Prologue

Authors: Animal Charmer 11 and I'mDifferent-GetOverIt

Disclaimer: We don't own the Greek and Egyptian gods. They belong to... well, no one. AND we don't own Percy Jackson and the Olympians and the Kane Chronicles. They belong to Rick Riordan.

"Dropped something?" asked the young man with blond hair and brown eyes. He picked up a rather thick leather-bound book off the floor.

"Oh yes, thank you," replied the gray-eyed, dark-haired woman. She took the book the man handed to her. "I'm Athena. You are...?"

"Thoth," the man replied, holding out a hand for her to shake.

Their names seemed vaguely familiar to the two college students, as if they had once been childhood friends.

"Nice to meet you," replied Athena, shaking Thoth's hand.

Thoth smiled at Athena, who returned it with a slight blush.

"So... where are you from, Athena?" Thoth asked to break the awkward silence that was starting to form.

"Greece. You?"

"Egypt."

Athena frowned. Egypt...Thoth...why did she get the feeling that those two names were connected somehow?

Thoth's eyebrows furrowed in thought. Athena...he had heard that name before, but where? And why did he know it had something to do with Greece?

"Well, this isn't awkward. Not awkward at all," Athena said. Thoth cracked a smile. Pretty soon, both were laughing.

"Do you want to go get a coffee or something?" asked Thoth nervously. Athena nodded, unable to keep the light blush out of her cheeks.

"Starbucks?" she asked. He nodded. Athena smiled, her flush deepening slightly. Both walked out of the Memphis University and headed for the closest Starbucks.

Thoth, trying to be a gentleman, held open the door for Athena. She smiled. It had been a long time since a man had done that for her.

"Thank you," she thanked him, walking through the door, which Thoth was grateful for, because she couldn't see his red cheeks.

"What coffee do you want?" Thoth asked. "Cinnamon Spice Mocha?"

Athena looked at him, startled. "Actually, yes. How did you know?"

Thoth shrugged and grinned. "It's my favorite."

"Mine too," Athena answered, smiling.

"Would you like a cinnamon roll with it?" asked Thoth.

Athena grinned and nodded. "Let me guess...you love those too."

Thoth nodded. "The lemon pound cake is also one of my favorites."

Athena laughed. "Me too!" She turned to the worker. "One cinnamon roll and two Cinnamon Spice Mochas."

"And a lemon pound cake," Thoth added.

The worker nodded and placed the order for the drinks. Thoth twirled his fingers, not knowing what to say. The worker returned to the counter and handed the two their pastries.

"Thank you," Athena said.

Thoth nodded and took a bite. After he swallowed, he asked, "So... Athena... what do you do for a hobby?"

"Well," Athena replied, swallowing a bite of her cinnamon roll. "I love to read. What about you?"

"I do experiments a lot. I once made barbeque with all my science equipment."

Athena laughed and beamed at Thoth. Thoth smiled back.

"What are you majoring in?" asked Athena.

"Biology," answered Thoth. "You?"

"Architecture," answered Athena.

Thoth nodded. "I've thought about that. Very interesting topic, if you ask me."

Athena nodded in agreement. "It's so fascinating, being able to make thousands of different buildings and bridges that could last forever."

"Like the pyramids," Thoth suggested.

"And some of those theaters in Greece," Athena supplied. "Did you know that the theater began with the festival each year the Greeks gave Dionysus for their plants to be able to grow strong and healthy?"

"I think I've heard that before," Thoth replied thoughtfully. "I can't remember much of Ancient Greece."

"What do you mean, 'I can't remember much of Ancient Greece'? I'm sorry if I'm wrong, but it sounds like you were, well, alive, during that time." Athena took a sip of her coffee, looking at Thoth suspiciously.

Thoth set down his drink, realizing his mistake. "Oh, I meant the unit in...um, what was it? Sixth grade?"

Athena nodded, not really convinced. "It's ironic, isn't it?" she suddenly said. "That your name is Thoth and you come from Egypt, while there is an Egyptian god called Thoth."

Thoth nearly spit out his coffee. "Hot," he explained. "Um, my parents were odd people...wait, did you say 'is'?"

Athena's eyes widen slightly. "Oh, um... I like to believe that all the gods of all the countries are alive," she explained quickly.

"I think like that too," Thoth agreed. "How could an empire as strong as Egypt make a mistake of believing in fake gods and goddesses?"

Athena nodded in agreement. "Well, the Greeks were pretty strong, too," Athena defended her empire. "I mean, they did kind of conquered Egypt."

"Technically, that was the Romans," Thoth corrected, saying the final word with a kind of hatred.

"Well, Romans put a line of Greeks, like Kleopatra, as pharaohs."

"But it was Kleopatra who made the decision to...um...Kleopatra destroyed Egypt herself, using her own choice."

"She tried her best to keep Egypt how it was. She tried very hard to not have her people destroyed. She married two Romans and had kids with them to keep Egypt out of harm. So, technically, even if it's kind of her fault Egypt fell, she tried her best not to get Egypt fall."

Thoth opened his mouth, but quickly shut it. No, he couldn't explain how it was Kleopatra's fault. "She was a foolish queen."

"You talk about her like you knew her personally."

Thoth ran a hand through his hair. "Um, you know, I've read a lot about her..."

Athena nodded, then laughed. "I just remembered-wasn't Hermes and Thoth always confused between Egyptians and Greeks?"

"I believe so," Thoth replied. "Isn't Hermes the god of mischief and thievery or something similar?"

Athena nodded. He takes his job a bit too seriously. "Yes. But oh, how I love Hermanubis-couldn't stop laughing when I found out." I always love teasing Hermes about it.

"Hermanubis?" asked Thoth.

Athena nodded. "It's a combination of the gods Hermes and Anubis. Quite a popular god back when Rome was conquering Egypt."

Thoth laughed. I'm going to have to mention that one to Anubis.

Athena smiled. It had been a while since she was like this, relaxing, talking with... who was Thoth to her? A friend? Colleague?

Thoth returned her smile.

Athena pointed to the lemon pound cake. "Are you going to eat that or will I have to do it for you?"

Thoth laughed and gave Athena a piece. She accepted it gratefully.

Neither knew that they were both gods of different empires. Nor the long way that awaited them. Then again, who does?

*::*::*

AC11: Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii. I'm Animal Charmer 11, if you don't know me.

This story is a prequel to my story, Twins of Wisdom. It's how... well, if you read the summary, you know that this story is how Thoth and Athena met and how their life together was until the twins of wisdom were born. :P

Different: Yup. She said it all basically...except for you to please review! :-D

AC11: And this is also a collab story between I'mDifferent-GetOverIt (whom I dedicated Twins of Wisdom) and me! So give us both credit. Also, it was Different who came up with the idea. I'm just helping.

AC11 and Different: REVIEW! Flames are used to roast marshmallows, however cliche that is!