All Rights belong to Rick Riordan

Chapter 63

My Girlfriend Goes Psycho

(Percy)

The last few weeks had been some of the best and worst of my life and both of them were because of one woman. Well goddess actually to be specific.

You see I now spend almost all of my free time with her or at least one of her aspects which was good for a number of reasons. The problems however were that it was becoming rather obvious that me and the 'man-hating' goddess were getting on well and a certain hunter 'Tanya *Cough*' had brought up a budding 'Friendship' in a meeting the hunters had with Artemis while I was absent, pleading Atlas to keep his mouth shut about what he had seen that night.

From what Diana had explained about it afterwards her counterpart had to get rather creative in convincing them there was absolutely nothing going on. Luckily she didn't swear on the Styx then. Apparently I was now here additionally as a representative of inter-pantheon goodwill as well as to fulfill my guardian responsibilities (which Nemea was doing more and more of coincidentally). This invariably brought up the question justifiably of how long that was gonna last. While Artemis had been able to deflect that by answering simply until she decided so, which she promised me afterwards wasn't anytime soon followed by a lengthy make out session it still left the question up in the air that obviously some of them would not take the reveal of our true relationship status well.

The other source of my recent problems was Artemis herself or rather her mood swings that were becoming increasingly more common and bad for me to be around. Those combined with her pretending to be indifferent towards me generally resulted in a few stray arrows and one or two that were not. Thank the gods my wings were nigh indestructible and provided almost total body coverage when folded around me. Generally these periods while we were alone were characterized less with making out and more her darker angrier side wanting to use me as a punching bag as it was my entire fault. Despite explanations to the contrary she still occasionally blamed me or Diana alternatively for the relationship beginning in the first place.

It was pointless to even argue the point while she was in one of her bad swings and generally I did the despicable male thing and hid until she calmed down. Thankfully I can fly and she cannot which gave me brief escapes while making it look like I was on patrol and doing my actual job. I had also learned a few new cuss words from what she had said in these spats. Who knew a goddess could be so colorful in so many different languages.

The good thing about these swings was that they served to distract her from absentmindedly rubbing her stomach by instead focusing her on me. The last thing we needed was her revealing something amiss by a simple action while someone was looking.

The number of monsters encountered in the time since Echidna and the Chimera had been only one. When a young hydra had got too close to the camp, only to run into Nemea. By the time me and the hunt had got there we found her essentially playing with the poor creature. She kept repeatedly cutting its heads of while playfully dodging its strikes. When I had arrived I had managed to count 27 in total. Which rather than make it more dangerous actually served to make it weaker as its small body was unable to compensate for the excessive number of heads and it had pitched forward so it was face first in the dirt with its heads splayed around it and its hind legs in the air waving frantically.

Eventually even Tania and Phoebe had to agree it was almost cruel to watch like a cat with a trapped bird slowly torturing and Nemea after a bribe put it out of its misery in a sense, she burned it to death.

Despite my revulsion at watching the poor monster burn I was actually bitter about her doing it. I almost wanted to fight something just to relieve some stress, Artemis conduit was me much to my misfortune whereas all I got was a combat mannequin which provides about as much challenge a brushing your teeth when you can literally slice one apart by walking past it with your wings at an angle. I guess though I had lost a lot of my demigod disadvantages such as dyslexia I still had ADHD and my brain wanted something to do.

Thankfully one day my brother decided to visit.

(Artemis)

'Perseus when I find you I am going to kill you, wait for you to reform and kill you again.' I muttered angrily as I stomped away from his empty tent. The idiot had skipped out on Archery practice again for the third time in three weeks.

'Iris show me Percy.' I demanded bitterly.

'Please be specific.' The minor goddess's voice suddenly in an almost robotic tone.

'The Titan one!' I shouted only for an image to appear in front of me that certainly wasn't my so called boyfriend.

Instead I was greeted by a image of a large man walking through a black and red landscape that I guessed was part of Tartarus. As he passed a small outcrop some smaller figures were cowering near, he lazily waved an arm and the entire area they had been in was suddenly replaced with fire and I watched it become instantly vaporized in the blaze.

'I said you Percy, not Perses you stupid airhead.'

'Credit account suspended due to violations of terms of use. No tolerance is taken for abuse towards the service provider.' The robotic toned goddess suddenly stated before the image disappeared leaving me staring at it angrier than before. Now I would have to force the stupid goddess to re-open it or worse actually pay.

'Stupid minor gods!' I exclaimed loudly.

'Excuse me?' A voice asked in a seemingly mock irritated tone causing me to turn towards it as I loosely recognized it. Turning I recognized the black haired minor god who in human form actually held a fair bit of resemblance to Percy.

'Err not you Triton sorry I guess, though that brings me on to the point of why you are here in the first place?' I asked curiously momentarily distracted by my boyfriends much older brother's sudden appearance.

'I was hoping to ask Perseus a favor my dear Lady of the Tides.' He answered with a small grin. Causing me to narrow my eyes about how he was so freely saying that aloud. 'So have you seen the Lord? You cannot really miss him you know gold wings and all.'

'No your idiot brother is currently hiding from me.'

'And here was Dad telling me you two were getting so friendly.'

'Apparently idiocy runs in the family, so I would advise you to shut up about it.'

'Of course my Lady as you request.' He said with a mock bow before suddenly turning to the left where a figure with a flaming golden spear suddenly appeared through the undergrowth weapon at the ready.

'Artemis there is someone her…. Triton what are you doing here?' Percy asked shifting from serious to confused instantly as he caused the spear to collapse in upon itself and he stuck it back in his coat which he had taken to wearing again.

'Looking for you, apparently he wants some last words before I kill your sorry ass.'

'Would it help if I said sorry?' He asked with a nervous grin. My reply was simple as I summoned a knife to hand.

'I am sorry I lost track of time and missed practice.'

'With respect brother you are digging yourself deeper into a hole. I believe you are the one person who cannot use that excuse ever. So what is this lovers spat about?'

'The fact I am going to have to tell my uncle that both of the Princes of the sea have gone to Tartarus.' I threatened causing the pair to move closer together nervously.

(Percy)

'Please stop making this worse.' I whispered to Triton not taking my eyes of the angry goddess.

'I would if it wasn't so hilarious.' He chuckled.

'Easy for you, you don't live with her.'

'The fact you are male and still alive proves she prefer to torture rather than kill. Though she does look kind of hot when she is angry. Don't you think?'

I was struggling with what to say in reply as I still didn't know exactly what Triton knew about our relationship status when Artemis did instead.

'What are you two idiots whispering about?' She demanded before taking a step towards us causing me to cringe.

'My Lady is did not mean to offend I merely came here requiring Perseus's and possibly your own assistance in a personal matter.' Triton explained politely raising his hands in the air as if surrendering.

'Well hurry up then, I don't have all day.' Artemis commanded before off handedly throwing the dagger away, though it dissolved before it hit the ground and instead folded her arms across her chest.

'A few years back I was in a relationship with a mortal and as these things go it resulted in a child, a girl to be specific. Of course as a child of a 'minor' god she would have had no real place at Camp Half-Blood and would have been placed in the Hermes cabin and the girl's mother would not allow her to be taken beneath the sea. So I was forced to leave her in her care until she was old enough to make her own decision on the matter.' Triton explained.

'Why do I sense there I a but coming in this story?' I muttered softly.

'Unfortunately her mother died in a solo cross-ocean sailing race last year, she managed to enter the Sea of Monsters.' Triton carried on more somberly.

'So what you want me to take in the girl?' Artemis asked in a calm tone.

'Yes and No. I need someone to go and retrieve her from her uncle who currently has custody of her. I would go myself but I fear the ancient laws would forbid me from getting involved if it came down to it.' He explained and I noticed there was more than he was letting on by the way his fist was clenched so tight a small amount of Ichor could be seen between his fingers.

'But why come to us we are bound just as much as you are.' Artemis asked curiously. By the looks of things she had calmed down… for the moment.

'Indeed my lady you are but Percy can circumvent that cant you brother.'

'If I am careful yes, why. What exactly is going on Triton?'

'That thing, her uncle knows that she is not human or at least not completely. I will say the last time he tried to get rid of her, he picked the one way he fortunately could not dispose of her.' Triton explained through clenched teeth.

'He tried to drown her correct?' Artemis asked.

Triton merely nodded.

'Then simply put he is an enemy of the hunt and needs to be destroyed. But what of the girl she is indeed eligible to join the hunt but would you like her to go with you?'

'The decision is hers and hers alone, I would never force it upon her.'

'Very well then brother I will get her, where is she?'

'Miami, here this is the exact address. If something should happen to someone while you were happening do not think he will be missed.' Triton explained before handing me a piece of paper with an address scribbled on it.

'I don't kill mortal's brother.' I told him firmly. Sure I had sent Gabe's soul to punishment and done a number on Octavian and had tried to kill Luke but I had never actually directly killed a mortal or demigod.

'And what exactly makes a monster? But nevertheless that is why I advise you take your girlfriend with you.' He explained changing tone mid sentence before dissolving into mist just as a arrow pierced where he had been standing.

'Just as she had finally calmed down, you had to ruin in it.' I cursed quietly turning towards the armed goddess.

'Today is your lucky day Percy; it seems someone else has taken your place on my shit list.'

'Thank the gods.' I let out with a sigh.

'Besides it has been a long time since I had to use these. Been a long time since I had to deal with a pure mortal.' Artemis explained before summoning a new quiver I didn't recognize on her hip. Unlike the rest of her ensemble it was contrasted by being gold in color.

'Did you steal Apollo arrows or something.' I asked nervously as I watched her draw an arrow with its head matching the quiver.

'No these are most certainly mine. It has been far too long since I used my true weapons.' She explained almost giddily as she placed the arrow to her bow and I watched fascinated as the bow began to shift in color also.

'Artemis…Artemis! What is going on with your weapons?' I asked frantically not sure what was happening although it was freaking me the hell out. Fortunately it seemed my shouting had snapped her out of daze.

'This is my true bow my true symbol of power so to speak. The ones my father gave me when I founded the hunt all those millennia ago. Originally I was associated with gold until I changed it because of someone else.'

'Apollo.' That was not rocket science. She merely nodded.

'Did you ever hear the myth of me destroying a whole town of evil folk with a single arrow? That was this weapon not that imitation I usually carry. Were you not ever curious as to why for a symbol of power my bow seemed rather as the humans put it lame. Apollo's by contrast fires bolts of light and all mine did was pointy sticks. No this is far greater than that.' She said far too excitedly for my liking as if drunk on a power high.

'Artemis you are seriously freaking me out calm down please.' I said practically begging taking a step towards her. As I got closer I noticed that the golden glow that was covering her body from the unleashed bow wasn't just a glow. Her very appearance was shifting in true color as her outfit and even her right eye had begin to turn gold.

'Diana now would be a very good time to get here!' I cried out as a blast of energy from the goddess threatened to knock me of my feet.

(Diana)

Great now I am hearing Seaweed Brain in my head now. I thought to myself as I casually strolled through a redwood forest in California, Percy was not the only one who had to hide from my counterparts mood swings.

Though there was something about the tone of panic in his voice that suggested there was something bad happening. There was very little I could think of that could actually make him sound terrified.

So with a small amount of concern and even curiosity I flashed back to my counterpart guessing correctly he was none too far away. Though he seemed to be fine it was what he was staring at that was the problem.

Why the hades was this happening and why now of all times. We had it under control; we swore to never use it again.

'What the hell have you done?' I screamed at myself.

(Percy)

Well the good news was Diana was here, the bad news was guessing by her reaction this was very bad.

'Diana what is happening?' I asked frantically running to her side.

'The bow is possessing her.' She explained simply and I noticed a tear running down her face causing her eye to mirror her counterparts in color as if she was in pain.

'What? How is that even possible?' I demanded.

'There's no time you have to break it or get it away from her at the least. I will do what I can to stop her.' She said hurriedly.

'Stop her doing what exa….. Oh Shi..' I summarized noticing the drawn weapon now pointed at me.

'Percy Move!' Diana pleaded before flashing silver and disappearing. If I had been looking I am sure I would have noticed the Greek goddess glow similarly but I was more distracted by the arrow she shot at the same time.

Though calling it an arrow was like comparing a dinghy to an aircraft carrier in terms of firepower.

Fortunately it seemed Diana's intervention managed to cause the arrow to miss just however that only caused me to watch in horror at the damage the arrow did to the terrain to my left. A 50m long trench had been carved into the field and it was as if it had all been vaporized.

However I was forced to break my attention away from it as I knew the second shot would not be far behind. I knew exactly how fast she could shoot and I didn't figure that shooting super-powered arrows would diminish it.

Sure enough as I flicked a glance towards her she was already stringing another shaft, which I suppose was some small consolidation at least she had to physically draw each arrow from the quiver. As she released it I jumped upwards while willing my wings to appear and in doing so managed to avoid the arrow that would have struck me in the throat would I have stayed still.

Now normally I would have gone straight on the attack and closed the distance as I was certain at close range I was stronger but there was one slight problem. Who she was. Pregnancy aside I still loved her and I didn't want to possibly hurt her but she was not exactly leaving me a lot of options as I flipped over a third shaft. The only clue I had to help her was to get rid of the bow but that was far easier said than done when it had more power than an artillery shell.

How could this get any worse?

(Thalia)

'Have either of you seen Lady Artemis?' I asked Tania and Phoebe who were locked hand in hand, arm wrestling on a tree stump.

'No idea.' Phoebe replied nonchalantly turning towards me and shrugging her shoulders nevertheless not yielding an inch to the daughter of Ares who tried to use the opportunity to gain ground.

'Tania?'

'Probably of hunting are ever illusive guardian, weren't they supposed to have training together to get over his awful skill with a bow.' She said before getting crushed against the tree stump.

'Oops I win again.' Phoebe said proudly.

'I was distracted. This is Percy's fault.' Tania complained.

'You cannot blame him for everything that you suck at. Though Thalia she has a point. She did seem to be in a bad mood earlier searching for someone or something.'

'I don't get it when it comes to those two. Sometimes she acts like a schoolgirl around him showering him in praises and encouraging us to do the same. The next she wants his head mounted over her tent. I know which I would prefer.' Tania ended hopefully.

'That's why no does what you like.'

'Hey I am entitled to my opinion, it is my constitutional right.' Tania proclaimed mock proudly.

'As someone older than that Constitution and this country, I am encouraging you to shut up.' Phoebe said warningly looking at my clenched left fist.

Sure she had a point there did seem to be a Love/Hate relationship between the two immortals for lack of a better word. Well it was mostly one sided on the hate side as it was entirely dependent on Artemis's current mood which over the last few weeks had become increasingly erratic. Nevertheless Seaweed Brain was still my friend and only I was allowed to hurt him. I was about to remind Tania about what happened last time she had an opinion when it came to him when seemingly an explosion occurred behind us causing us all to duck out of instinct.

'What the hell was that?' Tania shouted lifting herself of the ground.

'No idea everyone is in the camp even Whiskers the wonder cat is here.'

'That leaves Percy or Artemis or both. Phoebe get over to where it came from and survey it I will gather the rest of the hunt and follow behind.' I ordered to which she nodded before grabbing her bow and running off in the direction of a faint ribbon of smoke.

'Well don't just stand there get moving.' I shouted at Tania.'

(Reyna)

As I followed Thalia and the other hunters spear in hand towards whatever commotion had occurred. I couldn't help but be curious as to the cause, if the following two blasts had told us that this was not an isolated incident it only made me wonder what was causing them.

'Phoebe where are you?' Thalia whispered loudly. Before long a familiar silver outfit wearing hunter appeared out of the undergrowth. Though she looked absolutely terrified as if having seen a ghost.

'Phoebe what is the matter?'

'We need to get out of here now, it is not safe. He won't be able to last long against her.' The Daughter of Victory muttered barely loud enough for me to hear. Immediately followed by the sound of another blast, and the sound of toppling trees to our left.

'Phoebe get a hold of yourself. Who or what is causing this?' Thalia said more frantically gripping her bow.

'Lady Artemis.'

(Percy)

What the hell were they doing here, why couldn't they just stay in the camp like they were supposed to. I couldn't see them but I could sense them in the forest behind me. I was rather hoping that Phoebe who had been the first to arrive would get the others to go away but no such luck. I was forced to duck left as another arrow came my way.

Unfortunately the arrow brushed a wing tip and sheared a foot in length of the appendage clean of causing me to almost cry out in pain. Nevertheless it did not hinder my ability to fly that greatly so I ignored. However I needed to move the last thing I wanted was her to shift target onto her own hunters or for them to be collateral damage while she was attacking me.

'Lady Artemis!' I watched in horror as Thalia ran out of the trees directly towards the possessed goddess causing her head to turn towards the newcomer.

'Thalia get out here!' I shouted there was too far between us for me to do anything more and the goddess already had another shaft notched.

(Thalia)

'What do you mean Lady Artemis. What is she fighting she needs our help.' I shouted at Phoebe grabbing her shoulders.

'If anything it is who she is fighting that needs help.' She said simply before collapsing to the floor and began to cradle her legs in front of her and I realized she was absolutely terrified of what she had seen. The other girls for the most part seemed uncertain looking at the usual collected elder hunter.

'Thalia she is right if what she says is true, we are in just as much danger as her target. She will not differentiate between friend and foe. We need to get out of here now!' Atlanta warned. What was it that the older hunters knew that they had been hiding? What was going on with Lady Artemis?

'All of you get back to the camp.' I instructed and most seemed eager to get away from here.

'Thalia, what about you?' Reyna asked noticing the way I told everyone else to go.

'It is my responsibility as Lieutenant to help my lady or failing that to try and knock some sense into her.' I said trying to sound upbeat.

'Good luck Lieutenant.' Reyna said simply before giving me a Roman salute before turning and following the rest of the hunt.

Now it was up to me to find out what the hades was causing all this commotion. As I continued to make my way towards the edge of the forest and the epicenter of this madness I found myself fighting my own trepidations. Nevertheless this was my responsibility I was the Lieutenant.

When I eventually cleared the last tree I was forced to cover my eyes briefly as my eyes adjusted from the semi-darkness so I did not immediately notice the golden hunter in front of me.

Apart from the golden color she seemed to be exactly as we normally recognized Lady Artemis. Same face, same Auburn hair but style of clothes. But the similarities ended there where there should have been silver was now gold and where her face was normally serious for the most part here she seemed to have a maniacal grin on her face as she followed the flying figure through the sky while looking down the shaft of a notched arrow.

'Lady Artemis! What are you doing?' I shouted at her before asking more quietly. Though it seemed that it was enough to draw her attention as she turned towards the sound of my voice. The bad news was she then moved the bow so it was also now pointed at me.

'Thalia get out of here!' I heard my cousin shout but I found myself to shocked to move. What could cause the goddess I had sworn myself to turn into this terrifying figure. My last image as the goddess fired was of gold before everything went dark.

(Percy)

Time seemed to slow down when Artemis fired and it was not the work of me, I had already tried and failed to control time over her. Nevertheless as I watched Thalia ignore my warning and stand perfectly still I went into a steep dive on a direct course for Artemis herself. I had thought that perhaps I could cause her to shift point of aim.

There was another reason I focused on the goddess and not the hunter. I didn't want to watch Thalia die. Of all the ways she could be expected to die. Being murdered by her own out of control mistress was something that would haunt me forever if I watched it.

So as I watched the bow fire I briefly closed my eyes at what I knew had happened. At least her death had brought me an opportunity to end this madness as though Artemis turned her attention back to me it was too late for her to nock another arrow before I collided with her and we both went sprawling in a tangle of limbs. I had the sense to dispel my wings before collision as to avoid breaking them again or worse cutting both of us into bloody ribbons.

Nevertheless both of us were soon on our feet as we faced each other. The good news was she had managed to lose her quiver in the flurry the bad news was apparently that didn't stop her summoning normal arrows judging by the simple shaft that now rested on the drawn bow.

'Artemis please you need to stop this madness before anyone else gets hurt.' I pleaded not willing to turn to where Thalia had been.

Artemis reply was simply to release at almost point blank range that I was barely able to block with my still partially opened shield that was still expanding when it struck. Were it not for the shields own innate ability to magnify force on my side of the shield I was sure the force of the arrow would have sent me sprawling backwards.

'Please Artemis I don't want to hurt you.' I called briefly flashing my head around the black metal shield only to see yet another arrow ready to fire.

'Shut up and fight us.' Wait what? What did she mean by us Artemis and Diana? But the strange thing was there was almost a masculine tone to her voice as if it wasn't hers or at least not entirely.

'Who the hell are you?' I shouted at her.

'Just those who were unrightfully killed by your precious goddess, now we are going to destroy everything she cares about, now die lover boy.' Unrightfully killed my ass these things sounded bat-shit insane.

Nevertheless they still had possession of one extremely powerful pregnant goddess and they were not afraid to use it as I suddenly found myself being peppered with arrows as she released one after another. Fortunately these were normal arrows and as such I could manipulate them allowing me to either dodge of simply shatter them with my shield. Rather than allow myself to be pushed back I began to make my way forward closing the distance.

'You still continue to refuse to fight us, then you shall be destroyed just like the other.' 'she' said laughing.

'That's it I have had enough of you tormenting my girlfriend only I can do that.' I spat out as the image of Thalias face flashed before my eyes as I used my free hand to uncap Riptide there was no only a few feet between us and I suddenly lunged forward with the blade only to receive a arrow in the shoulder of my shield arm. I merely dropped the shield and ignored the pain as I swung the ancient blade at her.

I would apologize for this afterwards but she needed to be stopped no matter what the cost.

Artemis parried the blow with a limb of the bow before using the other end to smack me in the shins causing me to stumble slightly before barely managing to parry another hit to my wounded arm. Unfortunately the awkward angle of the strike caused Riptide to be wrenched out of my hand. Before I could react I found yet another arrow notched and aimed at my face the point barely off my forehead.

'Have fun in Tartarus again.' It said happily and I prepared for the inevitable.

'Lady Artemis Stop!' A girls voice shouted from behind me causing the goddess's eyes to flick upwards. It wasn't possible but I was not wasting this opportunity. As I suddenly leapt forward and tackled the goddess to the floor while barely managing to stay on my feet. I just hoped this worked as I conjured and swung my cursed blade downwards never taking my eyes of her golden ones.

Fortunately as the blade swung towards her chest she swept the bow out to meet it and it managed to deflect the strike though I watched in sick fascination as Maelstrom began to cut through the cursed golden bow. The weapon cracking as the force of its own string was to much for the weakened limb to hold as it split in upon itself.

However I was not prepared for the sudden shockwave that emanated from the broken weapon which chorused with the scream that came from its wielder. I found myself being blown backwards before my vision went dark as I struck something solid.

AN. Did You Miss Me. Sorry about this being so long in the works. the problem as you may have noticed is I have actually skipped a chapter out. the chapter I lost way back when was mostly filler anyway but the problem was as I was re-writing it I had no motivation to want to do it and it was killing my interest in the story as a whole. so I decided to skip it for the moment and infill it when I can be bothered.

This way I can write again and stay interested, you get chapters and everyone stays happy except the hunters who don't get there day in the limelight yet.

As for this chapter well it was not entirely planned, well the triton bit was the rest kind of enveloped the chapter that I split them up. so that will be next chapter after dealing with the backlash of this incident. as for that. it has always intrigued me that in the Myths Artemis is indeed given a golden bow and arrows and yet in PJO she has silver just like her hunters. in most fan fiction people just ignore that fact because Rick changed it and I consider it a pretty major point. for a symbol of power her bow isn't that great. hell even Hermes has laser mode most people try and compensate by giving her a ridiculous rate of fire but against a major threat ie. Typhon what are a billion arrows going to do. quantity over quality is not the way to go. so essentially I decided to have it as the golden bow is her true weapon but that she rarely uses it because bad stuff happens and she loses control. the problem is that those of evil heart that are slain by the weapon get absorbed into the weapon which combined with her current very bad moods resulted in her getting possessed by it.

So any thoughts or opinions leave them in the review section though I need a name for a daughter of Triton if anyone has a suggestions.