The shadow of Olympus

He stood tall knowing that he would be abandoning his life. He couldn't do it anymore. The death of his friends, the gods asking favours constantly, and being reminded that he was the son of the great and powerful Poseidon. Despite his constant efforts to bring peace to western civilization, correcting mistakes of the carelessness gods, and finding out that Annabeth needed space when her entire cabin was executed before her eyes; the sons and daughters of Athena had vanished. He stood tall, standing next to Hestia as he watched the flames lick the air around them… hungry for more.

He looked at his great Aunt as she tended the flame with a small stick moving the wood and oxygenating the asked "Aunt Hestia, why did you decide to give up your seat?"

H: "for peace."

P: "no, I understand why a seat was taken away. I get that it was for the balance of power and everything. But why was your seat specifically taken?"

H: "for the last 3000 years, I have lived. I have watched and been apart of the massacres, genocides, and deaths of millions of people for ignoble reasons. When Lord Zeus demanded that I step down, I told him to give me some time to decide… albeit he would force me down regardless, I needed some time to come accept those conditions. But over the next few days, I seriously considered what I had been apart of. And I realized that I didn't want to be one of the fools that led Olympus to its death."

P: so rather than be a part of the guiding role in the world, you decided to let some power hungry paranoid younger brother take control. What, did you just plan on dying so soon?

H: Percy, I would advise you to watch your tone… you still are speaking to a powerful goddess…

P: my apologies Lady Hestia, its just that I don't quite understand why, as the most levelheaded goddess, you would choose to leave the throne.

H: Because I had faith in my younger brother, just as we all had faith in you. And while he is hot headed and competitive, he chooses positions in which he can rely on himself. Zeus doesn't trust many people, and so if he can control situations, he can usually save us from harm. There is no doubt in my mind that he has made mistakes, and this past war was a perfect example. But Zeus takes what has occurred in the past, and chooses to make decisions based on the outcomes of similar events in the past…

Percy continued to look into the flames as Lady Hestia tended the hearth. He felt sad and heartbroken. The pain was building as he started naming all the people that had died. Lady Hestia put down the stick she used to tend to the hearth and looked at Percy straight in the eyes. Percy locked eyes with and lady Hestia reached out her hand to his. He felt the warmth flow through him.

H: it is not your fault. The fates made the decision—

Lady Hestia snapped her eyes from Percy's and look straight at the Council's temple.

They are ready for you…

Percy thanked Lady Hestia as he began to ascend the many stairs into the inner part of the council's chamber. After many steps, Percy looked upon the doors of the Olympian council… "the true doors of death" he thought to himself. He gathered his strength and pushed opened the doors into a decorated room with the twelve Olympians seated on their thrones of power. Eleven pairs of eyes followed him as he bowed into the throne room and began to walk towards the king of the gods. The only person that refused to look at him was Athena… her eyes were to the floor as the tears dropped from her godly height. As Percy walked toward Zeus, he stopped in front of Athena still facing Lord Zeus. He pulled the thirty five necklaces from his inner jacket pocket while maintaining eye contact with the king of the gods and laid them down at Athena's feet.

P: the necklaces belonged to your sons and daughters.

Percy continued to walk until he stood in front of Lord Zeus. He dipped his head as a sign of respect.

Zeus looked down at him before beginning to speak.

Z: Percy Jackson… you have done well. Despite my wife's interference with the two camps and switching you and my son Jason, Olympus will still flourish. All is well with the world and my rule, wouldn't you agree Perseus?

P: Olympus has survived Lord Zeus. By no means are we flourishing at any point. Hundreds if not thousands of the sons and daughters of Olympus have died and you summon me to tell me that under your rule we have flourished?

Poseidon: Percy. Poseidon looked at Percy with a sense of concern on his face and motioned him to keep his cool.

Percy looked back at his father, at Lord Hermes, and then back to Zeus.

P: No wonder Luke wanted to tear Olympus down brick by brick. You all have failed your duty as rulers, as parents, and as guardians.

Zues: You would do well to hold your tongue boy before you make more than one Olympian mad at you.

P: I better hold my tongue? I rescued your bolt, saved your daughter, stopped a war between my father, Hades, and yourself, saved your daughter Artemis from the sky, defeated the Titans that wanted to kill Bessie. Defeated Kronos in this very room, and then sailed to Greece, closed the doors of death, and defeated the Primordial God Gaea. Don't tell me I'm making enemies Zeus, all of you are now my enemies. You threatened me with death and I would happily embrace if you fight the ancient laws. But you can't. So let this serve as a warning to all Olympians… I'm Done. Don't Fuck With Me. And as a final wish, as I have been granted like last time, I three things.

Zeus: YOU DARE THREATEN US? WE COULD DESTROY YOU HALF BLOOD!

Poseidon: YOU WILL NOT TOUCH MY SON UNLESS YOU WANT THE WAR OF YOUR LIFE!

Zeus: YOUR SON THREATENS US WITH WAR AND DEATH. YOU EXPECT ME TO DO NOTHING?

Poseidon: Yes. He is right. We have all asked too much of him. Percy, we ask that you do not become the enemy of Olympus. You are our hero, our champion.

P: I am no longer anyone's pawn. Grant me my wish and I will leave.

Zeus: What is your wish halfblood.

P: swear on the styx.

Zeus: Not this shit again… fine. I, Zeus, on the behalf of the Olympian council, promise to carry out the wish of Percy Jackson such that it is reasonable and i swear to uphold this promise on the river styx.

P: Give Lady Hestia and Lord Hades thrones on the council increasing the number of Olympians from twelve to fourteen and grant me immortalilty.

Poseidon: You ask a lot from all of us.

P: you have treated your eldest brother and uncle, and eldest sister and aunt like shit for the last 3000 years. No longer will that occur, no longer will one of the most powerful gods and the most levelheaded goddess be excluded from the fate of world. They don't like it? Tough, because now everyone is accountable.

Zeus and the rest of the council turned and watched Percy with fascination. None of them had ever been spoken to like a child anymore. Zeus motioned to Artemis.

Zeus: Artemis, grant Percy Jackson the same immortality as your hunters.

Artemis pointed her hand at Percy and he was immersed in silver light.

P: Thank you. Heed my warning, I am no longer anyone's pawn. Good bye.

Percy began to walk out of the throne rule and stopped in front of Athena's throne. He put his hand in his pocket and pulled out a ballpoint pen. He clicked it, and as riptide appeared, he stabbed the blade into the ground next to the necklaces of the Athena campers. The blade stabbing through marble echoed through out the temple, ringing in everyone's ears.

P: this is my tribute to you Athena. May you keep the sword that killed every last monster that killed your children. By your leave.

Percy walked out of the throne room, and away from his life.