Title: Redemption

Fandom: Saint Seiya

Characters: All goldies, plus Shion and Athena

Disclaimer: Saint Seiya and all known characters appearing here are property of Masami Kurumada.

Warning: Post Hades Saga.

This is a recycled fic of mine that I posted on LJ, but when I left the community, I deleted it and lost the copy I had. It is similar, but the former was during the time the Golden Saints passed in front of the Wailing Wall, in this rewritten work they're resurrected by the gods. It's the same main idea, but with changed words and it's longer. There are some things not as accurate as the canon storyline, but it is a resource of authors. I hope you like and leave reviews. :D

Thanks to my precious beta reader Solar Knight Marie for helping me in the english traslation, for her time and kind words.

They were in the Great Chamber of the Thirteenth Temple. All of Athena's gold saints. Together with her also was the former Aries Saint, the Tibetan Shion, who was dressed in the typical tunic of the Chief of the Greek Goddess of wisdom's order.

The armors that the golden saints wore were shining and the metallic resonance was heard in the great lounge. They woke up of their supposedly eternal dream wrapped in the love of their incarnated deity; it was the first thing that they perceived in this new life. Sat in armchairs arranged around a great table presided by Athena, they opened their eyes, with their revived young bodies.

She looked at them with the same tenderness a mother professes to her children. Not a single one of them was absent. There were thirteen men in armor since Kanon of Geminis was there as well, next to his older brother Saga, as well as the Sagittarius Saint, the Greek Aioros, brother of Leo Aiolia.

The goddess greeted and thanked them for sacrificing their lives in front of the Wailing Wall in Hell. She announced that she had agreed with the other Olympic Gods to revive her saints as a sign of the great love she had them, as a reasonable compensation for their loyalty. She wanted them to enjoy the rest of their days peacefully. Shion took the title of Patriarch of the Sanctuary back, and he was going to supervise the current saints, as well as the apprentices.

Waiting outside was an escort of four Bronze Saints. Before leaving the room, Athena enfolded her golden knights with her warm cosmo and each one of them received it as a blessing. It was like a balm for their weary souls, after the torments lived in Hades' territory, where their lives ended, before the war their Lady broke through with her Bronzed Knights.

Their goddess had forgiven each person equally, with no hard feelings. They themselves realized that those who wore dark armors as Hades' soldiers had done it to protect Athena, although condemned and accused of traitors by the means they used.

They followed her suit and rose from their places to greet their peers. Dohko of Libra, rushed to embrace his old comrade in arms, Shion, greeting Aries Mu and Taurus Aldebaran along the way.

Scorpio Milo was comforted by Aquarius Camus, who was smiling gently at the lack of control of his best friend, who was weeping. Although the French water carrier was very close to losing his nerves, he was still able to hold a little longer without neglecting his composure. He was sure he would lose it when he will reunite with his former student. But no doubt that it'll be Milo's chance to be act as his handkerchief, along with the Swan saint.

The twins were reconciled after years of separation, shedding some tears of happiness for their restored brotherhood. Sagittarius went to congratulate them before going with his brother and merge into a tight embrace with him. Laughing and shouting with joy at the long awaited meeting. The golden lion sobbed while his brother laughed in happiness returning to hug him. To offer him comfort, he placed a kiss on his brother's forehead.

Other saints were less effusive in their friendly get-together. Virgo Shaka received handshakes and pats on the shoulders of all his colleagues, except for the Bull, who squeezed him strongly in an embrace with the young Ram. Brazilian Aldebaran raised his friends from the floor, giving them tight bear hugs and the three of them laughed like children.

Pisces Aphrodite and Cancer Death Mask were with Capricorn Shura. The Italian Crab waited Aphrodite stop squeezing the Spanish, who just smiled saying he had also missed both of them. They were released immediately and the golden Goat was almost crushed by strong embrace of the Crab. Swedish turn to scold began, shouting the Italian and asking him to be more careful. Shura kissed the Italian on the cheek and he loosens his grip, letting the Iberian breathe. Shura got close to the saint of Pisces to leave another kiss on the Swedish cheek. Only Capricorn was wearing a helmet, the other two had left theirs on the table. Kiss them to pacify them was something he did when they were apprentices, but the habit was lost when they realized they were not kids anymore.

Then the trio approached Camus and the elder of the twins, Saga, and those five marched to greet the Saint of the Virgin who reacted to the affection of his teammates with a little smile. Lastly Aphrodite wrapped his arms around the blonde's waist. Alluding to the extreme thinness of the Virgo saint, Aphrodite asked if it was what it meant to be the closer to God, as he seemed to suffer from starvation. Shaka's response was an easygoing and loud laughter.

A general laughter was heard in the middle of the group and some yet nervous knights relaxed. It attracted curious glances and induced the remaining golden saints to approach the congregation around the saint of Virgo.

Aldebaran came and began to crush his companions, gaining surprised shouts, smiles and laughter from them.

Among all the fuss, there was a saint who stood still: Shura. This did not go unnoticed by Death Mask, who followed the imaginary line where Capricorn was looking: the Sagittarius Saint. Aioros was smiling as he hugged several others comrades.

The Cancer saint crossed glances with Aphrodite. They knew it would be very difficult for the Goat to appear in front of the martyr of the Sanctuary, being Shura his murderer. The Spanish took a deep breath and straightened his back. The other two showed their support by squeezing his shoulder and the Spanish reciprocated this gesture with a smile.

He walked straight to Aioros, who gave him a slight smile when he saw his old friend approaching. During the short walk, Capricorn repeated over and over that he needed to ask for forgiveness. If he wasn't worth such indulgence, he'd ensure him he'll understand. He was sure the centaur no longer considered him a friend, but his forgiveness would be a great achievement for his new life.

Shura stood in front of the golden archer, set to begin his short speech with a "Saint of Athena, Sagittarius Aioros", something formal, but got speechless and his pulse started to quicken.

The other saints felt the change in Shura's cosmo, the resonance of armors stopped. Laughter and chatting suddenly stopped. The attention of all other saints dragged to the saints of the ninth and tenth temples.

Shura, gasping like a fish out of water, tried to speak but was left without words. He looked at the floor; he tried to calm down, breathing deeply. The archer was concerned about the Iberian.

Aioros took pity on him and called him softly by his name, and then Shura raised his head again. The Spanish trembled at the sound of Sagittarius' voice. He knew Aioros wasn't someone to hold a grudge, he'll forgive him. Then the Greek gave him a sweet smile.

"I am glad to see you again, Shura"

The golden archer forgave him.

Capricorn was relieved. He hid his face, sinking his chin on his own chest. He could not contain his joy. Lead by a strange impulse, Shura came forward to embrace Sagittarius, but the archer placed a hand against his chest to stop him.

Oh, no.

His mistake was thinking that in forgiving him they had become friends again. His vision was blurred by the tears that threatened to fall. It was clear that Aioros did not want his friendship, that was lost years ago, when he doubted his friend.

Indignation and surprise rose among the witnesses of this scene. Before Aphrodite or Death Mask advanced and complain to the archer, the other saints stopped them.

The Spanish clenched his fists against his thighs. He was going to turn around, go straight to his temple and shut forever. He was extremely embarrassed and did not want anyone to see him like that.

The archer heard him whisper: "Excuse me, Aioros".

But the Sagittarius Saint didn't let him go. He gripped Shura's arm and held him tightly. The Spaniard though Aioros would reprehend him. If Aioros wanted to humiliate him, he had the right. I'd be nothing compared to the suffering he caused him. That was why he didn't resist. He did not look up; instead he blinked several times in order to prevent the tears from falling.

Aioros saw Shura flinch and spoke very softly: "Hey, look at me, please." But the Spanish didn't obey. Sagittarius lifted his face, but Shura did not dare to look at him.

"You always forget something", continued the archer "You should not approach people threatening them with those horns. Do you remember when you got your armor and went with it on to my house and almost pierce my chest?" Shura gritted his eyes with a wince.

Aioros not intended to remind the Spanish his sin. The centaur quickly took the Capricorn Saint's helmet in his hands and removed it carefully.

"Come on, I'm here", whispered the centaur.

The Iberian began to mourn in Aioros' chest, crying soundlessly, a torrent of tears streaming down his cheeks, his mouth open in a silent scream. His grief was heartbreaking to see, but something necessary for atonement.

They were in that way for some time. Aioros' way of lulling was rocking his body. He was still holding his friend when the armors began to resound again, albeit almost inaudible.

It was a good sign.

It was a new beginning.

After managing to calm the Spanish, he left accompanied by his friends to the lounge where a banquet was waiting for them, the been reborn gold saints. Several of them already were trying sandwiches and drinks in the great hall.

When it finished the gathering some knights were resting in their respective temples; some being invited in other houses, they spent the first night of their new life with a friend, others went to rest too late because they hang out in company of another fellow saints. The day had been exhausted for their hearts.

But despite all the suffering, they were left with the joy, the love and the experiences lived that made living in this world worthy.

Tomorrow would be another day, and being good or bad, they wouldn't be afraid.

To be continued…

Author's note:

Okay, there was nothing like the original, the main idea was the Aioros and Shura part. Here I included all golden knights, and everyone was involved, some saints just a little, but they all were mentioned. I think I always rush the ending.