Chapter 12

"They've broken through the lines!"

"Demons now in the Egyptian Quarter!"

"Guardians have deployed!"

"What! Call them back!"

"Sir? They replied with 'Go fuck yourself.'"

"WHAT!"

Mist smirked as Saturn's forces crumpled under their first major threat. The fact the Guardian's had just told him off was frosting on the cake, though it would have been far sweeter if Asuka herself had said it.

That girl had such a wonderful way with words.

Mist glanced over to where Belldandy and her daughter were. The elder goddess was kneeling before a seated Sayoko, quietly talking to her. Sayoko herself seemed lost. She hadn't spoken a word since she was told Sentaro had vanished in an inverted AT-Field, just like her husband had so long ago. It was five hundred years before Kensuke returned, would Sentaro be the same?

"Ma'am?"

Mist glanced over to see Dawn standing behind her. Mist had been worried about Dawn, due to the fact her adoptive mother was missing. Thus, she had decided to keep Dawn near her, least the young Valkyrie break down at in inopportune time. So far her fears had been unrealized.

"What is it?" Mist asked.

"The MDF has mobilized."

Mist rubbed her forehead. Since the attack on Heaven which caused all the gods and goddesses to go crazy, it had been known that the mortals had created a network of bunkers and tunnels under their homes. Apparently they had begun work after the Demons had invaded Heaven. Mist was still in shock how they had missed what the mortals were doing. The MDF, the Mortal Defense Force, was just the latest mortal creation. Several mortals who had once been apart of the UN got together and began it. Now it's ranks had swelled.

"Do me a favor." Mist began, "Go contact Misato Ryoji or Kensuke Aida and find out what they intend to do." Mist frowned a moment. "Does Kensuke know about his son?"

Dawn nodded, "I believe Lady Skuld informed him. Lady Sayoko is too distraught."

"I know." Mist replied, "Now go."

"Yes Ma'am."

Mist turned back towards Saturn and his Centurions, watching them squirm.

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Draco watched as the cloned demons swarmed into Heaven. Resistance, while heavy, was quickly overpowered by the more numerous clones. The Legions of Saturn were just no match for the Demonic Forces.

Loki then moved up beside him.

"Adam has fallen." The god said.

"It was bound to happen." Draco replied.

"He did take the other Angel with him."

"Then he did his job." Draco pointed to the battle. "Your old friend Saturn can't order troops worth a damn. We had much more of a challenge five hundred years ago."

Loki smirked, "Saturn is very full of himself. It is and always has been his downfall."

"How goes the attack on Terra 2?"

"They've deployed more Sabers." Loki replied, "No new Gods or Goddesses have shown up."

Draco nodded, "Continue there. Remind them what a Class 0 God is capable of."

Loki smiled. "I like the sound of that."

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"Come on Sayoko," Skuld said, "Snap out of it."

Sayoko continued to stare off into space.

"Let me." Kristine said. She knelt before her mother and looked up into her face. "Mom, listen to me. He's not dead. You and I both know we would have felt something if he died."

"I already tried telling her that." Belldandy said softly.

Kristine glanced at her grandmother, then looked back at her mom.

"If he vanished into an Inverse AT-Field, Auntie Skuld might be able to bring him back. After all, we still have Unit-4."

Sayoko finally blinked and looked down at her daughter.

"Unit-4." Sayoko repeated.

"Yes." Kristine replied, "We still have it. We could use it to get Sentaro back."

"First we need to stop the demons." Skuld muttered.

Sayoko rose to her feet and started walking.

"Kris," she said, "Come give me a hand."

"Where are we going?" Kristine asked.

"Yoko?" Belldandy and Skuld looked at Sayoko curiously.

Sayoko paused and looked back at her family members.

"I'm going to go kick some Demon ass."

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Saturn stared at the main screen. Everything he did seemed to backfire. Instead of pushing the demons out of Heaven, his Legion's had fallen back further and further towards the center. Meanwhile reports were reaching him that the Norse area remained secure and Demon free. Even more bizarre were the reports that the mortals who lived in Heaven were driving off the demon attacks.

"Report."

Saturn sagged in the SysOp chair. Then with a deep breath, he turned and looked at Kami-sama.

"I regret to inform you my forces have been unable to hold back the Demon hordes."

"I see." Kami-sama looked up at the screen. He then glanced off to the side. "Mist."

Saturn frowned as Mist approached.

"Milord." Mist said with a bow.

"You are reinstated as Commander of the forces of Heaven." Kami-sama said.

"Yes Milord." Mist glanced at Saturn before looking at Chrono. Chrono nodded and spoke into a microphone.

"Attention, Commander Mist has taken over the Defense of Heaven."

Even through the walls, the sounds of cheering could be heard. The sounds made Saturn scowl.

"All forces are to attack." Mist ordered, "Valkyries to execute plan fifty-six. Now."

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Draco frowned. Suddenly the tone of the battle had changed. Instead of retreating as they had been, the Legions of Heaven had halted the demon advance. In some places, they had actually begun to push the demons back. That was when the first report reached him.

The Valkyries had taken to the field.

"Interesting." Draco murmured, "Have you finally given up Saturn? Has Mist returned?"

A loud roar stopped Draco from any further thoughts. He glanced towards the Main Building. Evangelion Unit-4 was moving towards the battle, it's massive fists clenched tightly closed. Even to the untrained eye, one could tell……..

Whoever was piloting the Eva was really pissed.

"Welcome half-breed." Draco said, a smile beginning to appear on his face. "I've been expecting you."

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Somewhere

Sentaro opened his eyes. He apparently was laying on the ground for he could see the blue sky and clouds through a canopy of trees. Sitting up, he was able to clearly see he wasn't on Terra 2. The leaves and grass were too green.

Then he remembered who he had been with just moments ago.

Sentaro quickly looked around him. Laying just feet to his left lay Arael. Her eyes were closed and she was motionless. He quickly moved to the Angel's side and lowered his head near her mouth. He felt her breath on his cheek. He sat back and sighed, glad that she was still alive, though in bad shape.

"I see you're finally awake."

Sentaro looked over to see the Soultaker walking towards him.

"What was that?" Sentaro asked.

"Don't know." The Demoness replied, "But it's all your fault."

"What!"

"I could have handled Adam." The Demoness replied, "I was just getting a feel for him."

"You never even got close to hitting him." Sentaro retorted, "and he had you jumping all over the place."

The Soultaker looked off into the distance.

"Thanks." She finally said.

"Don't mention it." Sentaro then looked at Arael. "Can you heal her?"

"Demons don't do healing. That's a Goddess thing."

"We have to do something!"

"Leave her."

"WHAT!"

"Look, she's in really bad shape. It doesn't look like she's regenerating."

"How do you know?"

"Because I've been awake a lot longer then you have. She hasn't improved" The Soultaker replied, "I've been looking around and haven't seen anything that reminds me of Earth or Terra 2."

"Maybe because we're far from civilization."

"Which means we have a lot of walking to do. Which means we have to carry her."

"I'll do it." Sentaro replied.

The Soultaker narrowed her eyes at Sentaro.

"You don't even know how far we have to walk, or even if there's food along the way."

"I don't care. I'm not leaving her behind."

"She's in no shape to be moved!"

Sentaro stood up and glared at the Demoness. He then walked off a short ways. When he returned, he had several thick pieces of wood. He knelt down beside Arael and opened her cloak.

"Whoa!" The Soultaker shouted, "You think you should be doing that while she's unconscious?"

Sentaro ignored the demoness and gently lifted Arael's broken left arm and laid it down flat. He then tore the hem from the bottom of her robes and used it to tie the sticks to her arm in a makeshift splint. He then tore the sleeves from his shirt and tied them together to make a sling. He then put the sling over Arael's shoulder and set her arm in it.

"Nice going MacGyver." The Demoness said, "But she still isn't awake."

Without a word, Sentaro wrapped Arael back up in her cloak and pulled the hood over her head as much as he could. He then lifted her from the ground, with an arm under her knees and the other behind her back. Arael was much lighter then he expected. Her head slowly rolled until it came to a stop against his chest. Sentaro paused to look down at her, but the hood blocked his view of her face. He then looked at the Soultaker. The Demoness shrugged.

"I'm not helping hauling her around."

"I don't expect you to." Sentaro replied, "That would be too 'nice' of you." He then turned and started walking in a direction.

"Ouch." The Soultaker muttered, "Nice shot."

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"Just how did you two do that anyway?"

"Do what?"

"That thing you and Snowflake did to take out Adam." The Soultaker replied, "How did you do it?"

"I don't know." Sentaro replied.

"Bullshit." The Demoness growled. "I watched you for the last week. You barely could even form a force bolt! Snowflake has NEVER made a force bolt. All her attacks involve her AT-Field! Now how did you two do it?"

"I said I don't know!" Sentaro replied, "Best I could say is……she was counting on me. She believed I could do it."

The Soultaker looked at him skeptically. "Somehow I doubt that was it."

"It's the best I can offer right now."

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"Do you even know where we're walking to?"

"Well considering we're in the middle of nowhere," Sentaro replied, "any direction seemed good."

The Demoness just stared at Sentaro.

"You mean you just guessed!"

"Well, yeah."

"That's it!" The Soultaker stopped walking, "We're changing direction."

Sentaro stopped and turned around.

"Why?"

"Because we have yet to run into anything!"

"Fine, let's vote."

"Vote?"

"I vote we continue my way." Sentaro said. He then lowered his ear near Arael's head. "Arael agrees with me. We'll keep walking this way."

"SHE'S UNCONCIOUS!"

"She still has a vote and I'm sure she'd agree with me."

"How do you know!"

"I just do." Sentaro then turned and continued walking.

"Wait."

Sentaro stopped walking and looked at the Demoness.

"What is it now?"

"You hear that?"

Sentaro turned his head to the side and listened. A low rumble could be heard off in the distance.

"It's thunder." Sentaro said.

"No you idiot. Listen again."

Sentaro glared at the Demoness but did so. The rumble could still be heard. It was steady and seemed to be slowly getting louder.

"What is that?"

"Horses." The Soultaker replied, "A lot of them. And guess where they're headed?"

"Towards us?"

"Bingo."

"Then we're saved!"

"Sentaro," the Soultaker said, "We have no idea where we are. We don't know if we're saved. We could end up in deeper shit."

"But Arael……."

"She's in no shape to defend herself." The Soultaker replied softly, "If she got hurt here, who do you think will feel the worst?"

"Probably me."

"Correct." The Demoness pointed towards some bushes. "Get in there."

Sentaro moved around the bushes and knelt on the ground, followed by the Soultaker.. He sat Arael on the ground and gently laid her down. He then laid down beside her and peered through the bush.

"See them?" he asked.

"Shh." The Demoness replied from beside him.

The hoof beats grew louder. Suddenly a rider came into view, followed by another and another. In total, twelve riders moved past. Sentaro stared at them as they flew by. They appeared to be women, dressed in full body armor and helmets.

"They look like Valkyries." Sentaro whispered, "But the armor looks wrong."

"They are Valkyries." The Soultaker hissed, "But they haven't worn armor like that since the 1500s."

"Then what are they doing with it?" Then Sentaro frowned, "Hey if they're Valkyries why are we hiding?"

The Soultaker frowned, then smacked Sentaro upside the head.

"Ow! What was that for?"

"Think! I said the Valkyries haven't worn that armor since the 1500s, what does that tell you?"

"They're going retro?"

WHACK!

"Ow."

"We could be in the past! The Gods of this time aren't very forgiving of Demons." She thumbed back towards Arael. "And I think they'd freak if they found an Angel."

"Ok." Sentaro said, "I get it. Don't talk to the Valkyrie type people. So what do we do?"

"Keep walking." "Give up."

Sentaro frowned and looked at the Soultaker.

"What?"

"I said we would keep walking." The Demoness replied.

"Then who…..?"

"I said you should give up."

Sentaro and the Soultaker rolled over and looked behind them. Standing there was a brown haired woman in robes.

"Umm Hi?" Sentaro said with a wave.

"I don't suppose you could tell me why you're hiding under a bush?" the woman asked.

"Uhhhhh." Sentaro began.

"My friend here lost his mind." The Soultaker said, "Have you seen it?"

The woman frowned. "That is the stupidest thing I've ever heard. Even from a Demon." She then pointed at Arael. "What's wrong with her?"

Sentaro immediately moved between Arael and the woman.

"Leave her alone." He growled.

"Fine." The woman replied, "But you three are coming with me."

"You and what army?" The Soultaker asked.

The woman raised her hand. A force bolt glowed in her palm.

"You're a goddess." The Soultaker muttered.

"Actually I'm a bit more then that." The woman replied, as she pointed. "Start walking."

"Better listen." Sentaro said. He then turned and lifted Arael back into his arms and headed off in the direction the woman indicated.

The Soultaker glared at the woman, then followed Sentaro. The woman followed them from behind.

"So if you aren't a Goddess," Sentaro asked, "What are you?"

"Complicated. Now get going."

They walked on for about an hour before they reached a dirt road. The woman had them follow the road. As he walked, Sentaro felt Arael shift, the first time she'd moved on her own. He glanced down and found her left hand clenching at his shirt. He smiled and leaned towards her head.

"You awake?" he whispered.

Arael clenched his shirt a bit tighter. Sentaro glanced back at the woman, then turned his head towards the road.

"We don't know where we are." he whispered, "We saw some riders that looked like Valkyries, but they were in outfits from before the 1500s. We hid, but a goddess found us. She doesn't have goddess markings. She knows the Soultaker is a Demon."

Arael slowly raised her head she could see his face with one of her eyes.

"What about me?" she asked weakly.

"I don't know." Sentaro replied, "She hasn't had a good look at you. I've been trying to keep it that way."

Arael lowered her head against Sentaro's shoulder. He waited for her to say more, but she remained silent.

Another hour past and a town came into view. As they grew closer, the town became more clear. Sentaro was shocked. It was like something from movie. All the homes seemed to be made of hand cut timber with thatched roofs. People moved about in rough woven clothes.

They all looked like the pictures he had seen in Heaven and in school of Vikings.

All eyes were on him and the Soultaker as they walked through the middle of the village. Several people shouted out a greeting in what Sentaro believed was Norse. The woman replied in kind and said something else. Sentaro, however, was no longer paying attention to that.

His attention was focused back on Arael.

As soon as the woman spoke, Arael's left hand clenched tight and she seemed to jump. He could feel her body shivering.

"What is it?" he asked.

"It's her."

Sentaro could barely hear her voice over the townspeople.

"What?" he asked again, leaning his head closer to her's.

"It's her."

"Who?"

But Arael remained silent.

The Woman was now joined by several Vikings in armor. They moved with swords drawn along either side of Sentaro and the Soultaker. The woman now moved forward to take the lead. She led them towards a large timber hall. Flanking the doors were a pair of the old style Valkyries. The doors opened and the Valkyries saluted the woman as she entered.

The inside of the hall showed how deceptive the outside was. Hundred and hundreds of Viking warriors sat at tables along in rows. The walls of the building were covered in shields, trophies, the heads of animals, and swords. At the far end was a raised table, behind which several men and women sat. A few of them had the markings of the Gods, the rest did not. It was to this table that the woman led them. Flanking the table at right angles were two low tables. At these sat twelve of the old style Valkyries. As the group reached the main table, the hall went quiet. One of the women stood up.

"Welcome sister." She said, "I see you have brought guests."

"I found these three in the forest." The woman said, "They were hiding from Freya's riders."

"I see." The woman looked at Sentaro and the Soultaker. "For what reason do you have to hide."

The Soultaker took a step forward.

"We are strangers in a strange land." She said, "Surely you too would take precautions."

The woman at the main table frowned, as did many of the others.

"While you may speak the truth, I do not care for your tone. Perhaps the removal of your tongue will improve your manners."

"Forgive her." Sentaro said, "She's…..well…..uhh…" His voice trailed off as the women glared at him.

"Speak mortal." The woman said, "Or feel our wraith."

"Enough."

Sentaro looked down at Arael. The others in the room looked at Arael as well.

"What is this you bring with you?" the woman asked, "A leper perhaps? Even that is better then the company of a Demon."

"Sentaro," Arael said softly, "Help me stand."

"But……" Sentaro started to protest.

"Do it."

Sentaro lowered Arael's feet to the floor, then helped her to stand. Her legs wobbled slightly as she put weight on them.

"It has been a very long time Verdandi." Arael said softly to the woman that had led them to the hall. "I have often wondered what happened to you and your sisters, Urd and Skuld."

Each woman reared back as their names were mentioned. Sentaro stared at the women, his eyes wide.

These were the Norns, the originals!

"Your voice sounds familiar." Verdandi said, "Who might you be."

Arael lifted her right arm and pulled back her hood. The people at the main table gasped and leaped to their feet, as did the old style Valkyries.

"Messenger!" Verdandi shouted, "You! How dare you……."

"I did not come intentionally," The Angel said, looking at all present, "and you have nothing to fear from me."

"You defied the Heavens!" Verdandi shouted, pointing at Arael, "You personally killed dozens of Gods."

"I cannot change the past." Arael replied. Sentaro could feel her body beginning to shake. "I can only……seek forgiveness."

"You will not find it here." Verdandi snarled.

"She found it elsewhere." Sentaro said as he moved beside Arael, "She found it from……"

"I don't care if she….."

"…...Kami-sama."

Verdandi's voice trailed off.

"Yes." Sentaro said, "I know of Kami-sama. I know of the Heavens and Yggdrasil. I know the Valkyries have defended the Heavens for thousands of years. I even know of the doublet system."

"How can you know these things?" Skuld asked.

"Because my Mother is a Goddess."

"WHAT?" Everyone in the hall was now on their feet shouting.

"SILENCE!" Skuld hollered. She looked over the crowd, daring someone to speak. Then she looked back down at Sentaro. "What is your name mortal? What is your linage to the Gods?"

"I am Sentaro Aida." He began. "I was born of the Goddess Sayoko, First Class, Type two, Unlimited, her domain is the present. She in turn was also born of a Goddess and mortal. That goddess is Belldandy Class zero, Type two, Unlimited. Her domain is the present. Her father is Kami-sama."

Verdandi turned and looked at her sisters. Urd and Skuld looked at each other, then Skuld turned to Sentaro.

"We have much to discuss amongst ourselves." She said, "For now, you shall be taken from here to a place of rest." Skuld waved at two Valkyrie.

The Valkyrie moved forward and started to led Sentaro away.

"Wait!" Sentaro called out. Skuld held up her hand and the Valkyrie stopped.

Sentaro moved back to Arael's side. She was now visibly shaking.

"What about Arael and her?" He pointed at the Demoness.

"What do you care what happens to the Messenger and the Demon?" Skuld asked.

"Arael is a close friend of my mother." Sentaro said, "She…….she means a lot to me."

Skuld's eyes widened, as did Verdandi's and Urd's, but most especially, Arael's.

"She is to come with me." Sentaro stated.

"How dare you….." Urd began before Skuld held her hand up.

"And the Demon?" Skuld asked.

"Yeah," the Soultaker said, "What about me?"

"I guess she should come too."

The Soultaker rolled her eyes. "Gee thanks."

"Fine." Skuld waved her hand.

The Valkyries began to lead them out. Arael tried to follow but stumbled. Sentaro was quickly at her side.

"You've done enough." He whispered. He then lifted her up and carried her, as he had for the past several hours. Arael blushed, then rested her head against Sentaro.

"They always forget the demon." The Soultaker mumbled, "They never care about the demon."

"Shut up you." A Valkyrie ordered.

The Valkyries led them towards a small house on the edge of town. More Valkyries surrounded it.

"What's in there?" Sentaro asked.

"Another visitor." The Valkyrie replied.

Sentaro glanced at the Valkyrie.

"You in charge of the Valkyries?"

"Yes. How'd you know?"

"You sound like Mist." Sentaro replied. The Valkyrie stopped him.

"You know Mist?" She asked.

"Yes." Sentaro replied, "She's a friend of the family."

"And she lets the Messenger live?"

"She and I have an understanding." Arael replied.

"I don't see how." The Valkyrie said, "You've killed far too many gods to be trusted."

"I know." Arael replied, "But I am trusted by those that count."

The Valkyrie frowned, then looked at Sentaro.

"If you need me, ask for Freya." She then turned and left.

Sentaro moved into the house along with Arael. The Valkyries slammed the door behind them. Sentaro started to looked for something to lay Arael on when he ran into the Soultaker.

"Would you mind getting out of the way?" Sentaro asked.

The Soultaker moved, revealing the occupant of the house before them. Sentaro's eyes went wide.