The gods dispersed, their celestial forms vanishing into the ether. At last, Metis and Eurynome approached—two radiant figures reunited with Tyche after many ages. Among the daughters of Oceanus, none shone brighter than these three: wise Metis, formidable Eurynome, and bold Tyche herself. Their presence commanded the gaze of all who remained.
With a knowing smile, Tyche greeted her elder sisters and led them to her temple upon the waves. Only then did Metis speak.
"Dearest sister," she began, "you shall need our aid in your ascent to the heavens."
Eurynome stepped onto the water's surface, summoning waves that curled like foam around her limbs. "Klymene and I shall persuade Crius and Iapetus to stand behind you fully. You shall have their strength."
Tyche met their gazes calmly. "And what price must I pay?"
The two exchanged glances before Metis answered. "Rhea has made promises to the sea deities—one throne for the next queen of gods. In return, we ask only one favor of you."
Tyche studied them carefully. "I suspect I already know what it is. But tell me—does this come from you alone, or do our parents share in this request?"
Eurynome exhaled. "Rhea sought Mother's help first—but she refused."
Metis lifted a golden hourglass, within which time itself swirled ceaselessly. "Cronus is a god hard to please, haunted by prophecy. Even Gaia and Rhea resent his monstrous acts. To consume one's own children is an abomination—an affront to all goddesses!"
Her voice darkened. "How long shall we suffer beneath their tyranny? Shall we bow forever to their violence?"
At last, Eurynome spoke again, her expression grim. "Themis has already declared her support. She stands with us."
Tyche accepted the turning sands solemnly. "Then I understand."
A silent understanding passed between the three goddesses. With a final knowing glance, Metis and Eurynome took their leave.
Surrendering climate for dominion over sky and sea—it was no great loss. Indeed, it might be called a small victory. The lineage of Oceanus was now free from Pontus' grasp. Though both Titans were mighty in their own right, they had long been cautious in confronting Pontus, whose primordial claim over waters gave him natural authority over their regional domains. Now that Tyche had seized control of rivers, lakes, and springs, their hands were unbound. Sovereignty over the seas was theirs at last.
As she crushed the hourglass in her palm, time spilled forth like dust—and from its wake emerged a veiled goddess. Temporal energy rippled through the temple.
Stepping forward, Tyche inclined her head respectfully. Through the haze of fate's interference, she greeted the visitor. "Honored Lady Rhea."
The weary goddess managed a faint smile. "Lady Tyche."
They seated themselves opposite one another, and Tyche wasted no time. "What service do you require of me, Divine Queen?"
Rhea lowered her gaze, her regal composure slipping. "Please… hide my child."
Though sympathy stirred within Tyche, she responded gently, "I would gladly serve you, but even my power may not shield your child from Cronus' sight."
"I can secure the aid of Aether and Hemera!" Rhea countered swiftly, revealing her bargaining chip. And indeed, the offer stirred Tyche's interest.
"Aether once vied for the first throne of gods," Rhea explained. "Uranus, with Gaia's aid, cast him down. When Nyx and Erebus intervened to preserve their children's divinity, Aether was exiled beyond the world's edge, never to return."
As a goddess of time, Rhea saw deeply into hidden truths. What she spoke could well be true.
Thoughts raced through Tyche's mind. "Why would Aether and Hemera assist you? Their domains are strong enough to rival the skies themselves."
Rhea smiled knowingly. "Precisely because they desire the heavens. Promise them shared dominion, and they will fight for you as fiercely as any ally."
Tyche chuckled, her tone turning grave. "Your plan does not account for my interests, Divine Queen. Even should I prevail with their aid, I would then face two greater gods vying for the same sky. No mercy would be shown to me for your sake."
Tension thickened the air. Rhea stared, astonished. "No one expects you to triumph! Gaia has already compensated you for your losses!"
Leaning back upon her throne, Tyche wore an expression of serene confidence. "I know. Gaia desires only for me to stall Uranus—for that, she will lend me strength."
She reached for a gleaming pearl, rolling it between her fingers. "Shall we make a wager, Divine Queen?"
Her laughter rang out, rich and unrestrained. "If I defeat Uranus, grant me your dominion over history. If I fail, I shall hide your child—even if it means war with the King of Gods himself."
"So, Divine Queen... will you take the gamble?"
Watching Rhea vanish into the ether, Tyche raised the golden chalice to her lips and drank deeply of its pure water. In the end, Rhea had not taken the wager—but Tyche knew she would return. The loss of two children had already shaken the goddess' mind; a few more losses, and she might well descend into madness.
Setting the cup aside, she gazed around the empty temple with a quiet sigh. Though beautiful, this place no longer brought her peace. Rising, she stepped to the sacred spring beyond and plunged into its depths.
When she surfaced again, moonlight bathed the pool before her, and hibiscus trees bloomed in radiant splendor. With a wave of her hand, she dismissed the attending dryads and settled among the lilies, lost in thought. Her time for rest was short—greater trials awaited.
The battle for the heavens was at hand, and all her focus must be on rivaling Uranus. She needed every advantage before he fully awoke, or else her chances of victory would be slim indeed.
"I should create avatars to guard my domain," she murmured. Though her dominion over climate had been relinquished, winter and cold remained hers to command. From the divine flame emerged twin aspects of temperature itself—one clad in blue, pale-eyed and crowned with white hair, embodying frost; the other robed in crimson, whose very presence summoned drought. Though lesser deities, together they could rival middle-tier gods, ensuring the island's safety.
Returning to her temple, she summoned her attendants. Iris and Arke, both bearing divine domains, understood their mistress' intent without need for explanation.
Kneeling upon one knee, the rainbow sisters pledged their loyalty. "I shall enter a period of slumber. During this time, no visitors are to be granted audience. Any who dare force their way shall be deemed my enemy."
"By your will," they replied, vanishing into the skies. A swarm of iridescent butterflies burst forth from Tyche's hands, circling the island once before weaving fate's veil across it, concealing its location from prying eyes.
Only then did she allow herself rest, reclining upon a bed of coral and shells as sleep claimed her.
Her consciousness soared through divine fire, entering the celestial realm. Carefully skirting the slumbering form of Uranus, she reached what little sky she commanded. Climate's essence occupied less than a quarter of the heavens—if Uranus stirred, he could easily reclaim it for himself.
With no hesitation, she poured divine energy into her flame, forging new strands of sky-bound divinity that expanded her reach.
The disturbance roused Uranus once more, his dormant power lashing out in response. Enduring the toll upon her essence, Tyche pressed forward, seizing what she could—until Uræa, sensing the conflict, intervened. With Gaia's will, earth sealed the breach, giving Tyche just enough space to hold her ground. Seizing the moment, she tore a sizable portion from Uranus' domain.
Now, she was an intruder within the throne of the skies—a shareholder in a realm ruled by its original sovereign. But while Uranus remained drowsy, she could claim more. To survive, she needed majority control—only then could she stand against him. Yet when the time came, the aid of others would fade. Gaia had supported her only to delay Uranus' return—not to grant Tyche sovereignty outright. So long as the sky remained distant from the earth, Gaia had little cause for concern.
Focusing intently, Tyche seized a third of the sky. More power opened to her, forming a self-reinforcing cycle. The greater her grasp, the faster she advanced—until at last, a nascent fragment of sky-born divinity coalesced within her grasp. Strengthened, she surged forward again, claiming nearly two-fifths of the heavens before halting, consolidating her hold rather than risking overextension.
Satisfied with her progress, she returned to her body with a sense of triumph—and clarity. Soon, she would face the awakened Titan alone.
Word from her avatars confirmed all was well in her absence. Just as she began to relax, realization struck—she had nearly missed Astraea's wedding.
Rushing upward, she passed into the starlit firmament. The sky welcomed her like kin, and with her partial claim upon it, she sensed Astraea's presence with ease. With a thought, a portal shimmered into existence—on the other side, Astraea's surprised face greeted her.
Stepping through, Tyche offered a weary smile. "At last, I have arrived."
Astraea's eyes gleamed with stardust as fate's resonance revealed all she needed to know. "Tyche! I am so proud of you! Who would have thought you'd earn the sky's favor so soon?"
"All thanks to Lady Gaia's intervention," Tyche replied lightly, knowing full well the gods' expectations. While Gaia despised Uranus, she would not kill him—but now, with a second heir to the heavens, his dominion was no longer absolute.
"Now I wait," she mused inwardly. "Wait for the war between old and new. Wait for Uranus to fall into Tartarus. And when the dust settles—I shall be the sole ruler of the skies."
Composing herself, she turned to her friend with a warm smile and presented the golden chalice. "A gift from my mother—a sacred spring that forever flows with warm water. Its waters restore strength and soothe weariness."
Delighted, Astraea accepted it gladly, linking arms with Tyche as they entered the temple. Phoebe, seated at the high table beside Eurynome and a dark-haired, black-eyed god, raised her goblet in greeting. Tyche followed suit, though curiosity stirred within her.
Leaning toward Astraea, she whispered, "Is that Perses? Your future husband?"
A nod. "Also your cousin and nephew."
Tyche exhaled sharply but said nothing, joining the feast with polite enthusiasm.
No sooner had she sat than Eurynome cast her a knowing glance. At Tyche's subtle shake of the head, the sea goddess silently drained her honeyed wine and resumed conversation with Phoebe about the wedding ceremony. Tyche, meanwhile, teased Astraea playfully.
"O radiant goddess of stars, your betrothed has not taken his eyes off you."
Astraea met her gaze unflinchingly. "I see no shame in it, dear friend. But why do you still cling to maidenhood?"
Shrugging, Tyche quipped, "Perhaps I shall consider it—if only to escape Mother's matchmaking."
Astraea laughed. "Oceanus and Tethys may not seek a husband for you anytime soon. After all, you are now leader of the three thousand Oceanids, heiress to the seas."
Laughing at the truth in her words, Tyche relaxed—forgetting, for a moment, how rare a prize she had become.
Their laughter faded as Astraea leaned close, voice low. "Something is amiss with your divinity. I sense... instability within your lost domain of climate."
Though the severed essence in the sky gave no sign, Tyche trusted her friend's instincts. Fate's power searched outward—and found it. Within the climate sphere, something new stirred. Unable to see further, she invoked chance, which revealed—unexpectedly—favorable tidings.
Relaxing slightly, she turned to the four watching deities, aware that her use of fate's power had not gone unnoticed.