Chapter 40: Ready... Set... Go...
Through the ensuing months, Loki trained Mayura everyday, pushing her harder and faster than he had originally intended. But Mayura didn't complain—or at least not much, since everything she learned was a new 'fushigi mystery'. Besides, Loki's rewards were quite interesting... and she thought he had been creative before they had gotten married. Nevertheless, time passed quickly for Mayura and Loki since neither wanted to think about Odin's quest for Mayura.
"Do you really think I'm ready?" asked Mayura nervously.
"You're ready as possible Mayu-chan. I don't want to scare you, but most warriors and magicians who have trained their whole lives aren't ready. And your test will probably be much more dangerous than a hero's quest, and people on the hero's quest have a tendency to..."
"Die," heckled Heimdall from behind. "They die Mayura-chan, and just remember, you're quest will be harder. Those pathetic men only wanted the fame and the praise of the gods. But you... you dare to aspire to become a god! You should have forfeited to Odin earlier... it's too late now. You'll probably die a most gruesome death. Take care mortal." That said, Heimdall walked through the vale separating Midgard and the rainbow bridge.
"Loki, where did he go?"
"Into the vale between worlds Mayu-chan. Mortals can't pass through the boundary—or even see it. It stops them from accidentally stepping on the rainbow bridge. It's forbidden for mortal feet to touch its stones, unless they have proven themselves worthy in a hero's quest."
"Is it true what Heimdall says about all those heroes dying?" Loki looked away and remained quiet. "Loki! Please, tell me. I need to know. Loki, you're scaring me," pleaded Mayura.
"Yes... almost all the heroes who have tried a quest have died. But there are a few more rules to the game that you don't know about yet. Odin will tell you shortly."
"Why didn't you tell me about them?"
"Because I don't know them for this quest. Each quest is different, with different requirements and provisions," stated Loki calmly as false dawn crested over the mountains. "Now grab onto my hand tightly so we can pass into the vale Mayu-chan. It's time."
Doing as Loki asked, Mayura grasped his hand firmly, and together they walked into the vale. But as she let go of his hand on the other side, bright layers of colors flashed before Mayura's eyes—white, red, green, purple, orange, brown, magenta, yellow, teal, gray, blue, and black—before the space she had stepped into began to meld with all these colors. Mayura turned her head in all directions. Everywhere was just a mass of color, and it seemed to extend for forever.
"Loki?" asked Mayura worriedly. "He told me to not tell go of his hand... I thought we were in the vale so I let go... No! I'm lost forever!"
"We're inside a void. I like to interview candidates for the hero quest here because I can interpret anyone's character by the swirling of the colors."
"I'm not lost then?" she asked the voice.
"No. You shall be returned to Loki's side as soon as our interview is finished." The voice paused and silence filled the void. "Why do you love Loki, the bringer of disaster and trickster god?"
"Because he's kind and thoughtful, Odin-sama. I know he doesn't act like it most of the time, but he really cares for everyone, and that's what I fell in love with," responded Mayura blushing.
Odin took a step back, surprised that the mortal had figured out that it was he. Stepping out into the light since there was no more point in hiding he continued, "And you're willing to embark on a dangerous quest to live with him for all eternity?"
"Yes"
"Very well then," stated Odin before he waved his hand.
Mayura blinked and found herself once again next to Loki in what must have been the vale. The grass was still the same green-yellow as outside and the trees were just beginning to show signs of spring life. But there's where the similarity ended. Everything seemed to sparkle on its own... or perhaps everything was just cleaner. Looking to her right, Mayura saw the rainbow bridge, something that definitely wasn't visible outside of the vale. And as Mayura stared at the bridge, she understood why it was forbidden for mortals to step on it. The bridge was stunning, made from sparkling pearl white marble so smooth and rounded that it seemed to be made of one solid piece. And even though the marble was white, the bridge shimmered multicolored. If she had been closer, Mayura would have noticed that each stone refracted the light shining upon it into a rainbow—thus its name—Bifrost, the rainbow bridge.
All the gods where present for the event, standing in two rows in a large semi-circle so they could all see the rainbow bridge. Meanwhile, Loki and Mayura were standing inside the ring still hand in hand. The only exception to this was Heimdall who was wearing formal military attire—even the helmet—and had a great horn at his side. He was standing alert on the bridge waiting for Odin to make his appearance. Heimdall began a fanfare moments before Odin became visible walking down the bridge. He stopped inches from the edge of the bridge and Heimdall immediately stopped his fanfare.
"Who presents the candidate to the assembly of gods?" asked Odin formally.
"I do Odin," replied Loki just as formally stepping forward in acknowledgement.
"Do you take responsibility for this candidate?"
"Yes I do."
"And what does this candidate wish to prove?"
"Worthiness to become a goddess."
"Do you feel the candidate to be worthy of our consideration?"
"Yes I do."
"Your opinion has been noted. Candidate, step forward." Mayura looked at Loki questionably before stepping forward to face Odin. "What is your name candidate?"
"Farbautisen Mayura"
"What was the name you were born with?"
"Daidouji Mayura..."
"Which do you associate most strongly with?"
Mayura was taken aback, not sure what Odin meant. However, she knew that her answer was important and was in fact the first challenge in her quest. She wasn't sure how she knew this, but she wasn't about to waste time thinking about that. "Mayura... I'm Mayura." Somehow that answer felt right. She bowed her head before she continued, "I can't compare or rank my family names. Both are very important to me. One is the name of my birth, and no matter what they would never have left me save death. We share an unconditional love. But the other is a family I've made a conscious decision to become a part of. One that even though we don't share common blood I wouldn't take a second to think about risking my life to save one of theirs." Mayura lifted up her head and looked straight at Odin. "I am both Farbautisen and Daidouji Mayura, daughter of Daidouji Misao and Michiko, wife of the god Loki, and I am who I am," finished Mayura with a determination and passion that shocked, and impressed Odin.
"Very well. What is the reason for your quest?"
"To prove worthiness of becoming a goddess so that I might remain with my husband, Loki."
"Your sponsor has spoken on your behalf and your conduct has proven his words to be true. Come before me Farbautisen Daidouji Mayura." Mayura followed Odin's order, stopping only when she was standing a few feet away from him. "The rules for this journey are very simple. There will be no interference by god for good or ill," declared Odin looking back and forth between Loki and Heimdall. "Any companions you gain throughout your quest may help or hinder freely. You have from the sunrise of the spring equinox to sunset of the fall equinox to retrieve the item of your quest. Should you still be alive at the end of the time, you shall be teleported back with this magic pendant," stated Odin as he fastened it around her neck. We will meet here once again at dawn of your intended date of hand-fasting with Loki... six days after the fall equinox. Then you shall present the achievement or failure of your quest to all the gathered gods."
"Why should we wait that long?!" interrupted Heimdall. "Either she finds the artifact and returns alive or she does not!"
Odin ignored Heimdall. "Should you succeed and meet our standards, you will be permitted to step foot in Asgard and once again hand-fast with Loki. However, should you fail, I will forbid any future hand-fastings between you and Loki—for you will have proven yourself unworthy of such an honor. Nevertheless, you may live with him as husband and wife on Midgard till the end of your normal mortal life span. Should you exceed that time frame of life, I will order Loki to kill you. Do you accept the terms of your quest?" The gods stared at Odin in shock... his offer was magnanimous and vindictive within the same breath.
"I... I agree Odin-sama."
"Then prick your finger upon Gungnir to make this a sacred pact." As Mayura brought her finger down upon Gungnir she hadn't expected it to be so sharp, causing her to cut her finger instead of pricking it. "Loki... do you accept the terms of your wife's quest?"
"I do," replied Loki as he walked up towards Odin visibly crying before pricking his finger, admittedly much more carefully than Mayura.
"Do all others present swear solemn oaths to the validity and enforcement of these terms?"
"We do," chorused the gods as they formed a line to prick their fingers upon Odin's spear as well.
Once everyone had returned to their original places, Odin began to speak again. "Your quest candidate, is to find and retrieve Bragi's quill Althasil which was lost five thousand years ago. For your journey, you shall be provided with the steed Jymir to enable you to travel the seven worlds that mortal feet may touch. Are there any other boons to be given to this candidate before sunrise?"
The Norns stepped forward. "We wish the candidate luck and speed upon her journey and therefore grant her information."
Urd was the first to speak. "The quill Althasil was lost in the land of the fire giants, Muspelheim, during the signing of the most current peace treaty with them."
"However Althasil is no longer within Muspelheim. It is forgotten in the dark," continued Verdandi.
"Stealth is not the answer to learning the answers you seek from the giants of fire nor shall stealth help you within the land of frost, avoid it at all costs. This is all the information we have to give you, we hope it to be enough," finished Skuld. Together the Norns stepped back to their original places.
"I will grant Mayura-san a favor as well," announced Thor. He pulled out a rock from his pants pocket and held it in front of Mayura. "This is a lightening stone. Throw it against the ground to release the power within. It will destroy any enemies within its range." Placing the stone in her hand Thor leaned forward to whisper in her ear, "I'll be cheering for you... Mayura-chan."
"Oh, I know what to give Yamato Nadeshiko!" yelled Freyr joyfully. "Freyr will give her a horn of plenty!"
Mayura sweat-dropped. "Freyr-sama..."
"What about your new Yamato Nadeshiko? I don't think she would like you to be two timing her," added Loki trying to keep calm. Freyr wouldn't understand his anger anyway.
"That's true..." commented Freyr sadly.
"What does it do Freyr-sama?" asked Mayura not wanting Freyr to be sad—even if he was annoying even by her standards.
"Mayura-san will never have to worry about being hungry. Right Gillinbrusti?"
"Beeh... beeh"
"Really?! Fushigi mystery! Thank you Freyr-sama." Unexpectedly, Mayura gave Freyr a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Hey, if Freyr got a kiss on the cheek I should too. My present was just as good!" whined Thor.
Giggling, Mayura went over to Thor and kissed him on the cheek too. "There, now you're even."
"No they're not," stated Skuld slightly waggling her finger. "You kissed Freyr on the lips that one time when you were trying to not think about Loki's two kisses."
Loki turned to Thor. "If you dare to even the score between you and Freyr I'll make it so that you'll wish you were wearing one of Freya's dresses again. Got it?" threatened Loki, his eyes flashing red in warning.
"Crystal clear," Thor gulped.
"Jealous are we Loki? Too bad I got her first kiss," goaded Heimdall. "She wasn't very good Thor. You're not missing anything."
"You didn't get her first kiss, you stole it! In the shape of a nine year old no less! So of course it was bad, why would she kiss a nine year old? Besides it was your dirty kiss. Mayu-chan probably wanted to wash her mouth out with soap!" retorted Loki.
"You had to court her! A god, reduced to courting a mortal!" scoffed Heimdall.
"Well at least I could win the love of a mortal through my own merits. I didn't sleep in the beds of married couples and do it with the wife while the husband was sleeping in the same bed unlike a certain perverted god I know of." Heimdall didn't know what to say in response to that and quickly shut his mouth.
"Is there anyone else who wishes to bestow a gift to the candidate?" asked Odin, annoyed at Heimdall's behavior—past and present.
"Yes," announced Freya, "we would like to confer a gift to the candidate." Behind Freya were four other goddesses: Sjofn—the goddess who inspired passion and thoughts of love, Var—the goddess of contracts and marriage agreements, Vor—the goddess of marriage and faithfulness between man and woman, and Lofn—the goddess of forbidden love and illicit unions. The five stopped in front of Loki and Mayura before procuring a ribbon of dark blue and a ribbon of light blue.
Sjofn handed Loki the dark blue ribbon solemnly. "Farbautisen Mayura, please extend your right hand towards your husband," commanded Var. Unsure of what was going on, Mayura followed the unknown goddess's order.
"The dark blue color of this ribbon represents wishes for a safe journey and longevity," informed Vor. "Loki, you may tie the ribbon around your wife's wrist should you wish to." Loki smiled and reverently tied the ribbon around Mayura's wrist before kissing the final knot.
"This ribbon and knot is an outward symbol of your husband's..." Lofn frowned at that word, "devotion and wishes. As long as you wear that ribbon, you shall never need to doubt his intentions."
Sjofn then handed the light blue ribbon to Mayura. "Laufeyarison Farbautisen Loki, please extend your right hand towards your wife," instructed Vor.
"The light blue color of this ribbon represents wishes for understanding and patience," informed Var. "Mayura, you may tie the ribbon around your husband's wrist should you wish to." Clumsily, Mayura tied the light blue ribbon around Loki's wrist the same way he had tied hers. She finished the final knot with a kiss since she was unsure if the kiss was part of the ritual she was performing or not. The sly grin she received from Loki as well as the soft giggles from the love goddesses behind her supported the later.
"This ribbon and knot is an outward symbol of your wife's devotion and wishes. As long as you wear that ribbon, you shall never need to doubt her safety."
At this point Freya stepped forward. "Loki-kun, Mayura-chan, please grasp each other's right wrist."
"Huh?" asked Mayura confused, but Loki knew what Freya wanted and took Mayura's wrist in his right hand and motioned for her to do the same.
"This final ribbon is red, symbolizing hope for courage, strength, and passion the two of you will need in order to complete the tests before you," stated Freya stiffly as she draped the ribbon over Loki's and Mayura's conjoined wrists. Backing up, Freya turned on her heels and dashed away crying.
"Freya-chan!" screamed Freyr, following Freya out of the vale seconds after.
"Freya-sama..." Mayura whispered.
"Are there any others who wish to present blessing to the candidate?" Odin was answered with silence. "Very well... Sponsor, after seeing the boons presented to your candidate, is there anything you wish to offer?"
"Yes. I present my sponsored candidate and wife, Farbautisen Daidouji Mayura with a weapon." Stretching out his arms, Loki called upon his summoning magic. Sparks of green shimmered around him for a second before he was holding his weapon in his right hand. Lifting it up to chest height, Loki turned the weapon horizontal. "This is my weapon, Laevatein, may it protect you well during your quest."
"Loki, I can't..."
Loki placed his finger over Mayura's mouth. "It is mine to give in whatever manner I feel fit." Removing his finger Loki continued, "Striking it on the ground will activate the imprisoning prism magic Veeru Ugokurox. Touching the prism with Laevatein will break it, while touching it with your hands will release those within the prism unharmed. But be careful, you only have three uses of the Veeru Ugokurox magic."
"Thank you Loki."
"You better pack everything on the horse Odin gave you before the sun rises Mayu-chan."
"No worry Loki-sama... it's already been done," replied Yamino.
"How do you get here Yamino-kun?" asked Loki, startled to hear Yamino's voice. I thought only Mayura and the other gods were able to attend."
"I asked Odin if I could pack Mayura-san's provisions for the journey, for although I am not a god, she is my step-mother, and I too wished to help her on her quest Loki-sama."
"Thank you Yamino-kun!" replied Mayura happily hugging him.
"Loki-sama, what do you wish to do with the red ribbon Freya gave?"
"I know," answered Mayura. Taking the ribbon from Yamino's grasp, Mayura tore the ribbon in half.
"Eh.................." Loki was speechless at what Mayura was doing.
She unfastened the red bow attached to the blouse she was wearing and tied the torn red ribbon on. Taking the other half, Mayura tucked it into the inside pocket of Loki's overcoat. "Now each of us will have a piece no matter how far away this quest may take me."
"Silly goose," chided Loki. "I'm sure that was the first time one of Freya's ribbons or cords was torn while the two still loved each other."
"Huh?"
"Tearing the ribbon usually signifies a divorce Mayu-chan. But I know you didn't mean anything by it. Just next time... don't tear it, okay?"
"I promise."
"Candidate, the sun is about to rise," informed Odin.
Loki helped Mayura up into Jymir's saddle and stroked Mayura's hand as they watched the first rays of dawn come over the mountains. "I love you Mayura."
"I promise to return Loki," replied she determinedly. Bending down Mayura kissed Loki a final farewell.
"Your quest has begun candidate. May this trial prove the strength of your heart, mind, body, and soul."
Straightening back up, Mayura took a quick glance at the gathered gods around her before staring at Loki once again. "I'll miss you."
"And I you."
"Let's go Jymir, to the land of the fire giants... Muspelheim!" Jymir neighed in response and gracefully trotted past the gods before beginning into a gallop.
Author's Notes: Hey everybody! I finally updated! Yeah! And now here's the excuse. I first had an 18 hour homework assignment (in three days for Chemical Analysis) and then I got sick. But college doesn't care about things like a fever, so I still went to class. Of course I was given another 12 hour homework assignment (this time for Fluid Dynamics) and I also had a quiz that day. Plus today in the morning I had a kanji quiz, which I had completely forgot about. So last night I learned how write and read fifteen kanji and the words made in combination. Getting sick and falling behind in your work really sucks.
But now I'm all better and caught up with my work so I actually had the time to have fun and update my story.
To LittleGreenWolf: Yup, the classic quest for the gods. I hope I can write an interesting mini adventure.
To Ytak: Sorry, no more Kou-chan. I just can't seem to write him in. And yeah, they are like the pot calling the kettle black. Plus Loki (in the mythology even) had done a lot of good things for the gods, they just never thanked him.
As for the Norns bit, it was fun but definitely a challenge. Did you notice the ABAB rhyming pattern?
Sorry about the typos, I guess my beta reader is getting too involved in my story to actually proof-read it. That and ffnet isn't allowing some characters that they were before so my "thinking" sentences were probably missing quotations. And no, I use writing as a reward.
To ruby-dream: Nope, Heimdall doesn't change. I think it would hurt him too much to be nice to Loki. Sorry, she's not going to have lots of companions. It's so hard writing non-one-dimensional original characters.
To Bibliomaniac: Sorry if I made you die. Gomen
To Neru: Yeah, Odin's being Odin, Allfather and royal pain in the butt as always. And thanks for the compliment about Stevrion. He's based off my beta reader. Him and his "shiny shirt."
To Serpent King: Hel will hopefully be making a brief cameo. I'll explain why she's not able to be in most of the story when you met her okay?
To Earth Star: Thanks for the compliments!
To No 1 You Know: The adventure will have some interesting stuff in it too.