It had been just over a millennium since Nemo had brought himself into balance as the lord of the Underworld and the Oracle of Darkness. Over a thousand years had passed since the birth of his first child, a physical embodiment of the balance of Light and Darkness of the world named Remiel. Now, Remiel had grown into a fine and powerful prince of the Underworld, mastering the Light and Darkness within him as he kept them in order with each other, learning from his parents and the god of Light up in the heavens.
Nemo had guided his son proudly throughout the years, even clashed with him over the Celestial Balance, and Remiel had always proven to be in the right. Despite his own position, his pride in his child had always been stronger, and he agreed with the younger spirit's claims. But Remiel had now grown to be quite independent as he had been for several hundred years, watching over the world as one of its guardians and keeping the Celestial Balance in check. Though he would always be Nemo's son, it had become increasingly difficult for the Oracle of Darkness to see him as his child and not as an equal, a counterpart, an ally, a friend. He didn't mind this new relationship, but he couldn't help but miss being a true father.
It seemed Levica had agreed with his sentiments, and the two had dedicated themselves to creating and raising a new child, one who could also carry on their legacy and aid Remiel in his journey through time and across the world as he kept the peace. Even Remiel himself looked forward to the idea of having a younger sibling to look after.
Nemo's eyes sparkled with pride as he and his family welcomed the child, an infant son with a small, tousled patch of wet, silver hair like his father and sparkling green eyes like his mother. The lord of the Underworld could easily sense both Light and Darkness within him, but there was something different about him than his brother. Nemo could not place the cause, nor was he certain he wanted to know, but the boy seemed strong enough.
"I will assure that you have a safe and happy life," he said softly as he held the boy in his arms for the first time. Levica smiled, despite her pale and sweaty look from the stress of childbirth.
"What are we going to call him?" she asked weakly, and he turned to her once he had handed the child to Remiel.
"Hm…" He frowned for a moment. "I'm not sure. Rem? Any ideas?" But Remiel shook his head.
"I can't say I do, Father. But I'll think about it and let you know if I come up with anything."
"Very well." The lord of the Underworld turned back to his partner and kissed her forehead. "You look tired, love. Rest now, will you?" She smiled and reached her hand up, and he took hold of it in both of his. "I'll look after him. Don't worry." She nodded.
"That sounds just fine to me," she agreed, and a moment later, she fell asleep. Nemo turned around to find that his infant son had as well, and Remiel smiled softly at his new brother before returning him to their father. They left a moment later in hopes of letting Levica have a bit of peace.
"He's different from me," Remiel mumbled to his father as he followed him down the halls of the shrine within the City of Souls, where Nemo had long ago made his home. "I'm sure you sense that both Dark and Light are in him. But it's not like the balance that makes me who I am."
"What do you mean?" Nemo wondered as his infant son stirred gently in his arms.
"I mean they're not as… smooth? I don't really know how to put it," Remiel admitted. "I guess… Everyone says I take after Mother, right?" Nemo nodded. "I think he takes more after you. Father, you don't need me to remind you that your sense of the Celestial Balance is different from Mother's. Though you both wish to protect it, you would go to different lengths to do so. I think it's like that: Where I'm more like Mother, he'll be more like you." Nemo didn't reply, knowing all too well that he was referring to the battle with Pit over the existence of the world as they knew it. "…I apologize, Father. Perhaps that was better left unsaid."
"No, you're right," the Oracle sighed. "That's one way that your mother and I are vastly different. While she'll do anything to keep the peace, I'll readily fight for what I believe to be right. But so do you, do you not?"
"Yes, but that's not my point." An underlying tone of defense made its way into Remiel's voice. "I only fight when I deem it to be absolutely necessary, after weighing the options. And it's usually under you or Lord Pit."
"So my fighting wasn't necessary?" Nemo inquired. "I did what I thought was best, Remiel. And Pit still hasn't entirely proven me wrong. The humans still battle over pointless matters. They're ushering their own destruction."
"And yet they've managed to save themselves as well!" Remiel pointed out as they reached the infant's room, and Nemo placed the youth gently in his crib before the two left. "There are more of them that want peace and would fight for it than those who would destroy themselves." His tone was growing a bit louder, no longer fearing that he may wake up the infant.
"But there are still those that would," Nemo again pointed out. "And at this rate, there always will be."
"So you would punish them when most of them have done nothing wrong?!" Remiel demanded, and Nemo turned to face him.
"Who are you to judge my actions?" he retorted. "You resent me for them, don't you? You believe I was wrong, do you not?"
"You ask me how I can judge your actions," Remiel replied. "How can you judge the humans? What gives that right? How could you just come in and take over the Underworld from Hades?!"
"I do not regret what I did back then!" Nemo growled. "The only thing I regret is contributing to Lady Palutena's death. That's it. If given the chance, I wouldn't do anything differently. You weren't even around back then. I don't expect you to understand."
"I understand that you were about to tip the Balance," Remiel said flatly. "Much as you thought you were protecting it, you-"
"I was not going to keep that power for myself," Nemo interrupted. "I would have restored the other Oracles and the gods as best I could, but with the plan of protecting the Balance. That was my intention and still is." Remiel glared at him with a furrowed brow, but held his ground. "You're ashamed of me, aren't you? You don't like being compared to me for what I did." He didn't immediately answer.
"No," the prince finally said shortly. "I don't. Because I don't want people to think I'm like the monster that nearly wiped out the world."
The words were like a knife in Nemo's heart. He stared at his son and swallowed back a lump in his throat.
"You…" he began, his voice almost inaudible. "You think I'm a monster?" The anger in Remiel's eyes flickered before fading and being replaced by realization and, moments later, regret.
"No, no! I… Father, you know I love and respect you. I just… No, you're not a monster. At least, not anymore. I'm proud now to be your son after everything you've done to help Lord Pit and protect the Balance." Despite his reassurance, Nemo's gaze still lost focus.
"So I'm not anymore, but I once was. And had I continued on that path, you wouldn't have been so proud."
"Father, I…" But it seemed Remiel was lost for words. "I don't mean that. I'm sorry I spoke out of line. Please, forgive me."
Nemo didn't immediately reply. But when he finally opened his mouth to do so, he stopped as a sound reached his ears. Alarm shot through him as he realized what it was: the sound of a crying infant. He hurried back to his newborn's chamber with a dumbfounded Remiel following close behind, and he shoved the door open quickly and glanced around wildly. The crib was empty, and neither his son nor the culprit were anywhere to be seen.
"Oh no…" Remiel choked. "What happened?" Nemo looked up to find a break in the ceiling that still smoldered with dying blue flame.
"Pandora!" He growled. "No… that evil little… How could she do this?"
"We can't let her get away," Remiel said quickly. "I'll find her. Don't worry." Nemo turned to him and hugged him quickly.
"Thank you. And, Rem, I'm sorry I lost my temper." Remiel shook his head and took on his own spirit-like form of Light and Darkness before he sped off through the hole and after Pandora.
It took him some time and tracking to finally find her near the entrance of the Underworld, searching through some of the crags and rocks nearby.
"PANDORA!" he shouted, catching her attention just as he slammed into her and knocked her down, reverting to his other state of being as light and darkness burst to life around him.
"And good evening to you too, Prince," she spat as she got up and brushed herself off. "To what do I owe this pleasant visit?"
"Where's my brother?!" he demanded, holding out his hand toward her. She stared at him quizzically.
"Levica gave birth, huh?" she shrugged. "Congratulations. But he went missing, eh? That's too bad."
"Don't play dumb with me. Where is he?!" She smiled at him knowingly, confirming their suspicions, but said nothing. "Damn it, Pandora, what did you do with him?"
"I don't have him," she replied bluntly. "But thanks for thinking of me." And before he could object, she disappeared in a burst of blue flame that mirrored the fire of anger within him. He took a deep breath in an attempt to calm down and combed through the rocks she'd been investigating earlier, but there was no sign of the child.
"Wonderful…" he mumbled and made his way back to the City of Souls, where he found his fretting parents awaiting his return. With a heavy heart, he broke the news to them, and Nemo vowed to never stop searching.
