Chapter Text
“Father is going to do something stupid,” Apollo whispered resigned, tucking himself further into Artemis’ side.
For once their usual ages were reversed; Artemis taking on the form of a confident auburn-haired teenager and Apollo huddled in the form of a blonde ten-year-old. His fingers picked nervously at Artemis’ silver camo, his own clothes reverted to the simple shepherd’s garb he’d once worn when under punishment as a mortal, in stark contrast to his usual designer fare. It was the equivalent of a safety blanket, for when he was feeling helpless and lost. Put together with his attempt to hide himself away in her side, like a mortal child would find safety under their parents’ bed, and Artemis was sensing some serious red flags.
“What is he planning that has you so terrified?” Artemis demanded immediately. Did she need to hide her twin on Delos for a while? Zoe could take over flying the Moon Chariot for a few years, if Artemis needed to cover the Sun Chariot. As a favoured daughter, who’s Domains had nothing to do with civilisation and thus presented no threat to her father’s powerbase, she had much more protection than her brother. A son. Worse, an overachiever in everything he did, and a patron of many Domains. If it wasn’t for Apollo’s clear disinterest in power and divine politics Father would have gotten rid of him, in an echo of his own father, by now. As it was, his paranoia had made her brother an unfair target of punishment many times. Was this one of them?
“The Great Prophecy,” Apollo whimpered. “Father intends to delay it. Or prevent it all together.”
“The Fates won’t let that happen,” Artemis comforted him, understanding much more of Prophecy than her father seemed to, due to millennia of listening to her brother ramble on about it no doubt.
“There’s two options!” Apollo denied frantically. “Olympus to preserve or raze. Father is going to ensure the second one. We’re all going to Fade!”
“Start from the beginning.” Artemis told him firmly, attempting to cut through his hysteria. “What exactly does Father intend to do?”
And how could she subtly redirect him this time? It wasn’t the first time the twins had to steer their paranoid father away from disaster.
“He’s going to force his brothers to swear an oath on the Styx with him, that they will father no more children.” Apollo replied simply.
“Father couldn’t keep that oath if all of our lives depended on it.” She blurted horrified. What was he thinking?
“Exactly!” Apollo agreed. “The candidate for the Great Prophecy that results would definitely choose to destroy us!”
Considering Father’s stellar parenting, Artemis was not surprised.
“Can we wait for a further candidate?” She wondered.
She had no problems potentially murdering a half-sibling if needed. Not if the brat would be doing the same to herself and all her loved ones if given the opportunity.
“The best candidate has already been born!” Apollo despaired. “The one who’ll result in the best outcome.”
“So, we let that one take the Great Prophecy,” Artemis shrugged. “Problem solved.”
“Not with what Father’s going to do to her!” Apollo insisted. “You know he doesn’t tolerate what he perceives to be threats. She’s Uncle’s child. You think that he’ll let the Prophecy Child be anyone but one of our half-siblings if he can help it?”
“What exactly does he plan to do?” Artemis said slowly, dawning horror creeping up her spine. Surely Father wouldn’t risk war with his brothers by doing what she thought he was going to do?
“Once his brothers have sworn the oath,” her twin winced, “he’s going to eliminate any of their demigods who are under sixteen.”
“And he thinks he’s going to avoid war by doing this?” Artemis questioned incredulously.
“I don’t think he cares, beyond maintaining his control,” Apollo admitted miserably.
He snuggled further into her side. Unspoken, was the way their father treated him in an attempt at control. Even for gods it was an abusive situation. Still, Artemis consoled herself, better abused than dead, as he would be if he was anything less than the fruit of Zeus’ loins with his most favoured mistress. And she knew their mother went out of her way to maintain that status, despite the feelings dying out on her side centuries ago. If her baby brother was any less beloved, he wouldn’t be here. His people pleasing personality, the opposite of her own independent disregard for conventions, was a result of the way his existence could hang by a thread at the whims of other people, at any time.
“So, we warn Uncle to keep his daughter in the Underworld until she turns sixteen.” She suggested. Apollo frowned.
“It’s Uncle P’s daughter,” he corrected her. “And if she spends too much time in Atlantis, her Fatal Flaw could interfere with the preservation of Olympus. Oceanus would offer clemency and protection for the Sea Royals if they didn’t fight. If she was only Loyal to the sea gods, I don’t think she’d pass that up to help Olympus.”
“I didn’t think Uncle P could have demigod daughters,” Artemis blinked. “Not since Ares cursed him after Halirrhothius.”
“She’s his first and only,” Apollo confirmed. “Born weeks too early and only surviving because Amphitrite consented to nursing her. And the mother only made it that late a stage of pregnancy because she had divine heritage, if distant. It still killed her.”
“He didn’t call me for the childbirth,” Artemis sulked slightly.
She would have come if her favourite uncle called. It wasn’t as if childbirth was one of her Domains or anything. Perhaps the mother might have lived.
“He barely managed to get both mother and child to the ocean before delivery,” Apollo shrugged. “It was the only way the baby managed to survive at all.”
So, it wasn’t a deliberate disregard of her then. Just a lack of time. Artemis would let her uncle off just this once.
“What is this child’s name then?” She asked curiously. Her uncle, or his wife would have been the one to name her if her mortal mother was dead.
“Rhea,” Apollo announced smugly. “What else would Uncle name her? She’s eight years old currently, and living at an orphanage.” His expression fell. “Uncle couldn’t raise her because of the Ancient Laws.”
Laws that had been put into place because of him. His handling of Asclepius’ death after raising the poor demigod had been extreme. Artemis was hardly surprised he still felt guilty for the consequences of his actions. Especially in regards to how they affected vulnerable demigods, due to his Domain of Protector of Youth.
“If we inform Uncle, he will take the girl down to Atlantis, never to be seen by the surface again.” Artemis concluded grimly. “So, we need to hide her from both of them. And probably Uncle H too, if his demigods are underage.”
“You could make her part of your Hunt?” Apollo suggested. “She won’t age to sixteen that way. Not until you release her from her oath.”
“Without permission?” Artemis gasped.
Gods were possessive creatures, her uncle even more-so. Even when poaching her half-brother’s children for her Hunt, Artemis had the courtesy to inform them which of their daughters she was stealing.
“She’s currently ignorant of her heritage.” Apollo shrugged. “And Uncle is about to be very distracted.”
“You’re not going to send a warning?” The Huntress asked neutrally.
It made sense from a tactical standpoint, but her baby brother was sentimental enough to try and save those demigods that fell under his Protector of Youth Domain.
“We can either save the right demigod, or all of them,” Apollo hummed absently, eyes burning gold with the sight.
“No warning then.” Artemis concluded. “Will you tell me where my newest Hunter is staying?” She asked with a shark-like smile.
“Oooh,” Apollo beamed, bouncing to his feet. “I know where, I know where.”
Bouncing to his feet, his fingers caught the sleeve of her jacket, and he tried to tug her along.
“Let’s go Sis, this has to be timed perfectly!”
Artemis allowed him to drag her along with a smile. At least her twin was happy again. It was worth taking on a controversial Huntress. Even if an eight-year old’s short legs would have significantly more difficulties keeping up on a Hunt. The girl would just have to adapt.