DIVINE CHAMPIONS 6: A FINAL CONFLICT

SKY: FAREWELLS

Rishi dropped that wretched head from his hand, and ran to Mikael. Everyone else had overtaken him. Mikael Nyqvist had just ridden the Giant King off the Crystals. But in doing so, he had endangered himself. And the Giant King had not let that opportunity go to waste. In front of him, surrounded by friends, family and Norse gods, Mikael Nyqvist was breathing his last.

Rishi felt a familiar feeling. A feeling he hadn't felt in six years. The last time he had this feeling was when Airish had died in his arms. In front of him, Aitri held Mik's hand, smiling, but in tears. Rick moved his arm through his hair. Hnoss wanted to heal him, but Odin told her that it was his destiny, and no one could heal him. Maja was crying too, but she was staying strong. Ishaan appeared broken. "This is too big a price, buddy." He muttered, as for the first time, his voice was losing him.

"Hey, there was something I wanted to tell you."

"Yes, Mik? Anything."

"You know, how..." Mik caught his breath, "I was different, in orientation?"

"Yes?"

"I knew it, because of you."

"Oh, really?" Ishaan seemed curious.

"Yes. I..." Mik caught his breath again, "I had a crush on you."

Ishaan smiled, as if he knew it all too well. "In another universe," He said, finding his voice again, "We two would have made a power couple."

"Agreed." Mikael found a smile, "Rishi!"

Rishi ran to him, as he said, "I am grateful to what you've done over these six years. You've...ah...given us a reason...uh...to live again. To fight again. I am...uh...honored to fight beside you."

"The honor is mine, Mik."

"Kira?" He called for the Inca princess, who ran to her, teary eyed, "Meeting you was a...ah...gift, you know. I never would have realized...myself."

"You are not leaving us." Kira said, barely believing her own eyes.

"Hey, the ice needed to melt, so that the darkness could fall, yeah?" He said, as Kira broke into tears.

He turned to Maja, as his breath got heavier, "Hey, don't cry."

"You are all I had, Brother. How can't I?"

"Now you have all of them." He eyed towards all the Valkyries, "You'll be fine. Listen, give me a proper funeral, right? In Pankhpur. Viking style?"

"You got it, Brother."

Odin sighed. Rishi watched, without shedding a drop of tear, as Maja readied her spear. Mikael looked at her, and said, "Unreal honor, Sister. Vi ses på den andra sidan." See you on the other side. That's what he said, that's what he said last. A calm Mikael Nyqvist closed his eyes, with a smile, and never opened it again.

At that moment, Rishi's feet felt weak. His walk felt wobbly. He crashed down in front of his young friend, and cried. For the first time in six years, he cried. The rains caught speed, the winds were still fast. He felt an arm around him, of Aitri's. He sunk into her chest, and cried on. But he felt a little calmer, as Rick and Meghna joined him. Ishaan couldn't look at his best friend's fallen form. He closed his eyes, maybe trying to find his voice again. Maja, with a face as hard as anything, hit Mik's body with the hilt of his spear, as it sucked Mikael's soul inside. "You'll be free in Valhalla, my dear Brother." She said. She wiped off her tears.

This was a big moment. Maja was being allowed to take souls. "My brave Valkyries," Odin said, "Maja Nyqvist, from now on, is a full-time Valkyrie."

Had the circumstances not been such, Rishi would have congratulated her, maybe asked if she was sure, given she had a steady job in Ikea and all. But Rishi understood her mind. Maja had lost the last person she could call her direct family, and now, as a person who loved being around people, Maja needed to find another family. Thrud and her girls were perfect for her.