When the wild express came to a surprisingly calm stop, the three youths stared at the door, dazed and nearly collapsing. Natsu, with some difficulty, held Lucy in his arms as she clung tightly to him, not letting go.
Natsu leaned against the wall, slowly sliding to the floor – *Man, that was crazy... I thought we were gonna die...* – he spoke with effort, still breathless from the scare.
Gray – *I... thought so too...* – he trembled in fear – *At least we're alive.*
Lucy – *Good... you guys... are okay...* – she pressed herself closer to Natsu, trying to calm down.
Natsu blushed slightly, feeling her grip. He glanced down, unintentionally noticing her abdomen, where the monster's wound was slowly healing.
Natsu – *Lucy, you gonna be okay?*
Lucy – *Huh? O-Of course...* – she gave an awkward smile – *The wound's closing slowly thanks to Gray giving me nectar and ambrosia at the right time.*
Gray – *It was nothing, Lucy...* – he stood – *Now, we need to move. Since we're in the Underworld, we have to get to Hades' palace ASAP.*
The two nodded. Natsu braced against the wall, still holding Lucy, and stood. They stepped out of the strange elevator, leaving the cramped space.
Outside, the group scanned every corner for threats. Natsu adjusted Lucy in his arms. Something caught his eye: a black river and a floating boat with a strange figure in a hooded cloak.
– *Who enters the "gate" to the Underworld?*
When Natsu saw the eerie figure staring, he wanted to flee. The boatman had no eyes; his face was deformed, fleshless; his hands were just bones. But Natsu stayed strong, gently tightening his hold on Lucy to protect her.
– *Well, two demigods and a little hornless satyr...* – he laughed, drawing their attention – *Tell me what you want, kids.*
Gray stepped forward, hesitant – *We want to go to Hades' castle! Please take us there.*
Black smoke poured from the old man's mouth, and, oddly, a toothy, cartilaginous grin spread across his bony face.
– *Fine, kid. I'll take you to my lord's castle. But...*
Natsu – *Everything's gotta have a "but"...* – he thought, annoyed – *Speak.*
– *I want something in return. Anything. Ambrosia. Nectar. Whatever* – his grin widened, making him more sinister – *Or one of your lives. You'd be very useful.*
The trio gulped.
Gray huddled with his friends, whispering – *Any ideas? I got nothing.*
Natsu – *Me neither* – he grumbled softly.
Lucy got their attention – *I... have an idea.*
The two boys exchanged nervous glances.
Minutes later, Natsu set Lucy down, helping her stand and walk.
Lucy – *You're Charon, right?* – she saw the sinister specter nod – *Well, I'm Lucy Heartphilia, daughter of Athena.*
Charon – *I know who you are, child. I also know this pink-haired kid is Virgo Dragneel's son, a great woman, by the way. Shame she chose to live as a demigod.*
Natsu felt a sweat drop roll down his neck and a vein pulse on his forehead – *Hmm? Sounds like you knew my mom, huh?*
Charon – *Not personally. But back to business: what do you want?*
Lucy – *We said we want to get to Hades' castle. We can't give you ambrosia or nectar, as we might need them later. But if you accept this* – she placed a bag before him – *Here are drachmas. Will you take them?*
The boatman grumbled, mulling it over. Finally, he growled, accepting the drachmas.
Charon – *Get on already. The sooner I get you to Hades' castle, the faster I'm rid of you... So, hop in now.*
The trio boarded the boat, feeling it sway. Lucy, fearing the black water, clung tightly to Natsu.
Natsu blushed – *Hey, Lucy. You don't need to hold on so tight.*
Lucy – *Shut it...* – she said coldly – *I'm just holding you so I don't fall into the River Styx.*
Natsu remembered – *The River Styx? The one for oaths?*
Lucy nodded – *Yes. And if you bathe in its waters, you turn to ash, literally, body and soul.*
Natsu gulped – *So if one of us falls in...*
Lucy – *We'd turn to ash. Unless something ties you to this world—a purpose, a goal, something like that.*
Sweat dripped down Natsu's neck. He felt nowhere in this place was safe. He slowly took Lucy's hand, gripping it firmly, needing to feel someone alive. She returned the gesture, reassuring him she was okay.
Their attention shifted to screams of suffering from one side.
Natsu – *That's...*
Charon – *The true reality of the Underworld: the Fields of Punishment. A place where hope, dreams, nothing exists—just despair. As you know, it's where sinners and evildoers end up.* – he pointed a bony finger at a misty area – *That's the Asphodel Fields, for those who sinned but repented.* – he pointed elsewhere – *And that's where the good-hearted, demigods who did great deeds, or those blessed by the gods go—the Elysian Fields, the "paradise."*
After Charon's words, the group fell silent. Later, Natsu spotted a floating castle in the distance.
Gray – *Is that... Hades' castle?* – he was somewhat awed.
Charon – *Yes... Get ready. I can't take you further soon.*
When Charon stopped his wooden boat and had the group disembark, he turned back, vanishing into the gloom.
Gray – *Thank gods that trip's over* – he rubbed his goosebump-covered arms – *I thought he'd suck out my soul with those eyes. No... wait... He had no eyes!*
Lucy – *You just noticed?* – she snapped – *We're here...* – she touched her stomach – *I'm not fully healed. In a fight, I'll be a burden* – she glanced at Natsu – *And I don't want him losing control. I stopped him... like Gildarts said... But can I activate his powers?*
Natsu – *...Hey, Lucy!*
Lucy – *Huh? H-Hi?* – she snapped out of her thoughts.
Natsu – *What's wrong? What're you thinking about?* – he worried.
Lucy blushed at his concern – *I'm fine! No need to worry. Let's go. We need to reach Hades* – she hurried toward the castle gate.
The boys exchanged confused looks, shrugged, and followed. When Lucy stopped before a massive gate, they did too. They stared at it until it suddenly opened, startling them.
As the gate split in two, Natsu's attention was drawn to a woman at the far end. She was stunning in his eyes: dark caramel hair in a ponytail adorned with gemstones and wildflowers; deep blue, almost black eyes; a slender, curvaceous figure; clothes glittering with pearls and diamonds; and an angelic face.
Lucy – *Persephone...* – she gulped, recognizing the goddess.
The woman approached, smiling kindly – *Well, dears. What brings you here?*
Natsu – *Uh...* – he couldn't speak, captivated by her beauty.
A vein pulsed on Lucy's forehead. Ignoring her stomach pain, she tripped Natsu, making him fall.
Persephone – *Oh...*
Natsu – *Ow... Damn it* – he glared at Lucy – *What's your problem? Even injured, you pull that off!*
Lucy – *Now's not the time to drool over Persephone-sama's body* – she growled.
Natsu shrank at her terrifying expression. He stood, facing Persephone, slightly flushed.
Natsu – *Uh... Persephone, right?* – she nodded – *If you allow, we'd like to speak with Hades.*
Persephone – *My husband? Why?* – she was curious.
Natsu felt a chill from her desiring gaze but regained his senses.
Natsu smiled – *I'd like to talk to my "uncle" about the divine weapons.*
Persephone – *Ohhh...* – she smirked – *He regained consciousness? Broke my spell? I expected no less from Virgo's son* – she replied – *Of course. Follow me.*
Hades' wife led them through the castle. Everywhere Natsu looked, he saw skeletons that, in torchlight, seemed human but reverted to armed bony figures.
Natsu – *Soldiers from the First and Second World Wars, Greek and Roman warriors, and others from various wars...* – he thought, shocked, recognizing some – *It'll be dangerous if we have to fight. There are tons of armed soldiers.*
When Persephone stopped before a door, the demigods and satyr halted too.
Persephone – *This is the main hall. But fair warning: he's not in a "good mood."*
Gray – *The "good mood" you mean is he's a bit mad?* – he gave an awkward smile, hiding his nerves about facing the god of the dead.
Persephone – *Hmm, let's say that. He's "a bit mad"* – she smiled, slowly opening the door.
When it fully opened, the group relaxed somewhat. The place seemed calm to them. The only thing that stood out was a black throne with a man in his thirties, spiky black hair, and eyes redder than blood. He seemed in a trance or sleeping with wide-open pupils.
Lucy – *Hades...* – she whispered, recognizing him.
Natsu – *Is he sleeping?* – he asked, confused.
Hades – *Of course not, you idiot kid...*
Natsu and the others jumped back, startled. They watched the god rise from his throne and approach. Natsu's attention was drawn to the man's blood-red pupils fixed on him.
Hades – *What are you doing here?* – he growled like a monster – *Speak!* – his voice echoed as if two people spoke at once.
Natsu – *Uh...*
Hades growled again. The ground trembled. His red eyes turned black, and a dark mist emanated from him, enveloping the hall in a swirling gloom.
Persephone – *Darling...* – despite her gentle smile, her coldness was palpable – *Calm down, please. Or I'll have to do certain things* – her eyes dulled – *One of which is putting you on timeout for a while.*
Hades, under threat, dispersed the mist and stopped the tremors. He turned, giving the youths his back, and approached his wife.
Hades – *You wouldn't!* – he protested.
Persephone – *Doubt me? You know I would, don't you?*
Hades – *Damn it. You win...* – he grumbled, returning to his throne – *What do you suggest, Persephone?*
She smiled brightly – *We should listen to these children. Especially your nephew* – she suggested.
Hades – *Fine* – he said sharply – *I'll give these demigods a chance.*
Lucy went first, stepping forward, bowing nobly, and sharing everything she knew and what Gildarts had told her, believing it useful. Then Gray, fearing annihilation, spoke, adding different details.
Hades – *Hmm... I understand what these two said, but what about you, Poseidon's spawn? What do you have to say? If it's not good enough, I'll start a war.*
Natsu glanced nervously at his friends. He stepped forward, bowed, and shared everything he knew, trying to sway the god.
Natsu – *...And that's all* – he finished.
Hades – *So you're accusing me of stealing all the divine weapons?* – he smiled coldly – *Is that it, kid?*
Natsu gulped – *Yes...*
Hades – *As if your audacity to come here wasn't enough, you call me a thief!* – he roared, furious – *You know, I should vaporize you right now.*
Natsu felt a chill down his spine.
Hades – *But I won't... out of respect for your mother.*
Natsu – *Huh? What do you mean?*
Hades – *That's not the point now. But I've wanted to ask you, kid. If you say I stole the divine weapons, why do you have them?*
Natsu frowned, confused – *I don't get it.*
Hades smirked – *Open your backpack, kid. See what's inside.*
Still confused, Natsu approached Lucy, who had his backpack. When she opened it, all three were stunned. Inside, six colored cubes appeared out of nowhere.
Natsu – *What are these?* – he picked up a blue-green checkered cube – *Weird stuff.*
Lucy – *I don't know either...*
Their attention turned to Hades, laughing maniacally.
Hades – *How amusing, how amusing! Come on, kids! Tell me, who gave you that bag?!*
Gray – *A-Ares* – he answered.
Hades – *Ohhh...* – he feigned surprise – *That scumbag? Figures!* – he kept laughing. Seeing Natsu's confusion, he explained – *Still don't get it, kid? That "stuff" you're holding is one of the divine weapons.*
Gray – *What?*
Lucy – *No way...* – she whispered.
Hades – *Ohhh... Don't believe me? Watch.*
Suddenly, the bag shook as if something wanted out. When Lucy opened it again, a black cube flew to Hades' hand, stretching into a helmet.
Natsu – *The Helm of Darkness...*
Hades – *Exactly...* – he put it on – *And now that I have five more divine weapons, including Poseidon's Trident and Zeus' Master Bolt, I can start a war against Olympus!* – the ground quaked with his words.
Lucy – *Hades, you can't start a war! Especially now with Kronos rising!* – she tried to reason.
Hades – *You don't know what it's like to be excluded from Olympus, Athena's spawn* – he growled – *So shut it, or I'll vaporize all three of you.*
Natsu's eyes widened. He gripped the cube as Hades prepared to attack with a black mist. Without hesitation, Hades hurled a dark sphere at Natsu.
Natsu – *Mom...*
Nothing happened. Opening his eyes, Natsu was shocked to see a water bubble around them. The cube he held had become a two-meter sea-green trident with sea moss.
Gray – *That's...*
Lucy – *Poseidon's Trident...*
Natsu – *Huh? This is... my dad's Trident?*
A vein pulsed on Hades' forehead – *Damn Poseidon! How dare you! Even from so far, you meddle in my plans?!*
– *Yes...*
Natsu stared at the trident, hearing a familiar, nostalgic male voice.
Hades – *Poseidon, you wretch...* – he laughed scornfully – *Think I'll let your spawn escape? He's in my realm, so *I* can stop him!*
The voice spoke again:
– *But my son has something... that can be used even in your realm, brother...*
Hades – *Don't tell me... Those damn "Pearls"?!*
Natsu – *Pearls...* – he remembered, reaching into his pocket and pulling out one.
– *Listen closely, my son. I can't keep the barrier up long, especially in another god's realm. Use that pearl to escape. Your friends just need to hold onto you to come along. Wish for where you want to go.*
Natsu – *Where I want to go...* – he felt Lucy grab his hand and Gray his shoulder – *I want to go home!* – he crushed the pearl.
Water from the Trident enveloped Natsu's body. Like mist, the three vanished.
Hades – *Damn them! I'll hunt them down!* – he shouted, furious – *Furies! After them!* – he commanded.
Three old ladies emerged from the shadows, flapping their wings and flying out of the palace.