[Standing before a small mirror in Her temple, the words of the Wayward Heir echoed through Her halls, Her excitement tinged with sadness.]

It all seemed so exciting, once.

A party just for Me, held by My beloved father, where even the little mortals were invited to attend! All eyes would be on Me, and I would enjoy cake, celebration, and even pretty new clothes. All for Me.

And yet, it wasn't for Me, was it? It was, but it wasn't. As I stepped through My arbour, as I became what I was finally ready to become, I realised it. This was as much for Aegis as it was for Me. It's only natural. Children are inevitably pulled to be their parents' reflection and creation, an extension of their will. Once, that seemed natural and inoffensive to Me.

On the other side awaited what I can best describe as My family. Or at least those that bothered to stop Their endless crusades through the planes or whatever else long enough to come see Me. They're not all very good with etiquette. Aegis sat on His throne, and He bade me take the one next to Him, so that We might rule together. I suppose He wished Me to be a general of sorts in His army, or maybe something else entirely. Still, the implication was that I would be His heir.

A few months ago, I would have happily accepted. But so eager was He to see Me grow, He did not consider that I might change from it.

I rejected His offer.

I rejected the idea that the passing whim of Sarapis should bind Me for all eternity in a realm not of My choosing, simply because I acted like the child I was. I rejected the concept that I should become the model daughter, simply because I am all that is left.

I have always been the odd one out. The others looked upon Me with pity, mild amusement, or annoyance. Why should I play by Their rules? Why should I consider Myself one of Them?

For a moment, I felt hopeless, for I realise just as They do that I cannot forsake My realm. I do not wish to become Eros, and I do not wish to face the punishments of the Triumvirate by taking up arms.

And then I realised. It is so simple. Is this what it is like? What it will be like? My realm is inherently one of rebellion against the expected, against convention. I did not need to cast it off, simply to reshape it - and that is within the power given to Me.

So I announced My rebellion. My rebellion against the Logos, against My family that seeks so often to overthrow each other, against expectations placed upon Me by Gods that are too old to know what living is truly like. I will even rebel against what is expected of Divinity. I will meddle in what I wish, I will demand no worshipers and no priests, no lip service from mortals that could never hope to understand Us.

From this point on, I am My own being. My choices are My own, and no one else's.




I did receive some nice gifts, though. My family was too stubborn to uninvite themselves from My party once I declared My independence. Only Aegis removed Himself.

From Babel, the old man, I received My mother's wedding ring. I had already come to terms with Her being gone forever. The mortals present surely saw this as a revelation. I am not His biggest fan, but it was... a thoughtful gift, surprisingly.

Lorielan likely knows best how I feel. She gave Me a shackled ruby fetter, to remind Me of the cost of rebellion. Not that I will forget.

Twilight gave me a mirror, so that I never forget My own identity. I would never trust Him, of course, I am not naive. But He also understands, in some way. Or it's a trick.

Vastar gave me a tome that contains... stories from every plane with My realm? Who knows how literally He means anything, He's a bit... wordy. Everytime I've opened it, I have received a different tale. Still, He also understood. Stories are what I seek, stories are what let anyone grow.

Phaestus gave me a beautiful little magpie named Hope. It was perhaps the sweetest gift, devoid (or so I hope) of an ulterior motive or castigation.

And then there was the Genesis. I do not like Him much. But it is strange to see a God younger than Me. He gave Me a severed hand. Awkward.

I was not as angry by the time the gifts finished. I suppose not even We can choose Our family, can We, Brother?

[Pandora sighed before turning away, Pandemonium's reflection vanishing with Her.]

~~~~~

Summary: Aegis threw a coming of age party for His daughter Pandora, Goddess of Mischief, and at last invited the debutante Goddess to sit at His side to claim Her rightful place. Yet Pandora rebelled against Aegis, Sarapis's meddling, and even the concept of Divinity and realm as She proclaimed that from now on She would determine Her own being.

Penned by My hand on the 10th of Lupar, in the year 811 AF.