Miracle

This is joint-written. The results of the Dham chase aren't so good, but that hardly matters.

 

Niqi sighed, kicking around beside the barrier while waiting for Shetani and Ambree to show up. “There you are,” she said in a normal voice, not really talking to either of them, as she saw two figures coming from opposite directions.

“I’m first for once – kind of weird. But it’s only because I don’t have much news,” Niqi announced when they were a few feet away. “Caught up to the Dham, trapped him, threatened him, he grinned and turned to dust. F*****g copies.” She shook her head, annoyed, and kicked the ground again.

“I found no sign of Glide.” Shetani sighed. “But I did find something. Something very unsettling...”

“What is it?” Niqi asked, sounding intrigued.

Ambree, who until now had been looking rather dismal and pissed off, perked up as well, listening.

“A temple... destroyed.” Shetani replied, sitting down in the snow. “He does know what he’s doing; if enough temples dedicated to the worship of the gods are destroyed... they become mortal...”

“Say what?” Niqi asked, her eyes going wide.

“That’s not all.” Shetani said. “He seems to know where all the temples are, otherwise I would’ve found him before he’d destroyed the one here. And with us being one step behind him, it’s...” She went silent, not wanting to use the word ‘hopeless’, no matter how much it seemed to fit the situation.

Niqi shook her head, turned her back on them, started pacing, and then stopped, looking back at Shetani. “I’m just curious – how is that even possible? Temples being the reason for a god’s immortality?”

“It’s the worship.” Shetani said after a moment. “The more the gods are worshiped, the more powerful they become. If the temples are destroyed, there’s no place for mass-worship, and the gods lose power.”

Niqi shook her head. “Strange. So, could anyone become a god, or are there only a select few that increase and decrease in power? Could a god converted to a mortal ever become a god again? What happens if all the gods become mortal?”

Shetani stood up, brushing the snow from her jeans. “If all the gods become mortal, they can be killed. Anyone who kills them takes their place. If one person kills all the gods... they gain the power to destroy the omniverse and remake it as they see fit.”

Niqi’s eyes grew even wider. “Well, f**k. So Glide actually has a practical way of destroying the entire omniverse.”

All three went silent for a moment as they contemplated this.

Niqi finally sighed. “Anyway. Uh, what happened with you, Ambree?”

Ambree blinked. “Well…I was going to complain about how I tripped down a flight of stairs, lost the Dham I was going after, and then got chased by some maniac guy trying to mug me on the way back to meet you guys…but I don’t think I will.”

“I didn’t want to say this,” Shetani sighed, “but it’s looking pretty hopeless.”

“Never give up hope!” A familiar voice called from behind the group. “At least, not so early in the fight.”

Shetani spun around, eyes widening. “How...”

Niqi’s jaw dropped. She stood there, dumbfounded, for a few seconds, and then pushed her jaw back up with her paw and held it there, afraid it would hit the ground soon.

Ambree’s eyes bulged, and for the moment, she was unable to speak.

Niqi let go of her jaw, opening it and closing it a few times to see if it would respond. She finally forced out a strangled “Felix!?”

Felix raised a paw, waving. “Hi, guys.” He grinned, unfurling his angelic, white-feathered wings. “Look! I’m an angel!”

Niqi blinked several times. “I…can see that,” she muttered. She shook her head and blinked a few more times, to check that he was still there. “…You choose to come back now?” she asked suddenly. “Haven’t you seen all the crazy s**t that Glide has been doing without you?”

“It’s... complicated.” Felix replied. “I’ll explain everything when this is over, but for now, we have to stop Glide. ... Wow, I never thought I’d be saying that...”

Ambree finally recovered as well. She was suddenly holding back tears. “I want to hate you for what your absence did to Glide, and the entire group, but…damn, it’s so good to see you,” she said.

“It’s good to be back, guys.” Felix smiled. “But I’ve got a feeling... it wasn’t just my death that did this to him...”

“What do you mean?” Niqi asked, cocking her head to the side. “I mean, he has been acting very un-Glide-like for a while now…” She trailed off, musing.

Felix shrugged. “I don’t really know what’s going on with him, but we’re going to find out soon. He’s headed for Aytar.”

Niqi stiffened. “Do you really think it’s a good idea to have me go back there?”

“You’re one of the strongest warriors in the omniverse.” Felix stated. “It’ll be fine. Let’s go.”

Ambree looked at Niqi, confused. “You’ve never mentioned that place. What’s wrong with it?”

Niqi shook her head for a few seconds, not looking at her, and then answered, still staring straight ahead. “Nothing…I just may not be able to leave.” She sighed. “This Glide-destroying-the-omniverse drama should keep me focused, in any case.” She took out her Nexus key. “Let’s go,” she echoed.

“Put that away.” Shetani said, dark energy gathering in her palm. “Now that I know where he is, I can get us there pretty quickly.”

Niqi nodded, putting the key back in her pocket. “Portals are so much more fun than drab doors,” she commented.

Shetani pitched the sphere of energy toward Menos Muerte’s barrier, the portal opening as soon as it made contact. “Who wants to go first?”

Ambree shrugged, leaping through.

“My turn.” Felix grinned, stepping through the portal.

“I’d gladly go last if you didn’t have to control this thing,” Niqi said to Shetani, and then stepped through, her nerves tightening.

Shetani headed through, the portal closing behind her. “Strange. I can sense him again...”

“Good. Lead the way,” Niqi responded. She glanced at Felix, and then said to no-one, “He’s going to be pretty damn surprised when we show up with him in tow.”

Reviews

[KEi]

"Look! I'm an angel!"
Yeah, great. Feel happy AFTER we've stopped your beloved from destroying the entire of creation, m'kay?

"He's going to be pretty damn surprised when we show up with him in tow."
You think?

Gosh darnit. I'm thoroughly enjoying this whole "Glide-destroying-the-omniverse drama". Way to keep people (readers and characters alike) on their toes.
:)