Zeus and the Dreadful Dragon Read online

  Contents

  Greetings, Mortal Readers

  1. A Flying Horse

  2. Grandma?

  3. Three Hundred Hands

  4. Two Old Ladies

  5. The Plan

  6. The Battle Begins

  7. And Then There Were Three

  8. The Unbeatable Dragon

  9. The Heart of a Hero

  10. Mount Olympus

  About the Authors

  Greetings, Mortal Readers,

  I am Pythia, the Oracle of Delphi, in Greece. I have the power to see the future. Hear my prophecy:

  Ahead, I see dancers lurking. Wait—make that danger lurking. (The future can be blurry, especially when my eyeglasses are foggy.)

  Anyhoo, beware! Titan giants seek to rule all of Earth’s domains—oceans, mountains, forests, and the depths of the Underwear. Oops—make that Underworld. Led by King Cronus, they are out to destroy us all!

  Yet I foresee hope. A band of rightful rulers called Olympians has begun to form. Though their size and youth are no match for the Titans, they are giant in heart, mind, and spirit. They follow their leader, Zeus, a very special boy. Zeus is destined to become king of the gods and ruler of the heavens.

  If he is brave enough.

  And if he and his friends work together as one. And if they can learn to use their new amazing flowers—um, amazing powers—in time to save the world!

  CHAPTER ONE

  A Flying Horse

  “The heroes are walking into danger.

  Not long ago we were all strangers.

  Now we are a real fighting force.

  One of us even has a flying horse!

  This battle will be a real game changer—”

  “Can you please stop singing, Apollo?” Hera asked the golden-haired boy. “We’ve got a long way to go, and if you’re going to sing the whole time . . .”

  Apollo stopped strumming his lyre. “Singing songs is what I do, but I will stop it just for you!” he replied.

  “Thanks,” Hera said. She turned to ten-year-old Zeus, who was walking next to her. “Okay, Boltbrain, what’s the plan?”

  The black-haired boy frowned. “I’m thinking.”

  “Well, you’d better start thinking faster, because we’re on our way to face an army of Cronies, a family of Titans, and a father who wants to swallow us whole,” Hera reminded him.

  “I know that,” Zeus said. “Just give me a minute!”

  Not long ago Zeus had learned that he wasn’t a normal boy. Pythia, an oracle at Delphi, had told him that he was an Olympian, a god, a hero in training. And he was destined to overthrow the mighty King Cronus and the Titans, who ruled Greece with cruelty and fear.

  Pythia had also told Zeus that he couldn’t do it alone. So for the last few months he had been on an epic journey to find the other Olympians—other immortal kids who were ten years old, just like him. Together they had battled monsters. They’d taken on the Cronies, King Cronus’s army of half-giants. And they’d faced many Titans—giant gods with incredible powers.

  Now all the Olympians were finally together, fourteen of them in all—plus four men with goat horns and hairy goat legs, who’d come with the newest Olympian, Dionysus. The Olympians even had help from a friend named Ron and his flying horse, Pegasus. But Hera was right. The battle ahead of them was a big one—an impossible one, even—and they needed a plan.

  Zeus looked up and saw a white horse with wings flying toward them. He stopped, and the other Olympians stopped too.

  The horse landed, and a boy with curly blond hair jumped off the horse’s back.

  “Did you see anything, Ron?” Zeus asked.

  “There are pockets of Cronies between here and Mount Olympus,” Ron reported. “It will be hard to avoid them.”

  Zeus nodded. “That’s what I thought,” he said. He turned to the others. “We’re right on the coast. We should take a boat. It’ll be safer—and faster.”

  “Um, why exactly would we want to get to Mount Olympus faster?” asked Poseidon, one of Zeus’s brothers. “The Titans are there, waiting to smash us to smithereens. Not to mention that Ron heard there was an enormous dragon at Mount Titan.”

  “And how exactly is taking a boat safer?” asked Hera. “Won’t Oceanus be waiting for us if we take a boat?”

  Oceanus was one of the Titans—a big golden-skinned giant who could harness the powers of the sea.

  Ares stepped forward. “We’ve beaten Oceanus before! We can beat him again!” he said, shaking his fist. His red eyes were blazing.

  Hephaestus snorted. “We didn’t stop Oceanus last time. He got scared off when King Cronus started fighting with his dad, Uranus.”

  “We can still beat him!” Ares argued.

  Athena, a serious-looking girl with gray eyes, spoke up. “Zeus, do we even need a boat?” she asked. “Apollo can make anything he sings about come true when he plays his golden lyre. Couldn’t he just sing a song about us appearing at Mount Olympus?”

  Zeus nodded. “I thought about that,” he said. “But I think it’s too risky. Apollo is just getting used to his new magical object. And if he sings the song a little bit wrong, somebody could get hurt.”

  “What do you mean?” Athena asked.

  “Well, if he sings about us appearing in Olympus, we might end up trapped inside the mountain,” Zeus replied. “Or right on King Cronus’s lap!”

  “I hate to admit it, but Thunderpants has a point,” Hera agreed. “It’s too risky.”

  “And facing Oceanus isn’t risky?” Hephaestus asked.

  “Let’s take a vote,” suggested Hestia, one of Zeus’s sisters.

  Zeus was about to agree, but he stopped himself. He was a leader, and as a leader he had to do what was best for everybody. A vote might only lead to arguing.

  “We’re taking a boat,” Zeus said firmly. He looked the other Olympians in the eyes. Nobody questioned him.

  “There’s a village just up ahead,” Ron said. “We can get a boat there.”

  Hermes flew down from the sky, powered by his magical winged sandals. “I was just going to say that!” he said. Zeus had sent the flying Olympian to scout along with Ron. “It should be easy for us to find a boat to buy.”

  “Let’s go, then,” Zeus said. He started walking, and the others fell in step behind him.

  Ron walked next to him, leading Pegasus.

  “So, why does Hera call you ‘Thunderboy’ and ‘Boltbrain’ and ‘Bolt Breath’ and stuff like that?” he asked Zeus.

  “It’s because of Bolt,” Zeus replied, patting the lightning bolt–shaped dagger tucked into his belt. He had pulled Bolt from a cone-shaped stone at Delphi. Even though many people had tried before him, Zeus had been the only one to pull Bolt free. Bolt was usually dagger-size, but it could grow up to five feet long—which was very useful!

  Ron nodded. “I thought so, but she says those names like having Bolt is a bad thing.”

  Zeus nodded. “And when she started doing it, she meant it that way. I think she was jealous.”

  “Jealous?” Ron asked.

  “Well, every Olympian has at least one magical object,” Zeus replied. “I got Bolt and Chip right away.”

  He looked down at Chip, the round, smooth stone pendant he wore around his neck. Chip was Zeus’s other magical object, and it helped guide the Olympians in the right direction. The stone also spoke Chip Latin, which was like Pig Latin.

  “But it took Hera a long time to get her magical peacock feather,” Zeus continued. “And I think having to wait so long really bugged her. Now I think she just calls me names because she’s used to doing it.”

  “Yeah, that makes sense,” Ron
said. He looked over at Pegasus. “I guess Pegasus is my magical object. Well, not an object, really. But you know. And I’m not even an Olympian!”

  “Yeah, but we’re glad you’re with us,” Zeus said. “I think we’re going to need all the help we can get.”

  They had reached the village. Scattered small huts overlooked a sandy shoreline. Several boats bobbed in the turquoise sea, tied to a wooden dock.

  Demeter, the third of Zeus’s sisters, nodded to Zeus. “Aphrodite and I will try to get a boat,” she said.

  Aphrodite grinned and tossed her magical golden apple from one hand to the other. Gold coins showered down from the apple and landed at her feet.

  “Do you think this will be enough?” she asked.

  Demeter grinned. “Plenty,” she said. “Let’s go.”

  Minutes later the group was ready to sail away on a boat that fit all nineteen of them, and the horse as well. Aphrodite’s bubbly charm and endless supply of gold had also helped buy a barrel of fresh water, six loaves of bread, two small wheels of cheese, and a parcel of salted fish.

  Zeus watched as the Olympians boarded the boat. Hera, Hestia, and Demeter—his three sisters—stuck together like they always did. So did his brothers—Poseidon, god of the sea; and Hades, lord of the Underworld. The two boys were rolling the barrel of water up the ramp.

  Then came the twins, Apollo and Artemis. Apollo’s sister was as talented with a bow and arrow as Apollo was with his lyre.

  Hermes flew over their heads. He was one of the newest Olympians, but Zeus suspected that with his magic staff he might be one of the most powerful.

  Dionysus walked behind Apollo and Artemis. He looked more nervous than any of the rest, even though he was flanked by the four guys with goat horns—the members of his band.

  I would be nervous too if I were him, Zeus thought. Just last night he was the lead singer in a band. And now he’s headed to meet the scary Titans!

  Athena and Aphrodite followed Dionysus, whispering to each other. When Aphrodite had first washed ashore in her shell, Athena had been a little wary of the newest addition to the group. But the two girls were now close.

  And last came Ares and Hephaestus. Hephaestus leaned on his magnificent silver cane with the skull on top, glaring at the back of Ares’s head as they walked on board.

  Those two have never gotten along, Zeus thought. But they’ll have to start getting along very soon, or we’ll never defeat King Cronus.

  “Are we ready to set sail?” Zeus asked.

  “Aye, captain!” Poseidon called out, hoisting the sails. “There’s a good breeze today. Mount Titan, here we come!”

  Ares, Hades, Artemis, and Hera each took an oar and steered the boat out of the port. Soon they were zipping up the coast, propelled by a light wind.

  Zeus started to relax. The salt air gave him energy, and a yellow sun shone in the blue sky overhead. He walked over to Hera.

  “Let’s work on that plan now,” he said. “I’m thinking—”

  Suddenly the sailboat lurched. The calm waves around them began to churn.

  With a mighty roar an enormous head rose from the waves: a head with long hair, a long beard, and angry eyes underneath green bushy eyebrows.

  “Flipping fish sticks! It’s Oceanus!” Poseidon cried.

  Hera yelled, “Ha! I told you so!”

  CHAPTER TWO

  Grandma?

  Splash!

  A huge wave crashed over the side of the boat, knocking half the Olympians off their feet. As they scrambled to get up, a huge clawed hand shot from the waves and grabbed the boat.

  With another thundering roar Oceanus lifted the boat right out of the water!

  “Everyone, draw your magical items!” Zeus yelled, pulling Bolt from his belt.

  The Titan held the boat right in front of his face.

  “Well, well, well,” he said in a deep voice. “I’ve got all the Olympians right in the palm of my hand!”

  “Not for long!” Zeus cried. “Bolt, large!”

  Bolt immediately grew into a lightning bolt larger than Zeus.

  Oceanus pointed a finger at Zeus and hit the Olympian with a blast of water that drenched him.

  “I’d be careful if I were you,” Oceanus warned. “You don’t want to zap yourself and your little friends here.”

  Ares ran forward, his red eyes blazing. “How do you like my spear, you big bully?” he yelled. He threw his spear at Oceanus. The spear bounced off the Titan’s chest like a rubber ball and landed back in the boat.

  Oceanus chuckled. “Ha! That tickled,” he said.

  Artemis stepped forward. “I’ve got this.” She started shooting silver arrows at the Titan. Some of them landed in his skin, but they didn’t seem to bother him either.

  Oceanus laughed again. “Is that really all you’ve got?” he taunted.

  “Poseidon, your trident!” Zeus yelled to his brother. Poseidon’s golden trident looked like a pitchfork, but it was a lot more fun and shot water on command.

  “I can’t fight water with water,” Poseidon replied.

  “And water beats fire,” Hestia added, nodding to the magic torch she carried in her hand.

  Zeus looked at Athena. “Can’t you turn him into stone with your aegis?” he asked. Underneath the girl’s cloak was a metal shield with the image of Medusa on it—a woman with snakes for hair. One look at it could turn someone into stone.

  “It doesn’t work on gods, remember?” Athena answered.

  Zeus looked at Dionysus. The new Olympian could control minds with his song—but he had been knocked out cold by the wave. Next to Dionysus, Hermes was slowly sitting up and rubbing his head.

  “We’ve got to try something,” Zeus said, and Oceanus laughed above him. “Everybody, let’s put our magical objects together! We can overpower him!”

  Before anyone could do anything, though, Oceanus hit them with another water blast. This one knocked Zeus off his feet.

  “Good luck with that,” Oceanus roared, laughing. “Now it’s off to King Cronus with you.”

  The salt water stung Zeus’s eyes as he climbed to his feet. This isn’t how it’s supposed to happen! he thought. It can’t be over this soon!

  Then he heard a voice—a very loud, angry voice.

  “Put them down, Oceanus.”

  Zeus looked toward the shore. A giant woman stood there, even taller than Oceanus. She had brown skin and wore green robes. Flowers and leaves were woven through her long, curly hair.

  Oceanus’s head spun around. “Mommy?”

  Mommy? Zeus thought.

  The woman stepped into the sea. “I mean it, Oceanus,” she said firmly.

  “But Cronus wants them,” Oceanus whined.

  The woman sighed. “Your brother is being very bad,” the woman said. “Hand them over to me. Now!”

  Suddenly the big golden Titan looked like a scared little boy. With his head down, he handed the boat to the woman.

  “Now go,” she commanded.

  Oceanus nodded and descended slowly into the water.

  Zeus looked up at the woman. “Uh, thanks,” he said. “Who are you?”

  “I am Gaia,” she replied. “Wife of Uranus. Mother of Cronus. And your grandmother, Zeus.”

  Grandmother?

  As Zeus let this sink in, Hera stepped forward.

  “Then you’re my grandmother too,” she said. “And Hestia’s, Demeter’s, Hades’s, and Poseidon’s.”

  Gaia smiled and nodded. “Yes. And that is why I want to help you defeat Cronus.”

  Hera’s eyes narrowed. “Why would you want to help us take down your own kid?”

  “Several reasons,” Gaia replied. “Cronus cares not for plants, nor clean air, nor clean water. I think you all will be better rulers of this planet.”

  Demeter spoke up. “I can promise you, we will be.”

  “And I am angry with Cronus,” Gaia continued. “He has locked his three brothers in Tartarus for no good reason. Briar, Kottos, and Gye
s are good boys. But Cronus is afraid of them, so he imprisoned them.”

  Hades got to his feet. “I can get them out of Tartarus,” he said. “I’m ruler of the Underworld, you know.”

  “I know,” Gaia said. “And if you free them, they will help you defeat Cronus.”

  Hera turned to Zeus. “I don’t know if we can trust her,” she said.

  “Why not?” Zeus asked. “If she wanted to, she could bring us to Cronus right now. But she’s not doing that.”

  He turned to Hades. “I’ll go with you to the Underworld. In case you have any problems.”

  “The others will be safe with me,” Gaia promised. “While you’re gone, I can teach them about the Titans. It will be useful if you know their weaknesses.”

  “I’m all ears, Grandma!” Poseidon said happily.

  Zeus nodded to Hades. “Let’s go.”

  Hades clapped his hands. “Chariot, appear!”

  A huge black hole opened up in the sky next to the boat. Four horses raced out of it, drawing a chariot behind them.

  Hades and Zeus climbed into the chariot. “We’ll be back soon,” Zeus promised.

  “You’d better be, Boltbrain!” Hera replied.

  With that, the chariot disappeared into the black hole.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Three Hundred Hands

  After a few moments of flying, the chariot landed on the edge of a large pit. The stinky smell of sulfur rose from the abyss, and Hades inhaled deeply.

  “Ahhhhh,” he said happily. “Smells like home.”

  Zeus covered his nose with his hand. “That is a smell that only the lord of the Underworld could love,” he said.

  As he spoke, three women with wings flew up from the pit. One had a long pointy nose, another wore black pointy boots, and the third one had pointed ears. All three had wild hair and wore long flowing dresses. And after a closer look, Zeus remembered why their belts and bracelets were moving—because they were made of live snakes!

  “Hello, my Furies,” Hades said with a wave.

  “Greetings, Lord Hades,” the three Furies said together, bowing their heads. “How can we serve you?”