"*weird guy in corner of the room making helicopter noises by shaking his head around*"

- Jacob's Ladder

"Too bad, YOU, will die!"

- Mortal Kombat Annihilation


Ristarte weakly stumbled in her sandals as the blurry pale-green blob walked closer to her. Even in his human appearance, Ultimaeus towered over her like an olive-skinned monster. His outline shined brighter and brighter with divine light as her vision became darker and hazier.

"This world doesn't need you anymore," the new Demon-God chuckled over her. "Now I'll simply absorb your divinity into mine."

She opened her mouth to scream, to beg Seiya to save her, to make any kind objection, but her voice made no sound. Her senses were quickly fading, but she could still sense that this was the end. She was witnessing the beginning of a planetary apocalypse. She had failed Ixphoria for the second time.

The Demon-God's facial features shifted. Whether it was a trick of the blinding gold light or Ristarte succumbing to delirium, the smile creeping across his mouth almost appeared… kind.

"You don't need to be afraid, goddess. This won't be like the last time I devoured you."

He slowly waved his hand across her eyes, and then her world went black.

Princess Tiana sat in her window sill with her knees bent and her long skirt forming a hammock. She rocked her heels against the marble framework in a slow waving motion, pacifying the baby girl propped in her lap. The night was a little chilly, but the baby was warmly dressed in blue pajamas with a hood that made her look like a tiny knight covered in a fuzzy suit of armor.

A small pond trickled quietly outside of Tiana's window. She listened to a soft chorus of chirping crickets as she brushed the child's black hair with her palm. The daughter mumbled something unintelligible while she looked up at her mother with eyes that were tired, but curious. Resting together in the calming moonlight, it was as if the mother and child were the only souls in the entire castle.

"I'm so glad you're here with me, Kiri." Tiana rubbed the back of her baby's head as she cheerfully sighed.

Suddenly, a miniature pink lasso whipped through the air and a distinct crunch, crunch, crunch rose from the pond. One of the frogs hiding in the pond's lily pads had made dinner out of an unfortunate little cricket. The sound interrupted Tiana's spiritual peace and made her shudder. The baby in her lap burped to complete her thought.

Shaking her head, the princess let the scene of insectoid tragedy fade from her mind. She held the baby close to the left side of her chest, gently whispering to reassure herself as much as she was reassuring her tiny precious daughter.

"Don't worry. I'm sure Papa will be joining us soon."

The baby snuggled against her blouse and babbled happily.


Author's note: Well that's not so bad I guess.