Weeeelllllllllll, first of all I would like to *gulp* tell you my excuses for updating so late… haha… well first of all, the entire beginning of June was the end of the year, then I went to Florida (the new HP theme Park is so unbelievable!), then I went to NY to see Hyperpotterprincess, then when I got back I spent the past two weeks working on sailing and getting caught up with A Very Potter Musical and the new and incredibly awesome A Very Potter Sequel! Seriously everyone, watch it! StarKidPotter on uTube!
Thanks to everyone who reviewed! There are way too many to individually name but thanks to all, 5 more and I'm at 100. I really appreciate all your help and support. This story is wrapping up but I hope I have inspired many of you to write Artemis/Ares. Thanks for everything.
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"Why that boorish, brainless, thunderhead, lightning brain, son of a titan!" roared Ares as he stormed about his room, throwing practically anything he could get his hands on. Thankfully, all his possessions had been Ares-proofed so nothing could break. "He never can give me a break! Every time… and they all wonder why the gods' love lives are all screwed up!" he chucks a lamp across the room and yells almost primitively. "Every time…" he mutters once more before plopping onto his bed and rubbing his hands over his eyes tiredly. He then lays his upper body on the bed, arms splayed, while his legs touched the redwood flooring.
His silent moping was interrupted by a loud doorbell. Ares groaned and stood. He swaggered down the stairs and crossed the main room, opening the door to find the last person he expected to be there. There, standing at his threshold, soaking wet but still beautiful, was Aphrodite.
She gave a tentative smile. "Can I come in? It's really wet out here."
"Uh, yeah… um sure, come on in," Ares said, obviously distracted. She gave another little smile as she stepped in and shook the rain off her clothes.
"You would think that since we're in the clouds, we wouldn't have any rain… but Zeus has been a bit of a foul mood lately." Aphrodite said conversationally as they walked through the main room to a couch. Ares dumped himself and gestured to a rather nervous love goddess to as well.
"I'd rather stand, thank you." she said with a small voice. Ares gave her a look that said, 'Suit yourself' and urged her to continue. "Well," she began slowly and began to pace. "I just thought I'd start off by saying that I thought I was doing the right thing…" Aphrodite trailed off into the distance and Ares leaned forward.
"Yes?" he inquired, still trying to keep his cool façade. He ran a hand through his now longer, scruffy hair, becoming impatient.
"Well, y'know that makeup that Artemis has been wearing as of late?" Aphrodite asked, wringing her hands and looking like a child caught in a wrongdoing. Ares nodded slowly, raising an eyebrow and rubbing his chin. "Well, it has… special qualities… special, erm love qualities…"
Ares stood, the fire once again blazing in his eyes. "Wait, so this past year has been one of your fake love schemes? Why? To get back at me? You broke up with me, in case you forgot!" He stuck a finger in her face and her bottom lip trembled.
"Yes, I remember! Because I wanted to go back to my husband! I wanted to make amends! I never loved you! I was being a rebel-ish little girl and I'm sorry for using you! I was too young to marry then but I'm ready to be a better wife now! I see through him! Past his appearance! I saw the opportunity between you two and I took it! The makeup only brings feelings to the surface! I only sped up the inevitable. Because, let's face it, you two are made for each other. I was just too stubborn to realize it sooner. I have fallen in love with my husband. I was the love goddess who never knew what love really was. What you two have is more than anything I ever had!" she was much stronger then when she began, each word making her more and more passionate and frenzied.
Ares was hanging on to her every word glaring at her in a new light. The past few centuries were just disappearing as if they never happened. Aphrodite gave a little smile. "You feel it too. Zeus is testing you. If you're willing to face an eternity of forges or punishment to get her then that's when Zeus is going to know that you're ready. A lot of people see you as a coward; this is your chance to prove them wrong. Be brave, Ares! When she gets back, tell her how you feel and if she feels the same way then makeup will go away. Forever."
She smiled, a real, beautiful smile. "I want nothing but the best for you. I'm sorry I've been holding you back. I've grown up. Now it's your turn." At this she put a hand on his shoulder, squeezed and nodded her head. "You know what you have to do, but now I must get back home." She found her way out and Ares sank into the couch once again, at a loss for words.
He knew now that this was a battle he could not win. And even worse; he was going to surrender.
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'Well, I guess this is it. Maybe Zeus will let me come back every once and I while. I mean, I can't spend my whole life hunting,' thought Artemis to herself as she packed to go back to Mount Olympus. The summer was over and it was one of the best in her life. If only her Hunters were here. Her loyal friends.
But one thing that stood out this whole summer was all the complications of a relationship (is that what they had?). This was another reason why she had decided to take the post of the Pure Goddess; hopefully by using that excuse she could avoid unwanted lovers. The problem now was that she was unsure as whether or not he was unwanted.
'I'm going home today. Maybe everything will clear up by then,' she thought as she moved across the yard to her chariot. Sarha and Serhey (both with their very large pointed sticks) were standing at attention on either side of the entrance, smiling as they had never smiled before. And then, surprising them all, Artemis leaned in and hugged them tightly.
"I'm sorry I never fully appreciated you before. Can you ever forgive me?" she asked and the girls gave one another twin looks of disbelief. The once tough feminine leaders stuttered their affirmatives and looked to the driver for help. Thalia stood at the reins, grinning widely with a crooked mouth.
"Commander… it's good to have you back." Thalia jumped from the chariot and landed in front of the goddess, gave a very uncharacteristic curtsy, and pulled Artemis in for a hug. The two friends embraced for a while but broke when they heard a heavy panting from behind. The huntresses turned to find Percy Jackson and his friends looking as if they had just recently rolled out of bed.
"We heard…*pant pant* that you… *GASP* were heading out… *choke* this morning and…" began Percy.
"We decided… *clutch* that we should… say goodbye!" Annabeth gasped.
"You know… before you left," finished Grover who was slightly doubling over.
Artemis smiled and Grover almost fainted. "Thank you; I really appreciate your kind efforts. Why are you all so out of breath?"
Percy and Annabeth exchanged glances while smirking. "We had to round up your surprise! You've meant so much to us this summer and we learned so much more under you then anyone else who has taught us. We wanted to show you how appreciated you are! We prepared this…" Annabeth flourished her arms like a ringmaster in a circus and instruments hummed from all sides as magical creatures and campers alike began to play.
The satyrs and tree nymphs pulled out flutes while Aphrodite girls and boys (yes she does have boys too) danced. They all formed two lines and the dancers skipped in the middle, tree and water spirits throwing petals. Then Artemis joined in by calling birds, deer and other creatures from the forest and they came to mingle.
After the performance ended Artemis could have jumped with all the joy she felt. But that's when she sobered. She was going to be the person she was before. The summer was over, and so was this new Artemis. She settled for a polite smile that was something like a grimace. "That has got to be the most wonderful, thoughtful thing that anyone has ever done for me. I thank all of you greatly."
"We're going to miss you Artemis," said Percy and there was a murmur of agreement through the crowd. "We wish you the best of luck."
"Thank you," she said again and turned once again to her chariot. But another voice stopped her.
"Hey, Ice Princess!" It was Clarisse. She parted the crowd as a boat did waves until she reached Artemis. "I just wanted to tell you that if there was anything the Ares cabin can do to help you in the future, let us know." And then, the impossible happened. Clarisse smiled. And HUGGED her. The rest of the cabin leaders, one by one, pledged their help.
Her eyes were filled with tears and she could swear they could hear her heart break as she climbed the stairs to sit next to Thalia.
"It's time to go m'lady."
She glanced at the campers. Then, taking all her strength, she turned to Thalia.
"Yes, it is."
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Well, I probably only have one or two more chapters and it's all wrapped up. I really need help! If any of you have any ideas… review or PM me or something! I take anonymous reviewers too so yeah.
FYI I went online to see if Artemis and Ares had any 'history' if you know what I mean and I found this…
Before their birth, the coming of the twins was fortold. They were sons of Poseidon, and could not be killed by either God or man. Mighty Zeus' thunderbolts were useless, as was Heracles' strength. As the boys grew into giants they learned arrogance and the anger that comes from invulnerability. Ephialtes decided that he desired the Goddess Hera, and spent long evenings invisioning how he would dominate and violate the proudest and noblest of the Goddesses. Otus preferred Artemis, the Virgin Lady of Wild Things, for his rape subject. He would do what no other could. They had great strength and mighty issues, did this pair.
Rightly, the twins discounted the brute strength of the Gods. They were male, and looked only to the male strength as a threat. The female power - that of wit - was never considered.
So Otus and Ephialtes set off for Olympus, planning to crush the Gods before them and set themselves up as the new rulers of the world. During their seige they locked up Ares in a little bronze jar for 13 months. They had taken over Olympus soon, and there appeared to be no hope for the Olympians. During a break in the battle, Otus and Ephialtes called for Hera and Artemis repeatedly. Time after time they were refused, until at last, miraculously, the Goddesses accepted. Or rather, Artemis did. Hera still refused vehemently. Artemis went to Otus, and said if he would let out Ares, he could do with her what he would. Otus was ecstatic, but Ephialtes wasn't too happy. The brothers began to quarrel, and when they weren't looking Artemis turned into a deer. When the fighting reached a peak, she sprang between them as a white doe. Both men broke off and threw their spears at the lovely creature, but they were so distracted, and she was so fast, that the spears missed. Not only did they miss, but Artemis had set them up so that when they threw what was actually impaled was the brothers.
Otus and Ephialtes accomplished what none of the Gods could do, they killed each other.
Artemis returned to Olympus a heroine. Hera retained her dignity. Ares . . . well, Ares they left in the jar a little longer. No one liked him very much.
Also something else in the Adonis myth…
In some versions of the story of Adonis, Artemis or Ares (her lover in this story) sent a wild boar to kill Adonis. This version is suspect because it implies that Artemis had 'a party' with Ares and, by virtually all accounts, she remained chaste throughout time.
And if you guys are looking for more Art/Ares there's some in the Greek Mythology section on FF.N.
