Chapter 19: Chapter 19: A New Companion
Behind the glorious mountain of Olympus is a volcano where the grinding of metal and echoes of hammers could be heard. At an elevation of 3,458 feet it stands much shorter than Olympus, with its jagged edges and stone as black as Nyx's cloak.
From the top of the volcano, plums of black smoke rise perpetually, either because of a foreboding omen or someone hard at work.
At the base of the volcano is a familiar pair.
"Master did you have to move so fast?" Praeco asked, her beautiful black feathers ruffled by the speed of Ares.
"Can you blame me Coco?" Ares asked his first partner, his eyes glued on the volcano. 'Why do I feel like I'm entering Mount Doom?' Ares thought. 'To any mortal man or God, this volcano is intimidating! No wonder Zeus doesn't come here.' He continued, his body shivering slightly.
He knows what's behind those midnight rocks, and yet, his heart hasn't slowed its beating since he's arrived.
"Coco?" Praeco asked, her small crows head tilting sideways.
'She so cute!' Ares thought, looking at his companion.
"Yeah. What, you don't like it? I was thinking of nicknames for you and Primo while I was in Aphrodite's temple. That's the one I thought of for you. If you don't like it I can-"
Before Ares could finish, Praeco flew from her favorite spot, transforming into her human form, and proceeded to kneel in front of Ares.
"Master, it would be my honor to have such a name." She spoke immediately from her kneeling position. "For you to think about me is more than enough for enough for me. If you wish to nickname me Coco, then Coco it is master." Praeco finished, her eyes that were on the ground now boring holes into Ares' own.
Silent for a moment and observing Praeco, Ares soon spoke, "Don't be so stiff Coco, it's just a name." Ares replied to Praeco, or Coco, who already transformed back into her crow form and nestled into her favorite spot.
"It's a name given to me by you master. Though I have my true name, the names you give me I hold dear. Just like my true name, to me, these are just as important." Praeco said, using her wing absentmindedly to stroke the side of Ares' face.
Silence ensued for a while, Ares enjoying his companion's soft feathers against his face.
Focusing back on the task at hand, Ares spoke to his companion, "Sooo, where's the door?" Ares asked.
The only way he could see entering the volcano was through the top. He's pretty sure he can survive the smoke inhalation, but that's not the point. Is it necessary? 'There has to be a secret entrance around her somewhere.' Ares thought, his head swiveling, scouring the base of the volcano for any sign of a way in.
"I see no way master." Praeco replied. "It seems the only way in is the through the top."
Ares was upset he couldn't just walk into the volcano, grab his weapons, and leave.
'Ugh, first Tartarus, and now a volcano. These swords better be worth it.' Ares thought.
The volcano itself was no trouble for Ares as he was easily able to reach its mouth, the heat immediately making itself known.
Standing on the edge, peering in, Ares saw a giant man striking a molten red metal on a circular platform.
'Brontes?' Ares thought. Not thinking twice, and moving Praeco from his head to under his left arm, he simply walked off the edge, his long, blonde hair flowing majestically behind him.
Plummeting to the molten lava beneath him, Ares slowed his descent, adjusting his course to the circular platform.
His feet touched gently on the platform, and as he did so, the cyclops turned around, examining the intruder of his forge.
Noticing who it is, Brontes turned back to his anvil, resuming his earlier hammering.
"What's this place called big guy?" Ares asked, putting Praeco back on her spot, and looking around Brontes's forge.
As you would expect, the volcano had lava, but only in its lower part. In the middle was a circular platform carved out of the out of the volcano, having molten red lines that formed intricate patterns in the rock. A gigantic furnace was carved out of the wall to the left on the circular platform, and an anvil positioned on the center.
"My home." Brontes replied, he's back turned to Ares, still hammering away at a piece of molten metal.
"Is that-"
"Yes, and before you ask, two days, maybe three." Brontes cut Ares off. He knows what Ares came here for. He may be a cyclops, but he isn't stupid.
'I can't wait! I'm going to swing them, this way and that way! What if I find my own Kratos?! That would be fucking awesome!' Ares thought. Now he can try some game moves in real life.
"Alright, two or three days, I can deal with that. By the way, you seen Hephaestus?" Ares asked.
He hasn't seen her much since the apple incident. He wanted to train with Hephaestus, he didn't want her to just be able to swing a hammer to craft weapons; he wanted her to be able to protect herself too.
"Ah." Brontes stopped mid swing. "She's, working on a project." He continued hesitantly.
"A project?" Ares asked an eyebrow raised. "No worries then, I'll see her sometime." He continued.
Shrugging his shoulder, Ares turned around and walked away, before his feet left the ground and he began to float.
"Here." He soon heard Brontes's voice.
Reacting swiftly he caught a pair of golden greaves, etched with symbols of different weapons and had a boar on the bottom of one greave, while a crow on the other.
"A gift. Now leave before it becomes four days." Brontes said, a chuckle leaving his lips.
"You better not!" Ares replied, laughing as he ascended out of the volcano.
Stepping on edge, Ares sighed. "Now what?" He asked out loud, his feet once again leaving the edge as he gently descended to the base of the volcano.
Walking aimlessly through the forest at the base of the volcano, Ares passed many gardens and lakes, with nymphs and other mythical beings greeting him as he made his way back to Olympus.
On his way to leave the forest, to the left and just before the exit, Ares spotted a majestic black stallion drinking from a small lake.
It's hooves, front and back, were red at the bottom and gradually became black as it moved up toward its legs. Its body was black with lines of red leading up to its black mane tinged with red on its edges.
Ares moved closer, hypnotized by the horses beauty. Only a foot away, Ares raised his hand and began stroking the horses back, slowly making his way towards its head.
Now in front of the horse, Ares could see its crimson red eyes staring curiously into his grays.
'Why is it so docile?' Ares thought. He half expected it to rear its hind legs and kick him. But instead, it allowed his approach and subsequent petting.
As of reading his mind, Praeco spoke, "The reason he's like this master is because unlike Primo, he is a resident of Olympus. Everyone from animals, to even sentient plants know of your status. It's because you are the Little Prince he allows you to do so." She finished explaining to Ares.
'And here I was hoping to spar with it.' Ares internally sighed. "Hey." Ares began talking to the horse, looking directly in its crimson eyes, "Do you want to come with me? Praeco told me you know who I am and even though I have Primo, what is a war God without a horse as his steed?" Ares lightly chuckled. "So how about it? You coming along for our epic tale?" Ares asked the stallion, stroking its mane as he did so.
Ares' only reply was it neighing before standing on its hind legs and exhaling fire from its nose.
Wide eyed and with a smile, Ares spoke, his voice full of amusement, "I'll take that as a yes."
(A/N: Hey guys! What should the stallions name be?)
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