Prometheus led them to the opposite side of the volcano, on the other side of the woods. Together the three of them scaled a large tree and stared at the large, black, field of stones in front of them. In the middle of the stones was the giant. He had a deep scar going through his right eye and stretching down to his neck and his white hair pulled back behind his head. He was wearing a dark green cloak around his body with steel and cloth armor underneath and a long blade at his hips.
Suddenly Jennifer collapsed on the branch and started shaking uncontrollably as she gasped for air.
"Jen-"
Prometheus interrupted Sky by throwing his coat onto her face. Slowly the shaking slowed then stopped as her breath became more and more regular, but she refused to move the coat, hiding her head inside. Immediately the giant snapped his head in the direction of the tree.
"Prometheus…. And two half-bloods… how interesting." His voice sounded as if there were thousands of him talking at the same time in a hushed whisper.
Prometheus turned to Sky and grabbed his shoulders, a fire growing in his eyes. "Sky… take young Jennifer and go back to the town, send Bjorn here and evacuate it, afterwards come here with my brother if you can otherwise…." He stopped and squeezed his eyes shut, then took a breath and started again, "Otherwise come here alone."
He shook Sky who nodded and leapt off the branch and onto the black field of stones.
There was a sly smile on his face, the same one he usually wore. "Striker… that nose of yours really isn't as sharp as it used to be… did Porphyrion manage to get it when he was last punishing you?" Prometheus smirked.
Striker snorted and pulled out his sword. "You smell like an Olympian." Striker said while tossing the sword in his hands.
Prometheus turned around to look at Sky still in the tree and signaled for him to leave, which he followed. After Sky had disappeared into the woods Prometheus turned to face Striker again. "Well… I did just meet one." Prometheus smiled.
"Inexcusable… Where is the child of Zeus?" Porphyrion asked after grumbling the first word.
Prometheus turned around and looked into the woods before turning once again to look at Striker. He made eye contact and let out a devilish grin. "Now…. who knows…?"
Striker slammed his sword into the ground before pulling it up near his head and charging forwards. "TRAITOR!!!!" He yelled.
Prometheus loosened his red tie, unbuttoned the top button of his shirt and rolled up his sleeves. He squeezed his left hand causing it to erupt into flames before slowly transforming into a hot white blade that extended from his knuckles.
"Lightning Bull Rush!!" Striker yelled as a sudden bolt of lightning danced across his body and onto his blade, coating it.
"Primal Sword!" Prometheus said as he swung to intercept the attack.
BOOOOOM!!!!!! Sky turned to see a flashy explosion of flames coming from where he had just left. In his arms, Jennifer continued to hide under the coat and rub her shoulders with her arms. Sky continued to run through the woods, hoping he could evacuate the people in time, his gut was telling him this would be different from when he had first encountered a giant.
***
Kronos stared in fear, excitement and surprise at who stood before him. Bjorn's short, blocky body had grown and become rounder. He rose to a height equal to that of Kronos. He looked muscular but still fat in some places, especially his stomach. He had strong arms that still held the tattoos that were on Bjorn's body and his legs grew bulkier. His hair grew as well, knocking the beanie off and becoming lacquer black and pulled back into a small bun behind his head. His nose shrunk but the rounded nature still stood along with the wrinkles. His beard started shrinking until it reached his pectorals and became braided together at the bottom with a gold piece holding it together. The black eyepatch on his right eye became metallic and developed three small slits that glowed orange. His left eye turned deep red, like the lava flowing in the pipe on his side. On his hands there were now a dark pair of thick heat resistant gloves and a giant white apron now hung from his neck with a large pocket at the bottom. He still wore his dark pants and black boots but now had on a thin tank top that became completely hidden underneath the apron.
"Pops… it's been a while..." The man said in a deep, raspy voice.
"Hephaestus…." Kronos mumbled as he started backing up.
Hephaestus knelt down to one knee and lowered his head. "I'm sorry Pops..." He said continuing to keep his head down.
Kronos panicked. "NO. NO… Why are you apologizing…? That's what I should be doing!" Kronos yelled.
"No." Hephaestus said while staying in the position. "We scorned you for trying to prevent your fate… yet we did the same when our time came…"
Kronos knelt down and placed a hand on Hephaestus' shoulder. "Raise your head my son." He said gently.
Slowly Hephaestus looked Kronos in his winding eyes. Then Kronos lowered his head and took a deep breath. "Though you may not forgive me… I still have something to say… and no matter what you think nor of the consequences I have to say it..." Kronos said slowly.
"I deeply…. Deeply… deeply apologize for what I did in the past… panicked and afraid I did what a greedy man would do… not a father…. Please forgive me." Kronos said.
Tears welled up in the eyes of Hephaestus as he nodded with a jerk. He grunted, allowing himself to be pulled in by his father. He gently rested his head on his chest.
The two stayed frozen for quite some time before Kronos pushed Hephaestus away and grabbed his head, looking him in the eye. "My, look at you know… Great Blacksmith of the Heavens… quite a title! CaCaCa!" He laughed and sniffled.
Hephaestus wiped a tear. "It isn't a big deal..." He mumbled, taking the complement sheepishly.
"Pops… I don't think the others will forgive you as easily as I did…." He said awkwardly.
Kronos took a deep breath. "As a creator and now a father you understand the responsibilities a parent has over their creation, just like you the others will learn… all they need is a little time." His eyes twinkled at the last word sending them both into a chuckle.
The two sat, catching up and laughing for quite some time, enjoying each other's company. Finally a silence settled in as the two sat with smiles on their faces. "Pops… I think it's time… " Hephaestus finally said, breaking it.
"Time for what?" Kronos raised an eyebrow.
"Time for you to forgive yourself..." Hephaestus looked at him.
Kronos shifted uneasily disappearing back into the cloud of thought that he had trapped himself in.
"I tell you this not as your son, nor as a fellow immortal being but as a father..." Hephaestus said seeing Kronos look up.
Hephaestus let his gaze wander to the lava. "Too many times… I've seen my children die because of my mistake… too many times…." Hephaestus started, "But… that is something that I take responsibility for as a father by making sure their wills and wishes live on through these blades." He pointed to the wall of weapons.
"And by doing the things they never could and allowing them to experience it through me." Hephaestus smiled as he rubbed his heart.
"Pops… the dead are dead… not even Hades can change that… but their wills and wishes aren't… that's something that we can carry on." He placed a hand on his fathers shoulders. "But as fathers it's our responsibility to protect our children and their children."
Kronos nodded.
"Quite horrible fathers we've become… haven't we..." He finally said.
"Yeah… But we don't always have to be." Hephaestus said, "Change is slow… it's hard like banging a piece of iron."
"You don't always see things changing but continue banging it for a while and when you finish the shape is different from what you began with." Hephaestus smiled.
He turned to his father who looked at him, exhausted and worn out but wearing a face that said he understood. "But what's important is to start." He said to which Kronos nodded.
"To start… huh?" Kronos said slowly.
SLAM!!! "KRONOS! BJORN!!" Yelled Sky as he ran into the house, Jennifer still in his arms.