Morning Stars

“Well if it isn’t The Devil, himself”

Temptation, in a drunken haze, looked behind himself. “Whaaaaaat? War! What’s up girl?! Come have a drink with me.”

“In the middle of a burning town?”

“Bar is empty. We can serve ourselves.”

“You’re terrible.” she chuckled.

“That’s not a no.”

Temptation and War found a mostly destroyed bar nearby.

“You know existence has been a bit more interesting since your little tantrum.”

“Like I told you and your brother last time, we are three separate headaches now. I didn’t even know of you and the other three Pillars of Change or the children that Lucifer had until recently. I still don’t care for either. Nor the ‘rebellion’ that Lucifer started or whatever. That was before me and has nothing to do with me. I am Temptation, the Greater Spirit of Temptation. Nothing less.”

“Don’t be so modest. You being here has made some interesting personalities. You second generation Greater Spirits are quite fun. Your existence created Natural Laws that affect everything under the Realm of Truth. Maybe it’s because you’re created with more than spiritual energy. Maybe it’s because you weren’t created in the Pure Lands. Either way, you 2nd Gens are inspiring.”

Temptation stood up, smacking the drink out of War’s hand. He towered over her with large ornate horns ripping from his forehead, skin a darkened violent red, the black blood from his forehead poured down his face and eyes as if to imitate tears. Two massive webbed hands bloomed out of his back, his once orange eye sparkled gold. His voice became a blend of his, Satan’s, and Lucifer’s.

“Watch your words woman! Working up the wildhold to wander to me is one thing. But wringing up the wishfulness to address any of my autonomy asks for audacity ripe for retribution!”

War smirked, “Your Old Tongue is pretty good for someone who wants nothing to do with the past.” She poured herself another drink. “I don’t apologize for the glorious pain and suffering that I cause and attract. I won’t apologize for hurting your fragile ego.”

“You’re as annoying as my sisters.”

“ ‘Sisters’?” 

Temptation used his pointed tail to grab his drink. He turned away as he drank. Was drank and chuckled, “You know this cycle is about to end. Order and Chaos called for the Four Pillars to arrive home on horseback. I’m choosing you to be my Witness of Change.”

“So you did seek me out directly.” Temptation returned to his humanoid form. “Fine. I'll be your witness. Let me know when and where. I’ll be around until then. Later Ashley.”

“ ‘Ashley’?”

“Yeah. You smell like a campfire and I wanted it to sound as cute as you.”

“Do you just go around renaming people?”

“If you don’t like it, Change it.”

Temptation finished his drink and walked away. War chuckled to herself. “I wonder who the others will choose.”

War walked out of a red temple, covered in blood. Taking off the helmet she had, she noticed Temptation walking up. He was wearing a fancy and custom suit. War raised her eyebrow, Temptation winked at her. War let out a hearty laugh.

“What in the name Chaos are you wearing?!”

“The Humbled Animals and Humiliated Angels came together a few decades ago to make these ‘suits’.”

“Those are made of cloth! You look like a penguin!”

“I like it.”

“You would! Oh Goddess, my stomach!”

“Ha ha ha. Shouldn’t we be going somewhere?”

War eventually stopped laughing and got on her black horse. Temptation grew a pair of black bat wings and flew behind her as she rode off.

War made her way into a temple of various uncanny shapes. Every shape and structure, seemingly random, only matched by a structure opposite to it but upside-down. It was like a swirling uncomfortable sight that was also strangely satisfying to stare at. Symmetrical in a way that felt calming to be in but disorientating to try to understand.

Temptation followed War. He whistled in amazement. War told him not to whistle in the House of Change. Temptation told her that he had never been there before. She asked him to remain calm and quiet until spoken to, especially when the meeting starts. Temptation winked and blew her a kiss.

They approached a large open cathedral with walls of stained glass and windows of flowing molten metals. A being made of multiple wings plastered with different colored eyes descended from the roof. The wings opened to show a torso of six arms and a three faced head. It spoke in multiple soft voices.

“Ashley Embers, the Greater Spirit of War. Originally known as Conflict, Child of Change and Union.”

War kneeled, “Chaos, my favorite sibling, it’s an honor to be greeted by you.”

“As usual, you’re first to arrive and very respectful. Did you bring a witness?”

Temptation walked closed and winked.

“Oh. This is a surprise. The Greater Spirit Temptation, spawn of Lucifer Mourningstar. I was under the assumption you were trapped in the Realm of the Living.”

“Master Chaos. The ‘humans’ that inhabit said realm call it the Physical Plane. And I am not trapped anywhere. I go where I please and where I am perceived. I just prefer to be surrounded by physical energy.”

“Strange. You hold no grudge towards us like your parent.”

“I am not my father.” he sneered. War stood up.

“Indeed. Welcome Ashley. Welcome Temptation.”

A skull masked male in a cloak of raven feathers swiftly walked in. Following him was a short inky black skinned male with his hands behind his head strolling along, looking unamused.

“Gatos, the Greater Spirit of Death. Child of Order and TIme. It’s a pleasure to see you in such good of mood.”

Death sighed, his breath visible, “I am very much over this cycle. The Humbled Animals and your Humiliated Angels have begun breeding. Making these… ‘humans’ has complicated my work. I’ve had to make use of the InBetweens as bridges and waiting areas for a new plane I created to sort the creations better. It’s becoming quite tiresome.”

“Your hard work is appreciated. You brought a witness this time.”

An androgynous, pale being in all white clothing with long white hair descended from above; flapping their large white wings decorated with golden rings. An elaborate crown looking golden halo glowed as they talked with a strict and clear tone, “Greater Spirit History. You come to grace us with your presence.”

The short inky male smiled and bowed in a dramatic fashion, “Master Order. Greater Spirit Order. Third only to Truth and Life. And my second favorite parent.”

“Mind yourself, boy.”

“I mind myself just as you mind my siblings. Just as you keep me in mind as I slave away. In my mind, I suffer. In your mind, however.”

“Enough, History. Your job. Your purpose. Is necessary.”

“It’s incessant insanity insisting on itself.”

Chaos giggled to themself. History smiled. Order appeared to roll their eyes.

Order looked to Death and History, “Welcome Death. History.”

A wagon of bones pulled by miniature blue whale souls dragged into the cathedral. Order’s eyes twitched. A very robust being, waving a poorly roasted cow leg, spoke between bites.

“Yesh, yesh. I am lahte. I knohw. I couldn’t reh-sist this fahm burning. It smelled toooo goooh to ignorah.”

Order took a deep breath, “Essevine, the Greater Spirit of Famine. Originally known as Pestilance. Child of Change and Chaos. You managed to not be last for once. Who is your witness, this time?”

“Oh, yesh. I brought my daughter.”

Order’s face contorted. Death looked away, as if to keep from laughing. History smiled, doing much better with hiding his laughter. War raised her eyebrow. A young woman with orange eyes, greasy black hair, light brown skin, and a birthmark of an apple with a serpent wrapped around it on her belly laid on the floor beside the wagon. She panted between asking for food and drinks.

Order cleared their throat, “Child of Famine… please stand and present yourself.”

The young woman groaned then planted her feet. Slowly raising, as if being inflated, she spoke weakly, “I am Gluttony Morningstar. The Sixth Deadly Sin.”

Some of Chaos’ eyes looked to Temptation before refocusing on Gluttony. War smirked, thinking of her last conversation with Temptation. Temptation fought the urge to even look in her direction. Gluttony kept her eyes on the cow leg that her parent was eating.

“A Deadly Sin. interesting.” Chaos remarked.

Order scoffed in disgust, “Welcome Famine. Welcome Gluttony.”

A wave of sensation passed through the cathedral. Order sighed with comfort, half of Chaos’ eyes looked toward the entrance. Death groaned in annoyance. Temptation’s eye twitched. War giggled. History raised an eyebrow. Famine continued to eat. Gluttony drooled over the cow leg.

A gorgeous woman walked in confidently. Her sunny golden eyes were the first things noticed. She walked past everyone else and stood in front of Chaos and Order.

“Toil, the Greater Spirit of Conquest. Originally known as Superiority. Child of Chaos and Order. Reporting for the End of the Cycle.”

“Welcome home our child.” Chaos and Order responded in unison.

Conquest smiled, “It would be nicer if those weaklings weren’t dirtying up our home.”

War and Death glared at Conquest. Famine sighed, “You cahl yourself ‘Toil’ now? How interesting. The most selfish pillah choosing such a lonely nahme. Sounds pahthetic.”

Conquest turned toward Famine. Famine fell through the chariot as it fell to pieces. Gluttony jumped up, catching the cow leg, and happily eating it. Famine stared at the ceiling.

“I understand you two don’t get along but could we not do this right now?” Death asked in annoyance. “I’d prefer we get this over with.”

Conquest looked to Death, “Since when did you care about Time?”

“Careful Conquest, only in obscure nihilism can quench quickly be understood. Unless extinguished enemies somehow survive their trial.”

“Is that a threat? Do you dare Death? Have you forgotten my harvest? Extinguished enemies that I ascended over, that I best. Assailants that my angels and I annihilated!”

Cold air became more visible around Death. Conquest turned her body toward Death.

Order snapped their fingers. War stopped her warhammer inches from the top of Conquest’s head. “That is enough of that. To your stations please, so we may begin the meeting.

War landed on her feet as the fire coming from her eyes continued to burn. She walked past Conquest to stand on the only tile with a triangle within an upside-down triangle.

Death swiftly walked to the only tile with a circle with two small ‘x’s in it.

Famine rolled to the only black black tile with a green and red outline.

Conquest winked at War as she made her way to the only tile with a large gold diamond over a smaller orange diamond.

Chaos and Order floated over all of them into the ceiling as they began to glow. They spoke simultaneously as they became a blinding light of indescribable colors. Their voice, like a collection of all voices, shaking the Greater Spirits to their core.

“Lower your gaze, for I am Change.”