Part 12: With You
Urd and Skuld landed in front of the temple as their gateway from heaven vanished. The gods and demons were all in deep mourning over Hope's sacrifice, and her body had been brought to heaven where it would rest for all eternity.
"What are we going to tell Keiichi?" Skuld asked.
Urd stood there silent for a moment then looked at her sister with tear filled eyes. "I don't think we have to tell him Skuld." Urd bit her lip and tried not to break down.
Skuld stared at her then over at the doorway; there sat a lit candle. "Keiichi..."
He sat in Hope's room with the light of a candle from her desk, and the family photo album in front of him. "Why...why did I loose them both...? How could I just let them go?" Three tears hit the album. "Belldandy...was the only one I ever loved with all my heart...and when Hope was born...I felt as if the whole world had just been opened up to me and I had the greatest gift in the world...but now...." He did his best to hold his emotions in.
Tyr was kneeling before Hope's body that had been properly dressed and laid to rest on a crystal tomb inside of the Almighty's hall. She looked so serene now, but it hurt him so much that this was something that she could only obtain in death. "I can't stand it Hope..." he growled. "Why did you do it!?" He shouted. "For this universe!? This universe has never shown you any mercy!" He stared at her face and slammed his fist down on the ground. "Why...why did I have to be Surt's son?" He demanded. "I'll have to live the rest of eternity knowing that within me...is the same darkness responsible for your death..." Then he felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked back and saw his mother with tears running down her face and burning in her eyes.
"Tyr...I'm..." Peorth looked for the right words to say.
"Why mother? Why Surt!? Why!?"
"Your father..."
"Don't call him that! He was never my father!" Tyr barked.
Peorth kneeled and wrapped her arms around him. "Surt, was once a kind hearted and noble demon...I met him by chance...and fell in love with him...that's why I had you." Peorth held him tighter. "Because we were in love...but...one day, Surt's fate arrived, and drove him insane...that's when I lost him..."
"I still..."
"What was back there was not your father Tyr, your father died a long time ago...." Peorth stared up at Hope's body. "That was a monster...a monster that only true love could destroy."
"It shouldn't have been at her cost though..." Tyr's eyes squinted tightly and tears streamed down his face. Memories of Hope flashed through his mind from the very first time they met, until her death. "She thanked me Mom...for all those things I called her...she thanked me for it!"
Peorth nodded. "I know, you helped her so much Tyr, you really did."
Meanwhile in a sunlit field, with grass that flowed like the sea, and a sky that was clear of clouds...
"Over here!" children were running towards a hill and smiling happily.
"I saw it land over here!" One of them called.
"Was it another?" One of them asked.
"What else could it be?" Another groaned as they arrived to the hilltop.
There was a blue orb that soon took the form of a young girl and slowly drifted to the ground.
"It IS another!" A boy smiled. "Let's go say hi!"
"NO WAIT!" one of the girls caught his shirt neck and pulled him back to a hiding spot behind a large boulder.
"Hey! What are you..."He shouted only to have a hand slapped over his mouth.
"We don't know if she's good or not..." One girl said while hugging onto a teddy bear.
The boy stared at them blankly. "Hello! This is Valhalla! Only good people come here!" He shouted only to have four hands slap over his mouth and they all peered over the boulder they were hiding behind and looked at the new girl.
"Mmph...." she groaned then turned over to look up at the sky. "Where...am I?"
"Who are you?" One of the girls called out.
"Eh?" She sat up and stared around. "Is someone there?"
"Someone? There are some of us!" A boy shouted.
She sat there for a moment and got up. "Um...well, my name is Hope Morisato."
All of their mouths dropped and their eyes widened. "HOPE MORISATO!?" They screamed and shot out from behind the boulder and started running towards her.
"Eh?" Hope stared somewhat confused as they ran around her in circles until one of the girls stood up on her tiptoes and brushed Hope's bangs away from the sides of her face.
"LOOK! She has them!" She pointed to Hope's seals and jumped with excitement. "You're here! You're here!"
"I am...but where is here and who are you?" Hope asked.
They all settled down and the oldest boy stepped forward. "My name is Jason, and this is Ling, Adam, Sarah, and Rodriguez."
"It's nice to meet you." Hope smiled at the group.
"And this is Valhalla." Sarah smiled. "We're in the realm of Gefjun, this is where all the virgins go...but I don't know what virgin means." She said and scratched her head.
"Well...I think you're a little too young to know what that means..." Hope sweat dropped. "They're all so young, did they die at this age?" Hope thought then realized that she was dead too for the first time.
"Hope, you're half goddess right?" Rodriguez asked.
"Well..."
"Your daddy was human right?" Adam smiled.
"Well who else!?" Jason groaned. "You never pay attention during story time do you?"
"I pay attention! I was just confused!" Adam shouted in his face
"Now calm down you two." Hope put her hands on their shoulders and gently moved them away from each other. "It's okay, it's hard to understand things when you're young." She smiled at Adam
Adam smiled happily at her and nodded.
"However, what is story time... are stories of me told here?" Hope asked, somewhat confused.
"Yeah! Our lady tells stories about you all the time! You're our hero Hope!" Ling smiled.
"Your lady?" Hope asked.
"Yeah! Come on Hope!" Jason grabbed her hand. "We'll show you her!"
"That's right!" Ling jumped and grabbed Hope's other hand. "Come on!"
"Oh...Okay, I guess I better meet her since it looks as though I'll be staying here from now on." Hope said and smiled slightly when the children cheered.
"Let's go!" Sarah called and started racing down the hill with the others and Hope.
She ran with them for what seemed like an hour, but finally they arrived at a garden.
"We're here." Sarah panted with a smile.
Hope stared in awe; this garden was full of life. "Is this where she is?"
"Yeah! We come here everyday for story time and singing time." Rodriguez said. "She has such a pretty voice!"
Hope smiled at how the children talked about this lady until she heard a faint sound. "Eh? Someone's crying."
"Oh no!" Sarah and Jason ran into the garden to where the pillars where. "Mi lady! What's wrong?" Sarah asked.
Hope looked down at Ling. "Is she sad?"
Ling nodded. "She's been really sad since yesterday."
"Yesterday?" Hope asked. "Yesterday...I died..." she thought to herself and looked back to the pillars.
"Mi Lady! She's here! She's here!" Jason said a little excitedly in hope to make her feel better.
Rodriguez tugged on Hope's sleeve and smiled up at her. "Maybe if she sees you she'll feel better?"
Hope looked at him for a moment and smiled. "Okay, it's worth a try." She then looked up and walked into the garden but stopped before walking to the pillars.
"She's waiting for you mi Lady!" Sarah said and pointed over to Hope.
Hope still couldn't quite see whom they were talking too. "Um...Hello, My name is Hope Morisato..." she said shyly. "I just passed on yesterday, and well..." She scratched her head.
The lady stopped crying for a moment and slowly rose to her feet. "Hope..."
"Eh?" Hope stared, this voice, it opened up a door to her heart, it brought so many memories to her mind! "Wait..." She took a step forward. "That voice...I know that voice...it's so warm and loving...just like my... my..." Her eyes widened as the women stepped out from behind the pillars. Her hair was long and a shimmering light brown, her eyes like two light sapphires and her face wore the same symbols that were upon Hope's face.
"See Lady Belldandy? She's here now!" Ling called out.
Hope stared at her, shock and love was overwhelming her heart, which left her legs cemented to the ground, and tears streaming down her face.
"You've grown so beautiful Hope...I'm sorry that...I wasn't there to help you grow up..." Belldandy was choking on the words as more tears streamed down her face.
Hope shook her head. "That...that's not true!" She took a step forward. "Everyday, I always felt you watching over me, but I couldn't look up and find you."
"Hope..." Belldandy held her hands together and managed to find the strength to take a step towards her too.
"But...after all this time, here you are, just like Poppa said." Hope smiled. "And now I found you..."
Belldandy smiled happily at her and held her arms out. "Hope!"
"Mother!" Hope quickly dashed to her and wrapped her arms around her. "Mother! I found you Mother!!" She sobbed on her shoulder.
"My precious daughter!" Belldandy wrapped her arms around her as tears of joy fell instead of tears of sorrow.
"I'm so happy..." Ling hugged onto her teddy bear with a smile
"Maybe now she won't be as sad as she used to huh?" Sarah smiled happily at Jason.
"Yeah!"
Later that night...
Belldandy slept with Hope protectively in her arms, as though she didn't want to loose her again but woke up when she sensed someone's aura.
"Belldandy, so I assume you won't be leaving as the almighty said." Gefjun asked as she sat down on a pillar.
"I'm never going to leave her, never again..." Belldandy said.
"But what about Keiichi? And Urd and Skuld?" Gefjun asked. "After all these years..."
"I know, I love them all so much, but I could never leave without my daughter." Belldandy said as tears burned in the corners of her eyes. "Hope has suffered the most out of all of us...to leave her again is unimaginable!"
"Though, that suffering brings much power to her." Gefjun smiled. "It is said that she holds the power to bend the universe to her will...maybe, that is not the only extent of her will...?"
"What do you...eh?" She looked over but Gefjun had vanished. "Gefjun..." Belldandy stared then looked back at Hope. "The full extent of her power?
The next morning...
Tyr slowly rose up in his bed and stared at a wall. He saw Hope's face for a moment and rubbed his eyes. "Get a hold of yourself Tyr..." He sighed and climbed up out of his bed.
"Lord Tyr?" One of the handmaidens peeped her head in the room.
"Yeah?"
"I was just seeing if you were awake." The handmaiden had tears running down her face.
"Aww come on, don't cry on me now..."
"I'm sorry." She sobbed and walked out of the room.
"Oy..." He sighed and stared out his window to see thousands of beings flying towards the Almighty's hall. "Only honor in death..." He clenched his fist and made his garb form on him then walked out into the hall to see Mara leaning next to his door. "You?"
"I owe my respects to her you know that." Mara sighed then stared at him. "And you know what you have to do."
Tyr ran a finger across his demonic seal. "Yeah."
Peorth walked into the hall and looked at the two. "The service will begin in an hour."
"I'm ready." Tyr walked pass Mara and followed Peorth.
Hope sat down on a hill next to Belldandy as she watched the five children play in the garden. "Mother?"
"Yes?" She smiled at her.
"It still feels strange to say that, after all those years." Hope shook her head then smiled. "You told those children stories about me didn't you?"
"All the time, they thought of you as some story book character all this time, so that's why they were so surprised to meet you yesterday." Belldandy said. "Everyday they wanted to know what adventure Hope Morisato was on...but when you were brought into heaven, I couldn't tell them anymore."
Hope hugged her knees and sighed. "I'm sorry, if it wasn't for me than you would still be on Earth with Poppa."
"Don't say that." Belldandy hugged her. "We love you so much that we'd sacrifice anything for you."
Hope leaned her head against her shoulder. "Yeah but...Poppa, Aunt Urd and Aunt Skuld...they're so sad now..."
Belldandy stared out pass the garden with sad eyes. "Hope..."
Hope looked up at her.
"There's...a way..."
"Hmm?"
Belldandy's eyes lit up and she smiled until she heard the children laughing. "Just a moment." She walked down the hill to talk to them.
Thousands of gods and demons alike gathered in the Almighty's hall and seemed to cry in a symphony of tears. Hope's body still lay there on the tomb cold and lifeless with her sword lying on her chest and in her hands as a respected warrior.
Tyr, Peorth and Mara arrived and were slightly awed by how many had gathered.
"I'm going to stay by her side through the service." Tyr said then walked pass the crowd.
"Hey." Mara nudged Peorth.
"What?"
"Did he...have a crush on her?"
"I guess...but I somehow feel that it may be more than that, it's just that he didn't realize how he really felt until she wasn't here anymore." Peorth moved to take her place among the crowd.
Hope sat on the hill and watched Belldandy talk to the children, she couldn't hear what they were saying but she wondered why the children looked so sad. "I wonder what they're talking about...?"
Jason patted all the kids on the back and gave Belldandy a nod then looked over at Hope with a smile then back at Belldandy.
"Eh?"
Belldandy hugged all the children and gave them a kiss on their foreheads before she walked back up the hill.
"Mother?"
"Hope, the night that I was banished from Earth, your grandfather told me that I could not return until the day you died."
Hope stared at her for a moment.
"Hope, you are half goddess and half mortal, your mortal half may be dead, but a goddess can never die."
"So...my body is still half alive?" Hope stared in shock.
"Yes." Belldandy held her hands. "You have the power to bend fate, you can make anything you want to happen...you can make your mortal half live again... as long as you wish for it with all of your heart to see everyone that you love again."
Hope stared at her then nodded. "I want to see them again! I want you to come back home with me so we can be a family again!" She said and started to glow with a pink aura. "I wish for it! I wish to live again with all my heart!"
"Hope Morisato was a gift upon this universe." The almighty sighed. "When her power was unveiled, I thought that she was the end for the universe as we know it...however, she was a savior..."
Sobbing echoed throughout the halls.
"Her life, was cut short...and now she dwells among Valhalla...forever in peace."
Tyr put his hand on hers and looked down.
Freya, Ran, Bil, and Balder stared with tears running down their faces.
"Honor her soul, now and forever..."
"Amen."
"Ame..." Tyr's eyes widened, all of a sudden Hope's hand started to feel warm.
Hope still lay there motionless and lifeless.
"No...It was just..." Her fingers moved from the sword.
A slight shimmer came from her symbols
"H...Hope!" Tyr quickly shot to his feet.
Everyone stared at him in shock as he began to shake her shoulders.
"Hope! Can you hear me!? Hope!"
A brilliant ray of blue light shot into the room and into Hope's body.
"What the hell!?" Mara stared.
"Hope!" Tyr was struck back by the light.
Hope's sword clanged back down onto the crystal tomb and her body drifted up into the light.
"No! NOO!!" Tyr shot into the light after her and vanished.
"Tyr?" Hope's voice echoed in his ears.
"Hope? Is that you?" He stared around frantically only to see brilliant blue light. "Where are you!?"
"Tyr! Go back!" Hope's voice cried out.
"What...AAARGH!" His body began to ache in pain.
"TYR!" An angel shot from the brightest area of light and wrapped her arms around him.
"TYR!!" Peorth cried out and started to run towards the light.
"No!" Mara caught her. "You can't go into that light!"
"Let me go!" Peorth struggled against her until a large cracking sound came from the light. Several discharges of electricity emitted from it then finally three figures shot from the light, one was Tyr, the other a goddess, and a small angel.
Everyone stared in awe as the angel slowly flew down and kneeled Tyr on the ground.
He stared at the angel for a moment and she kneeled down in front of him.
"H...Hope...." His eyes started to quiver.
She smiled happily and gave him a hug. "Tyr."
Everyone started to crowd around them in cheers as well as tears of joy.
Peorth and Mara flew over the crowd and landed in front of the three. "Be...Belldandy?"
Belldandy looked up at them and smiled. "Peorth, Mara, it's nice to see you two again." She said then looked down at Hope and Tyr.
"HOPE!" Mara shot over to her and snatched her up. "I'm so sorry! You saved me twice kid! I don't know how I'll ever repay ya!"
Hope smiled and laughed. "Mara! You're okay!" She laughed and gave her a hug back.
"Move over!" Peorth shot in Mara's place. "My withered rosebud has come back!!" she smiled with tears streaming down her face.
"HEY YOU ROSE FREAK!" Mara roared.
"Oho...this is a whole new side to you Mara." Peorth grinned. "Worried over a goddess?"
"Eh? No I'm not!" Mara growled and folded her arms. "I was...just glad that my future competition for people to make pacts with is back!"
Hope stared blankly for a moment until Tyr jumped up to his feet and snatched Hope from Peorth.
"You died on me!" He said. "Do you know how upset I was?"
Hope stared for a moment and blushed. "I'm sorry..."
"Well... you came back...so I guess that's all that matters now." He smiled and realized that tears were running down his face. "AGH! Um! Well anyway..."
Hope smiled and kept on hugging him. "I came back."
Awhile later, Hope and Tyr walked through the forest, both holding hands and walking closely together.
"Tyr, do you have to go?" She asked.
"My father is dead now, and since I'm the only one who bears his demonic blood, I'm the only one who can take the throne in Muspelhiem, I have to go."
"You'll be able to come and see me won't you?" Hope asked.
"I...I don't know...but I'll try...I swear to you that I'll try." Tyr stopped. "I...you see I...." Hope put a finger on his lips.
"I already know." She smiled. "I'll wait for you Tyr, no matter how many years it takes, I'll wait."
Tyr held her hand tight and smiled.
"Tyr!" Mara's voice echoed throughout the wood.
He slowly backed away from her. "I guess...its time." he sighed.
Hope nodded sadly as they left the forest.
"Hope." A familiar voice echoed in her ears. She stared back and saw the tree stump. "Oh..." She looked around then winked at it before she followed Tyr.
When they came to the opening, Mara had a portal set to Muspelhiem.
"Looks inviting." Tyr stared at the fiery realm with a grimace.
"Tyr, I'm proud of you, demon or god." Peorth hugged him.
"Thanks Mother." He hugged her back then stared back at the portal. "Alright Mara." He started to walk in.
Hope stared at him sadly then felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked up to see her mother smiling.
"Hurry, before he leaves." She whispered
Hope stared back at Tyr. "Wait!"
Tyr stopped and stared around only to be nearly knocked down by her as she shot her arms around him. "Hope?"
She looked up at his face and gave him a small kiss on his cheek. "I love you too."
Peorth raised her eyebrows and smiled. "Oho?"
Tyr blushed and stepped back when Hope stepped away from their hug. "I..." He smiled. "I'll come back to you as soon as I can."
"Come on lover boy." Mara teased and pushed him in. "Belldandy." She looked back at the goddess with a smile. "You've got a nice kid, you must be really proud of her."
"I've always been." Belldandy smiled back. "Farewell, Mara."
"Whatever." Mara sighed and got ready to leave.
"Mara." Hope asked.
"Hmm?" Mara looked back at her.
"Thank you, you'll take care of him right?" She asked.
"You bet, I owe you two remember?" She smiled and mussed Hope's hair. "See ya when I see ya kid!" She said and fell back into the portal.
Back on Earth...
Urd clicked through the channels on the television and groaned to herself.
"What's wrong Urd?" Skuld was fiddling around with her mallet in a daze.
"I think this TV needs to be fixed again..." Urd sighed and switched it off, just then she heard Keiichi walk by the room. "Where are you going?"
"Work..." He sighed.
"Today?" Skuld stared at him.
"Yeah..." He slid on his shoes then grabbed his helmet.
"Keiichi...you'll see them again." Urd said. "You shouldn't eat yourself up over this."
Keiichi didn't respond and slid the door open to hear a familiar engine roar.
"What the...." Urd peaked her head out.
"Sounds like Keiichi is finally using that remote starter I made for him." Skuld said then recognized the certain rumble of this motor. She quickly shot to her feet and ran outside next to Keiichi and stared around.
"Poppa!" Hope's voice echoed through the sky.
He quickly shot his gaze up into the sky and saw Hope riding down on her Yamaha with Belldandy alongside her on a broom.
"Hope...Belldandy..."He stared in shock.
"Keiichi!" Belldandy jumped from her broom and flew gracefully into his open arms.
Hope smiled at them as she landed on the ground until she felt two arms fling around her in a headlock hug.
"Hope! You're back!!" Urd hugged her tightly. "It's a miracle!!"
"Aunt Urd!" Hope smiled happily and felt her eyes tearing up.
"Hope!" Skuld cheered with tears streaming down her face.
"Aunt Skuld!" Hope cheered as she hugged her then looked over at Keiichi and Belldandy.
"Hope!" He looked over at her as tears welled up in his eyes.
Urd and Skuld smiled at each other and let Hope go.
"Poppa!" Hope ran over to him and jumped into his and Belldandy's open arms.
"Belldandy! How did you two get back here!?" Urd and Skuld ran over to them and hugged their sister happily.
"It can all be explained later." Belldandy said tearfully. "All that matters right now is that we're together again."
"Hope!" Keiichi cheered and began to spin her around in circles. "You did it! You came back!"
"Poppa! I'm getting dizzy!" Hope laughed and hugged him again.
Belldandy smiled as the whole family gathered together in a tearful and joyful reunion.
A few days later...
Keiichi woke up to the sound of locusts and birds chirping outside. "Hmm." He smiled a little and sat up with a stretch and looked to the side to see Belldandy still sleeping. "Eh?" He sniffed.
"Keiichi? Good Morning." Belldandy woke up with a smile then sniffed. "Is someone making breakfast?" "Here we go again." Keiichi smiled when he heard Urd and Skuld's feet rattle the flooring to the tearoom.
"The TV is MINE!" Skuld shouted.
"NO WAY!" Urd roared.
"You two! Just play rock, paper, scissors!" Keiichi groaned as him and Belldandy came into the tearoom to see the table already set with food.
"Sorry Poppa! Sorry Mother! But I'm going to be late!" Hope said as she ran past them both and slid on her shoes. "I'll see you after school!" She called and ran out the front door.
"Wait!" They both called as Belldandy ran to the front door and Keiichi ran into the kitchen, he snatched up Hope's lunch and tossed it to Belldandy.
"Hope! You forgot your lunch!" Belldandy called.
"Again!?" Hope slammed on her heels.
Keiichi walked to the door way as Hope came back.
"Thank you!" Hope smiled embarrassingly. "I love you all! Bye!" Hope waved and dashed down the temple steps, running at a godly speed.
Belldandy and Keiichi smiled and laughed slightly.
Hello, my name is Hope Morisato, 12 years old, 6th grade. To keep my description short, people say that I'm an almost exact image of my mother, I even have the same strange symbols on my face, well, except on my forehead. These symbols are those of a goddess, and until a few months ago, I thought I was just a normal girl with a loving family and friends. Now I know, that there's more to me than that...because I've finally found that part of me that was missing.
Meanwhile in heaven, a small plant sprouted from the center of the giant tree stump.
The End
Urd and Skuld landed in front of the temple as their gateway from heaven vanished. The gods and demons were all in deep mourning over Hope's sacrifice, and her body had been brought to heaven where it would rest for all eternity.
"What are we going to tell Keiichi?" Skuld asked.
Urd stood there silent for a moment then looked at her sister with tear filled eyes. "I don't think we have to tell him Skuld." Urd bit her lip and tried not to break down.
Skuld stared at her then over at the doorway; there sat a lit candle. "Keiichi..."
He sat in Hope's room with the light of a candle from her desk, and the family photo album in front of him. "Why...why did I loose them both...? How could I just let them go?" Three tears hit the album. "Belldandy...was the only one I ever loved with all my heart...and when Hope was born...I felt as if the whole world had just been opened up to me and I had the greatest gift in the world...but now...." He did his best to hold his emotions in.
Tyr was kneeling before Hope's body that had been properly dressed and laid to rest on a crystal tomb inside of the Almighty's hall. She looked so serene now, but it hurt him so much that this was something that she could only obtain in death. "I can't stand it Hope..." he growled. "Why did you do it!?" He shouted. "For this universe!? This universe has never shown you any mercy!" He stared at her face and slammed his fist down on the ground. "Why...why did I have to be Surt's son?" He demanded. "I'll have to live the rest of eternity knowing that within me...is the same darkness responsible for your death..." Then he felt a hand on his shoulder. He looked back and saw his mother with tears running down her face and burning in her eyes.
"Tyr...I'm..." Peorth looked for the right words to say.
"Why mother? Why Surt!? Why!?"
"Your father..."
"Don't call him that! He was never my father!" Tyr barked.
Peorth kneeled and wrapped her arms around him. "Surt, was once a kind hearted and noble demon...I met him by chance...and fell in love with him...that's why I had you." Peorth held him tighter. "Because we were in love...but...one day, Surt's fate arrived, and drove him insane...that's when I lost him..."
"I still..."
"What was back there was not your father Tyr, your father died a long time ago...." Peorth stared up at Hope's body. "That was a monster...a monster that only true love could destroy."
"It shouldn't have been at her cost though..." Tyr's eyes squinted tightly and tears streamed down his face. Memories of Hope flashed through his mind from the very first time they met, until her death. "She thanked me Mom...for all those things I called her...she thanked me for it!"
Peorth nodded. "I know, you helped her so much Tyr, you really did."
Meanwhile in a sunlit field, with grass that flowed like the sea, and a sky that was clear of clouds...
"Over here!" children were running towards a hill and smiling happily.
"I saw it land over here!" One of them called.
"Was it another?" One of them asked.
"What else could it be?" Another groaned as they arrived to the hilltop.
There was a blue orb that soon took the form of a young girl and slowly drifted to the ground.
"It IS another!" A boy smiled. "Let's go say hi!"
"NO WAIT!" one of the girls caught his shirt neck and pulled him back to a hiding spot behind a large boulder.
"Hey! What are you..."He shouted only to have a hand slapped over his mouth.
"We don't know if she's good or not..." One girl said while hugging onto a teddy bear.
The boy stared at them blankly. "Hello! This is Valhalla! Only good people come here!" He shouted only to have four hands slap over his mouth and they all peered over the boulder they were hiding behind and looked at the new girl.
"Mmph...." she groaned then turned over to look up at the sky. "Where...am I?"
"Who are you?" One of the girls called out.
"Eh?" She sat up and stared around. "Is someone there?"
"Someone? There are some of us!" A boy shouted.
She sat there for a moment and got up. "Um...well, my name is Hope Morisato."
All of their mouths dropped and their eyes widened. "HOPE MORISATO!?" They screamed and shot out from behind the boulder and started running towards her.
"Eh?" Hope stared somewhat confused as they ran around her in circles until one of the girls stood up on her tiptoes and brushed Hope's bangs away from the sides of her face.
"LOOK! She has them!" She pointed to Hope's seals and jumped with excitement. "You're here! You're here!"
"I am...but where is here and who are you?" Hope asked.
They all settled down and the oldest boy stepped forward. "My name is Jason, and this is Ling, Adam, Sarah, and Rodriguez."
"It's nice to meet you." Hope smiled at the group.
"And this is Valhalla." Sarah smiled. "We're in the realm of Gefjun, this is where all the virgins go...but I don't know what virgin means." She said and scratched her head.
"Well...I think you're a little too young to know what that means..." Hope sweat dropped. "They're all so young, did they die at this age?" Hope thought then realized that she was dead too for the first time.
"Hope, you're half goddess right?" Rodriguez asked.
"Well..."
"Your daddy was human right?" Adam smiled.
"Well who else!?" Jason groaned. "You never pay attention during story time do you?"
"I pay attention! I was just confused!" Adam shouted in his face
"Now calm down you two." Hope put her hands on their shoulders and gently moved them away from each other. "It's okay, it's hard to understand things when you're young." She smiled at Adam
Adam smiled happily at her and nodded.
"However, what is story time... are stories of me told here?" Hope asked, somewhat confused.
"Yeah! Our lady tells stories about you all the time! You're our hero Hope!" Ling smiled.
"Your lady?" Hope asked.
"Yeah! Come on Hope!" Jason grabbed her hand. "We'll show you her!"
"That's right!" Ling jumped and grabbed Hope's other hand. "Come on!"
"Oh...Okay, I guess I better meet her since it looks as though I'll be staying here from now on." Hope said and smiled slightly when the children cheered.
"Let's go!" Sarah called and started racing down the hill with the others and Hope.
She ran with them for what seemed like an hour, but finally they arrived at a garden.
"We're here." Sarah panted with a smile.
Hope stared in awe; this garden was full of life. "Is this where she is?"
"Yeah! We come here everyday for story time and singing time." Rodriguez said. "She has such a pretty voice!"
Hope smiled at how the children talked about this lady until she heard a faint sound. "Eh? Someone's crying."
"Oh no!" Sarah and Jason ran into the garden to where the pillars where. "Mi lady! What's wrong?" Sarah asked.
Hope looked down at Ling. "Is she sad?"
Ling nodded. "She's been really sad since yesterday."
"Yesterday?" Hope asked. "Yesterday...I died..." she thought to herself and looked back to the pillars.
"Mi Lady! She's here! She's here!" Jason said a little excitedly in hope to make her feel better.
Rodriguez tugged on Hope's sleeve and smiled up at her. "Maybe if she sees you she'll feel better?"
Hope looked at him for a moment and smiled. "Okay, it's worth a try." She then looked up and walked into the garden but stopped before walking to the pillars.
"She's waiting for you mi Lady!" Sarah said and pointed over to Hope.
Hope still couldn't quite see whom they were talking too. "Um...Hello, My name is Hope Morisato..." she said shyly. "I just passed on yesterday, and well..." She scratched her head.
The lady stopped crying for a moment and slowly rose to her feet. "Hope..."
"Eh?" Hope stared, this voice, it opened up a door to her heart, it brought so many memories to her mind! "Wait..." She took a step forward. "That voice...I know that voice...it's so warm and loving...just like my... my..." Her eyes widened as the women stepped out from behind the pillars. Her hair was long and a shimmering light brown, her eyes like two light sapphires and her face wore the same symbols that were upon Hope's face.
"See Lady Belldandy? She's here now!" Ling called out.
Hope stared at her, shock and love was overwhelming her heart, which left her legs cemented to the ground, and tears streaming down her face.
"You've grown so beautiful Hope...I'm sorry that...I wasn't there to help you grow up..." Belldandy was choking on the words as more tears streamed down her face.
Hope shook her head. "That...that's not true!" She took a step forward. "Everyday, I always felt you watching over me, but I couldn't look up and find you."
"Hope..." Belldandy held her hands together and managed to find the strength to take a step towards her too.
"But...after all this time, here you are, just like Poppa said." Hope smiled. "And now I found you..."
Belldandy smiled happily at her and held her arms out. "Hope!"
"Mother!" Hope quickly dashed to her and wrapped her arms around her. "Mother! I found you Mother!!" She sobbed on her shoulder.
"My precious daughter!" Belldandy wrapped her arms around her as tears of joy fell instead of tears of sorrow.
"I'm so happy..." Ling hugged onto her teddy bear with a smile
"Maybe now she won't be as sad as she used to huh?" Sarah smiled happily at Jason.
"Yeah!"
Later that night...
Belldandy slept with Hope protectively in her arms, as though she didn't want to loose her again but woke up when she sensed someone's aura.
"Belldandy, so I assume you won't be leaving as the almighty said." Gefjun asked as she sat down on a pillar.
"I'm never going to leave her, never again..." Belldandy said.
"But what about Keiichi? And Urd and Skuld?" Gefjun asked. "After all these years..."
"I know, I love them all so much, but I could never leave without my daughter." Belldandy said as tears burned in the corners of her eyes. "Hope has suffered the most out of all of us...to leave her again is unimaginable!"
"Though, that suffering brings much power to her." Gefjun smiled. "It is said that she holds the power to bend the universe to her will...maybe, that is not the only extent of her will...?"
"What do you...eh?" She looked over but Gefjun had vanished. "Gefjun..." Belldandy stared then looked back at Hope. "The full extent of her power?
The next morning...
Tyr slowly rose up in his bed and stared at a wall. He saw Hope's face for a moment and rubbed his eyes. "Get a hold of yourself Tyr..." He sighed and climbed up out of his bed.
"Lord Tyr?" One of the handmaidens peeped her head in the room.
"Yeah?"
"I was just seeing if you were awake." The handmaiden had tears running down her face.
"Aww come on, don't cry on me now..."
"I'm sorry." She sobbed and walked out of the room.
"Oy..." He sighed and stared out his window to see thousands of beings flying towards the Almighty's hall. "Only honor in death..." He clenched his fist and made his garb form on him then walked out into the hall to see Mara leaning next to his door. "You?"
"I owe my respects to her you know that." Mara sighed then stared at him. "And you know what you have to do."
Tyr ran a finger across his demonic seal. "Yeah."
Peorth walked into the hall and looked at the two. "The service will begin in an hour."
"I'm ready." Tyr walked pass Mara and followed Peorth.
Hope sat down on a hill next to Belldandy as she watched the five children play in the garden. "Mother?"
"Yes?" She smiled at her.
"It still feels strange to say that, after all those years." Hope shook her head then smiled. "You told those children stories about me didn't you?"
"All the time, they thought of you as some story book character all this time, so that's why they were so surprised to meet you yesterday." Belldandy said. "Everyday they wanted to know what adventure Hope Morisato was on...but when you were brought into heaven, I couldn't tell them anymore."
Hope hugged her knees and sighed. "I'm sorry, if it wasn't for me than you would still be on Earth with Poppa."
"Don't say that." Belldandy hugged her. "We love you so much that we'd sacrifice anything for you."
Hope leaned her head against her shoulder. "Yeah but...Poppa, Aunt Urd and Aunt Skuld...they're so sad now..."
Belldandy stared out pass the garden with sad eyes. "Hope..."
Hope looked up at her.
"There's...a way..."
"Hmm?"
Belldandy's eyes lit up and she smiled until she heard the children laughing. "Just a moment." She walked down the hill to talk to them.
Thousands of gods and demons alike gathered in the Almighty's hall and seemed to cry in a symphony of tears. Hope's body still lay there on the tomb cold and lifeless with her sword lying on her chest and in her hands as a respected warrior.
Tyr, Peorth and Mara arrived and were slightly awed by how many had gathered.
"I'm going to stay by her side through the service." Tyr said then walked pass the crowd.
"Hey." Mara nudged Peorth.
"What?"
"Did he...have a crush on her?"
"I guess...but I somehow feel that it may be more than that, it's just that he didn't realize how he really felt until she wasn't here anymore." Peorth moved to take her place among the crowd.
Hope sat on the hill and watched Belldandy talk to the children, she couldn't hear what they were saying but she wondered why the children looked so sad. "I wonder what they're talking about...?"
Jason patted all the kids on the back and gave Belldandy a nod then looked over at Hope with a smile then back at Belldandy.
"Eh?"
Belldandy hugged all the children and gave them a kiss on their foreheads before she walked back up the hill.
"Mother?"
"Hope, the night that I was banished from Earth, your grandfather told me that I could not return until the day you died."
Hope stared at her for a moment.
"Hope, you are half goddess and half mortal, your mortal half may be dead, but a goddess can never die."
"So...my body is still half alive?" Hope stared in shock.
"Yes." Belldandy held her hands. "You have the power to bend fate, you can make anything you want to happen...you can make your mortal half live again... as long as you wish for it with all of your heart to see everyone that you love again."
Hope stared at her then nodded. "I want to see them again! I want you to come back home with me so we can be a family again!" She said and started to glow with a pink aura. "I wish for it! I wish to live again with all my heart!"
"Hope Morisato was a gift upon this universe." The almighty sighed. "When her power was unveiled, I thought that she was the end for the universe as we know it...however, she was a savior..."
Sobbing echoed throughout the halls.
"Her life, was cut short...and now she dwells among Valhalla...forever in peace."
Tyr put his hand on hers and looked down.
Freya, Ran, Bil, and Balder stared with tears running down their faces.
"Honor her soul, now and forever..."
"Amen."
"Ame..." Tyr's eyes widened, all of a sudden Hope's hand started to feel warm.
Hope still lay there motionless and lifeless.
"No...It was just..." Her fingers moved from the sword.
A slight shimmer came from her symbols
"H...Hope!" Tyr quickly shot to his feet.
Everyone stared at him in shock as he began to shake her shoulders.
"Hope! Can you hear me!? Hope!"
A brilliant ray of blue light shot into the room and into Hope's body.
"What the hell!?" Mara stared.
"Hope!" Tyr was struck back by the light.
Hope's sword clanged back down onto the crystal tomb and her body drifted up into the light.
"No! NOO!!" Tyr shot into the light after her and vanished.
"Tyr?" Hope's voice echoed in his ears.
"Hope? Is that you?" He stared around frantically only to see brilliant blue light. "Where are you!?"
"Tyr! Go back!" Hope's voice cried out.
"What...AAARGH!" His body began to ache in pain.
"TYR!" An angel shot from the brightest area of light and wrapped her arms around him.
"TYR!!" Peorth cried out and started to run towards the light.
"No!" Mara caught her. "You can't go into that light!"
"Let me go!" Peorth struggled against her until a large cracking sound came from the light. Several discharges of electricity emitted from it then finally three figures shot from the light, one was Tyr, the other a goddess, and a small angel.
Everyone stared in awe as the angel slowly flew down and kneeled Tyr on the ground.
He stared at the angel for a moment and she kneeled down in front of him.
"H...Hope...." His eyes started to quiver.
She smiled happily and gave him a hug. "Tyr."
Everyone started to crowd around them in cheers as well as tears of joy.
Peorth and Mara flew over the crowd and landed in front of the three. "Be...Belldandy?"
Belldandy looked up at them and smiled. "Peorth, Mara, it's nice to see you two again." She said then looked down at Hope and Tyr.
"HOPE!" Mara shot over to her and snatched her up. "I'm so sorry! You saved me twice kid! I don't know how I'll ever repay ya!"
Hope smiled and laughed. "Mara! You're okay!" She laughed and gave her a hug back.
"Move over!" Peorth shot in Mara's place. "My withered rosebud has come back!!" she smiled with tears streaming down her face.
"HEY YOU ROSE FREAK!" Mara roared.
"Oho...this is a whole new side to you Mara." Peorth grinned. "Worried over a goddess?"
"Eh? No I'm not!" Mara growled and folded her arms. "I was...just glad that my future competition for people to make pacts with is back!"
Hope stared blankly for a moment until Tyr jumped up to his feet and snatched Hope from Peorth.
"You died on me!" He said. "Do you know how upset I was?"
Hope stared for a moment and blushed. "I'm sorry..."
"Well... you came back...so I guess that's all that matters now." He smiled and realized that tears were running down his face. "AGH! Um! Well anyway..."
Hope smiled and kept on hugging him. "I came back."
Awhile later, Hope and Tyr walked through the forest, both holding hands and walking closely together.
"Tyr, do you have to go?" She asked.
"My father is dead now, and since I'm the only one who bears his demonic blood, I'm the only one who can take the throne in Muspelhiem, I have to go."
"You'll be able to come and see me won't you?" Hope asked.
"I...I don't know...but I'll try...I swear to you that I'll try." Tyr stopped. "I...you see I...." Hope put a finger on his lips.
"I already know." She smiled. "I'll wait for you Tyr, no matter how many years it takes, I'll wait."
Tyr held her hand tight and smiled.
"Tyr!" Mara's voice echoed throughout the wood.
He slowly backed away from her. "I guess...its time." he sighed.
Hope nodded sadly as they left the forest.
"Hope." A familiar voice echoed in her ears. She stared back and saw the tree stump. "Oh..." She looked around then winked at it before she followed Tyr.
When they came to the opening, Mara had a portal set to Muspelhiem.
"Looks inviting." Tyr stared at the fiery realm with a grimace.
"Tyr, I'm proud of you, demon or god." Peorth hugged him.
"Thanks Mother." He hugged her back then stared back at the portal. "Alright Mara." He started to walk in.
Hope stared at him sadly then felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked up to see her mother smiling.
"Hurry, before he leaves." She whispered
Hope stared back at Tyr. "Wait!"
Tyr stopped and stared around only to be nearly knocked down by her as she shot her arms around him. "Hope?"
She looked up at his face and gave him a small kiss on his cheek. "I love you too."
Peorth raised her eyebrows and smiled. "Oho?"
Tyr blushed and stepped back when Hope stepped away from their hug. "I..." He smiled. "I'll come back to you as soon as I can."
"Come on lover boy." Mara teased and pushed him in. "Belldandy." She looked back at the goddess with a smile. "You've got a nice kid, you must be really proud of her."
"I've always been." Belldandy smiled back. "Farewell, Mara."
"Whatever." Mara sighed and got ready to leave.
"Mara." Hope asked.
"Hmm?" Mara looked back at her.
"Thank you, you'll take care of him right?" She asked.
"You bet, I owe you two remember?" She smiled and mussed Hope's hair. "See ya when I see ya kid!" She said and fell back into the portal.
Back on Earth...
Urd clicked through the channels on the television and groaned to herself.
"What's wrong Urd?" Skuld was fiddling around with her mallet in a daze.
"I think this TV needs to be fixed again..." Urd sighed and switched it off, just then she heard Keiichi walk by the room. "Where are you going?"
"Work..." He sighed.
"Today?" Skuld stared at him.
"Yeah..." He slid on his shoes then grabbed his helmet.
"Keiichi...you'll see them again." Urd said. "You shouldn't eat yourself up over this."
Keiichi didn't respond and slid the door open to hear a familiar engine roar.
"What the...." Urd peaked her head out.
"Sounds like Keiichi is finally using that remote starter I made for him." Skuld said then recognized the certain rumble of this motor. She quickly shot to her feet and ran outside next to Keiichi and stared around.
"Poppa!" Hope's voice echoed through the sky.
He quickly shot his gaze up into the sky and saw Hope riding down on her Yamaha with Belldandy alongside her on a broom.
"Hope...Belldandy..."He stared in shock.
"Keiichi!" Belldandy jumped from her broom and flew gracefully into his open arms.
Hope smiled at them as she landed on the ground until she felt two arms fling around her in a headlock hug.
"Hope! You're back!!" Urd hugged her tightly. "It's a miracle!!"
"Aunt Urd!" Hope smiled happily and felt her eyes tearing up.
"Hope!" Skuld cheered with tears streaming down her face.
"Aunt Skuld!" Hope cheered as she hugged her then looked over at Keiichi and Belldandy.
"Hope!" He looked over at her as tears welled up in his eyes.
Urd and Skuld smiled at each other and let Hope go.
"Poppa!" Hope ran over to him and jumped into his and Belldandy's open arms.
"Belldandy! How did you two get back here!?" Urd and Skuld ran over to them and hugged their sister happily.
"It can all be explained later." Belldandy said tearfully. "All that matters right now is that we're together again."
"Hope!" Keiichi cheered and began to spin her around in circles. "You did it! You came back!"
"Poppa! I'm getting dizzy!" Hope laughed and hugged him again.
Belldandy smiled as the whole family gathered together in a tearful and joyful reunion.
A few days later...
Keiichi woke up to the sound of locusts and birds chirping outside. "Hmm." He smiled a little and sat up with a stretch and looked to the side to see Belldandy still sleeping. "Eh?" He sniffed.
"Keiichi? Good Morning." Belldandy woke up with a smile then sniffed. "Is someone making breakfast?" "Here we go again." Keiichi smiled when he heard Urd and Skuld's feet rattle the flooring to the tearoom.
"The TV is MINE!" Skuld shouted.
"NO WAY!" Urd roared.
"You two! Just play rock, paper, scissors!" Keiichi groaned as him and Belldandy came into the tearoom to see the table already set with food.
"Sorry Poppa! Sorry Mother! But I'm going to be late!" Hope said as she ran past them both and slid on her shoes. "I'll see you after school!" She called and ran out the front door.
"Wait!" They both called as Belldandy ran to the front door and Keiichi ran into the kitchen, he snatched up Hope's lunch and tossed it to Belldandy.
"Hope! You forgot your lunch!" Belldandy called.
"Again!?" Hope slammed on her heels.
Keiichi walked to the door way as Hope came back.
"Thank you!" Hope smiled embarrassingly. "I love you all! Bye!" Hope waved and dashed down the temple steps, running at a godly speed.
Belldandy and Keiichi smiled and laughed slightly.
Hello, my name is Hope Morisato, 12 years old, 6th grade. To keep my description short, people say that I'm an almost exact image of my mother, I even have the same strange symbols on my face, well, except on my forehead. These symbols are those of a goddess, and until a few months ago, I thought I was just a normal girl with a loving family and friends. Now I know, that there's more to me than that...because I've finally found that part of me that was missing.
Meanwhile in heaven, a small plant sprouted from the center of the giant tree stump.
The End