Authors Note: Guess which fic has come out of the coma! It's been a long time, but shenanigans has finally been updated. I'm not happy with myself for putting this in the back burner, but I'm definitely going to start doing substantial updates for this fic. So enjoy the newest chapter!
Chapter 3: Tremors lead to fateful meetings
Takes place between chapter 4 and 5
"What's the time." Ares asked with a yawn.
"Hmm, its ten in the morning. And didn't you ask me this question like half an hour ago?" Athena asked.
Ares shrugged. "I don't know, I don't keep track of how many hours has gone by. How long does it take for a kid to change anyway."
"Well, seeing that Perseus is a kid as you so eloquently put it, he's going to take some time." Athena replied. "Why don't you go help him if you're felling antsy.
Ares snorted. "I am not going to help the runt put clothes on. Ask me to make the kid to do laps or pull a rock with his waist, and I'll gladly do it."
"You and your brutal thoughts." Athena muttered.
"As if you don't have brainy thoughts bouncing inside your head every single day!" Ares shot back.
"I'm ready!" Perseus called out, climbing down the stairs one at a time. "Can I have some help here please?"
"Aw, is little Perseus climbing down the stairs with his wittle feet. How cute." Ares said, his tone filled with mock sweetness.
"Ha ha, very funny. And I'm not little, I'm five! Athena, can you please help me?" Perseus asked.
"No Athena, don't you dare pick him up, please just let him- oh come on. You really are no fun to hang out with." Ares said with a sigh.
Athena rolled her eyes. "We are on a schedule Ares, there's no time to waste. And wear something nice and formal, we are meeting the lord of the underworld for a diplomatic meeting."
"But this is formal. The best armor I have with me right now." Ares replied, pride evident in his voice. Athena stared at the numerous dents, blood stains, and the big tear across mid-section and then let out a sigh. Arguing with him anyway wouldn't do any good.
"No complaints, good." Ares said with a grin. "Come on kid, move it. We need to drop you off to our dead uncle."
"Uncle Hades can't die." Perseus said, rushing ahead to open the door. "He's immotal."
"Immortal, Perseus. And hold my hand, I don't want you running off."
The trio of gods then went outside, two of them basking in the sunlight while Perseus visibly winced. They passed by Demeter who gave them a wave, and had soon reached a slope. Perseus had left Athena's hand by then, interested at a passing butterfly.
"Psst, Athena."
"Now what."
"Wouldn't it be fun if we left Perseus on top here, and had to watch him slowly walk down the slope."
"First of all, we're on a schedule. Second, while it may be funny, that is also mean. So no."
"Come on owl head, please? I'm even begging here. Look, I will promise on our father that I will give you any spear you want from my collection. Your pick, you just...pick."
Athena raised an eyebrow. "Any spear?" she asked. On seeing Ares's nod, she then grinned. "Alright then, let's do it."
The two gods then flashed away, immediately materializing at the bottom of the hill. Perseus was oblivious of what had just transpired, and only noticed that Athena and Ares were missing a few minutes later. He rushed to the edge of the slope, and peeked down to find the two gods grinning up at him.
"This is unfair, I can't walk down by myself!" Perseus cried out.
"You have to develop those feet someday kid, now is the perfect time." Ares yelled back.
Perseus muttered something under his breath as he slowly stepped forward on to the slope. He continued to do this, his feet slightly wobbling as he slowly made his way down.
"Best prank ever." Ares barked out.
"I won't say it's the 'best'. But I'm telling you now, if he falls and hurts himself, I'm blaming you to Hestia." Athena said with a smile.
"...You're not planning to get me into trouble are you." Ares cautiously asked.
Athena merely smiled. "I get my pick of a spear, and you get landed in trouble. What more can I ask for?" she replied, making Ares gulp. It took a while, but Perseus had managed to make his way to the bottom, with only a scraped palm.
"Hiya champ, how was your walk today?" Ares asked with a grin.
"I really hate you guys." Perseus said, sticking out his tongue.
"So cranky. Relax Perseus." Athena said, ruffling Perseus's hair.
"Do you want nectar and some string cheese for your hard work?" Ares asked, placing his hand on Perseus's shoulder.
"...Do you really have those?" Perseus tentatively asked, making Ares roll his eyes and Athena to shake her head. The group then flashed from Olympus, and emerged into the front gates of Hades's palace. Perseus immediately felt at ease as he took in the gloomy cavern and sighed in content, while Ares and Athena had immediately tensed up, and were on high alert.
"Why would someone want to rule this place anyway. Couldn't a nice unchecked private island be much better to keep the dead in." Ares muttered.
"But there are islands with dead people." Perseus said, pointing at the distance. "See, that's where the Isles of the Blest are."
"I didn't mean that kid."
"What do we have here? Look sisters, beautiful sacrifices in the form of Zeus's children." a voice said above. The gods looked up to see three flying old women with leathery bat wings, flying in circles. One of the flying women, the leader probably, descended own, a ravenous smile on her face.
"What brings you here Zeus's spawn? I doubt this is a morning stroll."
Ares's feet wobbled as he brandished his sword, while Athena nervously cleared her throat. "Fury." she said.
"Hi Alecto! Is your arm better, I hope it's better because then you will be alright." Perseus chirped brightly.
Alecto smiled. "It's healing nicely, thank you for your kind words Perseus."
"Uh...our father sent us down here to have a few words with Lord Hades. This is a diplomatic meeting." Athena stated. "And, we're here to drop Perseus for his weekly training."
"Hmm, I know about the training but not of the meeting." Alecto replied, licking her lips. She then cocked her head to the side as if she was listening to someone and then sighed. "Now I know of the meeting. Our lord has granted permission for you to enter. You may pass."
"Thank you." Athena said quickly, ushering and dragging Perseus and Ares respectively to the inside of the palace. They soon reached Hades's throne room, where the aforementioned god was, at his full height and peering down at his visitors.
"Lord Hades, it is my pleasure to meet you here at your realm." Athena said formally, she and Ares bowing down. Perseus stared at the two of them weirdly, and then ay Hades who winked in response.
"Rise, niece and nephew. Tell me what your father wants from me. Perseus, you can run along now, but stay on this floor. You can go to the forge if you want to."
"Thanks Uncle Hades! Bye Athena and Ares, see you both later." Perseus shouted, rushing out of the room.
"Wait! Uncle, you can't make him run around without supervision, especially here-"
"He will be fine niece; I have my attendants watching over him." Hades said nonchalantly.
"Oh, and ignore any sudden movements that may happen here. For all we know; Gaia might be tossing and turning right now today. Now, give me the reasons of your visit."
Perseus was running down the hallways, dodging ghosts and skeleton guards as he sped up. He rarely got to be alone, so he was definitely going to savor this moment. He had finally reached the forges, where he slowly opened the door and peeked inside. There was no one in the room, which Perseus found it weird as it was always occupied by someone, even a servant.
"Maybe it's break time." Perseus thought as he stepped inside. There was a large furnace burning with regular and greek fire, and an entire wall filled with different tools hanging side by side. Perseus was going to pick up a random tool when he noticed a bot filled with lava. He went to peek inside it, but couldn't make out what was inside. He contemplated if he should stick his head inside to see what was in (his mother did control fire, and lava was water fire according to him) when he felt the ground slightly shake beneath him. Not knowing what was going on, he went for the door in order to get out of the room, but before he could reach it, a large piece of rock from the room feel down, blocking Perseus from the door. He backed away, not noticing a large hammer hanging above him slowly lose its binds. Another slight tremor swept through, releasing the hammer from its binds as it started to fall down right where Perseus was standing. Perseus then felt his body tingling and looked around, wondering what was going on. His vision suddenly blurred as he felt something pass through him. A clanging noise was then heard making Perseus jump and he then stared at the source of the sound. Lying on the ground was a long metal pole, with one end seemingly burnt and sizzling. Perseus frowned as he stared at the pole, but then felt something shift through his hair. He touched the top of his head, and immediately recoiled as he felt something dusty on top of it.
"Ew!" Perseus cried as he stared at his hand. His inner palm was coated with a thick layer of silvery grey, dust like substance. Perseus began brushing the dust off his hair, but it seemed to make the situation worse as there seemed to be a lot of it. "Where did all of this come from?" He thought as he climbed up the piece of rock blocking the door, and then pushed the door out open. He scrambled out, once again running through the hallways as he tried to find a water source in order to wash the mess on his head. Perseus then reached a doorway which led outside, and that was where Perseus heard some distant gurgling sounds. Linking that to the sound of water, he then stepped outside, and made his way into gateway, decorated with glass flowers of different colors and sizes.
"This place is on the same floor which I'm supposed to be on, so I'm not going to be in any trouble." Perseus thought as he walked in. The place was like a maze really, with winding hedges all decorated with the same glass-colored flowers. Perseus even spied some small statues critters made out of glass, with sounds coming out of it that were reminiscent of its mortal world counterparts. The gurgling noises became louder and louder, and soon enough, Perseus had reached a clearing where a small waterfall was emptying out its contents into a pond. Perseus noticed a big pomegranate tree planted at the bank of the lake, filled with ripe fruit and there were even little glass birds perched on its branches, singing a tune. It looked like the perfect picnic spot, even if it was down in the underworld.
"Finally found it." Perseus muttered, leaning forward at the lake. He then dunked his head inside, and began scrubbing his hair. After a few minutes, Perseus removed himself from the water, and glanced at his reflection to see that the dust had been fully removed from his head. Perseus grinned as he slowly got up, and then made his way out of the clearing. It was only when he entered the hedged path that he realized something. This was a maze. And he didn't know how to go back.
"No no no." Perseus muttered as he tried to navigate his way through the maze, but failed miserably. He contemplated if he should call for the Furies for help (and possibly bribe them by not telling Uncle Hades about this if he did break a rule) when he tripped on a rock and fell down. Perseus winced as he felt a slight pain on his knee, and then slowly got up. He wondered if he should try a different route from the initial clearing and soon enough, reached the same clearing by listening to the gurgling noises again. He was just going to leave through another route when he felt twigs snap behind him. Someone else was there with him in the maze.
Perseus turned around, and fell on the ground as he stumbled back. Just ahead of him was figure wearing a red hood and a wool robe. She had a basket in her hand, which was filled to the brim with weeds and tulips.
"Hello there young one." the figure called out, pulling her hood down. The figure was a middle-aged woman with bright red hair, and a motherly look on her face. She tilted her head to the side as she regarded Perseus. Her eyes slowly widened as she continued to stare at Perseus.
"Huh, I recognize those features anywhere." the woman mumbled. "You seem to be hurt, and wet. Do you need my help in anyway?"
"I don't know, I don't really know you miss." Perseus said slowly.
The woman smiled. "I can't tell you my name now sadly, but I promise you that I don't mean any harm." the woman said, taking out a bottle form her robes. She then produced a thick green paste, which she slowly applied on Perseus's knee. She then snapped her fingers, making Perseus's clothes and hair ruffle and immediately dry itself.
"There, you might feel a bit cold everywhere, but the feeling will go soon enough. See, the wound has healed."
"Woah, it actually did." Perseus said with awe. "How did you make that? And how did you make it heal my knee?"
"Well...if I told you the ingredients, you would probably vomit. And explaining how the paste works will be too difficult for you to comprehend young one." the woman replied.
"I can compehend." Perseus said.
"Comprehend. So, what were you doing in these gardens anyway?"
"I was finding something to wash my hair. Something weird came on it."
"Weird huh? Well, you never know what you find in Hades's palace. Come, I'll drop you off just outside the entrance. I'm sure whoever was with you must have been worried." the woman replied.
"What's in the basket?" Perseus asked.
"Some ingredients to make my potions. Nothing special. Why are you here young one?"
"I came to learn some cool tricks with my shadow powers. I would like to show you, but I'm not really good with them."
"Shadow powers huh." the woman mused. "Very interesting. Well, once you get better at them, then you can show me one time, alright?"
"Of couse!" Perseus said with a grin. "Wait, I mean 'course'."
"You have to work on that pronunciation young one."
The two continued their walk in the maze, until they reached the same doorway which Perseus came from. Perseus grinned on seeing the familiar door and ran ahead, only to halt in his place.
"Are you not coming?" Perseus asked.
The woman smiled. "Not today young one. I may not see you again for a while, but this won't be the last time we meet."
"Really?" Perseus asked. The woman nodded and then put her hand out.
"I feel like I should give you something in return for helping me, but I'm not sure what." Perseus mumbled.
"That's alright, you don't have to give me anything." the woman said with a laugh. "Now come on, don't leave me hanging."
"Hmm." Perseus mused, glancing around. His eyes momentarily widened as he rushed to a hedge, and then returned, a single red poppy in his hand.
"Here you go miss. It even matches with your hair." Perseus said brightly.
"Oh this is beautiful." the woman said, inhaling the scent of the flower. "I will make sure to treasure it. Now, I believe you have a handshake to return."
"Oh yeah." Perseus said, extending his arm, wondering if a flower would be enough for the help. Suddenly, Perseus's eyes blurred again as he felt his skin tingle once more. The woman grasped Perseus's hand and shook it once, but then slightly recoiled and then flicked her wrist.
"That's a good grip you got there." the woman said with a chuckle. "A bit tight heh."
"My head felt weird." Perseus muttered. "But I'm alright now." he said.
"You sure? You do look fine. Well, I have to get going young one, so take care of yourself. I will see you around, Lykofós Perseus."
Perseus's eyes widened on hearing his full name, but before he could say anything the woman disappeared in a billow of mist. Perseus stared dumbly at the spot where the woman disappeared, wondering where she had gone too. He then heard distinct shouts calling his name, and immediately rushed inside the place. Good thing he wasn't soaking wet, there was no way he could make up an excuse for that since Hades never bothered to mention where the washrooms were.
And that's a wrap! I must say, I'm actually quite happy with how this chapter turned out, definitely enjoyed writing it. Now I'm not going to say when the next update is going to come, but you guys can definitely expect another one this month itself. And if you guys have already guessed what may have happened during Perseus's and the woman's interaction, then awesome! If not, don't worry, I will reference and explain it later in Cradle of Olympus. Thank you guys for reading, and I will see you guys in another day. Bye!...\/