Zagtrochilles

Zagtrochilles is the poly ship between Zagreus, Patroclus and Achilles from the Hades.

Canon
The seeds for Zagreus reuniting Achilles with Patroclus in the afterlife are planted when Zagreus notices that Achilles is more downtrodden and melancholic than usual, with him giving hints that a lost lover is the reason as to why. Zagreus meets a mysterious stranger in Elysium on his journey, similarly stuck in the past and rumbling about losing his love. When Zagreus reports this to Achilles, he has hopes that the man is Patroclus, telling Zagreus to tell him that he is always thinking of him. Zagreus informs him of that, along with Achilles having been hired as a trainer in the House of Hades the next time he meets Patroclus. Patroclus finds this hard to believe, thinking that Achilles abandoned him in death much like he did to Achilles in life. He tells Zagreus to humor Achilles by telling him he's all right.

When Zagreus asks Achilles why he can't just go to Patroclus and talk with him, Achilles tells him that he tried but it isn't that simple. He tells Zagreus that he and Patroclus couldn't have been any closer, even their ashes were mixed together as Achilles requested for them to be buried together, yet they can't seem to find each other in the Underworld. He nonetheless tells Zagreus to do him a favor and continue to talk to Patroclus for him.

Zagreus then ends up acting as a messenger between Achilles and Patroclus, whenever he is in the House of Hades or Elysium. When Zagreus asks him about it, Patroclus confirms that he erased a few of his memories in the river of Lethe, but couldn't bring himself to fully erase Achilles from his mind. Upon sharing a drink of Nectar with Achilles, he admits that he regrets ever getting involved in the Trojan war. He tells Zagreus that he should've chosen the safety of Patroclus' hearth over the glory of war, regretting getting so many people killed including Patroclus. When Zagreus asks if Achilles is still seeking glory, he tells him that he had given up on glory, but admits that he doesn't realistically expect for Patroclus to forgive him.

Zagreus assumes that Achilles' pact with Hades is what prevents him from reaching Patroclus. Achilles tells him that there are loopholes, but he implies that he is the reason why Patroclus is in Elysium instead of Tartarus. He pleads Zagreus to not discuss the matter with Hades, fearing the worst could happen. Upon telling Achilles that Zagreus could find a way to make things right after accessing the administrative area, Achilles tells him that he doesn't trust the Fates and that he would take the risk.

Meeting Patroclus the next time has him guess that Achilles is being secretive, telling Zagreus that Achilles was always like this, having refused to end the war even though he could've. When Zagreus tells him that Achilles never speaks about the war, but didn't believe in the cause, Patroclus all but tells him that he blames Achilles for his death. Zagreus reassures Patroclus by telling him that he feels the same way, regretting not fighting for Patroclus and telling him that he only started for fight out of pure rage when Patroclus was killed. Patroclus tells him that he logically had no way of knowing this, but also makes it clear how hard it was to get used to being dead.

When Zagreus tells Achilles that Patroclus said that he refused to fight, Achilles confirms this, but refuses to go into more detail before he gets a drink in the lounge. After a while, Achilles tells Zagreus that he refused to fight only because he didn't respect the king he served, so Patroclus fought for him in his armor. Achilles only found out about this after Patroclus' death, at which he quickly ended the war by killing as many people on the opposing side as he could. Zagreus asks Achilles if he deliberately allowed himself to die to see Patroclus again, but Achilles could give no straight answer to that, only telling Zagreus how empty he felt when he arrived in the House of Hades and how relieved he was when he found out that his ashes were laid together with those of Patroclus. He thanks Zagreus for sharing a drink with him, but tells him to never ask him about that war again.

When Zagreus meets Patroclus again, he asks him what exactly happened to Achilles after his death, having never believed the rumors. Zagreus tells him the truth, but Patroclus could not fathom why Achilles would end up in the lowest pits of Tartarus after dying as a hero. Zagreus tells Patroclus that he should know, as they were buried together, but also tells him that some of his questions can only be answered by Achilles himself. He promises Patroclus that he will do everything in his power to allow for them to reunite. Patroclus scoffs at the idea of their ashes being buried together, but thanks Zagreus for the information nonetheless. When Zagreus visits him for the next time, Patroclus asks him for forgiveness, realizing that he was rude to someone who was merely trying to help him. Zagreus tells him that there's no need to feel sorry, the war was painful enough for both of them. Patroclus tells Zagreus that the confirmation that Achilles cared about him and Zagreus coming to talk to him about it does help him with the pain a bit.

But when Achilles asks about Patroclus' state, he is not happy about him finding out that Zagreus might have told him too much about Achilles. Zagreus gets defensive and tells Achilles that he only told him not to talk to Hades, not Patroclus, never deeming any of the things that happened after Patroclus' death to be confidential. Achilles apologizes, saying he should've specified, realizing that it was probably for the best that Zagreus told Patroclus about it. He thanks Zagreus for looking out for the both of them, but also reminds him to be careful.

The next time Zagreus meets Patroclus, the latter makes his frustration about Achilles' reluctance known and tells Zagreus to tell Achilles to "risk it all". Zagreus is concerned, reminding Patroclus that Achilles had worked so much to make sure that Patroclus is safe in the afterlife. Patroclus tells Zagreus that neither have much to lose. Upon telling those exact words to Achilles, he appears shocked. Zagreus does not understand, but Achilles explains that he should've listened when Patroclus told him that the last time. After Zagreus guesses that Patroclus is telling Achilles to take another chance, he denies that, telling him that Patroclus is giving him another chance. He then asks Zagreus to leave him alone for a thought and thanks him.

The next time Zagreus runs into Achilles, he tells Zagreus that he's ready to risk it all. Achilles explains that the pact he signed with Hades must be in the administrative chambers. When Achilles expresses fear of the worst happening should Zagreus temper with it, Zagreus echoes Patroclus by saying that "fear is for the weak". Agreeing, Achilles tells him that he's inspired by Zagreus voiding the pact that kept Orpheus from meeting Eurydice, telling him that maybe there is hope for him and Patroclus. He promises him that he will speak with Nyx about this the next chance he gets, promising him to be careful.

Nyx tells him that she worries that Achilles might be irreplacable, but she nonetheless tells Zagreus where the pact is after he tells her how important this is to both him and Achilles. Wasting no time going to the chambers, Zagreus finds the pact where Nyx told him it was. It is written that an extraordinary warrior gave his service to Lord Hades in exchange for eternity in Elysium for his dear partner. Scheduling an appointment with the House Contractor, Zagreus revises the pact, allowing Achilles to return to Elysium. Hades is annoyed at Zagreus tampering with his pacts, but makes no attempt to stop him.

Zagreus tells Achilles as much when he meets him the next, what might be the last time. He specifically highlights that Achilles shall be able to enter Elysium now, thanking Achilles for his service. Achilles knows it to be true, he can feel that his soul is no longer bound to the House of Hades. Zagreus tells him that it's "about damn time" that he could leave. Achilles realizes that he isn't prepared for this, never realizing he would get this far despite always believing in Zagreus. Zagreus recommends a certain glade in Elysium, telling him that he was waiting for long enough.

The next time Zagreus visits Patroclus in Elysium, he catches Achilles talking to him, telling him what happened after his death. When he talks to both of them at the same time, Achilles tells him how amazing it is to finally be here next to Patroclus. They both thank Zagreus, telling him that Achilles is merely on break and will return to the House of Hades shortly. Patroclus thanks him a lot more personally by giving him a gift.

When Achilles is back in the House of Hades, Zagreus asks him if everything went well in Elysium. Achilles tells him that it went as well as he could've hoped, also telling Zagreus that he shouldn't take Patroclus calling him "stranger" personally. Zagreus is eager to hear what happened between him and Patroclus, but Achilles tells him that Zagreus covered everything that needed to be said. All Patroclus had to do was call Achilles by name and then they just "were". Zagreus tells him how wonderful it is to hear that, wishing them all the best in catching up. Achilles agrees that they have lots of time to make up for lost time now. He tells Zagreus how odd it is that most of his memories of Patroclus are about the war, telling Zagreus how glad he is that they can make new memories in peace now.

Giving Achilles Ambrosia for the first time has him thank Zagreus for everything he had done for him and Patroclus, giving him a Cthonic Companion in turn, one of the most valuable gifts in the Underworld. Should Zagreus give more Ambrosia to Achilles, he will make his feelings towards him explicitly clear. However, he and Patroclus will merely exchange a look before rejecting Zagreus, which he takes with humor.

Fanon
Zagtrochilles is one of the most popular polyships in the fandom and is more popular than any combination of the three, bar Patrochilles itself.

Many players respect Zagreus' crush on Achilles, but don't want to separate him with Patroclus in order for it to become canon. Thus, they ignore Achilles rejecting him should he actually confess, arguing that Zagreus deserves to be integrated in their relationship after everything he had done to get them back together.

Fandom

 * FAN FICTION