The most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart.

Dreams. They were the elusive whispers of the unseen at night, the secret gateway to worlds beyond our comprehension. In the tapestry of consciousness, they are the threads that weave the known and unknown into a fantastic mosaic. Vivienne always found herself hooked in the embraces of these nocturnal wanderings, where reality slipped away like sand through careless fingers. Dreams. The ethereal canvases painted with the palette of imagination, where ordinary rules bowed to the whims of the extraordinary. They were the silent orchestrators of emotions, summoning joy as easily as they conjured shadows of fear.

Vivienne's dream started off fairly normal. She was walking up a steep mountain. Above her, despite the clear night sky, rain seemed to be pouring, shimmering like liquid silver in the moonlight. They drenched and soaked her, yet somehow, her clothes were dry. Vivienne's footsteps echoed as she ascended, the crunch of gravel underfoot mingling with the dread drumming of rain around her. The mountain path twisted and turned, leading her to unknown heights, yet she kept on walking. She didn't know why, but somehow, she felt drawn to the mountain peak, as if something was waiting for her.

Finally, she reached the top. The view was indeed magnificent; moonlight bathed the landscape in a futuristic glow, revealing a panoramic display of valleys beneath. The air was crisp and clean, carrying the scent of rain and pine. As Vivienne took in the breath-taking scenery, her attention was drawn to the centre of the peak. There, a man stood, his figure outlined against the night sky. Clad in a black robe, he gripped a sword, though his hand trembled.

All of a sudden, a brilliant light erupted from the pit below, so bright Vivienne was forced to look away and shield her eyes. When she looked back, the radiance had faded, and a woman no older than twelve with auburn hair. She wore a parka similar to Thalia's, paired with a fur-coated jacket that bounced behind. As she got closer, the woman seemed to slow down, approaching the man almost hesitantly. When she was a few metres away, she stopped, just staring at him. Vivienne walked towards them, determined to get a better look at their faces.

"Percy?" the girl asked gently. "Perseus? Are you okay?" She got no response. "Perseus, say something please." Again, only silence. By this point, the girl was fidgeting nervously with her hands. The rain continued pouring down, dampening her hair, but she didn't even notice it, or if she did, didn't care.

"Percy, why are you here? This… We really shouldn't be here."

"Go home, Artemis," the sharp, hollow response came. Hidden away, Vivienne watched as Artemis recoiled at his words. The usually composed goddess seemed nervous and cautious.

"Why?" she persisted. "Why do I need to go home?" There was no response, only an eerie silence that hung in the air like a heavy mist. Artemis, now visibly frustrated, pressed Percy once more to talk to her.

"Why, Perseus?" Again, he ignored her.

"Percy, talk to me!" she demanded, raising her voice. This time, he shifted slightly, staring forward into the unseen distance.

"What do you want to talk about?" he finally muttered. Artemis sighed with a mixture of relief and concern before realising he was awaiting her answer.

"Well for starters, what are you doing here?" the goddess asked.

"Getting some peace," Percy murmured, his gaze unwavering. "I really need peace. Peace is a really interesting topic, don't you think? I mean most people just call it the absence of conflict, but no, it's much more than that; it's a state of being, a sanctuary for the soul. It's in the quiet moments where you can hear your own heartbeat in the stillness of the world. Now, it's gone. There's no peace left in the world. Only chaos." The moon goddess inhaled sharply.

"Percy, what happened? Why are you suddenly like this?"

"Chaos has become the norm," he continued. Vivienne couldn't tell if he was talking to Artemis or to himself. She delicately walked along the edge of the mountain towards the pair. "It's in the headlines, in the streets, even in the air we breathe. We're so… so lost in this web of turmoil that the very idea of peace feels like a distant dream more and more each day."
"Did someone say something to you?" Artemis persisted. Percy, however, only let out a rueful chuckle, a bitter undertone underscoring his words.

"Funny how we crave peace, yet our actions propel us further into the storm. Has everyone forgotten what the world was like after the Gigantomachy? Has everyone forgotten the serenity? Maybe, just maybe, if we pause and reflect, we can rediscover a path to genuine peace and prosperity."

"Percy, you need to tell me now," Artemis said, her voice laced with urgency. "What happened?" Percy shrugged, a gesture laden with weariness.

"Another war starting, another innocent dying, another catastrophe, another cataclysm," he mumbled under his breath, yet Vivienne heard it loud and clear. "Why does it matter to you?" Artemis was left speechless, facing a man who seemed to have lost all hope.

"Did… Did Zeus do something?" There was a tense pause before Percy reluctantly nodded.

"Zeus, Hera, Athena, Aphrodite, Hades, even you… All of you think you rule this world."
"We do though?" Artemis asked quizzically. Percy took a deep breath in.

"With worlds to rule," he muttered, struggling to keep calm, "comes responsibilities. Tell me, fair Artemis, where are your responsibilities?"

Vivienne was caught in the surreal atmosphere of the dream. She couldn't understand the depths of Percy's despair. Who had hurt this man?

"My responsibilities lie with the hunt and nature-"

"Lies," Percy muttered, emphasising the end like a snake. "It's all lies. The world is burning because of lies. Lies upon lies, piling up so high I could climb a mountain with them. Lies larger and more vicious than tsunamis. Lies-"
"Percy, you can't carry all this despair by yourself," Artemis tried. Ever so slowly, Percy turned around, facing the moon goddess, and Vivienne got a good look at him. His hair was tangled and messy, but his eyes… They were hollow.

"Can't I?" he asked. "I mean isn't that what Zeus forced me to do? None of you told me the consequences of godhood. Why?" His voice was icy cold, calm, yet at the same time, demanding.

"Isolation isn't going to solve the problems you see," Artemis pointed out. Snorting, Percy turned back to look into the emptiness of the night again. "What happened to the man who faced titans and gods alike without faltering?" she tried. Percy's shoulders slumped, a heavy sigh escaping his lips.

"He was cursed with domains he never asked for," the man mumbled. Now Vivienne was listening intently again. The topic of Percy Jackson's domains always interested her.

"Okay then, Perseus," Artemis began. "You say the world is so miserable, but you also said in front of me during our hunt that behind every miserable event is a beacon of sun just waiting to extinguish the darkness. Surely there's some light in your life." Percy still stared into the distance, though he nodded ever so slightly.

"Your mother?" she tried. "She loves you and has always been there. And your sister, Estelle? Your friends? Even me?" Percy snorted.

"You don't care about me. You only tolerated me for one quest because Aphrodite forced you into it."
"That's not fair," she protested, but Percy cut her off.

"Lies," he repeated. Vivienne felt a pang of confusion at this. She thought Percy and Artemis had been together, unless this was before their relationship?

"Alright, fine," Artemis muttered. "I'll make a deal with you." He didn't reply, but Vivienne knew that had piqued his interest.

"What kind of deal?" he asked after a while.

"One where you come back and together, we go to Zeus tomorrow and we don't leave until he agrees to some conditions regarding your peace-chaos dilemma-"

"He won't agree," Percy interrupted.

"He will, trust me," Artemis replied. "If it works, you owe me big time, and I mean big, big time because this is way out of my responsibilities." Percy thought for a moment.

"And if he doesn't?" The goddess shrugged.

"Then you get what you want within reason."

As Percy thought over the proposition, Vivienne shifted her view to get a better view and, to her dismay, lost her balance. With a startled yelp, she slipped off the edge, tumbling down the uneven dirt slope. The world spun around her, and her surroundings blurred into a chaotic whirl. Something got into her eye, causing her to wince. Eventually, when she stopped moving, Vivienne stumbled back to her feet, wearily rubbing her eyes. She was dizzy and opened her sore eyes. Naturally, she was expecting to find herself at the base of the mountain, the rain still pouring heavily with Artemis and Percy at the top. However instead, she found herself in a warm, cosy house. The scent of a crackling fireplace wafted through the air, and the gentle hum of a kettle reached her ears.

Vivienne sat up and took in her surroundings. The room was adorned with comfortable furniture, soft rugs, and warm colours that contrasted sharply with the stormy atmosphere she remembered. Hearing voices, she followed them, passing a couple of baby photos of a boy and a girl. Eventually, she arrived in what looked like an old kitchen. There was a manual toaster on one side, a gas stove on another and something that resembled a modern microwave. In the middle on two chairs were a boy and a girl, both around thirty and both drinking hot chocolate.

"Thanks for meeting me on such short notice," the boy said, and with a jump, Vivienne realised it was just an older Percy. He had definitely changed since the last meeting, haven grown a small stubble and longer hair. His eyes also seemed more playful and happy.

"I'll always make time for you," the girl smiled. She looked similar to Percy, yet much more friendly, warm and intelligent. "So what's up?" Percy put his cup down and grinned widely.

"I did it."

The girl frowned, curiosity etching her features.

"Well what is it exactly you did? Did you find your old watch? Did you realise Riptide needs some upgrades? Maybe you finally listened to my advice on growing your hair out?" Percy shook his head, the grin on his face growing wider.

"Even better." The girl gasped, her eyes widening.

"No way, did you ask her out!?" He nodded proudly.

"Yep!" he admitted. "I finally asked if Artemis wanted to get a bite with me, alone, and she said yes. Now it's been two weeks and we're literally dating!" Practically bursting with joy, the girl jumped up and hugged him tight.

"I knew you could do it!" she squealed. "Come on, tell me everything now!"

Percy settled back into his chair, a satisfied grin on his face.

"Well, it wasn't easy, I'll tell you that."

"Percy, I've told you this before, the most beautiful things in life are the things we work the hardest for." He nodded.

"Well basically, I was having some internal… conflicts. Zeus was creating calamity after calamity and it was all too much. At this point, I was ready to run away but Nico got wind of my plan, and he told Thalia, and Thalia told Artemis who somehow found me alone on Mount Saint Helens-"
"The volcano you blew up?" the girl frowned. "What were you doing there?"
"I didn't blow it up," he sighed. "I created an explosion somehow. And I don't know why I went there, I just wanted to go somewhere and it was the first place that popped in my head." The girl nodded.

"So then what? You kissed?"

"What, no! Seriously, why is that the first thing you think of? Artemis agreed that Zeus was going too far so we agreed to create a new set of laws in the godly council. Everyone has to abide by them, reducing chaos in the world and bringing order back." The girl raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

"Laws, huh? I didn't know you were a man of order."

"I'm not, but it needed to be done," Percy replied. "You don't understand the misery I've seen since becoming a god. The suffering just doesn't seem to end."

"Noble cause, bro," the girl chimed in. "But now you've piqued my curiosity. Tell me more. What kind of laws?" Percy shook his head, a light smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"That's a story for another day," he admitted. "But long story short, it's about stopping conflicts, making the gods more responsible and addressing issues like divine intervention, the treatment of mortals, and interference in their lives."

"Sounds like a tough job," the girl said, sipping her hot chocolate.

"It was, but it was worth it," Percy replied. "I kid you not, the world has never felt this peaceful before. And as a present for her, I went with Nico to the Underworld. We created some Stygian arrows for Artemis, and she was overjoyed." The girl smirked.

"Nice touch. She's into that whole moonlit huntress aesthetic." Percy nodded.

"But that wasn't the end. Artemis then got me this very expensive bow and even took the time to teach me how to shoot. I mean, there's much, much more to it, but long story short, one day, after months of banter/flirting here and there, I asked her out and she said yes!" The girl clapped her hands.

"That's fantastic! Congrats, Percy!"

"Thanks," Percy grinned. "I never thought I'd find happiness like this, but Artemis makes everything better." The girl leaned back, a satisfied smile on her face.

"Well, I'm glad you did. You deserve it."

Hearing all of this, Vivienne felt happy for him as well. This was the kind of Percy she'd heard so much about. Kind, humorous and caring. He seemed like a regular guy in love with a pretty girl and trying to explore life with her. So where had it gone all wrong…?

Finishing his hot chocolate, a satisfied smile on his face. He reached over and plucked a marshmallow from the girl's cup. She raised an eyebrow at him.

"Hey, that's mine," she protested. Percy just smirked and popped it into his mouth, a mischievous glint in his sea-green eyes. She rolled her eyes but couldn't help but grin at his playful antics.

"So, how's life treating you?" Percy asked, leaning back in his chair. The girl shrugged. "Can't complain. The coffee shop is doing well. People seem to like my pastries and thanks to you, I'm getting plenty of demigods asking for a double shot of nectar." Percy grinned.

"That's awesome. I still can't believe you opened your own place."

"Well, I had to put my culinary skills to good use somehow," she replied with a smirk. "Can't let all those years of cooking with Mum go to waste." Percy chuckled.

"True. You were the better chef out of the two of us." She nudged him playfully.

"You're just saying that because you're my brother."

"Hey, I'm being honest here," Percy protested. "Remember that time you made that giant blue cookie for my birthday?" The girl laughed.

"Yeah, it turned your tongue blue for a week."

"Good times," Percy mused, a nostalgic glint in his eyes.

Vivienne observed the siblings, their banter revealing a deep bond. It was so heart-warming she almost forgot this was all a dream.

"So, tell me more about this Artemis," the girl said, changing the subject. "What's she like? I still haven't had the honour of meeting her, you know." Percy's eyes softened.

"Artemis is incredible. She's strong, sweet, though a little blunt with some of the boys. I took her to that fancy restaurant Paul likes and she loved it. Piper told me to give her some flowers and she definitely appreciated that. It's only been a few weeks, but yeah, she's amazing." The girl smirked.

"Sounds like you're smitten." Percy blushed slightly.

"Maybe a little."

"Well, it's about time," the girl teased. "I was starting to think you'd be a bachelor forever." he rolled his eyes.

"Come on-"
"Aww, what do you mean?" she protested. "Mum said you haven't seriously seen anyone since Annabeth, and you dated her before I was born. You've basically been single my entire life." Vivienne remembered the name Annabeth. She'd been the girl convincing Percy to accept godhood in her previous dream. Percy's ex.

All of a sudden, the girl let out a loud sigh. Percy raised his eyebrow.

"What is it?" he asked. The girl shook her head.

"Nothing," she mumbled. "I just remembered a bet I made with Thalia."
"A bet?" he frowned. "Oh no, don't tell me you made a bet about me and Artemis…"
"I was bored!" she whined, as if that made it better. Vivienne thought Percy would be annoyed, but instead, he seemed to smirk, almost amused.

"Well do tell me then. What was it and how much are you losing?" The girl shook her head ruefully.

"Nah, it's just about that promo code." Percy and Vivienne both furrowed their eyes.

"PAXPJ43?" The girl nodded.

"Yeah. See, the idea was 43 meant 2043, which was when I thought you'd either ask Artemis out or move on. Thalia, unfortunately, thought that'd be 2056."
"2056!?" he asked incredulously. "Come on, you think I'd spend that long without making a move…? On second thoughts, don't answer that." The girl chuckled melodiously.

"As for the amount… Let's just say it's bad." Percy smirked.

"Should we leave it at that then?" he asked. The girl nodded.

"Yeah. This has been a fun catch up, but I have some business to attend to and I'm sure you've got a fun date planned for Artemis tonight, right?"

"I do?" The girl narrowed her eyes at him.

"You've got a fun date planned for Artemis tonight, right?"
"Says who?" he scoffed. "I just took her out yesterday."

"You've got a fun date planned for Artemis tonight." It came off as more of an order if anything, like the girl wasn't asking but telling him to take her on a date. "Percy, trust me, she'll love it if you go up to her and whisper that she's going out with you for a surprise date." He thought for a moment before eventually shrugging.
"Sure," he mumbled. "I'll trust you on this one." The girl smiled warmly and with a sigh, Percy got up. Finishing the remnants of his hot chocolate, he put the glass in the sink.

"You're washing it, by the way," he snickered. The girl rolled her eyes, though she couldn't hide her amused smirk.

As Percy and the girl walked towards the door, Vivienne couldn't shake the feeling of familiarity with the girl. There was something about her that seemed familiar but she couldn't pinpoint what it was. Perhaps it was the promo code…?

At the door, Percy put on his jacket.

"Thanks for the hot chocolate," he smiled. "It was honestly really nice just casually talking with you."
"Likewise," the girl said, going to open the door. However, before she did, an air of hesitation surrounded her. Percy, ever observant, picked it up.

"Something on your mind?" he asked, concerned about lining his face. The girl seemed to debate whether or not to spill it, before eventually sighing.

"Percy, you… you're close with Artemis now, right?" Percy nodded.

"Yeah, why?" She took a deep breath before posing another question.

"What's the Hunt like?" Percy seemed surprised by the question.

"Well, I mean they're friendly, sporty and very competitive. A lot of my friends are there such as Phoebe and Thalia. The ones who we've told about our relationship are also really supportive of it, something I never thought the hunt would be, though I guess most new members of the hunt are relatively new." The girl nodded.

"And, I mean, Artemis takes everyone into the Hunt, right? Like demigods, demititans, nymphs, mortals…?" Percy hesitated for a moment before providing an explanation.

"Yeah, she does. Why do you ask?"

The girl took another deep breath, and after a moment of internal deliberation, she finally made her confession.

"I want to join the Hunt."

And then, just as they were cutting to the interesting part, a distant voice called.

"Vivienne, time to get up," Phoebe said from far away. "We're talking to Artemis." The dream began to fade, the vivid scenes dissipating like morning mist. The details blurred, and the sound of Percy's voice discussing the Hunt with the girl became nothing more than distant echoes, getting further and further away by the second.

Percy knew Hemera and Eris were talking about him. He just didn't care. As soon as the three began walking back to Hemera's boat, the two sisters lingered back a little, letting Percy go on ahead. Occasionally, he could make out their hushed whispers, catching his name or perhaps 'moon goddess' every now and then. If he wanted to, he could've easily confronted them, but no. He just didn't care.

As they approached the makeshift dock where Hemera's boat patiently waited, Percy kept a steady pace. The rhythmic sound of the waves crashing against the shore provided a soothing backdrop to his thoughts. When Hemera and Eris caught up with him, Percy acknowledged their presence with a nod. The trio seems to just stand there, unsure of what to say. The air was charged with a subtle tension. Eris, revelling in the awkward atmosphere, couldn't contain her laughter.

"I love this awkward tension," she declared with a mischievous grin. Percy rolled his eyes, giving a small, amused smirk.

"Thank you for your hospitality," Hemera said, smirking at Eris' antics. "The food was phenomenal, though I must apologise for overstaying." Percy waved off her thanks dismissively.

"It was nothing," he said casually. "Would've been nice if you stayed a night or so, but maybe next time."

As the farewell hung in the air, Percy's gaze lingered on Hemera. There was a sadness in his eyes, a silent acknowledgment of the struggles and burdens he carried. Hemera, understanding the weight of his choices, wished him well and uttered a hopeful sentiment.

"Goodbye, Percy," Hemera said sadly, giving him a quick hug. "I do hope you reconsider joining in on this war." Percy shook his head solemnly.

"Not this time," he murmured. "I've gotten the Olympian Council out of enough jams and created the Degrees of Cataclysm specifically to stop these kinds of wars from ever happening. This time, it's best if I watch from the side lines." Percy thought for a moment before asking another question. "Is Aether joining you in this war?" Hemera shook her head in response.
"No, he's decided to stay out. Aether and Erebus are pretty close, unlike me and Nyx. They agreed to stay out of this war if the other did too and let us women take care of it. Erebus is far stronger than Aether anyway, and it works better for me not having to worry about him." The goddess of daylight sighed. "Only one Primordial involved," she murmured to herself.

As Hemera clambered into the boat, the silhouette of her figure against the dawn sky was captivating. The first rays of sunlight painted her profile with a warm, golden hue, blending seamlessly with the emerging light. The goddess of daylight appeared as a celestial being, a manifestation of dawn itself.

"I never liked boats," Hemera grumbled. "I wish I could just flash out of here, but whatever magic you put on this place is really strong," she remarked. Percy, leaning against the dock, shrugged in response.
"Hecate was one of the few goddesses who understood my pain. When it was time to leave, she gave me a few magical items for the border of my island as well as a few other things." Hemera nodded.

"Goodbye then, Percy," she said, her tone carrying a hint of farewell.

As the boat drifted away, Percy watched it turn into a mere speck against the vast expanse of the sea. The rhythmic sounds of the waves accompanied the departure, and Percy stood there, a solitary figure on the dock, contemplating the isolation that had become his sanctuary.

"Eris!" Percy called out, walking back towards his house. The goddess of discord strolled over with a mischievous grin.
"What's up, little bro?" Percy's expression turned serious.
"I want you to get your children under control," he said, his tone stern. Eris raised an eyebrow playfully.
"Do I have to?"

"This isn't a joke, Eris," he said firmly. "I don't want Makhai hurting anyone."

"Fine," Eris sighed with a pout. Stopping, Percy turned to face Eris directly.

"One last thing," he said. Eris tilted her head, curious. "This war is starting soon, probably in a few weeks. I want you to make sure you win it for me, will you?" Slowly, Eris's features twisted into a sinister, sadistic smile. She leaned in close to him.

"It'd be my pleasure," she whispered darkly, the ominous tone in her voice sending shivers down Percy's spine.

So I've finally updated and I hope you like this chapter! I felt like providing a bit of background information on how Percy and Artemis got together and setting the scene for the Decrees Of Cataclysm which will hopefully be coming in more detail soon!

Just as a quick response to two guest reviews:

- Firstly, to the first guest, you are bang on right about the promo code lol, that's exactly what it means so nice!

- Secondly, to the second guest, Mark, I assure you I haven't forgot about his fatal flaw. Loyalty comes in all shapes and sizes, and sometimes loyalty is doing what's best for someone else, even if it hurts you. Also he's not really like Nico. I mean I guess they were both alone, but Nico was angry. Percy is... something else lol. Either way appreciate the review and hope you keep liking it.

Other than that, hoping to update again soon. Definitely leave a review if you're liking this, and yeah, see you next update!