SkekSa's Rebel Angels

The Dark Crystal is a trademark of The Jim Henson Productions. I do not own the rights to the series, nor do I plan to make a profit off of it. This is for entertainment purposes only.

However, I do own my original series The Realms of Alerfa, and it's characers, such as Mist Elmbarn, Freyja Vanadies, Eir Gullmannen and Nana Hogen. Steal my original creations without asking, then you will be sorry,

Chapter 01: Sympathy for the Devil

On that fateful day, four angels of the all female Valkyrie class has made their way from The Light World of Godheim, to the ailing world of Thra. They were ordered to take the souls of the fallen Gelflings with them, sending the Gelflings to various different regions of Godheim and Helheim: The Dark World. It was almost like things were according to plan among the divine beings of Godheim and the inhabitants of Thra...

Or...where they? Really?

Today was the fateful day that would change the lives of the Valkyrie forever, and all it took for them, was to discover a bizarre talking tree in The Great Sog.

Finally, after traveling through many dimensions and cosmic forests, four Valkyries, named Mist Elmbarn, Eir Gullmannen, Nana Hogen, and Freyja Vanadies have descended down to Thra, to fulfill the duty of the elder gods they served.

Mist Elmbarn was a Valkyrie of the Samjok-o (Multi Limb bird) angel clan. Mist Elmbarn has long, sapphire blue hair with a wavy texture, bright blue eyes, a petite height with a slender, yet bottom heavy pear shape figure. Her outfit consists of a red beret with gold feathers, a red sling leotard threaded with gold and green, with green side sleeves on the side. She also wore green striped fingerless gloves and red thigh high boots laced with gold, and has gold high heels at the soles. Mist Elmbarn's class was that of a magician who uses attack magic, and wields a hammer in battle.

Eir Gullmannen is a part of the same angel clan as Mist Elmbarn, as well as being close friends with Mist. Eir has pinkish purple hair tied into two low hanging braids, emerald green eyes, and was somewhat taller than Mist, but not as tall as Freyja. Her body was a rectangular figure, clad in a skin tight yellow pantsuit, a long, poofy sleeved white undershirt with bare shoulders decorated with a blue floral pattern, A white hooded shawl with pink lining, a sienna brown belt with an arrow quiver, and wore ankle high boots in the colors of red, gold, cyan, and white. Eir Gullmannen class was that of a healer magician who uses magic to clense, and wields a bow with arrows in battle.

Freyja Vanadies was a Valkyrie of the Vanir god clan. Freyja has blonde hair that was short in back, but long in front, all braided up. Hey eyes were a blue violet shade, is the tallest of the four, with an inverted triangle figure, long legs, and a well toned body. Her outfits consists of a silver and gold winged helmet, a bejeweled enchanted necklace known as a "Brísingamen", a gold breastplate with a long strip of royal blue fabric in front, and two hip length strips of the same colored fabric in back, where the breastplate snaps together when worn. On her arms, she wore long gloves with golden braclets, a gold, skin tight mini skirt under her armored top, some thigh high tan stockings, and silver armored boots. Freyja's class, was that of a magic knight, who blesses her weapons, as well as the weapons of others, with elemental attacks, and wields a two handed, long blade sword in battle.

Nana Hogen was a Valkyrie of the Aesir god clan. Nana has long flowing orange-red hair, tied into one braid, purple eyes, and was the second tallest of the group. Her body had a slender figure with a rectangle shape. Her outfit consists of a purple and gold helmet with four pink wings on it, purple shoulder pads, purple gauntlets, a sleeveless pink dress with yellow diamond print and a long slit on the right hand side, two floral print scarves tied around her waist, and purple Grecian styled sandals. Nana's class was that of a lancer, and wields halberds in battle.

The group of Valkyries lightly landed in what appears to a swamp, or a "Sog" as the Gelflings would call it. Good lord, the sog smelled wretched to the Valkyries. To them, it smelled like hot dog water mixed with sauerkraut juice. Freyja and Nana just toughed out the pungent stench, while Mist and Eir were plugging their nose with their left hands, trying to fight back the nasty feelings flow through them.

"Ewwww...My clothes...I just got these cleaned!" Eir pouted, as she pinched her nose shut in disgust.

"I'll say...Ugh! (gaaag!)" Mist cringed, feeling just as sick as her friend.

In front of Mist and Eir, Freyja and Nana were getting a little fed up with their companions whining, and decided to politely put in end to it. Freyja spoke first. "I know girls, I know...It smells bad here, but we have duties to do, and before you know it, we will be out of this Sog, then you girls can move onto other missions."

"Besides, we're doing divine favors." Nana added. "We are not attending a fashion show."

"Okay, Mmmgh. (groan)" Mist and Eir replied, trying to fight their bile refluxes.

While wandering the sog, searching for souls of Gelflings who have fallen in battle against the Skeksis (as well as trying really hard to tolerate the swampy stench), the four Valkyries come across a strange looking tree. The tree was corrupt with a dark energy, known to many, as "The Darkening". While The Darkening engulfed the tree, the aura around it, was a dark indigo-black, which would occasionally glow and pulsate with dark energy. The dark aura would occasionally glow with a group of colors, from fire gold, to poison purple. The tree's dark aura was strangely attractive to Valkyries, drawing them closer to it.

"Wow, there is something odd about this tree." Nana said, feeling mixed emotions from the dark aura.

"I never seen or felt anything like this..." Freyja said, feeling a strange pulse flow through her body.

"Mmmm...so intimating, yet, so beautiful..." Mist moaned, feeling the same dark energy flow through her body.

"Oh my...This tree...Ooooh...Ohhhh..." Eir panted in morbid delight, as now the dark energy started to flow through all four bodies of the Valkyrie.

Then, as the Valkyries were just beginning to consume The Darkening's aura, a feminine voice started to speak to them within the tree. "What is this? Three, no, four voices of divine maidens surrounding me?"

The four Valkyries were stunned to hear the tree talking to them. Mist spoke to the tree first. "This tree...It can talk!"

"Something tells me this is no ordinary tree..." Freyja said, while being slowly enchanted by the dark aura surrounding everyone around her. "It is almost like..."

The tree spoke once more, interrupting the blonde Valkyrie. The tree started to speaking in a pitiful, sorrowful, tone of voice. "Hey, listen here my divine ladies...Free me from the barks of these trees... I have no one...I need someone..."

"Yes, we will free you, whomever you are." Nana said as she and Freyja pulled out their bladed weapons, while Mist and Eir got ready to cast spells.

Freyja pulls out her two handed sword, while Nana pulls out her halberd, while they slash away at the darkened tree bark. As the tree was shredded by two of the Valkyries' sharp blades, Mist casts fire elemental spells to burn away the remains of the tree's remains, with Eir casting spells to boost the physical and magical strength of her traveling companions.

With the tree being ripped up, the voice started to sigh in relief, giving words of encouragement to the four Valkyries. "Yes...yes! Good girls...Keep up the good work."

After a while, the tree was shrinking down, being almost reduced to charred wooden pulp. The four Valkyries started to pant and swear from their hard work, but also some relief, knowing they are about to free whoever, or, whatever was trapped inside the tree.

"We are almost there girls!" Freyja cheered to her Valkyries in an encouraging tone of voice. "Keep it up. We are almost there...(huff) (pant)"

When the Valkyries took a small breaks from pulverizing the tree bark, a pair of monstrous clawed hands came tearing their way out of the tree. The Valkyries were feeling mixed emotions with what they are witnessing right now. They didn't know whether to feel fear or relieve with whatever entity was being freed from the darkened tree. The creature spoken to them as it started to free itself. "Thank you my divine ladies. I can handle it from here."

The Valkyries put their weapons away, as well as canceling out their magic spells. Freyja and Nana put their weapons away in their sheathes, while Mist huddles closer to Eir, the two Samjoko maidens hugging onto each other nervously.

Right before their eyes, a huge figure ripped itself out of the trees and collapsed down onto its knees in front of the divine battle maidens. The creature lifted up its monstrous head, saying to them, "Thank you for freeing me my ladies."

The four battle maidens' eyes widened in horror, with fear and dread consuming their minds with what they were witnessing.

The creature that stood before the maidens appeared to be a Skeksis surrounded in a dark aura. The Skeksis had azure blue feather like hair covering her avian head, a long, dinosaur like beak with what appeared to be bloody snout piercings on the top, small nub like ears with scars where her earrings once were, three hands with the fourth hand on her back being obviously amputated, and her eyes having dark purple whites, with glowing lavender irises and glowing indigo blue pupils, indicating that the Skeksis has completely consumed The Darkening while imprisoned inside her tree prison. Her outfit was just mere rags, with her long tattered dull gray sleeves hanging off two of her four arms, a tattered red cloak, tattered reddish brown baggy trousers with a long, lizard like tail sticking out, and worn out black boots with parts of her bare clawed feet poking out of the holes. The top of her upper clothes have rotted away, save for her undergarments, which partially covered up the Skeksis' four strangely humanoid breasts.

Eir and Mist hugged onto each other in horror, crying out together, "AAAAAACK! A SKEKSIS! (whimper) (groan)"

Freyja and Nana, on the other hand, were struggling with their fear, trying hard to keep their weakened fighting spirits in tact. Freyja stutters nervously in fear, while trying to stay calm, but failing miserably, "Get...Get away from us foul monster. If...you...lay a hand on...us...I will... I will..."

"NOOOO! WAIT! Please...Listen to me!" The Skeksis cried out in a rather somber tone of voice that broken the hearts of the battle maidens. "I mean you maidens no harm..."

The Valkyries started to slowly, but surely calm down, with their emotions turning from primal fear, to sorrowful empathy. Mist and Eir broken away from each other, as they approached the Skeksis, with Mist asking the Skeksis, "Okay, We are sorry to be so judgmental here."

Freyja holds out her hand, asking the creature, "Here, grab our hands! Let us dreamfast together. Let us all get to know you that way."

"Very well my ladies..." The Skeksis said, as the battle maidens all grabbed onto the creatures hands, thus, beginning the dreamfast session.

The first memory came from the Skeksis. Before all the females, an image of the same Skeksis wearing what appeared to be pirate garb. This pirate Skeksis seems to be riding on top of a huge organic pirate ship that looks like a hybrid of a turtle and dragon. The monstrous duo began sailing up to what appears to be a city populated by the Sifa Gelfling clan. All the Sifa Gelflings ran up to the Skeksis, as she gotten off of her "ship" and greeted the Sifa in return.

"My name is SkekSa, the Mariner..." The Skeksis introduced herself to the Valkyries. "I am a matron Skeksis of the Sifa clan...Or...At least I used to be anyways...(sigh)"

Another image has shown up in the mind of the females. It showed them SkekSa trying to save a poisoned Gelfling woman's life. "I even saved a life of a Sifa Gelfling who was poisoned by another fellow Gelfing, who tried to put the blame on me. Once the Gelfling maiden regained consciousness, she tried to clear my good name, saying that I wasn't the one that poisoned her. I was relieved, but the relief was short lived..."

While the group was dreamfasting, the Valkyrie maidens were oblivious that the aura of The Darkening was flowing through their divine veins, nor did they care about that fact either. They were curious to know SkekSa, telling each other about the stories of their pasts.

The image now switched to SkekSa being betrayed not only by the Gelflings, but her own organic ship as well. In that image, a Gelfling chopped off one of SkekSa's four hands, leaving a bloody stump in its place. "The Gelfling, even my fellow Sifa clan, have all betrayed me. They all united, starting a resistance against me. Even my ship, Vassa, has betrayed me, forcing me back to solid land against my will.

Another image showed up, this time, of SkekSa trying to win back favor of the Skeksis. No matter how hard she tried to win back favor with the other Skeksis, the Skeksis known as SkekZok, would use SkekSa as his personal scapegoat whenever he did something wrong. Now, all the Skeksis turned against her, with Emperor SkekSo wanting her executed if she ever came back to the Crystal Castle.

While being banished, the other Skeksis started to pelt SkekSa with rocks, stones, rotten food, and badly decayed animal carcasses at her, heckling her with hurtful words while doing so. "No matter how hard I tried, the other Skeksis wanted me gone. If I was to return to the crystal castle, I would be executed in a slow, painful sort of manner."

Tears of sorrow started to form in the eyes of the Valkyries. However, these were not normal tears. These are the tears made of the liquid version of the darkening pouring down the battle maidens' faces. "(sob) (sob) We are so sorry to hear about this Lady SkekSa...(sob)"

The final image was that of two Gelfling twins trying to avenge the death of their mother, who was killed by SkekSa in an act of revenge. The Gelfling twins teamed up with SkekSa's Ur-Ru Mystic counterpart, known as UrSan the swimmer, to avenge the death of their Maudra Mother. To Gelflings, a Maudra was like a Queen or Empress figure, who ruled over their clans.

At the finale of the battle, UrSan helped the Gelflings with sealing both herself and SkekSa into two trees, separated far apart from one another, each located in different areas of The Great Sog. "It was over. The Gelflings and my light half sealed me away in a tree, so I wouldn't interfere with the Gelfling Alliance...The Gelfling Alliance? (snort) More like The Gelfling Conquistadors! After that, I had no one, I had nothing. I was just there, in suspended animation, with both my light half and I sealed away for many, many hundreds of trine, perhaps, even, nearly a thousand trine...Thank you all for freeing me from my prison my battle maidens."

Now that SkekSa was done telling her story, it was now the Valkyries' turn to tell their stories to the Skeksis via dreamfasting.

Freyja was the first to introduce herself to SkekSa. "I am Freyja...Freyja Vanadies. I am, or was, the Princess of the Godheim Kingdom of Folksvangr. I rule over the Valkyries that live among other Gods and Holy beings within the light world of Godheim."

Next, it was Nana's turn to speak. "My name is Nana...Nana Hogen. I am a Valkyrie who lives in the Godheim Kingdom of Walhalla. I live there with two of my close Valkyrie friends here."

"I am Mist...Mist Elmbarn." Mist introduces to the Skeksis. "I am a Valkyrie of the Samjoko Angel clan."

"Me? My name is Eir...Eir Gullmannen." Eir adds to to conversation. "I am also a Valkyrie of the Samjoko clan. I am close friends with Mist and Eir, growing up in Godheim with those two."

The first image shown in the dreamfast session, was an image of a trial going on in a divine kingdom within the light world of Godheim. In this trial, there was a Valkyrie mage, clad in a yellow and white dress/cloak outfit with gold armor, stood before the whole godly courtroom. Tears started to form down the yellow clad woman's face, while Freyja and her twin brother, Freyr, pled for her innocence. For this woman, was Mist Elmbarn's long lost mother, Aqua Elmbarn, a Valkyrie faithful to the Vanadies family of Folksvangr.

"I remember attended a trial for my second in command Valkyrie of the Kingdom of Folksvangr, known as Aqua Elmbarn." Freyja explains to SkekSa.

"Aqua Elmbarn is my mother by the way." Mist Elmbarn added to the conversation.

Now, the image shows the banishment of Aqua Elmbarn, much to the rage and sorrow of both Freyr and Freyja. "Right there, no matter how much my brother and I protested, Aqua Elmbarn fell from grace, being banished to the dark world of Helheim, all for a sinful crime she was falsely accused for. I never forgave the judge of The Grotto Kingdoms for Aqua's banishment."

Now, it was Mist's turn to tell her story.

The image now cuts to a aqua blue raven transforming into a nude woman, who was found taking shelter inside an abandoned building within a war torn ghost town located somewhere in Godheim. Since this was Mist's vision, everyone all knew who is this nude, blue haired woman was.

"My close friends, Balder, Nana, and Eir, discovered me naked, sobbing in confusion within an abandoned house, in a war torn ghost town nearby the region of Asgardr. I was in pain, as well as confusion...When I took on a humanoid transformation, I suffered amnesia, an unfortunate side effect of going through my first shape shifting transformation." Mist explained in the dreamfast.

Now Eir and Nana started to add to the telepathic conversation. Eir spoke first. "My friends and I took Mist Elmbarn under our wings, helping her find her own identity, as well as helping her recover her memories she lost."

"But when we were helping Mist find herself, we received a message from the Vanadies royal family." Nana said solemnly. "The Vanadies family heard the news of Mist's discovery, and wanted to know the young maiden some more."

Now the image changed to Mist Elmbarn bursting into tears after recovering her memory. It was revealed that Mist's father, Vatten Elmbarn, sacrificed his divine life for Aqua and her only unbroken, unhatched egg, which was revealed to be the egg Mist hatched from in her multi-limb raven form. On top of learning of her father's "death", Mist also learned that her mother, Aqua, has been banished to the dark world of Helheim, never again allowed to return home to the light world, not even to see her daughter.

Hearing this tragic news of her life, Mist turned into her blue raven form, flying away out of the palace of Folksvangr, heading her way to a graveyard, where her father was buried. Balder, Nana, and Eir followed Mist to the graveyard, seeing the saddened multi-limb bird Mist crying her eyes out on a bouquet of peony blossoms placed on her father's grave.

"I regained my memories when visiting Freyja and her brothers. My body was filled with sorrow, learning the truth of my identity." Mist sobbed while telling her story.

"We were there to comfort Mist, while she was grieving her lost parents." Nana added, with tears forming in her eyes.

"We grew closer to Mist, being there for her whenever she wasn't feeling well." Eir sobbed, whimpering softly over this painful memory.

For the first time, in many trine, tears started to drip out of SkekSa's eyes, pouring down her avian cheeks. The tears were also made of liquid darkening as well. She started to feel sorrow, even remorse, for what these Valkyrie maidens went through.

However, that wasn't the end of the dreamfasting, for one more story is to be told, this time, from Freyja's perspective.

The image switched to Freyr being imprisoned in a castle brig, located within the dark world of Helheim. Freyr was imprisoned for trying to loot treasure from various regal regions of this shadowy world. While Freyja tried to stealth fully sneak into the palace, trying to free her brother, she was greeted by a group of monstrous demons. This was the event that affected Freyja's mind forever, as well as her personal beliefs.

"While trying to free my brother from a demon royal family's palace, I made a pact with them in order to do so." Freyja started to explain. "I sacrificed my brother, so he can make it back to Godheim, unharmed, as well as being un-darkened. However..."

"However?" SkekSa asks in somber curiosity.

"After bonding with the demon royal family for a while, I feel in love with one of the crowned princes." Freyja said in a glum tone. "I never wanted to leave Helheim. I wanted to stay there with my beloved, as well as show the way for my fallen Valkyrie, Aqua Elmbarn. Then...Then..."

Then, a sorrow image has presented itself to everyone. A group of elder gods has forced Freyja out of Helheim against her will, forcing her back into Godheim once more. The only god who opposed this was her brother Freyr. Freyr tried to protest, but was silenced and threatened, so he wasn't allowed to speak his mind. There, it showed Freyja in her royal bedchamber, crying her eyes out, as she grips onto what appeared to be the bejeweled necklace she is currently wearing now.

"Right there, I was ripped away from my beloved, never being able to see him ever again." Freyja said in sadness. "Ever since then, I hold on to the most precious gift he has bestowed upon me. The necklace known as a Brísingamen. I never go anywhere without this gift. I still remember him to this day...but sadly...I fear...(sniff) (sob) he has forgotten about me and moved on...(sob)."

The group of females grew closer to one another during this dreamfast session. Now, all four Valkyries started to question to motives of not only the elder gods they serve, but also, they started to question the motives of the Gelflings themselves. The four battle maidens were told that the Geflings were "the good guys", while the creatures that oppose them, were "the bad guys". But sadly, this only had reality punch the battle maidens in their faces even harder. Things were not so simple. Things were not as black and white, nor one dimensional, as they were dishonestly taught. However, they have to keep these thoughts under the radar, for fear they will attract some unwanted attention from others.

Now, the dreamfast came to an end, as all female figures let go of each other, and collapse onto the swampy ground. Now they felt not only physically exhausted, but emotionally and spiritually exhausted.

"Oh man...I am so worn out." Mist sighed in weariness.

"So, you ladies are known as Freyja, Mist, Eir and Nana..." SkekSa said, fighting back her drowsiness.

"And you are SkekSa, the former Mariner of the Skeksis." Freyja said back, fighting back a yawn.

"It is a pleasure to meet you all." SkekSa replied, with a weak, weary smile on her beak.

Nana looks up at the sky, and notices the three suns are being replaced with three moons, indicating it was almost night time. "Oh, it's getting dark out."

"Hey, let us rest up for a while (yawn)." Eir yawns as she gathers around her Valkyrie friends and SkekSa. "It's no use to wear our selves out some more. Let us get rest, and do more tomorrow..."

While the group of females were getting some rest in The Great Sog, out of their site, a glowing red reverse pentagram showed up. Out of the red symbol, a devilish figure teleported to the scene, to check up on the ladies. The devilish figure himself resembled an anthropomorphic insect, with they mouth, wings and antennae of a fly, a pair of human like eyes that were colored red and green, and a dark, human like body, clad in dark colored robes, scarves, and a black and red turban. The figure was no one other than Prince Beelzebub, who also went by the nickname of Baal to subjects who are close to him. Baal is the son of King Scratch and Queen Alk, the fallen angel rulers of the Helheim Kingdom of Sheol.

Prince Baal was sent by his parents and subjects to check up on the Valkyries that were sent to Thra. To the Sheol royal family's pleasant surprise, things were not going according to plan by their opposers in Godheim, for the four Valkyries gotten to learn the truth about the creatures of Thra. "So, the Valkyries that serve the Elder Gods now know the truth. What a relief!"

The demon crowned prince quietly flies up to the female figures, readying himself to cast a spell on them. Right there, SkekSa and the four Valkyries were transformed into red wine colored crystals, so Baal can have them travel with him, going over some plans with his royal family of these figures' fates.

"Don't worry my dear ladies...My father, my mother, and I, myself, will be watching over you all." Prince Baal whispered to the crystal shards, as he gently places him in his tan leather pouch that hung off his belt. "My royal family of Sheol will protect you ladies. You are all in good hands now."

While Prince Baal spreads his wings to fly again, the same glowing red reverse pentagram appears under him, teleporting him away from Thra, back to his home kingdom of Sheol, where he will help go over plans of how to help out SkekSa and the four Valkyries with the destiny that is about to be bestowed upon them.