I am Artemis

Telling the Truth

Kaori

I appeared in the holding cell Artemis resided in. I made everyone else fall asleep around us and woke her up. She looked shocked to see me.

"Mother," I scoffed, "I am not your mother, Artemis. I am Kaori. Goddess of protection, knowledge, childbirth, and archery. You no longer hold those titles."

She looked furious, "you lie! You can't replace the goddess Artemis!"

I knelt down in front of her, "that is where you're wrong. I have filled your role for decades. Long enough that any power you had left from people serving you immediately became my own. I played Artemis, and became a goddess of protection and knowledge as well. I fulfilled your role while you were missing. I became you, and now you are mortal. Forever."

She looked so angry, "my mother and father won't stand for this. They will smite you where you stand!"

Suddenly I wasn't alone. I stood and saw Leto and Zeus. I bowed and smiled at them both.

"Mother! Father! Make this imposter give me back my body!" Zeus stepped forward and gripped my chin.

His blue eyes glowed with power. I met his gaze head on. Never flinching and I smiled at him.

"Hello, Father," Artemis screamed behind me, "she isn't me you fool! I am the real Artemis."

I saw anger appear in his eyes.

He turned his gaze to her without letting my chin go, "silence, you fool."

Artemis couldn't speak any longer. Zeus turned his eyes back to me.

"Who are you," I held my head high, "I am the goddess of childbirth, archery, protection, and knowledge."

I heard the bars rattle. His eyes narrowed at me.

"You claim to be the goddess Artemis and a goddess of protection?" I smiled at him.

"I have been acting in Artemis's stead since the day I gifted mother her pendant and you your cufflinks. I am not the Artemis that helped birth Apollo, but I am still her. I resemble my mother for all she has done for me. I have her powers. I have proven myself worthy of that role. Your partner's attention and willingness to guide me in the ways of being a goddess should be honored. I respect you and I respect her. I would never speak to you the way the old Artemis just did." He looked less angry and his grip on my chin turned gentle.

Leto stepped forward from behind Zeus. I looked at her and she looked up at Zeus.

"She is right. The day that you caught onto the difference in her behavior I helped her step into her role. She searched for Artemis for years before we finally gave up. I don't know why Artemis vanished, but Kaori worked hard to fulfill her duties as Artemis while searching for the real one. However when Kaori came back to me saying Artemis had returned I found that Kaori was covered in blood. Artemis would kill anyone without caring who she hurt. Even now Artemis who is in a mortal body dares to call you a fool. That shows that she doesn't respect you, my love. Kaori does," she turned to me, "she has respected us from the moment she found herself in our daughter's body. She has earned her place my love."

I smiled at her, "you love Leto as your mother, don't you, little one?"

I looked back at Zeus and smiled up at him.

"I do. I also see you as my father. I know you watched me. You noticed the difference in Artemis's behavior and yet you let me be. You allowed me to continue and I don't think you would've allowed me to continue if you didn't see the bond your partner and I share. I love her like she is my mother and that will never change." I heard Leto gasp.