O================================================================================O
Love You, Kill Me
Part Four: A Better World
Side Story 7: Chrysalis-The Underworld
O================================================================================O
Several Months Ago
Two Skeletons, the foot soldiers of Hades, sat around the door, relaxing beside the entrance to the fifth prison. "Where are they? We should've been relieved ten minutes ago," muttered one of the Skeletons as he leaned against his scythe.
The other Skeleton turned to him. "Why? All we're going to do is head to the sixth prison and relieve them."
The first Skeleton looked up. "I would rather walk from here to there than stand at this place anymore," with that, he rolled his head back and forth. Pops and tiny cracks echoed, further emphasizing how stiff he felt. "Bored too," he spoke as he stared at the latest sinners being guided to the appropriate prison while those of the fifth Prison clawed at them. However, they were used to it and all the screaming and moaning served nothing more than white noise for the duo.
"Huh, look at that…" spoke the second Skeleton as he pointed out. A maroon slug-like object slowly dragged itself alongside the herd of sinners. "He must have had one nasty death." For the worst of offenders, their soul was so corrupt that it could not rebuild back to its normal state for the Underworld. In fact, those that were chopped up and torn to pieces would remain like that, in pieces.
The first Skeleton, feeling some energy surge through his veins nodded in agreement. "Looks like he got smashed, maybe even grounded up. I can't even tell where the face and ass are at." The two chuckled out loud. The object rose up and began to glow. The two Skeletons gasped as they felt their bodies rose up into the air and being slammed on either side of the doorway. The first Skeleton's eyes turned downwards, "Ah, you… the… Underworld Butterfly…" he gestured his eyes at his friend, unable to recall the Specter's name outside of his nickname.
The Second Skeleton swallowed hard, "Papillion Myu, forgive us. We didn't realize it was you." He gasped as the spectral energies flared harder before calming down and lowering the two.
Myu simply pulled his slimy larva form away back to his spot. Even after making a name for himself as the strongest Earthly Star, he still was seen as nothing more than a hideous corpse to most of the Army of Hades outside of his small circle of friends. It was one reason he hated being summoned by Lady Pandora, simply for the fact that it took him so long to get from his residence to the Guiddecca Throne room. He sat there, his large pimple covered pores bubbling ever so slightly from the stale air he breathed.
It would be nice if he could fly whenever he wished. In fact, just to ensure he did not keep Lord Hades waiting, he went into his third form and soared above. However, due to how much energy it took to maintain it, he was forced to return back in to first form. It saddened him that even common garden slugs looked more attractive with their smooth backs and stripes. He, in comparison, appeared to be a diseased pile of pus.
"Lord Myu, are you seeking a ride back to your home?" spoke Frog Zelos as he bowed his head gratuitously while toting his cart of corpses.
Myu bubbled for a moment. Toad Zelos was always seeking ways of gaining respect amongst the other Specters. He probably would've succeeded at that if he was more willing to fight when necessary and wouldn't complain anytime he was given a task to complete. Typically he would find no better answer than "no," but he was not in the mood to deal with the endless task of Soldiers and sometimes fellow Specters looking down on him like some monstrosity. "That would be nice, but your cart looks full."
Zelos, hearing the Papillion's words promptly raised his hands, sending the bodies tumbling out.
The two Skeleton Soldiers gasped. "Why did you do that? We can't have something like that sitting outside the prison!"
Zelos raised his fat flat nose to them. "Well, as a Specter, I command you to pick them up and set them aside! I am you superior, now do as I say!"
Myu sighed. There was a good reason why the Skeletons would say there were 107 Evil Stars in Hades' Army, a crow pecking at road kill on the street held more respect than any Frog Specter that had ever served. The bottom stubs, that he supposed he could call his feet on his first form, pulled his fat body up the incline of the cart before Zelos tipped it back up to a more horizontal position and carried him toward the second Prison. His many eyes stared around, seeing the same miserable sky and the endless souls trudging along to wherever they must go.
Zelos turned his head as he carried the Specter, trying to find a subject in which the two can partake in hopes of at least winning the praise of someone out there. "What was the meeting about?" he asked.
"All Earthly Stars and Judges were required to come!" bubbled Myu.
Zelos raised one side of his thick brow up, "but I'm an Earthly Star! No one told me that I needed to be there!"
Myu's stayed silent. The signal for a meeting was that the sky, or rather the stalactites from above, would turn a yellow hue. It was impossible to miss unless one was lazy or did not care. It was no wonder why some would say there were only 107 Evil Stars of Army of Hades. "A Gold-Ranked Silver Saint had come to the entrance of the Underworld." The cart came to such an abrupt stop that Myu nearly slid off the side.
"Are you serious? Holy War cannot be here already! Why are they attacking us?" his eyes had widened so badly that that a vein in his eye popped.
The Papillion Specter crawled to the back of the cart once more. "Athena was not invading us. He came on his own. In fact he offered his lyre and surrendered, asking for an audience with Lord Hades himself. Pandora informed all of us about this to prevent panic across the Army and right now he's being interrogated by Lord Rhadamanthys and Lady Pandora in a cell to decide what to do with him."
Zelos narrowed his eyes. "So… we aren't going to war right now?"
Myu's body flattened for a moment, "were you not listening? He came on his own. He surrendered. He only wanted to see the King." Apparently the Frog Specter was not listening even after he was the one asking for a recap of what had happened. He closed his many eyes. He would rather be mistaken for some hellish corpse and ignored anything else that came out of Zelos' fat mouth.
O|========================THE FIRST PRISON============================|O
"Name," Rune uttered dryly without even taking his eyes off the large book of the recently deceased before him.
The nymph shyly approached the mile high desk in front of her. "Eurydice."
Rune tapped his bored finger, "your surname?"
"But, I have none."
"Hmm," a small grumbled left his throat. Those always made things a little more convenient. At least her name was a little more unique. He must have spent three years on one case on a guy simply named John. "Very well, oh… no conception or birth date," his stern face lightened up. "An immaculate conception, well at least that narrows it to the Age of Myth," he spoke as a Skeleton handed him two books one labeled Zeus and the other Poseidon.
But Eurydice simply shook her head. "No, I don't have either one of those because I was created by Hades himself as a gift for Thanatos in Elysium." She spoke as she clasped her hands in front of her simple white cotton dress.
The moment she uttered those words, the Balrog Specter looked up from the many texts in front of him and turned toward the nymph. It did seem rather peculiar that she bore not one element of decay on her skin. In fact, she looked just as alive as anyone from above, "a gift from Lord Hades?" Rune placed his hand upon his chin. He took his whip and swung it at her, watching her let out a tiny cry of fear. He tilted his head, "you speak the truth. Very well," he allowed the ropes to fall from harmlessly to her feet. "Any offering from our King to one of my Superiors does not deserve to reside in any of the nine prisons of the Underworld, regardless of all those times you've pulled weeds, plucked fruit from a tree, as well the heinous act of slaughtering many mice from your strategic placing of mouse traps, I grant your sentence of Elysium…" he raised his mallet.
"Wait," she took a step forward and placed her hands at his desk and pulled her body up till her eyes met him. "I cannot go back to Elysium!"
Rune was stunned. "Cannot go to Elysium? Do you realize how great an offering you are receiving?"
She nodded. "Of course, but there is a problem for you see, me and Thanatos… we broke up."
"Oh!" Rune returned to his book and gazed at the cause of death; surely enough, it was written that she was bitten by a snake offered by Hypnos. "This does complicate things," never in his life had anything like this cross his Prison. To sentence her anywhere else, but Elysium would be a slap to his Lord and King, however he can't imagine the hell that Thanatos would give him if he sent his 'ex' back." He raised a hand and grabbed a quill. "Eurydice, I hereby delay your case until I am able to come to a proper ruling," he spoke as he waved his hand, causing the floating parchment to open up.
The nymph sighed. "How long will that be?"
Rune continued to fill out the piece of paper, "normally it would be a long time, however, considering who you are, I will try to speed things up." He signed his name at the bottom. "Come back in two hundred and eighty three years. In the meantime, you are free to roam around until your later trial date." He slammed his mallet on desk, "next!"
Eurydice quietly curtseyed and was on her way, past the long line of the others that Acheron Charon had transported. She weaved through the crowds until she was at the bottom of the steps. She found a step and sat down, while hugging her knees. "I suppose waiting for three centuries won't be too bad." She muttered. She looked up at various plains. At first, she thought it was simply a sea with waves moving back and forth, until hands and the occasional body would break the surface and rise up before being swallowed back down by hundreds of decaying hands.
She closed her eyes and tucked her head between her knees, listening to only the winds. As she remained there, the sounds became clearer. The winds transformed from simple moans until her ears began to pick out the painful laments and regrets of the downtrodden. Tears began to stream down her face as nothing but sadness began to call out to her.
Give me a second chance! I will do what's right.
Let me live!
I wasn't angry, I was upset. God, I didn't mean what I said when I didn't care what I've done.
Eurydice threw her hands at her head and clenched her scalp. She stood up and ran back toward the river that she had crossed. She gazed at the gate across the shore. She looked down at the putrid waters and placed one foot into the shallow waters.
Suddenly, hundreds of hands reached for her lovely flesh before the nymph twisted her leg, freeing her from their grasp before turning back. Her chest heaved as the hands continued to reach for her.
Wait, don't go! Join us!
Eurydice drew her hands toward her face as she ran back to the first Prison. She turned her head toward a path and began to dash toward it. "Orpheus…I'm frightened…" she muttered as she ran as fast as she could. Her head turned from side to side, watching as the souls stood up to gaze at the beautiful, fair- skinned woman before reaching out to touch her.
She stopped. Just when she was about ready to turn back, something caught her nose. "Flowers?" she whispered. She continued onward, brushing off the reach of the others. The closer she got to the scent of what she believed to be as life, the fewer the corpses. Her eyes looked around as butterflies began to fill the air before her feet began step on something soft. "Grass?" Her toes wiggled at the blades of green. It was heavenly compared to the sharp craggy road of the Underworld. She leaned down and began to sniff at the various flowers around her, before she sighed in delight.
A smile came to her lips. The sound of moaning was gone, there wasn't a trace of death anywhere. It was peaceful and quiet and certainly a lovely spot to spend her two hundred and eighty three years at until bureaucracy kicked in. She looked down and began to collect several daisies all around.
"EURYDICE!" boomed a voice. "This is Rune. While you are free to wander until I am done making up my mind, I asked that you be wary of incurring further sin and request that you refrain from picking any more flowers."
The woman looked down at her work, "but I am a nymph! My original purpose back when Hades created me was to sit in a field and make flower bracelets." She relaxed her hands for a moment as she listened to him grumble.
"Fine, you may continue your life's purpose."
The nymph squealed in delight as her hands crafted viciously at the first of many flower bracelets.
O|========================?============================|O
Rhadamanthys gazed at the Saint hanging upside-down by the ends of his feet from a chain like a chandelier for the dim interrogation room. He continued to sit in a dark brown chair embracing a glass of whiskey in his hand against his face. The concrete floor was littered with pieces of Silver Cloth all over the place after providing one of the biggest acts of humiliation for a Saint; to peel off their bodies the very thing that they've fought for their entire lives to earn. He finished off the last of his drink before tossing it aside.
Orpheus' bruised face turned toward the Judges of the Underworld. He watched as Rhadamanthys reached out his hand and gave a small push. The Saint of Lyra resisted the urge to scream as the metal of the chains rubbed and chaffed his bare feet and ankles.
Rhadamanthys reached over and grabbed the sweaty locks of light blue hair and pulled his upside-down body over toward him. "Two hours later and still you will not speak."
Orpheus heaved, "Specter of Wyvern, I have spoken. I am not here to fight."
Rhadamanthys took his hair and twisted it, "LIES!" He turned down and picked up the lyre. "What do you call this? You speak of peace yet you bring your weapon while your body stinks of Cloth and the Cunt Cosmos of Athena!" He took the lyre and smacked the Greek across the face. "No Saint has ever crossed into the Underworld to speak of peace. They are there to survey our Army or to invade. Tell me Saint… which is it?"
Orpheus heaved as he tried to focus. In truth, the repeated smacking around and even the chains almost made him feel like his old sparring sessions with Albiore. After three years of that, the Judge's actions weren't as effective as he thinks they were, not that he would let him know. "It is not… a weapon. It is my instrument that I wish to… play for… Hades." He swallowed a little bit, "My Cloth is only on my body to demonstrate that I was a Saint of Athena. If I was planning something, I would certainly not come the way I was, nor would I hand over my instrument so willingly."
"Hmph, I know why you handed your instrument over… because you, like every other Saint out there are nothing but weak little cowards who think they are the strongest for the fact that they got lucky in the last two wars!" Rhadamanthys screamed as he the instrument and smacked the musician some more with it.
O|========================THE SECOND PRISON============================|O
Myu's body twitched as he felt a small chill erupt in his body.
Zelos turned around as psychic energy flared in the cart behind him. "Oh, what's wrong?"
"I sense a soul in my garden," he muttered bitterly before he began to pull himself toward the edge of the cart. "Zelos, thank you for the ride." He slid his form off the edge before plopping to the ground, splashing drops of maroon slime all over the place before reforming back into his form and dragged himself toward his residence. All around him, he could see his butterflies and his friends equally distressed by the fool that entered his forbidden garden. Their wings fluttered wildly around so quickly that they left streaks of rainbow around.
The Earthly Stars feared Myu enough to grant him his privacy, the Heavenly Stars respected him enough to keep their distance from there, and all the wandering souls that came to the garden were promptly disposed of. He didn't want billions of people coming to his garden that took so long to cultivate. He then gazed upon a woman as she wrapped a long flower chain around one of the pillars near the edge of the garden. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE!" he bellowed as psychic energy swirled around before he sent it at the woman.
Eurydice gasped. Her hand dropped the flower chain end before she felt herself being raised into the air. "Oh no!" she muttered as she was raised into the air. "I'm so sorry! I didn't know I was doing something wrong," she spoke as she looked around until something caught her eye. Down below, a large maroon slug with various bubbles across its body, she looked around and gasped. "Ah, are you a Psyche?"
Myu gasped. He looked up at the woman in bewilderment. "How… do you know of my people?" He pulled himself closer.
She nodded. "When I was in Elysium, I was able to see the world. One of my favorite places to watch was the continent of Mu, before it sank; I've heard that nymphs originated from there as well as many other different types of people including one group, who were half-Nymph and half-Lemurian, the Psyche."
Even though she's noticed that the Psyche was a minority on the continent they were regarded as the most powerful. They had the psychokinetic abilities of Lemurians yet they were able to communicate with nature through their Nymph side thus allowing them to speak with everything and feel the hearts of others. Slowly, Eurydice felt the wave of energies dissipate and slowly lower her down.
Myu was speechless. "Mu… I haven't heard of anyone speaking about my home in so long, let alone the name of my race." He gazed at her starry eyes. "You… you are a Nymph?"
Eurydice nodded. "Oh," she gasped. "I'm so sorry, I haven't introduced myself. My name is Eurydice. I'm from Elysium," she took a step forward and watched him slick back a little bit. "Oh, don't be shy." She went on her knees and leaned down. Slowly, he pulled himself a little closer. "There, see, I won't hurt you."
He felt odd sitting there without the feelings of fear irradiating from his company. "Are you not afraid that my pores will unleash their acidic juices and disfigure you?"
The Nymph looked up. The first form of the Psyche was focused on defense. "I don't think you would do that. Your telekinesis is very strong and precise. You don't seem like the type that would be unable to control that, or someone who would be cruel as to do such a thing." She could see the pores on his outer layer relax.
"My name is Myu, Papillion Myu of the Fairy Earth Star," he spoke after he too realized he had not introduced himself either.
She placed her hands on her lap. "It's nice to meet you, Papillion Myu!"
"You too, Eurydice," he sighed. "Unfortunately, although I wish we can spend more time talking, I am a Specter and you are one of the dead and the dead all have a destination." He thought about it. The paths were dangerous, and by the time the dead would reach their prison, they had been clawed, burned and maimed beyond recognition. "I will gather my strength, and I can escort you."
She sighed. "Actually, I don't have a prison or anywhere to go. Rune told me he won't be able to sentence me for two hundred eighty three years."
"Really?" a small slip of happiness filled his tone. He looked around. "You can stay here… if want."
"Thank you. That is very kind of you!" she cried out before a butterfly began to flutter beside her. She raised a finger and allowed it to rest upon it. "Oh!"
"That is Chi. He is welcoming you to our garden." Spoke Myu as another butterfly came forth. "The one by your shoulder is Nan."
Eurydice turned her head. "Hello Chi… and hello Nan." Two more butterflies raised up from the grass. "Who are they?"
"Those are Seu and Ippa. They like to be with each other." Suddenly a flurry of other butterflies began to awaken and approach the two.
Eurydice was overwhelmed. "Oh my, so many kind butterflies," she turned her head back and forth and raised her arms, "here, you all may rest here. That way you can all be in a line and it will make it much easier for me to learn all of your names."
O|========================ONE WEEK LATER (GUIDDECCA) ============================|O
"Rhadamanthys, how fares the Saint. Have you been able to extract any information as to his purpose here?" Pandora spoke as she practiced her song that she will perform for her Lord later on.
"He still continues to blather on with his lies of coming here in the name of peace." Rhadamanthys held his bow.
She dropped her fingers from her strings and turned her body to face him. "Rhadamanthys, your talents and tact for loosening the lips of our enemies have always been exceptional. I believe that perhaps you have performed your duty, that this queer request is this man's means." Her robes transformed into the fine black dress once more before her trident flew into her right hand. "But if this is what he asks, I would like to hear it from the Saint himself. Now rise, and let us pay a visit to his cell."
The two walked down the halls of the Guiddecca Palace and outside toward the cold frigid wasteland. Pandora reached over and grasped the arm of the Wyvern Specter, allowing him to escort her across the frozen slippery River of Cocytus. He raised a wing and blocked the thick snow.
Soon they came across a simple black building with the skulls of past Saints sitting outside with sticks protruding through each one of them. Rhadamanthys opened the door and held it open.
Pandora's eyes were drawn toward the silver color of the room. To the side, the Cloth of Lyra was chained with several blood red rubies circling it to prevent communication between it and its Master. Still the Cloth continued to shine as if it was a star in the nighttime sky.
Rhadamanthys pointed down toward a thick steel door. The lock itself was as thick as a dictionary with the face of what looked one of the heads of Cerberus. He placed his hand on top of the dog head before the eyes glowed and the bottom jaw mechanically dropped into a pleasant yet disturbing grin before the door slowly opened, creaking along its rusty hinges revealing the upside down man with a bag over his head.
"Saint, are you awake?"
Orpheus' eyes blinked wildly, pleased to hear the sound of someone other than his tormenter. "Y-y…ugh…" he rasped trying to get out the simple three letter word. "W..h… y-ough…"
Pandora sighed. "Rhadamanthys, release him from the hook up there and grant him some water to cure his incomprehensible babble."
The Judge's eye twitched at the thought of helping his enemy. However, understanding of the situation, he flew up into the air and hand chopped the chain link free, dropping the Saint's body, head first onto the ground, much to the Specter's delight. He searched around trying to find a pitcher, only to see a half full bottle of whiskey. Not wanting to share, he chugged it down and headed outside toward a small little stream and filled it up.
He came back, ripped the hood off of Orpheus' head and dumped the water down his throat.
O|========================THE SECOND PRISON============================|O
"Surprise!" cried Eurydice as she knelt down to Myu. Earlier, he was able to transform from his default larva form into his second form of a large maroon caterpillar, the pupa stage. While his looks were not all too appealing with his two large green eyes, at least he wasn't leaving slime all over the place. Plus, Eurydice actually found it strangely adorable.
At first Myu had no idea of what she was talking about. His large eyes looked around until Eurydice lifted his body like a toy dog and carried it over to a pillar with a well polished silver tray attached to it. She had found it along a small stroll outside the garden and now used it as a mirror. She lifted him up, and low and behold, she revealed her surprise. As he and his fellow butterflies slept she had weaved daisy bracelets on each of his golden horns. He chuckled at the strange sight as the Nymph, despite not having much to do in the garden always found some charming way to surprise him.
She looked down, "don't worry, I'll take them off before the other Specters see you," she said as she petted his head.
"It's okay." He said as he looked at her holding him in front of the reflection. "I don't care if they see me like this."
"If you say so," she placed him down, allowing him to scuttle through the tall flower field. He then decided to take a small patrol to check how his friends were doing. In his pupa form, he was just the right height to check on the chrysalis that hung beneath the leaves of the flowers, counting to make sure everyone was there. He looked up to toward a tulip. "Where is Cha?"
Eurydice gasped. "Oh, I'm sorry, I forgot to tell you." She rushed over toward a small cloth on a broken pillar and picked it up. "I tripped and broke Cha from his stem." She pulled the cloth and in the middle was a cocoon. Her eyes twinkled in sadness. "I'm so so sorry," she spoke as she held it to his level.
"You are fine. It was just an accident. Hold it under this leaf and I will take care of it." He waited for her to pick it up and held it beneath the tulip. His two fangs twitched before a small stream of silky thread came out and reattached it back into place. "Besides, you are always cautious, unlike humans. They don't care who they step on and kill as long as they can figure a way to pass the blame off."
Eurydice sighed. Myu seemed to hold so much discontent toward the humans. "I've always thought that humans, admired butterflies. I have seen many people who would stop and watch the butterflies flutter in the fields."
Myu paused. "They also like to catch them in nets that would stress and tear their wings, as well as place them in jars to starve or gather their bodies to place them on display, holding their remains by pins under glass." He could tell that Eurydice was not convinced of the indifferent nature of people. "Back on the continent of Mu, the Lemurians, Nymphs and especially the Psyche would never hurt a butterfly. Anytime we die, we release a butterfly, our soul. If that butterfly is killed, we are killed forever. Lemurians would often ring news if a butterfly is killed like an obituary in order for my people to morn."
She stood there silently. "I never knew that butterflies were highly regarded on Mu."
The pupa shot a burst of silk and swung up to a pillar so that he was able to be more at her level. "All creatures are considered equal." He paused, "although while the Lemurians, Nymphs and Psyche got along, the birds and butterflies have had several civil wars over which one was truly more beautiful as well as the various sugar water feeders around the cities. I remember a frightful period when one flock of racist pigeons rose up and committed heinous acts of genocide toward the butterflies. I am grateful that they were all finally caught and sentenced to life in a closed cage. Before the sinking, things did get better when the Lemurians attempted to be peaceful ambassadors between the two groups. Although I suspect that the birds hold hostility toward the butterflies, eating them if they had the chance."
She reached over and petted his head. "No one deserves to live in fear, no matter how small they are."
O|========================THE INTEROGATION ROOM============================|O
"You've trespassed into our Kingdom and have caused distress among our King's subjects," stated Pandora.
Orpheus leaned against the wall, rolling his shoulders a bit before continuing his story. "All I ask that I be given an audience to your Lord Hades to make my request. Although my Goddess may curse me for such a thing, on the day I was asked to kill the vessel of Hades, I did not do so," he muttered. "I guess you managed to find him… didn't you?"
Rhadamanthys took his fist and punched straight into the face. "Silence your lying tongue!" He folded his proud arms, "the King was recovered that night and continues to rule in the Guiddecca Palace as we speak. Lady Pandora herself brought him in and placed him on the throne and has since governed this land!" His lips curled into a satisfied grin. "Isn't that right, Lady Pandora?"
Pandora's hand gripped tightly around her trident as she struggled to figure out what to do. "Rhadamanthys, would you please step outside for a moment."
The Judge's unibrow rose up, "Lady Pandora?"
She closed her eyes and answered back with her trident pointed squarely at him. "I fear your presence is distorting his ability to answer. Please trust me on this one. Grant us ten minutes."
"Very well," he marched outside and closed the thick door behind him.
Pandora turned toward the man as his weak head turned to her. The mere mention of his side of the story would reveal the fact that the incantation was never completed that night. She cannot bring the vessel into the Underworld as well as ruin her credibility as the voice of the King. Aside from risking the Saints and Mariners learning that they had no true leadership and attacking, it would certainly ruin the perfect education that the King has been receiving. "Tell me more about your experience."
Orpheus could see that for the first time, his words were finally getting through. "When Eurydice and I were tending to him, I saw the silver star pendant. We both agreed that no child should be killed so heartlessly. We took him to the orphanage knowing that if we carried him and his brother back, he would be immediately discovered." His hands trembled. "Sometimes I wonder if I betrayed my Goddess, but I feel that if she preaches the message of peace and forgiveness, to kill him was not the way to justify the means."
Pandora closed her eyes. "So, you believe that our King owes you, a Saint, a favor." She opened them back up, "however, you do realize that even a simple audience between Lord Hades and his subjects is rare and highly prestigious amongst his own subjects."
"I only bring up the incident, to show you that I am not here to bring harm to any of you. I surrendered my instrument and have yet to show any resistance. I spared your King, not of desiring a way of controlling a God, but out of Love. Every action I've ever taken was in the name of Love. Though I am a soldier, I only desire to play my songs, each note embraced with Love and all I ask is the one thing that has ever loved me equally, to be given a second chance at life." His licked his busted lip in anticipation of her answer.
She thought hard at what to do. While Orpheus was a Saint, the fact was that the King's survival was indeed attributed to him. At the same time, to grant a request would raise too many questions if she would blindly do so. "You speak of Love as if you and it are one in the same. Our King is a God, and Love for him or any other deity is an emotion that he does not have. It is a human concept, that of love and sadness. I propose a challenge to you. I will grant you an audience. In thirteen days, our Underworld musician will perform for our King. His songs are famous for... moving one's heart. That night, you will both play for our Lord one song. If your song, filled with Love, is greater than his, then we will discuss the details of possibly bringing back this Eurydice." She turned away. "This cell will be your quarters. You will rest and be given food and water to ensure your body is fit enough to perform. However, if you escape, you will be killed on the spot."She took her trident and zapped the chains off his body.
Orpheus grasped his wrists and politely bowed. "Thank you! Thank you so much! All I need is five minutes and I will complete your challenge."
Pandora gave a small head nod and turned away. "Saint of Lyra, one more thing. Do not speak one word of the night in Japan."
He nodded, "yes… I will do that."
"Good," she whispered before the door shut behind her.
Rhadamanthys turned his head at her. "Lady Pandora, what will we be doing with him?"
She stopped. "We will grant him his audience, under certain conditions. I see no threat from him."
"What about all that talk of him being the reason the King was alive?"
"He indeed, did not attack the King. However, I believe in combination of his interrogation and that such an event has been years ago, his story cannot be considered reliable. However, his intentions are most certainly true."
The Wyvern Saint raised an arm and escorted her across the frozen River. A smirk appeared on his face. Like all tales from the Age of Myth, he was certain that there some certain condition that their Lord will impose to ensure that the Saint will fail in some sort of way.
Later that night, a meeting was held in the Guiddecca Palace. All Specters gathered in the hall before their great King as he sat behind his silken curtain.
Pandora stepped out from the side, and watched as all the faithful servants of Hades looked up before her. "Good, faithful servants of Hades, as you all have known, one week ago, a Saint had indeed crossed the borders of the Underworld and was promptly captured. Many of you had several questions and concerns about his purpose and tonight, our Lord wishes to ease your troubled hearts so that you may continue to serve him with a calm mind and your spirits at rest." She raised her chin up. "The Saint in question had acted independently. His motives, though I cannot disclose were personal and nothing more. The Saint will be given a challenge and his fate will be decided as such. Because his actions were not caused by order of their Goddess Athena, Holy War… is not upon us."
A low groan echoed in audience.
"HOORAY!" cried Bennu Takato as he raised his arms.
Rhadamanthys rolled his eyes, wondering why they were stuck with such a tame Bennu Specter when the last one was so blood thirsty that he'd drink it from a chalice if he could.
She raised her hand. "That is all. May our Lord, continue to gives us strength so that we may one day return his graciousness with victory over the Living!" With that, the meeting concluded. Several Specters stood up and immediately left to return to continue their duties.
"Takato?" After hearing his name, the Bennu Specter turned around to see Basilisk Sylphid standing before him. "Have you seen Myu?"
Takato shrugged his shoulders before adjusting his goggles on his head. "No I haven't. I looked all over the sky and didn't see him flying. You don't think he skipped out, do you?"
In the corner, Zelos raised his head as he leaned his ear over in hopes of overhearing any juicy gossip.
"I didn't fly. I hitched a ride with Pharaoh."
The two Specters looked down and sure enough, the Papillion Specter in his Pupa form was sitting fairly low in the chair. Sylphid was the first to open up. "Myu, why would you do that? You've always flown, over to here." Sylphid threw his hands on his hips, "I thought you hated being in your Larva or Pupa form in public."
"Are you not feeling well, Myu?" Takato pulled out a metal feather and held out his hand, "I can cure you! Why, I even found out my healing blood is so effective that it can counter the effects of Allergy season without any drowsy side effects."
"I'm fine. I just thought that it took so long to build up my energies to go into my true form and to waste it all flying from one point to the next when I could… relax in my garden… just being myself." He took a few steps forward. "When I am in my true form… do I look… handsome?" he asked with unfamiliar sense of bashfulness.
Takato looked down at the earnest question. He took a moment to imagine himself in a more feminine position "well you do have nice hair and I'd find your eyes fairly dreamy."
Sylphid jerked his head, "what type of answer was that?"
Takato shrugged, "I was just trying to be helpful."
Sylphid had heard some rumors that Myu was keeping a rather attractive guest in his garden. He looked down, "why do you have daisies on your feet?"
"Eurydice put those on me. I woke up and she had crafted them," he spoke as he extended one side to display the work.
"Eurydice… hmmm, so you do have a girl," commented Sylphid. "I'd like to hear more about this."
Takato turned his head, "but don't we need to head back to our stations?"
With those words Zelos immediately leaped in front of them. "Oh, what's this… Myu has a girlfriend… yes?"
"Myu, didn't say he has a girlfriend. Sylphid said that. Let's not spread rumors," spoke Takato.
But Myu wasn't sure what to say. "She's not a girlfriend… but… she's…amazing."
All three Specters gasped at the sudden declaration. Sylphid walked over and picked up the pupa, "Holy shit now I have to hear this."
"But our stations?" spoke Takato.
Zelos stepped forward and rubbed his long fingers. "Well, perhaps I could wheel you on my cart and you can take the slow method of transportation. You'd still be on your way, but whereas flying would only give you a minute to talk, my cart could provide an hour. Besides, the wind would make terribly difficult to speak. So how about it, hmm? It's not like Holy War is here." He stood there watching as each of their heads began to nod in agreement.
"Let's do it!" cried the Basilisk Specter as he tucked the pupa under his arm leapt in the air and glided his way into the back of the cart.
Takato slowly pulled himself over toward his friends. He's heard of nothing but terrible things about Zelos, but a simply cart ride can't be too bad.
The Frog Specter lifted the bars of the cart, and turned his head as the trio of fliers, as they would call themselves, laughed amongst themselves after hearing about Rune's sentencing. "They think they are so special because they are friends! Ha, all they have in common is that they have wings. It's so shallow. If I ever make a friend, I won't do it for something so shallow like being able to fly. I bet if my Surplice had wings I'd be able to get all the praise and admiration I want!" he thought to himself.
Meanwhile, the three Specters continued to chat with Myu in between the two. "I thought hard about it. If she is a Nymph and I am Psyche we should be able to… start over…"
Sylphid reached over and petted Myu's thorax, "look, we're not going to make fun of you. Don't be shy."
"Well, I thought that once Lord Hades kills all the living and we start the world anew, we can perhaps create… a new Mu. One just like how I remember… minus the Lemurians for obvious reasons," spoke Myu. "Although there is that one with the Saints, but frankly, the idea that he'd side with the humans and join the humans is sickening. With how all the survivors of the Continent of Mu were treated, I would think he'd join Lord Hades side. I've done my best to conserve as much of my Spectral Energy as I can, that way I will be able to show her my true self. In fact, I was going to do it yesterday, but I got nervous."
"Myu, we've seen your true form several times. Why are you so nervous now?" asked Takato.
"It is my wings. You see, while male Nymphs have their wings all the time, the female Nymphs only sprout them after having children. That is because if my wings impress her, she will partner with me. And once she has children, she will use her new wings and she will fly to the tree tops and make a nest there. But I must be able to impress her. If she does not like my wings, I will lose my chance of her considering the chance to couple with me. It is very important that I make a good first impression."
Zelos rolled his eyes, "how can she have children with you if she's already dead?" he shouted.
"Zelos, that's mean!" shouted Takato.
Myu's fangs chattered in rage before he quietly calmed down. "I was going to ask Lord Hades if he would consider bringing her back to life. She is a Nymph and not a human. If I service the Lord well, surely he can grant me this request. Although… my butterflies have told me that the human they've captured, that Saint, is her lover… he's even trying to bring her back to life too." His body sunk a little bit. "Perhaps I'm a fool for even thinking like this. It's only been a week, and I don't know if she feels the same way that I do about her. She's so kind… and… happy… her singing… even her talking is so melodic."
Takato leaned his hand in his brown hair. Myu seemed so sad. As the last of his race, he always seemed bitter and lonely. "Well, maybe Harbinger Seika can help you?"
Sylphid snapped his fingers. "That's right; she can read the winds and tell us the future. Although, I've heard she's very difficult to reach. Even Lady Pandora has problems whenever she needs the winds read."
Takato shook his head. "She's down in the Underworld right now. I saw her on the way to the meeting!" With her white cloak and bright red hair, she was nearly impossible not to pick out high in the sky. "You can ask her if it will work out."
Zelos turned his head at the interesting tidbit. "Perhaps I can divert the cart toward her direction?" he asked to the others.
Sylphid looked up, "I don't think I'll have time to visit her. Once we reach the sixth Prison, I have to go back."
Takato nodded, "Me too. I will have to go back to the sky soon, but I can tell you that I saw her between the third and fourth Prison area, but that's it."
Zelos bobbed his head up and down. "Ah, well… I suppose it will be just me and you, Myu."
O|========================AN HOUR LATER============================|O
Zelos stopped the cart and examined the landscape around them. "Hmmm, I thought Takato said this is where she would be?" he muttered as he placed the handles down.
Myu sat alone in the wooden cart, deep in thought of what the famous Harbinger Seika would tell him, if he got to meet her. He's heard of a number of Specters who sought her help, but only for her to turn many of them down. Perhaps this wasn't right and he should just walk up and show her his wings, but unlike others, Eurydice was the closest to his own kind and one who would understand and accept his many forms. Her eyes were so beautiful, never wavering or questioning how he looked. That was when a long white cloak flashed for a brief moment before disappearing. "Harbinger Seika?" he called out.
Zelos turned his head, "what?" He spun around. "Do you see her?" He turned again before a girl with bright red hair and a white cloak appeared. "Ah, Myu, I found her!"
Myu crawled to the top of the cart and spotted the Harbinger Specter standing silently in the middle of the field. Down below at her feet, was very dark shadow, the place where her Surplice was being held at.
Seika quietly began to make her way toward the Papillion Specter, "the winds whispered your desire to find me. I knew Zelos would not be able to follow Takato's directions. You are three miles south of the spot. Therefore, I came here where our paths will meet so," she spoke with a surprisingly gentle voice. "Here I am, Papillion Myu."
Zelos leapt over to her side and began to jerk at her white cloak, "After him, would you tell me my future! I want to know! I want to know how I can…"
Seika's eyes narrowed as she turned to see Zelos dirty sweaty hands staining her cloak. She took her hand and pulled it away, "in time." For a moment, her body turned into a transparent shadow as she walked to the cart to the Psyche. "You wish to know if love is in the future, am I right?" before Myu can answer she reached over and touched his head, "yes… every wind… every possible path tells me you want an answer."
Myu couldn't believe it. He had yet to say one word and already she knew everything. "Would she love me back?"
Seika dropped her hand. "No. Every path of the winds, the possible versions of the future, do not see you and her together." She turned around and walked away as quickly as she had met the Pupa.
The Papillion Specter felt his heart break before sighing and began to make the long trek back to the garden.
Zelos rolled his eyes. "What did he expect? He only knew her for a week," he thought as he turned toward the Specter as she made her way toward who knew where. "Wait! You said you would tell me my future? I want to know how I can become all powerful! You must tell me, please!"
Seika paused. "Your request is very labor intensive. When I read the winds, the farther I read, the more they branch out. The more possible futures, the harder it is on my mind as well as my sanity. But of course, you do not care as long as I tell you."
Zelos gripped his hands. "Ah, you are good at telling the future!" he bowed.
Actually, she didn't even bother to read the winds. She could tell by his actions that he was a selfish man. She thought about it. If she did tell the future, she will make many out people out there very happy. "Very well, you desire power, I will tell you how. The path of the wind you seek requires that you take a chrysalis and implant it in your head. If you do this, you will raise to a very high position, one that could place you above Lady Pandora herself." She turned her hand and pointed toward Myu. "Go, now is the time for you to set upon the path that will grant you this power you so desperately desire!"
Zelos turned his head and then back, only to see that she had disappeared. "I can be powerful?" he muttered. "More than Lady Pandora herself? But she is above the Judges… that means… I can be better than Radamanthys… and Minos… and Aiacos…." Saliva dripped from the edges of his mouth as he rushed toward the depressed Myu. Thoughts and ideas surged though his head. All he had to do was attain a chrysalis.
"Zelos, I don't want a ride back. I just want to walk. Go back to your cart," Myu muttered as he slowly crossed the path.
Zelos looked down, "ah is it about what Seika has said? You shouldn't be sad about that. Just because she can read the future, doesn't mean she is right. She can only name possible futures yes?"
Myu stopped without even bother turning back. "Zelos… go away…. You make no sense. What part of every path shows I have no chance do you not understand?"
Zelos raised a brow. Suddenly a genius thought came into his mind. "But, she told your future first before mine. I think that in those other futures, it didn't involve me helping you. What if we created a new path; a new possible outcome of the future?" Zelos could see the interest building in the Papillion Specter. "I am a corpse carrier. I carry the dead to keep the place clean. Now, I run into many beautiful treasures all the time. Most I pull off their bodies before sending them to Tarturus and sell them to Queen. Perhaps we can make a trade, if you give me a chrysalis, I will search the corpses for some lovely, shiny things for Eurydice, and what do you say?"
"That is disgusting! I won't…. I can't do such a thing. It is sacrilege! Besides, what will you do with it? You are not going to eat it, are you?"
Zelos waved a finger. "Don't worry, I won't hurt it. I will keep it nice and safe. I just want something that would record events, and nothing more, especially the fact that the cocoon would be useless if it is dead." He looked down at the desperate Pupa. He knew that he would do anything for a simple woman. Papillion was just a simple Earth Star who must woo over women the difficult way while when he becomes powerful will be able to simply ask for them with a snap of the finger. "Myu, it may sound hard, but what about your dream of a new Mu? Isn't the sacrifice of one simple cocoon worth bringing back the Psyche and Nymph races?" He turned his head as the Papillion Specter dragged himself back into the cart. "Splendid."
TO BE CONTINUED…
O|===============================================================================|O
Coming May 8
Side Story 8: Eurydice! An Eternally Tragic Love
The Conclusion to the tale of Eurydice/Orpheus/Myu.
Have you ever Felt the true power of your Cosmos?
O|===============================================================================|O
This side story is the result of one big fat plot bunny taking course. Originally, this was going to be a scene in the last chapter of this part. However it got really big and I thought I could make it into one side story. Then came the idea of actually finishing Orpheus' ordeal in the Underworld so now, it's a two part side story.
The biggest issue with this Part was due to how many characters there were and how many plot points that were going to be resolved. The reason why on my Profile page the date for the final chapter in this part is so broad is because of the amount of resolution that needs to take place before we move back to the next Part that goes back to the Gold Saints. I have the outline; the problem is the outline is really long. The good news is that while this Part is indeed long, the last two Parts are delightfully shorter.
Onto this side story, if you haven't noticed, it doesn't have a title, because I'm just stumped on what to call it, just because it's used to build up the next side chapter. I thought about "Beauty and the Beast" but it kind of doesn't fit just because we know Eurydice will not be with Myu in the end.
The chapter focuses on both Orpheus' reaching the Underworld as well as Myu's background a bit. I always felt that Myu was different kind of like how Mu was to the other Saints. I noticed that Myu also had telekinetic powers like Mu when I reviewed the episode Myu was in and decided to try something based on that.
In terms of Microsoft Word, I had the most annoying auto-correct issue ever. Every time I typed "Myu" my computer auto-corrected it to "My". No red line beneath, it just changes it to that unless I click undo and moved on.
About Zelos, I will let you all know I hate Zelos both on the show any anywhere else so yes, it does make me mad that somehow, he's managed to dodge the bullet in my own story for so long and it does make me mad that he gets a lot of writing space in my story simply because I need an asshole in the Underworld that no one will care if I make them unlikeable. He is on borrowed time and as soon as I get the next Main Chapter out, I will make sure he is properly taken care of.
Thank you for all the support and if there are any problems (or any suggestions for a title for this since I've spent several days thinking of what to use) let me know.
Jenny D
UPDATE: Oh thank you guys for the title suggestions. I like "Chrysalis" for this chapter but since the next chapter hasn't been named yet, I will go with "Eurydice! An Eternally Tragic Love " for that.