Ok, sorry that this update took so long, but I was updating part of this chapter. I hope you guys enjoy and will continue to support me! Here you go!
Chapter Three: Lord of Death
The passage to the underworld was not pleasant for the living. It was at first a two hundred feet drop, during which the spells of the underworld would kill the living. Those who were strong enough to survive, then found themselves faced by the mighty river Styx, where on the other shore the gates of the underworld and the guard dog of hell waited.
Athena had brought along only two people. One was a saint named Shaka, who had long blonde hair, blue eyes, and wore the gold cloth of Virgo. The other was Sorrento, who was still agitated but had insisted on coming along. They were all nervous as they finished their descent. Here they saw dozens of dead beasts, those that had not survived the snares of the underworld.
"Beasts." Athena said. "It is as we feared. The underworld had fallen under attack as well."
Then they looked to the river Styx, a usually raging torrent that allowed passage only to those that had entered the barge that took the dead across the river and annihilated those who did not. Now, it was calm, like a lake untouched for centuries. There was no movement in its depths, though countless beasts lurked there. The water lay dormant and unmoving.
"There is strong magic here." Shaka growled.
Together, they managed to locate the barge, though its usual driver was no where to be found, and they pushed it into the river. The mighty Styx let them pass calmly. They were careful not to touch the water, because it could kill. This goddess, saint, and mariner were the first people to ever see the expanse to the river Styx. With the water calm, they could see deep into the river, which was deep enough that their eyes could not penetrate the inky blackness of it below six fathoms. They shuddered upon seeing it, wondering what enormous creatures called that place home and if they would see any of them. But there was nothing. The river was calm.
They touched down on the opposite shore, noting the fog that had gathered around in front of the gates. They carefully laid the ship down so they could board it when they were done, and then turned. What they saw made them pull up in dismay.
"The gates are closed?" Athena gasped.
"No wait, look!" Sorrento cried. He had spotted the glint of metal in the side of the door frame.
"This is a specter's lance." Shaka said, carefully examining it. "Its barley managed to hold the gate open."
"What do we do now?" Sorrento asked. "Should we turn back?" Athena was silent for a moment.
"No." She said. "We open it. They obviously tried very hard to keep the gate open. We have to see why that is."
Even with the goddess' powerful cosmos, they found it hard to get the gate to lock back into the open position. It took them several long and hard minutes to pull the door back to its original position, grinding along the ground with every inch they pushed. Finally getting there, they paused gasping. Only then did Athena glance up into the underworld. The sight held her gaze, and she could only stare into the land of the dead in disbelief.
"Dear gods…" She said.
The underworld had indeed fallen. No sound came from within. The first thing they couldn't help but notice was Cerberus and all the beasts he had slain. He was still snarling, as if ready to attack at a moment's notice, and they all paused a moment upon seeing him. His flank quivered, but he did not move. Shaka noticed a specter, of whom he assumed the lance belonged to. He approached him carefully, and then dropping to one knee, laid his head against his chest, listening.
"It's a spell." He announced, slowly straightening. "It's put them all to sleep. It has a strong hold too. It's been hours though, and someone might be awakening by now. Let's see if we can find out what happened."
But they all froze as a deep rumbling growl suddenly came from right next to them. The hound of hell had finally reawakened, turning his eyes to the trespassers that had foolishly come here just after a battle. He did not raise himself from the ground however, only crouched to spring, his heads and chest still low. But the fearsome dog did not attack, only growled. However, it almost made the saint and the mariner bolt.
"Cerberus!" Athena called. "We have come here to aide you comrades and your master. Will you not let us pass?"
He snarled at her, and Athena realized something.
"You're guarding something, aren't you?" Athena asked. "Will you show me? Perhaps I can help."
The dog bared his teeth to her. He wasn't it the mood for that. But then he paused, and they all heard a gentle voiced speak.
"Down, Cerberus."
The dog cocked its heads slightly, and then rose to a sitting position. They all watched his heads, making sure he wasn't going to attack, but he seemed docile now, even though he towered above them. His large tail suddenly thumped the ground a few times. Then, the small party noticed a boy at his feet, sitting and watching him. Athena and the saint felt the air leave their lungs. They had seen that face before.
He had green hair and eyes that were green, but nearly blue. It was a striking contrast to the underworld around him, gloomy and dead. Even in death he seemed to give an air of life. He made no move to get away, no move to speak. He was simply watching them.
"You're Shun." Athena said. "Ikki's brother."
"So he is a saint then." Shun said. "I recognize you as Athena. So I guess he told you about me?"
"Yes." Athena said. Then she ventured a question that had been bugging them all for a year. "Do you know how you died? It's really been bothering him." Shun winced.
"No." He replied. And it wasn't a lie. He still didn't know what Hades had done to take his life.
"He misses you." Athena said. "He feels terrible for what happened that night."
"I know." Shun said, his eyes turning to her. "I know how Ikki works. And I don't blame him for what happened. None of it was his fault. It was more of a stupid choice on my part."
"What happened here?" Shaka asked, attempting to bring the conversation back around to the original objective. If he expected Shun to withhold, he was wrong.
"I'm not really sure." Shun said. "It just happened. It was all so sudden. The beasts came in, attacking all of us, and then the spell started to take effect, putting everyone to sleep. I barley managed to keep the gate from closing."
"The spell seems to be wearing off." Athena said. "Is there anything we can do to help?"
"I don't need help." Shun said. "I've got plenty of it." And then he smiled, climbing onto Cerberus' back when the dog bumped it against his side. It was a warm, dazzling smile. "Go tell everyone they don't have to worry. The underworld will recover."
"But how long will that take?" Athena asked. Shun's smile disappeared and he watched them a little sadly.
"I don't know." Shun said. "The witch meant to cripple us and reduce the numbers of our army. She didn't want us to aide you when you needed help." His eyes flashed black for a moment in anger. That wasn't unusual for fallen saints. "You know, we did try and warn you, several times. And you wouldn't listen. Why is it that you hate the underworld so much that you wouldn't listen even when all the facts were evident?"
"We don't hate the underworld." Athena said. "But we have mistrusted it. Why shouldn't we? Hades is evil. He was always-."
"You don't even know what it's like here." Shun said. "How can an immortal goddess, a saint and a mariner that are always reborn when they die pass judgment on a place they have never been? Do people really fear death that much? Why is it that the unknowable is always evil?" He paused a moment, wondering if he had been like that once too. "You don't even know what we're like. And yet you call us evil. Every single member of the underworld had once been a living creature too, with lives that were as happy as everyone else's. But trapped in the land of the dead, we've all evolved into something else. How would you feel to be trapped in one place for all of eternity? Have you ever once given a thought about the people that make up the underworld?"
"I did not say you are all evil." Athena said. "I said that-."
"That Hades and the specters are evil." Shun cut her off. "But it is the same as calling us all evil. Down here we are not divided as we were on earth. We all have sorrows and anger we much bear, and we all have wounds that refuse to heal. If time is the best healer, then we have plenty of it. We are united because we are all dead. And death is not something you can escape from." His eyes dulled to a sad gray. "You can not run from death. We all die. Even gods can die if they lose hope. But even I do not pity the dead. I pity the living. Down here at least, we do not have to worry about losing the people we love the most. All sorrow ultimately stems from that."
They could do nothing but watch the fallen saint for a moment. He seemed so sad. There was something he just couldn't let go of. They could all see it in his eyes. Finally, he looked up at them, his eyes almost their normal color again.
"I'll do what I can here." Shun said. "But I can promise nothing."
"I'll tell Ikki what you said." Athena said quietly.
"Please do."
And then the hound of hell leaped away, carrying the boy with him, off towards the fields of punishment. The small party watched them for a moment, thinking over the things he had said. And then Athena motioned for the saint and the mariner to follow her as they made their escape from the underworld.
Shun noticed that the underworld was slowly starting to reawaken. A few specters were beginning to stir, but the only people fully awake yet were two fallen saints. They looked agitated, but they gave out joyful shouts when they saw Shun. The large beast lowered himself to the ground as they ran up. One was a saint of Pisces, who could also be called beautiful, with pastel blue hair and blue eyes. His name was Albafica. The other was a saint of Lizard, with brown hair and eyes. His name was Misty.
"Shun!" Misty cried. "Thank the gods you're alright!"
"We were afraid that they'd gotten you!" Albafica said.
"I'm fine." Shun said. "Cerberus wouldn't let anything happen to me." The hound of hell gave out a bark of assurance.
"But where are the dead?" Albafica growled, looking around.
"I sent them to Hades' castle." Shun said. "You should go there too. I'm going to see the extent of the damage."
"Be careful!" Misty called as Cerberus stood again. The ground suddenly shook and they all paused. But Shun ignored it. Cerberus however shuddered.
"There is something stirring in the bowels of the underworld." Albafica said quietly.
"If you find anyone that's not waking up, bring them to the castle." Shun said. "We need everyone in one place."
Shun had hardly finished speaking when Cerberus shot off again. He was moving quickly, his noses testing out the air for any sign of danger. Finally, the dog began to move towards Hades' castle.
"You're not going to leave me alone, are you?" Shun asked.
No. A voice thundered in his mind. You were right when you said that you and my master are one. If any harm comes to you then he will never forgive himself. You are the only thing he cherishes. And besides, the voice growled almost in and embarrassed way, your voice resonates with me. I will listen to you.
"You can talk." Shun said, not really surprised.
Many beasts can, those with minds of their own. Cerberus replied. You are only now beginning to listen.
Shun turned his eyes towards the castle. He was wondering how long it had been since he had fallen under the spell. He knew it could feel like ages in the underworld. But then he paused as he noticed movement by the door of the castle.
"What's that?" He asked.
Beasts. Cerberus replied with a growl. Survivors apparently. They must have gotten frustrated when they couldn't find you and turned to attack the dead. Stupid brainless animals.
"Have they hurt anyone?" Shun asked.
They might have captured a few, but I doubt they know how to harm souls. They haven't breached the walls of the castle yet.
"We've left the dead walled up in there long enough." Shun said. "Let's destroy them."
Right. Cerberus replied with a bark.
The hound of hell redoubled his speed. Shun leaned in closer to the dog, trying to hide himself in the fur of the great beast. Cerberus snarled, and the beasts gave startled screeches and took to the air. They all dived at the hound, and the beast howled as the dozens of creatures attacked him. Shun gave out a startled cry as one of the beasts pulled him off of the hound's back.
But Shun wasn't about to just give up. He felt the creature's teeth sink into his shoulder, trying to subdue him, and with a gasp of pain, the boy burned his cosmos. The Andromeda constellation responded by sending him and enormous supply of power. Shun knocked himself free of the beast, grabbing a hold of his now injured right shoulder as he began to fall.
Well, Shun thought to himself. I should've known that would be a stupid idea.
Shun knew he couldn't stop his fall, but he was already dead so it didn't matter. It would hurt, but he couldn't die from it, even this high up. But then he felt someone grab a hold of him, the cold metal of his armor touching his skin. Shun glanced over his shoulder at the specter.
"Minos!" Shun cried.
The specter had not yet fully recovered from the witch's spell, and he struggled to lift even Shun's small weight. But he managed to touch down gently enough, and finally releasing Shun, he turned to the boy.
"Are you alight?" Minos asked, ruffled. "Did it hurt you?"
"Not badly." Shun replied.
But the specter brushed Shun's hand away from his shoulder, gently examining the painful wound. Shun winced when he touched it, but remained still and did not push him away. Minos carefully assessed the wound, but Shun knew he was worrying over it too much. Still, he knew the specter would not be satisfied until he was sure it was not dangerous, and Shun remained still until he was done.
"We'll have to bandage it later." Minos growled. "Don't over do it."
"You worry too much." Shun said. "I'm fine."
They're dead. Cerberus announced, settling down beside them. I think that was the last of them. The beasts are gone.
"Alright." Shun said, wincing slightly as his wound smarted. "Let's let the dead know that it's ok to come out now."
Minos carefully approached the door, and then sure there were no traps set, he turned to the large door and began to pound on it. They waited silently, until at last a timid answer came.
"H-hello?"
"It's alright." Minos called. "We've killed the last of the beasts."
Recognizing the voice of the specter, the woman pulled the door open. She gasped upon seeing the small party, and ran out to meet them. She fretted over Minos and Shun, but stayed clear of Cerberus, which the dog seemed to find highly amusing.
"Oh my gods!" She gasped. "Are you alright?"
"The wounds are painful," Minos said, "but nothing to worry about."
"I'll heal." Shun replied simply.
"What should we do?" she asked.
"We'll deal with the wounded now." Shun said. "Then we'll see what we have to do after that."
The young woman ran inside and called several dead souls to help Minos inside. Another ran out and insisted on helping Shun even though the boy assured him he was alright. Eventually though, he relented and let him lead him inside, where the soul was bandaging his wound. He winced slightly, but did not push him away.
Shun glanced towards the door as more specters and fallen saints appeared. Each of them was injured, but several specters were showing no signs of waking up. Shun turned his eyes towards the ceiling. How had he suddenly gotten the will to lead the entire underworld? He was usually such a timid boy.
In times of crisis the smallest often lead. Cerberus said from his place by the door.
What if we never recover from this? Shun asked in his mind. How will the world cope?
There is always time to recover. Cerberus replied. Perhaps not all the way, but we can recover. Don't dwell on it. We'll see what tomorrow brings once tomorrow is known as today.
Shun sat there a moment, pondering the hound's words. It wasn't until a few moments later that he realized how tired he was. He had lost a lot of blood. He was scared of falling asleep. Would he ever wake up? Or would the spell take a hold of him again?
Sleep Shun. Cerberus growled. Nothing will happen in that time. We will see you when you wake.
Shun sighed, lying down at last and surrendering to sleep.
The sanctuary was silent. Usually such a large gathering of warriors would cause an uproar of noise and a celebration. But now they were all waiting nervously waiting for news from Athena and her small party. What had happened in the underworld? Finally, a shout went out; they had returned.
The gods and all their warriors assembled in record time, all dropping what they were doing and running out to meet them.
"What news?" an asgardian asked.
"How are they?" a saint asked.
"They had fallen under attack." Athena said. There was an uneasy murmuring.
"And?" Poseidon prompted.
"There was a powerful spell." She said. "It put the entire underworld into a deep slumber. It has defeated them."
"What do we do?" someone called.
"We must go to battle." Athena growled. "This was an act of war, and we must treat it as such. But, I fear that the underworld may not be able to aide us. They are beginning to recover, but it is slow, and their numbers are small now. They may not even have a leader now. We can not ask for their help."
"Very well." Thor cried. "We will join this battle. This witch has overstepped her bounds."
"Whatever is left of our numbers," Poseidon said, "you have on your side."
"It seems we're in agreement then." Zeus said quietly. "We will go to war. Rest your warriors. The battle may be closer than we think."
Shun awoke slowly, listening to what was happening rather than opening his eyes and trying to make sense of the onslaught of images in his sleepy mind. He understood however, that all of the specters and leaders of the underworld had been brought into the castle and the dead had not been told to leave yet. But the spell still held and many were still asleep.
"We don't have any of our leaders." Minos growled. "We can't do anything unless we have someone to lead us."
"We'll have to vote on a temporary leader." Albafica said. "It will have to be someone that everyone upstairs will trust."
There was a murmur of agreement from all of the specters and the fallen saints. The dead remained silent, having no say in the war time efforts. Slowly, Shun set up and watched them. Albafica caught his eye and seemed suddenly inspired.
"Why not Shun?" He asked. "He is a warrior and Athena at least would trust him. Besides, he's always with Lord Hades. He knows what he would have us do. And he's tamed Cerberus. That alone should be enough proof why we should trust him with this."
"I do not consider myself a leader." Shun said.
"The best never do." Albafica pointed out.
"However," Shun sighed, "I know that we need a leader now. I assume we all know what we need to do. War is coming."
"Very well." Minos called. "Those in favor of making Shun our temporary leader?"
Nearly every hand went into the air. A few specters frowned and did not raise a hand because they were thinking of how young an inexperienced he was. However, after counting the votes of the specters and fallen saints, there was no doubt that Shun was now their leader.
"Very well." Shun said. "Prepare your armor. Soon we will go upstairs and join the battle. How are we faring?"
"There are dead mariners and a few dead saints." Misty said. "Newly dead. They want to rejoin this war."
"It may be possible." Minos said. "The gates are damaged. Any dead person that passes through it may return to life. It may even work for the fallen saints."
"Alright then." Shun said. "They may join us as well. Whichever army they join is irrelevant. We're all fighting with one goal in mind. We'll leave the dead to watch over those that haven't awakened."
I'm coming as well. Cerberus said. You're too reckless, and I can guard you. Four heads are better than one.
You need to stay and guard the underworld. Shun replied in his mind.
The furies can do that. Cerberus growled resolutely. I'm staying by your side.
You'll attract attention. Shun said.
And dead saints in the living world won't? Cerberus snorted. Besides, I have a smaller form. And that one even you could carry in your arms. Our enemies won't know what I am until it is too late.
You're going to come no matter what I say, aren't you?
Yes.
Very well, Shun finally relented. You may come. But you must follow my every order.
Of course. Cerberus growled.
"SHUN!" Misty called for the third time. Shun looked up at him. "We can't have you falling on us. We need you to be well guarded."
"Don't worry about it." Shun said. "Cerberus had just appointed himself to that position."
Cerberus growled in affirmation outside, which suddenly became a puppy's high pitched and excited bark. The large, shaggy, white, wolf like dog of the underworld had just become a Labrador puppy and bounded into the room, wagging his tail and licking Shun's face excitedly. Shun had to admit that Cerberus was right. The pup only had one head and was small enough he could fit into Shun's arms. No one would suspect that this was the hound of hell.
"Go then!" Minos cried. "Do as Lord Shun said! Find the mariners and saints and gather them. We'll leave as soon as we're healed enough and Lord Shun calls us."
The specters and fallen saints scrambled to do as they had been instructed. Cerberus licked Shun's face again, and Shun stroked the pup absentmindedly.
"I wish you wouldn't call me that." Shun said.
"You're leading the army of the underworld." Minos replied with a smile. "Like Pandora and Hades you now have a high rank. Until Lord Hades reawakens you are the Lord of the dead. And remember Shun: Once and Lord, always a Lord."
"Minos," Shun said, "be ready to move out. Oh, and I need my cloth. I am a saint."
"Yes Lord Shun." Minos replied, turning to leave.
Unaware of what was happening beneath their feet, Athena and Poseidon, a young man with sea blue hair and eyes, were standing together. They could feel that something was wrong. They were both suddenly watching the sky. They spotted movement in the distance.
"Beasts!" Poseidon cried. "We're under attack! Call the warriors! We go to battle!"
And that's the end of Chapter Three. Sorry for this random cliff hanger, but the chapter got pretty long so I had to cut it off somewhere. And besides, it will make you want to read more! X3
So I hope you enjoyed and I will update as soon as I can.