General Art Asgard Legends

[*M i d n a*]

Great chapter from the Great One, like always, Ao ^^ I couldn't find any mistakes. It flowed really nicely ^^ Can't wait for the next chapter, when Saga will leave to fulfill his mother's dream ^^

Thanks Annie. Well, here is the next one, might as well post it now, I just want to get this story out of the way ASAP.

To the two demons he looked nothing like the old self he once was. Saga stood in front of them wearing his new fear-inspiring mask, his new shiny dark armor, a belt with many daggers on it all around and a provision bag at his right side hip. His white oaken crossbow hung at his back, and the demons also noticed the beautiful hilt of the mighty sword at his left side hip. There it was before their very own eyes, the sword of power!

Saga had brought several sacks filled with weapons, armor, and provisions for the road, for they indeed would be going out this day. He handed the astonished demons the sacks and told them that they should don their armor and equip their weapons and belts upon themselves.

The demons did that right away, opening the sacks and bringing out their armor, their belts and weapons. Before Saga they don their armor and weapons, then stood before him looking confused.

"It is time for us to go, my friends," he told them, knowing they were wondering what was going on. Saga had reunited with them outside the exterior of the castle after he had said his adieus to his family and future waikth. "You've craved freedom, you've always wanted to visit Midgard, aye? Well, it is time for me to deliver on that promise. It took a while to get everything in order, but come with me, I will see to it now that you two finally get there, you've earned it."

Sammy and Repiv turned to regard each other. So that's why they had been let out of the room this day, they both thought.

Of course Sammy and Repiv felt very excited about the prince's explanation, but they were saddened as well, for they could see in Saga that he was not the same. To them he looked very different, changed, his voice sounded more solid, his appearance was more dreadful, frightening, and because of it, one thing they felt from seeing him was true raw fear. But what settled the demons down was the way Saga spoke and seemed to handle his actions, he seemed more in control of himself now, even a bit laidback.

The demons followed him out that day, for they weren't about to oppose him and say something like they had changed their mind after all.

Their destination was one of the summoning portals which connected directly to the world above, the world of Midgard. These ancient portals had been crafted while Netherrealm had been intact as a whole and under the sole rule of Hel. Because of that, the portals still operated under her guidance, and they were kept guarded by many menacing beings who were still very loyal to her.

To get to the nearest portal, the trio would have to go through two enemy realms, Olymrion and Gorgonia. Olymrion was ruled by Din Akera, also known as the lady of fire. The other realm was ruled by Medusa, also known as the lady of the deadly glare. The two realms were close-by neighbors of Tartakus, and the three had always been involved in skirmishes but had never dared to invade each other, that could have been because of the relationship the rulers had with each other. Din was said to be cousin to Medusa, and many rumors had always lingered tying Medusa to being sister to Hel and Beliza, Medusa and Beliza being entities Saga did not personally know of, only heard of. Although they were enemies in the underworld of Tartakus, the leaders leading such realms respected each other and often made treaties with one another.

Hel had facilitated her son's first task when she had reached an agreement with the ruler of Olymrion, Din Akera, who had agreed to the deal offered by Queen Hel. In exchange to let Saga and the two demons go through unhindered and unscathed, Din Akera, who'd had in mind declaring war to the Tartakuns for events from the past, (Saga had killed her brother) would be getting five thousand demon soldiers, five hundred elite demon Vallans, as well as several Hel Gazes. Hel also offered Din Akera several tomes of ancient magic, tomes that would indeed bolster Din Akera's already powerful magical arsenal. A good treaty it was, Din Akera had believed when Hel's messenger had delivered the fifteenth and final message. The treaty was a package that any of the leaders in Netherrealm would have gladly accepted, for Queen Hel's forces were considered superior, and really, Din Akera and her many Olymrion legions had begun having trouble with several minor realms who had become interested in her own realm. It was mainly because of that trouble that Din had accepted the deal from Hel. Although it had pained and angered her heart to know that she would be giving Hel's son free passage through her realm, Din Akera had calmed those feelings down when she also remembered Pliapakkus had been causing trouble to the Tartakuns back then. And so Din Akera had come to an understanding with Queen Hel.

Two days passed as the trio continued to make their way to the portal. The trio was still in Tartakus territory, but had come close to its borders. When they would exit Tartakus land, the trio would find themselves in hostile territory, and as Saga had put it to the demons that past night as they had made camp, no one from Tartakus would be helping them out, the three of them were on their own from that point on, had been since they had left the castle surroundings.

Saga and the demons came to a region filled with hills and large mounds all around, with many small garrisons laying north and south, all filled with demon guards and other creatures. The garrisons marked the end of Tartakus territory and was an entry point to the realm itself. Beyond that entrance commenced the realm of Olymrion, Din Akera's domain.

Before stepping out of Tartakus territory through a large gate, Saga detained his advance through the hilly terrain, turned around and looked back at his homeland. He took a good look all around, at the land he was leaving. The demons saw him and also stopped, curious as to why Saga had done that. They said nothing, just looked back as well.

Saga remained quiet, just staring out. His mind, though, was racing with many memories. Saga was leaving the realm which had seen him being born, he was leaving his beloved mother and sister, and he was leaving behind Ailyth, the beautiful maiden with whom he had fallen in love with. Ailyth had agreed to remain in the realm and keep Queen Hel and Magatha safe, as well as the realm itself. Before Saga had departed from Ailyth's side, the two had shared one of the most passionate moments of their life that night, moment which Saga held very dear to him.

"Take a good look," Saga said, startling the demons by having spoken all of a sudden. "This could be your last day here in Tartakus, the realm that saw you grow up. If you have any regrets in leaving, by all means, turn back now so that I may go on alone."

Sammy and Repiv said nothing, but Sammy did bump Repiv on the shoulder.

"We will follow you out, my prince." Repiv said, forced to say something.

"Haha," Saga laughed, surprising both of them. "Prince...right. I am still that to you, but know that once we leave Tartakus I will be no such thing to you, nor to you, Sammy. I would have stopped being a prince, and I want you two to simply look at me as a friend of yours, because that is what I am. I will deliver you to the portal but I am afraid I won't be going with you."

"What, but why?" Sammy nearly shouted.

"I have my reasons," Saga said. "Now you two listen to me well. My mother has somehow facilitated our journey. No enemy from Olymrion will hinder our passing, but be aware, treaties have been broken before. You two know I killed Din Akera's brother long ago in our long fought war. "

"Aye, you did, my prince," Repiv remembered that day clearly. "You gutted the fool quite good."

"Well, perhaps Din accepted the deal only to set up a trap for me," Saga told them, reliving the battle with Pliapakkus in his mind. "That means you are involved as well, for you are traveling with me, be alert at all times just in case."

Sammy nodded, Repiv merely made a funny, nervous face.

"Even if we make it to the portal," Repiv spoke up, his voice filled with anxiousness. "Why won't you be coming with us, my prince?"

"As I said, I have my reasons," Saga explained, eyeing the demon Wiead closely. "There are a few things I must take care of down here first. I thought you should know."

That saddened Sammy more than it saddened Repiv, for she had thought Saga would be coming with them to the realm above. She had been looking forward to that, to making it to the realm of the humans with her prince at her side. Now that she knew he wasn't planning on going, Sammy swallowed hard, scratched her head, and thought about turning back, however, she said nothing and just remained standing there, not knowing what to say or do, her heart truly broken.

"So you really are going on a conquest, eh?" Repiv was the one who asked, his voice shaky. "Forgive me, my prince, I heard some guards divulging that this morning when we were taken out of our room."

Saga merely shrugged at that.

"Is it true, my prince?" Sammy asked from her place. "You plan to conquer the lands down here and unite them under one banner? Under the rule of Tartakus?"

"I don't know what I will be doing," Saga replied, sighing heavily, wondering how word of his plans had gotten out. "My own course is still to be determined, it remains unknown up to this moment, but whatever my business becomes down here, let it not trouble you two. I don't want you two to be involved in it, I want you two to be finally free of the clutches of this world of ours. You two have helped me out too much already, you two went to Cocytos with me, if not for you, maybe the stones would have never made it out of there. For that I hold you two very dear to me, you two have a special place in my heart, and though I'd love to remain ever at your side, I simply can't, because I want you two to be able to go to that dreamland you've always wanted to visit, and I surely want you two to be happy up there. Involving you in my plans now would keep you two from that happiness I want you to experience. So no, I am not letting that happen, I am setting you free as I promised. Now let's go, the way to your freedom is far, we've got lots of ground to cover."

Saga said nothing more and turned back around, this after taking a deep breath. Even for him it was hard turning around and continue his march away from his homeland, away from his beloved mother and sister, and away from his beloved Ailyth, whom he was already missing dearly. Nonetheless, he started on his way momentarily, leaving the demons standing there to decide what they would do.

The demons steadied themselves and glanced back briefly at the land they were leaving behind. Oh how hard it was for them to leave it too!

"Do you have second thoughts?" Repiv asked Sammy with a saddened voice, a voice that let Sammy know that the demon male was finding it hard to leave.

"A little," she replied right away, her head hanging low. "I've lost everything dear to me here, Repiv. My father, mother, and sister. They all died in wars, died fighting for Tartakus. There is no point in lingering here where we are labeled as traitors, I'll take my chances in making it to that portal, even if the prince himself is not coming with us. If we do make it to the land above, all for the better, I'll start anew there, and you should do the same...If you're willing, we can do it beside each other...start anew, that is."

Repiv remained quiet for several seconds, the demon not even becoming aware of Sammy's real proposal. But then he turned over his shoulder and noticed that Saga was twenty yards away from them already and far from stopping in his walk. He regarded Sammy and then said. "Alright, guess you are right, why remain here and get a dagger in the back? Let's go, Sammy, I'm with you."

Sammy smiled at him, then she hit him lightly on the shoulder with her balled fist and said, "Last one to reach the prince is an ugly Vallan." She then started to run after prince Saga.

"What...no way." Repiv laughed, threw the sack over his shoulder, and quickly took off running after her. "I don't want to be an ugly Vallan."

"Then beat me to him," Sammy chortled as she ran.

Moments later the two simultaneously caught up to Saga, who smiled lightly at them when he saw them appearing, one at each side. The trio left the realm of Tartakus behind in the hour that followed.

Soon, they found themselves in front of the great Olymrion black gate, one which had hundreds of armed guards stationed above and beyond and even in two mighty dark towers that rose up to the sky, one at each side of the gate.

*End of Chapter*

 

[Raindrop14]

Great chapter!:clap: There were only like three grammar problems at the beginning but it was a fantastic chapter anyway.^^ Can't wait to read the next one.

EDIT: Woops. That post ^ is for the previous chapter. Now I have to read this one!^^

EDIT: Now I read this chapter!^^ And it was great! I loved it! I found no mistakes. Can't wait to see what'll happen next!^^

 

[*M i d n a*]

Great chapter!:clap: There were only like three grammar problems at the beginning but it was a fantastic chapter anyway.^^ Can't wait to read the next one.

EDIT: Woops. That post ^ is for the previous chapter. Now I have to read this one!^^

EDIT: Now I read this chapter!^^ And it was great! I loved it! I found no mistakes. Can't wait to see what'll happen next!^^

Thank you, Rainy. You don't have to wait anymore, here is the next one. (Enjoy this short chapter, peeps, the final two and the Epilogue are long)

The mighty gate had slowly opened before them, creaking loudly as it did. A few moments later, a small group of five guards rushed out on top of boar-like beasts and made their way to them.

Saga swung the crossbow to the front and told his friends to be prepared. As the riders came rushing forth, Sammy and Repiv became afraid, they didn't know what would come to happen. They were carrying swords, Sammy and Repiv were, and so they nervously took their hands to the hilts of such weapons and just waited.

The riders arrived the spot where Saga and his two demon friends stood. Upon arrival, the riders expertly surrounded them.

"Prince Saga, son of Queen Hel, I presume?" asked one of the guards, who was a tall demon wiead covered in grayish thick armor with helmet included.

Saga nodded at him and the guard bowed at him lightly as he said. "Melrion Papalukk at your service. Our beloved Lady has granted you safe passage to you and your two friends under the treaty she signed. You are free to proceed, but be warned, any drastic actions you take against our realm while passing through will be held against you and you will be dealt accordingly."

"I say the same to you," Saga replied coolly, mentioning the words his mother had told him to speak. "Tartakus will hold you and your realm responsible for any damage me and my companions may sustain while passing through." What he had said Saga had learned from his mother during the morning he had met up with Repiv and Sammy.

"We understand each other, then," the guard coolly replied, his mount snoring and moving about wildly. "You may proceed through our realm anytime you want now."

Saga merely nodded at the guard and glanced at the others, who were staring at him and his friends. Saga then regarded his friends, who were too busy admiring the boar-like monsters. Piglons, the beasts were called, Tartakus had around a thousand of those, a meager number compared to the number owned by Olymrion, which numbered in the five thousands.

"Let us go," Saga said and started moving forward. Sammy and Repiv were fast on his heels.

They went through the portal, keeping wary, especially of the many guards who held crossbows or were stationed behind mighty rotating ballistae. The trio even saw large greenish monsters known as ogres, who were kept as slaves to handle the large turning wheels that opened and closed the gate.

"Wow! Ogres!" Sammy had cried in bewilderment when her eyes had seen the brutish monsters. "I had never seen one."

"We have a Draco Zombie," Saga reminded her and chuckled from the side.

"Aye," assisted Repiv, thinking nothing much of the brutish ogres.

"I know, my prince," Sammy said, as if she was lost while admiring the fifteen foot brawny monsters. "But it's always wonderful when you get to see something you have never seen before."

Saga merely nodded at that and kept walking on.

Those guards who saw them walking by never made a threatening move, not even did they ever see them with bad eyes. Some even nodded to them nicely as they went by.

"They seem rather...hospitable," murmured Sammy to Saga, who just nodded.

To the guards stationed on the gate it was as if no one had entered their realm, they soon had gone back to mind their business.

And Saga and the demons had proceeded walking on for a long while without any mishaps or incidents, although they had always been on the lookout for signs of trouble, Saga carrying the crossbow up front, just in case. He reminded himself that they were in hostile territory, and in his mind kept swirling the thoughts of an imminent trap.

A few hours later, when the trio made it to a flat, open area with nothing visible but craggy mountains in the distance, soon the group noticed the appearance of riders in the distance, flanking them. Saga's good vision allowed him to make the group out, he knew right away that they were Olymrion riders, although they made no move to come against them, rather kept their distance, as if they were merely escorting them.

"What are they doing?" apparently Sammy also had caught sight of them and was curious about their movements.

"I don't really know," Saga replied, keeping his steady walk going. "They haven't made a threatening move since I saw them, they appear to be keeping a tight watch on us, though."

"Maybe they are just making sure we don't do anything stupid," Repiv said from the side. "That rider did mention that we would be held accountable for any acts."

"Possibly so," Saga agreed with the demon. "Anyway, just keep going, but be alert."

***

News of the arrival of Saga and his two demon friends soon reached the headquarters of Olymrion, a mighty castle which stood on a large mound surrounded by craggy mountains and tall dark towers.

"They set foot in our realm just hours ago," the demon messenger pointed out. "Prince Saga and two demons."

"We will uphold the treaty," the voice of Din Akera resounded in the throne room. "They will pass without being bothered, but as planned, keep eyes on them through out their passage, I don't want any screw ups, if something were to happen to them, we'd be in for a lot of trouble, Queen Hel will not have any compassion."

Din Akera was a menacing being in all her right. Her hair was long and of the color of fire, her eyes glistened fiercely in that very same tone, but despite that, she had the beautiful semblance of an angel.

"It shall be done, Lady Din," said the guard as he bowed before the redhead figure seated in the stone throne.

Din Akera rose from the throne. "Good. You are excused."

"With your permission I take my leave," the guard responded as Din Akera came down from her throne in a hurry, her beautiful long hair trailing behind her. The guard bowed, then he exited the throne room, leaving Din Akera alone with just her council members and few guards that guarded the room.

Din Akera found herself pacing about the throne room, the ruler of Olymrion pondering on something.

My own distant cousin has finally come," she thought to herself, and her inner being became agitated and pained. I've never laid eyes on him, on my brother's killer. Maybe I should go and see for myself what he looks like.

But though she was highly curious about him, Din Akera realized it was better to just let Saga and his two friends pass by. She feared that if she actually took a look at Saga, even from a distance, she'd be tempted to strike him down for having killed her brother. Maybe she could kill him, she knew she was strong and could attempt it, but in doing so, in going after her brother's killer, Din also knew she would be exposing her realm to invasion from Tartakus and possibly annihilation, for Queen Hel, her own cousin, would not let her own son's death go unpunished.

Din calmed down and headed back to her seat. No, she would not be going after Saga. She had given her cousin Hel her word, and she would keep it.

***

Saga and his companions found no trouble at all while passing through Olymrion. For every hour that the group passed on enemy territory, they began to relax and enjoy the views all around, not that there were many grand views, the underdark was mostly filled with valleys, caverns, mountains and large hills, and even a few rivers that ran through the underground from the world above.

The group saw packs of soldiers in the distances nearly through out their passage, but Saga understood clearly that these soldiers were not doing anything to hinder them, nor to worry them, rather were keeping an eye on them, making sure they did not run into any trouble and that their passing went without any incident that might invoke Queen Hel's anger.

It took them two days to reach the northern exit where another long gate had been erected along with a wall made of stone that ran east and west for miles. This gate was protected as well as the first one they had encountered. On this gate alone they noticed mighty giants for the first time, human-like beings except taller, way taller. Thirty feet to be exact. The giants were also kept as slaves, there were only three.

Sammy and Repiv were left speechless, as to Saga, he again mentioned to Sammy that Tartakus had a Zombie Dragon, merely because Saga had been looking for a good chuckle.

An hour later, they were leaving that gate and were minutes away from setting foot in Gorgonia, the realm which had the most unnerving tales and rumors of them all.

*End of Chapter*

 

[Eduarda]

Really nice chapter, Ao ^^ I just found one mistake in it:

Saga merely nodded at the guard and glanced at the others, who were staring at him and his friends. Saga then regarded his friends, who were too busy admiring the boar-like monsters. Piglons, the beasts were called, Tartakus had around a a thousand of those, a meager number compared to the number owned by Olymrion, which numbered in the five thousands.

There are two A s. The rest was a nice chapter, like always, Ao ^^ Nice cliff hanger at the end

 

[*M i d n a*]

Really nice chapter, Ao ^^ I just found one mistake in it:
There are two A s. The rest was a nice chapter, like always, Ao ^^ Nice cliff hanger at the end

Thank you. I've corrected that mistake.

(Part 1/2)​

Behind them, the gate of Olymrion soon closed slowly but surely, and the trio had no other way to go except through a long wide road that laid ahead of them riddled with rocks, stones, and boulders of all sizes. The road was just an opening amid two mighty mountains that stretched north for several miles, two at least. To the east and west laid more mountains, so the only option they had was the road before them.

"Bleh!" Sammy spat aside. "Smells awful around here."

Repiv, disgusted at the smell, also spat aside.

The smell that hung here was a sickening, thick gaseous odor, and they could feel a light chilly wind as well, something new to them, for pure wind rarely had reached the land of Tartakus. Feeling it hitting his exposed forearms, Saga wondered whether the wind came from the upper world of Midgard.

"Ignore the smell, tough it out, you two, we better get going," Saga said as he stared above to the two mountains. "We have no privileges here on out, we may be facing trouble in there, so stay close to me and always alert, got it?"

The two demons nodded nervously, Sammy still very unhappy about the smell, somehow it had made her stomach nauseous, the same could be said for Repiv.

Once again, Saga took the lead, the demons following closely at his sides and still carrying their sacks, the other hand close to the hilt of their weapons.

The trio walked on for hours mostly in silence through that long stretch until finally the mountain walls surrounding them lowered and the land became flat all around them again.

"Glad we're out of there," Sammy cried, for also the strong, gaseous smell had subsided. Repiv nodded, agreeing. He, just like Saga, stared at his surroundings. Nothing much different to see, just flat ground for a few miles with boulders laying about here and there, and a hilly terrain in the distance.

Once again, fatigue forced them to camp, and they did near a large squared boulder that seemed to be coming out from underneath the ground.

Because they didn't know what to expect here in this realm, Saga told the demons that everyone would do a little bit of guarding while the others slept. He took the first watch, and by doing so he spent a few hours sitting reclined against part of that boulder, his thoughts were mostly about Ailyth and his family, but also about what he would be doing once he set the demons free. After four hours he awoke Repiv and took his rest.

Repiv felt a bit nervous once he was left to handle the guarding duties, but he remained ever vigilant and took care of his turn, waking Sammy four hours later. Sammy took her guarding duties seriously, just like Repiv had. She even walked about the place, her eyes staring at all her surroundings. Nothing was amiss, the land appeared to be empty of life, and Sammy was glad of that as she remained guarding the camp.

Two hours later the group was once again on the move, with all of them feeling great and in good spirits. Saga, as they had been eating before setting out, had even asked them whether they had gotten a good rest. Sammy and Repiv had rested well, and so they had let him know that they had and that they were ready to go at it again.

No enemy hindered their passing as they kept on going, not even when the trio made it to a series of large hills. The whole realm appeared to be devoid of life, abandoned, although the trio was suddenly spooked greatly when they reached the high hill's peak and saw the scenery below. They were staring at what was a long valley surrounded by more steep mountains, but that they saw within the valley floor is what had spooked them.

"By all that is dark!" Repiv cried, shocked at the view. "What in the...six infernos is this!"

Countless of stone figures riddled the valley floor, figures of all kinds, tall and short, demon and non demon.

"Stay alert," Saga warned his two demon friends, also shocked at the view below. "It seems to me we're finally going to see trouble, this must be Medusa's work."

Sammy gulped at the side, and she turn to stare at Repiv, who was too concerned at the view below to take notice of her.

Saga led the demons down the hill and towards the valley. The trio was then able to see all the statues that riddled the area up close. Saga stared in awe at the statues as he went by, he knew there had to be thousands of them.

Saga even made out large serpentine beings with human-like upper bodies among them.

"A-Are these..." Sammy stammered nervously as she went walking by, her eyes scanning one figure who held a bow. "Gorgons?"

"I think they are," Repiv nervously said from the side, intrigued as were the others.

"Yes, no doubt about it, they are Medusa's servants," Saga spoke, his stare on one of the statues, and he suddenly stopped, forcing the two demons to stop as well. "Or...were."

"What happened here?" Sammy asked, although Saga nor Repiv answered that, for they did not know.

Saga looked about the place, wondering what was the meaning behind all these statues. He noticed some of the standing statues were broken, others laid on the ground, but the majority of them simply stood there complete, all in different poses and showing different expressions. But, as to living enemies, they saw none.

Saga was surprised at the turn of events, but he surely was not afraid. His mother had warned him to be very careful when passing through this realm. Hel had considered Gorgonia to be the strongest of realms in all Netherrealm, even above mighty Tartakus. Medusa ruled it, and according to what Queen Hel had told her son the previous night before his departure, she wasn't one to take lightly. Medusa was probably the strongest of all beings in Netherrealm, and she hated intruders more than anything else. What was worse, she had not accepted the deals Queen Hel had thrown at her.

"Is she even stronger than you, mother?" Saga had asked in awe as he had been dining the night before his departure with her, Magatha, and Ailyth.

"We had...I..." his mother had replied hesitantly. "I couldn't be sure now, but yes...I see Medusa as being stronger than me, I always have, I won't lie. I only fought her once, and I lost back then."

"You fought her?" Saga had pressed on, amazed, for his mother had never told him much about her quarrels with the leaders of the realms. "Well how--"

"This happened long ago," his mother had proceeded on. "before Medusa became...well...what she is. It's not important now, it was a brief fight between she and I. But do take care when you go through Gorgonia, Medusa will know you are in her domain, and she'll most likely come against you herself, she has the power of the eye."

"Power of the eye?" all three--Saga, Magatha and Ailyth--had asked in unison.

"She's a Master Seer," Hel had explained to them as her eyes had scanned each one. "She can see things no one else can, and she can turn beings to stone. That is the power she was given. So watch out for her, avoid looking her in the eyes unless you want to end as one of the stone statues that adorn this castle."

The warning had unsettled Magatha and Ailyth more than it had Saga, who had simply gulped down a goblet of tasty wine, which had been brought from the world of Midgard in that last shipment that had been brought to Queen Hel.

"She won't even get to see me," Saga had said that night in order to appease his future bride, who had seemed pale. "I'll avoid her at all costs."

"If you do, then you are home free to the portal," Hel had gone on to say that night. "You'll come upon Lamashika, that's the name of the area where the portal lies. The beings operating the portal there remain loyal to me. They normally won't let you through, nor anyone else for that matter, unless you carry with you the item that I gave you."

"The right of passage," Saga had said.

"Yes," his mother had answered.

"Then all will be good," Saga had smiled. "I'll be putting my two friends in that portal in less than a week if everything goes as planned."

As he stood staring at a tall stone figure of a gorgon, Saga realized there were many like statues all around. What had happened here? Why were Medusa's own kin turned to stone? These tall half demon-half serpent warriors had to be the so-called Gorgons!

"This place is scary," Sammy whispered, and only then did Saga notice how close she seemed to be standing near him, her shoulder touching his arm. He didn't mind, he knew she was scared. He regarded her and watched as she stared at the gorgon statue. Saga too, stared at the gorgon closely.

Repiv, on the other hand, hadn't been too frightened like Sammy was. He had wondered off more than twenty feet away from Saga and the demon Zorkreyl and was admiring the brutish figure of what seemed to be a sitting, fat giant, the demon was even running his hand down the stonework, not believing that it once had been a living creature like the ones they had seen in that Olymrion portal.

Suddenly, he thought he perceived a sudden movement beyond the large statue, a shadow that quickly had faded. Repiv rose his eyebrows in surprise, not sure whether he had seen anything at all. Had his eyes just betrayed him? He knew he was not going to be able to live with that doubt in his mind, so highly curious about the movement he thought he had seen, he walked and peered around the statue.

Only to find a huge being before him, this one, unlike the the many grayish statues he had seen all around, was very much alive, and it held a mighty bow, which was strung and aimed his way.

Repiv froze in fear as he felt a thousand chills coursing down his spine, and he felt his knees wobbling, wanting to betray him, but he somehow remained standing. The demon wiead felt as if his soul had simply abandoned him upon having laid eyes on that unnerving figure. The huge being, who had many black serpents for hair, grinned and glared at him from her place, her eyes suddenly glistening in a reddish tone. It happened quick, Repiv suddenly lost all hope for life as he rapidly began to turn to stone from the toes up. He tried to shout a warning to his friends, but then he felt his torso so heavy, his mouth opened but no sound escaped. He became a statue of solid stone in less than two seconds.

*Continues*

 

[Raindrop14]

That was a great chapter!^^ I can't wait to see what will happen to them!XD Keep it up!

 

[*M i d n a*]

That was a great chapter!^^ I can't wait to see what will happen to them!XD Keep it up!

Thank you, Rainy. Alright, well here's the second part of Chapter 24. One more chapter and the Epilogue and this story is completed.

Chapter 24 (Part 2/2): Gorgonia​

Saga, satisfied of his look upon the gorgon statue, which must have been at least seven feet tall, glanced about and noticed Repiv was nowhere close.

"Repiv!" he called out, loud enough for him to have heard him and respond. But no response came, and that is when Sammy turned her attention from the gorgon statue to Saga, who shouted again, only this time, louder. "Repiv, where are you!!"

No response, and Sammy headed to Saga, fearing the worst. Saga grabbed a hold of his crossbow and went walking forward, his eyes working furiously as he turned left, right, and front, the crossbow doing the same, for Saga held it at head length. He didn't have to issue a warning to Sammy to stick close to him, he had heard her approaching him as soon as he had shouted Repiv's name.

"Repiv?!" Sammy cried out as well, her shout echoing around the place. Saga hushed her with a low murmur. "Shh! Stick close to me, Sammy, I'm afraid we weren't as alone as we thought we were."

Suddenly there came a series of hisses, which echoed all around the area.

"What was tha..?" Sammy felt the blood in her veins turn so cold, and she didn't even finish asking her question when loud cackling echoed all around them.

"Eahahahaha!"

"Prince Saga!" Sammy shouted, very afraid. "What is that?"

"Trouble! Stick close and lower your stare."

Sammy ran to stand behind him in an instant and did as she was told, keeping her sight low.

The loud laughter echoed around them again, accompanied by a female's resounding voice. "You dared to come here?!"

Saga took action in less than a heartbeat. He brought Sammy to his left side with his arm and willed his magical wings to appear. They did, and he would have taken flight with Sammy at his side, but then the female's voice was heard again and kept him from doing that.

"Saga! You came uninvited to my realm!"

Saga gulped, but he didn't freeze in fear. He stared around but only found statues to see.

"Who are you?! Show yourself!" Saga screamed, his heart beating wildly, as was Sammy's. The god kept Sammy secured in his left side and held the crossbow in his right hand, pointing it about everywhere he faced.

"Do you really want that now?" the voice seemed to tease him, and somehow, as he heard it, it reminded Saga of his own mother's voice, it sounded close to identical. Even Sammy registered that notion. "You are not afraid of what may come to happen to you if I did show myself?"

As Saga heard the voice he couldn't make out where it was coming from, it appeared to be coming from nowhere and everywhere at the same time, echoing all about the valley. He knew it was Medusa, though, for who else could make a claim of this realm?

"We were just passing by," Saga shouted, hoping that he could appease the goddess' anger. "We never intended any harm upon you nor any of your kin."

"Prince, let us just fly away," Sammy whispered in his ear, her voice full of fear.

"Hahahaha!" Medusa laughed again, her laugh vibrating so wickedly all over the place that it gave Sammy and Saga a notion that there were many foes.

"Your mother warned you, didn't she?! She must have told you how I hate intruders, and yet you still dared to come here!"

There came a loud rattle, like that of a rattlesnake, followed by many low hisses, and suddenly several statues a long distance away fell to the ground and shattered, driving Saga and Sammy's attention that way. Sammy's hug upon the prince intensified, and she buried her head in his chest. Saga though, saw a large black tail hiding behind a large statue, and he pointed the crossbow in that direction and squeezed the trigger twice, hoping to get lucky. Wicked magical bolts left the crossbow, this one flashing wildly as the reddish bolts were fired out. Upon making contact with the statue, the bolts caused it to explode in thousands of pieces. But Medusa was very agile, and Saga saw no sign of anything as she had slid away to safety emitting a wild, gleeful laugh again. "Hahahaha."

Saga maintained his cool, staring ahead without blinking, his crossbow ready to fire upon anything that might move.

"Child! I like you!" Medusa shouted from somewhere. "Hahahaha! Entertain me for a bit!"

"I'll do more than that!" Saga promised, the god suddenly feeling very angry, for he knew Repiv had probably been turned to stone or worse. "I will kill you! Would that then be enough entertainment for you?"

"Hahahaha!" came Medusa's wild, teasing laugh. "Kill me? You see the thousands of statues before you, child! They all tried it before, and failed miserably! What makes you think you'll fare any better?"

"Come out here and I will show you," Saga shouted angrily.

Again, Medusa merely laughed loudly, enjoying the moment very much. "Hahahaha."

That had been her game every single time she'd had to deal with intruders, she'd enjoy playing a hide and seek game, teasing her foes before she showed herself before them and dealt with them the way she did.

"You are just like every other fool down here," Saga shouted, enraged that the foe would not show her face. His voice also echoed loudly all about, and so he knew Medusa was hearing him. "No, a little worse I'd say, you hide and deal with your foes in a cowardly way. You have no honor, you--"

"I have no honor you say?!" Medusa's pride had suddenly been wounded to the core, and Saga perceived that when he heard her hurt and angry voice. The Tartakun god smiled, knowing he had struck a nerve.

Hiding behind a tall and wide statue of a giant, Medusa's beautiful face scowled and she shouted. "What do you know about honor, child?!"

"I know enough to let you know that I've always confronted my foes face to face," Saga cried, keeping alert, he even spun around in his place with Sammy several times, just to make sure Medusa did not catch him off guard. "I give those who battle me a chance at a fair fight. As to you...what I see here is the total opposite of that. You strike at your foes the cowardly way, probably always have, therefore, you have no honor, you're nothing but a piece of trash to me."

There was total silence for more than a minute, and Saga swallowed hard, although certainly not afraid in the least. He waited to see if he received any response to that. He knew he probably had pissed Medusa more than she already had been with their presence there.

"Prince Saga, let us just...fly away."

Saga shook his head right away. "Like cowards? No way!"
He looked about the place around them and noticed there was the tall statue of a gorgon nearby. Saga walked that way, Sammy having no choice but to follow.

"Sammy, sit here," Saga whispered before forcing her to sit on the ground beside the statue. "It's going to be fine, I have a plan, my friend."

Sammy, of course, tried to rise again, but Saga shook his head at her, and she obeyed, although she remained grabbing on to his left leg, fearing that he would simply fly away and leave her there.

"You're probably rounding me this very moment," Saga shouted, crossbow turning where his eyes did as he spun about. "Isn't that what you have done to all these countless of foes? Attack them from the back when they least expected it?"

The rattling sound came again, echoing several times somewhere in the distance before dying down. Medusa was on the move, Saga thought, moving around them, perhaps trying to find a good place from where she could strike all of a sudden. But then, Saga's thoughts on that rapidly withered when again Medusa spoke.

"I have your demon servant there in my sight," Medusa shouted, her voice no longer teasing, this time it sounded very serious. "Should I let go of the arrow then? Should I proceed with my cowardly act? It would only be you and me."

"Damn you!" Saga worriedly shouted just as Sammy cried in fear after having heard Medusa's voice. The demon Zorkreyl tightened her hold on Saga's leg as she had heard her death sentence, although Saga roughly walked away from her, yanking free of her hold. Sammy fell down to the ground on her elbows and started whimpering, believing Medusa would kill her then.

"S-Saga...no! My...prince! I don't w-want to d-die..." She reached out to him with an outstretched hand.

"Kill her!" Saga shouted as he pointed at Sammy wit his left hand. His voice was full of anger, and his eyes furiously worked his surroundings, trying to make Medusa out among the statues. "Do it! Let fly that arrow! Kill her now, kill my friend, because once you do, you will follow shortly, I promise you that! I will be taking vengeance upon your sorry soul and avenge both of my friends! Or I will die trying!"

A long silence ensued, with Saga hearing nothing around him, just feeling the light breeze that seemed to come from somewhere farther north. Sammy felt that breeze too, and she remained on the ground, whimpering and expecting to die soon. Her hands reached out to Saga in a pleading way, who stood just two feet away from her.

"Saga!" suddenly Medusa's voice was heard, and Saga was startled by it. "Lower your crossbow! I have my honor too...or at least I had it many millennia ago. Today you have shattered my heart with your words, child. You think I will harm you, child, when I know you are my nephew?"

The revelation froze Saga, and behind his mask he was very surprised to have heard that. "Wh-what did you say?"

"Hel, your mother, is my sister," Medusa shouted, still hiding behind a statue.

"You...are my aunt?!" shouted Saga, feeling confused. His mother had never revealed anything in regards to Medusa being related to them.

Two feet away from him, Sammy regained hope upon having heard Medusa's words, but she waited, gritting her teeth.

"Yes, Hel is my younger sister!" came Medusa's voice, sounding near but still Saga unable to make the location from where it came from. "I know she's been keeping many secrets from you. I've been...watching."

Saga considered her words. She spoke the truth. She knew! As he stood there with crossbow aimed in the direction he faced, he wondered just how many things Medusa knew about him.

"I will be showing myself to you now, you do not need to fear me, I won't be turning you to stone. Knowing you were coming here, I was actually testing you! Do not fire, you hear me!?"

Saga's stare hardened, Hel's son fearing a trap, but he gulped lightly again, thrown off by the sudden turn of events. Saga wondered whether she spoke the truth or was just teasing him, setting him up for a trap and the final blow.

"I-I give you my word!" he lowered the crossbow slowly but kept his finger ready on the trigger. "I've got nothing to fear. I know we came uninvited here when we shouldn't have, I am ready to face the consequences either way. Come out, I will not fire upon you! Show me that you are indeed my aunt...show me you still have some honor left in you, let us talk!"

Medusa did come out, sliding out from behind the large statue of a giant thirty feet away to Saga's right. Saga turned immediately to face her upon seeing her form in the distance from the corner of his eye. When he saw her, Saga was left in total awe.

She was part serpent from the waist down and part humanoid from the waist up, and though Saga noticed the many black writhing serpents she had for hair, he also marveled at her sheer beauty. Medusa, in her own right, was just as beautiful as queen Hel was. There was no doubt she was related to her, they could pass for twins!

In her hands she held a mighty bow that easily was five feet long from end to end, but it was not strung, and at her back she carried a large quiver full of long-size arrows.

"My...nephew!" she cried, her eyes glued on Saga, on his mask, on his reddish eyes. To allay him, for she could easily tell he was a bit on edge, she dropped the bow aside and continued slithering forward slowly, hands thrown up.

When she had noticed Saga kept his stare on her, Medusa had somehow saddened and had driven her sight low. Saga, merely by looking at her action and her saddened semblance, understood that she had done that because of the way she looked and how Saga could be perceiving that.

"My looks...do not frighten you, child?" she asked, still approaching but keeping her gaze low.

"Why would I be scared?" Saga asked. "You look alright to me, your face is as beautiful as my mother's."

"But my...form!"

"I didn't know you looked like this," Saga explained, relaxing just a bit. "My mother never mentioned to me that you were...well...part serpent and--"

"I wasn't always this monster you see before you," Medusa said, finally arriving within five yards from where Saga stood, looking undaunted before her. "I was turned in to this long ago by..." She didn't finish her sentence, rather let it trail off as she stared off to the side in apparent sadness. "By someone who's not important now," she added as she returned her stare at Saga.

"I see. Why the sudden change of heart, though?" Saga asked, still not convinced that everything was true. "You seemed angry and--"

"Oh, child, I was merely testing you to see if you are who I think you are," Medusa explained, bringing her hands down slowly. Saga was actually looking up to her tall form, for she actually stood around eight feet tall due to her serpentine form, which allowed her to elevate that high. She coiled her serpentine body then, so as to lower herself to Saga's height.

"I don't get it," Saga examined her beautiful semblance, then the serpents she had for hair. Some of those serpents nastily snapped at him but Saga never moved, and Medusa, angered at the critters, had snapped at them and had even hit them with her hand.

"Stay put!" she had scolded them, then her gaze fell upon Saga once again. "They think you will actually harm me, pay them no heed."

"You resemble my mother so much...but I just can't believe that all this...has come to happen. We were enemies moments ago and now--"

"Saga!" Medusa cried joyously, and before Saga could even think about reacting, she launched herself at him and embraced him tightly, just as his mother had done so hundreds of times. "Oh, Saga! My precious nephew!"

Saga did not resist the hug, he even placed his left hand around her slender waist, to appease her.

By now, Sammy had stood up, but she remained trembling in her place, still confused and fearing that it was all a ruse. In her mind she feared Medusa would suddenly squeeze the life out of Saga.

When Medusa's eyes fell upon her as she kept Saga hugged, Sammy gulped hard and felt a nasty shiver running up her spine. She paled and panicked when Medusa's lip curled, turning briefly into a grin.

*End of Chapter*

 

[Caeda]

Finally caught up. Ummmm... Medusa is his aunt? Kinda disturbing... But whatever. Why do I have a feeling that the reason why Medusa is like that has anything to do with Saga's dad?

Btw, I love your location.

 

[*M i d n a*]

Finally caught up. Ummmm... Medusa is his aunt? Kinda disturbing... But whatever. Why do I have a feeling that the reason why Medusa is like that has anything to do with Saga's dad?

Btw, I love your location.

Thanks for reading, as I often say: You are awesome!

In regards to your question, you'll know all of that soon enough.

As to my location...thanx, just something I thought would look cool.

Here's part 1/2 of the last chapter.

(Part 1/2)​

"It's alright, Demon, be not afraid." Medusa had told her, noticing how the demon zorkreyl had become afraid of her.

Medusa let go of Saga, and he was quick to remark as soon as he was free of her hug. "She's got a reason to be afraid, you know? What did you do with Repiv, our other companion?"

Sammy walked over to his side, Medusa staring curiously at them both as she did.

"He would have spoiled my plans," Medusa responded coolly, averting her gaze off to the side in an innocent way. "I had to turn him to stone."

Sammy gasped, horrified, she even covered her mouth with her hands. Saga regarded her and noticed how worried she had become. Turning back to Medusa, he asked her with a low voice.

"Is...he dead then?"

"If I was to leave him in that state, then yes. If I were to release him, then no."

"You must release him," Saga cried right away. "I only came here because--"

"Yes, I know why you came here," Medusa cut him off and regarded Sammy, then Saga again. She cleared her throat, caressed her chin, and asked. "You want to send them up to the world of the humans, right?"

Saga remained quiet, remembering his mother's words when she had mentioned to him that Medusa was a Master Seer. She had spoken with the truth, it was no wonder Medusa seemed to know it all.

"I need to get them to a portal," Saga explained, still holding the crossbow in front of him, Medusa staring at the weapon briefly before staring deeply into his eyes. "These two friends have helped me out a lot, they've surely earned their freedom."

Medusa said nothing at that, she nodded lightly at him then swung her upper torso around and slid away back to the direction she had come from. Saga kept his eyes on her and didn't think much of her actions, for she had merely returned to pick up her bow.

Medusa then returned before Saga and Sammy. She coiled her black serpentine body underneath her and spoke again. "And after you release them, what will your plans be?"

Saga stared aside after he noticed Medusa's scrutinizing gaze upon him. "I know what your next plan will be," she went on to say, making Saga stare at her in disbelief. "You need not hide anything from me. I've seen it all, I've been keeping a good eye on you, Saga. I know why my sister sent you to Cocytos."

Medusa's eyes fell upon the hilt of Saga's sword, which was visible on the left hip.

"Then there is nothing for me to say," Saga pointed out, noticing Medusa's stern gaze upon the sword. "You know I will soon be heading out on a conquest here in the underworld, but do you actually know the reasons behind that?"

Medusa chuckled and hung her bow at her back, actually feeling very glad of her nephew. "Do I have to remind you what your mother already told you? I am a Master Seer, Saga, of course I know. It is because of those plans that I decided to meet with you here."

"What do you want from me, then?" Saga asked, not knowing what his aunt was after. "I know that you don't want to kill me, otherwise you would have done that already, right? I mean, you were able to turn my friend to stone, you could have done the same thing to Sammy and I."

Medusa remained quiet for a while, just observing him and even Sammy, but then she smiled tenderly at Saga and said. "Right. So you listen to me now."

"My ears are all yours, aunt," Saga said, putting emphasis on the last word, which Medusa caught. That word drew a smile upon her face. Saga noticed how her face seemed to gleam full of pride.

"I will allow you to continue on your way to the portal," Medusa went on. "Heck, I'll even take you there if you want, I can make it happen quite easily and much faster. But...once you deliver your friends to the world above, you have to promise me that you'll come back here with me. You and I will be having a long talk about your plans, and about why your mother has been so secretive with many things. Do we have a deal...nephew?"

Saga bit his lip, thinking about her offer, which wasn't a bad offer at all. He then regarded Sammy, who was now back to her old self, and she smiled coolly at Saga only to let him know she was calm and composed now.

"Just help me get to the portal," said Saga, turning to face Medusa. "Once my two friends are freed, I will return here and listen to whatever you want to talk to me about, you have my word on that."

"That's a good decision," Medusa smiled widely. "One you surely will not regret."

They sealed the deal by shaking hands.

Minutes later, Medusa headed to where she had turned the demon wiead to stone. With Sammy and Saga watching eagerly on, she then stared at the statue and her eyes glittered in a reddish tone again.

The stone skin that had covered Repiv suddenly started to crack before finally breaking apart. Pieces of grayish stone fell to the ground and Repiv fell to the ground with them as well, gasping for air and in total fear.

Sammy rushed to him, crying out that it was alright, that he would be fine. Saga walked towards the fallen demon just as Sammy knelt beside him and touched him soothingly.

"Ahhh!" Repiv shouted in fear and squirmed away when he laid eyes on Sammy, for he was still shocked.

"Repiv, it's fine!" Sammy told him. "I'm here, you've been spared, you're alright!"

Repiv then calmed, his senses coming back to normal. When he laid eyes on Medusa, who remained in place a few feet away, Repiv's face screwed in bewilderment, but then he noticed Saga approaching.

"Pr-Prince Saga!" he shouted nervously, struggling to his feet, Sammy helping him up. "You are...alive!" Then he regarded Sammy, touched her on the cheek with his right hand and smiled at her as he said, "So are you, Sammy! But...I don't understand..." And Repiv glanced back at Medusa.

"It's all fine now, my friend," Sammy happily appeased him. "She's Saga's aunt! She's not going to hurt us."

"Are you alright, Repiv?" Saga asked as he pat the demon on the shoulder. "Do you think you'll be able to make it to the portal, then?"

"We are going to it, then?" Repiv smiled grandly.

Saga confirmed with a nod, then he walked away from the demons and headed towards his aunt, who regarded his approach.

"I think we're ready to depart any time," he let her know.

"Then allow me to trace a door," she quickly said.

"Door?" Saga asked, confused.

"Another word for portal," Medusa explained as she slid a few feet away. Her right index finger began to glow in a red tone, Saga noticed. With it she began tracing a door in front of her in the open space. Soon a glowing portal with runes flashing in the middle stood at the ready to be used. It hadn't even taken Medusa a minute to create it.

"It's done," she announced and slid back a few feet away from the portal.

"Wow!" Sammy whispered, and Repiv had to admit that had been a fine display of magical arts. He was still unnerved at the half monster half woman figure, but every second that went by he felt better, and he actually thought the goddess was quite beautiful, despite her lower serpentine form and the ugly serpents she had for hair.

"Once you go through that door," Medusa warned. "You'll be in Lamashika, or the place where the giant portal stands. There are creatures there who will be quick to jump to the attack if you don't carry the right of passage."

Saga already was holding the item his mother had given him. "You already knew I carried this, right?" Saga said, holding the item aloft for Medusa to see.

Medusa shook her head when she saw the item, feeling a bit embarrassed. "I actually don't consider every single event that transpires in this world, I might have missed that."

"My mother said I needed this," Saga just said. "So I simply show this around to the creatures, right?"

"So long as you carry it with you and show it to the creatures there, you'll be fine, nephew. You and your friends will be taken to the portal, then your friends will have to wait until a summoning comes from the world above, but once it does, they will be sent up."

"I understand," Saga nodded, and when he was about to turn to regard his friends, Medusa touched him on the shoulder, calling back his attention.

"Yes, aunt?"

Again, Medusa smiled proudly upon hearing the way Saga referred to her. He could be very unpredictable, she had known that ever since she had begun keeping an eye on him, which had been many years ago.

"I can help you through this," Medusa offered kindly, forgetting about her thoughts. "I can go with you and help you see to it that your friends are freed. Then you and I return here and we have our talk, there is much that we have to talk about, Saga. What do you say?"

In truth, Saga had felt relieved to have heard her offering him her help. He had felt a little tense not knowing what to expect once they went through the portal, what they would find on the other side. To have her come along as company was great.

"Sure, you can come along," he said. "That way everything will go smoothly, you can help me out in case I do something wrong."

"Then I am ready when you are."

Saga nodded at her and then went towards his friends. He let them know that it was time to go. Sammy and Repiv felt so excited to know that they were actually so close to getting to the portal. Feeling glad because things here in Gorgonia had ended good for all of them, they both nodded at him and flashed him wide smiles to let him know just how excited they were. Saga felt his heart vibrating with tremendous happiness when he saw those smiles, and he felt proud of himself, proud because he was so close to keeping his word to them.

The way here had been long, he understood as he let his gaze fall to the ground, and they also had experienced many unexpected events, like the astonishing revelation of Medusa, who had revealed her true identity to Saga. Somehow, knowing she was coming along for the final part of the trek, Saga felt a little relieved.

The first one into the portal was Medusa herself, followed by Saga and then the two demons.

*Continues*

 

[Raindrop14]

It was great! I can't wait to read what Medusa will be telling Saga!^^ Keep it up!

 

[*M i d n a*]

It was great! I can't wait to read what Medusa will be telling Saga!^^ Keep it up!

Thanks for reading, Rainy.

Whew! Finally here's the last update. (not really, because there's still the Epilogue to be posted) But the story itself ends here. I know it's not much of a good ending, but the Epilogue will answer many of your doubts, and wrap things up. Wait for it tomorrow.

Woot! Another story finished! Yay! *Feels so good* I hope you guys/gals liked it. ~Atsie

Chapter 25 (Part 2/2): The Final Goodbye​

The place was dark, its walls rocky and rough. When Saga glanced about the place as he had come through the portal, he was reminded briefly about Cocytos. The mountain walls here were barely apart from each other and they had come to a narrow passage some ten feet wide. His thoughts about Cocytos, that awful place of torment, were short lived when Sammy and Repiv came out of the portal and started gasping in disbelief, particularly not liking the small space they had come to.

"Hold that item in your hand, Saga," Medusa spoke from her place up front. "Because here they come..."

Before Saga could ask her who was coming, he noticed a bunch of tall, rough-skinned creatures running their way and growling menacingly. The creatures had simply come from the front moments after Medusa, Saga, and the demons had come out from the portal. Saga quickly made his way to Medusa's right side, who said as she kept her eyes on the creatures, "It's alright, don't threaten them, they are just doing their job. Just hold out the item for them to see, we'll be fine."

The item his mother had given him appeared mechanically in his hand, and he held it out for the approaching creatures to see.

Medusa made her startling rattling noise, just to garner the creatures' attention and stop their sudden charge.

"Grahhhh!" the creature in the lead stopped dead in its tracks when it laid eyes on the huge half serpent-half woman form rather than the item that the masked visitor held in his hand.

"Lady Me...dusa," he went on to say with his sharp, deep-low voice, looking up at her and straightening before her. "You...here? It's been awhile. You know Lady Hel has banned you from using the portals! Have you forgotten--"

"Shut your trap, Mollack!" Medusa scowled at the creature. "I'm not the one who will use the portal, and besides, we have a pass." She turned to regard Saga as she crossed her arms coolly in front of her. "Show it to him, nephew."

Saga did, extending his hand out, his eyes on the four foul-looking creatures that stood in front of him. Sammy and Repiv remained standing behind Saga, a bit afraid of the creatures.

The creatures were tall, at least six-feet-five-inches. They had hairy heads and bodies, long bat-like ears, big round eyes, fat, hairy noses, orcish faces with long beard all over, and wide, strong arms. They all held nasty looking spears to go with that.

"Who is going up to the world of the humans, then?" asked the one in the lead, his huge eyes on Saga. The creature even approached him and got his nose to within three inches away from Saga's mask.

"My two friends back here," Saga answered, not unnerved in the least. The creature walked right past him, and he regarded the two demons, who took a long step back. Mollack wasn't surprised at them, for he had delivered many demons to the world above.

"Just a zorkreyl and a wiead. Follow me, then," ordered the creature, and Saga was fast to consult with Medusa first. His aunt nodded at him and even smiled at him as Mollack went walking by.

They followed after the creatures, Saga opting to let Medusa take the lead. He ran right after her, taking care not to step on her tail. As to Sammy and Repiv, they ran after Saga, their hearts beating wildly, their stomach full of adrenaline.

The group was led through a long curving, narrow tunnel with the mountain walls so close that they barely came to have around five feet of maneuvering space. They continued through the passage with care, the four companions coming to understand that the darkness was somehow fading and becoming light. Every step that they took, the place just appeared lighter before their eyes, and somewhere in the distance Saga thought he heard a rumpus going on.

***

"Are we getting closer, aunt?" Saga asked Medusa, who did not turn but responded nonetheless, "Yes, so close now, child."

After about ten minutes of following the hairy creatures, they all slowed their march as they reached a wide opening, and what they saw before them left them all in awe, except for Medusa, who had already known about the portal and its looks, for she had helped to create all six of them long ago.

The portal appeared to be a huge diamond set against the mountain wall. It ran upwards from the base of the floor and disappeared up into the darkness, actually going into the inner parts of the mountain. The diamond-like structure shone brightly in its magical source all around for miles, although the light did not hurt the under dark creatures at all, just lit the place beautifully. At the base there was a platform with behemoth-sized creatures walking about. And below that platform were smaller diamond-like structures shining in different hues. These connected to the large diamond and fed it magical power. Around those smaller diamond-like structures many creatures seemed to be hard at work making sure the portal was operating as it should, some of those figures were even cloaked.

"Wow!" Sammy was amazed at the beauty of the giant portal. So was Repiv, who walked on with his mouth forming a huge O. So amazed did the demon wiead become that he dropped his sack and didn't even consider about going back to retrieve it.

As to Saga, he had been amazed to see the beautiful portal as well, but he had concentrated his view on the operators of the portal, who were huge! They were bigger than the ogres and giants they had seen while they had been making their way through Olymrion. Then, about forty yards away from the portal, Saga had noticed the long line of demons and other creatures!

Just like they had been escorted there by the hairy brutes, so too, had been many other creatures who had come from somewhere else in the nearby netherrealm. Saga noticed many creatures whom he had never laid eyes on, some of those even bigger than the operators of the portal!

"Holy hell!" Sammy cried out when she laid eyes on the creatures. "What manner of beings are those?"

Medusa responded to that after a loud laugh. "Demons, demon, what else?"

"I didn't...know there were demons that big!" Repiv announced, shocked at the huge monsters.

Saga had not known either, but he kept quiet.

"Well now you know," Medusa responded coolly. "They come from the northern regions, where the most powerful demons reside."

Suddenly, Mollack, forced the group to stop. "Wait here," he turned around to face them, his voice sharp and loud, but only so it would be heard over all the ruckus that existed in the place. "I will go and let the Dage in charge know of your arrival."

Saga nodded at him, and Mollack turned around to leave.

Medusa stretched out her hand and grabbed Mollack by the shoulder, detaining him before he took off. He turned around and gruffly asked, "What now?"

"If you arrange a quick departure for these two, I will gratify you like you've never been in your long life."

Mollack stared solidly up at the goddess, more at the serpents hissing a storm up there. "Just what makes you think we take bribes, Lady Medusa?"

"You creatures are using diamonds as your currency, eh?" accused Medusa, who knew how things ran here. "Those shiny diamonds have been buying you and your colleagues many pleasures recently both from this world of ours and Midgard. Am I correct?"

Mollack blanched before her! He only did so because Lamashika and its residents had kept their recent illegal activities with the humans secret, but apparently Medusa knew, and he was in deep trouble. No, all of Lamashika was in trouble!

"We...I...Well...what I mean to say is," stuttered Mollack. "The human world is a mess, they need the diamonds, that is why they've begun trading with us!"

"They need the diamonds?" Medusa snapped, angrily. "Why?"

"Who knows?" Mollack lied and glanced off to the side, very nervous.

Medusa uncoiled her serpentine form and rose high above. "You dare lie to me just like that, you fool?"

Mollack felt like dying there, or at least wished that the ground would open up and swallow him and spare him Medusa's wrath. His three friends also backed away, feeling suddenly very afraid. But Medusa calmed and lowered herself down to his size again. She grabbed the hairy brute by his hairy chest and pulled him close. "Tell me!" she demanded. "Why?"

Mollack forced himself to tell Medusa everything he knew, he had no other option before him.

"In many parts of Midgard they are rebuilding the damage left by Ragnarok, but some countries are waging war with each other, actually taking advantage of the chaos left by Ragnarok. This information is according to the word sent to us by one faithful trader. The humans need the diamonds to keep their resources growing, we send them with the demons and they trade them off for a higher profit with the Merfolk..."

"Is that all?" Medusa asked him, and sensing his fear, she shook him violently. "You better not be keeping anything from me, Mollack. You creatures are not supposed to be dealing with the humans, or any other Midgardian creature for that matter. The rules set long ago by the council prevent you from doing that."

She roughly shoved him away and remained staring angrily at him and his friends, who had detained him as he had been shoved roughly.

Mollack did not know what to say, for she was right. To make matters worse, Medusa was part of that council. Feeling under pressure, his grasp on the spear he held tightened. The hairy creature even had wild thoughts in his head about attacking Medusa, a goddess! But fortunately for him and all those creatures who worked at the portal, it didn't come to that, for Medusa suddenly spoke.

"I will let this offense slide by if you help me out in return."

"H-How?" Mollack desperately cried, for Medusa now had him, and every Lamashikan for that matter, in her hands. Should she let the other major gods know about what was going on here, they were done for.

"I already told you how," Medusa hissed. "Don't make me repeat myself, you hairy Groyl!"

"Aye," cried Mollack, turning around ready to leave. "I'll see what I can do. Come on, you three!"

"Wait!" Medusa ordered, and the Groyl stopped dead in his tracks and turned around to face her.

"Yes?" he asked, his voice not so tough now.

Without warning, Medusa magically made a small brown coffer appear in her left hand. That act made Mollack raise his hairy eyebrows in surprise.

"I'm being generous here! Take it, Mollack!" Medusa offered the coffer to him as she noticed how Mollack's huge eyes stared at it. "It's full of diamonds. Enough to get these two demons out of here within the next hour, and enough to satisfy you and even your friends for a full month of pleasures."

Mollack nervously took the coffer with his huge hands and opened it. Just then, his three hairy friends also gathered about and regarded the content within the coffer. The content inside glittered brightly before their greedy eyes, and Mollack grinned, for within the coffer there had to be some three hundred diamonds or so. He shut the coffer, satisfied of its content.

"With these I can deal with the operators easily, and my friends and I will have a month full of pleasures as you say, Lady Medusa. But...won't you be telling the other gods about our activities here?"

"Not if you manage to get these two demons out of here within the next ten minutes," Medusa replied to that. "I really don't mind that you creatures seek out such delicacies. Let the humans have their precious diamonds for their wars, I care nothing about their matters."

Mollack nodded happily and left, his friends right beside him as he carried the coffer securely in his left arm.

"You...how..." Saga was perplexed as Medusa remained smiling at him, and even at the demons. "What was all that about? Did you prepare that coffer and its content just for this, just for us?"

Medusa nodded and coiled her serpentine body underneath her, her fury diminishing fast.

"I knew that if you accepted my deal to bring you here, that I would be needing diamonds to make it easier for your friends to depart. These creatures have been making illegal deals with the creatures above, although they've done good to keep it secret. Only I know of this. In exchange for diamonds and other minerals, the humans send them beverages and food with the returning demons, particularly seasoned meats and the finest bread. Groyls have a love for bread, meat, and mead. You give one all that and he'll willingly be your loyal slave."

"That was very kind of you, really," Saga simply said, forgetting about the matter. "I am sure Sammy and Repiv thank you from the bottom of their hearts, right?" And he turned to regard his demon friends, who quickly nodded at Medusa and offered her the fondest smiles they could muster.

"Well, I wasn't going to let them end up at the end of that line there," Medusa said, her eyes scanning the long line. Saga and the demons glanced that way as well. Medusa then returned her attention to Saga. "All those demons and creatures you see are heading to Midgard, Saga. I was surprised earlier to have seen so many awaiting departure, it's probably because of the wars the humans are waging with each other. But let that not trouble you, nor your friends. If I hadn't intervened, your friends would have to wait nearly a month or more before their turn actually came. And I'll be truthful with you here, my nephew, time is of the essence. We must have that talk, the sooner the better. You don't know how I've longed to speak with you."

Saga could easily tell that Medusa was speaking truthfully. He just began to wonder about all the things his aunt would be telling him about soon.

"Then as soon as my friends are put through that portal, I will be keeping my word and going with you back to Gorgonia."

Medusa nodded, very satisfied. "I know you will, you've always been true to your word."

The foursome waited for around five minutes. Mollack showed his hairy self again, but this time he was alone, his three companions were no longer with him.

When Saga saw him arriving and showing a cocky grin, his heart accelerated two-fold, for he perceived his time beside his two demon friends was coming to and end. He was not wrong.

"It's done, Lady Medusa," Mollack told her, his grouchy voice actually carrying a hint of pride. "I've managed to secure your friends the next summonings, and to a safe place away from all the warring, several cheap conjurers are seeking information. If you have to say your good byes, now would be the time."

"Well done," Medusa told Mollack, who nodded and waited patiently.

Standing near Saga, the two demons actually trembled in fright and nervousness when they heard Mollack's words, but they also smiled lightly at each other. The time to go to the world of Midgard was just moments away!

"Saga," Medusa said. "I think it's time for you to say good bye to your dear friends."

Saga nodded back at her. Feeling his stomach heavier than usual, he sighed and turned to face the two astounded demons.

Sammy and Repiv gave him all their undivided attention, and Saga saw how their faces became distorted in sadness.

The demon god did not know what to say, the demons noticed how he rubbed his chin and then looked down to the ground.

"I...forgive me, my friends," he said, turning his stare slowly to them. "It's just that I don't know how to start. I thought back then that this part would be easy, but it's not. My heart is actually pounding my chest and I feel so nervous."

"I-I don't kn-know what...to say either," Sammy wheezed, her voice broken. The demon zorkreyl was actually fighting back tears. So was Repiv, but he was the one who started showing tears first. Saga noticed those and he looked down again, feeling that his own tears would soon betray him. He was strong, and he gulped and fought off the feelings he now was going through, but his eyes could no longer detain the flow of tears. Two watery blobs formed and ran down his dark mask, and Saga shivered when he understood he was actually crying.

"You've done so much for us, my prin...I mean...Saga. You, my friend, have given us a reason to come to love you!" Repiv cried. "But as Sammy said it, I don't even know what I want to say."

"Come here, you two," Saga faced them again and extended out his arms. "Just come here! I am the one who thanks you two, you did so much for me!"

Repiv hesitated for a second, but Sammy instantly headed to Saga and embraced him, for she had seen his genuine tears falling. Repiv headed to Saga then, and the demon god embraced them both tightly, and they repaid the favor by doing the same thing.

"Saying good bye is so hard," Saga spoke as he kept them embraced, one on each side. "Now that we're actually here I am hating to see you go."

"Likewise," Sammy cried. "I don't think I have the strength to leave, my prince."

"Nor do I," Repiv lamented, sadly.

"But you two will," Saga said and nodded to himself, but he did not let them go. "That is what we set out to do in the first place. We must be strong now. I am so sad now to see you go, but very soon I will be happy knowing you two got your wish."

They remained hugged and sharing words for several minutes. Medusa, meanwhile, simply remained at her place watching it all with a kind smile. Saga, the being she had been keeping her eye on for a while, had cried before her, and that somewhat had made her nod to herself in satisfaction. He was ready for the trials to come, she knew.

Saga let go of his demon friends, who let go of him barely, for they knew the hardest part was yet to come. That part would be walking towards the portal while they kept their saddened eyes on Saga.

"You heard Mollack there, two cheap conjurers are seeking information," Saga told them. "This fits you two nicely."

He no longer was crying, and his voice was back to normal. He opened the satchel he carried and brought out two beautiful shiny pendants, which had chains attached to them. "These pendants were given to me by my mother," he explained as he held them out for them to see. "She put a spell on them that will allow you to resist the commands issued by your summoners. Hang them around your neck, without them you'd be nothing but slaves to them, don't take them off."

Sammy and Repiv took the pendants and did as told, fastening the pieces around their necks.

"Well done," Saga felt proud of them once they stood before him with the pendants around their necks. "Now listen to me. Once you make it to the world above," Saga toughened his voice, but only so Repiv and Sammy understood him well. He also solidified his stare on them. "You will have to escape your summoners in order to obtain your freedom. As soon as you find yourselves in those strange surroundings, just flee, don't think about fighting, for I don't know how skillful those conjurers will be, nor how many others will be present. I will bless you with a steel skin spell that my sister has taught me. It will protect you for a while, but don't fight, run for your freedom. Once you do, then these will come in to play."

He brought out two more objects from the satchel, which he gave to them both. The objects were small compasses in the shape of hearts. One side of the compasses opened up to the side, revealing the four directions and an arrow.

"These compasses are special, and magical as well. They will point you in the right direction and will allow you to know where the other one of you is. Look for each other and try to stay out of trouble. I'm sure you'll be fine, but do take care at all times."

"Prince Saga," Sammy didn't care that she called him prince, to her, Saga would always be her dear prince. She launched at him and hugged him again, her eyes again shedding tears. "I don't know how to repay all this."

"This hug is more than enough," Saga assured her and pat her back tenderly. "And besides, Sammy, you and Repiv already earned all of this. You two accepted to follow me that time I made you the offer, remember? You two nearly died because of my plans, and you two were the ones who made sure the Orihalcon stones made it to Tartakus. I owe you big time, but I hope that by setting you free is enough to repay what you have done for me."

"It is worth more than that," Repiv cried from his spot. "I will always think of you fondly, my friend...Saga."

Saga smiled at him.

"And I shall never forget you two," Saga went on to say, and he forced Sammy off of him and actually gave her a tender kiss on the forehead. Sammy, of course, became flabbergasted with his action, but she understood right away that he cared a lot for her as a friend.

Saga then told them both to remain very still. They did, and he went on to place the steel skin spell upon each one of them.

"You two will be alright," he winked at them once he was done. "Repiv, you make sure you look after Sammy, alright?"

"You know it," Repiv quickly said, staring at Sammy, who blushed lightly. "I will definitely do all my best to keep her safe, especially with this blade you gave me."

"And you too, Sammy," Saga went on, knowing he probably had taken too long saying his good byes. "Promise me that you will remain at Repiv's side and keep him out of trouble."

"I will do so, my prince!" she laughed lightly, her tears fast subsiding. The demon never used her hands to clear them off.

Saga nodded at them both, then he smiled widely. "Good. Go and enjoy your freedom! Go and marvel at the world of Midgard. I release you from this place!"

Sammy and Repiv didn't move. For a long moment they just stood there staring at Saga, their hearts beating wildly that the demons thought they felt it in their throat. It was just the adrenaline rush they felt and the nervousness.

Mollack coughed roughly from his place.

"Right," Sammy said, and she hit Repiv with the sack she still carried. "We should go, Repiv."

Repiv nodded, but he didn't move, his eyes were glued on Saga. How much had he changed in just days! Repiv smiled grandly at him, for his prince had kept his word.

"Farewell, Saga," he managed to say.

"And you two as well," Saga replied, keeping his joyous tone. "Go, before it is too late."

Repiv nodded and rushed past him, his mind made up. Saga gave him a pat as he went by. Sammy considered Saga, then she considered Medusa, then Saga again.

"You're alright," Saga noticed that her face was becoming saddened again. "Go, Sammy. Your all time dream is minutes away from coming true. Don't worry about this place down here, or about me. I assure you that I will be fine down here." And he winked at her. "Go, before it is too late."

In response, Sammy went to him and embraced him tighter than ever. "Thank you!" she said. "Just thank you, my prince." She dared to kiss the part of his mask where his right cheek ought to be, then she walked away to the front where Repiv and Mollack awaited. Saga turned around to face them.

"Follow me," Mollack ordered and started to head away. His words sent shivers down the demons' spines, but they obeyed, although they turned over their shoulders to regard Saga, who had walked to stand beside Medusa. He nodded at them and watched as they turned around and followed Mollack. Repiv turned over his shoulder several times, but Sammy did it more than he. Saga knew she was heartbroken, her saddened facade told him much.

He sighed and crossed his arms, never taking his eyes off of them, that is, until he los sight of them when Mollack and the demons disappeared in a multitude of nearby Lamashikans.

He saw them again, though, when the demons were taken up to the platform where there awaited the very front of the portal. The behemoth-sized winged demons directed the arrival of the two demons and instructed them with final instructions.

Sammy and Repiv regarded Saga from there, their expressions sadder than before, Saga was even able to tell that Sammy was crying again.

The first one placed into the portal was Repiv, who nodded at Saga once before nervously walking into the giant diamond-like structure. With that nod, the demon was thanking Saga one last time.

Saga nodded back whilst he held a happy smile for him to see. He could see Repiv's figure within the diamond still, but it looked blurry and even distorted. The diamond structure suddenly shone brightly with a reddish hue, then that light ran upwards throughout the structure with a loud swooshing sound. Repiv was gone.

Medusa regarded Saga and noticed how his smile vanished briefly, but only briefly, for Saga actually felt so glad that Repiv was on his way to freedom. She uncrossed her arms and placed her left hand on his shoulder pad in a supportive way, one that Saga did not dismiss. He turned to stare at his aunt and nodded at her, assuring her that he was alright, just sad to see them go. He then turned back to the platform.

Sammy was next, and Saga could almost feel every heavy step she took towards the portal as one of the behemoths escorted her there.

Sammy hesitated briefly near the entrance, but only to have one look at her dear prince. Despite the tears and the great sadness that she felt within, she nodded and flashed a thankful smile to him. Saga rose his right hand up and waved her away.

Sammy sighed heavily, grew courage, and walked into the portal, but she was in tears. Saga's heart was now pounding loudly, his last friend was about to leave.

The bottom part of the portal began to flash in its reddish hue. A second later, that light ran upwards, accompanied by the loud swooshing sound. Sammy was gone. Saga's close-to-tears eyes hit the darkened ground, and he felt heavyhearted.

"They're free," Medusa whispered softly from the side. "Feel proud of yourself, nephew, you kept your word to them. You set them free, as they wanted to be."

A hurting Saga just nodded, then he looked up at her. "I am proud of that. And now I am ready to leave and keep my word to you."

"Yes, we should be heading back to my place. There is much we need to talk about."

"Any time you want, then," Saga's voice still sounded sad, but he knew the occasion today called for it.

Medusa smiled down at him. "Don't feel so down, nephew. Maybe one day you will see them again."

With that having been said, Medusa had given Saga a ray of hope in that dark place. She began to trace another magical door as Saga remained thoughtful of her words.

*The End*

 

[Lukémon]

nice story, it's really awesome, i started at around 9:00 and ( it felt like 10 minutes ) it was 11:00 , it was so awesome I didn't realise the time, i'm definitely making my own fan fic soon , i just gotta think of a name for each episode of the thing ( which is troubling ) , but i'll have the first installment soon.

 

[Eduarda]

I finally caught up Nice chapters! I just love that cliff hanger that you left at the end of Chapter 24 Part 2/2 I actually had a feeling that Medusa would betray them, and would kill Saga, but after reading that last chapter, I doubt so. It was a really touching chapter, Ao. I could feel the pain and sadness that all the characters went through. I can't wait to find out what Medusa will tell him ^^

 

[*M i d n a*]

nice story, it's really awesome, i started at around 9:00 and ( it felt like 10 minutes ) it was 11:00 , it was so awesome I didn't realise the time, i'm definitely making my own fan fic soon , i just gotta think of a name for each episode of the thing ( which is troubling ) , but i'll have the first installment soon.

You actually took the time to read it all? :O Thanks, you're so awesome, and I am glad you liked it, lolz. I can't wait to see what you come up with, good luck writing your story.

I finally caught up Nice chapters! I just love that cliff hanger that you left at the end of Chapter 24 Part 2/2 I actually had a feeling that Medusa would betray them, and would kill Saga, but after reading that last chapter, I doubt so. It was a really touching chapter, Ao. I could feel the pain and sadness that all the characters went through. I can't wait to find out what Medusa will tell him ^^

Me neither, I can't wait to post that Epilogue. I'll post it tomorrow maybe all in one post, it's long but not that long. Thanks for reading, Anniekins, and thanks to everyone else who did as well.

*Check this post tomorrow if no one else posts, I will add the Epilogue here.*

 

[Caeda]

I'm finding a way to get on tomarrow even if it kills me. This story is good enough for that.