.oOo. Mount Olympus .oOo.

A beautiful white and gold city stood atop the clouds. But instead of teeming with life as usual, the city was shrouded in a thick miasma, with purple and yellow bolts of lightning rampaging across the domain of the gods.

From the highest god to the lowliest nymph, all stayed clear of the outside, knowing the storm's true cause and fearing the wrath it signified.

.oOo. Main Temple .oOo.

Inside the grandest of the twelve castles overlooking Olympus and the human world below, a woman stood on the terrace.

She was extraordinarily beautiful, her tanned skin glowing with a faint golden light—an unmistakable sign of her divine origin. Her purple and blue hair cascaded down her back, framing her face with purple eyes that sparked with contained fury. Her lips, painted with deep purple lipstick, were set in a firm line, and she was dressed in an elegant gold and purple evening gown.

This was Hera, Goddess of Marriage, Wife of Zeus, and Queen of Olympus. She gazed down at the human world, her eyes narrowing as she spotted the telltale signs of her husband's latest indiscretion. A single silver tear rolled down her cheek as the weight of his betrayal crushed her once more. With a wave of her hand, the dark cloud dispersed, revealing a dazzling night sky. In a flash of light, she transformed into a peacock and flew to another temple, seeking solitude.

.oOo. Next Morning .oOo.

Morning dawned as usual on Olympus, though many were still wary of the previous night's events.

Thunder cracked as Zeus, King of the Gods, appeared. He was dressed in a simple white toga lined with gold, his feet shod in Greek gladiator sandals. His sharp, handsome face was lined with a neatly combed beard, and his white hair, streaked with black, was slicked back in a tidy fashion.

He glanced around the main hall of the gods, where all major decisions were made regarding Olympus or Earth. Seeing no one, he sighed in relief. At least I'll be spared Hera's anger for a few more minutes, he thought, stepping deeper into the temple.

As he approached the hallway leading to the bedroom he shared with his wife, a sudden thought struck him. Maybe I should have Hestia calm her first? He winced, remembering his sister's ability to soothe even the most turbulent emotions with her warm fire.

He entered the bedroom cautiously, bracing himself for Hera's wrath. But there was nothing. The room was pristine, everything in its place—no torn sheets, no shattered mirrors, just calm and quiet. And... a faint scent of mint? Zeus frowned. Mint? The aroma was unfamiliar, a stark contrast to Hera's usual fragrance of lilies, pomegranate, peacock, and milk—a strange but pleasant combination he had grown fond of.

"Hera?" he called out, but only silence answered.

"She isn't here," a small voice spoke from behind him. Zeus turned to see Hestia standing in the doorway, her brown skin glowing warmly, her flame-orange hair and eyes reflecting her inner fire. She wore a simple brown toga and sandals, the air around her soothing.

"Hestia, where is Hera?" Zeus asked, his confusion mounting.

"She's in her own temple," Hestia replied. Zeus raised an eyebrow, disbelief coloring his voice.

"What?"

"Like I said, she's in her temple. I believe she's finally fed up with your infidelity," Hestia explained, her tone gentle but firm. Zeus stiffened, unsure how to react. He opened his mouth to speak, but Hestia interrupted him. "Zeus, be careful. She's uncharacteristically calm right now, but that makes her more dangerous. Approach the situation cautiously."

Zeus nodded, taking her advice to heart.

.oOo. Hera's Temple .oOo.

Zeus landed outside Hera's temple, his eagle wings disappearing as he approached the door. Tension gripped him; this was a delicate situation.

As he stepped inside, he froze. In the middle of the room, a purple fire burned in the fireplace, made from Dark Energy—a cosmic force that binds the universe and fuels the gods' power. But what shocked him was the fuel for this divine flame: the crown and scepter he had gifted Hera on their wedding day.

What are you doing?! Zeus wanted to scream, but before he could speak, Hera's voice cut through the silence.

"You know, I finally understand," Hera began, her tone eerily calm. "I see now why you always seek out the companionship of other women. It must be the revulsion I feel now, the disgust I feel at the mere sight of you." As she spoke, the dark fire burned brighter, casting ominous shadows across the room.

"What are you talking about?" Zeus asked, genuinely confused.

"What am I talking about? Nothing, I guess. These are just the thoughts of a madwoman; no need to think deeply on them." Hera waved a hand dismissively. Zeus frowned, struggling to understand.

"Now, how can I help you?" Hera asked, her voice cold and formal.

"Hera, what's gotten into you?" Zeus demanded, his confusion giving way to frustration.

"I don't know what you mean, brother," Hera replied, her voice dripping with venom. Zeus felt as if he had been punched in the gut, his eyes narrowing in anger.

"I am your husband, Hera," he asserted.

"No, you are not. You are my younger brother," Hera corrected, her tone icy. Zeus growled, stepping forward, but a barrier blocked his path. He recoiled, stunned.

His anger flared, and lightning crackled around him as he punched the barrier. Sparks flew, but the barrier held.

"Hera, what's the meaning of this?" he demanded, fury in his voice.

"What's the meaning of what? Clearly, that's a barrier to ward off unwanted guests, and you are an unwanted guest," Hera replied calmly.

Feeling another blow land on his pride, Zeus shouted, "Hera, I am your husband and king! You have no right to treat me like some unknown brigand!"

"Sorry, but my husband died long ago. You are an unknown individual at most and a distant brother at least. Now I'm busy, so please leave." Hera waved her hand again as if shooing away a fly.

Zeus's eye twitched, and he unleashed his wrath on the barrier with a powerful punch. The barrier shattered like glass, but the energy powering it recoiled and blasted him out of the house. The doors slammed shut behind him as he landed roughly on the walkway.

Roaring in rage, Zeus raised his hand to the sky, ready to unleash a lightning bolt on the temple. But before he could strike, a warm, orange mist enveloped him, calming his anger.

"Calm down, Zeus," Hestia said, appearing beside him, her hand glowing with flames.

"Hestia," he grunted, still fuming.

"If you attack now, you'll lose her forever. Although I fear you're already too late," Hestia warned

Zeus clenched his fists, his fury simmering beneath the surface. He turned to face Hestia, the fire in his eyes slowly dimming as he processed her words.

"What do you mean, 'too late'?" Zeus asked, his voice low, almost pleading.

Hestia sighed deeply, her warm eyes filled with a mixture of pity and resignation. "Zeus, Hera has endured your infidelities for centuries. Each betrayal was a knife to her heart, cutting deeper and deeper. She married you because she felt she had no other choice—because you took that choice from her."

Zeus winced, the weight of his past actions settling heavily on his shoulders. He remembered that fateful day, how he had disguised himself as a cuckoo to deceive Hera, how he had taken advantage of her, and how she had married him out of a sense of duty rather than love. It had been an act of self-preservation, not devotion.

"You've broken her spirit, Zeus," Hestia continued, her tone gentle but firm. "And now, after all this time, she's finally decided she won't stand for it any longer. She's reclaiming her power, her identity, without you."

Zeus looked down at his hands, the hands that had wielded thunderbolts, conquered titans, and shaped the fate of the world. Now, they trembled slightly, not from fear of Hera's wrath, but from the realization that he might have lost her forever.

"I never meant for it to come to this," Zeus murmured, more to himself than to Hestia.

Hestia placed a comforting hand on his arm, her touch warm and reassuring. "Intentions matter, Zeus, but so do actions. You can't undo what's been done, but perhaps you can find a way to make amends, to show her that you're willing to change. If not for her sake, then for your own."

Zeus nodded slowly, a plan forming in his mind. He had always been proud, arrogant even, but now he was faced with the possibility of losing the one person who had stood by his side for eons. He couldn't let that happen—not without a fight.

.oOo. Hera's Temple .oOo.

Inside her temple, Hera stood on the balcony, gazing down at the world below. The Ether, the cosmic energy she had extracted from the melted crown and scepter, pulsed gently within her, infusing her with power. She had never felt more in control, more certain of her path.

As she looked out over the mortal realm, she noticed a group of humans gathered in a small village, offering prayers to the gods. They prayed for protection, for love, for mercy. Hera's heart ached as she heard their pleas. They reminded her of her own prayers, the ones she had whispered in the dead of night, hoping that Zeus would change, that he would finally honor their marriage.

But those prayers had gone unanswered, and now she understood why. She could no longer rely on others to define her worth. She had to take control of her own destiny.

With a deep breath, Hera turned away from the balcony and walked back inside. The dark purple fire still burned in the fireplace, casting long shadows across the room. She knelt before it, her expression serene, yet determined.

"This is the last time I weep for you, Zeus," she whispered to the flames. "From this moment on, I forge my own path, without you."

The Ether within her began to swirl, responding to her resolve. Hera closed her eyes and focused on the energy, shaping it with her will. Slowly, the fire in the hearth began to change. The dark purple flames shifted to a radiant gold, reflecting Hera's newfound strength and independence.

Then she looked out once more, looking for some one to help forge her a new symbol of power, 

.OoO. Prologue .OoO.