I do not own the Percy Jackson series or Fate/Grand Order
It was a cold night, as expected in the month of November, with snow already drifting pleasantly to the ground. For many people, it was a pleasant night, with many families huddling together in their homes. But for one, this was not a pleasant night.
"Damn it all!" Came the angered voice of a young woman, her hair auburn in colour and flowing down her back, being braided in a few places. Her grey eyes, which twitched in pain ever so often as she stumbled through a dense forest, were full of confusion and anger. Her pale skin seemed to glow under the moonlight, giving her a beautiful appearance.
'What in the name of Hades is this? Did that idiot Apollo decided to prank me again in some sick way? No. He wouldn't cause me any pain, embarrassment maybe, but not pain. Argh!' She groaned out as she fell to the floor.
Picking herself up, she leaned against a tall tree, old ash tree, its leaves still upon the branches and blood red.
'Come on Artemis! Think! What could have caused this? Wait! Three months ago! That one shrouded person my whole hunt seemed to ignore while it stood in the middle of the camp and staired right at me! Argh! Damn it not again!' The form of the woman started to flicker slightly, the silver glow around her intensified and a burst of silver light suddenly enveloped the entire area.
After a few seconds, the light died down. Artemis huffed, suddenly very exhausted, with an unknown weight resting on her legs. As the goddess of the moon looked down, she couldn't help but gasp. On her legs, lay a child, wrapped in a silk blanket that left only its head and hands exposed. By its appearance, it looked like a new-born, its skin slightly red, and tuffs of auburn hair sticking out of its small head. Its small eyes were closed as it slumbered in a peaceful sleep. Though, given by its sudden appearance, the pain stopping, and the child having an already slight resembled to herself, she could guess that the child's eyes would be silver-grey, just like hers.
Artemis carefully picked up the child. Examining its features like a predator determining its next filling meal.
'Wha- What is the meaning of this? Could it be- No! It's not possible! But even so…' Though the goddess in slight panic. Her left hand started glowing a faint silver light. She softly pressed it into the child's back and her eyes instantly widened, and her breath hitched. The child, it had some divinity, much like a demigod does, but it didn't have just any divinity, it was hers!
'But, that would mean, this is my child…' thought the goddess, looking at the child in slight wonder. 'But that shouldn't be possible! I'm still a maiden and I never combined my essence with any male like Athena does to make a child- wait! That hooded figure, whoever they were they somehow combined their essence with mine and made…this…child.'
She watched as the new-born slowly opened its eyes. Magnificent silver-grey eyes much like her own, but unlike her own, the child's eyes were outlined by a dark murky black ring around the iris, giving its eyes a powerful visage.
The child gave a happy gurgle as it looked at its mother, its eyes shining under the moonlight as it reached out its tiny arms towards her.
Artemis looked perplexed. On one hand, she could take the child with her, present it to the council and take it from there, no doubt some would try to have the child disposed of, most likely her father and Hera, some wouldn't care, and some would probably congratulate her. On the other hand, she could simply kill the child and be done with it.
But as she gazed into the child's eyes, she found either option to be more repulsive the longer she stared into those beautiful innocent eyes.
'Maybe, I can take you to the Hunters and pass you off as one of them, after all it wouldn't hurt to have her true daughter-" wait, she sudenly though. Was it a girl?
Artemis carefully unwrapped the cloth from around the child, the child itself not seeming to mind the cold November air, her eyes narrowed in slight disgust. It was a boy.
'How…Seems like the Fates are playing some sick joke. As if I would accept a male child!' She though, outraged. The little boy didn't seem to take notice of his mother's anger towards him. 'A male child of Artemis, something like that shouldn't be possible. Nothing more than an abomination that goes against nature itself.'
She brought out a hunting knife and pressed it against the neck of the new-born, intending to make its death quick. 'Something like this cannot be allowed to roam freely. Whoever is the bastard who forced me to have you will also die. A slow painful death.'
Just as she was about to cut through the child's head, she hesitated. The child never stopped smiling, instead, it opted to snuggle into his mother's hold. Not taking notice of the malicious intent the goddess had.
As she stared at the child, it's peaceful and joyful expression still present on its little face, she couldn't help but see, that he's innocent.
'It wasn't his choice to be born. It's not his fault. He has done me or anyone else no wrong, some bastard somehow combined their essence with mine and he's simply the result.' With a sigh, she took away the knife from the baby's neck. 'But it doesn't matter, he's a male. He'll end up like the rest. What to do with you now? I guess I can simply leave you. Despite your sudden and unexplained appearance, you're still only half god. Meaning I can't raise you and I don't have anyone I could leave you with. There's nothing else I can do then. I'm sorry little one.' She gently placed the child at the foot of the tree, its eyes suddenly filled with confusion, losing the source of pleasant warmth.
Artemis stepped back, before turning around and starting to walk away. Seeing this, the child let out a small noise, almost as if trying to say a word. The goddess stopped, though only for a split second before vanishing in a silver light.
They child made more upset gurgling noises. After a few seconds it started to whimper, then it started crying loudly.
Shadows started to gather next to the child, taking form of a hooded figure, their features shrouded by a dark cloak. Though, tuffs of long black hair could be made out and their eyes shone like the cosmos.
'I should have expected this. I really should have. Oh well. I can't really interfere too much. But then again.' Though the figure as it picked up the still crying baby. 'Then again, I do feel affection for you, my son. Now, who to leave you with, I cannot take you. That would be too boring and simple. Hmm. My daughter. Maybe I should give you to Nyx. Though, my daughter would most likely use you for her own gain. She's a bit too manipulative, that and I fear she might not love you as a mother nor an older sister. Though that seems to be a trend in our family.' Thought the figure as they rocked the child back and forth. The infant's cries ceasing slowly as it only whimpered, looking at the figure in curiosity. 'Hmm, what about Hera? She has not been able to raise children for a long time. Not only that, but It would probably help her get rid of her distaste for demigods and the like. Hmm, that may not be the best idea, I fear that Zeus would find out. Paranoid bastard would sooner kill this child than 'allow it to become a threat'. Besides, Hera might be a bit too biased on children conceived out of wedlock or any that are not her own.' The figure gently rubbed its hand across the infant's head. The child's eyes now calm and closing slowly, falling asleep in the warm embrace that surrounded it. 'Hmm, Oh. I know. Echidna. Oh, the Irony! The Mother of all Monsters raising the child of the Goddess of the Hunt. Brilliant! Besides. It's been a while since she settled down, not consumed by her resentment towards all who harm her children. And if she tries anything with the little one, well. It would be a shame if she suddenly faded without any explanation. That reminds me. You don't have a name, do you little one?' Mused the figure, as it and the child started to disappear in shadows.
In a small, slightly German styled home that was hidden deep in a forest, sat a woman who looked to be in her mid-twenties. With long brown hair and unique yellow eyes and light skin, she would be considered beautiful by any man or woman. The woman wore a simple shirt that slightly revealed her arms as well as some simple jeans. She stood by the window, looking out towards the surrounding area, she noticed that the rain outside became heavier, not that she minded.
Dark shadows started to gather at the opposite side of the room. The woman turned around, her appearance changing slightly, with her eyes became serpentine like slits, her arms were covered in greenish scales.
"Who dares enter my home! Show yourself!" Demanded the woman as she hissed, a snake like tongue flicking out from between her lips.
The shadows continued to gather and meld together, quickly taking a distinguished shaped. A hooded figure, with a sleeping child safely held in its arms. The figure pulls their hood back slightly, only so the woman could see them.
"Hello Echidna, I'm pleased that you used your true human form before you sensed me, I find it much more appealing and appropriate for you." Said the figure in a light tone.
The woman was taken back slightly, her eyes widened considerably as she realized who stood before her.
"Y-you!" She managed to stammer out before the figure cut her off.
"Ah, ah, ah! Names hold power Echidna! You best remember that." Chided the figure with a playful tone. "Now, onto why I'm here." Said the figure, slightly adjusting their grip on the peacefully sleeping child. "I won't, what do mortals say these days 'beet around the bush' or something like that? Anyway, I would like for you to take care of this child as if it were your own. Love and cherish him, as a mother should and I promise, you won't regret it." All playfulness in the figures voice vanished, replaced by a cold, yet not uncomfortable voice.
The figure stepped up to the Mother of Monsters, holding out the child her to hold. Echidna's monster features receded as she cautiously walked up to the child. As she took the child into her own arms, she felt a powerful scent invade her sensitive nose.
"He's a spawn of Artemis?" She asked, oddly calm. "And yours too." She added, looking away from the still sleeping child, to the figure.
"Indeed. But he is still considered a demigod. I used a mortal shell and used that essence to mould with that of the Goddess of the Moon. I take it this won't be a problem?" Asked the figure, an underling threat hanging at the end.
Echidna looked at the sleeping infant once more. It truly has been a long time. Ever since Zeus imprisoned her former husband and enslaved her children, she hasn't had one child. And she was too late to be able to raise her existing ones. If she didn't know better, she'd think this was a child of Aphrodite. The child really was beautiful in her eyes. She unknowingly brought the child closer to her body and started to softly rub her thumb against the back of its head. The baby started to squirm a bit, causing Echidna to panic slightly, it yawned cutely and opened its curious eyes. She was instantly mesmerized. The child's eyes were magnificent, the silver and black melding together beautifully.
As the child gazed at her, it reached up with its little arms and grabbed a fistful of Echidnas hair, but instead of pulling like she expected him to, instead the infant simply held her hair tightly, before releasing a happy gurgling noise.
Echidna looked up from the baby to the figure in the corner of the room, who had an almost invisible smile plastered on their face.
"Why me?" She asked quietly, fearing her voice to betray her.
"I weighed my options and chose you. Besides, I felt that you would be the least biased and wouldn't use him for your own personal gain. I trust I didn't choose wrong, did I?" Asked the figure, the threat heavily evident in their voice, yet the Mother of Monster didn't seem fazed whatsoever.
She looked back to the boy, who has yet to let go of her hair and stop making happy noises as he snuggled closer to her.
"No. No, there won't be any problems." Said the woman, her voice strong and resolve.
The figure's smile widened.
"Wonderful! I shall visit to ensure that he is being taken care of. Now, do you need anything? While I may be unable to be here for him and raise him myself, is there anything I can do or provide before I have to leave?" Asked the figure, warmth and friendliness back in their voice.
Echidna never once looked away from the child, now holding him with one arm and using the other to gently stroke his cheek.
"What is his name?" She asked, her smile becoming gentle and motherly.
The figure shifted slightly, almost uncomfortable, their appearance starts to crack and fade.
"He has not been given one. Artemis didn't decide to give him one and simply left after contemplating to kill him or not. And I'm Afraid I can no longer sustain this mortal body long enough. I'm sorry Echidna, but I will leave the name up to you." The figure faded completely from view by the end of their last words. Leaving nothing behind, but Echidna and the unnamed baby boy.
Echidna stood there for a moment, letting the child grab onto one of her fingers and start to suck it lightly. She sat down in one of the comfortable seats around the room and slightly shifted her shirt. She took away her finger from the boy's grasp and started to breastfeed him.
'Hmm. What to name you. It has truly been a long time since I had any children, well other than the one I ate, damn spawn of gods.' Silently mused the Mother of Monsters as she gazed down at the peaceful child. 'Hmm, how about, Mihaly.'
She looked at the child-her child. If she was going to be raising him, she was his mother. And he was her son.
"From now on, you shall be known as Mihaly."
I don't really know what to put here other than leave a review if you liked it, if you didn't that's not my problem. And hope you enjoyed.