Chapter Text
Perhaps it was inappropriate to sashay into the Underworld’s deepest corners, using your ex-boyfriend’s backup ID to get in but Minthe was living for the moment. It wasn’t beneath her to be cunning or sneaky, far from it. Strutting up to the offering grounds, Minthe beckoned Persephone closer, curling her fingers sharply with force.
“Pass it over,” she whispered. Just because they were getting away with it now didn’t mean she wasn’t still a little paranoid. Persephone reached into her banana purse and handed Minthe the small container of honey. It was a parting gift from Demeter, but Persephone had so many to eat her way through that her mother wouldn’t miss it. Minthe had mixed some herbs into it to give it a little personality. Something to signify it came from the two of them. Hm. That thought felt funny. Was it really fair to call them a unit? Since when was there an us?
Maybe she was a hypocrite for mocking Hades in his infatuations. Perhaps there really was something about this goddess... Fuck . She was in for it, wasn’t she?
Brushing the thought aside, Minthe removed the lid. She gripped the jar before rolling it onto the floor. It spiraled, the swirl resembling a cinnamon bun as the honey spread on the stone ground. After a few seconds, a wind blew and Persephone frowned.
Brushing magenta hair behind her ear, Persephone asked, “Does that mean they like it?”
Minthe nodded affirmatively. “If they didn’t, I wouldn’t be standing here.”
Persephone’s eyes grew wide at this statement. Whatever, it wasn’t like the goddess could do anything against primordial beings. Even gods had their superiors.
Pressing onward, the two continued walking into the now opened cave. Before them shone a radiant light blue tree. Minthe had seen it once before, after she and Hades had a spat. He’d brought the young woman to see where he gained power over the Underworld as a show of vulnerability. At the time, she thought it promised change. Back then, a single pink flower bud waited on one of the branches. By now it had bloomed and developed fruit.
“Is that a pomegranate?” Persephone piped up from behind Minthe. She was standing on tiptoe, trying to reach the branches.
“Hold on,” Minthe barked, grabbing the goddess around the waist and hauling her back. Was it a bit stupid to try and save an infallible being from a tree? Maybe. But then again, last time Persephone approached a magical tree, she got attacked.
“Let me explain,” Minthe continued. Pulling her friend down a little further away from the fruit, she began.
“When Hades first came to the Underworld, he held no authority over the entities that were here. In order to gain that power, he had to eat some of this fruit and sacrifice something.” Looking away, Minthe felt a scrap of shame for sharing what was about to come next.
“Erebus told him he couldn’t know what he’d sacrifice before choosing to make the sacrifice; that it’d be taken from him and he had to make that leap blindly.” Rubbing her palm against her forehead, Minthe couldn’t help but blush as she admitted, “He gave up his ability to leave the Underworld for more than two weeks at a time, and most importantly to him, he lost his ability to have children.”
“Oh.” Persephone didn’t even look mortified like Minthe expected.
“What do you mean, ‘oh?’” Minthe queried. “Gods don’t like to admit fallibilities. If he found out I told you I’m certain he’d punish me severely.”
Persephone paused for a moment, running her fingers through her growing hair before she replied. “I guess I expected more of a loss, is all.”
Minthe’s jaw dropped.
“More of a loss?” She quipped, staring at the goddess before her.
She had to be joking.
“Gods are obsessed with progeny. Have you seen Zeus? Despite his flings, Hera is beyond proud of their legitimate children. She’s even tried to kill his little bastard demigods.”
“It’s not that,” Persephone hastily said, raising her hands up to show her agreement. “It’s just that… There’s many ways around that problem for gods. I thought he would have known.” She raised a hand to her chin, cradling it as she mused.
Now it was Minthe’s turn to frown. Then it hit her.
“He could have asked your mom.” Minthe cringed, thinking about it. Of all the gods and goddesses with fertility powers, Demeter was surely the most efficient. But then…
“He’d have to give up the volcanoes, wouldn’t he?” Slapping her palm to her face, Minthe could scream. All over a goddamn power struggle. He didn’t and would never own the Mortal Realm, but that bastard couldn’t stand the idea of Demeter getting something she worked for.
“Oh, for fuck’s sake.” Minthe grabbed the pomegranate, ready to rip it from the branch but stopped. Clutching it, she couldn’t help but wonder. Would doing this hurt Persephone? What if she really did end up Queen of the Underworld? Would that mean she had to marry Hades? The thought made her shudder. Palming the ripened fruit she sighed, weighing their options. If she ran away with Persephone, someone would find them. Demeter most certainly would, and although she would be forgiving, others would not. What they had done just now was treason, and given Zeus’ history with punishment, there weren’t a lot of good options left. Thinking back, Minthe remembered how fortunate she was to be able to die. Maybe she could get out of this if she died, but Persephone…
“Minthe?” Persephone whispered, words delicately fluttering off her lips. And then Minthe knew.
She gingerly handed it to Persephone, who held it and stared with sparkling eyes. If Persephone ate the fruit, she’d be unstoppable, even by Zeus. He couldn’t control the Underworld, and given how poorly Hades was managing it, surely someone as thoughtful and considerate as Bran Muffin would do a better job.
Without hesitation, Persephone tore into the fruit, scoffing at the pulp and viciously digging out the seeds. She scooped a handful of seeds before Minthe interrupted her.
“Are you sure you’re ready for this?” Minthe asked, wringing her hands together. “I don’t know if this will hurt or trap you.”
Persephone’s eyes darkened. “It can’t be worse than whatI’ve already been through. Even if I can’t have children or something, getting some power would be a nice change.” Fire in her reawakened, she swallowed the first palmful.
Minthe capitulated as Persephone started to glow white. “I’m tired of so many people being miserable because of Hades.” A few strands of maroon hair fell in front of her eyes. “Maybe if someone like you had power, the Underworld could change.”
The goddess was fully radiating white light, but Minthe could still see her features.
The light started from her stomach. Although Minthe had caught Persephone lamenting her curves and strong figure, it was all Minthe could do to hold back and not throw herself at the woman’s feet. She was strong, visibly powerful and emotive.
Her arms and legs showed the toiling labor she’d done growing up sowing fields. Her hair was growing, curls falling down in gentle arches to her back. Her hands were calloused yet smooth - welcoming in their strength. Persephone’s eyes flashed red and her face was pained for a second, before the transforming woman cupped Minthe’s face and brought it to her own.
Oh . Minthe thought intelligently.
Opening her mouth, Minthe started to kiss back, eagerly, fervently, wrapping her arms around the shorter woman tightly. She felt herself start to float. Fuck, was this how it felt when you had hope? Oh, no. That was Persephone. Shit, she was literally floating. Something caught in the back of her throat, Minthe pulled away and roughly coughed.
“Shit, was that a seed?” Minthe’s esophagus and stomach felt like they were on fire. Perhaps mortals weren’t supposed to eat mythical fruit. Even if it was an accident. Oh, dear. She collapsed as Persephone continued to glow, growing several times her size. Now she was a giantess. As the light faded, her pink skin returned. But something was wrong. Her eyes were red again.
Persephone reached down, a giant hand delicately cupping Minthe’s limp form as the nymph struggled to raise her head.
“Help me.” Minthe said, struggling to get the words out.
Names flashed through Persephone’s mind, each with different credentials. Apollo wouldn’t work for obvious reasons, so Demeter? Maybe her mother could heal but there wasn’t enough time.
Panicking, Persephone put Minthe on her shoulder, wrapping her up in magenta hair for safekeeping. She grumbled in rage.
But then Minthe shuddered violently in her massive hand and Persephone stopped. Reaching the entrance they’d snuck down through, Persephone swallowed grimly and tapped the ground twice.
This would have to do.