Percy Jackson: The Firstborn

Chapter 3: Chapter 3: Gaia’s Help

A place full of nature—nature that seemed to react to the actions of an unknown figure carrying a small bundle in her arms: a baby. A baby who did nothing but stare at the figure holding him, laughing with joy as he tried to reach his mother’s face with his tiny hands. That gesture didn’t go unnoticed by the mother, and for the first time in a long while, an idea came to her mind. She lifted the baby, bringing him closer to her face so he could reach her and touch her. The action made the baby squeal with happiness, and he began giving small pats to his mother’s cheeks—his mother, who had never been able to truly enjoy a child’s love.

The child’s mother raised her gaze to take in the beauty surrounding her—nature at its peak, everything alive around her with every step she took, the plants parting to let her pass with the baby. But she wasn’t here to enjoy the view. She needed help, and she could only trust someone powerful enough to protect her... someone she had once promised herself to, hiding one of her children so he wouldn’t be eaten like the last six. She didn’t want to go through the same thing again—even if it cost her life.

A huge figure appeared, one that seemed fused to a mountain where a waterfall flowed like hair. A face rose from the rock, its echo deep and beautiful. The figure watched the woman’s actions as she approached with the baby in her arms, and the only thing it could do was smile at the maternal love in front of it.

”It’s a pleasure to see you again, Rhea. It’s been a long time since the last time,” the figure said from the mountain. ”You don’t usually come often, so I assume you need something. What is it?”

”Help,” Rhea said anxiously. ”I need you to help me hide my son from Kronos,” she continued, tears in her eyes.

”This is very risky for you, Rhea. Do you know what Kronos will do to you and the child if he finds out where you’re hiding and learns what you’re keeping from him?” the figure said, worried as it imagined what Kronos would do if he discovered this.

”I know, Mother, but what do you want me to do?” Rhea cried. ”What am I supposed to do—keep living while I watch my children be taken from me? Keep watching while I do nothing to stop him? I can’t let this continue,” Rhea said through sobs, looking at Gaia.

Gaia had been in Rhea’s situation. She wanted to help her because it reminded her of when Uranos had imprisoned her children in Tartarus. Kronos, who devoured his children, wasn’t something she supported, not like she did many years ago.

The mountain began to move, a sign that she was beginning to move as well. Her size started to shrink. The rock-skin disappeared, turning into normal skin—pale, with long brown hair, adorned with a crown of mistletoe. She wore a green dress decorated with flowers of every kind, and there were marks beneath her eyes that made her beauty stand out even more.

When she changed form, she walked toward Rhea and the baby to see him better. When she was close enough to touch him, she reached out a hand to gently touch the baby’s cheek, making him giggle. Seeing this, Gaia smiled too—looking at her grandson, beautiful even though his existence represented danger to many Titans.

”What will you name him?” Gaia asked with a smile, looking at the baby.

”Zeus,” Rhea said, smiling at her mother’s affection with her son.

”I will help you,” Gaia said, still staring at the child. ”But promise me something,” she added, drawing Rhea’s attention.

”I’ll do whatever you want,” Rhea said without hesitation. She had reached the point where, as long as her last child stayed safe, she didn’t care what she had to do.

”Train him. Prepare him for the war that is coming,” Gaia said, pausing a moment so her daughter would understand. ”Zeus’ existence is the omen of war. If you manage to hide him long enough to prepare him to face his father’s wrath, a war will break out. And you—by choosing to hide your son from Kronos—have chosen a side,” Gaia finished.

”But I don’t want to fight against my brothers,” Rhea said quickly. ”I just want my children to be able to live in peace without having to worry about being swallowed the moment they’re born,” Rhea said, concern in her voice.

”I’m not saying you should fight your brothers, Rhea. I’m saying you must prepare your son—physically and mentally—to face his father,” Gaia told her daughter, who hadn’t understood her words. ”Your children cannot live in peace while Kronos remains on the throne. You should already know that.”

An awkward silence filled the place, until Gaia broke it again.

”And Zeus will need help. Even if you train him for 200,000 years, he will never be strong enough to defeat all the gods (Titans) alone. I doubt he could defeat Atlas by himself—let alone his own father,” Gaia said, drawing Rhea’s attention.

”So what do you suggest? The others are too afraid to oppose Kronos,” Rhea said, trying to find an answer to calm her nerves.

”He will have to free his siblings. It’s the only option I can think of,” Gaia said with a thoughtful hand on her chin.

”How can he free them?” Rhea asked quickly, hope rising at the thought of seeing her children again.

”I don’t know. But Zeus will need their help... especially your eldest son,” Gaia said, surprising Rhea.

”Why especially him? I know he was different from the others—it wasn’t normal that at such a young age he was so resilient, surviving a fall from that height without a scratch—but besides that, they were all the same,” Rhea said, confused.

”You’re mistaken, Rhea. Like you said, his resilience isn’t normal—but I meant something else,” Gaia said.

”What?” Rhea asked quickly.

”The emotions he gives off... or rather, the emotions he does not give off,” Gaia said, leaving Rhea stunned, before continuing. ”All your sons and daughters, when they were in Kronos’ hands—even though they were very small—felt fear the moment they touched Kronos’ presence. However, your eldest son never felt fear. He was the one who was calmest in Kronos’ presence.”

”Now I understand better, Mother,” Rhea said, nodding.

”In desperate situations, fear can make you do things you’ll regret. You always need someone who doesn’t feel fear in those moments—someone who can do what’s right,” Gaia said, making her point clear.

”But how do you know about my children?” Rhea asked, a little confused, because she didn’t remember Gaia being there in those horrible moments.

”Every time you gave birth, I was there, Rhea. Not only me—other presences too. I always wanted to comfort you, but I never knew how... I’m sorry,” Gaia said sadly.

A moment of silence followed as Rhea relived every time Kronos swallowed her children. She couldn’t hold back her tears. But this time, Gaia wouldn’t leave her without help. As soon as she saw the first tear, she carefully took the baby and pulled her daughter into a strong embrace, letting Rhea finally release all the frustration she’d carried for years.

”Calm down, Rhea. Like I told you, I’ll help you however I can,” Gaia said, holding Rhea’s cheeks in her hands and wiping her tears away with her thumbs. ”Alright... the first thing is to hide your presence—and Zeus’s.”

As she spoke, different kinds of animals approached the women and the baby. Gaia raised her hand and, gently lifting her daughter’s chin, reached toward the nearest tree. The tree reacted instantly, almost as if it wanted to touch Gaia’s finger. A small cut opened at the tip of her finger, and a drop of something like sap fell from the branch, mixing Rhea’s blood with the tree’s sap. Then Rhea touched her finger to Zeus’s face, leaving marks similar to the ones she had just under her eyes.

When Gaia finished the prayer, Rhea could feel her presence—and Zeus’s—merging with nature, making them almost invisible.

”This will help you hide from Kronos for a while, because once he truly starts searching seriously, it won’t take him long to find you. Don’t worry—this isn’t the first time you’ve disappeared. He’ll think you’ll come back like you always do. When he realizes you won’t, that’s when Zeus will need a plan to free his brothers and sisters,” Gaia said, making it clear that this wasn’t permanent.

”Thank you, Mother. I knew I could trust you,” Rhea said, receiving a smile from Gaia.

As Rhea walked away with Zeus in her arms, Gaia watched them vanish from her sight, knowing something great was about to happen.

A mysterious female figure appeared behind Gaia. Gaia wasn’t surprised—she had been able to sense her the whole time while she spoke with her daughter, listening to the entire conversation.

”So the beginning of the new era starts now,” the unknown figure said.

”Seems like it,” Gaia replied simply.

”Gaia, I think you made a good choice. Kronos isn’t fit to rule. He can’t even rule himself. It’s inevitable that Kronos will lose the throne,” the figure said, trying to reassure Gaia.

”I know... but that’s not what worries me, Ananke,” Gaia said, turning around to look at her.

”Then what worries you?” Ananke asked.

”I’ve seen in Zeus more similarities to Kronos than in his other siblings. Are you sure this is the right path?” Gaia asked, concerned.

”There are always other ways... but with an entirely different ending,” Ananke said.

”I understand,” Gaia sighed. ”I hope this goes well.”

”It will,” Ananke said with a smile, calming Gaia a little.