Prometheus (1)
No point hiding it.
Persephone is a man.
But to the outside world, everyone knows him as a 'goddess'.
The reasons are twofold.
First, Demeter feared having a son and raised him as a daughter.
I wanted to publicly announce him as my son, but Demeter absolutely refused. She made it clear that wouldn't happen, insisting the first son had to be born from my principal wife, Hera.
I understand.
Hera won the Principal-Wife Contest and became my 'wife' as the Guardian of the Home. The notion that a principal wife's son is the legitimate heir is practically the foundation of a patriarchal society.
I didn't care either way, but Demeter stubbornly resisted. During a time when she should've been focused on postnatal recovery, we had a rather severe argument over this.
Why couldn't I raise my son as a son? What was the problem? Why worry about Hera? Shouldn't we be worrying about our son?
Faced with my logical rebuttal, Demeter finally burst into tears. I tried to be stricter, thinking she'd give in, but she was genuinely distraught.
-What if the rumor spreads that he's Zeus's son and goddesses come to rape him...!
Those words left me utterly speechless.
I have so many children who resemble me. Take Apollo—I can't help but think she looks exactly the way I would if I'd been born a woman.
But Persephone is distinctly different.
Persephone is my spitting image, the mirror of my own boyhood. His body stopped growing at the stage before the Titan male hormones inside my own body explosively surged.
That time when I first met Metis—when I could still insist I was a young man.
Dress him up just a little and anyone would call him a goddess. Persephone looked too much like I did back then.
What was the term?
On the internet, they called it otokonoko.
Those pictures where people rage that the artist drew a girl and insist it's a guy, or a friend posts a 'pretty girl' photo and asks 'Is this possible?'—and if you say yes, they hit you with 'Actually a guy lolol you fag.' Persephone's current appearance is exactly that kind of look.
This pretty girl is a guy?
Honestly, he's asking to get laid.
He's a danger to goddesses and male gods alike.
So when Demeter said she'd raise Persephone as a girl and told me about the risk of him being raped by anyone, I ended up giving my permission.
Fortunately, Persephone firmly established his gender identity. Athena and Rhea, understanding the situation, put their hearts into helping raise him, and Persephone was able to grow into a splendid goddess of spring.
But beneath Persephone's surface, the pride of a man still remains.
He is my son, after all. That's why we can put our bodies into the same hot spring and bathe together like this.
"Persephone."
"Yes, Father."
Truly courteous. If I braided his hair and put it up in a topknot, I'd want to place a traditional hat on him.
"I remember when you were young. You used to get angry, asking why you had to wear a dress when you were a boy."
"When I was young, I didn't fully understand my situation."
"Right. And I'm grateful for that. I really shouldn't have... but as your father, I've placed a heavy burden on you."
"No, Father. I understand. Because I've clearly realized the weight of being born as your son... and what that truly means."
Only a look of serene detachment remained on Persephone's face.
"For someone to violate me would be to humiliate you, Father. I will never allow myself to be violated by anyone. I won't be abducted by anyone, either. The day Mother Hera bears a son and that child truly inherits your honor... that day, I will reveal my true self and set out to find my own love."
"I'm sorry, in many ways."
"It's fine. Living as a goddess is fun in its own way, actually. The thrill of never knowing when I might be found out... that itself is another kind of enjoyment."
If you can't avoid it, enjoy it, as they say. Persephone was top-notch. A pro who decided to enjoy his cross-dressing.
"If you ever need anything, tell me anytime. Whether through Athena or Demeter, I'll arrange everything for you."
"Th-then..."
Persephone blushed and stared at me.
"Please tell me stories from your youth, Father."
"Hm? My stories?"
"Yes. I've heard so many tales from Mother that my ears are calloused. But I've never heard about the time before she was reborn with your help. I heard you saved Grandma Rhea and the others from Cronus. I want to hear that story."
"...Heh heh."
Persephone was a man, through and through.
A normal man who loved tales of heroic adventure.
"Then let's go outside, get some fresh air, and talk. We've been in the water quite a while. Follow me. Since we're at it, let's share the story with your mother as well."
"Yes, Father."
Splash.
Father and son, we rose from the water.
And as I looked at Persephone, I felt absolutely certain of one thing.
'His wife is going to have a hell of a time later.'
That Persephone was unquestionably my son.
Crackle.
In the very center of the Round Table of Olympus.
A flame blazed brightly, capable of overseeing all the earth. I'd asked for a different color than red to give off a more mysterious aura, and after trying a few things, we settled on blue.
Because it looks kind of mystical!
And arranged around this blue flame, the seats of the Round Table totaled exactly twelve.
"Everyone is gathered."
I first summoned the rulers of the sea and the underworld, beings I'd widely established as my equals.
Then Hera and Athena, who assist me at my sides. Beside them, Demeter and Hestia.
That makes seven.
Then I called forth the gods who would fill the remaining five seats, one by one.
"All of you, enter."
At my call, five 'goddesses' ascended all at once. Amidst the colorful array of hair, the one who truly stood out was the muscular giant, Artemis.
"Let each of you prove yourselves."
I temporarily extinguished the flame of the hearth burning in the center, then had the five climb onto the hearth and formally appointed them to the divine seats.
"Hephaestus. I appoint you as the Blacksmith Goddess. Hone well the fire of the forge and the art of crafting beautiful jewels."
"Ares. I appoint you as the Goddess of War. You shall be the vanguard of every war Olympus wages, and you will lead those wars to victory."
"Apollo. I appoint you as the Goddess of Medicine. Simultaneously, I appoint you as the second Sun Deity and the Goddess of Music."
"Artemis. You are the Goddess of the Hunt. Simultaneously, I appoint you as the second Moon Goddess."
"Persephone. I grant you the position of God of Grain. Alongside your mother Demeter, you shall oversee agriculture and nurture the crops of the earth."
I proclaimed a seat for each of the five. Each god, now with a defined role, took their place, and I rekindled the hearth's flame, signaling the full-fledged commencement of the Twelve Olympians.
"From now on, we Twelve Olympians will hold council at this Round Table. Those who cannot attend regularly will participate via an avatar through the hearths in their respective dwellings. For matters that are critical or urgent, attendance is mandatory."
As the council's overseer, I will always attend. That is the job of Zeus, the chief god.
"We are the rulers of Olympus, and indeed of this world. Within your respective domains, do your utmost in your assigned roles. We will create a world where beings of the earth, the underworld, and all the world look up to us. Is that understood?"
Everyone solemnly nodded. Since I was speaking seriously, they all reacted in kind.
That's a good sign. Because the very first agenda I'm raising is an extremely grave one.
"In that case, I, the chief god Zeus, ask the Twelve. Olympus now faces one very serious situation that awaits your judgment."
I clapped my hands.
Within the hearth's flame appeared a woman kneeling, her hands bound in chains.
"Epimetheus?"
The expressions of those who recognized her grew grave. They must have been wondering why Epimetheus was kneeling as if she were a criminal.
What's more, standing beside Epimetheus was the Goddess of Law, Themis, holding her Scales and sword. The final decision depends on the path set by Olympus, but if the verdict is to throw Epimetheus into Tartarus, she would be cast into Hell immediately.
"What crime has Epimetheus committed?"
"Aiding and abetting. I don't intend to apply guilt by association, but her brother Prometheus has committed a very serious offense."
Prometheus.
A stir rippled through the room as the name of this other famed prophet was spoken.
"He stole fire."
"Ooooh!"
"This is... grilled food!"
"Lord Prometheus, you're amazing!"
The praises of humans spread far and wide. Prometheus smiled down at them benevolently and nodded.
Why did he bring fire to humanity?
Because fire is not something humans were permitted to have.
Yet despite that, he brought it to them because he thought fire would greatly help humanity, who were cold and shivering in their nakedness.
"Kindle the embers, add the firewood, and tend it so it doesn't go out. That's how you can continue to use fire."
"Lord Prometheus, is it really alright for us to use this?"
"Of course."
Prometheus gave a bitter smile.
"It has been granted to you."
"Ahh, we received fire...!"
"Fire, it's incredible!"
When all the other animals were given something, humanity received nothing. It was Epimetheus's mistake. And so Prometheus gifted fire to humanity, who had been left with nothing.
The prophecy.
Because a remaining prophecy echoed in his head.
That he would be chained to a cliff and have his liver pecked out for all eternity, but that through his sacrifice, humanity would flourish.
"For humanity."
Prometheus calmly stepped outside. A goddess was already waiting for him.
"Are you Ares?"
"I am. I've come to arrest you by order of the great Lord Zeus. If you try to flee—"
"Take me away."
Prometheus calmly held out his arms. Ares bound his wrists tightly with iron chains.
"What punishment will I receive? Tartarus?"
"No. Ah, well, so you..."
Ares pulled a paper from her bosom, frowned, and unfurled it before Prometheus.
"This!"
"...What did you say?"
The punishment decreed by Zeus was exceedingly horrific.
"Olympian Public Bio-Dildo. Any who wish to rape the Titan male god, come and rape the insolent thief who stole fire."