Preparations

   Jim looked out on the horizon. He was taking in the sheer power at the palm of his hands.  Satisfied with his display he spoke. "Astros, Susan, let's go back inside I have a plan."  They then proceeded to go back into the temple chamber.  "Let's go into the mess hall and discuss my plan." He said as he walked to the mess hall table.  When all of them had taken their seats Jim looked at both of them and began to speak. "Astros, first I want to thank you for the ascension into godhood. This is not something I would ever have wanted but it will be a great help in our conquest of the mortals." No sooner then Jim finished his sentence the alarm calling for a meeting of guardians went off. "I should probably take that." Jim said as he got up. "I will be back shortly, please wait here for my return."

   After Jim had left the room, Susan and Astros looked at each other.  Susan finally broke the silence, "Jim… Jim is a lot different now. He has a presence to him now, a very commanding one."

   "Well he is a god now, fairy girl." Astros responded. "Gods have a very commanding presence to mortals.  They instinctively know not to trifle with the likes of us."

   "I don't feel that with you, Astros." Susan's words pierced Astros deeply. "I mean I do have an unease around you, but this is on a whole different level."  Susan got serious. "It's not unease I feel with Jim, I feel like the world is but a ship and he is its commander.  Like he could do whatever he pleased and no one could ever stop him. I feel like I need to follow him no matter where he goes."

   "I see." Astros said. "There has never been a new god before, perhaps his affect upon mortals is different from that of a traditional god."  Astros thought for just a moment. "Watching his journey will be very interesting. Very interesting indeed."

   Meanwhile in the meeting chamber Jim was having a meeting with Mary and Hector.  "What did you do?!" Mary yelled as soon as Jim entered the conference.  "I know you did something. THE WHOLE WORLD WAS SHAKING!" Mary's volume continued to rise. Finally she noticed Jim's new appearance and was lost for words.

    "Worry not fairy guardian, everything I have done, I have done it for the safety of the mortals." Jim said while staring Mary in the eyes. "I shall ensure that there shall not be a war between the mortal and magical races."

    "Amigo, you look quite different.  What has happened?" Asked Hector showing the concern on his face.

   "As I said, do not concern yourself with the details.  My actions will save the mortals of this world.  All is well and going according to plan." Jim said with a commanding presence.

   "Jim we.." Mary tried to speak but Jim cut her off.

   "If there's nothing else I will take my leave, farewell fellow guardians." Jim said as he left the conference.

   Mary turns to Hector. "What is going on with the guardian of gods?" Mary asked. "He was nothing like he was the first time we met him, I could not even try to oppose him."

   "He was very different." Hector said. "You were right to assume that he was the cause of the global quake.  He still seems to be on our side right now.  We should just wait and see what happens.  We after all have our own work to do."

    Jim entered the mess hall once again and sat back at the table with Susan and Astros. "I am sorry about that, they were concerned about the global earthquake that we caused." Jim said. "Worry not I set their minds at ease." Jim turns to Susan. "Susan the next part of our journey will be incredibly dangerous, if you want to just stay in the temple with the souls of your children I would not fault you.  Do not feel that you have to come with us."

   "I'm coming." Susan said.

   "Are you sure?" Asked Jim.  "No one would…"

   Susan cut Jim off. "I said I was coming and that is that."

   "Ok Susan, I accept your aid." Jim then turns to Astros. "Astros can I count on you as well?"

   "Of course, I wouldn't miss the fun of conquering the mortal realm for nothing." Astros was having trouble hiding his excitement.

    "Ok then my plan is this," Jim began to explain. "We travel to the border where the mortals are defending against the undead hordes.  We will show up and demonstrate our power in front of the military.  They will of course be impressed and welcome us with open arms.  We will use their resources to seize control of the rest of the mortals." Jim paused for a second. "Appearances are everything and we currently do not look the part.  Please come with me into the temple chamber." Jim said as he got up from the table.

    "What's wrong with our clothes Jim?" Astros asked. "This is the traditional garments of the gods.  Gods have worn this since time was new."

   "Lacks the presence of authority." Jim answered. Jim then waved his hands and changed what Astros and he was wearing.  They were now dressed in the finest tailored black suit. Their ties were that of their vest colors with a single rune in the middle of it. "This is much better." Jim said as he admired himself.

  "Ugh, we look like mortals." Astros commented.

   "I think y'all look good." Susan chimed in. "Very manly. Very commanding."

   "As for you Susan." Jim said as he waved his hand over her. "You need new threads as well." She was now dressed in a finely tailored female suit.

   "Oh wow, this looks nice." She commented about herself.

   Jim smiled at Susan and spoke. "You also need a weapon, you are after all not immortal like us."  Jim then slapped his hands together and pulled them apart slowly. A huge amount of light was generated between his hands.  As his hands got further apart the light began to take shape.  It was forming into a sword.  The sword had a handle of solid gold, the blade was bright silver with etched golden runes across the blade. "This is your weapons Susan.  It is the holy sword… Umm… Lets just name it later, anyway it will cut any undead down in an instant, is unbreakable, and is light as a feather.  Use it well Susan." Jim said as he handed the sword over to Susan.

  "Thank you." Susan said as she accepted the blade.

   "Now before we leave we must prepare." Jim waved his hand again and this time large backpacks appeared. "We need to pack these with supplies.  It is a long journey to the border and we do not know when we will be able to return to the temple."  Jim thinks for a moment. "We should probably leave in the morning. It is getting late and it would be unwise to travel at night."

  "I agree." Susan said. "I will go take a shower first."

  "Astros, we should talk." Jim said.  "The magic we pulled from the god realm, it weakened the seal didn't it?"

  "You said you would do anything to conquer the mortals dear Jim." Astros said with a smile. "But yes, the seal has become much weaker.  In fact the tidal wave of magic energy that was stored inside is now with in you. So if you so desired you could safely open the door."

  "How long do we have before the gods break out?" Jim asked with a serious expression on his face.

  "Beats me."Answered Astros. "Basically depends if the gods want to come out. Do you think that seal was stopping us from leaving? If the gods so desired they could easily break through."

   "Then why, they have been sealed for thousands of years, and they just let themselves be sealed?" Jim asked.

  "What is time to an immortal?" Astros asked. Time is a mortal construct. We gods are just in agreement that it would be interesting to see what happens without us.  So we have been happy in our paradise, while you mortals suffered out here.  With our magic we have seen everything.  How you mortals have lived, the wars you have fought with one another. Mortal TV is very popular among the gods.  I am sure quite a few are watching your journey with bated breath." Astros makes eye contact with Jim. "No I don't think they will escape as long as you keep them entertained."

   "Good to know." Jim said. "I always wondered how humans sealed the gods. Now I know it was just because the gods let themselves be sealed." Jim thought for a moment. "So what started the war? Why did the mortals seal the magical creatures if it wasn't the gods?" Jim asked.

   "Oh Jim, it will be far more entertaining if you find that out on your own." Astros said with a smile.

   Just then the shower door opened and Susan exited. She was in her birthday suit. "Jim did you have to change my comfy clothes into this suit?" She asked. "I can't sleep in all this."

   "Oh I am sorry Susan, that was thoughtless of me." Jim waves his hand again and a night gown appears on Susan's body.  "Please accept this with my apology."

  "Thanks Jim!" Susan said as she went to her room carrying her new suit in her arms.

   Morning comes and they meet outside after breakfast.  The skeletal carriage is waiting for them. "This will not do.  If we show up in this they will think we are the devil or something."  Jim says as he reaches out and touches the carriage. The carriage begins to glow a bright white. Completely purified it was as a shining beacon to the world. The horses were now whole again with magnificent wings.  They were white and muscular like the pegasus in the myth of Hercules.  "Now this, this is how we will arrive in style.  Everyone get in, it's time to go meet the military." Jim said as he got into the driver's seat.