Hades, God of Death

Terra and Delta stood outside of Zeus and Hera's castle.

Delta: So he said if we go far away enough he'll kill us. Maybe it'd be worth it.

Terra: Fuck off. Look. I don't want to be Artemis. But I know you want to be so badly. Let's do the tasks. And get you signed on as Artemis. Then I can leave.

Delta: You act like they're going to jail me up or something. As olympians, we are free with added benefits. You just don't realize.

Terra: Your mother was a horrible person.

Delta: Who was your mother?

Terra: My mother? It doesn't matter.

Delta: What if your mother was the same as mine. A "horrible person" as you said.

Terra was reminded of raging blue flames.

Terra: I'm not saying she was the best person. She left when I was 7.

Delta: You seem shaken. So maybe she was just as bad as my mom.

Terra: My mom didn't birth an insane monster like you. I'm lucky she didn't keep me.

Delta: Don't take the high road! I traveled the world. And the amount of unrest I felt while traveling through those cities was unreal. Even men, who are so stupid they'll try to kill anyone or anything wouldn't mess with metas and mutants. They were scared. You could've set free millions of soon-to-be monsters. I do what I want for a cause. What's your cause? Justice? Your justice caused injustice. Maybe soon you'll be the monster…

Terra: ...I…

Delta: Sounds like someone doesn't have a cause.

Terra: Let's just go. Try to keep up so we both don't die.

Delta: Says we have to go to Athens first, to...what?

Terra: What now?

Delta: Introduce ourselves to the people apparently.

Terra: Why? We're on a special mission for Zeus. Not a field trip!

Delta: We have to do everything on the list. So...lets go.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Delta and Terra walked into a huge city. Athens. A short man came out of his shop.

Man: Who are you two women? What are ya doing walking all alone? You know it's dangerous for maidens to walk alone, right?

Delta: Not for us. I'd watch your tongue if I were you.

Delta nearly jumped at the man. Terra grabbed her arm. He jumped back.

Man: I shouldn't have said anything. You two are too weird.

Terra: Forgot they still lived in ancient greece times.

Delta: Yeah. When Incest was genrally accepted.

Terra snickered at Delta's joke. And then immediately went back to her disdainful expression. They walked around and saw many residents. They heard a ruckus down the street.

Delta: A group.

They walked down the street to see a group of people standing in front of a man on a stage. Of course, this man was Dionysus.

Dionysus: So, they drove up to me right? And they yelled what dumb rich kids usually yell "Hey, faggot!" and showered me with some water. So, I stood there thinking what a bunch of dicks, they should've poured some wine on me!

Terra: Shit, let's get outta here, come on!

Delta: Nah I dunno. I think I'm interested in his story.

Terra: Are you serious Delta!? You hate all men right, hate him!

Delta: That implies I hate Lord Zeus. He's an exception.

Dionysus: So the next time they rode their horse carriage around I switched around the horse's blood with wine-Oh hey! Everyone look in the audience! It's Terra! The one with the freakishly long orange hair, that one! She looks like a feral cat! Come on up here Terra!

Terra: See, look what you did.

Delta shrugged.

Delta: Oops.

Dionysus pulled Terra onstage.

Dionysus: This little gem right here, she's the new Artemis! Hooray! O-oh, and that one there!

Dionysus pointed at Delta. She was practically pushed onstage. Delta stood next to Terra.

Dionysus: Now let me get a show of hands. Which one looks like a better Artemis?

Everyone looked at Terra and Delta.

???: Who's that short haired girl? Doesn't look womanly at all!

???: Artemis isn't supposed to be womanly! She's the god of chastity!

???: Yeah, she's asexual!

Delta: Hmm. Maybe they are with the times.

Terra: I think "the times" are different for them.

Dionysus: Let me see a show of hands for...Terra!

About twenty of the fifty people in the audience raised their hands

Dionysus: Hm, let me see a show of hands for...Delta!

thirty of the fifty people.

Dionysus: Well, based off of looks. I guess Delta wins as Artemis.

Dionysus: Either way, here we have it. The two new Artemis's. Maybe Artemi? Yeah, Artemi.

???: Artemis, how are you going to help my wife give birth?

Delta: I was trained in that sort of thing.

???: Artemis, how are you going to help all the animals?

Terra: I dunno, shelter?

???: Artemis, can you heal my son? He's terribly ill and-

Terra: Your son? Maybe we can help.

Delta: Seriously? Why?

Terra: It's quick, he needs help.

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

Father: Here he is! Please! Heal him!

Terra: Okay kid, where does it hurt?

Kid: Everywhere, except my feet, it feels like everything's becoming numb…

Terra put her hand on his chest and focused. She went deep in good, relaxing thoughts. But she couldn't stop the feeling of helplessness creep in, The feeling that she, one day, may have to be the person who does all this for everyone.

Delta whispered in her ear,

Delta: Seriously? You still can't heal? Your a disgrace.

Delta quietly rested her arm on the kid's leg. And his entire body was healed.

Kid: Dad...I don't feel sick anymore! Nothing hurts.

The father was almost crying.

Father: Terra, thank you. For this. For everything. My son is guaranteed to live thanks to you.

Terra watched Delta walk out the door and stand outside.

Terra: No problem. Uh, stay away from smallpox or whatever that kid had.

Terra walked outside.

Terra: What was that? You just healed that kid. So you do care.

Delta: Maybe it would've been funny to have watched you fail to heal him. Well Zeus, we did the first one. Lets move onto the next. Here, you get to hold the list for now.

The words of the first mission were magically crossed off.

Terra: I think you should. You actually have pockets.

Delta: Fair enough, you'd probably lose it. We have to go to the jail of the wicked. Very creative name, Zeus. It says we have to go to the blood red rivers below the jail.

Terra: Well, what are we waiting for?

- - - - - - - - - - - - -

They walked into the jail. It was at the very lower bowels of the castle. There were tons of monsters locked up.

Terra: Blood red rivers...The underworld. That's talking about the underworld.

Delta: The underworld?

Terra: But how do we get there? There has to be an entrance somewhere.

Delta: Well let's find it.

They wandered the prison. Staying tight to the middle. Terra saw a door with a red glare to it. She looked through it.

Terra: That's it...blood red rivers.

Terra suddenly jumped back. Startled from something. She was nearly hyperventilating.

Delta opened the door and walked in.

Terra: Seriously?!

Delta: What?

Terra: There was an animal there. I can't explain it...I only got a glimpse.

Delta: You're overreacting.

Delta was hit from the side by an energy blast. She fell down and slid into a wall next to the door they opened. There was a man standing there. It was Hades. He had taken off his normal armor. In place of a long leather jacket, boots, and baggy jeans. He was holding a big sword. Embude with demon power.

Hades: Nice to see you ladies. You think you can just walk in here without a fight?

Terra: Hey! We just want to talk. We were ordered to come here by your brother!

Hades: My brother's an asshole, you know that right?

Delta stood up and pulled her gun. She fired a round into Hades.

Hades: You done?

He adjusted his coat. And the bullets flew off.

Hades: Doesn't look like you two are friendly.

Hades jumped at Terra and swung his sword. Terra put up her arms and blocked. That strategy proved useless. She was sent flying from the godlike hit. Delta flipped out her axe. She lifted it above her head and bore down on Hades. He slapped the axe out of his way. And Delta was sent with it. Hades kicked her in the leg, and she fell. He grabbed her axe in the air before it killed her.

Hades: Here, sit down.

A table appeared with three chairs.

Terra and Delta both struggled to their feet and sat down.

Hades dealt them uno cards.

Hades: Let us play.

Terra: So uh, why did you just attack us?

Hades: It sounded pretty fun. And good job. You succeeded. Not really. You two could only take a couple hits.

Terra: Delta, why are we really here? What do we need to do?

Hades: Maybe finish this game?

Terra already had the most cards. With Delta and Hades being lower.

Delta: So is this place really the underworld?

Hades: in its glory.

Delta: Whose here?

Hades: Many of history's greatest sinners. Hitler of course, most politicians, probably both of you, eventually.

Terra: What, why?

Hades: Oh, many reasons. I also failed to mention this is where all dead Olympians go.

Delta: Really!? Can we see them?

Hades: Hell no! Their long gone.

Delta: Why?

Hades: Well, most were erased from existence thanks to a certain blade. The ones that come here, I have to kill.

Delta: So my mom...did she say anything about me?

Terra thought about the vicious fight with Artemis.

Hades: Hmm. Did she?

Delta: Um. I don't know. I asked the question.

Hades: Terra? Did she?

Terra: Oh, right.

Delta: Terra? What did you do?

Terra: Uh…

Delta: What. Did. You. Do?

Terra: I fought your mom. To regain the power of olympus.

Delta: You ripped my mom's power out of her?

Terra: Well when you put it like that…

Delta: What did she say?

Delta was getting increasingly irritable. Like she'd rip Terra in half.

Terra: She said she wanted you to be the new Artemis. Okay? She said you were above me, and that you have the potential to surpass me.

Delta: She was so hard on me.,,It was for my own good.

Hades: Artemis was always a loner. Nobody really liked her. We were close for a time. She was always closed off. The girl loved very little, but she had a big heart.

Delta: That's almost too much credit…

Hades: Well. I win.

Hades showed that he had one card left.

Delta: Damn. I was so close to beating you!

Hades: Well. That's it. Don't die up there. Or we'll be meeting again.

Terra and Delta walked out the door to the underworld.

Terra: So. How do you feel?

Delta: Like pushing you into one of these cages.

Delta held up the list. The second task was crossed out.

Terra: You'd have to stay in there with me.

Delta: Maybe we should test what happens.

Terra: Test dying?

They stepped out of the jail.

Terra: that's probably not a good idea.

Delta: Maybe I could cheat the system. Get you killed.

Terra: You can dream about killing me if you want.

Delta: I will.

Terra: So what happens?

A blast of lightning struck next to the pair,

Terra: Huh. Guess it's that.

Delta: Maybe I could push you in.

Terra: Jeez, calm down.