Snowflake's Passage
First Story (Scary Things)
Author's note: Been doing some thinking about Illyana's journey that she took in pursuit of her soul. She spent years doing it, yet we only have a few panels in the relauched new Mutants that briefly touched upon it. Some of my snowflake on ice vignettes touch upon aspects of that journey, but no real stories exist about it anywhere.
Decided to try my hand at it. Major crossover writing opportunity as Illyana traverses space and time. I suppose this is the sequel to the story Mosh Pit. First story is going to be an Anita Blake vampire hunter crossover.
As always looking for feedback. And I might add an opportunity for you to suggest something on this ongoing set of stories.
Part 1a: Prelude to what was to come
A light dusting of snow was falling. Fate was busy doing what Fate does; in this case hanging up the laundry to dry.
The three Norm witches were outside of their cottage hanging up the weekly laundry. They were:
Urd, a young woman. Maker of the threads
Verdande, middle aged. Weaver of the threads
Skuld, aged crone. Cutter of the threads.
Skuld was tutting about the weather and expressing concern over the bed sheets.
Where was the cottage? Different mythos's have it in different places. Some have it at the world tree. Others place it in far off remote localities, approachable only after great trials. For some it might just be that house with the three odd ladies at the end of the block. The cottage was where it was supposed to be, leave it at that.
She came walking up the path as if she had manifested out of the very snow itself. A woman child, blond as the sun was bright, deep blue eyes that reflected the twilight sky, and a shadow that was dark as midnight.
Verdande greeted her, her voice partial slurred from cloths pins. "Hello daughter, child of no woman".
"Greetings Ladies" replied the sun haired woman child. "I've started upon a path and it lead me here. Might I pause with you for a moment before going on my way"?
"You may child" grumbled Skuld who was still distressed about her sheets. "Although such courtesies are not necessary. We know why you've come".
"You do"? The blond stated with some distress. "I had hoped it would be a surprise".
"We are an incarnation of fate dear" Urd stated. "Surprises are rare for ones such as ourselves".
"We're a bit busy child" Urd continued. "Don't mean to hurry you but please ask your questions so we can finish with the laundry. Remember you only get three".
The woman child had a puzzled expression. "I have no questions for you, at least not at this time. Perhaps at the end of the journey I might trouble you for some answers but not now".
"You don't have any questions?" Urd asked. Now it was her turn to look puzzled. Behind her Verdande dropped the cloths pins from her mouth in surprise and Skuld dropped one of the pillow cases.
"Well, I suppose I have one but I don't think it counts against the three" replied the sun haired one.
"I knew it" Skuld answered while exchanging glances with the two others. For a second there they thought things were not as they were to be. "Ask child and we will let you know before we answer".
"Do you like chocolate?" was her three ladies froze in shock. A sudden gust of wind took the opportunity scatter the laundry about the yard.
Part 1b: Ruined laundry and other cosmic catastrophes
The golden haired one had left and returned to walking her path. Urd, Verdande, Skuld were sitting around the kitchen table.
Things were amiss.
Things were not right.
She had not asked expected questions.
She was not on the expected path.
Well, things were not completely amiss. As the three Ladies discussed the event (The Event as they were later to call it) they were partaking of the gift. The chocolate gift, or gifts in this case.
"You know we shouldn't be eating this" Skuld proclaimed while eating the rest of the her raspberry chocolate truffle (third one in as many minutes).
"Yes, fate is not supposed to get gifts" Verdande declared as she looked for more of those dark chocolate coconut creams (Mmmmmm).
Urd declared nothing, as her mouth was too full to speak.
"How did this occur" Verdande wondered as she waved her right hand and the cottage faded away to show the tapestry.
The tapestry.
Existence itself revealed.
The full flow of time, starting on the left where time began and ending on the right representing the now.
Urd picked up a knitting needle and threw it at the tapestry. The, now chocolate stained, needle did not cut or break any threads, instead it just slipped between the threads showing where the weave had gone off course as it were.
Skuld walked over to the tapestry to examine the threads. "It's at the bridge. She was supposed to stop when she reached her limits. She didn't".
"What happened" Urd inquired. She had finally swallowed, but was already unwrapping another Godiva bar (70% coco solids).
"She didn't stop. No safety at all. Put everything into it and more. And when she lost control of it she still didn't stop until it completely fried her. That was not supposed to happen".
Verdande mused upon the weave. "Those with her abilities are always hard to pin down. Knots are tricky with them, always coming undone".
"I think it's sweet. Such a nice gesture by her" Urd stated while chewing slowly upon the unwrapped bar.
"For whom, her friend or us" Skuld grumpily replied.
"Both I guess" Urd answer. "They should have made an exception after such a sacrifice".
"Their accountants deerie, not a smidgeon of romance or imagination in the lot of them. Lazy too. Just wanted to avoid all the paper work was all that they were probably thinking" Skuld concluded. "Idiots. They should have kicked the decision upstairs".
"If they thought they were avoiding work then they're in for a very unpleasant surprise" Verdande added.
"Should we do something about it" Urd inquired with a mischievous grin.
"Why" Verdande and Skuld both replied. "Not our job. They made the mess. They get to pick up the pieces once she's done".
Skuld was still examining the threads. "She going to cause all kinds of problems isn't she"?
Urd got a faraway look in her eye "Yes. I think she is".