But Your Honor, Free Bird was Playing! - Chapter 2

Olympus, Council Chamber - Zeus

"Oh fuck no, it's you."

Zeus distinctly remembered them, her first words upon meeting him, recognizing him.

That moment for mortals was usually one filled with awe, with dread, with elation, with shame, with horror, and of course lust, a personal favorite. Or any combination of emotions.

All of it made his heart swell with pride. Rightfully his, for only he gets to indulge in it. The luscious pleasure of knowing a mortal has recognized he has graced them with his presence.

Not her though. No, the widening of her eyes, the stiffening of her pose, her clenched hands. Fear and dread were there, yes, but no.

That wasn't the main emotion exuded by ███. It was annoyance.

And the reminder that even he, King of the Gods, can no longer even think her original name further incited his wrath upon the recollection.

That the Moirai dared acknowledge that wrenched bitch.

He remembered when he first heard of the Celtic Immortal Witch taking a student. A mortal with such an ordinary normal name. A name with just two syllables.

That wasn't what peaked his curiosity though. It wasn't the fact that said mortal managed to gain the witch's interest as a child, no.

It was the fact that Zeus hasn't heard of this mortal for a full decade.

Yes, the ongoings of other pantheons are strictly forbidden to engage him. Officially.

But that doesn't mean the pantheons didn't keep an eye on each other's boundaries and general ongoings, if only so Olympus ensures no issue of another pantheon lands in their hands.

Scathach for all her infamy was more neutral in her position in the mythical world, rather than within the core of the Celtic world. Thus there's an excuse to interact with her occasionally.

Honestly, letting the Celtics live in Western Massachusetts in Springfield, was the height of generosity from Zeus, just like Athena suggested. Also the whole "keep your friends close, and everyone else too, in case you need to smite them".

But mainly though?

He went to see this mortal student of the witch because he was Zeus, and he did as he willed.

Who knows, if it was another would-be godslayer with delusions of grandeur. Better Zeus end that hubris early on. It was practically be a gift to do so for the witch's student. What is it called nowadays? Public service! That's what it was.

Odds are though, it was just an interest pastime for the witch, and well, he heard said student was a girl. Zeus figured he might as well sample that delicacy. Not to break his Oath to not father children or anything like that, just casual carnal indulgence.

███, to his surprise, was weak. Far too weak and untalented as a student of the witch. Zeus couldn't understand why the witch took her in, if she wasn't going to train her in combat. Ultimately it was no matter, and at least showed this mortal didn't have delusions above her station.

She was fetching enough, that Zeus felt she would be worth the effort to seduce.

...Ten years.

For ten sky breaking years he found himself chasing ███.

First her annoyance turned to irritation. With the next visit, frustration, and from then on, a cold anger that simmered in the background. Zeus used to find it amusing. He dealt with women like that before. That moment where their pleasure overwhelmed them that they enjoyed it, even if they hated it, and the guilt of enjoying it, made the hate fucking even better.

███ wasn't like that. The annoying wrench had no bone of even conflicted carnal tension, or secret yearning for his dominating affection, to be coaxed. She was disgusted by him since when they first met. Thoroughly. Completely.

It was blasphemy. That this mortal dared spurn his affections like that.

Honestly by the end he was so annoyed he needed that dalliance with that actress, Beryl Grace, just to take the edge off and focus on his daily responsibilities as king. He ended up with two one more child than planned. All because that clear sighted mortal didn't know when to submit and just enjoy his attention, rather than suffer it.

Breeding her like a mare at the end was more of spite retaliation for all the annoyances she caused him.

"It's been a week, Artemis. Why have you not returned with the mother and accursed child?" Zeus bellowed out in his council room. He spoke calmly, yet his anger made his voice echo out like thunder rattling the chamber.

In the current meeting, of the Olympians, only Dionysus weren't present, as Zeus didn't have patience for the God of Wine's usual antics. Dionysus might have done something he'd then regret.

"I beg your forgiveness for my failure, father." Artemis was looking down towards the ground. There was a subtle shake of her hands, clenched to fists, as she prepared herself for the news she must deliver. "I... I can not."

"What?" It was the lack of thunder, or any reaction beyond his echoing voice, that put all other gods present on edge, and made Artemis pale and grind her teeth, that really showed how badly that answer was. "Are, my daughter, saying you somehow can not find some mortal woman, and an infant, or that you are actually rejecting to follow my orders? Choose your words very carefully, Artemis."

"That is not what I meant, Father." Artemis quickly replied, to prolong this silence before the storm. "I mean that I literally, physically can not, bring her or her child here. My Roman side won't let me!" Artemis said through the headache that began manifesting itself in her.

Zeus felt a twitch at the reminder of their other selves, and through nothing but will and frustration pushed it aside.

"Explain." Zeus spoke. Thunder whispered in the distance, heralding judgement's arrival.

"███," Artemis began to speak, only for an un-noise to come out, as if made white noise for a name that no longer existed. "███!" Artemis tried again gaining the same result. "T-the woman—"

"Just say 'Metis'." Apollo sighed out loud, gaining attention and ire from the Lord of the Skies. Of course, Artemis knew the reason why her twin interjected was to give her reprieve from their father's anger. Something that rarely Apollo had to do, as Artemis was usually the favored daughter. Except in this case, Artemis couldn't help but fear for her brother. That this time it would be dangerous to hold Zeus' attention. "The Fates already acknowledged her. We're already treating her like a threat, might as well use the name." Apollo said, acting nonchalant. "She did go through a lot of effort—"

Lightning slammed near Apollo freezing in place. Yet, he wasn't affected by it. It didn't touch him. A sign of his father's restraint over the ages, but threats like that were only used in heated arguments, where fights were about to break out.

In a 'relatively' calm discussion, it was a bit more bizarre and worrying.

"Apollo. Be quiet." Zeus declared, and so the Sun God went still, saying nothing. "It's bad enough that you couldn't capture her, when you ended the day early. Artemis was made busy due to your laziness that she couldn't hear of this situation until after she had sheltered the wench."

Because she shot down my Chariot, I had to inspect it for scratch marks, and check on the wheels! Is what Apollo wanted to say, but knew he couldn't afford interrupting his father again.

"Artemis. Continue." Zeus ordered.

Artemis regained her composure, standing straighter facing her king.

"Metis had completed an Aeneidic journey. She had ventured from here, from Manhattan, the heart of our territory, all the way to the west coast. Our Roman sides are duty bound to protect her from our Greek selves." The Goddess of the Hunt explained.

"And why did you specifically agree to grant her sanctuary?" Zeus narrowed his eyes.

"Because a year ago, she approached my Roman self and pleaded that should she be..." Artemis hesitated to use the term against her father, knowing his temperament, specially right now, yet she couldn't sugarcoated. Not when Zeus has his domain of Law so pronounced. "Should she be taken by a man not chosen of her will, then I would give her shelter and protection for her and her child for five years."

Crack-Thoom!

Thunder cracked, as lightning blinded the council chamber. For a heart beating moment, as the room shook like an earthquake had hit it, Apollo feared for his twin.

When the flash from lightning faded, the chamber was visible again. Artemis was untouched, yet a corner of the room was shattered, burned black. Outside, the gods could feel and see that Artemis' Temple within her demesne on Olympus was struck. Half vaporized from the heavenly wrath.

It was only the physical side of Artemis' Temple that was smote, yet that was a statement all on it's own.

That should Artemis fail him again, she would be the one to feel his lightning. Artemis, paled faced, looked at her father—No. Right now, he was the wrathful King of the Gods.

She couldn't believe, or rather, couldn't expect his anger to extend to the point that it could be pointed at her.

"It seems, as always it comes to me to fix this mess." Zeus said, and none dared to point out the obvious.

Hera snorted.

While tension rose from the action, all gods present knew, only the Queen of the Gods could dare judge the King when he was this wrathfully incessant. Zeus pointedly ignored her.

Poseidon was other god present, unbothered by his brother's state or actions. He was oddly just contemplative, while silently observing Zeus.

The God of Thunder rose from his throne, and through his will, moved himself through the vast distance, to appear in Palm Springs, California—

Jupiter stepped into Diana's temple, to see the Moon Goddess present there expecting his arrival.

He saw in one of the rooms a mortal woman, breastfeeding a child. A child oddly one of his own? Why was one of his Greek side's children here?

The woman, though Jupiter wasn't in front of her, turn her head, and looked directly at him.

"Ave, Jupiter." She held an amused grin, and gave a small wave.

Ah. Now I remember. Jupiter recognized from her aura that she was the one who recently completed an Aeneidic journey. He nodded back to reassure his new subject, then dismissed her from his mind, focusing back on Diana.

"Has the request for sanctuary for your guest already been submitted?" He asked.

"Yes, Domine Jupiter, it should already be in the Divine Administration, and the roman senate should be notified shortly to send reinforcements to this temple." Diana replied.

"Right, that brings me to the second point." Jupiter nodded, and went to the more important matter, which was why Diana's hunters weren't here at her temple protecting Diana's guest on her behalf. "The recent unprecedented monster wave, how much has your hunters successfully culled by now."

"Even with permission to grant them full powered blessings from myself, and request for additional blessings by Apollo, so they can maintain effectiveness during the day, I'm afraid it's still slow going." Diana frowned. "I've already slain Ekhidna with my arrows, yet by then it was far too late. Even with my help, my hunters two more weeks to clear the excess of monsters from just one state."

"Give your blessing all demigods actively hunting monsters for the duration of this crisis. I will tell your brother to do the same. You will both be compensated for your efforts appropriately." Jupiter order. "Mars and Bellona will also be aiding all demigods for this endeavor, so expect their blessings and reinforcement in that manner among your hunters."

"Thank you, my lord." Diana bowed.

Jupiter nodded, and with his task done, he left back to Caelum—

Zeus stepped back into the Council Chamber on Olympus and felt like he missed something. Forgot something important.

Silence filled the chamber, at Zeus' actions that resulted in nothing.

Poseidon's snort broke the silence. Zeus turned wildly to glare at his brother.

"So," Ares unwisely spoke up. "I should just go help the demigods against all the monsters and everything, right?" He got up from his throne as if to leave.

Zeus' patience broke. The King of the God's Symbol of Power shined.

"ZEUS!" Poseidon called out.

"NO!" Hera scream, and moved to grab her husband's arm, trying to stop this but it was too late.

The King of the Gods was about to strike the God of War, rip apart his divinity and bring him low to mortality—

"Zeus Olympios." A voiced called out. Ancient and great that encompassed all of Olympus.

Zeus stopped. Impossibly, the wrath of the King of Gods halted, was forced to be stopped, to listen, for Divine Law was calling for him.

And somehow, against all expectation, against even his own will, he found himself frozen from rendering judgement.

He turned, as did all the gods to see this new arrival, one who hadn't graced their halls for so long.

Holding a tall sword that also held the Scales of Balance, a blindfolded titaness walked into the Coucil Chamber of the Gods, with a purpose most demanding.

"We need to talk." Themis, Titaness of Divine Law, Order and Custom, the Lady of Good Counsel demanded.

There was an odd glow about the titaness, a presence of overwhelming power that had never been present before.

Zeus lowered his hand, his Master Bolt still shining most terribly. He could feel them, the Divine Laws, now known as the Ancient Laws weighing on his shoulders. A weight that has never been present like this before, heavy in a way they had never been, forcing him to be the King he once promised to be.

And a King can not punish without just reason. Zeus felt his anger boil hotter.

"Themis," thunder screamed and tore the air as he spoke. "You would dare come here, before me in my time of greatest ordeal and shame me like this?! To make demands of me, and dare use your power on your king?! Do you think you can not be punished for such treachery?!" Zeus shouted.

"Brother!" Poseidon called out. "Stop and gather your wits for a moment. That mortal calling herself 'Metis' hadn't actually taken them, you know."

Zeus snapped his head to Poseidon, teeth gritted, yet the words stuck with him. That's right, Themis doesn't have the power to enforce the Ancient Laws on the gods of Zeus' status and power, not unless...

"I have come here to give you a message, backed up by the will of the Moirai, and empowered by the Binder of Oaths." Themis spoke, her voice reverberating through the world, as if burned into weave of creation.

The gods stilled, had it just been some prattle by the Goddess of Oath who held only empty threat to the Olympian, it would have been one thing. It's why for the most part the children of the gods were the ones to carry the brunt of the punishments meant for the gods, and the more loved those children, the harsher their lives.

But with the Fates backing Themis words that was another matter. A grave matter.

Yet, how the Goddess Styx was addressed had a subtle but noticeable threat in the wording. After if Styx had bigger leverage, a bigger threat than before.

"Speak." Zeus demanded with all his power and authority in his voice.

"The Ancient Laws will be adhered to." Themis declared back.

Zeus felt it, saw it, just as the other gods did. The Ancient Laws became manifested as chains, wrapped around Zeus and slammed into his being before disappearing.

"What did you do?" Zeus uttered, staring wide-eyed into himself. He had been subject to the Ancient Laws before, but always he followed them because of compromise, or because he gave his word, or to uphold law and be an example. He could always break them if he will, and dealt with the consequences later. Now, he truly, physically can't break them. "WHAT DID YOU DO?!"

"How did you do this?" Hera had enough of a mind to ask the real question.

Themis did not have the power to enforce the Ancient Laws to such an extent. Had it been so, history would have been very different.

"The Goddess Styx had empowered me by ALL of the oaths you have broken through the millennia, King Zeus, including the most recent one." Themis said.

Zeus froze, slowly he turned to look the Titaness of Justice, wide eyed and even slightly paled.

"...No." Zeus said in disbelief. "No, those were all repaid with punishment fulfilled."

"Some of them, yes." Themis nodded. "But a lot of the time, punishment was diverted onto others and that was not counted as true punishment. And for those times, and all the other times Styx stayed her hand, retributions were simply delayed." Themis gave a contemptible smile. "Until an opportune moment."

So she conspired against me?! Planned for my downfall?!" Zeus' nose flared with heated breaths. He had thought those time where the Styx retaliations didn't come was simply her acknowledging his grand status, knowing not to overstep, or that the oath he broke was a minute thing not worth the effort to act on. Lucky for him, Zeus used to think.

"She's the Goddess of Hatred and was made into a prop for your dramatic acts." Themis countered. "Did you truly feel she wouldn't feel contempt for centuries of humiliation?"

"And you?" Zeus countered. "You also come before me for another imagined grievance?" He shouted.

"..." Themis held back the instinctive outburst that threatened to leave her throat. She was empowered yes, stronger than the gods currently but that's only till her duty was done. "Did you think that each time my Laws were dishonored, that I felt nothing?" She simply replied. "I only wish for Order, and if this is how it must be gotten, then so be it. I wouldn't be able to stand here as I am now, had you not attempted to kill a demigod infant without being challenged. An Ancient Law was Broken, and thus the final straw fell upon this council's back." The Titaness looked into the eyes of all the Olympian's present, holding on for just a moment longer on Poseidon.

The God of the Sea hid any reaction, but understood. Not only the Fates and the Styx knew, but also Themis. He expected her to reveal his own indiscretion, since the Goddess of Divine Law was on a roll, yet surprisingly she turned back to Zeus, giving nothing away, and continued without saying anything.

"The boy is already born now. He carries two prophecies within them. The Fates words will be realized, how they come about is all up to you. I suggest to you both," Themis looked from Zeus to Hera, and then back to Zeus. "Make peace with the mother, and make your arrangement, but we all know that won't come to pass." Both gods had a look of outrage on their faces.

As she finished her suggested, Themis presence dimmed to what the gods were used you, her authority no longer overbearing, but still present.

"I've said all that needed to be said." Themis smiled one last time. "Good luck." And turned to leave.

Zeus tightened his grip on the Master Bolt still in his hands. He was about to move and strike Themis for her hubris, her disrespect, yet his body refused to do so, for a Just King didn't strike his allies willy nilly.

"Artemis," Zeus turned his wrathful gaze to the huntress, startled by the anger directed at her. "Five years and not a day more. The second your protection ends, you will bring me the head of Metis Oceanus." He ordered.

Artemis wanted to refuse. The core of her being rebelled at striking a woman unjustly like that. To betray one who sought her for shelter and after being violated. For it would be nothing but a betrayal to kill Metis right after saving her, right when she would feel safe in her temple, even if it was just her Roman self.

"Answer and accept." Zeus commanded.

Knowing that there could be no other answer, Artemis forced her head to nod, unable to meet her king's eyes.

"Yes, Lord Zeus."

===x===

Two Years Later

The Goddess of the Hunt & the Moon, Artemis stood once more in the Council Chamber of Olympus with dread in her heart.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN SHE LEFT YOUR SANCTUARY? WHY?!" Zeus bellowed out, shaking the whole of Olympus.

"M-Metis said that she was grateful for all my help. That she didn't wish to encroached on my hospitality too far, that she felt I was needed to culling the monsters. That it was a better use of my time." Artemis had never felt like a child being scolded by a wrathful parent till this moment. Yet none of the excuses, that were rightfully so, fell to the God of the Sky's ears.

In these part two years, with the help of the demigods, and all the blessings granted and allowed for the Hunters of Artemis to have, the monsters unleashed by Echidna were finally brought down to manageable levels. While the excess was not fully destroyed yet, as the monster learned to hide better, Artemis new freedom to focus fully on aiding her hunters allowed her to more effectively curb the majority of hidden monsters.

Of course that meant she wasn't focused on Metis, and it was her Roman self that let her go anyways!

"And where did she go? Or have you failed in even tracking your prey, Huntress?!" Zeus demanded, and insulted her in one breath.

"She made an entrance into the Labyrinth by my temple. If I can be given time to finish culling the monsters, I will take my hunters and follow her into—"

Yet Zeus heard nothing else.

For two years he contained his wrath against his calamity growing in one of his daughters temples, and could do nothing about it. He contained his anger as other gods had been more brazen in their demands, thinking that being polite and respectful, now that he can't smite them out of hand would keep them safe.

Two years, and now his favored daughter had let his enemy escape her gaze to gallivant with her pretend lesbian club across the land just to hunt game.

"Artemis," Zeus spoke, his authority as King of the Gods blazing and unopposed this time, thus he knew what he was about to do was right and just. "Maiden Goddess of the Hunt, Archery, Wilderness, Animals, Forests, the Moon, Radiance, Maidenhood, and Childbirth."

"Wait. Wait no!" Apollo called out, feeling dread at what's about to happen.

"Err, is this really happening?" Dionysus sat up in his throne and paid attention.

"You have forsaken your duties to indulge in your pleasures. Broke your oaths to obey your king and your derelict of duty had resulted in an enemy of Olympus to escape to where our eyes can't follow, and can no longer track." Zeus continued, his wrath deluging out.

Next to him, Hera stayed seated, a small gleeful smile grew on her face.

"Thus on my authority as Zeus Anax, Hypatos, Olympios, Labrandeus and Astrapaios, banish you from Olympus, strip you of your divinity till you are worthy of this Council, of your Throne again, and strip any and all protections your Hunters have of being taken!"

Zeus raised his thunderbolt.

Artemis couldn't speak, horror overcame her.

This can't be happening! Father would never, he would never reach the point where—! Artemis thoughts eneded.

"FATHER NO!" Apollo screamed.

Faster than any god could act, faster than Hermes could move, nor even Apollo when he lunged to take the hit for this twin sister.

Artemis world was pain. She was launched out of Mount Olympus flying, falling away without any control or power, feeling herself shattering and breaking to pieces.

Her last sight was of her brother trying to reach her, flying after her as she fell to the earth.

Unknown to the gods, this was the start.

The change of destiny, of new myths being spun and written.

It is Poseidon and Apollo who would lose their divinity, reduced to mortality and made to complete trials before returning to their godhood.

Not a goddess. Not one of the three virgin goddesses at that.

Thus the eternal status quo, the cycle of tales reoccurrence was broken.

And now a new legend began to be to written.

===x===

Unknown Location - Artemis

Artemis struggled to open her eyes. Light was breaking through, as she felt her brother next to her.

"Hey, hey, you're okay, Arty. You're okay. We're safe for now." Apollo said as she felt his healing light envelop her.

Around her she could see a magic barrier, not of her brother's design. Beyond it she could see monsters far away at the perimeter.

And beyond that she could see cave wall and a ceiling as high as the heavens outside.

She knew where she was, and wondered if this was a trick by the Fates.

"Hey, you're finally awake."

Artemis blinked her eyes in disbelief as she met the smirking Metis Oceanus. She was meeting the bringer of calamity as her Greek self for the first time.

Or rather, she was meeting her as a mortal.

"So Artemis, or whatever mortal name you'd prefer to be called by now. You look like you could use some help." Metis said as she held her child, the one would usurp Zeus in her hands. "And I'd like to repay debts to those who helped me, even if they are forced to by magic promises."