The arena is in shambles. The entirety of the divine side look ready to tear the entire arena to pieces. "We wasted a FULL DAY on this shit!?" "Yeah only for OUR representative to GIVE UP!" "Tyr doesn't DESERVE the title he claims if he GIVES UP!"
Suddenly there's a booming howl from the hallway where Thor was sat before. "TYYYYYYR! Tyr deserves his title moreso than any of you false idols! You DARE tarnish his name in your immature emotion! I WILL TEAR YOU ALL TO SHREDS!" The echoing voice calls as suddenly silence befalls the gods' side of the arena while the creature steps into view, knocking Thor's seat aside to make a comfortable space for itself. A giant wolf, easily as twice the size of a human even on all fours with icy-blue fur with dark-blue spots around its body. Its claws are gigantic with ornate norse carvings. It has two crystal-like horns behind its ears. One red, One blue, much like its dichromatic eyes. Its body is bound in a gold and silver chain and it has a massive black-bladed sword stuck through its jaw leaving its mouth slightly agape constantly.
"Is that…?" "Y-yeah it is!" "It's FENRIR!?" "T-that thing is HERE!? Didn't we tie him up SPECIFICALLY so we didn't need to worry!" "We gotta get outta here!" The gods fall into a panic, as the humans are merely confused looking at the giant wolf.
"There is no need to panic. So long as you shut your worthless mouths about this. Tyr is a better god than any of you. I will be here. Watching. Silently. And you all will BEHAVE!" The wolf sits and then lies looking silently over the arena.
The gods' side suddenly seems to quiet down, just in time for them to feel a heat coming from the corridor, followed by Ra's throne being carried back into the arena and sat down. "Pathetic," He merely says sending a shiver down the spine of all the gods and humans alike. "To be enraged this easily. It matters little. Humanity's lead is ending NOW. The ants will be crushed beneath the feet of the gods. It is that simple," Yet despite his words most of the gods can tell… there is not a god more angry right now than Ra himself. "I will see to it that Tyr is… dealt with. Until then… Heimdall. I would like the arena fixed as soon as possible. And then we will continue Ragnarok without delay,"
Heimdall feels a cold sweat drop as he takes a few steps back. "Y-yes of c-"
"I did not ask you to respond. Get. It. Done. Now," Ra interrupts and Heimdall springs to action rushing out to find the repairmen.
Pandora jumps for joy. "Yay! We won! We actually beat Tyr!"
Buddha smirks and pulls out another lollipop. "Well… I wouldn't say we won. But we got the point. So? Did Wukong buy you enough time?"
Pandora nods, Icarus staring at her jumping around for joy. "He did! I can't believe he fought for so long without rest! He's… something else."
Buddha nods. "Something else is right," He says twirling his lollipop around a bit. "Well that's my contribution to Ragnarok this time 'round. Y'all take care of the rest. Kay?" He says prancing away and Pandora bows.
"Yes! Thank you very much, mister Buddha!"
Icarus crosses his wing over his chest along with his arms. "So what's the plan anyway? We have some things in mind that we WANT… but we couldn't get a hold of some of your choices. Arthur, Edward, Dante and Houdini weren't home. We didn't really hear from them,"
Pandora puts a finger on her chin. "Well I feel like I have a good idea of their character from the stories I've read. It should be fine. Besides, I met Houdini once! He said he'd choose himself and I trust him!"
Icarus rolls his eyes. "Yeah. I met him too. Weird guy. So anyways. Shall we go to the records again? Plan our next move?"
"Yeah!" The two make their way to the akashic records and look at the screen, Pandora making a little info-graphic for Icarus. "So… here's the plan so far. I'm ready to adapt it depending on who Houdini wants to fight. But this should work right?"
Icarus raises an eyebrow and is about to speak when there's a light knock on the door and the door slides open with an angelic choir singing as a brilliant light shines into the room and the two cover their eyes. "Pardon my intrusion, young humans," Michael says smiling as his wings stop glowing so vibrantly. "My goodness. Quite the shock that fourth round was. My apologies. Even I could not have predicted Tyr's arrival," He says with a hearty laugh.
Icarus smiles and goes to shake his hand but Michael just happily hugs him instead.. "Well it's not like it really changed a lot. We just got ourselves a win and no one had to die to get it right?"
Michael laughs again. "That is true. Very true. I'm glad to see we are on the same page. Now naturally I have not been standing idly by this round. 12 hours is a lot of time. I have been going about and ensuring that my deal with the gods still holds. Ra has agreed. I spoke with Zeus. I spoke with Shiva. Izanagi and Izanami. Yu Huang as well of course. They all have agreed that my proposal is still in effect. Should you simply send a man out who will concede to me, then the gods will consider it a show of good faith and spare humanity's souls."
Icarus' eyes shine with excitement looking to Pandora. "That's great! Right Pandora!? We don't even NEED your plan. We can end Ragnarok early right here and now!" However what greets him back is not and equal amount of excitement. Rather what he sees is a silent and almost scared looking girl. "Hey… what's the matter?"
Pandora clenches her fists. "Michael… I know I said that we'd do it back then but… You say the gods all agree to your proposal. But can you TRUST that?" She says making the two winged men raise an eyebrow.
"Trust them to hold their word with me? Why of course! I am after all the archangel! Believe in me, Pandora. It is my sworn duty to protect humanity! From all threats! This doubt you feel is understandable. The gods are a scary bunch. Arrogant, destructive, powerful. But the same can be said for humanity. I have managed, through the past seven million years of humanity's existence to keep them safe from all! Even themselves," He says his wings shining brightly again as he speaks. "Humans are such amazing creatures. Capable of so much good. If you simply believe in them, and guide them they will reach the peak of existence. Of this I am sure. And the gods? Well the gods trust in me to guide them. Not towards the goal of the gods. But for the betterment of humanity. That is my sole purpose. Master Yu Huang gave me his word. His words hold value. He will ensure that my deal is upheld. I am certain of it!"
Pandora shakes her head. "I'm sorry… I'm really sorry Michael," Tears start flowing from her eyes a little. "I don't believe that your deal will go through. If we concede to you… we'll lose our lead for nothing!"
Icarus grits his teeth. "What!? What're you SAYING Pandora!? You can't be serious! Don't you want to save humanity!?" He tries before Michael puts a hand on his shoulder.
"Hush now Icarus. Before you say something you will come to regret. Naturally Pandora wishes to save humanity," He walks up to her and kneels down a little to be eye-level with her. "Pandora. Answer me honestly," He looks into her eyes very seriously. She suddenly feels a sharp thud in her chest, like a weight is lifted from her heart. "Do you truly not believe that I can convince the gods to spare humanity, even if they will all simply remain in our own corner of Heaven."
Without hesitation Pandora speaks, almost like she's hypnotized. "No. I don't. Ra is incredibly angry and selfish. He doesn't want humanity to exist. Besides that the entirety of the divine race have voted, unanimously, to end humanity, so the odds of you convincing them not to is almost none," Michael blinks and Pandora feels like the trance lifted itself and she looks a little confused. "I-I'm sorry! I didn't mean to… what happened!? I just… spoke without thinking! I-It's not that I don't…"
However Michael puts a finger on her lips with a soft smile. "Relax yourself, Pandora. It is simply the angel's gaze. When looking into the eyes of an angel, one is unable to hide anything. In essence, I made you speak your heart's true feelings. There is nothing to be ashamed of," He gently pats her head. "Doubt is a common human emotion. If you truly don't believe me… then there is nothing I can do to convince you. But that being said. Send out whoever you so wish. I will convince them instead," He says and Pandora feels tears begin to stream forth, gripping her dress.
"I'm sorry Michael. The gods are just so scary… and powerful. I really wish I could believe you. I-I… I will send out someone who is b-better suited to make this decision than me, okay?" She says through gritted teeth and Michael leans down, cupping her cheeks and forcing her gaze up to him.
"Dry your tears now, young Pandora," He gently kisses her forehead. "I forgive you for any mistakes you have made. Any decisions you have regretted," He gives her a light pat on the shoulder. "I will go and get ready then," He looks to Icarus and smiles as well. "I will be seeing you both soon I hope," He says heading out.
Pandora sits down, trembling. "W-why… why do I have to betray him like that!?" He cries and Icarus sighs, tilting his head.
"I don't really… understand. Why would you go against Michael like that? Surely he knows what he's doing better than you do right?" Icarus feels his heart beating a lot faster. Why doesn't she trust Michael? He's the guardian of humanity…
Pandora nods. "Normally yeah. But did you SEE Ra? He's so angry. Even if Michael made a deal… I'm almost certain he won't uphold it. Same goes for so many of the others! They're gods! To them humans are not worth the effort. T-they must've just agreed with Michael to get him to fight."
"But it'll be fine, Pandora! Michael will convince whoever you send out to agree to his terms!"
Pandora shakes her head. "I… I already know who I want to fight him. Someone who… someone who will try to kill Michael."
Icarus' eyes widen. "WHAT?! You want to KILL Michael!?" He feels that inkling in the back of his mind growing. Hephaestus' daughter. Right here. Wants to kill Michael. "You better have a good explanation for this…" He says, Pandora's head remaining between her legs.
"It's as simple as… I-I want to win Ragnarok. Michael's heart is… in the right place. But if we send out someone who agrees with him, then we lose a point. And if his deal doesn't fall through then we'll be putting ourselves at a disadvantage for no reason!"
"That's a LOT of ifs, Pandora. You SURE that's the only reason?" He asks his wing going over his mouth.
"W-what other reason IS there?" Pandora looks up with a confused and scared look on her face. "It's for the good of humanity!"
Icarus clenches his fist angrily. "That's BULLSHIT, Pandora!" He suddenly snaps.
"W-what!?" She flinches hearing him raise his voice like that. "I-I know it's not… the best. But it's the only choice there is!"
"ONLY CHOICE!? How about trusting the guy who's been protecting and guiding humanity for millions of years and who's lived for even longer!?" He gestures to the door Michael just left through.
"Because I think he's wrong! I'm sorry! I want to believe in him, but… but his trust in his words won't work! Not with RA! You know that!"
Icarus points to her angrily. "Is this because humanity doesn't accept you!? You want to kill their guardian angel!?"
Pandora feels the color drain from her face seeing a face from Icarus she's not used to… the face she gets from the other humans… "I-Icarus… p-please don't say that. I don't… I don't want Michael to die!"
"Then agree with him!"
"NO! I won't! I can't! I need to save humanity!"
Icarus feels himself shaking, turning around to conceal his anger as much as he can. "... Like father, like daughter…" He whispers and Pandora's eyes widen.
"W-what…?"
He spins back around, swiping his wing, creating a wind blast that almost knocks Pandora off her feet. "You're JUST like your father! That good for nothing GOD who made you! You want to KILL Michael!"
Pandora backs away as Icarus steps forward. "I-Icarus…? W-what're you saying… I didn't… I didn't want them to-"
"You're sabotaging us!" Pandora's back hits the wall. "And let's not get started on your CHOSEN fighters! Benkei is fine, but Hartmann is a NAZI! He didn't care WHO he fights for! And then you chose a DOG! A DOG to represent humanity! I don't care how good it is with a sword! It won't defeat a god let alone one of Ra's CHOSEN gods! Ichiko, who you claim to be one of your best friends, is going to be SLAUGHTERED when you send him out there!"
Pandora slumps down in the corner as Icarus looms over her, holding her arms over her head. "I-Icarus please… I don't… I-"
"SHUT UP! I'm not going to fall for this shit ANY more! Your cute voice! Your sweet smiles! Guess what!? The second I knew who your dad was I'd been suspicious of you! You just want humans to disappear for denying you from them! That's NOT their fault! You're a CREATION OF A GOD! Anyone in their right mind would be angry that you tried to be accepted by them!"
Pandora cries her eyes out sitting in the corner, short of breath, not knowing what to say. "Icarus please stop… you… you're the only person I-I knew… who gave me a chance. Why would you say these things? B-because of my dad? I'm sorry. I'm sorry I'm not the best choice to represent humanity. I wish I was stronger… I wish I had it in me."
"Well you don't. But it's fine. I'm done with this! Even since I found out you were Hephaestus' creation I've been planning to fight for the gods anyway," He says turning to leave.
Pandora's eyes widen as he looks at him walking away. "W-what did you say? F-fighting for the gods?! Why!? And what does my dad have to do with this!?"
Icarus stops in the door. "Because I want to protect my family. It doesn't matter anyway. Because I trust in Michael. As for what your dad did. Why don't you ask that monster yourself since you two are on such good terms?" He says taking one more look back at Pandora seeing her on her knees, looking so small in the corner of the room. "Goodbye, Pandora," THUD! The door smashes shut.
The akashic records fall silent once again. Except for the sound of Pandora's sobs as she hugs her knees to her chest. "W-why… Icarus… p-please come back. I-I can't do this all alone. Please…" She sobs shaking all over.
Icarus stomps down the hallway angrily, pausing briefly before shaking his head, clearing his eyes of a few tears, his heart racing at a million miles an hour. Around the corner he sees Osiris who smiles. "My my. I hear you're ready to fully switch sides? Welcome to Heaven's side, Icarus," He says holding out his hand and Icarus swats it away.
"It doesn't matter anyway. Michael's ending Ragnarok right here. Right now."
Osiris holds his hands up with a laugh. "Touchy I see. Understandable. You liked her. Now then. Shall we?" He gestures down the hall and Icarus wraps his body in his wing. This feels weird…
Pandora looks up from her silent sobs in her room. She gets up, furrowing her brow and sets out. She stomps down the hallways of Valhalla Arena until she reaches a familiar giant door, pushing it open, being hit with a wave of heat from within.
Hephaestus looks up from his giant anvil, seeing his daughter and he happily puts his hammer down and rushes over. "Pandora my dear!" He notices the tears flowing down her face and the reddened cheeks from crying. "W-what-"
"WHAT DID YOU DO!?" She demands angrily. "What did you do to Icarus' family! TELL ME! NOW!"