The Test on Mount Olympus
By Charlize Deveza
Chapter 1
Ordinary, Normal, and boring are words that Ava Capell are not. Outgoing, adventurous, and outspoken, or has her dad says “big mouth,” are words that perfectly describe who she is. She has never known normal. She grew up as royalty, Princess of Genovia. It’s small and quiet. Not everyone knows where it is or that it even exists, but Ava would not have it any other way. She loves how isolated it is. Genovia is like her Utopia. There has never been any conflict or scandal regarding Genovia. Almost everyone knows everyone since it is so small. Everyone bides to the rules except for the casual criminals here or there, but hey good cannot exist without evil right? The princess is soon to be Queen, but little does she know how impossible it seems when the predicament that will present, arises.
Ever since Ava was little her parents always told her stories about Utopia. Ones that were filled with magic and adventure. As she grew up, she believed magic filled the air in Genovia. She still somewhat believes that now 17 years later. She would never admit it though. To her, everything about Genovia is perfect. Almost too perfect. I mean the obedience, the lack of controversy, even the location.
Part of her believes it is because Genovia was formed as a gift. A gift from the Gods and Goddesses of Mount Olympus. One of the stories her parents would say to her the most was how Genovia came to be. It all started when all the Gods and
Goddesses were all fighting over the fate of Earth. Zeus was being reckless and unreasonable and wanted to destroy Earth from ever existing. He believed nothing or nobody good could ever come from Earth. When Ava heard this story the first time she asked,
“Why would he want to do that.”
That is when her parents explained how Zeus visited Earth one day and fell in love with a mortal. When it happened, it happened quick, and he was so happy. He stopped going up to Mount Olympus because he wanted to spend time with his love on Earth. After almost a year Zeus told everyone that he feels that it is time to show his love the truth about who he really is and where he goes off to, when he’s not with her. Everyone disliked the idea and urged him not to, for no mortal has ever known about the higher power that is them and Mount Olympus. For days the Gods and Goddesses fought with Zeus. Telling him how dangerous it could be to drag a mortal to his world, but after days of arguing he realized he is the most powerful God and doesn’t need permission from any of them. So he ignored them and flew down to Earth to tell his love everything. So he went to her, sat her down, and told her everything. About who he is, where he goes off to when he is not with her, and then asked her to join him. To become immortal with him and rule Mount Olympus together.
His love could not fathom anything he was saying. She called him crazy and not right in the head. She said even if it were the least bit true it is selfish of him to ask her to leave behind her friends, family, and life on Earth. Zeus could not believe her words. He experienced something none of the Gods or Goddesses have before, heartbreak. Her
words were like a stab to the heart. After his confession, he left and roared as he flew back up to Mount Olympus broken. He never felt so low or humiliated before.
“How could she be so ungrateful.”
“Does she not realize how lucky she is?”
“She should have been overjoyed to leave the mortal life and spend eternity with me.”
“Instead she degrades me and makes me feel bad for wanting to spend the rest of my life with her.”
“She took my love for her and crushed it with no remorse.”
These were his thoughts as he sat in his throne. That is when he decided that all mortals were heartless monsters. Heartless monsters that should cease to exist. So he decides to tell the Other Gods and Goddesses his plan. To destroy Earth and make the mortal race extinct.
The Gods and Goddesses protested telling him he can’t just do that because of one human. For days they fought with him. Trying to persuade him that not all mortals are how he perceives them to be, but Zeus stays stubborn and says all mortals no matter what are heartless and selfish.
That is when the Goddess of Wisdom, Athena comes up with a plan. She proposes that she along with the other Goddesses and God to make Genovia, a somewhat perfect country and ruled by a King and Queen. Mortals will exist on it and after 20 years the King and Queen of that decade will bear a child, and on that child’s 18th birthday he or she will have to go on a quest designed by Zeus. A test that Zeus believes will prove how selfish and heartless mortals are. If the child passes the test, then Zeus will have to
let go of his grudge and allow Earth to exist, but if she fails, Zeus can have the blessing to destroy Earth and end the mortal race. Zeus agrees, and the Gods and Goddesses begin making Genovia. Ava’s 18th birthday is tomorrow.
So that is how Ava believes Genovia came to be. Ava’s parents have reassured her that the story is just a myth and has been a story that has been passed down since as far they could remember. Tomorrow she will be given the hardest test she will ever be given and she will have to pass or she can say goodbye to her perfect Genovia.