It’s been about a week after Roxy became uncorrupted and...well a week of playing video games and threeways with the woman I loved and our new herm girlfriend Gilda. “Well that was a fantastic week.” I commented to Gilda and Roxy.
“I’m still not sure how these things work but it’s really cool.” Gilda said, playing on my 3DS.
“It’s nice to have our stuff back here too.” Roxy nodded. “I’m actually glad we got made into copies of our main pokemon over actually… turning into them.” Roxy said as she smiled at her OP Gardevoir.
“Yeah, it was almost a dream come true.” I chuckled. “Funny what happens...when the end of the Universe is at stake…” I frowned.
“At least we can take time to relax still.” Roxy stated. “Constant work would make it worse in my opinion.”
“And...with what we learned about Corruption…” I started carefully. “So it’s best we take time to relax and have fun, enjoying our time together.’
“Absolutely.” Gilda said. “So, what are you two gonna do today anyway?”
“Well, in a bit I’ll head off for more magic training.” Roxy stated.
“And I have to either...do martial arts training, or learn more about fire.” I answered.
“Huh. I guess I’ll just stay here.” Gilda said, looking back to the 3DS.
For the last several days, I’ve noticed that Gilda has been a bit lazy. Well, she’s fit and lazy and all but she’s been a bit lazier in the time we’ve been in Canterlot.
“Do you have...anything to do?” I inquired to the griffon.
“Nope. And I don’t plan on doing anything for a bit.”
“You sure?” I asked carefully, not wanting the griffon to get too lazy.
“I’ll be fine. You two be heroes and I’ll be waiting here.” Gilda said, grabbing blankets and covering herself up.
With a shrug, Roxy and I walked out and headed to our training.
I walked myself into the guard combat room and met up with Luna. “How have you been Wolf?” Luna asked.
“Well...after a week with my horny girlfriend’s, I’d say I’m doing good.” I nodded. “How have you been?”
“Well, all things considered. Those… experimented Griffons have been… unsettling. The samples and information you brought as well was… Well, we had to hire… outside crown help since none of the science staff held their stomachs for it.”
“Goodie…” I sighed out. “So how are they...adjusting to a life outside of experimentation?”
“Well… Garry had to be sedated after he… ate his guards… The others though are adjusting well.” Luna stated.
“Well...that’s not good.” I said nervously.
“Yes… it has been… difficult. Garry’s unstable mind makes even soothing his dreams… impossible.” Luna sighed. “At least the one we got can manage him, thank the Elder Gods…”
“Who can soothe him?” I inquired curiously.
"Well Soothe isn't the right word… you'll meet him later. For now, we have a lesson." Luna said, her horn lighting up as various weapons appeared on the floor before us. "Today, we work on armed combat."
“Armed Combat you say?” I inquired. “Why the shift to weapons if I may ask?”
"Let's just say the help didn't come without consequences…" Luna sighed as she picked up a short sword and handed it to me. "This is a weapon from a bygone era in your world, yes?"
“I mean, people still use it, but for actual military combat? No.” I shook my head.
“I figured as much, given the firearms Arceus pulled over. But I think you might find this weapon to your liking.” Luna said as I took the short sword. As I grabbed it I felt… something, like… like an extra appendage as suddenly the blade itself erupted in blue fire that covered it from hilt to blade tip. “I infused these weapons here with Moon Stones from your homeworlds moon, the moon of Arceus’s dimension, and my own moon to create a very powerful funnel that perfectly conducts Moon Magic, and Moon Fire.” She said as she smiled at me.
"Wow…" I muttered in awe, lightly moving the flaming blade carefully. "It...feels...too natural to be honest."
“Well, infusing them with the moonstones from three different moons might be overkill, but it will help you understand how the feeling of your energy and magic are meant to flow outwards.” Luna explained.
"Not that...more just holding it feels like an extension of my body...and I know for a fact I've never used weapons before, let alone a short sword." I explained carefully.
"It is a simple weapon. Easy to use, but like most difficult to master." Luna said, picking up her own short sword.
"It...doesn't feel that way weirdly." I said, preparing myself as I took a step back as I started in a basic fighting stance, holding my blade carefully pointed away from me.
I performed a few practice swings. After a few good minutes Luna began teaching me. How to swing and where to hit, common weak points in armor, and where a kill swing and where a crippling swing should land. As the lesson concluded Luna gave me a sheath for the sword for me to keep. “The leather is made from shed Dragonhide, so your fire won’t harm it.” Luna stated.
"Not entirely surprised." I shrugged, knowing dragons were tough bastards that tended to be fireproof as I took the sheath and sheathed my sword in it carefully. "Thanks Luna, this has been fun."
"I am glad you have taken to it so easily. Now, I would like you to meet the… outside help, we acquired in regards to the events and the victims of the Griffon Primaries."
“Is this person that bad?” I asked carefully.
"Well, not exactly. It's a long story to explain but at least this one is on our side." Luna stated as we walked down the hallways of the castle.
“And right now, we need all the help we can get…” I sighed out. “Seriously…all this sucks…”
"Truely-"
There was a sudden shake from down the hall. Luna and I rushed to the laboratory room. I opened the doors to see a heavily chained Garry on the ground. "Owchee…" He groaned.
In the room as well was a… human, looking lady. She had dark purple hair, dark blue eyes and sighed as she looked over at Garry. "You'd think the tenth time he'd learn." She grumbled.
“Uh...hi there.” I said to the new lady. “I see your...handling Garry well enough.”
"Hey." She said, turning back to the nearby table and writing something down.
"Heh… Wolf, meet Nyx. She's the, uh… daughter of an old associate…" Luna stated.
“I...believe the Greek Goddess of the Night?” I inquired. “The second oldest being to exist in the Greek Pantheon?”
"Don't play smart, you aren't good at it." Nyx replied.
"No, no. She's… well, there's not really a proper word for what she and her family is…" Luna stated.
“Well you can at least cut some of the attitude out.” I frowned towards Nyx. “Cause everything that’s been going on, learning that Gods and Goddesses of all pantheon’s are real, hearing ‘Nyx’ normally leads to...literally the only Goddess named Nyx.” I explained carefully.
"Not that bitch. Technically I'm a bigger bitch but she's not even in my class." Nyx replied as she finished her writing and closed the notebook. She then turned around to face me. "So, you're their chosen hero?"
“Yes...somehow.” I said honestly. “So...who or...what are you? Considering Luna doesn’t know how to describe it and you’re saying you're stronger than the first born child of the Greek Creator God.”
"Well I'm the first born is someone." She said. "You already know about the classes of Gods? Yeah my parents were above all those."
“What?” I asked in confusion. “There’s...higher?”
"There's always higher. Until you get to my folks then well there's not much bigger than them."
“Right then.” I said. “So...begs the question as to why you're here if you're the daughter of people that would...probably be way outside our current crisis at the moment.”
"Long story short some extended family arrived here long ago and did their own hero thing and once that was done they gave Luna and Celestia a means to ask for help if need be. So here I am to figure out these genetic abominations and whatever else you might need science wise. My brother will help you all with upgrades and crap."
“Cool.” I nodded. “But upgrades? Like...RPG style stuff or something?” I asked, not sure if she meant that or weapon upgrades at this point considering I have a weapon now.
"More or less." She shrugged. "His workshop is next door."
“Nice.” I nodded. “But uh...how are you handling Garry here?”
"Well, I take some samples, analyze them, he tries to eat me, I punch him across the room, he tries again I chain him up. He tries again and I sedated him with enough tranquilizer to put Galactus to sleep. And we'll see how long that lasts him."
“Damn.” I said in surprise. “I...didn’t know Garry would be that much of a handful.”
"Considering his genetic structure, if you can call it that, I'm surprised he's not just a puddle of biomass."
“All things considered...yeah...I am surprised he’s not dead or dying.” I said carefully. “And that goes for the others…”
"They, actually, aren't as bad as he is. At least with them you can still find Griffon DNA." Nyx stated. "With this guy I can't even find his original genetic makeup with all the crap they shoved inside him. He's closer to a chimera than anything."
"Well that's not good." I started carefully. "The hell are these people doing to have this be possible?"
"Well from what I have been able to figure out they start with highly malleable genetics more often found in unfertilized eggs in both egg laying and mammalian species for a baseline then infuse those genetics with isolated traits from other species then they seem to mix it with a potion compound commonly used in shapeshifting potions and once the mixture is stable they inject and hope for a desired mutation."
“Uh...that kind of makes sense.” I said, not knowing how any of that would actually functionally work but all I knew was that ‘shove liquids in egg, stir until desired result’.
"So, is there something you want or?"
“Well...so far Luna wanted to introduce me to you and your brother apparently.” I said honestly. “Anything else I should know before heading to see your brother?”
"Yeah, his mom is with him so aside from that, I got work to do so unless you'd like proper genetic mutations, you may leave."
“I’ll...look into that later.” I started as I headed off to find her brother.
Next door was her Brother's room. It was the same size as the other but filled with armors, weapons, some kind of high tech SI-FI forge and some futuristic looking trunk nearby. Spotting her brother I actually blinked many times. They appeared to be an anthropomorphic wolf, 'standing' easily two feet above me. From the waist down there was an easily fifty foot coiled snake tail that despite having scales also had fur. The Nagga wolf also seemed to… have a small, cute little chibi looking wolf in a chrome dress sleeping on his head. The picture before me left me feeling like a computer with a 404 error.
“Uh…” I started. “First...adorable.” I pointed carefully to the sleeping potat of a wolf on the large naga’s head. “Also...I’ve never seen a wolf naga before…”
"Actually my breed is specifically referred to as Floof Noodle, Wolf Naga is actually something else entirely." The snake wolf, or Floof Noodle, apparently stayed. He then turned to look at me. "Names Danny, and this here is my mom." He said, pointing to the maybe two foot at max small chibi wolf sleeping on his head.
“Only reason I’m probably not seeing her full grown is because she’s tired and wanted to do something adorable.” I brought up. “Also...Floof Noodle?” I asked, confused as to why a cute sounding pet name would be the actual name for a race of beings.
"Actually, she's retired so after a while she took this form when she wants to be in public. Her actual form is much, much bigger and… kinda overly sexualized but when you're a Den Mother that kinda comes with it." Danny shrugged as he was working on something. "So, you're one of their chosen Heroes huh?"
“One of yes.” I nodded. “Why we were picked is still up in the air...but at least we can help right?”
"True. So, do you need anything?" He asked.
“I was told from Nyx you could help me get stronger through RPG style means?” I asked.
"Yeah. Got a sword, I can make it better, armor, same. Can also repair your gear and such but that will cost you. Among other services."
“Cool.” I nodded. “What other services are there besides the obvious fixing or making better gear?”
"Well, I can sell you some items and gear that aren't weapons, materialize digital objects, and craft objects for you if you have the raw materials." He shrugged.
“Wow.” I said in surprise. “That’s really cool.” I said honestly. “Well, might as well start off simple, mind taking a look at this sword Luna gave me?” I inquired, bringing out my sword and wanting the apparently professional to take a look at it.
"Sure." He said, taking it and looking it over. "Hmm. Hardened iron short sword infused with three different moonstone cores from three different moons. Interesting. Not too bad, simple but effective and the moonstone cores will give it a nice magic affinity."
“Well, Luna wanted me to start weapon training, might as well have something simple and effective.” I shrugged. “And the Moonstones...well, even after some explanations, don’t entirely understand how the Moon involves Fire...or what that has to fully do with my weird affinity for wolves.”
"Everything was born in fire. One big ass explosion. Even though it's cooled, the moon was once it's own mini sun. In most dimensions anyway. As for your Wolf affinities… hmm. May I?" Danny asked as he reached a hand out to me.
“Sure.” I nodded carefully. “My weird affinity sounds cliche as shit...so please don’t laugh…” I warned nervously, not knowing what Danny will do but warning him about my weird origin story.
He took my hand, and to my surprise pulled me almost against him as he started sniffing my neck…
"Lewd!" I blushed, turning to see Roxy standing in the doorway, a blush and grin on her face at seeing me like this.
"My…" Luna said, a small bush herself.
“I hate everything…” I whined, only for something to be lightly tapping my head, which I looked up and saw the adorable chibi wolf patting my head with a tired smile.
"Hmm…" Danny hummed as he removed his nose from my neck. "Well you aren't one of my family's heroes." He said, letting me go and take several steps away. "But there's definitely signs of tampering…"
“Tampering?” I asked worriedly. “Only thing I know is that...wolves have been surrounding my birth and life for a long time...you’re saying someone messed with my life?”
"No, your pre-life." I raised a brow. "Right. Well, you know how there's Afterlife's? Hell, Heaven, Valhalla, ECT? Well there's also lesser known Pre-Lives. Where your soul gets ready for either reincarnation or a first time run in the physical dimensions. Your soul isn't actually human."
“Wait...so…” I started, taking a step back. “I’m...not even...how? Why?”
"How, simple. Someone entered the Pre-Life of your home dimension and altered the soul you were meant to receive and changed it out with another. Why, dunno. But I can tell it's not a human soul. Well, technically it's not a soul exactly, more like… essence?"
“Uh...huh…” I said, dumbfounded by this new revelation.
"So… what is it?" Roxy asked as she walked up to me and took my hand.
"Essence of a much more powerful soul. See, souls are like power plants. A normal human soul has the output of about… five nuclear power plants. Judging from the essence being used as a soul within Wolf now, I'd say the original had an output on par with a Red Giant Sun, so probably a demi god of sorts."
“Hold the fuck up.” I started. “You're telling me I have a demi-god’s soul in me? Who the hell would be able to mistake that for a human?” I asked in a mild panic, thinking something seriously wrong was happening that they were screwing with my life that hard.
We all saw the still waking up chibi wolf hold up a sign. ‘You get used to it.’
"Not the whole soul Wolf, the essence of it. A normal human body can't hold a demi-gods soul. That's like hooking a Dyson sphere to a single lightbulb. It'll explode well before you would have even been born. No from the piece in you now it's a small amount, ment to probably adapt slowly over time but given your new body and biology, your soul editor might be able to put half of the original soul into you now, if they want to."
“And...considering what’s going to happen soon, maybe...all of it.” I pointed out, worried about what my new sudden future might hold as I lightly tightened my grip on Roxy’s hand. “Well...I’m me right now and that’s all that matters at the moment right?”
"Even with the whole soul you'd still be you dude." Danny stated. "Souls don't entirely work like how you're thinking. Yes they hold onto memories, personalities and things like that from prior lives but when a soul is reincarnated it's like… creating a new profile on a computer. The data on the old profile is still there but the new profile will rarely if ever access it. More than not the old 'data' is used as a foundation for the new being to be as they grow."
"So in other words young Wolf has nothing to fear from the whole soul infusing with him?" Luna asked.
"Exactly. Only a few beings or items can replace or override the current host of a body and their soul and it's not recommended cause the two risk fragmenting or fusing and then you get a whole other mess."
“Well...at least that explains a whole lot of things.” I said honestly. “But that begs the question...who did this and why?”
"Not a clue." Danny stated simply. "My family might be omnipresent all powerful higher than any gods to exist entities, but not even we have the answers to everything. Mostly because true Omnipresence like you're thinking is bullshit and can't actually be achieved without going bat shit insane."
The chibi wolf raised another sign. ‘I tried it once...it wasn’t fun…’
“Well, when you hear Omnipresence is a terrible thing from a retired being of unknown abilities, gotta believe them.” I said readily. “But yeah...hopefully it’s not some super bad guy that’s even worse than the Parasprite Queen that’s doing some soul shuffling shenanigans.”
"Nah, if it was we'd know." Danny shrugged. "While a lot of beings can come and go from the Afterlife realms, the Pre-Life realms are restricted access. Only a select certain beings can go in there without having to fight off the security."
“And considering it’s a Pre-Life thing, security must be tight as hell.” I mentioned.
"Well, yeah. And as punishment the last guy who tried to break in is now enjoying a nice, mindless life as the basically near immortal Water Bear."
“Well that sucks for that guy.” I said in surprise.
"Anyway, so want me to do anything with your sword?"
“Well, what can you do with it at the moment?” I inquired. “Cause I don’t have any materials and...well I don’t have any money as far as I know.”
"Well, I can sharpen it for free and I can probably mess with the cores for a hundred bits per core."
"What do you do with the bits, it doesn't feel like you actually need them?" Roxy asked.
"I don't, but rule one when doing this kind of job, it's a job, so revive payment." Danny stated.
“Fair enough.” I nodded. “Um...hmm...I immediately thought you could add core slots to add in cores, either more moonstones or other things to make it stronger.”
"I can but that requires materials you don't have. So messing with the existing cores and sharpening it are what I can do at the moment. Well, I could also give the metal a high pressure and heat temperament to increase the metal quality too, but that's an extra fifty bits.
“Well…” I started. “Sure, why not. I’ll take the whole thing.” I said while handing him the sword and a three hundred and fifty bits.
Danny immediately got to work. Their mom sliding down his back and only his coiled snake half as he placed my sword into a weird large machine. He pressed some buttons then watched in awe as blue lasers all traced along my sword, the blade quickly turning white hot. It then seemed to… vibrate with something in the machine before the metal returned to the normal clean chrome look. The same blue lines then traced along the sword's edges.
When all that finished Danny took the sword out and placed three fingers to the blade, flowing some energy into it and along the blade. With that done, he handed it back to me. "There you go. The iron is as high quality as iron in this dimension can get, edge is as thin and sharp as a laser and the cores have all been modified to each help Improve you and the weapon as you use it."
“Sweet.” I said happily, gently taking the blade back and blue fire emerged from the blade again in my grip. “This is going to be great when dealing with whatever monster’s or those dumb griffons...wait…” I started, not liking the feeling that I was about to want to kill griffons, even if they did hurt Roxy to no end.
"That actual issue for you?" Danny asked.
"Killing isn't an issue in general?" I asked carefully.
"Welp, when you know exactly what comes after/happens after death in the physical plains I guess it isn't much of an issue. It kinda like… for the terrible people, it's an instant jail sentence. For victims and such it's a one way ticket to paradise. It does vary between cultures and species but yeah, killing a physical form is one thing, the soul or spirit though is another that is more frowned upon."
“I mean...if you kill a soul, then someone’s dead forever right?” I asked.
"Only way to revive after that is with time magic and that is regulated heavily." Danny said with a nod.
“That’s fair.” I nodded. “Time magic is...really weird as a concept.”
"Only select people know it, my folks and the Time Walkers." He shrugged.
"So, you make weapons and upgrade them?" Roxy asked.
"Among other things."
"Do you sell stuff?"
"Yeah." Danny said, pulling up, to my surprise, a tablet and handing it to Roxy.
“Got any ideas for armor or weapons?” I inquired. “Cause staves, rods or wands would probably be good for a Psychic Fairy type like you.”
"No, not that…" She said, flipping through the tablet inventory. "No… ah, here we are." She said, handing the tablet back to Danny. He looked at the tablet, nodding as he waved his hand and suddenly, he was holding a Sooth Belle. He handed it to Roxy who handed him ten bits. She then tied it around her neck like a choker.
I facepalmed. “Really?” I groaned.
"Yes." She nodded with a smile, the bell jingling with her nod. "Wonder if Gilda will be into this?" She said aloud as she poked her new choker decoration.
"Maybe. You should go ask her and see if she is done nesting." Luna stated.
“Nesting?” I asked carefully.
"Yes. Griffonessea tend to become quite sluggish and remain in one area for nesting before laying their eggs." Roxy and I started at Luna. "I assumed you knew?"
“We didn’t…” I started. “My parents were mostly working with Wolves and other quadrupeds...not avians and...I didn’t think I could get them pregnant!” I said in a panic, immediately thinking that I accidentally knocked up the too sexy bird.
"You are literally part bird and Pokemon right now my guy. Plus, this is Equestria, it's hard to find a dimension where Equestrian races aren't cross compatible with other species." Danny added.
“I maybe part bird but I’m a Pokemon from a completely different reality, there should be a lot of genetic difference with that...also the hell do you mean it’s hard to find Equestrian races that can’t cross breed?” I asked.
"You'd be amazed how similar genetics are between dimensions."
"As for the Hard pressed part, well, from what my own searchings and what Danny's family has told me, the Equestrian races are the most genetically adaptable across the majority of life in the cosmos." Luna stated. "In the past Ponies and Dragons, Minotaurs, Chimera's, Hydras, and yes, Griffons too have all successfully birthed hybrid children."
"So… Gilda is… pregnant?" Roxy asked.
"Oh yes, Griffonesses don't show given they lay the egg a week or less into the pregnancy, and can lay up to three at a time. Griffons are an extremely fast breeding species, once the egg is laid it will hatch within a month to a month and a half."
"Baby birds!" Roxy yelled as she suddenly ran out of here, leaving a literal dust trail behind.
"She seems happy." Danny shrugged.
“Yeah...she always liked baby’s, especially baby animals or...well in this case, baby griffons.” I chuckled, shaking my head at her cute antics. “She’d probably be cuddling those fluff balls even if Gilda tried prying her off them.”
"Well, you should go join her. You did father those eggs after all." Luna said with a chuckle.
Father… I'm… gonna be a dad…
As I walked down the hall, that fact kept ringing in my head. When I arrived at the open doors to our room I saw it. Gilda was laying on the bed, three red and brown eggs resting on a blanket next to her. Roxy was gently rubbing one of the eggs.
"There you are." Gilda said, looking a bit, well… tired. "Had to deliver these little shits alone."
"Why didn't you tell us you were pregnant?" Roxy asked.
"You couldn't tell?" Gilda asked. "Look at me, do you think I'm lazy for no reason? The second I felt the lethargy kick in I knew."
“We didn’t...we literally just got here not two week ago and never got a single anatomy lesson on any of the races here.” I explained carefully. “I’m really sorry...but you should have told us…”
She shrugged. "Eh. I don't mind." She said, placing a hand to one of the eggs. "Besides, you did earn the right to breed me when you claimed me as your mate."
“Well...glad to hear that.” I said nervously. “But...I never expected to be a dad...especially this soon…”
"Well these little chicks won't be ready to greet the world for another month or so. And I won't be ready to lay again for two weeks."
"Huh. So you take a week to lay the eggs then in two weeks can lay again. Then the eggs take a month or so to hatch? That could technically make you essentially always have unhatched eggs."
"Brothels keep our population thriving." Gilda shrugged. "Granted they're also why so many of us are orphans but what can you do?"
“Actually take care of the children and not just leave them as orphans?” I pointed out. “Or...you know, find a mate instead of brothels…”
"Doubt that will change anytime soon. So, are you and Roxy gonna have Eggs soon, or whatever you birth or lay?"
“Uh...we don’t know.” I answered. “Do you...feel any different Roxy?”
"No… been taking the protection potions so… I mean… do you want to… have kids with me?" Roxy asked me.
“I would be so happy if that were to happen.” I said honestly. “But...do you want kids?”
"Yes." Roxy said, quickly pulling me into a kiss.
"Guess I'll move these then." Gilda said as she picked up our eggs and let Roxy and I have the bed.
"Given how we merged Pokemon Biology and your old human one, I'd wager at four or five months Roxy will lay the egg then the remaining time the baby will develop in the egg before hatching." Arceus said.
It had been a week since… heh, well, Roxy and I decided on adding a baby of our own to the ones Gilda laid, so here we are, another week in and Roxy is, confirmed, pregnant.
"Will this affect my training?" She asked.
"Well, in terms of magic, you might have an occasional surge and such but we can handle that." Celestia stated.
"And in regards to moves and types, none at all." Arceus added. "Usually with normal Pokemon the egg is laid shortly after conception but in your case, despite the… longer laying time, so long as you don't use physical move types you should be fine."
"Fair enough." I nodded. "So it looks like I'm gonna have to be doing a whole lot more work...to make sure our kids will live a happy and safe life."
"It also gives you more drive than before, keeping all the world's safe for not just the citizens, but your own children as well." Celestia added. "I do wonder how they will look when they arrive."
"Well...for Pokemon it'll just be either a Raltz or Torchic, cause as far as I know breeding doesn't cause hybrids…" I looked over to Arceus. "Right?"
"This is new territory for me so, no idea." Arceus shrugged. "For all I know they might come out a whole new species, or one or the other just more human like their parents."
"Right…" I said carefully. "Well...this is gonna be fun…" I sighed out.
"Well, at least we'll get a little practice when Gilda's hatch." Roxy added.
"Good bye sleep...I hardly knew ye…" I joked dramatically, thinking that having children will mean I'm going to have no sleep when it comes to taking care of them.
With that news in tow Roxy and I walked back to our room. Gilda was keeping the eggs warm in a nest of pillows and a fluffy blanket while she went over a list of various weapons Danny was selling. "I don't even know what half of these are but I am impressed…" She said to herself as she went through the long list.
“Well...we suddenly opened up a multiverse of possibilities apparently so...it would make sense.” I shrugged.
"Well, better the overkill help than none." Gilda shrugged.
"So what are you planning on doing Gilda?" Roxy asked.
"Well, can't really fight on the front lines now that I got kids so I was gonna talk to Shining Armor to get some lessons in leading from afar. With luck we might be able to arm our guys with these crazy weapons and actually hang onto our territory."
“That’s good, and I’ll do most...or all the heavy lifting.” I said honestly.
"Oh don't be like that." Roxy said as she elbowed me lightly.
“I will be like that cause I don’t want you two or our kids to get hurt.” I said honestly.
"Well, what will you be doing right now?" Gilda asked.
“Well right now I’m going to have to train more so I can be strong enough to protect you all...then I have to hunt down that bitch that stole Roxy’s eggs...then learn how to be a parent…” I started, only to hear a knock at the door that snapped me out of my sudden laundry list funk. “Wonder who it is?” I wondered, walking over to the door and opening it, seeing the chibi wolf from before on a cloud, floating over to me.
Squeak
I blinked as I heard the squeak from a toy hammer hitting my head, the chibi wolf frowning like a disapproving mother and holding up a sign. “No, don’t do the laundry list, take your time with your girlfriends.” I read off as the wolf nodded. “But…”
Squeak
I was hit again by the squeaky hammer as they brought up another sign. “No buts, only buts you should be focusing on is…” I stopped reading as I blushed brightly at the chibi wolf telling me to focus on my girlfriends butts.
"Tiny wolf knows what's up." Roxy nodded with an approving smile.
"Nice." Gilda chuckled.
After the tiny wolf left I spent some time with Roxy and Gilda before heading off to NYX's room. Garry was still chained and unconscious on the floor while she was working with some chemical fluids.
"Need something?" She asked as she kept her eyes on her work.
“I...need some help.” I sighed out. “Or at least...advice.”
"Why?"
“Because that fluffy potato of a wolf said I need to not have a laundry list of shit to do now that I’m going to be a father and also have to help protect the world or worlds from the embodiment of Gluttony.” I frowned.
"Ironic considering she was the same way. Honestly spent way too much time over preparing for crap and even now with everything on our end done and peaceful she still finds an excuse to keep busy. Anyway, so what about this Gluttony person has you worked up exactly?"
“The Parasprite Queen, which is what Garry has inside him...she’s the big bad villain that I have to defeat with Roxy…” I sighed out. “They could show up at any time they want, or send whoever they want infused with whatever powers they want and I’m not prepared for it…” I said. “I’m barely prepared for fatherhood, let alone fighting something that eats Gods for breakfast.”
"Oh? Huh. Why not just use her own power against her?"
“I’m pretty sure all the other’s wouldn’t need a hero if they could just say ‘I cast Mirror Force so you can go fuck yourself’.” I rolled my eyes.
"Not that dumb ass." Nyx said, putting her tools down as she spun around and looked at me. "This Parasite Queen clearly has the Consume Ability."
“She has what?” I asked in confusion. “I thought she was some Embodiment of one of the Seven Deadly Sins cause...well the all this.”
"Oh she does, and technically that sin would be based off her not the other way around but that's besides the point. Okay, so try and follow along. Everything and everyone in This Realm is born with a hidden set of abilities, or powers. Normally most can't unlock them, like humans and such, but some can accidentally unlock them and get what you call Super Powers. Gods and the like though are usually born with a set of these abilities and powers active already. Such as what this Parasprite Queen. I'm willing to bet her primary abilities are Consume, Famished, and Starved. Consume allows one to eat another being and gain their powers. Famished ensures that no matter how much one eats they can never get full and can digest anything, so poisons and such are out of the question. Lastly, Starved will allow her to share the traits of those she or her children are with one another."
“And considering what little I’ve heard about Parasprites and that they reproduce by literally coughing up hairballs like absolutely mad...it’s a massive problem.” I started. “So...I have to now figure out what legendary powers I have or something?”
"Well, the best power against what she likely has is it's sister Ability. A replication ability."
“So like...Generation or something?” I asked. “Or something that craps out a ton of clones?”
"No. Those are both completely different abilities… although that last one might be of use to you and your girls. Hmm… the question there is whether or not I should even consider giving it to you. Or any of these abilities really."
“At the moment I’m at a complete loss on what to do.” I sighed out. “Being a father...being a hero...suddenly hit me how much bigger this all is.”
"I'm ninety percent sure someone already made that club, though I don't know what dimension it's in." Nyx said with an eye roll.
“I’m sure it happened somewhere.” I shrugged. “But...got any idea how I can start figuring out how I can get these abilities of mine that I probably have? Or is it a ‘wait and see’ kind of thing?”
She sighed. "How the Fuck do the others do this…" She groaned as she snapped her fingers, suddenly a blue and purple… portal vortex thing appearing behind me. "Come on cry baby, lesson one, figure out your Pokemon shit." She said, pulling me by the arm through the thing.
For a few seconds after entering everything was nothing and colors had smells before it all went back to normal and… the ground isn't normally so… white.
"Welcome to Equestria's moon." Nyx said from next to me.
“Uh...huh.” I started, not really sure how I’m breathing up here but I am. “So...what are we doing up here exactly? I mean...I know I have a theme with the moon but what does this have to do with my Pokemon side?”
"Shut up." She started, slapping the back of my head. "Hands to the ground." She then kicked me to my knees and pushed me down til my hands were on the… oddly soft soil. "And clear your head."
“Uh...sure…” I grumbled, not entirely sure where this all came from as I took a deep breath and tried to clear my mind.
I sat there basically on all fours for what I imagined was hours. The total silence of everything was… peaceful… calming and… relaxing…
Thump-Thump
I opened my eyes, looking around for wherever that noise, almost a heartbeat came from. I felt my own chest but the rhythm wasn't the same, nore that… strong.
“The hell?” I muttered, trying to find where that heart beat was. “What’s...that heartbeat?”
"The moon's."
“The...moons?” I asked carefully. “That...doesn’t sound scary at all.”
Nyx rolled her eyes again. "All celestial bodies be them planets, moons, comets have a form of life as well. It might not be intelligent, it rarely is, but they are a form of living creature. Now, how do you think that affects you?"
“Well...besides thinking of Majora’s Mask now…” I frowned. “Well...it also tells me that Luna was right before, that this used to either be a small sun or at least having the Flames of Life on it as it were…”
"Duh. You doubted her knowledge of her own celestial body?"
“I just got here two weeks ago, I’m still trying to process a lot and also be skeptical on thing’s cause I’d rather not look like an idiot believing everything that someone says.” I said honestly. “The thing about this being a miniature sun I still weirdly can’t see...but I at least now have context for it all.”
"Whatever helps you sleep at night dummy. Anyway, as you clearly don't know, magic will flow from the user in one of three ways. One is through a faith like system in which a god gives a race magic in trade for services, worship and even offerings/sacrifices. Thirdly is that it flows from the environment. Such as the planet, moon, suns, stars, ECT. Lastly is when magic flows from within, meaning the body is capable of producing magic the same way it produces energy from eating and drinking. In the case of humans you're kind used to pull magic from faith from your various gods but pretty much all of them are either dead or retired these days. So, now that you are half pokemon you have to pull your power from the source they usually pull from. The environment. Normally a Fire Type pulls from the sun or a volcano, but since you're a Moon Fire user you pull from the moon."
“Huh...interesting.” I said with some thought. “So now...I have to feel the Moon and its strength…”
"And leech from it like a parasite to fuel your magic and move types. And yeah, it sounds worse than it actually is."
“Huh…” I started. “Well...alrighty then.”
"Now get to it. Feel the heartbeat of the moon, feel your own synchronize with it, and then try and pull off a fire type move."
“Alright...should be simple enough.” I said as I took a deep breath again and tried to feel the Moon’s heartbeat again.
I let the silence guide me to the moon's heartbeat, soon hearing it and listened as I took a deep breath, and exhaled. I opened my eyes just as I did, seeing Blue Fire blast from my beak. I used Flamethrower!
Nyx clapped sarcastically. "Bravo. You're officially banned by the Geneva Convention."
“Fantastic.” I chuckled. “Well...hooray I can use Flamethrower!”
"And your other moves, dummy…"
I frowned at her, but quickly tested that. Hmm…
I began trying them. Fire Spin. Fire Punch. Flame Kick. Ember. Even Will-O-Wisp. They were all working, and so easily!
“How is all this working so easily?” I asked in confusion. “I expected this to be...at least somewhat difficult...or maybe I’m just thinking of the anime…”
"It helps you stand on the source of your magic. The distance between Equis and the moon will make it a bit harder when you get back but once you learn to do it, it will be second nature."
“Cool.” I nodded. “This’ll at least be a jump for my training...but...one kind of major problem…” I said nervously. “And that’s what Celestia told me about my fire…”
"Why is that a problem?"
“Well, Celestia said that my fire can...burn away a person’s soul if I’m not careful.” I said nervously.
"Right. Well why not avoid that by using a Soul Collector? The second the physical body dies it will absorb the soul until you release it later."
“I didn’t know that existed.” I told her. “And nobody else told me that...they just told me ‘be careful with your emotions cause Fire can be a very terrible thing if you're not careful’.”
"As true as that is, they clearly either dislike Soul Collectors or don't know how to make them. Also from now on, if you can think of it, it exists. Don't question it, you'll die before getting the answers as to why, how, and why again."
“Well...better not to question I suppose.”
"And he can learn, it's a miracle." She said, snapping her fingers as another portal opened up. "Come on now, back to Equis before you do something stupid."
“That’s...probably for the best.” I nodded. “Also...why so much sass towards me?”
"You ever realize that the job you wanted for years now, only to realize that the people you're tasked with looking over are all complete idiots who know nothing? Yeah, that's my life right now because all you people ever do is overthink everything and always end up in the wrong conclusions. Honestly, so rarely do any of you people accept what's being told to you without needing a million questions answered."
“Cause why wouldn’t someone thrust into a world of infiniteinfinite possibilities not question everything because their whole world view is shattered and the only thing keeping them from having a mental breakdown at the massive scope of it is to try and find some modicum of an answer to something?” I asked. “Overthinking? I’m about to become a father, and have to save the world...so I have a lot there as is…”
"Yes and I have to deal with that as well because of your inability to accept and learn about the actual scope of your reality, which still isn't even everything… the Fuck is she doing here?"
I frowned, looking over to where she was looking. I spotted a woman that looked almost right out of The Grudge. She had long, oily wet hair with pale, sickly skin with milky fogged over dead eyes in a black too and shorts.
“So...about me doing something stupid.” I started, feeling fire flow through me as I felt both the sudden urge to run and fight at the same time...but the fire burning in me wanted to fight. “Who is that person, and should I fight them?” I asked, ready to see if I can use the strongest Fire Move a starter can learn.
"That's Pain, and only if you want to die." Nyx said as she walked over to the woman. I very, very, VERY cautiously followed. "Pain, the Fuck are you doing here?"
"Smoke break." She said, suddenly pulling a pack from her hair and pulling a cigarette out. "Mind giving me a light Fire Chicken?"
“She asked for it.” I said as I raised my leg up. “Blast Burn!” I shouted as I slammed my leg into the ground, as suddenly a massive pillar of fire engulfed Pain in her entirety, even in the soundless vacuum of space the flame roared with power as the strongest attack a Starter could learn hit cleanly.
When it all died down, she sat there unaffected, the scorched and red hot moon rocks around her were all super heated, but she was completely unaffected. Her cigarette was lit though… "Thanks, though if you were trying to impress me, stop trying." She said, taking a puff.
I took a step back at that. “Uh…” I gulped, the sudden scope of how she was completely untouched from the strongest move I could use, on the surface of a place practically increasing my strength to no end...was completely unharmed and said ‘stop trying to impress me’.
"Ignore him, he's a dumb ass." Nyx said.
"I noticed." She said, taking another puff of the cigarette. "So, the job all you dreamed it would be?" Pain asked with a grin.
"Oh shut up auntie…" Nyx growled.
Auntie?!?!
"Excuse me what!?" I asked in surprise. "Also the fuck, why are people picking on me all of a sudden?"
"Cause you're an idiot?" Pain offered. "Anyway, yes, I'm actually her aunt. I'm married to her father's brother."
"How is uncle anyway?" Nyx asked.
"He's considering joining my team. I hope he does, for one, would make what I do even more fun, and I get my husband with me so there's the obvious bonuses there."
"Goodie…" I muttered. "Can't wait to figure that out…"
"Yeah… you ain't my project pal." Pain stated as she brought out another cigarette, using the already almost gone one to light the other before finishing one and moving to the other. "As much as I imagine making you piss yourself in fear would be fun, you ain't one of my fuckheads to mess with so I'm not. Not unless I get word from the boss guy."
“Oh...well there's at least that." I sighed out. “So...unless either of you have something constructive to tell me or any bit of advice, I’m going to be leaving now.”
"If you wanna kill a monster, you have to be a stronger, better monster." Pain stated. "It's not something to undergo easily either."
I sighed out. “Not something I’d want to be known for when I’m about to have kids…” I said. “But if I have to protect them then so be it.”
"Typical hero mentality." Nyx sighed.
"They usually all do." Pain chuckled. She finished her second cigarette and tossed the bud aside. "Well, guess it's back to it. Let's see…" She mummed while taking out a Notebook from her hair as well. "Hmm. Drop off feral vampires in London on D.N.S world. Lead those Blood Hunters to that one electric wolf guy. Set fire to that one card nerd's highschool. And lastly throw a lot of random monsters at that one undead guy." She read off.
“Wait, hold up...there’s others in my situation as well?” I asked. “How and why?”
"My work and not at disclosure to tell you. Besides, unlike you they gotta deal with me, and trust me you don't want that." Pain said, laughing towards the end.
“Right…” I started carefully.
"Alright, see ya later little niece." Pain waved to Nyx before a portal of pure darkness and unholy screaming opened under her as she dropped in. When it closed the floor it opened on looked dead… and there was no life on the moon anyway…
“Why…?” I asked carefully.
"It's her thing." Nyx shrugged.
“So...yeah that was a thing.” I nodded carefully.
"Eh. So, like I was saying, back to Equestria Bird Boy." Nyx said as she started pushing me to her still open portal.
I spent the next day and a half contemplating and processing everything. Once I felt stable enough I began practicing my Moon Fire and move types. It was rather difficult and there was a lot less potency behind the attacks, but I was able to do them. I even managed to make a few new ones with my epic new sword.
“Now this is fun.” I said warmly.
"Glad to see you're having fun." I looked to see Roxy and Gilda walk into the room.
"Yeah. Looks like we might actually start to have a chance in this war." Gilda said.
“Those bastards won’t know what hit them.” I said warmly, trying to at least have some headway instead of focusing on how someone’s bitching about their job to an eighteen year old struggling with being a hero, a god damn god possibly, and being a father all at the same time.
"So, which will you tackle first? Trials to become a god or handling the Griffon Primary?"
“Can’t I do both?” I inquired. “Take on the Griffon Primary as a Trial?”
"I dunno." Gilda shrugged. "You'd have to ask Celestia or Luna."
“True…” I nodded. “So...I learned a work around on my fear of burning souls to ash.” I said honestly.
"Cool, what is it?" Roxy asked.
“It’s something called a Soul Collector...so I might need to find some rare materials and have Danny make some for me just in case.” I explained,
"Well, guess that is good. I wonder if this will alter what kind of of gods we'll be…"
We headed to the throne room and spoke with Luna and Celestia about it.
"Yes it most definitely will." Celestia stated.
"While you both will still be Elder Gods, the gods of Humanity, but your choices in trials will determine what you have dominion over and what cosmic and earthly forces you draw power from." Luna added.
“Oh...so it’s really hyper specific…” I started carefully. “So...gonna have to think that through a lot more…”
"True. If you were to take on the war against the Griffon Primary as a trial, it would earn you the title as a God of War." Celestia stated.
“And that would...help us against the Parasprite Queen overall right?” I asked. “It won’t cause...other problems to happen right?”
"Well, it would be useful having a god of war on our side… though it might alter you becoming an elder God." Luna said. "Granted there are good Eldritch gods, the evil they do in the end for them is just a job."
“Yeah I’m fine with not becoming a bad guy cause it’s my job.” I said carefully. “Even if I have to make some...tough decisions…”
"Hm. Well, in the end it might end up better evening the battle ground. Roxy becoming an Elder goddess and Wolf becoming an Eldritch gods… it would also better balance out their home dimension too…" Celestia thought aloud.
I sighed out. “Well...what do you think Roxy? Gilda?” I asked, wanting to at least have their input on this as well.
"Well… I am a bit concerned. I won't lie… I trust you to stay you, but I also know you and I'm worried you might go too far." Roxy stated.
"This is all well over my head so, I'll leave it up to you." Gilda said with a shrug.
“Well…” I sighed out. “Might as well start off going to war.” I shook my head. “So, where should we go first on this sudden pain train I’m going to be putting on these assholes?”
"Well, first we will have to bring you to the Temple of Divine Birth. It's where all Mortals who wish to become gods must venture first."
"Cool." I nodded. "Now where would that place be?" I inquired. "Cause I have only been here and one Griffon town so far."
"It is not in this dimension. Technically, it is it's own. Thankfully we can bring you there." Luna said. "Will Roxy be following as well?"
"I'll tag along. Maybe I can get an easy Godhood?" Roxy shrugged.
"What of you Gilda?"
"No thanks, I'm good." Gilda replied.
"Very well then. Wolf, Roxy, let us be off." Luna said with a nod. Her horn lit up and in a flash we were elsewhere.
We were all now standing in a room with no windows, no doors and lit by glowing crystals carved into the shapes of candles or Light Bulbs. The stone was slightly charged and smooth. The floor was covered in a fluffy fine carpet leading down a hallway and elsewhere. "Huh. Not entirely what I was expecting, but neat." Roxy said.
"This is pretty neat." I nodded in agreement.
We followed Luna down the hallway into a massive Church like area. Long wood benches rested with the silhouette of various people and seated in prayer. Walking through the middle Isle we arrived at the front and Luna pulled me up to the stand, where resting on a massive stone table sat an equally massive closed book. The book was pure white with pitch black pages. She opened the book to the first page. "Wolf, Roxy, this book here is The God Maker. What it is we do not know, all we do know is that it is alive, and only it can rebirth you both into full fledged gods, and from there gain Titles to empower your godhood." Luna explained.
“Well then.” I started. “Do you want to go first Roxy or should I?”
"Well, not sure how this works when pregnant so, you go first…" Roxy stated.
“Okay yeah we...really should have thought of that first…” I said worriedly as I walked up to the book. “Alright...please help me here…” I said as I put a hand on the book carefully.
As I did, Text appeared on the page in golden colored ink that glowed and was easily seen against the pitch black paper.
Greetings, Wolf Miller.
The text in the book read.
“Uh...hi there.” I said carefully. “Are you an ancient artifact or...are you a person in a book? Cause Nyx said ‘expect everything’...”
I am many things. I was everything and nothing once. I had every name and no names. The title given to me is Truth, and while I am sapient, I am not a person.
“”I mean...I didn’t expect God from FullMetal Alchemist to be here.” I said honestly, surprised that the being that
Don't call me that. Now then, you are here for a trial to godhood, for ascension to a God of War and walk the path to an Eldritch God.
"Uh...how did you know that?" I asked. "I thought I obtained Godhood then...did stuff to obtain those titles or Portfolios…" I started carefully.
Truth, is more than just my title. To ascend to a God you must obtain a Godly title. From there, a set road must be walked to evolve into the Eldritch God you must become to slay the Eldritch Goddess of Gluttony. Other trials will be required before your final ascension to and Eldritch God, and more still before you can face the Parasprite Queen.
"Uh...huh…" I started. "So...before I start...will this hurt Roxy and our...kid if this happens with her?" I asked worriedly. "And...will I being an Eldritch God cause problems between us?"
If she walks the path to an Elder Goddess, and takes the titles to become like your old realms God of Life, her and your spawn will remain safe, and may even grow immune to the Gluttony Goddesses power.
"Oh thank lord." I sighed out thankfully. "Alright cool, let's start this then."
The book's text faded away for a moment before returning, listing instructions.
To obtain the title of a God of War, and ascend into a God proper, you must complete the tasks below, only then will your Divine Powers awaken and manifest.
- Every Move Type that deals harm to another must be used to kill an opponent on the battle ground.
- You must successfully lead an army of no less than fifty soldiers into victory against your enemies.
- You must slay all of your enemies. Leave not a single survivor.
- When you slay the leader of your enemies, burn their souls away so not even an afterlife can judge them or punish them. You are to slay them and keep them dead. Permanently.
“No...survivors?” I asked worriedly. “Not...not even if they surrender? War might suck balls but it’s not a slaughter…”
The words vanished, but what appeared left a Pitt in my stomach.
To become a true God of War, you must embody all sides of it. The horrors must be second nature, and the fear of your presence must fill the hearts of your enemies. No Survivors. No Prisoners. No Mercy. Embody the darkest aspects to ascend and fight the future battles with the experience of a monster, trying to be a man.
I took a shuddering breath, not believing I’m going to have to slaughter so many people. “It’s...only combatants right? I don’t...need to kill noncombatants right?” I asked, hoping at least that part will be true.
The words faded away. The pages were blank for a long time.
To spare lives, you must erase their lives. Enslavement as an object, to end their life as free beings, to be rebirthed as your possessions.
I honestly...started to shake at what I was being told. “I...enslavement? But…” I took a shaky breath, not prepared for...honestly anything I’m being told right now, from having to slaughter thousands without mercy or remorse, to enslaving people in any capacity…”There’s...no choice I have in this do I?”
To kill a monster, you must become a monster.
The same thing Nyx and Pain told me…”Fine...I’ll do it…” I sighed out.
I yelped as suddenly I pulled my hand off the paper. A cut along my palm bled onto the page, blending in with the black paper as the words changed to a final message.
With this blood your trial is set. Now go forth and commit sins and tyranny; less the future you desire never come to pass.
“Fine…” I muttered bitterly, walking away from the book as I held my bleeding palm. “I’m not gonna like this…”
Roxy gave me a hug. I returned it, feeling… terrified...
To be continued...