Hey, people!
So you're probably wondering, why are you publishing a one shot when you should be updating your main fic, Inevitability?
Okay, you're not. But I'm going to tell you anyway.
I'm going off to college again, so this is my kinda-sorta consolation fic for my future hiatus. I might be able to squeeze in one or two more chapters of Inevitability? before the classwork completely and utterly buries me, so fair warning.
So yeah, have fun, leave a review!
Apollo
Winter solstice.
It was one of those important, annual occasions where all the gods had to attend. It was the darkest day of the year, a day the mortals of old speak of with fear. A day even the gods must stay close to each other, for there is strength in numbers.
Apollo's just waiting for the tedium to end, really.
"Mother Rhea loves me the best!"
By the nine muses, not this nonsense again. Apollo plugged his noise-cancelling headphones in and turned on the volume to max. Not good for hearing, as his phone warned him, but he was a god. His metaphysical ears could take it.
As the meeting wore on, the volume in the throne room increased. So did the level of aggression, and Apollo found it increasingly difficult to hold back the urge to deck someone, despite his headphones.
"What do you think, Apollo?"
He started, taking out an earbud. "What?"
Athena glared at him, "I asked you, between Poseidon and me, who was at fault for Medusa."
"Uh," Apollo broke into a cold sweat. Poseidon was a fairly awesome uncle. Not as cool as himself, of course, but right up there. Offending Athena was not something anyone would do if they had half a hare brain, though.
"Why do you have to drag me into this?" He protested. "I wasn't even there. Ask Artemis!"
His twin sister glared at him, "I will shove an arrow up your nose."
"Ask Hermes!"
Hermes coughed, "Oh, no. I have 98 new voicemail. It looks like I'll be busy!"
"Ask Ares!"
"Ask me what, punk?" Ares growled. He took out a large knife and started sharpening it.
"Athena and Poseidon want to ask you something!"
"What?" He demanded, turning to them.
They left him alone. Apollo plugged his earbud back in and scowled.
What happens, he wondered, If I just left?
He'd never actually done it before, since Zeus insisted that the twelve Olympians must stay together for the betterment of all the gods. Tradition, auspicious days, all that stuff. Still, he could be in multiple places at the same time. If he just left an image of himself still sitting on the throne, and let the main part of himself wander somewhere else...he wouldn't technically be breaking the rules, would he, if he didn't leave Olympus?
Decision made, he bent the light around himself and snuck out of the throne room. Nobody except Hestia noticed the hearth flaring a rather ominous shade of purple, and even Hestia couldn't identify the problem for what it was.
Apollo was sure nothing bad could come out of that. He congratulated himself on his ingenuity. No one would probably even notice that he was gone.
Little did he know, things were about to get a lot more interesting. The Fates had decreed that the twelve Olympians must be together around the hearth during the solstice, after all. Olympus or not, Apollo had left the hearth. Not exactly auspicious behavior, and the Fates made sure that Apollo were to learn his lesson.
Apollo didn't see the flash of light growing in size until it was too late.
America
"And as such, I'm the hero!" America struck a pose and grinned.
There was a chorus of facepalms, groans, and a singular "Oh, thank God that's over." Japan clapped politely.
"America," England's eyebrows were taking up the majority of the screen. He sounded very much done with America's plans. "Superheroes are not a viable solution to this crisis. Neither are McDonald's and shakes. We need a real solution, not one that had no hope of coming true."
America felt a pang of hurt from that "Why do you never support my ideas?"
"Because they're stupid!"
"Well, in that case, I will have to disagree with both of you," said France, taking a delicate sip of his wine. Despite the meeting being held entirely online because of the recent...crisis, France was dressed like he was about to go down a catwalk. "I'm doing just fine."
"One: No you're not, and two: you can't disagree with both of us, France!" England snapped. "We've already disagreed!"
As an argument broke out in earnest, Japan sighed and, being the host of the meaning, put them in a breakout room. It was quite useful, that particular feature. It made meetings much quieter, even if it was a bit rude. He had gotten over that the last time the fighting got so heated that his Pasokon caught on fire, though. The manga, the games he had downloaded on his device...lost forever. "Would anyone else like to go?"
"Oh! Oh!" South Korea raised his hand, waving it wildly. "Tell them about the thing I've been working on, Japan! You have the prototype, right?"
"Very well," Japan acquiesced. "I have been collaborating with South Korea-san and Estonia-san on this device. It allows the user to see into different realities."
"Awesome, bro!" America grinned. "Wait, you guys are collaborating? Don't you two have a thing against working together or something?"
"...We did," Japan admitted. "But the recent crisis made us reprioritize things. We have mutually agreed to collaborate, just this once."
"Yep," South Korea nodded, making his Korean Spirit bob wildly. "I still did all the work, though!"
Japan looked like he was about to protest, but thought better of it. "This is the prototype," he held it over the camera.
America made a squealing sound in the back of his throat. "This is so cool, bro!"
"Thank you, America-san," Japan bowed.
"Kolkolkol, but why isn't America part of this project?" Russia asked, leaning forward innocently. "I thought America would be the first person you would contact."
"Ah, you see," Japan looked uncomfortable. "Your health has not been the best lately, America-san, and there is a lot that is happening in your borders. We thought you needed rest, not more excitement. I apologize for not inviting you."
"Nah, it's cool," America gave him a grin. "Just call me for the next project, and we'll call it even."
Japan gave a single nod. Estonia set his hands on the table. "Go ahead and turn it on, Japan."
Japan complied. The screen flickered to life. "Is there anything you want to see in particular?"
"Me!" America said without missing a beat. "I wanna an alternate version of me!"
Japan nodded and set the controls. A few moments later, a landscape appeared.
"Huh?" America frowned. "Where am I?"
Japan hesitated. "I believe this is America the landmass, America-san. An alternate universe where personifications do not exist."
America pouted, "Where's the fun in that? What about a version where I'm an actual person? Or just sentient? Put my human name in if it helps."
Japan did, and of course, that was when it all went wrong.
Japan's dog, Pochi, normally excellently behaved, started barking, trying to climb onto the furniture. For good reason, too, as Russia's scarf had evidently heard the word "sentient" and decided that it was an excellent idea to show it by coming to life and trying to grab Japan's arm through the computer screen. It was a scene right out of that one J-horror movie. Japan gasped, fingers fumbling on the keypad.
Russia's eyes had widened. Evidently, that wasn't part of any scheme to take over the world. With much effort, he managed to tug the scarf into submission. The sudden release of pressure made Japan drop the device he's holding.
Part of it broke off. The case had been 3D Printed with only 5% fill. It had only been a prototype, after all. With a blinding flash of light, America disappeared from view. Someone else, similar looking, perhaps, but distinctly not America, sat where America had been, looking utterly confused.
The name on the screen, which had survived the fall intact, held a single name. "fred"
Greece woke up from his nap. "What just happened?"
So hope you enjoyed. I might write a continuation if I get enough reviews (or if I'm not too busy). Until then, ta-ta!
(Ta-ta? Is that what people say? Ah, whatever, it's fine).