Ch.1: "By the Fire" / Village of Ogygia

[Legendary Sidekick]

The gardener first confirms, "Yes, I am Demeter. I left Mount Olympus, but I still have influence here in Ogygia.

"The ongoing rebellion is one of many, and Zeus is undefeated in this respect. There are many reasons. Hera and Athena in particular have never cared for his abuse, yet these goddesses are on different sides, this time around.

"Artemis, Virgin Goddess of the Hunt… she and Athena have become close. The slaughter of the amazons is Athena's reason, but Artemis. I think it was her who approached Athena. She's never been involved in a rebellion before, much less led one."

She turns to Kell, "Aphrodite approached me. The staff is from her, but has my blessing. I am sure she is with Artemis. And things are good with Hephæstus… I think. Hermes was remaining neutral until Zeus hurled a bolt of lightning at him. And Dionysius is taking a passive-aggressive stance.

"Apollo is Artemis' twin, yet he remains loyal to Zeus. Zeus has his brothers, his wife, and his favorite son Ares on his side. Those are the six Olympians. And Ares' sister Hebes is the reason my sister is forever youthful."

Facing Leto, she adds, "I imagine the Asgardians of the north must think Olympians are fools. That said, I am supporting Artemis, and Zeus knows it. It was he who enhanced the nun's lightning to rejuvenate the breel, and surely you know the giant sea plants were my doing. Zeus and I both have influence over the wind.

"You may wonder why he did not simply strike you down. I will not explain the limitations of the Olympians, or the Asgardians for that matter. Just know this: those who target mortals will send mortals—men and beasts under their influence, monsters, demigods, titans…"

Hess runs over shouting, "Didi! Didi!" She is holding two bouquets of red and pink flowers, each with a large juicy strawberry in the center. (All of the flowers and fruit in this room are red or pink.)

Didi rustles her little elder sister's hair. "You asked what you were getting yourselves into. I hope my answer does not frighten you.

"Hess is ready to travel to Arcadia, if you are still willing to take her."

 

[tbgg]

Kelleia

Kell says, "I take it that you, Artemis, Athena, Aphrodite, Hephaestus, and Hebe are just opposing whatever Zeus is doing. What is it Zeus and the others are wanting to accomplish that you oppose? And why do you need Hess to come with us? Is she now in danger here?"

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Hess looks at Demeter. "What is she talking about, Didi? Are you teaching another religious session?"

Demeter says, "I am."

Hess walks off. "Booooooriiiiiing…" She finds a weeping cherry to climb.

"Hess is a child, as far as she knows. She needs an adult to look after her. The ones who will be in danger are the two of you, and anyone else who joins you.

"As for Zeus… I make no excuse for my affair with him. Persephone, my lovely daughter, is the only reason I do not completely regret it. But Zeus seduces men with power, and as for women… he merely seduces them. He usually tricks a woman by taking the form of her husband.

"And you do know what his sons have done to the amazons, do you not? Heracles is hailed as a hero, but he is a sadistic brute like his father.

"Even Apollo and Hera oppose this, they just do not dare oppose him. Athena believes Artemis can win. I do not have as much faith, but I cannot stand by Zeus no matter what the cost."

Demeter looks back at her sister, playing like a child, oblivious to the civil war with Demeter on one side, the rest of their siblings on the other.

"If you refuse to help, I cannot blame you. But the battle will be waged even if you are not involved. If you are with my sister, you will have powerful allies."

 

[Ireth]

Leto

Leto looks from Demeter to Kell and back again. "Do you think other gods of your peerage will join in the fight, or will they all stay neutral?" She doubts the Asgardians will trouble themselves in this at all. Much as she'd appreciate the help of someone like Brynhild and her valkyries.

 

[tbgg]

Kelleia

Kell asks Demeter, "So if you and your allies win this battle, Zeus stops his abuses?"

Then she regards Demeter with narrowed eyes, "Did Aphrodite tell you about me specifically? Is this just Aphrodite trying to make me do what she wants again?"

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

"You both have so many questions. Yet neither of you are asking why you, and not someone else."

Demeter answers the unasked question first. ​"You have already killed a very powerful monster, and now you set out to battle another because you want to save as many lives as possible. You are already doing what we would ask of you. The only thing more I ask is to allow Hess to tag along. If you are with Hess, you will have help."

She says to Kell. "You should ask Aphrodite her reason, but she had a conversation with Artemis. Artemis always favored nymphs as a hunting companion, and here you are with a huntress who shares a name with Artemis' mother. The Oracle may have foreseen this—not just the pairing and the name, but your bravery and success as monster hunters against a beast who killed many men. I believe Artemis saw the talent in you, and Aphrodite… you need to ask her about this. I do not entirely understand her motivations."

She says to Leto, "If by peers you mean the Asgardians that preside over your homeland, I do not know of their involvement. With all the rebellions on Olympus, I am surprised they have never taken advantage. I cannot tell you what victory will look like because it has not yet happened.

"Just know this: you are not defying Zeus. You are killing monsters. Do not speak of the rebellion on Olympus unless you are in the presence of an Olympian who can protect you."

She gestures toward one of her trees. There are birds in the tree, but you hadn't heard their chirping at all, and now you can see why. None of the birds are moving, not even the one with its wings spread suspended in midair. Time is stopped.

"We can remain in this moment and continue talking, but I believe I have answered enough questions for now. You are only being asked to continue what you are doing. Hunt monsters for a living; save lives. The only difference is that you now know who Hess is, and you can expect help from Artemis and those on her side.

"Hess has a gift for you that will help."

Birds start chirping. Now that time is flowing normally, it may be best not to speak of Zeus and the rebellion. Hess runs up to our heroines with her bouquets. Each has a plump strawberry in the center.

"You gotta try the strawberries!" Hess says.

 

[Ireth]

Leto

Leto blinks as Demeter mentions the origin of her name. "I didn't know the name belonged to a goddess. I took it because it means the same as the name I was given in the north. There's a reason for it." She bites her lip, unsure of how much she wants to reveal just now.

She shivers slightly at the sight of the motionless birds. Benevolent though they be, gods and their powers can be a bit creepy.

As time flows again and Hess comes up with flowers, Leto smiles and gladly takes a bouquet. "Oh, these are beautiful!" She pulls out the strawberry and takes a bite.

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

((HP increased to 150% once strawberry is eaten))


Demeter says, "Leto is a beautiful name. I think my huntress friend will agree."

She smiles and says to both heroines, "Consider the bouquet a parting gift as you escort my sister to Arcadia. It is a beautiful island. You will need to take the ferry from South Beach. You know the way?"

Hess raises her hand. "South!"

Demeter gives her sister a good-bye kiss and turns to quietly tend her garden.

 

[Ireth]

Leto

At the compliment about her name and the talk of gifts, Leto smiles at Demeter between bites of the strawberry. "Thank you."

She finishes the berry and licks the juice from her lips. She can't explain it, but she feels stronger somehow, like she could take more hits in a fight than she could before. Still holding her bouquet, she smiles at Hess and Kell. "I guess we should get moving if we want to catch that ferry."

 

[tbgg]

Kelleia

Kell crosses her arms across her chest and gives the goddess a considering gaze. "Your unwillingness to answer my questions about what Aphrodite is up to is quite telling, Demeter. So telling, I'm going to take it to mean that Aphrodite is up to what she's always been up to - trying to control me. Oh, she's at least switched tactics, but now those involve honeyed words and gifts and getting her sister to do her dirty work instead of out-and-out threats. All that means to me is that the manacles are now of velvet instead of metal. When will she understand that a manacle is a manacle is a manacle, no matter what you dress it up in? As far as I'm concerned, she's the stupidest of all the Immortals, and you can tell her I said so if you want. A true goddess of love would understand that freedom to choose is every bit as much a part of love as the honeyed words and the gifts. Or should I say, 'bribes'? Nothing ever comes for free with Aphrodite. Nothing. She's just a faithless whore who makes promises she has no intention of ever keeping. And do you think she apologizes or accepts any responsibility for it? No, she doesn't. Oh, but she's beautiful, alright. I'll give you that much. I'm supposed to just pretend that her breaking her promise is OK because of the so-called privilege of getting to look on her pretty face. I tell you, she's also the ugliest of all the Immortals to me. In some ways I prefer Hephaestus more, even though he's not much to look at. He at least understands what it takes to build something GOOD. Athena is said to be wise. I know she is wise in her war counsels; would that she were also wise in how she deals with people."

She continues, "The biggest goal in my life is be as different from Aphrodite as I possibly can. She's everything I HATE! And if she wants me to do something, I want to do something different." She hands Demeter her staff. "This is a lovely staff, and the magic is amazing. I do so appreciate your loaning it to me, but I can't keep using it. I'm sure you only blessed it as a favor to HER because she's your sister, or maybe because of this battle with the other Immortals. But as far as I'm concerned, it's too contaminated by HER. Her selfishness. Her controlling, manipulating ways. Her insistence that everything be done HER way. If it were freely given out of real love, I could accept it gladly. I just know better. I know HER too well."

Kell can feel her face starting to flush with anger and hurt. She doesn't know which one she feels more. She doesn't know why she's telling Demeter all of this. It's not like Demeter can change Aphrodite. She'll probably just come down on the side of Aphrodite anyway. She wants so badly to scratch the smugness from Aphrodite's face. Maim her the way Heph is maimed and see if suffering doesn't sweeten her any.

Finally, tears streaming down her cheeks, she says, "If I'm going to do this, I think I need to disown Aphrodite and worship someone else before I can move forward. There's just too much bad history between Aphrodite and me. Which of the gods or goddesses do you think best understands the importance of letting their followers choose their own path? You know the Immortals better than I do, Demeter. Which would you recommend? For that matter, what's your own stand on that question? I could get into growing things."

 

[Legendary Sidekick]

Demeter invites Kell to sit with her.

"Aphrodite was welcomed like a sister by Hestia, but she is not a daughter of Chronos and Rhea as are Hess and I. She hatched from a shell, the first of her kind. She is a nymph, which makes her more a sister to you than to me, in a sense.

"But siblings fight. If you intend to distance yourself from Aphrodite, I will not stop you.

"Artemis enjoys the company of nymphs. She is a free spirit. Aside from rowing the Moon, she just does what she wants. Then there is Athena, Battle Goddess of Wisdom. She favors the amazons as well as all strong women. You are certainly headstrong, which I mean as a compliment. I would certainly welcome you, if you have a love of growing flowers.

"Since you do not want manacles, do not commit to a path at this very moment. Take no less than a day and a night to ponder."

Demeter wipes the tears from Kell.

"You could always follow my sister. She is not exactly what one would call goddess-like, but given your experience with Aphrodite, you may find a playful child-goddess to be a welcome departure."

 

[tbgg]

Kelleia

"Thank you for not making snide comments like Aphrodite would have," Kell says softly. "I think it is good advice to wait a day and a night. I will spend that time seeking the ones who draw me most and see what they have to say."

Then she changes into her Aqua Scrunchy, envisioning the previous chiton of turquoise with orange, black, and white accents, only with the belt having stones of alternating black and white to match those on the purse. Let's just hope followers of these other goddesses don't write me off as a fashion-obsessed airhead. Not that I'm that obsessed by fashion. But Aphrodite did teach me a few things about pulling an outfit together. But, maybe I can use it to my advantage if they do, though. If people think I'm a fashion-obsessed airhead, there's no telling what tidbits of information they'll drop.