I sighed as the monster stepped into the crossroads. Why did it always have to be Balrogs?

Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. None of the characters, places, or anything else is meant to be represented by anything in reality. Duh! Fiction, get it? I the author reserve the rights, so please don't go posting this anyplace else without my permission. A very special thanks goes out to Cathy who spent the time to make this story readable. Another round of thanks goes out to all the others out there in BCTS land who have encouraged and inspired me to write and keep writing. Any remaining mistakes are all mine.

Dedicated to Harold Ramis. He made me laugh, cry, think and wonder.
Thanks also goes out to Shin Eris and for her story Sky Goddess. My muse took that thought and ran with it, of course in a different direction. Gee thanks, as if my muse needed help being distracted!

I sighed as the monster stepped into the crossroads. Why did it always have to be Balrogs?

Because it was how my mind translated the indescribable into something that was sorta kinda understandable my inner narrator explained. Just like the crossroads where we were standing, it was my poor noggin’s best attempt at taking something humans weren't meant to know and make sense of it.

What the hell. This was only a dream after all. Even if it wasn't, when I woke that would be what the waking me would think and believe. That is if I woke. There was some truth to that old wives tale about dying in your dreams would cause you to die for real.

“Okay,” I yelled up at tall, dark and scary. “That's far enough. Just turn around get out of here and there won't be any trouble.”

“Are you a god?” He asked, staring at me.

I could tell he wasn't very impressed. Well hell, neither was I. Obese, old, farts have very little business at telling critters like Mr. Balrog what to go do with themselves, but that was the hand fate had dealt me.

“Despite advice I've heard to always answer that question with, yes.” I smiled, remembering that movie from my youth. “The answer is no. I'm not a god.”

His smile wasn't anywhere as pleasant as mine as he lashed out with that fiery whip. Sure it was only a metaphor, but I got my fat ass out the way as fast as I could anyways. It damn sure caused the asphalt of the road to bubble and hiss as it burned a deep gouge.

“Hey!” I objected, hugging and puffing as I stood up. “ I'm trying to be nice here!”

“Fuck nice.” The Balrog grinned evilly as he whirled his burning whip to strike again.

“Crap.” I cursed, trying to judge just when to dodge.

I almost made it. Tripping on the edge of the fresh ditch the flicking whip had dug, I went sprawling. It took old ugly only a second to bring the damn thing back around. A flick of his wrist had me wrapped in its coils as the flames took me.

Screaming, I fought to get free, but to no avail. Being burned alive really sucked as a way to die. The flames consumed all there was to burn, then laughing, another twist of his hand flung the remains into the battle scarred crossroads.

That laugh choked off as I stood.

Sighing, I reached up into the gathering thunderous clouds unsheathing a blade of lightnings. Rain, instead of splashing upon me, clothed my naked feminine curves in a suit of gleaming mail as impenetrable as diamonds as I stepped toward my foe.

Startled, he retreated, but it was too late for that. I'd given him his chance. Screw do-overs. He would have no mercy from me.

His lash whipped forward, but my blade was faster. The severed weapon writhed on the ground like a wounded snake. Another strike of lightnings took care of that, just in case that whip was more than what it seemed.

Throwing the useless weapon away he lept with his claws and talons extended. In a letter perfect lunge I skewered him, the smoking point of my blade protruding from his back between his wings.

“You said you weren't a god.” He gasped, as he fell to his knees.

“I'm not.” Viciously, I withdrew my weapon. “Try the more dangerous of the species.”

As he fell I took in a deep breath, fully enjoying the play of my breasts and of simply being my true self. Extending my own wings, I let the winds carry me skyward. This respite from my curse wouldn't last long, but I fully intended on making the most of it.

Perhaps I would never know what I'd done to warrant such a crude punishment. Was it an unthinking jest, an unwise bet or had I wronged someone else? The one certainty in the cosmos was there always someone more powerful, even among gods.

However, that wouldn't prevent me from carrying out my duties, protecting my world. Even when those I guarded turned against the flesh in which I'd been imprisoned in a cruel and heartless fashion. When I woke once more I would be male, a loner, someone who didn't fit in anywhere.

However, until then I was a goddess of the skies, and woe to those who challenged me. Putting aside the ache in my heart, I flew, reveling in one of the few freedoms allowed me. Soon I would be trapped in that hateful flesh again.

I was in my element. I flew. I was me. I was free.

“Whoa!” The early morning commuter exclaimed, surprised. The shooting star blazed across the sky until it was lost amid the light of the Morning Star and the crescent moon.

“That's beautiful.” He whispered, holding onto his steaming Styrofoam cup of coffee as he stared at the bright moon and the second planet and the sparkling trail that fading with every breath.

“Just beautiful.”