Destined

Joy & Misery

The year is 1300 mortals have been evolving, agriculture had been growing their farming techniques have been improving and the gods were happy that the humans they created were doing so well. Everyone was at peace, no wars or fights in either the human world or on Mount Olympus. Everyone was happy and content in the first time in thousands of years. Not having to worry about Cronus and his followers or any wars or diseases on Earth.

It was time for joy, merriment for everyone to take part in but most of the happiest was caused for a great celebration for the long awaited birth of Hades and Persephone's first child, the gods and goddess's were in full swing of the celebration, having already been celebrating for three days, the time Persephone has been in labour.

In the main hall, where most of the gods are awaiting the news of the godlings arrival are decortating it in gold, blue and silver silk drapes, putting out golden tables filled with food and wine, water nymphs dancing and singing in the water fountains around the great hall, minor gods and goddess's dancing celebrating happily that the child the King and Queen of the underworld that was so longed for, would soon be appearing into their world.

Every now and again the minor gods would look up at the platform in awe which holds six thrones, in the main god's colours. Zeus and Hera's was golden with white clouds underneath making them slightly higher than the rest, Poseidon and his Queen's was that of the ocean and Hades and Persephone was made out of obsidian with lava glow stones, looking at the three brothers to see if there was any news of the birthing.

While at the other end of the castle on Mount Olympus was where Persephone was in the birthing room the Queen of the gods Hera had set up for her, Persephone was half way through giving birth she was very tried but with the help of some of the nymphs and Hera, Persephone gave birth to two healthy babies' one boy and one girl and they were beautiful. Both children having golden olive skin like their mother and beautiful jade colour eyes like that of their father and black hair just like both parents. Hera and the nymphs help clean Persephone and the babies ready for the children to introduce to the other gods.

Hades and Persephone enter the feasting hall with their children and walk to stand next to Zeus and Hera as is tradition. Hades looks to Zeus with joy in his eyes "Brother, it is my honour to introduce my children to you, your Queen and all the other Gods." Zeus overjoyed for his brother and his Queen smiles "Tell us their names brother for I am blessed to have new additions to the family." Hades turns lovingly to his wife who is holding their son "Have you decided my darling?" Persephone smiles brightly at Hades and then to the other gods and goddess's "This is my son, who looks so much like his father and his name is Aides meaning like Hades, the unseen." Hades kisses his wife's head and then turns to the crowd "And this is my daughter who just like her mother who has a healing touch and her name is Althea meaning one who heals." Everyone cheered for the new little godlings and welcomed them into their world with gifts.

The gods continued celebrating and doting on the new little godlings when suddenly something was amiss at Mount Olympus as if all the joy, happiness and colours faded turned cold and dark.

Out of the shadows came creatures that have never been seen before. Time seem to have stopped and then speed up, the creatures started attacking, they were black and red oozing some sort of puss, it was dripping everywhere leaving destruction on what ever it touched. The other gods were trying to counter their attacks, trying to stop them get any further in but when the ooze touched the minor gods flesh it burnt to the bone, yes it would heal but causes blinding pain, upon hearing the shouts of pain from the other gods, the main three told their wives to take the children and hide until it was safe and to call out their names if they need help. The goddess's were anything but helpless, gods are impossible to kill but not to hurt, for the Kings loved their Queens and want to keep them safe. The Queens nodded in understanding, Persephone still holding Aides kisses her husband "Be safe my love" Hades then passes his sleeping daughter to Hera and places a hand on each of his children looking at the women and children "Be safe all of you" he summons his power and his armor appears, he takes his sword of fear and death and leaves with his brothers to stop this chaos.

The Queens run to the end of the castle back to the birthing room and lock the doors tending to Aides and Althea making sure they are safe and the room secure. Night falls and still no word from their husbands or any of the others gods, they can't hear what's going outside of the castle nor see as they don't have windows in this room. unknown to them, there is someone watching and waiting slowly filling the room with clear smoke making the Queens fall into a deep slumber in which they would not wake till morning Hera and Amphitrite fall asleep straight away falling where they stood. Persephone which her body still using adrenaline from giving birth knew something was wrong and tried fighting the sleep barely keeping her eyes open she saw a cloaked figure walk towards her children's cot she watches unable to move as it peers down at them, it looks at Althea only to sharply turn its head to look at Aides he was wide awake and staring at the intruder "Oh you're a strong one boy" the intruder sneered picking him up and holding him in its arms. The intruder not noticing Persephone fighting to stay awake seeing the intruder holding her son calls for Hades in a weak voice still trying to fight the sleeping potion she has been exposed too. She startles the figure in the cloak as it turns to look at her, wanting to leave no witnesses it throws its hand back summoning a ball of fire using old magic to Persephone. Just as the ball of fire was about to be released Hades smashes through the door. Hades freezes upon seeing this cloaked figure holding his son and a fire ball pointed at his wife, the figure extinguish the fire and smirks at Hades, turning in smoke and vanishing with his son, "Not this time, Lord Hades" its hiss like an echo around the castle.

Hades and his brothers went to there wives to help them, hades bringing Althea to his wife making sure she was not harmed and for fear that thing might come back and take her aswell.

After attending to their wives and giving time for the others to heal Zeus ordered very god, creature to leave no stone unturnt to find Aides and the intruder but no matter if it was heaven, earth, sea or the hell, no matter how hard they looked or how many of those creatures they tortured they found nothing. All gods were disheartened for fear of losing faith in ever finding Aides.

Persephone in her grief stayed in castle not leaving with her daughter and doubling the guards around the clock not being able to bear it if she lost her daughter as well. As for hades in his rage he started an Ice Age bringing wetter weather and shorter growing seasons, cattle rising declined, decline in crops causing the mortals to starve, lives losted it lasted 400 years before Zeus put a stop to it.

All still in grief of the little godling but not as much as Hades and his wife, they vowed to never let anything like that to happen again to always be ready just in case.

The gods shorten their searches but never stopped looking there was always that little bit of light at the end of a dark tunnel.