Einherjar (Worm/Valkyrie Profile)
Prologue (a)
/x/
March mornings were usually pleasant in...
Prologue (a)
/x/
March mornings were usually pleasant in...
Einherjar (Worm/Valkyrie Profile)
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JayF
The Idol Producer
Einherjar (Worm/Valkyrie Profile)
Prologue (a)
/x/
March mornings were usually pleasant in Brockton Bay, and the early onset of spring made the weather pleasantly cool. Taylor stifled a yawn as she felt her backyard's turf between her toes as she strolled barefoot, before her feet kicked against something soft. Taylor paused, and rubbed her eyes while her gaze travelled downwards. The sight of what her toes had knocked against caused Taylor to bite her lower lip, before she turned back to the house and did the correct thing a six year old should do when confronted with something unusual.
"Mom!! Aunt Silmeria's playing dead again!!"
A loud thump was followed by a crack, before birds that roosted on trees flew away as a piece of chopping block shot out of the Hebert kitchen window like a bolt from the blue. The kitchen screen door swung open, as a woman with long dark hair and brown eyes strode purposefully towards the shouting child. She held a cleaver stained with splinters that had its edge chipped off, and the white apron over her black pants and t-shirt was marked with tomato red stains.
"For the last time, Taylor," Annette said while she hopelessly tried to brush off the sawdust and splinters from the cleaver, "your aunt isn't dead."
Taylor frowned, and knelt down before she placed her hands beneath Silmeria's nose. Taylor nodded to herself while her mother rolled her eyes, before she pulled up Silmeria's eyelids and glanced into lifeless eyes.
"No breathing, cold to the touch and her eyes are dull," Taylor concluded as she stood up while brushing her hands. " Looks pretty dead to me, Mom."
"Brat," Annette sniffed even as she gave up on cleaning the knife with her hands and set it on the ground. "Just because it's a cold day and your Aunt likes to sleep in the yard doesn't mean she's dead."
Taylor moved aside while her mother knelt beside the still form of Silmeria. Annette cupped her hands above Silmeria's face, breathed deep and then leaned forward.
"Silmeria. Wake up!"
Light brown eyes flickered opened, as colour returned to once pale cheeks when Silmeria yawned. Her blonde hair, dishevelled with grass stuck between the strands, glittered as sunlight filtered between them. Silmeria's face split with a wide smile, her dimples softening the sharp cheekbones that made people pause when they first laid eyes on her. Taylor squeaked as her aunt grabbed her into a bearhug, before both of them broke into giggles.
"Aunt Silmeria," Taylor said as she pulled herself from her aunt's embrace. "What kind of power allows you to literally play dead before coming back?"
"The kind good little girls shouldn't be asking too much about, and certainly not telling overworked dads." Silmeria rubbed Taylor's head, which prompted her niece to pout as she wiggled away from her aunt.
"But I wanna know what kind of hero you are!"
"Run along now," Silmeria waved, "you're running late for school."
"But-"
"Lenneth's going to be here soon. You'd prefer her to drive you to school instead of your mo-"
"Wait for you at the car, Mom!"
Both adult women watched as Taylor beat a hasty retreat at the mention of their middle sister with grins plastered on their faces, before their faces darkened as Silmeria turned to her black-haired sister. Annette started to speak, before the sounds of a boiling pot made her dash back to the kitchen. Silmeria followed slowly behind, her arms folded as she watch Annette plunge her hand with a large fork into the boiling water.
"So..."
Annette remained silent as she scooped up the linguine from the pot, content to let her sister's query fall off while she worked to rescue lunch. Steam rose off her hands and fork as Annette got the last strand of pasta out, before Silmeria shrugged and placed the bowl of damp pasta into a microwave.
"So, " Silmeria asked testily as she wiped her fingers. "You the one responsible?"
"For?" Annette asked while she dumped a ruined chopping block into the trash.
"Allfather getting run through with a spear, along with his daughter Iron Rain."
Annette removed the bubbling cream from the heat, and set the saucepan down. The black-haired woman smirked, before she stretched out her left arm. A eight feet halberd appeared in a flash of light, the tip of the polearm scratched the roof of the kitchen. Her black clothes were engulfed in black fire, replaced with a white skirt, black plate armour with gold trimings and a winged helmet.
"Come forth," Annette whispered, "my noble Einherjar."
A tall muscled man, blonde hair sleeked backwards and clad in a suit of knightly armour appeared to her left. His face was covered with chain, with a small slit to see through. Silmeria frowned as she studied the Einherjar's helmet, before she turned towards Annette.
"Hrist. Allfather-"
"Annette, Silmeria. I'm mortal now."
Silmeria glanced at the still smoking pot where Annette had scooped out the noodles with her bare hands, before she decided she had other things to worry about.
"Annette. So you're the one who killed Allfather and made him your Einherjar?"
"Correct," Annette nodded. "The man claims the title, but wasn't able to back it up. I've meant to kill him for awhile now, but I always held myself back since Lenneth might have issues with me slaying a man with young children."
"Even one as despicable as he is," Silmeria added. "But then Kaiser, his son showed up."
"And since his son's of age, I figured it's a good a time as any," Annette bared her teeth. "Young man shan't forget the blow to his left eye anytime soon. Less of a fool than his sister though, she still continued to fight after she saw what I could do, and sealed her own fate. Admirable, but foolish."
The black flame flared up again, and the armour and Allfather both disappeared. Annette went back to heating up the cream, while Silmeria rubbed her nose.
"And the soul of Iron Rain?"
"Still lurking around her grave, no doubt. Her father was the one I was after, and I'm no longer in the business of reaping souls for Valhalla now that Ragnarok isn't happening. You can leave her for Hel's tender mercies, or you can claim her as your Einherjar if you wish."
Silmeria clicked her tongue.
Hrist only killed the ones who insisted on giving battle, Silmeria thought. She's grown soft over the years spent raising a mortal family.
"The affairs of mortals isn't usually the concern of us in Asgard, Hr-Annette-"
"If not for Danny and Taylor, yes."
"Of all of our dear sister Lenneth's feats, you choose to emulate her literal love for mortals in the most intimate way," Silmeria shook her head. "And you followed her disregard for consequences too."
"And we're all better off for it, Silmeria. Lenneth ruling Asgard and the nine worlds is miles better than Odin."
"Yes, I remember Odin," Silmeria's face darkened. "But how do you plan on dealing with the fallout. Do you plan on handing all of the city to Marquis?"
"No, of course not. Be a dear and help me place the cream into the fridge to cool will you?"
Silmeria frowned but complied, before the sound of crackling flames had her snap her head back towards her elder sister. Silmeria felt her gaze drawn towards the shining tip of Annette's halberd.
"Marquis will make a fine addition to my stable, don't you think?"
/x/
The first sign that trouble was afoot for the Brockton Bay Brigade came fast and furious, a shower of bone fragments headed their way with only the shields of Lady Photon and Manpower that prevented the unexpected assault from ending the Brigade's assault before it began.
"That's a new one," Brandish scowled as she studied the bone splinters on the pavement, "and so unlike Marquis' usual behaviour."
"Maybe he's upset we've attacked his home," Lady Photon said while she lowered her shields, "or somebody already found out about him and beat us to him."
The Brigade collectively turned their eyes towards the large, two storey house where Marquis waited. Manpower and Lady Photon served as the vanguard as they advanced cautiously towards their target, their nerves on edge as the heroes witnessed the shattered windows and the hole where the door once stood. Their cautious march broke into a charge when a loud screech and a black tongue of flame shot out of the house, and Lady Photon and Manpower charged forward into the dark fire. Brandish held her energy blade closer to herself as she saw the black fire part and retreat as her sister and Manpower dashed ahead, the hairs on her back bristled at the lack of opposition to the Brigade's advance.
Something's gone very wrong.
"Valkyrie!"
Lady Photon's shouts drew Brandish's attention, as she saw a woman in black armour and winged helmet pull out the tip of her halberd from Marquis' chest. Brandish snarled as she watched the nemesis of the Brigade slump onto the floor, and pushed past Manpower and Lady Photon with her energy sword drawn. Brandish trembled and grit her teeth, as Valkyrie coolly regarded her with a detached stare and a sneer.
"You killed Marquis!"
"That I did, Brandish," Valkyrie nodded. "I suppose you're upset that you missed the chance to redeem your honour from the defeats he inflicted upon the Brockton Bay Brigade?"
"It's not that," Manpower stood up and walked between the two feuding women. "We were working to finally bring Marquis to justice. You killing a villain in cold blood when there's no Kill Order placed on him sets a bad precedent.
Valkyrie blinked, looked behind at the ruined doorway the Brigade had entered from before her sneer grew wider.
"As opposed to attacking a cape in his home, dear heroes."
"You don't consider yourself a hero, Valkyrie?"
Valkyrie matched Lady Photon's cold tone with a glacial stare.
"No, Lady Photon. I collect the-"
The room filled with the smell of burnt bone, as Brandish's energy blade was stopped inches from Valkyrie's shoulders by a wall of bone. Marquis, the gaping chest wound now missing, stood stone-faced when he stood between the Bridge and Valkyrie.
"Do not misdirect your anger, dear," Brandish bristled at Marquis' usual smooth baritones and the condescending manner. " The lady Valkyrie offered me battle on the field of honour, which I took. My life was rightfully forfeited, even if I leave behind things which I treasure."
"Must be expensive," Lady Photon said, "this thing you treasure so much."
"Quite so," Marquis nodded in agreement as he retracted the bone cage. "She was borne of a woman who loved me, the time I spent raising her taught me more things about myself than the few decades I spent being alive."
Flashbang cocked his head towards the stairs, and he shivered when a pair of hateful black eyes bore into him. Brandish noticed her partner's unease, and warily stepped towards the young girl with black hair hidden at within the shadows of the top of the stairs.
"That," Marquis said softly, "is my treasure. Allow me to introduce my daughter Amelia."
"You seem awfully distant from your treasure," Lady Photon noted. "Any reason why?"
"She pushed me away after I manifested as an Einherjar. She probably thinks I'm a fake."
Lady Photon winced as she saw the venom directed by Amelia towards Valkyrie, who looked bored as she dispelled her polearm and walked towards the door. Marquis watched his new mistress leave the house, before he turned to the Brigade with pleading eyes.
"I have nothing to offer you, so I can only appeal to your sense of justice and worth as heroes. Will you take in my daughter?"
The women of the Brigade looked at each other, before Brandish shook her head vigorously.
"I've got my hands full with Victoria. No way I can take on another child."
Lady Photon opened her mouth, only for nothing but an awkward silence to replace whatever words she wanted to speak. She turned her attention back to the deceased villain, only for the wraith to vanish in a puff of smoke. Brandish stared at the empty space where her nemesis once stood, before she turned to Ameila with the cold eyes who stared at the cooling corpse of her father.
"Right," Lady Photon said finally. "Let's get the PRT, the local police and also child protection services here shall we?"
/x/
Freya had seen many things and people darken the gates of Sessrúmnir, the hall where half of the worthy dead will go. Midgard, all of them, but especially the ones that had long forgotten the gods had many, many people being born and dying. Heroic deaths as it turns out wasn't that unusual when enough people die. and throngs had trudged the path through the welcoming plains of Folkvangr to her hall. But a few worlds especially, had seen numbers of people who qualify for Valhalla under Lenneth and her own hall surge recently. Earth Bet being chief among them, so much so that Hrist had taken a spouse and bore a demigoddess there.
But a fully human child, who hid behind the deity who re-created the world while giving her an icy glare? Even for the blonde goddess this was something new. Freya wore her usual smile and walked slowly towards Lenneth, her cyan eyes twinkled as she took in Lenneth's new look, who eschewed her usual blue plate armour and helm for a simple blue dress and powder blue jacket. Freya knelt down to meet the dark haired girl face to face, before her smile faltered as she looked into Amelia's eyes.
"Lenneth," Freya said as she stood up, "The child's eyes, they're dead. I take it from the lack of any hint of divinity this child is thankfully not begotten by you."
"Yes," Lenneth replied as Amelia hid herself from the gaze of the two goddess and buried herself under the valkyrie's hip length silver hair. "Annette took it upon herself to choose her father Marquis as an Einherjar. But her experiences and age has softened her, as she had the presence of mind to ask me for help with the child."
"Annette?"
"Hrist."
"Ahh. Yet you allow her to slay a mortal with a child as young as this? This Marquis must have been reprehensible."
"Not...really," Lenneth said. " He's not a nice person by any stretch of the imagination certainly, but the reason why I didn't intervene was because the potential cataclysm with the Many-Beasts will require Einherjar, and the mortals are ill-equipped to deal. Besides, his daughter was a surprise to Annette."
Freya's frown retreated as understanding dawned on her, and she again looked at Amelia with a motherly smile.
"Come, child," Freya cooed. "Don't be afraid."
Amelia took a quick glance at Freya, before she darted behind Lenneth's legs. The silver haired deity chuckled, before she turned around and knelt in front of Amelia."
"Ms Lenneth..."
"Its alright child. No one can harm you here," Lenneth said as she wiped away Amelia's tears. "Freya here will take care of you as she had with most of Midgard's children, and I promise to visit as often as possible when I can."
Amelia's mouth parted slightly, but closed before she nodded. Lenneth smiled again and kissed the child's forehead, before Freya appeared behind Amelia, knelt down and placed a blanket made of white fur over the child. Amelia blinked, before she broke into a smile and took a deep sniff of the blanket.
"The wolves native to Jotunheim produce wonderful pelts, that keep you pleasantly warm in any kind of weather. The perfume was my idea."
Amelia's eyes softened as she looked at the blonde goddess doting over her, whose smile grew wider and carried Amelia off her feet. The sun filtered through the rafters made of spears, and the light reflected from the golden necklace Brisinggamen which Freya wore over her one-piece dress transformed into a field with stalks of grass that swayed with the wind. The smell and sight of Freya's hair reminded Amelia of the field of ripe wheat her father had brought her to only three months ago, and the memory had Amelia sniffle again.
"Lenneth," Freya said softly as she patted Amelia who sobbed into her shoulder. "You reckon having her father here would soften the blow for Amelia?"
Lenneth shook her head, as she glanced at the trembling Amelia.
"The girl might react badly, considering Annette told me when Marquis tried to touch her after he became an Einherjar she slapped his hand away. But I'll take a look regardless, since the goddess of motherhood herself has asked."
"Thank you Lenneth," Freya said with a slight smile, before she blew a kiss into the air. Hissing filled the air, before a chariot with bronze, gilded wheels and polished wood tore through the windows of Sessrúmnir. Two large cats, their fur a shade of metal blue pulled against their ropes as they landed before the divine duo and their charge, and Amelia screamed before Freya stilled them with a touch to their heads. The blonde goddess placed Amelia on the seat next to her, but paused as she grasped the reins and turned towards the silver haired valkyrie.
"Before I forget, Lenneth. I suggest you have Annette bring her lover and child to Valhalla when she can. Having a childhood playmate would make Amelia's development so much easier."
A/N. Just a placeholder for something new that popped into my head while my beta works on my other stories. Trivia- I actually wrote my first ever fanfic with Valkyrie Profile.
Prologue (a)
/x/
March mornings were usually pleasant in Brockton Bay, and the early onset of spring made the weather pleasantly cool. Taylor stifled a yawn as she felt her backyard's turf between her toes as she strolled barefoot, before her feet kicked against something soft. Taylor paused, and rubbed her eyes while her gaze travelled downwards. The sight of what her toes had knocked against caused Taylor to bite her lower lip, before she turned back to the house and did the correct thing a six year old should do when confronted with something unusual.
"Mom!! Aunt Silmeria's playing dead again!!"
A loud thump was followed by a crack, before birds that roosted on trees flew away as a piece of chopping block shot out of the Hebert kitchen window like a bolt from the blue. The kitchen screen door swung open, as a woman with long dark hair and brown eyes strode purposefully towards the shouting child. She held a cleaver stained with splinters that had its edge chipped off, and the white apron over her black pants and t-shirt was marked with tomato red stains.
"For the last time, Taylor," Annette said while she hopelessly tried to brush off the sawdust and splinters from the cleaver, "your aunt isn't dead."
Taylor frowned, and knelt down before she placed her hands beneath Silmeria's nose. Taylor nodded to herself while her mother rolled her eyes, before she pulled up Silmeria's eyelids and glanced into lifeless eyes.
"No breathing, cold to the touch and her eyes are dull," Taylor concluded as she stood up while brushing her hands. " Looks pretty dead to me, Mom."
"Brat," Annette sniffed even as she gave up on cleaning the knife with her hands and set it on the ground. "Just because it's a cold day and your Aunt likes to sleep in the yard doesn't mean she's dead."
Taylor moved aside while her mother knelt beside the still form of Silmeria. Annette cupped her hands above Silmeria's face, breathed deep and then leaned forward.
"Silmeria. Wake up!"
Light brown eyes flickered opened, as colour returned to once pale cheeks when Silmeria yawned. Her blonde hair, dishevelled with grass stuck between the strands, glittered as sunlight filtered between them. Silmeria's face split with a wide smile, her dimples softening the sharp cheekbones that made people pause when they first laid eyes on her. Taylor squeaked as her aunt grabbed her into a bearhug, before both of them broke into giggles.
"Aunt Silmeria," Taylor said as she pulled herself from her aunt's embrace. "What kind of power allows you to literally play dead before coming back?"
"The kind good little girls shouldn't be asking too much about, and certainly not telling overworked dads." Silmeria rubbed Taylor's head, which prompted her niece to pout as she wiggled away from her aunt.
"But I wanna know what kind of hero you are!"
"Run along now," Silmeria waved, "you're running late for school."
"But-"
"Lenneth's going to be here soon. You'd prefer her to drive you to school instead of your mo-"
"Wait for you at the car, Mom!"
Both adult women watched as Taylor beat a hasty retreat at the mention of their middle sister with grins plastered on their faces, before their faces darkened as Silmeria turned to her black-haired sister. Annette started to speak, before the sounds of a boiling pot made her dash back to the kitchen. Silmeria followed slowly behind, her arms folded as she watch Annette plunge her hand with a large fork into the boiling water.
"So..."
Annette remained silent as she scooped up the linguine from the pot, content to let her sister's query fall off while she worked to rescue lunch. Steam rose off her hands and fork as Annette got the last strand of pasta out, before Silmeria shrugged and placed the bowl of damp pasta into a microwave.
"So, " Silmeria asked testily as she wiped her fingers. "You the one responsible?"
"For?" Annette asked while she dumped a ruined chopping block into the trash.
"Allfather getting run through with a spear, along with his daughter Iron Rain."
Annette removed the bubbling cream from the heat, and set the saucepan down. The black-haired woman smirked, before she stretched out her left arm. A eight feet halberd appeared in a flash of light, the tip of the polearm scratched the roof of the kitchen. Her black clothes were engulfed in black fire, replaced with a white skirt, black plate armour with gold trimings and a winged helmet.
"Come forth," Annette whispered, "my noble Einherjar."
A tall muscled man, blonde hair sleeked backwards and clad in a suit of knightly armour appeared to her left. His face was covered with chain, with a small slit to see through. Silmeria frowned as she studied the Einherjar's helmet, before she turned towards Annette.
"Hrist. Allfather-"
"Annette, Silmeria. I'm mortal now."
Silmeria glanced at the still smoking pot where Annette had scooped out the noodles with her bare hands, before she decided she had other things to worry about.
"Annette. So you're the one who killed Allfather and made him your Einherjar?"
"Correct," Annette nodded. "The man claims the title, but wasn't able to back it up. I've meant to kill him for awhile now, but I always held myself back since Lenneth might have issues with me slaying a man with young children."
"Even one as despicable as he is," Silmeria added. "But then Kaiser, his son showed up."
"And since his son's of age, I figured it's a good a time as any," Annette bared her teeth. "Young man shan't forget the blow to his left eye anytime soon. Less of a fool than his sister though, she still continued to fight after she saw what I could do, and sealed her own fate. Admirable, but foolish."
The black flame flared up again, and the armour and Allfather both disappeared. Annette went back to heating up the cream, while Silmeria rubbed her nose.
"And the soul of Iron Rain?"
"Still lurking around her grave, no doubt. Her father was the one I was after, and I'm no longer in the business of reaping souls for Valhalla now that Ragnarok isn't happening. You can leave her for Hel's tender mercies, or you can claim her as your Einherjar if you wish."
Silmeria clicked her tongue.
Hrist only killed the ones who insisted on giving battle, Silmeria thought. She's grown soft over the years spent raising a mortal family.
"The affairs of mortals isn't usually the concern of us in Asgard, Hr-Annette-"
"If not for Danny and Taylor, yes."
"Of all of our dear sister Lenneth's feats, you choose to emulate her literal love for mortals in the most intimate way," Silmeria shook her head. "And you followed her disregard for consequences too."
"And we're all better off for it, Silmeria. Lenneth ruling Asgard and the nine worlds is miles better than Odin."
"Yes, I remember Odin," Silmeria's face darkened. "But how do you plan on dealing with the fallout. Do you plan on handing all of the city to Marquis?"
"No, of course not. Be a dear and help me place the cream into the fridge to cool will you?"
Silmeria frowned but complied, before the sound of crackling flames had her snap her head back towards her elder sister. Silmeria felt her gaze drawn towards the shining tip of Annette's halberd.
"Marquis will make a fine addition to my stable, don't you think?"
/x/
The first sign that trouble was afoot for the Brockton Bay Brigade came fast and furious, a shower of bone fragments headed their way with only the shields of Lady Photon and Manpower that prevented the unexpected assault from ending the Brigade's assault before it began.
"That's a new one," Brandish scowled as she studied the bone splinters on the pavement, "and so unlike Marquis' usual behaviour."
"Maybe he's upset we've attacked his home," Lady Photon said while she lowered her shields, "or somebody already found out about him and beat us to him."
The Brigade collectively turned their eyes towards the large, two storey house where Marquis waited. Manpower and Lady Photon served as the vanguard as they advanced cautiously towards their target, their nerves on edge as the heroes witnessed the shattered windows and the hole where the door once stood. Their cautious march broke into a charge when a loud screech and a black tongue of flame shot out of the house, and Lady Photon and Manpower charged forward into the dark fire. Brandish held her energy blade closer to herself as she saw the black fire part and retreat as her sister and Manpower dashed ahead, the hairs on her back bristled at the lack of opposition to the Brigade's advance.
Something's gone very wrong.
"Valkyrie!"
Lady Photon's shouts drew Brandish's attention, as she saw a woman in black armour and winged helmet pull out the tip of her halberd from Marquis' chest. Brandish snarled as she watched the nemesis of the Brigade slump onto the floor, and pushed past Manpower and Lady Photon with her energy sword drawn. Brandish trembled and grit her teeth, as Valkyrie coolly regarded her with a detached stare and a sneer.
"You killed Marquis!"
"That I did, Brandish," Valkyrie nodded. "I suppose you're upset that you missed the chance to redeem your honour from the defeats he inflicted upon the Brockton Bay Brigade?"
"It's not that," Manpower stood up and walked between the two feuding women. "We were working to finally bring Marquis to justice. You killing a villain in cold blood when there's no Kill Order placed on him sets a bad precedent.
Valkyrie blinked, looked behind at the ruined doorway the Brigade had entered from before her sneer grew wider.
"As opposed to attacking a cape in his home, dear heroes."
"You don't consider yourself a hero, Valkyrie?"
Valkyrie matched Lady Photon's cold tone with a glacial stare.
"No, Lady Photon. I collect the-"
The room filled with the smell of burnt bone, as Brandish's energy blade was stopped inches from Valkyrie's shoulders by a wall of bone. Marquis, the gaping chest wound now missing, stood stone-faced when he stood between the Bridge and Valkyrie.
"Do not misdirect your anger, dear," Brandish bristled at Marquis' usual smooth baritones and the condescending manner. " The lady Valkyrie offered me battle on the field of honour, which I took. My life was rightfully forfeited, even if I leave behind things which I treasure."
"Must be expensive," Lady Photon said, "this thing you treasure so much."
"Quite so," Marquis nodded in agreement as he retracted the bone cage. "She was borne of a woman who loved me, the time I spent raising her taught me more things about myself than the few decades I spent being alive."
Flashbang cocked his head towards the stairs, and he shivered when a pair of hateful black eyes bore into him. Brandish noticed her partner's unease, and warily stepped towards the young girl with black hair hidden at within the shadows of the top of the stairs.
"That," Marquis said softly, "is my treasure. Allow me to introduce my daughter Amelia."
"You seem awfully distant from your treasure," Lady Photon noted. "Any reason why?"
"She pushed me away after I manifested as an Einherjar. She probably thinks I'm a fake."
Lady Photon winced as she saw the venom directed by Amelia towards Valkyrie, who looked bored as she dispelled her polearm and walked towards the door. Marquis watched his new mistress leave the house, before he turned to the Brigade with pleading eyes.
"I have nothing to offer you, so I can only appeal to your sense of justice and worth as heroes. Will you take in my daughter?"
The women of the Brigade looked at each other, before Brandish shook her head vigorously.
"I've got my hands full with Victoria. No way I can take on another child."
Lady Photon opened her mouth, only for nothing but an awkward silence to replace whatever words she wanted to speak. She turned her attention back to the deceased villain, only for the wraith to vanish in a puff of smoke. Brandish stared at the empty space where her nemesis once stood, before she turned to Ameila with the cold eyes who stared at the cooling corpse of her father.
"Right," Lady Photon said finally. "Let's get the PRT, the local police and also child protection services here shall we?"
/x/
Freya had seen many things and people darken the gates of Sessrúmnir, the hall where half of the worthy dead will go. Midgard, all of them, but especially the ones that had long forgotten the gods had many, many people being born and dying. Heroic deaths as it turns out wasn't that unusual when enough people die. and throngs had trudged the path through the welcoming plains of Folkvangr to her hall. But a few worlds especially, had seen numbers of people who qualify for Valhalla under Lenneth and her own hall surge recently. Earth Bet being chief among them, so much so that Hrist had taken a spouse and bore a demigoddess there.
But a fully human child, who hid behind the deity who re-created the world while giving her an icy glare? Even for the blonde goddess this was something new. Freya wore her usual smile and walked slowly towards Lenneth, her cyan eyes twinkled as she took in Lenneth's new look, who eschewed her usual blue plate armour and helm for a simple blue dress and powder blue jacket. Freya knelt down to meet the dark haired girl face to face, before her smile faltered as she looked into Amelia's eyes.
"Lenneth," Freya said as she stood up, "The child's eyes, they're dead. I take it from the lack of any hint of divinity this child is thankfully not begotten by you."
"Yes," Lenneth replied as Amelia hid herself from the gaze of the two goddess and buried herself under the valkyrie's hip length silver hair. "Annette took it upon herself to choose her father Marquis as an Einherjar. But her experiences and age has softened her, as she had the presence of mind to ask me for help with the child."
"Annette?"
"Hrist."
"Ahh. Yet you allow her to slay a mortal with a child as young as this? This Marquis must have been reprehensible."
"Not...really," Lenneth said. " He's not a nice person by any stretch of the imagination certainly, but the reason why I didn't intervene was because the potential cataclysm with the Many-Beasts will require Einherjar, and the mortals are ill-equipped to deal. Besides, his daughter was a surprise to Annette."
Freya's frown retreated as understanding dawned on her, and she again looked at Amelia with a motherly smile.
"Come, child," Freya cooed. "Don't be afraid."
Amelia took a quick glance at Freya, before she darted behind Lenneth's legs. The silver haired deity chuckled, before she turned around and knelt in front of Amelia."
"Ms Lenneth..."
"Its alright child. No one can harm you here," Lenneth said as she wiped away Amelia's tears. "Freya here will take care of you as she had with most of Midgard's children, and I promise to visit as often as possible when I can."
Amelia's mouth parted slightly, but closed before she nodded. Lenneth smiled again and kissed the child's forehead, before Freya appeared behind Amelia, knelt down and placed a blanket made of white fur over the child. Amelia blinked, before she broke into a smile and took a deep sniff of the blanket.
"The wolves native to Jotunheim produce wonderful pelts, that keep you pleasantly warm in any kind of weather. The perfume was my idea."
Amelia's eyes softened as she looked at the blonde goddess doting over her, whose smile grew wider and carried Amelia off her feet. The sun filtered through the rafters made of spears, and the light reflected from the golden necklace Brisinggamen which Freya wore over her one-piece dress transformed into a field with stalks of grass that swayed with the wind. The smell and sight of Freya's hair reminded Amelia of the field of ripe wheat her father had brought her to only three months ago, and the memory had Amelia sniffle again.
"Lenneth," Freya said softly as she patted Amelia who sobbed into her shoulder. "You reckon having her father here would soften the blow for Amelia?"
Lenneth shook her head, as she glanced at the trembling Amelia.
"The girl might react badly, considering Annette told me when Marquis tried to touch her after he became an Einherjar she slapped his hand away. But I'll take a look regardless, since the goddess of motherhood herself has asked."
"Thank you Lenneth," Freya said with a slight smile, before she blew a kiss into the air. Hissing filled the air, before a chariot with bronze, gilded wheels and polished wood tore through the windows of Sessrúmnir. Two large cats, their fur a shade of metal blue pulled against their ropes as they landed before the divine duo and their charge, and Amelia screamed before Freya stilled them with a touch to their heads. The blonde goddess placed Amelia on the seat next to her, but paused as she grasped the reins and turned towards the silver haired valkyrie.
"Before I forget, Lenneth. I suggest you have Annette bring her lover and child to Valhalla when she can. Having a childhood playmate would make Amelia's development so much easier."
A/N. Just a placeholder for something new that popped into my head while my beta works on my other stories. Trivia- I actually wrote my first ever fanfic with Valkyrie Profile.
Hyacinthium
Writing about sad cannibals as we speak.
- Location
- Bedroom
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Oh my gosh, I had no idea there were other Valkyrie Profile fans here!
And the main character is from ValkPro! It's HIRST! WHO IS ANNETTE! Sweet as sugar my body is ready.
And the main character is from ValkPro! It's HIRST! WHO IS ANNETTE! Sweet as sugar my body is ready.
globalwarmth
ruining the weather.
- Location
- Polar ice caps
You'll need a big ass truck to kill this Annette eh?
- Location
- Elsewhere
Yes, a properly developed sense of vengeance and hatred is critical for children.
- Location
- Sydney,Australia
this will set the cauldron off their rocker.
Baughn
Healing-type writer
- Location
- Dublin
Why would it?
If they even still exist, they'd be quite happy about this once they figure it out. Cauldron's sole goal is humanity's survival, after all.
Hyacinthium
Writing about sad cannibals as we speak.
- Location
- Bedroom
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Lenneth is my bae and if Cauldron has any clue that Gods and she exist then they should be ecstatic. Gosh Valkyrie are so cool. I adore anything Valkyrie to be honest, it's impossible for me not to.
I'm imaging little Taylor dressed up like her mom for Halloween and its adorable.
I'm imaging little Taylor dressed up like her mom for Halloween and its adorable.
- Location
- Caracas
I didn't knew I needed this so much as I do now.
Prolouge (b)
JayF
The Idol Producer
Einherjar (Worm/Valkyrie Profile)
Prologue (b)
/x/
Armsmaster looked over the condensed report through his helmet's HUD for the fifth time in ten minutes while his bike stopped at the red light, and scowled as his eyes hovered over information removed from his copy. The adoption of Amelia Claire Lavere had been contentious, and sparked a turf war between CPS and the PRT. In the interest of better bureaucratic relations, he had been designated as the representative for the PRT.
I had to do an Freedom of Information Application, Armsmaster fumed over his information, just to force the wrapped scraps they threw at me.
Armsmaster grunted, before he shook his head to clear away the lingering hard feelings he felt as the lights changed and he drove towards the meeting. He was waved through by the uniformed security as he passed the guardhouse into the gated community, even as he counted a dozen firearm toting guards who watched the horizon for threats. Armsmaster stopped near a three storey house located up a gentle slope, the smell of freshly cut grass and flowers alerted him to the finely kept garden before he saw it. Just outside the metal gates was a grey car, the sign of the local CPS branch proudly displayed on the doors. A platinum-haired woman in a light blue suit waved at him, and Armsmaster nodded as he walked towards his CPS contact.
At the very least, CPS agreeing to have a joint visit to Lavere's new foster home is a sign of goodwill. Even if coloured hair doesn't fill me with much professional confidence.
"Ms Lenneth Verdandi?"
"At your service, Armsmaster," Verdandi said as she shook Armsmaster's offered hand. The Protectorate hero tense posture softened a bit at the gesture, and walked beside her as they both entered the iron gates which opened on their approach.
"So, what will you be looking out for, Armsmaster?"
Armsmasters jaws tightened before, but forced a smile.
"Mostly just signs of mental trauma that may lead to a trigger event. Two decades of those have allowed us to develop extensive knowledge about the nature of triggers and what to look out for."
Verdandi's smile faded. Armsmaster tilted his head slightly, mildly surprised at how expressive his contact was for a government agent.
"You suspect Freya to be abusive?"
Armsmaster creaked his neck slightly, as he stopped himself from shaking his head.
"First name basis with a foster family?"
"Yes," Verdandi replied with a frown, " Freya Folkvangr is both a friend and also a valued contributor to our foster families program. If not for her, we'd be hard pressed to deal with many cases."
Right, no point starting a fight over something as blatant unprofessional behaviour. I am here for other matters, not doing an audit on another agency.
"I see. I apologise for overstepping my bounds if that's the case."
"Apology accepted, even if it wasn't needed," Verdandi said as her frown softened. "But back to the abuse, you suspect Freya to be abusive?"
"No," Armsmaster shook his head, "While I've did my research on Ms Folkvangr, nothing I have suggests this is so. Neither have I suggested that Lavere's new family is abusive."
"But signs of traum-"
"Could be due to sources outside of the foster family, especially when you consider the circumstances Lavere ended up being put for adoption."
Really, what kind of incompetents does CPS hire if a professional like you doesn't understand this?
Armsmaster paused midway, and decided on a different tack.
"In any case, I should inform you that second generation triggers require a far milder threshold before they develop into parahumans. While parahumans do not remember how they triggered, witnesses and family report that the circumstance which lead to the trigger are usually far less traumatising."
"Oh, glad to know that."
Armsmaster shook his head as Verdandi turned towards the door, her attention span apparently spent on listening to him before he caught up with his contact.
At least she won't be giving me trouble directly, Armsmaster thought as Verdandi beamed in delight when the twin mahogany doors creaked opened on their approach. His cheeks flushed, and Armsmaster turned his own sensors on his own vital signs when he noticed his cheeks flush and his heartbeat race. A blonde woman hugged Verdandi and Armsmaster's eyes narrowed at their host.
"Stop doing that," Armsmaster said. The blonde woman stared at him blankly, as she placed a finger against her chin. Armsmaster winced as he felt his suit inject drugs to calm down the sudden spike in his blood pressure.
"But I'm not doing anything, Armsmaster," the blonde sighed, before she gave the hero a tired smile. "But I'm not surprised. Not the first time someone from your line of work suspects I'm a Master, despite the scans that showed I am decidedly not a parahuman."
Armsmaster took a dogeared copy of a medical report from Freya, and stared blankly at the papers which bore the signature of several PRT certified parahuman specialists as his equipment went to work.
"Its true. You're not parahuman."
Their hostess took back the report, and Armsmaster felt a jolt in his chest when he noticed tears below her left eye.
Either that, or you're some kind of new parahuman.
"You can have yourself looked at if you suspect anything," Freya spoke through a wan smile, "the last few capes I've met did the same."
"I certainly will," Armsmaster said as his suit sent a message to console about a possible Master/Stranger situation. "Mrs Folkvangr I presume."
"At your service," Armsmaster swallowed nervously as Freya did a mild curtsy, flashing a hint of cleavage from her pink blouse when she bowed. The hero felt a bit lightheaded as his suit injected some drugs to control the spike of adrenaline levels he felt, but his face remained unchanged.
"It's Ms by the way, Armsmaster. Sadly, my husband passed on a while ago and I reverted to my maiden name."
"Sorry for your loss," Armsmaster said out of habit, even as the side of his lips twitched due to the grin that threatened to show. Freya waved the two of them in, and Armsmaster began to checked his cameras to see if they still recorded the incident as he stepped into the house. The windows were large, opened wide to allow the breeze and sunlight into the home where it melded into the soft earthy tones of the walls and floor. Contrary to the expectations from the palatial impressions of the gate and garden, the furniture of the house was mildly coloured, with cream coloured carpets and wooden furniture to create a homely atmosphere.
"It's not the first time I've taken foster children," Freya said with visible pride as she eyed her two guests from the corner of her vision, "so I try to make it as child friendly as possible."
"I'm not an expert on raising children, Ms Folkvangr but I'd say this place fits the textbook example of a child-friendly home. Now, can we see your charge please?"
"Certainly," Another gorgeous smile and another shot of meds for Armsmaster while Freya turned to the spiral staircase, the wood polished to shine. "Amelia, come down please?"
"Do I have to?"
Child sounds reluctant, but nothing unusual for one her age or circumstances, Armsmaster noted while he slung his halberd behind his back. Lenneth grinned and stood next to the stairwell while Freya chuckled and cupped her hands.
"Lenneth's here."
The wooden stairs shook, as footsteps resounded before Amelia was swept off her feet by a pouncing Lenneth from the stairwell. Armsmaster's lips curled upwards, before he cleared his throat to get the attention of Amelia who squealed away in Lenneth's arms. The young girl eyed Armsmaster warily, who knelt down slowly while Amelia shuffled closer to Freya and Lenneth. Armsmaster looked on with approval, as Freya rubbed the child's head and held her close to her hip protectively.
If anything, I'd be worried that Freya's too good a foster parent.
"Amelia," Freya gently nudged the girl forward even as she kept her arm on Amelia's back, "say hi to Armsmaster."
Armsmaster's impression of Freya soured, when he saw an icy glare from the Amelia directed at him. Lenneth went over to his side, and the hero whispered to his CPS counterpart.
"Quite a nasty stare from a child so young-"
"I know what you're thinking, Armsmaster. And you're wrong."
The firm timbre of her voice startled Armsmaster, and he reevaluated her worth as an agent as he noticed the subtle changes in her posture. Her back arched forward, while her eyes once brown orbs of warmth were now cold and judging. Armsmaster couldn't help but nod in approval.
"Valkyrie," Armsmaster said. "She's responsible for this, isn't she?"
"Not my place to say, but our counsellors are working on her diagnosis. Can you spare me some details on how the Protectorate is going to handle Valkyrie?"
"Above your paygrade, Verdandi. No offense."
"None taken," Lenneth bristled. " None at all."
"Good. But all I can say is, since Allfather, Iron Rain and Marquis all had rap-sheets that'd see them Birdcaged, we're keeping a close eye on her. She's not active much, and her first clashes a few months ago with the Teeth and the Empire suggests she's not indiscriminate in using lethal force at least."
"Cool. And her Einherjar? Oh, don't give me that look. You think the Brigade can keep a secret like that for long?"
Armsmaster fixed his gaze at Amelia, who huddled together with Freya while the foster mother tried to nudge her forward.
"What's in it for me if I provide you with this info?"
"Here's a juicy one, Armsmaster. Freya is actually the goddess from myth."
"...Right. I'll be the adult here. We are worried about the constructs which our Thinkers suspect are projectons, and we have countermeasures in place."
Armsmaster made a show to fiddle with his helmet, before a screen appeared on his right forearm with the recording sign flashing on the bottom of the screen. Lenneth smirked, but fished out a notebook and pen as Amelia trudged towards the pair with Freya gently encouraging her from behind.
/x/
Goddess and valkyrie watched as Armsmaster's motorbike disappeared into the horizon. Freya clicked her tongue, while Lenneth frowned as her phone's screen went blank and the smell of burnt silicone and plastic filled the air.
"Warn me before you sweep for bugs with a energy field will you, Freya? I liked my phone."
"And let your effort in playing the naive idiot go to waste, Lenneth? Not a chance. However,Armsmaster wasn't subtle when he bugged the house."
"I'll be charitable," Lenneth said, "and put it down to the effect you have on mortal men."
Amelia approached Freya from behind, and pulled at her foster mother's dress. Freya beamed, and the child giggled as the goddess set Amelia onto her shoulders before she floated to the ceiling.
"See you at Annette's trial, Lenneth. I'll be heading to Valhalla with my newest daughter first."
"Oh you'll wait for me, Freya."
The air rippled and a corona of light surrounded the divines, before there was nothing left but an empty house.
/x/
Annette felt Amelia's glare on her back, but kept her face neutral and her gaze fixed upon her middle sister who stood on the gilded, golden throne. Not that there's a lack of space for Lenneth to stand on, for the seat was wider than most park benches. A stone slab, ensconced in a wreath of shiny spears with the brass walls of Valhalla as the backrest. The walls of the Hall of the Worthy dead stretched forever into the sky, the ceiling obscured by a cloud. Next to Lenneth stood a man with green braided hair, knife ears in a green and white suit who stood nervously.
"Rufus," the green-haired elf turned at his name being called, " do you have anything to add."
"None, Lady Valkyrie," the jewels on his red headdress and braids jingled as he shook his head. "The Battle Maidens Three are yours to command."
"Good. Freya?"
Annette matched Freya's glare, with not an inch ceded while her eyes avoided Amelia.
"None. Except that the Einherjar Marquis be part of Sessrúmnir. After Valkyrie Hrist is done with their training of course."
"Annette," the dark valkyrie added testily. Freya smirked at Annette's rebuttal.
"Only if you're mortal, not when you're a Valkyrie, Hrist."
Annette took a step forward at Freya, before she was stopped with a glare from her middle sister.
"Remember your place, sister."
Annette sucked in a gulp of air, shot a last glare at Freya before she turned back to the throne and nodded. Lenneth held out her right arm palm first towards her elder sister, and Annette winced when a beam of blinding light blanketed her. She fell to her knees before Silmeria in full valkyrie regalia grabbed her arms, and Annette's face turned ashen as she patted her chest.
"Its gone," Annette whispered before she gave a baleful glance at Lenneth. "you locked me with the Sovereign's Rite."
"A heavily modified one, yes," Lenneth nodded. " Surely you weren't expecting any less?"
"No, I wasn't," Annette barked a bitter laugh. "How long?"
"Until your own daughter comes of age."
"And when will that be?"
"When I decide."
Annette stayed silent at the proclaimed sentence, her lips curled into a scowl.
"Be grateful, I was planning on confining you to Asgard for disobeying the rules of slaying a parent with young children."
Annette took a step forward when Lenneth walked from the throne towards her with a thin necklace in hand. Annette's brown eyes narrowed as she focused on the small glass shard embedded into a hammer shaped pendant, before she took the proffered necklace gingerly.
"A piece of the Water Mirror," Annette said as she placed the chain over her neck. " A time out and supervision. And I thought I was tough on my people."
"Even as a mortal, there are few things on Midgard that would be a real threat, Annette."
Annette narrowed her eyes at Freya's mockery, but pursed her lips instead.
"Lenneth, Rufus and I will be rotating our watch on the mirror. Not to worry, we're not crass enough to intrude on your family time," Annette gave a dry laugh, but maintained her stony silence. "However, should we notice a real threat, we will unlock your powers."
"I'm utterly reassured," Annette drawled before her chin tightened. "I get to keep Toothy, right? I've earned that spear when I braved the Seraphic Gate with you."
Lenneth nodded, before she watched as Silmeria whispered under her breath and dragged Annette from before the throne. Amelia's gaze maintained their focus on the black-haired valkyrie as Annette disappeared from the audience hall, and she stepped out from her foster mother's reach when the massive gates closed with a dull bang. Freya's eyes creased with worry, but she found Lenneth's hands on her shoulders when she wanted to approach her child.
"She needs to walk out of the shadow of her father's death, Freya."
"She needs an adult and a mother, Lenneth."
"And she will," Lenneth nodded. "But that will be later, once she has realised how and why her father died. She sees Einherjar Marquis as a stranger, yes?"
"She sees him as a shade-a fake," Freya said before she bit her lip. A quick glance at the stiff, broody form of her foster child prompted Freya to nod before she grabbed Lenneth by her hand and dragged her towards Amelia.
"Freya," Lenneth said. "What are you doing?"
Amelia gave a small smile to Freya as the goddess' cat drawn chariot tore through the windows and landed in front of the throne. Freya chuckled before she gave a coy smile to Lenneth.
"I've just the plan. I will, however need you to arrange for Frei, Annette and her family as well as use of Bifrost."
"You wish to use the rainbow bridge connecting Midgard to Asgard?" Lenneth frowned. "This better be good."
"It will, Lenneth," Freya said. "It will."
/x/
Taylor huddled close to her mother, even as her cheeks flushed as another wave of warmth from Silmeria enveloped her. Her brown eyes darted around, eager to catch any glimpse of something that isn't raging snow set against the backdrop of a black sky. Frustrated at the lack of any change in scenery, Taylor turned towards her left, where her father was currently held tightly in a grip by a woman with brown hat with gold trimmings and bronze dress and boots. The howling snow and wind lashed against her exposed upper arms and thighs, but the woman with the round face and green eyes smiled widely at the frozen wastes she stood in.
"Mom. Who's that woman that brought us here, and why are you letting her hold onto Dad?"
"The same reason Silmeria is holding onto you, Taylor. That he doesn't freeze to death or be blown away by the gales."
Taylor frowned as she noted her mother's grimace.
"Can't you do it, Mom?"
"No," Annette said as her grimace turned into a scowl. "Mom didn't do her research and made a mistake. Now, I'm on time out."
"Oh, you're speaking in third person, Mom. You never do that unless you really screw up."
"Language, Taylor." Danny's voice sounded crystal clear despite the blizzard that did it's best to make things unpleasant. "You're with important company."
"You don't seem very surprised when we were dragged away from our home to the middle of a snowstorm, Dad. How long have you known."
"Long enough," Danny said while he looked northwards. "Your mom felt we should make the reveal of your mother's secret identity a special occasion."
"Between Mom sending bits of chopping block flying when she slams the cleaver down, Dad? I kinda figured it out when I was seven two years ago."
"Clever girl," Silmeria said while she ruffled Taylor's hair. Taylor huffed as she pushed her aunt's hand away, before she picked at her clothes. Taylor looked down at her clothes- jeans, running shoes and a jacket over a t-shirt- before she looked at her similarly dressed father.
Not really blizzard clothing, but if Aunt Silmeria can do this just how many powers does Mom and her siblings have?
Taylor looked around, the swirling whiteout contrasted with the dark skies had Taylor shiver at the endless night before she focused on her family. Annette's sour expression prompted Taylor to focus on her far more jovial aunt Silmeria, while Frei whispered to Danny. Taylor huffed, frustrated that the adults were focused elsewhere before she squinted as she noted a distant light grow stronger.
"A rainbow," Taylor squeaked out in delight, "there's a rainbow in the snow!"
Annette sniffed, as the pitch-black skies started to give way to an expanding corona of light. Violet danced with green, while silver danced with pink against the backdrop of an ocean green. A path made of clashing light descended, the structure blinking in and out of existence. Annette's eyes widened before she shivered, and black flame blanketed Annette before her green jacket and pants were replaced with black armour and a winged helmet. Red, feathered wings made of light burst out of her back, and Taylor screamed in delight while she strained against her aunt's grip before Silmeria let go.
"Mom," Taylor said as she hugged Annette by the waist, "you're the Valkyrie!"
"That I am, Little Owl."
Taylor yelped as she was lifted up and placed on her mother's shoulders in a single movement, her cheeks rosy while mist lifted from her mouth as the girl panted in excitement.
"Feelin' cold?"
"I'm fine, Mom. Never felt better before in my life!"
"Good," Annette clicked her tongue as she placed her gloved hands over Taylor's forehead before she gave a wide smile. "You're growing into your role very well as well."
"Mom? What-"
Taylor squeezed her eyes shut as a blinding light blasted forth from the rainbow bridge. Sparks flooded her vision before Taylor finally peeled open her lids slowly, and she heard her heart thump against her chest as Lenneth and Freya strutted down the stairs. Stars and clouds obscured thousands of figures above them, armed and armoured with equipment both familiar and alien to Taylor. Taylor cocked her head as her eyes laid on the girl with the frizzy brown hair and freckles who clung to Freya's dress, before she took a sniff as the winds and snow died.
"The air," Taylor thrust her thumb into the wind, "It's warm now."
A wide grin on her face, as Taylor let go of her mother's hand and skipped up Bifrost towards the girl who clung to Freya. Annette watched warily as her daughter approached Amelia, who gave the cold glare that startled even her.
Taylor stopped inches from Amelia, and all the adults focused on the two children before Taylor's eyes disappeared into a squint when her grin broke into a wide smile.
"Hi! I'm Taylor! What's your name?"
Amelia looked at Annette, before she snarled at Taylor.
"Go away. Your monster of a mom killed Daddy."
Taylor blinked, before she turned with a blank look towards Annette. Annette looked to her husband and younger sister, before she nodded slowly.
"Mom, you're the Valkyrie right?"
"...Yes?"
"So why did you kill," Taylor pointed at Amelia, "her dad?"
Lenneth arched an eyebrow at Taylor's calmness, while Danny covered his mouth and his eyes creased into a worried frown. Annette's glare bore into Taylor's eyes, and sighed when she found her child staring back.
"Her father was Marquis, the crime-"
"Lord?"
"Don't cut me off," Annette snapped before she breathed deep and continued, her face ashen with guilt. " I've previously killed off Allfather and his daughter Iron Rain after the running gang war between the Empire and Marquis threatened your dad's livelihood, and decided that Marquis had to go as well to prevent him from taking over."
Amelia screamed, before she clasped her hands over her ears and turned her back. Freya pulled Amelia closer into her arms, and shifted herself to block her daughter from Annette.
"Mom, would you have let Marquis go if he chose to come quietly?"
"I'd shake my head in disgust, before lopping off his head-"
Annette matched Amelia's craze shrieks with a stony glance, her lips pursed as she shook her head.
"Children of any age. I can see why you prohibit us from reaping the ones with very young descendants, Lenneth. For they do not understand their sires were more than just figures in their lives."
"You killed Daddy!" Amelia shrieked, her voice hoarse as it travelled across the endless plains. The girl pulled forward, firmly held back by the thin arms of Freya which glowed a gentle blue.
"I did, and if you wish you're free to try to have a go at me. But make no mistake. I didn't kill a defenceless man, but a warrior worth to be chosen by the Gods. By me. Millions upon millions die this very second, and you insult his memory by not seeing all of him."
Amelia's lips bled as she bit her gums while grinding her teeth, and Freya raised a single finger which sparked with white light.
"Murde-"
The air rippled before a large man with long curly hair in a red robe and pants appeared in front of Annette. Freya frowned as chains of bone tore out of the ground and tied down Amelia, but did nothing further when Lenneth placed her hand on her shoulder. Annette scowled, as her Einherjar turned to her and bowed.
"I've no need for insubordination amongst my Einherjar, Marquis."
"I'm well aware, Lady Valkyrie. But I cannot see you forcing my daughter to grow up even more than she already has."
"Grow?" Annette sniffed before she turned her back on Marquis. "Your girl was stuck in a rut, unable to move past an inevitable station of life considering what you were. If Sessrúmnir wants you, they're free to have you."
A black chain that linked Marquis by his chest to Annette's hip appeared, and Marquis looked towards his daughter who eyed him warily before he pulled his end of the chain into his chest. Annette raised an eyebrow as she turned to face her newly bonded Einherjar.
"You refuse?"
"Amelia was my greatest treasure, and the year I spent with her was among my happiest. But I've always been told that the dead should not be too attached with the things in life. With Freya as her foster mother, she'll have a better life than what I could ever offer her. I will remain by your side, until I feel it's time to leave."
"And you assume you get to make the call?"
"Try and stop me when the time comes, Lady Valkyrie."
Marquis looked at his daughter and withdrew the bone chains, while Amelia remained rooted to the spot with her gaze fixed on Annette. Freya started at her daughter's intense stare, before she placed her hands against Amelia's forehead.
"The offshoot, Lenneth! It's-"
Marquis sighed, before he faded away.
A very reluctant and ironic congratulations on your trigger, Amelia Folksvangr.
/x/
Lenneth breathed out mist as her boots and greaves crushed against the thick layer of snow, and her expression lightened as she finally saw the faint light once she cleared the valley. The valkyrie gave a quick glance backwards, at the valley with the impervious darkness before she continued her stroll towards a blonde girl with green eyes. The girl hummed, surrounded by shades with faces like caricatures and they faded back and forth to the moving moonlight that shone on the girl who hummed a dull tune. Azure wings of light flamed into existence as Lenneth closed onto the girl, who ceased humming and turned to meet the valkyrie. The girl bowed, as the shades disappeared into shrinking clouds of smoke.
"Ciara."
The blonde lifted her head, her green eyes glimmered in the dusk.
"I'd bid you morning, noon or evening, All-Mother. But I'm afraid time, has no meaning here near the root of the world. Pray tell, did you divine I was in Nifleheim with the Water Mirror?"
Lenneth fingered her sword Levantine, while Ciara directed her gaze to the blade.
"Surely All-Mother has no need to draw her blade against her own chosen?"
Metal scraped against wood, as Lenneth drew out the sword and the blade dispelled the darkness. Ciara frowned as she heard wood tear and the ground shook, while Lenneth shook her head at the now exposed sight of giant corpses laid out across the field.
"For the last time, Ciara, leave Nidhogg alone. I will not want to pull you from the cycle of reincarnation."
Ciara bowed, her frilly grey dress pristine despite the overturned, snowy landscape she stood in.
"As All-Mother decrees."
"It's the fifth time, Ciara poking the dangers of the World Tree. Do not make me pin you on the the side of Yggdrasil again."
Prologue (b)
/x/
Armsmaster looked over the condensed report through his helmet's HUD for the fifth time in ten minutes while his bike stopped at the red light, and scowled as his eyes hovered over information removed from his copy. The adoption of Amelia Claire Lavere had been contentious, and sparked a turf war between CPS and the PRT. In the interest of better bureaucratic relations, he had been designated as the representative for the PRT.
I had to do an Freedom of Information Application, Armsmaster fumed over his information, just to force the wrapped scraps they threw at me.
Armsmaster grunted, before he shook his head to clear away the lingering hard feelings he felt as the lights changed and he drove towards the meeting. He was waved through by the uniformed security as he passed the guardhouse into the gated community, even as he counted a dozen firearm toting guards who watched the horizon for threats. Armsmaster stopped near a three storey house located up a gentle slope, the smell of freshly cut grass and flowers alerted him to the finely kept garden before he saw it. Just outside the metal gates was a grey car, the sign of the local CPS branch proudly displayed on the doors. A platinum-haired woman in a light blue suit waved at him, and Armsmaster nodded as he walked towards his CPS contact.
At the very least, CPS agreeing to have a joint visit to Lavere's new foster home is a sign of goodwill. Even if coloured hair doesn't fill me with much professional confidence.
"Ms Lenneth Verdandi?"
"At your service, Armsmaster," Verdandi said as she shook Armsmaster's offered hand. The Protectorate hero tense posture softened a bit at the gesture, and walked beside her as they both entered the iron gates which opened on their approach.
"So, what will you be looking out for, Armsmaster?"
Armsmasters jaws tightened before, but forced a smile.
"Mostly just signs of mental trauma that may lead to a trigger event. Two decades of those have allowed us to develop extensive knowledge about the nature of triggers and what to look out for."
Verdandi's smile faded. Armsmaster tilted his head slightly, mildly surprised at how expressive his contact was for a government agent.
"You suspect Freya to be abusive?"
Armsmaster creaked his neck slightly, as he stopped himself from shaking his head.
"First name basis with a foster family?"
"Yes," Verdandi replied with a frown, " Freya Folkvangr is both a friend and also a valued contributor to our foster families program. If not for her, we'd be hard pressed to deal with many cases."
Right, no point starting a fight over something as blatant unprofessional behaviour. I am here for other matters, not doing an audit on another agency.
"I see. I apologise for overstepping my bounds if that's the case."
"Apology accepted, even if it wasn't needed," Verdandi said as her frown softened. "But back to the abuse, you suspect Freya to be abusive?"
"No," Armsmaster shook his head, "While I've did my research on Ms Folkvangr, nothing I have suggests this is so. Neither have I suggested that Lavere's new family is abusive."
"But signs of traum-"
"Could be due to sources outside of the foster family, especially when you consider the circumstances Lavere ended up being put for adoption."
Really, what kind of incompetents does CPS hire if a professional like you doesn't understand this?
Armsmaster paused midway, and decided on a different tack.
"In any case, I should inform you that second generation triggers require a far milder threshold before they develop into parahumans. While parahumans do not remember how they triggered, witnesses and family report that the circumstance which lead to the trigger are usually far less traumatising."
"Oh, glad to know that."
Armsmaster shook his head as Verdandi turned towards the door, her attention span apparently spent on listening to him before he caught up with his contact.
At least she won't be giving me trouble directly, Armsmaster thought as Verdandi beamed in delight when the twin mahogany doors creaked opened on their approach. His cheeks flushed, and Armsmaster turned his own sensors on his own vital signs when he noticed his cheeks flush and his heartbeat race. A blonde woman hugged Verdandi and Armsmaster's eyes narrowed at their host.
"Stop doing that," Armsmaster said. The blonde woman stared at him blankly, as she placed a finger against her chin. Armsmaster winced as he felt his suit inject drugs to calm down the sudden spike in his blood pressure.
"But I'm not doing anything, Armsmaster," the blonde sighed, before she gave the hero a tired smile. "But I'm not surprised. Not the first time someone from your line of work suspects I'm a Master, despite the scans that showed I am decidedly not a parahuman."
Armsmaster took a dogeared copy of a medical report from Freya, and stared blankly at the papers which bore the signature of several PRT certified parahuman specialists as his equipment went to work.
"Its true. You're not parahuman."
Their hostess took back the report, and Armsmaster felt a jolt in his chest when he noticed tears below her left eye.
Either that, or you're some kind of new parahuman.
"You can have yourself looked at if you suspect anything," Freya spoke through a wan smile, "the last few capes I've met did the same."
"I certainly will," Armsmaster said as his suit sent a message to console about a possible Master/Stranger situation. "Mrs Folkvangr I presume."
"At your service," Armsmaster swallowed nervously as Freya did a mild curtsy, flashing a hint of cleavage from her pink blouse when she bowed. The hero felt a bit lightheaded as his suit injected some drugs to control the spike of adrenaline levels he felt, but his face remained unchanged.
"It's Ms by the way, Armsmaster. Sadly, my husband passed on a while ago and I reverted to my maiden name."
"Sorry for your loss," Armsmaster said out of habit, even as the side of his lips twitched due to the grin that threatened to show. Freya waved the two of them in, and Armsmaster began to checked his cameras to see if they still recorded the incident as he stepped into the house. The windows were large, opened wide to allow the breeze and sunlight into the home where it melded into the soft earthy tones of the walls and floor. Contrary to the expectations from the palatial impressions of the gate and garden, the furniture of the house was mildly coloured, with cream coloured carpets and wooden furniture to create a homely atmosphere.
"It's not the first time I've taken foster children," Freya said with visible pride as she eyed her two guests from the corner of her vision, "so I try to make it as child friendly as possible."
"I'm not an expert on raising children, Ms Folkvangr but I'd say this place fits the textbook example of a child-friendly home. Now, can we see your charge please?"
"Certainly," Another gorgeous smile and another shot of meds for Armsmaster while Freya turned to the spiral staircase, the wood polished to shine. "Amelia, come down please?"
"Do I have to?"
Child sounds reluctant, but nothing unusual for one her age or circumstances, Armsmaster noted while he slung his halberd behind his back. Lenneth grinned and stood next to the stairwell while Freya chuckled and cupped her hands.
"Lenneth's here."
The wooden stairs shook, as footsteps resounded before Amelia was swept off her feet by a pouncing Lenneth from the stairwell. Armsmaster's lips curled upwards, before he cleared his throat to get the attention of Amelia who squealed away in Lenneth's arms. The young girl eyed Armsmaster warily, who knelt down slowly while Amelia shuffled closer to Freya and Lenneth. Armsmaster looked on with approval, as Freya rubbed the child's head and held her close to her hip protectively.
If anything, I'd be worried that Freya's too good a foster parent.
"Amelia," Freya gently nudged the girl forward even as she kept her arm on Amelia's back, "say hi to Armsmaster."
Armsmaster's impression of Freya soured, when he saw an icy glare from the Amelia directed at him. Lenneth went over to his side, and the hero whispered to his CPS counterpart.
"Quite a nasty stare from a child so young-"
"I know what you're thinking, Armsmaster. And you're wrong."
The firm timbre of her voice startled Armsmaster, and he reevaluated her worth as an agent as he noticed the subtle changes in her posture. Her back arched forward, while her eyes once brown orbs of warmth were now cold and judging. Armsmaster couldn't help but nod in approval.
"Valkyrie," Armsmaster said. "She's responsible for this, isn't she?"
"Not my place to say, but our counsellors are working on her diagnosis. Can you spare me some details on how the Protectorate is going to handle Valkyrie?"
"Above your paygrade, Verdandi. No offense."
"None taken," Lenneth bristled. " None at all."
"Good. But all I can say is, since Allfather, Iron Rain and Marquis all had rap-sheets that'd see them Birdcaged, we're keeping a close eye on her. She's not active much, and her first clashes a few months ago with the Teeth and the Empire suggests she's not indiscriminate in using lethal force at least."
"Cool. And her Einherjar? Oh, don't give me that look. You think the Brigade can keep a secret like that for long?"
Armsmaster fixed his gaze at Amelia, who huddled together with Freya while the foster mother tried to nudge her forward.
"What's in it for me if I provide you with this info?"
"Here's a juicy one, Armsmaster. Freya is actually the goddess from myth."
"...Right. I'll be the adult here. We are worried about the constructs which our Thinkers suspect are projectons, and we have countermeasures in place."
Armsmaster made a show to fiddle with his helmet, before a screen appeared on his right forearm with the recording sign flashing on the bottom of the screen. Lenneth smirked, but fished out a notebook and pen as Amelia trudged towards the pair with Freya gently encouraging her from behind.
/x/
Goddess and valkyrie watched as Armsmaster's motorbike disappeared into the horizon. Freya clicked her tongue, while Lenneth frowned as her phone's screen went blank and the smell of burnt silicone and plastic filled the air.
"Warn me before you sweep for bugs with a energy field will you, Freya? I liked my phone."
"And let your effort in playing the naive idiot go to waste, Lenneth? Not a chance. However,Armsmaster wasn't subtle when he bugged the house."
"I'll be charitable," Lenneth said, "and put it down to the effect you have on mortal men."
Amelia approached Freya from behind, and pulled at her foster mother's dress. Freya beamed, and the child giggled as the goddess set Amelia onto her shoulders before she floated to the ceiling.
"See you at Annette's trial, Lenneth. I'll be heading to Valhalla with my newest daughter first."
"Oh you'll wait for me, Freya."
The air rippled and a corona of light surrounded the divines, before there was nothing left but an empty house.
/x/
Annette felt Amelia's glare on her back, but kept her face neutral and her gaze fixed upon her middle sister who stood on the gilded, golden throne. Not that there's a lack of space for Lenneth to stand on, for the seat was wider than most park benches. A stone slab, ensconced in a wreath of shiny spears with the brass walls of Valhalla as the backrest. The walls of the Hall of the Worthy dead stretched forever into the sky, the ceiling obscured by a cloud. Next to Lenneth stood a man with green braided hair, knife ears in a green and white suit who stood nervously.
"Rufus," the green-haired elf turned at his name being called, " do you have anything to add."
"None, Lady Valkyrie," the jewels on his red headdress and braids jingled as he shook his head. "The Battle Maidens Three are yours to command."
"Good. Freya?"
Annette matched Freya's glare, with not an inch ceded while her eyes avoided Amelia.
"None. Except that the Einherjar Marquis be part of Sessrúmnir. After Valkyrie Hrist is done with their training of course."
"Annette," the dark valkyrie added testily. Freya smirked at Annette's rebuttal.
"Only if you're mortal, not when you're a Valkyrie, Hrist."
Annette took a step forward at Freya, before she was stopped with a glare from her middle sister.
"Remember your place, sister."
Annette sucked in a gulp of air, shot a last glare at Freya before she turned back to the throne and nodded. Lenneth held out her right arm palm first towards her elder sister, and Annette winced when a beam of blinding light blanketed her. She fell to her knees before Silmeria in full valkyrie regalia grabbed her arms, and Annette's face turned ashen as she patted her chest.
"Its gone," Annette whispered before she gave a baleful glance at Lenneth. "you locked me with the Sovereign's Rite."
"A heavily modified one, yes," Lenneth nodded. " Surely you weren't expecting any less?"
"No, I wasn't," Annette barked a bitter laugh. "How long?"
"Until your own daughter comes of age."
"And when will that be?"
"When I decide."
Annette stayed silent at the proclaimed sentence, her lips curled into a scowl.
"Be grateful, I was planning on confining you to Asgard for disobeying the rules of slaying a parent with young children."
Annette took a step forward when Lenneth walked from the throne towards her with a thin necklace in hand. Annette's brown eyes narrowed as she focused on the small glass shard embedded into a hammer shaped pendant, before she took the proffered necklace gingerly.
"A piece of the Water Mirror," Annette said as she placed the chain over her neck. " A time out and supervision. And I thought I was tough on my people."
"Even as a mortal, there are few things on Midgard that would be a real threat, Annette."
Annette narrowed her eyes at Freya's mockery, but pursed her lips instead.
"Lenneth, Rufus and I will be rotating our watch on the mirror. Not to worry, we're not crass enough to intrude on your family time," Annette gave a dry laugh, but maintained her stony silence. "However, should we notice a real threat, we will unlock your powers."
"I'm utterly reassured," Annette drawled before her chin tightened. "I get to keep Toothy, right? I've earned that spear when I braved the Seraphic Gate with you."
Lenneth nodded, before she watched as Silmeria whispered under her breath and dragged Annette from before the throne. Amelia's gaze maintained their focus on the black-haired valkyrie as Annette disappeared from the audience hall, and she stepped out from her foster mother's reach when the massive gates closed with a dull bang. Freya's eyes creased with worry, but she found Lenneth's hands on her shoulders when she wanted to approach her child.
"She needs to walk out of the shadow of her father's death, Freya."
"She needs an adult and a mother, Lenneth."
"And she will," Lenneth nodded. "But that will be later, once she has realised how and why her father died. She sees Einherjar Marquis as a stranger, yes?"
"She sees him as a shade-a fake," Freya said before she bit her lip. A quick glance at the stiff, broody form of her foster child prompted Freya to nod before she grabbed Lenneth by her hand and dragged her towards Amelia.
"Freya," Lenneth said. "What are you doing?"
Amelia gave a small smile to Freya as the goddess' cat drawn chariot tore through the windows and landed in front of the throne. Freya chuckled before she gave a coy smile to Lenneth.
"I've just the plan. I will, however need you to arrange for Frei, Annette and her family as well as use of Bifrost."
"You wish to use the rainbow bridge connecting Midgard to Asgard?" Lenneth frowned. "This better be good."
"It will, Lenneth," Freya said. "It will."
/x/
Taylor huddled close to her mother, even as her cheeks flushed as another wave of warmth from Silmeria enveloped her. Her brown eyes darted around, eager to catch any glimpse of something that isn't raging snow set against the backdrop of a black sky. Frustrated at the lack of any change in scenery, Taylor turned towards her left, where her father was currently held tightly in a grip by a woman with brown hat with gold trimmings and bronze dress and boots. The howling snow and wind lashed against her exposed upper arms and thighs, but the woman with the round face and green eyes smiled widely at the frozen wastes she stood in.
"Mom. Who's that woman that brought us here, and why are you letting her hold onto Dad?"
"The same reason Silmeria is holding onto you, Taylor. That he doesn't freeze to death or be blown away by the gales."
Taylor frowned as she noted her mother's grimace.
"Can't you do it, Mom?"
"No," Annette said as her grimace turned into a scowl. "Mom didn't do her research and made a mistake. Now, I'm on time out."
"Oh, you're speaking in third person, Mom. You never do that unless you really screw up."
"Language, Taylor." Danny's voice sounded crystal clear despite the blizzard that did it's best to make things unpleasant. "You're with important company."
"You don't seem very surprised when we were dragged away from our home to the middle of a snowstorm, Dad. How long have you known."
"Long enough," Danny said while he looked northwards. "Your mom felt we should make the reveal of your mother's secret identity a special occasion."
"Between Mom sending bits of chopping block flying when she slams the cleaver down, Dad? I kinda figured it out when I was seven two years ago."
"Clever girl," Silmeria said while she ruffled Taylor's hair. Taylor huffed as she pushed her aunt's hand away, before she picked at her clothes. Taylor looked down at her clothes- jeans, running shoes and a jacket over a t-shirt- before she looked at her similarly dressed father.
Not really blizzard clothing, but if Aunt Silmeria can do this just how many powers does Mom and her siblings have?
Taylor looked around, the swirling whiteout contrasted with the dark skies had Taylor shiver at the endless night before she focused on her family. Annette's sour expression prompted Taylor to focus on her far more jovial aunt Silmeria, while Frei whispered to Danny. Taylor huffed, frustrated that the adults were focused elsewhere before she squinted as she noted a distant light grow stronger.
"A rainbow," Taylor squeaked out in delight, "there's a rainbow in the snow!"
Annette sniffed, as the pitch-black skies started to give way to an expanding corona of light. Violet danced with green, while silver danced with pink against the backdrop of an ocean green. A path made of clashing light descended, the structure blinking in and out of existence. Annette's eyes widened before she shivered, and black flame blanketed Annette before her green jacket and pants were replaced with black armour and a winged helmet. Red, feathered wings made of light burst out of her back, and Taylor screamed in delight while she strained against her aunt's grip before Silmeria let go.
"Mom," Taylor said as she hugged Annette by the waist, "you're the Valkyrie!"
"That I am, Little Owl."
Taylor yelped as she was lifted up and placed on her mother's shoulders in a single movement, her cheeks rosy while mist lifted from her mouth as the girl panted in excitement.
"Feelin' cold?"
"I'm fine, Mom. Never felt better before in my life!"
"Good," Annette clicked her tongue as she placed her gloved hands over Taylor's forehead before she gave a wide smile. "You're growing into your role very well as well."
"Mom? What-"
Taylor squeezed her eyes shut as a blinding light blasted forth from the rainbow bridge. Sparks flooded her vision before Taylor finally peeled open her lids slowly, and she heard her heart thump against her chest as Lenneth and Freya strutted down the stairs. Stars and clouds obscured thousands of figures above them, armed and armoured with equipment both familiar and alien to Taylor. Taylor cocked her head as her eyes laid on the girl with the frizzy brown hair and freckles who clung to Freya's dress, before she took a sniff as the winds and snow died.
"The air," Taylor thrust her thumb into the wind, "It's warm now."
A wide grin on her face, as Taylor let go of her mother's hand and skipped up Bifrost towards the girl who clung to Freya. Annette watched warily as her daughter approached Amelia, who gave the cold glare that startled even her.
Taylor stopped inches from Amelia, and all the adults focused on the two children before Taylor's eyes disappeared into a squint when her grin broke into a wide smile.
"Hi! I'm Taylor! What's your name?"
Amelia looked at Annette, before she snarled at Taylor.
"Go away. Your monster of a mom killed Daddy."
Taylor blinked, before she turned with a blank look towards Annette. Annette looked to her husband and younger sister, before she nodded slowly.
"Mom, you're the Valkyrie right?"
"...Yes?"
"So why did you kill," Taylor pointed at Amelia, "her dad?"
Lenneth arched an eyebrow at Taylor's calmness, while Danny covered his mouth and his eyes creased into a worried frown. Annette's glare bore into Taylor's eyes, and sighed when she found her child staring back.
"Her father was Marquis, the crime-"
"Lord?"
"Don't cut me off," Annette snapped before she breathed deep and continued, her face ashen with guilt. " I've previously killed off Allfather and his daughter Iron Rain after the running gang war between the Empire and Marquis threatened your dad's livelihood, and decided that Marquis had to go as well to prevent him from taking over."
Amelia screamed, before she clasped her hands over her ears and turned her back. Freya pulled Amelia closer into her arms, and shifted herself to block her daughter from Annette.
"Mom, would you have let Marquis go if he chose to come quietly?"
"I'd shake my head in disgust, before lopping off his head-"
Annette matched Amelia's craze shrieks with a stony glance, her lips pursed as she shook her head.
"Children of any age. I can see why you prohibit us from reaping the ones with very young descendants, Lenneth. For they do not understand their sires were more than just figures in their lives."
"You killed Daddy!" Amelia shrieked, her voice hoarse as it travelled across the endless plains. The girl pulled forward, firmly held back by the thin arms of Freya which glowed a gentle blue.
"I did, and if you wish you're free to try to have a go at me. But make no mistake. I didn't kill a defenceless man, but a warrior worth to be chosen by the Gods. By me. Millions upon millions die this very second, and you insult his memory by not seeing all of him."
Amelia's lips bled as she bit her gums while grinding her teeth, and Freya raised a single finger which sparked with white light.
"Murde-"
The air rippled before a large man with long curly hair in a red robe and pants appeared in front of Annette. Freya frowned as chains of bone tore out of the ground and tied down Amelia, but did nothing further when Lenneth placed her hand on her shoulder. Annette scowled, as her Einherjar turned to her and bowed.
"I've no need for insubordination amongst my Einherjar, Marquis."
"I'm well aware, Lady Valkyrie. But I cannot see you forcing my daughter to grow up even more than she already has."
"Grow?" Annette sniffed before she turned her back on Marquis. "Your girl was stuck in a rut, unable to move past an inevitable station of life considering what you were. If Sessrúmnir wants you, they're free to have you."
A black chain that linked Marquis by his chest to Annette's hip appeared, and Marquis looked towards his daughter who eyed him warily before he pulled his end of the chain into his chest. Annette raised an eyebrow as she turned to face her newly bonded Einherjar.
"You refuse?"
"Amelia was my greatest treasure, and the year I spent with her was among my happiest. But I've always been told that the dead should not be too attached with the things in life. With Freya as her foster mother, she'll have a better life than what I could ever offer her. I will remain by your side, until I feel it's time to leave."
"And you assume you get to make the call?"
"Try and stop me when the time comes, Lady Valkyrie."
Marquis looked at his daughter and withdrew the bone chains, while Amelia remained rooted to the spot with her gaze fixed on Annette. Freya started at her daughter's intense stare, before she placed her hands against Amelia's forehead.
"The offshoot, Lenneth! It's-"
Marquis sighed, before he faded away.
A very reluctant and ironic congratulations on your trigger, Amelia Folksvangr.
/x/
Lenneth breathed out mist as her boots and greaves crushed against the thick layer of snow, and her expression lightened as she finally saw the faint light once she cleared the valley. The valkyrie gave a quick glance backwards, at the valley with the impervious darkness before she continued her stroll towards a blonde girl with green eyes. The girl hummed, surrounded by shades with faces like caricatures and they faded back and forth to the moving moonlight that shone on the girl who hummed a dull tune. Azure wings of light flamed into existence as Lenneth closed onto the girl, who ceased humming and turned to meet the valkyrie. The girl bowed, as the shades disappeared into shrinking clouds of smoke.
"Ciara."
The blonde lifted her head, her green eyes glimmered in the dusk.
"I'd bid you morning, noon or evening, All-Mother. But I'm afraid time, has no meaning here near the root of the world. Pray tell, did you divine I was in Nifleheim with the Water Mirror?"
Lenneth fingered her sword Levantine, while Ciara directed her gaze to the blade.
"Surely All-Mother has no need to draw her blade against her own chosen?"
Metal scraped against wood, as Lenneth drew out the sword and the blade dispelled the darkness. Ciara frowned as she heard wood tear and the ground shook, while Lenneth shook her head at the now exposed sight of giant corpses laid out across the field.
"For the last time, Ciara, leave Nidhogg alone. I will not want to pull you from the cycle of reincarnation."
Ciara bowed, her frilly grey dress pristine despite the overturned, snowy landscape she stood in.
"As All-Mother decrees."
"It's the fifth time, Ciara poking the dangers of the World Tree. Do not make me pin you on the the side of Yggdrasil again."
VAlkyrie Profile
JayF
The Idol Producer
Just an intro of the characters.
Hrist (Annette)
Hrist
Eldest of the Three Valkyries- the Choosers of the Slain.
Once the most ruthless of the three Valkyries, certain events where she spent an inordinate time with humanity had softened her to the point where she turned her spear against the Aesir in defence of her Einherjar. Driven, and the only one who was shown to actively slay promising humans to recruit them.
Lenneth Valkyrie
Lenneth
The middle sister, and also currently the most powerful. The events of the first Ragnarok had made her the most powerful living deity alive, owner of the Four Treasures and ruler of the nine worlds. The events that twisted the universe which involved a wizard allowed all three Battle Maidens to exist at once, where before only one will be active at any one time. She alone connects with the worthy slain at their moments of death, and from there she chooses them while bringing punishment to the wicked.
Freya
Freya (Character)
Formely the overseer for the Valkyries and the foremost of the Aseir bar Odin, Freya has pledged her cooperation to Lenneth and her reign of the nine worlds. Goddess of Fertility, war, sorcery, motherhood, beauty and love.
Silmeria
Silmeria
Youngest of the Valkyries, once trapped in a block of crystal in another existence. Events that twisted the world prevent that reality from happening, and Silmeria now runs free from the burdens of her eldest sisters. Once stern and commanding, the years spent wandering the many worlds and Midgards have given her a perspective and a more mellow and jovial outlook.
Hrist (Annette)
Hrist
Eldest of the Three Valkyries- the Choosers of the Slain.
Once the most ruthless of the three Valkyries, certain events where she spent an inordinate time with humanity had softened her to the point where she turned her spear against the Aesir in defence of her Einherjar. Driven, and the only one who was shown to actively slay promising humans to recruit them.
Lenneth Valkyrie
Lenneth
The middle sister, and also currently the most powerful. The events of the first Ragnarok had made her the most powerful living deity alive, owner of the Four Treasures and ruler of the nine worlds. The events that twisted the universe which involved a wizard allowed all three Battle Maidens to exist at once, where before only one will be active at any one time. She alone connects with the worthy slain at their moments of death, and from there she chooses them while bringing punishment to the wicked.
Freya
Freya (Character)
Formely the overseer for the Valkyries and the foremost of the Aseir bar Odin, Freya has pledged her cooperation to Lenneth and her reign of the nine worlds. Goddess of Fertility, war, sorcery, motherhood, beauty and love.
Silmeria
Silmeria
Youngest of the Valkyries, once trapped in a block of crystal in another existence. Events that twisted the world prevent that reality from happening, and Silmeria now runs free from the burdens of her eldest sisters. Once stern and commanding, the years spent wandering the many worlds and Midgards have given her a perspective and a more mellow and jovial outlook.
- Location
- Elsewhere
Heartbreaker probably has young children at all times...
Chapter 1: Paen to Sacred Death
JayF
The Idol Producer
Einherjar (Worm/Valkyrie Profile)
Chapter 1: Paen to Sacred Death
/x/
Fleur stared at the brown floral drapes that covered the kitchen window, as she imagined the sight of falling leaves that signaled the end of summer. A small ball of white light grew, from a baseball to a basketball while the cape willed the sphere to circle her clockwise. She blew at her extended blonde fringe, before she popped the light ball and reached for a ceramic mug of cooled coffee across the table.
A basketball sized blue ball of light swallowed mug, and Fleur's green eyes glared at a man in with ash blonde air, square jaw and blue eyes who casually reached into the glowing globe to take her coffee. The man's grin grew as he approached Fleur, steam rose like a cloud from the pink mug.
"Evening Fayette. Carol told me you were moping away in the kitchen, and I thought I'd cheer you up."
"Congrats, Lightstar. Now I'm just annoyed at my boyfriend, instead of moping at seeing our nemesis killed in cold blood."
Lightstar's grin turned into a small smile, as he set the mug on the table and wrapped his right arm around his girlfriend. Fleur grunted at the gesture but laid her head on his shoulder, before she pulled at Lightstar's mask.
"Mask off. I want to to speak to my boyfriend Charles, rather than a fellow hero in the Brigade."
The couple sat silently at the kitchen table, the sound of the television from the living room filling up the space left behind by the lack of conversation. Fleur's ears perked as she picked up on the white noise from the TV, as she gazed in the direction of the living room.
"We're on TV again, Faye," Lightstar said as he hugged her waist. "Marquis is gone."
"For good," Fleur added even as she swallowed at the sudden onset of a bitter taste in her mouth. "The PRT's playing along, not letting the public know Valkyrie was the one who ended Marquis."
"Can't blame them," Lightstar shrugged. "Most capes only know of her from rumour, and the PRT hasn't developed a countermeasure to a parahuman with the grab-bag of powers she has. I mean, teleportation with no known limits alone makes her one of the most dangerous individuals on the planet. Add the rest of her-"
"It's not that," Fleur snapped before she took a deep breath. "I'm sorry. But the fact that Carol and Sarah agreed to this cover-up? Valkyrie's a real menace if she puts her mind on it, and she's taken out two very powerful capes almost on a whim."
"As far as we know, Faye."
"And the things we don't know about her are legion, Charles. She ran off the teeth in her first appearance, then proceeds to hunt both Allfather and Marquis like some big game hunter tagging Bambi. If we knew what she wanted, things wouldn't be so terrifying for me. But now, the only thing we know is that other than being almost as unstoppable as fucking Alexandria, she's also capable of making projections that may have the memories and mimic the personalities of people she's killed."
"Fayette."
"What?!"
Lightstar placed his hand on Fleur's right shoulder, before he gently pressed down to her to seat. Fleur trembled as she glared at her boyfriend, before she closed her eyes and sighed.
"Thanks, Charles. Didn't even realise it."
"No problem, Faye," Lightstar said as he removed his hand. "You tried talking to my sisters about this?"
"To Carol, yes."
Lightstar winced, but nodded for Fleur to continue.
"I thought of going to Sarah, but she's got her hands full about restructuring the Brigade than to worry about Valkyrie who's so far targeted prominent villains only."
"I seriously doubt Carol is much better on this front."
"Kinda. She didn't chew me out or anything. Just told me not to be too hung up over something we can't do too much about when more mundane, pressing issues are burning at our feet. One battle at a time."
"Ever practical, " Lightstar nodded. "We'll worry when one of us kicks it and she's there waiting at the end of the tunnel. Chains, shackles and all."
"Very funny, Charles. Wanna hear me gnash my teeth?"
/x/
Fleur ran her index finger through her cheeks, the smudged foundation visible as she stared at the layer of makeup that's on her fingers.
It feels so familiar, Fleur thought as the flashes went off from the battalion of media gathered to cover the unmasking of New Wave, but so different. Fleur kept her practiced smile etched on her face, as a barrage of questions from the floor flooded them. Sarah, the motherly sister-and hopefully- future in-law pointed at selected media to take their questions. Familiar faces all, Fleur's smile became a bit more genuine as she noted the softball questions for what they were.
"Why the New Wave? Does it signify a new start for the hero community?"
"Regarding further cooperation between the Protectorate and New Wave, what kind of working arrangements have been sorted out!"
"Trading cards have been very popular. What kind of new products has New Wave commissioned to go with the launch of the new group?"
Yet, I feel a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. I wonder why?
Fleur shivered at a sudden blast at her face from the air-conditioning, and Lightstar's smile grew wider as he placed an arm around her shoulders. Both heroes matched their smiles to the sudden burst of camera flashes and pleas to look their way.
Oh yes, the unmasking. Never knew how much I've depended on the masks.
"Fleur. Go backstage."
Fleur turned to her boyfriend, incredulous.
"Excuse me?"
"Your hands are hovering above your left abs. You're being very nervous when your stomach cramps trigger. Don't worry, I'll join you once my sisters complete the act of making the press eat out of their hands."
Fleur looked at older women of New Wave, her cramps throbbed before she stepped backwards and off the stage. The heroine breathed deeply once the lights no longer burned her eyes, and she began to massage her cheeks.
"Not even a single reaction from the gathered media. Not even a single tabloid journo asking about me. C'mon. Ask about my three sizes or something."
Fleur hung her head low, before she sprung to her feet with a throbbing spark on her left hand.
"Show yourself," Fleur demanded of the silent room. "Don't think you can hide from me!"
The heroine darted across the room, spark on the ready before she opened the door to lead to an empty parking lot. Fleur's eyes narrowed at the crimson sun that illuminated the myriad cars, before she lowered her arm and dismissed her power. She rubbed her nose, as her stance relaxed.
"I must be getting-"
Fleur jumped a step back, as a white feather floated lazily down from above her. The heroine grabbed onto the shed feather, but her eyes saw nothing but the evening sky as they scanned it. Fleur clenched her jaws as she felt her stomach cramps return in force.
"Valkyrie."
/x/
It was a job hazard every cape who decides to become a hero must bear, if only because villains tend to be a lot more final when dealing with issues like this. Namely, old enemies you've put away, coming back for blood. Fleur looked askance at the thin man in scruffy clothes who stood outside the driveway of the Dallon house, her experience drew her focus on the plastic test tube he held in his hand. A brownish liquid, thick and semi-dissolved trembled along with the man's hands. Fleur pressed a silent alarm hidden in the backpocket of her cut-off jeans, put down the watering can and sighed before she prepped a spark.
"You're Railway right? Marquis' Tinker we put away a year ago?"
Railway grunted, and pulled off the red stopper on the tube before he screamed. Fleur walked over to the prone Tinker, a spark ready on her right hand while her right foot nudged the test tube with the spilled brown solution. Fleur's nose wrinkled at a pungent smell of ammonia that lingered at her approach, and she let loose a spark to consume the tube, liquid and all. Her frown broke into a smile, as the stench disappeared.
"I'm almost insulted at your amateurish attempts at revenge, Railway. Pulling a chemical weapon so close to your target, and in broad daylight to top it off. Prison must have-"
Her arms shook, and Fleur's screams came out as an otherworldy howl instead.
/x/
Three basketballs sized globes of light shot across the yard, and Lightstar swore incoherently as he saw the powers that once tore open three inches of steel get swatted away by the talons of the....
Mutant? Projection? Construct?
A hoarse screech, and Lightstar shook in both body and spirit as the monster spread its wings. The rose coloured thing looked almost humanoid, impossibly muscled with only the scaly wings, talons on the hands and the rectangle shaped, almost insectoid horned head that differentiated it from a miscoloured human. A thin male corpse, sans head and much of the lower torso laid next to the rose bushes in a bloody lump. Lightstar let loose with another barrage of energy balls as the monster turned its head towards the house, determined to ensure that Victoria remained safe at home.
"Come here, ugly!" What is this thing! "Nothin' to see in that house over there!" I hope Sis was smart enough to get all the help she can. "You want a second helping? I've got your prime ribs right here!"
The rose monster turned its head towards Lightstar and cried. The New Wave hero grimaced as he saw trails of blood ooze from the yellow, reptilian eyes of the beast. The monster lumbered towards Lightstar, and the hero sidestepped with another light blast into the torso for good measure. Skin bubbled, and the monster screamed before it lunged towards Lightstar with renewed vigour. He screamed as the monster sank a talon into his left thigh, but he unleashed a blast at close range that seared the front of his shirt and the arm that struck his thigh. Lightstar spat as he watched the seared arm regrow, and struggled to stand but failed.
Can't even make a last minute quip, Lightstar thought as the claws came down, what a shame.
"Stay."
White, glowing feathers rained two bolts of light ripped through the extended arms of the monster, and Lightstar coughed in shock as Valkyrie materalised above him before she landed standing on the ground. His eyes focused on the ornate bow she held in her hand, before it disappeared in a flash and was replaced with a sword.
"A wardrobe change and a dye job," Lightstar said as he noted the blue armour and platinum hair Valkyrie sported. "Looks good on you."
Cold blue eyes glared at him, and Lightstar shivered as he felt an ancient weight behind Valkyrie's gaze.
"Charles Dallon. Perhaps you'd ought to be more concerned with the ultimate fate of your lover, rather than making remarks on my appearance."
"My lover?" Lightstar said as he looked at the rose monster. "Look, Valkyrie. I don't know what you've heard-"
"You disbelieve me?" Valkyrie raised an eyebrow. "Even when you saw Fayette Somme retained enough of herself to shed tears despite being cursed with Ghoul Powder. She should have chosen better."
"Look, Valkyrie. There's no beef between us yet, but if you continue like this-"
The monster charged towards the Dallon home, only to be stopped in its tracks when it crashed against a wall of light that flickered away once the creature was bounced off.
"Ghoul Powder corrupts the mind and body unlike anything else. Its been a long time since I've met anyone who can retain anything of their humanity when exposed to it."
Valkyrie slid down to avoid a clawed swipe, then a floating piece of plate shaved off a gout of flame from the jaws of the beast.
"You of little faith."
A stab into the left abs that slid effortlessly in, followed by an upward swing that caught bone and tossed the monster into the air.
"Behold."
Six spears of light rammed through the monster, and blue light blanketed it.
"The wrath of the Gods."
The spears shattered into myriad sparks, and the sparks swallowed the creature before it was spat out. Lightstar propped himself up with his arms, favouring his uninjured leg as he watched the smoking figure that was the monster. The crimson corpse bubbled as skin, muscle and bone melted away, and Lightstar squinted at the female form covered in the remains. Sirens wailed from the distance, and Lightstar watched in mute horror as PRT troopers, the rest of New Wave and paramedics surrounded him and the remains of the creature. He slowly craned his neck at the floating Valkyrie, the questions from Flashbang and several paramedics ignored.
"Avert your eyes, Dallon. Lest your family and friends think you mad. They can't see me, you know."
"....You let her die."
Valkyrie frowned, and her wings flared out.
"I did no such thing. It was her-"
"Valkyrie!!!"
Lightstar surged upwards, before he stumbled as his bloodied leg gave way and he was restrained by the rest of the paramedics and Manpower.
"My job is done, Dallon," Valkyrie said coolly as her wings embraced her. "Perhaps one day, we'll meet again in better circumstances."
/x/
The unending darkness. Lenneth always found the blanket comforting when she meets freshly deceased Einherjar, as she folded her arms and waited for Fleur. The sobs continued, but Lenneth remained stone-faced while her charge cried herself hoarse.
"Do you regret it? Having me intervene to save your lover?"
Fleur's crying softened, as she shook her head.
"Yet you mourn his loss, like he was the one who left you behind among the living. Why didn't you allow him to die to the demon, so that he could have joined you in Valhalla?"
Fleur's eyes were puffy, but hard as she glared at Lenneth.
"Is this how it works? You would let a good man die? I'm disgusted that you'd consider letting him be killed when you could prevent it."
Fleur started and stepped back at a harsh glance from Lenneth, but stood her ground once the chill from the valkyrie's gaze subsided.
"I'm one who chooses the worthy dead, Fayette Somme. Many of my Einherjar had died, served, reborn and then die again. Many die many times, only a few select souls truly go out in a manner worth remembering."
Fleur chuckled bitterly, before she released a series of sparks into the air. They bloomed in the colours of the rainbow, and Fleur gave a wan smile as the colours, smoke and sound died to leave only the blackness of the unknown space.
"I suppose, Valkyrie from your perspective my twenty five years of life was like that firework."
"It's actually relatively shorter than that. But you believe me?"
"I saw myself transform into a howling demon, cried tears of blood and almost killed my boyfriend before you ripped me apart. How can I disbelieve you now?"
Lenneth nodded, and walked towards a distant light while Fleur trailed behind her.
"You know Valkyrie. You're a lot less scary when you're wearing blue."
"That wasn't me," Lenneth said nonchalantly, before she spun around annoyed when Fleur stopped to gape at her.
"God-"
"Yes?"
"There's more of you?!"
She looks almost motherly, Fleur thought when Lenneth smiled and resumed walking.
"If all goes well, and they will, I might bear witness to another one joining us very soon."
/x/
A blonde man in a red robe, with soft features and blue eyes waved away the Water Mirror which rippled before it returned to a plain glass surface. Taylor stood with her hands folded behind her back, clad in grey valkyrie armour sans helmet while Amelia in a light green dress stared at the mirror.
"That," Amelia asked in a shaky voice, " was what my dad went through when Valkyrie reaped his soul?"
"Not quite," the blonde man said. "Lady Hrist-apologies- I meant Annette was a lot more direct in her methods. In any case, Marquis had only you as his attachment to the mortal world. But since Freya was the one who would be raising you henceforth-"
The blonde man frowned as Taylor shot up her arm and waved, but nodded in her direction.
"Yes, Taylor?"
"Mr Lucian. Does that mean I'll be doing that when I grow up?"
"Only if you wish, Taylor," Lucian smiled, while Amelia rolled her eyes and made a stabbing motion.
"Wow. The little psycho wants to emulate her mother! I'm shocked, shocked!"
"Hey! Mom only does that to bad people!"
"Are you saying Dad was-"
Both children covered their ears as the cavernous hall echoed with the roar of thunder. Lucian eyed his charges with a tired stare, before he shook off the lighting from his sword.
"Note to self, " Amelia muttered. "Find way to block ear-drums from thunderclap going off next to you."
"Ha! Unlike you my eardrums can withstand it just fine!"
Amelia scanned Taylor's face, and smirked when she noticed the other girl's wince hidden beneath Taylor's triumphant grin.
"Freak say-"
"Children!"
Both kids turned sheepishly towards Lucian as he boomed at them, and the man shook his head while he restarted the Water Mirror.
"You parents entrusted the education of Asgard's ways to me, and I'm not about to disappoint them. Now, get out your notes. There's much to teach, and for you to learn."
Chapter 1: Paen to Sacred Death
/x/
Fleur stared at the brown floral drapes that covered the kitchen window, as she imagined the sight of falling leaves that signaled the end of summer. A small ball of white light grew, from a baseball to a basketball while the cape willed the sphere to circle her clockwise. She blew at her extended blonde fringe, before she popped the light ball and reached for a ceramic mug of cooled coffee across the table.
A basketball sized blue ball of light swallowed mug, and Fleur's green eyes glared at a man in with ash blonde air, square jaw and blue eyes who casually reached into the glowing globe to take her coffee. The man's grin grew as he approached Fleur, steam rose like a cloud from the pink mug.
"Evening Fayette. Carol told me you were moping away in the kitchen, and I thought I'd cheer you up."
"Congrats, Lightstar. Now I'm just annoyed at my boyfriend, instead of moping at seeing our nemesis killed in cold blood."
Lightstar's grin turned into a small smile, as he set the mug on the table and wrapped his right arm around his girlfriend. Fleur grunted at the gesture but laid her head on his shoulder, before she pulled at Lightstar's mask.
"Mask off. I want to to speak to my boyfriend Charles, rather than a fellow hero in the Brigade."
The couple sat silently at the kitchen table, the sound of the television from the living room filling up the space left behind by the lack of conversation. Fleur's ears perked as she picked up on the white noise from the TV, as she gazed in the direction of the living room.
"We're on TV again, Faye," Lightstar said as he hugged her waist. "Marquis is gone."
"For good," Fleur added even as she swallowed at the sudden onset of a bitter taste in her mouth. "The PRT's playing along, not letting the public know Valkyrie was the one who ended Marquis."
"Can't blame them," Lightstar shrugged. "Most capes only know of her from rumour, and the PRT hasn't developed a countermeasure to a parahuman with the grab-bag of powers she has. I mean, teleportation with no known limits alone makes her one of the most dangerous individuals on the planet. Add the rest of her-"
"It's not that," Fleur snapped before she took a deep breath. "I'm sorry. But the fact that Carol and Sarah agreed to this cover-up? Valkyrie's a real menace if she puts her mind on it, and she's taken out two very powerful capes almost on a whim."
"As far as we know, Faye."
"And the things we don't know about her are legion, Charles. She ran off the teeth in her first appearance, then proceeds to hunt both Allfather and Marquis like some big game hunter tagging Bambi. If we knew what she wanted, things wouldn't be so terrifying for me. But now, the only thing we know is that other than being almost as unstoppable as fucking Alexandria, she's also capable of making projections that may have the memories and mimic the personalities of people she's killed."
"Fayette."
"What?!"
Lightstar placed his hand on Fleur's right shoulder, before he gently pressed down to her to seat. Fleur trembled as she glared at her boyfriend, before she closed her eyes and sighed.
"Thanks, Charles. Didn't even realise it."
"No problem, Faye," Lightstar said as he removed his hand. "You tried talking to my sisters about this?"
"To Carol, yes."
Lightstar winced, but nodded for Fleur to continue.
"I thought of going to Sarah, but she's got her hands full about restructuring the Brigade than to worry about Valkyrie who's so far targeted prominent villains only."
"I seriously doubt Carol is much better on this front."
"Kinda. She didn't chew me out or anything. Just told me not to be too hung up over something we can't do too much about when more mundane, pressing issues are burning at our feet. One battle at a time."
"Ever practical, " Lightstar nodded. "We'll worry when one of us kicks it and she's there waiting at the end of the tunnel. Chains, shackles and all."
"Very funny, Charles. Wanna hear me gnash my teeth?"
/x/
Fleur ran her index finger through her cheeks, the smudged foundation visible as she stared at the layer of makeup that's on her fingers.
It feels so familiar, Fleur thought as the flashes went off from the battalion of media gathered to cover the unmasking of New Wave, but so different. Fleur kept her practiced smile etched on her face, as a barrage of questions from the floor flooded them. Sarah, the motherly sister-and hopefully- future in-law pointed at selected media to take their questions. Familiar faces all, Fleur's smile became a bit more genuine as she noted the softball questions for what they were.
"Why the New Wave? Does it signify a new start for the hero community?"
"Regarding further cooperation between the Protectorate and New Wave, what kind of working arrangements have been sorted out!"
"Trading cards have been very popular. What kind of new products has New Wave commissioned to go with the launch of the new group?"
Yet, I feel a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. I wonder why?
Fleur shivered at a sudden blast at her face from the air-conditioning, and Lightstar's smile grew wider as he placed an arm around her shoulders. Both heroes matched their smiles to the sudden burst of camera flashes and pleas to look their way.
Oh yes, the unmasking. Never knew how much I've depended on the masks.
"Fleur. Go backstage."
Fleur turned to her boyfriend, incredulous.
"Excuse me?"
"Your hands are hovering above your left abs. You're being very nervous when your stomach cramps trigger. Don't worry, I'll join you once my sisters complete the act of making the press eat out of their hands."
Fleur looked at older women of New Wave, her cramps throbbed before she stepped backwards and off the stage. The heroine breathed deeply once the lights no longer burned her eyes, and she began to massage her cheeks.
"Not even a single reaction from the gathered media. Not even a single tabloid journo asking about me. C'mon. Ask about my three sizes or something."
Fleur hung her head low, before she sprung to her feet with a throbbing spark on her left hand.
"Show yourself," Fleur demanded of the silent room. "Don't think you can hide from me!"
The heroine darted across the room, spark on the ready before she opened the door to lead to an empty parking lot. Fleur's eyes narrowed at the crimson sun that illuminated the myriad cars, before she lowered her arm and dismissed her power. She rubbed her nose, as her stance relaxed.
"I must be getting-"
Fleur jumped a step back, as a white feather floated lazily down from above her. The heroine grabbed onto the shed feather, but her eyes saw nothing but the evening sky as they scanned it. Fleur clenched her jaws as she felt her stomach cramps return in force.
"Valkyrie."
/x/
It was a job hazard every cape who decides to become a hero must bear, if only because villains tend to be a lot more final when dealing with issues like this. Namely, old enemies you've put away, coming back for blood. Fleur looked askance at the thin man in scruffy clothes who stood outside the driveway of the Dallon house, her experience drew her focus on the plastic test tube he held in his hand. A brownish liquid, thick and semi-dissolved trembled along with the man's hands. Fleur pressed a silent alarm hidden in the backpocket of her cut-off jeans, put down the watering can and sighed before she prepped a spark.
"You're Railway right? Marquis' Tinker we put away a year ago?"
Railway grunted, and pulled off the red stopper on the tube before he screamed. Fleur walked over to the prone Tinker, a spark ready on her right hand while her right foot nudged the test tube with the spilled brown solution. Fleur's nose wrinkled at a pungent smell of ammonia that lingered at her approach, and she let loose a spark to consume the tube, liquid and all. Her frown broke into a smile, as the stench disappeared.
"I'm almost insulted at your amateurish attempts at revenge, Railway. Pulling a chemical weapon so close to your target, and in broad daylight to top it off. Prison must have-"
Her arms shook, and Fleur's screams came out as an otherworldy howl instead.
/x/
Three basketballs sized globes of light shot across the yard, and Lightstar swore incoherently as he saw the powers that once tore open three inches of steel get swatted away by the talons of the....
Mutant? Projection? Construct?
A hoarse screech, and Lightstar shook in both body and spirit as the monster spread its wings. The rose coloured thing looked almost humanoid, impossibly muscled with only the scaly wings, talons on the hands and the rectangle shaped, almost insectoid horned head that differentiated it from a miscoloured human. A thin male corpse, sans head and much of the lower torso laid next to the rose bushes in a bloody lump. Lightstar let loose with another barrage of energy balls as the monster turned its head towards the house, determined to ensure that Victoria remained safe at home.
"Come here, ugly!" What is this thing! "Nothin' to see in that house over there!" I hope Sis was smart enough to get all the help she can. "You want a second helping? I've got your prime ribs right here!"
The rose monster turned its head towards Lightstar and cried. The New Wave hero grimaced as he saw trails of blood ooze from the yellow, reptilian eyes of the beast. The monster lumbered towards Lightstar, and the hero sidestepped with another light blast into the torso for good measure. Skin bubbled, and the monster screamed before it lunged towards Lightstar with renewed vigour. He screamed as the monster sank a talon into his left thigh, but he unleashed a blast at close range that seared the front of his shirt and the arm that struck his thigh. Lightstar spat as he watched the seared arm regrow, and struggled to stand but failed.
Can't even make a last minute quip, Lightstar thought as the claws came down, what a shame.
"Stay."
White, glowing feathers rained two bolts of light ripped through the extended arms of the monster, and Lightstar coughed in shock as Valkyrie materalised above him before she landed standing on the ground. His eyes focused on the ornate bow she held in her hand, before it disappeared in a flash and was replaced with a sword.
"A wardrobe change and a dye job," Lightstar said as he noted the blue armour and platinum hair Valkyrie sported. "Looks good on you."
Cold blue eyes glared at him, and Lightstar shivered as he felt an ancient weight behind Valkyrie's gaze.
"Charles Dallon. Perhaps you'd ought to be more concerned with the ultimate fate of your lover, rather than making remarks on my appearance."
"My lover?" Lightstar said as he looked at the rose monster. "Look, Valkyrie. I don't know what you've heard-"
"You disbelieve me?" Valkyrie raised an eyebrow. "Even when you saw Fayette Somme retained enough of herself to shed tears despite being cursed with Ghoul Powder. She should have chosen better."
"Look, Valkyrie. There's no beef between us yet, but if you continue like this-"
The monster charged towards the Dallon home, only to be stopped in its tracks when it crashed against a wall of light that flickered away once the creature was bounced off.
"Ghoul Powder corrupts the mind and body unlike anything else. Its been a long time since I've met anyone who can retain anything of their humanity when exposed to it."
Valkyrie slid down to avoid a clawed swipe, then a floating piece of plate shaved off a gout of flame from the jaws of the beast.
"You of little faith."
A stab into the left abs that slid effortlessly in, followed by an upward swing that caught bone and tossed the monster into the air.
"Behold."
Six spears of light rammed through the monster, and blue light blanketed it.
"The wrath of the Gods."
The spears shattered into myriad sparks, and the sparks swallowed the creature before it was spat out. Lightstar propped himself up with his arms, favouring his uninjured leg as he watched the smoking figure that was the monster. The crimson corpse bubbled as skin, muscle and bone melted away, and Lightstar squinted at the female form covered in the remains. Sirens wailed from the distance, and Lightstar watched in mute horror as PRT troopers, the rest of New Wave and paramedics surrounded him and the remains of the creature. He slowly craned his neck at the floating Valkyrie, the questions from Flashbang and several paramedics ignored.
"Avert your eyes, Dallon. Lest your family and friends think you mad. They can't see me, you know."
"....You let her die."
Valkyrie frowned, and her wings flared out.
"I did no such thing. It was her-"
"Valkyrie!!!"
Lightstar surged upwards, before he stumbled as his bloodied leg gave way and he was restrained by the rest of the paramedics and Manpower.
"My job is done, Dallon," Valkyrie said coolly as her wings embraced her. "Perhaps one day, we'll meet again in better circumstances."
/x/
The unending darkness. Lenneth always found the blanket comforting when she meets freshly deceased Einherjar, as she folded her arms and waited for Fleur. The sobs continued, but Lenneth remained stone-faced while her charge cried herself hoarse.
"Do you regret it? Having me intervene to save your lover?"
Fleur's crying softened, as she shook her head.
"Yet you mourn his loss, like he was the one who left you behind among the living. Why didn't you allow him to die to the demon, so that he could have joined you in Valhalla?"
Fleur's eyes were puffy, but hard as she glared at Lenneth.
"Is this how it works? You would let a good man die? I'm disgusted that you'd consider letting him be killed when you could prevent it."
Fleur started and stepped back at a harsh glance from Lenneth, but stood her ground once the chill from the valkyrie's gaze subsided.
"I'm one who chooses the worthy dead, Fayette Somme. Many of my Einherjar had died, served, reborn and then die again. Many die many times, only a few select souls truly go out in a manner worth remembering."
Fleur chuckled bitterly, before she released a series of sparks into the air. They bloomed in the colours of the rainbow, and Fleur gave a wan smile as the colours, smoke and sound died to leave only the blackness of the unknown space.
"I suppose, Valkyrie from your perspective my twenty five years of life was like that firework."
"It's actually relatively shorter than that. But you believe me?"
"I saw myself transform into a howling demon, cried tears of blood and almost killed my boyfriend before you ripped me apart. How can I disbelieve you now?"
Lenneth nodded, and walked towards a distant light while Fleur trailed behind her.
"You know Valkyrie. You're a lot less scary when you're wearing blue."
"That wasn't me," Lenneth said nonchalantly, before she spun around annoyed when Fleur stopped to gape at her.
"God-"
"Yes?"
"There's more of you?!"
She looks almost motherly, Fleur thought when Lenneth smiled and resumed walking.
"If all goes well, and they will, I might bear witness to another one joining us very soon."
/x/
A blonde man in a red robe, with soft features and blue eyes waved away the Water Mirror which rippled before it returned to a plain glass surface. Taylor stood with her hands folded behind her back, clad in grey valkyrie armour sans helmet while Amelia in a light green dress stared at the mirror.
"That," Amelia asked in a shaky voice, " was what my dad went through when Valkyrie reaped his soul?"
"Not quite," the blonde man said. "Lady Hrist-apologies- I meant Annette was a lot more direct in her methods. In any case, Marquis had only you as his attachment to the mortal world. But since Freya was the one who would be raising you henceforth-"
The blonde man frowned as Taylor shot up her arm and waved, but nodded in her direction.
"Yes, Taylor?"
"Mr Lucian. Does that mean I'll be doing that when I grow up?"
"Only if you wish, Taylor," Lucian smiled, while Amelia rolled her eyes and made a stabbing motion.
"Wow. The little psycho wants to emulate her mother! I'm shocked, shocked!"
"Hey! Mom only does that to bad people!"
"Are you saying Dad was-"
Both children covered their ears as the cavernous hall echoed with the roar of thunder. Lucian eyed his charges with a tired stare, before he shook off the lighting from his sword.
"Note to self, " Amelia muttered. "Find way to block ear-drums from thunderclap going off next to you."
"Ha! Unlike you my eardrums can withstand it just fine!"
Amelia scanned Taylor's face, and smirked when she noticed the other girl's wince hidden beneath Taylor's triumphant grin.
"Freak say-"
"Children!"
Both kids turned sheepishly towards Lucian as he boomed at them, and the man shook his head while he restarted the Water Mirror.
"You parents entrusted the education of Asgard's ways to me, and I'm not about to disappoint them. Now, get out your notes. There's much to teach, and for you to learn."
SalsaDeGranada
Thankful for our Cradle's Graces
- Location
- Philippines
Hrist is kind of an asshole.
Chapter 2: Take Flight
JayF
The Idol Producer
Einherjar (Worm/Valkyrie Profile)
Chapter 2: Take Flight
/x/
Taylor sighed as a flash of light erupted before her, and a muscular man with braided, short blonde hair and beard emerged. The man turned his gaze across the quiet alley behind Brockton General Hospital as he studied his new environs, while Taylor winced at the bronze tunic and breastplate he wore. A hammer carved from stone with a handle of polished wood hung from his leather belt, and Taylor took a step back as electricity crackled across the hammerhead before she waved.
"Uncle Thor..."
The ground shook, as Taylor was swept into a flying embrace by the elder Aesir with a wide grin on his face. Taylor gagged at the tightness of the hug as she was spun around, and coughed after Thor released her from his grasp.
"Taylor! What a sight for sore eyes you are," Thor grimaced as he continued, "unlike your mother."
"Not what Frei told me you said while you were drunk, Uncle Thor. But if you find Mom unpleasant, I can see why you've got that grin on your face."
Thor pulled down the sides of his lips, before he unhooked his hammer. Mjölnir hummed along its master as the afternoon sun shone off the polished rock surface.
"So, where's Annette? She can't claim to be in a serious accident if she didn't have some kind of grave injury."
"Follow me," Taylor gestured as she placed her hands into her jeans pockets. "Aunt Silmeria's placed a geas over the witnesses to the accident and ambulance crew so they won't notice you, but Mom may change her mind and try to run."
"Bah," Thor sniffed. "If your mother was worried about the meeting between her pelvis and my hammer, maybe she shouldn't have been using the phone while driving. Besides, it's only for a few weeks till your fifteenth birthday and coming of age."
Thor strode forward and swung his left arm to Taylor's back, before the teen demigod grabbed the older god's hand and threw him over her shoulder. The concrete cracked and a cloud of dust briefly obscured Thor's vision as he stared wide-eyed at Taylor, before he gave a deep belly laugh that shook the lids of the trash cans.
"Nice try, Uncle Thor. But you've taught me enough that you'd never get me into a grapple unawares again."
/x/
The sound of waves echoed in the cavernous living room with antique furniture, laminated wood floors and lacquer pillars before the air rippled and a teenage girl with short, curly hair and freckles appeared. Amelia Folkvangr fell back onto a fur lined couch, and stared at the frescoes that came to life when she focused on them. She untied her coat, white with gold trimmings and tossed it aside. A raven nesting in straw adorned the back of the coat, the ruby threads shimmered as if the bird was alive. Amelia kept her gaze upon the moving pictures, her attention mostly fixed upon a blonde woman in a green dress before she sighed and closed her eyes.
"Oh, Mother. Why must-"
Amelia growled as the sour smell of sweat clashed with her lily smelling perfume, and warm, damp hands clamped over her eyes.
"Hello Amy. Still thinking about Aunt Freya that way?"
Amelia kept mum, before she reached out and tapped Taylor's arm. The taller girl yelped and jumped off as angry boils sprouted along the length of her arm, before she removed a glass bottle with a golden liquid and poured the potion over her infected arm. Taylor winced as the boils bubbled and burst, and shook her head at the stench before she sighed in relief as her arm was restored.
"Damn it, Amy! Overreaction much?"
"Maybe if you didn't drug me and shaved my hair the last time you had your hands on my face," Amelia narrowed her eyes. "I'd be less wary of you."
"Touche, Amy, touche. You know how long it took me to steal one of Eir's recipes that'd work on you?" Taylor grabbed the discarded coat and threw it over the couch, which prompted Amelia to pull it away before Taylor plonked herself on the couch.
"Get off, Taylor, before I really get serious. Your freaky lineage won't save you if that happens."
"Heard that one before, Amy," Taylor stretched herself before she stared at the ceiling. "Congrats on your official ascension to the Aesir by the way. Aunt Freya was ecstatic when she burst into our home and told us Rufus made you one of us."
"Only provisional membership," Amelia said while her eyes remained closed. "I still have to prove myself with a feat they recognize or die before I get a divine body."
"You'll do fine, Amy," Taylor yawned and waved before she laid back and spread out her arms along the couch. Amelia's eyes snapped open, but she shrugged and laid back.
Both teens laid in silence, and hours passed before Amelia grabbed Taylor by the front of her t-shirt.
"Fine, you win," Amelia said as Taylor gave a triumphant grin. " What happened? Why're you here?"
"To annoy you?"
"You haven't been doing that by your lonesome lately. Where's your partner in crime Emma?"
Amelia raised an eyebrow as Taylor's face fell, before she sniffed in understanding.
"So you two broke up? Did she get tired of you being the jock in a space cadet class?"
"Hey! I'm no jock! You know that my grades are always near the top of the class."
"Because Valkyrie isn't above chaining you to the study table and your books when the exams come calling and your father's persuasion can't get you to focus," Amelia rolled her eyes. "Now spill it, what did you do for your only non-jock friend to dump you."
Taylor hummed, looked around and scratched her chin before she leaned closer towards Amelia.
"Truth is, Emma's a cunt."
Amelia looked at Taylor for two seconds, before she burst into hysterics.
"Seriously? Took you that long?" Amelia snickered while she dabbed at her tears. "Of all the things you've said this is among the dumbest. And that takes effort."
"Oh shush, you." Taylor said while Amelia shrugged off a punch to the shoulder. "As you probably remember-"
"I don't. Wasn't paying attention much."
Amelia dodged a cushion while Taylor continued without missing a beat.
"Emma's been really into the whole queen bitch of the school thing ever since we started at Winslow. At first it was the usual. Slaying potential rivals with nasty rumors, slashing textbooks, random horrible kid stuff like it was lifted from a primer on how to be a dick when you're a teen."
"Which you joined in gleefully, huh?"
"Hey!"
Amelia caught a glimpse of Taylor's pained look, before she sighed and shook her head.
"Sorry, Taylor. You're not the type. You reserve the worst for me because you want me to grow you a second exploding head."
"Anyways, Emma bascially was cutting down the other girls systematically. I didn't intervene since Mom did tell me we young ones should sort out our own affairs until things get too big, and Emma was going after people who'd gleefully do the same shit to her given the chance. Sauce, goose, gander. But then Charlotte came into the picture. Attractive, slim girl. Not Emma level, but kinda right up your alley if you weren't fixated on Au-"
Taylor froze at Amelia's glare, before she rolled her eyes.
"Fine. No more cracks about your forbidden-Ow okay! Lighten up. Back on topic. I think seeing Charlotte broke something in Emma, or maybe it simply pulled of a band-aid because things got nasty. Rumors flew, books vandalized, homework was ruined and she got everyone to shun her. Wasn't easy since quite a few guys were taken with her, but between herself and Sophia she got her isolated and vulnerable."
"And you didn't do anything to help her. How nice of your, Taylor."
"I figured Emma would move on once the girl's sufficiently cowed," Taylor shrugged. "It wasn't a nice feeling, but I knew Emma better than Charlotte and I hoped she would get it out of her system. Besides, it's like she suspect I'd not like it, as she did most of the worst shit when I wasn't around."
"And you didn't hear anything about what your friend did to the girl," Amelia said with raised eyebrows. "Find it hard to believe."
"I'm in the girls' wrestling club, Amy. Unlike the boy's side, barring a certain group of boys and girls, most people think of us as roided up freaks. People don't fuck with us, generally speaking, but we're not that connected to the grapevine."
"Huh."
"Huh? C'mon Amy, not going to bust my balls about my freakishness having nothing to do with roids?"
"Nope, need time to think of new material. Also, Emma being a bitch."
"Oh right. Well, Emma got it into her head to have me join in the latest bullying of Charl-"
"Charl?"
"We're friends now, Amy. Kinda. Look, lemme finish."
"Sorry," Amelia said with a smile. "Tell me how you aided and abetted schoolyard bullying till your conscience caught up."
"Apology accepted with reservations, Amy. Emma, Sophia and some less important people called me to the girl's bathroom. Turns out things got so shitty, Charl was reduced to having her lunch in the toilet. They poured juice into the stall with Charl in it, and I kinda flipped."
Amelia's face sobered as she sat up straight.
"What did you do, Taylor?"
"I told the girls to get the fuck out. Ever since I drove off some Merchant wannabes who tried to fuck with Emma while Sophia wasn't around, they thought of me as Emma's spare dumb muscle and they beat a hasty retreat."
Taylor waited for the other shoe to drop, before she noticed a distinct lack of sniping from her friend.
"Huh, no snide remarks, Amy? Guess you're taking this seriously. So, the others got lost, but Sophia decided to try and put me in my place."
"You're not in cuffs," Amelia said as she examined her friend's wrists. "I take it you didn't hurt her too badly."
"Nope. I shoved her into another stall, then broke off the door and tried to brain her with it. Good reflexes on the girl, turns out she was a cape. Breaker, since she turned into some kind of cloud state and went through the door just as it missed her and went into the wall instead. Teachers finally entered to break us up, barely missed her transformation. They thought I missed."
"Fuck. So you and Sophia got outed, and you ended your friendship with Emma."
"FYI, Amy. Sophia and I seem to come to a silent understanding to not blab about each other's condition since she kept silent of me ripping a door off its hinges to brain her and I didn't tell of her magic trick. Even did me a solid, said the door was already loose when questioned by Blackwell. But yeah, in hindsight my friendship with Emma turned quite toxic."
"So you can make wise decisions sometimes, Taylor. Maybe you can settle for being just a bull and leave the china shop at home moving forward?"
"As soon as you stop being surly and snipy with your betters, Amy.But, seriously that wasn't the reason I'm one redhead friend short."
"Oh?"
"Mom got called in, and she heard my side of the story."
Amelia's face darkened at Valkyrie's mention, but she kept silent.
"Yeah, figured you'd do that. Mom tore into everyone except me and Charlotte's parents. Everyone else like Sophia's mom, Mr Barnes and the principal though? Savaged. You ever see several adults sputter on the verge of tears? You can ask Mom, because she did it from her wheelchair."
"I'm torn, Taylor," Amelia said as she walked to the kitchen, "by having to chose between supporting your mother or some complete strangers in your riveting tale of assholes being themselves to each other."
/x/
Taylor stood at the rooftop of an apartment block facing the Bay and breathed in deep the chilly saline breeze that blew in from the Docks, before she winced in pain and grabbed the lef of her torso. Her boots scrapped against the concrete, as she leaned forward to survey the land below. Cluster of lights marked out areas where local gangs scurried about their business, vibrant due to a combination of an influx of refugees from yet another disaster that plagued the world, and overworked and undermanned law enforcement. Distant sounds of gunfire and broken glass drew Taylor's attention, but her radio headset crackled the second she put one step rightwards to the commotion.
"Not one step more, young lady."
"Mommm!!"
"You're here to scope out a potential Einherjar, and win her trust. Crashing a gangfight between the ABB and the Empire does nothing except drag you deeper into the underworld conflicts. Any sort of cape business is strictly secondary."
"But Aunt Lenneth said I'm supposed to leave a good impression for the Protectorate. Stopping two gangs-"
"Is best left to the others, especially with no durable parahumans around who can take a beating at your hands. The Protectorate views any kind of powerful parahuman not under them with wariness at best, and I really don't want you to have a body count"
"But-"
"Taylor," the young demi-goddess froze at her mother's tone. "How's your left rib?"
"Painful? You really didn't hold back much in today's sparring session, Mom."
"A stark reminder for your fifteenth birthday, Taylor," Annette chuckled. "And also a reminder to myself that even for someone with millenia of experience can hit harder than expected. Do you really think you can stop a fight between mortals without sending at least a handful of them to Hel's embrace?"
Taylor grimaced, but as soon as she opened her lips to retort, the crack of gunfire below her perch caught the young demi-goddess' attention. Her frown turned upwards into a wide grin, and her eyes grew predatory as she leaped from the rooftop and downwards to the dim streets below. Tar and concrete flew outwards from the epic-center where Taylor landed, as her boots dug into the ground and her grey and blue plate armor shone despite the failing light. The feathered wings on her helmet fluttered in the shockwave of her landing, and a dozen ABB dressed in green and red jackets saw their reflection in the pristine surface of the helmet polished to perfection.
"I'm Valkyrie," Taylor said while she struggled to keep her grin under control. "Cease your-"
Gunshots, and then cries of pain as the rounds bounced off her armor and back into their owners. Taylor stared incredulous at the scorch marks and dents on her armor which had begun to repair itself, before she turned to the four ABB who fired upon her.
"You shot me," Taylor said grimly to the yelling gangsters bleeding out from reflected bullets, "despite knowing who I am. Fresh off the boat?"
More shots rang out, and Taylor sighed as the remaining ABB fired and retreated from her. Taylor stood rooted to her spot, and allowed the ABB to reach the end of the block before she sprinted to cut them off. The form of the Valkyrie arrived in front of the retreating ABB, before the sonic boom in her wake shattered windows and blew the men onto the walls and floor. Taylor eyed the still squirming ABB, and decided on a especially loud, balding man.
"Hey you," Taylor said as she grabbed the man by his jacket collar and brought him face to face with herself. "Seen this girl?"
The ABB man stared at the picture of a blonde woman with visible freckles in a purple bodysuit and domino mask, before he turned to Taylor.
"Like hell we're letting you get that girl first!"
"So you do know who she is," Taylor said. "Now talk."
"You speak Khmer?" the ABB stammered in disbelief, "How-"
"I'm the one asking questions. Now, where's the girl?"
Taylor felt the hair on her back stand, before she grabbed the ABB and leaped upwards to the top of the apartment block. The demi-goddess ignored the screams of her terrified informant and pinned his jacket to the floor with a dagger.
"Stay here," Taylor growled in as deep a voice she could muster. "If you run, I'll come knocking. You don't want to see what happens when I come knocking."
Taylor wrinkled her nose at the sudden stench of wet dog, and she drew her sword at the sound of screams and crumbling walls from the apartment below her.
"Funny?"
"Mom," Taylor said as she pressed her headset closer. "Something wrong?"
"Mostly the behavior of the prospect, Taylor. Tattletale and her crew isn't supposed to be so...aggressive towards someone with our reputation. At least, not based on what we learned from watching her from the Water Mirror."
Taylor scratched her chin with her free hand, as the crashing and screams got closer.
"Just like Lyseria predicted then," Taylor said with a smile. "Someone's directing her."
"A dangerous someone," Annette said darkly. "Marquis and I will bag Lung. You find out who's using Tattletale, and-"
The doorway to the rooftop exploed in a shower of brick and glass, and three massive beasts made of muscle and teeth pounced out of the ruins towards Taylor.
Chapter 2: Take Flight
/x/
Taylor sighed as a flash of light erupted before her, and a muscular man with braided, short blonde hair and beard emerged. The man turned his gaze across the quiet alley behind Brockton General Hospital as he studied his new environs, while Taylor winced at the bronze tunic and breastplate he wore. A hammer carved from stone with a handle of polished wood hung from his leather belt, and Taylor took a step back as electricity crackled across the hammerhead before she waved.
"Uncle Thor..."
The ground shook, as Taylor was swept into a flying embrace by the elder Aesir with a wide grin on his face. Taylor gagged at the tightness of the hug as she was spun around, and coughed after Thor released her from his grasp.
"Taylor! What a sight for sore eyes you are," Thor grimaced as he continued, "unlike your mother."
"Not what Frei told me you said while you were drunk, Uncle Thor. But if you find Mom unpleasant, I can see why you've got that grin on your face."
Thor pulled down the sides of his lips, before he unhooked his hammer. Mjölnir hummed along its master as the afternoon sun shone off the polished rock surface.
"So, where's Annette? She can't claim to be in a serious accident if she didn't have some kind of grave injury."
"Follow me," Taylor gestured as she placed her hands into her jeans pockets. "Aunt Silmeria's placed a geas over the witnesses to the accident and ambulance crew so they won't notice you, but Mom may change her mind and try to run."
"Bah," Thor sniffed. "If your mother was worried about the meeting between her pelvis and my hammer, maybe she shouldn't have been using the phone while driving. Besides, it's only for a few weeks till your fifteenth birthday and coming of age."
Thor strode forward and swung his left arm to Taylor's back, before the teen demigod grabbed the older god's hand and threw him over her shoulder. The concrete cracked and a cloud of dust briefly obscured Thor's vision as he stared wide-eyed at Taylor, before he gave a deep belly laugh that shook the lids of the trash cans.
"Nice try, Uncle Thor. But you've taught me enough that you'd never get me into a grapple unawares again."
/x/
The sound of waves echoed in the cavernous living room with antique furniture, laminated wood floors and lacquer pillars before the air rippled and a teenage girl with short, curly hair and freckles appeared. Amelia Folkvangr fell back onto a fur lined couch, and stared at the frescoes that came to life when she focused on them. She untied her coat, white with gold trimmings and tossed it aside. A raven nesting in straw adorned the back of the coat, the ruby threads shimmered as if the bird was alive. Amelia kept her gaze upon the moving pictures, her attention mostly fixed upon a blonde woman in a green dress before she sighed and closed her eyes.
"Oh, Mother. Why must-"
Amelia growled as the sour smell of sweat clashed with her lily smelling perfume, and warm, damp hands clamped over her eyes.
"Hello Amy. Still thinking about Aunt Freya that way?"
Amelia kept mum, before she reached out and tapped Taylor's arm. The taller girl yelped and jumped off as angry boils sprouted along the length of her arm, before she removed a glass bottle with a golden liquid and poured the potion over her infected arm. Taylor winced as the boils bubbled and burst, and shook her head at the stench before she sighed in relief as her arm was restored.
"Damn it, Amy! Overreaction much?"
"Maybe if you didn't drug me and shaved my hair the last time you had your hands on my face," Amelia narrowed her eyes. "I'd be less wary of you."
"Touche, Amy, touche. You know how long it took me to steal one of Eir's recipes that'd work on you?" Taylor grabbed the discarded coat and threw it over the couch, which prompted Amelia to pull it away before Taylor plonked herself on the couch.
"Get off, Taylor, before I really get serious. Your freaky lineage won't save you if that happens."
"Heard that one before, Amy," Taylor stretched herself before she stared at the ceiling. "Congrats on your official ascension to the Aesir by the way. Aunt Freya was ecstatic when she burst into our home and told us Rufus made you one of us."
"Only provisional membership," Amelia said while her eyes remained closed. "I still have to prove myself with a feat they recognize or die before I get a divine body."
"You'll do fine, Amy," Taylor yawned and waved before she laid back and spread out her arms along the couch. Amelia's eyes snapped open, but she shrugged and laid back.
Both teens laid in silence, and hours passed before Amelia grabbed Taylor by the front of her t-shirt.
"Fine, you win," Amelia said as Taylor gave a triumphant grin. " What happened? Why're you here?"
"To annoy you?"
"You haven't been doing that by your lonesome lately. Where's your partner in crime Emma?"
Amelia raised an eyebrow as Taylor's face fell, before she sniffed in understanding.
"So you two broke up? Did she get tired of you being the jock in a space cadet class?"
"Hey! I'm no jock! You know that my grades are always near the top of the class."
"Because Valkyrie isn't above chaining you to the study table and your books when the exams come calling and your father's persuasion can't get you to focus," Amelia rolled her eyes. "Now spill it, what did you do for your only non-jock friend to dump you."
Taylor hummed, looked around and scratched her chin before she leaned closer towards Amelia.
"Truth is, Emma's a cunt."
Amelia looked at Taylor for two seconds, before she burst into hysterics.
"Seriously? Took you that long?" Amelia snickered while she dabbed at her tears. "Of all the things you've said this is among the dumbest. And that takes effort."
"Oh shush, you." Taylor said while Amelia shrugged off a punch to the shoulder. "As you probably remember-"
"I don't. Wasn't paying attention much."
Amelia dodged a cushion while Taylor continued without missing a beat.
"Emma's been really into the whole queen bitch of the school thing ever since we started at Winslow. At first it was the usual. Slaying potential rivals with nasty rumors, slashing textbooks, random horrible kid stuff like it was lifted from a primer on how to be a dick when you're a teen."
"Which you joined in gleefully, huh?"
"Hey!"
Amelia caught a glimpse of Taylor's pained look, before she sighed and shook her head.
"Sorry, Taylor. You're not the type. You reserve the worst for me because you want me to grow you a second exploding head."
"Anyways, Emma bascially was cutting down the other girls systematically. I didn't intervene since Mom did tell me we young ones should sort out our own affairs until things get too big, and Emma was going after people who'd gleefully do the same shit to her given the chance. Sauce, goose, gander. But then Charlotte came into the picture. Attractive, slim girl. Not Emma level, but kinda right up your alley if you weren't fixated on Au-"
Taylor froze at Amelia's glare, before she rolled her eyes.
"Fine. No more cracks about your forbidden-Ow okay! Lighten up. Back on topic. I think seeing Charlotte broke something in Emma, or maybe it simply pulled of a band-aid because things got nasty. Rumors flew, books vandalized, homework was ruined and she got everyone to shun her. Wasn't easy since quite a few guys were taken with her, but between herself and Sophia she got her isolated and vulnerable."
"And you didn't do anything to help her. How nice of your, Taylor."
"I figured Emma would move on once the girl's sufficiently cowed," Taylor shrugged. "It wasn't a nice feeling, but I knew Emma better than Charlotte and I hoped she would get it out of her system. Besides, it's like she suspect I'd not like it, as she did most of the worst shit when I wasn't around."
"And you didn't hear anything about what your friend did to the girl," Amelia said with raised eyebrows. "Find it hard to believe."
"I'm in the girls' wrestling club, Amy. Unlike the boy's side, barring a certain group of boys and girls, most people think of us as roided up freaks. People don't fuck with us, generally speaking, but we're not that connected to the grapevine."
"Huh."
"Huh? C'mon Amy, not going to bust my balls about my freakishness having nothing to do with roids?"
"Nope, need time to think of new material. Also, Emma being a bitch."
"Oh right. Well, Emma got it into her head to have me join in the latest bullying of Charl-"
"Charl?"
"We're friends now, Amy. Kinda. Look, lemme finish."
"Sorry," Amelia said with a smile. "Tell me how you aided and abetted schoolyard bullying till your conscience caught up."
"Apology accepted with reservations, Amy. Emma, Sophia and some less important people called me to the girl's bathroom. Turns out things got so shitty, Charl was reduced to having her lunch in the toilet. They poured juice into the stall with Charl in it, and I kinda flipped."
Amelia's face sobered as she sat up straight.
"What did you do, Taylor?"
"I told the girls to get the fuck out. Ever since I drove off some Merchant wannabes who tried to fuck with Emma while Sophia wasn't around, they thought of me as Emma's spare dumb muscle and they beat a hasty retreat."
Taylor waited for the other shoe to drop, before she noticed a distinct lack of sniping from her friend.
"Huh, no snide remarks, Amy? Guess you're taking this seriously. So, the others got lost, but Sophia decided to try and put me in my place."
"You're not in cuffs," Amelia said as she examined her friend's wrists. "I take it you didn't hurt her too badly."
"Nope. I shoved her into another stall, then broke off the door and tried to brain her with it. Good reflexes on the girl, turns out she was a cape. Breaker, since she turned into some kind of cloud state and went through the door just as it missed her and went into the wall instead. Teachers finally entered to break us up, barely missed her transformation. They thought I missed."
"Fuck. So you and Sophia got outed, and you ended your friendship with Emma."
"FYI, Amy. Sophia and I seem to come to a silent understanding to not blab about each other's condition since she kept silent of me ripping a door off its hinges to brain her and I didn't tell of her magic trick. Even did me a solid, said the door was already loose when questioned by Blackwell. But yeah, in hindsight my friendship with Emma turned quite toxic."
"So you can make wise decisions sometimes, Taylor. Maybe you can settle for being just a bull and leave the china shop at home moving forward?"
"As soon as you stop being surly and snipy with your betters, Amy.But, seriously that wasn't the reason I'm one redhead friend short."
"Oh?"
"Mom got called in, and she heard my side of the story."
Amelia's face darkened at Valkyrie's mention, but she kept silent.
"Yeah, figured you'd do that. Mom tore into everyone except me and Charlotte's parents. Everyone else like Sophia's mom, Mr Barnes and the principal though? Savaged. You ever see several adults sputter on the verge of tears? You can ask Mom, because she did it from her wheelchair."
"I'm torn, Taylor," Amelia said as she walked to the kitchen, "by having to chose between supporting your mother or some complete strangers in your riveting tale of assholes being themselves to each other."
/x/
Taylor stood at the rooftop of an apartment block facing the Bay and breathed in deep the chilly saline breeze that blew in from the Docks, before she winced in pain and grabbed the lef of her torso. Her boots scrapped against the concrete, as she leaned forward to survey the land below. Cluster of lights marked out areas where local gangs scurried about their business, vibrant due to a combination of an influx of refugees from yet another disaster that plagued the world, and overworked and undermanned law enforcement. Distant sounds of gunfire and broken glass drew Taylor's attention, but her radio headset crackled the second she put one step rightwards to the commotion.
"Not one step more, young lady."
"Mommm!!"
"You're here to scope out a potential Einherjar, and win her trust. Crashing a gangfight between the ABB and the Empire does nothing except drag you deeper into the underworld conflicts. Any sort of cape business is strictly secondary."
"But Aunt Lenneth said I'm supposed to leave a good impression for the Protectorate. Stopping two gangs-"
"Is best left to the others, especially with no durable parahumans around who can take a beating at your hands. The Protectorate views any kind of powerful parahuman not under them with wariness at best, and I really don't want you to have a body count"
"But-"
"Taylor," the young demi-goddess froze at her mother's tone. "How's your left rib?"
"Painful? You really didn't hold back much in today's sparring session, Mom."
"A stark reminder for your fifteenth birthday, Taylor," Annette chuckled. "And also a reminder to myself that even for someone with millenia of experience can hit harder than expected. Do you really think you can stop a fight between mortals without sending at least a handful of them to Hel's embrace?"
Taylor grimaced, but as soon as she opened her lips to retort, the crack of gunfire below her perch caught the young demi-goddess' attention. Her frown turned upwards into a wide grin, and her eyes grew predatory as she leaped from the rooftop and downwards to the dim streets below. Tar and concrete flew outwards from the epic-center where Taylor landed, as her boots dug into the ground and her grey and blue plate armor shone despite the failing light. The feathered wings on her helmet fluttered in the shockwave of her landing, and a dozen ABB dressed in green and red jackets saw their reflection in the pristine surface of the helmet polished to perfection.
"I'm Valkyrie," Taylor said while she struggled to keep her grin under control. "Cease your-"
Gunshots, and then cries of pain as the rounds bounced off her armor and back into their owners. Taylor stared incredulous at the scorch marks and dents on her armor which had begun to repair itself, before she turned to the four ABB who fired upon her.
"You shot me," Taylor said grimly to the yelling gangsters bleeding out from reflected bullets, "despite knowing who I am. Fresh off the boat?"
More shots rang out, and Taylor sighed as the remaining ABB fired and retreated from her. Taylor stood rooted to her spot, and allowed the ABB to reach the end of the block before she sprinted to cut them off. The form of the Valkyrie arrived in front of the retreating ABB, before the sonic boom in her wake shattered windows and blew the men onto the walls and floor. Taylor eyed the still squirming ABB, and decided on a especially loud, balding man.
"Hey you," Taylor said as she grabbed the man by his jacket collar and brought him face to face with herself. "Seen this girl?"
The ABB man stared at the picture of a blonde woman with visible freckles in a purple bodysuit and domino mask, before he turned to Taylor.
"Like hell we're letting you get that girl first!"
"So you do know who she is," Taylor said. "Now talk."
"You speak Khmer?" the ABB stammered in disbelief, "How-"
"I'm the one asking questions. Now, where's the girl?"
Taylor felt the hair on her back stand, before she grabbed the ABB and leaped upwards to the top of the apartment block. The demi-goddess ignored the screams of her terrified informant and pinned his jacket to the floor with a dagger.
"Stay here," Taylor growled in as deep a voice she could muster. "If you run, I'll come knocking. You don't want to see what happens when I come knocking."
Taylor wrinkled her nose at the sudden stench of wet dog, and she drew her sword at the sound of screams and crumbling walls from the apartment below her.
"Funny?"
"Mom," Taylor said as she pressed her headset closer. "Something wrong?"
"Mostly the behavior of the prospect, Taylor. Tattletale and her crew isn't supposed to be so...aggressive towards someone with our reputation. At least, not based on what we learned from watching her from the Water Mirror."
Taylor scratched her chin with her free hand, as the crashing and screams got closer.
"Just like Lyseria predicted then," Taylor said with a smile. "Someone's directing her."
"A dangerous someone," Annette said darkly. "Marquis and I will bag Lung. You find out who's using Tattletale, and-"
The doorway to the rooftop exploed in a shower of brick and glass, and three massive beasts made of muscle and teeth pounced out of the ruins towards Taylor.
Last edited:
OverReactionGuy
Verified Sanity
And then all three dogs died because Bitch was stupid and sent them to their deaths even though they trusted her.
Apparently Taylor has more than one torso now.
- Location
- sweden
I really don't get why this doesn't get more attention.
I mean this is really interesting stuff.
I mean this is really interesting stuff.