Ping!

Misha's hands rush over to her tablet. She calls on her phone from the hope swelling in her heart.

"Greg! Is it-"

"It is! Takashi's energy has rebounded", Greg can't contain the excitement in his voice.

Looking back for comparison, it pales in comparison to the highest peak of four months ago, but it no longer hovers above zero. The friends can feel Taki's mountain of stress had been whittled down.

"YES! YES! YES! Keep going! Beat that bastard Zeus once and for all", Misha yells in the grocery story without shame.

Greg laughs. "He will do it. We're rooting for you, man!"

On Gaia, Takashi wipes away the blood on his lips from Hippolyta's rough fists. His body vibrates from being in FF2, but a smile cracks across his lips. The motivation from his dear friends gives him a second wind to dodge the stretching belt of the Amazon Queen. 

The leather end snakes from behind, but he turns to catch it between his palms. Emerald aura travels across to the owner who responds with crimson. The belt withstands the sparks of the clashing energies. Hippolyta grits her teeth while smiling from the challenge.

Her crimson aura amplifies, spearing through the emerald aura, but a determined Takashi fires an aura beam while jumping to the side.

"BRING IT ON!"

The sparring continues throughout the day with Hippolyta being barely out of breath. Takashi's body is decorated with marks and bruises, but he pushes off his knees to continue. His body falls after reaching his limit, but Echo summons a flower bed to catch him. Petals dance in the air upon contact.

"You did great today. Just rest for now."

He couldn't argue as he falls right to sleep. The mountain nymph instills her healing aura to help his aura channels repair the cuts and bruises on his body.

Harmonia crosses her arms. "Do you have to be that rough on him, Hippolyta?"

"I held back a little bit", she nonchalantly replies while reigning in her belt.

Echo's hands stop glowing. "All done! Harmonia, can I talk with you?"

Cadmus and Hippolyta watch over a sleeping Takashi while the women go inside.

Echo shuffles her feet. "Uhm....How do I ask this?"

The daughter of love gives her time.

"My true love, Chrysaor, is out there, but he's....just a baby right now."

"Oh."

"How....do I even navigate this?"

Harmonia puts comforting hands on her rocky shoulders. "Fate will bring you together when it's time."

The mountain nymph sighs. "Would....he still love me if we met? What if-"

"There's plenty to love about you. Sweet, generous, caring, strong-willed, and other things."

Echo's flowers on her crown enlarge to the point she plucks them out of her eyesight. Harmonia picks up the blue and pink flowers to decorate the dining table.

"Plus, he will love that aspect of you."

Echo embraces Harmonia with all she has. "Thank you."

The daughter of Aphrodite strokes her hair until she lets go.

"Need help with dinner?"

She smiles. "I would appreciate that. Let me show you around the kitchen."

After a light dinner, Takashi continues to rest in bed. He contemplates reaching out to Demeter again with Nyx's aid, but he doesn't go through with it. He thinks of the closeness between her and the moon goddess. What if she attacked him, assuming that he did something to her?

Fallin asleep, he hopes to be strong enough to convince the Olympian to his side. 

In the meantime, Harmonia reaches out to someone in her sleep.

"Hypnos, are you there? It's Harmonia."

The winged god of sleep startles awake from her question. His wife stirs awake, but he comforts her with a kiss on the forehead. He lies back down while the wings on his head cover his eyes.

"Harmonia, what's your reason for contacting me?"

"In case anything happens to me.....you need to know the truth....."

----

Aug 31st 6am Gaia time

Narcissus and Orpheus are sleeping in their tents while Medea attends to the campfire. After looking back, she mutters incantations with Takashi in mind. Once she knows who he's with, she could lure her group away from that area.

As a precaution, she had taken strands of black hair while he was asleep. Dropping a few into the fire, images flicker. She sees Cadmus and Harmonia are cooking bread together, but no sign of Takashi in sight....

The corners of her mouth curl up that he's with them. She waves her hands through the top of the flames to get a better look at the locat-

"What are you doing, witch?"

She doesn't stiffen from the sudden words of Narcissus. She continues waving her hands to change to a location she knew. 

"Looking for Hephaestus, but no luck." A perfect lie since they haven't heard from the god of fire.

The eyes of the vain demigod analyze her arms for any sign of lying. Glancing at the flames, he sees a King Aegeus enjoying the warmth on a crisp morning. He turns from hearing the bare footsteps of a young man whose white hair matches the seafoam. The two embrace.

"Morning, Theseus."

"Morning, Father. What's on the agenda for today?"

The king strokes his beard. "I would like some grandchildren. Maybe we hold a dinner for possible suitors?"

Theseus chuckles before something falls into place. Her comforting smile and hope that she gave him. "Ariadne?"

"Of Crete? Hmmm. I have a good feeling about her too. Let's send an invitation for you two to meet."

Narcissus squints his eyes. "Hephaestus isn't there. Why are you looking at them?"

"Just missing my husband", she hides the truth behind a lie.

"You mean ex after your attempt on Theseus? Word spreads quickly", he corrects with an ugly smile.

"Looks like your mouth runs faster than your brain", she spits back.

His fingers twitch from the insult to his ego. "Watch it."

"I would say the same about your attitude. You won't survive for long with it."

Her sinister smile sends chills down his spine. Even though she lacks aura, her magic is cruel to the enemies who underestimated it.

A white bolt energy arrow flies from his crossbow at his target. A sharp trill comes from the sparrow that thuds to the ground.

He yawns loudly without covering his mouth. Before he closes his tent to dress up, "Make us breakfast, witch."

The former queen of Athens gives him a knowing smirk. She knows this demigod needs her help. She picks up the bird to pluck its feathers.

While she gathers the ingredients for breakfast, her eyes fixate on the campfire. Medea stills the beating heart that still loves him.

Together, they produced a wonderful son who mirrors his kind nature. The very nature that opened her heart to love again.

After the deaths of Jason's sons, the late Argonaut spread rumors that she had killed them out of spite. Although Helios forgave Medea, she knew how much anger her great-grandfather was holding back. Her parents wished nothing to do with her, knowing her dishonorable act would stain their family legacy.

She only had herself and her magic to rely upon in Athens. Her hungry stomach led her to a prince's open banquet where his suitors were waiting for him. She kept herself small under her brown cloak while she took whatever her hands could get. 

"No need to rush. Take as much as you want."

She turned her head to avoid meeting the eyes that belonged to that warm voice. She whispered to the man to leave her alone for his sake. Whispers from the guests began to travel about her identity. Glancing from a reflection of a goblet, her breath hitched that she was speaking to the noble himself.

 "Isn't that--no! It can't be! That's Medea! Keep your distance from her."

The whispers of the guests almost drove Medea's feet to run away--

"ENOUGH OUT OF YOU LOT! SHE'S MY GUEST AND YOU WILL NOT INSULT HER!"

Her face jerked to him. Her hazel eyes questioning his intent. He offered an open hand to her to bring her to a quiet place. Her hand hesitated, but Aegeus led her to a private guest room. He had her sit in a chair that gave her back relief. He left only to return with several plates of food and drink.

"Stop. You know who I -"

"Their words don't carry weight to me. Medea of Colchis, your eyes don't reflect pride. I only see sadness and shame."

Those verbal projectiles pierced through her stone heart. Water releases from her eyes, but she refused to be embraced by the future king. He wrapped a blanket around her and gave her time to process and eat.

Silence sat between them as he placed the dirty plates near the door. She apologized that she was taking time away from his suitors, but he didn't mind. He wasn't going to select any of them in the first place. His father only wanted to secure a strong alliance. 

She got up to leave, but Aegeus wanted to know the truth of what happened. His gentle heart and words led her to open up for the first time in a while. Shaky words accompanied her tears from the truth. Afraid that he wouldn't believe her over the words of a late hero.

His embrace shook the witch. "I believe you."

Three words that she needed to hear. Her arms latched around him to let his warmth inside her. Despite her objections, true love blossomed between the two. However, her attempt on Theseus' life divided the couple. She feared that he had spent more time with someone he considered a son over Medus. 

Would he still love me after-

"Medea, are you okay", Orpheus' voice brings her back to the present.

She stops the split sparrow from burning. Her eyes harden. "I'm fine."

His handkerchief drops in her lap. "It's raining."

A small moment of understanding that she appreciates. Drying the tears from her face before Narcissus would mock her.

She lets Orpheus split the breakfast up with their rations to catch her breath. Using the grounding techniques from Takashi, she collects her center. Determination flows within her to convince Orpheus to her side. She just has to outwit their doubtful companion.

After breakfast, she concentrates her magic into finding Hephaestus. Their eyes widen from seeing the Olympian on his stomach. Hands reaching out to something they can't see. Dark pink aura constricting the armored fire god in his place.

While gathering their items, Medea hands back Orpheus' handkerchief. "Thank you."

He nods. His observant eyes pick up on the secret message. 

"Taki isn't responsible. Zeus is."

His lyre creaks from the grip. More pieces fell into place without them exchanging a word.

"Let me know if you need it again."

Narcissus scoffs. "When did you two get friendly again?"

"We're on the same team", Orpheus responds.

"Let's get this finished so we can get our wishes", the proud demigod jumps into the living chariot.

Medea grips the reins of her golden dragons while concealing her smile. Because of her, Taki gained another ally in this impossible war. She just hopes that he will be with Demeter before it's too late.