Helheim
Tartarus
Far from the chaos of Mimir Hall and deep within the bowels of Helheim's prison, Tartarus, Xolotl watched the match on his tablet. He saw Hunahpu rise and steady himself despite the pain.
That's how you do it. He thought. Show them why you're here. Why he chose you.
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Helheim
Xibalba
Pitz Stadium
Millennia Ago
Long ago, in the Xibalba region of Helheim, Xolotl stood at the top of the stone stands, watching over a sunken rectangular arena. High above the arena floor, a single stone hoop jutted out from one of the walls. Below it, two pairs were dodging and running around each other as a large rubber ball sailed through the air. Xolotl eyed one pair, a duo of large emaciated Gods with bloodshot eyes and putrid green skin that clung to their disproportioned skeletons. Both wore immaculate and gaudy gold headdresses and hip wraps that contrasted their near-death appearance. Running around them was Hunahpu, working hard to keep the ball in the air. Across the arena from them was a young God who looked like Hunahpu's mirror image, save for a short mohawk instead of his twin's flowing hair.
"Wreck 'em, Ah Cizin!" Someone from the crowd yelled.
"Get those mutts back for Vucub-Caquix!" Another, hoarser voice, roared.
"Xolo," A low tenor said behind him. Xolotl looked back and saw a God that could tower over him. His pristine, green-feathered wings contrasted with the sheen of his blue scales and regal white hip wrap, black and red mantle, bracers, and shin-guards. His serpentine face wore a nervous smile as his blue eyes darted in all directions under his white-feathered crown.
Quetzalcoatl
The Feathered Serpent
God of the Winds, Day, Life, Light, and Wisdom
Ruler of the West
Chief God of the Mesoamerican Pantheons
"I'm here," He said, walking over to his twin. He looked down at the arena. "Are these skeleton guys the ones you told me about?"
"No," Xolotl answered in a deep bass. "That's Ah Cizin, and he's playing as two for this game. The ones I told you about are the others."
"Them?"
"Yep."
"What's special about them?"
"They invaded Xibalba, alone. Ah Cizin didn't invite them here."
Quetzalcoatl's eyes widened as he watched the twins blitz around the arena, keeping their volley going much to Ah Cizin's growing frustration.
"Stop making us look bad!" A woman's voice yelled out far below the pair.
"They invaded?!" He said, barely above a whisper.
"They did. Just busted through the Bifrost and began a two-man invasion. They defeated Cizin's ten Great Kings, survived the Houses of Knives, Bats, and Jaguars, and passed through the Scorpion and Blood Rivers." Xolotl looked over at his brother, who kept his eyes locked on the arena.
"I mean, it makes sense with the crowd, but how…and why?"
"'How' I am not sure, but the 'Why' is their father and uncle. I spoke with the Lords of Bone, Chamiabac and Chamiaholom, and they explained what happened. After his death, the pair came down here and began fighting everyone. They beat those two, then kept on going. This two-man army tore through everything. I went to the other eight, and they all just looked and felt defeated. I can't tell if it was embarrassment or acceptance." Below, Xbalanque jumped high above the Cizin pair and smashed his hip into the pitz ball, firing it upward. He landed back on his feet as Hunahpu ran toward him. As if on instinct, Xbalanque brought his arms together and lowered them, becoming a makeshift springboard. Hunahpu jumped and landed on his brother's arms. Xbalanque inhaled deeply, puffing his cheeks as veins popped up on his arms, and launched Hunahpu upwards. The Ah Cizin pair jumped onto the wall, digging their fingers and toes into the wall, and raced up like cockroaches.
However, it didn't matter. Hunahpu reached the ball well before they could reach him. While backflipping and upside down, Hunahpu slammed with Pitz ball with his knee, sending it through the hoop. A bell rang, and the crowd roared to life while a few in the crowd jeered and hissed. Hunahpu fell down and landed next to his brother. Both looked up at the Ah Cizin pair clinging to the walls, wearing cocky grins as they bumped fists.
"Xolo."
"Yes?"
"I want to meet them." Quetzalcoatl turned to him. "Now."
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Helheim
Xibalba
Pitz Stadium
An Hour Later
"They're ready," Xolotl said, standing in front of the stadium entrance. Quetzalcoatl walked past him, pushed the twin doors open, and stepped out into the Pitz Stadium. Standing just a few meters away were the twins and Ah Cizin, staring daggers at each other.
"Xolotl," Ah Cizin said, his voice dry and cracking like dead skin. "I brought them in one piece as requested."
"Must have been difficult to manage that," He answered. "The crowd earlier looked like they were ready to kill them for winning."
"Eat shit, Xolo." He looked back at the twins. "I ever see you pompous half-breed shits down here again—"
"Ah Cizin," Quetzalcoatl said, flatly. Ah Cizin looked over and glared at him, but was met by a blank, empty stare from Quetzalcoatl. Behind him, Xolotl cracked his fingers. "You forget who you're speaking to."
Ah Cizin pursed his curled lips and looked away. He then departed, while Xolotl watched him leave.
Quetzalcoatl walked over to the twins, barely able to contain a smile, while the twins could barely maintain their composure. Xolotl looked at the awkward moment and cleared his throat.
"Ah! Right," Quetzalcoatl said. "I guess you two know who I am already."
"You're Quetzalcoatl," Hunahpu whispered.
"Kukulkan amongst our people," Xbalanque murmured.
"…Right," Quetzalcoatl said. "So, let's establish something here. Before we start, I think it would be improper of me to call you 'boys' after what you two pulled here in Xibalba." He looked up at Helheim's vaulted stone ceiling, hidden by clouds. "You two aren't in friendly territory, now are you? I don't think anyone besides Xolotl or Mictlantecuhtli could have pulled off what you two did. With that, I'd rather we just work without titles for a moment."
"Quetz—" Xolotl started, but his brother raised his left hand.
"For the moment. Once this discussion is over, we will return to our formal titles. Are you two okay with this?"
The twins nodded in unison.
"Good. Then, for the moment, I am Quetz, and he's Xolo. And you two?"
"I'm Hunahpu," Hunahpu answered, his golden eyes locked on Quetzalcoatl."
"And I'm Xbalanque," Xbalanque answered, his silver eyes darting between Quetzalcoatl and Xolotl.
"Are you Hun-Hunahpu and Blood Moon's boys?"
Both nodded.
"How do you know that?" Hunahpu asked.
"Xolo here and Mictlan keep me updated on things going on in our regions of Helheim. I'm…sorry about your father and uncle. Had I known, I would have acted."
"No offense, Quetz, but we had to be the ones to do it," Hunahpu said. "We had to keep our mom safe and redeem our dad."
Xbalanque nodded. "Even if we tried, Itzamna would rather it be taken care of in-house, regardless." He said. "Knowing him, it likely would have never reached you."
Do they still not trust me? Quetzalcoatl thought. I was also unaware of… He recalled the barbs and slurs from earlier aimed at the twins. He shot a soft glance at Xolotl. …how much stuff like that still bothered me. "I see then. Well, with this being the case, I hope you two brought proper justice."
"No doubt about it! We beat them all, but other than winning contests, we didn't want to come down here and wreck the place…too much," Hunahpu said, growing a confident smile. "If our Dad could do it, so could we!"
"We're used to dealing with Underworld Gods. Comes with the territory," Xbalanque added.
"I see," Quetzalcoatl whispered. He looked over to Xolotl, who nodded. "Guys, I have a proposition for you. Not an order."
The twins exchanged a glance.
"Okay…what is it?"
"How would you two…like trying to become Chief Gods of our Pantheon?"
Their eyes widened. They blinked a few times before exchanging another glance and looking over at Xolotl, who nodded again.
"You're serious?" Hunahpu asked.
"As you said earlier, without a doubt. I don't want to bore you with details, but I am not a believer in eternity. I have seen things that make Xibalba seem like paradise. Because of that, I want to protect our people, our whole Pantheon, and keep it united. However, what you two said earlier rocked me a little."
"What?"
"Itzamna would not ask for my help. That means even with our coalition, I can't believe we are truly united. So, to remedy this, I came up with a plan."
"We came up with a plan," Xolotl added.
"We came up with a plan. As the Twin Kings, we will choose successors from outside the Aztecs. And they will choose someone to succeed them outside their original Pantheon. That way, we can show and prove the Aztecs aren't always in charge."
"So you're picking us?" Xbalanque asked.
"Yes."
"Why?"
Quetzalcoatl felt the weight of that question. No matter who or where, when someone asked him that question, he knew what was there: Doubt. Insecurity. Fear. In Xibalba, such things made you a target and cost more lives than he wanted to admit, but he knew how to start helping them see past it. "That's a hard question with an easy answer. I may be the 'Supreme Chief God,' but the truth is that role is held by two: Xolotl and me. I keep things running in Valhalla and Midgard, and he's down here managing our regions of Helheim while working with Yama." Xolotl nodded behind his brother. "We're a pair, and we keep each other out of trouble. I also help him keep from losing his head."
"I for you more than you for me," Xolotl answered curtly.
Quetzalcoatl smiled smugly. "Our people need strong leaders, and we have to prove that we are united by an idea, not a person. I think you two, whether you believe it or not, could represent that better than even Xolo and me!"
"That's…kind of a lot," Hunahpu said. Xbalanque nodded.
"It is, but seeing you two and learning of your exploits, I want to believe in you. I want to believe that what I see in you, others will, too."
Both brothers ran their hands through their hair and looked away. Quetzalcoatl could not know, and would never know, what those words meant to those two.
"So…if we say yes, we're now Chief Gods?"
"Well, you'd actually be two of the potential candidates. The other Pantheons are sending pairs as well, so it's going to be another competition for you two. If you are willing to take this on, I think you two might have what it takes. I'll also throw in a little special something at the end, should you get it."
The twins exchanged another glance and nodded.
"Think we can pull it off?" Hunahpu asked.
"Of course we can," Xbalanque answered.
Both turned to Quetzalcoatl. "We're in," They said together.
Quetzalcoatl grew a wide smile. "Excellent!" He yelled, spooking the twins.
Xolotl shook his head. Please control yourself.
"Now, let's get out of here." Quetzalcoatl's wings spread wide, and his bearing hardened. "The discussion is over. Be at Tlaloc in three days."
Both bowed as Quetzalcoatl took flight and departed.
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Mimir Hall
Arena
Back in the present day and at Mimir Hall, Hunahpu stepped back from Epona. Without looking away from her, he raised his left hand to the left side of his mantle and tapped it with his fingers. He heard a clicking sound below his hand and grasped it. Slowly, he pulled it, and it split across, exposing his chest. He placed it softly on the ground. Then, he tapped the left side of his hip-wrap. It came undone and fell to the ground around his feet, exposing a pair of cropped, dark khaki pants that matched his foot and wrist wraps. The center of his chest began to bruise from where Epona struck him, but he paid no attention to it. Epona smirked as he rolled his shoulders and popped his neck.
Time to start the next part of the plan. Hunahpu thought. Wherever you are, Kukulkan, keep watching. Your faith was not wasted.
Epona whistled. "Kid, won't deny you're a handsome piece of work," She said. "but putting on a show for me won't make this easier for you."
"Always have to have some quip," Hunahpu said. "You sound like Ah Cizin and his cronies."
"Don't know who that is, but I'll take it as an insult."
Hunahpu snickered. "Please do. Just be glad you don't look like him…much."
Epona chuckled a little. She popped her neck and let her arms go slack again. "Good to see you're not a punk."
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Chinese Pantheon Box Seats
Above the arena, Lao Zi felt an overwhelming mix of dread and excitement. Cold sweat formed on his brow as he focused on Hunahpu. He could not explain why, but the moment Hunahpu shed his ornate clothing, a heavy aura slowly bubbled up from his body and pooled on the floor, like a bog.
"Lu…" He said. "Is…he…really the one…you spoke of?"
"Yes," Lu Ban answered. "Why?"
"I smell…it on him…" Lu Ban and Erlang Shen turned their attention to Lao Zi. "That smell…of death…and violence…"
"I'm not following," Erlang Shen said.
"The smell…of Gu."
Both Gods fell silent. Slowly, they turned their attention back down to the arena, waiting.
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Game Master Box Seats
"What's Hunahpu up to?" Oludumare asked.
"Not sure," Set answered. He looked over to Lugh, who kept his attention on the fight. "I only know about Hunahpu through Quetzalcoatl, but even he kept quiet about Hunahpu's abilities. Any idea, Lugh?"
"I've only seen something like this happen with Uncle earlier today in Round Five, but I don't think it's the same thing.
Odd. Set thought. What are you planning, Hunahpu? And how are you creating those portals?
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Mimir Hall
Arena
Back at the arena, Epona dashed towards Hunahpu. Hunahpu threw the Pitz Ball at her, but she weaved out of the way. A silver hoop appeared behind her, and the ball vanished into it.
I'm not falling for it again! Epona thought, keeping her momentum. The gap between the two closed, and Epona whipped her right arm at Hunahpu's face. Hunahpu pivoted to the left off his left foot, letting the fist rush past his face. Epona's eyes tracked him as he moved, and she whipped her right arm back at him. It caught the meat of his shoulder, and pain shot across his body. Got you! She twisted her arm and cupped the inside of his bicep. She started twisting back to the left and began to lift him.
Got you! Hunahpu thought as he started to rise. He lifted his legs and shot them around Epona's arm and grabbed her right wrist in both of his hands. His left foot slammed into her temple as it passed, and he wrenched her arm between his legs. Epona started falling back to the right, just as a gold hoop appeared behind her head. The Pitz ball sailed out and smashed into the back of her head. Her eyes shook in their sockets as the ball vanished into another gold hoop. She then crashed down on the ground with Hunahpu pulling on her arm.
"A… flying armbar?!" Jarl yelled. "Hunahpu's got Epona on the ground!"
"Don't…fuck…," Epona said through gritted teeth. Veins popped up on her right arm as she slowly pulled Hunahpu in. Another hoop appeared above her, and the ball rocketed down towards her. She snapped her legs up and caught it between her shins, then slammed her left arm down, cratering the ground. She flung up slightly and spun back to the left. "WITH ME!" Hunahpu rose and flew off her arm, sailing several meters before landing on his feet. Epona kipped back up and gripped the ball in her left hand. "The same trick won't work…" Her legs began to wobble. "Wha…?" Hunahpu dashed towards her and rammed his right hip and shoulder into her body, knocking her off her feet. The ball slipped out of her hand and rolled into another hoop. Hunahpu rushed towards her as she rose and crashed into her. Moving quickly, he crawled onto her back and hooked his feet under her thighs and right arm across her neck. He clamped his left arm around his right wrist, completing the choke. She reached up and gripped his right arm in both hands and clamped down. She lurched forward and rose.
I'm not a brawler, Epona, and you're too fast to hit! He thought, trying to tighten his hold. A hoop appeared in front of her, and the ball sailed through, smashing her in the face and vanishing again. Blood flowed from her nose, but she still stood. But I know speed means jack if you can't get away! Another hoop appeared, and the ball hit her in the face again. I've gotten you a few times in the head! How are you still standing?! That ball weighs twenty kilos right now! Another gold hoop appeared above her head.
Fuck! She thought. I can't get him off— The ball dropped and hit her head again, and she dropped down.
That was thirty kilos! That should've— Epona crouched down, and her fingers drew blood from Hunahpu's arms. She sprang back and fired like a cannon. How is she still doing this?! She's got to be unconscious by now!
The pair rocketed towards the wall and crashed. The wall caved under them, and Hunahpu's body erupted with pain. The two, still entangled, dropped to the ground. Epona landed on her feet.
Just pass out alrea—Epona shot back and slammed into the wall again.
"GET THE HELL OFF!" Epona rasped.
Fu— She slammed into it again. Hunahpu's grip loosened, and he fell off her back. She fumbled a few times before catching herself as a silver hoop appeared next to Hunahpu, and the ball rolled out. He rose and picked the ball back up as Epona turned to face him.
"Not a fan of snakes," She said, mirthlessly.
Hunahpu chuckled. "Is that what I remind you of?!" He asked.
"Slippery and sneaky like one!" She smiled.
"I'll take that as a compliment!"
"Ha!" Damn it, he's focusing on my head. She thought. How many times has he hit me now? How is he making these portals? Some of them even look different from before. She cracked her neck. I got him beat in nearly everything, but why does it feel like I'm falling behind?
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Game Master Box Seats
"Oludumare," Lugh said.
"Something on your mind?" Oludumare asked.
"You're the oldest one here. Have you seen an ability like this before?"
"Going to make a note on that 'old' comment, but a few. However, to this level of power, no."
"The Mesoamerican Pantheon was infamous for its secrecy," Set added. "Many of their strongest fighters and Divine Weapons are still unknown to the rest of the Heavens. Where the Celtics make it known how dangerous they are, the Mesoamericans are dangerous because no one knows what they can do."
"A cobra and a python," Lugh said. "One shows you how dangerous it is, the other just does it."
Both Gods nodded.
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Mimir Hall
Arena
Hunahpu shuffled a little. Nothing broken. A few fractures on the back ribs now. She hasn't activated Hoof Fall of the Hunt yet. I think I hit her head at least seven times now, but until she stays down, I can't keep her down. Man, she really is worse than Ah Cizin. Why am I always in these messes? He eyed her as she leered at him and crouched back down. Ah. That's right. It's because I'm Hunahpu. For my folks, I walked through hell with my bro. For my boss, I worked my ass off to prove my merit. And now, for my people, I will win. A gold hoop appeared flat on the ground next to Hunahpu. Boa Drop. He released the Pitz ball, and it vanished.
Suddenly, dozens of silver and gold hoops appeared above Hunahpu and Epona. Dozens more appeared on the ground around them.
"What the…?" Epona whispered.
"Get ready," Hunahpu said, stepping on one of the hoops. His foot held firm, and he raced towards Epona.
"The arena's covered all over by those weird hoops Hunahpu's been using! What the hell's going on?!" Jarl yelled. "Can Epona make sense of this and survive?!"
"Warhorse's Vision: Full Scope!" Her eyes glowed red again, and she spotted the Pitz ball dropping from one hoop in the sky towards another on the ground. It vanished and then appeared several meters behind through another hoop. He's trying to trap and attack me again. She thought. Clever, but let's see if it will pay off!
Hunahpu reached her, jumped forward, and turned to strike her with his right hip. Epona stepped to the right and dodged it, then fired a left hook towards him. Hunahpu's right arm intercepted the strike and coiled around her left. He leaned down, forcing her off her feet and into a roll. Just as she stopped, the ball sailed down between her legs and vanished again. She kicked back to her feet and stepped towards Hunahpu. She threw a volley of three punches, but Hunahpu slipped and rolled around them. Just as she was pulling her arm back, Hunahpu stepped his left foot to the outside of her left and raised his left arm to her neck. He kicked his foot back, knocking Epona's out from under her as his left arm made a lariat and knocked her down. Just as she tumbled down, the ball appeared above her head again. She rolled away, but felt the displaced air from the ball, and a chill ran down her spine.
Is that ball…getting heavier? She thought. Are these hoops doing more than teleporting the ball? How?
Hunahpu eyed her and saw her concern. Crap. She's figuring it out. Would've been nice if she kept underestimating me like the others did. Guess I need to hurry. He dashed towards her again. Man, this will hurt. Epona saw him and rose to her feet. As he ran, the Pitz Ball continued appearing and disappearing from one hoop to the next.
It was here, before this exchange, that something began to dawn on the audience. Lao Zi and his retinue, Set and his guests, the fighters who have and have yet to fight, and some in the audience. It did not seem important at first. After all, why would it? It was already causing Epona a problem, but no one bothered to think there was another play in the making.
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Game Master Box Seats
"The ball…," Set started.
"Is falling faster," Lugh whispered.
"Why?"
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Mimir Hall
Arena
This crazy bastard! Epona thought, preparing for Hunahpu's attack. King's Horse: Path of the Trailblazer! The air around Epona's feet rippled. Tyrant's Horse: Force of the Subjugator! The air around her back and arms rippled. She vanished in a blur before Hunahpu could reach her, the Pitz Ball continuing to fall from one hoop to the next.
Damn it, not now! He thought. He breathed deeply then stepped to the left. For a brief moment, a brown blur flew in and out of his peripheral vision. She's getting serious. I have some moon hoops thrown in with the sun hoops to reverse the speed and weight so I don't die in this damn gamble, but none of it means a thing if—wait. Hunahpu ran to his right. He stopped for a brief second as another brown blur raced in across his sight. Not perfect, but enough to dodge! He broke out into a sprint. Come on! I know I can reach you! Several meters away, right where he left them, was his mantle and hip-wrap. Almost there— He ducked as the blur flew above him. He shook and let out a panicked sigh. She's going to kill me!
Several meters away and racing back to attack, Epona grew a manic grin as she made her way. Veins popped up on her arms and shoulders as her eyes began bulging out of their sockets.
Not every day I get to use all my fancy tricks! She thought. Sucks to be you! She crouched down and rocketed back towards Hunahpu. See ya! She saw him turn around to face her. Hunahpu stepped to the side…and searing pain shot from Epona's feet, and she tumbled forward. She skipped across the floor, but managed to twist in the air to land back on her feet. She winced as she tried to put weight on her right foot; her big toe and the next two toes were dislocated and shattered. But that was not her problem.
Just as she landed. Just as she started to take in what the hell just happened, Hunahpu was already in front of her. He rammed into her and wrapped his arms under hers, and placed his head under her chin.
"The fuck are you—" Epona stared, but she was cut off.
"Boa Drop and Bite!" Hunahpu roared through gritted teeth. The Pitz ball dropped from the hoop above her and slammed into the crown of Epona's head. Her chin smashed against Hunahpu's crown. For a brief moment, she felt her jaw disconnect from her skull and a few teeth crack. Pain shot down Hunahpu's entire body as he released Epona, her body plopping on the ground. His vision blurred, and he stumbled back a few steps but stayed standing. He shook his head a few times, and his vision regained focus. A hoop opened on the ground, and the Pitz ball shot up. Hunahpu snatched it out of the air.
"Epona's down!" Jarl yelled. "But how did she trip—wait!" She looked behind Hunahpu, seeing the mantle and hip-wrap. "The mantle?!"
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Mimir Hall
South Gate Entrance Hall
Not far from the chaos, Huitzilopochtli watched the battle unfold on his tablet. It's understandable to be confused. He thought. Hell, even I didn't think he'd actually use weighted training gear in a fight! He chuckled a little. Though…if it were any normal training gear, Epona wouldn't have tripped like that. He eyed the gear as it was brought to the screen's center. I designed that gear to always weigh just a little more than the one touching it can lift. It never gets light!
Suddenly, a massive chill enveloped the hall.
"What the hell?!" He yelled.
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Mimir Hall
Arena
Hunahpu couldn't move. He couldn't fathom what was going on. The lights dimmed again. The temperature dropped, and standing over Epona's body…was a specter. Its body looked like green mist barely trying to keep a shape. Its limbs were long and thin. Its horse skull-shaped head looked down at Epona with blood-red eyes.
"Rise," It said. Slowly, it brought its hands up to Epona's face and cupped her head. It clamped down, and a nasty pop could be heard as her jaw reset. It lowered its head lowered down next to hers. "Rise, Harbinger."
Her eyes shot open. Black and white energy wrapped around her limbs again as she rose. Slowly, she turned and looked at Hunahpu. Her blood-red eyes locked on him…and she appeared just a few centimeters in front of him.
"Shit," Hunahpu said under his breath. He crossed his arms, but Epona got to him first. Her right fist smashed into his solar plexus and fired him into the air. As he fell, Epona turned around. She then hopped up and brought both feet up to her chest. Right as he reached her, she fired both feet back, kicking Hunahpu square in the ribs. He shot like a bullet into the Arena wall as Epona landed back on her feet.
She turned back around, eyeing him as the energy swirled around her. "I cannot be stopped, brat," She said, her voice reverberating. She saw a second hoof print made of swirling air appear on Hunahpu's chest and cut into his skin. "I am…inexorable."