"I could help you find this 'light' you are looking for, pal. Of course, to do so you'll need to do something for me in return."
I looked at the tall and imposing figure in front of me, clothed in black robes with wisps of smoke curling around his feet. The man's skin was a pale blue, and his 'hair' was nothing more than blue flame. This did not surpise or frighten me. As I travelled around the new worlds, I had seen many new and stranges things. This man was nothing new. But what he said enticed me.
"How?" I questioned, looking at him in the flaming orbs that were his eyes. I folded my arms across my chest, flexing the muscles and shifting my sword on my back.
"First let us introduce ourselves. Everything becomes so much easier." He stuck out a hand with nails that were as sharp as razors. "Name's Hades, Lord of the Dead and of the Underworld. Pleased to meet you." I gazed at his hand; I did not offer my own. Hades gave a quick shrug and dropped his hand. "And you are?"
"Cloud Strife."
An uncomfortable silence hung in the air. "Not one for many words, are you," Hades quipped. I looked stonily at him.
"You said you could help me. If all you wish to do is just talk instead, then I can leave." I began to turn around to head back out the large door I had entered from. Hades clamped a hand down on my shoulder and whirled me back around. I shrugged him off quickly and gave him a cold look. If he dared to touch me again, then I would kill him, even if he was a god of sorts.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa kid, take it easy. Man, you're not someone to get along with, are you? Look, I can help you find what you're looking for Cloud, but in turn you have to do something for me."
"Name it," I spoke quickly. If I could have any help in finding the person I held most dear, in finding her, then I would jump at the chance. I had stumbled across this world called the Colossum by accident; travelling through the gateways and shadow worlds were difficult and when this place had come into view, I had nearly said a prayer for that was how long I had been in the dark looking for my light.
Hades smiled paternaly at me; I hated him already. "I need you to beat someone for me; someone who is getting in my way. Look, in this world we have games; competitions. You know what they are, right?" I didn't answer but began to tap my foot impatiently. Hades continued to talk, faster this time. "Anyway these's this one guy who's a real pain in the behind for me; a nusiance that I would like gotten rid of. He's called Herculeas. You enter into the games, beat the people, and then you'll come up against Herc, who is at the top. You beat him and I can help you to find your 'light'. You scratch my back and I scratch yours. Deal?"
"So I just have to beat him," I questioned. It did not seem that hard; I had faced off against strong opponents beforehand in many competitions and I had always won. And with what I had seen in my travels, I feared nothing. I was stronger and smarter than before.
"Beat, kill, maim, whatever you like, kid. All that you need to do is just dispose that creep Herculeas from the top, and all will be well. Trust me." Hades smiled, revealing a set of sharp and jagged teeth. Inwardly I recoiled.
No, I did not trust Hades, but I wanted his help all the same. "Very well," I nodded.
"Excellent kid, just excellent! We'll sign you up and get you going and before you know it, you'll be back on the road looking for that special someone, eh?" Hades slapped me on the back, hard, and I quickly turned around with my sword drawn.
"Touch me again and our alliance is over." The Lord of the Underworld took a step back. I placed my sword on my back again, securing the strap. I turned towards the main enterance into the Colossum, then quickly whirled around to face Hades. "And the name is Cloud, not 'kid'. Remember that, Hades."
I looked at the tall and imposing figure in front of me, clothed in black robes with wisps of smoke curling around his feet. The man's skin was a pale blue, and his 'hair' was nothing more than blue flame. This did not surpise or frighten me. As I travelled around the new worlds, I had seen many new and stranges things. This man was nothing new. But what he said enticed me.
"How?" I questioned, looking at him in the flaming orbs that were his eyes. I folded my arms across my chest, flexing the muscles and shifting my sword on my back.
"First let us introduce ourselves. Everything becomes so much easier." He stuck out a hand with nails that were as sharp as razors. "Name's Hades, Lord of the Dead and of the Underworld. Pleased to meet you." I gazed at his hand; I did not offer my own. Hades gave a quick shrug and dropped his hand. "And you are?"
"Cloud Strife."
An uncomfortable silence hung in the air. "Not one for many words, are you," Hades quipped. I looked stonily at him.
"You said you could help me. If all you wish to do is just talk instead, then I can leave." I began to turn around to head back out the large door I had entered from. Hades clamped a hand down on my shoulder and whirled me back around. I shrugged him off quickly and gave him a cold look. If he dared to touch me again, then I would kill him, even if he was a god of sorts.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa kid, take it easy. Man, you're not someone to get along with, are you? Look, I can help you find what you're looking for Cloud, but in turn you have to do something for me."
"Name it," I spoke quickly. If I could have any help in finding the person I held most dear, in finding her, then I would jump at the chance. I had stumbled across this world called the Colossum by accident; travelling through the gateways and shadow worlds were difficult and when this place had come into view, I had nearly said a prayer for that was how long I had been in the dark looking for my light.
Hades smiled paternaly at me; I hated him already. "I need you to beat someone for me; someone who is getting in my way. Look, in this world we have games; competitions. You know what they are, right?" I didn't answer but began to tap my foot impatiently. Hades continued to talk, faster this time. "Anyway these's this one guy who's a real pain in the behind for me; a nusiance that I would like gotten rid of. He's called Herculeas. You enter into the games, beat the people, and then you'll come up against Herc, who is at the top. You beat him and I can help you to find your 'light'. You scratch my back and I scratch yours. Deal?"
"So I just have to beat him," I questioned. It did not seem that hard; I had faced off against strong opponents beforehand in many competitions and I had always won. And with what I had seen in my travels, I feared nothing. I was stronger and smarter than before.
"Beat, kill, maim, whatever you like, kid. All that you need to do is just dispose that creep Herculeas from the top, and all will be well. Trust me." Hades smiled, revealing a set of sharp and jagged teeth. Inwardly I recoiled.
No, I did not trust Hades, but I wanted his help all the same. "Very well," I nodded.
"Excellent kid, just excellent! We'll sign you up and get you going and before you know it, you'll be back on the road looking for that special someone, eh?" Hades slapped me on the back, hard, and I quickly turned around with my sword drawn.
"Touch me again and our alliance is over." The Lord of the Underworld took a step back. I placed my sword on my back again, securing the strap. I turned towards the main enterance into the Colossum, then quickly whirled around to face Hades. "And the name is Cloud, not 'kid'. Remember that, Hades."