Authors Note's -
Shink - Well I hope you will like this update, cause it is quite long, and I am already working on Chapter 11
More Author's Notes - I am skipping Chapters 8 and 9 so that everything is nice and even on the main board, so that when I see the reviews, it is for the correct chapter. However, the real chapters 8, 9 and 10 will be combined so its gonna be a huge update for you!
Last bunch of Author's Notes -
As always, I don't own Ragarok. If I did all my charactors would be 99 transcendants and I would have money. Oh, and the bots would all be burning in Hugel, maybe Juperos. I own the characters, AxiaDrake, Tatiana, Saphia, Callista, MistressAxia, Jasmine, Lily, Arden, Lachlan, Vidicar, Ryan, Faellia, Valkyries, Shaun, Rian, Aila, and Axis.
All other chars belong to my friends AldoTeng who owns Limpeh and Lexkai, Kiniro owns himself, my friend Des owns his characters AuroraGoddess and Zenia-chan, Dex owns Bizi and the stupid wizard from LoaD, and my ingame husband Isagani owns himself and Sirano. Eilix is own by the lovely aussie Olga, and Demise is her guild.
I took liberties with the char named Muna, owned by the lovely Nikki (Whom I miss terribly, and her best friend Steph was the character build for Saphia). The real chars full name is MunaMuna and that is a dancer, Calle CC real wife is her priestess NamuNamu, which I helped Calle marry. Calle CC is of course one of the nicest guys you would ever have the pleasure of meeting, and my life was enriched by knowing him. He is on IroChaos as well. As well as he is an amazing sculpter of clay, so if you can, stop by RoEmpire's thread and find his stuff!
Everyone in this story, with the exception of Aldo is on IroChaos.
Espi, Nox and the rogue otherwise known as Batouche, of which I don't have exact permission to use, are mentioned here, but if I hear from them, and they have said no, then their names will be changed, and I will make that change here. They are all long time Demise members and are all a blast to be around. Nox also draws the HOTTEST chars around, so if you are on Ragnainfo dot net look up her thread in the arts section and commission something, you will not regret it!
Still haven't heard from them, but then again, it has only been a few days, and I haven't been on Callista. So guys, you need me, contact me on ..::Tatiana::.. who's vending and missing her Isa! I want my HUSBAND DAMMIT
Now that that is out of the way...
Chapter 10
"Where are they now?" the Lord of Thanatos Tower, the Thanatos Phantom, asked his minions, Despero, Dolor and the Odium
"They just retrieved Axis from her chamber, master." the Odium said his master
"So, something has happened to the Hope! Maero, I want you to infiltrate the Valkyries and report your information to the Dolor." he said to the female slave.
"Yessss...my massssterrrr..." she said with a slither in her voice, almost like a snake speaking. At that she bowed deeply to her master and left his presence.
"Finally after 15000 years I will have possession of the Wrath!" he said as he began laughing
"So now what?" Lachlan said as they were approaching Aldebaren
"Well, we pick up Lily and Jasmine, and begin our trek up to Magma." Axia said
"So are we going to stay at the same hotel?" Aldo said, remembering the first time they came here to Aldebaren during the first quest
"No, the Valkyries most likely have the house up and running for everyone." Lex said
"Does that include us?" Eilix asked, or rather barbed at Lexkai
"You are not a Valkyrie. Therefore stay the hell out of my house!" Lex snarled at her
"Now that I am alive Lex, it's not just your house anymore. Eilix you would be more then welcome in my home." Aldo said to her, as he could see his twin go three different colours and about to blow.
"My wife and son are in that house, and I will not allow them to be corrupted!" Lex said, narrowing his eyes
"You know that Aurora used to be a member of my guild, and at one time, allied with Ryan's guild." Calle said to Lex
"No, she didn't share that small piece of information." he said very angry
"Aww is the poor, stupid scholar pissed off?" Batouche said perking up his eyebrow and smirking.
"Now, now, stop ganging up on him. Lex, calm down. Aurora may not have shared it, but did you ask? As for the history of everything, why don't we leave that until later?" Axia said, determined to keep the peace between them
"Fine then." Lex said as he started towards the Teng Mansion, located at the back of Juno, overlooking the remenants of Einbech, the satellite city of Einbroch.
"Lex is awful touchy today." Eilix said as Axia and her were in Axia's parlour in her apartments. Aldo was in Kiniro's room, making himself at home, while Faellia was taking his new measurements.
"What do you expect Eilix. He killed a man, that he shaped, his long DEAD brother comes back to life, and his ex girlfriend is snarky to him." Axia said
"You are right, I don't know why I am so bitchy around him..." she said with her head against the back of the couch.
"Because you can't stand him happy? He hurt you a long time ago, and you never forgave him. Even now, as he is no longer caretaker, and human again, and you still care for him, don't you?" Axia hedged with her.
"No! He killed whatever feelings I had for him. If it wasn't for Batouche..." she said a lot more vehemently then normal.
"Eilix, don't lie to yourself. I'm not stupid. I have been your guardian since you were 3 years old, and I raised you. I know you better then anyone else. It does not matter if you have no intention of acting on your feeling, but do not dismiss them. That causes far more heartache then anything." she said wisely
"I DON'T have feeling for that MISERABLE BASTARD!" she screamed
"Actually Eilix, we both were technical bastards, until my mother saw the light of day and married our father. I think we were 4 hours old at the time." Aldo said from his bedroom, and began laughing silently, but not too silently as Axia heard him in the background, as did Eilix.
"I like him." Eilix said between giggles
"That is why I loved him for nearly 200 years" Axia said with a slight smile
"I heard that Pet!" Aldo said from his room
"Has he always called you that?" Eilix said
"Yes, ever since our academy days. When I began as an archer in Payon, I had a small issue with firing bows. Aldo however did not, so I kept following him around. And he began calling me his pet archer. 'Course, he was just as gorgeous as he could be, so it never bothered me, and the nickname stuck." she said remincing.
"So you being a gypsy now..." Eilix said
"Has a few other connotations that are frankly none of your business." Axia said with a slight blush on her cheeks
At that she just laughed as she stood up and left, wobbling because she was laughing so hard.
"So pet, what would you like to do now?" Aldo said after Eilix left
Axia at that went beet red, and Aldo smiled at her. "Is there something you WOULD like to do?"
"You are evil, you know that?" she said to him, as he came over and sat beside her.
"Only for you." he said and leaned down and softly kissed her. Reaching behind her, with his right hand, he moved her closer to him, and deepened the kiss. Feeling heedy from Aldo's kisses, as they always had made her feel, she moved her hand slowly along his new jacket, and felt one of his pistols.
"Is that a gun in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?" she asked coyly
"I'm always happy to see you pet." Aldo said against her lips, as he moved them against her neck.
At that, Faellia came out, with Alejandro in hand.
"Mistress, your son is hungry." Faellia said hoping she didn't sound too stern. She knew that this was Axia's first husband, but she had loved Kiniro as her master, and did not want this man getting close to her mistress. Regardless that he was ten times more handsome then her Master.
"Thank you Faellia." she said as she took her son, and bared one of her breasts to feed him. Aldo watched her do this and smiled, as he remembered her doing the same thing for the twins. Though then, he had to hold Rowena for Axia, as they both always wanted feeding at the same time. Caden would always have a pouty face, whenever Axia reached to feed Rowena first, and then Rowena would get this look of horror, and so both of them would end up holding each of them, and the look of contentment on their children, made his heart melt each time.
"You miss the children, don't you." Axia said quietly
"Every day pet. Every day I miss those two miracles." he said trying not to start crying.
"Would you like to hold him?" Axia said, as Alejandro had finished feeding and was just lying against her breast, with a small smile on his face.
"He looks so content pet, I wouldn't want to disturb him." he said, but Axia was already removing her son and holding him up over to him
"He looks so much like Caden." he whispered as the baby just curled against him and fell asleep.
"And his mind is so much like Rowena. So inquisitive, yet so quiet, just like she was. It's almost like Alejandro is the reincarnation of the two of them." Axia said
'Maybe he is Axia.' Axis said
"Axis, are you sure?" Axia exclaimed out loud and Faellia asked what she was talking about.
"Axis just said that Caden and Rowena were reborn into Alejandro!" Axia said, and turned to her former husband to see tears falling down his face, as he softly stroked the baby
At that Faellia forgave everything evil she had thought about her new Master, and completely accepted him as the new Head Viking Valkyrie.
"That explains how I was reborn pet. The children knew you were unhappy without me. I talked with them quite a bit in that void. Then they both suddenly disappeared and I was left alone. With of course the exception of your sisters and Isa and Bizi." Aldo said
"Did you ever see Callista?" Axia asked him
"No, never pet. None have them had seen her, we even saw Sirano, though even in death, he still would not talk to us." Aldo said.
"You don't suppose..." Axia started and Aldo finished with "It couldn't be..."
"Yes I am here, and where is my SON!" Callista roared at her sister
"I said, where is my SON!" Callista roared at her sister
"He is in Payon, but he is dying. He is nearly 170 years old." Axia said quietly
"I will see you later." she said in very clipped tones, as you could tell, she was attempting to keep her rage in check.
As she left, both Aldo and Axia turned to Axis, who was laying on the couch on the opposite side of them. "Axis, what is going on here! How is my sister still alive!"
'Because she was the Hope. With the dissapation of it, she returned to existance.' Axis said
"Then who became the Wrath?" Aldo asked, with Faellia nodding in agreement. At this point she was completely stunned by everything, as she had always heard of the Legend of Callista, but to actually see here, was almost a dream come true.
'I don't know, but maybe mother might know.' Axis said almost wearily
"Axis, you sound tired. Take a rest, and Faellia will see to you." Axia said as she got up and grabbed a pillow to place Axis on it. She then handed Axis over to Faellia, in that, Faellia did not touch her, but could still take care of her. Axia was still the only one that could safely touch her, and they wanted to keep everything as stable as they could. They still had not heard back about the destruction of Prontera and Izlude, and she prayed to the Poring Gods that it was still mostly intact. Last time there was destruction, Einbech took years to recover. Fortunately it was a remote area, and most of the residents had been in the mines, but Prontera was the capital of Rune-Midgar, and there was bound to be casualties in the millions. The Valkyries, were already on the crew of the restoration, however the King, Tristan the VIII, had been killed, and they could not locate the princess.
'Thank you Axia. With the transfer of my power to you, I do tire more easily.' Axis said sounding more weary then ever.
"Then rest, and we will see you in the morning." Axia said, as she got up and held out her arms for her son. Aldo, not really wanting to give up possession of the baby, now that he knew it was his children, looked reluctant to do so.
"Aldo. Give me my son." Axia said sternly, but with a smile on her face.
"Only if I get to play with him in the morning." he said giving her possession of the baby.
"We shall see. Aurora had been looking into the location of Ryan, as she had been the second in command of the guild before it was absorbed. We may have to act quickly. Fortunately, Aurora still has plenty of milk, so she has already offered to nursemaid Alejandro while I am away." Axia said, looking down at her son, as he had fallen asleep again.
Aldo then came up to her, and leaned down and softly kissed the baby on it's forehead. "Sleep well, little warrior." he said, using the nickname he used to give Caden, when he slept.
Then the most astonishing thing happened, they both heard within their heads 'Daddy'. They both looked at each other and smiled. It had been Caden's voice they heard and both of them felt their heart swell.
"I had better lay him down." Axia said as she moved towards the nursery that was the opposite side of the bedroom. As she settled him down, he laid on his side, and had a small smile on his face, just like Rowena did when she was asleep. Amazed that she didn't notice all these traits before, she sat down in the rocker that was just off to the side of the crib and sat down. Gazing outside, she viewed the moon, reflecting on everything that had happened.
She didn't know if it had been minutes or hours, but Aldo came into the nursery sometime later, and had been watching her. Feeling his presence, she turned to him, and gave him a small smile.
"Come to bed precious?" he asked
"I will be there soon." she said and then looked back at the moon, her eyes glazing over again
"I hate seeing you so sad." he said, coming into the nursery and hunching down beside her. He had taken off his jacket, and had put on a black, sleeveless tee-shirt, which left little to the imagination. Unlike his first body, where he was leanly muscled, this new body was not. He was also almost as tall as Lachlan, which is probably what threw Lexkai off.
"I hate being so sad, but there is so much to reflect on. I barely knew Kiniro, but I did love him, and now he is out of my life forever. I understand why Callie is so upset with us. We all knew she was pregnant, and didn't tell her, and let her die, or fade, or whatever she did. Eilix and Lex used to be good friends, as Lex taught at the sage academy and she was one of his best students. Until the day that she declared herself to him, and because of him being guardian to Lachlan, had to decline her. She of course didn't know why, even though I raised her, I never told her who I was, or about the Valkyries. It wasn't until she came to be the current leader of her Guild, that it was revealed the entire heritage of it, including Isa and Bizi. Then she had stormed to the cottage and I think blistered my ears for about a good hour before she finished her tirade. Then I showed her my wings, and it was the first time she actually was quiet that day." Axia had said very quietly. Not animated like she usually was.
"Your wings were always my joy Pet." he said just as quietly, as he sat up and leaned in to kiss her.
"Aldo.." she whispered against his lips as he gently lifted her up into his arms and carried her to the bed.