Gundam Wing Fan Fiction ❯ Gundam Wing on Mount Olympus ❯ Hell ( Chapter 9 )

Chapter 9: Hell

Roku, Alexa and Iolaus were eating breakfast when Artemis arrived the next morning.

“Good morning!” Artemis greeted them. “Is no one else up yet?”

“No, they're still sleeping,” Roku said. “I don't think any of them went to sleep until a little while ago.”

“Oh really?” Artemis frowned disapprovingly. “Such wanton behavior in the presence of children is hardly to be commended.”

Roku shrugged. “It happens.”

“Well,” Artemis tossed her head, obviously choosing to dismiss the indecent behavior of the others, “would you like to come to my temple this morning, Alexa?”

Alexa smiled brightly. “Yes, please! Will you teach me how to dance like you?”

“It will be my pleasure.”

“Yay!” Alexa clapped her hands. “Will you tell Mommy I went with Miss Artemis, Roku?”

“Sure.”

Iolaus cleared his throat. “May I join you, Artemis? I have always enjoyed watching the gracefulness of skilled dancers.”

Artemis inclined her head. “Of course, Iolaus. The company of a virtuous youth such as yourself is always welcome.”

Iolaus' cheeks reddened slightly, but he rose and took Alexa's hand. “Would you kindly tell Duo where I have gone, Roku, so he won't suspect me of betraying my word?”

“Tell me what?” Duo said with a yawn as he strolled into view from the direction of his room.

“Oh!” Iolaus turned to Duo. “I am going with Alexa to Artemis' temple.”

“Ok.” Duo plopped down next to Roku and poured himself a cup of tea. “Have fun.” He reached for a honey-cake.

“You don't mind?” Iolaus said uncertainly.

“Nah, I trust you.” Duo shoved the honey-cake into his mouth and winked at Iolaus. “That's why I like honest men,” he mumbled around the cake and reached for a sausage.

“Very well,” Artemis said. She took Alexa's other hand and the three of them walked away.

“What are you planning to do today, Papa Duo?” Roku asked. “I didn't think you'd be up this early.”

“Well, I admit I was pretty active last night, but that just means I'm hungrier than usual this morning.” He clapped his hands. “Let's get more porridge and sausages.”

“Ok!”

The two of them had finished off most of the second round of breakfast when Hermes appeared, looking a little bedraggled.

“How can you eat?” Hermes moaned as he sank down beside them. “My head is pounding!”

“Food settles the stomach after a night of drinking,” Duo replied sagely.

Hermes groaned. “I don't think I could keep anything down.”

“Have some bread.” Duo offered him a piece.

Hermes accepted the bread and nibbled at it uncertainly. “That's not too bad, I guess.” He consumed a little more. “Anyway, I have to do an errand today. Zeus wants me to carry a message to Hades. Care to go along?”

“Hades!” Duo sat up straight. “Doesn't he manage the underworld?”

“Yes. He and Zeus don't get along, so they never talk to each other directly. They just have me carry messages back and forth.”

“That seems kind of silly.”

Hermes shrugged. “The more powerful the god…” he trailed off with a smirk.

“I see,” Duo chuckled.

“May I go too, Papa Duo? It would be like when we went to Sleetcold with Loki to meet Miss Hel.”

“You're right! I hadn't thought of that.” Duo patted Roku on the head. “Sure, you can come too.”

Hermes stood up. “We'd better get going, then. Zeus gets testy if I don't dash right off to deliver his messages.” He took an unsteady step. “Although I don't feel well enough to dash anywhere right now.”

“We'd better leave a note for Quatre so he knows Roku is with me.”

“And one for Uncle Zechs about Alexa going with Miss Artemis to her temple.”

“Right. You have a pencil and paper in your storage space, I assume.”

“Of course.” Roku produced the indicated items and Duo quickly penned two notes. They left the notes strategically positioned in plain view on the breakfast table, weighted down by the milk pitcher.

“There,” Duo said, “that should do it. So now it's off to the underworld. Lead the way, Hermes!”

The three of them set off. Being a messenger god and having the wind at his command, Hermes took his guests by the swiftest path straight to Hell. In almost no time, they found themselves standing on the banks of the river Styx looking across at the yawning entrance to the Pit of Hell. Tethered in the entrance by a massive chain with links thicker than a man's wrist was a giant dog with three huge heads, each of them glaring across the river at the newcomers with enormous yellow eyes. Greenish-yellow drool dripped from long fangs curving over the bottom lip of their wide, heavy jaws.

“He looks a little bit like Fenrir,” Roku said.

“It wouldn't surprise me to find he's descended from Loki,” Duo remarked.

“That's Cerberus,” said Hermes, “the guardian of the underworld. He knows me, though, so he should let us by without any trouble.”

By this time, the ferryman had reached them and beckoned silently for them to step on board his boat. Hermes handed him a coin and he poled them across to the other side without a word.

“He's a little gloomy,” Hermes whispered to the others, “but I guess that can't be helped with his job.”

Once they disembarked on the other bank, Cerberus trotted forward to the end of his chain and growled at them with a deep rumble that they felt coming up out of the ground.

Roku immediately stepped forward and stared up at the huge, three-headed dog fearlessly. “Hello, Cerberus. My name is Roku.”

All three heads lowered, their heavy jowls touching, to peer at Roku. Then one head lifted to blink suspiciously at Duo while the other two remained fixed on Roku.

“The living should not pass into the underworld,” the center head growled ominously.

“We're just visiting.”

“It is for Hades alone to say who may return to the land of the living once someone has passed within.”

“Now, now, Cerberus,” Hermes said. “These are my guests.”

The right-hand head lifted to gaze at Hermes. “But you are no more than a guest of Hades,” it said.

“Wait a minute! I'm a god, too!” Hermes drew himself up importantly.

All three heads began to snicker. “You're kind of short,” the left-hand head chortled.

“I am not!”

“Hades stands a full head taller or more.”

“So what?!” Hermes fumed. “He's one of the tallest gods! But that doesn't mean anything!”

Cerberus flopped down onto his belly. The left and right heads settled onto his paws, still chuckling, while the center head remained raised. “Enough teasing,” the center head grinned. “What business brings you to the underworld today, Hermes?”

“I have a message from Zeus.” Hermes still sounded a little peeved.

“Again?” Cerberus signed. “One would think that two of the most powerful gods in existence could manage to behave a little less like spoiled children.”

Hermes grinned, his good humor restored. “You might think that, but yet…”

“You may pass,” Cerberus said gravely, “but stop and chat for a moment on your way back. I get few visitors who are inclined to talk.”

“We'll do that.”

Hermes, Duo and Roku proceeded past Cerberus and entered the long tunnel into Hell. They emerged at length into a massive cavern lit by the reddish-gold glow of pools of molten rock. The light revealed a large castle carved from the wall of the cavern, complete with pointed towers and intricately carved parapets.

Duo wiped a hand across his forehead. “It's warm in here, but not as warm as I'd expect with that river of lava flowing by over there.”

“There's a constant flow of cold air from the frozen depths,” Hermes informed them. “It results in a much more moderate temperature at this level.” He led the way into the castle.

No sooner had they passed through the wide, iron bound doors into an enormous entry hall than a tall, handsome god with long black hair spilling over his shoulders in curly waves appeared. His long white robe was belted at the waist with a golden cord and his woven sandals had gold chords laced up his caves, which they could see because he marched across the hall toward them so quickly that his strides made his robe flap open at the knee.

“He looks like Zeus,” Roku murmured.

“Keep that to yourself,” Hermes advised in a hasty whisper. “Hades hates being compared to Zeus.” In a louder voice, Hermes addressed himself to the other god. “Good day, Hades. It is good to see you.”

“Welcome, Hermes!” Hades replied. His voice was lighter than one would expect from someone of his size, but quite pleasant. “And you brought guests! How kind of you. I get so few visitors.” He inclined his head to Duo and Roku. “Please come through to my parlor and have a seat.” He turned to lead them back the way he had come, through another door, up a flight of stairs and along a hallway until they reached a very pleasant room overlooking the cavern floor. Wide windows gave a panoramic view, lending the cavern the appearance of a valley. The river of lava could be seen flowing along one side of the cavern before disappearing into a large crack at the base of the far wall.

“Please sit.” Hades indicated large comfortable cushions next to tables already laden with fruit, cheese and wine. “What else may I offer you?”

“May I have milk, please?” asked Roku. He sat down neatly on a cushion and wrapped his tail around his paws.

Hades' eyes went round. “A talking tiger! How wonderful!” He clapped his hands. “Bring milk for our guest!”

“I'm really a little boy,” Roku admitted. “I just prefer being a tiger.”

“You're a shape-changer?” Hades smiled delightedly. “May I see?”

“Sure.” Roku shifted into his human form.

“You are a very handsome boy.”

“Thank you.”

Hermes stared. “I've never seen him do that!”

“He's pretty special,” Duo agreed.

A servant appeared with a pitcher of milk and a bowl, but when she saw Roku in his human form, she stopped in confusion.

“Sorry!” Roku shifted back.

The young woman watched him nervously as she set the bowl on a table beside him and poured the milk.

Hades stretched out on his side, resting on one elbow. He heaved a sigh. “I assume you have come with a message from Zeus.”

“Yes,” Hermes replied. He accepted a goblet of wine from the serving woman. “He wants you to release the family of a woman named Matibel from the underworld.”

“They were killed in an avalanche,” Hades answered with a shrug. “I can only release the dead when they were killed unjustly by the gods. Those cut down by fate must remain.”

Hermes nodded. “That's what I told him, but he wanted me to ask anyway.”

Hades sighed. “He knows the rules and yet I'm sure he'll hold this against me. I think he looks for excuses to blame me for something. He's such a spoiled brat.”

Duo stifled a snicker at this uncharitable description of the mighty Zeus.

“Enough talk of him,” Hades said in a more cheerful tone. “I wish to know more about my guests. Please tell me about yourselves.”

“Well, let's see…” Duo began.

Back on Olympus, Quatre and Trowa finally arose to find food and drink waiting for them on the patio. Quatre also found two notes tucked under the edge of a dish.

“Hey, isn't this Duo's handwriting?” Quatre said. He read the first note. “Oh, how sweet! Alexa has gone to dance at Artemis' temple.”

“That's nice…” Trowa began, but he was interrupted by an explosion from Quatre.

“WHAT?!?!?!”

Trowa nearly dropped the honey-cake he was about to eat. He stared round-eyed at Quatre, who was clutching the other note and turning a deep shade of scarlet.

“That brainless lump of idiocy took my child to HELL?!”

Trowa took a step back. “What's that you say?”

Quatre turned a glower on him that made Trowa step back some more. “That wretched Duo creature took my baby to see Hades. In HELL!”

Trowa swallowed. He couldn't think of anything to say that might calm Quatre down. In fact, he was mostly trying to figure out how to make sure he did not somehow get drawn into the blame for what was clearly an unfortunate decision on Duo's part.

“Is something wrong, Quatre?” Zechs asked. He and Treize had been drawn outside by the sound of Quatre's outrage.

“There sure as hell is something wrong!” Quatre growled. “And his name is Duo Maxwell! He took Roku to Hell! I'll eviscerate him! I'll disembowel him!”

“Isn't that the same thing?” Treize said calmly.

“What?” Quatre turned his ferocious glare on Treize. “You think this is funny?”

“Not at all,” Treize said quickly. “But I'm sure Duo would do nothing to put Roku in danger.”

“And I doubt there is anything that can hurt Roku, even in Hell,” Zechs added.

They both offered Quatre their most encouraging smiles.

Quatre wasn't buying it. He started muttering in Latin.

“This isn't good,” Trowa said nervously.

Wu-Fei limped stiffly out of his room. “What's wrong with Quatre?”

“Duo took Roku to Hell,” said Treize.

“And Quatre's not taking it well,” Zechs put in.

“I can see that,” said Wu-Fei. “Shouldn't we stop him?”

“He's speaking Latin,” Treize pointed out. “I think it's better not to attract his attention.”

A bank of dark clouds started building up on the horizon. Lightning flickered in the distance and a faint rumble followed.

Hera and Zeus appeared, followed by several other gods.

“What's going on?” Hera exclaimed. “Zeus says he is not calling that storm. Is one of you responsible?”

Trowa, Treize, Zechs and Wu-Fei all pointed at Quatre. Quatre looked angry enough to shoot lightning from his eyes. He waved his hand and ball lightning flashed off his fingertips. The other four Gundam pilots promptly backed away several steps.

“What is the meaning of this?” Zeus demanded. He put on a stern face. “Only I, the mighty Zeus, have the right to call storms onto Mount Olympus!”

“Then tell me where Hell is,” Quatre growled, “and I'll send the storm there!”

“Why?” exclaimed an increasingly alarmed Hera.

“The soon-to-be-late Duo Maxwell took Roku to Hell! I want him back and I want him back right now!” A sharp crack of thunder emphasized Quatre's point.

“There is no danger for your son in Hell!” Hera said quickly. “Hades has no power over the living. I'm sure he will return shortly. You must dissipate this storm at once!”

Quatre glared at her.

“She speaks the truth!” Zeus said. “Hades will offer no harm to your son. And I cannot have you unleash such a storm upon the underworld. All manner of fearsome creatures might escape!”

A slight frown wrinkled Quatre's brow. “You're certain he's safe?”

“Utterly certain!”

“Well…” Quatre's fists unclenched and a streak of sunlight broke through the gathering clouds. “Well, maybe I'll just take it out on Duo, then.”

Everyone watched with relief as Quatre's storm melted away, leaving a few gusts of wind and a couple of fat clouds.

“Thank goodness!” Hera said. “But what of your companion?” she inquired of the others. “Will his life not be in danger upon his return?”

“Quatre hasn't killed him yet,” Wu-Fei said, “so he may survive this time, too.”

But it was nevertheless touch-and-go when Hermes, Duo and Roku returned from their visit to the underworld later that afternoon.

“You there!” Quatre shouted. “Just what do you mean by taking my child to Hell?”

“We just went to visit Hades,” Duo said nonchalantly. “We had a pleasant chat and a nice lunch and then came home.”

Trowa made shushing motions at Duo from behind Quatre's back.

“And does Hades not live in Hell?”

Duo blissfully failed to take Trowas's hint. “Hades has a real nice castle in Hell.”

“So you did take my child to Hell.”

“I guess you could say it that way.”

Quatre pointed a finger at Duo. “Would you prefer being a chicken or a frog?”

“Is that a trick question?”

“How about a mouse, you child-endangering rodent?”

“Wait just a dang minute…!” Duo held up his hands defensively.

“For a mind-reader,” Wu-Fei remarked quietly to Treize and Zechs, “he seems a little slow on the uptake.”

“One would have expected him to pick up on Quatre's intent,” Treize agreed.

“Maybe he's tired,” Zechs said.

“Mama!” Roku said firmly. “Mr. Hades is a nice man and Hell is an interesting place. Quit threatening Papa Duo.”

“But…” Quatre's lower lip trembled. “It's Hell!”

“Hell is just a place, Mama.”

“But…”

Roku rolled his eyes. “You're being silly, Mama.”

Quatre's shoulders slumped. “I was really worried!”

“I know, Mama.” Roku patted him on the hand with a soft paw. “But I'm fine.”

“He's always fine,” Duo added. “Honestly, Quatre! When are you going to admit that Roku is old enough to look after himself?”

“Maybe when you start behaving responsibly!”

“Not gonna happen.”

“Argh!”

“Mommy!” Alexa came bounding across the grass toward the group wearing a shining white gown of gossamer silk that floated around her as she ran. Blue and pink ribbons wound around her waist and across her shoulders to hold the garment in place. More blue and pink ribbons had been braided into her hair. She dashed up to Zechs and leaped into his arms. “Mommy! Look at my pretty dress! Miss Artemis said I can keep it. May I?”

“Of course you may.” Zechs kissed her on the cheek. “You look absolutely beautiful.”

Alexa beamed. “I was dancing and Miss Artemis said I did really well and that I looked really pretty!”

Iolaus approached them at a more sedate pace. “Alexa was completely charming,” he reported. “The maidens were quite taken with her and she was pretty thoroughly spoiled.”

Alexa giggled and Treize patted her on the head, being careful not to disarrange her ribbons. “I can't imagine my dear Alexa being anything but completely charming.”

Alexa blushed prettily and transferred to Treize's arms so she could kiss his cheek.

“Look!” Roku pointed across the lawn. “Papa Heero's back.”

“What ho, everyone!” Hercules waved at them from across the lawn. “We have returned!”

Iolaus immediately dashed across the lawn to intercept them, but he stopped before flinging himself onto Hercules and assumed a more dignified demeanor. “Welcome back, cousin! How did it go?”

“I excelled as always, dear cousin,” Hercules said gravely. He stopped and struck a slight pose. “I fought the boar for a full day but ultimately defeated the creature.”

“I am pleased to hear it.”

“Is that true?” Wu-Fei asked Heero. “They fought for a whole day?”

“Just about,” Heero grunted. “I was not unimpressed.”

Wu-Fei's eyes widened. “That's high praise coming from Heero.”

“And then,” Heero continued, suddenly uncharacteristically communicative, “we took the thing back to King Eurystheus to prove that Hercules had completed the labor and the stupid lout was so afraid that he hid in an empty wine jar. Hercules wouldn't let me fill the jar with water and drown him.” Heero folded his arms in disgust. It was not clear if he was more disgusted with the king or Hercules. “So we turned the boar loose in the king's garden and came back.”

“'Turned it loose in the king's garden'?” Hermes echoed in astonishment. Then his surprise turned to a smirk and then to open mirth. He began to laugh. “That's marvelous! What genius! For that trick alone, I am ready to forgive my part of Hercules' debt. What do you say, Duo?”

Duo eyed the lion-claw necklace around Hercules' neck. He pointed. “Give me that pretty bauble there and I'll call it even, too.”

Hercules blinked in surprise. Then he snatched the necklace from around his neck and tossed it to Duo. “Done!” he cried and pulled Iolaus to his side with one muscular arm wrapped tightly around the young man's slender waist. Iolaus grinned happily.

“Well, this has been an interesting day,” Treize said. “And there are still a couple of hours until sunset.”

“Which means dinner won't be served for hours,” Duo complained. “I need a snack.” He clapped his hands.

“Let's have a little wine, too,” Treize suggested. “Maybe Alexa will show us what she learned from Artemis today.”

“Ok!” Alexa leaped to the ground and trotted out onto the lawn. “Now don't laugh if I mess up.”

Everyone else settled down on the patio to watch. Alexa began to dance, her little feet moving nimbly though the steps as her little hands waved gracefully through the air.

Treize and Zechs stared, entranced.

“She's so pretty!” Zechs murmured. “I can't believe we made her!”

Treize put an around Zechs' shoulders. “I can. You looked just as graceful piloting Epyon.”

Zechs blushed. “Piloting a Gundam is nothing like dancing.”

“It is when you do it,” Treize murmured.

An intimate expression crept over Zechs' face. His lips parted slightly and his large blue eyes swallowed Treize's dark brown gaze.

“Man, I don't need Duo's ability to know what they're thinking,” Heero muttered.

“I am impressed by their ability to kiss without actually touching,” Wu-Fei noted.

“They are pretty talented,” Trowa agreed.

Alexa finished and Treize and Zechs broke from their trance when the rest of the group started applauding. They applauded too and then held out their arms to their daughter. Alexa skipped over to them and climbed into Zechs' lap.

“That was wonderful, sweetheart!” Zechs exclaimed. “You dance beautifully.”

Treize nodded in agreement.

“May I keep studying with Miss Artemis while we're here? She said I could.”

“I think that's a wonderful idea.”

“Goody!” Alexa flung her arms around Zechs' neck.

Duo grinned. “Of course,” he stage-whispered to Wu-Fei, “that means she'll be busy a lot of the time, leaving them free to enjoy each other's company.”

“The thought never crossed my mind,” Treize said.

Duo blinked several times, but he managed to keep his mouth shut.

Hercules and Iolaus stood up. “If you will excuse us, my friends,” Hercules said, “we will rejoin you later for dinner, if you will permit us, but right now I would like to recount the full tale of my recent adventure to my cousin in private.” He and Iolaus offered the group quick bows and hurried away.

“They are so going off to do it like bunnies,” Duo remarked. Then he grinned at Heero. “But with that thought in mind, are you busy right now?”

Heero glared at him.

“There's something I want you to try.”

“Oh?”

“Please?”

“Oh, all right.”

“You may regret it later,” Wu-Fei remarked.

Heero frowned slightly. “He just wants to get laid.”

“It's how he wants to get laid.”

“It'll be fun!” Duo said quickly. He grabbed Heero's arm. “Trust me!”