Disclaimer: I, sadly, do not own any rights to any of the Percy Jackson characters or stories (though I should dearly wish to), as that right belongs to a certain Mr. Rick Riordan. I do, however, have the rights to my own imagination.
Chapter One: Whoa, I'm a God.
It was late, and the entire camp was dark. Well, almost entirely. One spark of light remained, tucked away in a corner of the camp, down on the coast, where the waves lazily washed against the sand. Percy sat there, lost in his own thoughts, listening to the roar of the sea and staring into the flames intensely. He had a difficult choice to make, and not very much time to make it in. After the War of the Titans, Percy had been feeling at odds with the rest of the Camp. Sure, he was heralded as the Hero of Olympus, and he could barely take one step outside of his cabin without being ushered in front of new campers as some sort of exhibit. The only thing that he really enjoyed at camp anymore was his sword-fighting classes, and even they were becoming corrupted by the nervousness campers had of going up against the 'hero' of the camp. He dropped his head into his hands and sighed heavily. Sometimes, and he knew this was a terrible thought but sometimes…..he wished the war was still happening.
"Father, what should I do?" he whispered painfully. Although he had initially refused the gods offer, he still felt that he was being ostracized from the camp and his friends. Maybe he should have accepted the immortality when he had the chance…
The sun was just starting to peek over the horizon when Percy lifted his head, and he watched dazedly as the ocean was lit a fiery gold. He wasn't even aware of Apollo suddenly sitting beside him until the god spoke.
"Camp life been a bit hard lately?"
Percy jumped a little at the voice, but relaxed again, "Yeah…." He murmured "Seems like everyone's treating me differently. Feels like….."
"You're almost a god?"
Percy jumped again. "How did you….."
"I know how you feel sometimes. Even though I love being a god, there are times when I wish that I wasn't. I watch my children from Olympus, but I don't think I ever really get to know them, because as soon as I meet them, they act nervous or afraid. All because I'm a god."
"Maybe, but you've always been a god. You haven't got any memories to miss, because you've never had them." Percy grumbled, sinking his head back onto his arms again and gazing moodily at the sea.
"Perhaps", Apollo shrugged, "but then again, maybe that's not a bad thing. And there have always been heroes who have felt the same way that you have. Look at Heracles or Achilles. They both got killed trying to find somewhere for them to fit in."
"I thought Achilles was killed in a battle"
"He was, but he fought because that was the only place where he felt he belonged. I bet you'd be quite happy living peacefully at camp, but you can't. Everyone still treats you differently."
Percy didn't know what to say to that. So he just kept quiet. After a few more moments, Apollo got up and stretched. "Tell you what, why don't you join me for a drive? Clear your head a little. Can't exactly delay the sun any longer or even the humans will start to notice something's up" He winked. Percy smiled in response. "I might just take you up on that offer".
Later, Percy sat in his comment thinking about what to do again. The ride with Apollo had been great; he'd even taken the wheel for a bit (though Apollo was clearly terrified it'd end up like when Thalia did!) It was the one time he'd felt equal with anyone in a long time, and considering Apollo was a god…well, it was causing complications to say the least. But it just felt so….normal. "I guess that settle it. I'm meant to be a god"
Strangely enough, he didn't really feel any regret when he said that. Everyone treated him like one anyways, and he could always come back and visit them at camp. The only person who didn't treat him differently was Thalia, and she was away with the Hunters most of the time. She was immortal too, so it wasn't as if they would never see each other. He could still see Annabeth, when she comes to finish the designs of Olympus, and Grover was a Lord of the Wild, so he'd be able to talk to him easy. It was just here at camp he felt out of place. Like some trophy only wheeled out to show the new campers. But now, this 'prize' was gonna get out. Rolling out of his bunk, he went to the fountain that his dad had installed….err, re-installed, after Percy had 'accidentally' smashed it last year. Throwing in a drachma, he said "Poseidon, Undersea Palace", and watched as his father appeared in the mist. "Hey dad"
"Percy", he smiled, turning around at the sound of his son's voice, "Are you ok?"
"Yeah, I'm as good as I'll ever be I guess. But I wanted to talk to you, about something kinda important".
"Really?" Poseidon leans back into a chair, and studies his son through the message seriously. Apollo told him of his conversation with Percy, and he's been watching his son in camp, so he knows that something is up. Perhaps it would have been better if Percy had accepted the immortality…
"Well, I've been thinking a lot and talking with some people" (people meaning Apollo, Percy thought) "and I've realized, that I don't belong here anymore. This camp doesn't feel the same as it did before, now it feels like I'm some sort of guest or lord or something. And I don't want to stay here. I've been wishing that I did accept Zeus's offer now" miserably, Percy hung his head and waited for his dad to say something.
"Percy", he looked up to see his dad beaming at him, his sea green eyes twinkling with happiness. "You know that I wanted you to become immortal, so that I would not have to lose you to a mortal death. If you wish, I will talk to Zeus and the Council on your behalf, to see if the offer can be remade."
Percy could already feel a grin stretching across his face, "Thanks dad!" he yelled.
"I guess, all that's to be done now, is for you to get up to Olympus. I'll meet you there son." Poseidon smiled as he ended the message. Percy was ecstatic. For the first time in weeks, he felt whole again, like he would finally have somewhere to belong again. Racing out of his cabin, he ran to find Chiron, to tell him what he'd decided. Needless to say, Chiron was extremely happy for him.
Later that evening, Percy was walking into the Empire State Building, with a spring in his step and a smile that felt a mile long. He walked straight up to the desk, and was immediately directed to the elevator. He flipped a drachma at the man for good luck, and rode the elevator up to the 600th floor in a daze. Everything seemed brighter to him now, as he realized he'd been carrying a weight in his heart since the day he'd become the hero of Olympus. He'd turned down immortality for what he thought was true love, but once Annabeth had achieved her dream, he began to see that nothing was more important to her than her work. Even when he'd told her that he'd wanted to break up, she was more concerned about designing another temple. Even now, he didn't feel anything, but a sense of detachment when he thought of her. 'Proof that it would've never really worked out' he thought with a shrug. Finally, the doors opened and Olympus was revealed in all it splendor. Err…well, as much splendor as could be seen under rubble and scaffolding that is. Dodging around a few nymphs carrying statues, he ran up towards the throne room, where all the Gods were in session. When they saw him come in, they stopped talking at once. Percy looked up, and saw most of them staring at him. Ares looked madly excited, but then he usually was mad about something. Hades was poker-faced, so Percy couldn't begin to guess what he was thinking. Apollo was grinning cheekily, and Artemis was scowling at him. His own father was smiling encouragingly and Athena was glaring at him. But was it just his imagination, or were her steely eyes softer than they were when he'd been dating Annabeth, her daughter. Finally, Percy turned to face the biggest throne, that of Zeus. His electric blue eyes seemed to glow for a moment, then he smiled and the tension in the room visibly relaxed. "Perseus Jackson" he said, "The Hero of Olympus returns. Poseidon has told me of your request."
Percy gulped, "Yes, Lord Zeus. I wish to become immortal."
"And why have you come to this decision now, with a wish that you originally refused?" Zeus questioned. Percy wasn't sure whether he simply wished to know or whether he was still mad at him for refusing the first time round.
"I thought that I didn't want it before, but after being at Camp Half Blood, and seeing the way that everyone reacts against me, I understand. I'm already different to them, and all I want is somewhere to belong."
Zeus seemed to consider Percy's words for a moment and then nodded. "My brothers and sisters have discussed this request of yours, and we have decided to grant you godhood. We should have realized before that you needed time to consider your choice before you knew what you wanted. Sometimes, it is hard to believe that a mere 16 year old half-blood," Poseidon scowled at this, "was able to defeat the Lord of Time Kronos. That is why we have relented. You shall become a god on one condition."
Percy hesitated. Were they going to give him some sort of horrible punishment for refusing? Maybe they were just going to let Ares beat him once he was immortal? Or even….
"It is decided" Zeus announced, interrupting Percy's fretting. "Perseus, there is a task we wish to assign to you once you attain godhood. Do you wish to know it now?"
"Yes Lord", answered Percy, wiping his sweaty palms down his jeans. God, he was so nervous. "There is a side to the Gods not know to our children." Poseidon said, "We were originally Greek, but with the Conquering Rome, we gained another likeness. We became Roman, under different names and with different aspects, but we were ultimately the same gods."
"Wait, so all of you have, like, split personalities?" Percy asked, his ADHD mouth getting the better of him. Poseidon chuckled, "I would not have phrased it quite that way but basically yes. And our Roman counterparts also have children."
Percy was slowly putting two and two together. 'If the children of the Greek gods have to go to a Greek camp, then….."There's a Roman Camp too?" he asked wide-eyed.
"Yes, The Demigod's Legion." Poseidon nodded. "And it is there you will be assigned."
"B...But why haven't any of us ever heard of this? I mean, two demigod camps should hear a lot about each other right? And even if they don't the monsters should give it away!"
"Percy, the camp is protected as Camp Half-Blood is. And the two have not always been separate. Unfortunately, the last time the Camps met, it began the Civil War. It was then decided that the camps should have no knowledge of one another." Percy nodded; understandably the gods would want to avoid another civil war as it would decimate both camps, with both sides being their own children. "However, we have felt a presence in the world, one that we fear one camp alone will be unable to fight. It is time to unite the Camps once more. And that is your task Percy." Poseidon looked down at his slack-jawed son and felt a rush so pride. He thought he couldn't be more proud when Percy was proclaimed the Hero of Olympus, but knowing he would be by his son for all eternity did. At the moment, Percy seemed to be thinking about what he'd just been told.
"I'll do it, but first I have a question. How is Camp Half-Blood going to know?"
"That is easily remedied" Athena answered the boy's question. "You will first return to Camp Half-Blood to inform Chiron, who will then begin the preparations there. It is vital that you personally go to The Demigod's Legions' camp personally, as first you will need to garner their trust. I would propose entering the Camp as a half-blood and then revealing who you are at a later date. It would be best if you did inform the camp director to your true identity immediately, so that they may also begin the preparations. I will speak more of this to you." Percy gulped again. It was time.
"Perseus Jackson, Hero of Olympus and the Son of Poseidon, God of the Sea, Earthshaker, Stormbringer and Father of Horses. To enter into immortality and join the Gods, you must swear an oath, which shall bind you to your duties. Repeat after me: *I, ο Περσέας Τζάκσον, κάνει να γυρίσει την πλάτη μου για την ανθρωπότητα μου, να εισέλθει στη σφαίρα των Θεών. Θα διατηρήσω την ειρήνη και την ισορροπία μέσα στον κόσμο. Και ορκίζομαι στον ποταμό Styx να διατηρήσει τους νόμους των θεών.
Percy repeated the oath, and saw Zeus begin to rise from his throne. Around him, the other gods were doing the same, until Percy was enclosed in a ring. The air resonated with power, and Percy could feel the blood running through his veins heating up, and his heart beating faster and faster. The pressure was immense, so much so that he was no longer aware of anything but the heat and the pounding of blood in his ears. He closed his eyes, as the light began to blind him, and suddenly everything went black.
Percy awoke slowly, as though his entire focus had shifted. It took a few blinks for his eyes to focus properly and when he did, he saw his father smiling at him. "Percy", he said, "How do you feel?"
Percy sat up slowly, adjusting to the pulse of power that he could feel resonating within him. "I feel...energised. Great." He smiled at his dad, "Is this how gods feel all the time?"
Poseidon laughed, "Yes my son, we do. But you will experience more changes in yourself as you discover your new abilities. "He stood up, and looked down at Percy, "But now we must go to the throne room. The Council is about to meet again and decide upon your new titles before you leave for camp. Come."
Percy swept his legs off the bed, and followed his father down through the hallways, until he once again reached the great doors. They opened to welcome him, except this time he was entering as a god. As Poseidon climbed up to his throne, Percy stood in the centre of the room, standing proudly with his eyes raised to look the gods in the eyes. Zeus addressed him, "Perseus, we have decided upon your titles, but we would need your agreement before you come into full possession of them and your powers. Therefore, we have decided to name you as the God of Heroes, Quests and Bravery. You shall also retain all of your powers as a Son of Poseidon that you had when you were a demi-god."
"I accept, Lord Zeus." Perseus answered, and immediately there was a blinding flash of light. When he looked up once more, he could feel his sense expanding, colours jumping out at him in new brilliancy, sounds filter so that he could hear the whistling of the wind through the nymph's groves, and smell the scents of ambrosia and the ozone. The power crackled along his seen, and he could feel himself growing more powerful. He could feel the laughter bubbling up deep inside of his chest, and had to bite down on his lip in order to keep it inside of him. He didn't think it would be that mature and 'godly' if he started laughing with happiness in the middle of the grand council.
"And now Perseus, you must be one your way. Your task begins." With those last words, Zeus vanished. "Awful flair for the dramatic, I must say" drawled Apollo, lounging in his chair with his headphones in, and nodding along to the beat. "Anyhow, do you have any idea how you're getting to Camp Half Blood?" He raised a quizzical eyebrow. Percy just looked at him. Apollo sighed, "Guess not, c'mon, I'll show you the ropes", he said, jumping down from his throne. Leaving the gates, he led Percy out to a grove, and said "Imagine yourself at anywhere in the Camp. If you concentrate hard enough, you should appear there."
Obediently, Percy closed his eyes and began to picture the soft sands of the beach, with the waves gently rolling against the sand, he could almost smell the salt in the air...and that's when he opened his eyes and found himself standing right where he'd imagined. Percy laughed "Lesson one: Complete!" he grinned, and then began walking towards the Big House to find Chiron.
This is my first fanfic, so I would really appreciate some reviews, to help me improve my writing. I'll try to update the next chapter pretty quickly :P
*I, Perseus Jackson, do turn my back on my humanity, to enter into the realm of the Gods. I will maintain peace and balance within the world. And I swear on the River Styx to uphold the laws of the Gods.