subsumed total control. An aura 'meant' not to be interfered with, overcame the horrid being. The departure vector was as simple as it was quiet as a result, like the still shadows of undeath the Wraith originated from. Caceroth passed by throngs of panicking citizens in a dark long coat, and found a nearby fishing dock.

With everyone distracted, the ‘mortal’ found a vessel that was nondescript and unlikely to attract attention. A ship registered as ‘Silenzioso’, a small fishing boat, came to the eye.

As another explosion ripped in another part of the city, as the owner of the boat never saw the blade that dropped him. The desiccated body left over from the lifeforce drained away, would allow the Wraith to make the coming journey with ease. Fuel to the ashen fire smoldering. The ship drifted out of dock, and turned to the north east, as a dead reckoning course would take the being from the partially smoking ruins of the dusk city that night, and by morning reach his intended destination.

All according to the Will of Voluspa.

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Lind snapped awake all of a sudden, holding her head as she tried to gain clarity of vision. Fluttering her eyes as she felt the after effects of the mint ice cream more dearly than she would have liked, (and the bad aftertaste of that sake Urd had offered.) She looks around with a bit of cotton like feel upon her encoded mouth, as she sees she is alone with a light blanket falling off of her white jumpsuit at the chest. She plucks it lightly and smirks a bit, as she lets it fall from her gloved fingers.

Eventually enough sight forms that she can also think with in kind. He holds her head and tried to remember what she had been dreaming about, but it faded from her memory just as fast. Something within seemed familiar, enough to make her concerned, but not enough to dwell very long upon. Soon enough, thoughts turned elsewhere.

She simply arose and started to do a normal stretching routine in silence. At least so she thought when she then went outside.

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A good layer of snow was now covering him, soaking his coverings far too readily to allow him to sleep further. The sleep had been at best, that stuttered dream came back, and it only made him feel an odd and false sense of longing that couldn’t possibly ever be. The worst was what the cold alone stabbed from him anyway.

Since every last tendon in his body was now colder than even sleep could ignore, it became enough that sleep would become penetrating instead. Lethal of the kind. He knew the feel of hypothermia way too well, and knew he had to move if he hoped to live.

He slowly rolled over, and smacked his helm and head into the still mushy, though now ice veiled ground, a 'splush' and crunch meeting pain and chattered bone. He found sight difficult all of a sudden as he felt his body try to act on instinct, and fail as he felt himself hit soppy ground once more.

Not a good night of apparent.

It was actually getting to the point where he felt his mind wishing for it to ‘really’ end. For it to end in some fashion where it hurt no more. Where something would come along and replace this horrible delirium with cold peace, any kind of cold peace. One where nothing hurt anymore, where it...

He shoved his eyes open. “F.... f.... fever.... no....” ...he wrenched out, as he realized somehow he was feeling things he should not. This as snow switched back to horrid feeling sleet again, pattering his retracted  armor helm band all over. He felt this, and angrily realized he was stronger than that. Giving up was just too cowardly an act to do. He wanted to live. He wanted to remember things he knew now that had been lost. He ‘wanted’ to live to fix whatever mistakes he had in ignorant remiss. He had to know what face he kept seeing almost every time he closed his eyes anymore.

Unfortunately he also realized he had developed bad hypothermia indeed, and such icy delirium was fighting to drag him back down, at the whim of a voice he didn’t know of whom such was. One that sounded too foreign in fact to be his true own.

One that may have fit too well. Not knowing his true name, he was sure of now since ‘Imladris’ was not it, he wondered at hazard of the fringe of that voice, if he was even truth of himself. Of anything at all, whatsoever. Nothing at all was solid in mind, since not even of a name was so.

Mind and body kept switching as much in the cold and numb, as the dark weather did. It seemed the daylight would never return. He didn't know anymore if time was racing, or as if sludge.

And still he tried to keep moving, randomly more and more, as was seen by...

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The light of day bathed over the Temple at it’s opening cusp, warm rays belaying the point of thermal nadir. Such that cool air began to warm. Lind had just missed the actual sunrise, but was still soothed by the sight and feel nonetheless. It was all that she could do at the moment to ally uncertainty that kept nipping at her. She started her stretching routine, before Lind then heard the sliding door open behind her. It came to no surprise to her who it was. And the obvious words of... “Did you not sleep well?” ...from a Belldandy-ish source.

Lind found the question worded differently than intended, but still the tone was there. Her old instincts still readily there in any case. The Valkyrie looked back with a  crane of her neck partially. “Remind me to be careful of mint from now on. And of Urd. Keiichi is wise to be wary.”

Bell made a simple smile, but pressed knowing better from the colors she felt. “It is something else however as well.” Lind looked fore and sighed. “Perceptive as always. Equal to the muse.”

Bell however didn’t get much out of that compliment, Lind not truly wanting to profess anything at present. Lind just imparted further. “Just a rough dream. To say more may not be of truth.”

Lind stops and closes her eye, before she feels a hand on her shoulder. Bell comments in kind herself with... “First Class goddesses cannot lie, so I have to feel you are not for now.” Lind however reacts neutrally to this, not taking it right. She steps away and responds more plainly. “If I do not know, then I can’t unless otherwise. Lies cannot find place as such.”

Bell stepped back and held her hands to her abdomen. “My apologies. My concern was out of place compared to knowing your worries.”

“I’m sorry too.” ...Lind chorded in kind, realizing from Bell’s tone, her own still rough manners. “It’s only been frustrating for a time now, ever since I gained Cool Mint. My mind seems to have changed focus on me without my consent.”

Bell nods, as the daylight drew brighter still. “Maybe it’s something else without your consent.”

Lind sighed and commented... “I’d rather keep my consent.” ...and walked out into the open walkway ahead. Belldandy folded her arms and considered that.

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The horizon of the southern tip of Japan hazed into sight.

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He managed three more steps and slipped again. He kept not giving up, but the elements were being just as combative. A serious fight to live suddenly was taking place, as he kept fighting with his own soul. How it all happened was long lost, only that it was happening, as limbs flat out lost all feeling. Every time he fell however, the mortal felt the sting of cold on a new cut of bruise, and pushed with lowering levels of angry strength. He forgot why and how, only to do or do not, and he ‘would’ do.

Standing, falling, kneeling, crawling, falling. It kept happening over and over.

It kept happening until he started to feel a light warm him, he lost track of when he noticed it. It was like a sun upon him, but brighter. He was confused thinking that daylight here should be more muted. Suffused of ill weather. Just plain gray.

Imladris swore he saw more than such, beyond the light as two forms seemed to muffle something, before he collapsed in a fit of spent exhaustion.

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A Japanese coast guard maritime vessel rounded around off Karatsuo’s south about ten kilometers, as local police searched around the beached fishing boat registered out of Hong Kong. Other than fading footprints into the trackless distance, and no eyewitnesses...

Footsteps that simply vanished at one point. And police dogs that whined at officers that tried to make them garner a scent from the remainder.

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Keiichi was holding his head a bit, shaking off a fading hangover, as Belldandy walked up to the Beemer bike, dressed in fashion for their Whirlwind jobs. Belldandy asked simply. “You feeling okay Keiichi dear?” ...this Kei just chuckled and replied back simply. “I think Urd took it easy on me last night, so I’ll be fine.”

A bit distance away, Urd and Skuld came up. Bell called back. “We’ll see you tonight, Dear sisters.”

“We’ll hold the fort.” Urd called back, which Keiichi toned a hum of uncertainty about on cue. (And such Urd shot a dry eye that Kei was well wise to look away from.) Bell asked quickly. “If you see Lind, just be nice to her okay?”

Skuld cocked an eye and asked. “Why? She seems fine on her own. Won’t she just return to Heaven today?” ...this Urd puts in. “Don’t worry, if she needs anything, we’ll help. More than likely not though.”

Belldandy just bows her head in thanks, then turns to smile at Keiichi, and both get in the two seat BMW RS, with Bell waving goodbye as they drive off for work. After they leave, Urd and Skuld just fold their arms as Urd quips. “Lind can take care of herself.”

She looks over and sees Skuld already gone inside, Urd just shrugging and floating to head elsewhere in the temple grounds.

As the Beemer however trails off into the distance, on top of an electrical pole, Lind watches them both with her excellent vision, seeing with detail how the two talk and laugh with each other, all the while Bell keeps Keiichi’s head focused on the road.

Such companionship makes her feel a pang she hadn’t focused on for nearly twenty years. It was then she remembered something from the past, why she didn’t know. Forgotten for better reasons she was sure, in favor of her now completed goal. That was until she remembered her passing dream.

She then wished she hadn’t.

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He slowly awoke, feeling warmer, drier even. He felt some kind of blanket over him, hearing new sounds, ones that felt rather friendly to be around. In fact the very sight seemed much friendlier to be around, the air alone warmed to his cheek. Cold was nowhere to be felt at all. Slowly the sensations all around him increased as he awoke back into the world of the living. Or at least something that seemed like such.

Eventually his head tilted up, and started taking in sights that he had truly ‘long’ forgotten.

“: I see the enhancements have kept you as young as ever. :”

The mortal gasped, the voice like a clarion of a past he really never considered hearing ever again. Something of a past still lost, called forth clearly enough despite. He turned his head, and saw indeed one familiar form, sitting before a glowing fireplace with a pot of something healthy smelling, simmering.

The mortal repositioned himself to his knees, a glowing white ‘blanket’ falling off him. He looked around as he did this, and it was ‘not’ anywhere near the Great Glacier apparently. In fact, the rolling green fields and silver blue and gold hint burnished sky with puffy clouds that formed and dissipated overhead in peaceful fashion. It all came across as only one place... er... of Plane of...

“: You going to come and eat or what pup? :”

Imladris, as he still remembered his name, yes, not real at that, rose and just looked at... “Lord Thor... is it not?” ...said with a low cocked head, uncertain of the answer already known to him. The said God of War was stirring apparently one mean pot of stew. Whatever was in it, it drifted to Imladris’s nostrils, and made his tummy rumble with total reflex. The mortal just held his tummy and chuckled. “Well it does smell good.”

Thor wasn’t the return voice. “: Indeed it should, though hunting that Stag was not to my liking. :” ...this Imladris felt his heart truly skip at. He struck his head over to his rear, and saw the avatar form of...

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Chihiro blinked as she saw Keiichi enter. “Good lord you look bad today.” ...this as she saw Bell perfectly enter as well. Keiichi just quips. “Sorry, had a friend drop in unexpectedly last night. Impromptu party and all. Urd is a peach and all. I think that sake was too. Peach... yeah... you know.”

Chihiro squint cocks her eyes at this, and remarks. “Seems something you two keep having any more of. Day or night.” ...and with hands on her hips. “And why is that?”

Keiichi gulps and chuckles out. “Well it’s not like...” ...before Bell chimed out. “You see Miss Chihiro, one of my friends from Intra...” ...Keiichi BLURTS out... “Just a friend! That’s all! Should’a realized better! My bad! My bad!” ...said with wackily waving arms and exasperated looks.

Chihiro just rolled her eyes and walks off a short distance to her book keeping. “Ah, just get to work you nutty kids.”

Keiichi just bowed twice FAST and bounded goofy looking to some grinding of injector parts. Bell just followed to help as always.

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Urd went back to her concoctions and kept to herself. Skuld as well messing with Banpei while Sigel watched a ‘safe’ distance away. And Velsper all the while acting too much like his reincarnated form around the temple grounds, making small insects flee for their lives and such.

Lind however hadn’t come back yet, as far as any of them knew.

But that she hadn’t left either.

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“.......Al.... Almigh...!”

The Avatar form only raised a hand. “: Nay nay, an empty stomach will not do well with such vocal exertion. :”

Imladris blinked and felt his stomach complain again, he however shoved this aside with a comment of... “I don’t understand, where...?”

“: The sounds of old in that tone at the very least, not to mention a distinct lack of hearing reception. :” ...this as Thor chides, ladling his thick pot for three bowls, hovering to be ladled unto. Imladris still can’t help his disbelief in more than one fashion, and rubs the back of his head, before his stomach all but kicks him with hunger. “Ow...”

“: I will partake if the mortal will. There questions and answers can flow. :”

The knight looked between the two High Gods, and sighed. “Hope there are rolls. Soup isn’t...” ...just as a thunk to his head, and a deft catch of a good sized crusty roll. “: Got it covered. Cold milk butter as well. :”

Imladris shuddered. “Did you have to say ‘cold’?” ...this Thor laughed at as two gods and a mortal, made of themselves a good dinner. Such was the concern so rare, as was the time at hand of unspoken reason, as of yet. Plenty to eat in fact, beforehand.

--------------------

Peorth was surprised when she talked to the Office Secretary goddess, and was told. “Oh, they came back already. Didn’t you hear?”

The Administrator slit her eyes. “Would be nice if we did for once, from the Secretarial Sector.”

The goddess on duty just flicked her lime green mane and shrugged. “Pitoyable fillette.” ...which really riled the rose themed goddess.

--------------------

Urd looked outside as she was stretching from her daily mullings of the same concoctions. As she did so, she looked up and outside, head turning about and around, and then noticed something up in the trees nearby. A form with a single white, blue trim leg dangling. “Huh, still here? Thought she’d be gone by now.” ...before Urd simply shrugged and turned to find the daily listings for her favorite soaps.

Skuld had noticed a short while earlier, but thought the same. They knew better than to mess any with a Valkyrie. Hence the day was actually quieter here than usual.

--------------------

A rice farmer outside of Himeji, west of Kobe, was wiping his forehead on this growing warm day, checking the rice for parasites, when he thought he felt a chill pass over him. He looked up and thought he saw a wisp of gray trail off to his left, off to the east. As soon as he looked however, he didn’t see any more. He shrugged and went back to his fields.

--------------------

Imladris thought it was a bit too odd to have such company, it felt too equal, and the mortal of birth knew better. Still he didn’t complain at the food, the first best he had eaten in many a day.

“: Should be good. My best recipe for battlefield encampments. :”

Imladris chuckled to Lord Thor's voice. “Forgot you could do that. Thank you kindly for the meal.”

“: Have you remembered then mortal knight? :” ...Almighty questioned, having found the meal well enough not to offend the chef. Imladris stopped eating and wiped his chin with a rag Thor tossed him at one point. He shook his head with... “Not really. I feel something, but not details of true note. Not enough to feel... honest about. I just don’t know.”

Almighty’s avatar just nodded, as Thor sighed thickly, as he then sucked up his bowl with a nice ugly slurp sound. Imladris however added as he looked into his bowl.... “If not for that dragon, I’d probably not have even remembered how I feel about myself. That my name meant something. How to be human at the very least.”

Almighty imparted to this... “: Lady Irtasus of note. :” ...before a good slurp of his own bowl. Imladris looked over and blinked, then realized. “Some help? Mighty at that.”

“: Another of my many allies and servants. I do keep tabs on how best to help them through difficult times, such as how you two met. For such a debt, a calling came of assistance to you. Endearingly, as I understand of it. And also of here and now, after your past year of difficulty. :”

Imladris chuckled and gave another good mouthful, gulping whit to Almighty's fathomless tone... “: We thought it best time to return our investment of a century back to the fold. You have redemonstrated enough, and suffered as more any knight of faith ever would, so as imposingly to the spirit we would not wish to lose. Hence why I was wrangled into this meeting. :” ...this a look at Thor, whom smirked at the 'wrangled' part. Thor imparts. ": Aye pup, we on High believe it's time to bring arms back unto your needed hug. Such I 'know' the Generals will no doubt have for ye."

Imladris wiped his chin, (and a tear upon,) again as a proper upbringing of Generals demonstrated. He then toned in plain... “I wouldn’t try and cash me in for much profit. I haven’t broken even yet, of what level to reach I do not know.”

“: And hence why we are here. In part, the rest by Duty we Need of you. :”Imladris looked over at Almighty as It finished the bowl before the avatar. “What duty is there?” ...he asked, waiting for it. Almighty however informed only. “: For such, we need to discuss in more formal settings. :”

Thor put in as Imladris grew confused again. “: Your familiar Generals, nannies what have you, will attend to your recovery of cloth and arms, whence to in an hour of passing time past this Green Fields, you will meet us both again for formal discourse. So eat fast pup. :”
Imladris blinked, and looked down at his bowl, but then saw suddenly on looking up, the two gods were gone. The mortal looked around wildly, and then stopped with a deadpan sigh.

“I forgot all of ‘that’ too.”

The food didn't last either. (Boy he needed that Goku-like pig out session.)

--------------------

“You going to be up there all day?”

Lind heard the voice but didn’t look down. Being austere as always even with her more trusting nature, Urd tried to pry a bit anyway, but the lack of  return answer just made Urd sigh blandly. Lind’s silence made the hybrid goddess cock an eye and quip. “Won’t you get stiff or hungry, or wonder about Heaven or...”

“If want me to pry into your doings here instead...”

Urd ‘urked’, and then coughed and gathered herself, and then snipped back. “Being defensive won’t do much good. Some vacation this is so far.”

Lind ignored that, her attempt to be alone to little avail. However she ‘was’ distracted as she sensed something approaching from above. She tilted her head up and looked simply. Urd saw this and wondered for a second, before she sensed too. Urd held her head and moaned. “Doesn’t Gate ever stop certain goddesses from coming back here?”

“Should I remark on that?” Lind quipped in to Urd’s annoyance. Lind then hops up onto the branch and floats down to head to the residence entry walkway area. This as a falling star sparkle approached again in a manner similar to how she arrived back in Chibi form prior, just as apparently unauthorized as before. So it seemed anyway.(Was starting to seem like goddesses were traveling to the mortal realm in this certain area of Chiba more of oft.)

Lind looked up with a plain glance as Peorth arrived, looking rather emotional. Urd saw this and shook her head on approach, but as soon as Urd landed, the rose goddess imparted with a curtsy, her nominal 'uniform adorning her always. (If you call that bikini getup as such.) “Salutations déessees.”

Lind asked directly. “What’s wrong?” ...noting something in Peorth's greeting tone.

“And why in person?” Urd added. Peorth just ignored Urd to the Second Class’s annoyance further, and imparted quickly. “I have a message from the Almighty. We have a problem.”

Eyes turned serious on said dime.

--------------------

He wasn’t mistaken. They had treated him as a long lost puppy they had been waiting forever for. That first hug from the Generals almost yanked his head clean off. And in less than an hour, he was cleaned up, refitted with renewed and refurbished armor and even stuck about a thousand times with nanite translation needle-probes that apparently updated his enhancements, the first in nearly twenty years. In all that time the three Generals were outright chatty with apparently all kinds of gossip Imladris just ‘had’ to know about for some reason.

A few other random goddesses came to see for themselves, and none of the mechanical, intimidation of ill note, was to be felt here. Word spread quickly of enough of this alone.

The only problem with it all, was what the High Gods themselves found out about, with the continued amnesia Imladris suffered from. Despite much of his old personality managing to resurface after all those adventures, most of them apparently on a world plane named Toril, he still felt distant in places, the sound of his tone still a tic uneasy to the Generals. Hirund put it best when she learned this sad truth, with... “You may still not remember all you have, but you remembered your soul enough to suggest the rest is still in there. Such is a hope you should keep to heart.”

Imladris didn’t feel as confident. “I wish it were so simple. I even tried an expensive mind recovery spell uttered by some powerful mages. All I got was dreams that just made me doubt everything again.”

The Generals on hearing that much, realized much they decided not to impart, other than from Rend’s goddess lips... “Perchance may come from what is in that dream. Suspicious I am indeed of this.”

Imladris would spend the next great deal of what was to come, considering over this very iota. Thoughts however at that point, turned to more strange gossip, meant to lighten the heart, before the Call of the hour came.

--------------------

“: Did Peorth depart as I asked? :”

Freyana nodded, accessing the System through Gate, now working properly this time. She imparted... “: Just a few moments ago in fact. Why allow her back to the mortal Plane on such short notice? I thought her task was.... :”

“: They must be warned. The manner must be swift and with few conduits of discourse to achieve what must be done. More, the unexpected target must be protected. Even I admit my worry for the mortal these of days. The System still has plenty of my children attending it’s functions. Such that causes an influx of imbalance that She will act upon, in all clear measure. :”

Freyana just sighed and shook her head. “: I still say it’s a bit reckless. And why these mortals have become in your heart, more of tact than ever before, befuddles my senses. I thought we would keep ourselves out of such matters. The Wish isn’t even... :”

“:: The Wish is still valid. It always was. ::” ...Almighty speaks to Freyana’s anime looking dejection, hoping the rumor wasn’t true. Apparently unsaid, the recent report of the mortal using an actual angel in a difficult situation, was most impressive to the one that Created the All. Nevermind being the vessel for Celestine himself, at one point. The Judgment Gate was the final test that amended Almighty's will, from dissuasion, unto acceptance.  It attested that mortals were very much capable of eventual evolution and further aspects of ascension.

The Mighty Lord then thought on this matter, unto Itself.

It was fit to allow such anomaly of so many higher level beings to remain, come and go as whim to the area of this mortal. All the reports kept regarding the mortal as pure and strong of heart and spirit. In the end, the mortal’s life span was short in comparison to the timeless expanses of Heaven’s own kind. Even at maximum length, the actual time lost of a few goddesses, even if three were It's own beloved kin, was small to what time was already spent in Heaven in the first place, and time that would be afterwards.

The mortal was still young, but mortal nonetheless. Almighty always kept this in mind always. Always...

This infinite mind then turned to the other one it at the moment considered just as impressive. The Lord Infinite knew of so many such magnificent mortals. They existed in different places in space and time, even in Heaven, existing aside each other in different phased ‘frequencies’. Such that each three dimensional being was incredibly simple to manipulate as even to their own world of sight and experience, such as why the mortal knight Imladris was the one in this story, but not others in this same story. Not even the same in untold endless others. Such was well and good.

It felt amused to know the timeline of the mortal at risk in this story, had in fact untold numbers of ‘canon’ story lines, and many more non-canon were existing in conjunctions of dimensions, realities and space-time, all at the same time. Always moving, and always in synch, yet separated like paper of a sliding Japanese style door. As such, had been the fate for nearly a mortal century of the being now that which he felt approaching. The heels of the Generals in direct close concert, not too far off now. Freyana also felt, and shivered at a feeling thought long forgotten.

More of thought unto, that other Wish had given the Almighty a foreseen Weapon against the very Seer that held all the knowledge Almighty essentially beheld and used to create the System. The same that the realms of all dimensions knew of the fluid timeline of what could happen in the where and when.

As such, all Knowing and all Utterly, this moment had been foresworn for much time now. However the details were never keen even in Its mighty mind. Such is why stories may be sensed as known, but in the end, one must witness and absorb the story to truly know of it. That’s why Almighty knew of the stories to come, yet It wasn’t the one that wrote them. The Lordship was as much a character and portrayer as anyone else in the Infinities.

In the milliseconds that it took to consider all of this, feel what was focused upon, and note Freyana’s annoyed frown, the Lordship knew all would be well in the end. However the tablet that throbbed within his modified port in the effidice, told the Eminence the trials to come during this story would be difficult indeed.

And then from afar... “Milord Master of All?”

Almighty saw as did Freyana of the on duty secretarial goddess, a far more amicable one than what Peorth endured earlier in the day. The pink hair a cue of this, at the entryway arch, with the Generals and mortal knight waiting just within sight.

“: Please. :” Almighty imparted, for the group to enter.

--------------------

“No Bell and Keiichi are not here. Why?” Urd imparted, Lind listening, as Peorth had prior hand asked. The authoring goddess replied back... “I was sent by Almighty to warn you all of a possible threat to Keiichi’s life. This time not through us as a target either.”

Lind blinked. “Direct? Who would...?”

Urd held a hand up and looked around. Skuld wasn’t around to hear all this, and was hoping for once her focus on Nobel Scarlet would keep the young goddess from investigating. When Urd was hopefully satisfied they were alone, Urd imparted. “Not here.”

At that, all three followed Urd’s lead, and zipped off ‘way’ out of sight, as Urd left one Mini-Urd behind as a ‘watchdog’ of sorts, in case Belldandy and Keiichi did return. It was still a few hours off from such, knowing how Chihiro ran her shop hours. If Skuld got curious, Urd could just some mini-goddess adventure with Gan-chan with Skuld to distract her. As such, Urd was worried Skuld might inform of this before they could properly prepare. Whatever was going on, Peorth delivering this in person meant as much a signal to Urd in how to handle all of this. The three therefore met ‘high’ up in Earth orbit to discuss what Peorth was imparting.

As soon as they ‘arrived’, a scenery of interstellar stars framing the trio, Urd nodded. “Go on.”

Peorth just imparted. “I was not given true details, the le Dieu Tout Puissant Itself hinted that we would be possible targets as well, by what measure was not also told. However it was impressed upon me to know that a serious threat is coming, and may already be drawing close. One not of Demon make either apparently.”

Lind blinked and commented. “Whom else would come after Keiichi? Spirits aren’t like that, and he’s more in danger from you ladies than of any true enemy.”

Urd commented... “Thanks.” ...deadpan, but then added with folded arms and a sitting position before the other two First Class goddesses. “He does have a couple of enemies not of demons, but they haven’t been around in quite some time. That Aoshima dope for instance, but that was because of Belldandy. However it isn’t like any of them to do such a thing. Not if it sounds like a physical threat.”

Lind imparts. “So if not Human or Demon, and Spirits not of likeliness, whom else would it be?”

Peorth sighs and tones out in annoyed. “I do not know, pourtant, it was imparted to me that someone ‘else’ would be dispatched to deal with this threat, and attempt to not allow us to have to come into contact with this threat ourselves. When I asked why and of whom, I was rebuffed to come here and warn. I feel I had better remain so see to help prevent whatever may become of Keiichi.” ...Peorth ended, a dear tone of worry seeping in her inflection.

It was enough to make Lind and Urd feel equal wavering in their encoded chests, a cool feeling that was uneasy to endure. All three present dearly loved Keiichi, if in so much they could allow without infringing where the line was where Belldandy essentially ruled over all else same feelings in this regard. They would lay their lives down for the mortal, as he had done essentially for them as well. Lind imparted to this effect. “I had better ‘extend’ my vacation here and ensure this trouble passes.”

Urd comments... “Could be a long time.” ...but levels an eye at Peorth, floating before the stars, her back to the magnificent panorama of Earth. Urd put further.. “Though if we knew who was apparently coming, we might know how to plan all of this properly.”

Peorth just put up her hands in a shrug. “J'espère je connaître.”

All three sighed and decided the best course of action for the moment, was diligence. Peorth just concocted an excuse Bell would easily accept, as Lind would inform of her extended vacation. Urd just shook her head and told the two were just dopes, and got glared at.

The trip back down was so much fun as a result.

--------------------

The high mountains near Magome Prefecture never saw the shadow and ash that passed by in the fading day. No beast or sight of human, by fortunes more the well.

--------------------

Imladris nodded. “I understand.” ...such the Generals near him, were shuddering feelings anew, of the kind not felt in the same said twenty years past.

Almighty knew it was hard telling such a truth to the mortal, the reply back more human this time as expected. Being told one was essentially a Tool at the whim of another, even to die as, was never something that ‘should’ be taken lightly. Imladris however was never the fool. He may have made a Wish he still didn’t fully understand anymore, amnesia or otherwise, but he knew that his usefulness to Heaven, by fact of said Wish by wording, as it had been to all the kingdoms he had attended to over the near twenty years he fought for ideals higher than his own 'restart' have came from, was pinned on his skill as a warrior. And warriors died for their masters if called for. Apparently it had already been done once before, to the mortal’s remembrance, one of the few of memory he clearly knew of. It would probably happen again now, and he steeled his soul for it. By now, Thor had arrived as well, and felt the same incarnation of a soul that worried him, as much as any in that chamber.

Almighty however professed. “: I do not tell this of you however, without compassion. In the time you have been amongst us, you are as much family as you would wish for in your heart. Your respect and prowess to historicism precede you. As such so you are only told you are what I said of, to ensure you know what may be called of you when the time comes. If it must. I hope otherwise in all other aspects of my mind. I hope you will as well. :”

Imladris gulped a bit, knowing the feel of the warming stares his ‘Generals’ gave, of the mixed maternal/companion kind. He blushed a bit knowing he was still cared for in Heaven. He just wished he could remember fully, and repay such back in ‘proper’ kind, even to the aspect of giving his life again for.

Imladris turns the subject of the conversation to the real matter at hand, in the next breath and shift of mind. “How may I serve Heaven, My Master.” ...with a good kneel of proper measure of reverence. Freyana thought she saw a ‘blush’ stain the effidice for a second there, as It replied. “: To say of such, I will have this chamber cleared of all but only whom you brought. This is to ensure security and your solemn oath of silence, for what I am to tell you. This I Sayeth. :”

At that, Imladris and the goddesses present, heard the chamber arch shut with a thick set of chunk-slams and locks, as the windows of pale white and articulate detail were suffused with more ancient tones of shadow. Imladris looked around and rose, as he saw this, and then heard. “: You my mortal Lord Knight, are charged with the defeat of the Voluspa and Soulless alike. Of them, your Nemesis most of all. :”

Thor, the generals and Freyana alike gasped, as Imladris felt his mind SNAP into a mode of pure hatred, faster than a mere switch even. It was more like a breathed reflex it ‘twas. Imladris clenched viciously and imparted in a ‘stable’ tone. “What is thy duty of me. I am at your absolute Call.”

Almighty paused. For a mere moment, somewhere in that awful hatred and malice at the mere note of the name of Caceroth, the bane curse word of Heaven in this reality, that a sense of gleeful importance also rose like a gentle wave deep within the Knight’s soul. The kind that knew that a clarity was present that would see the task to be presented, done to all absolute costs. The kind that still was pure and human within.

Almighty was satisfied, but worried in the same vein, for another aspect of the mortal’s amnesiac soul. There was another reason for Imladris to be sent in the end. It was imparted in this format.. “: Very good. Your duty is to the world you once died upon. The same World Plane that now holds another soul that Wished for their own miracle, and through it, other miracles and events have taken shape. All of such beyond your ken of absence.

Despite, and through information infused before your departure, and other devices provided, you are tasked to protect this target your Nemesis has lain sodden eye upon. By all means of your disposal are you to protect, unto your very life, this mortal. Upon more information, you will understand what else is to be done.

Beyond this, you are guided by proper guidelines to not reveal the truth of nature of your true reality, and of Heaven in all its auspices, to the mortal Plane. Beyond this, I have no further direct instruction. More, you are to your own freedoms and whims aside from the task assigned to you. :”

Imladris had the information seep in his mullet and realized. “But... my ‘own’ world? One I died in....?”

“: The so called ‘Great War’, yes it was. It is the same world, now as many years unto time's grace, into the following century of the mortal timeline there. Much has changed per what your eye has known, and you must adapt as you have, as you did in all your others. Know that, this world may use your replete example to go by, in your time there. And that in turn, you may learn much in many veins of your own, in your time there. I have no restrictions upon this as well. :”
Imladris looked down, and had doubts surface. He spoke of them as such... “But... would this not mean a hundred years have...”

“:  Ninety-one years and three months in near enough fact. Much will be new to you, as if it were an alien world of the great Galactic Alliance you once saved. Keep such in mind, as is the fact you may encounter Demons in your trials there. Of them, no hand of lethality will befall them, by the code of the Doublets. This of all else aside from your task, is of Commandment. Know your place well and blend in your own choice of manner. When the task is done, all will be satisfied. Do you heed my Commandment. :”

Imladris bowed his head on the spot, as a proper Paladin of the Light would. “I give my blood Oath, that this task will succeed. I shalt NOT fail!”

Freyana herself even felt flustered, as Almighty ‘nodded’ in the mortal’s mind. “: I am pleased then. :”

Imladris rose and stood most powerfully, and then reverently bowed in expectation to depart. Instead to many a surprise, Almighty then called forth in a flash of light, a glowing crystal polyhedral, before the Lord Knight. He blinked and reacted as he instinctively took it from midair before his chest. “A holocron? Such a tool of another tale to be wary.”

Almighty imparted to the direct... “: Through this artifice, only you will know the full story, reasons and why, of the Voluspa and the Soulless, and such why they must be stopped. A time of agreed upon moment, of the Invasion beforehand, and my choice at the time when confronting of Voluspa herself. This now come before you as my Will and Hand to combat them with.

I chose you, for beforehand why I would need you for. Your Wish is now at hand, and a turn of a page comes. I know you will not fail to write a epic saga for all attendant to witness. As such, I name you my Cherubim of the Sword of Light, Templar of Intracel. This of all your other gained titles over the years, is your banner and my message to call, for Voluspa to heed. Go now, and defeat them. No matter of what result may be. :”

Imladris literally basked in the new title, as his armor and accouterments glowed fiercely upon this change, before he bowed in reaction. He then asked. “By my leave, my Eternal Lord?”

Almighty however paused this chance for the moment, and imparted the last. “: Use your allies to come, for they too are contained as history in the Holocron. Use your tools of all measure however you see fit to accomplish.

And lastly, trust your heart to know when time is proper, of how to resolve this conflict. There is more than one such, and you must master enough of all to succeed. My parting words are to allow love to be a blade, more than your own. Again, you will know why whence time flows. :”

Imladris blinked, and looked back unto at the Generals, whom were suddenly distracting themselves with kooky whistling and humming. (Rend even faking a nail filing.) The knight cocked his eyes, but then turned back and bowed, more pensively this time. “Um... as you Command, My Lordship.” As such, Thor remained for a short, but not a part, as when Knight and Generals departed the chamber, one more nominal of light now. Afar, the secretarial goddess unseen having a heart flutter moment at the sight of the passing knightly monolith.

Freyana then commented to Almighty in a most distressed tone. “: Dare and dear me, My Lordship. Are you not ‘trying’ to meld those two together? Or did my mind play a Hex upon me? :”

Almighty turned his effidice, apparently showing It’s ‘back’ at the goddess elder, as the Eminence commented. “: As well it should. Already love has caused much trial and travail. One destroying all in sake from one that otherwise gives so much. Why not for once in my mind, give chance where such can save for all instead. I do sense this. I did owe the mortal for his sacrifice beforehand after all. I sense the gift will come of its own accord, therefore. ::”

Freyana however sighed. “: Might as well reassign the title of Valentine, from the nominal High Spirit that handles such affairs. Seems to remark of truth in the here and now. :”Almighty just laughs, a good and hearty one.

--------------------

Keiichi was stretching outside for the moment, just work clothes that much just a bit dingier than before. A good couple of oily smudges on his facade ensured that the hard work on those engine blocks would pay off for the customers waiting for them. All the hard work was indeed paying off, slowly but surely. Between hard earned skill and Chihiro’s ‘business’ like demeanor that managed to wrangle in the said customers, Whirlwind was starting to take off some.

Enough that the workload was actually falling a bit behind now. One bike was nearly ready, four more in various stages of disarray around the shop, even partially on the back area lunch table now. Keiichi just snickered... “The price for success.”

“You said it.”

Keiichi just looked over as Chihiro walked out to do exactly the same thing, the nice late afternoon air playing across her T-shirt covered shoulders, her own worksuit tied of upper portions around her waist. Chihiro just stretched, and stretched as she tried to get a kink out of her neck, demonstrated with a rub just off the left of center spine bone. Her own hands were a good bit dingier, but she didn’t care that it got onto her neck a bit.

Keiichi just looked at the fading day, about an hour until sunset. It didn’t seem there was much of a problem in the world to him, looking upon such. Chihiro apparently decided to remind him of the real world, as she looked around. “Um... you know where Bell is?”

Keiichi quipped. “Going over the books last I saw.”

Chihiro sighed. “You hear about the news?”

Keiichi blinked. “No, I don’t really bother looking much. Other than the racing series occasionally.”

Chihiro drooped her shoulders a bit. “I envy you sometimes.” ...this Keiichi blinked in confusion, as Chihiro informed of what she heard on the radio this morning about Hong Kong. Keiichi just looked agape and eventually sighed. “Good grief.”

“I know. It doesn’t make sense does it.”

Keiichi shook his head, and looked behind him, realizing why Chihiro was looking and asking about Bell. “Does Bell know?”

“Dunno, but don’t tell unless she asks. Don’t want to really...”

Keiichi just sighs and puts out. “Bell’s not that fragile. We both know this world isn’t as nice as we’d like. We’ll still face it together no matter what though.” ...Keiichi decides to put, looking up at the sky as he stops. This makes Chihiro look at him in mixed softness and awe, before she drones out... “Now I’m really jealous.”

“Huh?” Keiichi blurts, just as Chihiro feels her neck wince again. “Ow.” ...and rubs at it, her own stress not able to relax the pain any as she rubs at it. Just then, as Chihiro gets a bit annoyed with this, she feels a pair of soft, warm hands on her neck. Ones that are very giving and gentle, and make her neck relax very significantly. She moans out in a soothed voice suddenly. “Oh yeah, that feels good.”

Keiichi hears and looks over, seeing Bell behind Chihiro, giving the boss a good neck massage,  Belldandy looking so serene in giving it. Chihiro looking quite ‘rather’ pleasured by it, that Keiichi has a nice facial flush going.

That is one ‘lucky’ neck. Keiichi thinks. Chihiro looks over and sees this quips. “What’s with you?” This with Keiichi suddenly rubbing his head nervously. “N... nothing.” Chihiro ‘falls’ back under the massage and soothes out. “Bell, you’re the greatest.”

“Thank you.”

“You should open a massage parlor or something. You’d be rich.”

This makes Keiichi gulp a bit, as Bell looks thoughtful for a second. The Goddess First Class was always looking for a way to help Keiichi’s funding problems, and it would help Skuld and Urd out with their habits. Ever the helpful and mindful one she was. However Keiichi interjected... “Um, Bell’s already kinda full up helping around here you know.” ...he puts in a kinda lame tone. Bell just looks over openly, as Chihiro considers, and then quips. “Yeah, you’re right. Just means I get to keep the massages instead.”

Keiichi just chuckles and holds his head droop like. (And breaths a good internal sigh.) Chihiro then instead decides to be coy and offers. “Maybe she should give you a massage too Keiichi.” ...this as K1 looks suddenly at a ‘very’ happy looking Bell. “Oh, I’d love to!”

Keiichi just waves it off. “Um... ah... uh... I’m fine! Quite fine!”

Bell just giggles as Chihiro sighs out... “Wimp.”

--------------------

Peorth and Lind were talking off near a tree, as Urd floated around kinda nervously. This suddenly as Skuld rounds a corner that Urd was about to go around, and Skuld yells. “AHAH!” ... “EEK! SKULD!”

Skuld holds her ears as Urd gathers herself, just before the semi-petulant Third Class complains... “Just where did you go? You get me sucked back into that mini-world, where Gan wanted to have me play baseball with the rat pack family, and then you vanish, leaving me to run away from a bunch of love sick rats! Where’d you GO to already?!”

Urd just breathes and remembers her front and puts up in a ‘huff’... “It’s not my fault you looked so cute to them. Just did like any loving sister would for their kin in a moment of crisis.”

“I’ll remind you of that if Hild ever comes back.”

Urd dryly looks at Skuld as she shakes a rat off her right sock, before seeing. “Eh? How come Peorth is back? I thought Lind left too!”

Urd just ‘faked’ out in a drawl. “Oh you know how Keiichi seems to be gathering all these freeloaders these days. Maybe you too can go back when they do.”

Lind and Peorth are cut short from their discussion, when mixtures of explosions and smacking bolts occur towards the residence. Both see and then dryly remark, Lind first... “Is a family always like this?”

“Apparemment.” ...Peorth snips in tone.

--------------------

He managed to wipe away most of the lipstick off his skin, his armored exterior, the cloth, the hair. "Sheesh. Who knew moi return to simply Central Hub would garner such a reception. Soppy or otherwise." Imladris quipped to his own annoyed personage, as just walked away as fast as he could in clumps of steps at a time, thankful he had managed to begotten away from the celestial mob. Was this how Vaudeville stars got treated? Imladris really wondered. (And why did he remember that much anyway? Anywho...)

Of the short timeline that followed, he was busy unto.

After his meeting with Almighty Eminence, Imladris had returned with the Generals to gather his things, at which point a last gift was given to the young Lord. A set of head and feet accouterment pieces that had angel feathers magically melded into the pieces. All almost looking kind of Greek like, the wreath and sandal get up a touch odd, but still very excellent in conjunction with the rest of his armor and robes. The Paladin of Heaven look was still very much there, Mist commented to Imladris’s blush. Such he was told the additions would assist his ability to formally fly.

After this, he studied the Holocron, the device its own adventure in fact. The first time he used it, he found the thing was actually sentient, and was ‘all’ too willing to give just about its entire vast stores of archived information in one mental slamming injection. After Rend found him literally babbling about six different kinds of information at once in a long incoherent string, (something about seagulls and Pat Buchanan or something or another in there,) he recovered and found he had to use mental discipline to keep the archival spirit pixie within, from being far too helpful. To say it wanted to share all it had was an understatement. At least of what it was allowed once Imladris got used to the mental focus needed.

Sorta like riding a tide that he controlled with his mind, one that could swamp him again if he didn’t. The catch was once he began to gain control, he noticed certain areas of the holocron archives were locked out to him. Even the pixie didn’t know why yet, and Imladris didn’t press for now. There was a ‘TON’ of information already available as it was, indeed demonstrating the passing Earth history of the past century in ridiculous detail, as well as the history of the targets at hand he was assigned to protect. The story of Keiichi and Belldandy, and all of their kin became known to him. However he didn’t study such of detail as just yet, he had to attend to acquisition orders not too long after he acquired his new ‘gear’. Time was still of the essence as Hirund informed.

And ‘then’ came that fawning mess at the Hub. Getting in under the awed stares was simple enough. Getting back out had become a near chase out from the ‘supposedly’ stable and serene central complex core. So much so, that  he left behind a good pile of them, before a couple elder goddesses stepped in and bade off a thankful Knight.

By current present time, he had settled down and was heading for the Tyr Sector. Since he couldn’t very well use his ‘chariot’ as a mode of transport this time, he was going there to meet with a different form of ‘transportation’.

He arrived at the gleaming starport, celestial sunlight shining rays down between silver clouds, into sight of his apparently long forgotten, but still pristine residence, towering over the port valley. Approaching however, he saw a short looking goddess with long golden hair, long dark robes with a keyhole symbol upon it, and holding a staff very much shaped like a key. Imladris knew well enough whom this was. He walked up to her and bowed. “Migoddess Gate I presume.”

“Presume you may.” ...the young looking goddess imparted in a semi-business like tone. The knight knew well this was the goddess that was the gateway that all other beings passed through, not just goddesses only. Such a powerful package with a cute facade Heaven knew how to make their goddesses, that was for sure.

“Hmm... if it’s a compliment you wanted to give.”

Imladris sighed and remarked. “This mind reading stuff gets old.” ...this Gate giggles a bit unto, but then fixates a strong stare  “I presume you are here for.”

“Aye, on the orders of the Infinity One. I must return to the world I once left, for the task at hand. That is my Formal request.”

Gate found the response to her liking. Having recently returned to Heaven after a short ‘strike’, she returned to appreciate more of those she studied that used her to pass between the dimensional planes. Getting back to business meant not spending too much time dwelling on what could have been.

But this special case was when she rarely left her Gate Sector, given whom she was sent to retrieve for the transport at hand. Having been requested, she then stepped forward. “Request acknowledged. Please take my hand”

Imladris does so, and his sight flares into a curtain of light streams, as the two are teleported directly to the Gate Sector. The curtain of light draws away and Imladris gets his first sight of the said Sector Gate herself commanded. Essentially it was a single off to the side living quarters area with streams of data rotating in thin columns, in prismatic effects and spatial depressions that gave credence to how much there was within the data stream. Otherwise, the chamber seemed vast and limitless, with Intracellic data code running in serene circles and arcs all along the nearly unlimited 'floor'. All of it shifted colors of the rainbow in its ‘passive’ state, waiting for its next coming use.

Imladris looks around. “Quaint abode.”

“You should come sometime to have tea with me when you have chance. I’d be pleased to show you more.” The knight looked at the strangely smirking goddess with a reserved eye, but replied back nonetheless. “I may take you up on said offer. When perchance comes.”

Gate bows and then flips her key shaped staff of elegant note in part of her apparently sentient robes, the effect flowing much of her skirt up with the slight rise in wind gusts. Imladris looks away for proper sakes and sees the ingrained code streams now not only vibrating colors more singular, but also moving of their own accord in some form of a raised orbit, off of the floor. The walls mind ye, seem silver and up close, but the floor does not seem to meet it, aside from where the celestial furnishings are. As such the effect of the rise in energy levels, most acute to the paladin, makes the chamber feel incredibly vast, as the goddess begins forming the gate unto her own formal self, literal to her namesake, to the third-dimensional plane of target.

Imladris then hears coming from Gate.... “: - From thy voice, calling to turn the key. Unlock the door that locks two rooms, and two worlds. From one of light and hope, to one of life and history, the arch between around the door is formed, the door is ready to open once more.

See through, thy Porte des cieux, and see thy path. - :”

Suddenly Imladris sees a portal open before him, amazed at the unorthodox sight, the knight stepping back a bit as code lines literally shoot into and force Gate's portal open further in catalyst. Gate forms up to twice Imladris’s height, and an arm length of proper space beyond the shoulders each. A simple sliver of light spread apart to show a sight Imladris hadn’t seen in all his time of second life.

Earth, a ray of a setting unto over a hilly valley, lights of artificial structures and life scurrying its way across the surface seen proper, both human and natural alike. Imladris nodded, as Gate suddenly put. “I’ve opened the Gate to the last location Peorth asked for. I suspect your reasons are a part of her concerns she was not fully aware of.”

Imladris looks up with solemn eyes, ones Gate looks down, as she is literally 'atop' her own Gate opening function, as such she feels a strange sensation of sadness and wanting for, without much warning unto her senses. Imladris puts instead. “I do hope I ‘can’ return to have that tea with you. I hope you don’t hold me ill if I somehow cannot.”

Gate wonders what this means, as she sees the Knight rise up to her and bow. “Thank you for your magnificent assistance.”

Imladris however gets a surprise response from this show of gratitude, as Gate suddenly lunges forth, despite how ungainly for a tic how it looks in so doing, and kisses him rather on fully. After his expected float back of surprise, Gate chippers back. “If not, that penance will do just fine. I bid thee well Lord Knight.”

Imladris holds his own lips for a moment, feeling something ‘haunting’ of a similar act he still actually cannot remember of. The moment later, he gathers himself and bows again, and then looks blow to the formal portal. He then literally shoots through it needlessly with mind to the matter at hand. As soon as he does, Gate knows ‘everything’, crash-shuts herself back to humanoid enough format, and drops to her knees, clutching her staff key.

“Oh my... Lord...” ...the young utility goddess stammers with tears, out in sudden abject fear. Both of what to come, and for fear of life cherished now putting life on the full line in the here and now.

--------------------

-A certain cellar, abandoned and all dark and dank-

“Nice to know we’re finally noticed.” ...a certain demon Agent class number says, as Mara hrumphs to this cue. “No worry, our part is already mapped out, by own devices. Not of others.” ...said from a youthful demon copy of the CEO herself.

Mara just looks at the demon queen and cocks a bewildered eye. “You saying we control even the story?”

“We control.” Hild only said.

Mara shakes her head as she lays on some boxes, trying to think up of a way to impress the CEO. Hild just nips out. “Impressing me will never happen.” Mara slits an eye open in her position. “Then I’m out of ideas for dealing with those goddesses. Bad enough there are so many now all of a sudden as it is. Even if..”

Hild just hops up from a plain looking seat and floats up. “I already have one in mind. If you don’t mind working with some old colleagues once more.” Mara looks fully at her, and wonders... “I don’t have any colleagues.”

“Soon you...”

Mara heard Hild suddenly stop and note the demon queen is looking up at the ceiling rather blankly. Mara would ask, but probably just get smack with something for prying, just before Hild smirks a ‘most’ dire facade “So. Has it come to ‘this’ now?”

Mara just blurts out. “What now?” ...and indeed is hit with something, her back to the wall from sheer wind. “Don’t interrupt, and do ‘not’ leave this chamber.”

Mara looks up at the CEO copy and wonders what that really all means. Before she feels the ‘other’ one that Hild is now just sensing.

--------------------

Night fell, Chihiro bids the young couple a good night once more, as Keiichi and Bell ride off to head on home. As they were just starting, Keiichi, concentrating on the road ahead, is heard from Bell in the passing wind. “I heard about today. I know about you wanting to hide it all from me. In understand why.”

Keiichi looked over sidelong in his helmet, the eyes peering through the aviation style slide view glass with worry. However Keiichi sighs and yell out over the wind. “I don’t understand it all either. You’re not alone I can assure you.” Belldandy just holds her hands to her  chest. “It happens a lot on this world, doesn’t it.”

Keiichi has trouble finding an answer to give, one that won’t subject parts of this world even he doesn’t even often think about, unto her mind. He had to admit he ‘really’ ignored it all more than he should. All he can comment back is... “Yes.”

Bell just nods, and tries not to think about it. However Keiichi puts out next that surprises her. “But a lot of good and gentle things happen in this world as well. I’d rather keep focused on such myself. You know?”

Bell finds reason to easily smile again and nods. “Yes.”

"And I really thank you for showing me all of that. Every day."

Belldandy's tear shed was beautiful thing to behold, despite under her helmet of note. Keiichi for his part just blushes another Keima complex vein. The two ride off, putting off discussion best left to those that think they are responsible.

--------------------
"- Abomination. -"

And of the one responsible at hand, of the Hong Kong disaster, looking over from a mountain top point from Fuji itself. Looking out at the display of civilization at its current apex of self indulgence and loathsome scurrying. The hateful Wraith looking on despised it all, feeling the threads of both good and evil, light and dark, all too readily apparent. Far too much of it ascribed to the ideals that Voluspa rejected as unnatural.

Forcing such life to evolve on its own, slow, mistake prone course, was too much to bear for the Wraith. He smelled the viscous tendrils of life incarnate here, and despised it all so utterly. If he could, and he ‘probably’ could at the cost of this ‘acquired’ mortal shell, he would thunder Fuji itself alive and sunder this entire area in a red viscous nightmare. Then the true believers and the true sinner would be burned all the same, and from them, the act of Voluspa's Ragnarok could commence.

But that would not solve the problem Voluspa had sent him upon. The Nexus anomaly was close now, off to the east about a hundred or so kilometers distant. The all too easily felt presence of the vessels of power, both light and dark alike, in close enough relative measure. The wraith could actually feel, and see, the celestial filaments that seemed to be magnetized to the Abomination.

The task was simple enough despite, Commanded by Herself no less. Destroy the target, and remove the power vessels by all means at disposal. And Caceroth ‘would’ use all means at disposal to accomplish this. Even if the Demon Lord present was only ejected, hearing the scream from that one would be worth enough, to the self imagined death throes the Wraith ‘would’ bring to the vessels of light. This just prior when they saw the vessel of mortality enhanced, ripped asunder and the soul stolen away to the Will of Voluspa. It was the key to returning the state of Ragnarok back unto time-space itself, and to the point where the original invasion ‘should’ have succeeded. Only at that point of time could it all be undone.

The energy required to accomplish this, unknowable. The Plan, unceasing. The target, such a frail mortal form with such a potential from the evolutionary viewpoint. And yet so perverted to the ease once Voluspa was done. Apparently the Soulless were not going to wait another millennium for their next chance. The last attempt would have to be 'redone'.

Upon this, the Wraith vanished, to find and End this.

--------------------

“Should we not go out after to collect them?” Peorth uneasily asked in variation for the tenth time. Lind shook her head, this time answering. “Until we know what is going on, we have to hope nothing happens. If we make them paranoid, it will likely cause more harm we are not prepared to deal with.”

Peorth looked across the common room table with arms folded. “That may be too late already.”

Skuld pops her head in. “You two still in here?” ...at which Lind just looks up, as Peorth QUICKLY shifts her posture to a relaxed one, pretending to watch TV. “Elle est comfortable céans.” This Skuld just huffs at and looks around. “Where’d Urd get to ‘now’?”

Lind and Peorth gave each other a surprised look, just before they ‘felt’ it. Skuld alike as well.

"Gate again?" ...both First Classes blurted.

--------------------

As did Belldandy at the same time in her bike as Hild had done, within their hideout. Bell looked up at the sky blankly, as Keiichi noticed. “What is it?”

Bell just replied back. “Something just entered this world.” Keiichi looks around, but then has to focus back on his driving and drops it.

--------------------

Caceroth crossed the final distance with sick ease, arriving at the hilt of a local pine tree, upon a hill deep in the woods to the northwest of Chiba. He ‘knew’ he was close. However his senses were attuned to the Target, as such he didn’t feel other than what his programming was infused with. So focused, and blinded by the Act of horror at hand. The target and it’s companions were all it wanted to sense apparently, so blind was the devotion to Her Will. The information siphoned from the two degenerate Systems, allowed Caceroth to know where to look. The rest was from literally sniffing the souls out, not unlike another Wraith, looking for the One Ring. This the Wraith did, as if smelling for some prey like a wolf. Doing so, Caceroth gained a bearing and leapt.

--------------------

Urd was too worried, now that dusk had fallen. The moon was soon to rise, but had not done so yet. The pall of darkness for once made the Second Class goddess impart to her impulsive side, as well as worry over the two cherished of family. Riding on Stringfellow, she saw a small glint of a headlight she felt was the BMW. "There they are." Urd started with a sigh of...

However the ‘thump’ of presence made her lose focus and look around for a second. She looked around wildly and... "What was that lovely mistress?" Stringfellow 'spoke' on feeling something that obvious. Urd looked 'up' generally. “What is going on? That felt like Gate.”

She never saw the gray shadow that broke over the hill top off to her far left.

--------------------

Skuld was chasing on from behind, using her debugging hammer for a ‘broomstick’, as they flew on FAST, this Peorth and Lind in the lead. Skuld just shout out in the buffeting wind around them. “What the HECK is going on?!"

Peorth looks back. “Why are you following?”

“Just answer me dang it!!” Skuld barks back. However Lind is too focused on trying to find Urd. It was ‘too’ impulsive for the hybrid to head out like this. Not knowing what was going on, and worse to her growing suspicious of evidence that day, both in dream to mind and information to the same. "I hope I am dead wrong."

Peorth looked ahead and shivered at Lind's tone.

--------------------

He found he was dead ‘right’. Riding some pathetic looking contraption, one that made all too much noise. It was such a proper tracer to follow. This where Caceroth halted, at the apex of another tall tree, one that wilted and warped of ash, beneath his ashen armored ‘feet’.

Watching with burning white-ash eyes, ones without pupils or cornea, he saw what he wanted to. And he saw others approaching with the signature auras. 'Perfect', he thought. The obvious to come was going to be so easy. The true Ragnarok would begin here, once again and once more. He raised his hand to formally summon them forth.

--------------------

Keiichi kept looking at Bell, who was apparently very much in deep though, and kept to his own focus. They weren’t that far off from home now, passing into this deserted stretch of the ‘Inokuradai‘ pass. No traffic, it was smooth sailing.

“Huh?” ...he heard himself say. Bell looked over, and to where Kei was looking.

“KEIICHI WATCH OUT!!”

On instinct, the polished bike rider swerved the bike just to the left of some figure that whipped by, of which no factual detail could be made in this dusk of light. Keiichi looks at his mirrors for a second, and... “What was.... WHOA!”

Bell held on as Keiichi jinked to the left, clipping the guardrail in the process but saving it. He had to do it a third time, as ‘another’ form appeared, barely avoiding it. By the fifth time, Keiichi hollered out. “What the heck is going on.... YIPE!!”

This time two of 'them' were in the way, and Keiichi could not avoid them both!! He braced himself as Bell did also, as they... ‘brushed’... through the side of one?

Keiichi looked and wiped quickly what looked like dust from his visor. Bell moved her hands from her helmeted face from a reflexive blocking position, and saw some ‘dust’ on her visor it as well. However a second alter, the two of them hear Bell herself whisper... “It’s.... a....” ....just before Bell sees ‘three’ of them in front. Keiichi has no time and plows through all three, as if going through a light sack of flour in bushels. More of the ‘dust’ fell about them, by now which was creeping him out greatly. Before Keiichi could think however, he then heard Bell next to him yell. “Do not stop Keiichi! No matter WHAT!”

K1 never heard such rare command in tone of her voice before, of even fewer times lesser so. Either way he turned and rode straight and true. “Right.” ...and started to ride with need to get home fast. Whatever was going on, he hoped there they could learn better.

Unfortunately the way became more and more problematic by the passing second. More and more appeared of unknown things, and more and more were hit, sending ‘dust’ everywhere, including into the intakes....

--------------------

Urd looked down as she heard the first screech of tires, and then saw the bike swerving all over the place! It was too dark to see from what, so she started to head down fast to see better. She was delayed however as from behind. “URD!” The hybrid turned and shouted back... “I think something’s wrong down there!”

Skuld however bursts out in front of Peorth and Lind, both tossed end over end for a second as Skuld shoots up to her elder Sister. “Ohhhhhhhhh. Where the HECK have you been?! What’s going...”

Just then Lind BLASTS down towards the roadway below as Peorth sees and follows. Urd just yells to Skuld. “Can it and just stay close to me.” Skuld follows, her voice trailing down in a whining.... “But whhhhyyyyyyyyy?”

--------------------

As he planned, a simple deployment of clone ash, and they all begin to panic. He almost felt like just killing them all outright so they would die of utter ignorance. It felt a proper fitting End to this pointless affair. In so much as long as Voluspa’s demand was fulfilled.

He raised his left arm and more ash-clones came from the very ground. The entire area saturated with ancient ash under earth. How fitting a tool for a fitting end, such even if despicable.

"- Now to end this pathetic insult to Her Will. -" ...and sent his lethal command code out.

--------------------

They started to become all but a wall. They appeared from the nothing of the dark itself, and fear was finding tangible grip upon them both. Bell and Keiichi kept protecting their vision as the clouds of ash began to thicken as if from a pumice storm of a pyroclastic eruption. Breathing drew difficult, as did the output from the clogging engines. Keiichi wondered for a moment if this was what the people of Pompeii went through, and became worried if this was their fate as well. He yelled out as the collisions spewed more and more ash about them! Finally after too many impacts... “I can’t see!”

Bell immediately called forth Holy Bell, chanting a quick spell... "Seek thy of the mighty Winds, gale and flow with breath of anew, and clear the sight of impediment, this of the Great Northern Wind, I call unto Thee!!" ... the spell delivers a HUGE gust of wind before them! The intense typhoon windstorm force blast suddenly causes all the strange beings to ‘burst’ into clouds of ash that then are funneled off in a sidelong wind tunnel and blasted away into the sky. Keiichi sees this and is amazed as usual. “Great job Bell!” ...this Bell looks back with a slightly tired smile.

However just then the engine starts to sputter. Keiichi looks down to the side and sees ash spewing from the exhaust. “Oh hell. We’re clogged up!”

Bell immediately starts to use another power to clear out the manifold, but then sees... “Keiichi!”

Kei sees to his horror in time, as the cloud....

--------------------

....Lind and Peorth see it too, as the ashen cloud that formed and was driven off by a visible Belldandy and Holy Bell, suddenly hath twisted unto its own vicious volition, dead back towards at the bike!

“NO! / NON!” ...both goddess shriek out and RUSH to get to the bike first!

--------------------

They were all about in position. Only the two time Norms were just outside or reach, and they too were about to be too late.

Such that Caceroth began uttering his spell chant, to engage the trap.

--------------------

Keiichi yelps! “Oh CRUD!” ...just as the bike gives out and suddenly loses power. The sudden slow down causes the ashen morass to impact just before where the bike would have been, such that it bursts into large clumps, in all directions! Keiichi manages to swing the bike around and avoid the ground burst, as it shoots up over the bike.

Bell and Keiichi however look as the ash begins forming anew clumps onto the ground and sky, into various shapes most grotesque. “The world it going on?” Keiichi yells out, as he tries to start the engine back up.

Just then as Bell is considering what to do, a yell from above. “Camarades!” ....this the two see Peorth shooting into the midst of the forming clumps. Lind behind Peorth however stops in between the reforming clumps, and sees the ‘last’ thing she wanted, as burning gray code lines begin seeping out from the clumps of all ugly shapes.

“NO! PEORTH WAIT!!” ...Lind shouts, as the code starts to....

--------------------

Caceroth clenches his hand. "- Her Will is DONE! -"

He is about to collapse the trap, when he then senses, and suddenly sees multiple sparkles, shimmer-form into his vision from a great unseen distance afar, and into the area of the attack! The Wraith never expects what happens next!

--------------------

Urd and Skuld saw what happened next as well, just as they also see cursed code lines forming from the ash clumps, they then see and hear a high pitched whistle, numerous in shimmering sound. All of a sudden...

--------------------

Lind in midst, and Peorth just below turning back, all see large numbers of shining slivers suddenly puncture and ‘burst’ many of the clumps into dead ash. The silver-blue slivers shoot all around the goddesses, and below into the ground all along the road and hillside above and below. Many of them land direly close to the bike, but none hit, by chance alone in fact. Keiichi for one.. "Jeeze!!" ..ala wide-eye!

--------------------

The slivers also fly in large numbers at Caceroth and he has to leap to avoid being cut down, several trees thunking large numbers of the silver like slivers into them, the top of the tree Caceroth stood upon is hit by one and bursts the top portion into ash! All of the slivers burst into light showers sparkles as soon as they hit, leaving no apparent cut points.

The Wraith growls in alarm, and tries to locate their source.

--------------------

“What the heck was that?!” Skuld yells out, Urd looking around just as much for the source. However before they can do further, Lind yells again. “Keiichi!! Belldandy!!!"

Below the two see the remaining clumps suddenly burst apart along with the slivers, but many quickly reformat to begin forming larger ash forms, some taller than the half rise of trees, peeking up above the hillside road level. Bell sees as does Peorth. “MOVE!!” Keiichi already is trying that. “Dang engine won’t start!” Peorth grabs at Keiichi. “Leave it! We have to go!” ...this as Bell hops out in kind. Keiichi yelp protests... "My baby!" ...but also quickly drops concern his bike, on the spot, and leaps out and waits to be likely lifted to a flying retreat.

This however gets them a net two meters on foot only, before one of the ‘large’ clumps before them SLAMS a ‘foot’ down, and causes Keiichi to lose his footing, causing Peorth to fall by momentum of hand hold as well! Bell avoids falling by floating, and shoots over to get them both up. Lind shoots in from above and slashes with her Axe at the thing's ‘chest’! The ashen monolith stumbles back and falls, but the rupture from the chest cut causes a pressure release that blows Lind back an unwanted distance!

Meanwhile two even larger, and two adjoining smaller ash-clumps approach in slow strides from behind. Keiichi and Peorth manage to get back up. “What the world are those!?” Keiichi yells again, seeing things again not normal, and this time very much antagonistic.

Just then Skuld bombs fall in all around as lightning bolts slam into the rear group, bursting the whole lot in ash clouds that choke the air. Keiichi is reflexively covered by Belldandy and Peorth, as... “We got em!” Skuld yells before the ash reaches her and causes both her and Urd to cough suddenly.

For a moment the lot of them are paralyzed by the persistent ash, as it begins to resume an apparently relentless form once again!

--------------------

Whatever made that attack, Caceroth wasn't dissuaded, as the Wraith regained control of the ash, and was about to attack again when the power vessels attacked and downed the lot of them. However the ash was now being reformed while it did it’s natural harm to the breathing abilities of the lot of them.

He could still salvage this if he can distract them long enough for the next format the ash was being remade unto.

"- Her Will, SHALL SUCCEED!! -"

A mistake most vocal there, to become triangulated with.

--------------------

As the mutual cluster of goddesses and mortal coughed thickly as the ash swirled around them ceaselessly, this as the ash itself in burning format, began to form into a set of huge rings that dug into the ground. Again burning gray light started to shadow out of the forming ash. The ash kept swirling endlessly, enough to suddenly incapacitate their breathing, enough in fact to feel something else in it all. Enough that the ash was acting on a sentient act, and was directing this very effect.

“I... can't breathe... but I... shouldn't..." ...Peorth choked out, as she felt code being seeped from them. The same was for the other goddesses suddenly, as Keiichi was feeling initial suffocation from plain ash effects. The ash spell effect causing this effect, despite the goddesses not actively needing mortal type breathing at all. Such is how evil the effect is, as Keiichi and Belldandy each look at each other helplessly for a moment at the cusp.

Just as this was all formatting however, a massive shudder occurs, from the direction of the nearby hill, from deep within the forest line! In quick reaction from this,  SLAMMED a wid format shockwave rushes out and smacks away the torrent cloud of ash, as well as the remaining formed ash-clones, all in a violent swoop!

For a moment, all they can do is regain their senses, from whatever just occurred.

--------------------

Caceroth almost had it all set in place, and the Abomination looked ready to die, when he saw a gleaming flash come clear at him, from almost dead above him. The Wraith never got the chance to move, as the impact SLAMMED his stolen shell into the hillside! This caused the vast shockwave blast, one that leveled trees all around the impact point for a good football field's worth of real estate, as well as cause the wind driven blast wave that spread for up to a three kilometer area! Such what saved Keiichi and his goddess clan.

The blast could be heard as far away as Tokyo. Such was the violence of the moment.

--------------------

“Is... is every....” ...Keiichi begins to try to say as he regains breath, coughing out in the same manner that the goddesses do.

“What the heck is going....” ...Skuld says soon after, brushing ash off of her. In fact all of them are, as Lind begins looking around at the utter mess of ash about them. The Valkyrie hazards out to ancient memory...   “Could they have been...?” This Peorth looks over. "Could 'who' they been?" ...this Keiichi just blurts in plain confusion. "Who was what of they who what?"

"Shut it." Peorth/Skuld/Urd say in annoyed simult, more at the situation, than at the mortal that didn't mind such anyway.

Suddenly,  something above them in the hills flares off twice and then a loud ringing sound that echoes across the landscape. The lot look up and hear sounds they are most not used to. All save one of their present number. The confusion continues as more loud clangs echo in different directions for a moment, and then another huge flare of light. Effect is accented by strange blue and white flares of energy, ones that seem to bust apart afar ash code in several directions. At least one tree afar is heard to fall in reaction, to their mutual witness.

Then a grave snarl is heard, then some ‘strange’ sand sifting-like sound absolutely reverberates through the air. Just after, something metallic slashes at something, like slashing through loud sifting sand.

“Okay, is anyone else confused?” Keiichi just says. Just as they all turn to see the same sound suddenly forming behind them. “Not again!” Urd yells, as it tries to form quickly. Lind zips dead in front of Keiichi and Belldandy, the latter on equal reaction to protect her love. Urd and Peorth readied their own spells, as Skuld held back with bombs in hand, Stringfellow behind her.

All of that however is rendered moot, as the forming ash stopped by all of a sudden, a large and very bright metallic form that suddenly appears from far behind them! The effect of the sight, apparently from far behind them within the forest area, given how rapid it moved! The being slams the ash with a new focused blast wave, that shoves the majority of the offending ashen mass, to a slithering, ashen retreat! Detail however of the arrival is obscured by a thick pall of dust, as well as a format of energy that makes the celestial lot gasp in initial feel of.

“Are we a side show or what?!? What the blasted heck!?” Keiichi snap-yells out, but then Peorth shoots her own melon forward! “Mon DIEU!” This the goddesses 'see' enough, that Peorth hazards out further. Is 'this' what Almighty meant?" The reverent moment (if still confused by not clearly knowing beyond a hardening guess,) is then equaled by one of their number, shuddering of mixed emotions. Keiichi obviously looks around at his accompaniment, and then at the 'scene' in awe. One that lasts a moment longer as the obscured shadow within the dust looks around with heavy clanking of armor plates, and then senses its prey has faded for the moment.

Or so it thought.

The form snaps his head off at a focused direction in the open air and then SHOOTS into the same targeted open air, just as a new ashen  clump was trying to reform up, one that suddenly then shoots off as well! Even for the highly advanced goddesses, keeping track becomes difficult, and then nigh impossible as both forms vanish from all sight and senses. Keiichi just looks with bewilderment plastered to his face as he looks similar around at the goddesses all around him.

“Is this what is going on?” Lind says. Keiichi looks...

“But I thought they were all gone.” ...Kei over at Peorth.

“That was so long ago, but....” ...K1 at Belldandy...

“Nothing else makes sense though. Not with all of ‘this’.” ...this Keiichi sees as Urd waves at the mess of ash everywhere.

“What are you TALKING about.” ...Keiichi looks to Skuld, and points at... “I’m with her on this one.”

Just then, a most unexpected sound comes that makes the goddesses cringe a bit, as much as Keiichi in spades. This as Lind is suddenly clenches her hands in intense, profound wrath. “It. Can't. Be."  ...said in a rather livid tone! Skuld just gulps and holds onto Urd by reflex. “What is she talking about?” ...this as Urd cocks a confused eye. Belldandy sees, and is the second goddess to put events and suspicions together. She utters... “You mean to tell us all...”

Lind suddenly shoots off HIGH into the sky, before she can hear further from Bell. This just adds to the endless confusion of what has been going on. Bell looks up and holds her hands in growing concern on another front. "Then is may be as what I feared all along." ...this Keiichi blinks over. "Fear 'what' Belldandy?" Before she can respond, Urd brings things back to earth, literally. “We better get out of here before something else happens.”

Keiichi looks and nods, then at his bike. The thing so badly splotchy from ash abrasions and who knows what more, that he had little else to combat his next bemoaning tone of... “How do I get my bike back home?” ....this before rose vines, and bursts of wind start to pull at the stricken machine. “We got it, bon homme.” ...this as Peorth and Belldandy help out almost on the spot.

Keiichi remembered quickly why he was so lucky.

--------------------

Despite, the sudden and brutally short attack has no further events, as one form chases after the assailant before the Wraith escapes beyond his assailant's pursuit. Of such, the Lord Knight finally ends the chase in dejected disgust, with a hard landing to the top of a random cellular tower, bending it at the top a bit. He rises, now somewhere in Hokkaido, upon the further north, and growls. "Coward."

In short order, he realizes he needs to return to guard the targets, and proceeds quickly back whence he came. The movement is observed from high Earth orbit, for a short time, as Lind sees him and confirms it all for certain. The Valkyrie grinds between her encoded teeth. “How dare you.”

She makes light pursuit from high on up, down quickly to terrain level, but does not give direct chase. She is shocked to suddenly then lose contact with the being, as she nears Tokyo itself. She halts the chase for sake of returning to guard the target, of which she wonders on enroute back to the Temple. "Why 'him' here, and why a Soulless after Keiichi of all mortals?"

As Lind recedes out of all sensory note, Imladris whom noted Lind was giving chase when he reached Sendai, breathed a sigh of relief when Lind broke pursuit. He remains for some time, in the shadows of an antenna farm for some communications company, and reminds himself. "She cannot be my concern. Almighty's commandment was clear. I can't get them involved. Not of any further 'now'." He then wipes away some of the remaining ash that was upon him, and then shook his supposedly clear.

All of such just ends a rough night.

--------------------

The ashen Shell reforms somewhere 'back' within Mount Fuji. Her Will needed to wait for him to recharge his power.

And for the prey to fall into the next trap, already prepared.

--------------------

Mara sighs, laying in her spot of entrapment, her attempt to see to what the hell was going on, rewarding her with a Seal spell comprised of 'many' wires from around the decrepit building. She muffles for a release that doesn't come yet. Hild meanwhile sensed everything that had happened, enough to know. "There is one more Intracellic power at play now, and an ancient foe that has apparently returned sooner than ever anticipated. And so it begins again.” Hild says with a shiver, one nearly as rare as she is.

Mara just looks with a confused stare. “Anything that we are going to be a part of?” ...as she tried in vain to escape her predicament. Hild looks down at her stricken demon captive and smiles. “You know what they say. Those that seek riches, must risk all. And that time may be now, my dear.”

Mara didn’t like the sound of that. Not one bit.

She then asks. "Can ya free me now Mistress?"

Hild just sighed her kith-like sigh. "Sure, ruin the mood, why don'tcha."

Mara just groaned.

(End Act One)

============================

Author Notes - Ooooooookay. Thought I’d plop in a few story ideas that I had used, for the Prologue story and the First Act. These are my sources and ideas, up to you all to accept them or not. I’ll add other notes at the end of other stories as I produce them. Act Two will begin soon after I post this chapter here.

- I used the idea of the genetic body enhancement idea from Tenchi GXP as an obvious method of allowing ‘Imladris’ to even start to keep up to the goddesses, the Valkyries most of all. The essential product is the same. Enhanced strength, reflexes, senses, mental acuities, yada yada. It’s been less about simply making him a god or such, and more an evolved being, accelerated by celestial technology. Given that in the OMG! Universe, Heaven is what it all is, this kinda makes sense to me. (At least to me, again your all call.)

- I decided to put the OMG! Movie timeline in just after what would be the Gate arc of the manga series. This is probably off, more so now with the added chapters since I first wrote this, but I wanted to move things where both the Voluspa and Celestine conflicts seemed to keep concurrent. There are plans for this later on. As such, the timeline puts all of this about a year after the current arcs. The further arcs have now been reflected in the Valkyrie Mirror series, and will likely see amending in VK as well, as I go along repairing the story and plot.

- I also decided to use D&D/Forgotten Realms cosmology as part of the World Tree cosmology, modified in ways to keep the idea that the World Tree is the central cosmology of all planes (celestial and mortal alike,) and that Intracel and Nidhog is run in the same vein as intended from all I have read so far as reference material. Just makes it all feel larger since the higher dimensions could have just about everything for all we know. (If you have any D&D 3rd edition books, you can probably read up on what I used. If not, no biggie, since this is essentially a separate cosmology in the end, for purposes of this story.)

- Why is Imladris still referred to as a mortal? He was born one, and died as one when he made the Wish. You probably noticed what timeline he died in by now. Another plot device for later in this series. Oh, and the real name bit? Heh, I love my evil writing mind. Oh, and the hint on where his name comes from, the present one anyway, is from the name of Elrond’s refugee of Rivendale. You can check it out with a quick Goggle search, since I did so. Don’t worry, even if viewed as self-insertion to a degree, the focus won’t be on him alone.

- Voluspa’s part of the tale being made now, comes from study of the Norse Mythology Wikipedia page. However I decided to make it a ‘third’ phantom network between Intracel and Nidhog, acting as a vampire network of sorts, while put it between the alignments and philosophies of both normal realms. Kinda puts ideas of certain things beyond Heaven and Hell in one’s mind, since I faced that question once myself. Keep in mind that religion is not at the center of this series, and OMG! in general. Please keep thoughtful of such. However spiritualism is more at part instead here. It’s more about where one’s spirit lies, and the decisions that lie within. It gets more complex from there, so I’ll leave such at that. Still, don’t expect anything as granted when it comes to these blokes. -evil chuckle- (And obviously by now, the Voluspa side of things has been explained more. VK won't see many revisions of what has been written so far, as all of that is being saved for Valkyrie's Eternity, when I finally get to it.)

- Wonder where I got much of the information from? It’s in the synopses below, and I wanted to get as complete a picture I could of the series as I wrote this. Saying that, I don’t consider this canon (which would be high flattery as it is, if it were,) and expect mistakes to be apparent since I do lots of my writing knowing the feel of the probably intended emotions in the pictures of the manga, to guess how to write them by. I ‘do’ have the whole TV anime series as well, so that helps a bit to guess further with. Nonetheless, I had to a ‘lot’ guess extrapolation for certain characters and events, trying to meld things as best I could. In the end, I just wanted to write a good fan fiction for the fun of it. Learning all I could of the series as I write this all out. Thanks for putting up with it all, if you do enjoy it all.

Sources: Aside from all OMG! volumes up to #33. Also from other additional sources The rest is from below.

Wikipedia - Oh My Goddess!

Gateway to Goddesses info site.

Goddess Relief Office official fan site.

OMG Manga Gallery (Wikipedia format)

Wikipedia - Norse Mythology

English-French Translations - wordreference.com

And finally, sorry for any punctuation problems, FF.net doesn't like extra punctuation marks, ones meant to indicate stress, or moments of comedy. If some sentences sound as if they end funny, this is why.
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