Twisted
Disclaimer: I don't own Saint Seiya or its characters or profit from this fanfiction.
Chapter Five: A Tale of the Wily Duo
Scorpio Milo's Point of View
By: Ladybug Maki

Pope Ares called an assembly of Saint Masters to meet the new trainees. I was looking at these snot-nosed little brats thinking and was not paying attention as Pope Ares addressed us, Saint Masters and trainees.

"None of these snot-nosed brats would survive my training regimen," I thought.

We watched as The Pope handed the three Amazon trainees a Mask of Power, and we all watched as two of the three Amazon trainees put on the Mask of Power. But the third, and the one Shura brought in, Uma Ajax, had a disgruntled look on her youthful face as she flung the Mask of Power right in the face of Pope Ares.

We held our breath as Pope Ares reigned in his temper at the girl's insult and nerve. My first initial thought as I eyed the girl up who was smirking like a lioness about to pounce upon her prey,

"The little dumb ass is dead."

At that exact moment, Misty, Asterion, and Moses attack the girl for stupidity. We watched, intrigued, as the girl could hold her own as her twin brother Fernando and her animal companions joined the fray.

We watched as the twins and their animal companions battled against Misty, AsIerion, and Moses. Aiolia, Camus, and I were impressed by how, in sync, the little ones and their animal companions fought together as a team against the three Silver or separately.

Aiolia and I could see Misty, Asterion, and Moses were getting upset about losing to eight-year-old kids and their pets. Aiolia and I could feel Misty, Moses, and Asterion building up their cosmos for their ultimate attacks to destroy the little ones and their pets.

Aiolia and I moved, as did the little ones, to protect their pets as Aiolia and I did to protect Fernando and Uma, taking the brunt of the attack. I didn't have to turn my head to know who had our backs as I saw Camus throw three ice daggers toward the three Silvers, which they dodged.

Pope Ares called a halt. I could feel his death glare fall on us for interfering in the death of eight-year-old hellions as I heard him say in an exasperated tone.

"Leo Aiolia and Scorpio Milo, meet your trainees, Fernando and Uma Ajax."

I looked down at the young one beneath me and kept asking myself why I stepped in the way I did for this little one, whereas I had seen so many young ones like her die for being stupid and cocky before. What makes her so different from the others? Nevertheless, I shall train this girl. But there is something about Uma that nags at me, and I bet nickels to dimes Aiolia is thinking the same thing.

We were all dismissed as I could feel the cold eyes of Pope Ares following our young charges, Aiolia and me out of the hall. Aiolia nodded toward me, leaving the boy with me to do something while I was surprised the young ones could keep up with me. I hadn't noticed before Uma was blind, and I wondered how she could follow me with such confidence. As if reading my thoughts, Uma touched my hand and pointed toward the sky when I noticed a golden eagle was circling us as if letting Uma know where I was. Fernando let out a giggle.

"My sister surprised you, didn't she?"

I nodded my head toward the boy.

Uma is a clever young one; I'll give her that much.

I led the young charges to my favorite training grounds in Sanctuary, a rocky terrain with a few trees and a little stream to fish. Plus, no one comes here except perhaps Death Mask whenever he tries hiding from Aphrodite.

I sat in the shade of an olive tree while Uma rummaged through a pouch for something attached to the Akita. Uma found it, and I'm flabbergasted because it's the first kit. Uma approached me, and I knew Uma wanted to attend to the wounds I may have sustained from protecting her and Fernando from Misty and the others. I let my charge attend to my wounds. I wonder what else Old Master had taught the twins. Fernando was laughing his ass off at the time.

I began to tell Fernando and Uma the do-s and don'ts of Sanctuary, to which I could see the frustrated look the minute I mentioned The Mask of Power. Still, I noticed I had Uma's full attention until I was finished introducing why the rules were necessary. After I was done talking about it, I did inquire most out of curiosity,

"Uma, why did you defy Pope Ares the way you did?"

Uma tilted her head as if trying to decipher what I was asking her with a sigh as she responded in a quiet voice,

" I think it's disgusting the female Saints has to denounce her womanhood just to be recognized as Saint; if that's the case, why aren't the male Saints held up in the same matter?"

"And I jumped in to protect my little sister, although I knew my sister could handle herself," Fernando said quietly as he singled to his Akita.

I had to smile because Uma had a point, and even I couldn't answer her question, nor was I going to force her to wear the Mask. I let Uma choose what was suitable for her and what wasn't. I also acknowledge the boy with a knowing smile.

The Akitas started to growl in the direction we had come, and I heard Uma say something in a foreign language, to which the dog begrudgingly became quiet. I didn't have to look to know it was Camus and Shura with Aiolia.

I looked over at Uma and asked her,

"What are your animal companion's names so I know how to address them?"

Once again, Uma said something unfamiliar, and I watched as her pets lined up. Uma pointed to each as she introduced them to me,

"Bandit and Mask, the ferrets; Rumi, the Akita, Orion the Golden Eagle, and Eclipse, the Bombay Cat. This is our Master Scorpio Milo."

"Nala, this is our Master Leo Aiolia,"

The other Gold Saints and I watched in awe as each pet bowed to me and Aiolia, as did Fernando and Uma so gracefully. I could feel the envy from Camus and the others. I had to admit I was a little jealous myself.

I wanted to access what our little crabs learned from Old Master and how I could further their education and training as Athena's Saint. Fernando and Uma had their head tilted as I heard Shura asking our little crabs,

"Fernando and Uma, why do you both want to become Saints of Athena?"

I'm curious myself as to why a blind girl would put herself in danger like Uma is so willing to do. I saw Fernando smiling as I knew the boy shared his sister's feelings. So, I listened as Uma explained,

" We want to protect Athena first and foremost, but we also want to protect those who can't protect themselves." I saw her pet, Rumi, and understood exactly what she meant. I saw Shura and the others smile in understanding.

Nala and Rumi growled as Draken gave a warning screech overhead. Bandit and Mask went to investigate while Eclipse jumped up on Aiolia's shoulder, hissing venomously. Uma and Fernando turned toward the shade behind me, and Fernando said,

"You may as well come out, or Nala and Rumi will drag you out, willing or unwilling. And didn't anyone ever teach you it's impolite to eavesdrop on other people's conversations?"

Nala and Rumi stepped behind me as if they were protecting me, growling as a young man two years older than our hellions came into view. It was Babel, A young Silver Saint. The young man pets the Akitas as if in apology for scaring or annoying anyone.

Bandit, Mask, and Eclipse came closer to Babel; as the young man came closer, toward me looking at the twins,

"I heard the twins have left a lasting impression all over Misty and the others' faces, and I wanted to test the twins' mettle to see if they can hold their own without their pet's help. If it's alright with you, Fernando, and Uma?"

Fernando and Uma tilted their head in Babel's direction and slowly nodded.

We moved from the olive grove toward a more suitable location for a sparring match. To our surprise, Pope Ares, Lizard Misty, and Hound Asterion were also there. I could hear the fur babies and feather baby protesting about their presence. Uma immediately silenced them with a sightless death glare, which, for some reason, sent chills down my spine.

Babel, Fernando, and Uma took their places, and The three began to battle without a word. I was impressed with Fernando and Uma despite the fact Uma was blind. Uma could take a hit and return it as well. I was working mentally on a training regime for Mischievous Princess (my nickname for Uma). I could see the wicked, mischievous smirk on her youthful face, which told me Uma was enjoying this mini-battle, while Fernando had a somber look, which told me he was having fun with Babel.

An hour passed when Pope Ares called a halt, and without a word to Uma, the Pope rested his hand on her shoulder and walked away. I made plans to train Uma on Milos Island, where I was trained in two days. I did notice Babel had taken a liking to Fernando and Uma. I only smiled because the three were bipolar opposites of each other, like Aiolia, Camus, and me. It warmed my heart, though.

We were off to Milos Island in two days, and I trained my Mischievous Princess for five years while Aiolia trained Fernando in Sanctuary. When we returned to Sanctuary, I watched with pride as Uma became Canis Minor. I could hear Fernando, Babel, Misty, and Asterion whooping like proud older brothers, but Orion Fernando was louder than the others. And to think Misty and Asterion wanted to kill the twins.

I watched the twins go on missions and return with a smile or collapse outside my or Camus's living quarters' door instead of returning to their hut. It was instinctive that the twins knew Camus or I would care for them. I swear they remind me of Kanon and Kamala. Oh shit, Fernando and Uma are Kamala's children. I wonder if Aiolia and Camus knew; of course, they do. I can tell by the tell-tale eyes, but we would never betray our Mischievous Pixie and Arrow.

Pope Ares sent Uma and Fernando on a mission to put down wayward Saints in Japan. I prayed for Fernando's and Uma's safety because I could smell a trap for the twins.

To Be Continued!