It's Been A While

"It's Been A While" is a [SEASON NUMBER] thread written on [IRL DATE].
==Summary==
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==Full Text==
Not long after the Fall Festival ended, Grey and Brandt immediately got back to work in trying to find Rhenco. It was a few months since Temple Gate, and of course Haligan Island was on its toes waiting for the man, who kidnapped the Heir, especially the Chief and her second-in-command. However, there was still one thing that gnawed at Grey’s entire being…how Rhenco could be defeated. He could not be killed, he could not be affected by Red Card. What was this man’s weakness? Fire couldn’t kill him, but it could incapacitate him. 
Finally, Grey couldn’t take it anymore. She needed to head to Mount Massive. Surely, there had to be something at Rhenco’s old hotel that could help him find his weakness. That morning, after saying goodbye to Brandt and the three kids, she and Shadow took off into the skies to head to Mount Massive. Surely, they could find Rhenco’s weakness. Sven said something about a library where he found the Red Card, and she was going to take a look.
It was a while before the rundown building appeared on the horizon, and the Chief and the Night Fury landed at the hotel.
“Come on, girl,” the Chief said as she dismounted Shadow. “Maybe we can find some answers about Rhenco.”
Shadow crooned.
“We can’t just sit and wait for him,” Grey replied as she walked toward the hotel. “We have to find something to get rid of this guy. He will only just continue to torment the Rebellion.”
moe-lazyeye
There was a thrum of connection between the mortal realm and others. Perhaps it was because this had been the place that Hel had spoken to Lila, perhaps it was just because it was the right time for Grey to make a connection. Either way, the deity spoke to Grey’s mind. 
“That building is a burnt out husk. And yet you’re here looking for answers anyway…” 
The sound of soft thunder rolled over the distant hills. 
“Grey…”
lbigreyhound13
The voice made Grey jump in shock and look around quickly seeing the clouds thundering and rolling over the hills. Who was that? It sounded familiar, and it was definitely a voice that she hadn’t heard in 25 years. She was breathing heavily as she looked for the source. It wasn’t Rhenco, it wasn’t Brandt, it definitely wasn’t Shadow.
Speaking of Shadow, she looked to her beloved dragon, who stared at her in concern. 
“Did you hear someone?” Grey asked. 
Shadow crooned what sounded like a “no,” which concerned Grey a little more.
“Who…who’s there?” she shouted slowly placing her hand on her sword.
moe-lazyeye
“Uh…”
The voice faltered, and the thunder died as quickly as it had come.
“Its…I mean the thunder, rain…water?…you know what, never mind. Yeah its Hel, what is it?”
lbigreyhound13
The Chief mentally kicked herself for not recognizing the voice of the Goddess of Helheim. Then again…the last time she saw or heard from the goddess was the very day, the original Grounded Dungeon Rebellion was allowed to leave the bunker after the war was over…22 years ago after they were in there for 3 years. 
“Wow, I’m really getting old,” she muttered to herself. “I apologize, Hel. It seems my age is catching up with me. I’ve come to seek answers about Rhenco…about how to defeat him.”
moe-lazyeye
Water bubbled up from the soil in front of Grey, gathering so closely together that it turned black like the ocean on a stormy night. The water floated upwards into an almost tadpole like shape, about the size of Grey herself.
Behind the wavering ripples of the water, the shapes and colors of Hel’s face could be seen. “Nonsense. You are young, and at no fault here.” 
She then tilted her head at her request. “Greg’s child and I had a similar conversation. And just as I had to say with them Grey, I cannot tell you such a thing.”
lbigreyhound13
“Why?” Grey asked pleadingly. Shadow crooned sadly. “He’s not going to stop until he terrorizes this Rebellion. He’s already threatened to go after my son again. Who’s to say he won’t go after my daughters too?”
moe-lazyeye
Hel sighed, and this time it was one of resignation and sadness, above any typical sass. “The devices of Rhenco’s choices are entirely human. Just as are the devices for which you fight against him. I, nor other gods ought to implement a solution of the divine for problem of the mortal.”
Hel looked away. “What us gods did when making this planet and the souls therein…it was not without mistake…But the means to absolve this problem on your own are various. And I seek to hold your souls in safety and liberty. But for that I had to relinquish the false notion of being able to justly save your physical vessels.”
lbigreyhound13
“You were able to save an entire group of teenagers, Haddock, and myself from a war,” Grey retorted. “Surely, stopping a madman is no different. Please, my kids…I can’t just sit and wait for this man to show up on my island and hurt them!”
moe-lazyeye
“You were conscripted.” Hel retorted. “For good reason, and yes I extended interference in the form of mercy. But I also did so in moments of punishment, and seeking to obtain what I wanted. Again…it was during a time of war, where your immortal souls were on the line…”
Two watery tendrils came up to touch either side of Grey’s head, and Hel looked into her eyes. “Things are different now. The more we as god’s interfere…the worse things will be. However…hm…”
The goddess paused. “I cannot tell you of a way to harm another child of mine. No matter how vile he may be. So instead ask yourself…what have you done to try and rid yourself of this problem?”
lbigreyhound13
Somehow, she found the tendrils of water…somewhat soothing…and calming…much different from that day long ago when she made Grey and Shadow nearly drown. So she stayed in place.
“Well, I…” she thought all the way back to when she first encountered the madman…the night he kidnapped Sven to when she encountered him in Temple Gate, “I defied his deman to wait three days when Sven was taken. I…got help from Milae. Sven found out that he has a weakness to fire. I…figured out that the Red Card is essentially useless as it’s its own cure. His former prisoners are now my allies. I tried to kill him at Temple Gate. He threatened Sven again, and I just snapped. He faded away again after that, but that didn’t get rid of him.”
moe-lazyeye
“You are finding out more and more about how to be rid yourself of him each time you encounter him. How many more times do you think he’ll get away with what he is doing before it all falls out from under him?”
Hel raised herself up a little higher, as if straightening her back. “His arrogance displeases me greatly. And I will not permit that lil bitch the satisfaction of knowing you had to get a god’s help in order to best him, nor will I spare him a single word despite his desires. And certainly not when you all already possess the means to make him leave you alone.”
She gave her a careful look. “A second question. Has he ever attacked you and yours the same way twice?”
lbigreyhound13
The wheels turned in Grey’s head. “No…” Grey said realizing as she looked back on her encounters with Rhenco yet again. “He took Sven first…to get to me, and Malak told me that that was his…way. But…then when Brandt and I came for him…for Sven…he used the Red Card to threaten my boy into keeping quiet about his weakness to fire. He knew that Sven was just a child and used that against him. He let himself get arrested and thrown in jail, but…when I figured out…the Red Card,” her hand went to her neck, “he attacked me. He could’ve made an attempt against my husband or my dragon, but…he didn’t. He went for me, and…when we found him at Temple Gate, he used Milae’s friend as a hostage and threatened Sven again. It…seems like he’s just trying anything at this point…like he’s trying to one up me, perhaps?”
moe-lazyeye
Hel nodded carefully as Grey spoke, and then leaned forward as she crossed her tendrils in front of her. “Your observation regarding his desperation is sound. But let go of your own pride child. He is not in competition with anyone. He doesn’t like a challenge, only victims. Your rank is a reflection of his inner emptiness, not your significance.”
“You are surrounded by a most diverse and intuitive people indeed. And you yourself are no exception to that. Your history of finding the means to overcome your foes predates my involvement with you. But I will tell you this. If the sword did not work against the man…then quit trying to use the sword.”
lbigreyhound13
“Of course, apologies for the pride,” she said. The Chief looked at the sword at her waist trying to avoid the blush on her cheeks creeping onto her face as the goddess’ words rang in her head. She couldn’t keep her pride in check in front of the goddess. It was difficult to do so when the man had set his sights on her and her family…when it was clear that one became his target when he went after someone close to that person. But that wasn’t an excuse. 
“That must be why he has such a fascination with Milae,” Grey said. “He doesn’t use weapons. Weapons won’t work, like you said, but…if he sees that he doesn’t scare us…or intimidate us…he will lose his advantage. It might not kill him, but…it will send him running.”
moe-lazyeye
“Or he will lash out. But again…that is a game of ‘how long will this last?’ Keep thinking on it.” Hel lapsed into a moment of quiet. “You and your kind will find a solution, unfortunately the path will not be a smooth, or one without heartache. It never is. But you are wise…wise enough to make many…beings…think.” 
Hel dropped her a small wink. “Food for thought.”
lbigreyhound13
Grey nodded understanding what the goddess was trying to say. Defeating Rhenco was not going to be easy, but that was not going to stop her from finding a solution. However…hearing what she said about making many beings think…she furrowed her eyebrows together with a small smirk on her face. Could she possibly be talking about…?
“What?” Grey asked incredulously. 
moe-lazyeye
Hel looked away almost with a huff. “Enough of that.” She blustered. “As I said I do not exist to absolve personal problems, so let’s talk about something else. Why else have you sought me out?”
lbigreyhound13
Grey squinted her eyes at the goddess, but decided not to pursue that comment…at least not right now. As much as Grey was hesitant to admit it, the Goddess of Helheim was right. Rhenco was something weighing on her mind, but…there was something else that she wanted to ask the goddess. 
“I wanted to ask you about Deoiridh and Greg,” she said. “She…mentioned that this was reincarnation. Is that part of the new afterlife that you told us about in Ragnorak?”
moe-lazyeye
“I tell you only because of your lineage…yes…it is. The afterlife as it once was is no more. Not even my realm of Helheim is suitable for souls right now, properly at least. Therefore, after ones life passes away, should they choose, they may return in a new body. And it’ll have to be that way until I get all my shit figured out.”
lbigreyhound13
“So, Greg decided to come back?” Grey asked. “That’s…” She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She felt as if she was going to fall over, “that’s amazing…anyone could just decide to come back? What…what made Greg want to come back? And…and…” she exhaled as she ran a hand through her hair. This changed everything she knew growing up of the afterlife. 
moe-lazyeye
“Yes, yes, and I don’t fucking know ask him.” Hel said with a sassy wave of her tendril. She then got a little more serous. “Well…you probably want ‘some’ details and I ‘guess’ I can impart them.”
“Understand Grey that the rebellions first generation, and those under Gareth Haddock specifically are both blessed and cursed with this knowledge. I chose you. For you were noble, and fought bravely for my, and more importantly, for those you loved. Your love extended even to those that you did not know. Your sense of justice was sound. But you were also impudent, violent, and left scars across land and soul. Flawed.”
Hel became still. “Everything…I could want…”
She then sniffed. “For most, I offer reincarnation, or peaceful, ambient storage in Helheim until I can properly craft the logistics for a functional afterlife. For those that take the former, their soul can return in any body, in any time, in any universe. But…for those I have described, I offer a third option. The option to return to this planet with the memories of that specific life. Or…without those memories, with the option to rediscover them if your heart truly wishes to know.”  
“As for Deo…you will have to ask her the questions that pertain to her.”
The Chief stared at the Goddess in absolute shock and astonishment. This was what they had been fighting for in Ragnorak 25 years ago…the chance to have peace in the afterlife…the chance to come back if one wished…a second chance at life. It was not like what Midgardsormr had given to her. He saved her and Greg’s souls and breathed life fire onto them…allowing them to continue living as they were. 
“That’s…Hel…that’s amazing,” she said still trying to process the information. “You chose the Rebellion…for this…I…I…I’m honored…we all are.” She stopped, and her face fell as she realized. Hel had mentioned her lineage…the Rebellion’s lineage being blessed with this opportunity…the chance to chose to either remain in the afterlife…or to come back in a different body…to be reincarnated, so that meant her kids…her descendants were blessed. “But…w-what about my father? He…passed away 21 years ago in battle. And…Haddock…? They…chose not to, didn’t they?” 
May 13, 2020
“For clarification.” Hel said with a raised tendril. “When I say lineage, I do not speak of the offspring of your body. But the connection of souls during a crucial time. Only the original rebellion, who loyally served under Gareth Haddock, are given the third option. Naturally Haddock is included in that. However, your parents and children are not.” She met Grey’s eyes meaningfully. “But that does not mean they are lost to you forever. Life is infinite, and you will meet them again. Whether you remember exactly what lead you to them or not.”  
May 13, 2020
Grey breathed a sigh of relief. She didn’t know what she would do if she died knowing that her loving and adoring parents and her three amazing children were going to be lost to her forever…that she would never see them again. Knowing that she would eased her greatly. 
“That makes sense,” Grey said. “I’m sure my dad would want to rest anyway. He would want to wait for my mom.” Another thought occurred to her. “You say my kids and parents don’t get this third option…but…what about Brandt, my husband…” she looked to her loyal Night Fury, “and Shadow? I’m sorry, Hel, it’s just I need to know for sure…that my family and I can be together in this afterlife. They mean so much to me.”
May 13, 2020
“Well for one thing, me setting up the after life will take well beyond you, and this who continent’s current life to complete. Not sure if that helps or not, but whatever right?”
Hel tapped her chin. “Brandt is not included, Shadow is. That said, there is nothing to stop your husband from cycling to another life and meeting you all over again. Again. This knowledge is a curse as much as it is a blessing.”
“You may not meet at all in your next life. You may be born and grow together, never out of sight of the other. And whether you choose to bear this knowledge will be yours. Frankly Grey, in these lives and lives to come you will know your children and husband, you will have lives where you only meet new souls, and you will eventually meet everyone. There will be time for all.”
May 14, 2020
Grey nodded with a small smile. “Okay, I can accept that,” she said. “It’s quite knowledge to bear, but…I feel better knowing that there is peace after death for my kids and my husband and my parents and that they have a choice when it’s their time…and that Shadow and I have this third option as well.”
The Chief lightly chuckled. “I have to be honest,” she said. “It makes me feel bad for how I acted all those years ago. I apologize for that…You wanted us to have a better chance for peace after death, and I feel as though that I didn’t give it a chance, so to speak. You know…after becoming a mother myself…I know what it’s like to want the best for your kids.”
May 14, 2020
“Hm, well, I also wanted what ‘I’ wanted. And didn’t really care what you all thought about it, or what I did, or how I acted to get it.” Hel huffed. “You may have acted unknowingly. But you did not act out of term. Think nothing of it, especially given who, and where you are now.”
May 14, 2020
“I appreciate that…thank you,” Grey said gently smiling. Ever since the Rebellion, never once did she ever imagine having this conversation with the goddess of Helheim. There was even a time where she wondered if Hel would even show herself among humanity again. The fact that she came to Lila and to her to offer guidance…spoke volumes. 
May 14, 2020
“Well I should think so.” Hel said with a high note of certainty. “Grey…stay vigilant.”
The goddess’s chosen form then dropped into the ground with a splash.
May 14, 2020
Grey and Shadow braced themselves as Hel dropped into the ground with a splash causing the water to spray them. When the splash left as quickly as it came, Shadow lightly shook herself dry as Grey stared at the spot where she once stood. 
“She really knows to make an entrance and an exit,” Grey said after a moment.
Shadow crooned in agreement.
The Chief took one last look at the hotel behind her. “But she’s right though,” she said. “We need to find another way to defeat Rhenco, but that answer won’t be here.” She mounted her Night Fury. “Let’s head home, girl.”