Question: Do you spell Favorite with a U or with no U?

This will be interesting...

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The afternoon went by in a flash. The army was getting ready to ascend Mount Olympus. They packed up the canvas tents and prepared the mules and horses.

Styx led me to the base, where the staircase went up into the clouds.

" We need magic," she said. "Our army will never in a millennia be able to move up."

"So what do I do, mother?" I asked.

She gestured up. "Use your magic. You can create an enormous portal that will fit several horses and soldiers at once."

I took off the hood of my blue cloak and lay a hand against the sheer rock that made up the mountain. I imagined a breeze, then a gale. The rock turned freezing. I stepped away, and a swirling blue portal appeared out of nowhere. It's borders were made of cold smooth obsidian, and a slight wind came from within.

I glanced back.

"Shall I try it, mother?" I asked.

She nodded. "Yes. Go ahead, but have your knives ready."

I covered my head again with the hood, unsheathed one of my daggers, and stepped in.

Unlike all other instances when I had used a portal, my vision didn't go black. In fact, in one blink, I stood at the entrance to Olympus, just where the stairs ended. It all looked the same, but there were two armored guards patrolling the ground.

They spotted me and raised their swords. With my hand that didn't hold a knife, I uncovered my head. My hair blew regally out behind me. The guards' faces blanched.

"You-" the first one stuttered.

"The princess?" the other one finished.

I nodded and took a confident step towards them. They dropped their swords and fell on their knees.

"Have mercy, Your Highness," the first one begged.

I smiled. I had no intent of brutally murdering either of them.

I knelt next to them.

"I will not kill you," I started.

The color started to return to their faces."

"But," I helped the second one to his feet.

"You will come with me," I said to him.

The guard bowed his head. "Yes, Miss."

I turned to the first. "You, go back to your duties. You never saw me here. And he was never assigned with you," I said, pointing at the guard I was taking.

The first guard nodded and ran off, leaving his sword on the ground next to the second's. I picked them both up and ushered the guard to the portal.

He stopped and turned around.

"What will you do with me?" he asked, fear present in his tone.

"Me, nothing." I said.

We stepped together into the portal.

Styx was waiting. She eyed the guard.

"What will we do with this one?" she asked.

"What is your name?" I asked. I spoke to him as if he was a child, which was ironic, as he was probably in his thirties.

"Sam, Your Highness," the guard said timidly.

"Well, Sam, I will make you into our double agent," Styx said, smiling. "You do what we say, and you will have immense power in the new world. However, if you disobey me, or my lieutenants, you will die the most horrifying death one can possibly, and your soul will be forever damned in Tartarus."

Sam gulped. "Yes, Lady."

Styx came and took him by the arm, as if he were a nobleman. "I will take you to our army captain. She will tell you what tasks you have."

Styx led Sam away, and I gazed upwards, towards the peak of Olympus.

Styx returned soon after. "We will marshal our forces at sunset and attack then. This will be the final battle."

I smiled, but inside I was dreading the passing of time.

"What will happen to the inhabitants of Olympus?" I asked.

Styx shrugged. "Either they will join our side, or they will be killed."

"How do we kill the Immortals?" I asked.

"Saffron will take that upon herself, or we will trap them in the Tibetan Phurba Dagger."

"And what of Kronos?"

"He and Saffron, along with Calypso, will join us in a matter of hours. Now, go eat supper and get ready. Wash yourself and brush your hair. Change your dress and put your armor back on."

I nodded and turned away. Echidna was leading Sam back to the portal. They stopped just in front of it, and she hissed a few more words to him before he stepped in and disappeared.

I caught up to Echidna as she was making her way back to the army.

"What will he do?" I asked.

She laughed. "He will tell the Olympians that we will not attack for two more days. Tonight, though, we take over the world."

She walked away and I got ready to invade.

After a few hours, horns sounded. I poked my head out of my tent, expecting to see an Olympian army descending upon us, but instead a golden chariot rode into camp, pulled by black stallions.

A handsome man stepped out first, offering his hand to the woman who followed him.

"Kronos," Styx whispered.

I got a clear view of the woman's face. It was Saffron herself, Goddess of Bones.

After Saffron came another goddess, who I assumed was Calypso.

Kronos wore a full set of black steel armor, while Saffron and Calypso were clothed in simple but elegant white linen dresses.

Styx pulled me forwards to meet them. Kronos and Calypso shook her outstretched hand, while Saffron stood back, eyeing Styx warily.

Saffron's friendly expression had faded, replaced with tight seriousness. I walked up to her.

"Lady Saffron," I said formally.

She looked up, and her face turned shocked.

"Sophie?"

I nodded.

"She captured you?" she asked.

I shook my head. "I'm working for her."

A tear slipped down Saffron's face.

"But why?" she asked.

"She is my mother," I said.

Saffron stumbled back. "No. She can't be."

"She is." I insisted.

"Who is your father, then?" she challenged.

I shrugged. "I never met him."

"When is your birthday?" Saffron asked.

"May sixth," I replied.

Saffron turned her back to me. I walked back to where Styx was.

Styx rose into the air, much like I did earlier. A dark purple aura surrounded her.

"Army!" she shouted.

All of the ranks stood at attention.

"We march on Olympus!" she proclaimed.

Cheers went up.

"Princess Sophie will lead you once more. One by one, each column will proceed through the portal. Kronos, Saffron, Calypso, and myself will go last. Move out!"

I saddled my horse and went through the portal. Minutes later, the whole army was at my back.

There was no army.

Echidna hissed by my side. "Sam has done his job."

I turned my horse around to face the army.

"Attention! Calvary, scout for soldiers and guards. Left flank, march ahead. Right flank, stay where you are. Center, come with me. And," I turned to where my mother stood in her chariot. "I request the Titan of Time and the Goddess Of Bones ride with me."

Kronos smiled, saddled a horse, and joined me.

"What will you two do?" I called back.

Styx smiled. "We will survey your movements and use our powers to fight off any enemy soldiers. Bring back all captives here. We will not lay a hand on them until you return."

I nodded and turned to Kronos and Saffron.

"Are you two ready? You will both have to fight."

Kronos nodded impatiently, while Saffron looked down at her lap.

"I am not on your side." she insisted.

I raised a dagger. "You will do your job."

Kronos did nothing as I drew the smallest drops of Ichor from her fingertips. I did not want to harm the goddess who was so kind to me more then I had to.

I gained control of her mind.

"Alright!" I yelled to the troops. 

We marched on towards Zeus' palace. Every time we passed a god's mansion, I dispatched a small group to capture the servants and god inside. The size of the groups depended on the threat rate of the Immortal. To Aphrodite's palace I sent only one company, but to Ares' I sent seven.

Each of them lost zero to ten soldiers, which was low. They all brought back a multitude of prisoners back to where Styx and Calypso were waiting, then rejoined us.

Finally we made it to Zeus' palace. The huge wooden doors were bolted, but Kronos summoned a golden orb and the doors disintegrated.

We charged in.