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mythica0 · 24 days ago

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No more suffering

Ch.1: War and Bloodshed

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A/N; welcome to my no one dies AU- written in fic form! This is part one- which will likely be put on my master post. The link to the next part will be at the end once it’s written! (Probably. I can be dumb sometimes.) luckily for me, the majority of dialogue of this chapter was basically taken right from the lyrics. Enjoy!

War and bloodshed

It’s been ten years.

Ten years that Odysseus and his men have been away from home. Ten years since he has seen his wife and son. Ten years since this blasted war started.

And now, it was about to end.

The men were sitting in a large wooden horse, ready to attack the Trojans in their sleep. It was hot, and the air was stale and unpleasant to breathe. The men were chattering quietly among themselves, not wanting to alert the Trojans to their presence, but not wanting to be entirely silent either.

After a few more moments, Odysseus speaks up.

“Alright, my brothers, listen up.”

The muttering and whispering quiets instantly, preparing for the plans and inevitable motivating speech.

“Tonight is the night we make the Trojans pay for our years of suffering. Ten years of this war, they killed many men one by one, but now- we will be the ones who slay them.”

His voice grows intense with determination and passion, encouraging his men like he was so good at doing.

“Think of your families! Think of your wives and your children, wondering where you’ve been! They’re growing old and yet we’re all still here. If you do what I say, you’ll see them again.”

There was a rousing cheer of ‘Yes, Sir!’ From all the men, full of a fiery determination. Odysseus begins to speak once more, serious and instructional, leaving no room for argument.

“Diomedes will lead the charge, Agememnom will flank the guards. Menalaus will lead everyone through the main gates to take the whole city. Tuecer, shoot any ambush attack that comes our way. Little Ajax, you’re going to stay here to make sure everyone gets back safe and attend to the wounded. Nestor, secure Helen and protect her. Neo, avenge your father- kill the brothers of Hector.”

There was another resounding chorus of ‘Yes, sir!’ Odysseus stands from the floor, encouraging the others to do the same, full of determination.

“Find your inner strength now, use that well of pride! Fight through every pain now, ask yourself inside, what do you live for? What do you try for? What do you wish for? What do you fight for?”

The men ask him in return, repeating his words, and Odysseus answers, a wistful look on his face as he thinks back to his home and loved ones.

“Penelope. Penelope and Telemachus. I fight for us.” There is a quiet yet passionate fire in his voice as he speaks. The men speak again as though in a chant, trying to rally their strength and determination.

“What do you live for?”

“Penelope.” Odysseus responds, a determined look on his face, eyes narrowed seriously as he answers to both the men and himself, to gather his strength.

“What do you try for?”

“Telemachus.”

“What do you wish for?”

“I’m on my way.” He reached for his sword, prompting the others to do the same as they gather around the secret entrance to the inside of the horse.

“What do you fight for?”

Then there’s a large war cry, “ATTACK!”

The men surge out, following the plan to the letter. Odysseus heads to the palace, towards Hector. There are the noises of war and battle all around him, blood splattering the ground as the clink of swords and cries of determination, pain and effort fill the air around him, and as the battle rages on its clear that Ithaca is winning.

Eventually he reaches the top wall of the palace, and just as he passes a small room with a curtain for a door, he’s stunned by a strong electric shock coursing through him, and he lets out a pained grunt.

“Agh! W-who was that?”

Suddenly, a large fog of clouds rolls around him, a deep voice echoing from them.

“A vision. Of what is to come, cannot be out run. Can only be dealt with right here and now.”

Odysseus is slightly shocked(see what I did there?) to see the form of Zeus rising from the clouds, dark brown hair with streaks of grey, yellow eyes and a strong build, looking serious. He doesn’t take time to process though, quickly registering the words that the god said.

“Tell me how.”

“I don’t think you’re ready. A mission. To kill someone’s son. A foe who won’t run, unlike anyone you have faced before.”

Odysseus narrows his eyes in determination again.

“Say no more. I know that I’m ready.”

“I don’t think you’re ready!”

The mist of clouds part, directing the King’s gaze to the room he passed, parting the curtains so he can see what’s inside.

It’s a nursery. Inside, there are some decorative Tapestries on the walls, and leaning against one of them is a crib, which has a sleeping baby inside. Odysseus’ eyes go wide at the sight.

“It’s just an infant. It’s just a boy.” His voice is strained and saddened, confused, cracking slightly as he continues to speak.

“What sort of imminent threat does he pose that I cannot avoid?” He speaks quietly, as if afraid to know the answer. Zeus responds anyway.

“This is the son of none other than Troy’s prince Hector. You need to know that he will grow from a boy to an avenger. One fueled with rage while you’re consumed by age. If you don’t end him now, you’ll have no one left to save!”

Odysseus’ eyes widen further, worry etched into his face.

“You could say goodbye to Penelope.”

Odysseus starts to plead with the god, as if it would change the outcome of the vision.

“I could raise him as my own!”

Zeus responds seriously, but with an air of smugness as well.

“He will burn your house and throne.”

“Or send him far away from home!”

“He’ll find you wherever you go.”

“Make sure his past is never known!” His voice grows increasingly loud and desperate, his gut turning.

“The gods will make it known!”

“I’d rather bleed for ya, I’m on me knees for ya! I’m begging, please-!” His loud pleading voice is cut off by Zeus’ booming words.

“This is the will of the gods!”

There’s a pause, and Odysseus’ next words are much quieter, still pleading.

“Please don’t make me do this, don’t make me do this!”

“The blood on your hands is something you won’t lose, all you can choose is who’s.”

The gods words carry an aura of finality, and then the clouds pull away slowly, leaving a silent, stunned Odysseus outside the room.

A few moments pass, and he walks into the room, to the crib, and stares down at the infant he has to kill.

He picks up the baby. Astynax, according to the name on the crib, and he stirs, blinking awake.

The child seems surprisingly okay with being held by a stranger, sleepily babbling and reaching out a tiny hand to pat the hair on Odysseus’ face, giggling. He feels his heart twist in his chest, as he starts to sing to the infant, a lullaby-like ballad. He knows the infant won’t remember any of this, in the underworld. But he feels so much guilt welling inside of him, and he needs to do something to try and ease that pain, if only for himself.

The ballad is gentle, and he cradles the child in his arms as he sings, holding back tears. He sings of his family, of his struggles in this war.

It hurts. It hurts so much. This child reminds him so much of what Telemachus was like when he left.

He sings that he is just a man, that he doesn’t want to do this but needs to, to save those he loves, and as the lullaby comes to a close, he walks towards the wall of the palace, letting the child see the view as he holds the bundle over the stone.

“I’m just a man~~”

With the final words of the song, he lets go of the cloth, letting the infant fall. He turns his head, not able to bear the sight, tears stinging his eyes. He hears the child laugh as it falls, amused as all children are when they fall, and it stabs the knife deeper into his heart, his chest physically aching. He doesn’t dwell and continues forward.

Not long after, Ithaca is declared victorious. He gathers his men to see little Ajax attending to the wounded as he had instructed.

No casualties. Good.

There are many wounded soldiers, but none critically so. He gathers his men and they ready to head back towards the dock, towards their ship to start the long journey back to Ithaca.

There is idle chatter, cheerful words of victory among the men, but Odysseus doesn’t process any of it. His mind is foggy, weighed down by the guilt from what he did. All the noise around him just seems like static.

They board the ship, and Odysseus heads up to the mast to give instructions. All the men can see that their captain, general, and friend isn’t doing well, but they don’t dare bring it up.

“Alright everyone. The war is over, and now we can return to Ithaca. Get in position.” His voice is dead, monotone. He sounds angry, but his men know that he isn’t actually mad at them.

They don’t know what’s on his mind, but they know whatever it is it’s bothering him and making him act angry and melancholy, with no fault to them.

He turns to face his men fully, presenting raiders in his booming voice. It’s supposed to be another inspirational speech, but it loses some of its fire from the clear mental anguish behind his eyes.

“600 men! 600 men under my command! With only one goal in mind-“

The men all respond, hoping that seeing their rallied strength and will might help Odysseus feel better, if only slightly. “To make it back alive to our homeland!”

“600 men. 600 miles of open sea. But the problems not the distance-“

“It’s what lies in between!” They once again echo in a chorus, a fire in their eyes.

“And Ithaca’s waiting! My kingdom is waiting! Penelope’s waiting, For me! So full speed ahead! Full speed ahead!”

The men repeat in a chorus his words, trying to bring confidence to their captain, sensing the pain and suffering he’s feeling. It only partially works.

The men row, chatting amongst themselves, and about an hour or so later, Eurylochus comes up to Odysseus with concern etched in his expression.

“Captain.”

Odysseus looks up, hands still on the wheel. His eyes are half-lidded, still clearly hiding something heavy behind them.

“Eurylochus?”

“We have 600 men, all with mouths to feed. But- we’re out of supplies.”

The men chorus behind him, mutters of agreement passing over them.

“Each of these men is a reason to take what we can- so what’s the plan?”

“Captain, what’s the plan?”

Odysseus speaks with determination, his passion to protect his men briefly overshadowing his inner turmoil.

“Watch where the birds fly. They will lead us to land. There we’ll hunt for food, my second in command! Full speed ahead!”

Very soon after, Polites walks up, a slight bounce in his step.

“Captain!”

“Polites?”

“There, in the distance! I see an island with a light that faintly glows! Maybe they’re people; lighting a fire! Maybe they’ll share some food, who knows?” His voice is chipper and excited at the prospect.

Odysseus looks to where Polites pointed, seeing the island and narrowing his eyes, having a strange gut feeling.

“Something feels off here, I see fire but there’s no smoke.”

Eurylochus pipes up from the side, a determined, almost angry expression. “I say we strike first, we don’t have time to waste so let’s raid the place and-!”

“No.” Odysseus cuts off Eurylochus, the guilt in his heart aiding in the decision.

“Polites gear up. You and I’ll go ahead.”

“You and I’ll go ahead!” Polites echoes cheerfully, happy that his best friend didn’t resort to violence immediately.

“We should try to find a way no one ends up dead.”

“We don’t know what’s ahead!” Eurylochus speaks, concerned. Odysseus addresses the concern with authority.

“Give me till sunrise. And if we don’t return, then 600 men can make this whole place burn. Now full speed ahead!”

“I’m glad you’re seeing things my way, Captain!” Polites speaks, chipper as always.

“Heh, you sure now how to brighten the mood, huh? We should make it to the island by the end of the day, so be ready.”

“You got it! I’ll be right back and ready to go!”

Then Polites walked off to grab his gear.

They didn’t know what awaited them on the island. But they were about to.

———THE END————————————————

Next chapter! [coming at some point!] ->

#parrotwrites #happy ending AU #good ending AU #no more suffering au #no more suffering #no one dies AU #epic the musical #I don’t know what other tags to add #help

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