Author's Note: So so so sorry about the LONG wait in between updates. Not only am I super stressed with school and my job, but oh my god I swear this chapter was so freaking hard to write! Like I'm still not pleased with it. and omg don't even get me started on how hard the scene between Hades and Terra was. Argh. Anyway thanks so much for the reviews and it's really exciting to see some people like this story. I've managed to do some brainstorming on what I want to happen in the end, which is a bit of a change than what I previously planned, which is exciting because I really like what I have planned. Alright, after this chapter, there's only one more left, so please read and enjoy :)

...

Mark of a Hero

…

The first time I had gotten a glimpse of Cerberus, I knew it was something I didn't want to mess. And now, I was doing just that. Here I was staring at the huge three-headed dog curled up in a ball sleeping right at the entrance to Hades' den. The width of his body took up one pillar to the other, and by the looks of it there was no way I was going to get through without climbing over him or waking him up.

Climbing over him it is then.

I mean, I was pretty light on my feet, and nimble? Forget about it. I was as nimble as they came.

You could do this. You could do this Zack. Just be quiet and fast.

But when I looked at those giant paws, I imagined him waking up and crushing me quick and painless with just one step. I just had to make sure I wasn't dumb enough to get caught underneath one of them. And then there was also Cerberus' three huge heads I had to look out for! Each with their own pair of muzzles holding monstrous jaws and humongous teeth that could rip apart my metal armor in less than a second if they wanted to.

They could all play tug of war with my limbs if they wanted. I trembled. But I knew I wasn't going to die here. That would be against what the Fates had shown me. But even if I wasn't afraid of dying, I sure as hell was afraid of losing an arm.

It was do or die time though, and with a deep breath, I continued past Cerberus, flinching every time the Behemoth let out a long sigh from one of its heads in its sleep. Gods its snores were loud! I was just hoping it was so loud, too loud to hear me, over the sound of its own breathing.

I made it past the heads, and now was the hard part. Trying to make it over Cerberus' leg. You could do this Zack...maybe there was a chance Cerberus wouldn't wake up. Maybe he was a heavy sleeper. I didn't see that as very likely seeing as he, they?, was the Guard of the Underworld after all.

I tested the waters simply by prodding Cerberus in the hind leg, and checking back to see if he flinched. Luckily for me, Cerberus didn't stir a bit, instead, I just heard one of its head letting out a puppy-like whine that made me curious as to how such a cute noise could come out of the demon. But I guessed I was safe to go ahead.

I had made it through so much already.

I had fought the Darkness when Hades had tried to rule me with it. I had fought against Terra when he was the one being controlled. And I had managed to stay alive when Meg had given me that potion. When I was knocked near dead in the River Styx I survived. I had willed myself out, and now I had scoured the entire Underworld for that sword, and there was no way I was going to let anything defeat me when I was just so close. Gods, I was close I could practically smell freedom. And there was nothing I wanted more than to earn back mine and Terra's freedom.

I could just picture myself biting into a fresh batch of baked bread in the city of Thebes. I could imagine Terra and I, new-found friends, sparring together, laughing together, able to come and go as we pleased.

It made me want to push forward. So finally, after what felt like minutes of anticipation, I took my first step. I jumped up, my arm wrapped around Cerberus' leg as I tried to pull myself up, pushing up with my feet. And when I made it atop the mutt's leg, I looked down at the ground, and let out relieved breath. I had done it. And now all I had to do was jump down on the other side and I was home free. Free. Ah, that word sounded nice.

But I'd been to distracted with the drean of freedom to notice that Cerberus wasn't snoring anymore, because just as I was about to step down, I heard this low threatening growling. Growling from all three dog heads.

I turned slowly...and came face to face with Cerberus, six eyes wide-awake and staring at me like I was their next meal. I could have sworn I even saw one of them lick their lips. I knew I was dead meat now. And Gods, I just hoped Terra's sword was worth it.

Man, I sure wish they had taught us how to fight three-headed dogs in training back at Midgar.

…

"Well, well, well, look at that. Hades 1, Terra, zip!"

I had let Hades' fool me, and now I was paying the price. I was fighting a battle I knew I couldn't win. Hades had me on my knees, breathless and bruised, as if my training with Master Eraqus had left me just a novice. I was hardly able to stand on my feet, shaking beneath me as I leaned on my knees and kept a keen eye on Hades. As if I could dodge another one of those attacks of his. A fast flying fireball was what had knocked me to my feet, and this was the first time I really felt fear. Would I be able to keep this up until Zack got back with my Keyblade?

"Come on, give me a break already. Look, I'm bored, you're exhausted. Just give it up already so I can give Zack the old vamoose, and we can get back to business."

"No way...Hades..." I said, between trying to catch my breath. "I'm not stopping until I defeat you."

"You know," Hades began before disappearing and reappearing behind me, hand on my shoulder as his face reared uncomfortably close to mine. "I don't understand all this animosity towards me. Correct me if I'm wrong, but you're the one who wanted me to take you under my wing." He draped his arm across me, and I recoiled, backing away with my hand gripping my weapon tightly.

"You tricked me. You said all I had to do was play in the games and you'd teach me to control my darkness."

"I guess I didn't know what I was in for with you. You got a lot of darkness in you, let me tell you." I gritted my teeth and sneered at him. That wasn't true. Okay, sure I knew I was no match for the purity of Ven, and there was always Aqua and her strong heart, but there was still a lot of light in my heart. I knew that, and was foolish to even doubt myself enough to let Hades play his mind tricks on me. "And you know, this would go a lot smoother if you and Zack weren't so determined on fighting me every step of the way."

"What do you need us for anyway?" I said, finally having caught my breath. "You said it yourself, you're the Lord of the Dead."

"Yeah, and the Lord of the Dead doesn't need to get his hands dirty when I can get chumps like you and Zack to do it, kapiche?"

"Well im done doing your dirty work for you. No more Games, no more training, me and zack are going to get out of here." I said as I charged forward with a yell and sent my fist flying straight for Hades' yappy jaw. Direct hit, and Hades stumbled backwards, his eyes blazing as he touched his face.

"Heh, maybe I deserved that a little," He said, spat on the ground, and snarled. "You know, I'm trying to help you here. And this is how you repay me? Future's not looking too bright anyway, might do you a world of good to stay here," he said, more to himself than I, but I had heard clear enough. How could he know what my fate would be like? And besides, he was wrong, no fate was worse than this.

He pointed his finger towards me and a burst of radial flames shot towards me, burning my eyes like hot sun-spots. I managed to evade it, and knew I had to just keep Hades busy a little longer. Just until Zack got here. Speaking of which, where was he? I wondered how he was doing, and if he could even manage to find my Keyblade. If not...then I knew what was in store for me. I'd be stuck here until I could somehow manage to escape.

He smirked, fire swelling over his fist, the flame flickering, light dancing over his face. "You're just a chump, Terra, you know that? I saw some potential there, but you just threw that all away the second you decided to oppose me. You'll never conquer the darkness inside you. It's just going to grow until it all out consumes your heart and you crumble like the weak person you are."

"Shut up!" I yelled, my hands clenching, my temple throbbing as this anger began to rise and tap at the darkness in my heart.

"Whoah, careful Terra, I can see your darkness showing," Hades said with a cackle, and I knew he was right. If I didn't find some way to control it, the darkness was going to control me. And it was at that moment I heard Ven's voice, clear as day, and I'm sure it was the link between us that let his voice tap into my heart at the exact moment I needed it most, when my heart had began to tremble.

"Hey, is it true what the Master said? That there's both light and darkness in every heart?" He had asked months ago when Ven, Aqua, and I had been laying against the cool grass as we stared up at the light sky above us.

"Well," I had said, "we're not so sure about you sometimes. I wouldn't be surprised if there wasn't a trace of darkness in you." I laughed and had ruffled Ven's hair, and even though Ven hated to be babied, I could see the hint of a smile behind his pout.

"Why do you ask, Ven?" Aqua said, sitting beside me, her long legs intertwined with mine.

"I just don't get how the darkness can be so bad if we all have some of it in us."

I remembered keeping quiet, all too aware of the darkness that was ever present in my heart. More so than Aqua and Ven or even the Master. It was something I was ashamed of, afraid of even. I was afraid one day it'd become too much of a hindrance, and I'd fail the Master...fail Aqua and Ven.

"Well, I think what the Master is trying to say is that we have to be careful because of what the darkness in our hearts can do. Because it can lead us astray from the light. So even if there is darkness, we can't coax it out, or let our light waver," Aqua said, sounding more like a teacher than the student. But what if the darkness was already there? Always had been? I didn't ask, for fear Aqua would look at me differently if she knew.

But then I remembered what Ven had said. "I remember someone telling me … darkness and light are harmonious. You know, two parts of a whole," he said as he clasped his hands together. "And we shouldn't be afraid of it because fear is what chases us and makes our hearts weak." I remembered he looked at me, as if he was telling me personally, and smiled. "Maybe I'm just being weird," he said with a shy shrug of his shoulders.

"Since when did you get so wise, Ven?" I asked as I let my arm drape across his shoulders, smiling, my heart put at ease at what Ven had said. He was right. At that moment, I knew I had to be stronger. I couldn't be afraid of what was inside me.

That was why, I realized, Ven had so blindly followed Aqua and I into different worlds. He wasn't afraid, and so neither could I. And I blinked, and it was like everything snapped back into place; Hades, the arena, and Ven's words echoed as I stared at Hades with new strength and wisdom.

"I have darkness inside me, it's as you say, but I know better now than to trust someone who just wants to use that darkness for their own agenda. If I'm going to conquer the darkness I'm going to do it on my own terms. For myself. And I have to face it headfirst."

"You must think you're a real hero huh? You even got the cheesy monologues and everything. Fine, Terra, no more games," he said as flames engulfed his hands again, and I felt the scale of darkness tip. It was becoming stronger.

"Why don't you let me make this fight fair. Let' me have my Keyblade. Or are you too afraid to see what I'm really capable of?"

"Aye aye aye again with that stupid Keyblade of yours. You know, a true hero, which you seem to think you are, isn't measured by his weapon."

"And the Lord of the Dead shouldn't be afraid of anything, especially not some "weak swordsman" like me, as you seem to believe."

"You are weak," Hades said, brows drawing together, "As weak as Zack is. How could I ever think the two of you could ever control the darkness. You're too soft. You could've been big, Terra, but you let yourself stoop down to Zack's level, and I'll destroy you."

"Hmm," I said, my lips peeling back into a smirk as I asked, "If Zack's so weak, then how was he able to slip out from right under your nose to get my Keyblade?"

I think that was the first time I actually saw a fear in Hades' eyes, with the way they shot up and flickered back and forth, glancing every which away around the Coliseum. He turned back to me, his nostrils flaring, his hands balled into fists, that fire atop his head beginning to flicker, before he shot his arms out, a massive flame burst forward as long as it was wide.

"What?!"

...

"Whoah!"

I jumped out of the way just in time to dodge Cerberus' huge snapping jaw. Close call there. Where had all of that faith and determination gone that I had just been feeling? Just a second ago I had all the determination in the world, and now I was trembling like a scared little kitten.

Not today, I thought, a smirk wide on my face as I clutched my sword and faced Cerberus and his drooling mouths.

"So you think you're big and bad, don't ya pup? Well I'll show you," I said as I leap forward and swung my blade towards Cerberus' three heads, barely missing by an inch when the dog lifted his heads above reach and jumped forward. Luckily, I was a lot smaller, a lot faster, and I managed to run out of the way before his huge paws could crush me.

This whole run-and-dodge routine wasn't going to work. What I needed was a plan.

The cave where we fought wasn't particularly high or wide, and Cerberus' body took up nearly the entire space. And over in the distance, I could see the giant door that must have led to Hades' throne, where Meg had hinted he was keeping the Keyblade. And I could see the arch of the cave, that led me to wonder, if I couldn't beat Cerberus, then I could trap him. If there was one thing I knew, it was that caves could easily crumble. And with Cerberus' weight?

I knew that was my only chance at getting out of here. I could trap Cerberus so that I could get to the sword. And hopefully I could find a way out by taking the boat across the river and make my way back unharmed. Great plan, Zack, now all there was time to do was put this plan into action.

"Come on kitty, kitty," I said as I ushered Cerberus to leap forward at me, and the dog took the bait just as I knew he would.

It was pretty scary seeing him leaping for me, but I stood there until the opportune second and when I saw it, I took it and jumped out of the way. Cerberus' heads slammed against the wall, and the whole cave shook; debris fell from the ceiling, but still the rocks didn't budge.

I ran to the other side of the cave wall and again lured Cerberus towards me with a whistle. Jump, dodge, slam! And the walls shook even more so this time. Small rocks fell from the ceiling and I barely was able to avoid them.

"One more time," I said, backed up against the same wall, the one that Cerberus had just hit. "Come on ugly!" I said, but instead of leaping towards me, he swiped his large paw and knocked the sword right from my grip. It went flying into the river. I saw a hoard of souls grab onto the hilt of the blade and pull it under.

"You're just lucky my sword's gone or I would have neutered you, you mutt." And I smirked when I saw Cerberus eyes narrow to horizontal rings of red. He snarled, drool dripping from his hungry muzzle. And he backed up, charged forward, and pounce, leaving me just enough time to run to the other side of the cave, closest to Hades' den.

When his body made contact with the wall, I heard a loud crumbling noise, loud and nearly deafening, and then it happened. Rocks and cave drippings began to fall, and then it got louder, and soon boulders were falling, tumbling down and stacking atop of each other. They kept coming, the whole cave shaking until finally it stopped, it grew quiet, and amidst the falling dust, I saw a wall high enough to separate me from Cerberus and keep him behind it.

"Yes!" I pumped my fist into the air and jumped, knowing I had came out of this victorious, just like I always knew I would. I could hear the growing of Cerberus. He must have avoided the rock fall, and so not to take any chances of him bursting through the pile of rocks, I ran towards the tall double-doors with the skull-faced handles.

Finally. I had made it. Just behind those doors was sure to be Terra's sword. I had done it, just like I had promised Terra. It felt good knowing I hadn't let him down. That he believed in me, and for good reasons too.

Maybe there was hope for me after all. Maybe I could really become a hero. That is, if the Keyblade was really behind those doors like I thought.

If it wasn't...

I didn't even want to think about that.

So I took a deep breath, let it out, and pushed open the double doors.

Hades' room...with all its whips and chains and torture devices. As well as a throne seat, and a large table in the middle of that room that looked like a board game with lots of little figures. I walked forward, curious, and saw that there were many figures. Why would Hades have a board game with action figures on it? But on further inspection I saw Hercules, that guy Hades wanted me to kill, and Meg. And even two figures that looked quite familiar: Terra and me.

Was this some kind of weird voodoo or something? I didn't even want to know, and I looked around the room, and saw a bright white light that looked like some sort of portal. Probably a portal that let Hades get to other parts of the Underworld quickly. Great, that's how I would be getting out of here.

But where was the real prize? The Keyblade.

I kept looking, and finally, that was when I saw it, lying against the wall like nothing more than a meaningless prop. I smiled, and put my hands on my knees to catch a breath that I had been holding since I first stepped foot into the Underworld with Hades' chains binding my wrists. At that moment, I thought I would never leave this place. But for the first time in months, I felt things were finally going to change. I was finally going to be free. We were finally going to be free.

I walked over and almost hesitated in picking the Keyblade up. It held a lot of power, that much I knew for sure, and when I picked it up, I wondered just how powerful it was? Could it destroy Hades with just one blow?

But I didn't even have time to wonder when the sword began to glow, so brightly I had to shield my eyes with my arm, and in a second, the sword was gone from my hand, and I was left standing there with glittering dust left behind it.

Where had it gone? Panic stirred in my stomach, and for a second I couldn't breathe. Had I done something wrong? Terra hadn't warned me of it disappearing like that. But maybe...maybe it was a good thing. Maybe it was in Terra's hands right now, and he was waiting for me to help him deliver the final blow with Hades?

I looked over to the shining light that looked to be a portal, and with a deep breath, headed towards it. Just as I thought, I stepped into the light, and was immediately transported through time and light. I reappeared in the Vestibule, right outside the Arena. And I knew this was our final chance. The last step to getting out of this hell, finally.

I smiled, and with my head held high, I pushed the double doors open, into the light, towards my fate.