Azul was takeing a break in his Nether World. A small opening in one of the areas had been open when they arrived in an area before striking at Kozilek. The Traitor Users had released the Eldrazi and could not control them at all. Which made everything annoying enough.
The User Swift couldn't bring her forces to help like she was suppose to. A friend of hers was in trouble so she repurposed them to help there. Azul let her know of that bat he was not pleased. Her response was not understanding at all.
She threw the fact his forces pulled out of Kaladesh at him. He retorted they were not helping fight and it was a waste to allow supplies to help their people more than they already had. Considering the tons of food and water he delivered to their lower areas, it was more than help they deserved.
Chandra was the friend she was helping. To say that a wedge formed from this was an understatement. A message went out to redistribute forces all across Magic the Gathering. Any extra supplies that he and Candace agreed would be sent to a place in the future to help rebuild was given to those who helped them fight.
Building bigger Alliances could wait till later or not at all. Candace agreed it was to much to spread out like they planned that way. Jaina, Cassandra and Kasumi second that as well. Considering they were the lead people on the Humanitarian effort, they were the only ones involved really.
Heading to his hut in the NetherWorld, Azul was suprised seeing Zelda inside. She stared at him as if she was waiting for him.
"What is it?" Azul asked slightly angry still.
"I just want to apologize. I mean it. I wanted to be able to stand proudly with the other three as an Operator. Each of them has earned your trust or respect.
"Come off it! You have it. I even gave you the controls that allows me to be delete myself once before. I have never doubted you. You should know that better than any other."
"I do not have your martial respect. Galtea has Power button hangs ups and after what happen between you two, it made things worse being lower than them skill wise. Lluvia is unbelievably powerful and uses it. Alita is recovered her power but had used it every step of the way. And me.. I am the least strong of your Operators. I had to do it to get stronger. I want to keep up. Hilda is even better than me in her own way."
"That is stupid. You wanted to step away from combat I was OK with that back then. I had a task you were most suited for. You were in charge of this staying functioning." Azul gestured around his statues former area. Not just statues to the various God level creatures. "Even with everything in place, I am still scared darkness in my soul would fall apart somehow. But fear keeps me honest." Azul smirked.
"I know you blame me for not having defended your Nether World when Indigo forces attacked last time. I should have been able to guard it better."
"As if!"
"What?" Zelda was taken back.
"He had several armies at his command. And Administration members. Was able to do several things without any checks or stuff to balance him out. Oh, and sending parts of people's souls in future time leaving them weakened." Azul grabbed her hand. "I did not resent you for that at all. How could I?"
"So you are not mad at me for making the task harder?"
"Huh?! Hell no. It's your job as an Operator to do that. I am about you lying about it. And the manipulation. Just say it was work-related or something. Or have me agree to it and block the memory after." Azul shrugged. "Just don't want you lying to me. I am used to that with Galtea because all she had to do. Lluvia, I hope she doesn't lie to me, that would suck. Alita just thinks more primal so that is just instinct. As for you... I can not have you doing that to me."
"I understand" Zelda put her head down and felt the connection they shared through the Tri Force strengthen as well as their bond itself. "I love you Azul. I will not betray your trust again." She looked up with tears in her eyes. "I am sorry I used Link to.."
"I love you to. No need for tears." He wiped it away and felt the power get stronger between the two. A staff appeared in between with weird power in it. "Ehhh?"
System: Unbreakable Bond no longer strained. Companion Zelda Lunastrider has decreed to never betray her User no matter what. Staff of Tzeentch has been awarded.
Observe: Staff allows the owner to detect all lies and half truths. Invulnerable to mind control.
Tzeentch: You managed to grow this way. How unexpected. But no matter. This woman has my support Everchosen.
"Oh boy that voice is so..."
"Eerie?" Zelda said finishing the sentence. "But this is great. I think you need a staff like this."
"The staff is yours to weild. You have so much to deal with and then the classes you have to take in the future on Rifts Earth. Take it with you." As Azul pushed it into her hands, it turned into a choker around Zelda's neck. " Looks nice..."
"Thank you." She reached forward and pulled him in for a kiss. It was a long one. Zelda used her tongue in ways Azul didn't think she knew how. His hands went down to her ass. He cupped and held it there. "Puaah, thanks for not going further. I am still not ready for that."
"Understand." Azul felt slightly dazed.
"What are you going to do now"?
"Nothing. Hang out with you."
"Oh, I have you to myself?" Seeing Azul nod she whispered into his ear. "I want a basic date like humans do. Just here in the Nether World. No need to go out."
"Easy day." With a Shift, Azul moved them to a part of his Netherworld that resembled a suburban environment. "Have a seat on the couch while I whip up something for us to eat.
"I want to help. You are always cooking. I want to learn to do the old fashioned way. I will pass on spending points on the ability for now."
"Alright."
'They are right.' Hilda thought through the link. 'I rather like the arrangement we currently have. I hate to see it end badly. I dont want you turning out like our predecessor did.'
'Come again?' AzuI blinked as he cut some potatoes.
'The previous User we had. I am sure you forgot about him already.' Hilda's voice was somber.
'A male that was what you call a Muslim American had a few Pulls that were not loyal. He allowed them to have freedom you gave to so many others. It did not end well for them. He fell in love with three of them. Two women and a man. We came home one day and they were togethor with one another.'
'Oh yeah, I have a very vague recollection of this.' Azul didn't think about it, because well, who really would keep the info after so long of a time.
'He flew into a rage and killed one of the women. Just like you, he had a mental power. It grew substantially while he did this. Realizing it was a way to get stronger, he tortured on the other two till they begged him for mercy. He then killed them in front of his other Pulls. Afterward.. he regained himself. The light energy he had inside him, grew in strength from his reflection. I rather you do not do that to us.'
'I can only managed.'
'Things were normal for a while. We continue on with our lives but a weird twisted evil festered in his heart. His new relationships had that shadow of a doubt with trust. For good reason. Once during a mission, he Soul Bonded at the end of a fight. I believe we were in Fable. The one he married turned out to be someone he shouldn't have trusted. She took the power he had while our Operator was away and used it for her own means.'
'Alita, which may be why she is not shy about me getting powerful. Might be afraid of me turning out like him if I do not have it.'
'That betrayal broke him once he saw what was going on. He killed everyone and absorbed their mental energies. Only I and two others remained at his side. Those with mental powers are dangerous. Your Pather power makes you even more dangerous, you do not need me to remind you of that really. Thus the reason so many Pillars were brought to you to form.'
'I do have a lot of them.' Azul thought about the various Bonds. A small inkling of the pain when they broke for a moment made him think closely on the broken ones from going to X-Men. 'I am glad for them.'
'He passed all that power to the three of us and released us. He then killed himself." Hilda's voice dropped low. 'Despite Zelda being the one out while I remained inside, I still feel the inkling. He deleted himself. Our Operator Alita, was devastated she blamed herself for not helping him become stronger. Which is why she is like Galtea in a way. Pushing you to your limits. Constantly.'
Azul mover over to keep Zelda from burning herself. The fire was just a little to high was all. He bought it down to medium and they both moved to cut up some meat.
'Tch, I am not that stupid to think I will be the exception so... I am counting on you to help with this.' He thought about the Delete Option. 'Since you are always connected to me, no one better to count on.'
'I am always with you. The Prime soul.' Hilda said cheerfully. She took great pride in that Bond. 'The only other I can speak with this way, is when the Pime SouI does the speration thing in the same World. But, I rather not since it is a little iffy. I would rather not change things." Hilda's voice had a weird happiness in it.
Pulling back his focus, AzuI saw Zelda still standing in front of him. A weird wave of Biotic Strands engulfing him.
"Call Jaina over." AzuI waited and thought about what they talked about. Well, both conversations anyway. "We need to talk about something."
In an instant, Jaina appeared. She had a little bit of a sad smile on her face. Her biotic strands went directly to him. AzuI didn't know if she was doing it on purpose or if their power called to each other even if she was not focusing on it. His Devil was restless. He didnt like this one bit.
"Hello.. I.. mean Azul." Jaina bit her tongue saying the words. "How did you find out about it? It was the sword wasn't it?" Azul nodded.
"Right.. so two options. I really hope I dont regret this. I have to become more straight about things apparently. This won't work considering everything going on, which I thought I was doing. People dont change easy. Unless I get brain surgery or something." Unless he Rewrites himself. AzuI shuddered a little bit. "We can stay here and talk as friends or move.." AzuI did not get to finish.
"Stay here!" Jaina tackled him to the ground. "You have know idea how annoying some things have been you shit heel!" She grabbed the front of his clothing and shook him a bit. Azul would have laughed if not for power. "So many lives, and you, you are such... ugghh!"
"Hehe!" Zelda laughed from the side watching them. She had the staff out floating behind them.
"So freaking powerful! Get off me!" AzuI yelled not wanting them to touch. She did not listen. His Devil was going frantic. It couldn't decide if it wanted to rip her apart or pin her down and make her submit. "Blasted Angel/Dragon!"
The spectral maidens were the Valkyr from World of Warcraft. Jaina had constructed the way they are made into the sword and armor. Considering Azul could make Angels because of his Nether World as well as Heron's
A large force of wind and earth picked her up and off him. AzuI looked over to see a very angry Tifa and a very angry Chari. Their control over the storm was damn near scary.
AzuI stood up and watched. It was hot. Didnt help the clothes were a little disheveled from training. Zelda pinched his side and pointed at his mouth. He was apparently drooling.
"You are not his wife yet, so dont act so familiar." Tifa said releasing the wind. Chari still held up the earth. "Considering everything that is going on, you can wait."
"You are just upset, I have a better Bond than you." Jaina teased. She was enjoying messing with the younger women. "Scared Alita will remove you from the Dragonflight at this rate?"
"As if!" Chari said angered. More pieces of earth formed up. Azul looked at the floorboards and was happy he could restore the house very easy. "Last to arrive, last to nest!"
"Azul, say something!" Tifa almost growled. The image of a very dangerous looking Aeon sort of formed behind her. "Are you a man or a mouse?!"
They gave him a look that he did not like. "Yeah... so I am going back to..mmmh cooking. I literally have no control of the nesting. Wouldn't even know how to go about it. It is literally a female Dragon thing. And I am a male." Azul shrugged. He tossed a little of the meat on the skillet. Zelda stirring the pasta to the side.
A quick look at the Shop, and their was no info on Nesting information. So that was a no. And the only ones he could ask, would not tell him in his group. Even under orders which was just so... bleagh in a way.
The others settled down after Lettie arived and yelled at them, the food was cooked. Zelda didn't mind all of them eating togethor. But they were all shooed away after.
.
Resting after a meal-
.
"Well, crap. How do you want to handle this?" Azul looked at Zelda.
"I dont know just yet. Right now I am feeling too..raw to think of this logically." Zelda said. She pushes Azul down and took an arm.
"Thunk!" The door closed as in walked Hilda. She looked at them with a smirk and blinked. Walking around to the garbage can, she threw away a bunch of the trash on one of the tables. Azul and Zelda just looked at her. She then stopped as if remembering something, walked back to the door and locked it.
With a wave of her hand, snacks appeared. She moved her head side to side as Azul did sometimes before floating Azul and Zelda in the air. Moving them about like a puzzle. The bed was made bigger as well as the tv. She then set them both down.
AzuI grabbed a drink as Zelda grabbed what looked to be cookies. Or biscuits? What ever it was, smelled good. A wave of energy built up between all three of them. Light Side & Paragon in Zelda, Dark Side & Renegade in Hilda. Azul's power circulated it all slowly. Sharing things with the three of them in weird ways.
"Pick something to watch. Dont care what." Hilda said, she then nuzzled into his shoulder. She gave Zelda a look and then look back at the tv. "You can leave if you want to. But I rather you stay though."
"I will stay.. Provided he doesn't pick something stupid." Zelda pouted a little. "You are the one who intruded. Despite it was your idea, I want him to myself."
"You will be fine, you know you are more comfortable with me here." Hilda smirked and she knew she was right. Especially since the two were togethor so long. Zelda pouted but didn't say anything else. She dug deeper into Azul. "We will never abandon you little Z." Her voice was very tender.
"She is right." Azul said giving her a warm smile. "I am not your previous User."
"I know." Zelda's eyes shined with power. The staff still floating to the side. 'Ummm things are getting better and better. I am ready to leave this World. I miss Mass Effect.'