Chapter 20
By: MysticFantasy (taken over from MimiYamatoForever)
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The flight of stairs was coming to an end as they came out of the Pisces temple. Fortunatly for the group, most of Aphrodite's roses had been cleared out when Hades had taken control of the Sanctuary.
The saint of Pisces had been furious when he saw that his precious rose garden was gone but he couldn't worry about it right now. Because the roses were gone no one was suffering from the poison the flowers gave off.
The group finally came to the top of the stairs just as the Taurus flame burned out on the fire clock. Now there was only twenty minutes left for them to get their plan accomplished. If they didn't then these last few minutes may be the last for the Sanctuary and all of Earth.
They were halfway down the pathway leading into the palace when Camus suddenly fell.
"Camus? Are you alright?" Dohko asked helping the Aquarius saint stand.
"I'm fine." Camus answered.
"What did you trip over?" Hyoga asked not seeing anything that would make his mentor fall.
"It felt like...a string." Camus answered not seeing anything either.
"A string? From where?" DeathMask asked before Aioria suddenly punched him on his cheek and sent him falling to the ground. "What was that for?!"
"I didn't mean to." Aioria replied confused looking at his hands.
"Aioria, are you alright?" Aiolos asked his brother before Mu roughly kicked him to the ground. "Hey!"
"I'm sorry, Aiolos. I didn't do it on purpose. Something was controlling me." Mu replied.
"Controlling you?" Shiryu asked before he suddenly launched a kick at Seiya who managed to dodge.
"Shiryu!"
"I didn't mean to Seiya."
Suddenly, the saints and Athena heard a chuckle and they turned toward the front doors of the palace to see them open slowly.
Three figures walked out of the doorway and into the moonlight to make them all feel their fear rise. For standing there were none other than the Three Judges.
Easily shining from his fingertips, Minos had his favorite attack ready to be used again. The strings were wrapped around Aioria, Mu and Shiryu. Obviously Minos was planning on turning the saints against each other.
"You saints are more entertaining than I thought." Minos declared lifting a finger which caused Aioria to land a punch square on Shura's chest and send him to the ground out of breath.
"I should have known you guys would be around." Seiya said ready to launch an attack.
"But you didn't." Aiacos replied smartly. "Lord Hades graciously let us out of the Underworld, along with the other specters, so we could all enjoy watching Sanctuary be demolished."
"Hate to break it to you but Sanctuary isn't going to be torn down any time soon." Hyoga said as he raised his cosmo. The air around them became heavy with fog and the strings holding the saints froze and broke.
"Athena, please continue on. We'll hold them here." Dohko said.
"Alright. Please be careful." Athena replied.
"We will." Dohko promised.
"This fog won't do you any good." Rhadamanthys declared walking down the small flight of stairs with Minos and Aiacos following.
"This way, Athena." Seiya whispered taking her hand and leading her to the side of the building with Shaka, Aiolos, Camus and Hyoga close by.
"If you're trying to get past us you won't get very far. Specters from Lord Hades great army are waiting inside and they'll attack at first sight." Aiacos shouted.
"Can we get in through the back entrance?" Hyoga asked.
"No, they'll be expecting us to do something like that." Camus answered.
"He's right." Shaka agreed. "They'll be expecting us to enter the palace through the first floor. Our best chance is to get in through one of the higher floors and then make our way to the throne room."
"Agreed." Aiolos said. "Let's try the third floor. If there are any specters waiting I'll take them on. The rest of you need to keep heading to the throne room. We can't let anything stop us from reaching Hades."
"Are you sure about that, Aiolos?" Seiya asked as they neared the middle of the building.
"Yes." the archer answered. "We don't have any time to waste if we want to prevent the destruction of every living thing on Earth."
"The same will go for me in case we run into any more specters along the way." Shaka said.
"Fine." Hyoga agreed though he hated the thought of the two fighting the dark army alone. But Aiolos was right. They didn't have any time to waste arguing about it. Getting to Hades was their main priority and they couldn't let anything stop them.
"Let's get inside!" Seiya said. He grabbed Athena bridal style and they all jumped toward a balcony on the third floor.
They landed with ease and without detection. Seiya put Athena down as Camus opened the glass doors.
Quietly, the group walked into the hallway and didn't see anything or anyone that was of any danger to them.
"This way." Aiolos whispered getting his bow strung with an arrow and started down the hallway. The others quickly followed while trying to be as quiet as possible to avoid being caught.
The sound of their quick footsteps was dulled because of the heavy carpet. They came to a divided hallway and stopped. Camus peeked around the corner to see if there was anyone heading their way.
"It's clear." He whispered and they continued down the same hallway.
"This almost seems too easy." Aiolos said softly.
"I agree but don't jynx it." Seiya whined right before a black blur suddenly knocked into Camus and sent him crashing into the wall.
"Master!" Hyoga cried rushing to Camus' side.
"I'm alright, Hyoga." Camus said standing and facing the specter that had attacked him.
"Did you really think it would be this easy?" the short man said half hidden in the shadows.
"Who are you?" Shaka demanded as Aiolos aimed his weapon at the specter.
"Earthly Bestial Star, Cait Sith Cheshire." he answered coming out of the shadows with four others standing behind him.
"I remember you!" Seiya declared. "You were Pandora's little footman in the last war."
"Well, well. Pegasus Tenma reborn." Chesire mused. "I should have expected you to be with Athena. Just as you were all those years ago."
"As if you weren't as bad. You were practically Pandora's little pet. You practically followed her everywhere she went." Seiya replied.
"Even after all this time you still have that big mouth." Chesire sneered.
"I'll show you a big..."
Seiya was cut off when Aiolos stepped in front of him to prevent him from moving any further.
"Seiya, we discussed this. You are to take Athena and keep heading to the throne room to stop Hades." Aiolos said.
"But I..."
"Seiya!"
The Pegasus saint sighed and nodded. Although he knew that Chesire wouldn't be a challenge to Aiolos, he was a little more concerned about the other specters standing behind the shorter specter.
During the last war, Seiya didn't once see Chesire use any kind of attack on anyone and only saw him acting like a servant to Pandora but he did see other specters showing off their powers when they were faced with any of the saints.
"Let's go." Camus said motioning to Hyoga to go ahead with Athena while he made sure the specters didn't attempt anything as they left.
Seiya followed after Hyoga and Athena with Shaka and Camus following close behind hoping that Aiolos would be alright.
"You not only look like the previous Sagittarius saint but you have the same determination as him. But what makes you think that you'll beat Lord Hades? He easily put Sagittarius Sisyphus in his place in the previous war." Chesire said.
"I'm different than Sagittarius Sisyphus in many ways but one thing we both have in common is that we wish to see Athena victorious and Earth safe under her rule. We have a plan to stop Hades but he's not going to be attacked by any weapons." Aiolos replied and saw the confused look on the specters face.
"You're as crazy as Sisyphus. That's plain to see." Chesire remarked.
"Then let me releive you of that sight." Aiolos said as he aimed his weapon at the specters as his body gave off a light gold glow.
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Hyoga turned his head when he heard the booming noise from down the hall.
"Aiolos will be alright." Camus said seeing the swan's face.
"He won't break a sweat over Chesire." Seiya added. "I wasn't kidding when I said that he was Pandora's pet. I don't remember him ever attacking anyone in the last war and he always took off when it looked like things were getting too complicated. Aiolos only has to worry about those other guys with Chesire."
"Well, that brings some comfort. But Aiolos is one of the strongest of the Gold Saints so we shouldn't have to worry very much." Shaka said as they came to a flight of stairs.
Being careful, they quickly hurried down and made it to the second floor where they continued down the staircase to the first floor.
Being extra cautious, the group stayed close to the walls as they made their way down the hall. It was so quiet and that right away made the saints suspicious. It also let them know that there was surely going to be another surprise attack.
"Stop right there!" a voice ordered making the group stop dead in their tracks. They looked toward a dark hallway and saw someone walk out from the shadows.
"Not again." Hyoga groaned.
"Show yourself." Camus ordered. "Who are you?"
"Heavenly Pain Star, Mandrake Fyodor." the specter answered and smirked at Seiya. "Hello again Pegasus."
"You!" Seiya sneered. "You were the one who held my soul captive after Alone killed me."
"And if it wasn't for that Unicorn saint and his little girlfriend, you would have remained there to be tortured for all eternity." Fyodor replied. "I intend to once again hold your soul captive in the deepest parts of the Underworld where no one will be able to reach you."
"If Yato were here he'd knock your head off for saying that." Seiya said.
"Also, I'm not the only one here who has been waiting to see you again." Fyodor said.
"What do you mean?" Seiya asked in a suspicious tone.
"Don't tell us that two hundred years has made you forget us, Tenma." a voice said behind Fyodor.
Seiya eyes went wide when two figures walked out from behind Fyodor and he instantly recognized who they were.
"Dullahan Cube. Bat Wimber."
"So you do remember us." Wimber said with a smirk. "How thoughtful."
"Looks like all of you are coming to finish what you couldn't two hundred years ago." Seiya said.
"If that annoying Taurus saint hadn't gotten in the way we would have been successful in our mission to kill you." Cube declared.
"Still sore because he outsmarted you?" Seiya mocked before a hand was on his shoulder.
"Seiya, now is not the time for reunions. You have to keep going." Shaka said taking a step toward the specters. "Don't forget our plan."
"Ah, Asmita's replacement." Cube noted. "But you're different than he was. You're not blind."
"That's correct, specters." Shaka said as Camus got the others to start moving again. "Unlike Virgo Asmita, my eyes are working perfectly but he had it better as he was spared the sight of looking at you and your master."
"How dare you speak in such a manner of Lord Hades!" Wimber yelled angrily.
"If you are angry at me for speaking the truth about your master then try to take your best shot." Shaka replied putting his hands together as they started to glow a soft gold light.
"You'll pay for speaking ill of Lord Hades!" Fyodor declared as the three launched an attack on the blond gold saint.
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"We're almost there." Camus announced not even bothering to be quiet anymore since the specters already knew they were there.
"Seiya, it seems like you had more enemies in the past than you do now." Hyoga half joked.
"My winning personality, Hyoga." Seiya replied with a smirk. "Honestly, I'm a little surprised those guys remember me."
"What did they do to you in the past?" Athena asked.
"Fyodor held my soul captive after I had been killed in a building near the pit leading into the Underworld. He was going to keep me there after he told me that Minos had a gang of specters heading to the Sanctuary. But Unicorn Yato and Crane Yuzuriha managed to find me and save me. We were able to get back to the land of the living but by the time I managed to get back to Sanctuary, Alone was already face to face with Sasha and had nearly killed Sisyphus. After Alone left, I had been with Aldebaran and his pupils when Cube and Wimber appeared. They had been sent by Pandora to kill me but Taurus Rasgado managed to beat them himself and died shortly after."
"He was just like our Aldebaran." Camus mused.
"Definitely the gentle giant." Seiya agreed before they came to a stop since they had come to the doors leading into the throne room.
They easily felt a large cosmo coming from the other side of those doors and knew that it had to be Hades.
"Should we wait for Aiolos and Shaka?" Hyoga asked.
"I don't think that would be wise with how little time we have left." Camus replied. "We should go in and try to defeat him on our own or hope the others will arrive shortly."
"I can hear you, Aquarius Camus." a voice called from the other side of the doors. "Athena, if you and your saints are planning to face me then don't be afraid. Come in."
Almost automatically, the double doors slowly opened and they looked inside to see the room was still the same as before when Athena would ruling Sanctuary. The colors and design haven't changed.
Cautiously, the group walked into the room with Athena leading them.
"With only fifteen minutes to spare you dare to come try to stop me from releasing the kraken." Hades mused. "You're determination hasn't changed over the centuries, my dear niece. It's a shame that you still wish to be human."
"I've seen the kindness of humanity, Hades. You've only seen the worst side and have learned to gain strength from it."
"I've learned new ways to make my powers stronger whereas you and your family still believe the same way will continue to work." Hades replied standing.
"They must be working if the others and I are still here." Athena replied.
"So what do you plan to do now, Athena?" Hades asked. "Destroy me?"
"Something along those lines." Seiya lied before launching himself at the deity with his fist glowing bright blue.
"Learn your place." Hades said raising a hand as it shown red. When Seiya was in punching distance he found himself suddenly floating in midair and tossed back a few feet.
"You think you would learn after the first time." Hades said.
"Not really." Seiya replied managing to stand. "You should have known that after all the times we've come across each other."
"True, especially since you were the only one to ever injure my true body. Not even those pesky Gold Saints of that time came close to what you accomplished. That's the reason Athena kept having you reincarnated. In hopes the same thing would happen again one day. She must believe that today is that day."
"Normally, you would be right." Hyoga said. "But we actually have something else in mind."
"Oh? Are you planning to silence my call for the kraken another way?" Hades asked.
"You tell me." Seiya replied. "You were able to see the attack back on Olympus."
Hades lightly glared at the Pegasus saint. "That same confidence has stuck with you even after all this time."
"Without it I wouldn't be much of a saint for Athena. I've helped her bring you down time and time again Hades."
"But can you do it again in under ten minutes?" Hades taunted.
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"Rising Dragon!"
Shiryu launched his best attack at Aiacos but the Judge had easily dodged it only to dodge an attack from Saga.
The battle with the Three Judges was a rough one. The young dragon wanted nothing more than to run into the palace and find out if the others had made it to Hades or not.
He had felt Seiya's cosmos for a brief moment but then it vanished. This caused him to worry.
"Shiryu!"
The teen looked over to Dohko who had managed to run over to him.
"Shiryu, the others are going to handle this. You and I are going to help Athena and the others." Dohko explained.
"Alright." Shiryu agreed, glad that he got his wish to check on his friends. He glanced toward the fire clock and nearly felt his blood freeze. The Leo flame was already half it's size.
Seven minutes. Shiryu thought as he and Dohko ran into the building. There's only seven minutes left and once the Virgo flame goes out who knows what'll happen. Either our plan will work and Earth will be safe under Athena's rule or the last of the great beasts will be seen for the first time in centuries and destroy everything in sight.
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Hyoga let out a pain filled yell as he was slammed into the wall and was held there for a few seconds before falling to the floor. Though pain filled every part of his body he managed to get back up on his feet.
Luckily, Hades hadn't figured out their plan yet. But time was running out and they really needed to get the deity to stay still long enough for Athena to extract his soul. And that was going to be a tough task.
So far, any attempt had failed and Hades always managed to send them back flying.
We're running out of time. Camus thought. We have to seal Hades soul or else it's the end of everything as we know it.
"You only have a few minutes. Admit defeat and I may spare those of you before me now." Hades said.
"No way, Hades." Seiya replied standing and making sure Athena was still safe and unharmed behind the pillar she was behind.
"Then tell me, with only five minutes until the kraken rises, how do you intend to stop me?" Hades asked floating down to the floor.
I know how we plan to stop him but it's now a matter of can we do it. Seiya thought to himself before he heard the sound of running footsteps. He turned and saw none other than Dohko and Shiryu burst into the room and were closely followed by Shaka and Aiolos who looked a little roughed up. No doubt from their fights with the specters.
"You made it." Hyoga mused.
"There's not much time left." Shiryu declared.
"You're right, Dragon." Hades said as his hand started to glow a lavender light. "There's not much time left for any of you!"
The saints all shouted when they were thrown back into the walls or pinned to the floor. The pressure continued on their bodies and it became increasingly hard to move and breath.
"I've had enough of you saints and your goddess trying to keep me from taking what is mine." Hades declared. "It's time I end your lowly lives once and for all. But to make it even worse for you, I'll kill Athena before your eyes."
"No." Seiya managed to groan as he turned his head in Athena's direction and where Hades was walking.
Athena came out of her hiding place and looked at the raven haired man before her. The face of Andromeda Shun was staring at her with pure hatred and rage. It didn't suit his kind face but she had to remember that this wasn't really Shun in front of her.
"Hades, I can't allow you to harm my saints or anyone else on this planet." Athena said.
"You're saints are currently occupied Athena, so how do you plan to stop me from going through with my plans?" Hades asked standing a few feet away as a ball of light appeared in front of him and formed into the famous black and silver sword he had used in the previous war in an attempt to kill Pegasus Tenma.
"Perhaps I can offer you something in exchange for not releasing the kraken." Athena offered a little nervous seeing the sword.
"Sorry Athena but you already proved yourself untrustworthy when it comes to a perfect bargain." Hades replied raising the sword to point directly at Athena. "Now you will die in front of your saints and you will have the knowledge knowing that they will die after you and soon your father will fall as well. I never really intended to release the Titans. I only used them as a threat to make sure your father stepped down as king."
Athena glared at Hades. She had, in the back of her mind, knew he wouldn't release the Titans from their prison because they were almost as strong as the ones who put them there.
"It's time for you to die, Athena." Hades said as he started to glow a dark almost black glow.
"You leave her alone!" Aiolos managed to shout.
Ignoring the Sagittarius saint, Hades lunged toward Athena with his sword ready to pierce her heart.
Athena yelled in fear and brought her hands up for any kind of protection possible. Hades gave a final shout and the tip of his sword nearly reached the war goddess when a sudden bright pink light blinded them all.
Seiya and the others had to shut their eyes from the bright light but they opened their eyes again when they instantly felt the pressure on their bodies vanish and they were free to move.
They all looked over to Hades and gasped at what they saw. Athena herself was looking surprised at what was happening.
With the bright pink light still around him, Hades was struggling to get free from the sudden appearance of the golden Nebula Chains.
The chains were wrapped tightly around his body, pinning his arms to his sides and rendering him unable to move.
"What in the world?" Dohko whispered unable to believe the sight.
"Shun's nebula chains protected Athena." Hyoga stated. "Even in the state he's in now, he still wants to protect Athena from any harm."
Athena continued to watch Hades try to get free of the chains holding him captive and her eyes widened when she felt the familiar cosmo.
"Athena."
"That was Shun's voice!" Shiryu declared.
"He's taking control of his body." Shaka added.
"Athena, you have seal both our souls now!" Shun declared.
"But Shun…"
"Please Athena, there's no other way." Shun declared. "You have to do it now! Seal our souls away and make sure that we cannot break free!"
Athena felt tears collect in the corners of her eyes. Still true to his oath as a saint, Shun was willing to do what it took to make sure that Hades didn't harm anyone he cared about or anyone else. He was always willing to give his life and now he was willing to give his very soul to make sure that Hades was stopped.
The others were equally shocked and touched by what Shun was doing. He hated knowing what he was in ancient times but he knew that being born a human and having such wonderful people in his life gave him the strength to over power his other side and do such things.
"I can't hold him for much longer. Please, Athena. You have to do it to save the world and everyone you care about." Shun declared.
The war goddess felt her tears start to fall as her cosmo flared brightly.
"I will honor your wishes, Shun." she said. "And we shall personally make sure that your wish to keep Hades sealed will be granted. We will treasure your sacrifice."
Shun managed a smile before his eyes closed when Athena's cosmo reached into his body.
"Camus! Hyoga! Be ready!" Athena yelled.
Quickly remembering what they had to do, the two ice saints got to their feet and hurried over just as they saw two different colored streams of light come from Shun's body. One was pink and the other was black.
Shun's and Hades' souls.
The two streams of light instantly went into the star pentagram around Shun's neck and a gold light formed around the item. Within seconds a seal of Athena was wrapped around the star, nearly hiding the entire pendant.
Shun's skin turned very pale now that he didn't have his soul and his facial expression turned from the one of anger and desperation to a relaxed appearance. Like he was falling asleep.
"Now!" Athena ordered using her cosmo to keep the young man standing.
Hyoga and Camus raised their cosmo as much as they could and put their hands together; getting ready for the final sealing. The air in the room turned cold and a light frost started to cover every wall and the floor.
Shun, Seiya thought as the ice saints raised their hands over their heads. You're the greatest of us all. I'm sorry things had to turn this way. I've failed you once again. I'm so sorry.
"ICE COFFIN!"
The Pegasus saint shut his eyes and turned his head away from the scene. He couldn't bear to watch Shun being frozen alive like this.
He felt the blast of ice cold air rush over his body. The blast of cold air lasted for several long seconds before finally ending with the sound of a large thud slightly echoing in the room.
Still, Seiya didn't want to bring himself to open his eyes and see what he knew was a horrible sight. He felt a gentle hand on his shoulder and looked to the side to see Aiolos giving him a look that said he felt the same as the younger man.
Finally, Seiya turned his eyes toward the middle of the room and felt he was about to break down when he saw what he didn't want to see.
A large ice block was in the middle of the room, giving off a light mist from just being made, and inside was one of the people Seiya had come to see as a brother.
Inside the block of ice, Shun looked so peaceful. Like he was just resting. His black hair was away from his handsome face, the gold Nebula Chains were still wrapped around his body and the star pentagram with the seal of Athena was resting against his chest.
Seiya looked over to the other saints. They each had tears streaming down their faces. He knew he had tears of his own but his body was so numb from what just happened that he couldn't feel them.
Hyoga, on his hands and knees, had a mixture of feelings on his face. Guilt, anger, remorse…All were present since he was feeling horrible for having to seal one of his friends inside the ice coffin.
Camus knelt next to his pupil and tried to comfort him even though he knew it would do no good. Hyoga would continue to feel this way for a long time. Most likely, the entire time that Shun was sealed in the ice prison.
Aiolos, tears still streaming down his face, walked over to Athena who was standing in front of the ice block with tears of her own rolling down her cheeks.
"He deserved better than this fate." she whispered once he was in hearing distance.
"He truly did." Aiolos agreed.
"And because of his sacrifice, balance can return to Earth and Olympus." Shaka added. "I wish there had been a better way for this war to end."
"I wish there had been too." Athena agreed. "To honor Shun and his brave acts, I want him to remain in the Sanctuary palace. Placed where only myself and the Gold and Bronze saints can see him. His pure heart saved us all from sure destruction."
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[Olympus]
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The cuffs suddenly vanished and their powers were starting to return. The darkness on Olympus was changing back to its former glory. The clouds were turning white again and the palace was returning to normal just as quick.
Zeus, rubbing his sore wrists, smiled to himself knowing that Athena and her saints had managed to stop Hades. As she had done time and time again.
"Athena actually came through." Artemis said.
"It seems that defeating dear uncle Hades is the one thing she is good at." Apollo added.
"Enough, both of you." Zeus snapped causing the two to look startled by his sudden outburst. "I will not hear either of you speaking ill of your sister again. Understood?"
"Yes, father." the two said together as they bowed their heads to him.
"After all, your little sister has grown stronger than you both and she has once again proven herself to be a true goddess."
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[Sanctuary]
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DeathMask was about to give Rhadamanthys a shot to the face when the specter was suddenly engulfed by a purple sphere. The exact same thing happened to Minos and Aiacos.
The spheres of light shot up into the air, followed by dozens more, and flew off in the direction of the magic tower where it was greatly known to be the place where Hades army rests when not in battle.
"Did we win?" Shura asked watching as the dozens of lights flew in the same direction and almost looked like rare shooting stars.
"It appears so." Mu answered. "Without Hades to guide them, the specters will return to their resting place until they are called upon to serve him once more."
"If Hades has been defeated, then what has become of Andromeda Shun?" Aphrodite asked. "I am unable to feel his cosmo."
"Let's get inside and find the others." Saga ordered.
"Right." the others agreed and ran into the palace, down the halls and corridors and finally into the throne room to see the shocking sight.
For several minutes no one moved or spoke. They just stared at the person frozen in time inside the ice block that stood in the middle of the room.
Time for them seemed to be at a stand still as well until Athena finally broke the silence saying they should move the ice block to a secluded area in Sanctuary where only she and the Gold and Bronze saints were allowed to go.
The saints worked together and managed to move the ice block into a hidden underground chamber that hadn't been used in years. It was an oval shaped room with only a small window located on the back wall near the ceiling and it allowed sunlight into the room.
After an hour of cleaning the room, the giant ice block was placed against the back wall under the window. They knew it wouldn't melt because the ice coffins were known to never melt no matter what the weather or temperature and it would never break if anyone tried to attack it.
Later that same night, Athena wanted to hold a ceremony to honor Shun and his sacrifice. All of the Gold and Bronze saints were present and Aphrodite had placed some of his most beautiful non-poisonous roses in a crystal vase in front of the ice coffin.
It was very hard for the Bronze saints to see Shun trapped inside the ice. They had grown up together, they all became saints, fought along side each other and supported each other through thick and thin.
They were like brothers.
The ceremony ended after forty minutes and one by one they all started to leave until Athena and Seiya were the only ones left in the room.
"Every time I look at Shun I see Alone." He said softly. "I feel like I've failed him again. I wasn't able to save him before and I wasn't able to do anything for him now. Am I to forever suffer a fate knowing that I can never save a friend when I know what's going to happen to him?"
"Seiya, both times you did your best to save Shun and Alone from the cruel fates placed upon them. Shun and Alone know that and I know they understand what had to be done." Athena said looking up at Shun and imagining seeing Alone's smiling face. Her dear older brother in the previous life was exactly like Shun.
Loyal to his beliefs and protective of those he loves and holds close. Athena would easily confess that Shun was undoubtedly one of the greatest saints she has ever known in any lifetime.
"I still wish I could have done more for him." Seiya said. "I feel bad since I remembered our past only after he had dominated Sanctuary. If I had remembered sooner than maybe I could have done something and maybe things wouldn't have turned out this way. Either way, I'm going to feel guilty about it until the day that he can be released from this ice prison."
"I will feel the same way until that day, Seiya." Athena said. "For now, we have to give our attention to finding Ikki. I'm sure that he's trying to return here due to his worry for Shun."
"Yea," Seiya agreed. "If the search parties don't find him first we'll at least know that he'll come straight to Sanctuary."
"Until then, we should keep looking for him and if we find him we should inform him of the news of Shun." Athena said.
"That's going to be the hardest mission yet. He won't take it very well." Seiya said with a sigh.
"There's not much else that we can do at this point." Athena replied.
"True." Seiya agreed and looked back up at Shun.
Shun, one day you'll be able to come out of there and things will be different. You won't have to worry about being taken control of ever again. I just know it. One day things will turn out for the better.
With a final look at a life time friend he's known for so long, Seiya and Athena both turned and slowly left the room.
Both hoping that the time of peace will come and Shun can be free from his prison.
THE END