Apollen And The Sun Chariot - A Bedtime Story

Apollon and the Sun Chariot Sitting in his ghastly cell,

Apollon's head was spinning.

Steal the Sun Chariot?

Apollo's Sun Chariot?

How was he supposed to do that?

When his father called him down the dark steps of the crypt,

He thought he was getting yet another lecture.

Not evil enough.

Be more like your sister.

Being the son of Hades,

God of the underworld,

And lord of spirits,

Was hard.

And making it even harder was his sister,

Erection.

His twin sister.

The greatness of ghosts and sister of nightmares.

Sorry,

Bringer of nightmares.

This is how the conversation had gone.

Hades starts,

As you well know,

The Linnea is in five days time.

And,

As required,

I go to Olympus to watch the humans do their terrible showcases.

The best day of the year,

Thought Apollon.

Out loud,

He said.

So,

Taking a sip of dark.

I want you to take my place this year as a representative for the underworld.

What?

Linnea spluttered,

Trying to gulp down his lemonade.

Why do you want me to go?

Olympus is lighter than the upper world and full of fun.

Besides,

You have never wanted me to be a part of that kind of stuff.

There has to be a catch.

Apollon paused.

Isn't there?

Ah,

At least you're smart enough to figure that out,

Mumbled his father.

You know me too well,

Apollon,

But I assure you,

Don't believe all the stories you hear.

You're right,

Of course.

I want you to steal Apollo's sun chariot.

Stared.

I'm sorry?

Steal Apollo's sun chariot,

Spelt out Hades impatiently.

Want it so that the sun will never rise on Earth and it will be plunged into darkness.

Now,

It's a long shot with you.

I should really be sending your sister.

I should have seen this coming from the god of the underworld and thought,

Before he ran up the stairs.

He dreamt of the wrath the gods of Olympus would bestow upon him.

If he tried and failed to steal the sun chariot,

He woke to the never-ending darkness of the underworld.

Three days later,

He took his bags and ascended the stairs.

On his way,

As usual,

The spirits tried to claw at him in a vain attempt to drag him down to the soul pits forever,

Voice whispered,

The voice,

Voice whispered more urgently,

Sighing.

He turned around and there stood Eurydice.

Eurydice was a spirit and his secret friend.

She had been since he could walk.

She was his only friend.

They had no secrets between them.

I have come to try to warn you,

Apollon.

Why did you ignore my pleas?

I have to stay focused.

I have to make my father proud.

Took a deep breath.

Have to steal the sun chariot.

Eurydice looked down,

Ashamed.

I know,

She said.

After a minute's silence,

Or as she knows.

You don't have to do this,

Apollon,

Pleaded Eurydice.

You don't know the consequences.

I think I can guess,

Apollon said bluntly.

He turned back,

Eurydice,

In case I don't come back.

You are my best friend,

And he started walking.

He turned around a second time and said,

Before he turned,

The cornymd into Hades' smoke chariot.

But before he could,

His father grabbed his arm.

If you fail,

You know what will happen.

The nodded stiffly and yanked his arm out of Hades' tight grip.

The chariot took flight.

Glanced out of the window,

His father had already left,

But he was replaced by Persephone.

His mother wore one of her most colorful gowns,

His favorite.

It was covered in springtime flowers,

Contained all the colors of the rainbow.

Persephone was standing on the ground,

Gazing up at the chariot,

With a sad,

Sorrowful look in her bright sky blue eyes.

A single tear trickled down Apollon's cheek as the fog closed over and he lost sight of the person he loved the most.

When he reached Olympus,

He gazed around him in wonder.

Can anything be so bright?

As an afterthought,

My eyes hurt when suddenly he was on his hands and knees in shock.

Oh my gosh,

I'm so sorry.

Let me help you up.

He stood with the help.

I'm so sorry.

Now faced,

Said again,

It was my one job.

Bring the cupcake to the chariot.

She gestured towards the cake,

Splattered on the ground.

Her shoulders slumped,

Burst out laughing,

Considering the circumstances.

The girl smiled,

Thankfully.

I'm Amara,

Daughter of Aphrodite.

Amara said,

Standing up straight and holding out.

And you are?

Apollon,

Son of Hades.

But I like to think I take after my mother.

Shaking her hand.

I like to think so too.

I mean my mother,

Not yours.

Sorry,

I was told to say as minimal words as possible,

Seeing as you're Hades' son.

But here I am,

Blubbering like an idiot.

Oops,

Sorry.

Wasn't meant to say that,

Sorry.

It's okay.

I expected people to be like that,

Being Hades' representative and all.

Apollon said,

Put a hand on his shoulder.

Are you okay?

You can't be like Hades.

I can tell already.

Because of,

One,

You have blue eyes.

And two,

You haven't snapped at me yet.

I can tell you and I are going to be friends.

Apollon was speechless.

He hadn't been expecting anything like that.

Especially from the Olympians.

You've met my father?

Oh yes.

I greet the Underworld Chariot every year.

He doesn't talk much,

Does he?

Thank you,

Amara,

Said Apollon.

My pleasure.

Now before we have to crowd into the Gods' Hall,

I really have to show you your room.

My room?

Said Apollon,

Confused.

You're silly.

Where else are you going to stay?

Giggled Amara.

I hadn't thought about it,

Admitted Apollon.

That's usually the first thing I think about when I go away.

Anyway,

Come with me.

She stated,

And she ran off,

Taking Apollon's hand with her.

Through the crowd,

Apollon had to sprint to keep up.

They passed many wonderful things as they ran through Olympus.

Golden statues of the Gods,

Gilded fountains.

But wherever he looked,

He could not find anything sad,

Dark,

Or lonely about this place.

If father had his way,

We would all be plunged into darkness,

He thought,

Before they ran inside a building.

The next day,

He decided to carry out his task.

Apollo's sun chariot was closely guarded in the Gods' Hall.

Apollon had stayed up all night,

Planning a way in and out.

He had studied the map that Amara had given him when she had taken him on a tour of Olympus on day two.

Amara was making this task even harder than it was supposed to be.

She was such a great friend,

And was actually interested in his point of view.

His father had never shown any interest in his son whatsoever.

That night,

While everyone was watching the humans' showcases,

He crept down the hall towards the room where the chariot was kept.

The guards were the biggest problem Apollon had observed and researched them over the last two days.

They called themselves the Crimson Capes.

There were a dozen in total,

And half of them were made to guard the chariot because of its importance.

Each of the Crimson Capes wore,

As you could guess,

Crimson Capes all embroidered in gold and thread.

The signal of the gods.

Alone with a temple outline on top,

Hovering atop the temple,

Was Zeus,

King of the gods.

Lightning bolt.

Before the ceremony started,

He had broken into the weapons room on the far side of Olympus and stolen a flute that played a haunting tune that made everyone that heard it fall unconscious.

He climbed up the doorframe of the chariot room and aimed at the Crimson Capes.

He shot them,

One by one,

Knocking them out instantly with the tranks.

He didn't even have time to raise the arm.

He climbed back down and walked inside.

A few of the Crimson Capes were groaning but weren't going to get up anytime soon.

He had flipped a few switches,

Turning the chariot on,

Were opened behind him,

And someone gasped.

Apollon?

Apollon?

What are you doing?

Stammered a voice.

Apollon would recognize that voice anywhere.

He whirled around,

And there stood Amara,

Holding her hands tightly to her chest.

Amara,

What are you doing here?

Apollon demanded,

Looking for you.

You disappeared from the hall,

And I wanted to know where you'd gone,

She said,

And glanced behind him.

Amara,

It's not what it looks like.

It looks like you're trying to steal the Sun Chariot.

That can't be right,

Though.

It made Apollon sad to hear the determination and sureness in her voice.

Okay,

It is what it looks like,

But I can explain.

Why?

Was it your father?

Was it me?

Was it Olympus?

Amara started asking hundreds of questions a minute.

Will you allow me to tell you?

I haven't got much time.

Yes,

Of course.

Okay.

Apollon sat sitting cross-legged on the ground.

Amara sat opposite him,

Waiting.

My father called me down to his crypt five days ago now,

And told me I had to take his place at this celebration.

He said I needed to steal the Sun Chariot to make him proud.

I didn't think I would meet anyone special.

I thought that it would be easy.

An in-and-out situation that I wouldn't get caught.

I didn't know that I would meet a friend,

Amara.

Someone I can talk to.

Someone like you.

Amara looked like she wasn't going to say anything for a minute,

But then she said,

You don't have to,

You know.

Your father can't touch you here.

He can try,

But will fail under the law to take you back without your consent.

I didn't know that,

Said Apollon thoughtfully.

So,

Are you going to stay?

Please do.

I would love it if you stayed,

Amara said shyly.

Amara hesitated.

Would I be welcome?

Would anyone accept me?

After what I was going to do,

Would the other gods?

It would be our little secret.

No one would ever know,

She said.

Are you sure?

Do you really want a friend like me?

Who tried to steal the most important item in Olympus?

Yes,

Of course.

I have grown very fond of you these past days,

Apollon.

And I love being your friend.

Then I will stay.

Of course,

I will.

And they leaned over and hugged each other and did stay and never saw Hades again.

Zeus granted Apollon passage to the underworld so he could visit his mother and Eurydice.

He lived out his forever in Olympus and married Amara.

Apollon changed his name to Charlampos,

Meaning shining happiness.