Chapter One

Athena cried out as Zeus passed down the final ruling on the fate of her daughter. She fell to the floor, her short brown hair almost covering her eyes. Aphrodite brushed back her own tears as she looked down to see the tears flowing freely from Athena's steel-grey eyes. Aphrodite was taken aback. She knew that this was also her child, but to see the goddess of wisdom in tears was almost too much.

Zeus had asserted his power as the GOD of the gods and decided on the punishment for Athena's newborn daughter. Aphrodite moved to wrap her eyes around the shorter goddess, but Hermes touched her shoulder and risked a glance into the far corner of the room. Aphrodite followed his gaze to see Hera, Zeus's wife standing there. Aphrodite got the message loud and clear. "Stay away from Athena right now," Hermes whispered. "Hera can make your lives hell and I'm not talking to far from literally here."

Zeus's voice rebounded as he repeated the punishment for those who had not heard the first time. "As a result of a crime committed by Aries, the god of war, this child is to be punished also. Her father has been banished from all Olympus and his temple has been torn down. This child, as a result of her father's crimes, has been sentenced to a fifteen year banishment. She shall live the first fifteen years of her life as a mortal in one of the lesser known countries to Athens. She then shall be given the choice whether to return to Olympus or remain in her home on Earth on her sixteenth birthday. This word is law and shall be carried out. Anyone attempting to pass on information about her birth shall be put to death."

Zeus turned on his heel and stalked out of the room, not before handing the baby to Hermes. Athena stood as if to take her child, but Hermes whispered, "It will be better that you don't see her off, Athena. I'm sure you understand." Athena nodded and walked off, towards the Temple of Knowledge. Aphrodite followed her friend out and waited for Athena to speak. She didn't have to wait long.

"FIFTEEN WHOLE YEARS!!" Athena cried out before sinking to the ground under an apple tree. Aphrodite sat down and tried to comfort the younger goddess. The goddess of love was at a loss as to what to do until Athena said, "Hera did this. I know it."

Aphrodite looked over at Athena and quirked a brow. Athena motioned for the blond goddess to follow her and lead Aphrodite into the Temple of Knowledge. Athena summoned drinks for them both and sat on a couch opposite Aphrodite to explain herself.

After what seemed like ages, both goddesses jumped at a knock on the door. Athena brushed her hair back and opened the door, letting her swollen eyes rest on the soft emerald green eyes of Pandora. "Dory," Athena said, as she led the young woman into the temple. Pandora nodded her hello at Aphrodite and took a seat on the sofa. Athena sat down beside her and the young Pandora started talking to both older women.

"I'm really sorry about the girl," she said. "I know you both would have loved taking care of her on Olympus, letting all the gods and goddesses teach her their tricks, but you have some things to be happy for." Athena glared at Pandora, an unspoken request for the young woman to "drop dead and take her happy-go-lucky attitude with her".

Pandora let a ghost of a smile flit across her tanned face before continuing. "You still have friends. Both of you have the other. You have temples you can run to where no one can enter. The best of all is now that Zeus has placed Ares and his sister in the cell on Gorgon, no one can severely harm your girl while she's on Earth or back on Olympus."

Pandora picked up a branch of purple grapes and left the two women alone the think.

MEANWHILE ON EARTH

Hermes flew back towards Olympus. The delivery of the baby had gone smoothly. He had found a young couple at an adoption center and had persuaded them to give the young girl a good, kind, loving home. He had no doubts that the girl would be given the best care. After all, the family was a distant relation to Hades. While God of the Underworld he might be, all his relations were kind, caring people who would have trouble hurting a fly.

Hermes reached Mount Olympus in record time, just in time to see Pandora leaving Athena's temple, heading in the direction of the Temple of Wars. Zeus had asked the young woman to help them take all the items out of the temple and save them in a safe house until they could find the new war god or goddess.