Author's Note: I'm embarking on a new journey through fanfiction with this piece here. I don't exactly know where I want to take it, but I like what it looks like so far. I have some ideas, and I really want to be able to explore them as we wait for the end of our favorite series. I don't really know how this came up or what I'm trying to achieve, but I like where it is for now. Let me know what you guys think!
Disclaimer: Percy Jackson and the Olympians and The Heroes of Olympians and all things related are property of Rick Riordan and Disney Hyperion. I am not making any profit off of this work in any way, shape, or form.
Fort Olympus
Chapter 1: Gifts
"It is finished," announced Zeus to the assembled army sadly as Porphyrion collapsed into the Earth and Hypnos finished his enchantment to return Gaea to her eternal slumber.
They had suffered many casualties in the war and had sustained many losses. The ancient battlefield of Marathon flowed with blood, both mortal red and immortal golden.
After nearly twenty-four hours of nonstop fighting, the armies of Olympus had defeated their enemies for another eon, and the Fifth Age, the Rule of Zeus, was preserved once again. The cycle had finished, and the circle had come around once again. The armies of Camp Half-Blood, Camp Jupiter, and Olympus itself had finished the job set against them.
"Lord Zeus," Queen Hera addressed her husband, "shall we return?"
"Indeed, Queen Hera."
Hera waved her hand, and all but ten of the assembled demigods vanished.
The Olympian Council, Hades, and Hestia arranged themselves in a circle with the Seven of the Prophecy and Reyna, Thalia, and Nico in the middle. In a burst of light, the twenty-four figures vanished from Marathon and reappeared in the same configuration on Mount Olympus, above the Empire State Building.
The throne room was different from normal. Two additional thrones had been prepared for Hestia and Hades, and the wall behind Zeus' and Hera's thrones had been turned into a giant LED television screen projecting the Council and the demigods in front of it. The doors to the throne room were open, and beyond them, the armies of Camp Half-Blood and Camp Jupiter stood in respect as the gods took their thrones.
With a wave of Zeus' hand, ten golden chairs appeared in front of the council, and the remaining demigods took their assigned places.
"Grandmother Gaea," Zeus announced, "has been put to rest."
Olympus rang with the cheers of thousands of demigods and godlings as the gods took their thrones.
"All demigods who have assisted in this war will go into the history books as the greatest heroes ever assembled. To their leaders, the ones who helped the gods reconcile themselves and defeat their enemies for another eon, we offer them gifts." Zeus' voice was uncharacteristically weary as he finished.
The screen focused in on the ten demigods chosen: Jason Grace, Son of Jupiter; Thalia Grace, Daughter of Zeus; Nico di Angelo, Son of Hades; Reyna Ramirez-Arellano, Daughter of Bellona; Piper McLean, Daughter of Aphrodite; Hazel Levesque, Daughter of Pluto; Frank Zhang, Son of Mars; Leo Valdez, Son of Hephaestus; Annabeth Chase, Daughter of Athena; and Perseus Jackson, Son of Poseidon.
"Together, you ten will be considered the greatest heroes of all time. All of you have fought in the Second Titanomachy and the Second Giantomachy. You have defeated countless monsters, Titans, Giants, the Earth Mother herself, and even some gods."
There were some scowls around the Council at this, but no one dared interrupt Zeus' speech.
"The Council agrees that you will all be gifted both individually and collectively."
"Jason Grace, Son of King Jupiter, Champion of Queen Hera," Dionysus called.
Jason stood, bowed to Zeus, and kneeled before Dionysus' throne.
"For your defeat of the Titan Krios and your phenomenal battle skills and leadership, the Council offers you the gift of immortality. You will become protector of demigods, and you will lead the armies of Olympus for all time. You are free to refuse and ask for your own gift." For once, even Dionysus did not sound bored with his role on the Council.
The television screen showed Jason's shock at Dionysus' words. But with one look backwards, towards Piper, and Jason knew he couldn't accept.
"Thank you," he said, "for your offer, Olympians. But I don't want it. There are many who are far more deserving than myself."
Zeus look sadly at his son but didn't respond.
"What, then, demigod, do you ask for?" Dionysus continued.
Jason turned back to look at the assembled demigods; some in purple and some in orange; some trained to fight in phalanx formation and some in legion; some wielding spears and some gladius; and he knew his request.
"Honorable Council of Olympus," he intoned, "I request that both Camp Half-Blood and Camp Jupiter be dissolved. I ask the blessing of all of the gods present to build a new home for all half-bloods, Greek and Roman, a place where they can train in both Greek and Roman tactics, a place where they will learn to be brothers and sisters. The great feud has been resolved. This is my wish."
The Council clearly looked uncomfortable, as many of them had worried looks on their faces.
Athena and Poseidon looked towards each other, and understand passing between the two rivals. "I move we accept his plan," both said.
"The rift has been healed. With the return of the Athena Parthenos, our Greek and Roman selves have come to peace," Athena continued, "and the two sets of demigods have welcomed each other. And besides, Chiron's training methods combined with Lupa's sense of discipline will create a deadly enemy for those who wish to bother Olympus."
"All those in favor?" Zeus asked. All of the gods except for Hestia and Hades (who couldn't vote) and Dionysus raised their hands.
"This motion passes," Zeus announced, "11-1-0."
Jason bowed one last time to the gods and returned to his seat.
"Piper McLean, Daughter of Aphrodite," Hephaestus called.
"For your bravery, courage, leadership, and insistence in the Second Giantomachy, the Council offers you the gift of immortality," Hephaestus continued. "Should you choose to accept, you will become the eternal protector of demigods and serve as your mother's lieutenant. You are free to refuse and ask for something else."
Piper chose her words carefully and worked to make sure that no charmspeak seeped into her speech. For some odd reason, she didn't think the gods would be happy being spoken to as if their minds could be controlled. "Thank you, Stepfather. Thank you, Olympians. But I do not want immortality. My friends here have shown me that life is worth living. The most important thing that I have learned through my adventures this past year is that no matter what, there is a light at the end of the tunnel; it is just a matter of finding it."
The gods looked at her impassively, perhaps they had gotten used to demigods turning down immortality by this point.
"Instead, my Lords and Ladies, I ask for the following. I ask that a Council of Demigods be created to run the new camp that Jason had proposed. I ask that this Council be put in charge of running Fort Olympus, what I hope will be new name."
"All in favor?" Zeus called. "The motion passes 12-0-0."
"Thank you, Gods of Olympus," Piper whispered and returned to her seat.
"Thalia Grace, Daughter of Zeus, Lieutenant of Artemis," Demeter called.
Thalia kneeled before her aunt's throne after bowing to her father. "For your leadership and service to Olympus these past ten years, the Council sees fit to offer you the gift of immortality. Do you accept?"
Thalia looked towards her patron. "Thank you, Honorable gods and goddesses, but I must deny your offer. I only accepted Lady Artemis' offer three years ago so that I would not be the child of the First Great Prophecy. I did not trust myself; I knew that my cousin would make a much more honorable decision than I would. I was a coward and gave it up, but now, I wish to return to the world of mortals. My request is for Lady Artemis to relieve me of my duty so that I may peacefully rejoin the mortal world."
Artemis smiled sadly at her second-in-command. "I knew, sister, that your day to leave the Hunt was coming. I thank you of your service, but before you leave, I want to warn you that the one you love might end up breaking your heart. Are you okay with this?"
Murmurs broke out through the gardens of Olympus as people reacted with shock at the news. Thalia Grace, Daughter of Zeus, the most stoic person the world had ever known, had fallen in love? What?! The girl in question merely steeled her gaze and nodded towards her patron.
"I am ready for what consequence may come, My Lady," Thalia said softly.
Artemis nodded and waved her hand. The tiara vanished from Thalia's brow, and she stopped glowing silver. The daughter of Zeus returned to her seat after bowing to the Council once again.
"Leo Valdez, Son of Hephaestus," Poseidon called wearily.
Leo bowed to King Zeus and knelt before Poseidon's throne.
"For your ingenuity and inexplicable courage, the Council of Olympus offers you one gift, the same as has been offered before to your brethren. You are free to refuse and name your own."
Leo smiled cautiously up at Lord Poseidon, and out of the corner of his eye, he could see it reflected the screen behind the gods. "Thank you, gods and goddesses. But that is not what I want. I want to be given permission to return to Ogygia and free Calypso. A year ago, you all promised to liberate her, and I want permission to follow up on that promise."
Poseidon nodded. "You shall have it. In two days' time, set sail from Camp Half-Blood on the Argo II with Odysseus' astrolabe. It will lead you to your destination and back. Go with the blessing of the sea and the consent of the Council. However, Leo Valdez, remember that Calypso is immortal while you are not."
"I know, My Lord, but I have a promise to keep," Leo said before bowing and returning to his seat.
"Reyna Ramirez-Arellano," Aphrodite's voice ringed through the throne room.
With a perfect poker face, Reyna bowed to Zeus and then knelt before Aphrodite's throne.
"For your bravery and leadership in the last two wars as well as your unwavering loyalty to Mount Olympus and your people, the Council of Olympus offers you one gift, praetor, the same as has been offered before to your brethren. You are free to refuse and name your own."
Reyna was as unreadable as always.
"Lady Aphrodite," Reyna said, "I thank the Council for their generous offer, but I must refuse. My first loyalty is to my fellow demigods. When I became praetor of New Rome, I swore that I would protect them with my life, and I will continue to do so. My wish, though, is that I am left alone from now on from your realm, My Lady. You have caused me enough grief in the past. From now on, I want to be on my own and solely devote the rest of my life and attention to the men and women under my command, without any distractions."
Jason flinched at these words and even Piper looked saddened. No one should have to live without love just because they had a rough past with it.
Aphrodite smiled at the Roman praetor with sadness lacing her eyes. "My son and I have caused you much grief, Reyna," she said softly, "But yes. We will leave you alone. As a condolence for your past pain, know that your fate is not as hopeless as you think it is right now. You will find happiness in the end, and you will not have to lead by yourself anymore. Fort Olympus, the new home of all demigods, will be brought onto this Earth soon, and you will serve as a permanent member of the Council of Demigods leading it. You will no longer be on your own with hundreds of soldiers under your own command. You will have help from now on."
Reyna masked all of her emotions well, but the relief reflected in her eyes. She returned to her seat without a glance at any of her fellow demigods. Her message to her kin was clear: No questions right now.
"Hazel Levesque, Daughter of Pluto," Hermes intoned.
Hazel bowed to the king of the gods and then knelt before Hermes' throne.
"For your ingenuity and unwavering loyalty to your friends and Olympus in the last war, the Council offers you the gift of godhood, Hazel Levesque. As well as your brethren, you are free to refuse and name your own gift."
Hazel closed and reopened her eyes to focus herself. "My Lords and Ladies," she addressed the throne room, "your offer humbles me. However, I must refuse. I ask, in its stead, that the gods never again turn back on their children. We need you," she almost pleaded, "In our greatest times of need, we need your help."
The gods watched her sadly.
Hermes nodded. "So be it, Hazel Levesque. Your wish is that the gods never again ignore their children. We promised this once before, and we promise it again. But this time, it is a promise that will be kept."
"Thank you, My Lord," Hazel said. With a bow to the Council, she returned to her seat.
"Frank Zhang, Son of Mars," Apollo's voice resonated through the throne room.
Hazel gave Frank's hand a squeeze to which he gave her a grateful smile. He bowed to Zeus and knelt before Apollo's throne.
"For your courageous leadership and unwavering loyalty to those who needed you and to Olympus in the last war, the Council extends the same gift to you as has been offered to your friends. You are free to refuse and make your own."
Frank ignored the sigh that Apollo gave at the end. It seemed the gods really were tired of having their offers of immortality refused again and again.
"My Lord, I ask you to relieve my friends, Annabeth Chase and Perseus Jackson, from any and all future prophecies and quests they have lined up for them"
An audible gasp filled the room at this from the gods, and the screen showed Percy's and Annabeth's dumbfounded faces.
With a small laugh, Frank continued. "They have served Olympus together for almost ten years now. Between the two of them, they have faced and overcome horrors and challenges that the rest of us can only ever dream of. It is time they receive their peace. If anyone deserves it at this point, it is them."
After a long pause, Zeus responded with hesitation. "Frank Zhang, you do understand that the Fates themselves have woven their strings of life. There is little we can do if the Fates have managed it so."
"You and I both know that isn't true, Lord Zeus," Frank shot back. "If the Prophecy was to come true seven thousand years ago, you would not even be sitting on your throne right now."
Thunder rumbled outside, and the sky darkened as Zeus glared at the demigod bowing before his son.
"I hold you to your oath," Frank said with finality.
"Father," Artemis said, "let it be so. It is within our power. Let it happen. Jackson and Chase have saved Olympus numerous times and have even protected us from ourselves. Let them be."
Zeus glared one last time at Frank but otherwise nodded.
"The Council agrees to your wish, Son of Mars. So be it." Apollo decreed.
With a bow towards Zeus and the rest of the Council, Frank returned to his seat. As Annabeth turned to question him, he shook his head. "Later," he mouthed.
"Perseus Jackson, Son of Poseidon, Champion of Hera," the Queen of the Heavens herself called out.
"Uh… what?" Percy asked, flabbergasted, as he bowed to King Zeus and knelt before Queen Hera.
The Queen smiled wryly down at him as the screen showed his still shocked expression.
"Don't be too surprised, Son of Poseidon. Why do you think I have forgiven all of the infractions you have done and spoken in my name? When you were born, your mother prayed to me to protect you from my husband's wrath. I blessed you at birth, and she offered you as my Champion in exchange for a promise from me that I would protect you and forgive your blunders against me ten thousand times."
Hera's explanation caused Percy to flinch and the rest of the assembled demigods to wonder. Realization dawned on Percy's face as he finally understood where the warm glow that he remembered from his childhood and once thought was his father made sense to him. It hadn't been his father… It was Hera, coming to protect him for so long. The Queen of the Heavens herself had been watching over him all these years, and he hadn't known…
"After the last war, Perseus Jackson," Hera announced in her rich tone, "we rewarded you highly. You took the chance to teach us, the gods, new ways. You showed us what we should be, and more importantly, you reminded me what the true meaning of family is. I am the second goddess of family, and you reminded me what my realm is truly about. It isn't about the perfection of a mother, father, and children. It is about staying loyal even when it seems like there is no point. It is about trust, and it is about feeling like you have people you can count on."
Percy's face reddened slightly as Hera continued her speech.
"Ever since the twelfth seat on the Olympian Council had taken its current form," Hera continued, "my power has been weakened as my family lost itself. But you, Perseus Jackson, through your unquestionable loyalty to your family have reminded me why I exist, and why I am still needed. But more than that, for the past six years, you have worked to protect Olympus from its enemies. We already promised that you and your beloved shall be free from any horrible fates that might come by your way in the future. Now I offer you again the gift that you were offered a year ago. A year ago, you refused our generous offer, and I have a feeling you will refuse again. Perseus Jackson, for you bravery, loyalty, brilliant strategy, courage, and love to your family and those around you in this past war against the giants and Mother Earth, the Council of Olympus sees fit to offer you once again the gift of immortality. Do you accept this time?"
Hera looked pointedly at her Champion who was looking back at his fellow demigods in sadness. Percy's eyes landed on Annabeth's, and the two beloveds came to a silent agreement. Percy remembered the wisdom a god gave him a few months ago. Life is only precious because it ends, kid. He knew his answer once again. Some things never change.
"Queen Hera, Council of Olympus, I am honored, but no. I still have a life left to live and a family to serve and bring up." Annabeth's face flushed and even Percy was feeling a little red in the face. The rest of the demigods laughed at this. "Instead, My Lords and Ladies," Percy continued, "I ask that Lord Hades and Lady Hestia be renamed to the Council."
The gods looked at him in shock.
"You ask to expand the Council, Perseus Jackson?" Zeus asked, perplexed.
"Yes, King Zeus. After the war last year, I had said that Lord Hades and his children deserved acceptance here on Olympus and on Earth. Unfortunately, I failed to follow through on my promise." Percy gave an apologetic look to Nico who just continued looking at the son of Poseidon with a blank stare. "I had turned my back on one of my friends, and I had ignored the loyalty of the Lord of the Dead. In both of the last two wars, Olympus would have lost were it not for Lord Hades' support and protection. Whatever problems you gods might have had in the past with him, I ask that you put them aside and allow him back on the Council. He has more than earned his right to share in on the most important decisions."
Hades raised his eyebrow while the rest of the gods continued to look at Percy as though he had grown an extra head.
"Lady Hera just mentioned that her role as the second goddess of the family has been weakened ever since Lord Dionysus was made a member of the Council," Percy continued. "It has taken all of my Patron Queen Hera's power to keep this family together ever since the first goddess of the family, Lady Hestia, exited the Council. The two goddesses complement each other, and together, they keep this family together. They have done so for the past ten thousand years, and if we want to stay together for another ten thousand, Lady Hestia's voice must return to the Council. Lady Hestia is the oldest of all of us. She has raised and watched over all of us in some way. She deserves the recognition she might get now. It is her turn. That is my wish, Queen Hera. I wish that you ask your siblings to return to the Council of Olympus."
Hera exchanged a glance with Zeus. Turning back to Percy, she nodded. With a wave of her hand, the throne room magically expanded, and the temporary thrones that Hestia and Hades were sitting on became permanent. "It is done. It is time that my family came back together. Thank you, Perseus." Hera smiled at him.
Percy surprised himself and his fellow demigods by smiling back at the Queen. Maybe she wasn't so bad after all, once he got past the millennia of bitterness of being married to a cheating husband. With a bow to each of the fourteen assembled gods in turn, he returned to his seat and grasped Annabeth's hand.
"Annabeth Chase, Daughter of Athena," Artemis called.
Percy gave her hand a comforting squeeze before she got up and bowed to Zeus and knelt before Artemis' throne.
"As the Chief Strategist of Camp Half-Blood, you have proven yourself powerful, brave, cunning, resourceful, and tactful. You have used your wit beyond measure to lead your fellow demigods into battle, and you have worked with leaders around the world to make sure that they survived. For your loyalty in the Second Giantomachy, Annabeth Chase, the Council of Olympus sees fit to offer you the gift of immortality, the same as has been offered to your brethren. You are free to refuse and ask your own."
A small smile graced Annabeth's face at this, remembering a similar choice Artemis had given her three years ago.
"Lady Artemis, My Lords and Ladies," Annabeth began, "Thank you. I am honored, and words cannot describe my gratitude. But I do not want immortality. I want to live out my life and face the justice of this world and the next as it were. I ask that I be able to name my gift later. I don't know what I want right now, but when I know, I will let it be known."
Artemis raised her eyebrow but nodded. "Very well, Daughter of Wisdom. When you are ready, speak your mind."
Annabeth bowed to the Council and returned to her seat.
"Are you sure?" Percy murmured in her ear.
"Yeah," Annabeth responded quietly. "I have a feeling I'll need this."
Percy gave her a quizzical look but turned back, just in time.
"Nico di Angelo, Son to Hades and Pluto, Champion of Hestia, Prince of the Underworld, Heir to the Sacred Hearth, King of Ghosts, Master of Shadows, Protector of Camp Jupiter, Patron of Camp Half-Blood." Athena announced.
Percy's jaw dropped as Athena finished saying all of Nico's titles. Nico flinched as the goddess went through the list, though, and kept his head down. The rest of the demigods watched, dumbstruck, and Nico bowed to Zeus and knelt before Athena.
"My Lady," he said, "You summoned me."
"Don't be so shocked, heroes, of your companion's honors. He keeps many secrets, and there's little you all know about him."
The nine other demigods in the throne room just watched Nico in confusion at Athena's shrewd remark.
As Percy watched, the ground around Nico grow blacker, and he started to slowly realize what a truly dangerous enemy this fourteen-year-old demigod was. Jason had once told him that he feared Nico's power, and he had laughed at the Son of Jupiter. But now, watching Nico's aura literally bend the earth around him to his will, Percy started to question his past judgment.
"Nico di Angelo, you have done well these past few years."
Just as Athena said this, Percy saw tears begin to fall from Nico's eyes. He scowled at this. The kid had faced a hard enough life as it was.
"In the Titan war last year, you convinced your father to join the battle to save Olympus. Without the armies of Hades, we would have inevitably lost. You used your wit beyond measure to develop the one strategy that would help Perseus Jackson defeat Luke Castellan. In the Battle of Manhattan, after the leaders of Camp Half-Blood and their Chief Strategist, my daughter, ascended Olympus, you took over the leadership in the power vacuum. You became a brilliant tactician and used battle strategies that impressed even me to turn the defensive battle into an offensive maneuver. Under your leadership, in the absence of my daughter and Jackson, you coordinated the defense of the Empire State Building and led the armies of Hades and Camp Half-Blood in successful advances to defeat what remained of the armies of Kronos. After the Second Titanomachy, the gods did not reward you as we did all the other major players in the war. We apologize."
Percy and Annabeth's eyes widened as they heard this. They had completely forgotten who had led their friends on the streets of New York after Kornos had blocked off them from the world on Mount Olympus.
"But your loyalty to Olympus and sheer ingenuity did not end there. After the war last year, we, as the Council of Olympus, asked you to become Patron of Camp Half-Blood and Protector of Camp Jupiter, to watch over our children after Father Zeus decreed that Olympus would be closed. You did your job well."
Nico finally looked up at Athena, with an inkling of hope reflecting in his eyes and his tear-stained cheeks glinting in the light of the throne room. The goddess of wisdom smiled down at him.
"Yes, Nico di Angelo, you have done well. Under your patronage and protection, fewer monsters attacked demigods travelling to both camps. You used your tactical knowledge to keep them away as much as you could. You did the job we assigned to you perfectly. We Olympians thank you for the protection you offered our children when we could not."
Nico's cheeks tinged pink at Athena's high praise. The other demigods looked at their companion in wonder and appreciation. So he was the reason they were able to train for the war without too much struggle…
"This past year, you spent two weeks alone in Tartarus. You lost your life for another week in the death trance. You led the Seven of the Prophecy to the House of Hades. You conquered the South Wind and the West Wind. You conquered the God of Love, you brought the two camps together, and you healed the rift between the gods' Greek and Roman forms."
At this, all the gods in the room except for Athena changed into their Roman forms. Athena's white chiton looked out of place in the sea of golden togas.
"You assisted in the return of the Athena Parthenos to its rightful place among the Greeks, as the symbol of their military power. When you returned, the Greek and Roman demigods were already engaged in battle. The Greeks lacked leadership, but you once again took over the forces of Camp Half-Blood and helped coordinate their offensive maneuvers in their time of need. Once again, you turned a Greek army fighting a defensive war into an offensive nightmare for their enemies. Your tactics and strategies surprised even my children, and even as the Goddess of Wisdom and Battle Strategy, they surprised and impressed even me. But your wisdom impressed me even more. You understood that he Greeks and Romans could not keep fighting."
Percy squeezed Annabeth's hand as he noticed her annoyed expression at her mother's high praise for the Son of Hades.
"After Reyna convinced the two camps to stop fighting and showed that the civil wars had finished, you reminded the Greeks of who I truly am: Athena Parthenos and Athena Promachos, Athena the Virgin and Athena the First and Last Warrior in Battle. Then you turned to the Romans. You gave them a lesson in their own history. You reminded them who Bellona truly is. She is not a 'purely Roman' goddess as they like to put it. You showed them that she is only the Roman form of the Greek goddess of raw warfare Enyo, counterpart to Ares, and thus Mars, in Rome. You reminded the Romans of the true reason why they won in the First Punic War. Due to my rivalry with Poseidon and Neptune, I had given them the wisdom to invent the corvus, turning their feared naval wars into a land war at sea. You reminded the Romans of who I truly am as a Roman goddess."
Athena here finally changed into her Roman form.
Annabeth gasped at seeing her mother in Roman armor. This was not how she had seen Minerva before.
Minerva was dressed in the purple robes of a Roman emperor and donned in golden armor with a tawny owl on her shoulder, the Aegis opened on her wrist, a twenty-foot golden spear in her hand, a bow and quiver on her back, and a seven-foot long sword sheathed at her waist. Her eyes reflected the deadly calculation of a strategist who had never lost a battle.
A long time ago, Percy had noted that Athena would make the worst enemy, but now, he realized that Minerva would make an even more dangerous enemy.
Reyna, Jason, Frank, Hazel, and all the other Romans on Olympus stood and bowed as Minerva stood up in her full glory and deadly beauty to stand next to Nico. She faced the Romans. The other gods and goddesses held their right hands up in the Roman salute in respect to the War Goddess.
"Rise Nico di Angelo," Minerva said in a richer and more resonant tone than even Athena had spoken.
Nico stood and faced the goddess, a small smile on his face and admiration in his eyes.
Minerva turned to him with a stony expression, but just the slightest hint of pride touched her eyes.
"Nico di Angelo, you reminded the Romans of who I truly am and destroyed their misconceptions."
The goddess turned to the bowing Romans and glared with the heat of a thousand suns.
"You reminded them that they feared me as Athena because I had protected Greece from their attacks for a thousand years and that I had sided with the Greeks in the Trojan War to defeat their ancestors. But then, you reminded them of my truest Roman forms. I am Minerva Armipotens, Minerva Bellipotens, Minerva Panteuchia, Minerva Tritonia, and Minerva Virago: Minerva, Destroyer of Enemies; Minerva, Powerful in War; Minerva, of All Destructive Weapons; Minerva, the Third Queen; and Minerva, the Supreme Virgin."
Percy watched in satisfaction as Octavian cowered under Minerva's aura of power and her sheer fury. The goddess pointed her spear at the sky and zapped it with a bolt of lightning. The gods watched her with impassiveness, and was Percy dreaming, or was that a hint of pride in Jupiter's, Juno's, and Neptune's eyes?
Bellona appeared next to Minerva and kneeled before the golden-clad goddess as well.
Minerva gave her an approving nod before turning back to Nico.
"Nico di Angelo, you reminded the Romans that I am not a mere goddess of craftsmanship and that Bellona was not the sole Roman goddess of war. You reminded the Romans of my role as a member of the Capitoline Triad, the three most important war gods and patrons of Eternal Rome: Jupiter, Juno, and Minerva. You reminded the Romans that before every battle, they would sacrifice to me to give them the wisdom and strength needed to win their upcoming fight. You reminded them that without my support, they would have never defeated Corinth and that they would have never reached their greatest extent under Emperor Trajan."
Minerva turned to the bowing Romans and gave one short, clipped command with all the authority of the most powerful and best generals and admirals and the most feared emperors: "Adorior, Romans. Rise before your Third Queen of Eternal Rome."
The Romans stood in unison before the War Goddess.
Minerva watched with the cold glare of a strategist about to defeat her worst enemies. Then, she turned back to the Son of Pluto.
"Thank you, Nico di Angelo, for healing me, for bringing both my Greek and Roman forms together as one. Thank you, Nico di Angelo, for helping avenge the wrong of Rome against Greece, bringing the two great powers together. Thank you, Nico di Angelo, for showing the gods their true nature as well as their followers. After reminding the Romans of who I am, you united the two camps and immediately set for Marathon to join your fellow demigods and the gods in the battle against the Earth Mother. On the battlefield, you organized the demigod armies into a killing machine with your superb tactics and defeated legions upon legions of monsters. With your extensive knowledge of both Greek and Roman strategies, you combined the two to create an arc of terror out of the two Camps. You made the Olympians an army that not even Odysseus was able to command successfully."
Minerva returned to her throne and zapped Bellona away by pointing her spear.
"I mentioned before, Nico di Angelo, that the gods had not gifted you after the Second Titanomachy. We intend to fix that now. You are the only demigod in history who was born to both a Greek and Roman godly parent. When Maria di Angelo met your father for the second time, he appeared as both Hades and Pluto. You are extremely powerful, and you have used this to support us in our fights for survival and have used this to protect our children. For your loyalty, support, ingenuity, leadership, tactfulness, strategy, protection of our children, and honor in the Second Titanomachy and the Second Giantomachy, the Council of Olympus offers you two gifts, one which you shall choose and one which we shall offer to your acceptance. And I personally, for your service to me as Minerva Bellipotens and Athena Promachos, offer you a third gift."
Minerva changed back to her Greek form as Athena, and the other gods and goddesses did the same.
"We will do this in order, Nico di Angelo. First, you are to request your wish, and then I will offer the Council's and mine." Athena's voice was much calmer and more soothing that Minerva's had been.
Nico nodded and truly grinned for the first time since he had learned that his sister had died four years ago.
"My Lady," Nico began, "It has been four thousand years since the Council of Olympus has been imbalanced. This has caused numerous problems, and it needs to be addressed now. After today, the Council will be fourteen, with an 8-to-6 ratio."
Athena raised her eyebrow. "And how would the Council be balanced, Nico di Angelo?"
Nico answered with a new confidence that no one had ever seen from him before. He adopted the look of a strategist about to plan his next attack and of a leader about to calm his soldiers. "Lady Athena, my wish is for the Council of Olympus to be rebalanced and restructured. First, the King and Queen of the Sky sit on the Council of Olympus. However, only the King of the Sea and the King of the Underworld serve on here. In order to balance the Council and create the 8-to-8 ratio needed, I propose that the Queen of the Sea and the Queen of the Underworld join their husbands on the Council, just as the King and Queen of the Sky serve. As for restructuring the Council, I point to the fact that five years ago, we lost two years of war preparations and almost lost another year because the full Council only meets once a year, on the Winter Solstice. This proved to be a strategic weakness in both wars, and it was further enhanced when Olympus was closed down prior to this war as the Council was unable to outvote King Zeus to reopen it. In order to prevent such a failing from ever happening again, I propose that the full Council of Olympus meet three additional times a year to the Winter Solstice. The gods have traditionally met on the Winter Solstice so as to increase their power. However, I suggest to the Council of Olympus that they should meet at both Equinoxes and the Summer Solstice as well, so that problems can be addressed as quickly as possible."
Athena almost smiled. "You are wise beyond your years, young one. Perhaps it is time you accepted your true age and knowledge."
With a wave of Athena's hand, Nico began to grow in front of everyone. He increased from a 5'6" fourteen-year-old to a 6'3" sixteen-year-old. The other demigods gaped at him. With the change came a more powerful aura and a stronger Nico di Angelo. The dark aura around him became even more dominant, and for the first time, his broad shoulders and lean frame became clear to everyone.
Athena nodded, satisfied. "You now reflect your true wisdom and knowledge, Prince of the Underworld. The Council will vote to approve your suggestion."
"All in favor of expanding the Council of Olympus to sixteen members with the addition of Hades, Hestia, Persephone, and Amphitrite and in meeting at all Solstices and Equinoxes?" Zeus called.
All twelve voting members' hands rose.
"This motion passes 12-0-0," Zeus decreed.
Athena nodded to her father and turned back to Nico.
"Now, it is our turn. I first offer you my personal gift, Nico di Angelo, Champion of Hestia. I offer you my patronage. Your wit, wisdom, and strategic mind have impressed me many times over. As my Champion, you will have all the honors of my own children, and you will become the leader you were always meant to be. The only thing I ask of you in return is that you foreswear romantic love, the realm of Aphrodite."
Nico raised his eyebrows, and an inkling of hope edged its way into his eyes. "Will you protect me from Aphrodite's realm, My Lady?" he asked.
Athena nodded. "You will take a vow of chastity, same as I have, and I will become your eternal Patron."
Jason interrupted frantically, "Nico, you can't!"
"Silence, Son of Jupiter," Athena ordered with a glare, "It is his choice. Let him do as he wishes."
Jason ignored Athena and addressed Nico in front of everyone. "Nico, I know it might seem hopeless now, but you're young. Remember that. You still have your whole life ahead of you. You still have a chance at winning happiness. Please, just give it a chance," he finished with a begging tone in his voice.
Athena glared at him but did not say anything. This was Nico's battle.
Nico turned and looked at each of the nine other demigods in turn. Most looked shocked that Jason would have the courage to give such an outburst in front of the Olympian Council. Thalia and Reyna had expressionless faces; Piper and Annabeth had thoughtful expressions as they tried to reason through the rationale.
"It is my life, Jason," Nico said coldly, "It is my choice, it is my future."
Jason looked sadly at Nico but stood down. Nico turned back to Athena.
"My Lady, will you protect me from ever being influenced by Aphrodite's realm again?"
Athena nodded. "I will make it so that you will be free from all romantic attachments, including any you had in the past and might currently have."
Nico looked up at his goddess. "What is my fate, Lady Athena?"
"We do not know," the goddess responded. "As you ponder my personal offer, I will reveal the Council's offer. We offer you godhood, Nico di Angelo, for your service to Olympus and our children these past few years. Should you choose to accept, you will become my lieutenant as the High General of the Olympian Armed Forces and serve as the Patron of all Demigods. You will be the god of Fort Olympus, and you will answer to me as the Field Marshall of the Olympian Armed Forces. You will become a minor god of battle strategy as well as a minor god of the Underworld."
Nico's eyes widened in shock at the magnitude of what he was being offered.
"As to your fate, we do not know. The Moirai are here to speak to you." Athena said as the three old women flashed to the throne room.
The middle Spinner said, "Nico di Angelo, we have not woven your thread of life. We are waiting to see what you say to the choices offered to you today. We will finish weaving your strings based upon those choices. Good luck."
With that, the Spinners flashed out, leaving a room of dumbfounded gods and demigods.
Nico said softly, "So whatever I say, it is purely my own choice. No one else has a stake in this?"
Athena nodded. "It is yours and yours only, demigod. Choose wisely."
Nico turned to look at the nine demigods behind him, the closest he had to friends. Jason continued to plead with his eyes, but the rest of them only looked shocked at Nico's situation.
"I accept your patronage, My Lady," Nico said, turning back to Athena, "but I want to wait on the offer of immortality. I will come back to the Council in some time."
Athena smiled sadly at him. "So be it, Nico di Angelo. For all your service, this is the least we can do. For my patronage, repeat the following: I swear my life to the legacy of Athena and Minerva, and I take this vow of chastity to never look upon Love again and accept the goddess' protection from Love."
Nico repeated the words, and the tawny owl on Athena's shoulder circled him once and returned to his perch.
"Rise, Nico di Angelo," Zeus pronounced solemnly, "Son to Hades and Pluto, Champion of Hestia, Champion of Athena and Minerva, Prince of the Underworld, Heir to the Sacred Hearth, High General of the Olympian Armed Forces, Lieutenant of Athena, King of Ghosts, Master of Shadows, Protector of Camp Jupiter, Patron of Camp Half-Blood, Patron of Fort Olympus, Permanent Member of the Council of Demigods, Sponsor of Demigods, Hero of Olympus, and God-to-be."
All of Olympus erupted into applause as the sixteen-year-old god rose from his kneeling position and took his new mantles.
"Prince of the Underworld," Zeus continued, "You will continue through life. Your fate is now in your own hands. Good luck."
Nico nodded to Zeus, and bowing to all the gods assembled, he returned to his seat, ignoring the looks of envy and shock from the other demigods assembled and the one of pain and pity from Jason.
"We have gifted you ten individually," Zeus said, "as we had promised. Now, we will gift you collectively. For your loyalty to all demigods these past years, we have decided that you will all be permanent members of the Council of Demigods, which will rule over Fort Olympus, the new home of all demigods. Nico di Angelo will serve as the regent and voice of the Council of Olympus, as he is supposed to become the God of Demigods. None of you will lead alone anymore."
Hera waved her hand, and the throne room expanded again. Two more thrones appeared on her side, and Persephone and Amphitrite took their seats on the Council.
"And now," Zeus announced in pain, "We must turn to the infraction upon the Laws by none other than my wife, Queen Hera. The Laws decree that any who go against them will be sentenced to ten years' banishment from Olympus to Tartarus . What do you have to say for yourself, Queen Hera?"
Hera looked at her husband with all the regality worthy of the Queen of the Heavens and responded with no emotion in her voice. "A century ago, My Lord, I was given a prophecy that said I would face a choice: Whether to be ostracized for the actions I would take to save Olympus or to let Olympus fall and let my family live on divided. I took the risk. I will take the punishment as seen fit by the law."
Zeus' pain was evident. Maybe he was a cheater, but in the end, he still loved his wife after all the millennia they had lived together.
"No!" Annabeth yelled. "I'm sorry for speaking out of turn, Lord Zeus, but I believe my gift from the Council still needs to used. My wish is for Queen Hera to be given amnesty. She did what was right. She took action to make sure that our family would be preserved for another eon."
Zeus and the Council looked at her incredulously, and Hera's face was filled with open shock. This girl had openly defamed the Goddess of Marriage many times but was now defending her.
"Queen Hera," Annabeth looked at the Queen, "I apologize for my past infractions against you. You did what you had to do. You protected our family through the struggles of life."
She turned to Zeus and the Council at large. "Queen Hera might have broken the law, but as leaders, we are all taught that sometimes the most honorable and best actions are those that are illicit. Lady Hera did her duty to Olympus and her family. For that, I ask that she be given amnesty for breaking the law."
Zeus nodded slowly. "We agreed to gift each one of you, and Annabeth Chase is using hers now. All in favor?"
All of the Council raised their hands save Hera.
"Queen Hera, you are given amnesty." Zeus said with a hint of relief in his voice.
Hera looked at him coldly for a minute before turning towards the demigods. "Thank you for your service, young heroes. Annabeth Chase, you are to design the layout of Fort Olympus. I will meet with you separately to work through the details later. Now all of you, return to Camp Half-Blood."
With a wave of Queen Hera's hand, all of the 500 assembled Greek and Roman demigods vanished from Olympus and landed in the green of Camp Half-Blood.
Author's Note: Let me know what you guys think! This is actually my very first Percy Jackson and the Olympians/The Heroes of Olympus fanfiction, so I'm extremely nervous to hear your feedback. Please leave a review and thanks for reading! :)