Some of the characters and settings used in this FanFic were not created by me. Those characters and settings were created by DC Comics.
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Recap: Acacia teleports with Alvaro to 'The Underworld' home of the Greek God Hades. Here, he learns about the deal his mother made with the god to save his life. In trying to save his mother from her fate, Alvaro agrees to exchange his youthful-soul for her own by taking a mask. However, this mask turns out is a living replica-key by name Kishi which will help him open the first gate. Alvaro successful passes Kishi's test to decide whether he is worthy set by his creator Hephaestus. With the "Gate of Mind" now open, a mysterious figure appears to Alvaro inside a temple..
Chapter 10: Brothers Reunited
15 YEARS IN THE PAST..
Alvaro's Inner-Mind
Alvaro: (squinting) Dissolution?
The piercing red-eyes briefly look down, but then move forward coming out of the shadows casted on the roof..Those red eyes now belong to a red and black demonic figure about the same height as Alvaro..
CHINK SHINK
"Yes that is my name. (smile exposing fangs)"
Alvaro: (left-hand to chin) Disso?
The demonic figure tilts its to the right and stares at Alvaro with its arms crossed..
"No. Disso-lution, kid."
Alvaro: (looks down) Hmm..
"(head tilt to left) What?
Alvaro: Can I call you Lution?
"(frown) No."
Alvaro: Why not? (pout)
"(eyes closed) Cause it's one letter away from lotion."
Alvaro: (nods) I see. Dissolution?
"(continued) Yes?"
Alvaro: (continued) Are you a Mr, Ms. or Mrs. Dissolution?
"Yes?"
Alvaro: Hmm. Mrs. Dissolution?
"Yes?"
Alvaro: Oh. (scratches head) Hmm..
"What is it now, kid?"
Alvaro: (smile) Well, it's just that I thought you were a male from your voice..Wait a minute!? (turns back) You are not wearing clothes! (blushes)
"(confused) Wait. What? (eyes open)"
Alvaro: You are not wearing clothes, Mrs. Dissolution! (still blushing)
"No. before that."
Alvaro: Lution?
"(palm to forehead) No, after that. (eyes closed)"
Alvaro: (sniff) Tacos?
"(shakes fist) THAT WAS NOT EVEN IN OUR CONVERSATION!..Huh? (sniff)"
Alvaro: You smell it too, Mrs. Dissolution?
"(sniff) Yes. It's not tacos though. Hey, kid?"
Alvaro: Yes, Mrs. Dissolution?
"What is that word after 'Yes'?"
Alvaro: Mrs?
"Yes."
Alvaro: Wait, are you male type of demon?
"Yes. Why do you ask?"
Alvaro: Oh. Just curious is all, Dissolution. (looks away)
"(stares squinting) Hmm.
Alvaro: Hehe. (whistles to avoid eye contact)
"(sigh) Aren't you forgetting something?"
Alvaro: (looks up) I am?..(bows) Sorry. I totally forgot. (bows again)
"(waves) Okay. That's enough, kid. Just get on with it."
Alvaro sits down on the floor, and stares at the demon with a smile..
"(confused) What are you doing?"
Alvaro: (rubs head) I was hoping you could tell me what am I suppose to do?
"(shakes head) How the heck did you manage to open the first gate?
Alvaro: Oh. Someone helped with that.
"Someone helped you?"
Alvaro: Yes. A funny dude by the name Kishi. (frown) He died afterwards.
"(right-hand to chin) Interesting."
Alvaro: Do you know him?
"No, but I have heard of him. Anyways, get up."
The demon starts walking towards Alvaro, as he gets up off the floor. He walks around Alvaro looking at several areas of his body, as though analyzing him..
Alvaro: (confused) Is something wrong, Dissolution?
Dissolution: (stops in front) You forgot to introduce yourself. (arms crossed)
Alvaro: Oh. (lands fist on open hand) That's what it was. (offers hand) My name is Alvaro Ramirez. Nice to meet you, Dissolution.
Dissolution: (walks to exit) Follow me, Alvaro.
Alvaro: (catches up) Okay. (thinking) I guess I deserved that. Still..
Dissolution (interrupting): You remember how it looked when you first arrived to your inner-mind?
Alvaro: (looks up) Yeah. It was mostly dark all around.
Dissolution: (pushes gates open) Now, take a look.
Alvaro: (smile) Wow. It's so beautiful.
The darkness is now replaced by a beautiful blue sky with endless fields of green-grass below..
Dissolution: Alvaro?
Alvaro: (wide smile) Yes?
Dissolution: Welcome to your mind, brother. (chain-rattle)
The demon climbs a nearby tree outside of the temple..
Alvaro: Dissolution? (turns to him)
Dissolution: Yes?
Alvaro: You called me..(collapses to knees)
Dissolution: (rests on branch) Looks like your time is up, brother. (yawns) Remember why you came here..
Alvaro collapses on the grass below him..
Dissolution: (closes eyes) When you face him.
Alvaro body quickly fades out of the area, while Dissolution stares calmly at the sky above him..
Dissolution (thinking): So, he had help opening the first gate? (swings leg back and forth) I wonder if he will survive Father's challenge? (closes eyes) You better not die on me so quickly brother, or I will kill you again next time we meet. (smile)
Hades' Castle, The Underworld
Hades: He's back. (opens eyes)
Briareus: (open eyes) Did the boy succeed, my Lord? Huh?
Hades: Yes. (smirk)
Alvaro's body is suddenly surrounded by a blue-flame, as he slowly gets up off the ground with his head lowered..
Hades: Dissolution?
Alvaro: (lifts head) Sorry..
His left-eye remains closed, while his right-eye shows a black pupil enclosed by a marine-blue iris..
Briareus (interrupting): The boy?
Hades: (frown) Where is my son, human?
Alvaro: (glare) Sleeping.
Hades: (smile) I see. (turns around) Briareus, prep the trial.
Briareus: Yes, my lord. (pulls out sword from sheath)
Hades: I will be back shortly.
POOF SHINK
Hades disappears quickly from the area leaving a small quantity of black smoke behind. Meanwhile, Briareus takes his sword and buries it on the ground..
Alvaro (thinking): So that was the first gate, 'The Gate of Mind'. (scans hand) My body feels weird now. It feels like..
Briareus (interrupting) Did you see him, Mr. Ramirez?
Alvaro: (looks up) Huh?
Briareus: Master Dissolution, did you see him?
Alvaro: Yes.
Briareus: (smile) Good. (raises hands) Lord Hades, ask for your services! Come to me, Hell-hounds!
Alvaro: (confused) Hell-hounds?
HOWL HOWL HOWL
Alvaro turns around to the source of the sound, and sees 3 large canines coming towards him in the distance..
Alvaro: (squints) What the heck is that?
The 3 canines each seem to have exposed flesh and bones areas covering their body..
BOOM BOOM BOOM
All 3 canines jump into the air and land behind Alvaro causing him to fall from the shockwave. After doing so, a large circle appears on the floor beneath Alvaro and Briareus and rotates them 180 degrees. Now the 3 large canines the size of trucks, stand behind Briareus and stare at Alvaro in front of them..
Alvaro: (nervous) What's going on here? And what are those things?
POOF
Hades reappears with his hand on a bald man's shoulder kneeled in front of him. The man on his knees has bandages wrapped around both arms which end at the elbow. He wears no shirt with short pair of pants..
Hades: Let's start the trial, Briareus.
"(shields head) NO FATHER, PLEASE! (shakes head) Don't leave me to thee vile hell-hounds again. (sobbing) No, please. No. (sniff)
Hades: (looks down) Acteon, do you want to prove your worth to me as a son?
"(crying) Yes, father. (sniff) It's all I ever wanted. (raises head)"
Hades: (points at Alvaro) Then kill thy brother for me. (smirk)
The Greek God grabs his left-arm, and immediately the entire arm is healed wrapped under the bandages. Hades offers Acteon a dagger in his hand..
Alvaro: (confused) What? This wasn't part of our deal!?
Acteon: (picks up dagger) Thou art already dead, brother. (turns with grin)
Hades: Fight for your life, human. (turns to castle) If you refuse, your brother here or my hell-hounds will kill you. (vanishes)
GRRRRR! BARK! BARK! GROWL!
Briareus also disappears, but quickly reappears mounted on the middle of the 3 hell-hounds outside the circle. The hell-hounds glare at Alvaro and Acteon, while saliva pours out of the sides of their now snapping jaws...
Briareus: The circle below you prevents these hell-hounds from killing you now. The second you both lack the will to fight it will disappear, and allow them to enter and kill you both. The only way to win this trial is for one of you to die. Good luck and begin.
Alvaro (thinking): This is bad. This is..
Actaeon (interrupting) What art thou name, brother? (smile)
Alvaro: (nervous) Alva-ro.
Actaeon (bows) Good greetings, Alvaro. (raises head) Now, would thou die for me? (wide smile)
Next Chapter: Family Bonds
Author's Notes: I will be taking a break for a bit from this story/FanFic (2-3 weeks) to work on other stuff. Cya then! :)