Jason was so happy he could blast Olympus. Gaea was gone, his friends were still alive, and Piper was holding his hand. Her hand was warm and smooth, and, as she sat beside him on the silver lined couch in the throne room of the gods, she was by far the most beautiful part. No offense to Annabeth of course. He had just leaned back into his seat when his dad, the almighty powerful Zeus with a not so attractive statue in Camp-Half Blood with a surprising resemblance to him, strode into the room. Poseidon, Hades, Athena, Artemis, Apollo, Hera, and all the other gods followed, each taking a seat on their throne.
"Jason." Zeus' voice boomed out, resonating around the massive room. Piper squeezed his hand tightly, her eyes strangely determined, as he stepped up to kneel in front of his father.
"Father." He said in a respectful manner, bowing his head.
"Rise, and know I am proud to call you my son." Zeus said rather gruffly. Jason rose and looked up into the stormy eyes of his dad. They were full of solemness with a little bit of pride too. "Though you were born under Jupiter" Zeus' figure rippled to become a stern man in a deep gray toga, "you have made your peace among the Greeks." His form shifted back to a man with a ruffled gray beard and a business suit, "You helped fulfill a prophecy that has been haunting the Olympians for eons, and now, you deserve an ample reward. I make to you now the same offer I made Perseus Jackson not so long ago." He said, glancing disapprovingly at the green eyed son of Poseidon, "Jason Grace, son of Jupiter, is it your wish to become immortal, and live forever?" Jason was shocked. Sure, he'd expected something major, but, well, not this major. He looked longingly around the throne room, his eyes landing of Piper. Her eyes were wide, her jaw clenched. He turned back to Zeus, mouth ready with a defiant no, when suddenly, he remembered all the monsters down there, 'in the basement'. In the Underworld. Wouldn't it be amazing, to be able to fight them, protect his friends, forever? Wouldn't it be better that way? And surely Piper would be offered it too, surely she would accept. Without looking back to Piper's urgent, vigorous shaking of her head, he stated,
"I accept." He did not hear Piper's sob, or Percy's moan, Leo's low whistle, or Annabeth's stifled gasp. Zeus looked triumphant.
"Your wish is granted." At first, it didn't feel any different, but then, Zeus raised his lightning bolt, which shimmered with a million volts of power, and one lone blot slithered out, landed with a gentle pop in Jason's outstretched hands. Grinning, he watched as the silver light merged with his skin, felt the strength that flowed through him, and he bowed once more to hide his smile. Turning, he moving to his seat, but Zeus said,
"Oh no, Jason. You have a seat here. A seat with the immortals." He waved his lightning bolt and a golden chair appeared, next to his father's throne. Jason strode towards it and sank into it, waiting for his friends to join him.
"Piper." Aphrodite's voice called softly, tinged with sadness. Piper walked up, trembling, her face streaked with tears. "Piper McLean, what is your wish?" Jason waited for her to ask, waited for her to say what he knew she would. She hesitated, glancing over at Jason, then turned to her mother.
"I-" Her voice broke, and she lowered her head. In a barely audible whisper, she murmured, "I would like to- to-" Once more she glanced longingly at Jason, before quietly saying, "I would like to become a Hunter."