In the distance if your peering eyes allowed, you could see the growing shapes of a small army of mermen on dolphins swimming towards a gated, gold city and their spirits rose high from that of a gloomy battle as they gained ground on their home who sat like a beacon to their weary souls. A single figure rode on a dark creature, leading the men. He wore a helmet, and body armor on his chest, and arms. A single trident emblem stood out in the center of his chest armor, showing he was of high status. The brigade halted meters away from the tall, gold gates that were the only entrance to the beautiful city, while the tall, armored figure held back the reigns of his manta ray short of two armed guards barricaded the entrance. Immediately the guards turned, opened the tall gates, and bowed where their snouts nearly hit the sand. The man nodded his head in thanks before leading the men behind him into their city.

Many merfolk of the common came and cheered as their fellow citizens rode through the streets. The leader could feel their urge to run to their families and held out a hand. Immediately the brigade halted, though the cheers didn't stop. Deciding to keep up the tough leader act, he waved a hand and grinned to himself as the men behind him were released from their service. His grin grew when he heard the rejoicing sounds of different names being called and the audible crying of some. They deserve a bit of time with their families he thought fondly. The man he telepathically then sent waves to the exhausted, but dutiful dolphins that they could rest easy before he straightened his posture and rode his manta ray to the palace's doors.

A few meters from the gleaming castle before him, the armored man got off his black companion, petting it affectionately before then releasing his hold over it. The manta eagerly swam off after bowing lowly as of saying thank you. His eyes softened before a mixture of excitement and nervousness bubbled up in his chest. He was finally home and not off fighting in the Out Trenches.

"Hail First son of King Neptune, Prince Perseus Jackson!" The serving guards shouted in unison, saluting their prince. The boy took off his helmet, his lips in a charming smile.

"At ease." He said, humor edging into his voice. His grin fell naturally into a relieved smile as the handsome prince swam through familiar halls. Sighing his sea eyes gazed around soaking up everything about his home, re-memorizing it to see if he had forgotten anything. His heart gave a tug, and his eyes bit strangely; he was so happy to be back home. He had missed it constantly in those seven months, and couldn't wait to sleep in his kelp bed tonight in forever.

Percy swam down the hall that lead to the throne room, and froze to see his father siting on his throne looking as regal as ever. From his dark hair that held stripes of gray and his dark stubble, to the weariness that showed in the fine wrinkles that creased his brows. Percy bit his lower lip his eyes stinging, he'd never thought he would be so happy to see his father again. Especially considering how they left off all those months ago.

Swimming into the throne room, the sea-king looked up to see his eldest son and his face broke out into a huge grin. Poseidon opened his mouth to say something to his son when a loud squeal beat him to it.

"PERCY!" The loud, shrilly scream was probably heard through out the castle. Percy's eyes grew a bit wider in surprise at the sudden sound in the other wise quiet surroundings, and found himself being tackled. Grunting, he thankfully kept his balance his arms going around the figure that had him in a death hug. Percy grinned and laughed, prying off the girl before fondly hugging her properly.

"There is my girl!" Percy said grinning broadly, resting his chin on top of her head while his sister who was hugging him like she would not ever let go, and honestly Percy did not want her too. He had missed the feel of family, and her hugs.

Percy had many half siblings, though many other them were Cyclopes that worked in the king's armory, otherwise known as the blacksmith forge. Percy was eleven when Poseidon brought home Kalil (Kai) who had been fourteen, but acted like she was an eight year old. She had been orphaned when she was young, and had no one, so when the sea-king found her he took her in. Immediately, Percy assigned himself as the older brother role, even if she was older by three years. Poor girl would have horrible breakdowns, but Percy was always there for her.

Percy kissed the top of Kai's head hating to be the first one to pull away, before breaking the hug, and smiling down at her, soaking up her image. She did not look much different but he felt like something was. Maybe it was the way she smiled or a new nail polish but he felt that something had changed. Kai had wavy, pale purple hair till the bottom where it grew dark within the same shades of the color, and she had wide calico eyes though sometimes she would part her thick bangs where you could not see her right eye. Her left eye was pure blue like that of glacier ice (that he had seen only once while on his travels) and her right was dark green. Her wide smile showed off her dimples, and highlighted the many freckles scattered on her face, including the beauty mark over her left eye. Kai's tail was silver that shaded darker to black, and Percy noticed she had a tattoo just above her tail line, and decided to ask about it later.

Just then Poseidon cleared his throat and Percy looked up and over at his father. A small rise of hope broke him as he looked at his father waiting. Percy managed to keep a cool facade, and met his father's eyes.

"Son." Was all he said, nodding his head.

"Father." Percy said nodding back using the same tone, noticing out of the corner of his eye that Kai was standing beside him now. Percy felt the death of that hope he had foolishly let build and be replaced by that of disappointment but he should have known better than to expect a warm welcome.

"How did it go out there in those lands." His father stated, and Percy knew it meant he wanted a brief report.

"The combat was more than expected but the over all process was unfortunate, my comrades and I experienced hardships but we have returned victorious. During the third month they took the commander (commanding officer) as prisoner for twenty three days, but escaped with required assistance of the second." Percy said coolly speaking in title on purpose.

Kia gasped and Poseidon's brow creased in the middle at the kidnapping information.

"Our squad managed to clear out the last of them when we ambushed their camp. The Sharks and the Shries made a minor alliance against us at one point that we had not expected. We got stalled along the path way home due to the transition we aided in as we delivered the leaders of the enemies forces to their execution for the neighboring kingdom and managed to salvage the alliance between our kingdoms once again."

Poseidon nodded his body sagging of its own will as relief washed over the sea king, before swimming up to his son and smiling, he pearly white teeth gleaming.

"I am proud of you son." Poseidon ruffled Percy's hair before swimming away. Percy's chest swelled with a painful emotion and the prince tried to control it when his father's voice said "Oh Percy."

The boy turned and looked to his father his eyes stinging, and pursed his lips to keep from biting his lip to control the tightness in his chest.

"It's good to have you home."

"It's good to be home dad." He managed out.

Those words made the pain go away, and Percy shakily smiled. He had said it.

Poseidon then left, and Percy looked over to Kia who grabbed his wrist and tugged, dragging him to her room. Percy laughed and they raced to see who would get there first, leaving behind the intensity of prior minutes.


Percy was rolling with laughter as Kia told him the story where she had replaced the sea king's food with colored molding sand, and how he spat it out the next second. The two siblings calmed down after a while of their laughing fits, and an easy but hushed silence fell over them.

"You got the tattoo?" Percy said softly, pointing to the writing.

Kai nodded turning for him to see it better.

People don't leave no matter how suddenly. They stay in our hearts and live on within us.

Percy remembered when he told her that for the first time she had had a fit. Kai had been curled up in a corner, rocking to and fro, screaming. Percy immediately went to her aid, and sent away the palace servants who had come racing. Percy held her when she spilled everything to him. How she wanted to kill herself, how much she missed her family, how she felt numb and had no one. How she had given up. It still twisted her heart when he thought about it, his little sister going through that. He had said the quote and she believed him.

Percy smiled to himself when his eyes caught his reflection in her vanity. Tousled jet black hair, bright sea blue eyes, dark brows, a crooked smile, a chiseled jaw. He no longer had the baby face he once had when he was younger, no now at seventeen he looked... how could he put it.

Rugged? No no... he looked handsome.

Kai distracted him when she tapped on the trident emblem he wore.

"Isn't that extremely uncomfortable? I mean you have worn it for like seven months, each day."

Percy shrugged. Now that she had mentioned it, the material was really uncomfortable, and had given him rashes the first month but he had grown into it so it felt natural to wear it.

"Can I try it on?"

"No Kai."

"Please~?" She pouted.

"Not a chance Sea Bear."

"Perseus Jackson did you get boobs? Is that why you refuse your own sister to take it off?"

Percy rolled his eyes, "Yes Kai because I totally got boobs. These sexy lumps are to amazing to be seen just yet kiddo." He proudly stuck out his chest and marched around acting like he was bouncing in the chest, and Kai howled with laughter her face turning red from losing her breath. The calling at the cloth curtain made Percy stop his spectacular bravo, and Kai quit laughing instantly, her expression curious. Percy furrowed his brows in question, usually she would be annoyed and he would have chided her.

Kai called "Come in!"

A tiny sea-horse about the size of Percy's hand, was wearing a ridiculous neck piece, strutted in proudly though he did get tangled up in the cloth for a moment. Percy hid his amused smile the best his could and waited for the creature to gather himself. Clearing their throat the sea creature declared in a high voice "King Poseidon has asked me to tell you of the wedding sire."

"Pardon?" Percy almost choked on the word, not believing what he just heard, his smile slipping from his face.

"Your Highness has been chosen to be in attendance to an arranged marriage as the groom that shall be held with in two weeks time."

"Two weeks." He said trying his best to restrain from shouting like a teenage girl would do, a swirling hot anger pooling in the bottom of his abdomen. The prince of the sea narrowed his eyes that had changed coldly with anger and the intensity made the sea-horse quite scared, so much that he had to look away or he would most certainly faint of fright.

"Marriage." Percy said as if it was a bad joke. "You expect me to marry... in two weeks..." Percy wanted to say with his boiling anger showing but instead shook his head his lips in an unpleasant purse. He should have known that his father would never say that to him unless he had some motive. Clenching his fists to the point his nails had them bleeding he shook in silent rage. He was so stupid. His father would have never say that to him unless his father had some hidden , twisted motive behind it. Kia tried putting a hand on his arm, but instead the prince sped past the sea-horse and knew that they would have a delayed reaction to notice that he was gone, a required skill he had learned out in the battle, and raced to the once place that had always managed to make him happy.

His secret grotto.


"Father!"

Oh dear. The sea-king that as he recognized that tone, and he was not pleased with the attitude in the slightest. Sighing, he looked on to where Kai stormed into the throne room, a fire behind her eyes.

"What is this talk about Percy getting married Father?" Kai said with some trouble as she tried to remain respectful. Poseidon moved uncomfortably, he hated these situations really they always had him out of his comfort zone. Kai's eyes were bold and accusing, so of course it did not help. Pathetic, scared of being confronted by an angry teenager, really now. A savage voice in his mind whispered. Firming his lips he sat up, looking down at his daughter.

"Percy is going to be wedded." He said simply.

"Why." The sea-king cringed slightly at the tone of calm in her voice. He actually wished she would yell, Kai's anger was worse when she was calm and it unnerved even him, the sea-king.

"His eighteenth birthday is soon-"

"One week." She stated.

"- and in order to have a stronger alliance with King Triton's kingdom, he has offered a marriage to one of his daughters. Percy will have his choice of course, and wed on the day a week after his birthday."

Kai glowered, her lips taunt and the sea-king continued.

"Perseus is the rightful heir and will soon take the throne. He will need a queen, and a strong ally."

"This is ridiculous. He isn't home for a few hours when you turn around and do this to him. Can you not tell that he simply desires to spend time with his family for a while? He is exhausted from trying to live up to the image that you set for him and how pathetic you are when you can not confront your own enemies. You could have easily fixed that problem in the Out Trenches, but no instead you send your son to fix your problem."

Poseidon remained silent as she stated her case.

"Maybe you have not been noticing or maybe you just do not care but all Perseus just wants is for him to have some of your love. He wants you to be proud of him. Did you even notice how his face lit up when you said that to him? Father please call off this wedding, you shouldn't do this to him. Not when he has just come home." Kai pleaded.

"It is done."

"But-!"

"ENOUGH KAI." Poseidon thundered, and the kingdom shook. Kai flinched, but she refused the urge to bow her head like she was supposed to as a sign of submissive. Instead she lowered her eyes, and felt humiliated by her father.

"The wedding is in two weeks. Tell Percy to prepare himself, we leave for Triton's kingdom in five days."

"Of course father." Kai said dejectedly before swimming away.

Poseidon slumped his shoulders, his eyes twinkling with sadness. Please let him understand that this is for the best of the kingdom. The sea-king thought to himself before rubbing the bridge of his nose with his hand and closed his aged eyes.