Fatal Flaws

Nyx, the Primordial Goddess of Night.

If there is a list of people Apollo wishes to avoid, Nyx is close to the top of that list.

His plan to obtain hope was dangerous as it was centred on too many unknowns, but even so, Nyx was second-best in it.

Hope, or her given name, Elpis, was Nyx's daughter. So, in the end, his plans to obtain hope would have been known to Nyx one way or another.

But hope was too valuable. So he went ahead with it, betting blindly. Nonetheless, he left a slew of backup plans for the majority of failure scenarios.

However, his concerns were allayed when Nyx presented them to the council. And he still had some ridiculous allusions that she didn't know. But it was all neatly crushed when she looked at him in concealment.

And she smiled.

Nyx was already aware of his intent—or at least a portion of it. Nonetheless, she granted it to him. And it wasn't obviously due to her kindness and generosity.

Everything has a price. Apollo was well aware of it. But for Hope, he was willing to take the risks, and the most dangerous risks came from the Kindly Ones themselves.

Looking back, he still felt surreal remembering what he had accomplished.

He had temporarily bound the Fates, who were Outerversal in power and level of life, rendering their authority over Destiny meaningless.

Destiny. He used it to his advantage in his plan. The birth of Pandora and the liberation of evil were completely predetermined events that not even the Fates themselves could interfere with.

In light of this, he has already unearthed something very intriguing in his millions of pries into Destiny: while the fates have great authority over Destiny, they are also completely bound by it.

He formulated a plan based on it: Use Destiny itself to bind the hands of the Kindly Ones.

Apollo intervened and allowed Pandora and the evils to fulfil their destiny under his control in order to obtain hope.

The Fates were powerless to stop him. The very cosmic laws that gave them their power bound their weaving hands.

But Apollo was still cautious. There was a lot at stake, and he didn't want any more complications from Fates or others. He directed Pandora to his own city, where he had the most influence, in order to completely control everything.

And he succeeded in the end. He gained hope, which burns brightly in his heart; as long as it does not go out, he is.....

Eternal. Truly Eternal.

He will also be able to overcome any adversity or problem, no matter how illogical, impossible, or inconsistent, as long as hope burns in his heart.

Apollo understood that it may appear to be true plot armour, but he didn't dare forget that this was the Marvel Multiverse with the Endless and other DC cosmic beings. There are many entities who can easily kill hope here. Nevertheless, this was more than enough of a pillar of support for his dreary path and future.

'But at what cost…'

Apollo paid dearly for this, so much so that he didn't feel joy or elation for a long time upon obtaining it.

His eyes dimmed slightly. Then, he reined in his chaotic thoughts, putting away his spear of eternity in his personal dimension, and focused on Hecate.

"Aunt Nyx..." Hecate smiled as she rose from her seat and hugged the primordial goddess.

'Well, they are closer than I thought.' Apollo looked at them, rising from his seat as well.

"Hello, little Hecate…" Nyx spoke ethereally. Her voice was like a lullaby, as beautiful as she was, and just being in her presence calmed him down, sweeping all of his worries away in tranquilly. "How have you been in the mundane world over the years?"

"It's everything I could have wanted, Aunt." Hecate smiled as she approached Apollo and stood shoulder to shoulder with him. "This is my love, Apollo…"

"I know." The Primordial Goddess of Night said, and her eternally dark eyes turned towards Apollo with a starry glint. "We've met before."

Then she inquired. "Have we not, Apollo?"

Hecate looked at him in surprise. "When?"

Apollo didn't know why, but the starry glint in her eyes unnerved him. It almost felt like she was judging his worth.

But his face was as calm as ever. "Yes, on Mount Olympus. The evils were her children."

"Oh, yes…" Hecate rigidly nodded, recalling that crucial information.

"Hello, Nyx." Apollo smiled gently as he extended his hand. "It is good to formally meet you."

"Likewise, Apollo." Nyx smiled and shook his hand, her serene aura deepening and becoming darker by the moment.

Hecate stepped in between them in time, sensing the strange tension in the air between her love and her aunt, and she could already guess why.

Nyx and Apollo, however, locked their dark and light eyes on each other.

"So, aunt..." Hecate said while looking around the tavern, which was lively and swarming with people who were still unaware of their existence. "Where is Mother?"

"She's on her way." Nyx said simply. "She is giving something that she created a final check."

Hecate nodded and looked around at the mortals, slightly embarrassed. They are in a human traven with her aunt, who is a primordial. She can only imagine how her aunt, who is so aloof and exclusive, would feel being here.

"Aunt…" she suggested. "Let's leave and go to Delphi."

"No." Nyx said, surprisingly. "It's no problem, little Hecate. Humans fascinate me. I want to try what they have."

"But…" Hecate continued, gazing at the mortal food, but Apollo gently nudged her. "My love, it's fine…"

Hecate looked at both of them and inwardly sighed. They then went back to their seats. Apollo conjured a light chair next to Hecate, and Nyx took her seat on it with such elegance and grace.

"Andreas." Apollo called. And the little boy dashed out from behind the wall, striding toward him with nervousness and excitement.

"Yes, mister." Andreas bowed, his gaze drifting to Nyx, who turned and peered at him, noticing his gaze.

"What do you want, Nyx?" Apollo inquired.

"Entrain me," Nyx said simply.

Apollo nodded and ordered Andreas, who was now shivering in fear and panic. "Same order. Make certain that it is the best. I will give you another tip, little kid."

Andreas's innocent eyes glowed with excitement, overcoming the fear in his heart, and he nodded enthusiastically before bolting back towards the kitchen.

"That boy is intriguing..." Nyx murmured.

"Oh?" Apollo asked. "How so?"

"His fate had somewhat changed." Nyx smiled at Apollo. "He is destined for great things now."

"That's certainly surprising, isn't it?" Apollo inquired, raising his brows. His voice, on the other hand, betrayed him, as it was as impassive as ever.

"I suppose so..." Nyx murmured.

Hecate had her hands on her temples, feeling the rising tensions in the air.

"So, Aunt, if I may ask…" She asked, again intervening in time, not to let things get out of hand. She didn't want her aunt Nyx to become one of their enemies. They already had a long list of them.

"Why have you decided to visit me at this time?"

But before Nyx could respond, a divine woman dressed in a starry gown entered the tavern.

She was Asteria, the Titaness of falling stars and divination.

Asteria quickly found them and made her way swiftly towards them through the winding tables filled with mortals.

Apollo and Hecate got up from their seats and hugged her.

"Aunt." He greeted.

"Mother." She smiled.

Asteria returned their hug, gently kissing their cheeks one by one.

She sighed. "How much have you both grown already? Time truly doesn't wait for anyone, does it?"

"And seeing you two together just makes my heart…"

Her eyes welled up in tears of joy.

"Oh.." Hecate wiped her tears away and wrapped her in a tight hug. "Mother.."

Apollo invited her. "Come on, Aunt, sit with me."

He conjured another chair near him. And Asteria nodded, leaving her daughter's embrace and taking a seat with them. Apollo and Hecate returned to their chairs as well.

Asteria finally noticed Nyx, who was watching them silently. And she rose to her feet, frowning as she looked around the mortal tavern. "Milady…"

"It's fine, Asteria…" Nyx shook her head.

Asteria nodded, and, not inquiring any further.

"And don't mind me…" Nyx added ethereally, looking at all of them.

Apollo nodded. Hecate is certain he was rolling his eyes inwardly at that. And her mother was taking out something from her light gown.

It was a laurel crown. Each of its leaf patterns shimmered with starry blue light, as though they were stars in the night sky.

'No, they are really stars...' Hecate narrowed her eyes.

"Here, Apollo." Astoria passed the crown. "I crafted it just for you over the years. It is my gift."

Apollo accepted it, his hands trailing ever so gently over the starry laurel leaf patterns, as if he were caressing a priceless treasure.

"It's beautiful," he said quietly. "An epitome of art."

"Thank you…" Apollo said, and then he passed it back to her, much to their surprise.

"Crown me yourself, aunt."

Asteria smiled, and her smile said everything about her happiness. And she placed the star-studded crown on his head.

A bunch of streaks of light rose from the hands of Hecate and exploded into miniature fireworks; hundreds of sparkles of light descended on Apollo and Astoria.

They turned to face Hecate, who was grinning with such delight as if she had been the one to receive the gift.

Apollo invited her. Hecate rose from her seat and joined them. And they hugged each other again, in the midst of the laughter and chuckling.

After a few seconds, Nyx coughed, gesturing to their sides, and they promptly separated. Andreas, the little boy, was standing next to their table, holding food for Nyx. He didn't say anything at all and stood there nervously, afraid to disturb them.

"Come on." As they returned to their seats, Apollo pointed his finger. "Serve it."

Andreas immediately walked over and placed the plate next to Nyx. "It is the best in our taverna, milady."

"Aren't you a sweet little guy?" Nyx spoke softly. Then she raised her hand, stopping Apollo from giving the tip. "Tip, is it?"

Apollo squinted at her.

Nyx drew a dark coin from the air and tossed it to him.

Andreas caught it and didn't even look at it before putting it in his pocket and bowing to her with a quiver. Then he literally blitzed back to the kitchen.

"That's another blessing...." Hecate muttered under her breath, gazing at his fading figure.

Nyx smiled and picked up the bread, eating with her ever-divine elegance and grace.

Apollo turned to Asteria. "Aunt, do you need something to eat?"

"No. No." Asteria shook her head. Then she smiled curiously at Apollo. "But, tell me about you; is everything fine between you both?" Her face went sour. "She never tells me anything.."

"Mother!" Hecate blushed.

Apollo flashed a grin, his big and idiotic grin, at her. Then he began. "It is everything I could have asked for, Aunt…."

The dim light of the sun lit a glow on them between their talks and smiles, their grumbles and chuckles.

_________________

An hour later.

Parthenon, the Heart of Delphi.

Apollo and Hecate stood next to each other as he whispered into her ears, whilst also Astoria and Nyx wandered around the Parthenon, admiring the creation of the God of Art.

Nyx suddenly turned back towards Hecate. "You asked me why I came to visit you, right?"

"I could somewhat guess what you want to truly achieve from this ascension of yours. And it's dangerous, little Hecate."

"So, just in case, I'm here to oversee and protect you..."

"Aunt Nyx.." Hecate had her hand over her heart, but she caught a sour look in Apollo's eyes from the corner, and her smile faded.

Apollo declared, firmly gripping her hand, "I could protect her."

Nyx smiled at Apollo, cocking her head. "Do you know what your fatal flaws are, Phoebus Apollo?"

Apollo merely stared at her.

Nyx answered her own question. "It is family and hubris."

"And they cloud your judgement yet again."

"You should be well aware of the grave dangers that come with her ascension. But you still oppose me."

"You speak as if you know me, Nyx?" Apollo glared.

"But I do know you, Apollo." Nyx smiled ethereally, spreading her dark hands.

"I am the Night, the Universe's First Darkness. I am the Mother of Concealment and Empress of Misfortune."

"There is really not a lot that can be hidden from me."

"Apollo!" Hecate finally intervened, stepping between them. "Aunt Nyx looked after me throughout my life in the underworld. I trust her."

Apollo finally nodded, though with palpable reluctance.

Hecate continued, not wanting the situation between them to deteriorate even further.

"Let's begin."

Apollo turned toward her, placing his forehead on hers. "Go and break your limit, my love. I will watch over you."

Hecate nodded, lightly kissing him. And Apollo watched her turn toward Nyx and Astoria, receiving their blessings.

Then she walked to the Parthenon's centre and gave them all one last look, pausing on Apollo.

Apollo nodded gently, and she closed her eyes.

Astoria reassured him, noticing his surging and restless eyes. "You're here, and so is Milady; put your worries to rest. Everything will be fine, Apollo."

Under her words, the surging eyes of Apollo calmed slightly, and he turned to look at Hecate with the others.

Hecate exerted her divinity, spreading her magic throughout the western world.

And she began.