I Lightning booms. Elements against elements, gods against titans, a war of the ancients. Finally after an endless time, the gods won and there was peace on Earth, as well as on Mt. Olympus, the home of the gods. Since there were no humans or animals on Earth, Zeus –– the king of the gods –– appointed Prometheus and I (Epithemus) the task of creating them. Now I'm not one to complain, but everyone mollycoddled my brother more than me. So when we were by the river and Zeus gave me these gifts for the human race as well as the animal race, I decided to show off to Zeus, and some cute river nymphs, by giving my creations all the gifts and none for poor Prometheus. It was so-o-o funny watching Prometheus sniffle over his wretched little babies just like a mother hen. I thought I had won, but no, he just had to get the idea to steal fire even when he knew he would be punished.
II Quick as one of Zeus's thunderbolts, he scurried up Mt. Olympus that foggy, dark, secretive, night. Prometheus was quick and silent. The only hubbub was Zeus's snoring coming from the royal sleeping chamber. At the top of the mighty mountain, he detected the holy, divine, celestial, fire. To say the lest, it was jaw-dropping. He brought a stalk of fennel and put the scalding fire in it and traveled down to Earth. He had thought no one had seen him, but I spied on him planned to turn him in myself, but I just laid low. Once Prometheus gave fire to man, they were able to cook food, to make tools, and to scare animals away. With this technology, they started to think and pray to the gods. Prometheus was joyful, the people were jolly, and Zeus was still ignorant. That was all about to change.
III As the fire rose to Mt. Olympus, it spiced their regular doses of nectar and ambrosia and made them aromatic. Zeus and I were having dinner when I spilled the beans.
“Prometheus stole the sacred fire!” I admit, I wined.
“WHAT?!” Zeus thundered; he was irate. You should have seen his face as he let out an earsplitting bellow. First it was deathly white, then increasingly livid, then ferociously fulvous. He and I flew down to Earth. Drinking water, the pegasi flew off when we spotted Prometheus laying on the river.
“You have disobeyed me one too many times.” Zeus yelled.
“But how did you find out?” Prometheus questioned and I answered him with a wicked smile. Zeus raised his mighty thunderbolt, I grinned ecstatically, and...nothing. Even better, dependable ole' Zeus chained Prometheus to a rock and sent this immense eagle to come and eat his liver everyday and every night it would re-grow. Prometheus lamented, but the people frolicked without a care in the world. He learned the hard way that sacrifice is for the greater good (which is me!).
mollycoddle: verb and noun
verb: to pamper or spoil someone.
noun: someone who is pampered or spoiled.
