She was looking around the forest.
Well, she didn't really know what it was.
She was still covered in her father's stomach acid and half-digested food, standing next to her siblings and her mother, who was watching them with kindness on her face.
But still, Hera hadn't experienced anything like this before.
All she knew, from the moment she was born, was that she had been eaten by her own father—for something she herself had never done.
Hera couldn't truly understand it.
She didn't know what they had done wrong?
She had been inside Kronos's stomach for… who knows how long?
Time had no meaning in that place.
And yet, strangely, their bodies had already grown—maturing while they fell, fully formed, from their father's gut.
All they had was each other.
And even that hadn't been much of a comfort.
Each sibling was different, almost completely opposite from herself.
Hera knew that her tone could be a bit commanding, making it sound as if she were giving orders rather than asking for support.
The air around her and the way she carries herself was as if she was superior than them.
Her elder sister, Hestia, was a kind soul.
She was the reason they could even maintain a conversation—though it wasn't just her.
Her sisters were bearable.
It was her brothers that were the problem.
Poseidon, with his arrogant boasting, carried himself like someone above them.
She didn't know why?
After all, they'd all been swallowed at birth.
What did he have to be proud of?
And Hades—her younger brother—was a silent one.
He didn't speak much, nor did he interact with the others.
He simply wanted to be left alone, only speaking a few quiet words now and then.
He was more of a listener rather than a talker.
Still, she could tell that he meant well.
He just seemed… awkward.
Her sister Demeter, on the other hand, was—how should she put it—kind of stupid.
That was the only word she could think of.
But still, the situation was strange.
Then her gaze turned to her mother.
And in that moment, all thoughts vanished from her mind.
Something unknown stirred in her chest—an emotion she had never truly felt before.
Longing.
Longing to hold her mother.
To be close to her.
She remembered seeing her mother fight for her—to stand up against Kronos, to protect her.
So she started to move toward her.
But before she could get far, her mother raised her hand.
Instantly, they were all cleaned and clothed.
It was… magical.
She had never seen anything like it.
It was spectacular.
Each of them wore different colors.
Hera wore a golden toga.
Hestia was in beautiful red.
Demeter wore a soft light green.
Poseidon had on a light blue one.
And Hades was in black.
All of them turned their eyes to Rhea—eyes full of longing.
Tears began to form.
And then, with a tearful smile in her eyes, their mother spoke.
"Come, my children."
As if time no longer existed, all of them ran toward their mother.
Rhea opened her arms wide, embracing them all in a massive group hug.
Each one poured every emotion they had into that embrace—their grief, their longing, their fear, their sorrow.
From the moment they were born, they had lived a hard life.
They had never known safety, never had anyone to truly rely on.
Each of them believed, deep down, that they were unwanted in this world.
After all, what else were they to believe when their own father swallowed them the moment they were born, while their mother cried helplessly in the background?
None of them could truly believe this was real—that this freedom, this warmth from their mother, was actually happening.
And yet, here it was.
Each one of them broke down in their own way.
Hestia, usually composed, shed a few tears, her lips trembling.
Demeter's tears followed silently.
Even Poseidon sniffled, trying to hide it behind a proud smile.
And Hades—who always wore a stoic expression—let a single tear fall from his eye.
Hera, too, couldn't hold back the tears that rolled down her cheeks.
'This freedom… it tastes so sweet,'
she thought to herself.
'I don't want to let it go. I want to hold onto this moment forever and never leave it behind.'
Then they heard footsteps approaching.
Amalthea and the two other handmaidens came forward, carrying a baby in their arms.
Zeus.
Everyone turned to look.
Rhea walked toward them and gently took the newborn into her arms, then turned to her older children.
"This," she said softly, "is your youngest brother—Zeus."
The siblings gathered around, their eyes wide with wonder as they looked down at the tiny, fragile child.
"Haha, he's already got the looks,"
Poseidon said with a laugh, peeking at the baby's face.
"What a cutie,"
Demeter added with a warm smile.
Amalthea couldn't help but smile too.
After all, she was the one who helped bring each child into this world—the first to hold every one of them before presenting them to her queen, Lady Rhea.
So her heart couldn't help but feel warm as she watched them finally free.
"Hmm I'm glad"
She muttered to herself, glad for their freedom and for her queen Rhea.
Then a voice echoed from behind them.
"Are you enjoying looking at the little one?"
They all turned their heads.
It was him.
Aetherion—their older brother.
The one who had freed them.
The one who had made this impossible moment of freedom real.
Each of them looked at him with deep gratitude—including Hera, who couldn't take her eyes off him.
"Don't mind me,"
he said with a soft, gentle smile.
"You can keep playing with little Zeus."
There was something about him.
His energy felt different.
The world around him seemed alive—vibrant, warm, almost breathing in tune with him.
It was strange, but Hera and her siblings liked it.
Before anyone could say anything else, Hestia stepped forward toward Aetherion and wrapped her arms around him, tears still glimmering in her eyes.
"Thank you… thank you,"
she whispered over and over, her voice trembling with emotion.
Aetherion smiled softly, raising one hand as if to calm her.
"There's no need to thank me," he said gently. "After all, it's an older brother's duty to protect his younger siblings."
His lips curved into a wider smile—one full of warmth and care.
Hestia, still tearful, nodded against his shoulder.
Hera, who saw the scene, felt her own heart swell and stepped forward as well, embracing him.
Demeter followed, and soon each of them had taken turns hugging him, whispering their gratitude.
"Thank you, brother. Truly,"
they said one after another.
Hera—who had always carried herself with an air of superiority—found herself humbled.
For the first time, she wanted to bow, to show the gratitude she truly felt.
She didn't even understand where that pride of hers came from.
after all, she had been swallowed at birth and knew nothing of the world.
But still—it was there, deep within her.
Aetherion simply laughed and chuckled, saying,
"Haha, didn't you hear me? I'm your older brother—don't thank me for something like this. It's only natural."
He looked at them with a teasing smile.
"Or? Do you want to go back down into Father's stomach? It must have been quite lively down there, wasn't it?"
he joked.
Silence followed Aetherion's joke, but then laughter suddenly boomed out—it was Poseidon.
His laughter was soon joined by the chuckles of his other siblings.
"Lively? Are you crazy!? It was hellish down there!"
he said.
Aetherion grimaced.
"Ugh, I can imagine,"
he said with genuine disgust.
"It was truly disgusting,"
Hades added dryly, his calm tone earning another wave of chuckles.
"And also thank you for saving us, brother"
Hades followed up with gratitude in his voice.
"Yes, brother. Thank you for freeing me—now the world can finally experience the greatness that is me!"
Poseidon's voice boomed through the air, carrying with it a hint of gratitude toward Aetherion.
Aetherion, still smiling, walked over to his brothers, placing an arm around each of their shoulders.
"So, these two are my younger brothers, huh? Quite handsome, I have to admit."
He then tilted his head, a serious expression crossing his face.
"But… there's a problem here."
He pulled away from them, pointing dramatically at Poseidon and Hades.
"Why do you two look older than me? And how come you both have beards already? That's not fair!"
He stomped his foot with mock indignation, pouting like a child, his face full of exaggerated despair—like he had just suffered the greatest injustice in the world.
Hera and everyone burst out laughing again.
"Why are you laughing? I'm the eldest! Shouldn't I be the one who looks the oldest? Or at least look like an adult?How come I look younger than all of you? It's not fair!"
he continued to complain, though his tone only made them laugh harder.
Eventually, Aetherion sighed in defeat and walked over to baby Zeus, who was still in Rhea's arms.
He smiled softly, raising a finger for the infant to grab.
"At least you look younger than me, little Zeus. Good—let your older brother keep his dignity, at least,"
he said with mock seriousness.
Everyone burst into laughter again—even Rhea, who hadn't laughed like this in eons.
After so long, it was pure joy.
For the first time, they were together—free, happy, laughing without fear.
Hera looked toward Aetherion with a playful smirk.
"Since we look older than you, shouldn't you be our little brother now? Come on, just call me Elder Sister."
she teased playing along with Aetherion's antics, Hera thought that perhaps Aetherion was doing all of this to ease their mood—after all, they had just escaped from their father's stomach—and was trying to bring them comfort through laughter.
But she could also tell that he genuinely meant what he said about still looking like a teenager, which she herself found quite funny.
Aetherion froze, his face full of mock horror.
"Impossible! You may look older, but I'm still the oldest! I'll never say that—never!"
Their laughter filled the forest, bright and boundless.
Even Hades, who was often awkward and quiet, smiled and joined in the conversation.
Rhea watched them all, her heart full.
A single tear rolled down her cheek as she brushed it away, her expression soft and peaceful.
The weight she had carried for so long—gone.
Her children were finally free.
And as laughter echoed through the glade, Hera thought to herself,
'I wish moments like this could last forever.'