Keiichi's Faith Chapter 7, an oh my goddess! fanfic

Keiichi's faith

Rel1.2

By Pizzigri

Chapter 7! Wow!

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

…

Apocálypsis.

Peorth watches Ondhollr unhurriedly walk out of her office. The Goddess can feel his hidden confusion and concern.

Punaise! With my prescience regarding him sealed, all I can do is stand here, worrying like an old nun about what could or not be, and simply wait on the sideline until everything runs its course… If only… Shaking slowly her head and closing her eyes, Peorth reclines against her chair and stretches sensually, making the levitating chair spin around once.

Sometime later, the Goddess curls up leaning forward, her gaze lost in space, and still sitting, crosses her legs and rests her chin on one hand in deep thought.

Oh, Belldandy…

She nervously shifts her posture, her lips tight in a thin line, and slowly brings her slightly trembling right hand to cover her eyes, as sorrow and regret clutches her heart and a single, luminous drop of blinding light gently rolls along her cheek and falls down.

…

Elysium, also known as The Elysian Fields, is located within a secluded and almost inaccessible plane of existence just below those in which Heaven resides. A place of secrets, its access is restricted almost as much as access to the Administrative superstructures; but, even if its access would have been freely granted, most Celestial Beings would avoid journeying upon the infinite Fields.

If nothing else, because to everyone except to First Class Deities, Yggdrasil's Permalink is disabled there.

It is said that the souls of those mortals Chosen by the Ultimate Force finally find their sempiternal rest there. So, this is a mystery within a mystery; not only The Almighty wants me to have a private hearing with His Holy Representative, Himself also wants the hearing to be held in Elysium, instead of the usual Divine Committee Halls.

Ondhollr allows a part of his mind to wander, and another tries to analyze rationally every possible reason for such a hearing. Lady Peorth has been adamant in disclosing even the smallest hint, opting instead for small talk… lots, and lots of trivial, small talk! In the end, Lady Peorth was incredibly friendly and warm, sometimes even openly flirting with the young God. Ondhollr left the Goddess' office with his mind in turmoil.

His routine and schedule disrupted, and every one of his responsibilities cancelled for the next three full periods, until the private hearing with His Holy Representative, for the very first time in his whole life Ondhollr finds himself without a definite purpose driving him for the immediate future.

No chores, no seminars or classes, no nothing.

Plus, the young God visited the Main Administrative Building Complex only a handful of times, and very, very briefly; never by himself.

Access is restricted, and for a very minor Third class, Limited license Divinity as himself –insignificant, really, his First Class mother notwithstanding – Heaven's Sancta Sanctorum is, if an expression like this could be used to describe the sentiment of a Celestial Being, a mythical place.

But, specifically to Ondhollr, it is the focus and goal of his life. Besides all the rest, this is also where the various Relief Offices are located, and where, in a reasonably near future, he will be performing his Divine duty, commissioned with a full commercial, second category License.

So, he just walks around the immense and intricate structure housing Yggdrasil and most of the administrative offices, his eyes full of wonder as he takes in the somewhat overwhelming, even for a Celestial Being, immeasurable magnificence.

After a full cycle wandering alone, as no one questioned his presence in such high security areas – not even a single Cherub or Valkyrie, which are entrusted with the security of all of Heaven, especially in neuralgic places like the Admin Complex – let alone a God or Goddess - a thought emerges prominently in his mind.

Too much time.

Time is a complex thing, in Heaven. It does not flow uniformly, in some places it flows incredibly slowly, in other much faster. There are beings that can actually control the flow of their timestream! And others that could control time altogether. Like the Norns, for example. Of course, there are safeguards, and in many instances, these – and many other - powers are relinquished to Yggdrasil's control.

The young God candidly thinks how nice it would be to be able to speed up his time, and shorten his wait… while a small smile graces his handsome features.

…

The view from the Third Bridge, a corridor vaulting across a secondary tower and the main Yggdrasil complex, spanning through time, space and many different planes of existence, is absolutely stunning, and Ondhollr pauses frequently along it to behold the display outside the vast crystal windows.

About halfway the bridge, as the young God pauses enraptured once more to gaze the outside view, a halo of immense power envelopes him, streaming by like a warm wind and saturating everything.

Startled, Ondhollr freezes on the spot, and slowly turns to see who is radiating such power. Even more astonishing, he suddenly finds himself alone in the whole bridge, deserted of every other Celestial being.

Except one. Walking slowly and elegantly on the red path in the center of the expansive corridor, her lonely presence warping the very space surrounding her, there's an amazingly beautiful dark skinned Goddess, with a cascade of white-as-snow long hair flowing freely on her back, clad in a violet divine uniform.

On her forehead, a blue, five pointed star sigil. Many different jewels adorn her body – limiters, the young God realizes – and a halo of shimmering energy envelopes her.

Ondhollr stares at the magnificent vision, his mouth open, overcome and stunned beyond words, both from her beauty and the incredible pressure of her Power. The young God stares a bit too much, as the white maned Goddess stops, and slowly turns her head in his direction. Her violet pupils flash for an instant, as they gaze in each other's eyes.

Time stops.

When Ondhollr manages to recover, the Goddess has silently passed, and he dazedly follows her smooth gait as she slowly disappears in the distance. Moments – or ages - later, the bridge again is busy with Gods, Goddesses, Cherubs and other Celestial Beings. Only then, he realizes that he wasn't able to identify the Goddess, not even her class, a level that's way above and beyond anything he ever faced before.

Writing off the extraordinary encounter – this is, after all, the fundamental core of Heaven - and resuming his apparently aimless wandering, Ondhollr sighs. Two more cycles until the Hearing.

…

Elysium.

The moment has come.

Thrud, a Second Class Valkyrie, awaits Ondhollr at the Elysium Gate. She nods curtly, and just as efficiently, turns to lead the way through the gate, the young God silently following.

On the other side of the threshold, floating just inches above the short golden grass blades, Ondhollr finds Peorth. "Ready?", she huskily questions.

Shrugging, he simply replies, "As much as I'll ever be", and flashes her with a sincere smile.

The older Goddess smiles in return. "Trés bien, alors… we'd better be on our way", Peorth replies, descending gracefully to touch the ground, and heading on a white path that appeared in front of them.

All too soon, a great oak tree emerges from the endless fields of golden grass, on top of a very gently sloping hill. All around, an incredibly beautiful range of white topped mountains are discernible in the distance, with a perfect turquoise and deep blue sky, rarely dotted with pure white clouds.

Idunn is waiting, floating midair under the immense tree, her golden mane flowing behind her all the way to her naked feet. She's wrapped in a simple white dress, and a massive Archangel, four times her size, stands guard at her side with his muscled arms crossed over his broad chest. Peorth leans against the tree, while Thrud's small Valkyrie squad discreetly surround the group of Deities, facing them with one knee down on the ground.

Ondhollr slowly walks in front of Idunn, awed by her appearance, and kneels, bowing his head in respect.

Idunn has a serious expression, and her viridian eyes are suspiciously shiny.

Her voice does not waver.

"Ondhollr, my son. First of all, a long time has passed since we last met, and I have not since expressed to you how proud I am of your achievements. You have grown beyond and above my expectations. And I am sure your destiny is to become a magnificent God, strong and just."

The young God silently nods, joy and pride filling his heart, delighted of his Mother's praise.

"The reason we are gathered here in Elysium is that Our Lord the Almighty has decreed that you are ready to receive a… gift. I will not hide the fact that I have pleaded to the Almighty to act as His Holy Representative to be able to personally celebrate this ceremony."

Idunn turns to the Archangel at her side.

"Auriel, dear, please present the Angel Egg to us."

Surprise and excitement briefly flashes over the young God's features.

"An… An Angel, Mother?"

Ondhollr stares at the tiny egg in the strong and calloused white hands of the severe and motionless Archangel, his eyes and gaze of pure ice, boring into the young God as if weighing his soul.

"Yes, Ondhollr. But, this is not 'an' Angel. We find ourselves in a… peculiar and quite unique situation; this Angel already had a host. She… She was a First class Goddess."

The young God cringes in pain, feeling the grief that radiates from his Mother, and understands the First Class Goddess she mentioned is no more.

Finding his voice again, Ondhollr weakly tries to object, "Excuse me Mother, but how can this be! If the host's essence returned to the Ultimate Force, then its Angel would also dissipate! How…"

"This Angel has been commanded by its host to separate and return to egg form, mere instants before the host died."

The young God clenches his fists, and lowers his gaze to the ground, knowing the nature of the unbreakable connection binding an Angel to its host.

"It would mean this Angel is eternally suffering from her host's death! W-why…"

Idunn gently places her index finger over her son's lips.

"Sshh. None of that my son, the host of this Angel did so out of love and whatever his heart suggested was right. Please, once you accept this gift, all will be clear, and you will understand."

"But, M-mother…"

Cupping with her hands Ondhollr's face, Idunn smiles gently and shushes him.

"You will love this Angel. It will be a part of you, and once within your soul, it will be as if an old friend returned to you. I know. Please, my son."

Calmed by her mother's words and compassion, Ondhollr relaxes and smiles timidly.

"Yes, Mother. I apologize."

Idunn steps back, and her features become more severe.

"Ondhollr, God Third class, Limited license, second category in Training, you have been granted, and are presented with, an Angel egg. This may happen only once in the eternal life of a Deity, and you have been chosen to carry this Angel. But, it must be freely and unconditionally accepted. Ondhollr. Do you accept this Angel?"

The young God slowly nods once, and opens his mouth.

Idunn allows the tiny egg to hover gently from her cupped hands to land on his tongue. As soon as the God swallows the Angel egg, Idunn's resolve fails, her right hand gently caressing Ondhollr's cheek as tears well up in her eyes.

Ondhollr's smile falters, seeing his Mother tears streaking her face.

"Mother? What's wrong?"

…

An instant later, everything turns black.

Sparks, then a flash of white. Black spots dance wildly before his eyes, then everything turns upside down; it's like crashing a speeding motorcycle against a brick wall.

A sense of suffocation. The need for air! Breathe, hard!

What… what the hell?!

Keiichi opens his eyes, and immediately regrets it. Impossible shapes and geometries, incredibly vivid colors and shades of light that are beyond human description, assault his eyesight, a sense of vertigo as space appears to fold into itself and back in a kaleidoscope of physical impossibilities.

And closing his eyes again doesn't fix things.

His sense of touch reports contradicting sensations of hot coolness and fresh warmth, ice and fire, the gentle caressing of wind and the heat of barely contained power… Scents, of lilac and cherries, apples and sandalwood, evolving into something almost unbearably inebriating and sweet… but it's the sounds that push his mind over the edge, the purest notes all vibrating at the same time, harsh and sweet, a melody no mere mortal will ever be able to conceive or even acknowledge…

"Time", as in a subjective and constant sense of perceived continuity loses significance and coherence, fragmenting in a single multitude of separate timestreams.

Instantly, Keiichi's mind boggles with an overflow of information from a number of senses he didn't suspect could exist.

Cupping his ears with his hands and shutting his eyes tightly (but are there physically real hands, ears, eyes?), Keiichi screams desperately, curling in a shivering ball, his confused and overwhelmed mind refusing to cope with the impossible and on the verge of annihilation… Until an incredibly powerful, serene and soothing presence embraces his soul, warmth radiating into his very being, and a commanding yet gentle voice inside his mind communicates without words.

Easy. Take it easy.

Keiichi calms down, guided by this firm voice, still not recognizing its intonation.

Open your mind. Allow your Divine nature to help you.

Ever so slowly, Keiichi manages to relax, taking deep breaths (is this really air? Or is it only an illusion?) and dares to open an eye. Glittering forms made of light, vaguely anthropomorphic shapes, surround him. The Universe seems to shine all around, and through, him; stars and galaxies compenetrate and interweave in a latticework of multiple dimensions.

Celestial senses reconnect to his mind, and it is as if a portal opens towards the Infinite. All the different and clashing time streams click falling back in sync, a symphony of perfection that is in tune with his mind.

Keiichi slowly tries to pull himself up, but the sense of gravity seems completely off; he finally manages to sit against something that he somewhat recognizes as a completely out-of-scale tree trunk.

Trying to translate and process all the information so that it would make sense to his merely mortal experiences, the young God gazes into his hand, slowly flexing his fingers and turning it to appreciate every smallest detail.

"Welcome back, Keiichi. Or, should I say Ondhollr?"

Keiichi snaps towards the voice, immediately recognizing it.

"P-Peorth? What is going on? Where… where are we?"

The black haired Goddess sighs with her eyes turned to the sky.

"It's a long story, mon ami…" she replies, drawing a circle with her hand in the air.

The young God slowly scans his surroundings, as totally conflicting memories overlap in his mind, until his eyes rest upon the silently moping Idunn, her hands over her mouth, her delicate frame cowering behind the hulking Archangel, protectively standing between the Goddess of Youth and Keiichi, his ice glare still firmly set in the young God's eyes.

Memories of thousands upon thousands of years of a life passed as a God, as Idunn's child, collide with the brief flash of Keiichi's life as a Mortal on Midgard.

"Oh, my GOD! Ah, I, I mean, Goddess! Uh… I… M… Mo-ah, Mother?"

As Idunn winces, Peorth can't hide her amusement for the expression that Keiichi chooses for his outburst.

Beautiful and slender ivory hands glide over Keiichi's neck, meeting on his chest above his heart, in a warm and loving embrace. Choking on his own emotion, the Young God turns to gaze into twin pools of liquid ice.

Enlightenment dawns upon Keiichi's mind, and a wild smile appears on his face.

"Arclight! It's you!"

A silent voice enthusiastically replies, the warmth and love radiating from the Angel deep in Keiichi's soul bringing the young God on the verge of tears.

Keiichi turns his attention back to Idunn. His divine memories supply a host of information on the Goddess that is his Divine Mother, and Keiichi cannot avoid being awed, overwhelmed and humbled by the importance of the Deity of Youth in Heaven's Pantheon.

"M-mother… Can… Can I…"

The young God offers a quivering hand to Idunn. She cautiously approach Keiichi, wariness in her eyes.

"Ondhollr? Are you still…?" Idunn's voice fails her, as the sentence completes in her mind, …are you still my son?

An instant later, the lithe frame of the Goddess of Youth is engulfed in Keiichi's embrace. "Mother, I could never forget you. Yes, I still am Ondhollr, and Keiichi as well. I love you, mom."

Idunn cries freely, but a smile graces her beautiful features.

"The Almighty sealed my precognition, my son, and I could not access or query any information on how you would react to being reunited with Arclight, and the whole set of mortal memories your Angel kept in custody. I was so afraid I would lose you all over again!"

"Lose me again, Mother?", Keiichi replies, stepping back.

"Yes, my beloved. Sinthgunt… Arclight's host… she was my daughter."

Keiichi feels stunned by the revelation, and by all the possible implications. His sense of loss grows exponentially, as the concept that the fallen Goddess could have been his sister explodes in his mind.

And then guilt, and regret. Remorse for not being able to do more, due to being… a mere mortal, when it happened. A whirlwind of considerations, thoughts, hypothesis and speculations each following the other. His Angel interrupts the mental Domino effect, by simply stating, without words, It was not your fault. Arclight's voice is so strong that it shakes the young God's conscience, but the image of a curled up and vulnerable young girl bleeding pure light dying in front of him cannot fade.

Keiichi manages to again raise his eyes to meet his Divine Mother's gentle gaze.

"I am so sorry, Mother. I have known her for so little time, and I could not do anything, anything to save her. I…"

"You have done enough, my son. The mere fact you are here now, before me, fills my heart with joy. But, this is not the time to talk about my beloved Sinthgunt. You need to adjust, and end your training. I'm entrusting Lady Peorth as your mentor for the near future; please, visit my Apple Orchard soon, my son. I will offer fine Mead and Cider to quench your thirst and an alcove to rest your Divine manifestation. Farewell, my son."

The Hearing ends, and following a surprisingly brisk farewell, Idunn with her burly Archangel disappear.

The young God, with the memories of both a human mortal and a Celestial Being, is still visibly staggering, temporarily unable to completely adapt to the dual nature of his mind. While Ondhollr's Divine memories span millennia, they are dull and repetitive despite all their infinite magnificence, whereas Keiichi's memories of the brief life spent as a mortal may only span a couple decades, but are blindingly bright and intense as a single dazzling star shining against the immensity of a deep Grey sky.

Keiichi walks unsteadily between Thrud and Peorth, supported by both Goddesses. Arclight mentally embraces his consciousness, gently guiding it, gradually introducing the extremely limited experience of his mortal senses to the immense capacities of a God, and preserving his sanity at the same time.

Keiichi realizes that The Almighty, in His Infinite Wisdom and Knowledge, required the Hearing to be held in Elysium because it would have been too great a risk to allow Keiichi's mortal memories to awake in the mind of a God connected to Yggdrasil. This way, the secondary shock of "being connected" can be handled by itself; and, with the help of both a First Class tutor, and an experienced Angel. The young God will reestablish the Permalink as soon as he clears the Gate.

Slowly, Keiichi manages to gain sufficient control of his Celestial body and senses, to be able to stand and walk alone.

The journey back to the Gate is a silent and introspective one. Arclight retreated in a secluded part of his soul, literally allowing Keiichi's conscience a sense of discretion.

His mind replays endlessly the last hours lived on Earth, the memory so vivid that he can easily recall smells, details and sounds around him. As if the events happened mere instants ago.

Peorth, Keiichi and their small Valkyrie escort pause in front of the Gate threshold. The Young God decides that there is something he has to do before returning to Heaven and reconnecting to Yggdrasil's Permalink.

Keiichi gazes at Peorth with an intensity that belies his station in regards to the First Class Goddess in front of him.

"Peorth… There's, like, a gazillion questions I'd like to ask you. But, right now, I need the answer only to one… Please."

"An answer to what question, Mon ami?", Peorth replies, already knowing perfectly what the young God will ask her.

"Where is Belldandy?"

…

Note.

There it is! At least it didn't take a year to update…

Apocálypsis, here, is meant to be interpreted in the Ancient Greek and New Testament literary sense: "ἀποκάλυψις", or, a Revelation.