Ah My Goddess Fan Fiction ❯ Valkyrie's Mirror ❯ Special II ( Chapter 3 )

Oh My Goddess! - Valkyrie's Knight

 

Volume II

 

Special II

 

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The Queen of Halloween

 

Waiting

So alluring

So tempting

In my dark lair of desire

To you my prince

Tonight I offer

A crazy little thing called love

Straight from my dark heart to yours

Tonight and for all eternity my darling I shall be yours

Ramona

The Queen of Halloween

 

No resisting me

So my love

My blackened dove

Do not try to fly away from me

Instead share with me

One vision

One truth and one heart

Spellbound

Bothered, bewitched and bewildered

Ramona, the other half of your restless soul

The Queen of Halloween

 

Here I am my beloved

Going ever so sightly mad

Reaching out to you

For you

Longing

Aching and screaming

For you to hold me

6 feet under

In your coffin of lust

Adore me as you never have before and for always

I shall be a part of you

As your wicked sexy slave

Ramona, The Queen of Halloween

 

I would gladly die for you

So tell me lover

Lurking and following me

Like a lovesick zombie in heat

Would you live again for me?

Never ever to part from my side

Sharing with me the secret of your eternal life

Mixing and mingling

Dancing with our blood as one

Together forever

The king and I

 

Ramona, The Queen of Halloween

 

© 2006 RAMONA THOMPSON

 

--------------------

“Have you seen Belldandy today?”

 

Imladris blinked down from hanging small ghost decorations of tissue and plastic balls. “Nay, I fear not.”

 

Keiichi just blinked, just shrugging, and then looking around the Temple. Imladris, who had been busy doing most of the decorations around the residence, looked around in realization as well. “Eh? They didn't even leave a note or anything?”

 

Keiichi just replied without looking. “Got me why.”

 

“Hey guys.” ..this they both looks over as Sentaro arrives. Keiichi and Imlade reply to the same, before Sentaro looks at the rather abrupt changes to the house. “Wow.. uh.. guess we know what holiday you like.”

 

Imladris blinks and looks at his overlavish handiwork. “Heh..” ..he holds his own head. The residence was everything that was needed for a sight fit for a witching evening to come. “..everyone here said it was okay.”

 

Keiichi just smirked. “Skuld all but bolted the first time she saw your ideas today.” ..this Imlade gulps, and Sentaro levels and eye. “Hey.”

 

“Argh!” ..all three suddenly hear, as Sentaro of note. “Oh, Skuld-chan?”

 

And Urd as well in fact, as both, laden with respective products of fetish, both looks a bit off kilter eyed at the decorations. Urd just notes.. “Are you sure your demon code is inert Cousin?”

 

Imlade just throws a fit. “Aw get with the theme already! It'll look better tonight, I promise.”

 

Skuld, actually a bit uneasy, just pokes her head out from behind Urd's back. “That's what I'm afraid of.”

 

Keiichi just ignores Imlade's stuttering, and walks over to Urd. “Hey, did Belldandy go with either of you today?”

 

Urd blinks in confusion. “Belldandy isn't here?” ..this Skuld immediately jumps out at Keiichi. “What'd you do the Big Sis `this' time!?”

 

It's Keiichi's turn to stutter as Sentaro whispers to Imlade. “Skuld still is protective of your Cousin.”

 

“I heard that.” ..this Imlade wisely returns to fiddling with some fake webbing, about those same `ghosts'. Sentaro just looks meek. Urd just then huffs all this off. “Oh, I imagine Bell is probably messing around with Mother again. Probably wise, coming from me, to not go looking for trouble.”

 

Urd said this, and then stopped, as she saw everyone all but gawking at her.

 

Keiichi just waves a hand across Urd's eyes. “Where's the real Urd?” ..this Urd spats back! “Hello! Frigurina is worse than I am!!”

 

Imlade however blinks. “Actually, I haven't seen Lady Frigurina either today, ever since I got the go ahead for all this at breakfast.”

 

Urd chuckles as she walks past, stepping over a pumpkin or six, while Skuld complains at the decorations again. “I think all this made me `lose' breakfast.”

 

As Skuld and Imlade jaw away like rabid squirrels, Keiichi just pats Sentaro's shoulders. “Have fun with Skuld.” ...this said boyo looks over at the pair of jaw traps snapping at each other, as Keiichi turns and heads to his Beemer.

 

Sentaro just sighs. “Wonder if there's an after school program.”

 

--------------------

 

Urd just hums happily, as she heads to her `castle'.. “Time to give these ingredients a good home!” ..and slides open her door. He blinks a split moment later.. “Eh? What re you two doing in...” ..this just before an invisible force outright nabs her!! “HEY!! What the hell are... YEEK!!” ..and yanked inside! The last sound Urd makes is.. “That better be sterilized!!”

 

..and then a body thump...

 

--------------------

 

Keiichi looked up as Imlade staked some fake R.I.P. signs with cobwebs around them, this while the schnook was humming the monster mash song a bit too loudly. Keiichi quickly looked back down to his spark plugs and quipped.. “He just ain't normal man.”

 

Further away under a tree, Sentaro at first displayed his latest A+ in Math III, Skuld congratulated with an ice cream treat for them both, before Imlade's frivolity with some fake ravens and a ghostly scarecrow made Skuld go queasy again. Sentaro just meekly smiled as Skuld openly lambasted.. “Oh goddess why did Keiichi bring up this stupid holiday!” ..she just then sighs and spikes..

 

“Why oh why isn't it just Christmas again already! All these years and Volumes, and we never had to worry about some holiday where people dress up as if they're even drunker than Urd, and then go around to either get over-sugared food that gives them cavities and diabetes, and / or, throw various toiletries onto other people's property, and hope they don't get mowed down in the act!

 

And don't get me started on those movies with no plot!” ..this Sentaro blinks confused at... “”You mean horror movies? Some of them are cool.”

 

“I don't know you.”

 

Sentaro just sweats at this, before Skuld `feels', before then seeing one of those fake ghosts wrapped around a plastic ball. Skuld... well... “EEEKK!!”

 

Sentaro pips his eyes, as Imlade, the holder of the said trinket. “Wow. Urd `was' right about your phobia.”

 

He ends up on the wrong end of a fire hydrant effect water spell, as a huffy as heaven Skuld just nabs Sentaro to follow her. “Come on, let's find my Sisters. Even Urd for once!” ..this as said lad is goddess-handled into the residence, Keiichi looks dryly over at the large `imprint', of a knightly body, gouged face first, into the Temple wall near K1. “You had to push it.”

 

“-muffled- Ow.”

 

Skuld just was huffing when she dragged Sentaro in with her. For some reason she dumped her boyfriend in the Tea Room, went into the kitchen, and came back out with two tubs of chocolate and vanilla ice cream, and a spoon for each. She shoved the latter at Sentaro, and started gobbling. Sentaro blinked at all this and quipped.. “I thought we were looking for your Sisters.”

 

“Shush, I`m comfort eating.”

 

Sentaro just ended up picking up the free spoon, and after opening the lid and taking a bit, realized with a chilled quip.. “Oops, we need napkins.” ..this Skuld mocks back.. “Hey, you can be messy too.”

 

Sentaro snickers.. “Sorry, still a mommy's boy, since I can't get away with a bike ride without being thrown in the tub after. I'll get some.”

 

Skuld twirls her hand to `grant' him permission in an annoyed fashion. Sentaro heads out of sight, a moment before Skuld plops another headache sized bite in her mouth, this before she then hears a `weird' sound suddenly. She just yells.. “Dang it Cousin, I said quit it!!” ..and is standing by the time she realizes Imlade isn't anywhere in the residence. Skuld blinks as Sentaro calls back. “Is he here?” ...Skuld nervously calling back to the kitchen area. “Aw.. no, I must be jumpy.”

 

And then a repeat of that strange sound. Skuld gets all tomato huffy again and stomps to the hallway. “The idiot must have left a speaker on in here. I swear that...” ..and reaches the hallway in time, before she sees back where the hallway `should' be! “EH!?” ..she only has time before, before the ink blot darkness that `is' there, suddenly shoots right at her, as if alive!! “CRIPES!!” ..before she is `swallowed' by a large clump of shadow, and dragged away screaming!!

 

Sentaro hears this and jumps out, dropping a bunch of napkins! “Skuld!?!?” ..and rushes to the hallway. “Skuld!?!?” ..and sees only a normal hallway when he gets there!

 

“What happened!!” Keiichi shouts, as he and a nose `resetting' Imlade appear at the slide door! Sentaro... “I.. I don't know! I heard Skuld scream!”

 

Sentaro was about to explain further, but just as K1 and goldenrod enter past the slide door, it suddenly slams shut behind them! “What the!?” Keiichi yells and reaches to try to open a door that should be this hard! “I.. I can't open it! Gold dude!” ..he calls, as Imladris quickly complies, but after even a few tries of his impressive strength. “Holy. This thing acts like a battleship blast door!”

 

Sentaro keeps blinking. “What? You can't open it?” ..this Imlade thumbs at the thing. “You wana try?”

 

As Sentaro tries anyway for heck of it, Keiichi just gulps.. “Okay, this is weird.” ..just before the shiny light in the residence, suddenly is defused greatly, as if a solar eclipse just smacked the area! The hallway and nearby tea room are as dusk as a stormy evening! Keiichi just gulps.. “Okay dude, I think your tricks today are overboard.”

 

“Uh... as much as I'd `like' to claim credit.”

 

`Now' they have reason to be creeped out, as the first of strange groaning sounds come from down the same hallway. The three trapped souls stop to listen...

 

...before a second groan echoes...

 

...and then a third...

 

...a fourth...

 

“Okay, all on three!” ..Imlade yelps as all `three' of them try to yank the door open at once! They however stop after a bit of this, when Sentaro notes.. “Uh...” ..the three looking as some strange dark `wisps' come from.. “That's Urd's room.” Imlade needlessly quips. Keiichi just moans. “Great, she messed up a potion again.”

 

The assessment however turns to manic fear, as the wisps quickly turn the hallway pitch dark, as if looking into empty void! Imladris sees it starting towards them.. “Aw crud!” ..and shoves his hands at it! “Incarnum Pulse!!” ..and blasts a mixed ball of Holy and Incarnum magicks, that smack into the fast approaching darkness, shoving it back some!! Keiichi and Sentaro gape in split moment awe, before Imlade turns at the tightly shut door! “Sorry about this!” ..and shoots a second ball of power at it! Keiichi and Sentaro however, at both sides of the adjacent walls now, note the ball only ends up reflecting `off' the slide door somehow, and right back into Imlade's head!

 

“Ow..... that hurt.” ..ala back un to floor.

 

K1/Sent: “I bet.”

 

Keiichi looks up again, as the pitch void swirls a bit, before he suddenly sees.. “Eh? Bell!?!!?” ..the other two see the barest receding image of the said face. Keiichi rushes forward, but Imlade manages to grab his leg. “Wait Keiichi my Lord!” ..this said `titled' looks down.. “Let go! Bell's in there!”

 

“Something tain't right bud!” ..Imlade quickly retorts, before Keiichi looks back and gasps at a set of `jaws', made of the same darkness, that had just snapped shut, where he `would' have been if not restrained! “JEEZE!”

 

Sentaro jitters at the still shut door! “W.. wh... what... what's going on here!”

 

Imladris stands up, and guesstimates.. “I don't know. But something is way off here. I sense goddess magicks in there.”

 

Keiichi comments over nervously.. “Is it that Entropia goddess again?”

 

“Don't know..” ..he only shrugs.. “..but it's goddess `somehow' in origin. It's just... I...”

 

The three stand there for a moment, as does the darkness, apparently unmoving. And they wait, and wait..

 

..and so on..

 

“This plot ain't moving any.” Sentaro blanches lightly. Keiichi whispers over, as if afraid the shadows can hear him. “Hey gold dude, if Belldandy is in there..”

 

“..and we can't get out anyway. So..” ..Imlade starts with chanting a spell.. “Break the tide of a sodden sight, dark as waters in a storm. Tear apart as if born alight!” ..as suddenly, a revised version of his earlier spell, this time shoots a vertical blade of the same magicks, from floor to ceiling, and splitting the darkness, evaporating it the same, right up to the seeable `castle' door!

 

“Alright!” Keiichi says, heading right for the offending door. Imlade and Sentaro follow in close, Keiichi not waiting and flat out shoves over the door hard. As soon as he does.. “What the....!?!?”

 

Imlade and Sentaro look as well... “Eh? .....it.... it's... all..”

 

“Black.” ..Sentaro completes, just as confused. Keiichi looks, not sure what he is seeing. What should be Urd's potion disaster filled room, is instead in all apparent directions, all manifestation of Void. Keiichi just gulps.. “Is all this going to attack us? Can we even...” ..this before he sees and GACKS at the sight of Imladris sticking his arm into it. “Dude!”

 

...and sees nothing chomp down on it. “Eh?”

 

“It's not purely manifested.”

 

They all have about a second to register this, before they `feel'.. “Huh?!” ...as some kind of invisible hands grab them each, and yank them all inside the darkness!! “AHH!! This ride sucks!” Sentaro yelps, before the door slams shut, and all it darkness to them!

 

--------------------

 

The mind started to awaken without any apparent prod, as little more than a `want' to. This as Keiichi awakens first, and raises his head. “Eh...? Is it still night?” ..before his head catches up with his eyes. As soon as it does.. “Eh?! ACK! Sentaro! Metal dude!!”

 

“I have a name you... know?” ..said `dude' realizes just as much as Keiichi and Sentaro do. This as they are `in' the void now! Keiichi shoots up.. “ACK!! Me need light! Lottsa light!!” ..this before he hears some kind of thumping sound. Keiichi looks over as Imlade stomps with his foot.. “There `seems' to be a floor here.

 

All there seems to be.”

 

Sentaro just looks around.. “I'm surprised I can still see you guys.” ..this Imladris blinks. “Well it's not my doing.” ..this even Keiichi is surprised at this. “Weird.”

 

This however dies a swift death, and on sight of note, their own hearts about go the same path, when Keiichi notes a `really' odd light off his rear, and turns to see.. “Wh.. wh.. wh.. wh.. wh.. wh.. wh..”

 

The other two look and blink at the last thing they expected. A moment into this, Imlade just snaps.. “Aw come ON! This is w-a-a-y out of friggen character here!!”

 

The sight same just makes Sentaro hold his nose. This as the three mortal/quasi-mortal males, see a gaggle of goddess quasi-depravity, this as the goddesses they know and love (for various reasons, some more willing than others,) are lain across some kind of large multi-tiered couch, or something awkwardly recliner-bed like, with red satin all over it, and atop it, the same goddesses all dressed up like a cross of gothic maids and nuns from Chrono Cross. (And it wasn't kosher looking on the latter half of this either.)

 

Keiichi just stutters, being looked at like.. oops, that rating thing. “Urd!? S.. Skuld?! Wha.. P.. Peorth too?!”

 

Imlade even gawks.. “L.. Lind? I wondered where you get too?” ..this Keiichi shouts back. “Do you mind Cowpoke!”

 

Sentaro just can't look right at Skuld dressed like that! “Put some clothes on! I can see your garters!”

 

Keiichi blinked at Sentaro. “Where'd you learn that?”

 

“Urd showed me a book I wish she didn't.”

 

“Hear that.”

 

“Hello dear mortals.” ..the three hear, as Urd welcomes them in a voice that was as seductive, as it was chilling. Keiichi just gaffs back. “What the heck happened to you all? Where's Belldandy anyway?”

 

Peorth at this just comes up. “Pauvre de moi, this one still is too shy and attached.” ..this as she comes lethally close to poor ol Kei. “Come, is this not something better to look at?”

 

“If I say yes, will you back off ten feet?” ..this Peorth growls enough to make Keiichi worried with actual fear! It's something else however that Imladris notes, that causes him to suddenly shoot in and push Peorth back! “What's with the forehead mark and weird tattoos!”

 

Sentaro also notes on close detail... “Hey! Aren't those demon marks!!”

 

Keiichi gasps, as the goddesses, apparently look like they had their normal facial markings, replaced with far more sinister, demonic versions! Keiichi at first yelps.. “Did Hild do this! Where's Belldandy at!!” ..before he is suddenly `brushed' back, when Lind suddenly shoots in, grabbing Imlade at the neck in a nasty, bone creaking fashion! Imladris gets as well, a nice and close up amount of cleavage the outfits are allowing. (The outfits, as mentioned, aren't G rated kids.)

 

“You're a rude mortal aren't you?”

 

Imlade just takes a `gander' at all this killing his neck, and gacks out.. “I... think... you.. are... doing too... many... lessons... love.”

 

Keiichi just gulps. “Lind, wait.. don't... before he's spun about like a top, when Skuld suddenly shoots by, and `nabs' Sentaro from behind! “Skuld! Ow!!”

 

“Ah, my love is like this full nelson, nice and `giving'.”

 

Keiichi is beside himself by now.. “What the heck is....!??!”

 

“Poor `dear'.” ..he hears, and suddenly wishes his ears didn't, as Keiichi creaks his freaked out eyes over, and sees...

 

“Eh?” ..now pipped eyed.. “T... th... three?”

 

This as apparently it looks like `three' Belldandys are.. wait..

 

Keiichi blinks at this, then rubs his chin.

 

---

 

Problem: I can see three Belldandys. - Possible Solutions:

 

1. Visual Illusion

2. Parthenogenesis

3. Identical Triplets

4. Urd has her demon side out again messing around again.

5. ??

 

Urd: Sorry, not separated this time.

 

Keiichi: One of the Belldandys is one I know.

 

---

 

Keiichi is half figuring this out, when he then also sees.. “Eh? Mara!? Wait.. you're forehead mark is..”

 

For some reason, Mara looks are more.... well.. demure... in her clothing, and her markings are more goddess like, a simple thin oval loop upon her forehead, and a creepy amount of `cuteness' to her façade, rather than the rough biker look she normally has.

 

Mara just chimes almost chillingly sweet. “Aw come now. We all must do as we're told.”

 

“Told?” Sentaro ekes out from afar, before Imlade notes. “Who's controlling all this!” ..and then is clenched harshly at his neck via warped Valkyrie. “Such a strong voice. I'll have to cut it out later.”

 

Keiichi of note, is the most freaked out, when all of a sudden, one of the Belldandys, noted since all three look the same facially, given they all are hooded ominously, approaches Keiichi. It's done in manner that all but seems to convince Keiichi, of the identity of the said approaching.

 

And the way she put her hand to his cheek. It was the only time he'd remember, that touch being so terrifying.

 

“What a poor fellow we have here.”

 

The eyes said Belldandy, but the `voice' said.. “Who are you!”

 

Imlade and Sentaro blink, as Keiichi snaps.. “What did you do with Belldandy!!”

 

“This one has lungs to, mistress.”

 

The sound of apparently Entropia's voice, under one of the hoods, just shocks the male trio, as the `last' Belldandy imparts.. “A son-in-law this one would need training, yes I think and know.”

 

“Frigurina too?” ...Imlade balks out, before his Adam's apple is squeezed silent again. Sentaro just barks next. “Did we miss something here!?!? When did everyone become like the cast in a horror movie!”

 

“Giving secrets out of our enrapturing, would be so labor some to explain.” ..'Urd' imparts, as she takes up spot near Sentaro.. “I'd rather get to the cutting and maiming instead.”

 

“Aw come on! ACK! Stop it Skuld!!”

 

“Ohh! His face turned purple!”

 

“I'm serious!” Keiichi snapped again, getting fed up enough of this, before `Belldandy' caressed his cheek again, this time scratching it deep enough to make it actually bleed! Keiichi feels this trickle down, barely past his own shivers. “P... pl... please stop.”

 

“All the better to slay you by. Ignorance that is.” ..this the goddess Keiichi thought he knew, then looked at him with eyes that started to glow a deep, menacing red.

 

It was the last thing he saw, before his mind suddenly blanked out.

 

--------------------

 

“....iichi? Keiichi? Keiichi dear?”

 

The sound of such a soothing voice, should have made him wake up more clam, than he reacted, when his brain realize the last thing he remembered. He shoots his eyes open and yelps.. “No! Don't hurt me!”

 

“Keiichi?” ..a surprised, and more nominal sounding Present responded. Keiichi blinked as he saw a face that looked ready to cry. Keiichi however still stuttered.. “A.. are you... y... you?”

 

Bell just blinked. “Me? I'm always me. Should I be someone else? I can be Urd or Skuld if you like.” ..this made Keiichi blinks thrice more. “Uh... n.. no thanks.

 

But what about your glowing red eyes?”

 

Bell, dressed apparently much more normally, and flowery, just reacted by offering. “You like glowing red eyes?” ..as she then points her fingers to both sides of her eye sockets, and then `changes' them to a nice, soft, hardly threatening red color Keiichi keeps blinking like a street light at midnight, as Bell then offers.. “I can also change them back to blue..” ..and so done.. “..and green..” ..again.. “..and even this color.” ..a nice shade of lavender-pink. Keiichi just quips. “Oh you're Belldandy alright. Thanks goddesses.”

 

Belldandy just leans in, feeling his head. “Are you okay? You're acting unusual.” ..this before Keiichi suddenly zips backwards. “Ack! Meesafine, veryfine!” Bell reacts by holding her hands to her chest. “Oh, I'm so glad.”

 

This however confuses Keiichi, as Belldandy gets up. He looks around, and they apparently are in an open green meadow, on a spring day. Keiichi marvels at this, before he realizes. “Hey, how'd we end up here Belldandy?”

 

Bell just ends up reaching for something that isn't really there, or so Kei thinks, before bell looks back, commenting.. “But dear, we never really left.”

 

Keiichi has only a moment to register this, as well as the large knife in her hand. And then that same glowing set of eyes... “ACK!! Noooooooooooooooo!!”

 

--------------------

 

He awoke with a start! He looked around wildly, before then looking down, and realizing he's in his Beemer, except...

 

“Why am I in the side car?” ..this as he then jerks his head, at the sight of Belldandy apparently riding the same bike! Keiichi blinks, and looks realizes. “Why are you dressed like me?” ..and then realizes on glancing at himself fast. “And why am I dressed like YOU!?”

 

Bell just smirks, “Tut tut, fasten your seatbelt....... dear.” ..and flips what looks like his own bike helmet visor down with a snap, before revving the engine `way' too harshly! This alone is enough to freak Keiichi out, on more than one level, before he then realizes to look ahead of him!!

 

“Wha?! Isn't this the top of the NIT campus building or something..? Why...? Wait... why are you... no wait, we'll go over that cliff, no...... no..... Nooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!'

 

--------------------

 

He woke up again.. this time a bit more plainly... “Okay, what is it this time?”

 

?What do you mean Tenchi dear?”

 

He blinked, and gacked! “WHAT THE!? Who am I!? Where am I!? Why are you in that nurses outfit!!?!”

 

A spiky head haired insano-genius just cackles as she fiddles with weird dials and controls, this as.. Tenchi... wait.. Keiichi? ...someone pulls at their restraints! “Come on, let me out!”

 

The red head just croons back... “But I still have given you any mercy yet dear?”

 

As... whoever... struggles severely, a teal pony-tail headed lass pokes her head around a corner. “She's at it again.” ...this before a ditzy blond head does the same above.. “Oh my, Washu is so playful again today! I wonder what this does!”

 

The `nurse' and `trapped' both... “Nooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!”

 

--------------------

 

“Stop it!!”

 

Keiichi suddenly blew his eyes wide open! “Huh!!? Where!?!? Wha!?!?” ....and tried to rise. “What the!??” ..a more familiar knightly voice strikes out, before.. “Quiet you!” ..and grasps at his neck `again'. “W.. -gack-.. will you cut that...”

 

Keiichi then hears.. “Leave my beloved ALONE!!” ..and a telling punch sound that makes Keiichi look around all of a sudden. He does so and BLARES his eyes all bloodshot and so, at the sight of them all.

 

“W... w... w... why... why... why is there....”

 

---

 

Problem: I can see six Belldandys, two Urds, two Skulds, two Peorths, two Linds, and two Maras. . - Possible Solutions:

 

1. Visual Illusion

2. Parthenogenesis

3. Identical Doubltets, Sextuplets, or some combination thereof.

4. One of Urd's potions, or her Demon side have...

 

-BONK-

 

Urd/Skuld: Will you cut that out!!

 

---

 

Keiichi just feels white pain in his noggin. “Which one of you just hit me, I can't tell anymore!”

 

All the strangeness, surrounds quickly, as one set of `Bells', face down another set, ore more aptly, the proper goddess versions even! Keiichi just wonders if he's been drinking all this tome or something, as Frigurina just growls. “Some nerve you have to surprise and copy the likes of `us'!”

 

“You should be flattered.” ..the `demon' copy snarled back. Belldandy, the.. uh.. real one, just pleads back. “Why are you harming our beloveds like this!? What did they ever do to you!?”

 

“Speak for yourself.” ..this `one' of the real Belldandy's, snarl in a barb. Frig erupts back.. “Do you mind picking a side already!!”

 

The `dark' Skuld meanwhile just swirls around her boyish prey. “Oh please, we were having fun here.” ..before Skuld shoots in and just outright copies Lind's earlier action on the dark version's chin! “You knock it off too! My Sentaro is too special for this crud!”

 

“HEY!!!” Keiichi just barks with a super wide mouth!! “Someone please explain something here already!!”

 

Dark Urd just mocks.. “Still too loud.” ..this the regular Urd agrees. “You have no idea.”

 

The regular Lind meanwhile looks ready to actually murder her gothic counterpart, as everything looks tense as all heck. Imlade, Sentaro, and Keiichi, all still bound onto some kind of tables, down at their legs in chains or some kind, before Sentaro asks. “Uh, can someone explain this?”

 

Frig just places a hand on Bell's jittered shoulders, and imparts.. “I believe we are at the whim of only one entity here. Your mind should be calmer to see.”

 

The main `dark' Belldandy suddenly reacts.. “No!! I still have your boy toy here! Watch me coddle him into his worst fears once more!!”

 

Keiichi gulps as the said `dark' version heads right for him. This before the `real' Bell suddenly realizes.. “Keiichi! Don't let her fear rule you!”

 

“Pardon?”

 

The dark Bell just grasps him... “Please. I can feel him shaking like jelly. Now, what shalt I wander your feeble mind into? Ah, how about your `worst' fear!”

 

Keiichi gulps, as...

 

---

 

Keiichi gasped..

 

...there, where he last remembered it cherished, the thing that he worked so hard for, dropped onto the ground. There, he fumbled for it, wishing it was back in his hand, this as he looked up into her eyes, and...

 

---

 

“EH!? Where'd `that' come from!??!”

 

Dark Bell just blinks. “What? All men are afraid of commitment aren't they?”

 

The real Bell blinks blankly, just as `everyone' else gets the picture, as the real Urd pops over on dark Bell's left. “Please girl, you want him afraid of something like that, when he's not even gotten out of elementary school `classes' yet?” ..this as the real Peorth does the same to the fake Bell's right. “Fears are something made from reality, not fantasy.”

 

Keiichi just cries near all three.. “When `am' I going to get that far?”

 

Imlade meanwhile groans at all this, as he quips. “Okay, it's obvious that a... HEY! OWW!! My arms are not ropes!!” ..this as both Linds end up suddenly making a tug-of-war out of Imlade's body! Everyone else just winces. “Wow.” ..the dark Peorth quips.. “Tant de douleur atroce!”

 

As everyone watches this brutal display, (or a normal one to Valkyries,) Frig and Bell, ala real each, give a nodding look, and then whip their arms as one! Without warning.. “Let the veil of this shadow be cast aside, to the truth to rip asunder this evil way!” ..before both then combine to shove a combined spell, that shoots at the dark Bell, who yelps.. “That is plain rude!” ..before she is hit hard by the spell, everyone shielding their eyes before the blast fades.

 

When it does, Keiichi and Sentaro see and gasp, as Imlade quips (even with his arms still held,) “That.... is one powerful Spirit!”

 

Even Frig is taken aback, as in place of the fake Belldandy, now hovers a shadowy, half clocked, half head shadowed over being with glowing orange eyes and a less than appeased façade. It seemed to have a gown made of shadows, though it seemed as much a velvet-silk mesh that had a hauntingly deep blue hue to it, as it flowed with her agitated movements. The long dark in shadowed hair just seemed to round out what was everything, an appropriate Spirit, thus said named by Belldandy. “A Class One Spirit!”

 

“Aye! The Spirit of Halloween I am!”

 

Keiichi just interrupted.. “Wait.. wait wait wait! You mean there's a spirit named after a holiday?” ..this Belldandy nods from afar. “Yes dear. All holidays that have special significance, can have Spirits attributed to them.”

 

“Makes sense.” ..a said Cousin imparts.. “..when enough people believe in something, it can create a life of it's own.”

 

“And yet never truly acknowledged!” ..a shadowy voice snarls back, this added unto.. “Never recognizing bother to see me when this time of year comes!” ..Belldandy blinks.. “Pardon?”

 

“Wait.” Keiichi's voice pipes up just then.. “Wait one minute. So, there are actual spirits for each of the holidays?”

 

“Yes Keiichi dear.” ... “You need a Cliff notes to keep up or something?” ..Bell and Skuld reply back. Keiichi just cocks an eye, before Imlade imparts.. “Wow, so there's a Spirit for Flag day? And Columbus Day too?”

 

Sentaro adds kookily.. “So then, there's a Spirit health nut or something for Health and Sports Day too?” ..which makes the real Skuld laugh. Keiichi just quips dryly.. “The White Day one must go through heck.”

 

“HEY!” ..the Spirit just snaps rudely.. “I'm the Queen of Halloween dammit! Pay me my heed!!”

 

Both Peorth's just wring their ears out.. “Trop bruit assourdissant!”

 

Belldandy tries to offer.. “Dear Spirit, why do you wish for this?” ..before she in turn is barbed.. “Talk me not of this, for one who relishes too much in such glory of fools!”

 

“HEY!” Keiichi and Imlade both snap back, the latter adding.. “Be respectful of my Cousin, Spirit!” ..put just edgy enough to cowl the Spirit a bit. This ends up taking a bit of tension from the air, as Entropia nearby just grumbles to herself, about not getting the same `respectful' backing. Frigurina puts a hand on her slightly jittered daughter's right shoulder, asking just as intently. “Why are you so angry, to lead you to these actions upon us here today?”

 

The Spirit wastes no time.. “All these years, ever since I felt the presence of your goddess souls on this middle terra, you never acknowledged the Spirit that I am, in a holiday that befits my stature amongst one of the greatest holidays of this mortal infused world!

 

What possible reason would there be, for you to not acknowledge the holiday that I represent, for all these years!?!?”

 

Keiichi blinks in his usual fashion. “Say what?”

 

“We ignored her.” Urd offers, not that it helps Keiichi's confusion. Belldandy asks further.. “We don't understand, what do you mean by this exactly?”

 

The Spirit returns it's agitated state, as it explains. “WE Holiday Spirits gain our strength for each passing year, by the celebrations that regale for each of us. By them we survive the remaining year, as forgotten as we are, except in passing stories of memory.

 

But lately, a few of us have grown much more powerful than the rest, and I as one of the major Spirits, have had to search for why. It's bad enough that pompous jelly belly gets so much attention as it is, but worse when I don't get even crumbs to survive by!

 

Why do you fools not acknowledge Halloween ANYWAY!?”

 

Keiichi just quips simply.. “Uh.. Halloween isn't really celebrated in Japan.”

 

Everyone just looked well below the page panel, where the Spirit just flat out face vaulted in response! “Oh you have GOT to be joking!!”

 

Skuld just goes ick. “Just as well. I can't stand this spooky silliness!” ..this Urd just eggs.. (er, the real one,) “Some goddess you are, can't even handle a dumb ghost and all.” Skuld just snaps back.. “Ghosts are the worst of all! I mean all their... their.. not alive thing going, and all that spiritual allergies they can give to goddesses. I mean it's all just sick I tell you! Sick, sick.. si.... oops..” ..this as the Halloween Spirit all but `towers' over both Norns.

 

“And I have good reason to detest you goddesses, more than ever!”

 

Urd just quips defensively, posture to match. “It's not our fault. We didn't even really know to acknowledge Halloween until today.” ..which makes the Spirit blink. “Eh?”

 

If there's one thing Imlade hates, it's being looked at all at once, this as explanations quickly lead to this comic effect. “Aw man!” ..this Lind (real) imparts. “Aye, we asked him of it, since he was the one of us here that knew of it best.”

 

Imladris however corrects.. “Not `that' much really. My time was kinda sparse on all that stuff really. I just thought of trying it out for the first time really. Didn't know Skuld would freak out so much about it though. Sorry Coz.”

 

Skuld just about fishes for a Skuld Bomb to retort with, when Peorth just snips. “So you see Esprit of Hallows, we really didn't know. I mean we `knew', since we can ask Hub for info about it anytime we want, but since we had metal case over here.. (“Hey!”) ..we thought we'd leave it all to him.

 

You should see the house, rather... uh... spooky.. décorations.”

 

The Spirit just remarked back.. “Yes I noticed. Their childishness is disconcerting.”

 

Lind just pats (well, both of them actually,) the top of Imlade's ego bruised head. “Aw come on! What, I need to chant a spell and turn the place into a gothic castle!?!?”

 

“That'd be something.” Urd admits, before Keiichi objects. “I get enough weird questions around town as it is guys!!”

 

Sentaro just asks then.. “So, all you want is attention from us? Is that why we were all subjected to this Rocky Horror show or something?”

 

“I can do it again if this continues too.” The Spirit just threatens, since it's her nature and all. Frigurina however just responds. “No need for that.”

 

The Spirit just looks warily.

 

--------------------

 

“Wow.. is that why this place looks like a castle?” ..this Megumi looks `way' up, most the rest of the usual crew. Where the Temple should be is.. well.. a castle. Nice and spooky. Urd just remarks. “Yup, we just had Skuld-kun make a Mind-Force Amp and linked it to at least one of us that knew how to make one look good.”

 

Takano looks w-a-a-y over, at the top of the steps, where the castle entrance was, and one tough looking `guard' at the entrance greeting guests on this spooky of nights. This as a rather large line of trick-o-treaters are lined up well outside the span of the temple walls. “Gollie, that goober sure has made a scene.”

 

Keiichi just gulp-smiles.. “At least the ol NIT hologram project thing is holding up. Hope no one gets nosy.” ..this as he looks back at the small circle of close friends and family, sitting around the marshmallow flame camp-like fire. Everyone had been sitting there for a while now... “But, that's the story. Hope it didn't come across thick or anything.”

 

Tamiya just gulps.. “I'sa thinka yous tolds it toos well, lil dude.”

 

“Yeah, though that stuff in those dream things would make good movie scenes.” ..this Otaki imparts to possible lame horror plot and stuff. Keiichi just moans. “Actually I'm a romance kind of guy really.”

 

Megumi.. “Gee.. wonder why.”

 

As Keiichi chuckles at a chin leaning sister, further above, an elder goddess and a Valkyrie of beauteous note, look down from the high parapets of the mental creation they are `quite' able to stand upon. “Dear me and my Norns, your love has a very strong mind.”

 

Lind just smirks.. “I guess I'll have to let love sleep in an extra five minutes or so, before... well.. you know.”

 

Frig smiles.. “I'll shock proof the planet for you then.”

 

They then hear a sudden chilling scream, which makes Frig smile even more. “Well.. at least our antsy Spirit will have her full fill by the end of this night.” Lind nods, as inside, the Spirit, and the `clones' were busy, with certain other goddess's help, to help the Spirit's `needs' along. (And somewhere Skuld and Sentaro were going through it all too, on mommy's insistence.) The Valkyrie adds to this.. “I am surprised how much strength she gains by this certain night, moreso the fact she was already strong enough on this particular day into night, as it already was.”

 

“Enough to overpower us through surprise. Makes one wonder what other Spirits like our new `friend' are just as miffed at us.”

 

Lind just gulped at that one. “I need to read up on the holidays of this world.”

 

Frig just laughed that one off.

 

Below meanwhile, Keiichi was trading scary stories with his friends and family, before Keima notes afar.. “You're up sport.” ..as Keiichi looks back and sees a certain goddess of his life waving. He scampers on over to the amusement of the others, noting as he reached... “Hey, you're wearing the same gown that Spirit is?”

 

Belldandy just smiles. “Urd suggested a costume I should wear.” ..this as he chuckles at himself. “Guess I should give that stuff a try next year. Never knew this holiday could be fun.”

 

“Can you help me with the treats out back behind the castle?” ..this Keiichi willingly does as ever. They head out back, with Keiichi carrying a laden bowl full of candy, while Bell handles three more with her powers. Bell just chimes. “This is still so much fun.” ..as they reach the rear of the castle. There they go through a large door of some kind, Keiichi gulping. “I can't believe this is that gold guy's mind doing this.

 

Wonder what castles he's really seen then.” ..and then into a dark chamber.

 

They both however stop, as the door starts to close.. “Uh... isn't there supposed to be another door or something here?” ..this as he looks for a door, and doesn't see the bowls fall gently to the floor.

 

“Oh dear..” ..Keiichi hears, as something in the voice starts to make him chilled again.

 

“Uh.... wha?”

 

“...It's just so dark in here my love.”

 

“Huh?!” Keiichi looks back, just as the door closes with a resounding thud. And within those growing shadows, a set of glowing eyes he suddenly wonders direly about.

 

“And it's such a long night.”

 

“Eep.”

 

Only imagination knows what occurs next.

 

(End Special II - Happy Halloween)