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Day 260
They emerge in the town of Thebes, at the foot of a massive stone statue of … some guy. Some very muscular guy, holding a sword up towards the heavens. A local hero of some kind? Eden doesn’t know. Eden doesn’t care.
“Well, this has been lovely,” Ardyn says smoothly, adjusting his hat as he meanders away from the group. “But I believe I’ll attend to matters on my own.”
“We’ve been told to work as a team,” Clare replies sharply. “This mission is -- …”
“Yes, yes, very important. But what can I say? I’m not feeling the spirit of inter-Union cooperation,” Ardyn replies. “You do whatever it is you want to do, and I’ll do whatever it is I want to do.”
Then he slips into the crowds, and the task force has suddenly gone from five to four people.
“We are rather higher above ground than we should be,” Eden’s Chirithy says, appearing atop his head. “Whatever Corridor is spewing forth the Heartless, it lies within the Underworld.”
“To safely enter the Underworld, we’ll need an item that can stave off the effects of the darkness,” Clare’s Chirithy adds, materialising on her shoulder. “Something forged from the metals of Mount Olympus itself.”
“Like this?” Thancred asks, jabbing a thumb at the poster. Eden turns to read it, squinting at the garishly bright drawing of some triumphant hero in an arena, before Thancred waves his hand towards the text under it. A tournament at the gladiatoral colosseum, with the winner receiving an Olympus Medal.
“Ah, yes,” Thancred’s Chirithy says. “That will do quite nicely.”
“No need for more than one of us to enter. I’ll go get us the Medal, we can meet back here,” Thancred says. As Clare opens her mouth to protest, Thancred waves her off. “Sorry, ma’am, I don’t really do teams. At all. Even in my own Union.”
“Oh, and I, um,” Strelitzia says, raising her hand nervously. “I don’t really like crowds or, um, groups, so I’m just going to … find somewhere quiet. Maybe -- maybe I can find out some useful information! So … see you later?”
Then they’re both gone, hurrying in different directions, and it’s just Eden and Clare.
“I’m leaving because of peer pressure,” Eden says flatly.
“Fine. I’ll complete this mission myself, if I must,” Clare replies.
Eden wonders if he’s supposed to say that he’ll stick around and help her. He doesn’t think that’s what she’s going for. If she is, then -- well, it doesn’t matter. He’s leaving either way.
---
He ends up at the edge of the coliseum’s stands, watching as brawny men battle with swords for the honour of receiving a medal. A medal that Eden doesn’t think they’d have much reason to use, unless they’re planning a trip to the Underworld.
For a while, the favourite to become the challenger against the local champion, one Hercules (the model, Eden presumes, for that statue in town) is a spiky haired blond guy with a sword as big as he is. Thancred takes him out with no small amount of difficulty.
“Woah, hey, look what we have here.”
Eden angles his head to the side, as in the deeper parts of the coliseum, behind the rows of seat, a curl of black smoke spirals up and resolves into a man, tall and lanky and grey-blue skinned, his head flaming blue. He’s leaning casually against a wall, picking something out of his nails.
“Keybearers, huh? Well, whaddya know, haven’t seen one of you guys since your Master last stopped by here,” the man says. “Hades, God of the Underworld, pleasure to meet ya, kid, really.”
Eden arches an eyebrow. God of the Underworld, huh?
“Guess we’re headed to your … eh, domain?” Eden says, turning towards Hades, taking a few steps into the room. “You’ve got a Corridor open. Sending Heartless out to other worlds.”
“I don’t remember rubber-stamping any Corridor,” Hades mutters, scratching his cheek. “Don’t see what the point is in sendin’ you guys, though. Don’t get me wrong, I’m so sure you’re effective at what you do, best pest controllers around, but you guys can’t come into the Underworld. Even if I threw the doors wide open, you can’t survive there.”
“That so?”
“Darkness, kiddo. Makes the Heartless stronger, saps the strength from anyone else, and from your sort, well, what can I say, eh?” Hades billows forward, tapping a finger against Eden’s chest. “Most people have a natural defense against darkness, but you guys don’t. You’ll get swallowed up in a second, and then it’s whoosh, gone forever.”
“Hence,” Eden says, and gestures towards the coliseum’s arena, where Thancred is stretching for his next fight, keyblade stuck in the ground next to him.
Hades snorts. “He’s never gonna win, kiddo. Hercules, our little Wonder Boy, is undefeated. And even if he did, what’re you going to do with one medal? Send one person in? But …” He holds up a hand, and in a flash of blue fire, five medallions, carved with a cloud and thunderbolt, appear dangling from his spindly fingers. “I might be able to help you out with that. Free of charge! C’mon, it’s cheap, it’s easy, and it’s free.”
Eden snorts. “And the catch?”
“Oh, just an itsy-bitsy teeny-tiny favour,” Hades says, holding his fingers a sliver of an inch apart. “You see, a few friends of mine have gotten themselves locked away in a pit -- we’ve all been there, am I right? And the planetary alignment they need to get free is … not anytime soon, let’s say. But with a keyblade, should be easy to just open the door for them, right? ‘A key that can open the doors to entire worlds,’ or something like that, right?”
“So I free these friends of yours …”
“And you get these all-access VIP passes to the Underworld. Or I guess you can gamble on your friend defeating the undefeated champion of the coliseum.”
Eden takes a moment to weigh up the options in his head, balance which one will get him closer to what he wants, and gives Hades a swift nod.
“Let’s go.”
---
Strelitzia watches from atop a Thebes dockhouse as Eden steps onto a black chariot with the strange, burning man. She sketches a quick image in her sketchbook, then snaps it shut, rising to her feet.
“We should follow.”
“Should we,” her Chirithy responds. “So long as he is attending to our mission, it isn’t any of our concern.”
“I know. But I’m, um -- I’m curious. None of the others have noticed yet. I, um, I’m pretty sure nobody in town has noticed yet, even Master Invi. You know …” She shuts one eye demonstratively, reaching up to tap two fingers against it.
“You’re aware of what they say about curiosity,” Chirithy replies archly.
“I, um. I know. But still,” Strelitzia replies. “I have a feeling we should make sure he doesn’t land himself in trouble.”
---
They head away from Thebes on a black chariot pulled by some kind of scaled, horse-like creature, out over the ocean to where the waters churn and froth, swirling around a singular point beneath them.
“Here we are,” Hades says. “Do your thing, kiddo. Remember, you keep up your end of the bargain, and I’ll keep up mine.”
“Chillax, I remember,” Eden says, stepping towards the edge of the chariot. He’s settling his foot across its jagged front when a vision hits him hard, rattling through his head.
The coliseum, stands filled with screaming people in rough, colourful tunics, all of them cowering and shrinking back into wherever they can find shelter. Eden’s keyblade crashes against Mateus’.
He shakes it off. Whatever that is, it’s the future, and he can’t change it right now. He still has his end of this deal to fulfill.
Summoning his keyblade, he points it down at the water, as a magical circle materialises beneath his feet, the seven animal symbols snapping onto it one by one, until the last symbol, the lion, appears. A beam of light bursts out of the tip of his keyblade, hitting the water, and where it lands the seas part, forming a swirling tunnel leading down to bars of lightning.
“Brothers! Titans!” Hades roars, throwing his arms out. “Look at you, in your squalid prison! Who put you down there?!”
Five voices reply in unison: “Zeus!”
“And now that I set you free, what are you going to do?!”
“Destroy him!”
Eden flicks his keyblade. One by one, the lightning bars shatter. Five arms burst out from the prison.
Hades peels back his lips into a grin. “Oh, good answer.”
---
Ardyn finds himself a quiet corner of Thebes and, when he’s sure nobody’s looking, summons his Chirithy. It materialises around his shoulders, sliding down one arm to settle on his outstretched hand.
“Are you quite sure about this?” It asks.
“A promise is a promise,” Ardyn replies airily. “And he’s just so eager.”
Chirithy snorts softly.
With a flash of light, a Corridor appears, the shifting shapes of violet and blue light leading back towards Daybreak Town.
A shape emerges from it, details melting out of the light, finally becoming clear as he steps onto the cobblestones of Thebes. Mateus sighs softly, flicking a strand of pale hair out of his eyes.
“Well, we’ve opened the way for you,” Ardyn says cheerfully, reaching up to adjust his hat, tugging the brim down over his eyes. “Your little revenge scheme is all yours from here on out.”
“That’s more than fine. I’ll make my own way home,” Mateus replies. “Once I’m done breaking Eden’s keyblade.”
“Well, this has been lovely,” Ardyn says smoothly, adjusting his hat as he meanders away from the group. “But I believe I’ll attend to matters on my own.”
“We’ve been told to work as a team,” Clare replies sharply. “This mission is -- …”
“Yes, yes, very important. But what can I say? I’m not feeling the spirit of inter-Union cooperation,” Ardyn replies. “You do whatever it is you want to do, and I’ll do whatever it is I want to do.”
Then he slips into the crowds, and the task force has suddenly gone from five to four people.
“We are rather higher above ground than we should be,” Eden’s Chirithy says, appearing atop his head. “Whatever Corridor is spewing forth the Heartless, it lies within the Underworld.”
“To safely enter the Underworld, we’ll need an item that can stave off the effects of the darkness,” Clare’s Chirithy adds, materialising on her shoulder. “Something forged from the metals of Mount Olympus itself.”
“Like this?” Thancred asks, jabbing a thumb at the poster. Eden turns to read it, squinting at the garishly bright drawing of some triumphant hero in an arena, before Thancred waves his hand towards the text under it. A tournament at the gladiatoral colosseum, with the winner receiving an Olympus Medal.
“Ah, yes,” Thancred’s Chirithy says. “That will do quite nicely.”
“No need for more than one of us to enter. I’ll go get us the Medal, we can meet back here,” Thancred says. As Clare opens her mouth to protest, Thancred waves her off. “Sorry, ma’am, I don’t really do teams. At all. Even in my own Union.”
“Oh, and I, um,” Strelitzia says, raising her hand nervously. “I don’t really like crowds or, um, groups, so I’m just going to … find somewhere quiet. Maybe -- maybe I can find out some useful information! So … see you later?”
Then they’re both gone, hurrying in different directions, and it’s just Eden and Clare.
“I’m leaving because of peer pressure,” Eden says flatly.
“Fine. I’ll complete this mission myself, if I must,” Clare replies.
Eden wonders if he’s supposed to say that he’ll stick around and help her. He doesn’t think that’s what she’s going for. If she is, then -- well, it doesn’t matter. He’s leaving either way.
He ends up at the edge of the coliseum’s stands, watching as brawny men battle with swords for the honour of receiving a medal. A medal that Eden doesn’t think they’d have much reason to use, unless they’re planning a trip to the Underworld.
For a while, the favourite to become the challenger against the local champion, one Hercules (the model, Eden presumes, for that statue in town) is a spiky haired blond guy with a sword as big as he is. Thancred takes him out with no small amount of difficulty.
“Woah, hey, look what we have here.”
Eden angles his head to the side, as in the deeper parts of the coliseum, behind the rows of seat, a curl of black smoke spirals up and resolves into a man, tall and lanky and grey-blue skinned, his head flaming blue. He’s leaning casually against a wall, picking something out of his nails.
“Keybearers, huh? Well, whaddya know, haven’t seen one of you guys since your Master last stopped by here,” the man says. “Hades, God of the Underworld, pleasure to meet ya, kid, really.”
Eden arches an eyebrow. God of the Underworld, huh?
“Guess we’re headed to your … eh, domain?” Eden says, turning towards Hades, taking a few steps into the room. “You’ve got a Corridor open. Sending Heartless out to other worlds.”
“I don’t remember rubber-stamping any Corridor,” Hades mutters, scratching his cheek. “Don’t see what the point is in sendin’ you guys, though. Don’t get me wrong, I’m so sure you’re effective at what you do, best pest controllers around, but you guys can’t come into the Underworld. Even if I threw the doors wide open, you can’t survive there.”
“That so?”
“Darkness, kiddo. Makes the Heartless stronger, saps the strength from anyone else, and from your sort, well, what can I say, eh?” Hades billows forward, tapping a finger against Eden’s chest. “Most people have a natural defense against darkness, but you guys don’t. You’ll get swallowed up in a second, and then it’s whoosh, gone forever.”
“Hence,” Eden says, and gestures towards the coliseum’s arena, where Thancred is stretching for his next fight, keyblade stuck in the ground next to him.
Hades snorts. “He’s never gonna win, kiddo. Hercules, our little Wonder Boy, is undefeated. And even if he did, what’re you going to do with one medal? Send one person in? But …” He holds up a hand, and in a flash of blue fire, five medallions, carved with a cloud and thunderbolt, appear dangling from his spindly fingers. “I might be able to help you out with that. Free of charge! C’mon, it’s cheap, it’s easy, and it’s free.”
Eden snorts. “And the catch?”
“Oh, just an itsy-bitsy teeny-tiny favour,” Hades says, holding his fingers a sliver of an inch apart. “You see, a few friends of mine have gotten themselves locked away in a pit -- we’ve all been there, am I right? And the planetary alignment they need to get free is … not anytime soon, let’s say. But with a keyblade, should be easy to just open the door for them, right? ‘A key that can open the doors to entire worlds,’ or something like that, right?”
“So I free these friends of yours …”
“And you get these all-access VIP passes to the Underworld. Or I guess you can gamble on your friend defeating the undefeated champion of the coliseum.”
Eden takes a moment to weigh up the options in his head, balance which one will get him closer to what he wants, and gives Hades a swift nod.
“Let’s go.”
Strelitzia watches from atop a Thebes dockhouse as Eden steps onto a black chariot with the strange, burning man. She sketches a quick image in her sketchbook, then snaps it shut, rising to her feet.
“We should follow.”
“Should we,” her Chirithy responds. “So long as he is attending to our mission, it isn’t any of our concern.”
“I know. But I’m, um -- I’m curious. None of the others have noticed yet. I, um, I’m pretty sure nobody in town has noticed yet, even Master Invi. You know …” She shuts one eye demonstratively, reaching up to tap two fingers against it.
“You’re aware of what they say about curiosity,” Chirithy replies archly.
“I, um. I know. But still,” Strelitzia replies. “I have a feeling we should make sure he doesn’t land himself in trouble.”
They head away from Thebes on a black chariot pulled by some kind of scaled, horse-like creature, out over the ocean to where the waters churn and froth, swirling around a singular point beneath them.
“Here we are,” Hades says. “Do your thing, kiddo. Remember, you keep up your end of the bargain, and I’ll keep up mine.”
“Chillax, I remember,” Eden says, stepping towards the edge of the chariot. He’s settling his foot across its jagged front when a vision hits him hard, rattling through his head.
The coliseum, stands filled with screaming people in rough, colourful tunics, all of them cowering and shrinking back into wherever they can find shelter. Eden’s keyblade crashes against Mateus’.
He shakes it off. Whatever that is, it’s the future, and he can’t change it right now. He still has his end of this deal to fulfill.
Summoning his keyblade, he points it down at the water, as a magical circle materialises beneath his feet, the seven animal symbols snapping onto it one by one, until the last symbol, the lion, appears. A beam of light bursts out of the tip of his keyblade, hitting the water, and where it lands the seas part, forming a swirling tunnel leading down to bars of lightning.
“Brothers! Titans!” Hades roars, throwing his arms out. “Look at you, in your squalid prison! Who put you down there?!”
Five voices reply in unison: “Zeus!”
“And now that I set you free, what are you going to do?!”
“Destroy him!”
Eden flicks his keyblade. One by one, the lightning bars shatter. Five arms burst out from the prison.
Hades peels back his lips into a grin. “Oh, good answer.”
Ardyn finds himself a quiet corner of Thebes and, when he’s sure nobody’s looking, summons his Chirithy. It materialises around his shoulders, sliding down one arm to settle on his outstretched hand.
“Are you quite sure about this?” It asks.
“A promise is a promise,” Ardyn replies airily. “And he’s just so eager.”
Chirithy snorts softly.
With a flash of light, a Corridor appears, the shifting shapes of violet and blue light leading back towards Daybreak Town.
A shape emerges from it, details melting out of the light, finally becoming clear as he steps onto the cobblestones of Thebes. Mateus sighs softly, flicking a strand of pale hair out of his eyes.
“Well, we’ve opened the way for you,” Ardyn says cheerfully, reaching up to adjust his hat, tugging the brim down over his eyes. “Your little revenge scheme is all yours from here on out.”
“That’s more than fine. I’ll make my own way home,” Mateus replies. “Once I’m done breaking Eden’s keyblade.”