Chapter 1: Reunion
I don't even know Why I post "Oh I'll Get it out in _ days," i never follow it. Anyway sorry for the wait, here's the redone chapter 1, As you'll probably notice this one just had a minor overhaul, it was pretty good to start out with and didn't need much. I'll let you get started reading without rambling like usual
After the defeat of the Origin peace returned to the land of Riviera. Their duty done, Zero, Lilly, Chris, and Nardi returned to Asgard after a short year of living in the land they had helped save from the Origin. Soon after returning to the land of the gods Nardi finally inherited the title of Grim Angel. But life in Asgard wasn't all it was cracked up to be. Nardi soon began to miss life in Elendia with Ein and his fellow defenders of Riviera. So once again he departed the realm of the Gods with Zero accompanying him. The Ancient got to work as soon as they arrived, building extra rooms onto Fia and Ein's home so it could accommodate up to Six comfortably. After ensuring that everything was just fine Zero returned to Asgard, unable to ignore his calling as The Final Ancient one. It has been a year since He departed.
"Nardi," Fia called
"What?" The Angel replied sitting up from his reclined position on the couch which he so loved.
"Can you do me a favor?" The green haired sprite appeared from the kitchen, clad in her customary apron.
"What do you need me to do?" Nardi sighed standing and stretching his arms and black wings out. The red haired angel hadn't changed much, other than the wings that now sprouted from his back Nardi still wore his dark red long sleeved shirt and his long black pants.
"Could you go check on Ein, its taken him an awfully long time to pick up ingredients for tonight's dinner."
"Tonight's Dinner is in peril! I'm on the job!" Nardi saluted in a comical manner.
"Lina wants to help too!" The orange haired sprite shot down the small set of stairs and screeched to a halt next to Nardi.
"Nice entrance, Alright let's Get goin' Little L," Nardi patted the child on the head.
"Lina! Not little L! Lina!"
"Right,"
"Have fun you two!" Fia added as the party began towards the door. Nardi flashed her a smile and he and Lina exited the house. The two took the path towards Chappi's house, knowing that he was the one who had Fia's supplies. After checking at the sprite's residence with no sign of the Wingless Angel our intrepid heroes began a wider search. After checking the Spring the two paused to get a better grip on the situation.
"You know what I think Ein is doing,"
"No, Lina doesn't know,"
"Well," Nardi smirked finally realizing what was going on.
"What?" Lina asked becoming slightly annoyed
"Isn't today Fia's birthday?"
"It is! It is! Lina totally forgot! We need to get her something!" Lina started frantically digging through her pockets in an effort to find something that at least resembled a heart felt purchase.
"Chill Little L, I know for a fact that a merchant is comin' to town today. We can stop by there and get Fia a gift, THEN look for Ein," Nardi reassured the now panicking Lina. The relieved sprite let out a sigh and smiled
"So where's the Merchant?"
"I heard he's setting shop in the Grove of Repose," Nardi shielded his eyes from the two blazing suns, "Soooo that way" He gestured in the direction they were NOT facing and began in said direction. Lina followed along cheerfully skipping and within a few minutes they had arrived.
"Hello dear sprites," The merchant smiled. He seemed old, very old. A haggard light gray beard extended well below his waistline. He was skinny and had a hump which, Nardi surmised, must have made his line of work very difficult
"Good morning," Nardi scratched the back of his neck after seeing that the merchant hadn't quite set up shop yet.
"Oh blessed me," The old man muttered realizing that Nardi's black wings only belonged to ONE race, "to be in the presence of a Grim Angel," The merchant smiled bowing his head a little.
"No really, it's not necessary," Nardi paled.
"So humble, but I have a favor to ask…"
"Uh… Alright shoot,"
"Could you help me unload the wagon, my old bones can't take the strain…"
"Yes," Nardi sighed thinking 'How do you do business if you can't even unload your own wagon' The angel took to the side of said wagon lifting one of the heavy boxes out and gingerly placing it on the mat The merchant had already set out.
"Thank you very much," The merchant gestured to the next box. After much unloading, opening, and repositioning Nardi had finished all the work that could possibly be done, all of the boxes were now stacked neatly, all of the merchandise was displayed on three different mats, and his wagon lay bare, its contents scattered about the grove.
"Finally," Nardi heaved resting his tired body against the wagon.
"It's perfect! To repay your kindness you may take any one item you want,"
'ONE!' "Little L, what do YOU think Fia will like?" The angel, too tired to move passed the present selection duty on to Lina.
"Lina thinks that Fia would like… That!" Lina pointed to a green and white wrist band with several rings linked to it.
"You have a good eye. That is the Friendship band, you give the rings to all your friends and you will stay friends forever,"
"Are there enough rings for 8?" Nardi muttered
"Yup Yup! There are twelve!"
"We'll take it"
"Have a good day, and thank you for all your help Grim angel," The merchant waved as Lina practically dragged Nardi from the Grove.
"Now we need to find Ein," The Angel sighed.
"Lina thinks she knows where Ein is," Lina pointed down the path to their right
"Good thinking." Summing up all his remaining strength Nardi lifted himself from the ground and began alongside Lina to Ein's most likely location, The Crystal Mines.
"Wouldn't it be faster to fly?" The childlike sprite asked.
"No,"
"But-"
"NO!"
"Why!"
"Do you think I want to be your flying HORSE?"
"… Meanie…"
"Just… Keep walking…" and that they did, continuing on their path they finally arrived at the entrance of the Mines. Ducking in the two saw Ein conversing with Ritz, Ein seemingly thanking him for something.
"Oh Ein!" Lina shouted causing the Wingless Angel to nearly jump out of his skin.
"L-Lina! Wh-What are you doing here?" Ein whirled around, nervously pocketing a small black box.
"Looking for you…" Nardi snickered with a smug look on his face.
"Let's go home Ein," Lina smiled, "Fia's worried"
"Uh yea…" Ein muttered, "I'll see you Ritz." The party of three left the Mine and began their return trip, Ein sweating all the way there.
"So Ein…" Nardi smirked, "What's in the-"
"What?" Lina turned around to face them.
"Never mind," Nardi said in an almost sing-song voice, unable to lose his smug grin.
"Let's head home guys," Ein accelerated trying to avoid Nardi as much as possible but failing miserably. Even exhausted Nardi managed to keep up with Ein and Lina, for some reason ran full speed past them.
"Ready to take the next step huh?" Nardi whispered.
"What are you talking about?" Ein's face went bright red.
"Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about,"
"Please… For the love of the Gods…" Ein let out a small growl, attempting a death glare.
"Why are you two so slow?" Lina shouted in a huff, "I thought we were racing!"
After Nardi got all the laughter out of his system and dodged a few lightening strikes he finally mustered the composure to answer her, "No no, it isn't a race, Ein's just trying to avoid me…"
"Why?"
"He's embarrassed"
"Why…"
"Because Nardi won't shut up,"
"Oh Ein what did you get Fia?"
"Um…"
Nardi couldn't stop laughing.
"There you three are!" Serene called gliding towards them.
"Hey Serene," Lina waved
"Fia sent me to find you guys… What's wrong with him?" The Arc gestured at Nardi, who was now rolling around on the dirt road laughing so hard he was crying.
"We were getting her presents," Lina blurted out.
"And He is what's wrong with him…" Ein muttered angrily.
"So you did remember! Cierra's making a cake for her,"
"Is that safe?" Ein grimaced remembering the frequent times Cierra burned his house down.
"Rose already got the pumps ready…"
"Ok good,"
"Oh God my ribs," Nardi finally regained composure.
"Anyway let's get going!" Lina rushed.
"Ok Ok little L Jeez,"
"IT'S LINA!"
"So are we throwing a party or what?"
"Yea after dinner," Serene smiled.
"Sweet," The Red headed angel smirked taking point next to Ein and Serene. The four of them completed the return trip fairly quickly. When they arrived they saw Fia waiting outside the home with a worried expression on her face.
"Good you're back, Now we can make dinner," Fia feigned a smile.
"What's with that face? Did you think that a Grim angels, a Lina, and the last Arc couldn't handle recovering Ein?" Nardi chided her as he entered the house.
"Not exactly…"
"Well, address Ein with your concerns Dinner was the only thing I cared for,"
"Clearly"
"Lina thinks Fia's worried that we forgot her-" Nardi had quickly covered Lina's mouth giving a wide smile.
"Let's just have a nice dinner and go to bed," Ein suggested attempting to cover Lina's near slip.
"Alright…" Fia sighed following behind Ein and Serene. Lina let out a low pitched growl and attempted to kick Nardi in the shin but the angel dodged out of the way.
"I'll let you have your fun after dinner kay" Nardi reached his favorite chair and sat taking the place at the middle of the right side of the table. The angel observed Fia hurrying into the kitchen to finish preparing the meal as Ein took the head of the table and Serene taking the place to the right of Nardi.
"What's wrong Lina?" Cierra asked entering the house with Ledah and Rose in toe
"Nardi," Lina took the chair farthest away from the smirking angel.
"I'll set him on fire later," Ledah said impassively, sitting next to Rose.
"Gah!" Nardi paled.
"Don't forget to make he doesn't fight back," Rose added, "I wouldn't want your pretty face to get hurt." Ledah only blushed in response attempting to make a comeback.
"Oh gee thanks now they're planning my murder,"
"Beating," Ledah corrected.
"… Beating…"
"So where's the cake?" Serene asked trying to steer the conversation away from verbal abuse.
"Pocket dimension," Cierra smiled.
"What did you get her Ein? I hope it isn't hopelessly lame like last year…" Rose asked.
"Nothing special…" Ein blushed twiddling his thumbs. To this Nardi nearly spat out what he was drinking.
"Having a heart attack there Nardi?" Rose asked.
"-Cough- Not –Cough- Exactly,"
"Alright you guys here it comes," Fia's voice announced through the kitchen door. When it opened Fia carried out many dishes and laid them extravagantly on the table top. They began eating and having shallow conversation Fia growing more and more depressed as the dinner went on. Then came a knock at the door, All turned to look but seeing as the door was wood they couldn't see who was on the other side.
"Is there anyone else who knows?" Rose whispered to Nardi.
"Not that I know o-…" Fia stood and opened the door and there standing on the other side, wearing a small cone like party hat with a present in his hand and a small whistle in his mouth, which he blew haphazardly, was Zero. Jack stood slightly behind him also wearing a hat and carrying a present.
"Happy Birthday!" Jack smiled. Zero waved his free left hand a little and barged in laying the present on the couch and throwing his whistle out the door so hard Fia could swear she heard it explode.
"You remembered!" Fia rushed towards Zero and hugged him tightly.
"Yes I did… You're welcome… You can let go now…" Zero looked down at Fia seeing no sign that she was going to stop hugging him, "And by 'You can let go now' I meant let go of me before I change my mind and leave" Fia got the message and went to hug Jack and when she turned around the room was decorated and everyone at the table wore party hats, with a cake placed at the center of the table and presents lining the back wall.
"Surprise!" They all shouted in unison.
"You all remembered," Fia shed a tear of joy.
"I didn't see any smoke on the way here, can I assume Cierra didn't make the cake," Zero took the opposite head of the table as everyone stood to hug/shake hands with Fia.
"I DID make it thank you very much," She giggled.
"Jack! Where the hell have you been?" Nardi patted the brown headed angel. Jack's attire looked heavily worn, he had on a grayish long sleeved shirt with many patches and stitched together pants. All this was concealed by a brown cloak he wore, which was tattered and battle worn.
"Everywhere," Jack shook his head sporting a new scar across his nose.
"And what talked you out of Asgard Zero,"
"Apparently I have to come down every year or so, Lilly doesn't realize that I'm trying to forget that I'm related to you,"
"Ow… That's cold Zero," Nardi recoiled.
"Let's just open presents before Zero makes us all kill ourselves…"
"I love you too Rose," After a few snide remarks the real party began. Everyone had a slice of cake, caught up with current events, and began opening presents
"Here's my present Fia!" Lina smiled handing her a small hastily wrapped box.
"Our present," Nardi reminded.
"What is it?" Fia asked removing the bracelet from its packaging.
"The guy we bought it from said it was a friendship bracelet. You give these rings to your friends and you stay friends,… or something," Nardi explained.
"That's so sweet thank you, Lina, Nardi," Fia began removing the rings and passing them out until everyone had one on their ring finger.
"That's almost too sweet, Nardi wasn't involved in the actual purchase was he?" Zero asked raising a questioning eyebrow.
"Nope!" Lina smiled.
"Thought so," Zero took a swig of tea.
"I've still got two rings left over," Fia muttered glancing at the bracelet that now adorned her left wrist.
"Maybe you can give them to new friends," Ein shrugged.
"Maybe," Fia smiled at him.
"Anyway can I speak to you later? In private?"
"Sure,"
"I'm going to bed," Zero announced, "The trip here from Asgard wore me out" The Ancient One stood from his chair and began towards the stairs
"Oh Zero," Fia called
"What?" He stopped not turning around.
"Thanks,"
"… You're welcome," he continued on without turning around. The others slowly followed his lead, Ledah invited Jack to stay at his place so He Rose and Jack all left together shortly after Zero departed. Serene and Cierra both smiled and said good bye and went to their separate abodes. Nardi and Lina began the arduous task of cleaning while Ein and Fia went outside to talk.
"Well Fia," Ein started, shoving his right hand in his pocket and fidgeting with it, avoiding eye contact until he started talking again, "I've been thinking about this for a while, and we've known each other for a really long time…"
"Yes we sure have," Fia leaned on the fence behind her gazing up at the moon in all of its glory.
"And well I was wondering… No… Fia,"
"What?" Fia asked blushing.
"Will you…" Ein got down on one knee and pulled out a black velvet box, "Marry me?" He opened the box revealing a diamond ring with three stones mounted on a golden band.
"Oh… Ein… Of course," Fia smiled taking the ring box and hugging the wingless angel tightly. Nardi and Lina watched on silently from the open kitchen window both smiling.
"that's what Ein got her Lina, the gift of love," Nardi stated in a surprisingly serious tone.
"Lina wants to congratulate them!"
"Put it off till later, let them have their moment" He patted her on the head.
"Ein, Thank you," Fia wrapped her arms around his neck looking at the ring on her finger.
"Happy birthday Fia," They stood together for another few minutes before finally letting go, Fia returning to the task at hand and Ein staring at the moon.
Zero stood in the garden that was located behind Ein and Fia's home. The Ancient was gazing at the full moon, the light giving a slight glow about him. The Ancient heard a rustle and turned his head in the direction of the noise to find Ein approaching him.
"Hey Zero… You weren't in your room,"
"I lied," Zero reverted his attention back to the moon.
"I just asked Fia to marry me,"
"Took you a while,"
"Yea well… I was wondering… If you wouldn't mind staying a little while and helping out with the wedding…"
"… Hm… I suppose since I have nothing pressing to attend to," Zero shook his head as he spoke, finally returning his focus to Ein.
"Thanks Zero… I really appreciate it,"
"Whatever,"
"You've… You've been married before right Zero?"
"Yes, Many times," Zero nodded, folding his arms, "I find that because of my race I tend to outlive my lovers. I just decided to give it up, until I met Lilly that is,"
"What's it like?"
"Its better if you find your own answer Ein, No matter who you ask that question to it will always be wrong when applied to your situation."
"I guess your right,"
"When you're as old as I am you tend to not be wrong,"
"Yea… Thanks Zero,"
"I don't intend on saying You're welcome every time you thank me so you can forget about it. If you really want to thank me you'll prepare my bed for me, I shall retire soon,"
"Ok," Ein turned around and reentered his home. Even from the outside frantic rushing noises could be heard as the groom to be rushed to make sure Zero's room was perfect. The Ancient continued to ponder his situation before muttering something and turning around. When Zero entered his bedroom he found everything in a neat and tidy condition. With a small smile on his face he draped his black coat over the dresser near the door and removed his large cache of weapons leaning them all up against the wall. He then removed his thick battle vest and flung it on the chair next to the closet. Now the only thing he wore was a grey T-shirt and his long black pants, which were comfortable enough to sleep in. After a brief pause He finally plopped down on the heavily cushioned and extremely comfortable bed and pulled a blanket over his form laying on his right side before drifting off to sleep.
End
As you can see the plot of this one is slightly different, I'll post little things about the unpublished old versions down here and how they're different. For the first three chapters I wont do that because well you can just go to ISNO and re read them. It'd be a waste of space on my part. Anyway here's your preview
Chapter 2: The child who brings Ruin.
His name. The name of his Diviner. And the names of those who brought him here are all he knows. How will his arrival impact the destinies of those close to him.