Medusa watch as Jasmine held up two training sticks, trying to beat a dummy that look like one of her minions. She would have used a dummy shape like an angel, but Medusa didn't want to her catch on too quickly. She was still young and couldn't swing as fast or hit the dummy with ease. But she saw she was too stubborn to quit. Jasmine turns to bring her training stock over her head, only for it to fly out of her hands and heads for Medusa! She calmly grabs from the air as Jazz looked scared.

"Hmm, your grip is too loose." She said, walking over to her.

"Hold it like this, and..." Medusa said, helping Jasmine get a better grip on her training sticks.

She was having Jasmine train with two sticks due to Palutena's own little guard using a bow that turn into a double blade. She has heard the reports that Palutena's pet was given a new weapon and seems to be more powerful than the normal bow he use before. It was no secret treasure, but it was strong enough to take out some of her minions in one hit.

Jasmine hits the dummy again and panted. Medusa had her switch from her robes into lighter clothing. They show off her skin, but not much. Jasmine looks at the scar and narrows her eyes. She hits the dummy so hard, she not only breaks the training stick but took the dummy's head clean off. Medusa was a bit surprised but smiles. She saw Jasmine look at her scar before attacking the dummy. It looks as if some of her hate towards Palutena was still there.

"Nicely done, Jasmine. Why don't you take a break." She said, proudly.

Jasmine looks ready to say something about it but decides to listen to her anyway. She was feeling a bit tired. Jasmine drops the other training stick and sat down. She looks at her scar again as Medusa knees down to her.

"I see you hold some hate towards Palutena. Care to tell me why?" She asked.

"My parents always told me to pray to her, and she'll watch over me. But then that attack happen, and I ask for her help, she didn't show! Even when I got hurt, she didn't show! I thought she might come for me after learning I was in the Underworld, but SHE STILL DIDN'T SHOW! Why?! Does she not care about me?!" Jasmine shouted, tears falling down her face.

Medusa could see that her fate in Palutena was falling apart. Of course, this was her plan all along. She did everything she could to keep Jasmine hidden from Palutena, slowly crushing the girl's belief in her. However, Jasmine then hugs Medusa, surprising her.

"But, you save me. You took care of me. Thank you." She said.

Medusa blinks before slowly hugging her back. Her chest started to feel warm again, and she pass it off as Jasmine hugging her. Jasmine then broke the hug and pull her legs close to her body.

"Is there something wrong?" Medusa asked.

"I'm wondering if my family is okay. They have to be worried sick about me." She said.

Medusa's eyes widen at that. Her family! She had completely forgotten! She knew it would be a bad idea if Jasmine were to sneak out and find them. She had to keep that from happening.

"I look into it." She said, making her look up.

"Really?" She asked.

"Of course. I will admit I'm curious to see who raised a smart girl like yourself." Medusa said, smiling.

Jasmine smiles and nods in thanks. Medusa smiles back, glad that she brought her family up.

The Throne Room,

"Search for her family?" Pandora asked.

"Yes, if Jasmine is to become a member of my army, we need to know where her family is and keep her away from them," Medusa said.

"So, you're asking us to find and get of them?" Thanatos asked.

Medusa knew it would be a wise idea, but she did think about what would happen if Jasmine learn the truth. Killing them might help make Jasmine fall in line, but it could also destroy her plans if she found out.

"Leave them be, but don't tell Jasmine where they are." She said, shocking her two captains.

"Leave them be?! Medusa, you're growing too attached to the human!" Pandora said.

"ENOUGH!" Medusa shouted.

She heard the whispers of her getting attached to Jasmine. She wasn't getting attached to her! She was just tricking her! But she thought back to the hugs she gave her. Medusa couldn't lie, those hugs felt like something she felt before. Back when she did rule Angel Land alongside Palutena. Back in their younger years. Paltuena was always peppy and sunny as she was dark and moody. Still, there were a few times she hugs her, making her actually like them. She then remembers that before Palulena cursed and kick her out of Angel Land, she hug her one last time. Now Jasmine was bringing that old feeling back. A feeling she didn't know she was missing.

"Jasmine is to stay here. Find her family and leave them alone. Do not tell her where they are." She repeated.

Pandora grows as Thanatos bows. Unlike Pandora, he has grown fond of the girl. She even laughs at his jokes. Pandora still didn't get why Medusa was doing this. She hated humans! Why was she going this far for a little human!

Medusa dismiss the two and stood up. She turns to a mirror and looks at her face. Her face was nothing more than an illusion. Her face was turned into a monster, a reminder of what Paltuena did to her. A reminder of her hate towards her. She sighs and turns from the Mirror. She was a little worried about what would happen if Jasmine saw it. It could ruin things between them. She couldn't deny it, she has grown a little attached to her. Something made her stand out from the other humans she killed. And it was more than the hate that she carries to Palutena.

Medusa didn't know what that was, but she was in no rush to find out. She walks through her castle, knowing it was time to have Jasmine wash up.

One week later,

Jasmine was in the training room, hitting the dummy again as Medusa watch her. She watched as Jasmine hits the dummy over and over again, seemly upset. Her family was found, but she was told they were dead. When Medusa question the monsters about it, she was told they were still alive, but they were following her orders. Medusa nods before destroying them. She wasn't going to let any one of them tell the truth. When she broke the news to Jasmine, she burst down crying. She refuse to leave her room for days, and Medusa was starting to become worried. She was wondering if telling her that her family was dead was a good idea.

She was pleased to see Jasmine finally leave her before she hugged her. Medusa promise to watch over her now and make sure she was cared for. Attached or not, She needs Jasmine for her plan.

"Enough." She said, seeing her get winded.

Jasmine fell back, trying to catch her breath. She has been swinging and hitting the dummy for hours, and her body was started to feel sore. Medusa knew Jasmine was still young and her body had limits. She wanted to push those limits but knew she had to stop her if she goes too far. She needs Jasmine alive for her plan to work.

"Come, dear, let's get you clean up," Medusa said, picking her up.

Jasmine could only nod. Even since she heard that her family dead, she's been different. She was withdrawn, ignoring everyone, and not eating. However, during her lonesome, she thought of Medusa and how kind she was to her. How she went out of her to make her feel safe and happy here. She even took up her idea of letting her lead her army when she was old enough. She might have last her home, but she wasn't going to let Medusa lose hers.

Medusa reached the spring and helps take off Jasmine's training robes. She put her in the spring before taking off her robes and slips in herself. She held Jasmine close, confused the girl a bit.

"Jasmine, I'm sorry about your family. I didn't know they were dead until I got the report." Medusa said.

Jasmine looks down as Medusa holds her close. Medusa looks at her before pushing her closer into a hug. Jasmine looks up and saw the saddest on her face.

"I promised to watch over you. Locking yourself away for a week made me really worry about you." She said.

Jasmine looks down, but Medusa lifts her head back up.

"I mean it, Jasmine. I was worried you might hurt herself to join them. You're still young and have a lot to live for. I may not know your family well, but I do know they wouldn't want to hear their own daughter take her own life." Medusa said.

Jasmine bites her cheek and looks at Medusa.

"Can I call you...mom?" She asked, shocking her.

Medusa looks into the girl's eyes and saw the same loneness she had. Medusa felt her chest warm up again at the word. There was no denying it, she did feel something for this girl and it was because she had nowhere to go.

"Very well." She said, smiling.

Jasmine leads her head on Medusa, smiling. Medusa knew she had to keep her promise this time. She kisses her forehead and smiles.

Later,

"WHAT?!" Pandora and Thanatos shouted in shock.

Medusa glares at them, wanting to make sure these two knew their place.

"Since that false lie, Jasmine has been different. She's still my pawn, but I can't let her bring harm to herself. She needs a mother and I'll be that mother." Medusa said, turning from them.

"Medusa, you can't be serious!" Pandora shouted.

"Do you even know who to be a mother?" Thanatos asked.

Medusa knew Thanatos had a point. But she was going to try. After all, Jasmine was hers now.

"I'll deal with it. That means Jasmine is off-limits to everyone." Medusa said.

Pandora growls and floated out of the room. Thanatos looks between the two before leaving himself. Medusa walks towards the window and looks up at the underworld's "sky".

"Don't think this changes anything Palutena. She may be a human, but she's my human now. And she will help me defeat you and your little pet!" Medusa said before hearing a knock on her door.

She turns and saw Jasmine walk in, holding a book.

"Um, mom? Can you read me a story?" She asked.

Medusa smiles. She walks over to her throne and sets Jasmine on her lap. She opens the book and started to read to her. Maybe being a mother wouldn't be a bad thing.

And done! Huh, I thought Hades would show up by now.

"I'm right here! Sorry, I was taking a nap. Even we gods need to rest everyone now and then."

Sure? Well, as you all see, Jazz started her training and Medusa did send her army to look for her family but ordered them to be left alone. However, Jazz was told a lie and she decide to live in the underworld with Medusa. While Medusa still wants to see her are her pawn, she is growing attached to her.

"Boring!"

Hades! My story! My way!

"Whatever, I did like the part you had Medusa destroy the ones that found her family. Bravo!"

It was to keep Jazz from learning the truth. Besides, would you do the same thing?

"I would, actually! Nothing sounds better than the screams of your soldiers as you wipe them off the face of the earth."

I had to ask. Anyways, my next chapter is the first time skip. And I would like to thank SargentEpsilon for giving me the idea of Medusa looking for Jazz's family. I compete forgot all about it!

"Really? And they say I'm the cruel one."

Hades...

"Fine, fine! I'm leaving. I had enough of the sappy stuff anyways."

Well, I see you all for the next chapter.