Percy inhaled a long breath and a painful shiver ran across his skin. It was almost uncomfortable to breath, like a foreign feeling. Every inch of his skin prickled like it was touched with pins. The feeling was similar to the first time he had entered his true form. Of course that was gone, no doubt he would have an unfortunate end if he could even attempt that.
Slowly the pins and needles subsided and he could feel the cold air as he inhaled once again. The feeling was pleasant, it made him feel alive. He was curious about what else he could feel and hear, the wind was the most noticeable but then the feeling of home took over.
The sea. Undulating as wave after wave moved which made Percy smile lightly. Then he noticed the vast void of feelings, he couldn't quite place what used to be there but he somehow knew.
Time. The word seemed to resonate in his mind like a cacophony of noise, reverberating in his very soul for no purpose but to remind him of what he had done and what he had lost. But he came back.
Percy was no god but that didn't really matter anymore. It was euphoric to feel alive. Abruptly his eyes snapped open to see, to see reality. He didn't know why but it felt amazing.
The silver ceiling of a hunter's tent, so very familiar and vibrant in colour.
"Percy!" A voice yelled. A dark skinned boy appeared above his head, little black horns poked out from amidst his curly hair. A satyr.
The satyr looked friendly but Percy had no idea who he was though he seemed to know him. He tried to remember but all he found was a void of nothing which irritated him.
Just when he thought of giving up, a name came to him, he didn't know how but it seemed just right.
"Grover?" he whispered. Finally taking in the young satyr's appearance he smiled in astonishment, the face matched what he could remember though much younger. He couldn't help but wonder how far he went back.
"Are you okay?" Grover bit his lip nervously as he stared at him, poking him in the cheek.
"Yes Grover, and you look good too" he chuckled as Grover hugged him. The warmth of contact gave him a soothing feeling, relief and happiness that he thought he hadn't felt in ages.
"Can you move son?" Percy's head snapped to the side to see Poseidon sitting there with a smile, he was alive as well.
"Dad? Is that you?" he said in surprise. He racked his mind as he tried to remember the last time he saw his father, but his thoughts were devoid of an answer. All he knew was it was a long time ago, a very long time and that scared him.
Percy couldn't help but shake slightly as he took in the sea green eyes matching his own. Poseidon's beard seemed to bristle and shake as he smiled. Far fewer grey hair were present and the god of the sea looked startlingly youthful unlike after Hades disappeared.
Percy blinked, Hades disappeared? He couldn't remember that happening but he felt like it did. As his eyes trailed back to his father's, he couldn't help but think that maybe he disappeared to.
And then it was there, memories, so real but seemingly so fragmented. Poseidon disappeared five centuries after Hades.
"Of course it's me." The deep voice shocked Percy out of his reverie. Poseidon was smiling widely and it was exhilarating. Poseidon was alive. The words repeated in his mind as he shook uncontrollably and grinned from ear to ear. Percy shot up and hugged him tight, tears brimmed in his eyes.
"Dad" he choked out the word. Of the thousands of thoughts that wanted to come out at the same time, it was the one he wanted to say for so long. Elation took over and his arms tightened their hold to confirm the reality of his father before him.
"What's wrong with you Seaweed Brain?" Instant recognition fluttered through his mind at the familiar voice. Percy turned with a wicked grin before snatching Thalia in a hug.
"I missed you too Pinecone face!" He shouted, thoughts of his last meeting with her centuries ago clouded his mind. His sister in all but blood, like the others she along with the hunt disappeared.
"What are you doing Percy?!" Thalia shouted with a flushed face, pushing him away to the ground she attempted to glare but her look of concern hadn't faded.
Percy laughed loudly and clutched his stomach, just like old times. Finally his attention settled on the two demigods in the corner of the tent looking at him strangely. His expression faltered momentarily before turning into pure happiness as a name rung in his head.
"Nico?" he murmured ecstatically. He looked so young. The girl beside him was a stranger, Percy stared deeply for a moment until he felt her name arose. Nico's sister.
"Bianca?" Finally his situation hit him like a tidal wave, the quest to save Artemis. Two millennia, the inconceivable words made everything stop. The fates had done him a great boon.
"Percy?" Grover questioned.
"Percy? Are you okay?" Thalia asked worriedly.
"Do you know us?!" Bianca asked curiously to his shocked face.
Of course he didn't even hear her, she was alive and that was all that mattered. A split second later the brother and sister were engulfed in a hug. They were family and he was definitely happy to see them.
Smiling like a loon, he knew he had gone back much farther than he thought possible and he would have to thank the fates when he saw them.
It was like a flood, wave after wave of endless memories just came back. Friend's faces filled his mind and made him laugh in pure happiness. He just wanted to go and do something, reminisce as he digested everything.
The next thing Percy did was run out the tent.
o - o - o - o - o
Poseidon began to get worried for his son's sanity. He was acting like, well not very normal like at all. His thoughts of the loyalty and the pride he had for his son began to crumble away as he watched the proceedings. Perhaps it was the odd twitch of his eyes that seemed to be so disconcerting, or the slowly forming manic smile that was equally odd if not more.
Before Poseidon could do anything his son had dashed out the tent. "A hunter?!" A shriek was heard from outside which was suddenly cut short.
"Hello, whoever you are!" Many more followed in quick succession from what he assumed was the entire hunters camp.
When Poseidon thought it couldn't get any worse, he was proven woefully wrong as he exited the tent. A long string of feminine shouts rang out and the hunter with the silver tiara standing outside the tent growled. Her fingers found her bow and she dashed off with a menacing glare.
Whatever Percy had done, had slighted the hunters.
"Hunters, surround him!" The hunter shouted commandingly before she vanished behind a silver tent.
"Get back here boy!"
An arrow flew past Poseidon's shoulder and he quickly sought cover behind a tent. A hunter ran past and paused at him and drew her bow. She was young but she had the look that defied her age, realization quickly dawned on her about who he was and she quickly dashed off.
"I'm alive." The shout came from a distinctly male voice, one that he recognized from his son.
It was an interesting sight to see his son so full of energy and happy while dodging arrows from the hunters. If anything he was astonished and proud when he saw his son dodging them without even looking and occasionally vapour travelling when he was in the air and couldn't move.
Poseidon wasn't exactly sure when Percy had learned that but he was damn good at it to use it so consistently and almost instantly to dodge arrows which brought unexpected pride to him in the ensuing disaster.
Amidst the chaos he saw Artemis and Apollo flash near and now he truly feared for his son's life. Artemis' expression had darkened considerably and he could make out her saying something along the lines of 'kill' which worried him greatly and 'boy' in the same sentence, to which he paled.
"Apollo! I missed you so much!" Percy hugging Apollo while laughing rambunctiously.
Poseidon was puzzled by the relationship between Apollo and Percy, he hadn't even known one had developed but it left him decidedly forlorn.
A foreboding feeling soon followed as Poseidon noted Percy release Apollo and turn his attention to an infuriated Artemis beside him. Based on what his son had already done to the hunters as well as Apollo, he was sure Percy would do the exact same thing to Artemis.
"Percy" he croaked. Quickly he stood up and took a step forward but he was too late.
"Artemis!"
Poseidon watched in horror as the last moments of his son's life played out before his eyes. He was embracing the maiden goddess of virginity and spun her around like she was really a child. Even he knew that Artemis hated being treated such a way.
The shock didn't end there when he suddenly left and Artemis stood in shock with a pale face, it probably didn't happen often which brought a whole bunch more problems for him. He was so dead when Zeus found out his son had harassed Artemis, that was if Percy survived Artemis' wrath.
Quickly Poseidon decided to get him away before disaster struck. "Percy!" he shouted as he stomped his foot.
Poseidon's hope that the earthquake would at least stop his son but was proven incorrect as the chaos only got worse. Screams of anger followed and the hunters' curses only got more colourful.
Finally deciding to get into the chase, he flashed after his son. Flickers of blue light followed Poseidon's path but he quickly found that his son was slippery like Nereus, or possibly worse as the shouts continued in frequency.
"Percy! Get back here right now!"
"Poseidon! I am going to kill your son!" Artemis shouted as she pulled out her bow after regaining coherent thought. "He harassed me!"
Poseidon was troubled for a moment, on one hand he disapproved of Percy's actions, but on another, they were odd, woefully odd. "I am sure it was a misunderstanding Artemis, he just woke up and was happy to see everyone."
Artemis growled venomously and began firing arrows but Percy proved his abilities and rolled behind a tent before continuing on.
"Boy will be boys" Poseidon said reassuringly.
"Yeah Arty, boys will be boys" Apollo chimed in on the other side.
Poseidon's eyes narrowed at the sun god. "What is happening to him Apollo?!"
"I don't know" he shrugged with a grin. Apollo was enjoying this a little too much for his tastes and he was going to make sure he regretted it. "Maybe he is just a little excited."
"He touched me and my hunters!" Artemis growled with a blush. This was not going well and he had a feeling it would get worse soon.
"Oh come on, you know you liked it" Apollo chuckled.
Poseidon watched things spiral more out of control as Artemis shook with rage from Apollo's teasing. Artemis glare fell upon Apollo and she promised cold words to him as well. "I will kill you too."
"Oh come on Artemis, it wasn't like it was your first hug from a man, I mean Zeus must have given you one." Poseidon placated hopefully.
Artemis flushed furiously as her eyes glowed with raw anger and power. "Oh my god, that was your first hug from a boy, really!" Apollo laughed loud, ignoring the arrows that were piercing his butt in quick succession.
"Shut up Apollo, it wasn't my first!" Artemis snapped.
Poseidon realized that things had reached the worst possible result. Percy had touched Artemis and with Apollo's ability to keep that a secret, everyone will know.
"PERCY!" He shouted as he slammed his trident down. The earth seized and rippled as the whole cliffside shook in response and felt like it was going to break off into the sea.
All the hunters fell on the ground huffing and exhausted but still very angry while silence fell over the camp. Poseidon wasn't even sure his son was in camp anymore, the boy had been jumping around for over five minutes from the hunters.
He felt the moisture condense in the air and the smell of the sea spread around as Percy vapour travelled right in front of him.
"Yes Dad?" he began with a smirk.
Poseidon noticed the constant twitches coming from his son like he just couldn't stand still, it was unnerving him greatly and he felt his son would disappear any second once again.
"What the hell are you doing!" he growled.
Unfortunately his stern fatherly tone had no effect on his son as he remained erratic and grinning. He noted that though he appeared happy, his eyes told a different story, almost like not all of him was truly there.
"I was greeting everyone and I got a little excited." Percy chuckled bemusedly. His eyes rapidly glanced all over the place as if he was getting ready to bolt at the first sign of movement.
"I am going to kill you boy." Artemis spat vehemently as she launched arrows directly at him.
Poseidon felt bile come up in his throat as he watched his son's impending death but with practiced ease Percy just sidestepped each arrow, while flicking the rest away with his hand. Briefly he glanced at the ripped skin and dripping blood on his hand curiously, he squeezed his hand tightly, letting the blood drip down before his eyes refocused upon her.
"I think not Artemis, you're not even trying" Percy chided. The mocking laugh that followed did little to settle Poseidon's nerves or calm Artemis' anger.
Still Poseidon couldn't be more proud in a weird way, his son was good enough to block Artemis' arrows barehanded. True she didn't appear serious but it was an achievement nonetheless considering she was a goddess of archery.
"This is going to be awesome" Apollo cheered from the side. A chair was snugly attached onto his butt and a bag of popcorn appeared in his hands as he watched the show. "Come on Uncle P, take a seat and enjoy the show" Apollo gestured to the chair beside him.
"Apollo, this is hardly the time." Poseidon snapped. The sun god once again patted the chair and ignored him.
Artemis glared dangerously before pulling out her daggers.
"Oooh, she's getting serious" Apollo guffawed like a child, a very irritating one.
Poseidon grudgingly sat down beside Apollo while gripping the armrest tightly and his knuckles quickly turned a pale white. All his thoughts focused on how to save his son from getting killed by Artemis, he stared intently for an opening but he had misgivings.
Artemis glared at her brother murderously. "Shut up Apollo! Why don't you help?!"
"I am on Percy's side, he was awesome and still is." Apollo cheerfully laughed.
Poseidon was less humoured as he feared his son would die so soon after recovery or be a jackalope and then be subsequently hunted and then fed to the wolves. "Apollo, you're not helping." His jaw tightened along with his grip and the chair deformed under the strain.
Apollo just shrugged to the sea god and looked back to the fight.
"You want to challenge me Artemis? You know you can't win!" Percy mocked with a grin.
Poseidon flinched as he tried to figure out where the sanity of his son went, it was replaced by lunacy and all manner of weird things that he couldn't explain and now he was getting confused about what happened to that. Rattled as he was, he continued to stare at his son because he still had a hope that he would somehow make it out alive and not maimed… to severely at least.
"You will die tonight boy!" Artemis snapped. Flying forward with a single step, her silver daggers vigorously attacked with the intent to kill.
As graceful as she was Percy had blocked her strike with a wide grin. "Tut tut tut, it seems you lack the strength to do any real damage. Why do you always underestimate me?" Percy asked curiously with a feral grin.
Poseidon got more confused, his son was goading Artemis to fight seriously and how in the world had he figured out she was holding back. As far as he knew he had never met her until now.
Unfortunately Artemis had responded by increasing her speed even faster till she was a blur of strength and speed, a mixture of many different animals' best features. Sparks flew and the clang of weapons echoed after a long string of parries and blocks as Percy matched each of her strikes.
The pair dodged and weaved between each other's attacks while countering and attacking whenever they could. It was truly splendid swordsmanship and he even noticed Percy using his left had to swat away Artemis' blade to defend himself.
The hunters gathered around and watched in shock as the battle between the two raged on. Flecks of blood, both red and gold occasionally marked the snow around them which didn't improve Poseidon's mood.
"Come one! Come on!" The manic laugh of his son was quite the deterrent.
Poseidon's breath hitched at every sound. "Apollo, what is happening?" he growled darkly.
Apollo waved him off cheerfully. "Trust me Uncle, Percy can't feel anything right now… well at least no pain."
Poseidon twitched as he rounded on Apollo. "What?"
"There is a morphine in his system right now, just a bit though…" Apollo winced uncomfortably.
"And this is the cause?" The sea roiled at Poseidon's words, he expected the answer he wanted to hear and nothing else.
"Well… it plays a part… perhaps." Apollo turned his attention away to the fight, not daring to meet Poseidon's eyes. "Anyway, pay attention for when he runs out of energy." The popcorn vanished along with the chairs when the two gods stood.
"Apollo?" Poseidon growled, he felt himself getting angry again. Things were not going the way he wanted them to. Once again he summoned his trident and began twisting it, and the earth seemed to rumble which made everyone pause.
Artemis turned to look deeply into his eyes, checking to see how far along he was to really going ballistic.
Of course a maniacal laugh stole away everyone's attention. Percy bellowed loudly, not unlike Poseidon. "Not a bad idea dad."
Percy's eyes sharpened, a devilish smirk formed, one Poseidon had never seen on Percy before. But it spelled trouble.
Artemis wiped the blood off her daggers and spun them in her hand as she readjusted her grip. "Do not get ahead of yourself boy. You are just a single demigod."
"The sea fights better alone, it's always alone to begin with" Percy said in a lecturing tone.
Poseidon could only nod in agreement, it was challenging to fight with his brothers and sisters without causing collateral damage.
Percy chuckled as he took a step forward. "Now it's time to have some real fun."
The earth trembled once again and everyone looked to Poseidon.
"It's not me." Poseidon whispered hoarsely, his eyes widened as he felt the earth rumble. Pride welled up in him as the earthquake seemed to grow stronger.
"Boy?" Artemis questioned curiously. She hesitated momentarily before she realized that Percy was already in front of her.
"You're distracted Artemis." Percy monotoned out cheekily. His sword swung forward to her throat and stopped just at her skin. "Hmm… I expected more."
Artemis stared in shock at the blade and then leaped back a step. She flushed angrily. "Boy, you would do well to-"
"Again you're distracted, you're not taking this seriously." A loud thunk resounded as the flat of Percy's blade came down upon Artemis' right wrist.
"You arr-"
"Are you?" Percy interrupted once again with a tilt of his head. He appeared disappointed but it was hard for anyone to truly tell if he was.
Artemis' ground her teeth as she shook her wrist. Her dagger was lost in the snow now but most of all her pride took a severe blow.
"Perhaps." She murmured disparagingly. Artemis summoned another dagger into her hand. "It will not happen again."
Percy sighed as his sword dropped. His brows were in a frown for a brief moment before his roguish smirk came once again. "What would Apollo say…" he muttered thoughtfully.
Apollo blinked curiously and leaned forward. Poseidon beside him was equally confused.
"You are not as awesome as me?" Percy said but he didn't seem confident. "No… that doesn't sound right."
"Oh?" Artemis stated with evident irritation. "Big words for an arrogant boy."
A light seemed to flash in Percy's eyes and they took on a lively, mischievous look. He chuckled as he nodded his head and looked to Apollo. "Perhaps I should fight Apollo instead, he would make for a better challenge than you."
Time seemed to stop for everyone.
"Oh dear" Apollo hissed.
A silver glow blazed in Artemis' eyes as she bunched her shoulders together and crouched down. "Very, big words for an arrogant boy" she growled.
Percy smiled as he looked back at Artemis with pleasure. "There it is."
With but a blink, Artemis was upon Percy with savage attacks. A few blows were traded while Percy retreated, though still keeping that unconcerned but excited expression on his face. Artemis' eyes flared bright and her dagger swiftly shot forward, grazing his neck before she kneed him in the stomach.
Percy flew back while Artemis chased but before she could reach him, his body broke apart into water and vanished in the air.
In a moment Artemis turned around to see Percy reform with an amused smile. His left hand grasped his stomach tightly but other than that he didn't seem any worse for wear.
"Do not think that will work again, you can only go so far and it evidently takes time for you to fully disappear." Artemis stated harshly. "That is more than enough time for me to kill you."
"Excellent, excellent but not enough." Percy said as he lunged forward. The Earth once again trembled but much more violently. Everyone lost their balance except Poseidon, he stood as still as a statue with a proud smile.
Their blades crossed dozens of times in mere moments, seemingly lost in a wild frenzy which only increased pace.
"Poseidon!" Apollo snapped.
Realization dawned on Poseidon when Artemis' attacks focused disconcertingly on vital points, she actually intended to kill him. "What do I have to do?" he stated with narrowed eyes. Percy would not die by a god's hand no matter what, not while he was here.
"When I tell you, I need you to stop Artemis while I heal Percy... again" Apollo added tersely.
Poseidon nodded his head, he really had no idea what was happening anymore. He was proud of his son's skill but the following mess was something else entirely.
Still Poseidon couldn't help but smirk, Apollo seemed miffed. Probably due to the subtle jab Percy directed at him when inciting Artemis.
A bright flash of silver signified a change in the fight. Percy slid back a dozen metres with surprise while Artemis continued with an undaunted, relaxed gait forward. "You are losing boy."
Blood dripped from Percy's nose which made Artemis pause curiously but he showed no reaction to it. With a swipe of his sleeve, he licked his lips and smiled once again. His sword shook once he raised it, though he looked not as sure footed as he had before. "So much fun."
Percy's chest heaved from exhaustion while Artemis just puffed out a short breath. Both appeared to be in a similar state of injury. Small cuts showed over their arms and legs where blood poured out and subsequently froze in the chilly air. Surprisingly she sported a small smile as well, while her eyes looked like they fell upon prey she was hunting.
"You're good… for a male" Artemis mocked with a glare.
"Thank you Lady Artemis." Percy replied in kind with a devilish smile. "Coming from you means much to me."
Percy leaned forward to go again, looking determined and ready, but in just a moment the feeling vanished. Percy abruptly collapsed to his knees and began coughing up blood. His sword dropped to the ground as he struggled to hold himself up.
"Now!" Apollo yelled.
Charging forward, Poseidon blocked Artemis with his trident. With the full brunt of the sea behind him he didn't budge an inch.
"Out of the way Poseidon" Artemis growled darkly.
"I won't, something is wrong with Percy." Scowling in annoyance he momentarily glanced back to his son. Apollo had leaned over him with his hands glowing gold upon Percy's back.
"Yes, he is alive, that's what's wrong" Artemis snarled.
Poseidon just barely controlled his rage and that was the proverbial tip of the iceberg he could bare, he had already watched the two fight it out and Artemis pushed his limit.
"No!" Poseidon snapped, gathering power into his trident he forced her back. "You will not kill him!" he shouted, startling the moon goddess by the power in his voice.
Artemis recovered and returned the heated glare, "after all he d-"
"Do not test me niece" Poseidon growled. His voice was absent of its usual bemusement at everything. Which was evident by his emotionless tone when calling Artemis. He was truly serious and Artemis paled as she took a step back.
"Artemis! Stop, it wasn't his fault… well not really… I think." Apollo remarked unconvincingly.
"Really?! Explain how that wasn't his fault!" Artemis held her daggers down but still glared at Apollo and Percy. Much like her brother she wouldn't dare meet Poseidon's eyes at the moment.
"Well, Uncle P decided to help Percy to speed up his recovery… you have to understand that Percy was completely exhausted after whatever happened to him, so he was about to die." Apollo began with more assurance that seemed to placate Poseidon's growing anger.
Artemis hesitated slightly but gestured for him to continue. "Yes so all that… godly energy in a demigod's body acts like sugar to a two year old. In fact I am surprised he even lasted so long" Apollo chuckled amusedly as he reminisced. "Well, the morphine didn't help either."
Artemis growled bitterly as she stared at Percy in rage, she really wanted to kill him but Poseidon was stopping her from taking action.
"Anyway he should be better now that he has burnt out most of Poseidon's power." Apollo cheered. Grudgingly Artemis relaxed her weapon arms slightly along with the surrounding hunters. "See he is getting up right now."
Apollo stood and backed away looking quite proud of himself. Carefully he eyed his patient for any oddities and mishaps he may have forgotten.
Percy groggily got to his feet, swaying with every movement. His hand gently clutched his head as it easily shifted in a rubbing motion to placate a headache.
"Percy?" Poseidon said softly.
His son's gaze fell upon him and caused his heart to skip a beat. For a brief moment there was no familiarity in them, at least not the kind he wanted to see from a son.
"Lord Pose- I mean Dad… Lord Apollo, Lady Artemis…" Percy paused as his brows furrowed thoughtfully. "I… I am sorry for my actions against your hunt… I was not in my right mind." Percy finished uncertainly and hesitantly broke into a perfect bow of respect. Poseidon grimaced distastefully, his son almost called him Lord Poseidon and he even bowed.
"Yes… son?" Poseidon mumbled as he blinked carefully, unsure if it was even his son he remembered from before but then again from what he learned recently, he hardly knew his son to begin with.
"It's alright Percy, and I am sure Artemis forgives you to" Apollo said as he glanced at his sister. Percy's eyes fell on her and she shifted uncomfortably, she didn't like the change in demeanour.
"I will forgive you just this once boy" Artemis scowled. "But never do that again!"
"Thank you." Just like that, he turned around and slowly headed back to the tent on unsteady feet. The hunters parted for him while keeping their heated glares.
Any tension in the air fell away to a cool breeze, courtesy of Poseidon. He just didn't know what to think about the complete change in attitude but he felt colder than usual.
"Apollo…" Poseidon growled dangerously. "What in the name of Hades just happened?!" Pulling his trident forward to Apollo's neck, he drew golden ichor to emphasize his budding anger.
"I don't know" he confessed. Apollo was confused and a little afraid but Poseidon was too angry to see it.
"That was not Percy. That was not my son!" he growled and the sea raged against the cliff face one hundred meters below to match his current emotion.
"Physically he is healed completely but other than that I don't know, he's your son" Apollo shrugged.
Poseidon seethed. His gaze shot back to Artemis who looked suitably uncomfortable. "Today's matter is settled Artemis, do not take action because of it or you will regret it."
Quickly Poseidon turned to vapour and vanished.
