A/N: Honestly, sorry for the lack of update, but I've been busy with university stuff. Yeah, can you believe it? I started writing when I was like thirteen. Now I'm in university. Anyway, I don't think I've seen this kind of fanfic in this site so if you've seen this, let me know. It's basically the plot of Logan, so disclaimer to them I guess.
And yes, I'll continue the Olympia fanfic soon. Just got a bit caught up. Don't be pissed. Oh, and um, trigger warning. This story might get a little bit sensitive for some people.
Chapter 1: The Crusade
If you've read the books, you know how the universe is. These mythical deities know as Greek gods are real and they very much exist. They watch over the mortal world and sometimes even 'mingle' with mortals.
With that, existed demigods. Demigods have been around for centuries, since the beginning of the Greek civilization back in something something B.C. Some of those demigods live out to become famous people like Hercules, Perseus, Abraham Lincoln and Michael Jackson to name a few.
That last one was a son of Apollo.
Throughout the year, the existence of demigods are kept secret because mortals have trouble accepting the fact that some people are more special than them. Plus a clash between the two groups would not be pretty.
And yet, that exactly what happens.
A year after the war with Gaia, Percy thought finally he was given a break. Finally he gets to spend some time with Annabeth. Finally, the world isn't under the threat of some homicidal deity.
And yet, the Fates figured that they could twist Percy's fate in a way that it would effect everything and the very foundation of the modern Greek civilization.
It all first started when a demigod was in a fight with a Hellhound down at Central Park. The Mist covered the incident so that mortals wouldn't learn about the mythical world. They would probably just see a man playing with his pet poodle.
And yet for some reason, they saw the actual thing. A demigod fighting a Hellhound. It was on the news for weeks.
The second incident when a Cyclops barged into a Dunkin Donut store and started to empty out the menu. The Mist was supposed to cover that up as well.
Alas, it made into the highlight of every news outlet in the world. The Greek world was getting compromised.
At first, everyone pointed fingers at Hecate. She's the Goddess of the Mist. It was her duty to make sure that the Mist acts the way as it's supposed to. But Hecate denied that she did anything wrong in her job.
By her description, the Mist simply "didn't want to do its job". It was as if the Mist was an entity of its own.
This was proven to be true as no one, not even Zeus, can manipulate the Mist. This means that mortals can see things as the way they are.
By the time they realized this, it was too late.
Mortals discovered that demigods exists. A breed of half-human and half-god with special powers.
Annabeth and Rachel tried to do a diplomatic approach. They acted as the representative of the demigod race when the mortals demanded for a conference between the two sides. Percy was there as well, along with Jason and Reyna.
Annabeth explained that the demigods have been protecting the mortal world for centuries. She explained thoroughly that they had stopped the incident in New York, when Kronos tried to invade Olympus. She also explained on how they stopped Gaia from destroying the world.
That didn't go well with them. From the previous statement, you know that mortals have problems in living with people who are more special than them. This implies specifically to the more pious people.
They called demigods an abomination. They claim that there is only one true God and what the demigods claim as 'gods' are a sacrilege to the true nature of their God. They claim demigods are desecrating the name of religion and the name of God. In their eyes, demigods are rejects of Heaven and allies of Hell. Cast out of Heaven by the true God and believers of the whispers of the Devil.
They were threatened by the presence of demigods. They feel like demigods are powerful enough to take over the mortal world if they could, and that if they couldn't be made as allies, they're potential enemies.
Annabeth tried to settle the situation by saying that they mean no harm to mortals, but they were not listening. More accusations were thrown around, saying that demigods knew more than they're letting out and that they're planning to overthrow mortals.
When the word of this spread out, the mortals panicked. Then they conducted what became one of the darkest days of demigod history.
The Crusade.
In the name of God, they hunted down demigods and monsters alike. Mortals who sided with them are imprisoned under the reason of treachery and heresy. Demigods were hunted, killed, slaughtered. The unlucky ones were captured and tortured for information. Some of the demigods and monsters were even experimented on.
It was cruel and barbaric. The gods of all pantheon tried to intervene, but they were too weak. Something powerful was stopping them, weakening them. What that force is, no one knew. Not even Athena.
And so, the demigods are now reduced to somewhat of an endangered species. They live in hiding, away from the attention of the mortal world. Camp Half-Blood has been destroyed since the Crusaders invaded them. So many demigods died that day.
Camp Jupiter received the same fate. Though the Romans put up a good fight, the mortal forces were overwhelming. Casualties amount to hundreds that day from both sides.
Now the demigods are on the run. Living in the shadows and in fear. The Greek demigods had set up a small camp near . . . nowhere. They had fled so deep into the forest for several days with Crusaders hot on their tail that keeping track on where they were going seemed like a minor thing compared to staying alive.
Percy stared at the campfire that they had lit up. The tents they had set up was rugged, because they had limited time to grab the supplies from camp before they were getting run down by the Crusaders. Some of their tents were made from natural resources like sticks and leaves.
Percy could hear the sounds of the forest with the river running rapid a few meters away from the camp. He sighed tiredly as he looked around their campsite. Six ragged tents, each housing two demigods at most. Which means only a dozen of them here. Percy didn't know where the rest of his friends are. Some of them are on the run. Some are hiding. Others . . . Percy just hoped that they'd be okay.
Annabeth sat next to him. Even with everything that's been going on, she still managed to look beautiful. "Hey," She smiled.
"You should be resting," Percy said. "That bullet wound won't heal overnight."
Annabeth got shot on the shoulder when they were exiting Camp Half-Blood. That's probably the Crusaders' only advantage against them, which is their arsenal of weapons.
Demigods only have Celestial Bronze and Imperial Gold weapons, which does not harm mortals in any way.
"I'm fine, Percy." Annabeth said as she winced when she sat down. "Besides, there are bigger things to worry about."
Percy knew she was right. Where were going to go next? They were being hunted by everyone on Earth. No place is safe. Percy was tempted to Iris Message his mother, but he knew better. If they ever found out about his mom, she's going to be in trouble. And Percy didn't want to risk her life just for that.
"What do we do now?" Percy asked. "I can't believe in our lifetime that we would be in this situation."
Annabeth sighed as she rested her head on Percy's shoulder. "I don't know, Percy. We've fought against monsters, Titans, Gods, and even Giants. And yet, I don't know what we should do against . . . humans."
A dark thought appeared at the back of Percy's head. "We could fight back," Percy said.
The statement seemed to weigh in on the atmosphere. "I don't know, Percy. It's different when it's people. Monsters get reincarnated. Titans, Giants and Gods are immortal so they don't really die. But people? It just feels wrong. If we kill them, it's straight to the Underworld. Maybe to the Fields of Punishment or Asphodel." Annabeth shook her head. "Putting someone through all that. I just don't think I can do it."
Percy nodded silently. Annabeth did have a point. Even during the the war with Kronos in New York, Percy tried not to harm the enemy demigods. He would try to injure or cripple them, but never kill. It's never easy to kill people.
"Get some sleep, Wise Girl." Percy smiled as he kissed her on the top of her head. "I'll join you after my watch finishes."
Annabeth smiled. "Don't snooze on us, Percy. We're counting on you."
We're counting on you.
Those words echoed in Percy's thoughts throughout the night. Percy had been their leader at one point. They always looked at Percy to protect them just because he was the son of Poseidon. Now, he can barely keep these eleven people alive.
Percy tended to the campfire in front of him. It was probably a few hours after Annabeth had went to sleep that Percy heard rustling in the forest. He reached for Riptide and scanned the area. There were no movements, but the forest had gone silent. No critter sounds, no owls, nothing. The only sound he can hear is the sound of the river.
Percy tiptoed towards the edge of the camp. His heart thumped against his chest. He could hear rustling once again, this time even closer. He gripped his sword tighter.
He lunged on the other side of a tree, hoping to catch who it was only to find himself face to face against the tip of an arrow.
"Percy?" A familiar voice called.
Percy looked towards his attacker to see Thalia. "Thalia?" He was brought out of his shock with a very tight hug from Thalia.
"Thank the gods!" She sobbed. "I was worried about you! When I heard about the camp being destroyed, I thought . . . I thought . . ." She started to sob.
"It's okay, Airhead," Percy chuckled. "I'm okay."
Thalia managed a laugh. "That's good. If you died, I would've gone to Underworld to kick your ass one last time."
Percy smiled. "Are you alone?"
Thalia shook her head. "The Hunt sets up camp just upriver. I was hunting for food when I found your camp." Then, her expression darkened. "The Crusaders got us good. Our numbers are halved and no one is in fighting condition."
"Is Lady Artemis with you?" Percy asked. He was hoping to get some answers from Olympus.
Thalia's expression morphed from anger to sadness. "She is, but . . ." Thalia sighed sadly. "She's incapacitated. She doesn't talk. She hardly leaves her tent. When we try to talk to her, she just stared blankly into nothing."
Percy sighed in disappointment. "I couldn't get a hold of my father either. The Crusade must've hit Olympus hard."
Thalia nodded. "Why is this happening, Percy? We helped save the world twice and they fucking turn on you. How is that fair?"
"It isn't." Percy said. "It's never fair with demigods."
"Fair point," Thalia said. "Do you have a plan? Surely there's a way to fix this."
"Well, I told Annabeth that I plan on fighting back, but she didn't sit too well with it. I mean, she has a point. It's human lives we're talking about."
"Annabeth?" Thalia had a confused look on her face. Then, some kind of realization hit her. "Oh, Annabeth. I see."
"What's wrong?"
"N-nothing." Thalia said. She looked at Percy with concern, but quickly shook it off. "So, you want to combine camps? I mean, I know the girls wouldn't like it, but they can't argue. With everything that's been going on, we're going to have to stick together."
Percy looked back at their own miserable campsite. "Yeah, I think that's a good idea. We'll get moving at sunrise."
Thalia nodded. Just before they were about to say their goodbyes, Percy could hear a loud shout coming from somewhere in the forest. "Keep looking! They're around here somewhere!"
Shit.
A/N: I think it's a good introductory chapter. So, have fun with it.