[ TT ] Hilda is a Valkyrie , one of the oldest . She 's collected the souls of many a great warrior and war hero ... even an accountant , once . Still shes is quite surprised to find herself in a school playground to collect the soul of a very confused 9 year old child .

Janrie gave up trying to make contact with her body on the floor, and instead directed her attention back at the lady in cosplay next to her. 
 
 “ Mam, that is me, lying there, ” Janrie said, doing her level best to keep the tears at bay. “ So why am I here? Why is no one else moving? ” 
 
 Hilda smiled, not unkindly. “ Child, you have been untethered from your body. As for everyone else, you will learn eventually how to move through time at your own pace. Now, come, we have to go, the Great War will be upon us soon. ” 
 
 Her hand outstretched, Hilda waited patiently for Janrie to reciprocate. Sometimes it was faster, sometimes it took longer. 
 
 “ But why me? Mummy said good girls go to heaven, so I should be there, not going with you. ” 
 
 “ Your mother is not aware that strong warriors are needed too. You have much to accomplish. ” 
 
 Janrie threw her hands up in frustration. “ Me? I ’ m not yet ten years old! I ’ m not a warrior. ” 
 
 “ Indeed. I had my doubts at first too, but I ’ ve watched your last moments. You ’ ve proven yourself to be brave, selfless, compassionate, much more so at 9 years of age than many others do in a lifetime. ” 
 
 Hilda ’ s hand warmly wrapped around Janrie ’ s, and the two slow began to circle around the tableau of humans frozen in the playgrounds, transfixed in time. Hilda snapped her fingers, and time flowed backwards, briefly, frame by frame. 
 
 “ You were brave, right about *here*, when you saw the swing on its downwards path, heading towards Larry. Many others saw, only you acted. ” 
 
 “ I was just… I was afraid he would get hurt. ” 
 
 “ And you were selfless, too. I saw it in your mind. ” 
 
 “ I ’ m bigger than he is, I thought… I would heal faster, you know? ” 
 
 “ Compassionate too, ” Hilda said, a tinge of sadness entering her voice. This was quite possibly the youngest, most innocent soul she had to guide, and not for the first time did Hilda wish she could turn back the clock. 
 
 “ Larry… Larry ’ s younger than me. We play sometimes, that ’ s how I knew he ’ s not as strong as the rest of us. His bones, or something. ” 
 
 The scene played out in slow-motion before them, and Hilda sped through the portion where the swing struck Janrie on the back of her skull, moments after she shoved Larry out of the way. There was time yet for Janrie to get acquainted with the forceful application of energy to achieve one ’ s desired results. 
 
 “ What about mummy? Wouldn ’ t she be sad? ” 
 
 “ She will, but in time, in time, she will be proud when she sees what you have become. ” 
 
 A beat of wings, a sundering of the spell which captivated time, a chorus of screams filling the air, and Hilda and Janrie were gone. 
 
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 /r/rarelyfunny
