Chapter 168: 2.48 Three gods in a pod
Xander loved his little brother and sister very much. His progress with Hope continued to soar and he was flying around no problem with her inside of him now. He loved having wings and his little brother and sister consistently asked him for rides.
"Our little brother is the best!"
Sora and the others looked on and encouraged him. The problem was, Xander was getting bored quickly.
One afternoon, while fiddling around with time, he decided to speed it up three years, then rewind it all the way back.
"Xander, what are you doing?" Sora demanded as he relived it all in slow motion while traveling backward through time.
"I want to go home." Xander said sternly.
"You, mom and everyone else got to live it like I did. Normally. Can we go back now?" He demanded.
"I think we just caused havoc down below," Eris chuckled.
"Yeah, no kidding. Maybe we should make a visit and let them know?" Sora suggested.
"Ok, I’ll make the portal," Xander said and made the portal to the mansion.
"Eris, go to the mansion and tell your story. Stay hidden there. They won’t be able to find you. We’ll pretend that your soul was shattered or something up here," Athena said politely.
Eris walked through the portal to Sora’s mansion and laughed.
’So that’s what this thing looks like on the inside?’
Everyone was immediately on the defensive until they saw the portal.
Xander, Sora, Brie, Emma and Emery waved and Brie yelled, "Trust her, we do!"
After that, things relaxed for a while and Eris explained her story to everyone at the mansion. Levi, Sasha, Ox, Jubelle, Lucious, Sera and Mindy all teleported in to hear the story. They left baby Sera with Lucious’ parents. They were all flabbergasted at how horrible Hades’ truly was.
*****
Back in Paradise, Athena went to Chronos’ realm to help aid her in getting it to appear like Eris’ soul was shattered. After a few hours, they were able to get something that looked clear enough so Athena used some creation dust to spread it off the edge where Eris threw her eyes.
"Do you think that will actually work, your Majesty?" Sora asked.
"We’ll see. I’m not entirely certain but we have to come to a decision on whether or not you are headed back home or not."
"I think we should stay. It’s only another 11 days on Exteria, I don’t think they’ll attack within that time frame. The more time our kids have to grow and develop "
is better, what do you think Brie?"
"I agree babe. Plus Xander still has plenty of work he can do with Hope," Brie said while she watched the kids run around their own realm playing tag.
"Ok, that’s fine with me, but you should probably visit them in their dreams and let them know your decision. Or at least tell them via a portal or something," Athena said, stress finally appearing on her face.
"It’ll be fine Lady Athena. We won’t lose the battle for Exteria and if they come here we won’t lose that battle either," Xander said confidently.
"How do you always know?" She laughed, finally smiling.
Xander shrugged. "It’s the colors. The colors change a lot and when they do something usually happens so I just come."
He teleported away and went back to playing tag with his brothers and sisters.
"Remarkable. He really is outstanding," Athena said to Sora and Brie.
"All three of them are, but yes, we know what you mean. Xander is definitely something else, in a good way." Sora smiled.
*****
After hearing Eris out, the group decided they could trust her, especially with the strict conditions of the seal.
"I should start training each of you to fight properly for when they come. This won’t be like demons, werewolves or titans. You’ll be fighting gods and goddesses, some with implanted eyes that have unworldly powers," Eris explained.
’This is so awkward, I feel like they all hate me already,’ Eris thought.
"That’s not necessarily true. They all accepted you. No one came after your head," Celeste said telepathically.
"Oh! Hi Celeste. I’m sorry for everything–"
"No need to be sorry, It’s truly brilliant what you and Lady Athena pulled off. What about your titans though. Aren’t you sad about them?"
"A little, yes. Especially Ankha. He was always so loyal and to watch Hades’ go on a rampage and destroy most of them was sad. I’m glad Sora and his family got most of their power and were able to evacuate most of the Rhino-people’s souls, though."
"I’m sure you’ve seen it from the other side, but you have no idea how truly remarkable that family is. You’ll see it when they return in 11 days."
"Have they really been living separate lives from all of you? Isn’t that going to be very strange for the non-gods?"
"Yes, it will, but they’ll work through it. They always do," Celeste said with a smile and broke off the telepathic speaking.
*****
Back in the Secret Realm, Lord X and Hades laughed hysterically at Eris’ soul shattering.
"Look, the bitch is in dust! You can even see my eyes I created, what a fucking waste." Hades’ cackled.
Lord X let out a menacing, bellowing laugh and just said, "I always hated the bitch anyways!"
Helen and Azazel stood stunned. Helen was crying, which made Hades laugh harder.
"Aw, someone’s poor best friend was a dirty traitor and got her soul shattered so the sad widdle goddess is crying," Hades prodded.
"Xander knows all and wouldn’t even be crying like the little bitch baby you are. You two head out to attack in 5 days. Just the two of you should suffice."
"Just throwing us to the wolves huh?" Azazel asked.
"I always knew you were a dumbass leader. I’ll gladly shatter my soul for your entertainment. You’re going to lose anyway so what’s the fucking point?"
Before Azazel’s dagger could go through his neck, Hades stopped him angrily.
"What the fuck did you just say you pathethic piece of shit?"
"You might as well let me shatter my own soul if you’re only sending the two of us. You’re going to lose anyway you’re the pathetic piece of shit." Azazel spat, literally, at Hades.
Hades wiped his face off and started laughing.
"Fine, you think we need help from you two?" Hades laughed and Azazel smiled.
He knew what was coming.
"I’m sorry my love, we failed together. We should have never trusted this psychopath," Helen said as she kissed Azazel one last time."
"No need for apologies, I’d do it all over again."
Lord X turned and the last thing Helen and Azazel saw were the two red pentagram pupils spinning quickly as their souls shattered.
"The trio of dumbasses are finally fucking gone!" Hades chanted and danced over their dust.
*****
Back at the Steele castle, the machine finally stopped running and they had no clear prophecy.
"What the hell?" Lionel, who was the only one who stayed back aside from Iris at the settlement, asked.
"Why don’t we have a single image of a prophecy?"
"I guess it’s all in the dark now. Chronos probably has too many timelines overlapping right now. I’d say our best bet is just to wait for Sora and his family to return and then be prepared for war." Mr. Steele said confidently.
"Levi’s sword is shaking. What a dumbass." Lionel said as he grabbed it and teleported it to his brother.
He threw him the sword and Levi read it out loud.
"The Universe is up for grabs. Trust your loved ones and protect your young ones, the Underworld is coming in less than 30 days." Levi read word for word, until the words vanished.
"Well, at least we still get married before hell gets let loose!" Levi boasted.
Sasha forced a smile. "I’m excited to get married, but are they really going to have Emery, Emma and Xander fight?"
"Yes," Sora said as a portal appeared.
"We’re going to ask you all once again to help us with too much, but we’ll be back and we’ll be ready. Levi, I’ll be your best man. You don’t have much say in the matter do ya?" Sora winked and laughed.
"Well seeing as how I practically took over the position for you, I’d agree to that, sorry Lionel!"
The room laughed. This was the type of hope they needed.
"Hi everyone! We miss you." Brie waved.
"Our pawents have told us so much about you all. We can’t wait to meet you!" Emery and Emma said in unison while waving.
"When you meet us again, you’re going to be practically teenagers!" Mindy yelled back and waved.
That’s when everyone noticed Xander had wings forming from him.
"Xander, what’s with the wings buddy?" Lucious asked curiously.
"I’m working with my companion Hope. She’s a phoenix. Check this out!" he said as he started flying away.
"Well, we thought Connor and Koda and Shawn and Kory were cool, but the kid steals the show again," Celeste while laughing so hard tears fell from her eyes.
"These have been the craziest years of my existence, and we’re not even close to being done yet!" she finished.
"Hey, no tears Auntie Cece! When I get back, we’re going to make Hades and the rest of those jerks pay!" Xander said while pumping his fist.
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