Now here's the second part...
An Oh My Goddess FanFic
Oh My God ?
by
Brett Handy
Chapter 15 (continued):
PART 3 - Asgard (for real this time)
Urd sighed, she was resting against the Norn's fountain,
trying to enjoy the magical feel of the place. Unfortunately
she was having trouble staying still, she wanted to be doing
something, "Stupid computer.. things worked better when it was
just the tree", she observed.
A small robot trundled past, intent on it's duty to care
for the great world tree. Urd hardly spared it a glance and
remained resting against the fountain for the better part of
an hour before Belldandy found her, "What are you doing?",
Belldandy asked curiously.
Urd shrugged, "Nothing", she responded shortly, closing
her eyes, "Just thinking".
"About what?', Belldandy asked, sitting down beside her
troubled sister.
Urd sighed, "I'm just wondering what Brett's doing at the
moment", she said quietly
Belldandy smiled, "I'm sure he's alright", she said
reassuringly.
Urd sighed, "No.. it's not that", she said.
"Well, what is it then?", Belldandy asked gently.
Urd rested her arms on her knees and hugged herself
slightly, "I'm trying to work out why I'm not feeling happy to
be home again", she replied.
Belldandy glanced around the pleasant scene that heaven
represented, "It's probably because there are some important
things missing at the moment", she said softly, "two that I
can think of".
"But there's never been anything important missing before
now", Urd replied.
Belldandy smiled, "So now you know what you've been
missing", she said.
"HELLO LADIES!", came a call, breaking the silence and
startling the two Goddesses.
Urd grimaced and Belldandy sighed quietly, "What is it
Thor?", Belldandy asked.
Thor approached the two Goddesses, grinning broadly, "I
just dropped by to see how the two of you are getting along",
he answered, "And provide a bit of male company".
"When does the *man* get here?", Urd asked sarcastically.
Thor laughed long and loud, "Ahh.. that's my girl", he
said expansively, "I thought you might have lost your touch,
living with the mortals so long!".
Urd gave him an exasperated look, "So what are you
*really* doing here?", she asked suspiciously.
Thor rubbed the back of his head nervously, "Err... well
I thought you might like to know that the system is back on
line", he said sheepishly.
Belldandy and Urd were standing immediately, "Let's get
going!", Urd said, pulling her sister towards the computer
complex.
Thor struggled to keep up, "Hey.. slow down", he said,
"There's something else you should know....". He broke off as
the two almost flew towards the computer centre in the
distance. He shrugged to himself, "Well.. I guess they'll
find out for themselves", he said to himself.
******
Skuld frowned angrily, "What are you talking about!", she
argued with the computer, "There has to be records of him!".
<My apologies>, the computer replied, <There are no
records of such a person on file>.
Skuld huffed to herself and began backtracking the
problem, she glanced around, "Urd's the System Administrator..
not me".
A moment later Urd bustled into the room, "Come on, let's
find out where Brett and Keiichi are", she ordered the
computer.
<There is no records of a Brett Handy in my database>,
the computer replied, <Keiichi Morisato's whereabouts are
currently unknown>.
Belldandy blanched, "What do you mean 'Unknown' - I
thought you could scan the whole universe", she exclaimed.
"I've been arguing with it since it came back online",
Skuld commented, "It refuses to tell me where Keiichi is and
it has never heard about Brett at all".
Urd sat down at the terminal, "What about in the mortal
records?", she asked, scanning a list. After a few minutes it
was obvious that Brett's name was missing from them as well.
"What's going on here", Urd fumed, "It's like he's been
erased"
"What about Keiichi??", asked Belldandy desperately,
"What's happened to him?".
<Keiichi Morisato cannot be located>, the computer
answered.
"So why can't you locate him?", Skuld asked.
<Two possibilities>, the computer explained, <First he
may have been totally and utterly destroyed, beyond my ability
to detect>. Belldandy paled and Skuld gave her hand an
encouraging squeeze, <or>, the computer continued, <He is in a
portion of the universe that I am unable to scan>.
Skuld frowned, "And where can't you scan?", she asked.
<The region known as 'Hell'>, it replied.
Urd blinked, "So Keiichi is either dead or in hell?", she
asked.
<Correct>, the computer confirmed.
"Neither of those sounds very appealing to me", said
Chia-Yao from behind the three Goddesses as he walked into the
room.
Belldandy sat down in a chair heavily, "My Keiichi...",
she said quietly to herself.
Skuld patted her shoulder, "Come on sis", she said,
"We'll find him".
Urd nodded, "And I don't think Brett would let Keiichi go
to hell on his own", she stated firmly, "When we find Keiichi,
we'll find Brett".
Chia-Yao nodded, "So does anyone have any ideas about how
we're gonna go to hell?", he asked.
"Ahem!", came a voice from the doorway, "May I make a
suggestion?". Thor was leaning up against the doorframe,
smiling through his beard.
******
"So what makes you think that *he'll* help us?", Urd
asked. The three Goddesses and two Gods were climbing up a
large mountain, each struggling with the climb.
Thor, who was in the lead gave Urd a peeved look, "I told
you, he's misunderstood", he explained.
"How do you know him so well", panted Chia-Yao, who was
struggling over a particularly tricky outcropping of rock.
Thor mumbled something unintelligible, "What?", Chia-Yao
asked.
"Errr.. well some of us get together occasionally to
discuss certain godly things..", he began.
"Such as??", Skuld asked curiously.
"Oh.. nothing you'd be interested in", Thor said, "How
about we just climb for a bit and stop all these questions?".
Urd stopped climbing and gave him a stare, "Not till you
explain", she said.
Thor sighed, "Alright... I know him from our weekly poker
games", he said resignedly.
"Poker games??", Chia-Yao said in amazement.
"So... he's one of your drinking buddies?", Urd asked.
Thor blushed, "Well.. not really... we don't drink *that*
much...", he stammered.
"You play poker with other gods??", Chia-Yao asked in
shock.
Thor nodded, "Yeah... it helps pass the time", he replied
defensively.
Chia-Yao gave him a hurt look, "And you never invited
me?", he accused.
Thor gave him a smile, "Sorry kid.. it's limited to those
that have been major gods for longer than a thousand years..
nothing personal", he replied.
The conversation ceased for a while as the five resumed
climbing, finally they reached the top of the mountain and
they all collapsed in exhaustion, "Why did we have to climb?",
Skuld complained.
Thor pulled himself to his feet, "It's some stupid
ritual, anyone uninvited to Olympus has to climb... or I guess
we could have flown...", he mused.
"Now he tell's us!", Urd sighed.
"Welcome!", called a tall figure, "Welcome to the home of
the Gods!".
"I prefer Asgard!", Chia-Yao noted absently.
Thor grinned and shook hands with their host, "Nice to
see you again, Apollo!", he said heartily.
"Don't tell me you're in on this poker game thing too?",
Urd asked.
Apollo grinned and nodded, "A fabulous way to spend your
time", he replied knowingly, "And a good way to collect all
kinds of new things". He glanced at Thor's hammer and grinned
broadly.
"Oh no you don't! I already told you I'm not putting up
my hammer!", Thor growled.
"Ahh well", Apollo shrugged, "Can't blame a god for
trying".
Thor lost his smiled and became serious, "So have you had
a chance to talk to your brother yet?", he asked.
Apollo nodded, "He's agreed to talk to you all, but I
can't promise he'll be willing to help", he explained. The
group walked into the huge temple of Olympus, moving swiftly
to where the meeting room was.
Belldandy was looking rather depressed as they sat down
at the marble table and Apollo gave her an encouraging smile.
"Don't worry Belldandy", he reassured her, "I'm sure that
Hades will help us".
"Us?", Urd asked, "When did you join our little group?".
Apollo shrugged, "Well... since I figured that you'll
need all the help you can get... I didn't think you'd mind
some assistance", he stated.
"And you really don't have anything else to do at the
moment?", Chia-Yao guessed.
Apollo nodded, "I'm afraid that all of the Greek gods are
fading from people's minds.. and with less demand.. it means
more free time..", he broke off as Hades entered the room.
Hades was an impressive looking fellow, he looked
superficially like Apollo, but carried himself with a more
arrogant stride. "What's so important that you had to drag me
up this bloody mountain again?", he grumbled.
"Nice to see you again brother", Apollo said
sarcastically, "A pleasure as always".
Hades frowned and cocked an eyebrow, "So??", he asked
bluntly.
Apollo explained that the Norse Goddesses were searching
for some friends, who might be in hell. "And what do you want
me to do about it?", Hades asked.
"How about helping us arrange a search?", Urd asked.
Hades shook his head, "I can't let a bunch of Gods into
hell.. what would the Demons say?", he replied, "I've got
enough problems running that place without a general rebellion
going on!".
"So how about searching it yourself?", Chia-Yao asked,
"You're the 'Master of the Underworld' don't you even keep a
track of what's going on down there?".
Hades surged to his feet, "You think I *want* to rule
Hell??", he said indignantly, "When I got stuck with this job
I never wanted it.. I would have preferred to rule over just
about anything else!". He then began to angrily tell everyone
in earshot how unfair life was in general and how unfair
everyone had been to him in particular
A quiet voice broke into Hades epitaph, "Please..",
Belldandy said desperately, "Please... we need your help".
Hades stopped ranting and looked at the miserable Goddess
sitting in front of him, he sighed, "I'm gonna get in trouble
for this", he said after a moment.
******
"Alright!", growled Peorth, "What are you up to this
time?".
Urd tried to look innocent (and failed miserably), "Me??
nothing at all.. why do you ask??", she replied.
Peorth sighed, "Look!", she said, "So far you've
requested more descriptions and print-outs on various Demons
and their abilities than the last *class* of Security
Daemons!",
Urd shrugged, "Nothing serious", she said, "Just brushing
up on my knowledge of Demons".
"And since when are you interested in Demons?", Peorth
retorted, "I would have thought you'd be back on Earth by
now.. since the restriction's been lifted".
"No time", Urd replied bluntly.
Peorth watched Urd leave the computer complex and head
back towards the Norn's home. "Something unusual is going
on", she mused, "I know that Belldandy doesn't like to be
separated from Keiichi for too long.... and she's still here
too".
Peorth thought for a moment or two longer and then
followed Urd across towards the Yggdrasil tree. She noticed a
number of people hanging around outside the house waiting for
Urd, then they all went inside together.
Sneaking up to one window Peorth peered inside. She saw
something that astounded her, inside was all manner of Gods
and Goddesses. Thor stood talking to several large figures
that all seemed to be carrying various dangerous weapons. Urd
was sitting going over what looked like a large map, trading
comments with Chia-Yao and a pair of Security Daemons that
were looking a little nervous.
"What the hell's going on here", she said to herself
quietly.
"Funny you should put it that way", came a voice from
behind her.
She turned around to see Heimdal grinning at her, "Why
don't you just go in and ask?", he suggested.
Peorth stood and brushed herself off, "There's no
sneaking up on *you* is there?", she asked.
Heimdal smiled broadly, "Well actually.. no there isn't",
he said, "That's why I guard Bifrost...".
"Peorth!", Skuld said in amazement, "Have you come to
join our little adventure?".
"What adventure?", Peorth replied numbly.
"Why a quick trip to hell and back", said Thor jauntily.
"Hell??", she said blankly.
"Well.. we're ready to go!", Urd called, "These young
fellows have agreed to run interference for us". She
indicated the two young Security Daemons with a flick of her
wrist.
They grinned and nodded, "Anything to get a chance to
face some Demons on their home turf", one pronounced grandly.
There was a muffled laughter from the other gods in the
room at this, but everyone recognised how serious things were
getting. "But you can't!", Peorth complained, "Hell has been
forbidden to us for as long as I can remember!".
Urd stood, "Well.. I'm afraid that the Demons have taken
something rather important to us", she said.
"Such as??", Peorth asked.
"Keiichi for one thing", Belldandy said quietly.
Peorth looked shocked, "WHAT!?!?", she asked amazed.
"And they've also got the new God of Destiny", Chia-Yao
added.
Peorth was silent for a while and then stood, "Well what
are we waiting for?!?!", she asked. There was a moment of
silence and then a deafening roar as the Gods and Goddesses
went to retrieve what had been stolen.
******
PART 4 - Hell
Hades nodded to the groups as they materialised in his
home, "Glad to see that the spell works right", he said.
"There was a chance that it wouldn't?", Chia-Yao asked
nervously. The God of Truth shivered as he felt the evil of
this place, "How can you stand this?", he asked Hades.
Hades shrugged, "You get used to it after a century or
so", he said, "Now if you want to follow me... I'll take you
to where you're friends are being held".
The two Security Daemons grinned and disappeared to await
the signal to create the diversion and the rest of the group
followed Hades. "How do you know where they're being held?",
Belldandy asked.
"It wasn't hard to find out.. it's the biggest thing to
happen in hell since the invention of fire", he said grimly.
Hades led them to a room that looked nothing like a place
out of hell, in fact it looked identical to the great hall of
meeting in heaven.
"What is this place?", Skuld asked, bemused.
"It's an illusion", Hades replied, "Loki's been working
overtime".
Thor growled and tested the head of his hammer with a
finger, "Loki hey?? well... he's mine", he said flatly.
Hades gave him a sever glance, "There will be more than
enough to go around", he said, "In about twenty minutes this
place will begin filling with the worst Demons in Hell".
"What's going to happen?", Urd asked nervously.
"According to what I've been told... they're going to
publicly execute a god", Hades said grimly.
The three Goddesses went pale, "I don't think we have to
ask who", Chia-Yao noted angrily.
"According to plan.. every Demon is suppose to come
cloaked in illusion to make them appear as their opposites",
Hades explained, "It's a plan to throw the God of Destiny off
balance...".
"I don't understand", Skuld said, "How could being
surrounded by Good Gods throw him off balance?".
"When those Gods and Goddesses suddenly reject him?",
Hades asked, "How would you feel if all your friends suddenly
turned on you?".
Apollo's face was a mask of rage, "How dare they treat
anyone like that!", he spat angrily.
Chia-Yao brought a fist down on a table, shattering it,
"They'll pay for this outrage!", he swore.
"Quiet!", ordered Hades, "We'll move up the back of the
room and stay out of sight, then whichever of you don't see
copies of yourself... move around amongst them and try to get
close enough to help".
"Are you sure that the shielding spells you cast are
strong enough to keep them from detecting our presence?",
Chia-Yao asked.
"You're not discovered yet are you?", Hades asked, "If
the spells weren't working... you'd have already been found".
******
The Gods and Goddesses waited patiently for the Demons to
arrive, then one by one they began to enter the room, taking
places to await the arrival of their intended prey. After
several uncomfortable minutes, a flash announced the arrival
of Loki, he was standing near the presider's chair.
"Welcome!", he greeted the assembled Demons, "The fun is
about to commence!".
"So hurry it up already", called a Demon from closer to
the front, "Where's this feast you promised us?".
"Patience", Loki said, "You're going to enjoy this.. not
only a human soul to take.. but a God's!".
There was a stir around the room and Chia-Yao noticed to
his discomfort that several of the Demons near him were
licking their lips. Loki cast another spell, cloaking himself
in the guise of Apollo, "And now for the main event!", he
called loudly.
Apollo gritted his teeth and turned to Thor, "Are you
*sure* you want him?", he asked, "I could let you have him
when I'm done".
Thor thought for a moment, "I tell you what.. if I let
you have him then I want Nilthar", he said, "That's only
fair".
Urd interrupted them, "Sorry boys... Nilthar is mine!",
she growled.
The two gods looked at each other and shrugged, "Flip a
coin?", Thor suggested, pulling one out of thin air.
Apollo smiled, "Not with *your* coin", he said.
Thor scratched his beard, "Rock, paper, scissors?", he
asked.
Apollo nodded and the two engaged in a quick game, Thor
coming out the victor, "Maybe I'll leave something for you",
he whispered.
"SHHH!!", admonished Hades angrily, "Do you want to be
discovered?".
A moment later there was a flash and Brett appeared at
one end of the hall, along with Keiichi. Several figures
surrounded them, looking suspiciously like the three sisters.
Urd hissed angrily as her double placed Brett in a chair
and kissed him on the cheek familiarly, "That bitch!", she
fumed.
Belldandy placed a hand on her shoulder, "If it makes you
feel better, remember he thinks that's *you* kissing him", she
reminded.
Urd frowned, but remained silent. After a moment Loki
(in the guise of Apollo) began a long speech that had
something to do with the Yggdrasil system malfunctioning and
Brett not deserving a wish.
"Have you worked out which of us is missing?", Apollo
asked Thor quietly.
"Only two that I can see", he said, "Chia-Yao and
Peorth".
Peorth looked startled, "So what can I do?", she asked.
Chia-Yao nodded to the far end of the room, "I'm gonna
get closer to Brett.. you take Keiichi and try to get him out
of here as quickly as you can", he said.
Belldandy gave Peorth a searching look, "I hope you
realise how serious this is...", she began.
Peorth nodded slowly, "Don't worry Belldandy", she
replied quickly, "We may both want Keiichi, but neither of use
want to see him dead!".
Peorth stood, she and Chia-Yao walked along one wall,
keeping as out of sight as possible. The speech went on,
sighting several examples of Brett not being capable of
handling his position. Then several voices shouted out,
condemning Brett as not worthy and a 'mortal'. The fake
Apollo called a vote and of course Brett didn't get a vote.
"I thought you were my friends!?!?!", Brett shouted at
the three fake Goddesses.
Skuld winced as her double responded with a short
insulting remark, as did Belldandy's opposite. Urd closed her
eyes as Brett turned to her double, "You too Urd?", he asked
in a broken voice.
"You think I'd want to have anything to do with a
*looser* like you?", her double spat. Urd winced as the
insult cut close to home, mirroring a previous comment she had
made.
Brett seemed to crumble with that last statement and
stumbled back a step or two. A Demon made to appear like Thor
grabbed one of Brett's arms and Chia-Yao (who had gotten to
Brett just in time) grabbed the other arm, playing along for
the moment.
Brett was dragged over to a chair with runes and symbols
inscribed all over it and strapped down. Brett questioned
what they were doing to him and Thor responded with, "We're
going to drain off your life energy and divide it amongst
ourselves".
Urd began to stand and Thor clamped a hand on her
shoulder, "Wait till Keiichi is out of the way!", he hissed.
Peorth grabbed Keiichi and took him to one side, she
quickly intoned a spell that Hades had instructed her in and
disappeared with him. Loki began to break down the illusion,
returning the place to it's dank nature.
"Here we go!", Apollo grinned. Hades muttered something
about keeping the devils from interfering and disappeared.
******
"Now how about lunch", Nilthar said as he advanced
towards Brett.
A sudden crack of thunder broke the air, and Loki (who
was still sitting on a stone dais) dodged quickly to one side.
The throne shattered into a million pieces and the Demons
watched as the War Hammer known simply as 'The Destroyer'
returned to it's owner's hand.
"Mind if we gate crash this party??", Thor asked
politely, before blasting his hammer straight through the
chest of a many-armed Demon that was advancing on him.
Loki turned to Nilthar, "FINISH THE SPELL!!", he
screamed.
Nilthar completed two spell-words before he was blasted
to the ground by a lightning bolt, Urd charged forward
swinging her swords right and left. Unfortunately, as Nilthar
completed the two words, a pair of runes glowed on the chair
and Brett lost consciousness.
Loki dodged another of Thor's blasts and threw a blot of
black energy in return. The God of Thunder parried with his
hammer and the two began to exchange more and more powerful
blasts, scattering lesser Demons left and right.
Urd and her sisters managed to make it to where Chia-Yao
was struggling to get Brett out of the rune-covered chair, "It
won't let him go!", Chia-Yao shouted.
Belldandy looked closely at the runes, "I'll have to cast
a counter-spell", she said, her hands already gesturing.
Nilthar stood up, his eyes blazing, he shouted out two
words and Brett's body suddenly shuddered. Nilthar's eye's
glowed with an unholy light, "Too late I'm afraid", he said as
they pulled Brett from the chair. He fell limply to the
floor.
Chia-Yao snapped his fingers and a pair of glowing swords
appeared in his hands, "Let's go you Bastard!!", he shouted,
running towards him, swords raised.
Nilthar gave him a glance, a pair of blazing beams hit
Chia-Yao's chest, searing his body armour and throwing him to
the ground unconscious. Thor noticed this and directed his
next blast in Nilthar's direction, the great hammer bounced
off of a shield, not effecting it in the least, "FOOLS!!!!",
Nilthar screamed, "I've now got the power of a God and the
power of a Demon, none of you can stand against me!!!!!".
Urd looked up from where she was cradling Brett's head in
her lap, his sightless stare was enough to confirm that his
consciousness was gone, even if his body was still alive. Urd
gently placed Brett's head on the ground and stood, her swords
extended in front of her. Her two sisters stood beside her,
each raising a weapon. The three began advancing towards the
Demon-God.
Apollo chased the last of the lesser Demons out of the
room and joined his three friends, he held a long staff and
had a grim expression. Nilthar made a gesture and the four of
them suddenly found that they couldn't move, "You think you
can beat me *here*?", he asked scornfully, "You come to the
very heart of my power and expect to win?".
Loki and Thor continued to fight, ignoring everything
else expect their sworn enemy. "I think I'll start with you",
Nilthar said, point at Urd.
Urd felt herself suddenly freed of the holding spell and
she stumbled slightly in her advance, "I think you'll look a
lot better with a large hole in your chest", he said, eyes
glowing again.
Urd braced herself, she hadn't the armoured protection
that Chia-Yao had and fully expected to feel searing heat.
She frowned as Nilthar looked at her thoughtfully, "On second
thoughts it would be more interesting to keep you around for a
while", he mused. Then he flicked a hand at her and she felt
herself frozen into immobility again.
Thor finally managed to get a good blast in and Loki was
thrown across the room. Nilthar turned to the God of Thunder
and blasted him with a bolt of lightning, "Somehow fitting",
Nilthar murmured as Thor fell to the ground.
Loki stood, "Nilthar!", he said, "You were suppose to
share the energy amongst us.. it might be dangerous for you to
absorb so much energy!".
Nilthar sneered at Loki, "Oh.. sure... that's right I'm
going to give up this power.. not likely!", he replied.
Thor struggled to his feet, "Oh stop it!", Nilthar said,
gesturing at Thor. Thor managed to get one or two more steps
forward but then ground to a halt.
"Now what should we do with these trespassers?", Loki
mused.
Marller walked into the room, "So I take it that all went
well?", she asked.
******
Farnath nudged his partner in the shoulder, "So when are
we suppose to start this diversion?", he asked.
Noranth shrugged, "Hades will let us know", he replied.
The two were cloaked in invisibility, watching the
occasional Demon walk, slither or fly past. They had been
waiting nearly half an hour when a huge concussion jolted them
slightly and a shock-wave passed by them.
"What on earth?", Farnath mumbled.
From the direction their friends had left, a hoard of
Demons came fleeing down the corridor. The two Security
Daemons grinned at each other and dropped their cloaking
spells. The fleeing Demons suddenly stopped as the two Gods
appeared in front of them.
"More of them!", a slime covered monstrosity screamed,
pointing with a tentacle.
The front row of Demons extended all manner of claws and
teeth and began advancing on the two young Gods. "You've had
it!", cried a skeletal Demon that was leading the way with a
bone sword.
Farnath and Noranth exchanged a glance and reached into
their clothing, each pulled out a small metallic object. The
two small spheres clattered and clinked down the corridor,
rolling two a stop in front of the lead Demon. The Skeletal
warrior had time for a startled yelp before the grenades
exploded.
Slime and bone filled the air as the enchanted weapons
tore into the Demons. Farnath unlimbered his shotgun, while
Noranth pulled a out a pair of pearl handled pistols.
The Demons began to back up as the two Security Demons
advanced. Farnath shrugged at the startled looks on the
Demons faces, "Hey, we're modern Gods", he said as he unloaded
his shotgun into the massed Demons.
******
Hades frantically cast every locking spell he knew, "Next
time I've gotta try not to let them talk me into this", he
muttered.
The gate he had been locking shuddered and a roar echoed
through the caverns. Hades watched in horror as the spell-
wall he'd erected shimmered and folded under the onslaught.
He'd just managed to reach this gate before the fighting had
begun. Behind it lay all of Hell's Devils. Now usually they
were quite content to stay amongst themselves... planning the
downfall of mankind and stuff that Devils do. But the aura of
the gods had awoken them and they were eager to fight the Gods
on their home turf.
Hades backed away from the door and began running back
towards where the two Security Daemons were suppose to be
waiting for him. A few minutes later he reached the meeting
point, only to find the destroyed remains of about two Dozen
lesser Demons. "Well!", he exclaimed, "I guess the population
*was* getting a little high anyway...".
He followed the echo of gunfire and after a few more
minutes he caught up to the two Security Daemons, "What are
you doing?", he demanded.
Farnath shrugged as he reloaded his shotgun, "Hey, I
think we've got their attention", he pointed out, gesturing to
the corpses littering the room.
Hades nearly jumped up and down in frustration, "You two
were suppose to wait for me!", he roared. Another roar from
behind him caused him to freeze and he felt his protective
wall give way.
"We've got to get moving", he urged, "The Devils are on
their way!".
Noranth shrugged, "Bring 'em on!", he grinned.
Hades shuddered, "You don't know what you're saying,
these things make Demons look like little puppies", he said,
"I'm sure you've heard of Cuthulu or Gozer...".
Farnath paled slightly and looked at Noranth, "What do
you think?", he asked, "I *am* running a little low on ammo".
Noranth (who had also paled slightly) nodded, "Alright,
let's get our friends and get out of here", he said.
******
Nilthar nodded to Marller, "Everything went perfectly",
he said grinning.
"You're happy", Marller noted, surprised, "I don't think
I've ever seen you grin quite like that".
Nilthar nodded, "I've just eliminated an enemy and
captured six others!", he said, "I deserve to be happy!".
"So what are we going to do with them?!?!", Loki asked
again, "We'd better decide something soon... otherwise others
may come looking for them".
"So let 'em come", Nilthar said confidently, "No
worries!".
Marller shrugged, "Alright", she said, "What do *you*
want to do with them?".
Nilthar frowned, "Me?", he asked, "Kill them I spoze".
Loki looked at him closely, "You 'spoze'??", he asked.
"Hey mate", Nilthar replied, "Take it easy...".
Marller stared in shock, "What did you say?!?!", she
demanded.
"I said: 'Hey Loki - take it easy", Nilthar said
carefully.
Loki walked over and examined Nilthar's face, "No you
didn't", he said, "You said 'mate'!".
Nilthar lost his smile, "What?", he asked, "That's not
possible!".
******
Chia-Yao slowly regained consciousness, he almost winced
with the pain in his chest, but he kept his expression blank,
until he could open one eye carefully.
He was lying face down on the ground, the smell of burnt
kevlar was quite pronounced, "Boy I'm glad that I brought this
stuff along", he thought to himself.
"You've gotta do something!", Nilthar said frantically
from across the room.
Chia-Yao slowly glanced around, Nilthar was pacing
backwards and forwards in the middle of the room, while Loki
and Marller were examining several large books. "You got me
into this mess.. now you'd better bloody well get me out of
it!", Nilthar bellowed at Loki.
Chia-Yao noticed the pronounced Australian accent that
Nilthar now had and smiled slightly, "Got more than he
bargained for", Chia-Yao mused silently. Then he noticed
Brett's body lying a few meters away, it was still breathing
and the eyes blinked occasionally.
<*Brett!*>, Chia-Yao thought at it, <*Get up!*>.
The body twitched for a moment and then crawled to it's
feet, <*Come here!*>, he ordered.
With a jerky step, the body walked forward and stopped in
front of Chia-Yao, <*Pick up that sword*>, he said.
Brett's body picked up the sword and looked at it,
<*Attack Marller*>, he thought quickly. Chia-Yao muttered a
spell and disappeared from sight with his other sword.
The body turned and moved towards it's target, "Look
out!", Loki shouted, as Brett's body moved up behind Marller.
Marller turned just in time to block a downward swipe
with her arm. A crack echoed through the room and Marller
howled in agony as the flat of the blade snapped her arm.
"How?", Nilthar said, backing up from the body. A sharp
blow from the hilt of Chia-Yao's sword reduced Nilthar to
unconsciousness.
Loki glanced once at the six gods that were now freed
from Nilthar's holding spell and fled the room, dragging
Marller behind him.
"Brett!", Urd shouted, running after the unsteadily
walking figure, she turned him around and was shocked to see a
blank expression on his face. He pushed her out of the way
and continued to walk in the direction Marller had gone.
<*Stop*>, Chia-Yao said (both verbally and mentally),
<*Drop the sword*>.
Brett's body responded and stopped moving, dropping the
Katana on the floor. "What are you doing?!?", Urd demanded.
"Saving us all!", Chia-Yao replied, lifting Nilthar's
prone body into the rune covered chair, "Help me!".
The Apollo and Thor guarded the door, while the others
prepared the same spell that Nilthar had used, "I hope you
remember the words", Skuld said nervously, "It wouldn't do to
make a mistake...".
"I know!", Urd snapped. She spoke each word that Nilthar
had used in turn, directing the energy into Brett's body.
Nilthar's body convulsed and Brett's shell echoed it,
finally the spell was complete and Brett's body collapsed
unconscious to the ground. "Is that it?", Thor asked
impatiently.
Urd nodded, "I left the same amount of energy in each of
them", she replied.
"But... Nilthar was a 1st-Class Demon", Chia-Yao said,
"So that means...".
"There's no way to be sure how much power each of them
had originally!", Urd said, "So this is the best I can do!".
A moment later Hades rushed into the room, followed by
the two Security Daemons, "I think we'd better get out of
here!!", Hades warned, throwing up a protective screen over
the door. Everyone noticed the dark figures pressing against
Hades' spell.
Chia-Yao picked up Brett's prone form, "Well, let's go!",
he insisted.
******
PART 5 - HEAVEN
I awoke slowly, with a splitting headache. I was
reminded of the hangover that I'd had a few weeks back, only
this seemed to be worse if anything. Carefully I opened my
eyes and looked around, I was in an unfamiliar room. I sat
bolt upright, remembering where I'd been: Nilthar called out
of some spell-words.. and then nothing. Surprisingly sitting
upright made me feel a little better. Every second the pain
was disappearing, until I was left feeling great.
I felt really alive, taking a deep breath I stood up,
"Not bad", I said carefully. My voice sounded a little shaky
but everything else was ok, I didn't seem to be wounded or
anything.
I walked over to the window and looked out on the most
magnificent tree I've ever seen. "Yggdrasil!", I said in awe.
It was massive, bigger than anything I'd even dreamed about,
it certainly put that illusion to shame. Then I stopped and
remembered the illusions that the Demons had cast.
"I could still be in an illusion", I thought to myself,
"This might be another trick".
Resolving to find out, I walked over to the door to the
room and opened it. Outside was a hallway, with what looked
like a staircase at one end. "OW! how about you being a
little more careful?!", came Chia-Yao's voice from downstairs.
I crept over to the staircase and moved down far enough
to see him, he was lying on his back, with Skuld applying
something to his chest, "I can't believe you're stupid enough
to take on Nilthar without help!", she scolded him.
He nodded and picked up the armour plate that had covered
his chest, it was nearly melted through, "You know.. I hate to
say it... but you're right", he said, "I need to have my head
examined".
Skuld looked at him in surprise, "Oh.. so something's
finally gotten through that think skull of your's?", she
asked.
I pulled my head back around the corner and leaned
against the wall, "I guess he got hurt rescuing me", I mused.
"Peorth will be here with Keiichi soon", said Urd from
outside, "Don't worry about it Sis!".
"I hope you've got a lot of healing salve", said a voice
that I recognised as Apollo.
I heard the door open and close and several of what
sounded like groans of relief, "I don't think I've been this
tired since I fought that last tribe of giants", said Thor.
"I'm just going to check on Brett", said Urd from below
and I heard footsteps on the stairs. I quickly crept back to
the room I'd woken up in and hid behind the door, ready in
case of another trick.
Urd walked into the room three paces and then stopped,
looking at the empty bed, "What?!?", she said in shock.
I slammed the door shut behind her and stood between her
and the door, "Alright!", I said, "What the hell's going on?".
Urd turned around and her eyes opened in amazement,
"Brett??", she asked, stepping towards me, arms outstretched.
I raised my hands, a spell ready, "Don't come any
closer", I said to her bluntly.
Urd stopped, "What's wrong?", she asked in a concerned
voice.
"Where exactly am I??", I asked.
Urd dropped her arms, "You're in Heaven", she said, "In
our house".
"How do I know this isn't another Illusion?", I asked
bluntly.
"It's real Brett!", Urd insisted, "You're really here,
I'm really Urd!".
I nodded, "Of course it seems real", I replied, "But I'm
afraid that I can't take that chance at the moment". I didn't
trust my senses after the last time, until there was some way
I could verify that this wasn't some other trick I didn't want
to let my guard down.
"Please explain how I managed to get here from hell", I
asked carefully.
Urd nodded and sat down on the edge of the bed, "Well..
it started when we discovered that you and Keiichi were
missing....", over the next few minutes Urd explained what had
happened. I nodded as she continued the tale, finishing with
her walking through the door of this room.
I lowered my hands, "What you're saying has the sound of
the truth about it", I allowed, "But I hope you don't mind if
I seem a bit sceptical about all this".
Urd smiled sadly, "I think I understand", she said,
"After what you've been through I expected you to be out for
days".
I nodded, "Well I feel fine, not a bruise on me", I
replied.
Urd stood, "Come on and we'll explain it to the others",
she said.
I gestured for her to proceed me through the door and
followed her downstairs. "Brett!", Skuld said happily as we
entered the room, "How come you're awake?".
"Any reason I shouldn't be?", I asked her tersely.
She lost her smile and turned back to where she was tying
a bandage around Chia-Yao's wound. "I'm glad to see that
you're alright", Belldandy said, a little hesitantly.
I nodded and sat down on a chair, frowning. Something
was strange, I felt fine, but I *never* snap at people like
that. Urd explained to everyone my concerns about the
illusions that Loki had cast, to make me believe I was in
heaven.
I felt everyone look at me compassionately and for some
reason it made me angry, "I'm going for a walk!", I said,
standing up suddenly.
"I'll go with you", Urd offered at once.
"I think I'd prefer to be alone if you don't mind", I
snapped at her. I noticed that she seemed rather upset and I
felt a little guilty (but only a little bit). Stalking from
the house I walked past the fountain and down into Asgard,
looking around carefully.
I was walking down towards Bifrost when someone tapped me
on the shoulder, I spun around, "What do you want?", I
practically growled.
It was a Valkyrie, "Still angry at the world I see", she
said sympathetically.
I turned away from her and continued down the street,
"Wait", she said, "Please let me comfort you... poor soul...".
I turned back and looked at her, she was particularly
beautiful, "Come with me and I'll make you forget your cares",
she continued.
You know what? I was tempted to follow her. That made
me realised that there was something seriously wrong with me.
I've never been one to want to forget before, and I'd not
looked twice at the last Valkyrie I'd met (even if that was in
an illusion). I drew a shuddering breath and firmly shook my
head, "No", I said.
The Valkyrie nodded, "If you change your mind, I'll still
be here", she said.
I walked out of Asgard and stopped at the edge of the
rainbow bridge, it's shifting colours were magnificent.
Sitting on a rock beside the road, I just stared at it for a
while, trying to work out why I was suddenly so angry at
everything.
"I thought you might be here", came a voice from behind
me.
I turned around to see Urd standing a few meters behind
me, "Pull up a rock", I said, gesturing to one of several that
were scattered around the area.
Urd sat on one beside me, "I thought you wanted to be
alone?", she asked.
"I did", I replied, "But... now I don't know".
"You don't know what?", Urd asked.
"I don't know.... me", I replied.
She was silent and I took that as a sign to explain,
"Something's different about me now", I said, "It's like I
have a huge store of anger inside me.. that's trying to get
out..".
Urd reached out and placed a hand on my shoulder, "It's
alright", she said, "You have a right to be angry about
everything that's happened to you".
I shook my head, "No.. it goes deeper than that", I
replied, "It's like... I don't know.. I can't work it out
myself.. so I can't explain it to you".
She moved to sit closer to me, "There's nothing wrong
with being angry", she said, "So long as you control the anger
and it doesn't control you".
I nodded, "I'm keeping it in check", I replied, "But it's
difficult".
She gave my shoulder a squeeze, "Then let you're friends
help", she said.
I patted her hand, "Thank you", I said simply.
Urd smiled and nodded, "Come on", she said, standing,
"The other's are wondering where we've gotten to".
"Oh.. can't have that, can we?", I said sarcastically,
then stopped myself. I gave her a weak smile, "Sorry", I
apologised.
Urd took my hand and led me back into Asgard. We talked
quietly as we walked through the streets. "So how was your
vacation anyway?", Urd asked curiously.
I laughed, "It was unusual to say the least", I replied,
"Dreamtime spirits make for some unusual company".
"Dreamtime Spirits?", Urd asked. I detailed my
'vacation' to her and she looked amused that Nilthar had been
forced to retreat from a couple of Dogs and a Snake (even if
the snake happened to be 40ft long). I'd just finished
telling her about the relaxing week I'd spent with my family
(after getting rid of Nilthar), when we arrived back at the
house.
We walked inside and were greeted with the sight of
Belldandy kissing a bemused Keiichi, I smiled at the cute
picture the two of them made. "She get's kisses.. I get
threats", Urd mumbled under her breath.
I squeezed her hand and then clapped Keiichi on the
shoulder, "Good to see you mate!", I greeted him.
Keiichi grinned, "I'm glad to see that you're back in one
piece", he said.
"Well.. don't let me interrupt", I said, stepping back
and motioned at Belldandy, "Keep greeting your girlfriend!".
Belldandy blushed and smiled, "We might continue that
later", she said, "In private!".
Everyone laughed (except for Keiichi, who grinned a
little sheepishly). I thanked Thor and Apollo, who both
demurred, saying that they were happy with any opportunity to
stick it to the Demons. Everyone seemed to be quite tired, so
it was decided that any celebrating would have to wait till
tomorrow.
******
It took nearly a week for us to get back to the temple
and when we finally did, it was in even worse condition than
when I'd left. Nothing was standing, the ground had been
churned over by heavy machinery, it was a horrible sight.
Belldandy sighed as she looked around, Keiichi placed an
arm around her shoulders, "Don't worry", he said, "We'll find
somewhere else to live".
I kicked a small piece of tile that was laying on the
ground, it clattered and crashed over the ground, until it hit
a wooden box. I walked over carefully and dusted off the top
of the box, it was the Christmas gift I'd given Urd. Opening
it gingerly, I saw to my amazement that the crystal rose was
still intact.
Smiling I turned to the others, "Why go anywhere else?",
I asked, "Can't we fix this up here?".
Belldandy lowered her head, "I'm afraid that I'm not
powerful enough to restore *this* much damage", she said
sadly.
I nodded, "That's right", I said, "But what if the three
of us help?".
Belldandy looked up and smiled, "That might be
enough...", she mused.
"Well", Urd said firmly, "Let's give it a go!".
Skuld nodded, "Come on Big Sister... let's try!".
I held out my hand to her and she took it, Urd took my
other hand and Skuld joined the four of us, completing the
circle. We all began repeating the words to the restoration
spell. A blinding glow covered the temple, pieces of stone
flew back to the walls from which they'd fallen, timbers
became whole. The amount of energy we had to generate was
incredible, but after several minutes the Temple was just as
it had been when I'd left a little over three weeks ago.
Keiichi was looking around in amazement, "That's
incredible!", he said.
I smiled at the Goddesses, "Yeah... you'd think it was
magic or something", I said grinning. The inside was still a
bit messed up, but that was quickly fixed with a bit of 'elbow
work'.
Evening came and I found myself on my favourite step,
looking up at the stars (as usual). I heard a step behind me
and shifted over to let Urd sit beside me, she looked up at
the stars for a while with me.
"So what are you going to do now?", she asked quietly.
I smiled at her, "I don't know", I replied, "Any
suggestions?".
"Well", she said, "you're safe now if you want to go
home... you don't need us to protect you anymore".
I nodded, "I'd thought about that", I said.
Urd looked over at me, "And?", she asked.
"It'd mean abandoning all my new friends", I replied,
"and one friend in particular".
She smiled, "And you don't want to leave this 'special
friend'?", she asked.
"I mean, Keiichi and I are good mates now", I said
blandly.
Urd punched me in the shoulder, hard, "Hey!", I said, "I
was just kidding!".
She shrugged, "Well you deserved it", she said.
I gave her a hug, "I know, I can be a real pain
sometimes", I said.
She hugged me back and smiled, "Well remember that you
originally wished to have a job like mine", she reminded me.
"So... granting wishes huh?", I mused, "Sounds like
fun..".
******
Author's Notes:
DONE! - boy.. I've been working on this for (checks
watch) - 7 hours! and I've finally completed it!
Now I'm sorry about the wait, but with work it's taken me
a while to get this done - it's just lucky that I had a Sunday
off to write something.
OK - since this is the final part of this series I'd
better let you all know that I *am* going to continue the
story with a bunch of 'one-off' stories. These will be based
on Brett and his new job (ie: wish granting) - I've already
done quite a bit of the first one (Ranma1/2), I've got some of
a KOR story written and I'm also looking at a UY fic too. If
anyone has any suggestions I'd like to hear them...
Thanks to everyone that encouraged me to write this, it
started out as a little joke and has become something that I've enjoyed
quite a bit....
-----Brett (26/5/96)
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Address: darkwnd@sv.net.au WWW page: http://www.sv.net.au/~darkwnd
Spock: Sir, what these people are saying is logical; If we use up a
finite resource, logic dictates that eventually all
resources will be exhausted and the resulting calamity
will expunge all life forms...
Kirk: Meaning???
Spock: We're rooted....
-----Fast Forward (1989)
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