Disclaimer: I do not own the Percy Jackson series. All real people, places or things are used fictitiously.
Claimer: I do however own my own original characters, fanfiction plot/idea, and all unknown people places or things, for they are my own creations. Please ask to use any of them.
Summary: Apollo can't stand to watch two of his youngest children be hurt anymore. If Zeus won't listen to reason then he'll make him reason with him. Until the Olympians had someone help his children or else there would be no sun. Will Zeus give in or will the Earth go into an age of darkness and mass death.
"There Is Always A Way,"
Chapter 1 "Emergency Meeting,"
Murmurs were going around the throne room. Everyone was just as confused as the other of why there had been a meeting called. It wasn't the Summer Solstice yet, and the Winter Solstice had already passed. This meant one thing: something had to be very wrong. Everyone was so engrossed in their speculations that no one noticed the empty throne.
Zeus sat down in his own throne. He had a stern look as usual, but his eyes showed a tiny bit of weakness. That was as close as Zeus could get to showing concern for his children, at least the ones he was stuck with until the end of the existence of life. Conversations seemed to slowly begin to cease as the rest of the gods and goddess returned to their thrones. However, the reason they were here was a very urgent matter. Just as to prove how far this had gotten the situation had progressed before anyone had done anything to stop it; to counteract it, there was still one throne that was empty.
"What is the meaning of this?! The mortals are having a war I'd like to see!" called out Ares.
"We all have things we need to be doing," sighed Demeter, rubbing the sides of her head. She hated the excessive violence her nephew created and was drawn to. Quite frankly, she found it to be simply stupid.
"All you have to do is go grow some pretty flowers," told Ares rolling his eyes.
"You little brat! Without the plants there would be no mortals to entertain you!" snapped Demeter.
"Without water there would be no plants!" bellowed Poseidon.
"There wouldn't have to be so much of either if it wasn't for the mortals!" yelled Ares.
"Ares, honey, please," pleaded Aphrodite.
"Shut up woman!" snapped Ares. Aphrodite's eyes became deadly. She took off her high heels and started to hit Ares with it.
"Respect. Me. Or. Else. I. Will. Castrate. You," snarled Aphrodite in between infecting injury on Ares. Ares tried to swat away the shoe.
At this, all of the gods and goddesses started to yell at each other. Hardly anyone was yelling at about the real issue, which was why they were there. All in all, it was just another day in the Olympian family. A day in which they got along would be a miracle.
"SILENCE!" boomed Zeus, smashing his fist into the arm rest on his throne. Thunder roared outside. He had no patience for this today, if he ever had any patience with it to begin with.
Everyone closed their mouths instantly. No one felt like getting zapped or thrown off of Mount Olympus, again. It was clear if there was ever a moment that they felt they had to get along, it was now. Despite their ignorance at the situation, everyone could feel that something was wrong. It was coursing through the air into them. It was a sickening feeling none of them were used to.
"We are here because of that!" yelled Zeus, gesturing to the empty throne. A few of the goddesses gasped as they finally realizing the throne was empty realized that one of their own was absent from their midst. No one had taken time out of their own selfish thoughts about themselves to notice the empty chair.
"I thought there was a lack of stupidity in the room," mumbled Athena. Zeus shot a glare at his daughter. She shifted slightly in her throne.
"What has our dear brother done now?" asked Artemis. She usually would have insulted her brother. But she had this sickening feeling deep down that something was seriously wrong with him. Despite how much they fought, she never wanted to see any serious harm done to him.
"That's the thing, I don't know what he is doing. He has disappeared!" told once, everyone suddenly had serious looks on their faces. Athena rose from her throne and peered enough, the sun had not risen yet and it was nearly the rest of the Gods took notice of this, they felt their worst fears had to use the greatest amount of Mist he had ever used to keep the mortals from seeing that the sun hadn't risen. For those fair few that could see through the Mist,he had covered the sky in a massive dark cloud.
"This HAS to be joke! The sickest prank ever! Is this your sick idea of a pranks brothers?!" Artemis gasped. Despite how annoying her twin was,she still loved him. The idea of him being in danger was eating her alive.
Each one of the boys rose their hands up in defense. None of them were stupid enough to prank Artemis like that. They all knew it would end up with them being tortured in very unusual and cruel ways.
"He's probably fine, Artemis. Maybe he overslept," yawned Hera. Artemis glared at the thing she called her stepmother. If she had the power,she would have killed her right there and then. She had never forgiven her stepmother for sending a dragon, named Python, after her mother.
"Apollo would never ignore his duties like this! He is not okay What would you think if you were a mortal if you awoke one morning to realize the sun hadn't risen? If this isn't a dream,then this is worst day in my entire life!" snapped Artemis.
"It's like she's adolescent again,"Hermes whispered to Ares. The god of war chuckled at this, causing Artemis to turn around and glared at them.
'Stupid men,'Artemis thought to herself.'Or should I say boys, not men. Will they never grow up?'
"Has anyone heard from Apollo or have any idea what is going on?" asked Zeus in a demanding voice. This was a very serious matter, even worse than the time one of Apollo's children set fire to the Earth.
"If I'm correct, he may still be dealing with the loss of Hecate's daughter Cloe," offered Aphrodite.
"Leave Hecate of this!" yelled Demeter, getting up from her throne ready to launch herself at Aphrodite. The relationship between Apollo and the demigod daughter of Aphrodite was not one mention often by any of the god or goddesses. At least they knew what happened when a demigod and god had children.
"Not this again," huffed Athena 'Both of them are idiots,' she groaned internally. 'Demigods and Gods shouldn't have children. It isn't natural.'
"I think she's referring to the matter of their children," retorted Artemis. Her twin did have his moments of stupidity and weakness, but all men did. She'd still loved him dearly and would defend him to almost any length.
"What about the children?" asked Poseidon. The relationship between Gods and Demigods was one thing, but these were the lives of children they were playing with. The children certainly didn't ask to be born.
"Last time Apollo sent me to check in on them, it was not a sight I would wish on any child. When I told Apollo, he seemed irate," told Hermes. He hadn't really questioned his brother's request or reaction. Many of the gods and goddesses had him check on their children from afar, including Zeus.
"What do you mean?" asked Aphrodite.
"He means that they were being neglected or abused, you ditz," snapped Athena.
"Hey don't insult my wife!" yelled Hephaestus.
"A wife that cheats on you," huffed Ares.
"No one asked for your opinion on my life, Soldier-boy," Hephaestus snarled back.
"You punk!" Ares growled, getting ready to move from his throne.
"Shut up, boys!" roared Zeus. 'Why do I keep having children?' he questioned himself. 'They're a pain in the ass, especially when they're gods and goddesses.'
"What is Apollo trying to do?" pondered Demeter. She was quite a bit frightened by the sun's absence. If the sun didn't rise soon, her precious plants would start dying. The essence of life would die along with them, taking the whole world with it.
"He is either trying to get us to aid the children ourselves or, if they are distressed, their abilities may be interacting with his, thus making him ill," offered Hera. Everyone gave Hera an odd look. Since when did she care about Apollo and his children?
"Don't look at me like that! I spoke to Hecate," scolded Hera. She glared at her family. She wasn't as heartless as they all thought she was. The children were just little kids. She couldn't bring herself to hate them. Yet, at least.
"What did Hecate say?" asked Demeter. Demeter really did respect Hecate. She really did help her when her daughter was kidnapped by Hades. She would have lost her mind if it wasn't for Hecate.
"She told me she can feel the youngest child's magic. It was getting stronger and she fears soon it will begin to leak out without the child's control. The girl is scared; when someone with mystiokinesis gets scared, the ability tends to have a mind of its own, especially when they are young. She said the boy, however, has no inherited abilities from her side," told Demeter. She could tell Hecate cared for the children. Demeter remembered that hurt in Hecate's eyes when they told her that her daughter was dead and Zeus had been the one that had killed her. The goddess had become so bitter about it that she refused to talk to any of the Olympians beside Demeter, Hades, and Persephone.
"I should have killed the kids, too," mumbled Zeus. It would have saved them a lot of trouble now.
"YOU WILL NOT TOUCH THEM!" yelled Artemis. She was going to protect those kids. They were her niece and nephew, after all.
"Don't tell me what I can and can't do!" boomed Zeus.
"Unless you want Hecate turning into you some sort of statue, tree, or something else, you should listen to Artemis. Hecate will do it if you hurt them. She seems to be watching them," told Demeter. She knew of Hecate's darker side. She knew that Hecate would retaliate against anyone who did harm to those children, God or mortal.
"We can't just go around changing ancient laws!" exclaimed Zeus. Poseidon rolled his eyes. The sea god knew his brother could change the laws if he wanted. He was, after all, the King of Gods. Poseidon believed the laws should be changed; it wasn't fair for everyone to pay for Zeus's mistakes.
"I really wouldn't call in ancient laws," reminded Athena. Zeus glared at his daughter.
"We should have the right to see our children and be able to protect them if someone happens to our other partner!" yelled Hephaestus.
"No one say another word. I will not listen to an argument over your bastard demigod children!" ordered Hera.
Everyone glared at Hera hissing under their breaths. But no one dared to say there true feelings out loud. She had crippled Hephaestus by throwing him off of Mount Olympus as an infant. None of her kids trusting her after that fiasco.
"Unless you want mass death of not only mortals but our demigod children, you should consider it," stated Athena. If Zeus remained stubborn and Apollo continued to let the sun lay dormant, everyone would die within a year. It was ridiculous; was outrageous; was senseless; was reckless for the god of thunder to allow such a thing simply because he didn't want to damage his pride.
"If Zeus gives in to Apollo now he's going to do this every single time he wants something," retorted Hera.
"If father would listen to us then he won't have to do that!" snapped Artemis.
Now everyone was screaming at each other over the lives of their demigod children. One side bellowed that destroying so many lives was senseless, while the other side retorted; that Zeus shouldn't give into Apollo's rebellious actions. Of course each side was threatening war, as usual. If war wasn't being threatened during a meeting, it seemed, then it wasn't a meeting.
"Silence, all of you!" yelled Athena. The gods and goddesses on both sides of the issue were arguing on gut feelings and instincts alone when, in truth, they shouldn't make a decision without more information. Apollo was more dangerous than any of them had given him credit for. Given their jobs, running on emotion alone was a dangerous choice. It could push the sun god to resort to even more desperate-and dire-measures if they didn't tread carefully.
Everyone regarded Athena with glares of death, but Athena ignored them. She had already prepared a plan that could postpone any rash actions that could get people killed.
"I have an idea. We could have Hermes try to find Apollo and speak to him to figure out the situation. After that, we can send Hermes to spy on the home on see what is really going on," offered Athena.
"I think Hestia would be a better choice for spying on the home. She is the goddess of family, this would fall under family domain," added Poseidon. He knew his sister would agree to such a thing. She cared greatly about the well-being of young children, especially young demigods. Athena scowled at him for editing her plan.
"I can certainly talk to Apollo. We don't even know the real reason he isn't here. He may have fallen ill the way Demeter talked about," Hermes spoke up. He wasn't completely sure that his half-brother would try to cause war between the gods. It just didn't' seem like Apollo's style to create discord.
"Alright, we meet again in two days," ordered Zeus, then dismissed the congregation; other Olympians. Everyone got up and went their different ways. After all, they had a planet to run.
Zeus was left alone with his thoughts. He couldn't help but wonder if he created this issue. He really should have listened to his son. If their speculations were correct, Apollo only wanted to help his kids. He sighed heavily; for once, he had honestly screwed up big time. One memory seemed to fault Zeus the most; one that really did stick out in his mind as a sign of what is happening now.
"Father, please. They are just little kids. Eleanor is barely six months old and Hesperos is only four," pleaded Apollo.
"You shouldn't have had children with a demigod!" told Zeus.
"I know that I should have known better," stated Apollo, whom had a defeated look in his eyes. Those kids didn't deserve to pay for his mistake.
"They are just children! They didn't ask to be born nor did they have any say as to their parentage!" yelled Apollo. He had already lost Cloe and Phoebus. Cloe did know who she was and what she was doing, but Phoebus had done nothing wrong besides being born. Little Eleanor and Hesperos didn't ask for this. If he didn't fight for them, who would?
"Silence, boy!" boomed Zeus, but Apollo wasn't backing down. It didn't matter which one of his kids were in danger; he would do it for any of them. The fact Zeus already killed Cloe and Phoebus only made his opinions stronger. Phoebus was just aninfant when Zeus had ripped the life from him. Apollo wasn't sure he'd ever forgive his father for such a horrendous act. It made his blood boil. No punishment by Zeus would ever be worse then watching his newborn son be killed by his grandfather and not be able to protect him.
"Don't tell me to shut up! They are my kids! At least I care about my kids, unlike yourself!" Apollo shouted back. He knew he was stepping on a very fine line, but he didn't care. It was the lives of two kids they were playing with.
"Go back to your job. You'll forget all about them in a few years," ordered Zeus, waving his hand in dismissal. That only upset Apollo more. He would never forget his children. At least he could remember the names of all of them, unlike his father who had to guess the names of his children.
"I will never forget them. You will regret this, Father," told Apollo, emphasizing each word. His stormy blue eyes getting very intense. His father never did learn that he could easily get Poseidon to move to overthrow him again. This time, however, they would succeed.
Before Zeus could reply, Apollo was gone. "Stupid boy, won't do what's best for himself," sighed Zeus. Then, with a shake of his head, he went back to what he does every day: watch and laugh at mortals until something horrible happened with the gods for him to sort out.
Meanwhile, Apollo's car sat in front of a suburban home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It was a cold, windy, snowy December day. He watched the house from inside one of his sport cars, pretending to be reading a map. He could hear the cries of his baby girl inside. It was killing him to just sit in his car and do nothing. Why weren't they taking care of her?
Just then, he saw the 'man' of the house throw his little boy out into the snowy afternoon in only pajamas to shovel the sidewalk.
Apollo watched in anger as the neighbors watched the child a moment, then walked back inside, doing nothing. He watched as poor four-year-old Hesperos shoveled the driveway, shivering constantly. This wasn't right. No one should do this to any child, let alone a god's child. This family would pay for this. He only had to get those kids out safely.
He wondered if he could get ahold of Hecate for that part, for they were after all her grandchildren. Now that would be fun. Perfect revenge. No one hurt his children and got away with it. He had to plan his revenge on the family.
He wondered what his own family was doing right now. Probably continuing to fight over the laws keeping the gods and goddesses from seeing their children. Apollo knew it was a ridiculous law. Because of it, things like this happened. But Apollo also knew his father was stubborn, oftentimes to the point it qualified as stupidity.
By the time Apollo snapped out of it, it had been two hours, and Hesperos was still working on that sidewalk. One of the teenaged neighbors came out with his own shovel and helped the nearly frozen little boy. The teenager barely had any clothes on himself. By the look of)the car in the boy's driveway, his family had fallen on hard times.
Apollo smiled softly, watching the boy help his son. He decided he would ask the Fates to give the boy a good life, which he only reserved for special people that earned it. The mortal teenager had earned it in Apollo's eyes. Soon, the two had finished shoveling, and Hesperos was back inside, where at least it was warm. The teenager stowed his shovel and went inside himself) Apollo started up his car. He supposed he should make long-term arrangements to stay in the city.
Not too long later, he had checked into a nearby Motel 8 in a not-so-pleasant outer area of the city. He didn't care though. It was the closest thing to the neighborhood, plus none of the other gods would think to for him in a place like this. Well, besides Hermes, but Hermes knew where everyone was. He suspected it wouldn't be long before the messenger god showed up at his door.
CRASH!
'Ah, the gift of being the god of prophecy,' Apollo thought to himself. It sounded like the snow and Hermes's winged shoes didn't get along too well. Snow was thick and heavy unlike rain. Apollo hated the snow and the cold, hence the reason his motel room was cranked up to eighty-five degrees Fahrenheit, and even that was still chilly for him. He was used to the extreme heat of the sun itself.
Not too long after the crash there was a knock on the door. Apollo smirked. Leave it to Hermes to crash into a building but still knock on the door to come into a motel room.
"Welcome to my humble home away from home," welcomed Apollo bowing like a butler as he swung open the door. Hermes shook his head and walked in, taking a look around. It wasn't really that nice of a room. Actually, it wouldn't be surprising if there were bed bugs.
"Apollo, what are you doing?" asked Hermes, taking off his shoes and setting them on the heater to thaw. Snow and a dense layer of ice were caked on the wings, making them near-impossible to operate.
"I'm sleeping in a motel," Apollo replied. He wasn't in the mood for poetry. He almost felt like he would never be happy again until those kids were safe, and he wasn't going to stop until they were.
"You know I meant," Hermes said, rolling his eyes. "Why did you not raise the sun today?" He could tell by just looking at his brother that he was not well. His shoulders were slouched, he walked with a slow, heavy gate, and he was wearing black and gray. His eyes had dark shadows under them and he seemed pale and weak.
"Until father decides to help my children, I will not bring up the sun," Apollo said firmly. He would make other Gods would listen to him. His children were being neglected and abused and no one cared enough to help them. The cry of his infant daughter echoed in his mind, all day the poor child was crying and no one did a thing.
"You are going to destroy the world, taking out billions of lives including the lives of your children. Everyone is at each other's throats back home, and they're talking war, again," told Hermes. He knew Apollo may not listen to him, but it was worth a shot. It would be Apollo's choice to ignore him, and the guilt would not be on his own shoulders.
"I hope it doesn't come to that," sighed Apollo. He didn't want to create war or destroy the world. He hoped-he knew- it wouldn't get that far. Eventually, someone would crack and his children would be saved. If(Whether) it was Zeus or not didn't matter. He just wanted someone to help.
"They are going to have Hestia spy on the house," told Hermes. Apollo's stature rose a few inches. They were heading in the right direction. Maybe it wouldn't come to a point between life and death.
"Good, that's a start," said Apollo. But a start wasn't good enough. His kids had to be safe from harm before he would be happy. They needed to be out of that house at the very least. That is really all he wanted.
"Listen brother, just be careful and think about what you are doing," told Hermes. He really didn't want his brother making a choice that could kill the whole planet. The Apollo he knew now wouldn't kill the whole world; at least, Hermes liked to think he wasn't. That would make him no better than their father.
"I will, Hermes," sighed Apollo. He knew Hermes meant well. He was only trying to help, but Apollo didn't want him poking his nose into his business. He supposed when you were a god, there were no such thing as secrets or personal space.
Hermes put his shoes back on and took off into the blizzard that was covering the Midwestern states. The mortals didn't know it, but it was all a cover-up for the fact there was no sun. The gods were trying to hide its absence for long as possible. No need to freak out the mortals if the situation could be fixed before it became a dangerous matter.
Apollo created an air mattress for himself. He certainly was not going to sleep with bed bugs. Another reason he loved the sun, no six-legged, creepy-crawly pests to deal with.
Tomorrow was another day, hopefully another day closer to helping his children. All of the other gods and goddesses fell asleep that night hoping the sun would be back in the sky the following day. In the Underworld in Elysium, Cloe watched, waiting for her children to be where they deserved to be, so she could choose to be reborn without feeling guilty about it.
Thank you for reading my first Percy Jackson fanfiction, my first story on my new account. Please feel free to leave honest reviews for my story, all writers love them. Big hugs to my belta reader Helluo Librorum, she really is the best belta reader ever.