After Hercules had calmed down, Hermes led him out to the main area of Olympus. Hermes's children were there, and they looked at Hercules as if they knew what had happened, if their sad smiles were anything to go off of. Cassandra, Icarus, and Phil were grouped beside Triton, speaking in low voices and looking around fearfully, as if they would be struck down for daring to be in the gods' home. Hermes patted Hercules's shoulder then strode forward.
"Alright," he said to his children. "Let's get you all instated."
"Instated?" Pan asked, his face lighting up. "You mean becoming official gods?"
Tyche smiled. "And goddesses?"
Hermes nodded. "Yes. As king of the gods, I can do as I please, and you all have held your peace for a long time. I'd say that you deserve to rise to your proper places."
Autolycus smirked. "Finally," he drawled. "Geez, Dad, make us wait three hundred years, why don't you?"
The messenger laughed. "Curb your tongue, smart aleck, or the wrath of the king will be upon you!"
There was an outcry of gleeful laughter that ended as Hermes turned and walked for the throne. His children froze, looking as afraid as the mortals had when they were standing outside the gates of Olympus. Even Hermes was faltering as he walked up several steps. He paused in front of the golden seat. Then he took a deep breath and sat down. The throne glowed brightly, and for one instant, Hercules feared that Hermes would be punished severely for daring to sit on the throne of Zeus. But the golden gleam dimmed, and Hermes turned blue, unable to hide his divinity any longer. He breathed out, tossing his dark blue hair over his shoulder.
"Pan, come here," he said firmly.
Pan swallowed nervously then stood tall and strode forward. He placed his hands behind his back and stared up at his father. Hermes waved his hand and his caduceus flashed into being. He held it out, and Pan reached out and grabbed it. A shock of energy traveled through the room, and Hermes spoke with authority.
"Arise, son of Hermes, and take your place as the god of shepherds and flocks, the god of nature of the mountains, and of rustic music. Take your place amongst the immortals of Olympus."
Pan yelped as green power flooded over him, and his skin turned orange as the red hair on his head and his goat legs deepened and darkened. He gasped at the flood of power, and his green eyes flashed with power. When the caduceus was lifted, he staggered back and sat down, dazed. Everybody stared in shock, including Hermes. Then the new king of the gods grinned.
"Ooh, I like this. Come here, Auto. Your turn."
Autolycus looked at his brother, who was catching his breath, then he carefully set down the helmet he so cherished and strode forward, his eyes wary. In a flash of grey, Autolycus was initiated into his godly role as the prince of thieves and trickery. He, too, fell back, landing with a grunt beside his older brother, who was observing the new tint to his skin. Autolycus was dark grey, almost charcoal, with bright silver eyes, just like his father. His hair was black, and his body seemed to thrum with a new energy. He was fascinated.
Angelia was next, and she was touched with a gentle tap as she was made the goddess of messages, tidings, and proclamations. She sat down, startled, and then glanced down to see that her skin was pink, a beautiful bright pink. Tugging her hair over her shoulder, she was delighted to see that it was now blue, a light, pretty shade of blue, lighter than Hermes's skin. She liked it very much, and she sat still, watching as Tyche went forward.
Her skin was golden, just like her grandfather's, and her hair was silver, shimmering in the light of the sun high overhead. She had the good fortune of remaining standing, but that wasn't surprising considering that she was now the goddess of fortune. She skipped over and sat down beside her siblings. Then all attention turned to Hermaphroditus.
He was standing stiffly, his arms crossed over his breasts as his face flamed. Hermes gestured him forward, but he snarled.
"No. What could I possibly be the god of? Or goddess?" he added bitterly.
"Come here and we'll find out," Hermes said.
With great reluctance, Hermaphroditus shuffled forward to stand before his father. Hermes smiled gently at him, then he held out his caduceus one last time. Hermaphroditus's skin flashed in the purple light, and he shuddered as his father's voice washed over him.
"Arise, Hermaphroditus, god of hermaphrodites and those who are effeminate."
Hermaphroditus stumbled back, and Hercules caught him. The newest god of Olympus had skin that was a shade somewhere between purple and pink. Which one, he couldn't teel. His hair was purple with pink streaks in it, and he stared down at himself with great surprise. He looked up, tears in his eyes.
"There are more people like me?" he asked, his voice hoarse.
Hermes stood up and walked down the steps. "Are you really surprised?" he asked. "There are all sorts of people on Earth, Hermy. There is no way that you're the only hermaphrodite. But you are the only one who is a god. I expect you to take your new role seriously." He paused then looked at the rest of his kids. "All of you are to take it seriously."
They all nodded. Pan stood up, shaking out his limbs. "Was that what it was like for you, Dad?"
"A little," Hermes said, turning his caduceus over and over in his hands so that the light glinted off the gold. "Mine wasn't as welcoming as this is for you. Unsurprisingly, Hera had stirred up the others and they were muttering against me. So it wasn't pleasant. They laughed at me when I fell over. I was dismissed to my duties without a backward glance."
Sorrow was in their eyes as they stared at him. Hermes didn't look at them, and from the way he held himself, they knew he was reliving the humiliation. Before they could approach, however, Hermes grinned. "How about a feast to celebrate?"
Hercules wandered over to his friends as a cheer came from the new gods and goddesses. He experimentally waved his hand, wanting a chair, and to his surprise, wanting one was all it took. Triton smiled as his cousin sat down, a pleased expression on his face.
"Easy, isn't it?" he asked. "It's so different from the sea. I like it sometimes, but I'm always happy to go back home."
"Are you instated?" Hercules asked.
"Last year, before I came to Prometheus Academy," Triton said. He sighed and leaned back, a troubled look on his features. "Mom and Dad were so proud, and Zeus and Hera were so happy to have their nephew appointed as a god of the sea. I was happy, too." His blue eyes moved to study Hermes, who was commanding the feast to be prepared. "I wish his was as nice. Everybody wanted to greet me, to show me around." He stopped and closed his eyes to hide the tears. "I can't even imagine what his was like."
Hercules nodded. "It's hard to know how much my mother hated him." He clenched his fists as Phil, Icarus, and Cassandra stared at him. "I can't hate them," he finally said. "But I can't accept what they did."
Phil patted his leg. "That's the best they can hope for, kid."
"It's more than they deserve," Cassandra replied, her eyes flashing with anger as she glanced up at the sun.
Hercules knew what memories were playing through her head, and it made him sick. He'd liked Apollo the few times they had spoken. But how could he even look at the sun god after knowing that he'd tried to rape his best friend and Pan's mother? How could he ever smile at him again after learning about the punishments he'd inflicted on Cassandra and Dryope?
"I recognize that look," Hermes said as he joined them. "Which one are you thinking about?"
"Apollo," Hercules muttered.
A flash of rage passed across Hermes's face, and he turned to look at Pan, who was heading with his siblings to the banquet hall. "I have a special place of loathing for him," Hermes said quietly. Then he brightened. "Come on. Let's eat. The feast is ready."
They stood up, and Hercules smiled when the chairs simply melted back into the clouds. Would he ever get used to that? Hermes snickered and led them into the banquet hall. Hercules was shocked to see that his imaginings from only an hour before were now actualized. The table was laden with so much food that it was a miracle that it was still standing. His mouth began to water, and Hermes slapped him on the back.
"Dig in!" he called.
With great pleasure, they began to eat. Hercules had never seen so much food in his life, not even for the school events that were catered. And it was all amazing. The lamb was juicy and pink, with so much flavor that he couldn't believe it was real. There were potatoes cooked in cream, some mashed, some baked, and some fried. With them, there were fish of all kinds, made in so many different ways that it would take over a week to try them all, and so many other dishes that Hercules's head was spinning. He had never expected such rich food, and it was with regret that he sat back and looked around.
"Dessert?" Hermes asked after an hour, a gleam in his eyes.
"Maybe in an hour," Pan groaned.
Hermes laughed, his teeth flashing white against his blue skin. "Don't tell me you're full already!"
Nobody even had the strength to glare at him. He popped up from the table and began to skip, as if he hadn't just eaten more than everybody else. Hercules smiled sleepily. He was so tired and full that he was drifting to sleep in his chair.
Hermes tossed his head back and laughed. "You all are passing out in your chairs!"
"What did you expect after all that?" Pan groused.
Hermes grinned again. "Ah, so much to learn about being a god," he sighed dramatically.
"Dad," Autolycus moaned.
"Alright, alright," Hermes said. "How about I make some rooms for you? After a nap, we should think about what we're going to have to do to save the gods."
Hercules nodded, and Hermes flashed out of the room. After fifteen minutes, he came in and began to lead his children to their new rooms. When he came for the mortals and Hercules, he smiled. One by one, he led them to temporary rooms before he came back for his little brother. Hercules was dozing, his head in his hand. Hermes shook him gently.
"Come and lay down, Herc."
Hercules muttered darkly, but he followed Hermes into a room. He paused, faint memories playing through his head. Hermes placed an arm around him and guided him to a big, fluffy bed and tucked him in. When Hercules frowned up at Hermes, glancing around, Hermes nodded.
"This was your room when you were a baby. Zeus made it up like this when you showed interest in rejoining Olympus."
Hercules snorted, turning over and closing his bleary eyes again. "Bet he never did that for you," he growled bitterly.
Hermes stood up, gritting his teeth. "No," he replied. "Zeus never did anything like this for me."
The demigod grumbled something about Zeus being a jerk, and Hermes sighed and headed for his room. With a wave of his hand, the clouds covered the sun to provide a dark atmosphere to help them all sleep. To hear Hercules speak like that about Zeus made him ache for his brother. He understood, and yet he hated to poison his mind against his father.
Hermes flopped back on his bed, reaching up to trace a blossom on his living canopy. He could still remember longing for Zeus's affection, for his attention and love. But it had never happened. And at the moment, Zeus couldn't even remember that Hermes was his son. He understood Hercules wanting all of that because somewhere, deep inside, Hermes still felt the same way. He knew it was foolish to hope, to want something that he would never have, but he couldn't help it. He turned over and sighed. Maybe some sleep would help, he thought, and closed his eyes.