Disclaimer: I do not own the Percy Jackson or Heroes of Olympus series, Rick Riordan does. I am merely playing in his sandbox


Chapter 1: Birth

Circa 4000 B.C.E

Zeus

Olympus. A heavenly city, filled with diamond, gold, silver, and bronze was home to the gods of Hellas. Atop the tallest mountain and the land of Hellas, Mt. Olympus, named after the six millineia old city, the gods had view over the land of Hellas and surrounding lands. It resided as the central hub of divinity in the world, although the Olympian gods had claim to all of Gaea since the defeat of the Titans.

Yet, this day, the center of the activity was in the colossal palace of the King and Queen, Zeus and Hera. But not for a ball, nor a party; but rather, a birth. For the first time in several thousand years, Hera had given birth.

Inside the palace, several hundred deities and nymphs stood in a gargantuan hall. A golden hall, for a golden child. At the center of the hall, the proud King and Queen stood upon a platinum dias, with a black haired baby within the golden chariot.

"Well," remarked Hera, "he inherited your hair Zeus."

"He'll grow up to be a fine god one day. My son. Our son!" affirmed Zeus, pridefully and happily. He had forgotten the joy of having a child with his true wife. For the past several millennia, and dozens of godly, nymph, and the occasional mortal child (for the mortals were still quite barbaric at this time), each birth would entail getting glared at by Hera. With those jade green eyes as hard as steel when angered, a mad Hera was quite the scary sight.

Not to mention the torture the pregnant mothers sometimes went through, such as the golden haired Leto. Not the Zeus regretted his tryst with her. Such fine legs...

"Ahem," coughed Hera quietly

Right, the baby. Black hair, like him. Golden tan skin, and…

"He has my eyes," gasped red-haired Hera as the boy opened his eyes for the first time.

Bright, jade green eyes. Just like Hera. And Mother Rhea. And Gaea too, for that matter…

"What shall his name be!" cried Demeter from the crowd.

Yes, the boy had everything, from a wide assortment of gifts. From a toys from Athena, to a lyre from Apollo, to 2 golden colts(*.1) from Poseidon. He had great divine power, Zeus could feel that much. But a name…

"Blyde?" Hera suggested, "for joy." But somehow, the name didn't seem to fit.

"Heracles?" suggested Zeus. Hera sneaked a glare at him. Right...Hera had other children, and qualms about showing favoritism.

But hey, Zeus could tell this would be his favorite of Hera's children. A powerful boy, not bloodlusted like the raging Ares, nor crippled like Hephaestus. In other words, princely material, since none of his "illegitimate" sons could be crowned. And none of his previous wives had yielded sons.

"Ophion," said Hestia, Olympian of the Hearth and Home. "For serpent."

(For you see, in those days serpents were beautiful, four legged creatures. Not the hateful snakes of modern times)

"A beautiful name for a beautiful child," accepted Hera, beaming with gratitude.

Zeus grabbed the baby up. "Let this day be long remembered. The birth of Ophion, son of mine by Hera!"

The divine crowd roared with applause that may or may not have shaken the mountain. Yet, oddly, their applause seemed to drag a bit, the hands coming together a tad slower than they should have.

Unknown to Zeus, Ophion's green eyes were glowing with power.


1. A colt is a baby horse

A.N. Ophion is indeed what will be Percy

Jackson. But I gave him this godly name for several reasons, some which will come up in the story.

A.N. 2 I am holding a poll for Percy's romantic interest as a god. The options are:

Hestia

Artemis

Calypso

Khione

Styx

Nyx

Disclaimer: I do not own the Percy Jackson or Heroes of Olympus series, Rick Riordan does. I am merely playing in his sandbox