In this world there is the Haven, the Humanlands and the Spiritworld of the dead. It is the Haven where the gods reside, in their two grand cities. One, Zehook- is the city of all things good. Literally built out of love, hope, peace and, of course, belief. The other, Sen, is the city of evil. It is here that the dark god Xon does his wicked work. Accepting human sacrifices and blood offerings. (Those other gods simply find such gifts horrific!). Few other gods live in Sen, only those who left the god city Zehook finding it to dull, and of course there is the odd 'look! I just appeared out of no-where!' god, but those are rare and don't generally last long.

Unlike in Zehook, none of the gods living in Sen are related to the city's head god. No. No for they say that the monster Xon cannot love. Imagine, a creature incapable of love. Thats preposterous! What would the world be without love? Empty for one thing, but for another- very much boring. Sure, sure, we wouldn't have to sit through those terrible romance films or read Romeo and Juliet. But just the same, love powers things. Little things, big things. So by all chance and happening, the great god Xon can indeed love. He just doesn't know it yet. Plus he hasn't actually taken the time to talk to anyone, he has a tendency to get mad at them and do some unsightly evil deed to them. But just the same, Xon can indeed love.

He discovers love in an odd way, on the night of the midsummers festival when every Humanland person prepares sacrifices for the towns patron gods. Now in this specific town, a quaint little place, they chose to give offerings to high four gods. The Good three, and Xon the evil. One young maid however, only prepared sacrifices for the Good three. She didn't even flinch as she walked by Xon's statue. Didn't even flinch. Now, you can imagine that this rather upset Xon. Angered him actually, and he sat on his great throne of darkness and blood just wondering what he should do. Perhaps he could zap her on the spot- turn her to dust, a rat, a worm. Or he could confront her, and then turn her to dust, a rat or a worm. Or he could bewitch her to come to him and then turn her to dust, a rat or a worm. So many possibilities. What should he do? What would he do?

Fuming, and feeling rater uncertain he settled on confronting the maid. He soon stood at her doorstep, making sure that he seemed evil enough, he knocked. Sharply. Quickly. Overall, evilly. She opened the door just like any other mortal would, it appeared that she had been cleaning- for she held a broom in one hand and her hair was streaked with dust. She spoke curtly, with a strong voice. She clearly, was used to getting her way.
."Yes?".
His illusion blocked her from seeing him as what he was. He faltered briefly before revealing himself. Something seemed.. He didn't know. He didn't understand why he didn't blast her off the face of the earth- or why several words formed on his lips.
."Why ever did you not grant me an offering?".
She looked at him quite shocked, now that she knew who he was. But, she then simply put the broom down, folded her arms and replied in a very simple manner:
."Because you and your doings are ugly!".
He didn't know what to say- he stood quite frozen as she kept speaking. Some suggest that the love god Razion had chosen to sculpt a masterpiece of Xon and the simple maid. (Later this was proven as a large sculpture piece was uncovered in the Zehook city).

But none the less, the point is simple: despite her insults. He was intrigued. He wanted her to like him, to love him- and with time to came to be what could be argued as a cute couple. They went to shows together, she became friends with all the Sen minor gods. The maid from the village of the humanlands was well thought of. Some worried about her mortality, but it was something they could live with. She had no wish to be immortal, and he loved her as she was. (Becoming a non-mortal can result in drastic personality changes, usually involving angst and strange child names) But before long, they were expecting a child.

They did all the usual 'oh goody~ a baby!' new parent things, buying cute little baby things, setting up a nursery, and finding nannies. (Being god and wife of evil meant lots of responsibility). However, as she grew ever more pregnant it became apparent that something was amiss. It was clear that a mortal could not bear a non-mortal child, it was slowly killing her. Xon went to all the scholars and wise men he could find. No one could help. No one.

He spent all the time eh could with her, giving her fake little promises that he would try and prevent her death. They couldn't make her immortal, it would harm the child, he would have to accept her death and care for the child. On the morn the child was born, he did not weep. But was heartbroken just the same. This was the day his only love died. The child was healthy- he lived, a pale green thing, with brown hair- just like his mother! But also, clearly a god, the horns and the feel about him..

Xon named the child Nicorele, after Nicola, his mother. He tried to associate with the boy, but couldn't. It just wasn't like him. Wasn't in him. He trained the boy in battle, practiced with him sometimes, and taught him shadow-movement. But the boy often kept to himself. doing his godly-duties in silence.Bringing sorrow to people. Fate was cruel. I am cruel, Xon would think miserably. He came to return to be the wicked cruel being he was before Nicola. Before Love.

A fire had recently raged through the Humanlands and had killed many, lead some to insanity and of course destroyed homes. Insurance companies were in a panic comparable only to someone who needs lot of gold pieces very, very, fast.

With such thoughts and feelings about there is always a need for sorrow. So, the minor god of sadness and misery Nicorele got up, stretched and proceeded to get ready to spread a little misery about. Taking the woven basket of misery-seeds, he headed on his way. Sprinkling some here, a few others there.

He was heavily engrossed in his work when he saw her. Another god. He could tell right away she was a goddess, why her hair was made of moss and her skin seemed almost like bark! Flowers sprouted wherever she stepped as she danced about through the fires ashes. Bringing life, hope, to these seemingly dead woods.

He instantly assumed her a goddess of Zehook, there was no way such a cheerful, happy creature could exist in Sen. None what-so-ever.

He felt so unneeded then. Here this perfect goddess contradicted everything his work stood for. Was that even possible? Maybe I should say something.. He had never spoken more than two words to a Zehooken god. Was it wise?

He didn't get a chance to wonder any longer, for she had seen him. She stopped in her tracks, looking him over form top to bottom. He knew he looked like trouble, his eyes of black and moving shadows. He must reek of evil and darkness. He tells her hastily not to fear- but no, she screams. A scream like birds song. Plants shoot up around her and vines tangle around his arms and legs, pulling him onto his back- to the ground. He struggles, but, shes too strong.

The vines cover his face.

He can't see.

He blacks out.

."Whadd'a suppose he is Raginok?".
A strange, almost feminine male voice comes to Nicorele's ears. Nicorele panicked. Where am I? He wondered, he still couldn't see and he was defiantly bound to something- a chair? Who was that talking? He listened keenly, hoping for answers.

."It's obvious, he's a god. Of what? I don't know.".

This voice was deeper, gruffer and almost seemed to strike at each word. Like fire.

."You said you found it at the fire site? Doesn't that imply a few things?".

The feminine voice again, Nicorele quickly assumed he was speaking to the goddess, who had so far not spoken.

."Yes- but..I don't know, I don't think he started the fire..".
."Of course he did! There was no one else around- I mean really!".
."I think you may be over-reacting Rax, I for one know about fire.".

A fire god! Nicorele realized as he sat still, hoping they would not realize him awake. He ran through fire gods in his head. There was Flrem, the master of the hearth. Crowk, of fires wrath..and Raginok- the entertainer. Didn't the one called Rax call him Raginok? Yes..he did. But then who was Rax? And who was the female goddess?

."I think our guest awakens at any rate".
So said the god called Raginok.

The vines pulled away, allowing for Nicorele to see, and what he saw was.. rather different from anything he had ever seen before. He was in some sort of a cottage, with moss and flowers covering the walls. There were all of three others in the room- the goddess from before, her arms crossed and face lined with worry. A pink god, the one called Rax? Who was decorated with hearts, a love god? The last one must have been Raginok, an intimidating looking fellow. Reptilian, with a strange frill and fiery eyes.

I should speak, but- what should I say? He thought rapidly, he had a feeling that the three of them could over-power them if he tried to escape. I might be a good fighter but, one against three? Not good.

."I request to know why it is you've captured me".

He finally said, hoping for answers. He felt that he wouldn't get any, he was being a little too cocky there.. no matter. Cocky could be good. Arrogant yea.

."Would you believe the nerve of this guy?".
Rax- the love god put in, speaking loudly and rather rudely.

Head bent low, Nicorele felt terrified. But much to his luck the goddess came to his aid- saying that Rax, Raxion should not be so harsh. That this strange god might have a right of way. Nicorele came to learn that she was Trila, goddess of Spring and renewal. He learned that the other two were indeed Raginok the entertainer and Raxion, god of love. He explained to all of them who he himself was, Nicorele- son of Xon, god of sorrow.

At son of Xon, they all went into shock. Something that was new to him. Xon's child? None of the others seemed very pleased with this fact, some of the flowers at Trilas feet wilted when he had said this. What was so bad about that? Sure he knew about the whole 'god of evil' deal, but just the same.

Till they told him of Xon's current doings.

The great fiend of a god Xon had sent wicked demons and monsters into the goodlands of Zehook and the Humanlands down below. He was greedy, and wanted more. He wanted the three major gods to bow to him and grovel at his feet. He wanted the world. To create chaos and have the weak humans be slaves at his feet.

Already several attacks had been made on small villages. It was guessed that the evil army hoped to reach the Humanland capital and palace by the following week. Should the capital fall and the royal family killed, the humans would be doomed. But no one knows how to stop them, they were unorganized and unprepared.

Most Zehooken gods couldn't fight if they tried. They were defenseless and unable to help the people they cared about. The people who looked to them for help. At this Nicorele protested, surely they could fight- Trila did a pretty decent god of taking him down after all. Not to mention Raginok didn't look like someone to be messed with, Raxion well..you might have some trouble with him. They seemed like people who, if trained properly could fight very well, but training takes time and resources. Things they lacked.

Things they needed. They also needed a plan, which they also lacked. Mostly because no one knew what the evil god was planning to do, or how to counter him. I can counter him! I can find his plans- I can..help! Nicorele realized as he sat in that vine chair, listening to them.

I can help. He told them, before telling them his thoughts. I'm the best one for the job. The others ask if he honestly wants to do this, to get on bad terms with his father.

My dad has been leading me astray, I have to make sure he doesn't hurt anyone. Give him some much needed sorrow. Find justice and protect those in need.

Are you sure you can do it? He was asked. Positive. Absolutely positive. He would help people, be more than the god of sorrow- be a hero. One who legends will be written about, songs sung of. Epics told- he would be great. Unstoppable. Remarkable. Great shining words such as these rang through his head.

Good Luck, Nicorele. So said Trila as he returned for home. Good Luck.

Upon returning home, Nicorele nodded to the guards, and entered the great obsidian palace. The stone floors and dark (somewhat moldy) tapestries no longer gave him comfort as he headed to his fathers quarters. His office. The plans must be in his office. He paused before the door that led Xon's private wing of the castle. He had only been in there a few times, and especially now fretted. Though he knew Xon was away, off trying to get a volcano to erupt no less.

Taking a deep breath, his pushed the door open and entered. It was the same as the other times he had been there, the great four-poster bed with the massive oil painting of Xon himself against the wall. Colorless rugs cover the floor and the lighting in the room is next to none. Nervously he trekked across the room to the opposing door. Pushing it open he saw his fathers office.

The office was not a large one, with maps on the wall covered in strange markings and notes. A large mahogany desk fills the room, with a matching winged chair to boot. He headed over to the desk and began shuffling through the papers. Looking for anything. Anything at all.

He pulled open drawers, looked in the file cabinet. All over the place. When he saw it, under the ugly tapestry on the wall, a sheet of snow white paper could seen. He quickly grabbed it and unfolded it. It was a battle plan! He'd seen many of them during his lessons, the place of action being the Humanland capital- the target: The palace. The mission being to capture the city and destroy the royal family.

Hastily, Nicorele made a duplicate and hurried out of there as fast as he could. Once in his bedroom he looked the plans over. The goal was to have Xon himself kill the royal family, because there was some sort of magic shield that protected them from harm that no weaker god would be able to penetrate.. How were they to stop this? He had no idea. Til he resolved to go to the Great-three, the Good three. Its the best solution. If there was time..

He left immediately, transforming into his quad form so as to be faster. Taking off into a gallop he leaped into the sky, gliding swiftly for the river- for the city of Zehook. When he reached the river bank, he worried briefly that he might not make it across. It was a wide river, and the winds were little. Falling in would mean death.. or insanity.

Climbing up onto a ledge, he spread his spines- and leaped. For one panicked moment he was spiraling down towards the rivers water, but he miraculously caught his balance. Gliding across he was amazed at the shear size of the river, and of the glowing city across it. Beautiful. Sen seemed like such a pitiful city now as he flew towards Zehook, Zehook was a true city. Beautiful and glorious beyond compare, a true haven for gods.

Landing in Zehook he returned to his anthro form, aware of Zehooken gods stares as he headed down the street. Stupid! He tohught to himself, should have left my armor at home. Here I am walking down the street dressed up in Sen clothes. I stick out like a sore thumb!

But never the less, he headed for the great grand palace of the high-three. With hopes that they would listen to his words and grant him audience.

Up in their palace, sitting as they are known to do upon the thrones were the three high-gods. Kyaye the creator, sitting front and center of the other two. Ror the forces of the earth sat to her right, and lastly to her left, was Miko. The silent god. The three of them sat in their immortal perfection. Watching the city with all-seeing eyes. They had seen the Sen god enter, seen him hurry for their palace. Any non-knowing god would have stopped him in their tracks. But they could see that he held the plans. Had plans in his mind. They could tell that the god Nicorele was to be trusted.

So when he came to their doorstep they told the guards to let him in, to bring him before them. Kyaye looked over the god of sorrow with interest. He bowed in a different fashion than she was used to- probably the way it was done in Sen, she mused. She could sense his fear. He thinks we will blast him out of existence! She almost laughed.

."Speak- Sorrow god, what do you have to tell?".
She spoke sharply, like a person with great authority. Which, of course, she was. She could see him shaking as he replied. He is so very young- even for a god! She thinks to herself. Watching him as he pulls out a large piece of paper- the way he speaks about the evil Xon's plans makes her know one thing; this boy was no god of sorrow.

The battle plan was far from simple. With multiple steps and twists and turns. But the main goal was to protect the royal family and to save the princess at least. Nicorele, the great goddess Kyaye had declared, would be on the front lines- with the major three. It was only logical for him to be there. After all, not only did he find the plans but he also was Xon's child.

Nicorele was suited up in the armor of a Zehooken god, which he seemed to have deemed as. Trila, Raginok and even Raxion were to fight as well. It was all piecing together, even the most worried and weakest of all gods felt it was possible that they could win. The gods spent their final days preparing for war. Weapons were distributed, and practice fights took place everywhere.

On the day of war, four gods stood before all the others- he three high gods, and Nicorele, the god of Sorrow. The army of Zehook floated through the barrier rift between the human and the god worlds and came to be in the human lands. The attack had already begun from the looks of things. Buildings were on fire and humans ran screaming. Monsters and ghouls rampaged through the streets, and some of the more evil Sen gods were there too. With a great shrill cry from Nicorele, the battle began.

He hurried for the palace, following after the three great gods. Taking down whatever monsters he saw or dared cross his path. At the gates of the palace, it was clear they would have to be swift. The guards lay dead or dying and the grand doors were bashed in. The four of them rushed in, Kyaye, stopped however, to revive the few guards who could be saved. He heard Ror give a slight tutting noise of impatience, but Miko remained silent as ever as they entered.

Hurrying up the stairs, they passed servants, soldiers, more guards, the occasional noble and a rather nasty angelpuss. Finally, they came to see him- Xon, in the library, cruelly calling out to the little princess.

."Come out, come out, wherever you are you highness".

Nicorele cringed- did he really have what it takes to take out his own father? Holding his sword at hand he entered, calling out to his wicked father-

."Leave the girl alone- I'm much more dangerous to you!".

Surprised, Xon turned and probably came near to a stroke considering. For there stood his own son Nicorele, blade in hand and Zehooken armor covering him. But Xon did not care, he could not actually love the boy. No, he simply felt angry and thus shot a blast of darkness and evil sin towards Nicorele, who dodged by sinking into the shadows. As he had been taught by his own father.Leaping up behind Xon, Nicorele did strike. His sword steaming and shaking as he tried to keep it steady, no one had ever pierced Xon's skin and it seemed to have catastrophic effects.

The three great gods came then- casting magic spells, and causing Xon to disappear. As though he never was.

Nicorele however, fell unconscious.

Light was slow to return to Nicorele's eyes. For the first time in his entire life, he felt tired. Exhausted even. Like he would never get up again. He lay for a tie, taking in his surroundings. I must be in the Sen palace, he decided, taking note of the crystal-like walls and elegant arches. He wondered what had happened, and how he had gotten there. He could guess why he felt so tired, the swords force- how he had been unable to pull it from Xon's body. Turning his head he could see the sword sitting on a table not far form him.

Though it looked different, no longer was it the grey to black color of the sadness stones. No, it shined blue. But it was clearly his blade. Why was it blue? Forcing himself to sit up, he could see that it was more than that that was different. He gasped as he examined the gray markings running down his arms. 3 X's and 3 slashes.

What on earth? He had changed somehow. Physically. Probably the reason of his lack of energy. What he would have given for a mirror just then!

His thoughts were cut short as a goddess entered, Kyaye. Behind her was his friends; Raxion, Raginok and Trila. They came to surround his bed, if it could be called his bed. Haven knows who's it really is! Or was, on a darker note. They talked, joked,. No one brought up his remarkably changed appearance. Until finally Kyaye spoke in a grim tone.

."I changed you, young god- your previous position was no longer needed. So you have been given a new purpose, new duties.".

He sat dumbfounded for a time. It made sense, and explained the new markings. But. New duties? A new reason of existence? What would he be doing? He had never known anything else.. But it made more and more sense, as he lay there. He was after all, no longer a Sen god- but a Zehooken one. A good god.

."What new duties?

He asked, wondering whatever the 3 x's and 3 slashes could stand for. He couldn't even begin to guess. He could not help but be annoyed however, that she changed him without his permission.

."You are now the god of several things, Protection, Loyalty, Leadership, Honor, Justice. The code that many soldiers follow. You govern the attributes of a hero Nicorele.".

The attributes of a hero.
He liked the way that sounded, Me, a hero- huh? I can do that.

He so did, destroying harmful monsters and protecting the weak. The only trace of his job of sorrow were a small few legends. Nicorele became the patron of soldiers, the guide for kings. He would, in time, become one of the most powerful and well known gods of all time.

The End.