Chapter 2:

In the solace of her room, Belldandy was reading a book of her interest as she sat down with a warm tea in her other hand. Suddenly, a door slid open and closed abruptly.

"NOT AGAIN!" Skuld cried in the hallways, as Urd stepped inside Belldandy's room. "I've tried over 300 variations at this point, and nothing is working." Urd held her head in her hand sighing heavily.

"Hello Urd. Is Skuld making a racket again?" Belldandy inquired not raising her eyes from her novel.

"She never stops, and since it's winter I can't step outside to escape the noise." Urd walked over to Belldandy's desk, leaning on the desk.

"Any news from the heavens?" she looked up closing the final page of the book and placing it before her.

"None. Not a single wish…"

"TRIAL #309!" Skuld shouted, as something exploded instantly.

"…and it's times like these I need two aspirin and a job granting wishes." She said looking at the worn book, "How many times have you read that one book this week?"

"Hmm…I seemed to have lost count. The last time I had counted, it was the ninth."

"That's insane. This whole house is crazy."

"I think I'll go for another book this time." Belldandy said stepping out of the room.

"Could you get Skuld to stop that racket out there too?" Urd said, "She's been at it all day long. Plus she's blocking the portal to heaven with her creation."

"Sure…"

"AHHHHHH!!!" a feminine voice shrieked disturbing the momentary silence once again. "Urd!" Skuld's piercing scream called to her older sister. Running outside of her room, Urd and Skuld collided in the hallway. "Belldan…!"

"What is it?" Belldandy asked floating over the two bodies heaped over each other in the hallway from the collision.

"I got it to work!" Skuld said, "310 is such a lucky number…"

"That's great!" Belldandy responded with the same amount of enthusiasm and excitement, "Isn't it Urd?" she looked at the eldest of the three of them, who raised an eyebrow.

"Sure…it's fantastic." Urd said with very little enthusiasm as she remained on the floor, "When you don't knock me over!"

"Hello…? Urd? Belldandy? Skuld?" a feminine voice called from the bathroom, turning around and observing the place as she walked backwards. Her long tendrils of hair trailing in front of her dressed in an elegantly fixed bun as she looked up and around finding Urd and Skuld sprawled out on the floor trying to get up, while Belldandy took her ground looking at the person that stood before them.

"That sounds like…" Belldandy said her eyes illuminating in recognition of the voice.

"Mythalia!" Urd and Skuld called to the young woman that turned around upon hearing Belldandy's soft-spoken voice.

"Urd! Belldandy!" The fair young lady ran into the embrace of her friends and companions. "You look well Urd."

"Beauty doesn't fade," she said watching her eye to eye.

"That particularly applies to you." Turning to Belldandy, Mythalia immediately gathered her in an embrace, "Belldandy…you've accomplished much haven't you? I'm so glad for you."

"Mythalia…I have you to thank for so much." Belldandy said wrapping her arms about Mythalia, wiping away a few tears in the process, "Thank you…"

"I did what I could to help you, and that wasn't much in comparison to what he has taught you." She said holding Belldandy out looking down at her, her gaze falling upon Skuld who stood shorter than them. "Skuld? My have you grown! It's been years since I've last seen you."

"Mythalia…" Skuld ran into her arms, as she was lifted up.

"You are not as small as I had seen you last." She said, "You've been doing well I suppose?"

"My innovations had been a failure until you walked into the newly revised portal, and I thank you for that." She smiled.

"It was just by chance, but it served some purpose ultimately." Mythalia said, "I hope you haven't been causing any problems for Urd and Belldandy…"

"Oh none at all…" Urd spoke sarcastically, "Her constant drilling leaves little silence throughout this place and…" she closed her eyes to conceal the anger.

"Yet we manage to get so much done…" Belldandy watched as Skuld stepped down out of Mythalia's hold.

"Speak for yourself…"

"Well…it seems as if you three are getting on quite fine…"

"Of course…we wouldn't have it any other way, the three of us and Keiichi." Belldandy said a smile broad on her face ignoring Urd's facial expression of denial.

"So what's the order of business Mythalia?" Urd said seriously, as she looked her friend straight in the eye.

"I should speak with Belldandy alone first Urd. The nature of this situation is one of great importance to me, which is selfish I know, but there is a reason behind it all that not only benefits my well-being, but also that of the heavens."

"Alright. I'd say let's take a walk, but it's snowing outside, and I do not know if you would like to be in such cold weather." Belldandy said walking to the front door.

"I don't mind snowy weather." Mythalia stepped outside in the freezing cold temperature showing no sign of frigidity in response to the drastic change in temperature from high to low.

"Very well then. Let's go shall we?" she said slipping on her shoes and winter gear suited for the cold weather. Ascending in the air, the both of them wandered off to the edge of the hill overlooking the city, "What is it that you would like to speak with me about Mythalia?"

"This is a large decision against council rules and regulations. I asked Peorth her opinion, but she reminded me of the risks and advised me to ask for your opinion."

"What is it?" Belldandy inquired, a concerning glare in her eyes. Mythalia looked at the young woman with an involuntarily cold stare, debating on whether it was right to come or not. "What could be of such importance?" She turned her back on the beautiful goddess, allowing the fleshly fallen snowflakes to nestle within her dark auburn brown hair.

"It's…it's Celestin." Mythalia turned to the young woman that gasped in astonishment at mention of his name.