Updated: 26/1/2022

Happy Australia Everyone! I hope you all have a great day!

Chapter 14: Return and Rescue

Artemis let's tears fall as she looks at her brothers pyre. Yes pyre. He died and saved everyone including his companion Meg. She couldn't get to him to save him. Ares and Zeus held her back. Now her wonderful, brilliant, funny brother was gone. She never got to say to him how much she loved him. It is true you shouldn't wait to tell someone otherwise it might be too late.
And for her it was too late.

"Artemis", Hermes prompts with sadness.

Artemis nods knowing what she had to do. She raises her bow and lights the arrow. She trembles for a second. Was this how it ends? Artemis pulls out what little strength she had and fires the arrow and it lands on top of the pyre making it blaze alight. She drops the bow and walks forward looking at the blazing pyre.

Was this it? Was she really never going to see him again?

After all this he was gone.

Gone.

Gone.

Gone.

Dead.

Dead.

Faded.

Never to return.

Artemis felt her heartbreaking. The weight off her emotions took its toll and she fell to her knees with a loud a cry of heartbreak, weeping for her brother.

Everyone watches the once strong Goddess break down. No one had thought the Moon Goddess had that much love for her brother. Everyone flinched at the heartbreaking sobs and wails that escaped the Goddess.

Even Zeus flinched and felt guilty. It was never meant to end like this. Would his daughter ever forgive him? She had too. But he knew deep in his heart that she wouldn't.

Artemis flinched away from contact from everyone trying to comfort her even Hestia.

She looked at the pyre she had to do something so he would he remembered. She pulls her power to her and raises her hand and chants.

Everyone watched as the gold sparks from the pyre rose into the night sky and they all saw a new Constellation form near the 'Huntress'. The constellation looked like a sun with a bow.

"The Beloved Sun", Artemis whispers.

She clutches the pendant around her neck a gift from Apollo centuries ago.

"Zoe please watch over my brother. As I hope somehow your both together in the stars". Artemis says easy she gets up from the grass.

Everyone noticed the grass had changed around her, where her tears fell were gold flowers with little suns on them.

"Sunlace", she murmurs.

She turns from the last sparks of the pyre. She sees everyone looking at her sadly. Apollo's companion looked to be holding back sobs.

"Meg McCaffery as you are beloved by my...brother I will support you becoming a Goddess if you wish or immortal it is your choice. But I'll stand by your no matter what you choose", Artemis tells the girl.

"I would like to join your Hunt. Apollo is gone there is nothing left for me", Meg chokes out.

Artemis flinched at her brothers name.

"Granted. Thalia will take your oath. I need...time", Artemis tells her.

She starts to walk away. But Zeus blocked her. She looked at him angrily.

"Out of my way", Artemis tells him.

"Artemis, Apollo...", he didn't get to finish when he is slapped hard.

Everyone gasps. Did the Moon Goddess really just slap the King of the Gods?

"Don't you dare say his name. Your unworthy of saying it. No, you're NO father of mine. I disown you. Stay the Tartarus away from me and those I love", Artemis spits at him.

Everyone flinches at what Artemis said. Zeus had a look of pain in his eyes.

"I never meant…", Zeus starts.

"I don't care. I in fact WARNING YOU. But it still doesn't matter. The fact is MY BROTHER IS DEAD! HE IS GONE! And there is NO WAY you can bring him back. So, stay the TARTARUS away from my Hunters, Meg, and HIS Children or I will do something I won't forget and regret!" Artemis threatens storming away with tears in her eyes.

Everyone was shocked. Artemis had laid claim to her brothers children and Meg. At the moment they were untouchable.

Everyone didn't know what the future would bring.

But surely Artemis's grief would lesson in time…

Right?...

Artemis teleports to a meadow that only her and Ap…HIM knew about. It was still as beautiful as she remembered it.

She staggers forward with the emotions coming over her. She couldn't hold it back anymore she screamed/wailed in loss, grief, and despair. As she fell to her knees.

She wrapped her arms around her waist trying to keep herself together. It felt like she was being split in two.

She sobs for her loss.
Why did it have to be him?

She would have done anything to take his place. The world needed him. They didn't need her.

SHE needed him.

Now she was never going to see that smiling face again.

No silly jokes.

No hearing the word awesome all the time.

No bad poetry.

No singing to comfort her.

No comforting rides in his Sun Chariot.

No more pulling her into one off his sibling bonding movie nights.

No more bonding Hunting trips.

No unexpected visits to her Hunt.

No more having someone being overprotective off her.

No more Big Brother, Little Sister argument.

No protector.

No Sun.

She sobs as everything hits her.

He was gone.

And there was nothing she could do about it.

She looked up at the new Constellation.

"Please, please don't truly leave me. Please. Or take me with you"

700 Years Later…

Everything had changed with one death. Apollo's death had become a catalyst for other problems. The Council was never the same. As how could you fill a spot that belonged to someone so full of life?

The first few years after Apollo's death. Artemis had advocated for Apollo's children to be granted immortality with their partners. Which was agreed. She wanted the Apollo legacy to live on.

Apollo's domains hadn't been able to be claimed by anyone. It was like they didn't want to move on. Which was fine by Artemis.

Meg had stayed with the Hunters and had been made Lieutenant with Thalia and Reyna. Those three kept Artemis mostly together and sane.

Many saw Zeus as the bad guy. Some hadn't forgiven him for his part in Apollo's death.

Artemis hadn't.

Speaking of Artemis, she was quiet she rarely talked. She stayed in her late thirties and ALWAYS wore black.

She didn't speak a word to Zeus. She refused to even answer his questions if he was the one to ask them.

But mostly she stayed quiet.

When she was at her Camp, she rarely slept so plagued by Nightmares she couldn't sleep. She was often found at the fire just staring into it. She rarely ate or used her bow.

It felt like too everyone that she was slipping away from them. As she sunk farer into her depression. She even flinched sometimes at the Sun. Muttering about how it wasn't HIM.

That was another thing she couldn't say Apollo's name and flinched when she heard it. And fiddled with her pendent or rings when she was anxiety or when she started crying silently. To her it bought some comfort to her broken form.

Artemis had given up hope that HE would somehow return. She had to face the fact she would be alone for the remainder of her eternity.

Now they were Camping in Montana chasing a small group off monsters that had been terrorising the locals.

Artemis stared at the fire trying to feel warm. When she hadn't felt warmth in centuries. When she heard the sound of twigs breaking.

Artemis's dull eyes become alert.
"Thalia get the girls their weapons", Artemis says softly grabbing her hunting knives.

Thalia immediately yells for the girls to arm themselves. Luckily, she was tasked in watching Artemis this morning. As Artemis rarely yelled anymore.

50 girls immediately arm themselves and line up around their Mistress. With Meg and Thalia on either side off her. Followed by Reyna.

When the monster's attack.

Hellhounds, Cyclops, Dracaenaes, Empousas, 2 Drakons and four Laistrygonian Giants.

Artemis starts to bark out orders but there were so many monsters. Artemis starts to lead them away. Trying to get everyone to regroup. Artemis tells Thalia to use an exploding arrow to give them time.

Artemis grimaces as some rocks hit her from the blast.

"Fall back to the woods", Artemis gasps wincing in pain.

The girls quickly follow her instructions. Artemis tries to lead them farer away from the Monsters. But they ALL could hear the Monsters trying to follow them.

"Milady what do we do?" Reyna asks.

"We keep fighting. We can do this, and we don't give up", Artemis pants, she was getting exhausted with herself being in poor health.

The Monsters were gaining.

"So, we fight Artemis?" Meg asks.

Artemis had ordered her to call her Artemis. Saying that Apollo's loved ones could call her by family names. Like just her name or Auntie or Cuz or even with Thalia sister. But not Sis, or Arty. She flinched when anyone tried that and shouted at them. So, they ALL learnt not to say names that Apollo had used for Artemis.

"Yes. But know you can flee at anytime", Artemis tells her girls.

"Never", Thalia smirks as her spear crackles with electricity.

All the other Hunters shout the same thing.

"Then know I am so proud of you girls. Thank you for your support", Artemis tells them as the Monsters launch themselves at the group.

They were fighting back-to-back. Girls were going down.

Artemis was terrified of losing her Hunters. They were all she had left. But she was weak. Her strength was fading.

She gasps as claws dig into her side. Gold ichor drips down as Artemis barely manages to kill the Hellhound.

"Artemis!" Thalia cries trying to get to her sister.

"Watch out!" Meg yells seeing what was about to happen.

Artemis was too slow, and the club of the cyclopes and the hand of the giant hit her hard in the chest and sends her flying into a tree.

There was a sickening crack. And Artemis world erupted in pain.

She collapsed to the ground unable to move.

She couldn't move.

She really couldn't breath.

She felt the ichor leaving her body.

She barely was able to realise these were mortal wounds that only if a healing deity came, she would live, but without she would die and have to reform.

A part of her wanted this.

But what about her girls?

But what about a chance to reunite with her brother?

Her sight begins to fade.

So does her hearing.

The last thing she remember was a vaguely familiar voice screaming her name…

"ARTEMIS!"

Earlier...

Apollo gasps and sits bolt upright with wide eyes.

What happened?

Where was he?

He looks around and sees a statue. His eyes widen seeing it.

He scrambles up and looks closer at the statue and what was surrounding it.

It was a statue of himself as a mortal and as a God.

Phoebus Apollyon, God of the Sun, Healing, Prophecy, Reason, Knowledge, Music, Archery, Art, Poetry, Light, Diseases, Plagues, and Truth.

On this spot on 23rd of March 2018 Apollo lost his life defending those he loved.

This statue made by order of Lady Artemis, the Olympian Council and others. Stands it tribute to the God. Shown here as mortal too. Shows that even mortal he could do what is right and true.

Beloved Twin Brother of Artemis

Beloved Son of Zeus and Leto

Companion of Meg McCaffrey

Beloved Father of Asclepius, Will Solace, Kayla Knowles, Austin Lakes...

Beloved Grandfather of Hygeia, Aigle, Iaso, Asceo, Panacea…

'When the Suns goes up we will remember him and the Moon will grieve'

Tears fall down his face. He had died?

What about Meg?

What about his children?

What about Artemis?!

How long had it been?

Apollo NEEDED to find Artemis. She must be in so much pain. He was the only one that knew how close they were.

Apollo flashed to Olympus. Pleasantly surprised to find himself a God again. He sees many people gasp and faint when they see him heading to the Throne Room.

He needed answers! He needed to get to Artemis.

He slams the doors open stunning the Council to silence. He looks to where Artemis's throne is to find it empty.
"Where is my sister!?" he asks.

"Apollo?" the Gods whisper.

"Yes it is me. How long has it been?" Apollo asks.

"700 years", Hermes mutters in disbelief.

Apollo's mind starts to shut down. 700 years? Oh Gods! Artemis had been alone for centuries. How was she? Where was she?

"Shh Apollo it will be ok" Hestia says laying a smoothing hand on Apollo's shoulder.

"Arty", he croaks.

Athena looks at the Council as she made the decision to share what happened. So, snapping her fingers to show him the past.

Apollo's heart breaks hearing his sisters screams and sobs for him. Hearing her rage at Zeus and declare herself not his daughter. How she stood up for Meg and his children and looked after them. He saw her as she was now. A woman in her late thirties consumed by grief. Dark cycles under her eyes. Her nightmares. Wearing black. Her eyes dull and lifeless. Her flinching at the Sun and sound of his name. Her being unable to say his name. Her clinging to the pendent and rings he gave her.

Then seeing the constellation his sister made for him and a prayer to Zoe to ask her to look after him. Tears fall from his eyes.

"Arty", he croaks reaching out for her like he would step through the images and comfort her.

Everyone looks at him in sorrow. It was clear that Apollo felt the same way about Artemis that she did about him.

Suddenly overwhelming dread feels him.

Something was wrong!

"Where is Arty?" Apollo demands.

"Ap…", Zeus starts.

"Something is seriously wrong! I need to get to her NOW!" Apollo yells.

They all look at each other before Athena and Hermes made a decision. They get off their thrones and grab Apollo's shoulders and they flash themselves and Apollo to Artemis's last known location.

They gasp seeing the mess. Ripped tents. Blood on the ground and monster dust everywhere. They could hear Monsters growling in the distance.

Apollo's eyes begin to glow as he summons his bow and arrows.

"We must track them. You two can either stay or come I don't care", Apollo tells them already looking at the track to determine which way he should go.

"No way are you doing this alone", Hermes states.

"Never again. And Artemis would kill us", Athena says.

They both summon their weapons and they begin to follow the tracks.

It hit them they were following ichor. Which meant only one thing. That Artemis was injured.

"Hang on Arty", Apollo mutters.

He follows his sisters…blood. And the tracks of her Hunters through the forest. When they hear screams and growling.

Apollo, Athena and Hermes quicken their pace.

They heard the sound of smashing. And the screams of Hunters calling Artemis's name. Apollo ran faster when he hears them panic.
When greets him is his worst nightmare. He sees his sister crumbled on the ground. Looking like she had been thrown into a tree. Ichor was pooling under her. She was barely twitching.

He knew she was dying.

He could feel it.

"ARTEMIS!" he screams.

He launches himself into battle barely paying mind to the monsters he was destroying on his rampage to get to his sisters side.

He didn't pay attention to Athena and Hermes joining the battle.

He didn't pay attention to the shocked cries of the Hunters.

He didn't pay attention to Meg crying out his name in disbelief.

He had tunnel vision. All he could see was Artemis's crumpled form.

"Arty", he gasps as he falls too his knees by her side.

He gently puts his hand on her and tries to feel for a pulse. It was there but weak.

"Arty it will be ok. I'm here now", Apollo tells her.

He tries gently to turn her over and gasps at her injuries. She had claw marks in her stomach too. Her eyes flutters open and look at him.

"Apolly? You have come to take me…", she rasps out.

Apollo winces he knew she would believe he come to take her to the Realm of the Faded. As with these injuries and her mental health she WAS close to fading.

"No Arty. I'm alive and Your. Not. Dying. NEVER you", Apollo tells her pushing his powers into her.

He finds all her injuries and was shocked by the number of them. Internal bleeding. Broken Legs, Broken Arm, Broken back and so many other injuries. He needed more than his powers to heal her. He stops the bleeding before he gently picked her unconscious form up. He turns to everyone else.

"I am taking her to the infirmary", he says and flashes away leaving the Hunters with many questions…

It was hours and hours later when Apollo took a break. He hoped he had done enough to save his sister. All his powers, lots of nectar, ambrosia and morning dew he had used to heal her and keep her alive.

Now he was praying to the Creator it was enough.

He wasn't as strong as Arty he won't survive her death.

"Please Arty be alright", Apollo murmurs to her gently holding her hand.

He doesn't know how long he was at her bedside begging her to come through it and wake up. He didn't care that many had come to see her condition and to see if it was true that he was alive. He just didn't care about anyone else other than his sister.

Finally, after what seems like forever, he hears faint whimpering and begging.

"Shhh Arty I am here. Your BIG brother is here", Apollo assures her softly stroking her hair.

He keeps murmuring reassurances hoping they were getting through to her…

Artemis felt like she was floating.

What happened?
The monsters.

The fighting.

Her injuries.

Getting hit into a tree.

The unimaginable pain.

Then the voice screaming her name.

The familiar voice.

But it was impossible he was dead.

Gone.

She starts to feel more of herself. Like she had been hit by a truck.

She whimpers at the feeling and of somehow hearing and seeing her brother.

She hears murmuring in her hear. A softly smoothing voice which she hadn't heard in 7 centuries.

But that was impossible he was dead. Never coming back.

She struggles to open her eyes. She winces at the light but soon it was dimmed.

"Better?" the familiar voice says softly.

Artemis sees the warm worriedly blue eyes of her brother. Her twin.

"This is a dream", she croaks.

"Why?" he asks.

"Because in my dreams you're here. It my dreams your always by my side", Artemis sobs even through it hurt.

Apollo's heart ached for his sister. His broken and haunted sister.

"Oh Little One I am REALLY here", Apollo tells her gently pulling her into his arms.

She sobs in his arms. Could she believe this was real?

"Is this real? Or did I die in that forest when the cyclopes and giant struck me?" Artemis rasps out whimpering in pain.

"It is real. And you're NEVER dying on me Arty. Not on my watch", Apollo vows.

He gently coaxes her to eat some more ambrosia and drink some more nectar.

"Good girl", he praises her, "You will be better in no time", Apollo promises her.

"Apolly truly are you really here?" Artemis asks like a small child needing consent reassurance.

Apollo kisses her forehead.

"I am really, REALLY here", Apollo assures her.

Artemis shakily grabs his shirt and buries her face in his chest weakly and sobs. He was here. He was back. His warm safe arms wrapped protectively around her.

"You returned. You rescued me", Artemis cries into his chest.

"I am here. Not going anywhere. And I'll ALWAYS save you", Apollo promises trying his best to comfort his sister

Artemis nods exhausted many centuries and injuries catching up with her.

"Sleep Little One and regain your strength", Apollo coaxes her.

Artemis shakes her head, "You'll be gone"

"No, I won't. We will sleep here together. I need some sleep with you, and I am not letting you out of my sight", Apollo replies.

"Promise?" Artemis asks childishly.

"Promise", Apollo vows.

He gently manoeuvres them into a lying down position where it wouldn't hurt Artemis. He coaxes Artemis to get into a more helpful position for her recovery.

"Good girl", Apollo praises her.

"Sing too me?" Artemis whispers.

"Anything you want", Apollo replies before singing.

Artemis closes her eyes finally hearing her brother sing to her again.

Finally feeling his warm arms wrapped protectively around her.

She was safe and he had returned to her and rescued her.

And that was more then she could ever ask for.

Her brother had returned and was here to stay…

Author's Note: What do you think? Please Review:)