The King Of All
Chapter One: Divinely Tired.
Battle. Victory. Glory.
It's all she had ever known in her three hundred years of life, for she was the Angel of War. The one who would turn all tides and be a beacon for those around her but as of right now? She really needed a nap.
"Come on Astrid! Don't be like that! One more question." An chubby Angel begged her, his insistent whining annoying her to no end.
Pinching her brow. " For the last time Legs, I'm really tired can this please wait?"
Seeing he was truly pushing his luck, Fishlegs relented. "Ok, I'm sorry Astrid. You'll tell me everything later though, right?"
Finally nearing her room, she turned to regard him. "Of course, I will Legs, it's not like I'll have anything better to do."
Tugging her door open as she remembered something very important. "Make sure the twins leave me alone for a couple hours please?"
Fishlegs flinched back, shock written all over his face. "And do tell, how on the Holy grounds am I gonna accomplish that?"
Turning to pat him on the arm, she smiled at him. "I don't care how, just do it." Quickly exiting into her room before another word could be said.
The Holy seals activating throughout her room to identify her. The exhaustion showing on her face fully now with no one to witness her, her perfect act cracking as she leaped onto her bed. Angelic armour disappearing mid jump, her golden hair flying everywhere with her face hitting the pillow.
This is the most tired she had ever been, more and more angels were falling from heaven and of course it was her job to track every single one down for questioning. Then Hell just had to stand up the last peace treaty which also meant more and more demons were crawling their way to the realm between. Being the Angel of War meant everything violent in nature was given to her to do, from past angels to hell spawn.
As this thought ran around her mind, she could feel sleep pulling her in. The knocking on her door falling deaf on her ears as she snuggled into her bed harder.
"ASTRID! Are you there?" A very anxious muffled voice rung out from behind her door.
Eyes snapping open, Astrid withheld a scream she really wanted to let loose. Getting up, her battle armour once again forming around her, she stomped to the door while muttering to herself. "I swear to father if this is something else to do-"
Angrily pulling the door open, her temper wilted at who was there. "Heather? What are you doing in the Battalion wing?"
"Oh, thank father, I was worried you weren't going to be here." Heather pulling out an envelope and handing it over. "Father wanted you to have this, said it was urgent."
Peeling the seal off and unfolding it, a tired Astrid couldn't help but ask a question. "It really couldn't wait?"
A worried heather shook her head, brown hair swaying. "That letter is straight from Fathers own hand and penmanship."
Astrids eye's widening at the implication, Father usually had someone else write his letters. Quickly pulling it open properly she read it aloud.
"My Dear Astrid, I hope you can forgive me for even more tasks that require you but i have felt a tear. A tear of Demonic power in the realm between ours, I do not know who or what evil will come through that tear but i want you and the others to send whatever comes out back home. I assure you that after this last task no one will bother you until you're fully rested. Be safe, God."
"Fuck sake." Astrid cursed, Heather flinching at this.
"Astrid! Do not swear in the holy grounds of heaven!" Heather scolded.
Staying deep in thought, Astrid took a second to respond. "Heather, go let everyone know that we're heading out in about two hours." Heather nodding before scurrying off.
Calling over her shoulder before she rounded a corner. "Astrid, I know I ask every time but please tell me if you see Dagur at all."
"Of course, Heather. Don't get your hopes up though, your brother was the Angel of Tactics for a reason." Solemn silence was all that Astrid got for a response.
Quickly taking a deep breath, she fixed her hair back into her braid and made her way to the exit of the wing. The warming light of heaven shining down on her as she stepped outside. Heaven looking like it always did, buildings of all kinds on a field of endless clouds. Golden accents everywhere to point of being almost blinding with the number of bright colours that could be seen at once.
Taking the steps down into the compound of the battalion, all the Angelic soldiers that were training stopped. Everyone bowing low as she walked by, not a single being showing any disrespect. Reaching the end, she made her way to Heaven's Gate, the single way in and out of Heaven that all beings must pass through for either. The huge golden arches easily shadowing her as she got closer, pressing a perfect hand onto meeting of the two gates. A burst of angelic power opening the gates for her, taking a few steps just past the boundry of heaven. The gates closing without a sound behind her.
Summoning her battle axe, she got down on both knees her eyes closed. Laying the axe before her she began to pray.
"I, Astrid, Angel of War bless the field that battle may soon take place on." Golden light falling upwards off of her as she spoke. "For as long as there is violence i shall remain and so shall my blessing." The golden rain began to disappear, Astrid not moving as she finished.
Preferring to meditate to clear her mind to try and block out her exhaustion. She would win, she would take care of this mess with no problem is what she told herself.
It must have been close to the time as a voice reached her ears. "Yo! Astrid, you doing that pray thingy again? C'mon give us some credit, we don't need your blessing all the time!" A kind of gruff but laid-back tone made her knew who it was.
"Knowing Ruff, I'm not leaving it up to luck Tuff." Astrid getting back to her feet, her axe fly to her waist shrinking in size.
"Yea! Thats my thing, I wonder what luck we'll have today?" An almost identical voice spoke out expect for the more feminine tinge.
"Hopefully bad, then we can see Ast really show-off for a change!" Tuffnut said, a wide grin of his face.
"Thats a good idea Tuff, should I change her luck?" Ruffnut asked back, the two twins getting closer to another, smiles almost as wide as their faces.
"Nah, leave up to the wind, it'll be funnier if its the natural world messing with her." Tuffnut and Ruffnut now touching foreheads with how close they were.
"Oh YEAH!"
"YEAH!" The two reeling back and headbutting with extreme force, pumping their fist in excitement.
Astrid shaking her head at the site with a small smile on her lips, her eyes looking back to the gate as it opened again. Fishlegs walking through with a book in hand, a book she recognised. The book of hell, containing all the knowledge they knew about how to identify demons and devils.
"So much for tomorrow huh?" A smile on his face.
"Yeah, are you the last or is someone else coming?" Making his way around the now arguing twins, Fishlegs stood next to Astrid.
"No one else, Heather tried asking Cami but she locked her room extra tight at the sound of us approaching." Fishlegs explained.
A short laugh escaping Astrid. "Sounds about right, she's been working harder than any of us."
"So, what's this about a tear?" Asked Fishlegs, opening the book to the first page.
Smile slipping a little, she gave him a rundown. "Father felt a tear in the realm between, we have to check it out and make sure to guard it. You know how it is, make sure no one hell climbs up and if they do send them back until the tear closes."
A confused face from fishlegs was all she got in return at first. Fishlegs mind working as he became more confused. "Tears are opening all the time, why are we being sent down? Surely one of the platoons can handle this?"
"My guess is that Father felt something that requires us, regardless we have been given a task." Tearing her eyes from the now brawling twins as she looked Fishlegs in the eyes.
"If he felt something, why wouldn't he just say something?" Fishlegs questioned, mostly to himself but loud enough to hear.
"I don't kno-"
"Legs! When did you get here? WHOA! Is that the fancy book you're always going on about? Lemme see!" Tuffnut detangling himself from his twin and launching himself at Fishlegs who quickly but up a barrier.
"Divine Barrier!" A box of light encasing Fishlegs who clutched the book tightly to his chest. "No chance am I letting you damage this book, there is only a few copies in all of heaven."
Tuffnut pressing his face into the barrier, compressing and squishing his face. "C'mooooooon! Legs just a little glimpse!" His tongue licking the barrier multiple times.
Making her way over to Ruffnut, Astrid offered her a hand. "Enough fooling around guys, we're on the clock now." Her words changing the moods of everyone there.
"Urgggh fine! But I will get my hands on that book! Mark my words Legs!" Tuffnut promised, pointing his finger to the endless sky above them.
Making them fall into a line had gotten easier over the decades they working together but it was still longer than any other team Astrid had worked with. Finally in formation, Astrid closed her eyes once again, beginning to chant as everyone joined in. "Oh, Heavenly Father, open thy eyes and guide us down for you hold the key." A tunnel of light cracking into existence before them, Astrid nodding before leading the charge.
Hearing one last thing before she was teleported. "Bet you Fishlegs throws up again." Of course, the twins would bet before they got teleported by Gods divine power.
She wouldn't ever say it out loud but she loved her team.