TURNABOUT

by Cryogenetic

Disclaimer: I DO NOT own Astaroth or any other characters from the Soul Calibur games. They belong to Namco folks.

RATING: R for Ares making an appearance thats rather twisted. 'Nuff Said.

Summary: Introduction of Marius, and an appearance by Ares, The God of War.

Author's Note: I decided to keep Asty hidden as long as poosible but don't worry he's coming next chapter! Enjoy!

Chapter Two - "The Rellosian Boy"

Many villages felt a kind of impact when hearing about the great battles fought for souls and swords, such fantastic tales were valued by many and some would even pay peddlers who had seen something just to hear a grand story. Even if they knew it was a lie, there was a kind of admiration by the townsfolk for monsters like Nightmare and Inferno. They'd be the ones to maim you if you behaved badly, only coming after you when sleeping like a baby. Such myths kept the young children in-line if the parents were having difficulties with them...

One village in particular, Rellos, with it's lush green grasslands and honest way of life had been the subject of numerous visits by many famous warriors. Some merely passing by and others trying to lend a hand like Yoshimitsu, a rather strange man whose appearance shocked many but his good deeds more than made up for it.. When Ivy Valentine strolled through, all the men in the village were stunned by her beauty and they all feared her fighting prowess; knew not to test her so as to become annoyed. Surpringly, she wasn't as hard as her appearance made her. For the brief time she was there Ivy aided a little girl in obtaining a special flower to help cure her grandmother's illness. Eventually, it was learned she was in search of yet another famous figure, her father Cervantes who was known throughout the land as a vicious pirate whose wraith lived on to terrorize and pillage... Despite Rellos' famous visitors, the town was very traditional and admittedly xenophobic of any others. This way of thinking was passed on, to keep danger away even at the cost of isolation from the neighboring settlements. Most if not all of the villagers were very conservative and raised their children to be the same; weary and wise to know their place as a simple people.

Almost every child had both his parents and lived relatively normal and predictable lives, all except for one. A boy who was taken care of and brought up by the entire village, despite his awkward behavior and strange ideas. He was found in a makeshift basket outside the town's border, his mother's diseased corpse rotting and he himself nearly dead from dehydration. When taken back to Rellos, a backlash of irrational disdain for the infant grew among the town's residents, they feared a plague based on the condition of the boy's former mother face down in the dirt and quickly putrifying. After much consideration though, it was decided that a life is a life and great karma may come upon them if they took care of the baby. They named him Marius, after the town's long dead founder and slowly but surely grew to love the boy, even if he was quite strange from birth. As the years went by he figured out he didn't have a family, as he watched all the other children return to their huts after a whole day playing in the hot sun, with a hot meal waiting for them. Despite all the hospitality he was given, he never quite felt as warm...

In the end, he was glad to be alive and he believed he did have a family, an entire village for a family in fact.

Night had fallen, and he had just come back from another day of climbing trees and secretly travelling out to other villages to see how different things were out in the world. He arrived at his small and simple cottage which he had built with his long-time friend and mentor, Talros who was always called the Old Man. He was a very strict man, always sure of what should be and shouldn't be. He was an example to many, a leader and he could very well be the town's surrogate father but he was nearing the time where he would have to leave them and insisted on remaining hard. Marius had been avoiding him for the last few days, to venture out and only now was he starting to feel bad. He decided he'd take responsibility and help around the village tomorrow. After a good night's sleep of course.

Marius rubbed his eyes and removed his clothes, tossing them on the floor and noisily crashing onto his bed, or what passed for a bed. The hay wools and straw felt so good under his tired body, tomorrow would be a new day and he couldn't wait.

--

All that could be heard in the distance were the clangs of metal and iron being bruised into form by unholy hammers and anvils forged by Ares himself.

Deep in the depths of one of the regions of the underworld, Ares was livid. The head priest of The Order of Fygul Cestemus had been conspiring to betray him as well as his own cult, Astaroth was defeated and Soul Edge was not in the God of War's grasp. Kunpaetku, the dark priest who had created Astaroth stood in front of the angry god, held in place by two warrior guards. His face no longer trying to hide his hubris, he was ready to pay for his conceit; his plan all along was using Astaroth to usurp the Soul Edge and then eventually Ares' position itself.

When he heard Ares speak, he fell to his knees in shame. "Tell me, have you the slightest inkling as to who you were attempting to cast betrayal on...?"

"... " Shameful silence was all Kunpaetku managed.

"Oh nevermind, you don't even deserve to hear my voice... Dispose of him." Ares spoke in an eerie monotone, that of a bored warrior who had seen countless battles.. Enough to be fazed by nothing. An honor guard lifted his blade and with that, Kunpaetku's head hit the ground with a simple thud as his body hung from their arms, he was then dragged away.

Ares thought to himself that perhaps it simply wasn't meant to be, an irritation to say the least but battles would always be fought and prizes always awaited him in one form or another.

He then summoned Ker, the agent of death and evil spirit who took possesion of Astaroth's body to ensure Ares would not be betrayed. The chamber was filled with a ghostly air when he appeared, tall; rabid and menacing.

"Yes my lord..."

"You've failed me, one wonders if Astaroth himself would have done a better job had you given him the chance..."

"He is weak, not forged with the heat of battle as I am, my lord. If I could not complete my task, no doubt would he have failed even before me. I beg your forgiveness, Lord Ares. Give me one more chance!"

"No... You will remain here until you are needed, you are never to leave these chambers unless I say so. You're recklessness was your undoing, now you will be punished for it. I'm compelled to strip you of your title but I believe I may have another use for you soon enough. When the Inferno rises again, I had better have what I want or I'll cast you in the fires of Antares myself. You do understand?"

"Yes. Forever loyal to you, My lord."

"I want the Order brought to me this instant, I've some business to attend to..." The arrogance and undisputed command Ares held was something to behold and was never argued by those in league with him.

"Yes, I shall bring them here immediately.."