Everyone claimed they were dead opposites.

And maybe they were right.

An Apollo child and a Hermes child?

Inconcievable.

Oh, how the idea was perceived by their siblings, I shall not tell.

Rather, I show.

I, dear readers, am a bystander. A writer.

While I am surely not our protagonist, I am not your antagonist either.

I'm simply a bystander.

And so for you, I share this story.

I suppose it would be best to start from the beginning, or at least, the tale of the beginning- for the event I begin with happened almost twenty years ago.

For this, readers, I was no witness. I only relay the story that was told to me from many sources. The story always changes, but I shall do my best to retell to you as if it were the truth.

*Eighteen years ago*

"And if none of the rest of the council has anything to dis-" boomed the wise and powerful (or so we say in our story, for he chooses not a side. Should we call Artemis or Ares wise and powerful, we would admit to taking sides- of which is not a good idea) Lord Zeus.

"-I have something to say."

Surprised, the other gods stared in shock at Lord Apollo, for Apollo has rarely- if ever- spoken up at council meetings. Rather, he has left that to his older twin sister.

"Just last week, on Tuesday to be exact," Apollo's eyes narrowed and it seemed to the other gods that this would not be a pretty, sing-songy, poetic sentence he would thrust upon them.

And they trembled.

(Okay, okay. So I'm exaggerating quite a bit. But a good story teller must be able to do so. We imply our beliefs and visuals.)

Apollo continued, "I found that three of my prized cattle had gone missing, as well as many of my instruments from my domain."

"Well surely you are not offended form such an act, brother," mused Athena. "Your cattle have been stolen many times before, and yet it has not been such a big deal. You and Artemis are able to track down such thieves with ease."

"Normally, yes. Cattle are meaningless, as are the instruments stolen. But the thief stole something much more precious to me. The thief stole my laurel wreath."

"Laurel wreath? Easily replaced." Laughed Ares.

"Not a laurel wreath. The laurel wreath. My first." This drew a sigh from Apollo. "Daphne's wreath."

"No." Aphrodite shook her head. "Who would steal your love's wreath?"

"Nobody but one who seek to have vengeance on me. But the deed itself, untraceable. My Lord Zeus, I have been unable to track the thief and I have tried numerous times whenever I have been able with no avail."

"Well, surely son," laughed Zeus. "You are no hunter. You're an archer and a poet. Do not expect to allow the forest to help you find a thief, have you sister do so."

"I did father." Said Artemis. "There was not a sign of burgerly except for the missing belongings."

"Surely this is a sign of a master thief's work." Apollo declared.

The other gods looked back and forth uneasily.

"Apollo," eased Demeter, "Think of what you imply. A master thief? True, we have seen many grand crimes committed on and from us gods, but to go so far as to claim this to be a master thief-"

"What you assume I imply is correct." Apollo cut off, his voice cold and clear. "I do imply that one of our brothers has sent one of his sons to steal my belongings."

The room fell silent.

"Apollo." Came a shocked voice from Athena. "Surely not one of our own brothers?"

"Yes, Athena. Our own brother." Apollo glared and finally turned to the god he accused.

"Me?"

"Who else has thieves for sons?"

"Apollo, there have been many times when I think that you just might have lost your marbles but this time I think your really have."

"And who exactly else do you think is capable of finding the people able to do such deed?"

"Any of the minor gods, and they have even more reason than me."

"And what reason do you have?"

The two brothers (I'll admit, dear readers, for you that the two brothers are actually half-brothers, just in case you were not aware of who we are speaking of just yet, and not aware of their relation. But their father- like many of the other gods'- is Zeus.) glared at each other until Athena stood.

"Apollo, think. You accuse your brother, our brother, of stealing one of the few things you hold precious and dear to you. What grounds do you have to accuse him other than that Artemis could not track the thief? Surely a hero could have stolen your laurels on their own."

"It is impossible for a hero to reach my domain with out help from a god. My domain is in the sky, and the most popular gift that Hermes could give a hero to get to my domain are. Winged. Shoes."

"This has gone far enough." Hermes stood. "I never sent any of my children to your domain. I have not given any of my children winged shoes in years. And I most certainly have no reason to steal your precious laurels."

"And what proof do you have that you didn't?"

Dear readers, I fear that this is the point that our story, my retelling of the tale, becomes pointless. It only continues to tell more of arguing and blaming of the god Hermes of stealing Daphne's laurels.

Should you not be familiar with Daphne's laurels, I will not be surprised. It is rare that the tale of Apollo and Daphne mention them, but after Daphne, the nymph, was turned into a tree by her father to avoid Apollo's advances (and chase as well), Apollo trimmed off some leaves and branches from all over the tree and weaved them together into an everlasting laurel wreath. He treasured it, and long after Daphne's spirit and form died, the laurel lasted.

Aphrodite was in love with the idea of Apollo's love for a woman long dead, and held him in high respect because of it. So when sides had to be chosen among the gods, she sided with Apollo. Of course, so did Artemis, Ares (who wished to be on the same side as Aphrodite), and Demeter.

On Hermes side was Hera, Poseidon, and Hephaestus.

The others, Athena, Zeus, and Dionysus stayed out of the fight for different reasons. However, they chose not to take sides and they left Hermes' side sorely outnumbered, but powerful all the same.

And this information I leave in your hands and head, for it shall come in handy as our story progresses.

Me?

Why dear readers, I am not important- a witness, a bystander I told you.

My name?

Unimportant of course. I am a man, a story teller, and a writer. Nothing more, nothing less.

But if you must call me anything, than call me Narrator.