Snakes of Nidhogg

"To get to Yggdrasil," began Virginia, "You can go one of two ways. First, take the Nidhogg Pass, there actually are two you have to go through. Second, use a teleportation device of some sort. But since our Warp Stars only go to train stations, we'll have to use the passes. Gallows and Clive, we'll drop you guys off at one, and then head for the second. That would make things go much faster. For there are two seals on the door, one in each pass. The council didn't want just anyone coming in and poking around."

So they brought the team to two different passes. Virginia and Jet waved goodbye to their allies as they drove off for the second. Once inside, something happened. A large monster named Nidhogg attacked the duo. Virginia felt happy to be fighting alone with Jet once more. She unfurled her wings, and flew high up into the air with him in her arms. Then, the two used the Airget-Beam on Nidhogg. He was struck, but not out yet. A second Airget-Beam, however, was enough to destroy that monster and give them the right to go onwards. With one last look back, Virginia hid her wings again, so the others wouldn't notice them.

About the same time that they touched the switch at the end, so did Gallows and Clive. The four friends then reunited, and went on. Not too long after, Virginia discovered a Galecrest, which gave her the ability to fly over small spans of air. It wasn't as if she couldn't do better with her wings, but this would have to do until she and Jet were alone again. Using it, and positioning blocks just right with Clive's Mighty Glove Tool, they were able to get far in the pass. Although the repetitive block puzzles were getting quite boring.

* * *

"The exit is right over there. We're now in the Yggdrasil region. But please, don't freak out when you see the area, you wouldn't believe your eyes. It is the result of much scientific research, although I have little idea of exactly what went on, as I was only seven with my eighth birthday just a few months away when the Yggdrasil Project came to its disastrous end," she stated, not bothering to elaborate any more.

Suddenly, Leehalt appeared. He told them, "You will not interfere with my plans any more, you four are becoming quite a nuisance. Now you will face me in combat, and I'm more powerful than my two other comrades put together." He threw out his hands, and waited for someone to strike him with their ARMs.

Virginia went first, as always. Suddenly, Leehalt countered for the damage she had given him. He did the same for each and every member of the party. She was quite amazed, he had learned some pretty dangerous tricks from becoming a Demon. Just her luck. It was a good thing her father wasn't the one he was fighting, the two went all out in simple arguments so imagine what a duel with ARMs and magic would be like. It was pretty scary. After all, she had heard the two of them yelling, and then went to hide with her friend in the specimen chambers. She'd rather have to talk to someone who couldn't talk back than to listen to the two men argue. Sometimes, Elliot would be there too, and he'd talk to the young girl about things.

After getting beaten up pretty badly, the four managed to finally knock Leehalt down. Virginia then approached her enemy, ready to move in for the kill. But first, the information. "Now then, tell us about the Yggdrasil. Why have you brought it online once more? You know it's the device that nearly killed the three of you. So why would you be so foolish as to trust in it again. It was a failed experiment, Leehalt, and you know it." She was dangerously close now, ready to fire her ARMs at him the second he tried to move.

"Foolish girl, you know nothing," Leehalt replied, "Nothing of our curse, nothing of our strife. I have no idea how you even know about Yggdrasil in the first place. But you will not make it out of here alive, now teach you a lesson." He fired a strange canister at her, point blank, and hit her right in her bosom. Virginia fell to the ground, convulsing from a lack of breath. Jet ran up to her, attempting to revive her with mouth to mouth again. But it didn't seem to work, she wasn't choking at all! Rather, she was having a problem in her own body that caused her to lose air. He held her close to him, trying to find out what was wrong with her.

Suddenly, something that no one expected happened. Virginia's cloak fell off, and her wings began to unfurl once more. She floated up out of Jet's arms, and into the air. As the team watched in awe at her own power, Virginia's wings covered her entire body, as if they were trying to purify the evil Leehalt had given to her. Soon, she settled back on the ground, on her own two feet. Her wings now were in their usual battle position behind her back, and she had no trouble breathing. Virginia held her ARMs steady, so not to fire if it was unnecessary. For if her power had scared Leehalt, they may just be able to get some info out of him.

"What in the name of the gods is that? The girl isn't even human, just some genetic creation of some sorts. I get it now, Virginia Maxwell passed away in the experiment. Someone decided to create a clone of sorts that looked like her. And they programmed her to know about Yggdrasil," said Leehalt.

A voice suddenly replied, "Wrong on both counts, Leehalt. She's the same Virginia Maxwell that you met all those years ago, just she's become a very different person now. The girl never died, her life was saved through a great scientific endeavor. I didn't think that she would have advanced powers, though, only that she would be a normal girl." In came the man who had saved them from Asgard that time. At his side, he carried a pair of Duel Pistols, just like Virginia's. Aiming them at Leehalt, the man held his own ground.

Leehalt cursed mentally. "Werner Maxwell, so you too survived. I guess I should have suspected it, who else would want to interfere just for the sake of bothering me. Well, no matter. I will still be able to win. Yggdrasil is ready for the final phase, all that is needed is a little more time. See you at the finale, if you can live that long, Drifters." He teleported out, and left behind a Demon for them to fight. Gallows had to Decelerate it, for it was faster than everyone except Virginia, and blocked all attacks after his turn with a strange spell. After his defeat, they began to move on, Virginia's warning from before still in their minds.

They were shocked. All around Yggdrasil was a world of green forests, with a crystal blue lake in the middle of it. Virginia smiled, and headed over to the lake. Although it was a man made environment, it was still a place of nature. The girl took a drink from the clear waters, and then gave some of it to her friend.

"Well then," Werner said, "If you want to rest, there's a little cabin to the south that I built. But if you want to go onwards, we can always head for the Yggdrasil right away. I know you guys just might be a little tired. It was quite a harrowing trip you went through." He smiled at his daughter, and sat down next to her and Jet. Virginia smiled back. She was just happy to be able to see her father once more, to be with him and to be able to fight by his side. Mentally, she decided they could use some rest. It was getting late and she didn't want to be tired when she fought. But tomorrow, she would go on and head to the Yggdrasil.

- - - -

Teefa's Last Words…

She has to explain herself in the next chapter. But not Jet, she'll simply pretend he was Elliot's real son. Technically, she's not telling a lie. Elliot thought of him as his son, and he had the boy's DNA. Leehalt, dang I want to kill that guy. He's the only Prophet that no one seems to like. Probably cuz he's a big jerk and butt ugly. The blue skin is enough to creep people out. Malik's tragic figure gains a following, and even Melody has more fans than him. Then again, those two were probably really normal, yet slightly deranged like all fantasy scientists, people before Yggdrasil. Leehalt makes no move to hide how much of a jerk he was towards Werner and others (probably Jet, due to the way he explained his past) pre-Yggdrasil.