Let the fun begin!

2.

Silence descended over the city of Delphi bit by bit as the shadowy figure approached them, cloaked and hooded carefully. Folk drew away, instinctively wary of the stranger.

Hades did not mind. Actually, he took absolutely no notice of the sudden silence. He had been unable to sleep for--oh, say the past few weeks, and he wanted out. Some kind of relief, anything. Finally, Persephone, sick of his grumblings, had kicked him out of the Underworld.

"You go," she snapped, her face pale and strained. "I am sick of your tossing and turnings, and I'm the one having the baby. I can handle the affairs of the underworld for a few days. Go into the sun, let it burn some of those worries from your head. Go see Athens. Pick some flowers, who knows? And don't come back until your skin's as dark as the Styx."

Hades had grimaced at the flower suggestion. "Persephone, I don't pick flowers. I'm not a nymph."

"Neither am I, but I do."

"Well, that's because you're a goddess. Put it this way--does Zeus pick flowers?"

"No…" she admitted reluctantly. "Well, Apollo does. Learn from him!"

"It's laurel leaves, Persephone." He had hesitated at this point, watching his wife uncertainly. "Are you sure you can manage?"

"Oh, please," Persephone snorted, waving a languid hand around. "Of course! I'll stay for a while in Elysium, work the kinks out of my system. Go, Hades, and stop fussing. Don't come back for three days at least."

So, with a sigh, he had left, emerging from the ground in a nice shady little grove, glancing uncertainly at the flowers. He had just received a three-day vacation at the least, and he had no idea what to do with it. The sun was not helping, either. What did it know about being a father?

The sun. Apollo. Oracle. It had all clicked there, and so with a vague idea in his mind, he had set off for Delphi, rather enjoying the exercise and silence. People stared, but he didn't mind. They were only mortals, and he'd see them again someday anyway. If he wished, he could make it up to them again. Emphasis on if.

He entered the temple, blinking at the sudden coolness. The folk inside turned, looking at the stranger. Hades ignored them completely and gazed at the temple with a little approval. Nice work, Apollo. You've got quite a temple going.

A small girl appeared in front of him, robed in the white of the priestesses. "The Mother Oracle wishes to see you," she said in a childlike voice. Hades simply nodded, allowing the girl to lead him past the gawking crowds. They entered into a long, narrow hall and entered into a small chamber at the very end. Hades wrinkled his nose with distaste at the foul odor of various incenses. The girl bowed to a figure that was barely visible through the smoke and left. Hades waited patiently for something more to happen.

"So," the Mother Oracle said finally in a reedy voice. "The Lord of the Underworld chooses to grace us with his presence."

Hades bowed. "Merely as a supplicant," he said. "As any other, I wish for a prophecy."

The mists cleared, revealing a woman that was old beyond old. Wrinkles showed clearly in her face, masses piling upon masses until you could barely see anything. Hades watched her, passing judgement swiftly. He couldn't be entirely sure, but this woman was destined for Elysium.

"A prophecy," the woman repeated softly, humor underlying her words. "Why would you wish for a prophecy, o Lord? Do prophecies not come from gods? Why do you not ask Apollo yourself?"

Hades cocked his head, considering. "I've always found Apollo a little too…hot for my taste," he answered dryly. "Too energetic. Too…"

He was interrupted by a loud gasp from the woman as she threw her head back, screaming violently. Hades gazed at her, mildly startled. Was she dying now?

The woman's head lowered, eyes rolling madly in their sockets as a strange voice came from her mouth, most definitely not one of an old woman's. "Why, Uncle!" she said in a lively male voice. "I'm flattered. Energetic, you called me!"

"Don't let it get to your head," Hades answered.

"Ah…it's swelling already. So. What brings you to the Delphi Oracle?" The woman gave a little chuckle, very odd for a person in her condition. "The gift of prophecy is a great one, but man is it annoying! I knew you were coming, but why?"

"A prophecy, is all," Hades replied. "Must I say more?"

"Of course. This is just so crazy. Hades, the mystical, grim old god of the underworld who loathes sunlight, comes into it! Amazing! And this time you didn't even snatch a bride!"

Hades sighed. "I do not loathe sunlight, Apollo. I simply do not like it. And if I've gotten a mystical reputation, well, I do not care. Mortals can talk it out with me later in the underworld if they so wish to."

Apollo--through the woman--laughed. "Like you'd let anyone see you, Uncle Grumpy. But seriously, why are you here?"

"Just prophesize," Hades said testily.

"I could. But I'm going to nag you until I find out."

"Won't you find out anyway when you prophesize?"

"Well, I don't like to be kept in the dark. It'll come out really cryptic anyway. So. What's up? Did dear old Dad die or something?"

"Zeus is a god, and therefore he cannot die. Stop playing with such trivial theories."

"Trivial….how did this happen, from energetic to trivial?" The voice sounded hurt. "Uncle, you wound me."

"Dear, dear," Hades said, rolling his eyes. His face grew serious again as he regarded the Mother Oracle in front of him, having a seizure as Apollo controlled her voice. "Very well, then." He hesitated, frowning slightly. Finally, he said in a low voice, "Persephone is pregnant."

There was stunned pause. Then, a riot of laughter exploded from the woman in between gasps and wheezes. Hades watched, an eyebrow raised slightly in vague amusement as he watched her.

"Ah, Hades!" Apollo howled, dropping the 'Uncle'. "This is--this is--"

"I suppose I cannot convince you to keep your mouth shut?" Hades asked doubtfully.

"Of course not. I can't wait to see Demeter's face when she hears this!" Apollo laughed again. "When's it due?"

"I'm not too certain," Hades answered. "And well, seeing as it is, I'm not certain of anything now. A prophecy would do much to relieve my mind."

Apollo's voice carried an underlying tone of humor. "Well, you did keep your side of the bargain, didn't you? All right then, I'll give you a prophecy." The voice turned serious. "Are you sure, though? What's said can't be undone, and it's not like I can control it. Not for gods, anyway."

"Yes."

"Very well, then. First, though, is the old lady okay?"

Hades inspected her critically, then shook his head. "No. She's close to Death's door."

"Your door, you mean." Despite the humor, Apollo's voice held genuine regret. "Pity. I did love her once when she was much younger." There was a slow pause, then Apollo picked it up cheerfully once more. "Well, then, a prophecy it is you want? Here we go!"

The woman jerked upwards, hands raised to the ceiling as rays of light shot dramatically from her body. Eyes wide, she stared directly at the Lord of the Underworld as majestic tones rolled from her lips.

"Two.

One to light, and one to dim.

One to love, one to hate.

One to be raised to the High Lord's eye,

The other destined for dark Hecate.

Yet when spirits roam where they should not,

And the light of the sun is traded for blood,

You'll then find the roles are reversed,

As first becomes last, and last becomes first."