moonglow
Apollo had only ever loved one woman: Princess Serenity, an immortal celestial from the moon. He had met her over a thousand years ago, on midsummer at a ball. They had danced around the ballroom, and he had fallen in love with her the moment he looked into her silver eyes. He had asked her to dance while she was giggling with her friends. A lean blonde girl pushed her forward and Serenity nodded as she blushed.
They danced in circles and at the end of the night they bid their goodbyes under the light from Earth.
“It was a pleasure, my Lord Apollo.”
Apollo leaned in closer, “Nothing is more a pleasure than your company, Princess.”
Apollo leaned even closer, and Serenity did too.
A month later he was married to the Princess. Out on the veranda where they had first kissed, he held her close in his arms. His wife.
Disaster struck that night. Queen Beryl from Earth attacked and that night he held her corpse in his arms.
After that he vowed to never love again.
_
“I cannot stop thinking about her,” sighed Apollo.
Artemis rolled her eyes in annoyance. “I do not know why you feel the need to share this with me, brother. I care not of your conquests.”
Apollo’s eyes flashed with anger. Real, true anger Artemis noticed. “Serenity is not a conquest.”
Artemis narrowed her eyes. “Do not tell me you have set your sights upon Princess Serenity?”
Apollo shifted his eyes. “Yes?”
Artemis gave an indelicate snort. “Her mother would neverlet that happen. Good tidings, brother.”
He stood abruptly. “I will marry her!”
Aphrodite’s jaw dropped. “You must be mad. You met her one time!”
Hermes sighed, “It seems as though Apollo has finally caught the love bug.”
“Yes,” Apollo sighed, “I believe I have.”
“Impossible,” Aphrodite replied, “He is a whore and whores do not change.”
“We do,” said Apollo, “Wait-”
“Ha,” said Hermes, “You said it already. You can’t take it back.”
“I am not a whore!”
_
“Absolutely not,” the woman said without looking up.
“But-”
“No.”
“But-”
Queen Selenity looked up from her documents at last. “Lord Apollo is known for his promiscuous activities. I will not allow you to consort with those that could tarnish the reputation of our Kingdom.”
The princess looked down before biting her lip. She curtseyed and ran from the room, concealing her tears.
She was almost to her rooms before Sailor Venus caught her.
“Princess? Why are you crying?”
“Nothing!” she exclaimed, “It’s nothing!” She reached for the door handle to close it so she could be alone in her wallowing but Venus stopped her.
“I don’t believe you at all. What’s wrong? Did Mars say something to you again?”
Serenity blinked and shook her head. “No - I just – it’s nothing.”
Venus furrowed her brows before a look of realization came across her face, “You’re in love!”
Instead of smiling, like Venus thought she would, the Princess burst into tears into her trembling hands.
“Why are you crying? Love is amazing. Does he not love you back?”
Serenity sniffled, “Mother will not let me see him.”
Venus gave a look of suspicion. “It’s not Prince Diamond is it? I understand the mystery behind him but as a friend, I have to say that that’s a bad idea.”
“No, nothing like that!” cried the Princess in distress before sniffling quietly.
“Then who?”
Serenity looked around before pulling Venus into her quarters and dismissing her handmaidens.
“He’s very handsome.”
Venus smiled.
“His eyes are bright blue. His hair is like golden straw. He is tall and muscular but not huge. He is perfect.”
“He sounds attractive! Who is he?”
Serenity hesitated. Her cousin rolled her eyes, “C’mon, Princess. I won’t tell – not a soul.”
Serenity mumbled quietly.
“What?” Venus asked.
“Lord Apollo,” she whispered.
Venus sat shocked. “Apollo, son of Zeus? God of the Sun?”
Serenity shifted uncomfortably before standing up and sitting at the seat in front of her vanity and sighing into her hands. “And mother won’t let me see him. She has forbidden me from going to visit him on Earth.”
Venus broke into a smile. “But she hasn’t forbidden him from coming to see you here!”
Serenity looked up in surprise before turning to the leader of her guardians. “Venus-”
“I will contact him.” Venus knelt in front of her Princess, “You are my best friend. I love you. If you love him, then there must be something about him to love.”
_
They met at a waterfall near the Mare Serenitatis. Apollo was anxious. He had come as discreetly as he could, and even hid in the trees so that he wouldn’t be caught.
She didn’t arrive alone. The same girl with long blonde hair in a matching dress rode next to her. They stopped short of the water pool and the not-Serenity gave her a look before galloping away.
“Who is that?” Apollo asked curiously.
Serenity fumbled her fingers, “My guardian, Princess Mina of Venus.”
“You two could be twins.”
“Mina and I are cousins. Her dad is my mother’s twin brother.”
“I see.”
The two fell into a comfortable silence before Apollo began to speak again, taking in her porcelain skin and platinum eyes. “You look beautiful.”
Serenity blushed deep red.
“You look like an angel in white,” he continued, taking in her slender form and her long chiffon dress.
The two sat next to the water. Serenity spoke quietly, “I cannot stop thinking about you, My Lord.”
Apollo smiled. “You are all I have thought about since I last saw you, Princess. If I were to dream of you, it would be of this moment.”
Serenity leaned closer to Apollo, encouraging him to kiss her softly on her lips. He was gentle, not probing and she felt safe and complete in his arms. He put his hands at her waist and then looked into her eyes, “One day, when your mother sees how I love you, I will marry you.”
Serenity took a deep breath and teared up before nodding and burying her head in his chest.
“I will marry you,” he vowed again.
_
The court announcer stamped his staff twice before he stated in a clear voice, “Lord Apollo, God of the Sun.”
Apollo strolled in; hair combed and looking dignified in his Grecian robes.
His eyes swept across the ballroom, looking for the Princess. She was in the far corner, talking half-heartedly to a Prince with hair almost as fair as hers.
He frowned before walking with purpose towards her. She looked like she needed rescuing.
“Princess,” he greeted, kissing her knuckles.
She smiled gently, “Lord Apollo. It’s a pleasure to see you. I was not sure you would attend tonight. This is Prince Diamond.” She added the last part with veiled distaste. He could feel her dislike because he knew her, but he was sure she had been nothing but polite to this Diamond fellow.
The blond man next to him looked at Apollo with annoyance. “Excuse me, LordApollo. PrincessSerenity and I were having a conversation. As Prince, I have first rights.”
Apollo cocked a brow in intimidation at the man, “As a God, a Princewill never out-rank me.”
Prince Diamond glared before turning around swiftly and walking away with his nose in the air.
Serenity watched him leave before giggling into her hand. “Thank you! I was beginning to think he would never leave!”
Apollo glared in the direction of the prince, “I don’t like him.”
Serenity giggled again, “Is that so?”
Apollo grunted before asking Serenity to dance.
_
Apollo was not the only other person to appear at the ball that night.
A tall man, with a thick beard and broad shoulders strolled in purposefully, straight towards the Queen.
“Queen Selenity,” he spoke, bowing slightly.
She turned and sighed before curtseying and replying in a disinterested tone of voice, “Lord Zeus. Is there a particular reason you’ve come here today?”
Zeus smirked as he led her towards the drinks. “I think you know why I’ve come here today.”
“The answer is no. Serenity will be Queen of this kingdom. She is meant to marry someone reputable. She is a Celestial and she is meant to marry another Celestial. Your son is not either of those thing.”
Zeus rolled his eyes, “All he talks about is your daughter. All I hear, day and night is ‘Serenity this and that’. It’s becoming annoying. I propose that Serenity be allowed to spend one week on Olympus. If in that time, you still believe that they are not a suitable match, she will never be allowed to return to Earth.”
Selenity opened her mouth to interrupt but Zeus continued before she could say anything. “She may bring a chaperone. Princess Mina of Venus is always welcome. And, I will have her stay in the rooms of my daughter, Lady Artemis, the Virgin Goddess.”
Selenity glared before sighing, “Fine. One week. But after that, she will come immediately home.”
_
“I’m so excited!” Mine exclaimed, falling onto Serenity’s king size bed. “What are you packing? Let me see.”
Serenity’s trunk was filled to the brim. Seven of her signature dress, white, with capped sleeves and beaded bodice. She wore this dress each day in order to represent her family, and status. The dress was decided at the coming of age, and was not changed again until crowning. There were seven dressing gowns, all white, seven sleeping gowns, all white and plenty of undergarments, also white. She had packed her favorite silver, strapped heels, which she wore with her usual dress, slippers and a pairs of silver sandals.
Mina looked at her watch. “Come on, it’s time for us to go.”
Three of Serenity’s handmaidens, Serene, Selene and Seraphine, picked up her bags, and hers and Mina’s cats and followed them through the palace to the teleporting room.
Serene, the handmaiden that had been with Serenity the longest took the two cats from the princesses and slid into the teleportation module with one of the Venusian guards, Adonis.
In a flash, they were gone.
_
They landed on Mount Olympus with ease. The ride was quick and easy. They were greeted by a tall man with large muscles (Mina swooned) and several women dressed in white sheet like dresses. “Greetings, Princesses,” he said before bowing deeply, “I am Perseus, son of Zeus. These are your handmaidens for your stay, provided by Lady Artemis. They will take your belongings and I shall lead you to the throne room.”
The ladies stepped forward and took the trunks and to Serenity’s dismay tried to take Luna and Artemis. Serenity shook her head, and replied that the cats were directed to stay with them.
The handmaidens looked confused but bowed and scurried away. Adonis, Serene, Selene and Seraphine were led away and the two girls followed Perseus towards the throne room.
It was a gargantuan room. The ceilings were as high as the heavens and there were thirteen thrones of marble within the room. Inside, the group was arguing angrily.
“We cannot get involved with the mortal affairs,” said one woman angrily.
“This rebel group has taken over much of the Earth. If those who worship us are wiped out, we will fade,” another woman replied sternly.
Perseus cleared his throat, “My Lords and Ladies, Princess Serenity of the Moon, and Princess Mina of Venus.
The two were staring slack jawed at the gods, who were standing at about 18 feet tall. Being a petite princess at only four feet, ten inches, Serenity was surprised and slightly confused.
“Ah!” spoke Zeus in a booming voice, “Princess Serenity daughter of Queen Selenity, Princess Mina daughter of Queen Aphroditis. How nice to see you’ve arrived safely.”
A fair, blonde haired woman sitting a few seats away smiled at Mina, “You’re rather beautiful. I’m happy to see the Princess of Venus is as beautiful as she should be.”
A dark haired woman with bright eyes rolled her eyes, “Typical, Aphrodite.”
Artemis, who Serenity had met before smiled widely at Serenity, “It’s so lovely to see you!” She then elbowed Apollo who was staring in shock and stuttering. “We didn’t tell him you were coming,” Artemis explained, “It was meant to be a surprise.”
“And an excellent surprise it was, dear sister,” Apollo said, before ushering the pair out of the throne room.
_
“And this is Camp Half-Blood.”
“Camp Half-Blood?” Serenity repeated.
“It’s a safe haven for demi-god children of gods.”
“Oh,” said Serenity, “Do you have… children?”
Apollo shuffled his feet, “A few.”
“Oh,” repeated Serenity.
“Does that bother you?” he asked nervously, “I have not been with anyone since I met you, I swear.”
Serenity stared at him before replying, “No. I guess it doesn’t bother me. You cannot change your past, just as you cannot change your future.”
The two took a long walk around the lake before running into a girl with long red hair.
“Ah, father!”
Serenity tensed slightly.
“Mariana. Have you been practicing your aim?”
“Of course, every day with the rest of Apollo Cabin. Er, father, who is this?”
Serenity spoke before Apollo could answer, “I am Princess Serenity.”
The girl’s eyes widened before she curtseyed quickly and blushed before sprinting away.
_
It was the second day when Serenity finally heard a malicious word against her.
“Does she only own one dress?” the woman sneered, “How tasteless.”
“I’ve heard she wears white to give the show of purity but that she takes countless men into her bed.”
“She’s a moon bitch. What else would you expect?”
“She’s got Lord Apollo under her thumb. It’s such a shame. He could do better.”
“With who, you?”
“Is that jealousy, I detect?”
Serenity was standing behind the wall around the corner, with a frown on her face. She swiped away her tears quickly and schooled her expression before walking down the hall and past the group of cackling woman.
She soon found herself within a garden of roses that snaked high and seemed to go on forever.
_
_
The funeral had nearly killed him. She had been laid on an engraved marble slab with a bed of red roses. Her hair was in a halo around her head, with small flowers spread across her hair and the white dress she always wore. Clasped in her fingers that lay across her mid section was the silver crystal. Its power was meant to die with her.
_
Percy Jackson didn’t know who she was. He asked Annabeth Chase when they were above. The people around them went quiet.
“You mean you don’t know?” she whispered uncomfortably.
“Should I?” he questioned, “Why is her body covered in glass? And why is she up here? I don’t see any other graves…”
“That’s Lord Apollo’s wife,” answered Grover.
“He’s married?” Percy asked ludicrously.
“He was… But she died.”
“So she was mortal then?”
“It’s hard to describe but not really. According to the scripts that I have read, she was a Celestial.”
“What’s a Celestial?” asked Percy in confusion.
Grover’s jaw dropped and Annabeth glared, “Did you do any of the reading in the packet they give to beginner campers?”
“No?”
Grover interjected, “A Celestial is a world shaper. They’re a race of immortals that can bend and shape the universe. Most govern a planet, star, or moon of some sort and have complete control over it. If they leave their planet they are not as strong, but more powerful Celestials are even stronger than…” Grover made a motion of pointing towards the hall of the Gods.
“So Apollo’s wife was a Celestial?”
“Her name,” Annabeth said quietly, “Is Serenity. PrincessSerenity of the Silver Millennium. She was the Celestial of the Cosmos and if she had reached adulthood, she would have been the most powerful light being in the Universe. She died a thousand years ago.”
“If she was immortal then how-”
“She was murdered,” Grover cut in, “by another Celestial. Apollo has never been the same since.”
“Why’s she in glass?” he asked. The beautiful woman was encased in a great transparent structure, almost like a tomb. She had long white hair that seemed to go on and on forever around her flowing white dress. Her hands were crossed at her chest and there was a beautiful silver crown up on her head. He could tell that she was short, five feet at most yet her dress made her look like a willowy Greek column. Her eyelashes were thick and her lips, though he knew her to be dead, were a flushed blood red.
“She’s encased in crystal,” Annabeth corrected, “When she died, her ladies in waiting created this with their powers.”
Percy looked closely at her before something caught his eye. “Well, what’s that in her hand?”
Annabeth’s eyebrows furrowed. “What are you talking about?”
The trio pressed their faces to the crystal and looked closer.
“She must have been buried with it,” Grover bleated in shock.
“Buried with what?” Percy asked in frustration.
“What are you doing over here?” came a voice that Percy recognized.
It was Apollo.
But it didn’t sound like it. He usually sounded so happy and sunny. His entire demeanor had changed. He had a look of pure misery on his face, and his eyes were unexpressive.
He sent away Annabeth and Grover.
“I suppose they told you about her,” Apollo said, agonized.
He could only nod.
_
Apollo went through many women in a thousand years. Women were easily seduced by his charm and good looks, and he used this to his advantage. After missing her for so many years, Apollo never would have expected to see his dead love again.
Especially not at Camp Half-Blood.
After the final battle, many of his children had been working in medical camps. He had stopped down to check on them, and hopefully offer assistance to his many family members when he saw a very familiar wisp of hair so fair he thought he might be imagining things. He blinked. And blinked again. Yet the hair did not disappear, in fact, it became all the clearer.
“Serenity,” he whispered. The room stopped. Nothing moved, and no sounds were made. “Serenity,” he repeated. He moved closer and watched as the familiar gown flew in a circle as the girl spun.
“Serenity.” He fell to his knees before her.
“Apollo,” she said back before crying out in her usual way and hugging him tight, “I missed you so much!”
Apollo could barely believe that she was in his arms. “H-How?” he stuttered.
Around them, his many children looked at the woman in confusion. They knew Apollo’s wife to be dead. His devotion to her was legendary. Their romance was a fairy tale that many of the campers had heard from their godly parents growing up. After all, why else would any of them be alive?
“I was healed.”
“The dead cannot be healed,” Apollo said vehemently.
“I wasn’t dead.”
“I held you in my arms,” he insisted, “I felt your last breath.”
“I was not dead. I was dying. The crystal kept me alive.”
“Thank Zues,” he whispered.
And he did.
_
It hurt her that Apollo had not been faithful to her. They had discussed the matter, and he apologized profusely, explaining that if he had known she was alive and only in a coma, he would never had found pleasure in other women. She had been dearly hurt by her husband’s infidelity, but had forgiven him.
“And you’ve already got children,” she whispered.
“Yes,” he agreed.
“I wanted to be the one to give you children.”
Both of them stared at each other in silence.
“I still want you to have my children.”
She held his hand and he pulled her closer. He wrapped himself around her.
“Okay,” she agreed in a whisper.
Apollo smirked, “Shall we start practicing now?”
Serenity ran.
Too bad he was faster.