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Previous chapters of this fic can be found at

http://members.nbci.com/mmcavoy/ along with BGC and Tenchi fics.  Also,

different sources give different translations of the aspects of Norse

mythology, so be forgiving of my information in this fic; i'm not a

historian. If the format looks bad in the post, this chapter will also be at

my website.



sincerely,



Michael McAvoy

mmcavoy@ejourney.com



---------------------------------------------------

Credits:

Ah! My Goddess! copyright 1988, 1998 by Kousuke Fujishima.



This is a non-profit work of fan-fiction.  As such, I'm getting no

compensation for writing this fiction other than my own enjoyment,

because the thought of getting sued is rather unpleasant.



Disclaimer:  All characters *I* have created are purely a work of

fiction.  Any resemblance to persons living or dead is pure

coincidence.  Anyone who thinks otherwise is probably just a grouch.

Also, please do not try and distribute this story in a lame

attempt to make a buck; it would be bad karma to say the least.



C&C appreciated!

Send them to Michael McAvoy

mmcavoy@ejourney.com

http://members.nbci.com/mmcavoy/







                        Ah, My Goddess!

                     "In Search of a Wish"



                A Fan-fiction by Michael McAvoy





 Living in a house

 Near the Black Forest

 Without any clocks, she's begun

 To listen to the Wolves;

 Her neighbors have clocks,

 Not one, but twenty clocks apiece.



 Listen to the Wolves;

 Wind your watch.

 Poor Love, Poor Love,

 Have they caught you?

 By the pendulum,

 Have they got you stopped?



 Living near any Black Forest,

 She gets by on cups of borrowed Time.



   -- Venessa Daou



   -* Chapter 5 *-



 The glen was old by human and immortal recollection alike.

Born from mortal imagination, men, women, and children had passed

through this glen.  However, no man, woman, or child had ever laid

eyes on the grasses and trees that made up the secluded forest area.  It

was a momentary pause on a journey that started in one world and

ended in the next.



 It had been abandoned and forgotten from most mortal and

immortal memory for some time.



 From deep within the forest, a figure emerged into the glen,

stepping from gray mists that clung to the ground as a child clung to a

mother's skirts.  Sunlight rained down from the middle of the glen,

where outstretched limbs to trees retreated in respect to the power of

the radiating orb above.  No sound was made from under bare feet on

the grass, thick but not overgrown in wildness.



 Stopping in the sunlight, the figure closed his eyes and

listened to the silent echo of song that he imagined he could still

hear.  It trumpeted in his mind with a thousand memories of a time long

past.  He opened his eyes.



 Most of those who once resided here were gone now.  Some

survived still.  None who remained came here any more, letting the

memories of their past slip away in any attempt to dull the loss of an

age lost and gone.



 Moving further into the glen, he came upon a massive tree.

Perhaps not so tall as the other trees of the forest, it was heavy and

thick with limbs that caressed the earth and full of wide, green leaves.

At its mighty base, three roots rose up from the gnarled truck before

piercing the earth again.  The sound of water ran quietly around the

great tree and its roots.



 Each root was watered by a separate spring.  Two springs ran

naturally from the earth, itself, and the third from a simple fountain

well.  The well's waters were clear and sparkling, splashing over the

side of moss covered stones to one of the roots beside it.



 He let his hand dip into the water a bit, feeling the coolness

and life of it.  Then resting both his hands on the mossy stones, he

again closed his eyes and exhaled deeply.  A moment later he stepped

away from the well, awash in his own memories.  Moving away a

discrete distance from the tree, the figure found a comfortable place in

which to sit hidden at the edge of the woods, the tips of his long wings

coming to rest in graceful folds behind him.



 The time was still early, but the wait would not be long.



   * * *





 It had seemed a good idea just a little while earlier to Bonnie.

Not only that, but it had also seemed like the right thing to do.

Rescue a poor soul from the bony clutches of Death, plop down a magical

entrance to Paradise, and discover the nature of her heart's desire.



 But that had been a little while earlier.  Now, just a short time

later, the engineer was fairly tired of the whole thing.  The world they

had entered through the manhole in Shinjuku Station was unlike any

service tunnel or basement she had ever been in.  Absent were the

smooth faces of concrete walls and precisely placed tunnel lights.

Gone were the lengths of cable or steam lines she would have expected

in the underground workings of a train station.



 Instead, Bonnie made her way through a rank and slimy

subterranean passage that seemed to be made out of rough-hewn stone.

The only light that was available was that which glowed faintly from

moss or fungus on the walls.  Hefting a passed out Japanese woman

that Urd had identified as Sayoko, Bonnie slogged with her dead

weight through a thick and cold muck that ran up to her knees.  Her

feet were chilled, and something definitely unpleasant had worked its

way into her boots, where it squished between her toes in a less than

pleasing fashion.



 It did not help that her newly found ward was something less

than a bed of roses, either.  Sayoko, in addition to smelling like a

rank gutter and flopping like a lifeless doll, had already managed to

puke well within splatter range of Bonnie.  While Bonnie's jacket kept

the gastric enhanced alcohol from soaking into her under garments, it

was still another smell to be endured.  The vapors from the acidic

mixture stung at her eyes.



 Bonnie looked ahead and saw Urd slogging through

the dark muck in the passage, grumbling to herself.  The goddess was

more than just a bit put off about Bonnie's decision to drag Sayoko into

their adventure, and having to guide a couple of humans into Asgard

by walking was not improving her mood.



 The American engineer tried to orientate herself to their

distance and direction in Tokyo, but it was obvious to her that as far

as they had walked, they could not possibly be in a city.  For one, the

train station could not have held passages this long, and to get under

the city streets, they would have had to been traveling downhill quite a

bit.  Since entering the dark passage, the way had remained level.



 Something sleek and unfamiliar swam by Bonnie, brushing

up against her leg in the process.  The engineer grit her teeth and

resisted the urge to scream like a little girl.  She was wet, cold, and

something slimy had just dripped into her hair from the low roof of the

passageway.



 "Urd!" she hissed through clenched teeth.  "Where the hell

are we?"



 Urd mumbled something rude as she pushed through the

filthy water of the dark passageway.  Bonnie bristled at the comment

and stopped to shift Sayoko into something of a more comfortable

position.  It was fortunate the Japanese woman was fairly light, else

the task would have been all but impossible.  She thought about trying

to get Urd's attention again, but decided against it.  After all, Urd

was not likely to tell her any more than she already knew.



 They were in a magical tunnel designed for immortals to

guide mortals to Asgard should the need arise.  One thing Bonnie and

Urd both had in common was the vast annoyance that mortals could

not get directly to the immortal realms.  The engineer was still

fantastically mad at the goddess, but still quite a bit bewildered about

her lot in life.



 After all, it was a lot to ask of someone to take a leap of faith

about wishes, immortals, and traveling through television sets.  It was

yet another to drag them through the bowels of nowhere on the way to

Paradise.  All in all, Bonnie felt she was dealing rather well.  No

thanks to her immortal guide, though.



 What seemed like several hours later, though a sense of time

was all but lost on Bonnie, the wind in the passage began to pick up

noticeably.  Soaked to the core, even the semi-conscious Sayoko

shivered from the air gusting over wet clothing.  The passage seemed

to tighten down, forcing Bonnie and Urd to have to crouch just a

bit.  As Urd edged her way forward, up to her waste in slime, Bonnie

looked around edgily at several pairs of red eyes that stared at her and

Sayoko from the chinks and crevices in the walls.  Bonnie shivered

and hefted her dead weight companion forward.



 Struggling to catch up to Urd, the engineer was breathing

heavily.  Bonnie had half-carried, half-floated Sayoko for an unknown

distance, and her arms and legs were aching in pain.  Never once had

beautiful goddess offered a hand or even seemed to care.  Finally

reaching Urd, Bonnie felt the water around her waist and legs starting

to move forward of its own accord.



 "Hey, this gunk's flowing all the sudden," she said to Urd's

back.



 "Yeah, I think we're almost there," the goddess mumbled over her shoulder.



 "We're almost in Paradise?" asked Bonnie with

disappointment.  "Not to be too critical, but if this shit-hole is the

Promised Land, I think I'll take the reincarnation option on Earth

when I die."



 "As long as I don't have to grant you a wish in that life, too,"

Urd retorted, but without much enthusiasm.  "This isn't Asgard,

anyway.  But the climb up to it is just ahead, I think."



 "Climb?" echoed Bonnie without getting an answer.



 Urd moved forward again as Bonnie got a better grip on

Sayoko.  The wasted women made a little groaning noise, and for a

moment Bonnie thought she was going to dry-heave again.  All her

life, Bonnie had never seen anyone throw up as much alcohol as

Sayoko.  For her part, Sayoko quieted back down.



 Bonnie dragged her charge forward again after Urd.  It was

not too much longer that the watery sludge began to move faster and

faster around their legs.  As they moved on, the water's speed

increased, while the passageway stream became shallower.  No longer

being able to take advantage of the buoyant nature of the water,

Bonnie was forced to shoulder more of Sayoko's weight, until she was

carrying the woman completely.  There was a rushing sound ahead of

her that eventually grew into a loud roar.



 Struggling ahead through a fine mist, Bonnie once again

made her way up to Urd.  Where the goddess was staring, water

seemed to be streaming from the ceiling.  At the same time, the

rushing stream around their ankles was disappearing into the floor.

Across a roughly circular hole in the ceiling and floor of the

passageway, not more than 3 feet across, there was a rough wall.  It

was obvious going forward was no longer an option.  The echoing

nature of the roaring water was not quite deafening, but Bonnie still

had to shout to be heard.



 "What do we do now?" she yelled.



 Urd turned to look at her, every inch a drowned rat.  Her

magnificent hair was plastered to her face, and her already revealing

clothes clung to her body in a manner that under normal

circumstances would have been shocking or fairly interesting,

depending on the viewer's perspective.



 "We go up!" the goddess yelled back.  "We're in an old well!

At the top, it lets you out in Asgard!"



 Bonnie brushed the streaming, cold water out of her face.

"What's at the bottom?"



 Urd shook her head.  "It goes to Hell, I think!" she said

loudly.  "If you fall, I'm not coming after you!  I can levitate myself

and viper-girl up, but unless you want to sit here, you're going to have

to climb!"



 Dropping Sayoko gently in the rushing stream of shallow

water, Bonnie gave Urd an incredulous look.



 "You mean I'm gonna have to climb up this well on my

own?" she demanded.



 Urd shrugged.  "What's the big deal?  I thought Belldandy

said in your file that you were a climber or something?  This should be

easy!"



 Bonnie shook her head vigorously, water slinging from her

hair.  "I haven't gone climbing or caving in three years!" she shouted

over the roar.  "And I'm dead tired from lugging Sayoko around!  This

water coming from up there is also a lot colder than what we've been

wading in!  Without a wetsuit, I'll go hypothermic in no time at all!

Can't you levitate me, too?"



 Urd made a sour face.  "Yeah, but I thought that'd be a lot

more work for me!"



 The engineer stared hard at the goddess for several moments.

Urd finally sighed.



 "Okay, whatever!" the goddess yelled.  "Have it your way!

Grab onto the snake and try not to move around a lot!"



 As Bonnie did as she was instructed, grabbing on tightly to

Sayoko, Urd closed her eyes and mouthed something too quiet to be

heard over the roaring water.  The goddess began to glow with a

brilliant sheen that almost hurt Bonnie's dark-acclimated eyes.

Without warning, Bonnie felt her feet come up off the ground as she

and Sayoko rose just a little bit.  Stumbling in panic, the engineer

latched down hard on Sayoko.



 "Relax!" yelled Urd.  "Stop struggling!"



 Reluctantly, Bonnie did as she was told.  Not releasing her

near death grip on Sayoko, Bonnie held her breath as Urd lifted up off

the tunnel floor and moved over the dark abyss.  Through some force

Bonnie could not feel, the goddess tugged her two passengers along

and began to rise into the hole in the ceiling.  As Bonnie and Sayoko

drifted over the dark hole, Bonnie could not help but look down.

Fortunately, it was like the caves she had been in during college,

where it was so dark you could not see more than a few feet, even if

the hole dropped all the way to Hell.  At least there were no flames

down there.



 Rising up after Urd, Bonnie and Sayoko were inundated with

the cold water that streamed down from the darkness above.  It was

not a deluge, but it was steady enough to soak Sayoko immediately.

Bonnie's jacket was repelling most of the water from her torso, but

some of it was getting around her collar and chilling her neck.   As the

tightly confined stone walls of the well slipped past, Bonnie knew that

the water would sooner or later penetrate her jacket if they were in

this too long.  She drew Sayoko in tighter to help the poor woman keep

body heat, shielding her as best she could.  There was not much room

to move, however.



 Their progress was excruciatingly slow.  Bonnie risked

looking up to see if Urd could hurry, but was promptly blinded by

falling water.  Coughing and sputtering violently, she ducked her head

forward and held on to Sayoko.  Her exposed hands and jean-

soaked legs were already quite cold.



 "Urd!" she yelled as loudly as she could.  "If you don't hurry,

we're going to go hypothermic!  That's a BAD thing!"



 Up above them, Urd grunted in annoyance.  Mortals were

such a pain, she grimaced.  Aside from the inconvenience of being

soaked, Urd did not really notice the temperature of the water.

Immortals were made of sterner stuff and more resilient, when not cut

off from the Ultimate Force, of course.  Nevertheless, Urd concentrated

and sped up their progress a bit more.  It was one thing for an

immortal to ascend in a tight squeeze, since they had the natural

ability to avoid running into things.  However, her lateral control was

not as precise with Bonnie and Sayoko.  If she rose to fast, she risked

bouncing the mortals off the stone walls, many of which might knock

them right out of consciousness.  As tempting as that thought was...



 Time seemed to drag forever, and Bonnie was very cold.

Despite her best efforts, Sayoko was shivering almost violently, the

water pulling her body heat away.  Bonnie was not in much

better shape, but it was obvious that at least they were ascending a

little faster through the dark well.  She found that it was easier to

close her eyes and not concentrate on the stones that were sliding past

their bodies, only inches away.



 A different kind of shiver went through Bonnie as they were

rising.  The air on her face that went rushing by seemed to be different

somehow.  There was a hint of freshness to it that had not been there

before.  Bonnie was hesitant to believe it at first, but her imagination

also seemed to say that it was the slightest shade warmer.  At the same

time, however, the water streaming down seemed to be getting

heavier.  In fact, frighteningly heavier.



 "U-urd!" Bonnie chattered as loudly as she could.  "The

water!"



 "Yeah! I know!" Urd's voice shouted back down.  "I think

we're reaching near the top!  You might have to hold--!"



 Urd voice was suddenly cut off as the water streamed in ever-

greater torrents.  Yelling back up at Urd through the roar, Bonnie

opened her mouth only to get it filled completely with water.  It was as

if they had just entered a surface of water from the underside, and

quite hard.  The force of hitting the water stunned Bonnie, and she

swallowed a fair amount it as she gasped for air that was no longer

present.  Fear ripped at Bonnie hard as she panicked at the unexpected

lack of air.  Forgetting Sayoko completely, she let go and flailed, but

nothing could stop their upward motion.  Bonnie thought her lungs

were going to burst.



 With an explosion of water, Bonnie and Sayoko were ejected

into the air.  The sudden brightness was dazzling to Bonnie, and she

could not open her eyes.  Coughing and gasping for air, she struggled

for breath, only to be deposited on the ground roughly.  Doubly

insulted by having the breath knocked out of her by the impact, Bonnie

curled up in a warm patch of grass and heaved violently, calling out

with distress between coughs.



 "Welcome to Paradise," Urd grumped, ignoring Bonnie's

upset and somewhat vulgar cry of dismay.



 Urd paused and looked around the small meadow.  To the

best of her knowledge, she had not been here before, though part of the

goddess seemed to think the place was familiar.  The well they had

come out of was old, moss covered, with many unfamiliar designs on

it.  And yet, Urd thought she had seen them before as well.  Thinking

about it made her frown and restless in a way she was not too certain

of.  The tree that sat beside the well looked damn familiar, too.



 "Hell with it," Urd complained, walking away from the well

and the two humans.  Snapping her fingers absently, Urd gathered

power and surrounded herself with it.  Instantly, in a small flash of

light, the wet clothes she had been wearing were replaced with fresh

ones.  Her hair and body, which had been drenched, were perfect once

again.



 In one hand was a glass.  In the other was a flask.

Wandering off a short distance, for reasons she did not care to explore,

Urd sat down and began to steadily drink.



 On the other side of the well, Bonnie lay on the warm grass,

coughing and looking up through water filled eyes.  Her breath had

come back to her, and the coughing subsided.  Tired, worn out, and

wet, Bonnie was able to take some little stock of what was above her

after she rolled over on her back.  The sky was a brilliant color, the

upper branches of lush trees ringing the edges of her vision, swaying

softly in a wind she could not discern.  The engineer was very still for

quite a while, her eyes growing heavy as the minutes dripped past.



 "Well, that was grim," she finally said to no one in particular,

before easing off to sleep.



 Had someone told Bonnie before yesterday that the one thing

she would want to do more than anything if given the chance to go to

Paradise was take a nap, she would have said they were nuts.



   * * *





 Skuld firmly believed she did not get angry in any sense of

the word, ever.



 She would be the first to grudgingly admit, after having numerous

people point it out, of course, that maybe she did lose her

temper on an infrequent basis.  The young Norn goddess might even

go so far to acknowledge that she instigated some of the numerous

catfights she and her sister Urd got into.  And if the stars and planets

were all in alignment, Skuld could be heard underneath her breath

muttering that maybe it was not Keiichi's fault for being attacked by

whatever latest Banpai sentry she had built.  But goddesses of Skuld's

caliber and talent, according to her reasoning, were above getting angry

and losing their temper.  Without question.



 Nevertheless, Skuld was pissed.



 Bent.  Vehemently irate.  Ticked.  These did not even begin

to describe her state.



 "Goddess First Class?" she almost screamed.



 Keiichi looked around apprehensively as several dishes and

other items in the temple house rattled at the strength and pitch of the

young goddess's voice.  His wife and beloved Belldandy sat patiently

with her hands in her lap and watched as her younger sister lost it

completely.  It was early in the morning with the sun having just come

up, and Urd and her mortal charge had only departed late the night

before.



 Skuld continued a tirade that included comparing Urd's competence

as a goddess to everything from cat litter to imitation

processed cheese.  The youngest of the three goddess sisters was

finally outgrowing her adolescent years and now had the features of a

young adult.  Belldandy noted with some distress that her younger

sister was still prone to un-adult-like outbursts.  Keiichi referred to

them as downright bratty.



 "How could the Almighty give HER a higher rating than

ME?" demanded Skuld to the ceiling, shaking her fists mightily in the

general direction of Paradise.



 "Now, Skuld," Belldandy tried to calm her sister down.  "It's

just temporary until Urd can complete her assign--"



 "Assignment?" screeched the goddess.  "Urd couldn't

complete a fragment of Yggdrasil source code if she had it stamped on

her face, much less an assignment for a mortal wish!"



 Normally, Keiichi would have kept silent during one of

Skuld's tirades, not wishing to bring the mecha-freak goddess's

wrath down on his head.  But a lot had changed since he and

Belldandy had been married, and Keiichi felt their household deserved

a break.  Actually getting though the marriage without losing his

sanity, health, and not to mention Belldandy to another god had been

more than enough to last a lifetime.  With all of that behind them,

Keiichi felt their lives needed a break from constant interruptions and

explosions from Skuld.



 "Still, Skuld," he spoke up, drawing her attention to him.  "It

was the Almighty's decision to make.  Don't you think He knows what

He's doing?"



 Skuld lanced a wicked glare that made Keiichi nervous, but

he held her gaze nonetheless.  After marrying Belldandy, Skuld and

Urd had more or less moved out.  Urd because she understood

Belldandy's need to be alone with Keiichi, and Skuld because the idea of

being in the same house where her sister was having sex was more

than her immature mind was able to handle.  Besides, the Almighty

had recalled them both back to Paradise as Yggdrasil needed

maintenance and the Goddess Relief Office was noticeably

understaffed.



 The youngest of the Norn sisters took a deep breath and

prepared to start a massive windup at Keiichi, despite a warning frown

from Belldandy, but was suddenly interrupted.  Streaking from an

adjacent room, Skuld was abruptly grabbed by a young woman in a

wet suit.  She had short brown hair that flew around her face, a

disturbingly innocent expression, and a flowing set of working wings

that sprouted from her shoulder blades.



 "Ohmygod, Skuld, youhavetocomeseethis!" she exclaimed

excitedly, yanking the goddess up off the floor and dragging her along

into the next room.  "There are creatures and pictures in this box-

thingy that move around and speak!"



 Taken off guard, Skuld was hauled away from Belldandy and

Keiichi, barely able to squawk in protest.  Keiichi sighed in relief and

slumped his shoulders.



 "Things haven't been this loud in a long time," he noted.



 "I'm sorry Keiichi-san," Belldandy apologized automatically.



 "It's okay, Bell-chan," he replied.  "I more or less expected

this outburst from Skuld.  Glad your friend was able to interrupt

Skuld, though."



 "April has that effect on a lot of immortals," the goddess

confessed.  "She has a natural way of defusing anger."



 Keiichi nodded and looking into the other room.  April all but

had Skuld in a headlock, pointing excitedly at a television.  The news

was on, and replays of April and Belldandy's 'interview' were being

broadcast on CNNN.  Keiichi watched as the angel's massive wings

managed to just avoid hitting everything in the room.



 "I can't get over how her wings never knock anything over,"

he observed.  "Still, her wings sure look better after you healed them,

Bell.  With all those broken feathers fixed, they really look nice."



 Belldandy crossed her arms and did the best job she had ever

of looking mad.  "I'm not sure that I like you admiring

another set of wings that aren't mine," she told him point blank.



 Predictably, Keiichi began stammering and stuttering, trying

to find a way of taking back any hint of admiring April's wings too

much.  Letting him squirm for just a few moments more, Belldandy

relaxed her features into a mischievous smile.  Leaning over and

wrapping her arms around him, she whispered into his ear.



 "Don't worry, my Keiichi-san," she said.  "I'll give you the

chance to admire my wings later sufficiently to make up for it."



 Keiichi felt himself weak at the knees and lightheaded.  It

was always a whirlwind being married to a goddess.



   * * *





 It did not take long for Bonnie to get pissed off after waking

up from a halfway decent nap.  While she had dried off in the warm

air and sunshine somewhat, her mortal companion was still sleeping it

off.  To Bonnie's great annoyance, she discovered her immortal guide

had done just the opposite and downed three entire flasks of something

that smelled very strong.  With a slack smile plastered on her features,

Urd lay face down in the grass, totally smashed.



 Bonnie sighed and rubbed her head.  Despite the nap, she felt

completely wiped out.  Still, the engineer took stock of the world

around her.  The well and giant tree were the center of the meadow, and

the well bubbled over merrily.  The waters ran out of the meadow in a

twinkling stream and disappeared into the dark forests.  Bonnie explored

the meadow for a little while but found little of interest, which

disappointed her expectations of Paradise.  After a while, she tried

exploring the edge of the woods around the meadow, but each time she got

close, some unseen force gently prevented her from moving forward.  The

harder she pushed at it, the more firmly it kept her at bay.  Growing

more frustrated by the minute, Bonnie finally stepped back and drove her

fingers through the hair at the sides of her head.



 "Just what the hell kinda place is this?" she almost screamed.



 "An old place," a voice said from somewhere behind her.



 Bonnie whipped around, half-startled.  A little gasp worked

its way out of her, fading in a small choking sound.  Before her was a

man.



 A man with a pair of incredibly long wings.



 "But certainly not Hell," he assured her.  "Though once upon

a time you could get there from here."



 Bonnie stood in mute amazement, drinking in the site of the

angel she saw.  He was tall, but not overly so, with wavy brown hair

and green eyes.  Dressed in soft colored clothing of no particular

fashion, missing were the stereo-typical robes and halos and harps and

divine light and...



 "Michael," the angel said.



 "Wha-wha, huh, wha?" chattered the dazed engineer.



 "My name," he repeated with a smile.  "Michael."



 Knees went from weak to wobbly, and Bonnie plopped to the

ground more or less like a wet noodle.  Hyperventilating, a peculiar

mixture of excitement and nausea crossed her face.



 "Y-you mean, *the* Michael?" she quivered.



 Michael smiled.  "What?  They still talk about me down there

after all this time?" he joked lightly.



 "Holy s-shit!" Bonnie swore loudly.  "No-no!  WAIT!  I

didn't mean that!  I'm sorry!  Oh, Christ!!  No-no! WAIT!  I didn't

mean that either!!  Oh damn, oh damn!"



 The angel appeared fantastically non-pulsed by Bonnie

coming unglued.  Little did Bonnie know, but most immortals had

gone through mortal breakdowns more often than they cared to

remember.  Michael tried to be a little more understanding than most

immortals, however.  Gathering his wings carefully behind him, he sat

down a scant few feet from the panicking Bonnie.



 "Tea?" he asked, more or less gently forcing a cup into her

trembling hands.



 Slowly taking the cup up to her lips, Bonnie gulped quite a

fair amount.  Swallowing hard, her face puckered like a prune.

Coughing and hacking, Bonnie made a face any ogre would have been

proud of.



 "That's awful!" she complained in horror.



 Michael nodded in apology.  "Yes, it is," he agreed.  "Try it

again."



 Bonnie looked half-frightened and half-suspicious.



 "It's really quite good," assured the angel, taking a sip from

his own cup.



 Looking down at the steaming beverage in her hands, Bonnie

examined cautiously.  The cup was plain, but very beautiful at the

same time.  It was one of those things that tickled the back of her

awareness for no particular reason.  A quick glance out of the corner

of Bonnie's eye revealed Michael pleasantly observing something or

other in the distance, while taking another drink from his cup.  It was

a real challenge not to become fixated on his wings.  Instead, Bonnie

slowly lifted her tea, sniffed it just a bit, and took a small quaff.



 Soothing her mouth in a perfect combination of sweet and

bitter, the tea dribbled down the back of her throat.  It tasted nothing

like before.  Closing her eyes, the small of Bonnie's back arched just a

tad in slow delight.  It was like drinking...



 "Home," Bonnie breathed, turning to look at Michael in

content puzzlement.



 The angel smiled a little.  "Once upon a time, I shared a cup

of tea with mortals quite often," he relied.  "I think your description

of this immortal brew is the most accurate I've ever heard... though

it's hard to say.  I believe mortals taste things differently than we

do.  At any rate, it looks like you are no longer nervous about being in

my presence."



 Bonnie shifted her bare feet in the grass, looking down.

There was a growing look of conflict and guilt on her face.



 Michael shook his head knowingly.  "Do not worry about it,"

he said.



 "H-how do you know what---oh," she said.  "Right, reading

my thoughts."



 "Forgive me."



 "No problem," answered Bonnie almost glibly.  "I'm getting

used to it with her."



 Bonnie nodded off in the direction of a passed out Urd.



 "But..." she continued slowly.  "I mean, this is kind of a

shock, I guess.  I mean, I've never been religious, and then blamo,

here is proof sitting in front of me that I should have gone to church!"



 "Why?" the angel asked.



 "W-well," she stammered a little.  "Isn't it obvious?  I mean,

I am guessing that the rest of those angels and everything else in the

Bible must be real, right?  So, having not believed in all that, I would

guess I'm sorta... you know... up a creek?"



 Michael looked up into the sky thoughtfully.  "How is it

mortals put it these days?" he pondered out loud.  "Don't believe

everything you read?"



 Bonnie blinked.



 "What I mean, Bonnie," he explained, "is that just because

you aren't Christian doesn't mean you are out of favor with Him.

Being Christian doesn't mean you ARE in His favor. There are a lot

of other religions out there, a lot of them older than Christianity.

Does my existence invalidate the rest of those religions?  Not in the

least."



 There was a look of knowing in Bonnie's expression.



 "I think you see this already," Michael acknowledged.  "I

think you can remember when you were eight, and you came to the

conclusion that the 'devout' children in your neighborhood wouldn't

have been so into the righteousness of their belief had they been born

to a culture with a different set of religious ideals.  There is

complete truth in that."



 "I can, actually," relied Bonnie in wonderment.  "Those kids

told me I was going to Hell for not going to church...  You are a real

archangel, but who is right? I mean, if not Christianity-"



 "Or the Jewish faith for that matter," he interjected.

"Remember, I am a product to two divergent cultures."



 "Yeah," murmured Bonnie.  "So which one should I be... I

mean, which one is... right?"



 Michael shook his head.



 "It doesn't quite work like that," he explained.  "Every

immortal is borne of a common belief generated by mortals, if that

belief lasts long enough.  Myself, the other angels, Urd and the Norns,

and every other immortal came into existence after their particular

religions had already been formed."



 "And those religions?" queried the engineer, leaning towards

the angel slightly.



 "Your kind came up with them all on their own," he said.

"Perhaps it's more accurate to say that the Almighty instilled in

mortals a sense that He should exist, but the details were all created

in the minds of your kind."



 "So we humans create you?" Bonnie gaped.  "For real?"



 "More or less," Michael agreed.  "I'm sure He has a bit of a

hand in it as well."



 "Astounding," Bonnie whispered.



 "And your next question will be, why doesn't He do

something about the way things are down there?" offered the angel.



 "Well..." thought Bonnie, "okay, sure, why not?  Why does the

Almighty allow suffering and pain and evil?"



 "Why do mortals allow suffering, pain, and evil?" countered

Michael.



 "Uh... I guess... we're not good enough to do better."



 Michael crossed his arms and scratched his chin absently,

looking thoughtful.



 "Perhaps humans just do what is natural?" he offered.



 Bonnie nodded.  "Sometimes I think that.  I mean, I've never

bought into the whole thing about being good all the time, or that there

is a devil tempting people... oh wait, is there?"



 The angel looked apologetic.  "Afraid so, but not exactly in

the way you and other mortals imagine.  Immortals either serve the

Almighty or the Dark Lord, and we are locked in a constant battle

with the dark immortals to prevent Armageddon.  It is during these

matches of wit or strength that mortals sometimes get swept in and

motivated to great or evil deeds."



 "And the rest of the time?"  asked Bonnie.



 "The rest of the time mortals motivate themselves into the

fires of great good or great evil... or great apathy."



 Bonnie slumped a little.  "Into the fires on our own..."



 Michael looked archly at the human.  "You are disappointed?

Even surprised?"



 She shook her head.  "No..." she replied.  "I've always

thought our actions come from within... maybe I was just hoping for

our sake that some big devil was the cause of all of our problems."



 "Once upon a time, not so long ago, we were all on the mortal

plane frequently," the angel said.  "We interacted more with mortals,

whispered to them, marveled at their life and their devotion to us.

Horrified at the evil and suffering they imposed upon their own kind...

but at the same time, it was no less barbaric than some of the greatest

immortal battles."



 "Are you a reflection of us?" asked Bonnie in wonderment.



 "Perhaps..."



 "This is all too much to think about," Bonnie said, putting

her hands to her temples.



 "At least you don't have to feel bad about being who you are,

or let other people make you feel bad."



 "There is that," Bonnie smiled.  "Not that I have really ever

let people do that."



 Michael nodded in agreement.  Stretching one of his legs, he

moved his left foot around a bit as if getting the circulation back in

it.  The whole effort looked almost comical, considering that the notion

of angels having to regain circulation bordered on the fantastical.  The

angel noticed Bonnie's staring and paused his efforts.



 "You have a second question," he noted.



 Bonnie really began to look apprehensive and turned her eyes

away.  She was wondering exactly how much Michael was gleaning

from her mind.



 "Only what you let me," Michael responded, wings flowing

just a bit.  "And to answer your unspoken question, you may not see

them."



 Bonnie sat up straight with an unhappy look.  "But why not?"

she demanded.  "I mean, they're here somewhere, right?  In Heaven?"



 As Michael sat impassively, an awful dread poured over

Bonnie's face.



 "My parents," she faltered.  "They're not in... are they?"



 The angel sighed and shook his head.  "No, they are not in

Hell," he replied.  "Nor are they in Limbo or any other immortal

realm that I am aware of."



 "So where?" demanded Bonnie almost angrily, the corner of

her eyes moist.  "Where are they?  Don't people go to Heaven or Hell

when they die?"



 "Some do," Michael said softly.  "They go there or some of

the other realms not of Earth.  The Almighty has not revealed why, but

those souls that brought into the immortal realms are somehow

important to the balance that keeps Armageddon at bay.  These souls

may eventually be sent back to Earth in another life, usually with no

memory of anything before."



 Bonnie sniffed, wiping her nose with a sleeve.  "And those

who don't get brought here," she pushed.  "What happens to them?"



 "Those mortals, such as your parents," he started to say.  "In

truth, Bonnie, I do not know the answer to that.  Only He knows, and

that is a mystery He has chosen not to reveal to us."



 A woozy look came over the human's face, her eyes glazing

over a bit in sadness and disappointment.  The angel's expression

softened as he leaned forward and touched the side of Bonnie's face.

Bonnie felt a warm sensation spread down her features from his touch,

calming her nerves.



 "Have a brave heart, Bonnie," Michael said, stroking her

cheek.  "It has been lonely and tough for you, I know, but it will not

always be so."



 Bonnie's every muscle wanted to melt at that moment.  The

intoxicating proximity of the angel pulled at her with an incredible

intensity, making her ache.  She desired nothing more than for

Michael to envelop her with his wings and protect her forever in a

blissful fantasy.  Michael could sense this, as it was a reaction he had

gotten from countless mortals over ages past.  It made him sad for

mortals, that they were in such dire need for comfort and happiness in

their lives, but there was little to be done for it.



 "Come now," Michael finally spoke, releasing his hold on

Bonnie.  "I would like you to meet someone."



 Bonnie looked up with longing at the angel, finding the

absence of his touch a withdrawal unlike any drug she could ever

imagine.  Slowly turning her head from side to side around the

clearing, she tried to see whom Michael might be referring to, but the

only two she saw were Urd and Sayoko still passed out in the green

grass.  Without warning, there was a flash of gold right in Bonnie's

face.  Feeling a heavy weight suddenly on her chest, she was pushed

over onto her back with a cry.



 Peeling one eye open with a half-frightened expression,

Bonnie peered upwards at the creature that was now sitting on her.  It

was furry, with large paws, whiskers, tufted ears, and very sharp teeth.



 "L-l-l-" she stammered.



 "Lion, yes," smiled Michael pleasantly.  "Lion cub, to be

more precise."



 The cub, its full attention on Bonnie, was busy sniffing her

face like she was its next meal.  Bonnie had her hands partially up off

the grass in near panic.



 "He's just getting to know you," the archangel assured the

mortal engineer, whiles patting the cub on the head.  "You're the first

mortal he's ever met."



 "The p-pleasure's all his, I'm sure," Bonnie croaked.  "And

he's your friend?"



 The angel nodded.  "Indeed," Michael replied.  "He's a very

young immortal, just brought into existence, and I'm raising him.  As

a matter of fact, that's more or less been my job with many of the

newest immortals the past few centuries.  Apparently, He thinks I

make a fairly decent nursemaid."



 Bonnie looked up at the angel, trying to decide if he was

pulling her leg or not.  The lion cub, satisfied with his inspection of

Bonnie, continued to sit on her chest without much in the way of

concern.



 "Um, great," she finally replied.  "Does he, uh, you know,

have a name?"



 Michael nodded and looked at the cub for a moment.  The cub

shook its head with a deep little growl and then sniffed.  Yawning a

bit, he then stepped off of Bonnie's chest onto the grass with a heavy

plod of his paws.  Meandering a ways away, he began a rather noisy

inspection of the unconscious Urd.  Bonnie watched in fascination.



 "I'm afraid he thinks you're not ready to know his name yet,"

Michael answered apologetically.



 "Not ready?" she blinked.



 Michael shook his head.  "Do not worry about it, Bonnie.  He

is confident that when the time comes during your journey, you will

know what to call him."



 The cub was now busy licking Urd's face, rocking her head

slightly with each rough tongued pass.



 "My journey," Bonnie repeated.  "You mean... he's joining

us?"



 "I'm afraid so," Michael smiled apologetically.  "He's at the

age where curiosity often runs him to distraction."



 There was a muffled groan from Sayoko, drawing both

Bonnie and the angel's attention.  Shifting weakly in the luxurious

meadow grasses, the smashed woman lifted her head blearily.  There

was something unpleasant where her mouth had been laying.



 "Lovely," muttered Bonnie.  "I was wondering if she was ever

going to come around."



 The lion cub turned his attention away from Urd and plodded

over towards Sayoko, who was still moving like a dying fish.  Stopping

just short of the human, the cub jerked his head back suddenly with a

pinched looked on his features.



 "I'm afraid your friend's aroma disagrees with our little lion,"

Michael remarked.



 There was a disgruntled growl from the cub.



 "My apologies, of course," the angel answered seriously.



 "Something wrong?" asked a puzzled Bonnie.



 The angel's wings shifted.  "He doesn't like being called

little," he whispered in a conspiratorial tone.  "Even so, his other

point is well taken; there is quite a darkness following your friend's

spirit."



 "She's not my friend," Bonnie sniffed.  "I just dragged her

along because I think I need her for something.  But, you could be

right about the darkness thing... I think she was trying to commit

suicide when Urd and I bumped into her at the train station."



 Michael stood up slowly and dusted his hands off, despite the

fact there did not seem to be any dust anywhere to be seen.  He moved

away from Bonnie and kneeled down beside Sayoko.



 "This one has been trying to end her life for some time, I

fear," he said.  "But in the end, poisoning her own body wasn't quick

enough, or so it would seem..."



 Outstretching his hands, the archangel concentrated and

whispered something that Bonnie could not make any sense out of.

>From Michael's outstretched fingers, a light shone quickly for a

moment, and then was gone.  Lying on the grass, Sayoko began to

move a little in a slow fashion.  Bonnie was amazed to see that all

traces of whatever the Japanese woman had sicked up were gone

completely.  In fact, Sayoko's face and clothes were clean and totally

fresh, the holes in her stockings mended, and delicate shoes

mysteriously covered her feet.  Michael nodded a touch and stood up

slowly.



 "She should feel better when she wakes up in a few minutes,"

he mentioned to Bonnie.  "I have blocked away the addiction Sayoko

has for alcohol, but it is only temporary.  In time, the impulse to

drink will return to her."



 "Good, because I think we need her... for something," replied

Bonnie.



 "Perhaps," Michael shrugged.  "I feel I should warn you that

your intervention upon Sayoko's behalf with Thanatos, while

admirable and brave, has not endeared you to him.  Be wary, for he is

an immortal very much living in the old ways from thousands of years

ago.  I fear he will seek Sayoko again."



 Bonnie could only nod.  It was just something else to put up

on the list of things way to fantastical to worry about at the moment.

So much had happened in such a short time, she was almost certain she

had been in her townhouse back in Alexandria not five minutes before.

At least it seemed that way.  And as Bonnie thought more about it, she

had hardly questioned anything at all, blindly following Urd with little

more than a half-hearted protest from time to time.



 "I believe that is referred to as faith, if you'll pardon my

reading you thoughts again," agreed Michael.  "But come, this is not

the real reason I am here.  It seems we have a common friend in a

Norn named Belldandy.  She is why I am here."



 "You're here because of Belldandy?" she asked.



 "Quite so," he replied.  "I raised Belldandy, Urd, and their

sister Skuld in their recent reincarnation.  Because of that, I have

quite a close relationship with all three, and I enjoy aiding them

whenever possible.  Belldandy asked that I investigate the second soul

you seem to be carrying, that is if you'll allow me to do so."



 Bonnie simply nodded.  "This has something to do with my

wish, right?"



 "I would think so," agreed Michael.  "Though to be honest, I

can not say for certain."



 "Well, I guess it would be something of a relief to know a

little bit more about this other soul I'm supposedly carrying around in

me," she admitted.



 There was a rustling sound as Sayoko managed to push

herself up into a sitting position not far away.  The little lion cub

was sitting in front of the Japanese woman with just a touch of  interest.



 Michael stood up, his magnificent wings rippling softly.

Bonnie was again mesmerized by how fluid and natural they looked on

the back of a human figure.



 "Let us attend to your newfound friend," the angel offered.  "I

believe the two of you have yet to be properly introduced, and she will

be just a bit confused, would you not agree?"



 Bonnie could only shake her head, her short brown hair

tumbling into her face.



 There was a smile on the angel's features.  "We'll deal with

Sayoko, then see to this small matter of your tag-along soul."



 The angel the moved over to the wide-eyed Sayoko.  With a

disinterested and gruff growl, the lion cub moved off to explore

something more interesting.



 Rubbing her eyes wearily, Bonnie wandered over to introduce

herself to the once-drunk Japanese woman.



   * * *





 Somewhere in the shopping district of Hell, Nagle the

Daemon stepped out of a Radio Shock store with a satisfied look on his

face.  Looking at a device in his hand, he adjusted the digital display

on his demon finder.  It was like a GPS that could be personalized for

tracking other immortals throughout the various realms.

Inside the little device was a mini-tracking demon that Nagle could

tune in to any demon he desired.  And right now, that demon was

Mara.



 Nagle fiddled with the gadget for a few moments, ignoring a

pair of drunk mortals who staggered by, using their weekend furlow

from damnation to further delve into vice.  After all, it was not like

being good during their brief respite from damnation was going to

make their stay for eternity in Hell any shorter, so why bother?



 Twiddling with the demon tracker, Nagle finally got the

result he was looking for.  On the digital display, a rather wicked

looking mini-demon pointed in a direction off to Nagle's left.  Not

showing any distance, the daemon had no idea how far he would have

to travel, but at least he had a guide.  With a greasy smile, he headed

off in the direction the tracking device was pointing, shoving past a

couple of tourist demons from the second level of Hell.



 'Promotion, here I come!' he though eagerly to himself.



   * * *



 Bonnie felt nothing during the entire time the angel, Michael,

delved into her very being.  The only sensation she could discern was

the pleasant touch of his fingertips to her temples.  It was a touch

Bonnie would later admit to herself could have gone on forever if she

had been allowed any say in the matter.



 For his part, the angel's features grew drawn and troubled the

longer he explored the nature of the second soul residing within

Bonnie.  His eyes closed and drawing on the magical powers endowed

to him, Michael sought to coax the mysterious soul's truth out into the

light.  Sitting off a short distance, Sayoko and the lion cub were

silent.  They both watched for what seemed endless moments, until

Michael very slowly removed his fingertips from Bonnie and opened his

eyes.



 Michael looked tired as his features slowly fell.  There was a

terrible sadness in his wonderful eyes that seemed to reach from across

years that a mortal could not begin to understand.  Bonnie and Sayoko

watched in fascination, wondering what was going on.  Off to one side

of the immortal meadow, the lion cub watched without expression.

The angel turned away from the humans and let his eyes fall on the

sleeping Urd.



 "I understand now," murmured Michael.  "I see why you are

all brought together."



 "Please, sir," entreated Sayoko gently.  "Please tell us what is

wrong."



 "Yes," agreed a still shaken Bonnie.  "What d-did you see

inside me?"



 The angel gathered himself.  "I saw a soul," he replied

slowly.  "A soul that seeks a right to an immortal injustice so

horrible, it drowns the spirit to even remember it."



 "An injustice?" whispered Bonnie.  "What kind of injustice?"



 "An injustice twofold," Michael answered.  "Of mortal

against mortal, and immortal against immortal.  You see, hundreds of

years ago, in what you would call the Middle Ages, it was still common

for immortals to walk amongst you on Earth."



 Michael drew himself up straight, and half folded his wings

around him for warmth, even though the immortal meadow was quite

comfortable.  The chill of memory made him cold.



 "We walked amongst you, and wondered at your lives," he

said.  "We spoke to you as visions and as oracles.  Some of us even

interacted directly with mortals, which set the stage for the tragedy of

the soul within you."



 Overhead, through openings in the thick tree canopy, clouds began

to form rapidly, darkening.



 "There was an angel," continued Michael.  "He let himself be

seen by a simple young woman, a poor peasant in mortal society.  In

her happiness, she let others know of her visitations with the angel.

To her horror the ruling religious class of the time tortured and burned

her alive for what they called heresy."



 Bonnie and Sayoko sat in enthralled silence, not noticing the

darkening immortal skies.



 The angel plowed on, eyes fixed nowhere in particular.

"They burned her alive, and the angel was not there to save her.

When he found out, a great sadness overcame him.  Withering in

despair, his wings darkened to a sickly gray.  The despair hung about

him like chains, dragging him to the depths of Hell."



 Sayoko now looked grim, her eyes narrowing.  Bonnie put a

hand to her breast and felt her heart hammering.  There was

something familiar to this story, like she had heard it before, but

could not remember any part of it clearly.  The forest meadow was now

very dark and the trees shook in agitation.  Bonnie felt a heavy nudge

against her arm as the lion cub pushed his sizable form into her lap.



 "A fallen angel?" whispered Bonnie.



 "Indeed, dearest," nodded Michael, his robes swaying in the

wind.  "Captured by the chief executive of Hell, Lucifer, and doomed

to endless torture and torment in the domain of the Dark Lord."



 The blackened immortal skies culminated in a savage

thunderclap, as the entire forest seemed to sigh and moan in grief.

After several moments of this, the wind died down and the forests fell

silent.  Overhead, the skies began to slowly thin.



 Michael looked directly at the two women.  "To speak of this

terrible event," he said unhappily, "brings about just such a reaction

in our immortal realm.  Every time, an evil reaction in our skies.  As

such, almost all of the immortals have driven the fate of our brother

angel from their minds completely."



 Bonnie wrapped her arms around the cub protectively,

eliciting a small growl.



 "And this woman who was burned," she said incredulously.

"This woman's soul... is inside me?"



 "The very same, Bonnie," Michael replied.



 "Well, what... what does this have to do with my wish?" she

demanded with an edge of hysteria in her voice.  "And why is she in

ME?"



 "I do not know," said Michael.  "But I can only think the

Almighty has chosen you to help right this injustice.  That the

Ultimate Force sent Urd to guide you strengthens my feelings in this

matter."



 "Ultimate Force? Guide me?" demanded Bonnie.  "Urd?

You're kidding!  She hasn't done anything at all except to drag me all

over the damn place, half the time drunk!  How can she possible guide

me?"



 Sayoko thoughtfully put a finger to her chin.  "Now that you

mention it," she said.  "Urd is quite a drinker... almost as bad as..."



 Not finishing her sentence, Sayoko instead became deeply

troubled, turning away from Bonnie and Michael.  The angel shook

his head and looked at Bonnie.



 "Shall I tell you a story, Bonnie MacMaster?" he asked.



 Bonnie shrugged unhappily.  "That's about all you've been

doing the past while here, hasn't it?"



 "Indulge me one last time," Michael pleaded gently.  "You

may not fully appreciate the position of Urd and her sisters, but you

will have some understanding of why Urd is as she is."





 "Long ago, before I came into existence, there were already

many immortals.  Strong among these for many centuries were the

immortals of the northlands of Europe.  From a desolate land and

harsh landscape came a people you would recognize as Norsemen.

They carried with them beliefs in many gods and goddesses, all of

which had constant interaction with their everyday world."



 "You're talking about gods like... Odin, and Thor, aren't

you?"



 "That is correct, Bonnie," he answered.  "Though there are

many more in the Norse tradition, including Urd and her two sisters."



 "I've never heard of them before," she admitted, looking at

the wasted goddess.



 "They are not names known by many, though certainly they

are not mysteries to your literature.  The sisters were those of the

Norse people chosen to tend the life tree, Yggdrasil, which they do to

this day.  Fate, Necessity, and Being, but you know them as Urd,

Verdandi, and Skuld."



 "Verdandi?" blinked Bonnie. "Belldandy?"



 "Phonetic shift comes upon us all in time," the archangel

remarked drolly.  "Collectively, they were known as the Norns, and it

was said by the Norsemen that no one escaped the prophecy of the

Norns, for they shaped the fate of all at the time of their birth."



 "Like the Greek fates?" Bonnie asked.



 "Similar, but with other aspects," Michael nodded.  "Skuld

was the goddess of Being, the future.  Additionally, she was greatest of

the valkyries, and led them into battle.  Belldandy was the goddess of

Necessity, the present, and Urd was the goddess of Fate, the past."



 "Urd is the goddess of the past?"



 "More accurately, as the dark destiny and it's result; death," he replied.



 "Death?" shivered Sayoko.  "No wonder Urd's always given

me the creeps."



 "Together, they wove the fabric of destiny," the angel explained.

"Their power was great, as in Norse society they decided the destiny of

all humans and the laws of cosmos."



 Michael paused for a moment and considered that.  Shaking his head, he

continued.



 "I said before that we immortals are born of human belief, but

that belief can also mold our personalities.  Back in an age where

humans were relatively few this was especially so.  Urd and her sisters

allowed the beliefs of the Norsemen, as did many of the older gods, to

influence their traits and personalities.  Take this well for

example..."



 Bonnie and Sayoko moved forward to get a better view of the

fountain that bubbled over, feeding the great tree at its base.



 "It's name is the Well of the Fates, sometimes also called

Urd's Fountain.  It was here for centuries that Urd, Belldandy, and

Skuld would meet the some of the souls of the dead and judge them.  If

they were judged worthy, they were allowed to enter Valhalla.  If not,

they were sent through the well into the domain of Hell."



 "We came up through that well..." murmurred Bonnie.



 "Indeed," Michael nodded. "You are fortunate Urd could still remember the

way."



 "Why wouldn't she be able to?" asked Sayoko.  "You said it

was her well."



 "Take a close look at the engravings on the well," he replied.



 As the two women peered at the stone carvings that adorned

the well, Michael nodded.



 "Most of those markings," he explained, "are thousands of

years old.  They are ancient Celtic and other pagan symbols that was

the language of belief of the northern peoples.  But look there..."



 Running a hand over the worn stones of the flowing well, the

archangel let his fingers rest on a symbol much that was instantly

recognizable to Bonnie.  The crystal waters that spilled from the Well

of Fates caused it to glisten moistly.



 "A... a cross," Bonnie said simply, identifying the icon.

"Why is it there?"



 Sayoko wandered around the well a few steps, examining the

surface more closely.



 "There are more on this side, I think," she reported to no one

in particular.



 Michael inhaled and let his breath out slowly.  "What you see

in the stone is the beginning of the end of the Norse gods.  Not so long

ago in your history, Christianity began to make its way into the

northlands of Europe.  The land was hard, and full of myth and

ancient traditions, but the missionaries were tenacious."



 Bonnie nodded with a shrug.  She had read a little European

history in high school.  She had even researched a little about pagan

traditions now and again, through investigation of her Scott-Irish

heritage.  What she remembered, however, was that Christianity had

not had much success in wholly converting the native people of the

north.



 "The missionaries had a hard time swaying people from their

pagan traditions," she murmured.  "From what I've read, that's why

many pagan customs or rituals were made part of the Christian faith."



 "Why did these missionaries have such a hard time?" Sayoko

asked.



 Bonnie stepped back from the well.  "I guess," she said, "that

my ancestors were comfortable with their beliefs, so maybe the

missionaries needed to make conversion to Christianity a little more

inviting.  So they made it where the pagans got to keep several key

rituals, but celebrated in conjunction with Christian events."



 "Sounds like a troublesome effort to go through," Sayoko

frowned, her arms crossed.  "So, what does this have to do with Urd?"



 Michael put his hand on Sayoko's shoulder and squeezed it

gently.  "Quite a bit, I'm afraid.  You see, as we immortals are a

reflection of mortal belief, so are the attributes of Paradise and Hell.

The Well of the Fates is no exception.  Would it surprise you to know

that for countless years, the stones had only the markings of the

northlanders?"



 The connections began to piece themselves together in

Bonnie's mind.  Crouching down once again, she draped her fingers

over the pagan symbols.  The stone was weathered and cool, with a

feathered coating of moss in the shaded recesses.



 "So as the influences of Christianity grew, the pagan beliefs

waned?" she asked, looking up at the angel.



 "Correct," Michael confirmed.  "And as that happened, the

well changed parts of its appearance to reflect those influences.  But

it was not only the well that was affected.  So too were the Norse gods,

as well as many gods in the Germanic and Celtic traditions."



 "They lost those who believed in them," the engineer mused.

"Didn't they?"



 "Yes, Bonnie," the archangel answered sadly.  "And that is

the tragedy of the older gods.  While we are not born to be the mirror

reflection of the mortal belief that created us, we draw upon that

belief heavily.  Should that belief ever wane, as in the case of the

north European gods, so will the spirit of those immortals."



 "What happens to them?" asked Sayoko.



 "Most simply spend many generations waiting with the hope

that the mortal belief that created them will grow strong again," he

replied.  "Eventually, they spiral into a deep despair from which they

simply will themselves out of existence."



 "Like... suicide?" the Japanese woman whispered.



 Michael looked steadily at Sayoko, with understanding and

passing no judgement.



 "In a sense," was all he said.



 Sayoko grew pale and wavered slightly, her arms trembling

just a tiny bit.  The archangel reached out to steady her, but Sayoko

pushed his hands away and spun about rapidly.  Wrapping her arms

around her body, she began to wander off a small distance away.

Reappearing from the edges of the immortal meadow, the lion cub

padded off after her in curiosity.



 The archangel turned to Bonnie.  "Such was the fate of the

Norse gods.  Those whose names you might recognize... Odin, Thor,

Fraya, and many more... they are no more.  A very few fell into a deep

slumber from which no amount of coaxing would raise them.  It is said

they will sleep until their ways are adopted again by great numbers of

your kind on Midgard, or until Ragnarok shakes them awake."



 Bonnie felt strangely quiet.  Looking at the sleeping Urd, she

imagined what it would be like to drop into a coma, never to wake

until the world was ready to be destroyed.  Another obvious

observation struck her suddenly.



 "So why are--?" she started to ask.



 "Why are Urd and her sisters still here?" Michael finished her

question.  "Why, when all of their history and traditions from many

centuries ago have fallen to the wayside?  Perhaps it is because of all

the Norse gods, the Norns had the greatest sense of purpose.  Their

being in life was in large part to sustain Yggdrasil, the life tree.

And even though the life tree has changed in its aspect to reflect the

new age, the need for tending it has not."



 "You said it was Belldandy, Urd, and Skuld's responsibility to

look over this Yggdrasil," Bonnie said.  "So I guess what you're saying

is they had a purpose to keep them from falling into that despair you

were talking about."



 "Almost," conceded Michael.  "All aspects of Paradise change

with time, and the Life Tree is no exception.  The three sisters, and

several other Norns, managed to sustain themselves despite the decline

of their mortal belief.  However, not long before your birth, Bonnie,

Yggdrasil underwent a change to reflect the new age on Midgard.  For

reasons we immortals do not even understand, the Life Tree

transformed itself, integrating with what you would refer to as a

massive network of mystical servers and programs."



 "Excuse me?" blinked Bonnie.



 "I know it seems fantastical-"



 "Try crazy," she interrupted.



 "--to believe," Michael continued.  "As I said, we do not

understand why the Life Tree chose this new form, but it did.  This

was, unfortunately, the last blow all the Norns, including the three

sisters, could take.  In many ways, the unchanging nature of Yggdrasil

had kept them satisfied, if not somewhat melancholy.  In the space of

one day, however, the last thing they had from their own time was

changed forever."



 "You make it sound like something bad happened right after

that," Bonnie mumbled, not sure if she wanted to really know anything

more about Urd.  Maybe part of her was worried that she might start to

sympathize with the goddess.  After all, it was so much easier to find

fault with her brash and drunken behavior.



 "They despaired, as you might imagine," said the archangel.

"They wished nothing more to will themselves out of existence, I am

certain.  But the Life Tree was still here, as it will be until the

Ragnarok, and it needed tenders.  You see, Bonnie, the Norns were

great friends of mine.  I admired them and their ways, as they had

been in this world long before me or my brethren angels."



 "What happened?"



 "I spoke with the Almighty," replied Michael in an offhand

manner, as if he had spoken with a bank teller.  "I asked him was

there anything that could be done to save the existence of the Norns, to

save them from despair.  His answer was to allow the Norns to be

reborn, if they so chose.  The Almighty would also block the memories

of their previous lives, so they might not be haunted by the past.  They

would be reborn, grow up as immortals again, and learn the new ways

of the Life Tree."



 "He could do that?" Bonnie asked, notably impressed.



 "He is the Almighty, after all," Michael reproached with just

the hint of a smile.  "There was a condition placed upon this, of

course.  He is ever so fond of His conditions, I think.  You see, not

only was I responsible for raising and tending to the Norns after their

rebirth, but I would also be responsible for unlocking their memories

should ever the need arise."



 "They have no memory of their former lives?" she pressed.



 "Just the faintest of whispers, I believe," admitted the

archangel.  "Enough so they can perform their duties with Yggdrasil.

But it most ways, they are ignorant of their past.  And yet, it remains

a shadow over them that they do not fully understand."



 "What kind of shadow?"



 "Traits in them from their previous lives," he said.  "For

example, Skuld would frequently get frustrated with the fates that Urd

wove in ages past and tear them up.  That manifests now in fierce

arguments and fights the two still endure, without really knowing why.

There are other nuances as well.  Skuld continues to look to the future,

enveloped in the need to explore new technologies.  Belldandy

continues to live in the moment, content with the simplest of daily

activities and fiercely protective of the world around her so it may be

preserved as long as possible."



 "And Urd?" asked Bonnie, shifting her feet slightly.



 "Urd is perhaps the most unfortunate of the three,"

acknowledged Michael.  "Where Skuld looks to the future and

Belldandy lives in the moment, Urd must always reflect upon the past.

She is fated to reflect for eternity on faded memories, regrets, lost

loves, remembrances of fleeting happiness worn away by the passage

of time... and ultimately, the destiny of death itself."



 "The dark destiny and its result," Bonnie echoed quietly.



 "This aspect of Urd's nature follows and influences her

always," said the archangel.  "It takes whatever joy she may find in

this world and taints it slowly, without exception.  Perhaps it is a

particular irony that alcohol, which currently sustains her powers on

Midgard, is also the destructive avenue by which she can dull the ache

of her destiny."



 "Destructive..." said the American.  "Surely, alcohol can not

hurt her, can it?  Not like Sayoko, since she's an immortal, right?"



 "No, but it can and frequently does hurt those she is closest

to," the archangel said with some regret.  "So now you have what very

few in this or other words have, Bonnie, and that is some

understanding of Urd's behavior and why she is as she is."



 "How terrible, to see everything you know fall away," Bonnie

admitted in a quiet voice.



 "You can appreciate that," Michael nodded.



 Bonnie paused and then looked up suddenly, her face clouded.



"What difference does it make what I can or can't

appreciate?" she demanded.  "It doesn't change the fact I still want

nothing to do with this!"



 "I know you did not ask for this, dearest.  I also know you are

unsure of everything you have seen.  But, I am afraid that will not be

an option you may have for long, Bonnie," Michael sighed.  "The soul

within you is slowly awakening.  Within you, the woman who was

burned so long ago senses the opportunity to resolve her past.  Her will

shall strengthen over time."



 "What are you saying?" Bonnie snapped, her temper rapidly

growing short.  "Stop trying to soften the blow and tell me the whole

truth!"



 "Very well," he replied sadly.  "The truth is the soul within

you, once fully awakened, has the power to push aside your thoughts

and actions.  Inevitably, it shall try to do so.  However, unless you

are a willing partner to such a union, your body will not function

smoothly as it does now.  Your soul will fruitlessly struggle against

hers within your body.  In that time, you will be unable to defend

yourself against the agents of darkness that surely are rising to move

against your cause."



 "My cause!" Bonnie almost screamed.  "This is not my cause!

I don't HAVE a cause!  I want nothing to do with this!  And now

you're saying if I don't go along, I'll be forced into it by this - this

soul that's squatting inside me?  Forced into going into Hell, I bet?

Just what does that have to do with my wish?  Was that just to sucker

me into coming here?!"



 "Miss Bonnie," Sayoko tried to begin, having returned with

the lion cub, still somewhat unnerved by her surroundings.  The fact

that the American was now working herself up into a tirade did not

make Sayoko feel anymore at ease.



 "You stay out of this!" Bonnie retorted with an acid tongue.

"And you, archangel!  If this soul and fallen angel mean so much to

you, why don't you and everyone else in this so-called Paradise just go

and get him?  If you're all so great and powerful, why don't you do

what this soul wants instead of trying to force humans to rescue this

angel for you?"



 "Because, on the day that the heavenly host or the minions of

hell step into one another's domain, then all the world shall be cracked

asunder and Ragnarok begin," he replied without emotion.  "It is the

law that keeps the forces of Paradise and Hell from waging an all out

war.  A war that, if it were to take place, would surely destroy your

world."



 "And just how the hell am I supposed to accomplish this,

then?" the engineer demanded.



 Michael folded his hands together.  "You will have Sayoko as a

companion, for without her, your cause will surely fail, though I do not

know why.  Should you, Sayoko not follow Bonnie, Thanatos will surely

find you again, and soon."



 Sayoko paled noticeably, but made no comment.



 "The lion cub will be of help, and you will have Urd to guide you--"



 Bonnie countered with heat in he voice, "You said yourself

gods can't enter Hell, not without starting the end of the world!  How

can Urd do anything?"



 Michael paused and took everything patiently.  It was a lot to

ask of any mortal to risk their life in a journey to Hell.  It was even

worse that a mortal would be forced into it.  For that reason, he could

weather Bonnie's outbursts and anger.  Perhaps that was why the

Almighty had set the archangel up by way of events to be here now,

delivering such a fate to a mortal.



 "Urd is the possible exception to us all," the angel finally

spoke.  "Her mother was a demon of great strength, and her father an

ancient god of Paradise in a time when humans were very few in

Midgard.  Because of her heritage, Urd alone among the immortals in

Paradise may be able to enter Hell without starting the end of the

world.  The lion cub will not be able to go beyond the gates of Hell,

though."



 The cub growled as if he had another opinion of the matter.



 "Lovely," fumed the engineer.  "Just bloody hell lovely."



 "The Ultimate Force will make all clear in the end," was all

Michael could say.



 The archangel wished there was more he could do for Bonnie

and Sayoko, but it was not his place to fight for the return of his

brethren in Hell.  There was one thing left to do, however.



 "Unfortunately, in this state, Urd will not be able to fully help

you," he continued, moving away from Bonnie and walking towards

the passed out goddess.  "She will need to draw on experiences and

ancient knowledge that was hidden from her at the time of her

rebirth."



 "You're going to do that?" blinked Sayoko, watching the

angel move towards Urd.  "I, uh... didn't you say that was bad?  What

about the whole despair thing?"



 "Yes," agreed Michael.  "While Urd can enter Hell without

starting Ragnarok, her passage into that domain will not be without

repercussion.  The moment Urd steps beyond the Gates of Hell, the

world will still tremble, and many evils that have been long

imprisoned may have the chance to escape."



 "At what point does this just all seem like a bad idea?"

demanded Bonnie.



 Michael ignored the engineer.  "While Urd will need her

memories to help you in your quest, so will Belldandy and Skuld need

their memories to deal with the perhaps the greatest of the ancient

evils that is still imprisoned.  It is from their own past that this

evil originates, and they must be the ones to deal with it."



 "So you have to unlock their memories as well?" Sayoko

queried.  "Any chance she'll dump Keiichi?"



 "If you heed nothing else I say, miss Sayoko," Michael replied

gently, "give up your fantasy for Keiichi.  You have not the power to

disrupt the Ultimate Force, and you will only dash yourself into

oblivion trying."



 "Hey, it was just a joke," she pouted, trying to convince

herself that was what it really was.



 "Urd is the key, isn't she?" Bonnie asked suddenly, her anger

momentarily abated.  "I mean, before her sisters could remember

something, the past has to be unlocked, and Urd is the past."



 "Yes, Bonnie," nodded Michael as he knelt beside the

sleeping goddess.  "You are correct.  Fate leads to Necessity, and

Necessity shapes the Being.  Past to the present, present to the future.

So it is with Urd and her sisters."



 Resting a hand on Urd's forehead, Michael brushed back

some of the beautiful goddesses stray hair from her face.  Speaking so

softly that the two human women could not hear, the archangel drew

the power from within himself and wove it into Urd.  The lion cub

meandered over and watched the process with interest as Urd's color

and condition improved dramatically, all signs of her drinking binge

evaporating.  Within moments she was awake.



 "Ugh," she complained thickly.  "That was a pretty strange

dream... I met this boring human, she flubbed a wish, and I had to take

her through the back alleys into Paradise."



 "I am afraid your dream is something more akin to reality,

Urd," Michael said quietly.



 "Huh," blinked Urd.  "Michael, is that you?  What are you

doing here?  Haven't seen you in a while... How's the old robe

hanging?"



 Urd looked around and spied Bonnie and Sayoko.  "Damn,

guess I wasn't dreaming."



 "Goddess Urd," Michael interrupted.  "Please forgive me for

that which I am about to do."



 Urd looked around blankly.  "Eh?  I thought you weren't into

that kind of thing, Michael," she noted suggestively.  "This is kind of

a public place for a come-on, though, don't you think?"



 The archangel rolled his eyes slightly but otherwise ignored

her.  "The Almighty left it within my power to decide when your

memories, and those of your sisters should be unlocked, Urd," he said.

"And while it has scarcely been three mortal decades since your

rebirth, that time has come, and I hope you will understand."



 "What are you babbling about, Michael?" asked Urd, sitting

up in the grass.



 Michael stopped her with the touch of his hand to her

temples.  Bonnie shivered, remembering with some longing just what

it felt like to have the angel lay his hands on her.  Urd sat frozen

under the archangels gentle touch, silent and unmoving.



 "The bonds of the Ultimate Force have been true," whispered

Michael, once again drawing power within him.  "The Norns have had

their former lives kept hidden, as decreed by the Almighty.  The need

has arisen for that contract which the Ultimate Force has kept to be

broken.  I am His instrument, and under His authority alone am I able

to call this contract, once and forever more, cancelled!"



 To Bonnie and Sayoko, who had been watching a brilliant

energy envelop the two immortals, the release of that power was

strangely anticlimactic.  There was no noise, no flash of light, and

bits of things were not flying about in the air as they had in Bonnie's

apartment after she made her wish.  Michael simply removed his

hands and the energy dissipated.



 "Remember," he whispered again to Urd.  "Be free to

remember the sweetness and regret of your memories, dear Urd."



 Urd's look of bemused puzzlement drained away slowly, like

oil paints on a canvas that had been doused in water.  The goddess

edged away from the archangel slowly, her hands trembling.  Shaking

slightly, Urd mouthed something, but was unable to articulate it.



 Finally finding her voice, thick with emotion, Urd whispered,

"Damn you, Michael."



 Throwing her head back, the goddess then let out a keening

wail that sent a pulse of energy out in radiating waves.  Bonnie and

Sayoko struggled to keep standing, and even Michael had to readjust

his footing.  Releasing her cry fully, Urd bent over, put her head in

her hands, and began to weep bitterly.



 They all stood around her very quietly for some time,

watching Urd sob.  For reasons they could not explain, each of them

knew no amount of comfort would bring Urd any release

from her pain.



   * * *





 It was late in the afternoon, and another snow shower was

falling at the Morisato residence.  Belldandy stood at the kitchen

counters, pouring over a recipe book.  Though in her new life with

Keiichi, cooking was certainly not the end all be all of her existence,

being the Goddess of the Present allowed her to take the pleasure of

the moment, despite how mundane the task might be.



 The household had quieted down noticeably in the past few

hours.  Skuld had stalked back off to Asgard, still smarting from Urd's

promotion and April's rough enthusiasm.  As for the angel, she was in

the temple grounds attempting with varying amounts of success to

master the art of snowmen.  Belldandy, after much convincing, trial

and error, and limitless patience, had shown April how to hide her

wings while on Midgard.  Though the angel had been suspicious of

this, her trusting nature and Belldandy's persistence finally gave way.



 Without warning Belldandy stood straight up, her spine

arched and tensed.  A powerful force of energy moved through her

body and into her mind.  Too stunned to even move, much less cry out,

Belldandy stood frozen as the force invaded her thoughts.



 There was a click inside her mind, as if a switch had been

thrown.  She stood that way for quite some time, not moving as the sun

went down behind the snow covered treetops.



 "Oh, Michael," she said sadly to herself.



   * * *





 The terminal was smashed.  LED's flashed sporadically under

shattered glass and plastic.  Warning lights and audio messages were

being repeated as Yggdrasil automatically routed around the damaged

terminal.  Streams of source code ran down the monitor, which

flickered on and off like a dying insect in a bug zapper.



 Before the ruined terminal, Skuld stood with her fists pushed

into the interface.  Whether she had injured herself was not apparent,

because Skuld was focused somewhere far away.  Ignoring the

warnings from the system, the goddess stared off into space, retracing

memories that she had not had seconds before.  Several other

Yggdrasil coders arrived into the terminal room with looks of shock

on their faces, complaining loudly to Skuld.



 She ignored them all.



   * * *





 The wave of energy that raced outward across Asgard from

the Norns' resurfacing memories did not go unnoticed by another

ancient god from the north.  He had slept for centuries, since when the

decline of his mortal civilization had been spiraling out of control.

He had decided he would not be like the others, like Odin and the rest.

He would not will himself out of existence.  Rather, he would sleep

and await a time when events on Midgard, be it Ragnarok or some

other event, stirred him from his sleep.  The reawakening of the Norns,

however, was just enough to rouse him.



 Slowly, in a secluded part of Asgard, the trickster opened his

eyes.  Looking around his surroundings slowly, the first thing he

observed was the close surroundings of the cave he had placed himself in

centuries before. The second thing he observed was a thick layer of

moss that now covered him almost completely.



 "Thought it was warm in here," he said drolly through a voice

thick with sleep.



 Pushing himself out from layers and ages of time, the Norse

god Loki rose unsteadily to his feet and walked out into the bright

light of Paradise.



   * * *





 There was a place where times of old were not forgotten.

Indeed, memories seethed and boiled, waiting for the moment of

release that would bring terrible action.



 Threading through a labyrinth of underground passageways,

chasms, and caverns, ghostly sets of eyes moved with viscous

eagerness.  The dark of the nether world was no impedance to the

groups of wolves that raced heavy and panting, steam pouring off their

coats in the humid subterranean air.  Finally, a mile deep within the

Earth, the pack came upon a large grotto where many other wolves lay

resting.



 Their sudden arrival caused a great stir of activity within the

large room.  Passing all the other wolves, the largest of the newly

arrived pack moved to the center of the cavern where a great rock sat.

Attached to the rock in many links and loops was a soft thin ribbon.

The ribbon was fashioned of six peculiar elements: the footstep of cat,

the roots of a mountain, a woman's beard, the breath of fishes, the

sinews of a bear, and a bird's spittle.  It was incredibly strong and

had been fashioned by the Nordic Dwarves of Old.



 Its name was Gleipnir, and it had but one purpose: to prevent

Ragnarok.



 On the other end of Gleipnir, a massive monster lay on the

ground, the ribbon tied around its neck.  In the shape of a wolf, the

beast had a razor sharp sword in its jaws that prevented it from biting.

The Norse gods had used the ribbon and the sword through trickery to

subdue the beast, as they had feared him greatly.  He was the eldest

child of Loki and the giantess Angrboda.



 He was Fenris, and prophecy stated he would signal the end

of the world.



 The lead wolf that reached Fenris prostrated itself before the

wolf god.  Getting back to its four paws, the smaller wolf then

communicated what it and the pack had spied in the wastes beyond

Asgard.  There were images of a Norn and two mortals traveling away

from Paradise and towards the Gates of Hell.



 Fenris listened with terrible quietness, eyes burning.  Getting

up rapidly to his own feet, the beast leaned hard against Gleipnir,

testing the ribbon's strength as he had done every day for endless

years.



 This time, unlike ever before, Gleipnir gave just a little,

stretching ever so slightly.  Throughout the cavern, hundreds of

wolves raised their haunting voices in chorus at the revelation.



 Soon Fenris might have his chance for revenge on the world

that imprisoned him.



   * * *



Coming up in Chapter 6:

Bonnie, Sayoko, and Urd come to the gates of Hell with their final

companion. Michael is faced with immortal rivals.  An Angel becomes

a Key.  Belldandy and Skuld call upon ancient allies to prevent

Ragnarok.



Comments and Criticisms welcome.



Mike McAvoy

mmcavoy@ejourney.com

members.nbci.com/mmcavoy/











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