Chapter 14
Skuld awoke to pain. Her entire head throbbed with it. That at least told her one thing: she wasn't dead. That last thing she remembered was a close up of Queen Urd's sword, then nothing. She opened her eyes, slowly sat up and looked around. Pieces of her left hand lay scattered about the floor. She turned around. Chains hung loosely where Urd had been held. Urd herself was knee with her back to her next to Lind and Mara. All three were looking at something hidden from her view. Skuld got up and walked towards them. As she approached, she saw the blood. Her paced hurried until she could see what had held the others attention.
Belldandy was sitting on the ground. In her lap was Sayoko's head. Belldandy was softly singing to the demoness while slowly stroking her hair. Keiichi was kneeling next to Belldandy, holding his hand against Sayoko's side, trying to stop the bleeding. The Queen's sword sat bloodied off to the side. Keiichi looked up at Skuld.
"The Queen tried to kill Belldandy........." He looked down at Sayoko "......She.....she jumped in front.....and took the sword."
"Is she......?" Skuld couldn't finish the question.
"No." replied Lind, "But there is nothing we can do. The demon blade......."
"....is cursed." finished Skuld, "I know." Her face then grew very hard. "Where did SHE go?"
"She ran off through that door." replied Mara, pointing.
"Thank you." Skuld turned and started towards the door.
"Skuld!" shouted Mara, "Your arm!"
"I'll worry about it once I've kick Urd's ass all over hell!"
Skuld vanished through the doorway. Urd glanced over at Keiichi.
"Remind me to be nicer to Skuld when we get home, and then keep reminding me."
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The Queen calmly walked into the main control room of hell. Several operators and the SysOp of the DEMON system still manned their posts.
"Are we still connected to Yggdrasil?" asked the Queen.
The SysOp nodded. "Yes my Queen."
"Good." The Queen raised her hand. Lightning flashed across the room, hitting all the demons present. The demons jerked as 100,000 volts of electricity ran through their bodies. When the lighting vanished, each of the demons collapsed to the ground dead. The Queen walked to the main terminal and kicked the corpse of the SysOp out of the way. She then began to type rapidly.
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Alarms rang out all over the heavens. Peorth let out a sigh.
"Alright, where are they arriving?"
"It's not that!" shouted Chronos, "Yggdrasil is CRASHING!"
"WHAT?!" Peorth sat straight up. "How?!"
"The Demon system is attacking it!"
"Damn. X. Erie. Raise the firewalls. Seal off all access to the core. Chronos, shut down all unnecessary programs."
"Yes ma'am." replied the three.
Peorth turned back to the main screen which showed the progress of the demon system into Yggdrasil.
'Com'on Skuld."
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Skuld entered the main control room of hell and looked around. Demons lay dead at their terminals. The main screen showed a status report. She gasped at what she saw. The DEMON system was attacking Yggdrasil. She ran towards the main terminal. Just before she reached it there was a bright flash, and Skuld found herself sailing across the room towards the wall. Skuld grabbed her side and slowly stood up. Across the way, the Queen stood watching her, a force bolt waiting in her hand.
"Skuld Skuld Skuld." began the Queen, "Why do you keep interfering in my plans?"
Skuld glared at the Queen. "Because that's my job. I'm a Goddess, like you were."
The Queen's eyes narrowed. "I am a DEMON!" She waved her hand. Skuld was tossed across the room and into the far wall. "You will do well to remember that!" she waved her hand again, tossing Skuld against another wall. She continued to do this until Skuld was battered and bloodied. "For years, I knew I was the most powerful of us three. I could have leveled Nekomi without a second thought. Yet Belldandy had the 1st Class license, and look where it got her. A dungeon in the bottom of hell." The Queen smiled at her. "So.....who the more powerful sister now hmm? Who?"
Skuld remained in a ball on the floor. Urd raised her hand, causing Skuld to float off the ground to a standing position. "Who Skuld? Who is the most powerful now?"
Skuld mumbled something. The Queen looked at Skuld questioningly.
"ehh?"
Skuld mumbled again. The Queen walked over and grabbed Skuld by the hair and forced her to look up. Blood trickled down the side of Skuld's face from a gash in her forehead as well as from the cut from her lip. One eye was totally bloodshot.
"Well Skuld? Who's the most powerful of us?"
"Well......Urd.......powerwise......you are the strongest." Skuld started to smile. "But your forgetting something."
The Queen looked confused. "What's that?"
Skuld leaned forward as far as she could. "Never......underestimate.......SKULD." She pushed forward with the remains of her left arm, plunging it deep into the Queen's chest. The Queen let out a gasp as the metal skeleton punch through her and burst out of her back. Strength and power rapidly left the Queen. She fell to her knees, Skuld with her. She sat there for several moments, leaning against Skuld who in turn was leaning against her. Skuld whispered into her sisters ear.
"I'm sorry sister."
Urd whispered back, "I know. Tell Sayoko........I'm sorry......"
"I will."
Urd reached her arms around Skuld. "Good bye, Skuld......"
Skuld put her right arm around the Queen. "Good bye, Urd."
With that, Urd, the future Queen of Hell, died.
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"30 seconds to complete system failure!" called out Erie.
Peorth stared at the screen. Everything that could be done had been done. Now all that was left was to wait, and pray.
"15 seconds."
Peorth closed her eyes.
"10.....9.....8.........System coming back online!"
Peorth opened her eyes and stared at the screen. It confirmed what Erie had said.
"What happened?" asked Peorth.
"I can't explain it." said Chronos, "It's like whoever is in charge of the demon system just....turned it off."
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Belldandy and the others continued to watch over Sayoko. Suddenly her body began to glow. Everyone but Belldandy stepped back. Her demon markings also began to glow, changing from red to blue. The two slashes above her forehead came together to form an elongated diamond. The glowing then faded.
"What the hell?" asked Mara, "She's a......"
Sayoko's eyes slowly opened, revealing that they had changed from red to blue.
"What.....happened?" she asked.
"We were hoping you could tell us." replied Belldandy softly.
Sayoko's hands went to her sides. "My......I was wounded." She slowly sat up and looked at her side, now completely healed. "What......how?"
"The Queen is dead."
Everyone turned to see a battered and bruised Skuld walking towards them. The remains of her left arm was coated almost to the shoulder in blood. Sayoko quickly ran to her side.
"Auntie?"
Skuld smiled. "Hey kiddo. Anyone ever tell you that you look like your mom?"
Sayoko blushed slightly.
"What happens now?" asked Keiichi.
Skuld shrugged, "Without the Queen, the future has changed."
"Are you going to stay?" asked Mara.
"Please no." muttered Urd, "No offense, but one Skuld is enough."
Skuld smiled, "No. We don't belong here. In fact......."
A glow engulfed Skuld and Sayoko. Sayoko looked up at her Aunt frightened. Skuld pulled Sayoko closer to her. ".......our new future is waiting for us. See you all in about 200 years." With that, Skuld and Sayoko vanished.
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Sigel and Banpei watched as Skuld paced about the temple. She had heard nothing since Lind, Mara, and her future self had left to find Belldandy, Keiichi and Urd.
"I'm sure everything is alright Skuld-sama." said Sigel.
Skuld sighed. "I wish I could have gone with."
"I'm glad you didn't. It was too dangerous."
Skuld turned to see Belldandy smiling in the doorway. Skuld flew at her.
"Onee-sama!" Skuld cried as she hugged her sister.
"I'm alright Skuld." said Belldandy, "We all are."
Skuld looked over Belldandy's shoulder to see Keiichi, Urd and Lind.
"K! Urd!" Skuld leaped over and grabbed them both in a hug. Both were surprised, but soon returned the hug. After several moments, Skuld released them, then looked around.
"Where's the older me and Mara?"
"Mara is down in Hell." replied Lind, "She found Hild and released her from the dungeons. They are currently trying to restore hell to the way it was."
"What about all those future demons?"
Lind shrugged, "They vanished upon Queen Urd's death."
Skuld's eyes went wide.
"Your future self vanished shortly there after." Lind then turned to Belldandy. "Since there is nothing else requiring my presence, I shall depart."
"Good bye Lind." said Belldandy, "Visit us soon."
Lind nodded before vanishing in a gate.
Later that night, Skuld was sitting on the porch looking out into the night sky. Urd came up from behind her and sat down.
"Whatcha thinking about?" asked Urd.
"The Future." replied Skuld, "It isn't as cloudy as when this all started. I was wondering if that other future could still happen."
Urd looked up into the sky. "I wouldn't worry about it."
"Huh?" Skuld looked at Urd. "Why not? Aren't you worried that......."
"Of course I am." replied Urd, "But I can't dwell on what could happen. Skuld, the future isn't set in stone. You've said so yourself, there are many possibilities. We just have to keep moving forward as we always had and hope for the best." Urd put her arm around Skuld. "So little sister...........How's Sentaro?"
Skuld blushed. "He's fine."
"You sure? Maybe I should pay him a visit and........."
"You'd better not!" replied Skuld, "That's my job." She then blushed a deeper red when she realized what she had said.
"Ooooo Little sister's growing up." said Urd with a smile, "Maybe its time for the...."
Skuld's eyes widened in horror. "No....not that...anything but that!"
"BIG SISTER BUST SIZE CHECK!"
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!"
Skuld ran screaming about the yard while Urd chased her. From a temple window, Keiichi and Belldandy watched them run about.
"The neighbors are going to complain." muttered Keiichi quietly.
Belldandy just smiled, "They're used to it."
"We're never going to get to sleep at this rate."
Belldandy began blush, "Well.....we don't have to go to sleep yet?"
Keiichi looked at Belldandy curiously. "Eh?"
Belldandy leaned forward and kissed Keiichi, a deep, mind numbing, breath taking kiss. She then turned and walked towards the bed.
"Come on Keiiiichi." She said in a deep throaty voice.
Keiichi turned deep red. "Oh boy......"
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200 years later.
Skuld and Sayoko appeared within the time machine room. The first thing Skuld noticed was Chronos, alive and well in front of the controls. She was frowning.
"Sorry Skuld. Looks like it didn't........" she looked up and her expression became one of shock. "How did Sayoko get up there with you?"
"Chronos?" Skuld stepped forward. It was then she noticed that she was no longer injured. In fact, her outfit had changed from black robes to red and white. Sayoko was looking curiously at her robes of blue and white. Skuld then realized a third thing. Her left arm was whole and real, not mechanical.
Chronos looked at them worriedly. "Are you ok? Should I get a healer?"
"No Chronos. I'll watch them."
Skuld turned to see Belldandy entering the room. She was much older then the last time she had seen her, with streaks of gray in her golden hair. Belldandy turned to Chronos.
"You may go."
"Yes ma'am." Chronos quickly left the room.
Belldandy then turned to Skuld and Sayoko. "What do you remember?"
Skuld thought back and then frowned. She could remember the war with the demons, but she could also remember a life where the war didn't happen. She told Belldandy as much. Sayoko nodded.
"It's the same thing with me? What's going on?"
"It is because we are Goddesses of Time." replied Belldandy, "We can detect any change in the course of time. Because of the amount of time that changed, we can remember both versions."
Sayoko looked at her mother worriedly, "Everything?"
Belldandy looked at her daughter and nodded. "Keima, Urd, Peorth, you, me, Skuld, and Kami-sama are the only ones who know of the alternate version of history. Everyone else is oblivious to it."
Sayoko looked down at the ground. "But......."
Belldandy put her arm around Sayoko. "Don't worry about it. It was a different life for you." She turned to Skuld. "and you." She smiled. "Come on, Keiichi made dinner. And don't worry about the past, that's Urd's job." She left the room arm in arm with Sayoko. Skuld took one more look around the room before leaving.
Skuld awoke to pain. Her entire head throbbed with it. That at least told her one thing: she wasn't dead. That last thing she remembered was a close up of Queen Urd's sword, then nothing. She opened her eyes, slowly sat up and looked around. Pieces of her left hand lay scattered about the floor. She turned around. Chains hung loosely where Urd had been held. Urd herself was knee with her back to her next to Lind and Mara. All three were looking at something hidden from her view. Skuld got up and walked towards them. As she approached, she saw the blood. Her paced hurried until she could see what had held the others attention.
Belldandy was sitting on the ground. In her lap was Sayoko's head. Belldandy was softly singing to the demoness while slowly stroking her hair. Keiichi was kneeling next to Belldandy, holding his hand against Sayoko's side, trying to stop the bleeding. The Queen's sword sat bloodied off to the side. Keiichi looked up at Skuld.
"The Queen tried to kill Belldandy........." He looked down at Sayoko "......She.....she jumped in front.....and took the sword."
"Is she......?" Skuld couldn't finish the question.
"No." replied Lind, "But there is nothing we can do. The demon blade......."
"....is cursed." finished Skuld, "I know." Her face then grew very hard. "Where did SHE go?"
"She ran off through that door." replied Mara, pointing.
"Thank you." Skuld turned and started towards the door.
"Skuld!" shouted Mara, "Your arm!"
"I'll worry about it once I've kick Urd's ass all over hell!"
Skuld vanished through the doorway. Urd glanced over at Keiichi.
"Remind me to be nicer to Skuld when we get home, and then keep reminding me."
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The Queen calmly walked into the main control room of hell. Several operators and the SysOp of the DEMON system still manned their posts.
"Are we still connected to Yggdrasil?" asked the Queen.
The SysOp nodded. "Yes my Queen."
"Good." The Queen raised her hand. Lightning flashed across the room, hitting all the demons present. The demons jerked as 100,000 volts of electricity ran through their bodies. When the lighting vanished, each of the demons collapsed to the ground dead. The Queen walked to the main terminal and kicked the corpse of the SysOp out of the way. She then began to type rapidly.
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Alarms rang out all over the heavens. Peorth let out a sigh.
"Alright, where are they arriving?"
"It's not that!" shouted Chronos, "Yggdrasil is CRASHING!"
"WHAT?!" Peorth sat straight up. "How?!"
"The Demon system is attacking it!"
"Damn. X. Erie. Raise the firewalls. Seal off all access to the core. Chronos, shut down all unnecessary programs."
"Yes ma'am." replied the three.
Peorth turned back to the main screen which showed the progress of the demon system into Yggdrasil.
'Com'on Skuld."
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Skuld entered the main control room of hell and looked around. Demons lay dead at their terminals. The main screen showed a status report. She gasped at what she saw. The DEMON system was attacking Yggdrasil. She ran towards the main terminal. Just before she reached it there was a bright flash, and Skuld found herself sailing across the room towards the wall. Skuld grabbed her side and slowly stood up. Across the way, the Queen stood watching her, a force bolt waiting in her hand.
"Skuld Skuld Skuld." began the Queen, "Why do you keep interfering in my plans?"
Skuld glared at the Queen. "Because that's my job. I'm a Goddess, like you were."
The Queen's eyes narrowed. "I am a DEMON!" She waved her hand. Skuld was tossed across the room and into the far wall. "You will do well to remember that!" she waved her hand again, tossing Skuld against another wall. She continued to do this until Skuld was battered and bloodied. "For years, I knew I was the most powerful of us three. I could have leveled Nekomi without a second thought. Yet Belldandy had the 1st Class license, and look where it got her. A dungeon in the bottom of hell." The Queen smiled at her. "So.....who the more powerful sister now hmm? Who?"
Skuld remained in a ball on the floor. Urd raised her hand, causing Skuld to float off the ground to a standing position. "Who Skuld? Who is the most powerful now?"
Skuld mumbled something. The Queen looked at Skuld questioningly.
"ehh?"
Skuld mumbled again. The Queen walked over and grabbed Skuld by the hair and forced her to look up. Blood trickled down the side of Skuld's face from a gash in her forehead as well as from the cut from her lip. One eye was totally bloodshot.
"Well Skuld? Who's the most powerful of us?"
"Well......Urd.......powerwise......you are the strongest." Skuld started to smile. "But your forgetting something."
The Queen looked confused. "What's that?"
Skuld leaned forward as far as she could. "Never......underestimate.......SKULD." She pushed forward with the remains of her left arm, plunging it deep into the Queen's chest. The Queen let out a gasp as the metal skeleton punch through her and burst out of her back. Strength and power rapidly left the Queen. She fell to her knees, Skuld with her. She sat there for several moments, leaning against Skuld who in turn was leaning against her. Skuld whispered into her sisters ear.
"I'm sorry sister."
Urd whispered back, "I know. Tell Sayoko........I'm sorry......"
"I will."
Urd reached her arms around Skuld. "Good bye, Skuld......"
Skuld put her right arm around the Queen. "Good bye, Urd."
With that, Urd, the future Queen of Hell, died.
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"30 seconds to complete system failure!" called out Erie.
Peorth stared at the screen. Everything that could be done had been done. Now all that was left was to wait, and pray.
"15 seconds."
Peorth closed her eyes.
"10.....9.....8.........System coming back online!"
Peorth opened her eyes and stared at the screen. It confirmed what Erie had said.
"What happened?" asked Peorth.
"I can't explain it." said Chronos, "It's like whoever is in charge of the demon system just....turned it off."
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Belldandy and the others continued to watch over Sayoko. Suddenly her body began to glow. Everyone but Belldandy stepped back. Her demon markings also began to glow, changing from red to blue. The two slashes above her forehead came together to form an elongated diamond. The glowing then faded.
"What the hell?" asked Mara, "She's a......"
Sayoko's eyes slowly opened, revealing that they had changed from red to blue.
"What.....happened?" she asked.
"We were hoping you could tell us." replied Belldandy softly.
Sayoko's hands went to her sides. "My......I was wounded." She slowly sat up and looked at her side, now completely healed. "What......how?"
"The Queen is dead."
Everyone turned to see a battered and bruised Skuld walking towards them. The remains of her left arm was coated almost to the shoulder in blood. Sayoko quickly ran to her side.
"Auntie?"
Skuld smiled. "Hey kiddo. Anyone ever tell you that you look like your mom?"
Sayoko blushed slightly.
"What happens now?" asked Keiichi.
Skuld shrugged, "Without the Queen, the future has changed."
"Are you going to stay?" asked Mara.
"Please no." muttered Urd, "No offense, but one Skuld is enough."
Skuld smiled, "No. We don't belong here. In fact......."
A glow engulfed Skuld and Sayoko. Sayoko looked up at her Aunt frightened. Skuld pulled Sayoko closer to her. ".......our new future is waiting for us. See you all in about 200 years." With that, Skuld and Sayoko vanished.
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Sigel and Banpei watched as Skuld paced about the temple. She had heard nothing since Lind, Mara, and her future self had left to find Belldandy, Keiichi and Urd.
"I'm sure everything is alright Skuld-sama." said Sigel.
Skuld sighed. "I wish I could have gone with."
"I'm glad you didn't. It was too dangerous."
Skuld turned to see Belldandy smiling in the doorway. Skuld flew at her.
"Onee-sama!" Skuld cried as she hugged her sister.
"I'm alright Skuld." said Belldandy, "We all are."
Skuld looked over Belldandy's shoulder to see Keiichi, Urd and Lind.
"K! Urd!" Skuld leaped over and grabbed them both in a hug. Both were surprised, but soon returned the hug. After several moments, Skuld released them, then looked around.
"Where's the older me and Mara?"
"Mara is down in Hell." replied Lind, "She found Hild and released her from the dungeons. They are currently trying to restore hell to the way it was."
"What about all those future demons?"
Lind shrugged, "They vanished upon Queen Urd's death."
Skuld's eyes went wide.
"Your future self vanished shortly there after." Lind then turned to Belldandy. "Since there is nothing else requiring my presence, I shall depart."
"Good bye Lind." said Belldandy, "Visit us soon."
Lind nodded before vanishing in a gate.
Later that night, Skuld was sitting on the porch looking out into the night sky. Urd came up from behind her and sat down.
"Whatcha thinking about?" asked Urd.
"The Future." replied Skuld, "It isn't as cloudy as when this all started. I was wondering if that other future could still happen."
Urd looked up into the sky. "I wouldn't worry about it."
"Huh?" Skuld looked at Urd. "Why not? Aren't you worried that......."
"Of course I am." replied Urd, "But I can't dwell on what could happen. Skuld, the future isn't set in stone. You've said so yourself, there are many possibilities. We just have to keep moving forward as we always had and hope for the best." Urd put her arm around Skuld. "So little sister...........How's Sentaro?"
Skuld blushed. "He's fine."
"You sure? Maybe I should pay him a visit and........."
"You'd better not!" replied Skuld, "That's my job." She then blushed a deeper red when she realized what she had said.
"Ooooo Little sister's growing up." said Urd with a smile, "Maybe its time for the...."
Skuld's eyes widened in horror. "No....not that...anything but that!"
"BIG SISTER BUST SIZE CHECK!"
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!"
Skuld ran screaming about the yard while Urd chased her. From a temple window, Keiichi and Belldandy watched them run about.
"The neighbors are going to complain." muttered Keiichi quietly.
Belldandy just smiled, "They're used to it."
"We're never going to get to sleep at this rate."
Belldandy began blush, "Well.....we don't have to go to sleep yet?"
Keiichi looked at Belldandy curiously. "Eh?"
Belldandy leaned forward and kissed Keiichi, a deep, mind numbing, breath taking kiss. She then turned and walked towards the bed.
"Come on Keiiiichi." She said in a deep throaty voice.
Keiichi turned deep red. "Oh boy......"
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200 years later.
Skuld and Sayoko appeared within the time machine room. The first thing Skuld noticed was Chronos, alive and well in front of the controls. She was frowning.
"Sorry Skuld. Looks like it didn't........" she looked up and her expression became one of shock. "How did Sayoko get up there with you?"
"Chronos?" Skuld stepped forward. It was then she noticed that she was no longer injured. In fact, her outfit had changed from black robes to red and white. Sayoko was looking curiously at her robes of blue and white. Skuld then realized a third thing. Her left arm was whole and real, not mechanical.
Chronos looked at them worriedly. "Are you ok? Should I get a healer?"
"No Chronos. I'll watch them."
Skuld turned to see Belldandy entering the room. She was much older then the last time she had seen her, with streaks of gray in her golden hair. Belldandy turned to Chronos.
"You may go."
"Yes ma'am." Chronos quickly left the room.
Belldandy then turned to Skuld and Sayoko. "What do you remember?"
Skuld thought back and then frowned. She could remember the war with the demons, but she could also remember a life where the war didn't happen. She told Belldandy as much. Sayoko nodded.
"It's the same thing with me? What's going on?"
"It is because we are Goddesses of Time." replied Belldandy, "We can detect any change in the course of time. Because of the amount of time that changed, we can remember both versions."
Sayoko looked at her mother worriedly, "Everything?"
Belldandy looked at her daughter and nodded. "Keima, Urd, Peorth, you, me, Skuld, and Kami-sama are the only ones who know of the alternate version of history. Everyone else is oblivious to it."
Sayoko looked down at the ground. "But......."
Belldandy put her arm around Sayoko. "Don't worry about it. It was a different life for you." She turned to Skuld. "and you." She smiled. "Come on, Keiichi made dinner. And don't worry about the past, that's Urd's job." She left the room arm in arm with Sayoko. Skuld took one more look around the room before leaving.
