TITLE: Three Kings
SERIES: Shifting Tides (part 3); follow up to "Hollow" and "Mourning Glory"
AUTHOR: Scorpio
ARCHIVE: To anyone who archived the first two in this story arc.

FANDOM: Herc/Xenaverse
PAIRING: Cupid/Strife, Hades/Persephone
RATING: R (adult themes - see warning)
CATEGORY: Mpreg, Angst, Darkfic

NOTES: I've finally named this series. "Shifting Tides". "Hollow" is part one, "Mourning Glory" is part two, and this is part three.
THANKS: To Shamenka for brain-storming with me in order to work out plot twists ::smooch:: and to all the list-sibs who helped me with spelling issues. ::grins and waves::
DISCLAIMER: I don't own any of the characters. They belong to various myths, legends and Ren Pics/Flat Earth Prod.

WARNING * WARNING * WARNING * WARNING
This series deals with an Mpreg that resulted in a Miscarriage due to gross negligence and cruelty. The story-tone is very dark and angsty and the subject matter is one that is extremely sensitive. Please don't feel obligated to read this if it is not something you are comfortable with.

SUMMARY: Three different Gods react to the death of the Goddess Glory. Each one schemes revenge.

Three Kings
by Scorpio

Hades: Lord of the Dead, Ruler of the Underworld, King of Asphodel.

His heart shattered even further as he watched his beloved wife Persephone cradle the spirit of the dead Goddess Glory in her gentle arms. The child, born dead, was trapped in a nightmarish existence of a six-month "preemie", unable to change, grow and develop. That was something only the living could do, and Glory was dead.

Hades was upset over the fact that Zeus made an arbitrary decision that resulted in Glory being born dead. It was unfair to her *and* to her parents...who were Gods and thus had *some* rights. Deep down, Hades felt that *he* at least should have been consulted. The lack of Strife's access to Ambrosia resulted in Glory's death...and now she was Hades' responsibility. He would have argued against it. He had far too many things to do besides care for a dead infant who would need constant attention for eternity.

Not only that, but Thanatos was *livid*. Apparently, Death Incarnate had befriended Strife when the Mischief God had briefly stayed here in Asphodel. He was angry that Zeus would hurt his friend in such a callous way. Chiron was overworked ferrying the dead across the River Styx due to Thanatos and Eris working off their anger and grief on the mortal worshippers of Zeus.

However, Hades biggest concern was his beloved Persephone. As Queen of the Dead, she could not have any children of her own. It was a sacrifice she had made willingly and out of love in order to marry him, but it broke her heart whenever young children came before them without having had a chance to experience life. Now she was faced with the dead Goddess Glory, murdered before she had drawn her first breath.

Sitting next to his sister Hecate, Hades watched solemnly as his wife held the dead infant to her breast, tears streaming from her red and swollen eyes. It was then that the miracle happened. Hecate, as was her wont on rare occasion, slipped into a deep trance... and spoke with the voice of prophecy.

Caught between Life and Death
The Queen shall take up a new mantle
Throngs shall bless her name
As Kore crosses over the barrier
From the depths of despair
Into the light of a new day
With her responsibilities of hope
Planted in new soil of love
To grow and dream again
Her first flower shall bring
An end to fear and grief
In the fullness of time
A King shall fall from Grace

Hades only had a few seconds of warning before his aunt collapsed against him, exhaustion washing over her. Leaping sideways, he managed to catch her before she slid down to the ground. He was struggling with her weight when his wife's voice made him whip his head around.

"Hades! I've figured it out!"

Frowning in dread and mild confusion, he looked up into her determined face. Excitement and hope shone in her eyes.

"What did you figure out?" "How to restore Glory back to life without Zeus' help."

In a flash of insight, he realized that *this* is what Hecate's prophecy was about. It was a warning to him not to dismiss his wife's idea as absurd, for it would work. Persephone was the Queen in the prophecy. The dead Goddess Glory must the first "flower" she "plants" in new soil...but who was the "King" that would fall from grace? It didn't take Hades long to decide to allow the prophecy to come to fulfillment. Despite the danger.

"Let me get Hecate inside and comfortable. Then we will sit down and discuss this idea of yours. I need to know all the details if I am to help you."

With a low cry of happiness, Persephone leaned down and kissed his cheek.

Three Kings - part two
***********************************************

Zeus; Overlord of the Mortal Realm, Ruler of Olympus, King of the Gods.

Immediately following the controversial death of the Mischief God's unborn child, Zeus had braced himself for the onslaught he was certain would come forth from the House of War and the House of Love. He expected angered accusations of neglect and abuse. He also was waiting for another wave of endless petitions and affidavits such as the ones he had received steadily throughout Strife's ill-fated pregnancy. He was both relieved and confused when they never came.

After several days of no contact with either house, he became very curious and more than a little wary. He knew all of them well enough to know that they would not let this incident go. With Hera not speaking to him again and the rest of his children largely unconcerned and uninterested in the mechanisms of those they considered beneath them, Zeus was left to rely on the untrustworthy rumors spread by Hermes, God of Messages, Thieves and Liars and his own scrying mirrors. While the mirrors would provide him with the honest truth, they couldn't be everywhere...Hermes could.

Between his mirrors and his Court Messenger, Zeus had been able to piece together a fairly clear picture of what the House of War and the House of Love were actually up to. Instead of attacking him directly, they were systematically pulling the Mortal Realm to its knees, piece by shattered piece. And they were starting with *his* worshipers.

Insolent was what they were. Spoiled arrogant children that needed to be reined in with a firm hand. As soon as possible, that much was certain. Zeus figured that they had vented their anger and grief for almost a week and that a good dressing down would remind them that they had a duty to obey him and carry out his orders, regardless of their personal feelings.

He might have to be a little firmer with Ares than the others to stay his Heir's hand, but his actions were also the ones that were the most dangerous and distressing. Ares had the Spartans all stirred up and marching across Greece. That was never a good sign. The War God's various Warlords and Battle Chiefs were one thing, they kept the level of random violence on an even keel, but the Spartans or the Corinthians were only mobilized when there was a *major* War or Battle. Both of *those* armies had the power to completely destroy other city-states. Only Athens itself had any real chance of standing before them.

Still, these notions of his children and grandchildren were annoying. His good name was beginning to suffer and that would never do. Since he didn't have time to lecture each one of them individually, he just sent out a general summons to both Houses. He would speak to them all at once, maybe then they would realize the weight of his displeasure.

Within several moments his personal study was overflowing with the various members of the House of War and the House of Love. Oddly enough, Hera also arrived to attend the meeting. However, she made a point to turn her back towards him, refusing to look at him.

Sighing at the pettiness of his wife, Zeus looked out at the sea of faces. Unsurprisingly, Ares' expression was little more than a cold mask of barely checked disdain and Eris' features were twisted into harsh lines of hate and anger. Hephestus stood behind his wife, his normally bashful and shy eyes blazing with suppressed emotion. Even his gentle Aphrodite was sending off waves of anger and pain, her beautiful features set into a hard glare.

It as Cupid, however, that drew the greatest amount of his attention. Despite his close blood ties to the House of War, the young God had always radiated an aura of innocence, even naivety. But no longer. Suspicion and heartbreak echoed from within him and his face was a cruel sneer. His once snowy pure wings had been stained deepest black and the tips of his pinions were dark crimson. It appeared as if they had been dipped in blood. Zeus was forcibly reminded that Cupid was Ares son.

Strife was conspicuous by his absence.

Looking around the room, Zeus made a point to catch everyone's eyes before he began. Putting on his sternest 'disappointed father' voice, he spoke to the room in general.

"I know what all of you are up to. As of right this very moment, it will all stop."

"What do you mean?"

Zeus was about to snarl at the young God, but then he felt the wash of true confusion coming from him. He honestly wasn't sure what it was Zeus was referring to. Gritting his teeth for patience, he elaborated.

"I'm talking about this...rampage of your House's. The rapes, the murders, the curses and the chaos and fear that these things are creating down in the Mortal Realm."

Cupid's reaction was the last thing Zeus would have ever expected. He snickered. Then, he broadcast a wave of mild confusion and pity for him, Zeus! The winged God plastered a soft smile on his face, patted him on the arm in a patronizing way and spoke as if to a slow child.

"You mean you don't know? Don't feel bad, it took *me* a long time to figure it out myself. You see, love is all about *pain*. The more a person suffers, the more it shows how much they really care. So...don't worry about all that stuff. It's for the best in the long run."

And with that, the winged God of Love disappeared in a shower of sparks and black rose petals.

It was deathly quiet in the room for a long moment after Cupid left. Zeus was a bit stunned. He wasn't quite sure what to make of the drastic changes in his grandson. It was...confusing.

The King of the Gods was pulled from his thoughts when Eris spoke...to Aphrodite of all people. Her mouth was twisted into a cruel grin and her eyes sparkled with a raging anger. Her blonde opposite was in virtually the same emotional state.

"I haven't heard of or seen anything about any curses. Not a peep. What about you Dite? Have you heard anything about any random murders?"

The Goddess of Love smirked briefly before answering. Her voice carried none of the honeyed tones Zeus was so used to hearing from her mouth.

"No. I haven't heard anything either. Not a single rumor at all."

Exchanging a knowing and secretive glance, the two Goddesses flashed out of Zeus's study. Zeus watched them disappear with duel bright flashes of light. Their combined power surges rattled his study windows in their casings.

With a sigh, he turned to Ares, ready to harangue his son, however, as was his wont, he had completely forgotten about Hephestus. The quiet and gravelly voice was a sudden reminder that the Fire God was there.

"You know...some nights I can't sleep well. I lie awake in my bed thinking over my life. It usually starts with 'If only I had done this'... or 'If only I had *not* done that'..."

Then those dark solemn eyes turned up and caught his own.

"That ever happen to you?"

With those disquieting words echoing through the air, he too vanished from the room.

Finally he turned to Ares. His dark son was still in the same rigid stance he had been in since he arrived. His face was the same cold mask and his almost black eyes bored into him. Not sure when he had lost control of this meeting, but determined to recapture it, at least with the War God, Zeus took in a deep breath and turned to face Ares.

"Now Ares, I'm not sure what in Tartarus is wrong with the others, but I am giving you a direct order. Pull the Spartans *back* to their city and..."

He never got to finish his dictate. Without a word spoken, Ares reached out with one hand and a muted flash of concentrated light summoned a long dagger. Its blade was coated in a garish dark red substance. It only took Zeus a half a second to recognize the darkness as Hind's Blood. Without wasting any time, he transported himself far far away from his study.

Once he had materialized at his Earthly Sanctuary, Zeus concentrated his power so that he could listen in to any sounds coming from his Olympian study. He clearly recognized the harsh chilling sound of the dagger hitting his study wall with a solid 'thunk'. Then the quieter sound of it being yanked back out of the wood by a person. It was at that point that he heard his wife's voice.

"Really Ares...the next time you plan to do something like that, *warn* me. I would have sealed off the room so that he couldn't escape."

And then...laughter.

Three Kings - part three
******************************

Poseidon; Lord of the Merfolk, Ruler of the Sea, King of the Ocean.

Invitations to visit Asphodel were normally pleasant surprises that left Poseidon in happy anticipation of spending time with his younger brother. This time was different, however. He had not received an invitation so much as a summons. One that was urgent, at that.

Frowning slightly, Poseidon transported himself to the underworld. He materialized inside of his brother's Throne Room. It always took a moment or two for his eyes to adjust to the dim lighting and for a horrifying second he couldn't breathe. Then, his Godly body adjusted to the lack of water and the harsh climate.

Looking around, Poseidon saw his brother Hades and his Queen Persephone as well as his sister Hecate and Hades most trusted advisor, Thanatos. Pushing aside the worry he had felt at the summons, the Sea God turned and embraced his brother, the two heartily pounding each other's backs. Then he turned and offered a gentler hug to his sister and Hades' wife. He nodded to Death Incarnate in greeting. He was about to ask what was so important when Hades turned to Thanatos.

"My friend. I need you to take care of things here for a short while. There is a matter of importance that I must speak to my brother about and the Throne Room is...easily spied upon."

Poseidon saw Hades' eyes flick upwards at the last words and he knew that the King of Asphodel was referring to Zeus, so he held his tongue. Thanatos merely nodded, but didn't answer. For a brief second, Poseidon thought that was odd until he realized that Thanatos was speaking telepathically to Hades...not to be rude to the Sea God...but to spare him the sound of his voice.

"Come dear Poseidon, I will escort you to my husband's workroom."

With those soft words, Queen Persephone grasped his hand and the Throne Room dissolved in a swirling rush. When order asserted itself on his senses once more, he was in a smaller room that was furnished less gaudily, with function being of more concern than image. A heartbeat later, Hades and Hecate appeared next to them.

"Come, I want to introduce you to someone important."

Confusion and curiosity warring for dominance, the Sea God followed his dark brother to the far side of the workroom. There was a plain door, which Hades swung open.

"This room is sort of a break room. When I'm working on something of great importance and I need a break, it is easier to go here than to walk away from an experiment that needs constant observation. She's waiting for us inside."

Poseidon walked through the open doorway into a small cozy room that held several chairs and couches as well as a table off to one side. He didn't see any woman, however, in the center of the room was a beautiful cradle. In the cradle was an infant swaddled in the softest, finest of materials.

Walking over, the Sea God peered in. Immediately he saw her beauty. Her skin was pale, but soft and her black hair was like fine silk. She was positioned in such a way so that her tiny white wings; covered more in down than true feathers, could flutter and move at her whim.

A heartbeat later, Poseidon realized that she was also dead.

The shock and horror of seeing what was obviously a baby with Olympian blood, lying dead in the underworld made him hold his tongue. He simply couldn't think of anything to say. He didn't have words enough to express the rolling surge of painful emotion that this vision stirred up in him.

Then suddenly Queen Persephone was there. Making soft gentle cooing noises, she reached into the cradle and lifted the spirit of the child into her arms and cuddled her against her breast. Then, she turned and handed the child to Poseidon. The Sea God took her as reflex even as his sister Hecate's voice floated to him from his other side.

"Poseidon, King of the Ocean, may I introduce you to your great- granddaughter, Glory."

Startled, he almost dropped the tiny child as he whirled to face her.

"What?!"

But it was Hades who answered.

"When Zeus decided that *he* wanted to rule Olympus, he did horrible brutal things to each of us in order to assure that only *he* would be able to do so. Demeter was driven to hate all men even as a spell was placed upon Hecate and Hestia, one that would kill them if they ever lay with a man."

Poseidon nodded. He had known that although it was not something that was bandied around. The "children", specifically Zeus', were not supposed to ever find out about that. Still, he was unsure why that was relevant to this child.

"So?"

Hades' grimaced.

"So Zeus also had to affect *us* as well. He used similar plans; only the details were tailored for each of us specifically. With me, he bound my physical essence to the underworld so that I could only ever leave for brief periods of time. This also had the unfortunate side effect of leaving me unable to produce children. Then he forced the woman I loved to marry him instead. With *you* it was much the same, only he bound you to the ocean."

Suddenly, Poseidon knew where this was going and he felt his face go pale.

"However, he didn't try to marry *your* lover. Instead, he had Uranus killed without your knowledge. Then he took on his form and seduced you, didn't he?"

Poseidon didn't answer, even though he knew that Hades and Hecate were aware of the truth. He had never spoken it aloud outside of his own personal suite of rooms in his own palace under the sea. He didn't have to confirm the story however, Hecate picked up the tale instead.

"Once Zeus had seduced you, he revealed who he really was and told you what he had done to grandfather, didn't he? What Zeus didn't know, at the time, was that he also left you carrying his child. He found that out two decades later and stole Aphrodite from your court. *That's* why she was fully-grown when she arrived on Olympus. Not for the reasons that Zeus gave. Isn't that right?"

Poseidon didn't admit to Aphrodite being his daughter any more than she would admit the truth about her birth...for there was still another secret to protect. But he did admit one thing...

"Zeus didn't just tell me what he had done to Uranus. He threw grandfather's mutilated body into the sea. I gave him a proper burial after Zeus left."

The Sea God didn't notice Hecate flinch or the King and Queen of Asphodel go even paler at his words. He was too locked in his own pain of memory. But before he could delve too deeply, Persephone pulled him back to the present.

"This infant is the daughter of Strife and Cupid. She was stillborn."

Poseidon looked up with haunted eyes and clutched the child, his great-granddaughter, tighter to him.

"Cupid's?"

Persephone nodded her head even as Hades spoke again.

"I asked you here on *her* behalf. 'Seph has figured out a way to give life to those who never had a chance to truly experience it. Those who died in the womb."

The Sea God looked sharply at the Queen of Asphodel.

"How?"

"I'm not sure myself, for *I* can't do it, but Persephone assures me that *she* can. I believe her. Right before she announced her intensions, Hecate was visited by the Voice of Prophecy and spoke of the Queen who would Plant Life in New Soil. I believe that the prophecy was about *this* opportunity."

Poseidon considered this. If Persephone could actually do this, it would be wonderful. It would give his great-granddaughter a chance to live and love and laugh. She deserved that and more.

"Why did you need me?"

"To carry her within your body, my Lord."

Once more, Poseidon looked sharply at the beautiful young woman who had captured his brother's heart.

"What? Why me? Why not Cupid? Or Strife?"

Persephone sighed and looked horribly sad. Hecate looked angry. The Sea God turned to his brother for answers.

"That is why Glory's here to begin with. It was Strife who conceived her and he was not strong enough to carry her to term without daily Ambrosia. Zeus forbid it, stating the Mischief God could only have Ambrosia once a week.

I could ask Ares or Aphrodite to carry her. Both are strong enough to carry a child to full term without additional Ambrosia and as her grandparents, their bodies would not see her as an invader to be destroyed. However, they are both under the rule of Zeus and as such, we would need his permission to do this.

But you, 'Sei..., you are strong enough to nurture a child. You've done it before...plus, as the King of your own realm, you do not have to answer to Zeus in this matter, because if push comes to shove, she can still lead a good life, even banished permanently from the Mortal Realm and Olympus."

Quietly, Poseidon walked across the room and sat down on the couch. He looked down at the tiny winged child in his arms and considered all he had heard and what had been asked of him.

It would be a major change to his life if he did this. Being a surrogate parent was not a light decision, for the surrogate's nature would affect the unborn child. Glory would change to reflect the Sea God as much as she currently reflected his grandson and his grandson's lover.

If he did do this, she would be a princess of the House of Love, War...and Sea. She would create a lot of antagonism with Zeus and possibly in Poseidon's own court, although that last one was more likely to cause excitement and cheer as well. She could also very easily cause a war to come about between his Kingdom and Olympus if Zeus was angered enough.

And she would also be *alive*.

His gray-green eyes serious, even though a tiny smile hovered about his lips, Poseidon, King of the Ocean and great-grandfather of the Goddess Glory turned to look up at his brother's Queen.

"So...Persephone. What did you need me to do in order to prepare for this...surrogacy?"

END: Three Kings