Present 1943
"It's happening," Athena spoke, "it's finally happening."
She was currently in the throne room--if you could even call it that. The place was incredibly massive; well at least it matched the ego of its owner. The same ego that would probably doom them all.
Athena knew she tried, for millennia she had secretly made it her quest to find a way to bring the almighty Sky-Father back to the path of reason, as he was once in his almost forgotten golden days. She still couldn't believe his stubbornness.
Stories she heard from her grandmother seem more like myths even to someone as old as her. There was no way the two personalities that she saw had ever resided in one being. They were complete opposites.
Sometimes she imagined that was probably the result of having too much power over time and with no one to challenge him. He'd become reckless and completely indifferent, at least she wasn't the only one who saw that and that's what led to their current situation. Switching her focus to the two other goddesses standing in front of her.
"By the cosmos! He is insane. Someone should intervene."
"No one will…which is understandable. We've never been faced with the potential threat of real death before," Athena spoke.
"What do we do then? You know when he kills Zeus there is no one who is going to oppose him, and with that weapon he will be virtually unstoppable." One of the goddesses visibly shuddered.
Athena felt pity for the two distraught goddesses. They were two of the many lesser gods that if it weren't for their mere status as gods, they would have had trouble living as humans on their own.
What was even more amusing was once, one of them was supposedly a member of the Twelve and a direct descendant of Kronus himself. Yet when faced with the possibility of a confrontation, instead of standing her ground like Athena and the other Twelve did, she folded. Right now, Athena could only imagine the kind of terror that raged through her mind like her uncle's famous storms.
Her other company was less mousy but still apprehensive nonetheless. Athena wondered what the other goddess would have done had she not passed through the throne room on her way to consult the Fates.
That's when she encountered the two, huddled up together like it was the end of everything. It's precisely in situations like these that she appreciated the courage and bravery of mere mortals over the disgrace of some of her kind.
Athena wondered what they would think of these two right now after having worshiped them for years. "Thanks for reminding me what I already know," she turned to leave.
"Where are you going?"
"To have a chat with the Fates. I need to know what will happen so that I can prepare for what is to come. Honestly, we all do."
"Wait for me." Hebe squeaked before she and Hestia quickly caught up to her, and the three vanished.
…
Near a peaceful garden near and ancient house, three figures materialized, they were Athena, Hestia and Hebe.
An old isolated house—if you could even call it a house—stood in the middle of the garden and was a testament to who exactly was its owner—or in this case, owners. The house was quite old with only one pillar supporting the rest of the generously colossal house.
For eons Athena had waited the day it would eventually collapse to this day. Its brazen defiance was also quite a tribute of who lived inside.
"Who dares approach our dwelling?"
"It is I, Athena."
"We've been expecting you," one of them replied.
"Of course, you did. Clearly, if one could live forever as I do then that line isn't really that special. The probability of anyone deciding to take a break from their eternity of self-gloating and endless scheming to visit the Fates for whatever tactical fortune or misfortune they would like to foresee before commencing on it is quite infinite too. It's only a matter of time which is also in the infinite bracket."
"Still defiant as ever with regards to our abilities, yet you still seek us out time and time again," Clotho spoke.
"You haven't failed me…Yet."
"And we will always be here to prove you wrong my child." This time it was Atropos.
"Humor me again. I assume you know why I am here too?"
"We've known that since the beginning of time."
"Yeah, yeah, blah, blah. There is no time for another history lesson on how old you three are." Athena rolled her eyes.
"What you seek we do not have, but he who holds the prophecy. We can only see the end, not the journey. And it is brighter than ever." Lachesis who had been silent all this time finally spoke.
"It would have been more useful if you had the full package," Athena sighed.
"Yes child, but that would affect the very fabric of order. There must be a balance to all things." Atropos interrupted.
"I don't like the sound of that."
"What do they mean Athena?" Hestia hesitantly asked reminding Athena she was with company. "We need to leave, now."
Athena grabbed both Hebe and Hestia before summoning the Aether and dematerialized. They materialized back in Olympus, and Athena closed her eyes and immediately summoned her brother.
"You are scaring us, Athena. Is father going to die?" A worried Hebe began to panic.
"I need to confirm that first before I answer your question." Athena did nothing to ease Hebe's distraught condition, she had more important things to worry about.
"Oh, Earth-Mother, we're doomed."
"Shut up you two or I will leave you on your own." An irritated Athena gritted her teeth before snarling at the two.
The two goddesses shamefully took a step away from Athena's quickly rising temper and hanged their heads low. No one wanted to test the Goddess of Wisdom's wrath. She always came up with the most horrifying punishments and revenge.
"Apollo my brother, I summon you. Heed my call for we are all in great danger." Opening her eyes, Athena glanced at the sun's direction and hoped his brother would respond to her beckon. Behind her, the two goddesses remained silent.
The light emanating from the sun shimmered as a figure gently approached them. He was quite tall and lean, but his most striking feature was his face. Apollo was blessed with godly beauty that was capable of making even the most devout virgins like…her Aunt Hestia regret their choice.
It's a good thing she was blessed with more brains than carnal desires; the kind of which many women succumb to by the mere presence of his brother. He probably should add desire and lust to his list of numerous abilities.
'It should be enough to fluster that pesky little wench for thinking she is the most irresistible being in entire cosmos.'
Athena held back a laugh as his brother finally arrived, presenting all his godly glory.
"You look, good brother," She smiled.
"For you sister, I always try my best. Is it working?" Apollo grinned.
"No," Athena smirked.
"Why did you summon me, Athena, unlike the Fates I don't know everything." Apollo quickly changed the subject.
"I need you to prophesize."
"I can't."
"It's important."
"I know, but you know why I can't."
"You've seen it?" Athena asked.
"I have."
"I can't believe you're going to do this to me. You how much I crave knowledge?"
"I do sister, but I'm sorry this is how it has to be," Apollo solemnly replied.
"At least give me something, a hint, conjecture, anything to redirect my curiosity."
The two stared deeply into each other's eyes, and after an extended period of silence Apollo breathed a sigh, "Raymond."
He then turned into a flash of blinding light before disappearing.
"Thank you, brother. Your secret is safe with me." There was a slight dim in the setting sun that was barely noticeable.
"So, what now?" Hestia asked.
After a brief silence, Athena spoke. "Now we wait."
"What about the war?" Hebe asked.
Athena said nothing before summoning the Aether again and disappearing, Hestia and Hebe followed suit.