I do not own the Percy Jackson series or Fate/Grand Order

Echidna could say with complete certainty, that she hasn't been this happy in millennia. It's been a year and while it has been quite stressful, she couldn't be happier right now. Little Mihaly was resting in her arms right now. Tiny arms wrapped around her neck, his soft breath slowly caressing her slightly scaled skin. His hair has grown out quite a bit, but not too long to be considered unnatural. His skin was still light, though a slight tan was becoming visible. He started to walk not too long ago, and it brought great joy to the Mother of Monsters it turned out he was comfortable with her 'true' form.

Mihaly was a very clingy child, not that she minded, he would almost always be with his 'mother', be it with him being in her arms, sleeping, playing with her hair or any activity he found entertaining while being held by her or when Echidna was resting herself or doing something else, little Mihaly was generally very close by. Echidna found herself smiling much more often since Mihaly been brough to her.

She also noticed a slight difference in his scent. While he still retained his forest like, demigod scent that he inherited from his 'birthmother', a though that disgusted Echidna to no end, which was just as, if not more powerful as a child of the big three at an age in which they go to that accursed camp, his scent started to become a lot more like her own, while she herself didn't notice at first, when she decided to take little Mihaly into the forest surrounding their home, an unfortunate Satyr found them, or more specifically, he found little Mihaly, crawling around while Echidna was in her partially transformed monster form. Before Echidna could even utter a single sound, the Satyr picked up her child and started running as fast as his goat legs could.

It didn't take long for the enraged Echidna to catch the Satyr, especially after he stopped just outside the forest when he thought he was safe and started looking oddly at the child. After torturing and killing the satyr, she wondered what could make him stop so suddenly, she turned to little Mihaly, whom she put to sleep with the use of the mist and tried to find anything out of place. After a while she did notice an odd scent. It was her own, but it did not come from her. She didn't sense any of her children in the area. In fact, there was nothing in the area except for her and little Mihaly.

Imagine her surprise when she found that he was the one with her scent.

A little hand touching her cheek broke her out of her musings. She looked to her son, oh how she loved the fact that she could raise a child, one she considered her own despite not birthing him, with a small smile on her face. Mihaly has always been a quiet child, which surprised her slightly since she noticed that the children of mortals, as well as some of her own, were very noisy, needy and often annoying, so she was slightly pleased when she noticed that Mihaly rarely ever cried or made any fuss at all.

"Yes? Is there something you need little one?" She asked gently, rubbing his head with her free hand.

Mihaly didn't respond right away, not that he could she thought, he was only a year old. And she didn't begin to actually talk, while she did want him to call her mother, or any word with the same meaning, she quickly dismissed the idea, he was a demigod son of Artemis. And while he has somehow wormed his way into her heart, she knew that when he learnt what he was and what she was, he'd abandon her and most likely try to kill her. Not that she would blame him

She heard the child start to make a humming sound. His black ringed silver-grey eyes showed hints of concentration that didn't go unnoticed by her. She stayed silent for a moment, allowing the child to try whatever he was trying for himself for now. A few seconds later, she was rewarded.

"Mama!"

She was stunned, it took her some time to process what the child had said. She watched as the child's expression shifted, from a widespread smile, a truly beautiful one, to melancholy confusion. Whoever said that monsters can't cry, Echidna was going to kill. Because she felt tears well up in her eyes.

"Could you say that again, little one?" She asked, her voice slightly hopeful.

The child stayed silent for a moment, as if processing the words spoken. Mihaly tilted his head slightly, his eyes only betrayed slight worry, which Echidna found odd, considering he was only a year old.

"Mama?" The child repeated in slight confusion and hesitance.

Echidna smiled, she brough the child closer to herself. Hugging him tightly, to which Mihaly responded with wrapping his tiny arms around her neck and once again exclaiming "Mama!".

'What the Hades is wrong with me? Getting so worked up over a child calling me mother. If anyone were to see me like this, they would no doubt laugh. 'The Mother of Monster brought to tears be a demigod child!'. Heh. What a joke.'

"Oh, what a beautiful scene I stumbled upon!" A jovial voice exclaimed.

It all happened in a second. Echidna's form turned fully monstrous. Her eyes turned snake like and fixed into a spine-chilling glare, her whole body became covered in reptilian scales, that were slightly green in colour. And because of being a very powerful dracaenae, her lower body was that of a serpent, and two draconic wings sprouted from her back, unfurled and on full display, her previous smile twisted into a savage snarl, accompanied by great vampire like fangs. She held Mihaly, closer to her body holding him with one of her arms while also shielding him with it. Mihaly himself was startled slightly, but he kept quiet.

Echidna glared at the hooded figure, whom she last saw one year ago. While she knew they weren't a danger, she didn't appreciate anyone being in her area and her not knowing it, not only that, but she also has the little one to worry about now.

"Oh my! Such a fierce glare you have there Echidna!" Was the boisterous response the figure gave, not being fazed whatsoever.

"You should know better than to corner one like me. Especially now that I have a young one to take care of." Hissed the Mother of Monsters. Shifting back into her human form.

The figure had a large smile on their face, one of the only things seen other than their hands.

"I am happy to know that you chose to take care of him and treat him as your own. So, is he a little troublemaker?" Asked the figure with amusement.

"Why do you speak as if you don't know?" Asked Echidna, slightly rocking Mihaly back and forward in her arms. Slowly lulling him to sleep.

"Well, I'd like to know what you think, but oh! I guess I'll forget about it. It's such a nice sight, seeing you taking care of…Oh my. How irresponsible and foolish of me. Echidna, may I know what you named the child?" Asked the figure, quite ashamed of not knowing their child's name.

"Mihaly" Simply replied the Mother of Monsters.

The figure made a humming sound and stepped closer to the mother and son pair. With little Mihaly slowly closing his eyes.

"May I hold him? Just for a minute or two?" They asked, slightly reaching out.

Echidna, still rocking her child back and forth, frowned slightly. Eventually she nodded and handed over the little but to his 'father'.

When the figure to the child into their arms, Mihaly instantly snuggled up to them, a small, peaceful smile appeared on his face as he slumbered. The figure adjusted their hold on the boy, now holding him with one arm and using the other to gently rub the sleeping boy's head.

And true to their word, when two minutes passed, they handed the child back to Echidna, who smiled when she had her child back in her arms.

"He's a beautiful child. Isn't he?" Asked the figure, though really it was a rhetorical question. "I'm very happy that he managed to break you out of your shell of hatred and anger, if only for a little while. I came here for two reasons. I will not lie to you Echidna; this is most likely the last time I will be able to see little Mihaly for a very long time. I have almost reached my limit to where I can stay within a mortal body without affecting everything as you know. This is not goodbye, more of a 'see you later'. Except I don't know how long exactly." Grimly stated the figure. "I will be honest with you Echidna, I owe you. A lot. While I do love all my children to some degree. Mihaly is the one I feel the most affection towards. And knowing he is growing with one such as you, who managed to see past her hatred and bias, is truly a blessing. Is there anything I can do for you before I leave?"

Echidna was silent for a moment, taking in the information. She sat down in one of the more comfortable chairs and gently laid Mihaly in her lap, gently rubbing his head as he slept.

"No. No there is nothing I can think of right now. But, if you allow it, I shall pray to you and tell you then. Now, what is the other reason for your visit?" Asked Echidna, looking down at the little bundle od joy that she adored, a small smile appearing on her face once more.

"Of course, Echidna, whenever you wish. As for the second reason well, what kind of parent would I be if I didn't at least leave a gift for my sons first birthday?" They asked, the jovial and carefree tone returning to their voice.

They reached into their robe and pulled out something that confused the Mother of Monsters.

"A deck of cards?"

"Indeed, but not just any deck of cards. I may or may not have pulled several strings behind the scenes and brought something that does not belong in our reality. While I won't be able to interact with or look out for Mihaly myself without causing an imbalance, I feel like this will be enough to compensate: The Throne of Heroes." Dramatically presented the figure, gently laying the deck of cards onto the sleeping Mihaly. "It possesses heroes, anti-heroes and villains from the past and future. From all mythologies and histories. In essence, I gave my son the power to rewrite the world!"

Echidna was silent, she stared at the deck as it slowly sank into Mihaly's chest.

"Why? Why give him so muck power? I understand he's your son, but it seems like a bit much. Not only that, how can you be certain that they won't simply turn on him? That none would take his body for their own?" Hissed Echidna, glaring at where the cards used to be.

A dark and oppressive feeling flooded the room, a thick black miasma started to spread out, coming from the figures cloak.

"If they try, they shall be erased. It's as simple as that." The miasma and feeling disappeared as fast as they showed themselves. "However, believe that a situation like you mentioned would never arise. Mihaly has this…aura around him. It seems to calm anyone within his vicinity given enough time. So, I think they will be very helpful towards him." The figure gently rubbed Mihaly's head, before their hand started to crumble, and then turn into smoke. "This is it for now. Farewell Echidna. Take care of him as you have been. I'm sure he'll bring you the happiness that you seek." Were the final words of the figure, before they completely turned into black smoke.

"For all that infinite wisdom and power, you truly are foolish, chaos." Echidna muttered under her breath, carefully adjusting her grip on Mihaly, before heading to her bedroom.

"What's wrong Mihaly?" Asked Echidna, looking up from the mortal food she was preparing for them both.

"Head hurts mama." Muttered the five-year-old Mihaly, his hair now considerably darker and longer, with it reaching to his mid back. He now has heterochromia eyes. With his right being bright yellow like Echidna's, and his left being silver-grey, both irises being surrounded by a ring of inky black. His skin was still light in colour and seemed to glow ever so slightly.

"Your head hurts? Did you watch too much tv?" Asked the Mother of Monsters, who finished setting up the table for dinner and walked over to the boy, kneeling to his level and gently rubbing his head.

"No tv. Reading books mama gave me. And then head start to hurt." He mumbled, shutting his eyes and breathing raggedly.

"Maybe you're just hungry? Come on. The food is ready." Gently picking him up, Echidna noticed his temperature rising quickly. "Or would you prefer to go to bed now? I'll bring you some water and you can sleep for a bit."

"Sleep." Muttered Mihaly, not having enough strength to say any more.

Echidna didn't say anything after that, she simply took him to his room. It was well furnished, with a comfortable, single person bed, a small desk and bookshelf, as well as a few toys in the form of plushies, neatly placed on a shelf.

She placed Mihaly down and covered him with a thick blanket. If anyone saw her right now no doubt, they would be surprised with the amount of gentleness she was displaying. She pulled up a chair next to Mihaly's bed and sat down, holding one of his hands in hers. Mihaly had never once gotten ill in his five years of being alive. He was always in top condition and while a little headache wasn't unheard of for him, not once had it gotten to the point that he heated up in such a way.

The hand she was holding started glowing a faint red and she felt her muscles tense. Three odd symbols appeared on Mihaly's hand, resembling claw marks.

Unconsciously, Echidna let out a low hiss. Not liking whatever what was happening to her son.

He was in in a forest, but not the one outside of their home. He could tell. The trees were different and in the wrong places. The air was also different, a lot cleaner. His mother was nowhere in sight and he tried to remain calm, she taught him that panicking would not help, instead only worsen the situation. Deep breaths. Balanced steps. Attention to detail.

His mother often told him that he was much smarter than most children his age, and that he was a quick learner, despite his limited vocabulary though his mother blamed herself for that seeing as she didn't start teaching him properly until a few months ago.

He took a step forward, his eyes and ears suddenly very sensitive. He felt a presence behind him. He turned around, not too slow yet not so fast as to be considered frightened.

There was a woman standing just an arm reach away from him, standing still and staring at him with piercing green eyes that, although cold and held a glint that he had only seen from a savage beast, held a certain gentleness as she looked at him. Her hair is stretched out long and unkempt, going from a forest green colour, to a golden yellow. The most eye-catching features he could see, are the bow in her right hand and what looked like animal like ears on top of her head.

"What are you doing here boy?" She asked, her voice gently.

Mihaly didn't respond at first, trying to calm his thumping heart.

"I. I don't know. This not the forest where me and mama live." He took a small step back, almost unnoticeable. But as soon as he did, the woman's eyes snapped towards the small movement.

Her hands then snapped towards his right hand, he noticed that her eyes widened slightly.

She put on a gentle smile and set her bow down.

"Don't worry, I won't hurt you." She took a small step forward, even though said step was all that was needed for her to be almost looming over Mihaly's smaller figure.

She knelt and gently put one of her hands on his head. Rubbing it like his mother. Her eyes once again shifted to his right hand, at which he looked down at to see three glowing, claw like marks.

The woman gently took his hand into hers and traced one of the lines with her thumb.

"There's no doubt." He heard the woman whisper.

"What is it?" He asked, a bit timidly.

She looked him in the eye and her smiled widened slightly. She sat down in front of the child; legs crossed.

"It means you're someone very important to me now. But first let me ask you little one, what is your name?" She asked gesturing for him to also sit.

Mihaly pouted slightly but sat down anyway, a small smile.

"I'm Mihaly. Nice to meet you." His mother taught him that it's important to be polite, even if others are rude to you.

The woman simply smiled and gave a small chuckle.

"I'm Atalanta. Servant Archer. I'll be taking care of you from now on Master."

Echidna didn't know what to do. Not only did she have already limited knowledge on how to raise children, raising a somewhat demigod child was much harder than anything she ever did. Even fighting Zeus alongside her former husband wasn't as taxing as this.

Mihaly's breathing has steadied, and his temperature was back to normal. It was morning now, Mihaly slept since yesterday afternoon and had yet to wake up. Not once had she left his side, refusing to leave until he woke up. What was worrying Echidna the most was the three claw like marks that suddenly appeared on her son's right hand.

'Curse you chaos. You simply gave my son an apparently powerful deck of cards without explaining how anything works.' Hissed Echidna in her head, noticing Mihaly start to move.

He opened his eyes slowly and looked up to her, eyes filling with happiness when seeing hers.

"Hello there sleepy head. How are you feeling?" She asked, her voice slightly hushed.

"Morning mama. I feel better." Said the young boy. Sitting up and hugging his mother tightly. "I made a new friend mama!" He exclaimed laughing merrily.

Echidna's eyes narrowed slightly. It was common sense to think that the 'heroes' would probably meet Mihaly, be it through dreams, mental communication or any other method available to them. But to meet one so soon?

"A new friend? Are you sure sonny?" She asked, normally she called him 'sonny' when she suspected he was lying, which was very rare since Mihaly was a very well-behaved child.

"Yes mama! She said her name was Atalanta. And that she's an, ah…oh! An Archer class servant. She also called me master for some reason. She said that I have something called…"

"The deck of heroes?" Interrupted Echidna.

She remembered Atalanta. One of the Hunters of Artemis. Became a part of the Argonauts. Became famous after being the first one to drive an arrow into the Calydonian Boar during its extermination.

The very thought of Artemis made Echidna unconsciously tighten her hold on Mihaly.

"Yes! How did you know mama?" Asked Mihaly excitedly.

Echidna stayed quiet for a few seconds. Contemplating about how to go about this. She didn't want to lose him. If someone told her six years ago that she'd come to love a demigod child, a spawn of Artemis at that, and would care for it like was her own, she'd torture whatever fool dared to spout such nonsense in her presence, to the point where Alecto and her sisters would be impressed, and then feed them to one of her children. But now, now everything is different.

"Mama?"

He brought her out of her musings. She looked down at him and met his worried gaze.

"Why are you crying?"

Crying? Echidna, the Mother of Monsters Crying? Such a thing was not possible. Blasphemy! She doesn't cry! She grieved and raged when her children were taken from her, the countless times she watched them be slaughtered by the hands of a 'hero'. She reached up to her face, where she felt something wet descending down her cheek.

She was crying. Why? Why was she crying?

A foolish question, she knew that well, but nevertheless, it didn't make it any easier.

'Good hades I have gone soft. Here I am, crying over potentially loosing a demigod brat…Oh! Who am I trying to fool? I'm afraid of loosing him. I don't care what anyone says. He's my child now. Even if he doesn't see himself as mine after this, that's fine. But I know, ever since I started to take care of him. He became something important. Damn my rotten heart!' Cursed Echidna inwardly.

She chuckled softly and ruffled Mihaly's hair gently.

"Your mother's just being a bit foolish Mihaly. You've got nothing to worry about."

She picked him up and stood up. Making her way towards the dining area, where yesterday's food still laid. Echidna frowned slightly. While it was edible, it wasn't not something that would be pleasant to eat first thing in the morning.

She placed Mihaly down onto one of the chairs and took the plates away, preparing to make something fresh.

"Mihaly" She stated calmly. Not looking to where her son sat.

"Yes mama?" He cheerfully replied, swinging his legs back and forward slightly.

She stayed quiet for a second, letting a small smile rest on her pretty face.

"What would you like for breakfast today?" Argh! Why was she such a coward! She knew Mihaly was intelligent, more so than any child his age except maybe a child of Athena. While he still had the innocence and naivety of a five-year-old, intelligence wise, he was closer to a well taught twelve-year-old. Even in most demigods that weren't children of Athena it was unheard of. Maybe his connection to chaos, or maybe it had something to do with the deck of heroes.

"Ah! Could we have soft boiled eggs and toast? I really like them!"

Echidna couldn't help but chuckle. Such an excitable child.

Breakfast was a quiet affair. Echidna had to admit that some of the food mortals made is delightful compared to what it was like in ancient Greece, though that should be obvious.

'There's no point dragging it out. I'll tell him after breakfast. It will only hurt more the longer I wait.' Echidna stood up and cleaned the table while Mihaly went back to his room to study the books she had given him.

From what she understood, most if not all demigods had dyslexia and ADHD, because of their brain being 'programmed' to know Greek, as well as have sharp reflexes that could save their life on the battlefield one day. But Mihaly had neither. He could read perfectly fine as well as having a decent attention span. Again, could it be the doing of Chaos?

She shook her head. One thing at a time.

She walked over to Mihaly's room, with him sitting at the desk, a large book on Greek Mythology she got for him. Not as good as her own memory but it would do.

Echidna walked up behind Mihaly, gently placing her hands on his shoulders. He looked up at her, his eyes twinkling slightly from both seeing her, and no doubt about what he was reading. She took a single look at the book, half a second was enough for her to get most of the information and saw that he was reading the legend of Atalanta. Seems she left quite an imprint on him but then again, Mihaly was quite a curious child.

"Are you ok mama?" He asked, tilting his head slightly.

She took in a deep breath again. Damn. If other monsters found out about this, she would be a laughingstock for a century at least.

"Mihaly. We need to talk." Now was not time for being nervous. Now was the time to act.

She sat down on one of the chairs in the room, directly facing Mihaly. She told him everything. That he was the child of Artemis. That she was the Echidna from legends, the Mother of Monsters. She told him about the Greek world. That he was a demigod and her natural enemy. She told him a brief history up till now. About the Deck of Heroes. She told him as much as she could. Not letting personal feeling seep through. He simply sat there, not once interrupting her. She knew he was paying attention. The slight twitch here and the occasional tensing and untensing of a few muscles here and there. But the silence he gave her was unnerving and frustrating.

"Do you have any questions?" She asked, from what she knew, many demigods were overwhelmed about the information they received. Godly parents and all that. Suddenly having to fight for their life.

"Do you still want me?"

Out of all the questions possible, she wasn't really expecting that one. Taking her silence as a sign to continue, Mihaly did so.

"I don't really know on what to think or do in this situation but… I do know one thing. If there is anyone, I will ever consider my true mother, it would be you. You raised me. You kept me safe. I'm happy when I'm with you mama. So, I hope that you'll allow me to stay with you, just for a bit longer." By then end, his voice started to break slightly, she saw small tears start to form, invisible to an untrained eye.

She laughed. Oh, how foolish they both were. She stood up and quickly picked up the heterochromia eyed boy. Hugging him tightly and kissing his head.

"Of course, you may stay with me as long as you like. I still have to prepare you for the harsh world and teach you how to protect yourself. My foolish little boy." Why was she so worried? She didn't know. But right now, she was ecstatic.

She felt him wrap his small; arms around her neck while also shouting out, 'Love you mama!'

They stayed like that for a few minutes, Echidna tightly clutching her little boy tightly.

'Tell her that we will also help you, Master' Came the voice of Atalanta, a pleasant warmness filling her voice.

He relayed the message to Echidna. Who, although not being completely happy about it, she appreciated the help.

A golden glow appeared from Mihaly's chest, from where the Deck of Heroes appeared, a golden card removed itself from the deck, a picture of an archer on it. It glowed brightly until it got to the point that it reminded Echidna when the gods entered their divine form.

When the light died down, Atlanta stood before them. She knelt down in front of him.

"Servant Archer, True name: Atalanta. I am in your service and will do my best to help you in any way I can. Master"

Review if you want, if not don't. And I hope you Enjoyed