Hey, guys! I adopted this story because I didn't want it to end, and I hope most of you don't want it to end, either. Anyway, I give full credit to sapphire-zebra, for this chapter and for the next five, because she was the one who created those, and I also give her credit for making this story in the first place. Also, I do not own the books or characters, for most of them are born from the imagination of the amazing Rick Riordan, or also from my very talented readers. Well, enjoy!
Man's World
There are no words for the feeling of uneasy eeriness hovering over Greece. Like the burden of Earth's fault fell over on single town. One village: chosen by Nature. Nature had given power, the power to end this continuous cycle to this one area. Earth was reshaped a total of six times. Nature had wiped the face of the Earth and allowed man to start off.
Nature, man, and Gods were interwoven to live here, on Earth together. But, maybe that was too much for the same planet.
Nature understood that balance was essential for all these beings to coexist. Gods took pity of man and used their power to alter the course of destiny. Nature was not happy. Man had to figure its own sense of balance alone. Nature took it upon itself to rewrite the world each time. And each of those six times, Nature grew weaker. Until finally, Nature hadn't the power to wipe away all traces of the previous era.
Nature would be put in a position to choose: between restoring Earth back to its virtuous ways and let the story unravel as it may or to just let Earth spiral into its own destruction. Nature would remake Earth, of course, but this time one was gifted with the stories of the past. But, the blessing would have to be balanced with a curse.
Lady Annabeth, born of the seventh moon cycle of the year 1428 and daughter to the host of the Olympian spirit of Athena, was the poor unfortunate soul. Annabeth could feel things; terrible, brutal, intolerable pain that wasn't hers. Annabeth could see things; a story would be continuously playing in her mind. Annabeth was the only trace of the olden eras and this made her a target.
Annabeth was a unique case from the start. She was carried for ten moon cycles –an extraordinarily long period for a woman to carry. At the ripe age of nine, Annabeth was an accessory to a conspiracy.
The conspiracy was plotted by thee most powerful men in Greece: The Kings.
After the fourth or so revision of Earth, Nature took the Gods away entirely. Gods no longer walked the face of the world. But, their once existence couldn't be altered or concealed –even by Nature. Everything the Gods represented lingered over the people. And man learned how to take those lingering essence and bring them back.
It took years in preparation and years to perfect. But finally, the process of hosting a spirit was in play. Journey began at the high top of Greece. Thousands venture out, leaving the comforts of small towns and cozy backyards to walk the Path of the Gods. Starting outside of Greece, the Path of the Gods led travelers straight through the heart of Greece. On top of the highest and most sacred peak in Greece, rest in ruins the only building that survived the wipe outs. The pillars gave way and the temple crashed to the dirt.
The exterior was a mystery, while the contents were still very much identifiable. A priest spent his whole life mapping this temple. So that when the time came and all the symbols of power were in their hidden resting place and the solstice was high in the sky, the hosting began. One by one each man would take a seat on the seven thrones east of the rising sun and the Hearth; in unison, the women take their seats along the seven thrones to the west. If deemed worthy to host the spirit, one of the fourteen symbols carved into the stones surrounding the Hearth will lit. This process is done every fourteen years, assuming that no tragedy involving the death of a host occurred.
By the end of the Summer Solstice, if the fourteen stones are not lit and the symbol of powers have not revealed themselves, then it is rumored that Greece is no longer capable of harboring the spirit of the Gods. Meaning, Nature has made its choice and Earth will cease into oblivion.
The year of 1435 was the 182nd Hosting Ceremony. Again, thousands made the journey up to the temple ruins knowing that only fourteen were to be chosen. As soon as the light from the rising sun hit the temple floors, the hosting began. The first symbol to burn on the stones was a carving of a Caduceus. Two snakes interwoven overlaying a winged staff was the burning symbol for Hermes.
The priest walks over to the throne of Hermes and greets the new host of the Olympian god Hermes; he would now be addressed as King Hermes. He was the only merchant of his field in the hometown of Olympia. He is father to a young boy by the name of Travis. Travis is a feisty five years old. He was born on the third moon cycle in the year 1430.
And the process continued, but now on seat was taken. Six thrones to the east and seven thrones to the west –that's all that remained after the first hour. Seems as the Gods took a particular liking to this hosting ceremony seeing as by the four hour, five thrones were now occupied.
The three-headed beast carving lit the room in a burst of black flames. Then, Apollo's stone followed immediately. What was once a thriving and lively room was now silent. Greece's new King Apollo was roughly young. With a four year old son, King Apollo was medically inclined. At two his musical son, Samuel, was able to play a simple melody on his father's lyre. Samuel was born of the second moon cycle in the year 1431.
King Hades was a mysterious man at first glance. He said nothing of being the new host to Olympian god Hades. He simply angled body to the still raising son. Son, Nicolas, would be staring at that same raising sun, counting the hours until his father returned. King Hades was in poor condition, but neither father nor son would acknowledge it. Nicolas would be six as of the second moon cycle. Born the year of 1430, places Nicolas a cycle older than Travis.
Oddly, now all three men were from Olympia and had sons roughly around the same age. Priest and travelers through nothing of it, but saw pleasure that this year's hosting was flying past amazingly quickly. However, a woman sitting across the throne room had her suspicions when the next stone craving erupted in flames.
It was her throne's symbol; the flame of Olympian goddess Hestia. Her smile, as warm as the flames simmering above the Hearth, was directed to the three men on the east thrones. She normally didn't take to this men, for she had known them when she, too, resided in Olympia. But they hadn't done more than a slight head nod with each other back in Olympia. Her four year old daughter, Calia, would poke fun at her mother being a Queen.
The fifth stone of the day lit and anvil carving made everyone turned to who was sitting in the Hephaestus throne. Was it odd that yet another Olympia resident was chosen? Father to a troubled seven year old, the new King Hephaestus was intrigued by the idea of being a King. Others sitting on thrones knew his son from talk around the town and not exactly the sweet talk.
Hours more were put into this ceremony and the sun was beating down on them from straight above. Ten hours, so far, were put into this ceremony and only four thrones remaining: Ares, Hera, Persephone, and Aphrodite.
Newly appointed King Poseidon and King Zeus exchange conversation about their sons, who were waiting back at Olympia. King Zeus's son, Michael, was a hit with the Kings. King Zeus told stories of how Michael could hunt in the neighboring woods; and since all of the hosts were originally from Olympia, they knew the dangers those woods brought. King Poseidon's son was hit with the Queens; since most of the Queens' daughter followed soon-to-be Prince Perseus around the town.
The new Queens–Queen Athena, Queen Artemis, and Queen Hera–shared some civilized conversations about their daughters. Nobody would have guessed that Queen Athena's daughter, Annabeth, would be adored by most of the Queens. Turns out that being seven placed Annabeth as one of the eldest of the children and she had looked out for some of the younger girls. Queen Athena was proud of her daughter.
A self-empowering Cassandra, daughter of Hera, was well known in their secluded town. She radiated authority; however many saw this as a joke with Cassandra being six and petite. Her best support came from six year old daughter of Artemis, Grace. Grace was, well to state simply, the opposite of Cassandra in every possible way. Tall for her age, Grace tends to be in the back of the school crowd. Annabeth took an immediate liking to her, as did Cassandra, and together both up for Grace.
That puts six men in the east thrones and four women in the west thrones by the high sun. Queen Hestia had talked to Queen Athena during the venture to the temple and when Queen Athena took to name her throne they noted the odd chances of all hosts being from one town. "Something bigger is at play," Queen Athena whispers. "The thought of all of us in potential danger isn't ideal, but the gods have chosen us for a reason."
Queen Hestia nods and the ceremony speeds along. Queen Aphrodite takes one of the four remaining thrones a mere few hours before sun set. The Priest skips over introductions, but all the Kings and Queens already know of her. Queen Aphrodite has a seven year old daughter, Silena is her given name and flowers were her game. Every women, lady, and girl in town would get a flower on her doorstep as a symbol of their inner beauty.
It was a complete miracle that the only three unlit stones ignited simultaneously. Kings Ares, Queen Persephone, and Queen Demeter were pushed into their thrones and the unfortunate travelers make their way down the Path of Gods. (A.N. I'm super sorry for not introducing Turner, Son of Ares, and Rose, Daughter of Peresphone, and Katie, Daughter of Demeter (although you already know her). I am almost falling alseep on the keyboard. I will reintroduce characters in the next chapter since this is only the prologue.)
The Priest is to explain the next part of the ceremony very carefully. Each person is to stand behind their stone carved symbol. Taking their stones into their right hand, each person then faces their stone palm down and wordlessly places their hand into the flames of the Hearth. The stones and the flames will leave an everlasting scar; marking the bond between mortal and god.
Of the fourteen chosen, none speaks a word when told to put their hand into the fire. In a revelation, their hands feel absolutely nothing! Their symbol of power is etched onto their skin and the stone manifests into their staffs. The spirit of the Gods had never been closer to Earth and for a short while everything seemed to example perfect harmony.
Two Years Later -1437
The year is 1437, two years after the 182nd Hosting Ceremony and the start of the conspiracy. Olympia saw little change when the fourteen hosts returned. A trademark accident led to the division of the Kings and Queens of Greece. An aerial attack came down upon Greece; taking away seventeen neighboring towns and the fourteen women and men from Olympia. Each King lost a wife and a mother to their sons and each Queen lost a husband and father to their daughters. Who better, than a spouse, to target if you wanted to hurt the Kings and Queens of Greece? Nobody is the answer and that's why they were targeted.
Word spread across the globe about the assassination of their spouses. And during a war meeting between the Kings a secret message from across the seas was delivered.
To the Kings of Greece, were written across the top in fancy over-the-top letters.
We know of your troubles. We may be across the four oceans of the world but we are close in retrospect. I have a solution to the end of all your fears. You want to maintain the safety of your country for the future existence of Greece. I want to make sure that my country is not targeted next. In theory, we are on the same side.
The men paused; they didn't want to waste their time with yet another apologetic letter. They needed a solution! They needed to be able to have schools without bombing drills in case of attacks. Was this a way to achieve what all the Kings desire? The decree hadn't even a proper introduction; the Kings had no idea from who this letter was sent from.
I had chosen myself as a leader for my country. I took steps into bettering my people. I'm sure you've heard of the bombings in London before your attacks. Or perhaps the bombing in Peru? Whoever is the head behind the bombings is targeting specific countries. And after thorough examination, I saw one common appearance in each of the previous targets. Women. Women rulers. The women must be making unwise decisions for their countries. I trust that you fine Kings will put forth the best interest of your country and do what you must. Countries all around the Earth are having men rulers; only men rulers. It is safer that way.
Don't let your Queens be the downfall of Greece. If they truly care for their country they will step down.
Join the men rulers across Earth!
You might think this hard to believe. But, when your country is a target and there seems to be no other possible escape, except to go up, you find a way. And the Kings saw a possible escape. They would drive the Queens of the thrones.
From then on, Greece is a man's world.
Hey, guys, I will have one question for all of you who read, and if you can answer it (you have to PM me, I won't take the answers in the reviews), I will dedicate any chapters I have written to you. Okay, here's the first question.
What did Annabeth do to Percy after they kissed in New Rome?(hint: it happened in the mark of Athena.)