Prologue

Two figures stepped into the chamber. There were music loud enough to be heard in the background but both figures did not mind the merry making outside the room.

"Father, please listen to reason. Whatever his error surely you can give him a far lighter punishment than this?"

"Now, Artemis," calmed Zeus. "Apollo knew of the consequences when he tried to defy me."

"But to be banished that is just downright unfair."

"He must learn never to do such a stupid stunt again?"

"But why as a mortal? He can easily atone himself by building a city like Troy. Why do you thrust him in such a modern world such as this?"

"Now Artemis, I'm warning you. Do not question my decision."

"Or what father? Punish me like him?" challenged Artemis.

Zeus smirked knowing her real reason, "Nice try, girl but no. You will remain here in Olympus."

"But to become a mortal among these heathens? Who will help him?"

"He will not be entirely defenseless, Artemis. When he comes of age, he will remember who he is and still retain his powers though in mortal form.

"You mean just like Heracles?"

Zeus nodded. "He will return back to us when he dies soon enough."

"But that would take 60-70 years, father?"

"Oh don't be such a mother hen. That is only a few months in our time."

Artemis knelt down into Zeus' feet. "Please father, if you do not wish to take back you judgment then let me be there with him. Let me share his suffering."

Artemis saw Zeus flinched. She inwardly smirked for she knew Zeus hated to see his daughters beg and cry. He would often try to remedy the situation as best he could. A deliberate weakness to Zeus' character.

"Tsk tsk tsk. Oh sister! You are so melodramatic!" A beautiful girl dress in black robes entered the chamber.

"Sister, stay out of this. This is none of your business."

"Oh please. I have every right to be here," stated Athena.

"Oh of course daddy's little girl always meddling in his business?" mocked Artemis.

But Athena did not back down. "At least I'm not my brother's lackey. Always agreeing to baby brother's whim?" chimed Athena.

"Bitch!"

"Whore!"

"Enough!" cried Zeus. He sighed as the two sisters glared at one another. He wondered if Heracles had problems like this when he was running the place. Damn him for agreeing to take his place once again. He and Hera were finally at peace. Now while Heracles was visiting his children in the Elysian fields. Apollo had the guts to raise a rebellion. At Zeus' watch? Did that boy never learn? Why did he have to defy him over and over again?

"My decision stands, Artemis. I will not reconsider," stated Zeus.

"But father please. Let me be born with him."

"It is a punishment that he will bear for himself."

"But why father. I don't understand?"

"It is not your burden."

"Plus he must rectify an incident he had done long ago..."

"What incident?" spat Athena.

Athena smirked. "From all of his atrocities, I think you lost count of all his wrongful acts."

"Don't be absurd, Athena. All his acts were justified."

"Like what he had done to my priestess?"

"You mean Cassandra? That foolish girl deserved everything she got," screamed Artemis.

"Why? Because she did not sleep with your brother?"

"She led Apollo on. Asking for the gift of prophecy in exchange for her body. She was a whore!"

"That is a lie and you know it," said the goddess of wisdom. "Apollo fell in love with Cassandra, a sworn virgin. She rejected him from the very beginning because she swore an oath to me to be a virgin forever. She was my priestess but no, Apollo still cursed Cassandra for her loyalty to me."

"Ah but I got you there, sister," smirked Artemis. "That foolish girl died anyway."

Athena stepped forward to her. "Tread wisely, Artemis. She is still under my protection."

"Under your protection?" Artemis chuckled. "If I recall she was raped several times!"

A sharp slap echoed within the empty halls. Artemis wanted to return the slap but she looked at her father for defense instead.

"Father? Look at what she has done?" pleaded with Zeus.

"Athena!" Zeus frowned at his favorite daughter.

"I'm sorry father but I cannot stand here while she demeans the character of my servant," justified Athena. She eyed her father squarely as she cited her defense. "Though I may not have saved her from her fate, I have paid for it by making her people the ancestors of a great race."

"True but that did not save her. You merely compensated her death. In the end, she still died as she rightly deserved!"

"Not in this lifetime."

"What do you mean?"

Athena glanced at her father. "Father?"

Zeus nodded.

"Cassandra will be reborn and will again be under my protection."

Artemis gasped. "B- but father Apollo has been reborn! There would be a chance that they will meet again?"

"We are expecting it," said Zeus.

"Are you mad? What is the point of you letting them meet? They'll kill one another."

"Apollo has to learn a lesson that was why he had to become a mortal," said Athena

"Aha! I knew there was a hidden intention why you punished him like this."

"Apollo deserved it. From all his whoring around, I knew letting my Cassandra have him will only end up tragically."

"Which still happened because of her foolishness," pointed Artemis.

"I call it her blind devotion."

"You're crazy!"

"And you're still a bitch!" declared Athena.

"Now, now girls. I will not have you fight in front of me. The Trojan War has long been over. I will not have you start it again."

"Okay fine. I won't fight. But may I ask what is Apollo's lesson? Or is that a closely guarded secret?"

Athena looked at Zeus once more before speaking.

After a curt nod she spoke "Aside from learning humility and forgiveness," snorted Athena. "He must undo the curse upon Cassandra. To his eternal anger, he actually cursed Cassandra in every lifetime."

"The bitch deserves it."

"Shut it, Artemis. Cassandra is reborn innocent in this lifetime. She has paid her sins with her life. I will not let you or even Apollo ruin it again. She deserves this meaningful life."

"Not while Apollo lives. He hates her with every fiber of his being."

"If he is still hurt because he was duped by Cassandra, I suggest he get over it."

"Easier said than done, don't you think?" smirked Artemis.

"It isn't only Apollo who is angry, you know. Cassandra has every right to be furious at Apollo too."

"Then it will be a stalemate."

"You best try to persuade him then, sister or else Apollo will remain a mortal until he does."