Ronmr: We'll find out this time ;) It was quite a shock for him too.

FateBurn: Thanks

Slayer Cross: You are so welcome :D Happy New Year to you too!

GunBlade2019: I certainly will! Must be one heck of a dream XD

Hollowreaper 93: I am so glad you do, Akeno deserves happiness imo, she had a rough time in canon and even as of the latest still has that emotional dependency on Issei. Zepar will be good for her. And I am so glad I gave a good laugh.

God of war: Lol, Dorian thanks you for your concern at his predicament XD

kingdevo09: That means a lot you've been enjoying it so much. And thanks for the input! Dorian certainly is about to have his first run-in with the concept first hand lol

CaedmonCousland: Wow! So much to unpack, I am so glad you've enjoyed my story to delve so deep into it :D To answer the big points, yes Dorian and Issei's polar personalities while still standing each other was a big focus for me. They both have their outlooks which drive the other insane lol. Lots of theories for what happened, I hope you enjoy the chapter :D

ahsoei: LOL, if only Rat had the power to make that ending happen, he'd never let Dorian have a night's rest XD

fanficcyberman: Always good to hear from you :) I hope to never disappoint and thanks! Hopefully 2020 can knock those dents right out lol, wishing you all the best.

girani4: Azazel you say? *glances left and right before running off*

WinterRuneWolf: Lol, it does seem like him, we'll have to see ;)

naruto: Thank you :D The downtime can be some of the best. Comedy, development, foreshadowing...the skies the limits!

KurokamiTendou: Thank you :D

deathwing17: We'll be sure to find out ;) Even if Rossweisse could be okay with it I doubt she'd flip overnight with no warning. We'll get to the bottom of it...right now!

And with that...ONTO THE SHOW!

After a much longer time than he intended, Dorian managed to extricate himself from the bed of bodies, more than one proposition to continue the night's activities slowing him down. Red-faced and still confused, he started dressing for the day with the others following suit, locating their clothes scattered about the room. The young Einherjar was utterly baffled as the women spoke among themselves recounting the events of the previous night. It was all he could do to stay calm as they changed without a care in the world he was in the same room and saw every inch of them and they him.

"If only I could have stayed on top a little longer," Yura mused with a dreamy sigh.

"Oh you still had plenty of fun," Iggy giggled, spinning to reassemble her dress, she could create it at will as part of her status as a Sacred Gear. "After all these years, he finally looks at me the way he did at Rossweisse.

Okay, this must be a dream, he kept repeating to himself despite his multiple attempts to awaken proving futile. Slaps had been useless, pinches just as bad compounded by Yura seeing him and deciding to squeeze his arm once herself and being shocked clearly wasn't an option or he'd have woken immediately. Elysium again? No, if that were the case, I wouldn't notice anything was amiss. Alternate dimension…time travel…time travel INTO an alternate dimension?

Dorian jumped as a black tail coiled up his leg, Kuroka passing by with a wink before bubbly continuing downstairs to breakfast. Each of the girls gave him similar signs of affection ranging from kisses to full embraces. With the absolute looks of love and adoration he could not help but play along, at least until he figured out what had happened.

How could Rose ever be okay with this?

"I don't even know why we keep their separate rooms," Rossweisse chuckled as if in response to his thought. "If we moved everyone in permanently then we could free it up for even more volunteers."

"And you…are okay with this?" Dorian muttered low but with conviction, drawing a look from the young Valkyrie.

"Okay with what?"

"With this," he motioned to all the girls gathering around as Hecuba threw on her apron, directing others to help prepare the food. "A harem."

"Oh Dorian," she cupped his face tenderly. "You are still worrying about that? You didn't go looking for them, they came to you and I know you love each of us as if we were your only. If any thought for even a second your feelings weren't real, then none of us would be here. Do you love me?"

"Of course, I do," despite his utter certainty that none of this was real, Dorian reached out and held her. "After all we've been through how could that ever be a question?"

"And that is what has drawn us to you," she continued. "That love you felt for me you shared with them when their feelings became known. And besides," she straightened a bit as if incredibly proud of herself, "I am the one you chose to coordinate the others."

The Head Wife? He recalled the terminology in the few instances of harems in Norse culture as a traditional coupling was far more common. At least I was smart in this, whatever it is.

His mind still ablaze with questions, Dorian and Rossweisse reached the Hyoudou kitchen alive with activity. Asia had joined Hecuba and were divvying up the food expertly as Issei's parents enjoyed their meal.

"Always so lively," Mrs. Hyoudou remarked. "Oh, it's so wonderful, as if we had so many children with such smiling faces."

"All except one," her husband spotted their son shuffle down the stairs looking as if he had gotten as little sleep as Dorian felt. "Buck up son, there is a long day ahead of us!"

"Okay," he muttered while entering the kitchen. The Red Dragon Emperor was lethargic until spotting the moment of organized chaos in the kitchen. The girls were running back and forth gathering the food, each one shooting a sultry glance to Dorian or giving him a bite of their breakfast before reaching the table. "Did I hit my head or something?"

"Oh no," Dorian groaned as he spotted Issei. "If you try telling me you're in love with me too I am jumping out the window."

"What the hell man!?" Issei shouted in disgust. "Has everyone lost their minds this morning?"

"Took the words right out of my mouth!" The Crossroad's Commander lowered his guard enough to vent his fears. "Did anything happen last night? I wake up this morning and…" he lowered his voice to continue. "And I wake up with almost a dozen women in my bed acting like we've been together for a while!"

"You bastard!" Issei gripped his collar threateningly. "If you touched Rias, I swear I'll…"

"What?" Dorian gripped his hand to alleviate the pressure. "No, Rias wasn't there, I thought she slept with you and Asia." Issei calmed down a bit at those words and sighed, Asia throwing him a cheerful smile across the room he could not help but reciprocate.

"I thought things were going so well, Rias and Asia have slept in my bed every night since they moved in. But this morning only Asia was there, and she was mad when I implied Rias should have been there! She accused me of cheating on her!"

To be honest I'm surprised something like that hasn't happened before now, but them being drawn to him is normal for here. What is going on?

"And now I find out you have been doing the very thing you chastised me for!'

"I don't know how it happened! I went to bed waiting for Rossweisse, had a nightmare and when I woke up, they were all there!' He looked out over the sea of faces all chatting over breakfast for the day ahead and every topic that came to mind. "They all looked so happy, even all being together at once they were overjoyed to see me."

Rias's queen seemed to hear them as her smile widened at his eye contact, causing her to wave his way. He could not help but return the gesture, breaking into a chuckle as Thrud noticed the interaction and leaned between to blow him a kiss.

"Akeno too?"

"Keep your voice down! Something must be going on around here. First so many in my bed and only Asia in yours, it doesn't add up."

"How do I even know you aren't part of this?" Issei squinted his eyes accusatorily while jabbing a finger at him.

"The same reason I don't think you are. Everyone else thinks this is natural, you're the only one aside from me who disagrees. I have a certain experience with forced illusions, it's not a lucid dream or we could do anything we want. We need to talk about this, find someplace for just us."

"There you are!" Iggy popped out of nowhere gripping Dorian's arm securely. "Issei you're hogging him, guy time is done! You've gotta be starving, afterwards I can show off the new dresses I can make!"

"I-Issei," Asia's meek voice interrupted as she embraced him from the side. "I prepared a space for just the two of us as well. I would hate for the food to get cold."

The two confused men found themselves being dragged apart to their respective sides of the breakfast table. Dorian mouthed a request to Issei praying he'd understand.

"Find a place to be alone."

Issei and Asia were eating in a quaint setting, the former nun feeding him a few bites before expecting the same for her. Dorian on the other hand was in the middle of all the women who had shared his bed, each one asking how he's feeling, what his plans are on the day off and how he thought they looked. This led credence to the illusion as it should have been a school day. Instead, it was all he could do to keep up with the schedule of ideas being thrown at him from every angle.

"Dibs on your new hand first nya," Kuroka purred while eyeing his right arm with a look Dorian was unsure whether he wanted to know what she meant.

"Don't forget Rossweisse's schedule," Thrud finally called out with a slam of her impressive mug. "Akeno and I will accompany him today, we'll bring Dorian back in as near-to pristine condition as we can."

Scattered sighs of defeat and promises of the next outing rose to his ears. The overwhelmed Einherjar had barely been able to utter a few words yet it did not seem to matter, the joy of the day seemingly exhaustible.

This is different, their love is so…unconditional. How could any man have earned such devotion from so many?

"Plus, I have the perfect place," Thrud asserted triumphantly with a smile. "We're going home!"

Asgard…

"I have never seen Asgard before," Akeno smiled contentedly as they walked the streets of the Norse realm gripping Dorian's arm. "It's been so long since we were alone."

"Almost alone," Thrud corrected from his other arm. "This is exactly why Rossweisse designed those schedules, we get time off so seldomly."

Dorian smiled between them deciding for the moment to go along with the obvious illusion. As far as he could tell there was no rush and dreams often lasted far longer than in the real world. The young Einherjar was certain he could spend the day with them then rendezvous with Issei back at the tower to formulate an idea. All the same, feeling their arms locked around his so gently made him feel at ease, especially around Thrud whom he'd known so long. Fireworks rained down in the distance, cheers of crowds drawing them towards the commotion.

Another festival? This must be a dream, a day off school AND a convenient festival in Asgard? Everything is too perfect. But then why can't I wake up, and why is Issei as in the dark if he's part of it?

True to form, a grand parade was marching through the streets. Entire rows of performers, dancers and musicians dressed in the garb of the ancient realm passed by. Dorian, Thrud and Akeno barely could push through the packed visitors to get close enough to hear. While the two Asgardians were tall enough to see it, Akeno kept leaning up and failing to look over the people each time. Glancing at each other with the same plan and a grin, Dorian and Thrud each seized one of her legs, hoisting the devil Queen up onto a shoulder each so she could see.

"Ara ara, quite a view from up here," she looked out with a clear shot of the entire parade line. "You've both seen these before?"

"Before I came to Kuoh," Dorian answered, his hesitation at going along with the moment fading with each passing second. "There are races, eating competitions…"

"Plays," Thrud smirked out of the corner of his eye as she regaled Akeno with the tale. "I seem to remember nearly breaking your hand last time."

How could I forget?

"What a gentleman, sacrificing his hand to make you feel better, he tends to do that doesn't he?"

"Dorian has always been like that, all that power and yet he never let it change him."

"Nor the opinions of others," Akeno agreed. "If it weren't for that I doubt I would have ever reconciled with my father."

"What do you mean?" Dorian had known she and Baraqiel were on speaking terms again and while deep down he knew the catalyst for her new thinking, he had never asked.

"In the temple," she fidgeted a little on his shoulder. "When you said he was a good man, at the time I couldn't believe you, surely it was a lie. But, as I thought about it, I realized he had no power over you. You had no reason to lie, and the moment I thought that…I had a chance to see who he really was."

From one conversation?

"When I realized that," she leaned down, hugging his head with a tight squeeze. "I knew I didn't mind being one of your wives."

"Thankfully Rossweisse and I are the sharing type," the daughter of Thunder squeezed her leg a little playfully. "Oh look, there is grandmother!"

Sure enough, further in the back of the grand float was none other than Freyja, sending Dorian's heart soaring. She looked beautiful, unmarred by the worry and fear at Baldur's attack when he had last seen her. The Queen of Asgard was waving to the crowd, smiling to all who made eye contact.

"Freyja!" Dorian would have rushed forward were it not for Akeno on a shoulder. "What about Baldur? He…"

Answering his thoughts, Odin and Baldur appeared alongside her, each one looking whole and hale showing off for the crowd. He chuckled at the happy scene as Baldur conked his father on the head when his gaze fell on a line of young women for far longer than it should have.

"Baldur is alright?"

"Well of course he is," Thrud remarked. "You were at the celebration after all. If you hadn't found the cure in Loki's lab then we never would have gotten to him in time."

"Loki has a lab?"

"He did, not anymore. Father leveled it after we were certain nothing was left inside that could hurt anyone. Are you sure you're feeling alright?"

"I'm fine," Dorian lied. For a moment, just a moment he wished that everything around him was real if only so Freyja was smiling again. "We will have to see them later; I wonder if she found a new retainer."

"There's time for that later," she caressed Dorian's face softly. "I see contests over there! I am sure they would not mind you spending some more time with the women who will bear your future children…"

Dorian's Office, hours later…

"I just need to talk to Dorian a bit Asia, I'll be back I promise!" Issei assured the former nun as he tried to slip inside the retrofitted office across from Dorian's bedroom.

"Okay, I trust you," she leaned forward to give him a soft peck on the cheek. "We can practice for the three-legged race all day."

Issei waved goofily as Asia left the room, leaving him alone. They had spent the day on simple outings, getting ice cream and walking through the park. It would have been wonderful had it not been for her offhanded comments regarding being overjoyed he had given up on his harem dream. The Red Dragon Emperor had done no such thing, however had kept his mouth shut out of fear that whatever was going on would get worse. Now that he had gotten time to himself, all he had to do was wait for Dorian.

"Huh, he sure takes this seriously," he muttered as he glanced around the room. Dorian had long-since moved his office to the tower after moving from Asgard, yet it was the first time Issei was inside. A large desk was situated at the back covered in unfinished tests, homework and the various papers he had to look over on requests coming through for the Crossroads or its members. "No wonder Goldie is so uptight."

The door on the opposite side connecting to Thrud's room swung open, Dorian scrambling inside placing a finger to his lips for silence. In a flash he grabbed Issei's arm, dragging him beneath the desk with just enough space to fit them both before the door opened again.

"Dorian?" Rossweisse peeked inside with Kuroka, Thrud, Irina and Iggy poking around her for a moment. "Are you in here?" After a quick scan of the area and determining he wasn't present, the group retreated to continue their search.

"Whew," Dorian slumped his shoulders in relief once they were clear. "That should give us a few minutes, if Rose and Thrud's search patterns are the same it'll be a while before they cycle back this way."

"What took you so long?"

"It was a full day at the festival," Dorian explained, his heart still beating fast. "I couldn't get away until we headed back, even then they didn't want to split up." He couldn't say that the others all started voicing their desire to pick up the previous night's activities allowing him an opening to slip out.

"Fine, what is the plan?"

"First, to prove this is a dream," Dorian presented a thick tome, Rossweisse's essay he had looked at just the other night. "Read it."

"This whole thing?" Issei groaned as he opened the first page. "We'll never have time to…wait." Issei flipped through the book, realizing all the pages were blank except a small paragraph on the first page. "I don't understand."

"That is all I was able to read before I fell asleep," he explained. "So, since that is all I can see, that means this place is taking information from what I already know. The fact you can see it implies we are linked and sharing information subconsciously."

"So how do we wake up?" Issei asked, Dorian raising a finger before lowering it slowly.

"I don't know, none of the normal methods have worked. Depending how long time passes outside, we may be woken up by the others so long as whatever linked us isn't preventing us directly from waking up."

"I'm surprised you WANT to be woken," Issei grumbled a bit with a huff. "So many bodacious hotties not only fawning all over you but also ready to jump into bed at a moment's notice? What is the downside?" The Red Dragon Emperor paused as he saw Dorian's expression, he looked concerned.

"I don't know how you were raised," he started. "But I was taught that there was one special person out there and that finding them was the whole point of love. I just…how can the phrase 'I love you' hold meaning after being repeated again and again? And besides, I don't like my mind being messed with," the halls of Olympus flashed in his mind.

"Just don't think so hard on it," Issei advised. "Have a goal in mind and stick to your guns like me. A harem, the largest the devil world has ever seen, that is my goal!"

Dorian spun, the frustration bubbling over clearly coming to a head. "And that is why we drive each other insane," he pointed a finger at him. "How can you NOT think hard on who you are going to spend your life with!?"

"I want as many jublies as I can get my hands on!" His determination clashed with Dorian's as the two scowled at one another. "I'll become a high-class devil, get my own peerage and every girl in it will be part of my harem!"

"And if Rias fell in love with you tomorrow?"

"I…what?" The sudden question threw Issei off his rhythm and he hesitated. "As if that could ever happen, but I would accept her with open arms."

"And Xenovia confessed after that?"

"Of course!" He continued not seeing where the Einherjar was going with his questions. "And Koneko, Asia, even…"

"Rossweisse?"

Issei didn't say a word for several seconds, the two had grown sidetracked from their attempt to understand the situation, instead working on understanding one another.

"If you are that against harems, then the devil world is the wrong place to be according to the President," he answered at last after the tension had died slightly in the silence. "Even Mr. Azazel has had loads of them."

"I have nothing against harems," Dorian admitted. "If the love is there, then I wish them all the best. What I AM against is actively seeking one regardless of who you do fall in love as if they were nothing!"

That remark shot Issei to his feet, the two butting heads at last.

"I would love and protect EVERY girl around me!" he asserted.

"And if you did get your 'grand harem' what then? How could you possibly ensure every woman is treated with the love and attention they deserve when there are so many?"

"Better than lying to yourself out of the fear of doing something wrong!" Issei's words cut surprisingly deep. "Nothing will hurt them, not the Khaos Brigade, gods, devil-pricks or fucking terrifying spiders!"

"Lying to myself? What do you…wait, did you say spider?" Dorian's exasperated tone subsided at the eerily familiar word. "Why mention spiders?"

"Why do you care?"

"Seems oddly specific, like a scary gold…"

"Metal spider," Issei finished, their conflict of ideologies on hold as their stories matched up before they awoke. The two fumbled their fingers over their bodies as if they'd be able to feel something there. "You don't think that's what did this, do you?"

"If it is the linking factor but if so, I have no idea if we can break it from within the dream itself. Worse yet, if we're being monitored, it might realize if we catch on and…"

"Dorian!" The door flung open, the multitude of women standing before the precipice. Issei and Dorian's eyes grew to the size of dinner plates at the realization every one of them were wearing incredibly revealing lingerie standing in alluring poses. "It's time for our…nightly schedule."

"…try to stop us from escaping," he finished with a slack jaw.

"I-Issei," Asia stepped around to show she was among them, her own revealing clothes visible plain as day. "I'm ready too…"

"I really don't want to wake up," Issei admitted.

"We have to, we can't get distracted by…"

The Einherjar never finished, arms seized by Thrud and Kuroka from either side and pulled hard into the bedroom while Issei remained in the office with the emboldening Asia. Left to his fate, he was thrown onto the bed, shirt taken off along with his pants leaving him in his boxers. No matter which way the Norse fighter looked, only sultry, eager faces greeted him. Truly, there was no escape.

"I think we need to discuss this," he attempted in vain. "I do care about every one of you, but…"

"We must be losing our touch nya," Kuroka smirked with a blown kiss.

"Well, he needs his High Queen first," Thrud stepped backwards. "Then we may join in."

"High Queen?" His question was quickly answered as the rest parted, revealing Rossweisse standing before him wearing a see-through white negligee that left nothing to his imagination. As she approached, face awash with embarrassment yet growing confidence Dorian's drive to resist wavered. He knew deep down it was the dream trying to reinforce its grip, and he just didn't care.

"Dorian…" she started, mounting his lap with a smile, cupping his hands in hers and bringing him closer. His resolve broke, dipping in to kiss her passionately, the numerous eyes of the others utterly ignored. "Don't you want this?"

His mouth flopped open like a fish upon parting, the answers swirling in his mind like a whirlpool. Of course, he wanted this, his body told him that truth every second. And yet, looking to the other women waiting to hop in gave the Einherjar pause. He understood that harems were common in the devil world and while he had never considered the thought in detail until that day, he supposed that if the feelings were there then there was nothing wrong with more than one partner per se.

But I won't make her question, he wrapped hands around her back, undoing the straps of her bra. As appealing as this is, if I made her question my love for even a moment…

"I could never question that," Rossweisse answered his thoughts while gyrating atop him, the dream delving into every thought he had. "You fear becoming as perverted as Issei, yet never stopped to think that there were other options."

"Other options?" He leaned back, her breasts bouncing free as he succeeded in releasing the clasps. It dawned on him that he was essentially talking to himself, but he remained entranced upon her as she reached down to slide her panties to the side. Following her hands, he missed Rossweisse's hair shimmer violet blue for an instant.

"I love you, and you love me, but life can be more…complicated. I want you to express yourself, tell me everything and we will face it together. The world can be so much brighter when we are free and CLEAR!"

Dorian jolted, a sharp sting striking him in the face from seemingly nowhere. Rossweisse vanished atop him along with all the other women.

"What the hell?"

I think that did something, he heard a distant muffled voice. Do it again.

"Do what again?"

CLEAR!

Dorian shot up in his bed sputtering as a burning smell assailed his nostrils. All was dark; however, light could be seen at the fringes of his vision, revealing there was something heavy clinging to his face. The voice that had been shouting, now recognizable beyond any doubt, rang true again.

"He's sitting up," Thrud growled as Dorian turned to see around the obstruction, spotting Gulbjorn crackling with energy. "One more shot outta do it…CLEAR!"

"Thrud for the love of god!" Dorian dove to the side, a metal object with eight legs falling from his face as he did. The lightning bolt missed him by so little that all the hairs on his body stood on end. The cascade of energy struck the metallic arachnid that had been clutching his face, blasting it back into the wall leaving a scorched imprint. In a comedic fashion, the charred husk slid to the ground unmoving at last.

"What…the hell…is that?" Dorian panted realizing how close he'd come to taking a blast from Thrud to the face. "How many times did you shoot me?"

"Enough," Thrud answered with a huff hefting the axe over her shoulder. "Nothing else was working so I took the easiest approach. You still have all your hair don't you?" Thor's daughter walked up to him, looking the Einherjar over as if to confirm that her own words were true. When she was certain he was fine, she delivered a solid punch into his shoulder though it had no power behind it, leaving the first pressed against him. "You wouldn't wake up no matter what we did, don't do that again…please."

"Thrud," he sighed, the feelings from the dream not having yet receded. "I wouldn't do that. Issei and I were just in the middle of formulating a way out."

"That's not what you were mumbling in your sleep," her green eyes flared at his, a dribble of sweat fell down the side of his face.

"Wh-what did I say?"

"Dorian!?" Rossweisse burst into the room, rushing over to embrace him which he gladly accepted. Thrud took a step back as the two came together. "We were so worried, when I returned you had that…thing on your face. We've been trying to wake you all night!"

"All night? No wonder I feel exhausted. What happened?"

"We sent the others to collect the culprit, considering the design on that thing it was pretty obvious who did this. Issei had the same thing on his face, the damn thing was tuned to your brainwaves and linked your psyches together. Maybe his will have come off now that yours is destroyed."

"Linked us? Who would do that?"

With a crackle of energy, a teleportation rune of Bennia's opened up over their heads. With a resounding thump a body fell through, landing upside down looking up at the gathered three with an awkward expression like one caught redhanded. The man was bound, no doubt Hecuba's doing and clearly was trying to find the words and coming up empty.

"Well hello students," Azazel swallowed hard as the others came through the portal, surrounding him on all sides with scowls of contempt. "Funny running into you so early on this fine morning…"

Dorian stepped over him, eye twitching at the guilty party below. Twilight Star was already drawn, the head split open into its trident form. He raised it high while uttering the words that had heralded his awakening.

"CLEAR!"

Later that Afternoon…

"Why Mr. Azazel?" Issei cried as the men soaked within the grand baths of the Hyoudou residence. Upon realizing Issei had awoken and the experiment hadn't been done with nefarious intent, the women of both teams had apprehensively let the fallen angel go under close supervision. "Why would you subject me to that?"

"I said I was sorry," he assured the Red Dragon Emperor still grinning despite his apology. "Yours and Dorian's friendship was so fascinating to me, I had to run a hypothesis of how each of you would handle the dreams of the other."

"To remove any chance at a harem," the young man almost looked shell-shocked. "To be only able to gaze at one set of bazongas forever…there is no crueler fate!"

"You're exaggerating," Dorian groaned as he washed his arms not far with Kiba and Gasper. "You can't expect every woman you lay eyes on to be okay with sharing. Besides the dream was just as grueling for me as well."

"Grueling for all the wrong reasons! I saw your face when that army of babes dragged you off, and you give me grief." He sighed defeated. "That is the kind of pick-me up I need for the fight against the Diodora bastard."

"Mr. Dorian sir," the soft voice of Gasper rose up as Issei continued muttering to himself. The timid man was soaking deep in the water as if worried about even his chest being seen. "I wanted to thank you."

"What for?"

"Gasper came up with quite the ingenious idea the other day," Kiba started upon seeing the shy side of their resident vampire rearing its ugly head. "Though he refuses to take any credit for it."

"B-because it was what you did for me that gave me the idea," he tried to rationalize. Despite his best efforts, Dorian could see the spark of pride in his eyes pushing past the shyness. Whether he'd admit it or not, the young man was growing bolder. "I got taken out so easily in the rating game with Ms. Sitri's team because I couldn't use my full powers. So I…well, I thought I may need access to it at any time. So I, well…

"You decided to keep vials on hand to drink in need?" Dorian finished having remembered his power boost which had allowed him to hold Loki long enough to teleport. "That will come in handy as long as you aren't fighting other vampires. Best keep them hidden in those situations."

"Oh I will, but I wanted to know, um…could I have some of yours too?"

Dorian paused, blinking several times at the question that would have seen odd in most circles yet seemed perfectly reasonable with the given company.

"You want some of my blood?"

"J-just in case!" Gasper clarified. "I was so powerful as a draugr against those mages. Mr. Issei's blood boosts my normal abilities but yours gives me brand new ones. I wanted to be as diverse as possible, just like your Sacred Gear."

The Einherjar could not help but smile at his wide innocent smile full of determination and drive. It made him realize how much out of his shell the half-vampire had come since being unsealed by Rias.

Surely a little thing like wearing a kilt wouldn't do that, did he have this in him all along?

"I would be honored, nothing wrong with parting with a little bit. Later tonight it should be easy enough to…" Without warning, the middle finger of his right hand opened up to reveal a syringe. Gasper jumped back as Dorian sighed in frustration. "Not again, how many gadgets did you put in this thing?"

"Enough," Azazel winked. "If it's in there, it'll come when called or if you have any thoughts looking that the feature can help with. I'm sure you'll get the hang of it fast enough, I still have a few in my own I haven't tried out yet and I put a little extra into yours."

"And no more spiders?" Dorian glared him down, Issei doing the same as the Governor-General raised his hands in surrender.

"No more, cross my heart. After the terror of finding an army of gorgeous ladies at my door it is not an experience I would care to repeat. Rias and Asia were out of Issei's bed for the night in training so I thought no one would be the wiser. It would come in, get the information and get out. How was I supposed to know a silver-haired beauty shared your bed to rat me out?" He grinned mischievously at Dorian.

Sighing heavily, Dorian leaned up against the dividing wall content to just soak the remainder of the session. Suddenly, he felt an opposing force on the wall pushing back. It was lighter than his own and he answered without certainty that he was right but did it all the same.

"Sorry if I scared you Rose," he felt a bit guilty at how worried she must have been coming into his room to find a metal creature latched onto his face.

I'm just glad it is over," she sighed, the dripping sounds giving away that she was washing herself as she spoke. "The tower will feel much larger soon."

"Why is that?"

"We'll be leaving for our Rating Game against Diodora Astaroth," Rias explained. She was soaking just next to Rossweisse with Akeno still giggling over the situation he and Issei had been through. "Nothing so grand as the opening ceremonies, we should be back within a day or two."

"Knock em dead," Thrud grinned while leaning back, chest puffed out taking in the humid air. "I'm still certain he had something planned on that train, those drinks smelled funny."

"What?" Dorian's question was quick and stern, having never been told of anything nefarious on the trip to the devil gathering the previous month.

"I'll fill ya in later boss," Bennia promised while kicking her feet playfully in the bath. "You'll be rooting WAY more for the lady President. I think he had eyes for more than Asia then."

The men's side of the bath started bubbling at the mutual heat of Issei and Dorian's anger, the twitching in their eyes reflecting annoyance for the devil heir. Dorian's paled in comparison to Issei's, having seen firsthand the devil's infatuation with Asia. Nonetheless, both were more eagerly looking forward to the Rating Game than before.

"Do you have any plans while you have this place all to yourselves?" Akeno smiled at the women on their side. Xenovia was washing Irina's back as the young angel sighed contentedly.

"Plenty of training," she admitted knowing that Kiba would be gone with the others. "If our battle with Loki revealed anything it is that there are larger threats out there we are woefully unprepared to contend with. It was said the previous Durandal wielder was far stronger than I, I have a long way to go if I am to surpass him."

"I'll have some…personal time nya," Kuroka teased with a wink, eyeing Koneko trying to avoid eye contact with her sister. "If I can spare the nights, I'll be sure to watch my little sister win again." Koneko sighed, knowing full well what she meant. To emphasize it, Kuroka arched her head upward so her voice was heard loud and clear. "If I can get someone alone that is, a certain dashing warrior's bed seems to be full most nights!"

"Kuroka!" Rossweisse called out, her face turning redder by the second. "Dorian will hear you! Now is not the appropriate time to…"

A loud buzzing sound interrupted the giggling Kuroka, the gathered masses glancing around for the source.

"What is that?"

"Goldie!" Issei shouted from the men's side. "What is up with your arm?"

"I-it's nothing," Dorian muttered embarrassed. "Darn thing keeps doing this, it won't stop vibrating." In a flash, almost every woman plastered their ears to the divider wall realizing the buzz was indeed coming from the other side. "I don't know how to turn it off," his voice was clearly frustrated as the noise intensified. "It just does this for like an hour or two without stopping."

Steam erupted from half the ears of the girls listening, none greater than Rossweisse and Thor's daughter at the realization of the feature Azazel had snuck into his arm, the naive Einherjar none the wiser. Azazel's knowledgeable laugh could be heard reveling in the flustered nature of the women and obliviousness of the men.

He thinks something and the arm finds a feature? I'll keep that in mind.

Kuroka, you are having far too much fun.

I'm fine boss man, the nekoshou focused her thoughts hearing the incoming message silent to the others still pressing to get closer to the wall. How goes things?

Less certain without Fenrir, and now with you moving in with the Einherjar…

I still owe you for my home, she assured him with a stretch to show off her impressive busts to the room. He brings me closer to my goal, but would I ever have reached here except for you. In fact, if you were interested, I could thank you for that.

Kuroka…

I know, I know, she smirked. Not interested, your loss. But don't worry, you may not share my bed, but I'll be there when you need it. When you finally get around to sticking it to the old man, I'm not going anywhere. Who knows, I may even have a few extra swordarms to help with that.

Kuroka leaned back, watching the display of fascination in front of her grinning from ear to ear. As much as she still had to keep a distance, being in such a relaxing atmosphere was a blessing to her. Before meeting Vali she had been on the run from place to place never knowing if the authorities were right around the corner. Within the secure walls of that tower, the black-eared catgirl signed with a relaxation she thought was beyond her. But most importantly, it did her good to know that her little sister had known such a feeling for so long.

After the bath…

"Thrud, wait!" Dorian called out as Thor's daughter exited the pools. The other women had departed; however the young man knew her well enough to know that she preferred soaking as long as possible. He had braved the waters longer to get her alone. "I wanted to ask you something."

"Of course, Dorian," she stopped while drying her hair. Despite her near-naked appearance covered only by a thin towel, she felt no shame or modesty around him. "What can I help with?"

"How much did you know about Loki?"

She stopped drying her hair."

"Why do you ask?"

"Did he have a, I don't know, lab or hideaway he would go to?" The dream Thrud's words on saving Baldur fresh in his mind, Dorian prayed it may hold sway in the real world.

"A lab?" She cupped her chin still dripping wet. "I don't recall Great-Uncle Loki being a scientist, however…" she paused as if recalling a distant memory. "Although, father used to talk about him being anti-social at all the old feasts when I was little, I don't think he ever visited one when I was growing up. Do you think it's important?"

"I just thought that if he did something to Baldur, we have a better chance of finding a cure where he may have worked on it."

"I am certain Asgard would have found and searched it, but if you think it's important…" her brow tightened as she thought all the harder. "Father did tell me not to bother him when he was being 'moody," she performed air quotes. "It was an old building away from the city dilapidated and rundown. Could that be it?"

"It's worth a shot!" Dorian grasped at the hope, uncertain why the drive to follow this possibility burned through him. He wanted to help Baldur this was true, yet he reached for Thrud's information greedily. Was it desperation? He didn't know and for the moment it did not matter. "We can head out shortly with everyone preparing for the Game, maybe after…"

"I'm coming too."

They turned, spotting a recently clothed Hecuba emerge from the locker rooms. Her hair was still wet, but she was focused and determined. Without hesitation, she approached the two glancing between them.

"If you are seeking a way to cure Baldur, then I want to come. It is my burden to bear for allowing Loki to use me."

"Hecuba," Thrud sighed solemnly, seeing the blame in her eyes. "I don't blame you, no one in my family does. You don't have to…"

"I AM going," she stood up straight facing down even Thrud and Dorian together. "I presume Dorian will be taking you there, even if you tried to stop me, I need only wait by him."

Dorian smiled, her determination a sight to behold in any situation. They knew full well she would live up to her ultimatum. The former Chiliarch had made up her mind and neither could blame her considering what she'd been through.

"I don't see a harm," Dorian ignored the trepidation at bringing another in. "We can meet up here after dinner and give this hideaway a quick look-see."

Old Satan Faction's hideout…

The brown-haired Satan sat before her vanity applying the liner to her eyes with the utmost calm. Once completed, she moved on to her jewelry, slipping on a ring and armbands made of gold.

Creuserey, she mused while continuing her rituals. That black bird Azazel killed you, we may not have the power to confront them yet, but their children are not so powerful…not so well protected.

The door to her chamber creaked open, sure powerful steps entering without hesitation. Katerea Leviathan sighed contentedly as a strong hand laid itself on her shoulder.

"Are you well?" He asked with a cold yet admirable conviction.

"For once," she jested with a kiss to the hand. That sign of affection spent, she returned to applying the last of her makeup. "The things we do for power."

"He has prepared the stage," Shalba Beelzebub reported, staring at her through the mirror across from her. "He has been far more useful than I imagined despite how much he grossly overestimates his importance."

"He has certainly done the legwork for us," she smirked. "Removing that troublesome Glasya-Labolas, showing us weaknesses to the Rating Game defenses all for his own fickle interests."

"The new leadership condemn us yet do not see their own for what they are, quite ironic. We shall ensure that the next generation know who the true power is and how they are to live."

"Quite so," Katerea agreed, hiking up her dress to cover her breasts while leaving a good portion of the top visible as was her preference. "Will SHE be there?"

"We have confirmed that the Sitri peerage will be in attendance, her sister however will not be there. As head of foreign affairs, she has been running ragged setting up events with the other powers."

Trying to make sure everybody plays nice, just like when we were kids. If Creuserey and Shalba hadn't shown me her true colors, where would I be now? By her side? She spat internally.

"After this upcoming game," she concluded while standing to her feet arrayed fully in her splendor. "The Satans will be so distraught and enraged they'll never contain their fury. In their bid to end us, Sirzechs and Serafall will burn their entire alliance straight to the ground…"

In Asgard's Forest…

"They've clearly looked through here," Dorian remarked as they materialized from the Road's portal within a relatively large structure at the coordinates Thrud had provided. Immediately upon stepping out with the two women it was obvious that much had been taken. Overturned tables, torn open shelves and a few broken crates held telltale signs of an investigation.

"Dorian, if they've already searched here and found nothing, why are we here?" Thrud asked as she picked up an old textbook on other mythologies, recognizing it as one they also owned.

"I don't know," he admitted as the itch grew in the back of his head. "But if we can find ANYTHING…"

Thrud nodded with a silent understanding, her own concern for Baldur allowing her to empathize with even a fool's hope of success. She got regular messages from home on the attempts to cure him with no lasting success. With solemn expressions of determination; she, Dorian and Hecuba fanned out with each searching a separate area of the expansive lab.

Empty beakers and scattered documents were all that seemed to remain, Dorian taking a folder and reading through it. There was so much in the room he was sure it would take days of looking but even so he persevered. His eyes caught a bottle atop the highest shelf laid sideways. Within, a unique looking sailing ship rocked back and forth within false waves imitated through a combination of magic and hard work. Dorian recalled the ship in a bottle his father had kept in his office much less impressive than one made by a god. It brought a wave of somber nostalgia across the Einherjar's mind.

Huh, a ship in a bottle, who knew Loki had a hobby?

"He certainly had an odd taste in décor," Thrud had to admit as she looked over a portrait hanging above the long-cold hearth.

The frame was taller than her looming high to the ceiling with a canvas depicting an odd being she did not recognize. It looked humanoid from the waist up yet an ominous feeling gave away it was not one exemplified by the fallen angel wings protruding from its back. A thick blindfold dripping with blood obscured the eyes just above a mouth full of fangs. Below the waist the creature was a serpent resembling the dragons of Asian mythology. The entire piece invoked a sense of dread with the ominous creature weaving throughout a large tree bearing an apple in its hand.

"Samael," Hecuba educated having seen Thrud's confused expression. "The one responsible for Adam and Eve's temptation according to the Biblical Faction."

"How do you know that?" Dorian asked having overheard, setting down a file on metallurgy.

"Irina is…quite vibrant with her faith," she answered carefully with a slight sweat drop recalling the impromptu sermons. "I suppose he was interested in other myths as well."

"Clearly," Thrud had to admit, turning away so as not to see the unsettling painting.

The trio scoured the rooms opening every drawer, pulling out every file and overturning any table. In the end they came up empty, nothing standing out among all the previously often used devices. The three slumped beside each other, an air of silence permeating the atmosphere between them.

"I'm sorry Dorian," Thrud remarked at his clearly defeated expression.

"I just," he started with a sigh. "I don't want to see Lady Freyja so distraught. The way she looked after the attack, if it weren't for her and Odin I wouldn't be here, never have met Rossweisse or any of you. There must be SOMETHING we can do!"

Has he been thinking this ever since the attack? Grandmother did spend a lot of time with him before,

"Maybe we…"

A flash of light exploded suddenly in front of the trio, blinding them as a force of magic slammed into the center driving the two women back and Dorian into the wall. As the light dimmed, Dorian felt hands holding him high, the identity of their attacker becaming known.

"Lady Freyja?"

The Queen of Asgard stood before him, a single hand easily holding the tall Einherjar against the wall without effort. Dorian's face contorted in sorrow as he looked over her visage. She clearly had not slept well, black bags under her eyes and purple hair frayed from days of no upkeep. Her skin looked paler in an unhealthy tone from her usual shining appearance. Her eyes were drooped not having realized who she had heard and struck out of reflex. She softened upon seeing who she held, quickly pulling him down and into one of her awkward hugs burying his face into her chest. For once, he made zero attempt to withdraw, feeling she needed it.

"Dorian! Oh, I am sorry, I didn't realize you were back in the Nine Realms. How have you been?" She turned his head every way inspecting him for signs of neglecting his health.

"Grandmother! What are you doing here?"

"Oh, my dear Thrud, I…I had to find something," the goddess quickly lowered her former retainer to the floor and started straightening her hair as best she could. "We ransacked this place but found nothing of what was on the dagger. The mistletoe was what got through my ancient enchantments but could not POSSIBLY be what has sickened him so. We found so much in here, secrets he kept from us investigating the end times of Ragnarok. How we never looked here to see his insanity I'll never know."

"I could find nothing either," Dorian revealed in defeat. He had consulted Iggy, her mother and even Midgardsormr. Without more information, each was as confounded as the last.

"Lady Freyja," Hecuba approached from behind straight as a board. In her grief, Freyja's moment of wrath at her presence flashed plain as day on her face. All the same, the Spartan held her ground. "I never got a chance to apologize for the actions I committed. While it was not my wish, it was my body that carried out the crime. I did not bring my sword, but as Baldur's mother I submit myself to whatever judgement you deem necessary."

"Hecub…" Thrud tried to interject but was silenced by a raise of Freyja's hand. The Queen turned to advance on the still-bowing redhead.

"I was there when you pledged yourself to the Crossroads," she took a powerful step forward. "When you knelt before your god and later me with the oath to bring us together. I was so proud that my dream was being fulfilled..."

Hecuba shirked but somehow stood her ground, even her legendary discipline wavering at the mixture of sorrow and rage billowing from the goddess. With only another step, Freyja was upon her. Reaching out towards her, the co-ruler of Asgard suddenly patted her head gently, straightening a bit of hair disheveled from lack of rest almost the same as her own.

"So, I KNOW that you would never do such a thing. As terrible as the act was, it was Loki's in its entirety." It was obvious Freyja wanted to blame her so badly, to have someone whose fault it was she could get to. In the end, such a selfish desire was beyond her, Hecuba's purity of heart beyond reproach. "Loki has not said a word or even acknowledged us, refusing to give even the most basic of information! I'm just," she sighed while rubbing her eyes. "I'm so tired."

She backed into a wall, sliding down to the ground as if it had been the first time since the attack that she had a chance to rest. Dorian hesitantly took a seat beside her, laying a hand on her shoulder but not knowing what else to do. Hecuba and Thrud backed away to continue the search, giving the two a moment together.

"Mr. Azazel and Michael are aware as well," Dorian comforted her. "This is what the Crossroads are all about, cooperation to help in ways each one can't."

"I know, but we will keep up the diligence. I just need a rest, from the healing, the paperwork…"

"Retainer's still hard to come by?" Dorian could not help but see her hands had more wrinkles, guessing it was from overuse of her Sage Arts.

"Oh, you spoiled me," for the first time she had a true genuine smile on her face, however small. "I've been through three since you departed. To have my dream led by my…by a young man I trust implicitly, or for him to continue making my daily work bearable. A conundrum even the gods cannot answer."

"Or Thrud hiding her love of your cats thinking we didn't notice."

The two exchanged weak but heartfelt chuckles, the simpler days as a retainer passing through their minds far too brief.

"I should have come see you Dorian."

"Don't say that, Baldur needed you. I understand, he is your son after all."

"Yes, he is," Freyja replied deep in thought on those words. It had been months since they had found Dorian, despite that she felt such a deep affection of protection for him. A wayward thought popped into her head. "Oh, you never got a chance to select your Herrlof have you?"

"Herlov?" He mispronounced ignorant to the word's meaning.

"Why, a trophy won through battle," she explained. "You bested Loki so by our laws you are owed an object of his. We have already taken all deemed dangerous or sensitive from here. Go on, choose something," she motioned towards the room. "Anything you desire is yours."

"I couldn't, now is not the time to…"

"I insist! You wouldn't deny our oldest traditions, would you?"

She has you there.

I know Iggy! He couldn't say no to her, not then most of all.

"Um," Dorian glanced around the room. Along with the mural on the wall they had found several antique looking vases, lockets, even statuettes of beasts from various mythologies scattered around the lab. Each one was clearly valuable and rare, making an excellent piece for his desk that he never got around to decorating with a personal touch. If not for the unsettling nature of the painting he would surely have selected it.

What about that?

Dorian locked on the ship in a bottle that had drawn his attention when first entering the lab nearly forgotten in the bustle. The artificial waves crashed against the glass prison, giving the vessel an illusion to actually braving harsh storms upon an unkind sea.

"Well," he pointed to the bottle. "I quite like that one. "It could look nice in my office."

"Excellent," she clapped her hands once for emphasis. "I'll see to it that you can…"

"Allmother, Allmother," a voice echoed in Freyja's mind loud enough that the others could hear it through proximity. "Can you hear me?"

"I can Heimdallr," she replied. "I apologize being gone longer than intended, I shall return henceforth and commence…"

"That is what I was contacting you about my lady. I am sorry but, Baldur passed a few moments ago, his soul has already departed Asgard bound for Hel."

Dorian's heart plummeted as the look of utter sorrow stretched across Freyja's body. Taking her hand for support, her grip dwarfed any he had felt from Thrud, all the same he held on without flinching. She was trembling powerfully, having never allowed anyone to see her so beside herself. The seconds passed quickly before she released him with a shout.

"Prepare the Bifrost! If we hurry we may be able to make it BEFORE he crosses the gate!"

"Allmother, the Bifrost will take time to prepare. We cannot possibly…"

"I SAID PREPARE IT!" She roared with the cry that had struck fear into Katerea Leviathan. "She will NOT have him; she loves her deals and all I need do is find what piques her interest!"

"Lady Freyja," Dorian only then risked drawing her attention. With a solemn expression he held up Laerad Ragnarok, the shimmering blue portal opening between them as Thrud and Hecuba came running. "Hel is part of the Nine Realms; Iggy is already connected. If time is of the essence, please let me help you as you have helped me so many times."

Dorian's brush with harem life left him with a plan that failed to bear fruit. As the Gremory Rating Game approaches, the young Einherjar heads for the land of death and Ice all in the hope of restoring a smile to the woman who acted as much a mother to him as his own. Until next time, I hope everyone Reads and Reviews...but most of all Enjoys! :D