Journey to Hell

Disclaimer: Don't own Victorious.

A/N:


Chapter 7 (Powers of Heaven and Hell)

Across the street and next to the bar where they left the bikes was an obscure shop that seemed almost out of place among the decayed appearances of the buildings. It was clad in red metal and resembled a miniature castle, and above its door was a sign that read 'weaponry'. "Was this here before?" Beck asked suspiciously. "I guess it doesn't matter, but anyway, you said powers of heaven and hell-so you mean?"

"Exactly that," the man replied, "As I have turned Robbie's puppet into a weapon of hell." Tori glanced to Rex and lifted her eyebrows. She didn't know what to make of the whole 'powers of each' thing. What was the true difference? The man looked over at her and cleared his throat. "To wield the abilities of heaven is to have a temporary ability gifted by God himself and without consequence. To hold a weapon of Hell is to be granted an item or power of Hell that comes with consequence." Robbie began to pale and Tori looked over with uncertainty. "I'll explain in a moment, but in many ways a weapon of Hell can be the most powerful thing to hold-so it would have to come with consequence. An ability of Heaven is perfection, it won't have as many ramifications. God's nice like that…he's willing to give away his power for free as long as it's temporary."

"Do I detect sarcasm?" Tori joked. The man shrugged his shoulders and led the group inside. The inside was surprisingly not as large as it looked on the outside, as it was just a small square with a front desk and a bunch of different weapons on the wall and in a display case. There were also bits and pieces of armor. "Is everything for sale? Is earth money allowed here?"

"'Earth money'?" The man chortled and shook his head. "By that standard you'd have to choose between American, Indian, the Euro, currency from all over-no, in Hell you will not be charged. Or-you would if you were a demon, you might have to give a pound of flesh or something. In here I'm making a special reprieve for you."

"Oh…" Tori watched as the man walked up to the strange humanoid figure at the counter. He had a ball cap on that covered his dark, empty eyes, and a body full of cuts and covered in blood. Much like the librarian. "How come they look different than you, Salim, or even the Seven Deadly Sins?"

"Because they were once tortured souls while we never were. Some of us down here started out in the positions we hold while some worked their way up. Then some just like to look however they choose. There's no set way anyone has to appear down here. You see me how I am, this is the form I have always held-though with shorter hair, and much different than your human media portrays me as."

"Wait? You're portrayed in media on earth? Does that mean you're actually a particular legend?" She was excited by this new clue, but judging by the nonchalant expression on the stranger's face, he wasn't about to let them in on what legend in particular he was. "I guess you don't have to answer…"

"You'll find out soon enough. There is a reason you do not yet know."

"Just making sure you're not Samil in disguise or something."

"Would I help you if I was? Not to mention, would Samil have the time to bother with deceiving you?"

"No…to both, I guess." She watched the sales cashier behind the desk look to the stranger with great respect and fear. Her eyebrow rose up as the group followed. "So about these weapons, abilities, and so on…do we get to decide what we get or are they chosen?"

"As predestined as your very arrival." She stopped in her tracks and opened her mouth, but froze, unable to think of a response. As his words processed in her mind, she looked to the others, all of whom looked as confused as she was.

"What?"

"Unimportant for the moment." She wanted to smack him, to shout for the man to stop being so damned vague, but it was too inappropriate for her to do. He looked at her with a solemn frown and shook his head. "Have patience. You're always in such a hurry, but you will be fine. I think you will find that patience will open your eyes up much wider and allow you to see more."

The man closed his eyes and took a deep breath as the group encircled him. "It's not often God and Satan are on the same page. In fact, it's only happened once or twice before. Of the six of you that remain without weapons, the powers have strategically been selected for you." He pointed to the three small white boxes on the display shelf. "Tori, Jade, and Cat-those are yours."

"Boxes?" Tori was bewildered. What did a small box have that would help them? "I don't understand. You said this was supposed to help us…"

"It is. Take the one in the middle, it will give you a power of Heaven. This power, as I've said, is temporary but comes with great faith and will allow you to shine light on the darkest of demons-dispersing them."

Growing more curious by the second, she reached forward and took the middle box in her hands. The white surface of the box started to fade and her body began to glow with a bright aura. Her eyelids closed and she breathed in as peace swept through her. "I feel it." The aura faded, but the power was still present in her.

"With this you are capable of a couple things. One, you can create any weapon out of pure light-however that weapon cannot physically cut." She raised an eyebrow and looked over, opening her mouth to speak but remaining too baffled to do so. "The weapon can pierce into the spirit of a demon and disperse light into their soul. It can turn a black heart into light-and in doing so-a demon will perish."

"Whoa…" She looked to her hands and chuckled softly. She was nervous now, but happy to hear what her power was. She tried to visualize a sword, and after several seconds, a sword of light appeared in her hand. "Okay that's awesome. Look at this, guys!"

The others murmured as the blade's light filled the room. The stranger sighed as the demon behind the desk screeched. Seeing the creature's pain, she immediately vanished the blade and apologized quickly. "Tori please remember something about that blade-the blinding light it gives off may be able to blind the weakest of demons, but it won't do that to the stronger. Just as with each demon-the number of times you have to 'cleanse' them of the darkness in them depends on how strong they are. A shot in the heart will almost always take them out in one hit, however."

"Just like a real blade."

"Yes. That is a real blade. Now, Sinjin has been given a polar opposite." She looked over as the receptionist lifted a simple chipped blade with his hand. "Sinjin, take hold. It may look broken, but in your hands it will take true shape." Sinjin cautiously took the handle and pulled the blade back, thanking the demon in the process. Suddenly, fire gushed out, engulfing the now sturdy blade and startling everyone in the room.

If Tori had been granted 'Heaven's Blade', then this must be 'Hell's Blade'.

"That sword, Sinjin, can cut through any material, and it will not break. Crash it into the ground and cracks will break loose, emitting fire from them-you can control where these cracks go with a simple turn of your eyes. But because this is a weapon of hell there is a repercussion." Sinjin sheathed the blade and frowned at the man. "The downfall is in the number of lives it claims. The more demons you kill, eventually that blade will melt into you and you will slowly begin to lose your now stable and rational mind…"

"What?" Sinjin looked down anxiously and shook his head. "What's the limit?"

"The reason you've been gifted with that is because you have some wisdom about you. You will be able to know to use it wisely. That blade can only take about fifty lives before it begins to affect the mind. However the desire to use it is tempting. Try not to use it in every conflict and you will be fine."

"Okay." This worried Tori, but she had faith Sinjin would be able to deal with the sword just fine. They were a team, so if he had any issues, they'd help him. "So Tori's got the ability to purify, I can pretty much destroy anything with limited use-before you continue, you might explain what Robbie's 'affliction' is in regards to the puppet?"

"Yes." Robbie froze and slowly looked down to Rex, swallowing hard as the man crossed his arms. "You will have to give up the puppet eventually as you'll notice it will overheat and eventually began creating boils on your arm-boils that will lead you to being forced to amputate it upon return to Earth." With that, Robbie grew incredibly pale, but slowly nodded, seemingly understanding the order. "It's the hardest thing you'll ever have to do, I know, you're attached to that puppet-but if you don't give it up, it will destroy you."

"I-I understand…"

"Good." Tori was beginning to understand the purpose of hell's afflictions, they were all tests on desires and temptations. "Now Cat, take the box on the right if you will." She watched the timid girl reach out to receive her 'gift' from Heaven. "Another temporary power of course, but this gifts you with incredible sight." Tori's eyebrows drifted up as the girl started to absorb the light. "Not only can you sense danger through your intellect, you are gifted with the ability to transform into anything and anyone that you see and recall-this gives you a limited use of the abilities of those you transform into."

"Okay." Cat set the now dulled box down and looked up to the man with anxious eyes. "So if I were to change into Samil, I would be a 'weakened' copy of him?"

"Yes, but you would still be much stronger than many demons you may and will face here. Yet, transforming into Samil can also be very dangerous for you, I would not recommend it. You can also only hold a transformation for about fifteen minutes-and can only make five changes every hour. After that you must wait half an hour before making another change."

"I understand. Thank you…"

"All right, Andre…you're up next." Andre stepped forward, shivering as he looked to the demon behind the counter. The creature lifted up two gold pistols, one of which was much larger and held a giant curved blade. Andre took them in his hands and examined them closely with his eyes.

"S-So what are these? I mean, I know guns, but…"

"The one you hold in your right hand holds a devastating, hellish power. It will unleash explosive bullets like that of your earthly rocket launcher-it will blast a hole in almost anything-and the weaker demons it will cause to explode in entirety." Andre's eyes began to widen and he quickly looked to the second gun. "That holds, as you can see, a large blade of destruction. It is attached to a chain and allows you to fire it at high speeds into your opponents. It also has a hook which would allow you, upon pulling the trigger a second time, to bring the blade back-the hook will bring the enemy back with you if you so desire. Combine the two guns-holding the enemy in place with the blade, and shooting them with the explosive weapon-can make for a great combination."

"There's a drawback-there's a big drawback-isn't there?"

"I'm afraid so." The man smirked and closed his eyes. "They're overly destructive and if you use them in small places you can destroy everything including yourself and your entire team." A snicker rose in Tori, forcing her to push it back down while Andre narrowed his eyes.

"Being a smartass so soon?"

"It's who I am, can't help it." The man folded his arms over and looked towards the guns. "However they will only provide accurate shots if you're confident…fear and anxiety, and even not taking these weapon seriously can prove to be fatal for your team. You like to joke, but the time for play is now over, Andre."

There it was, the drawback Tori was waiting for. Andre had been trying to provide amusement and had also been, like Robbie, shielding himself behind the confidence of the others. Now he had to up the ante and bring his A-game, or else he could bring down the entire team. "The shots take incredible focus, Andre, they'll go to whatever mark you aim them at-but only with focus."

"All right, I know-great power and great responsibility, right?"

"Yes, well…there is that, but even then you do not have the most arduous task." Tori raised an eyebrow and looked over as the demon cashier extended a pair of gloves with long claws. The man took them and handed them over to a near hesitant Beck. "Take these and wield them. I will explain them after you put them on…"

"Why not just explain them now?" He grumbled. The man lifted his shoulders and waited as Beck slipped the gloves on. Then in a sudden moment, a red aura enveloped him and he extended his hands, screaming in pain. Jade rushed to his side and took his arm.

"Beck! What's happening to him!"

"He will be fine," the man replied, "But step back." Jade gasped out and Tori instinctively grabbed her away. As they watched, Beck's scream continued to intensify. His body began to expand, growing more muscular and much taller than the rest of them. His face started to transform and a long snout formed with snarling teeth and drool. His hair grew longer and thick black fur sprouted along his body.

"Oh god! Beck!"

Beck grabbed his head, his scream turning into a blood-curdling howl as his nails grew long and sharp. "What's happening to me?" He roared, "I-I'm turning into a monster!"

"What you people on earth call a werewolf, yes." Beck's yellowed eyes hovered over the man and his thick chest began to heave. He started to lunge, but the man held up a hand, causing him to freeze on the spot. "You're going to have to calm down. This is a doing of all the anger inside of you-it is putting all that anger and wrath to good use."

"The hell it is!"

"Oh it is." The man smirked and clamped his index and thumb fingers together, forcing Beck to his hands and knees. Jade rushed to his side and threw her arms around him. Anxious and concerned for her friend, Tori rushed to Jade with Cat by her side. "He will be fine, his anger gifts him with immense power-but there is a massive downfall. Similar to what the Hell Blade gives to Sinjin." Beck looked over to Sinjin, who raised an eyebrow at them.

"What's the downside?"

"His anger."

Tori's eyebrow rose and her heart began to pound against her chest, "But I thought that was his strength?" The man slowly nodded and crossed his arms.

"It is both. If he lets his anger get the better of him, the more kills he'll have and if he ever begins to enjoy those kills, he will lose his very soul and his very life." Jade yelped as Beck began to grumble. "More over the more he kills, the more the scent of blood will delight him and overpower him-causing him to want to kill more. A desire he will need to calm, just as he will need to learn to be calm and not angered, as without anger comes control, but with anger comes more wild behavior. If he loses his soul enough, he will die. Or become so wild that one of you may have to kill him."

"So I have to learn to control my anger?" Beck rose to his hind legs and let out a soft growl. "Tell me I don't have to walk around looking like this forever."

"You do not. You can train yourself to change in and out of that form at will. Again, it is all about control. If you want to leave that form, meditate and calm your mind, focus on your human form and transform. Do the same to change back-it is just in your wild form that your anger fuels your every attack. You will have to learn to control that anger."

"Fine, I got it." Beck snarled and shut his eyes. All eyes fell onto him for a minute before his lips twisted into a snarl. His eyes shot open and he extended his furred hands before his face. "I can't change back! Damn it!" His fists balled up and he started to growl.

"You'll have to calm down first. Moving on. Jade…take the remaining box." Jade moved back from Beck and reached out, curling her right hand around the final box. As her eyelids slid down, the white aura surrounded her. "What you're gaining is power over the elements, you are able to summon storms. If you've heard the phrase on earth, 'cold day in hell', you can make it happen."

Jade's eyes shot open and her lip twisted into a smirk. "So I can summon a blizzard, then?"

"Yes."

Seeing what this meant, Tori was ecstatic. Finally, they had a way to shatter that heat barrier on Salim's scythe. "Great!" Tori exclaimed, "Jade, you can freeze that heat barrier on his scythe, we can beat him!"

"Ah but be careful," The man replied while lifting up a finger. "Salim may be immortal with that scythe-and with regenerative powers, but even without the scythe and the regeneration it gives him, he is still incredibly powerful. Another thing you may need to know: As long as Salim has his wings, he still has his power and can also restore his broken scythe."

"So we tear off his wings too," Beck pounded his fists together and huffed. "I can do that."

"You'll have plenty of time to think up strategies-" Screams echoed from outside, breaking everyone's concentration. Tori snapped her gaze to the window in time to see a large black leg crash down outside. The group immediately ran out and were struck by the bellowing roar of a giant three headed dog. "Oh shit…Salim's already let him out? Looks like Lucifer's going to need a new dog…"

"Wait, what?" Beck raised an eyebrow and looked over his shoulder, "Cerberus fucking exists?!"

"Yes. I'm sure you can deal with him…I'll see you around."

"Wait don't leave!" Tori exclaimed. It was too late, the man disappeared in a cloud of smoke. She looked back to the dog, who was now growling at the group and dripping drool down to the ground. "Well guys, now's a good a time as any to learn to handle these…powers…"

"Do we really have to kill it?" Cat asked timidly.

"It's after us. If Salim released it, then it's after us. Either we beat it, or it kills us-what do you want?" Cat let out a small whimper and closed her eyes. Beck stepped forward with a loud growl, snarling and flexing his hands. He stood about half the great beast's size-and Cerberus was nearing fifteen feet tall.

"Let me flex my muscles a bit-I'd love to take out a little irritation on this little pup…"


So we see a lot of ramifications with these powers and abilities-it's almost like their purpose is to also test their wielder. What are your thoughts on this chapter? Oh, and here's the first little bit of action, Hell's almighty guard dog...