"Did the negotiations go as planned?"
A dark shadowy figure lounged on a throne. The figure's petite outlined form suggested that it was a female. The throne she sat on was comprised of the darkest obsidian you could imagine. Markings and symbols in Japanese were engraved on it. The throne was heavily littered with bones and skulls. The female figure was wearing a sleeveless, tattered dress. Her hair was a raven black, with long messy bangs covering her eyes. Her voice was raspy and she seemed dehydrated. Her skin was unhealthily pale and ghostly white.
"Yes, milady. Kronos sent one of his Titan lackeys in his place" a voice answered.
The voice's form was kneeling in front of the shadowy woman with a head bowed in a show of respect.
All around them grotesque creatures and hideous, monstrous demons all circled them. Bowing in a combination of respect, fear, and loyalty. The pale woman looked at her servant, smiling cruelly.
"Poor Kronos. I pity the Titan King. He has no idea of what is to come. No idea." The chuckled humorlessly. "Start recruiting, my husband won't stop me from returning this time. All Kami shall soon learn to fear the power of the Underworld! The power of Yomi! My power!"
All demons, devils, and monsters roared and howled their agreement with their mistress.
"All hail Lady Izanami!"
Bright amber eyes surveyed the situation. Manticore holding two unknown demigods hostage. Two demigods and a satyr trying to liberate the mysterious half bloods. A glinting silver in the woods caught it's attention. Annoyance and relief bubbled in its core.
Relief because it'd gather the attention of a goddess, an Olympian no less. Annoyance because her and her attendants are a virgin clique of man-hating, prepubescent tweens. But alas it had to be done, even if it was high chance of him being neutered.
Seeing a golden opportunity, the figure quickly used his magic to conceal him from their field of vision. He quickly snatched up the two half breeds and hid them in the forest somewhere.
Standing up from its crouch and two beautifully crafted straight swords appeared in his hands. Charging out in the open he went to town.
He leaped on a Cyclops and plunged his blades into its skull. After the quick kill he flipped gracefully on a Laistrygonian Giant; his thighs and legs wrapped around its neck. Using a combination of strength, momentum, and gravity he flipped it; snapping his neck.
Quickly springing to his feet he sidestepped a pouncing hellhound slicing off its head in the process. With a calm and relaxed, yet wary, posture he approached the Manticore.
"Who the Hades are you?!" Manticore snarled.
He raised an eyebrow "I'm sure someone smart as you can recognize your end when you see it"
The Manticore didn't have time to respond or even think about a response before a sword was thrust in his throat. The sword was thrown. The mysterious person sprinted and took the blade, yanking it in diagonal arc. Slicing off his head.
The mysterious person noticed the demigods and Hunters of Artemis dispatched the other monsters. Two scabbards shimmer into existence on his back. Sheathing the swords both swords and scabbards shimmer away.
A twelve year old with flaming auburn hair and silver eyes along with another girl with black and volcanic black eyes approached him, bow and arrow at the ready.
"Who are you, boy?" The silver eyed girl demanded with an odd amount of authority despite her form would lead on.
Recognition flashed in the amber eyes of the mysterious figure. Silver eyes. Silver aura. Authoritative personality. Bow and arrow. This was Artemis. Goddess of the Moon, the Hunt, Chastity, and Maidenhood.
"Who I am isn't important. What is important is that I get to Olympus… Artemis." He said with a grin.
Artemis narrowed her glowing eyes in indignation as her form flickered.
"When in milady's presence you will address her as 'Lady Artemis'" the other girl said hotly as she released two arrows in a blur.
The unknown male caught both arrows as his eyebrows scrunched together in annoyance.
Artemis was surprised. Not only by catching the arrows of one of her greatest hunters, but also by his power. Feeling the power of this unknown stranger roll off in tidal waves. Who ever this stranger was, he was extremely powerful. Far surpassing any demigod, but not on the level of a god, but certainly close. She knew what she needed to do.
Looking closely at his form, she saw it was constantly changing. His eye color, hair color, height color, even body type was shifting. And guessing by everyone else's reactions she could tell that they didn't notice. That they were all perceiving a different form. Who or whatever this person was deserved the attention of the Olympian Council.
"Where are the other two demigods?" Artemis demanded with a stoic expression.
He responded with nonchalance "With Hades. Their father."
"You will come to Olympus, boy. The Council will determine what to do with you." Artemis declared.
The unknown person grew a cheshire grin, showing off a pair of a rather large fangs. He held out his hands with his wrists touching each other.
Artemis narrowed her eyes as she snapped her fingers. A pair of celestial bronze handcuffs appeared on his wrists.
"Zoe, setup camp." Artemis commanded, not taking her eyes off the figure.
Zoe wanted to protest but a cold stern look from her mistress made her think twice. "Yes milady.
Vanishing in a flash of silver light Artemis and the unknown man appeared outside a pair of really large golden doors.
The unknown person whistled with feigned interest. "Wow. Impressive. You come hear often."
"Keep moving boy" the moon goddess commanded harshly, pushing him through the brilliant doors.
The Olympian Gods were a bit impatient by the hunt goddess's late arrival. But impatience soon turned to both confusion and curiosity when she saw the mortal she had in custody.
"Daughter, who is this mortal you bring before us, and why?" Zeus, the self-proclaimed King of the Gods asked.
Growing into her godly height, Artemis returned to her throne. "Father, this mortal was found either aiding or intercepting the questers trying to recover the children of Hades. It seems this mortal was able to return them to Hades. How and why I do not no?"
Zeus narrowed his eyes at the supposed mortal in question. It was supposed to be simple. A quest issued where his daughter, the daughter of Athena, and the satyr were supposed to retrieve two children of Hades. Bring them to Olympus so he could easily dispose of a potential threat. But now the Hades spawns were in the Underworld. His brother's domain. A domain where he had no say or authority in whatsoever. A domain where he couldn't send Artemis or Hermes to retrieve the half-bloods. Not too mention that this so-called mortal had a form that kept flickering from one form to another. To put it simply: the King of the Gods was in no mood.
"Who are you, mortal?!" Zeus thundered.
The figure's grin grew wider. "Well 'Lord Zeus'…" He said using air quotes "… Perseus. But I go by Percy if you will."
"Seeing that your form doesn't have any stability, suggests that you aren't a mortal or a demigod. And judging by the level of power that you have states that you are an immortal, am I?" Athena stated matter-of-factly with an air arrogance.
"Mostly" he said casually.
"Do you mind showing us your true form?" A quiet voice asked.
Looking toward the massive hearth Percy saw a eight year old girl with curly black hair and warm red eyes wearing a linen shawl. This was no doubt Hestia, the Goddess of the Hearth, Home, and Family. The oldest of the gods. But also the least respected of the six children of Kronos.
Despite not worshipping or even respecting the Greek gods. Percy knew the hearth goddess deserved his utmost respect. Not because of her status but because of her gentle, good-natured, humble personality. She was more than deserving of his respect.
"Lady Hestia" he bowed his head in respect, the reaction was immediate. Most of the Olympians were outraged. This puny mortal would show Hestia, a minor goddess, respect but he wouldn't them respect. Them, the almighty, all powerful Olympian Gods. But their anger was cut short. Percy's form began shimmering and glowing. To the point where they thought he was going to spontaneously combust.
The light had died done and the gods were surprised to see what they saw.
Black hair reaching towards his waist. Bright candy red eyes that held bright mischievousness. A natural light tan. Lean, muscular, and sinewy build. But from the waist down he had the body of a fox. His arms and hind legs were covered with fur the same color of his hair. Six inch claw-like talons. Large pointy ears were on his head. Seven four-foot, fluffy tails protruded from the base of his spine; with the same color as his hair.
The Olympians were stunned.
"Kitsune" Athena said to which Percy nodded with grin.
Apollo was confused "Didn't your pantheon fade millennia ago?"
"No. The Shinto is not as strong as they were in the ancient times but still practiced. Add that to the some of the mortals who are kannagara-no-michi. So, the Shinto aren't as strong as we were in ancient Japan, but still in power. And the fact that we're isolating ourselves from other pantheons."
"So despite isolating yourselves from other pantheons you show yourself in Greek territory and interfere with Greek matters?" Zeus growled angrily, annoyed by the Kitsune's interference.
Poseidon seemed to feel the growing tension as the clouds darkened outside the throne room. "Brother please. The fox most likely has business in our territory."
The gods looked at Percy as he nodded his head. "I do. One: Hades is major player among the Greeks. I figured if I do your brother a favor by returning his children to him he'd be honorable enough to do a favor for me in the future."
Hera narrowed her eyes "And the other?"
His face took on a more serious demeanor. "Something big is going down. Surely you have felt it. The prophecy you received during World War 2. The demigod rebels siding with the Titans."
Zeus stood up enraged, his master bolt gripped tightly. "How do you know about the Great Prophecy, fox?!"
Percy rolled his eyes with a grin "You may able to bury your secrets, but you can't keep them buried forever. As a matter of fact, it's not really a secret if almost every pantheon knows of your dilemma."
"Wait. Everyone?" Apollo's interest was peaked.
Everyone ignored Apollo as Poseidon questioned "Back on the task at hand. Why are you in Greek territory?"
"Our pantheons are colliding. Your father, Kronos, is getting help from one of the Evil Kami. We don't know who exactly but just that they're working the Titans."
The Olympians were shocked, and a little wary. Not only were they warring with the Titans but also with bunch of unknown gods from a pantheon they knew from little to nothing about.
"You didn't answer the question. Why are you here?" Aphrodite said with edge to her voice.
Percy held his stoic gaze with Aphrodite for a few moments before answering. "My parents told me to make my way to Olympus. To tell/warn you of our enemies collaboration. To form an alliance to get what we both want. Our enemies at their knees."
Zeus looked momentarily convinced, but it went away quickly. He narrowed his eyes as his muscles tensed. The sky god than said something that increased the tense atmosphere.
"And if we refuse?"
All eyes in the room turned to Zeus in astonishment. The king of the gods was denying aid from someone who was willing to give it.
"Then you will lose your power and kingdom to the Titans and/or the Evil Kami. Either way there's no scenario, no version where you take on the Titans and their allies and win without our help." Percy rubbed his temples as a godly-sized headache pounded against his head.
"Zeus" Hera started "maybe should consider their aid."
Apollo agreed "Yeah pops, I mean we're going against a couple of gods we no nothing about."
"Silence!" Zeus thundered.
"You!" Zeus said zeroing in on Percy. "You place yourself into matters that don't concern you. You disrespect Olympus, the Olympians! You disrespect me, King of Olympus, the King of the Gods! And you have the audacity to insinuate that we aren't capable of toppling a lot of deities that aren't even important to be known?! You insolent fox!"
Hearing Zeus rant Percy could easily tell the sky god was going for his bolt. He closed his eyes praying to his mother and uncles for intervention.
Zeus hurled his bolt towards Percy, intending to scatter his atoms across the cosmos.
Inches before the bolt hit Percy a bright explosion happened. For a few moments the gods thought he was destroyed. Until they heard a powerful voice.
"You Greeks have some nerve harming my nephew!"
Blazing silver-ish blue eyes glaring in rage.