Who I Am

by porkchopMD

Sometimes the most important lessons are learned when we hit our lowest. Those lessons shape us into who we are meant to be. There is no divine map as our choices light our way through the pages of our story. We all have one beginning and one ending however, we have a long way to go till the end. Let's make it a story worth reading.

Mt. Rainier National Park Washington, March 4th 1991, 12pm

It was the dead of night in Mt. Rainier National park however the forest was alive with an eerie presence that made wildlife and fauna alike on edge. You see moments ago the moon was hanging in the sky as a pale pearl that lulled all under it into a well-deserved sleep. Then it happened an almost primal scream of agony roared through the forest as the moon bled crimson cascading a blanket of red across the forest. Creature nearby ran away with those few brave enough to go see the disturbance of their sleep.

Camp (Unknown)

A medium-sized camp of approximately 50 young girls to young adults were gathered around the only adult woman in the camp. This woman looked to be in her early 20s approximately 24 with auburn locks that cascaded with sweat down to her mid back. Along with her hair her pale-peach colored skin was coated in a film of sweat as her face was scrunched up in extreme discomfort. This woman known as Artemis is the goddess of the moon, chastity, and childbirth.

Now you may be wondering how and why someone of her caliber may be in such a state. Well not too long ago she was approached by the Fates whom predicted a child would be born of the moon. Said child will have the power to change the Fates of those that come into contact with them. That they shall be marked as a sign of their power. With this in mind Artemis search for a way to bring forth such a child. After several months of searching she found the perfect candidate for this task, his name Milo Argentum. Milo or miles to those close to him a kind man that worked for a small town police force near Seattle, on one of his routine patrols he spotted Anna Demos (Artemis) in a spot of trouble with a small group of three muggers. He stepped into action arresting the three and taking them into custody. He later met up with her and got to known the young woman on a couple of dates. Leading to the current predicament as after she got what she wanted she disappeared without a trace.

"My Lady thou art doing good just a few more pushes and thou child shall be born, just breath." Said one of the young women surrounding the goddess. This woman's name is Zoe Nightshade she is the second in command of the group of young women after Artemis herself. "Zoe…How about you push something the size of a melon out your uterus that is one forth the size, WHILE I TELL YOU TO JUST BREATH *grunt*!" Artemis said as she pushed out a beautiful baby boy that had a small patch of auburn hair and an equally small baby girl with slightly more hair on her head. As her children were cleaned up she spotted a small crescent shaped birth mark on the girls left butt cheek. "Hand me my daughter Zoe." She spoke with a little more energy as her second in command did so. As she takes hold of her daughter said girl opens her eyes for the first time showing her dazzling amethyst eyes full of curiosity to her mother. She then reached up and grabbed with her chubby hands a tuft of Artemis's hair giggling as she slightly pulled causing slight discomfort to her mother. "She's beautiful but delicate like a flower, Lilian Demos as you will be the flower that bring great change to this world and all she meets." Artemis says as Lilian yawns and falls to a restful sleep in the cradle of her mother's arms as her heart and body heat lull her to sleep.

After the newborn girl fell to hypos spell of sleep did Zoe approach her matron with the first born of Artemis. "My lady what of thou firstborn what shall ye do with him?" she asked as she held the minutes old baby boy. "What of him just leave him with that man Milo as I already have my prize. We will be leaving at first light so everyone head to bed." She said as she and her newborn daughter Lilian headed into her tent for the night, leaving Zoe standing there holding her matron's son. Zoe sighs as she has everyone clean up head to sleep as she had to make a quick I.M. to lord Hermes.

Argentum Residence 5am March 5th, 1991

Officer Milo Argentum was finishing getting ready for his shift at the precinct as he was about to take his first sip of coffee there came a knocking at his door. Once at the door he opened it to reveal a small basket with an equally small bundle that moved. Being the cop he was he carefully peeled away the blanket that ensnared the hidden item to reveal a small baby boy with a note on the blanket.

Dear Officer Argentum,

It is with a heavy heart that I must inform you of the passing of Anna Demos. As late last night on her way home she was attacked by a small gang that mugged her before stabbing her. She was then rushed to the hospital where she went into labor. It was touch and go for a while, however she was stable enough to deliver your son. The sad news is that we lost her before we could deliver the second child a girl. Do to the loss of Ms. Demos no name was given to your son. I do hope this message and your son reaches you.

Sincerely Herald Mes

After reading the small note and letting a few small tears cascade from his face he brought his son into his home. He called his closest friend Phil Parsons *1* who came over as he had no plans for the day except watching his newly adopted son and daughter Vali and Rose. Vali was five and Rose was only two, he came from an abusive home where his father beat, starved and neglected Vali. Having enough he grab what he could then ran as far as he could. A week earlier Phil found him and opened his home to Vali which he excepted them whole heartedly. Later after work he went with a close female friend of his named Samantha who taught him what to do and what to buy. He named his son Regis Ignis Argentum after his uncle whom also pasted away recently. As the weeks came changed into months then years, Milo fell in love with and married Samantha who raised Reggie as her own son and with her own bundle of joy that was born approximately two years after Reggie. Her name being Olivia Argentum do to her being born a few months before their wedding. However, on Reggie's seventh birthday both his father and stepmother Sam were killed by a mad man wielding a short sword that radiated a dark aura, attacked the small family on a trip through the Mt. Rainier National Park. Reggie survived due to his parents shielding him and his sister whilst knocking the sword from his hand. He in a fit of rage somehow summoned a blade and cut the man down however, he did sustain a few injuries and various bit marks all over his body. It wasn't until much later he was later found by his Uncle/Godfather Phil caked in the blood of the man whom took his family from him. He took him and his sister in and helped him get over the grief of his loss and found him a trainer in the Martial Arts. However, due to his business Reggie, Vali and Rose were left in the hands of their home school teachers and nannies. On his eighth birthday Vali and Rose both transferred to new school areas as to further their education as they understood things better and faster.

Reggie and Rose still kept in touch via email and other social medias, mostly him asking how classes went and so on. As time went on Reggie started to see Rose as more than just a friend however so as to not ruin their friendship he kept his budding feeling deep down. Soon Rose told him of a cute boy she liked and wanted to date. This hurt Reggie fiercely as he never had a chance to tell her how he really felt. By his thirteenth birthday Reggie had made contact with a underground fight club. At first Reggie wanted nothing to do with it however do to his past traumas and was in need of an outlet. His first match was against a man five years older than him named Victor. During the match they were evenly matched until the third round where Victor stopped pulling his punches and fought more seriously, slowly bludgeoning Reggie black and bloody. It was then Reggie felt a feeling he hadn't felt since that trip to the Mt. Rainer. Fear.

That's when he heard it a voice that told him 'what is there to be afraid of you have all the power you need. Turn and face him don't give an inch. Advance. Retreat and you will age. Be afraid and you will die.' It was then that Reggie felt a great power surge from within him. At this point Victor was upon him once more with his fist pulled back ready to strike. As his fist was to make contact Reggie fainted to the side at the last second and into Victors guard bringing his fist into a powerful uppercut that rocketed Victor from the ground and into the air. Stunned from the hit Victor had no time to recover as Reggie appeared before him leg drawn up in an axe like fashion to which he dropped it implanting it into his abdomen knocking him to the ground and subsequently unconscious.

Do to his win Reggie was paid nearly a grand or a thousand dollars, he was also offered a promoter to help him get fights. He decided to continue fighting as he didn't want to leech of his uncle's money forever and wanted to have something to be able to support his sister with.

By fourteen he was able to run a marathons length (138,435ft) in 3:13:30 (hours: minutes: seconds), do ten reps of two hundred pounds' bench press, as well ten reps of twenty sit ups and pushups. Reggie also took some mixed martial arts classes in Muay Thai, Judo, and Krav Maga becoming a second Dan: Black belt with Red embroidery in each. He also took kendo and archery classes which he excelled in. He could use his chi/touki for about three heavy attacks or for thirty-minutes of hand-to-hand. He developed a few techniques from watching anime and reading manga. Reggie due to all this grow like a weed and stood at a height of five foot seven inches, he has his auburn hair in a short but spiky style, his lilac eyes held a defiant look within them, his build was that of a swimmer and bodybuilder mix. As his body got stronger so did his mind unfortunately he still had his disabling dyslexia. He also gained the ability to gauge a person's strength compared to his. This had the added effect of allowing Reggie to see the strength levels of those around him. He learned that his base strength is approximately twenty-eight hundred and at full power his power sky rocketed to sixteen thousand six hundred sixty.

Present Time 06/09/2006

Reggie was leaving school for the year as school had let out for summer break as he was leaving his best friend Jessica (Jessie) MacGrath. Reggie has known Jessie since his ninth birthday when he stumbled upon he in the woods surrounding the town. She was eight at the time and had apparently gotten separated from her mother and was crying until Reggie showed up and helped her find her mom, since then they have been the best of friends. Jessie is fourteen years old as her birthday had just passed on the seventh of June, she stood at five foot four inches tall. She has hair that looks like amber waves of grain in a field in Kanas, her eyes the shade of clear azure sky during a nice spring day. Her peach skin showed no visible blemishes, like all teenage girls her body was budding into the flower she is meant to be. Her measurements are 32-20-35 and whilst she knew she was attractive she never seemed interested in the boys in the school (but if one were to pay close enough attention they would notice that she would blush when Reggie looked at her and vice versa).

"So Reg. Any plans for the break?" ask Jessie as she stole a few key glances at Reggie as they walked to the public bus stop. "Well~ I" Reggie started "HEY GUYS!" yelled out Jackson Evergreen or Jack as his two best friends called him as he hobbled to them on his crutches. "So Reggie how's it hanging?" he greeted his first friend, you see Reggie met Jack when he was in middle school when he was being bullied for his crutches. Let's just say that those kids never picked on kids with disabilities again (mostly because they became some for a few months). "Oh you know long and a little to the left." Reggie said as he chuckled at his dirty joke. Jack sighed with a headshake as Jessie blushed as strained her eyes trying to take a quick peek.

"Yo man you can't talk that way in front of a young lady." Jack said as scolded his friend. "What do you mean?" Reggie asked as he looked confused, "Never mind so I was wondering if you guys wanted to go to this summer camp I go to ever summer." Jack said in excitement looking for any que of agreement. "Sure I'm down. I have no plans anyway." Said Reggie as he looked to Jessie for an answer. "Sure my mom's out of town for the summer anyways for business. I just need to send a quick text to her." She said as she sent a quick text and received a text back. "She says it's ok." Jessie said excited as she puts her phone away. "Cool let's go get packed as meet at my place. By the way where is this camp Jack?" Reggie asked as they waited for the bus. "It's at 3. 141 Farm Road, Montauk New York. Here's a postcard." Jack said as he shows them a small worn postcard of a typical camp with the camp name on it. "Camp Half-blood huh. Well gotta give them props for originality. So I'll order some plane tickets when I'm done packing." Reggie said as the bus arrived and the three boarded.

The bus ride was pretty standard the three friends talked about grades, family and etc. Reggie and Jessie learned of Jack's cousin Grover whom lived in New York and would be at the camp this summer. When the time came for the three to depart they immediately went to pack and headed to Reggie's house.

06/10/2006 5p.m

The plane ride from Seattle to New York had lasted three hours and the small group of friends just gotten their luggage, they hailed a cab to go as close to their destination as they could. Reggie noticed it was storming pretty hard, as they arrived they heard a crash and screaming as they climbed the hill to said camp. "Jessie…Jack head to the camp and get help I will see what's going on." Reggie said as he charged back down the hill before any arguments could take place.

Minutes earlier Jackson Family

Sally Jackson her son Perseus a.k.a. Percy Jackson and his best friend Grover Underwood were speeding down the highway to camp Half-Blood, fleeing from a shadowy figure when disaster struck. Literally. A bolt of lightning struck the front of the car frying the engine block, flipping the car and totaling the vehicle. As Sally and Percy both crawled out of the wreckage hauling Grover along the way, Percy caught a glimpse of the figure chasing them. The Figure stood an even eight foot in height with a body as thick as an immature redwood tree. Its arms as thick as an oak tree and legs to match.

Sally seeing the figure hurried her son and unconscious friend up the barrier hill. However, the beast sensed their location via sent and let loose a roar that shook Percy to his core. "I-is that P-pas…" he started as the beast began its lumbering charge at the trio, "No Percy. Names have power. Listen its sight is terrible it relies on scent to track its targets, but once it starts charging it can't change directions." Sally said as she waited for the right time to make her move. Fifteen feet…Ten…Five "Percy Move Now!" she said as she dodged to the side. Once she righted herself she noticed that the beast was now going strictly after her son and his unconscious friend. As she knew that no matter what there was no way for her to warn him in time "PERCY!" she shouted as it was in arms reach.

Present time

"Geronimo!" Shouted a new comer that sounded distinctively male in origin, as he sends a powerful straight punch into the bullman's torso launching him back to the road in a tumbling heap. As Sally and Percy got a better look at the new comer they notice he looked to be around Percy's age maybe a bit older, with auburn hair waring pair of blue jeans and a red Tee-shirt as he tossed his black leather zip up jacket to the ground. "Hey you folks okay?" he asked as he turned to look at them with a small smile. "Yes we are, but we have to move that will only anger it come on." Sally said as she shook off the shock she felt. The beast seemed to agree as he got up and roared at the young man. "Don't worry about me just get to safety. I Got This." He said and even though Sally couldn't see his face she knew his eyes held a fierce gaze of determination. "No you'll only get hurt. I couldn't bear the thought someone I just met risking their life for mine or my son's." she said as tried to urge the youth to rethink his decision.

"Regis… My name is Regis Ignis Argentum, but my friends call me Reggie. Also don't worry as I said before." Reggie said as the beast approached and swung his tree like arm at him, as Ms. Jackson screamed only for him to duck under the attack at the last second. He then let loose a combo of attacks that stuck the beast back a few feet. "Damn it's like hitting a damn tree." Reggie said as he shook his now sore hands.

"MOAR~!" it roared as it prepared to charge again this time before it could it was hit in the face by a semi-large stone (like the size of a softball). It turned to see Percy whom was the one that through the stone only to get slugged again with a smaller but still large stone. "He ground chuck. I ate your cousins!" he shouted angering the creature that then charged at him. "Oh no you don't" Reggie said as he went to intercept only to be caught off guard and swatted away by the beast into the reclining tree line. As Percy watched in fear as the beast lumbered towards him and Grover (who he set against a nearby tree) he prepared to jump. As he was about to jump the unthinkable happened, his mother the only light in his life pushed him out of the way getting snatched up by the beast. "MOM NO!" he shouted "Percy I love y…" she said before she vanished in a cloud of golden dust. "MOM~!" Percy shouted.

Same Time Reggie

Reggie awoke after a few seconds to find himself out of sight of the beast and his targets. He arose with a slight difficulty as his head spun 'probably a slight concussion' he thought as he shook off the hit as best he could. "MOM NO!" he heard probably from the kid Parry or whatever his name is which meant he was in trouble. "Alright no more mister nice guy." Reggie said as he infused a small amount of chi/touki into his muscles then doing a quick backwards summersault onto the tree he was laying against. Launching himself toward the fight with the speed of a cannonball.

Camp Hill Entrance

Percy in a fit of rage charged the beast letting loose his rage in a fury of hard punches, each breaking the skin on his knuckles. He the grasped the horns atop its head pulling back with all his might. This caused the beast to try and shake him off allowing Percy to snap off one of the horns and loose his grip falling to the ground behind the monster. The beast enraged by the loss of its horn turned and raised its leg to stomp on the head of the insufferable brat. However, before he could he heard a noise coming from the woods in front of him. His curiosity was met with a powerful blow to the stomach that pierced all the way through his back. In its last few seconds of life it stumbled back and turned to see Reggie standing there caked in blood, "Now you know what it's like to be gourd. Tell your friends." He said as the beast let loose a weak roar exploding into a cloud a gold dust. Once the dust cloud settled upon the ground Reggie turned to see that Perry was unconscious, letting loose a sigh he grabbed the younger kid and began his trek back up the hill.

Once he was at the gate that lead into the camp and passed through it, he experienced a slight sensation that something was pushing him back. He turned seeing the air around the gate shift like ripples in a calm clear lake. Facing forward as the sound of people approaching grew louder, he saw his friends Jessie and Jack 'That hit must have takin a bigger toll on my than I thought. Jack looks like a plastic surgery gone wrong.' Reggie thought. Jack Now has the legs of a goat as did many others coming towards them, however the weirdest was a Horse-man galloping toward the two. At this point Reggie's mind as if to say that's it I'm out shut down causing him and to a lesser extent Pricilla to fall face first into the ground.

Dreamscape

Reggie opened his eyes to be greeted with the sight of chaos and destruction as two what can only be described as divine beast raged in an endless conflict. A mighty eagle that swooped down with rending talons and beak spear letting loose a piercing thunderous war cry to its foe. As a majestic stallion bared its twin mighty hammers in a roar of defiance toward its skyward foe. Challenging the avian ruler to test the might of its resolve. As this conflict continued a third beast watched from the side lines as if to only attack if provoked. The creature in question was a Crow draped in shadow with crimson eyes of blood that radiated the fires of the underworld. As Reggie proceeded to watch on he caught a glimpse of a sickly black shade, that extruded an evil aura consume the crow as it fought valiantly only to succumb to the influence of the substance and let loose its own war cry and attack the two weakened beast.

"Hahaha. Yes, fight…Destroy…Weaken yourselves." a voice that sounded as though it came from the deepest darkest pit of evil echoed throughout the area. Reggie tried to locate it only to be ensnared and incased in the same darkness that consumed the crow. As if the substance had a mind of its own forcefully turned Reggie, as he gazed upon the being responsible he felt an emotion he hadn't felt since he was seven. FEAR.

"Ah. If it isn't my great grandson. It is so nice to meet you. Pleasantries aside do you like what you see." As if the substance was the beings hand turned him towards the fight showing a now weakened and tired trio of beasts with numerous wounds that marked their bodies of the battle that occurred. "What…Who are you and why are you doing this." Reggie said as he struggled against the ever ensnaring darkness. "Don't Bother. Your current strength is insufficient to break your bindings. Just except your fate and allow my darkness to consume your soul." The voice said as the blackness consumed his form at a more rapid pace. The scene changed to a vision of all of Reggie's family and friends being consumed by the same darkness. As each one of his precious people fell and disappeared into ashen specks of darkness till only Jessie was left. She looked towards Reggie for help with eyes full of fear and tears looking to him for help. As the darkness reached her neck she excepted her fate, "Reggie I want you to know… I love y…" was all she could say before she to evaporated into ashen darkness.

This brought Reggie to tears and for a moment he forsook his fear for rage, as his bindings shattered he turned to face the being let loose a roar of anger that promised unimaginable pain. His voice shattered the vision as he channeled his full might as well as summoning a familiar looking sword to which he channeled his power into it "BEGONE!" he roared swinging the blade dispelling the dream banishing the being with an explosion and subsequently waking Reggie.

06/11/2006 7:00A.M.

It was early morning as the songs of nature played through the trees. It was a warm seventy degrees Fahrenheit with a slight cooling breeze. The birds greeting song awoke many to hear their splendorous ballad to the morning. As the suns light creeped across the ground waking everything it touched. Soon the light touched the twelve cabins however, when the light touched the seventh cabin it glistened like a good guy smile almost. Finally, the light entered camps medical tent waking those inside. Reggie woke in a cold sweat, he was about to rise up out of the bed only to notice a weight on his stomach and chest.

Angling himself enough to see what it was he saw that what was weighing him down was Jessie. He started to wake her up as she cutely rubbed the sleep from her eyes, noticing her friend was awake she rushed him into a tight hug. "Reggie I was so worried about you… I mean who cares that an idiot like you is awake, you could die for all I care." She started before letting go of him and looking away with a blush pout. Reggie chuckled at this before he wrapped her back in a one arm hug rubbing her back as he did. "I'm glad you cared about my health as much as you do." He said as he gave a sincere smile making her hide her blushing face in his chest muttering idiot. After a quick apology from Reggie she left and closed the curtains so he could get changed quickly. Fully dressed he and Jessie headed out as a younger girl with blonde hair came in to check on the other kid from the night before.

Jessie and Reggie were greeted by their friend Jack as they walked aimlessly around the camp. He decided to give them a tour of the camp which ended at the Big house as he called it. There they saw a man in his mid-thirties in a wheelchair and another in his late twenties playing a card game at a table. Once in view they were greeted by the man in the wheelchair whose name they learned is Chiron, the other waved them off lazily as he said for them to call him Mr. D. After introducing themselves to the men only to be waved off by Mr. D whom stated that he didn't care what their names are. Reggie in a rash smartass decision decided to say "at least our names don't sound like stripper names." This had two responses the first was a gasp from his friends and Chiron, the second Mr. D turned and glared at him as an aura of insanity drapes over him. "What was that Boy." Question Mr. D almost daring Reggie to repeat himself, not one to back away from a challenge Reggie picked it up. "I know you must be getting up there in age Old Man so I will say it again. At. Least. Our. Names. Don't. Sound. Like. Stripper. Names. Did you catch that this time if not maybe clean the jizz out your ears?" He said as he summoned a small amount of his power.

The clash of energies ended when Mr. D turned away with an uninterested look on his face. "Whatever go away before I turn you into a donkey to match your outside with your inner ass." He said as Jessie and Jack dragged a kicking and ranting Reggie away before blood was drawn. As they were dragging him away the three noticed the kid from yesterday being dragged towards the bathrooms by a brutish looking kids. Once they made it to the bathrooms they were surprised with a geyser of toilet water rushing towards them. Thinking fast Reggie grabbed Jessie and jumped as high as he could. Once they landed (on with an atomic blush) they saw the kid, the blond girl from earlier, and the group of brutish children coming out of the ruined bathroom. They couldn't make out what they were saying but soon the brutish kids left probably to dry off as the boy (who was still dry) and girl left after a quick talk. "Well things just got interesting." Reggie said as he let go of Jessie (who looked dejected at the release). They then heard the sounds of a goat baying in distress, they turned and looked upon the funniest thing ever. Their best friend Jack cocooned in a tree by a large wad of toilet tissue, "Oh save the girl but not me. What happened to bros before gals?!" he shouted before baying again making him friends chuckle.

END

authors note: I must apologize for my late update and rewrite of my Merciful Spring story. I in the past few months have been fighting off my depression that I've been struggling for years with and it seemed to be a losing battle as one after another people I care about died. It started with my cat passing away whilst I was at work and came home to my parents telling me of her passing, Then a domesticated rabbit that an old neighbor of mine left outside to die in the freezing weather. I nursed it back to health and grew quite found of it. However, one morning I woke up to go feed him before going to work only to find him dead. I felt like it was all my fault that it was divine punishment for caring about another living being. After a few weeks of friends helping me through it I though everything would be okay and I started writing again. I was half way through a chapter I was writing when I got a call from one of my best friends from high-school. He told me another one of my friends had committed suicide on his way to work. At first I thought it was a really terrible joke and got angry. Only when he showed me his Obituary and his funeral date did I believe him. Once again I broke down and started to blame myself asking 'what could I have done to prevent this' or 'what kind of friend am I to let this happen.' This went on for months and even now I still feel terrible. I feel better but it's hard, I don't sleep due to feeling like it my fault. What little sleep I do get is nothing but nightmares of my inner turmoil. I've tried immersing myself in my job and its sort of helped me cope enough to rewrite this story as I reread it in my spare time and saw lots of holes I needed to fix and watching anime for better ideas. I hope you like it if not well don't read it. Thank you