Warning: Torture hinted at, though I won't actually write horrific scenes.
Disclaimer: Don't own Percy Jackson and the Olympians.
Ch. 1 A single choice shall end his days
Hyperion and Kronos glared at the beaten and bruised son of Poseidon before them. His hands were bound in spiked celestial bronze chains that cut into his wrists and poured golden ichor onto the ground in front of them. His eyes were closed and his mouth dripped with the blood of an immortal, or a god.
The titans were uncertain what to do with this mortal who had defeated them single-handedly and yet shared the same fate as them due to a cruel prophecy of the fates. Kronos, despite hating the mortal with a passion, had grown to respect the boy an immense amount for his power, the power of Poseidon.
XXFlashbackXX
Percy and Kronos fought, sword clashing against scythe as they battled for control of the world. Luke Castellan, traitorous son of Hermes flickered in and out of existence as the titan began to regain his true form, but Percy never once considered giving up. This throne room was the final battle and if he lost, everything he cared for would be lost as well. And so they fought on.
However, the battle was stopped abruptly as Lady Hestia, goddess of the hearth, summoned a fiery cage and trapped the titan lord so she could converse with the child of the prophecy.
"Perseus Jackson, son of Poseidon. This was the exact moment of your birth sixteen years ago and the time has come for you to make your choice." Her voice rang out and even the Olympians, who had finished Typhon and were headed back to their palace to finish the combat halted at the peaceful goddess' voice.
"I will save Olympus, my Lady." Percy answered immediately, ignoring the rage from the temporarily trapped Titan. Hestia gave a small sad smile.
"Hero's soul, cursed blade shall reap,
A single choice shall end his days,
Olympus to preserve or raze." The goddess quoted ominously, a tear leaking out from her eye. Percy's gaze fell to the blade in his hand. Cursed by Heracles when he stole it from Zoe Nightshade, fallen huntress of Artemis and a constellation in the night. It glittered innocently in the throne room. Kronos, sensing danger, did his best to escape and failed. Hestia gave him a bad burn for trying.
"If you chose, Anaklusmos can save Olympus, but the price is high, young one." Percy gave her a smile.
"I'll die." Hestia shook her head in disagreement, though her eyes betrayed the pain that she felt for making this hero choose between two evils.
"No, Perseus, you will be cast down into the pit of Tartarus with him, for as long as Tartarus wills. There will be little chance of escape, and you will suffer greatly." Percy Jackson flinched, but Hestia continued, more tears tracing her face. "In the process, you will save your friends and the god's from terrible fates." Percy's eyes trailed to where Annabeth lay, unconscious but breathing. "I am afraid you must make your choice, my hero."
Percy raised his blade and looked at his reflection. Hestia gave a sad smile before stepping back and waving her hand.
"I have lifted Achilles curse, as it is the only possible way for you to make this choice. Choose to fall and stab your heart and the Titan Lord will fall as well." Percy gave her a sad smile before flipping the blade in his hand so that it pointed at him. Taking a last look at the daughter of Athena that he loved so much, and ignoring the angry cursing of the Titan Lord, he stabbed himself through the heart, The Olympians charged in just as he fell, and Poseidon, unleashing his fury, called forth the sea to surround his son and give him some strength.
The sixteen-year old's eyes were glazed and he felt intense pain, but he still managed to smile at his father, though it was weak.
"Dad, I love you." He said softly and Poseidon instantly knelt by his side, trying his best to save him. "You must let me go." Percy said weakly. Poseidon began to sob, heartbroken sobs and below the sea became a churning mess, wallowing in its master's sorrow.
"We have to be able to save you, Percy. We have to!" Percy shook his head, even as the god of medicine tried his best to heal the fatal self-inflicted wound. Kronos watched with fury-filled eyes but he was ignored by all. He had no strength to do anything and so, the gods focused on their savior.
"It's too late. I made my choice for you, for all of you." His gaze fell to the unconscious girl on the ground, wishing she was awake but having to settlefor something less. "Lady Athena," The goddess of wisdom joined the boy on the ground, feeling intense sorrow for his loss despite her once strong feelings of dislike.
"Yes, Perseus?" She asked softly.
"Please tell Annabeth that I love her and I always will love her. Tell her that if I had any other choice, I would've stayed by her side for eternity." Athena nodded sadly before giving him a weak smile.
"I was wrong, Perseus. You were the only male worthy of her." Every other Olympian looked at her as she blessed Percy with her power.
"Use the blessing I have given you in Tartarus, young one. And may one day soon, the goddess of the pit determine you worthy and allow us entrance to rescue you." Percy thanked her weakly before looking through the crowd and spotting one of his least favorite gods.
"Lord Ares, please tell Clarisse that it was an honor fighting by her side." The god of war followed Athena's example and knelt to give the kid his blessing.
"This in no way means that I like you, punk. But I do respect you. I'd be a fool not to." He moved to the back again, and both of them tried to hide their distress.
"Lady Artemis," The goddess of the hunt stepped forward and knelt, becoming a twelve-year old again.
"Yes, child?" She replied sadly, her hand grasping his and squeezing it, allowing power to flow through him, giving him more time and her own blessing.
"Please inform Thalia that she's the best sister I could ever wish for and it was an honor fighting beside her." The goddess of the hunt nodded with a smile and rose, moving to Ares and Athena.
"Lady Aphrodite." The goddess stepped forward and gave him her blessing as well, though she felt that it would be useless where he was going. "I'm sorry for Silena's loss. She was a worthy hero." The love goddess gave him a gentle smile and moved back, sobbing gently into Ares' shoulder. "Lord Hades?"
Hades' moved forward. "I am proud to call you my nephew, son of Poseidon. I wish I could save you from your fate." Percy nodded once.
"Give my thanks to Nico, will you?" The god of the dead nodded and gave the child his blessing as well. Hera stepped forward and towered over the child in front of her, before granting her blessing.
"I do not like you, Perseus Jackson. But you saved my family and for that, I am eternally grateful." The other gods and goddess' all granted the boy their blessing as well, with various reactions until Dionysus and Zeus were left, The god of wine stepped forward first.
"Excellent job, Perry. You did well, for a demigod." Percy let out a laugh as the god of wine granted his blessing. Zeus moved forward last and Percy held up his hand to stop his uncle. His life was fading but he needed to get this out.
"This war happened because kids felt abandoned, my lord. The minor gods felt slighted and Lord Hades almost didn't help because he too felt cheated. And Lady Hestia was the reason that I saved Olympus. Honor both of them for they are the true saviors of Olympus. And please, my lord, give all the gods a cabin at camp half-blood. Perhaps then, another war like this won't happen for a while." Percy began to cough, turning his head away from the king of Gods. Apollo, on the other side, did not comment at the splatter of red liquid that fell on his clothes.
"Very well. I will return the thrones to Hades and Hestia as you wish and we shall claim our demigods as it is your final wish. I was wrong about you, as many were. I thought you would fail because of your parentage, but you are and always shall be one of the greatest heroes, Perseus Jackson. Take my blessing, though it may prove useless. We will find a way to get you out, and then you shall be rewarded as you deserve. I pray that my father is kinder to you than I think he will be, but I also hope you will not suffer long. Good-bye, hero of Olympus." Zeus stepped back as both Percy and Kronos started to fade. Poseidon sobbed as his son disappeared.
The throne room was silent, deathy silent and only Poseidons heart wrenching sobs filled the air. There was nothing they could do and all of them knew it. Hades, however, almost immediately disappeared, only to return a moment later.
"They have both entered Tartarus. There is nothing we can do but wait." Silence fell again, and still, no one said a word.
Annabeth, who had stirred as Hades' finished speaking, opened her eyes and took in the sobbing god of the sea before giving out a gasp. Tears trickled down her face and she turned to her mother, who was also crying silently.
"Mom, where's Percy?" She asked desperately. When Athena didn't answer, Annabeth's voice became histerical. "Where's Percy?" She asked again, looking around the room at the solemn gods. Finally Ares answered her.
"I'm sorry girl, but he's gone." Immediately the daughter of Athena turned to Hades.
"Bring him back!" She ordered hysterically, and Hades bit back a yell of anger and shook his head.
"If I could, I would. But he is in a place that is beyond my control. Only my daughter can save him now." Annabeth knew immediately where he was and she burst into tears. Athena wrapped her in a hug.
Annabeth Chase became a stone, not speaking and not showing any emotion. She was an icecube, as Apollo put it. She was broken.
XXEnd FlashbackXX
Kronos bit back a frustrated yell. The boy who destroyed everything wasn't even budging as he released the worst tortures he could imagine to break the boy. Nothing worked. It was as though the gods rid him of the nerve-endings in his body so he couldn't feel pain. And despite Hyperions 'gift' of immortality, the torturers still had to worry about his ability to fade which would save him from their torture for a few decades. Hyperion, who had faded inside the tree, stood behind Kronos as he paced furiously, considering his options.
The boy was loyal to an extreme that Kronos had never seen and it annoyed and impressed him at the same time. Currently, the son of the sea god was being 'entertained' by Prometheus, one of the weakest but most clever of the titans. Even Kronos admitted that the clever titan was, in a sense, the most cruel, always giving an update on the world above, adding a twist.
A bark brought the leader of the titans out of his thoughts. Before him, a black as night hellhound panted almost eagerly, his eyes wide with friendliness. Kronos stared at the beats before smiling cruelly in realization. This mutt, he thought, he knew. He had seen the hellhound in Jacksons' shadow. Immediately, he wondered if the loyalty transferred to pets.
"Do you wish to see your master, little doggy?" The hellhound barked, and followed the titan lord to Jackson's cell.
"- has refused to calm the sea. Your loss hit him hard and in response, he kills the mortals on the earth. Does that make their deaths your fault?" Prometheus stated, not noticing the entrance of Kronos. Percy's eyes flickered with sorrow, but, as always, he remained silent.
"I have a surprise for you." The Titan Lord stated, allowing the hellhound to push past him and bound up to the injured Percy and lick his face. Scrunched up with disgust as the monster slobber covered his face, Kronos received the worst glare that the boy had given him since they'd been cast down to Tartarus.
"Mrs. O'Learry, go home." He commanded, though his voice was rasping from lack of use, as he'd said nothing in however long he'd been down here. The over-sized dog barked before giving a bow, glaring at the Titan Lord and disappearing.
"Don't say I do nothing for you, ungrateful brat." Kronos said coldly, though he was pleased that Percy had spoken as it gave him hope that the boy could be forced into talking, if he could have a more permanent visitor to threaten harm to. Percy didn't respond, though a fresh wound on his lip showed the titan that he had stopped himself.
"Finally responding, huh Perce?" Luke Castellan stepped from the shadows where he had been watching. Percy gave him a half-hearted glare, before returning his gaze to the tiles below him.
When Riptide had cast Kronos and Percy into Tartarus, Luke and Kronos had separated, becoming separate beings. Almost immediately, the titan granted Luke immortality in return for his service. Luke had quickly become one of Percy's least favorite tormentors because he reminded the prisoner of camp half blood and Annabeth. Though Luke had never hurt Percy unless Kronos ordered him to, the stories that Luke sometimes told were reminders of the past.
"Perseus, look at me." Kronos ordered, only to be ignored. Waving his hand for Luke to force him, the titan considered Percy's silence. "Why are you so stubborn? The gods have abandoned you, your friends won't rescue you, so accept your fate. You stay here as long as I do. Obey and the time could be much more pleasant." Percy gave him a look that said, You seriously think that I would do that? Get a brain. Luke punched him in the mouth, shattering his jaw, but Percy said nothing.
Snarling, Kronos grabbed Percy's neck. The kid didn't struggle. Instead, he grinned as mockingly as possible, hoping to force the titan to 'kill' him and release him from Tartarus for a few decades. Unfortunately, that plan failed when Prometheus stopped his Lord by gently grabbing his wrist.
"If you force him to fade, he will escape punishment." Kronos nodded and released the teenager, who instantly gasped for breath. Luke moved from where he stood so that he was slightly behind the titan.
"Still a Seaweed Brain, Jackson? Can't you see that we'd be less forceful if you just obeyed and gave in for once?" He earned a glare.
"You're testing my patience, Perseus Jackson." Kronos warned, but Percy did not reply, nor could he because of his broken jaw that was slowly healing. Noticing this, Kronos called for someone to bring him water and pour it over Percy's head. As the liquid coated him, Percy's bone healed itself, but he said nothing.
Speak to me and you shall be rewarded. The stubborn kid only flinched as the voice entered his mind. Since nothing was working, Kronos stormed out, leaving Prometheus and Luke to try to get Percy to talk. Nothing worked and so Prometheus and Luke turned to leave.
As they reached the door, Luke paused. "I can see why she fell in love with you, Percy. How do you think she feels now that the only two men she loved abandoned her? Think she's joined the hunt yet?" Percy said nothing and Luke left, leaving the immortal tied up and silent.
A/N: The backstory behind the story- Percy's fate was different than anyone could have guess at the end of TLO. Instead of Rick Riordans awesome ending, I changed it to my own. In this story, the only way to defeat Kronos is to send him to Tartarus. However, the pit and the goddess controlling the pit (you'll meet her later) has cut itself off.
And so, a sacrifice is needed to send anyone into the pit. Due to both Luke and Percy possessing the achille's curse, they were bound together. So, when Percy killed himself, the bond dragged Kronos (who was possessing Luke) back down to Tartarus.
As for the blessings that each of the gods gave him, they will come into affect later, but I'll give you a list now so that if I forget later, you know which one is which.
Demeter: A never ending supply of cereal, whenever he calls it forth.
Dionysus: The ability to temporarily call forth insanity.
Hephaestus: an immunity to fire, more so than he already has.
Aphrodite: the ability to always look good, no matter what.
Ares: The gift to get an opponent mad.
Athena: Enhanced wisdom.
Apollo: Healing powers.
Artemis: Archery abilities.
Hermes: The gift of stealth.
Hera: The blessing of knowing the truth.
Poseidon: Power to control the water molecules in the air.
Zeus: Minor power over the wind and a guaranteed safe passage through his realm.
Hades: The ability to hide in shadows and safe passage through his realm.
So yeah. Please review. I'm gonna update as soon as possible. If you want to see anything in particular and I haven't written that part yet, I will see if I can work it in.