She came closer at the time of despair. Witnessing the world crumbling away. It seemed as if she finally came to a conclusion, her body started to shine brighter than ever and her existence was fading away… She is now the guardian of the world, all faith lies in her hand. How a poor decision led to this tragedy today, but she will return in time and strive to move again.

Aeon, this is our destiny...

Whenever sight was set upon, there was all madness in infinite measure. The darkness above and below blistered in bombs of light and cosmic dust.

Constellations of light burst in different directions, disintegrating what crossed the blessed ground in explosions of cosmic dust, returning them to their nothingness and creating a path for reincarnation.

"Aquila!"

"Cygnus!"

"Omega!"

"Orion!"

"Cassiopea!"

The thick sound of landing on grit and crumbled ground gained the attention of those summoned for battle. "Coordinates,"

"The Ascension stands at 33 degrees with a declination of 45 degrees South to Vega, Northwestern vertex of the Summer Triangle asterism. There is a 40-degree inclination distance from Beta to Gamma at the northern point from the constellation of Lyra–The Ring Nebula."

"I see..." Bright green eyes stared with fury and ready to attack. His red hair danced like fire against the darkness of space from its high ponytail, "So, the rumors were true… Indeed, this is a deity," His thick lips frowned "This makes matters far more complicated."

"It cannot be…" A thick voice muttered in the roars of the beast screeching in the distance, "Is there such a thing possible?"

"Its aura is tainted, corrupted."

The secure stepping on gravel being under the strong crush and echoes of heels and the metal clicking as it moved on par with the soldier wearing copper armor. The soldier took a glance over his shoulder and spotted a lean figure in an armored bodysuit with a brass golden sheen whenever light brushed its silhouette. A long dark cape flowed brusquely with the gusts of wind as it flapped from one shoulder in the direction of the abrasive wind. A pair of beautiful hazel eyes changed from shades of green to gold, shining like orbs of light in the dark as they looked further on the target with utter disgust.

"Sol,"

"A centrifugal force sits at the center of the Ring Nebula. If destroyed, it can cause ripples of energy that can threaten the far outskirts of Olympia. However, if planned through, it can be used to our advantage."

"A supernova?"

"There is no indication this deity is safe for vindication nor serves a purpose for reincarnation either, its aura is corrupted to a point it does not recognize itself about who it used to be." Sol's voice was low and threatening, "This can only explain why we were summoned to annihilate it from the cosmic fabric and rip its trace from all planes in the universe. It is causing a bothersome imbalance,"

"We have taken brusque measures to prevent a larger scale repercussion. But we must act promptly," The soldier known to be the pride of Orion narrowed his bright eyes and turned as he drew closer to his peer, "Canum. Poison is being expelled into the interstellar medium, our time is limited. We must proceed with extreme caution–"

"We will create a lockdown," Canum's dark armor gleamed like the cosmic plane he serves the constellation, "We have the perimeter already surrounded. Minos and Rhadamantus are in position as well."

The long-limbed deity of shadow came into view from the large cloud of poison and cosmic dust. Its loud screech surpassed the natural speed of light, causing disorientation.

"The Underworld is interfering?" Orion sighed, "I suppose I will have to leave that argument for another time, this curse of nature is moving fast,"

"Prepare the points to form a constellation, I will handle this,"

The soldier in copper arched his brow, "The order we have is for annihilation–"

"There is a disbalance in the continuum of this celestial plane. It must be taken down from the inside out and if not destroyed, it will threaten the parallels of space and time. I can break the barrier of defense and purify the poisonous matter inside the Nebula, the core's centrifugal force can be used to destroy the target, eradicating it from existence."

"This could end up with you becoming a sacrifice in this mission," The soldier turned, his voice changing to a more personal tone of concern, "Gaia, if this goes out of control…"

Gaia turned to face Aegeus, her hazel eyes darkened at the sight, "I am not here to be watched over, Aegeus. You know that well," She turned, "I was summoned to fight as the appointed Polemarchos of the Sun to preserve universal balance, Aegeus of Orion. I am just here fulfilling a duty, just as you are."

Aegeus's jaw tensed, showing increasing unrest but at times of crisis, extreme measures must be taken. That was the golden rule of a polemarch after all, no matter how one looked at it. A guttural grunt of frustration came out as he turned to give instructions to the other line of warriors a signal before glancing back at the soldier in gold one last time before execution. "Why can't you be like other goddesses? You should be worrying about other things,"

"What are you talking about?"

"Go find yourself a suitor and build a castle to live in a cloud,"

"I did not know I had such privilege." Gaia arched her brow, "Suitors? Building castles over clouds? Why would I? This is my kind of ball." She unsheathed her obsidian sword secured around her waist, "Handling weapons rather than dancing is what I know best." She gave him one last glance before stepping away, "I have an important engagement I must attend at all costs so we better act quickly. I will send my signal, be prepared." Gaia jumped into the void below with one impeccable summersault, giving no opportunity for Aegeus to argue her plan.

"The unmistakable pride of the Helian clan," Aegeus smirked with knowing amusement and turned to the other soldiers, his usual stoic composure back into play. "Polemarchos! Prepare for lockdown!"

Gaia landed in sight of the deity gone corrupt, by now, the line of soldiers had raised a barrier with a magnetic field giving no chance to escape. There was only one truth to this tale: only one could come out alive. It was all now a matter of precision and perfect timing. The energy imprisoning them was forcing the deity to show its corrupt nature, becoming aggressive and vile. Gaia was ready with her weapon in hand, letting its golden sheen run over its blade beaming with increasing light while she took her position to attack.

"Vos catalyzes mutationem clamavero ad te animo ob vim lumen infundere. Fabrica spiritus invoco te impleatur. Ingenium voluntatem tuam flammae: Ignis in Solem, Helios, te voco te!"

Gaia was famously known for her merciless antics; among the countless soldiers with her same duty. Her unforgiving character shown in battle was oftentimes the best strategy to put an end to a mission. She slid under the giant monster and slashed her sword several times cutting the fibers that connected the entity to the fabrics of reality in the universe, one parallel at a time. Unnerved and violent, the deity shifted into its final monstrous form, losing all that was left of its divine creation.

"A dwarf star that has gone wrong," Gaia muttered under her breath. In a dance of ancient casts, Gaia traced a symbol in the air and raised her charged sword, "Parhe–" Her celestial summon woke in sparks of golden light, but soon died before it came to gain force and put Gaia in a dangerous position. The mission and her life were now at stake; her hazel eyes widened in panic, "Navus… Why?"

Moving with impressive speed, Gaia slashed her way through the depths of the nebula feeding the corrupted creature and that's when she saw it, the gleam in the deity's frantic stare–a silent cry to be released from its torture. The remains of its soul were on its last drop and if she didn't know any better, Gaia would swear the screams came all the way from a poisonous part of the universe.

This discovery was enough for the enemy to catch her off guard, throwing Gaia back with a blast of dark energy and forcing her to lose hold of her sacred regalia. The corrupted deity screeched its pain in echoes, its eyes were red as blood and staring in an indescribable state of dementia. Gaia knew that glance, she had seen before, a long time ago.

Resigned, she gathered as much energy as she could to stand up and made sure the other soldiers were ready to use the power of a constellation. Her weapon gleamed in the distance but the strong blasts of energy thrown at her were pushing further away from her goal. The magnetic field was getting heavier, the ambiance tighter–she was running out of time.

"Time… I need time..." Gaia muttered under her breath as her hand roamed her chest until she could grasp a long chain with a golden pendant at its end, "Tempus Custos–"

A beam of light responded to her summon as she raised her hand, the pendant hanging from its chain started to become lighter and floated to meet at her eye level as it reacted to her voice, "Scindite seorsum caelum!"

A new wave of energy engulfed her in a time pocket that allowed her to move faster and retrieve her weapon to give the final blow before the command for annihilation was complete.

With time ticking and the failure in her summon still playing in her mind, she slid below the demon again, dodging all kinds of blasts thrown at her, and jumped high with her weapon charged and gleaming like rays of the sun reflecting and creating a halo around the golden headpiece she wore in honor of her ancestors. Gaia cleared a path through the dense atmosphere and made a giant cut across the creature that limited its movements by cutting its limbs in one move.

"From the planet of wonder, and with the blessing of the celestial aura of Helios, the Mighty Titan Sun. I am the Soldier of Evolution–Terra!" Gaia released the energy from her floating pendant weaving its way through her as she aimed her palm at the enemy, "Combustio!"

From the beam of light coming from her, a giant entity came through her attack and went after the corrupt deity, breaking the defense that kept blocking the blast from her peers outside of the lockdown. She was fast to take a second stance before her target would charge at her again and tried to channel her aura to chant one of her most powerful prayers:

"Te invoco, Bestia ex profundis Terrae, custos ignis sacri–Rex Caelestis, Obsidianus, prodeas!"

From outside the lockdown, one of the soldiers appeared next to Aegeus of Orion. The cold glare in his eyes only made him more intimidating despite the odd shape of his scar that gave the illusion of a star, he looked troubled.

Things were escalating from their position as he watched in awe at the growls and blasts barely contained, "The fibers of energy are expanding, it is exploding," He frowned, "Who is with the target?"

"Sol,"

The man in silver armor froze. His broad shoulders and tall frame only made him look more intimidating as he turned to Aegeus, "What did you just say?"

"It is far too late, Centaurus. I tried, but she is no negotiator," Aegeus charged his celestial swords, and waited to make use of their heavenly power, "We must prepare to give the final blow,"

The orb of energy encapsulating the target and soldier exploded in a blinding charge of light, enabling the rest to take the planned course of action. All soldiers took their coordinate positions and gave their final command to finish the task.

"Hail of Supernova!"

The light subsided, giving both polemarchos a glimpse of Gaia in position, just as they were ready to make the final cut. Her weapon in hand was charged and ready as her blessed guardian roared behind her in her protection. Earth's green eyes turned to gold, "It ends here…" She aimed her weapon at their enemy.

"Termination Shock!"

Divinity

The secret clans of Heaven and Earth

- O -

In ancient times, there was a myth very much alive: Celestial deities watched over the universe in perfect synchrony, protecting it from being ripped apart by the claws of malice and darkness. Every threat that could jeopardize the living realm passed through their eyes of judgment and was either glorified or sanctioned according to universal law.

Indeed, a different world is made of wonders and much power. A world that separated them from every other realm, including the most complex yet, the one of mortality.

In this vast universe, so empty and yet so full of life and wonder, there are various races, dynasties, and leagues of deities. But only a few are chosen to fight solemnly to maintain the balance between realities, those who keep peace from the depths and mysteries of a galaxy; clusters of stars and constellations.

In the depths of a distant galaxy, a beautiful blue orb of life and wonder depended solely on an ancient guardian that no one was lucky enough to meet. Its mystery would later become a story destined to travel through time in a myth about the clan blessed with celestial protection and connected to the ancients of Earth.

- O -

"Is there any news?"

"No, Your Divine Grace,"

"It has been hours…"

"I have checked, Your Divine Grace. There are still no signs of arrival,"

"Her Divine Royal Grace of Illuminance, Princess Light of Serenity, Goddess of the Moon,"

Princess Serenity sighed, a nervous twitch wrinkled the corner of her lips as she prepared to make her appearance. She turned to the maiden fixing the trail of her ivory gown made with the finest thread one could find in the universe, "Let me know as soon as you hear word of her arrival…"

"Yes, Your Divine Grace,"

The embodiment of prism light, Serenity was an enchantment blessed with beauty and a kind heart. The cosmic child and untouchable treasure born from the mysteries of Light and the Moon. Her gray eyes studied the multitude below with great detail; everyone was expecting to see her to be pursued by the best suitor. Her long hair fell like streams of lavender silk from her royal hairstyle as she walked down the long staircase greeting some of the guests all while her eyes still searched for the person of her interest.

"What a vision,"

Demeter, known as the strong Goddess of Harvest, met with Selene, the mythical Goddess of the Moon, with a golden chalice filled to the brim with wine. The burgundy color of the thick beverage matches the dark color of her rebellious hair, "You have a jewel for a daughter, Selene. How wonderful it is to see her debut as the future Divine of the Moon in the eyes of Olympia."

The magnanimous deity of the moon was a myth to the gods due to her determination, courageous spirit, and gentle heart. She turned to her goddess friend with a big smile, her silver hair wisping with her gentle movements like silk hanging from her regal hairstyle.

"She is ready. Her time to shine has finally come,"

"Indeed. Diana must be very proud. As a true descendant of mystery and beauty, suitors will not stop coming now that she has made her honorary debut as a royal goddess. I heard she has had a very strict education, as expected from her tutor, of course." Demeter couldn't help to notice the deity standing next to Selene and smiled, "Your daughter is certainly one of a kind, is it not, Nut?"

The ancient Goddess of the Celestial Sky *Neuth. Her tanned skin was a perfect match to the mystic azure of her prismatic eyes and the pitch darkness of her hair that gleamed like a starry night, adding more mystery to her famous descent. With a heavy sigh, Nut pushed her golden tiara in place, a gesture only those close to her would know how to decipher as being uncomfortable. "Yes, Gaia is certainly a mystery." She pursed her lips, lightly displeased, "Not even I, her own mother, can tell what goes through that child's head."

"I heard the word many suitors are interested in taking her hand. Of course, how could anyone ignore such striking beauty?"

"A beautiful enigma," Selene smiled, "I care much for her. There has not been a single minute she is not looking after my daughter like a sister,"

"That is the perfect word to describe her, an enigma." Nut's graceful comment also came with a sharp bitterness that took Demeter by surprise. Selene noticed and was quick to divert her from asking Nut for more details behind her words and waited until they were alone to board this conversation again. With a sigh, Selene turned to her old friend, shaking her head, "Must you be so daunting, Nut?"

Nut fixed her gaze on the fine liquid inside her chalice, not really minding if others noticed her indifference on the matter. "I cannot say more than what is already known, Your Divine Majesty. I am a deity of few words. My family history is also nothing new to them," Her voice was rich in tone and authority. She did not need to prove her hierarchy, her presence was enough to know she was as firm as her ancestors.

"My only wish for her is to come to her senses and honor her title as expected." A crease in her thick brow was enough to show disapproval, "And as per usual, she is yet to make an appearance."

"She swore loyalty, Nut,"

"Helios threw her to the wolves,"

"I know well you do not approve of her life choices but you must admit she is an admirable soldier; her battle skills are unparalleled, not to mention her very bright mind."

"That is the problem, Selene." Nut crossed the threshold that divided her royal position as the Moon Queen's advisor, and claimed her place as Selene's trusted friend. Her arms crossed, and her azure gaze pierced with bitterness, "Life choices? We were not given any. Our hands were tied and our lips were sealed the moment Helios decided to do things his way, as usual." With a sigh, she shrugged her shoulders. "Ah… My tongue got carried away again. I forget you were close,"

"Your father fought a war that changed many lives, mine included." It was Selene's time to cross her arms; these conversations would often take very sour turns. "I would not be where I am now if he did not get involved and raised up in arms against many entities, his kind included. I owe Helios my knowledge of how to fight for survival; my victories came to happen because I learned from experience. He taught me how to defend myself and fight for a better life. I agree that Helios was not an exemplary figure to anyone of his own kin, but what can you really expect? All in all, he did not have a darkened heart."

"No? He passed his own curse onto her without giving our future a second thought,"

"She made a choice. She was the only one who could have done it," Selene patted Nut's shoulder, "Lord Helios never did anything for his own benefit. If he considered Gaia was faithful to his vision, then great things are to come for her… You just need to believe."

Nut took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, "May your voice reach the heavens' Selene." She turned and took a sip of her wine, "Because, for us, it's a closed door."

At the other side of the great hall, Princess Serenity continued her stroll greeting more guests when a hand reached to hold hers unexpectedly, making her turn. "Princess Serenity, what an honor to have been invited to this joyful event!"

"O-Oh, the honor is mine," Serenity blinked, surprised. "I believe we have not been properly introduced… You are?"

The handsome stranger bowed his head, "I am one of the Spirits of the Winds, Notus. One of the appointed Anemoids of Uranus's court."

"Ah, I see…" Serenity smiled, "A pleasure to meet you."

"The pleasure is mine, Princess. It is an honor to finally see the mystery of your name in person." Like a gentleman, the anemoid tried to plant a kiss on Serenity's hand, a gesture she found a little too intimate for a first greeting. "Would you grant me this dance, Goddess of Mystery?"

Serenity blinked, "Well, you see–"

"Just this dance,"

"I believe–"

"I promise you, it will be a breeze,"

Serenity felt a little hesitant, a little unsure. Her eyes widened when she caught a glimpse of gold in the distance and instantly recognized it as an answer to her silent prayer. With a gentle smile and a grace that only she could turn any act of rejection into a sweet compliment, Serenity pulled her hand away from the deity's grasp, "I appreciate your kindness, Lord Notus. However, I'm being expected to attend something of great importance," She giggled, "I am afraid we must postpone our dance for now. Please excuse me,"

"Prin-!"

Serenity left with a smile, not giving much else to her admirer, and walked out of the grand room to meet with her person of interest. She stood in the middle of the long hallway, turning and looking in all directions. "I was so sure I saw it..."

"May I say, Your Divine Grace, that must be the weakest way to turn down a proposal I have ever seen,"

Serenity puffed her cheeks and spun around only to find no one again, "Oh good heavens! I have been looking all over for you!"

A warm chuckle echoed. Gaia walked from behind a pillar still wearing her armored suit cut, bruised, and dirty. The soldier of Earth gave the princess of the Moon a regal bow to pay her respects, "I see you still need to learn how to and when to say no, Princess."

"What?"

"If you don't, your heart will only get stolen by the worst bidder,"

"Silly!" Serenity lost all composure, pushing Gaia to make her lose her stand, "Oi!"

"Where were you?!"

"You can blame Lord Ares for my tardiness," Gaia waved her hands, "I promise you, I tried to be here as fast as I could," She glanced at the ballroom and let out a heavy sigh. "I believe I failed the real mission, after all,"

"Yes. The most important one,"

"How did the debut go?"

"As you would expect it to be,"

"Wonderful, then my job here is done. There is not much else I can teach you, Little Flower." Gaia chuckled, making Serenity huff with slight annoyance. "What, now?"

"You stopped being my tutor long ago. You are my dear friend, the best there is,"

"Am I, now?"

"Of course!"

Gaia gave another glance at the party inside with honest shame for her tardiness, "I should have been there to see you go down that staircase…" She sighed, a little more deflated. "I was looking forward to seeing you make your grand entrance. I apologize,"

"I did not cause any embarrassment, that is all you need to know." Serenity smiled at Gaia who took great care of not coming too close to the white princess so she would not stain her pristine gown with the grime on her uniform; she bowed her head with shame, "I am truly sorry, Serenitati,"

"Oh, it's all right! No harm done," Serenity chuckled, "It is not that late,"

"It's not?" Gaia arched a cynical brow, "So that means Mater has not made a comment, yet?"

Serenity gave her friend a sad smile, knowing exactly what she meant. "That I cannot assure you, but I have everything ready to kill all speculation for your missing presence." She pointed up with pride in her words. "I have come up with the perfect alibi,"

"Oh?"

Serenity grinned, "Lord Ares,"

Gaia blinked, and a blush heated her cheeks. She turned to look away, and took a step back as soon as Serenity tried to come close to give her a playful hug, "Please do not come close to me,"

"Huh? Since when?!"

"I am drenched in dark matter, Princess," Gaia flicked her friend's long fringe, arching her brow as she looked at her impeccable appearance. "I will stain your precious white gown with poison and gore. Then what will happen if a heap of angry deities find out it was my fault?" A long sigh left her, "Mm?"

"It's their own fault for being so uptight," Serenity held her friend's wrist, "That does not mean we cannot leave them speechless. Come now, I have everything ready!"

Both took a secret passage that led them closer to the princess' chambers where maidens were already set and prepared to follow the princess' instructions to take care of her friend once she made an appearance. As soon as they saw Gaia, she was urged to undo her transformation and was taken away to treat her wounds and wash away the grime and remains of her recent mission with blessed waters from the temple of Neptune. It was with moments like these that made Serenity feel like a fairy godmother, and Gaia the love the young soul had for her; always helping her friend to fit the mold of their class.

Serenity knew well Gaia was more than capable of defending herself with words and weaponry, but it was clear that since their relationship as a tutor and student changed to one of sisterhood, Gaia's brashness subdued and showed a sweeter side nobody really knew she could have underneath due to her strict upbringing.

The white princess watched the maidens work on her friend's long tresses the color of midnight and do her makeup, all while admiring the woman she dearly considered her soul sister. Serenity always felt attracted and curious about Gaia's story despite only having specks of knowledge about it.

Like an act of cosmic nature, they found understanding and companionship in each other, something they felt was lacking in their lives. Total opposites, but incredibly in sync with each other, their friendship blossomed into a sisterhood no one else in Olympus was known to have. The secrets Gaia could not ever tell anyone, Serenity held them close to her heart; the fears Serenity doubted speaking out loud, Gaia was always there to listen and support her.

Serenity had the ability to open Gaia's cautious and stubborn heart. She knew that underneath her scrappy and blunt personality lay a gorgeous girl with a heart of gold filled with many dreams and hopes for the future. A girl that had to stand in front of darkness for the sake of her dynasty, and honor the power of her ancestry with a blade in hand. A celestial warrior. The first of her kind.

As Gaia stepped out of the separate room the princess had to cleanse herself, Serenity couldn't help to notice the bruises from her recent battle and could already tell it was not a simple mission. Serenity found it amazing how Gaia knew so much about the universe; its laws and many secrets she wouldn't normally know if it wasn't for her extensive lessons. She had so many incredible stories, stories that even surpassed the common laws of logic. Gaia was a master in her skill, and her experience was shown through her complex personality.

The Goddess of Earth was often a target for misconceptions. She had an elegant flair and personality, but she was not one to play with and she made it clear. Gaia spent most of her time alone. She kept herself at a distance from everyone else keeping only very few friendships; her heart had been broken more than once.

Despite Serenity's constant requests for her to stay at the palace like her parents, Gaia much preferred to hold on to her well-earned independence and stay only when it was needed, her duty as a soldier consumed much of her time.

"Where did you go this time?"

Gaia turned over her shoulder, with a gentle smile gracing her lips, "I am afraid this time is classified information, Little Flower."

Serenity frowned, "Bellum…?"

"Bellum," Gaia turned to the maiden combing her hair and securing her golden halo tiara over her head while the other four were busy fixing her gown and makeup. Having used their usual codeword to refer to a mission that had to do with her more violent side, Serenity took a deep breath and turned to the maidens working on the final touches on Gaia's long and lustrous hair, "I will take it from here,"

"Princess?"

"I will finish helping Goddess Gaia get ready for the celebration,"

"But, Her Majesty–"

"My tardiness is something only I can explain. I will have a word with Her High Grace at a later time,"

"Yes, Your Divine Grace."

All five maidens made a low curtsy in deep respect and left both women alone. The heavy echo of doors closing was the cue she needed to know they were finally alone.

Gaia arched her brow, "Vicious,"

"Gaia," Serenity's low tone urged her friend to take her seriously.

With a sigh, she turned halfway, "Yes. Something happened." Gaia lowered her prism eyes of forest and gold. The emblem that gave away the ancient nature of those of her kind. Up to this day, a wonder to be seen, the ever-changing colors of their eyes. She sighed, "I could not complete a summon."

Serenity frowned "What do you mean?"

Gaia took a deep breath while shaking her head. Feeling a lack of words. The worried look on her friend's face made her feel guilty, this was Serenity's debut and she was only distracting her. She sighed, bringing her mind to rethink her priorities, "Serenitati! Don't make that face!"

Serenity's pale eyes widened, and shook her head with disbelief, "How I cannot worry? You just said–"

"All missions are different," Gaia gave her friend a smile of reassurance, "But in the end, they all meet the same fate. All is right, it is done and over," The goddess did a small twirl to cheer her up, "See? I am all right!"

"All bruised, that is..." Serenity frowned displeased. Gaia turned to her friend, she noticed the worry in her innocent eyes and pinched her nose gently. Her hand gently slipped down to cup Serenity's cheek to lift the gloom mirrored in her face, "This is what I vowed to do when I became a soldier, Serenity. My duty is to defend and protect, no matter the cost. Please do not worry so much, Little Flower."

"You say it so easy… " Serenity pouted her lips, "But what about you?"

"What about me?"

"Sure, that is your duty, but what about you? I want to protect you too!"

Gaia chuckled, and tugged her friend's cheek playfully, "You are so sweet,"

"Gaia, please be careful," Serenity said with concern, "If anything happens to you–" her eyes widened as she was pulled into a tight embrace. Gaia smiled, "I promise you, my dear friend, I will be careful." She pulled back, "Now that you are a fully-grown deity, countless suitors will come to meet you and someone will have to do all the weeding,"

Serenity's laughter came out like a gentle breeze in spring, subtle and delicate, "You would do that for me? I am flattered,"

"Did I not just do it with the one you were talking about before?"

"You did nothing!"

"I came, didn't I? That was more than enough to scare him away,"

Serenity chuckled, "Silly girl." Her grin slowly died, her face turning serious "I will never forgive you if anything happens to you. Do you hear me?"

"Yes, Your Divine Grace." Gaia smiled. Watching her friend lose her usual politeness was truly endearing and it warmed her heart. It made her feel cared for. Loved. Welcome.

Turning to the mirror to give one last glance at her beautifully done makeup, Gaia swiped her finger to clean the edges of her velvet red lips and smiled at her friend staring at her reflection. A 180-degree change.

"Serenity?"

"Don't argue with me," Serenity smiled, "I am admiring you,"

As a soldier, she was fearless and imponent. As a goddess, she was quiet and enigmatic. Gaia had a beauty that could steal anyone's breath away but it didn't mean Serenity often left her feeling out of place. To her, there was no point of comparison. The difference between them was like day to night. Serenity had a precious heart and she was naive. She was innocent in many matters concerning the laws of divinity and believed in goodness overall. Gaia, on the other hand, knew that above all, she had to excel in preparing the princess to become the new queen of the Moon and help the overprotected and innocent princess to understand the complexities of their reality.

Gaia believed in good and she fought to do good and for said good with honor and loyalty, true to benevolence. However, she wasn't naive and she did not trust easily. She was an ancient soul, born in the midst of a war. She grew up knowing death, everything, and nothingness like second nature, shaping her into the deity she was now. She was a master in weaponry and combat skills, an entity of creation and destruction to serve her purpose as evolution. The Terran goddess was much older than Serenity, despite her youthful appearance. In the divine realm, she was a living taboo and has lived through that stigma for thousands of years.

Another sigh and she was as ready as she could be.

"I promise you it will go well,"

Gaia saw her friend's reflection in the impressive large mirror. Serenity reaffirmed her words with a nod "This is my debut as an Olympian goddess. I know everyone will be watching for any mistake I make. I know if I fail, it will also be reflected in your credentials. I will not allow it to happen." Her smile grew, "This is a great opportunity to let them know how great you are,"

Gaia turned and released a gentle sigh. "Let's get this over with," She offered her arm to her friend in white, "May I escort you to the great hall, Goddess Serenitati?"

Serenity grabbed onto her friend's arm and cracked in laughter, "It will be my pleasure, Goddess Gaia."

- O -

Deities lived a life that expressed fulfillment and closed circles to open new ones. Gaia came to this conclusion as she watched her best friend go round and round at the sound of music from one suitor to another, smiling and carrying her role to perfection. Her beautiful eyes studied every detail, even when Serenity had to stand in front of her throne and mouthed every word as Serenity spoke her royal vows as a true Olympian Deity and Selene's and Apollo's rightful successor.

She was proud; she knew these gatherings were like the palm of her hand but they were far out of Gaia's natural element. She found it bothersome to hear the whispers of her name and those of her ancestors.

Gaia glanced around the hall and found the source of her restlessness. Nut studied every single detail with unforgiving stoicism until Serenity finished her introduction speech. In need of a catalyst for endurance, Gaia excused herself to go for a drink. Anything that could distract her was welcomed, right now all she wanted was to ease the uncomfortable tightness in her chest.

The lighting was at its maximum glow, the moon palace was made of white marble everywhere, and the music echoed through its long halls nonstop. Selene never skimped on the details, she was known for her lavish style whenever she had to host a celebration. Many deities around the universe gathered and enjoyed the occasion to dance, drink, and work on new alliances.

"My, my… They did not say it in jest. The enigma of those of Lord Helios' kin, it is indeed a majestic view."

Gaia turned to meet a deity with long dark green hair and caramel skin standing too close to her liking, his eyes were full of awe. The dark brown color of his clothing was heavily embellished with jewels and embroidery with exquisite detailing in gold. There was no mistake, this man had connections with divine royalty.

"Pardon me?" She asked. Her lack of interest had to be toned down for the sake of the party.

"It is a well-known myth: The enigma that is the Goddess of Terra, Gaia. The deity of Titan descent,"

The way her title rolled from the man's tongue made her feel uncomfortable, no one in any divine realm would speak of Titans without morbidity. That was a tale of its own, another taboo added to her name.

"I encourage you to stay within the proper boundaries of protocol when addressing me," Gaia arched her brow, "There are laws that must be applied regardless of any knowledge of my origins, Milord. I do not believe I know of your acquaintance," She frowned, clearly bothered.

"Please forgive the bluntness in my choice of words, Goddess of Earth." The man gave one subtle bow, "Prince Arkos from the Dumbbell Nebula,"

"A Royal Deity? I was not aware Vulpecula had settled their quarrels and had crowned a representative of their Monarchy." Gaia narrowed her gaze, "To be honest, I thought Anser would be chosen to take the role given his credentials and level of expertise in politics as the polemarch of Altair, Deneb, and Vega,"

"You know quite a lot about us,"

"It is mere politics, Your Grace,"

He smirked, quite impressed by her sharp tongue. "You are not mistaken, Anser was chosen to be the royal head of Vulpecula and the whole planetary of the Dumbbell Nebula. I am here solely in representation for my older brother to pay my respects and show our solidarity with the Moon Empire."

"I see,"

"I am truly impressed, Goddess Gaia. I did not know you knew much about us and our home,"

"No?" Gaia raised her eyebrows, "If it's important for you to address me in such a redundant manner, I believe it is only natural to introduce yourself the same way. If you are here to share your opinion about the so-called enigma of my identity, then how is it that I am left with half a truth on your end?"

Arkos smiled, keeping a politeness too proper to be true. "The rumors are true,"

"Rumors?"

"It is said the sound and impeccable fluency of your words can cast the most hypnotic chant to anyone's ears."

Gaia sighed half-heartedly. She knew where this man was going with his comment, which made it even more distasteful. "Care to grant me this dance, Goddess? Allow me to get to know you better and prove to you my charm is worth your attention," He offered his hand, pulling Gaia in automatic response, "I must turn down your offer, Prince of Vulpecula,"

"How come?" Arkos' grin only grew wider in confidence, "As well studied as you have proven to be, Goddess, you probably don't know it, but I am famous for my attentive nature,"

"How charming,"

"Ah! There you are."

Gaia's hazel eyes widened. From the corner of her eye, the silhouette of the man talking to her came into full view. Ares strolled his way to them like a beast protecting its territory, "I've been searching all over for you."

Gaia's ears shut down all the noise except for the god standing next to her. Her heart reacted to his deep and gritty voice like a moth to a flame. Of striking appeal and galore, a smile was more than enough to let her know what he was silently asking her to do.

Ares leaned over to plant a soft kiss on her hand taking Gaia off guard but not obvious enough for the man standing next to them to understand the subtle hint. The prince's eyes widened, shocked by the blunt action, and was left unable to find his voice to even argue it. Gaia noticed and was quick to answer Ares's gesture with a soft giggle, "May I introduce you to the gallant Lord of Vulpecula, Prince Arkos,"

Ares tilted his head up, his piercing eyes already dismantling his courtship opponent. "The Dumbbell Nebula sent a representative so soon?"

Gaia waved her hand, "Altair's Polemarch is on a mission as we speak. I was given his coordinates prior to my arrival,"

"I see,"

Arkos stood with regained composure and did a low bow, "The War Lord of Olympia. God Ares, what an honor it is to finally meet you,"

"Yes..." Ares narrowed his gaze; the intensity of his stare kept the prince feeling exposed. "It looked like you were immersed in a deep conversation. It almost seemed you wanted to take My Goddess somewhere else,"

Gaia choked with her wine but kept quiet, if she was known to be stoic when speaking, Ares was known to be brutal.

Arkos blinked stunned, not sure because he was not acknowledged, or because he called Gaia his goddess. Ares exchanged a glance with Gaia, then turned to the prince, "Ah, you do not know," He turned to Gaia, "I thought you had mentioned something,"

"Since we agreed we were going to keep it private, I thought it would be inappropriate." Gaia sighed, "I tend not to go into much detail when explaining our situation… Love,"

Arkos felt all color had left his face. Ares frowned, "Is there a problem?"

"N-No, not at all, but on the contrary. Please accept my round of congratulations. You make one fine couple."

Ares nodded and offered his hand to Gaia, "Care to come with me, Dear? I would like your input on a matter of great importance."

Gaia blinked but wasted no time to respond to his request. The energy around each other was so natural, that it was clear to Prince Arkos there was a strong connection between the two of them to even attempt to compete against it. Whenever the god of war was involved, the best course of action was to take a step back and stay out of his way. He knew better than that.

"Please excuse my brashness, Goddess Gaia," Arkos bowed his head with deep respect, "And again, accept my congratulations on your union." He wasted no time to be out of their view, Gaia smiled in relief as she walked alongside Ares toward the pavilion outside the great hall that gave a marvelous view of the sand and stone gardens at the moon palace.

Glancing down at their fingers still very much intertwined with each other, she felt her heart pounding in her chest like a war drum while wondering why he still hadn't let go. Her cheeks felt hot as she felt his thumb gently rubbing her knuckles before releasing his grip and pulling her out of her reverie.

With one sigh of composure, the goddess looked up, "Your Goddess?"

"You are welcome."

"I was not aware I needed help,"

Ares looked up, his handsome profile lit with the glow coming from the enigmatic blue marble hanging in the sky. His lips curved in a mischievous smirk, "Sure it was convincing enough, Terra is shining brighter than ever,"

Gaia held her pride and crossed her arms, "It was enough to scare him away,"

Ares of Olympia, Lord Deity of Mars. The mighty god of war and Gaia's long-time master and friend. For Gaia, he was considered to be something more, but it was never up for discussion.

The deity who taught her all she knew of skill and combat regimen. They shared common interests: weaponry, politics, a complex family history, and even sparred whenever they had the time or steam to blow.

Ares was very attractive, and he had a well-built physique that could be admired for days; broad shoulders that made any deity seem small in his arms, and a face that could put anyone in a serious enchantment. The cool light coming from Earth tainted the soft strands of his pale golden hair streaming down in a low ponytail with two long pieces framing his face and piercing gray eyes.

"Who was that, again?"

"The Royal Divine of Vulpecula, he is Anser's younger sibling,"

"Ah… him,"

"You know him?"

"I have heard stories."

Gaia sighed, "Apparently he's heard some stories too," her comment came with an annoyed purse on her lips, "And by the look you are giving me, I assume Aegeus was quick to inform you what happened,"

The last comment made Ares turn to face her, "Gaia,"

Gaia quickly dismissed whatever was coming next, and brought the awkward topic up-front only to bring up another equally bothersome. Ares turned to look ahead again, "He did." His thick brows furrowed, showcasing his obvious disapproval, "He also told me what you did. How stupid you were to risk your life the way you did,"

"Aegeus said that?"

"I say so,"

Gaia turned to match his glare, "I had to act fast and work effectively, Ares. We were running out of time,"

"And praying for summons that could put your existence at risk was your best option?" The crease in Ares's frown deepened. He turned to face her "What in hell were you thinking?!"

"To get the job done!"

"You cannot cast a Parhelion! You know this!"

"Navus trusted me to carry on his duty–" Gaia arched her brow "I had to try!"

"And as my Master, Helios trusted me to train you and teach you everything to earn your rightful place in the Celestial Army, Gaia. You achieved what no other soldier has and you have paid great honor to his name and legacy. I goddamn taught you better than this! This is an Ancient Order!" Ares's voice deepened with enraged disapproval.

"Your ancestry paved the way for you to be the chosen deity to protect it. And as such, you were taught to channel the energy from the Sun you can borrow from it. You do not have full control of the stone, you cannot summon for its blessings the way Helios could. The Golden Crystal was his Heavenly pact, those are limits you cannot cross, no matter the blood ties you may share. How dare you be this careless?!"

Gaia turned to look away. She hated this, she hated to be told what she already knew, but above all, she hated he was right in getting this upset.

Despite being Helios's fearless granddaughter, she was still tied to following divine law. She knew she had her limits, but her pride didn't allow her to accept it. One long sigh escaped from her lungs; Gaia tried her best to remain calm but something in her always made her push further, even when she knew where it led her every single time she did.

"You sound like an angry lover," Her gaze moved away from the god of war, "If you keep this up, everyone will believe there is truly something happening between us,"

"As if it has not happened already,"

Ares's sultry tone charged into Gaia like thunder, shaking her cynical facade. She turned wide-eyed at him, blinking with disbelief.

"Everybody knows my trust in you is unparalleled," Ares arched his brow, "The vow I made to my Master very much dissolved a long time ago. Helios asked me only to take you under my wing as my apprentice, but things changed for us the moment I turned to you as a friend," He turned, waiting for her to meet his gaze.

Gaia took a deep breath. If it wasn't for the heavy throbbing of her heart, she would think she was somewhat in another dimension. His voice was enough to shake her ground and fog her mind. She finally turned, hazel locked with gray, Ares leaned closer and pinched her cheek, "I promised I would look after you, not to solve your matters of the heart." He clicked his tongue, "You need to aim higher than that joke of a deity, otherwise, you'll keep being an enigma to them,"

"I was not aiming for anything," Gaia frowned, "Ugh, forget it… What do you know?"

"Enough to know you deserve more than that. Someone at your level,"

"How inspiring," Gaia tried to keep up with a stoic posture and shrugged her shoulder carelessly, "Have you spoken to Mater lately or did you just have a sudden change of heart?"

"Selene expects her daughter to take her place as the new head of the monarchy."

"I am aware,"

"Also, it comes as no surprise that this ceremony is to let the universe know she is ready to meet prospects to wed," He shook his head, "As the soldier of evolution, you probably know things are expected to change,"

"I assume you noticed it too,"

"It is quite obvious,"

Gaia gave him a melancholic look, "She is smitten,"

"The Divine Princess is light of heart, Gaia. At this point, it could be anyone. The challenge is to know whether she will make a fine choice,"

"And for some reason, you are assuming I would get upset when it is completely the opposite case." Gaia frowned, "I would not want anything more but for her to succeed. She deserves to be happy,"

"That does not change the facts," Ares tilted her chin up, "If it's not him, it will eventually be someone else."

"Where are you going with this?"

"Duty. Even if she was not chosen to be a soldier, she still has to serve as the future monarch of the Moon. That is Selene's pact, after all. Serenity will take over one day, and even if you two are very close now, she will not be able to be there for you like she used to once she steps in as the new Divine Queen."

"I have plenty to focus my mind on as of now. I also have a duty to serve so you don't need to feel so concerned about me. Did you not just say you weren't taking care of my matters of the heart?"

Ares turned, his fingers pinching her cheeks loosened their grip and gently slipped to cup her cheek as he locked his lips with hers in a deep kiss, gaining her full attention. He looked at her in silence, his thumb caressed her chin, and his eyes bore into hers deeply. "Don't do this to yourself," He leaned down, his face just inches away from hers "…Not you."

Her lips ached with desire and immediately missed the warmth of his. His warm breath caressed her ear as he whispered, "Dance with me, Gaia,"

Gaia looked into his eyes, feeling the loss of control over her soul. Ares cupped her face and gave her a warm and genuine smile, one he barely ever gave to others. "Even if the universe does not agree with us, at least let's dance this night away."

I am a long-time fan of the OG series and manga which eventually inspired me to work on this project of mine, with its first draft being published back in 2010. Now going through a new leaf in my life, I am re-telling the story we all know and love with many twists, turns, and angst but also love. Heavily influenced by mythology, this story starts before the Silver Millenium came to be, and what set the ground for the existence of The Golden Kingdom on Earth.

For some reason, FF is making it very difficult for me to post here. I managed to post the first and second chapters in my profile in AO3 under the same name. I hope you join me on the adventure of writing again! However, I feel I must warn you: This is a long story and it is divided into "books". If that is not a concern, welcome! I really hope you like this series!

-Nebelflecke

All author's notes will be displayed at the bottom unless there is vocabulary you might need to know before certain chapters.

Glossary

- Polemarchos (πολέμαρχος) is a Greek word that means "war leader" or "war commander." It is derived from the words polemos (war) and archon (ruler, leader).

- Latin and Greek are the languages used in the story. Gaia's use of Latin symbolizes the birth of languages on Earth, hinting at the many ancient cultures and civilizations that have been born ever since her birth and Earth came to be what we know of it.

-There are characters in the story whose names were modified to conceal their ancestry by accepting to follow the laws of Olympia after the war.

-The introduction is a music piece used as inspiration. "Universe" by NCSOUND.