Son of the Queen: A Saiyan Among Gods

Chapter 3: Fire Beneath the Hearth

After the swirl of divine emotion faded, Hera stood alone in a quiet glade, her regal form bent gently around the infant in her arms. Her eyes—so often sharp and cold—softened. As the child's tail wrapped affectionately around her wrist, she whispered the name again.

"Kakarot."

She didn't know why that word came to her lips. It was not Greek, not divine. But it felt… right. As if the stars themselves whispered it into her mind. Looking into his onyx-black eyes, she held him close, and in a flash of divine light, they vanished from the glade.

(Author's Note: From here on, we will refer to him by the name 'Goku' for convenience.)

Elsewhere—A Rift in the Cosmos

At the site Hera had just departed, two figures lingered in the ripples of lingering power. One stood cloaked in celestial robes, his face obscured by shadow. The other, tall and serene, gazed into the air where Hera had vanished.

"Is it done?" asked the taller man.

"Yes," came the reply. "She took the child. Just as the Fates required."

A low hum echoed through the space, almost like a heartbeat shaking the fabric of reality.

"Then the threads are beginning to unravel."

In Realms Long Dormant

Far from mortal eyes, ancient powers began to stir.

In the endless night, Nyx, primordial goddess of darkness, opened a thousand unseen eyes.

In the deep of the Earth, Gaia shifted in her sleep, vines curling and trembling with anticipation.

And in Tartarus, where screams echoed and time meant nothing, Cronus—Titan of Time, the once-king of gods—laughed a terrible laugh.

"They hid it well," Cronus mused, "but not from me. The storm is coming."

The tremors spread. Olympus felt them first.

In the Hall of the Gods, Poseidon stirred restlessly. Hades looked up from his obsidian throne. Even Zeus, mighty king of Olympus, paused as a ripple passed through the very core of the world.

Something powerful had been born—or awakened.

Years Later – Atop a Hidden Mountain

A high, mist-wrapped mountain stood alone, untouched by mortals. A barrier of divine weaving kept it hidden from even the most powerful demigods. Few beings could pass through it.

A blur dashed between jagged peaks.

Goku—taller now, perhaps eight or nine years in mortal age, his black spiky hair flaring wildly and tail twitching—flipped through the air and struck a rock with a flying kick. It shattered on impact.

Sweating but grinning, Goku picked up his catch of the day—a fish as large as he was—and began descending the mountain. His steps were light, but his strength was anything but.

Below, nestled in a grove, was a small but homely cottage. Smoke rose peacefully from the chimney. A woman waited at the hearth, turning something in a bronze pot. Her auburn hair glowed like flame. Her eyes were gentle.

"Hestia!" Goku called, dragging the fish.

"Another giant one, I see," she said warmly.

He beamed and dropped it with a thud.

Dinner was loud. Goku devoured his portion with alarming speed. Hestia chuckled softly—though, in truth, part of her remained always in thought when she watched him.

He wasn't like the others. Not like other demigods. Not even like children of the Big Three. His body adapted quickly, unnaturally so. When he fought, he moved like water. He learned faster than Athena's brightest students.

And once, during a full moon, he transformed into a massive beast. A towering ape wreathed in silver flame. She barely contained him.

He was made for combat.

But to everything else—reading, weaving, cooking—he was hopeless.

Yet Hestia never scolded him. Because Goku was kind. He helped the birds. He sang to the hearth when he thought she couldn't hear. He smiled every time he saw her. And she saw in him… something pure.

Then came the light.

A flash split the air. A golden aura wrapped in power. Hera appeared at the threshold.

"Mom!" Goku cried, his grin stretching wider.

He raced to her, throwing his arms around her waist. Hera, for once, smiled back, brushing a hand through his unruly hair.

Hestia rose slowly, meeting her sister's gaze.

They both remembered.

Flashback – The Secret Pact

They had sat across from each other. Between them lay an infant cradled in starlight.

"So you want me to raise him?" Hestia asked, brows furrowed.

"I have no choice," Hera said. Her voice was low. "You've heard the story. You know how he came to be."

"A being formed from your divine essence… merged with the spark of something ancient," Hestia murmured.

"Not just ancient," Hera said. "Chaos itself. I don't know what he is. But he's mine."

"You know the laws. The Council would never allow this. Helping him is forbidden."

"But you're not part of the Council," Hera said quietly. "You are the hearth. You belong to all… and none."

Hestia looked down at the child. He cooed and wrapped his tail around her finger.

"I cannot deny you," Hestia said. "But if they discover this—"

"I'll bear the blame," Hera replied. "Just… keep him safe. Let him learn kindness before he learns battle. Let him know love before the world demands power."

Hestia nodded.

And thus the pact was sealed.

Back in the Present

Hera sat beside the hearth. Goku curled beside her, asleep, tail flicking lazily.

"He grows fast," she said softly.

"He's already surpassed most of Olympus' bastards," Hestia murmured. "And he hasn't even been claimed."

Hera looked into the fire.

"He won't be a pawn in their games. Not like Ares. Not like Hephaestus. I will not fail him."

Outside, a distant storm crackled over the ocean. Far below the mountain, Nyx moved through the shadows. Gaia's roots crept a little higher.

And deep in Tartarus, Cronus whispered:

"Soon."

Chapter 4: Moonlight Awakening

At a Certain Mountain – Farewell to Innocence

Years had passed since Goku's quiet life began atop the hidden mountain. The divine barrier that protected it shimmered subtly in the background, cloaking the landscape from mortal eyes. Within it, time trickled slower, gifting Goku a prolonged childhood.

Now a young man, Goku stood at the peak once more, his body glistening with sweat as he trained in silence. His muscles had matured, his tail now fully under his control, his senses sharpened like the blade of a god-forged sword. Alone again—Hera busy with her divine duties—his only visitor remained Hestia.

That evening, as the sun bled into dusk, Goku sat beside the fire, chewing on dried meat while gazing into the glowing embers.

"Aunt Hestia," he said suddenly, "why is time slower here than outside?"

For a moment, the goddess said nothing. Then, gently stirring the stew with her ladle, she answered.

"When we were trapped inside our father's belly, I—the eldest—spent the most time in that prison. It gave me something unusual: a minor authority over time."

Goku listened closely.

"Your mother... she couldn't be here every day. Decades are moments for us gods, but she didn't want to miss your childhood. So I crafted this sanctuary. Time slowed here, allowing her to witness more of you than the world would allow."

Her eyes shimmered with warmth and sadness. "But you've grown now, Goku. This barrier is no longer needed. The world awaits."

He smiled faintly, then walked over and embraced her.

"Thank you, Aunt Hestia."

She smiled back. "Go. But remember—do not harm the innocent, use your power wisely, and know that no matter what happens, your mother and I love you."

Before the first rays of dawn broke the sky, Goku departed the mountain, his eyes burning with silent determination.

Westover Hall – Collision of Fates

Snow fell gently on the darkened rooftops of Westover Hall. But inside, chaos reigned.

Demigods fought desperately against a monstrous foe. Percy Jackson, Annabeth Chase, Thalia Grace, and Grover were escorting two young demigods—Bianca and Nico di Angelo—when they were ambushed.

Dr. Thorn, a vice-principal turned monster, had revealed his true form—a vicious Manticore—and launched a brutal attack. Percy, already stabbed by a poisoned spike, staggered.

Annabeth clung to the monster's back, trying to hold it at bay. The others prepared to die fighting.

Just as the Manticore lunged at them, a glowing orb struck it in the face, detonating on impact.

The Manticore screeched, flung backward, its face smoking.

From the shadows emerged a towering figure—taller than the demigods, muscular, wild black hair spiked skyward. His orange gi fluttered in the cold wind.

It was Goku.

"Why are you attacking them?" he asked, his voice steady, calm.

Dr. Thorn growled but hesitated. Something about this boy—no, this warrior—radiated danger. The manticore sprang at Goku.

In one horrifying moment, the beast swallowed Goku whole.

Percy shouted. Thalia drew her spear. Nico screamed. Dr. Thorn, confident again, grabbed Annabeth and began to flee.

Then came the explosion.

The Manticore exploded in a shower of gore and fire. From within the smoke, Goku stood untouched, a white aura flickering around his body.

The demigods froze. Goku's eyes weren't just calm—they were ancient.

"Come out, Artemis," Goku said.

From the trees, a silver arrow flew. Goku caught it casually.

A girl stepped forward, appearing no older than nine, clothed in a silver tunic, her presence radiant and commanding.

"You sensed me?" Artemis asked.

"The moonlight gave you away," Goku replied.

She studied him. "You're not mortal."

"Neither are you."

Behind him, the others could barely believe what they were seeing.

Thalia whispered, "Who is he?"

"I don't know," Percy replied, "but he just saved our lives."

Artemis approached Goku, studying him closely. "You carry celestial energy. Feral and raw. What are you?"

Goku looked up at the moon.

"I don't know yet. But tonight... I feel something stirring."

As moonlight bathed the clearing, his body tensed. His tail twitched violently.

Then—light exploded from within him.

His body expanded, hair turning long and wild, fur sprouting over his chest and arms. Red energy surged as his eyes turned golden yellow. Clawed hands dug into the dirt as the transformation finalized.

Super Saiyan 4.

A primal form. A blend of man, beast, and god. The power radiating from Goku made Artemis herself step back.

The ground cracked beneath his feet. Wind howled around them. The air shimmered like glass under pressure.

"This form... it's from another life," Goku growled, voice deeper, bestial. "But it's mine now."

The forest trembled.

Artemis, intrigued and unafraid, placed a hand on her bow but didn't draw.

"You're a child of the moon and stars," she whispered. "You don't know it yet, but your power echoes my domain."

Goku looked at her—really looked—and for a moment, two divine energies recognized one another.

It was not love. Not yet.

But it was something.

Elsewhere – Whispers in the Shadows

In Tartarus, Cronus opened a single eye.

"The game begins."

Far above, Nyx cloaked herself in deeper shadow.

And on Olympus, Hera felt a tremor of pride—and fear.

To be continued...