Chapter 152: 2.32 Two Birthdays?!
Sora and Brie enjoyed all of the guests that arrived for Xander’s fourth birthday and were tired from thanking everyone for coming. 25 generations of Brie’s family came as well as a few generations from Sora’s, gods, goddesses and all types of different souls from each race.
Despite 2 years passing, Sora struggled with the idea of finding the souls from Earth who were certainly in Paradise. ’I’m not ready to face them... not yet, at least.’
Fortunately, Luna strolled over to the table Sora and Brie were sitting and holding hands at. She waved and eventually sat with them.
"I miss being able to turn into a werewolf sometimes," Luna sighed while admiring Xander’s enthusiasm.
"Wait, Xander used to love your werewolf form. Brie, didn’t he always grow at like 3 times the speed of humans? Why is he slowing down? He’s 4 now but looks like he’s 8 or 9, not 12." Sora asked.
Brie sat silently for a moment, trying to think of any logical explanation.
"You’re right. I’m not sure. Isn’t that a good thing though? Would we really want a 54 year old man returning to Exteria with us at the age of 18?" Brie said, still confused.
Athena appeared behind them and asked if she could sit. Luna went to leave but Athena insisted she stayed.
"When any type of being who transforms moves to the afterlife, they stay in the form they were last in. You changed into a human to tell Brie it was ok and willingly saved her." Athena said as she patted Luna gently on the shoulder.
"Thanks Athena! Yes, I definitely wanted to tell her it was ok and after being in Paradise, I know I made the right decision." Luna said with a gentle smile.
"Some days are better than others, but our little family was my life. I’m just glad my brother is doing so well. We were never welcomed in our pack."
Nyx teleported over and asked if Luna would take a walk with her. Luna gladly accepted the invitation and waved to Xander, who looked sad she was leaving. Skylar picked him up, flying off quickly with him and he was laughing and shooting off magical fireworks.
*****
"He’s growing up too fast." Sora sighed.
"Well all babies do, even humans," Athena said politely.
"God and goddess babies have a strange path to adulthood. They develop so quickly. They walk before most babies sit by themselves. Once they’re around 12-15 years old, they level out, per se, but they’re so far ahead of other children. They’re definitely old souls." She continued, smiling the entire time, like she was talking about her own children.
"So when he gets to that age, Xander will age and grow like a normal teenager." Brie said cheerfully.
"Glad we don’t have any girls yet!" She teased while giggling.
Sora shook his head.
"Says the former human who told her parents she was moving in with a boy."
Brie rolled her eyes.
"I’m just glad that Xander will get to live as normal a life as he possibly can."
"Just like both of his parents did, right?" Sora erupted in laughter.
"I’m sorry babe but we’re literally living in Paradise right now learning to be proper gods and goddesses to fulfill our purpose in the event I don’t destroy the world. Maybe we should just try to enjoy it and not worry what Xander grows up to be?" Sora said compassionately.
Brie nudged him gently and kissed his cheek.
"I think that’s the smartest thing you’ve said in awhile."
Athena laughed as Xander came sprinting toward the three of them.
"Nana Fena! Mama, Dada! I heard Skylar talk!" Xander exclaimed with an excited face.
Athena gasped. "And what did she say?"
Xander suddenly looked nervous.
"She made me promise I wouldn’t say... but she’s lonely. She’s sick of hearing the phoenixes from Solstice pray about being stuck together in a flame when she doesn’t even have a mate." Xander covered his mouth as he said the last words.
"Caw! Cawwwww!" Skylar screamed before landing on Athena.
"I shouldn’t have said I’m sick of hearing prayer, that’s not what I meant," Skylar said dejectedly.
Athena interjected, "Why didn’t you just say something sooner?"
"You have enough going on. You don’t need to raise another phoenix for me," Skylar said while straightening Athena’s perfect hair.
"It really wouldn’t be that difficult and I think I know what to get Xander for his birthday now," Athena said with a large grin.
"Athena..."
Athena stood up and Skylar landed on Xander’s shoulders.
"Happy birthday Xander. I’m not sure how you can hear me but thank you."
"You’re welcome, SkySky. You’ve always been so nice sorry I broke our promise," Xander’s face went red, causing Sora and Brie to smile.
*****
Athena asked everyone to clear an area for her and she began using her beautiful golden white magic purposefully. She worked on her creation for about 5 minutes while everyone watched in amazement.
Cracking broke the silence as a baby golden phoenix hopped through its large red egg.
It cried twice then screamed. Athena picked him up and put him on her lap, engulfing him in a brilliant golden fire Sora and Brie had never seen.
"What is that magic?" Brie whispered to Sora.
"It’s Nana Fena’s eternal flame." Xander proudly stated.
"It can burn an entire planet away if she wanted it too but is perfectly safe when she controls it. It’s even more powerful than mama and dada’s magic," Xander said as they all admired the brilliant flame hosting a beautiful phoenix.
The baby Phoenix grew rapidly and within 30 minutes, it couldn’t sit on Athena’s lap anymore. It flew away, cawing at his mother, still engulfed in Athena’s flame.
Skylar took off flying faster than Xander had ever seen and smiled.
"Best birthday ever!" He exclaimed as he sat on his mama’s lap.
Sora put his arm around Brie’s shoulder and held her tightly. They were witnessing something Paradise had not seen since Athena was a child and her Father created Skylar for her.
"Nana Fena, how did the Phoenix grow up so fast?" Xander asked.
"He’s even bigger than Skylar and he has white flames! That’s so cool!"
Athena chuckled. "He gets his color from my magical abilities and I infused some of your time magic Skylar loaned me. She’s a magnificent bird. If she nests on you, she temporarily copies any abilities you have."
Sora and Brie were shocked. Sora knew the crowd was distracted with the two beautiful phoenixes, so he took extra precautions.
"Lockheart’s whisper: Athena, Xander, Brie and me," Sora muttered.
"So your companion copies any ability in the world and you can cast almost any magical ability in existence?" Sora asked in amazement.
"Almost any" is the key word." Athena frowned.
Celeste’s telepathy is unique to her and time was unique to Chronos until he gifted you your eyes. There are actually plenty of things I can’t do. You’d be amazed."
"I seriously doubt you lack the capability of doing anything short of extraordinary your Majesty. I’m certain Hades is afraid of you. That’s why he’s recruiting behind your back and using back handed methods to power up." Brie said while hugging Athena.
Athena appreciated the gesture and Brie put her hands on Athena’s shoulders and looked her in the eyes.
"We didn’t come up here to see you disappointed with yourself. We came because you asked for our help and said you could help us. I feel you’ve done much more for us than we’ve done for you so please, don’t underestimate or undervalue yourself. If you do, who are we to believe in and fight for?"
Athena pulled Brie in tightly, hugged her, whispered "Thank you," teleported to Xander, said "Happy birthday," and she was gone.
"Release," Sora whispered, watching as everyone returned to the party.
"Where do you think our majesty went?" Brie asked Sora.
"To relax. She’s probably exhausted from creating the Phoenix. She never named him!" Sora exclaimed as the family enjoyed the rest of Xander’s birthday.
*****
Athena formed in her realm and sat on a couch in her living area. She disabled the portals allowing others to enter her realm, setting an eight hour timer on both of them.
’Hopefully this next year will be much more calm.’ she thought.
"I totally forgot to name my phoenix!" she shouted.
"Tej." she whispered, smiling at the thought of her companion potentially mating.
Skylar heard her companions’ thoughts and excitedly flew down, nesting on Xander.
"His name is Tej and he’s Nana Fena’s birthday present. There’s a chance he’ll be your companion one day" Skylar said while plucking his beautiful blonde hair.
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