19 – A New Greece

Poseidon arrived at Kratos' house. He knocked on the door, and Pandora answered, '' Is he awake yet?''

Pandora let Poseidon in and shook her head, '' No. It's been a few hours since he was healed, but he hasn't moved.''

Poseidon nodded at her. Silence dominated the room until Poseidon asked, '' What are you going to do next?''

Pandora was confused, '' What do you mean?''

'' We don't know how Kratos will react after he wakes up. He could try to kill us, or himself.''

Pandora was white like a ghost, '' I didn't think about it.''

Poseidon smiles at her, '' Don't worry about it! I'll stay here and wait for him to wake up... can you go talk to Hephaestus and see if what I asked for is ready?''

Pandora nodded and went looking for Hephaestus. As soon as she was out of sight, Poseidon said to Kratos, "You can speak now. I know you're awake.''

Kratos, who should have been asleep, opened his eyes. He looked around and sighed, '' Why did you save me?''

''I promised you a new path... and it doesn't involve you dying so soon.'' Poseidon then asked, '' How are you feeling after, well, after all that has happened?''

'' I had my revenge... but the guilt and the emptiness I feel for the death of my family still eats away at my heart.'' Kratos was at one of his worst moments.

''Revenge won't bring your family back, nor will your death bring peace. What you need to do is keep living, and keep their memories with you. That's one way to keep them alive.'' Poseidon was trying to lift Kratos' spirits, but it was not working. ''Let's say you die. Then what happens to everything else?''

'' I don't see any point in anything anymore. I did what I had to do, and that's it. Now I want to rest.''

'''And Pandora? What will become of her?''

Kratos raised his eyebrows, "She has Hephaestus and Aphrodite. She doesn't need me.''

Poseidon sighed, '' Although Hephaestus 'created' Pandora, he is not her father. She considers you, Kratos, to be her father.''

Kratos looked into Poseidon's eyes, '' Everyone who associates with me dies.''

Poseidon smiled, ''Athena and I are still alive, aren't we?'' Poseidon then stood up, '' I'm not saying everything will be magically improved. The guilt you feel will never go away, but there are ways to make it less or make you stronger to handle it. When you're ready to listen to me, come find me.''

Kratos said nothing. Just as Poseidon was about to leave, he remembered something, '' Can you give me The Blade of Chaos?''

Kratos gladly gave it to him, '' You can keep it forever.''

Poseidon thanked Kratos and left the house. Pandora was arriving just as Poseidon was on his way out, '' Hephaestus said that only one of the things you asked is ready.''

Poseidon thanked Pandora and said, '' Kratos is awake.''

Pandora's face lit up.

Poseidon then said to her, '' He still feels a lot of guilt for everything that happened to his family... try to make him better.''

'' But what can I do?''

Poseidon patted Pandora on the shoulder, '' I'll leave it to you.''

Poseidon then went looking for Hephaestus to give him the item from the third request.

He arride at Hephaestus' forge soon after. Once there, Poseidon could see that his Trident and Shield were ready.

He touched them and could feel that they were stronger than before, '' WOW.''

"Do you like it? A voice came from inside the forge.

Poseidon nodded, ''You really are the best blacksmith!''

Hephaestus laughed, '' Leave some compliments for those who need them... the prototype of the communication device is almost ready.''

Poseidon was silent and passed the Blade of Chaos to Hephaestus, who took a big breath, '' Let me guess, you want to use the rest of the Blade of Olympus to improve this weapon?''

Poseidon smiled, '' You really know me.''

Hephaestus picked up the Blade of Chaos, '' After I'm done, this weapon will be one of the most powerful I've ever made.''

Poseidon told Hephaestus,'' Kratos will need it.''

'' Speaking of him, what do you have in mind?''

''I promised a way to improve his nightmares and a new path, and I plan on keeping my promise.

''Can you tell me what this new path would be?''

Poseidon stood still for a while, '' I can only say that it involves a long journey, away from our realm... and I want Pandora to accompany him.''

Hephaestus stayed silent, then Poseidon continued speaking, "She has lived her whole life in hiding and deserves a fresh start. And here is not the right place for her to get one... Kratos considers her family, he will protect her.''

Hephaestus looked sad and sighed, ''Although I 'raised' her, I never had a fatherly presence. I tried, but Zeus didn't give me the opportunity... do you promise she'll be happier?''

Poseidon said without waiting, '' I can't predict the future, but I can guarantee that she'll be safe with Kratos...even more so if you upgrade the Blade of Chaos.''

Hephaestus smiled, '' You sure know how to motivate people.''

"A King has to learn certain things... And it was Athena who taught me how to motivate people.'' Poseidon then started to leave the forge.

''I'll visit you when I'm done with everything!'' Hephaestus said and went to do his work.

Poseidon then left, going to his home.

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A few days later

Poseidon spent days talking with Athena and learned everything he didn't know about the divine and some others things. These lessons were Poseidon's request, based on his lack of memory, and Athena gladly accepted.

Of course, in some classes, if any Gods were to pass by, they would hear moans from inside Athena's house.

Hephaestus had not yet finished the prototype of the communication device nor the renovation of the Blade Of Chaos. The reason was also a woman. Aphrodite did not seem to leave Hephaestue's side anymore, and although this made him work less, the result of his work was better.

The rest of the Gods, (there were only Athenas, Artemis, Apollo, Dionysus, Aphrodite, Demeter, Hestia, Kratos, Iris, Poseidon, and Pandora), were divided between couples.

While Isis was lost in this situation, Demeter, Hestia, and Dionysus were in a couple of 3. But the most 'surprising' was Artemis and Apollo.

Artemis and Apollo, to no one surprise, came out as a couple. There were already rumors that the siblings were more than that, and after everything that happened, they decided to tell everyone.

Everyone was happy for the two, ''When will the wedding be?'' Hestia decided to tease the new couple.

Artemis was quick to answer, "We were looking into it... maybe after the mortals are back in Greece. We could have our wedding then!

Demeter, Hestia, and Dionysus weren't thinking about getting married at the moment, and Isis couldn't decide who to be with.

Poseidon nodded, "Great idea! Then he looked at Athena and whispered to her, '' And when will it be our turn?''

Athena whispered back, '' You decide.''

Poseidon kissed Athena, '' How about today?

Athena ignored Poseidon and went to congratulate Artemis.

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While the other Gods were busy with love matters, Kratos and Pandora were occupied. Kratos was still down, but Pandora was by his side, trying to cheer him up, but it was a difficult job.

And then, exactly one month after the defeat of Zeus, Greece was free of Evil, and mortals could live there again.

The problem was that Greece was totally destroyed, and the Gods would have to spend their power to rebuild it, and because the Titans were out of the picture, the Gods would have to spend even more power. The loss of power would not be permanent, but it would take time before they were 100% again.

Of course, Poseidon, who had the most divine power among them, took the lead and began shaping the seas, their creatures, and a bit of the soil of Greece.

''ARGH!'' More and more divine powers came out of Poseidon. The process continued until the other Gods saw it was time for them to help.

Hestia and Demetria put their powers into the earth and the air. Iris also helped.

Artemis then began to create forests and creatures to walk on them. With Poseidon's help, Apollo used his powers to create a Sun.

Dionysus used his powers to make the ground fertile. Athena only helped the gods who needed it, supplementing their powers if they ran out.

Aphrodite cast her powers over all of Greece, ensuring love for all. Hephaestus also helped a little.

However, what surprised the Gods the most was that Kratos appeared together with Pandora. He then began to use his powers to help as well.

Poseidon noticed that Kratos was using the powers he had inherited from Zeus to shape the heavens. The two looked at each other, and Kratos nodded his head.

Poseidon smiled at him and unleashed even more of his powers.

After a week of this process, Greece was complete. In many ways, it was better than the old one.

Poseidon and the other gods collapsed from exhaustion.

'' ... The view is beautiful.'' Kratos said while looking at the new Greece.

Poseidon, who was splattered on the ground, said, '' And you helped create it... be proud!''

Kratos continued admiring the landscape. After a few minutes, Kratos said to Poseidon, '' You said there is a way to make this pain go down... can you tell me how?''

Poseidon stood up with difficulty and faced Kratos, '' It won't be easy. You might die halfway through. Knowing that, you still want to know?''

Kratos nodded.

Poseidon smiled, '' Get ready for a great journey!''