A/N: Hello, my name is Champion and this is the (Hopefully) long awaited fourth chapter of Son Of The Archers. Now this chapter is a bit different. This story now has a Beta. StormCyclone21 has written the second half of this chapter. Now please tell us what you think of Storm and the story overall. Now if you are going to flame me or Storm please sign in first.
My half of the chapter was inspired by "Free Will" by Rush.
Hope you enjoy.
Last Time...
"Um, Sis?"
"Yes, Apollo?"
"Your hunters aren't going to shoot me again are they?"
"Not unless I want them to brother." Artemis smiled.
"You don't do you?"
Artemis just smiled wider and told her hunters, "Alright girls, Let's get this stuff to camp."
As the hunters gathered boxes to take back to camp, Apollo looked at his sister with a pale face.
"You don't do you Sis?" Apollo pressed.
Artemis looked at him with mischief in her eyes, but did not say anything. She grabbed a box and started toward her camp.
"Artemis!" Apollo shakily called after his sister.
Artemis just laughed.
Now…
As the hunters hauled the baby supplies to the camp, Apollo and Artemis were going through their sibling customs, in other words arguing. They had been discussing training Perseus when he was older when they had begun speaking about archery. They had both agreed that they wanted Perseus to be trained by the best. Naturally they both were the best, being the twin archers. Thus began the argument about which one of them is better.
The hunters, growing tired of their squabbling told them that when it was time to train Perseus they should have an archery contest to see who was best. The twins immediately silenced and looked at one another with hard and challenging glares. Nodding in unison, they agreed with the hunters proposal.
After hours spent organizing through supplies Artemis, Apollo, and the hunters were ready to end was an excruciatingly long day. After relaxing around the campfire the hunters told their mistress they were turning in. Artemis wished them a good night. Apollo did as well flashing them a sultry smile. The moon goddess seeing this shot Zoë a look and nodded slightly and the huntress responded to Apollo's smile with an arrow dangerously close to his family jewels.
The sun god, being the alpha male he is, let out a squeal that would rival any schoolgirl. It was at this time that all the female occupants of the camp let out roaring laughs. The hunters slowly disappeared into their tents, leaving the two Olympians with young Perseus.
"Well," began Apollo, "That went better than I thought it would."
"Yes It did. The younger hunters fell in love with him and the eldest could not find any personal reason to dislike him." Artemis replied.
"You know Sis, If we take this one problem at a time we might can pull this thing off."
"I hope so Apollo. I really do."
Percy of course, was oblivious to the melancholy mood that set in as he drank from his newly acquired bottle.
"Apollo, what if I were to immortalize him before the prophecy comes to pass? We wouldn't have this shadow hanging over our heads."
As her brother was going to respond a voice came from the darkness where the campfire could not reach.
"If not him it would be someone else, someone who could fail." It said.
Apollo immediately jumped in front of his sister with his bow drawn, trying to determine the location of their guest.
The voice began again, "Easy Nephew. I come in peace. Remember the conversation we had not too long ago?"
"Uncle?" Artemis asked.
"Very good Niece. I was beginning to feel unwelcome."
Apollo lowered his bow and apologized, "Forgive me Uncle. You startled me."
"It is quite alright Nephew. You need to be quick if you are going to protect young Perseus until he can himself."
Artemis spoke up, "Uncle, did Sally reach Elysium ok?"
"Yes she did. She was upset at first but, when I assured her you two were looking after son she calmed right down. I have never seen a mortal accept their fate with such ease. She was a strong woman. She also asked me to pass along a message."
"What is it?" Apollo inquired.
"She asks you to make sure she never sees her son until he has at least lived a full mortal life." Hades recited.
"Well that is the plan isn't it." Apollo said, trying and failing to lighten the darkening features forming on his sister's face.
That plan went down the drain.
There was no way Artemis could decline a request from Perseus's birth mother.
Artemis tried a smile, but it faltered slightly.
Hades presence alone caused that.
Apollo had caught on what he said.
"So he will be the one who fulfils the prophecy."Apollo rather stated than questioned.
Hades nodded
"As of yet there is no other living child from either Zeus, Poseidon or myself."
"Let's hope dad doesn't find out about this, he'll be furious with Poseidon and us, we can't be punished again.' Artemis said.
Apollo looked at his sister with a stunned look.
"We!" He exclaimed in protest. "I can't be turned into a mortal and sent to earth again, the experience was…" Apollo trailed. No-one needed to complete that sentence, everyone knew where it was headed.
Artemis admitted she got of lightly with father, but it was extreme torture on Mount Olympus with all of Zeus's threats. Sure they were empty, but Artemis still had to endure them, and that was bad enough.
"Wait, uncle. You said someone who would fail." Artemis said. "Are you saying Perseus will fail or he will be the only one that will succeed?" Artemis asked.
"I'm not saying anything." Hades replied. "I just meant failing is a possibility."
No-one could respond to that, it was a dark subject so no-one brought it up.
"Can I see him in person?" Hades asked.
Artemis let her uncle walk pass and look upon Perseus with his own eyes.
His black orbs analysed the sleeping child.
"Maybe I could train him a few times in my palace, that way he would be able to work in the dark and with a sword." Hades implied an idea.
Artemis and Apollo started to ponder over that.
It would definitely help Perseus, especially with his skills, he would be better trained.
Ooh, that reminds me. Sally also said that you could call him Percy, if you like as that is what she called him." Hades explained.
"Percy?" Apollo mused. "It's certainly easier. He looks like a Percy."
Apollo was definitely set on the idea, but Artemis didn't look like she was swaying towards calling him Percy.
"I think I'll stick with Perseus. It is his Proper name." Artemis stated.
"Is that all uncle?" Apollo asked, out of curiosity, he wasn't trying to be rude.
"Well apart from keeping my end of the bargain by not deliberately telling Zeus about the child, I guess I am done here for now. See you niece, nephew."
With that Hades melted away into the shadows.
"What are you going to do now sis?" Apollo asked Artemis.
"Care for the child like if it was my own." Artemis replied.
This would be strange for her since she was a the maiden goddess, but she was also the childbirth goddess, how hard could it be, right?
"If he gets too much, I'll take him for a while." Apollo told her.
Artemis thanked Apollo, maybe he was starting to become responsible, maybe he was going have to help raise this child and his silly antics needed to be forgotten, for now at least.
Apollo made his way out of the tent and made his way toward his sun chariot.
Artemis watched until Apollo was out of sight, she then proceeded back inside her tent.
Perseus was still asleep.
She pondered over the name 'Percy'.
It just didn't seem fitting to her.
Perseus seemed like a heroes name, plus she had a half brother called Perseus, he was definitely a good hero.
Now he was dead, she didn't want another Perseus to die, that was one of the reasons why she wanted to grant the child immortality.
Artemis knew she would have a rough first few years, but after that she would start to train Percy. He would be the best male archer, she wanted him to be better than Apollo as she knew she was, but Apollo thought he was.
Artemis knew in a few hours that Apollo would ride his sun chariot across the sky and it would then be day and until night she would take care of Perseus.
She was a surrogate mother and she didn't mind adopting a child.
She would keep her word to Sally Jacksons dying request.
Artemis wondered if her hunters would change their minds on Perseus as he grew up, she was determined to make Percy the only man that wasn't scum on this earth. The only respectable man.
She didn't want him to grow up and become like Apollo.
Apollo had almost died hundreds of times by the hand of the hunters.
She looked at Percy's sleeping form.
Artemis knew the bad things about raising a child, but she did promise Percy's mother.
"Don't worry Perseus Jackson, we will make you the best hunter and most honourable man."
Artemis knew this would be tough.
She also knew that her brother and uncle would be there to help where she stumbled.
With that she looked at the night sky, thinking of what the future my hold.
A/N: I thank you if you made it this far. Please tell us what you think of Storm's work and how it changes the story, if any at all. Also check out my one-shot "His Reality" and leave me a reivew. See y'all next time.