Neglected

The Neglected Son

Hey guys! This is my first time writing here. Not so experienced but hope you guys enjoy this story. It's a tribute to my all-time favorite god!

The hall is empty, all gods and goddesses back to their rightful chambers. All empty except for the two gods. One, staring intently at his goblet of wine, while the other tries to grow thorns out of the wall with his stare. The air is suffocating, no one wants to be in this situation, not even for a god.

"You better start talking before I lift my feet out of this burdening place," Ares states. His voice quiet but deep; calm but threatening.

"Why did you storm the wall of Athens last night? With your ferocious warriors, all filled with your blood-lusting spirits. Do you know how much impact it will have on all Greece?!" Zeus voice came thundering, rising an octave higher every time he starts a new sentence.

"I think I've made my point clear that I won't let any threat coming over Sparta," Ares said with a level-headed voice.

"But Athens is Greece's capital city, it is the center of our government. Why can't you let it be that your city will never be our capital?"

"Ah, so that's why. You chose Athens as the capital city since that's Athena's city isn't it? Your very "precious" daughter,"

"Why are you so jealous. She's your sister..you should've get along."

"Not when she's being such a know-it-all bitch!"

"It's no wonder you're the most hated god in all of Olympus!"

The change in Ares's face is evident. He doesn't like to be called that way. Well, no one does. Even more that's the status linked to him for several centuries, lessening the respect he should've earned from the mortals. When Zeus said those words the first time, he just came back from the Trojan War. Terribly wounded, he asks for Zeus's aid, and all he got is those heart-piercing words.

As you knew from the history, Ares was on the losing side, rooting for Troy. While Athena stands for Greece, and through her beloved hero, Odysseus, Nike's blessing was hers to own. Since then, no one ever believes Ares as the god of war. They called him weak and impulsive, treating him with contempt and disgust, telling stories about how he loves fighting and conflict more than anything.

It's all wrong, can't they see it? He's not Eris, he fights for a reason, he makes war to settle a dispute. True, he act impulsive sometimes. Well, not everyone plans strategies like Athena, but Ares has his own way of thinking, and it doesn't work the same way as Athena's, which in everyone's dictionary is wrong.

"Sometimes I wonder why I'm the most hated god of all Olympus." As he speaks, he stands and turn to face the window. No, he won't let his father see how hurtful it makes him feel. Ares never shows much emotion. Once he tried to make jokes, everyone just stare at him as if he's a unicorn dropped from the sky right in front of them.

"Why can't they hate on Athena? Why can't they hate her for her pride, for her over confidence? Whenever she makes a mistake, everyone says it is because the condition is not cooperating, they say it's not her fault. Whenever I make a mistake, they call me a fool, a weakling, a coward.

"Yes, I'll admit that I was jealous over Athena. Why does it always have to be her who get the attention? The one who gets everyone's supports, the one you favored. Why don't they hate Dionysus, the demigod who turns immortal, who does nothing but make madness! He made Hestia leave her throne, because she didn't want a fight to start because of her. Don't they see that she's much worthy of keeping than that god who does nothing but gets drunk?! Have they forgot that she's the eldest child of Cronus, the first ones who fought, who tried to bring peace to all of the gods? And at the end of the day, she earns nothing, she just fades to the background, letting her name be forgotten."