(I wrote this version of the Greek short story, Daphne and Apollo, for my Greek Mythology class in college. I had to rewrite one of the short stories read in class and come up with a creative ending. Enjoy!)
Apollo was a god of archery. Like the other virtuous Gods and Goddesses, Apollo would not serve the devil, nor would his people and his home become a prisoner to the serpent, so he killed the enormous Python that held Earth and her inhabitant's captive. After defeating the serpent, Apollo became a Pythian and wore a wreath around his head to prove his honor.
All of the Gods and Goddesses have a sin; Apollo's sin was pride. One day while walking, he saw Cupid carrying a bow and boasted to Cupid about his abilities. "Lewd boy, what are you doing with that heavy bow? My shoulders surely are more fit for it; for I can strike wild beasts --- I never miss. I can make my enemies fall; just recently I even hit --- my shafts were infinite --- that swollen serpent, Python, sprawled across whole acres with his pestilential paunch. Be glad your torch can spark a bit of love: don't try to vie with me for praise and wreaths!"
Cupid's sin was different from Apollo's; Cupid was angry. Cupid couldn't fathom how someone could hold such pride. Cupid said spitefully, "Your shafts may pierce all things, o Phoebus, but you'll be transfixed by mine, and even as all earthly things can never equal any deity, so shall your glory be no match for mine."
Apollo thought nothing of Cupid's angry words and walked off. Cupid, however, beat his wings until he reached Parnassus' shady peak; there, he drew two shafts of the opposite effect. The first arrow rejects while the second kindles love. The first arrow pierced Daphne, a beautiful maiden who had many admirers, and the second pierced Apollo. The God of Delos was inflamed with love toward Daphne, who hated his name. Daphne had many suitors, but she did not wish to marry. Daphne was above her time; she wanted to be independent and not be married.
Daphne's father was not impressed. He often said to his daughter, "You're in my debt: you owe me grandsons."
Daphne did not like her father's remark. She said to him, "Do I owe you grandsons' because I am a woman? I am as worthy and equal as a man."
"Women are meant to create babies and take care of their men!" her father snarled.
"I will prove you wrong!" Daphne said.
However, Daphne did not know how to tell her father the truth --- why she did not want to marry, why she couldn't conceive. Daphne could never tell anyone. She did not mean for her secret to be used against her.
***
Later that day, Daphne laid on her bed and called for Zeus. Through closed eyes, she saw his handsome and muscular physique. Daphne had told Zeus of Apollo and her father's wishes and did not know what to do.
"Your secret is safe with me, my fair Daphne," Zeus said.
"I'm aware of your loyalty toward me, but I cannot hold the secret much longer. The others will get suspicious," Daphne said.
"Well, maybe you should tell Apollo the truth. Even if he tries slandering your name, no one will believe him. That boy has too much pride. He boasts often," Zeus said.
Daphne woke up and thanked Zeus. After, she went on a late afternoon walk. She observed the children playing, the women walking with baskets in their hands, the men flexing and acting wildly. Daphne felt peaceful around the trees and flowers. Further away, Apollo was admiring Daphne and waited for her to walk into the woods to run after her. He quietly walked behind, seeing other gods and goddesses walking the other way with food and water in their hands. When he and Daphne were the only ones left, he called for her. Daphne halted and breathed heavily.
"O, daughter of Peneus, stay! Dear Daphne, I don't pursue you as an enemy!"
When Apollo saw that Daphne was not moving, he ran up to her near a small pond in the woods and decided to introduce himself. Apollo wanted to impress Daphne and started bragging about his accomplishments. Daphne stood and half-listened as she could barely speak a word. What pride, Daphne thought, Zeus was right about this god. I must be careful. Prideful men are the most vengeful men!
Daphne looked around and took a step back, but Apollo took a step closer. Daphne feared for her life. She decided to make a run for it but ended up getting chased by Apollo, whose pride was more significant than his head. Daphne's hair streamed in the breeze, her dress shivered through the crisp air, and the wind slowed her pace, making it easier for Apollo to catch up to her.
"Leave me be!" she cried. "Leave me be!"
Apollo had lost his patience with the fair maiden. He grabbed her arm, and she fell to the ground --- Apollo hovered over her.
"How could you run away?"
"I don't like you. I wish for you not to court me!"
Apollo raised his bow and arrow. Daphne's eyes widened. "If you will not stay still, I will force you to be still."
Daphne sped off as Apollo shouted, "God of nature, hear my call, root this maiden, and never allow her to fall. Keep her roots under the ground and her limbs sleek and tender; as she becomes earth and is never moving!"
Daphne felt the arrow pierce her leg. Ignoring her pain, Daphne realized that she could not move. Thin bark began to gird her tender frame, her hair turned into leaves, her arms to boughs; her feet were held by roots, and her head became a treetop. Her eyes and mouth became tree holes.
Apollo walked over and observed Daphne's new look. Apollo grinned; he still loved her. He clasped her branches and said, "But since you cannot be my wife, you'll be my tree. O laurel, I shall always wear your leaves to wreathe my hair, my lyre, and my quiver," Apollo rambled.
Even in the form of a tree, Daphne could see that her leaves would only benefit Apollo's pride in reverence. She had to stop his gimmicks.
"Apollo, I cannot be your tree," Daphne said.
Apollo let go of her and sneered. "Why not?"
"You have too much pride! You turned me into a tree because I don't share a love for you, and then you want to take my leaves as a token of your pride? The world doesn't work that way. I am grounded to the earth forever in all seasons, and yet, I have to be stuck here for all eternity all because you cannot stand the word, no?"
"There is nothing you can do."
Daphne sighed. "Apollo, I have something to show you."
"What is that?"
Daphne paused and then cried out, "Help me, dear father; if Zeus has any power, then transform, dissolve my sleepless shape, and bare my natural form!"
Apollo stepped back as Daphne's leaves turned into long red hair, her body parts into human form, but the difference was that she was much taller, bulkier, and naked. Apollo got a good look at her face and her lower region, and he made a face.
"Daphne --- what is this new transformation?"
"This is my true form. I am a man," she said.
Apollo gasped. "What?"
She nodded. "When I turned thirteen, I realized that I was a woman trapped in a man's body. I went to Zeus, who transformed me, but told me that he'd keep my secret if I slept with him."
"That womanizer!" Apollo shouted.
"Well, I slept with him, and in return, he granted me my true form."
Apollo sneered. "I see, so you slept with Zeus in order to change your gender. What would your father think of something like that?"
Daphne laughed. "Zeus erased everyone's memories of my true form. Everyone knows me as Daphne, the fairest maiden." She took a step toward Apollo. "You can slander me all you want, but Zeus told me that no one believes a prideful man. You boast and harm others to get what you want, and now, no one will believe your truth because they know me as a woman. Women aren't known to be prideful."
Apollo looked up at the sky, and there he saw the cloud's take Zeus' form. Apollo threw his bow and arrow to the floor and disappeared. Daphne looked up at Zeus, who smiled, and she transformed from her original form, a male, to her true form, a female. Daphne took one more look and saw that Zeus was gone. She sighed and exited the woods, never bothered by Apollo again.