The moon was shining and beauty filled the air. As two girls walked home, the green, leafy, trees rose up in the white light. "Isn't it beautiful?" breathed the smaller, darker girl. "Yes. Just the time for a walk." replied her companion - a tall, pale, girl. "Artemis must have blessed this night!" she added. "Oh, I think Aphrodite did. Aphrodite has been so good to me!" said the smaller girl, who was called Calliope, gazing up at the sky. "But Artemis rules the moon and protects our city-states," the pale girl called Amastris protested, stopping and facing Calliope. Flushed, Calliope frowned and said, "Aphrodite is the goddess of beauty and love. Without her, people would not be happy or take joy in beautiful, graceful things!" Amastris retorted haughtily, "Artemis is more powerful. Without her, the nights would be black and the animals would all die."

The girls faced each other, eyes blazing. The night seemed to become still and the air thick and hot. The owls that had been flying about were still, and the mice scurried around on the dirt road.

"Let us go to Mount Olympus and see which goddess is the best." Calliope suggested. "Clearly, Aphrodite will prove you wrong."

Amastris rolled her eyes in impatience and said, "Let's go on, then. Morning is almost here."

6 hours later, they had almost reached the top of Mount Olympus. It was almost noon, and no breeze was playing on the rocks of the high mountain. Timidly, the girls stepped in the big, royal palace and saw the mighty gods sitting on their thrones. Calliope and Amastris were silent until Zeus, his booming voice ringing through the room, said "Speak."

"Artemis and Aphrodite, our favorite goddesses, need to prove themselves.", Amastris began. The gods gasped. "Calliope thinks Aphrodite is more powerful. I think Artemis is. We have proposed to ask them," Both girls turned to face both goddesses, sitting next to each other in friendship. "We ask you now."

Both goddesses looked at each other and started to speak at the same time. "I am." "No, I am." "I Am!" "I AM!!!" The goddesses jumped up and started to pelt each other with their gifts. Aphrodite threw with all her might a potion that was made a cloud that blocked vision. Rubbing her eyes, Artemis called up her eagle. The eagle flew into Aphrodite's hair, cutting her golden locks onto the marble floor. The god of war, Aries, called his messengers of war who spread smoke into the air. The gods quickly took sides, Hera, Aries, Dionysis, and Hermes on Artemis's side, with Athena, Hephaestus, Poseidon, and Demeter on Aphrodite's side. Arrows shot all over the room, shouts, laughter, and yells of fury came from Aries' helpers.

Amastris and Calliope were laying down, cowering by Zeus's throne, pleading for him to stop the horrible sight. Scowling, Zeus reached for a thunderbolt. Throwing it straight, it cut right through the floor of the room. Gasping, the gods became quiet. They could see that the room was neatly split in half. Amastris was on one side, Calliope on the other. Crying, they reached for each other's hands, but Calliope tripped and began to fall down the big hole in the mountain.

Amastris grabbed Calliope's hand. "Quick!" Artemis shouted. "Rip a piece of cloth from your chitons!" She threw a red cloth toward Calliope. Calliope grabbed, but it wasn't strong enough. The other gods threw orange, yellow, and other colors from their chitons. The rope was still not strong enough. Sighing, Zeus tore a purple cloth from his chiton. Calliope was slowly raised.

It was quiet when the two girls, now all smiles, turned to go. "Go, children," Zeus's voice echoed. "Even though you are mortals, you have taught us a lesson. The gods are equal. Without one, the rest would be worthless. We will show the sign of our gratitude to you for others to see. When there is rain, which is a dark time, the sun will show through and you will see the rope the gods of Olympus made."

The two girls went to their home, happier and wiser. They never again said anything about the power of other gods. On Mt. Olympus, Artemis and Aphrodite never fought again.