Still working on coming down from the Star Wars 'high' of last Thursday night.
If you haven't seen 'Star Wars in Concert' I highly recommend it.
Chapter 3
The next morning Gabby awoke to the sounds of her mother, muttering and banging things around, coming from her parent's bedroom.
Gabby quickly jumped out of bed and headed down the hall towards her parents room. Peering inside, she saw her mother rooting through the closet apparently looking for something. Her father was sitting on the bed watching in amusement.
"What's Mom doing?" she asked.
"Ah, Good Morning Gabby." Sentaro said with a smile. "Today's going to be a rather busy day."
"Oh?"
"We got a phone call this morning." Sentaro said, a serious look appearing on his face. "The presence of you and your mother is required at a council meeting."
"Council?" Gabby repeated form a frown. "Why would the Shogun…"
Sentaro held up a finger. "Not the Shogun."
"Then who?"
Sentaro pointed up towards the ceiling.
"His Council."
Gabby followed his finger upward until it clicked.
She came from a family that had Goddesses and Messengers.
'He' had to be Kami-sama.
"Oh." Gabby said.
"Now your mother is busy looking for the outfit she usually wore to the Heavens." Her father explained, "It's been at least thirteen years since she last wore it." He then raised his voice towards the closet. "Of course if she would remember that she is a being of Heaven, then she would know exactly where her outfit is."
Suddenly all noises from the closet stopped.
It was quiet for a moment, then a bright white flash came from the closet. Arael stepped out now wearing grey robes with gold trim and boots.
"I hate you." She murmured a slight blush on her cheeks.
"It's not my fault you forgot." Sentaro replied with a smile.
Arael turned to her daughter.
"Gabrielle, we are going to be meeting some very important people today. I need you to wear your best dress."
Gabby thought a moment.
"The yellow sun dress?"
Arael frowned slightly and started to open her mouth when Sentaro interrupted her.
"That's a wonderful idea honey." He said, "Now run along and get ready."
"Ok Dad." Gabby said as she hurried out of the room.
"The sundress?" Arael asked.
"You have to admit," Sentaro said with a smile, "She does look like a little Angel in it."
Arael let the comment slid. "But the sundress?"
"You realize she won't just be meeting the Council." Sentaro said, "She'll also be meeting her Grandmother, her Great-Grandmother, her Great-Great-Grandfather, at least two Great-Aunts, several adopted….."
"Ok ok." Arael said, "I surrender." She then looked down at the ground with a frown.
Sentaro pulled her onto his lap and hugged her tightly.
"Everything will be fine." He said. "She looks wonderful in that dress and will dazzle them with that smile of hers."
Arael grabbed hold of the hands holding her and pulled then even closer as she closed her eyes and sighed.
Arael and Gabby appeared in a flash of light in a grove of trees. Gabby immediately began looking about.
"This is Heaven?"
"Part of it." Arael replied, taking in her surroundings as well. It had been awhile since she'd last been here.
"So which way do we go?"
Arael pointed, "Towards that building."
Gabby frowned and looked in the direction indicated. Then she looked up.
And up
And up some more.
"Whoa." Gabby murmured, "What do they keep in there?"
"The Council and the World Computer, Yggdrasil." Arael answered as she began walking.
Gabby followed her mother through the trees and onto a path that led to the building. Exiting the grove, the path led over a bridge and into the massive building. Gabby glanced over the bridge railing. All she could see was the swirling mist.
"What's down there?" she asked.
"Earth." Came her mother's reply.
The two entered the building and Gabby let out a small gasp.
The room was huge! She could only just make out the ceiling high above. Various Gods and Goddesses moved about their business. Most ignored them, but several did take notice of her mother. Some nodded in greeting. But they were the minority. The rest seemed to shy away or immediately look elsewhere.
Gabby saw her mother return the nod to those that greeted her. To the untrained eye, she seemed to take no notice of the others, but Gabby could tell it hurt her.
They walked to what appeared to be an elevator. Arael reached out and pressed a button and the doors closed. After a minute or so, the doors opened to a large hallway. A red haired woman who seemed oddly familiar somehow was waiting when they exited the elevator.
"You don't visit," the woman said, "You don't write. You barely call. Why are you my best friend again?"
Arael smiled and wrapped the woman in a hug.
"I missed you too Yui."
"I really wonder." Yui replied. She looked to Gabby. "After all it took this one to get you up here. Even Mom wonders if you remember her."
"Asuka is hardly forgettable."
Gabby's eyes widened. She finally placed the face.
"You look like Asuka Sohryu."
"Of course!" Yui replied with a smile, "She is my Mother after all."
"Gabrielle Aida," Arael said, "Meet my best friend, Yui Ikari."
"Ikari?" Gabby gasped, "Your father is Shinji Ikari?"
Yui looked at Gabby curiously. "Well yeah."
"I won the bet!" Gabby squealed.
"What bet?" Arael and Yui asked together.
"Kat and I had a bet about who Shinji Ikari eventually married." Gabby explained, "We knew he did, but we couldn't find any records going back that far on Terra 2. When our class trip takes us to Earth, we were gonna look there. Anyway, I said Ikari would end up with Sohryu."
"Who did Kat think?" Arael asked.
"Ayanami."
"AUNT REI!" Yui shrieked, "EWWWWWW!"
"Aunt?" Gabby blinked.
"Yes, Aunt." Arael confirmed, "And unfortunately, Kat is going to have to find out about this when you find the record on Earth."
Gabby sighed. "Yeah, I thought so."
"Anyway, Business time." Yui's face became serious. "The entire Council is in there, +1."
Arael raised an eyebrow.
"Who's the extra?"
"The Crown Princess of Hell."
Gabby's eyes went wide.
"There's a Devil in there?"
"Demoness." Arael corrected. "Don't worry, she's a friend."
"But we're in Heaven!" Gabby said, "Why is a Demon in Heaven?"
"Things have been different for the past 500 years." Yui replied, "As for the Princess, she has a history with your Grandmother, so her being here isn't unusual."
The three walked down the hall for a bit, before Yui stopped them before a set of large doors. Flanking the doors were two armored women.
"Guardian Yui Ikari," Yui stated firmly, "Escorting The Fifteenth Messenger Arael Aida and her daughter, Gabrielle Aida to appear before the Council of Heaven."
"You are expected." One of the women answered. The doors then opened revealing a darkened room.
As the three entered the room, Arael leaned closer to Gabby.
"It's be alright." She whispered, "Just do what I do."
Gabby could only nod as they moved further into the room. Her eyes darted around, taking in as much as she could. There were several more armored women in this room, each standing against a wall next to a massive column. At the center of the room was a large U shaped table, at which sat more then twenty people. All had their eyes locked on the approaching three.
Yui led them to a circular shaped inlaid into the marble floor, then bowed before announcing.
"As ordered, The Fifteenth Messenger Arael Aida, and her daughter Gabrielle Aida."
Arael motion to Gabby and then two bowed.
"You may leave us Guardian Yui." Came a voice from before them.
Yui bowed again, then left the room.
"You may rise."
Arael straightened, followed closely by Gabby. Gabby kept her head straight, but allowed her eyes to wonder. Everyone sitting at the table was dressed in very ornate robes. All had blue markings upon their foreheads and cheeks but one. He sat at the center of the table.
"It has been some time since you were last here Arael." The man said, "I trust you have been well?"
"Yes Milord." Arael answered respectfully.
"I wish your return had been on different circumstances." The man continued. He then glanced to the side. "Though a few of us are thankful for the opportunity to enjoy the presence of your daughter."
Gabby blinked at the man then slowly turned her eyes to where he was looking.
Two women sat side by side at the table. The first thing she noticed about them was the forehead marking. Gabby's eyes widened! They matched Kristine's! An elongated diamond! Both looked alike, but for hair color. Gabby found her eyes were drawn to the dark brown haired woman.
Sitting before her was the woman who's face she'd only seen in pictures: Her Grandmother.
"Family obligations aside." A new voice said from the other side of the table. Gabby's eyes turned to a middle eastern looking man. "But we must discuss how to proceed. It has been a long time since we had more then one Messenger to deal with."
"You say that like she's a threat." The honey brown haired woman beside her Grandmother stated with narrowed eyes.
"She is a Messenger."
"And a child."
"And look what this child has already done!" the man said. "Yes, she did not do it intentionally," the man said, cutting off Arael as she opened her mouth, "but she did cause the death of several mortals."
"Which is why she must be trained." Gabby's eyes moved over to a blond haired woman. "The question before us is how."
"Simple." A massive blond haired man said from near her Grandmother. "Let Arael train her."
"But is she up to the task?" the middle-eastern man asked.
"Were any of us when we trained our first God or Goddess?" her Grandmother spoke up.
"So true." The massive man said with a smile.
"Anubis." The man in the center said, "We all understand your concerns. I daresay that young Gabrielle will be closely watched for some time to come."
Gabby visibly gulped. This was worse then being called to the Principal's office.
"For the record," the man in the center continued, "Let it be known that Gabrielle Aida, designated as the Nineteenth Messenger, shall be trained under the supervision of Arael Aida, the Fifteenth Messenger, who shall report on her pupil's progress to this council."
Arael bowed her head in acceptance of the task.
"Do you eventually mean to assign her?" the blond haired woman asked.
"I believe her Grandmother would object to her placement under anyone else but her." The man said with a smile. Gabby noted her Grandmother blushing at this.
"Very well." The man in the center said, "Does the Princess of Hell have anything to add?"
Movement to her side caused Gabby to turn her head. From the darkness an auburn haired woman dressed in black stepped beside her. The most outstanding feature was a black patch over her right eye. The remaining bright green eye looked at her a moment, before changing it's gaze back onto the center man.
"I have nothing to add Kami-sama." The Princess stated.
"Then," Kami-sama said, "Unless someone else has anything to add?"
Silence.
"Then this meeting is adjourned." Kami-sama rose and looked directly at Gabrielle. "Enjoy your visit young Gabrielle. I know she has long been eager to meet you." He then left the room.
Several of the other Council members nodded to her as they passed. Anubis paused before her.
"I mean no malice towards you." He said to Gabby. "But to serve this council well, all views must be considered."
"I understand sir." Gabby replied.
Anubis smiled. "Good luck with your training young Messenger."
Soon the room was empty but for Gabby, her mother, the Princess of Hell, the honey-blond haired woman, and her Grandmother……
….…who seemed to practically fly through the air to wrap her grandchild in a hug.
"…I've been wanting to do this for a long time." Her Grandmother sniffed.
Gabby couldn't reply. She was too busy crying and holding her Grandmother just as tightly.
"Ah the famous Morisato death hug."
Gabby's Grandmother turned slightly and glared at the Princess.
"Quiet you. Or I'll tell Dawn and Yoko they can dye your clothes pink again."
The Princess gasped. "Again? Sayoko Aida did you give them the idea the first time?"
Sayoko smirked. "Maybe."
"You sure you're a Goddess?" the Princess asked.
"You sure you're a Demon Mana?" Sayoko asked.
Mana huffed, then turned to Gabby.
"Hello Gabrielle, I'm your Grandmother's former best friend" 'WHAT?' Sayoko cried out, "Mana Kirishima, Demoness Class Zero, Princess of Hell."
"Hello." Gabby said as she looked over her Grandmother's shoulder.
"Sayoko," the honey-brown haired woman said, "Why don't you take Gabby on a short tour. We'll see you back at the office."
Sayoko smiled and held out her hand. Gabby took it, then looked at her mother.
"It'll be ok." Sayoko said softly, "Your Great-grandmother Belldandy just wants to have a discussion with her."
Gabby's eyes widened at that information as she was gently led away. It was only after they had left the room that the smile vanished from Belldandy's face.
"What's wrong?" Arael asked.
"Something else happened during Gabrielle's incident." Belldandy answered, "Blitz found traces of demonic energy where one of the Cultist was killed."
"So that was what we felt." Arael murmured.
"No demon was in that area at the time." Mana stated, "At least, no demon under the command of Hell."
Arael's eyes widened. "A Rogue Demon?"
"Unfortunately," Mana said, "We have never been able to account for them all. We are not set up like Yggdrasil. We know who fell in the battle for Heaven, and many who fell in Hell. We were even able to keep track of the ones that fell to the hunter teams. However, we'll never know how many your brother's took out when they made their 'appearance'."
"Ah."
"Both Mana and I agree we shouldn't get too worked up about this." Belldandy said, "The Demon doesn't seem to be particularly active. But, we do not know the demons intentions."
"You want me to keep an eye out for it?" Arael asked.
"Yes…and no." Mana said. "The problem is……. Neither you or Blitz detected the demon until the cultist was killed. Then you felt nothing after. Only when Blitz was in the room with the cultist did she detect the trace amount of energy."
"Meaning?" Arael asked.
Mana glanced at Belldandy, who nodded. Mana turned back to Arael. Suddenly red Demon markings appeared on Mana's forehead and cheeks and her eye flashed from green to red.
Arael blinked as she felt the dark demonic energy flow off of Mana. And then it was gone as Mana's markings vanished and her eye returned to green.
Now Arael understood.
"The demon is half mortal." She stated.
Belldandy nodded. "Only the second one known to us." She indicated Mana. "You know the first."
Arael frowned. "But then….that would mean there are two rogue Demons on Terra 2."
"Correct." Belldandy replied, "Thus, you will keep an eye out for the adult…."
"…..while Gabby keeps an eye out for the child." Mana finished.
"Child?" Arael looked at them in confusion.
"Yes." Mana said, "We believe the Demon that killed the cultist did so defending itself. And the only reason that demon would have for being at the school……is if it was as a student."
Gabby and Sayoko walked arm and arm down the hall, to where, Gabby did not know. Nor did she really care. She was enjoying being in the company of her Grandmother.
And hearing embarrassing stories about her parents.
"She was just so…….well…shocked." Sayoko said, "I don't think she expected Yui to do that to her hair."
"Mom with pink hair." Gabby murmured, picturing it in her head. "I can't see it."
"Ask your mother." Sayoko said, "I'm sure she has the picture around somewhere."
The two passed through a set of doors and entered a massive chamber. It went up many stories and had a large open pit. All over were terminals and small displays. Within the pit rising up and out of view were three massive rotating spindles.
"This is Yggdrasil." Sayoko said softly, "The Computer that runs the universe."
"Wow." Gabby stared at it in awe.
"Come on." Sayoko led her towards a group of three terminals set slightly recessed into the floor before a large display. Just behind them on a floating platform was another terminal. While the three Goddesses sitting at the recessed terminals seemed very busy, the lone Goddess on the platform appeared to be bored.
"Urd." Sayoko called out, her face suddenly becoming quite emotionless.
The bored goddess turned her head and looked down at Sayoko, and winced.
"Hey Sayoko." Urd said, "I thought you hadn't forgiven me yet?"
"When Kensuke's hair grows back I might consider it." Sayoko replied flatly.
"Huh?" Gabby blinked and looked between the two, wondering what had happened to flip her Grandmother's mood so quickly.
"This is my mother's sister." Sayoko said, her voice still flat and emotionless. "She has this nasty habit of butting into things that do not concern her and concocting potions of dubious nature and results."
"I'm sorry." Urd said, "Really! I am! I didn't think his hair would fall out from that potion!"
"You shouldn't have spiked his drink in the first place!" Sayoko hissed back. "Where is Auntie?"
Urd sighed. "She's working out."
Gabby now found herself standing just inside a room where two goddesses seemed to be working out to loud dance music. One goddess had an odd mixture of purple and blond hair. The other had long black hair.
"Auntie Skuld." Sayoko suddenly called out.
The black haired goddess actually tripped and slammed face first into the floor. Both Sayoko and Gabby cringed at the sound. The other goddess stopped dancing and glared at Sayoko.
"You know better then to interrupt while one is training." She stated.
"Sorry Onee-sama." Sayoko said guiltily, "But it couldn't wait."
"What couldn't?" Skuld grumbled as she walked over, rubbing her nose. She then paused as she took in Gabby. "Who's this?"
Sayoko smirked at Skuld. "I was giving her a tour and decided she needed to meet my favorite Aunt." She then glanced at the other Goddess. "You being here is a bonus Onee-sama." She turned and brought Gabby before her. "Gabrielle Aida, my granddaughter, my I present my Auntie Skuld, Goddess of Future, and Selene, Goddess of the Moon."
"There's more then one now you know." Selene pointed out.
"Don't call me Auntie." Skuld grumbled. Her heart wasn't in the grumble though, Sayoko just looked too happy with Gabby being there.
"So this is Sentaro and Arael's little girl." Selene said with a smile. "I suppose she's up here for a reason?"
"I got my powers the other day." Gabby said softly.
Skuld knelt down in front of Gabby.
"Kind of a surprise wasn't it?" she asked.
"Not as surprised as the cultists were." Gabby murmured.
"Hey now." Sayoko was beside her in a second. "You didn't have any control over that. Besides, you defended yourself and your friends. There is nothing wrong with that."
"Not Goddess powers then." Selene asked softly.
Sayoko looked up and shook her head.
"If Arael needs any help……."
Sayoko smiled at Selene. "I'll let her know." She then turned to Skuld. "Mom wanted us back at the office after the tour."
"Ah." Skuld said. She then glanced at Selene. "Guess the work out is done. You want to come with?"
Selene gave Skuld a look. The Goddess of the Future sighed.
"You have to talk to her sometime." She said.
"Sometime." Selene answered, "But that is not today." She then turned and left the room.
"What was that about?" Gabby asked.
"Sometimes things happen that causes family members to drift apart." Sayoko said softly, "It doesn't mean you don't love them, hardly…..just that….you need time apart."
"Like you and your Aunt Urd?" Gabby asked.
"Like that." Sayoko said, "But that is entirely different from Selene and Cayla."
Gabby looked at her Grandmother curiously.
"It's different." Sayoko repeated. "Now come on, let's get you back to your mother."
Gabby now found herself walking between her Grandmother and her Great Aunt down a hall lined with portraits, seven in total.
She quickly recognized all the people feature in them but two. The ones she recognized held the image of Urd, Skuld, Belldandy, her Aunt Kristine, and her Grandmother Sayoko. Of the remaining two, one was an image of a God that looked vaguely familiar. The other was of a woman who, unlike the others she'd met, had no markings on her face at all.
"That is your Uncle Keima." Sayoko said, indicating the portrait of the God. "He lives on Terra 2 where he runs a restaurant with his wife named Otaru's….."
"Ugh." Gabby murmured, "Him. I thought he looked familiar."
"Obviously takes after her father." Skuld said with a smirk.
Sayoko rolled her eyes, then indicated the portrait of the woman. "That is your Great-Great Grandmother Verdandi. You might see her hanging around up here."
"And this…" Sayoko began as they entered a small waiting area. "Is………." Her voice trailed off.
Sitting behind a desk was a purple haired Goddess. Gabby watched as the Goddess looked in confusion at first a straw in one hand, and what looked like a juice box in the other.
"Cayla." Skuld called out, "What are you doing?"
"I was thirsty." Cayla answered, not looking up. "Holo-sensei stopped by and gave me this…..juice box? But I can't figure out how you get the juice out of it."
Sayoko was holding her face in her hands while Gabby was trying hard not to laugh. Skuld was fighting a grin as well.
"All that time you spent on Earth with us," Skuld said, "and you don't know how to open a juice box."
"No……" Cayla answered.
"Gabby?" Sayoko said, her voice muffled as she was still hiding her face. "Could you?"
Gabby took the juice box and quickly inserted the straw. Cayla blinked as she looked at the juice box, then back at Gabby.
"Where'd you learn to do that?" she asked.
Before Gabby could answer, Skuld interrupted.
"Is Onee-sama in there?"
"Yes. Along with Arael and Mana."
"Thank you." Skuld took Gabby's arm and led her into the office, Sayoko following just behind.
Gabby looked around at the office. The far wall was a floor to ceiling window. The other walls held frames full of pictures taken over the course of many years. Just in front of the window, facing the doorway, was a desk. At this desk sat Belldandy, her Great Grandmother. Her mother and Mana sat on a couch off to the side.
"Hello Gabrielle." Belldandy said, "Your mother, Mana, and I have been talking. And I believe it is time to include you." She waved her hand and a chair appeared before the desk. "Have a seat."
Gabby sat down in the chair while Skuld and her Grandmother moved to sit on the couch with her mother and Mana. Once everyone was seated, Belldandy spoke.
"Gabrielle, I am not going to lie to you." She began. "Heaven is not as safe as it is made out to be. We have had problems here, some of which rival those of the mortal world. But there are two particular threats that you must be aware of."
"One is Loki." Belldandy continued, "He was a God that was part of the council. But he betrayed the Heavens and completely disrupted what had been the status que for several eons. It is because of that, that Heaven and Hell now mix freely."
"But it is also because of him there is the second threat. Loki Was able to turn a large portion of Demons to his side, thus turning their backs on the Queen and Hell. Many fell during the battle. Many more died after being hunted down. Many more died just over forty years ago when your Mother and her brothers were restored. The problem is, we don't know how many remain."
"It was thought that they had all been killed off," Mana said, "But recently we found out that is not the case. One of the Cultists was killed by a Demon. We believe, that Demon is a student at your school."
Gabby's eyes went wide. "A Demon?"
Mana raised her hand, "Calm down. It isn't as bad as you think."
"But you just said there's a Demon in my school! What am I supposed to think?"
"It's isn't a pure one." Her mother said softly, "We believe, that the demon has a mortal parent."
"So what? It's only half of a threat?" Gabby asked irritatedly. "Is it less dangerous then a full demon?
"Hardly." Mana answered defensively, her eye flickering slightly. Gabby backed up a bit in her chair.
Gabby's Grandmother quickly placed a hand on Mana's shoulder before turning to face her grandchild.
"Because the Demon is half mortal, it can mask its prescience." She explained. "You won't know they are a demon until they reveal themselves." She nodded to Mana. "Mana here is half mortal. That is why you don't see her markings or the usual red eyes. She is also one of the more powerful demons."
Gabby now knew why she had gotten the reaction she had from Mana.
"I'm sorry." Gabby said, looking at Mana. She then turned to her Grandmother. "What am I supposed to do about the demon?"
"For now," her Grandmother answered, "Nothing. You don't have any of the training you'd need to face a demon."
"But the demon is school age." Gabby pointed out, "They can't be much more experienced then me."
"We don't know where this demon has been hiding." Mana said, "When I was your age, I had already been training for almost ten years." She then smirked, "Caused your Mom and Auntie a few sleepless nights."
"Only because we couldn't believe you stuffed poor Shinji into Misato's body." Skuld said.
"And Rei wouldn't stopped talking about the whole 'being in Shinji' experience." Sayoko added, slightly green. She then faced her granddaughter. "And never ever bring that up with her."
"Gabby," Gabby turned to her Great Grandmother. "We wanted you aware of the demon so that you would be careful, not that you would handle them. If you see anything strange, you need to tell your mother, your father, or your Aunt Kristine right away."
"Or Celes Victoria if you can get close to her." Sayoko spoke up.
Gabby stared at them "Auntie Celes knows too?"
Her Mother blinked.
"Oh." She murmured, "Your Father never mentioned her did he?"
"Mentioned what?" Gabby asked.
"Well…….." Arael looked to the others for help.
"Celes is………" Her Grandmother began,"………different."
"Is she a Goddess?" Gabby asked.
"No." Sayoko replied, "Nor is she a Messenger."
"And despite what crazy Priests say," Mana added, "She's not exactly a Demon either."
"What is she then?"
"Nosferatu." Mana, Sayoko, and Arael stated together.
Gabby blinked. "A what?"
"Vampire." Belldandy said, "She is a Vampire."
Gabby stared at them all quietly for several minutes.
"I'm a Messenger." Gabby said softly, "I come from a family of deities. And one of my Aunts is a vampire." She then sighed. "Is there anything about my family that's normal?"
"Well….."
"Don't answer that."
