Persephone

Painting by Rubik Kocharian
In an ancient version of Pyrrhia, gods roam the lands. Immortal beings, with physical forms resembling complex hybrids or tribrids, rule over the mortal tribes. Kore, the daughter of Demeter and the goddess of spring, is kidnapped by Hades due to a misunderstanding. In the underworld, a place darker and more fantastic than she has ever known, she quickly realizes that she does not want to leave...
This story is a retelling of the love story between Hades and Persephone, and belongs to DuskRose42.
= Persephone =
== Chapter 1: The Lure of Hades' Flower ==
Kore breathed in a long breath of fresh air. She and her friends stood in a large, open field, collecting flowers. Thousands of wildflowers, bright yellow buttercups and delicate blue blossoms, wild roses, creating a whole spectrum of vibrant colours. 
Kore’s scales were a mix of purples, reds, and pinks, and her eyes were a vivid lavender. She had frills like a Rainwing, and wings and tail-tips like a Leafwing. Her two friends were just mortal companions, two delicate and beautiful sky-rain hybrids, who collected flowers with her and gave her company.
Any companions had to be approved by her mother, Demeter, beforehand. She was extremely overprotective, and never let her go anywhere alone.
Suddenly, the sound of thunder began. Clouds rolled across the sky, covering the sun, and a gale began blowing across the field.
Kore and her friends' baskets jumped and toppled in the wind, scattering the flowers they had spent so long collecting. Kore chased after them, attempting to gather them in her talons desperately.
Distantly, through the wind that buffeted her ears, Kore could hear her friends calling after her.
"Kore, come back! We need to find shelter!" They called, as they ran under cover of the nearby trees.
She ignored them. A little wind wouldn't stop her from retrieving all their hard work. All the other gods assumed Kore was just a weak goddess of spring that could be pushed around, but she was painfully stubborn.
Kore stopped mid stride, as something caught her eye. Three purple blossoms, large and gorgeous, like the clouds during dusk. She had never seen flowers of this species before, which was strange for the goddess of spring to miss.
She plucked one of the blossoms to look closer at it, her claws holding deep into the earth as the wind was threatening to catapult her into the air. It smelled so fragrant that even the whipping air around her could not diffuse it.
Kore heard a deep rumble in the ground, and turned her head to see the earth split open. Out from the crack in the ground catapulted a large black dragon, with huge wings. He flew towards Kore, grabbing her and flying back to the crack in the earth. She was submerged in darkness, and heard a rumbling like the earth was closing back up above her.
She was struck with fear and confusion, who is he? Where is he taking me? Before Kore’s questions could be answered, she fell into a deep and dreamless unconsciousness, still held by the handsome stranger.
== Chapter 2: What's in a name? ==
Kore blinked hard, and rubbed her eyes, adjusting to the dim light.
Once her vision cleared, she found herself in what looked like an underground cave, though it didn’t have the unnatural, jagged walls that would be characteristic. It looked like it was carved meticulously, illustrations of dragons, skulls, snakes, pomegranates, and those same strange flowers, marked the walls. They looked like they were made by an expert hand.
The room was illuminated by torchlight, the torches a shade of purple and hung around the room in iron-wrought fixings. The flames flickered, sending shadows dancing across the room. Reflecting on the carvings, it looked like the shapes of the dragons were coming alive.
She lay in a large bed, made of smooth silk the colour of grape skin. It caressed her scales gently as she adjusted herself.
On a silver plate, on a polished ebony table next to the bed, lay three pomegranates. They looked extremely ripe, and Kore’s talons reached out to grab one. Suddenly, she flinched away, remembering all the warnings her mother had reminded her of.
Never eat the food of the underworld, or you will be trapped there forever.
Kore looked around at the cave. She was surely underground, meaning she had to be in the underworld. Which meant that the dragon who kidnapped her…
Was Hades himself.
Kore heard a sudden knock on the door which pulled her from her thoughts, “Hello?” She called.
The other side of the door was quiet for a moment, before a voice answered in a rasping tone, “The Lord of the Underworld calls you to his banquet. Prepare yourself adequately.” The voice called.
Kore shivered, imagining a dragon’s skeleton speaking to her with glowing eyes from the other side.
She slipped out of the bed, and approached the dressing stand, which had a mirror facing it. There were silken robes and a variety of cosmetics lying on the stand.
Kore faced herself in the mirror for a long moment. She looked so small, so innocent. That was probably why other gods underestimated her (that and her overbearing mother). She knew who she was, and she wasn’t weak. Other gods think they can kidnap me? Do whatever they want? She thought angrily, I’ll show them. I’m not the same Kore that they think I am.
Kore’s expression turned sour. She grabbed the cosmetics, darkening the area around her eyes and contouring her face to make her look older and more severe. She achieved the desired effect.
She grabbed a variety of dark chains and laid them, overlapping, over her neck. She wrapped the silken robes over her wings and back, achieving a sophisticated look.
She stared hard at herself in the mirror. I’m a new dragon, and now I need a new name, She thought, Persephone. I am Persephone.
== Chapter 3: Banquet ==
Persephone opened the door to exit the room. She followed the thin, winding, hallway until she found herself in a large banquet hall. More of the purple torches decorated the place, as well as detailed tapestries and carvings of Hades’ exploits. A long, ebony table stood in the middle of the room, and at the other end of it sat Hades himself.
He was quite large for a dragon, as large as Zeus and Poseidon, the other leaders of the three main dominions: Sky, Sea, and Underworld.
Persephone noticed that a place was set for her to sit across the long table from Hades. She found her place, and sat.
There was a long, awkward, silence, as Persephone merely glared across the table at Hades. She looked almost entirely different from the sweet, carefree dragon he had kidnapped.
“So, uh, Kore,” He coughed, and continued, “Do you-”
“It’s Persephone,” Persephone interrupted.
“I thought… we might try to get to know one another, Persephone.” He said in a voice much softer than his appearance and size might suggest.
Persephone scoffed, “Why would I try to get to know you?” She asked, “You kidnapped me!”
“Kidnapped?” Hades said, a look of genuine surprise on his face, “I- I thought Zeus told you…”
“Told me what? By the way, Hades, all powerful god of the underworld, is going to kidnap you while you’re flowerpicking.” She said sarcastically.
“No- I didn’t mean to kidnap you. I asked Zeus for permission to marry you, and he said he gave it to me. He also told me he discussed it with you.”
Hades cursed, “I shouldn’t have trusted that skeevy god of lightning, even if he is the king of gods.”
“Many say it is unwise to curse Zeus,” Persephone pointed out, “He can hear when you mention him, you know.”
Hades chuckled coldly, “What else can he do to me that he hasn’t already done?” He said sourly. “I’m not even recognized as a true Olympian, whereas Zeus can sow discord among the mortals and gods alike, yet they all worship and bow to him. It’s pathetic.”
Persephone smiled, “I agree. Zeus’ ego allows him to justify anything he does… like, for example, promising me to be married to you, without even asking me first.”
Hades suddenly looked shy, and avoided eye contact. “Again, my sincerest apologies.”
A distant rumbling of thunder erupted in the distance. Both Hades and Persephone grew silent, and then both looked at each other and laughed.
“He’s really insulted!” Persephone laughed, “Though he forgets we are gods too, I think, though many don’t believe a goddess of spring deserves much respect.”
“I think spring is beautiful,” Hades commented, “It brings life and renewal back into the world, while all I do is take.” He sighed.
Persephone’s frills turned red with embarrassment. This dragon was strange, and a little creepy, but there was something about him… He had dark black scales, with hints of red here and there. His eyes were a piercing crystal blue, and his horns and claws were a bone-like white. Hades was certainly the god of death, and he looked the part, but Persephone now noticed things about him she never had before: The delicate and strong curve of his jaw, the rippling muscles below his scales, his long curving tail, large elegant wings, and the twinkle in his eye suggesting a tenderheartedness beyond his cold exterior.
“Well, thank you. And for the record, I think what you do is important too.” She commented, and suddenly turned her attention to the food on her plate as though it was very interesting. She played with the chicken, mashed potatoes, and greens with her fork, but ate none of it, still remembering her mother’s warning. “Now, why did you grab me from a hole in the ground, in the middle of a storm?”
A dark look crossed Hades’ face. “It was Zeus’ plan. He created the storm to cover Helios, the sun. Normally Helios surveys all that occurs on Pyrrhia, to gods and mortals alike, but Zeus didn’t want your mother to be able to ask Helios and discover that I had taken you to the underworld. He knew she would be too overprotective and wouldn’t let you come with me. Now I know that it was all a trick by Zeus, to put me in bad graces with both you and your mother. He wants all the olympians to hate me, to think I’m barbaric.”
“What does Zeus have against you?” Persephone asked curiously, “He seems to go out of his way to make you look bad.”
“He knows I’m powerful,” Hades commented, “He also knows that I’m… awkward… and many consider me creepy. It’s easy to make others hate me, and make the chance of me ever taking the throne of Olympus from him impossible. He wants things to stay the way they are, with him on top.” He said, fiddling with his talons absentmindedly, though still preserving an air of regality with the way he sat and held his head.
Persephone looked down at her plate. “Mother will be enraged when she hears about this.”
“You’re free to be escorted from the underworld as you choose,” Hades offered.
Persephone let out a sigh, “Honestly, I think I’d have more freedom down here than up there with my mother. Maybe… Maybe I can stay here a little longer.”
Hades smiled, “What’s mine is yours, Persephone.”
== Chapter 4: The Endless Winter ==
“Where is she,” Demeter hissed. Her voice was a low, guttural growl. She stood menacingly tall, her appearance an odd mix between a MudWing and a LeafWing, yet with large branches instead of horns, and a crown of wheat around her head.
Her green eyes glared at the two Rain-Sky hybrids.
“We- we don’t know!” One of them chirped. They were both sobbing. “We don’t know where Kore went! We tried to call for her, to make sure she came to shelter with us, but she kept chasing after the flowers… and we had to find shelter… I’m sorry, we didn’t see who took her!”
“Please have mercy on us goddess!” The other one pleaded, between tears, their talons gripped in a motion of prayer.
Demeter frowned. “I employed you two to watch after my daughter. To make sure she was safe. I don’t trust just anyone for that job, and you two failed. You took care of your own safety before Kore’s. That is wholly unacceptable.”
“Please do not punish us goddess!” They pleaded.
“You do not have my pity, whelps.” She growled again. With a wave of her talons, the two dragons began to transform. Feathers sprouted from their scales, their wings turning from bat-like wings into those that resembled a bird’s. Their snouts turned to beaks, their eyes now black and shining. Their piteous cries now turned into horrid shrieks, like that of a bird of prey. The sign of intelligence left their eyes. They were now hideous monsters. Harpies.
“This is what you deserve.” Demeter said, and turned to leave them behind. She glanced up at the sun, watching Helios drive his chariot across the sky. One of the few Titans that stayed out of Tartarus after the war. He drove across the sky in his chariot of fire, watching everything. Apollo was the new sun god, but Helios was the original. He would be able to tell Demeter what had happened here.
With a swift and powerful flap of her wings, Demeter catapulted herself into the sky. She flew up, higher and higher, until she reached Helios.
Helios was a bright, shining gold colour. He looked like a mix of sand and sky, with other traits incorporated as well. He was so bright that it was difficult for Demeter to focus her eyes on him, but she was a goddess after all. She could do as she pleased.
Helios pulled the reigns on his golden chariot tightly, causing his horses to neigh in protest. They glowed almost brighter than Helios himself, and seemed to have no true physical form. They were really just bright light in the vague shape of a horse, with the fussy personalities of one.
“Demeter! To what do I owe the pleasure?”
Both Helios and his chariot were about ten times Demeters size, so she had to crane her neck to gaze up at his face. She kept a determined look on her face, she was intimidated by no one. No one kept her between her and her daughter.
“I want to know where my daughter is.”
Helios frowned. “I saw Kore. Picking flowers with her friends. Then suddenly a storm appeared. It was so cloudy that I could not see where Kore had gone. Once the clouds cleared, she was gone. Usually the clouds are not thick enough to prevent me from seeing beyond them. Only one god can make a storm strong enough to prevent the Sun from seeing beyond it.”
Demeter growled. “Zeus.”
Helios nodded. “Good luck with finding your daughter, Demeter. I know Zeus will get a stern talking to, and you will end up sorting all of this out.”
“Thank you, Helios.” Demeter said, still frowning. 
Helios let his horses continue their way across the sky, until soon Eos’ rosy dawn could be seen, and eventually the three moon chariots of Selene made their way across the sky.
By the time Demeter made it to Olympus, the stars were glittering, and the sky was dark. She made her way to the central temple, where she knew Zeus would be, with his wife, Hera.
Demeter slammed open the door.
“Zeus!” She exclaimed.
Zeus, looking like a white sky-night, flinched as he turned around. His eyes were an electric blue. His wife, Hera, stood near him. She was a dark peacock blue color, with green patterns along her back. She looked like a rain-night. The gods could choose their forms, but these were the ones they seemed to favour.
“What has he done this time?” Hera asked in a bored tone, like she was so used to all the trouble her husband called. He often cheated on her and had children with mortals, but she stayed with him, she was the goddess of marriage after all. Though, that didn’t mean she couldn’t make his life hell when she wished it.
“Zeus has stolen my daughter!” Demeter roared.
“Whoahh settle down.” Zeus said, his talons up in an ‘I’m innocent’ position. “Let’s talk about this rationally.”
“Rationally!” You hid my daughter from Helios, and now she’s gone! What’s rational about that?”
Zeus chuckled awkwardly, “Well… Hades asked me for Kore’s hand in marriage… As the lord of the gods, I have the right to sanction such unions…”
“You do not have the right to sanction kidnapping!” Demeter sighed, “Hades, of all the gods? Of all dragons? I would almost rather she married a mortal. He is a disgrace!”
Zeus shrugged.
“Now, get her back.” Demeter insisted. “This nonsense is over. Now.”
“Well… there’s nothing I can really do at this point.” Zeus said, laughing a little, “I mean, really Demeter, only Hermes and Hades can enter the underworld. What am I supposed to do?”
Demeter growled again, this time her anger flashed in her eyes, and vines sprouted out of the ground around her, winding menacingly closer to Zeus.
All the humor drained from Zeus’ face. “Don’t forget who I am Demeter. I am the lord of the gods. I cannot kill you, but I can defeat you. Don’t pretend you have any power here.” His voice rumbled like thunder, echoing across the hall of the temple.
He turned to the back wall, and returned to his throne next to Hera. “Leave.”
Fury consumed Demeter’s expression, but she left the room. It was true, Zeus had all the power here. He could do as he pleased.
Demeter returned to her own temple on Olympus. She walked through the streets, past manicured gardens and marble statues, until she made it to a temple in the middle of farmland and forests. She approached, and closed the door.
My life is nothing without Kore. Demeter thought. She lay on the floor of her temple, not even bothering to approach her throne. She stared at the ceiling, watching the patterns of the grey marbling among the white stone.
All around her temple, the plants wilted. The fields lost their fertility. Across the land, all the plants died. A cold chill swept across the land, and it began to snow. This was the beginning of the longest winter Pyrrhia had even seen.
== Chapter 5: Asphodel and Elysium ==
After dinner, Hades took Persephone for a tour of his kingdom. Most of it appeared to be cold, damp, dark stone caverns, some decorated similarly to the room Persephone had woken up in, and others were very sparse.
It seemed to be mostly devoid of citizens. Skeletal servants obeyed Hades’ every whim, and other than that, no creatures seemed to explore the halls.
That is, until he showed her the rest of it.
“The fields of asphodel,” Hades said, gesturing with a talon towards the edge of a cliff which they stood upon. Beyond the cliff was an endless field, filled with thousands- no, millions of blank-faced ghosts. Their faint blue figures flickered like flames licking the dark air.
“What is this?” Persephone asked. Being a goddess, she knew very little about the deaths of mortals, since gods could not die.
“This is where the mortals who were neither good nor evil in life reside in death.” Hades said, his voice controlled. “They wash away their memories in the river of Lethe, and then wait here.”
“What are they waiting for?” Persephone asked.
Hades shook his head, a glimmer of sadness passing through his eyes. “Nothing.”
He turned back towards the tunnel behind them. Persephone took one last look at the hordes of souls, before turning to follow Hades.
“Isn’t there a better way to do this?” She asked.
“The way I’ve done it for millennia isn’t good enough?” He snapped.
Persephone narrowed her eyes, “Remember, you’re the one in the wrong here, Hades. I’m only here to avoid the monotony on Olympus.”
They walked for a while in silence, until they came to another turn.
Persephone followed him, the tunnel exiting into what looked like another endless stretch of fields, but this place was entirely different. The ceiling of the caves glowed with a yellowish light like sunlight, almost reflecting and shifting blue like the sky.  Beneath the ceiling, the fields were covered in lush grasses, verdant forests and ripening orchards ripe with fruit gleaming like jewels.
“The fields of Elysium. This is where those who die a heroic death go.”
Persephone scanned the rivers, flowers, and elegant structures. She saw almost no dragon souls below, she thought she caught sight of a BeetleWing walking through an orchard, but it was just a glimpse. “Where is everyone?” 
“Not many dragons die heroically.” Hades said, strictly holding back the emotion in his voice. Gone was the nervous dragon at the banquet. Here was Hades, God of the Underworld, cold and unfeeling. 
I must have shocked him, caught him unaware, when I accused him of kidnapping me. That must be why he was acting so polite. Maybe we can’t be friends… I had hoped, but that was stupid. The mortals all avoid uttering his name for a reason.
“Did you create this system?” Persephone asked, barely holding back the venom in her tone.
“No. The underworld existed before I was born. Mortals have walked the earth for a long time, and the titans ruled before the gods. After the titans were defeated, a god would be chosen of me and my two brothers to rule the dominions of sky, sea, and underworld. I drew the shortest stick.”
Persephone glared down at the stone floor, “But you can change it.”
Hades sighed, covering his eyes with his talons, his wings drooping slightly. “I could, but I don’t know how. I spend all of my time making sure things are running smoothly down here. Forgive me for my prior rudeness Persephone, but being god of the underworld is a responsibility I don’t take lightly… I would like to make things better for the mortal souls, I hear their lonely cries every night, but I don’t want to make things worse.”
There was that softness again, that genuine character beneath his intimidating, godly exterior. He looked up at her, his blue eyes meeting her purple, and it seemed as though an electric spark passed between them.
Persephone started to laugh.
Hades grinned nervously, “What’s so hilarious?”
“I can’t believe I thought for a moment you were like Zeus.”
Hades flinched, as though that comparison felt like a physical blow.
“No, no! I don’t think that of you… Just, for a moment I thought you ruled your dominion uncaringly… But that was stupid, I was right about you at the banquet. You have potential.”
Hades raised an eye ridge, “Potential, eh?” He teased.
“Yes,” Persephone said, “And I’m going to help you. You make sure everything runs smoothly, and I’ll help you make things better.”
Hades’ eyes widened, a glimmer of excitement, “Really? You’re going to stay?”
“Maybe for a little while,” She said with a wink, “Shall we?” She gestured towards the hallway.
They continued on their tour.
== Chapter six: The God of Riches ==
Hades and Persephone approached another doorway, this one blocked by heavy, ornate wooden double doors made of the purest ebony. They were carved with detailed, swirling patterns, and the delicately curved handles were made of a gleaming silver.
Hades raised a talon to open the door to the right, and Persephone trailed in after him.
Persephone was greeted by the brightest room she had ever seen.
The path extended out into a vast array of caverns, revealing a variety of crystals, gems, gemstones, and precious ores. Thick veins of silver and gold ran through the walls, and the caverns were covered in intricate structures of amethyst, emerald, sapphire, diamond, of all shades.
Persephone’s eyes widened. It was more colourful and vibrant than any field of wildflowers she had ever seen. “What is all this?” Persephone asked.
Hades chuckled, “A lot of people forget that I’m not just the god of the dead and the underworld, I’m also the god of the earth and all its riches.”
“Maybe we aren’t so different after all, despite what the other gods think.” Persephone said, “The flowers and fruit trees are the riches of the surface of the earth, and your jewels are the riches beneath.”
Hades smiled at her, his pale blue eyes watching her speak. “You’re right. The other gods seek to divide me from the other gods, instead of examining our similarities. The ways we can work together.”
They were silent at the moment, just gazing up at the glittering treasures.
“Is this the end of the tour?” Persephone asked.
“Well… I showed you the main areas of my part of the domain. I don’t think you want to see tartarus. The tortures set out for evil mortals are not easy to look at, even though they deserve it. Even I don’t go there often.” Hades admitted.
“Maybe another time,” Persephone said, “I’ll have to see it eventually, if I do end up staying here for a little while.”
“Well, why don’t we continue down this path? I have something I want to show you.” Hades said, an excited pep in his step as he walked ahead of Persephone, leading her further into the caverns.
After a short while of travel, the tunnel opened up again into a huge cavern, this one was a meticulously kept garden. Persephone spotted skeletal gardeners waving to her with a friendly demeanor, before continuing to trim the precise hedges.
Pomegranate trees with luscious fruits edged the garden. Bushes with dark purple flowers and intricately carved hedges created rows and paths to explore, with marbled stone benches. In the center of the garden was a statue of a dragon rearing up, her wings spread, a fierce expression on her face. It took Persephone a moment to realize it was her.
“I made it for you. You know, when I thought we were…”
“Getting married?” Persephone said, a teasing expression on her face.
Hades’ eyes flitted away, and Persephone thought that if he had RainWing frills they would be bright red in embarrassment.
Persephone laughed, “Come on, I’m just teasing. Let’s explore!’ She said, gesturing with her head and bounding into the gardens, a grin on her face as she breathed in the delicate scents of the underworld plants.
Persephone leaned close to one of the purple flowers, breathing in their flawless fragrance. “This looks familiar…” Persephone said, “Are these the flowers I saw on the day you kidnapped me?”
“Yes…” Hades admitted, “Again, sorry about that. Terrible miscommunication.”
“I’ve never seen this species before that day, and trust me, I know flowers.”
“They’re for you, like this garden. I had the gardeners breed them for you. I thought the dark purple shades with the delicate petals… would represent a union between the underworld and, well… you.” Hades said awkwardly.
Persephone smiled, “That’s very sweet Hades.”
Before Hades could respond, a figure darted into the garden, stopping swiftly right next to Persephone and Hades.
Persephone recognized him immediately. The vibrant red scales and yellow lightning patterns down his back, and his wide yellow eyes. “Hermes?” Persephone asked.
Hermes was one of the few gods other than Hades who could enter the underworld when he pleased, as he was fast enough to bring the souls of dead mortals to the River Styx so they could cross and enter the afterlife.
Hermes was running in place and his wings were twitching, like it was immensely difficult for him to stand still. “You need to come back to the surface, Kore! Without you, Demeter is so depressed without you that spring isn’t coming. It’s cold and desolate, and the mortals are starving! They’re mad with the gods and they’ve stopped making offerings. You need to come back and fix this!”
“But if I come back… mother will never let me come back here again…” Persephone said thoughtfully.”
“It’s alright…” Hades said, “You don’t have to feel like you owe me anything, Persephone.”
“Persephone?” Hermes said questioningly, but the others ignored him.
“I know I don’t owe you anything.” Persephone said, “But I don’t want to leave here forever. I want to help you change things, I want to see this beautiful side of the underworld again. And… I want to see you again.”
Hades looked down at his talons thoughtfully, “Well… there might be a way.” He glanced over at the pomegranate trees, then back at Persephone.
She grinned at him, “You read my mind Hades.”
== Chapter seven: Pomegranates and power ==
“Are you ready?” Hermes asked.
Persephone nodded, taking one last glance back at Hades. He smiled, and nodded at her.
Persephone had six pomegranate seeds in her talon. She slid them into her mouth. There was a crunch and the taste of the sweet juice, before swallowing the food of the underworld. The next moment, Hermes grabbed Persephone and began to fly.
Persephone felt a rush of air all around her, so strong she felt as though her scales would come undone by the piercing wind.
The next moment, Persephone had landed on Olympus.
“I’ve got to get back to work: taking souls to the underworld, relaying messages from the gods to mortals, and of course, imparting wisdom.” Hermes said with a rakish grin.
Persephone nodded, “Thank you. Most are afraid to cross Zeus because of the possible consequences, but you seem unafraid. Why is that?”
Hermes smiled genuinely, “He’s my father. I know what he’s like. Besides, he needs me. Everyone needs a messenger, even Zeus, and no one’s as fast as me. Good luck with everything Persephone, I know love can be difficult.”
With a crack like thunder, Hermes flew at hyperspeed though the sky, gone in less than a moment.
Persephone looked around at Olympus. Normally, Olympus was filled with plant life no matter what season it was in the mortal world below, but now it was barren and grey, the trees lifeless shrubs, the grass dead and crunching beneath her talons.
In front of her was a temple of white marble, much like the others around Olympus, but this was the temple of her mother. Demeter.
Persephone took a deep breath, and stepped into the temple.
Persephone almost expected her mother to yell or curse at her, but there was near-complete silence.
All she saw was the main room of the temple covered in dead vines and leaves, dead plants dead or dying all around her and the smell of decay. In the distance, Persephone heard faint sobbing.
She drew closer to the statue of her mother at the back wall, where there was a smaller statue of Kore next to her with a big childish grin on her face. Persephone cringed at her expression, but then softened at the image of her as a dragonet next to her mother. To Persephone it was an uncomfortable reminder of how immature she was as a dragonet, but it meant much more to Demeter. It means that she loves me.
Persephone went around to the back of the statue, and found the source of the sobbing. Demeter lay on her side, tears streaming down her face. Even the crown of wheat she wore around her horns was wilted and dead.
“Mother?”
Demeter’s eyes shot open, a bright green with circles of gold, focusing on Persephone.
“Kore!” Demeter called, jumping forward, wrapping her arms tightly around Persephone.
I guess I can be Kore again. For my mother. Persephone thought, Kore for six months, Persephone for six months.
Kore hugged her mother back, squeezing tightly.
“I never thought I’d see you again!” Demeter exclaimed, “but you’re back! You’re really here!”
A rush of green energy emerged from Demeter, washing over the dead plants in the temple and waking them up. Flowers bloomed, fruits ripened, leaves regained their colour, the grass became verdant and lush.
The crown of wheat around Demeter’s horns returned to its colour, shining golden in the light.
“What happened?” Demeter asked, “I’m going to kill that Hades for taking you away.”
“No, don’t.” Kore said, “Zeus tricked him, but there’s nothing we can do. He’s the king of the gods, just… don’t blame Hades. Zeus has always had it out for him.”
“That sounds like what Hades always says. Did he tell you that?” Demeter asked.
“Yes… and I believe him mother. I think I’m falling in love with him. I might marry him when I return to the underworld.”
“Love?” Demeter exclaimed, “Return to the underworld?!”
Kore sighed.
“Look at all this underworld makeup and jewelry, has he molded you into his perfect wife of darkness and death?” Demeter growled, gesturing with a talon towards Kore’s ornaments.
“No, mother. I care about Hades, and he cares about me. I ate six pomegranate seeds, which means I’m going to return to the underworld for six months out of the year, and there’s nothing you can do to stop me. It’s the magic of the underworld.”
“Six months!” Demeter exclaimed, “What could possibly make you want to stay with him?”
“Because he’s thoughtful, and kind, and he cares more about the deaths of mortals than any of the gods. Although they are lesser than us, he tries his best to take care of them after they pass. The same cannot be said for most gods whose domain is over the living. I want to be another dragon when I’m with him. Someone who will help him change things, help him rule. When I’m up here, blooming flowers and bringing spring, I’ll be your daughter, Kore. But when I’m down there with him, I’m someone else. I’m Persephone.”
Demeter sighed, thinking for a moment. “You want to be an adult, make your own decisions, and I haven’t treated you like one. I haven’t let you have the freedom you deserve. I’m sorry for that.”
“It’s alright, mother. I know you just wanted to protect me. Now I can share my life with the both of you.”
Demeter smiled, “Well let’s get those six months started. We have a lot of work to do.”
Kore and Demeter exited the temple, tails twined. As Demeter stepped out, greenness and colour spread throughout Olympus. Gods exited their temples, looking around in excitement and wonder. The confusion exited their faces when they looked at Demeter, and saw Kore standing next to her.
“Kore has returned!” They cheered.
“I didn’t know I was so popular,” Kore said aside to her mother.
“Often dragons, both gods and mortals, do not appreciate what they have until it’s gone.” Demeter raised a talon, and out of the earth huge
branches emerged, twining together until they began to take the form of two dragons standing back to back.
The wooden statue stood in the middle of a large path which winded through the temples of Olympus.
When Kore went closer, she noticed that both of the statues were of her. One was of a brighter shade of wood, wearing a crown of flowers. The other was made of ebony, with a dark crown.
Inscribed in the base of the statue it said,
Kore: Goddess of Spring
Persephone: Goddess of the Underworld
Kore turned back and smiled at her mother, who returned the smile.
Kore flew up over the crowd and began to speak to them, “Gods of plant growth, dryads, and gods of good weather, come with me and my mother to return spring to Pyrrhia!”
The crowd cheered, and Demeter flew up next to her. “I’m so proud of you, Kore.”
Kore and Demeter flew, with minor gods and goddesses trailing them, down off of Olympus towards Pyrrhia.
Over the next millennia, Persephone would spend six months in the underworld, and Kore would spend six months with her mother. A yearly cycle of life and death that would continue long past the rule of the gods, influencing the lives of mortals for eternity.
Category:Content (DuskRose42)
Category:Fanfictions
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