Ἀλέξανδρος ὁ Μέγας | Alexander the Great (kingofmacedon) wrote in nevermore_past, @ 2013-01-07 20:24:00 |
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Current mood: | accomplished |
Who: Alexander the Great [Narrative, but can be open to Clio if you want, Charlie!]
What: The world is nowhere near done with you
When: Around 220 BC
Where: Alexandria, Egypt
The last thing he remembered was being horribly sick with fever. Burning up, hardly able to talk or lift his head or arms. Everything hurt, he felt like he was on fire. The generals kept asking, "Tell us, Alexander, tell us who?". But he couldn't respond, he could barely even think. And then his eyes closed, and there was only blackness and peace.
He'd expected to end up in Hades, to be judged and sent wherever they found him worthy. And he was, but he was given the choice, between the Asphodel Meadows and Elysium. It took him a little while, but eventually he chose Elysium, with a stern warning from Hades to always be respectful of his daughter.
Time passed, although how much, he wasn't sure. But one day, much like any other, he stopped as he was walking someplace, looking up and swearing he saw the cavernous ceiling tremble. He blinked, and then he was looking at...sky? Wait, that wasn't right. And it was bloody hot. And he was pretty sure the Underworld didn't smell like burning sand. He looked around, taking everything in as fast as he could. There were people everywhere, a marketplace nearby, grand buildings of stone clearly meant to impress. And for the first time in his life, Alexander had no idea what to do.
"Excuse me," he said, reaching out to grab a passing man's arm. "Excuse me, where am I?"
The man just looked at him like he was crazy. "Alexandria, of course," he replied. "You should get out of the sun, my friend."
"Yes," Alexander said faintly. "Yes, I'll do that. Thank you." He ducked into the shade between two nearby buildings, sitting down hard on the sand. Alexandria. His Alexandria. Still standing, still beautiful and thriving. He was still trying to wrap his head around everything, when he felt a chill across his back, and he turned to see a shade right behind him.
"I bring a message from Lord Hades," it said. "You have been given a great gift, Alexander. Few are ever granted the privilege of a second life. Use it wisely, or I will be displeased."
Alexander couldn't do much more than nod and say, "Of course", because what else was there to say? He watched the shade fade away, and looked down at himself. He needed clothes to better blend in, and a meal wouldn't go amiss right now. He didn't have any money on him, that he could tell, and if he had to work for it, so be it. He set off into the sunlight, marveling at the feeling of warmth on his skin once again.