December 13th, 2015.
"He insults me!" Exclaimed Apollo as he plops down on his throne frowning like a child.
"You're acting like a child." Moaned Artemis as she leaned against a nearby column.
"Don't you understand, I provide him with a prophecy of great magnitude and I don't even receive an ounce of gratitude from him!" Whines Apollo, he legs slung over each other in defiance. Artemis rolled her eyes and pushed herself off the column making her way towards her twin brother.
"Perhaps it's the fact that you do deeds in seek of approval and not from the heart." Suggested Artemis with a raised eyebrow.
"I don't seek his approval..." sighed Apollo.
"You're always pestering him about something or someone. You bring up these oracles and prophecies so often. And don't get me started on your lovers-" Artemis started but was interrupted by Apollo.
"If you came her to belittle me than I won't hear it. Leave me be." Groaned Apollo as he waved his sister off.
Artemis sighed and left Apollo alone to his thoughts. I am unloved. All my lovers end in tragedy. Not even my own father shows me love nor appreciation. He thought to himself.
He's had two great loves. Both loves ended in tragedy. Hyakinthos and Daphne. The first of his great loves was Daphne, a river nymph pursued by Apollo when he was struck by Cupid's arrow. To avoid his advances she was turned into a laurel tree by her father thus breaking Apollo's heart. His second great love was Hyakinthos, a spartan prince. Apollo accidentally struck and killed Hyakinthos whilst teaching him how to play discus, to which Apollo turned his blood into a flower called hyacinthos.
Ever since their death, many lovers have followed. However, none lasted or were mortals. In his mind, those ended poorly as well. He lacked eternal and immortal love, the true meaning of love. All his lovers were temporary. I guess you could say he didn't have the greatest luck in love. He desired something more.
He dismissed the thoughts, not in the mood to mope as he was the god of light, meant to be bright and happy. Not dwell on negativity.
Curious about his recent prophecy regarding the hidden Titan, Apollo began looking for his father Zeus. Seeking an update on the matter, if there was any at all. Much to Apollo's fortune and convenience, Zeus met Apollo in the very hallway leading to the courtroom.
Apollo's eye lit up. Zeus's face fell as his son stood before him ready to pester. "Apollo." Zeus simply greeted, a small part of him hoping his son would leave it at that.
"I was just looking for you, father." Sang Apollo. Zeus let out a deep sigh and avoided Apollo's bright eyes.
"Let me guess; you're curious about the prophecy." Mumbled Zeus in annoyance.
Apollo quickly nodded and clasped his hands together, leaning towards his father eager to hear the details.
"If you have questions then pester your uncle, he's the one keeping a look out." Waved off Zeus, and without wasting another second in Apollo's presence; Zeus quickly walked away and down the hall from a frowning Apollo.
Apollo sighed, unsatisfied. He decided to take his father's "advice" and look for his uncle, Poseidon.
"Are you a fool? I'm telling you with great confidence that the prophecy spoke of a glacier." Said Athena through gritted teeth. Poseidon threw his hands up in defiance and turned his back on the goddess of wisdom. Athena scoffed and crossed her arms tightly over her chest, tired of her uncles tantrums. They were both standing upon the glaciers of Antarctica, the cold harsh wind blowing against them. Yet their godly form prevented them from feeling the wrath of it.
"I've scaled every glacier in the ocean, there was no Titan spoken in the prophecy!" Groaned Poseidon. He desperately wanted to leave, not wanting to be around Athena a second longer.
"Don't you understand how dense and expansive glaciers are?! You couldn't have possibly scaled every inch of every glacier in a matter of a few days!" Huffed Athena
"If you're so damned confident then look yourself!" Poseidon spat with venom. Athena laughed at his outburst, humored by his ignorance.
"I am no god of the sea. But I can assure you if I was, then a lot more would be done and far more efficiently." Responded Athena with just as much venom.
Before they could quarrel any further the mass of the glacier they were standing on started to rumble, as well as the glaciers around them. Mountains of ice fell from the nearby walls of glaciers, slamming into the ocean sending gigantic waves pummeling towards them. Before the waves could clash, Poseidon held the waves back and threw them in the opposite direction like it was nothing.
"What was that...?" Breathes Athena. Her eyes darted around her, examining her surroundings seeking any sign of distress or cause.
The rumbles resumed. Another wave threatened to slam into them, this time much larger. Again, Poseidon held it back but two nymphs came shooting out of the waves and landed on the then cracked glacier.
They both landed breathless and terrified, their bodies shivering with an unnatural coldness.
"What happened?!" Demanded Poseidon, him and Athena kneeled next to trembling nymphs.
"A great beast! We found it!" Cried one of them, her head screaming towards the skies Thus attracting Zeus's attention, as he was the god of skies. In a flash, Zeus was standing before them; confused.
"You've found it?!" Gasped Zeus, his attention finally fully on the matter with severe confusion and fear.
"Yes!" The other nymph whimpered.
"Where! Show us!" Athena begged.
The nymphs exchanged fearful looks and finally nodded. "The beast wails and cries, it resides in a nearby cavern within the glaciers." They said in unison.
They both pointed past the gods, towards the crumbling wall of glacier that had just recently broken off. The gods turned around to face it, and just as stated by the nymphs the glacier had a large cavernous hole in its side.
"You scaled every glacier you say?" Athena said to Poseidon with a raised eyebrow.
Poseidon clenched his fists and ignored her, "it fits the prophecy told by the oracle." Suggested Poseidon.
"It does." Agreed Zeus, he sighed and turned around to leave. "What are you wasting time for? Go inside." Zeus spoke over his shoulder towards Poseidon.
"You expect me to throw myself in a cavern holding an ancient Titan?!" Yelled Poseidon,
"What did I tell you. The glacier touches the sea, therefore it's your problem." Zeus retorted, his voice holding a tone of deceit.
"I agree with Poseidon." Admitted Athena, "at this point this matter is far beyond a glacier touching the sea. This is a Titan we speak of, a threat to humanity itself."
The glaciers rumbled again, this time followed by screeches and roars coming from the cavern. Zeus and Poseidon's eyes filled with horror, they had never heard such a terrifying sound before.
"I refuse to go there alone." Said Poseidon amidst the rumbles.
"Someone has to." Combated Zeus.
They both turned to face where Athena stood but she was now where to be found. Surely she left realizing she might have all the weights dropped on her if the gods couldn't decide.
Zeus Groaned defeated, he raised his arms up, "Then let's both go."
Poseidon squeezed his lips into a thin line, pondering wether or not it worth it to bicker further or if he should just go with Zeus. "But we take the sea nymphs with us in case we need something for bait." Zeus said glaring at the terrified sea nymphs.
"So be it. We will both go." Poseidon agreed,
Without another word they made their way towards the cavern. A chariot of water rises from the ocean and carries Poseidon while a dark cloud forms below Zeus feet carrying him towards the cavern as well.
As they arrived towards the entrance they both stood still, side by side. A deep cold air even the gods could feel blasted against them. They cowered against the strong wind, fear rising to their throats. What is this thing? They both thought.
They exchanged worried looks and eased into the cavern.
Like the oracle stated, it was winding and the celling was littered with dagger like icicles threatening to impale anyone who passes under. They carefully made their way deeper into the icy cavern, both attempting to act unfazed. The wails and roars continues to echo throughout the cavern, causing the gods to cover their ears in discomfort.
The cold winds grew stronger as they began to reach the end, their bodies coated in ice. They didn't dare ask why it was, they knew what titans were capable of. They were more curious as to what this Titan was and how much of threat they posed.
They reached the end of the winding cavern hall, at the end was a large area covered in gigantic icicles. In the middle was an even larger one with a small box like ice structure sitting on top of it.
The brothers took one final deep breath and walked towards the mass, they climbed up a few smaller ice shards to reach its surface. Poseidon was the first to step foot on the platform. He stumbled as the wailing came once again, this time coming directly from the ice structure. Zeus shuffled around his brother and quickly peered over the ice structure. His lightening blue eyes met a pair of icy grey ones.
His eyes widened and his fear subsided. "What is it?!" Called Poseidon from behind his brother.
Zeus reaches into the ice structure and to Poseidon's shock he pulls out a baby. A small delicate wailing baby, who's skin was white as snow and rose cheeks rimmed with tears.
"It's a child."