The Fate of Apollo

Eh, GoDs CaN FaInT?

"Please, darling, pretty please! Can I buy this one?" Nico sighed for probably the hundredth time in about ten minutes, trying to battle the kicked puppy eyes Leo gave him as the Latino begged him for a ring. It was probably the... Never mind, he lost count after the tenth one and didn't bother. Well, his father was the god of wealth after all. A few dollars were nothing for him. After a few more minutes and few more gifts for everyone, the duo finally got out of the shop. The shopkeeper had good business but that wasn't his concern.

Nico looked around at the place where he and Percy had separated, but no one was there. The area was practically deserted as everyone crowded towards the main temple. Figuring that Percy must have followed the surge, Nico and Leo walked forward. It took them only a couple of minutes to reach an intersection where the others were waiting for them, well, everyone except Percy.

A very worried Apollo crowded Nico's personal space demanding answers about the whereabouts of the Twice Saviour of Olympus.

"I figured he was with you guys!"

"I thought he was with you two."

"Maybe he got lost? Perce's a trained fighter."

"But we can't overlook that he might be in danger!"

"Percy will be coming any second and scold you guys for babying him."

Apollo felt light-headed. No! It could not be! His nightmare could not be true. Percy had to be safe. The god felt his knees buckle and caught hold of Will, who was closest to him. "Dad! Dad, are you alright?" Black spots danced in the god's vision, and his tries to focus on the situation failed miserably as everything finally went pitch dark.

The hands which were meticulously draping the angavastram on Lord Rama stopped suddenly. "A re, Panditji ka huya? Aap ruk kaye gaye?" (Uh, pandit is someone known for his wisdom, can also refer to a priest, as priests are mandatorily considered knowledgeable. So, the translation comes: Oh, person of wisdom, what happened? Why did thou stop?" "Bhaiya, humre Ram ji ko aaj aap ke hath se tayyar hona hai. Humra toh bulawa aa gaya." (Brother, my Ram ji wants you to dress him today. He has called for me.) "A re suno toh sahi..." (Hey, just listen once...) But no one was there to listen to him. The other pandit stood shell-shocked in front of the vigraha (Idol), a tray of flowers in hands as he saw the main pujari rush out faster than a whirlwind.

A young man stood by the Ganges talking to a small girl. "Now, shoo. Go help those lads. I'll chat with you later." "Pinky promise? Last time you said you would talk and here you are now – after one full Yug." (One Yug is approx. 4,320,000 years!!!) The man pouted. The child shook her head and facepalmed, "I'm always with you. How many times have I told you that you are my favorite? Go! Don't throw tantrums. The god with them even fainted. Oh yes! Take this flower and let him smell it. He'll wake up." "Goodbye, my Lord." "Bye-bye..." The man left. He had a mission – find the lads, wake the unconscious one and tell them the information he had just got. He was giddy that a new Arishtanemi was coming to serve his lord. That meant a new younger sibling and more visits from his Lord during the training period.

With a huge smile on his face, the man jumped up on a tall building. The whole city was so pretty decked with lights, and it was even easier to see in the dark, though he never had any issue with it before. He spotted a group of boys, near the outskirts. They were huddled over someone and some of them had weird hair color hidden by wigs. Deciding to try his luck, he jumped down and breezed through the crowds, his body a mere apparition.

Will was the only one with a remaining braincell as they saw Apollo faint, but that too was because his inherent medic instincts kicked in. The blond went through the normal routine checkup but

Heartbeat – absent, 'cause gods don't need it.

Pulse - absent, 'cause gods don't need it.

Breathing - absent, 'cause gods don't need it.

Body temperature was abnormally low. That was of concern as the god of the sun, Apollo tended to run a little hotter.

Eyes – rolled backwards, probably from dehydration and panic.

The healer went for a CPR but that didn't work as his father was a god and never in his life had he tackled godly patients. He felt like losing his mind – he felt useless. Just like the time Michael died in front of him and he didn't even find the body, just like the time Lee took a blow to the head to save another camper, though he was nearby, only because Will was too weak. His breaths came in more ragged, his trachea closing in when he felt a pair of soft, warm arms engulf him in a tight hug. "Breathe, Will. Baby I need you to take long and deep breaths. Everything will be fine. Nico, Travis and Malcolm went to search for clues and bring help. It will be alright. Breathe for me."

His lungs burnt and he gasped to take a huge breath. "That's good. Focus on my heartbeat. That's good. Breathe in. Hold for 1, 2, 3, 4 and out. In, 1, 2, 3, 4 and out." Connor relaxed the slightest bit as he felt Will's heartbeat lower to the optimum range. Without a word, Leo took out a water bottle that he handed to the of Apollo who finished half of it in record time. "For God's sake! Will slow down. You will choke and die!" The rest half was snatched by a certain son of Hermes who proceeded to drink the rest. The others too were having a water break, but anyone could bet their lives that it surely was an awkward scene – three boys at an intersection in a deserted area that too on the day of Diwali while another boy lay down unconscious, half supported by one of the three.