The Gods of Chaos were not the only ones holding a meeting but as the Gods of Harmony. The mighty figure of Zeus in an elegant silver suit sits on his throne as the majority of the Greek and Roman Gods were part of this faction with other righteous figures such as Freya, Thor, Frigga. “Well speak?” Zeus coolly asked as he addressed the gathered assembly.

A breathtaking woman with golden hair, sea-green eyes in a gorgeous white gown rises. With a coquettish smile, Aphrodite says, “It would seem that my husband, Hephaestus has left us and joined Fable.”

Zeus slams his arm in fury on his throne chair causing a loud echo to resonate through Mount Olympus. “And what of Hades?” Zeus asked with little patience.

A young man with curly brown hair wearing a tight-fitting mailman uniform that sticks to his muscular body rises to his feet. Hermes calmly replies, “No, father, Hades still resides with the Chaos Faction.”

Zeus grimaces in relief and looks around with a frown. “And where is my wife, Hera?” Zeus asked with a frown. No doubt, Hera was throwing a jealousy tantrum, but regardless of her personal feelings, Hera should be present.

The minor goddesses’ glance at each other with apprehension until a timid pink haired lowly goddess quietly squeaks out, “Milord, Lady Hera has left us-.”

“What?” Zeus roared in fury as lightning suddenly flashed all over Mount Olympus.

The major Gods and Goddesses present stare at each other in surprise. It was a well common known fact that Hera loved Zeus with all her heart. Despite everything that had transpired, and the many women Zeus had, had. It was Hera who always remained at his side through thick and thin.

“Calm yourself, Milord. If Hera has left us, then nothing can be done for the moment,” the soft voice of Freya murmured. Freya, the Norse Goddess of Beauty and Love was no less beautiful than Aphrodite. However, whereas Aphrodite beauty leaned more to breathtaking seduction, Freya’s wheat colored hair and golden eyes gave the impression of a calm, graceful goddess.

Zeus sky-blue glowing eyes glimmer down as Zeus coldly asks, “And what do you propose, Freya?”

“Milord, I am sure it is just a jealous tantrum on Hera’s part. Go and reconcile and I am sure Hera will return to your loving arms with glee and even go as far as to renounce the Fable Faction that very minute,” Freya smoothly said causing Zeus to nod in understanding.

“I think not,” the sharp voice of Athena said. Tall and graceful with shoulder-length flaxen hair and sky-gray eyes, Athena, the Goddess of Wisdom and War boldly stood before her father, Zeus, in a sharp shirt and skirt entourage.

“Why not daughter?” Zeus asked with a frown as his brows furrow in concentration.

“You have not seen, what I have, father. The birth of Fable was not by sheer coincidence, Father,” Athena explained as she took a step forward. “Ancient and New Gods combined in an effort to break away from eons of tradition. No, Father, I fear that Hera’s heart may be fully resolved already and has no intention of turning back.”

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“No, Love always finds a way,” Aphrodite confidently interrupted with pride.

“Love maybe. But it is also possible for love to die or be eroded away much like the stones in the river,” Athena flatly retorted back as her eyes flash with an unknown emotion. “Who can say, but finally after all these eons, could it not be possible that Hera is, at last, tired and done with you, father? For surely, Father, you may love Hera, but that kind of love may no longer be what Hera desires.”

Zeus carefully narrows his eyes and dangerously says, “Are you suggesting, that Hera no longer loves me, Athena?”

“Do not ask me, father, for I am merely a goddess of Wisdom and War. I know nothing of the affairs of the heart,” Athena crisply replied. “The one you should readdress that question is towards Aphrodite or Freya. All I am suggesting is that it may be a possibility and all logical possibilities should be considered in order to create countermeasures in the unlikely of scenarios should transpire to come to pass.”

The golden figure of Apollo rises causing quite a few goddesses to become entranced by his golden boy looks and charm. “Calm yourself, sister, and worry not father. I am sure that Hera, will return with a few simple words from our father,” Apollo smoothly said.

Appeased by his son’s words, Zeus carefully says, “Hermes gather your winds and have them scour the cosmos for Hera. I want her found!”

“It shall be done, father,” Hermes said as he swiftly sent forth his wind messengers to scour the cosmos for Hera.

Satisfied, Zeus confidently says, “Good, now, let us go and see the champions.” Zeus rises proudly and leads the way to inspect the chosen champions of the Harmony faction. The rest of the gods and goddesses quickly follow lest they lose a rare opportunity to gain Zeus’s attention and be promoted.

However, Athena remains behind and frowns as she mumbles, “I fear it will not be so easy, father. A scoured woman is quite a fearsome thing.”

“Are you speaking from experience, sister?” A soft, but steady female voice whispered into Athena’s ear.

Athena reflexively turns around as a faint smile appears on Athena’s face at seeing the dark, long-haired Artemis in a jacket and jeans. “I suppose even a Goddess like myself can even love once,” Athena truthfully replied.

Artemis appears startled at the reply and quickly says, “I truly was jesting, sister, I did not think my words were true.”

Athena looks away and says, “Love may burn brightly as the sun, but that does not mean that dark shadows cannot overtake it and obscure it.”

Artemis eyes her solemn sister in surprise and worries at those words. “Who was he?” Artemis softly asked.

Athena stares up at the night sky above them and honestly answers, “It was simply not meant to be.”

Artemis narrows her eyes and asks anew, “Who is he?”

“No, sister. Do not ask me again for once spoken, there is no telling who may hear,” Athena pointedly replied as she gestures at their current location, Mount Olympus itself.

Artemis frowns as she recalls the past and recalls potential candidates. All of a sudden, a figure comes to mind, one who was once very much a nemesis and possibly knew Athena as much as she did herself. Artemis eyes widen in surprise as she squawks in shock, “Wait, is it him?”

Athena remains silent as Artemis exclaims, “But the both of you have always been enemies since the dawn of time!”

Athena merely turns to stare at Artemis and ironically says, “There is a thin line between love and hate.”

Artemis closes her mouth with a snap as pity fills her eyes. “I have never loved a man, sister, but I have loved too. I too understand what is to be unable to love in the open,” Artemis sadly whispered. For it was a well-known fact, Artemis loved women, but it would never be permitted by Zeus for his daughter, Artemis to make a woman her wife.

“Well, father may yet turn progressive with time,” Athena crisply murmured. “But for me, it is impossible.”

Artemis squeezes Athena gently on the shoulder and says, “Come, let us go drink our sorrows away.” Athena protests that it was undignified for the Goddess of Wisdom to become drunk, but Artemis will not hear of it. For tonight, they would simply be two broken-hearted women drinking their sorrows away.