Tale of the Warring Nations

By: Asagi Tsuki

Pairing: Shinkai (not necessarily in this order. I just list it this way because Shinkai sounds better -_-;;;), mentions of other pairings. I'll be kind and mention right out that this will be KaitoShinICHI, not KaitoShinKU :D but there will be mentions of HeiShinKU, HakubaShiho (again), and one-sided AokoKaito

Warning: AU, OOCness (some characters WILL be OOC), fem!Shinichi who's named Shinku

Disclaimer: obviously, DC is not mine. If it were, it would be so lame, that this fandom would be non-existent. Also, Odin Sphere, the game that became the basis of this fic, is developed by Vanillaware

A/N: someone asked me in a review whether there will be no Armageddon, since Aoko has turned into the World Tree in the previous chapter. The answer is yes. I only use mainly the Valkyrie and the Shadow Knight books, excluding all other books. The story has veered off of the canonical story quite a bit too, although some of them a bit unwittingly... some notable differences include the lack of the Three Wise Men, no mention of Ingway, no mention of Cornelius, the origins of the psyphers, the bridge to the Underworld, and more. I only played halfway through the Valkyrie book, so I don't know the full story, and had just learned of the true story way after I wrote the outline... xD so yeah... it's not the same. I might do another rewrite of Odin Sphere, or something similar to it, but not in this fandom.

I know it's been a long time, but I was recently thinking about Pandora's Box again. I don't have many multi-chaptered works that are outlined properly, so as I said, I will still finish this, and then write the sequel to Pandora's Box that has been hinted in it (if you don't know what the hint is, it's how Selva called Shinichi the Chosen One), because I've got it outlined too. However, I don't keep up with the manga anymore, so if there's any weird characterisation, I'm sorry. I only read up to the Abe-chan case (the poisoned candy one).

And now, I realise it's been years since this was updated. The outline is still there, just waiting to be written. I think I tried to pick this up before but failed. I don't even know if anyone is still reading this or waiting for this. If you still want me to finish this, let me know =)

Chapter Seventeen – Terror and Courage

Shinichi rushed back to the old palace. His heart was heavy, and his mind was still full of the images of the World Tree, but he was determined to reach the old palace as quickly as he could. He didn't want Aoko's sacrifice to be in vain. Turning herself into the World Tree was the greatest show of support and trust Ringford could have given Ragnanival, and he really hoped Melvin wouldn't start a rebellion when he found out that Aoko was no more. He would just have to trust the faeries to deal with Melvin.

"Shinichi!" Ran called out as she heard the sounds of rustling feathers approaching. She rushed out towards the balcony, and waited for him to land.

"Ran," Shinichi greeted as soon as he landed at the balcony. "I need to go see the Shadow Knight."

"He's not here," Jii said from where he was standing near the door, his eyes heavy and sad.

"Where did he go?" Shinichi asked as he frowned in worry.

"Come sit with us for a while," Jii said as he walked over and Ran led Shinichi towards one of the armchairs, taking a seat in the one next to his. "I'll tell you a story of how the Shadow Knight came to be."

Jii then started telling him the story of how Melvin came across a young boy, wounded and starving, at the edge of Ringford. He didn't have an heir, and adopted the boy as his son. He trained the boy to fight, wanting him to become the perfect soldier for Ringford, knowing that one day Ringford would need to fight Ragnanival for the Cauldron.

He also knew, however, that no human could be the perfect soldier. Psypher weapons were rare, owned only by Elfaria and Odin, who kept stealing from the queen of the underworld. Odin had given Graveryl to the Forest Witch secretly, and Gungnir to Shinku when she was promoted to general. Melvin knew that to compete, his son needed a Psypher weapon too, and so he made an agreement with Odette.

The queen was taken by the young boy. He was handsome and strong, and the queen wanted him for her own, as a servant and a knight. Melvin promised her the boy's soul in exchange of a Psypher weapon and strength from the underworld. That was how the Shadow Knight was born, and Belderiver came into his possession. Melvin had also made Odette promise she wouldn't take the boy away before the war with Ragnanival came to an end, because the reason for the exchange was so that Ringford could win against Ragnanival.

Odette must have known, in a way, that the war was coming to an end, and decided to take Kaito early. Belderiver was rightfully his, but there was a curse put upon him that could seal away his power and render him helpless.

"Please don't hate him," Jii said as he looked at Shinichi. "In his misguided attempt to distance himself from you, he spoke to you harshly. Truly, it was only because he knew Odette was coming for him, and he wouldn't have any way to come back to the land of the living. The last time he was there, it was by chance that King Odin was in the underworld to harvest crystals and brought him out with him."

"Is there a way to break the curse?" Shinichi asked curiously.

"He said if a pure-hearted person who whole-heartedly loves him cries for him, then the curse will be broken," Ran said. "Or something similar to that. It's sad that Melvin doesn't think anyone could ever love him enough to break the curse."

"How would you measure pure-heartedness anyway?" Shinichi asked with a scoff. "Well, if he's in the underworld, then I shall go to the underworld."

"How?" Ran asked. "I'm not doubting your ability to fight, and Shinku is there, so she may be able to help you; but how are you going to get into the underworld in the first place?"

"Didn't you say that King Odin goes to the underworld to harvest crystals?" Shinichi asked Jii who nodded. "Then Father must know the way to the underworld. I'll speak to him."

"Do you think he'll willingly let you go to the underworld?"

"No, but it's worth a try," Shinichi said. "Please look after the castle while I'm gone."

Ran and Jii watched as Shinichi took off again towards Nebulapolis. The two looked at each other and heaved a deep sigh.

"Don't you sometimes wish that our charges are easier to take care of?" Jii asked.

"Oh, always."

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.

Shinichi reached Nebulapolis in no time, and thankfully this time there were no murderous guards. The valkyries saluted him as he made his way to the throne room, where Odin was.

"Father," he greeted as soon as he entered the room. "How are you feeling? Have you recovered from the ambush?"

Odin was seated in his throne, slouched in weariness and pain. "You don't need to worry about that; you only need to know I'm not mortally wounded. Now, what brought you here? I could see the World Tree from here. I assume you went to see the queen of Ringford?"

"I did," Shinichi said, showing Titrel adorning his ring finger. "She is the World Tree. Ringford has ceased fire, and so there is no more need for the crystals. There is no more war to be fought."

Odin stared at him long and hard. "I don't reckon I can change your mind, can I?"

"No," Shinichi said firmly.

"That is not the only reason you're here," Odin said, frowning. "Whatever it is, the answer is no. You are too stubborn for your own good, just like your sister."

"You don't even know what I wanted to ask," Shinichi pointed out with a frown.

"You mentioned crystals," Odin replied. "Not just the Cauldron. Doesn't that mean you're planning to anger Odette? I've angered her enough, but you are planning on pushing her to the edge and cutting off any connection between us and the underworld."

"She has taken Kaito," Shinichi said finally, not seeing any reason to stall anymore. "I need to go get him back."

"No," Odin said firmly. "I've lost one of my children to the underworld. I shall not lose any more."

"But Father-"

"My answer is still no. Now return to your castle. This discussion is over."

The guards in the throne room escorted Shinichi out quite forcefully, but Shinichi knew better than to struggle. Shinku and himself had inherited their stubbornness from Odin. He knew Odin wouldn't change his mind anytime soon.

"Well," Shinichi said with a sigh. "I guess it's time to go to Elrit. I can only hope she knows the way to the underworld."

End of Chapter Seventeen

Hope you liked that, and if you do, leave a comment :)