Helheim
Helheim is beyond the realms of Midgard and Valhalla, where hell spawns of all shapes and sizes vie for dominance and what little pieces of peace and power exist. Helheim is desolate and dark, unlike its counterparts' clear star-filled skies and diverse biomes. Vast sprawling wastelands and black empty skies color the landscape. Here, the philosophy 'only the strong survive' becomes law. The few Gods and Goddesses who make their homes here are well known amongst their Race for their battle-honed strength from fighting countless hordes…and sometimes each other in bids of conquest.
In the epicenter of this nightmare-scape rests one lone yet massive and stalwart fortress, its front gates designed with the gaping maws of a horned beast. Two titanic armored Gods always stand watch there, and their strength is so great that all who venture near these two feel the instinctive need to run and hide. This fortress, this almost eldritch location, is Tartarus, the prison of the Gods and home to only the most feared and vile souls to ever disgrace the Three Realms. It is outside this mighty place, barely a kilometer or two away within a small cave at the base of a cliffside, that a band of unlikely souls begins their efforts to do the unthinkable. Break in.
Myrddin sat at the mouth of the cave, tapping away at his tablet while he heard the voices of his team deeper in the cave.
We're outside Tartarus. He typed away. We're waiting for Michel to let us know when he's close. He sent the message. Sitting by the fire, he let his mind wander. Old images of a young teen standing within a group of kneeling knights, a pristine sword in his hand, as fear grew on the young boy's face. Oh, Arthur…He thought and sighed. If only Ythyr were still around back then. Maybe…maybe none of this would've happened. The memory faded away, giving space to a new one. A massive army of flying horses and their riders, winged soldiers, and chariots all descended from the heavens towards the lush green fields of their home. His ward, now an older man in pristine silver armor, stood at the tip of a massive army of knights. Banners of all colors and emblems waved in the air as the King of them all walked ahead of his army, joined only by twelve armored men. He could still see their faces despite the millennium separating the past from his memories, and Myrddin felt tugs at his heartstrings.
His tablet vibrated. He turned it over to look at the screen and tapped the message. Keep an eye on him. He's on our side, but he's not to be trusted. Myrddin typed away.
Believe me, if there's one thing I've learned from doing what I've been doing, it's to keep an eye on and keep a safe distance from people like him. Madman destroyed the Bifrost. Only fools would trust someone like that. He sent the message. I say that, but here I am. Hilde's putting faith in the worst people possible. I don't know if that should worry me, or if she can see something I can't.
The tablet vibrated just a minute after he sent his response. For Arthur and Sieg. He stared at the screen lifelessly.
What we do for love… His tablet vibrated again. Another message appeared from a familiar number. He squinted at the screen and slowly opened it. Why's Geirölul messaging me?
Heard you need assistance. I'm offering my services.
Myrddin blinked a few times. He quickly typed a response, his heartbeat racing. He could sense it.
Who are you? How'd you get the tablet?
I'm borrowing it from Geir. Not used to using this…thing.
Myrddin's pulse quickened. What's this madman doing? He typed away at the tablet. You fought yesterday. I saw your fight. Don't pretend you're in top form. He sent the message and stared up away from the screen. I thought the Knights were a hassle. How am I going to stop this guy from trying to get himself killed?"
The tablet buzzed and lit up. Myrddin stared down at the screen. You're trying to free the thirteenth Fighter, right? I am well enough to support that.
Myrddin's heart sank. He knows? Who told you what we're doing?
Geir did. She's upset with me right now since I'm talking to you.
She should be. You need to recover.
I'll rest when this is over. Myrddin sat silently, staring at the screen. His heart began beating faster. Damn it. He's just being polite. I doubt anything I say will stop him…worse, he probably knows Helheim better than I since he rampaged down here. His screen lit up with a new message. So, my offer.
Myrddin massaged his forehead with his free hand. I misplayed my hand…maybe turning back into this form was a bad call…He slightly shook his head. No…this is the form best suited for this mission. Plus…He slowly typed away. Having another Chief God-level fighter on our side may make this easier. Why help us?
Myrddin focused on the sounds coming from the cage. Banter and the occasional clang of metal against metal. Old memories kept creeping in from the old days back in Wales. Back home. The tablet vibrated and lit up.
Someone yesterday said people like me are needed in Helheim. I aim to prove it.
Myrddin smiled. Would put money on who that would be. He looked back in the cave for a brief moment. He typed away on the tablet.
We'll take it. I'll have Gabriel wait for you at the spot I'm sending you.
I'm on the way.
Another message popped up. Another recognized number, and one he was waiting for.
Heeeeeeeeeey! I'm heading to the gates! Don't be late! ;P
Myrddin's eyes rolled up into his head as he shook it. "I wish he inspired more confidence. Gents!" He yelled into the cave. "It's time to go!"
Valhalla Arena
"Hilde…" Göll said. "I've never seen Hephaestus…so angry before."
"I have…" Brünhilde spoke. "He's only riled up like that when it comes to someone insulting his work…or it involves his daughter." Göll stared up at her sister, her worried gaze catching Brünhilde's attention. "Hephaestus is not a popular God. Despite his skill and ingenuity, his personality rubs many the wrong way. That and he's one of the only Greeks not inclined to fighting. It makes him a big, easy target for smug Gods to take potshots at the Greeks. Doesn't bother him a bit, but whenever anyone badmouthed Pandora…" A chill ran down Brünhilde's spine. "I've seen what he does. It makes fighting Zeus seem preferable."
Göll looked back down towards the tower in the arena's center. "And that rage…is aimed at Humanity…why?" She gripped the railing. "What could have happened to make all of Humanity hate her? What could Pandora do?"
"Nothing."
Göll turned to her sister. "Nothing!?"
"Nothing…but she was blamed for everything." She turned to face Göll. "Have you ever heard of the Sin Cluster?"
"…umm….no…" Göll blushed a little.
"It's a dangerous weapon and the cause of all this. Her pain, Hephaestus' fury, and a greater divide between Human and God…"Brünhilde's face scrunched up at the memory. "And it's all that bastard Prometheus' fault." She crossed her arms. "But that's why Leo's fighting him, and why he'll win this."
Einherjar Barracks
Leo's Hangar
"Can't take his heart out of this? Obnoxious." Li spoke, staring at the monitor hanging overhead.
"We all can't be stalwart, Li," Ghulam answered. "Motivation's one hell of a mystery, and it changes from soul to soul."
"I won't deny that, but such things make fights like this…murky."
"They do," Johannes chimed in. "But I think we're underestimating Leo. I want to see what he's got going on."
"Only because he copied your Suplex earlier."
"Ha! Won't deny that! Not perfect, but it was pretty damn good!"
Einherjar Barracks
Samson's *Hlökk's Tea Room*
"What's wrong with that guy!?" Hlökk shouted at the monitor. Göndul sat across from her, sipping her tea in silence. She placed her cup and saucer down and picked up her tablet. She stared at the screen somberly and put it back down. "He just got screamed at and did nothing!"
"No, he did something alright," Samson said, his voice coming from an open doorway. He walked in, dressed in his butler uniform, carrying a steaming plate of croissants and cookies. "He did something no one could do when facing such anger."
"What?"
Samson placed the plate on the table. Carefully, he placed three chocolate chip cookies on Hlökk's small plate and one croissant on Göndul's. "He stared that fury down and showed genuine compassion. And it got through," Samson placed the plate on the table and stood behind the two. "Anger takes a lot of forms…resentment, pettiness, rage, you name it. Nothing compares to the white-hot fury of a parent watching their child suffer. I've seen it and was the target of such anger." Samson's brow furled. "It's terrifying…"
"And Leo's taking the brunt of all of it. Hate to be him…"
"No," Göndul spoke. "This is the best possible scenario. If anyone could empathize with such pain, it's the race that suffers it more than us." She recalled leading children to heaven, watching parents far below them, grieving. "We're so close to death and so long-lived…we forget the weight of such pain and how to support each other. And that pain…can be unbearably lonely."
Valhalla Arena
Deep within the lower levels of his Workshop, Hephaestus stood amongst a large squadron of his robots. Each one carried overhead a large piece of red metal carved and bent in odd angles. "Boys, get to work."
"On it." They all said in unison. All but six of them formed two huge lines while the other six formed a small circle around Hephaestus. The two lines passed the pieces of metal from one to the other up to the six as they began placing them on Hephaestus' body, connecting them piece by piece. "Sir, shall we do a quick fix on your leg brace under your trousers?"
Hephaestus sighed. "Is it in bad shape?"
"We are shocked you walked back."
"Shit…do a quick fix and get back to assembling. We need to be ready."
"On it." Its arms extended under Hephaestus' trouser leg and up to the hidden brace. Hephaestus could feel it dismantling the brace and replacing pieces of it as the rest of his body became encased in red metal.
Dio, I'm sorry. He thought. I know you have bad memories of this…and Round One did a nasty blow to you…But I got to do this. I've got to make them go away. If you were in my shoes…I know you'd do the same…especially if it was your kid. He felt armor begin snapping into place around his chest and neck. I got to do this for her…
Olympus
Millennia Ago
High above Midgard and within the realms of Heaven stood a lone, yet massive, mountain. This simple mountain floating amongst the sea of floating islands and various cities of the Gods was the home of one of the most fearsome and powerful families within the Heavens, the Olympian Twelve. The G.F.O.C., The Tyrant of the Ocean, Phoebus Apollo, The God of Justice, Heaven's Juggernaut. They and more made their residence at the mountain's top within the beautiful marble citadel. It was here that a wondrous occasion was about to occur. One that many hope only ever needs to happen once. One God in particular dearly hoped it would happen only once, and his discomfort with the situation was not only apparent but oddly appreciated.
Within the central courtyard of the citadel, a dozen marble columns were arranged in a large circle. On one side of the circle stood a raised marble stage with three steps at the center. From it flowed a long red carpet that stretched to the circle's other end and out beyond the columns. To the carpet's right and left were ten rows of ten white wooden chairs lined neatly from front to back. To the stage's right was a large wooden table holding up a mountain of wrapped boxes of various shapes and sizes. Only one God, currently ruminating on the situation, sat in the rows near the back. Hephaestus wore the one single white toga that lacked any kind of stain, his hands firmly clasped as if in prayer, as he stared ahead at the stage.
"Did not take you for the praying type." A soft baritone spoke out behind him. Hephaestus straightened up and turned around. The source came into view. An older being in deep-blue robes and white metal boots, his sharp cyan eyes sticking out amongst his slightly wrinkled face. His white hair was buzzed short on the temples, complementing his trimmed beard and moustache, while on his crown a tuft of hair was coiffed up as if lifted by a breeze. He smiled softly at the young father. "Then again…do not know if Gods are the praying type."
Metatron
High General
and
"Chief God"
of the Heavenly Choirs
Angelus Principis
"Metatron," Hephaestus said hesitantly. "Why're you here?"
"There is a wedding today, and I love weddings."
Hephaestus scoffed and let out a short laugh. "And you still suck at lyin'."
"Guilty. Truth is the girls are here as Pandora's bridesmaids. Hrist, Thrud, and Reginleif were ready to go this morning…but Hlökk, Alvitr, and Geirölul were getting into spats again."
"Daughters."
Metatron chuckled. "Daughters. You're lucky! You only got one!"
Hephaestus smiled as he scratched the back of his head with his right hand. "I'm lucky to have her, not to have just her."
"Well said. Digressing, I have to go play mediator while Brünhilde is helping Pandora get ready. I do not want to bother you."
"Wait…I…uh…need to ask you a few things."
"Me?" Metatron blinked a few times. "I am happy to help, but I am not sure what I can offer."
"Probably not much, but I'll take what I can get."
Metatron chuckled. "Tell me."
"Shit…I don't know how to say it. Panny's gettin' married and I don't know how to handle this. She comes home one day talkin' about this guy a lot and before I know I'm meetin' him, that's awkward as all hell, and-"
"Hephaestus," Metatron said, raising his wrinkling and calloused hands. "Slow down. You are throwing a lot at me."
"…Right. You have daughters."
"Twelve of them, yes."
"They're…confusin'."
"I do not know and do know what you mean."
Hephaestus sighed. "Damn it…I don't know what's goin' on. Panny's not Panny anymore. She used to love watching me work. Sometimes she would join me! Then she got older and started hanging out with your girls. Not a bad thing, just sayin'. Now, she's met a guy and she's marrying him. It feels like everythin' happened so fast. Panny's now just…Pandora and she's…I don't know…" Hephaestus looked down at his feet, catching his left leg's red metallic brace in his sight.
"Are you scared she will leave you behind?"
"No…maybe…shit I don't know. I didn't feel comfortable talking with anyone about it. Ares and the others try, but it's not the same."
"Ah. I see. Well…do you think she hates you?"
"What? No."
"Do you think she loves you less than she loves her betrothed? Do you hate him for taking her away from you?"
"No, and maybe no. I just…" Metatron placed his right hand on Hephaestus' left shoulder and squeezed gently. Hephaestus nodded. "I don't think I have a place in her life anymore. I'm not the one who makes her happy…shit why am I tellin' you this?"
Metatron shook his head. "It hurts watching kids grow up." Hephaestus looked up and met his gaze. "Remember what I told you the other day? About Hilde meeting some guy named Siegfried?"
"You looked like someone stabbed a hot poker in your chest."
"Lord, did I?" He said under his breath. "Anyway, that is probably what you are going through. Panny is not gone, she is just growing up." He patted Hephaestus' shoulder. "Her world is expanding, her group of friends continues to grow, and dare I say it, she has fallen in love. With someone who, I may add, is one heck of a catch. Believe me, she could have done worse."
"Like his fuckin' brother."
"Please do not talk about him. Just thinking about him gives me ulcers."
"Then be happy he wasn't invited."
Metatron dropped his hand and shook his head slightly, blinking a few times. "He was not invited?"
"Nope. It turns out the two have been at each other's throats since Epimetheus and Pan- Pandora, I mean- started dating. Prometheus has never been one to let his brother stray too far."
"That is why I believe he will do something today."
"Probably would if anyone told him this was happenin' at all," Hephaestus said, smiling. "Zeus has him runnin' all over Heaven workin' out the newest drafts of the Valhalla Accords. Last I heard, he was in Asgard trying to talk up Odin."
Metatron sighed as his shoulders slouched. "Thank goodness. Well, now that I know we have one less thing to worry about, I will go get ready."
"What for?"
Metatron smiled. "Hera is stuck with Zeus, dealing with Nuada over in Eire. She called me this morning, saying the two keep trying to pick fights, and it's taking all her effort to keep Zeus in line. Otherwise, she would be here to officiate the wedding. So she asked me to step in. Been so long since I officiated one, I may be rusty!"
"Wait…you're doin' it?"
"That is what I said. I hope the bride and groom will not be too disappointed. Hera was near tears that she was missing out." Metatron shook his head, wearing a mirthless smile.
"But we're not your Pantheon. Why go the extra mile?"
Metatron smiled, but Hephaestus saw past it. "You are right. I do not have one…anymore…but that never mattered. More than a Greek God, you are a father, and from one father to another, I want to help you because I can. You are my friend, Pandora is your daughter, and Epimetheus treasures you both. I want to make this day special for you three."
"Yeah…" Hephaestus cleared his throat. "Anyways, I'm holdin' you up. Can't have you blame me for delayin' the ceremony." Metatron nodded slightly and turned away to head towards the stage. Hephaestus sat back down and hunched over. He heard the conversations of people passing by, some worried the food would be late, others the decorations. He heard the quick pitter-patter of small feet running up and down the courtyard and looked up, hoping to see wisps of black hair racing through, but only saw the short red hair of Alvitr or Hlökk's strawberry blonde. Geirölul, wearing her bridesmaid toga, raced after them, trying not to yell while Hrist tried to cut the two off at the gift table. I need to move…this place is depressin' me. Hephaestus rose and departed through the courtyard's entrance opposite the stage.
"Feeling nervous yet, Pan?" Brünhilde asked, standing next to a small make-up table. She was already in her pristine white toga, her gold and leather sandals shone and were polished to a shine. Sitting next to her and applying soft red eyeliner was a young woman with flowing black hair and slightly tanned skin. Her white toga was in pristine condition, making her deep red eyes stand out.
"I feel like my Dad, which is weird for me," Pandora answered. "Normally, I'm all for this kind of thing and drag you along. But now…ugh this sucks and I just want to hurry it up." She placed the eyeliner down and checked both sides of her face. "Perfect."
"Ha! Never thought I'd hear that!"
"Enough about me, Hilde." She turned to face her friend as a mischievous smile grew on her face. "Who's Siegfried?" Hilde's face began to turn a shade of red as her eyes darted to the side.
"Just a Demigod who began rising the ranks of the Norse. He's a friend of Týr's. He said he's one of the strongest fighters he's ever trained with."
"You like them strong."
Brünhilde's face reddened. "Please stop."
"Is he handsome?" Pandora stood up, just a head shorter than Brünhilde. Her smile began to grow wider as Brünhilde's face turned a deeper red. "Oh, he's handsome! Ha! Look what we have here! Stoic, badass Hilde is blushing like the little maiden she is! Have you told Thrud!?"
"If I told her, she'd be in here making this worse…"
"Exactly!" She grabbed her phone off the table. "Wait, let me call her-"
"Pan! Please stop!" She quickly grabbed at the tablet, but Pandora stepped to the side out of her reach.
"Kidding, Hilde." She placed the phone back down. "To be frank, I never thought this would happen. Marriage? To Epi?"
The red began to fade from Brünhilde's face. "His brother and he were crucial in the Greeks winning the wars against the Titans and the Giants. But, the situation with Dionysus…"
"And Adam and Eve's exile. I still miss them."
"Still just baseless rumors, but I still believe he coaxed the serpent into trying to attack her."
"…You don't think Epi had anything to do with any of that, do you?"
Brünhilde shook her head. "Whatever happened to Prometheus to make him an ass somehow made Epi a good man…too good maybe. Hermes keeps an eye on the two, and so far, nothing paints him as anything other than the opposite of his brother."
"Still not a fan of that."
"Hermes is a worrywart. He's like my dad in that regard, but it means he cares."
"I get it…but it eats at me. I want to trust Epi. Part of me does, but I'm scared, Hilde. What if he is like Prometheus? What if this is just another scheme?" She sat back down.
Hilde walked to her right and crouched down. She took Pandora's right hand in her left and squeezed gently. "It's not, but in the off-chance it is…" She balled her right hand into a fist and clenched it. "The entire Greek Pantheon, my dad, and all the Valkyries will throttle them both. My brothers in the Choirs will gladly join in, too."
The two exchanged a glance and smiled. "Thank you, Hilde. By the way, is Siegfried coming?"
"Damn it, not this again…"
An hour or two later, and much to Hephaestus' poorly hidden discomfort, the ceremony began. The chairs were full of a random assortment of Gods from different pantheons. Apollo and Ares sat near the aisle, with Dionysus and Heracles sitting next to Apollo. On Ares' right and right at the edge of the aisle sat a young Romulus sporting the start of a well-trimmed but thick beard and mustache, looking like a near-carbon copy of the Greek War God. He sat straight up in his chair, his white and orange toga draped over his muscular frame. Apollo looked over at him in slight confusion and mirth. Still doing your best to make your boy beautiful, eh, Ares? Ares sat straight up as well wore a stoic expression. And still trying to impress him! Apollo chuckled a little. Ah…what a beautiful day. He heard the horns blaring above him. He looked up and saw five of the Sancti, flying overhead, playing their horns. On top of one of the columns stood Hermes, conducting them. Metatron walked up to the front of the stage and cleared his throat.
"Gods and Goddesses, it is time we begin the ceremony. Please rise." He said.
The audience turned towards the back of the courtyard. There stood a tall, clean-shaven being with bright blonde hair coiffed back in a mullet. His bright orange eyes radiated warmth despite his tall and imposing figure. His toga was pure white, save for the pastel yellow trim along its edges.
Epimetheus
Titan and God of Hindsight
(Greek)
He started walking down the center aisle. Behind him in matching togas walked Gabriel, his fading blonde hair and aged sharp features betrayed by his warm brown eyes, and a taller, dark-skinned angel with flowing dark-brunette hair, with a sharp goatee and gold eyes.
Gabriel
Major General of the Heavenly Choir
Angelus Iustitiae
Michael
Lieutenant General of the Heavenly Choir
Angelus Fidei
Both angels walked in perfect unison with Epimetheus. Every step, every subtle sway of the arms and back. While it was a small group, no one could deny the grace with which the three walked. The three made it to the altar and stood. String music began to play. It was soft and slow, filling the air with a bizarre mixture of excitement, joy, and melancholy. Slowly and patiently, Pandora walked up the aisle with her arm wrapped around her father's. Following the pair was Brünhilde. Then Hrist, Thrud, Randgriz, Geirölul, Skalmöld, Reginleif, Mist, Göndul, Alvitr, Hlökk, and Radgridr. All twelve Valkyries walked in perfect unison like their brothers. As the Valkyries passed Pandora's family, Skalmöld turned to the left ever so slightly, her lilac ponytail swaying slightly, and locked eyes with Romulus. She gave a quick wink as Romulus' brow raised. Apollo saw it, and a slight smile grew across his face. Careful, Ares! Looks like you may be in Hephy's boots before long!
The line stopped at the altar. Hephaestus and Pandora turned to each other, their matching red eyes meeting. Hephaestus slowly pulled her into a hug. She gently wrapped her arms around his neck, both fighting back tears. Behind Hephaestus, Epimetheus' lip quivered as tears slowly ran down his face. Michael and Gabriel stared at him in shock. Hephaestus turned to the Titan and met his gaze. He said nothing but nodded and walked to his seat in the front aisle. Pandora walked up the steps and stood across from her beloved. Hephaestus looked on in slight awe and worry. He's not the same as Prometheus. He's not. He repeated in his head. Gabriel and Michael would not be up there with him if he were. Please… Please don't hurt my baby girl…
With the entire crowd now looking at the front, Metatron began the ceremony. Even while he spoke, he saw something out of the corner of his eye. It was near the courtyard entrance, but someone was there. He knew it. Eons of war and conflict build a slight paranoia that never truly goes away. He continued to follow the script as his eyes quickly darted from building to building. His eyes stopped immediately near the entrance of the closest building. Found you, you bastard. Metatron raised his eyebrows and furrowed his brow for a split second. The angels above him took silent action without delay. Why am I not surprised to see you here, Prometheus?
An hour or so later
"Pray tell, what in the hell are you all doing?" Prometheus asked while holding a wrapped box, surrounded by angels. Romulus stood across from him, arms crossed. "I can't come to my own brother's wedding?"
"A wedding you weren't invited to, and for damn good reason," Romulus spoke. "Trying to make this all about you, again?"
"It's not my special day. How could it be about me?"
"It's not hard for a narcissist to make anything about them." Michael chimed in from behind Prometheus."
Prometheus turned around and his expression. "You wound me, Michael."
"As if you have a heart to wound, gaslighter."
"Enough of this," Metatron spoke from behind Romulus. "Romulus, you are needed inside. Skalmöld is being patient, but her song is playing, and she is looking for you."
He turned to face the Angel. "You sure?" Metatron smiled softly and nodded. Romulus sighed and walked past Metatron back into the courtyard.
"Metatron. Finally, someone with enough sense and decorum to talk to-" Pressure slammed down onto Prometheus and brought him to his knees. The other angels backed away quickly.
"I do not have time for you," Metatron spoke, his voice reverberating with a low hum. "No one wants you here. Do you have something BROKEN in you that just keeps you from reading the room!?"
Prometheus struggled against the pressure, his arms still wrapped around the box. "I…just wanted to leave a gift for Epimetheus…"
"Lies and blasphemy. Anything from you comes with a price." The pressure intensified.
"I promise this is not a threat or a trick. It's just a gift I was asked to deliver for Zeus and Hera…"
"They know better than to send you to deliver a gift to an event they knew you were not invited to," Michael added. "Drop the box."
"Bite me…"
Michael stretched out his right hand. A stone column shot out of the ground and slammed into his palm. He grabbed the column and crushed it under his grip. Stone fell away, revealing a large ornate black and yellow axe with a gray stone axe head. "I will decapitate you if you refuse to yield.
Prometheus' eyes widened. "Guys, wait!" A voice called from behind Metatron. They all turned towards its direction and saw Epimetheus running towards them. The pressure immediately receded as he stopped in front of Metatron. "What's going on here?"
"They're trying to stop me-"
"Prometheus, I wasn't talking to you," Epimetheus said softly but firmly. Prometheus looked taken aback. "Metatron, what's going on?"
"We found him sneaking around the facilities encircling the courtyard. He has a box with him, he claims is a gift for you two from Zeus and Hera."
Epimetheus looked past Metatron at his brother for a brief moment. Their matching eyes met, and both their gazes hardened. "Not possible. I confirmed with Hermes and Hilde that the gift list they sent was fully accounted for. There shouldn't be any more."
"I didn't want mine to get turned away just because you thought it was from me," Prometheus added.
"Promie, I believe you," Epimetheus said, walking past Metatron. "But going about it this way does not help your case."
"Not my fault the Angels have trust issues."
"Everyone has trust issues when it comes to you."
"Even you?" Prometheus' voice carried a tinge of pain. Epimetheus sighed and let his body go lax.
"You're my brother. I love you. Probably more…than you deserve. And it's because I love you and I've known you longer than anyone that I trust you the least." Prometheus slowly stood up, his body deflating while he rose. "You weren't invited for a reason. I'm sorry, but not sorry. I wish I wanted you here, but I can't deny who you are anymore. Pan doesn't feel comfortable around you, and Hephaestus worries for her safety. I cannot allow you to do stuff like this if I want to make them happy."
"You're choosing those two over flesh and blood?"
"We did it before," Metatron and the other Angels blinked a few times. "That was for survival. This time it's for the future."
"But I see the future."
"And I see the past. All of it. And it constantly shows me there is no future for either of us if you keep trying to do what you do. I don't need to see the future to know that." Epimetheus stepped forward, barely a meter away from his twin. "Promie…if you love me as your brother, you will leave. I love you enough to let you go without issue. If you don't…" His gaze shifted to his right and left. "It won't be me making you leave."
Prometheus nodded his head slightly. He crouched down and placed the box on the ground, and stepped away. "As ungrateful as you are, I'll concede. Only for you, though. The rest of you aren't worthy of it." Prometheus turned away from his brother and walked off.
Epimetheus scratched his head and sighed. He felt a hand clasp firmly on his left shoulder. He turned to his left and saw Michael, his expression somber. "No one should have to talk to family like that," He said. "I'm sorry, Epi."
"Don't be. Unless I said something, he wouldn't listen," Epimetheus said. "Even then, he barely holds my opinion and concerns above anyone else's. Still," He looked back towards the courtyard, catching sight of Hephaestus dancing with Pandora, the former moving too stiffly to be called proper dancing and the latter not caring at all. "I don't need him anymore to know where my future is."
"Well said," Michael turned to Gabriel. "Gabe, we need to do something about this box. Move it far from here and figure out what it could be. I leave it to you to figure out how."
"On it," Gabriel said. He snapped his fingers, and the box began to float. Bright orange, translucent wings as if made of stained glass formed behind Gabriel's back, and he began to float. Three other angels with clear wings congregated behind him before they departed.
"Michael, am I a bad brother?" Epimetheus asked.
"No, Prometheus is," Metatron interjected. "Love takes many forms, and your efforts to try and keep peace, despite his actions, show a love he sorely lacks. You kept him alive. Hopefully, he does not waste your charity." The music ended, and Metatron looked back towards the courtyard, catching sight of Pandora looking over at them. "And you better not try her patience. She is far more like Hephaestus than she appears!"
"Epimetheus sucked air through his teeth. "Yeah…I should probably hurry." He walked quickly past Metatron and to the courtyard.
"Michael." Metatron's voice went cold and monotone.
"Sir," Michael answered sternly.
"Kill Prometheus."
Michael's grip tightened on his axe. "Without delay." Michael's yellow translucent wings appeared, and he flew off with the other angels.
"Consider this my gift to the bride and groom. A life free of that parasite."
Temple of Pandora and Epimetheus
Later That Night
"Oh look," Pandora said, unwrapping another box. "Another vase." She sat on a couch in the center of the room while Epimetheus stood over a table eyeing the last remaining present.
"Who's it from?" Epimetheus asked. Pandora turned the vase over to show an embossed picture of a chariot pulling the sun. In the chariot was a handsome God winking.
"Take a look and guess."
Epimetheus turned to look. "Apollo?"
"Apollo."
"Guy's a bit of a weird one, but he has good taste!" Epimetheus said, laughing.
"Maybe, but not everything has to have his mug on it…" She said, placing the vase next to six vases identical to it.
"He's your combat instructor. He can be a little extra, but it's just his way of showing how proud he is of you." Epimetheus walked over to the couch and sat down next to Pandora. "I know I am."
Pandora's face reddened a little. "God, you're a sap."
"You bring it out of me." He leaned back on the couch. "You did well today, for what it's worth. I know you and your dad don't like being the center of attention, but you shone today. I almost thought Ares was going to cry!"
"He did cry. You just missed it." She chuckled. "It was while you were dealing with Prometheus."
Epimetheus grunted a little. "…You saw that?"
"Felt it. Metatron's scary as hell when he's pissed. Half the party almost shit bricks when he lost his cool," She leaned back, placing her head on top of Epimetheus' collarbone. "I'm sorry you had to do that."
"It's not your fault. You can pick friends, but you can't pick family."
"Are you okay?"
He kissed the top of Pandora's head. He smelled the lavender coming from her hair. "A little sad, but I think it'll pass. Prometheus looks into the future constantly. Makes him forget the present and act like…"
"An ass?"
"Pretty much. He's scared of it. He's so damn scared of it that he disregards everything else to focus on it. Not that it stops it from coming."
"What about you?"
"I'm scared of it, too. I can't see it like him. I can only see everything that came before, but it doesn't matter."
"Ha. Really? Why's that?"
Epimetheus stretched his left arm out from under Pandora and wrapped it gently around her. "I got you. If I have you and you have me, the future doesn't seem so bad. I don't know what'll happen, but the two of us together can handle it."
Pandora raised and turned around to meet his eyes, her red, and his orange. "Man, you're a sap." She whispered.
"Guilty." The two smiled.
"Shall I go wash up?" Epimetheus' brow rose, and his face turned a shade of red.
"Uh…yeah." He cleared his throat. "Yeah, yeah, sure!"
"Okay then." She kissed him and got up. "Be back in a minute." She walked away from the couch, leaving her husband's heart racing. "Wait."
"F-for," He cleared his throat again. "For what?"
"We got one last present to open." One present, wrapped in gold paper with a white bow, remained untouched on the table. She walked over to it and grabbed the name tag. "From Zeus and Hera." She unwrapped it, revealing a blank box. She opened it and pulled out another vase, deep purple with a solid gold trim and lid. "Oh great, another vase." She shook it a little. "Feels kind of heavy. Wonder what's in it?"
"Really?" Epimetheus turned around to look. "Guess we could always stage them around the place-" His heart sank. The entire room dropped ten degrees to him. Panic set in. "Pan! Don't open that!"
Her hand touched the lid. "What? Why-?" Epimetheus dashed off the couch towards her. He placed his hand on top of hers just in time. The jar began to vibrate under their combined grip.
"Pan." Epimetheus looked into her eyes, his own full of joy and pain.
"Wha….what's going on!?" Fear began to fill her soul.
"I'm sorry. I should have done a better job checking the presents." The lid began to push against their hands. "Once it's touched, the jar won't allow itself to close." Did he plan this!? He thought. You were so petty and vengeful you'd use this day to kill my wife and damn us all?
"What is it!?" Tears began to form in her eyes.
"Goodbye for now. I'm sorry, Pan. The future isn't so bad, but man does it suck sometimes!" He wrenched the jar away from her and pulled the lid off. Dark purple mist exploded out of the vase and flooded the temple. Screw you, Prometheus. Enjoy going blind. Pandora covered her face as the mist enveloped her.
"Epimetheus!" She shouted. She heard wailing and screams. Dozens of voices were shouting and crying all around her. Louder and louder. It felt like her skull would split open. Then, as quickly as they came, the voices vanished and silence returned. Pandora opened her eyes and looked around at the decimated room before her. She then saw him, his lifeless, pale body sprawled out next to the vase. A vicious chill pierced her soul. "No…" She slumped down to the ground. "No….no…." Her body heaved up and down. She clawed at the ground as tears fell. She then looked up at the ceiling and screamed. Her cries could be heard all through Olympus, and her father woke from the last good dream he could remember.