Urd pinched her nose as she argued with Peorth, Lind and Annan. After she finished binding Ranma's egg she fell asleep. Hours later her rest was interrupted by the incessant ring of a disconnected telephone. They had been on the phone for the last few hours discussing the night's events and the status of Yggdrasil. Urd practically screamed into the phone, "This is not acceptable!"

"It is alright." Belldandy stated with a passionless certainty. Urd saw dried tears on her sister's face. "Perhaps this is what was meant to be."

"Bullshit." Urd glared at her sister then smacked her across the cheek. "I'm not going to let my little sister get herself mind wiped."

Belldandy collapsed into Urd's arms and began to sob. "The gate will never allow it! Keiichi and I… can't…"

Urd took a breath as she hugged her sister. "It's alright. You'd don't have to do this."

"Urd, I cannot be that selfish. Yggdrasil is weeping and I am the cause." The younger sister took the phone from Urd's hand. Urd wanted to slam the phone down and tell her to let the damn thing burn. Instead she clenched her fingers into a fist. With a calm voice she spoke into the phone. "Peorth, please ready the appropriate protocols for a complete purge and essential roll back."

On the other end of the line Peorth paused. She sat there in shock. Urd's anger she could deal with but Belldandy's casual acceptance of the solution stunned her. Annan's voice came across the speaker. "Understood preparations should be ready in eight hours."

"So you're willing signing up for the lobotomy with a rusty hack saw!" The phone line disconnected. Urd followed after her sister. She screamed at Belldandy "What the hell is wrong with you?"

Belldandy turned around and looked at Urd. Tears were already running down her face. Her cheeks were puffy and red. "Mr. Morisato and I… It cannot be… I cannot… He will never understand."

"We'll he'll never understand unless you explain it to him. Hell I don't even understand." Urd grabbed her sister by the shoulders and shook her. "What's going on?"

"Urd please look out for him if I cannot. He deserves a goddess by his side." Belldandy resolved herself. She took a breath and dried her tears. "Can you help me with the array? I do not think that Skuld or Ranma can do it."

"You want me to help you build your own gallows?" Urd's eyes narrowed she didn't agree with the plan but knew the consequences.

Belldandy looked at her feet. She couldn't lie but she didn't want to die either. "We have less than twenty hours. Even if we capture Celistine there are no other options. We cannot sever the connection in time. He was like a father to me, he was my first mentor. To unbind me from him would require much the same effort."

Urd crossed her arms and glared at her. "I did it once. I can do it again."

The younger sister pleaded, "You had years to prepare that potion and ritual."

Her arms folded under her bust and she glared back. "I'll have all three Norns and my daughter this time."

The younger goddess' eyes widened as she invoked their immediate family. Urd's rant continued her voice got louder and louder as tears fell from her eyes. She jerked a platinum necklace out of her shirt. "I will shove this egg down Ranma's throat if I have to but we will do this as a family."

"Not like this Urd, please. You will find a way, you always do." Belldandy hugged her sister tightly. "Too much is resting on this."

Urd wrapped her arms around Belldandy and kissed her on the forehead. The two goddesses embraced each other tightly. "Alright, we'll do this your way."

Hours later the four divine residents of the temple stood inside of the shrine with softly glowing lines adorning every surface. Herb and Masami waited patiently in the house while Keiichi slumped against the outer wall of the shrine. The immense glyph had grown in size and complexity as they shifted it to include Ranma as Urd's daughter. As Urd looked over the final product she realized there was something of a paradox within the spell. Skuld was occupying the position linked to the past, Ranma was standing in the position most closely related to the future and she was orientated on the present. Urd wondered about the ramifications of such an arrangement. As a Norn she wasn't just connected to the past but the present and the future as well. She knew it was the same with Skuld as well. Ranma had been a bit of a wild card when they started to work out the ritual but despite the added complexity her own addition added symmetry to the entire equation. Here on Earth Ranma provided a much more stable link to the energies of Midgard.

With a sad voice Skuld announced that it was time. The three women took their positions around Belldandy and began their ritual. Belldandy lifted up off of the ground as Skuld began to curl a cocoon of water around her. Lightning and fire cut through the water rendering it into pure energy. Belldandy's robes shifted in the breeze the charged air caused her hair to whip about. Then Ranma's voice joined the harmony. The elemental energy became life and slowly clung to Belldandy's skin. A tree grew out of the floor below Bell. Its branches slowly curled around the goddess and gently supported her.

Urd had told them it would be a battle of wills. Skuld and Ranma understood that they were to protect as much of Belldandy's psyche as they could, while Peorth and heaven purged Celistine's will from her soul. A beam of light cut through the ceiling and stuck Belldandy's forehead. The circular light focused and reshaped into the diamond pattern of her markings. The light began to flicker faster and faster as the uplink was established. The goddess's mouth opened and her face contorted. As Urd looked at her sister she knew Belldandy was screaming but no words were coming out. Her face contorted in pain as her muscles began to strain against the ash tree bindings encasing her body. Ranma trembled as she held the bindings in place through sheer force of will. The three could not tell if the ritual was progressing or not. They did their best to keep their end in place.

"Keiichi don't!" Skuld cried out as the door to the shrine opened. The short man stepped through the threshold and into the ritual circle. A cry of discord joined the goddess' harmony and the array exploded into action. The intricate runes began to multiply and spill out of the shrine. The corrupted sigils quickly covered the temple grounds and began corrupting the surrounding area.

Celistine strode forward Keiichi's clothing slowly becoming his armor. His polygonal markings stained the mortal's skin. He reached out and placed his palm on Belldandy's navel. The goddess stiffened and flexed. Her spine arched backwards violently and shattered the conjured Ash bindings. Her mouth opened and light began to pour out of it. The blinding light filled the room as it became solidified.

Herb grabbed Masami by the waist and threw her over his shoulder. As soon as he saw the corrupted array spread beneath his feet he knew something had gone wrong. He paid no heed to the flimsy walls of the house instead he charged straight through the timber and insulation without a thought. Herb jumped at the outer wall and used it as a spring board to gain height. He landed atop a nearby roof top and thrust himself away from the epicenter of the spell. The dragon prince hurled himself and his housemate off of the temple grounds and flew away as fast as he could. His aura flared brightly as he used the low lying roof tops to kick off of for extra speed. In his frantic charge he did not dare look back. The dragon pulled on his inner reserves as he could feel the very nature of the world changing behind him. Half flying and half running he used every trick his tutors ever taught him to get out of the way.

Masami watched as the surrounding neighborhood was destroyed. The white light dissolved the urban land scape and slowly replaced it with unblemished soil. She could feel Herb slowing down as the soil became a large expanse of green grass. The entire circle seemed at least five kilometers wide. Herb landed on a tall building he collapsed from the effort. Masami had no idea how they moved at the inhuman speeds to their destination but they were at least several kilometers away from the temple now. "Herb… what's happening?"

The dragon prince gasped for breath as he pushed himself up off the ground. "I have no idea what happened."

Even the Masami could feel the magic in the air. In the distance the pristine grass plain was interrupted by three trees spaced equally apart. At first they were simple brown dots in a sea of green grass. It soon became apparent that the trees were growing out of the ground at an unbelievable rate. The three trees began curling around each other in a giant triple helix configuration. Atop the three intertwined pillars a platform began to grow a giant ring joined the three trees and linked them into one.

A grim frown set upon Herb's face as he watched the ring form. "Whatever's going on it's happening up there."

Masami nodded as the ring formed a foreboding temple atop the three pillars.

Klaxons sounded in heaven adding to the chaos of flickering lights and angry computer read outs. Gods, goddesses and other beings of power worked frantically to figure out what exactly had happened. Lind cried out and the panic became an organized effort as tasks were assigned and the recovery effort streamlined. "Peorth, what is the status on the purge?"

"Unknown, Yggdrasil isn't responding to our commands." Peorth looked over the shoulders of her techs as she tried to assess all of the information. "The connection has been lost."

Lind barked out to another set of techs, "Bring Lambda online. We'll purge the entire sector."

"Yes ma'am." A quartet of goddess chimed out. The fingers plucked the harp like controls of the supercomputer.

Peorth turned to her techs. "Disengage all connections and isolate that sector."

Annan directed another group of gods and goddesses. "Modulate and redirect that energy flow. We don't want any back wash from Lambda."

The goddesses scrambled as their priorities shifted from saving Belldandy to saving the entirety of reality. The Valkyries scrambled as they brought one of the most devastating weapons ever devised online.

Ranma shook her head as she heard Belldandy's voice in the distance. She shook her head as she tried to clear her mind. Ranma winced as Bell shouted. Her eyes opened as she stood up. She muttered as her hand rubbed her face. "Damn, she's pissed about something. Life forms maturity, what's going on?"

She heard Keiichi's voice next but it wasn't quite Keiichi.

"Seems like quite the little drama over there." Ranma turned around and spotted Laverna at the base of the tree. She had unrolled a scroll across the tree. Her knife cut above the scroll and pierced the bark of the massive tower. The shadowy goddess's knife revealed a golden light beneath the surface of the old ash.

The young Vanir knew instantly that there was something wrong with that light. The energy did not belong in this time or place. Ranma turned and demanded. "What are you doing?"

"Oh, just gathering some temporal energy." The goddess chanted softly as her hands flickered through then rapid motions of the ritual she was preforming. Ranma gasped as she saw a golden script appear along the length of the scroll. She ran at Laverna only to have a knife thrown at her. "Now now, don't want to blow us all to hell do you?"

Ranma paused as she looked at the knife. She picked it up. Laverna chanted another few words as the scroll began to fill. The last inches of parchment were covered in golden glowing runes. The small wound began to seal shut and Ranma let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding. "What now?" She held the knife tightly as she readied herself to attack.

"You save Belldandy and Keiichi." Laverna tossed an axe at Ranma's feet.

"What?"

A scream filled the air and Ranma turned on her heel. She saw Belldandy in a sphere of energy. A woman was channeling lightning bolts at the sphere. Keiichi had raised his arm sky ward and blue runes covered his left hand and arm up to his shoulder. An enormous tower of energy formed. A giant formed of shadow and stone formed inside of the pillar. The program began to organize its form. Ranma sprinted to Belldandy's side. She hurled a bolt of energy at Belldandy's attacker causing her to go on the defensive.

"Ranma what are you doing here!" Belldandy asked as she stood up. The goddess pulled a small rod from her earring and transformed it into a staff.

"I don't know I was unconscious against that tree over there." Ranma and Belldandy trembled as the giant began to move. Its hands pressed together and it summoned a vile mass of energy. Between its palms an ebony rod formed. The length of obsidian wood was covered in a tangle of runes and sigils. The skies darkened as a wall of lightning crashed down upon the giant. The two instantly recognized Urd's massive spell strike. They watched as the blue white energy crashed down upon the creature. When the light cleared it was apparent that the creature was mostly unharmed. In the distance they could see Celistine chanting and drawing in the energies of the three trees.

"Go stop Celistine. I'll deal with the giant." Ranma's fingers wrapped around axe Laverna had left her.

Belldandy looked at the giant goliath and then at Ranma. She gave her a small nod. "Be careful."

Ranma gave her a wink and jumped up onto the closest pillar. She watched as the giant club transformed into a wicked looking scythe. "Oh come on that is so not fair."

The young Vanir ran up the side of the tree as she followed the trajectory of the ax. Ranma grimaced as she realized she wouldn't make it in time. Ranma gasped as she felt the pillar tremble beneath her. However, she stayed on her feet. A current of golden energy washed across her skin as the deadly ax damaged the great tree. She leapt atop the massive scythe. Ranma could feel the demonic energy within the obsidian weapon. She stumbled as the giant pulled the massive weapon back for another swing. Ranma felt nauseous as her demonic side fed on the energies radiating from the shear while her divine side was empowered by the energy leaking from the tree. She could feel the energy coursing through her body demanding to be let out. Ranma was all too eager to let it out.

Laverna's ax glowed with a blue light as black lightning coursed across the blade. She drew the ax back and slammed it into the flat of the scythe. A web of crack formed along the length of the blade. Ranma pulled the enchanted weapon back and slammed it down again. The blue light from the blade flared brightly as it cleaved into the dark obsidian edge. Another web of fractures spread across the blade as the giant began to bring it down again. The giant began his swing. The evil scythe sped towards the damaged tree. The golden energies spilling from the wounded ash tree began to boil the dark energies leaking from the giant's weapon. Ranma slammed her ax into the blade one last time and braced herself.

Dark and light energies crackled across the blade as it crashed into the tree. The spider's web of fractures expanded violently. The dark obsidian and glowing vapor reacted. She could feel the energy reaching a crescendo. Her third eye kicked in and she realized this was bad. Eddies of energy began to converge. Dark and light began spiraling as their polar charges began to attract. Ranma wretched her ax from the blade and hurled herself away. "This is bad, this is very bad." She chanted to herself as she ran away. Ranma could feel the pull of the spiral energies. Her feet slammed into the bark of the titanic trees. In a desperate move she jumped.

Skuld's eyes widened as she looked down at the giant. After Urd's spell harmlessly fizzled against the giant a fairy queen had viciously attacked her. The forest spirit was giving Urd hell as they traded spell fire. Skuld left her sister to duel the forest witch as she looked down at the giant. She had sorted through her arsenal and took aim only to see Ranma fighting the monster in close. She quickly flew down to Ranma's level. Her eyes widened as Ranma cracked a seal on the enormous scythe. Dark and light energies began to converge. Skuld flew faster and faster, she suddenly wished she was a wind or lightning element like her sisters. Water could move quickly but it was nowhere near the speed Belldandy or even Urd was capable of.

Ranma fell through the sky. She could care less about flying right now. Every instinct she had told her she needed to be away from wound on the tree. The giant pulled his scythe backwards only to have the blade crack in half. The two thirds of the scythe remained buried within the tree. A rush of dark miasma flooded out of the sickle.

"Celistine, why are you doing this?" Belldandy pleaded with her former mentor. She could feel the unnatural energies beginning to reach a crescendo below her. "You'll create a paradox."

"I am guiding this world into a new age!" The insane god possessing Keiichi turned to face her. "I will end all of this suffering and bring about a new age. No longer will you have to feel the pain of this world."

Her eyes widened in shock as she heard his vice. "You'll destroy everything. There will not be any suffering but you will destroy everyone."

"Their time is fleeting. They only have suffering and death to experience." The rouge god clenched his hand into a fist. "I can see how their suffering and death hurts you. It corrupts you. Let me help them move past this needless existence."

Belldandy's eyes narrowed. Her pain turned to resolve as she starred down her old master. "For everything there is a time and place. Those that are suffering now are also learning, they are growing and their souls are becoming more. Every scar, every kiss, every tear and every caress has meaning. You would take away their souls just so they could not feel pain."

"Their existence is flawed. There is no future for them." Below them an explosion sounded. Dark and light energies collided as Ranma destroyed the giant's scythe. "I will show the gods the world they are trying to create."

Belldandy's eyes narrowed her wind began to curl around the tip of her staff. "You're right about one thing. We are guides our purpose is to serve. I will live alongside them and grow old with them. I will protect this world with my life!"

She hurled a bolt of condensed air at her possessed boyfriend. Celistine caught the unfocused energies with his hand. However Belldandy came in fast and hard behind the feint. Her staff cracked against Keiichi's palm.

"If your faith in Keiichi falters for even a moment the judgment gate will tear you from your pet mortal." Celistine floated towards Belldandy's staff. He placed a finger on the tip of her weapon and gently pushed it down. "In my new world such things will not be an issue. You will be needed in my new world. You can show my world the true meaning of love. You can save them all from their suffering. I will need you by my side. You will serve as the greatest beacon of hope and guide all and eliminate this needless suffering."

Belldandy grimaced as blood spilled from Keiichi's palm and trickled down his elbow. She tore the weapon out of his hand. Her staff snapped back as she went for a kick to his torso. The ivory rod struck Keiichi in the nose. She pushed backwards and shouted. Celistine staggered backwards as he struggled to force Keiichi to stay conscious. "Please Celistine you must stop you are mistaken. You taught me the meaning and value of life and now you are going to destroy it."

Ranma willed herself to stop. The tree that she was standing upon burned and grew without reason. The wound from the scythe twisted and bloomed only to become ash in the next moment. The black and gold fires consumed each other only to spontaneously ignite in a new location. Ranma grabbed her head and cried out in pain. Her aura flared as she struggled to remain in flight. Skuld hovered beside her and worriedly asked, "Are you alright?"

Ranma grunted in reply as she looked at the unnatural damage. "That isn't good is it?"

"No, it's very bad," Skuld answered as she gripped her mallet tighter. "The past and the future are destroying each other. I need to stop it now. Can you try to get the scythe out of the tree?"

She nodded and began to fly towards the twisting reality. "There is no try there is only do."

Skuld conjured a terminal as Ranma flew away. She began to type as fast as she could. "Be careful."

Ranma landed on the burning tree and it immediately began to grow around her feet. She cursed and used her ax to sever the new tendrils. Instead of she could see the giant readying the remains of his scythe in the distance. The ebony sickle came crashing down on her location. Ranma flew backwards. The damaged weapon only added to the fires. The tree trembled as it creaked and groaned. Again Ranma leapt upon the reaper. She used the monster's weapon to propel herself towards the giant beast. She readied her cleaver as she flew forward. The ax slammed into the giant's face leaving a long sickly gouge.

The young demi-goddess threw Laverna's dagger at what she assumed was one of his eyes. The curved blade let out a deafening crack as it broke the sound barrier and slammed into the monster's face. "Maelstrom I call thee, let your currents be mine. Wash away my enemies, Saltstraumen!"

Ranma released a torrent of water from her hands. The immense geyser tore at the wounded eye. The giant reeled from the force of the blow. The young demi-goddess held her ground as she hovered meters away from her foe's face. Her flood of water cut a wound across the giant's face and tore into his other eye.

As the giant staggered backwards she flew towards the shard of the ax buried within the tree. As she approached the broken weapon a plan formed in her mind. She could see the reaction between demonic and divine. A thousand possibilities raced through her mind as she realized what was happening. For a moment she considered slamming into any one of a thousand breaking points along the rigid blade. The math flashed through her head as she realized that the detonation following the explosion would destroy everything. Urd's lessons on transmutation came to mind. A spell circle formed around her left fist as she fell faster and faster. Ranma had no idea if this would work or if it would all go to hell but she had to try.

Skuld gasped as she looked to the sky and then to her falling friend. She could see the heavens open and knew Peorth had deployed Lambda. It was only a matter of time now. Her eyes were pulled down to Ranma as she flew towards the remains of the scythe in the tree. As the spell circle formed around Ranma's fist she could feel a surge of ki in the air. One thought went through her mind as Ranma's solution slammed into the tree. "Oh crap."

Far above Belldandy could feel events coming to a climax. "Keiichi, I need you now. You must fight him, I love you Keiichi, come back to me!"

Urd pulled Morgan into her arms. The unconscious faire queen had put up a good fight but she was out of her league even with Urd's limiters in place. From her vantage point her lips curled into a crooked smile as Keiichi began to fall to the ground. She could see Lambda from above and chaos below.

Ranma's spell slammed into the blade as Lambda crashed into Belldandy's shield and the world exploded in a blinding light.