Chapter 38—Colors

Could it have been reverence that stopped the snarling horde below, or were they simply as awestruck as Rashawn? As a person born, abandoned, and yet somehow raised within the walls of Castle Cerulean, there was a lot about New York that he had to imagine, but his imagination couldn’t compare to this. The Spear of Hell was glowing. One moment it was just that burning gem, and then that same light filled it with shining lines of circuitry. They trailed to the ground, stretching out from there, carving through the darkness down the streets. Maybe that was why the Grays went silent? They didn’t have to cry out when the light was finally within reach. Above him, that light spewed like flames from the spear’s tip, igniting the sky with rolling orange clouds. There came thunder, and then fireworks, as multicolored sparks swelled and popped. Rashawn looked at Peter, who was just as surprised, then turned to Fiona too. Her look seemed more like uncertainty, but as she felt his eyes upon her, she made one thing clear.

"The battle is over." She said, and he looked toward the formerly glowing gem. "We can get closer now. In fact, I think we should, to understand what happens next..."

Deep in the darkness, beyond the abyss, Okoropos smiled with glee as Lileyaha chuckled. Ma Roo'di sat upright on her chaise, eyes cast upward as if she could see the world above. She chuckled softly then and murmured.

“So that’s what she’s doing? I wonder how long she’s been thinking up this plan?”

“It is such a joy when even Ma Roo’di didn’t expect it.” Lileyaha grinned.

“Do you suppose it was Waas or Kavansal that showed her the way?” Okoropos asked.

“Waas to be certain,” Lileyaha answered. “He shares in the joy of diabolical moments, does he not?”

“I don’t know! He’s not a devil from my time.”

“And neither is Empress Fang,” Ma Roo’di said. “Which means that the future will be unforeseen." She clapped, as even the darkness responded to New York...

In New York, where they still stood in the Spear of Hell, the effects of Fang’s command took place around her first. She was alone with the former fragment of the God Eternal, until light broke like plants through the floor, growing until full bodies stood around her. The other combatants were rising from the dead, and as light turned to flesh, Princess Celine crossed her arms.

“So that was your great threat.” She said with more scorn than sarcasm, more indignant that she needed Fang’s help than angry that she was wrong. No, not just Fang’s help, but the help of all the shadows as well. This battle wasn’t won without the power of darkness, and the Princess knew that the moment Waas took them to his domain.

This was not a battle they could win alone, even if alone meant they stood singularly together. As they fought the god and his body changed, telling them there was no limit to how strong he might grow, they all had the same thought. Even if they could escape death, there would be no escape from him. He would forever be a flame against their humanity, burning any desire to step upon the earth again. Even if death returned them to life with ease, God would be the gatekeeper, assuring them that oblivion was best. If the battle continued as it had been going, they would have died and wished there was something deeper than that. They needed the Joyful Waas, for he seemed to be the only one who could smile in the face of despair. When he appeared their minds fell into his room. He stretched seconds into minutes, and they got their final chance to devise a plan.

Fang laughed to herself, letting her eyes drift to Ace. Assassin would have liked that plan. It proved his protege was the ace up their sleeve. She shook her smile away, however, turning to the Princess again.

“Now you understand what I tried to warn you and your mother about. This is not the final battle, and only Ace knows what awaits above.”

The Princess sucked her teeth but said nothing. Ace looked to the ceiling, his eyes almost seeing the land of God. He turned his attention to Fang next.

“I guess that was the real deal, not just the fragment. He broke the connection when the spear of hell pierce him and started shaping his light. I didn’t get the impression that anything but the darkness of New York would make him do it.”

“Is there anything you can tell us about him?”

Ace pondered that. “I don’t think there is. He’s strong, a lot stronger than the fragment, but we already knew that.” He shook his head. Because of God’s abandonment, he had that fragment now. They were one step closer to the four they needed, but Fang understood his uncertainty. It took a huge effort just to get two.

“The only question that matters is if that thing can be beaten.” Celine hissed. “Or, how much time do we have to prepare?”

“It’s a battle between heaven and hell, princess.” Khalaf shrugged. “I think the answer is that there’s not enough time in the world.”

“But it’s possible.” Slasher said. “Gods can die.” He gave a reassuring look around the room. Even if he was calling himself Slasher now, he was still the fatherly man Fang knew.

She nodded and looked outward as the ceiling and walls melted around them. It gave them a good view of Old New York City, and darkness peeling away from pools of light. It was changing, and if there was a way to beat the God Eternal they were sure they’d find it out there.

“We’ll defeat him.” She said.

“I’m going to make one thing perfectly clear.” Celine shook her head. “This was a one time thing. Cerulean will not turn to you again. In the Almighty Want our dominance is assured, and you have no place in the Book of Visions.”

“Man, princess, you’re way too stubborn.” Micaela sighed. “Like, can you at least make me doubt leaving the castle?”

Celine sucked her teeth again, turning her back to them as if ready to fly away. She stopped as Fiona's group landed, however, glaring at the woman as she grew closer.

“Dang, the party’s really over.” Rashawn laughed.

“I guess we don’t have to break up a fight.” Peter nodded, and Fiona strode ahead of them.

She looked at Fang. "This was your doing, right?" She gestured at the city. Fang nodded and could swear the woman shivered. Still, she went on as if it was just a passing cold breeze. “What we’re about to see should come as no surprise. Celine here has seen it before. It will be like blessing day, or awakening the baleful. A God’s light speaks to those who can perceive it, and there is none that can’t perceive this one. Baleful. Demon. Thing in the dark. Anything that knows orange shall answer its command. Rise. Stand. Resurrect. Revive. Whatever you said is moving through both darkness and light. The shadows that have long covered this city will carry this command to every corner.”

Corrosion went to Fiona’s side. “Which makes this city a greater threat than it ever was before. A garden beset with weeds grows before us, and if it is not tended it will be overgrown." Was it speaking of its plan?

“So are we going to tend it?” Peter asked the question blatantly.

"We shall hone ourselves in the effort." Corrosion replied but did not take that moment to leave. There was something to the light that Fang could barely feel. A pressure maybe, a clash of tide and land as it turned to Ace.

“Before we fight the real God Eternal, I’m going to settle things with you.” Ace spoke first. “I’m only letting you go because now’s not the time, but Fang is going to find better allies. When she does I’m cutting the last thread that ties us together.”

“I shall await our battle. But know, all things decay when faced with corrosion.”

“We’ll see about that.” Ace’s fists tightened.

Slasher stole their attention as he stepped toward his former charges. “Fang. King. Ace.”

Eagerly, the trio turned to him, still unable to tear themselves from memories of their mentor. Judge was dead, they knew, but if he knew their names then he was not completely gone. The green that made his body still bore his memories. He was still Judge in a way, and they were hopeful for it.

“When you return to the Enclave it’ll be as graduates. You have each shown how your skills led you down the right road. Whatever made you numbers before, forget about it. You’re more than that now, and even with how fucked the world’s about to be, you get a choice on how you approach it.” Slasher chuckled then. “Though, I guess we already know what choice you’re going to make.”

“Come back with us.” Ace pleaded. “That place is your home too.”

Slasher pointed at Corrosion and Khalaf. “And theirs, but it ain’t time for them to go back. It’s been time for me to leave for a while, though. The city’s too noisy to think I’ll be getting any sleep.”

The graduates swallowed those words, each one in their own moment of contemplative silence. King broke his first, however, reaching a conclusion that made him approach the reaper.

“You’re proof that a Dark God isn’t the only thing born from darkness and light.” He said, the analysis masking something fragile. “I still have more to figure out, but thank you for seeing me to my graduation.”

Ace held his chin up and stepped forward too. “Thanks for choosing me for this mission. I couldn’t understand it at first, but I think I realize you saw how I could grow. I would still be the same person if it wasn’t for you.”

Fang swore her heart ached, but she was supposed to lead, not the others. She never wanted to say goodbye to anyone on that bus, but if Slasher was telling her anything, maybe goodbye didn’t have to be forever. Her chest still hurt, but she stepped forward. “Thank you for trusting my leadership, even when it led to bad outcomes. I guess I had to learn that leaders keep going in bad times. Or maybe that there will always be hardships. I don't think the Enclave could have taught me that."

Slasher chuckled again. “You kids are gonna be all right. I don’t know what this city has planned for us, but I know we’ll meet again.” He walked past them to stand at Corrosion’s side.

One last time, the factions looked at each other.

Celine took two groups in, as a seed took root in her mind.

Corrosion’s eyes lingered on Ace and the light within him.

Fang let herself see them all as either allies or enemies and with whatever else was silently said, their groups split at last.

Left where they were, King came up to Fang.

“What do you think is happening out in the city?” She asked the question he was waiting for.

“Based on what we discovered, your command is going to reignite all the grays, and revive the wandering souls. It’s like that woman said, people and demons will return to the city, and based on what we saw in Cerulean, kingdoms are going to rise.”

“There are many colors to New York.” Khalaf nodded. “Take each splash of light as a sign of what’s to come.”

Fang looked over the city again as she took those words to heart. It was the brightest she had ever seen, even with the orange light fading from the sky. She could feel the spear coming apart. Its duty in this world was done, and she took it as a sign that their mission here was done as well. Whatever this city became, she would meet it. She even hoped it'd test its fangs against hers…

And time passed…

Returning to the mobile lab, the graduates settled down as a shadow took the wheel. The drive back to the Enclave would be a long one and after everything they faced, it was time to rest. They did not quite settle into peaceful dreams, but even their nightmares would not compare to the transformation of New York City. The fireworks Rashawn had seen before were almost like a spark to a wildfire. Where their embers fell the world was ignited, streets and buildings loud with color. The shape of things changed, as if clay in hand, and some places made arenas for the divine and demonic. In one such arena, a chiseled body with flowing blonde hair snapped lightning like whips around him. Bodies burst and turned to ash as he struck more with disgust than any rage to kill. His eyes crackled with the blue lightning, and he rained down his fury with a strike toward the sky.

He huffed and snarled, crushing his power into a storm between his fingers. He could still see the orange light in the clouds above and roared as he tossed lightning out at more of the coming demons. They were bugs to him, but that light above was worse than Ares. That light above had called itself the king of gods, and this one would not suffer that insult.

“Come then, vermin!" He roared at the demons. "Face a true king of Gods! See how your claws do even less than to him than the one who bore your chains!" He blasted the head from a demon as it leaped. The others waited, surely hoping to see a chink in his armor. One demon in yellow stepped forward, more humanlike than any of those around him. He was a tall, skinny man, with dark skin and coiling hair in a small afro. His smile went from one ear to another, and he knelt low as the god raised his hands.

“What do you call yourself?”

“Ah! Nancy, sir, if you so please! Enchante!” He did a flourishing bow. “But I’m not special, not when compared to Zeus himself! I heard about’cha, y’know? Big man of olympus keepin everything under control!”

This demon knew respect then? Zeus smiled. “That’s right, Nancy, maybe you’ll be the first one to make it out of this room.”

"I'm honored, your majesty. But if I could make a suggestion, I don't see none of those other Olympians around. Maybe they can’t match the big boss himself, but it’d be a proper shame for you to have no one to rule over.” Screams echoed in the distance. “Unless you want to rule over mankind alone…” Nancy chuckled.

Zeus thought of Ares and sneered. "What are you proposing?"

“I hear they call this place New York City. Sounds like the perfect place to build a New Olympus. We all ain't much compared to you, but I bet you could build us up nice!" Nancy grabbed a nearby demon and forced his mouth into a grin.

Considering it, Zeus decided Nancy was right. He could easily avoid another Ares situation if he decided who became gods and could take that right away. He considered the demon again though, and what this idea would mean for him. Zeus was no fool. He could see Nancy’s end goal and would cut off his path.

"I shall take the suggestion, Nancy, and as such, you will be the first god born from the muck. You shall be a messenger god, letting this city know of New Olympus." Nancy's smile faltered, but Zeus gained one of his own. "As for the rest of you, if you want a place in Olympus bring me proof you deserve it. Only then will you be allowed to stand before my throne." The demons let out a hollering cheer and fled the arena. It was properly under Zeus's control now and began building his new Olympus.

Elsewhere still…

People were screaming as demons fell upon them. They did not get to chance to notice the transformed New York, nor that they weren't where they stood moments ago. They did not get the chance to wonder about the strangers around them, because every moment wasted was a chance for the demons to feed. These horrible and grotesque monsters were all around them, and they were worse than the stories as they tore people apart. All anyone could do was scream and run, except for a small group that slipped down an ally, running toward one building that grew out of another. Abruptly, an old man in the middle of the pack shouted a warning.

“Do not go that way!” He croaked, and the young eyes around him bounced from his face to the carnage behind them. Some still ran forward, but he grabbed the hand of one young man with surprising strength.

A brown-skinned face turned to him with a furrow in his brow. "Ay, let go of my you old fuck. If you wanna die here do it by yourself." The furrow twisted more as the young man looked at him, taking in his missing eye and long gray beard. This old man knew he looked frail, but more than anyone else he needed this boy to listen.

“Do not go there!” He pulled him close, and the man almost threw a punch when something tore loudly.

The fist dropped and the old man turned to see what was happening. The young man was speechless, for where the others rushed ahead their bodies were now suspended in the air. Their skin peeled away from them as if parchment, scraps fluttering to the ground to reveal lights inside them. One by one they disappeared, as if blown out, and the young man began to gibber as those lights traced an outline. It was like a gnarled tree, with tentacles lashing out from its head in mockery of branches. Its limbs were long, and it lay the length of the street with its tentacles doing all the work. Even demons were caught and peeled, and the young man fell into hysterics at the sight.

“Odin…” He said suddenly, like an invitation, or a parent calling their child. “Odin. Hello.” He turned to the old man, slobbering and shaking. “Odin, where are you going to go? Odin, how far will you run?” He was a mouthpiece, and Odin understood it was already too late. "Odin, do not worry. Odin, you are not alone. Odin, you are only the first." It was the outline, easing forward like slime between the buildings.

The All-Father was not afraid of battle, but fighting here would only prolong the nightmare. He dropped to his knees instead, closing his remaining eye as this terror grew closer. In the darkness of his eyelid, he saw that he would not escape, but found peace despite this horror. He knew that this thing would one day face the shadows, and even it would know the taste of fear. He was glad he would not be there to see it. This city was starting to wake up, and the slaughter it'd bring would be worse than Ragnorok…

[Book One…

Dark Orange: Revive…

ends.]