My MEGAMI 20: Deus Ex Machina
With the death of the last master and his MEGAMI that left only the two Hunters and finally the pillars responded. Great beams of light descended from the heavens each a different color and riding them came 12 women who stepped forward and sped to the center of the circle they created.
Although a hundred miles away they crossed the distance in a near instant and hovered around the survivors like twelve angels. MEGAMI-like in appearance each was a beautiful woman far more radiant than even Natsuki and Shizuru which seemed impossible up until that point.
Of note was the fact that they looked clearly displeased until one of them stepped forward. She was a red-headed woman with raven wings on her back and an outfit that was composed mostly of leather and straps.
"I am Morrigan the Destroyer Goddess and MEGAMI of Ravens. Why are they two of you?"
Nao stepped forward to explain herself.
"I assume you're the Goddess who's stepping down?"
"…Yes. You're the master of these two."
"Technically they're the same MEGAMI. Look at their cores."
The twelve scrutinzed the two in a way that seemed as though they were piercing their very souls and by their expressions they were clearly surprised by the presence of two MEGAMI with exactly the same cores.
"How is this possible?" Morrigan demanded.
"A very long story involving trying to create artificial MEGAMI."
A staccato of chatter broke out among the goddesses not all of which could actually be perceived by the mortals or MEGAMI but obviously they were hesitating.
"What are you waiting for?" Nao demanded. "We won. It's time your place was taken by my Hunters."
"But they're two of them!" Morrigan snapped.
"She has a point," a Japanese looking goddess wearing the red and white of a Miko with white wolf-like ears and a tail.
Defining her was a huge icon of gold like a sun behind her.
"Amaterasu?" Morrigan turned to her fellow Goddess.
"We have had twins ascend before."
"I'm in agreement," added a dark skin MEGAMI clad in gold finery and possessed of feline features.
"Bastet. You too."
One by one each of the goddesses agreed to continue their tradition and resumed the trial.
"Very well. We 12 accept these Hunters into our ranks."
The twelve goddesses encircled Shizuru, Natsuki and Nao as the others backed off. Light brighter than a star filled everything as power the likes of which they had never known filled the trio.
"I Morrigan step down from the 12. And thus Natsuki Wolfgang Kruger Von Richthofen and Shizuru Violet Fujiwara take my place as the Hunting Goddess of Wolves and Serpents. Goodbye my friends it's been wonderful."
And like many MEGAMI who had fallen Morrigan faded into star dust and blew to the wind as a cloud massive in proportions equal to her power.
When the light faded Nao was the first to emerge from the circle. Physically she appeared no different but the mages could see the change in her aura and recognized a Pure One.
Natsuki and Shizuru appeared next changed far more than just spiritually. A serpent's tongue whipped from her lips and her eyes were slitted and red like a snake's. Natsuki had likewise gained lupine features mirroring the form of the goddesses around them.
"It is done," said Amaterasu. "Welcome to our pantheon."
Feeling the newfound power in her Natsuki began to wonder to herself what to do now. And as she stared into her own hands comtemplating she faltered and Shizuru noticed.
"You're thinking about your father?" Shizuru asked.
"Ja, I vaited so long for this. But now…I don't think I care. I haf everything I need right here," Natsuki smiled making Shizuru blush.
"Thank you. But what of the others," Shizuru gestured to remaining masters who remained silent to see what transpired. "What of those who died in this pointless war? What of their MEGAMI?"
The Goddesses exchanged glances with each other. Expressions that showed regret and pity.
"Our powers are vast extending over time and space. Our one desire and rule is to preserve existence. Our laws though few prevent us from ever holding more power than one another and thus we limits the number of MEGAMI we can create," Bastet explained.
"There can be no more than 12 in life at any time save for when we decide to have a trial. One for each of us that is the rule. The world cannot withstand anymore," Amaterasu added.
"So you're saying we can make a mortal MEGAMI. But we cannot summon those who are gone," Shizuru responded mirthlessly.
"Yes. That is our rule. We cannot and will not break it."
"But we can subvert it," Nao cut in surprising everyone.
"What?" all them said at once.
"Shizuru, Natsuki. Call in another trial and grant Mai and Tate over there a set of seals."
The Goddesses broke out in a near panic chatter as they tried to consider what was happening. Never before had this happened.
"No! They cannot! A Zodiac Trial cannot be started withou the consent of more than one…Oh…" Bastet trailed off.
As asked Shizuru and Natsuki touched the hands of Mai and Tate and new seals branded themselves on the humans.
"But what about everyone else?" Mai asked.
Nao held up her arm seals began to flow from the concentrated mark she had gained on her tongue.
"Each Goddess can only give one set of seals. To subvert your rules I needed the power of more than one set of seals. But now that I'm a Pure One to a pair of true goddesses I don't need so many to maintain my connection. So I return these seals to these living masters and thus they can summon without you lot."
As Nao did what she said the Goddesses could only watch their emotions caught somewhere between surprise, violation and proud enjoyment. None of them had ever considered a plan like this and all were surprised.
"You cheated our system!" Amaterasu gasped not in disgust or horror but in pleasant surprise.
"You don't sound angry," Nao replied playfully.
"To become what we are was never pleasant but necessary," Bastet responded. "But to what end will this accomplish?"
"Well obviously we can't summon a full set without you lot so a real trial won't start. But this way at least since it's technically a new trial my friends here can summon back their old MEGAMI and at least have one normal life with them."
"And when their natural lives have run their course their MEGAMI will fade with them and this fake trial will be moot," another Goddess finished
"But why do you do this?" Amaterasu asked.
"Because I felt like it," Nao replied whimsically.
To that the 11 Goddesses simply laughed.
"You are a magnificent bitch aren't you. Enjoy."
And thus they were gone leaving only one pair of Goddesses behind.
Much time would pass from then on. Mai, Tate, Takumi, Alyssa, Aoi, Yukino and even Yohko upon regaining their seals borrowed by Nao used them again to resummon the friends they had lost before going on their separate ways to enjoy their lives as they saw fit for however long they could.
Mai, Tate and Takumi along with Diviner and Oracle had left for home elsewhere in Japan. Yukino and Judicator decided to head to Europe to find a new life while Aoi and Deceiver just took to the open ocean and whatever awaited them.
No one saw Yohko or Arbiter and assumed they didn't want to be found and left it at that.
They would all meet again they belived. But not for a while.
As for Natsuki and her newfound family well after Alyssa resummoned Crusader who immediately assumed the role as a maid to the Richtofen family Hunter and her lover whom she shared mystical organs with her set out for Germany. They had decided to go by ship and this evolved into a very long cruise. But they didn't care.
They were well in need of a long holiday.
"You know Natsuki-chan. We met on a ship," Shizuru noted.
"Ja, ve did."
"Do you think anything will happen this?" Shizuru asked as she caught sight of the European mainland.
"Honestly nein. My life has been far too interesting."
Shizuru laughed.
"Gomen. So tell me."
"Ja?"
"Why is it called the fatherland."
"Oh that is a long story."
"We have time," Shizuru giggled.
THE END