Flower Power
“[WP] Aphrodite is talking to Ares. “Y’know, Persephone gives Hades flowers everyday. I wish you’d do that.” The next day, Ares goes to the Underworld and gives Hades flowers. “Yeah, I’m not really sure why Aphrodite wanted me to do this, but here you go.””
“What not-on-earth has happened here?” said Dionysus, surveying the Underworld. He had expected to bring the party to the grey void but was instead presented with vast swathes of colourful life.
“It’s all your brother’s fault!” raged Hades, emerging from behind a particularly large sunflower. His throne was surrounded by pots and flowers of every variety found on earth.
“For some reason he gave me an enormous bunch of flowers and it seems that word got around and now…” he waved his hands towards the line of recently arrived dead being processed after crossing the Styx. More than half were carrying floral tributes.
“Ares and Aphrodite are waging botanical warfare on my realm…”
Flower power, Dionysus thought but, wisely, kept to himself.
“…Charon wants a bigger boat and Cerberus has hayfever!”
“What does your wife think?”
On cue, Persephone swept into the throne room humming happily. She scooped up as many more bunches of flowers as she could and skipped towards their living quarters.
Dionysus roared with laughter, thumped Hades on the back and swayed slightly.
“Don’t worry, uncle,” he replied, failing to maintain a straight face. “I didn’t care for this fermented grape juice at first but I grew to love it.” He took a large swig of his flagon of wine, dripping red juice into his beard.
Hades paused, looking around the array of colours and taking in the scents. He felt his iron will bend slightly.
The gardens of the Underworld became renowned and are regularly visited by all but one of the Olympians. However, be careful not to mention them to Aphrodite as she will fly into a jealous rage.
Mortal souls close to the journey to the Underworld now look forward with hope as they will soon see the most beautiful gardens in all existence.