New Destination

Theoric hugging a sobbing Sigyn with Lydia who also had some tears in her eyes feeling the sadness coming off of the people she cared about, though not as attached to them as Theoric and Sigyn were. She at least understood this was a terrible moment and wished to express her support in some way.

Theoric looking at the blindfolded Nina didn't know how to feel, he was extremely angry with her but he also understood that this wasn't entirely her fault.

Theoric trying to control his anger spoke- "Do you realize what you've done Nina?"

Nina stayed quiet knowing she couldn't say anything.

Theoric- "The thing that angered me wasn't that you turned them, but it sounded like you did it on purpose, tell me Nina, can you control it? Did you do this on purpose?"

Nina was stunned, even now Theoric was trying to give her the benefit of the doubt which made her feel just awful.

Nina lowered her head,- "I don't know, but as my anger rose, I could feel it coming, and in my anger, I pointed it at her, at Athena's daughter... (Angrily raising her voice.)... Why shouldn't she pay after what her mother did to me!"

Theoric gritting his teeth almost losing it before he calmed down, reminding himself of the circumstances,- "I hope you realize, you not only hurt Anna but also Io as well, did she deserve it as well? Not to mention you hurt us by hurting them, just as if someone hurting you would hurt us," he said letting that sink in before he continued.

It hit Nina right in the gut hearing how she hurt them too while listening to the sobs of the ones she respected most now, even worshipped a little as her new gods, finally starting to feel a little regretful.

Seeing Nina lowering her head further he could see she was beginning to understand.

Theoric continued to reprimanded her- "Let's not even talk about the fact that your punishing of Athena's daughter for something she committed is kinda like how you were punished for something Poseidon committed... (That stung Nina hard.)... The only reason we met, the only reason we went to rescue you was not because of your mother, but because Anna wanted to save you and right her mother's wrongs."

Nina now felt completely miserable as the severity of his words hit her hard, and with no more anger left, she broke down in tears,- "I'm sooorrryyyy, yyyy, yyy." She cried out,- "I just, I just, I just, miss my mmmooooommmmmyyyyy!"

Sigyn ever the kindest in all the land slipped out of Theoric's arms as she went to Nina and gave her a big warm hug, crying together.

Just as Theoric was about to join them, he saw a flash of light around Anna and Io's statues, and a divine looking lady appeared who looked remarkably similar to Anna, only an older more mature version with a smaller height and chest size, standing at 5'5" tall with the same brown hair and piercing grey-blue eyes.

Theoric whispered under his breath,- "Athena," knowing instantly who she was.

Adorned in warrior's gear, wrapped in her famous cloak, Athena lovingly stroked her daughter's face that was forever frozen in sadness,- "My sweet, sweet daughter, I have failed you."

Her face contorting into a rage, she turned to face the one responsible,- "How dare you hurt my daughter after she risked neck and limb to save your miserable little life!" she furiously spoke as she took steps toward Nina only to have Theoric quickly block her path.- "What are you doing? I thought you loved my daughter, how can you protect her killer?"

Theoric held his hands out,- "Wait, just wait a second..."

Nina keying in on the stranger's words put two and two together as she angrily interrupted Theoric shouting back,- "Athena! If this is anyone's fault, it's yours, I didn't kill your daughter, you did!"

Athena's face turned extremely ugly as she materialized her shield and spear ready to smite them all.

Theoric tried to make peace once more as he threw up a barrier, making the angry goddess momentarily pause at seeing this new power close for the first time.- "Please wait, you know what she said isn't entirely wrong."

Athena- "How dare you try and blame me for this!" she snapped, striking her spear forward, easily shattering his barrier.

Theoric running out of options tried a different tactic, waving his hands- "Your daughter, we can't fight here, don't be rash, think of your daughter."

Athena paused- "I would never harm my daughter," she said sending her cloak to cover the two, protecting them from any and all harm.

Theoric cursed- "Please don't do this, she wouldn't want this."

Athena angrily shouted,- "What would you know of what she would want while you sit here protecting her killer!"

Theoric shouted back- "More than an absentee mother! We both know, YOU KNOW! That Nina isn't responsible for this, please don't do anything more than you already have, your the goddesses of wisdom right? Help me find a way to fix this, there has to be a way to fix this," he pleaded.

Athena, taken aback and embarrassed upon realizing she was acting like Ares, listened closely to every word he shouted as her grip loosened on her weapons, letting them fade away as she calmed herself, knowing he was right.

Athena sighed as she turned back around recalling her cloak as she looked upon her daughter once more,- "There is one way I know of that could reverse this, but it'll involve going through the sea of monsters and the only map I know rests in a labyrinth below the island of Crete that will show the way to the golden fleece, the only object I know of that will have great enough healing power to cure them."

Turning back around she walked up to Theoric who was still on guard.

"Don't worry, you speak well, my daughter choose a good man," Athena said with a slight blush that thankfully went unnoticed, easily confused for anger, as she thought back to the time she peeked in on them only to see Theoric giving it to her daughter. She was curious how it would feel doing it that way, she never before even considered the possibilities of doing it so different from the norm, she began to wonder how crazy Aphrodite has gotten during her many escapades.

Theoric- "Only thing I'm worried about is whether or not you plan on harming Nina again for something we both know she didn't deserve, and now even her mother has paid the price."

Athena frowned- "Nothing you see is ever simple, take you for example..." she paused inspecting him further,- "...You have been blessed by Gaea, now that's interesting, very interesting in fact, care to share?" she asked surprised that she let her anger cloud her so much that she missed something so important.

Theoric- "Perhaps another time, Um, I know it may be a bit inappropriate, but could you reverse what you did to Nina?"

Athena squinted her eyes at him,- "No... But you could once you get the golden fleece if you wish, though I think she's been given quite the gift, especially after you modified it, she probably could even learn to control it if she wished, though it has been weakened some, it's still a very powerful ability."

Nina fuming on the inside just hearing her voice did her best to keep cool and let Theoric handle it, knowing he was standing up for her life, but hearing the later comments, she grew excited hearing about the golden fleece, but then conflicted when she heard about keeping and controlling it. This power has brought her so much misery and she wanted nothing more than to get rid of it, but if it allowed her to stay by Theoric and Sigyn's side and help them with future troubles, it may be worth it. She even thought about the poetic justice if she could somehow turn this power against the gods.

Thinking there was something fishy about the golden fleece, Theoric asked,- "Golden Fleece huh? Why wouldn't the gods wish to keep something so powerful?"

Athena grinned- "I think your forgetting we're gods, tell me which god fears for his life and needs to be healed?"

Theoric smirked- "Right, I forgot about your guy's arrogance."

Athena ignored his comment, what would a mortal know, even if he was Asgardian- "You should get a move on if you wish to heal them, I'll keep them protected until your return."

Sigyn getting the clue began to guide Nina and Lydia out while Thoeric continued to converse with Athena on the way.

Theoric raised a questioning eyebrow- "You're going to protect them? That didn't work out too well for the others." he snorted.

Athena knowing full well what he meant, tried to ease his concerns,- "I understand your concerns, but this is my daughter, and I'll be damned if I'll allow her to come to further harm."

Theoric furrowed his brows- "And what about Io? Will you also protect her?"

Athena- "It wouldn't be the first time."

Theoric did feel better hearing it come directly out of her mouth as they continued up and out of the burial chamber where Athena already had Thena disperse everyone so they wouldn't be disturbed.

At the secret exit, Theoric paused,- "Could I ask you for a favor?"

Athena- "Since you're going to be saving my daughter, feel free to ask me for anything you need."

Theoric- "Do you have anything that can protect the senses, like eyes and ears? I'd rather not die just because I looked at something or heard something."

Athena- "Sure, but be warned, everything has its limits, Medusa's sight still shouldn't be toyed with, so be careful if she loses control again," she said pulling out an amulet with her image that he could wear.

Theoric taking it, thanked her,- "Thanks, and her names Nina now, I'd appreciate it if you didn't call her Medusa anymore." he said before turning around to catch up with the others who were waiting for him.

Athena grinned at his departure thinking about how her daughter chose a good man, but she couldn't shake this ominous feeling she was getting, like she was forgetting something important, and then it hit her.

Her eyes widened when she remembered Io is now a statue.

Medusa's gaze was deadly, so deadly that it spilled over to things you think shouldn't be affected. It not only turned you into a stone, it turned everything believed to be you into stone as well. So things like clothes that you always wear or jewelry were also considered to be you and thus turned into stone as well, that's why you never see a naked statue.

The problem was that Io's everything was turned into stone, which means the protection bracelet she was wearing to hide from Zeus was also turned and thus destroyed.

Athena's eyes widened at the realization,- "Oh no!" she said as she dashed below, just now hearing the rumbling of thunder as she raced to where her daughter was.