Keiichi's Faith Chapter 6, an oh my goddess! fanfic

Keiichi's faith

Rel1.2

By Pizzigri

Sixth chapter up. As usual, I love Reviews… please! Let me know what I'm doing right… or wrong!

Ondhollr: Ancient Norse for "Mindful" and "Bearing in Mind"

OC, functional to the story, are mine and, actually also © 1220 A.D. by Snorri Sturluson. No copyright infringement intended!

…

Hild's surprise

Outside the Coordinated Planes of Existence, and beyond the reach of most Demons, within Nifelheim and outside of its dimensional planes, there's a place eternally blanketed in absolute silence.

A flat surface, that seems to be a pavement of black granite, endlessly extends in every direction. The grain is coarse, but its face is so polished that anything above it is perfectly reflected. Mist limits the visibility at a distance, and light is scarce; above this pavement, the uniform and incredibly deep blackness of outer space.

Time seems still.

Until a flash whites out everything, and crowned by multiple circles of dark, spinning runes, a beautiful naked woman, her hair white as snow and her skin the color of bronze, appears hovering above the surface.

Ah, home at last. I really need a bath…

Hild waves her hand nonchalantly, and a large rectangular hollowed slab of granite rises to surround her body, to her hip's height, full of a clear liquid.

Sliding in the newly created pool, Hild stretches and yawns, her naked body embraced by the soothing liquid, her hair spreading around her over the water like substance.

Only the Daimakaicho and her immediate kin can reach this secluded place, avoided even by most time streams.

With a muted "poof", a miniature Hild appears sitting on the edge of the granite tub. Her childish features set in a serious expression, she exclaims, "It's getting increasingly difficult to talk to my main self, lately… but, the last few hours really set a record. Where the HELL were you!"

"Having a friend for dinner… what's your problem?"

"A lot has changed on Earth. Vali's stunt may have started a domino effect… We've just had to endure a full Act of the Almighty. And… uhm…", Chibi Hild pauses, "oh yeah, Keiichi's dead."

Hild actually jumps up, standing in the pool.

"WHAT?"

In an instant, the granite pool disappears, and Hild is clothed again in her black leather dress.

Grinning, Chibi Hild adds, "but, on the other haaand, well… Belldandy lost it, and removed her limiters. That's when I've decided it was healthier to 'port back home."

"Unite back with me."

Chibi-Hild seems to be absorbed by Hild's body. A moment later, another flash marks Hild's exit from her… bathroom.

…

Hild appears in a vast circular room, surrounded by tall arches and adorned with incredibly elaborate chandeliers, startling legions of Demons frantically working at digital terminals, and walks leisurely towards an ornate throne in the middle of the hall. Low level Demons throw themselves abjectly on the ground at her passage.

Higher class Demons bow their head, and many are down to one knee towards Her.

Her eyes cross with those of a First Class Demon with long, light honey hair tied in a tail with a cute bow, clad in a frilly dress with boots: Hagall. She nods to her Queen, her jaw set tight.

Sitting on her throne, Hild snaps her fingers and instantly all light seems to be sucked in the Queen of Hell. Only her violet eyes and her red facial markings remain visible, maliciously glowing in the darkness.

It's showtime, the Queen of Niflheim worriedly thinks to herself, as once again she projects a part of herself on Earth to witness the battle about to begin, a battle which outcome could change her daughter's very nature…

…

Beyond the infinite

…

The Multiverse.

Planets, nebulae, galaxies and dimensional planes speed past, as an immortal essence, free from physical burdens and immaterial to reality and time, travels towards its ultimate destination.

The separation from his mortal shell forgotten, all his needs and desires, hopes and emotions left behind. Only a thought mildly nags his perfect tranquility, that something irreplaceable should have crossed past time and the mortal plane to guide him, leading the path. It lasts but a moment, a memory lost forever.

…

A sea of Light.

The soul that once inhabited a human mortal now wonders at the immense wall of light approaching. The wall stretches endlessly across all dimensions and all planes of existence, and welcomes what the soul has become, a tiny spark of the same Light.

He embraces it, merging with the Whole, ending his journey.

Then, for a time that has no meaning nor extent, the Immortal essence has access to the omniscience of the Ultimate Force.

And, in that Instant, he Knows and fully understands the Great Plan, understanding his union with an Eternal Spirit eagerly waiting for him, before vanishing, losing himself like a drop of water in the ocean, whilst beholding the quiet eternity of the Infinite.

…

Aeons pass.

Whole universes begin and end, eras measured by the Multiverse's cyclic dimensional tides of expansion and contraction. Time, space, mass and energy have no meaning or consequence.

Until… in the absolute expanse of infinite space…

…

I. AM.

…

An Entity wakes, in a spark that quakes all fibers of this Universe, aware of itself, and of its environment: an immeasurable and eternal Void, filled only with himself… and a Greater presence, a supreme focus of infinite Power.

…

Centering its attention to the Higher presence, it still keeps awareness to everything and everywhere else, to the fullest extent of Time and Space, and finding none other, articulates a question.

The Greater presence replies.

"This is the highest plane of existence, where all begins and all ends."

The Entity ponders the message of the Greater presence. A reply to an unexpressed question once more is delivered by the Greater presence.

"We are the ultimate force.

You are Energy, infinitesimal parts separated from the whole that is Us. Here You've dawned, again are birthed, and here You'll return, as it is, has been and will forever be."

The Entity again ponders the message.

"We must now part, and your time once more begins anew. Farewell, my Child."

The Entity feels an acceleration, and realizes that it is concentrating into an incredibly dense singularity, collapsing until a dimensional rift appears. An instant later, the Entity is no more.

…

Birth

A tiny and pure being suddenly experiences Light, in a flare of Life that sends shockwaves throughout Creation.

Then… Coldness. And pain, weakness, and fear. A feeble wail escapes the frail creature's lips. But, pain slowly fades away, a new feeling takes its place, something new, unknown and surprising.

So soft… warm… and beautiful…

"Welcome again, My Child", a musical voice full of warmth and love whispers to the Divine newborn, cradling the small and vulnerable Life in her arms. The child calms and falls into blissful sleep, feeding on Divine Love and Compassion.

Resting alone on a divan suitable to an ancient Greek Olympic Deity, sprinkled with the half shade from a court of great Apple trees in an otherworldly garden, Idunn watches her child nuzzling into her bosom, basking in the Love she radiates.

The Goddess of Youth appears as a beautiful teenager with alabaster skin and viridian eyes, with a mane of light honey colored hair falling all the way to her heels, clothed in an ethereal white silken Himation, her body glowing with an aura of gold light, while a chorus of Angels circle slowly above the Goddess, saluting the beginning of a Divine Life.

A rare occurrence, in this era of peace and relative stability among Divine and Demonic realms.

Since Celestial Creatures, being Eternal, do not need to procreate, generation of a new Divine Life is either fruit of immense love, or a necessity to fulfill or replace a key position to control Creation.

Idunn, feeling the benevolent Eye of The Almighty's on herself and her Child, on the verge of shedding tears, happily glances up to the Heavenly sky and closes her eyes, thanking Him and the Ultimate Force for the incalculable gift of allowing her cherished and only Child a second chance.

…

Millennia pass in the blink of an eye.

Idunn's Child grows, playing and learning, among other Celestial children, unaware of its own Divine nature.

"Ondhollr!"

Carried over the distance by a warm wind, Idunn's musical and melodious call, although just whispered, is heard by the whole flock of divine children, innocently frolicking in a beautiful garden bustling with shapes, sounds and colors beyond human comprehension.

One turns his head towards the Elder Goddess, his hazel eyes shimmering with mirth and happiness, his short, spiky and unruly hair flailing about. He jumps up high in the air, beaming, his arms wide to embrace his Mother.

Still more time flows, gaged by the rhythm of a single drop of water slowly dropping over and over again upon a rock… until the rock is no more, because of the endless pounding.

Again, millennia pass by, as time has no significance.

Time seems to be endless, filled with love, attentions and affectionate care.

Idunn cherishes every single instant passed with her child, teaching once more the Knowledge, and occasionally recollecting her fondest memories of her child's previous life.

Cradling the giggling form of her son, Idunn looks through a majestic Victorian window, outside towards a magnificent garden, to see her child playing with Divine animals, already grown up to look like a six year old human boy.

Ondhollr, feeling the stare of her Mother, still petting a pure white tiger with wings sprawled on the lawn, turns his head towards the window, only to find it empty.

So, all too soon, even for an Immortal that likely has all of Eternity to live, Ondhollr's infancy ends. Not a Divine child anymore but a young God, he finds himself attending the teachings of Great Gods, knowledge easily flowing within his mind, constantly leaving him craving for more knowledge, vying for every mentor's attention and care.

Small things, little everyday snippets of Divine Life constellate the God's progress, weaving a network of relationships, tying friendships, attending and passing endless exams and tests, proving himself time and again.

Sometimes falling, to rise once more. Failing, only to learn from each failure and improve.

…

One day, Ondhollr follows the other young Gods to the Sacred Fields, under the careful watch of their Mentors, to witness a special event.

Slightly older Deities, their age appearing to be similar to human twelve years old youths, demonstrate their abilities, powers and control, performing incredibly complex and beautiful acts over an immense plain of granite, surrounded by a gentle slope of grass, on which many Gods lay scattered, the whole scene loosely resembling a classical theater; on the side, a raised stage of white marble entwined with rose bushes hosts a panel of Elder Deities.

It is the crowning of millennia of training, in their first Divine Qualification exam; many will even receive a Divine temporary license this day.

Ondhollr watches, standing on the threshold between the grass and the granite floor, marveled at the miracles being performed. His eyes drift to one particular God, that attracted his attention because of his hazel eyes and unruly hair, so similar to his own.

Aware that a younger Deity is actually staring, the older God on the granite plain pauses his exercise to turn towards his peer standing on the edge of the grass field, only to find no one.

Shrugging off the awareness of a deja-vu, Ondhollr smiles to his mentor; for a moment, he truly thought he saw a younger version of himself.

Today he achieved his first license; it is only a temporary Fourth class, Limited educational license, but he feels as if he owns all of Creation. But, today is special for another reason, too.

His Mentor, holding his hand, guides Ondhollr to a hallowed place, outside of Heaven and in neutral space, where he will meet his Doublet.

Far away, a group of Elder Goddesses watch over the Doublet binding ceremony, as if they were but standing in front of the Sacred Fields; Idunn smiles and sheds one tear, filled with pride at her child's achievement, and brings her shivering hand to cover her lips, almost overwhelmed from emotion.

This is a glorious day, marking an end, and a new beginning.

Breathing the sweet Heavenly air, the Goddess of Youth then happily starts to offer the apples grown in her garden to the other Goddesses, picking them from a small basket that never seems to turn empty, celebrating the groundbreaking event.

Offering another apple to a beaming, blue haired Goddess, her gaze rests upon a breathtakingly handsome young God in his early teens, with spiky short cropped black hair and hazel eyes, a small blue, perfectly round "doughnut" ring seal on his forehead and at the corner of each eye, wearing a simple white and green Trainee Uniform and the standard issue power limiters, twin smooth golden bracelets and rings, walking leisurely with a couple of much younger Goddesses, his charge as academic junior tutor.

He turns his head towards the group of feasting Elder Goddesses watching from afar the ceremony and recalls with fondness his own Divine Qualification exam and Binding ceremony, millennia ago.

The young God then thinks of Idunn, his Mother, and how proud she had been that day; so much that in a rush of generosity, she distributed to all Deities present her Apples of Youth.

As his Divine life progressed, Ondhollr found it increasingly difficult to visit Idunn, the quiet and sweet First Class Goddess often on a mission on behalf of the Almighty.

Basking in the fond memory, a beautiful and contagious smile graces his features, that makes both younger Goddesses giggle.

Ondhollr gently chides the girls, reminding them that a sacred ceremony is taking place nearby and that it is not proper to make fun of a God their senior while officially tutoring them.

The three Deities walk silently to the magnificent and impossible architecture that houses the Halls of the Academy, and once inside, the younger Goddesses, still a bit embarrassed, separate each heading towards their respective seminars.

Ondhollr lingers a bit watching the girls walk away, thinking that maybe he's been too severe with them.

His main thought focus shifts to the Mortal Plane, the subject of his advanced academic studies, about to begin.

Fascinated with the intensity and passion with which Mortals live their extremely short lifespan, Ondhollr knows that his vocation will be for a commercial, second category license.

To be able to interact with the Human Mortals, to help them, and grant wishes to those deemed worthy by the Ultimate Force.

Beaming with pride, Ondhollr heads towards the lecture hall for his first lesson, from which older deities, appearing to be in their late teens, are calmly walking out.

Reading the seals on their foreheads, Ondhollr pauses in admiration and respect for the Third class Gods, Commercial License leisurely pacing by, and smiles at the thought that he too, one day…

All too soon, Ondhollr's last lecture ends, and the God follows his fellows filing out of the hall.

Ondhollr trades glances for an instant with a much younger God standing next to the Lecture hall's majestic doors that he just left instants before, and carries on; a sense of déjà vu once more hits him, but it fades an instant later, when turning back to look, he just finds there's no one standing by the doors.

This is it; in a beat of an eye, an immeasurable time has passed, and a Divine Being matured from birth to adulthood.

Smiling, the Third Class God carries on, until a melodious Voice, almost whispering, calls him.

"Ondhollr, God Third class, Limited license, second category in Training please report to the Main Administrative Building Complex to Peorth, Goddess First Class, First Category."

Silently, a dimensional door opens in front of the young God, inviting him in, and moments later, Ondhollr finds himself at the base of Heaven's largest building, the one housing Creation's most powerful computer, Yggdrasil.

Many busy Gods and Goddesses zip by at high speed, not even noticing him walking in the massive hallway, searching for the Top Executive Goddess he's supposed to meet.

The floor is actually a force field separating the hall from a dimension eons and galaxies away; below his feet, a deep blue sky with pure white clouds gives the impression of walking on air. Not that that would be uncommon, among the Gods…

At the center of the building there's a lake, larger than any sea, from which the physical bulk of Yggdrasil's tree emerges and elevates upwards to be lost in the multidimensional expanse of the Building. The young God stops to behold a sight beyond any mortal imagination, contemplating silently.

His training almost finished, soon Ondhollr will be able to apply for a full time License, possibly in the Second category, to finally find his place in Creation and serve the Great Design as best as he can.

And maybe… just maybe, even aspire to host an Angel… Sighing, Ondhollr leans against the handrail bordering the immeasurable face of the waters from which in the distance the colossal tree trunk of Yggdrasil looms.

…

"Ondhollr? Ondhollr!"

The young God turns to see a scantily clad and beautiful Goddess, with long brown hair and amber eyes, a blue diamond on her forehead and cheeks flying towards him.

Recognizing the Goddess calling him, in an instant, Ondhollr is down on one knee, head bowed in respect.

"M-Milady!"

"Oh, come on, stand up, mon chou", a hint of amusement and mischief in her joyful voice, "such deference is out of place between us."

"But… Lady Peorth, protocol…"

"Betises! And, it's just Peorth, to you. Here, let me see you! Sacre Bleu, have you grown!"

Ondhollr squirms in embarrassment, finding himself at the center of not only Peorth's attention, but of every other nearby Deity as well. Chuckles, smiles and stray thoughts picked up from nearby minds make him flush.

"Come on, now… let's go somewhere more privée"

Peorth laughs at Ondhollr's embarrassed reaction and pauses. She studies the younger God's features, and her demeanor sways momentarily, as a strong emotion knits her brow; feeling her eyes prick, Peorth forces the tears back and fiercely embraces the younger God, whispering almost to herself: "How I missed you, mon Cher. It is so good to see you again, as a God, no less."

Trying to recover from Peorth's unexplainably warm welcome, Ondhollr manages to stammer "but… but, we never met before, Milady, I… only attended a few of your seminars, and from afar, and…"

"Later, now allow me to show you off, my handsome!"

Grabbing Ondhollr's elbow and pulling him to her side, Peorth starts walking towards one of the many side entrances to the Main Administrative Building, overwhelming the flustered and deeply uncomfortable younger God with a crushing and constant stream of small talk, occasionally stopping Gods and Goddesses and presenting the younger God to them – always in a very, very embarrassing way…

…

Sitting in a very provocative pose on a couch hovering midair in her office, bursting with roses in full bloom, Peorth smiles and enjoys herself immensely watching Ondhollr, on a chair in front of her, embarrassedly fiddling with his fingers and hopelessly fighting the impulse to lower his gaze from her beautiful face to her… assets.

"If I didn't want to be looked at, I wouldn't dress like this, Ondhollr. Like what you see?"

"I… I… really don't understand, Milady, it's like…"

"Don't mention it, mon Cher, there's a reason if in my Field duty days as Commercial, Second Category, I volunteered to be the Goddess in charge to fulfill… love and passion Mortal desires and wishes… on Earth. But, enough of pleasantries, I imagine you are curious as to why you have been summoned before me."

Peorth breaths deeply and changes voice, a tone of absolute authority lining every word, a compelling voice that forces the young God to fall on one knee.

"Ondhollr, God Third class, Limited license, second category in Training, you are formally invited to attend a private hearing with His Holy Representative, scheduled to be held in Elysium, three full periods from this moment."

All color drains from Ondhollr's face and panic flashes in his hazel eyes.

Peorth waves the God to stand, and he manages to stammer, "The… The Almighty's Holy Representative? But, I…"

Her raised hand silences him instantly.

"Oh, calm down, Cheri, it's not like you don't know her, after all", Peorth giggles mischievously, "she's your mom."

"Mother is The Almighty's Holy Representative?"

"Oh, yeah. Just temporary, mind you; Auntie Freyja is on a mission. It's such a chore, you know… Can I offer you some Mead?"

…

Short, I know. And awfully, awfully late. I'll try to make it up to the very few readers that graced me with their Favs! Keep em reviews coming!