Chapter 21:

“Ares!” Helia yelled as she ran to him and almost gave him a hug, just before she stopped short and decided against it. “I made a friend today.”

“Really? Would you be willing to let me join you and mom for ice cream so you can fill me in?” He noticed how Helia restrained herself from giving him a hug he knew she wanted to and one he didn’t realize he wanted either.

They both looked at Hera, for they knew that she would ultimately have to make the final decision, but the wide-eyed pouty cat look they were giving her made it hard to even think about saying no.

“Fine, just stop looking at me with those eyes.”

“Yay,” they both yelled and ran over to Hera and crushed her in a hug. She was so happy to have both her children showing her affection that she had to stop the tears from falling.

“Okay, okay, let’s get going before it gets too late.”

They had decided to walk to the ice cream shop instead of flashing there so that they could enjoy each other’s company. They had talked about Helia and Melinoe’s new friendship to talking about some new moves to try for their next training session and any and everything in between.

They had finally made it to the ice cream shop, still engaged in conversation, when they walked to the counter and placed their order. They found a booth near a window in the cozy little shop to sit in while they waited.

“So, are you ready for your playdate tomorrow?” Ares asked. He knew that Helia had a hard time meeting new people and was afraid that she wouldn’t be accepted. That was probably why she always wanted to make sure she didn’t make anyone mad or even show affection.

“Yea, I am still worried about how Triton will react, but if he doesn’t like me, I still at least have Melly.” She didn’t let them in on her true feelings. She was still somewhat apprehensive about her fast friendship with Melinoe and if it would even last, but she pushed the thought aside for now.

“Well, you have me, too, little one.”

“Thank you, Ares,” Helia was trying not to show that what he said affected her. She thought he wouldn’t like her or find she was annoying, but he had been the total opposite. He was like the big brother she never knew she wanted, and she was glad for it.

Hera was glad to know that her oldest son had taken to Helia and treated her like the sister he didn’t even know she was in reality. She was nervous about how her children would react towards her daughter, and so far, everything was good, but that was because they didn’t know her true identity.

“Here’s your ice cream, Your Majesties, is there anything I could assist you with?”

“No, thank you.”

“You’re welcome, my Queen. I hope you all enjoy your desserts.”

“Thank you,” they all answered together.

They were enjoying their ice cream and each other’s presence and conversation when Helia heard someone talking behind her mention Hera’s name.

“Yea, I’m pretty sure she only took her in so that people could believe she really has changed now. Like please, she’s still an evil bitch and horrible Queen, and nothing could change my mind. I’m just waiting for Zeus to fuck me so that I can rock his world and be the next Queen,” the minor goddess ended with a laugh.

The other goddesses that were with her started laughing and agreeing with her; to say that Helia was pissed was a complete and utter understatement. She got up and walked over to the table where the goddesses were.

“Helia, sweetheart, where are you going?”

“Hey, kid, where are you going?”

Helia was on a mission and had her mind only on one thing.

“You should not be talking like that about YOUR Queen. It is rude and disrespectful.”

“No, dear, I believe you are the rude and disrespectful one, and what do you care? She only took you in so she can try to make everyone believe that she has changed.”

The atmosphere had significantly changed. The air became thick, almost suffocating, the clouds began to darken the sky, turning it almost black, and the wind picked up speed. Helia was in a rage and didn’t even notice that she was causing the realms’ destruction. Hera and Ares were caught off guard by the sudden change in Helia and the atmosphere. Her energy was intense and was a force to be reckoned with, much like Hera’s when she would be upset. Helia was enraged and went into a rant, telling the other goddess off.

“I am not the one calling the Queen out her name and wishing to overthrow her. You are plotting against her, and that reasons enough for your death. You are the bitch; you have no idea what she goes through,” turning to the crowd that began to gather around, she added, “none of you do.” She turned her attention back to the goddess to continue with her rant, “How would you feel if your husband cheated on you every day, and there was nothing you could do about it? Yes, she may have killed people, which isn’t right, but she is not the only one to be blamed. You all judge her harshly for her actions, but what about Zeus? Just because he is a man and King, he gets to do whatever he wants without having to be punished? Why is it that the woman always gets the harshness of the man’s mistake?”

The crowd could do nothing but witness this child speak the truth, with so much emotion and tears in her eyes. If you didn’t know before now, it was evident that this child loved their Queen and would defend her to the end.

“You should be ashamed of yourself. People like you are why the Queen is an evil bitch, as you so lightly put it. You are a willing participant, but yet you can only see her wrongdoing. Maybe if people like you would stop being so weak when it comes to your King’s advances, then she wouldn’t be so evil, and you would see the change in her, the real her. Do you really think by you giving yourself to Zeus that he would leave her and make you Queen; he hasn’t done it yet, so why would he now? You better hope that one day the Fates don’t have you go through what she has been for a millennia, for your sake because you wouldn’t be able to handle it.”

Not being able to see her daughter in so much pain, Hera went to her. “Helia, baby, look at me,” Hera softly demanded, kneeling beside her. When Helia didn’t comply because she was so caught up in her emotions, Hera had to physically turn her around to face her and what she saw broke her heart. When Helia turned to face Hera, she leaped into her arms and let out all her tears, anger, and frustrations.

“Helia, it’s okay. I am okay.”

“But… it… it’s not… f…f…fair,” Helia stammered.

“I know, sweetheart, but remember life isn’t fair. I no longer care what people say about me.”

“Well, I… I… do,” Helia replied, still in tears.

Hera continued to hold her and gently rub circles around her back and used her powers as Goddess of Motherhood to calm her child down.

“I know, baby, and I thank you for that, but you cannot make people change their views about me, and that is okay because as long as my children, including you, see the true me, then I am happy.”

“Okay,” came the soft reply.

The storm, once-raging outside, finally started to pass, and the clouds cleared the way for the sun to come back out. The crowd still gathered around them, never witnessed such a scene as this; their Queen and her soft side. They began to think that the child was right, there is kindness to her, but they were clouded by their already prejudgment of her.

Ares managed to record what was happening with his phone to show the others later on and so that he could have proof of the storm Helia caused because he knew no one would believe what happened. He, himself, even became emotional during Helia’s rant because he felt guilty. Ares never thought that maybe his mother was hurting, which is why she was who she was. He never stopped to think of her feelings as just Hera, not mother, and not Hera Queen of Olympus. He made up his mind to be a better person and be nicer to his mom.

He put his phone away and walked towards his mother and Helia, “Hey mom, let’s get her out of here and go home.”

“Yes, you’re right,” Hera replied as she picked her daughter up and carried her in her arms, “let’s go home.”

“The show is over, people, go back to your own lives,” Ares delegated before he and his mother, who held his, now calm sister, and flashed out.