Chapter LXXVIII: The trials of the Coliseum part XIV

Resting upon one of the many soft and plushy white clouds of Olympus Hermes the messenger of the gods slept on quietly with blissful peace as the small wings on his sandals fluttered a little now and again.

However suddenly an enormous sound echoed of ferocious volume as it startled the blue aura coloured god awake in moments as he looked around dazed shaking his head to and throw bewildered.

"Now just what in the name of-" he began to say, but then he pulled down his pair of spectacles back into place and at the depths of the clouds below and saw a horrible menacing shape quickly ascending towards him.

The beast he saw below roared loudly once more as it saw the small messenger god which then made him panic in moments as he cried out scurrying gathering his things together taking off in moments, "oh man! Oh geez we're in trouble! I gotta go!"

Down below now behind the giant beast Hades smiled menacingly as he looked on with darkened eagerness his teeth revealed, "Oh run fast as you can Hermes… you guys will have one hell of a ball!"

Down below though on the solid sandy floor of the coliseum Pete had watched from his hidden post as the others all rushed into the main entranceway to the arena as they had inside to recover and gather important information from Oralee.

Feeling that it was now safe for him to reveal himself Pete stood out proudly as he exclaimed, "heh those chumps have got their tails between their legs now!" He then laughed loudly as he then added, "Man this plan that she and Hades decided on is workin great! And now to just give ol' Hercules the finishin blow!" He smiled smugly to himself.

With that he then ran off to the other side of the arena to get a certain little surprise ready for them all.

Back inside the coliseum entranceway the others were now in the midst of a discussion with Oralee as Cait sith, Meg and Phil were busy trying to do something for Hercules who was stilling struggling with the condition Hari had now inflicted upon him. However so far not even Cait sith's power had been enough to restore the hero's former strength.

Sitting on the stone bench that sat in front of the trophies of various matches Oralee had her head down as she re-laid as best she could.

Staring at her with grave seriousness Mickey asked her, "Is that all that ya can remember Oralee?"

Not showing her face Oralee nodded replying sadly," yes I'm afraid, I just remember being taken by Pete, shown to Maleficent and then… well to here as we are now."

Nozomi was depressed herself that they hadn't learned really anything too much new, for one they still could not tell what Hari and Hades deal was though it was clear he and she were working together for the moment, but then why had she been brought to Hades in the first place? Did Pete have some kind of connection or Maleficent? But he hadn't been present there at during the whole time so far… also who was agent who was serving Pete? Sad with the sense of being unknowledgeable Nozomi was silent…but then suddenly something hit her "wait a minute!"
Everyone then turned and looked at her puzzled as she had suddenly called out, Riku then looked at her dismissively as he asked with annoyance," what?"

Ignoring his tone Nozomi turned again to Oralee as she asked her, "Oralee, did you hear anything before you were taken by Hades?"

Hearing her friend say this Oralee repeated puzzled, "hear anything?"

Nozomi nodded a couple of times quickly as she then said, "Yeah, did you hear any discussions or anything said like… like about that monster we saw flying away?"

At this being mentioned Oralee's eyes widened as she then had a sudden flash of something as she held her head as she then said quickly remembering, "yes… there was something!"

Hearing her say this both Riku and Mickey were alerted as then Nozomi asked, "what? What is it that you remember?"

Holding her head still as she focused herself trying to escape the cloud of amnesia within her Oralee then spoke, "yes! They were… Hades and Hari were saying that… that monster was created from the spirits of wandering ghosts of the surface and the underworld as well as these other creatures… called the titans."

Hearing this mentioned it then dawned on everyone that they hadn't seen those ghosts that had been wandering around, so that's what had happened to them! But Hercules though in the state that he was in gasped out suddenly, "the titans?!"

Everyone turned then as Hercules said these words as they all looked at him with worry as Meg, Cait sith and Phil looked at him with just as high concerns trying to stop him from moving too much. Even Vincent from where he was leaning against the wall looked on with his gaze just as unreadable.

Seeing Hercules' reaction still anxious Oralee nodded her head slightly, "yes." She replied to him.

Nozomi wondering why there was such a reaction though asked curiously, "what're the titans?"

Hercules holding his chest once more still badly struggling couldn't answer then, so Phil seeing how bad his champ was decided to answer Nozomi's question instead," they're monsters twinkle toes, ancient ones from the beginin of the world that caused huge messes of destruction here."

Hearing this her curiosity increasing further she repeated "ancient monsters from the beginning?"

Nodding at her repetition Phil then continued, "that's right, a long time ago the high and mighty Zeus above sealed 'em away so that they could do no more harm to nobody."

Knowing however that there was more to this though Riku spoke up, "but?"

Seeing that he'd picked up on this so quickly Phil continued on, "but then Hades some years back freed the titans and caused havoc again, causin more chaos and an even bigger mess than ever before."

Both Nozomi and Riku were quiet as then Mickey encouraged Phil to go on as he said, "and so what happened then Phil?"

At this Phil then unexpectedly smiled and then proudly proclaimed, "Then? Then! Hercules and some guys that I proudly trained, Sora Donald and Goofy all wham bang! Kerb lam! Defeated them all and then to put the icing on the cake sent Hades fallin into his own pit… until now." He then finished with a depressed sigh.

Nozomi before Phil made the sigh thought to herself with an odd look, "ker blam?" But then she herself became depressed herself as Phil did as a quiet mood spread throughout the room once again.

However though Vincent seeing the gloominess that was overtaking everyone wasn't going to let it prolong as he directed Oralee to go on as he asked, "so what else exactly did you ascertain?"

Hearing the scarlet clad stranger say this Oralee looked at him with her one revealed curious eye but then realising what she had to do she quickly continued on with what she had learned, "well after learning what this monster was… I then overheard them discussing about taking over this kingdom called Olympus, the dwelling of the gods of this land."

Mickey hearing this widened his eyes he repeated, "Olympus!"

Oralee nodded, "yes that's right, the two of them together and then after that… everything would belong to him with the gods all to be sent to the underworld using the monster and the heartless."

Everyone hearing this knew that this was not good news whatsoever, Nozomi knowing now about all these schemes then became angered at what Hades was going to do, as well as Hari! How dare they! By using a friend of theirs against them and even hurting another in the process!

"We've got to stop them then!" She cried out madly as she then began to run to the coliseum doors to leave.

However hearing this Riku who though was just as agitated stopped her as he asked, "How can we?"

Turning as he said this Nozomi was about to complain but before she could Mickey spoke up, "that's right there, Nozomi ya gotta remember the deal that's been placed on us, we can't go nowhere right now or do anythin… we're stuck."

Hearing this Nozomi looked at Mickey with widened eyes herself and once again felt that same feeling of depressed frustration as she and everyone were helpless to do anything.

Oralee seeing the reactions between everyone felt horrible herself as she spoke herself, "I'm so sorry…this is all my fault…"

Everyone hearing Oralee say this remained silent unable to react but Cait sith and Nozomi looked at her both sadly as she was clearly blaming herself for the events that had now taken place. However not wanting her to continue to feel this way Cait sith stopped his treatment for a moment with Hercules as he left the Greek hero to Meg and Phil as he told her walking over, "yer highness don't feel that way."

Looking at her small childhood friend Oralee was still depressed said, "but Cait sith-"

However Nozomi interrupted her as she said, "he's right Oralee, it's not your fault, what's happened has happened and… we'll find a way out of it." Oralee looking at her depressed still suddenly lit up inside as Nozomi finished saying," I know we will."

She was quiet with her surprised expression but then suddenly Cait sith concurred himself as he nodded and then jumped up and stood on Oralee's lap, "the banshee's right yer highness! We always find a way out and we will here too! Right lads!" He spoke proudly looking around.

Seeing this call for optimism from everyone they were all silent for a moment though they felt just a slightly bit energised from this call of confidence but humouring him Riku spoke with his usual sarcastic smile as he replied, "sure we will."

Mickey though ignoring the sarcasm in Riku's voice knew that this exactly was needed there and then as he nodded energetically," exactly there! We all will, we just gotta have a think and plan somethin out!"

Meg, Hercules and Phil hearing the optimism spreading smiled themselves as then Meg said herself, "well if you guys can be so upbeat about this then I don't see any reason why we shouldn't be."

Then Phil smiling himself then concurred, "now that's the kinda thing I wanna hear from ever faithful heroes I trained for following the ever reliable rule number: seventy one 'put the past behind you!'

Nozomi glad then that everyone was feeling more and more upbeat smiled energetically, "right on guys! So… what do we do now?" She asked them to commence a brainstorm.

At once hearing the question asked Mickey then began to make his reply, "well I'd say that we should-"

But suddenly before he could say another word there was suddenly a huge crash making everyone trip and fall on themselves as the whole place was shook horribly making dust fall everywhere.

"What was that!" Nozomi cried out looking around shocked.

As she cried these words out though suddenly a new louder voice made everyone's ears ache as it bellowed, "Hercules!!! Where are you!!"

Hearing the voice everyone then got over their earache as quick as they could as Riku spoke up, "that came from outside!"

Hercules now being pulled up by Meg then said to them all, "we got to go out and see what it was."

However Oralee seeing Hercules the way he was spoke up worried as she walked over stopping him, "but Hercules you mustn't! Not in your present condition!"

Smiling at her concern though Hercules tried to soothe the worried girl as he said, "I'll be all right, believe me a hero isn't all about pure godly strength you know."

Still worried though Oralee tried again, "but-!"

Suddenly then Vincent spoke up as he said, "don't worry if worse comes to be, I will be his support so do not trouble yourself." as he looked on with his ever-cold gaze at Oralee.

Oralee hearing Vincent say this was still for a moment but then seeing he was serious nodded feeling at least a little more comforted, "all right then."

With that everyone then began to head outside however as Oralee began to walk out with Cait sith following her, Nozomi suddenly blocked the doorway barring her from leaving. Puzzled as to why she was doing this she asked, "Nozomi why are you-"

"I can't let you go out there right now," Nozomi told her with a strong determination.

Both she and her old friend puzzled though Oralee asked worriedly, "but why?!"

Nozomi then immediately replied, "we've only just got you back! And I don't want anything to happen to you! It'll be better for you stay here and be safe."

However hearing this Oralee immediately began to object, "but you might need me for this! I can-"

Then suddenly stopping her Nozomi walked over as she hugged her tightly and quickly making her quiet down in moments, Cait sith seeing this though wasn't pleased as he cried out, "hey!"

There was a long silence between them both despite the outburst for many moments but then Nozomi told her over her shoulder, "we finally managed to get a friend back… and I don't want you to vanish or get stolen away again, all right? Besides that's what friends do… we protect each other, don't we?"

Hearing her say this and feeling the gentleness in Nozomi's hug Oralee understood her concerns and knew that the way she was there and then wasn't her best and it was probably best for her to stay back for the meantime… so though reluctant she admitted defeat, "all right but you be careful too... I don't want you to get hurt either."

Hearing her say this Nozomi then released her from her hold as she then looked at her friend again and then nodded happily as she said "I will be don't you worry, besides we gotta hang out together right!"

Cait sith now though was fed up as he raced forward as he pulled Nozomi's hair hard and back as he said, "will ya stop laying yer hands on me highness! Ya got a job to do lass! Protectin her majesty is my job!"

Wincing getting the message as Cait sith tugged Nozomi cried out, "all right! All right! I get it Cait sith just get off!" With that she batted her arm and before she could hit him Cait sith had already flipped out of her reach as he then landed beside Oralee who only stared at the funny scene.

"Now get yer behind goin ya daft banshee!" Cait sith commanded as he pointed towards the doorway.

Annoyed though Nozomi knew inside that Cait sith meant well really so only sighed as she ran off saying, "fine I will seeya then!"

Watching her as she left Oralee looked to Cait sith as she then said with a tone of humour in her voice, "you've certainly have become close with them haven't you Cait sith?"

Turning his head at this comment her faithful companion replied, "I don't know what ya mean yer highness."

Hearing him say this Oralee let out a small laugh seeing the obvious, however they were both oblivious that a pair of devious eyes was gazing at them both through a crack in the entrance doors.

Flying as fast as his winged sandals would allow him to go, at last Hermes finally managed to make it to his most two important benevolent divine rulers Hera and Zeus who were at that moment relaxing upon soft clouds enjoying a heavenly meal.

He spoke quickly surprising them as he relayed his information to them both," my dear lord and ladies, an enormous monstrosity is rising to our gates! And it's coming fast!"

At once registering this information Zeus and Hera were shocked and immediately Zeus then gave his command, "sound the alarm! Raise an immediate counter attack! Go! Go!" He bellowed.

Already without a word Hermes before he departed replied, "gone babe!" At once he took off as he sounded his trumpet as all the gods were alerted to the oncoming monstrous intruder.

Grabbing the nearest weapons that they all could the gods of Olympus quickly prepared themselves and went to charge forward to battle and then suddenly all at once there was an enormous crash as something descended before the gates.

At once the gods all charged forward together towards the creature as they saw it's huge dark shadow looming over the golden gates. Apollo the lord of the sun cried out, "attack!" As the gates all at once opened and they proceeded out their powers all at the ready.

But suddenly arriving faster than the eye could see a red striking flash sent them all flying back knocking them off their feet. However before they could all recover or use any of their divine abilities something began to vacuum them all in as there was a great tornado of wind.

Them feeling the pull of the great force then looked above themselves and saw the enormous creature pulling them all in, it was a huge dragon-like creature black in colour with the heartless symbol upon its back. It had a long gigantic body with countless golden legs supporting it like a centipede with a sharp and foreboding spiked tail at its end. However what set this one apart were the many heads that it possessed. In total there were four heads two seemingly hard and solid like rock black and craggy in colour, then the other two within it's inner circle were a head of pure solid ice and finally the last head was dripping and saliving with larva as it dribbled with magma all over. The creature looked down at them with enraged golden glowing eyes and its gigantic wings flexed out showing it was truly a monstrosity beyond monstrosity.

But the thing that terrified the gods was that they were now all being dragged into the very last and most fearsome head which was in the centre part of it's chest, as it was a huge toothed mouth swirling with horrible dark winds of tornadoes inside of it's mouth that quickly swallowed them all with it's wide jaws as it then all snapped upon them all shut encasing them all in it's darkened body.

Zeus quickly coming himself to join the battle himself saw to his horror what had occurred as all his loyal friends and allies had been drained and sealed away in moments, all he could do was look in horror at the fearsome gigantic sight of the beast. He then breathed out, "how could this have-"

Then suddenly before him appeared a girl with her iron steel wings aloft as she then had her keyblade aimed straight at the king of the gods, "Zeus, lord of Olympus, surrender yourself to us," She commanded coldly.

Looking at this girl with widened eyes for a moment he then quickly became enraged as he then shouted, "you order me to surrender! Do you have any idea who're you're talking to?!" He shouted as he quickly reached out and summoned a lightning bolt to his hand.

Hari though still in her calm cold manner replied, "I am quite aware… however if you insist on rebelling." Immediately as she spoke these words her wings flexed strongly and at this motion suddenly two new figures appeared revealing themselves to be Ori and Saria who were now ready to battle with their violin and arrows.

Zeus looked at them all with truly angered eyes as he gazed at these two nobodies and girl as he then saw the monstrous dragon creation lean in as all five of it's monstrous faces bellowed showing it too was ready to battle alongside them.

"Then we will have to discipline you…" Hari spoke.

Arriving outside quickly Nozomi and everyone came out to the arena floor first to see what monstrous force could possibly be causing such a disturbance.

There as they all looked above was a huge towering colossus with a single eye on its fat layered face, with its huge bulk of a belly jetting outwards sandy yellow in colour with a loin cloth around his waist which was the only thing hiding away any part of the monster. Looking down at them all it then laughed loudly making the very floor tremble, "you all fight me!" Making the lot of them all to be a joke.

Looking at this fat gigantic tubby, Nozomi feeling more than scared she was instead growing incredibly agitated at this jeering as she looked up at this… thing!

"What the heck is he!" she spoke out mad as she tightened her hand around the Starseeker.

Hearing her question Phil answered her, "the Cyclops, one of the few titans that were left alive."

Seeing him and hearing the info Riku murmured annoyed, "oh great!"

Finally Meg holding Hercules still emerged as they stood out onto the steps when she felt him suddenly struggle as once again he gasped and fell to his knees, panicking as she saw him do this she cried out, "Hercules!"

At once though at the tall heights that the colossal Cyclops was he heard Meg's cry as he then smiled more revealing his sharp teeth as he laughed, "ah Hercules, mine!" He cried out as he reached out a huge clawed hand down to snatch up the weakened Greek hero.

Seeing this happening unable to stop the enormous monster Nozomi cried out, "Meg! Hercules!" As the others all looked on just as horribly worried.

Meg and Hercules hearing them and feeling a giant shadow over them looked up at the hand that was quickly coming towards them with widened eyes of terror when suddenly running forward into it's way came Vincent as he quickly aimed and fired his gun a few times. At once the Cyclops withdrew it's hand back as it cried out from the pain as though he'd been stung by a wasp.

Seeing him do this Mickey turned and quickly spoke, "thanks for that there Vincent!" Speaking on behalf of everyone as they all felt relief soar through themselves.

Though the only thing the silent scarlet clad anonymous man did was quietly reload his weapon quickly in case of another attack. Nozomi and the others seeing this happen knew that they couldn't let this thing get at Hercules again as they had to do something to stop this behemoth!

Hercules with Meg was still feeling horrible but then suddenly he heard Nozomi say, "all right guys! Let's get this lummox!" She spoke determined.

At once Riku and Mickey gripped their own keyblades ready to go, however suddenly Hercules called out, "no you mustn't!"

At this everyone turned around as Hercules called out to them as they remained silent as he continued on, " he's one of the titans… you don't all have the strength to-"

However he was interrupted as Riku told him, "We'll do it in the way that we can do it!"

The Greek hero was silent as then he heard Nozomi speak, "that's right Herc, we may not be gods but we'll beat him with the strengths we have, so you just rest easy!"

Silent for a moment realising that he wouldn't be able to convince them all otherwise Hercules instead cried out a smile beginning to decorate his features, "all right then… go get him you guys!"

With that cry to go and with the Cyclops now with its sight on them all as it smiled at them evilly they did just that as they took off into battle as Phil called out, "attack!"