Disclaimer: I own no Greek Gods except for Hibisca. Her name was originally Delphinium, but that isn't a large blossom plant. Oh well. Hope you like it!

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It was the age of the Gods. Zeus lounged in his sun room on Mount Olympus, drinking in the praises sent up to him and savoring the offerings burning for him below upon the mortal world. Hera was next to him, reading in a chair. Athena wove quietly on the steps and if one listened hard enough, the faint ringing of Hephastesus' hammer could be heard from his forge far away. No one stirred, everyone was content.

Suddenly a faint shadow was cast upon the Mountain. It wasn't anything alarming, more like a cloud over the sun. But al the same, Zeus felt a sort of dread fill him. He had never felt fear in his life, but now all he wanted to do was crawl under a table and hide. For a shadow? This must be some omen, perhaps the Titans were breaking loose! Zeus nearly got up to prepare for attacks when the odd shadow past. Hera turned to him, her eyes questioning. "Nothing" he muttered. Still he couldn't shake off the feeling that something was about to happen.

Something was happening at that moment in fact. For many years now, Gaia, the Earth, had been quietly nursing her grievances. First Uranus had locked away her sons that he found "ugly" and "shameful" They were her children! They were gorgeous in her eyes! She had given the sickle to her oldest Titan son, Cronus to defeat Uranus in hopes that her other children would be freed. But not only did Cronus refuse to let them out, but he started swallowing his own children in a vain attempt to keep them from over throwing him. Of course Gaia had seen to that problem and Zeus had over thrown the Titans, and freed her other children. She should have been happy, but then Zeus ensnared the Titans, her other children, down in the hellish Tarturus, never to see the light of day ever again. Gaia had revolted against the New Gods, but they were too strong and she was much older that she had been. Now all she could do was wait, wait for the right moment

The idea had sprouted when Gaia had heard about Heracles. Of course she didn't listen to the stories of his heroic tasks, she reviewed the gossip that he was Zeus' son, but the mother wasn't Hera. Gaia had heard these before about other heroes, but something about this time infuriated her. What could she do to stop this lustful male god? Was all of Greece so impure that it's citizens could rejoice in this bastard's deeds? These were her children, that Prometheus had sculpted lovingly from her clay and soil. Now they were being corrupted by Zeus, her grandson. Gaia decided that it was time Zeus knew his ways were wrong. Naturally the only way to tell a man he is wrong would be to send a woman.

It was at this time of the shadow that Gaia gave birth to that woman. As a cool breeze blew in from the south a flower bloomed in the Elysian fields. What a flower it was! Palest white it outshone even the beauty of the blessed fields of the dead where it had grown. It seemed to radiate pureness and beauty. Even the birds ceased to sing and all of the fallen heroes and heroines were silent, watching what this delicate creation would do.

As if on command, the flower began to open. Everything held it's breath, waiting to see the secrets that were revealed. Those who saw first gasped in awe and amazement. There, laying in the middle of the flower was a woman. The most beautiful creature anyone ever laid eyes on. Next to her Aphrodite was a common peasant. Helen of Troy was Medusa. Psyche was a mere household slave that had been burned too many times. All looking thought that they were in the grace of more than a goddess, and wept tears of joy.

Now Gaia spoke. Her ancient voice rumbled uncertainly, as if she had not used it for many, many years. "My child" she spoke "my beautiful child. I have chosen you to be born here so that those who are truly valiant and good may look upon you in your full beauty, the beauty that radiates from within you. You are a goddess my sweet. The goddess of virtue, truth and kindness. The Greeks have strayed in their valiant ways and I fear for them. The path I am asking you to walk is hard and painful. You must face Zeus, king of the gods. After you leave here, you will no longer be seen by others by what is in you, rather by your outlook appearance, which is sadly, not as stunning. But remember that I am here. And I love you"

The new goddess smiled. "Spoken like a true mother" she said kindly, her powerful voice once again filling those around with awe. "I care nothing for looks, so this will not matter to me. As for Zeus, I will fight him if I see that he needs punishment." Glancing down at the flower she was born in, she asked her mother "What is the name of this flower? It is beautiful." If Gaia could have smiled, she would have then. "It is a hibiscus. Rare in Greece, yet a true beauty to behold." "Then my name shall derive from this noble beauty. Hibsica." With that the young immortal bade farewell to the Elysian fields and began her ascension to the real world and finally to Mount Olympus.

**************************************************************************** ************** Woa, lots of cheesy wording. R&R and tell me if it's good or if I should burn in hell and never write again. Hopefully the former.