//------------------------------// // The Purpose of The Realm that Lies Beyond // Story: The Dazzlings Are Among The Heavens // by PsychoTurtle //------------------------------// As Tor sliced open the white veil with his blade, the enchanted paradise unfolded before them. "Welcome to the inner sanctuary. This is where most of our people dwell. Please, come in come in..." he said motioning his hands to them. The three walked in, still awestruck, Tor held an open palm out to three other strange people. "This is Klik'ssi, due to his grief of the wars constantly surrounding him near his home, he departed from his planet. On a search for peace, someone else found him on a neutral planet, that swore they wouldn't partake in any wars of any kind, but instead warred politically, everywhere the poor kid went, someone was bargaining, no one was ever satisfied, there was no such thing as a good deal on that planet." The strange creature held out a crab claw like hand to the three, Sonata happily shook its hand, not wanting to be rude. "It is a pleasure to meet you." a baritone voice rumbled out. "This is Hephaestus. He forged our defenses and assisted in creating this realm." he said pointing out a red skinned man covered in metallic plating, "I assisted the best I could, but it was Hephaestus who pulled the whole operation together. You remember those Gargoyles out there correct?" Tor asked. Sonata giggled, "I've never seen Aria more scared!" she teased. "S-shut up! You were scared too!" Aria barked. Tor chuckled, "Those were Hephaestus' work. He forged those and infused them with the nightmares and horrors of humanity. However, immortals share a special immunity to it." "And finally, this is Valus." he motioned to a large hulking alien, with dull grey flesh and rippling muscles, strange tattoos and letters covered his arms, a dark scowl on his face, and his six eyes blinking in an unearthly sequence. "He's rescued those who've been injured, mentally, physically, and spiritually. He's helped rehabilitate them and always returns them better than when they arrived." "Greetings." the giant said simply. "Hiya!" Sonata said cheerfully as she waved to him. Tor cleared his throat, "Now, girls, I've examined your hearts. And i've found you worthy of certain artifacts, and weapons." Aria's posture showed she was eager for this part, as her eyes widened and her patience returned to her. "Now, Hephaestus, please hand them their Spatial Blades, and their Keys to the Land Beyond." Hephaestus pulled three keys, and three long knives out of a pouch behind him. "These are no mere blades, if you watched how Tor used them. You should know partially how to use them." "Partially?" Adagio questioned. "These Blades are forged with a wormhole. Now, you need to be careful with these. If you lose them, you may never be able to return here." He cleared his throat, "Now, for the rest of the demonstration, you simply concentrate on where you wish to arrive. Here, i'll show you." he said, he stopped for a moment, and sliced open a portal, through it long streets with cobblestone pavement and cafes dotting the streets, a large tower could be seen off in the distance. "Paris?" Adagio said with her eyebrow raised out of curiosity. "Indeed!" Hephaestus chuckled. "Now, never, ever make two portals with the same knife. Otherwise the portals will destabilize and warp the surroundings until they've merged. We let someone in who didn't listen, combined one world, a shopping district, and the slums of a backwater planet." he sighed, letting out a groan, "That planet experienced horrifying mutations and fusions, not to mention the atmosphere's combined, making a gas that was lethal to 37% of the population." The three sisters eyes widened, "Wow... That-- that sounds horrible." Sonata said. "This is relatively hard to do, as it requires an immense concentration. Anyways," he broke off, "these are your responsibility. If you do anything illegal with them, trust me, I know plenty of people who've regretted it. Now! Onto your necklaces..." he spoke. "Yes, they were shattered, by the power of Friendship apparently..." Adagio groaned. The three snickered, "You guys got beat by a bunch of kids who's secret weapon was friendship?" Valus stifled a laugh. Klik'ssi couldn't help but crack a grin and laugh along with them. Tor spoke out, "Now now, remember, we must not look down on others. We've all be in the same situation they've been at least once, albeit different circumstances, but still, we've been defeated some point in our lives." Hephaestus calmed himself down, "Ahem, yes, sorry. I lost myself there. My apologies. Please, hand me what's left." Adagio pulled the few shards she could gather before they ran from her pocket, and handed them to Hephaestus, "Alrighty... It'll probably take me a little while, I'll have to identify them first, then I'll be able to create more and reforge them into pendants for you. Until then, you're mortal." Adagio sighed, "Alright, but where will we sleep?" "OH!" Tor said in remembrance, "I'm sorry, I forgot to show you to your accommodations." Tor flew through the air, grabbing the girls again in a harnessing fashion, and bringing them up to a large multi-leveled plateau. "You can make your own home here if you'd like, it can be as extravagant as you can imagine." Tor said cheerfully. "Hmm..." Adagio said stroking her chin, she thought for a few moments. Soon the building was being formed, stone, glass, wood, and mortar was appearing out of the ether, a large castle was being built out of nowhere. "There you go!" Tor said cheerfully. "It seems you've got the hang of it, if you have any troubles, just yell for someone." "Thank you!" Sonata replied. Aria looked with curiosity. "Hmm..." she said with a mischievous grin, she began to build a bathhouse on the second level of the plateau. Sonata built the insides of the castle, decorating the halls with paintings, windows, chairs, tables, chandeliers, beds, nightstands, lamps, candles, and bathroom furnishings. Adagio willed the doors open, and before her laid an extravagant hall, decorated with golden picture frames of past memories. Silverware and dishes laid out on a lengthy table, lying overhead were two chandeliers lighting the room with candles, and the light from the windows. Adagio was satisfied with the construction, "Girls, we've found our home." she said finally at peace. Hours seemingly passed, without effort, they flew by and the Dazzlings could rest, they had bathed and cleaned themselves from that same chase, the waters healed Aria's cuts and bruises. It was almost as if the waters themselves were correcting what was wrong and healing the injured. Adagio lied down in her extravagant bed, her room was just the right size for one person, her bed had a canopy over her head, with simple covers draping over her body to keep her warm. Soon, Sonata walked in, "Adagio?" Adagio rubbed her eyes, her bed hair looking almost no different from her normal hair, "Sonata? Is something wrong?" "I-- I just think the castle is a bit too big, it's almost creepy how little of it we're actually using..." Sonata said rocking on her heels. "Creepy?" Adagio raised an eyebrow. "Well, if you think about it, how much of this castle will we actually need?" she said in a slightly disheartened tone, "I mean, this is the kind of place where at least 20 or 30 people would live at the same time, much less only three people..." she spoke earnestly. Adagio had an understanding look in her eyes, "Alright, tomorrow we'll work on it, once we've rested we can crack down on it." she said rolling back over to go back to sleep. Sonata added, "Um, Adagio?" "Yes?" she said turning her body back towards her. "Is it alright if I sleep by you tonight?" she said in an embarrassed tone. "Sure, c'mon." she moved her body to one side of the bed and let Sonata slip under the covers. Adagio blew out the only candle illuminating the room. "G'night Adagio." Sonata chirped. "Good night..." Adagio said sleepily.