Chapter Text
The darkness of the Netherworld and its oppressive silence weighed on the two brothers as they made their way to the pool of water that led to the sea. Against all better judgment, Stratos was stuck pulling the diving machine to the location. Initially he had refused, but Betrayus made it clear he wasn’t going to do it, and the only way he would, was if Stratos told him where the repository was. Of course, holding firm, the president refused to say where Trayus’ body was located, so he was forced to drag the submersible across the rocky terrain.
At this point, the two had been bickering for a while as they made their way to the ocean passage. However, neither one was winning any argument. One thing Betrayus HAD noticed though was just how much Stratos couldn’t control his powers. It was intriguing. He’d never witnessed another ghost other than himself having so much trouble keeping their abilities in check.
When Betrayus had first become a ghost and discovered his fire powers, he was horrified. Not that he’d ever admit it, of course. But, with time, it was discovered that his flame was linked to his emotions. Any strong emotion would set it off if not controlled; which was difficult given the ghost they belonged to. He even found out the fire would turn purple if he was sad. An interesting indicator of emotions that he despised due to its ability to expose him.
As Stratos complained more about dragging the diving vehicle, Trayus watched the slight frost that followed him. It covered the dark, black rocks in a trail from where he moved, but quickly melted, due to the heat of the underground lava flow in the area.
Just then, Stratos looked up and stopped in his tracks. Lava. An entire, massive river of it. Well, multiple joint rivers to be exact. The president watched in horror as a geyser of lava exploded from the center of the flow, and held there for a moment before retreating back under. “Do.. do we have to cross that???”
Betrayus hovered practically upside down like he was laying on an invisible recliner. “Duh.” He mocked. “How else are we supposed to get to other side?”
Stratos slowly floated backwards in fear; his brother instantly taking notice. “That coward.” Trayus thought to himself. “Well,” The fire ghost finally spoke up after rolling his eyes. “No matter how much of an obnoxiously big coward you are, we have no choice. Either you drag that thing over the little lava river, or no body for you. You’ll be stuck like that and trapped down here, WITH ME, forever.”
Stratos hated that he was right. Absolutely despised the fact. Never in his life had he been forced to agree and comply with Betrayus this much. It frankly made him sick. However, if there really was no other way to get back to normal, then he supposed he’d just have to suck it up. Stratos glanced back down at the bubbling pool of fiery death, imagining how painful touching it would be.
But then again… wasn’t he already dead? Maybe he couldn’t feel pain? After all, why would he be able to? He didn’t have a body to hurt. No nerves to sever or skin to burn. Pac ate ghosts all the time, and If anything, they only acted like it was gross, not like it hurt.
With that train of thought picking up, Stratos began gaining more and more confidence. His icy claws gripped the diving vehicle tightly as he hovered it and himself over the lava. Betrayus watched his brother float by with an unamused, almost bored irritation staining his face. The minty green ghost had gotten over the fear far too quickly for his taste. Maybe he should do something about that…
“So,” The Netherworld king grinned. "You’re not scared of the smoldering hot death pit anymore? That was annoyingly short lived.”
Stratos glared but avoided eye contact. “Well, once I figured out that you were just trying to scare me, and I wasn’t able to feel pain, I got over it.”
“Can’t feel pain..? Is that what you think being a ghost means???” Betrayus honestly was about to consider dropping his newly forming plan to scare his brother just to ask further assumptions. Because if THAT’S what he thought about one thing, then who knows what other blatantly wrong things he was operating on. With a sigh that was more like a release of growing pressure, Trayus continued while forcing a fake grin. “Understood. So then tell me, almighty ghost expert, what else do you know about being a spook?”
Stratos continued to avoid looking at his brother as he continued to unwillingly drag the submersible forward. “I’m not answering your questions. You’re looking for some type of information to use against Pacworld. Even though I don’t know exactly what, I can tell that much.”
The fire phantom dropped his fake smile and twirled around his older brother with a surprisingly swift elegance; almost as if trying to get Stratos to look at him. “Really? After all this, you’re shutting up NOW?”
…no answer.
“Wow, very professional. Why couldn’t you have kept your mouth shut like this when we were younger? All you used to do was talk. Blah blah blah-..” Betrayus swooped around as he spoke, but before he could say the next complaint, a lava geyser erupted from beneath him.
Stratos suddenly spun around in horror as he watched the spout continue and his sibling not. “Ah- B-Betrayus?...” Slowly, the lava spew retracted, leaving noting behind. The ice ghost felt a strange, cold panic grip where a heart should’ve been. There was absolutely no way this was happening. Betrayus was nowhere to be seen, and most importantly, nowhere to be heard. No more complaints or mockery.
The Netherworld was silent, except for the gurgling of the lava underneath him. Silent enough for thoughts that had long been buried to begin resurfacing. They weren’t loud- more like a low hum rattling in the back of a skull- but their tone was alien. Guilty. Mournful in a way that they weren’t supposed to be.
However, before anything more could be said or done, another lava spout shot up at Stratos, who barely dodged. Then another. And another. In a desperate panic, the ice ghost grabbed the diving machine and zigzagged around the spewing pillars of fire. He zipped every which way to avoid the death traps until he finally made it to the other side. The moment he did, the lava river fell quiet again. It was as if the action of him floating over it upset it, but now that he was no longer there it calmed down. A million thoughts raced through Stratos’ head while he glared into the pool of fiery liquid. “Trayus…”
Suddenly, from the lava, a phantom darted out and got right in the ice ghost’s face. “BOO!”
Stratos let out a yelp as he darted backwards, pushing himself against a large rock. “What the-?! BETRAYUS?!! Wh- where did?- HOW DID-?!!”
“HA! GOTCHA!” The king cackled. “Oh, come now… Did you seriously think a little bit of lava would hurt a fire ghost? But you on the other hand, would have gotten fried. Or I suppose MELTED would be the proper word.”
Stratos’ terror melted into fury. “You could have DOUBLE KILLED ME?!!”
“Nah, if you didn’t dodge all those lava geysers, you would have just needed to go back into the regeneration chamber for a bit and you would’ve been fine. But you really should have seen the look on your face just now! HA! Priceless!”
Stratos glared daggers at his brother like he was trying to kill him with the look, but if anything, it amused him more. He couldn’t understand how the fire ghost operated. Nothing he was doing seemed to be consistent or make logical sense. First, he was doing everything to get the mission over with, but now, he was slowing them down by messing with him on purpose. Not that he was surprised his brother couldn’t help but torment him… but still.
After a while of continuing on, the two brothers mutually decided in silence to not interact with each other till they reached their destination. Eventually, that criteria was met, and the siblings came across the entrance to the ocean. Stratos had expected it to be bigger than it was. Perhaps he’d envisioned a bit more of a lake or even some portal, but this wasn’t either. The entrance to the sea wasn’t more than a ring of water circling a massive stalagnate that connected to an overhead arch.
The minty green ghost floated beside the surprisingly crystal clear pool. The water reflected the clouds of toxic gasses that gathered upon the cavern ceiling and gave the false impression of an otherworldly sky. No lava flowed from the general area, yet it was still vaguely illuminated due to what Stratos could only assume was some form of light pollution.
With a cowardly gaze into the seemingly infinite depths of the pool, Stratos began backing up. Betrayus rolled his eyes from inside the diving vehicle he’d already situated himself in. “Well, as much as I oh SO trust this thing is still functional, I’ll admit I don’t believe I’ve ever seen what happens when an ice ghost touches water. So, go ahead, Stratos. Irritating, expendable brothers first!”
The president scowled at the crooked smile that plastered Betrayus’ face. It’s sharp teeth simmered in the light he gave off and the corners nearly reached his eyes. It was the look of twisted anticipation, like he was happily waiting for something bad to happen.
Stratos straightened up in defiance but quickly relented as his gaze trailed back up to the cavern ceiling. No sunlight or fresh air. That’s the life he’d be condemned to if they didn’t hurry to find Sir C. With renewed determination, the ice ghost slowly floated over and dropped the very tip of his ghostly tail into the water like he was expecting it to hurt. Then… nothing. His shoulders drooped in relief. “Well, it appears that nothing happen-.” The minty green specter was immediately cut off by a block of ice shooting up and encasing him. The entire ring of water had completely frozen over as well.
Betrayus let out a little chuckle, then a full mocking laugh as he swooped out of the diving machine and swirled around the sight. “HA! Too bad you’re already dead, Stratos, or this icing out would have been infinitely more amusing… Well, at least now I know how to shut you up for future references.” The Netherworld king snickered as he tossed a fireball at his older brother, thawing him and the water instantly.
Stratos darted out of the pool with a look of betrayal. Not aimed at his brother, but at the water itself. This form was TORTURE! Quickly, he darted over to the diving vehicle, which Trayus immediately stopped him from entering. “WOAH, WOAH, WOAH!” He snapped. “What do you think you’re doing?!?"
“Getting in the only thing that’s going to protect me from freezing solid again!”
“Oh, no you’re not!” Defended Betrayus. “This is MINE! And I need it more than you!”
“No you don’t! You said you were fine without it, but you just didn’t like how the water made your slime feel!”
…oh. Oh crap. Betrayus had completely forgotten that was his original excuse. Well, unfortunately, there was no time for an explanation… but there WAS time for some gaslighting or more excuses. As there always was for him. So, the fire ghost backpedaled. “I.. I never said anything like that!” He whined like he was a victim. “I’m offended that you’d accuse me of such petty things!”
Stratos wanted to punch him SO badly, but held down the bubbling anger. His brother was either TRYING to get on his nerves, or had completely lost it. Both were very possible if he were to be honest. The king had slowly moved himself into the diving vehicle while his brother was working on anger control, and now floated inside while continuing. “I’m a fire ghost, you incompetent popsicle. What do you think happens when I touch water?” He sneered. “I deserve this bubble far more, and that’s final.”
The president huffed. “No, I don’t know what happens- but I can only assume it’s not nearly as bad as being frozen solid. Now kindly GET OUT OF MY BUBBLE!” Stratos phased through the side and attempted to push Trayus out, but the two were both holding firm. Each one wrestled each other back and forth, rocking the vehicle until it rolled over and tumbled into the ocean passage.
In a splash, the vehicle sunk below the surface with an incredibly panicked Stratos inside. Trayus watched his brother press himself against the wall and hyperventilate like he was suddenly deathly afraid. For a moment, the ghost king smiled, seeing the horror in his brother’s eyes. It looked almost as if Stratos was fearing HIM; which filled Betrayus with a twisted pride, but it slowly faded as he noticed Stratos’ line of sight. He was looking PAST his brother and into the seemingly endless abyss of ocean beneath them. The further the water went, the darker it got.
Betrayus tilted his head at the mesmerizing sight, letting out a calm exhale. The dark water was calming to him. He didn’t like the overbearing light of the surface sun. He never did. When he cried about it as a kid, his mother called him dramatic. When he got older, the doctor told him his red tinted eyes were simply sensitive to light. So darkness was his friend. Stratos on the other hand, was currently eyeing the trench like it was about to swallow him whole.
Well, now that he thought about it, even as a kid, Stratos was never good at swimming in deep pools… but Trayus always just assumed it was a skill issue, not a phobia. Was… was Stratos scared of deep water…? If so, then this could work to his advantage. After all, someone driven by fear is much easier to control. Betrayus suddenly felt a twisted grin creep up his face. “What’s the matter, brother dearest? Feeling a little sea sick?”
Stratos remained frozen to the top side of the diving vehicle. “N-no! Not at all! I’d just maybe prefer we take this ocean expedition to somewhere closer to the surface where there’s more… light. You know? For… searching… purposes.” His obviously fake, confident smile barely held still as he spoke.
“Oh, why of course- but you know we can’t do that. After all, that would defeat the purpose of why we took this route. To not be seen, remember?”
“Well… I..” Stratos stumbled over his words.
“But if you insist on going a little higher, then by all means- you drive.” Betrayus floated behind his brother and pushed him to the controls.
Stratos stared down at the pedals like they were complex machinery that was meant to harm him in some way, but the glint in his eyes was desperate. He HAD to get his body back.
Elsewhere, in Sir C’s lab, a silent alarm was shut off with a simple push of a button. A frazzled figure looked out over the disaster the room was left in with a cold fear slowly gripping his heart. “Oh dear… what happened here..?”