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So-called “garbage powers” were unusual among demigods, but Artemis could see that this child of Demeter would certainly keep her brother in line, and hopefully keep him out of trouble, although she couldn’t hope too much in that department, given that the child was only twelve. Still, she was the protector of young girls, and she did her best to bless this one, in lieu of being allowed to protect her twin.
She knew her father had… dumped him there in the hope that he would be found, or would find his way to Percy Jackson’s apartment, though she wasn’t sure whether that was supposed to be a punishment or a reward for Jackson, considering that he'd helped a considerable amount in the war, according to reports.
She didn’t even have the energy to care, because seeing her twin get, as Thalia would likely put it, completely curb stomped by thugs, was quite distressing. Their father hadn’t left him with any godly strength, in fact, she was unsure if he was even as strong as a demigod at this rate. To be cowed by street thugs, and then a twelve year old, no matter how formidable that child was, was concerning to her, and Diana too, who couldn’t stop splitting her, like the Romans and Greeks were in the throes of a civil war again.
It was horrible , and all she could do was watch, hope their father didn’t see her watching, and probably get the same idea for her. He’d liked her best out of the two of them, maybe out of all his many (so many) children, but that wouldn’t save her. Hadn’t Hestia been Kronos’ own baby daughter once? Being the favourite would not save her forever.
She wanted to bless him, protect him, bless this girl so she could protect him. Bless Sally and Perseus Jackson for taking him in. She wanted to go down herself and restore him, drop by drop of ichor, to godhood.
She would see if she could get away with sending Thalia and the hunters down to him, maybe they could have a coincidental meeting, of course unorchestrated by her.
She watched him suffer in the woods, and cast a quick blessing on Percy Jackson once he was far away enough from her brother for her to be able to claim it was not for him. Just to get him out of trouble with the police and to prevent any serious damage to the car.
He tripped on a root and she almost missed the invasive animal she had been aiming for. He passed the same rock three times, clearly dazed still, and she split into Diana, just for a second, but long enough for Thalia to look concerned for her.
Her brother would be on his own for this, and it was killing her. But as long as he was under the light of the moon, she would be able to watch, and keep him in her light, even if she couldn’t help any more than that.
She’d flashed him away to his temple on Olympus as soon as she could, once his form, completely godly and glowing, ichor leaking out of cuts and form restored to his favoured human appearance. Away from that horrible ledge, as far from Chaos as she could get him.
She summoned her nephew, Asclepius, and had him look him over as many times as possible. Her brother did not wake. She told their mother, and cried alongside her in relief and grief for what he had gone through.
She watched over Meg McCaffrey, and the rest of the former Imperial Household’s journey to Palm Springs from the moon chariot. She watched Reyna Ramirez-Arellano and Thalia Grace guide each other out of mourning, or do their best to.
It took her brother two weeks to wake, and a part of her hadn’t left his side the whole time.
And when he had… he seemed different . Not in the way that he had been a god before, not even like in the aftermath of his previous two times being mortal, nor like he had been from what she could see of his time being human.
But he had hugged her, and cried onto her, and if that wasn’t her brother, the god Apollo, she didn’t know who was.
But he was uncertain, having forgotten simple godly things like creating clothes at will, and turning twenty feet tall. She feared still, when they had all left except the Sky-Father, and Apollo. But he had defeated Python twice, and destroyed the Triumvirate. She hoped that he could handle Zeus as well.
He had handled the Council, but the Council was a collective, and not all of them had a personal vendetta against him. Hermes was more cut up over his son’s death, Hephaestus didn’t care, Dionysus only wanted to see if he could leverage himself out of his own punishment using Apollo, Poseidon only cared in meetings if they involved a) the sea or b) Percy Jackson, and the others had their own things going on too.
Hera was mourning her step-son, and she had thought for a second that Apollo even felt bad for her, which was truly something, because… Hera. No explanation required. But maybe Apollo had found an ally in her against Zeus. And where Apollo went, Artemis sometimes followed. It was a fifty-fifty thing. He made some really stupid decisions sometimes though.
But he had done well, and she was proud. She would have to organise a hunting trip soon, just the two of them. Like in the old days. She bridled up her horses and took off from Olympus, ready to bring the moon back into mortal view.
“Mother,” Apollo was saying. Artemis was both in the moon chariot, currently above Delphi, reflecting onto the dark waters outside. “You would love Meg.”
“I’m sure I would, dear.” She passed him an ambrosia biscuit. “Eat up, you look too gangly.”
He didn’t finish chewing before speaking, nor did he cover his mouth. It was disgusting, but also mildly endearing. Like watching a small forest creature vomit before she shot it. “‘m a gowd. A chwose t’ look like thdis.”
Artemis briefly considered pretending the world was ending just so she wouldn’t have to sit through this. She had missed her brother, but those centuries she had spent attempting to house-train him had clearly gone to waste.
“Dear,” Leto said, putting one hand on his knee. “Please eat and then talk.” She smiled, “But it’s nice to have you home.” She looked over at the sea from this island where they’d all become a family for the first time, at the waves under Artemis’ moonlight. “You’ve been missed.”