Story: The Trouble with Gods
Author: Flashes09 (me)
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
A/N: If you don't know anything about the Greek Gods, I'll try and explain but you might want to read up about them. If you type Greek gods into Google something will come up.
Chapter 2
Achilles looked down and realized they were flying above the clouds.
"Where are we going?" He asked. There was no one next to him, but a dense golden cloud. The cloud answered.
"We are off to Mount Olympus." They sped up, and soon a large, looming mountain came into view. The top was surrounded in clouds and lightning was flashing. The golden cloud spoke again.
"Zeus and Hera must be at it again. You may have a wait ahead." They landed on the mountain. Achilles looked around and saw a giant palace that covered the entire top of the mountain. Made of cloud, the towers reached to the sky, higher than any other. The tallest was the source of the lightning. The golden light turned, once again, into Hermes.
"Wait on that bench, there." He pointed to a small bench made of cloud that looked like stone. Achilles walked over to it, always watchful and careful. A goddess was walking over to him. Unsure who it was, he remained wary in case she rooted for the Trojans. The goddess was young and, with every step she took, flowers appeared in her wake. Achilles guessed it was Persephone, daughter of Demeter. He slid down to the end of the bench.
"Achilles, son of Peleus. Hello, welcome to Olympus."
"Persephone, thank you kindly." She sat down gracefully on the bench. "I assume it's summer for the living."
"Yes it is." They sat in silence for a few moments. Persephone spoke again.
"I was rooting for you, you know."
Puzzled, Achilles asked, "How do you mean?"
"You were always my favorite of the great warriors." She saw Achilles surprised look and added, "Oh yes, I know all about the war. I watched it all from up here. Hector, the brave man who fought for his country. Paris, not a warrior, but a lover. Odysseus, the cunning and intelligent warrior. And Achilles, the greatest warrior of all. But something happened that he did not expect. He fell in love. It shocked everyone, oh yes. Even Aunt Aphrodite, who thoroughly disapproved. A Trojan and a Greek? Who'd a thought. But that is why I stuck up for you. You had really turned yourself around. Yet cousin Apollo made sure you died. But I think I can get you put back on Earth. Well, we shall have to see, won't we?" Achilles said nothing. He felt no need to. They sat together, each consumed in their own thoughts, until Hermes appeared again.
"Come, I'm to lead you to the Pantheon" They walked out of the courtyard and into a large hall, with a ceiling so high, Achilles had to tilt his head all the way back to see it. On a raised platform sat eleven of the twelve Greek gods of the Pantheon. Zeus, Hera, Poseidon, Demeter, Athena, Hephaestus, Ares, Aphrodite, Apollo, Artemis, Hermes, and Dionysus were seated, Hermes joined them and motioned for Persephone and Achilles to step forward. Zeus spoke first, in a booming voice,
"Achilles, the great warrior. So, you want to go back to the realm of the living? Why should we send you back?" Achilles knew that none of the gods were probably happy with him. He didn't fight with the Trojans, and didn't fight enough with the Greeks. But before he could say anything, Persephone spoke.
"Uncle Zeus, I know you might not like him, but he turned his life around. He fell in love, much to the surprise of Aunt Aphrodite, and who knows what he could have done if he had not been slain by arrows guided by you, Cousin Apollo. Please, send him back, he deserves it." The gods and goddesses stared at Persephone and Achilles for a long time. Achilles stared defiantly back. Finally Zeus motioned and the gods disappeared.
"Where did they go?" Achilles asked.
"To make judgment on you. Come, and do not worry, for all will be okay." They went back and sat on the same bench as before. Persephone was looking at the ground, watching how a new hybrid of flower she had created, grew. Achilles stared off into the distance, not really looking but thinking. He was going to look for a few souls when he got into Asphodel Fields like Patroclus, Hector, Ajax. He meant to talk to Hector if Hector would talk to him. Suddenly, Persephone jerked her head up and looked to the hall.
"It's time to go." They got up and walked to the hall.
The twelve gods were once again seated. Zeus spoke again.
"We will grant you one wish. But first you must complete three challenges. The first, beat Athena in a game of strategy. Second, beat Ares in a fight. And third, you must throw a bolt of lightning farther than I."
Mount Olympus- Home of the Gods
Hera- Wife and sister of Zeus
Persephone- Daughter of Demeter, Was taken by Hades, and would be returned to her mother if she hadn't eaten, but she did and she spends six months underground
Demeter- Sister of Zeus, goddess of harvest
Aphrodite- Sister of Zeus, goddess of love
Apollo- God of the sun, son of Zeus
Pantheon- Twelve chief gods
Poseidon - God of the sea, brother of Zeus
Athena - Goddess of wisdom, Child of Zeus
Hephaestus - God of fire, blacksmith, son of Hera
Ares - God of war
Artemis- Twin of Apollo, goddess of the moon
Dionysus - God of wine
Themis - Goddess of justice
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