A/N Medusa spends time in the underworld, and creates a fortress that should protect her son.

To Protect and Deceive

After getting dumped in this part of the underworld, Medusa spends every spare moment the next three years ignoring Hades and erecting a fortress, and at the very center of it hidden away is her home where her son rests. With him are the snakes the two considered family. From there she adds rooms upon rooms to the strengthen the defenses, She wonders if adding a fountain of spring water would help him heal. she tells him as much.

Medusa returns to the mound of blankets where her son rests in a bundle of snakes. "Hello Pit, It's been a few years, 3 if I'm correct so that would make you about 10 years old." She stops and waits for a response, and like always receives nothing but deep, even breaths. She perks up anyway to bring up the most recent additions. "I added a hot spring to the main area. thought you would enjoy that, and that it would help with your injury." again no response.

Medusa exhales, "You must hate this place as much as I do, but I suppose that with everything I've been doing it just proves that I was a demon this whole time." At that she believes she saw a finger twitch, but chalks it up to her imagination, and the desire of seeing Pit up and getting used to their new "home".

She continues discussing all of the good that she has done, which most times are repeated updates on the fortress she's had built. Anything is better than speaking about the war Hades has had her take place in. As this thought takes place one of Hades other general's Pandora comes to retrieve her.

"Medusa dear, Hades needs you to retrieve someone for him." Medusa stands and glares at the flaming ball of spite that should've burned out ages ago. She leaves the chamber Pit rests in, closes the large doors, and finally turns to address the spite ball.

"I thought I told Hades I would only do one job for him per day." Medusa points out, knowing Pandora should be well aware of the war zone littered with statues just from that morning.

"He's well aware, but this is an important guest that only you can retrieve."

"And just who is this important guest?" Medusa inquires, not at all pleased with the goddesses smirk.

"That would be the goddess of Light, Palutena."

Medusa's eyes widen at what Hades is having her do. Her eyes than harden into a hardened glare once again. "If I do end up doing this I refuse to do Hades bidding tomorrow, and you be sure to let the egotistical maniac know." is what she says before stalking off.

With her back turned Medusa misses the appearance of said egotistical god and the smirks both god of the underworld and goddess of chaos share before stepping into the abandoned room. The reason for their intrusion still rests in the center, completely unaware of all that goes on around him. The snakes that coil around him are all too aware however and hiss at their approach. With a flick of his wrist the snakes are flung to the far walls on the area. With those infernal reptiles out of the way the god looks down at his prize.

"Truly boy, your soul should've been mine from the moment you were wounded, but if nothing else, you certainly got something from your ''mother'' and that is your stubbornness." Hades remarks before raising a hand above the prone form and relishes the pale blue soul that leaves the child's body. In moments the soul goes from his hand and down his throat.

"Now that that is taken care of, perhaps our dear friend Medusa will be more willing to listen when I have something to say to her." He says before the two deities leave the chamber, with Pandora going back to her own realm and Hades heads to the cell where the Goddess of Light now resides

After completing her mission Medusa immediately returned to her temple, back to Pit only to find his skin paler than before, and his breaths labored and shallow. Whats even more concerning are the snakes that were once crowding around and over are scattered about the chamber, trace amounts of purple and red flames flickering up from their bodies. The only snakes to have survived the obvious encounter with the God of the Underworld are the three tucked away in the junction of his neck and shoulders, those Pit called Fangs, Flicker, and Hiss.

Knowing all too well what must have happened while she was running her ''errands'' Hades did the one thing she made sure would never happen.

With her mind made up she goes back to the cell the goddess is stuck in. Upon reaching the cell she finds that Egotistical Liar gloating about how the war will go to him, and all he plans to do with the souls collected throughout. The goddess argues back how there are still those who fight for the light that will never give up.

Hades laughs as he leaves in his typical flare of simply vanishing, and the gorgon makes herself know by turning the corner.

"Have you come to bask in your future success in the war as well?" the Goddess inquires and Medusa remains silent as she studies the disheveled hair and torn toga, as well as the few visible puncture wounds on her arms that lead to her capture.

"No... I came to ask for a favor." Medusa admits and Palutena shifts a bit to get comfortable.

"This has to do with your son doesn't it." The goddess says and Medusa's eyes widen at the fact being pointed out so boldly. "The fact that you took in a human child hasn't escaped all of the gods and goddesses. Viridi appreciated that he always stepped so carefully." Palutena says the last bit as an after thought. and Medusa is stunned into silence.

After a few moments to compose herself Medusa continues to discuss her wishes. "Yes, it has to do with my son, Hades sending me to retrieve you was simply a distraction so that he could weaken him, and bind me to his will. I can't set you free but I can give you this." With that said Medusa pulls out the goddess' staff she claimed when she apprehended the green haired goddess.

At the sight of the staff Palutena jolts a bit but manages to compose herself. Medusa holds it out a bit longer before placing it on the ground and sliding it to the bars. "I truly don't can if you end up helping me right now, but I'm hoping with this you'd be more inclined to fulfill my request."

"And that is to help your son." Palutena says as she studies the gorgon in front of her, able to see her true intentions through the dark paths she took. "If I help your son there's no guarantee that he will remember you."

That last sentence causes Medusa to pause for thought. If Palutena does as she herself requests, and her son does end up forgetting about her completely, there is a high chance of the two ending up having to fight one another. On the other hand, if Medusa decides it's not worth it, who knows what Hades may do next.

Sparing one last glance out the arched doorway, hoping to see her son one last time she composes herself before turning back to the prisoner. "Alright, I agree with your terms." and with that Palutena gives a sad kind of smile as she takes her scepter in hand and in a flash of light a golden laurel crown lands on the floor in front of the gorgon.

"Take that and place it on your son's head, that will allow my to help him and direct him out of here."

Medusa does pick it up but studies the golden leaves that appear as though their made of metal, but feel as though a single breath could blow it all away. One thought occurs to her. "Aren't laurels only provided to champions of the gods?"

"After all of this he will be the champion to the Goddess of Light to all those who meet him, and to you and I, he will be the champion to the Goddess of Redemption."

"I know what you are trying to say here, but I'm not even close to the what you claim I am."

Once again there's that sad sort of smile, and Medusa begins to despise it. Seeing how the Goddess says nothing else, Medusa finally leaves, only to find Hades has once again gone behind her back and moved her son to another location entirely and the three remaining snakes are missing as well. 'Fine than,' she thinks as the orange snake comes loose from her scalp to roam freely 'if he wants to play this game than I'll just have to do everything I can to win.' and with that the laurel crown is given to the snake and it goes off in search of the boy.

It's only thanks to that that when Hades comes and confronts her about her loyalty and steals her own memories of her son, that she will have even the slightest recollection the next time she sees he and hesitates.

A/N so for any who are confused by this, I'll try to explain here. After Pit was injured Medusa made a deal with Hades that she believed would be respected and Pit would be safe to recover. After a few years with her son still not waking Medusa begins to second guess her decision, but couldn't bare to part with the little boy so stayed. Hades begins to feel the shift in her demeanor and steals the part of Pit's soul that should he wake up, would be what allows him to remember his mother. Medusa is outraged by this and instead of confronting the God himself goes to the goddess she just captured for help. Palutena agrees and gives the laurel crown to Medusa knowing that Pit wouldn't have any recollection of her anyway.

Medusa returns to her chambers to find Pit missing along with the three snakes he cherished, and in uprising she is able to extract so snakes to have them launched at Pit so I took that and incorporated that for the orange snake.

Hades knew this was going to be the outcome and decided to take Medusa's memories of Pit and essentially turn her into the monster she would've been had she just left the boy to die.