Story: Ovid's Metamorphosis

The world had become corrupt. Men and women from all nations had turned against the Gods and were beginning to challenge them. Jupiter the leader of the Gods began to grow tired of his creations rebellion, he began to see the need for change amongst them. So he made his decision and with the help of his brothers, Gods of the Sea and of the Land, they began to destroy the earth.

Flood waters rose, earthquakes began to destroy everything they had built, homes, temples, monuments were wiped off the face of the earth. And within a matter of days the world was reduced to nothing, with no sign of ever having life. Creatures both guilty and innocent far and wide were destroyed, but in the wake of there destruction Jupiter had a plan.

In the wake of all destruction he saved two sets of men and women, his plan was devious, but would bring balance back to the earth. Decillion, Pyrnna, Ossiccus, and Mirranha were the only humans to survive, but they wished that they had not, for in the wake of destruction Jupiter had come to each of them and had told them of his plan.
"Today there shall be nothing remaining, except for you, my good and faithful servants. I have chosen you to start the world anew, but your purpose will not yet be fulfilled. On this earth I have saved two others, very much like you, whoever among you survives will be given glory and whoever among you dies will face suffering that which the likes have never been felt before."

This grieved and terrified both pairs of couples, but each pair new what had to be done. Each group began to prepare for what was to come, until the fateful day when the four met.
With the Gods watching on, in awe of Jupiter's mighty plan, they could do nothing for all feared the wrath of Jupiter, for even the Gods fear him.

(Gods looking down below)

So the pairs began to attack one another, seeing the desperation in each others eyes. Decillion and Pyrnna against Ossiccus and Mirranha. They fought for glory. They fought out of fear. They fought for each other, not wanting themselves to suffer the fate that Jupiter would laid upon them if they were to lose. In there fight they had forgotten one thing, the Gods who had put them there, this is precisely what Jupiter had intended. The ones to remember the Gods and to seek them out for help would be the true winners, and gain the right to recreate the human race. Then it happened, Ossiccus who saw his true love Mirranha struggling to hold her ground against Pyrnna fled to her aid knowing that he had made himself vulnerable. He saved her and brought her to safety, but in his moment of aid was struck down by Decillion. Mirranha who saw the horrid fate of her love, and knew of hers to come cried out to the Gods to let her be with the one whom she loved. She begged and pleaded with them and in the end asked to have the horrible fate that Jupiter had promised. In that moment, right before she was to be killed, a great flash and the sound of a thousand thunders struck right around her, and she knew that this was it. In a only a moment though, she stood up, not knowing what had occurred only to see Ossiccus standing before her along with Jupiter who told them of there sacrifice and that they had truly stood the test that was given. And so these lovers were given the gift of life and were put to the job of rebuilding this world, with the help of the Gods of course. And so it was. The true test of the Gods was known, to love fiercely both the Gods and those around us.

Author's Note: I changed this story quite a bit from the original. The original story told of a flood that was formed by the Gods to wipe out everything but two people had survived and were found faithful to the Gods, so they were spared. They sought the Goddess Themis for wisdom and to understand what to do next. Through them they recreated the population of people and animals after seeking continued wisdom from Themis. They sought to work hard and to rebuild what they had known in a better form. Through this they recreated the world to be made better through hard work and faithfulness. I liked the idea of showing the true battle that was to be won, and what the God's might have intended. I wanted to make this story a little more dramatic as well, so I added a competition between two pairs of lovers, to show the sacrifice that one should take for those they love. Throughout the original story it talks about the wrath that was placed by the God Jupiter. My story shows the true meaning about what the Gods had intended for people. This story fits the theme of love and sacrifice.

Bibliography: Ovid's Metamorphosis: Deucalion and Pyrrha translated by Tony Kline; link to reading