The Trials of Friendship
By: Shlee Verde
Summary: This takes place after the finale of season 2. Its AU; I never really liked how the authors of the show took that story line. So this is my version of the season 3 premiere. Enjoy! And as always in my stories - there is no slash: Tommy and Merton are just good friends. Sorry for those of you who like that stuff.
The Trials of Friendship
Chapter 4 (the real one - I miss labeled the last chapter. Ooops.)
"Your sister?!" Tommy hissed. His voice was a mixture of stunned disbelief and anger. Anger that Euryale had to admit was justified.
"Yes. I am one of the immortal granddaughters of Gaia, the Mother Earth. Medusa may have been my sister, but I am here to help you Tommy Dawkins."
"You want to help me when I helped cause your sister's death?" Tommy asked, suspiciously.
Euryale was quiet for a long moment. Then she spoke quietly, "Medusa was my sister, and I may have loved her once, a long time ago. But I do not remember a time in my long life when I did not resent what she did to mortal humans. Being turned into an ugly creature by Athena corrupted her mind and made her bitter. After she looked as a monster, she became a monster. By seducing men and turning them to stone, she tainted the reputation of the Gorgons. Now people believe us all to be horrible monsters, who kill people for pleasure. But my other sister and I are not. All Sthenno, and I want is to be left to our own devices, away from the mortal world. But Medusa did not. She wanted to feel loved, as she once was, so she did the unspeakable things that she did - seducing men and then killing them. In involving herself in the mortal realm, killing someone who was definitely not meant to be killed, she has forced me to become involved as well."
Tommy nodded. "What about your other sister?"
"Sthenno, while she does not condone Medusa's action, she does not wish to become involved in mortal affairs. But I am Euryale - 'the far- roaming' - and I truly want to help you Tommy Dawkins. You must at least trust me in this."
Tommy did not know why or when it had happened. But as he looked into her unfathomable black eyes, he realized that he did trust Euryale to help him get Merton back. She really did want to help. He nodded. "All right, I'll trust you. So now what do we do?"
Euryale nodded in approval. "As I said before, Medusa killed someone who definitely should not have been killed. Merton Dingle. All her other victims had no great place in the passing of time and the running of the world. But your friend did. I fear with his death that many destinies will now change forever. Yours. Lori Baxter's. Maybe even more people's destinies then we can possibly imagine."
Tommy blinked in surprise. "Merton has that big a role in things? I mean, he means the world to me, but I never thought of him as holding my fate in his hands..how can so much rest on his shoulders?"
Euryale looked at him. "But didn't you know Tommy Dawkins? Would you have been able to do the good deeds that you do without Merton Dingle's help? Would you be standing here today if he did not sacrifice his life for yours? You both are..... 'men of action', as you put it. You fight for the greater good. I can not tell you Merton Dingle's exact role in the workings of the world, but I will tell you this. He must live through this; it is imperative. I can not tell you why, so do not ask. But he must live. And you must not tell him of his fate. For if he knew, it could also have ill effects. Trust me in this, Tommy Dawkins."
Tommy blinked, trying to absorb the cryptic information. This was too much to take in at once, and he didn't really understand everything - just that he needed to save Merton and that he couldn't tell his best friend anything about his fate. Well, that would be easy enough. He already knew that he needed to save Merton..and he couldn't tell him what he didn't really get himself.
Tommy nodded. "Okay, so what do we do?"
Euryale paused. "I do not really know for sure. No one who has died has been successfully taken out of the Underworld before. But there is a first time for everything, I suppose."
"Wait! Merton was taken to your Underworld?"
"Of course, he was. He was killed by the Greek granddaughter of the greatest Earth goddess that ever existed. It is only natural that he descends to the Greek Underworld."
"Descend? You mean he went to hell?!"
"My Underworld is not like your heaven and hell. The Underworld exists as a whole below the sphere of the Earth. There are three realms that exist there: The Islands of the Blessed, The Elysian Fields, and Tartarus. The Islands of the Blessed and The Elysian Fields are like your version of heaven: The Islands holding those who are like...saints, I suppose. The Fields holds those who have done ordinary good in their ordinary life. And Tartarus is your version of hell, reserved for the worst of sinners. Hades, the Lord of the Dead, determines which soul is sent where."
"Ooookay. Whatever." Tommy said, obviously the Greek deities liked everything to be a little more complicated, well complicated enough that he didn't understand. He wished for the umpteenth time that Merton was here; his friend would explain all this stuff in a way he could get it. At least, Merton would explain it a couple of times until he could get it. Of course, if Merton was here, he wouldn't have to worry about this at all.
"So..what is the best way to get to the Underworld?"
Euryale blinked once. "Dying."
Tommy rolled his eyes. "I figured THAT part out all by myself thanks. How are WE going to get there?"
Euryale didn't answer. She walked over to where Medusa's statue had once stood. Then she shouted, "HERMES!!!"
To Tommy's great surprise, a small being wearing winged sandals and a messenger cap, appeared right in front of her, hovering about a three feet off the ground. "What IS it? You don't have to shout," the creature said with exasperation.
Euryale motioned to herself and Tommy, "Take us to the Underworld. NOW."
Hermes shook his head. "I can't do that. It would be breaking the rules, you know."
Euryale's eyes narrowed. "Can not. Or WILL not."
Hermes said, "Will not. I could very well carry you and your wolf friend there. But you are both very much alive, and Hades will kill me if I take you there."
"Hermes, you are a god. You can not be killed."
"You know what I mean, Euryale."
Euryale nodded. Then she spoke, "Hermes, where is Medusa's body?"
Tommy blinked. THAT was a little off topic. But he could see that Euryale knew what she was doing so he kept his mouth shut.
"I took it to the Underworld"
Euryale gave a humorless smile. "No. You took her soul to the Underworld. Where is her body? The statue?" She paused. "You took it to Poseidon, correct?"
Hermes gasped, "You think that I would take her to that sick bastard?"
"For the right price, yes. And when Gaia finds out..."
"You wouldn't tell her."
"Yes, I would. You know that all my sisters are telepathically connected to our grandmother. I'm blocking her now. But all I have to do is say it in my head, and she will know. But if you do as I ask, take us to the Underworld and back, I will not do anything to hint Gaia before you move it. And you WILL move it, Hermes."
Hermes sighed, "ALL RIGHT. But you will have to explain this Hades. And pay Charon yourself."
As Tommy watched, the god and the gorgon began to be surrounded by a white light. Euryale extended her hand to him. "Come, Tommy Dawkins. We go to the Underworld."
"I'm coming, Merton", he whispered.
Then he took her hand.
TBC
A/N: Hello again. Sorry about the delay, classes have been crazy lately. I will not update for at the very least two or three weeks. I have finals (AAAAH!) next week and the week after that is X-Mas. I will try my very hardest to update over break - I have a whole month - so I should at least make some good headway in the story. Thanks to my reviewers, I love you guys so much. Oh, all the Underworld stuff is pure fact. And Hermes is the god that takes souls to the Underworld. I will explain Charon in the next chapter. Keep reviewing. Merry Christmas everyone. More later. Love, Verde
By: Shlee Verde
Summary: This takes place after the finale of season 2. Its AU; I never really liked how the authors of the show took that story line. So this is my version of the season 3 premiere. Enjoy! And as always in my stories - there is no slash: Tommy and Merton are just good friends. Sorry for those of you who like that stuff.
The Trials of Friendship
Chapter 4 (the real one - I miss labeled the last chapter. Ooops.)
"Your sister?!" Tommy hissed. His voice was a mixture of stunned disbelief and anger. Anger that Euryale had to admit was justified.
"Yes. I am one of the immortal granddaughters of Gaia, the Mother Earth. Medusa may have been my sister, but I am here to help you Tommy Dawkins."
"You want to help me when I helped cause your sister's death?" Tommy asked, suspiciously.
Euryale was quiet for a long moment. Then she spoke quietly, "Medusa was my sister, and I may have loved her once, a long time ago. But I do not remember a time in my long life when I did not resent what she did to mortal humans. Being turned into an ugly creature by Athena corrupted her mind and made her bitter. After she looked as a monster, she became a monster. By seducing men and turning them to stone, she tainted the reputation of the Gorgons. Now people believe us all to be horrible monsters, who kill people for pleasure. But my other sister and I are not. All Sthenno, and I want is to be left to our own devices, away from the mortal world. But Medusa did not. She wanted to feel loved, as she once was, so she did the unspeakable things that she did - seducing men and then killing them. In involving herself in the mortal realm, killing someone who was definitely not meant to be killed, she has forced me to become involved as well."
Tommy nodded. "What about your other sister?"
"Sthenno, while she does not condone Medusa's action, she does not wish to become involved in mortal affairs. But I am Euryale - 'the far- roaming' - and I truly want to help you Tommy Dawkins. You must at least trust me in this."
Tommy did not know why or when it had happened. But as he looked into her unfathomable black eyes, he realized that he did trust Euryale to help him get Merton back. She really did want to help. He nodded. "All right, I'll trust you. So now what do we do?"
Euryale nodded in approval. "As I said before, Medusa killed someone who definitely should not have been killed. Merton Dingle. All her other victims had no great place in the passing of time and the running of the world. But your friend did. I fear with his death that many destinies will now change forever. Yours. Lori Baxter's. Maybe even more people's destinies then we can possibly imagine."
Tommy blinked in surprise. "Merton has that big a role in things? I mean, he means the world to me, but I never thought of him as holding my fate in his hands..how can so much rest on his shoulders?"
Euryale looked at him. "But didn't you know Tommy Dawkins? Would you have been able to do the good deeds that you do without Merton Dingle's help? Would you be standing here today if he did not sacrifice his life for yours? You both are..... 'men of action', as you put it. You fight for the greater good. I can not tell you Merton Dingle's exact role in the workings of the world, but I will tell you this. He must live through this; it is imperative. I can not tell you why, so do not ask. But he must live. And you must not tell him of his fate. For if he knew, it could also have ill effects. Trust me in this, Tommy Dawkins."
Tommy blinked, trying to absorb the cryptic information. This was too much to take in at once, and he didn't really understand everything - just that he needed to save Merton and that he couldn't tell his best friend anything about his fate. Well, that would be easy enough. He already knew that he needed to save Merton..and he couldn't tell him what he didn't really get himself.
Tommy nodded. "Okay, so what do we do?"
Euryale paused. "I do not really know for sure. No one who has died has been successfully taken out of the Underworld before. But there is a first time for everything, I suppose."
"Wait! Merton was taken to your Underworld?"
"Of course, he was. He was killed by the Greek granddaughter of the greatest Earth goddess that ever existed. It is only natural that he descends to the Greek Underworld."
"Descend? You mean he went to hell?!"
"My Underworld is not like your heaven and hell. The Underworld exists as a whole below the sphere of the Earth. There are three realms that exist there: The Islands of the Blessed, The Elysian Fields, and Tartarus. The Islands of the Blessed and The Elysian Fields are like your version of heaven: The Islands holding those who are like...saints, I suppose. The Fields holds those who have done ordinary good in their ordinary life. And Tartarus is your version of hell, reserved for the worst of sinners. Hades, the Lord of the Dead, determines which soul is sent where."
"Ooookay. Whatever." Tommy said, obviously the Greek deities liked everything to be a little more complicated, well complicated enough that he didn't understand. He wished for the umpteenth time that Merton was here; his friend would explain all this stuff in a way he could get it. At least, Merton would explain it a couple of times until he could get it. Of course, if Merton was here, he wouldn't have to worry about this at all.
"So..what is the best way to get to the Underworld?"
Euryale blinked once. "Dying."
Tommy rolled his eyes. "I figured THAT part out all by myself thanks. How are WE going to get there?"
Euryale didn't answer. She walked over to where Medusa's statue had once stood. Then she shouted, "HERMES!!!"
To Tommy's great surprise, a small being wearing winged sandals and a messenger cap, appeared right in front of her, hovering about a three feet off the ground. "What IS it? You don't have to shout," the creature said with exasperation.
Euryale motioned to herself and Tommy, "Take us to the Underworld. NOW."
Hermes shook his head. "I can't do that. It would be breaking the rules, you know."
Euryale's eyes narrowed. "Can not. Or WILL not."
Hermes said, "Will not. I could very well carry you and your wolf friend there. But you are both very much alive, and Hades will kill me if I take you there."
"Hermes, you are a god. You can not be killed."
"You know what I mean, Euryale."
Euryale nodded. Then she spoke, "Hermes, where is Medusa's body?"
Tommy blinked. THAT was a little off topic. But he could see that Euryale knew what she was doing so he kept his mouth shut.
"I took it to the Underworld"
Euryale gave a humorless smile. "No. You took her soul to the Underworld. Where is her body? The statue?" She paused. "You took it to Poseidon, correct?"
Hermes gasped, "You think that I would take her to that sick bastard?"
"For the right price, yes. And when Gaia finds out..."
"You wouldn't tell her."
"Yes, I would. You know that all my sisters are telepathically connected to our grandmother. I'm blocking her now. But all I have to do is say it in my head, and she will know. But if you do as I ask, take us to the Underworld and back, I will not do anything to hint Gaia before you move it. And you WILL move it, Hermes."
Hermes sighed, "ALL RIGHT. But you will have to explain this Hades. And pay Charon yourself."
As Tommy watched, the god and the gorgon began to be surrounded by a white light. Euryale extended her hand to him. "Come, Tommy Dawkins. We go to the Underworld."
"I'm coming, Merton", he whispered.
Then he took her hand.
TBC
A/N: Hello again. Sorry about the delay, classes have been crazy lately. I will not update for at the very least two or three weeks. I have finals (AAAAH!) next week and the week after that is X-Mas. I will try my very hardest to update over break - I have a whole month - so I should at least make some good headway in the story. Thanks to my reviewers, I love you guys so much. Oh, all the Underworld stuff is pure fact. And Hermes is the god that takes souls to the Underworld. I will explain Charon in the next chapter. Keep reviewing. Merry Christmas everyone. More later. Love, Verde