Omake Prologue: Enter the...Yggdrasil?

[Bean Bandit]

Peorth entered the room behind Skuld, smirking slightly as she watched the little goddess root through the freezer.

"How much of what you're doing right now is reflex, cherie?"

[RyderHakubi]

Upon hearing Peroth's voice, Ryder's stood up... unfortunately for him, there wasn't alot of space in the freezer, and she had her head in, looking for the elusive Mint Chocolate Chip.

"Ite! Don't sneak up on me like that!" she said while rubbing her head and facing the goddess, "There's gonna be a lump there now!"

And, after some thought, she replied, "Some of it is reflex... Why?"

[Bean Bandit]

Peorth smiled winningly. "I'm just curious...After all, you and your friend are in a unique situation..." she said, gesturing expansively.

"And you seem to have some of Skuld's character traits...so I wondered..."

[RyderHakubi]

"Well, I suppose if you took a delve into my personality, you'd find a little of Skuld in there." Ryder said, watching Peorth's movements...

"Oh, I thought of something... After we're done this mission, what happens next?"

[Bean Bandit]

Peorth raised her eyebrows, shrugging. "It all depends, I suppose..." she said vaguely.

"Urd and I need something before we can take back Yggdrasil's systems...I imagine you'll be sent to get it." The dark-haired goddess considered briefly. "or, failing that, locate father."

[RyderHakubi]

Ryder attempted to raise her eyebrow, failing again, and said, "I meant, are we gonna be like this forever?  While it's fun actually being divine for once, I really don't know if I want to be a 13 year old goddess for the rest of my existance."

[Bean Bandit]

Peorth watched Skuld for a moment, as though considering. Finally, her features shifted, as though coming to a decision.

"I'm not sure what will happen." Peorth admitted sympathetically. "This is the first successful attack of Yggdrasil ever. If we can't find the others...or if we fail in putting things back to rights, there may be no way for you to go back."

She laid a hand on the small goddess' shoulder. "We'll try our best before that happens, though."

[RyderHakubi]

Ryder sighed as the reality of it just crashed on her...  Sure, it really WAS fun to finally be actually SIed into something.  And even if it was as a girl, she was actually staring people that she always admired on the TV screen.

But, permanent?  Ryder didn't want that... His friends, family, and that one girl with the glasses, he couldn't bear the thought of never seeing them again.

And with all that, Ryder grabbed onto Peorth and pulled her close, a tear falling out of her eyes.

[Bean Bandit]

Peorth flinched in surprise, but a moment later, hugged the little goddess gently.

"Don't cry...We'll do out best to get you home, little one..."

[RyderHakubi]

From the sobbing goddess, a small, almost unheard, "Thank you..." could be heard.

[Bean Bandit]

Peorth let Skuld cry, patting her gently and murmuring softly to her until she'd exhausted the rush of emotion...

[RyderHakubi]

Finally, after a few minutes of crying, the tears and sobbing slowly dried out, leaving one burnt out goddess in thier wake.

Letting go of Peorth, Ryder said, "Gomen nasai for tearing up on you like that... the realities of this just crashed down on me."

[Bean Bandit]

Peorth nodded and patted Skuld lightly. "Think nothing of it, cherie. I'm sure if I were in your shoes, I would react similarly..."

Peorth never finished her sentence, as Keichii coughed lightly from the doorway.

"Uhm...Urd said to call you guys...Skuld's computer found the others..." he said, embarrassed.

[RyderHakubi]

"Thanks Kei, we'll be right in," Ryder replied as she tried to relax after letting loose her depression.  It worked to a degree, but still, it was evident that she was shaken up.

Regardless of this, she started to walk to her lab...

[Bean Bandit]

Keichii coughed again to get Skuld's attention. "Er...Ryder-san...can you go get your friend? She's asleep in Bell's room..."