[Episode 155277] [Episode 155277]Kiaransalee watched her cunt mother slowly recover her bearings. Around them in the bedchamber were the desecrated remains and bloody chunks of several comely maidens and bed toy types. The carnal carnage had both kept Kiaransalee a bit mollified and provided cover for any Abyssal scrying that managed to pierce a few of the many gossamer nets of deception surrounding Lolth's personal quarters. What little could be sensed at all would seem another of the Spider cunt's Queen's generally fatal orgies.
Lolth finally gained focus and looked about her. She herself seemed to habitually buy the theory she'd fucked herself silly in a literal orgy of bloody activity, then she gasped. Kiaransalee smirked as the Spider Queen's hand went to her throat.
The wicked child of the demon goddess said simply "Had I not broken the link, you would have been drained much further. As it was, your energies flowed through the draining and created a rift in realities. That young man you so enjoyed watching your daughter ruin not only did all that, but he fell through the rift as it formed. His soul is utterly beyond our reach." The multiply robed minor goddess let her acid contempt at Lolth's calling Eili her daughter show openly. Such a turn of phrase implied that none of Lolth's other relations counted, and that was simply not going to be borne!
Lolth's eyes blazed in fury. "HOW DARE.." She gasped and sagged back into the bed, splashing a bit in the gore. "What i-iin the Abyss?"
Kiaransalee explained in a tone that would freeze a mortal solid then shatter him (as she knew from direct experience). "It's simple, Lolth. You lost a huge degree of your precious hoard of power. Enough so that had the other Powers sensed it fully and made a move; you and I would not be having this conversation. I infused you with a great deal of my own power to keep you running at something resembling full speed. But I never released my hold on it, and should you move against me or anger me, it all flows right back into me, along with all of your power I can leech by this variation of the linking spell. There is good news in this bleak hour, however."
Lolth just snarled and cursed in such horrific Abyssal dialects that the corpses putrefied and became a morass of unholy water, shit, and rancid blood. The only thing that prevented fungal infestation was the warding against Zuggtmoy's influence.
As that went on, Kiaransalee continued, "Basically, if you don't betray me and just recover, you'll recover fully and even gain a bit of power. As will I from the link effect until you are fully running under your own power. Until then, just consider this the familial link you should have considered in the first place."
While Lolth ceaselessly cursed and the ruination in her bedchamber heaved and boiled, Kiaransalee calmly left her behind, satisfied that the Bitch Queen would never forget this lesson or live it down.
Corellon traveled the shadowed corridors that ran under the hills of Arvandor. None of the elven spirits used this place, aside from those followers of Eilistraee who died in Her grace, rejoining the true Elves in afterlife. These returning spirits used the under-halls for two very good reasons. Firstly, their ancestors had lived in the hillsides in the manner of halflings and gnomes before the Elven Wars that Lolth inflicted on the race during her oh so bitter breakup with Corellon. Of course, the second and main reason was that surface life aside, they did feel familiar with at least some life underground.
Corellon was there for another reason, of course. His daughter had returned and was ensconced in these tunnels, having been blown to them during the utter disaster at the Tendo residence. And now he had to help her deal with the fallout.
As he entered her chambers, Eilistraee simply told him, "I'm not ready yet, Father."
Corellon wasn't surprised. As silent as he was in his lighted woodlands overhead, this terrain was Eili's specialty, so he'd expected to be heard long before actually entering. He told his child, "Are you going to let your sorrow affect the lives of your followers, daughter?"
"Hardly, father." Eilistraee spoke sadly but firmly, still facing away from her father. "But if they feel my sense of responsibility and regret over my past actions, it may further inspire them to avoid my fatal error. That would please me much."
"Daughter;" The father and lord of the Elven pantheon searched for proper words. "I know you feel responsible, but you aren't, really. Lolth infused herself into you by your heritage as her daughter, and the fact of her diminution proves this."
Eili looked at her father then, and he gasped at the mark on her cheek. Hardly ugly, the three neat parallel lines were lavender in color, and seemed quite the exotic tattoo to one that didn't know how they got there. Corellon did know however. Why is she keeping the scar Saotome gave her? Especially in the same shade as Lolth's eyes?
Eilistraee noted the shock on her father's face. "I see you've noticed the proof of my part in the blame for this travesty. Good." Before he could reply, she went on. "You're absolutely right about how Lolth did that. However, I, in turn, am absolutely to blame for letting her in, in the first place. And it gets better. You see the scar as a abomination. I see it as a reminder to not be stupid that way, ever again. It also acts as a permanent anchor for the spell to ensure she cannot do so. It stays, father. If you have to have a fit over it, join in the war against Lolth. Not her victim race, not even my half siblings, but the evil bug herself. My scar is testimony to you that this is needful."
Corellon managed to sound as godly as one would expect while croaking, "M-my child, I never intended you to be so hurt by all this. Please, believe me."
Eili smiled in reply, the forgiveness and her sorrow melding nicely. "Of course I know this, Father. Now help me kill Lolth." Corellon noted his child wasn't referring to Lolth as her mother at all.
Eili added, "Let the rest of the Pantheon know about this.", stroking her cheek in emphasis. "And don't worry about that slime Kami-Sama said made this possible. Events in his domain are seeing to that traitor, even as we speak."
Eili turned her attention back to what she held in one ebony hand. It was a mortal item, one Corellon came to realize was a scrap of the Saotome youth's shirt.
As Larethian left, he felt her sorrow and bemusement while shivering at Eili's overheard vow to herself. "Never again, 'momma'."
As Keiichi swept and neatened the temple, he shivered as he had done at times for the last while. He saw the thin column of darkness that had risen from the Nerima district, as had all Tokyo and its surroundings. He had the dreadful feeling that very bad things had happened, mixed with a odd combination of relief and sadness.
When the phone rang, he didn't answer at first. He was not one that received many calls himself, and Keiichi figured that calls to the Norns were not to be picked up on by mortals. When no divinity appeared to answer it after the third ring, Keiichi did pick up before the bad luck number accrued. "Hello?"
The voice on the other end was crystal clear but very human, expressing the emotions Keiichi had been feeling since the darkness had risen. 'Keiichi. This is the All-father. I need to talk to you for a moment.' Keiichi knew this was genuine instantly, and he blinked while getting over the shock.
Just as he got himself together, Odin-Sama continued, 'I will make this simple for you. Belldandy and her sisters are well, under the circumstances. They are in a bit of shock and considerably aggrieved, but they are well, and Encouragement is bringing them back to rest fully. I thought I should let you know what happened before they get there, though.'
Keiichi blinked, then he swallowed hard. "Yes, Kami-Sama. I understand. What should I know?"
Kami-Sama's tired smile was somehow audible over the phone connection. 'What all men should know, although you come closer than many I could list. That is beside the point, however. The point is that after what a moron son of mine considered a easy trade of favors, a visiting Goddess and a mortal god-slayer wound up in mortal combat, ripping the fabric of the universe apart in the vicinity of the combat. The young man I rescued at the very point of extinction, as the affair was none of his doing. He is currently recovering in mind and spirit somewhere safe. And now the part that affects you.'
After a suitable pause, Kami-Sama told Keiichi, 'The main problem is that in the course of containing the fury that battle unleashed, Urd, Verthandi, and Skuld exhausted all their divinity. They live, but they are mortals now. Their powers, station, and portfolios are now in the hands of their former mortal anchors. Those mortals are now the Norns, and are my children even as Megumi became my child eating that ambrosia. You need not fear my taking Belldandy away or forcing you to be with her successor, Keiichi. Your wish and her own desire was for you to be with the only being in creation like her. That being Belldandy.'
After a few seconds that felt like eons, Keiichi said, "If it helps, All-father, I am sorry for any loss in this. I do have one question, if that's not a problem."
The voice on the other end filled Keiichi's world but yet managed to hush itself without losing a iota of its impressive nature. 'I have no problem with you asking about Megumi's ascension, Keiichi, or I would not have mentioned it and prompted your curiosity. Your worry is both correct and not relevant. It is true that a mortal became a true demon at the time Megumi became one of my children, but it was Akuma's fall that allowed the ascension of Megumi, not the other way around. And neither one of them know the other exist, as Hild and I never divulge who are linked in the doublet system to our children. I only let you know this to ease your mind, and I bid you not to mention it to Megumi.'
Keiichi was not a powerful martial artist by any stretch of the imagination, but he had a few friends in the martial arts club at his high school, and had heard the name before. "Is this Akuma character a fighter, a destroyer of some kind? I can't help but think along those lines, as my sister has always been one to encourage, even before that ambrosia business."
Kami-Sama chuckled, 'And my children think humans have no insight at times! You are right, Keiichi. Gouken was a warrior in a fighting style that contained a potential to bring out one's inner darkness. This is allowed to exist as a test of the will of the student, a test of how well they can master themselves. And Gouken in particular not only let his darkness master him, he sacrificed himself TO himself, becoming a demonic man named Akuma, then a true demon. He now roams the world, seeking the very best fighters and fighting any that approach his level to the death. This is the ultimate challenge to the warrior mentality, just as Megumi's competitive and caring nature challenges the peaceful to excel. Truly, they are as light and darkness, while remaining mirror images. And now that you are settled spiritually, Megumi and the others will arrive back shortly. I wish you all the best.'
Keiichi tried to put all his gratefulness and heart into his closing words. "I wish you and yours well, Kami-Sama. Thank you." Then he hung up gently and prepared for his fiancee and her sisters.
Ares perspired as he gathered artifacts of his life and times. He had to get out of Asgard, and fast! Thor was certainly going to be out for his blood in the unlikely event he wasn't already, and Ares just KNEW that the brash thunder god would count the Doublet system killing a demon at that same instant as a mere bonus. This escape was not to be, however.
That was first made evident when a manhole cover (from New York City on some Earth, according to the letters on top) smashed through the chamber door and into the back of Ares' head. The god of War was by necessity a tough customer, thus he didn't drop immediately.
When he turned around, he found himself wishing he had for a second. Then the golden blade and chain weapon hit him in the chest and pulled Ares out of his room. It ripped free as the god was healing the damages of the god-smithed weapon and its flares of divine `flame` which had seared him while it was embedded.
The bald and savage seeming minor god of war for some realities smirked and left without a word. Ares had no time to hurl a word or a curse, as he was rolling away from a thrown Mjolnir. The dreaded hammer of Thor was aimed at his hip, however. Ares realized that he wasn't being targeted for death. this utterly failed to comfort him, however, as his poker pal Loki had mentioned how true Iago the parrot was in stating how surprising the amount of damage someone could survive was. And it was even more true for Gods!
As Ares dove out the nearest window (barely avoiding being hit by the Mother of Lightning bolts Thor had hurled) he had a nagging feeling that this had a purpose. He would have cried out for mercy or a clue from his father, but he knew all too well that Kami-Sama was staying out of it.
Ares landed and rolled, stopping dead when he stood and faced them.
There were four facing Ares. He stood in a place that wasn't part of any realm, a pocket of Nowhere left behind from the Rift his damnable `favor` to Lolth had led to the creation of. The four glaring at him were as unhappy to see Ares as he was to be in that place, as well.
"All right, this-" was as far as Ares got before the light brunette slashed at him expertly with a naginata. The whole weapon reeked of her energies, along with those of another Goddess, so Ares was careful enough to avoid getting a leg removed. That didn't stop the crackling energies from ripping into Ares like Thor's lightning would have, however.
That hit was enough, it seemed, as the shapely goddess stepped away.
Before Ares could even scream from the pain, the seemingly demonic woman next to his first attacker started lashing at Ares' mouth and face with a woven `ribbon` which was coated with acid, alcohol, and rock salt, by the feel of it. While taking care not to blind Ares, she had no problem at all disfiguring him. All the while, she snarled, "Great Kami-Sama would not let me punish you in all fairness before the others, so I'll have to make up for the lost time!"
Just as Ares raised his arms to take the punishment, he was struck in the side of the head by a mallet that looked like wood but felt like a planet had hit him. The truly PISSED girl that had nailed him wasn't Skuld, Ares realized, as he dropped to to the unsensed ground. She ground out, "You stinking jerk. You took away our hopes. Our home. Our lives. OUR FUTURE!"
Ares' vision cleared just a bit, and he realized that the god-marks on her face meant Akane Tendo now was the Norn of Future. He looked desperately at what he realized to be Nabiki, and that worthy chuckled while Akane kept kicking him. "Mine is history to reveal, and I always did prefer information as my weapon. We were the anchors for the Norns, we three. Then you came along and fucked it up. Now Urd, Belldandy, and Skuld Tendo are the mortals, and we are the Norns. Kasumi is acting and looking like Kodachi because she feels you don't deserve to see how badly you hurt her. She loved that jock as a brother, you realize. And she absorbed so much of the Storm's rage that this place was created. She really needs to work off that rage before her angel can be hatched or anything. So you're here now, and Hild's expression of disfavor for your cutting a deal outside her territory will keep you company until you've suffered enough that she calms down. At that point, this place will disperse and whatever is left of you will drop into a five thousand gallon tank of rancid horse-hockey. I'll leave you to it, now."
As Ares tried to gather some energy to throw himself at them or escape, the Norns faded from the neutral realm, one name falling from all their lips in unison. Ares finally screamed as the meaning of the name and Akuma himself hit him like hell fire.
And Akuma kept hitting him, and kept on, and on.
And on;
And on;
And on; world without end.
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(Posted Fri, 05 May 2006 07:25)
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