Chapter 4: Planning an Escape
Inside Pandora's box, Mars was sitting around, feeling bored. He had given up on escaping 5 years ago, after trying everything. Pandora sat next to him, her eyes closed.
The immortal spirit guardian was meditating. Mars growled at her, and the spirit opened her eyes. She looked at the god.
"What?" She asked.
Mars growled at Pandora. "This is boring as hell! How can you possibly sit here all day, everyday, just to keep me in here?"
Pandora looked at him. "It is my duty as the guardian of Pandora's Box."
"I understand that, but how can you stand it? Don't you get tired of it? Don't you want out?" Pandora shook her head. Mars was confused. "Why not?"
"Meditation let's the time go by. It allows me to stay in my mind, where thoughts and everything is limitless. Time goes by much quicker like that. Ten years have gone by and it's only felt like two."
The Roman God of War nodded. He looked around the box and back to Pandora. "Can you use any magic while in here?"
Pandora nodded. "Much. Now if you would please excuse me, I was in the middle of something," she said, and returned to meditating.
Mars sighed and fell silent. Suddenly he heard a voice in his head. Man, she must really get on your nerves.
What...who is that? He asked telepathically.
Oh come on Mars, you've been cooped up in a box so long you forgot your old friend? It's Hades, idiot, he heard Hades say.
Mars smiled. Hades, it is good to hear your voice, he said. Tell me, what is it you want?
Well you remember Proserpine, the Roman god of the underworld?
I do.
Well, we talked the other day. Don't make a reaction so Pandora finds out something's up. You're gonna hate this. Zeus is stepping down from his throne...and he's appointed Ares to take his place.
Mars growled. Quid enim? Quomodo ille (What? How dare he!)
I knew you would be upset. So Proserpine came up with something. We think we have a way to get you out of Pandora's box. Then you can take Zeus' throne as your own.
I'm afraid you can't get me out. Pandora has placed safeguards around the temple. If you try to leave with me, you will get sucked into the box also.
Yes, but even Pandora's power can hold against three gods at once. If you summon up all the power you can, and we help with our own, we can get you out. Once you are out of the box, fly away from the city until you have no more energy. We'll find you, and then we can plan what to do next.
Mars chuckled. That was a great plan. Very well. How soon can you get here?
We are already here, Mars heard Proserpine say.
The God of War nodded. Pandora snapped her eyes open. She had heard everything and had to stop them. She summoned her magic.
"You won't get away that easily Mars!" she snarled, putting up every defense she had.
Mars laughed. "Watch me," he said, as energy started to glow around him.
Pandora growled as she summoned her own energy. The box began to rattle intensely. But Pandora knew that even if Mars escaped from the box, he couldn't leave the temple. Hades laughed, and strengthened his power. The box was practically bouncing now. Then with a giant bang, the lid was blasted open and Mars was flung out.
The dragon roared loudly and flew out of the temple with Hades and Proserpine following him. Pandora came out of the box and growled angrily. She had to do something. Closing her eyes, she vanished and appeared on Mount Olympus while still connected to the box.
"My Lord," she said, bowing before Zeus. "I have important news."
"What is it? Why aren't you in the box? Mars could get out and-" but he stopped once he realized why she was in front of him. His eyes went wide.
"Mars has escaped my box," Pandora said. "I tried my best to stop him. Hades and Proserpine somehow got past my defenses and helped him escape."
"Dang it. I thought Hades was acting weird. I didn't think he would plan this. Mars is going to go after Ares!"
"He wants the throne. What should I do?"
"Contact your friends. I trust them to help Ares. You can go into a physical form. Now stop standing there; go friend your friend! Go, go, GO!"
Pandora nodded and vanished. She appeared inside the temple and went inside the box, contacting her friends telepathically. Caudus was walking back to Rome when he stopped, hearing Pandora in his head.
Come to the temple immediately. There is something I must tell you.
The priest transformed into a hydra and flew to Greece. he reverted to normal when he reached Pandora's Temple and walked inside. Pandora came out of the box in spirit form, looking at him. "Mars has escaped," she said. "I need your help, as well as the others."
Caudus' eyes widened and nodded. "Of course, right away. What do we need to do?"
"We need Ares. Go to his temple and pray. I will contact the others."
As Caudus ran off, Pandora closed her eyes, and contacted Articulos next. The avatar's reaction was the same. Pandora contacted all of her friends, and they were soon in the temple. She looked at them.
"How could this have happened, Pandora?" The avatar asked.
"Hades and Proserpine," Pandora said simply. "Caudus is already on his way to talk to Ares. I suggest you all do the same." She looked at them. "When you have spoken with Ares, come back here. I will join you. Call me Pandora, even in my physical form."
They nodded and left. Minutes later the Romans came to the Temple of Ares and began to pray.
