A moment later, Lasidious appeared in Mieonus' abode. "I need the two of you to meet me in the Hall of Judgment, and please be quick about it. This concerns the both of you." Lasidious vanished, leaving Hosseff and Mieonus to ponder his request.

A moment later, Lasidious appeared in front of the Book of Immortality. "Gabriel, I need to speak with you. Mieonus, Hosseff and the others are on their way to the hall."

Before another word could be said, Celestria appeared beside the Mischievous One. She took hold of her lover's hand. "The others are on their way, my pet. But I've been unable to find Mosley, Alistar and Keylom."

"What's the purpose of this meeting, Lasidious?" Gabriel snapped. "I have no desire to speak with the G.o.ds at this moment. Please leave my hall."

"Then don't speak with us," Lasidious snapped back. "I'll take the others outside on the gra.s.s. Then you can wonder what we spoke about."

Gabriel gave Celestria and Lasidious a feigned look of frustration. "I shall stay only out of curiosity. I hope this isn't another waste of my moments."

Now, fellow soul ... the laws of the G.o.ds had many flaws as you already know ... especially the laws that had been most recently created. The G.o.ds agreed that they could not take on the image of another deity or appear in the likeness of the people of the worlds. But these laws did not state that the G.o.ds could not take on the form of a beast and then claim to be a different G.o.d. Oh, the loopholes.

Meanwhile, back on Harvestom, Keylom had departed to speak with Boseth, the leader of the blackcoats. With the others of the Collective occupied by Lasidious and Celestria, Alistar took advantage of the flawed laws. The G.o.d of the Harvest a.s.sumed the appearance of a gorgeous, browncoated centaur, and he appeared standing in front of Lasolias.

Lasolias' throne was a large swing that hung suspended from the rafters of a gigantic barn deep within the Woods of Cornoth. The swing was made of strong leather, and it was padded for comfort. Further, it was designed to hold the king beneath his horse-belly, and it would allow him to lower down and take the weight off his legs whenever he so desired. Fresh hay laid scattered about the floor, and a large basket filled with a.s.sorted grains sat within reach of the king.

Lasolias' guards stepped in front of the king as soon as they saw Alistar appear.

The G.o.d of the Harvest quickly held up his hands, and then he began his deception, or rather, his campaign to increase the number of his brother's worshippers. "Lasolias, I am Lasidious, the centaur G.o.d of Peace, Love and Unity. I've come bearing pleasant news. Your Seeds of Plenty have not been stolen. They've been misplaced, and I've come to see that they are found."

Seeing the confusion on Lasolias' face, Alistar snapped his fingers and the bag holding the seeds appeared at the hooves of the king who chose to remain suspended in his swing.

"The war your army intends to fight is unnecessary," Alistar proclaimed. "It is my sincere hope that you will choose to stop this course of action. For doing so, I'll replenish your kingdom's food supply. The browncoats will never know hunger again."

Alistar stopped talking and waited for Lasolias to gather his thoughts as the horse of a man blankly stared past the shoulders of his guards. It was clear that the centaur had never been visited by a G.o.d.

After a few moments, Lasolias responded. "I know not your name."

Alistar bowed. "Mighty King ... I have only recently ascended. I hail from a small village beyond the mountains to the north. The G.o.ds have sent me to provide our race of browncoats with a deity to represent our kind in the heavens. I am to bestow gifts upon you, Lasolias, and stop the war that will end the life's sources of countless beings."

The king shook his head. "If you are a G.o.d, then you should know my army is more than 60 Peaks from here. Word would not reach them before they begin their attack. It appears your ascension has come a moment too late."

Alistar smiled. "Don't be so sure, Your Grace. Soon, one of my disciples will make his presence known to you. He is a human, but I would ask that you treat him with respect. Give him this crystal." He tossed a yellow shard to the king and watched as Lasolias caught it in his right hand. "This stone will show my disciple where to go. This war can be stopped. Your browncoated army will be spared, and you will never know suffering again."

The G.o.d of the Harvest's hooves scuffed the dirt of the barn floor as he tried to move through the king's guards to stand directly in front of Lasolias. But one of the guards extended his pike to keep Alistar at bay.

The king commanded, "Stand down, Corporal. Let him pa.s.s."

The guard quickly raised his pike.

Once Alistar was within arm's reach of Lasolias, he addressed the king again. "In return for my generosity, I would request that you speak with your subjects. Give them my name. Tell them that Lasidious has brought peace to your world, and that he promises to replenish your lands with enough food to feed your kingdom for seasons to come.

"If they agree to worship me, your hunger will cease before the height of tomorrow's Peak. They must speak my name in their prayers twice Peakly. If they are obedient, I shall forever bless your kind, and your family's bloodline will never lose the throne of Kless."

The G.o.d did not wait for the king to respond. "I must leave you now so that you may decide. If you choose my path, inform my disciple of your decision when he appears before your throne. Shout my name to the heavens as soon as your eyes are laid upon him. Do not wait for my servant to utter a single word before you profess your loyalty to me, or my promises to you will be revoked. Remember, Lasolias, you must shout my name to the heavens as soon as you see him. He will then use the shard to stop the war." Alistar vanished.

Meanwhile, back on Ancients Sovereign, Lasidious was still holding the G.o.ds' attention. "Celestria and I have found enough matter to create a new world for the dragons to call their own. As promised by this Collective, the dragons are to be rewarded for their treaty of peace that was established after the G.o.d Wars."

Lictina, the lizardian G.o.ddess, stood from her seat. "Why were we not informed of your harvest?"

Lasidious smiled. "You were ... just now. You should know by now, my secrets are my own. More than 1000 seasons ago, Celestria and I sent for this matter to be retrieved by my Salvage Angels. They have since returned. They are only Peaks from being within range for us to take advantage of this opportunity."

Gabriel lifted off the table and then floated into a better position to hover in front of Lasidious. "You cannot create this world unless you have enough matter to birth a star to warm it."

Lasidious waved off Gabriel's objection. "The matter to mold a new star isn't available to us as of yet. But a new sun isn't necessary to create."

The Book reached up to rub his chin. "Then how do you intend to make the new world habitable without a sun? There would be no way to sustain life."

Hosseff stood and added to the conversation. "There is another way, Gabriel." After lowering his hood, the shade took his human form. "I've been looking forward to this Peak, Lasidious. Have your Salvage Angels returned with enough matter to add size to the worlds' existing sun?"

The G.o.d of Mischief grinned. "There's more than enough to accomplish the task. We are sharing the same mind, shade. Please ... explain it to the others."

As usual, Mieonus had to add her scoffing remarks. "Oh, you must! Please inform those of us who are challenged and unable to understand that a larger sun will support another world. Perhaps our tiny, little minds are incapable of understanding that more s.p.a.ce is necessary to position this new world in an orbit of its own. Please, wise and all-knowing Hosseff ... can you explain how we will control this new world? I'm sure you're not forgetting that Lasidious still controls the pieces of the Crystal Moon. You would never forget something like that."

The G.o.ddess of Hate redirected her gaze. "I'm sure you're willing to do what it takes to keep the worlds from colliding, or why would you bother creating? But tell me, Lasidious, is there also enough matter to create moons for the worlds? I'm sure the shade could also explain how these moons could safely orbit their hosts."

As Hosseff glared at Mieonus, Lasidious and Celestria laughed.

Gabriel was the first to speak. "I don't find Mieonus' remarks humorous."

Lasidious responded. "Despite Mieonus' rude way of addressing the situation, she has actually made a valid point."

For a brief moment, Lasidious allowed Mieonus to enjoy his compliment, and then the Mischievous One continued. "Let's talk candidly for a moment, shall we? It seems we all know, in light of current events, my game with the Crystal Moon was about gaining the followers I need to control Gabriel and rule this Collective. So now that you finally understand my plan, it appears the game with the Crystal Moon is no longer necessary. I say we end the contest and focus on creating the new dragon world."

Lasidious pushed back his chair and began to stroll around the table. "Regarding the Crystal Moon, I'm willing to surrender all its pieces. I'll place them on my statue inside the Temple of the G.o.ds on Grayham, and then I'll release control to Gabriel ... but under a few conditions."

Again, Mieonus entered the conversation. "I find it very entertaining that you would have the nerve to make enemies of us all. You boast about your plan to control us as if you have no fear of what we'll do to stop you."

Lasidious chuckled. "You're right, Mieonus, I don't fear any of you at all." An dastardly grin spread across the Mischievous One's face. "Hmmmmm! I actually feel sorry for the members of this collective. But how I feel is irrelevant to our conversation, don't you think?"

"Completely irrelevant," Mieonus jabbed.

Lasidious scanned the room. "So ... are you ready to hear my list of conditions, or shall I destroy the Crystal Moon and the worlds with it?"

Before another word could be said, Alistar appeared. "What did I miss?"

It did not take long for Gabriel to bring Alistar up to speed.

The G.o.d of the Harvest looked at the Mischievous One and rubbed his hands together. "I'd love to hear your terms, Lasidious. You never seem to bore us."

The Mischievous One reclaimed his chair. "My desires are simple. First ... I shall surrender the Crystal Moon in its entirety to Gabriel, but only if it's written into our laws that my statues shall forever hold the Crystal Moon and its replicas within the temples on the worlds."

Mieonus sneered. "You mean there's more than one of your statues?"

Celestria rolled her eyes. "Have you not been paying attention, Mieonus? Must everything be presented to you as it would a child? There are five temples throughout the worlds, and that would mean he has how many statues?"

Mieonus sat back in her chair and flipped her hand through the air. "Just continue with your idiotic conditions. And that would be five, by the way."

The Mischievous One had to wait for most everyone in the room to stop laughing at the G.o.ddess before he continued on with the meeting. "Oh, poor Mieonus," Lasidious sighed. "If only you were a much brighter apple, you'd be worth picking."

The G.o.ddess of Hate sneered, "And what do you mean by that?"

Lasidious sighed again. "Anyway ... moving forward. As I was about to say, Gabriel is to be the protector over the Crystal Moon. He will ensure that its pieces are never taken again. It will become law that no deity, not even me, can touch them ... this also includes Gabriel.

"Second ... whenever the G.o.ds need to add an additional piece to the Crystal Moon to allow for the expansion of worlds, these new pieces will fall under the law of my first condition. Each additional piece must be added to the Crystal Moon's overall size and left to rest in the hands of my statues."

Surprised that no one objected, Lasidious continued. "Third ... when we create the dragon world, it will be my statue that is erected inside their Temple of the G.o.ds. Beyond that, I shall no longer require other statues to be erected in my likeness."

Alistar lowered onto his chair. "Unbelievable!" He scanned the other faces around the table. "Now that, my friends, is what I call a heavy set of conditions." He looked back at Lasidious. "Are there any others?"

Lasidious smirked. "There is a fourth and final condition. I know you're all anxious to hear it."

Owain removed his pointed hat and tossed it onto the table. "I'm not." The dwarf leaned forward, adjusted the collar of his light blue suit and then grumbled, "But go ahead, and spit it out. I'm sure it won't glorify you at all, will it?"

The Mischievous One grinned. "All coins with Yaloom's image shall be replaced with a new coin of my design that bears my likeness."

As every G.o.d around the table began to murmur, Lasidious was quick to hold up his hand. "I'm not finished. There's more. All writings that refer to Yaloom's existence will be abolished. This will happen when the worlds are placed in stasis. These writings will be re-scripted, and they'll be ... you guessed it ... all about ME!"

With all the G.o.ds in an uproar, the G.o.d of the Harvest stood from his chair. "Your arrogance is appalling, Lasidious! But the return of the Crystal Moon does offer me some sense of peace. If this collective agrees to your conditions, when would the creation of the dragon world begin?"

Mieonus stood and stomped her foot. "We cannot allow him to manipulate us like this! This is preposterous. I say we finish the game Lasidious began. Let's settle this once and for all as to whether good or evil prevails. We don't need to agree to his list of terms in order to take the crystal from him. He cannot back out of the game if we don't let him."

Lasidious cleared his throat to get everyone's attention. "Mieonus is correct twice in one Peak. How about that? Since I'm bound to the game I started, if this Collective wishes to continue this meaningless course of action, then so be it. But I'd hate to see the uprising of the dragons once I tell them this collective intends to postpone the creation of a world they've waited so long for. I'm sure the t.i.tans won't be pleased to hear this news."

"You wouldn't dare!" Mieonus shouted. "The dragons would destroy everything. They'd no longer respect the boundaries we set for them. They would abandon Dragonia, and madness would ensue across the lower four worlds."

"I agree with Mieonus," Alistar added. "Even the Source would break the agreements he has entered into with this collective. And we all know whose ears he would inform after that. We cannot allow this to happen. The Almighty's back must remain turned to us."

Lasidious leaned back in his chair. He put his feet up on the table and then crossed his legs while he placed his hands behind his head. "I doubt the Source would run and tattle. I say, let the t.i.tans run free, and roll the bones. Allow them to pick their teeth with the limbs of those who worship you."

"If the beings of the worlds perish, Lasidious, your power will diminish," Hosseff responded. The G.o.d of Death remained remarkably calm as he continued. "Even if the Source does hold his tongue, you would fail in your quest to control the Book."

Lasidious chuckled. "I don't think you've been listening."

"We've all heard every word you've said?" Mieonus snapped as she pushed her brunette hair clear of her face.

The Mischievous One's voice was filled with darkness. "I said the dragons would pick their teeth with those who worship you ... not me. Rest a.s.sured, the t.i.tans will not attack any being who speaks my name in their prayers. I've seen to that."

"You lie," Calla, the G.o.ddess of Truth, contested. "The dragons would never enter into an agreement of this nature with the likes of you."

Lasidious slapped his hands on the table and then leaned out over it. "They are more than willing to work with me if this collective fails to fulfill its promise. I know this to be fact."

While the others around the table continued to digest the Mischievous One's words, Lasidious seized the moments to continue. "I think you're all forgetting something of utmost importance. With the loss of your worshippers, not only will you weaken, but the Book will weaken as well. This collective did nothing to prevent Gabriel from being drained of his power. The t.i.tans are, indeed, prepared to ravage the worlds, and they will only spare those who worship me. If this happens, it would be less than a season before I'd be able to control the Book. And I plan to use Gabriel against you."

Jervaise decided to make her opinion known. The apparition stood from her chair. As she did, all the G.o.ds turned to face her. "For as many seasons as I've known you, Lasidious, I have understood your mind to be cunning. These manipulations are far beyond your normal mischief. I don't doubt you for a moment. After watching recent events, I'm sure you've misled the dragons in this manner. I also feel that you may want us to continue playing your game with the Crystal Moon for reasons that I may not understand or even see at this moment. I find it difficult to know which path to follow. I resent you for this."

Now it was Hosseff's turn to laugh. The others surrounding the ma.s.sive table watched him as the shade stood and pulled his hood over his head.

Mieonus barked, "How could you possibly find any humor in this?"

Hosseff collected his thoughts. After a couple long, wispy breaths, he replied. "Lasidious has failed to mention that I was more powerful than he was before the worlds were created. Those who pa.s.s will increase my power. If he allows the Crystal Moon to be destroyed, I shall once again be his superior. Once your servants perish, I shall feed on their souls. Their deaths will empower me, and I shall be elevated to a position capable of destroying Lasidious. So, I highly doubt that Lasidious' true intent is to have the dragons ravage the worlds."

The room exploded with many heated opinions-all of which conflicted with one another.

Lasidious and Celestria absorbed the chaotic energy while Alistar snuck in a sinister smile in his brother's direction.

The Mischievous One stood from the table and took a position behind the shade. He placed his hands on Hosseff's shoulders and spoke. "You may not realize it, but I have offered this collective a peaceful resolution. I a.s.sure you ... my relationship with the t.i.tans is stronger than it ever was. Make no mistake, the shade's a.s.sessment isn't accurate. Once the beings of the worlds realize that serving me will spare their lives from the dragons' wrath, the ma.s.ses will change who they worship. The t.i.tans don't need to end them to sway their service. The threat of being devoured will be enough."

The Mischievous One smirked. "No matter what you do to try and stop me, I'll eventually acquire the followers I need to control the Book. Once I do, I will have attained the level of power that is necessary to provide the dragons with the home they deserve. And here's the best part about it all. Everything will have transpired without me, personally, taking the free will of anyone." Lasidious gently squeezed the shade G.o.d's shoulders and bent over to speak into his ear. "And you, Hosseff, won't be given the chance to feed on a single soul."

Lasidious watched as the G.o.ds began to shout while Hosseff yanked his shoulders free of the Mischievous One's grip. After a few moments of enjoying their anger, Lasidious jabbed, "I cannot wait until I can seize control of the Book. I'm going to destroy at least half of you."

Gabriel lifted his voice to a level that shook the hall. The sound was so deafening that each world could hear his shouting as thunder. "Lasidious, stop speaking about me as if I'm not in the room! If you do it again, I'll sacrifice everything that I am to strike you down. The souls who rest inside my pages will be scattered throughout the darkness of s.p.a.ce, and I shall perish with the satisfaction of knowing I took you with me. I demand your respect."

Everyone present was at a loss for words.

Stunned, Lasidious eventually managed to regain his composure. "You have my sincerest apologies, Gabriel. I shall no longer speak of you as just a book. I'll use your name from here on out. My scheming doesn't have to be done with such disrespect."

Gabriel's face tightened. "If only you meant what your words suggested. Make no mistake, Lasidious. If I ever hear you speak of me like that again, I will end you."

Lasidious nodded. "I'll remember that, Gabriel. But for now ... may I continue with my scheming? I will use your name."

The Mischievous One grinned and then turned to face Hosseff. "I'd much rather abandon our game and surrender the final pieces of the Crystal Moon to Gabriel. That way, we can work together to give the dragons their new world, and none of us will lose our power."

"This is outrageous!" Mieonus sneered, stomping the lifted heel of her right shoe against the polished floor of the hall. "I hate you, Lasidious ... you too, Celestria."

Bailem slapped his hand against the table to get everyone's attention. His face showed his distress as he looked around the room to find the eyes of each deity. "I have no idea how to proceed. There appears to be no option that will provide me with peace. I will follow whatever path Gabriel chooses."

Calla, Jervaise, Owain, Helmep and Alistar quickly agreed to do the same.

Mieonus plopped into her chair. "Cowards. I hate you as much as I hate them."

Gabriel ignored the G.o.ddess' animated mood. He floated over to Lasidious and hovered in front of the Mischievous One's face. "If we choose to accept your conditions and agree to create the world for the dragons, I want you to surrender the Crystal Moon immediately. You must enter a Promise of the G.o.ds that you'll never use your relationship with the dragons as a weapon against the worlds, or this Collective. The dragons are never to be used in any campaign that would change the balance of power amongst the G.o.ds.

"Further, I also want Celestria to make the same promise. If you both agree, I shall support your desire to create. I'll even a.s.sist in the creation of the new piece of Crystal Moon that will be necessary to govern the dragon world and keep it in its proper orbit."

With a sly smile, the G.o.d of Mischief responded. "What about my coins? You also need to adjust the writings on the worlds to remove Yaloom's name. I want his coins to be replaced with mine, and they must hold the same value. If you agree to that as well, I see no harm in giving everyone peace of mind."

Gabriel looked at Celestria. "And you?"

In all her beauty, the G.o.ddess replied. "I would agree to your terms."

Once the Book accepted their commitments, Lasidious released his control over the Crystal Moon with a wave of his hand. The final pieces appeared on the table and then the Mischievous One smiled as he thought, I love loopholes.

Gabriel announced, "Stasis will fall across the worlds, and they'll be moved away from the sun and placed into an orbit that will allow each of them to support life once the size of the sun has been increased."

Gabriel looked at Lasidious. "I have one thing to say before I go."