Birth (1/1)

Delos. A land that is barren and desolate.

Leto, the Titan of Motherhood, strode through the stony path, pain visible on her face. Her steps on the path, though, were firm and unwavering.

She'd been on this perilous journey for nearly four months. She travelled far and wide, through the vibrant lands of Europa, the fiery gate of the Underworld, and the deep and dark depths of the Ocean, desperately seeking refuge. She was, however, shunned away with fear, indifference, and ridicule.

She didn't stop; she couldn't stop; the very earth rejected her to provide a place to sit, rest, and give birth to her children.

Despair. She was in absolute despair. Rejected by her own home and family, her world was turning grey, with the last specks of light extinguishing.

However, two still remained, burning brightly through her bleak world. They were the only thing pulling her out of the abyss of despair.

They were more than just specks of light. They were her only hope. They were her entire world.

They were her children.

Leto finally arrived on an even earth shaded by withering trees. She sat on the ground, slowly and carefully caressing her bulging belly.

She winced. Her senses were immediately assaulted by a mixture of pain and relief, almost knocking her out into the darkness.

She bit her lips, golden ichor dripping down her chin onto the barren ground. Life graced the barren island as flowers bloomed and withering trees were shaded green. They swayed in the direction of the Leto, causing a gentle and vibrant breeze to sweep towards Leto. It was as though they were trying to console the 'mother' who gave life to them all.

Leto jolted out of the darkness, clutching the green on the ground. The gentle breeze brushed past her, bringing some relief to her troubled heart.

She gazed at the vibrant island through teary eyes. Delos, the floating island, is the only place on Earth free from the wrath and jealousy of Hera. She fled for as long as she could just to avoid the divine gaze of the Queen of Gods, eventually reaching the island of Delos with the help of Poseidon.

Leto didn't consider herself weak or kind. On the contrary, she can be as vengeful and cruel as a dark raven.

But she knew better than to openly defy the Queen of the Gods. This was a world where the one with strongest fist got to decide the fate of all below. It was a cruel and indifferent truth that always reverberated through substratum of reality, only for some to hear.

And yet, strength was never her forte to begin with. So, she ran, cursing the kindly ones for her wretched fate.

It was pathetic. She was pathetic. She, the titan of motherhood, couldn't even protect her own children from Hera's wrath.

Crystal tears streamed down her eyes, which were filled with pain and sorrow. The gentle breeze from the plants swept her eyes, wiping away her tears.

Leto stroked her belly, feeling the two heartbeats. It gradually calmed her emotions. Her eyes, little by little, became firmer, as her heart hardened with determination.

She will protect her children at any cost, even if it means meeting death herself in the end.

A spark of fire ignited deep within her soul, which she missed as searing pain erupted from her lower body, making her wince. Her heart, on the other hand, began to overflow with joy and anticipation.

'It's finally time...' She thought, 'I can't wait to meet you both…'

Leto braced herself, taking deep breaths and lowering her hands. Then she began.

The sun in the sky gradually moved to the horizon, glinting in the twilight as time passed.

The painful screams of Leto echoed throughout the earth, resounding through the heavenly mountains of Olympus to the deepest pits of Tartarus, drawing the prying eyes of all.

The Aegean sea, which surrounded the vibrant land of Delos, erupted in massive waves, rushing towards the clouds and connecting to the sky. It blocked all the prying eyes while protecting the island from any malicious intent.

Leto's screams eventually faded, and a child's cry took their place.

Under the shade of a lush tree, Leto held her daughter in her hands ever so gently. She was a literal mess, her body drenched in sweat, tears, and blood.

Despite this, she gathered her remaining strength and gently swayed her daughter, who was giggling and raising her little hand, trying to touch her fingers.

Leto finally showed a smile, a smile full of joy and relief. Her gaze was drawn to her daughter's iris, which were glinting silver in colour, resembling the silver moon.

Finally, she declared, her voice clear and loud, reverberating across the Earth.

"Artemis. You are Artemis."

Her daughter, like the twilight sky, began to change significantly.

Artemis flew out of her arms and floated in front of her. Leto did nothing to stop it, instead smiling peacefully.

Artemis grew from a baby to a girl in a matter of seconds, still floating with her eyes closed.

At the same moment, the orange fluorescent orb on the horizon faded away, heralding the arrival of night earlier.

From frail mortals to all-powerful gods, they all looked up at the night sky dotted with innumerable sparkles of stars.

Into these black heavens, upon this eternal night, came the grace of the silver moon. It was immediately filled with its gracious silvery radiance.

A beam of moonlight cascaded down from the silver-disc, as bright as diamond flames, turning into an ocean of melted platinum glow.

It passed through the colossal wall of water, descending on floating figure of Artemis, bathing her. A symbol of the silver moon graced her glabellae, declaring the birth of the Goddess of the Moon.

She opened her silver eyes, gleaming with divine wisdom. Her long black hair cascaded down her neck, gently swaying in the breeze, attesting to her ethereal grace and beauty, which would go on to evoke the jealously and envy of many goddesses. The silver moonlight veil transformed into a silver gown, enveloping her naked body.

"Mother….." Artemis spoke her first word, floating down in front of Leto and tightly embracing her. The moonlight also illuminated her mother, healing her injuries and wounds.

"Artemis.." Leto hugged her child tightly. "You look beautiful."

"Just like you, mother..." Artemis smiled.

Leto smiled as well, but her face twisted as scorching pain erupted throughout her body. The pain was unlike anything she had ever felt before, even more than during Artemis' birth.

"I shall help, mother," Artemis said, clearly understanding her mother's predicament.

Leto turned to face her daughter, speaking in between whimpers. "I am fine. I can handle it. And, it is really not something a child can perform."

"I could." Artemis was adamant. "With your help. And, you seemed to really need it with brother."

Leto finally nodded and sighed. The scorching pain was filling every pore of her body. It almost felt like an actual star was within her body.

Nonetheless, she steeled herself to bear this seemingly unending agony for the sake of her son.

As her resolve grew stronger, the faint spark deep within her soul began to burn brightly....

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(A/N : The story is AU with many elements from Sandman Comics)