"THEY'RE ALL USELESS!"

Hera, the queen of the gods, was in a state of agitation. She had just received upsetting news from her subjects and was growing increasingly anxious. She leaned weakly on her golden throne, her feet and arms were bound by chains.

Her fury was palpable, but she was powerless to act on it.

Artemis, the goddess of the hunt, and Ares, the god of war, looked at her with concern.

Hera could only clench her fists and trembled with anger.

"Calm down, Hera," Artemis attempted to soothe her but was interrupted by the furious queen.

"How can I calm down after hearing that Asche married that man?" Hera shouted and fury. "And not only that, but Hephaestus impregnated her! And now Hades has taken her to the Underworld?!"

"I told you this was inevitable," sighed Artemis, trying to remain calm in the face of Hera's anger. "But I understand how frustrated you must feel."

In the realm of Gods, only hours had passed since Asche was taken by Hephaestus. But in the world of the mortals, it had already been a month.

Artemis was also anxious but tried to remain calm.

"I just want her back," Hera said with a sigh. "Is there any way we can retrieve her from the Underworld? What can we offer Hades in exchange for Asche's soul?"

Artemis sighed and shook her head.

"There's no need for that. Demeter and Persephone went to the Underworld, and I was informed that Hades has already returned Asche's soul to her body," Artemis said, casting a glance at Hera. "Perhaps Demeter tried to help Asche, after all, that Nymph was born out of her breath..."

And although Demeter didn't take action to save Asche's soul, Hephaestus would still do something to return her to the mortal realm.

He might even challenge the Underworld for her.

Hera fell silent at this news. She was relieved to hear that the Forest Nymph had returned to the mortal realm but she was also frustrated that she had been unable to do anything to help Asche when she faced these trials.

It was all Hephaestus's fault, she thought bitterly. If he hadn't chained her to this throne, and taken Asche from her, she would never have been this agitated. Hera clenched her fists and looked down at the golden chains that bound her.

But she couldn't deny that she was at fault too.

"Artemis, I don't think I can wait any longer," Hera said finally. "No one has been able to bring Asche back to me. It's time for you to take action. Find Asche for me."

Artemis hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

"I know her whereabouts," she said cryptically, before taking up her bow and arrows. A mysterious smile played across her lips.

"Perhaps it's the right time to bring her back," Artemis glanced on earth through a well. "Now that Hephaestus isn't there to stop me, I can take her home."

Artemis knew that Hephaestus was still in the Underworld, and he wouldn't be able to stop Artemis if she was going to take Asche back.

"Then go and bring back the Nymph to us..." Hera mumbled while staring at the Moon Goddess.

Artemis nodded her head.

"I will," Artemis replied with quiet confidence.

Hera remained silent as Artemis left Olympus.

Of course, Artemis had the power to retrieve Asche from the mortal realm, but the question was whether Asche would want to come back now that she was married to Hephaestus.

Artemis didn't want to force Asche to return home against her will.

Meanwhile, Ares, who had been watching silently, finally approached Hera.

"Mother, I've been hearing about this Forest Nymph from you for some time now, but I don't know who she is," he said with curiosity. "Who is she, and why did Hephaestus take her away?"

Hera looked at her son with a sad smile.

"That Nymph was my source of joy when your father had hurt me the most," she replied. "She's my friend. My dearest friend."

••••••••••••

Present Time:

"It's time for you to come home," Artemis said to Asche, her voice gentle but firm.

Asche was speechless as she stared at the Moon Goddess before her. Artemis had been the one to care for her from the moment Demeter breathed life into her. Asche couldn't believe that Artemis had come for her.

She was going home. Back to the Forest where she belonged. The other Nymphs must have missed her terribly.

Asche missed them too.

"Goddess Artemis..." Asche suddenly hugged the goddess for the second time. Artemis was surprised by Asche's actions, but her heart melted, and she hugged her back. "I missed you! How are you? How did you find me?"

Artemis patted Asche's hair with a soft smile.

"I missed my favorite Nymph too, I asked my brother to ask Helios about your whereabouts," she replied. "The forest was so quiet without our bizarre Nymph."

Asche laughed softly.

"Goddess, I told you the other Nymphs would get jealous if they heard your favoritism," Asche said playfully, pulling away from Artemis.

Artemis chuckled at Asche's words. The bizarre Nymph was as playful as ever.

"They know that you're my favorite," Artemis said with a smile. "Who would dare to be jealous?"

Artemis placed her hands on Asche's shoulders, looking at her with determination.

"Let's go home, Asche. They're all waiting for you," The Moon Goddess stared at her with expectations. "Hera is waiting for you, come home with me."

Coming home...

Asche couldn't deny that the idea filled her with both joy and excitement. However, Asche couldn't leave yet, she was determined to bring Hephaestus and Aphrodite with her.

If they can't come, then she won't leave.

Asche slightly shook her head and smiled at the Moon Goddess. Her refusal would be an insult if she was speaking to another Deity, but she knew that Artemis would respect her decision.

And although Artemis was taken aback for a moment, she already expected that this would happen.

As expected, Asche can't leave her husband yet.

"I can't come home yet," Asche mumbled. "Not until Hephaestus was accepted on Olympus."

After all, she needs to go after them in the Underworld. Although Hades seemed like a nice man, she was sure that he is dangerous if his authority were challenged.

She can't let Hephaestus, or even Aphrodite be put in danger. She needs to fulfill her promise, she will take them to Olympus.

Asche paused for a moment when she accidentally glanced at the window. For some reason, she can clearly see the faces of small figures from afar who are walking towards her home.

Her eyes darted at those figures.

Her chest felt relieved.

"Asche? Where are you going--"

Artemis was stunned when Asche suddenly ran to the entrance of this house. The Moon Goddess confusedly followed the Nymph. Her eyes darted on Asche's face when she excitedly opened the door.

"HEPHAESTUS!" She excitedly shouted.

Asche's eyes circled when she saw Hephaestus outside. The God of the forge was walking with Aphrodite...

And Dionysus?!

What the hell?

Nevermind.

Asche quickly ignored Dionysus and focused her eyes on Aphrodite and Dionysus. She wanted to run towards them, but she didn't think her wobbly legs would be able to handle it.

"HEPHAESTUS, APHRODITE!" Asche shouted while waving her hands.

"Aphrodite?" Artemis mumbled to herself.

Her eyes wandered and glanced at the Young Deity. The Moon Goddess instantly recognized Aphrodite as soon as her eyes landed on her. A deep frown appeared on her forehead before glaring at Dionysus who looked tired and traumatized.

In an instant, Artemis understood that Dionysus told them a piece of fraudulent news when he told them that Hephaestus impregnated Asche.

But perhaps he wasn't lying when he told them that Asche and Hera's son was a couple...

"Where have you been? You were not there when I woke up," Asche asked Hephaestus who was staring at her with a soft gaze. Relief was written on Hephaestus's face. "Did you go to the Underworld? That was dangerous!"

Hephaestus softly sighed before carrying the Nymph in his arms.

Asche's face turned red when he carried her like a baby. She promised that she wouldn't be a pervert anymore, but can she squeeze his muscles, just a little tiny bit?

Her thoughts were cut off when she noticed how tightly he was holding her in his arms. She let out a sigh and rested her head on his chest.

"Let's talk later, you need a lot of rest," Hephaestus softly whispered in her ears. His voice was filled with concern "And don't be stubborn, your body was still weak."

Hephaestus held her tightly before walking inside their home. His gaze met Artemis who was silently observing their interaction, but he soon glanced at the Nymph in his arms who was meekly lying on his chest.

He had a rough 3 days, but he's glad she's back in his arms.

•••••••••••••••

I gotta write a lot before my writer's block strikes again. Lolz.