Another day, another chapter. This one didn't take me so long to write as it did to make sure I had all my details right - better to get them right the first time instead of having to edit and fix things after the fact.
Book I, Part II: Mortal Conflict - The Zodiac Brave Story
Chapter XV—Divine Intervention
[Ethereal Plane, Palace of Creation, Freya's Chamber]
A single figure strode confidently into the expansive and decorated chamber of the Creator, their heavy obsidian-shaded armor clinking regally as they walked across the marble floor. Built as though sculpted from rock in the visage of the perfect warrior, the figure was legendary in the Ethereal Plane and mortal plane alike - though the latter was born of mere myth and not of true knowledge. Sheathed at their side was a mighty sword, a blade forged by the finest smiths in the entire realm, said to be unbreakable - the Zantetsuken.
The figure was none other than Odin, one of Freya's two personal advisors and the legendary leader of the Ethereal Plane's forces in times of war.
"You summoned me, Mistress?" Odin intoned, bowing respectfully before Freya, who merely smiled and motioned for Odin to rise.
"I did. I have much to discuss with you, Lord Odin," the Creator said calmly, gesturing for Odin to take a seat at the grand, luminescent silver table to one side of the room. The warrior did so, taking a place at one side of the large table, quietly thinking how the table seemed designed for use in large and exquisite banquets rather than matters of state, as Freya took a place at the other side. "How goes the peacekeeping?"
"It has been difficult," Odin began, remembering the events of the past few weeks. "However, the struggle has subsided significantly as of late. The dissenters' forces were weakened significantly in the last confrontation, which has given us a moment's respite whilst we plan our next move. Negotiations have proven ineffective; they seem to live in fear and hatred of Your Grace, exacerbated by the incident with the Gilead Order."
"I suspect my words would do little to calm their fears," Freya said, never taking her eyes from her advisor.
"They see you as little more than a figurehead, interested only in consolidating her position, ignoring the connection between your rule and their continued prosperity," Odin affirmed with a brusque nod. "Few appear willing to reason; the vast majority, little more than zealots."
Freya sighed quietly, looking away. She had been worried that something like this would happen when she made the decision to exile Arragious Nicholai long ago. The Gilead Order, of which Nicholai had been a member, had come to Freya with a demand: either exile the Captain-Commander from the Realm, or face an internal war from the Order itself. Faced with such an ultimatum - and the fact that the Gilead Order was the largest force that the Ethereal Plane had at the time - Freya agreed to Nicholai's exile, unwilling to risk an open and bloody rebellion in her Realm.
Unfortunately, the Gilead Order didn't live up to their promise of peace and simply rebelled anyway, in the hopes of securing more power for themselves – they had managed to coerce the Creator herself to cede to their demands, after all. Freya, in response, had promptly given Odin and Xeios, her other advisor, the order to end the rebellion and reinstate peace by whatever means they deemed fit.
"It cannot be helped, I suppose," she finally said, meeting Odin's gaze once more. "If those willing to reason decide to negotiate, bring them here. They have my promise that they will not come to harm whilst under my roof. Otherwise, continue your efforts to quell this insurrection."
"Yes, my lady," Odin said, nodding gravely at Freya's words.
"My next concern: the Planeswalkers that I summoned. Fayt appears to have taken personal offense against one of them."
"Indeed," he began, allowing himself the barest hint of a smile. "I, myself, have not seen much of her actions, but Will has informed me of his view on the matter; he suspects she believes her plans are in jeopardy because of their presence."
"She has not done any great harm, and her mistakes were but simple ones," Freya replied, also smiling. "She, of all people, should know that Planeswalkers are unique individuals, all chosen for their talents. They are not to be taken lightly."
"The first that you chose of Gaia's twentieth order is a truly…thorough example," Odin added. "Most mortals would have failed in several of the tasks he was given, and Vayash Moru are seldom attributed much outside of their dispositions."
"Liam Bayloh is indeed a fine example of the title," Freya agreed. "That is why I entrusted him to find the most recent chosen. Vayash Moru are indeed worthy of the title 'Masters of the Hunt,' would you not agree?"
Odin gave but a small tilt of his head to signal his agreement, prompting Freya to continue her statement.
"Before we continue, I ask that you go and bring Lady Kisara here, please. This has bearing on her current situation here in the realm."
Wordlessly, Odin stood from the table, placing a closed fist over his chest as he looked to the Creator once again.
"It shall be done, my lady."
[March 23, 2152 | Esthar, Futabishi Electronics, Shiro Matsuda's Office | 5:06 PM]
It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.
Business was good. The Estharian government had become more relaxed in the time following the defeat of Ultimecia. SeeD had nullified the largest threat to national security and Galbadia was under stable leadership for a change. For Shiro Matsuda and the Hachikyuusan, business couldn't have been better if Laguna Loire had personally handed them new toys to play with.
Then Darius Edward DeValle, Jr. decided to show up.
It was no secret that there was little love lost between the Green Dragons and House DeValle. Rarely if ever, after all, did neighboring crime families get along with each other, be it a personal vendetta or business-related matters. With the Senior aiming to increase the family's holdings and influence into the other major countries, it was inevitable that he'd have to play his hand against the other, more firmly entrenched syndicates in those countries. Already, he had quite a bit of trouble to deal with in Galbadia from the Deling family's underground organization, and now he was going up against the biggest crime family in the largest country in the world. Unfortunately for the Senior, Shiro was a very shrewd player, able to consistently outmaneuver him at every turn.
Darius Jr., however, was a different story. The first tip off that Shiro had that the younger DeValle was up to something had come when he allowed himself to be voluntarily disarmed upon entering the building. Anyone familiar with the boy, even in passing, was plaintively aware of the possessiveness he held over the small armory he carried on his person. Instead of putting Shiro at ease, it only made him wonder more what purpose the youngest DeValle had for seeking him out.
Making a motion to the younger boy to take a seat, Shiro retook his seat behind the desk and leaned back, lacing his fingers together and peering over them at the lightning-throwing Alchemist before him. "Konnichi wa, mister DeValle. It's something of a surprise to see the youngest DeValle in Estharian territory."
Shiro's fingers unlaced as he looked towards one of the two figures standing at the office's door, calling for tea to be brought up to the pair before he returned his attention to Darius, all business. Unperturbed in the slightest, Darius merely smiled, slipping easily into an Estharian accent and bowing just enough to be respectful. As the head of Merchant's Alley, it was Darius' job to know the behaviors and customs of other countries and the people therein.
"Mister Matsuda, your hospitality is appreciated. I won't be here long, however, so allow me to cut through some red tape, ne?"
Without waiting for a reply, Darius pulled the Aries Holy Stone from his pocket and set it on the table in front of Shiro, smirking as the Hachikyuusan daimyo examined the artifact. "This is an artifact of untold magical power. A nameless competitor of my father's went to great lengths to try obtaining a number of them, and forces outside of his comprehension took away his little toys. I've got the last one left, and I intend to make use of it."
He was about to say more when Shiro held up a hand, forestalling him as a woman approached with a steaming pot of tea, pouring a cup for each of the two of them before departing again. Shiro took a short sip, savoring the flavor of the hot beverage, before returning his attention to his guest. "Magical artifacts, as I'm sure you are aware, are not my particular line of expertise." His lips turned up into a small smile. "I was under the impression that your father was a specialist in that area?"
Ignoring the jibe, Darius continued as if he hadn't been interrupted. "I just need a few things before I set out, from someone who I know won't break a deal. Of course, I'm willing and able to pay top dollar."
Shiro took another sip of his tea, considering the young DeValle's words carefully, before placing the cup down on the table and chuckling quietly.
"I am the daimyo of the Green Dragon sect of the overall Hachikyuusan organization," he said, repeating words he had used once before. "There are a great many things I can offer that you would find interest in. What is it that you need?"
Darius gave the closest thing to a smile that his smirk-happy face was accustomed to.
"I want to hire a runner who can get the job done, no matter what. A runner who can do, and has done, the impossible. I want to hire Seifer Almasy."
Shiro's eyebrow arched, even as his face twisted back into a smile that would've unnerved almost anyone.
"This must be important, to ask me for my saikyo-komon personally," Shiro continued, looking at the Alchemist.
"This artifact needs to reach my eldest brother, safely and quickly. I can't have it traced back to me, or else...well, trouble with my father would be the least of my worries. I need someone who can get the job done efficiently and quietly, and Seifer Almasy fits that description."
Shiro took another sip of his tea, the warm beverage soothing him as he considered Darius' words.
"It appears we have a deal, then. How soon must the delivery be made?"
"As soon as possible. I don't know how much time I have left to get this to Katanas."
"Then I will have Seifer make the run tonight."
Darius nodded satisfactorily - on the inside, he was grinning. He hadn't expected things to go as well as they did, but he'd played the gamble through and come up a winner.
"I appreciate it, mister Matsuda. You live up to your reputation, it appears," Darius said with a chuckle, extending his hand to the Green Dragon daimyo. Shiro took it with a firm grip, shaking Darius' hand warmly with a nod as the youngest DeValle son stood from his chair. "I would love to stay and chat more, but the business world is a busy lifestyle. You understand."
"All too well, my friend. All too well."
[Ethereal Plane, Fayt's Domain]
In hindsight, Fayt realized, taking a bit of a break to clear her head would've helped dramatically with her plans.
Not that it would've helped when it came to dealing with Destine, but perhaps she would've realized sooner that the approach she'd tried was bound to fail from the very beginning. Having command of powerful minions to do your bidding is all well and good, but when the target of your aggression is stationed in a building full of highly-trained military officers, not to mention no less than two Planeswalkers picked by Freya herself...
Well, a bit of careful thought never hurt anyone. At least, that was Fayt's perspective now.
"Never send a minion to do the boss' work, after all..." the Pillar of Fate murmured, now sitting quietly in a meditative position on the 'floor' of her abode. There was no sense sending down minions - which required power to create them in the first place - that inevitably ended up dead without accomplishing anything of value. They just waste your energy and stir up unnecessary trouble. Better to just rest for a bit, replenish your energy, and then get down to business yourself, she reasoned. After all, watching your plans succeed from relative safety is good, but carrying them out yourself just to watch the look on the faces of the ones standing against you as you crush both their bodies and spirits is priceless.
Quietly, Fayt closed her eyes, reaching out to the Ethereal Plane itself and drawing on the latent magical energy that permeated the air. The air around her shimmered and shone with a white hue as she began to draw the energy into herself, using the untapped power to replenish her own spiritual energy. It would take time, she knew, but she didn't care about that. Her plans would not be hindered by the break - she had all the time in the world.
[Ethereal Realm, Palace of Creation, Freya's Chamber]
Kisara admired, not for the first time, the elegance and pristine atmosphere of Freya's palace chamber as she took a seat at the grand table inside the room.
"You summoned me, Mistress?"
"I did, on a matter that I feel most important. It has to do with Fayt - more specifically, her plans as they relate to one of the Planeswalkers among my chosen," Freya replied solemnly, looking across the table at the Ethereal mage as Odin retook his place.
Planeswalkers.
That name sent waves through Kisara's mind, and she found herself unconsciously thinking back to all that she had been taught regarding those given that a title. Each realm - the Ethereal Plane, the Nether Plane, and Soul Society - had chosen certain figures throughout the history of the realms to serve as representatives of that realm – Emissaries, of a sort. Most often they were mortals chosen from a specific realm, though several of the chosen had been of other descent, Kisara knew. Freya had chosen a Vayash Moru as the first of her Planeswalkers in the twentieth order, a "vampire" as they were known by most mortals, and in that choice found who she deemed the most worthy and skilled among any that she had chosen in the future.
The name 'Planeswalker' itself did not come about for many centuries after the first was chosen. Unusually enough, it was to be the chosen themselves who would develop and use the term to describe themselves as a reference to the frequency with which they found themselves crossing between the different mortal and other realms alike. Over time, as the Planeswalkers corresponded with their respective deities and learned more of their aims and goals for both their realm and others, some of the chosen began to treat their role as one would a game of chess, each working to outmaneuver and outperform the chosen of other deities to curry favor with their own. This had the side effect of the chosen developing strong skills both in and out of battle that were passed down, through tutelage and sometimes bloodline, to other Planeswalkers.
Kisara, now with these thoughts at the forefront, frowned as she looked at the Creator.
"What is the problem, Mistress?"
"There is no problem...at the moment. However, there may be soon, which is why I sent for you. I believe that Fayt is planning to move against the chosen in question soon, and I feel that precautions would be a wise course of action."
"Precautions?"
A smile returned to Freya's face as she watched her charge, Odin also glancing at the mage momentarily before returning his attention to Freya.
"Yes. That is why I have called you here. As of this moment, I am lifting the punishment I placed on you as a result of your earlier actions."
Kisara grew shocked for a brief instant before her face returned to a neutral expression, her eyes showing relief and gratitude at the words - but also showing a hint of concern. Freya was not one to simply absolve a punishment without reason...so what was that reason?
"You have my solemn thanks, Mistress...but may I ask why?"
Freya's hands laced as she placed them upon the table, looking across at Kisara with an expression that was solemn, yet commanding.
"I want you to watch over the Planeswalkers of Gaia's twenty-first order. Fayt's grudge appears to lie only with one at the present, but that could change at any moment. Currently, most of the Planeswalkers of this order are within close proximity of each other, easing your task."
Slowly, Kisara absorbed the order and the meaning behind it, nodding reverently to the Creator as she did. "I understand, Mistress. When am I to begin?"
"You are to begin immediately. Go now, and may the realm's light shine upon you."
"As you command, Mistress," Kisara said, standing from her seat with a bow before exiting the chamber as silently as she had come.
"Are you sure it is wise to give her such an order, my lady?" Odin asked, once Kisara was out of earshot. "Surely this task would be better given to a ranking member of the Divine Magi, would it not?"
"All warriors face trials to prove their skill and devotion to a cause. I have faith that Lady Kisara will not fail in her task for this reason," Freya answered simply, once again smiling. "I have one more matter to discuss with you while you are present here, Lord Odin."
Odin gave but a small tilt of his head to signal his readiness to listen, prompting Freya to continue her statement.
"I feel that the Planeswalkers that are now on Gaia shall be sufficient to aid in the task I now have for you. Both yourself and Lord Xeios are to be involved, but it shall not be undertaken for a short time."
"Another task, my lady?" Odin queried, the smile vanishing to be replaced with a contemplative expression. He knew that whatever Freya needed, it must be serious in order to require the services of both her advisors. "What might this task be?"
"The complete cessation of Fayt's plans for power."
And there you have it. Freya's sat back and watched this little spectacle long enough.
Again, thanks to Peptuck for the use of Shiro and the Hachikyuusan in the story - I tried to take special care to keep the few minor details right, such as the name of the company Shiro used as a front for operations.
The Planeswalkers have a lot of detail in this chapter because of their role. Every realm has them, and they often play a large part in actions that those realms take, especially when it comes to any mortal realms they affect. A sort of otherworldly special task force, if you will.
Until next chapter, then. As always, please read and review.
