Chapter 2: Like Never Before

The steady, quiet, rhythmic swooshing of Theia's hair was the only sound the fairy could hear, other than the light breeze blowing in, as she combed it while looking out the window of her bedroom. This close to the top of the Temple of Love, her home had one of the best views of Sky Garden, at least without flying. For the last day, she'd been in the deepest thought she could remember in a long, long time.

Most of yesterday, after Ishtar excused her from her duties so that she could consider the proposal she'd been given, she spent a long time working in her garden on the Temple grounds. With her magic, gardening wasn't as hard work as it was for mortals, but it still took time and care to grow so many beautiful flowers, and for thousands of years, she could always count on it to raise her spirits and vent her stress. It sometimes made her nostalgic for the long-ago days of when the Hanging Gardens were a thing, she put a lot of time and energy into those, but that was a group project and at least she didn't have to share much credit for growing these flowers.

After that, she stayed in her home in the Temple. Pacing in circles, lying in bed and staring up at the ceiling, sifting through her old reports, taking a long bath, preening and straightening her feathers, and now gazing out the window while combing her hair...all while Ishtar's words echoed again and again in her head.

"Theia, your deeds are felt around Earth and beyond. Most of the legends of Aphrodite and Venus, which they still tell, were inspired by you. You were Sappho's muse, if not the target of her desire. Among your more famous clients were Abelard and Heloise, and you stayed their counsel even after fate drove them apart. You helped spread the story of Saint Valentine and inspire it to be a holiday celebrating love. You and I have even been to other worlds where civilizations are only just starting and presented ourselves to them as goddesses of love."

Ishtar had some fair points, but Theia had never considered the possibility of taking her place. She was more than content to serve her goddess as both her hand and her friend...which made Ishtar's next words hit even harder.

"You don't need to convince me you're qualified for the job: I've been here to see your growth for myself. You don't need to convince Sky Garden to accept you as the new goddess, either: Your name and reputation precede you wherever you go. The only one I need to convince is...you. I know you'd rather things stay the same. Our partnership has led to such great things and a great friendship. But for all your thousands of years of service to me, I would be so very wrong if I didn't give you the chance to have what you've earned. Let me see you be your best. Don't hold yourself back, Theia. Don't just honor me with accepting my offer: Honor yourself."

She set the comb down and turned from the window, going to sit at her desk, where a handful of flowers from her garden lay. Each was a different kind and a different color. Most days, she wore one in her hair, maybe two, but today was special. She started twining their stems together as she thought of the last thing Ishtar said yesterday...and while her goddess's tone so far had been upbeat and hopeful, it had suddenly turned serious.

"Before you answer, Theia, I must tell you this. I offer you the throne with complete honesty, but for you to become the Goddess of Love, there is one last deed you must perform for me. I warn you: This will test your limits like nothing I've asked of you before. I have no doubt you can do it, and you know my confidence in you is earned, not given. There are several catches with what I must ask you to do, and one of them is that I cannot tell you what it is until you agree to do it. That is how I'll know how sincere you are, when I see how you act with no time to think or plan, when you act from your heart."

In short order, Theia stood at her mirror. Dressed in the same clothes as yesterday, she added the final touch to her appearance as she placed the flower crown she'd just made on her head. If she was going to present herself to Ishtar as the new goddess, she'd start it off right by looking the part.

There was just one other thing she needed to do to finish psyching herself up. She paced through her room one more time while thinking that this may be the last day she occupied it and stopped her pacing when she was in front of one very special painting. Done just after Ishtar promoted her to her current position, it showed the two of them side by side at the top of the Temple, gazing over Sky Garden and smiling brightly. The best painter among the Talent sprites had captured their likenesses perfectly; they looked so real that their hair seemed like it could wave in the wind.

But no painter could fully capture how Theia felt to have earned her place at Ishtar's side, and she remembered it every time she looked at this painting. This time was no exception.

Turning from the painting, she took a deep breath to affirm her resolve and teleported to the landing outside of Ishtar's throne room.

After Ishtar's attendants allowed her to approach the throne, her goddess greeted her with a knowing smile while Theia kept a straight face. "So serious, Theia," she commented. "I had hoped to start my day by seeing your smile."

"You will have it when the time is right, My Goddess," she answered, feeling a bit of sadness at the thought she wouldn't be calling Ishtar that for much longer, "but this is something serious we need to discuss, isn't it?"

"'Serious?'" the goddess echoed, followed by a soft chuckle. "I would much rather call it something more along the lines of 'happy.' That is, of course," she rested her cheek on her palm and raised an eyebrow, "assuming you didn't make that crown just because you wanted to look your best so you could turn me down gently."

She shook her head. "I did not. I came to tell you that I've considered your offer, and on my honor, I-"

"It isn't your honor," she interrupted, "that you have to prove."

"I will prove my worthiness, then. I've come to tell you that I accept your final test to earn my place on the throne."

At speaking those words, the eyes of all the fairies in attendance were on Theia, and surprised gasps and chatter rang through the air. She stayed calm and focused on Ishtar, whose smile widened before she spoke up.

"Quiet!" she announced, silencing the other fairies. "What Theia says is true. I've given her the chance to earn her place on the throne as the new Goddess of Love. If any of you question this, I strongly encourage you to first question why you consider her unfit to rule Sky Garden when she worked her way up to where she is now from the bottom, has been second only to me for the last millennium, and you've treated her with such reverence as she's all but ruled our kingdom. As for those who still question her," she stood up and approached Theia, "you may take it up with her."

When the pink and white-haired goddess offered her hand to the green-haired fairy, she readied herself for whatever was about to happen as she tried to steady her heartbeat. Surely, Ishtar was about to give her the final test. If her goddess was right and it would test her like nothing before, what could it possibly be that she hadn't experienced it in almost ten thousand years?

Once Theia took her hand, Ishtar added, "...When Theiatena returns as your new goddess."

The world around Theia faded to white as Ishtar teleported them away.

When everything came back into focus, they were somewhere even Theia had rarely been. When they spoke alone in the throne room, it was for matters that related to Theia's role as the second-in-command of the love fairies. But when Ishtar needed to talk to Theia as a friend, in the most private and comfortable place she could be when something troubled her on a personal level, it was here: The goddess's private chambers.

Her chambers were in their own private dimension, a dimension only the size of something like a palace or large mansion on Earth instead of the near-infinite size of the universe, a place truly away from the hustle and bustle of the Temple of Love and, indeed, Sky Garden itself. They were only accessible by teleporting, and usually, the only fairies with permission to be here unless directly invited by the goddess were her handful of personal servants.

Each spacious room was a showcase of a different time and place of human history. From furniture to architecture to artwork, they outdid the most well-appointed museums. One could walk through her chambers and feel as if they had walked through thousands of years' worth of beauty. A home fit for a many-millennia-old fairy queen, indeed. Looking out the windows, there was seemingly nothing to see, just a faintly twinkling expanse of the light pink and white, as if they were so high up in the sky of Sky Garden that the ground had disappeared.

Theia and Ishtar appeared in the central hall, one of the smallest rooms in her chambers despite its own commanding size. Ringed by several smaller hallways that led off into multiple rooms, each with its own wonders from across time and space, it was dominated by a grand staircase that led up to an equally grand set of double doors, on which were carved the symbols of Joy, Passion, and all the other Traits the fairies spent so much time inspiring in mortals.

Upon their arrival, they were greeted by one of Ishtar's servant fairies, who dutifully fluttered over to them. "Greetings, My Goddess, Lady Theiatena," she welcomed them, "we weren't expecting you back so soon or we would have-"

"You would have been ready," Ishtar smoothly interrupted her. "Theiatena and I have a very important matter to discuss, and we will be speaking privately for some time about it."

"Yes, My Goddess."

"We won't be needing your services for now. You're all to leave my chambers until you're called upon," the goddess said.

A quick "What?" crossed Theia's mind.

"...As you wish, but which room shall we prepare for you and Lady Theiatena?" the fairy asked, sounding like she was surprised by the command, too.

"As I said, that won't be needed. We will be in my room."

"WHAT?"

The fairy blinked a few times, looking back and forth between Ishtar and Theia, before bowing her head. "I will...inform the others, My Goddess," she agreed before turning to leave.

"Oh, and one other thing to tell them," Ishtar said, making her turn to them again, "thank you all for your service."

Once more, the fairy looked surprised at what Ishtar was saying, but soon recovered herself and smiled at them. "It's our joy to serve you," she answered before flying down one of the halls and leaving the two of them alone.

Ishtar looked over at her still-surprised companion and beckoned for her to follow, and they walked up the stairs together. Theia was struggling harder than ever to keep calm and focused, but it was proving difficult with the thought that whatever was waiting for her on the other side of those doors, she was about to come face to face with her final challenge, her greatest reward, and perhaps even her destiny itself.

When they reached the doors at the top, Ishtar paused to speak to her friend. "You're tense. I can feel it," she said calmly.

"Whatever challenge you're about to present to me, I will prove worthy of your faith," she resolved. She let her voice soften as she went on, "But...admittedly, I've felt apprehensive about these...things you've had to keep secret. I trust your word that you can't tell me what it is so you can see my most honest self...but it hasn't stopped me from thinking."

She nodded, grinning and raising an eyebrow. "What, then, do you think awaits you?"

"...I...don't know. I have given it some thought, but I soon found I couldn't even guess what test you could have left for me," she admitted, "so I thought instead about how you want me to impress you and let that motivate me to give you my best."

She nodded again before looking towards the doors. "That's part of why I like you so much. You won't settle for anything less than the best, in others or in yourself."

Before Theia could answer, the doors opened. For the few times she'd been in Ishtar's chambers, rarest of all was when she'd been in the goddess's room.

Her chambers may have been full of the wonders of human history, but only here was where she kept the spirit alive of her favorite days of Mesopotamia. Torches that burned with magical flame lined the stone walls, which were carved and painted to show the animals, plants, and most fantastic cities of those ancient days. Wooden tables dotted the room and shelves lined the walls, covered in artwork and relics of the past, and were themselves works of art with how they were carved with animal and plant motifs. More light was provided by seashell lamps on the tables, which kept the room bright enough to see in but dim enough for it to be calming. In each corner of the room was a towering stone pillar that went from the floor to the ceiling, carved to resemble deities from their mythology. And Ishtar's bed, despite also looking like it came from this time, was much like most beds still in use, being a cloth mattress resting on a frame made of wood with legs in the shape of lion's legs and feet, and with a headboard engraved with pictures of lions and doves.

The doors closed behind them as the two of them entered. They approached a stone pedestal that was covered by a cloth in the center of the room, and once they were near it, Ishtar stopped and turned to face Theia. "All right, Theia," she said, taking the cloth in hand, "before I give you your final challenge, there's something else I want to give you."

When Theia nodded, she pulled the cloth off, which left Theia in silent amazement of what she was looking at. Resting on a pillow was a crown made of gold laurel leaves, looking fit to be worn by a goddess of the times Theia remembered so fondly. Even in the relatively dim light of the fires that lit the room, the crown glistened bright yellow.

"I see you like it," Ishtar noted, her smile widening at her friend staring wide-eyed at it.

"It's...beautiful," Theia said a bit breathlessly, "but...I haven't earned it yet."

"You haven't done the task yet, no. But consider it a way for me to boost your motivation." She took the crown in her hands. "That, and I can't wait to see you wearing it."

Swallowing, Theia removed her flower crown and started to kneel before Ishtar, only for the goddess to stop her by holding up a hand.

"No, Theia. It doesn't suit you to kneel before me as my servant," she said. "Stand before me as my equal."

As she was told, Theia stood back up and set her flowers on the pillow, bending her neck enough to let the goddess reach up to her head.

"Just remember, like many crowns, it's heavier than it looks," Ishtar noted quietly before setting it on Theia's head.

Once she felt the metal rest on her head, despite the tingling of anticipation of what she might be about to do to earn it, Theia was able to smile again and answer, "A crown didn't earn my friendship and service. Its wearer did." Ishtar stared at Theia, not saying a word as her eyes traveled up and down Theia's body. It made Theia anxious for whatever was about to happen, enough to ask, "Now, what do I need to do to earn-"

"We'll get to that in a moment. Just, for now, let me look at you like this," Ishtar said, sounding like she was more asking permission than giving a command. "I want to take the time to remember when I first saw you as the new Goddess of Love."

She felt that warmth in her body return, the warmth she felt every time Ishtar showed her such approval and appreciation. If that was what Ishtar wanted, she'd give her something to see, and she slowly turned in place to let Ishtar look at her from all over, striking poses as she did so.

Ishtar's smile only widened as she took her friend in from every angle, but as Theia looked into her eyes, she saw something...else that she couldn't quite be sure of, which was saying something when she had so much experience reading people. It was a look of admiration, yes, but also...longing. Like she was both dreamy and, somehow, sad.

Before she could think much of it, her friend sighed and nodded. "Even better than I expected," she complimented.

"Thank you," Theia said as she looked at Ishtar knowingly.

"Then, I suppose we can't put it off any longer." She looked at Theia with a more serious face as she continued, "This is your last warning about what's waiting. I've already seen you have what it takes, but you're about to enter uncharted territory. Are you ready?"

Yet again, Theia wondered what awaited her that could yet be called "uncharted territory" in all her many years, but if her friend believed in her, so too would she. "I am," she said firmly.

Nodding, Ishtar started walking around her room slowly, and when Theia started to follow her, she glanced at Theia and shook her head to signal for her to stay in place this time. "The truth is, Theia...I'm tired. Even creatures as timeless as fairies can't ignore the weight of the years forever. I'm tired of being at the top. I'm tired of being responsible for everything. I'm tired of...losing that spark I once had, that joy, that passion, that life. I offer you the throne not just because you can do the job, but also because I'm tired of it."

This was already not going how Theia expected. Even Ishtar had bad days, which Theia had privately been there to see and cheer her up, but she didn't know the goddess had been feeling this way.

"It's not going to stay an easy and predictable job, either. It's only a matter of time before humans undergo some other great change. We've seen it over and over throughout history, and we're seeing it now with their adoption of machines. I don't have the energy to handle it again. That's why only you can do it, Theia. Only you can be trusted with that position, and only you can give me what I need, what I'm missing."

"...What more can I give you that I haven't already given?" she asked.

Ishtar didn't answer at first as she kept walking, as if she were letting Theia stew in her own anticipation a bit longer. Then she turned and approached her, and then reached up to her, setting her hands on Theia's shoulders and gazing into her eyes. As Theia stared back into those gorgeous red eyes, she tried to slow her heart.

"I know how you think of me, Theia."

So much for slowing her heart, now it was pounding.

"Your eyes, they don't look at me as your goddess, or your friend," Ishtar said directly, "but as more. As I said, you look at me in a way no one else ever has."

She felt sweat threatening to break out all over her.

"Say it."

Theia took a shaky breath before answering, "Anyone can say anything, Ishtar. I would rather live my words than say them."

"But you alone can mean it." Ishtar's hands slid around to link her fingers at the back of Theia's neck, making her skin tingle at the contact.

Here went everything.

"I love you, Ishtar," she confessed. "I've loved you since you brought me up to your level and let me see you as no other fairy does. Not just as my goddess or as my friend, but as yourself, as who you are when no one else is around." Her heart felt like it was hammering away so hard she could feel it in her head as she told more of the long-withheld truth. "It burned me that, of everyone in Sky Garden, you alone were the one I couldn't have. We both know the Goddess of Love stands above all other fairies and I couldn't offer myself to you, so I settled for admiring you..." she raised her hands to hold Ishtar's arms, "even when you were so close, I could reach out and touch you."

Ishtar nodded, smiling. "I've waited a long time to hear that, Theia. How does it feel to no longer have to hide it?"

"I've never lied to you. Everything I do around you, with you, and for you has been honest. You need only to have asked me to tell the whole truth, and I'd have done it," she said. "It just wasn't my place to act on it."

"Now you can," Ishtar said.

"...What?"

"In fact, now you need to," she went on.

"...I...what?"

After a soft laugh, Ishtar let go of Theia's face and let one of her hands slide down Theia's arm, taking her hand. "It's time for the first part of your final test," she began as she started walking again, leading Theia across the room...towards her bed. "Theia, I want you to be an even better goddess than I was, and to do that, you need an even fuller understanding of the heart than I have. Only when you understand all matters of the heart will you be ready to exceed me."

Theia's eyes darted back and forth between her hand in Ishtar's, the back of Ishtar's head, and the bed she was leading them towards. Only in her wildest, and most private, fantasies did she ever think about this, but the idea that they might be about to come true made her dizzy, and damp between her legs, with anticipation.

"Because make no mistake, Theia, to be the Goddess of Love, you must understand the heart, and your understanding is second only to mine," she said as they reached her bed, turning to face Theia, "which is what this will correct."

Theia had stopped trying to hide how she was feeling, and she let her breaths come faster and deeper. "By...doing...what?" she asked, feeling her face redden.

Ishtar gave her a grin and as she reached up and undid the fastenings on her feather cape, keeping her eyes locked with Theia's as she took it off and tossed it aside, which landed on a dress stand as if it had been neatly set there. "I give you not only the throne, Theia," she said as she took the shoulders of her robe in her hands.

Theia's eyes widened and a needy smile spread across her face.

"I give you..." she trailed off, pulling on her robe and it fell off her, disappearing in a shimmer of twinkles before it hit the floor, leaving her standing bare, save only for her crown, in front of her friend, "...me."

"I've...dreamed about this more times than I can count," Theia admitted as she gazed in mixed awe and lust at Ishtar presenting herself. "I almost can't believe it could come true..."

"Start believing it," she stepped closer, "because you've learned many things about love. Prepare to learn the greatest lessons."

Ishtar reached up again and wrapped her arms around Theia's neck, pulling her in close and making Theia's body heat up from the feeling of her bare skin pressed against her. She leaned up and brought her lips to Theia's ear, speaking in a voice as firm, hot and smooth as a heated stone wrapped in silk, and her low, husky breath felt like a warm breeze on a sunny day.

"These will be your final lessons, but this is my final order," she whispered. "As your former goddess, and now as your lover...more than ever before, and as if you'll never get the chance to do so again...show me what you can do...Theiatena."

At first, Theia couldn't answer with anything but deep, hungry breaths. Then, she raised a hand, snapped her fingers, and her robe disappeared, leaving the two goddesses, one former and one new, embracing each other with nothing between them. She took Ishtar in her arms and turned her head to be face to face with her lover.

"I've never given you less than my best. I'll expect no less from you. I may be the new Goddess of Love, but let's make this worthy of not one, but two goddesses," she purred as, at long last, their lips captured each other's.

For the first of many, many times.

A/N

In case you were wondering how much research I did for what Sumerian civilization and people looked like, at least enough that I could pull off something even kind of believable, the answer is: "More than I expected...but not a ton."

HuniePop (c) HuniePot.
"Sugary," the story that inspired this, can be found in this site's HuniePop section.
Thumbnail done for me by NailsTRabbit.

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