27 Consequences

Humanity was created by Apollo, Artemis, Athena, Aphrodite, and Prometheus. The news of this event immediately spread far and wide throughout the mortal world and the divine realms.

It was recorded. The blessings that the gods granted to humanity were etched in the annals of history. The stories and tales of their benevolence and kindness will go on to become eternal with time.

However, still among them, Apollo stood out. His act of giving fire to humanity marked an epochal mark in the infinite river of time, for fire was the true foundation of civilization.

Thus, he would be honoured as the "Patron of Humanity".

However, as the saying goes, every action has consequences. Apollo broke the fate of Prometheus and undid a fixed point in time of the multiverse.

In every iteration of the earth throughout the infinite multiverse, Zeus, the King of the Gods, forbade the gods from granting fire to newly created humans, thus crippling them, as fire is the foundation of civilization. Then Prometheus, the Creator of Humans, stole the fire from Olympus and granted it to mankind. He rebelled against the gods for humans.

In some iterations of Earth, the event was slightly different or even completely divergent. But the "notion" always remained the same, regardless. Humanity will be granted fire in an act of "rebellion" against the gods.

This is a fixed point in time, immutable and unshakable. Just like how Wanda Maximoff is always destined to become the Scarlet Witch one way or another in every universe of the Multiverse, this event was also fated to happen, regardless.

But, Phoebus Apollo undid the fixed point in time, unleashing utter chaos upon the infinite multiverse.

Despite the chaos of the multiverse, the story of created humans in the home universe had just begun, unaffected by changes.

Meanwhile, the realms of the gods were filled with fervour after Quetzalcoatl challenged Phoebus Apollo, the recent rising star among the realms of the gods.

The fight between them was meant to be within the sun. However, after receiving innumerable requests for attendance from the gods of various pantheons who were not connected to the sun, both Apollo and Quetzalcoatl agreed to have their fight in a different arena.

At just this moment, Hephaestus, the Blacksmith of the Gods, made a declaration. He took it upon himself to build an arena for their battle by the end of this year.

Apollo and Quetzalcoatl agreed to his declaration. So, the fight was finalized. Even though this year had just begun, the fervour of the gods didn't diminish. After all, for the gods, the passage of a year is nothing more than the blink of an eye.

___________

The Garden of Forking Pathways.

"I carry the wills and voices of opposition." A big bald head floated in front of a hooded man, declaring calmly. "I speak in representation for all of them."

Then, the floating bald head's expression changed drastically. He bore his bright eyes at the hooded man and bellowed.

"Destiny! Have you truly gone blind?!"

"It was meant to be, Master Order." Destiny said calmly, closing his book.

"Enough!" The Master Order hollered. "We both know the truth. A fixed point in time had been undone and it happened in that specific universe. The repercussions of it are felt all over the multiverse."

"The chaos spreads throughout timelines, universes, and dimensions as we speak, stirring and awakening forces so old that even the multiverse has forgotten them."

"Father is already at it." Destiny said. "The stirring chaos will soon be chained."

"Yes, only chained." The Master Order said. "Not quelled. What's been done cannot be undone anymore. And, Destiny, you just turned a blind eye to the change."

"It was meant to be." Destiny repeated calmly.

"It may be now." The Master Order calmed down. "But it was not preordained, was it? The fate was changed by him."

"This was your domain. This was your duty. You could have separated that universe from the cosmos and locked it, so it didn't affect the rest of the multiverse. And yet you did nothing."

He glared at Destiny, finally revealing his intentions.

"You could still do it. It isn't too late…"

"We will do no such thing." A cold voice interrupted.

A pale woman appeared next to Destiny. Her dark hair. Laurel black, burnt in colour. She was dressed in a goth gown, with a sigel of life hung on her chest and a black umbrella in her hand.

"Death…" Master Order said with a hidden tremor in his voice.

Death looked at him, emphasizing. "That universe is home to me and my siblings. And we will do no such thing to it."

She waved her hands. "Leave, Master Order. My brother has already given the answer. It was meant to be."

"Send my words and his response to everyone."

The Master Order looked at Destiny and Death silently, before nodding rigidly. Then, he disappeared.

"Their tricks and deceptions never seemed to end…" Death shook her head, while Destiny turned and looked at her, greeting. "Sister."

"Big brother, what have you called me for?" Death immediately smiled, "Surely, it shouldn't be just to deal with them, right?"

"No." Destiny said, serious as ever. "There is a problem."

Death lost her smile. "Is it related to Apollo?"

Destiny nodded. "There are numerous consequences caused by his actions. However, one triumphs over everything else."

Death asked. "Can you finally see the paths related to him?"

Destiny shook his head. "It is as foggy as ever. But I can get glimpses from time to time. And through it, I saw the origin of the coming problem."

"It is Gaia."

_____________

Delphi, Greece.

The sun chariot was descending towards the horizon as twilight graced the sky, heralding the end of the epochal day.

Artemis and Apollo leaned against the trunks of trees, looking at the practising hunters without revealing their presence. They had just arrived from Olympus right after creating humanity and having another ambrosia time with Athena, in which she actually revealed that she was going to create an institution of knowledge in the Mortal World. They wished her well before departing for Delphi.

They didn't let their presence be known while waiting for their mother, who sent a message through Iris that she would return by sunset.

Apollo observed the hunters and their especially pitiful strength. They cannot even break a mountain with a single punch.

"When are you giving them your blessing?" He asked, breaking the silence.

"Soon." Artemis responded, "I am finalising the contents right now."

She suddenly sighed, looking at the twilight sky. "They are fragile..."

"Too fragile." Apollo added, also looking up to the sky.

His sister, Artemis, at her full power, could easily purify the entire solar system using her moonlight. By purifying, he literally meant purging from existence.

All of the main gods of Olympus, except Poseidon and Hades, should be somewhere in between star level and solar system level. It was just his educated guess based on his observations on Olympus. However, he was certain of the strength of his sister.

And, compared to the gods, many things were truly fragile.

They looked at the sky in silence, immersed in their own thoughts, until a blazing light erupted near them, and their mother walked out.

"Mother." They immediately embraced her.

Leto smiled and patted their backs, asking. "How was your month? Did the forging go well?"

"It was fine, mother." Artemis said, letting go of Leto. "The forging, though, went more than well. I will show you my weapon after we settle in, mother."

Apollo was silent, looking down at the ground. He finally said, with slight hesitation. "Mother, about Hera…."

"I understand, son. You promised, remember." Leto interrupted.

Apollo jerked his head at her, saying firmly. "I will uphold it for eternity, mother."

"Let's see about that." Leto laughed at her son's proclamation. "But, still, always tread carefully."

Apollo nodded briskly, while Artemis waved her hands at the hunters while saying, "Let's go, I really want to see Delphi."

And they began to ascend to Delphi, walking on white steps with the Hunters following them.

Apollo suddenly asked, in the middle of steps, recalling. "What happened with Aunt Demeter, mother?"

"Oh, that…" Leto smiled, shaking her head. "Persephone sneaked out and managed to even hide herself from Demeter. And she immediately freaked out. Then, I and Hestia finally calmed her down, and we all began searching for Persephone."

She paused for a moment before continuing. "We found her eventually, stranded in the middle of nowhere. But, there was an entrance to the underworld quite near…" She drawled, letting their imagination do the job.

"Someone's in love." Artemis said, thoughtful, her hands on her chin. "But, in the Underworld, who could it be? And it's surprising. Isn't she the spring goddess?"

"Who knows? Maybe it is Uncle Hades." Apollo suddenly said.

"As if…" Artemis shook her head. She could not see it all. The God of the Underworld. The Goddess of Spring. That match seems even more impossible.

Leto clicked her tongue, having a look of realisation "Actually, now that I think about it, it is quite possible."

"How?" Artemis immediately questioned, her brows furrowed.

Apollo answered for his mother, "You shouldn't take tales and stories too seriously. Most are just woven. One can be truly different in person than how it is mentioned."

"I know that." Artemis glared. "But still, they seemed too different…"

"As Aphrodite herself said…" Apollo air-quoted the Goddess of Love. "Love can even bloom in the rarest of places and unexpected of times.."

Artemis snorted, looking away in silence, while Leto just chuckled. "Don't ever tell Demeter this guess..."

Artemis nodded. She already knew the chaos that would ensue if Apollo's guess was ever made to light. Meanwhile, Apollo just smiled, before turning his gaze towards the sky.

"What happened, son?" Leto asked, as she saw her son's smile vanish.

Boom!

Suddenly, the sky darkened with stormy clouds. Thunder boomed. A colossal bolt of lightning streaked down, brightening the entire sky.

Zeus materialised in front of them, his mighty figure shrouded in sparks of lightning. He ignored the tense Leto and worried Artemis, focusing instead on the ever-calm Apollo.

"Father…" Apollo greeted.

Zeus interrupted, his voice calm and majestic. "Did you give humanity fire, Apollo?"

"Yes." Apollo nodded immediately.

Zeus fell silent for a moment. Then, he asked in a deep voice. "Why?"

Apollo looked at his father strangely, as if puzzled as to why he would even ask that question. But he answered truthfully.

"Fire is everything, father. It is the foundation of a civilization. A civilization could not come into existence without it. So I granted it to them." He continued, bringing up the strangeness of the question. "Is there a problem with that, father? I don't want the humans we created to remain as barbarians while the rest of the world grows."

Zeus sighed and patted his shoulders. "You did well, very well, my son." He looked into his eyes. "But just remember, from now on, before making a decision that affects the entire pantheon, get it through me."

"I am sorry, father." Apollo looked down. "I thought granting fire to humans was something..."

"I understand, son." Zeus interrupted, his tone low. "As I said before, just remember my words."

Apollo nodded immediately, "I will get it through you from now on."

Zeus looked at his son for a moment, then at Leto and Artemis. Finally, his figure morphed into white lightning, streaking back into the sky, sweeping the stormy clouds away from Delphi.

Artemis helped and healed her hunters, who were suppressed by the aura of Zeus. Then, they continued their journey towards Delphi, remaining completely silent.

After they entered, Artemis looked in and around, as if checking. Then, she whispered, her voice only heard by Apollo and Leto.

"You totally know what you're doing, don't you, brother? You could really see the future through dreams, so are you now also a seer? This was why Prometheus was so shocked. The future was changed by you.."

Apollo didn't answer any of her questions, just walking ahead and saying silently. "Come on."

Artemis didn't press into his secrets, but her gaze hardened. "Father may or may not have believed you, brother. But it actually doesn't matter much to you, doesn't it? I thought I had already guessed your path before. However, I was…."

"Enough." Leto interrupted, sternly. "Don't utter another word on this anymore, Artemis."

Unlike her daughter, from the information that was revealed, Leto realised something deeper from the words of 'You changed the future'. However, she didn't say her guesses, though, as the consequences of that being just revealed may be catastrophic. She didn't dare to risk it.

Leto looked at her son deeply and said, "I desperately hope you know what you are doing, son. Truth be told, I want to stop you from this wretched path." Her voice became weak. "But what is done is done. There is no more going back…"

"It is my decision." Apollo smiled, taking her quivering hands in his. "I will bear the consequences. I promised, remember, mother."

Leto placed her hands on his cheeks, letting out a sigh. Then, she declared, "We shall not speak of what transpired here."

Artemis and Apollo nodded immediately. Then, Leto grabbed their hands and dragged them further into Delphi, her solemnity waning. She asked, trying to dissipate the heavy atmosphere.

"Show us around, Apollo. It will be one of our homes after all."

"Come on then, Delphi will surely not disappoint…."

____________

A month later. Delphi, Greece.

Apollo overlooked a clear pool of ethereal water created by his power in silence.

A month has passed. He had already become accustomed to the different perception of time that comes with divinity. As an immortal, the way he perceives time is the same and yet somewhat different from humanity. To put it simply, the passage of time is too fleeting in his perception.

But still, he didn't waste his time during this month, mostly meditating and conquering the concept of light. He was almost at his next obstacle, like the white wall that he had faced before.

He had a feeling that the gap between his father and him was slowly closing in. This only pushed his convention, almost making him completely focused on meditation, worrying his sister and mother.

They had settled in Delphi. Artemis was focused on training herself and her hunters while also focusing on nature. Whether it is her moon or hunting divinity, they are closely related to nature. She came up with this idea herself, after she finished blessing her hunters.

Meanwhile, Apollo advised his mother on her divinity. He cannot let his mother remain with no power to protect herself from the world. So he gave her a strange idea about a different way to use her divinity.

His mother, Leto, Titan of Motherhood, has the divinity of mother. It has a connection with life. Through it, she can grant life and also deprive it, as she is literally the mother. It may seem powerful, but it has a striking flaw. His mother's divinity wasn't powerful enough to overcome the immortality of the gods, thus rendering her completely powerless against the gods.

Apollo can't always be there to protect his mother. It is impossible. So, to avoid future disaster, he suggested a different way to use her divinity.

He instructed, saying why should she limit her divinity? Try to grant life to even immaterial and illusory things and control them according to her will. She was obviously confused. So he gave her an example.

"Let's say, if Zeus hurdles a bolt at you, mother. You can use your divinity to grant life to lightning itself. By doing this, you are granting consciousness to it. But remember, you are still the mother here. So order it and use Zeus's attack against Zeus himself.'

His mother was ecstatic, almost in tears, finally finding a path where she could gain strength. But they both knew that things would not be as simple and easy as he described.

Still, his mother immediately began her path with infinite curiosity and conviction. What could possibly go wrong?

Apollo sighed. There was an accident, a terrifying accident….