A Plexx: They are some of the funnest chapters to write :D, can't have too much fighting without a little time to reflect...and what better place than in a spa?
FenrisFiltiarn: That's our Odin, poor Freyja has to put up with so much. Hmmmm, who indeed?
FireFox614: Thank you! Indeed, poor Rose isn't used to such...forward thinking xD. What makes you think the situation will turn poor? It's not like that's ever happened in canon...oh wait...
Sakra95: I am glad you enjoyed it :) So many theories, Dorian will have to get to the bottom of that quick. Only time will tell, the Armory of Olympus is quite full of weapons and artifacts stretching back through the ages...
Curse of Whimsy: Indeed xD, they did not leave much room for debate...Dorian seems to bring out the best (worst?) in Thor's daughter. She just can't help herself around him. Ratatoskr seems to have a way with women doesn't he? I agree with you...a library with literally thousands of years of information so big it has to have its own mini-dimension...sign me up!
Famond: Well, a task force will need equal parts of each group to stay balanced...whoever could qualify for those positions I wonder? You know Freyja too well, she is not blind to the tension between them...it's only a matter of time...
PasiveNox: Thank you! :D
fanficcyberman: Thank you very much! Writing for the two of them together is always fun to do. xD
naruto: I most certainly will!
Kal824: That means so much to hear you say that. Developing the characters, Dorian especially, while keeping the story exciting/intriguing is my greatest aim.
And with that...onto the show!
Dorian slowly slipped on his shoes, currently in the process of changing while in absolute silence. He hadn't slept well with Thrud's mysterious letter weighing on his mind and was already awake when the sun started to rise. It also did not help that he was certain he had a bad dream he couldn't remember. Rossweisse would be up within the hour, he had hastily scrawled a letter advising her he had an early engagement and would meet with her before the next round of talks.
What could have been discovered that requires secrecy? He wondered as he pulled off his casual shirt that he wore to bed. With stiff shoulders he stretched as wide as he could with a groan.
He thought he heard a gasp behind him, spinning he was relieved to notice Rossweisse was still asleep having simply rolled over facing away. If she woke now it'd be tough to explain his hasty exit, he hated keeping anything from her. Dorian donned the formal blue tunic and red cloak he had in spare to save his remaining suits for later that day.
Once dressed, he crept out and slipped into the hallways, failing to realize that Rossweisse's eyes had been open as she faced the other way. Unbeknownst to him, she had awoken as he donned his tunic and got a good look at his bare back before he'd managed to complete getting dressed. Her cheeks were bright red at the memory that wouldn't go away.
Where could he be going so early? And why am I just now noticing how his physique has…quite improved? She wiped away a touch of blood that had formed beneath her nose. She was certain he'd explain himself when he returned.
Olympus Cells…
"Why Me?" Dorian asked Ratatoskr as Hecuba led him to the block where the harpy prisoner Aella was being kept. The perverted resident of the Roads had been waiting outside his door ready to accompany him upon waking.
"Because you're a big softy," he smirked from his shoulder. "Apparently not killing an enemy dead to rights by your hand is a badge of honor among harpies, this one at least."
The talkative squirrel went on to explain the events of the previous day including her name and dislike of gods. Hecuba was allowed to stay along with Rat; however she did not trust Thrud despite being from another realm. She had returned to the others to run interference so they did not question Dorian's absence.
"Big smiles," Rat stretched his fingers across his lips as they bent into a smirk.
Sure enough, Hecuba was already waiting inside in full armor, the harpy Aella was sitting on what looked like a mass of hay she had gathered into a makeshift nest. It had been a reward for agreeing to speak with Dorian and the young woman did not look like she could be happier. If it weren't for the severity of the situation he would have thought she was absolutely adorable.
"Hello, Aella?" He asked, awkwardly approaching the petite girl and sitting down cross legged before her. "I was told you wished to speak with me?"
"Wish to parlay *squawk* for information and safety," she started immediately without hesitation.
"I will do what I can if you can help us," he offered. "But I don't have the authority to free you, I can certainly ask Zeus if…"
"Not safety for self, *caw* safety for mountain and flight. My people only one of many arrayed against it."
"We are aware, but why are you so worried; your people attacked us when we arrived?"
"Hatred for Olympus we have *squawk* shared since ancient times, yet gods are gods, we are not meant to interfere. All that changed when Khaos arrived."
"This Khaos Brigade, who are they?"
"Warriors, humans, gods, same-minded ones who wish their namesake upon others. Only agents *caw* of the whole visited us but they were strong and many sisters died barring their way."
Dorian turned to Hecuba. "Doesn't Olympus protect those in their mythology?"
"They refused protection when they fled so far from Olympus. They worshiped the Titans in ancient days and while they were seldom hostile…they went beyond our reach."
"She speak true *squawk* but were not alone. Many…many allies now serve Khaos Bree-gade by force or cooperation. "More than you know."
"We are aware of your people and Minotaurs," Hecuba proclaimed though Aella seemed far from impressed. "Cyclops have been part of the recent attacks as well."
"Many more than that," she curled up on her nest.
"We can protect you if that is why you are worried," Dorian held out a hand to her gently. "They can't breach Olympus."
"They can't enter without…" Hecuba started.
"Without help from inside *squawk* which they have."
"You lie!"
"No point lie," Aella answered calmly. "Life over among them when caught, even if freed they would hunt. To remain here is only wish, and for flock, no longer saw beyond mountain."
"Asylum?" She nodded. He turned to glance at Hecuba, not wanting to promise something that could not be given. Aella saw the focus in his eyes begging for there to be an option.
"If," she acquiesced. "The threat is true and we can thwart it with her information…I can arrange to have a nest or two of harpies brought in under protective custody."
Dorian sighed with a smile before turning to her. "Is that acceptable?"
"It must be *squawk*. I did not hear, but sister was told that means up had been obtained…from a god."
"A member of the pantheon?" Dorian's heart was pounding. If they had not just help, but from a full god or goddess, they had to stop it soon before it could begin.
"I know not, but exchange of means to breach defenses supposed to be today at noon meal."
"Where are they meeting?" Hecuba had a hand gripped tightly around the pommel of her sword. She had served the gods her entire life; her family had sworn an oath held for centuries. To hear that one would be plotting against the rest was…unsettling.
"Below, Earth, if stopped my flock safe in Olympus. I will tell you where."
"If this is true," Hecuba cupped her chin in her hands deep in thought. "I could alert Despoina and we can gather the army to…"
*Squawk!* Aella shrieked loudly. "NO GODS! If even one hears of it, rest will know!"
"Think about it!" Ratatoskr chimed in. "We know A god is working with them, but not WHICH god. You tell one and how long before it travels the grapevine right to the culprit? That is probably how they ambushed you lot so quickly."
"I could check it out," Dorian offered.
"Out of the question! Hecuba put her foot down. "You are the retainer to Lady Freyja, if anything happened to you during the talks…"
"We have to at least try, if they DO have some means of breaching the defenses we have to stop them or at the very least find out who is giving them aid."
With how large the Greek Pantheon is…it could literally be anyone. Hades never did show up and sent a representative who means little to him…
Hecuba did not look pleased, but with the information given all her normal procedures could risk tipping off the traitor, she crossed her arms with a huff.
"I have some men I can trust; a dozen warriors will accompany you. My departure would be noticed while you can travel under the auspices of exploration. It would not be the first time you'd be caught sightseeing.
"Thank you Hecuba, I want you to stay here too Rat."
"Why me? You'll need backup and I'm just as much man as a dozen Spartans!"
Technically you're not a man at all…but that'd be splitting hairs.
"I need you to warn Freyja and Rossweisse," he whispered so low the others couldn't hear him. Despite Aella's complete lack of faith in any gods or their servants, he trusted both of them with his life and soul. "If I am not back before the second round of talks, tell them everything."
"I don't like this…but I'll do it," the squirrel grumbled. "But you better come back now ya hear? Only the scum of mankind keeps young maidens waiting!"
Dorian only smiled at his furred companion, despite his many faults, he was a true friend.
"Thank you Aella," Dorian turned to the harpy who had been watching. "Once I return I will do everything in my power to ensure your request is honored."
*Squawk* "I agree with the furry one with lecherous eyes," Rat shot daggers at the young harpy for the comment. "Please don't die *caw* more like you would be preferable to less."
Olympus Hallways…
Rossweisse looked over her documents for that day having just exited breakfast. She was surprised that neither Thrud nor Dorian had been in attendance having assumed he left early to have more time to make it.
Breakfast is the most important meal, what could possibly have warranted them skipping it?
As if in answer to her thoughts, Thrud rounded the corner, Rossweisse was unaware, but she had only recently departed the cells as Dorian left for Earth. Ratatoskr was riding her shoulder having explained everything.
"Good Morning!" She called out, the two stopped to wave back. "Where have you been hiding?"
"Was helping interrogate the harpy prisoner," Thrud told the truth to a point. "Ratatoskr was assisting again."
"She needed my linguistic expertise and I am quite skilled with my tongue," Rat announced proudly, earning a glare from all present. "Right when I was getting chummier with the Ms. Aphrodite too…"
"You know she likes everyone right?" Thrud glared flatly. "That's sort of her job."
"Yea…but she likes me more."
"Was Dorian helping as well? I did not see him at breakfast either."
"Nope," Rat snapped too quickly. Thrud groaned internally, there was no way that didn't sound suspicious.
"I…saw him head out with Despoina this morning," Thrud felt bad lying but saw no other way to cover for him. "I am sure he'll be back in time for the talks."
He snuck out early…for her?
"H-he should know better about too much relaxation before the talks," Rossweisse's tone suddenly became noticeably sterner. It was just like she'd been when attending Valkyrie school and pushed everything else aside for her studies. "Once was acceptable, but this is pushing it."
Thrud and Ratatoskr glanced to one another, both understanding the situation yet neither was willing to step on that landmine.
"Come on," Thrud wrapped an arm around her fellow Valkyrie's shoulders. "You can tell me what's on the agenda today. Just because I'm not part of the deliberations doesn't mean I'm not interested."
"Right! A little focus is good in life!" Ratatoskr agree. "You two can get some serious cram time in the Olympian hot springs; after the steamy events of last night you can wash each other's…"
He did not get another word out, as the women departed the troublemaking rodent found himself pounded into a small crater in the marble. He still chuckled, however, knowing full well that Thrud had held back in thanks to his diverting the subject from an awkward topic to an even more awkward albeit less personal one.
Dimensional Bubble…
Hecuba had coordinated Dorian's return to Earth along with the dozen hoplite soldiers handpicked to accompany him. They were each dressed in traditional garb of the area which was still within the dimensional bubble stretching on for miles in every direction.
According to Aella, the exchange of this object which could breach the defenses was being done in a small Amazon village to the Northwest. To prevent suspicion, they broke up into teams; Dorian went with a young veteran known as Pleisius. The Amazons had been loyal to Olympus for millennia, Hecuba's theory was the Khaos Brigade had selected somewhere a traitor would be least suspected to meet. The village got trade and commerce from others beyond their borders so outsiders were not uncommon.
Dorian and Pleisius went in first with the rest trickling in behind them. If Aella's information was correct then the exchange would occur on the upper floor of a rundown tavern known as Chiron's Call. It was more active than they expected as an entire troop of Amazon warriors were inside drinking. Their entry was barely noticed while they took a seat near the window.
"The others will sneak in various points," Pleisius reminded him quietly. "Whenever this 'courier' arrives we surround and take him. Once our identity is obvious as warriors of Olympus we should have no trouble with the local Amazons."
It was Dorian's first time seeing them; indeed they were true to the legends. Their size and beauty were impressive, had he met them before the natives of Jotunheim he would have thought them as the tallest women he'd ever met. None in the room were below six feet tall and a few went over seven, each with muscles to put his to shame yet somehow retained feminine curves that made him blush when focusing too closely.
"We should keep an eye out for anyone acting suspicious; Aella mentioned the courier would not be an Amazon so they should stand out."
"Perhaps a dark-robed individual?"
"Exactly," Dorian agreed. "We should watch for them."
"No," Pleisius clarified. "I mean THAT robed individual."
Sure enough, from the back of the large tavern a tall shape slipped into the back draped head to toe in a black cloak. They weren't heading upstairs, so it might be a coincidence but Dorian didn't want to take that chance.
"Wait here, I'll check it out." Pleisius nodded in understanding ever at the ready. With staggering steps, hoping to appear another drunken patron, Dorian made his way towards them. With what he thought were unheard steps he followed the stranger into the backroom. At first look it appeared to be a dealer's den where private games could be held. For the moment it was empty, the various tables upturned and covered with white sheets.
Hearing a rustle of clothes, Dorian rolled forward, narrowly avoiding the assailant shortly after he closed the door behind him. Bright Star was currently stored within the Road Between Realms and he had no time to retrieve it. Rolling over, he brought his legs up, narrowly blocking the unknown attackers kick before jumping back to his feet. They were fast, whoever they were, but Dorian saw where they were heading. Feigning a gasp of exhaustion to drawn them in, he avoided their follow-up punch and charged, tackling them square in the chest.
"Ooof," they grunted as the two rolled to the floor. Dorian immediately pinned their wrists to the floor as he recognized the voice.
"Despoina?" He tore off the hood to reveal her purple locks. Her mouth dropped open as she seemed to only then realize his identity.
"Dorian?" What are you doing here? You can't be here!"
"I could ask you the same! You said you had business with the troops today!"
"Wh-what do you think this I'm doing?" She struggled, finally convincing him to allow her up. "Something is happening in this village, and I'm going to find out what! I couldn't tell anyone or else I'd have tipped off the courier."
"Then you're here for the Khaos Brigade rendezvous too?" She nodded.
"Amazons serve Olympus, yet they have been slowly been leaving this village and the surrounding area in larger numbers. Why? I wanted to find out on my own, a large force would have been noticed easily."
"I was told that a meeting is being held here today," Dorian exchanged her information for his own. "Some way of breaching Olympus!"
Despoina's eyes widened in shock.
"That's impossible; there should be no way that…"
"They must have found one, I am glad we ran into you. We have a much better chance of stopping them together." He grinned widely as he held out a hand to help her up. The goddess gripped his hand tightly, reciprocating the smile.
"Dorian," the voice of Pleisius interrupted them. Turning around, the Spartan warrior motioned for him to follow back outside. "Another strange traveler, I couldn't make out his face, just entered. He headed straight for the second floor without so much as a glimpse at the innkeeper. Perhaps we…my lady goddess." He bowed upon noticing Despoina's presence.
"We have no time to waste," she took charge of the situation. "Lead on good Spartan, let us see what this courier has in store for us."
Upstairs…
Dorian had to thank the Khaos Brigade for the choice in meeting place. Due to the sheer size of everything to accommodate the Amazons, it was simple for himself, Pleisius and Despoina to make their way upstairs unnoticed. The liquid barrier Despoina provided was apparently also able to bend light around it making them nigh invisible. Pleisius had his remaining soldiers surround the structure; if they could catch them in the act there was no way out.
"As requested," a gravely low voice could be heard within the luxury suite at the far end of the hall. "Courtesy of our…mutual acquaintance."
Despoina touched their shoulders, filling Dorian's head with an annoying buzzing sound. Once it cleared, amazingly he could peer through the walls, the same was true for Pleisius. With her help they could spy in on the shadowy exchange.
Sure enough, a cloaked individual was within, his garb the color like the entrance to a black hole. No clue to his actual appearance could be discerned save for a pair of near-skeletal emaciated hands. Opposite him was a truly massive man, at least six and a half feet tall with deep gray-silver hair. He was wearing armor clearly fashioned in likeness to a Greek breastplate over what surprisingly appeared to be a blue Japanese school uniform not too dissimilar from the one Dorian would have worn before the fire.
"Heracles!" Pleisius gasped upon recognizing him. "The honored descendant of he is working with them?"
"That's Heracles?" Dorian whispered to Despoina who replied with a single head nod.
"This explains why he did not heed the summons."
"How strong is he?"
"Very, but he cannot stand against us both," she laid a comforting hand on his shoulder. "With the dozen men surrounding us we can detain him with ease."
"The merchandise can be verified once our associate arrives, but first we can wait. It seems we have uninvited guests which must be dealt with first."
Dorian's eyes widened as he turned, barely in time to shove Despoina and Pleisius to the side, breaking the invisibility. An enormous club emerged from the shadows wielded by gluttonously large brutes. Each of them had a single blinking eye in the center of their forehead.
Cyclops? Where did they come from? They came out of the wall!
A blue portal appeared at Dorian's wrist, Bright Star emerging from its confines into his waiting hand. With a single slash, he cut the simplistic weapons in half, causing pause among the attackers. Between the impossible weapon before them and the Sacred Gear summoned to his arm, it was obvious their opponent was more than he appeared. Pleisius and Despoina started grappling with foes of their own; Dorian would have to clear out this group before he could help though was certain they could handle them.
The cyclops roared with the destruction of their weapons, swinging a muscular forearm directly for the young Einherjar. He was faster, ducking beneath the blow and delivering a jaw-shattering uppercut, a gold glow emanating from his wrist. The first bodyguard fell backwards with a thud, cracking the boards beneath. The remaining two took a step back, the fight scared out of them, Dorian felt invincible.
They are so weak compared to Thrud and Modi…
"D-Dorian," he heard a weak gasp behind him as the Cyclops fled. His confidence shattered as he turned to face it. Rossweisse was lying on the ground covered in bruises reaching for him weakly. She was laid out around the nearby corner but most perplexingly she was naked from the waist up. Doing his best, he tried not to stare though even amidst the battle his cheeks reddened.
"Rose!" Dorian shouted, abandoning the retreating monsters. He whipped off the red cloak that accompanied his tunic, not yet having summoned his armor. "What happened?" He draped it over her to cover her bare breasts.
"They were…too strong," she gasped grabbing him around the neck she pulled him close. "Hold me, please. I'm so afraid."
What could possibly have done this, she's so strong. Why is she even here, did she follow me? Only then did he realize something as much as he tried not to. Weren't her breasts larger than this last night...?
"I was so afraid…that you wouldn't fall for it."
Dorian pulled back, barely avoiding a mouthful of fangs aimed for his throat thanks to his last second realization. The being still looked like Rossweisse, but it became clear it was not her. The creature snaked out around the corner, revealing a serpent-like tail slithering from below the waist as a pair of grey batwings emerged from her back. She snarled and lunged, hands outstretched with talons protruding from each finger.
Dorian swung, cracking the monster he now recognized as a siren in the side of the head and slamming her into the wall. She did not get up.
That was careless, Dorian gasped, his adrenaline pumping. I have to check on the others, keep the…
Before he got out another thought, a fist that dwarfed the strongest blow from Modi caught him in the chest forcing the air from his lungs. The young man was blasted backwards, crashing through a wall into the adjoining room which was thankfully unoccupied. As he staggered to his feet, his new opponent revealed himself.
"Fascinating creatures Sirens, are they not?" Heracles asked mockingly as he cracked his knuckles for another swing. "They can actually read minds and take the appearance of your ideal beauty only to you. You looked sooo concerned," his voice dripped with sarcasm. "They must have become quite the looker."
Dorian was angry; finally with some breathing space he summoned his armor, the black and gray standing against the gold Yggdrasil as he planted his feet to fight.
"A Sacred Gear? Heracles recognized the gauntlet. "If you actually know how to really use it this might be fun."
"So you're the traitor to Olympus?" Dorian asked to buy some time to think. "Why would you be working for the Khaos Brigade?"
Hercules smirked; clearly he did not see him as a threat. "New management is needed, and we're the ones to give it to them."
No Musphelheim, that'd bring the whole place down even if I could use it, too cramped for offensive seals. Asgard's strength is a given, Niphelheim can make me a tougher target to hit. The strategies played out in Dorian's mind as it was clear Heracles was far stronger, once he was set he took a step forward ready to attack.
Before he could enact any plan, a painfully familiar feeling struck his back sending spasms through the young Einherjar's body as his fingers opened and closed with each jolt. Bright Star fell to the ground as he realized what had happened, a bolt of lightning had passed through him. Even now he could barely feel his legs which refused to obey him. With a sinking sensation in his chest he turned, teeth gritting in agony from the feeling that was only slowly receding.
Despoina stood behind him, her face locked in a solemn frown, Twilight aimed towards him still crackling with energy.
"Despoi…why…?" Dorian gasped as Heracles took advantage of his paralyzed state, pounding the man into the ground with an overhead double-fist smash. Once down, the colossal fighter punched him again and again and again cracking the floor beneath. Dorian was completely at his mercy as he picked him up by the collar, winding up to finish the job.
"RELEASE HIM!" Despoina roared with command and a hint of desperation to which Heracles obeyed, stopping the blow a hairs breadth from his face. "He's mine!"
"He'll alert others," Heracles pointed out as he dropped the beaten still-smoldering man to the ground.
"That risk is gone," the goddess assured him as she approached them. "I trust his soldiers are dealt with?" Only then did Dorian notice Pleisius' body spread out in the hallway beyond also smoking and barely moving.
The brute of a legendary hero nodded. "The Amazons will be scraping them off the walls by now; they had no idea until it was too late."
"All…of them…?" Dorian spat through the pain.
"That's right; every Amazon in this village is mine." As if to showcase his point, Heracles held up his right arm. Wrapped around it was a gold band that reminded him of some kind of belt repurposed to be part of the bracer. "As long as I have this little beauty, they are beholden to me alone. My honored ancestor was kind enough to pass the Girdle of Hippolyta to me. A few alterations here and there and bam...complete obedience. A dozen men against an entire village of women fighters, it was over in a heartbeat."
So the whole village was part of it...as was Despoina all along…
"But you are a goddess," he strove to understand despite his battered body. "Why?"
She knelt down, gripping his chin gently and guiding his gaze into her eyes. Despite her actions, she looked truly filled with sorrow and conflict.
"The Olympians are monsters Dorian, living a life of overindulgence with little care for those under their charge as you have seen with the harpies, minotaurs and now this village. How else could so many have been turned against them without being noticed? Exterminating an entire culture they conflicted with…"
"The Titans?"
She nodded. "The Khaos Brigade is going to bring down the Olympians, and when that is over I will build a new pantheon. We can do things right this time. I would much rather prefer you at my side than against me."
Heracles rolled his eyes as he stepped away; barely able to stomach the naïve drivel she was spewing.
"I am sorry…however you were treated," Dorian begged to reason with her as he slowly managed to regain feeling in his hands. "But to take a path that will cost so many lives, there must be another way. It's not worth it to…"
Despoina slapped him hard across the face.
"I will forgive that last part because you are ignorant to the facts." The sternness she had shown at their first meeting had returned. "They lost all sympathy from me the day they murdered my father."
Poseidon? No, she said she only called one man father. He did not need to ask, Despoina continued speaking as it was clear she had held in such words for a long time.
"Anytos…I would never have survived without him or learned of my heritage. And they butchered him in his own home like an animal! The belittling and whispers behind my back at being a bastard daughter of Poseidon merely added to the seeds they sowed themselves long before."
"I…don't know who he was," Dorian admitted, unable to think of any legend, tale or myth about a man named Anytos or why the gods would want him dead. "But I can help, please let me," he reached out towards her, cupping her cheek weakly.
"I know you would, but it's too little too late Dorian," Despoina revealed a blood-red crystal from behind her back. Shattering it in her palm, a matching portal exploded into being behind him. "You don't have to die, once I'm done we can talk again later."
"Why the deceit? The day together, teaching me so much about Olympus, spending time with me, what was the point of it?" Despoina just stared into him, not even blinking before giving her reply.
"I just wanted…one good day before it all ended. Thank you for that, if your friends hadn't been in that bath we could have even done more."
Dragging Dorian to his feet, Despoina pulled him close, planting a deep, passionate kiss on his lips. He tried to break away but she held him tight, only deepening the exchange. He did not notice a wisp of blue-silver smoke pass from her mouth into his.
"Have sweet dreams and think better of me. I'll be back for you afterwards." With a solid push, Despoina shoved Dorian into the portal behind him. The opening collapsed as he disappeared into its depths.
"What a waste," Heracles finally approached again with a smug expression. "Hades only gave us three of those for an escape and you use it on him?"
"What I do with mine is MY concern alone," she snapped, holding no love for her temporary partner in the conspiracy.
Retreat was never an option for me anyway.
"Did you get it?"
The giant of a man produced the strange box the courier had provided before retreating. The reason for the meeting and the key to their plan working was right there for the taking. Despoina quickly snatched it from his grip.
"The rest is all you; once they are indisposed and the door is open we can move in."
"Then this can finally be over," she sighed at the knowledge the endgame was upon them. "I think it is about time I returned to Olympus…"
Olympus Meeting Hall…several hours later...
"Where could he be?" Freyja tapped her fingers nervously against the large table. The second round of talks would be beginning shortly and Dorian was nowhere to be found. She hadn't even seen him at breakfast though had assumed he had been off exploring again. This was most unlike him.
"No one has seen him since Thrud saw him leave for Earth with Despoina this morning," Rossweisse whispered as the others started preparing their opening requests and statements.
"We have a bit more time before the talks begin, I'll have Thrud go to Earth and look for him."
"I'll inform her," Rossweisse immediately volunteered. "I shall return before the start."
"Do hurry," Freyja advised as the young Valkyrie rushed from the room.
Rossweisse rushed out so quickly she missed a hooded pilgrim slip into the hall after she had left. With calm steps to prevent drawing attention to herself she walked towards the flame of Olympus at the far end. Falling into a short line of worshipers placing offerings to the flame, none noticed she was out of place. As her turn approached, the hooded traveler knelt, revealing a black gold-lined box they had obscured within their cloak. With a quick motion, she opened the latch.
Every face in the room immediately locked their eyes upon it, so vile and unnatural was the aura emanating from it that had been shielded by the container. Within was a small back spider, hardly big enough to fit into the palm of their hand. This one, unknown to all, had been implanted with blood from a particular being sealed long ago. Blood that was poisonous to all that lived, dragons most of all, yet anything that held the spark of life was susceptible to its toxin. Before any could react, the cursed abomination leapt from the chest directly into the flame of Olympus and was consumed.
The affect was instantaneous; the colossal multi-colored fire that had burned since time immemorial began to whither. Within a matter of moments it was already half its previous size and shrinking. The pilgrim removed their hood as they slowly retreated from the dais.
"DESPOINA WHAT HAVE YOU DONE!?" Poseidon roared as one by one members of the pantheon seemed to flicker from their seats, reappearing beside the flame without exception. Holding out their hands, each deity focused all they had upon the flickering flame, halting its collapse before it grew too small.
The entire room shook, those in attendance gripped their seats as the realization of what was occurring reached their minds. Olympus was falling. Comparable to how much the flame had decreased, so too had the floating mountain plummeted; only stopping as the collected deities had managed to stabilize it. However it was taking all their power to do so, the slightest distraction would cause the process to continue.
"Frigga, please…help us," Hera begged, clearly even the gathered leaders were insufficient to halt the degradation completely.
Long past, each god and goddess placed a portion of their Aethir within the flame to ensure none could claim its power entirely. As a result, it required all within the pantheon to reignite it, with Hades and others having ignored the summons, they would need help. Freyja answered the pleading request, approaching and adding her own power to the effort at great cost.
"It won't be enough," Despoina's voice arose among the clamoring shouts and calls for explanations. "Whether you allow it to fall or sap all your strength in saving it, your rule ends this day."
"You impudent, selfish child!" Poseidon called out to his progeny. "You have betrayed your home, your family!"
"You are NOT the one to be speaking so openly of betraying family," she growled at the god of the sea, the repressed rage and hatred from years past venting at last. "Lest you forget your attempt to abandon me on Earth!"
"I left you with a mortal family, they cared for you, raised you until…"
"They died of plague before I was two."
Poseidon froze, his face awash with confusion. He had never bothered to keep tabs on the one of many unintended children or the caretakers he left her with until she had appeared at Olympus' doorstep, trident in hand.
"Then…who raised you?"
Despoina stood up tall, slamming her trident, Twilight, into the ground. "I was raised by Anytos, my father and one who told me of my heritage!"
Silence swept the hall as all save those of Asgard recognized the name immediately; they no longer needed to question the motives behind her betrayal. They were clear as day; she had been raised by Anytos…
The last Titan.
Anytos, one who cared so little for great deeds or worries beyond his home that his name held no place in myth. His hermit lifestyle had allowed him to avoid the genocide of his people by millennia. One day when gathering for winter, he came across a cottage, the occupants dead from disease, all save a child, Despoina protected by her divinity. He took her in; fully aware she was an Olympian for Titan's could sense such things. He raised her, taught her to live and fight as if she was his own and she eventually called him father. He taught her no animosity for the gods save for the tale of her abandonment and history of his people. None in the hall save Despoina herself knew of this.
Years past, Zeus had located the den of the final Titan and approached him. He wanted him brought to Olympus, claiming it was to prevent the extinction of his people. Anytos had refused and attempted to flee. Zeus prevented his escape and, for the first time in his immortal life, the humble Titan had raised a hand in combat only to be quickly felled by a lightning bolt.
Zeus never understood why Anytos was so adamant against leaving his lair, believing he perhaps had been plotting against Olympus, now it all fell into place. He was protecting Despoina who, unbeknownst to the king of the gods, had witnessed the entire exchange from the back of the cave and set her on the path which she now walked.
"The pantheon ends today," she asserted. "By the name of my weapon, the Twilight of the Gods has begun!"
Zeus roared in anger, diverting his attention from the flame despite causing it to go out once more. Forming a bolt of lightning larger than he was, he hurtled it towards Despoina with all his might. His rage had cost them; despite only losing focus for a moment, the flame reduced by almost half its size once more and another sudden drop in altitude, they could not afford to do it again.
The bolt tore through the air, impaling Despoina through the chest, though a smile remained present on her face.
"There's the side of the King of Olympus I saw as a little girl...pity it's too late for that," she mocked as the features of her body suddenly vanished. Her skin and clothes, even weapon converted into water and collapsed to the ground. It had been a clone, nothing more.
"What is going on?" Poseidon spoke for his brother. "Where is Despoina?"
Outside Olympus…
The real Despoina held aloft her trident, using it as the stabilized focus to generate a portal where Asgard's envoy had entered so recently. Power sufficient to match a god and mortal was being created from the other side; all she had to do was hold it stable for their entry. The exchange below had been required for dealing with the flame as Despoina herself was their way up into the heights of Olympus. Heracles was well aware of the rites required to open the path from the other side. The few guards positioned at that time of day were slumped on the ground; they stood no chance against her.
Heracles emerged first, his bracer glowing as a force of Amazons followed him, his personal guards beholden to the power of Hippolyta's modified girdle. Though there were many more fighting in the bulk of the army.
Behind him a beautiful woman emerged from the portal, she had long straight black hair matching the darkness of her eyes. Red irises burned within their void-filled depths. She wore only a metal vest that covered little and was clearly intended to accent her feminine features and entice the lust in any who gazed upon her. Her attraction was uncontestable, at least until her waist became visible. Instead of legs below, she had a long coiling muscular serpent tail that seemed to go on and on. She was far larger than the Siren's though the resemblance was there. Out of spite, she swiped her tail sideways, smashing several pillars into dust.
"Move outward," Heracles commanded the serpent woman leading the troops. "The palace is yours."
"Gladly," she sneered with a terrifying grin filled with pointed teeth.
Far in the distance, a small familiar shape who had been on their way to the Grand Hall witnessed the incident and fled back inside the palace, desperate to warn his friends.
Behind her, silhouettes could be seen advancing through the opening past Olympus' defenses. An army to put others to shame as their troops long in gathering finally crossed the threshold. Minotaur, cyclops, harpies, chimera, manticores along with fiendish men, women and serpent abominations created in likeness to their mother among others marched through into the daylight. Great hounds breathing fire and a dozen other species that had given birth to nightmares of the ancestors of man followed through. Ranks upon ranks filed outward and scattered like a swarm.
"You did well Lady Despoina," a tall imposing form emerged as the forces continued to pour through like a flood. His use of her honorific held none of the personal respect Dorian's had. He was tall, well built with a fair face though his smile coupled with the points at the tip of each ear lent his visage to a more sinister connotation. He wore an outdated suit beneath a robe that appeared to have once been white but had long ago descended into a dull grey. A pair of silver ornate pauldrons protected each shoulder.
"Just remember how this is to go," she half-threatened the collected leaders. "Kill as few as you can until we reach the pantheon. They won't be able to leave the flame even to fight or else it will go out entirely."
"Of course," he assured her. "By this time tomorrow all that we have both worked towards shall be brought to fruition."
The siege of Olympus has begun; enemies gathered bring war to the hallowed halls while their valiant troops are too few in number to resist...As always, Read and Review...but most of all Enjoy! :D
