12 Olympus Isn’t Overrated? Nice.

I heard a loud bang behind me, signaling the closing of the throne room doors.

"We didn't decide on a deadline did we?" I said aloud, turning to the three cyclops.

"The meeting for this day spans the entire time the sun stays in the sky since this is the shortest day and the Gods are lazy, so we shall meet back at sundown," Arges responded.

"Will you be able to make something adequately in that time young one?" Brontes asked, nearing his single eye right up to my face.

"Of course. I'm more concerned for you. I'm quite good at what I am doing you know?" I boasted to them confidently.

With my newfound strength and knowledge with the awakening of the powers of my divinity, it felt like a held the power of creation in my hands; that anything was possible for me now.

"I like him," Steropes commented.

"Me too," Said Arges.

"Me three," replied Brontes.

"That's good to hear," I said to them, a smile forming unconsciously.

"We haven't had a challenge like this since we had to make the weapons for the big three," Steropes told his brother as they began walking.

"True. From a crafting standpoint he seems even scarier than Briares," Arges said back to him.

"The Hekatonkheires?" I asked them.

"Yeah…he's nice. But scary when he wants to be," Arges replied.

"Well…good luck to you…what are your names?" I questioned out of courtesy, "I'm Hephaestus,"

"I'm Arges. This is Brontes. And that is Steropes," He replied as they all gave their names, "Good luck to you too?"

After that, we all went silent as we walked down the grand stairs. These too, had their imperfection drilled into them.

"Well…goodbye you…three…" I said, breaking my sentence as I turned and saw nobody was there.

"Who are they? Batman?" I said aloud, knowing they had most likely disappeared to their forge.

….

Throughout this day I had only spent my time near the forge.

I had thought of going back to Lemnos so I could craft inside of a comfortable environment. But I knew if I returned I would find it difficult to gather the strength to leave again.

So, I decided to take homage inside mount Olympus. It was easy to create a suitable room inside of it since it had been terraformed under the might of the Elder Cyclops.

I had no lack of material in this cave since the place was brimming with magical metals such as Celestial Bronze, Stygian iron, Imperial Gold, or Bone Steel.

No one had found these since they would never try to destroy Mount Olympus.

However, since this is for something which would greatly benefit the gods, they should permit this, also, since I will make this my new forge if I am successful in my venture.

I also realized the one I should try not to offend until I am completely confident is Zeus. I know what the punishment for those who trespass against him is.

In the future, even the mighty Poseidon, his brother, will be forced to work for manual labor for the unbreachable walls of Troy that will become rebound around the world.

This also brought the concept of 'Fading' to my mind. I knew that as an Olympian, I wouldn't be forgotten easily, but Hephaestus is one of the least known Gods among them, along with Dionysus.

I don't know this for a fact but from what I remember, that is how it goes.

He mostly contributes to…probably creating Pandora…Pandora?

Pandora is a nice name…

My head began to throb at the thought…but why? I do not know.

She was originally made to get revenge on Epimetheus…however that is not the case anymore, since Theodore is a mortal, thus the issue of humans might have already passed?

My birth truly had changed some things, hasn't it?

I knew I would have to involve myself in points in history whether intentionally or unintentionally; meaning I will have to become more apparent towards mortals and possibly create a story of my own…

I spent the entirety of the day, pushing my divinity throughout every single movement I made.

I left NO room for imperfection.

Loud clangs would reverberate throughout the land at each swing I took, making me note down I should probably fox that problem in the future.

I had already made Athena's gift when I had met with the Fate's, making this task plenty easier and smoother, meaning I could spend the allotted time on both Hermes and Ares' gifts.

I would leave areas of weakness inside of the creations known only to myself, for safety and dominance.

I exhaled deeply and looked up, breaking away from my inner thoughts, and saw the Olympians once more.

"We were not expecting you so soon," Zeus commented, "We are still yet to settle the topic of your mother,"

At those words, Hera flinched slightly and her face scrunched up in annoyance.

The feelings were slowly becoming mutual.

"I was told by the cyclops this meeting last the entire time the sun stays in the sky," I said, looking round to see a party ongoing, with just Hera and Zeus here.

"You are yet to settle the topic?" I questioned, suggesting to the party.

"Dionysus often gets excited," Zeus sighed annoyed.

I look over and hear, "Oho Oho Oho, watch out world…I'm feeling cheeky,"

It was Dionysus, almost tumbling over himself as he wanders over to a group of deities, "Oho Oho Oho,"

"Where are the cyclops?" I questioned Zeus and Hera, amused by Dionysus.

"You talk as if I have the resource to know where everyone…oh…I do…APOLLO!"

"Hello father," Apollo came rushing over with his hair brushed back.

Apollo quickly looked over to me, then my large container beside me, "Why the sack?"

"To carry my shit so I can place it in your chariot," I said sarcastically, "Why do you think, twinkle?"

"You're getting comfortable aren't you?" He said, teleporting in front of me with a big smile, "That's nice. May I?" He asked me, pointing to my hair.

I nodded despite not understanding what he wanted to do. To my surprise, he just plunged his hand into my hair and began to mess around with the flames in it.

"Heh…nice," He said, satisfied.

"Apollo. Find the cyclops," Zeus interrupted us with a sigh.

Suddenly, Apollo's eyes shone before saying, "They should be here…right about…now,"

Just as he finished speaking the doors to the hall opened as all three stumbled in, attracting the attention of everyone, very different from my less attention gathering entrance.

"Why are they here?" "Ugh," "Hey move, let me get away," "Oh no," "Look at their shamelessness, walking in looking like that," "If it weren't for Zeus…ugh,"

"Hephaestus!" Steropes shouted, bounding his way over, "You finished before us!"

"Superiority already showing itself I presume?" Arges said, drowning in sarcasm.

"Another party? I don't like crowds," Brontes commented.

"Hello you three," I said politely.

"Wow, why are you so nice to them and not me?" Apollo whined.

"Respect," I told him bluntly, "You don't have my respect,"

"What?" He asked, popping a grape into his mouth, "Do I not look good enough for you? Or is this some blacksmith sense?"

"Both," I replied, removing his hand from my hair.

Eventually, the eleven Olympians had all gathered around, causing plenty of spectators to gather around us.

"Now, we will cast a vote for the most impressive gifts you present us," Zeus boomed, "Cyclops, present your creations,"

"This is for Artemis," Brontes presented yet another bow with glamorous aesthetics, bursting with power.

The Goddess, this time in the form of an extremely beautiful woman, took the bow for herself and I saw for the first time a large change in expression on her face.

Arges stepped forwards and pulled out a beautiful bow with even more articulate arrows.

"This is for Apollo," He simply said, gifting it to said God.

Apollo stepped forwards and grabbed it, causing his divinity to fluctuate as he claimed the weapon as his own, flooding it with the power of the sun.

"Nice," he said that same word again for I don't know how many times already.

Steropes then walked up last, presenting Dionysus with a thyrsus.

"This is for Dionysus. It will help with many things, I assure you,"

Like the others, the God came over and claimed his gift, a pleased expression on his face.

I realized that except for the ones who had received the gifts, nobody was exactly impressed with anything that has happened.

Also, looking at what had been made, even more, respect burrowed itself inside of me, even though I was now confident in my victory.

"For Athena," I said, reaching into my giant sack, I revealed a beautiful loom, one which had never been seen before in the entire world.

"I present, for the patron of weavers, a loom blessed with the strings of fate," at my words every deity became astonished, "Whatever you weave, will end up being something of importance that will occur in your close future,"

"The strings of fate?" "Surely he lies," "But…that presence…you cannot doubt,"

Looks like playing it sneakily in front of the Fates had paid off, whether they know or not, they have decided to leave me unpunished, so everything is okay.

Athena, overtaken in shock and surprise, gracefully accepted the gift before muttering, "I knew it was worth it,"

I ignored what she said and hurriedly went to my next gift.

"For Hermes," I began as the God was even more in anticipation than what I have seen, which, in all fairness, isn't a lot.

I pulled out a small gadget, underwhelming in size compared to everything else presented. It carried a steampunk style design and was designed with wings, following the design of what his staff would be.

"This is what I call a watch. It displays your location in the world and the direction you should travel, like a guide. It is blessed to point you in the direction of something you desire most. This determines the time of day, which was annoying to figure out, by the hands and symbols on the clock; when you wear this, it will forever only be accessible to you and your children." I explained in length to him.

He came over instantaneously, snatching it away from me and placing it onto his wrist, spreading it to his hand, and excitedly started pressing all the different buttons and switches attached to it.

"This is incredible! HAHAHA! Apollo look at this! You wish you had something incredible like this!" Hermes excitedly fronted it in his face, "Now I don't have to suffer your torment of not telling me when the day will end!"

From this, all the Gods began to try and see the gadget that Hermes began flaunting around proudly, all either confused or curious at what it does, and recaptured by its peculiar design.

"Steropes…why didn't you use such designs when creating your gift for Dionysus?" Arges asked, astounded by what I had crafted.

"Nunya…" Steropes grumbled at him, a smirk coming on his face.

"Nunya?"

"Nunya business HAHAHAHAHAHAHHA!" Steropes laughed loudly at him.

"Damn you Steropes! Every time!" Arges yelled angrily, striking his younger brother on the head.

It seems they aren't annoyed about me outclassing them?

"It seems we have a clear winner," Hera said aloud, "Now let us get this over with-""MOTHER!" A bloodthirsty shout interrupted her.

"I am yet to claim my prize," Ares commented, stomping over towards me.

He clutched my sack from my side, ripping it open to reveal something the Gods in this room never had expected…

It was…absolutely nothing.

Not even a speck of dust fell from the contents of the bag, even though it seems to have an outline of something inside.

"What…Are you planning a trick on me?!" Ares shouted Ares clutching me tightly.

I smiled at him before clicking my fingers, my body still in his hands as a loud smash sounded out in the background.

Suddenly, a dash of crimson flew into the chest of the God, sending him away from me.

"This is my gift to you, Ares, God of War," I spoke aloud, "This craft takes the form of whatever armament you desire. Bound to return to you wherever it shall be in the blink of an eye,"

Suddenly, a beautiful set of armor dashed in the same color of crimson-clad itself around Ares. Then it morphed away from that into a sword which flew around him, then a shield, then even more than the God thought of.

"Now the winner is clear, my wife," Zeus commented, turning his head to Hera.

"Young God, what be your name?" Artemis joined in.

"Hephaestus," I said my name towards them aloud for the first time.

"All in favor of Hephaestus being the victor?"

At this, all present but Hera and Zeus raised their hands; Zeus I realize since he is the mediator, but it seems Hera truly does not like my presence huh?

Zeus smiled and said, "Hephaestus…By the power vested in me by the ancient laws, that have been written and to be written more, I hereby declare you, crafter of the Gods, titles to be determined, and to occupy the twelfth seat on Olympus!"

"Welcome…to Olympus!" He voiced as a rumble spread throughout Greece, marking the point of one of the most influential times for days yet to come.

….

Zeus sat on his throne sometime in the distant future.

He had been alone, without the company of a woman for too long because of a STUPID BASELESS RUMOUR!

They say he recently has a lack of activity in his general areas.

Scoundrels don't realize he has many to testify against this outrageous lie

So, he slouched in his comfy chair, pulled out his master bolt, and said to himself, "What should I do to seduce people, zappy wappy?"

"Become an animal," He mimicked in a voice that would come from the bolt.

"Hoo~You naughty zappy wappy," Zeus continued talking to himself.

Truly, the God knew the perfect ways to achieve the female gender.