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Chapter Text

"Seth, the god of the desert and war, shall have all his achievements and praised erased from his records..." Maat declared, her hand opened and facing her feather. "...so that he may forever be remembered as an evil god."

Golden writings, in Egyptian Hieroglyphs, appeared on air as she continues, "Seth's temples, living quarters and offerings will be disposed of Isis, the god of magic."

Many complains resounded throughout the court, but Maat paid no mind, ever dutiful in her task of judgement.

"Seth is an evil god who has committed a myriad of irredeemable crimes, for which he must receive a severe punishment."

Seth watches on as the words float to him, ready to envelop him. He felt numb.

"But before his sentence is carried out, I shall grant him a grace period."

He was ready for it, but he still couldn't help but flinch as the words of judgement begin to surround him.

"During this time Seth must do all he can to gather the crashed souls, lift their curse, and restore balance in the afterlife."

Nephthys continue to sob behind him. It makes Seth's heart clench.

"If Seth should ever hurt another soul or try to start another rebellion, the grace period will end and his sentence shall be put into immediate effect. However, should he successfully restore peace within the afterlife during the grace period, he will be exiled to the sun boat where he will be force to row for the rest of eternity."

Ah.

"If he is unable to restore order in the afterlife, the evil god Seth, will be permanently dissolved."

Seth stares without really seeing as the words fully surrounds him.

Ah.

Where did it all start?

"Evil god Seth, you will no longer be allowed to wield the power of a god."

His powers' slipping... away...away...away...

Just like before...

"Your body can't moisten itself there, so if it hurts, just turn into sand."

I... can't...breathe...

"The flower wine may inhibit you from doing so, but it will make the insertion easier."

No.

No.

No...

Please...

"That's right, just like that."

"Atonement...way...control...sands..."

Ah. He can't hear clearly...his punishment...

"...demoted...no longer...god...desert...war...banished...world...sins...repent..."

His sins...

"This final judgement is hereby declared...by the Court of Ennead."

Light. Bright golden light. Warm.

Seth closed his eyes...

...a final time...

...

"Wh-what's happening?!" Hathor shriek, the winds whipping all over the court, the only sounds other than the winds howl was the twinkling of their jewelry.

"Uncle!" Horus cried, trying to reach in vain, he was barely holding his ground near the center of the storm.

"Uncle!"

"Seth..." Nephthys cries, a look of horror on her face. "No...no...no...ah...ngh...haaah...Seth!"

"Maat? What have you done?!" Ra screamed, her face thunderous.

"It's not me!" The normally stoic Maat replied, her composure nowhere to be seen.

"Oh Maat, I can't feel it..." Thoth whispers, clinging to his wife, tears on his face. "I can't feel him anymore..."

As soon as Thoth finish his words the raging wind stop.

There was no one where Seth, god of the desert and war, once stood. Not a trace.

No divine power of sand and war in the whole of Egypt.

"UNCLE!"

...

"That was something else." The foreign god whistles.

"Shut up." Isis glares. "You have no more business here Zeus. Get out of Egypt."

"Hah. As you wish." It's not like there's anything interesting here anymore...

He looks back at the platform where the former god of the desert and war once stood to receive his punishment.

All he sees is a wailing woman and a man broken beyond repair.

What a pity.

It was no fun to challenge a country with no god of war of their own to protect them.

...

Zeus was attracted to pretty things. Gold is one of them, so when he saw a golden light flashing in the middle of the desert and a familiar feeling wash over him, he abandoned his boat and bolted.

There stood a woman with a golden lion head mask and covered in more gold. Zeus can tell she was pretty, just like the rest of Egyptian gods, but what peaked his interest wasn't the woman - Hera would be in disbelief! - but at the thing in her hand.

A box. A very beautifully decorated box.

"How about a deal?" The woman purred, she opens the box. "You interested?"

Oh.

He was.

He really was.

...

"Maia."

Said woman flinched. Maia look up from where she sat in dread.

There stood in front of her secluded cave, the King of the gods.

"Won't you do an old friend a favor?"

It was a smile that doesn't take no for an answer.

...

"You never do anything right." Hera said with scorn.

Zeus laughs. "That really hurts my dear." His eyes flash, amused. "Are you calling dear Hermes a wrong too?"

That made the goddess paused.

"No."

"Father. Mother."

Both turn to the familiar voice, the young man kneeled before them, removing his winged hat to reveal...

...shockingly red locks of hair and eyes.

"I have a message from Uncle Hades."

Chapter Text

"W-what is it?" She asked nervously.

"My, no need to be so cautious my dear. It's not something that would put you in danger."

She doesn't trust his words for one second. 

"Ahaha. Fine. Fine. You don't have to make your distress so palpable."

Maia flinched, afraid to have offended the King of the gods. "Ah. I-"

Zeus waves his hand dismissively. "Always a nervous wreck. You need to relax sometimes."

"..."

"I'll get straight to the point." He conjured the box he obtained. "I need the flower of life you hold."

"Is that..."

"A soul. The soul of the god of the desert and war of Egypt."

Maia trembles at that. The evil god that ruled Egypt? Why...why is it...

"He's a victim of circumstances." Zeus said, an edge in his voice, his eyes flashing in warning. Maia trembled again, couldn't help it as the air in her small cave started to electrify.

Ah...he read my mind?

"I didn't." He laughs, as if he didn't just almost lose his temper on her.

It was unsettling how he can go from one mood to other within a blink of an eye.

"Your expression makes your thought obvious Maia."

"How is he a victim of circumstances?" Maia asked instead, wanting to end the interaction between them as soon as possible and continue his life in seclusion. "Are you saying that his name was purposely slandered and the rumors that reached us here in Hellas are not true?"

"The story that got him the throne is."

The story that Zeus told her made her weak on her knees.

...

"Oh Khaos." Maia sobs. "How could...how could they do that..."

"All he wants is a family, Maia." Zeus says softly, patting the Pleiades to comfort her somewhat. "Won't you help me give him that?"

"I want him."

"What?"

Maia stares back determinedly. It was a look Zeus has never seen on her face before for as long as he had known the ever-shy nymph.

"If you're going to use my flower then, I want him as my child."

Hah. He can feel a headache not unlike the one when Athena was born from him come into fruition.

"Hera..."

"...doesn't know my cave. I'll protect him, until he can do it himself."

How could he say no to that when the poor dear look so sure of it?

"I supposed you deserve to get something out of this deal."

"Thank you."

...

"Hermes, my dear child." The woman cries in joy, holding the babe on her hand, she presses her face to his cheeks. "My darling heart."

Those were the first words and sensations that the babe felt when he was born.

Ah.

It's warm.

He closed his eyes again.

...

"Child, I know you are awake." Apollo, son of Zeus, god of light and prophesy declares, his very presence shines light in the barren secluded cave, the source of which comes primarily from his golden locks. "Come out now and tell me where my cattle are lest I take you to Tartarus where neither your mother or father can get you back."

"How can I, a mere babe, possibly stole bunch of cows?" Hermes ask Apollo.

"You're coming with me."

"That's not how you hold a babe! He's just born today!" Maia protested, seeing how tactless the Son of Leto handles her child.

Who takes babes by their scruff if not a hooligan?

"You are labeled a civilized god, but clearly the tales are mistaken." It was the bravest thing Maia ever did against the deathless gods, forever shy she was, but it was her child!

Apollo adjust his hold, "I'll have him return after his punishment."

"What?"

Before Maia could protest further in defense of her child the Son of Leto disappeared from her cave.

"Oh Zeus. This is a lot earlier than planned." She prays, hoping that the man who give Hermes to her would protect him against Apollo.

...

"This rascal stole my cows and he dare lie." Apollo says in lieu of a greeting making Zeus laugh.

"My, what a willy child."

Hermes, formerly Seth, god of the deserts and war of Egypt, has grown. Nowhere near what he used to look when Zeus first saw him in the trial, but certainly no babe born just today.

He grows fast. Well, Seth does have a strong soul and power as a god, it might be why he's aging rapidly as Hermes.

"Father!" The blonde called out indignantly. "This is a serious matter. This child stole from me, he should be thrown to the pits of Tartarus!"

"I did no such thing." 

"Liar! My divination led to you, are you saying I am wrong?"

"Apollo." Zeus raised his hand. Said god look affronted at that.

"Hermes, return the cows to your brother."

"I cannot."

"What?!"

The next words made Apollo's blood boil. "I sacrificed two of them to the gods."

"Oh?" Is it a memory that slipped by? Zeus remembers that the Ennead takes sacrifices as part of the offerings made from them.

It was not a tradition in Hellas.

Well, until now.

"12 shares, for the Olympians."

"There are only 11 of us." Apollo said with a scoff.

"I counted myself of course." Hermes beamed, a smug smile, unbefitting of a child his appearance suggests, grace his face.

It was a smile Zeus saw once in Egypt.

My. A confident character, just like before.

He laughs. "Truly. You are brave."

"Father! He cannot be one of us! He killed my cattle on top of stealing them, are you going to reward his bad behavi-?!"

A tune even Zeus hasn't heard before resounded. Hermes was holding an instrument in his hand; it somewhat resembles one of the instruments he saw back in Egypt - if a bit...improvised...

He has a lovely voice.

"What is that?" Apollo asked in obvious awe. "Where did you get that?"

"I made it myself; I call it the Lyre."

"If you give me that Lyre, then you can have the cattle, and I, Phoebus Apollo, Son of Zeus and Leto, member of the Olympians, welcomes you on the throne here in Olympus."

"Deal." Hermes immediately accepted, handing the lyre.

"Hermes, Son of Zeus and Maia, you shall be the messenger of gods, god of thieves, travelers, trades and merchants. These tittles I grant you. Welcome to Olympus."

"Granted." Zeus boomed, the sky flash alight, informing the rest of the Olympians of the new god in their ranks.

Apollo pulled out a staff he had commissioned from Hephaestus just the other day. "I fear that with your wandering hands you'll take again from me this lyre and my bow, so, if you promise not to steal from me, you can have this staff, something that can assist your powers."

Zeus snorted from his place at the throne as Hermes eagerly took the staff. "Didn't you just want him thrown to Tartarus before? Now you're spoiling him?"

"Things change Father." Apollo said dismissively, not even turning to face him. What a rude child.

"Brother Apollo. I swear, I will not steal from you."

"Witnessed." Zeus acknowledged, staring at the two, now reconciled god in front of his throne, he thought it was over, but it seems the day was full of surprises as Apollo was now kneeling before him.

"Let me swear an oath with you as a witness, not as Zeus, our father but as the King of the gods."

Oh? What's this?

Apollo takes Hermes hands and kiss his fingers one by one.

"Hermes, my brother, I swear to be your friend in all matters, know that I am here, by your side."

Hermes' eyes shook.

He doesn't know why, but those very words feel like something he longed to hear, even longer than just today that he was born.

What a weird feeling.

Red stares back on blue, blue that flashed in a way that was painfully familiar but not.

"I would love no other among the immortals, neither god nor man sprung from Zeus, better than you..."

It's warm.

"This I swear."

"Acknowledged."

Chapter Text

Zeus watch in satisfaction as the others welcome Hermes to the Olympus with warmth. Even Hera was charmed and lent a cheek to be kissed.

Hephaestus presented him with a winged sandals to help with his speed, a token for his future work.

"Oh, brother Hephaestus." Hermes crooned. "Thank you!"

A kiss on the cheek was also what wins the god of fire and forge's heart as he limps to his workshop. Later, Hephaestus would present another gift that match the winged sandals - an enchanted winged hat that would serve not only as head protection but as something that could hide his features well.

"You shall be bless with quick wit and good luck." Athena proclaims, patting the child's head.

"I would say beauty beyond compare but you already have it." Aphrodite sighs. "Instead, I bless you with unrivaled charm."

"Hmph. What useless gifts." Ares harrumph. "What should be given to a man is power! You, shall have the strength worthy of the Olympians, strength beyond that of a simple god."

Your gift is even more useless. Zeus thought, remembering the achievements Hermes have as Seth, god of the desert and war, and the display of power he had shown.

The Ennead didn't make a move against him before Horus came into picture for a reason.

"My gift is that you may have exceptional senses and guile. Those should serve you well." Artemis cut in, uncharacteristic warmth in her voice as she stares at the boy in Apollo's lap.

"May you never face hardship too hard to overcome." Demeter prays, her daughter follows after her mother.

"May you be loved and cherished for long." Hestia also prays. "Safe and sound in your travels and whenever."

Those are good gifts.

"My gift for you, a safe entrance on my realm whenever you please." Hades' voice boomed.

Murmurs resounded throughout the halls in shock. Hades, reclusive and solitary Hades, allowing anyone in his realm.

"My gift is the same." Poseidon says, with a hint of annoyance, probably because he ended up sharing a gift. "And 3 favors."

Hades and Poseidon gave each other a side-eye, but thankfully didn't fight.

Many more gifts were presented, some a blessing, some objects, some titles.

"Then my gift, for you, shall be a sanctuary." Zeus watch his siblings look up to him, with them being the only one who knows the true meaning of his gift. "Know that you have a home to return, no matter what."

And with that, the celebrations continued.

Aphrodite, Kore and the other gods dances while Apollo plays music with his lyre, Hermes beside him playing another instrument he created.

Athena and Artemis play Zatrikion.

Ares was helping himself with the ambrosia served in the table.

Hades and Poseidon are talking with Hestia and Demeter.

And Hera and Zeus are together, a couple away from the celebration itself.

"He could have been mine." Hera said, going straight to the point.

Zeus sighs at that, his wife's competitive streak was making its head known.

Though at least she adores Hermes enough to want him as her child.

"He calls you Mother." He replies instead, putting a hand on his wife's waist to pull her to him. "I didn't give him to you because it was Maia that can give him what he needed."

"The flower of life."

"Indeed." He agreed, recalling the unsuspecting red flowers with 7 petals that he obtained from Maia.

"His soul was dissolving; it was so full of pain and hurt that it tried to end itself."

Flashes of ugly memories pop in his mind.

"Ambrosia and the flower of life are the only way to save him, and the only one who can use it are the Pleiades, I had thought Maia would be the best option."

"Well, he's one of us now." Hera pushed away the wandering hands. "Egypt has lost one of its gods."

"And it will stay that way."

...

Hermes sobs in his brothers' arms as the other stroke his hair to comfort him, Artemis was also with them, her hand on the small of his back. 

Hecate stood in front of them, with Zeus, Hera and Maia. 

"My heart..." Maia tried to say but Zeus made a motion to stop her, shaking his head to her. 

"Let's give them privacy."

Apollo didn't pull back until everyone have left the room, leaving only the three of them in the chamber to comfort each other.

"Oh, λατρεία μου, it's alright. It's all going to be alright..." Apollo murmured, stroking the cheek, wiping the tears that flows out of his brother's eyes.

"You not being able to have a child of your own is not the end of the world χρυσέ μου, Asclepius adores you, and so do many children."

"Indeed, Khaos knows dear Apollon doesn't know how to raise his own child." Artemis adds, hints of mockery and comfort mixing in her tone. Apollo glared at his twin but didn't say anything else.

"Indeed, you're his favorite, he might be no babe, but he still has growing to do, not everyone can grow into an adult in just a day like you did."

Hermes mouth twitch.

...

"Hermes!" Said god startled at the sudden call, thankfully he has a good grip with the babe in his arms.

"Apollo." Hermes greeted back. 

"Whose child is that now?" The blonde asks in exasperation. "Don't tell me it's another half-brother."

"Haha. You would be right brother." Whenever he had a babe with him, it was most likely a bastard of Zeus than a child of another nymph or gods. "Arcas, I am to take him to mother to be raised in Arcadia."

"Of course, you are." It was obvious the mother was dead even without it being said, Hera is very jealous woman that wouldn't let such things pass. 

"Would you like to come with? I'm sure Mother would appreciate it."

"Appreciate? Brother, your humor is getting worse by the day. She hates me." The brown-haired woman was still mad at him for handling her babe wrong, the one time he visited barring the day they met, he was sure the other would be ready to strangle him the moment Hermes turns his back.

"Suit yourself." Hermes said dismissively. "Was there anything you need, why did you call for me?"

"Aphrodite wants to talk to you but is unable to locate you." He huffed. "I don't know why she felt the need to bother me when she could have just prayed on you for you to hear her."

"Oh brother, she probably just upset with you because of poor Eros."

"It was the brat that started it first."

"Still, Eros is just a child."

"I don't care, if he thinks he can keep up with those older than him then he's old enough to own up to the consequences."

...

"Apollo!" An excited voice called out, it was achingly familiar, and the tunes it sang make him feel lighter. He was barreled in by a red blur.

"Hermes." He greeted back warmly, patting the younger's red locks whilst his other hand was hugging back. 

"Ah, sister Artemis." Hermes greeted when he notices the goddess, hugging her also.

"Dear Hermes, what got you exited, might I ask?" Artemis tone and expression hold warmth and fondness she doesn't show on any men barring her twin, and now, Hermes too.

"Oh brother, sister, I have never been so happy my entire life!" The red-haired god announces, practically bouncing in his feet. "Aphrodite said I can have a child!"

What?

"But I thought you were infertile?" Artemis shared a look of confusion with her brother. 

"I am." The reply was strained, it was a subject Hermes hates to talk about, with him adoring babes more than anyone else, finding out he cannot have one on his own left him depressed, which was why the other gods and goddesses let the messenger play with their children when he has free time. "But, you see, apparently I have a very unusual birth."

"Oh?" Unusual birth wasn't uncommon with gods, Athena and Hephaestus were born of a single god and Aphrodite herself was of seafoam, so it made Apollo, as god of healing, curious.

"I am not supposed to live, my soul was dissolving at the day of my birth-" 

"What?!" 

"-but I lived because of Mother's flower, see, from Grandfather Atlas, Mother and her sisters received a flower, a flower of life, combined with ambrosia I managed to live."

Hermes folded his hands together, light was shining through between his fingers as he utters a spell Apollo doesn't know, when he opens his palms, there was a small seven petalled flower the color of the gods' hair and eyes.

"I only needed a petal, but Mother decided to put it all in me, and with it being at my core for so long it is in tune with my divinity and magic." 

"And because of that it can act like a seed." Artemis said in awe.

"In a sense." Hermes nodded, making the flower vanish. "It has seven petals, which means, I can have as many as six children! Oh, I have never been so happy!"

"No."

"Apollo?" Artemis said in shock.

"Brother?" Hermes blanched.

"Even if it works what about you?" Apollo stood up, looming over both his sister and brother. "It's what saved your soul, how can you be sure that giving up petals won't do you harm? I will not allow it."

"Brother, I-"

"No Hermes. I will not allow it."

Hermes looks devasted but that was for the best, even if it means he would be temporarily unhappy, if it guarantees his safety then Apollo would bet on it. Hermes could hate him for now, but he'll make sure to make it up with the messenger later.

"Ugh, you're such an asshole you know that?" Artemis huffed.

He turns to glare to his twin. "I'm doing this for him. Are you saying you're willing to risk his soul for something that isn't even guaranteed to work?"

"How dare you, are you implying I care less for him because I want to support his desire to have a babe of his own?"

The twin son of Leto and Zeus rarely ever get into argument, they are alike in many ways and in things they differ they leave each other alone, which is why they were as thick as thieves, but when it doesn't stray to the fact that they were gods, and they have pride, and when it's hurt, they clash, it's not pretty.

"Apollo, Artemis!" Hermes got in between the twins. "Do not fight now."

"I don't care if you hate me, I'm not risking it."

"How about you back off, you are so protective it's a miracle from Khaos themselves Hermes isn't choking on it."

"Stop!" Hermes push the two of each other. "Listen to me first, will you?"

"Fine."

"Mother herself confirmed it, I can use it without risking my soul." Hermes explained carefully. "Hecate will make sure of it, and Aphrodite said that she is willing to carry the child in her womb, even in the chance it fails, it won't do either of us much harm."

Red eyes meet blue.

"Besides, what do I need to worry so much for when the god of healing adores me so?"

...

A cry of a newborn babe...Hermes has never heard a more beautiful sound.

"By Khaos, the child lives." 

Hermes holds the babe in his arm, so small...

"Why don't you name him Hermes?" Aphrodite nudges.

"Is it really, okay? He's your child too."

"Yes."

"Then...you shall be called-"

"-Anubis."

"-Hermaphroditus."

Chapter Text

It had been almost a decade since Seth died, Isis and Horus rule over Egypt, and the women and children that Isis took were once again mingling with the folk. Seth's temple and followers were disbanded, though a few still cause troubles. Egypt was slowly recovering.

Or it was supposed to.

"Aagh, those ruffians! When will they stop attacking us?!" Isis snarled. Foreign invaders have been getting more and more bold despite their best efforts.

Horus can't help but think of his uncle. Seth, even with his tyrannical reign, never failed to protect Egypt from outsiders. He didn't need the support of other gods and goddesses at all, unlike him and his mother.

'Uncle, Egypt is falling. Isn't it funny that under your rule, even if it was not prospering, it was intact, and yet the moment you die, it comes falling apart?' Horus couldn't help but think, staring longingly at the set mask that was the only thing left of his uncle. Isis wanted it destroyed, but it was one of the very few things Horus ever denied his mother in exchange.

He had to marry Hathor just to save the mask; he didn't want to, his heart being for his uncle and uncle alone. But with Seth's soul nowhere to be found, Horus finds himself clinging to the only thing he has of the older god.

The only other thing that gives comfort to him is that his madman of a father does not have his uncle either. Horus was sure of this because there have been signs—the life in the desert doesn't thrive as it did before, and it is not just because of its god. The rare plants that do grow wilt and never make any more appearances, and the red flower that he came to hate at the temple of his uncle, were gone.

As if Osiris too was mourning the loss.

"Horus! Are you listening to me?ng to me?" He was jerked out of his thoughts by his mother's shouting to his face, her hands grasping his cheeks to make him meet her eyes.

"Yes, mother, the foreign invaders in the south have been terrorizing our citizens. Our other borders are also being attacked, and so we are being stretched beyond what we can deal with."

Isis huffed. "Well, at least you are listening." Her body turned stiff the moment she glanced at the set mask in his hand; her expression was strange, not in the sense that Horus couldn't read it but in the sense that he found it hard to believe that his mother would wear it in honor of his uncle.

"Anyway, the other gods have been helping, so it shouldn't be much of a deal, but we must not go lax. I'll get going now. Thoth wants an audience."

Horus has never seen his mother run away so fast, not even when they were running all over Egypt away from his uncle's clutches.

"What a weird expression to make, mother." Horus murmured to himself, all alone in his chambers except for the set mask in his hand and a bird of his own making.

"You feel guilty now of all times?" Hah."

...

"Anubis," said the boy, snapping out of his trance, and Anubis turned his gaze from the desert to the one to call him.

"Hathor." He greeted the goddess of love and beauty, the wife of Pharoah, and the Queen of Egypt with a bow.

Hathor waved her hand. "There's no need for that; we've been living for so long without such formality."

"Understood." He agreed easily, not bothering to argue. "Was there something you needed from me?"

"Not I, Isis; she wants you to join us in the feast." There was no need to say what the feast was; it was the 10th year, 10 years since his fathers' dissolution and Horus ascension to the throne of Egypt.

"Of course, I'll be there."

Awkward silence enveloped the atmosphere as neither made moves.

"That's all."  Hathor bowed, practically bolting out of the area, leaving Anubis by himself.

He stares at the desert again.

...

Music and dances were all over the hall. Hathor was leading the dancers with Bastet. Everyone was in their own corners as the celebration raged on. Anubis sat with Isis and Horus on the throne, overlooking them.

"Anubis..." Isis starts, drawing said demigod's gaze from the celebration to the older god beside him. "Have you no plan to get a wife? It has been long.

It was a conversation he wasn't unfamiliar with, so he just smiled and was about to make the excuse that he had been telling his aunt when he felt his IB throb.

"Agh." He clutches at his chest. It was painful, not unlike the pain when the curse his father gave him envelops him.

"Anubis?"  Thud.  "Horus?  "What is happening, you two?"

"Haah...ahh...hgnh..." 

Isis felt helpless as she stared at her son and nephew fall on the floor, both clutching their chests in pain; something dark surrounded their bodies.

"HORUS!"  Cries Hathor, running to them, stopping beside her husband.

Nephthys was beside Anubis, sobbing.

The other has also stopped what they were doing and is staring at the two in horror and confusion.

The two were on the floor, gasping, not responding to the calls of the other gods and goddesses.

"Then...you shall be called."

"AGHHHH!"

"Horus!  Anubis!"

"What's happening?!"

The dark miasma surrounding the two grew, throwing Isis, Hathor, and Nephthys away from the two suffering demigods.

"Somebody do something!" Hathor cries again. The words jolt Isis into action as she tries to use her magic to destroy the dark magic, but it does nothing.

"It's not working."

"-Anubis."

"-Hermaphroditus."

The dark aura grew and grew. It envelops the whole hall for what seems like forever. Then it was just gone.

"W-what...?" Batet asked in confusion, looking at the shining gold dust all over them.

"Oh, what is happening?"

Nut hugs her husband as they stare at the gold dust that somehow feels familiar.

The golden dust moves, gathering at the center, passing by several gods and goddesses.

Ra, from her throne by herself, stood, an amused smile graces her face. "My, would you look at that?"

In there, stood in between the two kneeling demigods: Seth, god of the desert and war.

"What..."

"Why is he here?!"

"Oh Ra, we're dead, all dead!"

Gold enveloped Seth's whole person as he stood. His gaze was on the demigods on the ground and no one else's.

"Father..."

"Uncle..." 

"...I'm sorry..."

Before either Anubis or Horus touched the figure, it burst out in golden dust.

"No, no, no! Father!" Anubis sobs out, grasping at nothing.

"Uncle..."

...

The celebration ended just like that; Anubis was inconsolable, and Horus was unresponsive.

...

"The desert! Oh, heavens, the desert is disappearing!"

Chapter Text

Hermes has a good memory; it comes with being a god, after all, but somehow, he cannot recognize where he is right now. It was far too hot, sand-filled, and devoid of buildings—the polar opposite of Hellas' ever-green fields.

"Seth!" A voice, a woman's voice, somehow rings familiar to him. "You're back." The woman was beautiful, with blonde hair, golden eyes, and fair skin. Her clothes were different from those worn by the people of Hellas.

"Nephthys." It was weird; somehow the motion came from him.

'Am I seeing a memory?' It was the first thing that comes to his mind, being the god of dreams, he was well verse on the different type of dreams, and it is pretty common for memories forgotten or such to make appearances in dreams. 'If so, whose? Even when I took the title, such things as being the bearer of memories had never happened before; at most, I am a passive observer, unable to interact with the memory at all.'

It was strange, how his body and mouth moved on their own, as if following the memory itself, with feelings and thoughts flooding into him as if he were the one who had this memory.

"Anubis has been restless; he misses you, husband." Husband? 

"Does he? Must be because I promise to take him on patrol as soon as the campaign's end." Unadulterated fondness encompasses his person as images of a boy flash in his mind.

"That must be it." Nephthys agreed with a small smile. "How has the campaign been? You must tell me, husband."

"Just some ruffians who think they're bigshots. Hmph, they're nothing but mere mercenaries, and they are not even coordinated or could agree on one thing, so full of pride they are, it was quite easy to just sweep them away with sandstorms and they take care of the rest."

"That is a sad tale. You must feel quite insulted." Another voice, a man's, hummed.

Green, the man has a bare torso and some headgear and a strange attachment on his chin, and he is green.

Emotions, the opposite of what rushed on him because of the dream, washed over him.

Dread, anger, and hatred

It was...odd. If he is experiencing a memory of someone, then how come he is having such strong emotion against the man he doesn't even know?

"I am. They have the audacity to challenge me. When they're nothing but an unorganized bunch of misfits, it would be harder to beat Hathor in a fight than to mess up their attack."

"Husband!"  Nephthys' chide.  "Hathor is perfectly capable!"

His character, Seth, was clearly disbelieving of the claim but didn't voice it.

"There isn't much else to report other than that, brother. If I may be excused."

"Of course." 

There were murmurs; when he was far away from the two, Hermes wanted to turn, but the character he plays didn't turn, making it physically impossible for him as the actor to do so.

Curiosity—stronger than usual—rings in his mind.

…

He opened his eyes to the familiar white marble ceiling and luxurious drapes. He was in Apollo's room, lying in his bed.

What happened? The last memory he has is holding his child.

"The baby!" Panic envelopes his being. He was holding the baby when he felt a pain in his head unlike any other, and then nothing. Has he dropped Hermaphroditus?

"The baby's fine. Though I'm afraid I can't say the same for you with certainty." A familiar voice states, The tone is ice cold.

"Brother..." He tried to placate.

"Don't 'brother' me." Apollo spat, his blue eyes shining in anger and power. "Not only have you fainted, you have been unconscious for the past 5 sun cycles!"

"What?"

"Asclepius and I are lost; there is nothing wrong with you, and yet you do not wake at all." The words make him look guilty, and Apollo looks less bright too; certainly, he would not be caught so dull in normal circumstances. "And your hand..."

"My hand?" His hands were bare, his golden vambraces were gone, but there was something in his left wrist: a bracelet with large black oval beads. Now that he is aware of it, he senses a not exactly malevolent but also not salubrious aura surrounding it. "A curse?"

"It appeared on your wrist when you fell; black smoke surrounded your hand, and when it cleared, it was there, pulsing." It was Artemis who said it as she entered the chamber with Athena and Aphrodite. "How do you feel, brother? You've been out for so long that the whole of Olympus is in disarray."

"I'm fine, sister," Hermes assured the elder. "Though I can't say I find this thing pleasant now that I feel it," she said. I do not know how I could possibly have gotten cursed or why it just appears now."

"Father's suspicious." Athena reveals, face pinch in a frown. "He knows what it is, but he refuses to tell."

"Indeed, it is very suspicious, especially considering he's not willing to tell you." Aphrodite says. "Hermaphroditus is with Eros right now; he grows fast, not unlike you; he's a toddler now and quite the terror."

"Is he?" He huffs, pride rushing to him. "Shame I am unable to witness it. And you said Father is uncooperative?"

"It's a downright ridiculous display, and the more times it is brought up, the more nonsensical things he says are." Athena was clearly dissatisfied by it, not used to not getting what she wants from the King.

"Hecate has been more helpful." Apollo states as he hands a cup of ambrosia and medicine to him. "Although it has also left her baffled, she thinks it is also a curse like you did, but she said it is unusual; it is a curse, yet it is not malevolent in nature, or at least doesn't appear to be."

"Yes, I can feel it too, though it does not feel pleasant either." He touches one of the beads, and it tingles his fingers. "It seems dormant."

"That's what she said too." Artemis confirms. "Hecate said she can't break it on her own, not only because of its strangeness but because it is very powerful."

Curse breaking was a talent Hermes perfected under the guidance of Hecate, goddess of magic, and the most important rule in curse breaking is that it is safer if you know who cast the curse and their reason, but it is not necessary as most curses are easy to break. It is an entirely different case if the curse is powerful and unusual however, it might be more dangerous to break it than to leave it in those cases.

"She said that it is important to know who cast it and why; it is of Egyptian origin; have you been to Egypt?"

"Egypt? The land of pharaohs?" He has never been in Egypt, and the few Egyptians he has interacted with are humans, certainly not strong enough to cast a curse on a god, let alone a very powerful one. "I have never been in Egypt; as a matter of fact, I have never even been anywhere near its borders. I have explicit orders from Father to avoid it."

"He ordered you?" The four immortals were as lost as him.

"Suspicious indeed." Athena murmured. "Just what is it, and why won't he tell?"

Aphrodite frowns at that, saying, "That might be, but no matter how much of a bastard Zeus is, one thing we could all be reassured on is his love for Hermes. Zeus would never put him in danger, not deliberately at least."

"It doesn't change the fact that he is interfering with Hermes' recovery by hiding what he knows." Athena retorted.

"Don't worry too much; I'll do my very best to uncover this mystery." She assures him, putting a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"I swear it by my title as the goddess of wisdom."

…

The cursed bracelet can't be removed but somehow can be covered; his usual wristband was in place as if there were no large beads under it.

"Perhaps you should rest more." As Apollo suggests, his brows pinch with a frown that has been increasingly frequent the past 2 cycles he was under monitoring. "Iris can handle your job as messenger, and other gods can continue to oversee your other domain."

"I can't. They've already done so much these past 5 cycles that I don't want to impose for long."

"Hmph, it's not like their domain requires much work; all they do is laze around."

"I'm not trusting trade to Aristaeus, not when I am perfectly capable now."

There were a few more half-hearted back and forth before Apollo gave up.

"Stubborn child." The older immortal huffs. "Just be sure not to overwork yourself."

"Of course, brother."

And so, the following days were spent absolving other gods and goddesses of the duty of overseeing his domains and then running them. Currently, he is overseeing an international trade between the people of Hellas and some Egyptian merchants. There was nothing unusual about it; it was practically routine work, but then, everything went terribly wrong.

"You must be the patron of merchants, Lord Hermes." It was one of the Egyptian merchants that said it, walking toward him. Later on, thinking about it, he should have been more suspicious—how could a human know where he was?

"At your service." He nods in acknowledgement.

"I did not expect you to personally oversee the trade; are the gods of Hellas much more in touch with their citizens?"

"I would not know my lady; I have never been to Egypt before." Truth be told, he wasn't there to oversee the trade; he could do that while he was doing his other task, and the trade itself isn't anything special, but he figured that observing Egyptians might give him a clue about his curse.

"There isn't much to see there at all, my lord, just dry sands and some uninteresting people." Her tone was very caustic.

"You do not have any love for your motherland?"

"No, not really. The only interesting thing there is gone now."

"I see. Well, I hope you find Hellas an interesting stay."

"Oh, it is, it sure is."

That was the last of his memories before pain, originating from his wrist, enveloped him.

Chapter Text

Sekhmet stares at the slumped form of the former god of the desert and war, black tendrils starting from his left wrist slowly consuming him.

"Oh Seth..." She hums before vanishing. 

Just as the figure standing at the patron of merchants vanish, another god appears, shining brightly as he nears the hill darken by the trees that surround it.

"Hermes!"

...

"SEKHMET!" A familiar voice boomed just as she was about to make it out of Hellas. Looking around, the sky was beginning to darken and thunder rolls in the clouds. Ah...Zeus.

"Zeus..." She purrs.

"You dare! Not only have you come to Hellas despite our deal, but you've also endangered my son!"

"I haven't endangered him." She replies, crossing her arm, not in the least intimidated by the display of power the other god is showing. "In fact, I save him, the least I could get is a thank you for my efforts."

"Save him? How is that saving him, his soul is chipping away and being corrupted! The whole of Hellas is a mess!"

"It's saving him because I am giving him a chance to free himself of that damned bracelet, trust me, it's better to force it out than let it do its own job." When the other god didn't seem convinced, she adds, "He needs to free the souls that suffered in his hand, that's the only way he can truly be free."

"He's not returning to Egypt." Zeus said firmly. "And you're not taking him."

Sekhmet rolls her eyes at that, not that the so-called king of the gods could see it. "I'm not. You don't see him with me, do you?"

A shift. Another god is approaching. Sekhmet smirks and then loudly, "The souls need to be recompense for him to be free, that's the only way. He doesn't need to go to Egypt, I'm sure you could figure out a way for his soul to be saved without returning to that cursed land, though, I doubt you'll figure it out on your own, I think the goddess of wisdom would be a great help, wouldn't she?"

Her eyes landed on the cold blue of the said goddess. 

"Father." 

The look of shock and horror in Zeus' face was something Sekhmet was sure she won't ever forget.

...

Artemis heart clench as she stares at her twin desperately try to hold on their youngest brother, the whole chamber was bathe in sunlight despite it already being night, the source of the light coming from the desperate god of healing.

"Tsk. Curses, those damn cowards." Ares growled behind her; his fist clenched in anger. Hephaestus was on the corner, silent per usual, but it was obvious he was also having hard time holding back his anger by the way he grips his hammer he always has with him.

"Hera have already sent for Iris to fetch Hekate." Aphrodite says as she enters. "She should be here soon."

"Well let's just hope she knows what to do this time." 

Artemis glared at her brother at that. "It's not her fault."

"You're right, it's Father's." All head whips to the direction of the goddess of wisdom at that.

"What we really need is not Hekate, but Uncle Hades."

"What?"

...

"Hah, what a troublesome child." Hades sighs as soon as he entered the healing chambers. "How is my nephew now?"

"Lord Hades." Hekate bows. "He is stable, for now. I have used many counter curses and sealing magic to hold the curse at bay."

"I see." He turns to Athena. "What is your proposal?"

"Sekhmet-" 

"The goddess of destruction?"

"Yes, Ares-" 

"How can we trust that woman? That's the equivalent of trusting Eris!"

"-if you would let me talk, I can explain!"

Ah, Hades suddenly remembers why he rarely leave and haven't given anyone (baring Hermes) access in the Underworld.

"As I was saying..." Athena continues. "Sekhmet said that in order to break the curse he must bring peace to the lost and vengeful souls trap in the ether."

"I see. So, you want me to make him a psychopomp?" Hades wasn't sure about is, the poor child already have many domains he watches on. 

"What? You want to add in his task?" Apollo voices out. "He practically run the whole of Hellas already!"

"Well-" Athena bits back, her tone suggesting she wants to strangle the life out of the god of light. "-either that, or he returns to Egypt and search for the souls there."

Nobody spokes after that, clearly choosing the option given by Athena.

"Return?" Hades asks in surprise. "So, my little brother already told you about it?"

"More like he was forced to." Athena huffs. "I caught him in the act."

"I see...well, I supposed Charon and Thanatos could use some help and the souls can have comfort before they go on the underworld." Thankfully it wouldn't be hard to give the title to little Hermes since he was already free to walk into the Underworld whenever he feels it.

"I grant you, the power to collect the souls of the dead." He whispers to his red-haired nephews' ears.

"May the Moirai weave this destiny in your threads."

...

"Apollo." Said god turns to his twin.

"Artemis..."

"It's going to be alright." She tries to comfort, her words rough and awkward but were from the heart, nonetheless. "We'll protect him, you and I, and others too."

"I know."

"Even Hera adores him so."

"And with her overly jealous nature, there would be no one spared of her wrath if it comes to it." 

They share a laugh at that. 

"I hate them, I have never felt such hatred before." Apollo confess, leaning to his sister's shoulder for comfort. "I have never thought I would be capable of such ugly emotion."

"Neither do I brother. What they've done is unforgivable." Artemis brush at those golden curls. "I had thought our family is a mess, clearly we aren't trying enough."

"I never thought we would be dethroned too."

"The world does works wonders."

"He's ours now." Apollo whispers, his tone full of conviction and promise. "They can't have him back-"

"Nor hurt him-"

Under the night sky, witness by the goddesses of night and the moon, Artemis and Apollo's hand curls to one another in a promise.

"-not in our watch."

...

Thoth was resting before the skies when he felt it.

"Seth?"

Chapter Text

Hermes' transition from being god of the Upperworld to also being god of the Underworld went very smoothly; it was a good thing he already had permission to go in the Underworld whenever he pleases -- something that had come in handy when Hades took Persephone -- and so there weren't really any bumps in his promotion. In fact, he even gained another title because of it: the god of transition, liminality, and boundaries.

There was a lot of work to be done during the transition, but thankfully Thanatos and Charon are plenty amicable and already quite acquainted with him, and the mortals are more than happy to do volunteer work to rewrite his titles on his temples over Hellas.

It was in this new job that he discovered something new.

"They can see past the glamour of your helmet?" Persephone asks when Hermes told her they were in the private chamber in the castle of the underworld, on a temporary break from judging where souls go.

"Yes, I had thought it was a fluke at first, or that my first client was just able to see because she has a large concentration of mana in her soul, but it keeps happening." Hermes confesses, remembering his shock at being called out as a longhaired redhead when the glamour is supposed to show blue eyes and short curly brown hair; he had come to Hephaestus about his concern, and the other confirmed that the glamour spell in the helmet was still as strong as ever. "I have tested it; I have asked the living humans I help when I am not on duty, and they see the illusion still."

"Perhaps it is only the dead that can see through it." The familiar voice of Hades resounded as he entered, a tray of fruits and ambrosia in his hands. "The dead, after all, do not have a body, and thus magic is nigh ineffective for them." There was something in his voice that Hermes cannot understand, but he holds his curiosity back, somehow feeling that it is related to the secret that the rest of his family vehemently tries to hide from him.

His mind wanders back to what the older god has said; it was a plausible theory, Hermes supposes. Now, one might think that with the dead being souls and souls containing the mana and not the body, it would be easier to cast magic on them, but that is not the case; the mana in them is even more volatile and protective, for it is bare for the world to see, and thus, it treats every magic, no matter how harmless, as a threat to its existence, and so it nullifies any magic within a certain radius or whatever it could perceive.

"That is plausible, Uncle." Hermes agrees as he takes the cup of ambrosia. "Thank you."

"It is a good thing we do not need to feed, or else you would have starved long ago." Hades makes comments without any real bite.

Hermes laughed at that but didn't say anything else. They all fall into a comforting silence as they eat together, savoring the short break they have, for the time of fall and winter is the busiest in the Underworld.

...

"Are you still upset?" Hermes asks his brother, who is valiantly ignoring him, engrossed in sculpting an image of himself playing the lyre. "Brother, have I not apologized already? You know the fall and winter are the busiest seasons in the Underworld."

"..."

"I am here, am I not?"

"So, you got bored with Ares and came to me now?"

"What?"

"What, your new best friend's not that exciting?" The tone Apollo uses is something Hermes is intimately familiar with; Apollo is very solicitous and proprietorial, especially about things that concern him and Artemis, and being the trickster god he is, he is a target of it more often than not.

"Brother Ares was just asking me a favor, that was it! He just wants me to strengthen his armor!"

"And he couldn't have Hephaestus do that?" Apollo scoffs, finally stopping his sculpting; he lowers his tools and turns to face his brother. "Does he think Hephaestus is so incapable that the armor wouldn't be strong enough to withstand whatever he does like the brute that he is?"

"Brother!" Hermes chastises. "And no, Brother Hephaestus has done a great job as always; Ares just wants me to strengthen the spells placed. The god of the forge and blacksmith may be very capable, but it doesn't hurt to have someone that practices magic intensively strengthen them!"

Apollo opens his mouth to retort but stopped himself, a frown of confusion marred his face. "Is that Uncle Hades? What is he doing here?"

Hermes snaps his attention to the direction his brother was looking. True to the god of light's word, there was the god of the Underworld, strolling the halls of Olympus.

"It is him." Hermes confirms this in equal confusion. The older god rarely left his realm, preferring to stay in the Underworld over anything else, and so it was quite a shock to see him voluntarily leave the confines of his home.

"That's the direction of Father's study..." Apollo said. "Perhaps he is seeing an audience?"

"I do not know; Uncle hasn't told me anything."

"He didn't? Do you think it's a personal matter perhaps?"

Hermes shook his head. "Has never stopped him from telling me before, or at the very least, he asks me to deliver a message seeking audience to Father. I do not understand; I just came from the Underworld myself; if it is so urgent that he needs to immediately tell Father, then he could have come with me."

"Do you truly have no idea what his concerns could be? Perhaps Persephone?"

"They seem alright, and I haven't seen Aunt Demeter since I wandered to search for you earlier." Demeter was usually in the garden, or she was very near it; it was the first thing you saw when you stepped through the gates. "Though now that I think about it, our last conversation was about the infectivity of the glamour against the dead."

Apollo stiffens beside him, making Hermes narrow his eyes—what a curious reaction.

"Hmph. Regardless, it is none of our business whatever it is Uncle is concerned about enough to seek Father so abruptly." Apollo said it dismissively, but Hermes knows better to believe it. "If it is so important, then Father will tell us later. Come, I need your help with my music." With that, Apollo walks away.

Hermes looks back one last time to the hall before following. Curiosity tickles his mind, but he dismisses it like he does whenever he knows others are purposely hiding things from him. It was probably the secret they were all adamant about hiding from him, and so he decides to put his trust in his family and tell them it is not much of a threat they need to be concerned about.

He also has a feeling in the back of his mind that he really doesn't want to know about it.

...

Zeus sighs from his throne as he reviews in his mind what his older brother just told him.

"That is indeed very concerning..." It was an understatement, and they both knew it, but neither of them wants to address it.

"I thought you should know." Hades sighs. "Though if it is any comfort, I am a god of the Underworld, and I still see the glamour whenever he has his helmet on, and so do the others. Perhaps it is only reserved for those who are truly dead, and despite our closeness to the deceased because of our work, we are not truly dead, for we gods have the gift of immortality."

"Let us hope so."

Hades bows his head in agreement.

"Regardless, it is a concern I wished to raise just in case, although I personally do not think there is much to worry about even if that bastard can see past his glamour."

Zeus raises a brow at that. "Oh? Why is that, brother?"

"The rules in the Upperworld are just about the same as those in the Underworld; they are even stricter in fact; although there is only one true Underworld, there are domains in which certain Pantheons rule, and thus they cannot interfere within them; Duat is far from my territory, and Cerberus is a good guard..."

"And so, there is little chance of him seeing Hermes." Zeus finished the sentence once he got it.

"Precisely, and from what I know from the loose mouths, Duat isn't in the best of shape, and so they are less likely to pay attention to anything else."

"I see." Zeus nodded. "Thank you for informing me, Brother. Would you join me for a cup of ambrosia? I am sure the travel from your home to here is long."

"I suppose I can afford to stay just a little longer."

...

Hermes was right in his prediction; Zeus didn't raise any concern at all, excusing Hades' abrupt visit as a social call concerning Persephone, much to Demeter's charge. He squashes the curiosity that rings in the back of his head and continues to do his work, and soon enough, the thought leaves his mind.

He was currently at the garden Demeter attended so dutifully, and in his lap was his only daughter and third child, Angelia, who he was combing through those blond locks.

"Father?" Angelia's tiny voice asks He hums in question. "Do you think I can do work now?"

"Work? What work?" Angelia was just over 2 centuries old, younger than Hermaphroditus by a century, but she has no titles in her name still because of how slowly she grows.

"I want it to be something like a message!" Angelia said, turning to him, her eyes shining with determination. "That way I can help you with your tasks, and you can get more free time to spend with us!"

"Is that so?" He stares back, amused and fond. "I will talk to the others about your concern; will that do?"

"Uhn!"

"There. There." He pats his daughter's cheek. "Now that your hair is done, do you want to do something else?"

"HERMES!"   

He felt himself jerk violently at the voice in his head. It was loud and full of distress. Father.

"Angelia, why don't you join your uncles or aunts for now?" He told his child gently. "Father needs to take care of something."

The poor girl drooped down a bit but didn't protest. "Goodbye Father." He kisses his child one last time before he disappears.

...

"Father." He kneels down. "What do you need me for?"

"Hermes." Zeus acknowledged that his voice was strained. "I have shown Semele my true form. She made me swear."

He perks up at the name—a woman's name. It was probably one of his father's many mistresses, whenever he indulges. Hermes can't say he approves, especially when Zeus' proves to be very fertile, which results in a child every time, leaving Hera very displeased and vengeful.

"I see." No mortal can gaze upon a god's true form; it is simply too incomprehensible for them and, at best, would drive them mad if it didn't outright kill them. "I shall guide her soul then."

"That isn't just it!" Hermes blinks at that, confused. What could possibly-? "Is that a child?" It was perhaps more accurate to call the floating thing a fetus, not yet fully developed and encased in a blue orb.

"It's Semele's." Zeus confirms. "I do not have much time to explain Hermes; I can't lose our child."

Realization hits him like a wild horse, the flower of life. It would be enough to support the demi-god—would he be a demi-god though? If he was not born by his mortal mother?—and allow him to grow up.

"I see." He closes his hands together, chanting a familiar chant as his hands glow; when he opens his hands, there lies a red flower with four petals left.

"Thank you. You have always been reliable, my child." He felt himself glow at the praise as he dismissed the now three-petaled flower.

"He still needs somewhere to incubate."

"I know."

And Hermes could say that he witnessed a death and rebirth; Zeus sowed the fetus in his thigh and carried it to term.

Hermes carried the child away from Hera, delivering it to his other mother.

He didn't see the child for a long time.

Chapter Text

Horus stares at the desert with a wistful look. It was getting more and more dead as time passed. Thoth reported that he felt the sand shifting and that sandstorms were becoming more common, making it hard to grow crops. Despite this, the sandstorms were also a blessing, for they swallowed Egypt's enemies whole before they got near any town and razed them. It was a double-edged sword.

Then, after a few more decades, the desert became tamer, and people could live their lives without fear of getting swallowed by the desert. Everything was going well, and he was able to rebuild the military during the tumultuous time, so Egypt is once again able to defend its own border on its own. But of course, the peace did not last long; one of the priests from Geb's temple raised a concern to them.

"The sands. O great Pharoah, it is disappearing!"

Indeed, it was not noticeable at all, but Geb confirmed that it was true, saying that he felt such a shift in his sleep. It was alarming.

"Is this your revenge, Uncle?" He asked the desert as he sat in the small garden that overlooked the vast red sand. "You have wronged me terribly, haven't you?"

It was almost two decades ago when the real truth came to life. Anubis found out the truth thanks to Sekhmet, and to say he went ballistic would be an understatement. The new god went on a rampage in his anger, destroying anything in his wake. Isis would have been almost killed had it not been for the interference of Nut and Bastet.

Horus can still remember the incident that almost tore everything apart.

"You! How dare you! How could you?!"

Anubis had stormed to the great hall where the Ennead were gathered.

"Anubis?!" Isis had cried in alarm, but the male god didn't stop in his tracks, and to everyone's shock, he grabbed the god of magic by the throat.

"Anubis!" Other gods cry.

"He was a victim! He suffered, and yet, and yet..." Those were the words that made Horus realize what was happening, and yet, even when Anubis' hands started to be surrounded by dark light, he found himself unable to move. "He just wanted to be happy and have family! Father...father he..."

Isis eyes widened; Horus had never seen her so shocked and afraid before. Horus stood where he was while others tried desperately to pull Anubis off his mother.

"How could you?"

"Anubis..."  Isis coughed.  "...let go...let go..."

"I'll kill you. I'll kill you!"

"Oh my." Ra looked entertained as always. "What turned of events?"

He can't recall the exact details of what happened; all he knew was that his mother was almost killed by his half-brother and the truth about Osiris' crimes was revealed.

Nut was unable to take it, unable to handle the truth of what her oldest children, her favorites, have done to her youngest. It rained for years; the constant rain contributed to the reason why the people of Egypt survived, but they are ignorant of the truth and the hurt that accompanies it.

Other than Nut and Geb, the most affected was Maat, who blamed herself for not finding out the real truth and also met Osiris punishment in the trial.

And then, just as everything was about to settle, another earth-shattering truth was revealed.

Human experimentation.

Everything starts to really fall apart after that.

From what Horus knows, his half-brother went to Duat and tried to confront Osiris, but because of the laws of the dead, he was unable to truly kill their father. Osiris was deeply rooted in Duat; he is too important for its function to get rid of.

Maat met out another punishment instead; it was light, and Horus thinks he deserves more than what he got, but he cannot interfere because it is not within his jurisdiction.

"You will no longer be able to get to the land of the living, no matter how; your name shall also be tarnished; you will be considered an evil god; and the truth shall be revealed to all. You aren't to tamper with any life, whether it be human or immortal; if the court of Ennead finds you guilty of such, you shall be stripped of your status and your soul dissolved, effective immediately!"

The sentencing was the very last time Horus ever saw Anubis. He hoped the other was safe, if only for the sake of Seth's memory.

Horus did not stand idle; little by little he moved. It was not easy to rewrite history, but he tried his best, making it a priority to clear Seth's name. Isis wasn't pleased with him, but Horus can't bring himself to care, feeling numb when he remembers just how light her sentencing was—merely stripped of her right to rule Egypt and her possessions taken away.

It makes him feel like a bad child, an ungrateful child, but he stood by it. For Seth's sake, he deserves this much, Horus thinks.

"Uncle, I know it is foolish to hope at all because your soul was dissolved." He whispers to the wind. "But I can't help but wish you were happy. Quite foolish thinking, no?"

"Horus?"

"Hathor."  He forced a smile as his wife sat next to him.

"You don't have to force yourself, you know." Hathor mutters. "I know you are thinking of Seth, and it's okay; you don't have to pretend to be strong for me, husband."

His smile turned more genuine at that, and he felt proud to see the god of love and beauty mature. These past few centuries have been rough, and Hathor stood by him through it all.

"You can stay here." Hathor said before standing up again. "There isn't much happening; I can take care of your work for today."

"Thank you."

It was wonderful to see Hathor grow from a selfish and entitled god to one that is mature and empathetic. Truly, Horus thinks that Hathor now deserves the title of the god of love more than her younger self.

...

It wasn't an unusual day at all; everything was running smoothly as the sun shone brightly at noon. The sands were still disappearing, but it was a slow progress until everything was turned upside down.

"The desert! Oh, heavens, the desert is disappearing!"

"Mother!"

"Kyaaah!"

"It is Seth! He has come back to punish us!"

"Run!" 

A hole opened up in the heart of the desert, seemingly bottomless in all its blackness, and all it did was swallow and swallow the sand.

For the first time in a century, the whole Ennead had gathered again.

Chapter Text

"He just never learns." Those biting words were the first that greet Hermes as soon as he exits Apollo's room after making sure the older god is all settled.

"Sister." He greeted her on instinct, then said, "That's how he is; brother Apollo feels so closely with his heart." He defended her. "Even if they all end in disaster, I think what matters is that he tried and didn't just live with regret."

"I suppose so." Artemis admitted it with a huff. "I really don't understand him."

"None of us do." Ares cuts in; the god of war had been hanging out with either him or Artemis since the jar incident, much to Apollo's charge. "At this point he should just stop; I think the Moirai have been clear enough."

"Sometimes one just can't help but follow the heart." Aphrodite answers, shooting the male god a look. "Not that most men would understand."

"Well, he better fix his personality first, then." Ares murmurs. The others ignore him.

"Do you have something to tell me, or Apollo?"

"Nothing of importance," Artemis assures. "It just so happens that we overhear Aunt Demeter talking of your return after so long; we have missed you, brother. Would you care to join us in the gardens?"

"Of course." He beams. "How could I ever pass up the opportunity for us to be together?"

...

A century passes by like the wind. By this time, he is now used to his title as a psychopomp and patron of boundaries. Everything fell into routine: doing his job, annoying Apollo; spending time with his siblings, annoying Apollo; visiting his mother, annoying Apollo; doting on his children, annoying Apollo; trying to hold the family together, annoying Apollo...

What Hermes meant was that he became a man of habit, and he, being a free spirit, is not pleased by the very least. He had become predictable, which is a no-no for a trickster god.

"You can always join me in scaring people." Pan offers, and Hermes just sighs at that.

"I do not wish to cause such unrest in Arcadia; this is the land I live in after all; if people start leaving this in fear of me, I will lose power."

A god's place of birth is their safe place, the place they are most attuned with, which is the best place to worship gods, and in return, that place is where gods draw most of their power without tapping into their very soul.

"You are missing out on half the fun." The satyr said with a huff that he was clearly not pleased with him. "To think Hellas' trickster god is so soft"

He snorts at that. "Just because I don't weave trouble everywhere I go doesn't mean I am benevolent." Flashes of the shapeshifting trickster god up north come to his mind. The other tends to take his jokes with borderline cruelty, though Hermes thinks those around him are at fault for their treatment of Loki. Those warriors tolerate no guile; even Ares isn't overly fond of them.

"You are." Pan sneers. "It is a shame to call you my father sometimes."

A smile crept in his face at that. "But you lost the bet; you have not bested me, and thus..."

"I know." Pan grumbles.

"Cheer up, my child." He croons, knowing the other hates such expressions. "You could have been left serving Apollo for the rest of your life."

...

"It is faint now." Hekate nods in approval. "The curse is almost gone."

Indeed, it was; the previously vivid black in his hand is now as see-through as thin cloth. "A year more, then."

"A year more." Hekate nodded with a smile, and Hermes smiled back, just as happy.

"It would have been gone by now had you not gone ballistic." Hypnos spoke sleepily from the corner.

"Well, his anger was understandable." Melinoe argues. "It was his child after all, his firstborn, and that lowly god dares..."

"It is all in the past." Hermes cuts in, already familiar with the situation; if he didn't cut in now, the conversation would devolve into a whole argument that would cause chaos that the other gods of the Underworld would not appreciate. "What is done, is done. What matters now is that this curse will be over soon."

He stood up. "Thank you for your assistance, Hekate. I need to go now."

"Such a hard worker, it can't be me."

...

"He has left." He asked in shock. Maia just looks on, defeated.

"Yes, as soon as he grew." Sadness rang in her tone, making Hermes feel a tad guilty, knowing that he had done the same, if now worse, by only spending part of the day of his birth with his mother. "Last I heard of him in his letter, he was in that deserted land." An uncharacteristic disdain was present in his mother's tone, only visible whenever the Egyptian pantheon or Egypt is brought up.

It could be because his curse was of Egyptian origin; something that strong could only mean it was the work of a god. But Hermes feels it is something much deeper; it is the same gut feeling he feels whenever his family hides 'that' from him.

"I see. Thank you, mother." Before he could leave, his mother blocked the entrance of the cave.

"Don't tell me you are going there."

"Father asks for Dionysus."

"Then he can ask a favor of Hera to borrow Iris to come fetch your brother." Her tone leaves no room for argument. "If your father knows where your brother is, he wouldn't ask for you to get him."

Hermes didn't know where the next set of words that came out of his mouth came from, but accusatory words came spilling out. "Why would Father change his mind? What's the problem with me going to Egypt? Why the boundaries when I am allowed to go far north and east whenever I desire? Do you know something I do not, concerning Egypt and its Pantheon?"

Hermes blanks out the rest of the conversation as soon as his mother starts deflecting instead of answering him. He supposes it is better that way, and in the end, Maia agrees to let him go if he can promise to leave as soon as he can.

Hermes promised.

He couldn't help but feel guilty when his mother slumped back in relief, knowing that the promise he made was a lie.

After all, he was a trickster god known for his lies, and the only one he swore not to lie to was his father when they first met.

Chapter Text

Hermes didn't know what he expected, but he felt a bit underwhelmed by what he saw as soon as he arrived in Egypt.

'I knew Egypt wasn't at its best these past few centuries, but...' Compared to Helas and other nations he visited, the villages are bare and lacking. Hermes also lost count of the number of people who begged him for money and food. 'Thank Khaos, I always have coins with me.' Ever since he accepted his job as a psychopomp, he has developed the habit of keeping a few coins with him to help people pass into the afterlife.

"Mother said he's very flamboyant, so he's probably not here." The messenger god sighed at that; he had already gone all over the nation trying to find Dionysus while trying his best to avoid any major cities, figuring that he should at least keep one part of his promise to his mother since he isn't planning on getting out as soon as possible—he's too curious not to explore.

And there's something inside of him that makes him all tingly whenever he looks at the barren lands of the desert. Being the god that covers the domain of communication and emotion (the messenger god, the god of trade and commerce, the patron of orators, poets, academics, and a trickster god), it frustrates him quite a bit that he can't seem to put a label on the feeling that he feels. No, actually, that is not entirely true at all; rather than being unable to identify the emotion, it is more that the emotion he figures he feels is confusing.

How could he feel sad, nostalgic, and angry at the same time when he has no association at all with said land? It's like the feelings from those random dream memories (?) he has whenever his curse activates itself. Hermes hates it. It makes him feel like he has no control of his own, and he can never tell anyone about it because he knows for sure they'll dismiss him or become even more strict with him with the way they act whenever related topics are brought up. In the end, he figures it isn't worth the trouble and so keeps it to himself. He hates the looks and the secrets enough as it is; adding more wood to the fire will only make the hurt worse than it already is.

"The closest would be Heliopolis." The city of the sun, huh?

...

Dionysus was living the best of his life with wine, parties, and women; he could live in Egypt forever if not for the undesirable living conditions. Seriously, the country has a lot of petty crimes and invasions to deal with. Dionysus doesn't get it; there isn't anything particularly special in Egypt as far as he knows; it is mostly barren lands except for the settlements beside the river Nile. Is it just a dispute over territory?

Though it is quite commendable how Egypt is able to remain free from foreign clutches despite all the invasions they suffer since the loss of their War God, they are by no means complete victors; it is more of a Pyrrhic Victory almost all the time, which plunges the nation into widespread poverty, but it is still impressive how they manage to persevere.

Dionysus was in the middle of chasing the ecstasy of drugs when he heard commotion outside his rented chamber.

"...ugh...what the...?" He sat up, feeling the world spinning around him. "...what's...happening...?" Ah, he's going to puke.

"Here. It will help with your hangover." A flask came into his view; a pale, slender hand with a wingedly decorated golden bracer was holding it.

"Wha...?" He followed the hand to see a face—a very beautiful face. It has to be the most beautiful face Dionysus has ever seen in both men and women, mortals and immortals, with eyes and hair the color of freshly spilled blood. Had it not been for the winged hat on the other hand of his helper, he would think the one in front of him is the god of either death or war.

'Though I suppose he is a death god, after all, he delivers the souls of the dead to the underworld...'

"Thank you, brother." He chugged the surprisingly pleasant-tasting concoction and instantly felt the cloudiness of his mind disappear.

"Woah! It works so well!"

"Doesn't it?" The older god asked, all bright and proud. "Asclepius never misses!"

"Asclepius?" The name isn't one he recognizes.

"Yes, the god of medicine, and our nephew by brother Apollo."

Dionysus just nodded at that. "So, why is the messenger of the gods here to visit humble old me? I do not remember causing any trouble of such magnitude that would require your attention from your duties."

"Why would there need to be trouble for me to come?" He replies with a non-answer. "And your stunt with the Tyrrhenian pirates did cause quite the stir. It was hard to deflect Mother's attention away from it, especially when she's watching over Medea."

Ah. "That was three decades ago."

'Mother? Maia? No, she was with me after it, so...wait, don't tell me...Hera? He calls Hera mother?' From what he knows of the queen of the gods, she was someone who is always jealous—not that Dionysus can blame her for that—and never accepts any bastard of her husband, going as far as to curse and torment poor women and their children.

Before he could ask for elaboration, the other god continued. "I am here because Father asks for you. You're coming with me to Olympus."

"What? No." As if he's going to put himself in the line of fire, not after he's already cursed to suffer madness.

Hermes just chuckled, amused. It was hard to get a read from the older god. "You don't have a choice; well, that's not right, I suppose; rather, the other option is not preferable."

"Not preferrable..." He repeated it blankly. "So, in other words, I better go, or you'll have to get rid of me, is that it?"

"Hm? No, the other choice would be that we would be leaving you alone; however, then, you'll have to deal with your power fluctuation alone. With your growing power, it would be more..."

"Oh." That makes more sense. "It would be further exacerbated by my madness."

"My, you sure are funny." Dionysus glares at the callous remark, but the others remain unbothered. "That's not the concern at all."

"Hah? What do you mean by 'not the concern'? I have random episodes of-."

"It isn't because it's a basic curse." Hermes cut him off. "It's very common and thus easy to remove, and as talented as Mother is, I am better at her in both cursing and curse breaking, so even if she put a lot of power behind it, at best it would be a minor nuisance."

"What?" Dionysus can't believe his ears at all. He can be cured. That easily? "You can cure me?"

"Of course." The Olympian who is quickly climbing his way up to his top favorite replies warmly. "Our concern is that, as a young god, you cannot be left unsupervised when you are just growing in power, and so Father has asked me to take you to Olympus for us to guide you in your journey."

"Wait, wait, I do not understand; what do you mean, god? I have a human mother. I'm a demi-god."

"Haha." The redhead laughs. "You turned your kidnapper into dolphins, and you think you're just a demi-god? That's quite funny; even Herakles, the most powerful of all demi-gods sired by any immortal, does not hold any power beyond that of surpassing past human limitations, and you think you're a demi-god?"

He felt himself turn red at that, but quickly swallowed it down to retort, "Well, sorry, it is different here in Egypt; demi-gods can have powers if a god blesses them; I thought someone just gave me a blessing."

"Oh?" There was something in the tone of the other use that made Dionysus perk up; it was an interest beyond just wanting to know about the system on which other Pantheons work on. "Is that how it works here? Well, it is different from ours then; gods cannot give demi-gods gifts like that because they are part divinity themselves; giving them power is against the established law by Khaos and the Moirai; and then, what would be the difference between gods and demi-gods if they both have power?"

"So, demi-gods don't turn into gods like those from here?"

"No, demi-gods are divine with human birth; that cannot be removed, even by consuming the ambrosia; you would only be considered an immortal then." Hermes' explain. "You, Dionysus, did not have a human birth."

"What?"

"Semele, your mother that is, tricked Father into swearing to let her see his true form; Father was unable to back out of it and showed her that, unfortunately, the true form of any god or goddess is not for humans to see; this applies to all Pantheons that exist, which is why Western Pantheons adopt a vessel that is more suited to blending with mortals, unlike some from the east that adopt a more otherworldly but still otherwise grounded appearance." Those red eyes turn downcast. "You were still developing then, and Father loved Semele so much that he called for my assistance for you to keep your soul and sew you to his thigh so you could develop properly."

"Keep my soul. Sew me in his thigh. I...?" Dionysus didn't really know how to reply to that.

The other didn't reply and instead just chanted something in his closed hands. When he opens it, all Dionysus can see is a petal, a red petal from some flower, glowing and pulsing. It radiates power.

"This is the flower of life; Father and Mom used it to keep my soul from shattering at birth." Dionysus was taken aback by the casual declaration. "There were originally 7 petals, but as I am unable to sire children due to the circumstances of my birth, I take a petal from it to create my children."

"You're the 4th petal, Dionysus; we used it so your soul would not be destroyed, thus ridding you of your humanity, you are a god."

Ah. He needs a drink.

Chapter Text

"This is our karma." Bastet sighs from where she is. Not looking at anyone, busying herself with her pet.

"To think this is how it all falls apart..." Ra hummed, her tone not really matching the seriousness of the situation they were discussing. "Hah. I knew there was more than meets the eye back then; we should have continued even if he was uncooperative."

"What's done is done, Mother." Maat responded, his tone clipped. "I had failed to discover the real truth, and thus I am as much at fault as anyone involved in it; I know that."

"Maat..." Thoth whispers worriedly, putting a comforting hand on his wife's shoulder. The topic of Seth has always been tough for all of them, and Maat, outside of Seth's immediate family, has made it worse.

"Hmph, it wouldn't even have come this far had you people not been so blind." Ra's gaze landed on her grandson and granddaughter, who were huddled together. "Hah. So proud you people are that you didn't look from any other angle. Tsk Tsk."

Nut just leaned closer to her husband, not responding to the jab.

"Hah. That's all? How boring. To think that I came all the way down here just for this."

"Ra." Horus cut in, his tone commanding. "As much as I agree with your words, we are not here to dig up past grievances; this is a serious matter."

"Look at you, all prim and proper!" Ra laughs. "And who said anything about digging up past grievances, hmm? All I am saying is the truth." Eyes sharp, and lips curled in an acerbic smile. "After all, to resolve a problem, we should look for the root cause, don't we? I am just bringing it up to the table since no one is doing it."

Ah. Horus can now understand why his mother was so wary of Ra. It was tiring to deal with her and her attitude.

"Regardless, accusations shouldn't be thrown all over; we all understand the heaviness of the matter and how it all leads here, and thus, what we should focus on is resolving it."

"Fine." Ra shrugged, finally slumping in her seat in defeat.

"Well, the issue isn't that serious, at least not as much as it used to be." Thoth reports. "Other than the sudden rapid disappearance of sand before, the rate it's going now is pretty tame, but it is still concerning nonetheless."

"The land is my domain, but the desert is his," said a swallow. "I cannot pinpoint where the hole led to or why and how it appeared; every time I try, there seems to be something that hides it from my sight."

"I have tried to go near it too." Isis adds, her hands crossed on her chest. "But I cannot pinpoint anything concerning it when I can't even go near it; I can only work on the reports given to me by my followers and the occasional tales by those who happened by it."

"There are also reports of people falling on it. It has become quite the suicide spot." It was Hathor who spoke; Horus turned to his wife. "But Anubis said he felt no soul in that area. It's weird."

"No soul?" 

"None at all; it's as if they just vanish when they jump."

"Hah. This is a handful." Isis ground her teeth. "If there is an entrance, there is bound to be some exit point, or, at the very least, somewhere they end up."

"Maybe we're looking at this from the wrong angle." Thoth suggested that he had a very thoughtful look on his face. "Maybe Isis is right, but the place they end up is not in Egypt at all."

"What?" Isis huffs in disbelief. "Do you even hear yourself right now, Thoth? Where else would they end up, if not anywhere in Egypt? Even if we don't go by the theory that Seth's death is the cause of this phenomenon, there is no place for an Egyptian phenomenon to be tied to any other place."

"It's just a suggestion." Thoth answered hurriedly, hiding himself behind his wife's back. "We have all tried to track it down, but we still have no answer. The only thing we can be certain of is that those that have fallen are not dead since Anubis hasn't felt or delivered any souls that are concerned with it."

"I think it's an idea we cannot dismiss." Maat agrees. "Even with our eyes, we cannot be fully certain of the workings of this world; just like how we and the Pantheon of Hellas are known to be immortal, but the Pantheon of Scandinavia has mortal gods, destiny works in mysterious ways."

"In conclusion, we are nowhere near figuring out what's happening." Shu said with a sigh.

Silence envelops the hall of Ennead.

"There isn't much to be done if that is the case." Horus declares. "We will continue to observe it and gather more information about it for now; as Thoth has mentioned, it is not as big of a concern right now. We should focus on other matters, such as the recent attempt at invasion from the South."

"What's there to discuss? We lost a lot of people but came back victorious, and so we still have the major claim to the Nile." Bastet said it with her characteristic bluntness.

"We can't let this happen every time." Hathor bit back, sending a scathing glare at her sister. "It is highly doubtful that such attempts would cease, and with the casualties that we are suffering, people are getting more and more reluctant to join the army, not to mention the toll such losses take on our population, which is getting older and older."

"Well, that's the effect of not having a war god." Ra sang, her face contorted with a smile that Horus doesn't really like at all. "Hah, had we at least had another war god, then we would not be in such shambles!"

"Ra-"

"Just look at Hellas! They have two! Ares and Athena, was it? Quite the pair!"

"Where are you going with this?"

"Oh, there's that little thing too, the messenger god...Hermes was it...?" Everyone in the room turned at that. No self-respecting god or goddess has never heard of the infamous messenger, swift with both his feet and mind; every Pantheon has been acquainted with him—well, every Pantheon except Egypt. "That cunning little god—I heard that he practically runs Hellas, and that thanks to his quick feet and sharp mind, they have managed to turn the tides of war countless times. If only we had such a fellow here."

"Just get to the point, Ra." Isis cuts in, impatient.

"If you can't take over his role, you shouldn't have pushed him." Nut sobs at that. "Or at the very least you should make yourself useful; after all, you all took the throne from me back then; it's your responsibility."

"How this country has turned out—what a disappointment."

Chapter Text

Thoth sighs as he gazes at the moon. He was alone in the garden of his temple as Maat decided to retire early. Flashes of the chaotic meeting from earlier run through his mind.

Chapter Text

Dionysus prides himself in being a social creature; despite his madness, he knows he has appeal and emotional intelligence that are worthy of being the patron of social things such as parties and fun, and thus, he didn't really need long to figure out the intense dislike Hera and Ares have for him; the others were less hostile but not welcoming either. The only ones truly happy to have him here on Olympus other than Hermes seem to be Zeus and Hestia.

Those two and Hermes technically don't count if Dionysus really thinks about it; Hermes is infamous for protecting Zeus' children (alongside Athena), and he seems to be a really chill guy overall. Hestia, from what he knows from the little presence she has in the world, was a very kind goddess who doesn't really dislike anyone, so...and Zeus' is rather self-explanatory. Basically, what he's trying to say is that his welcoming party is not going well. At all.

"Well, that's quite the warm welcome." He tries to joke, but it falls short as the others just flat out ignore him in favor of coaxing Hera.

"Not only is he another bastard child, but you also want him on Olympus?" Hera screams. "The audacity you have to even ask me this

His tongue gets the better of him before he can process his words. "Apollo, Artemis, and Hermes are also bastards of Zeus on the throne of Olympus, though."

Everybody snaps their attention to him at that point. Hera was understandably not amused by his words, and the glare she gave him was so hateful that had Dionysus been mortal, he would have died on the spot in fear.

"You dare!" Hera growls at him. "You dare compare yourself, a demi-god, to the gods?"

"I'm neither a demigod nor a bastard, though," he mumbles, but being seated next to Hermes, who was seated with Apollo, the god of light heard him.

"Beg pardon?" Those blue eyes look at him in disbelief and distaste.

"Well, I am, but not Zeus' bastard, at least," he clarifies. That draws the attention of everyone in the room.

"What?" It was Artemis and Aphrodite who said it.

Aphrodite was across from him, seated beside Athena, who was seated beside Hades. It was thanks to that that he saw their eyes widen in realization.

"Ah, what an absolute mess!" Hades grumbles.

Dionysus turns at the tugging in his robe. Ah. Brother Hermes seemed to realize his train of thought too, as he looked alarmed. His eyes were practically screaming 'NO! ' but Dionysus paid it no attention as he turned his attention to the now intrigued Hera.

"Oh?"

Ignoring the hand that was gripping his right hand, Dionysus continues. "If anything, I am Hermes' bastard."

Cups fell on the table and on the ground as realization engulfed everyone in the hall.

"Oh Khaos." Demeter hugs her daughter closer to herself.

"I shouldn't have come." Hades looks away.

It was Hera and Apollo that had the strongest reaction to his declaration.

"Zeus!" Hera attacks her husband. "Not only did you have an affair, but you also put Hermes in danger? You absolute scoundrel!"

"Father, how could you? For a child of a mortal? You've truly gone mad."

Hermes got up from his chair and put himself in between the three gods. "It was my choice to help," he declares. "Father didn't force me. Dionysus' soul was quickly disappearing. He was in the same situation as I am, that's why!"

"Hah. Are you really comparing yourself to this?" Dionysus was very offended at the way Apollo pointed at him as if he were lower than dirt. Hera didn't say anything, but by her looks, she most likely agrees with the god of light.

"He's our brother, Apollo; that's why I did it."

"You put yourself in danger!"

"I wasn't in any danger; I had more children after I gave him a petal!"

"The concern is that you gave it out when it shouldn't be your concern," Poseidon finally said. "And that your father dares to ask you for such a thing when there is an undeniable risk every time it happens. Just because nothing bad happens doesn't change the fact he put you in danger for a child he doesn't even know."

"Uncle..."

"Don't even argue, Hermes." Hera cuts in ruthlessly. "It is his fault that his bastard was in danger in the first place, and he dragged you into it."

"Semele would have been alive to give birth to Dionysus properly had you not tricked her into making me promi-"

"Hah. All I did was tell her the truth. Whatever promise she made with you, you granted it; that has nothing to do with me." Hera argues back. "How dare you blame me when you have been so unfaithful to me?"

Ah. It was a mess as others tried to calm down both parties.

"Hermes, my child, come." It was Hades who was dragging Hermes by his arm away from the commotion. "Go with us in the underworld. Wait there for them to calm down."

"But-"

"No arguing," Persephone cuts in. "Let them resolve their own problems. You being involved in this would do more harm than good."

"Let Athena handle this and just come with us. They'll calm down faster that way."

Hermes still looks unsure, shooting fleeting glances in his direction.

"Athena and Aphrodite would take care of him; there is no need for you to worry."

"If you say so..."

And then they disappeared in a sea of black mist, the other gods none the wiser.

Ah. Maybe the risk of going mad with his powers is the preferable option after all.

Chapter Text

Hermes felt somewhat guilty for leaving the poor child in the middle of chaos but he knew that the Underworld couple was right, he would only make the situation worse since he was the reason why it blew up in proportion in the first place. It was safer to let Athena resolve the issue by herself, still...

"Hah. Stop with that frowning, you're bringing the whole mood down." Hypnos whined beside him. 

"It's not like you're joining them in celebration." He points out, the others were busy doting on Cerberus, the three-headed puppy is turning 3 millennia now, how his Uncle manage to keep track of the dog's birthday he'll never know. Hermes isn't that old in terms of godhood, but he more often than not forgets his birthday.

"Yeah, they're too much, that's why I'm next to you," Hypnos replies with an eye roll. "What got you so down?"

"You know, if you're worried you could just say so." It sends the older god into a spiral of denial that would have been adorable had it not been for Hermes' foul mood. "Hah. I just feel guilty."

"What? Why should you? Let them deal with their problem for once, they're not babies." Ah. The older god's bluntness about such matters never ceases to make him laugh.

"I know, Sister Athena can take care of it. I meant Dionysus, the poor child just got in and it's a mess already."

"Hah. He should have been more careful." Well, Hermes can't argue with that. "So? How long will you stay this time?"

"Till the matter settles down," Hermes replies with a strained smile. "Probably the rest of summer."

"Hah? That bad?" Hypnos looked at him incredulously. "If that's the case you might just as well live here."

He snorts at the poor attempt of convincing him. "As tempting as that is, they need me up there. The whole of Olympus might just collapse if I left."

"It already did." Hermes ignores the mumble as he left to get to Charon. Poor guy's just on the side with no one to talk to.

"Charon!" Like before, he blithely ignores the flinch he got from the other and dragged the older to the ambrosia.

…

"What do you mean you got that child from Egypt?!" Hades screamed, thankfully they were in the private chambers of the Underworld Royalty instead of the hall, otherwise, it would generate a lot of commotion that Hermes does not need on top of his Uncle being upset.

"You asked me just where he was, and I answered, he was in Egypt."

"Don't you use that petulant tone to me, young man." The King of the Underworld huffs, settling down as his wife rubs his arm to calm him down. "What was Maia doing? I thought you have given that child to her?"

"I did," Hermes confirms. "But he grew bored of Acadia and wandered off, Mother did not know he left Hellas entirely."

"Of course, she doesn't," Hermes doesn't think he was meant to hear those words. "She would have locked him in the cave otherwise."

"She would have?" Something akin to fear and panic flashed in those eyes that are as black as a void before his uncle manage to compose himself. "Why? Why can I go even as far north but never step foot in Egypt?"

Hades sighs, looking away. "I'm afraid that's not my secret to tell."

"It concerns me. So how come I am the only one clueless about this? What are you all keeping from me?"

"Because it's about you." Was the reply, as if it answers anything. "It concerns your soul, which is why it is not a matter I can disclose by myself."

He forced himself to not flinch as the older god touch his cheek in an attempt to pacify his temper. "I want to tell you, I do. But it's not a decision I can make all by myself, please, you must understand."

"I do." He does, which makes it all the more frustrating. "I do, it's just..." Hades' eyes widen at that as if realizing something.

"You've always been a clever and curious child." There was a hit of guilt and sadness in the way he said it. "It must have been a pain to resist the urge to ask about it isn't it?"

Hermes bites his lips, letting his uncle and his sister comfort him. 

"Zeus is trying his best for you, he thinks this is the best choice given your circumstances and we have all agreed," Hades explains. "Know that, we've been doing this for you, it's not fair to you, I know it frustrates you, but this is the best choice possible."

"I know." Hermes nodded. "I know none of you would ever try to hurt me purposefully. Brother Apollo would throw a fit if that's the case."

Hades snort at that. "That brat definitely would."

"Come. This must be quite draining." Persephone nudges him. "You must rest, you have scheduled a visit with your children in Acadia remember, they'll worry if they see you so down."

"Thank you."

…

The summer passed by with no problem, he was doing his job just as well but with Iris taking over the messages and delivery in Olympus. It left him some free time he didn't know he needed, and so, Hermes was able to spend time with his still-living children in those times.

"Father." Hermes took the offered ambrosia to him before motioning for his only daughter to sit with him. Hermaphrodite was with his grandmother to help with preparing the boar caught by Pan.

"You look happier well rested." Ah. This discussion again. Hermes lost count of how many times his children tried to convince him to delegate his task to lesser gods but he never did, enjoying the freedom of moving around gives him too much. But perhaps he should consider, for his children's sake. 

"Perhaps you should conside-"

"I will." 

"What?" The shock on her face was adorable. Hermes wants to pinch her cheek as he did when she was still a child. "You would?" The pure joy in her voice and her eyes was both heartwarming and guilt-inducing. He should have considered it much earlier, his poor children must have felt quite neglected.

"I will talk with Father and Mother as soon as I return."

"Really?" He nodded and almost choked when the goddess enveloped him in a hug. "Oh Father, this is such good news." The hug was over much sooner than he wants but the joy his daughter have is infectious so Hermes isn't that upset.

"I'll talk to Brother and Grandmother!" He watches with a smile as his daughter runs to the cave. 

"Hah. Took you long enough." 

"Pan." He greeted warmly. "How have you been?"

"Still scaring people," The satyr grins. "Why? You want in?"

He just laughs, shaking his head.

Ah. He was really happy, so happy that he wants to freeze the time and preserve all of these memories forever.