Multiverse Stories (Multicross: DC, DXD, Marvel, ETC,)

(Third Person POV: The Garden of Forking Ways)

A robed man walks through an extensive and never-ending hedge maze with what looks like a book chained to his right arm and seems simultaneously full of strength yet weary at the same time.

Destiny is the oldest of the Endless; in the beginning, was the word, and it was traced by hand on the first page of his book before it was ever spoken aloud. Destiny smells of dust and the libraries of night. He leaves no footprints. He casts no shadow. He holds no presence yet is ever-present.

He has seen all that there is and all that ever will be, as is the role given by "him" to destiny. The forking ways remain unreadable and everchanging. Even with the Book of Souls, the paths constantly change.

It was a part of the reason he remains here, as with the book of souls in his hands; he can see and know everything at any point all of the time, yet he refuses to understand how the paths will end.

The chains attached to his arm along with the book clink and clang as he walks, both deep in thought and focused.

Billions of years have passed since he began to walk these paths, with some being fields of flowers and others irradiated wastelands. It does interest him as if he wonders if he is walking through true reality or very well-crafted simulations.

But to Destiny, it doesn't matter as the heat of a sun would barely be comparable to that of a candle, and the chill of a cold blizzard would be but a somewhat cold breeze.

Ever since there was the first being, that has always been Destiny. Even the Morningstar and the apocalypse have an end. Destiny understands this even if he is unable to read through the book very often lest the book itself become a part of his destiny, which would have terrible ramifications as the book would go from an unbiased Observer to being affected by the bias of Destiny.

But yet, as the paths diverged, the book began to shake, and Destiny paused ever stoic as he opened it and turned through the pages.

One character went off script, and as Destiny tried to see more, the very page disappeared, and Destiny is left for the first time in a very long time in almost a confused state. And so Destiny tries to search through the book from beginning to end for this version of Earth, yet the very Earth has disappeared from his book.

This has happened before with those worlds falling to the dark Multiverse, a mere facade created by that thing. Yet this world had not fallen to the dark but had disappeared nonetheless. This was rare, to say the least, but it had happened before with some Earths disappearing from his sight and the book's knowledge.

Yet this is worth investigating, but how? But as if the universe is answering his call, he hears the fluttering of wings, and behind him, Lucifer Morningstar looks at him and, with a smug expression, asks, "Well, it seems that your book is having some issues. Is it not?" Before Destiny could answer, he looked to the disappeared pages and continued, "It's been a long time since a world has disappeared from your book. A fault in the program, perhaps?"

The angel-turned-Lord of Hell then takes out a glass of wine and drinks it. At least it looks like wine, but Destiny can see that it is made from the tortured souls of Hell. But it matters not as Destiny says, "The world disappearing from my sight is not something new, but this one is different as the worlds that fall to the dark burn away in black flame and those that fell to the darkest night turn black and wither away. This is different as the pages simply disappeared. An entire timeline gone from my sight."

Lucifer listens to Destiny as he drones on and yawns as he leans against the nothingness of the forking pathways and says, "Well, isn't that interesting? I wonder what it is this time scientists are messing with forces they could never understand. Or is it another rogue primordial? But this is not the first time this has happened. Were you able to learn anything before the pages disappeared?"

Destiny returns to his mind and finds nothing, which is ominous as he forgets nothing, and as he turns to Lucifer, the Devil almost smiles as he chuckles and says, "You know Destiny, this is one of the first times I've ever seen you look so flummoxed. Based on your expression, I would assume that the information was either deleted from your mind or you could not remember it. This is getting interesting. I should take a look at this timeline, but not for a decent while, as it is not yet time for the main character to take the stage. Do let me know if there is a change in your book or the pages return."

Before Destiny can even say anything, the Lord of Hell disappears with only a white feather remaining, which Destiny grabs off the ground and disintegrates in his hand. The facade of Destiny very slightly cracks as he views the spot where the Devil disappeared, and a grimace forms on his face as he continues to walk the pathways.

The pages that had disappeared matter little in the grand scheme, and besides, this may benefit the universe as it may distract the Lord of Hell. He would feel sympathy for those the Devil shall investigate, but he hasn't felt anything for a long time.

The book is then closed, and the robed man walks towards the next pathway.

(Lee M. Russ POV: Earth Designation: ?)

I felt the forge thrum within me, and the star formed, yet as his soul attempted to grab it, the star dissipated. His soul then filled with an unknown energy as if to bank it for later.

(Super Science (Justice League Unlimited) (400CP) Failed Roll)

(Banked CP: 100).

So, not feeling disappointed after so many good rolls, I returned to the forge but not before feeling a chill growing throughout my being as if warning me of something. Yet, as I extended my senses, I found nothing, so I shrugged it off as being paranoid. So, as I began to hammer at the metal, I began to think through the teachings the others had given me. Thetis and Eurynome are artists in their own right, and I have learned much from them after only a week.

In the cave where I live underwater, there are many weapons and armor lining the cave walls, each one slightly better than the next, and I feel almost euphoric at my increase in skill. But what seems to baffle me is the fact that I am only ever growing stronger and not weaker.

As from what I remember from most Comics, gods are reliant on people worshiping them, and for a weaker, if they are not worshiped yet, I only continue to grow and strength, which may be due to the fact that I am only a newborn God.

God's growing in power when they're born may be similar to that of humans. As they develop physically, they simply grow stronger, yet as they reach their prime, they begin to degrade, and in this case, the degradation is caused by a lack of worshipers. When I asked the thesis about this, even, she seemed confused but then told me not to mention this to other gods as they may become envious of this ability.

With that in mind, I continue to forge away at my anvil with the metal singing as it is pounded into shape, and as it continues to form, the very world sings, welcoming another creation.

The domain of forging and metallurgy aids in creating many things. It's kind of like having the ability to create blueprints in his mind and his domains, allowing for its creation if he has the materials on hand.

While the need for the materials may seem like a weakness, and it most likely is, it may eventually be solved with more experience in the expansion of his domain in the future. The thought of having people worship him is interesting, to say the least, as, on the one hand, he feels almost afraid to let their expectations down.

In addition to the fear that he may become like all the other Olympians, that is the height of arrogance in that of itself because he is an Olympian, faults and all.

The idea of perfection is something to be strived for, but never something reached as even the presence himself created His own worst enemy, that being the great darkness, and had to come to an agreement with the other side of himself. It all comes back to the idea of balance, as with creation comes destruction, and destruction begets creation. Light and dark are always in conflict.

The forge then thrums again and fails to grasp another star, which does not bother me as it allows me to focus on my projects. While I do love creating weapons and armor, I have also decided to create jewelry in order to better my ability to create more specialized equipment. They are meant to be gifts to all the people who have taught me, as I am nothing if not ungrateful.

Although I've had to hide these projects as I want them to be a surprise, as I hear Eurynome enter my forge with what they gave me, I place the jewelry under a tarp, and as I place a tarp on it, I look to her and ask, "Eurynome is something the matter?" The woman then looked at me and said, "Oh, I just wanted to see how you were doing as you have not left the forge in a while."

The concern is touching as while Thetis is wiser yet nonchalant, Eurynome is more welcoming and serious at times, so I look to her and say, "It warms my divine heart that you care, but I am simply exploring my powers as I want to be ready when I go out into the world." Eurynome then smiles as if knowing this already and says, "You seem almost impatient to leave. Are we that horrid of hosts, Hephestus?"

I shake my head, hold her hand, and say, "I could have been left on the bottom of that ocean, and while I may not have drowned due to my divine nature, I would never have learned so much so quickly, and I will always be grateful and thankful for meeting such kind people."

The woman then says, while smirking, "And beautiful, right?" I chuckle and say, "Yes, the eye candy does help, but even if you were the ugliest being, the kindness one can show says much more." The woman then sighs and says, "You really are one of them if you can say such words so easily."

A bout of confusion forms, and then I remember the fact that I am now a part of a Pantheon that likes to have sexual intercourse in various forms, and I am happy at that point that I have no stomach or else my lunch would destroy my anvil.

As I let go of her hand, she rubs it almost fondly as she says, "I understand that you are not leaving just yet, but do know you will always be welcome here, and everyone here, especially my sister and I, will be waiting with open arms."

I smiled and said in response, "And I will always be grateful, but for now, I assume Thetis made dinner, right?" Eurynome nods, and I place my tools on the anvil and usher her out, to which she says, "Such a gentleman I could swoon." I then get in close, placing my hand on her hip, and say, "Why don't you?"

The act surprises her, but she laughs it off along with me, and we head to Thetis's home to eat like Eurynome. She is a big stickler for being on time.

As I feel the forge thrum once more, the star goes out of reach as the perk evades my soul again, but for now, I enjoy these peaceful times knowing what lies out there in the unknown.

(The Man Who Understood Infinity (Desolate Era Part II - The Chaosverse) (800CP) Failed Roll)

(Banked Points: 200)

Perks Gained: None