Chapter LXXX: The trials of the Coliseum part XVI

Still rushing through the air even as the fist of the Cyclops smashed upon Oralee's terrified form Nozomi looked on with horrified eyes, as did everyone else within the grounds of the coliseum with a cloud of dust rushing everywhere.

Landing though quickly on the ground stumbling over herself slightly from panic Nozomi went straight to the fist of Cyclops coughing and spluttering through the dust cloud as she then cried out anxious, "Oralee! Oralee hang on!" With that she tried to do something as she rushed to the side of the Cyclops's hand as she desperately began to lift it off of her friend.

Seeing her as she tried to lift the enormous behemoth's hand Riku and Mickey recovered now from the battle went to assist her as they both went around and took their positions around it.

Gritting his teeth Riku gasped as it was truly heavy and he was dreading himself what injuries might have happened to their once lost friend, opening a single eye cringing from the pressure he breathed out, "darn this…"

Struggling himself even with his own meagre strength Mickey spoke out in his usual words of encouragement though he was just as anxious as the others were, "don't give up fella's! We can do this! We just gotta keep tryin!"

In the mean time even with his pained state Hercules could no longer stand back and just watch, using what was available to him he tried to walk forwards making Meg walk with him. Feeling him do this she looked at him worried, "Hercules! Please you can't-"

However she was interrupted as Hercules spoke, "I have to… I can't just sit back anymore! Even if I am in this state…"

Seeing the determination in his eyes Meg was halted from anything she could say to stop him, but then suddenly she saw that Phil had walked on over and was now trying to lift Hercules slightly as much as he could on his other side. Looking at her he told her, "don't try to reason with Herc, once he's set on something there's no stopin him."

Listening to Phil's words Meg knew then it to be the truth and so admitting defeat with a small sad smile she and Phil walked Hercules over to where the others were.

Gasping hard trying to lift still Nozomi was more desperate than ever as the passing seconds went by, for it would be less and less likely that Oralee would be all right. For the three of them together couldn't get the Cyclops's hand to even budge an inch. Frustrated and in anguish she then stood up as she began to cry out her hands, arms and body aching, "come on you stupid-"

But then all at once she heard another familiar pained gasp and turned to her left as she saw Hercules now bowing on his knees as he struggled to get his hands underneath the Cyclops's hand.

At the same time beside Riku and Mickey, Meg and Phil too had got beside them both as they too began to try and help them lift. Nozomi though seeing Hercules crouching where he was, it was clear he was still struggling badly as she spoke out to him, "Hercules!"

Hearing her as he looked up at her he smiled as he said, "hey"

Seeing him do this Nozomi then spoke out with concern in her voice, "what're you doing! You're still in bad condition! You can't push yourself to-"

However she was quickly interrupted as Hercules spoke, "I want to help you… I have to get your friend out of this… it's my responsibility."

There was silence between them both for a moment as Nozomi watched Hercules struggle on as she couldn't believe he was still willing to go this far for her and the others even in this bad state, Hercules turning back from the hand looked back to Nozomi again as he said, "all right?"

Hearing him say this snapped Nozomi out of her trance as she then replied feeling the same determination welling up inside of her as she replied quickly, "right!" As she got on her hands and knees and started to try and lift with everyone too.

Everyone all pulling their strength gritted their teeth, their eyes closed in concentration all of them trying to make the Cyclops's clenched hand move.

Straining hard against the massive weight of the creature everyone pulled hard, and then suddenly with their combined effort the hand began to move! Feeling it being lifted Mickey called out, "it's workin guys!"

Everyone pumped by this simple enthusiastic shout then all pulled harder, slowly they made more distance quickly but then it stopped barely even a foot off the ground.

Hercules struggling still pushed himself the hardest as the pain in his heart still ceased to relent, but yet at the same time he felt something building inside of himself but what though?

Suddenly then from underneath the depths of the Cyclops's hand there came a pained groan. Recognising it in moments Nozomi called out opening her eyes, "Oralee!"

Then at once as this name was called out Hercules felt something immediately click inside himself and at once with a mighty shout, "aaaahhhh!" There was a flash of light around him as red electrical energy was sent rippling into the ground as his golden glow returned around him once more as he fully lifted the Cyclops's hand and then tossed it over to one side.

This then sent everyone else flying backwards from the suddenness of the lift as they all landed scattered on the floor to stare up with amazement at the return of Hercules's strength!

Hercules amazed himself at what had occurred looked at himself as his godly glow dimmed making him look livelier in colour his pain now gone entirely! He asked himself, "how did-"

But it was not the time though to be asking questions as immediately Nozomi got up quickly and ran over to where Oralee was as she cried out, "Oralee! Oralee are you all right! Are you-"

But then suddenly as she made it over she looked down in shock, quickly then everyone ran over themselves to see what had occurred and they too stopped stunned themselves.

For laying there on the ground her face with widened eyes of shock herself was Oralee but lying on top of her with his long red tattered cape was Vincent his eyes closed unconscious with a painful expression on his face.

Getting up slightly Oralee put her arms over him as she then cried out to everyone, "please! You got to help him! He's horribly hurt"

Hearing this cry all at once everyone immediately ran over to them both, dropping to her knees quickly Nozomi spoke out stricken with worry, "how did this? Why did Vincent-"

Quickly Oralee informed them all, "he came suddenly and shrouded me in his red cape before the fist came down, he took the full force of the blow!... He was struggling the whole time to keep it off of me!"

Hearing this information nobody could believe at all what had happened, for none of them had noticed either Vincent's sudden disappearance with what had gone on.

Vincent then groaned in pain sharply, hearing this Nozomi then cried out, "Vincent!"

But then Mickey taking quick initiative went straight in as he raised his golden keyblade and called out, "Cura!" Then at once the green glowing spell emerged in moments. Vincent's pained breathing eased slightly though it was clear that the spell wasn't entirely enough for the extent of the damage that was caused by the pressure of the Cyclops's fist.

Everyone was quiet as they were all feeling a mixture of emotions, for one they should have been overjoyed that Hercules's strength was returned to him and Oralee was unharmed but with Vincent in the state he was in didn't leave anyone with a happy feeling.

Suddenly then interrupting their current dilemma was the return of shouts of pain and angry growling along with scratches, as arriving on the arena floor was none other than Pete who was still struggling away with Cait sith.

Infuriated at what this fat imbecile had caused Cait sith shouted out mad as he continued on, "look what ya done! Ya fat lummox! Makin me princess and –"

But then he was interrupted as Pete had at last grabbed Cait sith as he tugged him off and then shouted out angered himself covered in scratches, "You can shut yer mouth! Ya small fry!" He then held Cait sith in both hands, as he looked ready to throttle the small cat.

Everyone watched on with widened eyes then as Pete lifted Cait sith close up to him as he then spoke to him maliciously, "Now I'll teach ya! I had to go through so much trouble to get ere' ta get that princess back for Hades and-"

Suddenly all at once he halted as his anger quickly flowed away in moments as he realised what words had come out of his mouth as he looked up at the others who looked back at him just as much in the same state he was.

But then Nozomi snapping out of it asked out, "what!"
However Pete acting quickly realising the horrible error he had made released Cait sith in moments dropping him to the ground as he started to try and make a run for it.

Looking at him now outraged as he tried to run for it Nozomi cried out, "hey you-"

Suddenly though she was stopped in her tracks as two angry cries sounded out in unison, "Blizzara!" At once the two ice spells raced out of Riku and king Mickey's keyblades as they quickly ensnared Pete's feet, freezing them into place in moments.

Seeing what had occurred to him Pete cried out alarmed, "oh geez! I gotta get out of this! I gotta-" he spoke trying to dislodge himself, but then he suddenly stopped as he felt two other shadows from behind him… he was in utter dread.

Riku then spoke, "you're not going to get away Pete!"

Mickey then nodded as he added, "we're both gonna get every single inch of info you've gotta give!"

With that the two of them along with Phil as he then said, "exactly, this is what yer gonna get for messin with my champ!" As he brought out some rope into his hand as they all went on to deal with Pete.

He looked at them all with dread as he tried to reason with them, "Now fella's don't do this, I mean surely we can-" But it was too late as then he was given a thrashing!

Meanwhile Cait sith had finally made it over back to his princess as he leapt up onto her shoulder in moments calling out, "yer highness are ya all right? Are ya-"

Stopping his worrying in his tracks Oralee spoke to him calmly putting a gloved finger to his lips, "I'm fine Cait sith… but right now," she then turned her head back down to Vincent removing her hand in moments. He was still struggling slightly as he was now lying on Oralee's lap (making Cait sith all the more secretly annoyed).

Nozomi on her knees beside Vincent had his hand in her own as she looked at him with horrible anxiousness as Meg stood next to her, her own hand on Nozomi's shoulder while Hercules simply watched over them all his gaze silent.

Groaning a little more painfully at last Vincent opened his eyes awakening from the realms of unconsciousness as he looked around himself dazed for a moment as he asked aloud, "how did-"

But then he was interrupted as Nozomi spoke out, "Vincent!"

Conscious now a little more he turned as he heard his name being called out as he then saw Nozomi looking at him with horrible worry in her eyes as she held his left clawed hand. Seeing her like this he was puzzled as he then saw Oralee looking over him and the others as well.

He then questioned, "Nozomi?"

She then sniffled a little as her name was called as a few worried tears escaped her eyes as she then spoke on, "oh I'm so glad you're okay… I'm glad, I…"

Seeing her like this Vincent was puzzled as he couldn't understand why she was acting this way as he asked, "what're you crying for? There's no reason for you to."

At the mention of these words Nozomi shook her head then vigorously as she spoke quickly, "yes there is you got badly hurt! You protected Oralee and it was my fault too!… There's no way that I wouldn't!" For she felt extremely guilty for letting herself lose control once more and letting end like this.

Quiet as he gazed at her and her tears all Vincent could do was stare but then he heard Oralee then speak, "we're all worried for you… I'm sorry that you had to put yourself in such a predicament for my sake."

Vincent was silent still as then Hercules spoke finally, "it's true, you did a really heroic thing there Vincent… I never expected that you would."

Hearing this Vincent at last made a reply, "I only did what was right… for after all this girl, " he spoke as he then looked up at Oralee for a moment as he looked back down, "was part of what these group have been striving to retrieve back, I have merely helped to end a part of their quest, that's the end of it."

Nozomi looking at him as he said these words was glad in some ways for what he had admitted but felt it was too cold as she then replied back, "that's not the only thing!"

At this Vincent looked at her with surprise for a moment as he then asked," what do you-"

But then Nozomi carried on, "we're not just on our quest to help ourselves! We're there to help you too remember! I mean we still gotta let you meet Yuffie, Leon and the others, so you can meet Lucrecia again right! So…" Nozomi didn't know why she had to say this but… she knew she had to.

Vincent still perplexed himself for a moment though did understand what she meant as he replied, "yes that's true… I have a wager to uphold to you."

Nodding slightly then Nozomi began to wipe her tears away quickly as Riku and Mickey both walked back towards them all, leaving Phil behind with his arms folded mad as Pete was now against the door of the coliseum tied and gagged as he looked on grumpily. Obviously having been pummelled slightly from all sides. It was then Riku spoke as he arrived in front of them all, "well we certainly managed to get some info back there."

Looking at the two of them it was Meg who asked first, "what kind of info?"

Mickey then went into his explanation as he told them what was going on, "it looks like Pete's been workin with Hades all this time, they were usin' Oralee so that they'd be able to strand us out here for those forty eight hours … then snag her back while we were dealing with the Cyclops, where Pete would return her back to Maleficent, while Hades conquers Olympus."

Hearing this information it was then Hercules who spoke first angered at what had been revealed, "So it was a double cross all along!"

At this statement Mickey simply nodded, "yeah that's it, but on the other hand it means-"

It was then Nozomi interrupted him as she asked, "it means what?"

Riku then took the initiative as he answered her annoyed she'd interrupted his majesty, "Hades has broken his word, that means his deal is broken and we can leave the coliseum."

Nozomi, Oralee and everyone else listening to this realisation were quiet for a moment but then Meg spoke, "you can go and stop Hades then!"

Hearing these words Nozomi then thought to herself, 'stop Hades?' But as she thought this her thoughts then drifted back to Ori and Saria… she didn't want to battle them under these circumstances.

However Riku and Mickey were too wrapped up in the conversation and the over all situation to notice as they both nodded at this, as Mickey confirmed, "that's right."

Oralee listening though then asked, "but how can all of you get to Olympus? We can't simply rely on Nozomi's power alone to-"

But suddenly then at that moment came a sound of powerful beating winds along with a distinct neigh that made everyone turn and look up into the dark thundery sky, there quickly racing down through the air in a state of panic was a white winged horse with a blue mane and tail.

Seeing the beast Hercules recognised it in moments as he cried out, "Pegasus!"

Hearing this name Nozomi asked quietly aloud, "Pegasus?"

At once the white winged horse landed on the ground quickly with a clutter showing it's urgency as it quickly went to Hercules who ran up to his old friend and trusty stead asking, "Pegasus what's wrong? What's-"

He was quickly silenced as Pegasus spoke in a series of neighs and facial expressions his face head looking down and up from the clouds showing horrible worry.

Watching him everyone could tell it was bad and their thoughts were realised as then Hercules turned around and told them all, "Olympus has been overwhelmed! The Gods and my father have been taken over by Hades, his followers and this horrible monster he's created!"

At this Meg then cried out, "what?"

Oralee hearing this herself was just as anxious as she spoke out, "that's awful!"

Hercules looked bitter himself at this as he nodded slightly, "yeah it is… my father's being imprisoned while, the Gods are being led to the underworld even as we speak."

Hearing the seriousness of the situation Riku then spoke up, "well we've got to do something right now then! We've got to leave!"

At this reply Hercules agreed in moments, "yeah! C'mon you guys hop on Pegasus and we'll go now!'

At this Riku and Mickey both nodded, "right!"

With that they both ran over to Hercules as he started to mount Pegasus, Meg then spoke as she watched them both run, "I'll stay here with Phil, we'll keep an eye on that fatso and look after Oralee and Vincent."

Mickey then spoke up as he arrived next to Pegasus, "all right, thanks there now-"

But then it was finally they noticed Nozomi who hadn't bothered to get up as her head was down; it was clear to anyone what she thinking about. Meg looking at her asked her with her own concern, "Nozomi?"

However all she did was shake her head slightly as she couldn't say anything, she didn't even want to look at anyone, for how could she go up there? She didn't want to get Ori and Saria hurt all over again...

Looking at her Oralee then began to speak to her, "Nozomi what is-"

Suddenly though leaping off her shoulder irritated was Cait sith as he landed on Nozomi's head and pulled her hair back making her cry out in pain, "will ya get yer head together! Ya daft banshee!"

"Ow! Cait sith! Get off! Get off me! You-"

However she was interrupted, as Cait sith lectured her, "I ain't this is no time for ya to be in no angsty moment! Ya've gotta get up there and knock some senses back into place! I and them ain't gonna be the only one to do it!"

At once hearing these words Nozomi opened her eyes shocked as she asked, "senses?"

Cait sith nodded as he confirmed it, "that's right! Ya gotta knock 'em back into shape and get 'im both back on our side! Specially that Ori twit!"

Still feeling Cait sith's grip on her hair Nozomi though then asked, "but how can I, I mean we-"

But it was then Oralee interrupted as she spoke gently a smile on her face, "Cait sith's right, I'm sure you can all do it, if you're close friends as you are, I know you'll be able to reach them."

Nozomi then looked up to Oralee as she then nodded to her puzzled friend as she finished telling her, "I have confidence in you."

Looking at her Nozomi spoke, "Oralee…"

Seeing her like this Vincent then spoke himself though still pained slightly, "it's just like they've said, you all can do this… you have the strength, determination and sincerity for it, now go, do what you must."

Nozomi was silent still as she was surprised by Vincent's kind words until finally she felt Meg's hand on her shoulder as she too told her, "they're all right there you can bring back Saria and Ori back in one piece and even better than before, remember even friends have to smack each other out of stuff like this now and again."

Hearing her say this Nozomi then spoke once more, "Meg…" at which her friend smiled warmly despite the situation, Nozomi then looked down again as she imagined Saria's smiling face.

So with all this overwhelming encouragement and the knowledge that she and the others could do something, Nozomi's face then finally brightened as she replied to them all, "yeah… you're right guys, I'll do this!" With that she clenched her right hand brimming with determination as she then said, "let's go!"

Cait sith pleased at this released her hair as he sat on her head and spoke up proudly, "now that's the ol' banshee spirit there! C'mon!"

Nozomi nodded as she replied, "right!" With that she quickly got up and ran over to where Pegasus was waiting with Hercules, Riku and Mickey on it's back.

Seeing her coming Hercules smiled, as did Mickey and Riku, as they were ready to take off. Arriving next to them she nodded smiling herself and breathed in deeply as then her wings immediately opened up in seconds, as she was ready now too.

Then at once two sounds of swift wing beats were heard as both parties started to race up into the skies, Cait sith now holding onto Nozomi's shoulder called down to Oralee as he shouted, "don't worry yer highness I'll be back with ya soon!"

Oralee nodded on the ground Vincent still on her lap as she shouted out, "all right just be careful Cait sith!"

Pleased himself at this he was quiet as he held onto Nozomi's shoulder tightly as she whispered to herself, "Ori, Saria just wait… we'll get you out of this!" With that their ascent to Olympus began.