Elpis and Pride: 2000 years later

Elpis and Pride :

// All the usual disclaimers. 

2000 years later...

Elpis was different from the goddess she used to be 2000 years ago. She still remembered how she was before she met Pride. Naive, devoted to her family and with a curious gaze upon mankind. They groomed her into becoming the obedient little sister whose only motivation was to keep her family happy. She had no real clues of her potential, no real clues of actual love and yet when she met Pride, she fell head over heels for the First Sin. She set herself free from the leash her family put around her neck. She grew in power, explored her true potential and at the same time discovered the power of Love. It sounded cheesy because ultimately, she didn't truly know what true love was. Her sister, the primeval goddess of Love told her that it was « puppy love », nothing but a flame that would be extinguished as soon as the violent reality would crush her reality. That Elpis was bright, she was a pure ray of sunshine filled with the joyful bliss of ignorance and looking back from now, the goddess had a few regrets.

She couldn't see just how wretched her family actually was. How hatred and jealousy filled the hearts of those she loved deeply. The coup against her beloved father hurt the goddess, but not as much as the death of her loyal and loving siblings or the fact her brother and sister cursed her for 2000 years. None of them understood what Pride was... or eventually, their fear was justified and she was the delusional one. Either way, they betrayed her and for 2000 years, the goddess suffered. Now that she was free, and the thirst for revenge was overwhelming her, Elpis realized that she was nothing like the young goddess she used to be. She was stronger. It wasn't just a matter of power, she was able to conceive the fact her own family was trying to get rid of her. She was able to see that this new version of Pride was a different one, a better one. She also was able to recognize true love as she fell in love with Pride. It was a conscious choice she made, one where she knew who he really was and still wanted to be with him. She wanted her Sin to rule the Universe and she wanted to rule with him.

Yet, as the goddess watched her reflection on the window, she traced it with her forefinger. Did she shine as bright as the younger version of herself? She could feel the fire burning inside of her and the desire to be more than what and who she used to be, but was she still bright? Vengeance was still part of her, from the moment the Sumerian gods disrespected the all-father, she acted upon her desire to make them beg and ask for forgiveness. Vengeance never left her but did it truly change her? Her eyes glowed brightly as she kept tracing her fingers on the glass. The sudden doubt that crept into her heart was brushed off as she looked at the determined face she looked at. The goddess before her was shining even more than she did before. She didn't need to regret not being the naive goddess she used to be because she became someone better. She grew into a woman who went through Hell and came back stronger. However, she refused to let anger overwhelm her too much. She refused to have her heart filled with hatred and anger and turn into her siblings. The goddess of Hope was worth something more. She was better than them, she deserved more and she would have more. She sighed softly as she felt familiar arms wrap around her frame and pull her against a strong torso. She blinked and bit her bottom lip as she realized it was Pride. Her worries could wait, at least for the night.