hi again, I honestly don't know if i'll update regularly, i just like to write so
i'll see if I can make a cover image if the girl in my english class lets me use her pics #creepy but I can assure you she was extremely flattered when she heard she was my muse for this story, and she's even reading it, I think (hi danny) so this is officially chapter one
"Dear Lady Kore, your crowns never fail to look impeccable! How I wish I could make one as beautiful as yours."
Six nymphs sat lazily in a beautiful garden making crowns of flowers for themselves. The nymphs were surrounded by a sea of pale pinks, lavenders, and whites as they threaded through vines and flowers. Never had they seen such beautiful blooms in such a beautiful garden. Of course, the garden paled in comparison to the beauty of its owner.
Kore sat on a small boulder as she smiled at her nymph friends. She had indeed grown with grace, as she walked with springtime wherever she went, but her beauty well surpassed her trail of blossoms. She was a petite young woman who had filled her womanly curves, with light brown curls that framed her lovely face and ended at her waist. Her eyes were as golden as honey, and her smile was as warm as springtime itself. True to the Fates' word, Kore had developed a kindness within her that was rare among the Olympians. She did not think herself above nymphs or her mortal followers, whereas her Olympian kin thought themselves untouchable. Preferring gardening or reading over drinking ambrosia, she had made herself into a strange, but kind, goddess.
"My friend, your crown surpasses mine entirely! All of your crowns are a delight, dear friends, and they will only be enhanced by your own beauty."
They all sat idly, making light conversation as Kore drowned in her thoughts. Today was the day she finally returned to Mount Olympus after many years of absence. She wondered if Apollo and Artemis still bickered as frequently as they did when they were children. Or if Aphrodite had possibly grown even more beautiful than before. She had not seen her Olympian friends in many years, but they managed to keep in touch every once in a while through Kore's dearest friend Hermes. The bond that they shared was unbreakable, and Kore could only smile as she thought of her friend.
As Kore finished placing the last flower on her laurel, she promptly placed it on her head. Her thin laurel with white flowers sat perfectly on her golden brown curls, making her friends compliment her profusely. Kore then gently took it off her head as she noticed a small nymph hide behind one of her blossom bushes. Kore slowly made her way over to the child, smiling brightly when the nymph backed away.
"Do not hide little one. I am your friend." Kore smiled at the young nymph as she still hid behind the tree.
"Come now, do you wish to tell me your name?" Silence. "Very well then, I shall have to introduce myself first. My name is Kore." More silence. "Do you know what you remind me of, my silent friend?" The small nymph shook her head as petals fell from her bright hair.
"A big beautiful blossom."
The young nymph shyly made her way to Kore and stood directly in front of her as Kore kindly smiled. Once more, she tried. "What is your name?"
"Cherry." She murmured against her thumb. She glanced down as Kore kneeled in front of her, palm closed.
"What a fitting name." She slowly unveiled the light pink blossom in her palm as the nymph beamed at the goddess. "A cherry blossom." Kore placed the flower into the nymph's hair as well as the crown she had previously made.
The young goddess gently took the hand of the small girl and began stepping through the grass to introduce her to the other nymphs. Her right hand tightly held the small digits of the nymph while her left hand clasped the ends of her golden toga. They once again began to make laurels when a voice carried over to Kore's garden.
"Kore! Come, the hour grows late!"
Kore perked up to the sound of her mother calling her name. She hastily said goodbye to her friends and skipped through her garden into her mother's fields. Once she spotted her mother, she placed a dainty kiss on her cheek.
Demeter chuckled as she stepped into the chariot. "Come now, Mount Olympus awaits."
Kore stepped into the chariot feeling as hopeful as ever.
Hades stepped into his chariot feeling as hopeless as ever.
Zeus had called Poseidon and himself to an important meeting, and Hades no doubt believed that his youngest brother was calling meetings for the sake of calling meetings. Every morning after the full moon, the brothers met to discuss anything of importance within their realms. Although Zeus and Poseidon never had a problem in their realms, the dead were steadily increasing day by day, making Hades overworked and angry. By the looks of the wounds and discarded armor that littered his Underworld Kingdom, he knew it was the fault of Ares, Zeus and Hera's son.
Hades scoffed to himself as he made his way to Olympus. Ares was undeniably the spoiled son of Zeus, and Hera did little to reverse the fact. The boy would begin wars out of sheer boredom, despite Hades believing that Ares did it solely to spite the Lord of the Underworld. He would be sure to bring it up at their meeting, but he doubted Zeus would slap the hand of his favorite son.
Once he had arrived to his brother's lavish palace, he made his way through the halls, his black cloak swishing with every step of his sandals. His only signal of arrival to the God's meeting room was the clanging of his black armor, and his sword banging against his hip.
"Ah brother, I thank you for arriving just a bit less tardier than usual." Zeus' booming laughter filled the hall as Hades kept his face stoic.
"As you know, I cannot have much time away from my Kingdom or else souls do not get judged."
Poseidon clamped a hand on his brother's shoulder. "Come Hades, once a full moon cannot damage your kingdom. We also have kingdoms to run, and yet we find the time to balance it all."
"Perhaps I would have more leisure time if my kingdom wasn't filled to the brink with thousands of victims of war." Zeus sat tightly in his throne, knowing that his son had started another war once again.
"Hades, I am sure you exaggerate the number. If Ares-"
"The number is not an exaggeration, as I do not lie." Hades stated through gritted teeth. "Charon can barely move his boat through the Styx, and souls are awaiting judgement for more than three days! Speak with your son, Zeus. His boredom becomes my work, and I am not amused with this outcome."
Hades hastily walked out of the main chamber, leaving Poseidon and Zeus yelling for him to return. He made his way down the grand staircase just as Demeter was climbing up. He had almost missed her, and if Demeter hadn't taken another step when she did, he would have never seen her.
But he did.
And she saw him as well.
A beautiful brunette goddess with eyes of honey who radiated goodness. She was impossible to look away from. Hades thought it a trick of the light, or a trick of his eyes, for a Goddess like she would never glance his way.
But she did.
Time had felt like it was in slow motion. He barely heard Demeter's greeting, his only sense of sight overtaking him, enveloping him in the goddess before him. Her golden toga danced among the steps and as they crossed paths on the steps, their gaze melted together. Harsh blue met warm honey, and Hades felt their connection. He frowned as he realized that as an Olympian, she would most likely ignore his gaze or scrutinize him for it, but she was different.
She smiled at him.
Hades had never seen a more beautiful sight. He felt dumbfounded as he reached the bottom of the grand staircase, and turned around once more to catch a glimpse of her. He felt his lips perk up ever so slightly as she glanced back. He suddenly felt a tug on his right sandal, and found a small flower growing around his foot. He followed the trail of blossoms with his eyes until he was met with the familiar golden toga and the sweet honey eyes. Her body was partially turned to him as she smiled shyly back at him, making Hades stare longingly after her. She finally turned to face her mother as she rattled on about the harvests until they disappeared around the corner of the stairs and into the long hallway.
Hades slowly kneeled to pluck the flower from the ground, and for the first time in many millennia, he smiled at the dainty flower in his hands.
