"Well...." Ashtcher sighed as he sat next to me. "Before all this....I was happy...I had a life..."
"You? The loner had a life?"
"Ha ha ha very funny," he smirked. "Anyway, I found my life in hollow bastion to be perfect, I had a great family, girlfriend, also soon to be wife.."
"Uhuh? Still haven't answered my question, how do you already know Hades?"
"I'm getting there, don't worry it'll make sense..." he said. "Well the day I was suppose to get married, that's when everything went sour I guess...we were attacked by a weilder named Fiona, my fiancé and I were both wielders...and before I knew it long after all of my family was dead....my sisters....brother...son."
"You had a son?" and at such a young age on top of that....
"Yes..I did." he cleared his throat. "I guess out of despair..sadness and sense of loss I ended up working for Hades...I agreed to give him my soul for something in return."
"Which is?"
"He promised he'd bring them back...and turns out not only did he lie..but Fiona was working for him and he told her to do so just so he could get another wielder...which is why I hate them....and when I realized he lied, I decided to leave and that's where I met my friend Xanya and worked with Phil and Hercules. Why not worked with Hades arch nemesis, it'd be a great way to get back at him."
I placed my hand on his shoulder, "I'm so sorry Ashtcher..." now that knew his story, it all made sense to why he was the way he was. "I understand how you feel but I have to go through with this mission."
"i know....it just still hurts and My wife and were so close, we of course grew up together."
"How sweet a childhood romance..."
"Our mom always said we were like two peas in a pop, when she saw one the other wasn't too far behind.."
What he said threw me off. "Um...our? As in the two of you?"
He then looked confused, "yes OUR mom, my fiancé was also my sister."
My expression slowly changed to confused yet appalled expression, "Um....what?...your joking right?"
"No..I know it's strange but I loved her...she made me happy."
I didn't know what to think or say..so i decided to just nod, because what I wanted to say probably would have upset him....maybe Ashtcher was just delusional...but hey it's whatever I'm just going to keep my thoughts to myself.
Ashtcher then took hold of me and hugged me tightly, "Thank you, Ayame.." I slowly hugged him back. "Even when I was so mean and rude to you, you were still kind and stuck by me, I will return my gratitude to you somehow," he then gave me a light sincere, friendly kiss to the forehead.
"It's no problem Ashtcher," he then pulled away. "Just try not to be so distant...so will you come out of your room now?"
"Sure thing," he then got up. "Oh do me a favor and dont tell anyone about this..."
"Especially Rix right?" I smiled.
"Yeah...."
"I figured it out when you ran after her the way you did."
"Yeah she gets jealous really easy, but even though she's not in the right place to be..."
"What do you mean?"
"Well she's kinda with someone else I guess..,but he doesnt know...sometimes I don't know if she's just leading me on or is her heart really confused...."
"Axel?"
"What have you been spying on us?"
I laughed, "No, just good timing."
We both laughed for a moment until Hades opened the door. "I have an announcement."
We both turned to him.
"The Underworld will be holding a grand ball in the underdrome tomorrow night, the day before the attack, dress extravagantly and of course deadly ha!" Hades laughed and left out the room.
"..Well then.." I said.
Then Hades came back again, "Oh, and Ayame, remember that other thing I had to talk to you about, come see me after you're done talking to charity case," then he left again.
"I swear one day...." Ashtcher started.
"Just don't worry about him alright...we have a mission to accomplish....so is it possible to bring them back, your family?"
"Well...i dont know apparently Hades has their souls not in the normal place...someplace else...but who knows that could also be a lie just to get my hopes up.."
"I'll look for them.."
"What? no that's so much trouble to go through.."
"No, I don't mind, this way you can at least find out if he's lying or not.."
"Ok," he sighed. "But I'll come with you, after we leave here completeing our mission, we can come back on our own accord, after he takes over he most likely won't be down here, he'll be too power happy while fixing up Olympus to look like his own Underworld."
"Then its a promise," I smiled and patted his shoulder lightly.
"Thanks Ayame," he smiled whole heartedly.
After talking with Ashtcher for a little while I left to go see Hades, we talked about normal things, mostly our home since we were from the same place. I do hope however I can one day go back to my home, and see what kind of shape its in, and maybe find Celeste and Cal...if there hearts weren't taken..but even if so they could be restored right?..but who knows maybe that'll be an adventure for another time, but right now i had to focus on doing what's right for the organization.
On the plus side though, I did feel that Ashtcher and I had grown closer, that he trusted me now, and that maybe he considered me as a friend, maybe not a good friend, but at least a friend as someone he could turn to. I feel that with everything he's been through, he definitely deserves nothing but the best, and I feel i may need to confront Rix, if she's really putting Ashtcher's heart in such a confused state, or even doing it unknowinlgy, she should be confronted. But I wasn't sure if that was my place to do.
When i reached the other door, that headed to the depths of The Underworld where Hades resided, that's when i had the thought to go exploring elsewhere, Hades said i could, Maybe I'd even find Ashtcher's family's souls..if they're even here. But then again Ashtcher did say he wanted to be around if we found them. So i continued on until i reached another door that opened up to a long almost sort of spirial walk way that i knew led to Hades. When i reached that door, and opened it, Hades was lounging in a chair eating something...that didn't look to edible.
"Ah Ayame," Hades said invitingly as he got up and walked over. "Good to see ya, how's the tragedy case doing?'
"Quiet as always."
"Of course he is, now let's talk," he said as he began to pace. "Now we agreed on you taking out wonder breath, bringing him down here so i can have my fun right?"
"Right..?"
"Well including that there's something else i want you to do.." he smiled somewhat evily. "I think you're just the piece of pumpkin pie to do it."
"Mhm, and what's that?"
He leaned down to where he was eye level with me, "I want you my dear Ayame to take down big guy."
"The big guy?"
"The father of our dear friend Hercules, the big guy."
"Wait, Olympus is the place of....and Hercules dad is the head of...? Are you crazy? You want me to take on a god? You really think i can handle that?....I'm not so sure."
"I know you can, cause you have one thing Zeusy doesn't, a cold heart and the darkness by your side, he'll be hesitant on attacking a young girl and hold back on his power."
"How do you know?"
"I know my brother sweet pea."
"Well..what do i get out of this."
"Whatever you want, just name it."
"Well, your gonna let me have the Olympus stone already...hmmm...alright i'll do it...i'll think about it and let you know then...."
"Good girl, now go get some rest for the ball tomorrow."
"I'll have to look for a dress won't I?"
"No, as the honored guest, that has all been provided for you by some very talented tailors of mine."
"Really? well thank you."
"My pleasure."
As I left i noticed he had a sly grin on his face. Sometimes I found Hades to be very confusing, he didnt seem all good, but not all bad either.