AresJoxerCupidStrife - Kate

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8

Disclaimer: I own nothing used in this story. The Power Rangers
belong to Saban, the characters from greek Myth belong to
whomever. Joxer, Xena, Gabby and Eve belong to Renesance
pictures I think.regardless, they aren't mine.

Title: Defender's Son
Author: Kate
Rating: Pg-ish right now
Summary: uhm---Not sure yet
Pairing: C/S and Jason/Billy for right now
Archive: Sure, if you want it


Jason Scott walked through Athens, Greece on a day trip
from the Youth Peace Confrence. He was getting really fed up
with all the talk going on there. he wanted to do something.
Take some kind of action. He'd always been an action kind of
guy, something Allan and Alice Scott had always hated. Jason
couldn't count the number of beatings he got from Allan for not
being Peaceful.

Jason sighed as he turned down an old alley into the ancient
part of town. he wondered why Allan and Alice had even brought
him home with them when they'd found him alone in a Grecian alley
when he was 5. Jason sighed for the umpteenth time and picked his
way carefully over some rubble on the ground. He was going back
to the exact place he'd been found if he only knew it. He was
searching for something but he didn't know what.

Jason looked up as he came to a wall he thought he remembered.
Of course, a lot of what he remembered from before he was found
by the Scotts confused him. He just didn't understand many of his
old memories. Like why did his father wear leather and carry a big
sword? Swords weren't used anymore in fighting, guns were. Part
of Jason knew the sword symbolied something but he just couldn't
remeber what. Part of Jason also remembered that he hadn't been
abadoned by his parents, he'd been taken away from them forcefully
for no reason that he knew of. All of Jason's memories of his father
were good ones.

Like the party for Poppa Heph and Mommy. Mommy always
wore gauzy, filmy dresses that the Scotts would call sinful and
revealing. To Jason, they were just his mommy's dresses. Of
course, the Scotts were very conservative Christians and Jason
knew his real parents weren't. His real parents were something
that the Scott's beleifs were threatened by, he just didn't know
what they were. Jason soon found himself in the street/alley he'd
been found in and he began to look for something. Something that
Allan had taken off of him when he and Alice had found the five year
old Jason. Jason wondered if maybe it was still here. His pendant.
Daddy had said to never take it off but Allan had torn it off of him.

Jason wondered if he'd ever find it again. He sighed and leaned
against the wall and immediately fell through an arch onto the floor
of a very old building. He realized he hadn't been leaning against
the wall itself but a piece of material hung over this opening. Now,
if he could just figure out where 'Here' was, he'd be in good shape.

Jason began to look around the place he found himself in thinking
it all looked so very familiar to him. It reminded him of where he lived
before he was taken away from his parents. Jason looked around at
the walls and froze. There, on the wall, was the other symbol besides
the big sword that Jason always associated with Daddy. Horns over
an elongated 'X'. Jason approached the wall wondering why Daddy's
symbol was here. He was ecstatic to see it but still confused by it's
presence.

Jason touched it briefly, allowing his hands to trace the edges
of it. He felt the sharpness of the edge just as he cut his fingers on
the X part of the symbol and he winced. His blood dripped down the
symbol and Jason suddenly had a strange feeling something was about
to happen. He looked up and behind him a moment later as he sensed
a presence standing in the room with him.

Jason spun to see the man from his dreams he always called
'Daddy' leaning against one wall watching him with a look of shock
on his face. Like he hadn't expected to see Jason standing there.
he was joined a moment later by the woman Jason knew to be
'Mommy'. Mommy took one look at him and fainted. Jason moved
as fast as his years of martial arts training would allow and caught
her before she hit the ground. The second he touched her, he was
overcome with a feeling of love. From her hand fell his Pendant.
Still shiney even after all these years.

"Mommy?" Jason said softly, almost childishly.

After a few moments the woman woke up. She looked from
Jason to Daddy and back and then quite suddenly, she began to cry.

"Baby," she said as she hugged Jason to her rather ample
breasts. "My baby, you're alive," she sniffled. Jason felt Daddy
move to stand behind him and was suddenly caught between the
two of them.

A moment later, more people arrived. the one with wings
Jason knew to be big brother, the guy wearing leather and what
looked to be safety pins with big brother was Cousin Mischeif,
the scarred man was Poppa Heph.

"Ares?" Poppa Heph asked. A mojment later cousin Mischief
saw jason still ebing held between his parents.

"You seein' what I'm seein' Wings?" he asked Big brother. Big
brother nodded adn swallowed a few times before finally managing
to squeak out: "Jason?"

Poppa Heph stared at Jason as well before slowly joining the
three wy hug. Jason now felt like everyone but Auntie Eris and his
grandparents were here.





Jason finally broke the hug after twenty minutes of just being
held by his parents. All three of them. That may have sounded
strange to most other people but to Jason it was normal. he had
three parents. He had a Mommy, a Daddy and a Poppa. When
Jason broke the hug, all three of his parents looked at hima s well
as Cousin Mischief and Big Brother.

"Where has you been Jason?" Poppa Heph asked. Jason sighed
as he put his pendant back on. He looked at his family wondering
where everyone else was. Where were grandma and grandpa and
great uncles and his great aunt Persephone? Jason hoped they
were okay. Apparently daddy could still read his mind because
he smiled gently.

"They are well Jason. AT home waiting for us to bring you
home. You did want to come home right?" Ares asked suddenly
insecure. Jason nodded enthusiastically.

"Of course I do. I don't want to go back to ANgle grove and
live with the Scotts. Although I am going to miss Billy a lot---"
Jason trailed off quietly but his mother understood. Aphrodite
sighed adn kissed Jason's forehead

"Billy can come here too you know Jason. You don't have to
be without him. not if you truely love and want him with you."

"I do," Jason said softly. "And maybe we could help him learn
to control his Shadow Gifts since his grandfather is getting to old to
teach him how to control his inner darkness. It's not Billy's fault he's
the heir---"

"Billy would be welcome, Jason," Poppa Heph said. "We'll get
him once we get you home. Are you ready to go?"

Jason nodded adn suddenly found himself home. His entire
family was there. All of his other aunts and uncles. his great
aunts and uncles adn his grandparents. Aunt Eris swooped down
and hugged him tightly.

"Little War," she cried happily. "You're safe. We were all
worried. Who took you?"

Jason thought of the people who raised him hoping omeone
would be able to tell him who they were. They all spoke greek
as well as his blond parents did. he thought of some of the
words his father used to describe him and suddenly a nasty
oath came from grandfather himself.

"How dare he?"

"Who Zeus," grandma asked grandpa. Grandpa snarled and
showed grandma the images of Jason's 'Parents'. The images got
anger form everyone in the room. Daddy in particular looked angry
enough to kill with a glare.

"Who are they?" Jason asked softly. It was a dark haired woman
who answered him. Jason knew her as Aunt The.

"They are Hercules and Gabrielle Jason," she told him. "They
were banished from Olympus over a thousand years ago for threatening
Ares and and all of his line. Including your nephew Bliss. They vowed
revenge but we never thought they'd steal a child from us. You, Jason,
are a very special young man. how did you resist hercules brainwashiing?"

"He hit more than talked to me and everytime he did talk to me it
was always that "Fighting is wrong" shit. He didn't like Billy. Said Billy
had evil in him. It's not Evil. The Shadow is needed."

"He hit you?" Daddy asked, a dark scowl forming on his face. Jason
nodded and unbidden the memories of the last beating came to his mind.
With those memories also came an image of Zordon who teleported Jason
out of his house before he died from his injuries. Ares, Jason's Daddy
swore a blue streak at both the memories adn the image of Zrdon.

"He used children?" Ares demanded. Jason nodded and watched
his father pace for a few moments.

"Is billy there?" he asked. At another nod form his son, Ares
growled. This couldn't wait. not if Hercules had hit his son adn
Zordon ahd used children. It was time for the Defender to deal
with this.

"I'll be back soon. ANyone who wants to come watch may," That
said, Ares vanished in a dark blue flash.



Ares appeared in Angel Grove and looked around. From Jason's
memories he knew he was in the right nieghborhood to find Hercules
and Gabrielle. he really wanted them to hurt for this. Ares walked
down to the park knowing it was only Gabrielle at the house right
now and he wanted both of them. As he entered the park he saw
some purple-ish birds attacking some teenagers. he remebered
those things from once before. His reaction was the same now
as it had been then. He opened his hand and fired a blast of blue/black
energy at them turning them into a pile of feathers. Ares saw the faces
of the teens and knew them from Jason's memories.

"Which one of you is Billy?" he asked. He saw a slight blond boy
tenetively raise his hand. A taller, Native American boy stepped between
Ares and Jason's chosen.

"Who wants to know?" he asked. Ares chuckled darkly.

"Jason's biological father wants to know which of you is his son's
best friend," he told to boy. "Now, may I speak with Billy?"

"That's me sir," the slight blond boy said. "A-are you really Jason's
father? His real father?"

"Yes, I am," Ares answered Billy. "My name is Ares. Your leader
Zordon has known me by another title. That of Defender."

"You are Jason's father?" The Naive American boy asked. Ares
nodded curtly. He looked at the group who stood before him and felt
his anger rise.

"Where is Zordon?" Ares asked knowing this use of children had
to be addressed. The Native American boy sighed and tapped a
wristlet thing. a flash of light envveloped all of them adn they were
in what Ares knew as the Command Center. Zordon, still in his time
warp, smiled at Ares until he saw the look on the Defender's face.

"What can I do for you Defender," Zordon asked. Ares looked
at him for a few minutes.

"I have two things I need to address you about Guardian Zordon.
The first is your use of my son in this War of yours with Rita Repulsa.
The second is your use of Children to fight that war."

"Your son Lord Ares?" Zordon asked uncertainly. At least, he
was uncertain about who it could have been uintil Jason himself
appeared in a flash of grey light.

"Hi guys," Jason said. He smiled at Ares adn went to stand
next to him where everyone could see the resemblance.

"Yes," Ares said in response to Zordon's statement. "This is
my son. Jason I believe is what he has grown up knowing so Jason
he will stay. I originally only intended to come here to get Billy and
deal with the man who kidnapped my son. Then i saw in his memories
that you had broken my trust and used children to fight a War you
know hey cannot possibly win. They lack the hardness of trained
warriors which is how it should be."

Zordon stared at Ares in confusion until he finally realized what
the Original Defender was saying. He remebered quite suddenl;y something
Ares had told him once a very long time ago. "Children Have NO Place on a
Battlefield."

"My lord, I assure you that these children knew, they were told of
the dangers and willingly accepted the powers."

"Did you even attempt to get adults first Zordon?" Ares asked icily.
"I can do nothing to change what you have done here but know this: I WILL
be watching you."

"My Lord?" tghe Native American boy asked confused. It was
Ares who spoke quietly. "Yes, your Lord," Ares said. ALl who ngage in
Wars and battles belong to me. My name is Ares. I am the God of War.
Jason, are you and Billy ready to go?"

Jason looked at Billy who nodded. Something was wrong with his
friend and he wanted to find out what.

"Then we go now children. I will be back Zordon. Never, ever
doubt that the Defender is watching. Come now children. Jason, take
Billy to your Poppa Heph. I think they woud get along well. I have one
more thing left to do before I come home. Ares and Jason adn Billy
vanished from the Command Center in flashes of light leaving the
others to look at Zordon adn say "Huh?"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Allan Scott, known to only his wife as the Hero Hercules, walked
up to his front door after work. he was looking forward to Jason's phone
call so imagine his surprise when he walked in the door to find his older
brother Ares seated in a recliner watching him. gabrielle, known to the
world at large as his wife Alice, was seated on the couch bound with
Hephaestian Metal.

"Hello Hercules," Ares said coldly. "Lets talk about family."

"Family?" Hercules asked trying to play stupid. In fact he had known
the moment he'd seen Ares exactly what he meant about family. Jason
must have gone to greece. Perhaps even back to where hercules and
gabrielle had taken him from.

"So where is the little brat?" Hercules demanded. Ares chuckled
darkly adn now there was an added dimension of icy coldness to it.

"My Little War is safe from you Hercules. You and Gabrielle here
will never touch him again. The penadant's new charms wiill see to that."

"I am a son of Zeus," Hercules said rrogantly. "You can't do
anything that will hurt me."

"That's where you are wrong little brother. There was one thing you
could do that would make you punishable even under Zeus' protection. And
you were stupid enough to do it and think no one would ever catch up with
you for it. You took my son. Now, I can hurt you."

Hercules backed away from his mortally pissed brother suddenly
feeling very small and helpless. He'd always known Ares held back.
now he knew he was about to get the un-restrained version of his
brother's anger. Ares began with a blast of pure, raw power right
into Hercules' midsection knocking the 'Hero' back into his living
room wall.

"You are going tobe made o pay for every last bit of pain you
inflicted on my son Hercules. Every beating because he could not
be what you wanted, every tear from your cruelty. You will pay
for it all Heraclese!" Ares said frcefully as he beat the living tar
out of Hercules for daring to touch his son.

"Were you jealous, Herc? Is that why you took my son?
Because father loved him? Because Father loved me? Did you
hate me for that? Hate me enough to ake my baby boy? I hope
you're ready to suffer for it Herc. because I am in the mood to
make you pay!"



Hercules was aware of pain shooting through most of his body
when he realized Ares had actually hit and not restrained the
power he used. Hercules finally wondered if maybe taking Jason
had been a smart an idea as gabrielle made it seem as they both
seemed to be paying for it now. He'd noticed when he'd come in
that Gabrielle was gagged with God power which meant she would
not be able to speak until Ares chose to allow it. Hercules screamed
as he felt Ares kick his ribs breaking the bones. For once in his life,
Zeus ignored his once favorite son's plea. For once in his immortal life,
Hercules knew what it was to be beaten the way he had beaten Jason.

"Had enough Herc?" Ares asked punctuatiing each word with a
kick. "Because I haven't. I could gladly kill you right now. I will if you
I ever see you near my son again. Maybe I should to prevent you from
further hurting anyone--"

Ares was cute off by Jason's arrival in the house. Gabrielle lunged
for him. Or at lest she attempted to. Hades appeared and grabbed her
by the neck.

"Daddy," Jason said softly. "Please don't kill him. Don't be like him.
Not for me. Please? He isn't worth it."

Ares snarled and threw Hercules to the ground with a growl of
rage. He looked over at his son and felt the anger leave him. His love
for his son was far stronger than his hatred of Hercules.

"Thank you daddy," Jason said. "Can we go home now? Please?
grandma wants us all home for dinner."

Ares nodded and he and Jason walked out the door of the house.
Ares trusted his uncle to get Hercules bound for the trial. Gabrielle he
had bound himself. He would forever keep in his mind the look on her
face when she'd opened the door to find him standing there. It was a
look of complete and total shock. Ares had wasted no time in gagging
her mouth adn then sitting her on the couch while they aited for Hercules
to get home from work. Ares chuckled and lead Jason to Heph's forge
where the scarred Fire God had taken Billy when Jason arrived with him.
Heph had sensed the pain Billy was in too. It was an emotional pain,
not easily seen by anyone who didn't really 'Know' Billy. Jason wondered
who the blond was who had replaced Kimberly because he was sure Kim
would have seen it.

Arriving on Lemmnos, they found Heph sitting with Billy resting
against his broad shoulder. Jason could tell his friend had been crying.

"What's wrong?" Jason asked quietly. Heph sighed.

"His father flat out told Billy he didn't care about him. It broke
Billy's heart. I told Billy if he wanted I would be his father since I
can't have children of my own."

Jason smiled knowing of no one better that he knew of right now
to help his emotionally broken chosen. He knew Heph would take good
care of Billy from his own memories of the Fire God. Heph smiled at
Jason and carried Billy to a back room on his island where Billy could
rest for awhile with no disturbances. Jason took the communicator
off while Billy was sleeping not wanting his chosen to be woken by
Zordon's incessant calls. He gave it to his fahter who sealed it in
crystal.

"When Zordon can say please, he may speak to Billy again," the
War God told his son. "So, everyone clear on what they are wearing
to dinner tonight since I know mother and father have thrown together
a welcome feast for Jason and Billy?"

"Uhm---Billy and I don't---" Jason began. Ares chuckled.

"You may whatever the two of you wish to wear. I was speaking
about the rest of our family."

Jason sighed relieved as he turned to go and sit with Billy for awhile.
Heph and Ares chuckled as they walked to the forge to discuss things
that would be needed for the two boys. Jason shook his head and sat
down next to Billy.

"You know I love you I hope Billy," Jason said to his sleeping friend.
"And if I never told you I'm sorry. I do love you. I want to be with you
for eternity. And we can have eternity if you want me too. I hope you
say yes Billy. Because I don't think I could find another person to love
as much as I love you."

Jason crawled onto the bed and gathered Billy into his arms. Billy
seemed to relax almost completely against Jason adn drift into a dreamless
sleep.

Jason soon followed him into slumber knowing his Billy would be safe
enough in his arms.



When Jason woke up a few hours later, he found Billy alternating between watching him and sleepily looking around. Already his best friend adn the one he loved above all else looked some what better.
"Hi Jase," Billy said quietly. "Uhm, I didn't dream the big guy in kilt telling me I could be his son did I? Cause if I did I really am gonna want to go back there."
"No, you didn't dream it Billy," Jason told him. "Poppa Heph really did say he would be your father if the bastard who raised you can't be bothered with being a decent human being. You hungry? My dad said something about a feast tonight for us. A welcome home feast for me and a welcome feast for you. We get to wear our usual clothes but I really want you to wear some colors okay?"
Billy gave Jason a look that said 'I don't have anything but what I'm wearing.' Jason chuckled adn pointed over Billy's shoulder where some new shirts were laid out. Billy's eyes opened wide at the sight of them.
"F-for m-me?" He asked uncertainly. Jason felt Poppa Heph's gentle laugh in his mind as he answered Billy's question.
"Yep, all for you. Poppa heph and aunt Hestia must have had a talk while we were sleeping. So, you hungry Billy?"
Billy nodded and got up. He touched the shirts and finally chose one that had blue in it but also some golds and reds. He put it on adn looked at Jason calmly.
"I love you too Jase," he told him. "And I would really, really love to be your chosen."
Jason felt his jaw drop in shock as he realised Billy had not been asleep last night. Billy smiled at him as he sat on the bed and looked around at what he suspected would be his room for awhile.
"This place is nice. It's warm and everything." Billy observed quietly. Jason chuckled amused.
"Billy, everything on Lemnos is warm. We're at Heph's forge. The entire forge area is a nice, warm place. You think you'll like it here? Cause if you think this place is amazing, I can't wait to see your reaction to Poppa Heph's home temple on Olympus."
Billy looked at Jason as if to say 'It gets more incredible than this?' Jason smiled and took Billy's hand. The two of them walked out to where Jason's father and Billy's new father were sitting talking. The two elder gods looked up at the approach of their children.
"Are you two ready to go?" Ares asked. Jason looked at Billy who nodded adn then he himself nodded at Ares.
"Yep, we're ready to go," he told his father. The two elders smiled and each touched their son. The next thing Billy knew he was staring at an opulent hall that had many seats. Ares adn heph lead them to a table with four seats left empty adn they sat down. Jason was looking around in the same wide eyed facination as Billy and everyone present knew it was because he was remebering things from the last time he'd been here. his grandparents soon jined them and smiled.
"Welcome home Jason," Grandpa said as Jason was introduced. "We welcome Jason, God of Combat back into our family. And we welcome his Chosen William, God of mechanical Invention into the heart and home of Olympus."
"Me?" Billy stammered. "The clutz, god of anything?"
Jason smiled gently. He was surprised but hapy that his family was so willing to accept his Billy as one of them. Billy saw only confidence in Jason's eyes as he was handed a goblet of Ambrosia to eat. Once he did, he felt a new power flow into that rivaled even his wolf power. He was still the heir of Shadow which would have to be addressed soon but now he was something else too. Heph leaned over adn whispered in Billy's ear: "The gifts of your grandfather will be easier to handle now Billy. And he can go to his rest knowing those gifts will never be misused by any future decendants as you are now immortal."
Jason saw Billy's smile at that. Of all the things he worried about, taking his grandfather's legacy was not one of them. It was who would take it after he died that had frightened him. now, that worry was no longer valid. He could keep the gifts for eternity and maybe teach others to use their own minds but only after they were checked over thouroghly by his enw family. He absently thought maybe his grandfather could ome here before he died. Just so he knew Billy was being taken care of. Lamont Cranston loved his grandson even if Edmund Ward Cranston did not.
Hera, Jason's grandmother smiled as she felt Billy's wish. She knew that could be arranged and Zeus even seemed amenable to it. Of course, Zeus was amenable to anything that made his children happy now that he had finally settled down. Zeus nodded knowing that could be done the next day if they so wished. he stood adn raised his goblet to welcome Jason home, to welcome the new God of Mechanical Invention and to open the feast. The food seemed to be what the two newest gods focused on and everyone else was discussing things. To get Jason back was something most of them had been hoping for as Jason was a sunny little boy and to get someone else with him, someone Hephaestus had adopted and whom Jason loved was something that everyone would take in stride. Besides, they could all read his aura and they all knew how he had been treated by his father. Apollo himself swore he would help Heph fix the boy even if he had to learn to make things to. Something about Billy just called to all of them. Drew them together much as Jason's kidnapping had, now Billy's arrival was making them into even more of a family but for a joyous reason this time.
Even those not members of the council could tell, things were going to be better now that Jason, son of Love and War, son of the Defender was home.



Billy woke up the morning after the feast in what he assumed was Jason's father's temple. hHis main thoughts were "What a Rush" and "Where's the bathroom?" He lifted his head from his Jason shaped pillow and found himself looking at the room that was Jason's. he shifted so he could sit up and found himself looking at the walls in this room. They were so different from the walls in Jason's old room on earth. This room was loved. adn the person who dwelled in it was loved as well. Billy turned hearing the door open. He found himself looking at Ares, Jason's father and the original Defender.
Ares looked at Billy silently for a few minutes before he gestured for Billy to follow him out of the room. Billy got up and followed him. Outside the room was a placce the likes of which Billy had never seen before. It was beautiful adn scary both. billy looked at Ares as he was lead to a large table where his new father was sitting with some food. Billy sat down adn ate breakfast with his father and uncle. he was so used to change, it was no hardship to call someone else dad adn uncle. He sat eating something kinda like oatmeal but a lot sweeter as his dad talked to Ares about he adn Jason's places. Dad said he got to have an entire part of Lemnos for hismelf to make inventions adn to have a place no one else would come. That would be a place he could be with Jason. As well as his room in Dad's home temple. Jason's room would be his place as well as an area Ares would set aside for Jason to have whatever he wanted. Billy was liking this. He'd never had as much space as his dad was telling him he'd have. Billy smiled at them as the three of them ate. When Jason joined them, Heph and Ares told them of their space. Jason looked at Billy and grinned. This would be the most room Jason had ever had to himself. ANd it would be the only place Billy ahd ever been given with loveJason grinned as they realized they would have their own places. They both looked forward to filling those places with their own personalities. heph and Ares were waiting to see what the two boys would fill their places with. That would be tomorrow's thought. Today was for getting introduced to the family.and getting settled into their new homes. Billy couldn't wait.



Jason and Billy looked up at Zeus adn hera as they were lead to the throne room of Olympus. Billy was nervous. He'd never been to meet a King and Queen before. Jason looked over at BIlly as they walked in to the room. He knew Billy was nervous. He could fel it. Jason smiled thinking this day would be just perfect if he could have Zack, Kim, Trini and Tommy here too. They were his best friends. Jason sighed as he adn Billy walked into the throne room. jason smiled seeing Billy's eyes light up at the person standing speaking with Zeus.
"Grandfather!" Billy cried as he ran to the very old man. Lamont Cranston smiled as he caught his grandson in a hug. He'd been in his mansion in Newyork when the man called Apollo had appeared adn said Zeus would like to see him. Lamont, being used to things out of the ordinary, simply got up adn came with him. Upon arriving he'd been told of his grandson's adoption by Hephaestus because of what Edmund had said to Billy. Lamont smiled.thinking Billy would finally get the love lamont was too old to give him. Billy snuggled against his grandfather for a minute before he let go and backed up. Lamont gently touched his grandson's face and smiled benignly.
Be happy here Billy. That is all I ever wanted for you." He told his grandson. Billy nodded.
"I'll try grandfather," he said. He knew though that since he was with Jason he would be very happy. He always was with his Jason. Billy knew his grandfather would hear those thoughts so he then turned his attention to Zeus adn Hera. They sat in their thrones adn looked down at him smiling welcomingly.
"Welcome to the family Billy," Hera said. "We hope you will be as happy here as you were not on earth."
Billy nodded at her and looked to where his new father was sitting. Hephaestus had been the kindest person to Billy. He'd hugged Billy when he was sad. Spoken to him as a person adn adopted him as a son. For that, billy wouls always be grateful.
As they looked up at Zeus adn hera, Jason felt his love for his grandparents come to the fore of his mind. They made mistakes with their children but they were doing their best now to fix them.
Across the room, standing quietly in the corner, was Apollo. He'd been watching over Billy since dinner the night before. not as a potential conquest, but as someone to look after. Maybe a baby brother. Apollo had done so badly with his other siblings that he wanted to tery again. He knew he could do better in the brother department, he just had to work on it. He saw Billy as his last chance to get it right. he knew Billy was shy. he could see that in how the little one had stuck close to Jason the night before. Apollo wanted to help Billy feel welcome here. Although, he could not say exactly why. Just somethign about this one called to him as it called to all of them. Zeus ahd said something once upon a time about the unwanted Wolf being the healer of Olympus. Maybe Billy was the wolf?


Chapter 8
They met in Ares' temple the next day while Jason was introducing Billy to the concept of playing. Ares had summoned the Original Defenders to his temple. Hades was the last to arrive.
He was as angry as the rest. Angrier actually as his coin was never intended to be used after he left the group. The coin was too powerful for anyone not of divine blood to use. So, perhaps Jason could have held the green coin but the boy Tommy could not.
"What should we do about this?" Athena asked as he joined them. Hades had been the nominal leader because he was the oldest and the most powerful. He sat on one of the couches not bothering with posturing. Everyone on Olympus knew he could kick the crap out of any of those present. Heck, Not even Zeus wanted to piss Hades off.
"We go to visit him and we deal with this. I am not amused by what he's done either. Artemis? Dite? Heph? You in?"
"You betcha Uncle Hades," Aphrodite said. Hephaestus nodded, as did Artemis.
"Apollo is with the boys today," Artemis said. "He's taken a real interest in Billy. Not in the lover way, Heph. He cares about him. I think he may be as pissed as you are about how that man treated the boy."
"He can come when I visit him then," Heph said. "Shall we go down and deal with Zordon then?"
"Yes," Ares said as they all stood and transported down to earth. Zordon was apparently expecting them because he watched ass they appeared.
"Defenders," he said. Hades smiled coldly. It was not a nice expression. Ares brought the rest of the rangers with a thought and Hades waited until they were all present. Once they were all watching, he raised his closed fist and then turned his hand and opened it so it was palm up. Then, he concentrated for a moment and a very familiar Power Coin appeared. Tommy stared at it for a moment before he looked at Hades.
"Where did you get that?" he asked. Hades chuckled.
"I made it," he told Tommy. "I made this coin and it was never intended to be used again after I left the team."
"Why not?" Adam asked. Hades sighed and shook his head.
"Because this coin contains the power of Life and Death. It contains far too much power for anyone to use. Zordon, what the hell were you thinking allowing him to keep it and not contacting me? You know damn well the seventh morph would have killed him if I hadn't been paying attention and halved the power. No one can contain my power. And dammit are you insane?
Using a Coin based on Gaia's power? Have you lost what little is left of your mind? If this boy could not handle my power, what in the nine levels of Tartarus makes you think he could control Mother's Power? There was no White Coin for exactly this reason!"
"Hades, I assure you," Zordon began. Ares waved a hand and Aphrodite looked thoughtful.
"Uncle Hades is seriously torqued with you," she said. "That doesn't happen often. You really did it this time Zordon." Zordon just stared as they stood looking at him. Artemis had yet to say anything. Hephaestus' face said enough, as did Athena's. The present Rangers looked at the group they realized were the Originals and they just stared. Aphrodite looked at Kat.
"You should not have my power," she told the Australian. "Your personality is wrong. You're too col."
"Lady Aphrodite," Zordon began. He was silence at a glare from Athena more pointed than any he ahd been given thus far.
"You have the colors wrong Zordon," Artemis said. "Have you any idea how dangerous that it? Rocky is more suited to pink than red. Playful and loving. Adam is fine ass Black, he ha the logical mind to be that. Aeisha is all right as she is a warrior. Kat is wrong and Tommy should never have been one. Dammit, you know the coin could kill. That's why Hades was the only one who ever used it. You should have waited and then brought Tommy in as Red after Jason left. Or given Jason Green. He has divine blood; he could have survived the use of Death's Coin. You nearly murdered that boy.
"Where are Jason and Billy?" Rocky asked. Athena smiled then.
"Home. Heph adopted Billy, now God of Mechanical Invention. Jason is God of Combat again," she said.
"God?" Kat snorted. "Billy? Yeah, Right."
"You doubt?" Ares growled. "Foolish child." He turned his back to her and faced Zordon again. Hades was the one who ahd to speak now as he had been the leader before Zordon ahd cared about Earth.
"Ares is correct," Hades said. "We cannot ague your choices now. But, we are watching. And if you ever, EVER, use children again, We will know and then all of Tartarus will come down on you like Pegasus taking a piss mid-flight. Is that clear?"
Zordon could only nod as Ares then snapped his fingers and they flashed out one by one. The current rangers just stared at Zordon.
"Those were the Original Defenders? It's no wonder Rita and them got their clocks cleaned. Sheesh, Lord Hades, Lord Ares, Lady Aphrodite, Lady Athena, Lord Hephaestus, Lady Artemis, Sheesh---"
Aeisha trailed off then knowing they were going to have to tread carefully because that group could take the coins, Tommy knew the only reason he wasn't dead was because Hades was cutting the power to manageable. Zordon knew the fact that he wasn't dead had a lot to do with the fact that Hades had no interest in watching over a War on earth when he had the underworld to handle and the others had their work as well. He had a lot to think about now. Like defying Ares in the first place. A Lot to think about.



tbs

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