JC: Yawn! I finished this chapter at the exact time of 12:00 AM. Time flies when you're having fun writing stories! Hehe... Before we start, I would like to express my thanks to all the reviewers!

Disclaimer: I don't own Gundam Seed Destiny.

Gundam Seed: Mythical Legends

Phase 15: Innocent Heart

Was she really Freya? Was the man telling her the truth? These were the questions bothering her head. She couldn't rest quietly in bed because of her desire to learn about the truth. She had to talk to someone who might know the answers and that would be none other than her best friend, Shinn Asuka.

"I need to see Shinn," muttered Cagalli, clenching her fists. "He needs to know about this." She looked up at Athrun seriously.

Gazing into her golden-brown eyes, Athrun could feel the determination burning within her. But there was no doubt about the confusion in her mind. Like reading an open book, he also sensed the sadness welding inside her heart.

He had to do something for her. He indisputably volunteered to bring her to Shinn, knowing it would cheer her up.

"Really? You would do that?" There was but a tiny smile forming on her lips. Her eyes enlightened a bit and her heart was temporarily drained from all negative feelings.

"I can take you to Shinn's house if you want," he offered.

"Please do," she replied. "I really want to talk to him about that man." Talking about the golden-eyed man sent shivers to her spine. She had the right to fear the man but not entirely. After all, Cagalli was one tough girl to handle- even for a god with supreme powers.

Anyway, her primary objective was to talk to Shinn to set things out. She couldn't possibly go anywhere if she would stay in one spot. She had to move fast.

Weakly, she got out of bed with Athrun's support. She didn't think she would feel so dependent because of her condition. She wasn't the type who would rely on others for assistance. Still, she felt happy to be dependent for once.

When she tried to stand straight her legs became numb, causing her to drop to the floor.

"What's the matter, Cagalli?" Athrun asked, feeling concerned, as he knelt down beside her.

"My legs... They're numb," she stammered, as she placed a hand on her right leg. "What should I do? I can't walk right now..." She began trembling in despair.

But there is always a light of hope in despair. For Cagalli, her hope was Athrun.

Placing a hand over hers, Athrun lifted her chin with his other hand and told her to look at him. As his eyes met her golden-brown orbs, he knitted a kind smile on his face that signified his love and care for her. The willingness to do everything for her was definitely real.

Heart racing, he calmly said, "I'll help you get to Shinn." He gestured his hand on top of her head as he pulled her closer to him.

"But I already owe you so much. I couldn't possibly ask for anymore..."

He quickly cut her off, "I'm helping you because I want to."

"Athrun..." she said in a soft voice. She was extremely thankful for having a friend like Athrun. Even though she felt like being burden for him, she was still happy to be with him. Since she wasn't able to control her emotions anymore, she started to cry tears of gratitude.

"Please don't cry anymore, Cagalli," he whispered, pulling her into a hug.

Cagalli felt his warmness and care. Through his eyes, she was able to see how concerned he was for her. His actions explained how important she was to him. She suddenly felt like the luckiest girl in the world.

Norns' Mansion

Revealing the truth about Freya was astonishing news to the goddesses, Urd, Verdandi, and Hel. Though they didn't believe it at first, Heimdall made sure that it was the whole truth. Of course, he also told them about Odin's plan to use Freya for his evil bidding.

"He's going to use Freya-sama for his own selfish reasons!" Urd blurted out, looking angry.

"We mustn't let Odin-sama do such a thing," Verdandi added.

"You cannot stop Odin!" exclaimed Heimdall as he crossed his arms. "Odin is far too powerful for you." He sounded a bit concern this time.

"I'm sure Oto-sama can handle him," Hel said knowingly. Being a daddy's girl, she had always believed in her father's skills.

"Loki is nothing but a weakling."

"My father is strong! You better take that back!"

He was really getting tired hearing her arguments. Things between him and her had never changed. She was still the bossy goddess of the death and he was still the cold-hearted god. They became friends because they just like each other.

Sometimes he wished they never became friends in the first place. Hel, being his former friend, was making it harder for him to eliminate Loki. He had destiny- the Norns- to thank.

Now, their friendship was over. Everything between them ended. They became enemies because of Heimdall's desire for revenge. Hel tried to stop him before, but she failed. Heimdall was totally blinded by rage.

"Your father is a liar! He stole my right eye but he doesn't admit it! He's an insolent fool!" He shouted at the top of his lungs, giving Hel quite a shock. As he took a deep breath, he glared at Hel so intensely and uttered, "Loki better give me back my eye if he doesn't want me to take his precious Freya away."

His words scared the Norns completely. They could see how serious Heimdall was when he uttered those words. They had to do something to make him believe that Loki was innocent. After all, they had to protect Freya.

"Heimdall," Verdandi paused for a moment to release a bit of aura from her body. She lifted her arm forward and pointed it at him. At the tip of her fingers a blue energy sphere formed.

"What are you trying to do, Verdandi?" asked Heimdall, who doesn't seem to be afraid of her power.

Narrowing her gaze, she said, "Rey Za Burrel, I will personally kill you if you hurt Cagalli-san." The kind-hearted Verdandi was actually threatening the god she once respected.

Rey made a frightening glare as he let out some of his own aura. Instantly, the room was filled with a dangerous aura that can kill a normal human. His sudden outburst of aura implied that he was ready to fight the goddess if she attacks.

"Jean, please stop!" Urd went in front of her sister, blocking her view from Rey. "You mustn't start a fight here.'"

"Onee... Miriallia-san..." Jean hesitantly called her by first name.

"I understand your reasons for being protective but please..." Miriallia approached Jean and placed a hand on her shoulder. Aqua-blue eyes were focused on Jean's emerald-green eyes, showing how much she cared.

"All right... But if he does anything to Cagalli-san."

"We'll make sure his dead," Miriallia continued, as turned around to face Rey.

"Hmph, we'll see about that!" After saying this, Rey summoned a shadow monster and commanded it to attack the Norns.

"Jean, Miriallia!" Hel shouted, getting afraid.

The Norns immediately used their magic to create a barrier in front of them. The barrier prevented the monster from getting near them. With their might, they chanted a spell of divine light and eradicated the monster. It was pretty easy for them to beat a low-level monster like that. However, it was still a very dangerous thing to do.

Miriallia was about to give Rey some serious insults, but he was already gone. Irritated, she mumbled some curses about him as she crossed her arms. "That bastard disappeared. What a cowardly act!"

"He makes me so mad!" Jean added.

"Now... now... You two better calm down." Hel cautiously tapped their shoulders, hoping it would ease them up. Honestly, she has never seen the Norns act irately before. Because of this, she made a reminder to stay on the Norns' good side at all times.

Putting her thoughts aside, Hel reminded the Norns about Freya. She also suggested telling Shinn about this as well.

"You're right, Fllay," Miriallia agreed.

Jean walked towards the door and paused in silence. Curiously, she wondered if Cagalli already knew about her true identity. But how did she hide her aura from us? She looked up at the ceiling, trying to think of an answer. Could it be? There's no way for her to possess... A drop of sweat streamed down from her forehead to her cheek. She shook her head in disbelief from her interesting theory about Freya's power.

Before coming to any conclusions, she had to make sure if her theory was correct. Without moving from her spot, she lied to Miriallia and Fllay that she was going out to find Stellar. After this, she immediately ran out of the mansion to the front gate. As she left the premises of her 2nd home, she bumped into a red-haired girl with pigtails.

"Ouch!" the pigtailed girl yelled out, as she dropped butt-first to the ground.

Fortunately for Jean, she was able to maintain her balance. She was still in a hurry, but she couldn't possibly leave the girl without helping her. So, she held out her hand and apologized for bumping into her.

The pigtailed girl looked at her with a smile. "It's okay. I'm sure you didn't mean to."

When she took her hand, a vision entered Jean's mind without any warning. The vision showed the girl's future with the goddesses.

Noticing her vague expression, the girl simply waved her other hand in front of Jean's face. "Um... Are you all right?"

Her voice brought Jean back to her senses. This girl... She faced the girl and smiled weakly. "I'm sorry for spacing out like that," she said, scratching the back of her head.

"There's no need to be sorry." The pigtailed girl took her hand away from Jean and bowed her head. "I have to go now." She was going to walk off when she was suddenly hauled by Jean.

"I want to ask you something."

"What is it?"

"I was wondering," she replied, "if you go to Archangel University."

The girl nodded her head in reply.

"That's great. I go to that school too."

"Is that so? Then we are schoolmates. I'm from Class 2-A."

"Well, I'm from Class 2-F."

"Really? I don't see you often at school." The girl placed a finger on her cheek, showing a perplexed face.

"That's because I just transferred. By the way I'm Ver..." She instantly clamped her mouth when she realized what she was about to say. It was careless of her for almost exposing her true name. Nevertheless, she remained composed and continued with her introduction. "I'm Jean Corda."

"I'm Meyrin Hawke!" She said excitedly, raising one hand in the hair. "It's very nice to meet you, Corda-san."

"Please call me Jean. Corda-san sounds way too formal." Jean giggled.

"Then you can call me Meyrin," she informed.

The newly-found friends talked about so many things. Both of them enjoyed each other's company- even though they just met 5 minutes ago. As time passed, both have come to realize their different traits. But it was getting late...

And Meyrin needed to run some errands for her mom. "It was really nice talking to you, Jean. I'll see you tomorrow at school." She raised her hand and waved at the goddess.

"Yeah, bye..." Jean showed a wide smile.

Meyrin turned around and walked off. When she was at a certain distance from her previous spot, she quickly spun on her heels to face Jean again. But Jean wasn't there anymore.

"Huh?" she muttered, raising an eyebrow. "Where did she go? It's like she vanished into thin air..." Although curious and concerned, she decided to put that thought aside and go do some errands.

Zala Mansion

"There you go," Athrun said softly, as he helped Cagalli into his car.

Smiling, the blonde looked up at Athrun. She was already feeling a little embarrassed of having Athrun do things for her. Frankly, he was giving her the princess treatment. "I promised to repay you for your kindness."

Athrun chuckled. That promise wasn't typical of her. He knew she meant it, but it bothered him. He wasn't really asking for anything in return except for Cagalli's happiness.

"You don't have to pay me back, Cagalli." He slowly shook his head.

He went to the other side of the car and hopped onto the driver's seat. As he started the engine, he told Cagalli to buckle up for her safety. He stepped on the pedal, accelerating the car out of the garage. He drove the car through the gate and into the streets where he increased the speed further.

VVRRROOOOM! Like a lightning bolt, the car zipped across two lanes, missing a black cat. There was a screech of tires rubbing against concrete. Athrun was driving like a race car driver.

"Oh, wow..." Cagalli muttered. Her heart was thumping so loudly Cagalli was sure it could be heard back in the mansion. "I didn't know you were such a great driver."

"It took me a lot of practice." His eyes were still focused on the road.

When the car reached the road near the river, Athrun decreased the speed and drove cautiously. Taking one glimpse of the river reminded him of Cagalli's story about the man she met. He was going to ask the blonde about it until...

"This is where I met him," Cagalli started. Her hands trembled as she remembered how the man pulled her into his arms. He was indeed warm, she thought, but fearsome at the same time. "Was he really Odin?"

"I don't know," Athrun answered, shifting his eyes on Cagalli.

Cagalli sighed in disappointment. Then she looked forward and saw a man standing in the middle of the road. "Athrun, stop the car!" she told her blue-haired friend.

Pressing the brakes, the car pulled to a complete stop before even touching the man. Athrun got out of the car to confront the man when he was suddenly dragged to the ground by an unknown force. He tried to stand up, but his strength was of no use. "What is going on around here?"

"Athrun!" shouted Cagalli. She tried to get out of the car, but her legs were still numb. However, she hated being helpless so she still struggled to go to the guy by crawling on the ground. When she reached him, she immediately asked him if he was all right.

"I'm okay," he groaned, "but I can't get up."

Cagalli grabbed his shoulders and tried pulling him up.

"Your effort won't work, Freya," the man who stood in their way spoke. His voice was awfully familiar, which frightened the blonde. She didn't want to see that man again, but luck wasn't on her side. Despite her fear, though, the blonde still managed to look at the man seriously. "What's with that look, my lovely Freya?"

"You're Odin, right? Release Athrun immediately," Cagalli retorted, clenching her fists. "You better do it now!"

"You seemed to care for this boy." Odin frowned and began to release ample amounts of aura from his body.

Cagalli had to admit, his power was unbelievable. She remembered seeing other gods releasing ample amounts of aura, but she has never encountered a god with a dangerous aura. "If you think you can scare me then you're wrong!" she said bravely.

"That's what I admire about you."

"Didn't you hear what I said?" Cagalli went on, trying to ignore his sweet talking. She held Athrun hand and placed it near her chest. She caressed it softly as she looked at Athrun with eyes so captivating. "I swear I'll get you out of this mess."

"Cagalli..." was the only thing he could say, as he took a glimpse of Cagalli's eyes.

Angered, Odin lifted Athrun into the air by using telekinesis. He was in the right mind to kill the mortal anytime.

"Athrun!" the blonde screamed in fear.

Athrun was having a hard time breathing. It seemed that Odin was using his power to strangle him to death as well. How typical for the great god to use to dirty tricks.

Odin didn't even mind the mortal's suffering. He gazed at Cagalli and pasted a smirk on his face. "A goddess like you shouldn't be with mortals like him."

"What did you say!" She said angrily. "That mortal...is...is... my precious friend!"

Precious Friend, Athrun thought. Her words were pleasing to his ear. He was very surprised and happy to hear Cagalli say that about him. He was able to feel relaxed for a moment, but then he felt a force gripping his neck even harder. "Ugh..."

"Your friend?" he groaned, narrowing his gaze at her. His aura grew more furiously. "I forbid it! I forbid you to be friends with this measly mortal!" He shifted his gaze at Athrun and pointed his hand at him.

"What are you going to do?" Cagalli questioned, fearing his actions.

"I'm going to kill him," Odin answered slowly.

Her eyes grew in surprise and her heart felt like bursting. She wanted to help Athrun, but she was still unable to stand up. "No, don't do it! Odin!" she pleaded.

Odin didn't listen, because he was too focused on Athrun. As he began closing his fists, the force around Athrun's neck completely blocked off his air supply. "Is it painful, mortal?" he laughed sinisterly. "Do you regret meeting Freya now?" He gestured his hand downwards, bringing Athrun to the ground.

"Ah..." Athrun was certainly in pain, but he wasn't giving up. With his remaining strength, he struggled to keep consciousness. "I... I'm glad... I met Cagalli... I never regretted..." he stammered.

"Athrun..." Her eyes soften. His words, somehow, brought encouragement that made her want to fight.

And his words also made Odin angrier. "Mortals are fools! You don't have any right to be with gods!" He started chanting the spell of direct killing, a forbidden magic used by superior gods. "Heed my words and come out my loyal servant!" he went on until the spell was completed.

"NO!" exclaimed Cagalli, burying her face into her hands. A gush of light suddenly emitted from her body, sending sparks all over the place. Raging power of divine light oozed out like an overflowing water, disabling Odin from using his powers.

Because of this Odin, his connections with Athrun broke and his body became paralyzed. Athrun, on the other hand, landed safely on a patch of grass.

Cagalli was still bursting with energy. She had no idea on how to stop her power from going out of control. She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to shake off the anxiety she felt in her heart. Her body was wincing in pain and her vision was blurring. She hadn't anticipated this to happen to her. She seemed quite helpless at the moment until Athrun came to her rescue.

Unbelievable! The guy almost died from lack of air, but he was still able to approach Cagalli as if nothing happened. Honestly, it was his determination to help Cagalli that kept him going.

He jumped in and hugged her. "Cagalli, it's okay. I'm here now." He brushed his fingers through her golden locks to calm her down.

She did calm down. She looked up at Athrun and smiled weakly. "I'm glad you're safe," she murmured, leaning her head on his chest.

"I have you thank for that."

"I only did what I c—" She lost consciousness before finishing her sentence.

"Cagalli..." He constricted his arms securely around her. "You did great." He felt at peace being able to hold her. He thought everything would be fine, but he had to take care of one more problem.

And that problem was Odin.

"Freya's power is even astonishing than I expected." Odin stood from his position and faced Athrun. "If you don't want to get hurt again, you better hand over Freya to me," he said confidently.

"Over my dead body!" defended Athrun.

"You never learn, do you? Well then, allow me to annihilate you." Odin raised his hand and chanted the same spell again. This time he was certain he would succeed, since nobody was there to stop him. "Farewell, pathetic mortal."

Unexpectedly, a lightning bolt came out of nowhere and flew straight to Odin. Though the lightning was powerful, Odin still managed to defend himself from it.

This power, he thought, clenching his fist, as he recognized the power. So he finally shows up.

"Odin, you bastard!" Shinn appeared, running as fast as he could. Behind him, Stellar was following closely, trying her best to catch up.

"What perfect timing," Odin groaned in frustration. Freya's power drained most of my powers. Due to his condition, he couldn't afford to fight Loki and Skuld. So, he decided to make haste and disappear out of sight.

Athrun sighed in relief, knowing the danger was gone. He could now focus on Cagalli who was resting in his arms, tired from all the happenings.

"Zala, is Cagalli all right?"

Startled, Athrun turned to see Shinn kneel down beside him. "What did Odin do to her?" he asked, placing a hand on Cagalli's head.

"She's fine," Athrun answered. "In fact, she was the one who saved me from Odin." He knitted a smile on his face.

"What do you mean?" Stellar asked curiously.

Athrun was silent for a minute. Then he started talking. "I know you guys are going to be surprise, but you deserve to know the truth. Odin was trying to take Cagalli or should I say Freya?"

"What!" Indeed, both Shinn and Stellar were completely surprised.

To be continued...

JC: That's the end of chapter 15. Odin was trying to kill Athrun! Was it because he hates mortals or was there another reason to it? What's going on between Hel and Heimdall? And when will Freyr know the truth about his sister? I won't reveal it here yet... Hehe... Please review and no flaming!