Chapter 26 – The Deaths of Six

POV: Danika

Sacred Realm

I walked into the Sacred Realm, seeing the temptation of the Triforce before my eyes. For a moment, the golden relic…if I could get the wish that it supposedly granted…cancer would be history at last! But then…I knew that the Triforce had been the cause of all our troubles…and so I couldn't insult my friends that way.

That thought…brought me back to the days before my grandmother died. The cancer…it was aggressive, as I've said before…but none of us were prepared…perhaps not even her. One day, one of my aunts went to her house, as she had been complaining of stomach pains for the last few days, and her severe cataracts meant she had to get help going places – she once went to the Yamanka Flower Shop, mistaking it for a funeral home - and causing quite the scene before realizing she was lost. It wasn't funny to her, but we all got a kick out of it because we Nasakura can't stand the smell of the place – my mother having previously thrown up in the establishment, and my sister having what looked like an asthma attack.

When may aunt made it to the house, though…Granny Soria was down on her back, breathing heavily, clutching her abdomen…and borderline raving. "Mother, what's wrong?" my aunt had said, fearing a heart attack.

"The Angel! The Angel!" Soria screamed, crying on the floor. My aunt was puzzled – in all her life up to that point, Granny Soria seemed to have a hatred of angels among all the spirit world's beings – a borderline phobia that had apparently haunted her from the age of nine on up. No one knew why…and Granny Soria refused to explain what brought on her hatred…a hatred even worse than what Sasuke had for Itatchi. "The Angel…he seeks me dead!"

"Grandmother, there is no-"

"YOU FOOLS!" Soria shrieked. "THE ANGEL HAS MANIPULATED YOU ALL…EVEN THAT DOLT I MADE MY SON TAKE FOR A WIFE! DANIKA…DANIKA!"

My aunt, not knowing what else to do, raced my grandmother to the hospital…where she promptly had to be sedated because she was acting in a dangerous manner. I was in school, but my dad waited to tell me and my sister about the incident…partly because he was unsure of what was going on…and as time passed, my belief that he was happy to see his mother leaving the picture. If you thought the relationship between my mom and Granny Soria was icy…Soria's relationship with my father was below zero. As the eldest son, he was expected to carry on the traditions of the gypsies…and he refused, his father Narushi backing him up.

"Mother, nobody believes in your stupid rituals, witchcraft, or traditions anyway!" my father had said as a teen. "I'll love who I want…sleep with who I want…and do what I want! I don't need you ordering around my every move…you can push that on someone else!" he had said.

His mother stared at him. "If you do not follow the gypsy way, my wayward son…come back to the ways of old…you shall be drowned by your own blood! The power you crave…it shall be stolen from you…and your daughters shall not permit their seed to have company with you!"

"Is that a threat?"

"No…my son, I curse you to that!" Soria cried. "It matters not what you do…or where you run…you shall be ruined, utterly ruined!"

Now, standing in front of the pedestal, Master Sword in my hands…my father's words to me that night, when he got the diagnosis…seemed oddly light-hearted, even though he knew my feelings would be hurt.

"I know you love Grandma, Danika…but going to see her would hurt too much!" he'd said, putting a hand on my shoulder and giving me a tissue. "She's dying…seeing her now would break your heart!"

"I know, Father…but it was what Grandma wanted," I had said. "She said that when she was dying, or just before she died…I needed to be at the foot of her bed, even if only for a few minutes. She said…she needed to impart something to me."

My father looked extremely hurt…or perhaps now, butt-hurt. "The final blessing of the priestess…blast!"

"Daddy?"

"It…it's nothing, princess," he replied, looking angry in his jonin jacket. "If that's what you want…we'll head out now. Go get pretty for Grandma…she would want nothing less than the best from her heir!"

Staring at the Master Sword, I looked to the ceiling. "Goddesses of Hyrule…you disappoint me," I said, unafraid. "However…this world will not be safe until this sword is returned to its home." I said, sliding the blade in as the triangles on the floor began to glow and red, green, and blue flames lit up the floor. Suddenly…I felt my eyes turn green with Mako…but this time, my body weakened.

"My sisters come," Jenova said. "Sleep a while."

I sank to the floor, tired and overwhelmed…and I sank into a memory filled sleep. My dream…was the last time I would see my grandmother alive.

…

POV: Jenova

As my spirit form rose up from Danika's body, I looked down at what my manipulations had birthed. Yes…she was developing into the warrior and broodmare I had desired…but there were still things that needed work. Her memories…her feelings…her heart…all of them needed further molding. I didn't want a mindless machine…but the Leaf Village was her anchor, dragging her down when it didn't need to.

I wanted her to be free of her fears…live without regret…but I couldn't have her will tempered by regret or shame. I wanted her to be a sexy bombshell who lived only to serve me and my son…a broodmare who grew more lovely with every baby she sired. She would serve the both of us in unending joy and happiness…and the old things that once held her down would only destroy said happiness if they were permitted to continue living. Even if she forgot her closest friends and family…I would ensure her happiness.

Then…in three flashes of light…the golden goddesses that were Din, Fayore, and Naryu appeared…and I could sense their hatred of me. They hadn't forgiven me…they weren't anywhere close to that.

"Jenova…you wicked harlot…you destroyer of men," Din began, malice in her voice. "How dare you be bold enough to come before us?"

"I'm only here to return what my son needed to take," I replied. "If he hadn't taken the Master Sword…your precious Triforce would be broken, and the world drowning in darkness, just as my son said it would. I thought I could ask you to forgive me…I helped kill my former lover…saved the world you took me away from…but its obvious no forgiveness is coming from you."

"What wisdom is there in forgiving a monster like you!?" Naryu screamed. "Even from your childhood…long before you loved Demise…darkness dwelt within you. Jealousy. Hate. Murder. You hated us…even as children."

I laughed. "Naryu…Naryu…where has your wisdom gone? You call me the monster…forgetting you deal with someone who is only half-divinity. I only hated you because you held my humanity like a hammer over my head…NEVER MISSING A CHANCE TO HIT ME WITH IT! Always telling me I was too weak, too easily manipulated…that I, as a half-human, would pollute everything I touched. Demise…at the time, he showed me something akin to pity…akin to compassion. He kept me from trying to kill all three of you several times…but I see now that killing you all would have been the only just course of action."

"And how do you arrive at that calculus, Jenova?" Fayore wondered.

"Simple. You and Mother have been treating this world like your personal fiefdom…letting it slowly degrade and die over these last two millennia and some change. The Hylians…they went from once having more than enough power to protect themselves to some degree…to being chained to worshipping you. They went from sky-masters…to fearing almost everything that comes from it. You…instead of trying to stop Demise from corrupting Link and Zelda, allowed their curses to play out like worn-out soap operas," I replied, finally coming to the conclusion I had seen time and time again.

"Hyrule doesn't need you anymore, you lazy fools. They need a goddess that will not permit others to be harmed…a goddess of true justice…one that will put the animals down. Give the people the power to think for themselves…protect them, and love them…and then, teach them to defend themselves…so evils like Ganondorf and Demise can never trouble them. You three made Hyrule dependent on you…and did almost nothing while they suffered under Ganondorf's repeated evils."

The three goddesses growled. "You destroyed an entire species!" Din screamed. "You ended the lives of your evil gypsy servants! You're nothing but a monster…and will always be a monster!" She then pointed down at Danika, still sleeping peacefully on the ground. "Kill her, my sisters! Destroy her!"

The three sisters dove toward Danika…now totally defenseless…and I realized the trap she had been drug into. There was no way they would ever forgive me – none. They played Sephiroth…knew that the Master Sword would be needed to kill Demise…so they could lure Danika into this place…and kill her.

"NOOOOO!" I roared, leaping into the path of the goddesses, knowing I most likely stood no chance of stopping them –

"ENOUGH!" a dark voice roared, one I thought was dead. Suddenly…a black barrier emerged between the goddesses and me, blocking them…and then I heard a loud, satisfying scream.

"De-Demise?" I asked…watching as the golden countenances of the goddesses twisted in pain and agony…their power slowly being destroyed as a ghostly visage of Demise stood between us.

"Jenova…this was my plan all along," Demise said. "I knew all along that you would lose your love for me…that we could never truly be together, ruling Hyrule…even though that was my hope. I couldn't save you…couldn't even find you when you left this world…but I swore I would avenge you in some capacity…even if I, a god, had to die to do it."

"But…"

"Yes…you two were right," he said, gesturing down to Danika. "I said a lot of awful things…I lost my way…to the point it could be unforgivable. But…is it safe to assume we both lost our respective ways over the last two thousand years? Desiring instead to control our respective worlds like gods…when we could have tried to find each other…and salvage whatever love was left?"

"De…Demise…why?" I said sadly. "Why…are you just going to die?"

"Hyrule…has no more need of me…or them, for that matter," Demise said, his power really beginning to weaken. "The only way… to break this endless cycle…this world's addiction to the divine, if you will…is for all five of us to die. When Danika killed my body with that bomb…I joined my energy with hers…and I used it to kill Hylia."

I screamed…how? Demise, however, nodded his head.

"She stood by and did nothing while you suffered and died…that's not what a mother does," Demise replied. "If she loved you like she loved them…she would have scoured the universe for you. Your mother…she always regretted loving Alun. She felt…it made her weak, even though he bent over backwards for her."

I felt like crying…but I knew him to be right. The goddesses were screaming…their bodies almost done collapsing into dust, the Triforce crumbling to dust before my eyes. "I haven't much time, Jenova…," Demise said. "It's time for you to become the goddess of this world. Protect them…love them…as you once loved me. Take the power of the goddesses…rejoin Danika…and bring peace to the cosmos."

"I…I forgive you, Demise," I said. "I-"

Before I could get the rest of the words out…the black barrier shifted into a black visage of my former lover…slamming me square in the gut. Eons of power and knowledge…flowed through me like a river.

All of their power – Din, Fayore, Naryu, Hylia – flooded me. Four goddesses…united in one. The temptation of the Triforce forever broken. My vision suddenly shifted to my ruined corpse in the Shinra manor…and I watched with glee as it crumbled to dust with a thought. I no longer needed that ugly husk…I would soon rebuild myself, creating a new body worthy of my capacity.

But for now…five champions needed their just rewards.

…

POV: Danika

I remember that last time with Granny Soria so vividly I can still rebuild it almost perfectly in my brain. I remember the sterile hospital equipment, the feel of the make-up on my face…the weird cross between pride and joy in my father on his face. I remember that it disturbed me a little – his own mother was dying, I reasoned – why wasn't he sad?

Remember, I was only nine – all but oblivious to the pain and suffering gypsy tradition had caused. I knew some gypsy traditions were kind of outdated – maybe even a little foolish – but I felt what few traditions of the gypsies I carried on at that time were something of a symbol of pride. I had even preserved Granny Soria's Sacred Arts in my scrapbook, so I would remember the wonderful times we had together, singing – not the pyre that would soon burn her body to ashes…or her coffin. I wanted to make sure I wouldn't remember her funeral – I didn't want to remember that at all.

I went to the foot of the bed, composing myself. "Grandmother…I am here," I said, watching out of the corner of my eye as my father closed the door and went to the lobby – thus cutting himself off from all the blessings of my grandmother. "I fear the time is coming…and I am here to preserve what you have passed on."

Grandma was almost asleep – or dead, I wasn't sure – but as the words left my mouth, she sat up, looking like nothing had happened at all. However…there was a glow to her face, an almost otherworldly one. I had heard of this glow – it was said to appear in the faces of gypsies that had happily consigned themselves to death, granted to them by their "goddess." Granny Soria had promised to tell me the name of the goddess for my tenth birthday, as my first of several "rites of passage"…but tears came to my eyes as I realized that was not a promise she would be able to keep.

"Little one, do not cry!" Granny replied, suddenly realizing why I was upset. "I know I shall not be able to keep my word to you…and I am sorry…but I shall impart to you a warning. I…I have done everything I can to protect you…the marriage to Sasuke was to protect you from…"

She paused, the terror returning, "Soria…," she said. This wasn't uncommon – she spoke to herself often when she dealt with overwhelming fear and terror. "The Angel seeks to destroy the very thing you hold dear…you MUST rise up and fight back, or she will suffer!"

"Grandmother…who is the angel?" I asked, determined to get to the bottom of what my grandmother hated so much. "What is its name?"

"His name…it is too terrible to speak," she replied. "However…he is a human…infused with the seeds of the goddess. He is one of many…but he is the greatest. So powerful…the worlds tremble in fear of the mention of him. You…you must guard your heart…or he shall slide into the broken shards of your heart…filling you up with him over and over again. You…shall become a slave to him…begging him to feed you more and more-"

Then, she slumped back, and went limp. I was confused…but then…my dream shifted. I was in what looked like the future, now both naked and pregnant, very pregnant, on a throne inside a warm cage with the door open…a place surrounded with warm pillows, a tray full of hot food and what looked like wine or grape juice in a cup. A savaged-looking Nerika…a half-dead looking Tahana…and the corpse of Toshiyori-sensei sat outside, standing before what looked like a sea of nameless, faceless people…as a nearly nude Sephiroth walked in, his manliness covered by a clean white robe. A warm glow filled my whole being…I was about to give birth.

I didn't understand what it was I was doing…but I knew I was not human anymore. I was a demi-goddess…only Jenova had more power than me, but she seemed content to give me free rein. As I gave gentle pushes, moving my next child into the world, Sephiroth stared out at the people…and he looked disgusted.

"What shall I do with these rats?" he asked as the baby pushed through my cervix, her tiny head emerging from my womb. "The people seek them dead…but still…they refuse to die."

Normally, I would have chided him for interrupting the birth…but I had birthed so many times that it was nearly a banal thing. I birthed…he filled me…and we repeated the process. The baby slid out gently, and Sephiroth caught her with his gravity powers, cutting her cord with a knife and grabbing a blanket from nowhere, wrapping her up.

"If they shall not die…summon Aerith." I said.

I didn't know who Aerith was…but then, a plump-looking brown haired woman with calm, simmering green eyes – a woman of power – appeared, Zelda dressed in white behind her as terror filled the crowd, looking like she'd been f-ed stupid. Once…she had been a healer, if I remembered right…but we had done something to her I couldn't remember. It had involved screaming…and me laughing hysterically as Sephiroth did awful things to her I also couldn't remember. In the back of my mind…someone yelled for her…but soon, he grew calm, smiling as she learned to become the feared woman she was.

"New babies for me?" she asked, smiling. She called everyone babies…especially among the new charges she beat, drugged, magicked, and watched be seduced until they became nothing more than happy slaves, fearful of only us.

Sephiroth gestured, and the crowd grabbed the two living bodies, ignoring Toshiyori. "Yes," Sephiroth said as he rubbed my breasts. "Take them."

Aerith squealed as the girls screamed. The crowds cheered…and everything went black.