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((true that, go ahead))

Apollo pulls back as well and gives Endymion's shoulder one last squeeze, but through the touch, he shot pure energy into the young god, knowing it was within his right and the rules to give Endymion a boost that he would be in need of later on. He smiles confidently to Endymion before walking to the edge of the trees, but still in the clearing. He glances to Athena, smiling,
"Go right ahead."

Apollo watches this all from afar, flinching every time that Endymion was thrown to the ground. Each took he took a step forward, but caught himself. If he interfered with Endymion's testing, it would mean his lover would fail. He bites his tongue and keeps watching.

At the emergence of the flowers, he does step closer. He had never seen this type of flower before and it was interesting, even from afar. Hearing Athena surrender, he smiles widely and crosses the clearing towards them, stopping a good ten feet away and gazing down at the flowers before his eyes return their gaze back to Endymion's face. His words were a whisper in his mind, but still powerful.
"Absolutely perfect... I'm so proud of you... Are you ok? Anything I can heal before you must continue?"

Apollo nods at Endymion's answer as it slid into his mind. The boy looked tired, but he knew that giving him energy would be against the rules. The only reason he would be able to heal him would be so that he could perform the other tasks.

And then he saw Endymion rise. The scene that passed before his eyes left his lips parted and his eyes wide. He had never seen.... The only people he knew able to rip a portal between the Underworld and the mortal world were Zeus and Hades, since it was their jurisdiction. But this......... Apollo's eyes turn and lock on Endymion and very slowly, a smile spreads across his lips. If it hadn't been against any rules of the testing, he would have dropped to his knees right then and prayed to Endymion until the young god was writhing in that feeling. He planned to hold off and give him every prayer he could muster a bit later.
He was utterly speechless as he fondly met the gaze of Demeter, eyes slightly wet with joy. He hadn't seen his beloved goddess of the harvest in so long and they had been close ever since they had met. The split among gods hadn't affected her feelings for him the way it had for many of the others. But she had retreated to the Underworld to be with her daughter and son in law. The god of the sun and the goddess of the harvest were always working together for the good of the mortals. Apollo would back off or bring more sun depending on the status of the crops and they had reigned like that for centuries. All his memories with her were fond ones. Persephone looked just as breath-taking as always, like a natural beauty, hair like cornsilk, eyes like new lilacs. He had always thought of Persephone as a child, since he had knew her mother before she was born, but all the same, he had always treated her like a good friend as well as taking the role of an uncle and mentor.

Then the thought that Spring was soon at hand overwhelmed Apollo and he takes a step back. It had been so long, he had almost forgotten what he looked like in Spring and Summer. Since they were the times when the Sun was most gracious to the earth, his appearance changed, sort of like how certain animals changed colors with the seasons. In the Spring and Summer he looked more like his namesake... like a god of the Sun... He had just never shown that side of himself to Endymion. He bites his lip, almost feeling nervous about the upcoming change.

((Naturally!... Damn, I just wrote a short novel for you))

Apollo hugged Demeter tightly, nearly sobbing with relief, but holding it all in. However, the goddess in his arms did cry openly. That was one of the things he loved about Demeter, she was always able to show her emotions and she was never ashamed of them.

They pulled slightly apart to listen to the explanation and Demeter was nodding frantically, with a wide smile, "When I felt Endymion pushing through to contact me, I was so excited... Seeing both of you... Of course, Hades didn't need much convincing to try his hardest to break the barrier. The two of them working together, it was enough to push aside Zeus' efforts... It seems like he's finally created a god that will utterly surpass him in power." He turns and beams at Endymion.

But only seconds later, Endymion gasped and began to fall. Apollo was there before anyone could see him move, catching the limp god ungracefully, but still breaking his fall. He lowers Endymion down and pulls the young god into his lap, cradling him there. His voice is soft, but strong, "No matter who he can outmatch, he can still run out of power.... I'm afraid that last stunt drew the last of his reserves... Rest and prayer will cure it, but........" He looks up to Athena, his face serious and stern in resolve, "If that doesn't count for the last two challenges.... Athena, he's more than proved himself."

Demeter steps to their side as well, "I agree.... The poor young man needs rest now... Consider his work for humanity bringing Spring back and his chance to display his powers... well, he freed three gods from imprisonment in the Underworld... I think that counts for a lot... Now... about this Spring business...."

The goddess holds out her hand and Persephone, radiating her youthful beauty, steps to her mother and takes her hand. Immediately, the air around them begins to swell with warmth and slight humidity. The snow on the ground melted so fast, one could almost hear the 'sploosh' as the water soaked into the fertile earth. Otherwise, the changes weren't drastic, and Spring's coming each year never was a drastic change anyways, but the air around them was warm and thick with hope and one could almost smell the flowers and grass germinating in the soil.

Apollo takes a deep breath. He could always feel the change and it felt wonderful. Engulfed in warmth, the Sun god's skin glows, radiating its regular tan coloring. But in the process, he darkened slightly, from a mortal tan color to a rich, golden tan. His skin was the color that all mortal tans tried to imitate, the rich, healthy, sun-kissed glow, and the glowing of his skin that usually only happened while he rose the sun became permanent. A shock of color suddenly fled from his scalp and into his hair. Within seconds, his hair had become a bright blonde, the color of the sun when staring directly at it. A dull person would say it was white, but it held a tilt of color, almost creamy and it felt against his shoulders in loose curls. The ribbons that were in his hair sudden brightened and became a sparkling gold and wove through his hair like the sun itself.

But Apollo had bigger things to worry about other than his changed appearance. He looks down upon Endymion's face, his hands giving the excess of energy he received with the change of seasons and channeling it into Endymion's body. His prayers were gentle, like waking his beloved.

Endymion, god of Hope... My wonderful god, I pray for you to see what you have done, what your powers have accomplished... The earth worships you, the animals sing your praises, the plants lift their weary leaves and flowers to look upon you... If only you could see the beauty of your work, the artistry your hand has brought.... My sweet god of Hope... Wake up and see... Spring has come just for you..

((lol, just face it, you worship me 3nodding ))

Apollo picks Endymion up carefully and carries him back to camp, exchanging thankful glances with Demeter. Spring was back and Endymion was free to reign as a god. Not even Dionysus' presence could spoil that. He was impressed by the tent, but fully knew that Dionysus had a deeper incentive than the 'goodness of his heart' to do such a thing. All the same, he couldn't quite be swayed to feel competitive right now. For now, he could be happy enough that Endymion was ok.

He sets the new god down on the lavish bed, tucking him in with tenderness. He strokes Endymion's cheek gently once before turning and joining the other gods, finally getting the chance to give Demeter and Persephone a proper hug. Hades and he had never been close, but they had never been enemies. He shakes the god of the Underworld's hand with a smile, mentally thanking him for helping out in Endymion's testing. He takes a glass of wine and gently sloshes it around in the flute, mostly just smelling it. He really didn't want to get drunk right now, but it was a good vintage so he took small sips.

Demeter raises her glass with a hearty smile, her magic creating a wave of assorted foods to appear on the table. It wasn't a celebration, but all the gods were tired and in need of food and drink now. She says in a firm but loving voice, "To our Endymion, god of hope, and his power to bring us all together again!" She takes a long drink of wine.

Apollo saw Adel come in and smiled at him, telling him the news about Endymion's success and that Spring had come. Of course, the prospect of 'Spring' meant nothing to the boy who had only experienced winter, but when Apollo explained Spring to be like the bubble they had made in the clearing, he saw the boy visibly brighten. If all went well and Endymion agreed, Apollo would even move them to a more secluded area so they could enjoy the bounty of the season outside of the dirty city. The city was not the best place for a boy to grow up anyways.

Despite the merriment, Apollo found he couldn't spend much time without checking on Endymion. The young god had passed the test with flying colors and hadn't even heard the good news yet. He knew he was being paranoid checkingon him every few minutes, but he still wanted to somehow ensure himself that Endymion was ok.

Demeter quickly begins mothering Adel, combing his hair and rubbing smudges of dirt from his face. But she was a tender nurturer by heart and she only wanted Adel to grow up a good strong boy. She kept pushing different foods off on him, clucking at his reactions to various vegetables.

Apoll smiles at all the rest of them, pulling out the lyre that Hermes had made for him so many years ago and begins to play a lively tune over the the taut strings, Greek in cultural nature and plucking and strumming as well as usual as the others began to join in.

((sorry, my muse commited suicide))

Apollo laughed a little, currently playing an old Etruscan song that only a few of the other gods knew the join in with Eros joining easily and Athena slightly knowing the melody. Some gods had been older than others, so Hades, Persephone, and Demeter sat back listening. Demeter remembered the song, but she wasn't a goddess of musical talent. She stands, taking a few of the wine flutes with her to refill them and bustles into the tent. Seeing the curtain open, she takes in an excited gasp and rushes over, bustling like any good motherly goddess of the hearth. She sits on the edge of the bed, checking Endymion over like a mother hen, clucking lightly about how skinny the young god was. Once at the end of her tirade, she finally comments, "Oh yes.... and You are a god now!... Come, come, you must be starved... Dion here brought some good wine...."
Dragging Endymion out of bed, she cleans and mends his clothing with the meer touch of her hand and gently pushes him toward the table with food, "Apollo and Dionysus have been watching you all night, it seems... Come out and join us. If there's anything that can make Apollo's voice and fingers faulter, its you..." She chuckles at the thought.