"Come on Percy, you gotta be faster." Artemis instructed as Percy jumped from tree to tree. He grunted as he launched himself to the next tree, he was racing Phoebe and she was just a bit ahead of him. Over the year of training he's had so far he had started to develop calluses from tree climbing, and fighting with hunting knives. Percy used the end of a tree branch as a spring board and propelled himself even farther ahead. He was neck and neck with Phoebe and she gave him a side ways glance.

"Come come Percy boy, your gonna let yourself be beat by lil ole me?" She feigned an innocent smile but distracted herself and a branch caught on her parka. He looked forward and smirked.

"Ack! Aw Styx's!" Phoebe yelped and Percy crossed the finish line which was Apollo who had both hands stuck out. Percy leaped from the branch onto the ground and slapped Apollo's hand.

"Whoop whoop! Percy for the win! Yes! He's awesome!" Apollo cheered while he put Percy onto his shoulders, Percy laughed and held onto Apollo's forehead as they walked over to Artemis who couldn't help but smile at the two. Though she and Apollo still bickered constantly, Percy had made their relationship better just because he was so fun to be with. Apollo let Percy down and Phoebe ran up to them panting.

Percy looked at her apologetically,"Sorry Phoebe, if you weren't so clumsy you would have won." her eyes widened comically while Apollo laughed and Artemis couldn't decide whether to congratulate Percy for being humble or give him a smack to the back of the head for acting like Apollo. There was a flash of flames and the twenty year old hearth goddess appeared.

Percy grinned and ran to her,"Mommy! I beat Phoebe at tree racing!" Phoebe snorted but couldn't help to give him a small smile, he might as well be her little brother. He was sweet yet competitive which made him all the more fun to be around. He gave her a large hug and she cradled him and couldn't help but be proud of her son. He pulled back and looked up at her hopefully.

"Is daddy coming?" Vesta kissed his forehead lovingly and looked down at him sadly. She knew that Percy had time and time again come to her hoping for his father to appear. The sea god was constantly turning down the boy's desires to meet him and it was infuriating.

"No Percy, he isn't coming today. He got held up at his palace, I'm so sorry." Percy nodded dejectedly but brightened with a cheery smile.

"That's okay! I'll meet him eventually." He had hope that he would someday meet his father. Zoe was watching from a distance with curiosity, she had started to warm up to Percy but the other hunters were irritated that he was still here. Percy seemed to try to go out of his way to make her happy, to gain her approval. He had tried to show her that he was a good guy and it was working, she knew it was time to give him a chance. She slowly approached the group but received glares from the godly twins and Phoebe.

Percy looked at her and smiled,"Hi Zoe! How are you today?" She couldn't help but chuckle at his formalities and waved back.

"Hello Percy, I'm fine. How are you?"

"Good! I beat Phoebe at the tree racing, only cuz she got cocky and tripped." Phoebe mock glared at him and he stuck his tongue out at her.

Zoe smiled and then looked over at Artemis,"Milady may I speak with you?" Artemis lost the glare and nodded, they walked a bit of ways away and Zoe began talking,

"I'm sorry I have been so cruel to Percy, it's just I thought another son of the sea god would be bad. I didn't want another Orion situation to happen and-" she was cut off as Artemis roared with laughter and she clutched her sides as they started aching,

"Y-you thi-think I-will fall f-for Per-" She erupted with laughter again leaving Zoe irritable and confused,

"No! I just didn't want to see you hurt again! I...I was wrong. He's only six and I've treated him bad when all he was was nice to me." Artemis had stopped laughing and put a hand on Zoe's shoulder.

"It's okay Zoe, I know you meant good but you should go apologize to Percy. Not to mention Percy is like a son or a little brother to me. Except not as annoying as Apollo." Zoe chuckled and gave Artemis a hug.

"Okay milady."

Percy was conversing with his mom,"Mommy, look!" Percy held out his hand and a fire ball appeared, it started spinning and formed a mini fire tornado. Apollo watched him in awe as well as Vesta,

"Good job Percy, have you been working on your water powers as well?" He nodded and Vesta conjured up a glass of water and Percy concentrated really hard and the water flew into the air. It solidified into ice and then back into water before he splashed Apollo with it in the face. Water was slightly a challenge for Percy since no one has been able to teach it to him, Neptune never came around so Percy was stuck training himself and Vesta couldn't of been any prouder.

"Ah!" He cried and wiped it off before glaring at Percy.

"You know what we do with brats around here?" He asked and Percy's eyes widened as Apollo tackled him. He started tickling Percy menacingly.

"AHHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Ssssorrrrry Apollo!" He gasped while he laughed. Apollo grinned fiendishly and kept torturing him. Vesta chuckled and loved how close Apollo and Percy were. Percy shadow travelled behind Apollo and tackled him and they began wrestling, Pluto appeared and Percy stopped and grinned.

"Uncle Pluto!" He jumped up and gave Apollo a quick kick to the stomach before running and jumping on his uncle. Pluto laughed and Apollo groaned and clutched his stomach.

"How's my favorite nephew?" Percy giggled while the groaning Apollo looked offended,

"But uncle-"

"I'm good! How are you uncle?" Percy cut off the pouting Apollo.

"I'm very happy to see you my boy. Tell me, how are your powers coming along?" Percy grinned and shadow travelled so he was on top of Apollo's stomach.

"Ahgh! Yo-you're heavy Perce!" Apollo grunted and the gods laughed. He stepped of and stomped on the ground, skeleton warriors came out of the ground and saluted him.

"Good day boys! Now, go back in the underworld." He commanded and the warriors returned into the ground. He stomped the ground again and a large ruby popped out.

He tossed it to Apollo who caught it and grinned,"Thanks Perce!"

Pluto was surprised at how easily Percy had mastered the element of death and he applauded loudly,"Good job Percy! You were fantastic!" Percy grinned and bowed at the end of his performance.

"Thanks uncle for teaching me, you're really great." Pluto beamed at the praise and gave Percy another hug. Artemis and Zoe came back to the clearing, they hadn't seen Percy's demonstration of power, Zoe didn't even know Pluto blessed him. She was extremely surprised to see Percy hugging the god of death,

"My boy, I got something for you." He conjured up a silver and black hoodie. The hoodie was black and it had silver trimming, the fabric was silky smooth. Percy excitedly threw it on and flipped up the hood so all that was visible was his mouth and nose.

"It's enchanted, you can set yourself on fire and it won't burn. Your hood will always stay on, I know you will have to meet Jupiter one day and you'll need to disguise yourself." Percy smiled and hugged him again.

"Thank you...dad." Everyones eyes bugged out of their heads except Pluto who was excited as a fool. Percy had called him dad, Percy wanted him to be his father. Pluto would never deny Percy, he was always so kind to him and hugged him all the time. Truth be told Pluto stole the show of father figure once he visited Percy everyday and Percy loved him for it. Neptune never comes around so why should he deserve this child, this wonderful child, Pluto thought happily. Percy was honestly a little angry with Neptune for never being there when he needed him.

"You're welcome son. I must go now, be strong Perseus, and never lose hope." He gave Vesta a wink and vanished in the shadows. Percy was elated that Pluto accepted him.

"Whoo hoo! I gotta daddy!" He cheered and gave Vesta a hug. She had never seen Percy so happy and she knew that being without a father hurt him. Neptune has never visited even once and she knew that Percy was slightly depressed by it. Though Zoe didn't want to ruin the family moment she had to apologize.

Zoe shuffled up to them nervously and cleared her throat,"Percy, can I speak with you for a quick second?" He gave her a warm smile and nodded, she led him away from the group and was about to speak but he beat her to it.

"I forgive you, my mommy told me about Hercules and he sounds like a big meanie! You have every right to hate men, but as you can see I'm a kid. I know that if I'm with the hunters I don't have to worry about being like the poop head like Hercules!" He puffed out his chest and Zoe was extremely surprised that he had known her story, that she was sorry, and the reason she hated men.

"Thank you Percy, I really am sorry though." He smiled and then tilted his head back and howled loudly. Zoe was extremely surprised when she saw a black wolf appear.

"Hi Alpha, wanna go for a run?" He seemed to be communicating with him telepathically. He hopped on the wolf and flashed Zoe a smile.

"By Zoe, I'm glad your my new friend." And with that he and the wolf bounded off into the woods. Percy was blushing like a fool, only cuz I got a new friend. He chided himself and was happy that things were looking up.