The Golden Pear [YA - Featured]

♫~Notes 149~♫

"You think you can just insult us?" Athena yelled, stepping forward.

"You wanted to hear my decision. How can you understand it if I remain silent?"

A thunder resonated above them, and the goddesses leaned their heads as if searching for an attack. Freya, on the other hand, looked for dark clouds, but she couldn't see anything.

The sound returned closer, and a big flash sprung toward the ground. The smell of ozone spread among them. The clouds of dust dissolved, revealing an old man with a rich and long beard cascading down his growing belly in swirls.

Light purple toga covered his body, but he made sure to show his mighty chest and muscles. In his hand, he had held lighting that didn't stop crackling and sparkling.

Freya watched it in awe and with a curiosity of a child. Her fingers twitched. Would it hurt if she touched it? Could she power up her mobile? Would she get an afro?

"What brings you here, Zeus?" Hera asked, annoyance reflected in her voice.

"Does a husband need a reason to see his wife?" he retorted, not mentioning he had many lovers with or without their agreement.

Freya stepped back to put a safer distance between them.

"I've also come to witness the verdict who deserves the Golden Pear. Since you two bickered to no end that a man can't judge women like another woman."

Freya lifted her eyebrows. 'That's some flawed logic.'

"And I've said using champions is foolish and a waste of time." Aphrodite tossed her hair. "We should have gone on our own like the first time."

The historians had proved the city of Troy existed, but they didn't know if the legend about it was true. Now they had the raw facts in front of them. With Gods around, all the stories had gained a new meaning.

Freya exchanged a look with Rigaku, who barely nodded. His theory and worries weren't as baseless as he had thought.

Zeus turned his head, eyeing Freya and enjoying the changes his daughter did. Yet he quickly glanced away since the girl returning his gaze with a glare.

"Cast your dice!" Athena urged her. "We don't have time for this."

"Sure," Freya replied. "You are around for like a couple of millennia, and you don't have time. Figures." She let out all the sass she had inside of her.

Growling, she added, "The one who doesn't have time for this is me. You dare to call yourself adults, and yet you bicker over a stupid dust collector like brats." She tossed the wrapped pear up and down.

Her green eyes sparkled as if there was something divine inside them. "So, you promised me enormous strength, that even Hercules would look like a baby next to me, right?"

Athena's eyes narrowed. There was only much her temper could take, but with Zeus here, she had to calm down. Her father didn't step down to be here. He took a liking in this girl. No wonder he enchanted the pear to follow her until she cast her decision. That also prevented the goddesses from passing the pear to another girl after Freya tossed it away.

"I don't believe in a power that hurts others," Freya continued. "I want to solve my problems with words, not with violence. Brawl never brings anything good."

Hera smirked. She knew which way Freya headed. From the start, it was obvious who was superior. The foolish Paris was too young to understand the value of political power, listening to his primitive instinct instead.

The girl locked her gaze with Hera. "To be honest, I didn't take any of the initial offers seriously. It was nothing but a poor joke in my eyes. However, knowledge is something I seek.

"I'm not exceptionally smart or talented, so I work hard for each test. Being able to learn fast was something I always wished for."

"Then the choice is obvious," Hera chirped, pleased with what she had heard. "Give me the Pear!"

This time it was Freya's turn to grin. "Why so confident?" She took the first layer off the pear. "When did I say I choose knowledge?"

"You've just stated you seek higher education!" Hera tightened her fist.

"You aren't wrong... yet you are in assuming that's my pick."