Aphrodite materialized outside of a very dingy looking establishment. She sighed, and moved her hand across her body. Instantly her clothes changed to something far more suitable. Eyeing herself quickly, she decided that she was now more appropriately dressed for the place she was about to enter.
As she walked through the old wooden doors, she scanned the room quickly. There was a smattering of various people, mostly men, and mostly of sketchy character. She looked towards the bar, and saw a redheaded woman sitting next to a brunette. Quickly she made her way over, and as she got closer, a seedy looking man approached her. He was about six feet tall, salt and pepper colored hair, and he was wearing ratty jeans with dusty black boots. His arms were covered by a flannel shirt that looked like it had not seen a washer in about 2 years.
"Hey beautiful," he started, thinking some very lascivious thoughts. "Never seen you in here before."
Aphrodite stopped short and scanned the man over. "Not likely to see me again in here after tonight."
"What a shame. Want to go somewhere else you have never been before?"
Aphrodite rolled her eyes. "Where exactly would that be?"
"To the peak of ecstasy."
"Really?" Aphrodite's answer dripped with sarcasm. "And you think you can take me there?"
"Definitely." The man crossed closer to the goddess and put his hand on her arm.
Aphrodite looked down at the hand that had dared to touch her. Instantly a wave of heat shot down through her arm, and the man recoiled in horror as his palm was burned.
"Wh-who are you?"
"Someone who is not to be trifled with. Beat it. Literally. Because I highly doubt those pick-up lines have ever worked on any woman."
Aphrodite walked past the man and headed for the redhead sitting with her back to the crowd at the bar. The redhead was chatting incessantly to the brunette, who for her part looked completely disinterested. Aphrodite drew a deep breath and crossed the remaining distance. Once she was standing directly behind the redhead, she reached out and grabbed the woman's shoulder, turning her around to face the goddess.
Aphrodite made eye contact, and sternly stated, "Get lost Ginger."
Something in the eyes of the blonde frightened the other woman, and she quickly grabbed her drink and bolted. Aphrodite smiled and sat down next to the brunette.
The bartender leaned over and asked for her drink order. "What'll be sweetness?"
Aphrodite looked at the brunette, and replied, "Whatever she is having. Bring her one too."
He nodded and walked away to make the drinks.
The brunette woman mumbled, "Thanks, the redhead was getting on my nerves."
Aphrodite nodded. She stared openly at the other woman. Her hair was thick, and very long, pulled back into a ponytail. She was wearing a dark tank top, showing off her bronzed, well-toned arms. Her jeans were dirty, and she looked like she had been through the wringer.
"You look like shit." Aphrodite giggled.
The brunette looked at her, and shrugged.
Aphrodite continued, her tone light, "I don't like your clothes either. They hardly suit you."
The brunette arched her eyebrow at her new companion. "Really? You have a strange way of trying to pick someone up."
"I am not trying to pick you up. I am interested in you though."
"That makes no sense."
"You have no idea who I am do you?"
"Should I?"
"I would think so, although dressed like this, I could see why you wouldn't."
The brunette scanned the blonde closely. Her hair was long and curly, and tumbled with restrained wildness around her face. Her eyes were a crystal clear blue, and in fact, she had never seen a color quite like it. The woman wore a very tight baby tee, and a honey colored skirt. Trailing her eyes down, she noticed that the blonde was wearing sandals that weren't likely to be found anywhere in the area.
The brunette turned her head to the side, and asked, "Who are you?"
"Someone who is need of a favor."
The brunette recoiled slightly. "A favor?"
"Yes. You see, there is a man who stopped me in here, offering seedy sexual favors, and he is walking this way, obviously having not learned his lesson the first time. I would like you to explain that no means no."
The brunette scanned the room, and sure enough, there was a man who was fast approaching the blonde from behind.
"How do you know that? The only person I see is behind you. You can't see him."
Aphrodite's eyes twinkled, "I can see him. And I can hear his thoughts. Most egregious I might add. So when he comes over here, please make it clear that I am here with you."
The brunette scrunched her forehead in confusion, but stood nonetheless, and placed herself between the man and the strange blonde.
The man stopped short and then rational thought apparently left his mind, as he continued to bee line for the woman who had burned him. The brunette took the last sip of her drink, and shot him an ugly glare. When he got to the bar, the brunette warned him, "My friend is not interested. I am pretty sure she told you as much. It will be best if you turn around and try not to bother her again."
The man eyed the brunette suspiciously. "What are you? Her body guard?"
"Apparently. Walk away before you get hurt."
The man snorted. "You gonna hurt me little girl?"
The brunette bellowed with laughter. "Little? I have never heard that one before. But, yes. If you persist in annoying my friend, bad things will happen to you."
The man glared and tried to walk around the brunette. Instantly she grabbed the back of his collar, and spinning him around slammed his face down on the bar. His nose made a sick crunching sound, and the blood instantly started pouring out. His hands went up to his face, and tears welled in his eyes. A few of his friends heard the noise and came running. The brunette leaned back without turning around and asked, "I take it you don't want to be around them either?"
The blonde goddess laughed, and spun around on her stool. "I think I will pass. Would you mind?"
The brunette sighed, and shrugged. A good fight would get the blood going, and it had been a while since she had been in the middle of a fray. The first man that reached the brunette was met with a swift kick to the stomach. He doubled over and shock barely had time to register when her fist connected with his jaw. He was sent reeling to the floor, knocked out cold. The other two friends rushed and tackled the brunette into the bar. Her back hit with a thud, knocking the air from her lungs. She quickly grabbed one man's arm and turned it around in the socket. He screamed out in pain. With her other hand she sent a fist flying into the other man's throat. He grabbed it instantly choking for air. Still maintaining her hold on the arm, she kneed her assailant in the groin, and as he doubled over, she pulled him to her hip and flippantly kicked her foot up to the side, connecting with his face. He fell backwards, and the brunette let go of his arm. The four men were rolling on the ground, moaning in agony.
The brunette turned her attention to the blonde, who was beaming at her with a large smile. She couldn't help but return the smile. When she moved to go back to her seat, however, her back was screaming. There were definitely going to be bruises that would linger for a while. But the blonde did something unexpected. She stood and snaked her hand around her companion touching the affected area. Her hand instantly warmed and the pain went away. The brunette stood in shock for a moment, and then suddenly dropped to her knees.
The blonde chuckled, and pulled the brunette up from the floor. "I am trying to be inconspicuous here, and that isn't happening with you kneeling. Sit down, and let's talk. You didn't use to bruise so easily."
"Times change. Which one are you?"
The blonde leaned in closer and whispered, "You tell me."
The bartender set the drinks on the bar, and retreated quickly, "On the house ladies."
The brunette watched as Aphrodite picked up the glass containing the amber liquid and downed it quickly. Her face contorted slightly, and she winced. "I certainly have had better on Olympus."
The brunette's eyes went wide, and she muttered, "Aphrodite."
The blonde shook her head in affirmation, "Very good. And since I know who you are already, no other introductions are needed are they?"
"I mean no disrespect, but why are you here?"
"I came to see you. I want something from you."
"I think you have me confused with someone else."
"No, I don't. She is spoken for. But you are in need of a change. Unless you are happy with the way things currently are." She swept her hand around the room. "And I have already commented on your choice of clothes and your taste in setting leaves much to be desired."
The brunette eyed the goddess suspiciously and said nothing.
Aphrodite continued, "Look, you know who I am. Telling me no is not really an option. In fact, no one, in all my eternities of existence ever has." The blonde chuckled a little at the comment. Clearly she was amusing herself. "My sister, and yours are finding themselves in a precarious situation. While I am expressly forbidden to get involved, I am choosing to ignore that commandment to a degree. So what I need to know is if you are willing to lend assistance to a large problem that we seem to be having."
"I am listening."
"Good. Here is what I want. I want you take a little trip and stick your two cents into our predicament. You will go, of course, with my blessing, and with some power boosts as they were."
"You are going to give me back…"
Aphrodite cut the sentence off. "I am. The Queen of Kasnia is in need of someone to watch her back, personally, and I think you would be perfect. What you do with your gifts after the fact will be left up to you, although I am pretty sure that you will not be any trouble will you?"
"No."
"Excellent. You going to drink that?" Aphrodite pointed to the glass in front of the brunette. "No? Thanks." She scooped it up and quickly swallowed the liquid. This time she didn't wince. "I suppose if this was all there was to drink, it would have to do." She leveled her eyes at the brunette, and suddenly no one in the bar moved. Everyone but the two women were frozen, conversations stopped mid-sentence.
"Stand up." Aphrodite ordered.
The brunette complied. Aphrodite closed her eyes and a large ball of light blinded her companion. Once her eyes were able to focus again, she looked at the Goddess who was now fully regaled in white and gold, clothes that would make her stature obvious to anyone who looked at her. "Much better. I really detest polyester."
The brunette simply nodded.
Aphrodite reached out again and touched the brunette's face. A warmth spread through her body, and her muscles contracted with new found strength. Her clothes disappeared, and she stood naked in front of the goddess, un-phased in the slightest at her lack of covering.
"What to put you in?" Aphrodite mumbled, openly looking at the naked form in front of her. "Can't have you getting confused with anyone else…how about this?"
Instantly the brunette was clothed in a red leather bodysuit. The sleeves were short, cut at the shoulder, and a black belt encircled her waist. Aphrodite pouted, "I like red, it is my favorite color, but there is too much of it on you. How about this?"
Suddenly the pants changed color, now a midnight blue, tight fitting, with a white stripe running down the length of each side of the legs.
"Better…" Aphrodite giggled. "But not quite right."
The belt became gold and swooped down in a "V" dipping just below the women's navel. Gold bracelets formed around her wrists, and single white stars appeared adorning the small armor. Aphrodite reached out and touched the woman's chest. A large eagle with wings expanded across her bosom appeared, and the head was turned to the side, its mouth open portraying a scream. The brunette noticed that the suit went up to her neck and the goddess noticed her companion's arched eyebrow. The blonde shrugged.
"Nothing against your cleavage, but it doesn't seem your style."
Aphrodite stepped back and laughed in pride at her handiwork. "Perfect. Now, we need to talk about what I expect of you when you reach Kasnia…"
A/N: Three chapters in three days...I am spoiling you. The next one won't be up until next week sometime, so this will have to do for now. Everyone had a vote on who Aphrodite's champion would be, so now what do you think? Who is she?