Prologue: A Child and His Toys

“Because he’s no better than a spoiled child. You were his toy, and even though he’s got new toys, it doesn’t mean he wants anyone to play with his old toys.”

— Nana, The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks (2008). Copyright © 2008 by Nicholas Sparks. Published by Grand Central Publishing.

“Do too much, people get dependent. If you do nothing, they lose hope. You must use a light touch ... When you do things right, people won’t be sure you’ve done anything at all.”

— God Entity, Futurama, Season 3, Episode 20: “Godfellas.” Written by Ken Keeler, directed by Susie Dietter. Aired March 17, 2002. Copyright © 2002 by 20th Century Fox Television.

Five hundred years in the Realm of Greece was both eventful and yet predictable to one with the perspective of the Progenitor. The gods, who had loved Zeus after his victory over the Titans and later Typhon, came to love the other gods.

Hermes was the ever-cheerful messenger. Athena was the stalwart daughter of Metis. Ares was the princely son with the chip on his shoulder. Demeter was the distant, if not downright cold, goddess in the Mortal Realm that cared for nymphs. Aphrodite had the attention of every breathing deity on Olympus. Poseidon rocked back and forth from his underwater city of Poseidonus and Olympus. Artemis cared nothing for the company of male sex, surrounding herself instead with tree nymphs. Apollo relished the attention showers upon him by the female sex of Olympus. Hephaestus worked on improving the grand city, including making the Zeus thunderbolts to be thrown like spears. Hestia cared only for the Flame and the attention of Prometheus.

However, it was the king and queen who always seemed to grab Chaos’ attention, when they saw fit to give it to the Olympians.

Zeus loved the praise and being the center of attention. Sharing the attention and rulership with his siblings and offspring might have annoyed him if not for the fact that it allowed him to get away from engagements. For all that he gained, there was a cost to be paid. Fundamentally, he knew that as king. However, as an entitled child, it appeared, in Chaos’ estimation, he was unhappy.

Hera had what she had longed for her entire life. Olympus was stable. She could know what to expect and when to expect it. The younger generations of gods could not appreciate the peace and calm she had earned. It had come at the price of Zeus’ fidelity, her own dignity, and a few compromises here and there, but Chaos knew that calm would do well for Hera.

As for the Progenitor, their Realm churned in its eternal, unpredictable dance. Rivers of light and shadow twisted their sky above in patterns that were both meaningless and profound. Stars burst into shiny existence only to collapse into blackened void moments later. Forms flickered and faded, echoing the constant birth and death of possibilities.

This cosmic turmoil was Chaos’ natural element. A state of stagnation was against Chaos’ very nature. Peace and war could exist, but to only have peace was dull and unchanging, but so too would the ongoing battle of war. They needed to have both, the duality in all things.

For this, Chaos knew some great change was coming. They could not be sure. They could observe, as they had many variations in the temporal existence of their creation, but there were many creations. Could Chaos focus solely on this one anomaly of Greece?

They could. Yes. That much of it was clear.

What was it that foolish philosopher said? Or had they not said it yet?

Ah ... yes ... It was an object at rest would stay at rest, but an object in motion would stay in motion.

Would that same thinker make the same conclusion in this linear chronal existence? Perhaps. Many futures were still possible, so too was their singular concept of a string.

To that end, Chaos knew that it might prove necessary to interfere, to instigate change. Not much. No. If Chaos were to intrude too much, the gods would not feel they had their due respect or control over Olympus, which could lead to them waging war on Chaos. As their creation flourished, Chaos knew in that possible inevitability, the gods might be victorious.

Most intelligent beings were so tied to their choices and need for free will. To compound the issue, Chaos never wanted their offspring to become dependent on them. However, to do nothing would be to leave Olympus stagnant and without change.

A light touch was required. A shift in a blade of grass would be too subtle. Moving Mount Olympus as a whole would get their attention but prove to be too hands-on.

What was it they truly needed for the change? The end goal was a uniting of all the Realms forevermore. For that, they needed the string. For this, they needed the fulcrum. For the fulcrum, they needed their heroic paternal parental unit, and for that, they would require a mortal life giver to the paternal unit.

Mortals ... Mortals needed to be born in the land of Greece.