The Ninth Tale
Fragmented Balance, Part Four
MIDGARD Standard Year 2003
In the end, it was the Centric Sceptre who killed him.
She did it not with a sword or gun or particle accelerator, but with the most powerful weapon in all the Everything … an idea.
Sometime during the year 2000, the last year of the 20th century, she had come into contact with young Franklin Richards. She was not the first grand cosmic entity that had come looking for the young god, but she was, unfortunately, the last.
It was during that final battle, in the last moments of 31.December.2000 that Franklin had finally realized just what he thought his role in the Everything was. The Centric Sceptre had come to eradicate what she thought was the grand flaw in the Everything, the Multiverse. She longed for order, for the simple, plain understanding of one timeline, one continuity, one instance of each being.
The Centric Sceptre wanted to take all realties and make them one. The death toll would be incalculable, of course, and that bothered young Franklin, as did much of the world’s horrors.
He knew he should stop her. It would be the right thing to do and his mama and papa had always taught him to do the right thing.
That’s when the idea that she had planted in the dreams of his susceptible mind came to the forefront.
"Yes, it’s true, Franklin, I do want to end the Multiverse. I want to make it all one reality. I know you seek to stop me, but I ask you, why? Why should you? Are we not Opposites in this Grand Tapestry. I seek to end realities, while you can create them with but a focused thought. Is this why you seek to stop me? Because opposites are, by their very nature, in opposition?
"I have an offer for you, my Other Half. Instead of stopping me, Franklin, why don’t you stand by the side and let me achieve my goal? In return, I shall step aside as you create the Multiverse from your mind. Imagine that, Franklin. You have the chance to start everything all over again. All those divergent realities would exist only because you decided to create it.
"Think of how wonderful everything will be.
"You could create realities that held no Galactus, so no one there would ever have to live through the horror that you lived through for what he did to dear old Unca Johnny.
"It would be Paradise, would it not?
"And all you have to do to create that Paradise is not do a thing."
Franklin, much to his eternal shame, had stayed out of the Millennium Encounter, but the Centric Sceptre was thwarted nonetheless. The shame that befell him for not acting was almost too much, but it paled in comparison to the shame he held at the disappointment of not being able to create Paradise.
He tried, of course, creating several alternate realities despite the nonconduciveness of the situation and the warnings of the Living Tribunal, but all were met with failure. They became known, aptly, as the Franklin Realms and access to them is strictly prohibited, by order of the Living Tribunal itself. There are no recorded instances of anyone ever venturing to or returning from the Franklin Realms after it was sealed shut and there is only one person from the original Multiverse known to be trapped inside - a villain from the First Age by the name of Madcap.
But he couldn’t get the idea of creating Paradise out of his head and it drove him to personal ruin as he tried and failed and tried and failed again and again. The Everything began to take notice of young Richards - he drew the ire of Thanos, who watched but made no move against him. The Living Tribunal had several chats with the parents of Franklin, original members of the Fantastic Four Reed and Sue Richards, but the were powerless to contain his blossoming mind. The Silver Surfer came to council Franklin, but it did no good.
He couldn’t stop himself from dreaming of a better world, and a dream was all it took.
The shame of his inactions during the Millennium Encounter and subsequent actions led to a deteriorating mind which led to that fateful day in 2003 when Franklin Richards appeared before the world and made the proclamation, "I have to go, I gotta learn some things that mommy and daddy can’t teach me. I love you mommy and daddy and Unca Ben and Johnny and Auntie Alicia and Crystal and even you, Mr. Pietro. Bye Luna, sorry about your dog. I’d make you up a new one, but mommy said not to." His eyes became solid white with power then as he told the Everything, "I will return one day. This is fact." His eyes returned to that of a youngster to give one last message, "I’m so sorry mommy and daddy. I’m so sorry."
And then, Franklin Richards, a young god with unimaginable power, took the most simple and violent of Earthen weapons, a handgun, placed it into his mouth and pulled the trigger.
ASGARD - The Heimdall Library
Skrull 4 closed the History and turned to return the book to the shelf in the Heimdall Library from which he had taken it. To his surprise, he saw Beta Ray Bill, the writer of these Histories, standing there.
"The story is as I remember it," 4 announced in his soft voice. "Time can change one’s remembrances, but in this instance the story is the same today as it was the first time I read it."
"King Balder came to read it this afternoon," was Bill’s only response.
"I am aware. Interest in Franklin is high these days."
"It is a shame that Ben-Vell has not come to read these tales, as of yet. I thought I had made the impression on him that knowing the past was important."1
1- ALL GOD’S CHILDREN 1 - THE VENGEANCE OF HOPE
Skull 4 said nothing in response. He knew that the reason that Ben and the Orphans hadn’t come to read the Histories was that they were on a search for the recently returned Franklin Richards. "What thoughts are yours, friend Bill, of his possible status as one of the Unspeakables?"
Bill came and sat down at a large table, the same table he had sat at not that long ago and convinced Ben and Angelica to increase the intensity of their studies. 4 decided against returning the book and sat down as well, across the table from the warrior/historian.
"I think," Bill finally answered, "that we would be better to not ask IF Franklin is one of the Unspeakable, but WHICH of them he would most likely be."
4 nodded in agreement and referred to the History in front of him, "Such a sad tale, in the end, was it not?"
"Franklin’s tale is not yet finished, 4. He has every chance to improve the ending."
Skrull 4 said nothing. He didn’t want to disagree with his friend.
OLYMPUS
Astoria, an Elder of the Universe, stood with the Cosmic Flame, Herald of Galactus in the ruins of Olympus, watching Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny pummel each other throughout the once proud city.
"Why is Olympus in decay?" the Cosmic Flame asked, finally realizing what about the scene was really bothering him.
"The Olympians have left," Astoria answered. "They have traveled to a higher plane of existence."
"They’re dead?" the Flame asked incredulous.
"No, they have simply left. I’m sure most of them still live."
"Are they all gone?"
"No, not all of them … Hercules is still around, as is Pluto. Maybe a few of the lessers, as well."
"Huh, well that’s a surprise," the Cosmic Flame shrugged. "Guess a lot changes when you leave for 100 years or so."
"One hundred and fifty years, Flame," Astoria smiled, pleased to see the Flame’s memory, and his humanity, returning.
"You were saying that you make myths real, Astoria," 2 the Flame brought the conversation back on course. "And that you could make me, as you have made Santa and the Easter Bunny. I take it that you seek to take me and transform me into a myth of legend?"
2- ALL GOD’S CHILDREN 8 - FRAGMENTED BALANCE, PART THREE
"Yes, that is exactly what I have in mind," Astoria beamed. "Is that appealing to you?"
"Depends. Who would I be? I have little interest into being made as Chicken Little."
"No, Flame. I would seek to make you into one of two mythic creations that you should know from you days as an Earthman. The first is the Headless Horseman and the second is the Great Pumpki-"
Something caught Astoria’s eye and she turned quickly, surprised to see that a collection of ten Elders had suddenly appeared on Olympus.
"What are you doing here, brothers?" Astoria asked, annoyed at their presence.
"This will soon become the focal point of the Everything," the Contemplator, a short, fat, nearly naked man, mused.
"Speak not in riddles to me, brothers," Astoria commanded. "What do you mean by your words?"
"Why, my dear Astoria," the Grandmaster beamed, "to continue your theme … the sky is falling. The sky is falling! THE SKY IS FALLING!"
The Orphans of War made their way through the proud city of Athens. Sometime during the mid stages of the 21st century, the Athenians had decided that "technological advancement" really meant "architectural ugliness" and "societal decay". In response to the world clicking away on their computers, sliding faster and faster into a ruin they didn’t realize was coming, the Athenians decided to ban technology and rebuild their ancient city, restoring it to the heights of its greatness.
It was, as it once was, the most beautiful city in the world.
Unlike the filth of New York City, Athens stood shining and glorious. It’s people didn’t huddle to themselves or walk with the gait of someone in a hurry - no, the people of Athens stood in the glorious sun, said their thanks to Apollo, the sun god and walked through the open markets without a care in the world.
"Remarkable," Eshir admired, his eyes seemingly shining with power. "A city fit for a King."
"This is a city that is admirable," Attumidunn beamed. "Glorious."
"It’s natural that we feel this way," Angelica tried to shake herself out of her dismal state. "Ancient Greece was a place that believed in the Olympian gods and the city, this whole region, reflected that with their temples and oracles and the like. It is a place much more akin to Asgard than New York City ever was or ever could be."
"Wow, that’s awesome you know that, ‘Gel," Ben smiled at her, rubbing her back gently with his hand, trying to bring Angel out of her funk. He’d hoped as well, that it might even make Toomi a little jealous, but the Atlantean/Inhuman Valkyrie was too interested in the surrounding city to pay him any notice.
"Where’s the Bridge to Olympus?" Eshir asked, eyeing two lovely, giggling locals as they walked by them, absently slipping his two arms behind his back. For all his vitriol about what had happened on that day long ago, Eshir held the two stumps that sat on the end of his arms instead of hands in shame.
"Up on Mount Olympus," Attumidunn recounted from Angel’s earlier teachings, pointing towards the mountain that dominated the skyline.
"I was aware of that," Eshir shot angrily at Toomi. "I was wondering, where, on the mountain, this bridge was located."
‘With your amazing power, Eshir," Toomi feigned awe, "we should find it in no time."
Behind them, Angel closed her eyes and enjoyed the feel of Ben’s hand rubbing itself across her back. If only …
OLYMPUS
"My Herald. You have returned."
There were few sights in existence that could impress an Elder. When you were the last remaining survivor of the first sentient races to come into existence in the Everything, when you had seen all of your people die, when you had witnessed the death of not only your planet, but your galaxy, when you had watched the Everything give birth to new galaxies give birth to planets give birth to life, there wasn’t much that could make you stand in awe.
But the assembled Elders, eleven in all, quickly snapped their heads to the sky, not in fear, but in awe-filled respect.
Galactus had arrived.
Natures collide.
Even Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny stopped their brawling.
"My master!" The Cosmic Flame soared to the sky, his memory returning more rapidly now, back along his own history. "I would have sought you out, but this is where you told me to meet you, all those years ago when you sent me on that Quest to the other side of the Universe."
"You performed well. Tell me what you found."
The Cosmic Flame hung in the air in front of the hundred foot tall Galactus and hung his head in shame. "I found no planets for you to consume. Life has ceased to exist in that corner of this Universe."
Galactus nodded, but said no more.
In the distance, moving from the Dimensional Bridge that brought them here from Midgard and onto the Golden Street, the Orphans of War crouched low and dared not do anything but whisper.
"I think we’re in over our heads, guys," Ben remarked. "I count eleven Elders, Santa Claus, a guy in a pink bunny suit, one Planet Devourer and a guy on fire. Who’s he? Any ideas?"
Eshir, Attumidunn and Angelica shook their head No.
"Should we go get help?" Ben asked.
"Ready to give up already?" Eshir chided.
"Cram it, Esh," Ben shot back. "Your egotistical "I am God" manner fails to take into account what we’re looking at here. That’s a lot - a LOT - of firepower out there, and Franklin hasn’t even arrived yet."
"It’s good to see you do not overvalue my capabilities anymore," Esh replied, making sure to give Ben a look at the stumps on his arms where his hands should have been.
Ben said nothing, but glared daggers.
ASGARD - The Residence of Steve Rogers
"When will we have to say our good-byes?" Dani Moonstar asked Steve Rogers as they held each other in bed.
"Soon, I fear," Steve answered, a pang in his heart. "If all stays quiet, I leave for the Fantastic Colonies in four days, though I may stop over at Titan 3 on the way."
"Still bothered by what we didn’t find?" she asked softly, knowing what a sore subject she was walking into. There had been reports that a young group of kids had taken on the name Avengers, after Steve’s fallen comrades, and that they had been held prisoner on Titan 3. Steve, in typical Steve fashion, Dani thought, felt guilty about their capture, even though he had no ties to them. They were stupid kids, inspired by legends of a dead and gone group of heroes.
"Yes," Steve frowned. "By all intel reports we have, Titan 3 is a POW camp for Thanos. We’ve got hard data of prisoners being brought below the planet’s surface, but our raid uncovered nothing."3
3- ALL GOD’S CHILDREN 1 - THE VENGEANCE OF HOPE
"Aye, but you felt what I did, that there was more going on under that surface than we are aware of. The tunnels seemed almost alive."
"Yes, they did."
Dani didn’t respond and Steve let the silence reign. He hated that the few moments he and Dani got to spend together always ended in talking about this damnable Eternal War. They were in love and Steve wanted nothing but to relax in her arms and tell her everything he felt for her. It had taken him a long time to get involved with someone, and even longer to let down the walls he had spent lifetimes letting grow higher and higher. He knew Dani underwent similar feelings.
In regards to a loving relationship, they still had a lot to learn.
ASGARD - Logan’s Bar and Grill
A mind, impaired by liquor, does not function at full capacity.
That was exactly the way Eros liked it.
As night rolled on, the brother of Thanos tried to read the label off the myriad of bottles in front of him. ‘Well,’ he grinned, ‘I guess if you can’t read what they say, it doesn’t really matter what’s going down the hatch.’
He scratched his large stomach, reaching for a blue - he thought it was blue - liquor. Shame about his body and behavior was not a feeling familiar to him. After watching the original Titan, and his family and friends along with it, destroyed, he ceased to care about anything but his own pleasure.
Eros had no idea how powerful he was about to become.
TITAN 3
Canticle, the young woman kept alive by ISAAC, the Supreme Intelligence for around 175 years as a prisoner of war, cried herself to sleep.
She awoke several hours later and cried again.
ISAAC, who Canticle still called the Machine, had tubes and wires strewn throughout the still young looking Earth woman, so it was easy to keep her body full of the water it needed to keep the tear ducts full. He so enjoyed watching a prisoner lose themselves to their emotions - it helped him learn.
The more ISAAC learned, the greater the glory for Thanos.
"Oh god, please help me!" Canticle cried to the darkness, listening to the echo reverberate through the empty hallways. "Please, please, please …" she whimpered until sleep claimed her again.
Canticle had no idea she was about to get her wish.
"Something’s about to happen."
"No thit, thtupid," the Easter Bunny scolded Santa Claus through his broken jaw.
"Silence, my children," Astoria commanded her creations, but her voice wavered slightly. The sky began to swirl with clouds of brilliant colors: orange, blue, purple, grey. The wind began to howl like a thousand pleading dogs.
"Something’s about to happen."
"Brilliant deduction, Ben-Vell," Eshir scolded from the Orphans location on the Golden Street. Without being told, Esh enveloped the Orphans inside an Electro-Magnetic Bubble to protect them from the unexpected.
The brilliant clouds rolled out and a darkness rolled in, chasing the color to another place. Lightning flashed across the sky in a display that would have impressed even Zeus. Thunder rumbled like a hundred Haphaestus’s striking a hundred hammers.
Rain came suddenly, the tears of the Everything as it readied for any possibility. Creation centered on Olympus. The living and the dead turned their eyes upon the abandoned city.
In Asgard, King Balder was standing at a window, staring out at his realm, when the flashes and rumbling started. Steve and Dani had just drifted off to sleep, when they were awakened by the groaning of the Everything. Steve winced in pain as his Cosmic Awareness reached out to find the source of the conflict. Beta Ray Bill and Skrull 4 rose as one, drawing their weapons, prepared for anything. Eros lay slumped over the bar, drooling into his spilled liquor.
On Titan 3, ISAAC the Supreme Intelligence, felt a surge run through his systems and feared for a break in his large operating system.
In Necropolis, Thanos watched the workings of the Everything stretch to near breaking. The action made him smile, the power behind it, jealous.
The Third Army in the Eternal War was making another play.
"He has arrived," Galactus quietly boomed above the roar of manipulated nature.
The Orphans huddled together, Toomi seeking out Ben’s arm to wrap around her as she clung to him. Angel watched the scene before her in awe and any thoughts of jealousy about Ben and Toomi couldn’t crack the deepest levels of even her subsconsciousness. Eshir stood watching, craving to have such power as was being displayed by an unseen force. Somehow, some way, Esh and Angel’s bodies reached out and found each other.
The Elders watched, more fearful than they’d want to admit. To live since the beginning of time was, in a particular manner, a primal fear of death. And they felt, as they rarely did, that death may just befall them this day. They wondered individually if they made the right move in coming here, but how could they, who had seen nearly everything the Everything had to offer, stay away from this?
They knew it could get no louder, but it did. They knew the lightning could flash no brighter, but it did. They knew the wind could not pick up intensity, but it did.
Something inside all of the living beings on Olympus made them look directly above, at the dark shifting clouds that they could still somehow see despite the darkness that engulfed them.
Ten-thousand feet above them, a light, like that of a silver moon, could be seen behind the clouds, growing brighter as it dropped in the sky.
Realities converge.
The Everything hushed in anticipation … the clouds parted like a mother giving birth and a ball of silver light slowly slipped from the womb, making it’s way slowly downward. The light of the sun streamed through the gaping hole left in the cloud, spotlighting the arrival of a god.
"I. HAVE. COME."
Though they couldn’t see the speaker of the words through the bright silver light, and though few there had ever heard him speak, everyone on Olympus, and everyone in the Everything knew …
Franklin Richards had returned.
FRAGMENTED BALANCE TO BE CONTINUED …
Natures Collide. Realities Converge.
Franklin Richards was back and all present knew that the power of the Everything had just shifted to his direction.
-- MBQ … 1.January.1999
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