Olympus

At the end of the golden road laden with flowers, Helios, Titan of the Sun and Selene, Titaness of the Moon, greeted Apollo and Artemis.

The nine muses strummed the chords vigorously, each tune reflecting the myriad of emotions that flooded into the hearts of Olympus.

In the auric glow, Apollo greeted Helios. He was the only one on Olympus that Apollo was actually familiar with. "Helios, how have you been?"

Helios chuckled as he put his hands around Apollo's shoulder. "Seriously, you should quit this courteous and formal demeanour; it doesn't suit you at all."

Apollo didn't reply, but his countenance returning placid by moment.

Helios smiled as he dragged him by the shoulder towards the argent glow where Selene and Artemis were talking.

"Meet my poignant sister, Selene," Helios said as the rays of the sun and moon merged.

Selene embraced Apollo. "Your valiant tales, Phoebus Apollo, have spread far and wide."

"I hope it is all good." Apollo smirked lightly.

"Oh, it's more than 'good,'" Selene exclaimed as she let go of him, "the slayer of mighty python, the victor of Delphi, the conquerors of the hearts."

"What?" Apollo asked after hearing the last name.

Helios rolled his eyes while Artemis laughed from the side.

"And you, Phoebus Apollo, live up to all of your titles," Selene continued, her hand on his, ignoring his last question.

Apollo's slight confusion vanished as he tightened his grip on her hand, closing in on her, causing her eyes to widen in surprise, as if she hadn't expected this at all.

"The nymphs and bards have erred, Selene. They do not dare cross the line in their stories and songs. But it cannot deny the truth: you are as ethereal as the moon, burning brilliantly in diamond flames."

"Oh, Apollo, you certainly don't disappoint; you are going to break a lot of hearts," Selene looked him up and down, the silvery glow around them brightening.

"Enough with the teasing, sister." Helios separated them before looking at Apollo. "Don't mind her. She is like that."

"I figured," Apollo laughed.

Meanwhile, Artemis was pulled towards them by Selene.

"This is my sunny brother, Helios."

Artemis greeted him with a polite nod. "Hello."

Helios instantly said to Selene after her courteous and brief greeting. "See, I was correct. They are polar opposites."

"Like us," Selene added.

"You know, I could hear you," Artemis said loudly.

Apollo stepped in, pointing at the forming clouds. "I think we should get going."

Helios nodded seriously as he stared up at the overcast sky. "We really ought to."

Under the glimmer of the sun and moon, they went into the vast main palace.

"Will you still be a sun god?"

Apollo inquired, stepping in between huge ivory columns etched with murals of godly valour.

"You are just taking over my duties, Apollo." Helios said, "I will still be a sun god, obviously."

"A retired sun god," Selene added.

Helios ignored her and pressed. "Why the doubt?"

"Just curiosity." Apollo shrugged. "So I get the sun chariot,"

Helios gave a nod. "Yeah, but you're not going to get the horses. You can go ask Poseidon for yours; he's really generous when it comes to family."

"Horses?" Apollo blinked.

"He likes his horses very much." Selene remarked from the side.

"You like your horses?" Artemis asked in her usual serious tone, and was met with complete silence.

Apollo immediately laughed, putting his hand around Helios's shoulders and giving him a sincere look. "I understand. It is what it is. You can have your horses. And I don't judge."

"Oh…" Artemis shook her head, her palm over her eyes, as realisation struck in. "That came out so wrong…"

"Apollo!!" Helios bellowed, as Apollo's laughter became louder in the background.

Selene stepped in, despite her repressed laughter. "Quiet! We can continue this afterwards. The main hall is here."

A magnificent golden door inlaid with stained glass loomed before them, radiating a divine aura.

"Only enter once your names are called," Selene remarked, solemnity finally showing in her eyes.

Artemis nodded, concernedly inquiring, "Mother?"

"She's there," Selene soothed, sensing her concern. "With everyone."

Finally, Selene nodded to Helios. Helios just snorted, his surging golden eyes still telling of his anger.

Apollo finally asked Helios, with slight hesitation. "How is my father?"

"He is fine." Helios sighed, shaking his head. "As long as you don't anger him."

"Do you have any idea how little it narrows it down?" Apollo said.

"I do very much. It is surprising that you actually do." Helios grinned, walking to the golden door with his sister. "Anyway, I wish you good luck with that, Phoebus Apollo."

Then, he was gone, passing right through the closed door with his sister, as silence engulfed the ivory corridor.

"Why do you say that?" Artemis asked.

"Father?" Apollo asked. Artemis nodded. He continued, chuckling. "It actually is best if you find out yourself."

Artemis shrugged, crossing her hands. Then, she asked again to Apollo. "Mother?"

"Demeter and Hestia are there." Apollo said. "Mother will be fine."

"Still…" Artemis drawled. She really didn't trust any of them. Selene seems genuine and kind, but still..

"We will not stay in Olympus." Apollo said finally, making her finally fall silent. The worry in her eyes, though, was reduced.

Actually, Apollo was constantly exercising his order authority to check for eavesdroppers and prying. Otherwise, he would have stopped his sister from saying anything in the first place.

They waited in silence for a few more minutes.

Boom!

The golden door erupted in a blaze of light, showering them. Then it swung open in a flash of brilliance and smoke. From within, a great divine radiance swept over them.

The entire ground shook as a powerful voice broke out from within the radiance.

"Phoebus Apollo. The God of the Sun and Light."

"Artemis. The Goddess of the Moon and Hunt."

Apollo and Artemis entered upon the call. Their figures were consumed by the brilliance.

Boom!

The golden door slammed shut.

The first thing they saw was a woman in a sleeveless white gown, her eyes covered in white fabric, holding a golden inverse scale in one hand and a silver sword in the other, radiating strictness and authority.

She was Themis, Titaness of Order.

Themis turned to them, nodded, and motioned for them to follow her along the next corridor in silence.

It wasn't that long. Apollo and Artemis arrived at the end within a few moments. There it was, the palace of the gods. Massive columns rose to a domed ceiling, which glided with moving constellations.

Eight thrones were set in an inverted U configuration around a crackling enamours fire in a central hearth pit. The thrones were all taken. Zeus sat in the centre, with Hera and Poseidon on the left and right flanks. Hades, Demeter, and Leto sit on thrones on Poseidon's left side, though Demeter and Leto share a throne that fits both of them. Then there were Hestia, Ares, and Aphrodite on the thrones to Hera's right. And Helios and Selene stood behind Zeus' throne.

The scrutinising eyes were cast on them immediately, bringing enamoured divine pressure with them. Apollo and Artemis were unaffected. Themis gave Zeus a light bow, and he nodded back. Then she exited the palace of the Gods.

Apollo and Artemis walked under the divine gaze of all, until they came face to-face with Zeus. The silence still reigned in the place of the gods.

Zeus sat quietly in a platinum throne, his grey, stormy eyes peering down at them.

"Father." They called in unison, recognising the King of Gods, the Sky Father.

But they didn't bow, which caused Hera, who sat next to Zeus, to glare at them. Poseidon and Hades were indifferent, as they had been from the start. Demeter had a worried expression, but Leto was the one who calmed her down. Hestia maintained her calm and poignant demeanour, while Ares grinned amusedly and Aphrodite twirled her long hair, her gaze set on the Apollo figure.

Zeus, the Sky Father, who was in question, didn't appear to mind, rising from his throne and descending in front of them, sighing.

He stated it unequivocally. The air cracked with lightning with each of his word.

"I wronged you a lot. And it may be irreparable now, but allow me to do this as your father."

Apollo and Artemis looked on in silence, while Zeus waved his hand behind them. Helios and Selene descended from the throne of Zeus before them. They immediately took out an emblem of the Sun and Moon and gave it to Zeus, walking back towards the throne.

Zeus stood before Artemis, placing the emblem of the moon in her glabella. Then, he declared, his voice resounding across the world. "I, Zeus, The King of Gods and The Sky Father of Olympus, proclaim Artemis, my daughter, as the Goddess of the Moon of the Olympian Pantheon."

Then Zeus walked towards Apollo, resting the emblem of the sun in his glabella. Apollo looked right into the stormy eyes of Zeus, unlike his sister, who subconsciously avoided.

Noticing this, Zeus merely raised his brows before declaring again.

"I, Zeus, The King of Gods and The Sky Father of Olympus, proclaim Phoebus Apollo, my Son, as the God of the Sun of the Olympian Pantheon."

The moment his delectation ended, the world changed.

The brilliance of the sun and moon shone down on the entire earth, dividing the sky into day and night. The molten ocean of aureate and platinum radiance descended on them like golden and silver veils, enveloping Apollo and Artemis in auric and argent hues.

The light of the sun and moon converged near Aphrodite, transforming into golden and silver thrones with blazing sun and silver moon insignia carved on the back.

"Ascend to your thrones, my children." Zeus patted their shoulders lightly, "It is your birth right."

He continued, his grey eyes becoming sombre. Lightning lit the world around them.

"You are an Olympian. Never, ever forget that."

"Thank you, father." Artemis said lightly, ascending to her silver throne at the right end.

"Son?" Zeus asked, looking at Apollo, who still stood in the place.

"If I am not presumptuous, can I say something, father?" Apollo asked, his eyes trailing over the worried and indifferent faces of Leto and Hera.

"Go on," Zeus said as he ascended to his throne. His shoulders slumped.

"I have something to present…" Apollo revealed, walking towards Hera, "To the Queen of the Gods."

The indifferent eyes of Hades and Poseidon finally turned curious, while Helios nearly face-palmed himself, seemingly knowing what chaos was about to ensue.

Hera crossed her legs and looked down at Apollo with glazed eyes. She exuded an aura of dominance that demanded total submission. It was pressed down on Apollo without any restraint or mercy.

Apollo, on the other hand, peered into her eyes indifferently. Finally, Hera sneered, her voice booming across the palace of the Gods.

"Let's see what you have, Phoebus Apollo."

Apollo retrieved something from space. It was a vibrant purple necklace, studded with dazzling diamonds. It was a work of art, making even Aphrodite's emerald eyes sparkle.

Hera didn't receive it. Her prying gaze fell on the necklace for a moment, before utter disgust filled her eyes and she waved her hand dismissively, repulsion emanating from every pore of her being.

"Giving you a chance was my mistake. I thought something finally knocked some sense into your mind, making you know your place! Your birth! Your status!" Her venomous mouth spat, her repulsive eyes locked on Apollo. "However, even with the divine blood of my husband flowing through your wretched veins, it still doesn't seem to wash away who you are at the core."

"How dare you present such a filthy thing to me? From here, I can sense its sordidness and foulness!"

"Are you trying to disgrace the Queen of Gods?" Hera's voice boomed out throughout Olympus, rattling the sacred mountain to its foundation.

Demeter's face went pale, but Leto still looked at her son with eyes filled with a mix of anticipation and worry. Artemis, who was ascending, came to a standstill and approached her brother. Nobody stopped her.

"My lady," Apollo said calmly, unfazed by her caustic tongue. He continued, caressing the soiled necklace. "I made this from the hide of a beast. A beast created by Earth Mother herself. A beast that guarded the most sacred Delphi. A beast that was your pet. A beast that you prided yourself on conquering in the Titan War. If you think this is filthy, what does that make of you?"

A deafening silence filled the hall of the gods.