Chapter 16.
Apologizes for the mix up, not sure what happened there, but I fixed it. Hopefully.
The following evening, Percy and Artemis had returned to home on Olympus. After laying down in bed, Percy slowly drifted off to sleep. When he opened his eyes, he found himself back in Ouranos's court.
"Welcome Percy," Ouranos greeted him. Percy smiled and replied,"Hello my lord. I assume i'm here to tell you our decision regarding Zoe?"
Ouranos nodded in response. Percy nodded before he replied,"We wish to have Zoe back as our Zoe's roman form. Artemis is ecstatic about having her huntress back." Ouranos smiled before he replied,"Very well Percy. She will be there on Zoe's eighteenth birthday. Until then I will start to return her memories to her."
Percy nodded as Ouranos waved his hand,transporting Percy back to his regular body. When Percy opened his eyes, he realized it was morning. He looked around while blinking the sleep out of his, before they landed on Artemis's sleeping form.
He smiled softly as he played with her hair for a few minutes before standing up and sliding out of bed. He went to the bathroom to clean up and returned to their bedroom shortly after. Not wishing to disturb Artemis, he made his way out of the room before vanishing from the house, appearing at the hero gods's home.
He knocked quietly and waited until he heard someone knock on the door. When it opened, Reyna peered out. "Good morning Percy, what's up?" She greeted him warmly. Percy smiled before he replied,"Is Zoe awake yet?" Reyna nodded and stepped aside to allow him to enter.
They made the trek through the house until they reached Zoe's room. Percy knocked on the door, not wishing to intrude on his daughter's privacy by walking inside abruptly. A few seconds later Zoe opened the door and smiled.
"Hi dad!" she said enthusiastically. Percy grinned as he replied,"Hey Zoe. Sleep well?" she nodded as she let her dad into her room. "I slept well, but I woke up remembering things that I don't remember happening."
Percy turned to look at her in amusement before he replied,"What did you remember?" Zoe sat down on her bed before she replied,"I remember running around a large flower field with some girls, and there was a big dragon wrapped around a tree that had golden fruit I think?"
Percy smiled as he replied,"You're remembering the past Zoe's life. She was a daughter of Atlas, and lived in the garden of the hesperides, protecting the golden apple tree. Ouranos said you would start to remember her life until you turned 18, at which case Zoe will take over as your roman form."
Zoe looked shocked at that before she replied,"what does having a roman form like?" Percy shrugged before he replied,"I'm not sure, I don't have one. From what your mom has told me, it's basically like being in someone's subconscious. So Zoe will always be in your subconscious when you're in control, and when we are in Rome, Zoe will take over, and you will switch places."
Zoe nodded as she listened before she asked,"Will she be able to talk to me?" Percy looked thoughtful before he replied,"I'm not sure, again you'd have to ask your mother. She will be able to explain everything to you in detail more than I can."
She nodded before she jumped off the bed and replied,"Then let's go see mom!" Percy laughed as he took Zoe's hand and vanished from the room. Reappearing back in Artemis's house, Zoe made a beeline for her mothers room.
When they reached the room, Zoe ran inside and dashed towards Artemis, who was sitting on the edge of the bed doing her hair. Artemis grinned at seeing Zoe before wrapping in a hug. "Hi Zoe," she said smiling. "Hi mom! Dad told me to talk to you about how roman forms work."
Artemis turned to look at Percy in confusion before he replied,"Ouranos brought me to his court last night. Zoe will be here on our Zoe's 18th birthday, but he started to return her memories to her. Last night she remembered running around the garden with the other hesperides."
Artemis's eyes widened but she smiled brightly before turning back to Zoe. "Basically, you will be in control of your body for the most part, as we tend to stay in our greek forms. The other Zoe will occupy your mind, basically in your subconscious. She can talk to you if she chooses, and when you're in Rome, she will take control and you will switch places."
Zoe nodded as she listened before she replied,"So we can never be in the same place as separate people?" Artemis laughed before she replied,"You can, but after a while it's exhausting to do so, even as gods. But if she wants some time outside of your body then yes, you can split apart for a while."
Zoe grinned at hearing that before hopping off the bed and running over to Percy. Percy grinned as she hugged him before bolting from the room. "You know, I'm pretty sure I was never that energetic. She has to get that from you," Percy commented laughing.
Artemis laughed as well before she replied,"She definitely gets it from me. I'm glad she's taking the news about Zoe well. Having her back as my daughter wasn't something I ever considered a possibility."
Percy nodded as he watched over and sat down next to Artemis, and took her hand in his. She smiled as she gently leaned against him. "Pretty soon she'll be immortal like us, and we'll have Zoe back as well. It's only a matter of time."
Artemis nodded as she repeated,"It's only a matter of time." With that they stood up and headed out of the room to check in on the hunters and Zoe. When they found them, they were in the living room, watching what looked like a sports game.
"Morning girls," Percy said warmly. The hunters turned to look at them, waving and smiling before turning back to the game. "Morning Kelp Head," Thalia replied before turning back as well. Zoe was sitting at a table, appearing to be drawing.
Percy smiled as he made his way to the kitchen to find something to eat, While Artemis walked over to sit down next to Zoe. After finding some waffles and turning them blue, Percy made his way over and sat down next to Zoe on her other side. "You and you're blue waffles," Artemis commented, smiling.
Percy laughed as he replied,"Don't judge me woman." Artemis playfully rolled her eyes before turning back to watching Zoe draw. Percy laughed internally at seeing Zoe's focused expression, completely zoned out to those around her.
After breakfast, Percy and Artemis decided to go on a stroll through the city. As they strolled through the city enjoying each other's company, Percy thought back to how his life had changed so much in the past few years.
If someone would have told him on his 18th birthday he would have a daughter and be dating Artemis in a few years he would have thought they were insane. But yet, here he was, with a daughter he wouldn't trade for the world, and Artemis as a partner.
However, their time away was interrupted by a prayer from Thalia. "Percy, come back, we need you." Percy turned to Artemis, who he could tell got the same message. They immediately vanished from the city, appearing back in her home. They made their way back into the living room before freezing, stunned at what they saw.
The hunters were running around the room, while the room looked like a hurricane went through it. Percy looked up, shocked and confused why there was a giant storm cloud covering the ceiling that was downpouring rain. "What the hell is going on?" Artemis asked in disbelief.
"I don't know, but where's Zoe?" Percy said, looking around. Artemis looked around as well, before nudging Percy's arm. He turned his head to look at her, before redirecting his gaze to where she was pointing with wide eyes.
Running around the room, chasing Thalia was a small sea green pegasus, with silver wings. As they ran by, Thalia yelled,"Percy, I think her godly powers manifested a bit early!" Percy watched for a moment before falling over laughing.
Artemis started laughing as well and fell on top of Percy as they tried to collect themselves. Once they calmed down, Percy stood back up and waved the storm cloud away before chasing after Thalia and Zoe, who were still in a game of tag.
When he caught up to them he jumped in front of Zoe, who skidded to a halt in front of him. "Zoe, as funny as it is to see you as a pegasus, are you able to change back?" Zoe looked at him with a tilted head before she began to glow, and after a moment she was back to her human body.
"That was so cool!" she yelled excitedly. Percy laughed as Thalia and Artemis made their way over. "Artemis, can you fix the room," Percy asked grinning. Artemis nodded before turning and began to fix the room and repair the water damage.
"Great so now we have to deal with Zoe changing forms. Percy, why is it always your family that causes trouble?" Thalia asked, laughing. Percy grinned before he replied,"You're family too Thals. You're not exempt from that." Thalia rolled her eyes but grinned.
Once Artemis finished repairing the room, she walked over to the group. "So Zoe can change into a pegasus and summon storm clouds. That's interesting," She stated. The group nodded as Zoe bounced up and down before smoothly shifting back into her pegasus form. Percy grinned before changing into a pegasus as well.
Zoe's eyes widened before she nieghed at Percy and bolted out of the room, with Percy turning and running after her. Thalia and Artemis laughed as they watched them go before Thalia commented,"Those two are adorable. You got really lucky my lady."
Artemis smiled softly as she replied,"I really did. I got a daughter, a partner, and my old lieutenant back all in one. I couldn't ask for a better life." Thalia smiled softly before she nodded and headed off to collect the girls who had scattered from the room.
Artemis watched her go before heading out of the room to find Percy and Zoe. When she didn't find them inside, she made her way outside. Still not finding them, she headed out back to the open field behind her home. She smiled softly as she saw them, watching as Percy gently nudged her around and helped her with her wings, as Zoe was having trouble getting off the ground.
Percy slowly led Zoe around the field, nudging her gently whenever she veered off the path he wanted her to take before they eventually reached where Artemis was sitting on a wooden fence. Summoning a saddle on his back, he gently nosed her legs until she laughed.
"You want me to get on?" she asked, smiling. Percy neighed in response, to which Artemis stood up and slid on his back, before settling herself into the saddle. Once she was secure, they set off again, with Percy watching Zoe intently as she tried and succeeded to finally get off the ground.
Once she was comfortable flying, Percy neighed to Artemis before starting to jog, before breaking into a sprint and taking off into the air. Artemis laughed as they flew over to where Zoe was hovering, before the trio set off, flying around Olympus and sightseeing.
As they flew over the city, Artemis admired the breathtaking view of the city. She had never been in the air before, preferring to be on the ground and in control of her body. As it was mid afternoon, the city was bustling with activity, which made it even more grand to see.
Percy neighed to Zoe before beginning to descend, with Zoe flying after him. Artemis looked down as she saw Percy descending to where Hermes was tossing packages into a truck. As they neared, Percy neighed loudly, getting his attention. Hermes looked up in confusion, before he saw the trio approaching. He grinned and waved as they flew by before they continued their flight.
After seeing Hermes, they saw Zeus and Hera standing on their balcony, observing the city. They began to descend again as Artemis yelled out, 'Hi Dad!" Zeus and Hera looked towards them in confusion, before they both grinned and waved as they flew by the balcony.
Percy neighed to Zoe before they began to start the flight home. Once they reached the field, Percy led the way down, landing on the ground and running a short distance before coming to a stop, with Zoe following behind a few moments later.
Artemis slipped off his back before he glowed and returned to his human body. He grinned and turned towards Zoe, watching as she turned back to human as well. Percy smiled softly as he could see her exhaustion, before he walked over and picked her up.
"I think Zoe needs a nap," He said laughing. Zoe nodded as she leaned against him and closed her eyes. Artemis smiled gently as she nodded and followed the pair as they made their way back into the house.
Inside, Percy carried Zoe to her room and put her in her bed before quietly closing the door as he stepped out. Artemis slipped her hand into his as they made their way back to the living room, where they assumed the hunters would be.
A:N bit of a shorter chapter, but I wanted to ask your guys's opinions. do you want me to time jump to Zoe being 18, or do you want a few more chapters before we make the jump? feel free to let me know or any other suggestions you might have!
-Rift