Chapter 21

I don't own Destiny 1 or 2

I don't own Rising of the Shield Hero

Guest I just want to say thanks for the support while I can understand that not everyone will like my stories as I too have read a number of stories where the writing style has not agreed with me.

Sorry Marlone but your wish of Istuka mouthing off will have to wait for next chapter

Story Start

As the pope falls to the ground, struggling to stay alive as his last few moments slip away all everyone can do is stare in shock.

"How was that possible?" asked Itsuka in shock breaking the silence

"Leviathans Breath, it can take everything down and does. You're facing an immortal or unkillable monster...well not anymore. Also, we had better get up there before his followers decide to do something stupid...though Ar'na should have taken quite a few of them out by now." I said

"Huh? What are talking about?" asked Motoyasu in confusion

"Before the pope trapped us in the cathedral I sent Ar'na off to take out some of his followers, while the pope was distracted she would go around and thin the numbers to make him less of a threat." I informed

"Good thinking." said Ren with some respect in his voice

"Yeah now we all better get up there and stop his followers from scattering...the last thing we need is someone coming and stabbing us in our sleep just because they got away while we were talking." I suggested

With that we climbed out of the pit and started to subdue the pope's followers, thankfully they were in too much shock to put up much of a fight, from not only the pope dyinging so easily but also because they suddenly realised that a fair number of them had already been taken out by Ar'na without them knowing anything about it. Not that it really would have mattered as a short time later, the queen and her army joined us and any fight the followers might have had disappeared entirely.

While this was all going on, we were approached by a familiar shadow.

"Shield Hero, the queen sends her regards and thanks you for keeping her daughter safe. She also asks if you would see her later on to discuss some matters...but for now Malty, Melty the Queen wishes to see you at once." the shadow instructed

"I'm sorry, but I must attend Motoyasu...the battle was quite difficult you must understand." said Malty trying to find an excuse not to go

"I'm sure Motoyasu will understand that seeing the Queen is more important I daresay...besides this isn't a request." at that moment more shadows appear and escort Melty and a very reluctant Malty to see their mother.

"Wait, why does the Queen want to see Callum alone? Why not all the heroes?" questioned Motoyasu

"The Queen's reasons are her own, and she doesn't need to explain herself to you I daresay." rebuked the shadow

Later on that day I approached the Queen's temporary tent and was quickly shown inside

"Shield Hero welcome." greeted the Queen

"Your majesty, what did you what to talk about?" I ask

"I want to apologise for the actions of my husband and daughter in person...I know that they have been causing a lot of problems for you." said the Queen regretfully

"That's an understatement, speaking of which what will happen to them?" I ask

"They will face a fair trial...and if found guilty will be executed, which we both know they will." said the Queen sadly

"While I honestly don't care if they live or die, I'm sorry to hear that you will have to go through that. No mother should see her daughter or husband die in front of her." I said with pity in my voice

"Even after all they have done to you and your party you would still forgive them?" asked the Queen shocked

"Oh, heck no...I just believe that there are better options." I said firmly

"You know if you were to ask for another form of punishment I would be able to grant it...I know it's a lot to ask, but I don't think that I would be able to execute my husband and daughter no matter what they have done." said the Queen hopefully

"I could do that, but you have to understand just what they have done. Your daughter has spent the entire time I have been here trying to set me up and discredit me as well as making everyone around her miserable for her amusement. From trying to tear Raph away from me, sentencing a town to death because they refused to give her money for a new dress to trying to frame me for kidnapping her sister and murdering her guards. Something that would have destroyed my image and I think we both know how hard it is to repair someone's image after it has been dragged through the mud, her other crimes include selling her party member to a brothel, but the worst thing she did, at least from a political standpoint was to accuse Saint 14 of sexually assaulting her." I said

"The mechanical man? But why?" asked the Queen with confusion

"You have to understand; this isn't someone insulting the son of a nobleman or a child lifting the dress of a dignitary's daughter. Picture the most loved hero of your past, so loved that one could easily say that over 70 percent of the population still love him long after his death. So much so that hundreds of people leave gifts in remembrance to him each year at a loving made and maintained marble building with a solid gold statue inside. Now picture someone taking a big greasy shit on that statue and then pissing on everything in sight. What do you think would to happen to that person, what do you think would happen when it was found that the person in question was the princess of another, smaller country who's King did nothing to curtail her behaviour but rather encouraged it?" I asked

The Queen's pailing face was all the answer I needed

"As you can guess it isn't good, fortunately for you I have a punishment in mind that not only will settle the ire of my world but will leave her alive." I said

"Please tell me what the punishment you have in mind." requested the Queen hopefully realising that things were much worse than she first thought

"Malty has spent her entire life treating others like shit, so I think it's only fair if she spends the rest of hers shovelling it." I answered

"I'm sorry, but I must have heard you wrong as that doesn't sound like much of a punishment but more of a chore abet one that no-one would want to do." said the Queen with some confusion

"Your thinking of it all wrong, you may be the Queen, but I can tell you certainly aren't no wallflower. Your daughter on the other hand...well I know her type, vain, petty and refuses to get even a finger dirty, especially if it's to help someone else...to such a person shovelling faeces is hell on earth. Besides, she will be without any usual comforts that even the common man can take for granted. She will wake up to a day of shovelling shit, fall asleep after shovelling shit, any and everything she has besides a bed of stone, one set of clothes and the most basic of food has to be gained through blood, sweat and shit. How well do you think your daughter will take it? How long can she take it? Living with only the barest of necessities like the poorest beggar while doing nothing but shovelling the shit of animals? I see three possibilities, one she dies an old and bitter woman cursing my name on her death bed, two by some miracle she becomes a better person after realising how bad people's lives can be and how she has made those lives worse. But honestly, I expect her to one day have enough of her life, of the humiliation, degradation and hate..both of herself and those that put her in that situation and so decides to end her own life. Not once caring or even admitting to the fact that life would have been Ino's had I not saved her! So do you really think it's not a punishment now?"

After this tirade, the Queen had to take a moment to gather herself before she could answer "When you say it like that I have to wonder if death is a better alternative but at least this way Malty will be able to live...at least a bit longer and maybe become a better person, something that she could never do death. Besides Malty must face the consequences of her actions, she has done too much and caused too much pain to escape punishment. Now I suppose you would like to talk about the king's punishment?" asked the Queen

"You can do whatever you want to him; I'd almost let him off scot-free as he was manipulated greatly by his own daughter...that would be if he didn't spend so much time trying to make my life and the life of my party difficult. But as you know he did and much more than that, also as King in charge he at the time he must be held accountable for the actions of those he rules under, his daughter's manipulations and even the churches actions can all be laid at his feet as he did nothing to stop them. When you think of it, the king and the kingdom by association has a lot to pay for."

"And how do you want to be paid?" asked the Queen with worry

"There is only one thing I want, and that is the abolition of slavery." I said much to the shock of the queen

"You wish to abolish slavery? While I agree with such a thing as I too dislike it because allows the mistreatment of others, it unfortunately has become an integrated part of our society, it will take a lot of effort to get rid of it." said the Queen

"Have you thought about using contractors?" I asked

"Contractors?" asked the Queen in confusion "What are they?"

"Imagine your looking for work, you can go around looking for work, or you can go to a designated building where you put your name and skills down. The people who run these buildings then try and find work for you in return for a percentage of the pay. Often the are jobs like farming where the business owner needs some work done as soon as possible but doesn't have the time to find the people so they can simply go down to one of the buildings I mentioned before and get all the workers they need. When this is done correctly it's a good system, the individuals get the work they need while the contractors get a percentage of everyone working under their banner and employers have access to a wide selection of people that can work under them."

"But what keeps the contractors from taking advantage of those looking for work, say placing them in risky jobs without them knowing about it?"

"It's in the name; you see there are contracts between employee and contractor to stop them from taking advantage of the employees and to ensure that everyone is treated fairly and that the workers are not exposed to unnecessary risks, a representative will also go to the worksite in question to make sure of this. In return for this, the contractors get a percentage of the payment, nothing large but simply a small percentage that you can work out later when the practice is being introduced. Now, this may not sound like much but because most contractors will be finding work for hundreds of people who they will then make money off the practice quickly becomes profitable for all those involved."

"Your idea does have merit. However I will have to discuss things with my advisors before anything happens, but even now I can tell that it will be quite expensive." said the Queen

"I might be able to help with that, it seems to me that the Three Heroes Church have a lot to pay for and as you would know it costs a lot to take over and run a kingdom...so it seems to me that they should have a lot of money tucked away. You should also be able to sell somethings to make a profit, for example, that replica weapon that your shadows took from the battlefield...I'd like to buy it if it's possible?" I asked

Frowning the Queen answered "Unfortunately that weapon is part of our history, even though your a hero I can't just sell it to you. Besides what do you even want with it? From what I hear the weapons that you brought from your world are just as impressive." spoke the Queen

"I'd like to study and maybe improve it, the transformative ability that it has is quite impressive. If I am right, it should be possible for it to turn into other weapons than just a bow, sword, spear or shield. This would then make it a perfect weapon for my apprentice Ar'na a hunter's flexible fighting style fits the weapon perfectly, and if you can't sell it, can you rent it? For as long as the waves last, that is? As soon as waves end, it will be handed back." raising my hand, I stop the Queen from interrupting "And as for payment, I offer this." Summoning a chest full of gold coins and purple gems "This is a chest from my world, while the gold is the same as here the gems are quite rare from where I come from and unless they can be found in your world they should be considered priceless." I finished

"I will have to consider your offer first, may I take a gem as a sample to have it tested?" inquired the Queen

"Of course, help yourself." I answered

Bending down the Queen removes a small purple gem and puts it in her pocket "Speaking of the church I have decided to abolish the current three hero's church and establish the four hero's church were all..." before the Queen could continue I quickly interrupted

"I have no interest at all in being worshipped."

"Really, why?" asked the Queen

"Two reasons, one I have had many interactions with the fanboys of Osiris and have no interest in forming my group here, secondly and more importantly such worship blinds people to what the worshipee is really like. What if for example, the next shield hero is a drunken delinquent or con artist...because of what I have done should they be able to get away with what they do? It's just like with the other hero's; people are so used to praising and worshipping them for how perfect they are that when they do something stupid like leaving a dead dragon to rot or planting a seed that was sealed due to it creating monsters no one realises something's wrong until it's too late and things have gone to shit."

"Yes...I have heard of the problems that the other heroes have caused, I intend to speak to them so they can understand such foolish actions cannot be tolerated." spoke the Queen

"Just so you know I can reassign the weapons to someone else if you are interested, it is actually something I was already intending to do." I informed the Queen

"...as good as that sounds I have to ask you to not do that for now." said the Queen after some thought "I have spent much of the last few months trying to ease the tension between the kingdom that my husband created when he summoned all four heroes. If we did replace all the heroes with people from our own kingdom, we would be seen as nothing more than tyrants who don't care for about the wishes of the other kingdoms."

"I can understand that, but I also believe that if they don't start acting like adults instead of children, they have to be stood down. So how does this sound, the four strongest nations each choose a weapon...when the current wielder of that weapon is deed unsuitable to wield it by all they will be replaced by someone of that kingdoms choosing." I reasoned

"That sounds like it cou...wait four weapons?" asked the Queen surprised

"Yes, I am certainly no hypocrite, and I am more than happy to put my money where my mouth is. If that means I too will be judged along with the others so be it...shield or no shield I will protect the people of this world." I said with resolution

"You truly are a hero worthy of the name, if only the other cardinal heroes were half the person you are then things would be alot easier. Anyway you have given me a lot to thing about Sir Hero and I ask that you give me time to process it."

For an extra I thought I'd include what I have written for a one shot

Just a one shot, have too many current stories to take this further.

I do not own Destiny 1 or 2

I do not own A Certain Scientific Railgun

Story Start

At night at an unknown location at an unknown time.

"Just once, just once I would like to go into the Infinite Forrest without something going wrong. Just a few vex he said, no problem he said, just a simple job he said. I am so going to kick Osiris's ass as soon as I get back. But more importantly for now where the hell are we?" I ranted

"From what I can pick up this place is called Academy City, a place where almost everyone is a student. It was built for the sole purpose of studying and improving espers." said Casper

"What are espers?" I ask

"Basically they can do similar things that we can but with no connection to the light or Travellor, some can even do more remarkable stuff than we can and come in 6 levels. Fortunately they not nearly as strong as us with a level 3 esper roughly the same strength of a newborn guardian." answered Casper

"Please tell me that they isn't some sick plan to use these kids for some evil plan. Like an army of super espers of for someone to combine the power of all espers into one person to form a super esper?" I ask annoyance

Before Casper could answer there was massive explosion nearby, running towards the sound I arrive just in time to see a one-legged girl about to be crushed with a man leering menacingly nearby. Reacting quickly I blink towards her location.

Moments later

"Today's experiment is all done! I made quite the mess of things this time though. I wonder how they are going to clean this up? Well, I guess it doesn't matter. Oh I better head down to the nearest conveniance store before it -." said the man before me interrupted as lightning streamed towards him before starring in shock a girl the exact copy of the previous girl charged towards him.

Elsewhere closeby

"Relax it will all be okay." I said soothingly to severely injured girl as I start to heal her "I've created a healing field around you, I've also numbed nerves so that you won't feel any pain. You're not going to die here trust me."

"Big sister." whimpered the girl

"That's your sister? Don't worry I'll keep her safe." I said with conviction as approached the fighting pair.

"What are you talking about? Absolute power? Invincibility? Is that why you're...Is that why you killed her? To get power?" questions the girl angrily as she flicks a coin with unbelievable force.

The next moments would forever be etched in the mind of one Mikoto Misaka, her railgun technique, the one that has always worked before...failed. And in almost slow motion the very coin that she had flipped bounced back...right at her face.

Then out of nowhere, a man was in front of her backhanding the coin away.

"Who are you?" question the man

"I'm the guy who you pissed of. Hey girl you should get out of her, its not safe here." I informed the girl

"I can't...I can't he killed..." whispered the girl racked with guilt

"Your sister's alive, I've put her over there in a healing circle. She'll make it put she definitely needs her big sister." I said while pointing behind me

"She's alive!" said the girl in shock

"Yes, I got there just in time to save her." I told her

"So the other one's still alive? I'll have to fix that after I kill you two." said the man arrogantly

"Yeah that not going to happen." I said firmly

"Oh? And how are you going to do that? I am the strongest level five esper, you are.." started the man before being interrupted by a short chaos lance to the chest blasting him back.

"That, that is what I am going to do you jackass. Now hurry up and go to your sister and while your at it grab her leg while your at it, I should be able to rettach if it's not too damaged." I said firmly

"Right!" she replied as she ran off

"Wow that was pretty impressive! Who knew that there was an esper as strong as you." goaded the man as stumbles to his feet

"Yeah let me burst your bubble right now, that 'impressive' attack was the equivalent of me taking a piss. The fact that you mistake it for a powerful attack just says how weak you are." I said insultingly

"How dare you! I am the best of Academy City! I can handle everything you can throw at me! So come at me so I can become level six!" shouted the man deranged

"...Ok have it your way." I said calmly as the girl runs of towards her sister

It wasn't long until she had reached her sister, a field of glowing white energy around her.

"Your alive thank goodness...I'm sorry, I'm so sorry." she whispered barely noticing the purple explosion behind her

Before too long she was joined by the mystery man

"So I'm guessing you and/or your sister are clones?" the man asks

Turning around in shock the girl asks "How did you know?"

"Well it's that or your parents never heard of birth control." he says while pointing behind her

Turning around all she can do is gap at the literal army of herself in front of her