Hello all Storm here with a new chapter! Here we'll be seeing the questers heading out, before things take a very different turn once they encounter the Furies. So, without further ado.
I own nothing
After leaving the Big House, Naruko, Andromeda, Annabeth and Grover had all gone to get packed and ready, with the Uzumaki finishing the fastest. Having already kept all her stuff inside a small magically expanded bag, she kept on her person. Given the fact she lived with Hermes's kids, Naruko wasn't going to risk her stuff being stolen. Especially since some of it can be rather…dangerous.
Once she had everything, Naruko headed up to Half-Blood Hill to wait for the others to arrive, soon reaching Thalia's tree and looked up at it.
"Hey Thalia, sorry I haven't been back in a few days, a lot's…a lot's happened." Naruko said, having always come up here to talk anything that's happened in camp, hoping Thalia could hear her and know what's going on.
"Turns out, the gods aren't really good at keeping it in their pants, shocker I know. The new camper, Andromeda, she's Poseidon's daughter, having been claimed during Capture the Flag and after nearly being mauled by a Hellhound that someone summoned. Everyone's been avoiding her, probably waiting for Zeus or Hades to try smiting her or something. But I've stuck by her and trained her, making sure she'll be prepared for…well everything that's gonna wanna kill her. Though Annabeth was acting too much like her mother's daughter, no idea if anything I said got through to her, but I didn't hold back in trying to get through her thick skull." Said Naruko, before sighing as she sat against the tree.
"That's not everything though, the reason the gods have been angry is because someone stole the Master Bolt, right from the throne room. Personally, I think that's probably a sign that the gods shouldn't just leave their stuff lying around, it's surprising that was the only thing stolen. But now Zeus is blaming Poseidon and Poseidon's demanding an apology for being blamed, with it not really helping his case by claiming Andie and putting a target on her back. Now she's stuck going on a quest to find and return it, getting a prophecy from the Oracle and now…we're going to the Underworld to confront Hades. Who's suspected of having a mortal hero steal it, so the rest of the gods would kill each other. Honestly…I don't if he did or not, since he's supposed to be one of the more neutral gods, only acting if something happens that affects him. But he was also willing to blame you for your father's actions and I'm bias, so I guess I'm hoping he is the thief, if it means he'd pay for trying to kill you." Naruko said, uncaring as the ground shook slightly.
"Anyway, Andromeda got her quest and apparently, she will find the Master Bolt and see it safely returned. But not before going west to face the god who's turned, which does point to Hades, but again, I'm bias and hopeful. Though I get the feeling she didn't reveal the entire prophecy, I didn't ask since it must've been personal, or maybe it hinted at whoever personally stole the Master Bolt and she felt it was safer keeping it secret. I'm obviously going on the quest with her, since I'm not going to let Andie die, both because she's your cousin and I…may have…made an Oath on Styx…to prepare and…protect her…even if it killed me." Said Naruko slowly and nervously, just imagining Thalia immediately smacking her on the head and chewing her out for making an oath like that.
"Grover's also going, he's grown a lot if he's willing to travel to the Underworld and face Hades. He may be getting a searcher's license soon…if we all aren't horribly murdered. Annabeth's also going, since she wants to go on a quest. So a three girl and one goat team is going to travel across the country, enter the Underworld, confront the Lord of the Dead to find one of the most powerful weapons in existence and return it. All in less than ten days or we'll be watching the planet get scorched, just an average day for a demigod." Naruko said sarcastically before leaning her head back against the tree.
"I really wish you were here, maybe you'd be able to talk some sense into your dad since he's supposed to have a soft spot for his daughters. And I doubt Athena or Artemis have been making an effort to get through to him. Hell, Athena's probably eager to go to war with Poseidon simply out of spite, kind of stupid for a Goddess of Wisdom if you ask me. While Artemis is probably off with her girl scouts chasing monsters and turning random guys into jackelopes, regardless of whether they actually deserve it or not. Then again, if you were here, Zeus would probably want you taking the quest instead or going with Andromeda to "pick up the slack", should she fail." Said Naruko, chuckling lightly only to sigh again.
"That's about it, I'll be gone for a while, hopefully we'll be able to get Los Angeles quickly enough to find the bolt and bring it to Olympus. Preferably on a plane that won't be struck by lightning, not unless your dad wants his toy of mass destruction back. I'm sure I'll have even more to tell you once we're back. There's…there is still so much I want to tell you…" Said Naruko, muttering the last part to herself as she stood up and looked at the tree solemnly.
"But that…all that can wait until you're really here to hear it." Naruko said, having considered several times to simply tell Thalia how she felt, given her doubts she'd feel the same and thought it'd be less painful getting no response than being outright rejected.
The only reason she hasn't, is because Naruko wanted Thalia to actually hear everything she wanted to say, to tell her how she felt to her face. Even if the Daughter of Zeus rejected her and didn't want to be her friend anymore, Naruko wanted her to know.
"See you next time, Thalia." Said Naruko, patting the tree before walking away, just in time as she saw Chiron and Argus walking up the hill.
"Ah, Naruko good to see you here already. Here you are, I've already given Andromeda and Annabeth their own canteens and bags." Chiron said, handing Naruko a canteen of nectar and a bag of ambrosia squares, the Uzumaki nodding in thanks as she put them in her bag.
"Thanks Chiron." Replied Naruko before looking to see Andromeda, Annabeth and Grover arriving, the latter wearing his pants and fake feet to blend in, along with a rasta cap to hide his horns whenever his hair was flattened by rain.
"Good, you're all here and ready." Stated Chiron, the four questers nodding while Andromeda looked at Argus, recognizing him from when she was going in and out of consciousness after arriving.
"Yeah uh, who's this?" Andromeda asked, wondering who Argus was.
"Argus, he's the camps head of security, given he has eyes all over his body." Replied Naruko, with Argus nodding with a smile and thumbs up.
"Indeed, he'll also be driving you four into the city and, er, well, keep an eye on things." Chiron said, getting dry looks from the three demigods and lone satyr.
"That pun will never stop being terrible." Naruko said, only for them to hear footsteps coming towards and saw Luke carrying a pair of basketball shoes.
"Hey! Glad I caught you." Luke said, smiling in relief at catching them before they left.
"Did you need something, Luke?" Questioned Andromeda, while seeing Annabeth blush like she usually does around him, and Naruko with a small smile to hide her suspicion towards him.
"Just wanted to say good luck, and I thought…um, maybe you could use these." Replied Luke, handing the Daughter of Poseidon the sneakers, making her frown in confusion at what she could use them for.
"Maia!" Luke said, with Andromeda being surprised when white bird wings sprouted from the heels, dropping them on the ground, where they flapped around for a few moments until the wings folded up and vanished.
"Awesome!" Grover said, smiling in amazement at Andromeda getting flying shoes.
"Those served me well when I was on my quest. Gift from dad. Of course, I don't use them much these days…" Said Luke with a smile before his expression turned sad, with Andromeda smiling and picking up the shoes.
"Hey, thanks." Andromeda said, with the Son of Hermes nodding with smile.
"Listen, Andie…a lot of hopes are riding on you. So just…kill some monsters for me, okay?" Luke asked, as the ravenette nodded as they shook hands.
Before he patted Grover on the head between his horns and hugged Annabeth goodbye, making the blonde look ready to pass out, before turning to Naruko.
"Hey, um…I know things have been tense since my quest, but maybe when you all get back we could train together, see how good you've gotten with a sword. But no magic though." Said Luke with a smirk as the whiskered demigod gained a small smirk of her own, and nodded.
"Sure, sounds fun. But that just means you won't have any excuse, after I kick your ass." Replied Naruko, making Luke laugh and pat her on the back.
"In your dreams." Luke said before heading back down towards camp, with Naruko turning to Annabeth who was hyperventilating.
"You want a bag, Annie?" Naruko said rhetorically, snapping the Daughter of Athena out of her daze.
"How many times have I told you not to call me that?!" Hissed Annabeth, the Uzumaki merely shrugging.
"I stopped keeping track after the first dozen times." Replied Naruko, making her growl in annoyance.
"You let him take the flag instead taking it yourself, didn't you." Stated Andromeda as she looked at Annabeth slyly, causing her to glare at the ravenette as well.
"Why do I want to go anywhere with either of you?!" Annabeth retorted before stomping down the hill towards a white van, with Argus following after her.
Andromeda then turned back to the flying shoes, looking at them with a frown, knowing she wouldn't be able to wear them, yet Luke gave them to her anyway. Something that only made her all-the-more suspicious on why he gifted her a magical item that she couldn't really use, unless she wants to be made a lightning rod by her uncle. Before looking at Naruko and Chiron, the former looking at her with a raised brow, having the same line of thought as her.
"Luke meant well, Andromeda. But taking to the air…that would not be wise for you." Chiron said, seeing her expression and guessed what she was thinking.
"Hey, Grover. You want a magic item?" Andromeda asked, turning to the satyr, making his eyes light up in excitement.
"Me?!" Grover said, not expecting her to give him the flying shoes, the ravenette nodding as she handed him the flying shoes.
Eager to try them out, Grover put them on his fake feet and tied them up.
"Maia!" Said Grover, causing the wings to appear, only to yelp as he was thrown to the ground sideways, the shows flying around as they dragged him down the hill.
"Practice. You just need practice!" Chiron called out, while Naruko sighed and walked down the hill.
"Appendaga Regoria." Said Naruko causing Grover to become paralyzed in midair, before being freed from the spell when Naruko grabbed him by his leg.
"Let's go Supergoat." Naruko said, dragging Grover towards the van, with Andromeda laughing slightly at the sight and went to join them, only to stop when Chiron grabbed her arm.
"I should have trained you better, Andromeda. If only I had more time. Hercules, Jason, they all got more training." Said Chiron, hating to send her off on such a dangerous quest with hardly any training.
"It's okay. Naruko's helped me out a lot, and I have Riptide now too." Andromeda assured, making the centaur nod.
"Yes, Anaklusmos. I'm glad you have it at your side, though it's a blade with a long and tragic history, we need not get into. I hope it will serve you well." Chiron said, with Andromeda nodding as she slipped her hand into her pocket where the pen was.
"One other thing in case you haven't learned it yourself, you can't lose the pen. It's enchanted to always return to your pocket. Try it." Added Chiron, surprising the ravenette before she nervously pulled out the pen.
Looking at it for a few moments, Andromeda sighed before throwing it as hard as she could down the hill, watching it disappear into the grass.
"It may take a few moments. Now check your pocket." Chiron said.
Reaching into her pocket, the Daughter of Poseidon saw the pen was really back, making her smile.
"Okay, that's extremely cool." Stated Andromeda, glad she won't have to worry about losing her only weapon.
"Just one last piece of advice, Andromeda. Relax. Keep a clear head. And remember, you may be about to prevent the biggest war in human history." Said Chiron, with demigod nodding while taking a deep breath.
Heading down the hill to the van, Andromeda saw Naruko sitting in the front while Annabeth and Grover were in the back. Looking back up the hill towards Thalia's tree, she saw Chiron holding his bow up in the air in a salute.
'Just a typical summer camp sendoff from your typical centaur activities director.' Andromeda thought as she got into the van.
*Later*
The questers had arrived in Manhattan by the time the sun began setting and started to rain, with Argus dropping them off at the Greyhound Station on the Upper East Side. Helping them unload their bags and making sure they had their bus tickets before driving back to camp.
With them waiting for the bus to arrive, until Naruko noticed Andromeda tearing a flyer off a mailbox.
"Problem?" Naruko asked, making Andromeda look at her before shaking her head.
"No, no problem." Muttered Andromeda before glancing in the direction of her old apartment, knowing that on a normal day, her mother would be back from the candy shop by now.
"You want to know why she married him, Andie?" Grover said, looking at his friend, with the ravenette turning towards him.
"Is that you reading my emotions or can satyrs read minds too?" Andromeda asked with a sarcastic edge.
"Your emotions. You were thinking about your mom and your stepdad, right?" Repeated Grover, with Andromeda nodding in response.
"Your mom married Gabe for you. You call him 'Smelly,' but you've got no idea. The guy has this aura…yuck. I can smell him from here. I can smell traces of him on you, and you haven't been near him for nearly two weeks." Grover explained, much to Andromeda's disgust.
"Thanks. Where's the nearest shower?" Said Andromeda, not wanting any of Gabe's smell on her.
"He means that he must smell so repulsively human that it'd cover up your scent from monsters. A child of the Big Three has an even more powerful scent than most demigods, if it wasn't for that guy, you would have been found a long time ago. The fact they haven't, only shows how useful he was in hiding your scent. Your mom must love you a lot to put up with someone like that." Naruko said, having heard a few things regarding Andromeda's homelife during their training.
This made Andromeda frown, not believing her mother was willing to marry and put up with Gave just for her, and now she's gone. Only for the ravenette to quickly shake her head at that, knowing she'll see her mother again soon, that she isn't really gone.
She didn't even care about returning Zeus's Master Bolt, saving the world, or helping her father get out of trouble. Andromeda even resented Poseidon for never visiting, never helping her mother, never doing anything, only claiming her as his daughter when he needed her for something.
The only thing Andromeda cared about was getting her mother back from Hades.
'At this rate, I'll be lucky to leave New York alive.' Naruko thought, looking at Andromeda, getting a feeling for what she was thinking and feeling right now, only hoping that she doesn't do anything too reckless.
As the rain continued falling, the questers began playing hacky sack with one of Grover's apples while waiting for the bus. With Annabeth bouncing it off her knee, her elbow, and her shoulder, Naruko showing to be just as good, bouncing the apple without even looking at where it was. Though the game ended when Grover ended up eating the entire apple in a single bite, much to the demigods' amusement.
It wasn't long before the bus arrived with the questers boarding it, only to see Grover sniffing the air.
"What is it?" Andromeda asked, wondering what he's smelling.
"I don't know. Maybe it's nothing." Grover replied, looking around warily, only for the girls to tell it wasn't nothing before they got onto the bus.
Finding seats in the back, they stored their backpacks in the overhead racks, with Andromeda seeing Annabeth nervously slapping her Yankees cap against her thigh. While Naruko was fingering her bag, something the Daughter of Poseidon found a little creepy with the yellow button, x-shaped stitching, and zipper resembling a face.
"Andie." Annabeth suddenly said, just as the last passenger got on the bus, making them look to the front.
It was an old lady who climbed onto the bus. She wore a crumpled velvet dress, lace gloves, and a shapeless, orange-knit hat that shadowed her face, and she carried a big paisley purse. Though when she looked up, showing her black eyes, Andromeda paled at recognizing her. Recognizing her as Mrs. Dodds, looking older and more withered, but with the same evil face.
With her were two other old ladies, all of them looking identical, aside from the hats, with Mrs. Dods wearing an orange hat, while the other two were wearing green and purple. All three sat at the very front right behind the driver, two sitting in the aisle and crossing their legs over it.
"She didn't stay dead long. I thought you said they could be dispelled for a lifetime." Andromeda said, trying to keep the quiver from her voice, since if Mrs. Dodds was a Fury and she was two other old ladies, then she really wasn't liking their odds.
"I said if you're lucky, you're obviously not." Retorted Annabeth while trying to think of any plan to get them out of this.
"All three of them, Di Immortales!" Grover said, freaking out that all three Furies were here.
"It's okay. The Furies. The three worst monsters from the Underworld. No problem. No problem. We'll just slip out the windows." Annabeth stated, believing they'll be able to get out of this.
"They don't open and we're currently moving." Said Andromeda as they were heading towards Lincoln Tunnel, making the Daughter of Athena mentally curse.
"And we're not running." Naruko said, making the three look at her, only feel nervous and worried at seeing her eyes were glowing a dark green.
But also from the way she was looking at the Furies, as if she was just thinking of all the ways to kill them as brutally as possible.
"Naruko, whatever you're thinking-" Annabeth said nervously, only to gasp as the bus suddenly started speeding up.
"It's worse than anything you could imagine." Said Naruko, twisting her hand as she manipulated the Mist, making the driver speed up while keeping the rest of the passengers believing everything was normal.
"Na-Na-Naruko! Pl-pl-pl-ple-please sto-st-st-sto-stop!" Grover said pleadingly as they continued going faster and faster, with Naruko ignoring the satyr as she had the driver go even faster, uncaring as they forced the cars in front of them out of the way.
The Daughter of Hecate scowled as the Furies realized what was happening and shed their disguises, their bodies became shriveled up into leathery brown hag bodies with bat's wings, hands and feet like a gargoyle's claws, as their handbags turned into fiery whips. But before they could move down the bus towards the questers, Naruko quickly twisted her hand, causing the driver to slam right into the tunnel wall, throwing everyone on the bus, including the Furies.
"Naruko stop! Are you trying to kill us?!" Andromeda said, desperate to get Naruko to stop.
"We're almost done." Naruko said casually, ensuring the Furies couldn't get up as she had the driver slam into the tunnel wall or swerve around.
Andromeda, Annabeth and Grover couldn't do anything as Naruko controlled the driver until they soon came out of the tunnel and back into the rainstorm. Seeing an exit, Naruko had the driver turn down it, making it a sharp turn to throw the Furies off balance again. Going past several traffic lights and going down a more rural road, with woods on their left and the Hudson river on their right.
'Perfect.' Thought Naruko, looking into the woods before having the driver pull the emergency brake, causing the bus to spin around before coming to a stop.
"Appendaga Regoria!" Naruko said to the Furies, paralyzing them in midair.
"That won't hold them long, let's go!" Naruko said to the others, with the trio nodding quickly as they grabbed their bags before rushing down the aisle, shoving the Furies out of the way as they ran out of the bus.
"Are you out of your mind?!" Annabeth demanded as they ran through the forest, not believing the Uzumaki would do something that reckless and dangerous.
"I'm completely sane Annabeth and know exactly what I'm doing." Naruko replied calmly, something that only worried them even more.
"Well, hopefully we managed to-" Said Andromeda, thinking they were able to escape, only to be cutoff by an enraged and disturbing wailing.
"You shall suffer eternal torment!" Shrieked a Fury as all three of them were flying after the questers.
"We're dead! We are so dead! Blaah-ah-ah!" Grover bleated in fear, with Annabeth drawing her knife while Andromeda uncapped Riptide.
Though before the Furies could get any closer to them, they shrieked in pain when three glowing green arrows impaled their stomachs before falling to the ground. The sight causing the group to stop, while Andromeda, Annabeth and Grover looked in shock at seeing the Furies unable to move. Before they looked to see another Naruko stepping out from behind a tree, holding a massive black bow.
The bow looked to be made of solid black energy in the shape of two large butcher knives joined together at the hilts, with spike protrusions at the ends, and a green aura around it. While the arrows that were impaling the Furies had a matching color scheme and looked to be made of energy.
"I said I knew what I was doing. Nectae Artis Magicus." Said Naruko as blue magical shackles appeared around the Furies wrists and ankles, lifting them into the air.
"What? But you're-" Andromeda said, looking to the Naruko with them, only for her to dissolve into smoke, revealing it was just an illusion.
"You planned this, didn't you? The moment the Furies got on the bus; you were planning this!" Said Annabeth in disbelief and slight anger, not believing Naruko would do that.
"Not that exactly, it was merely a happy accident that the Furies were sent after us and they showed up this early into the quest. Though I'll admit, I suspected that Hades would send them after Andromeda, just like he did before." Naruko said, looking at the restrained Furies with a dark gleam in her eyes,
"And you couldn't have told us?!" Annabeth demanded, wanting to know why she didn't say anything.
"No, because you three would have stopped me. And sorry in advance, Vitalis Eruptum." Said Naruko before Andromeda, Annabeth and Grover were suddenly restrained by vines wrapped around their wrists and ankles.
"Naruko?! What're you doing?!" Andromeda said in shock and fear, wondering if Naruko really was a traitor.
"Like I said, you'd three would try to stop me, and I've been waiting five years for this very moment." Said Naruko, causing Annabeth's and Grover's eyes to widen as they started to get an idea on what she's planning.
"Na-Na-N-Naruko, th-th-th-thi-thi-think abo-" Grover said nervously and fearfully at what Naruko's planning, only for them to suddenly have vines wrapped around their mouths.
"Oh, I have thought about it. I've thought about it every day, every night, and right now, I'm gonna enjoy every moment of it." Naruko stated before turning back to the Furies, who were snarling and shrieking at her.
"Your little tricks won't hold us forever, demigod! And once we're free, you will suffer in the depths of Tartarus!" Shrieked Alecto, with Megaera and Tisiphone snarling in agreement, only to be silenced when Naruko giggled wickedly.
"Oh you misunderstand, this is no trick. After all, like you said the last time we met, no more tricks, Honey." Said Naruko before muttering another spell with the Furies being surrounded by a dark red glow.
Before the Uzumaki walked up to the Furies and held up her hand, smiling wickedly and pinched Alecto's arm. Everyone being shocked, and very nervous in the Furies case, when Alecto suddenly screeched in complete agony. With Andromeda, Annabeth, and Grover not believing Naruko could hurt a Fury that much with a simple pinch, while Megaera and Tisiphone looked nervous and fearful at what happened.
"Huh, and here I thought you three would have some experience in feeling pain after millennia as torturers in the Underworld. How sad, you know how to dish it out, but not how to take it." Naruko said mockingly, smiling since this would make it so much better.
"What have you done?!" Alecto demanded, not believing she could feel such pain from something that shouldn't even be an inconvenience to her.
"Simple, that spell I just cast on you three, it enhanced your pain receptors. Making it so a simple pinch like that, is the same as a thousand jagged and rusted razor blades cutting into your bodies. And if that's what a pinch feels like, just imagine what I really have in store for you." Said Naruko, much to the Furies growing shock and horror, while the other questers looked at the Uzumaki with wide eyes.
'She…she wouldn't do that, that's…that's beyond cruel!' Annabeth thought, not believing Naruko would do something like that to anyone, even if it was the Furies.
'Not even Mrs. Dodds deserves something like that!' Thought Andromeda, knowing despite how much she hated her former math teacher, even she didn't deserve whatever Naruko has planned.
Then without warning, Naruko slammed her fist into Alecto's face, causing the Fury to scream pain, feeling as if her head was crushed by Cerberus. With the Daughter of Hecate now glaring murderously at the Furies, Naruko slammed her fist into Alecto's jaw again and again and again and again. Not stopping, even as she saw a few fangs go flying out of the Furies mouth. Before she turned and lifted her leg up, smashing her foot right into Alecto's face. Smiling wickedly as the Fury shrieked in pain and agony as her jaw now hung loosely and could no longer move it.
Naruko then brought her elbow down on Alecto's shoulder, hard enough to dislocate her arm, only to then spin around slamming her heel into the Fury's elbow, snapping her arm like a twig. Repeating the same thing with her other arm, her enjoyment only growing as the Fury shrieked and snarled at her.
"I'll flay the flesh from your-" Alecto screamed, only to gag when Naruto smashed her foot into stomach.
The Daughter of Hecate proceeding to repeatedly punch the Fury in her sides as hard as she could, even as she started seeing blood staining her fists she didn't stop. Only when she began hearing the cracking and snapping of Alecto's ribs did she stop, but not before delivering another punch to her stomach.
"What do you know, you do have blood and bones." Naruko stated as Alecto panted from the beating, only to shriek again when the Uzumaki slammed her foot into her knees, snapping her legs in half as well.
Only to then grab her legs and break them even further, snapping her femur and tibia bones in half as well, before stomping on her ankles breaking them. Doing the same thing with her arms and wrists, with all of Alecto's limbs having a little bone sticking out of the leathery skin. The Fury wasn't even able to get angry as tears of blood fell from her eyes, unable to describe the pain she's in.
Turning her attention to Megaera, Naruko had her lowered slightly before immediately grabbing her by her head and brought it down on her knee, hearing the satisfying sound of her nose breaking. Only to repeatedly smash the Furies head into her knee, uncaring of the blood staining her pants or the fangs flying out of her mouth. Stopping for a moment to look at the bloody mess the Furies face had become, Naruko scowled before giving her a final knee to the face.
Forcing the Fury onto the ground, Naruko had the magic shackles extend themselves by a few feet, before grabbing Megaera's leg and stomped down on her hip, getting a shriek from the Fury. With the whiskered demigod lifting her leg while still pressing down on her hip. Grunting once it went as far as it go, only for Naruko to then force more, dislocating the limb and she continued bending it. Before Naruko then snapped it in half at the knee, forcing the broken leg behind Megaera's head. Repeating the process with her other leg as the Fury resembled a human-or-monster-pretzel.
With Fury unable to keep herself from screaming, even when Naruko turned away from her, Megaera continued screaming and shrieking from her broken and twisted body.
And as Naruko was doing this, Andromeda, Annabeth, and Grover had tried shouting through their gags to get her stop what she was doing, only to fall silent when she began merciless beating the Furies. The three being horrified as Naruko didn't simply kill Hades's torturers. She was instead beating them with her bare hands without hesitation.
'She's not just beating them…she's torturing them!' Annabeth thought horrified as Naruko brutally broke the Furies limbs and twisted them around, screaming through her gag to get the Uzumaki's attention, only for Naruko to not even glance at them.
Turning to the final Fury, Naruko couldn't stop the dark smile from appearing on her face as she saw the fear and panic in Tisiphone's eyes. The Fury even desperately trying to move away from the Uzumaki, only to remain in place from the shackles.
"Scared? You should be." Naruko said before burying her fist in the Furies stomach before pulling it back and repeating the gesture.
Punching the Fury repeatedly in the stomach, until she stepped back as Tisiphone began coughing up a good amount of blood, only for Naruko to immediately start punching her again. Doing this until she felt her fist getting wet and sticky with more blood, seeing she began putting a hole in the Fury and Naruko didn't want to risk kill them too soon.
Having the Fury bent forward, Naruko slammed her elbow down on Tisiphone's back, smirking as she broke the monsters spine. Only to do it again and again, not stopping until every vertebrae on the Furies back was broken. Before she then had the Fury forced to lay on the ground, the Daughter of Hecate pressing down on her ribs with her foot. Applying more and more pressure, with the Fury unable to shriek, though Naruko could see they were trying to make some sound. Soon she heard the sound of the ribs cracking, making Naruko give a final stomp to break them. Repeating the process with the other side and finally stomping on the Furies head.
Panting slightly, Naruko walked to stand in front of the beaten and broken Furies, seeing they were starting to recover slowly, screaming even more as their bodies tried healing themselves.
"Tell me, how does that feel? Does it hurt, do you want the pain to stop, do you want to simply crawl into a hole and die? Because that's how I've felt for the last five years! Five years, when you three helped hunt down and kill someone I love!" Naruko shouted, glaring at the Furies, her anger only growing as none of them seemed to have a hint of recognition at who she was or what she's talking about.
"B-be-be…b-be m-mo-mo-more…s-sp-specific…girl. W-we-we-we…have hu-hu-hunted m-ma-many o-of-of your kind…before…" Said Alecto, given they've been sent by Hades to hunt demigods several times, they never bothered caring who they are or what they looked like.
Only to regret her words, when Naruko grabbed her hands and forcefully bent them backwards, screeching as the whiskered demigod snapped her wrists. Not stopping their as she continuously rolled up Alecto's arms, breaking them further when she met resistance. Stopping once they reached her shoulders before letting the useless limbs unravel.
"Then you better start remembering! Me, her, and him, we were all there!" Naruko said, pointing to herself, Annabeth and Grover, angry that the Furies didn't even seem to remember them.
"I have only seen the satyr when tracking Poseidon's spawn!" Alecto shouted, recognizing Grover during her time undercover at Yancy Academy, screaming in pain when Naruko had her slammed into the ground and began stomping in her face.
"Five years ago! You were sent to hunt down a demigod! You hunted her, attacked her, tried killing her! Her and her friends, three other demigods and a satyr!" Yelled Naruko, glaring the Furies, all of them desperately trying to remember any demigods they had been sent after.
"Y-ye-yes! Yes, a demigod! A child of Zeus, we were sent to bring her to Lord Hades!" Megaera said, nodding her head with her sisters also nodding rapidly, now remembering who they were sent after five years ago.
"Her name is Thalia!" Naruko said, grabbing Megaera by her head and began slamming it into a tree.
"For two years, she was hunted by monsters just like you! She found and befriends three other demigods and looked after them, even when she had no obligation to! She gave her life so they could live!" Said Naruko, throwing Megaera onto the ground beside Alecto.
"The girl had to be hunted! Zeus had broken the Oath, retribution had to be delivered!" Tisiphone said, only for Naruko to glare murderously at her, gagging when the Uzumaki wrapped her around her throat.
Pulling Tisiphone close, Naruko slammed her fist into her face, grabbing her shackles and pulling her back to bury her knee into her chest.
"She was an innocent girl! She didn't ask to be born; she didn't ask to be Zeus's daughter! But your master didn't care, because he's too much of a coward to face his brother, himself! He had to go after Thalia! Even when she had nothing to do with it! And you three were happy to hunt her and her friends down, not caring if any of them died! But she was at least able to send two of you back to Tartarus before those one-eyed freaks killed her!" Naruko shouted, slamming her foot onto Tisiphone's back and began bending her, feeling her spine shatter even further under the pressure before smashing her head into the ground.
"H-ho-how…how do…y-yo-yo-you kn-know…wh-wh-what ha-happened?" Alecto said, having been the only one to survive Thalia fighting off the monster.
"I know because I watched it happen! I was there that night! Are you remembering now?!" Demanded Naruko, with the Furies looking at her before their eyes widened in shock, fear and horror.
"No…Oh No!" Screamed Alecto as they finally remembering Naruko, remembering the little girl who kept delaying them with magic.
That same little girl who now had them completely at her non-existent mercy.
"You remember? Good, because before I kill you three, I want you to know how long I've waited for this." Naruko said, drawing one of her daggers, much to the Furies growing horror at recognizing Stygian Iron.
"I'm sure you're familiar with Stygian Iron, then you also know any monsters killed with it has their essence either absorbed or destroyed by it. Meaning after today, there won't be any more Furies. It's almost a shame, since part of me wants you to be able to reform, so we could do this all over again the next time you reform. But for someone who's essentially immortal, there's probably nothing scarier than a permanent death." Said Naruko as she smiled at them darkly, eager at the chance to permanently erase them as the Furies' fear increasing dramatically at this, while Andromeda's, Annabeth's and Grover's eyes widened at this.
Making them shout even louder and struggle against their bindings, not believing how far Naruko was taking this. The Daughter of Athena soon began trying to reach her knife, having dropped it when Naruko bound them. . Andromeda saw this and began seeing where Riptide was, before struggling to reach it. Knowing they needed to stop the whiskered demigod from what she was about to do, from going too far. But also the fact she intended to permanently kill Hades's chief torturers, something the Lord of Dead definitely wouldn't take kindly to.
"But before that…let's have those wings shall we." Naruko said, going to Alecto first.
Stomping on the Furies back, Naruko grabbed both of her wings and held them together, before pressing the dagger against the base of them and began slowly cutting the wings off. Alecto screaming in pure pain and agony at the feeling of Stygian Iron slicing through her body. The feeling only being worse as Naruko was also pulling the wings as hard as she could, ripping them off just as much as she was cutting them.
Once she'd cut half way through the wings, Naruko grabbed them both before pressing down on Alecto's back while pulling them off. The Fury thrashing about and screeching, desperate to try and throw Naruko off. Until finally, Naruko gave one last pull and tore the wings from Alecto's back, much to the Furies' shock, pain, and horror at the loss of her wings.
"Two down, four to go. Who's next?" Naruko said, turning to the terrified and shaking Megaera and Tisiphone.
As Naruko moved to cut and pull off the wings of the remaining two Furies, all while Annabeth had managed to reach her knife before she furiously began cutting through the vines restraining her. With Andromeda soon grabbing Riptide as well, but was unable to move it to cut the vines. Before she got an idea and quickly searched for the cap, seeing where it was and moved it closer to her.
Once it was close enough, Andromeda carefully placed it on the tip of her sword, returning it to its pen form, before turning it around, aiming it at the vine around her ankles. Flicking the cap off, Andromeda sighed in relief as the blade emerged and sliced through the vines, allowing her to stand up. While Annabeth was able to soon free her hands and ripped the vines off of her face.
"We need to stop her, now!" Annabeth said, urgently as she cut away the vines on her legs before freeing Andromeda as well.
The girls then freed Grover, only for them to hear the Furies cry out again, looking to see Naruko rip the wings from Tisiphone's back as well.
"Well, as fun as this was and as much I'd love to continue, believe me, I've had plenty of time to think of ideas to make you beg for death, we still have a magic toy to locate and return. Though before you die, just know this wasn't for me, Annabeth, Grover or Luke. All of this…it was for Thalia." Said Naruko before lifting Alecto up and went to stab her in the chest.
But before Naruko could kill the Fury, she was suddenly grabbed and pulled back by Andromeda and Annabeth.
"Naruko don't!" Annabeth shouted as she and Andromeda pulled the struggling Uzumaki away.
"No! No, what're you doing?! They deserve it! Let me go!" Yelled Naruko, fighting against the two, with both girls being careful to keep her restrained.
"You want to kill them?! Fine! But not like this!" Said Andromeda before quickly covering Naruko's mouth, when she started saying a spell.
"Grover! Hold her, quickly!" Said Annabeth, with the satyr nodding as he quickly grabbed Naruko, pulling her away from the two demigods.
The Daughter of Hecate shouting and cursing them, while kicking her legs at Grover to force him to let her go, making the satyr bleat nervously as he did his best to hold her down. While Annabeth immediately threw her knife at the Furies, impaling Tisiphone's head and turning her into dust. Something that only angered Naruko further, that they were sending the Furies back to Tartarus, with her starting to slam her elbow into Grover's chest. Grunting at the strikes, but still refused to let the whiskered demigod go.
"I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm really sorry she did that." Andromeda said, running up to the remaining Furies.
"Just send us back already!" Said Alecto, desperate and pleading to get away from Naruko.
The Daughter of Poseidon nodded before slashing the Fury across the chest, turning her to dust as well, with Annabeth grabbing her knife and doing the same to Megaera. Much to their relief, only to find themselves tackled by an enraged Naruko.
"What did you do?! I had them, I finally had them! They would have been gone forever and you stopped me!" Naruko shouted glaring at the two, not believing they stopped her from killing the Furies permanently.
Only to be silenced by Annabeth, who punched Naruko across the face as she glared back at her. Knocking Naruko onto her back as she held her cheek, with the pain and shock dimming her anger somewhat as Andromeda and Grover helped her back onto her feet.
"We were saving your life! Are you so angry and obsessed with revenge that you couldn't even realize what would happen?! The Furies are Hades's chief torturers! Do you honestly think he'd let someone get away with killing them, permanently?!" Demanded Annabeth, trying to get Naruko to understand how dangerous and foolish that would be.
"I don't care what he'd think or do! If anything, I hope he'd even feel some pain at losing them!" Retorted Naruko, not caring what Hades would do when he found she killed the Furies.
"And what about Thalia?!" Annabeth yelled, making the Uzumaki freeze, much to the Daughter of Athena's relief.
"What would she think?! Seeing you like this, doing something like antagonizing Hades?! Torturing monsters for her?! You think she'd be happy?! Proud at what you're doing?! Not caring about your own life, if you're so ready to have the Lord of the Dead after you! Ready to make her sacrifice meaningless?!" Said Annabeth as she continued to verbally push her even more, with Naruko shaking at imagining what Thalia would do.
Knowing she'd likely be upset and would probably punch her even harder than Annabeth just did for doing something like this, before then trying to knock some sense into her. With Annabeth seeing that her words were getting to her, making her calm down before going up and hugging Naruko.
"You're angry, I know. I'm angry too, remembering what they did to her, feeling helpless and being unable to do anything. It might feel good to lash out and hurt them too, but it won't change anything. Thalia won't suddenly come back. The only thing you'll do is risk your own life and she wouldn't want that, let alone risking it for her." Annabeth said softly before going down to her knees when Naruko's legs gave out beneath her.
"I…I hate them…I hate them so much…I hate that they're still around…and she isn't…" Naruko muttered with tears in her eyes, while Annabeth nodding.
"Yeah, I hate it too, but it's why she sacrificed herself, so we could live even if she didn't. Thalia wanted us to survive, she wanted you to survive Naruko. And I don't want you dying either." Annabeth said, making Naruko look at her before turning Andromeda when she put a hand on her shoulder.
"I may not have known Thalia, but from what I've heard, Annabeth's right. She wouldn't want you risking your life for her. I know the feeling since my mom did everything she could to protect me, even putting up with Gabe to keep me safe and hidden, then sacrificing herself when the Minotaur was chasing us. She didn't leave and made sure I was safe. It makes you feel angry and useless at being unable to do anything, but we also can't endanger ourselves, otherwise their sacrifices won't mean anything." Said Andromeda, while knowing it was strange for her to say all that, given her intentions of wanting to get her mother back by confronting Hades, which is definitely dangerous,
Naruko looked between them before she began crying, unable to hold back her tears, with Annabeth and Andromeda hugging the Uzumaki.
'The last time Luke, Annabeth and I saw Naruko cry was when she first came out of her shock, from Thalia's death.' Grover thought solemnly as he stood by and watched as Andromeda and Annabeth comforted the sobbing daughter of Hecate.
So, what did you think, good. Yep we see Naruko talking to Thalia's tree, wanting to tell her everything that's been happening, before meeting up with the others and heading out on the quest. With things going the same as they get to Manhattan and take a bus, before the Furies also get on searching for Andromeda, leading to things changing as Naruko takes control of the bus driver and passengers, making the former speed up while the latter believe nothing is wrong. Something that worries Andromeda, Annabeth, and Grover at what Naruko is doing, while the Furies throw caution to the wind and try attacking, only for Naruko to have the driver smash into walls and cars, throwing them off balance. Then we see them manage to escape into the woods, with the Furies chasing after them, only for them to paralyzed and restrained by Naruko, but rather than kill them, she restrains Andromeda, Annabeth, and Grover as well, much to their shock. Before Naruko then proceeds to beat and torture the Furies, amplifying their pain receptors and beating them, along with making them remember her and what they did to Thalia, and her intentions to permanently kill them with her daggers, but not before she cuts off their wings. While Andromeda and Annabeth work to free themselves and stop Naruko, knowing Hades wouldn't take kindly to losing his chief torturers, managing to free themselves and stop Naruko just as she's about to kill the Furies. Finally we see Annabeth getting through to Naruko on what would happen if she killed the Furies and that Thalia wouldn't want her to do it, with her and Andromeda comforting Naruko, allowing her and Annabeth to begin mending their friendship as well. So, for those that like the story, thanks for your support. For those that don't or at least don't like the direction taken, you're more than welcomed to drop the story. But thanks for giving the story a chance anyway.
Storm out