She smiled as she performed her blessings over them before lounging back to watch their future together. She picked up a mirror and looked at herself in it, humming lightly.

Oshun considered herself the fun goddess; the one that didn't see what all the fuss was about. She believed in happiness and as long as people did what they were supposed to she didn't have a fight with them. She was quite happy with her role and the results of her unions. She gave humans something more important than life itself; she gave them love.

She heard her name and looked up. The Three? She quickly floated to her feet and bowed gracefully before them. Something was wrong. The Three didn't leave their sanctuary unless they were bringing some kind of bad news. She willed herself to remain standing in a respectful manner.

"Oshun." The female spoke without moving her lips. "The tribunal has made a decision."

"Oh?" Oshun lifted her chin. "A decision on what, Three? I did not know I was under investigation or that I had caused some kind of dispute."

"You are not under investigation, Oshun." The primary male's voice filled the air.

"And you have not caused us any kind of disgrace," the second male spoke up.

"This time," the first added.

The female cut them off. "We have decided that it is time you return to Earth and find yourself a life-mate."

Horror filled Oshun. "I will do no such thing!" She spoke like an insolent child, drifting to the ground and stomping her feet in her tantrum. "You cannot make me do this!"

"We can and we have," the Three spoke together. Their combined voices caused her ears to throb. "You will do as we have decided."

"What have you done?" Oshun backed away from them. She knew she couldn't outrun them or hide. They knew all, they saw all, and nothing that happened in the universe was concealed from them.

She began to feel strange. It was a new sensation, absolutely foreign to her. It was frightening, yet intriguing at the same time. She felt as though someone had stuck her under their thumb and pressed.

She lifted her hands to fight the pressure but nothing happened. Oshun tried again, then glared down at her hands.

"We have taken your powers," the female Tribunal member said. "You shall not have them back until you have complied with our wishes. And to make sure you are being good, we have no control over their restoration. You shall receive them back once you have loved and he loves you in return, truly."

"Where are they?"

"Somewhere safe. For now."

"Is that why I feel like a ... a..." She couldn't bring herself to say it. She shook her head and tried again.

"A human," the female tribunal member spoke.

She fell backwards. She knew then without a doubt what she was feeling for she had seen many of her matches go through it before their love connection. It was definitely pain. She knew it was pain because it caused her body to throb. It crept through her very being and vibrated against her spine. It was a searing sensation that felt like something was burning through her back. She rubbed the part of her body that now hurt. Disbelief and panic started building in her.

"How could you do this to me? I am a goddess. I cannot find a love-mate among humans. I don't know where to start."

"You can," the Three said in deafening unison, "And you will. Because until you do, your powers shall stay in limbo."

"Limbo? How can sending my powers to limbo make them safe? Limbo causes power to ... to dissipate!" she cried and lunged angrily at the stoned-faced overseers, "If I don't find a mate in time, I shall die. You know this. Why would you..."

They disappeared. She fell onto her stomach and moaned in the newly discovered sensation of pain. They reappeared behind her.

"You are wasting time, Oshun. Do as we bid you."

With that, they were gone and Oshun was left trembling. She was feeling human emotions, emotions that she couldn't understand but had to. One emotion in particular made her want to smash her fists into something, someone--anything! She wanted to rip The Three apart with her bare hands. That one, Oya, her friend had described as anger. That emotion made her want to start a war--it was vivid and scary. She moaned and buried her face into her knees while gasping. She pressed her eyes shut and tightened her fists. Oshun then held her breath, hoping to steady her beating heart; but nothing worked.

"Come back!" She frowned. Oshun couldn't believe what was happening to her. "The least you could have done is send me down!" she screamed to the emptiness around her.

Instantly, Oshun realized her mistake. As soon as the words escaped her mouth, she was on Earth.