(ONE YEAR LATER)

The pranks, and taunts just kept getting worse, the younger hunters and Thalia warmed up to me, along with Artemis, but there were several older girls who kept messing with me.

I have found my tent on fire, have been hung from a tree, have been forced to do all the chores by myself when Artemis wasn't here, have been slapped, kicked, called many names, had a pack of wolves, a herd of bison, four hellhounds, two manticores, one hydra, and a empousa sent after me.

If that wasn't bad enough, I was set on fire, zapped, buried alive, tied up under a bee hive, and kicked in my sacred spot at least a dozen times, I didn't even do anything!

Artemis kept trying to comfort me, but if she saw what I looked like under my mask...my eyes were fragmented, almost glazed over, like if was broken further, I had cuts, bruises, and most likely fractured a rib, but I was able to get past that.

But as soon as someone decided to burn the one picture I had of my family, I snapped, and all I saw was red, as I knelt in the hot ashes.

Artemis

I heard an a bunch of laughing, some yelling, and a lot of noise, so I ran outside, to see Percy kneeling in ashes, over his most prized object, the last picture of his family, I gasped.

"Who is responsible for this!" I yelled.

"I am," one of the oldest, Ari, stepped forward, "that pig was probably just lying, so, I decided to make him pay for it by throwing his picture-"

I slapped her, "Dammit girl, he isn't lying, that was the last thing he had of the only people he truly loved in this world!"

"He's a male, why should it matter," Pheobe stated more than asked.

"Because, he's an honorable, worthy male, the last one, and you girls took all of this way too far!" I growled.

"The only one with that much honor was Percy Jackson, and he's dead," Dria stated.

"You fools, he is Percy!" I growled.

The ground shook, a huge geyser burst end behind Percy, his eyes glowed, flickering from red to black, "You...just...burned...the one thing I care about in this god damned world!"

The air started to burn, girls backed away from him shocked, Percy roared, "I never did anything to make you hate me so much as to burn the last thing of my dead parents, I let you have your way with me, hit me, torture me...I rather be back in fucking Tartarus with Kronos than to live through this hell, he tortured me until I wished for death, and you...you seven are no worse than Kronos, I just sat there and let you abuse me!"

I put my hand on Percy's cheek, "Percy, please, I promise they will be punished just calm down."

His skin was burning to the touch, "You're no better, you could've stopped them before hand, when you found out this was happening in the first place!"

I hugged him tightly, "I swear by the Styx, it won't happen again, I refuse to stand by and let them, hunters or not, they deserve punishment."

I felt Percy's skin cool down, "No...it isn't necessary," Percy said, "don't punish them."

"But...we do deserve it," Ari said, "we should've never done something so cruel to you, yet you still try to protect us?"

Percy didn't answer, he just walked into his tent, I turned on them, "Percy just saved the seven of you from severe punishment, so be grateful, but if you try that again, I will punish you twice as bad before banishing you."

I walked over to Percy's tent, but when I walked in, he wasn't there.

"Dammit!" I ran out and transformed into a wolf, trying to track Percy's scent, that wonderful scent.

I soon saw someone dive off a cliff, I mentally shrieked, 'Percy!'

I dived after them, my eyes closed, 'That had to be Percy!'

I turned into my human form and felt something warm, I was face to face with a maskless, cloakless, shirtless Percy Jackson.

"Why would you jump off a cliff?" I yelled, hugging him tightly.

"One word! Water!" Percy grinned.

Suddenly, a shock of cold water hit me, I was expecting to have to swim up, when I was stopped, I suddenly realized I could breathe.

I stared at Percy, he made a ring of air around us, he sat down, inviting me to sit next to him.

"I thought you were jumping off the cliff to kill yourself," I shoved him slightly, "idiot."

"I'm not ready to die just yet," Percy said, "besides, I rather die in an epic way, like fighting monsters, not suicide."

I chuckled, "Sounds like you...so, about the picture...?"

"I'm livid," Percy said honestly, "but the lake is helping me calm down..."

I looked down and saw Percy's toned chest and abs, I blushed, and looked further, 'Wonder what's under there...'

Percy was watching my face, "Artemis?"

I looked up, "Yeah?"

"I was wondering if you were okay, you look a little flushed," Percy said.

"Yeah, I probably just need some rest," I said softly.

I looked out towards the ocean, fish and animals swimming around us, I laid down in what just so happened to be Percy's lap, and fell asleep.

Percy

I looked down at Artemis, her peaceful, beautiful face, 'Oh gods, what is wrong with me?'

After a while, I carried Artemis on my back as a lion, she snuggled up in my back, her arms wrapped around my neck.

I walked into camp, into Artemis' tent, I placed her on her bed, and before I walked out, I felt her grab my tail, signaling me to stay.

So I curled up on the floor, and fell asleep.

I heard a knock, "Lady Artemis, it's time for dinner."

Artemis was still sleeping peacefully, so I nudged her, "Artemis, wake up."

She opened her eyes, "Percy...?"

"Yes, it's time for dinner," I said.

She sat up and got off the bed, walking out with me.

I turned into my human form, as soon as we were outside, everyone was eating, but I just can't stop thinking about how cruel the fates are, 'Honestly, Aphrodite must hate me for making me fall in love with a maiden goddess.'

I was staring at my plate, still piled with untouched food, finally deciding something I heard Thalia's voice, "Percy?"

I looked up at Artemis, "I need to go to Olympus, I must speak to someone in particular."

"Go ahead," Artemis said, staring at me with worry.

I transformed into a lion and ran off, teleporting in mid bound.

I turned into a human, "Aphrodite!" I called.

"Yes, Percy?" Aphrodite answered.

"Why...why would you make me fall in love with Artemis?" I asked.

"This is because your hearts long for someone worthy, and there is no one worthier than you two," Aphrodite said.

"She will never love me in the first place, even if she did...we can't do anything about it, she swore on the Styx to keep her maiden hood," I said.

"Well, we shall see," Aphrodite said, "of course, your alternative is me."

"I'm good," I said, teleporting back.

I saw none of the hunters make an attempt to burn my tent down, so I walked in, and fell asleep.

(SIX MONTHS LATER)

I went to do a perimeter check, when I heard a soft voice, and a song, "Love is a bond unbreakable for most, until you find it this curse you shall host, break it with a kiss of true love, whether you find it on the ground or up above."

Immeasurable pain went through my body, and I transformed into a wolf.

Aphrodite walked in front of me, "Percy, I've decided it's time for you to find love again, so...I'm going to help you."

"I don't want your help, and I don't need love!" I growled.

"Too bad, your gonna get both," Aphrodite said, "now turn back and I'll fix you up."

I turned back to normal, naked, I covered myself and thought of a million curse words to spit out at Aphrodite when she snapped her fingers, covering me with clothes.

"Those clothes will reappear on you when you become human again, so that way you're not...indecent, although, I will say there wouldn't be a woman in the world who wouldn't enjoy the view, not even Artemis," Aphrodite said.

I blushed so bad I thought I would die of mortification, "Whatever, thanks, I guess."

"No, I'm not done yet, you need to learn how to flirt," Aphrodite said.

"No thanks," I said.

Suddenly, I couldn't move, and I was in a whole lesson on how to flirt, 'Damn Aphrodite...'

They were done when the sun went down, and Percy was left alone on a moon lit cliff view of the ocean.

"Percy!" I heard a voice call, I just continued to stare at the ocean, "Someone I love...who loves me back..."

I saw Artemis, 'Well, I can rule the goddess of maiden hood out.'

"You had everyone worried you...you...ugh! Just scooch over," Artemis said.

I looked over at her, "Arty, there's something I have to do...do you mind if I leave...for a while?"

"How long?" Artemis asked.

"I'll be back by January...Arty, I really need to do this," I pleaded.

"Fine, but if I don't see you by January first, I'm going to seriously...ugh just go!" Artemis said, "Good luck."

"Thanks, I'll pack my tent and leave tomorrow," I said.

I walked back to camp, 'She seemed oddly flustered...'

Before I knew it I was in camp, the girls looked at me oddly, "What?"

"You keep disappearing," Thalia said.

"Okay Pinecone Face, I know you missed me, your favorite cousin and all, but I needed time to think," I said.

"About?" Thalia asked.

"Well, I decided I'm leaving for the rest of the year, it's something I have to do, and I won't be back until January first," I said.

A little one overheard and grabbed my hand, "Big brother you can't go!"

I looked down, seeing Ana hugging my leg, "Ana, I promise I'll be back."

"But...why do you have to go?" Ana asked.

"I need to do...a sort of quest, for a certain goddess," I said.

"But..." She held on tightly to me, "daddy, you can't!"

"Daddy?" I chuckled kneeling to her level, "You really don't want me to go?"

"Uh huh," Ana nodded.

"I'll make you a deal, I'll bring back something for everyone when I come back, and I'll make sure to visit," I smiled.

"Promise?" Ana asked.

"Swear on the Styx," I said.

I ruffled her hair, and she left, I chuckled.

"You're really good with kids," Thalia said, "Annabeth is really lucky to have you."

My face went serious, "You mean Artemis never told you?"

"Told me what?" Thalia asked.

"Annabeth cheated on me," I said.

"Oh gods, are you okay?" Thalia asked.

"Everyone asks that," I chuckled, "it's been six and a half years."

"Oh...oh, wow...how did I not know?" Thalia asked.

"Yeah, anyway, you should probably go retire for the night, Artemis needs her best hunter in top form while I'm gone," I said.

"Yeah, goodnight, Percy," Thalia smiled.

"Goodnight, Thals," Percy grinned.

Thalia went to sleep, I stood awake, messing with the flames in my palm.

I suddenly heard a scream from Ingrid, an eight year old's, tent, I ran in, thank gods...just a nightmare.

I ran to her side, "Are you okay?"

She looked at me and hugged my neck tightly, "Perseus, don't ever leave us again!"

A few hunters walked in, hearing this they looked shocked, and honestly, I didn't know what Ingrid meant by that myself, but what I said shocked the hunters as well as myself, "I won't, I promise, Ingrid."

Phoebe

Did Percy remember? We were all sworn to secrecy, Percy is supposed to remember who he is when the time was right...was that now?

Either way, until we know for sure, no one will tell Percy he's the reincarnated, original Perseus, that's why Artemis warmed up to him so quickly, everything about this Percy was an exact copy of the original Perseus, from the sea green eyes, to his kind, mischievous ways.

Most of all, Perseus was Artemis' best, and only male friend, and all the young hunters became attached to him, so now, all of us became really attached to this Percy.

Percy

I smiled at Ingrid, "Now, go back to bed, I'll stay with you until you fall asleep if you want."

"Thank you," Ingrid smiled.

She laid down and I kissed her forehead, "Goodnight."

I saw all the hunters staring at me shocked.

Phoebe was kind of pale, and seemed lost in thought, but she was gaping at me as well.

"What?" I asked.

"It's nothing...its just, we never really realized how good you are with kids," Phoebe said.

"Okay...anyway, as soon as she falls asleep, I'm hitting the hay,. I said, "I'm dead tired, I think you guys should get some sleep too."

It didn't take long before Ingrid fell asleep, and I left, heading straight to my tent.

And I fell into a deep, sleep.