A/N: Finally chapter twenty, I know I said we will see action this chapter, but in the end I decide to keep it all about Percy and Artemis.

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Percy Jackson and related stories.

Chapter Twenty: Moonblade

The sun had not risen up yet, and as the demigod's eyes slowly fluttered open, he found himself nested in a large cushiony bed, in an environment entirely unfamiliar to him.

Right as he woke up, Percy knew one thing straight away: Wherever he was, he had never set foot in that place before. So despite the grogginess of just having woken up, he knew that trouble could quickly rear its head if wasn't careful.

Instantly on high alert, the demigod surveyed his surroundings, his eyes sweeping the room up and down for any obvious signs of threat that might stick out for him to notice. However, the more he observed, the more a sense of ease settled within him.

The room where he lay was vast, far surpassing anything he was accustomed to living in. Everything seemed crafted from the finest materials attainable. There was no attempt to conceal the opulence of the place - intricately carved ceilings, expertly sculpted statues, and curtains fashioned from the purest silk adorned the surroundings. Looking at the distinct form of architecture, Percy got the feeling that he must be on Olympus.

Though slightly overwhelmed by the sheer grandeur, for some reason Percy also felt a sense of belonging there. The room's decorations held a peculiar familiarity for him, an elusive sensation that he couldn't quite grasp but one that undeniably soothed his nerves.

Looking past the obvious extravagance, there was still an earthly feeling to how everything had been set up, from the robust wooden furniture to the array of potted plants scattered throughout. Even the paintings adorning the walls depicted forests and animals, further grounding the luxurious setting with a touch of nature.

And then there was that smell, the sweet scent of Amaranth that he was fast becoming addicted to, it was all around him, it was there lingering in the pillows and in the air, there was no mistaking it.

Looking over to the right, Percy noticed a large wardrobe sitting there, but what interested him more was its metal handles. It was no ordinary metal…

"Lunar Alloy…" the demigod whispered as he identified the strange and shiny material. "It means I am—" and suddenly everything came back to Percy: the town, the Titaness, his fight, Olympus, and finally, "Artemis…" he whispered.

Percy sighed in relief as felt the earlier nervous energy entirely fade away. He was safe, he reassured himself, he must be in Artemis' palace on Olympus, he knew no one who meant him harm could touch him as long as he was there.

Everything around him suddenly made sense to him, the decorations held a striking resemblance to the goddess's tent, albeit more lavish and expensive… That was to be expected if he really was on Olympus.

Shaking his head the demigod raised his arm to take a look at his wristwatch, "4 AM" he noted, "Still plenty of time to return to Nentis…" Percy had not forgotten the council's decision, it was his choice to return to his mission or to abandon it, and the demigod had chosen to return, he had to finish what he had started, he was way too involved to let go now.

A demigod's life could be many things, but easy it was not. The children of gods found themselves in a unique position of power, inheriting some strength from their divine parents yet not confined by the same ancient laws that bound them tightly.

Percy knew he had been foolish when he was young, but he was now a man who had fought and survived two devastating wars. The demigod knew most gods were using him for their own benefit, ,the only people who really cared about him were his father, Hestia, and Artemis. Percy also knew that those very people would want him to be anywhere but in the middle of another war.

And yet, despite knowing all that, Percy still wanted to fight.

After having fought so long to keep the world safe, at some point, the son of Poseidon had realized that it was more his war than it was the gods'. He felt responsible for protecting everything he had fought for. He felt responsible for ensuring that all the sacrifices he and his friends had made did not go to waste.

After lingering in his bed for a few more moments, Percy mustered the strength to rise. He made his way toward a full-sized mirror positioned beside the wardrobe.

Looking over at his reflection, Percy noticed that he was now in a fresh T-shirt that he hadn't been wearing before, looking at himself even closer, he noticed that the wounds on his body were all gone, leaving behind not even a single trace of their existence.

If Percy didn't know better, he would have thought that his entire encounter with the Titaness had been a dream, but the soreness in his body told him a different story.

The demigod used his right hand to check what his shoulder felt like, and to his surprise, that too had fully healed.

"Interesting…" he noted. Artemis had gotten him fixed. In only a couple of hours or so, someone had managed to undo all his injuries and completely return him to normal. "Must have called Apollo." The demigod concluded. Only the god of medicine could do something like that.

"I sensed you were awake," came a soft voice from behind Percy, making him stop his observation.

Percy looked up, standing behind him, he could see in the mirror a pair of intense silver eyes staring at him. But despite their intensity, the concern behind them was clear as day.

The demigod turned around and came face to face with the goddess of the moon, she was standing there looking just as breathtaking as she had looked when she found him earlier that night, her skin was radiating with the same enchanting moonlight while strands of her auburn hair swayed with the gentle breeze that was flowing through the palace.

"Artemis…" he whispered, "Thank you for bringing me here," he said after only a moment's hesitation. He remembered being heavily injured when she found him, he did not remember his journey to the palace, but he did remember falling in her arms before the world went dark.

"Don't thank me, Perseus," the goddess replied, her voice soft yet resolute. "I will always try to keep you safe... However, there's only so much I can do if you insist on putting yourself in harm's way."

"Artemis—" Percy tried to explain.

"Don't you dare," she shook her head and closed the distance between them so that she was now standing right in front of him, "Do you have any idea what state I found you in? Do you have any idea how worried I was?!" She was angry, the demigod could see it in her eye, but he did not back away.

Seeing Percy bleeding all over the place had stirred something within the goddess, seeing him in pain had hurt her more than she had ever expected to, she never wanted him to suffer like that again.

Percy sighed deeply, he knew what was coming, but he also knew it needed to be done. "Artemis, if this is making you angry then what I am about to say next will probably make you hate me, but I really need to return to Nentis, like right now." the demigod explained, there was an urgency hidden behind his voice that was not lost to the goddess.

He realized he could have approached the topic with more finesse, but time was a luxury he couldn't afford. With only a few hours left until sunrise, he felt the weight of the impending decision by the council.

Artemis stared blankly at Percy, her beautiful eyes seemingly searching for a response, it took her a good second before she could even process what he had said, "You— you are jesting, are you not?" She asked incredulously, "Return to Nentis? What do you mean?"

"I have to be back there before sunrise, if I don't then my father will force them to choose someone else to complete my quest in my place, he doesn't want me to return," he explained.

"Perseus, of course, he does not want you to return! And neither do I!" Artemis cried in frustration.

The goddess shook her head when she could not make sense of Perseus's request and stepped dangerously close to him, "Now listen to me, you foolish demigod," her voice surged with an edge, her anger clear. Her typically serene and silver eyes now blazed with an irate intensity, all the while, the subtle flicker of the air around them hinting at her rising wrath.

"I am NOT sending you to a village filled with Vengeful Titans whose friend you just dragged to Olympus," she spat out the words, her features tensing ever so slightly, a hint of the goddess's disapproval etched in the furrow of her brow and the barely perceptible clench of her jaw.

"But I have to go," he pressed, "No one else can do this, it's too dangerous—"

That had been the wrong thing to say.

"So you will do it instead? Why? Because your life isn't valuable?" The goddess asked, her anger reaching the boiling point by now.

"Does your life not matter to you? Well regardless of what you feel, believe it or not, it does matter to me. And it's not because I need you to be alive to get what I want. No, it's because of something else entirely... it's because of a reason that you are clearly too blind to see!" The goddess cried in anger.

"I— I don't understand," the demigod replied, taken aback by her intensity.

"Of course, you don't," the goddess sighed, her anger seemingly fizzling away as she shook her head in disappointment, "And they say I am the emotionless one…" she muttered to herself.

"Tell me this, what are you getting out of this, Perseus? Why are you doing this when there's a prophecy hanging over your head?" She asked him.

Percy shook his head, "Artemis, let's face it, if it is a prophecy then there is no preventing it—"

"You don't know that!"

"No, I don't, but that's what it feels like. I am a demigod Artemis; I have to do this because it's all I've got. You have to understand, that this is my purpose in life—to fight. I've been fighting since I was twelve; it's literally the only life I've ever known! There's nothing else for me to live for..." The demigod's words left an ugly feeling in Artemis's heart.

The goddess shook her head, "You are really gonna make me say it then, aren't you, fine I'll say it. You do have something to live for, you've had that for a while now, you're just refusing to see it."

She stepped closer to him and took his hands into hers, looking into his eyes she said, "Live for me Perseus… You say you have nothing else… But you have me, and you will for the rest of eternity if only you choose life over death."

Percy felt his throat dry up from her closeness. She had never said something like that before… Percy had noticed how over the months, the goddess had gradually become more and more comfortable around him, it had now reached a point where she was the one who initiated contact and he was the one to shy away. It wasn't that he didn't like her closeness, he loved the warmth of her presence, but he was also aware of who she was, she was Artemis, the maiden goddess of the moon, and to him, the butterflies in his stomach felt wrong sometimes.

Then she said something entirely unexpected, something he had never imagined he could hear from her.

"My hunters will follow me… We can leave all of this behind, I will cross the stars to keep you safe, we can leave and never return." She offered, after how the Olympian council had been treating her recently, a new life away from all the drama didn't sound too bad to her.

There was a fire in the goddess's eyes that was drawing Perseus in, but then he saw his own reflection in her silver orbs, and he was reminded of his duty…

"But the people we would have to leave behind, to suffer alone, they will be my friends… My family… I cannot do that, not for anything, no matter how much my heart wants me to."

At that moment Artemis finally understood that her efforts had always been in vain. Perseus would never abandon those he cared about, even if that meant losing his own life in the process. That realization crystallized who he truly was—a loyal friend, a valiant hero, and, above all, a good man.

"How are you even real," the goddess whispered, a faint shake of her head betraying her sheer wonder. "People like you exist in stories, not in real life, and yet here you are…"

"So you'll let me go?" Percy asked after a moment of silence, interpreting the goddess' words as her green light to go ahead.

"Well, it's not as if I can force you to stay... However, to answer your question, I won't hinder you and I won't make an attempt to stand in your way. Though you should understand, I don't approve of this in any way," the goddess responded, her words tinged with a mix of resignation and disapproval.

"I know…" he nodded, "But it is for the greater good."

The goddess looked up and stared him dead in the eye, "That's a dangerous way to think, Perseus."

"Sometimes it's the only way to think."

The goddess gave him a meaningful look before looking down and sitting on the edge of his bed.

With a resigned shake of her head, she let out a dry, melancholic chuckle. "Who would have ever thought a day would arrive when I, of all people, would plead with a man to flee alongside me."

"And get rejected no less" she added after a pause.

Perseus chuckled back, "I believe that's a dangerous way to think," he used her own words against her.

"Indeed it is…" Artemis laughed.

"The world… has gone crazy," Percy admitted, shaking his head. "These last few months… It has been a fever dream." He said, "And not necessarily a bad one,"

Artemis looked up at Percy, she was smiling. He could see that she had accepted his decision.

"Come, sit with me, you still have an hour or two, don't you?" she said.

Percy didn't join her right away, he stood still for a moment, contemplating the situation, and then he finally moved toward the foot of his bed and settled himself beside the goddess. The first time he had sat next to Artemis, had been the epitome of awkwardness in his life. Yet, after spending considerable time together, it now felt as natural as breathing.

After sitting in silence for a few minutes, the goddess finally spoke up, "I don't know what's happening to me… Maybe I am being overprotective of you, but I would rather ensure you are safe than risk something happening to you." Artemis confessed.

Percy found her words oddly comforting, but he still felt the need to correct her. "You don't have to protect me," he asserted softly. "I don't usually say this, but I'm Percy Jackson. You'd have a hard time finding something worse than what I've already faced before. I CAN protect myself."

"I know you can… But that doesn't mean I will stop worrying." Artemis said, "I've lived… for thousands of years, and it's a very lonely life, even with the hunters."

"And here I thought you didn't want me to stick around," Percy remarked playfully.

"Shut up you annoying demigod…" the goddess shook her head in mirth. She looked up at him and said, "Sometimes things change, the way you feel about people… also changes."

"I'll be careful when I'm gone," Percy promised, "Last time I was caught off guard, I thought I was helping someone who was about to be robbed, didn't know I'd be chasing after a Titan…"

Artemis nodded, they both enjoyed the silence for the next few minutes before the goddess spoke again, "Your father visited while you were asleep."

"He did?" Percy asked, surprised. Gods rarely took the time to check after their kids, but Poseidon was a rare exception to that.

"Yes, although I couldn't understand it then, I think he knew that you were going to choose to return." She said. Anyone who knew Perseus well could guess as much, it had been foolish of her to think she could convince him otherwise.

"Shame I missed it then," he said, disappointed.

"Don't be, he left something for you," the goddess said as she opened her hand and revealed a shiny new wristwatch, "He said your brother made it for you,"

Percy carefully took the watch from her hand and observed it up close.

The watch was made out of celestial bronze and a kind of silver that shimmered with an ethereal glow. Its metallic surface was adorned with intricate engravings, which, just like his last one, depicted some scenes from his previous adventures.

Pressing the watch face activated the opening mechanism, and with a swift motion reminiscent of a camera shutter, the timepiece began its transformation. Silver tendrils spiraled outwards as it unfurled, finally solidifying into a sturdy-looking shield.

Just like the watch itself, the shield's surface too depicted scenes of Perseus's valorous escapades against monsters and titanic foes. Each engraved detail portrayed one of his many battles, capturing moments of triumph and bravery throughout his journey as a demigod.

And then there was something else that Percy noticed, a detail so subtle he almost missed it, it was a nod to Artemis if he wasn't wrong: there was etched delicately within the shield's ornate patterns—a crescent moon intertwined with a bow and arrow, a symbol of his soon-to-be wife, a small detail that acknowledged his connection to the moon.

"I must say— Tyson has outdone himself this time," Percy admitted, nodding appreciatively as he held the shield to test its weight and feel, "It's perfect…"

Noticing the silver bits on his shield, the demigod took a closer look, "Is this?" he started.

"Lunar Alloy," Artemis completed his query, "Yes it is," she said as her fingers traced the silver on his shield, "A lot of it has made its way to Atlantis over the centuries…" she said, "They don't usually make anything with it, under normal circumstances Celestial Bronze is slightly stronger, but for you specifically it should be different, it will work well for you, much better than the bronze."

"What, really?" He asked.

"Yes, it's connected to me… So as long as you are the one holding it, nothing will get through." the goddess reassured him, "Poseidon must have known that, hence it was incorporated in your shield."

"Cool!" he exclaimed, "I used to have one of these shields before, but I lost it… This one looks like a massive upgrade."

"It should keep you protected," Artemis agreed, "But that's not all you would be leaving with today, I have some things for you as well."

"Huh?"

"Come with me," she said as she got up from the bed and started walking out of the room.

Percy decided to follow her without a question as she led him through the building into a room on the other end of the palace.

As they passed the various hallways and chambers of the Palace, Percy found himself more and more impressed with Artemis's home, it ticked all the boxes of a stately palace, but also felt cozy like any home should.

Finally, after waking for about ten minutes, they reached the room they had set out for.

Unlike the rest of the palace, this room appeared to be much simpler; instead of chiseled marble, it was made out of heavy limestone blocks.

Looking around the son of Poseidon noticed indications of slashes and impacts on the blocks, he also noticed the thousands of arrowhead indents littered throughout.

"What is this, a practice room?" he asked the goddess standing beside him, making an educated guess by the state of the place.

"That is correct," she said.

She waved her hand and a heavy wooden chest materialised right before him.

"What's that?" he asked as he looked at the chest with a puzzled expression. From the outside it looked very plain, there were no patterns of carvings, just a simple iron latch, holding the box close.

"Go ahead, open it." Artemis lightly nudged him.

So Percy did what she asked, he walked up to the chest, undid the latch, and opened the box. Inside the chest he found several items that he could only describe as loot any demigod would give an arm to lay claims to. And it was all made of the same alloy that reinforced his new shield.

Gingerly reaching in, he pulled out the first item, "Chainmail…" he said as he held up the metallic mesh that was barely heavier than a feather, looking closely he noticed that each link was meticulously interwoven, forming a protective layer that would drape him with surprising lightness.

"It's light, thin, and strong, wear it under your clothes all the time, it will keep you alive if there is a surprise attack." the goddess said.

Perseus shook his head, "I mean it worked for Frodo Baggins, so I might as well..," he said.

"What?" The goddess asked puzzled.

"Forget it, let's say I did some reading when I was in exile," Percy explained, even though he was a demigod, with time he had started reading more and more, it was something that was supposed to get easier for them as they grew up.

Putting aside the chainmail, Percy reached into the chest and pulled out a very small silver mirror, "And what is this?" He asked as he carefully observed the object. It was tiny, no larger than a couple of inches.

"It's a mirror, but it's not for something mundane like checking how your hair looks," Artemis said, "In our world, it is very easy to hide from the gods, this is where this mirror comes into play, if you are ever in the need of help, and you are not able to reach out for some reason, if you see the moon in the sky, use this to reflect the moonlight back into the night…" she explained.

"I know it's very limited in its use, but this will bypass any and all magical barriers that could be hiding you from me. If you use it, you best believe I will find you no matter what stands in the way." Artemis promised.

Percy then moved on to the next item in the chest, and to fully describe how he felt next would be impossible.

As soon as Percy lifted the item, he felt everything suddenly come into sharp focus, his breathing slowed down and the demigod felt his heartbeat steady. A rush of stamina flowed into his veins as he inspected the gift in more detail than he believed his eyes were capable of picking before. Even his hearing and sense of smell seemed to have been greatly elevated.

It was a long, curved knife, the most beautiful knife Percy had ever seen in his life.

To him, the knife embodied the elegance and grace of Artemis herself. Its silver hues reminded him of her quiet majesty, yet just like her, beneath its alluring facade lay a formidable and enigmatic power that hinted at its immense strength.

The blade of the knife was oddly misshapen, with a serrated edge that gleamed with an otherworldly light. Its edges were sleek and sharp, with a luminescent quality that reflected the goddess's connection to the moon, delicate crescent moons and stars were etched along its length, giving it an elegant look.

The handle was wrapped in a supple, midnight-blue leather that seemed to absorb the moon's radiance, the metal of the handle almost giving off a captivating glow that Percy was fast falling in love with. Intricate patterns reminiscent of lunar phases were etched upon the handle, enhancing its look.

The weapon felt perfect in Percy's hand, it was almost like it had been molded for the demigod's grip, even without having used it before, he knew he could perfectly wield it.

"It's the Moonblade," Artemis spoke up in a soft tone, "A weapon I created myself, it's meant to channel the moon's power, wielding it will make you faster, more precise, and less likely to tire quickly. It also has some unique properties that you will no doubt discover when I train you in its use"

"A— Artemis— I cannot accept this, it's too much, I— This is a godly weapon!" Percy struggled to find words as he tried to hand the blade to Artemis.

"Perseus, you have to accept it. I won't take no for an answer," Artemis insisted, her tone resolute.

"You should be the one using it, not me!" he protested. The demigod could feel the power flowing into him from the blade; it was unlike anything he had ever held before, something entirely different…

"Perseus, I did not make it for myself, I cannot use it even if I wanted to, the Moonblade is meant to channel the power of the moon, I AM the moon, the properties it gifts you are mine."

"But still…" Percy shook his head, "It does not feel right, I am not the right person to use it." the hesitation was clearly visible on his face.

The goddess lifted her hand and gently guided Percy's head towards her. "You are the only person who can use it… Tell me Perseus, does wielding the blade make you feel any different?"

Percy locked eyes with her, a brief moment passing before he nodded. "Yeah… Everything's so vivid all of a sudden… It's like— It's like my senses are heightened. I can see, smell, and hear everything so much clearer," he explained. "And I feel like I could climb a mountain without pausing to take a breath."

Artemis smiled at him, and it was not her usual smile, it was one of her special smiles that she reserved for when she was really happy.

"What?" Percy asked, "What is it?"

"Nothing," Artemis smiled, "Just confirms what I had already guessed."

Artemis did not tell him what she had been thinking. The demigod asked many times but every time she would just say it was nothing.

The chest contained several other remarkable items too: a gleaming set of new armor, additional knives, a retractable spear, and a magical horn capable of commanding wildlife.

Each piece was undeniably impressive, but none of them held a candle to the knife Percy had received. There was an inexplicable quality about the weapon, something that made it distinctly exceptional.

Percy had made sure to thank the goddess profusely, in fact, he had thanked her so much that she threatened to have him zapped by Thalia if he didn't stop.

After receiving his items, the demigod was taken by Artemis to her garden, where they both stood under the stars.

The garden was a sanctuary adorned with delicate moonflowers that shimmered like tiny stars, their petals spreading across the white marble pathways that wound gracefully among immaculately manicured shrubs and hedges. Tall, slender trees with silver bark swayed gently in the breeze, casting intricate, shifting patterns of shadow and light across the ground.

It was a beautiful sight, but the person Percy was standing beside made it even more beautiful.

"You know, I had intended to give you a bow as well, but… Then I reconsidered, thinking it might not be the best idea," Artemis remarked, a slight hint of humor in her voice.

"It was a wise move to reconsider." Percy laughed.

"I shudder to imagine what devastation you would have brought with it," she laughed alongside him.

Percy paused for a moment as he looked at the goddess, "Artemis… Can I ask something?"

The goddess turned towards him, "Of course you can,"

"Why did you do this for me today? I mean… Suddenly giving me all these priceless items?" He asked.

Artemis smiled, though her expression carried a tinge of sadness.

She turned her gaze towards the horizon and replied, "Perseus, deep down, I knew you would join this battle. I suppose I was fooling myself, hoping you wouldn't... Diana and I had contemplated giving you these items, but we hesitated. Our intention was to dissuade you from fighting instead of supporting your decision. Today, I've come to understand that no matter what I say, your resolve won't waver."

Percy looked down as he heard her admission, he felt guilty for doing this to her but he knew he had no other choice. The fate of the world was resting in a delicate balance, and he did not trust the gods enough to leave it up to them.

"How long until it starts?" He asked after a moment of silence.

"Apollo thinks we have less than a month now… Something big is coming, and for better or for worse, we will have to face it." Artemis sighed.

"I think I will make it, I always do…" Percy commented. He was staring far away into the distance, looking up at the twinkling stars.

Artemis looked at Percy as she gently intertwined her delicate hand with his. "Nothing would bring me greater joy," she whispered softly.

"You have changed," Percy observed.

"Is it a bad thing?" She asked.

Percy smiled, "No it's not,"

The two spent the next few minutes just like that, holding hands and standing in silence. Though nothing was said between them, within those fleeting minutes, a newfound closeness blossomed between them, deeper than any words could express…

It's often said that every good moment must come to an end. As dawn approached, Percy knew it was time to depart. With the sunrise imminent, the demigod had to make his way back to Nentis.

"You will not travel alone," Artemis said softly. "Diana will accompany you today," she affirmed.

"But Artemis, she can't, the Titans will pick up her presence," Percy pointed out.

"Don't worry, she'll drop you right outside the town," she reassured him.

"Alright then…" he accepted.

To tell the truth be told, Percy would never want to miss an opportunity of getting to meet the Roman goddess, somehow they had both grown very close during her extended stay with him, and Percy cherished every moment spent with her.

"Good, she should be here any moment." Artemis nodded.

And sure enough, a few seconds later there was a bright flash and Percy was in the presence of two moon goddesses.

"Hello Percy," the Roman goddess greeted him warmly, "Miss me?"

Percy couldn't hold back the smile that illuminated his face upon seeing her. There was something so warm and so pure about Diana, she was so full of energy, and being around her never failed to make his day suddenly feel a lot better.

Diana approached the couple with a playful glint in her eyes as she observed their intertwined hands. "You do realize that you're still holding hands, right?" she remarked, a hint of amusement lacing her words.

It was only then that Percy noticed it, he felt blood rush to his face as tried to discreetly pull his hand away.

Only for Artemis to refuse to let it go, instead gripping his hand in an ever tighter hold. "Yes, we are, anything wrong with that?" She challenged her Roman counterpart.

"Not at all," Diana smiled, "I think it's rather adorable."

Percy wanted to dig a hole and hide in it, that's how embarrassing the situation was to him. Here was, holding hands with the maiden goddess of the moon, the same goddess who was supposed to hate men.

"But really, Artemis, you're going to have to let him go if I am to take him with me." The Roman goddess said.

Artemis glared at her Roman counterpart for a good second before reluctantly letting go of the demigod's hand. Even though he had not noticed it before, Percy did feel the absence of her comforting warmth soon enough.

"Thanks," Diana bowed in mock courtesy before quickly sweeping to replace Artemis's hand with her own.

"See? I can do it too," she said with a grin.

If possible, Artemis's glare became even more icy as she tried to dig holes into Diana's skull.

"I would have loved to stay and talk to Artemis but we're on a schedule, see you." Diana spoke in mock disappointment as Percy felt a tugging sensation before being engulfed by a bright flash.

When the flash subsided, Percy found himself on a lonely dark road leading to Nentis.

He guessed the only other person within many mile radius had to be Diana, and she too would be gone in a few moments.

Percy turned towards the goddess, "You can let go of my hand now, there's no Artemis for you to annoy." He knew how much she loved messing with her Greek counterpart; she had confessed to him that it was her favorite thing in the world.

"Hmmm… I can," Diana said looking thoughtful, "But why should I? I have decided that I rather like holding your hand."

Percy felt his face heat up once more, "Please… Not this again." Diana always did it to him, putting him in such awkward situations.

"What? So you only let Artemis hold your hands now? I confess I am wounded Percy," she joked.

"It's not—"

"I know I know," the goddess laughed, "I'm just having some fun," she said, "But I'm still going to hold your hand".

Percy shook his head, Diana could be so childish at times. But he did not mind her closeness either.

"Come, let me walk with you a little further, when we are close you can go the rest of the way yourself." She said, pulling him along as she started walking towards the city.

After they both walked in silence for a few seconds, Percy spoke up again, "Do you know what happened to Artemis today? She was behaving… Strangely,"

Diana, who was still holding his hand, looked at him with an unreadable expression, "You mean holding your hand and being so sweet with you?"

"Yeah"

"Hmm," the goddess nodded, she was no longer looking at him, "I know exactly what is happening to her, or at least I think I do…"

Percy looked at her curiosity.

"But it is not my place to tell you," she said apologetically.

She could tell Percy was not satisfied with her answer as she then proceeded to clarify. "She's only just getting a grip on her feelings, she has been having some thoughts for some time, but I think she couldn't understand them until now." Diana explained, "Artemis has a strange way of dealing with emotions…"

"Well, ok I guess," he replied

"And oh! By the way, Thank you for the gifts, especially the knife, Artemis told me you both planned it together," Percy said as he suddenly remembered the stuff Artemis had given him.

"You're welcome, did you like the knife?" Diana asked with a smile.

"I loved it! It's like the greatest thing ever, I can't wait to use it!" He replied happily.

"As much as I love seeing you happy, I would prefer if you don't encounter a situation where you need to use it, especially where you are going right now," Diana said. "Are you wearing your chainmail?" She asked.

"I am, don't worry I will be careful," Percy promised for what must be the hundredth time.

The goddess stopped walking, grabbed the demigod by his shoulders, and turned him towards her, "You better be, because I will kill you if you die.".

"How will you kill me if I am already dead," Percy asked with mirth.

"I'll find a way," the goddess promised, "Just DON'T. DIE."

Percy nodded as he was held close by the goddess, "I won't, trust me I'll be ok."

Diana seemed to struggle with something before seemingly deciding to accept his answer as she let him go and stepped back, "Well, I'm afraid this is as far as I can come with you without being detected. The rest of the journey you make alone."

Percy sighed, it was still dark and the city was at least 30 minutes away from where he was. "Shame you can't come, could have used some company in that boring old place…"

"You can always decide not to go, come back with me, we'll have some fun, we can spook people on Olympus." Diana tried dissuading him one last time.

Percy just smiled in return, "Take care Diana, and thank you for everything." He said, giving her one last look before turning away and starting to walk towards the city.

"Percy," he heard the goddess calling him.

"Diana?" He turned back and asked.

He saw the goddess standing there alone, her soft glow partially illuminating the street, "You know Artemis isn't the only person who has trouble expressing her feelings,"

"There is something I have wanted to tell you for some time, but I do not know how to say those words..." There was a vulnerability in her voice that Percy had never seen before. "Perhaps I will tell you some other time, Take care Percy, and return home to me safely."

-End of Chapter-

AN: And that was chapter 20 done.

As you can see, Artemis is finally warming up to Percy now. tried to keep this chapter shot and simple because all I wanted to show you was Percy and Artemis's evolving relation. I had wanted to write Percy walking back to the town, but in the end I decided against it as it might take away some of the effect.

Next up I want to write something horror-esque. Nentis is supposed to be a dangerous place for Percy so why not dial that danger all the way up?

Finally I want to talk about the Moonblade... It's basically modelled after the Black Knife from Elden Ring while also using the name of a different weapon in the same game. throughout this story I have littered many easter eggs but somehow people never find them, like Amelia in chapter 9 was clearly modeled after Amy Pond from Doctor Who, also remember putting in some Witcher references and maybe a bit of Star Wars here and there...

Anyway that's it for now, see you in the next one.

Bye