Q.D. Andrew requested:
WARNING! SPOILER ALERT!
Getting Hawkules's belt
'' Ah, it seems we are not too late for once,'' El Toro comments.'' the Argonauts are still here.''
Ashley jumps down from the Golden Moon and approaches the travelers. Again, since she knew so much about Greek mythology, she recognized the leader Jason, the two twins Castor and Pollux and much of the other gang. Some of them were getting ready to leave, the others prayed at Hephaestus for good journey and luck. Orpheus was playing his lyre next to the eagle god's statue. As Ashley got closer, she greeted Jason and told him she wants a talk with the musician. He raised his eyes from the lyre, noticing her just now.
'' Hello Holystone! I had not thought to see you again,'' he said happily. Ashley wanted to get to the point, but Orpheus just kept on going.'' Did you get the lyre?''
He meant Apollo's lyre. Ashley and her crew had to get it, to make Eagelles join the Trojan war. She just nodded.
'' Truly you must be of heroic stock then. You should join us!''
'' Oh, no. I have my own way, Orpheus,'' she insisted.
'' We are bound for the wild Ionian way to seek...the Fur of Platinum, I believe...'' Ashley almost slapped her helmet, but in decency she answered calmly:
'' Yeah, I heard of it. But I'm here for something else. Is...Hawkules by any chance with you?''
'' Hawkules?'' he checked.'' Yes, he's here, but he's an Argonaut no more.'' Ashley's eyes widened. She tried to remember the full story. Unfortunately, her memory was foggy. She took Orpheus's words like a bad sign.
'' What happened to him?'' the musician quickly shook his head.
'' No, he's fine...but he lost his belt...''
'' Excuse me?'' the captain made a surprised look.
'' A gift from his father Zeus, he says.'' he said that with annoyance. He probably heard that often.'' We are overdue and must sail...Hawkules refuses to leave without it.''
'' That sure sounds like our Hercules,'' Ashley murmured. The musician leaned closer to her.
'' Between you and me, I don't think Hawkules will be missed.'' The girl just sighed:
'' So, where can I find him now?''
'' He's somewhere in Talos looking for his belt. You'll find him...'' he paused because a mighty yell was heard behind the gates to Talos.'' ... follow the shouting.''
'' Uh huh.'' answered the girl, overlooking where the shout had come from.'' Right. Thanks again.'' She returned to her crew and told them about the eagle.
'' Okay, so Bonnie, Ratbeard, Toro, Gracie and Catbeard...you five are coming with me.'' All of them stepped to her side.'' The others guard the ship. We'll try to be quick.''
The team went trough the gates. Talos was a beautiful place. They went over a small stone bridge. A temple for Hephaestus- the god of crafting, metal and fire- was drifting across the isle. A ancient stone clock was built not far from where they were standing. Ruins were seen farther up a hill... Ashley still preferred Poseidon more.
'' Look over there,'' Bonnie pointed to a big, brown feathered, eagle. Ashley traveled almost trough out the whole realm, but didn't see an eagle this huge! He had a blue loincloth around his waist and held a club, bigger and heaver than his welder. '' That must be Hawkules!''
'' Big fella isn't he?'' added Ratbeard. Ashley continued to walk towards the eagle. She saw boulders and stones around him. He was watching the running statues, further up ahead.
'' Um...Hi?'' said Ashley. Hawkules turned around and said loudly:
'' Greetings! A fine day is it not?'' The girl was blown away. She wasn't expecting him to say that. But after a second...It got a bit worse...'' A fine day...for combat! These Collossi stole my belt. It was a gift from my father, Zeus.'' He said proudly.
'' Ah, yeah, that's one of the reasons why we're here.'' Hawkules shrugged.
'' Come along if you're up to it, and help...'' the eagle then said in outrage.'' Egads! The Minotaur!''
'' Minotaur? Where?''said Toro.'' He must have followed us from Knossos, the fiend!''Everyone turned around, with their weapons ready, just to find no one was there.
'' You might wear a mask, but don't think you can fool the Mighty Hawkules!'' shouted Hawkules behind them. Ashley turned around slowly.'' Surrender, or I shall pound you!'' Ashley let out a smile, but the others tried to hide it. Toro was slowly getting it.
'' A mask? Oh. I see.'' Ashley could guess that under his fur, his face was boiling. I think that was the biggest insult the bull had ever had.'' Just what are you implying? It's the horns, isn't it? So, every person with horns is some kind of... Minotaur monster?!''
'' Oh, boy...'' Ashley whispered and shrunk a little. The others were laughing silently. The captain stepped between the two ego-guys.'' Okay, okay...no need to get messy. We're here to help each other, aren't we?'' her tone became slightly serious. Ashley was standing like that for a minute. Toro cooled down and nodded. Thank the gods he has a smaller ego! But it took longer for Hawkules.
'' Toro's not a Minotaur, okay?'' explained Ashley. '' He's a hero from Cool Ranch that joined my crew. Now...Collossi, you say?'' great. That changed the big guy's thoughts a little bit.
'' Yes,'' one word, five seconds and he raises his club and goes for the statues, singing about himself...yeah, you heard me, about himself.
Hawkules, hero of song and story
Hawkules, winner of ancient glory
Fighting for the right
Fighting with his might
With the strength of ten
Ordinary men
Hawkules, people are safe when near him
Hawkules, only the evil fear him
Justice in his eyes
Iron in his thighs
Virtue in his heart
Fire in in every part
Of the mighty...HAW-KU-LES!
A few minutes passed and half of the Collossi were down. Was the song really necessary? Ashley thought. Hawkules checked the ruins of the statues, then said impatiently:
'' Confound these walking statues...where have they taken my belt?''
'' Have you tried the ruin over there?'' offered Gracie. Hawkules pulled his mighty shoulders.
'' It's worth a try...Minotaur, you go first.''
Toro's snout wrinkled. '' I am not the Minotaur! I'm as mortal as you are.''
Hawkules laughed and waved a hand at him. '' Oh, I'm not mortal, my father is Zeus, didn't I say?'' Everyone face-palmed, even Catbeard dipped his face into his plateful of fish.
'' Give it a rest, why don't you?'' Bonnie sighed. '' Let's get to the ruin.'' she went on first. Ashley saw that Toro and Hawkules were giving each other mean glares. Well this is a good start. So, the crew accompanied by the big, buff hero Hawkules, trodden up the stone steps to the ruin. What did they find there? A ghost of a fallen eagle. Bonnie waved to Ashley to come and take a look.
He was sitting and leaning against the white wall, with his spear to his side. The eagle's eyes widened when our hero glimpsed in under the arch.
'' Outrageous!'' yelled Hawkules. '' It's the ghost of my squire, Hylas! Hylas, what's happened to you?
Hylas stood up. This time his eyes narrowed. '' What happened to me? What do you think, you unmitigated dunderhead?!'' Woah...an ancient Greek world and the people here actually know insults like this? Classic. '' You are the worst hero I've ever worked for!''
'' Dunderhead? Hylas we are fighting men. Risking our lives is just part of the risk we take in order to live lives full of risks! ... And adventure!''
'' You pushed a Colossus over me!''
Ashley rested her body on one leg and crossed her arms, giving Hawkules a fake-question look.
'' Oh...'' Hawkules paused. '' Well...It was and accident I'm sure. Don't be a sore looser,'' The crew looked at him outraged. Even Ashley wondered-Is this really the Twin of Hercules? Unbelievable.
'' Perhaps I can put in a good word for you with Zeus. He is my...''
'' Father,'' sighed Hylas, his feather eyebrows knitting. '' Yes, I know. Look, just take your stupid belt and leave. I saw the Collossi take it into the Temple of Hephaestus.''
'' How obvious!'' said Catbeard.
'' Yeah. Well, this was an...interesting conversation,'' Ashley clapped her hands and stepped out of the ruin.'' Thanks, Hylas.'' the eagle tilted his beak and leaned back to the wall.
XXX
I'll tell it short: There were bronze guards to the Temple entrance, they attacked, Hawkules told a speech and charged, and after the fight even the fountain in the middle was crushed. The hero was now trying to open the Temple's doors...even tho Gracie said it was sealed shut.
'' Yeah, let me know when you opened it, k?'' said Ashley. Hawkules tried once more, but the copper door didn't budge.
'' Wow...'' breathed Hawkules, the strongest eagle in Aquila. '' This is a strong door. Better not to damage it...'' he swiped the door's surface. '' Could we perhaps find a key?''
Gracie rolled her eyes and stepped forward. '' Look at these indentations of the door...the way they're arranged, it looks like they act like a keyhole.'' Ashley stared at the symbols.
'' I know them...We had a task in school to learn a little bit of Greek.'' She reads out loud: '' Ἥφαιστος-Hēphaistos. I don't think those Collossi are just for protection here.''
'' I saw gems on them the same size like the keyholes,'' said Bonnie.'' Let's go get enough to fit them all.''
'' Ok, but not all of them. I'll tell ye which ones we need.''
XXX
Hawkules was so happy they finally got the gems, that he started singing again as he went up the Temple stairs.
'' Can you believe this guy?'' whispered Gracie, shaking her head.
'' He certainly is something, isn't he?'' agreed Catbeard. Still singing, the hero placed the gems on the door. They started glowing and suddenly the doors flew open.
The team went in and passed the ( for a Hephaestus temple) dark hallways. They entered the main hall, where in the middle glowed something like a well. Around it stood three Collossi, one of them had a silver belt on it's waist.
'' More of the blasted things!'' yelled Ratbeard. '' Looks like we made 'em mad, too.''
'' Ain't everyone mad with us?'' wondered Catbeard. Ashley wanted to answer, but then Hawkules said:
'' Lo! There's Bronze Talos, once prince of this cursed place...and he has my belt! He means to sacrifice it!'' he leaned down to the young captain,'' Dad'll be mad if I loose it...Attack!'' he raised his club and went for Talos. Ashley dodged as one of the Collossi tried to stab her. Her rapier's blade turned to gold as she drew it, and stabbed the Colossus. Ashley examined her rapier. It was strange...when she fought ghosts it was always a dim blue metal, in Cool Ranch when she had a duel with English Bill, it turned to silver! Ashley never thought about it until now. What kind of rapier did Fair Ashley had? Now she knew why everyone stared at the rapier with fear and respect- it's blade was like a chameleon.
Ashley turned and saw Toro, Hawkules and Ratbeard fighting Talos. As she watched, the eagle's beak tilted. Toro and Ratbeard were quick to duck: Hawkules spanned his massive club, it flew upwards leaving it's welder empty- handed. The hero cracked it's knuckles and hit Bronze Talos several times, till Hawkule's fist went trough his iron stomach. He dismounted the belt and left Talos lying.
'' Legendary!'' Hawkules finally said.'' Truly legendary! You all fight like the heroes of old! And now that I have my belt back.'' he looked at his reflection on the flat silver surface of the belt, then turned back to the group. '' Have I mentioned my father is Zeus?''
'' Way too many times,'' sighed Ashley. Hawkules strapped his belt to his waist, then leaned to the massive club, as if 'Chillin' '' , and asked why the group came wandering to him in the first place. When Ashley finished telling him about the Labyrinth, Argos and everything else, his eyes widened.
'' Hold a door closed?'' Hawkules thought it was one of the captain's jokes. '' Surely you make a jest. I'm no doorman!''
'' I am the great and powerful Hawkules! Tamer of lions, slayer of monsters, cleaner of...stables!''
'' I know, I know. I heard your stories over and over,'' said Ashley.'' but this is serious. We need you to hold off the Minotaur for at least...''
'' The Minotaur? Well, why didn't you say so sooner? Of course I will go! Truly, this will be the most epic battle of our age!''
Gracie corrected him '' Well, actually the Minotaur is supposed to be immortal and invulnerable, so...''
'' Nonsense! If anyone can kill something that can't be killed, It's me! Let's go!'' Toro rolled his eyes.
'' Sheesh. Get a load of this guy,'' Ashley turned away so that Toro wouldn't see her laugh. Bonnie answered with a giggle:
'' Look who's talking! Come on, let's get back to poor Argos, he must be exhausted.''
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A.N.: Finally! I'll admit that I giggled at my own writing, but at least I know why my friend on Pirate101 likes this moment so much :D
Hope ya'll enjoyed it! Let me know what you think.