Chapter 9

Highway to Hell

Hell

Ghost Rider stopped in front of a giant structure. It could be described as a castle but warped and twisted compared to normal ones. A large set of stairs led to an ominous doorway that was filled with shadows. At the top of the castle there were three pillars that spewed out hellfire and above that circling around the flames in the crimson sky were these flying creatures.

Dean stopped right next to him and got off his bike. This place felt similar to the underworld, but looked different. It resembled more of the biblical description of hell, more fire and brimstone, more screams of agony, and filled with devil-like creatures with red skin, tails, wings, and horns. Almost like Imps from folklore.

Dean suddenly realized something, they highly resembled Kurt's physical attributes.

Ghost Rider got off his chopper and began walking up the steps, "Stay close to me"

Dean hurried and followed him up the steps.

Once they reached the top they looked through the ominous doorway and saw nothing but an infinite abyss.

Before they could proceed, a spot a few feet in front of them spontaneously combusted hellfire and a creature came out of the flames.

It was humanoid, standing about 5,10. Onyx black short hair, a goatee, red skin, pointy ears, black eyes with bright yellow pupils. He wore black leather that was covered in some creature's bones all over his body while his shoulders and back were draped in black fur. On his back were two cutlasses.

"What do you want Azazel?" Ghost Rider became irritated, he was always popping up unannounced.

Azazel crossed his arms and smirked deviously, "Just checking up on you, I didn't think you'd be able to catch him" he then glanced at Dean sizing him up.

Before he laid eyes on him, his scent overwhelmed his nostrils with the smell of sulphur. But there was something else, a sort of familiarity to his scent. Then when he looked at Dean was when he realized it.

'His face…' Dean thought staring at him, 'He looks just like him'

"I would think one of Hell's generals would have better things to do" Ghost Rider said as he brushed past him on purpose.

Azazel chuckled, "I always have time for Mephisto's favorite pet"

"Did you ever spend the night with a woman in Germany?" Dean asked flat out.

Azazel looked at the boy amusingly, "I've been with many women, especially from germany"

"This one had blue skin and could shapeshift" Dean pointed out hoping he would remember.

"Oh that one" Azazel realized, "Yes I remember, she was a feisty one" he spoke fondly of her.

That confirmed Dean's theory, he didn't press any further, "You want me to pass a message to her?" He asked as he followed the rider.

Azazel contemplated for a moment before thinking of something, "Tell her I'll come visit her and Kurt soon" he said before teleporting away.

Dean paused as he felt a chill crawl up his spine, he already knows about him? He buried those thoughts and focused on what was in front of him.

"Put your hand on my shoulder and follow me in. Don't let go or you'll be lost forever" The rider warned him.

"Why?" Dean asked.

"This isn't your ordinary darkness. It's called hell's breath, think of it as cloud of magical darkness that no ordinary light can penetrate and within it is an endless void. Hell spawn can naturally see and walk through it but your senses will be dulled the longer you're in there. And if we're separated you might be lost forever" The rider warned him.

"Definitely don't want that" Dean said as he placed his hand on the rider's shoulder.

Ghost Rider slowly walked into the black fog.

As Dean went through it, one by one his senses disappeared. Vision was the first to go, 'He was right, nothing but darkness' he thought gripping the rider's shoulder a little tighter.

Then all sounds slowly faded until there was dead silence. Not the sound of his footsteps, nor the ruffling of clothes as he walked, nor the sound of his breathing, even as he cleared his throat there was nothing.

The sulphur smell disappeared leaving the air odorless, and as he progressed further, he began to lose sensation in his limbs.

Dean began to worry, if he went completely numb there would be no way to tell if he was still holding on to the rider.

Luckily, they walked out of the hell's breath before that could happen.

Dean let go of the rider and felt relieved as his senses returned to him. He looked ahead and saw a dark corridor with torches along the walls and a massive red door at the end of it.

"We're almost there, stay close" Ghost Rider said as he kept walking.

Dean walked beside him and noticed that behind the shadows of the torches, on the walls, were murals. He looked closer and realized they depicted the most atrocious acts committed by man.

One showed a mound of sickly corpses with more being piled on by armed soldiers wearing swastikas. The Holocaust.

Another showed a horde of monguls on horseback trampling over innocents. Mongolian conquests.

There was another that showed an army of holy knights carving their way through foreign infidels. The crusades.

Right before they went through the door he noticed one that showed an ancient tribe performing human sacrifices by the masse to appease their gods. The Aztec human sacrifices.

The rider pushed the doors open and they walked through.

It was a dimly lit round chamber. The walls were draped in shadows, whether that was due to the lack of light or some other reason was unknown. It looked like something on the walls was moving but it was too difficult to discern.

The only source of light came from a small pool of burning liquid in the center of the room. In the back of the room, also draped in shadows, sat Mephisto in his true form on his throne.

He sat in a slouched position where his lower body slid down the seat slightly, as if he was bored and didn't care enough to maintain good posture. In that position the shadows hid parts of his body and his face. However his bright yellow eyes were locked on them as soon as they walked in and followed their movement.

The two of them approached, walking around the burning pool.

Dean glanced inside of the pool wondering if it had any purpose beyond lighting the room.

Once they were standing a few feet away Mephisto sat upright and leaned forward. The shadows moved off his face revealing a maniacal smile that showed his razor-sharp teeth, "Splendid" he stood up and took a few steps forward.

In his old man form he stood eye to eye with Dean but now he easily was a foot taller.

Dean tensed and lightning began to crackle around him. He wasn't sure what he was going to try with him.

Mephisto scoffed, "Don't make me laugh" he waved his hand and bands of hellfire formed around Dean's wrists and ankles before pulling him towards the nearest wall.

Dean landed on the wall and regardless of how much he struggled he couldn't do anything. This wasn't someone he was capable of overpowering, or even hurting most likely.

The hellfire bands provided enough light to see the wall clearly. He glanced to his side and saw that the walls were covered in hell's breath. But more importantly, that movement he thought he saw, it was souls trapped within the breath. No facial features or voice or skin tone, just shadowy outlines waving their hands trying to feel something and their mouths were wide open as if they were screaming but no sound came out. Every so often a soul would brush past him but they wouldn't even flinch, probably because their senses were completely gone.

Mephisto slowly walked over to him.

Dean's mind began to flood with negative memories. Everything the penance stare made him relive went through his mind and felt the urge to embrace the wickedness of his actions. Not caring when those close to him perished even due to his own actions, feeling joy and pride when he introduced another victim to death's cold embrace, relishing the thought of inflicting excruciating pain, the freedom of unleashing his relentless fury whenever he pleased.

Mephisto stared right into the boy's soul, "My my, I thought your conscience would be squeaky clean"

It was like when Dean met Hades, his aura was affecting him, but this time it was easier to resist. At the very least he must be equivalent to a minor god.

Dean ignored the intrusive thoughts, "No one's perfect"

Mephisto chuckled, "I suppose not" he then pondered as he stared at the boy, "Now, what shall I do with you?"

Dean could see this was a troubling matter to him. He had a methodical look, like that of a chess player analyzing every possible move and consequence thereafter.

"You've mentioned what others want with me, but not what you want" Dean said trying to find out more about his intentions.

"Indeed" Mephisto confirmed, "Your future is uncertain" he states his dilemma simply, "Prophecies of your future deeds give the implication that you will be formidable threat. But based on what I see before me…that threat has been severely exaggerated" he said not looking impressed.

Dean rolled his eyes, every time.

Mephisto looked at Ghost Rider, "Was he any trouble?"

The rider shook his head.

"See" Mephisto pointed out, "If you had bested my rider you might be worth the trouble of keeping. And I don't have the patience to let you slowly progress over time. Which leaves me with the choice of who to hand you over to"

Dean frowned, apparently he's not important enough to care about.

The rider took a step forward, "You owe me something"

"Ah yes" Mephisto turned around to face him, "Business first" he snapped his fingers.

Ghost Rider suddenly felt Mephisto's hold over him disappear. He had his soul back.

Mephisto began to walk back over to his throne, "Congratulations Johny, you upheld your end of the bargain. It's time I take back the spirit of the rider. You can get your life back, the love you've always wanted, start a family of your own" he sat back down, "There are more deals to be made, more people willing to give their souls for what they desire. Let someone else carry this curse, you're free now. After all…a deal's a deal"

Ghost Rider glanced at his boney hand and Dean's words echoed through his mind, 'Accept it. Make it's power yours'. If this spirit really has a will of its own then it'll do anything to stay away from Mephisto.

The rider reverted to his human form and Johny glared at Mephisto, "No"

Mephisto smirked curiously, "I didn't take you as the type to work for free"

"I don't" Johny said plainly, "I'm keeping the spirit for myself"

Mephisto didn't seem to take him seriously at first and laughed lightly, "Oh really? You plan on adding a little more flare to your shows?"

"I'm gonna own this curse…and I'm gonna use it against you. Whenever innocent blood is spilt, you'll find me there. Ready to punish the guilty" Johny said without breaking eye contact with him.

Mephisto lost his gleeful attitude and stood up, "Why Johny, that's hurtful. Interfering with my business…that's not something I tolerate" he took a few steps closer, "And besides" he stretched out his arm in Johny's direction, "The spirit of the rider belongs to me"

Johny felt a tug in his core, like something was being pulled out of him. He tried to resist by keeping it in.

Mephisto frowned and a dark fiery red aura appeared around him as he tried harder to extract the spirit, "Your efforts are futile"

A flaming orb slowly came out of Johny's chest and as hard as he tried to pull it back it still kept going.

Then it felt like the orb itself was resisting Mephisto and it started going back in.

Mephisto became enraged at the spirit's disobedience and shouted something in Latin as he attempted to subdue it.

Dean might have misheard what he said but it sounded like, "YOU WILL DO AS I COMMAND ZARATHOS!" Perhaps that was the name of the spirit.

The flaming orb rushed back into Johny transforming him back into the rider but then something strange happened. Behind him was a silhouette…an astral projection that resembled a far more powerful and intimidating version of the rider that towered over him and roared at Mephisto.

Mephisto backed down and let go, that spirit was getting out of control. However, Johny still wasn't strong enough to unleash its full power.

Dean saw the silhouette disappear, his master might have been right about it being a corrupted angel.

Johny felt something deep within stir for a moment, something powerful. The spirit's true nature has been confined by Mephisto's grasp for millennia. As well as being each host only being capable of handling small portions of its power. Now that they were both free, the spirit Zarathos will regain its former strength over time and Johny may be able access it.

Mephisto grit his teeth, "I'll make you pay for this"

"You're the one who's gonna pay!" Ghost Rider went to grab Mephisto to pull him close for a penance stare.

Mephisto yelped and teleported in burst of flames back on his throne, "I don't think so, I'll never let you get close enough to do that. Now, If you're thinking of leaving, it'll be on my terms" he waved his hand and a doorway of flames appeared to his right.

Dean and the rider looked in its direction wondering what that meant.

"I had a feeling one day that spirit might betray me, which is why I decided to create a new rider completely from scratch" Mephisto said grinning with anticipation, "One that wouldn't be limited to seeking justice for innocents, or inflicting pain upon the weak. And of course be completely subservient to me"

Heavy footsteps approached the fiery doorway.

"Ghost Rider, may I introduce you to, your replacement" Mephisto said sounding excited.

A humanoid figure walked out of the doorway. It stood taller than both Dean and the rider, at least 7 feet tall and big shoulders that were so broad Dean could hide behind him and not be seen.

Wearing black leather that was covered in dark steel spikes and bone whips wrapped around his arms.

The flames surrounding his body and head were crimson red giving his bones and skull a deep purple hue to them.

Fangs protruded from his upper jaw and large spike protrusions with a backswept curve on the top of his skull. His ribs protruded from his chest like spikes and curved inward as if it was going to devour something.

"Vengeance" Mephisto said his name with pride.

'That looks like a problem' Dean thought, he looked like Ghost Rider on steroids and way meaner.

The rider tilted his head to stare up at Vengeance as he approached and felt slightly intimidated.

Vengeance looked down at him and scoffed, "The big bad rider" he grabbed the rider by his neck and proceeded to squeeze as he lifted him off the ground, "You don't look so tough to me"

Ghost rider elbowed the arm holding him but it didn't move an inch. Then the rider tried kneeing him in ribs and there wasn't even a flinch in response.

Vengeance started laughing before he slammed the rider face first into the ground, "Weak!"

Dean winced, that looked like it hurt.

Ghost rider stood up and began throwing wild punches.

Vengeance didn't bother to dodge, the hits would move him slightly but did little to no damage.

Ghost rider threw a right hook aimed for his midsection, Vengeance twisted his chest and pierced his arm with one of the protruding rib spikes. He then grabbed the rider and pulled him close before headbutting him.

Ghost rider fell on his ass with a giant crack in his skull, parts of his body looked human for a split second. That hit nearly knocked him out of his hell form.

Vengeance wasted no time as he began beating him senseless.

All of the frustration from before had disappeared, Mephisto was having the time of his life watching Vengeance beat the snot out of the Ghost Rider.

"I love it when my creations turn out exactly as I Imagined" Mephisto said as he got up and walked over with a little glee in his step.

Dean watched with distaste as Mephisto walked around the two of them with far too much pleasure in his eyes.

Vengeance pulled his arm back to throw another punch but before he could Mephisto held up his hand signaling him to wait.

Mephisto knelt next to the rider who's skull was cracked and flames were dying, "I don't know what was going through that little bone head of yours" he knocked on his cracked skull, "But if you thought your life sucked before, then brace yourself for a whole new world of agony" he stood back up and signaled his new lackey to continue.

Vengeance continued to viciously clobber the rider.

"Alright enough of this, you're making me sick" Dean said sounding disgusted.

Mephisto turned to look at him, "Too brutal for you?" He asked with a wicked grin.

"No, it's not good sportsmanship. Watching one contender getting dominated an entire match isn't any fun" Dean admitted.

Mephisto tilted his head and gave him an odd stare as he signaled Vengeance to stop, "I personally can't get enough of his humiliation, but if you have any better ideas please share"

"Why not have me and Ghost Rider team up against Vengeance" Dean offered.

Ghost rider looked at Dean with a puzzled expression, why would he want to fight him?

Mephisto laughed his ass off, "You'd be pounded into the ground faster than Johny"

"How bout you put your money where your mouth is" Dean attempted to goad him.

Mephisto looked intrigued, "What do you wager?"

"Our souls for our freedom. Ghost Rider and I against Vengeance. If we last 5 minutes we go free" Dean proposed.

Ghost rider stood back up, the kid might have the right idea for them to escape.

Mephisto raised an eyebrow, "What so I can watch you run away for 5 minutes? Forget that. If you want freedom then you need to beat Vengeance" he waved his hand and the restraints disappeared letting him drop.

Dean landed on his feet and stared into the so called "devil's" eyes. Dean tried to play Mephisto through his ignorance of the young demigod's strength and his blind overconfidence in Vengeance. Now it seems like Mephisto is playing him right back, knowing that his fighter is undead and cannot be killed in conventional ways. Beating can be interpreted in a number of ways, primarily killing. Which will most likely be impossible for them.

Mephisto leaned in closer, "Do you have the nerve…spawn of Zeus?" He whispered deviously.

Dean grit his teeth and held back a reckless response. That's exactly what he wanted. As long as Mephisto thinks he's getting the better deal, he might accept his terms.

"Beat. Knocked down and Immobile for 10 seconds, that's the definition I'll be using. We beat your guy and you let us go. He wins and you own us" Dean held out his hand, "Is that satisfactory Mephistopheles? Or do you need another handicap?"

Mephisto gave a half smirk and tightly squeezed his hand as he shook it, "Deal" he then snapped his fingers, and they were all teleported.

They reappeared in complete darkness except for the two flaming skulls near him. Then flames burst into life in a gigantic ring around them lighting up the surrounding area revealing it to be a coliseum filled with all sorts of fiends.

"ARE YOU READY FOR A SHOW?!" Mephisto's voice echoed through the coliseum igniting a roar from the audience.

Dean looked up and saw that Mephisto was sitting on a throne in a raised box on the south side of the coliseum as if he were Caesar.

Vengeance stood across from Dean and Ghost rider and stared in their direction, waiting for the signal to start.

Ghost rider took a step closer to Dean, "I hope you have a plan"

Dean drew his blade and focused his energy, "Stick to him like stink on shit"

Ghost rider looked at him weirdly.

"Pressure him. Don't let him breathe for a second. Keep wearing him down until he's got nothing left" Dean broke it down.

"Introductions won't be necessary, this will be over quickly. Let the beat down begin!" Mephisto shouted, signaling the start.

Vengeance made a B line for Ghost rider, "Once I eliminate you there won't be any trouble"

Dean raised an eyebrow, "Did he just ignore me?"

Ghost Rider went ahead, "Take advantage and power up" he put his hands up.

The two demonic flaming skeletons began trading blows.

Dean slowed his breathing as he let his energy gradually build up. The time between his fight with the rider and now was enough for him to recover most of the chi he lost.

Vengeance doesn't consider him a threat. Mephisto asked the rider how their fight went, which means he didn't observe it. And judging from his opinion of him, it's unlikely Mephisto's been following his recent escapades. They're completely unaware of what he's capable of.

Vengeance struck the rider with a right cross to the jaw. Ghost Rider struck back with a right hook to the midsection. The two went back and forth throwing haymakers, Vengeance gaining ground with every blow. As the fight intensified the ground began to shake.

Mephisto became excited, "Looks like things are heating up over here!" The crowd went wild in response, "Now if only the son of Zeus was this impre—" he glanced over to where Dean was standing a few moments ago but he was gone, "What?" He looked around, "Where'd he go?" He searched for his energy but couldn't sense it.

Vengeance knocked Ghost rider down and stomped on his back to keep him from getting up, "I didn't think you had the backbone to fight back, let's see how long it lasts" he raised his fist and smashed the rider's spine with all his might hearing a loud crunch.

"Not enough, I was aiming for paste but they still feel chunky" Vengeance raised his fist again and put even more power into it.

Before Vengeance had the chance to smash the rider's spine again he felt this immense spiritual pressure and saw his own shadow as if there was a bright light behind him. He managed to catch a glimpse of Dean in his peripheral, letting him avoid a decapitation, before he slashed his arm right off.

Vengeance shouted in pain as he backed away and held his shoulder where his arm was severed.

Mephisto gripped the ledge so hard it began to crack and stared with gaping eyes, "WHAT?!"

Dean stood in front of him with his aura ignited and held his sword with both hands allowing twice the amount of energy to flow through it, "You thought you could just ignore me without any consequences? I don't think so" he zipped forward.

Vengeance instinctively moved to the side, preventing himself from getting sliced in two but letting a few of his protruding ribs to get cut off.

Dean spun around mid air to land a tornado kick.

Vengeance blocked it with his other arm but was sent skidding backwards.

Ghost Rider ignited his chains and wrapped them around Vengeance before he began swinging him around in a circle.

Vengeance swung low enough where he skid on the ground as he went around.

The rider then threw him into the wall hard enough to create a small crater. He went to swing him again but before he could, Vengeance's flames erupted and engulfed him.

After a few seconds the chains melted away freeing him. Vengeance then jumped off the wall and hit the rider with a haymaker sending him flying back.

Dean sped over to Vengeance as his flames returned to normal and went to slice off his other arm.

Vengeance blocked the attack with the ignited bone whip on his arm. He then opened his mouth and roared as crimson flames projected towards the boy.

Dean ducked and sped around him in a circle.

Vengeance followed him and turned his head 360 degrees as he breathed hell flames creating a small ring of fire.

Dean stood outside the ring staring at him.

Vengeance laughed at the boy as he raised his hand causing the flames to triple is size and stretch outwards trying to envelop him.

Dean rushed back to avoid the flames. That was close, the hairs on his arms were singed.

A flaming bone whip shot out of the flames and went to wrap around his sword hand.

Dean instinctively let go of his sword and the bone whip wrapped around it before pulling back into the flames in an instant.

The bones that Vengeance uses are way faster than the chains Ghost rider uses, and at very least just as durable. If Dean didn't let go of his weapon he would have dragged into the flames and probably knocked out.

Ghost Rider stood next to Dean, "We need to retrieve your weapon, that seems to be our best bet against him"

Vengeance walked out of the wall of flames with the bone whip wrapped around his arm again and no sword in sight.

"Problem is it's trapped inside those flames which will hurt both of us" Dean said.

"Maybe if we break his concentration they'll disappear" Ghost rider theorized.

"Trying to come up with a plan?" Vengeance asked playfully, "It doesn't matter what you do!" he yelled as he used a substantial amount of his power to stretch out and form a new fiery arm, "I'll just power through it" he ran at them.

Ghost rider grabbed his shotgun from his back and started firing back to back shots.

Vengeance used his arm that had the bone whip wrapped around it to deflect the shots as he closed the distance between them. He grabbed the rider by his face with his fiery arm and projected flames onto him.

Ghost rider shouted from the pain. Vengeance's flames were so dark and intense that they could harm the rider.

Dean sped towards him but Vengeance lashed his bone whip in the boy's direction. Dean stopped in his tracks and dove out of the way of the whip's lash.

Ghost rider tried remove the hand that was firmly holding his face but could feel his strength fading.

Vengeance let go as he kicked him and knocked him on his ass. He then proceeded to beat him senseless with flaming fists.

"This is your moment to feel the pain that you have inflicted on others. Think of this as my version of your Penance Stare. Since I don't think you have a soul, heart or mind to inflict pain upon… I'll be satisfied with taking it out on your body!" Vengeance said as he beat him to a pulp.

Dean leapt into the air and spun around a dozen times as he came down and wound up a powerful tornado kick.

Vengeance had to stop his onslaught and turn around to block the kick by raising his physical arm.

Dean's leg struck Vengeance's forearm and created a shockwave that echoed through the entire arena.

Vengeance's knees buckled under the force of that hit.

Dean then struck Vengeance in the face with a series of lightning fast kicks before jumping off of him and backing away.

Vengeance hated how nimble he was, until he could focus solely on the boy, he wouldn't be able to catch him.

Which meant it was time to take one of them out.

Vengeance then grabbed his waist with both hands and jumped up, holding the rider above his head.

Dean looked up in horror as he saw Vengeance launch into the air and reach about 100 feet high. That was going to be one hell of a power bomb. With the damage he sustained so far that could put him out of commission.

Dean instinctively went to leapt into the air and help his comrade, 'NO!' He shouted to himself internally and froze, 'If I chase after him up there I won't be able to dodge his bone whip' he looked back at the wall of flames and wondered if he could retrieve his weapon without taking any serious damage.

Ghost rider looked down and saw how high they were, "Oh shit"

"Say your prayers rider!" Vengeance shouted as they began to fall and pick up speed fast.

Dean tried zip past the fire wall in hopes of going through it too fast to be hurt but as soon as his arm came within inches of those flames his skin began to sear. He rolled to the side before he could touch the flames and rubbed his burning skin, 'Its too hot to get through' he looked up and saw Vengeance holding Ghost rider and falling together like a speeding flaming meteor.

Vengeance slammed the rider into the ground with all his might as they crashed causing a massive fiery explosion that echoed throughout the coliseum.

Dean had to focus his energy so he didn't get blown away from the shockwave of the attack.

Now thick black smoke obscured the arena, and because of where they were it was difficult to get a precise read on Vengeance's energy. Hell itself was filled with fiendish energy, add on all the creatures that occupy it and you make it impossible to discern whats what.

The smoke dissipated, revealing a giant crater with Vengeance at the bottom of it standing over the rider who's upper body was buried in the dirt and legs sticking up.

Vengeance grabbed the rider by the leg and plucked him out of the ground like a vegetable before tossing him in Dean's direction.

He landed near Dean and reverted back to his human form.

"Shit" Dean muttered.

Vengeance walked out of the crater, "One down"

Dean readied himself, if Johny doesn't get back up his fate is sealed.

Vengeance swung around his bone whip a few times in preparation to attack.

Dean's eyes followed his hand movement, expecting him to crack his whip any second now.

Just when it looked like Vengeance was going to strike, a fire whip appeared in his other hand and lashed out.

That was a dirty trick that caught Dean off guard but his instincts kicked in at the last second. The fire whip moved in slow motion in his eyes as it got closer to wrapping around his neck.

Dean's upper body flinched backwards and avoided the whip wrapping around his neck but it did graze his cheek leaving a nasty gash.

Vengeance then cracked the bone whip.

Dean knew he had no chance of avoiding another one of those so he fired a small energy ball which exploded on contact with the whip, giving him the opportunity to back away and out of his weapon's range.

"Clever" Vengeance said as he lashed both whips forward. The ends pierced the ground and Vengeance used them to slingshot himself forward at an incredible speed.

Dean sped out of the way as Vengeance landed where he was just standing and cracked the ground.

Vengeance bounced right off the ground in Dean's direction in hot pursuit.

Dean was now full on retreating while Vengeance was doing everything in his power to catch up to him. No matter how minuscule the advancement was, an inch or a foot, he was getting closer every second.

Johny laid on his stomach looking forward at the two playing cat and mouse. His dizziness made him feel like the coliseum was spinning around him, and his blurred vision made it seem like there were four individuals tearing up the arena playing tag.

Whatever source the energy comes from that allows Johny to turn into the rider, it seemed to have run out. Between transforming multiple times, fighting, recovering from injuries, resisting Mephisto, it was too much. He didn't have any fire left in him.

'Fire?' Johny thought. He glanced over to the severed arm of Vengeance that wasn't too far from him and thought about it. The fire surrounding his skeleton form was probably hellfire, or something similar to it.

Which meant Vengeance's flames, regardless of Intensity, were probably similar too.

Johny crawled with whatever life he had left in him. Dragging himself a couple feet at a time until he could reach the severed arm.

Johny reached out and grabbed the arm. He felt the heat coming off of it, the energy that was still trapped within it. He began to syphon the energy from the limb and felt it coursing through him.

A moment later the limb turned to dust and he stood up. It wasn't enough to completely rejuvenate him but it was enough to get him moving.

Johny limped towards the ring of fire and held his hands out, the arm was one thing, but these wild flames would be difficult.

Dean narrowly avoided a downward fist that imbedded in the ground.

Vengeance spun around and swung a backhand.

Dean raised his arms to block and rolled with the force of the hit sending him tumbling away. He rolled onto his feet and before he knew it he was sliding on the ground avoiding an aerial stomp from Vengeance.

Johny placed his hands on the flames and tried siphoning them but found it much more difficult than last time. He winced as he felt the burning flames enter his body. The energy was potent, but it made his insides feel like they were on fire. For every bit he recovered it felt like he was hurting himself even more.

He could tell the boy was on the verge of being caught by Vengeance, they were out of time. Johny absorbed as much as he could as fast as he could fighting through the pain. He shouted as he opened his eyelids revealing flames.

Vengeance threw a right hook that grazed Dean's chest then an uppercut that seared the hairs on his chin. Then as he spun around, his head faced the boy and breathed fire towards him.

Dean instinctively moved but most of his clothes were burned off of him.

Vengeance grabbed him by the neck with his physical hand, "I finally got you" his voice sounded extremely satisfied.

Dean tried to free himself but he was too strong.

"You're like a little fly buzzing around, being a nuisance. But now I'm going to clip your wings" he laughed maniacally as he pulled his other hand back and prepared to burn a hole through his chest.

A flaming bronze blade pierced through his chest making him drop the boy.

Dean backed away holding his bruised neck.

Ghost Rider leaned to the side behind Vengeance revealing himself, "We're not done yet" he took the bone whip off his arm and kicked him away.

Dean stared at his weapon in Ghost rider's hand. It resembled everything else he used, it morphed into a more demonic look. A big skull with horns as the cross guard, with chain links as the handle, and the blade itself was on fire.

Ghost rider had already taken the bone whip from the severed arm and now had the other, he wrapped them around his forearms and then passed Dean his weapon, "Here"

Dean caught it and could feel the rider's power radiating from it, "Sick"

Vengeance got back on his feet and ran at them in a fit of rage.

Dean and Ghost rider charged at him together.

Vengeance threw a wide left hook towards Dean which the rider blocked allowing him to slash his thigh.

Dean sidestepped, avoiding a backhand, and retaliated by slashing his back.

Vengeance grunted and went to throw a right flaming fist.

Ghost rider caught the fist and noticed it wasn't as powerful as before, "Looks like you're running out of steam" he said as he absorbed the fire arm until it disappeared.

Vengeance was caught off guard at the fact he could consume hellfire.

Then Dean stabbed right through the top of his skull and projected every last bit of lightning through the blade and into his body.

Vengeance was shocked to the core and found himself temporarily stunned.

Ghost rider pulled out his shotgun and aimed it point blank at his chest, "Move out of the way kiid"

Dean pulled his blade out of the skull and jumped off in time.

Ghost rider pulled the trigger and blasted a hole in Vengeance's chest.

Vengeance dropped to his knees and fell face first. His fiery aura now vanished, and even his skull was barely lit.

Dean sheathed his blade, and began counting by putting up one finger at a time.

1…2…3

Vengeance didn't move.

Mephisto was at the edge of his seat glaring at his enforcer.

4…5…6…7

Ghost rider stared at him as well, waiting for him to just hop back up.

Dean felt his anxiety rising with every number, could they have done it?

8…9….10

"Yes!" Dean cheered.

Ghost rider looked up at Mephisto.

To say that Mephisto was furious would be an understatement. There was smoke exhaling from his nostrils. Every time he would breathe in all flames in the surrounding area would increase in size.

Then this feeling of dread began to emanate from him, and all the fiends in the coliseum began to flee in terror.

Mephisto stood up and suddenly appeared in front of them.

Dean instinctively took a defensive stance.

Ghost rider also tensed up.

A veil of shadows reached out from his mantle and enveloped all of them. A few moments later it dispersed revealing that they were back in the desert.

Mephisto slowly stepped forward and went right for Dean. He stopped about a foot away from him and stared him down. His bright yellow eyes were fixed on him.

"Enjoy the little bit of time you've bought yourself, it won't last. I'll be watching closely, and when the time comes" he leaned in close, "I'll make sure your life becomes a living hell" he teleported in a burst of flames.

Johny reverted to his human form, "That doesn't sound good"

"Oh believe me, he'll be throwing stuff at both of us. Don't think you're safe" Dean said.

"I can handle whatever he throws at me" Johny said confidently.

Dean smiled at his confidence, "Well good luck, maybe I'll see you around" he offered his hand.

Johny shook it, "You just might"

Next day on the Highway

Roxanne was riding in her news van on her way to wherever her boss sent her.

"I'll say one thing about the guy, he's got guts" Stuart, her cameraman and driver said, "I mean the other day I was watching this um like sports show—"

"Stuart can you please stop talking about Johny Blaze already" Roxanne interrupted him with a sad expression.

Stuart nodded and looked in his rear-view mirror and saw a chopper approaching, being driven by Johny blaze, "Yeah, that might be a little hard"

Johny rode up on the passenger side and did a wheelie, "Hey!" He greeted her with a big smile.

Roxanne smiled and shook her head.

"Pull over" Johny said.

Roxanne looked forward and put her hand in front of her face to hide.

"You want me to pull over?" Stuart asked.

"Drive" Roxanne said sternly.

Stuart nodded, "Driving"

Johny braked and fell back before speeding up again and pulling a stoppie with a smirk.

Roxanne laughed and kept ignoring him.

"Cmon Roxie I need to talk to you" Johny pleaded.

She simply shook her head.

Johny braked and fell back before speeding up on the drivers side in the opposite lane, "What's your name?"

"Oh uh Stuart" he said sounding flustered.

He held out his hand, "Johny"

Stuart shook it nervously.

"Well Stuart can you help me out here?" Johny asked.

He looked at Roxanne and she shook her head again.

"Sorry dude she's the boss" Stuart said.

Roxanne stared at him with a devious smirk before noticing a truck coming from the opposite direction, "Johny look out!"

Johny moved out of the way of one truck and then out of the way of a second one.

Roxanne sighed in relief.

Johny came back to the drivers side of the van, "All right I guess I see how it's gonna be. Hang on!"

Johny sped past her van and stopped in front of her.

The van came to a halt an inch away from Johny who simultaneously put his side pedal out and leaned his chopper on it.

Cars behind the van stopped as well and started honking their horns.

Roxanne angrily got out of her news van.

"Howdy. Howdy, howdy, howdy" Johny smiled seeing as he got her to get out of the van.

"Are you trying to kill yourself?!" Roxanne shouted.

"I wanna talk to you. I haven't seen you in 56,000 years" Johny said sincerely.

"Hm. This is crazy. You are crazy. And you know, Johny, I don't have time for this I have a story to edit" she motioned to get back in her van.

"You could've said no" Johny said.

She turned around and stared at him.

"When they asked you to interview me, you could've said no" he pointed out with a smile.

Roxanne walked back over to him with an amused expression, "What are you trying to say?"

"Well I'm not tryin to say anything. I'm saying that means something" Johny said.

"Move your van out of the way!" Somebody shouted.

"Sorry sorry" Roxanne looked back for a moment.

"Don't mind them they're fine" Johny said.

"We are on the side of the freeway" Roxanne reminded him.

"Let's get some dinner. You still like Italian?" Johny asked.

Roxanne stared at him for a moment before walking towards him curiously, "What's this about, Johny? You want some closure?"

Johny chuckled.

"Look you were 17 and you witnessed a tragedy and you ran. And I understand now like I understood then. And I have no hard feelings, none, you know? And that's why they call it the past cause it's passed" Roxanne said.

Johny groaned.

"It's done it's over with—"

Johny interrupted by kissing her.

Roxanne lightly pushed herself back and stared at him intently.

Johny shrugged, "Too much?"

Roxanne shook her head and smirked, "there's a restaurant in my hotel, the plaza" she shoved him away, "Eight o'clock" she went back in her van.

"Yes!" Johny raised his fist.

"Don't be late" she got back in her van.

Hell

Mephisto looked into his pool, watching Johny.

"So predictable Johny" He said watching him get excited over a date.

"The son of Zeus will have to wait for now. You however, I can torment all I want for now" he laughed maniacally.

"Vengeance go! Find Roxanne Simpson, bring her to me!" He commanded.

Vengeance who was standing in the corner nodded, "It'll be my pleasure"

Present Day

"And that's what happened" Dean said.

"He hasn't done anything yet?" Chiron asked.

"No, he must be waiting for something" Dean figured. He looked at Chiron with a serious look, "Like that voice from that pit"

Chiron could feel himself being backed into a corner.

"Chiron I need to know who that is" Dean pleaded.

"You will, in time, that is inevitable" Chiron said, "As you may have noticed, there are many things that I don't speak about. That is because I have been instructed by your father not to reveal them, he believes the knowledge could somehow change the outcome"

Dean sighed, "I understand. I guess this means there's a lot more going on than I realized"

Thalia finally showed up.

"Thank you for finally gracing us with your presence your highness" Dean said sarcastically.

"Whatever, let's get your lesson over with" Thalia lifted her left hand that had a shiny silver bracelet which morphed into a shield decorated with an image of Medusa's head and then took out what looked like mace which expanded into a spear.

"My lesson?" Dean laughed looking at Chiron.

Chiron shrugged, "We shall see who's lesson it is"

Author's note: Thus this arc is concluded. I have some other projects that will be occupying most of my time for the next 4-6 months at least so don't expect an update for some time. As always I intend to continue writing asap, so I hope you enjoyed the read. Please Review!