Hestia stood on the floating island of Delos, gazing intently at a nearby bed of heather and bracken, the golden-yellow blades of grass soft and comfortable for the occupant. The plants seemed to continuously flourish; a result of Demeter's plant-magic, no doubt. The said harvest goddess sat on a nearby oak tree, her daughter Persephone beside her swinging her legs excitedly.
Hestia switched her attention to the bed's occupant, a beautiful Titan by the name of Leto, the Titaness of motherhood. She birthed Zeus' child; Hestia could not be even annoyed at her little brother's extracurricular activities - it happened way too often. While one might feel sympathy for Hera, the fact that she had cursed Leto to a longer pregnancy lost her many deities' favour.
Leto was in pain; her childbearing process not without suffering. Dryads and other nature spirits ran forward to help. Hestia had a different task, however, a task of keeping the Hearth alight. She had ignited a small fire to spread warmth, but also to provide hope; Leto's servants had travelled with Leto far to get here, many had no hope that she could bear her child. Or children, really; she was having twins.
Aphrodite and Athena were helping deliver the children; they were beside Leto, knelt down and told her encouraging words.
Then suddenly, a little head poked its way out, making its way into the universe. She was a girl. Silver irises sparkled in the dim light, her pale white complexion standing out. She was the size of a mortal teenager, and wore a white evening gown and was crowned with a silver tiara. She stood up, which wasn't rare for a newborn god - you should have seen Hermes - and looked at her mother sympathetically. Naiads ran to attend to her; she waved them away.
"I shall attend to my mother. While I am not eager for my brother, whom I spent seven months in the womb with, to come out to the earth, I cannot see my mother in pain."
She was met by shocked silence; not many deities talked immediately. But everyone snapped out of it, getting to work.
The girl whispered something in Leto's ear, and Leto nodded. Five minutes later, we were greeted by a new arrival: a golden-haired boy in a white chiton. The boy immediately belted out a haiku:
I am Apollo
I shall be the god of
All under the sun
The girl looked at him disgustedly. "Seven months in the womb, and he wouldn't shut up," she grumbled, "Stupid men." She sounded disdainful.
"Aww, you don't mean that Arty," Apollo cooed.
"It's Artemis," Arty - no Artemis - snapped back.
Artemis turned to her aunts. "Bring me to Olympus; I wish to have an audience with my father."
Demeter and Hestia immediately obliged, and soon, the three goddesses stood on Mount Olympus through a flash of light.
Hestia knelt before her brother.
"Your daughter Artemis, my lord."
Artemis got into the same position.
"Father, I am honoured to be in your presence."
Zeus looked at her carefully. "Rise, my daughter. You are certainly my favourite. Ask for a wish, and I shall grant it to you."
Artemis smiled. She sure did know how to wrap her father around her finger. "I wish for much, Father. Are you sure you shall grant it to me?"
"I swear it on the river Styx, the river of hate and vows, that I shall grant your wish."
"Then Father, my wish is to become an Olympian. I shall be the goddess of the moon, driving the moon chariot up into the night sky. I shall be the goddess of childbirth, after helping my brother Apollo be born. I shall be the goddess of hunting, and all wild animals shall be under me. I shall be a virgin, and the goddess of maidens. I do not wish to be in as much pain as my mother was in childbirth. I shall have a group of girls as my companions, all of which shall be maidens; they shall be called my Hunt. I shall be the goddess of archery, and the bow shall be my sacred symbol. My sacred animals shall be the deer, the most hunted, and the wolf, the one who calls to the moon. This is my wish."
"Then, my daughter, by the power of Chaos, the great mother, and the Fates, daimons of destiny, may your wish be granted."
Three sisters, old ladies with the power of fate, materialised. "All hail Phoebe Artemis Calliste, daughter of Zeus and Leto; goddess of the moon, the Hunt, archery, maidens, childbirth and the wild; risen to Olympus by Zeus."
A silver thread was pulled from their leather handbags, a quick snap, and it turned golden, a symbol of godhood.
Artemis bowed, still kneeling on one knee. "Thank you, Father. You shall not regret this."
Hestia was empowered as Artemis left Olympus; as the goddess of family, she was uplifted by every family relationship.
She turned to the Fates. "Are you not leaving?"
The Fates smiled at her. Atropos spoke up. "I predict there shall be many new Olympians on the way."
Hestia flashed out, appearing at her palace. One might not really call it a palace, though; the building was hardly taller than a cottage, and around the square-footage of a football field. Compared to the other palaces down the lane from Olympus, hers was really the smallest; the other the size of ten Eiffel Towers each.
Upwards the lane was Hera's palace, built out of marble and outlined with gold; the materials glinted in the sunlight, letting it exude an incredible shine. It was complete with four towers, walls as thick as a fort's, and a large stone door in the middle.
Hestia's palace was second, but after hers was Athena's, completely constructed of stones of a striking grey that reflected the colour of her eyes. Her palace was fully fortified, inside including apartment-like buildings for each of her domains - wisdom, battler strategy, and thought - which met up to a central clocktower.
After Athena's palace was Aphrodite's, a pink castle with the iconic four towers of north, south, east and west. The castle looked like it was owned by Barbie, The hot pink paint littered with heart designs and dress icons.
Demeter's was next, a mansion constructed entirely with grain and trees, giving it a weird yellow-green colour. Maples decorate the outside, and from past trips inside, Hestia knew that large redwood pillars dotted the inside floorplan.
Finally, at the very end, a new palace had sprung up, painted with dazzling silver and constructed out of a shining metal. The palace glowed, exuding moonlight, in a sense. Artemis' palace. I saw some cyclopes still perfecting the build, along with aurae which handle the decor.
On the other side of the lane were the male palaces. Opposite Hera was Zeus' palace, the biggest by far, decorated with lightning strikes and painted a stormy colour. Hestia had learnt that Zeus' palace reflected his mood; it seemed he was upset by something.
Opposite Hestia was Poseidon's palace, constructed out of Antarctic ice and abalone shells, completely blue. Three towers stood, connected by a large swimming complex below.
Opposite Athena was Ares, his palace an obnoxious blood-red, swords and spears hung on the outside along with a display of skulls. Hestia shuddered. She felt squeamish.
Opposite Aphrodite was her husband Hephaestus, his palace basically a bright forge with multiple furnaces and smoke spires. It was built of metal, the metal however nothing like Artemis' and was instead rusty and rough.
Opposite Demeter was Hermes the messenger, his palace of stone dusty and worn from disuse; Hermes, being a messenger, never stayed there. Twin snakes curled around a caduceus were displayed on the crest.
Finally, opposite Artemis there was another new palace, one for her brother Apollo, no doubt. It was golden, and what Hestia assumed were his sacred symbols were etched into the gold. The lyre, the arrow and bow, and the sun were just some of the many symbols.
Hestia sighed. While she was proud of her family, they weren't her own. The entire council was either Kronos' or Zeus' kids. She really wanted a family of her own, but due to her vow of maidenry, she had this fate.
She imagined a son of her own, with amber-gold eyes and fiery determination, both of which took after her. A son she could raise herself, own, indeed, of the House of Hestia.
She imagined a daughter of her own, with auburn-red hair and a craving for peace in the Olympian family. A daughter she could teach in her ways, one who would look up to her as a mother.
Slightly disheartened, she was fixated on the thought of family. She'd never want to give up her vows; she had had them her whole life. Yet she longed for a child, a child from the Hearth, just as she was. Her domain of family compelled her to wish for children; she would love them greatly.
The more she thought about it, the less she could bear it. She would try something, anything, to get a child without breaking her vows.
She made a decision. Flashing off again, she landed in Atlantis, city of the sea and residence of Poseidon. Armed lobsters and servant sailfish made way for her, recognising her as a major Olympian. While Hestia's control of the sea was limited, she managed to create a bubble of oxygen for herself.
She knocked on the door five times, hoping to get Poseidon's attention. While going to Zeus for advice may have been more effective, after seeing his mood displayed on his palace she was unwilling to go to him. Thus, she went to the next powerful: Poseidon, Earthshaker, Stormbringer, god of the sea.
Poseidon, looking irritated, opened the door, but calmed down when he saw Hestia. He wore his crystal-design pyjamas, and clearly had just woken up. A beautiful nymph followed - Amphitrite.
"To what do I owe the pleasure, my dear sister?" Poseidon asked.
Hestia smiled warmly at him, and explained, "I apologise for the early visit; I lost track of time on Delos. But I come to you for advice. I wish for a child. Yet I do not want to renounce my vows. Do you have advice, my younger brother?"
Poseidon looked stumped. But Amphitrite, however, looked deep in thought. "I'm not sure if it will work, but the power of the hearth is strong, especially regarding family. Using your powers over it, you could form a child."
Hestia brightened. "Thank you, Amphitrite. The Hearth is not used to receiving hope on a matter. Yet you have done this. I shall check in with Athena - she might have more advice."
Another flash, and Hestia stood outside Athena's palace. She re-knocked the five knocks, before remembering Athena would still be at Delos. She flashed away again, appearing at the place she had been not too long ago, leaving a very confused nymph standing at the door of Athena's palace just moments after.
Athena smiled at her aunt. "Is Artemis okay?"
Hestia grinned wryly. "Looks to me we have two new Olympians."
"Nice."
A silence fell, before it was broken by Hestia.
"Anyway, I meant to ask you. Is there a way I can have a child using the power of the Hearth?"
Athena stood still, clearly not expecting the question. She nodded thoughtfully. "It would be somewhat like how I have my brain-children. If I were you, I would ask Zeus for a power boost first, though, creating a child can be pretty tiring."
Hestia nodded. "Farwell, Niece."
Athena smiled. "I bid you well - Zeus is in a temper. Hera was scolding him for having Artemis and Apollo with Leto. You'll need luck."
Hestia grimaced. "I was hoping my baby brother would have calmed down by now; but no such luck."
One last time, Hestia disappeared to Olympus' throne room.
She arrived to arguing voices.
"... selfish jerk! How dare you have children with another woman!" Hera's voice cried as Hestia stepped out of the Hearth. Hestia was low-profile, not many noticed when she entered Olympus.
"I can have my own children, woman!" Zeus yelled back.
"Not if it means cheating on your wife!"
Hestia noticed bored expressions on the spectators' faces. Ares' face was blank, showing annoyance. Hephaestus restlessly tinkered with some metal. Demeter was occupied making more wheat grow around her throne. This seemed to have been going on for a while.
Hestia rushed forward, putting a stop to the endless bickering. "Can you two stop bickering like two-year-olds? Zeus, you shouldn't have cheated on Hera, and Hera, it's already happened - no need to make a big fuss."
Hera, disgruntled, flashed out. Demeter, Ares and Hephaestus, who had probably been summoned by her, took the opportunity to escape.
Hestia knelt before Zeus. "I come before you with a request, my lord."
Zeus raised his eyebrows. "And what would that be?"
"I wish to have a child. Athena suggested using the hearth, but told me to seek your help."
Zeus stepped from his throne. He raised his hand, and rested it on her shoulder. In Greek, he said, "I grant Hestia more power, more strength, to raise a child from the hearth."
A burst of power ran through Hestia, newfound strength inside her. Turning to the hearth, burning bright in Olympus' throne room, and closed her eyes reflexively. She channelled power to the fireplace, watching the flame burn brighter than it had before. A laser-like glow sprung from her forehead to the hearth, a channel of power. Blood vessels in her temples showed; she was putting in much effort. Her power was draining; a pain started building in her left side.
Suddenly, a small explosion in the middle of the Hearth rocked the throne room. Zeus looked worried, but Hestia kept going. Soon, four silhouettes showed in the Hearth.
The largest stepped out first. He had oaken brown eyes and sharp chiselled features, his face dotted with freckles that enhanced his handsomeness. He wore a chiton almost identical to Apollo's.
The next was a girl, with fiery ginger long hair that reached down to her waists. An acorn-brown dress mimicking her mothers' rested on her shoulders.
The third was a boy, his eyes amber and soft oak-brown hair sat atop his head. His chiton was a pale orange, slightly shorter than his brother's.
Lastly, a boy with red fiery eyes and raven black hair emerged, donning a white chiton.
The Fates, somehow still at the back of the throne room, stepped forward.
"Ah, I said there would be more Olympians on the way," cackled Atropos.
Zeus, who was looking at the new immortals with love, snapped to reality, appalled. "But I never made them Olympians! They're not even my kids!"
Clotho sighed. "Thus why they were made Olympians by beings above you, Zeus. You would never make them Olympians, resulting in an altered course of destiny."
"But that, however, is a prophecy of another age," Lachesis grinned.
The three Fates then spoke as one.
"All hail Lyon, son of Hestia; god of peace, hope and healing, made Olympian by Chaos!"
The oldest glowed with a golden light as his thread turned the same shade of gold.
"All hail Lycoris, daughter of Hestia; goddess of kinship, blood ties and familial relations, made Olympian by Chaos!"
The cycle repeated with the second eldest.
"All hail Arcturus, son of Hestia; god of teamwork, harmony and synchronisation, made Olympian by Chaos!"
"All hail Kai, son of Hestia; god of firelight, energy, empowerment and strength, made Olympian by Chaos!"
By the end of this, Zeus was infuriated. Four new Olympians? Zeus was happy for Hestia, but he was somewhat angry at Chaos for usurping his right as master of the universe. Though it was kind of pointless to be mad at a primordial soup…
Zeus swallowed his feelings. "I am happy for you, my sister. You finally have the children you wished for."
Lyon, the oldest, approached Hestia. "Are you our…" he struggled for the right word, "mother?"
Hestia nodded. "I have wished for a child for a long time, and the hearth gives me four. Come with me, my children, let us talk."
Hestia was boundlessly happy. Her children were all she could ever ask them to be.
She finally had children.
She finally had a family.
[Line Break]
Zeus sat uneasily on his throne, alone with the Fates in the throne room.
The three sisters of destiny approached him slowly. Their eyes glowed unnaturally, and they spouted a prophecy.
The throne of the universe shall be overthrown,
by a storm risen from the fiery pit,
gold blood shall stain the earth,
giving rise to the sky below earth and grit.
The new enemy is only stopped by a family,
an immortal bloodline, tucked away in hiding.
They ascend, despite abandonment before,
yet they fail to save the king.
The Fates then dematerialized, leaving Zeus in a state of shock.
He stared at the fiery pit of the Hearth. Then the last place where Hestia and her newfound family had stood before flashing out.
Zeus gave a low growl. "They need to go. The prophecy shall fail. I SHALL NOT BE OVERTHROWN!" he thundered.
[Line Break]
A low rumble rose from a pit deep inside the ground, growing into maniacal laughter. The Olympus throne room is shown in a holographic image amongst the otherwise complete darkness, before being swiped away into a mist by a figure barely humanoid, its face a monstrous vortex instead.
"Soon, I shall take his ichor and rise."
With another earthshaking laugh, the monster delivered a one-stanza prophecy:
The sand of time shall have a mysterious alignment,
Causing the one above the universe to make a fatal mistake.
His beloved, his saviours, he shall send away,
Allowing the pit to seal his fate.