There was a shack on the outskirts of the city. So old now that there was no one left to remember what it was for or why it was there, except for two people, who returned to this place at the end of a arduous journey that took them across and even beyond the stars. Now those two were here again, ready to show their new visitors.
The old door opened with a long creaking sound, the smell of dust greeting the guests. Gamma felt the doorframe until his hand rested on a cord. Lifting it from where it hung, he showed the the drill shaped pendant on the bottom to the others.
"What's that for?" Epsilon asked.
"Remember when I said that here, all the places we've been to were just ink on paper?" Nero walked into the dark ahead. "This is where Victor and I kept the tales of the multiverse."
Gamma walked in and inserted the drill into the wall. Twisting it activated the lights, revealing rows upon rows of books. Every one of them picked up a book, some of them depicting people and places they knew, others that they never visited, and a few were journal written by Gamma and Nero on their collected observations.
"Why did you never tell me about this place Victor?" Psyche inquired.
"I tend not to give the enemy ammunition." Gamma answered.
Epsilon finished one of the books. "These stories, are they finished?"
"Some of them are." Nero pulled out a set of books, opening the first volume. "Do you want to hear about the one we just came from?"
His eyes lit up. "Sounds good to me."
They all gathered around and Prometheus Nero told them the story of the two lovers Keiichi Morisato and the goddess Belldandy: their lives, struggles, and triumphs. Everything from helping out friends and family to saving the entire multiverse from the Lord of Terror. From their first encounter with Mara to overcoming the Judgement Gate in Niflheim. When it was over, they were all amazed at the exploits the heard.
"Not bad." Helen complimented. "He did so much despite his frailty; I understand what you meant Johann."
Omega leaned back onto a wall. "We had it easy: our armor, Hild's curse, and the combined knowledge and technology of a dozen realities."
"Don't sell yourselves short, it takes unbelievable strength to go as far as we did." Gamma said. "They had help from Hild too, and they nearly blew up Niflheim with a antimatter bomb, sacrificing themselves in the process. If that's what it takes, then I think we've done enough to earn some credit."
"That we did." Rho agreed.
Gamma knelt and grabbed a latch on the floor. "Well now that storytime's over, it's time to see the cool stuff." He lifted it up, and climbed down the ladder. The rest came down with him and were amazed at the displays they saw. The smaller displays depicted machines, scaled down in height. Their dynamic poses and striking designs drawing Gamma to them. He remembered the war machines who's destructive power he once hoped he'd never replicate. That didn't happen, but he knew now that his creations were in capable hands.
Rho looked upon a display of armor; suits from the far future and ancient past. He saw himself in their reflection and was filled with pride at that he could wear such an item himself. He thanked God for the opportunity to show so many what it meant to serve Him, and to guide him on the path to righteousness.
Nero stopped in front of a red death mask, the fanged and horned face menacing. He had long been afraid of it, and in his attempts to control his fears, he had done horrific things. With Omega holding the real one, his fear became small in comparison. It would take a long time to fix his mistakes,and his mind went to work on how to start.
Helen and Upsilon gazed at the divine garb of the goddesses they had met. Next to Belldandy's was the robe Keiichi wore at his wedding. Upsilon sighed, seeing Helen's point before: Keiichi was being controlled by forces beyond his knowledge, trying to make him something of their design. Through determination and self sacrifice he was freed from their control, and made his wish come true. They were more similar than he admitted. He and Helen looked at each other, contemplating the truth of their own relationship. Now that Hild was out of the way, things would proceed as they would before. One of them was going to die, most likely in the other's arms. At the moment however, they held hands, holding on to what they had right now.
Epsilon hung out in a corner, holding the item he was given, the necklace from Lind with the power of the angels within. His thoughts were heavy with the weight of duty as he placed his fingers on his scar, feeling the difference between it and his skin. He wasn't sure if he could keep going, but he would try as long as he was still alive, it was the least he could do for what Lind and the others did for him.
Omega had his eyes on a chunk of metal labeled as Damascus Steel, the wavy patterns familiar to him. It was from an angel of his own, one he needed to hear sing. Right after he brought Big Sister's mask back, of course. Even though the others were home, there wasn't much of a home for him here. What there was for him was the infinite multiverse for him to enjoy, and he would. From the distance he could hear faint singing, a somber voice that swept into the room.
There's only one song, left in my mind
Tales of a brave man who lived far from here
Now the bards' songs are over, and it's time to leave
No one should ask you for the name of the one
Who tells the story…
It picked up in volume until they could all hear it, drawing all of them to the far side of the room, where a stairwell awaited them Gamma and Nero turned to each other, neither of them remembering how this got there. They went down first, ready for whatever was at the bottom. No one had their weapons, either destroyed or lost in the fight with the demons. But what they found was something different. A lone man behind a desk.
It was like a mix of all of their physical characteristics: Rho's build, Upsilon's height, Gamma's hair straightened out with a white streak on the sides, Epsilon's scars and his red eyes, and his armor was as white as Helen's dress. He paid no attention to them at first, keeping his back to them, continuing to sing and strum on his guitar, which Epsilon realized was his.
In my thoughts and in my dreams they're always in my mind
These songs of hobbits, dwarves, and men, and elves
Come close your eyes!
You can see them too…
At the song's end, his head turned to see this confused group. "Ah, I was wondering when you'd come back, I was a little worried that you wouldn't make it."
"Who are you?" Epsilon asked.
"You." The stranger put down the guitar and tapped on his shoulder guard; a circle with a horizontal line etched onto it. "They call me Theta the Traveler, and I've been keeping an eye on you since the beginning."
Gamma sighed, not out of comfort, but out of exasperation. "Please, don't start with this."
"Start with what?" Theta's tried to act serious, but he couldn't hide his smile.
"This is the part where you tell us that you've been pulling the strings the entire time." Nero said. "The doors, Hild, that was all you wasn't it?"
"Like I can make her do anything she doesn't want to. I tried once." He said. "Not making that mistake again. No, I only gave you the first door. I kind of…lost you after that. Wasn't my finest moment."
"Then how did you figure out where we were?" Upsilon inquired.
"I asked around." Theta explained. "There were two people in particular who had a interest in you."
"Indeed."
"Six men who fight as one."
"One man who fights like six."
"We had to see for ourselves-"
"Which one was better."
The two figures revealed themselves, their tan formal dress an echo of a former life. Even now they were still curious, still in wonder at Gamma and company. Upsilon remember them, as he remembered everyone he read about. He was confused about how they got here from the floating city.
"The Lutece twins?"
"No," Helen corrected, tensing at their presence. "Just Lutece. They're the same person, separated by only one chromosome."
Upsilon focused on Robert, and then Rosalind. "The same, and yet different."
"Constants and variables." Rosalind put his words another way. "When X becomes Y."
"And six, seven." Robert finished, circling Helen. "This one is unique to this reality, and could have been the deciding factor in their success."
"And your failure." Rosalind prodded Theta, who closed his eyes in thought.
"Wait," Omega spoke up, trying to wrap his head around it all. "When we talked to others about you, they referenced a team like us. How are you one person?"
"I was all of you at one point." Theta explained. "Then Tyr decided to split me into my various incarnations."
"Why?"
"More eyes on Keiichi. He didn't trust him; took me a while to trust him too."
Epsilon scratched his chin. "Did your separation have anything to do with your death?"
"If I were together I wouldn't have fared better. I mean, I could only match two thousandths of Hild's energy on a good day, you managed five." He briefly chuckled to himself. "Can't believe you pulled that off."
"If you died," Rho wondered. "How are you right here?"
Theta shot a grin his way. "Strange thing about the multiverse, you'd be surprised at how many ways there are to reverse death."
Rho didn't press any further. "So what brings you down here?"
"I have a hobby of collecting things." He said. "So I decided to add some things to yours." A light shined behind him, displaying their armor in a glass case. Beside them was their weapons, shimmering and new. They moved around his desk to take their weapons back as well as Epsilon's guitar, Theta looking on. Turning back to him, the group saw that the 'siblings' had vanished without a trace.
"I also have a few things for you." Opening a drawer he showed them a book. "This is a codex of utility spells: teleportation, repair and the like. Also when you're not here, you'll still have the abilities of your former curse. I took the liberty of replacing as many of the items I could with their real counterparts, so you could go where you want."
"Oh that's right!" Rho dropped his sword in shock. "There's something I have to do! But I didn't take an item from there."
"I told you, I'm a collector." Theta took off a item from his belt and gave it to Rho. It was a broken mirror, a teardrop shaped slot on the back. "This will take you where you need to go."
"Thanks." He looked at Gamma. "You all have to come with me!"
Helen was slightly more skeptical. "Must we? I do have something to do as well."
"I'm sure you and Upsilon can hold off on killing each other for a few days. For now, I'm feeling like a vacation."
"I'm for that!" Gamma said. "Upsilon, send us off!"
Upsilon turned to Gamma for confirmation. He nodded in reply, and Upsilon created the spell from the codex. A audible ping was heard and they were taken up by a beam of energy.
Once they were gone, Theta looked over to the dark corners of the room. "I did my job, you can come out now."
From one corner, Hild stepped out with a hand on her hip, amused by Theta's performance. On the other side was Anzasu, holding her staff of office.
"I wasn't expecting it to be that easy." Anzasu said.
"They have always been easy to lead around." Hild replied. "Now that they're where we want them, we can finally settle this."
"There of all places?" Theta was worried about their drive to conflict. "A fight could get out of hand."
"That's why we sent them." Hild explained, becoming annoyed with how Theta thought she didn't think this through. "Less damage that way."
"Besides," Anzasu added. "They were on my list for testing anyway." She met Hild's gaze, both of them refusing to back down. "I'm eager to see who will win."
While they postured, Theta reached into a pocket and looked the display of armors, remembering his own battles. "Heroes, in spite of themselves." he sighed under his breath. Those people were good enough to earn a spot in this hall, but now they were just pawns in Hild and Anzasu's contests. He hoped that it'll all turn out for the best, although he couldn't help but feel nervous.
Okay, you got me; there's a epilogue. I just wanted a even fifteen parts okay? Can I have that?