A small red Gummi ship whips quickly through the vastness of space, riding the metaphorical currents of the awe-inspiring "Ocean Between Worlds" en route to its destination. It's a route the vessel's passengers know well, having traveled it many times before. The route to Olympus Coliseum.
"This," Sora declares, practically bouncing up and down in his seat, "is going to be the best vacation ever!"
Riku, lounging on the cushioned bench against the rounded glass of the cockpit's windshield, sighs and rolls his eyes. "You said that about the last one too. That time, we got attacked by a crazy lady and her horde of transmogrified beastmen. I fell into the river, Kairi had to fulfill some ancient prophecy… Remember, how you were nearly sold off to our archnemesis?"
"And we still aren't sure why," Telary, piloting the ship, reminds the group.
"Just proving my point more, Riku," the younger boy shoots back, haughtily crossing his arms. "No life-threatening hiccups this time. And, no more arguing between my friends about who loves me more."
Azlyn, sitting peacefully in her own chair, snorts a little in amusement.
"That," Riku protests, sitting up with an indignant look on his face, "is not an accurate description of…"
"It's not entirely inaccurate, though," Telary points out, the soft-spoken voice of reason as always. "And anyway, I agree with Sora. Fighting tournaments aren't exactly my cup of tea, but at least it's combat in a more controlled environment. And we won't be sleeping in tents."
"Not that the coliseum dorms are much of a step up," Azlyn sighs.
"The notice even said that this'll be the first tournament Hercules is running himself," Sora continues. "It'll be nice to be able to support him, y'know? Though that probably means our rematch isn't in the cards yet."
"It's very sweet, too," Telary practically coos. "Naming the tournament after his wife. 'The Megara Cup'! Rolls off the tongue."
"Will you ever name a fighting tournament after me, Tel?" Azlyn asks, getting up from her seat and cuddling closer to her fiancée.
He briefly turns his gaze away from the vastness in front of him, giving the blonde knight a quick peck on the cheek. "If the opportunity arises, then sure."
"What opportunity?" Kairi asks, climbing up into the cockpit. She dabs at her slightly sweating forehead with a towel, then whips it around her shoulders before taking a seat.
"Not important," Riku deadpans, laying down on his bench again. Closing his eyes, he asks, "How was the workout?"
"Good," the Keyblade-wielding girl happily declares. "I think I finally feel ready for this tournament."
"You better," Azlyn says, staring back at the redhead with a smirk. "I told you, think of this as your big final combat test."
"Believe me, I am," Kairi assures the knight. "Though, to be honest, I think the whole 'freeing an oppressed group of beastmen from enslavement with simultaneously rescuing your butts' thing I pulled in the jungle was a fairly comprehensive assessment."
Azlyn shrugs. "Eh, point. But this one could involve a trophy!"
Sora stands up, loudly clearing his throat to get everyone's attention. He has to do it twice before it actually works.
"Now that we're all here," the Keyblade master says, "I think it's time we talked about something: teams for the tournament. Now, max team-size for the Megara Cup is three members…"
"Did you read the information packet, Sora?" Telary asks, glowing with an odd pride. "I see I have managed to teach you a thing or two."
"Our little boy," Azlyn agrees, over-dramatically sniffling. "All grown up and being a big nerd!"
Ignoring his friends' laughter, Sora presses on. "Anyway, I was thinking that the best idea would be for me and Kairi…"
"What a post-victory celebration that's gonna be," Riku remarks, chuckling to himself. Then, suddenly, something clicks in his brain. He bolts upright again, frowning deeply. "Wait a minute! That means…"
"The other team will be Riku, Azlyn, and Telary," Sora finishes for his upset friend.
"That should be nice," Telary says, genuinely meaning it. It might have been a trip down a bumpy road, but all of he and Riku's problems are beyond them now.
"Nice for Riku to have a stunningly attractive teammate he can piggyback off of," Azlyn adds sardonically.
"You three will make a great team," Kairi adds, smiling at her silver-haired friend.
"Why can't I be with you two?" Riku asks, trying not to sound like he's pouting. Trying, and failing. "Team Destiny Islands?"
Sora sighs. "I know, I know. I'd like for us to be competing together too, but c'mon. Three Keyblades? Seems kinda unfair if you ask me. And, well…"
"And what?" Riku demands, one eyebrow raised unforgivingly.
"Another thing that kind of had me worried," Sora explains, wincing through every word, "is that, y'know. What might happen if you and Azlyn ended up facing each other on opposite teams."
"He'd get his ass kicked," the knight quips.
"In your dreams!" the silver-haired young man fires right back. "You couldn't even touch me."
"Why would I want to?"
"I think I see your point!" Telary yells over the ensuing argument.
"A little competition is healthy," Riku says defensively, averting his attention from his 'opponent' for the time being.
"What competition?" Azlyn haughtily declares.
"I don't think 'healthy' is quite the word for what goes on between you two," Kairi points out.
"Yeah," Sora agrees, nodding his head gravely. "Just ask the manager of Destiny Islands Putt-Putt."
"They can't," Telary reminds everyone, sighing. "We've been banned for life, remember?"
"We put the windmill back up!" Azlyn says, rolling her eyes. "Of course, we couldn't save the seahorse statue."
"That thing always creeped me out anyway," Riku says. "Threw off my whole game on that hole. We probably saved an entire generation of young kids from future nightmares."
Azlyn nods. "A statue of me should be erected in its place."
"And the nightmares are back on the table," Riku mutters under his breath.
"The point is," Sora says wearily, "those are the teams I think would work best."
"And I agree," Telary declares. The console in front of him emits a high-pitched beep. "Good thing that's settled, because we're almost there! Olympus Coliseum, here we come!"
KH-KH-KH
The courtyard outside the Olympus Coliseum is packed with people, more than Sora thinks he's ever seen gathered for a tournament. A good sign, probably. The offworld quintet stays together as they make their way through the throng.
It seems the arena itself has been rebuilt good as new too, which is another great sign. Seeing those gleaming gold statues, swords crossed over the lobby entrance, does Sora's heart good. He remembers all too well what knocked those same statues down, after all.
The lobby is nothing like he remembers though. The previously designed foyer had been a small, cramped room only big enough for about a dozen people. This one is almost as spacious as the courtyard outside. Maybe a hundred people mill to and fro, many heading off down various corridors leading to other areas.
Set up at the far end is a huge canvas canopy, with a group of tables beneath. Men and women in white togas man the area, their clothes decorated with clasps depicting the lightning-bolt-from-cloud symbol of Olympus.
"When they rebuilt, they really went all out!" Sora declares, taking in his surroundings with a joyous smile. As always, it does his heart good to see a place that was once so broken be reborn anew.
"Nothin' but the best!" a familiar gruff voice says behind the group. Whirling around, they see the satyr Phil standing before them, hands on his furry hips. "How else are we gonna keep gods-ordained true heroes coming back?"
"Hey, Phil," Sora greets the little goat-man, leaning down to shake his hand.
"Really impressive work you've done here," Telary comments, gesturing wildly at the huge lobby.
"Must have cost a pretty penny," Azlyn adds, tapping her shoe on the shining marble floor.
"Well," another familiar voice butts in, "he actually saved a ton on labor. Having a super strong demigod on staff came in handy."
"Herc!" Sora exclaims, spinning around to give the hero a hearty fist-bump. It actually ends up hurting a little, but the Keybearer does his best to hide the pain. "Too bad we're not gonna be able to get that rematch going, with you running things."
Hercules shrugs. "I'm bummed about that too. But, I figured that after all my years fighting, seeing how things go from the other side would be a new experience. Plus, Meg convinced me to take a break. She said the constant heroics stuff was making me mopey."
"That's a valid point," Azlyn mutters to herself.
"Oh, I didn't even introduce you to my friends!" Sora subtly pushes Riku and Kairi forward.
"Nice to finally meet you two," Hercules greets the pair with a friendly smile. "I take it you'll all be competing today?"
"Yeah," Riku replies, folding his arms across his chest coolly.
"Based on what Sora told me, it should be fun," Kairi says with an exuberant smile. "And by the way, I think it's very nice of you to name this tournament after your wife. She must've loved it."
"She sure did," Hercules replies with a thumbs up. He looks down at Phil, nudging the satyr with his leg. "C'mon, Phil. Tell 'em."
Phil crosses his arms, frowning. "I was just about to get ta that, Herc."
"Tell us what?" Sora asks curiously. "Did something bad happen. Did Hades…?"
"Nothing bad at all," Hercules assures his young friend. "In fact, for you it's pretty much the opposite." He gives Phil another suggestive nudge. "Go on."
"It'd really be better if I just showed ya," the hero trainer says, turning and gesturing for the group to follow him down a nearby hall. After exchanging curious looks, they fall into step behind the satyr.
"What's with all this silent treatment?" Azlyn demands. "If you've got something to say, just say it."
Phil sighs, giving the knight a dirty look over his shoulder. "I can't believe you of all people haven't figured it out yet."
"That's gotta be the first time anyone's said that to Azlyn," Riku remarks.
Phil is about to say something else, when suddenly a group of five kids, maybe six or seven years old, go running past the group. Everyone sort of awkwardly shifts aside to let them through. The small parade of children is only about halfway through when suddenly, everyone realizes there's something odd about them.
Three wear what are obviously recreations of Herc's standard outfit, short cape and all. The other two are dressed far more familiarly; black jackets, some kind of foam-based spiky brown wigs atop their heads. And one holds a wooden replica of what is most certainly Kingdom Key.
For the party, the kids seem to pass by in slow motion, allowing each of them take it in. To process what this means. Focusing up ahead, they realize that Phil is leading them to the Olympus Coliseum Heroic Souvenir Emporium. In short, the gift shop.
"You mean…!" Sora cries out in glee, sprinting ahead. The others follow him at about the same speed, leaving Phil spinning in the dust.
The shop is large, and several people mill about looking at its wares. Most of the merchandise that can be seen features Hercules, from costumes like were seen in the hallways, action figures with "full pectoral action", and drink mugs. The largest display is beneath a statue of the demigod, standing above a half-dozen stacks of uniquely designed Herc-themed togas like some flexing guardian angel.
But a bit further away, relegated to an out-of-the-way corner of the store, Sora is the star of the show. The foam wigs and wooden Keyblade replicas spied earlier are on display, but it doesn't end there. A pair of bright yellow sandals, a throwback to his younger, more fashionably-challenged days, togas like Herc's but instead featuring Sora-inspired color schemes. Even…
"I can't believe it," Sora manages to choke out, approaching a shelf with an awed look on his face. "I'm an action figure!"
The Keybearer squeals with glee, picking up several of the small figures made in his likeness and hugging them to his chest. Everyone else just watches, jaws agape at the display before them.
"Well, there it is," Phil declares, surprising the group as he saunters up to them with a smirk on his face. "Ever since that whole 'gods-declared-true-hero' thing, people have been clamoring for this stuff. And, being a man of the people…"
"You decided to make a little munny off of it," Riku deadpans.
The satyr shrugs. "Way of the worlds, kid."
A group of young kids rush in suddenly, smiling brightly at the goodies in front of them. They run straight through the older group, uncaring as children are wont to be. One bumps up against Sora's leg, startling him out of his action-figure-induced reverie.
"Oops," Sora apologizes, giving the youngster a sheepish grin. "Sorry for standing here hogging all the…"
"OH MY GODS!" the little boy screams, immediately drawing attention from the rest of the shop. "It's really him! It's SORA!"
For a long moment time stands still, everyone's eyes latching onto the Keybearer as their mouths drop open. Sora, realizing quickly that he's become the sole center of attention, coughs nervously into his fist, waving the other.
"Uh," he says, no the most eloquent introduction, "hi everybody. How's it…"
"Autograph!" a youngster yells, drawing a rolled up scroll from his back pocket. He thrusts it at Sora. Still a bit dazed, the Keybearer almost can't help but take the paper from his hand.
"Look!" someone shouts from across the store, no little boy judging by the deepness of hs voice. "Sora's signing autographs!"
A frenzy of activity suddenly overtakes the store, everyone rushing at the Keybearer with pens and paper held high. Sora barely has enough time to let out a frightened little squeak before he's swarmed. People of all ages surround him, men and women alike eager for a memento.
His friends, meanwhile, slowly struggle to pick themselves up off the ground. Each is battered, a few bruises forming from where the mob had literally stepped over them in the rush to see Sora.
"That was unpleasant," Riku mutters, rubbing his sore back. "And look, the bozo didn't even notice." He heaves a great sigh. "This isn't going to end well."
"Sora does have a tendency to let his head swell," Kairi agrees, nervously shaking her head.
"Figures," Azlyn grumbles, scowling at the mob and the Keybearer at its center. "Half of that moron's success is because of me, and what do I get for all my efforts?"
"Not to throw in with Azlyn's usual greedy mindset," Telary adds, directing a concerned frown at the satyr, "but she has kind of a point. Why aren't there any, say, Telary action figures? Just because I'm the brainy one, it doesn't mean…"
"Relax, kids, relax the both of ya!" Phil declares, holding up his hands appeasingly. "Trust me, you won't be disappointed by this deal." He sighs, his expression conveying an odd sorrow. "Follow me out back, huh?"
Telary informs Riku and Kairi of he and Azlyn's little field trip, but both decline to come along. Both of them are looking rather protectively at Sora, probably ready to intervene if anything truly troublesome arises.
And so Phil leads the Disney Castle power couple out of the shop, heading back to the main lobby. From there they take another corridor, seeing progressively less foot traffic as they go. Finally they reach the exit, walking out into the afternoon sun.
"Uh, what's all this then?" Telary asks, looking around. They're in what appears to be an animal-centered area, mostly horses trotting around playfully and supping on food and drink freely available from several troughs.
"The stables," Phil answers, gesturing rather obviously to the frolicking/snacking equines. He leads them to a trio of long wooden buildings, obviously the actual digs for the horses.
"And why exactly are we in the stables?" Azlyn asks, much more aggressively than her wizard companion. She holds her nose shut with two fingers, giving every grazing animal the same generally mistrustful look she gives every unfamiliar animal. "Don't tell me, we're getting ponies? Something to appease us while big boy Sora gets the…"
"There ain't any horses in stable number three a the moment actually," Phil says, reaching the aforementioned building. It's locked tight, and for some reason two bulky men in gladiator armor stand to either side of the door. "No more room."
"No room?" Telary repeats, bewildered. "Why wouldn't there be…"
Before the wizard can finish his question, Phil gives the men at the stable doors an approving nod. Without saying anything, the bulky guards throw off the stable's lock and heave the double doors open. A soft golden light shines through from the space between, steadily growing larger and more brilliant as the doors open wider.
Looking inside, Azlyn's legs suddenly feel numb. She stumbles to the side, Telary barely reacting quickly enough to reach out his arms and hold his fiancée up. She clutches at him frantically, her mouth opening and shutting without producing any actual sound. After a moment of that, she just faints dead away.
"Yeah," Phil says with a pronounced smirk. "I figured you'd react something like that."
The stable is filled with munny coins. They sit stacked in piles, thousands upon thousands of pieces heaped atop one another. The afternoon sun seems to hit them each just right, producing a golden gleam that Telary can scarcely look at without hurting his eyes.
Azlyn gives a little moan in his arms, and the wizard knows he must act quickly. Gingerly setting his fiancée on the ground, Telary rushes into the stable, grabbing a handful of coins in one fist. He rushes out just as swiftly, sliding to his knees in front of the unconscious knight. He waves the coins he's gathered above her nose, letting the smell of pure munny fill Azlyn's nostrils.
Her eyes snap open immediately, and within moments she's sprung to her feet. She reaches down and grabs Phil, hauling him up to eye level.
"Okay," she says, fighting hard to not trip over the words. "So, what's exactly the deal here, huh? We talking percentages of profit, or is this just some kinda one-time advance?"
"I'll answer your questions," Phil promises, his voice a little strained. "But only if you put me down."
The knight obliges. She's even more careful than is her norm. This is, after all, the satyr who seems to be the middleman between her and vast riches.
"My team comes up with the merch, I manufacture the merch, I sell the merch," Phil answers firmly.
"Using my boy's face," Azlyn argues, hands firmly on her hips. A power pose. "So, what is this then? Half the sale's percentage?"
"Half!" Phil throws his head back, clutching at his belly as he yucks it up. Once the satyr finally regains composure, he gives the knight a disbelieving look. "You kidding? This is Sora's standard thirty percent."
"Thirty percent!" Azlyn and Telary parrot, a shocked look on both their faces.
"All this munny, and that's just thirty percent?" Telary continues, shaking his head. "Sora must be more popular than we…"
"Thirty percent is, and I say this with a lot of authority due to experience, a pure insult!" Azlyn declares, thrusting a finger in Phil's face.
"That's the deal, sister," the trainer shoots back. "And it took a lot of moralizing speeches from Herc to convince me you deserved even that much."
"This isn't over," Azlyn warns the satyr, putting on her best threatening glare.
"What isn't over?" Sora asks, he and Riku and Kairi coming out from the coliseum proper. When they stop in front of the stable, the Destiny Islands trio gape in awe at its contents. "That's a lot of munny. Whose is it?"
"Yours," Telary answers, earning a swift glare from Azlyn.
"Wow." The Keybearer shakes his head. "This is definitely a big day for me, huh?"
"It sure is," Azlyn agrees, clasping a hand against Sora's shoulder. "So, now that you've got all this munny… What, exactly, are you gonna do with it? Just asking, one friend to another."
"Here we go," Riku mutters to Telary and Kairi, crossing both arms across his chest.
Sora mulls over the knight's question for a long moment. "Y'know, I'm not sure. Munny's never really been a big deal to me."
"I know," Azlyn says, giving her maid of honor a friendly shake. "And that's one of my favorite things about you, if I may speak freely. But, it does present a problem in this case. All this munny falling at your feet, it's a lot to manage. Probably too much to manage and focus on winning the tournament at the same time."
"That is true," Sora agrees, scratching his chin thoughtfully. "I can't disappoint the fans."
"The fans," Azlyn repeats, with a solemn nod of her head. "But don't you worry about it, Sora. I can take care of everything. You just go out there and give it your all. The munny, pffft, I can handle that easy."
"Thanks, Az. You're really helping me out."
The knight shrugs. "Oh, think nothing of it. Anything to help out my maid of honor!" She lets Sora go, then turns to Telary and Riku with an apologetic look on her face. "Sorry boys, afraid I won't be able to…"
"Yeah, I figured," Riku cuts her off, holding up a hand. "Have fun finding a way to screw this all up horribly."
"Believe me," Azlyn replies with a smug grin, "I will!"
Practically on reflex, Telary's palm smacks straight into his forehead.
"Anyway," Kairi says, turning to Sora and ignoring Azlyn barking something about transport to one of the guard gladiators, "don't you think it's about time we, y'know, actually signed up for this tournament?"
"I think you're exactly right, Kairi!" Sora agrees with a shining smile. He takes the redhead's hand, and the pair walk back into the coliseum building.
"Riku," Telary says to his sole remaining teammate, "would you mind taking care of registration for us? I think this-" He waves vaguely in Azlyn's direction. "-whole situation could use my direct attention."
The silver-haired young man nods amiably, turning and jogging to catch up with his younger friends. The trio continue on together from there, walking back into the lobby and heading straight for the sign-up booth. Registration is a simple process, and within ten minutes everything is ready and settled.
"You realize that Azlyn was totally manipulating you about the munny, right?" Riku asks his best friend, just for clarity's sake.
Sora shrugs nonchalantly. "Yeah, but it's fine. I was totally serious about not caring about the munny. For me, it really is all about…"
"The fans?" Riku finishes with a suggestively quirked eyebrow. "Giving out autographs? Your own action figure?"
Before Sora can respond to that accusation, a new voice enters the conversation. A familiar one too, though just barely.
"Well, well, well," the newcomer boldly declares, his voice haughty and booming. "It seems that we meet once again, Keybearer. And on the field of battle no less."
Sora looks up, past a red-armored torso, into the eyes of Gilgamesh. They peer at him from between the folds of a blood-red scarf wrapped around most of the tall warrior's face.
"You again, huh?" Sora replies, his eyes narrowing. He steps up to the warrior, their height difference hardly bothering him. "You were in Agrabah, right? You attacked my friend Aladdin's home with a bunch of Heartless."
"So, the memory of our last encounter remains fresh!" Gilgamesh places his hands on his hips and throws his head back, laughing boisterously. Pretty much everyone else in the lobby stops to stare at this strange lunatic, but the red-armored warrior hardly seems to mind.
"Kinda," Sora says, shrugging. "Honestly, that was like, the least perilous thing that happened that weekend."
"I almost took care of you," Kairi chimes in. "And, frankly, I hardly even knew what I was doing."
Gilgamesh's laughter comes to an abrupt stop. He looks down at the teens, eyes shifting awkwardly between them. "A mere, er, preview of my awesome abilities! This time, you shall receive no such reprieve!"
"Yeah, well, bring it on!" Sora says, putting on his most confident grin and shifting his posture to mirror his opponent.
"I will!" Gilgamesh replies.
"Good!"
"Great!"
"Awesome!"
"Okay, that's probably enough," Riku deadpans, holding up a hand. It's apparently a very authoritative hand, because both of the combatants in this verbal spar stop immediately. "Just settle it on the field, yeah?"
"Oh, I intend to!" Gilgamesh says darkly, giving Sora his best glare. "And when I've stomped you into the ground so thoroughly that you'll need a spirit medium to declare your surrender, perhaps the fabled Keyblade will realize who its true master should have been!"
"Nice exit line," Riku comments as Gilgamesh stalks away. "I suspect he's had formal 'minor villain' training."
"You sure have a way with making enemies," Kairi informs her boyfriend, rolling her eyes. "Guess it comes with the 'ultimate hero' territory though, huh?"
"Sure does," Sora agrees wholeheartedly, somewhat to Kairi's surprise. "It's a hard job, but somebody has to…"
"Excuse me." A young woman approaches the trio, paper held in one hand. "You're, um, Sora, right?"
"Yeah," the Keybearer brightly responds. "Yeah I am." He holds out one hand, still grinning confidently. "Who should I make this out to?"
Kairi and Riku give each other a look, then simultaneously roll their eyes. This might get old. Really, really fast.
Eventually the new crowd of eager autograph-seekers runs dry. Azlyn and Telary have arrived by now, and everything seems all set. Yawning, Sora suggests they head to the coliseum dorms, to get rested and ready for tomorrow's main event.
"What?" Azlyn scoffs, startling everyone but Telary. Stopped in their tracks, they all turn to look at her. "Dorms? I don't think so."
"Well, we've got to sleep somewhere," Sora points out, looking very confused.
"Duh," is all Azlyn has to say in reply to that. "Don't worry, I've got it covered. C'mon, follow me everybody."
KH-KH-KH
"Wow," Sora remarks, climbing off the cart that had taken the group all the way from the coliseum down to the outskirts of Thebes below.
They stand just outside the open gate to an elaborate luxury compound. The space is mostly dominated by an absolutely enormous white marble structure, glowing orange in the light of the setting sun. It's surrounded by cleanly cut green grass, with a few large pavilions dotted here and there. A large reflecting pool complete with fountain sits just outside the main house, large topiaries surrounding it on three sides. Statues dot the landscape as well, each one intricately carved.
"I have to agree with Sora here," Riku says, taking in the scenery as he throws his bag over one shoulder. "You may seem completely classless, Az, but you know real estate."
"It is impressive," Telary chimes in, his eyes going immediately to the group of toga-wearing young men rushing towards the heroes with big welcoming smiles plastered on their faces. "But, uh, just as a curiosity thing, can I ask…? Well, exactly how much munny does even a single night cost in this place?"
Azlyn turns to her fiancée, one small tear slowly rolling down her cheek. "Who cares?"
KH-KH-KH
Deep in the Underworld, final destination of souls, Lord Hades sits in his private chamber, brooding on his throne. Before him floats a fiery ring projecting a picture of Sora and his comrades settling in to their fancy accommodations.
"Unbelievable!" the god rants, his body and flaming hair turning a bright red. By the side of his great stone chair, his imp minions Pain and panic cower in fear of their master's anger. "These chumps just get higher and mightier every time I turn around! Two years ago, they were just some punk kids with exotic tastes in weaponry, and now look at 'em! Living it up in a mansion! And where am I?"
It's a prickly question, as they always seem to be where Hades is concerned. But still, Pain decides to manfully take on his master's rage.
"Still stuck down here with the stiffs, Your Most Illustrious Lord Hades, God Of The Underworld?" The little pink imp winces, his body tensing in a preemptive defense.
"That's right," Hades answers, surprisingly calm and collected. Pain and Panic take deep breaths, relaxing themselves.
A big mistake, as the Lord of the Dead quite literally explodes. Red fire sweeps through the entire room, jetting out of its big open windows overlooking the Well of Souls. It fades a few seconds later, leaving behind two smoking (but still alive) imps, and one very angry god.
"A little bit of professional recognition, that I can take," Hades continues on, pacing back and forth as Pain and Panic attempt to wipe soot off of themselves. "So Zeusy puts their big dumb portraits in the sky, big whup right? But munny! A freakin' fortune! The aforementioned mansion! That is just a heinous slap right to the face."
"W-well, they're in the tournament though," Panic stutters, raising a finger.
"That's right!" Pain echoes, nodding happily. "Plenty of opportunities to wipe them out there."
Hades mulls that over for a minute, flopping back into his chair. "That is true, I guess. I've got a few acts lined up, and that Gilgamesh dope sure seemed to bear a grudge. It's possible they could go down. And since Herc's running the show, that'd sure screw with the little sunspot's head something awful too."
"Y'see?" Pain declares with a huge smile. "Nothing to worry about! Third time's the charm!"
"Weeell," Panic interrupts, doing some quick counting off on his fingers. "Technically this would be, uh, the fifth time! Yeah, there was that Cloud guy, then that business with the Hercules Cup where you just attacked directly. The Hydra thing, and, um, oh yeah, there was that Auron guy…"
Hades' slouch grows even more pronounced, the blue flames of his hair flickering lower and lower. "Wow. When you put it like that… I sound pathetic!" Heaving a great sigh, the god dunks his head into his waiting palms.
"Oh, now that's not true!" Panic quickly declares, rushing up to give his boss a pat on the back. "You're a great schemer, really!"
"No, no, I stink!" Hades' body shakes, a sob heaving its way out of his godly throat. "Time and time again I try, and it always ends in failure!" He looks up, fiery blue tears trickling down his face. "All I want is to kill a few annoying kids, humiliate my nephew, and overthrow a pantheon. And for that I deserve to be a loser?"
"You can't let yourself think like that, M'Lord!" Pain says. "You're still a god, ruler of your own domain! Maybe it isn't the best domain…"
"It's a hellhole!" Hades wails. "Literally!"
"But at least it's your hellhole!" the pink imp continues. "You may not be the most successful mastermind in the universe, but what's so great about success anyway? Oftentimes, it's the greatest success that leads to the most terrible failure! So the Keyblade wielder and his friends are rich now, so what? They only have that much further to fall."
Hades stops his wailing, the tears evaporating with a sizzle. He looks up at his minions, suddenly all smiles. "Y'know something, and this isn't anything I would ever say if it weren't the honest-to-gods' truth, but you're right!"
"I, uh, I am?" Pain stammers, looking nervously at his thinner partner. Hades has almost never praised one of them before, so they aren't quite sure what an appropriate reaction would be.
"I've been thinking about this all wrong!" Hades boisterously declares, pushing himself off his throne with unexpected vigor. "This could be my golden opportunity, the final defeat of Keybrat and the Sunshine Band! The higher they are, the harder they fall! Brute force has never worked for me, throwing out one fighter after another. I'm a thinking man's villain, a schemer, a real wheeler dealer! Time to do what I do best!"
"Yes, exactly what you do best!" Panic agrees, twitching happily.
"Uh, what exactly is that again, My Most Awesome And Terrible Lord?" Pain meekly asks.
Hades chuckles, steepling his fingers together menacingly. "Make a deal. And you, my little underlings, are gonna help me out!"
They say a good way to test your characters is to give them what they've always wanted, then see what they end up doing it. Well, this may be Azlyn's greatest test yet. This "munny from merchandising" idea has been brewing for a long time, and almost made it into both of the main Keys to the Kingdom stories. But ultimately I settled on playing it out here. But how exactly will it all shake out? That, you'll just have to wait for.
The next chapter might, fair warning, be a bit of a doozy in terms of stuff happening. Between the tournament rounds and Azlyn's building the business, a lot will be going on. And to make my overall chapter count with Life Goes On, I'll need to pull off this Olympus arc in just three chapters. All that to say, it could be a bit, and I might even do a few Chain of Memories uploads in a row before the next part of this is done. Like I said, fair warning.
Anyway, time for the usual shoutouts to Bezerker21 and TheIrishWriter. Love your feedback guys, it really helps me keep on trucking with this series.
Until next time!