Chapter 21: The Rise of the Goddess

Darkness... There was only darkness. Not a single trace of light or a living being... Only darkness. But this darkness was alive... Despite what it looks like, it had a mind... It was a being... In the darkness, there was absolute silence... But then... A voice comes from inside of it...

"I... am...?"

Three Months later...

Tony Stark sit down in his laboratory in the Avenger's Tower. He couldn't really focus on his work now, he had Jarvis and Bruce taking care of most of it, but he wasn't the only one. Bruce stops working for a moment and sits next to him. In his hands, he had a black shotgun shell. He hands it over to Tony. He looks at it before asking the obvious.

"What's this?"

"Well, after the whole... "War between Gods" we saw in Japan, I took what was left of Devin Grayson's shotgun and decide to run some tests on it. The Japanese government also wanted some answers so I gladly help" Bruce explained. "Guess what is this made of..."

"Umm... If it was made to kill Gods then... Gods Poison?" Tony joked. "Acid?"

"No... Each Shell is a normal Shotgun shell, but what's inside is what's important... It's nitroglycerine, kept inside tiny balls made out of Vibranium..." He said and Tony's eyes widen. He shakes the shell violently but nothing happens.

"So... The Vibranium keep the nitroglycerine from exploding. Once they hit the target is when they are released... Good trick"

"That's not all... I think that the nitro has a different effect on the gods. It acts as some kind of poison or acid that stop them from healing up" Bruce take back the shell. "I find it really interesting. I wish we knew more about them... But that's not possible right now"

"... Do you miss her?" Tony asks. "I feel this... Weird sensation. I don't know if she's gone or if she's too afraid of coming back and putting us in danger. It was so abrupt that we didn't even have a chance to say anything to her... I don't want to say it but..."

"If she's gone then... You say it's our fault? That we weren't strong enough" Said Bruce and play with the shell a little. "We were not prepared for that kind of battle. If I'm being perfectly honest, I think Kokoro is alive... But she's too stubborn to come back"

"... What about Devin Grayson? Did the Japanese Government say something?"

"Not yet. Looks like they treating him like a top criminal. I mean, he killed the Gods. That statement alone is enough to make anyone nervous. What we do know is that he wasn't working alone. He had someone backing him up"

"Well, is only a matter of time. But if the Japanese find out then they'll take care of the situation. They sound pretty hurt to know that their beloved deities were gone"

"Yes..." Banner stands up and walks away. He leaves the shell on his table of work. "According to Steve, there are a lot of Hydra bases hiding in Asia and Eastern Europe. Once we found them we'll rush in?"

"That's the idea" Tony stand up. "They got Loki's scepter and they were behind that Nameless fiasco so... I say we pay them a visit. They have done enough already" Tony saw a glass of water on the table, he takes a sip and when he put it back something strange happens. The shadow of the glass was moving on its own. Tony notice this and look closer. It was like something try to rip it's shadow away. "Banner... There was something on the water... Or what I'm seeing is actually a thing?" Bruce takes a closer look at it and then the Shadow violently expanded just like the rest of the shadows in the room. They expanded and make contact with each other on the wall, creating a black circle that turns into a portal. Tony and Bruce look at each other and then at the portal.

"Is that...?" Bruce walks slowly toward it and extends his hand.

"Banner, don't touch it. We don't even know what it is" Tony try to convince him to not touch the portal, but Bruce curiosity took the best of him and extend his hand toward the portal, before it could go through someone came out of it and landed on top of Bruce. A person wearing a long black overcoat with a hood covering his face and a big sword in his back. This person quickly stands up and run past Tony and get out of the lab.

"Goddamit! Bruce!" Tony run to him and Bruce raises his hand.

"I'm okay... Ugh... I think" Bruce look around, searching for the intruder. "What was that?"

"I don't know, but it's not coming out!" Tony walk to the door and before exiting the lab he punch the red button next to the door. It shut the whole tower. An emergency protocol, no one gets in or out until the threat is dealt with. "Stay here Banner. It's not Code Green... For now" Said Tony and leave.

"Tony wait!" Bruce gets up and goes after him. Tony run to the living room of that floor and his suit fly to him, assembling itself around him.

"Jarvis! Where's the intruder?" He asks and Jarvis answer right away.

"The intruder is in the kitchen, Sir... It looks like it's... Checking the fridge?" Jarvis asks in confusion. "It doesn't seem hostile for the moment but be careful. I sense a weird source of pure energy coming out from this person"

"I'll be careful, but the fridge...? Don't tell me he is making a sandwich... He came out from a portal and now is stealing our food. Nice, he's making himself at home now" Tony joked and go right to the kitchen. He kicks down the door and point at the intruder. His eyes widen when he saw the intruder's face hiding under the hood. It was Kokoro. She grabs the bottle of water from the fridge and drinking it all in a matter of seconds. When she finishes it, she throws the bottle to the floor and searches something else to drink. She didn't look at Tony at all, she focusing on finding something to drink or eat. Tony lower his arm and get out of his armor. Bruce came in and stop when he saw who the intruder was.

"It can't be" He said.

"I was about to say the same thing... Kokoro?" Tony try to talk to her, but Kokoro was not responding. She was still looking for something in the fridge. She grabs another bottle, this time of soda, and drink it all down in seconds. "Kokoro?" He speaks up louder and then Kokoro notices him. She raises her hand, telling him to wait until she finishes. Tony and Bruce wait in silence. Once she emptied all the bottle (around 3 liters) she let out a big sigh of relief and laugh. "Hey, you are going to pay for all the soda you are drinking! If you touch the alcohol I'm telling your mother"

"Finally!" She yells and throws the bottle. "I couldn't stand it anymore! No water, no food, nothing!" She falls to her knees and laughs. "I made it back... Hahaha... I actually made it back..." She laughs and then without warning go to hug Tony. He and Bruce were confused. "I missed this place... And people... Being surrounded by monsters is very depressing" Tony shrug and return the hug. He gives her a few pats on the back.

"Well... Don't worry... Welcome back..." He ends the hug abruptly. "Alright enough of this... Seriously, What the hell happened? And why did you drink two bottles of 3 liters like if it was nothing? For the record, you drink Peppers soda. She's going to kill you if she finds out"

"Oh right that... I'm still hungry though... Do you have something to eat? I didn't eat anything in the last... I don't know, I couldn't measure the time in the Yomi. It was so dark in there... Mostly my fault" Kokoro sit down at the table in the kitchen, not paying attention to Tony and Bruce's confuse faces. "I'll explain everything... But I'm seriously starving... I mean, I can't die from starvation but is really a pain to not eat anything at all and your stomach demanding food. That happens when your body is human by nature. It has a lot of limitations, but if I want to hang out here I need a body..."

"Wait, slow down a bit" Said Banner and take a deep breath. "Start from the very beginning because... You have us all worried and we are confused. What happened in the last three months?"

"... Three months? Woah... I thought it was longer..." Kokoro sigh. "Alright... this is what happened"

Kokoro's body disintegrate... The darkness coming from her body create a black tornado and suck everything in its path. The entire realm of Yomi was shaking because of the darkness's power. The demons were sucked in by it and ripped apart inside. The tornado didn't last very long and when it stopped, the darkness covers the whole dimension. Yomi was surrounded by darkness for a long time, so much in fact that life itself die out. The demons have perished, their energy was absorbed by the darkness and there was nothing left... Nothing except the former King of Chaos, Mikaboshi. He walked freely in the darkness and witness with his own eyes the disaster of his own power finally release. It reminds him of the time before mankind, the time before the big explosion give life itself as he knows it, the time where he was the only being... Chaos itself...

He smiles and raises both of his hands, wanting to take back his power but it didn't obey him. He felt the power resisting his command. He was pushed away by a strong gust of wind. He then felt something grabbing him and lifting him in the air. In front of him, a giant eye came out from the darkness and Mikaboshi smile.

"So... You let herself get controlled..." He said. "You were not better than the other two. At least you could have a taste of the power, unlike your brother and sister... You might not understand me. In fact, you might be gone but I want you to know that you at least were more greedy than them... So congratulations, Goddess. You are now a force of nature"

"... I..." Mikaboshi hears Kokoro's voice and his eyes widen. She was still fighting despite losing her body and mind. "I... Am..." The eye disappears and she let go of Mikaboshi. He falls to the ground and the darkness around him was moving violently.

"Well, look at that. You are still there hahaha... You are really something!" MIkaboshi screams and after weeks of darkness, the light came out. The darkness retrieves and focuses on a single point. Mikaboshi then saw his realm, Yomi, torn to pieces... It was now a desert, a literal desert with nothing else left. The darkness focus in front of him, creating a giant ball of darkness. "What are you doing...?"

"... I... Am... I... Feel... It..." She whispers and the ball got smaller and smaller. "I'm... In control... now..." The ball then takes a human form, it was struggling to maintain its form and from time to time disintegrate only to take that form again. After three tries, Kokoro finally took control and the darkness dissipate, revealing her naked body. She falls to the ground and shakes violently. Her hair was longer than before and halfway to the end was only darkness floating in the air. Her eyes were now red with white pupils. She then stares at her father with hatred. "I... I'm... Stronger..."

"I see... You certainly are... At least for now. But considering you recreate your body, with functional organs and everything, it means you are fully capable of anything at this point. The Power of Chaos is so powerful that it's capable of giving life... Chaos started it all... And will end it all" He looks around and sighs. "Look what you did... You kill everything, my minions, my realm... What was left of it... Now it's a desert, one that won't last that long before disappearing into the void. Only I can keep it, but without my power is only a matter of time for it to crumble. All because of you" Mikaboshi step and Kokoro's head. "I saw what you did on earth... Playing hero, stopping an invasion from the other side of the cosmos... Killing your older brother... That's impressive"

"Nameless... How was that possible?" Kokoro asks and without Mikaboshi noticing it, she opened her right hand, waiting for something.

"Oh Girl... Don't tell I should have the father and daughter talk about where the babies come... You are fully aware of it by now. I didn't wait for you to free me... I had other children before you. Akira, who you know by Nameless, he was my second child. He was a failure, but not that useless. He had the power to absorb energy, mystical energy, multi-dimensional energy... All kind of energy. He was going to help me out... But guess what... He got soft" Mikaboshi walk away from Kokoro. "He falls for a woman and had a girl... He betrays me and walks away from me... Then the Gods decided to make his life miserable because if I wasn't around then he should be the next threat to keep them alive and make humans believe in them again. They kill his family and strip him of his memories... He had it coming"

"He... Didn't deserve it" Said Kokoro and stand up. Her power was adjusting to her body. Her new body she recreates from scratch and now was able to contain her power... But she still needs something to help her to fully control it, to focus it. Until she's able to properly use it.

"Says the one that ends his life... Aren't you a little hypocrite?" Mikaboshi mocks her. "Then... We have my first born... Kurumi... She was at my level, certainly someone worthy, but with one major flaw... She was addicted to power. She didn't have enough with her power, no, she wanted more. She tries to take me out, she tries to kill me and I strip her of her powers. I turn her into a mere human... But that didn't stop her to try and get more power... I turn her into a human... But what I couldn't take from her was her longevity... She's still alive after more than three millennia and believe me when I tell you that sooner or later she will find you and probably kill you"

"... So... You are telling me that I have a big sister and she's a bitch that throw a tantrum when she doesn't get what she wants?"

"That's how you humans talk now?" Mikaboshi asks and Kokoro shrug. "Well... Yes, pretty much"

"Why are you telling me all this?"

"You deserve to know, now that the truth has come to light... But I will get my power back. Despite all that happens, I told you all that because you deserve to know... Before I take back my power and torture you for all eternity" Mikaboshi create a sword of darkness with the little power he had left.

"You know... I could just straight up kill you" Kokoro had a point, but Mikaboshi didn't care.

"I know... But that makes it more fun to try it... And the sweeter when I put you down" Mikaboshi then notice that Kokoro had her hand behind her the whole time. It makes him really curious. "What are you doing?"

"This? Well... Let's just say I had a plan... And I'm happy that I was able to get it done. To be honest, I wasn't expecting it to work. I even doubt myself. But now that I'm in control of my power I can get it done" Kokoro smile.

"What is your plan exactly?" Mikaboshi was something in the distant, it was getting closer. His eyes widen when he recognizes the object. "It can't be..." The legendary double-edged sword, Murakumo-no-Tsugiri, come flying right at Kokoro's hand and when it did, a gut of wind embrace her and launch Mikaboshi again. He landed on his back and quickly stand up. "You... How is that sword recognizing you as its master!?"

"It's not... I cheated" Kokoro smirk. "Before losing my body and took a little of my power and place it inside the sword. It took over the sword and now it only responds to me... Now, to finish the conversion..." She raises the sword and stabs herself in the chest. The sword's blade torn black, absorbing a part of her core power. She takes it out and swings it, letting out a gust of darkness. "Now the Kusanagi... Is mine... As for you... I think this whole place should just vanish. I don't see why it should still be here"

"You damn brat! You will not kill me. I am Chaos. I existed long before life itself. I am eternal, the rightful ruler of the universe, the Celestial's nightmare, the Living Tribunal is beneath me. I am Amatsu-Mikaboshi! You are just a tiny fragment of my power! You are nothing but an insect, not worthy of recognition and certainly not worthy of the power you stole from me!" Mikaboshi yells with all his might and runs to attack Kokoro. She cut him in half in the blink of an eye. Mikaboshi falls right at her feet.

"Well... I think I'm taking your place... Father" Kokoro kneel in front of him. Mikaboshi with his last strength look up and Kokoro smile viciously. "I think... I'm enjoying looking at you in this state... I don't know why, but your suffering is amusing for me... I kinda want to torture you more..."

"You..." Mikaboshi looks at her with hatred, but then laugh. "Hehehe... Look at you... That smile you are giving me... Is not the smile of the hero you wanted to be... Is the smile of a monster... You remind me of Odin's adoptive son, Loki... You two will make a fine couple" He said and Kokoro stabs her sword right in his head. Mikaboshi let out his final breath and turn to dust. Kokoro hears his voice, fading away in the wind. "You'll end up... destroying everything you wanted to protect..."

(Present Day)

Tony and Bruce hear what Kokoro had to say. She tells them how she lost her body and had to recreate it, how she kills her father and let the Yomi collapse. She then wanders into the Void, searching her way back home trying to create a portal that'll take her back but she couldn't do it. Even though she knew where she wanted to go, she didn't know where she was at. She couldn't create a connection between point A and B because she was not sure where she was standing. She then forces a portal to an unknown location and jumps there. She's been jumping from dimension to dimension until she finally arrives. The first thing she wanted was water and food. Her body demands it.

"Well... That's a cool story" Said Tony sarcastically. Kokoro was sitting at the table, eating a sandwich. It was her tenth sandwich and they were now out of bread. "Look, I'm happy to see you back and all but... I found it a little disturbing that you kill your own father. I mean, sure he was a piece of shit, but... Why killing him?"

"... Why not?" Kokoro asks and that question surprise Tony. "To be honest... I'm sick of it. I'm not anybody's toy. From today forward, I'll do whatever I want. Nobody bosses me around. Not the gods or the humans... I'm just doing what I want and what I think is right. I don't need anyone approval. I kill him because I wanted to get my rage out... I would do it again"

"So..." Bruce was nervous. "What are you going to do now?"

"I don't know... I think that my first move will be... Go to see mom and Tomoko. They must be worried about me. I'll calm them down and then... Who knows... I haven't decided yet. I want to keep helping people... But I have this urge... Making a mess, you know what I mean? Letting it all out. I beat Hulk know what I'm talking about" She point at Banner and he chuckled.

"Let's not finding that out today... But I do get it a little. You reach a breaking point and you can't get to exploding"

"Exactly"

"Well..." Tony sigh and grab half of the sandwich she was eating. She didn't care, she had enough. "You seem a little different now. I mean, your eyes are a little creepy, your hair is floating in the air, not giving a fuck about the laws of gravity and you have a big magical sword... Not to mention your new attitude of rebellious girl is kind of a silly trope. I can't help but call you Anime Girl or something along those lines" He then eat the sandwich. "I like it though. Listen, now we are onto something huge. You have two options, you can still be part of the team... Or not. You said you won't let anyone boss you around and use you as a puppet... We won't do that, but if you feel like if that's the case" Tony point at the door. "You can always walk away... Also, I won't charge you for those sandwich you ate. I couldn't care less"

"... I'm staying with you guys" She said. "That's why I end up here in the first place instead of creating a portal at home. I wanted to see my friends first"

"Friends..." Bruce smile. "You haven't really change. For a moment I thought you were a little unstable"

"Oh, I'm still unstable. So don't mess with me" They all laugh and Tony pat her in the back.

"Do yourself a favor and go back home. Your mother is worried" Tony smile at her. "Welcome back kid... We missed you"

"I've missed you too," She said and walk out of the kitchen. I'll be right back guys..." She said and disappear.

"What a nice surprise," Said Bruce.

"It wasn't that nice. I have to buy more bread now... When she's back we might need to run some tests on her. I'm curious about that power of hers. We might help her to understand how it works and why does what it does" Tony point out. "And I want to know what she's capable of and what not"

"Sure... Let's give her space to breath for now. She needs it"

Avengers Age of Ultron is coming next!