Parodos: Strophê (IV)
Disclaimer: I own neither properties
A/N: For the "Tale of the Otherworldly Heroes" part, it's Zeus' bedtime story from the prologue. While the tale is a biased and distorted retelling from Zeus' POV, it's still relatively accurate for the purpose of this story. It's just to help fill in some blanks of past events.
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- / Bell / -
After his grandparents had finally passed out of view, what felt like a brick had suddenly whacked him across his head.
"Owww! Geez, what was that for?" He pouted before noticing the harisen that she held to her hip. 'And where did you even get that thing?!'
Yet, he was shocked when only a bubbly and mischievous grin greeted him. After seeing this sight, his nerves had relaxed despite the lingering sting.
While her mature public facade always makes him trip over himself, this was the true Cyd he had fallen in love with. The one who had reached his closed-off heart and uplifted his spirit from way back then...
He was shaken out of his reverie by the sound of her voice. "You know what you did. Just because your grandfather is a useless, good-for-nothing lech who can't even- ...ahem. Just don't flip him off in front of maman's church, m'kay? She would've blown a gasket on both of us if she had seen that. It makes it look like you've got no upbringing, ya know?"
He merely waved her off. 'Eh, I'm sure Nana would've made an exception this time.'
Before he could actually voice these thoughts, though, she whispered, "Besides, my children are watching, Bell~."
"W-what!?"
Immediately after she said that the church doors swung wide open, and a sea of faces swarmed him to the ground. "Big brother!"
Yet, he couldn't help but laugh along as his pseudo-siblings dogpiled his back and pulled at his arms for his attention. "It's been a while, huh guys? Mngh... gee, some of you sure got kinda heavy too!"
The only two that set themselves apart were the twins, Leo and Ito. Speaking of upbringing, those two were way more well-behaved and overtly polite than he ever was. They stood quietly at the top of the stairs, content with just waving down at him for now.
Overall, they made him look pretty bad in comparison considering their faces. As unlike the car with the rest of the orphans, most strangers would probably assume that were his little brothers. It was only the slight difference of their long, braided white hair and wine-colored eyes that truly set them apart from him.
Feeling a pull on his pant leg, he looked to see a pair of blue eyes staring eagerly up at him. "It must've been so cool up there!"
Another echoed from his back, "Yeah! You looked like a superhero!"
At this, he couldn't help but puff up his chest and raise his head proudly. Although like all things usually are, his brief arrogance was quickly grounded back into reality.
"Come on, Bell-nii, tell us 'bout it! Were you scared? Didja freak out?"
"Uhhhhhh..." Immediately, his chicken-hearted, high-pitched screams echoed loudly in his mind. With his crying occupying more than half of the flight, he didn't want to tell the truth and sound super lame. But, on the other hand, he'd always been such a piss poor liar. What to do...?
"Bell? I'm hungry." Oh, thank the goddess! Leave it to an empty stomach to get him out of a potentially embarrassing conversation!
"Ooh, ooh, me too! I'm tired of eating matzo and water all the time! I want Moussaka!"
"Easy! Is that all?" He was always forced to cook at home, so having to make dinner sounded a lot easier than fessing up the truth.
"Nooo! Make burgers and hot chips!"
"Sure, no problem!"
"Um...how about Manti with yogurt sauce?"
'Does the kitchen even have the ingredients for that?'
"Lou Fassum!"
"H-hey, wait! Don't we have enough?!"
"Duck Pâté em Croûte!"
'What the heck is even that?!'
Thankfully, that's when he was saved by the interference of Leo and Ito, who stepped forward to take leadership. The two alternate between each other with that odd, twin-speak. "Quuuuuiet! All of you! Stop wasting brother bell's time by fighting amongst yourselves-"
He wasn't afraid to admit that he got a bit teary-eyed as he became filled with overwhelming relief. 'Lil guys... you're the best. That's why you're my fav-'
"-When we could get him to make a bit of everything, plus dessert! Let us have a grand feast fit for kings!"
Whatever joy he was feeling was immediately stamped out when all the kids unanimously hummed and cheered in agreement.
"W-what?! No! Have mercy!" The duo merely smirked down at him response and blew a raspberry to his pleas. "You two were supposed to save me! Not make things worse!"
Oh, wait, the sense of déjà vu and cosmic karma was just now hitting him. It didn't make him feel any less upset about it though.
"Now, heave-ho, everyone! Bring him onwards and upwards to our salvation!" Then, he felt tiny hands wrap around his leg before roughly dragging him past the foreboding oak doors.
Looking back at Cyd for help, she only gave him a wink and a 'hand-sword' apology. Even she it seems, wasn't immune to the temptation of a Cranel-prepared meal. "Even you, Cyd? ...Traitors! You three are traaaaaitors!"
- X o X -
Yet, looking at all their happy and excited faces, he didn't have the heart to be truly upset. Just like his papa, he was always weak to seeing people smile.
Besides, he's probably just over-stressing things. How bad could it really be?
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Oh, goddess! After tonight, he's going to avoid the village for at least a year! Getting to see Cyd be damned!
His clothes were drenched in sweat, his limbs felt like mush, and he was foaming at the mouth a bit.
Thankfully, he got a chance to breathe once the sun began to set. Bless the goddess that he was able to convince them to tone down the dinner menu. He would have died if he had to keep slaving away in that hot kitchen. He should've realized that not getting patched up earlier would bite him in the butt.
Sometimes he wonders if his papa must've been some mad saint to love cooking like this every day.
- X o X -
As he watched Cyd tuck them all in, he used the brief reprieve to massage his poor, aching hands. Judging by their still wild behavior, though, not even a full belly was good enough to carry them into Hypnos' realm.
He almost whimpered when Cyd sent a pleading gaze in his direction. His part of the job is already over, and he still has his work cut out for him! Guess it's true about there never being any rest for the weary.
...On the other hand, he supposes an exception could be made this time. For this was actually a situation that was right up his alley; breaking out a good bedtime story!
Which he knew Cyd was unfortunately god awful at doing; in both her theming and pageantry. Goddess bless her heart for trying, though!
So, after a deep (secretly excited) sigh, he called upon an extraordinary tale from within his heart. One he typically treasured only to himself, except for a few scant occasions.
'The Tale of the Otherworldly Heroes.'
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He had silently grinned from seeing their faces fill with baited awe from beginning to end.
"…with the world finally at peace and their promises fulfilled, the two legends left to parts unknown. Both had tired of the endless adventures and the big city. As all they ever wished was a simple retirement into a long life of quiet obscurity."
Looking around the room, though, it seemed even the ending wasn't enough to get them slightly drowsy.
'You have to be kidding me. How did grandpa always get me to fall asleep when I was like this?'
...oh, that's right. A sudden flash of light blinded him before waking to a lump on his head the next day.
Well, that's obviously not an option.
'...Hmm, I suppose it's time to break out the ol' Cyd tried and true then; giving them such a scare that it'd force them to fall sleep!'
Taking a brief pause, he recalled the story's actual conclusion. One that his grandpa had solemnly revealed when he thought he was old enough to appreciate it.
"...But, for heroes as great as them, life could never be so simple for them. As once again, the two heroes were called to answer a perilous quest. One that none could have succeeded — The Hunt of the One-Eyed Black Dragon."
He leaned in towards them and brought a lit candle to his face. The room's shadows seemingly encroached upon their beds and choked them in its frigid embrace.
"For this monster wasn't of flesh alone. It was a Beast of Calamity, a conceptual manifestation of man's evil, wrath, and corruption. If it ever breached the surface again, it would tear the lands asunder and rain death upon all life; man and god alike. As even the greatest heroes of ages past could do nothing but leave shallow scars across the beast's skin.
"So, what hope did any mere adventurer have when this creature awoke once more from its iron prison?"
- X o X -
"B-but, brother bell! They were finally the ones to beat it, though! ...r-right?" Leo interrupted, which was soon mimicked by the rest.
But he shook his head with a forlorn expression before blowing away the flame. Looking at the smoke trails drifting away, he felt his heart strangely ache.
From the blown candlewick, soft embers danced to a final serenade. The room now illuminated in a full glow by their flickering forms.
- X o X -
"...No. In an act of unforgivable betrayal, their gods had knowingly sent them to their inevitable deaths in that cold, merciless dungeon. For the sacrifice of the few was needed to save the many.
"Yet, even with all their power, the two heroes knew that there was only one way they could ever hope to stop this monstrosity; to trap it in the deepest reaches of the dungeon's unholy womb.
"And so they did, joined by the best and brightest their combined Familias' had to offer. With unwavering bravery, they endured attacks that could flay skin from bone and rend soul from body.
"Yet, one by one, all eventually fell until only Maxim and Meteria were left to face that horror.
"In the end, it wasn't a blade that grounded it, but a brilliant light of salvation that skewered through the wicked beast.
"However... even that wasn't enough. Despite their desperate blow, it had already began reconstituting itself from its obliterated skeletal remains. For it was a daemon of the apocalypse, wholly immortalized by endless hatred.
"And Maxim knew this well. With his last breaths, he materialized the full fury of his inner world upon the dungeon. In that act, he forever entombed the three in the deepest pits of the dungeon so that the world above would never again fear the Beast's wrath.
"Thus, the tale of the otherworldly heroes had ended with a lonesome, Pyrrhic victory in that Labyrinth of Forgotten Souls."
- X o X -
Despite the seeming finality of it, the story wasn't quite over just yet. There was still a second part that his grandpa had bitterly told him.
Which was entirely understandable in hindsight. As the endings altogether had never settled well with him.
- X o X -
"From their entitled thrones, Orario's council of gods raised cheers over the telling battle. Yet, many of them quickly began to conspire in the dark. For the loss of the two most cherished and strongest adventurers couldn't be hidden from the public for long. Nor could they reveal the dreaded apocalypse that closely dwelled underfoot.
"So, despite all the sacrifices he made for them, the council condemned the sky father to further suffering. For the crime of killing his entire Familia, Zeus would be banished to wander the outer lands forever. Furthermore, his name was now stricken and cursed by all who had worshipped the Savior-Heroes of Orario.
"In her self-imposed exile, Hera had joined him as well; followed by the remnants of her aimless Familia.
"The death of their beloved daughter/sister haunted them to a grief-stricken stupor. As the sight of Orario, Home of Heroes, was too painful to bear."
- X o X -
After seeing all their miserable and sorrowful faces, he instantly felt a little apprehensive and regretful. Perhaps he had gone a bit too far.
With Cyd gripping his shoulder, he cringed from the feeling of her cold stare pierce his back. Oh, c'mon, she's acting like she hasn't told worse stories than this!
...Although, his shoulders soon slacked as he let out a sigh. No, he had to take sole responsibility for this one. Papa always taught him that it was only right to clean up the messes you make for yourself. And this was most definitely his fault.
Besides! He was never one to like stories with needlessly dour and tragic endings.
So, it's a good thing that his awful lying doesn't extend to being unable to bullshit an already fake story.
- X o X -
"It wasn't all for naught, though. In their final act of love for humanity, they preserved a beautiful world for the children of tomorrow.
"Their spirits continue to watch over us, pushing us to raise up our fellow man and strive for greater heights.
"To all of us who live on, we should never forget the sacrifices of the three hundred either. For they braved their fears and weaknesses against an unstoppable apocalypse. May they forever be hailed as the world's last and finest heroes.
"From the mythical Kaios-Basilisk to the lowly lamias of the labyrinth, all who slither and prey on humanity shall learn to truly fear the might of mortals!"
Looking around, he quietly sighed in relief. Peering over at Cyd, he felt a little worry creep in. She seemed lost in thought or dazed, with a deep frown marking her face.
Thankfully, it quickly vanished after she noticed the symphony of quiet snores that reverberated throughout the room.
When she stayed behind to kiss them goodnight, he instead walked upstairs.
He had a task that was long overdue to be finally taken care of.
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Author's Note:
Hopefully, Zeus' complete tale acted as a believable explanation/info dump of why he's out in the boonies, and why the Orario gods have a beef with him.
It also ties to why everyone is so excited about news of Shirou and Illya's survival from Periphas' arrival.
Since I assume that the Zeus Familia was the more combat-oriented one, that's the reason why they got entirely wiped out in my story. Additionally, only Alfia and a few others would have left to join them. That's why a majority of Hera's Familia is still alive.
- X o X -
Leo and Ito are just shorthand for Kleobis and Biton (Cydippe's actual children in myth).
- X o X -
Until next time, Peace Out.