Hello all! A new story. This first chapter will be a stand-alone until after my exams, so about mid-June is when I'll update again. It's sort of preparation so I don't forget about this story as the files are buried beneath all the work on my laptop.
This story's an idea I've been toying with for a while, and like all my other stories it's got Kronos in it (YAY!. I like Kronos, if no one's realised that by now).
It's a few days after the Giant War and after the reward ceremony that the gods get the message from the Creator, and when they do they quickly learn that fighting an angry Titan attacking them is far easier than dealing with one that's a child. Of course, there's also the waking immortal to think about, and the fact that he's going to bring the very Sky down on top of them.
So join me with my new story!
After the italics the battle progresses as it did in BOO
Chapter 1 - Punishment
"You don't seem to realise the power of our allies, gods," Porphyrion sneered. "Perhaps we should give you a demonstration?"
The ground rumbled beneath the feet of the gods and the seven, the ruins of the Acropolis swaying and several toppling to the ground as the lines of the monster army shifted to create a path down the middle, and the gods almost immediately felt their spirits drop even more.
"No way," Percy breathed, his eyes widening as he saw who was striding towards them.
He'd never seen the being before – at least in his actual body – but his eyes gave it away immediately.
"Zeus," Poseidon started, "he's-"
"I know," Zeus interrupted, his eyes narrowing at the being.
"Uh… is that-" Percy started.
"Yes," Hera said sharply. "It is."
"Right," Percy said uneasily.
"I'm sure you've met before," Porphyrion jeered. "But in case you haven't. Olympians and minor gods," the minor gods muttered angrily amongst themselves, "allow me to introduce you all to the true form of Kronos. King of the Titans and Lord of Time."
"That's impossible," Annabeth said. "He's supposed to be scattered!"
Kronos' laughter shook the ruins of the Acropolis, his golden eyes glittering in satisfaction. "Mother Gaea was kind enough to relay the first half of her energy to me so that I could pull myself back together again."
The Big Three looked at each other before Zeus turned to the gods and the seven. "We will take him. The rest of you go for the giants. Athena, I want you to keep an eye on Perseus and your daughter – its likely father will take this as an opportunity for revenge, and in his current state he could destroy them both without lifting a finger."
Athena nodded. "Yes, father," she said, raising her spear.
Zeus and his brothers moved towards their father, readying their weapons. They split up, Zeus taking the front with Poseidon at his right and Hades at his left. Kronos' scythe appeared in his hands, the crescent blade shimmering in the sunlight as he strode forward. He wasn't wearing any armour, which was a massive insult to the Big Three as he lifted the scythe.
Zeus raised his Master Bolt and fired a shot of lightning at the Titan, but Kronos leaned to the side effortlessly despite its speed, letting it streak amongst the monsters behind him.
"Come, younglings," the Titan taunted, "let me show you true power."
His scythe cut through the air with astonishing speed, the sound of the Master Bolt and scythe clashing echoing off the ruins around them. Zeus was forced to his knees by the strength of the blow, and his brothers moved in. The Titan spun, swatting away Hades' sword and meeting Poseidon's trident with ease.
"Surely you can do better than that?" he laughed.
"Attack!" Porphyrion bellowed, and the giants and monsters rushed towards the gods and the seven.
Percy quickly found himself killing monster after monster, Annabeth at his side the whole time. They protected each other's backs, Athena fighting Enceladus while they waited for an opportunity.
Enceladus stumbled and Annabeth moved forward to attack with her drakon bone sword, but before Percy could he heard his father yelling, "Percy, behind you!"
Percy turned, raising Riptide and immediately dived to the side to avoid the scythe flashing down towards his head to cleave him into two, straight down the middle of his body.
Percy scrambled back as Kronos lifted the scythe out of the ground, turning towards him and swinging again. Percy blocked it, Riptide held perpendicular to the ground and his left hand bracing the back of his sword. He was flung effortlessly through the air by the strength in Kronos' attack, rolling back to his feet in preparation for the next attack, which he realised too late was already heading towards him.
Percy raised Riptide too slow, but Kronos' attack was blocked by Poseidon's trident barely five inches from Percy's neck. "Go, Percy," Poseidon urged as he took Percy's place, letting his son scramble out of the way.
Percy rolled his shoulder, grimacing at the pain racing from it as he ran off to find Annabeth and Athena.
He found them as Annabeth stabbed Enceladus in the foot and Athena stabbed him in the back, ripping through the bronze armour. The giant let out a furious roar as he crumbled apart, his spear clattering to the ground.
Annabeth seemed relieved to see Percy running over to them. "You're all right," she breathed. "I saw him trying to kill you."
Percy just grinned. "Everyone tries to kill me, Wise Girl. Fortunately it never works."
"Perseus, Annabeth," Athena said, "we must continue."
Percy nodded. "Right. Where to next?"
The goddess focused on the fight between the Big Three and their father. "Zeus is calling for us to help defeat Kronos. So that is what we shall do."
Percy cleared his throat. "Uh… I nearly got killed by him just then."
"Nevertheless, we must help," the goddess said, her storm-grey eyes turning to face Percy. "Come," she said, starting through the monsters.
As they battled through the monsters, Percy watched as several other gods started making their way towards the four immortals fighting in the middle of the Acropolis. He realised that Zeus was aiming to surround Kronos and take him out, as the most dangerous enemy on the battlefield, not including Gaea, but she wasn't there yet.
"Stop them!" Porphyrion roared, apparently having realised what they were attempting.
Kronos knocked his sons back with a blast of energy and spun, blocking Ares' sword. He easily disarmed the god and would have cut his head off if Hephaestus hadn't blocked it.
Kronos ground his teeth and switched the hand wielding his scythe, slashing diagonally up and the blade slicing through Hephaestus' armour. The god cried out in pain, backing up away from Kronos. But the Titan followed him, slashing his scythe through the air straight at Hephaestus' neck.
Just before the blade connected with the god's neck, the Titan disappeared in a flash of white light.
The gods stared at the place where Kronos had been before they turned and attacked the monsters and giants.
"Lord Zeus," a minor god said as he hurried into the throne room. "You have a visitor. He's refusing to say his name."
Zeus happily cut off his argument with Hera and turned to face the god. "I do? Let him in then!"
He nodded. "Yes, Lord Zeus."
The minor god rushed out as Zeus summoned the council. As soon as they were all sat someone strode in. Zeus' eyes widened and he immediately bowed to the being. "Lord Chaos," he said nervously. "What an honour. May I ask why you are visiting?"
The Creator cleared his throat. "It's regarding the sudden disappearance of your father a week ago."
The gods tensed. "You know what happened to him?" Athena asked as she leaned forward eagerly.
Chaos chuckled. "Even better. I was responsible for his disappearance. You see, I am tired of his actions. I warned him long ago that there would be consequences for his actions, but he ignored me. A week ago I finally decided to act. It has taken longer than I expected, but with the help of Chronos, the Primordial of Time and Ananke, I have succeeded in… altering him."
"What?" Poseidon asked blankly.
Chaos seemed pleased with himself as he continued. "However, he certainly cannot stay in the Void, as he currently is, and as such I have come to you. He is in need of a place to stay which will teach him how to act responsibly, and to not attempt to destroy everything in his way."
"With all due respect, Lord Chaos," Zeus said uneasily, "but I don't think letting Kronos onto Olympus is a very good idea."
"Even if I could guarantee he will have the majority of his powers blocked?" the Creator asked.
"Is that possible?" Hera asked.
Chaos nodded. "Yes. Chronos has suppressed his control and power over Time. He's not powerless, but will only have access to a miniscule amount of his former abilities."
"Can't you send him somewhere else?" Apollo demanded.
Chaos raised an eyebrow. "Where would you suggest?"
"There is nowhere else," Athena said, and Chaos nodded. "The Titan's wouldn't stop him from doing anything and would instead encourage it, and the Primordials…"
"Either wish to bed him or kill him," Chaos finished with amusement. "The majority would admittedly prefer the former."
"Are you serious?" Hermes choked out.
Chaos nodded. "Oh, yes. But let's not talk about that. Will you allow Kronos to stay on Olympus? This is his last chance to change his ways. If you don't agree I shall have to move onto more… extreme measures to deal with him."
"Extreme?" Athena asked.
Chaos nodded grimly. "Yes. I may have to force him to fade. You are his last opportunity to continue living."
Zeus' eyes widened. "You're actually considering… making him fade?"
Chaos nodded again. "He cannot continue as he is for many reasons. I will not be telling you what they are for the sake of the future. However, he must be stopped. And he is still needed for the future of Gaea."
There was complete silence for several long seconds before Zeus spoke. "If you could guarantee he won't be able to access the full extent of his powers then we'd be willing to allow him to remain on Olympus. However, we have the right to send him back to you if we wish."
The Creator gratefully bowed his head. "My thanks, youngling. I shall bring him by tomorrow. Is that satisfactory?"
Zeus hesitated. "So soon?"
"It is unhealthy to have an immortal other than a Primordial stay in the Void for too long," Chaos said. "I'd prefer to hand him over today, however that would be far too short a time for you to prepare."
Zeus frowned but nodded. "All right. Do you have a suggestion about where he could stay?"
"In a cell," Ares offered. "That'd be helpful."
Chaos immediately shook his head. "The point of this is to get him to change. Locking him up will only make him angrier than he already is. Might I suggest keeping him somewhere you can keep an eye on him, but also where he is able to retreat to if he needs it? Since he will likely often feel that he needs some time to himself. He has always been a solitary being. And suddenly forcing him to live on Olympus will be overwhelming, so allow him enough freedom so that he doesn't feel too restricted. Making him feel restricted is highly dangerous – his own father learnt that long ago."
"So no cells," Poseidon stated.
Zeus leaned back in his throne. "How about my own palace? I would be able to keep an eye on him, and it is only priestesses, Hera, and few other gods or goddesses who ever visit."
"I shall leave the decision up to you," Chaos said, his form starting to flicker and disappear.
"Are you sure this is a wise decision?" Athena asked after he'd left.
Zeus stood up. "Lord Chaos said, rather unfortunately, that Kronos is needed for the future of the earth. For what I'm not quite sure, but if Lord Chaos told us that then it must be important. As you are aware, he rarely reveals even small parts of the future. Instead preferring for it to remain clouded. I am not all too happy with allowing Kronos onto Olympus, however Lord Chaos said it's needed."
Athena reluctantly nodded. "Then we need to ready a room."
It was mid-morning when Zeus sensed Chaos flash down onto Olympus at the exit of the elevators. He immediately summoned the other Olympians and they made their way down the mountain, taking their time as they tried to ready themselves for seeing the Titan King they all secretly feared.
There was only Chaos waiting for them, calmly standing in the middle of the stone path which led from the elevator onto Olympus.
"Where is he?" Zeus asked in slight confusion.
Chaos clasped his hands in front of him. "You have prepared a room?"
Zeus nodded. "Yes. But is he not here?"
Chaos just smiled. "I forced him to swear on Me that he will not kill any of you. However, he refused to swear to not harm you."
"So where is he then?" Athena prompted.
Chaos chuckled. "If I didn't know any better I'd assume you wanted him here." He cleared his throat and waved his hand, and the air shimmered behind him. The gods all recognised the Mist which collapsed to the ground, revealed the child standing behind the Creator.
Zeus' jaw dropped. "No way," he murmured incredulously.
The boy looked to be six years old – in mortal years – and was carrying a backpack over one shoulder, but they now all recognised the wild, jet black hair, and more importantly the golden eyes which glared at them.
"He's a child," Athena stated.
Chaos laughed. "What did you expect when I said I'd altered him?"
"Not for him to be a child," Zeus said, relaxing as he spoke.
Chaos seemed amused as he turned to Kronos. "As I've said, you will be staying here until further notice."
"But-" Kronos started, only for Chaos to narrow his eyes at him, and the Titan's mouth snapped shut.
"Until further notice," the Creator repeated slowly. "And the gods have full rights to call me back anytime. And if need be, I will deal with you properly."
Kronos' jaw locked and he stiffly nodded. "Yes, My Lord," he bit out through gritted teeth.
Chaos turned back to Zeus and held his hands out next to each other, Kronos' scythe appearing resting on them as he handed it to the god. "I recommend you keep it out of his reach," he remarked, and none of the gods missed the way Kronos watched his scythe be handed over, his eyes narrowing dangerously and obvious anger flickering in his golden eyes.
Chaos looked back at Kronos. "Behave yourself," he warned before disappearing in a white flash of light.
Zeus cleared his throat, causing Kronos' head to snap over towards him. "You'll be staying in my Palace," he announced. "This way."
Kronos cast a longing glance towards the elevator behind him before trudging after Zeus, all of the gods, half-bloods and nature spirits parting before him like he'd lash out at them at any moment, and glaring at the Titan King as he entered Olympus.
So in case you haven't realised, this story's going to be more light-hearted than my other fanfics. There is a plot to it (as revealed in the summary), so it's not just a crack!fic, because I don't like those. They never make sense.
It's just I'd like to try my hand at stories that don't involve torture, and other things (yes, I'm talking about Confused by Time. If you've only just found me, then why don't you go check it out?) that I don't want to list here. You'll know what I'm talking about if you've read Confused by Time.
As for the title of this fanfic, that's not completely decided at the moment. It'll probably change in the future.
So, tell me if you like the beginning. I'd like to know your thoughts.
