> The Two Potters and the Three Princesses: Temple Side Story > by Vladimir > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Chapter 1 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Griphyx sits on a swing with his brother Harry. They are around seven years old each, and their magical capabilities are much stronger than the princesses thought possibly, especially for Griphyx, who has managed to pass the natural human magical levels and is also able to take a tone of damage without truly getting hurt. Luna sits next to Harry, Nightmare next to Griphyx, while Celestia sits between the two, who are looking up at the dark and cloudy skies. Griphyx sighs. "What's wrong, Griphyx?" Celestia asks in a motherly tone as he nuzzles the younger brother gently. "Nothing, I'm just antsy I guess." Griphyx answers with a shrug before he shivers and looks over to his right, where he freezes. Standing there is a man with a smile on his face. His hair is white, before turning black, then brown, then blue, and then multiple other colors. His skin is pail, much like his own. He wears plain black jeans, a long sleeved grey shirt and a red vest, connected with a Greek cape connected by to silver cuffs. His eyes look's like Griphyx's, but are black where here should be white. His eyes are purple with white slits. His strange hair and cape flows in the breeze, before he turns and vanishes down an alleyway. Griphyx stands and runs at his full speed towards the alleyway after the bright red cape. He turns the corner and watches the man turns and keep smiling at Griphyx, before large gates form and at his side of a skeletal dragon to his right, while on his left is a strange three-headed-draconic-dog that stares at Griphyx. The skeletal being turns into energy and roars as it darts out at Griphyx, going through his chest, making his, and the others eyes widen, but only the princesses can see what is happening. Griphyx's body tremble as the energy spirals upwards and a pair of the same gates form behind him, before turning into magical wings, where bones black as night stab into his back, and then turn into magical energy and flow into the wounds, sealing them. The man has a sad look in his smile and eyes as Griphyx drops to his knees, his throat tight in pain as he makes a silent shrill scream in pain. Tears line his eyes as something inside of him stirs and grows faster than it should ever have. He place his hands onto the ground and stares up at the man, pain racking his body. The man looks at Harry and smiles, showing himself and the gates to the boy, making him step back in fear. The man looks at the princesses and nods his head, as some of their, his and Griphyx's energies spiral into the air, making an energy dragon lord that roars as it slams into Harry's form, while the princesses energies form into a Alicorn shape and does the same as the dragon, however the two energies form, and Griphyx's energies flow faster into Harry's chest, making him change slightly. The four of them crumble to the ground. Griphyx grits his teeth and stares up at the man, who mouths something to the boy before he sighs, a few tears drip down his chin onto the ground and he walks through the gates, which vanish, and the strange dog vanishes as well. Griphyx's world black. Griphyx opens his eyes and see's that he is floating in an empty black void. No light, no heat, no cold, no sound. Nothing, but Emptiness. Emptiness. That is a word that describes pour Griphyx. He silently sighs, before a large flame flickers before him, and it roars loudly. He blinks, wondering how a flame could form from emptiness. It was a matter that truly could no be explained, yet. "Hello. It would seem I am awake FAR earlier than I should be. No matter, not like you'll ever remember our little 'chat' anyways. But listen closely! For you are about to enter something that WILL change your perception of reality, my young me. Welcome, to your castle." The voice of the flame states, as a large kingdom of three forms around Griphyx. He marvels at how one of them is blocked off by a strange fog, one of them is ruled by a king who holds onto the light and fears the dark, and the other, holds unspeakable beings of power and is guarded by Dragon-Riders. He walks through the air and reaches out to the three kingdoms, before his right hand is covered in shadow flames going all the way up his forearm, before the fingers form into claws, and his elbow becomes spiked. He stares, before the same thing happens to his left forearm as well. His back burns as those flaming black wings form, but they have dark green lining around them. He looks around more, and finds a whip-like-tail that swishes around. He turns back to the massive flame, which chuckles and bobs up and down slowly, before eyes form and so does a large smile. A skeletal draconic being forms around the flame and the skull of the creature forms around the flame, so that the flames eyes peer through the empty sockets, and it's mouth keeps smiling as the skull's jaws seem to smile as well. "We will meet with you once again, our dear Griphyx. Whenever you may need us, we will arrive to protect you." The flame tells Griphyx, before he is sucked down into the sky and is now in an ocean filled with multiple beings that fly towards him with either claws, hands or weapons pointing out at him. His eyes widen as they get closer an closer, before he closes his eyes, but when he opens them, he is laying on a strange mat-like-cot. He groans as he sits up, and notices that he is wearing a kimono for some reason. He gets to his feet and walks towards a strange sliding paper and wood door. He slides it, and is greeted by a strange black hallway. He looks down and see's a candle in a candle-tray. 'Oh buck me...' He mentally swears. 'Now I really wish I didn't watch those horror movies....' He thinks in his mind again, before the images of those beings reaching out to him play through his head for a split second, before they vanish. He shrugs and picks up the candle by the by the handle and walks down the dark hallway. The walls are an interesting color of wood. They look sleek and shiny and even have a few unlit torches on them as well. he grabs the candle and lights the torches oil, and the lamps light up. 'Why would there be a torch in a Japanese style building? Hm...curiouser and curiouser...' Griphyx thinks to himself in his mind, before walking down the hallways. He keeps lighting up the torches, and he passes by rooms, were the doors are ajar or broken into. He starts to question his own sanity. As he inspects one of the rooms with a torn apart door, he notices that the wall of the room and even a few patches of the floor and ceiling, as stained with what looks like blood. He walks over to what seems to be a puddle and dips a finger into it, before sniffing the strange liquid. He freezes as the scent of iron reaches his nose. He is quick to wipe the blood off and is paler than usual. 'Oh my god! I'm gonna bucking die!!' Griphyx screams in his head as he runs out of the room and turns down hallways. He runs down hallway after hallway after hallway. When he stops by rooms, and he see's blood everywhere, some have bodies, others don't. He even see's a few eyes staring out at him from rooms far too dark to peer into. He runs and runs as fast as his legs can carry him. He hears screams of men, women and children, he even hears pleads for help. His eyes are filled with tears as he runs down more hallways, his only source of light is the candle. He reaches a set of stairs and he runs up them as fast as he can. He looks over his shoulder as he reaches the top and opens a door. Tears go down his cheeks as he see's multiple pairs of eyes staring back at him. He screams and runs through the door, slamming it shut and presses his back against it and slides to the floor, where he sobs into his knees and he swears he can hear scratching against the door behind him. He runs into the corner and sobs harder. He screams for hi brother, Celestia, Luna and even Nightmare. He curls into a ball on his side, and sobs harder and harder. His throat tightens, but he keeps sobbing and screaming like someone is out to kill him. The door breaks down as Harry, Luna, Nightmare, Celestia and a few monks rush into the room, to find Griphyx is covered in blood an sweat. He rushes over and clings to Nightmare and sobs and screams into her chest. Everyone is startled. "What happened!? Are you okay!??!" Nightmare asks frantically. Griphyx only sobs harder and he can hear the scratches against the door more and he places his hands over his ears as he stares at the door in pure and utter terror. He hides behind Nightmare and continues to sob and scream loudly. Nightmare curls around the boy and casts a spell to make his hearing vanish. "Something is not right here..." Harry states. "Whatever is making Griphyx like this, it CAN'T be anything good." He states before looking at the monks. "What exactly do you keep in there?" He asks. "We never put him there. He put in in a cot near you all. We never left your sides but only for a second, before we heard the screaming and sobbing." The first monk says before looking at the door. "But this place was originally a...sacrificial temple, to the gods. It was stated that there were men and women who were taken in the fifties and were found out back in the sixties." He continues. "So was there a mystery case?" Luna asks. The monks nod. "Yes." The second one starts. "It took ten years before the bodies were found and another five to find that room. They said it was behind a bookshelf and then a fake paper wall." He explains. "I see..." Celestia states. She goes to continue, but then Griphyx speaks. "So...much...blood..." He mutters as the spell wears off. He shakes and whimpers into Nightmare's neck and mane. She nuzzles him affectionately. "Calm down, Griphyx. Now please explain what you experienced?" She asks. Griphyx sniffs and looks up at them, and they gasp. His pupils are slit more and their colors are now black and red. "I had a dream of these...beings reaching out at me, before waking up down there...I..." He chokes up and sniffles. "I woke up on a mat and walked out...I had a candle and lit torches. As I walked through the hallways, I saw doors broken into or are ajar. I went into one of them and found...found.." He goes silent. "Found what?" The first monk asks. "Blood..." Griphyx says. "Blood?" Harry asks. "Tons and tons of blood...e-everywhere...I...I ran and when I passed by room, I saw more blood and even bodies..." He whimpers out, tears forming. Harry shakes slightly. "Then there were these eyes and then the screams and pleas for help were resounding everywhere..." He whimpers. "I slipped and fell into a puddle. But when I got up, I saw silhouettes of people and I ran more and when I got to the stares and open the doors, I saw those eyes peering up at me. And when I sat before the door and in the corner, I could hear scratching against it..." He whimpers out, tears streak down his cheeks as he buries his face into Nightmare's neck once more, sobbing. Harry coughs and covers his mouth, as Celestia rubs his back gently. The two monks open the door and rush down the stairs after hearing Griphyx's story. Luna and Nightmare hold the young boy and hum lullabies to him. They smile softly and sadly to see him sleeping, but clinging to their forelegs as hard as he can. "He has had a terrible experience..." Celestia states, walking over to the three. "We MUST make sure to try and comfort him as much as possible." She states with Harry passed out on her back. "Indeed you do..." Says a man's voice. The three goddesses turn their heads quickly towards the open door and see a man leaning against the doorway. "He is going to be VERY important to us." He states with a condescending grin. "Who are you?" Nightmare growls out. "Oh, little old me? Oh I'm no one, just a messenger. And I have a message for you three." He sneers. "What is it?" Celestia asks. The man chuckles as ancient Greek attire forms onto his form and has sandals with wings on them. "Oh, just this. Don't lose...~" He chuckles out before he howls in laughter as a black diamond with red-outlining forms and tentacles of magical energy wrap around all of them and suck them into a portal. This is when their adventure begins. > Chapter 2 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Griphyx opens his eyes, before they widen and he looks around the room, holding something tightly to his chest. He then feels a hand placed onto his shoulder and he yelps. He looks up and see's a woman with a large chest wearing a ancient Greek dress and sandals that go up her shins. She smiles down at him as small orbs of light form around him along with universe after universe after universe and even a few dimensions form around him and her, and he see's that she has long black hair. Her eyes are blue yellow and blue with red slits. Her skin is pale, soft to the touch and fair. She helps him to his feet and he notices that he is floating in space. "Do you enjoy my home?" She asks. Griphyx stares at her with eyes wide. "Yes, this is my home, the place where all things began." She giggles out. "Who are you...?" He asks weakly and somewhat afraid. She gains a sad look on her face, before she cups his. "I am essentially 'God'. But my name is, Chaos. I am your ally." She says with a small smile. "Think of me as, your grandmother." She says softly as she rubs his hair from his face. "O-okay." He says softly, blushing. "My, what lovely eyes you have." She comments, making him blush more. "Um...thanks." He says. She smiles down at him before she grows serious and walks over to a wall of weapons. "Please pick one, you two." She explains. Griphyx turns and see's Harry along with the princesses, who gape. "Please hurry, I'd rather not see my precious family killed." She says sadly. "Too many fight against each other and it really does make me sad." Chaos says before looking down, just as sadly. She grows startled when Griphyx hugs her, for no mortal with a mortal soul, should even be able to touch her. "I'll make sure to watch over Harry and myself and the princesses! So please don't be sad..." He says to her gently. Chaos smiles down loving at the boy, before hugging him back. "I'll leave them to you then, my dear Griphyx." She says before walking away towards a coliseum of sorts. Griphyx walks over to he wall, only for it and them to appear in a ring an gladiators from all parts of the world stand in different corners of the ring. He turns around and see's Chaos, that man, and multiple other beings above twelve beings that look like the Greek Gods. He looks around and see's a dragon next to a woman next to a man with multiple arms. Then he see's a large cat, a mane with the head of and eagle and jackal. Then he see's a man with a hold horned helm, an old man with an eye patch, and then a man with a large hammer and many more. He watches as these warriors grab weapons and shields or ranged weapons like arrow's, bows, or even guns. Griphyx sighs before he notices a piece of bone and that skeletal beast flashes in his mind and that bone piece flashes brightly and appears in his hand and becomes large and covers his body. He screams bloody murder, making all heads turn towards him as the skeletal piece becomes part of his chest and then forms into a large skeleton connected to his form by magical tethers and his skin is covered by magical energy. His wings, claws and tail form as to large horns form pointing forwards and his eyes become empty sockets and he lets out a hauntingly wailing roar that turns into a blood curdling scream in pain as the ground beneath him cracks and shatters sending dirt into the air. His body falls onto the ground as his vision wavers slightly, before he manages to get a boost of strength and gets to his feet and coughs as Harry helps him stand, but something seems to have changed. The warriors seem to be put off of him, and when the princesses look, they grow slightly worried. They see the gates of Tartarus behind him connected to not only him, but also that man from before. Their eyes widen in realization and stare at the man. The man smiles down at them and makes a 'Ssh' motion with a finger up against his lips. Chaos stares at the man and smiles, before her eyes widen and looks at Griphyx before smiling happily, before gaining a look of surprise, as the gates behind Griphyx turn into a large monster of sorts that looks like a demon four to five times Griphyx's size. It has pale ash white skin for it's chest, and shoulder neck and face, before it has sliver fur and black markings all over it's form. It has two large horns pointing upwards and a long whip-like-tail that swishes around, it has four large bat-like-wings black as night. It's eyes are much like Griphyx's, but are black where there should be white, the slit's are green with black outlining and the eyes are red. Black streaks go down it's cheeks like tears would and on the center of it's chest is a black spit. On it's back is a mixture of black fur and snow white feathers. It has multiple forms behind it, but are too dark to see them, but the last silhouette look much like this one, but MUCH larger and has more parts to it. The princesses stare as the creature holds a glowing bright green twinbladed weapon in it's right hand, while holding bone that changes forms. It stares coldly out at everything and one before it spirals into energy and slams into Griphyx's form making him stumble a few times, before he looks up and looks around. He notices how the beings besides Chaos and that man are staring before clapping, while the warriors are all grinning and holding weapons pointed at him and Harry. Harry see's a lance and grabs it with his magic and brings it to him. The lance is sun yellow and has a sun as the guard and the blade is sharpened to the point where it can be used as a sword. He then summons the sun shield and he holds it shakily. Luna, Celestia and Nightmare stand with them before they are sucked into the stands next to Chaos and that man along with their group. "What the BUCK are you doing!?!?" Nightmare roars at Chaos, who sighs. "I am sorry, but you must sit here and watch." She says. "Why?" Luna asks. Chaos sighs once more. "Because this is part of the trials, they must prove themselves, before you tree may help them." She says sadly. "And yes, I already know about you being their guardians." She says with a soft smile. "Yes. We have been by their side for years now, and we plan on remaining with them." Celestia states. Chaos nods her head, her soft smile never leaving her face. "Good. My name is Chaos." She tells the. "Celestia." "Luna." "Nightmare Moon..." "It's a pleasure to meet you three. May I ask if you wish to be apart of this....'game'?" Chaos asks. "No." All three of them say, deadpanning. "We will NEVER let those two be alone, we'll sooner fight everyone else in order to protect them." They say at the same time again. This catches her and everyone around them by surprise. Chaos giggles and gets a wide smile. I was hoping you would say that!! Please, meet some of my children." She ushers them over to a woman with long flowing midnight blue hair. Her eyes are cyan and she wears a black dress with stars and moons all over it. "This is my daughter, Nyx." Chaos says. "Hello." Nyx says with a smile. ================================================================= Griphyx stands next to his brother, staring out at the warriors, before a man in samurai armor lunges at the two, grinning wildly with his sword up in the air. Griphyx grabs Harry's shield and it turns into a strange design and he blocks the sword ad pushes the man back and hands it back to Harry, it then turns back to how it was before. Harry watches as the man rushes them again, but he closes his eyes and stab the lance forward. He feels warm wet stuff splatter across his face, and when he opens his eyes, they widen. He see's his lance it piercing the man chest, before he gives him a grateful smile and vanishes in a flash of light and disappears. Griphyx blinks, before he grins. "I get it!" He exclaims. "Huh....?" Harry asks shakily. "If we beat them, they go home!!" He states. "Oh!" Harry says before realizing that they have to KILL them in order for them or themselves to leave. "But if we want to leave, we'll either have to win, or...d-die." He mumbles. Griphyx sighs. "True....then let's win!" He states before summoning his claws, wings and tail, taking everyone by surprise. That man from before smiles proudly down at him, not that he knew. A man in skin tight black leather appears before him and wields a dagger, but freezes when the flame claws grab him by the head and slam his form into the ground making a small crater. Griphyx spins to the right as a pirate swipes at him with a strange sword. He walks backwards teasingly, he feels incredibly light, like he could fly, wait, could he? He spreads his wings and takes to the skies and hovers there. The pirate pulls out an old style pistol and fire it, Griphyx blocks the bullet with a wing by knocking it back into the Pirates chest, sending blood onto the ground. Griphyx flies over to Harry who is fighting against another pirate, another samurai and a man in Pharaoh's cloths. Griphyx is about to reach him, but a Viking punches him in the side, knocking him into a wall, cracking it. He coughs before said Viking raises an axe and holds it above his head. But Griphyx's attention is on his brother, who gets a cut on his cheek, making him yelp. He stabs his tail into the Viking's chest before another Viking cuts deep into Griphyx's shoulder, making him cry out in pain as his blood splatters against the wall and ground. The second Viking helps his pal to his feet and the two rush at the boy. Griphyx's eyes widen, as do Harry's as their fates are sealed, until a woman punches the Viking's away with chains around her wrists and ankles and a man with a spear and shield defends Harry. The two stare before they help the brother to their feet. "Who are you?" Harry asks. The man with the shield chuckles. "My name is Perseus, but you can call me Percy." He says. Harry smiles and nods his head. While the woman holds Griphyx in a tight hug before letting go and smiles down at the now blushing boy. "My name, is Phoebe." She says to Griphyx. He notes that she wears VERY little cloths and her form is...developed rather nicely. He looks away from her, blushing more. "Is something wrong?" She asks. "I'm sorry for looking..." He says softly. She blinks before giggling and patting his head gently. "It's fine, at least your not wanting to use me..." However, the second she said that, Griphyx's head looks up at her quickly, and he has fury in his eyes. "Who did it!? I'll rip their throats out!!" He yells. Phoebe and everyone else is surprised by his mood swing. She then smiles down at him. "Aren't you the protective one over us women. You'll certainly make a good man when your older." She teases. However, when she see's the seriousness in Griphyx's eyes, she feels a sense of happiness fill her chest. "I wasn't joking. I hate those who use women for their own gain..." He says. True to his word, he has managed to reach puberty FAR earlier than the others had expected, but chalked it up to it being a 'Griphyx thing'. Phoebe smiles more and hugs him tightly, ad rubs the back of his head gently. "I know. And the man isn't around anymore, he's been dead for a couple thousand years." She explains to Griphyx, who nods his head. "Alright..." He then see's Percy and Harry walk over. "Hello Phoebe, how are you fairing with him?" Percy teases. Phoebe giggles. "Apparently I matter to him, or is it that ALL women matter to you?" She asks Griphyx. "All do, even if they are bad, they don't deserve to be abused, and hurt or even killed unless...I guess in self-defense..." He sighs sadly, making Phoebe rubs his back gently. "What of Medusa?" She asks. "Would you have protected her?" She asks the boy. They grow surprised when he nods his head softly. "Yes, I would." Griphyx states firmly. "Why!? She's a MONSTER!!" Percy exclaims, making Griphyx wince slightly. "Then I guess only monsters can understand monsters..." Griphyx says softly, almost to a whisper as his claws, wings and tail appear for a split second. Phoebe gains a sad look, before making him look up at her. "I don't think either of you were or are monsters." Phoebe tells him before giving him something, it looks like a seashell. "Blow into this and summon me to your side and keep me there for however long you may need me." She tells him with a smile. Griphyx smiles back, before asking her something she never expected to be asked. "Will...will you be my new friend?" He asks her. She smiles happily at the boy. "Yes, I will." She tells him, before summoning a strange sword and stands by his side, while Percy stands by Harry. "Now lets win this!!" She exclaims. The four of them charge ahead, not knowing what awaits them in this strange forest that is before them. > Chapter 3 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Griphyx walks next to his brother with Phoebe on his left while Percy is on Harry's right. The four of them walk down a path in a large lush green forest. He thinks about the temple/shrine where he witnessed so much gore. He closes his eyes tightly and trembles, this time there was no Nightmare to hold him. The two new companions look at him with confusion. "Why is he acting that way?" Percy asks Harry softly. Harry sighs and tells them the story before meeting Chaos. Percy shrugs it off, having killed many beings over centuries has made him numb, while Phoebe gently wraps her arms around Griphyx's shoulders, and holds him gently. Griphyx goes completely still, and purrs against the nape of her neck and she blinks, before she notices something different about him, he looks better. She notes how his body seems more built than a child's should. She looks over his form and see's that his wings, tail and claws are out, but the flames only draw her in closer and closer. She moves his head up so she can see his eyes. She notices that his eyes resemble Chaos, Tartarus, Thanatos, Nyx, Erebus, Cronos, and the other Titans, including her father, Atlas. She smiles down at the young boy, a smile on her face. She kisses his forehead gently, making the two other boys' eyes to widen and Griphyx smile slightly. His eyes become grey but stay slit, the cherry pedals from the tree's fly off and spin around the group and slice and dice the brush away from them before they form into a sword at Griphyx's side. 'How could a kiss do that?' Percy questions, before looking at the boy. 'What is that kid?' He is snapped from his thoughts as a pack of frost wolves rush out from the outer brush and bite at Griphyx and Phoebe, only to be cut to bits by Griphyx with the sword. Griphyx steps away from Phoebe with death in his eyes. His glare makes Percy freeze up, those are the same eyes that Tartarus has. "You will all die..." He states with an even tone, his eyes lifeless as his movements seem to no be his own as the Frost Wolves rush again, only to be cleaved in half by Griphyx's blade and he grabs the spine of a dead wolf and the others watch in awe, fear and respect as it becomes a bone whip and he spins it above his head, before cracking it and cleaving a wolf in half. The two halves fall apart with a sickening squelch. He steps to the side as another wolf lunges over his shoulder, only for the whip to coil around it's center and then slice it in two making blood spray all over the place. He gains a blood-chilling smile as he stomps on the dying wolves head, sending gore into the air. His eyes become darker and darker. When the rest of the wolves start to back off and whimper, Griphyx looks at them with a manic smile. They go to run, but those petals circle them and him. He cracks the bone-whip repeatedly, making blood splatter off of it. He whips it forward and cuts the head off of a wolf before he spins it around above his head, and jumps, and the petals finish the rest of the wolves off making a bloody explosion. Some of the blood splatters onto his face, and he chuckles as he starts to wreck the forest, his eyes dead and not his own, as a mask forms over his right eye, making it look like an empty socket. He starts to laugh manically before Phoebe and Percy pin him down and Harry covers his eyes. "Griphyx! Come back!! This isn't you!!" Phoebe screams while Percy nods his head. Griphyx however only throws them off of his form as he swings the whip around randomly. "STOP!! I CAN WIN!! STOP THIS BOY!!!" Griphyx speaks with a high-pitched echo-y voice as his hand grabs the mask piece. He gives out a shrill scream of pain as he tears the piece off and collapses onto his back. He pants hard as his body grows weak. He looks up at the sky in pain, until his body grows hot and heals and he sits up, confused as to how he could stand. "Griphyx!!" Phoebe screams out before rushing to his side and gasps. His body is bigger, taller even, nearly two feet taller than Harry is. His hair is longer and black, his eyes are rainbow-colored while the slits are shorter and wider slighter. She can feel his power radiating off of his form and that sword is now pitch black with a strange guard and chain at the end of the hilt. His energy is black with red outlining for his right side, while on his left is black with dark green outlining. She then notices that his blood has changed, and she focuses on it, and her eyes widen. She see's a resemblance with that man, but then see's that his mother was a human woman, the same mother Harry has, and she was an saint. She smiles before seeing multiple figures being part of his soul and three lost kingdoms of demons, knights and dragons appear as part of him and then the Gates of Tartarus are apart of him as well. She gapes as his power will reach past the heavens themselves. She then smiles once more and helps him to his feet when she see's him stay the same kind and caring person he is now. She dusts him off gently before Harry hugs the strange boy tightly. "Griphyx!! You scared me for a moment there!" Harry exclaims while Griphyx gives a apologetic look to everyone. "I'm sorry...I just...I don't know what happened to me..." He sighs out sadly. "Don't be, all of us have those problems." Percy explains. "Huh?" Griphyx asks. "I'm Perseus, Son of Poseidon, Phoebe here is the daughter of Atlas, the Titan that holds the sky away from the earth." Percy explains. "And you my friend, are someone VERY special." He teases as he points to Phoebe, making her blush. He blushes as well before smiling softly, this makes Phoebe smile as well. "I guess I'm lucky then." He chuckles out before hugging Phoebe tightly, making her blush even harder. "Thanks for being my friend, all of you." He says softly before letting go and walking on, until an Egyptian man runs out of the tree's and slashes Griphyx's chest, making everyone's eyes widen. As Griphyx falls to he ground onto his back, his blood sprays out and turns black as the air touches it. He looks up at the man who swings downwards, before Harry impales him onto his lance, making him yell in pain before dying slowly and is kicked off of the lance. Griphyx feels himself slip away slowly. 'I...lost...I...I failed...' Griphyx thinks to himself. But then a voice speaks out to him from his mind. 'Not yet.' It says as a fire starts to burn in his chest and body, his wounds heal and he feels that thing growing more and more inside of his chest before it seemingly goes back to sleep. "Griphyx!!" Phoebe screams his name out to him. He responds by getting up as the energies around him swirl around and flow into him to heal any extra damage to his form. He opens his eyes and notices that his body seems to be MUCH stronger. He watches as the man vanishes. He looks around and see's that everyone is staring at him. "That should have killed you. Just what exactly are you, Griphyx?" Percy asks. ================================================================= The princesses are staring at this screen along with everyone else, mouths agape. The man in his throne smiles proudly, that man is Tartarus. He is Griphyx's father, as they had found out, not that Griphyx would ever know, not for a few more years before they would HAVE to tell him. "Well, that is certainly interesting." The man with the hammer says. "I think it is time to fight against him, don't you think, Loki?" The man asks. Loki smirks and nods his head. "Indeed I do believe so brother. Look, they managed to get past the stone Golems. This will certainly be fun." Loki says giddily before him and the man vanish in a green puff of smoke and lightning. "Will they be okay?" Luna asks. Chaos nods her head, while Tartarus scoffs. "Of course they will! They have Phoebe, Perseus, Griphyx as well as Harry. They will be fine." Tartarus states, his smile never leaving his face, as if he has planned this whole event. Celestia nods her head and watches the large screen. ================================================================== Griphyx and his group reach a strange wall, where the two strange men sit before them. "Well Loki, it looks like they managed to get past those Frost Giants of yours, brother." The blonde haired man says. Loki chuckles and holds a strange staff. "Oh don't worry, they'll fall by my blade." He sneers out before kicking at Perseus, who jumps back and raises his shield to block Loki's blade. He sneers once more, but this time with a frown. "Damned Half-Blood!!" He roars out as he punches Perseus in the stomach, making him cough up blood. Loki then spin kicks Perseus into the wall, making it crack. He flips his long black hair and smirks at the three remaining members of the group. "This isn't good..." Phoebe states. "Why? Who is he?" Harry asks. "He is the Norse God of Mischief, Loki." Phoebe says. "And one of the two opponents we must face, Perseus will be out for a little bit, so it's up to us to...." She is then kneed in the abdomen by the blonde man holding the hammer and smirks as she flies into the air and then slams into a tree. He spins and the hammer shatters Harry's shield and causes him to scream in pain before the man grabs his face and slams him into the ground. "Name's Thor. God of Thunder for the Norse." He says as Harry has his arm stomped on and broken like a twig, making him scream louder in pain as the ground around him shatters and rises. Griphyx's vision darkens. ================================================================= The princesses get up to their hooves immediately and spread their wings, sending gusts of wind through the air destroying most of the stands. They are PISSED. Chaos stares as they let their powerful energies seep out for once and the stadium starts to turn into energy and disappears into nothingness. Tartarus stares with a small smile. 'The white one NEEDS to be the mother of them. She is already treating them like they are hers, might as well let her take them.' He thinks to himself as Celestia radiates fierce amounts of power that rival his own, and that is only their base states. 'She is indeed an interesting one....' He chuckles inwardly, before the entire area resets itself and the princesses are calmed down slightly. "Don't worry, while Harry is injured right now, he'll heal quickly." Tartarus tells them. "HOW!?" Celestia roars in his face, only making him like her more and more. "Because he isn't exactly 'human' anymore, thanks to you three and, Griphyx." He continues. "Your energies and part of mine and even Chaos's energies are now flowing through his own, while he isn't exactly like Griphyx, he is similar, as he is known as a 'Half-Breed'." Tartarus explains. "I see..." Celestia says calmly, which actually manages to scare him slightly. "Then I guess there isn't much to worry about." She says confidently. "Indeed, now I must ask you a favor." He says to Celestia seriously. "What do you ask of me?" She asks. Tartarus walks over to her and places a hand onto her shoulder. "Adopt them, please. Become their mother when the time comes and is right. Why they may age and look older, Half-Bloods are still seen as teenagers till they are at least a few hundred years old, and Half-Breed's are seen as adults after a couple hundred years." He explains. "So please, watch over them." He begs. Celestia looks into his eyes, and nods with a smile. "I was going to anyways, after all this was said and done." She explained. Tartarus smiles at this and hugs her gently. "Thank you." He says before appearing in his throne. "Welcome." Celestia states before looking back at the screen, only to find Loki beating on Griphyx while Thor beats on Harry. Her blood boils, but tries to calm down more. ================================================================== Griphyx watches as his brother is stomped into the ground and wall as Loki knocks himself around. His vision darkens more before his power explodes and he grabs Loki's fist and flips Loki onto his back. He then appears behind Thor and kicks him away from Harry, knocking him into the air. Griphyx stands his ground as Loki kicks him in the side, not moving an inch, taking the two brothers by surprise before he grabs Loki's leg and slams him into the ground repeatedly from side to side making multiple large craters in the ground before stomping onto hi chest. As he walks away, Perseus gets to Harry's side while Phoebe walks alongside Griphyx, eyes wide and mouth agape as the mask piece is complete. "Puny god...." He shrugs off before looking up at Thor who has a smirk on his lips. "You certainly will be fun!" Thor exclaims before he spins the cloth on the hammers hilt and throws it at Griphyx, who raises a hand and catches the large hammer. Phoebe falls over from the massive gust of wind that the throw created and the ground cracks around Griphyx's feet, as he now looks like an adult. Phoebe stares at Griphyx literally is an adult and his body is covered in bleach white skin, his hair is long and black with orange rings and marking going through it. Red fur cuffs are around his wrists and ankles as well as a fur collar that is part of his skin. He has a long whip-like tail, the mask is now more like a dragons skull as two horns point forward and two point upwards. His height is three times Thor's height as he holds a long and thing black katana in his right hand, while in his left is a bright green twinblade of sorts. He wears torn black strange Japanese style clothing, while on his chest is a black skeleton armor protecting him as in the center of his chest is a large black spot that also shows in the center of his back as well. His fingers are now claws as his feet are now talons as well. His tail swishes in annoyance. "What are you?" Thor asks. "I am Griphyx. Your doom." He states as his twinblade vanishes and he throws the hammer back at Thor hitting him in the stomach. Before he can recover, Griphyx knee's Thor in the chin and kicking him in the chest, knocking him father into the air. Griphyx's wings fan out and he flaps his large black draconic wings and two smaller bat-like-wings and he vanishes and reappears behind Thor as he tail-whips him into the ground, literally. Griphyx then appears next to the large crater and watches as Thor burst from the ground and punches him in the stomach, not that it mattered. Thor does this repeatedly while Griphyx gives him an annoyed stare, before his tail wraps itself around his neck, and raises him into the air. Loki gets to his feet, and stares at the demon looking Griphyx, whose form has changed once more. He looks like that energy form and stares at Loki with cold and uncaring eyes. "Watch...as your last hope in winning, loses, Loki." Griphyx says with a cold and even tone, shaking him to the core. Griphyx raises a clawed finger to Thor's chest, and a black sphere of magic forms before a large beams consumes Thor's form. His tail uncoils around Thor's throat as he coughs in slight pain. "We NEED to spar again, Griphyx." Thor says with a smirk. "I enjoyed it." He says. Griphyx smirks back at Thor. "Sure." He tells Thor, shaking his hand, before crushing his hand firmly with a deep scowl. "But harm my friends, or family, and I WILL kill you..." He says coldly. Thor nods his head with a large smirk. "Definitely will not do that." He states. "Good." Griphyx says with a smile. "Now let me return Griphyx back to normal." He states, making everyone freeze up, before Griphyx taps a claw-tip against Harry's forehead, making him pass out. "Can't let him remember any of this fight." He states as he starts to shrink. "Who are you?" Thor asks. "I am the other half of Griphyx, his Blood Line..." He explains before he becomes a child once more and stumbles around, grabbing his head. "Ugh...w...what happened?" Griphyx asks. "You passed out after Phoebe and Perseus managed to beat us." Thor states, covering for the battle. Griphyx looks around and looks at the two with a smile, before looking at Thor with the same smile. "At least no one was killed or to badly hurt..." He sighs out happily. Thor smiles and pats his head gently. "Indeed." He explains. "Hey!" Griphyx exclaims. "Wanna be my friends too?!" He yells with a smile. Loki, Thor and Perseus smirk and nod their heads. "Sure, just be sure to do pranks, alright?" Loki states with a grin. "Sure!" Griphyx exclaims with a smile. "Take these then, to call us to aid you." Perseus states, as he gives Griphyx a coral piece, a chunk of stone and a gold slab. "Okay!" Griphyx says with a smile as he, Harry, and Phoebe walk through large gates that lead to the arena once more, where confetti flies through the air. A banner says "Congratulations for winning" in bright red. He looks at Harry who smirks and they walk onto a stage with Chaos standing there with a smile. "Congratulations on winning. You two served us well in dealing with the beasts, castles and even showing your strengths against Loki and Thor in more ways than one." She says, before continuing. "And so, I now make you both, our champions!" She says with a booming voice. Harry and Griphyx smile up at her, before she hands them to medallions. Griphyx is a silver chain with a moon and then a crescent moon in the middle and unknown to him, there is a depiction of a Dragon and Draconequus. Harry's is a golden chain with a sun attached and in the center is what looks to be a Alicorn. Griphyx smiles, before his world starts to go dark, and collapses. He see's Chaos give him a sad smile as she summons a portal that sucks them in slowly. The princesses talk with her before exchanging hugs and follow, then, darkness. > Chapter 4 > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Griphyx wakes up in the shrine/temple and looks around. He is back in THAT room, but this time, he holds no fear. He is numb to it, he sighs and gets to his feet and walks down the dark hallways, knowing that if he were to look, then he would see the blood, bodies, gore, etc. He turns down another hallway and watches as the eyes from before follow his every movement. He walks for hours and reaches the stares. He goes up them and opens the door, the tournament still fresh in his mind as he walks through the door, and closes it. When he turns around, he is greeted by that man from before. He wears a glad smile. "So you beat fear. Good. It is wonderful to see you much stronger than before." He states. Griphyx tilts his head to the left, staying silent. "It is also good to know that you are making a good view on yourself. But..." -He places a hand onto the boy's shoulder gently, giving him a sad look- "you have much to face in the future, and many women and men will come into your life and become friends or cherished loved ones. Never let them go, Griphyx. Never." The man says. "I won't." Griphyx states as he walks past the man, who smiles at the boy's walking form. 'I am so proud of you, my son...' He thinks to himself before vanishing into thin air, and the temple/shrine becomes old and is falling apart. Griphyx doesn't bat an eye at this, however, he is looking for his brother and the princesses. He reaches a torn up room and finds them all just waking up. "Lets head home." Griphyx says as he walks past them and puts his hands in his pockets. The others follow, although groggily. They head out into the now rising sun down the street. Unaware of the shadows following them, as they hiss and chuckle, before heading towards a certain train-station. Their true adventures, are to come soon, and they must be ready for them. FIN