FIT FOR A GOD

Allo again! I hope that the second chapter was OK, and that I didn't screw it up too bad… well here's the 3rd chapter, enjoy!

P.S. Thanks to Sindel for telling me that Poseidon isn't Zeus's son, but his brother, but let's just pretend that Poseidon is Zeus's son, it makes it more fun, and it will screw up the atmosphere if he's the brother, but thanks Sindel!

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Chapter 3: The Gifts – Part I

"I am very happy to have all of my children here today." Zeus explained. He turned his head to his left where his eyes met up with the gaze of Hades. "While I am still not sure why you decided to grace us with your presence, I shall try to make this banquet run smoothly…" Zeus trailed off as he looked angrily upon his brother.

"However, on with my speech." Zeus said as he unlocked his gaze upon Hades, and looked out to the crowd in front of him. "Welcome everybody to what some might say is the most important day of the year. This day celebrates the achievements of a kind, compassionate, caring, great, powerful person…" Zeus explained.

"Ohh dad, you didn't have to do all of this for me…" Poseidon said grinning to his father. "I mean you didn't remember my birthday, and you didn't have to hold a surprise half-birthday party for me – " Poseidon explained, but then paused as another slap hit him hard across the face, given by Athena once again.

"Thank you, Athena!" Zeus roared as he turned around to the heap of a body on the ground, which was Poseidon. Zeus shot Athena an appreciative smile. "As I was saying, before I was rudely interrupted by someone not fit enough to even be in the presence of such a person of great power. And that person that we celebrate for of great power…" Zeus said as he spun around on his heel, "Is me!" Zeus said happily. Everyone laughed nervously, as Zeus took his seat again.

"So without further a due, let's all enjoy this day… my day… with the food in front of us. Dig in!" Zeus roared happily. "Except for you, Poseidon…" Zeus said darkly, "You shall be the first to present your gift to your father." Zeus said as the twinkle of greed in his eyes returned. Everyone began to eat as Poseidon got up nervously once again, and walked to the front of the table, where he looked at Zeus and Hera and the other faces of the 9 other children.

"Ahem" Poseidon cleared his throat nervously as he addressed the king and queen. "I have prepared, for your enjoyment, my majestic mermaids!" Poseidon ended, clapping his hands together, as he bowed himself to the side, and took his set again.

The lights went dim around them, as all of a sudden, it was re-illuminated again with black lights. Five beautiful mermaids floated in front of the table from both sides of the yard. Each mermaid's skin sparkled and shimmered even in the dark light that hit them, and they flipped their long, silky, colourful hair out of their faces, they began to move as music had started from no where. The mermaids started to dance, swaying gracefully and gently moving their arms about. Everyone watched, entranced by the beautiful, magical creatures, everyone that is, but the women who sat with their arms folded, as the attention was suddenly taken from them, as the men watched the mermaids. The mermaids began to dance faster and faster, as Zeus stared off dreamily. Soon the lights came back on and the mermaids vanished, and a very angry Hera was shaking Zeus awake, back into reality.

"Very well done, great job son!" Zeus exclaimed happily, applauding Poseidon, completely forgetting what had happened before. Poseidon waved off the compliments, as if it was nothing, just happy to be back on speaking terms with Zeus again, while Hera sat in her throne moodily. Hera cleared her throat loudly, and with that the men silenced themselves once again. The women graciously smiled, as Hera brought everyone back to reality.

"Well, shall we continue?" Hera asked briskly, and not waiting for an answer she took matters into her own hands. "Ahh, yes, Hades, won't you enlighten us with your gift?" Hera said jokingly, "Hahaha, get it you rule the underworld, and I just asked you to enlighten us! Just doesn't mix does it now?" Hera chuckled to herself, as clearly no one but herself found this funny. "Ohh, well I thought it was funny… continue Hades." She sighed.

"Thank you, fair Hera…" Hades said rising up from his chair as he glided up to the top of the table, as Hera smiled at him. Hades stood at the top of the table and started to pace back and fourth in front of the puzzled Zeus. "I have come to you, Zeus, with a task, that is a gift itself…"

"What the hell are you talking about Hades?" questioned Zeus, "If it's another 'task' of your then forget about it, I have done you too many favours up until now, and I won't allow you to corrupt me again with this non-sense!" Zeus yelled.

"Please Zeus, just let me finish." Hades pleaded, "I promise, there will be something in it for you…" he said, leading Zeus on.

"Ok, if you must, Hades…" Zeus sighed, as he sat back in his chair, making sure he was comfortable before the drone of his brother's voice filled the room once again.

"Thank you Zeus." Hades bowed, before beginning once again, "You see usually I would not come to these sort of get togethers, but a situation has arisen down in the underworld, and I think that this sort of situation needs to be overseen by the great and powerful Zeus!" Hades said, giving his brother a smile, which looked like it was made with great difficulty. "You see, I have been sitting down in my throne, watching the various souls of mortals drift their way through, each soul as crystal clear as the last." Hades paused, "But then, there were others. Floating down, as black as coal. And at first it was just a few, and these black souls caught my attention, as soon more and more seemed to float down from the earth, and with this I asked them why they were so dark. And I got my answer from one of them. You see Zeus, these mortals have been so afraid of the fate that they are doomed to, that they want some control on something, so they choose to take their own life away. But why would this be? No one's life is worthless! And with this I bring you my task…"

"You want me to baby-sit a couple of black souls for you? What do I look like? The ruler of the universe?" Zeus roared.

Hera looked at her husband, and clamed him down, and whispered to him, "Zeus dear, if you help these poor, tragic souls, they will repay you, and they will look up to you, you will have more worshippers. Think about it Zeus, having changed the lives of mortals… I would be so proud of you!" Hera added.

Zeus sat in his chair, and thought these thoughts through. He cleared his throat and announced "I accept your task."

"We accept your task" Hera corrected.

Hades walked over to his seat once again, and descended into it. He looked over to his left, where Persephone sat. But Persephone was sound a sleep, snoring quietly with her head in her plate. Hades cleared his throat loudly as he glared at Persephone. "It seems like Persephone will be next…" Hades said clearly at the still asleep Persephone. "I said it seems like PERSEPHONE will be next!" Hades yelled.

"We heard you Hades, but I don't think PERSEPHONE did!" Zeus yelled at Persephone, who woke with a start. She peered around the table as everyone looked at her, trying to remember why she was sleeping. "Persephone, heed my warning!" Zeus told Persephone firmly.

"Yeah, yeah…" Persephone muffled, during a yawn. "I was just sleeping because of everyone else's boring gifts." Persephone said as she stretched. She got up and walked to the top of the table and faced Hera and Zeus. "Ok, well, I'll get to the point here." Persephone stated. "Ok, since I'm always around death, I thought that it would be fun to bring back some famous musicians for your entertainment. So, introducing John Lennon, Elvis Presley and Freddie Mercury!" Persephone shrieked, as three ghosts floated in and started up with a tune. Persephone started dancing, and pulled up the other guests too, so that soon everyone was dancing to the music. Zeus and Hera were waltzing, while Aphrodite, Athena, Artemis were dancing happily beside them, when Hermes started to do the funky chicken with Poseidon, Hades sat gloomily in a corner, as Ares and Apollo banged into him, while doing the electric slide. Then the tune came to an end, and everyone found their way back to their seats.

Persephone walked over to Hera and leaned on Hera's shoulder and said, "Not bad, ehh? Ehh?" Persephone smiled, as she punched Hera in the shoulder.

Hera looked at Persephone, as if she was a poor unfortunate soul, but then replied with a smile, "I would have thought that you would have presented your present with your husband, but I think that you rather out did yourself. Please 5ake a seat closer to me, you must sample the finest bushel of apples in all of Eden!" Hera pulled out the chair beside her, that was un-vacated (due to Demeter's lack of attendance).

"OK!" Persephone said cheerfully, she walked past Hades and descended into the pulled-out chair. Persephone picked up an apple off of the silver platter that stood before her, and Hera smiled cheerfully at her. As Persephone was about to take a big bite out of the apple Hades held out his hand to stop her.

"It's your funeral… literally…" Hades sighed.

Persephone just glared at Hades. She took a big bite out of the apple, and began to chew. Then all went dark, and coldness began to fill the room. Two hooded creatures floated out from either side of the garden, freezing everything that they passed. Persephone began to scream. The Ushers of Death had come to take her away to the underworld. "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Persephone shrieked. The hooded Ushers of Death grasped her around each arms, and dragged her down to the underworld, and soon the coldness began to ebb away, and warmth was restored after the screams of Persephone stopped echoing through the palace.

"Can I say I told you so?" Hades sighed once again, "Well I guess I'm off then." Hades announced, "Who knows what kind of trouble Persephone can get into in the underworld, when I'm not there… I thank you Zeus for the extended invitation. I hate to leave so soon, but duty calls…" Hades said, with a sneer on his face. Hades could not have been happier then to leave the party, so he glided away, through the archway, and left.

"Two down, eight to go…" Zeus muttered in an undertone to himself, before saying, "Well, I guess that means it's your turn Aphrodite."

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Well that's the end of Chapter 3. I am sorry for the long wait, but I have had many projects on the go right now… but I still would love those reviews!

Love,

- Queen Weasley