Disclaimer: Everything you can imagine is real.
Not only is the universe stranger than we imagine, it is stranger than we can imagine.
Scraps got up from his futon and out into the hall. He walked by the tea room and saw Urd drinking from a bottle of sake. Urd was apparently drunk as her face was slightly red.
"... How can you drink at this hour?"
"Hmmm?"
"It's almost five o'clock. It should be come-back-nearly-passed-out-from-the-bar o'clock for most drinkers. Don't you sleep?"
"I done need to 'cause this is my alternate power source." She grinned.
"I wouldn't mind a 'power' boost myself. Your alcohol tolerance must be incredible to drink so many hours."
"This coming" hic "rom Mr. Irishman here?"
"You ever been to Dublin before?" She gave him a blank look. "You'd love it there. The bars there have good drinks, friendly folks, jokes, laughter, and the occasional rousing bar fight. What else could someone ask for?"
"Hah!" hic "Well, handsome, why not join me then. I still hic think you won't last an hour without passing out."
"Hmmmm... that sounds like a challenge to me." Scraps left the room and came back with his bag.
He broke out in a grin. "I got just the thing." He withdrew an unmarked bottle from the sack. "Ever try an Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster?"
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For those of you who are unfortunate enough to have never heard of a Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster, they are one of the best drinks in existence. The effect of drinking a Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster is like having your brains smashed out by a slice of lemon wrapped round a large gold brick.
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Several empty bottles later both were singing merrily in the garden (it had stopped raining). The sat on a large rock, and a few bottles lay scattered upon the wet grass. Scraps was apparently trying to teach Urd some drinking songs, somewhat unsuccessfully.
"Bah, you keep hitting sour notes. Your as tone-deaf as a wailing cat!"
"You dare inshult a" hic "first clash goddessh!?" She slurred angrily.
"You... umm... erm... what was I saying? Well, what ever I was going to say, I assure you it was a cunning and witty response ." Scraps chuckled.
"Why yoouuu! Urd bolt!"
Crack
"You missed." He stuck his tongue out.
"Urd bolt!"
Crack
"My, your aim is horrible." Scraps chuckled.
"URD BOLT!"
Thud
"Whoops, looks like she finally passed out. I guess several hours of heavy drinking and tossing thunderbolts can do that to some people." Scraps put his bag over his shoulder, picked her up and carried her onto his futon, as he did not know where her room was. He sat down beside the futon cross legged, and in deep thought.
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He wasn't sure how long he had been sitting there but was brought back to reality by a beautiful female voice singing a wordless song.
He got up and retrieved his coat and boots, and set out into the forest. He soon found himself near a clearing, standing in which was Belldandy singing with a angel behind her. He watched her in silence for several minutes. As she sung a final note, Scraps stepped out. Belldandy turned and her angel faded away. Scraps gave her a smile.
"Can you teach me?"
"Teach you?"
"The sing you songed."
"The song I sang?"
"Precisely."
Scraps put down his bag (which was still over his shoulder) and pulled out a harp that stood just under his chest when both he and the harp were stood up. The harp was very large compared to the bag, and it was a wonder how it fit in there at all. The harp looked fairly simple: it was made of a polished metal. Like it's owner and all his belongings it looked weathered and worn. The harp had several small dents as well as scratches in various places around the frame. He then set it down and took a seat upon a rock.
"We can play a duet. Or trio. Pleeeaaase?" Scraps said, pleadingly.
"Alright." She smiled.
"Bring out your angel too."
She closed her eyes and a angel appeared. Scraps got up and walked up to the angel. After studying it for a moment he, closing his eyes, embraced the angel for a long moment. Both Belldandy and the angel blushed and looked surprised by the time he released the angel from his hug.
"Sorry, couldn't resist," he chuckled at their surprise and embarrassment. "I was curious as to what it was like to embrace a real angel. She's magnificent."
"Thank you. Her name is Holy Bell."
"Nice to meet ya, Bell. The one with the... well, you know. Shall we begin? You lead."
Belldandy began to sing. Scraps waited a few moments then joined in following her lead. As they played the music they made flowed throughout the forest.
When they finished playing, Scraps looked up, gave her a grin, and said: "I suppose I should be leaving now. Thank you for everything. Really." His smile showed a hint of sadness. "The world nowadays can be a cold and alienating place, due to mistrust. Glad to see some people are still willing to help a stranger."
He put his harp in his bag (which, despite the harp's large size, did not change in shape or size. He then stood up with his bag over his shoulder.
"Well, should go before I start rambling... again. After all, the world awaits. Das vadanya." He turned to head deeper into the forest.
"Wait!"
"For what?", he turned and saw a disheveled Urd. "Wow, your bloody impressive. Consuming enough alcohol to kill a horse, your hang over must be horrendous."
"Who are you?" Urd pointed at him.
"I'm am who I am, I'm not who I'm not, what's there to know?."
"What are you?"
"An enigma, wrapped in a riddle, hidden behind the refrigerator."
"Where are you really from?"
"A place so far off you wouldn't have known it existed." He grinned broadly.
"..." Urd sighed. "I'm not in the mood for this right now. It's too early."
"Don't ask, don't tell. Remember?" Scraps chuckled. "You don't ask, and I don't tell anyone your secret."
"Bell, Peroth called. He's not in Yggdrasil. Mom already told me she didn't have any records of him last night."
"Are you sure there wasn't an error or a bug? I do believe he exists."
"I don't exist."
"What?" Urd turned to him, surprised.
"I'm not really Scraps. Just a figment of your imagination. And I have to go. Buh-bye."
He turned to leave but found Urd blocking his path.
"What will it take for me to leave without you constantly trying to harry me? Okey Doke, you know what? Go to heaven, and check the yegg-thingy in person. You at least owe me proof I don't exist before detaining me." He stuck out his tongue.
"Yes, Urd, I agree with him. It may of just been a simple mistake."
"Oh, alright. But I'll have my sisters keep an eye on you."
The trio began to head back towards the temple when Scraps turned to Urd.
"Hey..."
"Yes?"
"Can I come?" He grinned broadly.
"To heaven?"
"Yea. I've been to hell and back, but never heaven."
"Umm... maybe later."
"Rain check. I'll hold your word to it." He put his arms behind his head.
When they reached the temple Urd immediately headed to the TV. "I'm heading to heaven now, Sis. Keep an eye on him for me." She then proceeded to teleport into the TV.
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Skuld and Keichii were both awake now and proceeded with their daily tasks. Keichii was now at work at Whirlwind, and Skuld was tinkering away at another contraption in her lab. Scraps, however was bored sitting around the house, being a free spirit and all.
"Hey Bell, mind if I go somewhere for a bit?"
"Well Urd said..."
"Don't worry, I won't run away. I'll even leave my bag with all my belongings here."
"Well, I believe you will keep your word. Alright."
"Thanks."
He proceeded leave the room. He put on his coat and boots, but rather then leave, he quietly made his way toward the room containing the TV Urd had teleported through.
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"Peroth, Urd is here to see you." Ex announced. A moment later Urd entered.
"Need another check on an imaginary boyfriend, mon cher?" Peroth turned to look at Urd as she entered.
"Very funny. I'm here to run the search myself just incase you made a mistake." Urd floated up to an available terminal.
"Ho Urd!"
Urd tensed up and slowly turned around. 'No. It couldn't be.' she thought.
Oh, but it was.
A grinning Scraps stood at the doorway.
"Nice place. Very... what's the word the French call it..."
"Scraps!" Urd cried.
"Urd!" Scraps cried back. "Ooh, who're your cute friends?"
"Who's this?" Peroth floated down to where Scraps stood and smiled.
"This," Urd said "is my so-called 'imaginary boyfriend.' Scraps, this is Peroth."
"Pleasure to meet ya, Peroth." Scraps gave her a slight bow and a wink, then turned to Urd. "So this is heaven? I expected more... what's the word..."
"This is serious! How did you get in here? How did you get in heaven at all!?"
"Don't ask, don't tell."
If looks could kill, Urd's glare would have made Scraps expire then and there.
"Well, I sorta ju--"
"System lockout commenced." Urd's console announced. "Access denied."
"What? Why?"
"Intruder detected. Unknown entity in Yggdrasil control center. Temporary security lockdown of all terminals with Yggdrasil access."
"Hell's Bell's. I guess I better start running."
Before anyone could reply two valkyries entered the room through the far entrance.
"There he is."
The two valkyries proceeded to move casually towards him. Scraps, being Scraps and all, proceeded to do what Scraps would of done: The last thing expected.
From one of his coat's pockets Scraps withdrew a handful of metal shots, each about the size of a large grape. He then proceeded to throw them high in the air. They seemed to freeze a moment before plummeting back towards the ground.
The valkyries braced themselves in a combat stance, ready for anything, except what was about to happen.
The some of the heavy shots hit the ground with a 'clatter' and sat there in a rather mundanely, while others rolled around the floor in an anti-climactic sort of way.
The valkyries then turned toward the only sound that could be heard in the silenced room, the sound of far off footsteps running, which came from the other entrance. They then proceeded to fly down the hall towards the footsteps.
Peroth turned to Urd and broke the silence: "I think you have some explaining to do.
Author's Note: Ooh, the plot thickens dramatic music . For those of you who don't know, the Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster is from the book The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, which is practically my bible.
Well, another story done. Sorry the first chapter was so short. I have the horrible habit of never proof reading a story before posting it, then editing it several times to fix mistakes I see. So I'm forcing myself to proof read the thing before I post.
Cheers.