The Trojan War

A war started when Aphrodite offered Paris of Troy the marriage of Helen of Sparta to win the Golden Apple. Once Paris took Paris from Sparta, King Menelaus wanted vengeance. As a result of this act, Greece and the Olympians were thrown into a bloody war. Many gods sided between Troy and Greece.

In one of the legends of the Trojan War, a warrior named Diomedes was said to injure the goddess during a battle.

However, that was a false tale orchestrated by Athena to hide a dark secret.

Ancient Greece

A soldier in damaged hoplite armor with scars on his fair skin and blood drenching his curly, amber hair.

The tired and determined warrior holds his spear at Aphrodite Areia across the body-riddled battlefield as she walks towards him.

"I... I won't down from you!"

One of the Heroes of the Trojan War

Diomedes (Greece)

Aphrodite smirks as she wipes the blood of a gladius she used to slaughter many soldiers in her way. She then tosses it to the ground and folds her arms.

"Oh dear, are you sure you want to push yourself? You look a little...haggard."

Diomedes felt the urge to run; however, his duty as a warrior reminded him to stand against any foes. No matter the cost.

"It's ironic. This war of your making shows us all who you are."

"Ohoho. Really now? Do tell," Aphrodite giggled haughtily.

Diomedes glares at the warped goddess in disgust.

"You're...no goddess of love. All of this...carnage! The blood in your hands. All of this death is your fault! You are a monster!"

As Diomedes speaks, Aphrodite's eyes briefly show pain before turning to disdain. Aphrodite instantly lifted Diomedes by the neck. His dark brown eyes meet the crimson eyes of the war aspect of the goddess.

"Don't you dare insult me, human! You dare to call me a monster after you tried to kill my son, Aeneus after he was defenseless! You humans never cease to disappoint me. Such hypocrisy, just like another empire I once ruled."

Diomedes struggles against Aphrodite's grip with too little success.

"Struggle all you want. It won't save you from your demi-"

Before she could finish, a spear whizzed past Aphrodite and struck the ground near her.

"Let Diomedes go, Aphrodite."

Aphrodite turned her attention toward Athena, who stood tall and majestic.

Aphrodite smirked happily, "Ah, Athena. You decided to show yourself at last."

Aphrodite drops Diomedes on the ground as she and Athena lock eyes.

"I must this, child. You know how to pick your champion. Stubborn, foolish, and quite annoying."

Athena responded coldly, "Save your taunts. I'm here to stop you here and now.

Then she smirked as the next thing she said struck Aphrodite's nerve.

"Just like how she defeated you before."

The remark causes Aphrodite to become livid and charged at the goddess of wisdom.

"Insolent child! I'll have your head!"

Thus, the two goddesses engaged in godly combat. The mortals watched in awe and fear as Athena and Aphrodite's battle shifted the ground beneath them. Ultimately, with the help of Diomedes, Athena landed a crippling wounded on Aphrodite's arm.

Despite variations in the myth, soldiers of the Trojan War still believe that Aphrodite was one of the most powerful gods on Olympus.

Present Day

Khutulun and Aphrodite wasted no time as they rushed toward each other.

"RAAAAAAHHHHHH!" Both women screamed with such intensity as wrestling against each other.

Aphrodite locks Khutulun in a guillotine choke, but the Mongolian princess counters with a suplex. However, Aphrodite was undeterred and stood up to respond with a powerful forearm strike. It sent Khutulun crashing into the cell wall. On the impact, the cell gives way and begins to collapse.

"By the Allfather! I'm outta here," Heimdall yelled as he got off the platform to avoid being crushed by one of the cell's walls.

Khutulun and Aphrodite weave through the wreckage to continue to slug it out with one another. Khutulun tried for a backhanded chop, but Aphrodite dodged it and put on a bearhug to sneeze and break her rival.

Adonis Everlasting Embrace

"N-not bad, but my turn!" Khutulun confidently declared as she put Aphrodite into a bearhug of her own.

Mongolian Death Clutch

Both women nearly exhausted all their strength, trying to break each other's spin. Khutulun and Aphrodite then pulled back their heads to deliver each other a powerful headbutt.

And another.

And another.

As the fight continues, the crowd watches in awe as both fighters push each other to their limits.

"W-why? Why won't you give up! Why are you humans too stubborn to accept your fate?! Just perish already!" Aphrodite screamed with rage and desperation as she delivered a savage headbutt to Khutulun's jaw.

Khutulun started to stumble, and for a moment, Aphrodite believed that she had won. But much to her horror, Khutulun gained her footing and pulled back her fist.

"Perish? No way. For as long as I believe in myself."

Khutulun swiftly uppercutted Aphrodite in the air before she could react.

"I'LL NEVER GIVE UP!"

Blood gushed out of Aphrodite's mouth to the horror of the gods, Ares, and her children.

'Believing...in yourself? Is this why...I couldn't beat this human?' Aphrodite thought about it before her body landed on the ground.

"Aphrodite is down! Khutulun, with a monstrous uppercut, has finally put the goddess of love down!" Heimdall announced, far from the action.

With that, the humans cheered as they believed Khutulun had given them another victory for humanity. Sandro finished the painting of Khutulun standing over Aphrodite.

"So beautiful."

"WOOOOOOOO! That's my little girl!" Kaidu cheered happily

Genghis Khan laughed heartily, "I expect nothing less from my lineage!"

Brunhilde and Goll celebrated while Hera sighed in relief.

"Here, I thought we would lose, but I'm glad to be proven wrong."

Meanwhile, on the gods' side, Ares and his children wept at the fallen Aphrodite.

"I can't believe my beloved Aphrodite lost," Ares whimpered while wiping his tears.

"This...this is bullshit! Mom couldn't die. She just couldn't!" Phobos said through angry tears.

Deimos looked on somberly while Eros and Harmonia cried into each other's arms.

As for hope is lost of Aphrodite's family, a woman's voice barked.

"Stop crying! She would never fall to a human, of all gods."

Ares and his kids turn to see a woman coming down to where they are.

She was a tall, beautiful woman with long, wavy, light blue hair emitting a faint smoke. Her skin had a bronze-like complexion, accompanied by black eye with ghostly white pupil, lush black lips, and golden bull horns. She wears a bejeweled bra, a couple of rings on her fingers, an eyepatch over her right eye, and a flowing violet satin parted skirt.

Babylonian Goddess of the Underworld

Ereshkigal (Babylon)

"Ohoho, always late to the party. Isn't that right, Ereshkigal?" Zeus gave a cheeky wink, much to Erehskigal's annoyance.

"Whatever you say, Lord Zeus. It seems 'Aphrodite' took a beating, huh. Well, knowing her, she still has some strength in her."

"W-wait, you know our mother, Lady Ereshkigal?" Harmonia questioned while wiping away her tears.

Ereshkigal smirked as she replied, "More than you think, my dear."

Then, the underworld goddess rubbed her eyepatch and smiled.

'After all, she gave me this.'

As Khutulun was getting ready to leave the arena, she heard Aphrodite coughing. She turned to see Aphrodite getting to one knee as the goddess looked at Khutulun, utterly defeated. This moment was met with an intense silence in the arena.

"Well, it seems I gave everything I have." Aphrodite chuckled pitifully

Khutulun smiled reluctantly, "Yeah, I guess you did. Before I finish this, I want to know something. You seem to have such a hatred against us, but I don't know why."

Aphrodite sighed as she began to confess.

"The truth is...I never hated humanity. I hate that you remind me of myself. I'm...a horrible goddess. Selfish. Pity. Hypocritical. Each time I see humans engage with these flaws, it's a reminder of my failures. But why listen to my faults? After all, I'm a failure."

Aphrodite bowed her head with a single tear coming down her cheek. Khutulun and Thrud felt truly bad for Aphrodite, but they knew what must be done.

Before Khutulun could finish off the goddess, Ereshkigal calls out Aphrodite.

"Inanna!"

Aphrodite didn't want to believe what she heard. She looked at the gods in the crowd and was Ereshkigal with Ares and her children. Ereshkigal smiled at the goddess, which made the goddess emotional.

"E-Ereshkigal. I didn't think you show."

"What, and miss my little sister winning for us? Not a chance," Ereshkigal stated proudly.

The gods were baffled at Ereshkigal calling Aphrodite her sister. All except for Zeus, Hermes, and Odin.

"Well, it seems the secret is truth," Hermes said casually.

"W-what! What do you mean by that? What's going on?" Ares asked frantically.

Zeus chuckled, "Calm yourself, my son. What you are about to witness is the return of a queen."

Meanwhile, Aphrodite smiled as she laughed to herself.

"Even after everything, you still believe in me. Guess I'll have to redeem myself then."

Then Aphrodite stood up with a look of determination in her eyes.

"Say, Khutulun. So you want to know who I was, right? Before I became Aphrodite, I was a revered goddess among my pantheon and the mortals of Babylonia. As well as one of the originators of divine law."

Meanwhile, Gilgamesh felt an uneasiness within his very soul.

"Gilgamesh, dear. Are you okay?" Goll asked concerningly

However, Gilgamesh could only utter, "I-it can't be."

In the arena, Aphrodite begins to chant.

"Sing to me, mortals of Uruk. Praise upon me, the fearsome one. Hail me with utmost majesty, I, ruler of the Igigi. I, who brings pleasure and fertility to all who deserve it. I was truly honored among all celestial beings, shining brighter than the cosmos itself."

Once she finished, she then said, "Final Epithet. Reveal my soul. Ourania."

A massive chromatic light floods the arena as almost everyone shields their eyes.

"What is this?" Khutulun demanded, having to cover her eyes.

Who was Aphrodite before she became an Olympian? The truth lies in Babylon, where a goddess once reigned supreme. Known for her unrivaled beauty and might, she defeated her entire family to rise to the status of a chief god. One of the four pillars of Heaven beside Odin, Zeus, and Izanagi. Also known as the first goddess of love and war.

Everyone gasped in awe as the light disappeared.

"A-Aphrodite?" Khutulun said hestiantly

"Aphrodite? No, dear. That is not who I am," A refined voice fitting of a queen spoke from the stranger standing before the princess.

Standing in place of Aphrodite was a toned and attractive woman with golden tan skin, long silvery prismatic hair that reached down the back, golden lips, and black eyes with pupils that reflected a galaxy. She wears a red satin cut-out wrap crisscross crop top, a short red silk embroidered skirt with a double thigh split, a chain silver tasseled belt, and golden bracers with a sapphire in the middle and bronze trim.

Babylonian Goddess of Love and War

Ishtar (Babylon)

"I'm the queen whose sovereignty commands the stars. The goddess where love and war began. I. Am. Ishtar."