04/17/2012, Kuoh Town, Morning.
Because today it's Sunday, Makoto decided to take a morning stroll and decided to head to the city park. With his earphones on and music playing, the boy sits on a bench, breathing the fresh morning air. Some other people are taking a morning walk, them too enjoying the chill atmosphere of the park. Makoto notices the leaves of a nearby bush moving and the head of a fox, the same fox he has saved from Izanami, peeping out. The orange animal jumps out of the bush with a swift movement and walks towards the boy. He looks at the fox, brushing its head against his leg. Makoto smiles at it and gently pets the animal's head.
"Oh, you like animals, Messiah?" comes the delighted voice of Azazel, who sits on the bench next to Makoto. "Were you following me, Azazel?" he asks, still petting the fox. "More or less, I was actually looking for you" he says with a smirk before taking out a notebook and a pair of glasses that he immediately puts on. "Last time I promised you I would show the results of my research; normally I wouldn't share them with anyone until they are done. Not even with Armaros, but hey, you are you Messiah!" exclaims Azazel, smiling contempt. "Now hold on, Messiah, let's go to my lab." Before Makoto can react, Azazel casts a magic spell, and a magic circle appears beneath them to teleport the two... and the poor fox, to his lab in Grigori.
04/17/2012, Azazel's Lab, Morning.
"Here Messiah, wear this" says Azazel as soon as they appear, tendering a lab suit to Makoto. "Thanks" he replies, wearing it on top of his clothes; however, Makoto still feels something scratching his leg. He looks down to find the fox desperately clinging to him, shocked after the sudden change of scenery. "Azazel I think someone doesn't want to stay here" says Makoto, pointing to the orange animal. "My bad, I wasn't paying attention to the little fox when I cast the spell" The fallen angel tries to pick up the fox, but he only receives a bite on his hand that obviously doesn't even scratch him. "It doesn't like me, I guess" sighs Azazel. "I'm going to call someone to bring this little pest back home; meanwhile, please don't let the fox touch anything" asks Azazel, immediately exiting the laboratory in the search of someone good with animals.
'Universe, I see something that catches my interest over there on that table' says Odin in an unusually calm voice. 'What might it be to make the All Father so tame' screeches Fafnir. 'Silence, iron lizard' says Odin, annoyed by the comment of the dragon. 'Now I'm interested too' says Orpheus Telos. Makoto nods his head and looks where Odin told him. On one of the white tables filled with many tools and gadgets there is an oval shield made of a particularly bright yellow wood. Golden vines circle around it, forming shapes resembling trees that seem to hold round reinforcements of black steel with runes carved on them.
'Rudimental runes, but this wood is from the Pine of Light, the oldest tree of Alfheim. Universe, I ask you to let me examine that object directly' asks Odin, stunning the other personas. 'Old maaan, are you fine? Since when are you behaving like Kohryu?' shrieks Fafnir, this time concerned about the mental well-being of the All Father. 'My companion, what has gotten into your usual insufferable self!?' loudly asks Robin Hood, maybe too loudly. 'Just let Odin have his time, hee hoo. It's clear it's important to him; hee hoo' intervenes Jack Frost on Odin's defense. 'Thank you, spirit. You others shut up, or else you're going to regret it. I'm talking with you, Fafnir' threatens Odin. 'Thiiis is the Odiiin I know. Ah Ah Ah' laughs mechanically, Fafnir.
'Do you know what this is, Odin?' asks Makoto, holding the shield. 'There is a subject of mine inside; they are from this world, but still my subjects they remain' answers the Norse God. Makoto examines the runes carved on the shield and looks at the vines intertwined around, shining thanks to the lymph inside. He sees some magical particles, of white and orange colour, emanating from the piece of armour, almost as if they are reacting to him.
"It's there, Penemue!" Azazel interrupts Makoto, who puts the shield back in its place. Penemue enters the room to see Makoto and the fox right near him. She smiles at the scene, finding it rather cute, before greeting the boy. "Hello Messiah, may I take your fox friend and bring her back home?" asks the Secretary of Grigori. Makoto nods his head, letting Penemue take the fox, despite the animal's whines to be separated from Makoto. "Now we can get back to Sacred Gears!" exclaims Azazel, making Penemue roll her eyes. "If he bores you too much, just call me Messiah; I'll get him back to his place," says the woman before leaving the lab. "Say what you want, Penemue." Azazel looks back at Makoto. "Don't let her fool you, Messiah; we're going to have so much fun. You see, sacred gears are so mesmerising; I'm sure if Father was here, he would personally explain to you everything about them. They are it's masterpieces after all... maybe not, but you got the concept" says Azazel, correcting himself.
"Let's start from the basics. What are Sacred Gears?" rhetorically asks Azazel, not expecting nor wanting an answer. 'Is he really going to make us a lecture?' asks Apollo, already bored. 'Let him speak; we might learn something useful,' comments Kohryu. "Sacred Gears are special weapons, given to humans or half-humans upon birth by the Heaven System. They are bound to one's soul; that's why they can't be possessed by anyone else until its user dies and the Sacred Gear is sent back to the Heaven System to be given to someone else" Azazel continues his lecture about Sacred Gears, explaining everything that's needed about them. "Now let's talk about the fun part, artificial sacred gears!".
"That one behind you is one of them, created personally by me, although it's still a prototype. I'm confident that by the next month I can complete it" declares Azazel, pointing to the shield behind Makoto's back. 'Universe, ask him how a fairy can be held inside. Fairies, pixies, or everything that is remotely fey-related are almost impossible to hold captive' tells Odin.
"There is a fairy inside it, right?" asks Makoto. "Yes! You are as perceptive as always, Messiah. There is indeed a fairy inside Twinkle Aegis; it's fundamental to power the shield and let it be able to become one with someone's soul, which is a fundamental characteristic for a Sacred Gear".
'I want to help the Councillor; follow my lead universe,' says Odin, synchronising his mind with Makoto's. 'What is this? Why can't I hear the other personas?' asks the universe. 'It's only temporary; we're now taking our vow to its maximum. I am thou; thou art I. It's similar to what Robin Hood did to with eyes some days ago'.
Makoto walks near Azazel and takes the shield from his hands. "Messiah? What are you doing?" asks dumbfounded the fallen angel.
However, instead of stopping him or saying anything to the boy, Azazel just observes his work. Makoto takes a chair and sits down with the Twinkle Aegis in his lap. Taking a chisel from the table, he starts engraving other runes and correcting the ones already present. After a couple of minutes, the Twinkle Aegis starts to exude more power. Instead of strengthening the artefact itself, with the runes taught to him by Odin, Makoto made the Twinkle Aegis exponentially more efficient. "You are a natural Messiah! I couldn't dream of better Norse runes even if I asked the best rune carvers outside of Asgard!" shouts joyously Azazel, shaking Makoto's hand like a colleague who just made the greatest discovery of his entire career.
"My Lord?" says a faint and timid voice from the shield. 'Here is the fairy' says Odin as he stops the synchronisation with Makoto. "It looks like you awakened the fairy inside the branches of the Pine of Light twisting around Twinkle Aegis" explains Azazel as he summons a spear of light. 'What is the councillor doing, hee hoo?' asks Jack Frost. 'He's not wrong; fairies are the most tricky and subtle beings of the Nine Realms. I would do the same in his position' commends Odin.
"Aaaah, please, please don't hurt me" pleads the fairy inside Twinkle Aegis. 'Odin, are you sure this is the right choice?' asks Makoto. 'Yes. Never feel sympathy for a fairy, Universe. Never' proclaims Odin. 'You are exaggerating Odin; this fly is imprisoned inside a shield' says Lucifer. 'If you are so preoccupied, Great Apollo and the Universe can deal with the scary fairy for you, Odin' mocks Apollo earning a grunt from the All Father. 'Shut your mouth' he says.
"What is your name, fairy?" asks menacing Azazel, ready to pierce the shield with his spear. He actually is just doing this to scare the fairy; he wouldn't dare to destroy his creation now that it has been improved by the Messiah with such fantastic runes. They just need to subjugate this fairy, and they will be done. "I'm... I'm Wispa Bumbleleaf. I'm just a tiny innocent fairy; please, sir, don't harm me" says the fairy with her squeaky voice.
"My lord, it's really you, Lord Odin? Why have you chosen such a childish aspect for yourself?" asks Wispa, clearly referring to Makoto. "Ehm, I'm not Odin" he says. "Messiah, let me deal with this infamous being" says Azazel, taking the Twinkle Aegis. "Noooo! Please, Lord, I beg you! Save this faithful servant of yours! I never wished to make Alfheim surpass Asgard, I sweaaaar" cries out the fairy as Azazel takes the shield away. 'Let her be; we wait for the runes to stabilise the power of the Pine of Light, and then we'll speak with her again' says Odin, ignoring Wispa's pleads.