All rights belong to Rick Riordan

Chapter 64

Never give Presents

(Percy)

'Seaweed Brain wake up….Percy….Get up idiot!' Clearly someone wanted me to wake up but due to the pain across half my body I was more than happy to stay where I was. Regardless I slowly opened my eyes to find myself looking at my spiky haired cousin which was a shock in itself.

'Did I die as well?' I croaked out.

'No one has died you dolt though if someone does not explain to me what just happened someone will.' She proclaimed and I got the hint that she was referring to me.

'What about Artemis?' I asked frantically remembering the cause of all the commotion.

'Over there I haven't gone to check on her yet, I considered it wiser to check on the person who didn't just try to kill me.' She explained and I struggled to lift myself up enough that I could just see the goddess's prone body. Before the arrow still in my shoulder caused me to collapse back to the ground heavily. That was a point I was still missing part of a wing to boot.

'Thalia I need you help me up.' I asked pleadingly.

'Judging by the state of you that is exactly the opposite of what you need to do.'

'She needs help; we need to make sure that thing did nothing to her, so help me up!' I demanded.

'What exactly are you gonna be able to do even if I do, I am not going near unless I have half the Olympian Council confirm she is back to normal.'

'That was her normal technically, the true huntress. Well the power was at least, the possessed part not so much. I need to make sure they are both ok, now please Thals help me up.' I explained before pleading again.

'What do you mean both?'

'Artemis and Diana they are both currently stuck in one body.' I explained after a moment's pause. I was actually referring to Artemis as a whole and our child.

'Aren't they always, gods it would be weird for there to be two goddesses here at the same time.'

'You have no idea.' I muttered to myself.

'Just stay here while I get help.'

'No! No one finds out about this. So for the last time, HELP ME UP!' I demanded sternly.

'Fine but if she wakes and vaporizes us both I am so haunting you when you reform.' Thalia added sarcastically never the less she offered a hand which I grabbed with my own uninjured arm.

'I would expect nothing less, so how did you survive. I thought you were dead for sure.' I asked finally getting back onto my feet cringing as the movement caused my shoulder to spike in pain.

'So did I all I saw was a flash of gold before I suddenly found myself beneath a very soft yet heavy meat shield.' Thalia stated turning towards where I had last seen her previously only to lay eyes on Nemea who was curled up in the centre of the crater where I guessed the arrow had exploded upon impact with her fur. We seriously owed her a major treat after this was through.

'You got lucky, you should have stayed away.'

'And if I had what would have happened, you would have got your ass kicked, hades she almost killed you. If she had I can only imagine the fallout that would have occurred between the gods and your lot.'

'Not as bad as could be, there could be worse things to happen between us.'

'I don't see how short of you telling my dad to go do one. Maybe try dating Athena that would surely cause him to blow a gasket.' Thalia chuckled she had a point even if she picked the wrong daughter, though I realized she was stalling.

'Thalia thank you I mean it but you would be better served going back to the others. I will deal with Artemis just in case something is still wrong with her.'

'You can barely walk and I can see you grimacing every time I turn away.'

'I can fix this though she will probably kill me for doing this; close your eyes a second.'

'I wouldn't worry she apparently wanted to kill everyone anyway.' She added sarcastically nevertheless she closed her eyes and turned away. I was not sure if mortals seeing me change my form was safe, sure it was not exactly my divine form (which I had never used) but it was not worth the risk.

Regardless as soon as she did I struggled to focus on manipulating time once again on myself. The thing was now I knew how the whole thing worked I was able to avoid the mistakes I made the first time. Namely I placed it after the period where I awoke from the coma, limiting myself to a few hours of partial immortality. Hopefully in that time I could sort out this disaster and if I was lucky deal with my brothers request. I didn't want to do this to often the last thing I needed was to provoke Styx into doing something rash. She seemed to have calmed down recently if Pallas's absence was anything to go by.

I closed my eyes as I felt the changes take place as the familiar weight of my wings returned thankfully all of them seemed intact again, the pain in my shoulder disappeared and after a few more seconds I cut the power before opening my eyes and finding myself having to look down at the hunter in front of me.

'You can open your eyes Thalia.'

'Good I was getting bored, well as bored as getting over a near death experience can get.'

'I need you to stay calm, I know what happened freaked you out but this is not Artemis's fault. If you can't do that, go back to the others.' I told her firmly whilst flexing my shoulders making sure the wound was definitely not back.

'I am still here aren't I seaweed brain. Although after this is over I will certainly being asking a few questions.

'Fair enough I have to agree with you there, stay behind me then just in case.' I told her before walking towards the still prone goddess, Thalia following behind though I noted she was holding her mace canister in hand as if ready to draw her spear.

When we were within a few meters I spied Maelstrom embedded at an angle in the soil from where it had been blown out of my hand. However I left it where it lay I had enough weapons on me though I was hoping I would not need any of them nor did I want to use any of them.

Finally as I stood over the unconscious goddess I could see her appearance had generally returned to normal, her hunter's attire was once again silver and I was hoping her eyes had also gone back. Gold just didn't suit her. Of her bow nothing remained other than a cone shaped scorch mark on the ground, which projected in the direction of where I had been standing when it was destroyed. Accounting for me being launched away at its destruction.

Slowly I took a knee beside her before nervously lifting her head a little.

'Artemis are you Ok?...Artemis.' I repeated after getting no reply.

'Percy why not just call Apollo?'

'NO!' I snapped of a little too strongly as I turned towards her. That was the last thing I wanted to happen. If he came and checked her over he just might do a too thorough job and something else would be revealed. Thalia however noted the aggression with no more than a raised eyebrow.

However it seemed that my raised voice did some good as the goddess stirred a little beneath me.

'Artemis wake up.'

'Shut up kelp head and let me sleep.' The goddess mumbled which was good because it meant she was conscious barely and bad because just in case she revealed something important. I was beginning to regret bringing Thalia along.

'No we need to talk now.' I insisted.

'Killjoy.' She said with a forced smile before slowly opening her eyes and sure enough they were back to normal. There was something about her voice though that was off though and it took me a second to place it. This wasn't Artemis it was Diana I had just assumed she had remained the same after the fight.

'How are you doing? What the hell happened back there?'

'Like someone hijacked my body screwed with my head and tried to make me kill those close to me. How do you think I feel. Oh and to make matters worse my symbol of power flawed as it was, is currently blown to pieces.' Diana commented sarcastically though I could tell she was still in a state of shock.

'Sarcasm doesn't suit you Milady, How is the other you doing?'

'Fairing worse than me as she was the one attacked by those things directly…We should be fine it is not the first time this has happened. Though it will probably be the last.' She slowly explained before turning her hand upwards and unclenching it revealing the handgrip of the bow, either end where the limbs had been looked to have shattered off.

'It was the only way. Besides it could be worse at least we are all still alive.'

'Where is Thalia?'She asked anxiously not able to see the demigod behind my wings until I folded them out of the way.

'Thalia I am sorry…' Diana began only to be cut short by Thalia who raised a hand cutting her off.

'With respect Milady now is not the right time for us to talk.' She said briefly glancing at me then back again worryingly.

'Fine come to my tent after dinner and we shall talk alone, I guess I owe you that.'

'Yes you do as your Lieutenant I should have known about the possibility of this happening. Clearly it is not the first time considering Phoebe caught a brief glance of you and came back terrified.'

'No it isn't and you should have been aware. However I will explain later.' Diana explained solemnly. Thalia bowed half-heartedly before walking off briskly while I slowly helped Diana to her feet where she remained uncertain.

'So what exactly was that all about just then?' I asked once Thalia disappeared back into the tree line.

'God your oblivious to girls thoughts aren't you. She suspects you have feelings for me.'

'That's not good.'

'Be that as it may there is nothing she can do about it; I do not believe she knows my feelings on the matter. All she can do is voice her concerns over your bodyguard crush on me. If I choose to do nothing about it then there is nothing more she can do.'

'I guess it is good you can't turn me into a jackelope any more.' I said jokingly.

'Don't tempt me to try though I suspect at present most of my powers are beyond me. The loss of my bow is going to be a major hindrance. Typical I regain most of my power again only to lose it again. Can the last 2 years possibly get any worse?'

'Hey! What about me?' I said pouting.

'No your fine everything else has been awful. First of all Gaia and her stupid Giants. Then murderous Augurs. Monster attacks. Renegade Titan attacks. Stupid love goddesses, Losing my bow because of stupid Eidolons.' Diana listed off though the last one hit home.

'Wait that thing was an Eidolon? Gods can get affected by those things too?' I still remembered the sensation of being able to see but not act as something used me like a marionette. I guess it explained the eye color shift as well as mine, Jason's and Leo's had done the same as well.

'Normally no they can't but the problem is those ones are partially bonded to me or at least were via the bow. Yes as in plural Eidolons, couple dozen I believe it was all we could do to make them struggle in fighting you. Fortunately they are not able to use my other powers so they were forced to rely solely upon the bow.'

'Wow and I thought dealing with 2 people in your head was bad enough. I guess you two are not separating anytime soon then. As for the bow does this mean Archery practice is cancelled?' I asked hopefully.

'No and that's from both of us.' She said firmly before beginning to take a few steps on her own as she turned to her left before stopping after a few meters and picking something up which I recognized unsettlingly.

'Are you sure that thing is safe.' I asked as she slung the quiver over her neck so that it rested at her hip before walking back to me.

'Yes. The problem was the bow, this was just the means of activating it but right now I need every little help I can get.'

'Don't worry we will get you a can of silver spray paint so it does not look out of place.' I joked trying to lighten the mood. Only for Diana to click her fingers and manipulate the mist into doing it instead.

'What looks out of place is seven foot tall winged idiot beside me. I thought I told you to stop doing that.'

'Well it was doing this and helping you or stay on the floor with the wounds you put on me. These wings take forever to heal when damaged. Though it feels weird because I guess I am 17 again. Wait does that make me a virgin?' I asked in mock horror.

'No although I can make you a eunuch if you would like.'

'Damn and here was me hoping I could pretend the child wasn't mine because DNA testing is out the window.'

'Oh no you are definitely getting the blame for some of this. Once she does eventually wake up and starts making my life hell, then you get to enjoy it too.'

'Oh joy why couldn't it have been you that got pregnant, at least you are more laid back than Artem-' I began before being cut off by a glare.

'Never mind.'

'Right back to the topic in hand. Please tell me you did not make the same mistake with that form as you did last time.' She asked before beginning to walk towards Nemea who was still where she had been.

'No I have about 2 hours until I switch back.'

'Good because we still need to do that thing for Triton.'

'You can't come in your condition.' I said sharply.

'First I may be weaker but that will not stop me kicking your ass if you tell me what I can and can't do and second unless you can fly there in less than 2 hours, you are going to need help getting there.'

'Fair point on the second but I am not telling you what to do. I am simply worried about you. As you said Artemis is still unconscious for god's sake, your symbol of power is shattered all over the field behind us apart from a small piece in your pocket. And on top of all that you are pregnant with my child. I think I have every right to be worried about your safety. Hell it is even my job here to watch out for yours and the hunters well-being so if you want to kick my ass for being worried about you do it because it will not change a damned thing, I will continue worrying and throwing myself into harm's way for you. Because that is the sort of guy I am, I let my guard down once and it cost the person closest to me her life. I will not do the same with you or our child.'

(Diana)

As Percy finished his speech I stood there silent as I comprehended his words. Annoyingly he was right despite his short-comings in a few areas he placed others well-being ahead of his own. It was one of the things that made him stick out from other heroes who merely craved power, attention or wealth. Sure he had those things or at least two of them but he did not take advantage of them unless to help others. Ever since getting pregnant me and by extension Artemis had slowly been shifting him into the Apollo category of men. The ones you had no choice to like because you were not getting rid of them anytime soon. When he was so much more than any other of his gender.

Besides he was rightt I was being reckless as per usual given recent events over the last few years I did not actually have a great track record in a fight against well… anyone. I had soundly lost to Atlas which I had justified by him being the second strongest Titan. I achieved nothing against Typhon. Percy was the one who killed Gration with very little help from me. I was helpless as the others against Gaia and to round it off I lost humiliatingly against Tethys. The only people I had beat were generally in a game or not trying hard (Percy) with the exception of an overweight lizard woman who was more interested in running away. And this was before the latest calamities had struck; now I had no bow, I was once again stuck in a single body and to confound matters more if I was mortal I would be visibly pregnant by now.

'Sorry.' I said quietly.

'Are you finally admitting that I am right for once?' Percy said changing from an angry expression to grinning like a Cheshire cat.

'Enjoy it while it lasts Seaweed Brain.'

'Oh don't worry I intend to.'

'I can still kill you for a few more hours.'

'Not if you can't catch me you can't.' He said cheerfully flapping his wings towards me causing dirt to be kicked up at me.

'I can still shoot you down with my bo…' Or not. Percy found my halted declaration hilarious evidently judging by the continued grin making him feel pretty proud of himself.

'Here take this.' He said reaching behind his head and lifting a thin black necklace over his head. I had never really noticed it because he still wore his camp half-blood necklace as well.

'Why would I want that?'

'I Perseus Titan of the Hunt allow Artemis to use this.' He proclaimed before grabbing my hand and depositing it into it before weirdly backing away a few steps as if setting a bomb.

Curiously I turned my attention from him to the contents of my hand and immediately knew why he had stepped away as I made out the letters on the small beads.

Archery Sucks

'Do you like it? I needed to come up with a name for it and I was certainly not carrying that thing everywhere as it was.'

'Perseus!' I shouted at him causing him to step back further.

'I take it you don't like it then. I can take it back if you don't want it. If you do I suggest undoing the clasp at the back' Gods he was so immature sometimes. Only he could take something as deadly as a symbol of power and make a joke out of it. Regardless I did as he instructed and as the ends of the necklace separated they began to elongate into limbs of a bow before a string snapped up between the pair bringing the weapon in taut.

'Here's the deal I let you use that until we get you a new, not evil bow and in return we forget about practice for a while.' He proposed hopefully.

'Maybe.' I said as I turned my head downwards to the weapon I held in hand before slowly drawing the string back and watching as a shaft formed the hand-grip and the string. I was looking at it curiously when Percy broke down into laughter causing me to let the bow go slack as I looked at my hysterical boyfriend.

'Now what the hades is wrong with you.' I demanded getting the feeling I was the source of his amusement much to my own annoyance.

'Look at the arrow and work it out. All we need to do now is get you a set of wings and we have the full set.' Regardless I did as he asked and looked at the shaft in my free hand and caught sight of the fletching and the point. Both of silver or more precisely Orthrytic Silver judging by the faint glow the metal exuded.

'What you are forgetting then dumbass is that if you were to get shot by this then only my good grace would allow you to get healed by another.' That shut him up as I waved the arrow in front of me. Before putting it in my quiver better save that one for a rainy day, just in case. I thought to myself.

'Here was me being nice and offering you a gift and instead you try to kill me with it.'

'Does that mean I can rename it Perseus sucks at Archery?' I asked with a raised eyebrow curious to his response.

'Well it wouldn't be wrong I suppose. Try one of your arrows on it but for god's sake don't break mine as well.' He pleaded.

'I believe it was you who broke mine actually.' I told him causing him to mutter 'semantics' while I drew a golden arrow from the now silver quiver and placed it on the bow before taking sight on a rock to Percy's right though I let it rest on him for a split second causing him to jump to his left.

'Hey.' He cried out indignantly while I ignored him and settled on my point of aim. Normally this shot I could have done without aiming but I had to get used to the weight of the bow and the size difference between it and my currently destroyed one with Percy's being larger and having more resistance on the string,

Eventually though I released the shaft and it shot straight and true hitting the boulder in the centre with the sound of a high-caliber gunshot before piercing straight and into the field beyond leaving a hole the size of a basketball where it had pierced.

'Well it is a bit weaker I guess but I still wouldn't want that anywhere near me.' Percy said noting the destruction caused by it. Sure it was a drastic reduction on what my own had been capable of unbound which would have destroyed the whole boulder but it was still far deadlier than an ordinary bow would have been even with the same arrow. I guess it was part of the latent power of the weapon affecting the arrow even if the bow wasn't mine.

'Look at the bright side it. This proves that the weapon has absolutely nothing to do with the fact you can't hit anything.'

He looked ready to respond when a Iris message appeared between us.

'Percy are you Ok? We heard another explosion.' I heard Thalia ask worried.

'What that it was nothing we were trying an experiment that's all. Which looks successful by the way.' He said pointing at the now pierced rock structure to his distant right while I walked around the message to stand beside him.

'Err. I am sorry Lady Artemis I guess I jumped to conclusions.' Thalia said apologizing.

'Don't worry about it, it is understandable all things considered.' I told her calmly.

'Wait isn't that your bow Percy?' She asked taking note of the weapon in my hand.

'Yeah Lady Artemis needed a temporary replacement and I was not using it for obvious reasons.'

'Coincidentally when we get back you have full permission to do whatever you see fit in return for what he called it.' I told her causing Percy's smile to fade quickly.

'Oh this could be fun but when are you coming back?'

'A few hours at most we have something to take care of so you are in command until then. And this time stay in the camp.'

'Yes Milady. Good that gives us time to plan something then.' She said with a cruel smile while Percy looked horrified at his cousin.

'Not too much Thalia we may have a guest coming. We wouldn't want them getting the wrong idea.'

'Guest?'

'Possible hunter we are going to go get her now.'

'Do we know who or what she is?'

'Demigod daughter of Triton, My niece I suppose.' Percy explained simply.

'Well that makes things difficult for us but I am sure we will think of something appropriate. Wouldn't want to embarrass you in front of family would we?'

'Hey your family as well remember?'

'Difference is we are already embarrassed in you.'

You don't even know exactly what you are doing this for, do you?'

'Doesn't matter we have been given a free pass and I am sure Tania will love to hear about it. So hurry back Seaweed Brain.'

'I won't.' Percy muttered.

'Oh before I go because Iris is asking for more money can we have Nemea back?'

'Just dealing with her now, so she will be all yours.' I told her just as the image began to fade.

'Why did you have to tell her that wasn't trying to kill me once enough for you or have you still got a few Eidolons stuck in there?' Percy said turning towards me.

'You shouldn't have acted so smug earlier. This will teach you a little humility.'

'I am starting to think I should create my own bunch of male hunters so I can get revenge once in a while.'

'Wouldn't work it would fall apart within a week at most due to you all arguing and trying to prove which of them is the strongest. Besides whenever you left them unattended they would probably try and kill each. It would be a repeat of Alexander the Great's Generals all over again. Besides there are not exactly many males that are like you.'

'What suckers for domestic abuse?'

'You say the kindest things, now come on lover boy.'

(Percy)

I was starting to regret giving her the bow but not as much as I was naming it as such. Talking about coming around to bite me on the ass in the long run. Though it proved the thought I had a few weeks ago on whether she would have silver arrows if she used it. Why it was everyone around me was getting Orthrytic Silver equipment except me the one person who wanted one was beyond me.

Regardless I followed her to where Nemea was and I noticed that while she was now standing which was an improvement she seemed to be favoring standing on 3 legs which was strange until I walked around to her injured left fore-paw and discovered the reason why.

She had obviously taken the direct hit meant for Thalia in the paw and it managed to actually destroy her two centre claws as well as most of the surrounding fur on her paw leaving a patch of pink on her otherwise golden body. Which would have been amusing in any other circumstances.

Just as I was getting close to take a better look she shuffled to the left until she was face to face with Diana who remained motionless despite the large Lioness who was only inches away from her face. The last thing I needed was to see my girlfriend disappear in one monster mouthful.

Slowly Diana raised her free hand until it was beside Nemea's muzzle and began to slowly stroke her head causing the Lioness to purr softly while allowing me to scramble around and take a closer look. There was a faint amount of gold dust visible where the two missing claws were and the skin looked mildly burned from the blast but otherwise she seemed to be generally fine and I was sure that in a normal cat the damage would have healed in time. But alas that was where we had the advantage she was not a normal cat and we had an abundance of time or at least control over it.

(Diana)

I continued to stroke the Lioness as she proceeded to glow golden for a few seconds before returning to normal. I had half-expected Percy to make her smaller as well but then I realized there was little point considering he only needed to remove an hour if that to fix the damage.

After looking down and checking that everything seemed to be fine which was followed by Percy rubbing her paw and the freshly restored fur around it. She tentatively lowered it to the ground a few times before placing her full weight on and sheathing and sheathing her claws for good measure.

'Good Girl Nemea.' Percy cooed playfully as he stood up.

'Thank you for saving Thalia.' I told her face to face. Only to shriek as she suddenly licked my face from chin to forehead. A normal cats tongue is like sand-paper this was that taken up to eleven I felt like half-my face was coming off. Percy meanwhile was looking at the scene with an amused expression on his face.

'You should leave your hair like that.' He remarked with a smirk. Causing me to suddenly wave my hand above my head to find my fringe sticking several inches upwards due to cat saliva causing me to cringe as I flattened it down to where it should be. Thankfully my powers over water caused the liquid to dry almost instantly but I still pledged to take a shower at the earliest convenience.

'Very funny, the pair of you. Nemea go back to the camp I am sure Thalia would love to reward you for saving her.' I whispered afterwards into her ear, causing her head to shoot upwards almost catching me on the chin before she turned towards the location of camp and bounded off no doubt looking for my half-sister. Well that might throw a spanner in her plans.

What did you tell her?' Percy asked turning back from the disappearing Lioness.

'That Thalia has a gift for her.'

'I am starting to think you just like screwing with everyone whenever it suits you. Though hopefully this will mean she can't do anything to me.'

'See exactly I would say great minds think alike but in your case that is being a little generous.'

'Hey.' He cried out indignantly.

'Can it, let's get out of here already.' I told him as I grabbed his arm and flashed us away.

AN. Happy Easter everyone.

This overran a little more than I expected so Triton's Daughter will be in the next chapter I promise. though I want to thank all those who came up with suggestions for her name. they were greatly appreciated.

I am not a cat person but anyone who doesn't want Nemea is a fool. well except her tongue. She gets hit by an arrow that can vaporise Imperial Gold loses a bit of fur and some claws and tanks it like a pro.

Anyway as always please read and review.