12 Earth Mother
"Your excellency." A melodic voice came from his side, prompting him to turn to the side without any surprise.
A woman in red robes stood there, her long silver hair flowing down to her hips, her striking violet eyes staring down at him. Her hand, which held a silver cup filled with pure water, was offered to him.
"It will heal you," she added as she crouched before him.
Apollo regarded her for a moment before taking the cup from her grasp, his prying eyes scanning the clear water.
The silver-haired woman stated, slightly smiling, after seeing his actions. "The power of the Earth Mother will cause no harm to her direct descendants."
Apollo looked into her eyes. "I killed your guardian, and yet you serve me with this."
"What's done is done." The silver-woman replied succinctly, her smile increasing a bit tad.
'Interesting,' thought Apollo. He glimpsed a fire in her eyes, a fire called ambition.
He then gulped the clear water in one go, having discovered no problems with it. As the woman put it, it was just water blessed by the Earth Mother's divine power.
He felt near-endless vitality streaming through every pore of his body, instantly healing and restoring him to his peak state.
Apollo finally exhaled a long breath. That feeling was too good, nearly making him unable to extricate himself for a moment.
He finally walked forward, accompanied by the silver-haired woman who had been patiently waiting nearby.
"When did you come back?" He asked, turning.
"When you valiantly slayed the python's head with your blazing sword, your excellency." She answered, strolling closer to him.
'So it really is....' Apollo thought, his golden eyes narrowing and turning the sky.
Someone really helped him. They might have even concealed the entire incident, considering that this place had not yet been stormed by the alarmed gods. Reversing time would leave traces. And this was his first attempt, but no one had come. This situation was telling of itself.
However, Apollo didn't really know how to feel about this help from an unknown entity. But one thing is for sure: nothing comes without a price, including this help. It all comes down to whether he can pay it when the time is nigh.
Apollo eventually turned his attention to the silver-haired woman, saying lightly.
"Come on, show me the Delphi."
Delphi. It was a part of his plan to build his force and religion, a church with different departments in it.
But now, after all that happened, he had an inkling that there may be hope in Delphi.
"It would be my honour, your excellency, Apollo," the silver-haired woman said gracefully, her eyes gleaming. "And Earth Mother will always accept her direct descendants."
They then headed to Delphi, which is perched atop the mountain.
"Your name?" Apollo asked, breaking the silence between them.
"Cynthia." Cynthia answered softly, her gaze ahead, seemingly reminiscent.
"Cynthia, the Head Priestess of Delphi." She went on, formally introducing herself.
"You were a mortal?" Apollo guessed.
"Yes." Cynthia gave a nod. "That I was once. Until I was accepted into Delphi as a priestess with the blessing from the earth mother, which granted me immortality."
"Earth Mother?" Apollo paused, mulling over his next words, before continuing. "Does she often provide revelations in response to your prayers?"
"'She' left, if that is what you to know." Cynthia smiled weakly, as they neared the peak of the mountain.
"Left?" Apollo asked explicitly this time, rather than in circles.
"After the war of the Elder Gods ended, Earth Mother said to have left the universe with the remaining Elder Gods. Delphi is one of the last sites on Earth that still hosts 'Her' legacy and remnant power," Cynthia revealed. "It is the source of our blessings. Though there are still praying rituals left behind by 'Her'.."
"But, she never answered." Apollo finished for her.
Cynthia's smile faded for a split second before returning to normal. "We are here, Your Excellency," she says, gesturing to the front.
There it was, Delphi. A massive structure supported by colossal columns. The sheen of ivory reflected in gleaming sunlight. It was sacred and hallowed, with a boundless aura bathing it.
"Welcome to Delphi; a realm of answers and pathways."
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Delphi, Greece.
'Perhaps it's your choice, perhaps it's fate.'
Those words passed through his head as he strode into the gigantic building of Delphi. With Cynthia at his side, Apollo strolled down the middle of a huge pathway. Ivory columns line both sides of the dome, which is framed with murals of naked women and men surrounded by lush forests and animals.
At the confluence of each column, the large pathway forked and separated into smaller pathways, leading to the unknown, literally unknown, as even he couldn't see the end of it with his divine eyes.
Fate was omnipresent in Delphi. The lingering paths, the gleaming ivory, the moving murals, the soothing music, and the heartfelt statuary. It was everywhere.
In the grand scheme of things, everything had a pattern, a purpose, a cause, no matter how small it appeared to be.
Everything was under control, walking down a similar path as he was, some oblivious to it their entire lives and some conscious, albeit the latter were fortunate because some truths are best left unknown forever.
Fate. In his last life, Apollo did not believe in fate. His life and path were shaped by his own choices and decisions, some of which he grew to regret and others with which he came to empathize. Even towards the end of his previous life, he believed that his life was his own, rather than a path carved out by some greater being. It was his faith and belief.
Yet, with the start of his new life, his faith has disintegrated. He wasn't sure if fate existed in his previous existence, but it does in the infinite multiverse. The threads bond even the mightiest gods, causing them to dance to the intended tune, obliviously.
Destiny.
His very existence contradicts the concept of fate.
He wasn't being arrogant with those statement; they were simply facts. But did he believe he was already above fate?
No, he didn't really believe he had surpassed fate simply by existing. Fate is a profound concept that binds the entire multiverse. Even if he had possibly broken fate. There are still many ways fate can indirectly influence him.
His golden eyes darkened at that.
Cynthia, who talked in reverent whispers, interrupted his thoughts. "Your Excellency, we have arrived."
Apollo looked ahead. The main pathway was turned roundabout, and in the middle of it, there was a statue of a plump and beautiful lady at the top, right in front, with ears of wheat growing from her feet and surrounded by spring water.
Her dress appears to flutter, and embedded in it are various herbs and flowers, as well as depictions of various animals. She appears to be tall and holy, with a white halo behind her head. In her arms is an adorable infant in swaddling clothes.
There was a white marble stand in front with numerous candles glowing brightly with vibrant flames. On the front of the stand was carved a sacred emblem. It was represented by a baby surrounded by the symbols of wheat, flowers, and spirit water.
It was Gaia, the Earth Mother and his great-grandmother.
Gaia in the Marvel Multiverse lives up to her title as "Earth Mother." She, unlike her counterparts, is a true mother.
Cynthia approached the stand, taking up a note and a candle and presenting them to him, a glimmer of hope in her eyes.
Apollo scrutinised the candle and the note. The honorific name of the Earth Mother was engraved on it with the praying rituals.
He also noted the hope in Cynthia's eyes. He had no idea whether his great-grandmother would answer his prayers.
He knows he is taking a leap of faith by doing this. The cautious side of him wanted to completely burn the note rather than actually recite it.
However, his situation…
Apollo took a deep breath, grasping the note tightly.
Earth Mother should probably be aware of his existence...
Cynthia shifted to the side as Apollo finally took a step forward, approaching the stand, her gaze fixated on the divine statue.
He came to a halt in front of the statue, placing the candle on the stand. His hands then erupted into white flames, burning away the paper. He clasped his hands together and assumed a praying stance, his hands still blazing.
"The Great Mother Goddess,
"You are the source of all life,
"You are the forefront of Creation,
"You are more Eternal than Eternity,
"I pray for the power of the life,
"I pray for the power of the evergreen,
"Please provide me with your guidance."
He approached the stand, his burning hands lighting his candle. White flame embers separated from his hand and morphed into white daffodils.
Apollo solemnly placed the daffodil in the candle's flames. The flames engulfed the flowers. Then it vanished. There was no ash. It was sacrificed to the Earth Mother.
Finally, he chanted while taking a deep breath.
"Praise you. Mother of All Life."
The praying ritual ended. Apollo eyed the heavenly statue in silence.
The surrounding area became instantly dark. Then everything vanished. The statue, Cynthia, and temple all sank into obscurity.
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A/N : I just wanted to clarify this. This fanfiction is AU with the Marvel Multiverse, including only DC Vertigo Comics, such as Sandman and Lucifer comics. It's not really a complete DC x Marvel crossover, though it changes a whole lot of things in the cosmology of Marvel. I will try to combine them to the best of my ability and explain it in the story.
