Chapter 8: Hero's Journey
I have been looking over and translating the journal I found in the library. Ever since Master Xehanort provided me the missing pieces I needed; I have made headway in translating it. The journal chronicles the life of a Keyblade wielder from the Age of Fairytales. I am only a little ways in, but I have been able to learn so much lost history from just this journal.
I have found more information about the "Light Corridors," but the formulas to make them are lacking entirely. I guess that the Keyblade wielders of that era were taught personally by these "Foretellers" and the writer didn't include the notes in this journal. Speaking of which, the Foretellers. Five Keyblade Masters…each commanding Unions comprised of thousands of wielders. Such a thing is remarkable! Why was this knowledge locked away? What happened to the wielders? The bits I was able to translate prior to Master Xehanort's help point to some kind of calamity occurring. That elderly woman from Radiant Garden, her story… something happened to the world of Daybreak Town, and this journal is the key to discovering it.
However, I remain uneasy. Why would this journal be cast aside to collect dust in the library? The things that we could learn about a bygone era! The wielders of that era fought against the forces of darkness with remarkable efficiency. Maybe this lost history can help me figure out a way to help Terra control his darkness. But if Master Eraqus knows about this journal, surely, he would have used the knowledge within to help Terra before the exam. Does it have something to do with why this journal was locked away? From the reports of Caelum, Apprentice to Eraqus
Caelum stepped out into an empty plaza. He looked around at the architecture. "Lots of marble columns on every building. Interesting design choice." He commented. Up ahead, he saw a man in a toga be knocked back by an Unversed. He narrowed his eyes and approached the scene. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Terra run in front of the man and say something before readying himself.
Caelum watched from around the corner as Terra took on the Unversed. He watched with pursed lips as Terra dispatched the Unversed with ease. "He seems to be doing fine. Should I even help?" He paused and sighed. "Never mind, harsh words are meaningless in the long term. Our friendship will endure." He sent a blizzard spell at an Axe Flapper taking it down.
"What are you doing here?" Terra asked Caelum.
"Taking out Unversed, you?"
"Okay wise guy, why don't we wrap this up?"
'Well, that was normal. Maybe Master Xehanort was right, some harsh words won't be the end of our friendship.' Caelum thought. He slashed through the last Unversed and turned to Terra. The man from before was still on the ground and Terra helped his to his feet.
"You okay?" Terra asked.
"Yeah, thanks." The man said panting. "Guess they were too much for me. I'm just gonna have to train harder." He said with determination.
"I know what you mean." Caelum said. "I would recommend focusing on basic skills no matter how advanced you are. You can't go wrong there and it helps tremendously to brush up on them every once in a while."
"Thanks for the advice. You two are pretty tough, really handled those things. Are you here to enter the Games?"
"What games?" Terra asked.
"The "Games" games. To see who's strongest! One day I'm gonna win 'em all and become a true hero."
"So, a contest of sorts…" Caelum said. "But I fail to see how some kind of trophy makes you a hero though."
"Well, you see…" The man started.
"Herc, where are ya?" Another voice rang out. "Front and center now, or I'm tackin' on another 1,000 laps!"
"Uh-oh. Gotta go. The Coliseum's just up ahead." He started to run off. "I hope I get to see you fight there sometime!"
"A competition…" Terra mused. "I should find out how strong I really am. Caelum, are you interested?"
"More contests, why not. It wouldn't hurt to continue improving." Caelum replied. "Hey, about Radiant Garden, I wanted to apologize…"
"It's no problem." Terra said. "It was a stressful situation that got out of hand. No harm, no foul."
"Alright…" Caelum said. "Want to go find this Coliseum then?"
"Right behind you."
"Geez Louise, one chump after another." A man in dark robes adorned with skulls said. "It's like a who's who of decathlon disasters around here. All I need is one measly warrior tough enough to give Zeus a jolt of his own medicine!" He paused. "Wait…Dark, moody, powerful. Yes! He's perfect."
"This is the place." Terra said looking at a series of scoreboards.
"How sad is this? Pains me to see it." Terra turned to his left. "All that power going to waste."
"Who are you?" Caelum asked.
"Name's Hades, Lord of the Dead, god of the Underworld, yadda yadda, how ya doin'? Besides, I wasn't talking to you but rather your companion." He turned to Terra. "Lemme guess, you're trying to put the kibosh on the darkness inside you. Am I right? Of course I'm right. Well, anyway, bad idea."
"Wait, what?" Terra asked.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Caelum asked narrowing his eyes.
"Geeze, tough crowd. Okay, stay with me here, darkness is inside…everybody. From the upper echelons of society, to the beggars on the street. It's nothing to be ashamed of. You play nice with it, and darkness can be your best friend."
"I seriously doubt that." Caelum said.
"See this is exactly what I am talking about. If you go and get all self-conscious and refuse to face it, the darkness will run over you like a debutante at a toga sale and then where are you? Nowhere." He appeared next to Terra. "Now me, I look at you and I see potential. That's right kid. You got the potential to conquer the darkness inside you. Heck, I'll even give you some pointers. I mean, believe me, if anybody knows conquering, I know conquering." Hades paused. "On second thought Ares, being the god of war and all, would know more on that particular subject but hey, my point still remains."
"Well, let's hear it then." Terra said. "How do I conquer the darkness?"
"Terra, I don't think…"
"Easy." Hades said. "You sign up for the Games. I know, I know. "Please, Lord Hades, the Games? But hey, you would be surprised what you can learn in the heat of battle."
"While that may be true," Caelum conceded, "I still don't think we should trus-"
"Don't worry so much." Hades interrupted. "I'll be right there to guide your friend every step of the way. I'm kinda what you'd call an expert in the art of darkness. Oh, decide fast. This is a limited time offer." Hades disappeared in a puff of smoke.
"I don't trust that guy." Caelum said to Terra. "He seemed like he would sell me a used car at a moment's notice."
"I don't particularly like it either, but if what he says is true, then it is a risk that I will have to take."
"You cannot tell me you are actually buying any of that!" Caelum shouted. "He had skulls on his robes, skulls! And he has flaming hair, which while I admit is cool, that doesn't throw up several red flags to you?"
"I'm not going to talk about this with you. You can either come with me or you can sit on the sidelines." Terra said walking away.
"Fine, but if this blows up in your face, I reserve the right to say I told you so."
"When are you going to tell me how to conquer the darkness?" Terra asked Hades in the lobby.
"Hold your chariot horses." He summoned parchment and a quill into his hands. "You would not believe the bureaucracy involved with these things. Names?"
"Terra and Caelum."
Hades wrote down the names, "Ones kinda earthy and the other reminds me of Olympus, but all right. Now…height and weight…" He looked over at the two. He scratched in a few numbers. "What's this? "Favorite god"? Didn't we get rid of this after that whole golden apple incident triggered an entire war? Pfft, whatever, "Hades." There, ba boom. Easy peasy." The form disappeared into smoke.
Hades turned towards Terra. "I sense that you're already starting to get all warm and fuzzy with that darkness inside you. It's sweet, really. And hey, by the time you win the final match here you'll have figured out how to conquer it for good." He threw an arm over Terra. "And don't worry, anything goes wrong, I'll make it all go away. Service with a smile."
"I got it." Terra said pushing away. Hades let out a sinister chuckle as the two walked into the arena.
"You know, I am disappointed." Caelum said. "I thought that we would face more than just Unversed within the Games."
"It doesn't matter what we face. What matters is reaching that final match."
From the side lines Hades watched the two. "Okay… this is not what I had in mind. But hey, I can improvise. Time for plan beta…"
"Pardon me, comin' through. I'm gonna miss my match." An armored soldier wielding a massive sword walked past him.
"Hello, plan beta." Hades called out to him, "Hey, kid! Over here c'mere."
In the arena, Caelum and Terra waited for their opponent. An armored soldier stepped out in front of them, he reached behind him and pulled out a massive Buster Sword. Caelum and Terra looked at each other and nodded.
Terra rushed forward and launched the soldier into the air. Caelum jumped up behind him and smacked the soldier into the ground. He retaliated by dragging his blade against the ground, sending a plume of dark energy racing towards them. Caelum and Terra jumped out of the way, with Terra continuing with his offensive push.
Terra knocked the soldier back again, only for him to lead into the air. Terra rolled away from where he was standing and the Buster Sword impaled into the ground. Shockwaves sprang up from the force of the strike.
Caelum launched a series of spells towards the soldier. The fire spells were blocked by the blade, but the blizzard spells curved around to strike the soldiers exposed flank. The soldier ran towards Caelum but was intercepted by Terra, who sent the soldier flying across the arena. The helmet he wore clattered to the ground as the soldier lay there. Terra walked away as the crowd around them began to cheer.
"Terra wait." Caelum said, noticing the soldier standing back up with his blade in hand. Darkness leaked out of him and with a dazed look in his eye he sprinted towards them. Terra blocked each attack.
"What are you doing." Terra grit out. "The match is over."
"It's…not me." The soldier said.
"What?" Terra asked.
"I'm not…doing this…"
"He's being controlled." Terra said narrowing his eyes.
"Huh? So, what do ya think?" Hades said, making his appearance known. "You like my new super warrior? See, right here, this, it's the power of darkness. Coulda been yours. Still could, if you open up to it." Hades grit out turning slightly orange.
"Hades!" Caelum shouted. "So, it was all just a scam made by you."
"I don't deal in "scams" I make deals and I follow them to the letter. Not my fault people don't read the fine print." Hades said. He snapped his fingers melting an ice spell heading towards him. "Oh, so you wanna play this game. Fine by me." A fireball grew in Hades outstretched hand.
"Help me…you've gotta…set my heart free…" The soldier told Terra.
Caelum dodged the fireball from Hades only to be forced to conjure a barrier to block a series of strikes from the soldier.
"What? Did ya really think you would fight just little old me?" Hades said mockingly. "2v2 is much more-" He gasped as the air was knocked out of him. Caelum had closed the distance with a thunder surge and slammed into him. "That's it!" Hades shouted literally exploding in rage. Caelum was sent flying backwards. "I try to be a nice guy, and you hit me with lightning. Now you're going to feel the heat!" Hades, glowing red, launched forward fire trailing from his fingertips.
On the other side of the arena Terra and the soldier continued to fight. Terra dodged another series of slashes and knocked the soldier away. He took a few steps forward before collapsing, the dark aura dissipating.
Hades turned over to look at this, "Oh for the love of-" One of Caelum's blizzard spells impacted him tearing a hole in his robes. "Hey! Do you know how expensive this stuff is! Ah, forget it, this isn't worth the hassle. It looks like I bet on the wrong dark horse." Hades snapped his fingers and disappeared in another puff of smoke.
Terra walked over to the soldier. "You gonna make it?"
"Y-yeah. I'm finally free."
Caelum walked over. "Looks like Hades left as well."
The soldier slammed his fist into the ground. "Man, how could I let a guy like him control me? I'll never live it down!" Terra offered a hand to the soldier. "Thanks, um…"
"Terra, and that's Caelum."
"Thanks, I'm Zack." He paused for a moment. "Hm, yep definitely. Terra, Caelum, you're exactly what I pictured a heroes would be. Not the way you look…there's something else about you."
Terra turned around. "Well, I'm no hero, trust me."
"You kidding? Listen to those cheers, man. You don't get to decide if you're a hero or not. They do, and they've already made up their mind."
"Just accept the compliment Terra." Caelum said. "Whether you like it not, they do see us as heroes."
Zack thumped his fist into Terra's chest. "And mine, too. It's too bad. I really wanted to fight you fair and square."
"Maybe someday, Zack." Terra said.
Outside the arena, Caelum told Terra. "I told you so."
"Yeah, yeah, you were right Caelum." Terra groaned out. "I thought that for once, things would go my way."
"Did you really think Hades would have honored his deal?" Caelum hesitated before continuing, "Tell me did Maleficent honor hers?"
"What. Did you say?" Terra asked sharply.
"You heard me. You don't exactly have a great track record at the moment when it comes to trusting strangers about the darkness. It may sound harsh, but trust me you need to hear it."
"I really thought you would be different from Aqua, Caelum." Terra said shaking his head. "Maybe you need to be less paranoid and trust me."
Caelum let out a sigh. "I am trusting you. That is why I stuck with you in the Games. What I am trying to say is that you have a tendency to not look before leaping. Some caution is needed especially when it comes to dealing with darkness."
"So, you think that I am too reckless." Terra snapped.
"Yes," Caelum sighed. "That is exactly what I am saying. You throw yourself into the slightest opportunity to help yourself with the darkness and just end up making things worse. Look I found this book…"
"And how many books have you tried? Huh? Maybe the answer still lies out in the worlds and not in that dusty library." Terra snapped. "I'm leaving." He said stalking away.
"Terra…" Caelum muttered. "He just needs more time. Radiant Garden is still too fresh. Maybe he'll listen to me after the Unversed are dealt with. Caelum summoned his glider and entered the Lanes Between with a sinking feeling inside his gut.
AN: Hello everyone, apologies for the delay in getting this chapter out. Rest assured that I have plans on abandoning this work. I promise to make it up to you guys in the following days. Hades is one of my top Disney villains so I really wanted to do him justice, so I ended up having to rewrite it multiple times before I was satisfied with it. I also decided to give Zack the Buster Sword as it was his originally, don't know why they didn't have his use it in the game, probably hardware limitations of some kind. Anyway, I plan to pick up the pace to get back on track with my upload schedule so the next chapter will be coming out this Wednesday. Hope you enjoy. Next Chapter: Strained Negotiations