Sons of War

The two boys peeked over, and saw the Teumessian Fox: Reynard, lazily grazing.

Ascalaphus was tense.

Ialmenus was nervous.

This was their moment to prove themselves.

They both moved an inch.

Reynard's ears pricked up.

There was no time to hesitate!

Ascalaphus and Ialmenus both jumped, and both managed to catch the wily fox.

" We did it! " exclaimed Ialmenus.

" We sure did. " said Ascalaphus, holding Reynard.

" Boys! "

Ascalaphus and Ialmenus both panicked; Kratos was supposed to supervise their hunt.

The boys threw Reynard between themselves, till Ascalaphus stuffed the fox underneath his shirt.

" Hmm. " said Kratos, standing before them.

Ascalaphus and Ialmenus did their best not to look guilty, which was especially difficult for Ascalaphus; as Reynard was scratching at his belly.

" Gone hunting? "

" No, papa "

" Telling lies? "

" No, papa. "

Kratos saw movement underneath Ascalaphus' shirt. He then saw Reynard's tail popped out.

" Hmm. "

The boys were not punished too severely.

They merely had to clean Diomedes' stables...

Kratos and the boys returned home: to Aphrodite's house atop Olympus.

The semi-retired-god-of-war was helping Aphrodite raise her sons - whom she had begotten with Ares: who was warring within Hades.

Aphrodite welcomed her boys back with pats on their heads, while welcoming Kratos back with a kiss on the mouth.

" Welcome back, honey. "

" Hmm. "

" Eww. "

" Give it a few years, and you two will think quite differently. " said Aphrodite, wily; " now go and get yourselves cleaned up. "

Ialmenus ran after his brother, as Ascalaphus had always been the fastest one.

" Did they cause any trouble? "

" Hmm. "

" The usual amount? "

" Hm. "

Aphrodite giggled.

She then took Kratos by the arm, leading him to the dining hall.

They all then sat down to eat a lovely dinner.

It was late at night.

With the full moon high up in the sky.

Kratos was sitting up in bed, a naked Aphrodite by his side.

He was turning over his former wife's ring within his hand - one of the Lost Treasures from God of War: Ascension(Kratos having returned the necklace to Calliope.)

Kratos closed his hand with the ring in it.

He then held it to his forehead.

He missed her so dearly…

And the only thing Triton missed: was that he missed fawning over Aphrodite.

I should probably take a moment to explain:

You see:

Aphrodite was made from the foam of Uranus' balls being thrown into the sea.

Triton was present at her birth.

He was the first to lay eyes on her regal beauty.

Her silky hair.

Milky skin.

And sea-blue eyes.

Everything about her was perfection itself.

It was not decreed at that point, but Triton knew that she was the Goddess of Beauty.

He also knew that Kratos was unworthy of her…

Kratos was in the midst of training the boys.

He told Ialmenus to be lighter on his feet, and Ascalaphus to concentrate harder.

It was time for the boys to face Kratos.

He easily para'ed their attacks with his bare hands.

He tried not to hold back, and the whole scene was reminiscent of that time Kratos - Santa Monica Kratos - para'ed kid Atreaus' fists in God of War 2018.

The boys collapsed from exhaustion, clapping then echoed throughout the training hall.

" Truly impressive. "

Kratos eyed the stranger.

" Hmm. "

" How rude of me! My name is: Eurypylos. The honor is all mine. I come bearing gifts. "

" Hmm. "

Eurypylos held out a clod of earth.

" Hmm? "

" It is a piece of my home. A peace offering. "

Kratos was skeptical, but he did accept the gift.

And similar to how he had appeared, Eurypylos had vanished like thin air.

Kratos and the boys beheld the piece of earth.

" Hmm? "

Kratos thought nothing of it.

He returned home, where Aphrodite invited him to a gathering.

Kratos declined, of course, and went straight to bed: the clod of earth on his nightstand.

His eyes may have been closed, but Kratos' heightened senses were still very much on alert; that is how he grabbed hold of the hand on his cheek.

Kratos' eyes immediately shut open. But he could not believe what he was seeing...

It was his wife: Lysandra.

" Hello, my love. "

Kratos for once in his life… did not know what to do.

Lysandra caressed his cheek.

She then leaned in for a kiss.

Kratos did not stop her, nor when she went in for a second time.

If this was a dream… then please let it last.

Kratos held her close.

He kissed her hand, noticing the ring on her finger.

Kratos' whole being froze.

He still had the ring in his pocket...

" What is it, my love? "

Kratos kept looking at her sternly.

She looked just like her, as lovely as ever…

But he could not let this insult stand.

He grabbed her by the shoulders.

" Who are you? "

The Lysandra imposter felt his hands tighten.

" Kratos, you are hurti- "

" Who. Are. You. "

The Lysandra imposter relaxed, realizing that she had been caught.

Kratos looked on as the hazel hair turned blonde. The tanned hue became milky, and the brown eyes changed completely blue.

It was Calliste, Triton's daughter.

" Why? " growled Kratos.

" My father wanted you out of the way… he wanted Aphrodite all for himself. "

Kratos sighed deeply.

She was no more than a loyal child.

He got up, ready to give Triton a Spartan Kick he'ill never forget: 'cause he will be dead.

Sent forth to the House of Hades.

To roam Tartarus forever.

Kratos approached Triton.

The sea-god was looking over the calm sea.

" I really thought that that would have lasted longer. "

" Whatever did I do to deserve such unkindness? "

" You know. "

" Do enlighten me. "

" YOU ARE UNWORTHY OF HER! "

" Her? "

It then dawned on Kratos.

" Aphrodite? She may do whatever she pleases - Kratos smirked - and she pleases to please me. "

Triton grinded his teeth.

He then calmed down.

" A Kratos from another land. "

" This is still Greece. "

" Where you died. "

" That wasn't me. "

" All the same: you die here. " said Triton, summoning forth his trident.

Kratos too readied for battle.

And what a battle it was.

Kratos, exhausted, fell to his knees, as Triton retreated to the waters.

" Whatever did you see in those boys?! Where are they now?! "

Kratos panted.

" I only tried to make them great warriors… "

He then felt hands on his shoulders.

" You succeeded " said the two boys, as they dove after Triton.

Something to note:

Like with her other son: Eros, Aphrodite has also blessed Ascalaphus and Ialmenus with: Pisces' Protectiveness - meaning! That Ascalaphus and Ialmenus can both transform into great dragon-like-serpents.

Triton looked on in horror, as the serpent-boys swam towards him, their maws agape.

Triton shot into the air, where Kratos caught him with his Blades of Chaos.

" I still believe that you are unworthy of her… " said Triton, beaten.

Kratos so no need for a killing blow.

So he merely walked away.

" Sons of whore. "

Kratos' eyes widened, as that of Ascalaphus and Ialmenus narrowed.

" Boys! "

Kratos was too late, as the boys beheaded the sea-god.

From afar:

Another daughter of Triton, Pallas, had seen everything take place.

Pallas then looked to the horizon; where Calliope could be seen approaching atop The Ceryneian Hind, whilst Orpheus was on top of Sharur, discussing with Calliope.

Pallas would get her revenge by killing Calliope...