Chapter Text
Well, here we are. When I wrote this fanfiction, I was first inspired by Yasmine_Jasmine’s: Athena of Ithaca (a big thank you for that, the fanfiction is cool) and you find that the beginning is very similar but most of all I was very heartbroken for I Can’t Help but Wonder.
If I used “Saga” to name the chapters, it’s because the first ten were fragmented chapters that I assembled together.
For the first what if, it’s in the Saga of Adaptation. Athena was supposed to bring back Achilles instead of Diomedes to the palace, but I didn't know the character well enough for that so I took Diomedes.
For the second what if, it’s in the Saga of Weaving. I wanted it to be Circe instead of Arachne but that didn't suit me (especially for Mother of Mortal) so I thought about it and took Arachne to make her a nymph. The resemblance between the two is quite visible.
The third what if was the Saga of Surprises. I wanted a meeting between Poseidon, Odysseus, and Penelope. He was supposed to be jealous of their peaceful love (he has problems with Amphitrite) and send the whale that Athena killed onto their ship, but I wasn't as comfortable with the action at the time and it wouldn't be logical for Poseidon not to spot Athena fighting the whale. I was too lazy to figure out how she managed to go unnoticed; in fact, I didn't fail to mock myself later for all the ways she could have been found sooner.
The fourth what if is the Saga of Chaos. Eris was supposed to sense Athena and make her come to discuss her presence. She was supposed to sense her lineage and reveal it to her, before blackmailing her into doing her a favor. I gave up because it didn't suit the rest of the story.
The fifth what if is the Saga of Fury: Athena was supposed to find Argos on the street and adopt him secretly, and it was Bellerophon who was supposed to steal Argos. She would look for him and her family would ask questions. After finding him, she would bring him back and officially adopt him. But Ares, discovering the death of his hero, would have gone to Ithaca... then I got too lazy to find an excuse for how Athena escaped his vigilance. Too much work.
The sixth what if is the Saga of Vacation: it was supposed to take place in Sparta. Helen was supposed to want to paint Athena, the King of Sparta was supposed to be wary of her, Penelope's father was supposed to be a doting dad and indirectly reproach Odysseus for taking his daughter away from him, and Odysseus had to hold back from snapping. Athena was supposed to go to the Temple of Ares and all that... in fact, the scene where Odysseus and Athena talk about the Domain of Ares during the Saga of War comes from there. Aesop was supposed to be Homer, but I thought: too lazy. Oh, and the meeting between Aesop and Athena is inspired by Attack on Titan, when Eren, Mikasa, and Armin fight as children against those who stole Armin's bread.
Seventh what if: The Saga of the Lyre! Ah, one of my favorite Sagas! First, the poem that Athena sings is directly inspired by the Gedo Senki song, the Tales from Earthsea song; I love that music! Next, Athena was not supposed to injure Eurylicus and Arachne, but it lacked drama and, most importantly, I wanted to show that Athena makes mistakes and abuses her strength. Apollo was supposed to hear her and fall ill afterward. Zeus was supposed to say that the God of Medicine was supposed to be the last to fall ill. I actually made a nod to that scene when Apollo heard her after the fight against Ares in the Saga of Talent. The Saga of Labors exists thanks to these changes.
Eighth what if: The Saga of Kidnaping is the first long chapter I wrote; in fact, that's when I started publishing for you. It had so many variations: Hermes was supposed to pretend to be a poor man welcomed by Xenia. Athena was supposed to sense who he was, and Hermes was supposed to blackmail her into coming with him to Olympus, at the risk of revealing her secret to her family himself. Second variation: Athena was supposed to evolve, defeat Hermes, and lock him in Eris's temple, return to her mortal family, and act as if nothing happened while Zeus would eventually move and search for his missing son and daughter. There is also Hermes who was supposed to return to Olympus and inform them of Athena's position on Ithaca. Zeus would then go to look for her himself, and there would be panic in Ithaca. Hermes was also supposed to be assisted by Aeolus and Phobos, the son of Ares. Finally, my favorite variation: Hermes was supposed to fall in love with one of the members of the Ithaca family (I won't say who) and he gets caught by Athena while stalking. She fights him a few feet from Ithaca, everyone witnesses the fight, and the gods comment on it.
💪
Ninth what if: In the Saga of Olympus, Zeus is VERY jealous of Athena's relationship with her family, so he forbids Athena from going to mortals for a hundred years. Athena respects this rule in appearance but doesn't hesitate to visit them through their minds. Zeus suspects something but can't prove anything, and Athena's family is VERY good at pretending. Hera is supposed to sulk about Athena's arrival, but she is so delighted to see which (FAITHFUL) family she grew up in that she tries to marry her off to Hephaestus, but it fails. Oh, and the Saga of Revelations was supposed to be one with the Saga of Olympus, but... too lazy to connect the two.😪😪 Poseidon was supposed to be a thousand times more annoying than he is, and Hades was supposed to be bipolar.
Tenth what if: The Saga of the Forge: Hephaestus and Athena were supposed to fight over their two building styles. 💣💥Hephaestus challenges her to do better than him, then Athena wins with her elegance. Hephaestus is sad and feels replaced, but Athena says she can learn from him, they reconcile and blah blah blah... This scenario is good but too technical for me; I have no architectural knowledge for it. Moreover, this Saga was supposed to be called The Saga of Work, but there was confusion with the other one so I changed its name. Fun fact, the names of the Sagas are harder to find than writing the chapters.<😩😩/p>
Eleventh what if: The Saga of Loyalty: The biggest change so far! Ares and Aphrodite were supposed to hate Athena because she openly criticizes them for their cheating. 😱Ares's challenge was there to oppose them and Aphrodite's dove sent to Ithaca was supposed to cause damage like making Diomedes fall in love with Penelope or causing trouble in Eurylicus's couple, who would see Odysseus as his sister (Odysseus would be horrified by the situation😏🤣🤣🤣) but I changed my mind because I wasn't a fan of Aphrodite because of her comment about Anticlea and all the crap she causes in mythology, but I read so much fanfiction about her that I ended up giving her a chance (well, you could say that) and I learned that she had been married against her will to Hephaestus so... you know the rest. I nuanced her, but her relationship with Athena is complicated.🫠🫠
Twelfth what if: the story of Athena's birth in the Saga of the Trial. First, this scene belonged in the Saga of War, and Athena was not supposed to gouge out her brother's eyes, but I was listening to "Remember Them" at that moment and I thought: I have my trauma! We aim for the eyes! And it became Athena's signature every time she snaps, and also a nod to the Saga of Weaving. And Metis was not supposed to force Athena to eat her brother; she was supposed to be horrified by her gesture.😨😱 Then I thought: Metis is truly a victim in her myth; we're going to build her differently here *antagonist laugh* so I changed it and decided that the egg would be made from the body of the child of the prophecy, and that Metis would have a special spell to renounce her immortality. Fun fact about spells of this kind, I went to take names of Greek authors to compose them, the same for the Rites of Prometheus, in fact, it is these authors who talk about the story of these characters. I am still stunned how she was caught when she is described as omniscient, so I planned a very big plot for that in the rest of First Battalion of the Pantheon and Mother of Mortal. Oh, and I am a huge fan of Neal Illustrator's Athena so Metis's spear has the same appearance.
Thirteenth what if: The Saga of the Misunderstanding. It was not supposed to exist, but I wanted more interaction between Zeus and Athena. The first scenario was that he finds her sewing and orders a huge canvas highlighting the gods (like in the myth of Arachne) and that she reveals her Domain of Craftsmanship at that moment. But I decided that I had to save that for the end so I changed it.
Fourteenth what if: The Saga of the Olive Tree. Apollo was supposed to have a prophecy about the duel with Ares and was supposed to tell Athena that she was not going to win, but she would not back down and would win, again defying the prognosis of destiny and alerting the other gods who would see the opportunity to defy their own... but too complicated, I abandoned the idea like a baby😪.
Fifteenth what if: The Saga of Gossip: Athena was supposed to consume Molly because of a prank by Hermes; she would cause some damage. Triton was supposed to see her there and challenge her after Ares, but seeing that she was stronger than expected, he would try to say that he never promised to fight and blame the effects of the Molly, but Eris gets involved and the challenge still takes place, he gets beaten and tells himself that he will marry her. Hera hears it with a VERY willing ear (she was across the room) and talks marriage to Athena, but Eris gets involved again and suggests a fake marriage with Hypnos who only likes to sleep, but well too complicated and too lazy(even lazier than Hypnos). p>
Sixteenth what if: In the Saga of War, we discover Athena's brother (Eathion, thank you for the name dear prophet 😉), is still alive. But I didn't intend to make him a big character; he was not in the Saga script. He was supposed to appear less than that later, always threatening, but I was inspired by each of you (thank you all, truly) and I decided to incorporate him more, and even make it a tragic love story. (RIP, I really loved this couple, and especially writing it🥲). Oh yes, fun fact, Athena was not supposed to win the fight with the lyre, but Athena was supposed to demonstrate a different method than brute force so.... The idea came to her when she looked at Eris, because when they crossed paths just before the fight, Eris said: I've already "heard" you do worse. Eris was talking about the lyre and Athena used it to win.
Seventeenth what if: The Saga of the Aegis: Athena and Ares were supposed to be reprimanded by Apollo for injuring each other so much. Athena asks for a challenge against Apollo to learn to "fight without causing damage" but he refuses. Ares insists with her, but he holds firm, so she threatens him by putting her hands on a lyre and he easily gives in. Second variation: Hermes bleeds during the banquet from the spear wound. Athena, Apollo, and Artemis (the A Trinity) heal him. Third variation: Aphrodite caused damage to Ithaca with her dove. Eris knows and warns Athena who gets angry and demands compensation. Aphrodite refuses because she doesn't see why she should repair anything (still in the first scenario where they are enemies) so Athena is really upset and decides to go cause damage at the Amazons' camp to give her a taste of her own medicine. Another variation: Hypnos accidentally reveals Eris and Athena's mentorship. Aphrodite wants to blackmail Eris but the latter REALLY doesn't appreciate her hubris and uses Athena for revenge. Basically, it talked about everything except the Aegis. Fun Fact about Athena's visions, the vision of mortals witnessing the end of the world is Triton's wave in The Saga of the Massacre. And the young man brandishing a sword was supposed to be either Heracles or Bellerophon. Fate fell on Bellerophon. The deep and lonely lake was supposed to be the premise of the underwater tunnel that Odysseus and Pegasus discover when going to save Agamemnon's daughter (yes, I had already planned that plot😶🌫️🙂↕️). Fun fact: The Saga of Politics is inspired by another fanfiction when Athena turns into a molting owl (but I don't have its name anymore and haven't found it, sorry). We were also supposed to run into Thanatos during the judgment of Zeus and Athena.
Eighteenth What if: The Saga of the Nest. Here again, the Arachne and Diomedes couple comes from you (thank you, it was my first romance I was building😭). Penelope was supposed to change Odysseus entirely into a wolf that could talk. Diomedes would mock him but Penelope would change him into a squirrel and Odysseus would chase him (and catch him) for a while to Hermes's laughter. When the royal family of Troy came, he was supposed to hold Astyanax, but well, I gave up the idea, but I still put a nod to Just a Man in Hermes's response. Oh, and Zeus was supposed to tear one of Hera's dresses for Athena's nest, but I found that too much so I settled for the peacocks. Oh and Athena was supposed to eat one of Dionysus's cats. Fun Fact: Dionysus was the one I most wanted to develop among the gods (even more than Zeus!). He is the one I neglected, but I will make up for it later in the sequel. And thank you for Helios's look!😚
Nineteenth what if: Eathion was supposed to be scary and injure Artemis, but that raised too many questions for the sequel so I settled for a tap and some threats😵💫. That's also where I decided to make Eathion a more important character; you inspired me! And where I formalized the Diomedes and Arachne couple.
Twentieth what if: The Saga of Charon, Athena was supposed to run into Perseus but I was too excited to describe the Underworld (I did three hours of research just for that🙂↕️). Athena was also supposed to eat Underworld food and discover that it was a trick by Persephone to stay by Hades's side, (very romantic but I preferred to keep the mystery of the food).
😴
Twenty-first what if: The Saga of Xenia: Zeus openly flirts with Penelope and has a tight discussion about the fact that he is THE father of Athena with Odysseus (to which Odysseus replies that he is more like the mother, pfft🤣🤣) and Zeus takes it very badly, but I didn't know how to handle it and I gave up the idea (regrettably, I love mocking Zeus's pregnancies so much!🤣🤣🤣🤣) and I really needed to introduce this reincarnation story for the sequel. Zeus was also supposed to flirt with Arachne and get his ears pinched by Hera.🫡
Twenty-second what if: The Saga of Efforts; one of my favorite chapters! Poseidon and Amphitrite were supposed to go ask Hades for an explanation for the outburst he had with Athena. Triton was supposed to come, not to argue but to ask for Athena's hand in marriage (yes, there were plenty of opportunities for them and I messed it up for my grand finale, Eris influenced me. Speaking of which, she was supposed to cause the Pallas problem precisely because I had planned the Hypnos and Athena couple, but well I got lazy😴😪😪). Athena was supposed to take twice as long to clean out Hades's office and we were supposed to meet Orpheus (but I didn't know enough about the myth to delve into it😩).
Twenty-third what if: The Saga of the Palladium! Another one of my favorites! 😀Athena was supposed to run into Thanatos at the same time as Hypnos. The two brothers were supposed to be very close but argue often, with Hypnos often agreeing with Thanatos out of laziness to continue the debate, which annoys Thanatos who doesn't get a chance to properly put him in his place. Ah, and Empousa was supposed to take an interest in Odysseus who rejects her but i'm too lazy for that, the scenario didn't suit me and I wanted to make the trio that confronted her shine.
Twenty-fourth what if: Diomedes was supposed to be knocked out for the rest of the fight and Odysseus was supposed to intervene. Empousa was supposed to kidnap him and our characters had to look for him. Odysseus would escape on his own and return at dawn, quite traumatized by the encounter.😰
Twenty-fifth what if: The Saga of Magic: Hecate was supposed to curse Odysseus and Penelope by making them swap bodies, as well as Diomedes and Arachne. Odysseus and Penelope would manage very well but Arachne and Diomedes were supposed to argue about it (I had written a long argument about it🤣😂). And Eathion was supposed to have a body at that moment thanks to the Domain of Craftsmanship, but it was not logical and I wanted to introduce Prometheus so...
Twenty-sixth what if: The Saga of Rituals; Crocus and Hyacinth were supposed to die here, but I postponed it, it was too early and there was still Empousa to deal with. I wanted another confrontation where they use Aphrodite's vial to create illusions of all the gods of the Pantheon and massacre Empousa who would suppose that they are actively protected by the Goddess of Love, but it was a bit much as an attack with a spell in a vial so I dropped the idea. (even if I make a nod to it in the chapter). Hecate was supposed to denounce Eris's hidden friendship to Zeus but I abandoned the idea, and Hecate is not stupid enough to do something like that.
Twenty-seventh what if: The Saga of the Offensive, Athena was supposed to infiltrate the Tartarus without permission to meet Cronos. He was supposed to warn Athena that one day she would fight her father to save someone. (you know what I'm talking about: FATHER, GOD-KING...)
Twenty-eighth what if: God Games: They were supposed to invite Athena's loved ones to Olympus but it wasn't logical and Athena would never accept, it's too dangerous.
Twenty-ninth what if: The Saga of Comedy: Arachne, Polities, Eurylicus, and Diomedes were supposed to discover the truth about the disguised gods and struggle not to reveal them to Odysseus and Penelope after threats from Zeus and Athena.
Thirtieth what if: The Saga of Nostalgia: Athena was supposed to meet Medusa and accept her into her newly built temple, but I wasn't ready to deal with her myth so I dropped it.
Thirty-first what if: The Saga of Exploration! One of my favorites; they were supposed to enter Diomedes's mind and Athena was supposed to introduce Eathion to her family, but I abandoned the idea, Athena would not inform her mortal family of such crucial information. Thank you for the Diomedes/Arachne/Polities relationship.
Thirty-second what if: The Saga of Embarrassment, one of my favorites! Apollo was supposed to be completely traumatized by Eathion and badly injured spiritually, which would make him see VERY frightening visions of Athena and Eathion, (and I had planned heavy stuff) but I changed my mind to focus on the cuteness of the Aphrodite/Athena relationship. A real change of program... and I was asked for baby Athena, I regret nothing, I loved it!
Thirty-third: The Saga of Power Artemis was supposed to give her blessing to Telemachus rather than Hebe, and Enyo was not supposed to be the enemy of the Saga, but Dike, the Goddess of Human Justice. She was supposed to find the number of Telemachus's blessings unfair and say that he was favored because of Athena (when it was mostly Hera who influenced it because his parents are faithful and Artemis is proud of Odysseus's chastity). Athena would not have taken it well and would have gone to confront her. But it wasn't bloody enough so I threw that idea over a wall like an infant (I took the opportunity to add a divine blinding).
Thirty-fourth: The Saga of Rivalry, I wanted it to be Achilles or (his son), but I wanted to introduce Pegasus properly, so I took the myth where he first appears with Bellerophon (it was always a question of killing him at some point, but I became attached to him more than expected). Achilles was supposed to hit Athena with an arrow, she would decide to play dead to scare him when he retrieves her, but she discovers that it is Achilles and wants to train him, but he doesn't want a goddess as a mentor, Athena takes pleasure in making him change his mind. Oh, and despite this what if, Bellerophon would still have appeared, just to make the link with the ship that Hermes and Athena hit while fighting.
Well, there are still a lot of what ifs per chapter, but I forgot them and didn't write them down so we'll stop there... I just remember that long before I wrote the fanfiction, I wanted Athena to fall in love with Triton first. He would be very seductive and very good at dancing (I made some nods to this subject), but it didn't suit me when I wrote it and I love the scenes where Poseidon teases his son for his clumsiness too much. Before Eathion existed, Pallas and Athena were supposed to go from enemy to friend and cough maybe more than that... I had even planned for Telemachus to escape the Amazons' ship because of a storm and be rescued by Calypso who doesn't know that a child is not one of her pet crabs. I also wanted to do a very funny crossover where Odysseus teaches Alexander Hamilton how to be faithful a little too wholeheartedly... maybe next time that one... Ah, and Penelope was supposed to give Lipy a huge punch for kidnapping her son... but well, I'll stop there.
😴😴
You are free to take these "what if" scenarios and do Whatever you want with them 😁
Oh, and when I said a ripple became a tidal wave, I was talking about the last chapter 😅
Why am I going directly to Mother of Mortal instead of First Battalion of the Pantheon? Because First Battalion of the Pantheon does not focus on a plot with Athena's mortal family. No, we focus mainly on Heracles, Pegasus, Hera, Zeus, Eris, Triton, Poseidon, Gaea, Cronos, Ares, Apollo, Hermes, Pallas, Metis, and Athena and can be read independently of Protector of Mortals and Mother of Mortals. It is mainly used to explain how Athena changed so much in five hundred years (yes, five hundred years). I'll be back at the beginning of December, see you!