Epilogue

War and Animus had managed to hold the malevolent creature back long enough for the reality marble, all but propelled by the golden shield of chaotic magic, to become too far for the monster to easily attack.
And with that, the two of them could focus better on the creature, rather than on protecting – which really wasn’t their specialty.
Lime green and bright orange blades were dancing around the gigantic being’s tentacles and fangs and claws.

For the first time, Shadow saw an Abyss creature be hurt – and clearly, it didn’t like the new experience. The beast raged and shrieked, it’s wails echoing unnaturally across the blackness of the Purgatory and the Abyss.
Little by little, she could feel the destructive abilities of War and Animus eat away at the wells of corruption that made the creature. Enough that by now, she could finally pitch in, her own blade cleaving through the amalgamation of deteriorated souls; destroying the mortals ones, far too gone to be saved, and cutting the powers of the immortal ones, remains of fallen gods taken by the Abyss.
Just like among mortals, the three gods easily fell into the rhythm of battle, moving in harmony as they whittled away, little by little, the dangerous creature.
In the darkness of the Purgatory, even deeper now that the reality marble had disappeared in the distance, it was difficult to say how much time had gone by.

When finally they finished dispersing the creature, they weren’t alone anymore.
“Lost, Found.” Shadow was the one to great as she left herself fall on the ground
“Shadow,” the other two First Circle gods greeted, “War. It is good to see you whole again, albeit not quite as expected.”
“We really didn’t expect War’s powers to have gained sentience on their own.” Shadow agreed with an amused smile, as Animus gave them a feral smirk of his own
“Still…” Lost mused, “It’s the first time the creatures are hurt.” there was some vindictive happiness in his eyes at that – not that Shadow was very surprised, given that she’d realized previously that the god was her brother Death’s counterpart in the Purgatory

Just like her, the creatures' very existence must have been grating against his very godly senses.
“And already, they’ve started to move.” Found added with more worry in his voice, eyeing the three of them, “Now that they’ve realized you can hurt them, they’ll hunt.” he warned
He was right, Shadow knew. She’d been feeling it – just like War and Animus had.
She glanced at the twin gods, feeling they were having some sort of private mental talk.
Finally, it was War who turned toward her, the man’s appearance a harmonious mix of Obi Wan’s look and Taishou Mifune’s own appearance, with eyes still the same startling blue both had shared, dark hair, and the body of a daiyoukai rather than of a human. In a quick move, he captured her lips in a heated kiss, and told her, “You better come and visit.”
Eyes widening, she realized what he was doing, just as the other god turned toward Lost and Found, “What do you say about a hunt of our own?”

¤.¤.¤

War had left with Lost and Found, toward the Abyss creatures they could already feel were on the move.
“They need help.” Animus pointed out to Shadow, as they headed in the opposite direction, back toward the Purgatory gates, “You are needed out there, just like War is. But it just so happens there are two Wars now.”
“So one is staying here to help, while the other is heading back.” she nodded, having already understood as much
And thought she didn’t like their separation by any mean, she understood the two gods couldn't have done any less — not without going against the very nature of their godly powers. And now, after having cut his own powers and run from the other Immortals for so long, the deity was more than ready to take up his mantle once more. She could only respect something like that.
Of course, she hadn't left the other god leave alone either, Kagetsu having only need one shared glance with her before nodding solemnly, and, slipping in his battle form, jumped before the three other Old Ones.
Though she still had a soul-link with her three familiar, the fact that each was so far away by now, and partnering with someone else, felt both rather strange. Yet in a way, rather reassuring, as it helped her feel that those people were alright.
“Shall we go, nuya Jen’Nwit?”

She smiled at the red-skinned, golden eyed god, making with Animus the trip she’d done before with War. They recognized a few of the reality marbles, some deeper in the Abyss than before, others, on the contrary, having starting to heal themselves.
Time was still as impossible to estimate than ever in the Purgatory — but after a while, Shadow shuddered, suddenly feeling two of her soul-bond becoming more silent. She smiled, knowing that she'd done it...
Lily Potter's soul was out of the Purgatory.
Just like the rest of the galaxy, they'd spent the past few decades and millennia saving.
She jumped in Animus' arms, sharing the news and kissing him heatedly.

Then finally, they stumbled upon something very different, and Shadow’s instincts started to sing.
“Old Gods, we would ask for assistance.”
Two reality marbles, once upon a time separated, but now floating side by side, godly powers swirling around them starting to create paths between the two.
And having found the strength to reach toward their realm, two reality-bound deities.

One was a tall man, with two golden horns curling around his face, multicolored iridescent eyes, long pale blond hair braided intricately, a pale skinned littered with nearly invisible opalescent scales. Shadow immediately recognized him as a dragon in a human form. The potent power of Time and Knowledge was floating around him, explaining how they’d managed such changes around their realms in comparatively so little time.
The other was a green-skinned, curvy woman, flowers in her hair, and a gentle smile on her face, which felt of Life, Nature, and Magic.

Alone, neither world stood a chance – but already, Shadow knew what they wanted.
One world, had so deteriorated its Fate was broken, no hero having been born in far too long… The other, with a hero who would stand no chance, without the proper training – which they would stand no chance of getting, in their world.
With their Force bond, Animus could somewhat guess what she was feeling. So it was with a wild smile that once more, her asked, “Shall we go, nuya Jen’Nwit?”
Sending a mental apology to Light, and the rest of the Immortal Realms, she smiled back, taking his hand, and turned toward the two local deities.
“Let’s get started.”

¤.¤.¤

Several unarticulated shouts of rage echoed in the Immortal Realm, as Shadow and Animus disappeared in the paired reality marbles.
Peace and Light were taking the duo's new escape far more calmly, the goddess merely musing, “I'm looking forward to meet this new brother… But they've been doing good work out there.”
“That they have,” agreed Light, eyes straying toward Mana, who was talking with Magic, the goddess looking far healthier now that she didn't have to defend her world from the Abyss creatures
“You know..." Order mused, having heard them, “With what Hermione and Magic have managed, we now have a way to watch the Purgatory. And Shadow, War and Animus have proved to us that there are worlds out there that can be saved. Even places all but hopeless like that Force Galaxy!”
“Some of those places can save themselves.” Chaos interjected, “But how many more could be saved with just a bit more help?”

Clearly, he hadn't the only one to think about it, as many among the immortals milling around were making their approval heard.
“Since we can't interfere too much, many of us had become a bit too complacent.” mused Dream from further apart, “Though not all of us have as many time-consuming duties as Death or Chaos.… she waved her hand, “With only a single bargain, a slight application of my powers, look at how different that James Potter was!”
“But what can we do?” wondered Truth, “It's not like we can abandon our duties here to go and help there, there are plenty of worlds here too, that need us.”
“Why not do like the bambina is doing right now?” mused Light, gesturing toward the heavy doors, “Go out there, not all of us at once, but one by one, do a tour, give out blessings, help the local gods...”

The proposal elicited some thoughtful whispers from all around them — and Chaos nodded his approval.
“We could also do something more with this…” Magic added, having manifestly thought about it before, pointing toward the large scrying mirror, “Scrying beforehand, to determine who should head out next, and where.”
The whispers were growing louder, numerous Second Circle gods having now gathered, all looking just as ready as the First Circle god to tackle this new project.

“Well,” mused Hades, “I guess that it's both reassuring and terrifying to realize that even the Old Ones aren't perfect.”
“But just like us, they can be reminded of their duties.” Grove/Pan pointed out, raising his goblet, “For now…” a smile, and he raised his goblet, “To Shadow's next adventure!”