Chapter 18: A Great Tide Starts

As morning slowly began to rise and the white abyss outside began to grow brighter. Luna awoke refreshed, rejuvenated and relieved in a nice and comfy bed. A queen bed to boot even. Voices were heard all throughout the palace. They intermingled with their own dreams and ambitions on what to do after Fafir has finally been done away with. Nea was one of the voices that brought everyone back to one accord. The head deity spoke of the recent development she seen from Fafir on Neo.

"That Red Palace has been rebuilt and reinforced with some new defenses,seems Fafir doesn't want this to be a easy fight? I also saw that the Great Beast Numanag has been healed and resting next to the Obsidian Ulmus that was heard about in Neotic legend." Nea stated. Those that sat in the living room all watched as Nea pointed to the large screen of what was currently going on.

"Amazing. I knew Fafir was strong, but to overcome such a creature is..mindblowing. "Umi said as she was finishing making breakfast. Elena and her sister Jaxl were helping their dear shorter mother Willow in serving the others. Little Ourana herself flew out of the bathroom after taking a nice shower and gently descended next to Nea. The small girl looked at the screen and wonder what she was seeing.

"I..is that..Daddy? Momma? She cut her hair? Whoa! They finally got the palace finished. Wahoo!! I hope they saved the biggest room for me." The little girl danced happily. Destiny picked the girl up and placed her in her lap. "Listen kiddo..Daddy..is uh..not really the nicest okay. Remember what we talked about?" Destiny asked her younger sister. Ourana looked confused yet ignored what her older sister was saying. "Nah..He just is very..uh..um..oh yeah! Strict that's it. Momma says as ruler of a new era,he has to be as strict as possible. Daddy wants the best for me and you. Hehe. He said we are his daughters after all." The scarlet-haired girl innocently said. Nea was in utter disgust and scoffed at Fafir's claims.

"Your father is nothing but a liar and the TRUTH is not in him. He is the originator of evil,Father of Rebellion, a murderer, The Great Fiend and a criminal of many heinous things." The grey goddess said as she lashed out. Ourana didn't like that so she stepped out of Destiny's lap and stomped forward to stare down the head deity.

"Uh Ourana..that may not be a good idea." Destiny said as she was about to hold her sister back. She didn't by the sheer intensity of this little girl's aura alone violently shook the Hidden Base to its core. It was so violent not even a magnitude 9.9 earthquake or even a 10 could come close. The ground began to crack and some larger pieces started to float. Luna awoke and quickly got dressed. She ran to the living room to see what was going on. Unafraid the dullahan girl snatched Ourana off her feet and hugged her tightly.

"Hey..hey. Listen to me okay. Nea is right..I know you hate when people talk bad about your Daddy,but..he isn't a good man....I..know." Luna said as she had to act quickly. Ourana saw tears in the girl's eyes and warmly received her hug in return. "Oh..But..could Daddy ever change?" The little girl asked.

No one said any words. All was silent and awkward. "Luna?" Ourana said cutely as she broke the silence. "I..I don't know,but I do have a feeling..maybe your the thing to do it. Ain't that right cutie." Luna said cheerfully. "Ourana giggled and the tension slowly subsided. She still didn't like Nea and felt a bit of hostility towards her. So she looked away from her and turned her nose upward. "Hmmph. As a princess. I can't believe I almost lost my composure over someone who literally swiped me away from my father." Ourana said angrily. She left Luna's arms and stared down Nea again.

Angered by the child's insolence. Nea decided to try and intimidate her a bit. "I'm giving you little missy till the count of three,if you do not stop this foolishness. Sure be mad that I had MY daughter save you from your horrible FATHER. I don't care. You could at least be grateful. " Nea exclaimed. Unfazed Ourana stood her ground and arrogantly smirked angering Nea so much she almost slapped the girl.

"W..what the heck? W..who stopped my hand?" Nea said confused. It was Zuma he looked at the small Queen of the Neotic Gods with a look of tiredness and understanding. Nea took a deep breath and calmed down. Psion was shocked to see the respect his mother had towards his opposite. Zuma then looked at him and spoke. "God of Life,see that Nea is tended to. But not now. What must happen is this my fellow Neotics. Ourana is indeed Fafir's child. His princess in fact. As Azou and Luna are to me my children, so is this scarlet beauty unto him. Fafir will find a way to find her and retrieve her,but we cannot change how she feels about him." Zuma said humbling Nea and everyone that listened to him.

The Death God crouched to Ourana's height and smiled. "Remember this wise quote from the wisest man that once live,then died and resurrected. "You do not realise now,what I am doing but someday you will." Zuma spoke. Everyone else was taken aback. No words just wisdom none could argue with.

"W..who is that man Mr Zu?" Ourana called Zuma. "I can not say his name for it is forbidden, but we do call him the Great Creator of All. That's right. It is He that has made us. Us and everything the universe holds within. The humans on Earth were created by Him even,yet it's heartbreaking they or some don't realize they were made by him." Zuma continued.

A little upset by this Nea interrupted. "Now is not the time to be filling the girl's head with lies of a make believe god Zuma. What is true is that Fafir(This girl's daddy) Is in fact evil,cruel,relentless and a abomination. " Nea said sounding like she was offended by what he told Ourana.

Zuma looked at Nea and looked to his own daughters. Azou and Luna looked back and stood by his side."For the time being. We will due what was sat out to do. For Neo and for all the Neotics and humans that cry out for peace. As for this other matter. I think it's very clear for you Nea, well how you feel about it." Azou confidently spoke.

"Yeah and Papa was trying to be cryptic about exactly who this "Great Creator " is,but let's be honest. "The one that earthlings were sent was a dead giveaway." Luna chuckled. Frustrated Nea flew off into the vastness of space and yelled to the top of her lungs.

While this happened on the other side of the large screen. Fafir heard everything. Unlike Nea he was open to the truth. In fact he talked about the true origin of the universe with his new advisors, chambermaids and fellow soldiers as well. "Such a fool to deny the only one who can save humanity as a whole. No HE did. They are just too ignorant. Now it is up to me to reunite the Neotic people to worship the One True God,not a sham of a broken woman." The Beast God said.

Fafir walked to the nearest balcony and called forth all his most elite soldiers. He gave them instructions to retrieve Ourana and destroy any who dared tried to interfere. "Go now,not in just my name,but for the One Above All. For he is ALPHA and OMEGA!!" Fafir exclaimed. With a powerful swipe. Fafir opened a new portal to the Hidden Base himself and sent his warriors to their death or their greatest achievement yet.

"YAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!" The numerous warriors screamed. They were vast in numbers and ran as fast as they could,some flew while they slower troops jogged. Fafir floated above them all and pointed to where he sensed his daughter.

"W..what the heck!!? Fafir managed to already get in here? But how?" Azou wondered. She then looked at Destiny and Luna. "Oops..heh..heh..guess he isn't called the Beast King for nothing hehe." Destiny shyly giggled. Nea teleported back in the white palace and ordered everyone to suit up. "Maybe Ourana was the straw that broke the camel's back after all. I hear shouting from here. Everyone get ready?!" Nea shouted.

They nodded and Luna was being protected by Ember,Yunago and her Auntie Haze. Her mother Skyra and Zuma were already outside waiting to confront the evil one. "Lord Fafir I feel this immense pressure. A rather ominous aura is in this direction. I feel were close." The solider announced. Fafir congratulated him and clapped.

"Proceed my warriors. For with our creator's power and mine. We shall be victorious today. Onward and notify the other soilders and Panna to guard the new palace. Kill any traitors." Fafir commanded. The stragglers in the back slowly followed Fafir and did just that. The army of Fafir's men and women marched closer and closer until they saw the white palace. Fafir signalled them to stop and ready their spears, halberds,guns and anything else that qualified as a weapon.

"Fafir. You of all people manage to get here. Not a big surprise if I dare say so, but your luck ends here Evil One." Zuma said as she protected his wife. "I do not come to fight unless I am harmed first. I want my daughter and I want her NOW. You see as a father. You can smell and sense your children. The fear and loneliness from Ourana cried out loud. All you have to do is hand my baby to me and I leave." Fafir smiled.

"Like heck I'll let you have her." Nea said as she floated before the other two deities. "Well..Nea..so nice to see you. Kidnapper. You have my daughter with you correct?" Fafir asked. "Of course. She's a little brat,but that's only because of her father and that whore you call a mother." Nea said angering Fafir.

"YOU DARE INSULT the QUEEN of the new era I will usher in?! FOOL! You already deny the very simple fact that WE ALL were created by the GREAT CREATOR. And yet I'M called evil. You get angry whenever He is mentioned, yet you want to act as Him. Proof that you are unfit to rule and it is YOU that have deceived several millennia and eons of people. My daughter will NOT be one of them. Release Ourana NOW!!" Fafir says as he shook the entire realm. Nea said nothing.

Deep down she knew why she was angry. It wasn't her intent to deceive though. "Pitiful. You talk of a Aether prophecy that will come to pass. This I know,but your too stubborn and prideful to realize YOU are not your own. I WILL enforce it. To death with your laws,statues and commandments. It is time for Neo to see the bigger picture." Fafir said.

"ARCHTEN ARMY. BEFORE YOU FIGHT REMEMBER YOU DO NOT JUST FIGHT FOR NEO,ME OR PANNA, BUT THE ONE WHO SENT HIS SON TO EARTH AND IS THE TRUE RULER OF THE UNIVERSE!! GO NOW AND IF YOU SHALL DIE IN BATTLE TODAY!! May you be rewarded in Heaven.

ATTACKKKKKK!!!" Fafir roared.

The soilders began to charge and were quickly swiped aside by Nea. More took their place and immediately surrounded the white palace. Zuma and Skyra fought alongside Nea and held their own. Fafir watched proudly as he could sense Ourana was close. More soilders flooded the palace and destroyed the walls,broke the doors and even dismantle the walls.

Everyone of the inhabitants fought off the powerful Archten warriors. It was a spectacle until they were blowed away with a hurricane like force. They were sent flying out the windows and even the roof. All became silent as a brilliant blue aura completely encompassed the whole Hidden Base.

"So..Luna. So glad to see you out of hiding. Hehe. I do say Nea, my prey has gotten mighty strong since that first BITE of sorts. Come now Aether. It is TIME to face the end. " Fafir said as he landed on the ground. Ourana rushed to him and hopped in his arms. "Daddyyyy!!! I missed you." The little girl said as Fafir stared down a serious Luna.

"I should let the Brigands know that things are about to get spicy. Calling all Brigands!! Calling all Brigands!! This is your leader Ember speaking. Fafir is firing the grill. I repeat. FIRING THE GRILL!!" Ember signalled. Before he knew it. Fafir was called by Panna. She reported that several small bands of all kinds of people formed up ready to storm the campsite and attack. "Attack on Panna's orders men. I have a prophecy to fulfill. Ourana sweety go home to Momma. Daddy will finsh what he started. I'll get you ice cream even." The Beast God said as he made Destiny jealous. Ourana was escorted back to Neo to her mother and watched as the guards and other warriors fought off the Brigands.

Back at the Hidden Base. The tension was so much everyone stepped to the side minus the remaining Archten soilders. They began to attack Luna but were tossed aside with ease. "Yaaa!!! For Fafir urk-" A solider said as Luna shoved his head into the ground. She gently walked towards her hated adversary and locked eyes. All the horrid memories came rushing back. Was this finally the end? Or was it only the beginning of something more.