Ikki and the Mariners reached Poseidon's temple through one of Kanon's clandestine personal accesses, close to the North Atlantic pillar. Of course nobody had any idea it existed and so his partners were really pissed off.
– How many more breaches are there? – asked Sorrento, not very pleased
– 6 that I found…
– how many you made? – asked Krishna
– never cared to count. This place is not exactly what I call maximum security.
– you are kidding, right? – even Io was mad.
– no. – he spoke in a low voice as he followed a narrow trail towards his pillar. – I got this thing about worming through obstacles just for the sake of it, besides I'd rather made a new path than wasting time looking for the previous one. but if it's any consolation, it was damn hard. – It might had been true, but nobody bought it. Kanon walked the treacherous trail as if he had been there hundreds of times.
– Where are you going?
– There's no need to risk all of us in finding out the general situation. – He turned next to a rock and disappeared – hurry, get in! – as the Mariners reached the point where the sea dragon disappeared, they found a perfectly hidden trench with an excellent view. – Stay put and cover me.
– what will you do?
Kanon sat down putting himself as comfortable as possible. He seemed to go to sleep. But then his cosmos materialized in the shape of a eight year old boy on ragged clothes which stood up in his place
– What the? – The marines were amazed by Kanon's astral projection. What amazed Ikki was finding out none of them had any idea Kanon could do that, and...
– You can change the shape of your astral projection?
Kanon nodded – I'll go check what is going on – Said both the real Sea Dragon Mariner and his astral projection as it jumped out of their hideout down to Poseidon's Palace.
Ikki sat next to Kanon, he realized the reason he was brought along was because his mentor didn't quite trusted his former partners. Not that he would expect betrayal, but rather doubted their performance in the battle field.
The sea generals sat down around, waiting while only Krishna mounted guard. Nobody said anything. But they all turned to Kanon when he spoke later on.
– I'm at Atlantic North pillar. By the looks of this place I can only conclude the pillars have been restored.
– Who could possibly do that? – Said Isaac disturbed
– Our god Poseidon decided not to rebuild them – Added Sorrento – It wasn't him
– Kanon? – Asked Io, but the Sea Dragon took a while to answer
– We've been invaded alright. There are a lot of soldiers around, impressive only by numbers
– I can't see anyone – Said Krishna from his post – From all the way over there, the main temple seemed deserted
– We might have stumbled upon a trap – Answered the sea dragon
– Like they were preparing an ambush?
– But I can't see any leaders around as to identify our guests... this bunch don't amount to much. I'm going to get closer.
It took Kanon a really long while to talk again.
– I'm at the main building. I don't really get what is going on. This people is living here like it's their own place – He was annoyed.
– Whose army is this?
– Someone's coming...
– This is unnerving! – Complained Io in a low voice
– Do not distract him – Said Ikki. And so everyone shut up
– I found the trident... – All the Mariners stood up and got closer – It is at the private chambers, Amphitrite has it.
– Amphitrite? – The Mariners tensed up like the name alone was a bad omen
– We must recover it – Said Krishna, and the rest got ready to run heads first into the fight
– Wait. – Said Kanon.
– What for?
– We were sent to investigate. Fight and we'll withdraw – Said Ikki – I mean Athena's support
– You cowards... – Called Io
– How was she resurrected? How did she get in? What kind of army is this and how was she capable to build it up so fast? – Said Kanon – The trident is important but we can't recover it if we end up dead by being reckless. You do know having Athena's saints support doesn't means they'll fight instead of us if we fail, right?
– Let's calm down and stay put. – Requested Sorrento sitting down again.
All others did the same, Krishna went back to lookout.
After a brief silence, Kanon frowned and snorted calling everyone's attention
– How are things looking from over there?
– The same – Said Krishna
– Good... then prepare of immediate retreat at my signal. – All Mariners stood up confused.
– Didn't you just say not to fight? – Claimed Isaac
Kanon did not replied anymore
– He is not fighting – Said Ikki getting ready – He'll be making a run for it.
– Did he got cornered or something?
– He could just vanish his astral projection
The Sea Dragon scale abandoned him…
- golden triangle – and he sent it away through a very small version of the golden triangle. He shifted taking a deep breath – golden triangle…
- the hell is he doing? – asked Io
Looking at Kanon tense up, nobody said anything else to avoid distracting him.
The door to the chambers was wide open, there were only two guards in the hall and Amphitrite was there talking with one of her Oceanids, when the Sea Dragon Mariner entered by the window, snatched the trident from the goddess' hand and made a run towards the exit. Oddly enough not one Mariner went out, but two, each with a trident, and ran away in opposite directions. The goddess called for her guards who stood there stupidly before the orders sank in. They began pursuing the fugitive nobody could find.
And nobody would, those were only illusions. The real Sea Dragon scale holding the trident was still in the main chambers. It disassembled itself and crawled into a nearby closet carrying the holy weapon, while some other illusions wreaked havoc leading the enemy troops away from the fastest escape route. As the enemy looked for the fugitive in North Pacific buildings, Kanon went back to his comrades.
- what happened? – asked Sorrento
- I hid the trident, and made them think I ran away with it through North Pacific. - He looked tired. By going down to Atlatis, using his astral projection for so long then sending Sea Dragon Scale to Noth Atlintic Pillar to retrieve it from the main chambers with his astral projection so he could steal the trident and hide it while his illusions made everyone think he was somewhere far away, Kanon was near his limit, he needed to rest. But he still had to retrieve the trident, such silly hideout would soon be discovered, and if anyone recognized him which was more likely, North Atlantic would be overflown with enemies. – I'll bring you the trident, it's not safe were I put it. As soon as you get it, leave. – He concentrated and went away again before anyone could say anything.
The Sea Dragon Scale went out of its hideout moved by Kanon's astral projection. Still holding the trident, it jumped out of the window and carefully ran towards Atlantic North. Someone was bound to spot him once he went out on the road.
– He's done something – Said Krishna from the lookout post. – There's a commotion down there.
The other marines approached him to look out of the hideout.
- he's been found out
The riot was quickly escalating. All the Mariners could feel the fluctuations in Kanon's cosmos, what kind of diversions was he pulling out to cover his escape? Would he made it?
– I see him – Said Krishna. – Everyone ready!
An awful lot of soldiers were pursuing Kanon's astral projection, two Oceanids among the foot soldiers were of especial concern, they were set on killing him but fighting them on top of everything else was surely too much.
– We must help him! – Said Io
– Do not blow our hideout yet – Replied Ikki
– Krishna! – Screamed Kanon, once he got close enough. The Mariner jumped out to catch the trident thrown in their direction – Galaxian explosion!
Krishna caught the weapon as Kanon's attack reached it's targets
– Mu! Now! – Called Ikki and they all were quickly teleported back to Athena's temple, where all the goddess' saints had assembled.
– We are back! – Said Io and Isaac surprised. Then the Mariners turned to their God standing in front of them and Krishna presented the trident.
– Our God Poseidon...
Julian took the weapon and he immediately recovered from the mysterious illness of Amphitrite.
– What happened? – He asked
– Amphitrite is responsible for this.
– We sent you to investigate, yet you confronted this unknown enemies.
– We didn't. The one to identify the enemy and retrieve the trident was Kanon.
– He did that on his own?
– Never did he put us at risk – Added Sorrento
Although Kanon had arrived with the others, his consciousness hadn't returned yet. He was sitting down, tense as if he were still fighting, guarded by Ikki. Overall, he looked as if in REM sleep only his eyes were half closed glowing gold.
– What is this? Is he still fighting? – asked Isaac to nobody in particular
Mu couldn't take his eyes from that man after everything his friends told him, yet he didn't feel anything towards him aside from the obvious confusion. No attraction, compassion, anger, sadness, nothing. If anything, looking at him made Mu anxious, there was something… twisted? about him…
– Dunno about the other pillars, but that covers one week rent of Atlantic North suites at most. – Kanon said coldly.
– So he is still fighting – stated Angelo
– Kanon… – Milo turned to Shura, certainly worried about their friend not coming back yet. The Capricorn called the Scorpio's attention to the Gemini's sudden frowning.
– Someone else must have joined the fight – said Isaac willing to go help
The dynamics of the battle surely changed, because Kanon seemed to focus yet his cosmos began fluctuating dramatically.
– Kanon, come back – said Camus, but before Saga could warn him about how dangerous it would be to distract his brother in the middle of a fight…
– Galaxian explosion! – Kanon's cosmos peaked and he made the movement as if launching the attack. That got some witnesses scared, but nothing happened in Athenas' main hall, so it must have been his astral projection making the mess. Although – What...? – His surprised gesture twisted horribly in pain as his whole body shook as if electrocuted.
Saga immediately reached out for him, channeled his brother's astral projection to send his own and – Galaxian explosion!
His attack surely hit the mark, and both twins came back to their senses. As Saga moved back, Kanon sat up holding his head as if it were to explode.
– Kanon! – called Milo and Camus
– Are you alright? – asked Shura
By looking at them, he recognized his surroundings and realized they had been teleported back at Athena's temple. He turned around looking for Poseidon, he kneeled before him in respect as soon as he spotted him
– My God, Amphitrite had taken over Atlantis looking for Triton's Scale. She's followed by the Oceanids and is looking for you. One of them recognized me as Athena's Gemini saint so they are coming this way. It won't take long for them to arrive. But we'll hold the perfect position to strike them down shall Athena support us. – He looked intently at both deities
– I offered Poseidon my support in this dire time and I shall reiterate it, should he requires it.
– What's on your mind, Sea Dragon?
– I've read about our enemies in the scripts you allowed me to study, my God. I've got a pretty good idea of how to deal with them. And just now I battled two of them and I got them figured out. Had I been fighting in person along my comrades, the battle would have been ours. Yet, if you concede, I have a plan to rid you of them with close to none casualties for both our parties. – Kanon looked down humbly
– What is it you are not telling me, Kanon?
The Hellene flinched. It was unusual for the seas god to call anyone by their name rather by their title. Kanon could not tell if he was mad, suspicious, concerned or what. But there was no time to waste!
– My god Poseidon – Both of Kanon's knees touched the ground – I've given you nothing but reasons to suspect of me, and yet I still beg for your mercy. Shall I publicly disclose what I found out, we'll lose our advantage. But if it cannot be helped, if I'm not to be thrusted, by your command I'll confess only to Sorrento and stay aside.
Julian nodded and called his generals attention hitting the floor with his trident
– Mariners! Support Kanon on this fight. You are now at his command.
The sea generals saluted their god and stood by Kanon, so the man turned to his goddess
– My saints, follow Kanon's lead towards this victory – Said Athena
All of her saints saluted too.
Kanon shivered. He then stood up avoiding by all means to make eye contact with his brother, who remained in silence.
– All gold saints are to take their regular positions at their temples, but Aries and Taurus who will remain in here as last stand off. Pisces and Cancer, I'll talk to you separately. Silver and bronze saints shall get evenly distributed to guard the stairs going from Cancer temple to here. It'll be your duty to wear down the enemies advance and ensure nobody goes past the gold saint before you. Shura, take care of their disposition. Ikki, lead Seiya, Shiryu, Shun and Hyoga on a diversion before Aries temple. You guys borrow the gold cloths of your mentors to this end. Face the enemy and loose on purpose, take as many of them as you like to make it believable, so the enemy gets confident into Gemini's temple. Stay behind and make sure all of them get in, dispose of anyone left behind. Mariners you are fighting there with me, I'll give you further instructions once we get there. Let's go!
After watching Kanon command, Saga felt unworthy of sitting in the throne. So he remained there, standing by it.
As everyone got outside, Mu and Aldebaran sat at the stairs and Shion showed Poseidon and Athena to the back chambers where they could wait for the battle result. Kanon stood by the door discussing something with both Angelo and Aphrodite. By their faces, it was an important task and not quite a pleasant one, Aphrodite didn't look too cooperative. Kanon put a hand on his shoulder and they looked at each other a brief moment. Then the Pisces sighed and shook off his hand shrugging in agreement. They nodded with determination and all three of them went outside.
– What kind of decisive information Kanon holds about this fight that disclosing it to the rest would compromise victory? – Wondered Aldebaran out loud
– Know your enemy and know yourself to fear not a hundred battles; know only yourself and you'll suffer a defeat for every victory you achieve… – Replied Mu something he had heard Dokko say once.
– What he told us is hardly workable for us to know our enemy; we only know ourselves, but he knows us so surely he trusts we'll manage on our own. What would he know about our enemy that makes him sure to win without involving us?
Ikki and his friends made it to Aries atrium just in time to prevent the invasion. The 12 flames in the clock lighted up as their diversion began
– Take care, Kanon. – Called Angelo as the Mariners went through his temple
Kanon only nodded, wondering if by chance the Cancer Saint sixth sense had alerted him of his intentions.
– Only Kaza and Sorrento will come down with me. – Said Kanon stopping half way through the stairs – The rest of you wait in here and destroy anything coming your way while the flames in the clock are lit. And I mean anything, even us. No mercy, no questions asked. Nothing shall reach Cancer temple. Nor you friends, your comrades, your childhood crush, your rolled over pet, any astray children, nor a noodle bowl, not a freaking leaf carried by the wind, nothing. Understood?
– Yes, sir!
– You don't go up either, under any circumstances, while the flames are lit. – He told Kaza and Sorrento, they just nodded
– Let's go. – The three Mariners went down the stairs and stopped again at the back entrance of the Gemini temple
– Sorrento, you must guard this exit. Do not hesitate to use your death melody even against us if we try to go up while the flames are lit. – Sorrento nodded. Kanon intense look worried him. Was the enemy capable of manipulating people? Well both Kanon and Kaza excelled at such feats... or was Kaza a traitor!?
– Kaza, you come with me. With our manipulating abilities combined we are sure to end this battle without a fight – Kanon turned to the temple, dedicating a last meaningful look to Sorrento
– Wait a second, Kanon. You have been giving orders here and there, yet you haven't told us anything about the enemy. What is it that you know? At least tell us
– I've read countless times the scrolls Poseidon has. In one of them it explains Amphitrite and the Oceanids' capabilities. To command the sea life, the currents, the storms, and so on. While I was fighting at Poseidon's temple, two Oceanids tried to get me. One of them was a blond young girl with the power over darkness, the other was a short woman of bluish hair who could create illusions recreating the worst memories of her enemies. There's no record of any Oceanid having such powers... yet, didn't you mentioned to both Sorrento and me you had a sister which whom you trained?
Kaza became nervous
– How did Amphitrite learn the way to get into Poseidon's temple? How did she knew it was empty? How did she found the trident? Only the Mariners knew all this, you let them in!
– It wasn't me who betrayed Poseidon. It was he who abandoned us!
– Sorrento!
Kaza was about to attack but before he did that, Kanon grabbed his hand, and it looked to Sorrento as if the Gemini temple took them inside itself
Then he turned and saw the gold cloths borrowed by the bronze saints returning to their rightful owners.
– It must mean all of Amphitrite's soldiers had arrived at Gemini temple...
Something like the expansion wave of an explosion made Sorrento back away from the building, and an eerie cosmos engulfed it all.
– What on Earth was that? – said Aldebaran. Both him and Mu turned to Saga
– Hold you positions – was all he said – this invasion is no different than any other. Stick to plan and trust your comrades.
The battle at Gemini's temple had everyone nervous. Everyone. Seven full hours had passed and it still raged. Nobody had gone out, and the flames in the clock dimmed
9 and a half hours
10 and a quarter
11 and 50 minutes
Exactly when 12 hours passed Poseidon and Athena came out of the back followed by Shion, to meet Saga and the gold saints guarding the place. Both were visibly disturbed
– Let's go down to Gemini – Requested Athena – And Shion teleported them there as the last of the Pisces flame got extinguished. Upon noticing, the saints in the stairs went into the nearest temples. There were still invaders in the Sanctuary, but a fight up was unlikely.
Angelo and the Mariners were already at the back courtyard of Gemini temple by the time other gold saints appeared.
– The fire from the clock has vanished, – Said Dokko – But Kanon cosmos is still burning in Gemini temple, nothing else… Mu!
The Aries saint was petrified of terror with his eyes fixed in the darkness within the temple.
– Mu! What's happening? – Aldebaran took him by the shoulders
– Answer us, Mu! – Aioria stood by them worried as Shaka.
– Its Kanon… – Dazed Shion held his head as if covering his ears would shut out all the disrupted mental waves coming out from the temple. Milo hurried to support him – What's going on in there? this is unbearable.
– Kaza, the hearts hunter, has the power to use his enemies' most precious memories against them. – Explained Poseidon – But tapping into the inner turmoil of such a tortured soul as Kanon was his demise. Kanon couldn't say anything to successfully lure all the enemies into the Gemini temple, where the resulting disruption of being subject to Lymades attack could be contained and nobody else would get hurt.
Shaka sat down next to Mu and Shion and began meditating. Soon he was levitating
– Kan! – His concentrated cosmos created a protective barrier for the lemurians
– Kanon is driving them insane... – Said Shion recovering – We must find a way to stop him.
– Mu! – As the Aries body became limb, Aldebaran supported him.
– You should not be here – Said Poseidon to the Lemurians – Your keen telephatic habilities make you vulnerable to Kanon's disruption
- He did warned us about Kaza and his sister. – said Angelo. – He said the key to beat them would be by ambush in one strike, since they had absolute advantage in a head on confrontation. Perhaps only Shaka could hold his ground in such a fight
- Not many of us would like to engage in battle like that – said Aphrodite with a bitter grin. – I'm not quite fond of being relied on for something like that.
The Gemini cloth was sitting out back of the temple. Saga was standing next to it looking to the pitch black void beyond the temple entrance. Shura, Camus and Milo were close by, unsure of what to do. But beyond the guarding columns of the entrance, where everyone only saw darkness, Mu saw a fierce storm. The wind in there seemed to whisper always the same words.
"None will pass" "i'll guard this temple" "i'll stay in here" "You'll stay with me" "Stay in the labyrinth" "Forever" "You look for the way out" "it is right before you" "The deepest darkness" "The brightest light" "Blinded by them you'll never find it" "Leave Athena in peace" "Let's atone for our sins in here" "Despair" "Forever" "Stay here" "Forever"
– Kanon... Kanon! – instinctively Mu sprung forward away from Aldebaran support, desperate to help, but as soon as one foot got out of the barrier he stumbled and fell to the floor – Kanon… – Tears rolled down his face – Help… Saga! – The pope turned to him - Help me! Let me go!
- Mu?
- Come back! Saga!
- Mu! What are you talking about?
But Saga knew the one calling for him was not really Mu, he just caught on Kanon's disturbance
- Again… - only Shura heard the Pope's whisper before facing the darkness again
- Saga?
- You won't really leave me here right? – Mu kept voicing the distress coming from the temple - get me out! Come back! – Aldebaran grabbed him and set him closer to Shaka, so his concentrated cosmos could better shield him from the disturbance
- I'm coming… - The pope entered the labyrinth
– Saga! – Shura was about to follow him but
– Shura, stop.
– Athena
– You can't help them. Do not enter there, they'll destroy you. We might lose them in the labyrinth. I can't afford to lose anyone else.
Once inside the labyrinth, the atmosphere was truly dreadful. It didn't feel like a static silent labyrinth anymore. And as the light and darkness changed, so did the halls and the stairs. All sense of dimension and perspective was lost. Looking at the ceiling, Saga saw more stairs and halls folding over one another to the infinite. The worst part were the waves. Every so often a powerful wave flooded a corridor or created a splashing waterfall on the stairs. The water just moved fast from one way to another, not compelling to gravity at all. Each time it broke against an obstacle it produced a deafening noise, like thunder.
– Kanon!
Saga began walking. He knew there was no point on running around looking for his brother since the labyrinth was only an illusion. At least this time the creator was indeed inside the temple
Saga needed to break Kanon's concentration, call his attention, but how? He didn't want to attack him to achieve that as he did before...
– Kanon! Answer me!
Saga kept walking. He found a dead end around the corner. It was some sort of cave with an exit. Upon approaching it he noticed it was barred and the view outside was a cliff by the sea on a stormy night.
– Cape Sounion...
Saga stepped back, away from the bars. Then turned around and went back the way he came... But the labyrinth had changed so not too long afterward he found another cave exactly like the one before.
Clenching his fists he tried to retrace his steps, but a wave came trashing down from above and dragged him around. It made Saga crash against the bars behind him. "I can't breathe" as the wave returned, it grabbed him and pushed him back into the labyrinth. It left him on some stairs as it moved deeper into the maze. Saga coughed and gasped for breath. "The water is part of the illusion" he told himself once he noticed he was indeed dry. – Kanon...
As he tried to stand up, he heard another wave just about to wash him over from the left.
But his cosmos burnt and the water violently passed around him without doing any harm
– Saga...
Saga turned around. Kanon was there as if the water had brought him. But it surely was an illusion too, because this Kanon was much younger than him. As young as he was when Saga trapped him in Cape Sounion
– Kanon! What are you doing...?
– Waiting
– Waiting for what?
– For you...
– ... I'm here Kanon. Come with me
Saga tried to reach him, but a violent wave tore him away from his brother
– You never looked back, you never came back
Saga turned around. The kid was in there, sitting in the floor. He grabbed his head in pain as blood leaked between his fingers.
Saga tried to reach him again but another wave lifted him from the floor and tossed him around as a dog with a rag doll, until he hit a wall and fell face first into a small pond.
Saga looked up.
– This was no food. – Said the kid who had just caught a fish and began biting it with teary eyes
– I was so thirsty – Turning to the left, Saga saw the same boy trying to hide from the merciless rising sun
– It hurt – The kid threw up. Clearly he was running a fever.
But as Saga stood up, the illusions vanished.
– Kanon!
The floor gave away and Saga fall into the water.
– Saga help! Let me out!
He saw Kanon losing hold of the cell bars and his consciousness as more water came in.
The water now turn into rapids carried them both deep into the maze, and although the brothers were very close to each other, all of Saga's efforts of trying to grab his younger brother were futile. They fell over an edge. Saga hit some balcony, Kanon kept falling out of sight.
–Kanon... Kanon please. I'm here. I've come. I'm sorry I'm so late. - He got no answer – Kanon...
– Saga's cosmos is burning
Camus stood up. He had been waiting outside with everyone else.
– Are they going to fight? – Shun looked at Ikki
– If Saga fights he might get out of there. – Said the phoenix.– But we might never see Kanon again.
– Is it that bad? – Whispered Aioria
Mu felt terrible weak. His link with Kanon was affecting him
– What is this place? – asked Kanon standing on a cliff during evening
Saga now 13 years younger too was resting under a tree.
– Don't you remember?
Everything was calm and warm, even cheerful. The waves gently pulled the sun into the horizon and the breeze danced around. There was not a cloud in the sky.
– We used to come here often. You played me pranks and I tried to teach you how to use your cosmos. We would have super and even spar a little before I had to leave
– Cape Sounion. The way you remember it.
Clouds began obscuring the sky. The sun became a light too bright to stand being under it.
– ENOUGH OF YOUR STUPID MEMORIES. EVERYTIME YOU BRING THEM BACK IS A MERCILESS TORTURE! AS IF IT IS MY FAULT THOSE TIMES WERE GONE! BUT THEY DROWNED IN THE BOTOMLESS PIT OF YOUR TWISTED AMBITIONS! YOU DESTROYED THEM! NOT ME!
– Kanon please...
– Tell me... Why is Aioros dead? You loved him...
– Kanon...
– Why is he dead? The one you loved more than me! Aioros... That radiant personification of all that's good and righteous. One freaking smile from him was all it took to shove me out of the picture as if I never belonged there. I'm painfully aware there's no comparison point between us. Hell, if that smile had been for me I might have as well forsaken you too, Saga, I don't know. But how is that any fair? Whatever he did you would follow. It was funny at first, but as it continued it became rather insulting. How could I lost you to someone who thought of you the same as everyone else? You were nothing like everyone else! We were so close until all of a sudden this meddling crashes between us taking you away and I am the evil one in the story? You think I enjoyed watching all of your efforts to get his attention fail? It pissed me off! The only thing holding me from trashing him around was you. You told me, if I ever dared approach him in a way you didn't liked you'll be done with me. I couldn't freaking believe that. All the more reason to wish him cold. And yet I bore with watching you suffer because of an idiot I couldn't even pin point from a crowd! So tell me, Saga, why is this spectacular person dead? You even went to the lengths of casting me into the worst possible place in the world for his safety. As if you'd wake one day to find out I sneaked into Sagittarius's chambers and stabbed him in his sleep. WHY IS HE DEAD?
– Shura... Shura would have never caught up with him, if I hadn't stricken him first
– Why do you do that?
– Kanon…
– I will tell you why. Because Pope Shion choose him and not you.
At that point, Saga's cosmos like a landslide became a wreck as dangerous and chaotic as Kanon's
– Aioros... Pope Shion couldn't choose between us. I was confident I would succeed him because I had a plan, a vision. I couldn't understand why Pope Sion, being who he was, would settle for ruling only this small place, when the world outside was overrun by injustice, suffering and catastrophe. Once I were Pope, it was my dream to unite the world under one guidance. To achieve long lasting peace. I was sure we could attain it under Athena blessing. Aioros didn't agreed. At the time I couldn't get why... It was just as you said. With just one look from Aioros, I was erased from the picture too. Aioros... Aioros was everything I was not, everything I wanted to be. This noble righteous person everyone thought I was. It was really exhausting trying to live by everyone expectations only to come short.
– Because that is not who you are... Back then... At cape Sounion... I wanted to give you the world you dreamed.
– Your plan was total craze.
– You and I could have ruled the world. With Pope Shion out of the way, the rest would have been easy. Nobody could have ever stopped us...
– You wanted everyone dead!
– How could I let them live after the wrong they played on you? How could I let him live after taking your dreams from you? But it was foolish of me to think you needed me, that I could be of service to you. You fared well enough without me. I must say you surpassed my expectations...
– Shut up...
– You used your demon fist on Pope Shion so he would name this out of the blue Arles guy his successor. Even Aioros fell for it at first and you fooled everyone for 13 years.
– The night I tried to kill Athena... Aioros found out the truth. I killed Pope Shion, blamed it on him, tried to kill him, and even sent Shura after him. Aioros is dead...
– You can't blame any of that on me. It was all you. The day you died... I could not believe I were still alive. I wished the whole world to be destroyed. It was then when I found Poseidon. And you know what follows. It was my intention to avenge you... You say I was evil, you feared me as such, when I did nothing but to think of you.
– I am sorry, Kanon. I always feared you, I always doubted you, I was never fair to you, but I missed you, Kanon. Even if you don't believe me.
– No I don't. But whatever I believe doesn't matters. Only Athena's judgement matters.
– Why? Why didn't Aioros came back? Why did I?
– Good people don't win wars. Maybe he was a Saint too good for us, or might that be just me idolizing him after all this wreck? In either case, are you not Pope now?
– I am
– Have Athena not welcome you back?
– She have...
– Don't you wish to serve her?
– I do...
– Then quit whining around and take responsibility for what you did! Aioros might be gone but Aioria, Mu, Shura and I are still around. This place need leadership, guidance. Athena needs warriors and protection. You gave your life to her, so if you can't live for you do it for her!
– Kanon
– No, don't speak to me. I don't want to hear anymore from you.
– Kanon!
As the powerful cosmos keeping everyone away faded, Mu stood up and sprang forward startling everyone else. Only Shura reacted fast enough to follow him into the temple
As the saints outside entered the place, they found Amphitrite's soldiers lying around
– Are they alive?
– Yeah, completely out
They first saw Shura, standing frozen in the hall. As they got closer they saw the reason of Shura's stillness.
Saga was sitting in the floor holding Kanon. He was clearly alive as evidenced by his cosmos shrouding the twins. But His expression was empty and his eyes were half closed.
– Saga?... – Mu had approached them. But he couldn't get any reaction from the older twin. With some vague angst clutching at his heart, Mu reached Kanon. Lying there the younger Gemini looked lifeless.
– Is he...
Before Seiya could voice his fear Athena walked forward and kneeled beside the twins
– Saga, – She rested her head against his temple – It is your turn to wait.
Some tears escaped Saga's eyes but finally they closed. His cosmos disappeared as he fell to the side...