Chapter Text
~In Olympus~
[Apollo’s POV]
I was proud of myself. It’s been 3 years since the Battle of Gaea and I successfully avoided Zeus and his “so-called” punishment. It may be selfish but everyone hates punishments, even gods. Especially since I know for myself that I’ve done nothing wrong.
Sure, Octavian was my descendant and he had claimed that he was blessed with the gift of the oracle, but how am I supposed to know that that would happen? How am I supposed to stop him from his diabolical plans if we gods can’t interfere with our mortal descendants?
Sure, Zeus can blame me all he wants, but this is obviously Zeus’ fault. If it wasn’t for his ‘don’t interfere with mortal rule’ then I may have stopped Octavian. I mean, if I cared enough, I probably would have.
Hey! Don’t look at me like that, I have priorities. Besides, the camps didn’t go to war anyways, and Octavian died, for all you readers know, that was my doing. Yeah, you’re right, it wasn’t but stop judging!
Hera suddenly walked into my room. Oh great, what did I do wrong this time? She cleared her throat, “Hello Apollo.”
I nodded hesitantly, not knowing what’s happening, “Are you here to hear my haikus?”
Hera pinched her nose then shook her head, “No, of course not. Nobody in Olympus likes your haikus.”
I gasped as dramatically as I could, “How could you say such a thing!”
Hera rolled her eyes, “I’m just here to tell you that your sister, Artemis is calling you in the throne room.”
I immediately smiled, my sister has been hunting too much that I don’t see her anymore, “She is?”
Hera shrugged, “Let me finish child-”
“I am not a child!”
“What did I just say?”
I sighed as I sarcastically replied, “Fine, you may continue, oh holy queen of Olympus.”
Hera gave me a look that says, ‘What am I gonna do with you?’. She then cleared her throat, “Anyways, it’s something about she needing help from you?”
I smiled so wide at that. Artemis has always been so independent that I felt like she didn’t need me, so this is definitely a big thing for me. I immediately shot up then ran to the throne room. When I got there though, Artemis wasn’t the one waiting, it was Zeus. I was about to make a run for it when Zeus snapped his fingers. Thunder boomed all around them, the doors closed, then I found it unable to use my powers.
And so, dreading my upcoming fate, I faced Zeus, “Hello Father, nice weather we’re having today?”
Zeus gave me an exasperated look at the totally intentional, uncool, sarcastic pun. What? I was nervous! Zeus cleared his throat as he sat at his throne. “So, Apollo… You’ve been, MIA from my vision, avoiding me, eh?”
I rolled my eyes as I tried for a smile, “Oh come on! What’s 3 years for a god, right?”
Zeus' eyes glinted, as if an idea just passed through his thickhead. That scared me a lot, and so I swallowed nervously as he began to speak, “That, indeed is true, but ever wonder how tragic it would be to watch someone you love be tortured for 3 years?”
I didn’t like the sound of that, “Wha-”
But Zeus raised his hands to silence me, “You’ve been selfish for the last 3 years, actually scratch that, you’ve been nothing but naughty for decades now-”
I snorted, “And you haven’t”
That earned me a boom of thunder as Zeus glared at me then continued, “Let’s put your selfishness to the test.”
I rolled my eyes, “Goodluck finding someone I truly care about.”
Zeus raised his eyebrows, “Oh, you actually think you don’t care deeply for anyone? How about Artemis?”
I chuckled at that, “As if you’d dare hurt her.”
Zeus nodded, “You’re right I wouldn’t, but I was only proving a point. I do have someone in mind.” Zeus snapped his fingers, then right in front of me was the picture of the infirmary, sitting there was the head-medic doing paperwork on his desk.
I gasped, “No! You wouldn’t dare…” I tried challenging. A lump began to form in my throat. This was my son, and this certain son of mine just happens to possess powers that have been rare for my children, that’s why I’ve watched over him through the years, and I must say, for someone who has such powers, he grew up well.
Zeus just smirked at me, “Well, then, looks like you care deeply for him.”
I shook my head, “Please don’t.” but Zeus didn’t listen, and with a snap of his fingers, thunder boomed in the distance, then things on my son’s side went south.
~In Camp Half-Blood~
[Will Solace’s POV]
Nico has left a note this morning, saying that he had an emergency call from his dad to do some ‘Ghost King duties’. Now, I wouldn’t say that I was whining the whole day, but who can blame me? It’s our 3rd year anniversary! Pfft, if my dad ever needed me on a day like this, I wouldn’t agree and just leave a note. I mean, not like my dad ever cared or gave notice to me, but still.
So, I spent my day overworking in the infirmary, because being around medicinal things always clears my head. When I’m in the infirmary, it’s like I’m in the “Zone”, nothing else matters. It’s like my whole body is on autopilot.
By 6pm, I decided to do the paperworks, because what else better can I do? All my plans, surprises, cancelled! Well, except for that thing I planned tonight. Okay, so I am secretly hoping for Nico to come back uninjured tonight, so that I could at least proceed with that. As I thought about it though, thunder boomed in the distance. Oh great, now it’s going to rain.
The thought was scratched out when Kayla came in the infirmary with a bleeding Nico di Angelo. Oh gods no. Does the fates really hate me that much?
I immediately rushed to Nico’s side then put him up on the cot, checking his vitals, then letting my body take over, while also applying a bit of healing magic.
Okay Nico, you’d be okay, you’d be okay, just stay with me.
Nico was almost fully healed when Kayla gasped from beside me. I gave her a confusing look, then pointed at my feet which was beginning to fade, all the way up. Panic began to bubble up inside me as it reached my hips, but at the moment, all that mattered to me was Nico. So, I gave Kayla the warmest look I could muster at the moment, “Whatever happens, you have to keep healing him.”
“But-”
I tried again, already accepting whatever fate I’m about to receive, as long as Nico lives, “I’ll be alright, okay? Nico is your priority and you know why.” Kayla nodded as my hands began to fade, then up my chest, my neck, then my face. I gave Kayla one last smile, then looked down at Nico to whisper, “I love you.” then that was it, I was gone.
[Nico di Angelo’s POV]
I woke up with a gasp. Kayla was there, in front of me, with a tear on her cheek. I looked around, looking for someone, but not sure who, all I know is someone important should be beside me now, “Where is he?”
Kayla wiped the tear off her cheek, suddenly looking confused, “He who? And gods, why am I crying?”
I shook my head, confused by her confusion, “I-I don’t know…”
Kayla sighed, “Maybe you’re just tired, mind getting some sleep?”
I nodded, not because I want to sleep but because I want Kayla to leave. I feel like I’ve already gotten used to people, but that sounds wrong, did I really?
Once Kayla left, shaking her head as if trying to recall something, I looked around the infirmary, suddenly my heart ached. What caused the pain? I had no idea, all I knew was that something was wrong, something was missing. My mind then began racing back to the negative thoughts it used to have. Maybe I’m the one that’s wrong. Maybe I just didn’t belong. For some reason, a part of my mind is saying that I do belong. When did that part of me exist? I also didn’t know.
I reached for my pocket, because I don’t know, my mind just told me to, then there I found a box. I opened it, then I gasped to see a ring, was this an engagement ring? Was he supposed to propose? Or is he engaged? His heart began to ache more then he broke into tears.
I held the ring near my chest, hugging it, just letting all my tears fall, although I don’t know for who or what, but I do know that anything that can make my heart long and ache this much, that whoever this ring belonged to or is suppose to belong to is important to me and to who I am.
Somehow, without that person in camp, my thoughts were back to the idea of leaving camp, and maybe I will. Not permanently though, just to settle my thoughts. Although, I do have friends. It’s still something to think about.
I slumped on my pillow, head throbbing, tears falling, and heart aching as I covered myself with the blanket then tried to get some sleep.
~Back in Olympus~
[Apollo’s POV]
I wasn’t gonna cry, not in front of my father, never, gods my ship-. I glared at Zeus, “How dare you?! I’m going to end this now!”
Before I could do anything though, Zeus snapped his fingers, then I was in my room, with two screens in front of me, “You’re going to watch these two get tortured trying to find their way back to each other. Maybe then you’d learn a lesson when it comes to selfishness and stubbornness.”
I tried to reach for my powers but Zeus just laughed at me, that little-
He smirked at me, “By the way, you can’t use your powers to fix their cases, that's forbidden if you want this little experiment to end well.”
I kicked some instruments that were scattered on the floor because I’ve had enough of my dad, I’m also a god for gods sake! “Well, the least you can do is explain what happened to my son.”
Zeus nodded, “Oh that’s the fun part, he’s hidden somewhere no one but a few Underworld beings can visit.”
I felt my mind start to race at that, “Wait, so Nico can reach him?”
Zeus shrugged, “Maybe, Maybe not, but the only way you’d get your full powers back, and be set free from this room is if they found each other, fell in love again, and kissed. Also, to make it even more interesting, no one remembers Will except for us gods.”
I gave him a dramatic glare then the finger. Zeus rolled his eyes, “Manners Apollo.”
I snorted at that, “Says the god who can’t keep his pants on.”
Zeus glared at me, and I glared back. He then cleared his throat, “If I were you, I wouldn’t treat the one punishing me badly, because apparently there’s more.”
Pfft, of course there is, “Oh yeah?” I challenged.
Zeus rolled his eyes, “No god is allowed to interfere or else, that would lead to a messy godly meeting. Will could only come out once a year, at his and Nico's anniversary so goodluck to them finding one another. Also, you only have 3 years and you’d have no choice than to watch your beloved son and beloved ship suffer as that time passes.”
I gasped, "What happened if they don't fall in love within 3 years?"
Zeus gave me a scary stern look, "Well, then, you'd never get the full potential of your powers back and Nico and Will won't get their memories back."
I gasped in mock outrage, “That’s evil!”
Zeus smirked, “Oh please, you love being dramatic. You’d enjoy this show.” Zeus then turned to walk but before he could, he turned back to finish his sentence dramatically, “Plus, you said 3 years isn’t much for a god, right? So this should only take a day in Apollo time.” At that he disappeared in thin air just as I instinctively grabbed my bow and arrow then aimed at him. Gods dam it, the arrow nearly hit him.
So, I’d like to say I’ve dealt and accepted this well but, you know? Basically, I didn’t. I kicked and threw whatever I could before slumping down on my comfortable sofa, bracing myself for many tears to come due to this awful excuse of a punishment. What? I’m not about to admit that this is a good punishment, for all I know, Zeus could read my mind!