Ok people, you know the score. I don't own Disney's Hercules (unfortunately) or any of it's characters or places I only own my Persephone and any other characters that I make up along the way so if you wanna use them please ask me.
Please review and be honest with me… my story is taking things from both the series and the film. And remember people, Disney twisted a lot of myths for their storylines so don't complain to me if you don't like my inaccuracies of events I may present you with…
thanks for your time…. DitzyMinx….
The Plight of Persephone
Chapter Fourteen:What becomes of the Broken Hearted?
The search for Demeter's wayward daughter seemed like an endless slog. As the days moved into weeks there was a distinct feeling of despair settling on Olympus. Demeter put on a brave front as she finished off her Harvests. Having something to do had distracted her slightly from her grief. However, when winter was in full swing Demeter was supposed to be on holiday but the goddess couldn't settle. She moped aimlessly around Olympus never breaking a smile. Sometimes she would cry for no reason when she saw Hera and her young daughter Hebe together.
Heista was very concerned about her younger sister. Demeter wasn't eating at all anymore and not even her delicious Ambrosia Soufflé could rouse the Nature Goddess' appetite. Demeter's aura was waning and she'd taken to sitting cross-legged by herself rocking and muttering. Sometimes she would just sit there glassy-eyed staring into space, barely acknowledging the deity sitting next to her. Although Heista knew her niece could take care of herself, it was upsetting to see Demeter so cut up about her daughter's disappearance. She'd never realised just how reliant her younger sister had been on her niece's company.
As Persephone was her favourite niece Heista had taught her all the homely arts, like baking and dress-making. Usually in the winter Heista and Persephone spent a lot of time together in the kitchen nattering away while cooking up delicious treats and staying cosy. Heista missed her niece but she had unwavering hope that Persephone would contact them soon.
Bacchus, who was Demeter's oldest child, had arrived home from his travels in India to find his little sister was missing threw himself into the search. Though not before consoling his mother by insisting that his little sister 'Sephy' was going to be a major pain in the butt to whoever had kidnapped her. Demeter glared at him with such a black look that the God of Parties promptly left to find Hermes before his mother disowned him. Bacchus had a real knack for rallying round support and keeping everybody's hopes up when they were getting disheartened.
There was however, one god who Bacchus couldn't cheer up; the Lord of Olympus. Zeus was not only running out of places to search he was also running out of patience. It was ridiculous. How could one tiny insignificant goddess cause such a fuss? Demeter was being completely absurd if she thought that they were going to find Persephone this way. Teens were teens in the Lord of Olympus' eyes. He believed that Persephone was probably doing this for attention and the goddess would be back when she realised she wasn't getting the response she wanted.
Pushing his personal feelings aside Zeus wandered the halls of Olympus until he found the deity he was looking for.
'How is she holding up?' He asked his wife Hera who was stood in the doorway watching her older sister with concern. The Goddess of Marriage turned to her husband and saw the weary look on his face.
'Not very well.' Hera responded softly. 'How is the search going?'
'Awful… we've searched everywhere, there's no sign of her daughter anywhere on earth.' Hera glanced back nervously at her sister but she didn't seem to be listening. Turning back to her husband Hera pushed him out of the hallway so they were out of earshot of her sister. The Nature Goddess was rocking herself slowly staring into the fire Heista had made her before disappearing off for a nap.
'What are you saying?' Hera hissed with wide anxious eyes. 'Surely the girl can't have vanished into nothing… can she?' Zeus sighed heavily.
'No but wherever the goddess is… clearly she doesn't want to be found.' Zeus looked warily at his wife who blinked then suddenly looked terrified as though she had second guessed what he was going to suggest.
'You're not suggesting we give up?' Hera asked appalled by the thought but Zeus shrugged guiltily. Hera wasn't satisfied with this response. 'Zeus?' She prompted him folding her arms and scowled at her husband.
'But honey…' Zeus faltered under his wife's unusually firm gaze. 'It's pointless… she could be anywhere by now; the gods are neglecting their duties just for this one defiant child! It's crazy! What will happen to the mortals if we keep this up?' Zeus said firmly.
'What will happen to Demeter if we stop?!' Hera hissed. 'She's heartbroken dear… don't you remember what we were like when Hercules went missing?' Zeus sighed irritably now.
'It's not the same! He was just a baby… Persephone is an adult for Rhea's sake-'
'Shhh!' Hera hissed worried that Demeter would hear them arguing. 'We can't just give up now.'
'I'm sorry Hera.' Zeus folded his arms firmly remaining stubborn. 'We've searched everywhere and Persephone is nowhere to be found… we must try and move past this and get on with our lives. The mortals need us to-'
'So your just giving up?' A voice came behind the two rulers of Olympus and they both turned to see Demeter standing behind them looking firm and more sane than she had in weeks.
'No, no… of course not!' Hera rushed to sooth her angry sister but her embrace was rebuffed by the Nature Goddess who only had eyes for Zeus. The golden god flinched slightly under the Nature Goddess' unwavering look then bit into the last of his determination and addressed her.
'Demeter… I'm sorry it's just-'
'You're sorry.' Demeter cut over him. Her voice was unnaturally cold. 'My daughter is somewhere out that probably scared and alone and you're sorry… I see.' Her arms were folded tightly across her bust. Hera's blue eyes were swivelling torn between her sister and her husband who were both glaring as though seeing each other plainly for the first time.
'We've searched everywhere… Persephone is gone.' Zeus said stiffly. 'It's time you stop grieving, spring will be here soon and the mortals will need you to prepare the crops for this years Harvest.'
'Is that all you care about?' Demeter said firmly still glaring at Zeus. 'My daughter can suffer alone but your precious mortals must come first?'
'No… he didn't mean it like that!' Hera suddenly tried to defend her husband taking her sister's hands. Demeter turned to her sister's worried look still scowling.
'Oh stop it!' She spoke harshly wrenching her hands out of her sister's grip. 'He knows exactly what he's saying!' Demeter pushed Hera out of her way and stood towards Zeus who spoke again.
'The whole world cannot stop just because your daughter has decided to run away!' Zeus snarled and Demeter bristled.
'Fine…' She uttered looking bold. 'If that's the way you feel.' Zeus blinked stunned by this response. Definitely not what he'd been expecting.
'It is.' He responded and Demeter suddenly turned away.
'Very well… then I'll look for her myself.' The Nature Goddess said crossly and began to walk away from the two deities. Hera flinched with worry then turned to her husband.
'Stop her!' She hissed terrified and Zeus blinked before turning back to Demeter.
'Demeter… what about spring?' He asked and the Nature Goddess stopped in her tracks before slowly turning back around seeing her sister Hera's hopeful smile and her brother-in-law's worried look.
'Spring will just have to wait until I'm ready for it to come.' She said before turning around and continuing down the corridor. Hera looked aghast before suddenly running after her sister.
'Demeter… wait. We can help you!' She followed her sister before stopping as Demeter vanished into a large orange flower then the Goddess of Marriage stopped looking forlorn.
'She's gone.' Hera uttered hopelessly as Zeus finally caught up with her. 'She's really gone.' Zeus sighed as his wife continued to look sadly at the spot where her sister had vanished. The night was drawing in now and soon Morpheus and Phantosis would be out creating sleep and dreams. There was just one more thing Zeus had to do before he could sleep.
'Hermes!' The Lord of Olympus called and with a rush of blue the Messenger God appeared.
'You called big guy?' Hermes asked looking slightly strained. Hermes had been unusually gloomy since Persephone's absence.
'Yes, call the gods for an emergency meeting.' Zeus said and the blue god saluted.
'You got it!' He vanished out of sight once more and Hera sighed.
'I hope you know what your doing.'
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The coliseum on Olympus was a buzz with the multi-coloured gods who were chatting to each other wondering what this meeting was about. Phantosis twitched impatiently in the corner as Zeus had asked him and his brother Morpheus to remain behind for a few moments before heading out to do their jobs. Hermes did a breif head count of all the gods present then nodded to Zeus to show they were ready to begin.
'I'm sorry to have to call this meeting but there are a couple of things I feel need to be addressed.' The Lord of Olympus said clearly and the assembly fell silent then turned towards him.
'First of all… it is with my deepest regret to inform you all that I have decided to bring the search for Persephone to a close-' Zeus broke off as these words were met with a ripple of gasps from the crowd. Hermes was floating above the proceedings looking particularly worried. 'I know that everybody is as concerned as I am to find out where the young goddess has got to but it cannot take priority anymore… we are abandoning our jobs and it is time to move on with our lives and once more take charge of the mortals in our care.' There was a general murmur of agreement to these words as the gods were well aware that they had all let their jobs slide.
'Anybody who wishes to carry on the search may do so provided they are keeping up to date with their own jobs first.' Zeus directed this towards Hermes who smiled gratefully at his boss and nodded solemnly.
'Now, the other thing I wished to discuss is our Nature Goddess.' Zeus said and all the gods suddenly became aware that Demeter was not in their presence anymore. 'As you all are aware Demeter has not been herself since the disappearance of her daughter and there have been many questions on her sanity… She did not take kindly to my decision to stop searching for her daughter.. as a result, she has left Olympus to search for her-' This time the gods began to hiss agitatedly amongst each other which ment Zeus had to raise his voice for the next part.
'I do not want anybody to disturb her!' This comment was met with a single sound.
'Huh?' Every god spoke in unison. Even Hera raised her brows in shock.
'Demeter needs time by herself to search and truly come to terms with her situation… give her the space to do so and I'm sure she will be back among us soon.' There was a look of doubt which went around the assembly at this point so Zeus added. 'If not… well; let's just wait and deal with it if it comes to that… does anybody have any questions?' The gods looked around each other muttering with anxious eyes but nobody spoke up.
'Good… meeting adjourned.' He waved them all off and headed for bed. Morpheus and Phantosis exchanged a worried glance but shrugged then headed off to fill the world with sleep and dreams as they were slightly behind schedule. Most of the other gods remained behind and began discussing their fears for spring; what if Demeter was not around in time to start the season off? Would she really punish the mortals if she couldn't see her daughter?
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Little Notes:
Hey everybody!! I feel I should mention this little thing… I do accept anonymous reviews, just incase you all thought otherwise… I understand if you'd rather remain faceless or are just too lazy to login..
The chapter title is a line from a song which I think sets this chapter off nicely.
This is all about Demeter and how her grief is affecting the rest of Olympus. Especially those closest to her, i.e. her sisters and her son Bacchus who has returned from India. Those of you who are aware of the stories of Dionysus (Bacchus' proper Greek name) concerning his travels there should know that one of his emblems was a tiger, an animal he took a shine to while visiting the country…Wow! I sound like a right nerd huh?
The Nature Goddess' argument with Zeus over stopping the search for her daughter was a way of getting her to stop moping around and get proactive. She's done waay too much moping around don'tcha think?
Zeus naturally is left to deliver the news to the rest of Olympus. Needless to say, they don't take it too well.
Until next time peeps… watch this space! Take care… mmmMwha Ditzy xXx