[Apollo]

"Fuck." I say into my hands.

This is not happening. The Fates didn't just out me to the council. I'm not on Olympus. I'm in my room, in my dorm, at NYU. I don't have to save the world, I only have to finish my essay on E-coli. I'm Lester "Apollo" Papadopoulos, I'm 22 years old, I'm a med student at NYU, my best friend is Meg, I do slam poetry on weekends, I'm a national archery champion, my favourite colour is Silver like my sister's eyes, and I'm a mortal. This is a really bad dream and I'm going to wake up soon.

"Apollo! Explain this right now!"

This is not a bad dream.

"Sure, I'll explain." I snarled, turning on my father. "The future is fucked up, most of our children are dead- including all your children by the way- there were three Great Prophecies in ten years, we were all on the verge of fading, I was mortal, and, oh yeah, all the pantheons clashed."

"What?" Father says numbly, in shock.

My family is pale, horrified, terrified, looking at me with fear. I didn't care, I was on a roll.

"Kronos rose. Gaia rose. Python rose. Camp Jupiter and Camp Half-Blood nearly had another Civil-War. Ragnarok almost started. Set and Apophis nearly destroyed the world. And we got over it. But now? Now I have to do all this bullshit all over again! And I'm not even the one who had to deal with most of it! I was happy! I had a home, a family who cared, and the fucking therapy that our entire family needs! But nooo! Someone thought that they should send me back!" I was panting with the force of my rant. "So yeah, I'm fucking pissed off. And I can tell you my companions are even more unhappy with this bullshit."

"Apollo!" Hera spoke up, angrily. "Don't you dare speak to us this way!"

"I'll speak to you as I wish!" I could feel the beginnings of a drought in Australia, a heat-wave in Mexico, an outbreak in Africa, a wave of writers' block in America. I tried to reign it in, but 6 years without any godly powers made my control slip. "You don't scare me! What are you going to do? Make me mortal? I'd thank you. Imprison me? My companions will free me. Make me fade? Good job, that'll be fun for you to clean up! And I'll get some fucking rest out of it! What are you going to fucking do?"

Hera was silent, disturbed.

Father spoke up, his voice steely. "Who are your companions?"

"You aren't getting that from me." I smirked, "I know that as soon as you do, you'll kill them. Even…" I wave my arm at the Fates, "With their warning not to."

"Apollo! Do you not understand what's at stake here? Your little stunt might mean the end of our rule!"

"Your rule!" I shouted, standing in anger. "It's your rule! Even if we rebel, the only one getting disposed of would be you! And I know exactly what's at stake! That's why I was chosen, not any of you, me!My companions and I were chosen for a reason- because we're the only ones who know what we need to do! One for their sheer power, their ability to lead, their knowledge in every quest, their unyielding loyalty. One for their ability to temper the others, to win every battle they're in, to plan and win. One for their knowledge in the inner workings of Kronos' army, because they can lead and be led, because they can make hard choices. One for their power, for their knowledge of every pantheon and their workings, for their determination to make us better. I was chosen because I know the inner workings of Olympus, because I know what buttons to press to get you all off your asses and fighting, because I can help Olympus be great! Don't you ever dare say that I don't know what's at stake!"

I've somehow managed to do something that has not happened in a council meeting since they began. Complete silence rang in the room as my family stared at me in shock.

"Never, ever, tell me I don't know what's at stake." I stated, daring them to disagree with me. "I have given my life to save so much. And I will do it again, since none of you dare to do so."

I stare at each and every one of them, conveying my desperation, my anger, my determination, my feelings. They seem to understand, slowly, yet they still fear the truth.

I remember fearing the truth. Ironic that as the god of truth, I ran from it. The moment I became mortal though… I faced the truth everyday. Now, I fear being like them; afraid of the truth, running from it.

"Well said, young god." The Fates spoke up, "That strength in truth will serve you well in the future."

I looked at them. Stared at them straight in the eye, and raised my head high. "I'm not afraid of the future- or the truth- anymore." I proclaimed with pride.

They nodded. Turning from me, they announced to the rest of the Olympians; "We may not have a hand in your actions anymore, but we can still yet cut your strings. Harm any hero with the gift of Free-Will, and you shall fade. This we swear."

I watched my father pale even more with a smile. Serves him right for being such an asshole.

"Good luck, hero." They told me, and vanished.

I stared at the spot where they disappeared. I guess I'm on my own now.

"So," Athena said, looking at me with her calculating gaze. "What do we do to save ourselves?"

I braced myself for this argument. They're not going to like this.

Well, you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.

A/N

Apollo popped off! Yes! This was super satisfying to write!