Chapter 12

Heaven—Gate Portal 4

Keiichi and Belldandy arrived at Gate Portal 4 where First Class Valkyries, Anni-frid and Agneta maintained their permanent duty station. The two Warrior Goddesses were all smiles when Kei and Bell approached.

"Well, well, well. If it isn't the talk of Heaven." Anni said gleefully, giving Belldandy a hug and shaking Keiichi's hand firmly. "Once again, you two have taken over all the news feeds up here. Your wedding ceremony was carried live over all Heavenly video channels. Everybody was watching. It was the most popular show in history. And Belldandy, that gown? It's already the rage up here. Goddesses are buying that gown left and right."

Keiichi said, "We didn't publicize our wedding, much less let anyone in Heaven know. How did you guys..."

Agneta interrupted. "We have our ways. Lind told us that you two were getting married, and it grew from there."

"Isn't that impressive, Keiichi? I'm so pleased that everyone enjoyed it." Belldandy said with joy.

Anni replied, "Yeah, it was followed so heavily that the higher-ups were complaining that work wasn't getting done. They ended up just giving everyone except critical duty personnel the day off so they could get it out of their system."

Agneta said. "So, you two are going on...what do they call it...a 'honeymoon? What is that?"

Keiichi explained to the two curious guards about the time that Belldandy and he will spend on vacation.

Anni chuckled. "So that means you'll also be spending lots of time up on Windsong Ridge, right?"

Keiichi blushed deeply as he shouted, "Does everybody know what we did up there?!"

"Yes, Keiichi." said Anni. "It was pretty much expected that you two would end up there. After all, that's what everybody does up on Windsong Ridge. No need to be ashamed, Keiichi. That's what it's there for."

Despite the reassurance, Keiichi still wasn't excited that news of his special time with Belldandy at that popular make-out spot was being circulated all throughout Heaven. He hoped that there wasn't any secret video taken of their frolicking. He'd never be able to live it down.

After a few minutes of chatting and catching up on idle gossip with Anni and Agneta, Keiichi and Belldandy headed on to the main business district.

They stopped off at the Goddess Assistance Agency, so that Bell could check in and offload her latest wish reports. Because even though Belldandy was still living with and now married to Keiichi, and was spending most of her time on Earth with him, she was still an active field Goddess and had a full complement of wishes to grant.

While she didn't grant wishes that would affect her duties and commitment to Keiichi, she still kept a full schedule of work, mostly because she was able to split off portions of herself to fulfill her wish obligations while devoting the majority of her energy and ability to being with Kei. Most of the wishes she granted were simple affairs that could be dealt with in a few hours or a day at the most, and didn't require her full attention. While there were limits to how much she could divide herself in order to fulfill her caseload, most of the time, she had no problem at all keeping up.

Once the reports and other casework were filed, Bell and Keiichi left the business district and went on a trip exploring some of the more spectacular venues of Heaven. First, they headed up into the lush rain forests of the Northlands, where they marveled at trees that reached a thousand feet in the air and gazed at waterfalls that cascaded down cliffs over a mile high. They saw creatures that weren't found anywhere on Earth. And not only were they able to observe these magnificent animals, they were able to interact with them up close, as they were not exactly tame, but had no fear of the God and Goddess, and had no desire to hurt them or each other. Here, there were no predator nor prey. All creatures, great and small lived in harmony and a peace that could only be found in the paradise called Heaven.

The loving couple traveled far and wide the length and breadth of Heaven from the Fire Pools in the West to the lands of the Great Dragons in the East, seeing sights and marvels that took their breath away. Each place more beautiful and mysterious than the last. And not surprisingly, they spent more than a few hours up on Windsong Ridge, doing what everyone does in that famous or infamous place.

But the time had come to meet with Kami-sama. Using a message cube, they teleported to the entrance of the grand Palace. The sight of the great building with its endless passages and stark and spotless white walls was familiar to Keiichi, as it was the place that he and Lind visited on their way to the Eternal Chamber to encounter the Eye of Heaven and to free Belldandy from the grip of the Mjolnir Protocol.

As they approached the hall, Lind appeared from the entrance. She walked towards Keiichi, and in an act very much out of her character, she gave him a kiss and also kissed and hugged Belldandy. Keiichi had noticed that Lind's demeanor had softened somewhat. She was still very no-nonsense and devoted to her calling as the Commander of the Valkyries, but the rough edges of her personality, and her appearance were not as severe.

"It is good to see both of you once again." Lind said, as if she still trying to get used to loosening up.

"Congratulations on your wedding. I am sorry that I was not able to attend, but the matter which you and Kami-sama will address has taken up most of my time."

Belldandy smiled at Lind and said, "I'm also sorry you couldn't attend. The ceremony and the reception were wonderful. I have a spare bridesmaid's dress for you, if you ever want to wear it the next time you're at the temple. We've just come off our honeymoon, and are very interested in what Kami-sama has to talk about."

Lind smiled and said, "I had a chance to see the wedding on our news feed. Those dresses were stunning. I'm surprised that you made them all by yourself. The next time I visit the temple, I would be happy to try one on."

Keiichi asked. "Lind, can you give us a hint as to what's on Kami-sama's mind? This is highly unusual isn't it?"

Lind became all business as she replied. "No, Keiichi. I am not allowed to discuss this issue here in public, you'll have to wait until he is ready to receive you. I am only here to escort you into his throne room, where he will speak to you. As you've never been in Kami-sama's presence, Keiichi, I must ask you to be very careful how you speak to him. His presence can be...rather commanding." She let the words hang in the air.

"Follow me."

Keiichi and Belldandy dutifully followed Lind down the long wide passageways. Behind each door in the Palace contained a room that could be made as small as a phone booth, or as bigger than a football field depending on its need. Each room was in a pocket dimension of its own. The palace was full of hundreds of these spaces. The hallway was pure white and full of light, although no fixtures could be seen.. The walls were bare, bereft of pictures or objets d'art, or any fixtures that could bring some color or form to the space. As the three deities passed a point in the hall, Keiichi felt a presence of powerful magic that filled his mind. It called out to him, leading him to a specific spot on the wall. He tried to resist, but the feeling kept summoning him. It overpowered his resistance, and compelled him attend to that unseen area. He turned to look at an invisible point on the wall, as if he was attracted to something only he could see..

Suddenly, he broke away from Belldandy to stand at that very spot.

"What are you doing Keiichi?" Belldandy asked as she ran over to her husband. "Are you all right?" She stood beside him and put a hand on his shoulder.

Keiichi stood silently just gazing at that one spot, that one tiny point. He reached out and touched the spot. Bell turned to Lind, concerned. "What's going on, Lind.?"

It took Lind a few moments to understand what Keiichi was up to, but she spoke very quietly, just above a whisper, "The spot where Keiichi is standing is the location of the dimensional portal leading to the Eternal Chamber. The place where the Eye of Heaven resides. Keiichi, Ragnar and I had to access the Chamber through that portal. He must be affected by the residual magic that surrounds and protects that portal."

"What kind of magic?" Belldandy said with concern.

Lind told Belldandy about how she, Keiichi and Ragnar accessed the portal to gain access to the Eye. She told the Goddess about how Ragnar opened the portal by reciting a spell in the Old Language of Heaven, the tongue taught orally that was reserved for only the oldest and most powerful spells. The language that was no longer spoken because of the toll it took on the bodies and powers of those who mastered it.

She spoke about how the effort to open the portal had taken such a toll on Ragnar's powers, how it had aged him countless years in but a few moments. Lind enlightened Belldandy about the puzzle of the three doors, and how Keiichi was able to discern his Goddess's voice even though she was under the control of the Mjolnir Protocol, which had shut down all of Belldandy and her sister's higher functions, and forced them to report to the chamber to awaken the Eye of Heaven against their will, and at the behest of the evil and conniving God Baldur.

Kei had to decide which of the three identical doors led to the Eternal Chamber. A wrong guess would have propelled him into one of a hundred random dimensions with little hope of rescue. Keiichi was able to use his powers and the Sacred Coupling to just barely hear the voice of Belldandy behind one of those doors. Such a display of power left Lind and Ragnar speechless. They were impressed at the level of magical ability that Keiichi had shown in picking the right door.

Keiichi put both hands on the spot on the wall, and before Lind and Belldandy had a chance to stop him, he started mumbling in a low voice. He wasn't speaking Japanese, English, or Heavenspeak, but the words of the Old Language. How he was speaking that mystical dialect, no one knew. It was passed down orally, took decades and centuries to learn, but hadn't been taught in Heaven for hundreds of years because of the life force draining effects it had on its students.

In horror, Lind and Belldandy looked at each other. Lind cried out. "He's speaking the Old Tongue! He's trying to open the portal! Belldandy! We need to stop him, He doesn't have clearance to do what he's attempting. If he succeeds in opening the portal, it will destroy him. Hurry!"

Both Goddesses rushed to Keiichi's side. They reached out to pull him away, but he would not budge. He continued to mumble in that low disturbing tone the words of the activating Spell. The Words burst forth from his mouth like a river overflowing its levee. His hands started to move apart, as the portal began to open. The lights beyond the portal flashing in perfect randomness, not to welcome and comfort as they did before, but to warn and forbid.

The portal opened wider, and the Goddesses watched in horror as Keiichi began to be sucked into the portal. They attempted to erect barriers between him and the opening, but the magic from the portal swatted their puny spells aside. Lind and Belldandy, powerless, could do nothing but scream at Keiichi to rouse him from what had taken over his mind. But to no avail. Keiichi was drawn further into the portal. He could not stop the words from coming forth. He had no idea what he was doing. It was as if there was something or someone else dictating his moves.

Before Lind could stop her, Belldandy threw her arms around Keiichi and held him. Lind screamed, "What are you doing, Belldandy? Save yourself!"

"No, Lind!" Belldandy said with fierce determination. "Wherever Keiichi goes, I go. If he's going to be drawn into this portal to face death, then I will face it with him! I made a vow to him to always be by his side."

"But you're a Norn, Belldandy. If you die..."

"I won't break my vow!"

The portal was at its full size. The forces trying to suck Keiichi and Belldandy into the gaping maw reached their maximum. Neither Keiichi nor Belldandy had the strength to overcome the fury of the portal. All seemed lost.

Lind was powerless, and could only watch as her two friends faced imminent death. Tears fell from the stalwart warrior's eyes. She had failed her friends. She failed to protect them. In the face of an overpowering foe, she wilted under the pressure. Belldandy tried to engage the Sacred Coupling to combine her husband's strength with her own for one final all-or-nothing attempt to save them both, but Keiichi was not responding. He was still muttering the words of that infernal Old Tongue in a voice not his own. Days after they pledged their lives to one another before their friends and loved ones, they were about to lose those same lives in Heaven.

But just before the portal could swallow husband and wife, God and Goddess, a Voice echoed through the hall. A magnificent Voice filled with Power. It uttered but one word: "STOP!"

The next few seconds were as deafening in their silence as the last few seconds were so in their chaos. The force that had all but pulled Kei and Bell into the portal and certain condemnation, reversed its flow and spat them back out into the hall. The portal snapped shut leaving a stark, blank, white wall.
Keiichi and Belldandy were sprawled out on the floor, shocked and disoriented, arms and legs tangled together. Lind stood by with a stunned look on her face, not entirely comprehending what she just witnessed. Before any of them knew it, a bright blue-white light settled over all three deities and they disappeared.

Chapter 13

Kami-sama's Throne Room

Heaven.

The three friends materialized in a heap on the floor of a room the size of a large boardroom one might find in a corporate office suite. There was a round table with three high-backed chairs. The table and chairs had no legs, they floated above the floor. Like every other room in the Palace, it was devoid of decorations and the walls were pure white. Silently, and still very confused by the events of the last few minutes, Belldandy and Lind helped Keiichi into a chair before sitting down themselves. .

Lind broke the silence. Saying, "Are you two okay?"

Keiichi remained silent for the moment. Belldandy said, "I'm all right, Lind. A little confused, but it will pass." She turned to Keiichi. "And you, Kei?"

Keiichi still remained silent. Belldandy became worried, "Kei! Speak to me! Are you all right?" She tried to gently shake Keiichi to wake him, but he said nothing, and didn't move. Kei's eyes were open, but the light of life had left them. He looked as if he was focusing on something a thousand miles away. His mouth was slightly open, but no sound came forth.

Belldandy looked at Keiichi and could not find the words to say to comfort him nor herself. Lind decided that it was better to just keep quiet and let things iron themselves out, however that would be, but she did come out and say, "This is Kami-sama's throne room. Apparently, he has decided to configure it as a conference room for now. Usually, it's a lot bigger and more elaborate."

Belldandy agreed. "Yes. I have been here before, but I have never seen it like this."

"I normally don't keep my throne room in this form." A Voice came forth from everywhere and nowhere. "Please. Don't be afraid. I will be with you in a moment."

The door opened and in walked Kami-sama. The Almighty One. He was dressed in a robe of Authority that spanned every color and one color at the same time. He was very tall, and well built, with a face that resembled chiseled granite, a firm jaw and a narrow nose. Thin lips surrounding a full mouth. His hair was gray and bound up in a ponytail just below his shoulders. His eyes showed not only the immense power that he wielded, but also betrayed the years of equally immense responsibility that he shouldered. He carried himself erect, and with great dignity.

But it was also plain to all that he had been in power for a very long time, and the strain was just beginning to show. In Earth years, he could have passed for a well kept man in his early sixties. But his true age was unknown. He smiled slightly. He spoke with a Voice that was commanding, but also full of compassion.

Kami-sama let it be known that while he ruled with grace, fairness and a boundless love for all of Heaven's people, he was also not one to be trifled with. Many a God or Goddess who transgressed Heaven's laws stood before his penetrating stare while he administered punishment. He laid down the law as he needed to, but he always made sure that those he corrected knew why they were being punished, and he treated them with respect. The only time that Kami-sama lost control was when he punished the traitorous God Baldur for trying to usurp his place on the the throne, and by invoking the Mjolnir Protocol without authorization. He sentenced the malevolent former head of the Department of Examinations to an unprecedented ten years of Heaven time in Isolation. The strictest punishment ever laid down.

Baldur would spend that time in the Dimension of Outer Darkness. Unable to see, hear, speak, touch, taste. No one could visit or interact with him. He was completely cut off from Heaven or anywhere else for that matter. It was just him and his thoughts. Isolation was the ultimate punishment for a God or Goddess. It was likened to a living death. Those who undertook that punishment, even for the minimum one month term did not emerge the same. The life had seemed to have been leached from them slowly and painfully.

Kami-sama walked the around the table as Belldandy and Lind fell to their knees in respect. Keiichi paid him no mind. "My Children," Kami-sama said in a quiet voice. "It is good to see you well. Arise, arise."

Belldandy looked into her Almighty One's caring eyes, and said with a quivering voice. "K-K-Keiichi...there's something wrong with him. Can you help us?"

Kami-sama looked at Keiichi, smiled and said. "He will be all right." He put his hands on Keiichi's head and spoke in a gentle and low tone:

"Awaken, my son. Let the clouds of confusion be dissipated. Let your mind be clear."

Belldandy could see the powerful waves of magic spring forth from Kami-sama's hands as he healed the young God. After a few moments, Keiichi's eyes fluttered, he shook his head violently and after a moment of uncertainty, straightened up and regained his presence of mind. He looked around, saw Bell and Lind and said, "What happened? Where am I?"

Kami-sama bent over to look into Keiichi's face. "You are in my throne room. I am Kami-sama."

Keiichi snapped alert. "Kami-sama!" He jumped out of his chair to kneel before the great Deity.

Kami-sama chuckled and helped Keiichi back into his chair. "Don't hurt yourself, Keiichi. You've just emerged from a great shock."

Keiichi looked around. "Belldandy! Lind! Are you all right?" Both Goddesses nodded.

Kami-sama said, "It looks like our Keiichi had an adverse reaction to the magic coming from the portal leading to the Eternal Chamber. As far as I can tell, the last time he went through the Portal with Lind and Ragnar, the experience affected him greatly. As did the exposure to the Eternal Chamber and the Eye of Heaven. There is very powerful magic in high concentrations within that chamber, coming from both the Eye and the wards designed to protect it. The magic within that space, is highly specialized, very unusual in its nature, and that is the reason we have had to go to such extreme lengths to seal it off from the rest of Heaven. I must remind you that the Eternal Chamber and the Eye within it are located in a completely separate dimension from the Palace and Heaven. And I am also quite sure that the magic used to create that dimension also had a part in Keiichi's reaction. Keiichi was fortunate to have such a powerful God with him like Ragnar to ease his passage. No telling what the confluence of magic in that room would have done to him without his help."

Lind said incredulously, "As far as you can tell? No disrespect intended, Kami-sama, but that answer isn't very comforting."

Kami-sama looked straight at Lind. The tone of his voice sent a chill up the Warrior's spine. "Due to the circumstances, I'll take your comment as the expression of concern that it is. But Lind, I would advise you not to take that tone with me again. Remember your place."

"Yes, Kami-sama." Lind said, head bowed and chastened. "Please forgive me."

"You are forgiven, Lind. You and Belldandy must understand that Keiichi is one of a kind. He has been a God for only a short while. We still do not know what effects a human transformed into a God will have on Heaven, and vice versa. I understand that the answers you seek aren't satisfactory to you, and I am sorry for that. But like a pebble dropped into a pond, the outcome of Keiichi's transformation will affect events in Heaven for a very long time. And in ways that we have yet to discover. I believe that most of the effects will be positive and beneficial for all concerned, but we also have be prepared for any negative outcomes as well."

"We understand, Kami-sama." Belldandy said. "We were just concerned about what drew Keiichi to try and open the portal, and how did he learn enough of the Old Language to make the attempt."

"Let's ask Keiichi." replied Kami-sama. "Keiichi, do you remember anything about what just happened a few minutes ago. Take your time, you have had a lot happen to you."

Keiichi was still a bit woozy from the ordeal and was a little slow in replying. "The best way I can say it is, that for that moment, it felt like someone else was trying to open the portal. Like it wasn't me saying the words, or performing the magic. I was standing off to the side just watching as who or whatever it was had taken over my body. I tried to stop it...but I couldn't. I'm sorry, but I can't be more specific than that."

Kami-sama reassured Keiichi. "Don't worry, son. Just rest for a few moments." Turning to the two Goddesses. "But we have to find out who or what it was that took over Keiichi's mind and body and tried to open the Portal. Clearly it seems to me that this unknown entity meant to do Keiichi and Belldandy harm. It knew that they were not cleared to enter the Portal and it knew the consequences of someone attempting to breach the Portal without authorization."

Belldandy spoke up. "Kami-sama, this may or may not be relevant, but I believe that it would not hurt to disclose it." Belldandy paused and her voice became filled with pain. "A while ago, Keiichi was afflicted with evil magic from a Rage Token. Could this have something to do with what happened?"

Both Lind and Kami-sama abruptly turned to look at Belldandy with newfound worry. Lind exclaimed. "When did this happen? Why wasn't I notified of this? I was on Earth at the time. No one told me!"

"You were not home at the time, Lind. Keiichi and I were alone in the temple. We had received a package in the mail from a friend. It was a small statue, not very pretty. I touched it first, then Keiichi..." Belldandy choked back tears as she recounted the traumatic events of her abuse by Keiichi.

Keiichi put his hand up to stop Bell from saying any more. "Kami-sama, while I was under the influence of the Token, I abused Belldandy. I verbally abused her, I threw things at her, and I came very close to striking her. I said vile and hurtful things to her. And even though she has forgiven me more times than I deserve, I still feel terrible for the things I said and did. Please understand, Kami-sama. I would never willingly do the things I did to Belldandy. I swore a vow to her to love and cherish her and to give my life for her."

A flash of anger appeared in Kami-sama's eyes. His hands shook, and his brow furrowed, but the anger dissipated as quickly as it struck. "Keiichi." He said slowly. "I cannot hold you responsible for something that you had no control over. And I can see in your eyes that the love you have for Belldandy is real and true. I believe you when you say that you did those things under the Token's influence. Despite being the Leader of the Heavenly Realms, I do know of Rage Magic and its Tokens. Very powerful and nasty magic. So powerful and unpredictable that Hild herself won't even directly work with it. She has that fool Torvald to do her dirty work with Rage Magic."

Kami-sama turned to Belldandy and asked, "I presume that you were able to dispose of the Token in a proper manner?"

Bell said, "Yes. Urd and I destroyed the statue and scattered the pieces to the four corners of the Earth."

"It was good that Urd was there to help you dispose of the Token, Belldandy. Being half-demon gives her special abilities to deal with that kind of magic. But I'm wondering whether you and Urd were able to completely get rid of the Token's spirit that attached itself to Keiichi's mind, and whether whatever remnant of the spirit, if any, reacted to the magic of the Portal."

Kami-sama's words shook Belldandy. It took a few moments for her to say anything. "Do you mean to say that there may still be some of the spirit of the Token left in Kei's mind? That we didn't get it all out? Kami-sama, I am very sure that Urd and I took great care in performing the destruction of the Token correctly."

Gently, Kami-sama touched Belldandy's shoulder. " I understand your concern, Belldandy. I'm not saying that you and Urd were negligent. But that one must be very careful when dealing with Rage magic. It is extremely difficult to understand, and even though Urd is half-demon, and saw the problem for what it was, that doesn't mean that her understanding of the magic involved is complete. You two destroyed the Token, but we have to be certain that the entirety of the Token's spirit that manifested in Keiichi's mind is completely removed. The magic emanating from the Portal may have been enough to trigger any latent remains of the spirit into action. Fortunately, we have a way to find out." Speaking to no one in particular, Kami-sama said, "Frigga, report to my Throne Room, and bring a spirit detector."