Disclaimer: I don't own God of War or anything associated with it. I just had this idea of how things could have gone down a long time ago playing this game and couldn't help but think it'd make for a good moment. Without further ado, as always please read, review and enjoy!
The Caged Lion
Kratos delivered a devastating slash across the chest of Hercules, the massive demigod gasping as the Blades of Chaos sunk deep.
The Ghost of Sparta growled as he neared his brother. Sheathing his blades he delivered a punch right into the gaping wound, reaching for his brother's heart.
Hercules looked defeated for a moment and through the red haze of his own rage, Kratos barely registered that he looked almost…at peace.
"Bah! You useless bastard! Some great hero you are!" Hera screeched from her seat above the arena they fought in.
In a moment, the peace was gone from Hercules' eyes and he headbutted Kratos so far he hit the railing on the edge.
Kratos drew his blades again and ran towards his brother who now had his back towards him facing Hera, but what he said next stopped Kratos cold.
"Stay out of this you drunken sow!"
Hera almost looked about to drop her wine glass.
"How…dare you? You are just another wayward bastard of Zeus! I am Queen of Olympus! I am your queen and you will do as I say and kill Kratos!"
With every word she spoke the giant of a man seemed to crumble a bit, until he was on his knees as though weighed down by her very commands.
"For Olympus! For your queen! Hell even for your philandering father you will kill Kratos!"
Slowly, as though bearing the weight of a world, Hercules planted his feet and gradually rose.
"This fight isn't about any of you! This fight is FOR ME!"
With a roar he brought both of his fists down and the entire arena cracked.
"I…FIGHT…FOR ME!"
With one last blow the arena shattered and all but exploded under the force of the Cestus glad fists, Kratos and Hercules fell through the mountain. Both of their bodies hitting water hard. But Kratos got up first, blades in hand, just in time for massive spiked rocks and debris to land on top of him.
Or they would have, had he not been shoved backwards by a giant of a man who got impaled in his stead.
Hercules was once again forced to his knees, coughing blood and breathing hard.
For the first time in a long time, the rage that propelled Kratos seemed to ebb just a fraction. Enough for him to ask a question.
"Why?"
More coughing blood, and the pain Hercules was in seemed to double not due to the shifting debris forcing its way into his body, but from what he was trying to force his mouth to say.
"Because I was jealous of you. But not for what I said."
He lifted his head to look the Spartan in his eyes.
"Because we are the same, Kratos. Both of us, cursed to slaughter our loved ones, beseeching gods for redemption, only to be betrayed and used like…broken playthings. I too did my penance, I thought I had earned my redemption. But instead, at the end, I was beguiled and betrayed. Forced into serving the one who cursed me with madness in the first place."
"Hera," Kratos stated simply.
"Yes," he nodded. "All I ever wanted was to see my wife and children again. But for all my strength, I couldn't break the chains Olympus put on me. Unlike you, you've who found the strength, that I could not."
He deflated a bit, blood now pumping out of the wound in his chest in spurts.
"All that's left for me now is a warrior's death."
The Nemian Cestus gauntlets fell from his hands.
"Take my cestus, use it, to pound this cursed mountain into dust if you have to. And promise me, brother, that you will never be beholden to any god ever again. Believe me, there is nothing that is worth the price of serving these rotted cowards. Swear it, Kratos of Sparta."
Kratos for his part, drew one of his blades and walked towards his brother. He grabbed him by his hair and forced him to look into his eyes.
"I swear it."
With that he plunged the blade into Hercules heart.
Life faded out of the fallen hero but he gave a small smile.
"Maybe now, I can finally see them again…"
Hercules died and Kratos picked up the Nemian Cestus in silence.
He made to leave but took one look back at the body of his brother.
"May you find the things that I can never have again."
With that he punched his was through wall after wall, the rage in full control again as he renewed his vow to kill Zeus, kill everything that got in his way and to never again let his fate be decided by others.
It was the least that he owed another fallen brother.