The One Who is Free (Percy Jackson - Maki Zenin & SI-not-MC Chapter 7)
Three sisters looked upon their work, finally finding the origin of mishap, of why their designs weren't quite right.
"Vincent Goodman." Atropos hissed in annoyance.
"So, its that boy. The outsider is rattling against his cage once more?" Clotho said.
"He's an outsider no longer. He should also realize that means he can't defy us." Lachesis said.
"Yet he's trying to push against our designs once more. This time because of his daughters." Atropos grunted. "Again, both outsiders. A pattern?"
"Maybe. Should the next child of his be the same, we might need to end the bloodline." Clotho said.
"He was very easy to implement our designs thus far." Lachesis nodded. "Honestly, how many fathers before him tried the same. He should just cherish his time with them more. How greedy. Does he think he's special?"
"He was never meant to be immortal." Atropos added, sounding bitter. "Claude Rose deviated too far from his original path, due to Vincent Goodman's existence. Claude Rose was never suppose to have lived that long, or succeed as much as he did."
"We should act directly." Lachesis said with a nod.
"He will go for the Apples of Immortality next." Clotho said. "Ours are much better than the Norse." The other Fates hummed in agreement.
"Shame. The girl would have been burned to reignite the fire and be reborn as a minor god. Athena was able to see that." Lachesis said, wondering how Vincent could have missed such a thing, if he figured out enough from the prophecy to move against it as much as he did.
The only other explanation was that he didn't want his beloved daughter to become a god, which wasn't likely. He wasn't like Zeus to fear his kids. Heck, he was all for Maki Goodman becoming an immortal, then why not a god?
Mortals can be odd like that sometimes.
"Block his path?" Clotho said.
"Block his path." Lachesis nodded.
"Wanting to remove Maki Goodman's divinity so she can't fulfill her role? You have grown arrogant, Vincent." Atropos scowled before smiling with malicious glee.
A smile shared by her sisters as they had certain pieces on their board gain the right inspiration, or the right deduction and realization to act as needed.
"So the apple tree and the Hesperides, what are they like?" I asked as dad and I walked through this large mythical garden hidden in San Francisco.
"I do no know." Dad said calmly, eyes scanning around us, while moving forward.
I whirled around looking at him, thrown off by this.
"Wha? But, didn't you come here before? To get one of the Golden Apples?" I asked. I know dad isn't trying to be mysterious, but his long life is just filled with so much stuff to hear about.
"I didn't actually, I wasn't the one who got an apple from the garden." He said with a small sad nostalgic smile. "Let's see, it was 1918, last year of the Great War. Remember Annelise? Yeah, when I said she took a hit for me, that wasn't really the full story." Dad said with huff, and a smile as he stared ahead. "The thing is, Annelise did save my life, in at least making sure I didn't die right away, but I still got hit by a bit of that sun laser blast. It didn't help that I had like, three different poisons in me at the time from fighting some Ottoman shamans, to fucking Lamia," he grunted and frowned in anger, before taking a breath and calming down. "I lived. However, it was basically a given that I didn't have long to live. Me and the boys, we didn't exactly have a lot of magical solutions, and there were many things that could cure everything about me."
"So how did you make it?"
Dad chuckled. "Well, my squad was filled with crazy assholes. William Humphry—Billy, the Son of Hecate who taught me alchemy—Claude Rose, Son of Aphrodite and Susan Bakery, Daughter of Tyche devised and incredibly... fffuuuuucking dumb plan." Dad exclaimed, looking like he wasn't sure whether to smile, to scowl, to laugh or to look bitter.
"A... dumb plan that worked?" I asked, tone filled with hope.
"Technically, yeah, it was a success." Dad sigh, settling on looking bitter. "Billy concluded that the most sure way to save me was to get me one of the Apples of Immortality. We were close, we went through a lot of shit together at that point, so they felt they had to try for my sake. However, we were in freaking Europe at the time, and it's not like we could have gone to the States so quickly at the time. So, Susan came up with the 'brilliant' plan," dad took a deep breath. "Of joining the Hunters of Artemis, find where Artemis kept her moon chariot and steal it."
My jaw dropped. "No way."
"Then, using the chariot, in a single night, the trio would hope over to the Hesperides' Garden, knock out Ladon with one of Billy's potions and get a couple of apples while Claude distracts the nymphs." Dad explained that mad brilliant plan.
"What went wrong?" I asked. Because something always goes wrong with these things.
Dad opened his mouth, closed it, then huffed a smile. "Nothing. They actually succeeded." My eyes widened in surprise and excitement. "There was the hick-up of Billy's potion not being strong enough to fully get the dragon to fall asleep, he almost lost his arm from them. Surprisingly, Claude came to the rescue. He played the guitar like of one Apollo's kids, and according to their account, sang so beautifully, he serenades both the dragon and the nymphs to sleep."
"W-Wait, just like that?" I chuckled, feeling excitement bubble up inside me, but the look on dad's face put a damp on that.
Oh no. This story doesn't have a happy ending, does it.
"Yeah, yeah." Dad sighed. "They succeeded in that part. They got an apple, and were about to get a few more... but had to deal with an angry Goddess of the Moon going on a Hunt on their asses when she found out about the thief." And there's the fucking tragedy section of the story. "They escaped with the chariot with Artemis literally chasing them on foot and keeping up with them. Eventually they reached our camp back in Bulgaria, Claude force fed me the apple while I knocked out. Billy and Susan stayed back to try and either hold back, or appease the goddess." Dad sighed. "Billy was turned into a rabbit, Artemis saying he'll let him go if he survives a week. Susan basically had to protect him from the wild and her 'sisters' from the Hunters. Artemis caught Claude and I and was about to smite us or worse when I made a deal with her."
"A deal? Why would she accept?" Because it sounded like Artemis was on a war path at that point.
"A long time ago, after my mom died," Dad looked up narrowing his eyes in thought. "I was... six or seven, I think. I went and found Artemis via prayer to her, wanting to join her Hunters to train and have a place to live till I can fend off monsters and look after myself. She... said no." Dad chuckled. "But I was a kid, and I called her out on how one of her titles is the 'Protector of Children' so, well, she relented and agreed out of shame if nothing else." My eyebrows rose in incredulity. My dad was part of the Artemis Hunters? "The Hunters however were not all that nice to be around, regardless of the fact that I was a kid. I learned what useful skills or combat skills I could, but eventually I couldn't take it and left when I was ten.
"So, fast forward to 1918, and I reminded Artemis that as I child I had to leave the safety of her Hunters to live on my own, because her Hunters were too fucked up in the head to show kindness even to a child, just because he's male. So we came to a compromise. I will take on the punishment of Claude, Susan and Billy and if I succeed they get to live, scot-free of any punishment. Artemis agreed and turned me into a bunny instead of Billy. I had to survive three weeks, one for each person I was taking responsibility for." Dad looked at me with a savage grin, and my worry turned into confusion and anticipation. "Now, this situation might seem bad. However, one! I was an immortal rabbit due to the apple, not a regular one. Two, I had all of my powers even while transformed."
"Wait." I chuckled. "So, you what? Fought the Hunters rather than run away from them?"
Dad gave a sinister chuckle. "I hunted them down."
"What?"
"Till this day, they treat hunting rabbits like they were hunting the Nemean Lion or something." He chuckled, while I threw my head back and guffawed.
We shared a laugh for a good while, before dad continued the story.
"So... Artemis didn't go back on her deal, right? Given that you have a human body back and all?"
"No. However, Apollo upon hearing about the whole thing, acted like an annoying dick, and when the three weeks were over, rather than the whole thing being over and done with—according to Suntop—it was time for me to face my punishment. As rather than the other three, arguing that the bunny hunting thing was me taking on the punishment of Billy, Claude and Susan, I still had to face punishment for being the reason for the three's instigating actions."
"Oh, that is bullshit!" I shouted.
"Heh, yeah. My friends wanted to argue that, but I stopped them. They got away from the whole thing with their lives, better they keep it, while I deal with some chores of whatever the twin gods wanted. I was immortal now, anything that they do to me won't be permanent if I don't fuck up."
"So what was Apollo's punishment?" I asked, making a mental list of which god to punch in the face, if I had the chance and could get away with it.
"It was technically Artemis' punishment, on advice from Apollo." Dad corrected with chuckle. "Basically I had to serve the Goddess of the Moon for a decade for each person that 'helped me steal the apple'." He gave me a look about how 'fair' that punishment was. "Basically work for Artemis for thirty years. It actually wasn't that big of a deal. Honestly, the biggest challenge was not challenging the Huntresses for being annoying shits, and destroying their self-esteem for the rest of their immortal lives. It also gave me a reason to hide behind to not join my siblings' side during WW2."
"Were you suppose to?"
"Dad implied that as their sibling I had to help them, since they technically represented him. I used Artemis as a shield for that, so I could stay on the Allies' side. We argued about it, but ultimately he let things be, telling me that he won't give me aid against my half-brothers, but also implied that he won't help them against me either." Dad explained. "It was... a nice sentiment from him." He said with a small smile.
Right on cue, as our talk came to an end, we found ourselves in the most beautiful garden I've ever seen, with five beautiful nymphs approaching us, with the rest sitting far behind, waving and being an inviting presence. I felt like resting for a bit before continuing this self-imposed quest.
Only for a wave of energy from dad to shake me out of it.
I blinked as I regained focus. What the hell?
"Welcome! Vincent Goodman and Maki Goodman, it is such a pleasure to meet you. We've been expecting you." Aegle of the Hesperides said with open arms.
"Wow, he's far more rugged and handsome than the stories said."
"Such beautiful physique. Those muscles~."
"Yet you look tense. When did you last rest, great hero? Truly rest, and not simply prepare for the next battle?"
The rest of the Hesperides joined in the encouraging banter. I could feel the aura of their presence and this garden try to wash over us. Tempting us with peace and... sloth, was the best way to describe it. Just rest and indulge in bless and comfort. After all, Ladon was a dragon so fierce even Heracles didn't fight it. Why should I let my dad put himself in so much danger doing that?
Yet the aura emanating from my father was determined and focused. Neither the aura of the garden nor the nymphs had any sway on us.
"You have come a long way. Why don't you give up this foolish quest? You can stay here with us forever. You and your daughter. You needn't fear for her life here in the garden. You needn't worry about her health anymore. The magic of the garden would keep her healthy and young forever."
"I suppose we can also look after the girl. We have some games to occupy her, while we have some 'adult' conversations with her father."
Oi, I can hear you! I glared at the one nymph who said that. She just looked bashful, giving back a sheepish smile.
"We heard many tales of you, Vincent. We would be glad to hear many more from you in person." Said a nymph that looked slightly younger than the rest.
Out of all the other nymph, that one pulled my dad's attention, as she narrowed his eyes at her.
"Who are you?" He said specifically at the younger nymph. The nymph suddenly looked down, bashful with a blush on her cheeks.
"This is my daughter, Laura." Aegle, the nymph who greeted us replied, as she placed her hands on her daughter's shoulders, almost presenting her to my dad.
Hmm, I don't think I've heard of a Hesperide name "Laura" before.
"Is her father...?" Dad looked uncertain.
"Claude Rose was a man I wouldn't forget for many decades, and that was if he hadn't left me such a gift." Aegle smiled at her daughter, who returned the smile. "Now? I will never forget him for many centuries."
Dad smiled. Earnestly and gently.
"I see." He said, in a softer voice he rarely used. "Thank you, for remembering him." He then chuckled. "'Distracted the Hesperides for hours', huh." He said to himself.
"Oh Claude was very distracting alright." Aegle said, as the other nymphs giggled.
"I've heard many tales of my father and of you." Laura said, as she stepped forward. "But I wish to hear more. By your own account, of your own words, Vincent Goodman. Please, won't you sit with us, with me, as we remember him?" She almost sounded like she was pleading.
I felt sympathy for the girl. She may not be human, but she probably wants to get to know her dad, even if it was second hand through stories. Yet... this entire set up felt scummy.
The scene, the setting, the Hesperides words and magic aura, all of it designed to zap the quester's motivation. Even using personal attachments or memories. Actually, aren't they too familiar with us?
Dad warned me of their clairvoyance abilities relating to those seeking the Golden Apples, but isn't this too much?!
I opened my mouth, about to tell them to fuck off with their act, when dad placed a hand on my head. I looked at him as he patted my head, a gesture to comfort and calm me down. His gaze was at the Hesperides, but it didn't look relaxed or taken by their words, rather the determination in them didn't waver an ounce.
"Thank you for your hospitality," dad said. "But I'm not going to be deterred, I'm not going to stop." He said with a firm tone, that made most of the nymphs flinch back. "I only ask that you do not act in any way to bring harm to my daughter, as I complete my task."
"We do not dare harm any of the wonderful questers that seek our garden." Aegle spoke with a sad, resigned smile. Laura looked between her and my dad, looking regretful. Like somehow, her not convincing my dad to stop was her fault. "But we do have our duty to fulfill, Vincent Goodman. Thus, I am sorry it must come to this."
As Aegle spoke, the rest of the Hesperides moved further back, as they raised their hands in the air, calling and singing the dragon's name.
Far, far away at the back of the garden, atop the biggest hill was a giant tree, with glittering lights, that were the Golden Apples.
And under the shade of that colossus tree were the many heads of Ladon wrapped around it. The head's began to steer with it's eyes flittering open. Slowly then all at once, the dragon's many eyes snapped open.
Ladon awakened.
Dad gave me a look to stay put and a reassuring smile. He walked up ahead as the serpentine dragon's many long neck unwrapped from around the tree, and moved forward to face my dad.
Dad walked up in silence, almost an eternity before he reached that hill and that dragon. He stood out of the dragon's range if it didn't move forward from the tree. I couldn't see it's body, but it's likely hidden from view from the side I was at.
"You're not mindless, so I'm going to ask this once." Dad spoke. "We don't have to fight and I don't have to inflict pain on you. Won't you let me have a few of those apples, and we can all go our separate ways."
He said and the dragon tilted the front most head, seemingly in thought. The dragon may be more intelligence than what one would expect.
The ground under my dad's feet crumbled and broke as giant serpentine head swiftly slithered up and out.
Jaw open as wide as a house, before snapping shut and devouring my dad.
AN: I swear to fucking god, I do want to get on with the fight, but writing through zero motivation is tiring.
