Note: I do not own Percy Jackson, nor any of the characters related to it. I would like to point out, however, that only the invention of Percy Jackson, Camp Half Blood and other half bloods belong to Rick Riordan. The Gods and Monsters belong to the culture of Ancient Greece, a place held in high regard amongst history. I do, however, own Echo. She is of my own invention and I do not wish for any other to use her. I have not profited from this fan fiction.

Echo watched Annabeth carefully; her ice blue eyes filled with both concern and worry. She lurched forward with her inhuman grace and speed as Annabeth fell with a soft moan. She knelt, cradling Annabeth gently. Percy got to his knees beside them, checking out her injured arm, before shouting out for help. Athena and Apollo looked over immediately. Apollo's bright eyes lingered on Echo as she brushed stringy blonde hair from Annabeth's sweaty face. He walked over, with his dazzling grin.

"God of Medicine, at your service." Echo watched the Sun God with an odd look in her eyes; certainly not one Percy had ever seen her wear before. Apollo muttered an incantation and swept a bronzed hand across Annabeth's clammy face. She instantly began to look better, her bruises clearing up, cuts and scars healing. Her broken arm straightened, making Annabeth groan slightly. Echo's hold on the young girl tightened as she made her discomfort known. Apollo smiled.

"She'll be fine in a few minutes..." Percy smiled. "Thanks, Apollo." Apollo grinned, and looked up to Echo, staring at her intently. Echo looked up and their gazes locked, with a certain degree of reluctance from her. She shook gently, her eyes suddenly softening and she looked down at Annabeth, lifting her as she stood. Annabeth's eyes fluttered and she awoke with a slight exclamation. Echo set her on her feet gently, allowing Percy to wrap an arm around her waist to steady her, which made Annabeth blush. Echo gave them both a secretive smile, before leaving to tend to the wounded with copious amounts of Ambrosia and Nectar.

The next few hours were a complete blur of activity. The Gods repaired their thrones with a speed that was rather awe-inspiring, whilst the half bloods cared for one another, healing and welcoming more warriors as the bridge between America and Olympus slowly rebuilt itself. Tyson made his way to Percy the same time Echo did, and there was welcoming affection between the three siblings. Tyson hugged both Echo and Percy in a hug that could have crushed them both, Echo kissed her brothers cheeks tenderly.

"You will do well, Perseus Jackson. My brother... You will go far." She said, with a frightening degree of finality. Percy frowned and opened his mouth to question her, when a conch horn sounded and she stood, pushing her long black hair into her net of pearls; her object of immortality. Her eyes were sorrowful. Poseidon strode into the Throne room, his trident glowing in his hand, and looking as young as Percy remembered. He went immediately to his children and embraced them each in turn. As he turned to Echo, Zeus' voice roared across the room. He had taken his throne and the other Gods were following suit. "Well, Poseidon? Are you too proud to join us in council, my brother?" Zeus held Poseidon's gaze challengingly. Poseidon looked to his children and winked. "I would be honoured, Lord Zeus." As with that, the Olympian Council convened.

The demigods stood solemnly, awaiting the verdict of the Council. Echo watched the Gods with a burning ferocity. Her eyes were completely focussed; her hand kept wandering to her hair. She smiled slightly as Tyson received his award, and laughed when he asked for a 'stick'. She almost glowed with pride when Annabeth was able to finally pursue her dream of making something that would last for aeons. She was even slightly surprised when Percy rejected the immortality offered to him. Her confusion however melted away when she witnessed the heated glance between himself and Annabeth and she smiled, immediately melancholy. She glanced at Apollo, and saw him watching her. She blushed slightly, regally, and looked away.

"Echo, my daughter. Come forth." Poseidon's voice boomed across the hall, but the voice was soft, tender. She walked forward, the blue, torn silk of her skirt swirling around her legs, her golden breast plate smeared with blood and monster dust. Her face, however, was beautiful. Her expression was that of a princess, aloof and distant, but the lines etched into her face showed just how much the battle had taken its toll on her. Her expression was one of overwhelming sorrow and her eyes revealed her pain. She curtsied to Zeus and knelt down in front of her Father, as was the custom. Zeus regarded her with concern, but Poseidon looked almost frightened.

"Rise, my Daughter." She did so, but could not look into her Father eyes. Athena frowned. "I sense there is something this tortured soul wishes to tell us. Echo... you have never been one for holding back. Say what you mean, and speak freely."

Echo looked up, first to her Father, then to Apollo. "As you wish." She spoke with care, as if it was something she had thought about much, but that which pained her. "Father, I am the Eldest of the Immortal Heroes. I have killed so many, and fought for so many causes. I have watched my friends and comrades fall. I have watched entire civilisations wiped out by the destructive nature of the human race. Now, I fear my time has come. I cannot fight anymore, for I have lost the will. The souls that I rip from this world still come back to haunt my sleep. They drain me in my nightmares and I fear I will go mad. So, it is with great regret and with great relief that I give up my immortality, for I can no longer abide by the terms of it. I will live among Camp Half Blood for the rest of my Mortal days. I shall grow old and eventually pass on, and have my Lord Hades pass judgement on my soul. I... I am sorry, Father. I am over a thousand years old, but I can no longer do this."

Poseidon watched his daughter with grief etched into his face. He closed his eyes, as if in great pain. Zeus, to everyone's surprise, also looked hurt. Percy and the other Heroes could not quite understand, and their protests were lost in their confusion. "Are you sure you wish to do this, Echo?" Zeus asked; his voice impossibly soft.

Echo shuddered slightly, looked to Apollo once more, and nodded. Apollo looked in shock, as if he could not quite understand what had just happened. His bright eyes had widened and his handsome face looked as if he has just been clubbed by an invisible force. With shaking hands, Echo took her net of pearls, glowing with power and immortality, and removed it from her head. Her long black hair, never seen down before, fell, tumbling down to her lower back and she slumped, as if suddenly drained. Her knee buckled and she had to put a hand out to stop herself from collapsing on the cold, cracked, marble floor. Apollo finally awakened from his shocked reverie, and stood.

"I cannot let this happen. Echo, please..." He walked over to her, and grasped her elbow to steady her. She almost fell into him and he embraced her. She made no attempt to move, as she normally would. "I'm sorry, Phoebus... I can't do this anymore, I just can't. I have been immortal for many years, but now I just can't do it." She sounded close to tears and Poseidon looked away. Apollo looked heartbroken. "Echo... I have loved you for 700 years. I know, somewhere deep down, you love me too." He grasped her face, and wiped a single tear from her cheek. He then kissed her forehead. "You know I am right." He said with a hint of his usual cockiness. She smiled slightly. "Yes." Apollo rested his forehead against hers. "Then you know I can only live in misery without you." She chuckled, tiredly. "Always the poet..." She whispered gently.

Apollo looked intently into her eyes, his gaze fierce. "Stay with me. I don't want you to be an Immortal Warrior... I want you to be my Immortal Wife." He stood, though never wandering far from her. "I don't think anyone here can say Echo is undeserving. Perseus Jackson will not be joining our ranks today. I propose the gift of Immortality should be passed on to his Sister. She has served us for over a thousand years. She has killed for us, and worked for us. She has never abandoned us. I propose to the council that this woman becomes a Goddess... Immortal in her own right." Echo looked disbelieving, but both Zeus and Poseidon smiled.

"Those in favour?" Zeus' voice boomed across the vast silence. As she dared to look around, Echo saw that every single Council Member had raised their hand. She almost fainted there and then. Apollo smiled and lifted her up into a hug, kissing her neck. "My Goddess."

Poseidon chuckled. "If I may be so bold, I wonder if I could fill her title. I have just had a thought." Zeus grunted and shrugged. "I wish to make you Goddess of the Shore, my Daughter. Where the Earth and the Sea meet, and where the Sun always shines." Echo laughed outright, still enveloped in Apollo's arms. "I would be honoured, my Lord." Zeus smiled slightly, looking at Apollo fondly. "Demigods, I must ask you to wait outside. You will not be able to see Echo's divine form." The demigods, including Percy and Annabeth, reluctantly left, leaving only the Gods.

Echo looked around, hiding her nervousness. "So what do you wish me to do?" Poseidon stood and walked to her, shifting to his human sized form as he did so. He simply held out his hand and indicated that Echo should take it. Apollo reluctantly let her go, and Echo walked to her Father. With a deep breath, and no second thoughts, she took his hand.

She could never quite remember what happened after that, only that she felt the light that encased her, and changed her. The ecstatic feeling as her blood, previously that of a human, was replaced by golden Ichor. Her whole body tingled with power and as she opened her eyes, she could see the other Gods had changed into their divine form. She had never seen such beauty or their auras of power so dazzlingly clearly. Her senses had become amazingly acute, and she could feel this connection in her gut, like she could feel every wave that crashed into the sand on the beaches of the world... Of her own realm. The power she felt was amazing and she had never quite felt this way before.

Apollo walked to her cautiously, and as she turned to greet him, they both took an intake of breath. He was the most beautiful thing she had ever seen, and there was a fierce pride in her heart that she could now call him hers. As for her, although she didn't know it, she held a beauty rivalled only by Aphrodite. Her black hair was crowned with a golden circlet, with a single pearl resting on her forehead. Her black hair glittered with lustre, her wide blue eyes held the depths of the sea. Her body was now smooth and held no scars from the battles she had fought. She wore a long flowing skirt of the finest blue silk, hanging from a thick golden band hanging on her waist. A blue silk belly top, with long bell sleeves encased her top breasts and shoulders, leaving her smooth, toned belly on show. The sleeves were embroidered with tiny pearls and golden thread. Her tattoo, that of her trident, her sign of loyalty to her Father remained on the small of her back. She was simply stunning. Her father held out her hair clip, now golden rather than silver and she held it as it elongated into her Trident. She gasped in amazement. It was amazing, with floral patterns on the long handle, crafted with unerring skill. The head was dazzling, sharp and beautifully crafted. She smiled and flicked it around and drew it at Apollo's throat. It was a move that she used often, but when she used it against Apollo, it was faster than even Ares, who let out a low whistle. "I don't think there's any argument that she's a warrior Goddess."

Apollo smiled, pushing the Trident away with the tip of his finger. He took it in his hand and it shrank into her hair clip which he then put in her hair, his hands lingering in her dark river of curls. She smiled and, in front of everyone, he kissed her. It wasn't their first kiss, but it felt like it. Their new bodies responded in an odd way, and only Echo's extreme self control allowed her to break away. She blushed Apollo laughed lightly, changing into his normal form. Echo concentrated and followed suit, her beauty dimming but slightly. Apollo took her hand and led her out to the demigods; Echo frowned slightly and looked back to Zeus. "My Lord?"

Zeus frowned and looked back to Echo. "Yes, Young one?" Echo bit her lip. "I know you've done so much for me today, and I've really appreciated it. But I would ask one more thing of you." Zeus raised an eyebrow. Echo continued while her nerve held. "I wish to join Dionysus at Camp Half Blood." Dionysus chuckled wryly. "You want to join me at that damn Camp?" Echo nodded solemnly, looking to Apollo and smiling slightly. He nodded at her. Zeus nodded with a smile. "Well, when Dionysus' time is through, they'll need someone. Maybe that should be you." Echo smiled and curtsied, looking to Percy and Annabeth who were positively beaming at her. She winked with a smile.

Apollo came up and took her hand. She blushed slightly, but allowed Apollo to pull her away from sight. "It would seem you will only be my Goddess by night." Echo smiled, her finger tracing his jaw line. "You are always busy by day, anyway, my Sun God. Where I am without you seems insignificant to me, but I may as well spend it training young heroes." Apollo chuckled. "Zeus help us, we'll have an elite soon." Echo smiled and kissed him once more. "I hope not. But I hope that I can train them to defend themselves. And I can keep an eye on your kids." She said with a wink. Apollo smiled seductively. "I don't think they'll be any with mortals any time soon." Echo laughed outright with a light blush. "Well, I hope you will! They need their archers and healers. The Apollo cabin is much more important than you seem to think." Apollo took Echo into his arms and kissed her deeply. His hands roamed freely over her back and stomach, and she moaned very, very softly. With a strained frown, she stopped him. "Not yet. I love you, but I've waited 700 years for you. I can wait until we're finally married." Apollo grimaced but Echo silenced his protestations with a short kiss. "Come, I want to see Percy and Tyson. To be honest, if I stayed here with you for another minute, my decency is going to go out of the window." Apollo raised an eyebrow. "I'm not complaining." Echo hit him playfully. "Behave, Phoebus!" She chuckled and strode out to her brothers.

She got a hug from Tyson and found what was once crushing was now pleasant. She kissed Percy's cheek. "Well, we should get back to Camp, right? There's plenty of work to be doing, what with building the new cabins and everything. Of course, I'll have to speak to Dionysus about it, but I don't think he'll complain if I'm overseeing it. He'll be happy playing cards with Chiron, who I understand, is still recovering?" Percy smiled and nodded, Annabeth absolutely beaming beside him. "And I thought you were going to abandon us?" Echo smiled softly. "I've never forgotten my friends, or family. Ultimately, we're all related and I couldn't just abandon you to Mr D, could I?" Annabeth smiled. "No, you couldn't." Echo smiled as Apollo came up behind her, hooking a protective arm around her waist. Echo winked at Annabeth and grinned, getting a blushing grin back. Percy tugged on her arm and the heroes left to make their way to camp. Apollo frowned and squeezed Echo's waist. "Come on, let's go to Camp." Echo frowned and cocked her head, but before she could say anything he continued. "I'm the God of Prophesy. Something big is going down at Camp." Echo frowned, worried. Apollo grinned. "Want to try teleporting?" Echo bit her lip. "Sure..." In a blaze of light, Apollo was gone. Echo smiled and concentrated on her destination, fading into a fine mist of sea spray and light.

Echo's POV

When I opened my eyes again, I was standing at a place I knew very well. The shore lay out before me and I knew I was at Camp Half Blood. Standing, my bare feet in the sand, the sea washing over me, I felt more powerful than I ever had in my life. I felt like I could literally take on the world. I breathed in deeply, feeling the air make me more powerful. The sun shone brightly, and I suddenly realised how tanned my skin now was. Apollo cleared his throat behind me and I spun to face him. "I thought I'd find you here." He said amusement clear in his voice. I felt that wave of indescribable joy sweep through me. I looked at Apollo and I couldn't help it, it rushed through my veins of its own accord. I gestured to my newly bronzed skin.

"I thought sun kissed was merely an expression?" I said, with a challenging glare. He winked. "Only the blessed are truly sun kissed." I rolled my eyes. "Only you could be so modest." I grinned and walked past him. "Did you know sarcasm is irony's stupid cousin?" I turned to face him, but found I could not argue. He winked again, as if he knew he had won the argument. I chuckled, speechless before a strange feeling pulled me to look at Peleus. I frowned and began walking. Peleus was unravelling around the tree and growling a warning to a dark Pegasus I instantly recognised as Blackjack. I ran to Peleus with urgency. I could simply sense there was a Mortal on his back, and that mortal could very easily be killed by Peleus. My speed startled me, as I sped through the camp with the speed of the wind. I got to Peleus and jumped on his back, as I have done plenty of times before. As soon as he felt my presence he cowered and lay back on the floor with a slight whimper. I reassured him with a scratch behind the ear and soft words. He purred softly, before closing his eyes to settle back to sleep. I ran to the Big House and called out to Blackjack. He began to descend and eventually landed in front of me, I exchanged a confused glance at Apollo, who simply shrugged his handsomely sculpted shoulders. Rachel Elizabeth Dare was sat unsteadily on Blackjack's back. Sorry, mistress! Weren't my fault, she made me do it! I sighed.

"It's okay Blackjack." I held my hand out to Rachel and she took it gratefully as I helped her off of Blackjack's back. "Thanks... What happened to you?" She asked curiously. I smiled. "Long story cut short, I am Goddess of the Shore." Rachel widened her eyes and smiled, hugging me. I was startled by the gesture, but smiled and held her gently. Apollo came to us, and looked directly at Rachel. "I know why you've come." He said in a slightly stern voice. Rachel detangled herself from me, but didn't go far away. I'd protected her before and she trusted me. However, despite her obvious fear, she looked up to Apollo without flinching.

"I have come to become the Oracle. The curse placed by Hades has been removed, I just know it has. I was born with this sight for a reason. I was born to do this." She said quietly, her glare burning. Apollo smiled. "I know. Come along. You'll know what to do." He walked up to the Big House and looked directly up to the window, where the crumbling Oracle lay hidden in wait. She dropped to her knees at the Porch Steps and raised her hands to the sky. She sat still. I went toward her, but Apollo held me back. "Don't..." He gestured to Chiron, on a stretcher on the Volleyball court. Argus was close by. I rushed to him and knelt down.

"Ouch..." I murmured, looking at his sling, bandaged head and two back legs in splints. I chuckled. "Haven't we been here before, after the Battle of the Labyrinth?" Chiron smiled gently. "Yes, I know. Godly Immortality suits you." I smiled, blushing very slightly. "You were very brave, standing up to your Father like that." I said quietly. I needed him to know that people did care about him and what he did for the young heroes. I just didn't think anyone truly appreciated him. He sighed. I smiled, not wanting him to be uncomfortable. "It's okay. I just thought you should know we do appreciate what you've done for us." I smiled, before looking up to Argus. "Percy and Annabeth will be arriving at the Shore soon on Hippocampi. Can you go greet them?" Argus smiled and nodded. He left, his eyes still watching us until we were out of sight. I looked back to Chiron. "Well, you should know Rachel is here. She's trying to become the Oracle..." I said, a worried frown creasing my forehead. Chiron winced as he tried to move. I put a hand on his shoulder and pushed him down. "You shouldn't move. Maybe Apollo can speed up your recovery, but you can't move right now." Chiron grimaced. "I invited herm but maybe I shouldn't have. May... Last time..." I held up a hand to silence him. "Last time, Hades put a curse on the Oracle. I... I think that maybe it's lifted." He stared at me sternly. "... Maybe?" I sighed. "I... I wouldn't let her do it if I thought she would be hurt. I don't think Apollo would either."

I looked up at Apollo and Rachel and my stomach churned with nerves. I didn't know what was going to happen. For the first time since becoming a Goddess, I felt fear.