What he said was right. This wasn’t the time to lose heart, especially in front of Leo. I needed to focus. Even though I’m saying that, I can’t help but think about Rushon. The jokes people make about him, the fact Jack left him for me. He has all the reasons in the world to hate me. Yet he’s right here, saving my skin, giving me advice. Is it just because he believes in me too?

“So what now bird poop?” Zack yelled from the floor.

“Well, that question leads to more questions.”

“What do ya mean?” I asked.

“Well, that depends. Leo, what is it you want to do about Elo?"

"Kill him." He replied immediately.

'I see, you're just as brave as always.'

I remembered Elo’s words when we were talking. He even brought up much how he liked everyone being so carefree.

"Leo, are you sure there's no way we can talk to him?" I asked.

"Yes."

"Why is that?" Rushon asked.

This time he was looking up at Leo. But rather than an intense look, he was wearing a sympathetic one.

"Because he's a monster!" Leo snapped. "I know you two heroes want to think he's some damsel in distress. But he lost his humanity a long time ago!"

"How is he any different from you?" Rushon asked.

Leo growled.

"Because I was never afraid! Because I chose to surpass our father! Because I didn't obey like a little soldier! I didn't kill innocent people because I was afraid!"

"You two are no different."

"THE HELL DID YO-"

"He killed because of fear, you killed because you wanted to be stronger. It may sound like two different things. But in the end, you both have blood on your hands because you're afraid."

"I'm not afraid!"

"You're afraid of being weak, you're afraid you'll never be able to avenge your mother. But most importantly, you're afraid you'll become just like him."

"Shut up! What do you know!?" Leo roared and charged at him.

He leaned back and tried to punch Rushon in the face, but Rushon easily moved out of the way. Which only made Leo angrier, going in again and again at him. Till Rushon ducked down and slammed his palm into Leo's stomach. He gasped and immediately flopped onto the floor. Coughing and gasping for air.

"Leo!" I cried and ran over to his aid. "Don't you think you're going a bit too far Rushon!?"

"No, Elo is a victim too. Just because he's shackled by fear doesn't make him any less human. Yes, he's committed horrible acts, and he needs to be punished for that. But even so, I think he deserves a chance to look up at the sky too."

"Your delusional, and when you die trying to save that pathetic piece of crap. I'll laugh at your grave." Leo growled.

"If I can manage to get through to him, we'd also have a better chance fighting Jormungand."

I wonder how much of this is about care, and not just a strategy.

"Regardless our first step needs to be getting-"

Rushon stumbled as he walked toward us. He grabbed his sides and then immediately threw up. Water gushed from his mouth like a fire hydrant. Leo quickly rolled back and stood up. While I stared in shock at the spiraling water that constricted around him.

"Don't fly too high, but more important, don't fly too low. If you fly too low, the waves will weigh you down and you will perish. Poor little Icarus."

I heard her words whisper into my ear. No, the Goddesses!? But why!?

A dazzling bright light sparked next to the rippling water. Growing into a floating flame, the intense heat immediately grasped my skin.

Suddenly Laughter filled the room as the flame slowly began to fade. Revealing a pale, yet red-stained arm, and a long flowing red dress.

There was no doubt about it. This was one of the Goddesses. Soon the fire faded to nothing but smoke, revealing the Red goddess. She looked exactly like mine when she appeared. Flowing hair like she was swimming in the water, a long dress, and pale skin. The only difference was the color and her eyes. Instead of a Galaxy, I saw hell.

Her eyes were crackling with purple flames and contorted skeletons. Showing a whole other world in them, It was like staring into the underworld. I averted from her gaze and looked back to Rushon, who was flailing around in the water.

"L-let him go," I stammered out.

My body felt heavy, like I had weights tied to me. Not to mention I had the food coma feeling coming in. Like I needed to take a nap. I had to focus, but I managed to keep myself up to face her.

"Oh? Someone who's not kneeling?" She snickered.

Kneeling? I looked over to the others, and I was in shock. Everyone was face first on the ground kneeling to her. Zack, the great destroyer of worlds, was bowing!?

My knees started to buckle, but I didn't weaver.

"Let him go," I croaked out.

"I see, you are interesting.."

Suddenly the water that held Icarus froze. The floor rumbled beneath my feet and rocks shot up beneath Rushosn's ice cube and held him in place. The goddess looked over to the ice and flew closer to it, staring intently at Rushon.

"How I love to watch you struggle," She whispered.

She turned away from him and looked back into my eyes. I almost peed myself as her eyes met mine.

"I'd love to see how Icarus would react to being saved by the one who took his world away from him." She purred as she flew closer to me. "I'll release him once you all have defeated Jormungand. See Icarus lied to you. He had a plan to defeat Jormungand all by himself. But chose to save lives over the mission. Letting his wings get wet."

She flew back to the icy prison and ran her fingers over it.

"Being saved twice by the man that you want to surpass." She whispered to the ice. "I wonder if you'll accept your fate now?"

Then without a word. She vanished. That's when I collapsed onto the floor, and I gasped for air. I hadn't even noticed, but I didn't breathe that entire time.

"W-what the hell was that!?" Lux coughed out.

"My stupid Goddess." Zack groaned.

"Your kidding. This loser can defeat dad all on his own!? No way!" Leo panted out.

"I don't know. The guys seemed kind of O.P." Zack panted.

I stood up and walked over to the frozen Rushon. I could see his mouth wide open and his body slumped in the water. Like he had just breathed his last breath.

"He got his wings wet so we could save lives," I mumbled.

I doubted his intentions, was it because I was jealous? Even now, am I still jealous? He let himself down like this so he could save Us, and probably Elo.

"You're a real hero, Icarus." I sighed and turned back to the group. "We're gonna save him, no matter what!"

"Yeah, mind telling me how?" Leo grumbled.

"Well for starters, Let's have Zack and Bean go out. Gather some Intel in the city. We can figure out the rest from there."

"That was terrifying.." Lux managed to stammer out.

Zack got up and walked over to me. Then he held his fist out to me.

"Let's save old bird poop and kill a dragon! Show them who the Alley of justice is."

I smiled and nodded.

"You two are idiots," Leo grumbled.

He looked over to Rushon.

"Maybe he has a point. I'd like to ask how he knows so much about me. So let's do this." Leo said as he held his fist out to ours.

"Woah, Woah wait! You're actually gonna kill an unkillable dragon!?" Lux stammered out.

"Well, he's not unkillable. If Rushon can do it the mighty Destroyer of worlds can definitely do it. Plus Lizard breath over here is no weakling. Let's wreck this Dragonite! " Zack snickered.

"Right!" I laughed and we all fist-bumped. "Will stop Jormungand! Save Rushon and get our city back!" I declared.

"And maybe save Elo," Leo Muttered.

….

It was an hour of silence. Zack and Bean were still gone. I was worried about him, but I just tried to put my faith in him. Besides, I think I should be more worried about Leo. He's been staring intently at Rushon for awhile now.

I should really talk to him. I got up from the couch and walked over to him.

"So, tell me about Elo. You said he was a scary cat? What do you mean about that?"

Leo sighed as he leaned against the wall, and dropped down onto the floor. I walked over and sat down next to him.

"Exactly what it sounds like, I swear he's afraid of his own shadow…"

"How can someone so fearful kill a person?"

"Because he's more scared of my father than anything else." He sighed and looked over his hands. "When our father trained us, it wasn't pretty. Elo was sensitive. We went hunting but he couldn't kill, when we needed to steal or lie, he couldn't do it. So when we got back home, he'd take him to the room. Where he tortured him for every mistake. This went on for years."

A fire started in me. I balled my fist and tried to contain my brewing anger.

"I see." That was all I managed to get out.

"I was different. Dad couldn't get me to fall in line. Well, that was until he threatened mom."

"He what?"

"He'd beat her, threatened to sell her. He'd threatened so many unspeakable things to her if I didn't comply. The last order I disobeyed was killing one of his rivals kids." He stopped talking and looked over his hands. "Mom broke her hand later that day, it was gonna be her eye next. And I couldn't let that happen. So, that was the first time I killed someone."

"Leo.."

"Rushon was wrong. Elo and I are different. I was always strong, he wasn't. And as a brother, I didn't do anything. Even when my mom asked..." His voice cracked and he moved a hand over his face. "She begged me the night before she died, and I turned my back on him! I left him!"

I could see tears streaming down from his hands. He sniffled and rubbed his eyes. I moved an arm around him and pulled him against me.

"I'm just like my dad!"