Chapter 12 - Part 3: Hera vs King Crab, the Duel of Sugary Dignities

It wasn’t a battle It was a celebration — of grace, of madness, and of the hidden beauty in every cosmic being… even those with pincers.

The whipped cream asteroid spun slowly at the edge of the cold whipped galaxy. Suspended between two universal breaths, it seemed born of a dream too greedy, too sweet, to be real the lightning siblings stepped down carefully the soft surface sank beneath their feet, releasing little vanilla bubbles all around the void sparkled with pastel constellations, and a cosmic breeze hummed an ancient tune at the center of the dreamscape… sat a king but not just any king He was massive a cosmic crab, his back studded with stellar stones, dressed in a cape of interdimensional sequins his right pincer, far too large, chimed with every movement it was a giant golden maraca, rhythmic and proud his throne was a baroque masterpiece caramelized coral molded into a shape between dessert symphony and interstellar opera sculpture he stood with a snap of his claws, moonwalked across the whipped cream, then greeted his visitors with a tap-dance flourish.

— "Welcome, children of lightning and whimsical deities I am King Crab, and if you wish to earn my respect… you must dance."

First trial: the dance of cosmic destiny
A murmur passed through the group. Then, one figure stepped forward Hera Goddess of eternal motherhood, queen without a throne she walked like a forgotten poem her dress was made of shifting constellations, and her heels, carved from starry pearls, chimed like the old hours of time she cast a calm gaze at the crustacean king.

— "I haven’t danced since the founding ball of olympus… but I accept—"

She didn’t have time to finish King Crab spun wildly his eight legs sliced through the sweet foam with improbable elegance he twerked, he leapt, he flipped in bubble-sprinkled somersaults his maraca rang like a disco church bell but Hera didn’t flinch she raised her scepter, used it like a cane… and began to glide yes, glide with an elegance that made the air shine each step summoned a dawn each motion was a verse a cosmic waltz bloomed from her being Hope shouted in awe

— "MOM HERA JUST BECAME A MUSIC VIDEO QUEEN!"

Zeus, in the corner, wept from laughter.
The score was declared: a tie.
King Crab clapped his claws with style.
— "Dignified. too dignified."

Second trial: the interdimensional riddle
King Crab sat, claws crossed.
— "Here’s the riddle: I come before light. I have no shape, yet I contain all dreams what am I?"

Silence even the stars seemed to hold their breath.

Hera closed her eyes.
— "Silence because it is in silence that light, form, and dreams are born."

King Crab shivered he removed his cosmic sugar hat.
— "...You’re deep."

Third trial: the gravitational jump rope
A lunar rope, made of pure light, appeared it floated, spun on its own, calling for a leap King Crab jumped thirty-eight times, with pirouettes and galactic “YO!” Hera jumped in turn. at each bounce, a season was born spring of gentle, rain summer of stars, autumn of shadows, winter of softness the final jump released an aurora of pink glitter into the atmosphere.

Hope rolled on the ground laughing:
— "This is the best day in the multiverse."

Fourth trial: singing contest
King Crab grabbed a mic his gaze drifted into space.
— "This is a love song for my eighth pincer."

He sang terribly ,Loudly, but with a huge heart Diva burst into laughter Morpheus fell asleep smiling.

Then Hera stepped forward, no mic, no music.
— "I will sing the lullaby I never got to offer my children."

And her voice was a sad river warm honest a melody for those who never got to be small even Hades looked away, a hand on his heart.

Fifth trial: beauty contest
King Crab struck a pose, put on shiny glasses, and winked a slime clapped by instinct but Hera did nothing she stood still her gaze looking far beyond a cosmic lightning flashed behind her, illuminating her features, frozen in eternity and everyone understood — she was beauty, not its reflection.

The verdict fell.
King Crab stepped back.

— "You’re too… too much."

He bowed low, pincers touching the foamy ground.
— "The throne of celestial mousse is yours."

Hera bowed in turn.
— "Keep it. I am a queen without a kingdom and today… I gained memories."

After the duel, the gods laughed and the slimes danced King Crab took a selfie with Iris.
Saphira lay on a cloud, Élya against her side she looked at the sky.
— "Even the stars… know how to dance."

And in that moment, in the intergalactic silence a bubble of joy burst.

End of Chapter 12 — Part 3: Hera vs King Crab.