Ragnarok: The Fate of Gods (44 page)

             
He kept staring in the distance, his back to Zeke. 

             
“There was once a monkey who was exceptionally strong and brave, so the other monkeys made him king.  One day, he decided to travel the world and become stronger.  He learned many things and eventually became immortal.  However, when he went to Heaven to take his place with the gods, they did not accept him as one of their own.  They fought him.  The monkey defeated all the angels in Heaven and the demons in Hell, but he still did not earn his place among the gods.  Instead, they asked the Buddha to imprison him beneath a mountain to do penance for five hundred years.” 

             
The story was very much how Zeke remembered his friend.  “It’s over,” he said. 

             
“I know it is.  It’s over.  The battle is won, and you . . .” he paused and turned around, smiling cheerfully.  “You are now the caretaker of the universe.  How does it feel?” 

             
Zeke waved his hand slowly, watching the blur trail behind it.  “I don’t know.  It’s a lot to absorb all at once.” 

             
“You’ll be fine.  I always did think you’d make a good leader.” 

             
“Are you going back?” 

             
Micah turned away again.  “I can’t.  The world may be a better place.  I may have even had a hand in that.  But I’ll leave it to future generations to decide whether the end justified the means.  I have committed unpardonable sins.  And the only being who may have forgiven me was god.” 

             
“I can forgive you,” Zeke said softly. 

             
There was a long pause. “I can’t go back.  It’s your world now.  It’s your universe.  Make of it whatever you wish.”  He smiled.

             
“I’m sorry.”  Zeke struggled for words.  He had just inherited the power of a god, and he still didn’t know what to say to Micah.  Not after everything that happened.  “You know.  Sorry that things didn’t turn out the way you hoped.” 

             
He grinned.  “Oh?  What makes you think they didn’t?  For all you know, this is exactly the paradise I envisioned.” 

             
There was a long silence.  Zeke sized him up, trying to interpret this comment.  Even with his new god-like powers, he didn’t know.

             
“Please, take care of Ariel,” Micah requested.  “Just a little longer.  Until we can be together again.” 

             
“I will.” 

              Daniel stood motionless on the battlefield. 

             
The storm had died, the lava cooled.  The field was quiet and dark.  The only light came from the stars and a few fires.  Medics tended to wounds.  Healthy soldiers lined up corpses.  Others dug graves. 

             
He looked down at Ariel’s body.  Then he looked up in the direction of the gate.  The former gate. 

             
“I’m sure he’s all right,” said Jack.  Daniel turned to see the pilot coming toward him.  “He’ll find a way to come back.” 

             
“Yeah.”  His voice was soft.

             
Jack handed him a small box with a red cross on it.  Together, they bent down and began to clean Ariel’s body.  They wiped off dried blood.  They patched up wounds.  They made her look more dignified. 

             
The two men worked diligently for a half an hour, but the best of work would not bring her back to life.  Still, they kept at it until something distracted them.  Something strange.  Unexpected.

             
A ray of light shot over the horizon. 

             
They stopped and stared east.  Curious.  The light grew.  Daniel shielded his eyes.  Someone approached from the east.  The figure was indistinct in the light.  The light, however, was unmistakable.

             
A sunrise. 

             
Soldiers began to notice.  Their voices were carried by a gentle breeze.  Excitement and relief swept across the field. 

             
Daniel focused on the man approaching them. 

             
Zeke. 

             
Unharmed, but not carrying his sword.  His familiar kenpo gi shirt and hakama pants were no longer dark black, but now pure white.  He smiled gently.

             
“You’re safe!”

             
“Of course I am.  Do you think a little thing like the end of the world is going to do me in?”  Zeke laughed. 

             
“I’m glad,” Daniel said quietly. 

             
Jack stepped forward to greet him.  He put a hand on Zeke’s shoulder.  “It’s good to see you again.  Things didn’t go so well out here.”

             
“How did your battle with Metatron go?”  Daniel asked. 

             
“It’s over.  There’s not much more to be said.” 

             
Jack laughed.  “What more needs to be said?” 

             
The world was rid of monsters.  The line of tyrants had ended.  Men no longer needed to hide in caves or fortresses for safety.  The sun rose for everyone today. 

             
But something didn’t seem right.  As Daniel looked at Zeke, there was a hollowness in his smile.  Something strange in his eyes.  He took a step back.  “Wait . . . There’s something different.  About you.  I can feel it.” 

             
“Yes.  I know.  I got these new duds,” Zeke replied, showing off his shirt.  “And quite a bit more responsibility now.” 

             
Daniel eyed him curiously.  “All the monsters turned to mist, just like when Metatron . . . and now he’s gone . . . and . . .” 

             
“Daniel, is there something you want to ask me?” 

             
“This may be a strange question but,” he paused, awkwardly searching for the words.  “Zeke, are you . . . God?”

             
“No.” 

             
“Then what . . .”

             
“There is no ‘god. ’”

             
“No god?”  Jack scoffed.  “There’s going to be a lot of unhappy churchgoers when that news gets out.  Might put a damper on the Christmas pageant.” 

             
“No god.”  Daniel reflected for a moment.  “Nothing to believe in.  No guidance.  No hope or faith that there’s something stronger out there, existing to protect us.” 

             
Zeke lectured softly.  “Humans have lived too long for the purpose of others.  Too long under someone else’s will.  They’ve spent too much of their lives devoted to the ideas of their gods.  Now it’s time they simply lived for themselves.”

             
Jack stretched his hands behind his head.  “Living life for yourself?  Sounds good to me.” 

             
“Live for happiness, right?  Our lives are no longer dictated by Fate.”  Daniel sounded uneasy.  Not happy or sad, but unsure. 

             
“Humans don’t live forever.  No sense living in pain or suffering, just for the sake of their higher power and faint promises of an afterlife.  The idea of God was never a good thing when so many horrible acts were carried out in his name.  I think it’s better this way.” 

             
“So what are you going to do now?” He sensed something was wrong.  Something Zeke wasn’t saying up front.  “Where do you fit into this new world?” 

             
“I don’t,” he answered.  “I can’t stay long.  I have to leave.” 

             
“What?  You’re leaving?” 

             
“I know it’s a lot to ask, but I want you to understand.  I have to do this.”  He rested his hand on the boy’s shoulder for a moment, then crossed behind him to Ariel’s body.  “But I had to come back.  For her.”  He gently picks her up.

             
“I’m sorry.  I didn’t get to her in time.” 

             
“Don’t worry.  She will be fine.  And she’s overdue for a meeting with a very old friend.”  He turned to face them. 

             
“That’s it?”  Daniel asked quietly.  “You’re just leaving us?” 

             
Zeke remembered his life ten years ago.  Back when Micah left him.  He was another person then.  Full of anger.  Full of violence.  Unsure of himself.  Daniel was different.  Not much older, but far stronger.  He could handle it. 

             
“I have to.  I can’t interfere.  This is your world now, Daniel.  Make of it whatever you wish.” 

             
A calm energy radiated from Zeke’s body.  Six bright wings sprouted from his back.  The energy continued in a circle, spreading outwards on the earth.  As it expanded, the ground revived.  The cold, dead world vanished.  It became green with life. 

             
Zeke rose up into the sky with Ariel and vanished. 

             
The sun shone brightly.

Epilogue

              Daniel walked through the green field of the Battle of Ragnarok.  The sun glowed through the clouds.  The wind ruffled the grass.  It seemed like an entirely different world. 

             
He climbed up the slope of what once was a crater, heading back to the hill where he first found Zeke.  Before the fighting. 

             
On the ground lay a thick coat and a large pack.  Beside it was a polished black katana sheath.  He picked it up. 
He knew he wasn’t coming back
, he thought.

             
Shink!

             
The soft sound of metal in earth resounded quietly behind him.  He turned. 

             
Zeke’s katana stuck gently in the ground, wavering gently.  Daniel approached it and pulled.  The sword came easily out of the ground. 

             
He held the sword gently, looking up into the sky.

             
But of course he saw nothing.