Ice Princess

48

"You need to come home." Persephone told Melinoe.

"Home to the underworld or home to Olympia?" Melinoe asked her mother.

"You know what I mean. Mother is not going to stand for this much longer. You know what she's doing."

"One more day. Please. I have to tell someone goodbye." The tears were streaming down Melinoe's face. Over the last two weeks, she's been nauseous. Perhaps she was coming down with a cold or getting over one. Then again, she was so worried perhaps it was that as well. Bucky's team was already a week late, she couldn't take up much more time. The small moments they were able to steal away from everyone was getting harder and harder to find. Sitting down, she wrote a letter to Bruce explaining her research and why she had to go but not to tell anyone until after Bucky read his letter. She also wrote a letter to Love, saying she could have Flurry and that she would always love her. The last letter was the hardest to write.

Dear Bucky,

I tried to put it off as long as I can but Demeter is taking her anger out on the world. If I do not return to Olympia, the crops will not grow. Those that have already started have been attacked by natural causes which she can control. I love you and it breaks my heart to do it this way but I put it off too long. Demeter will only make things worse if I don't go now. I don't know if I can ever leave or even if I can go to the underworld again. Know that I tried everything I could to prevent this. I wanted to say goodbye in person, but I couldn't wait any longer. Live your life, be happy. I treasure what we had, but please find someone to love again. You owe that to yourself.

You are in my heart always,
Meli

She placed it where Bucky would find it upon returning to the compound. Then she went to Olympia. Upon her arrival, Demeter had a smug grin on her face.

"Granddaughter," Demeter said hugging her. But the hug was not one of love, Demeter placed a collar around Melinoe's neck which prevented her from transporting herself. "You will not be allowed to leave here. Maybe in a few millenniums, I'll consider letting you go, but you can forget about that man you've been seeing, he will be dust by the time you can leave."

"Mother! How can you be so cruel!" Persephone told her. Melinoe didn't say anything, just turned her face down in resignation and clasped her hands in front of her. Demeter showed her to her rooms where she had solace, but Melinoe was expected interact with everyone in Olympia.

________

Bucky crushed the letter Melinoe wrote to him and punched a wall.

"Did you know about any of this?" He growled at Bruce.

"I knew she was doing research into why crops weren't growing and were being attacked. I had no idea why though." Bruce began to show him Melinoe's findings and then showed him as soon as she left, the next day life began to grow. "Remember, she did tell us about her grandmother's plans if she didn't return."

"We need to bring her back. Can Strange help?" Bucky asked as desperation took over.

"I honestly don't know the answer to that." Bruce told him. Bucky left, anger filled him, but he was more scared than anything. Arriving at the Sanctum, Bucky banged on the door, eventually, it opened.

"Ah, Barnes, what can I do for you?"

"Melinoe, she left." Strange sighed deeply. "She left a letter and is gone."

"Because her grandmother put a hold on everything growing on Earth. Melinoe kept looking for an answer but didn't find one. I don't know if she would ever find one. The only answer Hades could offer her was to have life come from death. Time was running out, people were starving."

"She couldn't have kids."

"Then see, her leaving to Olympia was the only way to prevent the world from starving to death."

"There has to be a way to get her back."

"Only gods have access to Olympia. Perhaps Thor could be of help."

"Thor said he had an altercation with Zeus at Omnipotent City. I think that extends to Olympia as well."

"Bucky, you have to accept the fact that she left. Melinoe didn't do it to hurt any of us, she did it so that people could live. We may not like her solution, but she worked harder than anyone I've ever seen to try to find a solution that would allow her to stay."

With that Strange left him. Bucky felt lost, there was nothing he could do. With nothing more he could do, Bucky went home. There were reminders of Melinoe everywhere. A few paintings she did, his fridge full of food she made, the freezer as well. What hurt worst was going to his bedroom, he laid on the bed and covered his face with his arm. But rest didn't find him there, the bed smelled too much of her. Getting up, he went to the guest bedroom, closed the drapes, stripped out of his clothes, and threw the covers over his head. He was hoping this was all a bad dream and when he woke up, she would be curled up next to him. Sadly, his nightmare continued when he realized the next morning, he was alone in the guest bedroom.