VENDETTA: FRIEND OF THE ANGOLIA, SLAYER OF THE HYDRA
Our story begins in Athens, where a small infant, Vendetta, was left on the door steps of Ampelios Alexander. Her father, had captured the great Angolia, long before she was born, and kept it hidden in his house. As Vendetta prepares to fight the monsters that come her way, she befriends the feared creature.
It has been 19 years, and Vendetta has grown to be a beautiful but strong woman. Knowing she was Athena’s daughter, meant she was a demi-god. And to Vendetta, this meant completing a task where she could show that she was Athena’s daughter. She was determined for a challenge against anything.
“To grow ever stronger,” Vendetta said. “I will have to train. Fight against the Angolia like father said! But, I’m not sure if I can...”
Vendetta thought for a while, and finally came upon her senses to talk herself into it.
“No, I must do it! I shall battle the Angolia every night as practice… Yes it’s dangerous, but I’ve got to! I have to show that I am Athena’s daughter!” she whispered.
Sword and shield in hand, Vendetta ran down to the basement to battle the Angolia for the first time.
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Up in Mount Olympus, the goddess of beauty and love, Aphrodite, had heard what Vendetta had said aloud to herself. Aphrodite had gone and told Athena. Athena felt proud of her daughter, but did not understand why Vendetta wanted to prove that she was her daughter so much.
“Hm, if Vendetta would like to battle an animal, an animal I shall send down. Deadly or not, I have the feeling that she will be victorious! I shall send down... The hydra!” exclaimed Athena.
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As Vendetta approached the Angolia, Vendetta remembered what her father had said:
“If you ever decide to practice and battle against the Angolia, remember these things... As you approach it, take small steps. It will sneer at you and make a loud screeching sound. Beware of its long tongue, it could strangle you. Stay away from its mouth, it breathes fire.”
Vendetta knew she would have to be extremely careful. She couldn’t kill the Angolia. And she’d have to be careful not to put her own life in danger.
As she arrived at the cage, she noticed the Angolia did not sneer or squeal. It made friendly gestures. She stepped closer and unlatched the cage. The Angolia pranced out of its prison.
It ran up to her, embracing her. Vendetta started to pet it.
“That’s odd... I thought father said the Angolia was dangerous...” she whispered to herself. “How can I train now? But... I guess I’m already good. But I doubt I’m good enough!”
Vendetta set down her sword and shield carefully on the stone floor. She sat down on the wooden bench, next to the gates that encaged the Angolia. It followed her, and lay next to her legs.
Vendetta sat on the bench, talking to herself about why the Angolia has befriended her, but no others. Was it charm? No, it couldn’t be. Was it her beauty? No, how could beauty help you befriend a deadly creature such as this one? She tried coming up with possible theories and such, but it was no use. She would never find out. She knew should be proud to be the first, and only to befriend the Angolia, but she couldn’t find herself to trust the creature.
“Maybe I’ll get used to you tomorrow...” She said, looking the creature in the eye.
She kissed the creature, led it into its cage, and put the latch back on. She came up from the basement, and fell asleep on her bed.
As Vendetta woke up the next morning, she found a note from her father. On the paper, he managed to neatly scribble out these sentences:
Ah, my young daughter. I overheard you last night in the basement with the Angolia. I was surprised to see that you had befriended it, but that will only help you today! Take the Angolia out, on Summer Meadow and wait until you see a man. Bring your shield and sword. You will finally prove yourself.
Father Ampelios Alexander
“Prove myself? How can I prove myself by meeting a man at the meadow?” Vendetta said aloud.
But Vendetta grew up to be a fine young woman, and she had always obeyed her father, no matter what. She gathered her sword and shield. She ran down to the basement and led the Angolia out of the house. She climbed on top of it, and told it to fly to the meadow.
As Vendetta arrived at the meadow, she saw a man. ...And wait until you see a man. Vendetta knew it must be the man her father had mentioned in the letter. She approached the man and said,
“Hello sir, my father-”
The man had disappeared. Vendetta looked around for him, but couldn’t see him. She walked around, when suddenly, the Hydra came out of the sky.
It roared at her and clawed at her. In response to the Hydra, the Angolia screeched and breathed fire. Vendetta strapped on her shield and gripped her sword tightly.
Vendetta jumped onto the Angolia and directed it with clear words. Every now and then, she would throw out a “Right, left, or charge!” She had almost caught its main head with her sword, but it was too quick for her.
“How am I supposed to defeat this Hydra? I am not strong or fast enough…” she wined.
“Use your skills,” a voice whispered. “You can do it, trust who you are. Trust your instincts.”
The soft voice lingered in her head. But Vendetta did listen to it. She knew that she would have to trust her instincts. Use the skills she has learned.
Vendetta gave a straightforward command to the Angolia and told it to lunge forward. Several swings at the Hydra with the sword, but no hit. She tried and tried. Then she thought of it. The surprise lunge. She had been taught to distract the animal or creature she was battling against if to use that move. And she did just that.
She waved her sword back and forth to distract the three heads. And without notice, she struck. The head flew of, and the animal fell hard onto the ground. She had done it! She had been victorious against the Hydra.
Vendetta set down her sword and shield, and lay on the grass near the Angolia. It follwed her. She waited, for nothing. She sat there, thinking.
But then, a mist appeared, and a body became visible. It was the goddess, Athena.
“You have done well.” Athena said as she smiled.
Vendetta bowed down in her prescence.
“Thank you, the great Athena.”
Vendetta stood up, and Athena gave her a hug. She released her mother and said goodbye. Vendetta sat on top of the Angolia, riding home on the way from the meadow, with a great sense of accomplishment.