Artemis Volume 11

**Siege On Olympus**

Started February 22nd

Finished March 2nd

Line Count:

Terra - 171

Delta - 133

Ivan - 86

Millie - 83

Tempest - 64

Amelia - 34

Story is in 2030. Three months after Volume 10’s end.

## Issue 1 - Our Future

Millie was pushing her shopping cart down a store’s aisle. She had lots of baby items. A full buildable baby crib, diapers, even a little blue elephant stuffed animal. An older couple came past Millie.

Man: Hey, congratulations. How far along are you?

Millie: Oh, my girlfriend’s three months along.

Man: My bad, You find out the gender?

Millie: Not yet, supposed to be a few weeks. I’m kind of wishing for a boy, honestly.

Man: Kate here’s supposed to have a boy in three months.

Kate: We found out pretty fast that maybe our daughter needs someone to lean on when things get rough.

Millie: I dunno if another kid’s in the cards for me. But I can’t wait to be a mother.

Kate: Good thing you have a positive attitude. I was dreading it.

Millie: Kids are annoying, sure. But I’ve dealt with worse.

Man: That’s what they all say!

Millie: Haha, yeah.

Kate: I wish you luck. Mom to mom.

Millie: Same to you.

Millie headed to checkout.

Millie: Crib, diapers, shit, eggs!

Millie got everything she missed and started heading home. She was stuck in the average New York traffic. She got a call and picked it up.

Millie: Chief Koruba, what can I do for you?

Cop: Someone here says she wants to track down her daughter. Says she went off with some sort of...cult.

Millie: I’ve heard that one before. Add it to the records. I’ll be over in a little bit. Get started on the case.

Millie got to her and Amelia’s apartment. She had the same shitty apartment she got from Henry Hall all those years ago. It was very small. But big enough for the two of them to live in. Maybe they’d have to move once the kid was born. Millie came into the house to see Amelia jotting down names on the whiteboard. Donny, Leon, Nola, Lily, Michael, Vivzie, and many other names.

Millie: What are you doing? Shouldn’t you be resting?

Amelia: Yeah, but I just had an epiphany. Is Donny a little on the nose? Like it’s obviously a tribute to my brother, We could go with a more exotic name like, I dunno. Alejandro.

Millie laughed.

Millie: Alejandro? You must be going stir crazy from being cooped up for a week.

Amelia: Maybe. I don’t like staying in one place.

Millie: You’ll be able to go more places in a few more days. The doctor just said to take it easy for now.

Amelia: Yeah.

Millie: And I think Donny is a great name. I never really knew your brother very well. I wish I could’ve gotten to know him better.

Amelia: Honestly, you would’ve really hit it off. I think you guys would’ve really bonded.

Millie: Yeah. Keep the name, stop getting in your own head!

Amelia: No promises.

Millie: If it’s a girl, you could name her Donna.

Amelia: I thought you liked the name Kate.

Millie: Eh, it’s a little on the nose.

Millie went over to a speaker system and plugged in her phone. She played slow old style folk.

Amelia: This um…?

Millie: It’s Terra’s playlist, She loved these songs.

Amelia: I kind of hate them.

Millie: Too bad. I’ve got a job. We’ve got time though, dance with me.

Amelia: Come on! You know I don’t like to dance.

Millie: And I know you can whip your hair back and forth like a queen,

Amelia: If I dance with you, will you never say that again?

Millie: Well, will you?

Amelia: Yes goddamnit!

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

Bordon was on the B.L.A.D.E vessel. Nick Fury was pacing behind him. While he looked at the planet.

Nick Fury: So you nearly destroy a block of New York, which you would’ve if that Terra girl didn’t stop it? This is probably why wars start while you’re in office.

Bordon: Again, I didn’t start the war. Terra did. She was nothing but trouble.

Nick Fury: So you made her not trouble by killing her, is that right?

Bordon: The plan wasn’t for her to die. But it worked out.

Nick Fury: Do I seriously have to say it again? We don’t kill assets. Especially ones that are as moldable as her,

Bordon: I did what I had to.

Nick Fury: I’m not convinced. I saw a vulnerable little girl when she came up here. Sure, I tried to kill her. But she was just caught in the crossfire. And of course she managed to save that little shit of yours.

Bordon: Unlike Terra, Tempest is actually an asset. So we need to find him.

Nick Fury: Right, apparently he went missing. You really are giving me a reason to boot you right out of B.L.A.D.E

Bordon: Try it and we’ll have another war on our hands.

Nick Fury: Threaten me all you want. You wouldn’t start a war over something so small. Either way, did you even kill those gods that were after Terra.

Bordon: Well, there are no signs of them on our scanners. They either escaped, or still died even though Terra condensed the explosion.

Nick Fury: Look, we have these orders. You can try and find your super-soldier if you want. Also track down that Stick guy. He is bad news. Thanks to him, I lost an eye.

Bordon: He took your eye out?

Nick Fury: That’s right. He’s extremely dangerous, and can do anything he wants once he puts his mind to it.

Bordon: That’s one thing we can agree on.

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

Ludus was watching some Olympians build the statue of Polybus.

Ares: How does it look to you, pipsqueak?

Ludus: Looks like they got his hair a little wrong, but it’s not that big a deal. It’s pretty hard to do. Y’know, because it sticks up and stuf-

Ares: Hey dumbasses! You did his hair wrong! Start the fuck over!

Athena: Good thing Hera’s on vacation. If anything, she’s the reason there’s so much contempt between us.

Ludus: She’s on vacation?

Athena: Well, she’s just taking a break. Sitting in that chair all the time must hurt her back. Or maybe that fake rack of hers,

Ludus chuckled, but he caught himself.

Ludus: Oh sorry, that was uncalled for.

Athena: The joke, or your laugh?

Ludus: N-no it’s not you at all.

Athena: Hey, don’t get your panties all in a twist. Us Olympians hate on eachother all the time. You should’ve seen the way your mom was. She had the best insults!

Ares: It really does piss me off that we lost three gods again already! We have to have a game plan for when Ivan returns.

Athena: Yes. I’m working on that. Last time it was an uncoordinated effort. We have to be ready.

Ludus: Three gods? Didn’t we lose two?

Ares: Polybus and Terra were killed. You were there. Eris is not an Olympian anymore. She betrayed us.

Athena: Terra and Polybus were good kids.

Ares: Terra was in la la land. She thought that the world needs to be peaceful? How is that even possible. No offense, Ludus.

Ludus: I mean, I’m the god of peace and you're the god of war. We should hate each other.

Ares: It’s never too late to start hating each other.

Athena: Ugh, this is why we can’t coordinate. Who do we have on standby?

Ares: Us three, Hepheastus, Dionysus, that Kobu guy, we could call Poseidon and Hades.

Athena: We’re already short a couple people. You know what, I’m going to do some research. I want to know what Kobu is and try and find out info about Ivan.

Ares: You’ve looked through those books tons of times, there was never anything.

Athena: I can always find new books.

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

Millie came into the police station.

Millie: Officer Jascock. There was a case about a missing daughter? Joined a cult or some shit?

Jascock: We’ve traced the location. Do you want to come?

He handed Millie a tracker.

Millie: Don’t have much of a choice. This cult shit seems cool.

Jascock: It is tempting. Sounds interesting.

Millie: Come on.

Jascock followed Millie. She took out the tracker and followed it.

Millie: I do have to say, this is a much better alternative to being Repulse, and doing all my operations underground.

Jascock: My son was always a big fan of the vigilante stuff. He liked Repulse and The Crimson Dragon.

Millie: You have a son?

Jascock: Yes. And a wife. They're the reason I do what I do.

Millie: I’ve actually got a kid on the way.

Jascock: That crazy speedster chick of yours?

Millie: Yeah. She’s crazy alright.

Jascock: She’s brave too. Such a small girl having a baby.

Millie: Yeah. She’s dealing with it well. I’m happy for her.

Jascock: We’ve been partners ever since you joined the force. I’m still kind of jealous your place in B.L.A.D.E got you such a high rank.

Millie: I almost wish you got the job instead.

Jascock: That’s a nice thought. Alright. Here we are.

Millie and Jascock pushed aside a branch.

Millie: The outskirts of New York.

They walked down a long trail. To see what seemed like a camp. Or a civilization of some kind. Women walked all around the camp. Even some men.

Jascock: This looks like a cult alright.

Millie: What was it Delta said…? This isn’t a cult. It’s a civilization.

Jascock: What makes you say that?

Millie: Because I’ve heard of this place before, and I know the person who runs this place.

Delta came out of a tent.

Delta: Hey! Millie! What’s up?

## Issue 2 - Sovereign Desire

A couple hours before Delta met Millie, she was playing pool at a bar with two others around her.

???: Those bastards almost caught me. I had to use my powers to escape. I hope B.L.A.D.E doesn’t get mad.

Delta: Oh fuck B.L.A.D.E. They harassed the shit outta me and a friend of mine. She had to put millions of metahumans away. It fucked her up in the head.

???: That Terra girl?

A bartender came over to the table. She gave drinks to them all.

Bartender: James, Charlie, and Delta. Here are your drinks.

James and Charlie looked similar. Charles had long blonde hair and a slender build. He wore a long shirt and long pants. Both a dark blue. He had a big necklace around his neck with a clock on it. James was tall as well but a stronger build. He had his hair parted in the middle. And was wearing his superhero suit in public. A black, white, and gold suit with a star symbol in the middle.

James: Come on, Charles. We can do whatever we want.

James hit the pool ball and got two balls in.

Charles: I just don’t feel right using father’s fame to get ahead of the game. Metahumans are all but banned.

Delta: I would use your powers while you have the chance. B.L.A.D.E’s probably just waiting to get you shut down.

Charles: I guess I can see what you mean.

Charles took his turn, he missed horribly.

Delta: Damn, you guys really suck.

Delta lined up her ball, she hit a ball and it flew into the wall and hit the 8 ball, it bounced off a couple balls and went into the hole.

Delta: Aaaaand you lose. That means drinks is on Charlie.

Charlie: This is totally unfair.

Delta: Not my fault you suck.

James: Next time we’ll do something we’re good at.

Delta: Sure. I could probably beat you at anything.

Charlie: You basically cheat with that Olympian bullshit.

Delta: It doesn’t even do too much. Just gives me all my power. Perfect aim is all me. I mean, if you pointed me at one of those punching things I’d probably smoke you.

James had already put a dollar in.

James: You pay for next round if you lose.

Delta: We’re gonna break this thing.

James: Just give it a shot!

Charlie: It’ll probably come down to the both of you.

Delta: Fine, don’t throw with full force. Do a slow motion punch.

Delta exaggerated the “slow motion”

Charles threw a slow punch at the bag. He got 80.00.

Charles: I’ll take it.

James threw his punch next, of course, a 99.9.

Delta: Well that’s just cheating.

Delta threw her punch. 99.9.

Charles: Chug to see who wins?

Delta and James grabbed their drinks and downed them as fast as possible. James finished first.

Delta: Dammit!

James: Looks like you owe me the next round.

Delta laughed.

Delta: I guess so.

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

Delta was dropped off by Charles and James. She was a little buzzed, but she shook it off. She walked through the woods, down a trail to a small society. There were many tents and even some cabins for long-staying members. Everyone wore a bracelet with an orange Delta symbol on it. As the fourth letter of the greek alphabet.
Δ
Delta walked through the camp. People walked around freely. Both men and women. Many of them greeting her. She jumped on a podium.

Delta: Men and Women! It’s a pleasure to see all of you doing great! An incense fire won the polls for tonight. So that’s what we’ll be doing. Bring instruments if you want to play!

Delta stepped off of the podium. A younger women came up to her.

???: Delta, I’m not sure if I should play tonight, but I signed up. Can I um, get off the list?

Delta: Why?

???: I just don’t want to.

Delta: I think you should, you never have, right? You're new here. Think of it as your contribution to the community. Everyone here is a good person. That’s what I strive for. Give it a shot.

???: ...A contribution to the community, huh? Guess I can’t say no now, haha.

Delta: You’ll do great, I promise. What’s your name again?

???: Skylar.

Delta walked around the camp. A couple people started to light a fire. Delta sat by the fire just like many others. People conversed and some played their instruments. Delta saw Skylar go up.

Skylar: Um, this is a song about an idol of mine. I read all about her in Olympian texts. Terra, the god of Earth,

Delta: Woo!

Skylar chuckled nervously and sat down and positioned her guitar. She played a slow and calming tune.

Skylar:
Watched my world burn through my eyes
He killed my family by surprise
Bred to fight with my own guise
My heart urges time to stray
I tell myself no bloodshed today
Destroying who took them all away
One day they’ll all scream hurray
Call myself a castaway
Through this war I disobey
A girl from the woods led astray.

Skylar took down her guitar. There was a pause, and there were claps from lots of people.

???: Hey, was that fully original?

Skylar: O-oh. Yeah it was,

Delta: Good job, Sky.

Shortly after, Delta went into her house, She sat down and turned on the shower. It had been a long day. She slipped off her boots and took off some of her armor. Suddenly there was a knock at the door. One of the men who was at the fire,

Delta: Come in.

???: O-oh sorry Delta for interrupting you.

Delta: It’s fine, don’t sweat it. What’s up?

???: We took a group out to survey the next land we’re going to secure. But one of the girls. She was taken!

Delta: Taken?

???: B.L.A.D.E soldiers flanked us!

Delta: Fuck...I’ll help. Let me get my clothes back on.

Delta came outside. To see Millie and Officer Jascock of all people.

Delta: Hey! Millie! What’s up?

Millie: It really is you, Delta.

Delta: What’s going on?

Millie: Well, I heard a complaint that someone joined a cult. But this doesn’t look like that.

Delta: Anyone can go back to their families when they want to. Their encouraged to bring them or tell them. So I’ll have to find this person. I have to go now, though.

Millie: Where are you going?

Delta: I have to go to a B.L.A.D.E base.

Jascock: A B.L.A.D.E base, why?

Delta: Those pieces of shit took one of my people. I have to get her back.

Millie: I would want to come with you. But I shouldn’t be on B.L.A.D.E’s bad side anymore than I already am.

Delta: That’s okay.

Jascock: Either way, that’s how Millie got her job. B.L.A.D.E.

Millie: Yeah, I'm the police chief now. And me and Amelia have a kid on the way.

Delta: A kid, really? Congratulations. I had no idea that was even possible. Amelia seemed like a little ball of hatred lots of the times I saw her.

Millie: She’s grown since then. At Least that’s what I hope.

Delta: I’ll sort out your cult problem though. Who was the parent?

Millie: Someone with the last name Murdock.

Delta: I’ll find a Murdock if there’s one here.

Millie: Thanks. The closest B.L.A.D.E base is here.

Millie took out a note paper and wrote down an address.

Millie: Just a token of my thanks. And that this place looks great.

Delta: Thanks. I tried my best to make this a good place. I don’t want to be like my mom.

Millie: Right.

Delta: Oh, how’s Terra?

Millie: Oh, yeah...I didn’t tell you.

Delta: Tell me what?

Millie: B.L.A.D.E nearly took out a city block and then some. Terra stopped the explosion. She died saving people. That’s all she ever wanted to do.

Delta: Saving people...is that it…?

Delta wiped a tear off her face. She sucked it up to remain strong in front of her people and Millie.

Delta: She only ever wanted to do good. That’s how we’ll remember her. I-I didn’t know it happened like that.

Millie: I know you two were close. I’m sorry.

Delta: All that matters is how we move forward and that we remember her.

Millie: Hey. Be safe.

Delta: I will.

The same man from earlier came over to Delta.

???: Should we take some people to help?

Delta: Nah, this is a solo mission for me. Thanks for offering your help.

Millie left with officer Jascock. Delta went back to her house. She silently cried. And felt the anger from many years ago building up. The anger she felt for Terra, the anger she felt for men. Directed towards B.L.A.D.E. Lucky for her, she was going right to one of their bases.

## Issue 3 - Let It Out

Delta got to the address. She looked up at the big B.L.A.D.E tower. She used her armor to fly herself right onto the B.L.A.D.E building. She flew up the side, and found a vent on the side. Puffing out smoke. Delta opened the vent and got in. She put her mask on and covered herself with her armor to keep the smoke out of her face. She peered in, and saw a group of people walking along. She saw Bordon talking to a man. He had blonde hair that was tied into a big bun. And wore an old looking kimono. He had some red armor covering himself.

Bordon: Emeric Gleeson, right?

Emeric: Right. I have the skill your looking for, sir.

Bordon: Let’s hope so. I’m working on putting together the team. You are the first. All you’ll be doing is patrolling these halls for a while. I will have missions for you soon. Now that my best soldier has disappeared, I’ll have you doing your best work for me.

Delta thought to herself. His best soldier? Tempest? Both him and Terra are gone?

Emeric: I’m ready for anything you have to throw at me.

Bordon left the room, and Emeric stayed. He sighed and looked around.

Emeric: This is the great B.L.A.D.E?

Delta: Nice, isn’t it?

Emeric looked around.

Emeric: We already have a visitor? Maybe I will get to test myself today.

Emeric drew his sword and slashed it hard, making a sh0ckwave go across the room, and slashing the vent Delta was in down. Delta was able to get a closer look at him.

Delta: Shit, is that the artemis armor?

Emeric: You are interested in this armor?

Delta: Yeah. I know the armor.

Emeric: I’m surprised I have a visitor on my very first day. I was told I had to protect this place.

Delta: You seem like a smart guy, This is the wrong place to work for.

Emeric: How do you gain excellence? Challenging others, learning from losses and wins. Here is where I can refine my work.

Delta: Your work? I don’t care.

Emeric: Let me show you what I have learned.

Delta: Ugh.

Emeric slashed at Delta with precise, clean cuts. She blocked them with her gauntlets. Emeric eventually slashed down one of her gauntlets and followed up. Delta took off some of her armor and blocked. Emeric tagged Delta in her arm, where her armor had fallen off of. Delta backed up. Emeric dashed forward and slashed her down by delaying his slice. Delta fell hard on her butt.

Delta: I’m here for someone important. B.L.A.D.E has taken them into custody.

Emeric: So you're trying to reason?

Delta: Look, if you don’t want to listen then I’ll have to kick your ass. Simple as that.

Emeric: I’m reasonable. If you defeat me, then I will give you the information you desire. If not, well. Bordon does what he wants with you. It’s none of my business.

Delta: You’re pretty narrow-minded. Aren’t you?

Emeric slashed down at Delta. She shot a bunch of her armor up at Emeric and jumped back. She jumped in with a kick to his stomach.

Emeric: That’s the spirit!

Delta: Stop talking.

Delta stuffed Emeric and threw a knee at him. His armor protected him. He took out a smaller sword and shook Delta off by swinging it overhead. Delta stepped back and threw a spinning backfist. Emeric was pushed back.

Delta: You just pale in comparison to me.

Delta took out her axe. She swung it wildly over her head. Emeric dodged it and tagged Delta in the side. She grabbed his sword, being protected by her glove, and snapped it in half. All of her armor came off and twirled around her. It came at Emeric rapidly and hit him until he was knocked down. She pinned him down with her armor and put her knee on his chest and held him by the scruff.

Emeric: Your armor, how do you do that? My armor is similar. Isn’t it?

Delta: Where the fuck are the jails in this place? And is there a girl there called Jessica Rios?

Emeric: I wouldn’t know the girl. But the jail is the 5th floor. This is the 30th floor. Hopefully nobody catches you in the elevator.

Delta: I’ll take the stairs.

Delta took the stairs to the 5th floor of the place. She snuck into the jail cell hall. She saw a bunch of people in cells. She snuck by them. And then heard walking down the hall. It wasn’t B.L.A.D.E soldiers she saw open a cell. Delta looked at them from down the hall. A group of ninjas or something. She felt a knife be stabbed through the wall. Luckily her armor chinked it off. She grabbed the girl there and slammed her against the wall.

Delta: Jess…?

The ninja were trying to lead Jessica out of there.

Delta: Hey! Let her go!

Someone walked out into the front of the group. It was Sae.

Sae: You remind me of a friend of mine, Ginger. Maybe I can call you that too.

Delta: Friend? Who the fuck are all of you people?

Sae: Doesn’t matter. We just need this girl here.

Delta: You aren’t leaving with her!

Sae: Then come with us. We’ve got room.

Delta: I think I’ll just be taking her back.

???: Their here!

A group of B.L.A.D.E soldiers flooded the halls.

Sae: Looks like you have to come with us.

Delta: Fuck….

Delta followed the ninja who had Jessica with them. They ran to the end of the hall. Someone in the front made the wall into glass. Which the group then jumped through. The fall wasn’t far.

Delta: You aren’t making it far.

Jessica had a blindfold on.

Jessica: Delta? Is that you?

Delta: Yes! It’s me!

Stick walked into the group.

Stick: That’s enough.

Delta: Who the fuck are you?

Stick: The guy who's gonna help you. Come on.

Delta: I’m not leaving without her!

Stick: Good. We need her.

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

Stick lead Delta into his new dojo. Where many of his students were now training. Sae came up next to him.

Stick: Now the Chaste is back and stronger than ever. We picked up some useless meta remnant. Not like they were being useful for anything.

Delta: Give me back Jess, and let me leave.

Stick: Well kid, that’s where I’ll have to stop you. I see your little party of soldiers you’ve been making. But jeezus christ you baby em. A civilization can’t prosper when you sit next to a campfire and sing songs about how good you have it. Now they're just buying into it.

Delta: The way I run my people shouldn’t be your concern.

Stick: Well it is. Because I’m helping you.

Delta: You need my help?

Stick: No. You need my guidance. Your people need to toughen up. The Chaste’s numbers are high. But not high enough to topple a government.

Delta: Why don’t you fuck off?

Stick: There’s an easy way, and there’s a hard way.

Delta: Hard way it is, you fucking cunt.

Delta took out her gun and shot at a couple chaste members. Killing them, she moved over to Jessica and moved her out of there.

Stick: Kill her.

Delta was on the run. She ran as fast as she could to get out. There was an elevator. She got in and went up. Sae ran to the elevator and held the doors open just as they closed. She broke in and kicked Delta against the wall. She punched Delta in the face over and over with her robotic hand. Delta dodged under and blocked. She punched her in the stomach and threw her over at the other side of the elevator.

Delta: Fuck off!

Sae: You almost act like her, Ginger.

Delta jumped forward and threw a punch. Sae jumped up and kicked Delta in the face. Delta grabbed her leg and slammed her against the ground.

Delta: Nobody is ruining what I’ve built.

Sae: Stick wasn’t lying. He wants to help, He wants to train them how to fight. And I mean really fight.

Delta: Not happening.

The door opened and Delta took Jessica out and left Sae. As she kept walking, Stick was standing outside of the facility.

Stick: I was there, when she died. She held together that bomb like a dumbass. Was right next to it when it exploded. It probably wasn’t the explosion that killed her. Probably the collapsing cave. Even if she survived that, she suffocated to death,

Delta screamed and shot at Stick. He blocked every bullet.

Stick: I can tell, you wanna stab the motherfucker who did this to her right in the chest. Turn it sideways a couple times just so he really feels it.

Delta: Very perceptive.

Jess: Delta, just calm down. Let’s go.

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

Terra was tied to a chair, she couldn’t move. She opened her eyes after a long slumber. She panicked in the chair, And looked around. She screamed. There was no sound.

## Issue 4 - Life Without Freedom

Terra: Three...Two...One...Come on.

The bomb broke open, and there it was, the explosion. She condensed it with her armor. But not even a demigod could stand next to a city-level explosion and survive. The explosion was lessened, but Terra saw the lights embrace in front of her. It was here. It was inviting. She was ruined by the explosion. She went flying in a random direction without her armor. She bounced off of Bordon’s sword, which was in the ground. Her back felt like it was snapped open. Rocks and rocks fell on top of her as the cave broke down on top of itself. Her wind was taken out, and her arms were trapped. Not to mention, she lost the fight in her. She accepted her fate.

Amala: That’s really all you have?

Terra looked up into the sky. She saw the souls of millions floating in the air. The last thing she remembered was closing her eyes. Inviting fate to strike her down. But here she was. She knew hell was a thing and everything. But this isn’t where she expected to be. She recognized it. The Astral Plane. She just wished she could let it end. She heard the last two voices she wanted to hear.

Ivan: Maybe if you come to bed, I’ll show you what plan we have in store next.

Yuri: Oh really~, Why don’t you show me?

Terra was surprised to see that they didn’t notice her. Even though the last thing she wanted to have in her head was a picture of Ivan and Yuri screwing, but she didn’t want to be noticed. She turned to look, the place was practically transparent. It seemed Ivan had control of the area. Because he made a bed.

Yuri: Come on, a bed? Give me something better.

Terra let her mind drift from their voices. She looked down. She gasped. It was like looking down at the world. And above her, lost souls. She looked in the distance, and saw unimaginable creatures floating through the air. She had no idea what they were there for. But the first Astral Plane creature she met, Ivan. Wasn’t so friendly.

Yuri: Ahh! Fuck!

Ivan: You seriously get that worked up over this?

Yuri: I’m supposed to be the king of chess!

Ivan: I’ve studied the game for a long time. I’ve lost count how many games I’ve won.

Yuri: I bet you’ve lost count how many you’ve lost too.

Ivan: Fair.

Ivan took out some tea for Yuri and himself.

Ivan: We have to plan a course of action. She awake?

Yuri: Let’s check, preparations are all in order.

Ivan: Amazing.

Yuri and Ivan went over to Terra.

Ivan: Te-

Terra: I’m awake. What am I doing here? I’m supposed to be dead.

Ivan laughed.

Ivan: That’s quite right. But I’m in a position where I need you. So again, I’m at your mercy.

Terra: Says the one who's holding me hostage.

Ivan: I’m not sure I like your attitude Miss. Lorenz.

Terra: Since when did you call me that?

Ivan: Yuri, can you bring in Tempest?

Terra: Tempest?

Yuri scowled at Ivan.

Ivan: Oh, right.

Ivan snapped his fingers, and Tempest phased through the floor to be trapped with Terra. They had two chairs in between them and were tied together. None of them could move either way.

Ivan: I’ll let you two adjust to each other again.

Tempest: So. you died?

Terra: Not really. This isn’t how I wanted it to be. Here. This place, with him. I died to be cut free. Not to go back in chains.

Tempest: Sounds kind of selfish.

Terra: What else would I do?! People were going to die! I don’t live to try and make good with my gods!

Terra calmed down. She couldn’t let herself snap like that. She was given another chance at life. She thinks. There’s no way it’s for nothing.

Terra: Sorry.

Tempest: It’s okay, continue.

Terra: I didn’t know what else to do. I also had the choice of letting a bomb explode and kill hundreds of thousand citizens.

Tempest: You always find a good way to slip in a good deed.

Terra: I just didn’t want anyone else to die. They could’ve been innocent families, children.

Tempest: Don’t you have something in Skyland to run?

Terra: I have good people behind me. What about you, how have you been?

Tempest: Here. Nothing important. I discovered my father was a real asshole.

Terra: And why? Why did you do this?

Tempest: I’m what he wants. I wanted to stop things before they got bad. I saw you distressed that night. I couldn’t let you suffer like that. You were already having hard times.

Terra: Nice.

Tempest: Nice? There’s nothing nice about that.

Terra: No, it’s nice that you vented. I didn’t even have to ask.

Tempest: Now that you bring it up I feel self-conscious.

Terra: Don’t worry. I don't mind. It’s welcoming to hear your voice on my deathbed.

Tempest: Same to you. Even though I’m alive.

Terra: Hey, what happens if we leave? Do I stay dead?

Tempest: Only one way to find out.

Terra: It’s going to be harder than we think. Ivan won’t just let us go.

Tempest: Well, I’m sorry that I made things go bad.

Terra: Your sorry? I’m sorry I made you feel like you had to do th-

Tempest: I did it of my own account. If I was there when that explosion happened I could’ve saved you.

Terra: I’m not some damsel. I can take care of myself.

Tempest: Clearly you couldn’t then.

Eris came up to the two.

Eris: Look at you two, So cute together. You know, if you guys had a kid, Ivan would be a grandfather.

Terra: Don’t remind me.

Tempest: I’m not planning on him seeing his kids.

Eris: It really is terrible that your kid wouldn’t even have a grandmother. No grandparents. Who would believe that their grandparents were just bad people? Be serious? I could be the aunt though. Aunt Eris.

Terra: The fuck makes you an aunt? Compare the factors. Death to all the people we look up to, or Ivan not seeing his grandkids. I do wish Jilaya could’ve seen her kids. She deserved to.

Ivan came over to them once again.

Ivan: All of you have really been a pain. Eris, you want to try it again?

Eris tried to swipe the necklace off of Tempest’s chest. Her hand went right through him.

Eris: Stupid ass Astral Realm. Humans are so weak.

Ivan: Do you see why you’re here, Terra?

Terra: No. Why don’t you just kill me?

Ivan: I forgot, so weak minded. Tempest can’t just leave you when we take him out of the realm to take his necklace. So you’ll stay here like a good little girl. While me and Yuri claim our prize.

Terra: You could easily fend him off.

Ivan: He’s my son. Don’t underestimate him.

Yuri: He’s the key, literally.

Ivan: Right. If you two want to stand in my way, I know you will. But I will never give up. Not when I’ve made it this far, The stakes are too high.

## Issue 5 - The Key

Terra: We already talk about the type of house I want?

Tempest: Yup. You want an A frame and I don’t care.

Terra: Ah! How about rock-paper-scissors?

Tempest: Okay, rock-paper-scissors-shoot.

Terra: What’d you get?

Tempest: Say what we got at the same time.

Terra and Tempest: Rock.

Terra: Again. Rock-paper-scissors-shoot.

Terra and Tempest said it at the same time.

Terra: Paper.

Tempest: Rock.

Terra: Ha! You lose!

Ivan: Here it is. That’s all my savings.

Ivan gave Eris some sort of card.

Eris: You’re saying Charon will have access with this card?

Ivan: That’s right.

Eris: How much is on it?

Ivan: Enough. Plus I have a deal with Charon.

Eris: Why do you want to do this anyway?

Ivan: It’s a last ditch effort. Just another thing that’s good to have.

Eris: I do look up to you. You go through all this effort to spite that girl. Why do you hate her so much.

Ivan: Just don’t like her.

Yuri: And then some.

Ivan: Just make the transaction. Tell me if there’s not enough.

Eris: I got you.

Eris left.

Ivan: Maybe we should throw a party someday. I used to all the time with my old wife.

Yuri: Come on, why do you have to talk about her all the time?

Ivan: Oh don’t be jealous. Love is just a feeling that compels humans to have kids. That’s all it is. We’re better than that.

Yuri: I guess we are. Hey, after all of this is over, we should go on a big space crusade.

Ivan: I have always wanted to explore into the universe further.

Yuri: Y’know, I used to destroy planets. Remember that stone? With the right person holding it, that stone could level a planet.

Ivan: Why’d you destroy planets anyway?

Yuri: It was fun, and I was in search of something.

Ivan: What?

Yuri: My wings.

Ivan: Oh yeah, those old things. I still can’t believe your mother would do that to you.

Yuri: That’s why we need to take her out when she’s-

Ivan: Hold that thought please. It looks like we have a couple of eavesdroppers.

Terra: Not like we have anything else to do.

Ivan: Actually, you do.

Yuri: Well, Tempest does.

Terra: What?

Ivan and Yuri dragged Tempest out of his chains.

Terra: Temp, if you get the chance, run. Please.

Tempest: I can’t.

Ivan opened some sort of portal. Him and Yuri brought him into the real world. They were in a quiet part of the woods. Tempest immediately backhanded Ivan with all his strength. He went flying back.

Ivan: A good punch, they were never my thing.

Tempest: Time for you to die.

Tempest ran at Ivan and punched him around and around over and over again. Ivan waited for the perfect moment and sidestepped one of his punches and threw a kick at him. He dodged and ran around. Before he got to Ivan, Yuri grabbed him by the foot and slammed him on the ground. She brought him over her head and slammed him again. And then one more time for good measure. She picked him up and got him in a chokehold.

Yuri: I could actually kill you right now.

Ivan: No no, he can’t die. In a way, Tempest. You are the key. Do you really love Terra?

Tempest: What does it matter to you?

Ivan: Answer me honestly. I’m your father, after all. You can tell me about a little crush.

Tempest: You aren’t my father.

Ivan: If you have a kid with anyone. My name doesn’t die. The Springer heritage will go on. You have the power in you. Of an Astral Plane user.

Tempest fired an energy blast into Yuri’s face. She jumped back and put her hands over her face.

Tempest: If I have those powers, I could kill both of you here and go back for her.

Yuri screamed and decked Tempest in the head. He fell hard on the ground. He made the ground crush around Yuri. Ivan put chains around Tempest. He knelt down and ripped the phoenix charm off of Tempest’s neck.

Ivan: Oh Theodore. When will you learn?

Tempest broke the chains and attacked Ivan. Ivan blocked an energy blast and put his hand on Tempest’s head. Tempest’s vision changed.

Ivan: Think about the ways I could toture her. I could burn her to death.

Tempest saw Terra on a cross with a fire being lit under her.

Ivan: Isn’t it a good thought? I could cut her into fourths. Drawn and quartered.

Tempest: Stop! You piece of shit!

Tempest’s eyes went white and he fired a huge blast all around him. Ivan was sent flying back. Tempest manipulated the ground and made a spike. Ivan went right through it. Yuri made her radiation go out. She had to control her powers so it didn’t catch Ivan.

Yuri: Ivan! Be careful!

Ivan: Yes, I know.

Ivan got off of the spear, he accidently stepped into the radiation. His wound didn’t heal at all, and he started to burn badly. Even worse than Tempest. He jumped back.

Yuri: I told you to be careful!

Yuri punched Tempest in the face. His head hitting the ground with a hard thump.

Yuri: You’re going back.

Yuri brought her radiation barrier back.

Ivan: I think I know something that will suit her well.

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

Yuri and Ivan brought Tempest back. He was mauled.

Terra: Tempest!

Yuri threw Tempest down. Terra’s chair flipped up and she was sent flying into Ivan’s grasp.

Ivan: Why did you have to do that Tempest? Now Terra, you remember Donny, right?

Terra: Of course.

Ivan: When he died here, his soul didn’t move on. He will spend eternity in neverending blackness. How does that sound, Tempest?

Tempest: I’ll fucking kill you.

Ivan: I have to punish you. I’m sorry, my son.

Tempest: I’m not your son!

Ivan: How can you deny it?

Tempest: You left me in a tube for my whole childhood!

Terra: It’s okay, I’m sorry we couldn’t have the lives we wanted, Temp.

Yuri: Alright, let’s wrap this shit up.

Ivan: Right.

Yuri came over to Ivan. He held Terra in the air. Yuri stabbed Ivan in the stomach and threw him to the ground. He fell on the ground and dropped Terra. Another Yuri came out. She grabbed Yuri and threw her on the ground. Or, what was the ground. The Yuri who stabbed Ivan transmuted into Hades.

Hades: That was pretty awesome, I’m not gonna lie.

Hades threw Yuri off of himself.

Yuri: No!

Hades stood up, Athena and Ares appeared next to him. Delta came in from behind. She grabbed Terra, and Dionysus grabbed Tempest.

Delta: Go! Go!

Athena and Ares pushed back Yuri. Athena threw her shield at Yuri’s face. Ares jumped in at the same time and punched the shield into Yuri’s face. They escaped with the other Olympians.

## Issue 6 - Try again?

She went into her backyard where nobody was, she held the necklace in the air. But stopped when she heard some rustling in the bushes. Eris came out of the woods. Delta took out her gun.

Delta: Who the fuck are you?

Eris: You want an honest answer? I work for Ivan and Yuri. I’m helping to destroy the Olympians.

Delta: So why shouldn’t I blow your head off right now?

Eris: Because I have information for you. Terra is still alive.

Delta: How can I trust you?

Eris: Because I’m a god. You haven’t met Ivan. But his goal is to destroy the gods. I fear that he will kill me when everything is said and done. Terra and Tempest have a great chance of killing Ivan before things go bad for us.

Delta: Your saying Terra is still alive, how and where?

Eris: She’s in the Astral Realm. Ivan has her.

Delta ran into her house. She started shuffling through her old things. Until she found a necklace with an arrow on it. She came back out to her backyard.

Delta: You’d better not be lying.

Delta was brought up to Skyland. She saw everything had changed a bit. There was a new city. She went to the castle. She bumped into Kobu on her way up.

Delta: Oh, sorry.

Kobu: No. It is my bad.

Delta went to keep walking, but Kobu kept talking.

Kobu: I don’t see you around, who are you?

Delta: I was a friend of Terra, the god of Earth.

Kobu: I didn’t know her well.

Delta: I also don’t remember ever hearing about you. Where are you from?

Kobu smiled.

Kobu: It’s none of your concern. I’m not from here, though. I’m from a distant world. A world from back in time.

Delta: What? So you aren’t even an Olympian?

Kobu: Yes I am, now. Don’t worry about who I am! Worry about yourself!

Delta kept moving. She could tell Kobu was suspicious. She moved up to Hera’s room. Or Zeus’s throne room.

Hera: Delta? What are you doing here? I don’t have time for you.

Delta: I need help, Please.

Hera: Ugh. What do you want?

Delta: I need people to bring to the Astral Realm.

Hera: The Astral Realm? Why?!

Delta: I want to save Terra.

Hera: Save her?

Delta: Yeah. She’s in the Astral plane. Ivan has her hostage. If we don’t get her as soon as possible, she’ll die!

Hera: And?

Delta: You're an Olympian! You protect each other! She’s your best chance at killing Ivan! She knows him the best!

Hera: Well I guess she could be an asset against Ivan. So I will help you.

Delta: Good. Let’s put together a team.

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

Delta met up with a bunch of Olympians. Even Dionysus was there.

Athena: Our plan, we get in and get out. No dillydallying. The only one who will be in there for a prolonged amount of time is Hades.

Hades: This is going to be hilarious!

Hades shapeshifted into Yuri.

Hades: How do I look?

Dionysus: You look like a clone! I might need that shapeshifting thing for one of my parties. I wonder if Hesial can give it to me.

Athena: I doubt it, you’re lucky that you're even here. All of us earned our powers and weapons.

Ludus: C-can we just stop picking fights? He has the power to kill any of us. Remember Polybus?

Hephaestus: The kid is right. We need to be coordinated in our efforts. Especially you Athena.

Athena: R-right. We go in, get out. We may have to push Yuri or Eris back.

Delta: Did I seriously forget to mention that Eris was the one to help me? She showed me where Terra was.

Ares: All that bitch cares about is herself.

Delta: Well, you’re right. She only did it because she thinks Ivan will kill her if he gets any closer to his goals.

Athena: He probably will.

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

Delta was still in the Astral Plane as the Olympians were taking them all out. She was looking at Ivan. Ivan teleported them somewhere else in the Astral Realm. Away from everything.

Ivan: You are Delta? Remember me?

Delta: Of course. You tried to destroy Skyland.

Ivan: I almost succeeded. Tell me, Delta. How is the world free when it’s controlled by unjust gods? Celestials, Olympians, Angels, Beasts, and the ones who are above them. We are being controlled like puppets. My actions would make sense if you really thought about it.

Delta: You know that these gods are people too? The Olympians are people!

Ivan: Horrible people. But that’s what you think I am.

Delta: You beat me too it.

Ivan: I’m doing this for everyone. If I have to kill 12 Olympians, I don’t see the problem.

Ivan walked towards Delta, his sword came into his hand. Azrael’s blade. He slashed at Delta. Ludus came in from behind and pulled Delta out. She saw that Ivan had slashed his sword through the Astral Realm. Leaving some sort of dimensional hole. He looked at Delta and smiled.

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

Everyone returned to Skyland. Terra and Tempest weren’t in their real, earthly bodies yet. Well, Tempest was. Because he left in the Astral Realm. Terra was still ghostly.

Ludus: Thank god you’re alive!

Terra: I wouldn’t go that far.

Hesial came in front of them.

Hesial: Terra, you should’ve had this a long time ago. But you should have the power of an Earth god.

Hesial blessed Terra with some sort of power.

Hesial: I held off for so long because I hoped you would use the fountain of youth. But to each their own.

Terra: Thank you.

Hesial: Olympus is under attack. Again. We can’t let Ivan kill us. We have stood for millenniums The only way we can defeat him is by being ready to unite. Terra will go back to Earth. But we will prepare to protect ourselves against him. We need a weapon.

Hephaestus: I will get to work on something.

Terra: Should I really go back to Earth? I know him the best.

Hesial: If we need you, you’ll know.

Terra: He took my way to Olympus. He could be here any second.

Hesial: You have friends that need protecting. Ivan has vendettas against them too. So go. You’ll know if we need you.

Terra: Okay, I understand.

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

Terra, Delta, and Tempest went back to Earth. Tempest and Delta landed in Delta’s backyard.

Delta: What the hell? Where’s Terra?

Terra was still covered by rocks in the cave. She was revived. She opened her eyes and harnessed her new power. She palmed the boulders on her. They cracked. She did it one more time. They broke into pieces. She transmuted the boulders into walls that led her out of the cave.

Terra: Holy shit...this is awesome. Oh, and everything hurts.

Terra’s body was aching bad. And she felt like she could pass out at any second. She dragged herself out of the cave. She fell, as she fell she called her armor to herself. She stood back up and got out of the cave. She was looking at the outskirts of New York.

## Issue 7 - Come Alive

Terra was surprised to see her phone was still intact. She flipped it up and called Millie and Amelia.

Millie: Um, hello?

Terra: It’s me. I’m, uh. Alive.

Millie put the phone down and stepped away.

Terra: Hello?

Millie’s voice was shaky.

Millie: Hi, yeah. What’s up?

Terra: I know there’s lots I should probably explain. Can I come over?

Millie: Y-yeah.

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

Terra was sitting at Millie and Amelia’s house.

Terra: I think Ivan wanted the key to Skyland. He got it. But the Olympians and Delta came in and got me. They saved me. Well, now I’m here.

Millie: I thought you were gone…

Terra: Yeah. It’s pretty weird actually dying twice.

Amelia: Dying is pretty weird alright.

Terra: I can’t hang around too much. I have a mission now.

Tempest and Delta came into the apartment.

Delta: Of course this is where you are.

Terra: Oh, sorry. I was probably supposed to meet up with you.

Tempest: I don’t even think you know where Delta’s new place is.

Terra: New place?

Delta: I have a new camp. It’s like Artemis’s, but minus the verbal and physical abuse. Oh and gender equality. Anybody could join.

Terra: That’s awesome! You really went all out.

Delta: I’m trying.

Terra: And you guys are having that kid?

Amelia: It’s only been three months. I can still move around slightly normally.

Terra: You have a name?

Amelia: Donny.

Millie: Maybe Donna if it’s a girl.

Terra: Huh. Guess that’s a nice thought.

Tempest: We can’t mess around for too long. Ivan will be on top of us soon enough.

Terra: I know. That’s my last mission. We’re going to get him away from Earth and Skyland. I was so useless three months ago. Dying taught me that if I want to live, I have to work towards my life.

Tempest: That means getting rid of Ivan. Even if he is my father.

Terra: And then there’s the metahumans. Leaving them in those camps is like killing them. I can’t let them die. If I gave all the metas I deemed innocent a second chance, then the rest deserve a second chance too. I don’t care if it is more work. But I think that it’s humans who cause them to act this way. They can go to a place that is their own. Metas had no home here. But maybe I can give them a home. I’m shutting down the MFI as soon as I get through this. For good. It’s lots of work. But that’s what justice costs.

Millie: B.L.A.D.E and Stick’s probably going to be up your ass too…

Delta: Stick fucking tired to take my community away from me. He said we were weak. And he needed to help me by training them.

Terra: We can tell Stick to fuck off. Actually, I think I want to talk to him.

Millie: About what?

Terra: He’s going to leave me alone.

Tempest: And I think he can prove my theory…

Terra: Theory?

Tempest: To my knowledge Stick was there when Ivan attacked you. When I fought them before they took the necklace, Yuri used her radiation powers. She yelled at Ivan to watch out. Ivan stepped into the radiation and got horrible burnt. Like, worse than us.

Terra: What do you think?

Tempest: That Yuri’s radiation is the key to snuffing out Ivan. For good. Stick’s a smart guy, I wonder what he’ll think about it.

Terra: Alright. Me and Tempest are going.

Millie: I’ll go too.

Terra: Okay.

Millie: I think Stick might have to do with a case of mine.

Terra: Case?

Millie: Oh yeah, I’m a police chief now. Someone was complaining that their daughter joined a cult. Maybe they aren’t with Delta. Maybe their with Stick.

Terra: Alright then, let’s go.

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

Ivan and Yuri were laying in bed together. He held the Phoenix necklace above himself.

Ivan: Just look at it. It’s beautiful.

Yuri: You really are there. You are about to finish your goal.

Ivan: Did you doubt it?

Yuri: For a little while.

Ivan: I wish you could have met my kids. Erica and Axel.

Yuri: Erica and Axel?

Ivan: Yes. They were great kids. Strong warriors. They would’ve liked you. Well, I know Axel would. Erica was always distant. Even still when she passed. Axel was strong until the last moment.

Yuri: You miss them?

Ivan: Very much, yes.

Yuri: I’ve thought about having my own offspring. But I couldn’t do that to myself.

Ivan: What do you mean?

Yuri: I couldn’t continue mom’s bloodline.

Ivan: You were Artemis for a time, right?

Yuri: I was Yuri. Artemis merely replaced me once I left. My father was Kronos. I was stronger, more powerful than all of them. Then Hera cursed me with this radiation.

Ivan: That’s why I can’t touch you for so long.

Yuri: I’m sorry for that. They said “now you will never get close to anyone.” Literally and figuratively. I’ll kill them for leaving me like this. Especially my mom for letting them do it.

Ivan: We’ll get that curse lifted.

Yuri: Killing Hera would do the trick.

Ivan: Works out.

Eris came back.

Eris: Alright. It’s done.

Ivan: Good job, Eris. Shall we prepare, now?

Yuri: I’m more than ready.

Ivan: Great. Let us kill them all.

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

Yuri: Mom! Mom! Look at this!

Hesial, in a large red robe came over to the child. Yuri showed her a picture. It was a badly drawn picture of her mom with wings.

Hesial: Wow! This is nice! You’re so creative, Yuri!

Yuri laughed childishly.

Hesial: Alright. You’ll be meeting some kids in school tomorrow. It’s your first day. Get ready!

Yuri: Ugh, I don’t really want to go to school. All those other kids you had aren’t like me.

Hesial: How so?

Yuri: They're weaklings.

Hesial: Lots of you are bound by blood. You’ll be fine. Either way, strength isn’t everything.

Years pass

Kronos walked the skies of Olympus. Zeus was the only one left, Hesial was watching the battle anxiously. The gigantic titan was trying to crush Zeus. Zeus was narrowly dodging. He brought a huge lightning bolt down upon himself and went flying into the air.

Zeus: Now you die!

Zeus made his lightning bolt into a huge sword.

Kronos: Weakling!

Kronos caught Zeus’s bolt in his hand. He summoned all of his power and cut through his hand. He sliced Kronos into pieces. All of the first-gen Olympians came pouring out. Yuri and Hesial watched.

Yuri: That really was my father?

Hesial: He had become too hungry with power.

Zeus floated down. He fell to his knees, breathing heavily. Kronos started to reform. His body was put back together by the clocks of time.

Hesial: Yuri. He won’t survive if you don’t-

Yuri: Yes, I know.

Yuri jumped off the top of the castle. She was wearing the first set of Artemis armor. The one that would be given to Terra one day. She made it fly off of herself and stabbed Kronos in the eyes with her armor. She took something out. A ball of blue energy. She broke it. It’s energy absorbed into her. She sprouted wings, just like Hesials, her body changed into that of a dragon’s. Yuri roared. It was heard all throughout Olympus. Kronos turned around to be trampled by Yuri. She tackled him to the ground and breathed fire into his face. She ripped him to shreds.

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

Another day, Yuri came into her mom’s study room.

Yuri: Mom! What the fuck is this?!

Hesial: What is what?

Yuri showed Hesial the passage in the Olympian text about Kronos being defeated.

Yuri: No mention of me?! At all?! Why?

Hesial: Look Yuri, you’re different than my other kids. People are...afraid of you.

Yuri: Afraid?

Hesial: You’re the child of that thing. Kronos.

Yuri: You’re saying that’s why I’m never invited to dinners? Or parties? Or anything?! You act like I don’t exist! You subject me to look after fire with Hestia! I’m greater than that! You know it!

Hesial: Keep your voice down.

Yuri: Are you really even in control?

Yuri slammed her hands on Hesial’s desk.

Yuri: Tell me!

Hesial: No! I’m not! They think their more powerful than me! Everyday it gets harder to turn into my natural form.

Yuri grabbed Hesial’s hair. It burnt off as soon as Yuri grabbed her.

Hesial: Hera...She didn’t…Listen, daughter. Help me this one time. Then I’ll-

Yuri: Help yourself. Fuck off.

Yuri threw the papers and books that were on Hesial’s desk off.

Yuri: Learn to control your kids.

Yuri left the room. And Skyland. Never to be seen. Until the first attack.

## Issue 8 - Burning Inside

Stick: That form is shit! Slow it down. I want quality, not quantity. You miss one hit, it means death.

Terra came into the training room. All the kids stopped and looked at Terra, with Millie and Tempest behind her.

Stick: Look who’s back.

Terra: Yeah, I’m back. We want info.

Stick: Can’t you see I’m teaching? All right listen up! This is one of my old students. Show em a move.

Terra: A move?

Stick: Remember that move that you liked? It was your favorite.

Terra: Ugh. Okay students, um.

Terra looked ominously into the crowd of kids.

Terra: We’re going to go over my favorite move.

Stick: Sae!

Terra: Yeah, I’ll need Sae to show it. It’s a simple combo. But it’s devastating.

Sae came over and got in a stance.

Terra: Throw your front kick, right at the center of the knee. But don’t follow all the way through. Push off of someone’s leg to jump into a superman punch. Try simulating it on your bags.

Stick: You aren’t as perceptive as me. Walk around. Examine them.

Terra did just that. She went around and saw the kids doing what she showed. Many of them did it great. She thought about it, martial arts was empowering. It made you feel like you were strong. But it didn’t matter. Because all you really were was Stick’s weapon. Millie took out a picture of Mrs. Murdock’s daughter. She walked around. Looking for a kid that matched the look.

Terra: Hey, remember. When your in a fight. Don’t punch the bag, or in this case, person. Punch through them. Make it hurt. Throw that superman through the person.

Millie saw a kid out of the corner of her eye. One that looked like the kid in the picture. She looked around and took out her phone. Sae came next to her and knocked her phone on the floor and crushed it.

Millie: Hey! What the hell?

Stick took Millie into a separate room.

Stick: So you’re a cop?

Millie: No.

Stick: So you’re a lying cop?

Millie: Dammit. What do you care?

Stick: Which kid is it?

Sae had the picture that Millie just had in her pocket.

Sae: Emma Murdock.

Stick: Her parents reported her?

Millie: It doesn’t matter.

Stick: I can tell what you're thinking. So that’s a yes.

Sae: Looks like we have to kill them.

Stick: Yup.

Tempest was sitting in the corner of the room watching Terra teach. She always had a smile on her face when dealing with the kids. It seemed like she was lifting their spirits.

Stick, Millie and Sae came out into the room.

Millie: You can’t…

Sae: Who said we can’t?

Millie: The cops will get you. I literally am a cop.

Sae: We have no records. You’ll find nothing about us.

Millie: I know your faces.

Stick: Alright! That’s it for the lesson. You kids go and grab something to eat while I deal with the company here.

Terra: What is it?

Millie: Stick wants to kill that girl’s parents!

Stick: They wouldn’t be the first. You dumbasses really don’t understand that this is for the greater good.

Millie: It’s not right!

Tempest looked at Terra.

Terra: Okay, let’s forget about this, we came to Stick with a question.

Stick: What do you want now?

Terra: You remember Yuri? And that radiation shit she did?

Stick: Yeah.

Terra: You spent some time with them, do you know if that radiation stuff hurts Ivan?

Stick: Well, she was afraid to use it around Ivan. But wasn’t afraid to use it around Eris. I remember when she got close to him, Ivan felt a bad feeling. I never got any readings from him before. So yeah, shit probably especially hurts him.

Terra: I think that’s all the evidence we need.

Stick: Plus, I couldn’t tell what kind of radiation it was. Must’ve been something special. That all you fucking want?

Terra: Yeah.

Stick: Oh you son of a bitches.

Sae: What is it?

Stick: Movement upstairs. They’ve got automatics and heavy armor. It’s B.L.A.D.E soldiers.

Tempest: Huh. I called 911.

Terra: Everyone! Come here!

Terra made a mound of dirt shoot them out of the place. She broke through the ceilings with her armor. They got to the ground floor and ran out.

Terra: Y’know, he isn’t going to like that.

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

The group came back to the apartment.

Millie: I don’t know if I’ll be able to save that girl.

Tempest: Again, I thought I called 911.

Terra: Maybe they knew it was you somehow.

Tempest: That’s even worse.

Terra yawned.

Terra: Where are we gonna sleep?

Tempest: Who knows? I can sleep on the ground, you can get the couch.

Millie: Yeah, our apartment is pretty small, sorry.

Delta: I can get you guys rooms.

Terra: How about one room? You okay with that Tempest?

Tempest: By all means.

Delta: Okay. Just don’t fuck up the sheets.

Terra: Oh fuck off.

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

Terra, Delta, Tempest, Millie and Amelia walked into the camp. Terra saw the civilization Delta made. It felt like it was inspired by Artemis’s group. But everyone walking around the camp seemed much more higher spirited. She remembered the days at Stick’s dojo. Nobody was really high spirited, they knew there was a day of long training ahead of them. The group sat next to a fire.

Terra: So this is where your travels brought you?

Delta: Yeah. I traveled the state, as you know. I tried to atone. There were a couple families that wanted me to kill myself. I can’t believe I could’ve seen a guy and wanted to rip his fucking dick off. I felt like the last thing I needed to do was make things right with mom.

Terra: Yeah. I guess you're trying your best.

Delta: I hope so.

Terra: Delta, you know that Ivan is going to want to kill you just about as much as me now. If I can’t kill him, he’ll go after you.

Amelia: I don’t think that applies to only her. We don’t know if there’s even a good way to kill him.

Tempest: We need to somehow get him to go into Yuri’s radiation. He will wither faster than any of us. So we should be able to survive.

Terra: Shit...I’ve got an idea.

Millie: Oh, I can’t wait to see this.

Terra: It might be too hard to get Yuri to hurt Ivan accidentally, and who’s to say that she can’t just put away her power if she thinks Ivan is going to die?

Tempest: That’s surprisingly perceptive of you.

Terra: I got this device from B.L.A.D.E a while ago. It was your mom’s, Temp.

Tempest: What was?

Terra: Fury told me that it’s what she used to steal Empyrean’s powers. It’s got one use left, and I’m pretty sure the power gets stored in the device, because that’s how Jilaya shot her blasts at me back in San Francisco.

Tempest: So, do you have it on you?

Terra: Well, no. But we still have time to get it.

Amelia: I can just get it.

Terra: Are you sure that’s good for you?

Amelia: Well, we drove while I was pregnant. I could run.

Millie: Those don’t correlate…

Amelia: What’s it look like?

Terra: It straps to your wrist, kinda circular, it’s black and white I think.

Delta: How was being dead anyway? I can’t imagine having that much grief.

Terra: Well, you kinda can.

Delta: My numbers were far from millions. I know you were affected.

Terra: I was heavily depressed. Maybe I still am. But I have to beat Ivan first.

Delta: I don’t think there’s a scenario where you keep him alive, just so you know.

Terra: Yeah, I know. I’m okay with that.

Tempest: He has to pay.

Amelia returned with the device Terra was looking for. She handed her the device and a little book under it. Terra took both.

Terra: Hey, what’s this?

Amelia: A little gift. I figured we could look it over.

Terra: A gift?

Terra opened the book. It was a picture book. Everyone watched Terra looking through. She got a little teary-eyed.

Tempest: What is it?

There were pictures from different moments in Terra’s journey. A selfie she had taken with Donny and Amelia

Millie: Ha! Why do you look like your trying so hard to not feel emotions Amelia?

Amelia: I was slightly more of a dick back then.

There was a group picture from their road-trip. Pictures Amala and her took together, even one with Themis in it, another taken of her, Tempest and Lobo at the party from long ago. And more pictures Lobo had taken.

Terra: Lobo always thought it was great to keep memories.

Terra saw a picture of her and her grandparents. A copy of the one framed in her room.

Terra: This is great.

Amelia: I compiled it last minute. Even thought about going back in time and taking pics. That would’ve ended badly.

The group took a couple hours to talk about good times. Like a normal group of friends. It felt refreshing.

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

Terra and Tempest headed to bed. They had a cabin that was theirs. They laid down in bed together.

Terra: Let’s get some rest. It’s a big day ahead of us.

Tempest: Yeah, it’s a big day for us.

Tempest rolled over to Terra. They looked each other in the eyes.

Tempest: We’re gonna do it instead of resting though. Right?

Terra: Figured that was unspoken.

Tempest: Yeah, did you hear me say it?

Terra: Nope.

They leaned in and kissed each other.

## Issue 9 - B.L.A.D.E Strikes

Stick: You wanna know where she went? How about you fuck off and pretend this never happened.

Bordon’s hologram came out of a beacon a B.L.A.D.E soldier was holding.

Bordon: Where Terra went? She’s back?

Stick: That’s right. She doesn’t die for very long.

Bordon smiled.

Bordon: Of course...How silly of me.

Stick: Yeah, you’re a dumbass, so you want to know?

Bordon: Sure.

Stick: Did you ever check to see if Tempest went back online?

Bordon did just that. He took out his phone and opened a special app.

Bordon: ...and he’s with her. Great. Why doesn’t he get why she’s bad news?

Stick: Just go there and take her out.

Bordon: Yeah yeah.

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

Terra woke up. Tempest was surprisingly fast asleep. She sat up and put a bra and shirt on. She got dressed and walked outside.

Delta: Sleep well?

Terra: Yep. Of course.

Delta: We’ve got fine cotton sheets. Of course you did. Or do you guys do it with the sheets off? So everyone can see ya. Or get that shit on tape.

Terra: You’re so immature.

Millie and Amelia came out of a cabin as well.

Millie: Wow, those cabins are even better than our apartments.

Delta: They were community-built. Hope the plumbing still works.

Terra: We don’t have much time to waste. That machine, it only has one use. I hope it still works.

Millie: You’d probably need a way to find Yuri and Ivan, though.

Terra: True…

Delta: Why would they even come out of the woodwork? They are in a better position staying in the Astral realm.

Terra: Probably to spite me.

Delta: I don’t think Ivan’s that stupid.

Bordon was walking through the woods. He had recovered his old sword. He weaved through the woods with soldiers following him. He peered through the woods. He saw Terra out in the open. Talking to Delta.

Bordon: Eyes on the target, take the shot.

Bordon was so focused on the possible battle against Terra coming up, that he didn’t even notice that his soldiers were gone. He didn’t care. He couldn’t have Terra ruining things anymore. He looked at his tracker. It was reading Tempest inside of a structure. He summoned his soul blade’s power and turned invisible. He went to the cabin Tempest was in. He got rid of his cloak. He stepped towards Tempest, but felt something split open. Felt himself split open. Stick had stabbed him in the back.

Stick: Guess you weren’t expecting that.

Bordon: Damn, let me try it again then.

Bordon saw himself get stabbed. He did it again, he snuck up to the house and reappeared in front of Stick. Stick jumped over him and slashed Bordon just barely dodged. Tempest immediately woke up. He fired an energy blast at both of them. They went flying out of the cabin. Everyone’s attention was called to the two warriors.

Terra: Look who's here. Of course.

Stick’s soldiers started coming out of the woodwork. One of them stabbed one of Delta’s women in the back.

Delta: Hey!

She shot the soldier right in the face.

Delta: What the fuck?

Terra: They tracked us somehow.

Tempest grabbed his sword from the night table and blasted himself at Bordon. He blocked Tempest and sent him flying up in the air. He came flying down at Bordon. Stick jumped in the air and knocked Tempest down. He came over next to Terra and Delta. Terra called her armor to herself.

Terra: Why now?

Tempest: I wouldn’t question it. Let’s worry about killing them.

Delta: They are attacking my home. I think killing them is a decent compromise.

Bordon pushed Stick off of him and jumped towards Terra. He lifted his big sword above himself and bore down on Terra. She put her hands up and blocked his sword.

Terra: You just won’t go away, will you?

Bordon: Right back at you. You just don’t seem to die.

She took off her gauntlets and rushed forward and nailed Bordon in the stomach. She punched him up in the air and her gauntlets hit him down. He stabbed his sword into the ground to stop the fall.

Terra: You try and stop me at every turn. Why?

Bordon: Because you stop this country from progressing! You should understand why I hate you. Everything you did, I had to clean up.

Terra: What about the five years I spent working for you?

Bordon: I had a country to rebuild! You wouldn’t be able to be president. You’d probably kill yourself during your first term!

Terra yelled and threw a kick at Bordon. He blocked it and slashed at Terra’s legs. She jumped in the air and took her spear out and slashed down at Bordon. He jumped way back.

Delta: Hey! Help me take out these ninja things!

A member of Delta’s tribe shot a couple of Stick’s soldiers with arrows. But Some of his soldiers had snuck around. They got the members in chokeholds.

Stick: Slit their throats!

A bunch of bullets shredded the soldiers. Nick Fury walked in with an automatic. He shot at Stick and Bordon. Stick blocked shots and Bordon stabbed his sword into the ground and hid behind it.

Nick Fury: You need help?

Nick Fury took out a sword. It glowed purple. He jumped in, him, Bordon, and Stick all clashed.

Bordon: Fury, I wasn’t expecting to see you here.

Nick Fury: You’re trying to kill an asset. Frankly, I’m tired of you steering the ship. This isn’t how the world will prosper.

Nick slashed up and broke the clash. Stick dodged slashes from both of them. Bordon slashed at Nick. Who blocked and took out his gun. Bordon knocked it down and it fired off. Stick stabbed at him from the back. He jumped in the air.

Delta: We have to stop this,

Delta and Terra made their armors fly in the air and knocked down Bordon as he was in the air. Tempest stabbed his sword down next to his head.

Tempest: From here, you’ll get out of my life.

Bordon: You’re a dumbass. I took you in, I am the reason you stand above me. Respect me!

Tempest: You should’ve paid attention to what I would’ve turned into then.

Bordon: Call for reinforcements.

Stick was still battling with Fury.

Stick: Another B.L.A.D.E pig.

Nick Fury: What’s got you so fed up with us?

Stick: You just piss me off.

Stick kicked Nick Fury in the knee. He fell back and Stick slashed off Fury’s hand. His sword fell.

Nick Fury: So you're just a dick to be a dick? Funny.

Stick: There’s a certain amount of balance that should be supported. You offset it.

Stick raised his sword. He stopped as he slashed down. His old skin turned into stone. Eris strolled past Bordon, Stick and Fury and turned them all to stone. She held her umbrella over her head and smiled.

Eris: Nice to see you all again. Good thing those annoyances won’t get in the way of our final battle.

Delta: I thought we were friends.

Eris: Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer. You are neither, so I don’t know where you fall in that group.

Terra put her hand in front of everyone.

Terra: Get your people out of here, Delta.

Delta, Amelia and Millie started guiding people out. Tempest jumped in from behind Eris to stab her. But she turned him to stone.

Eris: I want a battle with you. That’s all. The youngest Olympian. Maybe you can stand a chance against me.

## Issue 10 - Love Radiates

Terra tried out her new powers. She made a wall come up in front of Eris and pushed her back. She took out a small golden blade and slashed through the wall. She teleported behind Terra.

Eris: Boo.

She kicked her in the back and slashed her with her knife. Terra blocked but Eris pushed her back with her umbrella and cartwheeled over to Terra, hitting her twice in the head. Terra grabbed her leg and slammed her on the ground.

Eris: I am a unique Olympian. Maybe many don’t like me because I have no powers of my own. They called me a leech.

Terra stabbed forward with her spear. Eris dodged and grabbed it. She made a blast of fire go down the spear and burnt Terra’s hands.

Eris: Any corpse I’m able to touch, I gain the powers of. That was Hestia.

Terra: So you are a leech.

Terra knew deep down, she had no idea what to expect from Eris.

Eris: Show me what you can do. Please. I’m getting bored.

Terra made a wall form around Eris. She stabbed her spear through it. She was able to slash Eris in the stomach. She grabbed Terra’s spear again and pulled it in. Terra slammed into her own wall. She made it fall over on top of Eris. She jumped up in the air and took out her gun. She fired a bunch of shots into the rubble. Eris blasted out of it.

Eris: Embrace the power of the sun!

The sun shined upon both of them. Terra felt things get hot. Eris made a huge ball of fire come behind Terra. She grabbed Terra by the neck and brought her into the burning flames. Luckily, it exploded in the air. Eris and Terra came down.

Eris: Apollo. He was very powerful. Now get up!

Terra sat up. She was nearly untouched. She turned off destruction.

Terra: What? You think that would’ve hurt?

Eris stood up and was hit by Terra’s chestplate from the back. The chestplate pulled her towards Terra. Eris took out her gun. She fired two shots into Terra’s stomach and chest areas. Terra turned on destruction to deal with the pain. She took out her spear and spun it around. She slashed through Eris’s torso. Split in two.

Terra: God…

Out of the debris of the big sun that was in the air, someone fell through. She landed directly on Eris. She destroyed her bottom half with her foot. Yuri looked down at Eris, and then at Terra.

Yuri: Looks like you killed her for us. How nice of you.

Eris: Haha. You 're going to kill me anyway, right?

Yuri: Now that you say it…

Yuri rested her boot on Eris’s head.

Yuri: I was going to have Ivan do it.

Terra looked around. She fired on destruction and punched Yuri in the stomach. She slid backwards.

Yuri: You have a good right hand.

Terra stabbed her spear at Yuri. Yuri let it stab through her hand. She winced a little bit. She took it from Terra’s hands and snapped it in half. She closed her fist and punched Terra in the face. She felt her bones snap back and try to reposition themselves. Her cheek bled. She fell into a roll and hit a tree. She spit out some blood.

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

Delta: Go go go! How many are left?

Millie: Amelia!

Amelia: Like, ten!

Millie: Yuri, she’s there now.

Delta: Amelia, just grab the ten and take them out.

Amelia: Got it.

Amelia started grabbing them one by one.

Delta: Y’know, after Yuri shows up, usually Ivan isn’t far behind.

Amelia came back to grab the other two. She felt something coming. She jumped back. Ivan stabbed his sword through one. And sliced the other person’s head off.

Ivan: You are quite perceptive, Delta.

Millie’s hand lit up red from the offensive stone.

Ivan: I figured we would stop here and kill you before going to Olympus. We need to be in the real wo-

Millie punched Ivan in the head. She felt his head blow off like glass. She pinned him down and punched his body more. He caught one of her punches as his head grew back. He pulled Millie’s hand back. Delta took out her axe and slashed down. Ivan blocked it and ripped the offensive stone right out of Millie’s robotic arm. There was a slot seemingly made for it on his sword. He put the stone in it. A rush of red went through the sword.

Ivan: The miracle of childbirth. You two, stay out of my way. I will let you live.

Ivan slashed the sword, and a shockwave came out of it. All of them were blasted back.

Terra got up. She didn’t go up against Yuri. She started to go to her and Tempest’s cabin. To grab her device.

Yuri: Oh Terra~! Where are you going?

Tempest broke from his stone prison. He slashed straight at Yuri. She dodged.

Yuri: You really are strong. Last time we fought you we’re a real pain in the ass. You really would make a great son.

Tempest: I’m nobodies son.

Tempest slashed at Yuri’s neck. She put up her arm. His sword barley even went through her skin. She grabbed him by the face and slammed him on the ground. She let her radiation barrier come out a little. Tempest started to burn. He screamed in agony. Yuri felt a device stab into her back. Her powers were stuck. Terra was forced to get close enough that she was burning. She turned on destruction.

Terra: The fuck? Still burning, still burning!

Yuri started to lose her consciousness. Her barrier slowly got smaller. Tempest and Terra still felt their skin charring off. They reached for each other's hands. Ivan got there just in time to see Yuri falling.

Ivan: Yuri..,Dammit.

Ivan tried to pass the barrier.

Yuri: No! You’ll die!

Ivan: I don’t care. I don’t want to lose you.

Yuri: It’s okay. I enjoyed our time.

Terra saw the device starting to light up more and more. Yuri’s radiation barrier went away. She fell. Terra and Tempest were just trying to recover.

Ivan: My love…

Ivan yelled and jumped in with his sword. Terra hit the button on the device, a radiation barrier went around her. She didn’t get burnt. Tempest stumbled away. Yuri’s body was getting burnt. Ivan jumped back. He looked at Terra.

Ivan: Why? Why must you do this to me? You say I took everything you loved. Did you realize you did the same to me?

Ivan held up Terra’s phoenix necklace. He was sent to Olympus.

Delta and the rest came out. Terra and Tempest looked at them.

Delta: What happened?

Terra: He went to Skyland.

## Issue 11 - The Dragon

Delta: Skyland?! Who knows what he could do up there!

Terra: Probably what he did last time.

Delta: Shit, we have to go after him.

Tempest: We can kill him now. We have the power.

Terra: All we need to do is get close in.

Delta: Well fuck, if that’s all we need to do to save the universe, then let me go grab Artemis’s way up.

Terra: Ivan is still your dad, Tempest. Are you sure you’re up to it?

Tempest: He is no father of mine. As far as I’m concerned, my father is dead.

Terra: We just have to make him dead.

Tempest: That’s right. After we beat him Terra, we can do that thing you talked about.

Terra: What thing?

Tempest: We can move in together. Live in the woods. I saw the things you scribbled down in your journal. Imagine it. We can live together in our own little pocket.

Terra: Heh, I’d like that. We should do that.

Delta came back with the necklace. She tripped and fell on her face.

Millie: Hey, you okay?

Delta: Yeah, I never fall like tha-

Delta looked down at Yuri’s body. Her eye was open. But not her normal eye. The one that was always mauled. Her eye was pure blue. She crawled to her feet. Tempest stabbed his sword into her head. She fell down. Blood poured from his sword.

Delta: Jeez, what the fuck…

Amelia: I’ll never wipe that from my memory.

Yuri’s hand still moved. She put her hand into her eye. She ripped her eye out, which was really a pure blue crystal of some sort. She crushed the crystal.

Terra: What is she…

Tempest’s sword flew out of Yuri. Her body changed. She grew a tail. She fell into extreme pain. It had been so long. Horns came from her head, and wings came from her back.

Yuri looked at all of them with hate in her eyes.

Yuri: Let’s see which one of you I’ll disassemble first…

Terra: What the fuck…

Yuri transformed more. Her actual body changed now. She got bigger, and bigger. She shed her human-like form. To reveal a more wild form. A dragon form. A huge black and blue dragon form.

Terra, Millie, Amelia, Delta and Tempest looked up at the huge beast. It glared down at them. It shot a huge blast of blue fire at them. Terra and Delta covered the group with their armor. Terra made the ground come up and cover them.

Terra: How the fuck do we expect to defeat a dragon?

Delta: Guess the best we can do is try. Wonder if it’s got a weak spot.

Tempest left the protection.

Tempest: Let’s see how it responds to my sword.

Tempest took out a serum. The gamma meta gene.

Tempest: It’s been a while since I used this.

He stabbed himself with the serum.

Terra: Theo!

Tempest was caught off guard by the use of his real name.

Terra: You’ll die.

Tempest: Only if she kills me.

Delta: Fuck it. Let’s throw all we’ve got as this piece of shit.

New York looked upon the huge dragon. Yuri shot another blast of fire out. She destroyed trees in bulk. And set fire to the landscape. Tempest ran up Yuri’s tail and ran on her. He looked for something like a weak spot.

Millie: My soul blade power doesn’t work!

Amelia: The last time I used my speed on Yuri my hand almost burnt off!

Millie: We can’t risk you getting too close.

Amelia: We can’t risk you either!

Terra: Hey Delta. You wanna take a swing?

Delta: What do I have to lose? Except everything.

Delta made herself fly with her armor. She flew up towards the rampaging Yuri. She took out her axe. Terra made some stairs that she began jumping across to get to Yuri. Yuri shook Tempest off, he went flying off of her. He stabbed his sword into her side. She didn’t seem to feel anything. He saw Terra and Delta coming up.

Terra: Tempest! Get ready!

Terra and Delta switched on their destruction forms. They got super high. Yuri looked up and fired a blast of fire. Amelia ran up the side of a hill and threw Millie far into the air. She was able to absorb the energy of the fire blast. She fell at Yuri’s head. She readied another fire blast. Terra and Delta fell next to Millie, Terra made her gauntlet fly up, Tempest grabbed on and made himself fall as fast as possible. He shot blasts from his hands to fall faster.

Terra: Die!

Millie let out the energy from the fire blast, Delta slammed her axe into Yuri’s head, Terra made a huge spike out of Earth and stabbed into Yuri’s head. Tempest came down like a lightning bolt and slashed into the beast’s head and ran down to her back with his sword and an energy blast. Yuri let out a scream so loud that everyone went flying away. She put her paw on her head. Blood was gushing. She flew up into the sky. Eventually disappearing.

Millie: Brace for impact!

Amelia ran around on the ground. She made a tornado that caught everyone. She ran opposite of the tornado’s spin and brought them to the ground safely.

Amelia: Everyone okay?

Terra: Could be better. We did just fight a dragon.

Delta: She probably went to Skyland!

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

Hera was sitting in a hot spring with her friends.

Hera: ...Oh! And you’ll want to hear this! Athena has been an absolute bitch since that Earth bitch came back! She’s been making a big plan. She’s so uptight.

Hera’s friend: Probably because she’s a virgin!

Hera: That’s definitely got something to do with it! You guys would really want to hear about Terra. She thinks things can just be fit if she thinks about them being fixed. She’s just plain stupid! She never even had what it takes to be an Olympian, way too soft.

Hera’s other friend: I swear to god, with each generation the newbies just get softer and softer.

Hera’s friend: One day Olympus is just going to be a bunch of pussies.

Hera stood up and put a towel around herself.

Hera: You woman got some humans you wanted to curse, right?

Hera took out a book. She flipped through the pages.

Ivan: Well, actually. They had someone they wanted to un-curse.

Hera: Un-curse, who would want to do tha-

Hera turned around. Ivan had sliced the head off of one of the women. He was holding one under the water. He stabbed his sword through her.

Hera: I-Ivan. If I uncurse who you want, then you could leave me alive! I am valuable to you!

Ivan came up to Hera. He slashed her arm off that was holding the book.

Ivan: You will feel the pain Yuri felt.

Ivan stabbed her in the stomach. But he didn’t let her die. He charged the water with electricity. He dropped her in the water and watched her scream. He advanced to the castle. He used his chains to climb to the top of the castle. His voice was heard all throughout Olympus.

Ivan: The world the gods have created is in shambles. It’s vicious and merciless. There’s no escaping fate, no hiding from it. Sooner or later, it will catch up to you. I will catch up to you. The only thing you can do is run or accept defeat. You can find the light at the end of the tunnel, I will be standing there. New gods or older gods, they must all cease. We’re controlled by gods high above us. If it’s not Olympians, it’s Celestials, if it’s not Celestials it’s Beasts. I will not be bound by fate like you.

The castle behind Ivan exploded. He fell off. And landed nicely on the ground. He looked up. He saw Hesial flying above him in her dragon form.

Hesial: You just had to do this. You can’t be allowed to live, Ivan.

Hesial flew down directly at Ivan. Ivan slashed his sword directly at her wings. But nothing happened.

Hesial: You can’t erase me that easily.

Hesial fired a huge stream of fire out of her mouth. But another stream of fire collided with her’s. There was a huge explosion in the middle. Taking out part of the mountain. Yuri flew up in the air with Ivan riding on her. Hesial flew directly across from them.

## Issue 12 - Only One God Here

Houses were falling, and Mount Olympus was shaking. People ran throughout the town, trying to protect each other. Everyone came to each other's aid. Some metas had never seen that. They didn’t expect it. Throughout the clouds, blood splattered on the ground. It’s final hour had come. Ivan jumped off of Yuri. He slashed through Ares’s armies. He locked swords with the overbearing god. It wasn’t enough. So he cut him down. Who was the god of war to provoke him?

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

Terra: That’s it?

Delta: Last time I checked, this thing works.

Tempest: Let’s bring an end to this.

Terra: And you guys?

Terra looked at Millie and Amelia.

Terra: I’m guessing you two are staying.

Millie: Sorry, I can’t risk it.

Terra: It’s okay.

Amelia: Rip his head off for me!

Terra: Go home, Millie. You’re a mother. That’s your responsibility. This, this is mine.

Millie: I’ll be pretty disappointed if you come back dead again. Remember what you’re fighting for.

Delta stepped away from Millie and Amelia and beamed everyone else up to Skyland.

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

Hesial and Yuri traded blows. Hesial bit into Yuri’s side and she screamed. Yuri fired a blast of fire right at Hesial’s head. She flew back. Her eyes lit up, and the mountains around them began to shift. They spiked up, and Yuri flew high up to avoid it. A mountain peak stabbed Yuri through the wings.

Hesial: Stop this! Stop hurting my children!

Yuri fired another blast, this time more concentrated, into Hesial’s stomach. She went flying through a couple mountains. Ivan dodged some debris and slashed through it. He had Poseidon’s trident at his feet.

Ivan: God…

The trident flew in the air like it had a mind of its own. It stabbed through Ivan’s stomach and pinned him down. Terra jumped down in front of him. She stabbed him through the chest with her spear, which she had repaired with her Earth magic.

Ivan: Very nice. You know this won’t kill me though.

Tempest came down next to Ivan. He used his powers. Ivan started getting burnt badly. He yelled and electrocuted Tempest. He let the spear and trident do the damage, and stood up through the weapons. He kicked Tempest away.

Ivan: Think about it. As long as he stays alive, my family line continues.

Terra: You’re sick, you know that, right?

Delta fired a bunch of shots into Ivan.

Ivan used his astral chains to chain Tempest to the mountain. Delta slashed overhead with her axe. Ivan sidestepped it and slashed at the Axe’s handle. Before he could stab Delta in the face, Terra spun her staff around and slashed his hand off. She went to grab his sword, but he kneed her in the face and grabbed it.

Ivan: Two of us left.

Terra: Yep.

Ivan: I don’t like to admit it. But let’s be honest.

Ivan slashed at Terra. She blocked his hit. Ivan shot a lightning bolt into her face and kicked her back.

Ivan: There’s only one god here.

Terra was fueled by rage. She saw the man who caused tons of her pain. The one who would kill all the metas she brought up to Skyland.

Terra: One petty, weak god, if I must say.

Terra made a huge boulder come above her. She threw it at Ivan. He slashed it in half. He jumped through the boulder and slashed down at Terra’s head. She blocked and slid back. She hit Ivan in the face with her gauntlets and kicked him in the leg. She punched him in the face and kicked him down even further. She stared down at him.

Terra: Everytime I try and be happy, everytime I try and make a life for myself, you come in.

Terra started angrily stomping on Ivan’s head. She kicked him over and over.

Terra: You hate me so much. But the feeling’s mutual! You destroy everything!

Ivan slashed his sword at Terra’s feet. She jumped in the air and stabbed him with her spear. Ivan grabbed Terra with one of his chains and pulled her towards himself. He lined up his sword with her stomach. But this time, it would mean death. Terra turned on destruction and his sword bounced off. She punched his head off his body. Ivan’s body went flying. He got covered by some debris.

Terra: Just die!

Ivan jumped out of the debris. She fired an energy blast, but Ivan sidestepped and electrocuted Terra and hit her with some water. Her destruction form was lost. He threw her up in the air. She was hit by some debris and covered. She tried summoning her earth powers. But nothing was working. Ivan could be slaughtering Delta and Tempest like animals right now. She couldn’t get up, she started panicking. She merely screamed in terror. She heard a familiar voice in her head.

Amala: Hey, dumbass. Stop being so selfish! He’s not a monster that’s below you. He’s hurting, just like you. You took his family, his pride and joy. He took a good amount of your friends, and what? Killed me? He has to be stopped. But not as a monster that needs to be destroyed. As a warrior on your level.

Ivan stabbed his sword through the rock. He stabbed Terra in the arm, and slashed her across the back. She screamed and turned on destruction form. She blasted the rock apart, and sent Ivan flying back.

Ivan: What’s this?

Terra: Is it true?

Ivan: Is what true?

Terra: Do you mourn for your family?

Ivan paused.

Ivan: Of course I mourn for them. I mourn everyday. I loved them, maybe I didn’t know how to love. But I tried my best. This destruction is for the best. But, me and Theo aren’t so different. We both want to love. But we were raised to destroy.

Terra: I was born to love. But people tried to make me destroy. Sure, I destroyed some shit. But I can’t do it like this. Maybe you’re kinda right. I shouldn’t be able to control people. But you sure as hell shouldn’t be able to kill all of them!

Ivan: You haven’t seen what I’ve seen. I understand.

Amala: Terra, I hear her voice screaming. Hesial is going to do something. Your people will survive. But you have to get out.

Terra: Get out?

Yuri: Ivan! You have to leave!

Ivan: No! I won’t leave! I won’t leave again, Yuri.

Yuri: I love you, I wish I had the chance to give myself to you.

Yuri used her powers to activate the Phoenix charm around Ivan’s neck. He was sent to Earth. Terra grabbed Delta and Tempest and went back down. Yuri and Hesial wrestled each other. Hesial backed up. Yuri used her radiation. Everything around her started dying. Hesial had no choice. A huge white light came out of her. Olympus was engulfed.

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

Millie and Amelia were surrounded by B.L.A.D.E soldiers. The reinforcements Bordon had called.

Millie: Amelia, do something.

Amelia: They have meta weapons. If I even think about doing anything, they’ll kill us.

B.L.A.D.E soldier: On the ground! N0w!

Ivan, Terra, Tempest and Delta were brought back to the ground. Ivan looked up at the sky.

Ivan: You see this Terra? It’s me, shedding a tear for her.

Ivan stabbed his sword into the ground. The ground started to break into pieces, it radiated with a red glow. All of the B.L.A.D.E soldiers were vaporized.

Ivan: No interruptions. At the very least, my mission there was successful. It’s likely Hesial restarted things. Or destroyed Olympus entirely for the time being. Either way, let’s bring an end to this.

Ivan let the offensive stone’s power flow through him. Delta jumped at him. She punched him in the face and tagged him with both of her gauntlets. She kicked him up in the air. He kicked her to the ground with unrelenting force, he landed and kicked her away. Terra jumped in. He slashed at her. She dodged under and they collided blows. Terra turned on destruction, and Ivan threw a kick. They caught each other's hits. Ivan threw her over his head and slammed her on the ground. Millie fired a blast at Ivan, but he fired a shockwave through it, hitting Millie. He stood above Terra. His foot on her neck. She made all of her armor come flying up at him. But he made shields around himself. Terra couldn’t move at all. Ivan sunk his blade through her chest. He had started when he felt the radiation return. He fell to his knees. Terra threw him off of her. Ivan made a chain come up from behind Tempest and he screamed and slashed his sword. The device on Tempest’s arm broke. Ivan was still whittled down though.

Tempest: Shit!

Ivan: You can’t kill me! I have to do this! For my family! For Jilaya! For Yuri! For Axel and Erica!

Amelia came from behind Ivan and vibrated her hand through his back. She came back and forth and punched him over and over. So hard his bone was showing through his face. His eyes were burning blue. She came back around and grabbed Ivan.

Amelia: That’s enough!

She vibrated her hand and brought it down on Ivan. Ivan grabbed her. He stabbed his sword up. But missed, Amelia went flying down. To see Millie with a sword through her. She cried from behind Millie.

Millie: Take care of Donna for us.

Ivan slashed his sword out. Millie had blood coming from her mouth. Everyone around her was shocked, or bawling out. She grabbed Ivan’s shoulder.

Millie: My death...isn’t just going to mean nothing...

Millie let herself crumble. Her eyes lit up white, and a white light came out of her mouth. Self-destructing herself. A huge white light blinded everyone. Ivan was in shambles. His skin charred, and falling off. He reached for his sword. Terra picked it up.

Ivan: My dream doesn’t die with me.

Ivan made chains tie Terra down. She was pulled into the ground, she lost grip of the sword. She turned on destruction and screamed. She stabbed Ivan through the head. He was erased. Terra fell down. She looked where Millie had been. Her robotic arm was all that was left. Everyone just sat in silence. It was over. A silent wave of accomplishment came over all of them. Sorrowful accomplishment.

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

Terra walked into a Bibble and Sip for the last time. She looked around at the place.

Terra: I’ll miss you, old friend.

Terra sat down at the seat where she hung with Millie. She got some tea and a doughnut. She ate. She wondered if it really was right to kill Ivan the way she did. He loved, just like she did. Maybe she did worse to him than he did to her.

Terra: At least it’s over.

The door rang as someone walked in and sat in front of Terra. Nick Fury.

Terra: Nick? What are you doing here?

Nick Fury: I want to give you a status update. President’s finally out of my hair.

Terra: What?

Nick Fury: His privileges have been revoked. He was impeached. Now B.L.A.D.E is in charge. Take that as good or bad. I don’t care. What I think you might care about is that you’ll be getting what you wanted all along.

Terra: What?

Nick Fury: Take the rest of the metas up to Skyland. The ones that deserve to be locked up are in Alcatraz. Give them a second chance. Bet you wish you could’ve stuck it to Bordon yourself. But that’s not how politics work.

Terra: Yeah. I get it. I would’ve liked to stick it to him more.

Nick Fury: Well, lets keep it straight. You don’t bother me, I don’t bother you. Sound good?

Nick Fury put his hand out for a handshake.

Terra: No strings attached?

Nick Fury: Guess you can’t tell,

Terra: You don’t bother me, I don’t bother you.

Terra shook his hand.

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

Terra put her Phoenix charm over her neck. She tapped it, and was sent up to Skyland. But what she saw wasn’t what she remembered. She saw her city, still standing. And so was Athens. She saw the castle at the top of the mountain. She got up there. She looked around, to see that it was empty. Hesial peeked her head around the corner.

Hesial: Hey Terra.

Terra was startled.

Terra: Hi Hesial. Am I allowed to ask what happened?

Hesial: This Olympian thing was a mess. So I had to do something else. There’s no more Olympians. Except you I guess. Just, don’t make a mess of things.

Terra: Yuri?

Hesial: I didn’t take pride in what I did to her. I know you want to bring more metas up. You’re more than welcome. This place is kind of lonely. We need more people to bring this place to life. And I need to take more responsibility for those people.

Terra: Guess I have to have some of that too. I feel like my life is in my control now.

Hesial: Just don’t let it slip away.

Terra: Yeah.

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

Terra picked up a call from Amelia.

Amelia: Millie must’ve been a psychic, it’s a girl.

Terra: Are you going with that name?

Amelia: Donna? Yeah. I’m gonna have to be super-mom to pull this off. You’d better not move too far. I might need your help.

Terra: I’m always here for you. Super-mom.

Amelia: Don’t say it like that, it sounds stupid.

Terra: You said it and sounded cool!

Amelia: I said it right.

Terra: Good luck Amelia. You’re going to need it.

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

Terra came back to her apartment. Tempest had a small bag filled with things he wanted to bring. Terra had a suitcase. She looked around. The last thing she put in her bag was the picture book Amelia gave her. Along with a picture of her grandparents.

Tempest: Are you ready?

Terra: Of course.

Tempest and Terra kissed.

Terra: So, where are we going?

Tempest: To be honest, I don’t really know.

Terra: Let’s just see where we end up.