Hey, it's Insanity! I've got some announcements to make so please read. 1) I would be very grateful if you guys checked out my other story The Phantom Diaries, it would mean so much to me. 2) I might be putting up another story soon, so look for that. Any "Danny Phantom" fans?

Disclaimer: I do not own the myth of Hades and Persephone.

Chapter 4: A Long, Lost Love…

A Self-Sufficient Rose

"Persephone… Persephone…"

She remembered the sound of her name as he spoke. She was only a child when she first met him, so naive about men yet she had given him all her trust at such a tender age. When she was older, they made a promise…

The sun was bright and welcoming giving a golden hue to everything it touched , the warm air gently brushed your face, and the bright purples, pinks, reds, blues, and greens made the scene all the more bittersweet to Persephone as they sat together facing each other on the grass, very close to each other.

"Persephone, I beg of you not to go," he pleaded. "I have to leave, I must know what goes on beyond the walls and barriers my mother has set," replied Persephone.

"But where will you go? How will you survive?"

"You are right, but I must see if the world is as truly as cruel as I am told. Just imagine what it would be like to see more worlds beyond that of Greece. Who knows maybe there is a place where people are not ruled by kings but themselves?" If anyone were to hear her say that, they would call her radical, a supporter of anarchy, but not him. He found joy with her vivid imagination and often felt dumbstruck by her creativity. When he was around, Persephone was never afraid to be herself. He was her confidant, her closest companion, and her first love… Even though for her it was one-sided.

He looked at her, and then looked away. He appeared to be thinking as he placed his hand underneath his chin. His hair shielded his eyes as he pondered.

"Well, clearly I am unable to convince you otherwise to stay. If that is the case, I shall help you plan for your journey and escape your mother's loving walls," he said.

Persephone's smile grew wide and she quickly hugged him with constant repeats of "Thank you." And then she looked up him and said, "Oh please tell me, my lord, how can I ever repay you?" she asked eagerly. "I want you to promise me something," he replied. "Oh yes, I promise, I promise!" exclaimed Persephone.

"Well, how do I know you will keep it?" he smirked. With that, Persephone's smile turned into a pout. She scratched her head and thought and thought with perseverance like any eleven-year-old would do. She quickly snapped her fingers and grinned triumphantly. She then spoke, "I know the perfect way. Hermes told me how sometimes when mortals make promises to each other, they do something called the 'Pinky Promise.' Once you make a 'Pinky Promise,' you cannot, no matter the circumstance, break it," she stated as a matter-of-factly.

He just smiled at the always-surprising girl. "Alright, now how do you make this 'Pinky Promise'?" "Oh, it's easy. You take your pinky," they did, "You wrap them around each other," they did, "And now you shake," they did and broke away.

"Now what is the promise I am to keep?" Persephone asked curiously. He motioned her to come closer to him, she did. "Bring your ears closer," he commanded. Persephone obliged, and then he began to whisper, "I wish…"

Then Persephone had awaken from her dream of an old memory and smiled to herself. It was one of those bittersweet memories that you wish you could change and yet you do not want to. She was lying in her silk sheets with the warm morning sun awaking her through the pillars that held her roof. The room was an off-white color that held a royal air to its features. She rested in her large canopy bed with transparent clothe from the ceiling reached around her bed. She wanted to rest a little longer, but then she heard footsteps of bear feet approach her bed and heard her curtains to her bed rung open, revealing all the sun to her. Persephone had to squint her eyes to get a better look at her somewhat unwelcomed visitor. Who stood before her was none other than Evalyse, one of her closest friends. Persephone quickly sat up and gave her friend a tight hug. Persephone must have gotten stronger during her travels Evalyse thought, seeing how she found herself having a hard time breathing through her friend's death grip.

"My lady… could… you… please… let go…" Evalyse said trying to speak the best she could. "Oh I'm sorry, I guess I don't know my own strength," Persephone gave a nervous chuckle while releasing her. "Thank you," she gasped. Evalyse spoke again after she had caught her breath, "How does it, little Persephone?" she smiled. "I've been alright. Traveling gets exciting if you don't know which way you're going," she grinned. "Oh, but is that not dangerous? Do you not worry for thieves and murderers?" Evalyse asked with anxiousness. "Nah, not much as I did when I first left. I learned a few tricks here and there on how to take of myself. The world isn't as scary as Mom makes it. Although it does have its downsides," she said with a small smile. Evalyse then took both of Persephone's hands into hers and spoke, "At least now we are in comfort to know that you are safe." They smiled at each other and then Evalyse looked down at Persephone's wrist.

"My lady," she said in astonishment, "What is that silver band on your wrist? It looks to be quite a prize." The silver band that Evalyse was referring to had a deep cut pattern of vines an numbers that resembled a time line. "Oh, pfft, this old thing? It was just a parting gift from a friend," she quickly answered. Evalyse was never one to question Persephone but she wasn't so sure in this situation but she let it go. "I see. That reminds me, Hermes asked me to give this package to you," she handed her a small box with a narcissus flower tied to it with a black ribbon. Persephone smiled and opened the small white box. Evalyse was curious as to what Persephone was smiling at, but did not ask seeing how her eyes had lightened up at the sight and decided to not ruin the moment.

"My lady, I must tell you also, your mother will be here to join you soon for breakfast," she said. "Hmm. Oh right, right. Let me get dress and she can meet me shortly," Persephone quickly replied. "Yes, my lady," with that Evalyse bowed and left the room leaving Persephone to reminisce in her memories.