Tethys was also pondering options. However, they weren't hers.
It was obvious to everyone which position will she take. She wasn't a fighter, she was a healer and she would proudly take the spot. She didn't care about sides, more about which lives could be spared or not. Not even her years as consort of Oceanus has she valued human life, so she didn't have to take care of that. She lived beyond that and should would continue to.
The Nurse, as she was called, watched as the several members of the old courts were deciding their sides. Some of them were obvious, like hers. Others, were predictables, like Rhea. Somehow, Rhea's decision of joining the Olympians was taken with reverence and even delight. The fact that she had, what humans call 'diplomatic immunity', helped her a lot. Both sides would forgive her at the end of this.
The Compass Four, known as Hyperion, Iapetus, Koios and Krios, were joined by Kronos and Oceanus. The six of them were aiding Gaea, Nox and Ouranos. Tethys didn't even bother in changing her husband's point of view. She knew that he hated Poseidon and his bunch, but she failed to understand why was he doing this. They would not be granted mercy.
Phoebe, Koios' wife, would be joining him. She wasn't a fighter, but she must has known something. After all, she is the Titaness of the Prophecy, grandmother of Apollo. There's something in the future that she had felt to make her join that side. Eurybia, Krios' wife, had recently left them. She was a Titaness of the Seas primarily, as well as weather and the wind, and a very valuable healer. Even Kronos dared not challenge her in the aspect of healing. Tethys had hope for Eurybia. Mnemosyne, however, joined that same side, with no other explanation on why she joined that side too. No husband, no information. What was her plan...?
Theia, Hyperion's wife, and Themis were going to be 100% neutral. Tethys understood Themis perfectly, as she is the Titaness of Justice and Law. She also understood why Theia didn't join the fight, especially for her fetiches with shiny objects. She must be useless the second you show her a shiny sword...
That leaves the rest of the immortal deities that aren't faded or forgotten by the same Olympians or Primordials themselves. She must approach them quickly before they can be convinced that their lives are worth the same as a war...
Nothing.
Tethys began her journey, looking for neutral deities. Deities that were smart enough to think about the consequences or to safe their own skin. At this point of the war, it didn't matter for which reason you did it.
Humans say that those who don't fight or don't take part are cowards. But the same humans also recognize that those who don't fight in that war or battle are useful for the next one. Humans are so contradictory... Was her thought when she reached her first target. Well, it wasn't a target, more like a possible ally...
"Lelanto... Good to see you." The figure in front of her turned around slowly to show a man with, obviously, divine factions and a serious face. He was tall, with golden eyes and sandy brown hair. He had a lean build to compliment the large wings on his back, the feathers sandy brown. His armor covered his shoulders, going down to frame his bare midriff. The golden metal gleamed, his lower armor skin tight.
"Tethys..." He greeted back, nodding his head. "What do I owe the pleasure of your visit..?"
"It's a search of allies, if you have to call it something-"
"Tethys, allow me to stop you right there." Lelanto interrupted her, somehow politely. "I've been getting news about the not surprising and soon clash between the Olympians and the Primordials... Let me tell you I have no intention of joining either side and I'd appreciate that you don't try to convince me otherwise..."
"Oh, Lelanto! That's so good to hear!" This time, it was Lelanto' turn to be surprised. "I myself don't wanna be part of any of those battles and wars that they are thinking and planning... Which is why I planed to do a neutral party, one that would help either side, with medical care..."
"Though your thoughts are in the right place, Tethys, I worry how this is gonna show of us... After this war is over, which will be, I fear that we'll end up in hiding because of our selfish activities..." Lelanto pointed out, considering all the options.
"And I share your concern... Which is why we need to gather as many neutral parties as we can. That way, we have the advantage of defending ourselves if things go wrong..."
"Too bad we cannot count on Leto, what with her power..." Upon Tethys' confused face, Lelanto felt forced to explain. "No one has seen her in a long time... I fear she has faded and not even her children know about it..."
"Well, there's only one way to know for sure... And, in the way, let's gather some allies!"
"Very well. Have you heard recently from Perses?" Lelanto began.
Rhea sat down, patiently, waiting.
Of course the one who wasn't sitting patiently waiting was her father, Ouranos. Against all foretell, Ouranos and Gaea were waiting for a new child, in a mortal hospital, nonetheless. Rhea wasn't alone in the waiting, as along her father and her were Phoebe, Mnemosyne and Hyperion.
Phoebe had light brown hair that went down to her breasts, the curly ringlets gleaming. Her skin was dark brown, a speckling of freckles near her button nose. Her golden eyes gleamed in excitement, her dress going down to her knees, the corset holding her breasts in. Phoebe giggled. Her high heels had little celestial bronze knives in the heels.
Hyperion, on the other hand, had eyes like the sun, pure yellow. He was lean, his muscles not that great, but still faintly visible in his muscle-shirt. His tanned skin gave him the vibe of spending time out in the sun, while his light blonde hair was well groomed and maintained. They all watched as Ouranos was driving himself crazy with worry.
But not sweet and calm Rhea. Her dark black curly hair swept down to her ankles, with her green eyes as green as a fresh meadow, and her smile as sunny as the sun which Hyperion briefly controlled. She wore a pair of denim jeans and a dark blue, baggy hoodie, her hair spilling around.
"Rhea, how can you be so calm?!" Hyperion wondered to her. It was true that this wasn't his kid, but he couldn't help to notice how his sister was sitting, with a small smile in her lips.
"Because, even though I'm not one to foretell things, I know father will have some explanations to do." That shocked everyone waiting along with them, except Phoebe, who obviously had foretold it, and Ouranos himself, who knew exactly what they were talking about. "It wasn't part of your plan that they were born the same day?"
"It wasn't. Honestly, I thought I hadn't worked up..." Rhea simply raised an eyebrow at her father, but nothing more. She knew he wanted a war and both, father and daughter knew she wasn't gonna aid him, but they were cordial enough to keep the topic away for now and focus on the problem in hand.
"Gaea will be sooo pissed when she gave birth to the child..." Phoebe giggled, earning a few glares. "What?!" Rhea couldn't blame her sister. She was always one with a bubbly personality when seeing the future. Especially if the problems didn't involve her.
"I just want this to be over-" His words were shut up by the arrival of a nurse, who looked like she had been in the middle of a hurricane. Which, if you consider that Nyx and Gaea were extreme opposites, you could consider it one.
"Eh, well..." The poor nurse looked exhausted, but she was still standing. "The bad news was that we had to sedate the mothers after they started to argue against each other, once they delivered..."
"Ha! I told you so!" Phoebe started to celebrate, but Mnemosyne stopped her.
"What is the good news...?" Mnemosyne asked, a hand over the mouth of her sister to shut her up.
"Both baby boys are healthy and ready for visits." She announced. No one moved for a minute before Rhea took a long sigh and got up from her chair. Wth a simple gesture, she told the nurse that they were right behind her. The nurse guided them into a nursery, with a lot of other babies and pointed at the two cribs at the back, who had the quietest babies of the place. Since Ouranos was still unresponsive, Mnemosyne and Rhea grabbed them first.
"They are sooo tiny!" Phoebe gushed over them, almost squeaking.
"We all were this tiny before." Mnemosyne reminded her, earning a roll eye from her sister. Rhea ignored them and started to rock the baby she was holding, the one, immediately opened his eyes and stared at her. The cold and changing eyes that were staring back at her, surprised her a little. They were ever-changing, one moment pale blue, the next gray slush.
"You must be Nyx's son... You have the same coldness as your mother..." She spoke softly to the baby, who decided that to freeze her finger was too much fun. "And her sense of humor..."
"I don't believe that he's Nyx's, Rhea..." Hyperion pointed out at the name written on the chart. The baby she was holding, surprisingly, was under the name of Gaea. Mnemosyne, who was holding the other one, surprised as well, since the baby had been giggling since he saw Phoebe's funny faces. "Well, this will me a bigger clash than we thought..." The one with Phoebe's eyes sparked like electricity, yellow and vibrant.
"You're saying that the babies have the opposite reaction as their mothers?" Ouranos, long and old forgotten Ouranos, spoke up for the first time. Apparently, he was still in shock that his plan worked very well. Now, he'd have to deal with the consequences of having twins. Two heirs... What a mess!
"Ohh! It's gonna be so much fun to watch them grow!" A different voice popped up and everyone turned around to meet Ananke, with her almost the same annoying bubbly personality as Phoebe. "Hiya, everyone! Look who I brought with me!" She grabbed something behind a wall, only to pull out Erosis, who seemed to be happy to be there. "We wanted to congratulate you and the children, of course!"
"It's- it's very nice to meet you again, Ananke." Ouranos greeted her, still a little confused. But Ananke didn't give it much importance. Ouranos pondered though, wasn't she an enemy?
"Ohh! They're soooo cute!" Ananke imitated Phoebe and started to make face to Rhea's baby, who didn't make a gesture. Suddenly, she jumped and headed towards another crib and picked up a different baby. A girl this time. "You are cute too! Yes you are, yes you are!" She repeated over and over to the baby, who started to suck on her own thumb.
"Ananke! Leave that baby where you found her! Her parents would not like if a stranger is with her!" Mnemosyne scolded her, frowning. She knew Ananke wouldn't smite Mnemosyne. Ananke ignored her and continued to gush over the baby girl, whispering something.
"...don't worry, I won't leave you forgotten like your Mommies and Daddy just did to you, no I won't..." She kept whispering, earning everyone's attention except Eros, who was looking at the babies like they had leprosy. "Which is why I'll bless you first, little Procella..."
"Blessed first?!" Hyperion raised his voice before two nurses and Mnemosyne herself shushed him down. "You are a deity! You cannot bless mortal babies around whenever you want!"
"That's not a mortal baby." Erosis replied for her, getting everyone's eyes on him. "That's the boys' sister." His voice seemed glum and sad.
Silence. Total silence. Not even other babies were crying.
Suddenly Ouranos, Primordial of the Sky, father of the great Kronos and grandfather of Zeus, Hades and Poseidon, fell unconscious to the floor.
"Oops!" Ananke looked slightly guilty, but not to much. "Too much information for a day?"
"Perhaps." Erosis sulked, before making a pleading face to Ananke, much to Hyperion's confusion.
"Oh very well. You've suffered long enough." Ananke raised her hand, and a clink was heard, before Erosis squealed, giggling, a transformation in him occuring. Magical, arcane chains fell from his wrists, turning to pink rose petals, which swirled around him, turning into pure light.
His brown hair turned to bright, bubblegum pink, his blue eyes widening, turning into a bright pink too, although it was more neon. His skin cleared, the acne gone, becoming baby soft smooth, his hair elongating just a tad. His muscles became less defined, his hips growing wider, as his body became less blocky and more curvy. Erosis squealed, his clothes also transforming, going from the previous bagginess to tight skinny jeans, and a tight muscle-shirt, and a baggy hoodie. His shoes turned into sneakers. He darted for the babies, carrying both the yellow eyed and slush eyed one, which both seemed to perk up, as he cooed over them.
Hyperion tilted his head, looking at Phoebe, who just giggled again and shushed him. "Don't question it Hyperion, just accept it. Erosis, I do admit, he is pretty cute." Phoebe grinned, as Erosis snorted.
"You replied to what I was gonna say before I said it. Sneaky." He grins, before he turns to wink at Hyperion. "You know, if you ever get bored of Theia I'm always available."
Poor Ouranos had just stirred to hear that, and he collapsed again. Hyperion coughed, before blushing. "I um, we will see Erosis." He coughed out, spluttering. Ananke rolled her eyes, gently bouncing the female infant.
"They forgot you...but I didn't, Procella dearest.." Ananke cooes, the baby starting to cry. Time seemed to slow down around, as in a burst of gray, the Moirai appeared.
The mortals, it seemed, were paused in time. "The blessings shall begin. We will leave. The Mist will cover it in a positive manner." The Moirai decreed as one, before they were all transported to a temple.
Ananke's white hair bounced, as she rocked Procella. Eros still held the other two, and Nyx and Gaea were sitting on beds nearby. Hyperion sat next to his mother, followed by Mnemosyne and Phoebe. Nyx was accompanied by Erebus, who was growling at Ouranos. Erebus had vivid purple-blue eyes, while his hair, black as darkness itself, was silky soft and shiny. Erebus' lean build was clothed by a baggy hoodie, and jeans. Erebus' ivory, pale skin contrasted heavily to his hair and clothes.
Ananke muttered. "Inter me et vos et ad me Ananke sum, et benedicam tibi. Descendit de cælo, et in terra quid de nocte, ego autem fatum, benedicat tibi!" Which was translated automatically to.
"From me to you, and you to me, I am Ananke, and I bless you. Descended from the sky, from the earth and from the night is what you are, but I, Destiny, shall now bless you!" Murmured Mnemosyne, translating it.
"Procella is born, beauty and grace," Ananke murmured.
"With powers enough, to efface and erase, the Dreams she holds true." Clotho hissed.
"Goddess of Storms is what she is, Fires abound by her mighty power." Lachesis rasped.
"Goddess of the Deserts is what she is now, and forevermore!" Atropos boomed.
"Hail Procella, Goddess of Storms, Dreams, Fire and Deserts!" The four fate/destiny weavers boomed in unison. The female infant gurgled, a tiara forming on her head. She blinked her eyes, one minute they were green, the next white, the next black, before they settled, turning a blueish gray, with a ring of green at the edge. A little gray seeped into them, thanks to Ananke's personal blessing. A small mane of blueish black hair grew from her scalp, her smooth skin like ivory.
Erosis passed the twins, which Ananke held one in each hand. Procella squirmed away, crawling towards Ouranos. "Son of Nyx and Ouranos, is what you are.." She began, to the bright and cheery one.
"Son of Gaea and Ouranos, is what you are.." She began to the sullen one.
"Twins by fate and destiny borne, beauty and wisdom forever stored." Ananake began.
"With the powers of Lightning and Wind, from Night's brood were you born." Clotho said to the bright one. "And from Ice and Snow, with Water's gift, you are Earthen born." To the darker one.
"Lord of Terror, and Lord of Pain." Lachesis gestured to the Son of Nyx first, then to the Son of Gaea.
"Lord of Stars and Tricks." Atropos said vaguely.
"All hail Kethas, Primordial God of Lightning, Wind, Terror, Stars! The Son of Nyx and Ouranos!" They chanted.
"All hail Vouno, Primordial God of Ice, Snow, Rain, Pain and Trickery! The Son of Gaea and Ouranos!" They chanted again.
"Lords of Nature, blessed by Gaea!" Ananke decreed. Gaea groaned. "I bless all three brats, blah blah blah." She snarled.
"Lords of Night, blessed by Nyx!" Ananke insisted. Nyx muttered something similar. "And I bless them all as well!" She proceeded to swear rather violently.
"I bless you all as well." Ouranos said kindly, before dodging Nyx's wicked throw.
The Moirai slinked away, disappearing. Ananke also left, but Erosis continued to play with the babies, smiling sadly. How he longed for one of his own.
Hello and good afternoon to you all!
I realize is not Sunday, but I haven't had the time to post yesterday. Also, I apologize for not posting the previous weekends and, even though I have no excuse for that, I have an excuse for posting today.
You see, next weekend I'll be leaving on holidays and I won't be posting for two weekends, almost three. So, I decided to post now the chapters I owe you and the ones I will, since practically is the only moment free I have while getting ready!
Here are the chapters!
Sis/Bro, Your Shadow is Hot!: 5 CHAPTERS! (Nope, not insane).
Maidenhood (adopted from TheColorofBoom): 5 CHAPTERS as well!
Rise of Ouranos (ReWrite) (former collab with LordNitro): 5 CHAPTERS
I wish you all have a great Monday and, obviously, I'll see you the last weekend of March!
xoxo, SilverHuntresses
