Kingdom Hearts: Consumed by Darkness

The nightmarish crimson of Hades' flames exploded upward, a final attack lashing out like a whip. Sephiroth and Helios were nearly at the gate when it struck. The roaring fire engulfed Sephiroth's wing, its searing heat knocking him off balance mid-flight.

The world spun violently as Sephiroth lost control, the flames forcing his wing to fold. Helios, still clutched in his grip, yelled in panic. "Hold on!" he shouted, but the effort was useless.

The two plummeted, crashing hard onto the jagged ground outside the gates of the Underworld. The impact jarred Helios' entire body, the sharp pain radiating from his side confirming at least one broken rib. Sephiroth rolled onto his knees, his wing charred and smoking, his expression dark and unreadable.

Helios groaned, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Well… we made it out safely. Sort of." He coughed, tasting blood in his mouth, but forced himself to grin through the pain. "So, Sephiroth, did you thoroughly enjoy the challenge?"

Sephiroth shot him a cold glare, his silver hair disheveled and matted with blood. "I hate you," he muttered flatly.

Helios barked a weak laugh, only to clutch his side as sharp pain lanced through his chest. He coughed again, blood splattering onto the dusty ground. "Ow. Okay. No more laughing. Pretty sure a rib is stabbing my lung. That's just great. Hak…"

Sephiroth rose to his feet slowly, wiping blood from the corner of his mouth as his gaze scanned their surroundings. The Underworld's oppressive energy had faded, and though their injuries were severe, he could feel his strength beginning to return now that they were beyond the gates.

Before either could take another step, the air grew unbearably hot.

A thunderous roar erupted behind them as Hades materialized in a pillar of flame, his body ablaze with fury. His fiery hair burned a bright, searing red, and his expression twisted into pure rage.

"You think you can just leave my domain?!" Hades bellowed, his voice shaking the ground beneath them. "Do you have any idea who you're messing with?!"

He raised his hand, a massive ball of fire forming in his palm. The heat radiating from it was suffocating, even from a distance.

"Yeah, we're really not in the mood for this right now. Can you just let us go?" Helios muttered weakly, fumbling around in his pockets.

"Enough! Now let's see how strong you are when you don't hide behind that curse." Sephiroth commanded, stepping forward with Masamune raised.

But Helios was already acting. He pulled the golden mirror from his pocket, its surface gleaming brightly even in the dim light of the setting sun.

"In the name of Zeus, King of Olympus, I call upon you!" Helios shouted, his voice echoing through the air.

Hades froze mid-motion, his fireball flickering uncertainly. "Oh, you've got to be kidding me—"

Lightning split the sky, blindingly bright and deafeningly loud. The ground trembled as the crackling bolts coalesced into a towering figure. A golden glow illuminated the area, revealing a massive, muscular man with long white hair and a flowing white beard. His piercing purple-blue eyes gleamed with a mixture of amusement and authority. A purple chiton draped over his left shoulder, fastened with a golden pin shaped like a thundercloud.

Zeus had arrived.

The god of thunder surveyed the scene, his expression shifting from casual curiosity to amusement as his gaze landed on Hades. "Well, well, look who's throwing a tantrum again. Isn't this cozy?"

Hades groaned, his flames dimming slightly as he rolled his eyes. "Oh, great. Just what I needed. My brother swooping in to save the day."

Zeus crossed his arms, a smirk playing on his lips. "Oh, don't be like that. Aren't you happy to see me?"

"Ecstatic," Hades deadpanned, his flames flaring briefly before fizzling out. He gestured to Helios with exaggerated irritation. "What are you even doing here, Zeus? Let me guess—this kid ran crying to you about me being unfair or something?"

Zeus raised an eyebrow and glanced at the mirror, which floated toward him, spinning gently in mid-air. "Actually, he called me because, apparently, you've been breaking a few rules." His tone was light, but there was a dangerous edge to it.

Hades clenched his teeth, his blue flames simmering. "Rules? What rules? I haven't broken any rules!"

Zeus held up the mirror, its surface shimmering. "Let's see, shall we?"

The mirror's surface rippled like water, revealing images of Vincent, Barret, and the other warriors Hades had summoned to the Underworld. Their foreign clothing and weapons stood out starkly against the backdrop of Olympus, undeniable proof of their otherworldly origins.

Zeus' jovial demeanor faded, replaced by a stern, commanding presence. "Hades, you've been making deals with mortals from other worlds and dragging their souls here. We both know that's a big no-no."

Hades' flames flared in protest. "Oh, come on! It's not like I dragged them here for no reason. They were desperate! I just… gave them a little help in exchange for their souls. Standard underworld stuff!"

"Oh and don't forget," Helios interjected, smirking despite the blood dripping down his chin, "he also broke your seal on the Underdrome to restart the fights. You know, just for fun."

Hades spun toward Helios, his flames erupting. "You broke that seal, remember our deal you conniving little—"

A loud cough from Zeus silenced him. The King of Olympus raised a hand, and the fireball forming in Hades' hand fizzled out instantly.

"Hades," Zeus said, his tone calm but laced with authority, "did you or did you not break the seal? And you mortal did you strike a deal with Hades?"

Helios lied through his teeth, "No I didn't."

Hades hesitated, his flames dimming slightly. "Well… sort of. But he—"

"Well? He what?" Zeus asked, his brow arched.

"Yes, we made a deal!" Hades blurted. "The heart! He took a heart from me and in exchange he released the Underdrome! So it's all his idea!"

Helios chuckled weakly, his voice dripping with mock innocence. "I don't remember making such a deal. We didn't shake hands, remember? So since we didn't make the deal and I took the heart, all it was is a case of theft. So no to the deal, yes to the stealing. So I have nothing to do with the Underdrome."

Hades froze, his fiery eyes wide with disbelief. "You tricked me?"

Zeus burst into laughter, the sound rolling like thunder. "Oh, this is priceless! Hades, outsmarted by a mortal? I'll never let you live this down!"

Hades' flames flared in frustration, but he said nothing, his fists clenched tightly at his sides. Zeus, still chuckling, waved his hand, and the mirror floated back to Helios.

"Well, I think that settles it," Zeus said, his grin returning. "Hades, you broke the rules. Again. So, here's the deal: you're going to stop dragging foreign souls into Olympus, and you're going to leave these two alone. Got it?"

Hades grumbled, his flames flickering low. "Fine. Whatever. Happy now?"

Zeus clapped him on the back, the gesture nearly toppling Hades. "Delighted! And hey, try to lighten up a bit, would you? It's no wonder nobody likes visiting you down here."

Hades muttered something under his breath, his expression sullen as he disappeared in a puff of smoke. "Laugh it up, Zeus. This isn't over. Not by a long shot."

Zeus turned to Helios and Sephiroth, his smile warm but his tone serious. "You two have caused quite a stir. I'll admit, I'm impressed. Not many mortals can survive Hades' wrath, let alone outwit him."

Helios gave a weak grin, still clutching his side. "Yeah, well, I've got a knack for annoying people stronger than me."

Zeus laughed heartily. "Clearly! Now then, you were proven right." Zeus' eyes twinkled mischievously. "So you wanted to use the Olympus Stone correct?"

Despite his wounds and the pain in his chest Helios bowed. "Actually Lord Zeus I originally wanted the stone to retrieve the heart of my acquaintance. However, since I have already done that I no longer need to go to the Underworld again besides I doubt Lord Hades would allow me to leave if I went again. So might I ask for something else?"

Zeus laughed heartily remembering the look on Hades' face. "Clearly he wouldn't! So what do you want? If it's within my power then you shall have it."

Helios smiled and lifted his head. "Then might I request that Lord Hephaestus make me two pieces of equipment?"