Part 3 - Devil's Dawn

Chapter 58 - Scheming of the Devil

Edward sighed as he read the sticky note for a fifth time, sticking it to the table top.

"As much as I hate to say it, Gwen is right. As we've just seen, we can't hurt Alduin. That being said, we had one success: all of Berk was evacuated successfully. The SRS Haven is the town now, which means you two are still chief and chieftess so don't get your hopes up of getting away from your duties."

"I wasn't going to. Berk needs a leader now more than ever." Replied Hiccup.

They were sitting around another briefing room table aboard the SGC Perseverance. The Valour was being restocked with dark energy which was too risky an operation to have non-essential personnel aboard.

"What did Gwen say in the note that you don't want her to be right about?" Peter pressed, taking a sip from a glass of water.

"She said that to defeat Alduin we need a being of equivalent strength. My thoughts are another lord of an afterlife. Of course, the first one that comes to mind, and the one she has suggested, is literally Satan."

"Is that a comparison or are you actually suggesting we got to Hell and speak to the devil himself?" Asked Teresa.

"The latter."

"Go to hell."

"I plan to."

Peter chuckled and took another swig from his glass.

"Then let's do it. If Satan is the only one who can defeat Alduin then we do it."

"It's not that simple. We're talking about the devil. He'll want something in return, probably someone's soul. Any offers?"

"And he'll be a trickster. Expect him to be like Loki from Avengers." Teresa added.

"Loki is an actual god." Said Astrid quietly.

"He's a dork. Anyway, we need to talk to Gwen about this."

"This is not going to end well."

Gwen was on top of a tall structure in the middle of the fountain back in Stockholm, 9633. Peter swung up to her as the Arachnid hovered overhead. He explained the plan. She sighed.

"At least my input is still valid. Getting to Hell should be easy."

"Easy? Really? You better come and explain."

They scrambled down the side of the structure, waded through the fountain and jumped onto the pavement.

"There's a cave which the Ancient Romans believed led to the underworld. I think they were right. Some of us go through and sort things out with Satan then that's the end of Alduin."

"Who should go? Not all of us, surely?" Asked Peter, clearly not comfortable with coming face-to-face with the devil.

"No. I'll go for diplomacy. Gwen, you'll come to keep the guy from pulling any dirty tricks. Anyone else want to volunteer?" Replied Edward.

Teresa nodded.

"I'll go. If you don't mind my saying, Hiccup and Astrid, your people need you. As for Peter, I don't think he has the guts; besides, we need someone who knows what's going on and can keep an eye on things."

"That's alright with me."

Hiccup and Astrid agreed with Teresa as well. Edward took a deep breath.

"This is not going to be fun."

The cave was a tourist site, much to the group's surprise. Gwen took point, ignoring the looks from the bustling tourists. Suddenly, she stopped and turned to the side. They were at the deepest point, but there didn't seem to be any visible entrance to Hell. Gwen tapped on the wall, then knocked with her knuckles. She began to tap around that point then took a step back.

"Tell the Romans they were right." She said to a passer-by who gave her a funny look.

Magenta energy crackled from her hand. She punched the wall and it exploded in a shower of rock and dust. People began to run, screaming. The Ethereal spider walked through the dust and stopped, grinning. Teresa joined her, and Edward a few moments later when the dust had settled. They were in a round chamber; at the far end was a red swirl. Gwen stepped through without hesitation.

Hell was not what any of them had imagined. Instead of fire burning everywhere, they were in the middle of a hazy midnight street. Gwen took in her surroundings then started walking. The other two didn't know what else to do but follow. Merely minutes later they were standing in front of a throne of some sort. Teresa thought it looked like it was made from basalt columns, but she wasn't sure. On the throne sat a very normal looking man in a suit. He regarded them curiously.

"This is...interesting. There haven't been any living people here for a very long time."

He stood up and approached. Teresa shifted her hand towards her gun. The devil seemed to notice, or perhaps sense it.

"That won't be much use. Many have tried, clearly nobody has managed."

With a flick of his wrist, a square table appeared with four chairs. On it was all sorts of food and drinks.

"Let's talk. I haven't been to the mortal world for maybe...a few hundred years at least."

The trio sat with the devil. Gwen eyed the food warily and noticed the other two hadn't touched it either.

"Satan, we need a favour." She said, turning her gaze to the deceiver.

"Satan? I hate that name. Call me Lucifer."

"Well then, Lucifer, we need a favour."

"And what would that favour be?"

"We need your help to kill Alduin." Said Edward.

Lucifer plucked a grape from its bunch and popped it in his mouth.

"Alduin, eh? Big black dragon fellow? Took over Sovngarde after Shor went on to do some other nonsense."

"You know him?" Teresa asked, wondering what sort of ties the cause of all their problems could have to the World Eater.

Lucifer sensed her thoughts.

"Why does everyone blame me for everything? Do they think I have time to sit on people's shoulders and guide them in their every movement? Take some responsibility: you're the only one to blame."

It was a fair argument; even the devil had a concept of time.

"Whatever. But do you know Alduin?"

"Of course! Of course. Alduin is the first-born of Akatosh, the Devourer of Worlds. And you want me to kill him? Even the devil has limits to his strength. It would be an even match: he couldn't hurt me, and vice versa."

"Do you know who could kill him?" Edward pressed.

"Nobody. If he was in his normal form I could do it, but you decided to provoke him into his true power."

Gwen sensed a trick. She poured a glass of wine from a jug in the centre of the table then, under the table, poured a tiny vile of liquid into it. Lucifer leaned forward in his seat to grab another grape, Gwen stealthily switched the glasses. The devil took a gulp then stopped and began to laugh.

"Poison, Gwen? I don't think you were trying to kill me. But I like this, very slick."

He finished the glass and smiled at the spider who narrowed her eyes.

"That's the most entertainment I've had in quite a while. You're an interesting individual. I sense so much power coming from you, but it isn't coming from you. You merged with an Ethereal plate, I think."

"You know about the plates?" She asked.

"Of course. Us higher-ups know all there is to know. Even the Quintari can not comprehend the system they created; but we can. One big happy family, each member looking to grow the population of their after life. I don't need to do much. It's quite relaxing."

"What do you mean?" Asked Edward.

"Every god or devil or demon or angel or whatever exists. We're all the same, just different names and after lives. Each of us wants people to believe in them. Even that so popular God...that one with the son called Jesus. He's a dick, even more than the rest of us. He makes everyone grovel in their own misery to tease them with his 'perfect' place. Me, on the other hand, I get all the leftovers: Atheists, if you will."

"This is all very good but what has it got to do with Alduin?" The admiral asked.

"Alduin is just like that, or was. Once again he's the multiverse's house keeper, he mops up the odd dimensions here and there to make way for new ones to appear."

"But how do we kill him?" Asked Teresa, getting frustrated.

"How do you kill any cleaner? With their own cleaning materials of course."

"We need another dimension devouring being?"

"Yes."

Gwen took a deep breath.

"Who would you reccomend?"

"Well, since you've amused me so much, I will do it. That and two other favours. Only to you, Gwen."

The spider saw her opportunity.

"Here's something you can do: tell me how to find my husband Miles."

"Miles Gonzalo Morales? Another spider guy, right?"

"Yes."

This was it, she was about to be reunited with him.

"He might be here in Hell, he might not. I gave up keeping track who is and who isn't. But I'll tell you the way to find him. There is a device created a long time ago called the Animator. It's a cube sort of thing: brass, fits in your palm nicely. It can locate and revive the dead, whichever afterlife they're in."

This made her disappointed but hopeful at the same time. She could get him back, she just needed this Animator.

"How do I find it?"

"It's already found. Just one problem: it's with another dimension destroying menace: the Scarlet King. As the devil I'm rarely one for giving out advice, but I hate the Scarlet King as much as every other higher-up. He is drawn to his followers and to chaos; in investigating you will discover truths that will drive you to madness. The closer you are to madness, the more the King takes hold and he gains one more foothold in every dimension you visit. I have no idea where he is now, but I believe he had his sights on 9001 not so long ago."

"The SCP Foundation..." She breathed, recalling her defeating 682 and near-death at the hands of 096.

"The King guards the Animator so your only way to get it is to do everyone and everything a favour by killing him. I wish you luck in doing that. Now, when do I get to kill Alduin?"

Four people emerged from the red swirl, much to the surprise of the police officers who had gathered to investigate the scene. Every eye-witness had agreed it was three who had entered, and the cameras confirmed it. They tried to bar the way but were pushed aside. Edward tapped his com badge when they reached the surface.

"Melbourne to Arachnid; four for transfer."

"Aye."

Officers aboard the Arachnid looked at Lucifer with confusion. Many expected the devil to have horns, red skin and a big trident: it was the stereotypical picture. But that didn't matter. What mattered was the battle which was about to ensue. Arachnid jumped back to 6119 and descended, bringing its ramp up to the cliff edge for the team, and Lucifer to disembark. Alduin's reaction the presence of another 'higher-up' was clear. The ship jumped just as a tsunami of fire left the World Eater's mouth. Gwen pulled the team close to her and formed an X shape with her arms. The flames were deflected around them. Lucifer had been outside but didn't seem to care at all. Alduin opened his mouth and spoke in a voice that seemed to create earthquakes.

"You insult me."

"Well, I believe that's the idea."

The devil's eyes glowed red. Hiccup, Astrid, Edward and Teresa backed away, suddenly terrified. Peter felt fear consume him but refused to bow to it. Gwen didn't feel anything, she just watched curiously as the mountain, on which Berk was built, began to crumble. With a flick of the arm, the entire summit crashed into Alduin. The World Eater roared, splitting the island in half and causing the cracks in reality to widen significantly. As the two sides fell away into the sea, Gwen extended magenta wings as Peter webbed the other four in one hand and himself to her with the other, swinging precariously in the wind. Suddenly, the water began to churn again and the entire island rose back up from the sea, higher and higher into the sky then struck Alduin from the sky like a bird hit with a stone from a catapult. Meteorites crashed down around Lucifer: Alduin's vain attempt to fight back against an opponent he could barely see through his size. Gwen dumped Peter and the team on a rock. She formed another X, blasting apart the tsunami created by Alduin's fall into the sea. Lucifer raised his arms one last time, whipping up an enormous ocean current which created a whirlpool, pinning Alduin underwater as the once great World Eater slowly drowned in the very dimension he had planned to devour.

For nearly half-an-hour, Lucifer held this whirlpool until there was an almighty explosion which seemed to part the ocean. Alduin was gone. Lucifer drifted down in front of the group and laughed at Hiccup, Astrid, Edward and Teresa's fear.

"That was quite fun, actually. Let's do it again, shall we?"

"I guess you can go back to Hell or whatever." Said Peter.

The other four were too scared to talk, and Gwen seemed to be thinking deeply.

"I guess I can. Don't forget, Gwen. I still owe you one more favour. I'm the devil; anything you want."

There was some sort of pop and he was gone. Teresa growled, seemingly at herself. Peter turned to Gwen.

"So, the devil himself is your servant once more. What are you going to do?"

"Presumably she'll ask him to bring Miles back." Said Edward shaking the fear from himself.

"No." Was all Gwen said.

"No? Why not?" Asked Astrid, clearly annoyed at herself like Teresa but not making a show of it.

"He can't do it. If he could he wouldn't have told us about the Animator and the Scarlet King. He'd have pressed me to use my final favour for that. From what I can tell the devil is many forms of evil, but not a liar."

"So...what does this mean for you?" Asked Hiccup.

"It means I have another evil to make a deal with."

"Woah! Hold up!" Snapped Edward.

"If you're going to stand in my way, Melbourne, I will kill you right here, right now. It will save your suffering at the King's hand. Disband the resistance; your part is done."

"I'll disband the resistance, but I think there's some other way that isn't making a deal with another 'higher-up'. If we work together we can kill the Scarlet King and end another evil."

Gwen glared, her hand on the hilt of a currently invisible katana. Things were tense for a few seconds as the Ethereal spider and grand admiral stared each other down. Then she relaxed and took her hand away.

"Then that's how it will be. We kill the King, I get the Animator to bring back Miles."

Crossovers in this Chapter

- How to Train Your Dragon
- Skyrim