#1000 Maternity Rhapsody Finale: Divine Realm Trials

I am Cronus, King of the Titans.

Today, summoned I was to the heavenly realm, and thought I, “What could it be?” Thus, I didst come hither.

Yet, the reception was rather ominous.

“Thou dost know why thou art summoned today, Father, hm?”

Before me stands a goddess, her veins throbbing with vexation...

She looks familiar.

Ah, yes... ‘tis Hestia, mine own eldest daughter, a cornerstone of the Olympian gods!

‘Tis been long, how fare thee?

Hast thou cut thy hair?

...Hast thou gained weight?

“I have not gained weight! Such manners to greet thy daughter whom thou hast not seen since the War of the Gods, Father!!!”

Ah, forgive me.

This fiery-tempered goddess is Hestia.

One of the six gods born of mine own union with Rhea, she was indeed adorable in her youth… or so I am told.

For I did swallow her whole soon after her birth.

“To think that just because thou were foretold to be destroyed by thy children, thou didst swallow each as they were born...such a horrid father thou art. ‘Tis but thy own fault that thou didst meet thy doom as prophesied."

Methinks the Olympian gods bear much of their own just retribution.

...But let us leave that be.

To delve into such matters wouldst be endless.

“Since we vanquished thee and the Titan gods, I, Hestia, have assumed the role of guardian of home and family. I also preside over the hearth’s flame. Renamed Vesta, I labor daily to ensure peace and comfort for mortals below.”

Well, thank thee for thy efforts.

And so, what business doth this Hestia, rather, Vesta, have with me today?

It seems thou art the one who summoned me?

I did come eagerly, hoping to converse with Hephaestus about model building.

“Upon hearing of thy release from Tartarus, a foreboding sense overtook me, and rightly so. Indeed, thou art a calamity unfit for freedom. With thee, countless tribulations have been unleashed as well.”

“What dost thou mean?”

How offensive.

True, I harbored a grudge from mine own defeat in the gods’ war and mine own millennia-long imprisonment, but now, free, I care not for vengeance.

I revel in wandering freely, having no intent for retribution.

How canst thou deem me, an old god now harmless to man and beast, as dangerous?

Trust in thy father, daughter.

“Of all daughters in the mythic realms, none distrusts their father more than I… Especially as thou art guilty of crimes. Thou shalt not feign ignorance!”

“Alas, I have no knowledge of such crimes.”

“To feign innocence thus...! Very well, I shall declare thy sins clearly!!!”

Vesta points her finger sharply.

“Thou hast bestowed divine virtue recently, didst thou not? This resulted in a great upheaval in the cycle of life, causing an unintended proliferation. In short, many offspring were born!!!”

Ah.

Yon incident?

Thou spake of calamity, so I wondered what grave misdeed I might have unwittingly committed.

But, indeed, this is something I recall well.

Yet, daughter...

“What, praytell, is wrong with that?”

All I did was bestow a boon upon the mortals, encouraging them to bear offspring.

Is the birth of new life not a cause for joy at all times and places?

To call this a crime is folly.

I performed a noble deed, did I not?

…

Is this perchance a tale of me becoming the ‘villain who believes his actions just’ without mine own knowing?

“Indeed, the birth of life is a matter of celebration. Especially among those who build civilizations, the nurture and birth overseen by Vesta, guardian of hearth and home, is sacred.”

...But the guardian of home seems akin to a zashikiwarashi, a protective house spirit.

Though I shall refrain from voicing this.

“Then thou hast no complaint.”

“Nay, I do! Understand, life must be increased or decreased in a planned manner! For rational beings like mortals, this is crucial! Sudden population surges can wreak untold havoc upon the world!”

“Mayhap we relocate this surplus to space?”

“Exactly!!!”

Though intended as jest, she agreed.

Such is the level of Hestia’s, nay, Vesta’s concern.

“...To safeguard the wellbeing of mortals is also a god’s duty. Perhaps influencing the world without consulting the Olympians who govern it was a breach of decorum.”

“Thy reasonableness, Father...! If only thou wert so during the War of the Gods...!”

Vesta weeps softly.

Is it truly so dire?

“...Prithee, how dost the gods manage the birth of life on the earth these days?”

“The essence of life’s creation lieth in the hands of the three mother goddesses: Hera, Demetersephone, and Amphitrite. Each doth oversee the lives of their respective creations, ensuring they stray not from the ordained path.”

“Amphitrite? Praytell, who might that be?”

“She is the wife of Poseidon. After Father was sealed away, she didst come to join us here.”

Ho ho, I must seek an audience with Poseidon anon.

“Alas, these goddesses, once they hath given birth, do abandon their offspring to fend for themselves. ‘Tis mine own duty to watch over their growth and survival. Be it mankind, demons, or merfolk, it falleth to me.”

“Hm-hm, ‘tis a position of great import.”

“Indeed! Thus, mine own workload doth greatly exceed that of others! And now, with the unexpected new births thou hast brought, I am overwhelmed... Mine own tasks art nigh impossible to complete! What dost thou intend to do about it?!”

“Do thy best.”

“Speak not so lightly! Behold the sight over yonder!!!”

 Vesta points toward another goddess.

Small in stature, she seems of lesser rank than Vesta, and weeps sorrowfully.

“Why dost that maiden weep so...?”

“Her name is Elethyia. She is the goddess who doth preside over childbirth.”

Ho ho, a goddess most relevant to our current plight.

“Whenever a birth doth occur, she must be present to witness it. Thus, with each birth, her burdens doth increase! And with thy reckless act, what thinkest thou will happen?!”

Due to the blessing I bestowed, many newborns shall come into this world at once...

Poor Elethyia shall be ever so busy when the time cometh.

“Naaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay! I detest overtime! And working on holidays, neverrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!”

“Ordinarily, she doth manage the world’s birthing schedule with precision, allowing her to work at a steady pace. But with thy sudden influx of births, her schedule is utterly ruined! What dost thou propose to do?!”

Methinks I have wrought a grave error...!

Grandfather hath acted with too much passion. What shall we do...?!

“Mayhap we should undo this baby boom altogether? Cronus, thou canst manipulate time and alter the past, canst thou not?”

“Nay! Though the gods had not planned it, life hath already taken root and cannot simply be undone! Moreover, seeing the joy upon the faces of those who hath received children, it would be most cruel to erase it!!!”

Oh?

Such compassionate words art rare amongst the Olympian gods.

“Furthermore, Father, wouldst thou so carelessly undo life that thou hath brought forth? Such irresponsibility!”

“Forgive me, forgive me...!”

Vesta’s glare is most terrifying.

Mine own daughter hath grown into a formidable leader in mine own absence.

“In any case, the reason I summoned thee is to ensure thou taketh responsibility. In about half a year, by human reckoning, the Olympian Department of Life Birth shall enter an unprecedented busy season. Truly, we shall be overwhelmed with work. Hohohohohohoho...!!!”

Vesta’s laughter is dry...!

Her eyes art fierce, like those of a soldier marching to war.

“We shall weather this storm, whatever it takes. Elethyia, steel thyself! Thou shalt receive ample overtime and holiday pay!”

“Waaah!”

“Father, I beseech thee, we need manpower desperately! Surely thou understandst by now; even the Sphinx’s aid would be welcomed! Thou claimest to be a god of agriculture; thus, thou must reap what thou hast sown!!!”

U-Understood!

...But I am in a quandary.

Though I, Cronus, am indeed the god of agriculture, dealing with life and death is quite different from managing plants...!

What to do...?

...Ah!

In times like these, I have the perfect confidant.

A new friend made recently!

I shall contact them forthwith!!!