Chapter 5: The Walk to Hades

The air was cold—colder than anything Robotnik had ever experienced. The oppressive darkness around him stretched on endlessly, yet it wasn't the kind of darkness that brought comfort. It felt alive, like it was watching, waiting for a moment to consume him. He shivered as the reality of where he was began to settle in: the Underworld.

They had materialized on a jagged, crumbling path, the ground below cracked and shifting with each step. Medusa walked ahead of him, her snake-like hair barely moving as her gaze stayed fixed forward, determined. Her movements were calm, but there was an unmistakable tension that hovered around her.

Robotnik quickened his pace slightly to catch up with her, his thoughts racing. "Why didn't we just materialize in front of Hades? Would have saved us both the walk, don't you think?"

Medusa's cold eyes flickered back to him for only a moment before focusing ahead once more. "This is part of our punishment," she replied simply. "The walk is meant to break the spirit before you even reach him. The longer the journey, the heavier the weight."

Robotnik frowned. Her words lingered in his mind, but what stood out the most was one particular word: our punishment. Not his, but ours. He raised an eyebrow, curious but keeping his questions to himself for the moment.

The path ahead was grim, the landscape shifting into jagged cliffs and pools of black, swirling liquid. The air stank of rot and decay, and distant screams echoed from the shadows, though no one could be seen. A faint light, dull and flickering, seemed to guide them forward, but it was as if the entire Underworld rejected any real illumination. It was a place no one wanted to go, a realm where hope had long since died.

"How far is it to Hades?" Robotnik asked, trying to shake off the oppressive weight of the environment.

"We walk until we arrive. Time is not the same here," Medusa said, her voice sharper now.

Robotnik fell silent for a moment, contemplating his next question. "You still haven't explained why I'm here. What's Hades' interest in me? Surely it's not just because I'm the most brilliant mind in all the realms."

Medusa's steps faltered for the briefest second, but she kept her pace. "Your technology," she hissed. "It's too dangerous. It threatens the balance of all realms, not just your world. If Rosalina, who fights for the light, hadn't interfered, it would have pushed everything toward a confrontation. A war of light and dark—something Hades wants to avoid at all costs."

Robotnik's brow furrowed. "And what, exactly, does that have to do with me? Is Hades asking for my help to maintain this balance?" His tone was laced with suspicion. He didn't trust easily, and this was beginning to sound more like manipulation than judgment.

Medusa stopped abruptly, her eyes flashing with irritation. She turned to face Robotnik fully, her serpentine hair curling with agitation. "You ask too many questions, mortal. Hades isn't seeking your help—he's already judged you. Your punishment is inevitable. The technology you've created is a threat, and under Hades' laws, that cannot go unpunished."

Robotnik noticed something in her tone, a flicker of emotion that slipped past her cold facade: anger. But not directed at him. No, this anger was aimed at Hades. A small smile tugged at the corner of Robotnik's mouth as the realization clicked into place. Medusa despised Hades, and perhaps, just perhaps, that could be his way out.

He didn't let his smile linger. Instead, he nodded thoughtfully, as though he were accepting the inevitability of his fate. "Fair enough. But tell me," he began, carefully selecting his words, "what exactly does Hades' law entail? Surely not every threat to the balance gets the same punishment."

Medusa's jaw clenched, but she didn't answer right away. She started walking again, and Robotnik followed, his mind spinning with possibilities. Her silence confirmed what he had suspected—there was more to this than a simple judgment. Hades held immense power here, but Medusa, bound by his rule, was bitter. There was something deeper at play, something he could exploit.

The path grew more treacherous, twisting through a canyon lined with massive, skeletal remains. The bones of creatures long dead loomed over them, casting twisted shadows across the jagged ground. The ground itself seemed alive, pulsing with dark energy, making each step feel heavier than the last.

Robotnik glanced around, discomfort creeping into his usually calm demeanor. The Underworld was worse than he'd imagined. It wasn't just a place of death; it was a place where everything withered, where the very essence of existence felt poisoned.

A deep groan echoed from one of the distant pits, and Robotnik turned, eyes narrowing. The darkness there moved, swirling in an almost hypnotic pattern, as if something vast and unseen lurked just beneath the surface. It sent a shiver down his spine, but he forced himself to look away.

"You don't have to answer now," Robotnik said, trying to sound casual. "But it seems to me that Hades values balance, and you… well, you don't seem like the biggest fan of his methods."

Medusa whipped her head around, her eyes narrowing dangerously. "Do not presume to understand what is happening here," she snapped. "You are here to face judgment. Your schemes will not save you from what is to come."

But Robotnik caught the brief flicker of uncertainty in her gaze. It was quick—barely noticeable—but it was there. She was still angry, still hiding something, and he would figure out what that was. For now, though, he remained quiet, letting the silence stretch between them as they continued their long, torturous walk toward Hades.

The path grew darker, colder, and more oppressive as they descended deeper into the Underworld. But in the back of Robotnik's mind, a plan was beginning to form.

As Medusa and Robotnik stepped into the vast, ominous chamber of the Underworld, Hades lounged with a lazy grin, his towering figure casting an enormous shadow over them. His voice cut through the oppressive silence like a knife, deep and echoing.

"Well, well, well, what do we have here? Medusa returns! And she's brought a guest! How… quaint." His eyes gleamed with mischief as he scanned Robotnik, who stood defiant, arms crossed.

Before Medusa could announce their arrival, Robotnik arrogantly stepped forward, glaring up at Hades.

"Who do you think you are to judge me?" Robotnik sneered. "I am Dr. Ivo Robotnik, the greatest mind in existence. You may rule this wretched pit, but your time will come to an end like all those before you. Stand in my way, and I'll show you just how fragile your rule really is."

Hades' grin widened, his eyes twinkling with amusement as he let out a delighted laugh. "Oh, Medusa, you've really brought me a comedian! I love it." He leaned forward, inspecting Robotnik more closely. "And ambitious, too! A real go-getter!" His voice dropped to a sinister purr. "Oh, darling, I do so admire ambition in mortals—it's just so quaint when they think they matter."

Robotnik didn't flinch. "I've faced down gods before. You're nothing more than another obstacle."

"Really? A god-slayer, are we? That's adorable," Hades chuckled, tapping a finger thoughtfully against his cheek. "I'd love to see it! Really, give it your best shot. Just… try not to make too much of a mess." His grin was all teeth, the shadows in the room stretching and twisting with his growing delight.

Robotnik's eyes gleamed behind his goggles, refusing to show fear. "I'll show you more than a mess. You'll be begging for mercy."

"Mercy?" Hades leaned back, laughing harder now, his voice echoing with mockery. "Medusa, you've really outdone yourself this time! But if our intrepid little genius here is so keen to challenge me, I'd be remiss if I didn't oblige. Do you know where you are, mortal?" His voice dripped with dark pleasure. "I am the Lord of the Underworld, master of all you see here. Souls bend to my will. Power, destruction, chaos? These are the mere toys I play with on a whim. You, however," he leaned back, a mocking smile spreading across his face, "you're but a speck, and specks have a habit of being swept away."

Robotnik's eyes gleamed behind his goggles, refusing to show fear. "I've faced down gods before. You're nothing more than another obstacle."

"Oh, really?" Hades' smile widened, but his tone darkened. "Well then, perhaps I should explain something to you." He glanced at Medusa with wicked glee, his voice dripping with condescension. "You see this woman by your side? Once, she thought herself my equal. Queen of the Underworld, in fact! Imagine that." He chuckled, his voice filled with mocking joy. "But of course, it didn't last. She failed, and now... well, now she's little more than my servant, a relic of the past." He paused for effect, letting the words sink in. "How does that feel, Medusa? To hear your story told like a cautionary tale?"

Medusa's jaw clenched, fury in her eyes, but she remained silent. Robotnik, however, caught the moment of humiliation and used it to his advantage.

"Ah," Robotnik said, his voice smooth, "so that's it. You revel in keeping her down, don't you? Hades, you're not a god—you're just a bully, feeding off the misery of others to prop up your fragile ego."

Hades' grin faltered for a moment, a flash of irritation crossing his face. He stood up from his throne, his towering figure casting a dark shadow over both of them. "Careful, mortal. You're on dangerous ground. Insults like that tend to shorten one's lifespan—considerably."

But Robotnik wasn't deterred. "Is that all you have? Bluster and threats? If you were truly untouchable, you wouldn't need to keep your subjects in line with cheap tricks and fear. You'd have power, real power. But I can see now—you're nothing more than a pretender."

Hades' eyes flared with dark energy, but instead of attacking, he leaned down close, his voice a low, sinister growl. "You may think you've seen power, but you've never faced someone like me. I've broken gods. I've shattered worlds. You, Robotnik, are just another stepping stone in the endless game of souls."

Medusa, sensing Hades' growing anger, stepped forward, trying to diffuse the tension. "Enough, Hades. We didn't come here to waste time with threats. We need to—"

But Hades silenced her with a wave of his hand. "Oh, Medusa, don't interrupt. I'm enjoying this." He turned back to Robotnik, his grin returning. "But perhaps it's time you learned your place. Medusa, show him what happens to those who think they can defy me."

Robotnik shot Medusa a sharp glance. This was his moment. As they turned to leave, he murmured quietly to her, "I see it now—why you hate him."

Medusa remained silent, though her fury was evident in her clenched fists.

Robotnik continued, his voice low and persuasive. "He humiliates you, mocks you in front of anyone who dares to listen. You deserve better than this."

Medusa gave a soft snarl under her breath. "And what do you know of it?"

"I know what it means to be underestimated," Robotnik said. "To be used by someone who thinks they're your better. But I don't need to tell you what you already feel, Medusa. I can help you take back what's yours."

She hesitated for a moment before scoffing. "And why would you help me? What do you stand to gain?"

"I told you," Robotnik said calmly, "we both need something. I need the resources from Bowser's Kingdom and the power to return to my world. You need a way to deal with Hades. I can offer that. Help me, and I'll help you take back the Underworld. Together, we can be rid of him."

Medusa narrowed her eyes, still wary. "If I return you to the place I took you from, how do you plan to return to your world?"

Robotnik reached into his coat and produced one of his golden rings, holding it up. "I have the rings needed to create portals, but without the technological power to sustain them… well, that's where you come in."

Medusa glanced at the ring and then back at Robotnik, her gaze calculating. "One portal," she said coldly. She took the ring, dark magic swirling around it as she infused it with energy. "I'll power it, but it will only take you from that dead rock to your world. The rest, you'll have to figure out yourself."

Robotnik smiled, pleased. "That's all I need. When I return, with the Master Emerald and a Power Star, I'll make sure Hades is out of your way permanently. And in exchange, you'll have all the souls you could ever desire."

Medusa remained silent for a long while, her thoughts churning. Finally, she gave a curt nod. "I'll send you back. But if you fail, don't expect me to pull you from the fires of the Underworld."

Robotnik gave her a smug grin. "I won't fail. And soon, you'll be wearing your crown again."

With that, Medusa waved her hand, summoning a swirling vortex of darkness. "Go," she said coldly, "gather what you need. But don't keep me waiting."

Robotnik stepped into the vortex with confidence, knowing that his plan had already begun to take shape. As the darkness enveloped him, he couldn't help but feel exhilarated by the possibilities.

Medusa watched him disappear, her expression unreadable. She didn't trust him, not fully. But for now, he was a means to an end. And when the time came, she would seize her opportunity to dethrone Hades once and for all.