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 5
Light. All that existed now was this pure white light. He felt like he was weightless, living yet not really of this world. He now was in a dimension where nothing and everything existed at the same time.
Abruptly the sensation changed. The world was spinning rapidly in a descending spiral, every color of the rainbow assaulting his vision. He spun faster and faster and down the spiral, but strangely he was not at all dizzy. Suddenly, he felt himself hit the ground hard.
And everything was still.
"Arise Tommy Dawkins. And witness a sight that no mortal has seen before - the Underworld,"
Tommy blinked his eyes open. He was lying on his back on the ground; he forced his body into a sitting position - he had hit the ground pretty hard. He looked around him. The world was very dim; both the ground and the sky were a very dull gray, what little light illuminating the chamber came from torches placed near where he sat.
He stood and walked over to Euryale and Hermes. Euryale looked as unfazed and composed as ever and was currently speaking with Hermes. "Thank you for the passage, son of Zeus. I will call you when we need to leave."
Hermes sighed, "And I suppose you will have another burden for me to carry?"
"If all goes well."
Hermes shrugged, "Great. Well, good luck. Hades does not let his souls go easy." Without another word, he disappeared.
Tommy looked at Euryale. "What did he mean by that?"
"Now is not the time for you to be concerned with this. Come we must continue our journey." She led his to a descending staircase at the opposite end of the chamber.
"Where are we going?" Tommy asked.
"To reach the true realm of Hades, we must cross the river Styx."
"How do we do that?"
"Charon."
"What's a Charon?"
"Not what. Who. And you will soon see. For now, Tommy Dawkins, it is necessary for you to be silent. Patience is a virtue and one that you are greatly lacking."
Tommy was about to retort that he had every right to be impatient - his best friend was dead, Tommy was no closer to finding out how to fix that, and his so-called guide was not exactly forthcoming with information.
But Tommy was suddenly shocked into silence.
They had reached the banks of a great black river. Numerous ghost-like people stood on this side of the river. Some wondered looking lost, others sat on gray rocks staring off into space, and the rest formed a line in front of a figure robed in black.
Euryale spoke to him in a whisper apparently sensing that his shock. "These are the souls of mortals who have departed from the mortal realm. Those that are in the line have been buried properly, with the fee to pass into the world of Hades."
"Fee? There's a fee to get to the afterlife?" Tommy asked in an incredulous whisper; the idea of such a thing was utterly ridiculous.
"Yes. Charon, the ferryman, demands two gold coins for each soul."
"Why?" He assumed that Charon was immortal, what would he need money for?
"Even gods must make a living."
Tommy sighed. He was not likely to get much more of an answer than that. "What happens if the person does not have the fare?"
Euryale pointed to the shades, wondering the bank and sitting on the stones. "They are made to wander the banks of the Styx for all eternity; they do not belong in the realm of life nor the realm of death. They are forever destined to be lost souls."
Tommy froze. "But Merton..."
"Merton Dingle's circumstance was very unique. He was killed by a Greek monster and thus was brought to the Underworld. Yet, he is not Greek, thus his friends could not have been expected to know our customs. I do not know what Hades did with Merton's soul, but he did not leave it here." Euryale shook her head, looking slightly uncertain. Her voice turned thoughtful. "Perhaps he has expected our coming. Leaving your friend here would have been far too easy. And as Hermes warned, Hades does not let the souls of the dead leave this realm easily."
Tommy did not know what to say to that. But suddenly he had a very bad feeling, that getting Merton back would be more difficult than he had thought. Maybe he would never get him back...
As if sensing his thoughts, Euryale added. "It will be very difficult, but we will get your friend back, Tommy Dawkins. We must. The fate of the world depends on it."
"What?! What do you mean...?"
"Now is not the time for you to learn this. But rest assured, we will not fail. We cannot afford to."
They had now reached the area where the souls were. As they walked past, all of the souls stopped what they were doing and stared. Some held out their hands towards them, there faces pleading. Others came toward them, holding out their hands in a similar manner. Soon they were surrounded.
It was then that Tommy noticed how the souls had noticed them. The souls themselves were gray and it was possible to see through them. Tommy and Euryale looked much like they did in Pleasantville. Except now they both had auras - Euryale's was brighter than his own, evidence of her immortality. As Tommy watched, her aura grew even brighter.
Suddenly, Euryale raised her arms and bright green light shone from her hands, driving back the groping shades. Then she shouted and her voice rang with all of the command that a granddaughter of Gaia must possess. "Stay back, souls of the dead! We are not here to join you in your deaths. Our business is our own and you will not interfere. Stay back!"
Tommy watched her in shock. He had not known the power that the immortal Gorgon held. Euryale shone with the green light of her aura, her dark eyes were wide and unsettling as ever, her seaweed hair was blown back from her too pale face. And the light continued to stream from her hands. She looked terrifying and commanding at the same time. The shades fled in great haste.
Once they were gone, Euryale lowered her arms. The light disappeared, and she appeared as she always had, her true powers hidden once more. She raised the dark hood over her seaweed-like hair once more, and turned to Tommy. "Shall we continue?" She gave him a small, unreadable smile and began to walk once more.
Tommy stood stock still for a moment. He blinked a few times, wondering if what he had seen had really happened. Then he shook his head and responded, "Yeah...yeah, sure. After you."
*******
"Impressive as always, Euryale."
"Thank you Charon." They now stood before the black-robed ferryman. Tommy could not tell how old the deity appeared, the dark hood covered the upper portion of the male's face. His voice, though, was raspy and sounded much like shifting gravel.
"We have a matter of great import to discuss with Hades. We need passage over the river," Euryale continued.
Charon sighed, "I can take you Euryale. But your companion must stay. I cannot pass living mortals over the River, you know this."
"I am aware of the rules, yes. I am asking you to make an exception. Hades will understand, once I take the matter up with him."
Charon still looked hesitant. Euryale reached into her own robes, and pulled out a handful of gold coins. "Besides, I will make it worth your troubles."
Charon instantly snatched the gold coins. He counted them, and apparently the deity's greed was satisfied, for he quickly stuffed the money into his robes. "Please come aboard."
Euryale stepped into Charon's boat, which was more of a cross between a canoe and a gondola. When Tommy stepped in, she grabbed his shoulder and whispered urgently into his ear. "Do not sit down or appear in anyway comfortable. He who accepts the hospitality of the Underworld, shows that he belongs in the Underworld and will not be allowed to leave, whether he is living or dead, immortal or mortal. Never accept a seat offered or food that is served," she fixed him with an unsettling stare. "This is important, Tommy Dawkins. No matter how hungry or tired you may be, you must not accept Hades' hospitality."
Tommy swallowed, "I understand."
Euryale stared at him a moment longer. "Good. See to it that you do not forget."
She released him and turned to Charon. "Let us depart, ferryman. Take us to Hades with all speed."
TBC
A/N: there you go - a little new years present for you all. hope you enjoy it. thank you to Obscurus Lupa, Jenben, and HardyAngelGurl for their wonderful reviews - i love you guys. sorry if the last chapter was a bit redundant, i tried to make this one better - and to improve my grammar (which i will be the first to admit is not my strongsuit). all the stuff about charon, the underworld, and souls is all true. stay tuned for the next chapter where we meet Hades, Lord of the Dead and more mythological characters. keep up the great reviews. more to come, 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 5
Light. All that existed now was this pure white light. He felt like he was weightless, living yet not really of this world. He now was in a dimension where nothing and everything existed at the same time.
Abruptly the sensation changed. The world was spinning rapidly in a descending spiral, every color of the rainbow assaulting his vision. He spun faster and faster and down the spiral, but strangely he was not at all dizzy. Suddenly, he felt himself hit the ground hard.
And everything was still.
"Arise Tommy Dawkins. And witness a sight that no mortal has seen before - the Underworld,"
Tommy blinked his eyes open. He was lying on his back on the ground; he forced his body into a sitting position - he had hit the ground pretty hard. He looked around him. The world was very dim; both the ground and the sky were a very dull gray, what little light illuminating the chamber came from torches placed near where he sat.
He stood and walked over to Euryale and Hermes. Euryale looked as unfazed and composed as ever and was currently speaking with Hermes. "Thank you for the passage, son of Zeus. I will call you when we need to leave."
Hermes sighed, "And I suppose you will have another burden for me to carry?"
"If all goes well."
Hermes shrugged, "Great. Well, good luck. Hades does not let his souls go easy." Without another word, he disappeared.
Tommy looked at Euryale. "What did he mean by that?"
"Now is not the time for you to be concerned with this. Come we must continue our journey." She led his to a descending staircase at the opposite end of the chamber.
"Where are we going?" Tommy asked.
"To reach the true realm of Hades, we must cross the river Styx."
"How do we do that?"
"Charon."
"What's a Charon?"
"Not what. Who. And you will soon see. For now, Tommy Dawkins, it is necessary for you to be silent. Patience is a virtue and one that you are greatly lacking."
Tommy was about to retort that he had every right to be impatient - his best friend was dead, Tommy was no closer to finding out how to fix that, and his so-called guide was not exactly forthcoming with information.
But Tommy was suddenly shocked into silence.
They had reached the banks of a great black river. Numerous ghost-like people stood on this side of the river. Some wondered looking lost, others sat on gray rocks staring off into space, and the rest formed a line in front of a figure robed in black.
Euryale spoke to him in a whisper apparently sensing that his shock. "These are the souls of mortals who have departed from the mortal realm. Those that are in the line have been buried properly, with the fee to pass into the world of Hades."
"Fee? There's a fee to get to the afterlife?" Tommy asked in an incredulous whisper; the idea of such a thing was utterly ridiculous.
"Yes. Charon, the ferryman, demands two gold coins for each soul."
"Why?" He assumed that Charon was immortal, what would he need money for?
"Even gods must make a living."
Tommy sighed. He was not likely to get much more of an answer than that. "What happens if the person does not have the fare?"
Euryale pointed to the shades, wondering the bank and sitting on the stones. "They are made to wander the banks of the Styx for all eternity; they do not belong in the realm of life nor the realm of death. They are forever destined to be lost souls."
Tommy froze. "But Merton..."
"Merton Dingle's circumstance was very unique. He was killed by a Greek monster and thus was brought to the Underworld. Yet, he is not Greek, thus his friends could not have been expected to know our customs. I do not know what Hades did with Merton's soul, but he did not leave it here." Euryale shook her head, looking slightly uncertain. Her voice turned thoughtful. "Perhaps he has expected our coming. Leaving your friend here would have been far too easy. And as Hermes warned, Hades does not let the souls of the dead leave this realm easily."
Tommy did not know what to say to that. But suddenly he had a very bad feeling, that getting Merton back would be more difficult than he had thought. Maybe he would never get him back...
As if sensing his thoughts, Euryale added. "It will be very difficult, but we will get your friend back, Tommy Dawkins. We must. The fate of the world depends on it."
"What?! What do you mean...?"
"Now is not the time for you to learn this. But rest assured, we will not fail. We cannot afford to."
They had now reached the area where the souls were. As they walked past, all of the souls stopped what they were doing and stared. Some held out their hands towards them, there faces pleading. Others came toward them, holding out their hands in a similar manner. Soon they were surrounded.
It was then that Tommy noticed how the souls had noticed them. The souls themselves were gray and it was possible to see through them. Tommy and Euryale looked much like they did in Pleasantville. Except now they both had auras - Euryale's was brighter than his own, evidence of her immortality. As Tommy watched, her aura grew even brighter.
Suddenly, Euryale raised her arms and bright green light shone from her hands, driving back the groping shades. Then she shouted and her voice rang with all of the command that a granddaughter of Gaia must possess. "Stay back, souls of the dead! We are not here to join you in your deaths. Our business is our own and you will not interfere. Stay back!"
Tommy watched her in shock. He had not known the power that the immortal Gorgon held. Euryale shone with the green light of her aura, her dark eyes were wide and unsettling as ever, her seaweed hair was blown back from her too pale face. And the light continued to stream from her hands. She looked terrifying and commanding at the same time. The shades fled in great haste.
Once they were gone, Euryale lowered her arms. The light disappeared, and she appeared as she always had, her true powers hidden once more. She raised the dark hood over her seaweed-like hair once more, and turned to Tommy. "Shall we continue?" She gave him a small, unreadable smile and began to walk once more.
Tommy stood stock still for a moment. He blinked a few times, wondering if what he had seen had really happened. Then he shook his head and responded, "Yeah...yeah, sure. After you."
*******
"Impressive as always, Euryale."
"Thank you Charon." They now stood before the black-robed ferryman. Tommy could not tell how old the deity appeared, the dark hood covered the upper portion of the male's face. His voice, though, was raspy and sounded much like shifting gravel.
"We have a matter of great import to discuss with Hades. We need passage over the river," Euryale continued.
Charon sighed, "I can take you Euryale. But your companion must stay. I cannot pass living mortals over the River, you know this."
"I am aware of the rules, yes. I am asking you to make an exception. Hades will understand, once I take the matter up with him."
Charon still looked hesitant. Euryale reached into her own robes, and pulled out a handful of gold coins. "Besides, I will make it worth your troubles."
Charon instantly snatched the gold coins. He counted them, and apparently the deity's greed was satisfied, for he quickly stuffed the money into his robes. "Please come aboard."
Euryale stepped into Charon's boat, which was more of a cross between a canoe and a gondola. When Tommy stepped in, she grabbed his shoulder and whispered urgently into his ear. "Do not sit down or appear in anyway comfortable. He who accepts the hospitality of the Underworld, shows that he belongs in the Underworld and will not be allowed to leave, whether he is living or dead, immortal or mortal. Never accept a seat offered or food that is served," she fixed him with an unsettling stare. "This is important, Tommy Dawkins. No matter how hungry or tired you may be, you must not accept Hades' hospitality."
Tommy swallowed, "I understand."
Euryale stared at him a moment longer. "Good. See to it that you do not forget."
She released him and turned to Charon. "Let us depart, ferryman. Take us to Hades with all speed."
TBC
A/N: there you go - a little new years present for you all. hope you enjoy it. thank you to Obscurus Lupa, Jenben, and HardyAngelGurl for their wonderful reviews - i love you guys. sorry if the last chapter was a bit redundant, i tried to make this one better - and to improve my grammar (which i will be the first to admit is not my strongsuit). all the stuff about charon, the underworld, and souls is all true. stay tuned for the next chapter where we meet Hades, Lord of the Dead and more mythological characters. keep up the great reviews. more to come, Verde. :)