Notice: I will be using Gigi's animation as the basis for this song. I'll notify you before each chapter begins, so anyone who wants to look it up on YouTube can have the best experience.

The screen lit up, showing the words "The Horse and the Infant."

Alright my brothers, listen closely.

On the screen, Odysseus lights a torch and begins to sing.

"Hey, wait, why am I singing?" Odysseus asked, a bit puzzled and a bit disturbed. Weren't they supposed to see his future? Or his past, in his case. He didn't remember singing during his journey.

"That's what it means to be in a musical, my dear Odysseus. Everyone here will hear you singing all the time," replied the voice, to Odysseus's despair and the amusement of his friends and family. "And everyone here will also be singing."

Now it was Odysseus's turn to smile at the others; at least he knew his voice was fabulous.

Calypso was enchanted; the man who had arrived on her island had an incredible voice.

Tonight, we make the Trojans pay

"We're starting with the fall of Troy, then," Eurylochus nodded. "That makes sense."

"Yes... that night," Odysseus's voice almost faltered as he recalled the beginning of his sins.

Ten years of war, they've killed us slowly

Penelope grimaced; even though it had been prophesied to take so long, she didn't have to like being separated from her husband for such a long time.

But now we'll be the ones who slay
Think of your wives and your children

Odysseus's men thought; 108 of them, in particular, thought of the children they had left behind. They hoped that they had grown into great men.

Your families wonder where you've been
They're growing old and yet you're still here
Do what I say and you'll see them again
(Yes sir!)

Some could feel the excitement of battle returning to their bodies with their captain's words.

Diomedes will lead the charge

"I wonder where Diomedes ended up," Odysseus thought of one of his closest friends during the war. (Note: in this story, Diomedes and Odysseus did not have a romance; I can't imagine Epic's Odysseus with anyone other than Penelope. Sorry, shippers.)

Agamemnon will flank the guards
Menelaus will let our mates through the gates to take the whole city at large
Teucer will shoot any ambush attack
And little Ajax will stay back
Nestor, secure Helen and protect her
Neo, avenge your father, kill the brothers of Hector
(Yes sir!)

Athena nodded to Odysseus. "It was a great strategy." She didn't know why she felt so proud seeing her former pupil using her teachings.

"Heh, little Ajax staying back," Polites chuckled to himself. "Why did you tell him to stay back again?"

"We needed someone agile and hard to catch if something went wrong," Odysseus replied. "Also, I didn't want to be near him after that game; for someone so small, he sure holds a grudge," he thought with a touch of nostalgia.

Find that inner strength now
Use that well of pride
Fight through every pain now
Ask yourself inside
What do you live for? What do you try for?
What do you wish for? What do you fight for?
(What do you live for? What do you try for?)
(What do you wish for? What do you fight for?)

Many thought of their families; some thought only of their wives, others only of their children, and still others just wanted to return home.
Eurylochus snuggled closer to his wife.

Penelope
Penelope

Penelope felt a joy fill her. Of course, she knew her husband thought of her, but hearing him say—or sing—her name with such affection made her heart race.

And Telemachus

Telemachus, who had been silently admiring the whole situation, grew even more excited. His father thought of him while at war, warming his chest and widening his smile.

I fight for us
I fight for us
(What do you live for?) Penelope
(What do you try for?) Telemachus
(What do you wish for?) I'm on my way
(What do you fight for?) attack!

The sounds of battle filled the room. Those who had taken part in the invasion could remember it perfectly, perhaps because, for them, the battle had taken place only a few days earlier.
Circe watched with interest. It was not common for her to be interested in mortal wars, but the Trojan War was not a simple mortal war; it was a war with constant divine intervention.

Who was that?

Suddenly, a man stabs Odysseus from behind.

Everyone except Odysseus jumped. It was so sudden that Hermes threw his bucket of popcorn into the air, and some pieces got stuck in his helmet.

Those closest to the king of Ithaca looked on with concern. Was he alright? Had he been injured? Eurylochus and Polites, in particular, were more worried; they didn't remember their friend being hurt. Was he hiding injuries again?

A vision

The sound of thunder filled the room, and an eagle landed in front of Odysseus.

"Who is that?" Telemachus asked curiously. It was an imposing and harmonious voice.

"Zeus," Odysseus and Athena answered at the same time. Athena, in particular, remembered this part; she had wondered for a while why Zeus had decided to announce this vision. The answer she received was:
"I wanted to test the mortal that my daughter has been so interested in over the past decades."

Athena didn't like that; something inside her told her to protect Odysseus at all costs.

Polites and Eurylochus sighed with relief, knowing it wasn't a real injury, but grew tense again at realizing it was the king of the gods himself.

Ctimene wanted to know what her brother had done to have such bad luck that the king of the gods himself would come to deliver a vision.

Penelope hugged her husband more tightly.

Of what is to come, cannot be outrun
Can only be dealt with right here and now
Tell me how

Athena furrowed her brow. "Be more careful. Lord Zeus has killed mortals and punished immortals for less." Outwardly, she kept a severe expression, but inside, her concern was growing, even knowing that this had already happened.
Odysseus was still not used to hearing his former mentor speak to him again. "I... I'll keep that in mind."

I don't think you're ready

Telemachus looked confused. Of course his father would be ready; he was incredible. He fought and led incredibly well. He couldn't understand why Zeus thought otherwise.

A mission
To kill someone's son
A foe who won't run
Unlike anyone you have faced before

Odysseus was being led through the palace by Zeus as the two continued to sing tensely.

Some soldiers understood the meaning of the lord of the sky's words; they had seen their captain perform such an act. However, they kept their mouths shut, as they knew where this was going and didn't like it. Their captain didn't deserve such a mission.

Say no more
I know that I'm ready
I don't think you're ready

The two stopped in front of a door.

"Here it comes," Odysseus whispered as he stared at the screen. He didn't deserve to look away, not after everything he had done; he had to face his sins and mistakes head-on.

Penelope snuggled closer to Odysseus, worried.

It's just an infant
It's just a boy

Odysseus approached a cradle, singing softly, as a lullaby played in the background.

Seeing the child's face again, Odysseus felt once more the weight of his sins and all the pain he had endured. Penelope's embrace was the only thing that kept him from breaking down into tears.
Penelope frowned; she was irritated with Zeus for giving her husband such a mission. There had better be a good reason for such an act.

What sort of imminent threat does he pose, that I cannot avoid?

"The boy is probably a threat to his future if the previous vision was a hint," Circe thought, feeling sorry for Odysseus. She knew that a mission given by the king of the gods could not be refused; unfortunately, the child was probably already condemned, if Odysseus's attitude was any indication.

This is the son of none other than Troy's very own Prince Hector
Know that he will grow from a boy to an avenger

"So that's why," Penelope murmured, still unsatisfied.

Polites wore a scowl that didn't match his normally cheerful face. He couldn't bear the idea of an innocent child having to die, still believing the child could be raised and loved enough not to become a threat.

One fueled with rage as you're consumed by age
If you don't end him now, you'll have no one left to save
You can say goodbye to
(Penelope)
You can say goodbye to
(Penelope)

"If what was said before didn't convince him, this will," thought Ctimene. She knew her brother well; he might even try to ignore a threat to his kingdom and himself, but if that threat was directed at Penelope, he would act decisively. Judging by her husband's expression, he had reached the same conclusion.

I could raise him as my own (he will burn your house and throne)
Or send him far away from home (he'll find you wherever you go)
Make sure his past is never known (the gods will make him know)

"Why insist so much on making the child grow up to seek revenge? The gods could simply not tell him," Telemachus said, not understanding why his father had to do it. If the gods didn't warn the child, there would be no need for him to die.

"It's not that simple, child," Hermes replied with a smile that didn't reach his eyes, which were not visible. He was not pleased with his father's interference with his beloved descendant. "Zeus may not tell the child, but many other gods would be interested in revealing the truth, whether because they support Troy, out of boredom, or even for fun. There are too many gods to stop them."

Even if Hermes's explanation made sense, it didn't mean everyone had to like it.

I'd rather bleed for ya (he's bringing you)
Down on my knees for ya (down on your knees)
I'm begging please (oh, this is the will of the gods)

Polites still hoped there was a way to convince Zeus, but even he knew it was a lost battle.

Please don't make me do this, don't make me do this

Odysseus fell to his knees, begging Zeus, while the child looked at him with curiosity and innocent wonder.
Athena hated seeing him beg her father, but unfortunately, it was necessary; the child was too great a risk.

Penelope and Telemachus embraced Odysseus, who stared intently at the screen, not daring to utter a word.

The blood on your hands is something you won't lose
All you can choose is whose

Odysseus shuddered at these last words, knowing that another painful choice would be demanded of him by Zeus. He only hoped to have his family's support as the next songs were revealed.

The atmosphere in the room grew heavy as the screen slowly faded to black.

Some timeline context:Odysseus is from the end of Charybdis.

Calypso is from the beginning of Love in Paradise.

Athena, Hermes, Circe, Penelope, Telemachus, and Ctimene are from the end of Thunder Bringer.

The rest are from the beginning of Full Speed Ahead.