Sticks and Atomic Stones

Aed rubbed his head in frustration. "Right when we get rid of one headache I have to deal with another."

"It's... Not really that much of a headache." I responded.

He looked at me with an agitated look. " Really?! Because we went through all this to shut down a bomb maker to create a possibly worse one. What's to stop you from creating those things and making a mess of the universe because something didn't go the way you wanted?" He fumed.

I shook my head slowly. "There's a saying on earth. Hammers are good for many things. Whether it's building a house or crushing a head. All that matters is the hand that wields it." "So these stones..." I said as I raised my hand and willed one into existence before Aeds very eyes. "Are merely an unexplored tool. So much energy to be tapped into to broaden and better the world's we govern. True they may be dangerous. But even plutonium, An incredibly radioactive and explosive material, has enough energy to power a city or two.

All that matters is how it's used." I said as I suddenly deconstructed the stone. Sweat forcing it's way across my face from slowly distributing the power back into the cosmos without causing chaos. The stone desintegrated into powder and drifted back into the stars.

Aed stared at what I had just done. On a whim I made the stone. And on a whim I destroyed it without causing chaos.

"I admit you make a fine point. But what's to stop you from doing it?" He said as he folded his arms.

"I am a god of balance. Just one of these being created throws the world's out of balance. So it makes sense that my knowledge will only help in the future at defending my title. Else I wouldn't have deserved it in the first place." I said as I just let myself float about lazily in space.

Aed raised an eyebrow at me as he thought.

(Boy's got a point. He is a god of balance. If he cranked these things out he would just cause chaos. Maybe it's best if we keep this between us for now.) He thought as he grabbed my shoulder.

"Alright lad. I'll trust you with this. Don't make me regret it. And on another note. You should probably keep this between us. I don't think the others would take kindly to it." Aed hummed.

A sudden slithery voice echoed behind him. "Take kindly to what?" Kukulkan asked as he approached almost without a word making Aed jump.

"Blithering misfits!! You overgrown snake! How are you so damn quiet!?" Aed shouted at him angrily as I just shook my head and hastily though up some kind of lie to satisfy him.

"The old man wasn't very satisfied by how gods seemed. Guess he was expecting something with a little more flare than a god who is essentially a feathered snake with wings, a lady made of ice, and a burning dwarf. Now that I think about it he really only liked Persephone as she was what he kinda expected her to look like." I said which made Kuk and Aeds mouths drop open in shock.

"A mortal meets God's and we failed his expectations! What has the world come to!?" They both cried out as Vara simply gave me a cold gaze from her seat.

Though it didn't take long for Persephone to come back from dealing with my grandfather. I noticed her gaze was strange as she looked at me. Like she could see through me.

"What?" I asked with a hands up. "Did I do something wrong? Did he say something?"

She shook her head. "I would like to see you in my office. Everything has been taken care of. His soul has been cleansed and he won't be remembering anything any time soon." She said as she strode past me. A white door materialized from nowhere. It's ivory texture coated in carvings of flowers in a circle as a grave sat in its center.

I nodded briefly to Aed with a little sigh before I followed not far behind Persephone where the door quietly closed behind me before disappearing without a trace.

Aed and the others let out a sigh of relief as they went their separate ways. "That was more excitement than I've had in a while. Perhaps I could use a nice nap." Kuk said as he stretched before flying off into the cosmos. Vara met Aeds gaze as they both shook their head and Aed pulled a table into existence with two glasses and a bottle of strange golden liqueur on top of it.

"I need a drink. Aed said as he summoned a chair and poured himself and Vara a glass.

Vara nodded with a grimace. "Indeed. Not often one almost gets blasted to bits by something."She said as she slowly smelled the alcohol. It's rich and heavy odor drifted into the space around them. Aed nodded before taking a sip. "Now we need time to plan. And I figured out something for Ignis. Could really make a change for all of us." Aed said which got an eyebrow raise from Vara.

Meanwhile...

Persephone's high heels clicked against the tile floors as she strode behind her desk with me slowly finding my way to the soft chair opposite her. "Is there something wrong?"

Persephone laced her fingers together before she placing her chin on them. "When we scrub a soul or "cleanse" them. We generally make sure copies of memories weren't made. Particularly about dangerous information. We make it our practice to trace any remnants to the point that they are scrubbed from existence."

She said as she suddenly leaned back her eyes holding a dangerous glare. "And I particularly don't like procedures to be used to procure information that is dangerous in nature but not thoroughly scrubbing it out." She said and I suddenly felt some saliva gather in my throat.

She put her hands on her desk as she leaned forward. "Memory magic is volatile and often leaves traces. The type that allowed your grandfather to actually read more than what you actually gave him. He knew about things he shouldn't have already. But thankfully he was kind enough to tell me you have someone very interesting in your possession or should I say... Custody." She hummed as I felt a different kind of chill go down my spine. A killing intent came from her and before I could do or say anything my shadows moved and Nox burst out of them. A brazier blazing in her grasp driving back the cold that had suddenly filled the room.

"I don't appreciate you threatening my Father like that. Particularly when he's allowing me to be able to set things right." Nox's calm whisper echoed through the chambers. Her voice though small seemed to hold a lot of power as the shadows in the room danced before her like children welcoming their mother home.

Persephone blanched slightly at the sight of Nox but held her ground. She kicked back her chair as a whip of bones and vines gathered to her hands ready to strike. And it was then I felt something flare in my chest. Perhaps pride, or parental instinct as a primal growl that shook the floor and walls came from my throat which made both of them pale.

"Touch my daughter Persephone. And see how much it will take to deal with me. I have been hospitable and patient to your demands just as you have mine. So what I do in my spare time is none of your damn business if it doesn't hurt anybody." My rumbling voice shook through the room as my fear burned away and I stood up, towering above them both at my normal height.

Persephone's eyes fluttered a little before gaining a confused gaze. "Daughter? When in the underworld has Nox been your daughter?!"

I leaned down slightly putting my hand on Nox's shoulder. "Since I've been picking up the pieces and cleansing them of the evil, malignant forces of... IT." I said as I looked Persephone dead in her shocked eyes.

"You're reassembling her... In her... Previous state?" She asked.

I shook my head. "No. I'm simply cleaning out the parts that aren't her. The tainted history that has been twisted is being cleansed of its murky outlook to reveal the truth. She was used, baited, twisted, and then unleashed. She was left to fight a foe she could defeat given enough time. But... She was left to fight him alone. And that was a mistake." I said as I stood up straight once more.

"So if you have any more judgements about my abilities I'll take them now. But otherwise I'll leave you with my thanks for taking care of my grandfather and get out of your hair." I said as I turned to leave.

"Wait!!!" Persephone called out.

"What now?" I asked as I turned.

Persephone took a couple steps forward before looking Nox in the eyes and bowed.

"I was wrong. I was wrong to leave you in that place alone. And I hope you'll find it in your heart to forgive my husband and I for the part we played in your shattering."

Nox's face showed no change and no one could see under her vale to know her expression.

"What's past is past. I just want to pay back the one who twisted me to his own ends. And finally see an end to that eternal war." Nox said as she stepped onto my shadow and disappeared once more before I opened the door and walked out. It's sound of clicking shut quietly echoing behind me.