Prequel Chapter 3: A Goddess Cries For Me
(Author's Note)
Hey everyone! This is part 3/3 of a prequel story for my upcoming "Champion of Olympus" story.
Okay so big announcement for this chapter, it is very different than the previous two. Percy and Artemis go from forming a friendship in ch1, to becoming really good friends hanging out in ch2, to being willing to sacrifice themselves for the other in ch3. I won't give out any spoilers but their friendship has evolved so much in a short time and I just want to make sure everyone is aware of it. It is the entire reason why this Prequel exists. Also thanks to everyone for their kinds words about their friendship so far!
So I know I said last time that Artemis was OOC but she'll be even more OOC in this chapter. At least, for her canon character, for my story it's a natural progression. Stuff happens this chapter and makes her act in a way that she never lets herself act, so prepare for some tense moments and maybe some tears… Yeah, I can't help myself sometimes. Mwahahahaha! We get to see her POV this chapter, hope you guys like it!
Please follow and favorite both me and this story so that you'll be notified when the Full Story and other Prequel Stories come out. Please also follow me on Twitter and vote for "Champion of Olympus" on my FF profile(desktop only, no phones, sorry, FF needs to change it).
Please read the AN at the end as well. It's a long one but important.
Hephaestus.
Prequel Chapter 3: A Goddess Cries For Me
(December 2, 2010 - Somewhere so cold Percy didn't give a 'dam')
It was about eleven in the morning when Artemis and I made it to the frozen dam outside of town and began to investigate. It was a pain, but we managed to get my car through the trees and waist high snow and down to the dam. We got out of it and walked around. According to Artemis she sensed a very old and very powerful being among the hills around the dam. The several feet of fresh snow that had fallen overnight had actually turned out to be a blessing in disguise, it prevented any mortals, or sane people, from getting anywhere near the dam. So Artemis and I had the entire area to ourselves to search for our mystery monster. We decided to investigate the water in the dam, meaning I had to jump into the freezing water and see if I could find anything in the water.
It was cold.
As you would expect. Water tends to be cold under a foot of ice and three feet of snow. While I was under the water I saw something that caught my eye, several sharp pillars of rock jutting out of the bottom of the lake and into the dam wall. As I swam up to the rock pillars I could feel a growing presence, it felt like when I was in Tartarus. Like I was inside of something. I hesitantly put my hand on the rock and pulled it back suddenly as if it had bite me. Summoning a thypooh of water around me, I used my water powers to get me to the surface as fast as possible. The hard way. I burst through the ice and several stories into the air with a deafening cracking sound as my abrupt departure sent cracks spider webbing out across most of the ice in the large lake.
I dropped to the ice like a rock, all of my senses muddled and every bone in my body shaking. I tried to stand but I fell to my hands and knees in the waist high snow, thankful that my powers kept my skin and clothes dry. My breathing was rushed and I felt like I was about to pass out. Artemis was at my side in a second.
"Percy!" She dropped to her knees as well and lifted me from the snow. "What's wrong? Are you okay?" When I didn't respond a wave a fear went across her face. She hefted my arm over her shoulder and half carried half dragged me to a fire she had set up on some exposed rocks near the base of the lake. I don't remember reaching the fire, however, as I passed out before we could reach it.
(Artemis POV)
I felt Percy go limp in my arms as I carried him to our temporary camp next to the lake. Using my godly strength, I hoisted his unconscious body on my shoulder and hurried him to my tent.
"Percy!" I cried when I received no response after lifting him on my shoulder. "Stay with me! Stay with me!" My voice turned more desperate with each cry. "That's an order! Percy!" Tears threatened to form at the corners of my eyes but I fought them back. I was halfway to my silver tent when I raised my eyes to the sky and screamed with all of my being.
"Apollo! I need you! Apollo!" I cried to the heavens. I could sense the remaining animals around me flee from my voice. No mortals were around for miles, my Hunters were away in another state and my brother was not coming. For the first time in my long immortal life I was alone.
Helpless.
"Apollo! Apollo I need you! Brother! Please!" Percy threatened to fall from my shoulder, I used my arm to keep him in place. "Apollo! Father! Father please! I need you! Hermes! Hera! Anyone! Please!" I begged the skies as I threw aside the door to my tent and laid Percy down on my bed. He was still not responding. I checked his breathing and heart rate, they were shallow and slow, but still there. Thank gods.
I put my hand to his forehead and I grew more fearful. He was burning up. His skin was like the surface of the sun. I summoned my travel pack and unceremoniously dumped its contents on the floor next to me. I tried to sift through the items to find the Ambrosia and Nectar but my hands were shaking so much that it felt as if I were losing control of them.
"Curse you hands, work!" I yelled at my inability to control my own body. I had no idea why I was acting so, my mind was elsewhere and my body shaking. I couldn't focus my powers enough to use my limited healing abilities on him. I needed Apollo.
"But Apollo isn't coming." I reminded myself bitterly. Whatever beast had hurt Percy must be interfering with my abilities to call on my brother. Just like with my Golden Reindeer. "I must heal Percy myself."
I steeled my nerves the best I could and quickly went to work to bring his temperature down with a cool cloth on his forehead. I tried to pour some Nectar down his throat but the godly liquid would only flow back out of his mouth, like his body was rejecting the foreign liquid.
"Damn you Fates! No!" I cried as I threw down the Nectar in anger. "No, Artemis," I scolded myself. "You must control your rage. You are the only one who can save Percy. You must do it!" I took in a deep breath to calm my nerves.
"For Percy." My voice was soft even I could barely hear it escape my lips.
I nodded to myself as I went back to work to bring his fever down. It was useless to check his body for the usual breaks and injuries, with his Curse of Achilles he was invulnerable to all harm, excluding his weak spot, or supposed to be, in any case. I did not understand how he had been hurt so, a being of enormous strength must have attacked him. I needed to keep his fever down, I had a wet cloth on his forehead but it wasn't enough. I needed to do something. Anything! An idea suddenly struck me, one that I would never consider for any other man... But for Percy I did not even hesitate.
I made short work of cutting his clothes from his body, leaving him only in his undergarments. I did not waste time blushing nor chiding myself for looking at the skin of a man as a maiden goddess. Instead, I brought in snow from outside of the tent and covered his body in it to keep his temperature down. Hopefully, gods willing, his godly heritage will protect his body's higher functions from the frozen water while helping keep his internal temperature down at the same time. With his temperature finally leveling I put my hands on him and used all of my being to send what little healing energy I had into his body. If only Apollo were here.
It was up to the Fates now. I could only pray that they were on my side.
I lifted my eyes to the heavens, closed them, as well as clasped my hands in prayer. "Please, honorable Fate Sisters, hear my desperate plea." I whispered. "I have never before asked anything of you, so please grant my one time selfish request; heal Percy." I dropped my hands and looked down to the unconscious mortal before me. He seemed to be stabilizing. Thank the Fates.
Everything was going fine... for about fifteen seconds until his body broke out into wild convulsions. His body shaking rapidly without control. I recognized what was happening, he was having a seizure.
"No no no!" I cried as I tried my best to keep his body still without harming him. His body thrashed without end. I managed to pin his arms to his sides. "Percy! Percy please, you must wake! You must wake! Please!" My body was shaking almost as much as his, my heart raced faster than my chariot across the morning sky. Percy was dying, and there was nothing I could do to help him.
Without warning his body stilled, eerily so. I rushed to check his pulse with two fingers on his neck. My breath hitched and my heart stopped. He was gone…
"Gods no…"
And my unshed tears finally fell from my eyes as I held his still body against my heart.
Percy was dead...
...And it was my fault.
oooOooo
(AN: That was way heavier than I meant it to be,
Sorry, but don't worry, Percy's okay)
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(Percy POV)
I assume I was dreaming, since I don't normally wake up floating in the clouds. As a son of Poseidon I tend to avoid the sky as much as possible. My head was fuzzy and my entire body ached, but I managed to control my eyes enough to look around me.
I was in the clouds. Was this the afterlife? Was I in Elysium? I didn't think I'd get in… The sky and clouds around me turned a soft reddish hue, like the morning sun and I felt a presence behind me. I turned to see a silhouette of a woman made of light with large angel wings floating above the clouds. Her face wasn't visible due to the warm light she emitted from her skin, but I could feel her eyes on me. A soft, halo-like glow shown around her body, making her appear angelic.
"You are not deceased, young hero." Her voice was so soft and melodious that it nearly lulled me to sleep. A soft red, almost golden red hued aura spread from her body and washed over me. I was filled with peace, serenity and a calmness I have never felt since I was a child."I have brought you here to offer you a warning."
"W- wh-" I tried to speak but my lips acted as if they had never been used before. My tongue was so heavy that I could not use it. The angel-like woman flew closer to me, her wide wings a reddish hue with gold at the tips of her feathers. She reached out and gently held my face as the light around her became dim enough for me to see her. I felt the breath escape my lungs. She was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen, more beautiful than Aphrodite herself. She smiled to me as her ever changing colored eyes roamed my body all over. Her rosy cheeks smiled even wider when her eyes caught mine.
"You are a very fine mortal, Perseus Jackson." Her voice was like a lullaby, so soft and warm and inviting that I wanted nothing more than to listen to it forever. "But I have already named my champion. I beg you to heed my warning to avoid him. I wish not for such a man to be ruined." She purred, her voice the only thing my mind wanted to focus on. The only thing that mattered.
Her eyes, which were once so warm and caring, turned lustful and needy, though in my state I did not care. Her jaw tightened and her hand let go of my face, I could still feel the warm of her on my skin, and my wanted her hand to return. She looked like she was having a hard time controlling herself in front of me. She shook her head and seemed to regain control again. "No, I spared you because of your beauty and honorable nature, nothing else. I have already named my champion..." She seem to be talking to herself more than me, like she had to remind herself why I was here. Though I did not care, I only wished to listen to her voice forever. The reddish glow around her turned darker as she spoke and the wind started to howl around her. "Do not make me regret my decision this day, Perseus Jackson. I will not save you a second time."
She pulled back from me with a beat of her glowing angelic wings. I couldn't stop my arm from reaching for her as she faded into the clouds. It was as if something in me needed to be with her to the point of pain. The feeling left however, when I awoke with no memory of my interaction except a vague memory of an angel.
oooOooo
(Percy POV)
(December 3, 2010)
The first thing I felt when I came to was pain. Go figure. My entire body was numb, my bones ached and I was freezing. The second thing I felt when I came to was another body next to mine. I blinked my eyes a few times to get them used to the light again and saw a mess of auburn hair next to me. It was Artemis.
I tried my best to turn to her but all I could do was manage to turn my head a few degrees. "Ar-Artemis-" My throat was so dry it hurt to speak. Her reaction was instantaneous.
"Percy!" She cried as her face appeared above mine. Her silver eyes were so wide I could see red around the corners of her eyes and lines down her face. She had been crying. My heart sunk.
I tried to cover my ears to protect them from her sudden cry but I only managed to hurt myself even more. "Owwww!" I said through gritted teeth. I noticed her face turn even more worried.
"Do not move, Percy!" She said quickly, putting her hand to my forehead. "Your temperature has finally gone down but you are still in serious pain."
"I hadn't noticed." I joked, laying back into the pillow, giving up on trying to move.
"Now is not the time for jokes, Perseus. You scared me to death." Oh she's upset, great. Her voice was serious now. "You nearly died. I- I believed that you… did, for a time." Her voice turned softer towards the end.
"Believed what?" I asked, my mind still fuzzy. I was having a hard time concentrating.
"That you had died." She pulled her head back from hovering over me, but her hand remained on my forehead, as if needing proof that I was still there. "I- I even tried to contact Hades to assure your passage to Elysium but- but I was unable to call upon anyone. I tried to summon my brother, father, Aphrodite, anyone who might be able to help you… but no one came."
"Why not?" I asked weakly.
"You must rest, Percy." She handed me an Ambrosia square. She gave me a hesitant look. "Do you know why you… came back? Did Thanatos or my uncle send you back?"
I tried my best to think back, my mind was so fuzzy. It was if I could remember that something happened, but I couldn't remember what it was. All I could remember was an angel. "I saw an angel." I mumbled out.
"An angel?" She asked, confused. "Do you mean Thanatos? He has wings and collects the souls of the dead."
I shook my head weakly. "No," I held my head trying to remember. "I'm pretty sure it was a woman."
The auburn haired goddess gave me an odd look. She held up one finger to her chin in thought. "I do not know of such a god. At least not one who would be able to intervene in such a manner that also fits your description. Are you sure that you did not imagine it?"
I thought for a few seconds but nothing came to me. "Maybe." I tried to move but my body protested the movement with pain. I cursed under my breath.
The goddess paused to grab a flask of liquid and held it to my lips. "You must drink the Nectar, Percy. You are still very weak. You have been asleep for an entire day." Well that would explain why my entire body was sore. I drank some of the godly liquid and she pulled it away. She looked at me and the worry on her face lessened a little. "Your color is returning. But you must rest. I am unable to move you in this condition. We will return to Olympus to see Apollo when you recover enough."
"No." I said adamantly through gritted teeth. I used all of my strength to force myself into a sitting up position. Artemis' eyes widened at my actions.
"What in Hades do you think you're doing?" She demanded as I groaned in pain, trying my best to stand.
"I'm going out there to stop that monster." I forced out, managing to get one foot under me but the other one was stubborn and refused. "I saw it in the lake, it's going to attack the town-"
"No, you must rest!" She pulled on my arm to stay down but I pulled it from her grasp. I finally managed to get my other leg to cooperate and I shuffled my way to the exit of the tent.
"If I don't stop this thing it'll kill everyone in the town!" I shot back, my voice harsher than I meant it to be. I noticed Artemis' face drop at my tone. I instantly regretted it. "I'm sorry." I mumbled in pain, grabbing my side. "But I saw into it's mind down in the lake, it plans on taking out the entire mine and then the entire town. If I don't stop it now, then everyone will die."
"But you will die as well!" Her voice was loud and harsh. "Why must you be so idiotic?!" She stepped towards me and grabbed my shoulder tightly. "If you go out there now you will be killed!"
"Better me than the town." I said softly. Her eyes widened and her face dropped. I quickly spoke up again to make her feel better. "But it won't come to that, okay? With us working together this monster won't stand a chance."
Her face dropped and her hand gripped my shoulder tighter. "I- I will not be able to fight this monster, Percy."
I blinked. "Why not?" I asked hesitantly. :You- you aren't scared of it, are you?"
Her eyes turned fierce with anger for a brief second before returning to normal. "Yes! Yes I am!" She cried. "You have no idea what this creature is! If Olympus knew what it was they would have sent some other gods with me! Half of the council at least!"
"What is it?" I asked.
"What did you see?" She asked instead of answering.
I thought for a few seconds, trying to piece together what I saw under the water when I touched the rock. "It was… like a large multi-legged animal made out of dirt and stone and wood? With grass, moss and a small tree growing out of it's back?"
She nodded. "Yes. What else?"
"It… felt very old." I remembered. "Like older than this country old."
"Yes," She nodded her head again, letting out a breath. "It is far older than that, Percy. It is older than civilization itself."
"What?" I stepped back slightly. "What is this thing? Some kind of primordial god?"
"No no," She shook her head. "It is an ancient nature deity. A being older and above the gods, only second to Gaia herself."
I clenched my fists. "She's back?!" I cried. "We need to warn-"
Artemis held up her hand to stop me. "No, the earth goddess sleeps and will never rise again. These beings are ancient and enormously powerful, but normally passive and peaceful. They normally just protect the earth." She explained. "Each realm, meaning the heavens, earth, oceans, underworld, all have protectors. Guardians per say, they are said to be the embodiments of their realm. This being is the protector of the earth. The protector of nature."
"Like the Leviathan. It was the protector of the oceans." I added, remembering the giant sea monster I helped the gods chase to the bottom of the ocean awhile back.(AN: This will be explained in another Prequel Story. Don't worry)
The goddess' eyes turn hard, as did her voice. "Yes, that." Her tone was filled with venom and fury, but not at me, it felt like she was mad at someone else. "The ocean beast that my father sent you to fight. The one that nearly killed you." Wait, was she mad at her father?
I shrugged. "I made it out okay." She apparently didn't like me saying that, her eyes sharpened. I continued before she could say anything. "So you won't be able to help me fight it? Like how my dad wasn't able to help me with the Leviathan?" I asked.
She nodded curtly. "Yes. So you see why you cannot go up against this beast alone. It will kill you." She put both her hands on my bare shoulders and looked into my eyes. "Percy, you will die fighting this deity. It is above the gods. No being alive can kill it. As a mortal you could possibly fight it but you can't kill it."
I lightly pulled her hands off of my shoulders, letting them fall to her sides. I let out a deep breath to calm my nerves. "But I have to, Artemis." I said, my voice low and calm. "If I don't do something than everyone else will die… I- I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I let other people die that I could have protected."
The goddess gave me a hard stare, unblinking. She finally let out a breath and turned her eyes from me, looking away for a quick second, I heard her mumble a curse in ancient Greek. "Why must you be such a male?!" She demanded with a yell, looking back up at me.
I blinked. "What?"
"Why must you be such a male?" She repeated herself. Her voice rising. "Why must you be so adamant and valorous and chivalrous and kind-hearted and respectful and- and noble!" Her eyes had tears forming around them. "Why must you be so damned heroic?!" She cried loudly before dropping her head and laying it on my chest.
We stood in silence for several seconds before she spoke up again, her voice barely above a whisper. "Why must you be such a great man?" She asked softly. "Your heart will get you killed if you keep going on like this…"
I gently lifted her head to look up at mine. "Annabeth tells me the same thing." I mumbled. Her eyes looked to my own. "Did you know she wants out of all-" I gestured around us vaguely. "-This…?"
The goddess listened in silence as I continued. "She wants to leave the Greek world behind. She- she's tired of all of the fighting and wars and death… We actually had a fight about it before I left." I thought back to that morning, it made my heart hurt. "I was going to ask her if she ever wanted to get married and live with me forever. Not actually propose, but ask if she would want me to… But- a messenger came with a request from Chiron and before I knew it I was going on another mission for the gods."
"She wasn't happy that I accepted." I said softly. "She yelled at me for breaking my promise I made to her to leave this all behind after the last mission I did for the gods nearly killed me… She wants to move to New Rome for college and then move out into the real world and leave this all behind… And I agree, I'm sick of all of the Prophecies and killing and funerals I've had to attend for my friends…" I drew my mouth in a tight line, trying to keep my tears from flowing. "But when Chiron told me that people were dying, I couldn't say yes fast enough. I have a responsibility, it's my job to protect the Greek and mortal world. I- I have the power to save people… I can't just throw it away and let people die. I can't help my Fate." I wanted so much to be able to say this to Annabeth… I'll have to tell her and I apologize when I see her after this mission. I hope she'll understand.
I let out a long breath and looked to Artemis, she looked like she wanted to cry some more. "...I understand that, Percy." She whispered before nodding a few times to herself. "And I respect your resolve, as well as your heart. I may not like it, not even a little, but I respect it." Her silver eyes looked to mine. "If you wish to protect these people at the risk of your own life than I will help you."
My eyes widened. "What?" I asked. "I thought that the gods weren't able to attack these things because of the ancient laws?"
The goddess shook her head. "No, we are not allowed nor able to kill these beings. If we were even able to, that is." She added as an afterthought. "I am the goddess of the Hunt and Wilds, every beast on the earth is under my domain. Be it mortal or immortal. The Fates should allow me to assist you in not dying, but that may be all I am able to do."
I nodded, smiling. "I'll take all the help I can get. Thank you, Artemis." I said, and before I could think twice I reached out and pulled her into a hug. I expected to be thrown back and yelled at but she only returned the hug after a brief second of hesitation.
"You are very welcome, Percy." I could hear the smile on her face. After a few seconds we pulled away from each other and I finally realized why I was so cold.
I looked down to myself. "Uh, Artemis?"
"Yes?" She asked, walking back to her bed and putting her items back in her travel bag.
"Why am I naked?" I asked, still looking down at my body that was wearing nothing but my underwear.
Her cheeks turned a bright crimson and her eyes widened. "Do not dare suggest such a thing of a maiden goddess!" She cried through her hands that covered her blushing face. Her voice turned frantic. "We are barred from looking upon the naked bodies of men! You- you are merely in a state of undress!"
My eyebrow rose. "Oookaaay…" I stretched out the word. "Let me rephrase, why am I in a state of undress?"
The goddess kept her back turned to me as she threw a larger version of the winter hunting cloak she wore at me. "Dress first! It is unacceptable to be in such a state before a maiden goddess." I made quick work of putting on the white camo pants, shirt and cloak. I turned back to face her. Thankful to be out of that awkward situation.
"I'm dressed now."
"Finally." I heard her mumble. I don't think I was supposed to hear it.
"Now can you tell me why I wasn't wearing any clothes?" I asked. I completely doubted it was for any immoral reasons, this was Artemis we were talking about, the most 'maiden' maiden goddess around. But I was curious.
"You had a terrible fever for several hours." She explained. "I had to cut your clothes away to place snow on you to keep your temperature down."
I shrugged. It made sense I guess. Thank gods I was dealing with Artemis and not Aphrodite, Artemis was way more professional. "Uh, okay." I said, clearing my head. "Want to go after that nature deity now?"
I could see her subconsciously thank me for changing the topic. She held up another Ambrosia square to me. "Eat this." She commanded. "I will not have you falling over from pain before we even reach the beast."
I silently took the square and ate it quickly. It tasted like Annabeth's grilled cheese sandwiches, they are the only thing she knows how to not burn and turn into an unrecognizable inedible abomination. She may be brilliant, but a cook she is not. Please don't tell her I said that.
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(Follow me on Twitter, yay selfless plug!)
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It wasn't too hard to find the nature deity, all I had to do was walk to the nearest exposed rock and put my hand on it. I was no son of Hades or Hephaestus, but as a son of the Earthshaker and demigod of Earthquakes I had enough domain over the earth to locate the abnormality under the earth. So we took down our temporary camp and set off deeper into the woods to where the mine was at the center of a large valley lined with steep cliffs. Once there I focused my powers and sent a wave of energy into the earth.
The effect was instantaneous and the earth exploded beneath us. The nature deity forming out of the exposed earth, wood and grass. It let out a bellow that shook my very bones. Accepting it's challenge I raced towards it sword drawn.
It was painfully obvious after about only fifteen seconds that I stood no chance against this beast. No wonder why my father had me chase the Leviathan into the void at the bottom of the sea instead of attacking it. This was a literal force of nature. Not even I, the most powerful demigod in history could compete against it.
"Owwww!" I let out a yell as I was thrown through the trunk of a large pine tree. Thank the gods for my Curse of Achilles, without it I would've been dead.
"Are you alright, Percy?" Artemis' voice called out from a few trees next to me as she let loose a barrage of silver arrows at the deity. It did no effect but distract it from me and chase after her.
"I'll live!" I yelled back, focusing my powers to harness the large quantities of snow around me and send it flying at the beast. "But can't you, I don't know, talk to it or something as the goddess of the wilds?" I asked, using my powers to move atop the snow as if I were skiing. I turned up the speed and zoomed through the trees like a blur, all the while sending wave after wave of snow at the deity.
"If I could don't you think that I would have already?!" She asked as she dodged a spire of earth jut out of the snow beneath her feet. She was able to dodge all of it's attacks thanks to her godly speed but she was unable to even harm the thing. "It is out of my domain! I do not have control over the earth itself! Maybe if Pan were still-" The earth below her exploded and sent her flying into a nearby tree.
"Aaahhhh!"
"Artemis!" I screamed, watching the deity send another wave of earth at her, knocking her several stories into the sky.
I felt a pull in my gut as I harnessed all of the snow around me and launched myself into the sky like a bullet from a swirling vortex of snow. I caught up to the auburn haired goddess in no time and caught her as she started to fall back to the earth. "Got you!" I yelled. I looked below us to see the snow covered earth racing towards us at a rapid pace.
"Snow is just frozen water. Snow is just frozen water." I muttered frantically like a mantra. I held Artemis with one arm as I sent the other towards the ground, spread my finger wide, imagined the snow in my hands and threw my hand up at lightning speed. Several tons of snow flew up to meet us, forming a massive pillar and slowing our fall enough to avoid major injuries. The snow started to fall back down after a few seconds and before we could even register what happened we found ourselves on the ground again, with the beast racing towards us.
"Excuse my hands!" I yelled as I grabbed Artemis around the waist with one hand, lifted her and swung her to my side and held her there like a log. Swinging my other arm, I caused a massive swirl of snow around us to knock the deity back a few feet and send us flying atop the snow as well.
We flew over the top of the snow at an insane speed, the deity close on our tales. I was carrying Artemis like a sack of potatoes with one arm as she dangled from my side and was about to put her down she gripped my arm tightly to get my attention over the deafening howl of the literal tons of snow flying around our ears. I dared a quick glance at her and instantly understood her. She didn't want me to drop her, she had an idea.
I swerved direction so that we were coming back around to face the beast. Artemis, from her carried position, raised her bow at the deity and let loose another barrage of arrows, getting one silver arrows to lodge itself in the thing's rocky eye.
That only seemed to piss it of more, however, since the entire valley shook and the earth several dozen feet in front of us shot up forming a wall. I didn't have any time to react at the speed we were going, we crashed into the earth wall and crumbled like a paper airplane.
"That's going to hurt in the morning." I mumbled, raising my head from the pile of snow. I heard Artemis curse under her breath besides me and let out a sigh of relief. She was still conscious, good. Her head popped out of the snow as well, albeit slower. She rose to her feet weakly, stumbling a little bit. When she lost her balance I reached an arm out and held her steady.
"I got you." I said again. She nodded in thanks. "Sorry about grabbing you earlier-"
"No need to apologize." She cut me off, raising her bow at the rapidly approaching deity and letting more arrows fly at it, though the arrows made no effect except momentarily slow it down. "You had no unhonorable intentions. Now, let us find a way to stop this beast before it gets out of this valley."
I nodded. "If only this thing were like the Leviathan," I muttered. "Than I could communicate to it-" My eyes shot wide open, realization hitting me as hard as the wall behind us. "I'm such an idiot!" I cried.
"What?" Artemis asked as we raced as fast as we could into the trees through the waist high snow.
'I have an idea," I yelled over as we jumped behind separate trees to avoid a fist made out of earth. "Can you distract it long enough to let me gather a lot of power?"
Her brow raised in question but she remained focused. "How much time do you need?"
"Only a minuet."
She nodded. "Consider it done." She jumped to the side to avoid a wave of earth. "Though I will not be able to travel fast enough on the ground to avoid it's attacks as well as fire my bow. If only I had my flying chariot-"
"What about the trees?" I yelled over the beast's' roar. "Could you keep away from it in the trees?"
"Yes," She nodded. "But I would be unable to have enough time to climb-"
"Don't worry about climbing," I interrupted her again. I stopped running and braced myself, putting my hands together in front of me like a platform. "I'll get you into the trees."
(Artemis POV)
"Don't worry about climbing," I heard Percy call. I shot a look to him, he stopped running and held his hands out before him. I instantly understood his idea. And raced towards him before he could finish. "I'll get you into the trees."
I reached Percy within a second, placing my right foot firmly onto his hands and jumped up with all of my might as he launched me high into the air. Too high, as I overshot the branch I was aiming for by a whole story, but I managed to grab onto another one and used my momentum to jump to another branch.
'Thank the Fates I am the most acrobatic and nimble god on Olympus.' I thought to myself as I jumped from branch to branch, firing my silver arrows at the beast.
"Look my way when you see the signal!" I heard his voice fade as I raced away. I nodded to myself.
"Come at thee, beast!" I yelled to it. It gave a roar of challenge, and raced towards me. Completely forgetting about Percy. 'Good,' I thought. 'I need to buy him as much time as possible.' I had no idea what plan Percy had, but I had no doubt that he had one. If any demigod could figure out a way to stop this beast it was him. I continued to race through the branches and fire my arrows, making the beast chase me to the other end of the valley.
I spared a glance to Percy at the other end of the valley. He was stood atop an enormous pillar of snow and swirling his arms around in an elaborate fashion. Whatever he was doing I hoped he would be done soon.
The beast punished me for my momentary lapse in attention, sending a shockwave into the earth, causing the tree I was in to topple to the ground. I let out a curse in ancient Greek as I rose to my feet, my bow drawn at the beast. "Great deity," I yelled. "Hear my plea, we wish not to fight you! I am Artemis, goddess of the wilds-"
"Ahhhh!" I screamed in pain, the beast ignored my words and sent a wave of earth at me, knocking me back to my feet. I rose, albeit slower than before. I was getting tired and my godly durability was weakening thanks to the powerful attacks. I was not at risk of dying, but I could be gravely injured and knocked unconscious. I did not have time for either, however, so I forced myself to stand upright and spread my arms wide.
"Please, great deity," I tried talking to it again, though I did not believe it would work. "I can sense your anger. I am the goddess of the Wilds. I can help you!" It sent another barrage of rock spires at me. "Please! Great deity! I am a protector of the earth as well, let me help you."
I crossed my arms in front of me to block a large boulder sent flying at me. The blow knocked me to my feet, my arms numb from the pain. I would not last much longer. I need to- Suddenly I saw a thin column of snow shoot into the sky up to the height of the Empire State Building itself and explode in all directions. If that wasn't a signal than I did not know what it was.
Ignoring the beast, I raced towards the nearest newly formed rock formations, ran up it and launched myself into the air, looking in Percy's direction. At the far end of the valley I saw large trenches made deep into the snow. They were large, long words drawn into the snow, forming a short but important message:
'RUN AND HIDE'
I nodded in his direction on the off chance that he could see me and performed a tumble-roll before I splattered against the next rock face. Using what remained of my godly strength I let my bow and arrows fade in a silver glow and sprinted at my top speed towards the cliff wall at speeds that would make Hermes jealous and up the side of the cliff and into the deep brush at the top.
The beast looked around in a confused manner, it's eyes had been unable to track my movement and it now had no idea where I was. Hiding behind a snow covered bush I summoned some Nectar and drank it to restore my godly energy. If Percy was unable to face the beast alone than I would need to be ready to assist him. No matter the cost.
"It's up to you now, Percy." I whispered to myself.
I watched as the ancient earth deity looked around for the two people that it had been fighting. FInding no one, the earth ceased shaking and the new rock outcroppings that had formed after its attack settled back into the earth. My godly vision picked up on movement a could hundred yards to the right of the deity. Focusing my vision, I was able to make out Percy slowly walking up to the creature, his sword high above his head. It was now when the deity noticed him as well. The mass of earth, wood and grass turned to face him, but did not attack, only watched Percy as he approached.
Percy stopped when he was a dozen feet in front of it, and in a large gesture, threw his sword to the ground. The beast's 'head' turned slightly, as if it were confused by his actions. I couldn't hear what Percy was saying, but I knew that he was talking to the ancient beast with his head bowed low. I do not know what he was saying to be able to calm the beast so, but I summoned my bow and arrows in preparation to assist him if his plan failed.
I felt myself gripping my bow with enough strength to snap it if it were not a godly weapon. I prayed to the Fates that this would work.
Percy, using the sort of slow action one would use against an angry beast, slowly bent down and laid his hand on some exposed rock that jutted out from the snow. His body shook in pain, as did the beast's, but neither made a move to attack the other. After a few seconds Percy and the beast snapped out of it and looked to each other. Percy bowed his head low to the deity and walked towards the cliffside of the valley where I was hiding a hundred feet to his left. I do not know if he knew I was here though, as he made no attempt to signal to or look for me. He just simply continued to walk to the edge of the cliff and placed his hands on the exposed rock.
The earth trembled for a second before the ground beneath his feet started to slowly rise and carry him to the top of the high cliff. Once at the top he stepped off of the earth platform and onto the edge of the cliff, turning to face the valley. We both watched in awe as the colossal earth deity melded back into the ground, all exposed rock and overthrown trees correcting themselves as if it were never there. Percy put out his hands in front of him and held them like that for a solid minute.
It was slight at first, but within a few more seconds I could feel the energy grow around Percy. The snow began to swirl around his feet like a typhoon of frozen water, the earth began to shake and I could feel power, enough power to dwarf the deities', form under the earth. The air around me became cold and dense, swirling like a monsoon around Percy. Without warning Percy slammed his hands to the earth before throwing them back up again, as if lifting something.
The result would have scared the gods themselves. For the earth shook like Atlas had dropped the sky. Water burst from the dam as well as spew from the earth like a geyser. I watched in awe as a literal mountain of earth and a sea of water rose into the sky and swirled like a typhoon with Percy at the center. I fell to my knees as an aura of power, enough to impress a Primordial, washed over the entire valley and the surrounding cliffs. The sky turned dark and for the briefest of moments, I felt as if I were in the presence of Chaos himself. The creator of the entire universe. It was as Chaos himself was shaping the earth again in front of my eyes.
To this day I would not be able to properly explain what I saw that day, I would not be able to give it justice. All I remember was that for the briefest of moments, as a mountain of rock and sea of water swirled over his head, I felt scared of Percy for the first time. The power this demigod possessed could have destroyed Olympus... I was frozen in fear and all breath had left my lungs as did all of the air in the valley as it swirled with the water and earth.
Percy, whose body was shaking so much I feared he would collapse, struggled to keep his feet under him as he took a single step to the edge of the cliff and released the elements with a deafening 'boom' that must have shook the entire country. My lungs burned and I felt myself going dizzy, I was suffocating in the vacuum of air. I blacked out before the rock and water even hit the earth.
oooOooo
(AN: Was Percy too OP? Let me know. I'll explain below)
oooOooo
(Percy POV)
I sat leaning against a tree, trying to keep myself from passing out as I held the unconscious goddess in my arms. "I hurt you," I whispered to no one. I looked to her still face. I could see her breathing but I was worried that I had seriously hurt her. "I'm so sorry, Artemis. I lost control…"
I shifted her carefully to reach into her travel bag that hung from her back in search of Nectar or Ambrosia. Finding nothing, I dropped my hand into the snow. I felt like I might pass out at any moment but I couldn't, not until I got her some help. I turned my eyes up to the sky, the dark clouds quickly dispersing and being replaced with a bright blue sky, and called out as loud as I could in my weakened state.
"Apollo! Help!"
Within a second a blinding light appeared a few feet away from me. Revealing a tall, muscular blond man with a smile bright enough to blind you in a pair of beach shorts and an unbuttoned Hawaiian shirt.
"Hey, Percy, what's up-" His winde smile dropped as he saw his unconscious sister in my arms. He was at our side in a second. "What in Hades did you do to her?" He demanded, though I could tell that was wasn't angry at me, only worried for his sister.
"Sh- she got caught up in my energy." I said, my voice hoarse. "I think the air got pulled out of her lungs. She also got thrown around by an earth deity."
"An earth deity?" Apollo cried in shock, though wasting no time summoning some Nectar and pouring it down her throat. "You two are fighting an earth deity? We have to summon the council-"
"Were fighting it," I interrupted him, feeling myself growing weaker and wanting to explain everything before I passed out. "I managed to figure out that it was angry because of the illegal mining the townspeople were doing in its home and flooded the valley to stop anyone from entering it ever again."
I noticed Apollo give me a confused before turning to the valley behind us and gasping "by the gods" seconds before everything went dark.
oooOooo
(Artemis POV)
I awoke to find my brother's shining smile above me. "Oh thank the Fates!" He cried. "I didn't want to risk moving you to my temple." I raised my head groggily and forced myself to sit up. I soon realized it was a terrible idea.
"Hey hey hey," My brother grabbed my shoulders and forced me to lay back down. "Don't even think about it, lil sis. You're in bad shape right now, you need rest."
"What happened?" I asked, my mind disorientated. "Why am I- Percy!" I sat up quickly, ignoring the blinding white hot pain. I gripped my brother's arm with enough pressure to crack stone. "Where is Percy? What happened to him? Is he-"
"He's fine, sis." Apollo cut me off. He put a hand on my my shoulder and pointed to a tree next to us with his other hand. Percy lay on a golden blanket at the base of the tree. He wasn't moving but I could see his chest move faintly as he breathed.
He was alright.
"Thank the Fates." I let out a sigh of relief and gestured to him with my head. "Take me to him." I told my brother. He looked at me like I was crazy for even suggesting that I be moved but when I gave him a glare he let out a sigh and nodded.
I would like to say that I was able to walk to Percy on my own, but that would be a lie. Apollo almost carried me the entire way. Once next to Percy I dropped to the dry grass around the blanket. Apollo did have some uses, it seems, his ability to melt the waist high snow turned out to be quite convenient.
"Percy… I'm sorry that I could not be more help." I muttered as I looked upon his sleeping form. "But thank you for everything. If it were not for you, the entire town would have been slaughtered. Myself included. I am forever in your debt."
Apollo cocked his head to me in question. "So I've been able to piece together most of the story, I think." He started. "But now that you're awake how about you tell me what the Hades you two were doing fighting an earth deity?"
I told him. If his eyes grew any wider from shock they would have burst from his head. "So somehow Percy managed to talk to the beast and used his power to control an enormous amount of earth and water. But for what purpose, I do not know."
Apollo's lip curled in a smirk. "I was planning on not letting you get up for awhile but I think you need to see this." He stood and offered me his hand. I raised my brow at his action but accepted it nonetheless and he helped me to my feet. It was a slow walk to the cliff edge even though the distance was short. Apollo did not let me overexert myself. When we finally reached the cliff I looked out over the valley and my breath caught in my throat.
Where a large, cliff-enclosed valley with century old trees and a mining camp once lay, a shimmering lake sat in its place. "By the gods…" I whispered. "Did Percy do this?"
Apollo gave me a shrug. "I don't know," He admitted. "I've never seen this place before, but Percy told me that he flooded the valley. So I assume it was him. Though," he reached down and touched the earth. "I sense some of the nature deities power flowing as well. I think that it granted Percy some of its power."
My eyebrow raised. "You do not believe that Percy did this himself?" I asked.
Apollo shook his head. "No, at least I don't think he filled in the opening of the valley with earth. Even he isn't that powerful. That would have required the power of a god." His eyes drifted over the newly formed lake. "But I think he controlled the water himself, the earth deity would not have control over the water." He gave a long whistle. "Though I would gladly pay anything to see him control such power."
"No you wouldn't" I mumbled before I could think.
My brother gave me a questioning look. "Why not?" He asked. "I think even father would have been impressed with what he did."
"It was terrifying…" I muttered, not allowing my mind to think back to what I saw. "I- I…"
Apollo sent me a cautious look. "You what?" He asked softly.
"I was scared of Percy," I admitted. "The sheer power he wielded at that moment rivaled that of a Primordial…"
My brother looked at me like I made a joke, chuckling he asked, "You can't be serious, sis. That's not possible-"
"It felt like I was watching Chaos shaping the world." I said quickly, cutting him off. I sent him a hard look that said that I wasn't joking. His face paled and the glow and temperature around him dropped considerably.
"Y-you're serious?" He asked, though he knew the answer. I nodded my head. "Oh my gods…" He mumbled, looking over the new lake as if he were looking at it for the first time. He took it all in before looking back towards me, his voice turning serious. "We can't tell father."
I nodded. "I agree. He already believes that Percy plans to overthrow Olympus. This would only fuel his paranoia."
"There's no telling what he or the others would do if they found out Percy could do-" He gestured around us. "-this. You know as well as I that there is conspiring on the council. We may not be able to prove it, not like it would do us any good, but it is happening."
Every once in awhile my brother would surprise me. He was much smarter than he seemed to be, preferring instead to appear dim to avoid work. I did not consider that he would have the same suspicions as I. Though I should have in retrospect, he was there when the Prophecy was foretold of course. It was given through his body after all.
"This damned Prophecy has Ares and father in a frenzy." He mentioned. "There has already been several meetings without Poseidon in attendance. I do not believe uncle knows of Ares' schemes."
"Ares and father's schemes," I corrected him. "It was father who ordered Percy on that suicide mission to face the Leviathan alone."
"That's not all, sis." Apollo looked to me with worry. "You haven't been there for the last few meetings, Ares is slowly convincing the entire council that the best bet for Olympus to survive is for Percy to be killed before he fulfills the Prophecy."
"I will be in attendance from here on." I glanced over to Percy's sleeping form. "Father might listen to me and see reason."
Apollo smiled as if he knew something I didn't. "You're fond of him, aren't you?"
My breath hitched and I sent my brother a sharp look. "How could you suggest-"
"Woah woah woah," He held up his hands in surrender. "That's not what I meant, sis. I know you won't break your vow. I meant that you've gotten to know him, haven't you?" He spoke it more as a statement than a question, as if he knew the answer. Maybe he did.
"I have," I nodded. "We have spent the last three days in each other's company, and in that time I have learned what kind of man he really is."
Apollo looked to me like he wanted me to continue. "Go on," He gave me a prodding nod. "You can't just leave me hanging like that. What kind of man is he?"
"The greatest man I have ever known." I said without hesitation. My brother looked at me like I grew a second head. He returned to normal after a few seconds and turned serious again.
"We will have to something about Ares though," He let out a hard sigh. "Before he does something rash and causes a civil war between father and uncle Poseidon."
"If that happens I will fight with our uncle." I declared without hesitation.
My brother's eyes widened and he looked to the sky in fear, as if expecting to be struck down. "Don't let father hear you say that," He scolded me in a forced whisper. "That's insubordination. You know what he'll do to you if he thinks you'll betray him."
"My mind is made up." I said adamantly. "I will not stand idly by as Ares and father kill Percy because of the slight possibility that he will pose a threat to Olympus." I scoffed. "If they knew him at all they would know that his loyalty wouldn't even allow him a single thought of betrayal."
"Well you know Ares," He mumbled. "He's had a grudge against Percy since day one. Now with the Prophecy saying that he's gonna be killed, he's lost all his senses."
A low moan from Percy reminded my brother and I that we were not alone. "We should take to my palace for healing." My brother rose and offered me his hand again. "You think you're up for Flashing?"
I nodded. "Yes. But let's make it wuikc. I need rest."
My brother helped me shuffle over to the unconscious demigod, we each placed a hand on his shoulder and Flashed to Apollo's palace.
oooOooo
(AN: Check out the Sneak Peek for more info on the Prophecy.
Also follow me on Twitter! Yay another plug!)
oooOooo
(Percy POV)
It has been two weeks since I got back to Camp. Artemis and Apollo filled me in on everything that happened when I woke up. It was mostly fuzzy, but I was able to confirm Apollo's thoughts that the earth deity granted me its power to shape the valley into a bowl. I flooded it myself. Once I got back home I went straight to Annabeth and apologized for leaving. I could tell that she wasn't happy but she forgave me eventually when I said that I had to go to protect a town full of people. I didn't tell her that I practically died, however, I didn't want to scare her even more. I also didn't talk to her about us getting married either. It felt like something was telling me to wait so I listened to it. I've learned to trust my gut over the years.
Annabeth and I had just woken up and dragged ourselves to the freshly made coffee to drink the heavenly liquid when the doorbell rang.
"Oh who is it this time?" I grumbled.
"If that's Chiron with another mission for you, you can forget it." Came Annabeth's muttered reply. I kissed her on the cheek and headed for the door.
"I told you, Beth, I'm done with doing missions for the gods."
I heard her snort from the other room. "I'll believe it when I see it."
The knocking continued and I felt what little patience I had this morning slip away. I was speaking before I fully opened the door. "If this is another mission from the gods, you can shove it up your hairy-" My eyes widened and I cut myself off when I realised who was standing outside the door.
An auburn brow rose above a silver eye. "Would you care to continue that sentence, Percy?" Artemis asked in level tone, though I could hear the playfulness in it. "I am curious to hear what the ending is."
"I would rather not." I mumbled, coming to my senses. "What are you doing here, Artemis?" I asked.
She wore a fake upset expression, looking behind me. "Is he always this blunt? Or is it just around me?"
"He's always like this." Annabeth's voice appeared behind me. I turned to see her stand next to me, taking a sip of her steaming coffee. She bowed her head respectfully to Artemis. "It is an honor, Lady Artemis. Would you like to come in?" She gestured inside.
"Artemis, please." She smiled to Annabeth. "Percy has earned my respect, so it extends to you. Please, call me Artemis." She gave Annabeth a sympathetic look. "I am interrupting your morning, aren't I?"
"No no," Annabeth waved off. "We were just getting up and making coffee. Would you like some, La- Artemis?"
"No thank you." She turned to face me. "I was actually wondering if I could borrow Percy for the morning?"
If Annabeth was surprised she didn't look it. She chuckled to herself. "Take him for the whole day," She waived off. "Piper and were going to have a girls day anyway."
"Perfect." The goddess' eyes shimmered. I could see a faint smirk on her lips. "If you would please get dressed, Percy, I would like to leave before long."
"But where are we going?" I asked. My mind still clouded in morning fog, trying to process the weird interaction between my girlfriend and Artemis. "And why are-"
"Oh go get dressed, Seaweed Brain," Annabeth pushed my further into our apartment. "You've done nothing but sit on your butt since you got home. Go out and do something."
"Yeah but-" Annabeth stepped outside and closed the door on me, leaving her and Artemis standing outside our door. "Well guess I better get dressed." I mumbled to myself, slowly making my way to our room.
oooOooo
After getting dressed I said goodbye to Annabeth and Artemis and I walked to the edge of camp and out of the entrance towards the road. I still had no idea what was going on, but to be honest it was nice to be with Artemis again. We built up a really close friendship on adventure together. Artemis stopped us at the bottom of the hill before the road.
"I never got to thank you for saving my life, Percy." She said suddenly, catching me off guard.
I shrugged. "It was nothing," I said. "You don't have to thank me-"
"But I want to." She said adamantly. "I am forever in your debt, Percy. I have come today with a gift of thanks." She started to walk up the hill and I followed.
"Gift?" I asked.
She nodded. "Yes. I assume that you have not forgotten that your car is now at the bottom of a lake?" She asked as we neared the top.
"Uh, no?"
"I felt sorry for being the reason why it was destroyed, so I had Hephaestus build you a new one."
"Wait what?" I asked as we reached the top of the hill. She gestured towards a vehicle sitting on the side of the road. My breath escaped my lips.
It was a large, modified, royal blue Ford Raptor. From the faint glow of the metal it looked like it was made of Celestial Bronze. "Is-" I had a hard time forming a thought. "Is it made of Celestial Bronze?"
The goddess next to me nodded, pulling out a slip of paper from her pocket. "I have to admit that I know nothing about mortal vehicles. I only asked Hephaestus to build you the best vehicle that he could." She gestured to the truck. "This is what he gave me."
"...Wow." Is all I could say.
"Yes, wow." Artemis chuckled, looking down at the paper in her hands. "Hephaestus gave me this, it explains all of the inner workings and modifications he made." She handed it to me and I read it over as quickly as my dyslexia would allow.
"Celestial Bronze paneling and frame, skid plate and exterior." I continued. "Custom stain-proof white drakon hide interior, waterproof and fireproof, one foot wider and six inches wider than the base SuperCrew variant... Repeating crossbow in the door?" I questioned when I read it.
The goddess let out a sigh. "Yes, Hephaestus was rather excited to be able to work on a mortal vehicle so he added some… additions to it."
"Additions?" I asked. "Like what?"
She gestured to the note in my hands. "Read and find out."
So I did, reading out loud. "Indestructible drakon/hydra hide combination tires? One inch thick glass? An 'enlarging enchantment' in the cab and bed? What does that mean?" I asked Artemis in confusion.
"It is like the tents that my hunters use," She explained. "While it appears to only be able to fit five people, it can actually fit eight in the cab." She led me to the bed of the truck and pushed a button on the back, a hard-cased camper popped up from seemingly nowhere. "The bed also stores a hidden camping unit that fits sleeps up to eight as well. The entire camper is completely stocked with individual beds, counters, kitchenette and bathroom."
My eyes were the size of dinner plates as we looked inside the 'camper' on the bed of the truck. It was like an entire apartment it there. Screw camping in a tent, all I'd have to do is pull over on the side of he road, pop up the camper and have a fully stocked apartment right there.
I turned to Artemis, my head shaking. "This is amazing… but I can't accept it."
"Of course you can." She looked to with and gave me a look that dared me to refuse. "Your vehicle got destroyed helping me, it was the least I could do to get you another one."
My eyes roamed over the ginormous truck before me. "But it's so huge and cool and badass-"
"Well now you have a vehicle that suits you, Percy." She joked. "Hephaestus assured me that this vehicle was nigh indestructible. He said that if you managed to actually break it that he would be surprised. Though he also said that if you destroyed his 'baby' that he would kill you."
"Well that's reassuring." I mumbled, looking back over the note in my hands. "Says here that it could take a hit from a giant… impressive. It also says that because of the Celestial Bronze and modifications that it weighs just over 8k pounds(3,628kg). Jeez." I let out a low whistle. I took a step back and just took in the enormous vehicle. It was raised up several more inches with larger, off road tires, flared fenders, large lights atop the roof, a sturdy Celestial Bronze push bumper and winch… All in all it was the most beautiful truck I had ever seen. I wasn't much of a car guy, never had been, but even I could admit that this truck was amazing.
And it was all mine.
But looking at it I could see the glaring drawback.
"I live in New York City," I said, looking towards Artemis who was just silently watching me look at the truck. "Where am I going to park it? It takes up an entire lane."
The goddess' smile faltered, then frowned. "That is a good question. Damn it," She swore to herself. "I should have asked Hephaestus to make it able to compact like our tents." She walked up to me with an apologetic look on her face. "I'm sorry-"
"Don't be." I cut her off quickly. "You had this amazing truck made for me by Hephaestus of all people. How can I be upset at all?" I shrugged. "Nah, I'll think of something. It'll mostly stay at Camp anyway."
She smiled and I felt myself smiling too. "That is good," She muttered. "I thought that I would have to punish you for your disrespect-"
"Whatever, smelly-feet." I cut in before wisely stepping out of her reach.
"Excuse me?" She cried. "You did not just call me that."
"Actually I did."
Her eyes narrowed dangerously, though I could see her fighting back a smile. "Oh well," She sighed dramatically. "Guess I won't give you your other gift then-"
"Other gift?" I asked, bringing me back to my senses. "Artemis, you didn't have to get me another one."
She waved off my words. "Nonsense," She said. "This is more than a simple gift." She opened her hand and a small silver whistle in the shape of a deer appeared in her palm. She handed it to me. "That is the same kind of whistle that I use to summon my Hunters. Blow on it three times and my hunters and I will come to your aid."
She gave me a stern look. "This is for emergencies only, Percy." She explained. "Only use it if your life's in danger."
I nodded, looking at the small silver whistle in my hand. "Understood."
"Lovely." She smiled.
"But I just have one question."
I saw her thin brow raise slightly. "Yes?"
"What if I just want to hang out? How do I contact you?" My voice was so serious I think it took her a few seconds to process what I said.
The goddess broke out into stifled laughter, barely able to control herself. "Offer a burnt food offering to me, I will contact you when I can."
I smiled. "I'll make sure to do that."
She only rolled her eyes at me. "One last thing," She said, her voice turning more serious. "By giving you that whistle I have made you an honorary member of my Hunt. I cannot grant you my blessing, as it is only available to females, but as of now I will consider you a member of my Hunt."
I blinked a few times. "Are you sure-"
"Yes." She cut me off. "You have earned it, Percy. I truly mean that." She smiled to me as we made our way to the driver side of the truck. "You have proven that you deserve the honor more than any other male I have ever met."
"Wow…" Was all I could say for a few seconds. "Thank you."
She pointed to the whistle in my hand. "That will prove you a member of my Hunt. Any Hunter will recognize it and, though grudgingly, will assist you if you ask." She looked to the sky, looking at something I couldn't see. "We Hunters stand together, if you are ever in need, you only need use the whistle, and my Hunters and I will come and wage holy war."
Her bold choice of words stunned me for a few seconds. It was like if she knew something I didn't. Like she was expecting something to happen. "What do you-"
"Come," She broke me off. "I wish to take a ride in your new vehicle."
I recognized her blatant change of topic and decided it was best to follow along. I shrugged and gestured to the passenger door, telling her to get it. "We can go get some burgers and apple pie."
Her reaction was instantaneous, she broke the limited gap between us and gripped me in a tight hug. "You are truly the greatest man I have ever met." She squealed before racing into the passenger seat at lightning fast speed, telling me to hurry and get in.
It is gonna take some time to get used to having this particular goddess as a friend, but I'm sure that I can get used to it.
(Author's Note)
Thanks so much for reading.
So how about that Artemis POV at the beginning? Yeah, I didn't plan it, it just happened. I hope that her reaction and behavior seemed in character for the Artemis I have created in this story. Let me know what you thought.
So apparently Annabeth wants out of the Greek world and to live a normal life. A big argument happened off-screen, but happened nonetheless. What do you guys think about it?
Was that big baddie foreshadowing? I don't know, you'll have to read "Champion of Olympus" once it comes out to find out.
Talking about that, I want everyone to know that I will be coming out with more Prequel stories after this, they actually take place before this one. They are set ups for my story and are a key part of the plot and relationships between characters. Want to learn how Percy and Annabeth moved in together? Well you'll have to read my next Prequel Story. The next Prequel Stories will be separate stories to help split them up and keep them straight from each other. I guess they can also be read as solo stories if you want. Let me know if I should split them up or include them all in one single story.
Was Percy too OP? Let me know. I hope it's believable that he'd have that power when assisted by a minor deity. I dunno, it was just for the story.
So this chapter was originally called "A Goddess Buys Me a New Truck" but I decided to change it early on. This entire Prequel story was supposed to be light and funny, with nothing too serious. You can see how long that lasted.
So the Sneak Peek will be coming out soon, don't have a complete idea what it'll be but it'll include the Prophecy that Artemis and Apollo talked about in this chapter.
Sorry about any typos or spelling mistakes, I'd normally do more read throughs but its almost 3am and I want to get this chapter out asap. I got up at 8am yesterday, now I'll throw my entire sleeping schedule off again, sigh, but it's worth it to get this done. Hope you all liked it. Also we're at 93 pages in total, fyi. This has already gotten out of hand.
Please leave a Review, telling me what your favorite ship is. I'm Percabeth like most people but I also really like Pertemis. Please Follow and Favorite, fill out my Poll and Follow me on Twitter.
Hephaestus
