Brie hugged Sora. "I'm sorry I did this so suddenly."
"I'm not upset you did it my love, I'm only upset I ever made you feel not worthy or enough to be with me in the first place! You know if you would have died of old age I would have just gone to Paradise with you…" Sora said with a large smile.
"What if we couldn't have kids? You were an Orphan. Speaking of which, I wish you could go meet your birth mother. I want to have kids with you Sora. Celeste said it's almost impossible for a human and a god. Your Father was Uthra." Brie began tearing up.
"Why are you sad about wanting to have kids? I'd love to have kids with you someday. Just not now. I'd rather not bring children into a world of war and Azazel isn't going to hold back for much longer," Sora said as he wiped her tears and gave her a kiss on the forehead.
"I wonder what goddess they're bringing from the underworld?" Brie asked curiously.
"Hopefully something I can use my eyes on," Sora said enthusiastically.
"Do you really think I'd make it that easy?" Athena asked with a laugh.
"Your match with Medusa begins now. She's blind, but don't look her in the eyes or you'll turn to stone." Athena warned sternly.
"Brie, when I say left, move forward. When I say back, move left. When I say forward, move right. You got it? Use your Lockheart skills." Sora said telepathically.
"Left… forward… back… left… forward.. Right. Got it. Woah. These skills… are you sure I can cast them?"
"Of course you can, you're a Lockheart. Remember that whole wedding thing we did," Sora laughed.
"System initiate link with Brie Lockheart,"
[Link initiated]
Medusa screeched fearlessly and began teleporting frantically. Anything to get an angle and an eyeshot at the two.
"Uh, Athena, are you sure she's blind?" Sora asked.
"Her hair is made of snakes–how do snakes catch their prey?" Athena asked politely.
"You tricky bitch. You're lucky you locked me away when you did or I would have destroyed this place!" Medusa hissed.
Brie! Teleport forward!
Brie teleported to the left and thought 'Lockheart slash!' and watched two angelic white blades fly off her katanas magically.
"LEFT!"
Brie teleported backward as Sora shouted "Lockheart's fury!" but Medusa swiped the attack away.
"Use Lockhearts reign. It's hard to control. Just make sure when that bubble burst the only thing it lands on is Medusa. I'll yell a bunch of commands just stay where you are," Sora said.
LEFT! RIGHT! BACK! LOCKHEART'S RAGE! DIVINE BLADE.
Brie meditated deep in thought and worked up the courage to think, 'Lockheart's reign.'
She used all of her mental fortitude to raise the brilliant magical bubble right above Medusa's head. Sora closed his eyes and teleported into her, stunning her as she tried to get a glance at him.
"Too slow you ugly bitch," Sora said as Brie burst the magical Bubble.
Sora teleported to Athena, then Brie, and kept them in his dimensional void as they watched Medusa melt away.
"Impressive, Sora. Very impressive Brie. I didn't think you'd be able to manage that spell at only 75%. Now for the hard part. Now, you die."
"WHAT?" Sora said.
"Relax… your Father went through the same thing. Brie, I am sending you back to Earth. You will perish and be reborn from your own ashes, kind of like a phoenix. You will then be a full-fledged goddess. Thank you for passing this trial."
"Oh, that doesn't seem so bad then," Brie giggled.
"Athena, why can't I teleport to Paradise?" Sora asked quickly.
"Soon enough you will be able to, you're not strong enough yet and you're needed on Exteria." Athena said with a wink, and they were gone.
*****
Brie and Sora teleported back to Celeste, Leila and Sasha who were waiting anxiously. They returned and Brie quite literally dropped dead, and her body disintegrated in front of their eyes.
"NO!" Sasha screamed as she began bawling. Celeste and Leila both smiled and gave Sora a nod.
Sora gave her a hug. "Hey, don't worry. Trust me, it's ok."
About ten agonizing minutes later, the screams finally stopped. Brie lay, illuminated in a golden glow. Same blue hair, same beautiful smile, same beautiful teal eyes.
Sora offered her a hand up. "Why hello beautiful. I'm so proud of you," he said with a big kiss.
"I knew I could do it!" Brie exclaimed.
"Nice job! You are now one of 2 people in the last 10,000 years to pass the trials," Leila said as she gave her a hug. "Damn girl, you literally are glowing. You look great!"
"I think she glowed more on her wedding day, but that's just me," Celeste said with a smile as she gave Brie a large hug. "I knew you could do it otherwise I wouldn't have let you," she whispered in Brie's ear.
"Thanks Celeste."
"Oh, shit."
"WHY THE FUCK DID IT GIVE US AN ALERT THAT BRIE WAS IMINATE DANGER AND WHY DID YOU MAKE TWO CHILDREN WATCH HER BURN ALIVE?!" Sera screamed in anger.
"Says the person who WANTED them in the party," Sora teased. "She's a goddess now, she passed the trial of the gods."
"No fucking way," Rissa said, quickly covering her mouth. "You look so… amazing."
"So, my adopted parents are gods, nothing to brag about here," Julius said sarcastically.
"I guess he is kind of like our adopted son, isn't he Sora?" Brie said with a smile.
"Yes, he is." Sora said while giving Brie a hug.
"Well, the full moon was a bust, but that was something." Sasha said. Levi gave her a hug, which she gladly accepted.
"By the way, what's going on with you two?" Sora asked.
"Nothing. What's wrong with being close with a party member?" Levi said with a smile.
"Yeah, ok." Brie teased.
"Anyway, let's get back to the mansion. I don't think we should make any announcements yet." Bishop said politely. "I know I'm new to the group, but the world has had enough surprises lately, wouldn't you agree Master Sora?"
"Please don't call me Master," Sora said with a giant laugh. "But yes, you are correct. I think the world could use a break from all these crazy surprises. I just can't believe it's already October!"
The party teleported back to their glorious mansion, which was much livelier these days. They trained every day and a few of them occasionally went on a dungeon run.
Brie went and took a shower and to her surprise, Sora was wide awake. She came out wrapped in a towel and Sora had a giant grin on his face.
Brie pounced on him and they had a long night with lots of love. It's not every night a god and a goddess sleep together. Fortunately for them, Athena wasn't about to let them have kids anytime soon.
*****
Deep in Azazel's lair, he was jolted awake by a pair of golden eyes.
"Another goddess has been born. Medusa has been defeated. Mrs. Lockheart has passed the trial of the gods. What is your plan now?"
"In December we strike. The titans are ready," Azazel said, rolling his eyes. "What can one more goddess in their party truly do?"
"Don't underestimate us…" she drifted off into the distance.
Azazel fell back asleep. He could give a fuck less. He was already pissed off about General Getz getting his ass kicked.