PERCY POV

This wasn't a bad start, in fact, things were going rather well. Sure it had taken a day or two to get started, but Hephaestus had commissioned multiple automatons to make the big house and cabins, I was researching how to create barriers and turned out I had a slight knack for it. I couldn't make a massive one, but they were more like shields and bucklers made of ethereal energy; it was a bit draining but I could make a shield that covered my arm and look cool as hell, like a shield of black, gold, green, and white energy. I was asking Hecate for lessons and despite how quirky she was she was a whole lot more fun to work with. Of course I now owed her, but I figured that it was worth it. We became good friends and she was alot more powerful than everybody gave her credit for, she was also very motherly towards me, which I had to say was nice feeling.

Athena had warmed to the idea with much more gusto than I thought possible, until I realized she was having fun designing the buildings. Aphrodite was squealing almost non-stop, thinking of how pretty her cabin would be. Apollo slapped me on the shoulder, commending me for having such a brilliant idea. Dionysus was indifferent but did comment that this would help in the long run. Hermes was a bit off-put by the idea, at least until I told him since he might have to deliver messages here, he could see his kids. Helios acted like Apollo, but was more interested in the cabin's look. Zeus and Hades wanted to have a camp for their own kids, but Dad rebuked them for their elitist attitude. Selene patted my shoulder and told me she hoped I would survive.

I didn't quite understand what she meant, I had been working hard, training mostly, and helping out with some of the building, nothing too complex, just tiring. On the flip side I was trying to find councilors for the camp, and the minor gods actually thought it would be a good idea to hang around. I groaned as I sat at my desk a bit late, apparently I had to approve the layout of the cabins and how the camp would be protected.

I yawned and put my head on my arms, Hecate walked by and patted my shoulder sympathetically, "Tired?"

My response was a half-asleep grunt.

She chuckled and walked out the door. I wanted to get up and walk around, maybe check on the cabins, but I was so tired. I stumbled out of my chair and collapsed into my bed. I snuggled deep into the covers and shifted my clothes to resemble pajamas, so sweat-pants and a t-shirt. The next thing I knew I was asleep.

THESEUS POV

I woke up with the sunlight streaming on my face, I yawned and stretched leisurely. Aegeus was a bit worried about letting me in but I knew my father didn't even know who I was. I also had been worried about a lady known as Medea. She was often glaring at me and trying to get her son, Medus, to spend more time with my dad. I often went to the barracks to train with soldiers, who readily accepted the chance to spar with me. Aegeus and I had often talked and was interested about how I killed each of the bandits, and where I was from. He seem to look at my sword with a confused and thoughtful expression, which I knew meant he was wondering where he had seen it.

All together though, the good outweighed the bad. It was nice living in the palace and seeing my dad.

Then again, as my brother said, a demigod's life is never simple.

I was just finishing sparring with a a guard when Medea walked up, "Hello...boy."

I raised an eyebrow, I hadn't been in her fair for any amount of time, so I was naturally suspicious, "Yes, Lady Medea?" I responded.

"I feel that you are powerful for such a young man. Lately this kingdom has been feeling rather...oppressed by Crete. I wanted to know if you were capable of sacrificing a symbol of cretan power for us? Such as the Marathonian Bull?"

I blinked, "I am not too busy with anything if that is what you are asking."

"You should run it by the king then." She smiled, but it wasn't friendly.

It was a cold, calculating look.

It didn't matter to me, I was determined and I was going to do this maybe it would be the hint my father needed to know I was his son and a son of Poseidon. I took a quick bath and I made my way to the throne room and arrived. I took a deep breath and opened the door.

PERCY POV

I woke up and stretched, blinking through the glare of the sun gleaming through the windows. I got up and brushed my teeth, with a brush I had made for me by Hephaestus, and walked down to the bathhouse. In boxers and a shirt.

Yes we have those, the bathhouse and "modern"clothes.

No they were not common.

I am a twenty-first century kid, bite me.

I let the water fill the tub and used my powers to warm it to perfection. I lifted out all the water and doused myself in it. I sighed as the water energized me for the morning. I materialized my toga clothes and cloak. I ran a hand through my messy hair and barely moved when suddenly my senses sparked. I ducked and a silver arrow implanted itself in the doorway where my head would have been. I paled and turned and saw Artemis holding her bow and her eyes snapping with anger.

Oh, so that's what Selene meant.

I leapt into the air and fired a precise blast of frost, which she shot an arrow into and destroyed, but that was supposed to happen, I needed a small snow screen. I swirled the snow into small typhoon, not at all as strong as my personal hurricane, but enough to force to make her stop for a second.

I landed and stood straight, and practically yelled, "What the hell was that for?"

"You dare try to usurp the hunt's ranks?!" She yelled.

"What?" I said honestly surprised, "What do you even mean?"

"You made a home for demigods so they cannot join the hunt?" She notched several more arrows and fired, "I knew you weren't any different from other males."

My eyes narrowed and I formed a ethereal buckler and knocked the arrows out of the air, "Shut up! Do you even know what I am trying to do? Why don't you get your information straight before you come charging in with your bow and arrows out and trying to kill me!" I shouted, "I don't even have a freaking idea about why you are mad at me!"

Her eyes widened in utter shock.

I sighed a deep breath, "Sorry...but I hate it when people assume I am trying to do something bad." I rubbed a hand over my forehead, I wished they had coffee in this day and age, "Look, can we just...talk? About what I am trying it do here, you're free to object but I already got this approved, by your father, Zeus, and a majority of the council."

There was a tense silence for several moments.

She let out an irritated grumble, like she wanted to argue, but nodded.

I began to walk towards the big house, and dissipated my buckler. She fell into step beside me.

"You shouldn't have said shut up." She mumbled moodily.

I almost chuckled, "If someone were hurling false accusations at you and then attacking you, I am more or less sure you would have reacted about the same way."

"So what exactly is the point of this?" She inquired, gesturing at the ongoing constructions.

I stopped and sat down on the steps of the big house, "Demigods aren't only female, as I am sure you know. And there are female demigods who want to live and yet not be restricted not to find love, right?"

She nodded, but snorted as though they were idiots.

"What I am making is a sort of ... Home. For demigods. I am sure that here, the judgmental attitude of the denizens of Greece label those who fell in love with gods as women and men who are guilty of infidelity, when in actuality, they had the misfortune of falling for someone who could never stay with them. Then the child is ridiculed as being a bastard child, unless the parents are willing to advertise their child is a demigod, which some are not willing to do."

Artemis frowned, but she knew I was right.

"Well when they have a demigod child, it is actually dangerous for the parent to have them around. I mean, demigods attract monsters, and even though mortals of this day and age can see them and fight them, wouldn't it be better to have them be adequately trained rather than leave them to be defended by mortals who have no idea why they are being attacked?" I said gesticulating for effect.

She sat down next to me, "I suppose it would save many lives, both mortal and non-mortal, but what did you mean 'of this day and age?'"

I sighed, "As you know, as times go on ideas change and whether it takes a few hundred or a few thousand years, ideas will be forgotten and change. It will probably happen sooner than later, in my opinion. Anyway, what will happen when the mortals stop believing? The monsters will still be there, and people will stop trying to help the demigods and soon they will be myths and stories. If that were to happen, they can still come here to learn how to fight, how to protect themselves and others."

Artemis looked pensive, "What about the hunters?"

"What about the hunters?" I said.

"Won't this stop them from getting anymore recruits?" She asked.

"No." I sighed.

"Why? They would opt to come here wouldn't they?"

I got up, "Artemis... You wouldn't understand what some demigods go through. I am sure most girls would be drawn to idea of not having to answer to a higher authority, exactly like the hunt advertises. I haven't even started on the family and friend problems."

Artemis gave me a gauging look. I wasn't sure what expression was on my face, I was always made fun of in school. People laughing at me for being the odd one out, my mom having it deal with Gabe. Annabeth, running away from her family because of her step-mom. Thalia, Nico, all my friends...

A warmth ran across my cheek. I rubbed my cheek and my hand came away wet.

"Sorry..." I said, chuckling hollowly, "I got lost in the past..."

'Or my future...' I thought.

Artemis shook her head and stood up, "Don't be. Perhaps I misjudged you and your intentions. Good luck, Percy, good luck."

She began to walk away, but I called out, grinning, "Hey!"

She turned, "What?"

"Maybe once I get a decent number of demigods here and I feel they have been sufficiently prepared, " I paused for dramatic effect, "we could have your hunter fight the campers, see whose are better."

She looked curiously for a second and then grinned predatorily, "How could I pass up an offer like that?"

I laughed, "See you later, Artemis."

She laughed and flashed away and I turned to walk into the big house, I had some plans to work on.