"Goddess of the Hunt! Accept my punishment of the Athenians as tribute to you, and I shall make you the greatest beast for you to hunt!"

"Come on, Arty, think about it. It will be a great tale for the ages. A monster in a cage only you managed to venture into and slay. A beast of mortal hands, that only a god can slay. What legends would that make! And how more glory shall you attain, for nothing upon or within the earth would be able to stay hidden from you."

Artemis had been young back then. Believing more fervently that gods could do as they please. Saving whom they wished, and leaving aside those whom they willed. Salvation should be at their whim, not the wishes of mortals.

She hadn't agreed right away. She even found Minos distasteful, ready to just put an arrow in him, and then sweet-talk her father calming any eventual wrath.

Yet...

Apollo's words were enticing then to her younger self. To become more and more of a Unparalleled Hunter, one that none can escape. A peer to even Thanatos.

Minos would have been risen to a god for such a feat. Have a place on Olympus after death. "Monster Maker", he would have been called.

Then Athena shattered all those plans by sending and aiding Theseus.

It blind sided a lot of the gods. Athena's animosity with Poseidon was well known since the days the city of Athens was named after her. Yet she help one of his sons, not only destroying a greater ascension Artemis could have gains, a drama Apollo would have loved, and Minos relegated down as a judge in the Underworld, never to know the pleasures Olympus or Elysium. Subjected to nothing but endless mundanity.

Minos couldn't exactly rage against Athena. His daughter Ariadne was beyond his reach, achieving what he longed for. Theseus he couldn't punish too harshly even if he wished to do so. The hero wasn't allowed in Elysium due to his later actions in life. Thus the Minotaur slayer got to take reincarnation.

So that left only Daedalus for Minos to direct his wrath to. The son of Athena had been gone for thousands of years now with no hide nor hair about him. Only speculations.

Looking at the back of the leaving Minotaur... Asterios; Artemis is reminded of what she told Apollo then.

"To act against our Names... surely the Fates would be wroth and curse us."

"Of course not. We are gods! Only if we offend them would we be would we suffer humiliation. And punish us for what?"

"You jest. Forty three children, neglectfully allowed to suffer? Of course that would offend them... right?"

"Are you counting cursed child-born-beast? You are far too kind-hearted, Artemis. It's destined to be a monster, nothing more. If Uncle Poseidon was never admonished, then why would we? For mortals? Those who fill up our pale uncle's kingdom as sand fills the shore, or water filled the rain? A few times is hardly worth their notice. And a few times is all it will take for you to rise ever higher, dearest sister. Imagine it, no one, no mortal, monster, spirit nor god would be able to hide from you. Why, you'd be an even greater avenger of wronged children. And wouldn't that be worth a few well meant sacrifices? You'd be even greater just from the preparations alone. All that faith, all that blood, only yours."

Only mine, huh. Artemis grinded her teeth as she looked away from Asterios.

It had been so long ago. After almost three thousand years, surely the Fates would have forgotten. Or even never cared in the first place.

The loss at a chance of more power and Titles was the punishment for her hubris. For her lapse in judgement and listening to Apollo, wasn't it?

So why here? Why now?

Those eyes. Those damn eyes.

Artemis couldn't get the look on Asterios' face out of her head.

"Why was I forced to become a monster?"

Because right then, at that moment... It wasn't a monster looking at her. Those tears shed. Paidotrophos couldn't not resonate, telling her that this was a child calling out to her, demanding resolution. A three thousand years old lament finally voiced.

And right after that moment, the child was gone forever and there was only the monster and man left behind, condemning her on that child's behalf.

This is wrong. Artemis felt herself grow angrier. This is unfair! Have I not paid my dues for past three millennia I lived up to those Titles? So what if I didn't put as much effort into saving boys? I still saved those I found. Yes, almost all my shelters were for girls and women, but it's not like there is nothing for boys. Those lost and found are easily fast-tracked into the Child Protection Services so they can be placed in a family. Is that not enough!? But, no. It's always a demand for more, more, MORE!

Artemis didn't really hate men. She just liked to keep her distance from them. They can be a distraction. Their presence could be a harm for her hunters that were hurt by men. So it's better for the sake of her sisters of the hunt, that male interactions were kept at a minimum. This one just proves that initial assessment was right. Men will always be entitled, always demand more, and never satisfied with the help she offered.

And now her punishment was left in the hands of the Fates.

Watching the retreating back of Asterios, she thought of running after him. Demanding he simple choose a punishment now and get it over with.

But no. Artemis will not beg. She will not ask for his mercy. Her pride won't allow it.

At the end of the way she was a god, and he was a monster. Would the Fates really side with him?

"WAIT!" Zoë Nightshade ran after Asterios, blocking his way. "Please, Asterios! Please have mercy and give my lady a merciful punishment. As long as it doesn't encroach on her oath as chastity, then choose something, please."

"Zoë, stop! Do not beg the monster for mercy. His kind has none." Artemis called out, but didn't put much energy into it. She just felt so tired now.

"No! I'm sorry my lady, but no. The Fates are merciless, they would take this chance to bring unspeakable affliction upon you, and I won't stand by and do nothing." Zoë cried out and focused back on Asterios. "Please, I beg you. Whatever you wish to inflict upon Lady Artemis, I would be willing to take it, if only my lady is to be spared—"

""NO!"" Artemis found herself surprised to have shouted at the same time as Asterios.

"Zoë, have you lost your mind?! Are you trying to break your oath? No! I forbid you from offering yourself in my stead or anything of the sort!" Artemis cried out.

"You just saw me being pissed off because innocents were caught in the crossfire, of Artemis and Apollo's godly shitshow! Why the fuck would you think I would want that?" Asterios said with disgust.

"Because Lady Artemis is important! You say that it would be better if she wasn't a protector of children, but do you know how many I've seen her save in all the millennia since I've entered her service. How many shelters and homes were made for the sake of abandoned children, and how many she still upholds for the sake of that duty? Do you know how many monsters we have put down and in turn, helped numerous demigods, by lessening the dangers they might face in their lives and travels?" Her kind, brave-hearted and resolute Zoë argued for her. Artemis saw Asterios just stare down at her Huntress in annoyance. The look of someone that made up their mind and just wanted to leave, believing the issue has already been decided. "I understand that your rage is too focused on her, but please find mercy in your new heart and mind to be kind to her now.

"If you wish to be more than a monster, then please do it now. How many of those Lady Artemis looks after and care for would be harmed in the path of the Fates' punishment. How many would be caught up in it? Will you say then it was out of your hands? That all her charitable, good work since your time was meaningless? That all the girls she saved from abuse and suffering at the hands of men, taking them into the Hunt, making them strong enough to brave the world, that the salvation she gave me and my sister, was worthless?!" She shouted, now glaring at the apathetic Asterios, as she reached the end of her plea, her posture filled with determination rather than desperation.

"...Zoe, if you hadn't noticed I'm not exactly in the best mindset to be rational right now. She asked why I condemn her specifically and I gave her an answer. I'm not here to argue semantics and life value of comparing those whom suffered due to my existence, against everyone else she helped." Asterios said back.

Artemis was... actually surprised that he acknowledge he wasn't rational in his anger. Many wouldn't be too prideful to do so. Or maybe he hadn't lived long enough with his sapient mind to develop such social behavior.

"As for the Fates being excessive..." Asterios actually crossed his arms, eyes closed and his posture changed from someone in a hurry to leave, to someone being contemplative. "You're right. I don't like the whole 'other people close to the guilty party getting cursed, smote or worse to punish the guilty party' crap." He sighed.

"You mean...!" Zoë asked with hope.

"I can't command or direct the Fates. Even at my most arrogant, I'd never be stupid enough to think I could do that." Asterios held his chin. "However, if the Fates are willing to listen to my suggestions as the offended party, and only with their permission, these are the conditions I can offer." He waited for a moment, and... nothing seemed to happen. So Asterios one by one listed what he wished Artemis' punishment should entail. "The punishment should not fall upon the Hunters, Artemis' friends, family acquaintances, associates, or anyone who interacts with her directly or indirectly. The punishment should not be something like 'forced love', 'forced sadness' or any 'forced emotion' or forced thing. It's a shitty thing to happen to a person, and all actions taken aren't really them, or by their own will, so what's the point.

"Finally, the punishment should be something meant for Artemis and Artemis alone. Something only she has to deal with, and only she can handle and solve, or simply suffer due to fighting it. There. It would be on her and her alone. I think that's more than 'fair' and 'just'." He spat the last two words out, and walked forward.

There was a feeling of... a sense of energy in the air, once Asterios finished speaking. A sense of amusement and approval.

Artemis was alarmed that it was the Fates actually listening to him. An idle thought was in her mind, that it didn't fully feel like the Fates completely. Like it was something older.

The thought easily was swept aside by the relief she felt.

"T-Thank you." Zoë said, bowing her head to the monster, making Artemis scowled at this... this disgusting helplessness.

She should just show this monster, to whom he is daring to past judgement upon...! No. No matter her raging emotions, she mustn't make the situation worst. She was smarter than this.

"Also Zoe..." Asterios paused as he was next to Zoë. "Out of curiosity, in the Hunt, how are there many who were there for over a decade, and joined because they ran away, or were rescue from an abusive situation?"

"Of course!" Zoe said with pride. "My lady has saved hundreds, thoughts of girls and women from terrible lives, and even those who didn't wish to join the hunt, were aided in anyway we could." She began talking about all the aid and empowerment Artemis had grant women and girls that needed her.

A natural thing for the Goddess of Maidens.

"Hmm," Asterios waited patiently till Zoë was done. "How many of them still have nightmares?"

"!" Zoë felt speechless, and so was Artemis because... because a lot of them were. But that's normal. Eventually there would be nothing for them to fear, so it was fine. "W-why does that matter?"

"The Hunt has been around for thousands of years. Obviously in that time, you would have learn many skills related to hunting, fighting and living in the wilderness. Techniques and skills would have been perfected over the ages, that the newest batch of Hunters would obviously get the best of the best in training, right?"

"Of course!"

"Then shouldn't you have also developed methods to help them overcome their traumas? You should be the literal experts in that in the world. Yet you say those who have been around for a decade still have nightmare, still hate anything males."

"We are sworn away from men. Many have come from homes or circumstances, where they enduring suffering from men, that you wouldn't believe—!"

"That I'm not dismissing. However hate only comes from two sources. Anger or fear. Anger comes from injustice. An unbalance in the karmatic scales, a wrong done, that one wishes to right. That's normal. That's rational even in wanting your pound of flesh. Those girls and women I'd even champion that they should get their revenge to find closure, or finally feel safe." The bull said, and Artemis felt herself swell with pride, as she had helped her sisters get that justice many times before. Yet having experienced Asterios' words many times, Artemis dreaded the other part of the argument, the rebuttal he was setting up. Zoë seemed to feel the same. "Fear however is irrational. The Hunters are stronger and faster than any mortal man could hope to be. Most demigods would struggle to match them, when they are starting out, let alone the experience they will gain in a few years. Ten, a hundred, a thousand? They should be nearly invulnerable."

"What... are you getting at?"

"If they are so much stronger than men, let alone boys, why the hell would they ever hate them, be wary of them, or dislike them? Why the hell would you hate something that poses no threat to you? The only logical answer is... they still fear men. Even with all their strength and experience, they still fear the thing they should have already overcome. Your mistress may have made you all strong of body, but you are all very weak of spirit. Otherwise, why would you ever distance yourself from men, or even hate them? After all these years, why should even a single Huntress have nightmares? All those fears should have been overcome a long time ago. You should have had a fucking encyclopedic knowledge on how to heal any psychological trauma a long time ago. That those shortcomings exist at all is a testament to the results of a girl joining the Hunt. She would be made strong, and made terrified of half the world she is meant to live in and protect."

Once more, the damn Minotaur's words seemed to pierce through the hearts of both Goddess and Huntress.

Annabeth seem particularly to be in intense deep thought.

Asterios walked away from the silent area.

Thalia and Percy followed after Asterios, but Artemis didn't pay them much mind, as she went and sat alone against a boulder, thinking and dreading on what her future will bring.

Annabeth looked like she wanted to follow her friends, but wisely went to her goddess's side.

Grover and the Ophiotauros were quiet in the background. Watching all these events unfold with a nervousness ones who didn't understand, or want to witness this crumbling situation, but didn't know how to fix or help the situation, thus forced to be silent, as that was the best they could do. Be small when gods and monsters argue, and how things turn out okay, after it all blows over.

Pasiphaë seems to have disappeared somewhere. Artemis could feel she was around, but didn't want to interact with anyone.

Good. The Goddess of the Hunt didn't want to interact with the bull fucker either right now.

With nothing else to do, Artemis' mind went to the conditions Asterios set out for her punishment. Analyzing every word, hoping to anticipate what her future torment might be, and how to mitigate it.

"Why was I forced to become a monster?"

Artemis closed her eyes and sighed.

Those tears spilling eyes, vividly flashed in her mind again. The Goddess of the Hunt hoped to forget them soon.

The good she's done over the millennia has outweighed the bad. That should be enough.

It is enough.

Right.

AN: Posting to not lose motivation. Hmm... One more chapter. I think. Yeah. Getting real close now. Kampe, talk with Percy & Thalia group regroups and heads to Atlas.

...Yeah that can all... take place in one chapter. Totally.

*Sigh* I really don't like blueballing you guys I swear. It's just that my fucking perfectionism keeps poking itself in, due to wanting to get all the important details out. This chapter honestly was suppose to be like one small third of this whole section, but it just kept going.

I'll try to keep things concise for the next chapter so it is all done by then, so the Atlas fight could just start. Fuck, I didn't even plan for the Atlas fight to be more than three chapters, but I unintentionally built up too much hype for it. Dammit!