Battle Against Time The New Recruit

Chapter 1

-Meeting a god or two-

Pain, absolute excruciating, that's all that registered in my brain as I kept running through dark tunnels and fighting of all sorts of monsters and opponents. My skin by now was stained by a mixture of red and gold, in possible to see where one ends and the other begins. Monster after monster, person after person, being after being, I kept on fighting, kept on going ignoring all the pain and the weakness I felt. I kept sprinting scared to slow down, scared of what would happen if I slowed down. The farther I ran the more I was enveloped by darkness, most would be terrified but I felt at home as the shadows are where I feel at home and from where I attack. I heard the heavy footfalls, explosions and shouts, loud at first but growing all the more distant as the distance between increases. Sagging down I stop in front of the wall hoping, no, praying that Fred was right about this and that he would come through. Taking a deep breath I looked up and there it was light, coming from a gap in the wall I could see sunlight shining lighting up the shafts and giving me hope. Hearing the shouts growing closer again I dug my bloody fingers into every little crevice or wherever I could find something to grip onto, I scaled up the wall. The sounds got closer motivating me to climb faster and then at last my hand could reach to the light and just in time someone gripped my arm tightly and pulls me up. Standing up with their help we took off and felt the ground underneath our feet shake as a loud roar came from the bottom of the shaft making us run faster. We ran through a forest until we came to a clearing.

Falling down on the forest floor I placed my hands above my head and gulped down as much air as I could try and fail to catch my breath. Looking up I saw Fred grinning at me and I couldn't help but chuckle at finally being free, that I regretted as soon as the pain shot through me. Seeming to notice this Fred took out a block ambrosia and a flask from his satchel and gave it to me. Tacking it with a great full smile I ate the ambrosia just for it to taste bland, as usual, and took a gulp of nectar from the flask, "You don't look to good there Survivor!" I look up at Fred with my best 'no shit' look, "Oh no I didn't just fight my way through millions of things trying to either kill or capture me and climbed up a quite smooth wall with multiple injuries just to run again after that." I rolled my eyes as Fred laughed getting up slowly. "At least my brilliant plan worked and you are now free youngling!" Chuckling I just shook my head at his stupid nicknames, "And I will forever be in your dept." I teas back bowing mockingly earning a loud laugh from him in return. "I must say out of all the mortals I have met you are by far my favourite!" So I was correct he is an Immortal and if I had to take a guess from the aura surrounding him I would say Fred was Apollo God of bla bla bla. Knowing that he won't explain anything to me without me asking I looked at him in the eyes dead serious "Fred, or should I say Apollo?" Upon hearing this Mr. Sunshine seemed genuinely shocked. Did he really think that I'm that dumb and unobservant? The thought of that was quite amusing and I couldn't help but let a chuckle slip.

"Yes, I know about your little secret and you, blondie, are going to give me a bloody good explanation for the fake persona and also exactly why you saved me." I say in a neutral, cold voice while giving him a little death stare I could see him paling a bit, yet he put on a goofy smile and I could feel my blood starting to boil, "Funny, me, a god! You clearly took way to many blows and I saved you because I wanted to little one." He said that laughing trying to bullshit me like I'm a stupid. My anger taking the lead I sped forward with my daggers in hand, pinning him against a tree and with both Daggers at his neck ready to slit it and because my Daggers where made of # he started weakening and shifted back to his original form. "Jeez calm down tiger." Oh he did not, "What did you just call me." I asked him pushing my daggers closer to his throat, seeming to realise his mistake Apollo gulped and looked around panicked, "Uhm, nothing, absolutely nothing... Okay so let's do some explaining!" Raising one eyebrow I looked at him expectantly. "Okay...so...you obviously already know that I'm Fred and Fred is me so, how to explain this to you..." Laughing at this I shook my head, "Easy you start from the effing start meaning where the hell did Fred come from." Honestly! He's cool and all but like really is it difficult to use common scenes.

"Okay, jeez you're bossy." Narrowing my eyes he seemed to realise his mistake, "Sorry, sorry, as you know I am Fred and Fred is Apollo." "Yes" I drawled out, "Okay so basically Fred is an alias I use so I can sneak around behind big z's back and move around freely in the mortal world and also help out at medical centres, help demigods and take them to camp and kind of rescue maidens and help them by sending them to my lil'sis." Satisfied with this answer I stoop back and gave him his flask that he downed. "You are terrifying." He stated between breaths, "Jeez, thanks for the compliment." "Also extremely sarcastic!" "Thanks for noticing." I smiled cheerfully, "So with my second question?" I left my question hanging in the air as I didn't really know exactly why he saved me. "So I actually sneaked in there quite often to save whomever I can and I already had my hopes on saving you..." "And you did but there is more behind it isn't there?" "There was." Flipping around to see where the voice... voices was coming from, I started wishing I didn't. "Lady Fates." I barely whispered and dropped onto my knee whilst bowing my head. "There is no need for you to kneel, little wolf." Little wolf? Since when did the fates have pet names for me? "As we said Apollo had another reason for saving you and that was because we told him to." Uhm, okay? Why do gods and goddesses always be so confusing? "You know being the god of prophecy and all." Apollo chipped in, rolling my eyes I expect him to go on but he kept quiet, "Are you expecting applause or something?" Making a pout face and an overly dramatic hurt pose Apollo seems to realise he wasn't going to get the reaction he wants so he straightens up. The fates chuckled and I shivered at the sound, "As feisty as always aren't you, Little wolf?" I just smirked at Apollo at that, "Yes, now as to why we are here. We want to give you our blessing." Wait what!? "Yes, you heard correctly. Little wolf we bless you with the power to always know what to do to keep fate intact and also write and see prophecies that we or Apollo give you." Oh fuck, here we go again. With that they turned to Apollo, "The time has finally arrived." They said critically and nodded at me, "Good bye little wolf." And then, poof, they were gone just as fast as they appeared.

Both me and Fred, yes I'm not going to call him Apollo, seemed to be frozen in place. It's a lot to proses! I got blessed, or is it cursed? Whatever, either way the fates did that and say something to Fred and then disappeared, also why in the chicken pastry name are they calling me little wolf, "So, that wasn't weird at all." I awkwardly try and break the silence. Turning towards Fred I couldn't help but laugh at the look on his face. "Hey, watch who you're laughing at! After all I was the one that saved you." "Oh I'm so sorry Lord Apollo God of..." "You just have to be sarcastic." Is he really asking that? I answered him with a very over dramatic eye roll. "So what happens no?" Next thing I know Fred, was laughing as he hugged me and sinned me around. Smacking him on the head he seemed to make him come to his senses and let me go. Straightening out my clothes and taking deep breaths to try and ignore the pain, I tried to give him a death glare but didn't have the hart to because he seemed in cloud nine and upon seeing his goofy grin I knew it wouldn't have any effect. "What was that all about?" I finally get out and let a chuckle slip. "It's time it's finally time!" Wait, what does he mean with that!? "Wha..." "Before you ask any questions I want to ask you to be my champion." Hold the London Bridge up! What did he say? "Your champ champion." "Yeah, wait did I not say the entire sentence or did I stutter or" "No, no, no you did not do any of those things. I'm just surprised and shocked. Why would you want me as your champion? "Trust me, his face is laughable, wait no that's not the right words because his face is always laughable, ha, got it, the look on his face is laughable. Yes that's it. "Why wouldn't I want you as my champion you're the most epic mortal I've ever met! Also when the fates said 'It's time' they told me I could finally name someone my champion and out of everyone I could think of you were the only match I could think of as we make a dynamic due! So please will you be my champion?" Seeing the hopeful look on his face, I just couldn't say no, cause I understand what he meant with dynamic due cause Fred never has someone who really meets his vibe on Olympus so, why the hell not, "Yes."

Recognising his celebratory body language I immediately dodged his hug. "But, no more spinning and no more deathly tight hugs. Please?" Puppy eyes they all ways work if you do them right. Fred himself seemed to be pouting until he looked at me. "Okay no more over excited hugs! Just. Stop. With. The. Puppy. Eyes." Told ya. "Okay so first priority is me checking all your wounds, okay?" I look at Fred and nod. Placing down his satchel near a tree he helped me to it and I quickly pulled out my shirt allowing him to examine my wounds, seeing his questioning look I shook my head and he just nodded and got to work." So, how exactly does one become a champion of Apollo?" "An oath of sort, wait here." He handed me a paper and I looked at him confused, "It's the oath, I wrote it down because the repeat after me shit takes too long." Shacking my head at that I quickly read over the paper, closing my eyes I take a deep breath stabilising myself for the oath I was about to take and also calming myself. "Okay. -I pledge myself to Apollo, to be his voice, honour and pride I vow to heal the broken, stick to the truth, spread his wisdom, to join the beautiful melody of life and to always be the light people turn to in the dark. I am from now on the champion of Apollo, till the end I will work to protect those in need and protect the future as is my duty to him and the fates.-" As I said the last words I felt heat seeping into my bones and power, wisdom and a beautiful melody flow through my body, I started emitting a soft golden glow as my body got stronger and my wounds less painful. "Okay I'm all done, all your wounds have been tended to but unfortunately I can't do anything about the rest." Fred said as he helped me put my shirt back, taking his hand I stood up.

Suddenly a hunting horn sounded through the forest and as I turned around I saw at least six cyclops's surrounding the clearing quickly getting my daggers out I scanned the area nothing several spots to land on in between the fellas. Launching myself at the cyclops on my left I dodged its club and grabbed onto its arm, pulling myself up and then running up it to its shoulder before it could even think of reacting. From there I jumped making a somersault to build up momentum I stabbed both of my daggers into its head and quickly jumped onto the branch of a tree behind it just before it turned to dust. Glancing up I saw Fred had already taken down two which left three out of six. Jumping of the branch to dodge all three cyclops clubs aiming for me I landed on one's shoulder and quickly kicked it in the jaw and heard a snap as I jumped over to the next and landed on its head and not far behind comes another club so I jumped to the other branch and threw both my daggers with dead accuracy stabbing the last cyclops in the eyes. Jumping down I picked up my daggers where it fell just as a group of people dressed in silver broke through the treeline. Upon seeing that they're all girls I felt the stab myself as some of them glared at me, others just looked confused and some smiled and waved at me. Great here we go again, walking back to where Fred was standing, I almost lost my balance but he quickly caught me and helps me sit with my back against the tree.

"Apollo!" I heard someone say in an angry cold tone that made my blood run cold, "What the hell are you doing here!?" Looking up I saw a sad look in Fred's eyes but he still forced a smile, "Ah, if it isn't my dear old little sister! Don't I get a hello?" Then it clicked that it wasn't just the hunters but also they goddess that was here. "I am not your little sister you daft idiot and no you don't get a hello!" The reply this time was much more heated then the last and I couldn't help but smile at how easily the goddess was provoked. "No need to get all angry little sis I intend no harm I was actually about to leave when the cyclops's attacked." Fred sounded strangely far away as I started hearing whispers that sounded like the fates. It started soft like a chant and then the I paled when I realized what was happening, looking up I locked eyes with Fred as smoke surrounded us, I could faintly hear yelling and then, "As time stirs a child of the past shall be born they'll prepare the family for war finding either an enemy or ally in those they meet along the way two will fall to destroy the throne with a final battle the fate of Olympus or Mount Othrys shall be decided." As the voices fade away and the smoke clears my entire body was in total shock and as the smoke cleared exhaustion overtook me as I felt a pain in my neck.

Suddenly I was back there. Another lovely sunshine day in my damp room eating a 5 star meal called raw meat. As crazy as it sounds this was a 5 star meal in this hell hole. I hear the door? Whatever it is open and before I could even react I was grabbed by the head and being thrown out of the room into the wall and then I whoever started dragging me by my foot. By now I have given up resisting and just allowed the dumbnut drag me across the floor allowing the rough floor to cut and scrape at my bare back. Although I know it's supposed to hurt it, it didn't because I've grown numb to the pain over the past… I, I don't know and I hate it. Closing my eyes my eyes I take a deep breath in and out allowing myself to slip into a collective state where I don't think about the fact I have no knowledge or control over anything. Yeah I was allowed to "celebrate" before they throw me back into my cell or, what was it that one kid told me yeet? Abruptly I was ripped out of my inner thoughts as the person lifted me but before he could do anything there was a loud shout, "What the fuck do you think you're doing! Put. Them. Down." Then I fell to the floor and there was a pop sound and I could feel the pain burning dully in my shoulder. Faraway I hear a sickening crack and demands being shouted out and then I felt my body being lifted as my conscience went dark.

I could feel I was laying on something soft and then I suddenly remembered what had happen and I was up and alert immediately, looking around the room I realised that I was in a medical room and then I heard footsteps walking towards the tent and I went to draw my daggers but they were gone, when the girl saw me she was shocked at first but immediately recovered as she drew her daggers, time seemed to slow down as she lunched to my left her dagger ready to slash at me but I dodged underneath it and immediately countered her downwards stab with a precise upward kick on the bottom right side of her jaw knocking her unconscious. Before her body could drop to the ground I picked her up and placed her on one of the beds, as I could finally observe the girl properly I saw she had copper-coloured skin, and dark hair that had a silver circlet neatly braided into it, so she was the hunting goddesses lieutenant and I guess I'm in their camp but why? Shaking my head I moved away and quickly examined my wounds, noticing most of them have healed but there were still a couple wounds. Looking around I found a piece of ambrosia and ate it slowly as I waited for the girl to wake up, hearing a gasp and panicked movement I looked at the girl and locked eyes with pitch black eyes with a hint of deep blue in them, "Glad to see your awake and please don't shoot me! I won't hurt you if you don't hurt me." I took it upon myself to speak first and basically squeaked out the rest of the sentence as she drew her bow. With her bow still aimed at me the girl seemed to consider my peace offering, "If thou promise me to tell me exactly what thou were doing with Lord Apollo, why thou had those daggers and what thou did with the smoke then I shall put down my weapon." "Okay I promise to tell you everything but you will have to make yourself comfortable." The girl nodded and sat cross-legged on the bed and gestured for me to do the same and as I promised I told her the entire story from how I got my daggers, how I knew Fred to what happened when the smoke appeared.

Having finished the story I sat there calmly as I waited for the girl to proses what I just told her, "Holy Stix." The girl breathed out seemingly to shocked to try and looked stoic, "Well that about sums it up." I say cheerfully trying to lighten the mood and it worked because the girl chuckled, "Thou have one hell of a backstory thy idiot." "I know right it is quite annoying actually." Huffing out a little laugh, the girl gave me a knowing look, "I know that all too well." Standing up she showed for me to follow her walking out of the tent I saw that it was night time and there was a massive fire in the middle of the camp and more than a few tents stoop surrounding it. Looking at the floor I followed behind the girl, whose name I still don't know, as I could feel all eyes on me and I didn't know what to think about it. Stepping into another tent I saw that it was almost like a bedroom, "Here Lord Apollo told us to give thou thy satchel when ye wake up but we had to be sure thou wouldn't harm us." The girl said handing over the satchel Fred had when I last saw him, I knew that he wouldn't have left it behind unless he wanted me to have it, so I took it from the girls hand and opened it to find a piece of ambrosia. "Here, take it." I offered it to the girl as I the wound that I caused when I kicked her looked horrible, taking it she quickly ate it. "Thou wait here." the girl said before disappearing behind a door. Looking around the room it was quite homey, not too big or to small, a fireplace with a white wolf skin carpet in front of it, a cabinette with a bed on the opposite side and the door next to it, nice. Sitting down on the carpet and closed my eyes focusing on my body I started breathing, in 1,2,3,4 Hold 1,2,3,4 Out 1,2,3,4 Hold 1,2,3,4. Repeating the process my entire body relaxed and I could finally focus my thoughts, my mind zeroed in on one thing the prophecy, it was concerning and confusing at the same time.

"If you want to say anything be my guest it won't interrupted my meditation." I opened my eyes and looked at the lieutenant, rolling her eyes she gestured to the door, "Thou can take a shower and freshen up and get a change of clothes and we'll talk afterwards." She said it like it was up to me but I nodded with a smile knowing that was an order, through the door I saw a bathroom setup and placed my satchel on the table next to the wash basin, before closing the door, also on the table was handkerchief with all the required items. Looking in the satchel I saw a change of clothes in there so I quickly took a shower before putting on the clothes, cargo pants with some combat boots, a t-shirt and a jacket with a sun on the back, luckily it was mostly black so I didn't mind but then it was like something was calling me. There was a glow from inside the bag, reaching at the glowing object I grab it but immediately tried to let go at the pain that shot through me, it was a fore power that spread through my body reading my soul, hart and mind. Discovering the secrets and memories I try to hide. And then, then it's gone.

There was a flash and Fred was next to me with an astonished look, smiling he took the staff, "Kneel." Doing as he asked I knelt down taking my hands in his he smiled, "Kid I could honestly not be prouder to call you my champion and the fact that this staff excepted you says so much more about you, so from now on this staff will be yours and be the symbol of your rightfully place as my champion." as he said this the staff morphed into a light gold crown, that goes around the back of your head, emitting a glow that reminds me of the moon attached to it was suns, stars, music notes, wolves and arrows. Picking it up Fred placed it on my head and smiled at me, "Before I go give this to the lieutenant, you'll be staying with them until me and my sister return." Nodding I looked away and Fred disappeared in a flash.

Walking out of the door with my satchel I gave the shocked lieutenant the letter she took it still in shock but quickly focused when she saw who it was from, after a bit she looked up at me, "I guess thou will be spending some time with us, so shall we start from the beginning? I'm Zoë Nightshade, Lieutenant of Artemis, nice to meet ye." "It's a pleasure to meet you too lieutenant but I'm the champion of Apollo and I don't really have a name." "That's alright we shall get thou a name, now come on! It's time to introduce thee to the rest." Grabbing me by the arm Zoë dragged me outside to the fire, "Okay listen up ladies, until Lady Artemis and Lord Apollo come back we shall continue our hunt and Lord Apollo's Champion will be joining us for that while." She said out loud and everyone looked at me shocked, confused and some warily. "How do we know they won't hurt one of us?" One shouted and a lot agreed with her. "If they wanted to they would have by now, all of you get some sleep we leave early I the morning." Nodding all the girls left and trailed to the tents, sitting on a rock near the fire I stared at the fire.

"Aren't thou going to get some sleep?" Smiling I shook my head lightly, "Well then we might as well do something productive. Do thy have a bow; if not can thou use one?" A bow at the thought a bow appeared in my hands, "Well I know the basics and a bit more advanced things but not much." I said looking up at Zoë, "Then I think it would do thou good to practice. Follow me?" Following her we got to a training area and we started training her helping me with my bow skills that increased very quickly and I helped her learn more about newer martial arts while she showed me ancient martial arts and we went on like that teaching each other what we know, even after we started moving on tracking down a pack of werewolves we fell into a routine training with each other whenever we could. After helping them lure out the werewolves with a new trick we eliminated them and set up camp waiting for the twins to return.

We were all sitting around the fire when there was a bright flash behind us and we all turned around and in unison the huntresses knelt down, "My Lady. Lord Apollo" All the huntresses said as I walked to the front and bowed deeply, "Lady Artemis." Then I stood upright and allowed Apollo to give me a hug, "If it isn't my wonderful miracle champion!" He basically screamed and went a bit over the top with his hello so I did the logical thing, "Fred put me down right now! We've talked about the over the top celebration." I said with an exasperated smile as I hit him over the head and he finally placed me down. The huntresses and their lady all looked shocked upon the interaction, "Now girls we'll be camping here for the night and Apollo will leave tomorrow with his champion." All around you could hear different cries going up in protest but the huntress just gave them a strict look so they all stopped protesting but they still looked like kicked puppies. I was glad I still had a night here as in the short time I was with them they became like my family, looking at Fred he nodded his consent and gave his twin a pleading look knowing it meant a lot to me, sighing she looked around and nodded and with that I went over to the huntresses and we spent the entire day together.

Later that night I was sitting around the fire as I heard footsteps approaching me, "Thou art looking lonely." Smiling I just chuckled as she tapped my shoulder, standing up we took three wolves with us as we went for a walk. "You know I'm really going to miss this and I mean all of this in this short time I would say you guys were the closest thing I've ever had to a family, even you a walking talking ancient corps." Smacking my shoulder Zoë gave me a small smile, "Shut it thy idiot!" Chuckling we fell into comfortable silence as we walked, "Thou know my last name is thine as were family." Smiling I hugged her and we continued in silence returning to camp, seeing Lady Artemis at the fire, "Sit both of you." Obliging I sat on the ground before the fire as Zoë sat next to her lady, "Apollo has spoken highly of you and the way he treated you reminded me of an over excited uncle. You have found a place in all my huntresses harts so it's only fair for me to say whenever you want to visit or need help remember us, as the road ahead of you will be tough, Fillan." With that we all went to sleep. After going for a morning jog and having my last spar with Zoë I cleaned up and said goodbye to everyone as what felt like the last time. "Farewell Helios!" they all said as me and Fred stood ready to leave and I laughed as we left. Fred looked at me questioningly but I just shook my head, "Well then little champ time to get you somewhere safe before big z finds out about you." Smiling I followed Fred knowing he wouldn't harm me.

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