The young woman frolicked through the meadow, only stopping to pick up silvery-white flowers and weave them through her hair. Busy enjoying the warm summer weather, she didn’t notice a girl from across the meadow, watching her twirl around from behind the old willow tree.
The two couldn’t be more different: she was as bright as day, golden locks shining under the sun and eyes as blue as the sky, while the girl who hid in the shadows had empty, soulless eyes and hair as black as the night.
The girl crept through the flowers until she was in earshot of the girl. “Hello,” she called out uncertainly.
“Hello!” the young woman said, looking surprised but delighted nonetheless. “What is your name?”
“Hades,” she responded quietly. “I saw you dancing- you’re very beautiful—I mean, your dancing was very beautiful.”
“Thank you!” She stuck out her hand. “Persephone, it is nice to meet you Hades!” A thought seemed to occur to her, and she reached behind her head, took one of the silvery flowers out of her own hair and put it in Hades’ hair with a smile. “There! Now we match.”
Hades gave Persephone a smile and reached out her hand for Persephone to take. She always thought Hades was a man, since many of the gods referred to her as “King of the Underworld,” but something about her made Persephone unafraid.
◉ ◎ ◉
As weeks passed, the meadow became a sanctuary for them. She knew that this was something her mother Demeter wouldn’t approve of; but something kept pulling her back to that same meadow.
One day, her mother’s voice rang from behind her as she was half way out the window.
“Persephone! Where are you going?” Demeter demanded, grabbing her daughter’s hand.
“I am not a child, Mother! What I do is my business!”
“I understand that, but I am more worried that you didn’t tell me you were sneaking away.”
“Because I was scared, I knew you would be upset if you knew I was with the King of the Underworld.”
“Hades? Do you know how dangerous she is?”
“I don’t care, she would never do anything to hurt me.”
“And how do you know that?”
“I love her, that is why!”
A look of fear stung Persephone’s face as her mother let go of her hand. She clenched her jaw tight and gave the girl a stern glare.
“That’s unacceptable! The king of the Underworld?! You can never be together. It won’t work out, I need you here, helping with Earth,” Demeter said anxiously.
Persephone shook her head and returned a glare to her mother. “You are a goddess, you will be fine without me!” she exclaimed with rage, and jumped through the window.
Persephone ran down to the meadow where Hades waited."Hades, my mom is being a moron," she said breathlessly, grasping the girl in a tight hug. "She doesn't think we should be friends, but I wouldn't leave you for the world. I know I've never said this before, but...I love you. You make me so happy, and I couldn't imagine never seeing you again. I know this is a lot to ask, but...could you take me to the Underworld? My mom has no power there; she couldn't separate us."
Hades stood still for a few moments, seeming to try and fully process Persephone's words. She blushed, and with a hesitant but loving smile said, "I love you too, Persephone, but are you sure you want to go to the Underworld? It is a very dangerous place.”
“I am!” she insisted, and with the snap of Hades’ fingers, the two girls vanished in thin air.
◉ ◎ ◉
The now married and happy couple lived together in the Underworld for months, but there was a problem that occurred back on land that neither were aware of. Since losing her daughter to the Underworld, Demeter had stopped doing her godly duties. The Earth’s nature slowly began to die.
A loud crack interrupted a conversation between Hades and Persephone one day, and to their surprise, it was the King of the Gods himself.
“Hades, Persephone. We need to talk,” Zeus said, his voice echoing through the room.
“Zeus? You never come to visit?” Hades asked, confused.
Zeus grumbled before continuing, “Demeter is angry. People are starving without any food. All the nature on Earth is dying because of you.” He glared at Persephone. “Without nature, there are no crops, no trees, and I can’t find any more of my plant-based moisturizer! How do you expect me to keep this gorgeous face?”
“I didn’t mean for that to happen—I got upset with my mother and left, but…what can I do to fix it?” She turned slightly to her wife for some advice. “I want to stay with Hades, I can’t leave her.”
“You could try to apologize? She might forgive you.”
“Maybe eventually, but she wouldn’t forgive me that quickly…” Persephone paused to think. “What about pomegranate seeds?” She motioned over to a small pomegranate tree in the corner of the room. “If I eat five seeds, I will stay here for five months of the year, and live with my mother for the remaining seven.”
“That... could work, if that is alright with both of you...”
“I think it is a good idea. I still get to see Persephone, but not as much as I like.” Hades said, a hint of melancholy in her voice.
“I know, but I still get to be with you for almost half of each year, and I promise to stay in touch.” Persephone gave Hades a small smile and wrapped her arms around her in a long hug.
With that, Persephone ate the five pomegranate seeds and left to make things up with her mother. Following this, the seasons began. When winter occurred, Persephone would be with Hades in the Underworld, and during spring and summer, she would be with her mother on Earth.