A Bond of a Broken Family
Disclaimer: I don't own Saint Seiya or its characters or profit from this fanfiction.
Chapter Three: A Mother's Sacrifice
Orion Elsa's Point of View
By: Princess Maki 76
4:08 AM February 28, 1971~Athens, Greece~Sanctuary
Since discovering I was pregnant, I haven't told my lover Kanon. I asked my father if I could explore the world for a while since Lady Athena had yet to return to Earth. My father gave me his approval unknowingly. The only one who knew about the pregnancy was my adopted younger brother/ my father's student, Aries Mū, who is thrilled to be an uncle.
Sighs.
It was early December last year when I visited my sensei/ godfather, Libra Dohko, or as I affectionately nicknamed him, Old Tiger. I told him about my pregnancy. I left Wulao Mountain Peaks because my godfather looked angry enough to blow up half of China. A week later, my godfather came looking for me and found me in Reykjavík, Iceland, with my godmother, Lynx Gianti. My godparents encouraged me to tell my father the truth about my absence, or they would. Can you say blackmail?
Sighs.
So I'm walking or waddling through the quiet Houses of Athena as I pull my hooded cloak around me. I sighed as I passed through Pisces, wishing Aphrodite and Death Mask were less cruel than a thought came to me as I giggled quietly. I envisioned my little girl teaching these two a lesson in kindness and humility, or at least that's my hope for both.
I started to trek up to the Pope's Chamber, waddling like a penguin, when I suddenly felt light-headed. I would've fallen to the ground and possibly hurt myself, so I closed my eyes. Still, I didn't hit the ground, so I opened my eyes to see Death Mask holding me in his arms while Aphrodite had a disapproving look on his face.
'Honestly, Bow Dancer (Aphrodite's nickname for me), I hope your daughter isn't as reckless as you are." Aphrodite scolded me.
Death Mask and I stared at Aphrodite in awe because I never told anyone what the sex of my unborn child was except Mu. Aphrodite shrugged and, still in a scolding tone,
"The flowers told me about the baby girl, which is why you were only hit with a low dose of poison, nor do you have to worry about Death Mask and me betraying your daughter."
I blinked as Aphrodite handed me my old mask of power. I snorted in an unladylike manner, but I put the dreaded thing on as Death Mask chuckled as he followed Aphrodite on the long trek up to the Pope's Chamber. I took the dreaded mask off the minute we reached the entrance of The Pope's Chamber. I growled at the damned thing and threw it away from me as it clattered on the ground loudly.
" I hope Elsa Junior isn't anything like her father and mother or Athena; help the Saint Master, who has to train Elsa Junior." Death Mask chuckled as he knew I hated wearing the mask of the Amazons.
I gave Death Mask and Aphrodite an evil grin as I countered with,
"I hope one of my favorite misfits gets stuck with my daughter as her Saint Master, who needs a lesson in kindness and humility."
My smile broadened at their ashen expressions as the guards came out to see who it was. The guards bowed before me and led me to The Pope's Office. The guards let me in as I prayed my father wouldn't be too upset with me.
I'm led into the office, and seeing The Old Tiger and The Old Lynx didn't surprise me much. As I removed my hooded cloak, I heard my father sputter as I faced him with a smile. I stood there smiling for a moment for my pregnancy to sink as I heard him mutter repeatedly,
"I'm going to be a grandfather!"
My father hugged me tight as he finally gained his wits about himself and placed his cheek on my swollen belly, which I felt my daughter kicked. I saw my father's face light up like a fireworks display. It warmed my heart to see my father genuinely happy.
Sighs.
I knew I was about to break my father's heart, but here goes nothing. I told my father the truth about everything and who the father of my child was.
I looked at The Old Ram (my nickname for my father) and saw him seething with anger, a vicious slap across my face, and a low growl.
"You stupid girl, you are The Hare of Athena, her Lepus Saint, the oracle of Sanctuary, and my daughter. How dare you defile your position as a Saint of Athena, your mother's memory, and defy me."
I began to sob, hearing the anger and disappointment in my father's voice.
" The Gemini twins will use your position against Athena and me in a heartbeat, or they will turn on you without notice, you little idiot," my father growls.
The Old Ram took a dangerous step towards me, but my godparents took a step between my father and me. My godparents pushed my father away from me. I left without another word. I haven't seen my father since then. I cried for days but had to be strong for my baby girl.
April 30, 1971-
A month later, my godparents, Mu, and my grandparents arrived at my apartment for a little get-together.
I didn't even ask if my father was still angry with me because it was painfully obvious and broke my heart.
I enjoyed the party because it considerably got my mind and heart off my current situation. My friends here in Reykjavík visited as I made the introductions.
A few days later, my grandparents, Mu, and my godfather left to return to their respective posts; my godmother, Gianti, stayed with me.
2: 44 PM- June 22, 1971
My water broke, and my godmother rushed me to the National Hospital & Emergency Room Fossvogur in Reykjavik, Iceland. Poor Death Mask might be stuck with my daughter if she chooses to be a Saint of Athena. I'm laughing my ass off.
12:04 AM- June 23, 1971-Sunset in Reykjavik, Iceland
My daughter was born. My little lioness, may you be fierce and loyal to Athena, Ursula Rose Sallow, my daughter. I sense a great mischievousness, a strong sense of justice, and truth that would match our foremother, Belladonna, and her twin sister, Briana. My daughter had been born blind, with jaundice, a bit underweight, and she was twenty-one days early, which somehow I knew her handicap wouldn't hinder my little one.
*Oh dear, what did Kanon and I unleash on the world, another Belladonna and Briana?* I thought.
Sighs.
My daughter had been placed under a unique lamp that emitted light in the blue-green spectrum or phototherapy for a few days, and jaundice disappeared. I was relieved, but my baby girl wasn't allowed to come home yet. I wouldn't leave her for one second. My baby girl needs to put on weight. She weighed three pounds and two ounces at birth.
Hm.
10: 19 AM~ September 30,1971
Three months later, my daughter and I were released from the hospital. Then I felt faint, so I held my daughter tight as we were teleported to The Old Tiger's residences. I landed hard on the floor while my daughter was safely in a playpen that once belonged to me. I gave Mū a dirty look, knowing he had teleported my daughter and me to China.
I could hear the booming laughter of my grandfather Jason as Mū and Shaka came to help me stand up and help me to a chair while I was still giving Mū a dirty look, who hugged me tightly, saying,
"It wasn't my idea, Oneesan, to bring you and my niece here so abruptly."
I hugged Mu and Shaka as I whispered to them,
"I know it wasn't your doing, little brother, but The Old Tiger and The Old Ram over there with the crazy Old Puppis who ordered you to bring us here."
We watched as the three old cootes walked over to the playpen, ignoring my grandmother's warning not to disturb the little one. We watched my father reach down to kiss my sleeping daughter.
I laughed because my father stood up with my daughter in his right arm, my daughter yanking his hair. I saw my godfather and Papa Jason try to help my father, but my daughter's death glare and scornful look spoke volumes, which made my grandfather and The Old Tiger back off quickly, making my grandmother laugh with glee.
"I told you, foolish elders, to leave the little one alone, but I have a feeling the little one is upset with Shion for being both verbally and physically abusive toward her mother." my grandmother mused.
I just nodded in reply as I watched my daughter continue to scold my father in baby talk. I finally realized my daughter was upset because of the little fight my father and I had had before my daughter was born and how I cried for days. So, unborn babies can feel what their mothers felt even from the womb.
My eyes widened as I looked at my realization as I stood up and rescued my father by calling to my children,
" Ursula Rose- only to be cut off by Mu.
"There is no way my beautiful goddaughter and niece will be named Ursula over my dead body. My niece looks more like an Oceania Rose, my sweet little Bluebell," while Mu held Oceania and Shaka stood beside Mu. The boys gave me dirty looks while I heard our elders laughing.
I looked over at Mu and Shaka, smiling, and said,
"How protective Ocean's uncles have become of her."
I saw the dark blush on the boy's youthful cheeks as I smiled. Now you know how my daughter got her name and one of her many nicknames. I looked over at my father, who only smiled at me.
Later that day, I went outside because Ocean and the two boys had fallen asleep. I needed to be alone momentarily as my father's, as well as my impending death, loomed in my vision. I began to cry.
I jumped as I felt a pair of arms holding me in a comforting way, And I saw it was my father holding me. I let loose all the overwhelming emotions plaguing me since childhood.
My father hugged me tight and kissed my forehead, trying his best to comfort me because my father hadn't seen me cry like this since he told me how my mother had passed away out of love for me.
"It's okay, Princess; Oceania won't be alone because Ocean has Dohko, the boys, and her great-grandparents. Briana will show herself one day, so take comfort in that because it does for me." my father cooed in my ear.
I soon stopped crying as I formulated a plan, knowing I couldn't return to Sanctuary with Oceania. Of course, my father had objected at first until The Old Puppis explained it to him, or should I say mansplain it to my father?
I know I will miss out on Oceania's upbringing, but keeping Oceania safe is my first and only priority.
On October 23, 1971, I asked the two boys to be my daughter's godfathers, which the boys accepted graciously. We threw a party and took a picture as I used this opportunity to use memory dust on the two boys. But I'm not so cruel as to eliminate the memory of my daughter; it will return slowly. However, Mu will remember faster than Shaka.
Soon after my daughter's baptism, I returned to Sanctuary with my father. Then I told Kanon I had lost our daughter in childbirth as I had returned with my cat's ashes, Lala. I didn't mean to break his heart, but I couldn't rely on Kanon to protect Ocean from Saga.
I returned to my duties as a Saint awaiting Athena's return.
September 3, 1973~
Athena returns to Earth, which starts a chain reaction. Kanon had disappeared a month after Athena's return. My father lost his life in late December after naming Sagittarius Aiolos as his successor, and I knew it was Saga who took over Sanctuary.
Epilogue
April 3, 1974
Saga had tried to kill the eight-month-old goddess, but Sagittarius Aiolos foiled his plans and saved Lady Athena, running away. At the same time, I had disguised myself as a guard blocking his way.
Gemini Saga and I battled as my last thought was to my daughter,
*Oceania, forgive Mommy for not being here to watch you both grow up. Forgive me!*
To Be Continued!