AN: Sorry it took so long to update. The last chapter of Bendy came out recently and I was on a huge Bendy high. But I've calmed down now... mostly...

Chapter 10:

Although she knew she shouldn't, Gehenna ended up spending the next several hours watching the unnatural link closely. She had been so close to seeing her young Halfa in person for the first time that she didn't want to miss her next opportunity. Her hopes for meeting her Halfa soared when he accidentally knocked a present into her realm. Though he didn't come after it right away, she had the feeling he'd be coming to retrieve it eventually.

She was proven right as several hours later he and his friends were in front of the unnatural link, prepping her Halfa to come into her realm. Gehenna was so excited, but there was something bothering. She had the feeling that she was needed elsewhere. She tried to ignore it, her young Halfa was right there! She wanted to be able to greet him! But the feeling grew and started to become urgent. With a frustrated sigh, Gehenna left the unnatural link and searched her realm for what was calling to her.

She groaned to herself when she discovered the problem. It seemed that the citizens of Atlantis and the citizens of Inferno were going to war again. There was always tension between those two realms, fire and water being opposites after all, and every century or so serious battles would break loose. But why did it have to happen today of all days! When her Halfa was going to be coming into her realm for the first time!

Mentally taking a deep breath, Gehenna calmed herself. She was sure there would be other times when she could see her young Halfa in person. She trusted that he would be able to handle himself without her guidance this time. Right now, her other children needed her. Calmed and in the right mindset, Gehenna appeared in the throne room of Atlantis. Atlantis was a serine underwater realm with an elegant city, full of twisting spires that just flowed with the currents moving through it. Neptune and his subjects, which looked similar to how humans imagined mermaids, tended to be more level-headed of the two factions, though they can have raging tempers. King Neptune and several of his generals were gathered in a meeting, but their discussions immediately halted as they noticed Gehenna's arrival.

"Greetings Great Mother," King Neptune bowed his head. "I see you've heard of our plight. Have you come to help us vanquish those filthy lizards for good?"

"You know I prefer to have all my children living peacefully," Gehenna scolded, though she kept her expression neutral. "So why don't you tell me what started your quarrel this time around?"

"Those disgusting reptiles attacked one of our patrols," King Neptune replied in anger. "They struck first, so now they'll feel the power of the ocean!"

"Please hold off on the war," Gehenna said gently, though everyone could tell it was an order rather than a request. "I'll talk to King Draco and see if we could come to a peaceful solution."

"It's pointless to reason with those beasts, but we shall honor your request… for now…" King Neptune agreed, turning back to the others as Gehenna teleported to the treasure chamber of King Draco. Inferno was a volcanic realm with very little constructed structures, as most of its citizens preferred the natural shelters the land provided. King Draco and his subjects resembled dragons of all shapes and sizes. The more powerful of them could even have an anthropomorphic form.

"Great Motherrr…" King Draco growled in greeting as she appeared. He was in his Dragon form, so his bright red head towered above her. "No doubt you've noticed that we're about to head into battle with those slimy fish… They should know not to mess with fire…"

"King Neptune has told me that you attacked one of their patrols," Gehenna informed, looking up at him without an ounce of fear. "But I would like to Know your side first before I make any judgments."

"They told the truth… this time…" King Draco replied, baring his teeth. "But only because he was sending them into our territory! They are to pay for their arrogance!"

Gehenna sighed to herself but began the long process of being the negotiator between these two factions. They had done this so many times, but they refused to listen to anyone besides Gehenna as the neutral party. It was an agonizingly long and tedious process, but Gehenna was sure to kind and curious throughout the whole thing. She felt anxious when she sensed Walker capturing her young Halfa, but she could not go to his aid. King Neptune and King Draco had just agreed to meet to renegotiate their treaty and she couldn't leave at such a delicate time.

It took all her willpower not to show how anxious she felt to the two sides and she didn't start to calm down until she sensed her young Halfa's friends arrive in her realm. She knew they would be able to help him, so she could focus back on the issue before her. The negotiations went on for days, often breaking out in small fights as both sides showed off their strength and abilities. It took all her skill and calming influence to keep the fights from evolving into a full-blown war. She was lucky that both sides respected her and actually cared more for their own realms then actually going to war. If they were more determined to fight, there would be little she could do to prevent them.

Finally, though, an agreement was reached and the two sides returned to their own realms. Gehenna was mentally exhausted and was relieved to finally release her form, spreading her conscious back across her realm. Her young Halfa had long since escaped Walker's prison and returned to Gaia's realm. She was saddened that she hadn't been able to see him and that his first real trip into her realm had been… less than pleasant…

Still, though, she knew he would be coming back eventually. He and all her children were a part of her realm and it called to them. He would come back and she would be there to greet him with open arms…