The Strange Happening A collaborative three-nation story Part 1 by Katbut in South Africa Part 2 by Sandra in Canada Part 3 by Ramiro Sc, Marcos T and Marcos R in Argentina

Part 1: A cold night

The fire had completely burnt out during the night. It was so cold that I woke up shivering and sniffing.  I could hear Father's loud  snoring, and I knew he was still sleeping.  

 "I'll get the wood for Mom" I thought, and I slipped on my shoes to go outside. I barely had the door open when I saw her looking right at me. She had snow-white skin, big violet eyes and it looked like something had torn up her clothes or she had been in a fight. So I asked her, in a frightened voice, " Who are you?" I shivered. I thought she was going to hurt me but surprisingly she didn't.   "I am the Goddess Aurora and I am looking for my mother," she said.

 Part 2: An unusual visitor

"Why do you assume she's here?" I replied curiously.  "Well" Aurora whispered, "some men accused your mother of being a murderer. I saw the men take off on their horses, and I decided to follow them. I did not expect that they would back track  and attack me!“ Aurora was angry. 

“But I escaped and that’s how I ended up here," Aurora spoke calmly at last. “I am looking for my mother.”  "Oh, I'm sorry I didn't introduce myself, My name is Amanda— Amanda Shell. You seem like a good sport, is there anything I can provide you with because you seem awfully tired?" Amanda asked, because she felt badly for Aurora.  That's when Aurora’s true nature started to appear. Athena stared skyward with her hand on her hip.   "Well, if you really want to help... I need a hot tub so that I can soak my troubles away.

" So Amanda, are you able to help me?" Aurora said enquiringly after she had had a bath. They walked towards the door. Amanda stared at Aurora with a troubled look and simply turned around and shut the door in Aurora’s face. She had had enough! "Officially rejected," Amanda thought to herself and headed up toward bed not thinking twice about fetching wood for the fireplace. She arrived in her cool room and glared out the window, hoping to see anything... she was still surprised by the Aurora’s unusual approach. Sleep eventually overcame her. 

Part 3: An adventure begins

Amanda woke up the next morning, only to discover that Aurora had slept on the front porch of her house.

What are you doing?” asked Amanda. “You can't stay here!!". “I was trying to look for my mother during the night, but I found nothing”. "Don’t keep lying.” “ I know what's happening in your mind. You don´t want me to  look at your  mother because you think I am going to take her away. But let me tell you something, the woman you think is your mother is just the God Ares. He has transformed himself into your mother as so to get to the world dominated by turning people crazy, especially the most powerful. He will then dominate the earth and the sky and all the universe torture you by making you work for him and doing that everyone starts having wars and  make the human race destroy its self. He has captured your real mother who is also my mother, in his castle. Help me find her" Aurora begged.     

Amanda thought about this incredible story for a while. Was the woman mad or was she telling the truth? Were they actually sisters? “Okay, I will” answered Amanda, like that, Goddess Aurora and Amanda started their long adventure full of troubles and in their way to the castle of Ares in Mount Olympus        

They were walking in the woods, when suddenly, some aggressive wolves came out from nowhere and surrounded them.  It was not much of a trouble, thought, because with Aurora’s power, they beat the wolves in no time with simply a little force from Aurora’s wand.  They could see that a little bit farther there was a kind of spot that if you focused, you could see clearly it was Ares’ castle that was rising up from the underworld. 

Athena and Amanda started galloping on their magical ponies, that in no time, got to Ares’s castle.

Suddenly, Aurora shrugged Amanda’s shoulder and whispered “There it is. You see that mountain? That is mount Olympus! At the top we will find the castle! And look, I can see your mother.

Amanda was astonished: It was the highest mountain she had ever seen. It was covered of green fresh grass and the top of the Olympus was so high that it was covered by grey clouds. Everybody said that it led to the sky, in other words, the gods and goddesses kingdom.  "How are we going to get to the top?" asked Amanda confused.  "Don’t worry about that, I have planned everything" answered the goddess.

 Suddenly, Aurora snapped her fingers and they immediately arrived on the top of Mount Olympus, surrounded by the temples of all the Gods and Godesses and right in front of Ares's castle. "What are you coming for Aurora? You know that no mortal can step into my castle!' said Ares's voice loudly. "Then why have you got one trapped in your castle?" asked Aurora rapidly.  That is not your business"  he answered. Aurora and Amanda explained that they wanted Amanda's mother back in that moment, or, or.... “Or what? You can't do anything! Nothing! I am the god of War Aurora!

“You can't beat me!!" roared Ares in the middle of a crazy laugh. 'May be she can't, but I can " said a thundering voice. "Zeus!" said the astonished Aurora and  Amanda at the same time. They were right. Suddenly, a big finger came from the sky and pointing to Ares, fired a great big shiny bolt, that hit Ares right in his face and send him away from Mount Olympus for a long, long time. After that miracle, Amanda was able to have her real mother back and they both lived happily ever after back in her house.   THE END