Chapter 17
Skuld's eyes glowed red as she glared at Urd and Sayoko.
"Hello, sister dear." Her eyes shifted. "And hello to you, niece. How nice of you to come home."
"Skuld," Urd began, "listen to me. You are not well. There is a Virus in the System that's causing all of you to act this way."
Skuld frowned. "A virus?"
"Yes, Auntie," Sayoko replied. "A virus, created by Loki."
Skuld looked confused for a moment, and then shook her head.
"No.....that isn't right," Skuld said. "There is no virus. You're trying to trick me."
"Auntie, I don't lie." Sayoko looked at her Aunt with pleading eyes. "You know that. It's a virus."
Skuld grabbed her head. "No it's not no it's not no it's not! You're lying!!!" She then glared at Urd. "This is your fault! You've turned Sayoko against me!"
"What?!" asked Urd, shocked.
"You've always hated the relationship Sayoko and I have had!" Skuld snarled. "She's only called ME 'Auntie'! You could never accept that I was the favorite Aunt!"
"That's not true, Skuld!" Urd shouted. "And you know it!"
"LIKE HELL IT'S NOT!!" Skuld raised her hands and formed a force bolt. "I won't let you past!"
"But Auntie.......!" began Sayoko before Urd grabbed her and pulled her around the corner, just as the force bolt ripped past them.
"Sayoko," Urd said softly, "You have to get in that control room any way you can."
"How?" Sayoko asked. "Skuld's blocking the entrance!"
"You have to find another way."
"What about you?"
"I'll keep Skuld occupied." Urd gave Sayoko a slight shove towards the stairs. "Now go!"
Sayoko ran to the stairs and started up. She stopped for a moment and looked back at Urd before resuming her climb. Urd waited until Sayoko was out of sight, then clenched her fists. Lightning crackled from them.
"Alright, Skuld!" she shouted, "You wanna fight?! URD BOLT!"
Urd leaped around the corner and fired off a powerful lightning bolt towards Skuld. Skuld raised her hand and a blue shield formed in front of her. The lightning bolt slammed into the shield, knocking Skuld back a few steps, but otherwise doing no damage. Skuld then smiled at Urd.
"This is going to be like old times," Skuld said. "Except for one thing........."
"What's that?" Urd asked. "The fact we're both First Class?"
"No." Skuld raised her hand. Lightning danced on her palm. "I don't use Bombs anymore." She flung her arm out, sending a lightning bolt right back at Urd.
Sayoko ran up flight after flight of stairs. The loud explosions from Urd and Skuld echoed behind her, as did the sounds from Arael's fight.
'How am I going to get into the control room?' Sayoko thought. 'That was the only entrance!'
Sayoko paused for a second on a landing, breathing heavily.
'Those doors were the only way in. How the heck am I.....' She paused in mid-thought as she felt a slight breeze rustle her hair. Sayoko looked up towards the ceiling and noticed a vent high up on the wall.
Sayoko let out a sigh before vanishing in a puff of smoke. She reappeared instantly in her Mini form.
'At least the power is on,' she thought before climbing into the vent and scurrying off.
The fight between Urd and Skuld was getting ugly. Both had given up on magical attacks, and were now resorting to physical violence. However they hadn't yet given up on magic entirely. Both had resorted to multiplication. As a result, there were now almost 200 Mini-Urds and Mini-Skulds sporting black eyes, bruises, and fat lips. There were also a few rather deformed Skulds and Urds that weren't doing much (the Goddesses having multiplied too much for their available power).
The goddesses were not alone in their struggle. At some point their angels had come out and joined the fray. Noble Scarlet currently had World of Elegance in a headlock and was driving the captive Angel's head into the wall.
Further down on the main floor, Arael was holding off wave after wave of Goddesses and Gods. At first she had tried to drive them by pushing them away with her AT-Field. Now she was simply trying to keep her field up and the deities from getting to the stairs.
Outside in the garden, Asuka and Lind had also given up on magic and weapons for fists. Both were by now battered, bloody, very weary and tired. Lind threw a punch at Asuka. The Guardian spotted the oncoming fist and ducked, then countered with her own punch. She connected right under Lind's chin. The Goddess's jaw slammed shut with a loud crack. Lind fell to the ground, unconscious. Asuka stared surprised at the fallen goddess.
"I beat her," she whispered, shocked. She then started jumping up and down.
"I BEAT HER!! I BEAT LIND!!!" She stopped jumping when the world spun.
"Nap time," Asuka whispered, before falling unconscious on top of Lind.
The main control room of Yggdrasil was dimly lit, just the way Urd and the others had left it. The three massive spirals to Yggdrasil still continued to rotate slowly. This rather peaceful scene was disrupted by a shriek as a figure slid down one of the Yggdrasil spirals. The figure slid round and round the spiral, leaping off just before it would have past the control room level.
Sayoko landed in a roll and looked around before standing up.
"That was fun," She muttered. She then looked up at the main screen.
"Yggdrasil Identify Sayoko, Norn of the Present," she commanded.
"Identity confirmed," responded Yggdrasil.
Sayoko walked over to the SysOp control panel, put the disk into the console and began typing commands. A soft noise caused her to stop and look around. Sayoko shrugged it off and continued typing.
A moment later she heard the sound again. She sensed the attack just before it hit. Sayoko dove out of the way as a force bolt ripped through the space she had been occupying. Before she could get back on her feet she was tossed through the air as another force bolt slammed into the floor next to her. She landed on her back near the edge of the spiral pit.
"Ow," she muttered. She glanced around and found herself looking up at a Valkyrie, but not just any Valkyrie.
It was Mist, the Commander of the Valkyries.
"I don't suppose you'd just let me go?" Sayoko asked.
Mist's eyes glowed a bright red behind her visor as she raised a sword above her head.
"Guess not." Sayoko formed a force bolt and flung it at Mist. The bolt hit Mist..........and then vanished, causing no damage.
"Oh, heck," Sayoko muttered. She closed her eyes, waiting for the end.
But it did not come.
What did come was the sound of high-pitched chirping. Sayoko opened her eyes to see Mist swatting at a bunch of bats that were circling her. Little blond haired bats. Mist swung her sword wildly at them. The bats continued to swoop in at her, causing her to back up, right towards the edge of the pit. With a loud scream, Mist fell over the edge. Her scream soon faded from Sayoko's ears.
Sayoko watched as the bats swarmed together and joined to form the figure of Celes Victoria. Celes knelt beside Sayoko.
"You alright?"
"I'm fine." Sayoko glanced over at the edge. "Probably better than Mist is." Sayoko glanced at the Vampire. "You alright?"
Celes felt her neck. "Yeah. I'm fine."
"Good. Don't ever do that again."
Sayoko turned and walked back to the SysOp console.
"Oh, heck."
Celes walked up to the console to see what Sayoko was looking at. Upon arriving, she found the console blackened and scorched.
"How bad is it?" Celes asked.
"Bad," Sayoko replied. The goddess poked at the charred bits. "I don't think it's repairable."
"Think?" Celes asked. "Don't you know?"
Sayoko frowned at Celes. "Look, I know how to run the damn thing.........for the most part. Skuld and Urd showed me how it worked when I was 4."
Celes stared at Sayoko. "When you were 4?!?! But you've been up here for 500 years!"
"I wasn't assigned to Yggdrasil. I was in the Goddess Relief Office, then assigned to the surface of the Earth, then back to the GRO, then the Terra 2 office." Sayoko poked at the console again. "Actual repair work is Auntie Skuld's area."
"Can't you just magic it back together?"
Sayoko shook her head. "I can't even toss a decent force bolt right now. You really want me to try to fix it?"
"Good point," Celes said. "So what do we do now?"
Sayoko began to pry the console. "We get the disk out and try it at an Admin Console."
"Need help?"
Sayoko shook her head as she pulled the lid off the console.
"No.....just sit and wait."
Celes backed away from the goddess and leaned against a console so she could keep an eye on Sayoko. As she leaned against the panel, Celes's rear hit several buttons. Several lights began to flash, lights that went unnoticed by the Goddess and Vampire.
Terra 2
Keima's eyes flashed red as a crack appeared in his ice prison. Another crack followed, and another.........
"I can't believe you did that!"
"I can."
"Shut up, Ceres!" Yui shouted. She then glared at Rei. "How could you do that?!" She pointed towards the smoldering box that had once been Life Sugoroku Special.
"After the stories Belldandy, Sayoko and Skuld told me about that game, I found it rather easy to do."
Lime looked over at Kensuke, who shook his head.
"You don't want to know," he whispered.
"When Aunt Urd finds out you destroyed her favorite game, she's gonna......." Yui's voice trailed off.
Rei crossed her arms. "Going to do what?"
"Umm, Rei," Kensuke said.
"Shh. Yui is going to tell me what Urd might do to me."
"But........"
"Come on Yui, tell me."
"Rei....."
Rei turned and glared at Kensuke. "What is it?!"
Kensuke pointed. "Keima's free."
Rei turned about just in time to see a bright flash before the world went black.
Heavens
WHAM!
"Are you sure you don't need help?" Celes asked.
WHAM!
"....I mean, being a Vampire and all......"
WHAM!
"I do have a bit more strength than....."
CRACK!
".........You?" Celes watched as Sayoko pulled the diskette out from the console. "Got it?"
Sayoko nodded as she walked to the Admin consoles.
"Yep....now all I have to do is......." Sayoko frowned as she looked at the disk. The disk was slightly warped. "Oh, man."
"Will it still work?"
"No." Sayoko sat down heavily on the floor. "It won't."
"So we're screwed?"
"Yep."
"Great."
Shinji and Touji peered over the window ledge. They quickly ducked down as several force bolts ripped through the air over them.
"Didn't think they'd find us this fast," Touji muttered.
"It was bound to happen," Shinji said.
"True. Still want to go look for Asuka?"
Shinji glanced out the window. Twenty Valkyries now stood out in the streets, all looking towards the building he and Touji had sought cover in.
"It was only a brief connection to her," Shinji said. "Now she's not answering. Like she's unconscious."
"She could also be......."
Shinji turned and glared at Touji. "She's not that. I would have felt that. No, she's alive......" He turned and looked out the window. "..and somewhere out there."
Celes and Sayoko sat on the floor, staring at the Yggdrasil main screen.
"You know," Celes said, "this sucks."
"Tell me about it," muttered Sayoko.
"I don't like to lose," continued Celes. "I've never lost."
Sayoko glanced over at the Vampire.
"Didn't you die back at that Church in Cheddar? Doesn't that mean you lost?"
"Yeah but....since then," Celes glanced at the Goddess, "I've never lost."
"First time for everything."
"Come on!" Celes sat up and faced the Goddess. "You've been a Goddess for how long? Surely you've encountered something like this before!"
"Sure I've been around for hopeless situations," Sayoko said. "I was an Eva pilot. I even went with the demon armies to retake heaven. But something like this?" Sayoko shook her head. "Urd and Skuld have the computer experience, Mom a little, me none."
"So what would they do?"
Sayoko shrugged. "I don't know. I don't think they ever......had........a.........similar........." Sayoko's voice trailed off.
"What?" Celes looked at the Goddess curiously. "What is it?"
"They did have something similar," Sayoko said. Suddenly she got very excited. "I remember! I know how they did it!"
"How?"
"They sang the Anti-Virus!"
Celes blinked. "What?"
"You'll see."
"MOVE!" Shinji shouted as a force bolt ripped through the air towards them.
Touji and Shinji leaped out of the way of the bolt, then landed and rolled towards new cover.
"I don't know how much longer we can hold them off," Touji said. "Not without killing them."
"Killing them is a last resort," Shinji said. "And we are nowhere near that desperate."
"Right." Touji peered out from behind their cover. "Here they co......What the hell?!?!"
"What is it?"
"You have to see it to believe it."
From the top of the Main Yggdrasil building, white clouds began to form. From within the clouds, a set of white wings emerged, followed by the large form of an Angel; An Angel that Touji and Shinji knew very well.
Morning Bell.
Morning Bell stood tall over the building and looked out over the heavens. She raised her arms out to her sides. Another smaller figure, in blue and white, could just be seen floating in front of her.
Sayoko.
Sayoko opened her eyes, the Angel mimicking the Goddess' movements exactly. Then both opened their mouths, and Sayoko began to sing. As she sang, far down below in the control room level, a sphere of golden light appeared within the rotating spirals. Celes watched as the sphere glowed brighter and brighter before it burst, sending out a pulse of golden light in all directions.
The wise man said just walk this way
To the dawn of the light
The wind will blow into your face
As the years pass you by
Hear this voice from deep inside
It's the call of your heart
Close your eyes and your will find
The passage out of the dark
Here I am
Will you send me an angel
Here I am
In the land of the morning star
The wise man said just find your place
In the eye of the storm
Seek the roses along the way
Just beware of the thorns
Here I am
Will you send me an angel
Here I am
In the land of the morning star
The wise man said just raise your hand
And reach out for the spell
Find the door to the promised land
Just believe in yourself
Hear this voice from deep inside
It's the call of your heart
Close your eyes and you will find
The way out of the dark
Here I am
Will you send me an angel
Here I am
In the land of the morning star
Here I am
Will you send me an angel
Here I am
In the land of the morning star
Scorpions – Send me an Angel
A bruised, bleeding and broken Urd gasped for breath as Skuld choked her against the wall. Behind them, World of Elegance lay on the floor, her mouth open in a silent scream as Noble Scarlet tried to rip her wings off.
"Well, sister," Skuld said, "looks like I'm the stronger one." She pulled back her fist. Urd clenched her eyes shut, waiting for the end. Then she felt a brief warmth flow through her. Urd opened her eyes to see a flash of gold vanish into the walls. She then heard Skuld gasp.
"Urd?"
Urd looked back at Skuld. Skuld's brown eyes blinked back at her.
"Air!!" Urd gasped.
"Oh!" Skuld released Urd who slid to the floor gasping.
"Thanks," Urd said, still sucking in lungfuls of air.
"What happened?" Skuld asked. "Why was I holding you against the wall?" Off to the side, Noble Scarlet was looking equally confused.
"You mean you don't know?" Urd asked in disbelief. Skuld shook her head. "Boy do I have a story for you, sister."
Arael was now on her knees, still struggling to keep her AT-Field up against the swarming goddesses. She felt a slight warmth pass through her.
'That's it,' She thought. 'They are getting through.' She dropped her AT-Field and waited for the end.
"Arael?"
Arael looked up at the goddesses. All were looking around confused.
"Arael, what are you doing here?" asked Peorth. "Aren't you supposed to be on earth?"
"Yes," Arael replied before falling over, completely exhausted.
Shinji and Touji stared in awe at the sight of Sayoko. Then they spotted the wave of golden light.
"What is that?" Touji asked.
"I don't know," Shinji replied as the wave swept towards them. "Get down!"
Both fell to the ground as the wave hit them. Instead of destructive energy, both felt a sense of warmth.
"Whoa," Touji said. "That felt......."
"Nice," Shinji finished. He then turned and looked over at the Valkyries. The women were now standing around looking very disoriented and confused. Their eyes were also no longer red. "They're back to normal!"
Touji glanced at the Valkyries, then glanced back at the Yggdrasil building which Morning Bell's form was just vanishing into.
"Looks like she did it," Touji said.
Terra 2
Yui crashed through the wall and tumbled out into the street. From the hole in the wall, Keima stepped through.
"Stupid Guardians," He muttered. "Stepping into matters that do not concern you. You could be by our sides as we rule. Instead.......you will be at our feet."
"KEIMA!!!" Lime shouted form inside the restaurant. "Please stop this!"
Keima ignored Lime's plea and stood over Yui.
"It ends now." Keima raised his hands, his staff appearing within them, the end hovering over a stunned Yui's chest. Before he could plunge the staff downward, something swept over him. Keima blinked.
Then blinked again.
'What am I doing?' He thought. He looked down. 'What happened to Yui? Where's Lime? Why....' All his thoughts were disrupted as something else slammed into him from the side. The next thing he knew, he was being held down to the ground by the Marionette Lime.
"I've got him!" she shouted.
"Hold him still," Yui said weakly as she got to her feet. "I'll cast the binding spell on him and........"
"Yui? What's going on?" Keima asked.
Yui paused slightly and looked down at Keima. Then she shook her head.
"No. You're trying to trick us again."
"Yui. Why is Lime holding me down? Where's my Lime? What's going on?"
"Keima?" Lime, the mortal one, stepped out through the hole in the wall and started towards Keima. Yui stopped her.
"He's trying to trick us again," Yui said softly. Lime looked around Yui and stared at Keima. Keima stared right back at her. Their eyes met, and Lime knew.
"Lime," the mortal said, "let him up."
"What?" the marionette asked. "But he's......"
"LET HIM UP!!!"
"But...?" Yui started.
"LET........HIM........UP!!"
The marionette released Keima, who then stood up. He was immediately wrapped up in a hug by Lime. Keima blinked.
"Lime? What....?"
"Shhh," She whispered. "I'm just glad you're you again."
Keima blinked again. He looked down at Lime, then looked over at Yui and the Marionette Lime, then back to his Lime.
'I don't know what the hell is going on......but......ah screw it.....someone will tell me.' Keima then sighed and wrapped his arms around Lime.
Heavens
About an hour later.
"NO, SKULD!!!! DON'T......" Belldandy began. She then stopped and blinked. Skuld was no longer in the spot Belldandy had last seen her. And where did Urd come from?
"Hi, Bell," Urd said.
"Wha?" Belldandy looked at Urd, then over at Skuld. Both were battered, bruised and bloody. A closer look at Skuld showed her eyes had returned to normal. Then Belldandy remembered someone else.
"Ow...." muttered Cayla from her spot on the floor. She glanced up and saw Skuld. "Eeep!"
"Wait!" Urd shouted. "Everything is fine now."
"But what about......?" began Belldandy.
"Everything is fine," Urd repeated. "All the gods are back to normal, and we're beginning to repair the damage."
"Father?"
"He was with Mom down in Hell," Urd replied. "And no....I am not about to find out what he was doing down there."
"Was anyone else hurt?"
Urd and Skuld's eyes fell, giving Belldandy her answer. She closed her eyes and let her head fall in silent prayer.
"There's more, Onee-sama,"Skuld said. "About Sayoko.........."
Belldandy was on Skuld in a second.
"What about Sayoko? What is it? What's wrong with her?!"
Sayoko blinked and looked around. She was standing in the middle of a large patch of grass, surrounded by trees.
"Where am I?" she muttered out loud.
She then looked up.
Far above, hanging downward like stalactites, were buildings. That alone told her where she was.
"The Geofront," She muttered again. "I must be dreaming."
"You are."
Sayoko turned to see the Soultaker lying on the ground, looking up towards the 'sky'.
"I got tired of your mind choosing where you'd end up," the demon said, "so I decided to pick a spot."
Sayoko nodded. "Guess I succeeded then, got rid of the virus?"
The Soultaker shrugged. "Don't know. I don't get a lot of info here. I do know you depleted all of your powers just a bit ago."
Sayoko sat down next to the demon and laid down on her back.
"So what happens now?" Sayoko asked softly.
"You'll probably be here till your power levels recover, then leave," The Soultaker replied. "And life will continue on as normal."
"What about you?"
The demon shrugged. "Don't know. This is your sub-consciousness."
Sayoko glanced at the Soultaker.
"You do owe me a name."
"I already told you it wasn't very threatening."
"I'd still like to know."
"Why?"
"Because then I can finally get you out of my head," Sayoko replied. She then smiled. "I don't want to remember you as just the 'Soultaker'."
"Alright, alright." The demon glared at the goddess. "You're a persistent one."
"So...?"
"Fine. My name is........"
Sayoko let out a quiet moan, then opened her eyes. She found herself staring at a bright white ceiling. Turning her head to the side, she saw that she was in the Infirmary in Heaven. Turning to her other side, she found herself face to face with........
"Mother?"
Belldandy smiled. "Hello, sleepy head. About time you woke up."
Sayoko groaned as she sat up.
"How long was I out?" she asked.
"Three days."
"THREE DAYS?!?!" Sayoko let out another moan. "Kensuke is probably worried sick."
"He is," Her mother replied. "However, he knows you'll get better care here than on Terra 2, considering your condition."
Sayoko's eyes widened slightly. "How did you.....?"
"Well, I am your Mother," Belldandy said with a smile. "And of course Urd told me right away." Belldandy sat down on the bed and wrapped her daughter in a tight hug. "I'm so happy for you."
"Easy, Bell," came a voice from the doorway. "She just woke up."
Sayoko glanced over her mother's shoulder to see Skuld and Urd standing in the doorway with big smiles. Belldandy released Sayoko and sniffed, wiping away the forming tears.
"Sorry," she said. "I'm just so happy."
"She's happy now," Urd said. "But just wait till she gets called 'Grandma'"
Belldandy's eyes widened. "WHAT?!?!"
"We'll still be called Aunts regardless," Urd said. "But you.....you have to get used to being called 'Grandma'."
"But...but....but....I'M NOT THAT OLD!" Belldandy cried out. "I'm too young to be called Grandma!"
"Five centuries isn't old?"
"Oh, leave Onee-sama alone," Skuld said.
"Hey!" Sayoko called out, bringing everyone's attention back to her. "Where's Celes?"
The three elder Goddesses glanced at each other, then looked back at Sayoko.
"Well, you see...." began Urd.
"Celes is now a full Nosferatu," Skuld continued. "A creature of Evil."
"She has always been a Vampire, though," Sayoko said. "But she's not Evil."
"We know she isn't Evil," Belldandy said. "So does Mist and your Grandfather. But there are others who...aren't very happy that she was here, and even more unhappy she was in the Control Room."
"They didn't hurt her, did they?" Sayoko asked.
"No, no, no," Skuld said. "She's waiting back at the house with your Father."
Sayoko let out a sigh. "So when do I get to leave?"
"Not for a day or two," Belldandy said. She then raised a hand and cut off Sayoko's protest. "May I remind you that you are with child and have completely drained your powers. They want to make sure everything is alright before they release you."
"Fine," Sayoko muttered.
Belldandy wrapped her daughter in another hug.
"Don't worry. Everything is going to be fine. I'll be there for you, as will Kensuke, Celes, Skuld, even Urd."
Urd and Skuld glanced at each other.
"I'm not running to the store at three in the morning for tea," muttered Urd.
"You didn't," replied Skuld. "It was Keiichi. And then I made it because you kept wanting to add stuff."
Urd glared at Skuld.
"Did not."
"Did too."
"Did not."
"Did too."
Belldandy sighed. "Ah....memories."
"Were they this bad when you had me?" Sayoko asked.
Belldandy shook her head. "No....they were much worse."
"Ugh." Sayoko fell back and buried her head in the pillow. "When did they stop?"
"Not until you were born," Belldandy said with a smile.
"Great."
Celes leaned on the railing and looked out over the garden. Beside stood Keiichi. Sitting on the porch further down was Arael.
"Beautiful." She said softly.
"Yeah." Keiichi said., "When she's not working, Belldandy is here. She really loves her garden.
"She never did plant any roses." Peorth said as she walked out to join them.
"That's because you kept attacking Urd with them." Keiichi said, "Who was on the phone?"
"Chrono and Erie." Peorth replied, "Yggdrasil is running well enough that they are going to reopen the Gates soon. Camilla is relieved, apparently things are backing up over there."
Keiichi nodded while Celes looked confused.
"Camilla?" Celes asked, "Never heard of her."
"She's in charge of the Gates of Heaven, sorts the souls between heaven and hell according to Yggdrasil." Peorth said, "Since the ...... incident, the Gates have been closed. So all the Souls are just crowding up out there."
"Oh?" Celes said, "If I mentioned a name, could you tell me where the Soul is?"
"I suppose. Who is it?"
Gates of Heaven
"I had a heart attack while jogging." said one man.
"My Husband ran me over with a car." a woman said.
"I was shot by a mugger." another man said.
"I was eaten by a Vampire who had transformed into a Dog from hell."
Everyone turned and looked at the man who had spoken last. He was dressed in grey Priest robes.
"A what?" asked one of the others.
Anderson sighed, "A Hellhound. A foul beast from the pits. I fell trying to drive his impure stench from the Earth." He then drooped his head. "But I failed in my most Righteous Duty to the Lord and must beg St. Peter's forgiveness and allow me to enter the most Holy Gates of Heaven."
The other souls looked at one another before one turned back to Anderson.
"If you found some kind of Narcotic around here man you'd better share that with the rest of us."
Anderson scowled. "I need no drugs. I am full of God's righteous Glory and..."
"IT'S OPENING!!!" came a shout from further up near the gates.
Sure enough, the Gates slowly swung open. Row after row of armored figures soon followed, preventing anyone from rushing into the gates. Desks with monitors were then lead out by several females who sat down behind them. As if following some unspoken set of rules, all the souls present formed lines leading to each desk. After several hours, Anderson finally reached the front of the line.
"Name please." The girl behind the desk asked cheerfully.
Anderson stared at the girl a moment. She couldn't be but 18.
"My Child," he said, "I would wish to speak with St. Peter."
The girl looked up at him and glared. "He is busy. You have to deal with me. State your name please."
"I am a Paladin for the God almighty. I have slain Beasts of Hell for the past 500 years." Anderson shouted, "I would speak with St. Peter or any of the other Apostles of our Lord and allow me entry into Heaven, not some rude little girl."
The girl stood up and slammed her hands on the desk.
"I am the Goddess Camilla, First Class Type 4 Unlimited!" she shouted back, "And I am over 2,000 years old! You will have to speak with me more Civilly or you will NEVER enter Heaven!"
Anderson's eyes widened. When he spoke, it was more softly.
"My name is Father Alexander Anderson."
Camilla smiled, before resuming her seat. She then typed away at her terminal for a moment.
"Thank-you Father." Camilla said more cheerfully, "You name is on the list. A guide will meet you on the other side of the Gate. Have a nice day."
Anderson nodded and walked quickly toward the gate.
"Ungrateful Angel.......maybe a Saint I don't know.......The Lord shall hear of this....." Anderson muttered under his breathe, as he passed into the Gate, "At least that Hellsing Dog and that Vampiric Bitch isn't here to...."
"Why Hello Father!"
Anderson froze and slowly looked up. Standing there before him was Celes. She smiled at him, showing off all her fangs.
"Welcome to Heaven Father." Celes said with a smile. From behind her stepped out Arael, the Angel.
"I'm in Hell." Anderson said, "Aren't I?"
"Nope." Celes said, "This is Heaven."
Anderson sighed, "Can this get any worse?"
"Ummm," Celes said thinking, "Kami-sama wishes to see you. Something about injuring his Grandchild."
Anderson heard footsteps beside him. He turned to see he was now flanked by four armored woman.
"...And he won't take no for an answer." Celes finished.
Nine Months later.
Kensuke paced around in the living room of his home. Present in the room were Lime, Keima, Bloodberry, Cherry, Celes, Shinji, Touji, Lorelei and Otaru. Several times, everyone glanced towards the second floor as a cry of pain came from upstairs. Suddenly, Kensuke whirled on Shinji.
"Why is it taking so long?" he shouted. "She's been in labor for 5 hours now!"
"Sometimes it takes awhile," Shinji replied.
Kensuke paced a few more times, then looked back at Shinji.
"Why can't I be in there though?"
"Because Sayoko is a First Class Goddess."
"So?"
"She's in massive amounts of pain right now and can't really control her powers. Why do you think Arael is in there?"
"But I still want...."
A loud cry suddenly came from upstairs. Before the cry faded, lightning crashed through the ceiling and slammed into an end table.
Kensuke stared for a moment at the remains of the table. Yui then hurried down the stairs.
"Everyone alright?"
Everyone nodded slowly. Kensuke then went to the bottom of the stairs.
"How much longer?" he asked.
"Anytime now, according to Aunt Belldandy," Yui said. "It's because the baby is part mor....."
Another loud cry sounded, followed by the sounds of something ricocheting around the room and several surprised shouts. Yui glanced back up at the stairs, as did Kensuke. All was quiet for a moment, then the sound of a baby crying reached their ears. The sound of a door opening reached them, then Skuld appeared at the top of the stairs.
"Come on up, Ken."
Kensuke flew up the stairs and raced into the room. There, laying on the bed looking utterly exhausted was Sayoko. In her arms was a small bundle. Kensuke slowly walked up and knelt beside the bed. Belldandy, Urd, Skuld, Arael and Yui watched, smiling, as Sayoko handed over the baby to her father.
"Here you go, little one," Sayoko said softly. "It's time to meet your father."
Kensuke stared down at his tiny daughter. The baby looked up with her bright blue eyes and stared at him. Wisps of light brown hair covered her head. Below her eyes were small blue markings. ON her forehead was an elongated blue diamond, just like her mother's and her grandmother's.
"Ken," Sayoko said softly, "say hello to your daughter Kristine."
"Hello, Kristine," Kensuke said softly. "Welcome to the world."
"Gah!" Kristine shouted.
Sayoko smiled as she looked back at the others. Her face froze slightly as she saw one extra being.
Unnoticed by the others was the ghostly form of the Soultaker. The Demon met Sayoko's eyes, then smiled.
'Thank you,' she mouthed before fading away.
Sayoko leaned back in the bed, closed her eyes and sighed. Within seconds she was sound asleep.
Kensuke heard Sayoko's soft snores and looked up. He then felt a hand on his shoulder.
"Let her sleep," He heard Belldandy say softly. "I think there are people downstairs who want to welcome my granddaughter."
Kensuke nodded and carefully carried his daughter out of the room. The others left as well, Belldandy being the last one to leave. Before she shut the door, she turned and glanced at the sleeping Goddess.
"Rest well, my Daughter," she said softly. "Tomorrow, You begin the hardest task of all: raising a child."
She then closed the door and joined those welcoming the newest Goddess.
16 years later
"How is she?" Celes asked.
"Panicking," Sayoko replied. "She's worried about her dress, if Keima and Lime are coming, if we'll arrive on time....."
"MOM!!!! I can't find my favorite Headband!!!"
"And her hair." Sayoko let out a loud sigh, then shouted towards the stairs.
"Wear one of the other headbands, Kris!"
"BUT MOM!!!! Grandma gave me that Headband!" came Kris' reply. "I NEED that Headband!"
"Hey!" came a young male voice. "Look what I got!"
"SENTARO!!!" came Kris' yell. "THAT'S MY HEADBAND!!! GIVE IT TO ME!!"
"Gotta catch me first!"
The sound of multiple feet racing through the upstairs soon became the sound of two feet racing down the stairs. Sayoko and Celes watched as a young boy of 10, named Sentaro after his Great Aunt's husband and looking very much like a small Kensuke, raced from the bottom of the stairs and out the back door. He was soon followed by a 15 year old girl in Goddess robes, Kristine, who looked very much like her Grandmother, even more so than her mother ever did.
"SENTARO, YOU GET BACK HERE!!!" Kris shouted.
"Kristine," Sayoko said softly.
The 15 year old stopped in her tracks and looked over.
"Yes, Mother?"
"Is this how a soon-to-be First Class Goddess acts?"
"But.......'
"Is it?" Sayoko said a bit more forcefully.
Kristine looked down at her feet.
"No, Mother."
"Now what did Sentaro do?"
"He....." began Kristine. "He has Grandma's headband and he won't give it back."
"Does he now?" Sayoko raised her hand and snapped her fingers. In a flash, Sentaro appeared in mid-stride. He blinked and skidded to a stop as he realized he was back in the house.
"Sentaro," Sayoko said. "Do you have Kris' Headband?"
"Yes, Mother," Sentaro said.
"Why don't you give it to her?"
Sentaro looked up at his mother and knew that it was an order, not a request. He handed over the headband to his sister.
"Thank you," Kristine said. She then raced back up the stairs to continue getting ready.
Sayoko sighed and sat down on the couch.
"Sentaro, why did you decide, on today of all days, to pick on your Sister?"
Sentaro shrugged. "I dunno."
"Today is a very important day for your sister. Do you know why?"
Sentaro nodded. "Onee-chan becomes a First Class Goddess."
Sayoko nodded. "That's right. She will be announced in front of all the Gods and Goddesses of Heaven. She wants to look her best, so she's very nervous. So try not to upset her ok?"
"Yes, Mother," Sentaro said. He started to walk away, then stopped and looked back. "Mother?"
Sayoko looked back over at her son.
"Yes, Sentaro?"
"Will I ever become a God?"
Sayoko shook her head sadly.
"No, Sentaro. You have no heavenly powers like your sister does."
"Oh." Sentaro started to walk away, but soon found himself wrapped up in his mother's arms.
"Don't feel bad that you won't be a god," Sayoko said softly. "I love you just as much as I love your sister. So does your father, your Uncles and Aunts, and your Grandparents."
"But why don't I have any powers like Onee-chan?" Sentaro asked.
"Your Great-Grandpa has something else in mind for you," Sayoko said softly.
"Like what?"
"I don't know," Sayoko replied. "We'll just have to live each day and figure it out on our own." She released her son from the hug. "Now why don't you go find your father. We'll be leaving soon."
"Ok."
Sentaro quickly raced off. Sayoko watched for a moment before looking back at a smiling Celes.
"They grow up so fast," Celes said softly. "Seems like yesterday I was changing their diapers."
Sayoko gave Celes a slight glare. "I seem to remember yesterday as the day you duct-taped Sentaro to the ceiling."
"Hey! He was driving me nuts!" Celes said. "And besides, Kristine helped!"
"Great," muttered Sayoko. "On the eve of becoming a First Class, my Daughter acts like a 6 year old." She then glared at Celes. "And her 500 year old Vampire Aunt, who should know better, helps."
Celes smiled. "That's why I'm her Favorite Aunt."
"Right," replied Sayoko. "It's a wonder she didn't end up becoming another Urd."
"HEY!!"
Two Hours later
Kristine paced about in the back area of the grand hall. On stage, a God was speaking to the assembled about the virtues involved for one to become a First Class. In just a few short minutes, she would be introduced to everyone in the hall as a Goddess of the First rank, one of the few to have reached that rank at such a young age. She had already had a pep talk from Grandma Belldandy and Auntie Skuld. Now she just had to walk out on stage, greet everyone, and not screw up.
"You won't screw up," Came a voice.
Kristine turned to see her Uncle Keima and Auntie Lime standing near her. She quickly flew to them and grabbed them both in a hug, which they returned.
"I didn't think you were coming," Kristine said.
"Well," Keima said putting an arm around Lime, "we couldn't miss today. It's not often a First Class Goddess is named."
"Besides," Lime added, patting her stomach, "this one wouldn't stop kicking if we didn't come."
Kristine smiled. "Have you decided on a name?"
"Not yet," Lime replied, glancing at Keima. "We have a couple picked out, to cover both sexes."
Kristine's jaw dropped. "You mean you don't know the sex yet?"
"Nope," Keima said. "We decided to be surprised."
"Anyway," Lime said, "it's almost time for this show to start." She hugged Kristine. "Good luck."
"No passing out, now," Keima said with a smile as he and Lime walked out to join the rest of the family.
Kristine closed her eyes and sighed.
"Are you ready?"
The young Goddess opened her eyes to see Mist, commander of the Valkyries, waiting near the stage entrance.
"Yes, Commander," Kristine said.
"Good," Mist said. "It is time." The Valkyrie turned and walked out onto the stage.
'Alright, Kris,' Kristine said to herself, 'let's go!'
"Goddesses and Gods," the speaker shouted out, "allow me to be the first to present to you Goddess First Class Type 2 Unlimited, Kristine Aida!"
Sayoko stood up and joined the audience as they cheered Kristine as she walked out to the middle of the stage. Her daughter then waved and happily acknowledged the crowd as they shouted words of praise and encouragement towards her.
Sayoko and Kristine then locked eyes. Sayoko smiled at her daughter and nodded. Kristine nodded back.
"Hey."
Sayoko glanced to the side to her husband.
"We did alright, didn't we?" he said.
"Yes," Sayoko said, turning back to the stage, "we did."
A new day...
A new day...
I was waiting for so long
For a miracle to come
Everyone told me to be strong
Hold on and don't shed a tear
Through the darkness and good times
I knew I'd make it through
And the world thought I had it all
But I was waiting for you
Hush now
I see a light in the sky
Oh, it's almost blinding me
I can't believe
I've been touched by an angel with love
Let the rain come down and wash away my tears
Let it fill my soul and drown my fears
Let it shatter the walls for a new, new sun
A new day has... come
Where it was dark now there's light
Where there was pain now there's joy
Where there was weakness, I found my strength
All in the eyes of a boy
Hush now
I see a light in the sky
Oh, it's almost blinding me
I can't believe
I've been touched by an angel with love
Let the rain come down and wash away my tears
Let it fill my soul and drown my fears
Let it shatter the walls for a new, new sun
A new day has...
Let the rain come down and wash away my tears
Let it fill my soul and drown my fears
Let it shatter the walls for a new, new sun
A new day has... come
Ohhh, a light
Hush now
I see a light in your eyes
All in the eyes of the boy
I can't believe
I've been touched by an angel with love
I can't believe
I've been touched by an angel with love
Hush now
Hush now
Celine Dion – A New Day has Come
Author's Notes
So this is the end of this story line.
As always, reviews are always appreciated.
Special Thanks to:
Lord Deathscythe for taking the time to pre read while sweating it out in the desert.
And to MechaTama of Anime Planet
Another shout out to Kristine for just being there hugs