The home of the gods was supposed to be a peaceful place. It was usually something that made mortals and nature spirits feel admiration, and made the gods feel pride on just how fabulous the whole thing was. A beacon of power for the twelve gods who made up the Olympian Council, along with the last olympian herself.

But Olympus itself has had a considerably bloody and controversial history, funnily enough, even more as the gods left Greece in the past.

Much was said about the gods' relationship with mortals. Some, particularly demigods, assumed that in the point of view of immortals, mortals were just a "demigod factory" and love interests for unfaithful gods who just couldn't keep it in their pants. The gods themselves pretended like they did not care at all about the puny beings that wandered across Gaia.

However, the truth was that the gods were more influenced by the mortals than the opposite. Of course, for hundred of years at this point, the Greek and Roman pantheons were viewed as simply myths, as fiction. But this, of course, could not be further from the truth. For centuries the gods had moved from place to place, following the center of Western Civilization. First it was Byzantium, after the fall of Western Rome. The Olympians, specifically the Greek aspects, even if they were not revered anymore thanks to Theodosius The , still loved that Rome became Greek in all but name, which was a slap in the face to the Roman pantheon, who were more ashamed than even before. The queen herself, Juno, would not show up until the Middle Ages.

The Roman gods were not happy with this development, of course. and so began influencing enemies of the Byzantines, specifically some chap called Charlemagne, who even though was a Christian, receive a lot of help to create the Frankish Empire. Fast forward a few centuries and now the Holy Roman Empire had slowly become the center of the West, and being considered the successor of the Western Roman Empire, which really pleased the now revived Roman Pantheon, who became the dominant one for some centuries.

That was until the Mongol Invasions, of course.

The destruction was so massive that both pantheons decided that unity between them was better than the West being ravaged by the asiatic hordes, and as such helped in many situations against the Khanate, even supporting non-Western places, such as Japan. Lord Poseidon did not shut up about the storms off the coast of the homes island for almost four centuries.

Things were confusing for a few years, with the West being very much fractured and not having a country as a definitive center, with the Holy Roman Empire becoming neither holy, Roman, or an empire, really. But as always, something changed that previous status quo. The fall of Constantinople terrified and traumatized both pantheons. Even if the Holy Roman Empire was technically the successor to Western Rome, both Romans and Greeks had agreed a few centuries prior that Byzantium was literally the Roman Empire, not just a successor state. As such, you can imagine the reactions when the Ottoman Turks sacked the city in 1453 and ended the Empire for good. Lady Athena herself was spotted crying in the middle of the throne room, and she was the one that hated Rome the most. The Roman gods were fuming with rage for decades when the Ottomans declared themselves successors of Rome. Olympus decided that enough was enough, and that something had to be made. That something came in the form of the Renaissance, which brought the gods to the Italian Peninsula, sparking brightness in the mortals' minds.

In the next centuries, the West managed to conquer a good portion of the world, spreading the gods' own influence abroad, far beyond the Ancient Lands. The home of the gods changed from place to place too. First Spain, then France, Austria, England and subsequently Great Britain, France again during the revolutionionary era, and back to the now United Kingdom.

But this was not good enough for Athena, who saw huge potential in a faraway land, a vast land that could become bigger than Europe itself. Athena always appreciated the democratic values that the United States had adopted that mirrored the ancient city-states (and also Rome, but she would never admit that), and the gods were no strange to the New World either, since they had influenced the entire continent since colonial times. With that, in 1860, Lord Zeus complied, and authorized Olympus to be moved to another continent that was not Europe.

However, the sudden shift of power had lasting consequences. The Roman pantheon specifically hated the change, even if the USA had democractic values. When the change was completed, the Romans adopted the part of the country that just like the old empire, specifically the part thatpracticed slavery. The next thing that anyone saw was that the American Civil War had begun, tearing both the young nation and the Greco-Roman world apart when it created a conflict that was later baptized as the Demigod Civil War. This time, it was Lord Mars and Lady Bellona who both burst out into tears, first in Pickett's Charge during the Battle of Gettysburg, and later on during Sherman's March to The Sea. The aftermath was the drunkest that the Greek gods have ever been, with Dionysus never being that important during his time as an Olympian.

The end of the Civil War divided the Greek and Romans for good, but this did not create any sort of peace whatsoever. The gods, even thought now in North America, did not get used to it fast enough, and continued to meddle in Europe, with Hephaestus eager to gift mortals the power of industrialization, which did many things. One of these things was industrialized warfare, who made even mortals aware that the next major war was going to be a disaster and be deadlier that anything ever seen before.

And up there in the home of the gods, things haven't been peaceful, at all. In fact, the council has not been this divided since the days of Troy. And all it took was one action to ignite the powder keg...

Olympus, New York City, July 28th, 1914, 4:30 AM

Zeus couldn't even remember a time that things were this chaotic.

He personally could not care less about mortal affairs, he did not have time for petty conflicts. Even during the Trojan War, Zeus did not take part in it, prefering neutrality. It was the same here, but this time he was afraid that he would have to intervene in his own council because they were behaving like children. He really needed a break.

Of course, he was not strange to war. Many in Ancient Greece revereed as a war god, but he was never pleased with the idea. Of course, he led the charge against the Titans and defended Olympus against Gaia, but he did not have the nerve to involve himself in mortal wars. Troy was bad enough, but lately it was like ten Troys had happened. First the Thirty Years War, that devastated the Holy Roman Empire. Jupiter never forgave him for not stopping Ares until it was too late. Then, the war of Spanish Succession. Nobody wanted to remember how scary Aphrodite was during those years.

Just when he thought all would be good, a son of Athena just had to get some funny ideas about grabbing... Silebia? Something like that. That dragged already fighiting countries and it quickly escalated into a great war. Ironic was the fact that even though a son of Athena started it, Ares was the most passionate defender of Prussia. As revenge for that, Athena decided to bring back democracy to the world. Zeus wasn't really happy with that, he wasn't really a fan. And it really caused a lot of destruction with that son of Hades, after all the wars were named after him.

Since then, there have been peace for the most part. Just not in the sense of a global conflict happening. But as far as Zeus knew, maybe this was about to change. He snapped out of his thoughts and focused on the problem that he had to withstand. Ares and Athena were both dressed in full armor in the middle of the throne room, yelling at each other like angry toddlers.

"Listen here, you pig," Athena spat, with hate overflowing on her voice. "You do not get to plot an assassination to spite such a freaking war! What would Mars say?!"

Ares laughed sarcastically at the goddess of wisdom.

"I couldn't give a damn to what Mars thinks about this! War is war, and that's final! You refuse to admit it but you know I am right!"

"If you're right about this subject, then I am a hellhound! You know what, that is it!" Athena conjured a sword and Aegis, taking a defensive stance. Ares followed suite, also materializing a gigantic sword.

"Bring it on, owl head!" cried Ares, but before the two war deities could clash, the ground beneath the two exploded, knocking both gods out of their rage.

Zeus had his master bolt raised, with his eyes stormy as ever.

"Stop this!" he yelled. "Are you two going to keep screaming at each other like two children? Sit down, I called this meeting so we can discuss this matter like adults!"

Slowly the two gods backed off to their thrones, narrowing their eyes at one another and not removing the armor pieces. They both sat down with Artemis glaring intensly at Athena. Poseidon, the goddess of wisdom's main rival, curiously was clearly paying no attention at all to the ensuing conflict.

"Thank you." said Zeus. "So, what the Hades is going on?"

"IT IS HIS FAULT!"

"IT'S HER FAULT"

Both Athena and Ares yelled at the same time, making Zeus's brain melt in frustration.

"Could I get a... straight forward explanation?"

"May I?" Hermes voluntereed. Zeus nodded, so Hermes continued. "Last month, an important noble of Austria-Hungary was assassinated by a member of an organization that the aforementioned country consider as a terrorist group. The problem is, that Ares was the one to set up the assassination, by compromising the engine of the car that the archduke was using. And it just so happened that the car stopped right in front of a cafe that the assassin was present, and he didn't think twice."

Zeus scratched his beard.

"And why did he decide to kill said noble?"

"Ethnic conflicts. The assassin was a Bosnian Serb who despised the Austrian-Hungarian nation that still rules over many of the south slavic people." Hermes explained, as if explaining Balkan conflicts was something simple or easy to do.

"And how is this particular situation so catastrophic for these two to come to blows?" Zeus asked, refering, of course, to the war deities.

Athena raised her hand politely, motioning to speak, although her grey eyes were fuming with rage. Zeus authorized her.

"You see, father, thanks to this moron," she pointed to Ares "the situation fell apart quicker than a house of cards. The Russian Empire, seeing itself as protectors of all the slavs, backed Serbia, and France, who was allied to Russia even before all of this mess, quickly backed them too. Then, Germany got involved, giving a blank cheque to Austria-Hungary, supporting them in any decision that they choose to take take."

"So... the biggest and most powerful contries in the world are at each other throats...?" Zeus questioned, and Athena nodded. "And you did not think of resolving this diplomatically?"

Athena looked outraged at her father's assumption.

"Excuse me? Do you even know me, father?" That earned a glare from Zeus, but she did not care at that moment. "I tried to do everything from the shadows to try to stop it, but it wasn't possible. For years, decades, actually, things have been escalating. Unfortunately it was only a matter of time before something happened, specially in the damn Balkans. I should have listened to Bismarck. I just wished it was not caused by-" Zeus raised his hand, now motioning Athena to stop before she and Ares start fighting again.

"I understand, thank you, Athena. Now, is war really inevitable? Can't it be stopped at all?"

Athena opened her mouth to answer, but Apollo spoke first.

"No, it cannot. I have foreseen it, it's just as inevitable as death itself for the mortals." he spoke in a somber tone, not too typical of Apollo at all.

"Uh... thank you, son. Well, if we have a deadly conflict on the horizon, we shall know what stance does this council takes. Specifically, what stance each member is going to take. Of course, I wouldn't want any of you to interfere in mortal affairs, specially in this situation, but war is not under my jurisdiction, even as king of the gods. I declare my neutrality in the coming conflict. Poseidon, could you share your opinion on this matter?"

"Don't care." the god of the seas simply said.

"What?"

Poseidon rolled his eyes.

"Alright, formal, we shall be. I, Poseidon, lord of the seas and king of Atlantis, declare my neutrality in the coming conflict. There, satisfied?" Poseidon asked with a smirk, and now it was time for Zeus to roll his eyes.

"Yes, thank you, brother. No need for any of you to say your titles when declaring your stance, by the way." He looked around the council. "Hera, you can speak."

The queen of the gods quickly got up from her throne, clearing her throat.

"I want this day to be remembered in history, I, Hera, queen of the gods, will side with the... Central Powers, in the inevitable war upon us."

"Central Powers?" A curious Aphrodite questioned.

"Uh... I mean, just look at a map of Europe, Germany and Austria-Hungary are well... in the center. So I think it works."

"I like it." agreed Ares.

"Alright, thank you, dear. Demeter?" Hera sat down back on her throne, and the goddess of harvest did the opposite, getting up from her seat.

"I will side with the Entente Powers, sorry, but I can't have those wonderful Ukranian fields in the hands of powers that I have not blessed."

"Alright, what the Hades are these names?!" Aphrodite exclaimed, earning a glare from Demeter.

"It's literally the name of the alliance. For someone who loves France so much, you really are ignorant about many subjects."

"Whatever." the goddess of love said, rolling her eyes.

"Thank you, sister. Athena?" Zeus called.

Athena got up from her own throne, and it was like you could hear the cogs inside her head spinning faster than ever before.

"In recent years, mortals have been finally returning to democractic values, after millennia of darkness and despotism. I, as the patron of Athens, the cradle of democracy, will support the French Republic and the United Kingdom, defenders of liberty!" she proclaimed. Ares snickered.

"Yeah, just don't mind colonialism. And Russia."

Athena glared at him, Aegis still in hand.

"Oh, shut the fuck up!" she scramed, causing Aphrodite to gasp and many gods to widen their eyes. "I-I mean... be quiet." she muttered, embarassed by her losing her cool.

"Alright..." This conversation was seriously frying Zeus's brain. "Artemis?"

"I will not get involved in petty conflicts that will only bring unecessary death and destruction to the world. I declare neutrality." proclaimed the goddess of hunt.

"Neither will I." Apollo said. "I shall not get involved in the coming descrution." He still spoke with that somber tone. Zeus could only imagine what have Apollo seen, considering his domain of prophecies and foreseeing the future. He knew how destructive war had become in the last centuries. If in the past, it was seen as a disaster to lose three hundred men, nowadays countries could afford to lose hundreds of thousands. Zeus nodded to both twins and glared in the direction of Ares, as if he was telling the god of war not to mess this up. Ares rose from his throne, grinning maniacally.

"Well, I can only dream of the day that mother will be revereed as the goddess of wisdom, because it is clear who is the wiser one here. I, just as Lady Hera before me, will support the glorious Central Powers. The power of Germany, offspring of the army with a state that was Prussia, will win this war and bring prosperity to a decadent west!" he finished his speech loudly, raising one fist to the air. Zeus could see that smoke was literally coming out of Athena, like she was about to explode, which was probably what would happen if he let Ares speak anything at all.

"Ares, please, sit down." Ares's smile diminished, but he was still smirking as he sat down, looking over to Athena. Before things could escalate, Zeus gestured for Hephaestus to speak.

"While I am not a god of war," the blacksmith began. "I am still a god of inventions. And wars do tend to spark creativity for mortals and immortals alike in the need of bigger and more powerful weapons and tools to wage such wars. For this reason, I won't fully declare my neutrality, but I will give aid to both sides in the industrial and technological camp." announced the god of forges. Zeus nodded, but he wasn't very thrilled by the prospect of what would Hephaestus give to the mortals.

Before he could even signal it, Aphrodite stood up to speak.

"I will side with the... Entente, was it?" Demeter nodded, but the previously smug posture that Ares had shattered completely at his lover's words. Aphrodite looked at him apologetically. "Sorry, honey, but if France is on one side, I have to support it."

"Fine." Ares grunted. Zeus waved his hand in the direction of Hermes, who promptly stood up.

"I am the patron of all travelers and wanderers, and wars tend to stop travels from happening. I am also a god of diplomacy, and I hope that at the end of all of this, we can come to a peaceful solution. I declare neutrality."

"Same." announced a clearly uninterested Dionysus. "While Burgundian wine is good, it won't drag me into a war to end all wars." he explained with a bored tone, but his words resonated. Zeus couldn't help to flinch at that statement. Maybe, just maybe, this was going to be way worse than anyone was expecting.

"The council has spoken." the king of the gods said. "Hera and Ares will support one side, while Athena, Demeter and Aphrodite have declared support for the other. Seven of us have decided to stay neutral, even if it is an armed neutrality." he glanced at Hephaestus. "Now, as for minor gods-"

Before he could finish talking, a bright flash erupted in the middle of the throne room. Before Zeus could yell at the bold intruder, his gaze softened when he saw the black-haired goddess with piercing obsidian black eyes, dressed in full roman armor, looking menacingly at Ares. Oh, great, another one. Bellona walked to Ares's throne, and slapped in across his face. The god of war was dumbfounded, but Bellona did not give him a single glance after hitting him. Instead walking over to Athena's throne. The goddess of wisdom (perhaps rightfully so) raised Aegis, but Bellona did not attack her. Instead, she gave Athena a piece of paper.

"Read it." the Roman goddess of war demanded. While still suspicious, Athena took the paper and conjured a monocule to read. Was that really necessary? She really did not move on from their time in Britain.

""The royal government of Serbia, having not satisfactorily answered the notice that had been handed to it by the minister of Austria-Hungary in Belgrade on the 23rd of July 1914, the imperial and royal government finds itself compelled to provide itself for its rights and interest's protection and to resort therefore to force of arms. Therefore, Austria-Hungary considers itself henceforth in state of war against Serbia. The minister of foreign affairs of Austria-Hungary, Count Berchtold.""

At the end of the reading, Athena had her eyes widened and was visibly shaking. She dropped the piece of paper to the floor. Bellona just sighed and finally aknowledged her father, bowing before the king of the gods.

"It has begun. Brace yourselves, family of mine. I just hope that the Fates have mercy on this world." Apollo spoke, his blue eyes never before looking older than now.

Zeus was not a god of prophecies, nor he could see the future. But for a brief moment, he could view the horrors that would soon be unleashed upon the world. And he had a feeling that all of the gods had the same vision. The hearth, for the first time in a while, flickered.