EoR Wine Country - NNWM2k19 - 15
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??? TIME ??? DATE
??? LOCATION
Alaya knew she could not do any of this alone. With her connection to the Root, she would designate specific people, hand chosen by her, to act in her name and be her eyes and sword both where she could not take hers. People touched by her, the power of the universe, and yet remaining themselves, but fully aware at all times of their mission. These people were not just Counter Forces, and transcended time itself, each being given a very specific job to ensure all this time nonsense would play out as it was intended to do.
And so she spread her roots out and each gave form to a new tree far off in time and space.
“Go, and know always and forever who and what you are. I trust you to figure out the rest.”
??? TIME ??? DATE
THE TROJAN WAR
Penthesilea knew she would have to wait for her revenge on the one single soul to defame her and wrong her, but she knew it would only be doable due to one specific woman in her court. A mysterious figure sat near the amazon, hand on her shoulder, whispering a reassuring word into her ear, her face cloaked and voice low enough only the queen would know who it was.
The amazon nodded and sighed.
“We will fix this, someday. I will see to it my anger makes me a servant, and when it does, I shall seek you out again. You have my word, sister. This is far from over.”
1184 JAPAN
BATTLE OF AWAZU
Tomoe Gozen sat astride her horse, her flaming naginata out, putting it aside only to spray the fiery arrows from her quiver out and around, her powers ever burning, but the situation desperate. A bushi was near her, wearing an iron facemask, matching the horns on it to the very real oni ones Tomoe had, knowing the source of her strength and honoring it in her attire. There were fools to behead, and when Shigetada came after her to capture her, the bushi was able to lead the way through to a perfect escape. The heads of those she beheaded to get there lined the road taunting them. Gozen then spoke to her friend and smiled.
“I will honor your power when we meet again. I do not know when or how, but something tells me this is not the last time we’ll see each other. You have done well. May honor always grace your sword.”
1521 MEXICO
SIEGE OF TENOCHTITLAN
Quetzalcoatl sat enraged as her temples burned. There was nothing she could do from her immortal plane to stop the ravaging of her home. She was able to empower her believers into giving it all, but the greed of Cortes would be the victor that day. It should not have been, and her priestess that traveled with her knew that. They confided in each other before parting ways. It would be a while before they were seen together again.
“A thousand years or more of revenge, it’s all I ask. And I know you will return to me and make sure we find his soul and condemn it to its eternal damnation, forever wrapped in the same flames he has brought to my land. Until we meet again, senorita. You did me proud.”
??? DATE ??? TIME
THE ISLE OF CALIFERNE
Calafia sat proudly on her throne, overlooking the rest of the state with pride, her amazons and gold and everything about it beautiful as ever. The waves quietly rolled along the coast. A particular amazon, her face turned away, confided in the queen, promising to keep her deepest secrets.
“I know you have to leave soon, oh great one. I know who and what you are and what you’ll become. Until then, take heed knowing I will be calling on you again in the future; I foresee terrible danger, and this land will fall to the greed of men before long. And it will do so again in your proper time. You will inherit the will of Calafia. I will see you when I see you. Until then, go with my love.”
PRESENT DAY – THE START OF THE SINGULARITY
THE SONOMA COASTLINE, CALIFORNIA
“This was once my homeland. It was once beautiful. You’ve tarred her and your end is nigh. I’ve finally sent for… Them. You’ll know their strength soon, and you will fall, and this whole perverted history will crumble...” she spat. “You don’t belong here. I don’t belong here in this form. The only difference is I never asked for this. Take this future back and shove it up your ass.”
Atma sighed as she drew her katana and stabbed a guard lurking behind her.
“I mean, we’ve all been waiting for Her for far too long.” She sighed. “And the Master, as well. They’ll do good work cleaning this evil up. I know they will.”
The Archer looked on and began preparing to project herself out to Chaldea to alert them as to the danger. “It’s too bad I couldn’t do something like come haunt your dreams and give you a spooky premonition of what was to come like so many other servants and events have done, but we all can’t pick our narrative all the time. That’d be boring.”
She twirled her hat and looked off in the distance, the sun setting and visible between some ash and smoke, turning the gray and orange it usually was into a ray of golden and crimson hope. Soon, the dark came, and a few struggling stars came up to try to make themselves known despite it all.
“Sorry about that. I know it’s me and my sword’s job to cut you down, not to fall to evil like this. Well, until I can clean this up and see you properly for a fair fight, stay bright and guide our way.”
With that, Atma was wrapped in total darkness, save for a quick gold colored burst of energy that she was hoping the villains would take note of.
It was time. But just how long would it be before they all knew they truth?
Of all the strands of history that were about to be properly bound in this time and place and location.
Only she could do it.
Calafia was counting on it, but who’s more, someone else was….
Now, what was her name again?
~ END OF CHAPTER 10 NODE 1 OF 1
When you’re a villain, you tend to come up with elaborate plans to confuse the goodguys. It’s just how it’s always worked in history and in fiction, and always will be. Moriarty had lined the whole of the tower in incredible booby traps, teaching the guards to only speak in riddles, hoping to ensnare the Archer and her friends in the web of vines and lines that amassed around, hopefully locked in them frying.
Though unlucky for him, having this many people with this many Noble Phantasms meant that you could often just blow a hole in a ceiling and go up. Getting around that was no big deal. Neither was the masses of enemies at this point. The right event CEs mixed well with a few login quartz just in case they ran into anything actually challenging, but to this point they were pretty well off.
That is, until they found the guardian of the gate that would send them directly up to the CEOs themselves.
“If you’re going to get to the bosses, you’re going to have to get through me, I’m afraid.” Gudako knew that voice from countless other singularities and goddammit of course she was here. Ishtar. So fucking close to going somewhere without her poking in.
>>> “How much are they paying you?”
> “I thought we were friends!”
“Heh, you catch on quick, Master. Sorry, but for this story, I’m their employee, promising me a fat check with dental and medical and paid time off! It’s the best deal I’ve had in ages! I hope you understand that, Master. No offense to you but I don’t remember you putting any of that in my servant contract...” Ishtar chided.
“You know, servants don’t really need medical or dental. We kind of just Exist, and what would we do with money, anyway?” Atma sighed. “Come on. As a fellow Archer, at least allow me a discount on whatever kind of thing you’re selling.”
“Archer? Ha! Of course you’re one! Look at you, loud, brash, dresses poorly, independent action at a high rank, a showoff, not using a bow...”
“And you’re not all that? Because last I checked, planets being lobbed at people aren’t a bow and arrow.”
“It’s a projectile it counts!”
“So we’re just going to have to do this the hard way then? A shame. I was looking for more people to join my impromptu amazon army. I mean, I’m the Counter Force for this area, think about how much gold I could get you.”
“Gold, schmold, what I want is the big dolla items like gems and jewels and I don’t see you offering that!”
“Alright then, I’ll just kick your ass. I believe I had a friend of yours here who’d like to make sure you stay behaved.”
Atma beckoned Quetz to come over, and then pointed at Norton.
“Hola, Senorita Weapon! What can I do for…” Quetz’s face immediately soured. “It’s that misbehaving other goddess under Venus trying to ruin our fun again? No! I will not have it!”
“Bring it, goldie!” Ishtar laughed.
A quick setup later and Gudako was ready to go, putting Atma, Norton, and Quetz up front. With Atma’s anti divine properties and Quetz’s natural rivalry, they would easily demolish the upcoming fight, even with a disadvantage of having a saber with them as well.
The battle went back and forth as one might think for this late in the Singularity, putting up a fight with two HP bars for once, and more skills than she would normally have.
However, the battle ended suddenly after Ishtar had let off her Noble Phantasm, somehow leaving them unscathed.
~ END OF CHAPTER 11 NODE 1
Outside of the battle, Norton was busy writing down a long list of things she deemed absolutely unforgivable about the situation. She humphed and taped the list to Ishtar’s forehead. The work environment hazards. The safety violations. The use of fire without protocol or extinguishers in a closed space. The rudeness. All of it was awful, awful, awful. She surmised Ishtar’s grand total to be far, far more than a mere pittance paycheck from PG&E would allow.
“Hey, what’s her deal?” Ishtar huffed. “I don’t owe nobody a damn thing!”
“YOU DON’T HUH? YOUNG LADY! YOU BESMIRCH THE NAME OF CALIFORNIA WITH YOUR STUCK UP ATTITUDE!” Norton began adding more fees to her, until she had covered most of the goddess in these little bills.
“...This Saber is really pissing me off now.”
“I’M THE EMPEROR, NORTON THE FIRST, OF THIS FINE LAND AND YOU WILL OBEY MY LAW OR ELSE!”
“Oh, wait, Norton? I remember reading once about some weird Saber who tried to declare herself the first Emperor of the united states. Too bad nobody succeeded you, you bill charging little fool!” Ishtar cackled. “You’re the one who hates it when they call it Frisco right? Frisco Frisco Frisco… Haha, it’s fun to say, maybe I’ll say it all night!”
“Oh good gods...” Atma sighed. “Hit the deck.”
“I WILL HAVE YOU KNOW THAT ALL THE WOMEN YOU SEE HERE PROTECTION THIS LAND ARE DOING A FINE JOB OF SUCCEEDING MY WORK IN SPIRIT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH! HOWEVER, FOR THE UNFORGIVABLE CRIME OF UTTERING THAT NAME AS IF IT WERE THE TRUE ONE OF MY LAND, I’M GOING TO MAKE SURE YOU LEARN THE PRICE THAT WORDS HAVE!”
Norton instantly charged her Noble Phantasm up and screamed out “BY IMPERIAL DECREE!”
A large stone tablet, complete with the sum total of Ishtar’s crimes, landed on her lap. This one signed by Norton herself. A shaming stoned. The goddess was unfortunately used to it. The Emperor laughed and said “What’s a god to a king!?”
“T-That’s not how the saying goes!” Ishtar pouted. “I.. I really can’t move though. This stone is huge! I didn’t know any of the servants had figured out how to wield money against each other like this! Incredibly cruel.”
“Serves you right. If you want your debt lifted, you will see to it we get to the top of the tower unscathed. Disable all the traps, make sure all the guards look the other way, and all that. We’ve known for a while now they’ve been trying to lose us in here. Now do as we want and I’ll see it repaid. Go home after.”
Ishtar found it impossible to get around or do more than cry with the weight of it on. She really had no choice in the matter. “F-Fine! Just get me out of this horrible thing!”
With the bond formed, it stuck itself to Ishtar’s soul and shackled to her like a pair of magical cuffs, giving her her freedom back but with an inability to cause trouble.
She laid out the map for them and painted every spot they’d need, be it security cameras, guards, traps, halls, mazes, there was all sorts of stuff that Moriarty had set up that he told the Avengers to place their faith in that would for sure defeat those horrible do-gooders.
“Can we just get going? I want out of these stupid things! This one’s even worse than the tablet Gilgamesh put on me after the race!”
“I think it suits you.” Atma teased. “Maybe we should tape her mouth shut too, she’s pretty loud. You got any kind of bill paper to stick in her mouth, Norton?”
“I’LL BE GOOD! Geeze… The nerve of this Archer...”
The rest of the climb went smoothly, finding their way through a bunch of halls without setting off even one trap and without alerting one guard, managing to snipe them all down before they could even begin to sniff the heroes out.
All that was left was a large staircase going directly to the CEO boardroom. Moriarty and the Avengers awaited them.
So did Haborym. So did Calafia.
They made it to the door and knocked on it, their hearts pounding. The door caught flame and the magic of the demon pillar soaked in it, putting a copy of itself in it and possessing the doorway. Haborym cackled from afar.
“Not so fast there, little Counter Force.” his demonic voice echoed in everyone’s ears.
“And with whom am I speaking?” Atma asked.
“I am Haborym, the demon that has forced the Grand Ruler under his thumb. She’s told me all about you, you know. How special you are, how special you are to all of California…” He paused for dramatic effect. “And how special you are to all womankind.”
“Oh, so you know then.” Atma didn’t sound very distraught.
“What? What does this mean? What is he talking about?” the others milled about and wondered what was up. Why did the demon have this particular interest in Atma, and now of all times.
“Of course I know, and it sounds like your little army doesn’t! So why don’t you go ahead and tell them, or I will. Go on. I’ll let you savor this. You’re not going to get through this door at all without showing your true power anyway, and even then it’s unlikely.”
Atma sighed and turned to her friends.
“I’m afraid he’s right. There’s something you don’t know about me, and I’m sorry I kept it from you all so long. Especially ones like Penthesilea and Quetzalcoatl. It’s been far too long since we last met, remember?”
“I thought you looked familiar, Weapon, but you did not appear to me named as you were then...” the amazon queen spoke up. “You come from this time and have waited for us to make it to you since, huh?”
“….She’s…. Yes, this senorita is the same one that helped me remember my revenge would be waiting for me. Just… If you knew both, you have to be more than a Counter Force, but I don’t sense a god’s spirit in you either.” Quetz was puzzled. “Who are you, servant?”
“The jig’s up on this facade, I guess. You all might want to back up a bit. I’m going to need room. Calafia and Alaya have been waiting for me for far too long, and my past, present, and future self have all been waiting to take this moment and make it my own, solidifying me as the being I was entrusted to be so long ago...”
Atma began to glow, white, red, gold, swirling around her, her hair becoming the very flames that she used to protect others and show that fire too could become hope and be used to protect others instead of the destruction razed down on them now, shimmering crimsons and vermilions and golds, her skin soft and white, multiple lines of tattoos going up and around her darkening and emitting an odd warmth to the touch, her eyes black with gold pupils, wearing but a hakama and sarashi, her aura flowing behind her like a cape, feet bare and floating just a step above the ground. Hoshigiri becoming wrapped in an aura belonging to that of the holy sword Kusanagi, evolving it into Hoshinagi – The Star-Rending Sword.
Her brilliance nearly blinded her friends, but she smiled softly and nodded.
“I’m the one touched by the root, by Alaya, one of her chosen to protect the history and flow of all of womankind, past and present and future, and I have seen so much before this day and have even seen after it. All to ensure that I would be born, and come alive this day, and that birth would be the assurance womankind would thrive no matter what humanity, the creators, or magic would say it should be.”
> “………..”
>>> “Oh -shit- it’s about to go down”
Nobody else could say a word. Images flooded their heads of their own histories, a familiar figure to them all, the flashbacks to Penthesilea and the others revealing the one by their side every time was indeed Atma, going by many names, but remaining the same force throughout. A comforting, strong one who was willing to fight until the end.
And the end had come.
“Ahaha, so this fool finally reveals herself, huh? I’ve been waiting for this! Long have I waited to be the one to burn you down, to ensure you don’t become real, to erase you now in your own time so that your powers and what you’ve changed unravel and write a completely different future for us all inked in the blood of pure chaos!” Haborym cackled, his flames jutting out from every side hotter and hotter. “I never thought I’d get to see you like this. I thought I could strike you down before this. But this? Killing this would make this victory all the sweeter!”
Those words meant nothing now to Atma. His plans were laid out. His death was the only option at this point. To right her own history, so that she may write her own history, as it has been and has also will be. Time is complicated like that.
Calafia only spoke one thing. “I told you she was more than you could handle. I told you she was special. And now your sunset has come, demon. You’ve awoken her.”
Atma reached full ascension, on her own, no items or anything needed. Just this important plot beat. She smiled and began to glow with a warmth and aura unlike anything else the girls with her had
“I am the will of womankind’s paramatma. I am Alaya’s swordarm. I am the Root of Chivalry.” Atma said defiantly as she drew her enchanted sword over at the door Haborym watched them from.
“And you came to the wrong neighborhood, motherfucker.”
~ END OF CHAPTER 11 NODE 2
??? TIME ??? DATE
??? LOCATION
Alaya knew she could not do any of this alone. With her connection to the Root, she would designate specific people, hand chosen by her, to act in her name and be her eyes and sword both where she could not take hers. People touched by her, the power of the universe, and yet remaining themselves, but fully aware at all times of their mission. These people were not just Counter Forces, and transcended time itself, each being given a very specific job to ensure all this time nonsense would play out as it was intended to do.
And so she spread her roots out and each gave form to a new tree far off in time and space.
“Go, and know always and forever who and what you are. I trust you to figure out the rest.”
??? TIME ??? DATE
THE TROJAN WAR
Penthesilea knew she would have to wait for her revenge on the one single soul to defame her and wrong her, but she knew it would only be doable due to one specific woman in her court. A mysterious figure sat near the amazon, hand on her shoulder, whispering a reassuring word into her ear, her face cloaked and voice low enough only the queen would know who it was.
The amazon nodded and sighed.
“We will fix this, someday. I will see to it my anger makes me a servant, and when it does, I shall seek you out again. You have my word, sister. This is far from over.”
1184 JAPAN
BATTLE OF AWAZU
Tomoe Gozen sat astride her horse, her flaming naginata out, putting it aside only to spray the fiery arrows from her quiver out and around, her powers ever burning, but the situation desperate. A bushi was near her, wearing an iron facemask, matching the horns on it to the very real oni ones Tomoe had, knowing the source of her strength and honoring it in her attire. There were fools to behead, and when Shigetada came after her to capture her, the bushi was able to lead the way through to a perfect escape. The heads of those she beheaded to get there lined the road taunting them. Gozen then spoke to her friend and smiled.
“I will honor your power when we meet again. I do not know when or how, but something tells me this is not the last time we’ll see each other. You have done well. May honor always grace your sword.”
1521 MEXICO
SIEGE OF TENOCHTITLAN
Quetzalcoatl sat enraged as her temples burned. There was nothing she could do from her immortal plane to stop the ravaging of her home. She was able to empower her believers into giving it all, but the greed of Cortes would be the victor that day. It should not have been, and her priestess that traveled with her knew that. They confided in each other before parting ways. It would be a while before they were seen together again.
“A thousand years or more of revenge, it’s all I ask. And I know you will return to me and make sure we find his soul and condemn it to its eternal damnation, forever wrapped in the same flames he has brought to my land. Until we meet again, senorita. You did me proud.”
??? DATE ??? TIME
THE ISLE OF CALIFERNE
Calafia sat proudly on her throne, overlooking the rest of the state with pride, her amazons and gold and everything about it beautiful as ever. The waves quietly rolled along the coast. A particular amazon, her face turned away, confided in the queen, promising to keep her deepest secrets.
“I know you have to leave soon, oh great one. I know who and what you are and what you’ll become. Until then, take heed knowing I will be calling on you again in the future; I foresee terrible danger, and this land will fall to the greed of men before long. And it will do so again in your proper time. You will inherit the will of Calafia. I will see you when I see you. Until then, go with my love.”
PRESENT DAY – THE START OF THE SINGULARITY
THE SONOMA COASTLINE, CALIFORNIA
“This was once my homeland. It was once beautiful. You’ve tarred her and your end is nigh. I’ve finally sent for… Them. You’ll know their strength soon, and you will fall, and this whole perverted history will crumble...” she spat. “You don’t belong here. I don’t belong here in this form. The only difference is I never asked for this. Take this future back and shove it up your ass.”
Atma sighed as she drew her katana and stabbed a guard lurking behind her.
“I mean, we’ve all been waiting for Her for far too long.” She sighed. “And the Master, as well. They’ll do good work cleaning this evil up. I know they will.”
The Archer looked on and began preparing to project herself out to Chaldea to alert them as to the danger. “It’s too bad I couldn’t do something like come haunt your dreams and give you a spooky premonition of what was to come like so many other servants and events have done, but we all can’t pick our narrative all the time. That’d be boring.”
She twirled her hat and looked off in the distance, the sun setting and visible between some ash and smoke, turning the gray and orange it usually was into a ray of golden and crimson hope. Soon, the dark came, and a few struggling stars came up to try to make themselves known despite it all.
“Sorry about that. I know it’s me and my sword’s job to cut you down, not to fall to evil like this. Well, until I can clean this up and see you properly for a fair fight, stay bright and guide our way.”
With that, Atma was wrapped in total darkness, save for a quick gold colored burst of energy that she was hoping the villains would take note of.
It was time. But just how long would it be before they all knew they truth?
Of all the strands of history that were about to be properly bound in this time and place and location.
Only she could do it.
Calafia was counting on it, but who’s more, someone else was….
Now, what was her name again?
~ END OF CHAPTER 10 NODE 1 OF 1
When you’re a villain, you tend to come up with elaborate plans to confuse the goodguys. It’s just how it’s always worked in history and in fiction, and always will be. Moriarty had lined the whole of the tower in incredible booby traps, teaching the guards to only speak in riddles, hoping to ensnare the Archer and her friends in the web of vines and lines that amassed around, hopefully locked in them frying.
Though unlucky for him, having this many people with this many Noble Phantasms meant that you could often just blow a hole in a ceiling and go up. Getting around that was no big deal. Neither was the masses of enemies at this point. The right event CEs mixed well with a few login quartz just in case they ran into anything actually challenging, but to this point they were pretty well off.
That is, until they found the guardian of the gate that would send them directly up to the CEOs themselves.
“If you’re going to get to the bosses, you’re going to have to get through me, I’m afraid.” Gudako knew that voice from countless other singularities and goddammit of course she was here. Ishtar. So fucking close to going somewhere without her poking in.
>>> “How much are they paying you?”
> “I thought we were friends!”
“Heh, you catch on quick, Master. Sorry, but for this story, I’m their employee, promising me a fat check with dental and medical and paid time off! It’s the best deal I’ve had in ages! I hope you understand that, Master. No offense to you but I don’t remember you putting any of that in my servant contract...” Ishtar chided.
“You know, servants don’t really need medical or dental. We kind of just Exist, and what would we do with money, anyway?” Atma sighed. “Come on. As a fellow Archer, at least allow me a discount on whatever kind of thing you’re selling.”
“Archer? Ha! Of course you’re one! Look at you, loud, brash, dresses poorly, independent action at a high rank, a showoff, not using a bow...”
“And you’re not all that? Because last I checked, planets being lobbed at people aren’t a bow and arrow.”
“It’s a projectile it counts!”
“So we’re just going to have to do this the hard way then? A shame. I was looking for more people to join my impromptu amazon army. I mean, I’m the Counter Force for this area, think about how much gold I could get you.”
“Gold, schmold, what I want is the big dolla items like gems and jewels and I don’t see you offering that!”
“Alright then, I’ll just kick your ass. I believe I had a friend of yours here who’d like to make sure you stay behaved.”
Atma beckoned Quetz to come over, and then pointed at Norton.
“Hola, Senorita Weapon! What can I do for…” Quetz’s face immediately soured. “It’s that misbehaving other goddess under Venus trying to ruin our fun again? No! I will not have it!”
“Bring it, goldie!” Ishtar laughed.
A quick setup later and Gudako was ready to go, putting Atma, Norton, and Quetz up front. With Atma’s anti divine properties and Quetz’s natural rivalry, they would easily demolish the upcoming fight, even with a disadvantage of having a saber with them as well.
The battle went back and forth as one might think for this late in the Singularity, putting up a fight with two HP bars for once, and more skills than she would normally have.
However, the battle ended suddenly after Ishtar had let off her Noble Phantasm, somehow leaving them unscathed.
~ END OF CHAPTER 11 NODE 1
Outside of the battle, Norton was busy writing down a long list of things she deemed absolutely unforgivable about the situation. She humphed and taped the list to Ishtar’s forehead. The work environment hazards. The safety violations. The use of fire without protocol or extinguishers in a closed space. The rudeness. All of it was awful, awful, awful. She surmised Ishtar’s grand total to be far, far more than a mere pittance paycheck from PG&E would allow.
“Hey, what’s her deal?” Ishtar huffed. “I don’t owe nobody a damn thing!”
“YOU DON’T HUH? YOUNG LADY! YOU BESMIRCH THE NAME OF CALIFORNIA WITH YOUR STUCK UP ATTITUDE!” Norton began adding more fees to her, until she had covered most of the goddess in these little bills.
“...This Saber is really pissing me off now.”
“I’M THE EMPEROR, NORTON THE FIRST, OF THIS FINE LAND AND YOU WILL OBEY MY LAW OR ELSE!”
“Oh, wait, Norton? I remember reading once about some weird Saber who tried to declare herself the first Emperor of the united states. Too bad nobody succeeded you, you bill charging little fool!” Ishtar cackled. “You’re the one who hates it when they call it Frisco right? Frisco Frisco Frisco… Haha, it’s fun to say, maybe I’ll say it all night!”
“Oh good gods...” Atma sighed. “Hit the deck.”
“I WILL HAVE YOU KNOW THAT ALL THE WOMEN YOU SEE HERE PROTECTION THIS LAND ARE DOING A FINE JOB OF SUCCEEDING MY WORK IN SPIRIT, THANK YOU VERY MUCH! HOWEVER, FOR THE UNFORGIVABLE CRIME OF UTTERING THAT NAME AS IF IT WERE THE TRUE ONE OF MY LAND, I’M GOING TO MAKE SURE YOU LEARN THE PRICE THAT WORDS HAVE!”
Norton instantly charged her Noble Phantasm up and screamed out “BY IMPERIAL DECREE!”
A large stone tablet, complete with the sum total of Ishtar’s crimes, landed on her lap. This one signed by Norton herself. A shaming stoned. The goddess was unfortunately used to it. The Emperor laughed and said “What’s a god to a king!?”
“T-That’s not how the saying goes!” Ishtar pouted. “I.. I really can’t move though. This stone is huge! I didn’t know any of the servants had figured out how to wield money against each other like this! Incredibly cruel.”
“Serves you right. If you want your debt lifted, you will see to it we get to the top of the tower unscathed. Disable all the traps, make sure all the guards look the other way, and all that. We’ve known for a while now they’ve been trying to lose us in here. Now do as we want and I’ll see it repaid. Go home after.”
Ishtar found it impossible to get around or do more than cry with the weight of it on. She really had no choice in the matter. “F-Fine! Just get me out of this horrible thing!”
With the bond formed, it stuck itself to Ishtar’s soul and shackled to her like a pair of magical cuffs, giving her her freedom back but with an inability to cause trouble.
She laid out the map for them and painted every spot they’d need, be it security cameras, guards, traps, halls, mazes, there was all sorts of stuff that Moriarty had set up that he told the Avengers to place their faith in that would for sure defeat those horrible do-gooders.
“Can we just get going? I want out of these stupid things! This one’s even worse than the tablet Gilgamesh put on me after the race!”
“I think it suits you.” Atma teased. “Maybe we should tape her mouth shut too, she’s pretty loud. You got any kind of bill paper to stick in her mouth, Norton?”
“I’LL BE GOOD! Geeze… The nerve of this Archer...”
The rest of the climb went smoothly, finding their way through a bunch of halls without setting off even one trap and without alerting one guard, managing to snipe them all down before they could even begin to sniff the heroes out.
All that was left was a large staircase going directly to the CEO boardroom. Moriarty and the Avengers awaited them.
So did Haborym. So did Calafia.
They made it to the door and knocked on it, their hearts pounding. The door caught flame and the magic of the demon pillar soaked in it, putting a copy of itself in it and possessing the doorway. Haborym cackled from afar.
“Not so fast there, little Counter Force.” his demonic voice echoed in everyone’s ears.
“And with whom am I speaking?” Atma asked.
“I am Haborym, the demon that has forced the Grand Ruler under his thumb. She’s told me all about you, you know. How special you are, how special you are to all of California…” He paused for dramatic effect. “And how special you are to all womankind.”
“Oh, so you know then.” Atma didn’t sound very distraught.
“What? What does this mean? What is he talking about?” the others milled about and wondered what was up. Why did the demon have this particular interest in Atma, and now of all times.
“Of course I know, and it sounds like your little army doesn’t! So why don’t you go ahead and tell them, or I will. Go on. I’ll let you savor this. You’re not going to get through this door at all without showing your true power anyway, and even then it’s unlikely.”
Atma sighed and turned to her friends.
“I’m afraid he’s right. There’s something you don’t know about me, and I’m sorry I kept it from you all so long. Especially ones like Penthesilea and Quetzalcoatl. It’s been far too long since we last met, remember?”
“I thought you looked familiar, Weapon, but you did not appear to me named as you were then...” the amazon queen spoke up. “You come from this time and have waited for us to make it to you since, huh?”
“….She’s…. Yes, this senorita is the same one that helped me remember my revenge would be waiting for me. Just… If you knew both, you have to be more than a Counter Force, but I don’t sense a god’s spirit in you either.” Quetz was puzzled. “Who are you, servant?”
“The jig’s up on this facade, I guess. You all might want to back up a bit. I’m going to need room. Calafia and Alaya have been waiting for me for far too long, and my past, present, and future self have all been waiting to take this moment and make it my own, solidifying me as the being I was entrusted to be so long ago...”
Atma began to glow, white, red, gold, swirling around her, her hair becoming the very flames that she used to protect others and show that fire too could become hope and be used to protect others instead of the destruction razed down on them now, shimmering crimsons and vermilions and golds, her skin soft and white, multiple lines of tattoos going up and around her darkening and emitting an odd warmth to the touch, her eyes black with gold pupils, wearing but a hakama and sarashi, her aura flowing behind her like a cape, feet bare and floating just a step above the ground. Hoshigiri becoming wrapped in an aura belonging to that of the holy sword Kusanagi, evolving it into Hoshinagi – The Star-Rending Sword.
Her brilliance nearly blinded her friends, but she smiled softly and nodded.
“I’m the one touched by the root, by Alaya, one of her chosen to protect the history and flow of all of womankind, past and present and future, and I have seen so much before this day and have even seen after it. All to ensure that I would be born, and come alive this day, and that birth would be the assurance womankind would thrive no matter what humanity, the creators, or magic would say it should be.”
> “………..”
>>> “Oh -shit- it’s about to go down”
Nobody else could say a word. Images flooded their heads of their own histories, a familiar figure to them all, the flashbacks to Penthesilea and the others revealing the one by their side every time was indeed Atma, going by many names, but remaining the same force throughout. A comforting, strong one who was willing to fight until the end.
And the end had come.
“Ahaha, so this fool finally reveals herself, huh? I’ve been waiting for this! Long have I waited to be the one to burn you down, to ensure you don’t become real, to erase you now in your own time so that your powers and what you’ve changed unravel and write a completely different future for us all inked in the blood of pure chaos!” Haborym cackled, his flames jutting out from every side hotter and hotter. “I never thought I’d get to see you like this. I thought I could strike you down before this. But this? Killing this would make this victory all the sweeter!”
Those words meant nothing now to Atma. His plans were laid out. His death was the only option at this point. To right her own history, so that she may write her own history, as it has been and has also will be. Time is complicated like that.
Calafia only spoke one thing. “I told you she was more than you could handle. I told you she was special. And now your sunset has come, demon. You’ve awoken her.”
Atma reached full ascension, on her own, no items or anything needed. Just this important plot beat. She smiled and began to glow with a warmth and aura unlike anything else the girls with her had
“I am the will of womankind’s paramatma. I am Alaya’s swordarm. I am the Root of Chivalry.” Atma said defiantly as she drew her enchanted sword over at the door Haborym watched them from.
“And you came to the wrong neighborhood, motherfucker.”
~ END OF CHAPTER 11 NODE 2