Chapter 12: Flashback (Part One: Regained Memories) A long time ago, in the world of Godheim, Mist was trained as an Angelic Greater Valkyrie warrior, as well as a Geomancer, which is one who can magically manipulate the environment around her. So far, despite the fact that Mist's memory hasn't been completely restored, things were still running smoothly and things went without a hitch. Mist was rather obedient to her guardians Odinn and Frigga, and she always did what they told her: To collect souls and send them to Walhalla, so they can prepare for the fateful day of Rangarok. However, one day, when Mist, Balder and Eir were running errands in Godheim, they made a stop at Folksvangr to see how the Vanadies twins were doing. Little did Mist know that this meeting would end up changing her view on life forever. --- As the trio of deities made their way to the Vanaheim kingdom of Folksvangr, Mist noticed a gravestone off in the distance, but thought nothing of it at the time. At the entrance, Freyr was out to greet the guests. The vanir price had short blonde hair that sat atop his periwinkle hued headband, blue eyes, and wore a black and red striped scarf with a leather tunic, a white long sleeved shirt with a yellow, flexible shield like protector over his right arm, a red bejeweled belt, blue winged shoulder pads, and had black and white legging with red socks, blue boot covers with leather boots underneath. He was happy to see Eir and Balder, and curious about the newcomer Mist. “Welcome to Folksvangr, Eir and Balder.” Freyr said as he greeted the trio. “Hmmm...say, who's the blue haired beauty with you two?” “My name is Mist...Mist Elmbarn.” Mist said back. “Who might you be?” “I'm Prince Freyr Vanadies, but please, just call me Freyr.” Freyr replied. “You say your name is Mist Elmbarn? We used to have a valkyrie that resided here with the last name Elmbarn. Come, follow me. I shall introduce you to my sister Freyja.” --- As Freyr led Eir, Balder and Mist down the halls of Folksvangr palace, Mist was in awe of how huge and luxurious the palace was in the inside and out. There were portraits of famous gods, goddesses, warriors and mages decorating the pearly white walls. There were chairs made of pure gold and curtains made of royal blue velvet. The floors had golden carpet laid out so neatly, that they thought the carpenters were divine themselves. There were bookshelves full of books and mirrors with golden rims. Folksvangr rivaled Walhalla in its regal and posh surroundings. At the throne room entrance, there stood a young armored woman that greeted them. The woman had medium length and semi braided blonde hair that hung out of her winged gold and platinum helmet, and wore gold and platinum breastplate and belt with a periwinkle shaded gown and gloves underneath, alongside armored white boots. She carried a sword made from the antler of a divine stag. “Greetings.” “Greetings Freyja.” Balder and Eir said as they knelt before her. “How is the Princess of Folkvangr doing on this fine day?” “Please stand.” Freyja said calmly. “You're Angel deities like myself. You can just act casual around me and my family.” “Oh, okay.” Eir and Balder said as they stood back up. While everyone was getting acquainted, Freyja noticed the newcomer with them and greeted her. “Why hello Aqua Elmbarn. How has it been in Niflheim?” “Huh? What?” Mist asked in confusion. “Who is this Aqua Elmbarn?” Freyr and Freyja's eyes widened in shock as they looked at each other, and then back at Mist. “So you're not Aqua....then...you must be....” Mist cocked her head to the side and gave the Vanadies twins a confused look. Freyja noticed the Valkyrie's confusion and decided to explain some things to her. “What's your name young Valkyrie?” “My name is Mist....Mist Elmbarn.” “Mist Elmbarn? MIST ELMBARN?!” Freyr asked in shock. “So, you must be Aqua's daughter, correct?” “Lady Aqua has told me all about you.” Freyja explained to Mist. Freyja pulls out a bejeweled raven shaped hand-held device and gave it to Mist Elmbarn. “Aqua told me to give this to you when you reached the coming of age mark.” While Freyja gave Mist the hand-held device, Mist pressed the button on the front and opened up the device. As the device opened up, there revealed to be a pearly stone on the bottom that resembled a fine mother of pearl shell. Suddenly, the “shell” illuminated and right before Mist, a small hologram of a golden raven appeared. “Greetings young Mist.” the gold raven said to Mist in a masculine tone of voice. “I know you probably don't remember me, but I remember you.” “Who....who are you?” Mist asked the hologram. “I am Vatten Elmbarn. I was your father.” “Pa...pa.....” Mist stuttered. “Is it really you?” “Yes, it is I, your father.” Vatten told her. “Here, let me explain everything to you my dear daughter...” --- A scene on the device flashed to a hologram of a Samjok-o settlement in Vanaheim over 100 years ago. It showed a group of rat deities trying to attack the settlement. In one house, a golden raven was trying to wake up his teal blue raven wife, warning her of the upcoming danger that was approaching them. “Aqua...Aqua! Wake up! WAKE UP!” Vatten cried out as he shook his beloved wife awake. Aqua looked rather alarmed as she gotten herself out of her nest like bed. “What's wrong my dear?” “Aqua, we are under attack!” “From who? Who would attack us?” “The rat gods!” “What? WHAT? The rat gods?” “Yes, we need to find our eggs before the rats eat them.” Vatten said nervously as he beckoned his wife to follow him. “Come, hurry! We have no time to lose!” While Aqua was following Vatten to the hatching room, they fought off various rat gods who tried to take a bite out of them. They mauled the rat gods on the way to the hatching room. However, there was an unpleasant surprise that awaited them inside. As they gotten inside the hatching room, the parent's concern turned to horror as they saw a bunch of broken eggs with the half eaten yolks, whites and embryos littering the floor. Vatten and Aqua looked all around for surviving eggs, searching for survivors in their nest. To their relief, there was one unbroken egg laying beneath the wasteland of embryos and yolk. Aqua flew over to the egg and clutched on to it desperately. “An egg! An egg!” Aqua exclaimed in shock as she clutched onto the egg. “It hasn't broken. There is signs of life in this egg!” “What are you waiting for Aqua?” Vatten cried out. “Take the egg and get out of here!” Tears started to form in Aqua's eyes. “But what about you Vatten?” “I'll.....I'll....” Vatten stutted with tears in his eyes. Then, the samjok-o raven couple heard some loud banging and shouting on the door. “Open up! We know your in there! Surrender....or....DIE! MWA HA HA HA HA!” Vatten nods to Aqua as he felt himself being engulfed in fear and rage. “Now's your chance Aqua....Now....!” “But Vatten? What about you?” Tears streamed down Vatten's face as he was ready to accept his fate. “I'll stay behind and fight them off.” “Noooooo! Vatten!” Aqua cried out in horror as she grabbed onto the egg with her upper talons. “It's now or never!” Vatten panted as he got himself in a battle position. “If you stay behind, you will die!” “But....” “Aqua! Don't argue!” Vatten shouted. “Get out before they kill you. I'll meet up with you again in another life, I promise!” So Aqua did as she was told and flew off with the egg, while Vatten stayed behind to fight off the rat gods. But it was all in vain. When Aqua flew far away from the settlement, Vatten was slayed and devoured by the rat gods. Aqua knew that her husband has died fighting, and started to weep as she flew off with the egg in her upper talons. She cried and wept, thinking about Vatten's sad fate back at the settlement. After flying across a bay of Vanaheim, she saw some land off in the distance. She headed over to that land, noticing it was also inhabited by Vanir of the samjok-o raven clan. To Aqua's relief, she landed and took a moment of rest nearby a house. “Oh man....(sniff) (sob)” Aqua wept as she morphed into her humanoid goddess form. In her humanoid form, Aqua wore a fur cloak that also acted like a magical blanket, lined with gold and peach fabric. Her teal blue hair was braided and wrapped up in a bun on top of her head. Her eyes were the same color of blue as her hair, while she wore a white breastplate with golden gauntlets, a fur skirt with two slits on the side for easy movement and wore white and gold fur boots. She lays underneath a tree and wrapped her egg within her warm cloak, incubating it, helping it hatch soon enough. “Why me...(sob) I just....I just (moan) (sob)” Aqua started to cry uncontrollably underneath the tree. The poor raven goddess was overcome with grief, that she started to cry herself to sleep underneath the tree, being careful not to break the egg. --- “Mmmgh! Ugh! Where...where am I (yawn)?” Aqua yawned as she started to slowly open her eyes. As she opened her eyes, she found herself within a nest like bed inside a warm and cozy little house. Right next to her, was her egg, placed in a smaller nest next to her bed. “I'm glad you're okay my baby. But, what happened?” While Aqua started to observe her new surroundings, she heard a knock at her door. “Are you awake young lady?” “Yeah, I'm awake.” Aqua replied. “Please, come on in.” As the door opened, an older looking albino raven god greeted her. It was obvious by the leather and fur robes laced with gems and metals, that this samjok-o man is a clan chief and shaman. He had pale hair and a long white mustache hanging over his lip. He was slightly gaunt and had a somewhat delicate frame due to his old age. “Are you okay young miss?” “Say, who are you?” Aqua asked in bemusement. “Did you come to my child and I's aid?” “Yes, I did.” The elder said as he bowed to Aqua. “I am Chief Zekou. This is my village known as Lefkahn. I found you outside my house, sleeping under an elm tree.” “I am Aqua. Pleased to meet you sir Zekou.” Aqua said as she bowed to the village chief. While the two were starting to have some discussions, the two heard an egg cracking and some chirping noises coming from the room where Aqua was staying. “My baby!” Out of the egg, hatched a teal blue raven chick. Aqua gotten a closer look at her young and checked what gender it is. “It is....it is....” “Is it a boy or a girl?” Zekou asked. Aqua looks down at the chick and smiles. “It's.....a GIRL!” “What are going to name her?” Zekou asked. “I'm going to name her...” Aqua started to reply. Then, a name popped in her head. “I'm going to name her Mist. Mist Elmbarn!” “Excellent choice my lady.” Zekou said as he patted Aqua on the shoulders. Aqua then hung her head down and lets out a sigh of sadness. “Zekou....” “What is it Lady Aqua?” Zekou wondered. “Can you watch Mist for me?” Aqua asked sadly. Zekou nods his head. “Yes, I can watch her. What is it you need to do?” Aqua lets out another sad sigh. “I need to get some things accomplished. I am a Greater Valkyrie after all. Freyr and Freyja need me to get things done back at their palace.” “Ah, I see what you mean.” Zekou sighed. “Will you come back for your daughter?” “Yes, I promise to come back to her.” Aqua replied. “I just want to make the worlds into much better places for my dearest daughter.” “Very well. I wish you luck on your missions.” As Aqua stepped out the door, she transformed back into a four clawed raven and flew off from Zekou's house and headed back to the kingdom of Folksvangr. Zekou held onto Mist and waved farewell to her mother. --- As the hologram transformed back into Vatten, Mist's memories started to suddenly come back to her. Tears formed in her eyes and she started to sob softly. “Father....so you're....dead?” “Yes, but my soul lives on within this device.” Vatten replied. “(sob)(sniff) What about...my mother?” Mist cried softly.”Why didn't she come back for me? (sob) (groan) After all these years...?” “That is what I was afraid to tell you....” Vatten said in a glum tone of voice. “You mean (sniff)....my mother....is....?” Mist sobbed. “No, you're mother is not dead.” Freyja added. “Ummm....how do I put this....Hmmm...well you see.....your mother...” “My mother is...(sob)?” “She was framed by a child-like god in the Grotto Kingdom for some crimes and sins she did not commit.” Freyr said in a grim tone. “So, the child-like god blamed some wrong doings on your mother and well....” “The head gods of Grotto Kingdom banished her to Niflheim and was tainted, so she can never come back to Godheim.” Freyja added, as she hung her head in shame. “We tried to prove she was innocent, but they favored the child-like god instead...so...” “Mother....Father....! NOOOOOOOOOO! WAAAAAAAAAH!” Mist wailed out loud as she transformed into her samjok-o raven form and flew off, screaming and crying in sorrow. “WAAAAAAH (sob) (sniff)!” --- Mist flew out of the Folksvangr palace and headed over to Freyja's flower garden, crying and groaning as she started to search around for some flowers to make into a bouquet. It all made sense to her now. That tombstone outside the Folksvangr palace is Vatten Elmbarn's grave. She planned to make a bouquet to put on her father's grave. “I'll make you proud Papa. I promise you (sniff) (sniff).” Mist headed for the patch of lily of the valley blossoms, and started to tear off some stalks with her talons and beak. Then she flew over to the primrose patch, and started to pull out those stalks as well. After that, she headed over to the columbine flowers and started to pluck a good amount, placing the purple blossoms with the yellow primrose and the white lily of the valley. It made a beautiful bouquet in Mist's eyes. So she flies off to the tombstone, with the bouquet of flowers in her grasp. “I hope you love these flowers Papa. (sob)” Mist sobbed as she lands on the ground, gently placing the bouquet on the foot of the gravestone. “I picked these just for you. Aren't they pretty?” While Mist broke down sobbing very hard, Freyr, Freyja, Balder and Eir approached her. They watched her sobbing and crying uncontrollably on top of a flower bouquet she picked for her deceased father. The four held their heads down in sadness, as they saw Mist crying her eyes out. Freyja picks up the device that held Vatten's soul and hands it over to Mist. “Here Mist, you dropped this. I want you to keep this. Your mother was meaning to give it to you when she returned.” Mist gently grabs the devices and cuddles with it. “Thank you Miss Freyja (sniff). This is all I have of both my father and mother.” As everyone was lamenting Vatten's death and Aqua's banishment, a goddess gardener started to shout and read the riot act in the flower garden. “Okay, who the hell got into the flowers and ripped them up? If I catch this person, I swear I'll....” “Gefjon, no!” Freyr commanded as he stopped the goddess in her tracks. “This girl has already been though enough stress.” Freyja added. “Let her be. She's done nothing wrong.” “But Freyja...” Gefjon whined. “No buts. I can always replace flowers.” Freyja said as calmly as she could. Gefjon shrugs her shoulders and walks off. “Okay my lady, whatever you say.” While Eir looked down at Mist, she could hear snoring coming from the raven goddess. It was obvious that Mist was so wrought with sorrow, that she cried herself to sleep. Mist looks over at the Vanir twins and said, “Do you two have a bird cage to carry my sworn sister home in?” “Ummmm.....yes! Yes, we do!” Freyr exclaimed. “You guys wait here, I'll be right back.” Eir picked up the sleeping Mist and cradled the raven in her arms. “Don't worry Mist, everything is going to work out in the end, we promise.” Balder was deep in thought. He wanted Mist to be reunited with her long lost mother, but he knew it would be somewhat impossible with the elder gods in charge. Odinn's kingdom of Walhalla and Halja's kingdom of Niflheim were the worst of enemies. Unless a truce was made between the divine rival kingdoms, that Mist seeing her mother would be downright impossible, if not forbidden and taboo as well. Balder usually gotten along with his parents, but he hated getting on their bad side more than anything. Balder couldn't stand seeing Odinn nor Frigga loosing their cool and going berserk, so it was best he tried to get on their good side as much as possible, no matter how much he disagreed with them. Now Freyr has gotten back with the birdcage to put Mist in. It was padded with fine cushions and straw, so Mist would make herself comfortable. Balder opened the cage door, while Eir gently placed Mist on top of her “nest”, alongside the soul device of her father. “We gotta get going now.” Eir said sternly. “Thank you two for all the help.” “Anytime Lady Eir. Anytime.” Freyr said back as Balder and Eir were on their way. “Take care Mist!” Freyja said as she saw the trio leave. “Farewell.”