All For The Sake Of The World

The day came where everyone loaded the boats and headed toward either their victory or their death. Millions of people stood shoulder to shoulder to face a common enemy. On the last day the Diinn's had arrived as requested from Sky. Their small band of men dispersed among the ships. Barqan joined her and Michael on the ship in which they rode on that also included Elizabeth along with her small group and the Silver Queen. Sky knew she should be sleeping and conserving her energy but she couldn't. She was terrified and her mind couldn't or wouldn't shut down. Crawling out of her bed she looked at all of the eyes that turned to stare at her. Eyes that should be sleeping as well but were not. Shrugging her shoulders at them she headed for the door as the sound of shuffling could be heard. Glancing over her shoulder she could see clearly now that no one, not even Michael who she thought was as sleep was actually sleeping.

Following her up to the deck of the ship Sky stopped when she saw Elizabeth standing at the bow of the ship surrounded by ghosts. Mist covered the ship and rolled off the sides as more gathered around her. "Are there that many dead in this water," asked Sky as Barqan stepped up beside her.

"Yes and no. These are the lost souls who wonder these waters unable to find rest because of what the death God has caused," informed Barqan looking out across all fo the ships that stretched to the left and right of them.

"They are the souls of all the silver dragons unable to return to the mother," said the Silver Queen as tears began to run from her eyes.

"Yes," answered Barqan not turning from the sight of Elizabeth standing tall among the dead.

"She seems so oddly at peace there," said Michael as he wrapped his arms around Sky and rested his chin on top of her head. "Even the witch doesn't seem disturbed by them. Surely that many spirts pushing in on you can't feel that good."

"That's because they don't fear the dead, and there is a reason they are all standing on this ship and not the rest. Have you ever heard of the Sending," asked Barqan as Jolene pulled something out of the bag she had beside her.

"No what's that," asked Sky briefly taking her eyes off of Sky to look over at him.

"In her world, it's common to send the dead off with song and dance. It's to free them from their tethers and send them to the afterlife. The dead have power and not many can understand what they say. I know you can, but she is different," continued Barqan as Sky turned a tear-streaked face toward Jolene.

"You got Offspring on there," asked Sky as she rubbing the tears from her face. "I'm about to free up the first leg of magic users."

"Of course I've got Offspring on here. What's your flavor," asked Jolene as the thing in her hand began to glow.

"You got Gone Away," asked Elizabeth before turning back toward the front of the ship and raising her arms.

Without a word, Jolene pulled something else out of her bag and a little blue light began to glow before it turned green. Music unlike anything she'd ever heard began to play as loud as if a band was sitting on the bow of the ship with them. Turning with a nod toward Jolene, Elizabeth extended her hand out. "Dance for the dead with me?"

Clasping hands Jolene was pulled to her feet as she asked, "Are we doing this graveyard style or Charles style?"

"Charles style seems more fitting," said Elizabeth as her and Jolene took up potions.

From there they began to dance in a way she'd never seen of twists and turns. It was lively and energetic as a fog so thick you could barely see through it began to form and float out to sea. Sky could hear the souls laughing and singing along with the words but not in the language in which they were sung. They all sang about heaven being so far away. Sky didn't know what heaven was but from the words she heard it had to be where the souls on Elizabeth's world went. Hearing several sniffs Sky looked over to see there wasn't a dry eye anywhere around her. "Can you hear them singing," asked Sky as realization set in.

"We can and it's a haunting song and sad," said Micheal as he sniffed a little too.

"We should be getting close to shore," said the boat Captain as he made himself present on the deck of the ship. "Are the water dragons are already hard at work?"

"No they haven't even come on deck yet," said Eli as everyone turned their attention to Jolene as she shouted, "Hey Siri play my monsters are real."

"Playing Monsters by Shinedown from your library," replied a woman's voice who boomed out as loud as the music.

"Are we graveyard dancing now or continuing on with the Native American style," asked Matthew as he slid off of the banister.

"Graveyard," shouted both women as the music dramatically changed.

Sky wasn't sure what to think about it, but the souls around them began to shot around them in their excitement. All around the flashes of light danced here and there in the deep fog making it look like they were in the middle of a lightning storm. Even after the music stopped the spirits continued their revelry and the storm continued to grow until they looked like a low hanging thunderhead. Before long the calls of the other ships could be heard as everyone began to gather above the decks to start their mission. Since it seemed that the first group wasn't needed they all returned below to be replaced by the earthmovers. To stay out of everyone's way Sky and her group moved to the back. There all of her guards strapped her down with what they thought she needed. Elizabeth wore only her sword until her friend pulled something out of her bag. Watching her strap a strange looking knife and it's holder to her leg, Elizabeth shook her head. "If anyone needs this right now it's you," said Elizabeth trying to stop her friend.

Smacking her hand away Jolene replied, "If you can get in close then end it quickly. We all know if you take out the head and the heart they die. If you die here we might get stuck and I want to go home to my children."

"And you think I don't," growled Elizabeth as glowing blue eyes looked down at her. "If anyone needs a bit of the twenty-first century it's you"

"I'm not the one who can get us home. That's you and it's always been you. Now take the damn gun and go kill the death god," snapped Jolene as she finished affixing the sheath thing on her leg. "Prey with me?"

Helping Jolene back to her feet Elizabeth hugged her tightly before saying, "Like I wouldn't. Never have we entered a battle without preying to our protector."

"You think he'll hear us here," asked Jolene as a tear ran down her face.

"I'm sure he is where ever we are," said Elizabeth as she clasped her hands around Jolen's before resting her forehead against hers. "Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Protect us against the wickedness and snares of the devil; May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; And do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan and all evil spirits who wander through the world for the ruin of souls."

Sky didn't understand any of that, but then again they were from a different world. They had different Gods and when they died their souls went elsewhere. They didn't return to the planet as theirs did. What she did know is that her kind was the same as theirs because everyone was currently praying to the Goddess. Prayer was always the forefront of a war. Even if you weren't religious you'd send a preyer up to anyone who would listen.

The wold grew still as all of the earth movers began chanting as a means of sinking their movement. Swords began to be drawn as arrows were being notched all while the ship searched forward. Shooting out of the fog banks the ships crashed through the crumbled buildings on the shore. As soon as the ships came to a rest the living army poured out of the ships. The dead rose from everywhere as shouts and screams ran out among the clang of weapons. Sky stood on the bow of the ship next to Elizabeths as both of their eyes surveyed the fighting in front of them. Jolene, her mate, and Shaw kept everyone from making it to the ship where they stood ever vigilant. "There," shouted Elizabeth as she grabbed Sky's hand. "You ready?"

"As ready as I'll ever be," replied Sky as Elizabeth pulled them forward.

From one step to the next the world around them changed. At one point they were standing on a dark ship the next they were standing in a bright hallway full of doors. Every door was a different shape, size, and color. There were no numbers or words on them to say what lay beyond and they stretched as far as Sky could see. "Where do they all go," asked Sky as Elizabeth pulled her to a door that opened itself.

"More places then either you or I can fathom," informed Sky stepping up to the open door that had a war waging on the other side of it. "When you jump from one spot to the other does it not look like this?"

Shaking her head no Sky turned from the war waging in a dark dilapidated city to the hallway. "No I just move locations. I see a place I want to be and then I'm there."

"Huh must be nice," stated Elizabeth before nodding toward the door. "Let's go kill a God."

With that, both Sky and Elizabeth pulled their swords and stepped through the door. As soon as she crossed the threshold the noise assaulted her ears. Cringing slightly Sky ignored the slight pain as she swung her sword at the huge monster in front of her. Before both her or Elizabeth's swords could land a strike on the monsters back the creature turned. A sword met hers with such force it stopped her decent completely. Grunting with the impact her body curled around the swords before it threw her away like trash. Crashing to the ground Sky turned to see Elizabeth wiping blood from the side of her head as she to picked herself up off the ground. Sickly green glowing eyes reguared the both of them from a bore like face with ram-like horns coming from its head. The creature's skin was black and slimy looking as it stetted over its fat pig-like body. The thing even had cloven hooves like a swine it resembled besides the fleshly looking wings behind it's back. It even squealed like a pig as the roared out in anger as Elizabeth's tower of blue flames melted the smaller looking pig-like people who attacked her.

Without hesitation Sky launched a second attack as she pulled a flame shield around her as well. The pig God meet both of their attacks with easy as they attacked him relentlessly. Their blades barely touched his tar-covered flesh. When they did manage to cut him, their blades sliced him as early as if they were slicing butter. His flesh would peal away, but the black slime like stuff would soon after fill the wounds. Moments after that the ooze would move away leaving untouched black flesh behind. The longer the fought the more destruction the three of them left in their wake. Both sides gave the three of them a wide berth as they destroyed everything in their wake. Huffing and puffing Elizabeth jumped from where she was to right beside Sky blinding her with a flash of white light. "Is there aways a flash of white when you jump from one place to the other," panted Sky as they both glared at the slightly winded God.

"Yeah I think it's the hallway," stated Elizabeth as she tried to catch her breath. "I noticed with that last hit the ooze didn't fix the wound as quickly. Infuse your blue flames with the sword. I think if we cause more damage then it can fix we might make some headway."

Nodding to that Sky brought her flames up and sent them down the length of the sword she was using. With that, they both charged the pig god again. Again he met them blow for blow and did as much damage to them as they did to him. Every so often Elizabeth would move to Sky's side and heal her wounds. Which was a good thing because the ooze that dripped from his sword burned and turned the wounds it created black. The blackness would begin to spread slowly but each time Elizabeth healed her the taint would go away. Sky hadn't even thought about the wounds Elizabeth had because each time the monster cute her blue flames would leap from the wounds. Even her blood would burn as it ran down her flesh. It was like her blood was the fire itself.

Panting Sky new they had to find a way to end this quickly because both of them were running out of steam. On the upside the fat pig looked like he was finally being pushed passed his limits too. Black blood ran from his many wounds as he bellowed in rage shaking the ground under his hooves. Gathering more strength Sky launched another attack. With a flurry of sword strikes, Sky went from what looked like the upper hand to a situation that put her in dire straights. A massive black hand wrapped around her forearm and before she could strike him with her claws he was swinger her around like a raggdoll. Sky felt her ribs break as she slammed into something hard and sounded slightly like Elizabeth as she cried out Sky's name. From there the monster slammed her into the ground breaking her left arm as Sky tried to stop the impact.

Instantly more people were there joining in their battle, but Sky couldn't really tell who they were as they passed in a blur. All Sky could do is cry out in pain as the beast used her body like a weapon until her body gave out. Sky screamed as her arm left her body sending her flying into a mass of fighting bodies. Laying there trying to katch the breath that was knocked out of her panic set in as Orcus stepped up right beside her. Bring his sword up Sky braced for the end as he drove it down toward her chest. From one breath to the next Sky went from looking at the death god in fear to looking at Elizabeth's back with a black oozing sword sticking out of it. Roaring in anger the God tried to pull his sword free of Elizabeth, but all he managed to do was pull Elizabeth right along with it. Laughing as the God lifted her off of her feet Elizabeth dangled above the ground with her face inches from the pig-like snout. Sky watched as she unsnapped the buckle that held the strange metal thing to her leg. Pulling it free Elizabeth poked the god in the side of the head with it causing the Pig to laugh. "It was fun while it lasted daughter of a wolf god but you can not hurt me with a square stick. You will die now. I think I'll eat you starting with your face," said the Death God as he opened his tusk filled mouth.

This made Elizabeth giggle as she barked out in laughter, "old God, meet the twenty-first century."

With that Elizabeth called thunder to her as it rang out across the battle field. Sky watched as a section of the Gods head exploded opposite of the strange-looking stick. It was like the stick had shout lighting so small that no one could see it, but they could only hear it's thunder. Elizabeth didn't leave it to that one though. She called the tiny lighting several more times blowing more of the monsters head apart. Crashing to the ground on top of the fat tube of lard Elizabeth pushed herself up. As she did the black ooze went with her leaving the pig God's body and collecting around the sword what was still stuck through her chest. "Death God meet my Death God and he loves to eat hearts," snapped Elizabeth as she stepped back making room for the horse sized wolf that leaped on top of the pig God's carcass.

Ripping and tearing at his flesh Shaw began to dig out the gods heart so that he could eat it. Elizabeth struggled to remain standing as she desperately tried to pull the ooze covered sword from her body. The black slime had already covered her chest turning her skin black as it spread out from the sword. Panic was written across her face as her hands passed through the black sword, like she was trying to grip mud. Rolling over to her side Sky tried right herself. As weight was applied to her arm it literally contorted and crumpled under her weigh. Screaming out in pain she crashed to the ground. Looking out at Elizabeth, Sky watched as she stumbled backward as the fell to the ground as the blackness covered her face. Watching as her lungs stopped raising and her body grew still, Sky screamed out not only in agony but in sorrow. The world shook as blue flames shot arose the expanse of earth that separated them. As soon as they hit Elizabeth's body she knew that she was dead, but she didn't want to believe it. Sky refused to believe that Elizabeth had died to save her. There was no way she was going to let it end this way. Gathering all the power she had left she forced it at Elizabeth trying to bring her back to life. She could hear the mother screaming at her to stop or she'd bring herself to ruin as well, but Sky didn't. Deep in her heart, she felt responsible because she was the better sword fighter. It was her fault that Elizabeth was there to begin with. Elizabeth had babies at home waiting on her return. Babies who would never know why their mommy didn't come home to them.

Crying out Sky was about to push what little she had left at Elizabeth as the world froze around her. Everything stopped including her body as the sound of voice drew her attention. As she turned to listen Sky fell out of her broken body making her realize she was in the in-between again. "What do you think we should do with him," asked a young man with a crown and golden leather boot that had wings on the side of it.

"You're asking me," asked a skinny older man covered in a long black wispy robe. "I just ferry the souls you bring me."

"You think we should just go get him personally? You know they used to be friends," said the man in the white toga and winged accessories.

"They were friends before he went rogue and crazy. He was consumed by his own greed," informed the old man as they both looked down at the body. "I have never refused to do my job, but I don't want that filth in my boat."

Nodding his head in agreement the younger man replied, "Okay I'll go ask Hades if he would like to personally collect this one. What do you want to do about all these old souls? Do you think your boat is big enough?"

This made Sky raise to her feet to look around them. Souls by the thousands milled around aimlessly through the battle field. There where a lot of people dressed in a way she'd never seen in any of her history books. They also spoke in a language she didn't understand either. "I have infinite room in my boat. I'm sure a lot of them will be glad to finally see the Elysian Fields."

With that, the younger man vanished from her sight. The older man went around plucking the strangely dressed souls out of the air like he was picking cotton, and tossing them into a boat that followed behind him. The boat bobbed and wobbled like it was floating on water, but Sky couldn't see it. Turning from the old man and his toils Sky turned to look back at Elizabeth who's body was pitch black including her eyes. At her feet was Shaw who stood upon the body of Orcus. Black blood was pouring out of his mouth and from his posture he'd just chomped down on his prize. Looking around the battlefield Sky spotted Michael in his dragon form. Black mist had been billowing around him and from the looks, he was chomping his way toward her. Half of a piglet thing was hanging from his mouth. Hearing more voices Sky turned to see the strange winged booted guy was back, but this time he was with a very handsome man and a gorgeous woman. The man had a long black beard and even longer black hair. He wore black armor that seemed to made out of bits of black bone and his chest pieces we're made of human skulls. Sky gasped as she watched the blackness of the armor seemed to slither and move drawing the woman's attention that stood to his left. "So he finally died did he." stated the dark-haired man as he walked over to the body of Orcus. Pausing to look at Shaw he reached his hand out and stroked his head before asking, "Are we on a world in line with Fairy?"

"No, I've never seen this world and no Earthly Gods have dominion here. The only reason I found it is because of all of them," replied the man as he turned and gestured toward all the souls milling around them.

"I see Charon is already hard at it," replied the man turning back to look at examining Shaw. "I find it odd that a hell hound is here then if no Gods of Earth have any dominion here."

Laying her hand on the armored man's shoulder drawing her attention the woman pointed at Sky. "She sees us, my love."

Turning the man's eyes grew round as he took in the sight of Sky. "A devine beast! By the souls of the Titans," exclaimed the man rushing toward her.

Rattling in warning Sky took up a defensive stance and prepared for a fight. "Well look at that," purred the man coming to a stop just in front of her. "Spooling for a fight with another God all while not having the use of arms and legs."

Looking down at herself Sky could see that her damage traveled to the in-between as well, but that didn't stop the knocking sound. "Stop it your scaring the poor thing," snapped the woman walking up behind the man and popping him in the back of the head. "Please excuse my husband's rudeness little griffon. My name is Persephone and this jerks name is Hades. It's a pleasure to meet you. By chance do you know the name of the Titan who created you?"

Looking from the Persephone who had a kind face toward the handsome man who seemed to be waiting on pins and needles for an answer Sky thought about it. Shaking her head no Sky's gaze fell upon Elizabeth. Sniffing, tears began to form as her heart broke for her new friend. Turning to see what had caught her eye Hades blanched. "That's not who I think it is, is it?" Looking between Elizabeth and Shaw quickly the handsome man groaned. "It figures he'd be involved in his Death."

"Of course he would be," stated Persephone rubbing her husband's back. "He's been hunting him since he disappeared mysteriously from all the worlds he had access to. What is that thing sticking out of her chest?"

"That's Orcus's weapon of choice," grumbled Hades making his way over to Elizabeth. "It's a slow and painful death. A plague. It's cancer. It's everything that kills you slowly. Remember he's a Death God. He draws power from you dyeing so the longer that takes the more power he gains. I'm surprised it's still here since he died. Either way we can't leave such a powerful weapon in the hands of mortals."

Reaching out to pull the sword from Sky's chest Hades failed the same as Elizabeth had. Repeating the process several times something dawned on all of them causing them to spin around quickly. Standing over his own body was the pig-like God as anger and fury burned in his eyes. Roaring in anger Orcus charged at Sky, but again before he got to her he disappeared leaving only a staggering Elizabeth. "By the Titans," exclaimed Hades looking quickly between where Elizabeth was and where her body had been.

Barely able to remain on her feet Elizabeth held on tightly to a black string that wiggled violently in her hand. "Energy can not be destroyed, it can only be converted," stated Elizabeth in a strained voice as if it was hard for her to talk and form words. "I will not let you be reborn and Tartarus is to nice for you because there is still a chance of escape. No, I must find a true end for you."

Everyone stood in shock as the string screamed out and thrashed harder in Elizabeth's hand. Out of nowhere, a headless woman rode up on a black horse with glowing read eyes. Pulling her horse to a stop the woman pulled a head out of a bag. Holding it up by the hair Sky gasped as the head opened its eyes and began to speak, "I hear you, sister. You have called," said the headless horseman. Sitting there for a moment on her pawing stead the woman replied to something unsaid or unheard by the others. "Not even I have that kind of power. How about you," asked the woman as she swung her head around to look at a creature Sky couldn't even begin to describe. It wasn't like anything she'd ever seen before, but it was clearly a creature of death.

The creature shoot it's head no as it stated, "Not even the shinigami have the power to devour the souls of gods. I'm sorry White One but I know not who can help you."

Wobbling a bit Elizabeth took a knee before she fell. Finding her balance again Elizabeth turned to look at a blue-skinned man with four arms. "Yama," she asked holding the string up to him.

Growling the man turned up his nose saying, "Durga should have never attached you to us. Only a fool would offer me the tainted soul of another death God and ask me to destroy it. What a disgrace."

"A disgrace," snapped a red-skinned man with long black hair who was dressed in creamy tan-colored leather pants. A wolf's head rested atop of his while the pelt covered his should and back. "She is a worrier of her people and she holds her troops proudly!"

"Chibiabos, I wish to hear nothing out of the mouth of a man who's people were named after mine," snapped the blue man that sparked a large argument over something called Indians.

The argument quickly consumed everyone as even Hades was drug into the battle of words. None of them noticed as Elizabeth took another knee struggling to remain upright as the black string began to thrash harder sensing its release. As Sky tried to right herself to go help Elizabeth a hand landed on her shoulder pushing her back down. Looking up Sky could see a black dog in the shape of a man, like that of the wolf-man, Wepwawet. Meeting the honey yellow eyes of the dog, the creature smiled at her before making his way over to stand in front of Elizabeth. Squatting down in front of her the dog gave her a not so comforting smile. "I know of a place that thing can go to be destroyed for good, but you will owe me a bond."

Falling back on her rump Elizabeth gasped, "You're not who I think you are, are you?"

"Depends on who you think I am, but you're dying so I wouldn't wait too long to accept my offer," answered the dog-man.

"So the Gods of Egypt exist too," groaned Elizabeth before she rested her forehead on her knees.

"You've made friends with many Gods and you find it hard to believe that I exist," laughed the dog-man. "Either way your time is short Elizabeth. Will you accept my bond or not?"

Struggling to right herself Sky screamed out as her right leg crumbled under her weight drawing Elizabeths and the dog's attention. Sad eyes regard her before turning toward the dog-man. "To save her world I will accept your offer and I will owe you a favor at your time of choosing."

"Elizabeth No," shouted Sky but it was too late.

The dog man plucked the string from Elizabeth's hand and shoved it into a jar with an alligator shaped lid. Handing the jar off to a smaller dog-man Sky watched as he disappeared as the dog-man held up the sword Elizabeth had given to her. "I'm taking this sword," said the dog-man as he looked at Sky. "It is my gift from you for helping your world." With that, he turned toward Elizabeth and shoved the sword through her chest right in the middle of the goopy one. Instantly Elizabeth let out a scream, unlike anything Sky had ever heard. It sounded like a choir of voices screaming at once. The world grew quiet as everyone in it all turned to Elizabeths scream as the dog-man pushed the sword deeper into her chest. "Anubis what are you doing," shouted a familiar voice as Wepwawet came out of nowhere.

"We made a bargain Brother, and now I'm being nice and saving her life so that she will have to owe me a favor," said Anubis as both the sword and the black goo disappeared deep into Elizabeth's body.

Sky couldn't believe what she was seeing as Elizabeths body went limp. Her skin began to change back to it's like pink as her hair began to turn black. In the middle of her chest was a blue jeweled hard shell bug of some descript. It had rainbow-colored wings and held a red disk above its head. Letting her body drop to the ground Anubis stood up and looked over at Hades. "The sword is no longer a problem. I infused it with Onimaru creating a pretty powerful demon-killing sword."

"That might be nice and all but we can't leave it in the hands of a mortal," snapped Hades.

"Then try to pull it from her chest if you think you can," laughed Anubis. "But I'd be asking what we're going to do about that one? If she passes further into the void this one will wake back up," stated Anubis pointing toward Elizabeth. "I would hate for her to wake up before the transformation is complete, but then again I'm always ready for an explosive show."

"Are you insane," shouted the blue man. "She's already a powder keg ready to detonate at any point!"

"You just added more power to someone who's got way too much to start with," shouted the shinigami.

"I don't understand why everyone decides to add their own mark onto my little pup for," chided Chibiabos.

"Yours," shouted Wepwawet as he snarled at Chibiabos. "She has no blood ties to you!"

Laughing Chibiabos shrugged his shoulders, "She has family ties to my grandson and so ties to me. Her fate and my grandsons are intertwined making her part of my family as well. If we all wanted to be honest she's more closely related to.."

"NOOOOO," shouted everyone at once cutting off whatever Chibiabos was about to say.

"What is going on here," shouted a woman as she appeared in the middle of the group. "This is my world! Why are all of you here! It's all your fault isn't it," shouted the golden-haired Goddess that Sky knew well.

"I didn't invite them here Ryuu, it was my granddaughter," said Wepwawet pointing at Elizabeth.

"She has that kind of power," gasped the Goddess Ryuu.

"I wouldn't say that, but she does have a lot of ties and connections," replied Wepwawet.

Before anyone could say anything the world began to shake and Elizabeth began to glow brightly. Sky sighed at the comfort that the light gave her as she seemed to melt into the warm ground. "No! The griffon," shouted someone as the world light up brightly. "Shit the God is dead and her job is done!"

"What," shrieked Ryuu.

"Are all of you that dumb," came a booming voice that shook as much as the world.

"Odin! I didn't invite you here," shouted someone but Sky couldn't see who they were as her eyes grew heavier.

"Devine beasts are created for one reason. Once that task is done then so are they. She was made to kill that sack of shit. With his soul destroyed her job is done," said an old man with an eye patch as he knelt down in front of her. Leaning down he whispered in her ear, "Take care of my grandchild when she arrives on your world. Welcome her with open arms and I will help you with your dead problem. Will you accept my bloodline into your fold?"

"I would willingly embrace Elizabeth's bloodline without you asking. She has a heart of gold and anyone willing to die for people she doesn't know is worth the world in my book," mumbled Sky as her body grew weaker.

Kissing her on the forehead the strange God rose to his feet before walking over and locking lips with Ryuu. Suddenly the world exploded and the bodies of the fallen and what was left of the pig people crumbled to ash. Falling to her knees the Goddess placed her hand to her lips as she looked up in shock at the old one-eyed God. "Wep take your dragons and leave this world. While you're at it take the other dragons with you. There are twenty in all. Take our granddaughter back to her babies along with my grandson. After that, you are no longer needed here now be gone with you!"

Sky watched numbly as Wepwawet scooped Elizabeth off and packed her away from this world completely. After that, the darkness came up and claimed Sky locking her in a personal hell. Pain was all she knew, and there was no escaping it. Time spiraled out of control as pain and fire consumed her that was until there was a soothing and cool voice. It washed over her like a balm that put out the fire that burned her skin and made her bones ache. Forcing her eyes open past the heavyweight that kept them closed Sky groaned. Glowing blue eyes greeted her with a bright smile. "Welcome back to the land of the living," greeted Elizabeth as she helped Sky sit up.

"How long have I been out?"

"Lord if I know. I just got back here. It took me a while to find the right door. I'll have you know there are an ass-ton of doors in that hallway," joked Elizabeth. "I found it though and I linked it to the gate in my woods. It's been a month for me, but I'm not sure if time travels the same in my world verses here. The gates can be tricky that way. Last time I was here we were gone for a year but when we returned only a week had passed."

"Either way I'm starving," groaned Sky as she looked over her thin body and took stock of what she had left.

Lifting her one hand up Sky noticed that something was off as she moved it in front of her face from left to right. "Yeah it seems you lost an eye. From what I gathered out of the heads of the nurses in the medical ward they had to pull it due to an infection and necrosis. Sorry, I can't regrow it for you. I have the power to heal, but I'm not as good as you when it come to that. I can't make things grow back, sorry," apologized Elizabeth.

Wrapping her good arm around Elizabeths shoulder Sky slid from the bed. "Hey, at least I'm not dead. Those people were talking like I was going to die."

"Those people. Who are you talking about," asked Elizabeth as she helped Sky into a set of clothes. "I hope you don't mind. I went through your room to scavenge you some clothes."

Leaning heavily on Elizabeth Sky stepped into a set of loose-fitting cloth pants that she used for sword practice in the Land Of Fire. They were lightweight and breathable, but most of all the waist was adjustable so they weren't too big for her starved figure. "I guess they were all Gods. The ones who you were trying to give that string to."

Laughing Elizabeth pushed the curtain open that surrounded her bed. "Oh you were were for all of that? I thought it was your griffon. That string was the soul of Orcus."

"I can't believe you almost died to save me and then made that deal with that dog God. You shouldn't have done that," chided Sky as they shuffled slowly toward the door of the medical ward.

Shrugging her shoulders like her death wasn't a big thing Elizabeth replied, "I've lived a good life and I've got three beautiful children. If I had died I would have died knowing I did right in the world. You on the other hand have a lot to live for. You're young for your kind and haven't even really even began to live. You still haven't even had the pleasure of holding your own babies in your arms yet, and that's something every woman should feel."

Watching a nurse step out from behind a current both women paused as she dropped the tray she was carrying and screamed. "That was a bit uncalled for," stated Sky cringing at the high pitched shrill.

"Agreed," said Elizabeth as they both watched the woman run from the ward as fast as her legs would carry her.

"You know it just dawned on me," said Sky as they began walking again. "If I was laid up in the medical ward then why are their no guards here. April would have never left my side if I was hurt."

Just on cue, several guards came racing in only to come to a sliding halt at the sight of them. "By the Goddess," exclaimed one of the men before all four of them hit their knees.

"Well that's not exactly what I was expecting," said Elizabeth looking at the guards before frowning. "I think we're both missing something here."

Just them a very unstable black dragon raced through the door as death billowed around him. "How it is you're here," stammered Michael as tears rolled down the black scales of his face.

Pointing at herself before turning the finger toward Sky, Elizabeth asked, "Who are you talking to me, or Sky?"

A sob broke from Micheal's throat as he rushed them both. Throwing his arms around them, he buried his nose into Skys hair. "We left you in the south. They said if we moved you, you'd die. We left you with Andrew. I had to come back here. It's been a year since the war."

"What," asked Elizabeth as she turned them so that she could look behind herself.

Shuffling herself so that she could look too, Sky stood there staring at a brick wall that wasn't there before. "Did you move us," asked Sky turning her head up to Elizabeths.

"No, did you?"

"No."

"Then who did," asked Elizabeth turning blue eyes to look around them closely.

Scooping Sky up into his arms Michael rubbed his tear-streaked face with hers, "Does it matter? You're here with us now."

"It does matter because I never left the castle. Wait, Sky what's that on your back," asked Elizabeth catching sight of something as Micheal's arm lifted her shirt exposing her back. "Michael set her down."

Looking at the woman who looked like Elizabeth, but with black hair, Michael sat Sky down. Holding her upright Michael sucked in a breath as he looked at Sky's back. There stretching from the nap of her neck all the way down pasted her waistline was the Fafnir family crest but the shield in the center was changed. Instead of its normal shape this one was large and round. In the center of the shield was a ring that had some kind of writing on it that he had never seen before. Inside the ring of words was a tree and it's roots created a ring around three triangles that were interlocking with each other. On the side of that most outer ring where dragon heads as their necks and tails curled around the circle as if guarding it. "Sky did you make a deal with someone after I passed out," asked Elizabeth as her hand traced over the strange words on Sky's back.

"What is that," asked Micheal as his dragon turned worried eyes from the tree on Sky's back to Elizabeth.

"That is Yggdrasil," said Elizabeth touching the tree. "This is the Vulknut," continued Elizabeth pointing at the triangles. "It's the symbol for Valhalla. Sky what have you done?"

"What do these lines mean," asked Michael as he ran his finger over the symbols that rung the tree.

"Here stands the Valkyrie and guardian of the tenth realm," read Elizabeth as her finger traced over the words. "That doesn't make sense. Odin and his people only control nine realms, or so I've read. Then again I've never met any of the Norse Gods. Who knows if they even exist, but this doesn't make any sense," stated Elizabeth as she pulled Skys shirt down.

"I made a deal with an old man who had one eye. Devine beasts can't stay in a world once their job is done so he gave me a new job," said Sky as Michael picked her off her feet again.

"And what is that new job," asked Micheal as he began to pack Sky from the medical ward.

"That, I can't tell you, I'm sorry," apologized Sky as she tucked her head in the crook of Michael's neck so that she could breathe him in.

"Did he tell you that when you finally do die you won't be joining the mother because of that deal," asked Elizabeth as anger tinged her voice.

"What do you mean," asked Micheal as he turned them both so that they could look upon her angry face.

"The words say here stand the valkyrie and guardian of the tenth realm. The valkyrie are the ones to deliver souls to their destinations. Warriors go to Valhalla. Everyone else goes to one of Hel's underworlds depending on the life they led. This world has none of that," stated Elizabeth crossing her arms over her chest clearly angered by the entire thing.

"An that is why we had the problem we had to begin with," informed Sky as she thought back about some of the other things the old man had whispered to her while she endured her hell. "Me and the mother are going to fix that so that it never happens again, and Odin said he'd help us."

"Nothing is free you know this right," grumbled Elizabeth before she heaved a heavy sigh. "No good deed goes unpunished. A pound of flesh will be taken in exchange. Well, let's go get you some food so you'll have a pound to loose shall we."

With that everyone ventured forth into a new era and a new time. A new part of their religion was added to for now a hell existed for the bad and the wicked. There were spirits to help make sure you made it back to your pool of origins. It was a turning of a new page for all dragons and she would lead the way for them all to the afterlife. After explaining everything she could Sky inquired on what had happened in her absence.

Sky learned that Jeffery had finally mated with Alivia, and had taken up his birthright as King. April and Eli were off at the nesting grounds awaiting the birth of their first child. Jamie had found his mate in Sarah when he went to tell Mayaya the news about Sky's victory and the injuries she sustained. Mayaya had found her a mate too, in D'jarious's. Both of them lived happily with several children of their own as D'jarious took up the mantle as the village Shaman. Kyle had mated with Tori, along with Owen who mated with Kandis. Edward and Vivian come to find out disappeared at the same time as the dead army, Sky, and her friends.

The mother welcomed more than ten percent of all the men and women who walked onto the battlefield into her arms. Honestly, that wasn't much in the scale of things, but it was a lot when that ten percent equaled over fifteen million deaths.

It wouldn't take long before the world recovered though, as a record number of mates found each other before and after the battle. Within the last year, a record number of babies have been born. Peace reigned supreme while everyone in the south rebuilt their lands and the towns the dead army had destroyed.

As time passed Elizabeth visited Sky often as their friendship grew. Sky age like any normal dragon would but Elizabeth didn't seem to age at all. She held the beauty and grace of a woman who seemed to be frozen somewhere in her early twenties early thirties. Years passed by in a blur and Sky had forgotten her promise to Odin. A new King by the name of Ruder was born and he was the son of Eli and April. He had become fast friends with one of Sky's sons who would be the first Silver dragon to be guarded to the High dragon. The world moved on obscuring the memory of why she still lived and what the purpose she now served was. Until the day a messenger bird arrived with a letter from Elizabeth asking for her help. It seemed Elizabeth's daughter was very sick and she feared she would die. Elizabeth had said that her daughters bonds where beginning to break with Gaia. As a last hope, she was asking to see if Majka would except her and form bonds so that she could live. With Michael's permission, Sky told Elizabeth to bring her family and they would all see what they could do. Of course, it couldn't have been any more incorrect of a time. Ryder was having a hard time adjusting to his best friend and first guard Thor finding a mate. Of course, Sky was happy about it because all five of her children were mated now, but the future King was not. His mood had turned dark and broody and he was having a hard time controlling his death. What compounded the issue was having to watch the old King with his mate and learning that he would not be granted the same thing.

Of course this crushed Aprils soul as well as Sky's knowing how much that news had to hurt him. He was three hundred years old now and Michael and Sky weren't long for this world anymore. No one wanted to get his hopes up and as each season passed for him his soul seemed to get darker and darker. On the day of Elizabeth's arrival, Ryder stood on the right hand of the King begrudgingly as the silver gates opened. Sky smiled at her old friend as she road threw the gate followed by what she knew was her family. In all the years that she'd been friends with Elizabeth she'd never seen everyone at once. This would be the first time she'd actually be seeing Heather. If her memory served her correctly Heather should be about the same age as Ryder. Waving at the twins who dismounted first, they nodding in return as they helped their sisters from their horses. "Sky," greeted Elizabeth as she jumped out of the saddle and rushed up in greeting. Embracing each other they got lost in their own conversation until they heard a loud thud and a groan.

Pausing in their small celebration both women turned to see a very upset black dragon whose death was swirling around him as he lay on the ground rattling. "Heather," chided Elizabeth as a small thin little thing in a hooded cloak clenched their fists.

Unafraid of the beast that rose to his feet in front of her everyone watched as the hooded figure. Drawing back they hauled off and punched him in the face sending him stumbling backward as blood poured from Ryder's nose. Unsure of what to do all of the young King's guards laid their hands on their weapons but did not draw them. "Heather, you know you just punched the heir to the throne in the face right," said Gabriel, Elizabeth's white-haired twin who looked just like his father.

"I don't care," snapped a very feminine voice that rang like chimes as he lowered her hood and glared at Ryder as he picked himself off of the ground for a second time.

"He called us all filthy dogs," snapped heather as a dainty little rattle came from her chest.

"Wow," did you hear that said Gabrial getting all excited.

"What the rattle," asked Sky confused.

"She's never rattled before," stated Elizabeth as her face lit up. "Do you think," she asked as she looked toward Shaw who was currently have a hushed conversation with Michael.

"Only one way to find out," said Michael as he hobbled over to Heather leaning heavily on his cane. "Is it okay if I touch you?"

"Sure old-timer," said Heather causing severe murmurs and angry stairs.

"Heather! Manners," snapped Elizabeth as she glared at her own daughter.

As soon as Michael laid his hand on Heather's cheek the world shook around them as the earth below their feet began to grow. That's when Sky felt her and remembered her promise to Odin. A smile spread across Sky's face as she felt the mother reaching up and embracing her new daughter. "Welcome home Heather," said Sky as she bumped shoulders with Elizabeth who was trying not to cry. "Let me show you around your new home."

"I don't think so," snapped Ryder as his dragon rattled in anger and his death shot out toward Heather.

Returning his rattle, Heather slugged him in the gut before a wave of power shot from her sending him flying through the air. "No one asked you," snapped Heather before bouncing after Sky and Elizabeth.

"She's going to eat him alive," laughed Shaw's dragons as he made his way to the surface.

"Good maybe she'd she'll hit him so hard, she'd knock him out of the funk he's been in," agreed Eli as everyone turned to leave the fuming heir sitting on his butt as they all returned to the castle.

Ryder was beyond mad that anyone had the nerve to strike him, but what made him even more pissed was that he was turned on by that same someone. To add insult to injury no one but his guards seemed to care that a woman had made him bleed. If he wasn't mistaken his own mother was currently laughing at him to the same girl who just busted his nose. To add insult to injury the Queen had just stated that otherworldly freak was going to be living under his roof! Over his dead body thought Ryder as he pushed himself to his feet. If he only knew it wasn't going to be that easy.