Neon Genesis: Angel Chapter 2, an oh my goddess! fanfic

Chapter 2

Before recorded time.

Arael floated in space high above the Earth. Far below, she could see the flashes of battle between the Gods and her Brothers. She knew not why she had been sent here by her Father, she only knew she had to obey.

Suddenly, the flashes began to fade, and soon the Earth shrouded in darkness. Arael looked curiously at the planet, waiting for some sign of activity.

She saw none.

Brothers? she sent telepathically.

She received no reply.

Father! Arael sent, Something has happened to my Brothers.

Again, she received no reply. Now Arael was getting worried. All orders came from Father. Without him, what would she and her brothers do?

FATHER!

He cannot hear you.

Arael turned around. Floating behind her was Lilith, her Mother. Just behind her was Verdandi and several Gods.

Mother? Arael sent questioningly.

Lilith closed her eyes.

I'm sorry Arael. Lilith said, But your Father was wrong.

What? Arael replied, But he is Father. He must be obeyed.

I know. Lilith replied, That is why I must do this.

Lilith raised her hand. It glowed brightly. Arael felt energy draining from her.

Mother! Arael called out, Why?

It must be done. was Lilith's reply.

Arael's last vision before the darkness took her was of Verdandi's face, looking at her with pity.

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Verdandi looked at the now still body of the female messenger.

"Take her." She said.

Two of the gods behind her moved in and carried the sleeping messenger towards the moon.

"What will you do with her? With them?"

Verdandi turned and looked at Lilith.

"We won't destroy them." Verdandi replied, "You have our word on that. Like her brothers, Arael will be hidden away, in case we need them again."

"Adam?"

"He is to be placed in the southern most landmass of the surface world." Verdandi replied, "There he will remain. Eventually, that landmass will be covered with ice and snow, hiding him from view."

"So will the others." Lilith said softly.

"No." Verdandi said, "because of their actions, they will not be. You must now fulfill your duty." Verdandi then turned to the remaining gods. "Make sure she completes her task, then take her to the appointed spot."

"Yes Milady."

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Hours later.

Verdandi stood on the surface of the moon. Behind her was the carefully hidden entrance to the Lunar Prison of the Gods. But that was not where her attention was directed. She was looking to where a party of gods and goddesses were gathered.

"Has it been done?"

Even without turning, Verdandi knew who it was.

"Yes Kami-sama." She replied, "In fact, they are finishing it right now."

Kami-sama walked towards the assembled gods and goddesses. They were gathered around a large pit. Within it lay the still form of Arael.

"She's the last?" he asked.

"Lilith has already been placed at the appointed site." Verdandi said as she walked up, "Already the Lilim are exploring their new world."

"Mortals." Kami-sama said, "They shall be known as mortals."

"Yes sir."

Kami-sama looked down at Arael's form.

"I created Adam and Lilith," he whispered, "to create and help the life I planned for this world to flourish. Adam in turn created these Messengers to serve him, to create my dream. But then he turned his back on me, on all of us." He glanced at Verdandi. She nodded and raised her hand.

The ground shimmered and moved over the sleeping Messenger. When it was done, no sign of the pit, nor of what lay inside could be seen.

"It is done." Kami-sama said, "Let us speak of them no more." He gave one final look at the spot the Messenger had been, then walked away.

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2015

"This is so boring."

The Valkyrie looked up and stared at her companion.

"What?"

"It's boring." The first replied, "Why do we have to sit here and guard the Lunar Prison? Everyone in there is an inanimate form."

"So was Celestine." The second replied, "and look what havoc he caused. All because a Fairy Princess broke the seals. Besides," she looked off towards the Earth. "the mortals don't need anymore problems."

The first nodded. "The Messengers."

"Yeah." The second sighed, "Stupid mortals. Why did they have to go and wake them up?"

"Who knows. Who cares." The first said, "Maybe they'll wipe themselves out and Kami-sama will start over."

"I don't think that's possible."

"I did hear a rumor though."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, someone was telling me about it when I was in training. Apparently Verdandi, the original Norn of the Present herself, buried a Messenger here on the moon."

The second Valkyrie just chuckled.

"All the Messengers are on Earth. Even Adam and Lilith are there."

"What about that one that attacked the mortals from space?"

"Flew up from the surface." The second said, "I was in Yggdrasil control when it did. Freaked everyone there out."

"Oh."

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Not far from where the Valkyrie stood, under several feet of rock lay the silent form of the fifteenth messenger, Arael. She still looked exactly as she had when she had been placed there so long ago.

Arael……..

The Messenger stirred slightly.

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The Valkyries both turned.

"You feel that?"

"Yeah. What was it?"

"You sure all the Messengers are on the surface?"

"Positive."

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Arael, your Father calls you. Awake and rise.

For the first time in several millennia, the Fifteenth Messenger's eyes opened.

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The Valkyries were knocked off their feet as the ground shifted.

"What's going on?"

They're answer was given in the form of a massive cross explosion. As the cross faded, it left behind the floating form of Arael.

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Joy filled Arael. Her Father was with her once more.

Ignore the foolish goddesses. Come to me my child. Free me from the Lilim. PUNSIH THE LILIM!

Arael's eyes narrowed. She then turned and headed towards Earth. As she flew, her body shifted into her massive snowflake form.

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"NOOO! GET OUT OF MY MIND!"

"Momma Momma! They made me a pilot! I'm going to be a pilot!"

"WHAT! NO! Not again, DON'T MAKE ME SEE THIS AGAIN!"

"Auntie Megumi? When will Poppa and Momma come home?"

"I don't know Yoko. Your Auntie Skuld and Urd went to heaven to find out."

"NO! Not this again! NOT AGAIN!"

"Momma! Momma!"

A creak of a door opening is heard.

"Auntie Skuld? Auntie Urd? Where's Poppa and Momma?"

"Yoko…..they're……….they're gone Yoko."

"NOOOOOOOOO!"

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

Arael felt her Father's satisfaction as she punished the two Lilim that dwelled within the false forms of Father. He was even more impressed by the fact Arael was punishing one of the Goddesses herself.

Another false form of Father had shot a beam of energy at her, but the light of her soul kept the beam from touching her.

Soon….. Father's voice came, Soon we will be reuni……

Arael let out a scream of shock and pain as a red blur ripped through the light of her soul and proceed to shatter her heart.

NOOOOOOOoooooooooo……… she heard her father's voice fade as the world around her shattered.

But she wasn't alone, nor was it quiet. The Lilim's memories she had been pulling from their minds and sending back to them repeated over and over.

"Momma Momma! They made me a pilot! I'm going to be a pilot!" "WHAT! NO! Not again, DON'T MAKE ME SEE THIS AGAIN!" "Auntie Megumi? When will Poppa and Momma come home?" "I don't know Yoko. Your Auntie Skuld and Urd went to heaven to find out." "NO! Not this again! NOT AGAIN!" "Momma! Momma!" A creak of a door opening is heard. "Auntie Skuld? Auntie Urd? Where's Poppa and Momma?" "Yoko…..they're……….they're gone Yoko." "Momma Momma! They made me a pilot! I'm going to be a pilot!" "WHAT! NO! Not again, DON'T MAKE ME SEE THIS AGAIN!" "Auntie Megumi? When will Poppa and Momma come home?" "I don't know Yoko. Your Auntie Skuld and Urd went to heaven to find out." "NO! Not this again! NOT AGAIN!" "Momma! Momma!" A creak of a door opening is heard. "Auntie Skuld? Auntie Urd? Where's Poppa and Momma?" "Yoko…..they're……….they're gone Yoko." "Momma Momma! They made me a pilot! I'm going to be a pilot!" "WHAT! NO! Not again, DON'T MAKE ME SEE THIS AGAIN!" "Auntie Megumi? When will Poppa and Momma come home?" "I don't know Yoko. Your Auntie Skuld and Urd went to heaven to find out." "NO! Not this again! NOT AGAIN!" "Momma! Momma!" A creak of a door opening is heard. "Auntie Skuld? Auntie Urd? Where's Poppa and Momma?" "Yoko…..they're……….they're gone Yoko."

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Swallowed up in the sound of my screaming

Cannot cease for the fear of silent nights

Oh how long for the deep sleep dreaming

The Goddess of Imaginary light

In my field of paper flowers

And candy clouds of lullaby

I lie inside myself for hours

And watch my purple sky fly over me

I linger in the doorway

Of alarm clock screaming

Monsters calling my name

Let me stay

Where the wind will whisper to me

Where the raindrops

As they're falling tell a story

If you need to leave the world you live in
Lay your head down and stay awhile

Though you may not remember dreaming

Something waits for you to dream again

In my field of paper flowers

And candy clouds of lullaby

I lie inside myself for hours

And watch my purple sky fly over me

Evanescence – Imaginary (Origin CD)

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2524

Arael?

Arael jerked suddenly, her eyes wide open. The memories were still there, but they were no longer assaulting her constantly.

Arael?

Arael looked around. She was floating within a glass cylinder. The liquid surrounding her, she did not know what it was, but she definitely knew she hated it.

Arael!

Arael could just barely see the shape standing outside of the cylinder.

Father? she sent weakly.

No, it's Tabris.

Arael's eyes widened.

WHERE IS FATHER? she sent out in a sudden panic. She reached out, desperately trying to reach her father with her mind.

Gone. Tabris's shape seemed to slump slightly. Rest. I'll explain everything once you have rested.

But….. Arael began, but the shape outside the cylinder was gone.

With nothing else to do, and feeling no connection with her Father, Arael obeyed the only orders she had. Then the memories returned in force.

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2529

Peorth sat quietly in her office. A file was on her screen, but she wasn't looking at it. She'd already read it multiple times and pretty much had it memorized. Now she was waiting for five people to arrive and pass on what she had learned.

A knock on her door signaled their arrival.

"Enter." Peorth called out.

The door opened, admitting Belldandy, Asuka, Shinji, Rei, and Mist. Belldandy, Asuka, and Rei took seats in front of Peorth. Shinji stood behind Asuka's chair, while Mist leaned against the wall. Once they were no longer moving, Peorth began.

"I called you all in here because a project begun almost six years has for the most part, been completed. Each of you has a stake in this project. Belldandy, you are on the Council. Mist, you command the forces of Heaven. Shinji, Asuka, and Rei have a unique stake in this, one that will become apparent." Peorth hit a button and the wall behind her lit up with an image. An image of a person everyone present had come to know.

"Arael." Asuka said.

Peorth nodded. "After the Angels were revived, Kami-sama pulled me aside and had me form a small group. Our purpose was to fully research everything we had on the Messengers."

"But we already know about them." Shinji said, "Don't we?"

"No." Peorth said, "Everything about them was sealed away long ago, when they first turned against Heaven. As time went on, they became a kind of boogieman to scare young Gods and Demons. And then they were awakened." Peorth indicated the screen. "The Demons have never forgotten them, and they seemed to have been the ones that leaked information about the Messengers existence to the Mortals."

"What for?" Mist asked, "The Messengers were to defeat the Demons."

Peorth nodded, "I'm not entirely sure. It's possible that it was not sanctioned by Hell. Either way, the info seems to have been from there."

"Who cares?" Asuka said, "All the Messengers are dead, except Arael and she's still mostly scared of the Heavens except for a few people."

"Fear can bring out the worst in people." Peorth replied, she then looked back at the screen. " As you know, the Messengers were created to drive the Demons from the surface world. Adam and Lilith were created by Kami-sama, then the other Messengers were created by Adam." Peorth looked at those present. "This is where we might have a problem. Adam created the Messengers so that he alone could command them from anywhere. The Messengers could hear his voice across great distances, and he would know and see what they knew and saw. He was able to force his will on them, with or without their consent."

"Kind of a remote control?" Shinji asked.

Peorth nodded, "After Adams' defeat, Lilith was able to use this link to put the Messengers to sleep. And it worked. Then Adam was awakened. When he was powerful enough, he was able to contact the Messengers. One by one, he sent them against Trokyo-3 to rescue him."

"Why not all at once?" Belldandy asked, "It would seem to be the easiest route."

"It comes to that Link again." Peorth said, "Though he could make contact with all the Messengers, he could apparently only had enough power to enforce his will on them one at a time. Trying to control them all would be virtually impossible. He felt each of his 'children' dying, which is probably why each succeeding attack was worse then the first. They tried harder."

"Why are we discussing this?" Asuka asked.

"Because," Peorth said, "Though Adam is dead, the link remains active."

"WHAT!"

"Arael is a receiver with nothing transmitting to her."

"What about Rei?" Asuka asked. "She is technically Lilith."

"I barely remember my time as Lilith." Rei said.

"Rei is too different from what Lilith was." Peorth said, "Anyway, the point is moot. Arael probably doesn't even know that the link was there. She might have felt Adam's presence, but it'd be like us sensing another God or Goddess."

"So if something was able to access that link……." Shinji said.

Peorth nodded, "…….They'd be able to force their will on Arael."

"Can we turn off her receiver, as it were." Belldandy asked.

"We're checking into it." Peorth said, "But, really, it might come down to Arael herself. Which is where another problem lies."

"There seem to be a lot of problems with her." Mist said.

"More then you can ever imagine." Peorth replied, She brought up another file. "This is a journal assembled by Belldandy's predecessor, Verdandi. Verdandi was present when Adam was created, as well as the other Messengers. She was also present for most of their deactivations, including Arael's." Peorth brought up a page on the screen. "The Arael we all have come to know is nothing like the one Verdandi writes about."

Mist's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"

"Simply, our Arael does not act or respond the way Verdandi's did." Peorth said, "The Arael Verdandi speaks of was feared by Demons. She struck terror deep in their hearts and minds."

"Definitely did that to Sayoko and me." Asuka said softly.

"Could this change be the result of being free of Adam's control?" Belldandy asked.

"Possible." Peorth replied, "Our Arael is guilt ridden. Adam had no guilt in the actions he took. He could have suppressed Arael's as well as the other Messenger's."

"There is something else." Asuka said, quietly. "Sayoko, Yui and I have talked about it."

"What is it?" Belldandy asked.

Asuka took a deep breath, then exhaled. "Arael was the Angel that attacked Sayoko and I. She pulled out our worst memories and made us relive them."

Peorth nodded, "Arael was created by Adam to attack the mind."

"When Rei threw the Lance at Arael, it disrupted her attack and caused a kind of feedback." Asuka looked around at each person. "Where ever she was, Arael relived Sayoko's and my memories over and over again."

Mist let out a low whistle.

"Reliving bad memories twenty four hours a day for five hundred years," she said, "It's enough to drive someone insane."

"It does explain why she kept to herself when she first arrived." Belldandy said.

"If Arael is going to be able to fight off someone attempting to control her through Adam's Link," Peorth said, "she's going to have to become mental and emotionally stronger."

"She has opened up more." Asuka said, "She's always around Yui."

"Yui was the first one to accept her, after Sayoko." Belldandy said, "If memory serves, Yui met her after a second run in with Misato."

Shinji winced. "Ouch. Misato hates the Angels."

"And she's avoided Arael like the plague." Asuka said, "anytime we invite her over, the first thing she asks is if 'it' is there."

"Misato isn't the only one who holds a grudge against the Messengers." Peorth said, "There are hundreds of deities all over Heaven that think we should get rid of Arael."

"Saturn voices those opinions everyday." Belldandy said softly, "Kami-sama is the only reason she's still here."

"Verdandi's journal hints that Kami-sama may have felt guilty about putting the Messengers to sleep." Peorth said, "He may have known about the link, and knew it was only Adam. But he couldn't take the chance."

"In hind sight," Asuka remarked, "He was right. Few Angels returned to Heaven, the rest attacked Terra 2."

"So what do we do?" Rei asked. Peorth had almost forgot she was there because she had said almost nothing in the meeting.

"We watch her." Peorth replied, "We are dealing with a very dangerous war machine here."

"Arael is a person." Belldandy said, her eyes narrowing. "Not a machine."

"She was created for the express purpose of eliminating Demons from the mortal world." Peorth said, "In the eyes of people like Saturn, she is a war machine that is no longer needed."

Asuka glared at Peorth. "Arael has grown to be much more then that."

"She's like me." Rei said, "I was a tool to be used for Third Impact, then discarded. Arael is the same. If I learned to become more, so can Arael."

"That's what I was hoping to hear." Peorth said, "I'm locking down all access to these files. The only ones able to access this are Belldandy and her sisters, Sayoko, myself, and Kami-sama." Peorth closed down the files.

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2574

"What are you doing?"

Loki looked up as Draco entered the room.

"I am looking up information." He replied.

"What for?"

Loki smiled, "Remember that I brought about Heavens downfall before."

"Yeah, I know that. I was there."

"The chaos I created was the result of a divided council." Loki said, "I look to do the same thing again."

"How?" Draco asked.

"By digging in Yggdrasil's secure files." The terminal Loki sat in front of gave off a chime. "And I think I've found it."