Identity quest: 23
~0~
The life of Ganesh... had been a short one. The only thing his mind had recorded to this point was his activation and his post beside the one legged blacksmith. Greeting people with the same phrase over and over again.
Maybe there was something more to life, but he didn't feel like looking too deeply into it.
And thus, today would not be different... it was never different. It would always be the same thing.
'At least, the other Ganeshs can go and hunt down souls for Shesha to eat... lucky dogs, the lot of them.'
Suddenly, he felt a group coming closer, positively radiating malice.
Coming up from an alley, Ganesh saw the same people that had once scoffed at him. Their little group had grown, it seems, and none of them looked ready to give their souls to Krishna.
No... and none of them even let him the time to speak his little spiel, for a cat had ripped him apart, same as his screaming Cohort.
But since those were but Programs, neither felt pain.
~0~
Kripa watched in satisfaction as Ganesherif and the other guy colaples into Data, if those were spirit souls, then they were freed from this terrible fate and able to move on to another gross body, and if those were mere Data?
Oh, how Cathartic... how freeing.
"Alright everyone. Has everybody chanted the holy names?" Mukhara barked. " You know what, let's make a statement to this cur who dares to wear the name of the Supreme Absolute truth, Sri-Krishna, and perform so many vile acts."
Kripa shivered at the sight, his mother... was the commander of an army, and while he remembered her as being meek and submissive to Guru-deva, sweet and approachable on the street, she was and will always be a force to be recon with when facing Disrespectful atheist, especially buddhist and other rascals desiring to cause harm on Krishna's Devotees.
And damn if she was not Bold, for having told the Emperor of China that the Emperor of the Land of the Rising sun felt the need to remind him of their existence... or something along those lines.
But to see her on the field, destroying demons and giving hope to the hopeless, giving Access to krishna to all while
She opened her hands, her intention clear.
As before, Mukhara wanted them all to chant, but instead of just asking the lord for a successful venture, it was a statement.
As the group entered the courtyard, standing in front of the so-called temple with hands held in a link of divine love and brotherhood (Yes, Krishna-Kripa would call it like that because, dammit! He loved Cheesy names... and it was what it was, no question asked!) They all looked at the collected Gaean and other creatures hiding behind the column and the shoji.
Merkaba was between Mai and Gaston, Gaston held Toads hand, and Toad held Toki's, Toki held Nozomi's hand, Nozomi to Lady Danu, Danu to Zhong Khui, Zong to Radha-Shyamasundara, Radha to Krishna-kripa, and Krishna- Kripa to Mukhara, Mukhara to Mai.
"All right, all together now."
~0~
Back in Hong Wang Ji, Issachar had dozed off after pouring out his grief to Odin.
Apparently, the Old God, the master of Asgard knew grief and death on a personal level, having lost all of those near and dear to him.
Either to death, corruption or... Loki being a little shit.
Still, the pain was there... and Odin, having lived for so long, knew the power of listening and hearing.
And thus... Isachar had poured his emotions out to his ancient colleague, the hate he felt towards Krishna (if he was really it) , the grief of losing Flynn, of killing this Hare Krishna cat-girl by the name of Radha. Yuki's terrible state and the fact that there was nothing he could do about it.
Oh... and Dagda... May he return to being a person and fall in hell, burning there for as long as the flames burn.
And Yuriko... she could stuff herself with an iron pipe left in a swamp and twist it hard...
Still, in the state he was in, there was nothing Isachar could conceivably do. He was shackled by the fake Krishna's words and now... because of those shackles...
He had let his brother die alone on a cross, bleeding to death as he desperately tried to give his last message of hope to the people of Naraku.
He... Had no idea if it would work. He felt rather hopeless and helpless himself.
He got up from Odin's shoulder and, with no other options, began to pray as Yuki and Flynn would. Knee's to the ground and
'Hare krishna, Hare Krishna-"
"HARE KRISHNA, HARE KRISHNA, KRISHNA KRISHNA, HARE HARE, HARE RAMA, HARE RAMA, RAMA RAMA, HARE HARE!"
It sounded like a thousand lions roaring at the same time, chasing the demons of despair with their resounding voice.
It shook the walls of the Tsukiji Hongwanji, warned all the raskals and demons of their impending destruction, chased away the source of all lamentations, cleansed the mirror of the hearts and promised real Salvation to those who heard it, either they be near and far.
It was a statement, loud and clear, that the real servants of God had arrived. It was the same sound, the same breaking of heart, that Pancha-Janiya, Sri-Krishna's blowing conch, would cause to the miscreants and demons.
It was a victory cry, a rallying cry, it was the husband of the goddess of Victory who always carried his wife on his lap.
Hope, real, undeniable, unshakable and as real as the new dawn arose in the hearts of Isachar and Odin.
All was not lost, hope had returned...
And even when they felt their body move against their will, hastily preparing for the next step in Nyarlathotep's unraveling plan, they knew, they all knew, that Flynn would be divinely avenged.
~0~
In the heart of the Honganji, in the sanctum where a statue of Lord Buddha once resided, Nyarlatothep was idli slapping Flynn's flaccid cheeks.
Oh, don't get them wrong, the Samurai of hope was well and truly dead. His soul, completely gone...
And yet, herein lied the problem; his soul was gone!
Like... completely gone!
And not in Yuki's sea of souls either like Navarre's soul did once Shesha ate him.
No... He was gone... well and truly gone.
"For shame." 'Krishna' lamented as he held the lax cheek in his hand. " I would have loved to break you further, to taste your sweet despair... Alas, you have left me, I now have but an empty husk to play with." His grin grew wider. Yes, he may have lost the SD card containing Flynn's execution and ridiculous last words... but it didn't mean that he could not milk the people's despair for all it was worth.
He Still had the Hero's body... and so many things could be done with it.
But before Nyarly could do anything, a wave of divine sound hit him like a tsunami, shredding the amalgamation that made up his body.
"Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare. Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare!"
So many ghosts and spirits became de-unified with the main core, rushing up to heaven on golden chariots, their bodies gaining four arms and a blakish complexion. Those souls, purified of all material bodies and minds, were ascending out of the material world.
But... Nyarlathotep was not as fortunate. He stubbornly remained well entrenched in Yuki's sea of soul, like a rat he was.
Weakened and lighter, the demon snarled... he was not about to lose so easily. He still had more... his power was still earth shattering.
No... He would not live, Stephen Philem would not win this time!
And he would get his freedom.
Nyarlathotep let himself ooze out of his envelope and pushed the limp vessel up, he could feel the last of his mind, now damaged beyond repair, stir a bit... and two stubborn souls still clinging to their individualities.
Nyarly scoffed as he positioned Yuki's body to make it a bit more comfortable. The Son of Yuka and Miko were closing in, their followers trailing after them like blind mice.
A ghastly grin stretched his vesel's mouth a tad too much... not that he needed.
No... after that, after the group of fools would join his collective, nyarly would ditch the cooling corpse and take over Tokyo without any fear.
What if he failed at summoning Nyx? And what if he succeeded?
His only pleasure in life was to make people miserable, and to grow bigger and stronger, and even if Stephen would delete him, he had a good run.
He let his laughter echo in the empty hall, ripping through Yuki's abused lungs. He would not wait for the full moon, he would not follow the plan, it was time for him, the crawling chaos to follow his name and, as the undergrounder say.
Fuck his shit up.
He summoned Maitreya, the man was sold to him, wanting relief from existing. A perfect soul to add to his private collection.
The fat buddha appeared from the digitized petal dance, not even pausing at the sight of the blood and sluice covered face of his master.
"Yes, Krishna. You called me? Is this about the illusioned person raiding the Hongwangji?" He asked, his twisted smile not hiding the glee he had at the prospect of fighting those personalizate.
"̶͈͖̖̎͝I̷̯͕͛́ņ̷̍d̴̙̬͎͆͒e̸̲̗̦̅e̸̗̾d̸̖̖͇̒͛͠,̵̪̠͒͌̒ ̶̩̑͌I̴̠̘̐̌̉͜ ̵̣̰͎̃͝͝d̵̘͓͛̀̕i̷̢͚̋̃d̶̫͍̜̕.̵̗̎͊͒"̸̆ͅ Nyarlathotep confirmed, letting his voice rip out of Yuki's lungs and throat. Uncaring for the damage it would cause.
"̸̗͖̃͗̊ ̷͙̱̪̐Ẃ̵͎̦̤̎e̶̤̍̌̄ ̵͈̕d̷̅͜ǒ̸̢̕ ̵͉̘̓̀̿n̷͖̰̓͘ò̶ͅt̵̝̣̲̊̕͘ ̷̹͉͒̍̀h̷̳͓͇̑̐̚ă̶̙͇̋v̵̨͓̮́̚͝ë̴͈́̈́ ̷̡͒̇a̴͉̙̓́͘n̶̥̯̫͌̃̈́ÿ̴̞̞̣́ ̵̫̽̈͋t̴͙͊i̸̤̱͗̚m̶̩͠e̶͇̩͐ͅ ̶͙̿̾͝ţ̵̅o̵͚̓ ̸̩̹̀̾͂l̵̺̀ő̴̼̉̂s̷̛͎͝e̶͚̩̔͜͝,̸͍̯͖͑̽ ̸̧̥̻̒͗͋M̴̫͕͋a̷̡͔̻͗͂͑ĩ̸̪̗̌̑t̷̼́r̸̻̽͠e̵̡͗̌̌y̵̺̌̾̀͜a̴͍̩͝,̶͉͗ ̸̛̞̲́̎ͅb̶̼̏̀ř̵͍̦i̷̯͖̠̓̄̒n̶̥͛ͅg̸̺̥̀ͅ ̸̢̭͈̄͠a̶͍̖͖̾l̷̯̆l̵̥̓ ̷̣͉͂͛̔ͅo̸̢̱͊f̶͎͙́ ̸̙̠̉͒͝t̶̻͂͑̊h̵̡͛̏͘ͅͅe̵̗͙̔̇͌ ̸̜̘͌ŝ̴̺͓̍͐a̵̯͍͍͘l̶̥̲̍̅͜v̷͙͛͒̕à̴̛̖̭̃g̴̡̤̓e̴̳̮̿̉͜d̴͓̮͌ ̶̛̺̌̅s̴͚̓̏̍ǫ̴̉ṷ̸̻̞͝l̴͉̕ ̶̖͓̈̂͊t̴̛̙̹̥͊ǫ̶͕͆̉̓ ̴̡͉͚̊m̸̟̼͝e̸̠͐.̵͎͑͝ ̶͍̖̯̽́̚t̶̡̲̭̀͊h̸͈̔́͌e̴̖̾n̸̬̼̔ ̷͉̫̈́̍̄g̴̝͚̔̇̈́o̴̰̹̙̐͘ ̷̯̮̀͝a̵͓̭̦͆̎̉n̸̼̱̹̾ḓ̸͖̃ ̸͚͒͝c̷͓̫̉̕ơ̷͓̩͈̇̏ṋ̷̈́f̴̡̻̈́̉̎r̸̺̍ǒ̷̱n̴̮̅̔ẗ̴̰́ ̴͓͎̰̉̓ò̸̳̗͉̊u̷̠͍̇ŗ̸̏̈́̐ ̵̻̐̀v̶̟͍̀͜ę̵͍̦̇r̸̯͉̍̈́̈́m̸̥̒̾͘i̷͙͊̿n̶͎͌̕o̷̻͕̠͋̀̋ǔ̶̯š̵̰̻̜́͠ ̷̰̬̬͑̊g̶̠̱̦͌́͘ṳ̵̄e̴̼͐̋͑s̶̰͂́t̶̠̓ͅs̷̜̰͚̎.̸̬̽́ ̷̮̣̐d̴̰̚ơ̵̭̪̕͝ ̴̻̄̎n̷̛̳͒̽o̸̹̓t̵͔͒̑̂ ̸̤̲̈́̊w̴̖̞̖͘ö̵̭r̴̭̈́̃̀r̷̖͕̜̀y̶͈̙͚͐̑̕ ̶̲̽͐͠i̸̹̳̮̊̐f̴͖̕ ̷̛͉̀ỵ̶̘̼̀͘ő̷͇̞͉͗u̷̱̼͆ ̴̝͝f̸͉͒͗́a̶̽̆͜i̵̹͋̏̀l̴̨̻͉͗ ̸̱̯͙̿̒t̴̳̐ö̵͕͍̂͌ ̶̼͑̆̿s̸͇̓t̸̹̺̙̎̈ơ̵̬͛̾p̸̤͍̪̔̀ ̷̨̳͈͝t̴̛̗̉͠h̷͍̗͗ę̸͒̔͑ṃ̵̌̍̽,̶̟͇̏̐́ͅ ̴̱̩͚͑̍̚w̷̬̝̤̆̑h̶̭̙͎̉è̶̺̪̲̌͂ţ̷̈́́͘h̴͉̒ĕ̷͚̘̰͊̾r̷̡͈͛̅͝ ̴̭̪̏̓͘y̵̘̞̿̅o̴͖͇͑ͅȕ̸͈r̶͎̪͉͝ ̸̭̍͜b̷̟͌̃̃o̴̼͠͝d̵͎̙͈͗ỹ̸͔̘ ̶̼̔l̴̗̐͜ͅî̸̜̚v̸̖͋̾͆e̴̠͕͎̓s̸̛̜̱͑͝ ̵̧̫͗o̷͎͚̊ṟ̸̨͈̓͝ ̷̺̈́̆̚d̵̺̣͋̈̕ͅì̸̡̤̻̿e̸̼͘s̷̯̉̌̚ ̶͔̲̈́ị̷̙͕̑s̴̱̋ ̷̙̺̘̂i̴͙̪̒̆͒m̴̝̃͋̚m̶̟̈ä̵̳́̂ẗ̸̘́ȅ̸̛̜̍r̴̫̔̈́ĭ̵̙̜͐̓a̸̪̳͗l̴͍͚̫̄̀͝.̶̙̥̬̀"̴̫͙̈́̇
"Yes, Krishna. As you will." and with a final bow, Maitreya exited the cursed location.
~0~
In the sea of souls in the Location where Nyx, Navare and Yuki's subtle body was last seen...
only darkness remained.
It has sneaked up on the three souls that had been captured and held against their will.
A bit of darned eating away at Yuki's psyche, like tuberculosis until it was too late, until Ryoji was no more,and only Nyx remained, until Navare's love filled mind for the night mother and her lover turned into dust... and until death herself embraced the void.
The sea became quiet in its numerous souls screaming in unison, writing and squirming as the chaos took over, covering everything in darkness...
Time lost all meaning, they were all one... all nothing... back to nothing... a nothing that was, for the soul, unnatural.
And then... the sun rose in sound.
"Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna, Krishna Krishna, Hare Hare! Hare Rama, Hare Rama, Rama Rama, Hare Hare!"
The sound... the divine sound, God appeared beside his friend, He was not alone, for beside him, Love-personified, His better half stood in Her Golden radiance.
They were there but for a moment, and a moment was all they needed to dispels the deep darkness, and free the three souls stuck in an impossible situation.
Navare was the first one to open his eyes... When did he close them? He remembered holding onto Nyx Tightly as she was swallowed whole. She, the Death Mother, taken over by a mere mortal, a mere spectre had dared to touch this belle dame.
"... Nyx? Nyx... wake up." He gently shook her as he noticed another weight in his arm.
It was Yuki... his psyche still looked broken, but at least, he was whole.
Ryoji was nowhere in sight, nothing was left of the young man with the taste for those of the same gender, who had taken Yuki to be his, despite the fact that the blunette never gave any clear consent.
And yet, despite this major Faux pas, was doing everything in his power to rectify it.
He was... gone! The other side of Nyx...
"mmm... Navare?" He heard the death damsell murmur as she returned to consciousness. Somehow, her mask-like face gained a bit more life.
She was... even more stunning than what Navare remembered.
"Yes, I am here, beloved." He helped his promise to sit up, gingerly letting her lean on his shoulder. " It seems the darkness had swallowed us, but we were rescued."
"I... I don't remember it happening." The dead mother murmured as she held her head, the feathery hair looking soft and silky. Then, she gasped. "Yuki!" she turned to Navare with her black eyes wide with fear and her eternal smile shattered.
"He's here, still with us." Navare spoke as he gestured to the broken remains of the heroic youth, and lover of Ryoji. " My love, I cannot see Ryoji... your counterpart is gone."
Nyx's eye grew a bit wider, then she turned away delicately touching the bottom of her face, deep in thought. "I think... No, I am..." She then touched her feathery head. " Ryoji... this part of me has died. I am all that is left... my seal has been broken, I am fully myself." she then turned to Navare, her usually blank face now shone with a truly happy smile. " Nava... I... I am Nyx... and only Nyx."
The Samurai felt all the air get punched out of his lungs by this revelation. "It's a miracle." He breathed out as he held Nyx's porcelain features. "It's... This... the sound that freed us."
"Not just us." Nyx spoke as she returned her glance to Yuki's psyche. "Look, Yuki-kun's mind..."
"Yes, it seems to be restored... somewhat."
...
"Nyx... what should we do now?" Navare asked as he fiddled with his sword, now that the darkness was not as encompassing once the source of all light had lifted some of the burden that brought Yuki down, Navare could once again make out the individual shapes of all the demons that resided in Yuki's psyche...
and they all seemed to be holding... something.
"Nyx... what are those orbs those demons are clutching?" He asked as he pointed at said orbs, tiny star fragments helt by a moonless night.
Nyx hollowed out eyes narrowed as she clutched her broadsword, climbing to the point of her feet. "Those are pieces of my Yuki-kun's psyche." She hissed as her jet-black wings began to shimmer, her smile turning violent.
She turned her deathly smile toward her Fiance. "Tell me, love. How do you feel about a bit of hunting?"
Navare's fingers itches, begging him to take his fearsome sword also, his previous cowardice gone to where his sinful body laid. "Oh, but with pleasure, Milady."
And thus, Nyx and Thanatos began to hunt Yuki's numerous persona's... unknowingly weakening The crawling Chaos further.
In the confines of the velvet room, Holding a Tulasi bead Rosaries in his gnarled fingers. Igor gave a ghoulish grin.
The end was near... and soon, all would attain freedom.
~0~
The needle point had already breached through the defiled temple proper, Radha, using the memory of the first time she lurked in these halls as a cat. And apparently, despite having hung out with Odin for most of her stay, the Ascended Hell-cat already knew the ins and outs of this place.
"Alright guys, we should be coming close to a Dojo room..." She spoke as she led the team further inside, only for her to baulk. "Aw crap, not that guy."
"What guy?"
"Maitreya." Radha hisses, her hackle raise.
There was a similar sound coming from Toki, who quickly buried herself to Toad's side... despite the bazooka hanging from his shoulder. (free of it's load, of course. and Krishna was a hundred percent sure the young assassin was acting like a scared child just to have the golden piece of shit lower his defence.)
"The Aberration's right hand man." Merkebha rumbled as he kept fiddling with one of Radha's sari draped on his chest like a toga, and held up by a makeshift belt. "He was known for brainwashing gaeans, turning them to... It with the promise of merging with the Gods."
There was a wave of cringes and sneeres of disgust at the information.
"Merging with God." Mukhara shuddered. " It is indeed possible to merge within Krishna's bodily effulgence and to lose our sense of individuality, but only a ridiculously small percentage of Jiva's will remain in the effulgence, most of them too bored by their pure existence, and returning back to earth to take birth yet again."
"... Mom, May I have permission to spark the guy?" Krishna-Kripa asked as he meaningfully grabbed his shovel. " He strangled Asahi, desecrated the good name of Maitreya Muni and Lord Buddha and forced his monastic views down gullible gaeans and demons... And He's just so full of it, it make me sick with anger...May I-"
"You may." Ken spoke up as he fiddled with a loose staple. Before his eyes bulged out. "Ah... Sorry, Mam, I didn't-"
"It's fine, Ken-kun." Mukhara waved him off. "And to be honest, I want to waste the least amount of time on useless fighting, the longer we wait, the more power Nyarlathotep gains."
"And how does he gain his power, pray tell?" Gaston asked as Krishna-Kripa quietly floated to the door and, cracking it open just enough for him to slink in without any other noise.
"Hey, Hell-citizen here." Radha piped up. "The guy's definitely an amalgamation of evil spirits, basically bodiless living entities filled with spite, anger, lust and sorrow, unable to return to the higher ghost planet above the earth. The main one managed to stick to one, then another, then another, making what we commonly refer to as an Utsuro, since they usually need a vessel." She explained as the sound of fighting exploded from the room. "Yo, Sis, think my nephew may need a hand?"
Mukhara remained silent for about thirty second as the intense battle raged on, Maitreya roaring like a fighting bull in rut and Krishna-Kripa cackling like a maniac.
"Nah, He's good?" She waved her concern off. "It's been a while since we've faced someone with his same weakness, He's capitalising on it."
Radha gave a feral grin. "Eh, That's our boy." She huffed proudly. "But yeah, what's controlling Makoto san's basically an OP legion who just wants to see the world burn for shits and giggles."
"That's... awfully basic." Ken spoke as he warily gazed at the door. " I mean, Sure. Nyx and Ikutsuki wanted The Fall to happen, and Ikutsuki had this major God delusion but... you know, they had a goal other than then just causing Chaos for the sake of Chaos."
"Hmmm." Mukhara hummed as she touched her lips with the side of her index finger. "Actually, Nyarlathotep desires to cause misery to feed on it. In a way, he sees himself as the supreme cause of everyone's misery, and the master of everyone."
"In other words, he sees himself as God's ultimate competitor." Merkebha growled. "The fool, a Mere Mortal can never be as powerful as Him."
Radha chuckled. "Well, actually... that's the goal of Bhakti."
This quiet admittance was met with a stunned silence.
Radha-Shyamasundara moved her glance back at Mukhara, who smirked.
"Now... Before you all start losing your faith in me and in Bhatki, I'm sure you would like some explanation." She spoke as she moved out of the way, since, apparently, Kripa had been thrown out the door.
"Come back here, you weasel!" Maitreya roared as Krishna-Kripa got to his feet, his smirk practically glowing.
"Oh, I will." He growled lowly as he grew his wings out and flew back in the room with a cackle.
...
"Alright, he's having fun... now, back onto the Topic: Krishna can't be defeated and killed by anyone, let alone Atheists and Asuras." Mukhara rolled her eyes as Kripa declared a spell card and the sound of bells and chimes filled the room. "No, the only thing that can defeat God is pure love."
"Pure love, huh?" Nozomi murmured. "Kind of a fairytale... my gran would tell me this one about the Oni and the Princess, the Oni was burning down villages and eating whomever had the bad luck to get in his path, but one day, he stopped the royal Caravan and saw the young princess, a sweetie pie more innocent than a basket of kittens. He fell in love with her, but the Princess wanted nothing to do with him."
"Understandably." Gaston groused with lowered head. Wincing at the sound of something heavy hitting the ground.
"But he never stopped pursuing her, and in a jest, the princess told him that, if he wanted to have her as a wife, he would have to fix all the villages he burned down, tilled and land, grow the rice and bring back all of those he had killed and eaten." Nozomi continued. "Long story short, the big guy did all that."
"Out of love." Toki, the silent one, murmured.
"More like outa lust, if yah ask me." Radha growled. " Nothing will stop a lust filled man from attaining the object of his desires."
"And for those who have tried love, nothing will stop them to serve God." Mukhara interjected. "And once this love glows in our heart, Krishna will sell himself for it."
"Of all of God's lover's the best and foremost are the Gopis of Vraja. And let me tell yall a little secret. For them, if they have to go to Hell for Krishna's pleasure, then they will happily go to Hell for Krishna's pleasure. But Sri-Krishna loves 'em so much that he won't let 'em go to Hell."
"Save if he wants his devotees to save the fallen souls there." Mukhara smirked.
Radha waved her hand around. "Nah, Sis. There's way too much suffering in Hell for the Holy Names of God to be heard."
"Just like there is too much pleasure in heaven."
"The earth truly is the best place to be then." Kripa interjected as he walked out of the room. His clothes were rumpled, his face was somewhat bruised and the smile that shone on his lip was oceanic in it's bliss.
"Ah, is it just me, or defeating a Voidistic son of an ignorant bitch feels like a thousand bucks?" He sighed as he leaned on Gaston, greenish blood dripping from his knuckle.
"Well, yeah but..." Radha clicked her tongue as she tried not to smile too hard. "We usually don't kill 'em..."
"Yes, we just need to tell them that they are the spirit soul, the eternally individual source of consciousness and they will run the other way." Radha purred with a smirk. "Alright, let's get the Utsuro out!"
and with that, the needle point crossed the threshold and...
"Oh... Master had fun." Toki muttered as she seriously looked around the ravaged room.
"Kripa... where's the body?" Mukhara asked as she scanned the room, wincing at the unseen violence.
The Dryad happily showed one side of the room, hidden behind some rubble.
"Thank Krishna you didn't spark him." Ken muttered as he watched his handiwork. "Listen guys, let's just wrap up and move on to our main problem, I don't think this place will withstand any more abuse."
"Agreed!" Kripa spoke just as Radha-Shyamasundara loaded the huge corps in her cat-kart.
" Just so he won't get revived again."
Fair enough.
~0~
Hidden behind a fake wall, the only ones that survived Kripa's Holy rampage were Issachar and Odin. Both men were still mute and deaf in awe at the sheer power the tiny Kripa had manifested...
The young man had defeated Maitreya with his fist, a flaming shovel and sadistic flirting.
it had been…
terrifying.
Now tough, all was quiet, save for the chatter of this powerful group as they walked through the room, intending to reach the other end as fast as possible.
Odin's cat, Radha, was busying herself by loading the oversized corps in a two wheeled cart, all the while Humming the Maha-Mantra.
"So, what do we do now?" Issachar whispered to Odin. "I don't want to face those guys again... even if this is how it will happen."
"I... also have no desire to face them either." Odin admitted. " I still remember how you came in last time. I may be a brave man but this..."
"But what can we do?" Issachar asked desperately. " If we approached them even as friends, then Krishna's magic will force me to change and play the role of Flynn." He shuddered, the sight of his dead brother hanging from that damne cross still too vivid in his mind's eyes. "But... if we remained hidden!"
"Can we even remain in hiding, Issachar?" Odin asked as he gave another glance out of the crack in the wall, did the purple administrator glance their way? "Personally, I wouldn't mind dying in an act of rebellion against... it." he hissed, venomously. " I followed him in the hope that I may return to my position as the Lord of Asgard... but, realistically, I do not believe it to be feasible."
"Shit... Is that?" Issachar's words died in his throat. "Oh heavens and hell combine, Merkebah's with them."
"What!" Odin asked in a harsh whisper as he pushed his friend in trauma away from the peaky-hole. "By Mjorin's sacred handle... it is..."
"He looks terrible. What happened to him?"
"Oh, he joyfully fell from heaven." The saintly Mukhara took this opportunity to interject in their whispered conversation, causing both demons to whirled around in surprise, ready to fight.
She raised her hand. "Be at peace, I want no strife with you."
"That's what you are saying, but how can we trust your intentions?" Odin asked, only to have Issachar firmly slapped his arms... and opened his eyes wide in shock.
"I-"
"No, you won't turn into Flynn, and you won't spy on us for your vile handler. I've grown tired of this game, and thus, I've elected to up my divine intervention a bit." The glowing woman spoke. "Issachar, Odin... how do you feel about joining our crusade to free this place of great evil?"
The unlikely duo gave a sideway gaze, having a quick conversation with each other, before Odin spoke up. "And why, praytell, do you desire to have us betray Krishna."
The saintly Mukhara raised an eyebrow. "Oh, have my ears deceive me?" She asked. " You mean... you want to serve this psychopath?"
"Hell no!" Issachar (literally) hissed. " I hated him the moment I regained consciousness! He killed Flynn! He tortured him and Yuki!" His voice broke at the admission. "I... I don't care if his death means my own; I failed my Bro... If I didn't avenge him, then how can I face him after I die?"
Issachar's chest was heaving. He knew he was on borrowed time... The moment Nyarly met his righteous end, so would he, die.
And he didn't want to die in vain.
Once again, Mukhara's eyes pierced the snake-man to his core, listening to something deep in his heart.
"When Draupadi was disgraced in the assembly of the Kauravas, Bhima swore that he would drink the blood of Dushasana and break the things of Duryodhana... he did just that, on the battlefield of Kurukshetra. When Ravana stole Sita away, Rama vowed to get her back and make the miscreat pay. He did just that, and Hanumen burned Lanka in his Holy Name."
"You... you desire to avenge your brother, to face a demon beyond comprehension... this is righteous."
"Ma'am... I-"
"In your heart, you have many desires, but the loudest one is vengeance... not for yourself, but for Flynn."
"And for myself."
"Don't sell yourself so short, issachar. And yes, we did receive the SD card, we won't get surprised by the corps and, yes, Radha's fine."
"Heck yeah I am!" Radha called from the other side of the room. Having packed Maitreya's corps and loading the behemoth of a demon on her 'flimsy' cart.
"Radha... you survived!" Odin stops with a wavering voice.
"Course I did, Ooin." The Vaishnavi gestured his concern away. " I was born in hell, and I ate some hermit. It ain't a crushed heart that'll stop me from going!"
"So... Do we have a deal?" Mukhara asked with crossed arms. " Will you join us?"
"In your case, asking us is extremely redundant." Odin spoke with markedly more vigor. " I have heard that your ears can hear the ten desires of a soul."
"Indeed I can! Welcome to the team!" Mukhara cheered as she gave Odin and Issachar a hand shake. "Let's get this over with shall we?"
The two men gave a smile that would chill even Lucifer to the core, for in this smile, this blood thirsty smile, hope was there.
Hope that soon, they will have their freedom.
~0~
Maitreya was gone...
Not just dead, gone.
Nyarly had not received this soul in his ever expanding body, and instead... he felt...
Less...
'But why? Why do I feel like that?' He wondered as he moved about the darkened room. Everything was... well, Yuki was practically dead at this point, his mind was, somehow, a bit more put together but otherwise, he was just an empty chest, the door to an ocean of souls ready to eat.
'I... I may have lost a few dozen when this... horrible sound washed over me.' Nyarly, the old one had practically nothing to fear... but this... thing.
This thing made the crawling Chaos shudder with dread... something he had never felt, and wish to never feel again.
"̰̫̉̎̇͘"̥̦͚̭͇̻ͯͮ͘S͎̪͑͟ŏ͍͍̙̥͔̭͖̈̽̉͜,̷̲͎̻̭̿ͨ̎ ̷̝͓̲̘̻̘̺ͩͯ̀̐w̧̹͈̝̲͙̤̎͊̐h̛͇͇̯̥̥̟̞͐ạ̖̦̦̦ͮͥͩ́̚ţ̭̼̃ ̸̟͉̠̼̽̆d͂̇̆҉̮̫̣o̫̗ͣ̀͘ ̡̦̠͍̳͎́ͭͥ̔ͅy̹͙̫̳̮̦͓̍̎͞ǫ̳̘̮̠̻ͥ̋͒u̥̹̤̐͘ ̴̘̪̗͎̝͓̙̋̒ͮṱ̺͖̬ͬ̈́͞h̢̳̪͇̦̰̠̮́í̪̘̩̪̜͙̣̳̋ͥ̎͠n̥̩͖͔̠͑͘k͕̮̍̋͠ ͓̬͇͈̩ͣ̀̋̌͟ẗ̺́ͭͧ͞ͅh̵̘̜͙̲͙́͆e̘̰̬ͮ̌̀̎̀ͅy̸̜͚̻͉̪̱ͨ ̴̳̺̺̱ͭ̅w̮̜̲͍͓͖͐ͪ̊͞ȉ̧͓̠ͧ̅ͥl̴̼̫̫̝̗͉͓̻̊ͥ̋l̬̱̯̥͓̤̝̈́̂ͥ͐͠ ͔̜͕̩̋͂́d̻͕ͫ͐̓ͥ̀o̢̜̫̗̞̭̯̩̺ͭ ̎̑͏̤̬̥̳͍͍̹n͓̝͉̩͎͇̒͘ë̘͎̤͓̻̤̪̤̓́x̵͕̝̭͙ͧ͗ͤt̨͙̫̣̯̘ͧ̑?̵͙̣̮͎̥̣̗͕͉̙ͦ͗̎͐̚͜ͅ"̘͍̩̻͖ͤͫͫͨ͝ Nyarlatothep asked the limp and pale body on the cross. Floating toward him with a frown on Yuki's face. ͓̮̝͔͈̩͇̉͠ͅ"̷̣̫̘̍͊̒M̢̳̗̻͙̠̏̄̍ͦyͩ͏̻̱ ͍̭̲̝͔̬͆ͭ͟ͅp̶̖̭̙͒ͅl̴͙̟̠̺͚̩̂̎̋a̶̱̓͒ͅn̨͍͕̰̦̼͎̠̑ ̹͎̩̌ͮ̋ͫ͘ț̴̥̤̣̬̐͗̈ͅö̩̭͎̀ ̴̺͍̠͈̃̉́g̫̳̼̣͎͇̽ͩ̅̊͟ą̪͔̪̭͊t̤̝͔̑ͨ̇͞h̹̬͈͈͚͇͓̚͠e͈͓͓͔͆̈̄́r̞̪̫̖͈̜̜͌͟ ͖̺͓̌ͩ̈ͨ́ͅt͍͚̋̽͟h̸̖̭͉̱̻ͪe̬͕͍̭͕̻̬ͯ̈́̾̕ ͆҉͖̮̯ș̟͗̌͢o̴͙͕͓̜̤̲ͫ̅̑ư͔͕̫͊ļ͍̰̦̞̤̬͕̇͋ͯs̵̥̻ͥͅ ̸̫͇̔̔ͤṭ̭̜̰̟̩̣̼̈͂̕h̡͖̱ͥ̓̅e̱͖̩͔͎̪̟̰ͮ͗̕ẏ̩̘̹̯̲ͣ̾͞ ͔͈̈́͜ͅk̺̺̪̱͎ͫ̓ͩ͑͢i̹͕͌̿̔͠l̳̣̝̮̻̅͜lͪ̈́͏̞̼̯̜̥̖͕ͅė͕̹̺ͬ̀̈̕d̩̭͊ͫ͠ ̹͙̩͊̉͒́i̬̘̐̈͟s̓̍ͥ͐͏͙͍͈ ̧̲̹̭̼͔̪̅s̪͚̬̰̐͛̾́i̤͇̫̫̫̓͞ͅͅm̢̹̪̪̳̘̬̆̔͂̽p̸̗̫ͩ͛l͎͇͍͇̞̻̘̽͟ȳ̥̮̮͗̒̈͝ ̗̗̦̠͖̠̅ͬ̔͢ñ̶̗̹̙̞͙̯̘̼̋̃͛o̬̲̟̺̟̪ͨ̒̅͟t̢̜͔͂ ̧̣͉̠͈͇̔̇͆d̶͔̗͊o̸̤̼͈͇͙͈ͨ͆ͅâ̠͓̪̭̬͒̓͞b̨̳̞̔̅͋̊l̙̝̠̼̃̽͘ḛ͙̝̩̠ͤ̅ͦ͠ ̴̮̥̪͕͍̺̫̗̏̒a̗͕͉̣͙̼̓̑͒̓͠ͅn̷̞̙̝̠͎̞̍y̙̯͚̗̝̙̬̩̆͋͊͘m̴͓̮̹̘̝͖ͨͯͤ̈́o̤̠̯ͭ̾́͝r̖̭̣̯̦̩͍ͣ͆͠ẻ̛͉̝̟̪̻͈̓͐,̥̭̘̥̾̾͡ ̡̰̩̞̠̞̳̭͋̃͊n̟͕̜̮ͭͧ̉ͤ͟o̢̟̩̣̗͇͌t̡͎̘̙̮̓̎͊͂ ͇̪̙̠̫̅ͨ̀w̧̝̑̅̒ͅḩ̥͙̺̲͐é͔͍͔ͬͣ͊͢n̯̳͍̭ͥ͋͐͡ͅ ̸͎̙̿ͦt̹̹̤͇̯̹̦̥ͦͦ́͆͘h̺̫͒͟e̳̹̥̫̯̿ͭ́y̛̳͎̗͉͈̩̫̎ ̫̰ͧ̃̔̉͝s͈̣̹ͮ͌̚͡t̢̫̗̜͕̬̙͛e̢̺͖̭̾͌̏ͤa̡̭̞ͪl̼̰̗̩̫̖̎ͯ̀ ̛̩̞̱̣̠̘͓̐̈́̃ͧw̧͕͕̯̪ͪ̅h̦̰̠̲̮̔͑ͣ͞å̸̟̠͎͚͈͕̺̀t̹̦͕̘͖͔͋͆̽̀ ̛͖̣̫͔ͦ̎ͅi̳̭̰̗͋͝s̴̱̜̼͙͍̬̞̩̍̅͒ ̸̜͉͍̲͍̲̑̎̐̾ṟ̞̳̻͂́i̴̱̳̎̒͛̔g̲̠̥ͧ̊ͮ̕h̩̰̭̯̉̈́̇̎͘t͔̟̂͗̕f̩͎͕̘ͮ̈̃́̀ủ̪̤͉͈͖͇̪̮͠ḷ̛̥͔̳͕̖̌̃̓͑l̪͉̊̀y͈̣͕̲͙̱̩̟̓ͩ͜ ̑͏̟͇̪̣m̶͚̮̯ͣ̆̋ͦì̵̜͕̣͇̘̈̅n̨̥̯̑̉e̵̺̣͈̲͍̜̽̾̚.̨̻̟̙̳͈͎̭̯̺͗ͯ̐̕"͕̞͛͗͒͜ He pouted darkly as he hung on Flynn's neck in a vile simulacre of an embrace.
He winced, feeling his real body shuddering... he felt... he felt as if he had lost something...
``Weird...No soul should be able to eat the others...' Then his eyes grew wide as his ill gotten face paled.
He hugged Flynn closer... a terrible feeling washing over him.
͓͉̟̃̐͡"̡̦̼ͣ́͊T̅҉͙͙̘h̶̲̟̉̏͂̏ḭ̭̰̤ͬ̾ͩ͟s̛̞̦̰̜̙̤ͤ̊.̺̖͔̙̳ͪ̄ͤ͘.̬̗̞̞̟̠̰̐͘.̰̰̮͕̃ͬͧ͜ ̦͍̗̝̰̱̼̏̅̽́̚t̩̞̰ͬ̀ḩ̺̼͑͗̆a̢̘͈͈ͪ͒ͮ̐t̿ͤͬ͏̺͓͉͍̭͔ ̢̩̘̐̊̃ͪt̢͕͖̤̫̟̳̆̈h̡̗̞̻̹ͫ̏̒e͍̜̥̩̻͉͗̒͟ͅy̜̺ͯ͝ ̡̱̮̫̫͈̐̀ͅͅt͒̑̅͐҉̖̙͕h̭̝̠͙̼̭̤̺̓ͯ͘e̴̫̤͚ͣ͑͊͗y̨̹̳̪̻̩̻͇͌̏ ̜̱͖̖̤̉̂͊͡k̷͔̮̬̣̟̟͗͛ḙ̤̥̈́̀ṗ̣̣͚͙̠̩̒̕t͔̫̤͌͟ ̟̝̟̟̖̮̼̔͆̈̽͘s̊̑͒͏̥̺̝͚̰̟̹̭i̷̱͚̥̹ͣͮg͈̬̤̙̱̝ͣ͢ͅn͉͎͚̭̙̖ͪ̆͊͜į̱͓͖̗͚ͥ͂͌͛ṋ̴̼͋g̯̻̜͎̖̘͈̫ͮ̅͛ͭ͟.̶̘̜̞̌̚̚.̏͏̼̹͙͚̠̰̥̮.̲̻̻̯̙ͯ͆͋̕ͅͅ ̖̪̒̂͋ͤ͜ṯ͍͓͈̤̑͑̋͠ͅḩ̰̤͋͆ͤ̉a̦̘̼͕ͫ̀t̳̳͌̒̃͟ ̛̖̘͈̪͇ͦ̍m̷̫̟̽ͅu̘͇̬̟͕ͧ̈́͢s̶̻̘̭̆̌͒ͫt̅̍̐҉̜̹͚̣͖ ͑͏̣̟b͗͊̆ͬ͏̻̞̖̦e̳̤̯͌̊̂͠ ̝͙͚̬̦̻ͬ̄̒͛͡i̾ͪ͒͏̩͉̗͚t̤̱͆͡,͍̮̘̫͊́͊̀͞ ̵̭̫̠͛͆ͣi̡͔͇̘̞̤͍̥̐ͬ͋̆t̛̼͕̠̳͔̽̈ ͉͚̺͍̱̺̭̎ͯ͛̀ͅm̛͚̹̠̱̖̺̠͐͆ụ̴̪̊s̢͙̳͔͔̭̝̞̉ͪ́̔t̗̥͙̤̣̻̺̹̓̏͆̀ ̧̲͚̤̟̲͉̺ͦ̊̉̈́h̨̼̼̓̎ͨa̵̮̠͔͖͂ͅv̶̱͖̗̖̫͍̎̇e̬̱̦̤̰̞̟̭̾̾ͥ́ ͊̎҉̮̭̣̗ͅpͬ̏̿҉̦̹͇̱͕͇ǫ̺̠̳̹̠̒i̙̥͓̯̫͇͉̊̈́̎̄͝s͔̗̻̮̳͋̕o̵̜͚͙͚ͥͯn̘̠̘̥̼͓̠̰̏͢e̴͖͉̭͈͚͙̦̽̋ͩͯd̨̲̹̰͛ͨͫ ̺͋͞ͅm̶̬͙̻̗̋͗̿e̞̼͕̗̗͈̠̣ͣ̀.̖̗͖̰̥̙̲̘͎͈͍̤̤̣̓̓̈́͋ͣ͠"̷̘̙̬̥͖̓ͫ͑̐ He whispered, a smirk pulling Yuki's lips. ͒ͪ̇҉͇̥͓̖͖̠͈ͅ"̴̤̼̏Ḻ̢͔͇͙̙͚̠̑ͭë̜͖̦̥̗̻͂̒ͪ́t̞̫̤̞ͭͥ͞ͅ ̣͙̙̦͔̯̜̂̄ͭ͝t̛̠̘͆h̶̼̘̘̜̮̱͎͊̍ḛ̣̗̤̍͒͌͐̀m̻̳͆͛͞ ̝̜̦̬̱ͮ̑ͣ͘c̪͖̥̾͞o̪̟̭̮̲̎̌̕ͅm̥̰͉ͮͦ̇͠e͎͙̬͕̻̫̹̽̕.̛͖̰͎̗̋̚.̡͓̅ͣ͑ͅ.͎͖̭͎͉̓ͤ̅̚͟ ̴͕͈̫̉̾L̼̙̞̗̭̙͍̱̈̀ͫ̕e̻̙̜̜͙͚ͣ͊̔ͩ͘t̢͙̜̳̻̣ͮͯ ̨̺͔̯̼ͤt̏̏̈́̂͏͙̤̮̮͕͖͓h̵̠̟̫̻͈̆̈́̏ḙ̷̹͉̖̚m͚͚̰̻̘̯̗̏ͧ̀ ̢̮͚̳̺̠̗ͥt̸͙̻̻͎̃̔́r̾͐͏͉̱̲̣̥̩ẏ̩̣̜̻̭̥̣͙̕ ̷͕̩͖͍͔̈̿͊t̋̌̑̌҉̜̳̳̗͉͖̥o̬̦̳̥̤̦̣̦ͫͣ̂͝ ̶̗̼̘͈͂̍k͋҉̼͈̖̮͈i̢͚̥̜̺̗̙̓ͧ̑l̀҉̘͔̜̞̯l̸̟͕̻͔̗͛ͨͅ ̴͙̪̩̲͉̺̩ͣͣͪͬt͓̫̟̝͔̹̮̝͗ͧͯ͘h̨̳̞̗̳͎̭͌e̤̥̯̝̱͊͗͟ ̸̻͚̜̞̖̱͇̥ͨ̌̾̎u̵͇̖ͭͭ̄n̳̰͖̗̼̹̠͓̏̀k̰͉̉̋̊͑̀í̡͎̜̱̬̥̬̗͎l̨͚̜̉ͪa̵͙̞͚͈̫̔bͪ͆ͬ͏̘̰̪l͖̪͚͙̓͟e̐ͣ̓͏͓͍͉̰͉̼̤.ͫ҉̥̘̯̻̳̤̫̬ ̨̠̜̬ͦ͋ͮI̴̳̪̘͙̘̳̱̝ͤ ̧̜͎̞͇̔ͣ̊̇w̬̙͙̥͚̫ͣ̒̃͠a͖͈͈̽̓͘ş̝͈͔͖͎͔̺̣̈͗̏ͭ ̧̝̱̩̥͕͓̑̽b̧̥͖̫ͣ̾ͯ̀o̵͉̲̥̯̠̟̜̳̎͂̎r̢̫̗̟̎e̘̘̜̯̜ͥͬ͢d͔̖͚̔͑̇͜ ̣̰̻͙̱͖̓͟a̵̬̖͛ͭņ̫̩̞ͫy̬̗̣̤̥̼̗̖ͣ̈́͟w̫͉̺̱̦ͣ̽̿̎̀a͍͙̤͚̞̖͉͔͒͂ͮ͡y̢̺͇̱̫̝̠̣̐.͂͗͌͏̨̝̲̯̘͚̹̟̆"̢̻̭̗͇̝̞ͮ͑͗ͅ
He closed his eyes as he waited for the door to burst open. Maybe he would feel better after a short nap?
~0~
Within the sea of Souls, a slaughter was underway. Thanatos and Nyx... no, the two mark bearers were flitting left and right as they destroyed the ethereal bodies of the unfortunate souls 'eaten' by the crawling Chaos. Going as far as to snip away tendrils of writing darkness. Shattering mask and freeing the tortured souls in them.
Some would flee, while others would fight them. And in the fight, more masks would break, and more Personas would join the fray.
"It's doesn't end!" Navare screamed in frustration as he stabbed another God of some sort... or maybe it was a pagen god? A demon? Myth?...
"There has to be an end, Navare, in this world of matter, what has a start is bound to end!" Nyx declared as she skewered...
A... penile shaped demon...
Lovely.
" We have to keep fighting!" She spoke as she turned to Navare, her hollow eyes somehow gaining a determined flame. " We have too... For Yuki."
Yes... Even if both would die in this battle, they would give their all to free the youth from his terrible predicament.
Nyx, as an act of atonement for what she did to Yuki. For the time they had raped him, manipulate him and almost killed him.
And Navarre...
For Navare, it was to help Flynn out after all he did.
Flynn didn't have to evacuate him to Tokyo, he didn't have to put up with his fears and Paranoia, Navarre knew how horrible he had been to him simply because he was born a Casulary... and He a luxuror.
After his unfortunate death, Navarre had learned that titles meant nothing, hell, even names of nobility and inteligencia meant nothing when death came along.
One could be a Luxuror and act as lowly as a casulary, no even lower, one could be born a lowly casulary and have the heart of the greatest nobleman and woman.
Flynn... had the heart of a great Hero, and Navarre would do everything in his power to repay this great man's patience and generosity.
Even if it meant facing his fear of demons head on to free Yuki...
It was the very least he could do... even if the fallen samurai had no idea what he was doing save killing fearsome looking demons while battling his desire to curl up like a coward under Nyxy's skirt and have his meltdown in relative peace...
But no, now was not the time for a meltdown, it was the time to fight for Justice!
And Justice would be at the end of his Sword!
"Come Lady Knight, Let us not falter!" Navarre declared as he felt his strength and mental fortitude return to him. "Huzzah!"
~0~
Back in the velvet room, Igore was doing a tarot pull.
He could feel the shift in the wheel of faith, the empress and the chariot were on the move. The fool that had once been reversed was slowly returning to his upright position, helped by the universe.
The Hanged man was also close to the universe, the wheel by its side.
The grotesk looking man hummed as he once again perused his cards, trying to understand what they were trying to say.
Suddenly, he had an Oracle.
The tower was upside down, toppled over by the lion-like universe holding the sword of justice in one of his six hands. Death was bowing down to Strength... and the Chariot was driven by the universal lover, holding the sword of justice to cut him free.
The crooked nose man blinked. While he had decades of understanding the secrets of the tarot, for the love of Krishna, he could not make head or tail of this reading...
Until it all made sense.
Theodor would later tell Lavanza that laughter that came from Igor's part of the velvet room would undoubtedly be part of his nightmares.
~0~
In a place, outside the universe, yet containing it. Where time was but a decoration and whatever negative influence was conspicuous by its absence. On a Planet the Hare Krishna Devotees would call Nrshimha-loka, one of the numberless Vaikunta Planet, where everyone is freed from the repetition of birth and death and all is self effulgent. The Lord sat on his supremely opulent throne, surrounded by his sixteen wife, his Divine Powers personified.
In front of the half-lion, Half-man, divine dancers and singers entertained their Lord and Master, taking the form of Gandharvas,Kinnaras and Apsaras. For in reality, everyone had a form that resembled their Master, Sri-Hari.
At the feet of the Lord, Srimati-Lakshmi devi was massaging his lotus feet while Prahlad looked on to the Personification of Parenthood, the supreme father, with love, adoration, and greed for service.
Suddenly, Narada arrived at the scene, the names of Narayana dancing on his lips while Tumburu, his Vina, sang the name of Radhika-Ramana.
Seeing his great Devotee, the traveling preacher without limit and who's words had the power to give Krishna-Prema to all, the Lord arose out of love and respect for his great Devotee.
Of course, it would not be seen by anyone, since in Vaikuntha, the Lord bowed to no one.
Still, Nara-hari gave his pranams to the wily blond, a gracious smile stretching his lips. Beside him, Prahlad almost threw himself at the feet of his Guru, but remembering the Pancharatrika and Narada's teachings, managed to stop himself.
It was known to them that one should not bow to anyone when the Lord was in full view. Not that He really minded.
This rule was meant for the Gurus and other devotee's sake. For Sri-Hari knew their heart and how the feeling of receiving praises in front of him felt for his servant.
They were all so humble, it honestly pained the lord sometimes (most of the time, why couldn't they see how amazing they were? Truly, in his heart, the Lord of All always worshiped his surrendered souls, no matter how new they are.)
"Ah! Narada, what a pleasure to meet you." The Lord began, his voice deep and rumbling like a rain filled cloud. "Are you well? Do you require anything of me?" the Lords asked, hoping that this time, Narada would have a request.
One would think the Lord Unwilling to expand his unlimited power more than necessary, and they would be right, for the Lord only gave what one deserved... and yet, when it came to his Devotees.
Well...in His honest opinion, there was not enough wealth in the entirety of the agglomerated manifestation to repay them, not even from him.
Still... There was an opportunity to serve one of his servants at the moment, for Sri-Krishna knew what was in Narada's heart.
He had to tell his Isha-Shatki, his Divine will to wait. No matter how eager he was, it would be rude not to listen first.
Narada gave a grateful smile. " Of course, Master. Everyday is a blessing when we swim in the clear and beautiful Ocean of prema-Bhakti." the interuniversal minstrel joyfully declared as he got up from his Dandavat (that he had done the moment he came in.) "But... I do find myself with a request." He shily admitted.
The imposing Half-Lion half-Man sat straightener, his entire body screaming 'I'm hyper attentive.' "Yes, what is it that you desire?" He eagerly asked.
"Well... It's not really from me (drat) but From my greatest of Disciple, Sri-Prahlad." Narada turned to the eternal child, whom, despite being a Vaikuntha-vasi with six arms and a form that resembled His master in almost all respects, the Grandfather of Bali Maharaj, and whom God conceded his victory to.
They said that He, Sri-Vishnu was undefeatable, it was in his name Acyuta, he who never falls, who never fails.
And yet, in the face of his Pure devotee's overwhelmed with unbounded ecstatic love for Him, God will lose.
Nara-hari turned his reddish glance to the blushing boy, mortified that his divine Spiritual master would dare break the rules of the Pancaratrika and praise him in Front of God.
This must mean that he was reminding the Vaikuntha Vasi of a few divine truths, two of them, to be exact.
One: Sri Prahlad's devotion exceeds that of Sri-Shiva. And his love for the Lord meant that he was free to be so close to their master, serving him as a pet son would. If he wanted to remain as he had when on earth, during the Lord's most celebrated pastime, then nothing, not Even God himself could stop him.
And Second: Out of love for his Devotees like Prahlad, a Mahajana, The lord in all of his form would readily admit defeat and fall at their lotus feet, begging to serve them in every way possible.
"And what does my dear Prahlad desire?" Sri-Narashima asked Narada as he let his eye slide toward a very shy prahlad.
Really, it was always a joy to see his Vaikuntha Vasi blush, for they could do it in any colour and all intensity... and their love for him would grow, just like his love would grow.
"My Lord, Prahlad desired for you to revive Flynn." Narada spoke as if he had asked the lord something insignificant. "Of course, knowing you, this event has already come to pass."
Narahari chuckled, indeed, it was already done for him.
~0~
Back in the tiniest universe, the one that had been pierced by Vamana-deva's big toe, in a hermitage inside a tiny mountain called Fuji, in a tiny so-called temple by the name of Hongwang-ji, holding his Krishna's lotus in his hand was Kaanzami Krishna-Kripa, son of Yuthika (Kazami Yuuka.) and Prince Toyosatomimi no Miko (now Mukhara Devi Dasi.)
At the other side of the door was another fake Vasudeva, someone who had been a pain in his ass for so long.
Kripa tok a moment to look back at all that had happened since this fateful morning.
He had lost a pair of wonderful teachers, and his heart had been ripped out, killing him instantly. But instead of... wandering around as a ghost, watching helplessly as his sister was devoured by Adramelech, he met Narada maha-muni and Krishna, the supreme personality of Godhead.
He met God...
If someone would have told Kripa, this particular morning, that he would fall in love (or just be plainly attracted to the attractor of all. Kripa... Well, Nanashi would have either laughed in their face and flipped them off like the edgy teen he was or just punched them in the face and vowing to kill God.
Now though?
Now, he remembered who he was, he remembered who Krishna was to him. And Nothing would rip Kripa away from him, not even death. and definitely not a wannabe god. The ass that dared use his beloved name and person as a means to hurt people was already dead.
"You're going down, Mutra." He spat.