Molasses (DanMachi - FGO Reincarnation - Rum AU - TWO-SHOTS - Side A - Part 1)

The Goddess

In all the Heavens she was the most beautiful.

In all the Heavens she was the most desired.

So has the Goddess declared, so it must be true.

Why wouldn't it be, when even fortune wants her favor.

The day she descended to the Lower World, was the same day she found a cracked gem among the piles of dirt that filled the mortal world. A human with the soul of a hero was her first familia member.

He was a bit marred by his journey that lead him to her, but she was sure with a little effort-or even no effort at all-she could restore him to previous beautiful state, as he sings her praises and glory.

"I don't care what you do with me. If I can no longer think, if you can make the past ceases to enter my mind, I'm yours."

He was so smitten with her, he wanted to think about nothing but her.

Truly she was the Goddess of Beauty.

The Broken Hero was a disappointment.

The Goddess had hoped that with her presence she could inspire him to rise again. Yet he simply wanted nothing more than to drown in her embrace. Such was the curse of her beauty.

It was a shame he was weaker than she expected. She supposed he was still good to have around as a bed warmer and as an assistant. He was surprisingly good at carrying out tasks, such as profits bookkeeping, even while charmed.

Nevertheless it was only a minor thing of note on her journey to ascend to rule over Orario, as it's rightful queen.

The Hera and Zeus Familia were mighty but she didn't need brute strength. Not right away.

She needed a soft power. The power that naturally came to her.

Thus she started by opening a brothel. Her greatest gift to the moral realm was to share her beauty and allure with them. Not all obviously. Only those worthy of her attention.

Naturally her alluring self attracted girls with beauty and strength. The type of women who were best suited for the profession of a prostitute.

Amazonnesses. Beauty and power incarnate. Just like her. Not only would they be able to attract costumers, but only hold a control over violence in her territory when needed. Her Familia didn't consist solely of Amazonnesses, but those were the main focus on her recruitment. Also her Amazon children would be able to find mates, to carry on their bloodline, as a byproduct of her line of work. Isn't she such a generous Goddess?

The only obstacle to her vision, the only thing that ruined her view of her city was the Folkvangr near her. Her rival, that haughty bitch, Freya was also in Orario.

The Goddess wouldn't let Freya forget that she was present. It was why she built the Entertainment District and her home, Belit Babili, relatively close to Folkvangr. To mock the so called purity of that goddess that dared to share her domain.

Others would dare call Freya the most beautiful in Heaven, blind to the true vision of beauty that was the Goddess.

She would show everyone who was the True Goddess of Beauty. They would all come to see.

The building of her Familia had been coming along nicely. Within the collection of Amazons she gathered over the years, many had reached Level 2 or Level 3.

One in particular stood out. Phryne Jamil, a newly raised Level 3.

She had been a particular thing when the Goddess found her. A woman that looked more like a toad monster than a humanoid being. Yet with some honeyed words, the Goddess helped the girl see that strength was also a form of beauty.

As such Phryne took to understand that her strength made her the height of beauty. The stronger she became, the more beautiful she was. And of course to be beautiful is to have the power to do whatever you wanted. Phryne took to that notion like a fish to water. Exercising her power on all who caught her fancy.

A misunderstanding, but the Goddess allowed it. Never let it be said that she didn't help cultivate self-esteem.

Naturally Phryne desired the positon of Familia Captain, and ripped it from a weaker Amazoness, Aisha Belka, in a duel.

Thus Phryne proved she was the most beautiful with her strength.

"You are wrong."

It was a moment that would be remembered in the Goddess's Familia for years to come. Especially to all those present.

The Goddess had forgotten about him. Rather the broken charmed man who served as her aid was such background feature, that she dismissed him from her mind, and would just treat him like furniture. Even other Amazons didn't find anything interesting in him from how dull he was.

"You are not strong or beautiful. Neither your soul nor body. All that cruelty of yours show, is how childishly insecure and weak you truly are."

Cruelty? Sure Phryne might be rough with the men she caught, or with the Familia members that annoyed her or she wanted to play with. But what's wrong with that? The Goddess couldn't believe that broken man would finally speak out, only to utter such nonsense.

Phryne swung her arm and he slammed into the wall across the room.

The Goddess felt sad that she might lose such a helpful worker. He had been with her for so long, yet he should have known better.

The broken man pulled himself out of the wall.

"If the strong get to dictate any and all rules, then you would have no problem with me deciding how things would run, right?"

Phryne laughed. Others found themselves laughing with her. Even the Goddess laughed.

Phryne asked what made him think he could demand anything of her.

"Because you're weak."

Phryne was enraged. The Goddess however noticed the broken man's eyes. They no longer held the spark of her charm. His eyes were clear and the embers within his soul awakened once more.

That day the broken man slaughtered Phryne Jamil.

That's how Michael Chaser rose to Level 2 and became the Captain of the Ishtar Familia.

She had a goldmine on her hands without realizing.

The Goddess couldn't believe her good fortune. No, maybe she should actually get to know more about her new Captain, her first child.

She had thought Michael's only Magic was something weak or useless beforehand.

Magecraft: The ability to use a system of spells to recreate natural phenomena. Variable Chant.

It wasn't her fault she never knew how powerful this magic was. The description was far too vague, and she had never seen Michael use magic beyond fixing a pen or so to keep working.

Then it turned out that Michael had a spell which can raise his states up by a Level. Then a stronger version, that allowed him to fight those two Levels above him. He could even use "standard" Level Up spell, which he called Empowerment, on others. The spell could be used on multiple people.

The Goddess was ecstatic. She would need to be careful about this information, as her Familia wasn't large enough to hold off all of Orario should they come for her precious child.

Hera or Zeus would most definitely try and snatch him up should they learn of him.

However, not using that spell would be too wasteful. Using her Captain's Empowerment spells should allow her Familia to venture further into the Dungeon and retrieve a lot more bounty than they normally could. As long as the Goddess was careful then her Michael would fly under the radar, long enough for her Familia to grow to the point where they can't be contested.

"Aww, man. That was my favorite axe. I'm gonna have to buy a new one."

"Huh? It's cracked? Hand it over. Let me give it a look."

"Gah! The Lower Floors are hell! The second you fall in the water, either you run away, or you drown. Not all of us have the Water Breathing or Diving Skill."

"Hmm, give me a few days. I should be able to make a potion for this."

"Wow, Captain. Potions? Smithing? Ha! Can you sew clothes too?"

"Yes."

"What? Do you cook and clean as well?"

"Yes actually."

"...Can you make Magic Swords?"

"It would only have one effect, but sure. What kind do you want?"

...Is it possible for her child to be too talented?

The Goddess wanted to hide him. She wanted to bury her Captain in a deep treasure drove, and keep him out of everyone's sight.

He was capable of far, far too much. The attention her Familia ended up getting was inevitable. Soon others would challenge her to War Games, to take part in her prosperity, as they see how well off her Familia was.

She never would have imagined that Magecraft Magic would allow her Captain to be able to do so much. No, rather when she asked him about his past, how far his ability went, he would answer that he would rather embrace her than think of the past. Something she couldn't help but approve of. As for his ability?

"Well, I'm not really much of a frontline fighter, but I'm very good at being a support to others."

The worst thing was that his words rung true to her divine sense. He genuinely believe he wasn't that powerful of a warrior. She supposed this mindset wasn't bad, as it would keep him back from the spot light.

She would have to gallantly sacrifice herself, and take in all the attention instead. Truly she far too kind for her children.

At least she wasn't the only one suffering from success.

"I told you no! I'm not sleeping with you! Aisha, no. Samira, back! Back!"

Watching how all her Amazons had now craved her Michael was definitely an refreshing show.

"You know what? Fine! We'll do this the Amazons' way. You beat me, you sleep with me. Otherwise stop bothering me. I sure as hell I'm not fathering dozens of children."

Oh wow, he just opened the Underworld's Gates upon himself.

Inevitably it had to happen.

Others jealous of her Familia's growth and power challenged her to "put her in her place" or rob her of her wealth.

As planned, she was going to have Michael prepare the Amazonesses with the best equipment and potions he could make, as well as use the Level Up Spell on them.

The first few War Games went on without a hitch. A perfect victory. However it seemed some other Love Gods and Goddesses were especially envious of the Goddess, constantly having territory disputes against her about the Entertainment District.

After beating the Hathor and Eros Familias a few times, the Goddess began to discovered that those two, where being led by a Love God Rati.

Somehow, or rather inevitably, Rati discovered that Michael was the lynchpin to the whole of the Ishtar Familia. He threatened the Goddess on announcing to all of Orario on how valuable he was. That it wouldn't just be the gods disputing in the Entertainment District that would come after her.

When her Captain heard about this, he grew quiet. The Goddess thought he would be disheartened, and that she would have to find a solution all on her own, as she usually did. Michael always had an air of tiredness around him, despite his power.

Yet, he came to her, told her to challenge the Rati Familia, and even allow Rati's condition of using any help he wanted.

Michael told her that he would win. The conviction in those words couldn't be denied. The Goddess had wanted to act on her own, hedge things in her favor, yet it was the first time, she saw her Captain's eyes filled with determination.

Her heart skipped a beat and for the first time, she let someone else take the lead.

And so the day of the War Games came.

The Ishtar Familia faced the Triple Love Gods Alliance, all of the Rati, Hathor, and Eros Familias all at once. Her Familia was suspected of cheating before hand, even thought no one had any evidence. The ruling on no Familia coming to the castle siege match with any equipment had come far too late, due the suspecting cheating the Ishtar Familia was under.

The Goddess protested this, but her Captain told her to allow it.

"Let them have their winning move. It won't make a difference in the end."

The match was on where her Familia had to defend a castle for three days. As long as all gates weren't penetrated, and the flag not captured, they would win.

Upon the start of the match, Michael loudly cast his magic.

"Empowerment!"

There was confusion among the audience of gods and mortals.

A glow covered every one of her children.

A second spell was cast.

"Einherjar Armament!"

Weapons were simply formed next to her children. All odd seventy something of them. They were Magic Swords-Nay. They were something more powerful. Even the Goddess who wasn't a Smith God could tell they were of greater quality. Some even approached the Divine Realm in power.

And then to add to that Michael continuously cast a Regeneration Spell on his whole Familia.
That day, three Familias lost, and the Ishtar Familia didn't suffer a single blemish.

There were cries of "cheating" "hax" and "illegality" when the Goddess's Captain firmly spoke up.

"Oh, you don't like my spell that can make someone temporarily a higher Level? Then how about unbreakable Magic Swords. Sure those from the match were temporary, but I can probably also make permanent ones. No, not failures you call 'Magic Swords' that break after some use, like some pissed-used tissue paper, but ones that are actually permanent. That's also cheating? How about potions that make you stronger, faster, or immune to fire or cold? That's also bad? What about clothes and armor that makes you invincible for a time? If you ban one thing I can do, you can be sure as fuck I'll overcompensate with another.

"How many times are you gonna cry 'foul' and ban something because you're all are too weak! What? Should I myself not be in War Games because I'm just that fucking stronger than all of your children? Because if you're banning me, or what advantages I bring to these matches, then what about the ten people that can do what I do? You might as well never have a match with the Hera or Zeus Familias for being able to do what I do! Go ahead, tell them they can never participate in a War Game again! In the end, this is my Familia and I will fight by its side."

The Goddess wanted to shout and call him an 'idiot' and a 'mad man' for telling everyone what he could do. But upon such a declaration, none of the Gods could argue against him without being hypocrites.

The Goddess got a lot of grumbling, insults and jealous glares thrown at her after that day, but ultimately none protested. The ruling was decided that Michael Chaser can participate in a War Game without any restriction.

The Goddess took over the Entertainment District, and her rule was cemented. She reward her Captain with all she could give of herself.

Her star of Venus was rising over all.

She almost wanted to slap her past self, and Michael Chaser, for not seeing this outcome.

The Hera Familia came for her.

Wanting the Goddess's "contribution" to save the world.

What utter nonsense. They were clearly trying to steal her Captain.

Then they brought up Freya and how she was also offering her help for the Three Great Quests.

The Goddess gritted her teeth, she held back her rage and frustration as she looked at Zeus and Hera, along with their Familia executives.

She had been foolish to think she was untouchable. She had forgotten their were still powers far greater than her in this world.

Her Captain left with the strongest Familias that day.

Months later, news that the King of the Lands, Behemoth had been slain.

The world rejoiced, as the Zeus and Hera Familia accomplish a history-making feat.

They returned to Orario to rest and celebrate.

Her first child also came to see her...

And did not demand her to let him go.

A feeling the Goddess couldn't describe blossomed in her chest. He did not wish to leave her.

She asked if he was offered a place within the strongest Familias. If Freya had approached him.

He said they all offered a place for him, and he turned them down.

The Goddess couldn't stop her joy from spreading to her face.

She asked him why he rejected Zeus or Hera. He said his place within the Ishtar Familia was his home.

With every beat of her heart, her joy grew.

She asked why he rejected Freya, that if he did it because he loved her.

He didn't answer right away, then said yes.

That was a lie.

She confronted him on it. Michael was quiet for a moment. He sighed, then with resignation answered her.

"No, I do not love you. I'm just in love with the idea of being in love with you."

He simply enjoyed her Charm? Then why did he resist Freya's Charm and return to her?

"Because I don't see any functional difference between you and Freya."

She didn't register the words at first, then pain entered her heart.

"Both of you are Goddesses that entrap and ruin others for your selfish desires. That may not be your goal, but that's how things tend to end up. Freya wants to love others as much as she can, and you want others to love you as much as they can. You are mirrors of one another, so there is no point in switching Familias when the result would have been the same."

The Goddess couldn't understand, she never felt this hurt before. She understood anger at being insulted, so she swung her arm and slapped him. She didn't register that Michael moved his head so as not to injure her hand.

The Goddess only felt rage that covered her pain.

Her first child left once more with Zeus and Hera, this time to fight the Overlord of the Seas.

Michael left, and this time the Goddess knew he would return to her, and she hated him for it.

A few more months pass and news of Leviathan's defeat and use of it's body to close the Dungeon's opening at sea reached Orario.

Once more, the Hera and Zeus Familia returned to Orario to rest and celebrate.

In that time the Goddess thought about Michael's words and concluded that it doesn't matter if he was in love with her, or in love with her charm. In the end, he still chose her over Freya, and that was enough prove that she was the more beautiful Goddess. The ache she felt from that moment they last spoke was forgotten.

She would simply accept her child back, as she did before and reward him just like he deserved.

When the Goddess greeted her Captain however she felt something was off. It wasn't his ascension to Level 3 from participating in two of the Great Quests.

Michael was different. His eyes held a glow in them she hadn't seen before, and his soul shined with light that seem to cleanse and reignite it to greater brightness. A sun that had once been dying was given new life.

As a Goddess of Beauty and Love she understood. Her first child was in love.

It was neither her nor Freya. Neither Goddess nor Heroine.

It was a simple mortal girl, given Falna by virtue of being within the Hera Familia, and nothing else.

The ache returned to her heart tenfold.

She asked him again if he wanted to leave her Familia. He still said no.

She told him to cut off that relationship. Arguing that dispute between Familias on a child between him and that girl would rupture their love. He still said no.

She threatened that she would never update his Falna again. He said the girl was worth it.

She used her charm with all her might. His eyes stayed clear, her charm rolling off him like wind upon a cape.

The Goddess understood that she never held a place in his heart. Thinking back, every time they copulated each other, he was never in control of his mind. He wasn't weak to her charm, he simply let himself fall to it. He never once embraced her as himself.

Michael left for the last Great Quest, and the Goddess realized the she now held a second wish in her heart, beyond beating her rival.

The attempt at the Last Great Quest was a disaster.

Both the Zeus and Hera Familia were destroyed and there was no survivors. Those who were left, were the weak fodder that had stayed behind in Orario to maintain the Familias' headquarters.

The Goddess's heart ached for her child, but she held hope. She could still feel her contract to him. He was still alive.

Zeus and Hera had returned defeated, and were greeted by pity...and scorn.

No matter how great they once were. No matter how heroic their feats. If one's legendary status is marred, they lose everything.

Fear and worry gripped Orario's heart, as the mortals wondered who will fight for them. Who would defend them. Who would be their hero.

Loki and Freya stepped up to the challenge. It wasn't out of altruism, regardless of the positive result, but still they believe that now was their time.

The Goddess also wanted to step into this ring, and take her place among the top of Orario. Yet, she didn't. She was unsure if Michael would stay with her.

She didn't have time to ascertain her first child's loyalties.

The Loki and Freya Familias attacked Zeus and Hera to push them out and usurp their place.

Her child as it turned out was only concerned his wife, and went to the small church they both lived in.

A church...that was in the middle of Freya and Hera's territory.

The Goddess saw the end of the mortal her Captain loved. She felt a vindictive glee in seeing her turn to ash within Michael's arms. Soon her child would return to only look at her, even if it was just fake love. He would only have her in his sight.

The blood-curling scream that tore through the air was heard by all within the southern area of Orario despite the fighting.

The blood-chilling killing intent that descended upon the city halted everyone within Orario. The battling stopped, and the Goddess was witness to a soul being drenched in the volcanic rage.

The Goddess had never seen a soul with such violent color, yet upon her Captain, it was as if the proper color had return to it once more.

Michael charged at Freya, intended to do an act that no mortal would dare to contemplate. Yet he didn't care.

He was thankfully stopped by Ottar, Freya's strongest child, yet that didn't seem to make things better.

"No. Killing you isn't enough. Just ending you here isn't enough."

Michael turned his focus toward Ottar.

"You need to suffer."

Orario was changed that day. Hera and Zeus were exiled, and Loki and Freya took their place as the top Familias.

Yet there was another outcome that the mortals couldn't ignore.

Ottar lost his arm and his body was left scarred by Michael Chaser.

The Ishtar Familia may not have been acknowledge as one of the strongest, but none could ignore them. They could have cemented their place at the top, but chose not to.

This situation burned at Freya's side and turned her victory sour in her mouth.

And the Goddess couldn't be happier.

The Goddess's Captain had rose to Level 4 on the day he defeated Ottar.

A week later he rose to Level 5.

The Goddess was too astonished for words. When she read his excelia she saw an impossible battle against Alfia, Incarnation of Talent, the last member of Hera's Familia.

The Goddess smiled, understanding that he cut ties with the last connection he had with that mortal woman. Now she had her child all to herself.

Even if he didn't love her now, eventually someday, he would return her love. A love not born from her charm, but from within his heart.

She had all the time in the world to realize both her wishes.

Bring Freya down low into the dirt before destroying her.

And gain Michael's heart.

She would realize her wishes, for she was the True Goddess of Beauty and Love.

She was Ishtar and she always got what she wanted.

AN: Yes, this is the first half of Part 1, which means this Two-shot is longer than the actual description of a Two-shot, but I was getting impatience because of procrastination, and I'm a slut for that dopamine hit.