It was cool, breezy, summer night in Piraeus. Many fishing boats had just docked into the harbors, reeling in their latest catch.
Once they were secured in place by their ropes, many of the fishermen proceeded to unload their cargos of fishes, squids, crabs, and all kinds of sea creatures. The fishy stenches filled the air, attracting the gulls that circled overhead, looking for their next meals.
But the smell of fishes didn't just attract the gulls. Danger lurks beneath the waters and the boats, with only the thought of dinner on its mind.
Meanwhile, somewhere in the night sky, a lone owl was flying overhead, before it turned its wings, flying lower and lower, into the port city of Pireas.
"Where-where am I? How did I get here?" Medusa asked herself, finding herself in a large city of old. āWait, I know this place! Iāve been here before!ā She gasped in amazement, immediately recognizing the familiar, yet fading scenery from her memory. āThis is-this was home! Home....ā
Before long, Medusa found herself surrounded by many young men, whose faces were all obscured, fading away to be forgotten to the cruelty of time.
But even with their facial expressions made undistinguishable, Medusa can tell from the gestures they make with their body, the bundles of flowers they brought to her as gifts, and they way they all greeted her and courted her in Ancient Greek, it was clear that they were all attracted to her.
She looked down at herself, to see she was no longer covered in sickly green scales, nor does she have sharp claws, and she has legs instead of a large serpent's tail. But the most distinguishable feature of all, she has hairs instead of snakes. She is ā at least in her dreams and memories ā human. Pushing through the males he were courting her, Maddie rushed towards a nearby fountain, to look at herself in the water. However, upon gazing into the waters, she was dismayed to see her own reflection was obscured, just like the people who surrounded her.
Then, in a blink of an eye, the waters in the fountain started to churn and splashed vigorously, as if the water was coming to life. Before Maddie knew it, the water erupted, blasting itself towards Maddie, who was taken by surprise and instantly shuts her eyes closed, bracing herself from the watery impact. But it never came.
Taking her chances, Maddie slowly opened her eyes, blinking herself awake, and finds herself back in the hotel room.
"What?" She asked herself. "I'm back," She turned her head, side to side, finding herself in bed, with Fluttershy beside her, together with a few of her sleeping snakes.
A small smile curved itself up at the corner of her lips, relieved to see Fluttershy was still in bed with her, sleeping at her side. It's a tremendous comfort for Medusa, because it means it wasn't a dream that she had met and befriended a group of strange girls and talking dog. Furthermore, she doesn't have to wake up in an empty cave and be greeted by a garden of lifeless, horrified statues.
After a whole day spent with her new friends, Maddie can't deny that it was a joyful experience. For centuries, and for as long as she can remember, she has always been alone. All because she is different from the rest of the world. All because in the eyes of the people around the world, and in accordance to the stories they have passed on for generations, she is a monster. A grotesque, demonic, terrifying monster of a cursed and traumatized soul. One whose humanity was forever taken from her, against her own will and beyond her control. She was no longer an ordinary human female, but neither is she an ordinary creature. She became something that solely exists in myths and legends, with terrifying powers that the faint of hearts can scarcely imagine. All this negativity, this fearful and horrible reputation she never desired. It isolated her, denying her of companionship from the outside world.
But now, that feeling of horror and despair was beginning to lose its grip on her. It was all amazing as to how it was all made possible, by a group of strange girls, each gifted with unique powers in the name of friendship. A friendship that was made magical and possible, courtesy of one fiery unicorn who came from another world. And to further her fascination, it was hard for Medusa to even believe that same unicorn was once a demon sorceress, who now seeks friendship to repent her past mistakes. That unicorn, who has transformed herself into a human being, is now one of her friends, if not her very best and faithful, of all friends. Medusa has longed for companionship, but she never expected it to be in the form of a group of colorful girls, with a talking dog. Though their first meeting was rather.....unwelcoming, the Rainbooms and Spike had all invited her into their group and they were all more than willing to help her with her current condition.
But can they truly succeed in their quest? Only time will tell.
Twilight was in her room, reading a book on Greek Mythology, "I always knew it'd be a good idea to bring a book on Greek Mythology with me on this trip," Twilight commented. "And I was right!"
"Yeah, you've said that for like several times since we've met Maddie," Spike grumbled in annoyance.
"Well it's true. Besides, now's a good time as any for me to brush up on my mythologies and maybe find a way for us to help her with her curse."
"So, did you find anything?"
"I'm getting there."
Just then, the door to their bathroom was opened, and Sunset Shimmer stepped out, wearing her pajamas, "Hey Twilight," Sunset greeted. "What're you looking at?"
"Just reading some Greek Mythologies, Sunset," Twilight answered. "I have a feeling the answer to Medusa's curse is in here somewhere."
Sunset looked at the girl, skeptical at her course of action, "Twilight, I don't think that's going to work," She frowned. "I know my stories as much as you do, and Maddie's living proof that many of those stories aren't all true. Half-true that is."
"Well, what else can we do?" Twilight asked. "You've already tried looking into her memories, and that's hardly gotten us anywhere. And whenever we try to ask her how she became this way, it's clear she'd rather not talk about it."
Though she hates to admit it, Sunset nodded, knowing Twilight was right. Still, for Maddie's sake, they've got to try, "Well, any ideas on what we can do now?"
Twilight looked back in her book and looked through the pages, before she arrived on the section that describes the details to Medusa's legend, "Well, there have been many versions of Medusa, and how she was like this. Some say she was just born this way, along with her two sisters, Stheno and Euryale. They each have the power to turn anyone who looks at them into stone, though some would say that Medusa is the only one with this kind of power."
"Yikes, and I thought one was enough," Spike commented. "Three's a crowd."
"Still, if Maddie really had sisters, you would think she'd be less lonely," Sunset commented. "Besides, where were they when we were on Sarpedon?"
"Well, it says here they are immortal," Twilight stated.
"Immortal?" Spike inquired.
"It means you'll never die."
"Really? Wow," The dog commented. "Not being able to die. Imagine what that's like."
"Yeah, imagine that," Sunset replied, getting her friends back on topic. "Anyway, keep going."
"Well, both Stheno and Euryale were made immortal, because they say they'd swore to protect their sister forever," Twilight read, before she comes across a fascinating topic. "Oh, here's something. Athena!"
"Athena?" Spike and Sunset asked.
"Yeah, Athena, Greek Goddess of War and Wisdom," Twilight explained. "In some stories, they say that Medusa had once been a priest to one of Athena's sacred temple. But one day, she evoked the goddess's wrath, which ended with her being cursed. Some say it's all because Medusa was so vain about her beauty that she can't help but brag about it. It soon became her downfall, when she commented she's far more beautiful than Athena. Others say that Athena cursed her, because she had an affair with Poseidon, God of the Sea."
"Why?" Spike asked. "Is it because Poseidon is Athena's special someone, or something?"
Both Twilight and Sunset Shimmer couldn't help but laugh at the little dog's question, "No, Spike," Twilight giggled. "Athena and Poseidon hated each other. They're bitter enemies. So to Athena, she takes it as an insult for Medusa or Poseidon to have any sort of relationship together."
"But still, what's Athena got to do with us helping Maddie?" Sunset asked.
"Well, I was thinking maybe we could go and talk to Athena?" Twilight suggested. "Iā"
"Whoa, wait a minute, hang on," Spike barked. "How do we know if this Athena goddess even existed? Where would we even find her?"
In response, Twilight skimmed through the pages of her books, before she came across what she was looking for, "Well, according to legends, Athena won favor from the people when she gifted them her most sacred plant; an olive tree. Since then, the people have named their city, Athens, after her. And it just so happens to be where we are right now. Just in the port section of it. And as another sign of tribute to their patron goddess, the people have built for her a huge sacred temple in her honor called the Parthenon. It's the huge building that rests atop the Acropolis of Athens."
Realizing where Twilight was getting at, Sunset inquired, "So you're saying we should book a trip to the temple and speak with Athena?"
"Best answer I can think of," Twilight shrugged.
"Then that's where we'll go!" The fiery girl nodded.
Spike and Twilight both exchanged looks, before Twilight broke the silence, "But what will the others think?"
"We'll talk it over with them in the morning," Sunset suggested as she walks up to the door. "I'm gonna go and talk to Maddie about this and hear what she thinks."
Back in Fluttershy's room, the cursed gorgon was helping herself to some midnight snacks available in the refrigerator. She was having trouble getting back to sleep, and for some odd reason, her first instinct was to help herself to the foods they have available in the fridge. However, she didn't expect it to be so cold.
"What magic issss thissss?" She hissed, taken aback by the cold air from the fridge. Normally to a normal human, the fridge isn't that cold, but for Medusa, she felt herself and her snakes slowing down and falling into a state of stupor.
Fun Fact: Reptiles are cold-blooded, and when they're in the cold, they instinctively slow down their body and go into a state of hibernation.
She barely managed to close the fridge and was on the verge of collapsing, when there was a knock at the door.
"Hello?" Sunset called from the other side. "Maddie? Fluttershy? Are you awake?"
Though groggy at first, Medusa slowly shook herself awake, snapping both herself and her snakes out of their drowsiness, before she answered the door.
"SSSSSSunssssset SSSSShimmer?" She answered, when she creaked the door slightly.
"Hey Maddie," Sunset greeted. "Can I come in? I just want to talk to you about something."
"If you mussssst," With that, Maddie opened up the door just a bit, allowing Sunset to walk in, while they both avoided stirring Fluttershy awake. "What issss it you want to talk about?"
"Well, Twilight's been doing some research about your past, and some stories about you," Sunset explained. "Just to find some answers, y'know, so we could properly help you, of course," She quickly reassured. "And well, we came across something, or should I say someone, who I think might have the answer to your problem."
"Issss that sssssso?" Maddie asked. "Then tell me, who isssss it then?"
"Well, first off," Sunset began. "By chance, are you familiar with Athena?" She asked to the gorgon, who looked up with piqued interests.
I donāt think friendship can defeat the gods. Because thereās Philotes whose a minor Greek god of friendship and can use it against them.
wonderful as always.
I smell more memories flashbacks coming if they get to the temple
Honestly I can only see this backfiring. The very name should strike terror in Medusa and send her recoiling. If we went any deeper into this, this story would have to go to the teen rating, a PG-13. Describing what happened as a date would be extremely misleading if not intellectually dishonest. This tale has to take even more liberties with what happened and had been written beyond her just being alive to stay in the āEveryoneā region.
This chapter is definitely foreshadowing something big to come, if the end of that last chapter certainly wasn't enough. But it also brings up some good points: Because there are so many different versions of a story we all know, who's to say which one is true or not? But if this Athena lassie may be the answer to Medusa's dilemma, even though it's 'kind of' her fault that she's a she-beast (Or at least as the story implies), something tells me it won't be that easy. Especially considering the major cause was that Medusa had a fling with Athena's rival, Poseidon, which I guess I can understand if a friend of mine had a fling with someone I despise with a passion.
But that does beg the big question: Is there going to be a big baddie in this story? Or is this all just an accident and someone needs to clean it up?
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This has always been the most discussed topic of all, regarding to Medusa's stories. And I'm starting to see the complications Ms. Faust had to go through with her ex-partners at Sony Pictures Animation for this project. It's always been debated whether it was Medusa or Athena's fault.
Some say Medusa was just vain and arrogant about her beauty and all that fame got to her head, and as punishment, Athena reacted by cursing her and turning her into a monster. Others say that it's because Athena disapproves of Medusa having a secret affair with Poseidon, in one of her sacred temples. Though the most popular version of all, which made us feel more sympathetic towards Medusa today, is that Poseidon's romance with Medusa was completely one-sided. They say that Poseidon was infatuated with Medusa's beauty and he just "forced" himself on her, against her own will. He then quickly disappeared and left Medusa vulnerable to face the consequences from Athena. Unfortunately, being an all-powerful god, Athena can't punish Poseidon, so she directs it all onto Medusa. A twist in a story where the victim has become the accused.
But again, this is just one version of the story. But they all ended with Medusa killed by Perseus. Except for this version, apparently, who has, as she stated upon first meeting, she's never trifled with anyone by the name Perseus. Of course, we've seen Hotel Transylvannia's Dracula and his rivalry with Van Helsing, so who's to say she never once defeated someone named Perseus before?
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And yes, it will be a challenge for our heroes.
So challenging that it wonāt be resolved so easily with a simple, āHey oh wise and powerful Athena. We found this gorgon named Medusa. With all due respect, can you please change her back?ā
I wonder if medusa's sisters could help out a bit
Or, at least, they could have left something behind that could help
You did a lot of investigation. That's so cool.
And I can understand the problem. The part of cursing Medusa sounds like the story of Beauty and the Beast.
And on Athena part, did she feel offended, or did she just want to take it out on Poseidon?
In my opinion, the gods are very easily offended, don't you think?
And you left me intrigued with the owl, the seagulls and the sea.
Awesome chapter, continue like this.
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Thank you. I'm glad you're enjoying it so far.
That depends.
Yes. Best not to get on their bad sides.
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I can see why complications arose between Faust and Sony Pictures; I wouldnāt have been surprised if artistic differences got in the way of making the story into a reality. Course, Sony Pictures Animation has had a rather bad rep for making that atrocious āEmoji Movieā and they were lucky āInto the Spider-Verseā turned out to be a big hit (One that would win them an Oscar). But the bottom line is: We can pin the blame on any character we want, but it doesnāt change this one thing. These two once had high esteem for each other, a God who approved of a mortal who showed nothing but devotion to her, and then one thing leads to another causing a rift so big that it gave Medusa a frightful curse. Course, just as people say that Poseidon could be responsible for causing Athena to turn on her own follower those same people said that Perseus killed Medusa, when she herself said they never met. And yetā¦ And yet that just begs āanotherā question.
On one hand, we could just as easily assume they had a rivalry much like āHotel Transylvania 3ā (Even though it wasnāt a āgreatā sequel) and yetā¦ With all these ātruthsā we got in this story, is that really the case? And if so, how did the story even come to be? On one hand, Perseus couldāve had this chance to kill Medusa when she was vulnerable, but find he couldnāt (Maybe because there was no sport in killing a creature that was āpatheticā) and decided to let her live under the terms that they āneverā speak of this meeting to anyone. On the opposite side, it was āMedusaā herself who bested Perseus despite the claim she āneverā met a man by that name, but whether she decided to let him go even if it was a humiliating loss or if she may have actually ākilledā him, she mustāve felt so guilty about the encounter that she chose to pretend it never happened even if it may eventually come to haunt her later in life. Course, regardless of how it happened the people donāt want others to know the truth that Perseus was ānotā the hero they imagined him to be so they decided to forge a story possibly to protect the manās reputation and it would just carry out thinking everyone would have a believable outcome.
Course, with all the stories claiming Medusa was dead, would they have been done out of āspiteā just because Medusa is hideousā¦ ORā¦ Could the ārealā twist be that it was all done to actually āprotectā her? After all, at least in my point of view, if someone found out the truth that Medusa was alive all this timeā¦ Whoās to say it be a happy reunion based on who is looking for her? For all we know, as the story might imply, there is a great force that might decide to āfinish the jobā when no one else could. Because the last thing anyone wants is for the truth to be known to the world and all the decades worth of stories of Medusa being a monster and not a victim-of-circumstance would all be for nothing.
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There is some truth in that statement: Itās going to take more than a simple āIām sorryā to convince Athena to turn Medusa back, even if the goddess herself wanted to. We all assume at this point that Athena turned Medusa into a beast because of an affair with a rival god but given the past ārevelationsā we still wonder if thereās more to it than that. For all we know, Athena made Medusa this way for another purpose and if Medusa was a ātrueā follower of Athena then perhaps sheād understand the real reason for being this way. Of course, even if Athena ācanā turn Medusa back, she canāt be given a āCurse Freeā certificate on a silver tray but rather she has to āearnā her humanity back especially if sheās kept watch on Medusa after all these years. Leading to yet another question:
Is being a human ātrulyā what Medusa wants? Or did Athena only make this curse to see if Medusa can still make friends and be loved in return, regardless of how she looks?
*Angry gorgon noises*
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I've just realized something. If she didn't have previous contacts with modern civilization and lived alone on her island for millennia since the times of Ancient Greece... how can she understand the girls?
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For the same reasons Earthlings and Equestrians speak the same language, just different name. Itās just convenient to not have the extra complication of culture shock for the sake of plot. Keep it to minor things that are comical like running into glass rather than major things like language barriers.
The part where twilight says that Medusa's sisters are immortal, what if the the girls could meet them somehow?
What if they had a part in secretly protecting medusa all these centuries?
Once again, great work on this.