Hero’s Journey

  *This is an unrevised story I wrote in 6th grade for an assignment, so don't judge!*

 Long ago, before there was light and happiness, darkness ruled. The ancient greek god of darkness that ruled at the time was Desper. Desper had an aura that caused everyone around him to feel hopeless, miserable, and doubt themselves. For this reason all of the greek gods combined couldn’t defeat Desper. Finally, Zeus pushed aside his pride and called for an assembly on earth so he could make an announcement. In the large crowd, at the very back, were the orphans. In this small group stood Apollo and his two minute younger twin sister, Artemis, listening as Zeus admitted that the gods couldn’t defeat Desper. Apollo walked back to the orphanage with Zeus’s last words ringing in his mind; “The gods of Mount Olympus send a plea of help, please, will some hero defeat Desper?”. Apollo stared at the mirror back at the orphanage, examining his reflection. Apollo was pretty tall for a 13 year old, he was also really bright for his age. Apollo had wavy blonde hair and bright inquisitive blue eyes. He wasn’t powerfully built, but he still was quite strong.His sister Artemis looked nothing like him. She was also tall, and shared the same charming smile but that’s where the similarities ended. Artemis had long straight brown hair, usually tied back in a ponytail and silvery eyes.All his life Apollo had hoped to be adopted and taken away to another place. Anyplace would be better than the dark, gloomy, unhappy place he lived in, smack in the middle of Desper’s kingdom. Apollo then heard the orphanage leaders coming around and, not wanting them to know he was out of bed, ran into his bed and feigned sleep. Catching one of the leaders saying his name, Apollo went to the dorm door and eavesdropped at the door crack. The first one, Dusa, started talking to the second, Idas. “Artemis? Yes she’s a sweetheart, kind, good at the loom she would’ve already been adopted if…”, started Dusa. “If what”, croaked Idas. “If it weren’t for that brother of her’s, Apollo that’s what. She won’t be separated from him and no one wants him. I mean he isn’t good enough at school to be a scholar, he isn’t strong enough to be a hunter or in the army, and he’s not good at household chores.”, Dusa ranted. “Well, we must do what we must, we shall put him to sleep.”,said Idas nastily. Apollo jumped out of his bed, suddenly, his body filled with adrenaline, he gathered his belongings and then crept up to his sister and kissed her goodbye. He was almost gone when he stopped to say two words to his sister; “’I’m sorry”, and just like that he was out the door.

Apollo was 13, and yet at the moment he is crying like a baby. His whole life, no matter how miserable, was rapidly changing and he knew he could not go back. Wiping his eyes he realized he had come to a fork in the path. He had to make a choice; either become a refuge or he could try to defeat Desper. Finally, he went right and was led into an even more gloomy place. It was a huge forest with a dense fog. He could hear the growls of beasts and could sense the dark magic around him. He slowly trudged forward, entering Desper’s lair. Apollo squinted through the fog and made out a glint of metal: a sword. He picked it up and then noticed a note on it; “Come further if you dare, and enter Desper’s lair, to help keep things fair, we are letting you prepare, Warning, caution, and take heed, for this is Desper’s property.” At the bottom of the note there was a sign, Apollo figured it was a signature. Suddenly a figure came out of the bushes, Apollo readied his sword, but then put it in his scabbard and ran to embrace the person. The stranger, he had realized was Artemis. “Let me come with you Apollo.”, She asked. So, now Artemis had joined Apollo, hand in hand they walked into the unknown.

As they continued, Apollo couldn’t help thinking about the note and the odd sign at the bottom. Apollo wondered if he was being foolish going on this quest, even if the didn’t die what would happen? There was no reward for defeating Desper and they had no place to return to. Just then he saw a sign on a tree, the same sign on the note. And then Apollo remembered where else he had seen the sign; in Greek class, it is the sign of death. Suddenly, a bunch of Desper’s pet’s, the Doom wolves, jumped out. They started to attack, instantly Apollo’s battle reflexes kicked in. Instinctively, Apollo dropped down, rolled over to the side, dodging the wolves, with Artemis with him. Without knowing what he was going to do Apollo raised his sword and slaughtered every last wolf. Panting, they continued down the path. A disturbance in the bushes caused an abrupt stop, Apollo readied his sword afraid of what would come next. However, nothing frightening came out, instead a beautiful woman walked out. She looked sweet and humble and seemed to be a mother like figure. So Apollo followed her without hesitation when she asked if they were hungry. As Apollo ate, Artemis stared at the woman, not trusting her at all. Suddenly Artemis sat upright, she knew who this woman was; the enchantress Ceres. “No”, Artemis screamed. Slapping the food from Apollo’s hands Artemis grabbed the bow and arrow lying on the floor and shot Ceres. Apollo and Artemis seemed to make a silent agreement not to discuss what just happened. They both grabbed Ceres’s mechanical wings to fly to Desper’s castle, before they left Artemis pocketed the bow and quiver of arrows, she would need them. As soon as they reached Apollo launched himself into combat with Desper, Artemis from the side shot arrows at Desper. Apollo finally used a special offense move to disarm Desper. As Desper realized he was an inch from death he used his power to bring thoughts of betrayal to Apollo’s head. Desper smirked, knowing that he had won, and asked Apollo if he’d kill him for no reward or let him live and get whatever his heart desired. Apollo didn’t even hesitate he closed his eyes and swung so he wouldn’t have to look at what he gave up.

Apollo and Artemis slowly trudged home, since they were now respected as the overthrowers of the tyrant Desper they were not attacked. When they had got to their city they were surprised, even though Desper was gone the world was still miserable and dark. They built a makeshift hut and stepped in, shivering in the cold. Suddenly, a person appeared. Out of the darkness shone Zeus, in all his power. Zeus thanked them for getting rid of Desper and Apollo brushed his thanks away. Apollo smiled and said, “Oh great Zeus, do not thank us, for it is not a favor or a great accomplishment if someone does the right thing, it is merely that man fulfilling his duty as an individual.” Zeus beamed at them and said that Apollo and Artemis had learned values most people never learn their whole life. Zeus then said joyfully that the only way the darkness and misery would go away is if a god of light would come to rule. Zeus then granted Apollo and Artemis immortality. He then adopted them and named Apollo god of the sun and Artemis goddess of the moon. Apollo and Artemis wept with joy as they were welcomed with open arms at Mt.Olympus. When they were doing their daily flight over earth in their chariots people cheered, statues were built of them, and Dusa and Idas begged for forgiveness. Apollo forgave them and the two orphanage leaders, so grateful, built statues of Apollo and Artemis inside the actual orphanage. Zeus smiled at the twins and said ,“As long as people with good hearts like you remain light will always beat darkness, innocence will always beat guilt, and goodness shall always defeat evil.”