Prologue:

Dilapidation vs. Deliberation

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Cronus

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The chair I was currently occupying served no purpose other than assisting me in keeping a cool head. The stone was icy enough to remind me not to lose myself in my anger; yet, at the same time, I was remarkably elated.

Theresa had put forward a splendid performance today, it was about time one of the heroes had a bit of a breakdown. She was only human, after all. Things like these restored my assurance in the fact that I was, in fact, on the winning side. That, and of course the new-found loophole in that pesky prophecy.

I'd already suffered a defeat humiliating enough to keep that lot of hormone-infested brats satisfied for the time being. I felt myself flinch at the very thought of their wretched "good" intentions. Never send a child to do an Olympian's job. It was enough to bring bile to my nerves. I pitied the humans and their uselessness, the whole septet of them. They had no way of knowing they were just being used to keep the population of lazy gods from having to lift their own languid fingers.

Although, I could quite use the outcomes of this situation to my own advantage.

I sat up straight in my chair; I would finally be able to put this ancient throne to good use. That is, if everything went according to plan. All I was in need of now, was a plan. I slumped back down dejectedly and fingered the stony arm rest. Plans were running low, and the element of surprise I'd attained would have to be put to good use one way or another. Opportunities like these don't hang around for very long… unless you make them.

What was I? Corned beef? No, I am the god of time and space. A plan would come together, and in less time than I imagined possible. I definitely ought to stop thinking like a mortal; time was not of the issue. Using my own powers against the mortals would not be enough, but, using their ancestors' powers against them along with my own would be enough to get me where I needed to be.

How to do it though?

My own abilities are shattered enough as it is, another excursion down that road would mean fragility and weakness in almost every sense. Time in Tartarus has undermined my power, and pushing it further would only bring me down. I clenched my fist. This should not be so difficult! Perhaps I needed to think more abstractedly, out of character, do something unexpected.

There was a point in time where most of the heroes' ancestors did meet, and that was the intended game point. However, sending all seven of them back to that very era would drain my abilities completely. Perhaps sending only one? No, it would be too easy.

If I'd sent out Jay, the whole group wouldn't be able to find him ever again, even with the help of Odie. I know full well that whole group would do anything to find their leader, but would it be worth the risk? Such a hazard would fracture the whole outcome.

Getting them all there was a crucial point in the plan. What a tragedy. There was one thing that would work though, but that would put too much of a toll on all of their sensitive little hearts now wouldn't it?

Tragedy indeed.

What happened today couldn't have been more convenient. Jay and Theresa, the thought was almost sickening. Aphrodite definitely had a bit of a say in what happened between the two of them, now didn't she?

Jay, the headstrong leader of the group, didn't seem the type to fall like a lost, little, lovesick puppy. Love is a strange thing, and if it was fate for the two of them to meet, who was I to stand in their way? Yes, this would work nicely. The pair of them would be inseparable from now on. Jay would follow that girl anywhere, and the rest of the group would follow him. It was as if the world was meant to work out this way. Buy one, get six free: definitely worth the risk. There was only one problem, how to keep them there long enough for the preparations to come to fruition?

Like all decent Greek tragedies, Death would take its toll.

A smile crept across my lips and I could feel my features contort with glee. This was definitely going to work, whether they could help it… or not.

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