[Apologies]

Fate/Defiance

Chapter 29 [Apologies]

By theMadLad

Beta: Shub-Niggurath, Old man of the mountain, Kira (The Court Jester)

They were leaving.

The camp had been fully packed up and everyone was finally ready to leave. Icarus had taken the time to finish recovering but neglected to meet with Asclepius until they finally settled down at Mt Pelion.

Because then… he could finally create his own workshop.

He was really excited about that.

Earlier, he had used his time to take maintenance on his items and gear, with him retrieving his wings from Atalanta, who had kept them safe under the hide in the cabin.

He took the time to replace his feathers, create more grappling hooks to compensate for his lack of flight, and craft more arrows for his bow as well. He had replenished all of his other munitions and was basically back to his current 'prime' with the exception of his flight.

Soon enough, Chiron brought them all together just before they set out.

"Although most of you already know this, I will reiterate it regardless." Chiron stated with a nod in their direction. "We are headed to Mt. Pelion, and it will be a long trip, one which will allow you all to grow and flourish…" He smiled as he continued, "...For most of you, you could consider this the beginning of your journey, the first step in the staircase of becoming a hero. Each of you has something unique about yourselves, and I hope that you will take the opportunity to polish these traits and improve them during our travels."

All of them puffed up a bit at his words, with each standing straighter and smiling brighter. Chiron's smile grew at their reactions, "You may ask any question you wish of me, and I will do my best to answer them, but keep in mind that unless we encounter a dire situation, I will not aid you… our protection during this journey will be your burden."

Jason unhesitatingly took a step closer to Heracles the moment Chiron finished his words.

"Now, let us begin!" The centaur exclaimed cheerfully before turning around and walking off on all fours, leading the way as he began the first step in their perilous journey towards the distant mountain.

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Icarus underestimated how dangerous the world was.

Not in power of course, but in terms of sheer quantity. Every mile traveled had some kind of monster or animal out to attack them in an attempt to devour their entrails.

It was eye opening.

They simply had no fear.

How could the average person survive here? He sent a glance towards Atalanta who also looked rather unnerved.

…but more importantly, why did he only discover this now? It was never like this during his travels!

It was still the same forest, right?!

"…Noticed it huh?" Chiron spoke next to him as Icarus swiped his wings, causing a few feathers to shoot towards a wild jackal prowling toward him from behind a bush.

"Yeah, kinda hard not to." Icarus replied with a grunt as he nodded his head towards the retreating Jackal, before it yelped as it was immediately killed by a diving Paimon following Icarus' directions.

"Why is that?" Icarus asked.

"Because the Gods are not protecting us during this trip." Chiron stated before continuing, "The Gods are our divine protectors, they have a temple in every civilization and a hand in each function of day-to-day life. Without them and their blessings watching over humanity, abating the beings that lurk in the night, how could man ever survive? Monsters are around every corner, is it any wonder that the world is too dangerous for mankind to grow and expand, to live and thrive in?"

…Icarus wanted to deny it, to say that mankind could persist on its own—find a way in this dangerous world without anyone's help… but it simply wasn't realistic. Phantasmal Species were prolific throughout the planet, with many of them powerful enough to end a civilization on their lonesome.

Humans were powerful collectively, not individually.

…And right now, they simply didn't have the numbers.

Mankind could survive… but would never thrive under such conditions. The Age of the Gods was just a whole different beast when compared to the Age of Man.

"Why do they help us?" Icarus asked.

Chiron smiled, "Because you are their children in a way, and they hold affection for humans. Also helps that worship can garner respect or protection from them."

Icarus didn't believe it… Chiron's words just seemed too optimistic? Or maybe Icarus himself was just a pessimist?

Chiron seemed to notice his doubt, "Look no further than those around you."

He took a glance towards Heracles, who was bludgeoning some beast to death with his bare hands, causing Chiron to smirk.

"Demi-Gods? …What about them?" Icarus asked with interest.

"They are the bridge between man and god. Although men and gods are intrinsically different, the same is not true for Demi-Gods, who hold a foot in both doors." Chiron spoke, "It is with this wedge that two drastically different entities can glean understanding."

"…Ok?" Icarus inquired with furrowed brows, not seeing his meaning.

Chiron shook his head, "Think—most major city-states have something in common that relates to what I speak."

Icarus furrowed his brow as he thought. His mind at first jumped to patron deities, but considering their discussion on Demi-Gods… that probably wasn't it.

So he thought up what Heroes he could remember, and of course the most popular ones came first.

—Then it hit him.

"…The Founders."

"Exactly." Chiron spoke with the snap of his finger, "Whether it be Cadmus, the Grandson of Posideon and Descendant of Zeus, who slayed the Dragon to found Thebes—or Lacedaemon, the Son of Zeus, who founded what would become Sparta, they were all Demi-Gods. You could even include the Gaia-born Cecrops as well, who founded your very own home of Athens."

Chiron smiled as he explained, "These founders could be considered a gift from the Gods, a gift which aided mankind in expanding civilization while building sanctuaries of safety through their founder's connection to them."

…It made sense.

The Gods' children founded cities, expanded civilization, destroyed dangers and brought safety, all while using their divine lineage to establish a safety net for future generations through worship and offerings.

They were truly a bridge between man and god.

An exchange between god and man.

…But for what?

Icarus couldn't shake the feeling that it was too simple, too honest. It was like a mega-corporation that wasn't greedy, and that was what made him suspicious.

There had to be some ulterior motive. This was the Greek Gods after all… but in the end, it simply wasn't his problem.

Why would he complain about people gaining safety?

The world was reliant on the Gods, who was he to suddenly push against the tide? It simply didn't make sense.

If not for their protection he would have never made it this far in the first place.

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Days had passed since the journey had begun and Icarus had begun to notice the social dynamics of the group.

…and the fact that nobody was really friends.

Of course, they would aid each other when anything attacked, but other than that, they mostly stayed… professional, for a lack of better words.

Which was strange.

Were not half of them siblings and all of them related?!

Castor and Pollux only interacted with each other.

Asclepius kept to himself.

Heracles did as well, but occasionally Jason would try and speak with him. Well Jason would try to speak with everyone, well almost everyone.

He seemed to be afraid of Icarus and Atalanta, and especially Paimon.

Icarus mostly minded his own business, using his time to either train or educate Atalanta… which Chiron also seemed to focus mostly on as well, somewhat excusing the girl from the journey so he could instead teach her.

Not like she lacked any experience in forests anyways.

Although during his analysis of the others' interactions, he noticed there seemed to be a… stigma attached to Heracles.

Castor and Pollux seemed to avoid him entirely while Jason would approach… but there still seemed to be a barrier there—or more accurately, Jason was like a fanboy.

But eh, Heracles seemed not to mind.

So, Icarus, like a good little hero who definitely wasn't looking to make some killer connections, decided to make friends.

He chose to talk with someone he honestly knew the least about.

Pollux.

But as soon as he approached, someone blocked him, "…Hmph, who do you think you're approaching?"

Castor.

"Your sister." Icarus replied honestly.

Castor's eye twitched as he glared at Icarus, "Uhuh, and who decided that you could simply approach my beautiful sister?!"

Icarus raised a brow, otherwise stoic through Castor's outburst, "I don't know." He replied while raising a hand over his eyes and looking around as if he was shading his eyes and scanning the surroundings.

"…What are you doing?" Castor's other eye twitched as he spoke.

Icarus smirked, "Looking for who asked."

"Eh? …Wait, y-you dare to mock me?!" Castor sputtered.

"Haha! I dare to do much more than that!" Icarus laughed, amused at Castor's reaction, before he sidestepped the befuddled boy and approached his twin. He didn't want to deal with Castor right now, as he was still pretty pissed about losing his wings yet didn't want to start a fight during this time.

"...Pollux, right?" Icarus asked for the sake of asking as he reached the blonde girl.

The stoic blonde merely nodded, with her face not betraying any emotion other than a faint glare, "Don't bully brother."

Icarus shook his head, "If anything, he is the one trying to bully me..." His eye twitched angrily, "…Not to mention how he made me lose my flight by being a sore loser."

Pollux tilted her head at his words before nodding and grabbing Castor, who she quickly dragged over, much to his protest.

They seemed to silently communicate with each other, with only Castor's increasing grimace clueing Icarus into their mute conversation.

"No, No! I won't!" Castor suddenly shouted, attempting to walk away in anger, before promptly being trapped by Pollux, who held him in place with her superior strength.

"…Brother."

"No… I refuse!"

"Brother."

"I-I won't!"

"Brother."

"N-Never! Didn't you hear what he called me?!"

"Brother… I was unconscious."

"—Ah." Castor murmured in both realization and shame.

"Brother. Apologize." Pollux spoke with an authority unbefitting her age.

"F-fine!" Castor turned towards Icarus before speaking with words so heavily forced from his mouth, that it looked as if it physically pained him. "I…I'm s-sorry."

Icarus nodded with a smirk, "What was that? …I couldn't hear you."

"Y-you!"

"Hahaha—Eh?" Icarus burst into laughter… until he felt a hand grip his shoulder. He looked towards the owner of the offending hand… Pollux, who was giving him a sweet smile which promised nothing but pain and misery if he continued to laugh.

"You, apologize to brother." She commanded.

Fuck.

Icarus was a bit nervous, as shameful as it was to be threatened by a little girl… Pollux was not someone he was willing to fuck with at this range.

She would kick his ass.

He thought about apologizing in return for a favor, maybe have her help him with his training? …But then he felt it was dumb to start their relationship with a debt of some sort. It was better to be honest about things here and simply ask for help later as a friend.

Not to mention that he was older than them mentally, it was a bit pathetic for him to mock a child like Castor about an obvious sore spot. Although it may have been very satisfying, it did make him feel a bit ashamed.

Especially since Castor had been the one to apologize first.

He should have been the bigger person in the situation with his more mature personality. Perhaps if he did not already know that he could get his flight back he may have continued antagonizing Castor…

But now he knew he could.

It was better to build a bridge here than burn it.

He turned towards Pollux with a nod, "You're right." Her eyes widened in surprise at his sudden change of heart, but by then Icarus had already turned to Castor, "…I shouldn't have called you that. I'm sorry."

"H-huh? I-I see." He was stunned at the genuine apology, but then he changed to his usual attitude, "Hmph, I suppose you aren't too bad for someone from Athens then."

"Hehe. I think Brother appreciated the apology." Pollux spoke with a soft smile that broke through her usual stoic demeanor.

"P-Pollux!"

Icarus laughed.

These twins were a bit weird… but they weren't that bad.

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Author's Notes

Bit late as the Patreon chapter took so much research to complete, so look forward to that!

Pollux and Castor interactions! I hope I got their characters right, the ones you see in F/GO are a bit different then they should originally be due to the Lostbelt, so hopefully this is fine.

Also, I hope you enjoyed the chapter! Leave a like if you did and drop a comment as well!

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