Hello all you Amazing Readers! I'm back with CHAPTER 10! WHOO HOOO! Never would have thought I would get this far.

I hope you are having a great day! And I know that school has started back for some of you, at least in the USA, it has for me at least. And this is year is going to be hectic, because I'm taking a few college classes along with regular high school, so YAY! Lots of homework!

Anyways I apologize about taking so long, I just couldn't motivate myself to write. I knew what to write, I just couldn't actually do the writing part. Oh and I am planning to add a quotes that I like to the start of every chapter, it might not having anything to do with the chapter, I just might like the quote. :)

And there is a link that I'll put here - discord .gg /t7ssCgj - it goes to a discord group chat that a cover artist, who is designing a cover for this story btw, set up. His name is J. Krypt , so go check it out!

Now on with the story!

"Any society that is willing to give up a little liberty to gain a little security,

will deserve neither and lose both.

-Benjamin Franklin

Apollo's POV:

I was asleep and you could say that I was dreaming, in a way. Gods don't really dream per say, most of the time what happens is we are immersed into their own memories. You don't see it from your original perspective, but in a 3rd person ghost form. Much like demigod dreams, but that's a different topic. But the way the memories are selected are very similar to the way dreams are for humans. What happened that day or whatever is stressing you out, things related to that will almost be guaranteed to be the memories revisited.

Right now I was, unfortunately, being forced to revisit my memories of Artemis. I had been here a while and had already gone through all our early years, when we where on the island of Delos, but those aren't really the painful ones. So now I'm watching the early days of being an Olympian, contrary to most beliefs Artemis didn't always hate men. She and I had a great relationship until we were summoned to Olympus and Artemis saw how the arrogant jerks acted,( and I guessed she ignored how spiteful and arrogant the women were but I digress), and they apparently represent the WHOLE of mankind, except for the women obviously because... she's one? And from then on she hated men, even me, her brother, because despite her knowing my personality and knowing I wouldn't hurt a women because that's how mom raised me.

So now I watched as the ancient version of Artemis and I went round and round arguing in ancient Greek. I watched as she ripped my old-self's heart out, and yelled at him for just being a man.

(I am not going to do a whole conversation in Ancient Greek, not even google translate is that good)

"Artemis, all I want is to just go back to the old days. When we were close and acted like brother and sister."

"I HATE you!" ancient Artemis yelled, "You are just like every other man arrogant, savage, and controlling! AND who said I want you as my LITTLE BROTHER!"

All ancient Apollo could do was stand there as Artemis stormed away with an angry grin on her face, for her verbal victory, and flash away to who knows where after a few steps.

I watch as ancient me cried, once Artemis flashed away, but I have seen it enough that it didn't even effect me anymore.

Still I was warped to the next memory, it was several years since their argument and Artemis had been giving ancient me the silent treatment. Even after our argument, I was still foolish and naïve to think I could convince her I wasn't her version of the typical male. So I didn't touch a woman at all, I was the ultimate bachelor, or at least the ancient equivalent, of Olympus.

But with the addition of her hunters, it just fueled her hatred to another level entirely, to the point that all she would do was ignore me, it was like I didn't even exist.

"Artemis...Artemis...ARTEMIS!" old me yelled, the other gods and goddess just look slightly annoyed at the outburst, "Please," other me begged, "Just talk to me."

"Artemis," ancient Hestia said, "Speak to your brother." Her motherly side coming out.

Artemis gave a very convincing fake confused look, "What brother? I don't have one."

Suddenly I was jerked away to the next memory, which was how I became the way I am now. I was still trying, years later, to get Artemis' attention.

"Artemis!" old me screamed, then an idea popped in old me's head, 'why don't I do what she hates, instead of likes.' And with that brilliant thought ancient me strode away from Artemis saying, "Artemis, I'm going to flirt with your hunters!"

Honestly, I really wasn't going to flirt with the Hunt, I hadn't flirted in decades! I was totally off my game. But still to this day I still don't know what possessed me to say that.

Whether or not I was actually going to flirt with the hunters, it certainly got the reaction I was looking for.

Old Artemis whipped around, "No, you will not!" She exploded.

Old me was so surprised by the fact she actually spoke, that he just stood there dumbly. Realizing what she had done, ancient Artemis swore some choice words in ancient Greek. But ancient me was just smiling like an idiot because his sister actually spoke to him. So from then on I did what any deductive person would do, I tested what Artemis would and would not respond to. And lo and behold the only times she would talk/yell at me was when I acted like her version of the 'typical male'. And Artemis always hated nicknames, so guess what the next thing I did...

"Hey Arty-"

"STOP CALLING ME THAT!"

"Okay, okay", Old me chuckled then pause, "so Arty..."

"What, Apollo!?" Artemis growled back.

Ancient me sudden grew nervous, "Would you, I don't know, maybe want to go on a hunt sometime?" And before Artemis even opened her mouth to respond, I started again. "Or maybe go visit Mom? She said you hadn't been to see her in a long time?"

I'm honestly not quite sure what I was expecting Artemis to say. 'Yea, sure Apollo!' in a cheerful voice? Nope, never in a billion years.

"Now why would I want to do that with you?" She asked in a neutral tone, or at least for Artemis it was neutral.

Ancient me shuffled his feet, "I don't know-", he glanced up at Artemis' face and instantly paled, "maybe so we could be like siblings again..." He finished in a very, very small voice.

Artemis just turned around and walked away. Flashing to where ever after a couple steps, leaving old me to stand there alone. But her silence was answer enough.

BEEP, BEEP, BEEP, BEEP, BEEP, BEEP. BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!

I snapped awake, nearly launching myself out of my super comfy bed. Shaking my head, I gathered my bearings and looked towards the clock. It was 3AM, close to when I need to started prepping the sun chariot for its daily ride. I quickly leaned over and clicked the alarm off. (What? Us gods can have alarm clocks too!)3

Then a thought hit me, Artemis was captured! But do I need to tell Percy about this? Is Artemis worth the demigods needed to save her? After a minute of pondering I came to a conclusion yes, unfortunately, Artemis is worth the risk, and I probably need get the oracle to give a quest. 'Come on Apollo! Think!' I thought to myself. 'Okay so maybe I warn Percy, and give a dream to a hunter? The Hunt isn't a big deal right now at camp other than the traditional contests they have with Camp, so that shouldn't interfere to much, and I know Chiron is typically against quests, so they would help push for a quest to go out. That will hopefully leave Perseus to do whatever he needs to do.'

Suddenly part of the vision that I had filed away for later, came to the forefront of my mind. "Ergh", I groaned, "Mount Othyrus is reforming. And I'm going to need to inform the council." I said mostly to myself.

As soon as I said that, I felt three beings invade my mind. Reacting on reflex, I immediately clamped down my mental defenses, so I could shut them out. But they were too strong, and they over powered my defenses.

Normally being in someone's mind only gives you access to their current thoughts, that's how gods and goddess typically communicate telepathically. Some people used to specialize in the invasion of people's minds and they can see past thoughts and even really strong memories. But fortunately most of the mind invasion techniques were lost in the sands of time.

But then I recognized the beings general signature, it was the Fates.

'Yes, it is us you fool.' one of them, Clotho said/thought.

'Why did you resist us, fool?' Another, Atropos, asked.

I leaned back offended, 'You three caught me off guard. And stop calling me fool!'

'No, I think its rather accurate." The third one, Lachesis, replied.

'Just get on with it already! What do you old hags want?'

Suddenly my head began to pulse with pain, it felt like my brain was trying to spontaneously combust! "AAAHHH!" I screamed out in pain.

'We may be more lenient with you, Apollo-'

'But don't forget to whom you are speaking-'

'We are far more powerful than you could imagine, Olympian.' Lachesis finished.

'Y-yes, mi-ladies.' I thought submissively

'Oh! That's much better!' Atropos said cheerfully. 'Now, you will NOT tell the council, or anyone for that matter, about the reformation of Othyrus.'

'But why?' I asked.

'Ah, well that's quite simple really...' Clotho said.

'WE TOLD YOU NOT TO!' The three shouted simultaneously, and left my mind.

I wigged my ear with my finger trying to get rid of the rigging that was in my head. "Stupid, psychotic, old hags always causing trouble." I said, bemoaning my now changed plans, "That means I can't tell Percy about the new threat!" I face palmed, "Just great, this forces me to send a quest, whether or not I want to... At least they didn't force me to include Percy in the quest, Khaos knows that he's pissed them off enough before, so at least he's still free to do whatever he needs to."

I still needed to give a dream to a hunter. Zoe, being the Lieutenant of the Hunt, is probably the best choice, she should be able to take the news well enough to figure out what to do with it... hopefully. So this plan might work, but all of its based on getting a quest sent, so they can 'discover' the reformation of Mount Othyrus… oh and rescue Artemis.

Laying back down on the bed, I prepared to send a dream to Zoe. Normally demigod dreams are strictly Morpheus' thing, but I can send specific visions to people though the oracle. I don't usually do it because its more hassle than its worth, but I guess this is a time to make an exception. I focused my energy on the oracle and sent the images I had seen, with some editing of course. The oracle usually leaves some out as well, but it should still get the basic message across.

With that done, I then focused on Percy and I entered his dreams...

3rd Person Pov:

Percy's Dream:

Inside Percy's dream was a cabin set on the outside of some woods and a small farm just off to the south. Laughter radiated from inside the cabin, as dream Perseus floated toward the cabin with a look akin to torment, it clashed directly from the obvious joy and happiness coming from inside. Pausing at the door step, dream Perseus almost touched the door knob to open it, when it suddenly opened with a loud crack as hit the wall.

And dashing out of the open door was Perseus! He quickly scampered away, not using his powers, with a medium sized dog right on his heels. He was cackling away and the way the dog was grinning, it almost looked like he was laughing as well. Following behind them, but stopping at the door way, was a beautiful woman with stunning blonde hair and brown colored doe eyes. And she did not look pleased, swinging the broom she held like the deadly weapon she usually had, but if you paused to look one could see the playful mirth in her eyes.

"If you put as much work into the farm as you did running away, we would have more food! You slacker!" She yelled after Perseus.

Perseus paused, "True, but where's the fun in that?"

'Not everything is about fun." the woman replied.

"True again! You are really good at this!" Perseus quipped back with another laugh.

The woman hardened her glare, "You know war is coming again, Perseus."

Sensing her mood on the subject, Perseus stopped laughing and slowly walked closer, "Yes it is. But I already know the outcome, thanks to that amazing brain of yours." He said smiling.

Her glare softened, "You swore an oath remember?" She said softly

He embraced her as he laughed again, "How could I forget!" Sliding the sword at his side out of its sheath. Lifting it up into the sun light, the sun struck it's solid gold colored blade, the cross piece and hilt were both made of a midnight black metal, and the leather wrapping around the hilt finished off the design. "I swore on this sword to make you dream come true", bringing the sword lower, Perseus showed her the words inscribed at the base of the blade, at which she smiled, "and I won't let you down." He finished seriously.

Dream Perseus throughout all this was standing stock still at the door, he was just to the right of where the woman stood at the edge of the door way. He scarcely breathed as he slowly reached out his hand to touch the woman's face, but his fingers and hand just fazed through her. He was only in a dream.

Withdrawing his hand shakily, Perseus lowered his head. Then he felt a very solid hand his shoulder, turning around he saw Apollo standing (or floating whatever floats your boat). He jerked his head away from the cabin, and with a shallow nod back from Percy, Apollo warped them away from the dream, from the cabin, and from the blonde haired woman.

This took way longer than it should have, and for that I apologize! I had meant get this out much sooner, but well stuff happens. So to make up for it, a character development chapter!

Sorry if you wanted action, that comes next chapter. If you couldn't tell already, I'm not gonna rush through anything. At least purposely anyway.

Make sure to check out the link I set up top for that discord group chat, please and thank you!

I would like to thank James351, he constantly kept asking when the new chapter was coming out and offering ideas. Thank you!

Don't forget to Follow, Favorite and Review... I'm assuming if you made it this far into the story that you actually enjoyed it!

Hasta la vista Peeps! I'm Outie!