Crete.
On the island that houses the great mountain Ida, Rhea stood at the shore, her gaze locked at the distant Mount Othrys.
The very mountain that was once her most beloved home in the early days of her marriage.
The very mountain where her children, the greatest joys in her life, were born.
The very mountain where her husband betrayed her and showed the true darkness hidden within his heart.
And now, Othrys would once again serve as the witness for her and her children's rebellion against that monstrous Titan King.
"What worries you? My queen?"
Rhea withdrew her gaze and turned to her half-syster who held a gentle smile as she stood behind the mother titaness.
"I worry for them. Adrastia. I worry for my children."
"Despite knowing the strength of Lord Zeus?"
"Especially knowing his strength."
Rhea's words made Adrastia fall silent as she realized what Rhea was thinking about.
Zeus, the youngest of Rhea's children, was born with such strength that he could already fight minor titans into his 9th year despite not having consolidated his affinity into a real domain.
Even now, he has yet to condense his domain, yet he remains so strong that, should the need be, he might be able to hold his own against some of the weaker Elder Titans.
Yet, with such strength comes arrogance that might lead to a tragedy. Especially when he is lurking in the den of a monster like Cronos.
Adrastia took a deep breath and spoke up to reassure her half-sister and queen.
"Fear not, my queen. I am sure Lord Zeus will succeed. After all, was it not the Moirai and the Earth Mother herself who ordained his success in this quest?"
Rhea chuckled ruefully, unable to divulge the truth that the grand tapestry of the fates and the immutable road of the future had long since broken apart with her decision under the stars more than a decade ago.
After all, the Earth Mother may not care, but the Moirai would not accept any challenge to their divine authority, even if what she would say would be nothing but the truth.
It is the reason why her dear brother, the Titan Lord of the North, Koios, never told the king that he could no longer see the future as clearly as before.
Because to admit that the Future is no longer certain is to invite the ire of The Three Sisters born of the Night herself and ordained with the very fates of all things living and not in the world.
And even for a Titan as powerful as one of the four kings that uphold the sky, to invite their ire is nothing more than a certain wish for a painful end.
Suddenly, the ocean around the island surged as the familiar Oceanid, Okyrhoëssa, emerged from the depths. Her expression a mix of awe, excitement, and abject terror.
"My queen, it is time. Lord Zeus has sent me as a message. He asks of you to await the good news."
At once, the island fell silent. From the top of the mountain, where the Bee Nymphs, the Melissae, once harvested divine honey to feed an infant god, to the caves where the Amaltheia, the divine goat, nursed Zeus under the watcful eye of Adrastia, Ida, Hagno and the rest of the Nymphs along with the noisy Curetes who hid the infants noises under the noise of their spears and shields, everything fell silent at the messange that reached the Titan Mother's ears.
With a deep breath, Rhea finally let go of the desperate leash she always held upon her emotions, fearing that any deviation from the grand act that she enacted upon her husband would tip him off.
Yet now, with victory so close at hand, she no longer had any reservations.
And, for once in the many, many years the Nymphs and beings born of Ouranos's blood had known their half-sister and cousin, she let loose her full power and domains, revealing a radiance and power that had originally attracted Cronos of the old to her in the first place.
"If my son is so sure of his victory, then it is our duty to trust him and prepare for his return with the rest of my children."
Her golden gaze fell upon the Oceanids, Nymphs, and the Meliae who instantly took a knee, recognizing the return of the regal Queen who once ruled this realm from the top of Othrys.
"Prepare the feast, for my beloved Brolios would be starving. Prepare the wine and meat, for my beloved Poseidon would be looking to indulge. Prepare the warm fires that would not banish the dark for my Hades would want to keep everyone within his reach."
Her gaze returned to Othrys as she continued speaking.
"Prepare the great meadows behind the mountain, for my lovely Demeter would want to indulge in Mother Earth's gifts before the war truly begins."
"Prepare the hearth and flame for my Hestia will want to stay with her family as we reunite after so long."
"Prepare the wartable and the list of our allies, for my brilliant Hera would want to prepare everything for what is to come."
"And finally, prepare for the arrival of those who would answer our call. For my Zeus would want the entire world to know of his declaration of the coming war."
As one, the various beings left the beach, their hearts full of awe and determination as they finally got the chance to witness Queen Rhea. She who was the only one who could ever challenge Cronos in anything in the early days.
It was only when everyone was gone that Rhea whispered her final words of preparation, both for herself and her children.
"Let Mother Earth bless you all with the strength to endure. Let Father Sky bless you all with the grit and determination to win."
"Let this mother be the guide that leads you to greatness and be the heart that anchors you to your blood."
"Let your rise be the golden wind that brings this world into a new age of prosperity."
"Let this blessing of I, Rhea, be heard by the skies, the seas, the land, and the underworld."
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