Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson

Chapter 1: Decisions

In the Hall of the Gods, a grand room where twelve seats of power resided in their U formation around the hearth, the Olympians did what they excelled at. They argued.

"Zeus, you can't honestly be considering this. It's madness!" came the voice of the Queen of the gods herself.

"We don't even know where it came from." Hera continued. She sat imperiously on her throne, daring anyone to defy her.

"But we do know the information it holds may be vital," came Athena from across the room. "While the future is a very dangerous thing to toy with, I don't think that we should simply ignore this."

"And what if it's a trick?" Hephaestus asked, ever distrusting of that which was not of his own creation.

"Then we'll punish those responsible," Athena replied, her grey eyes flashing.

"I say we read." Apollo chirped in. He, just as everyone else in this particularly trying meeting, had chosen to wear an ancient Greek chitin, and in his case, oddly accompanied by a stethoscope for some unknown reason.

Artemis sighed and stared at the blue ceiling above which could be seen glittering with constellations, "As much as it pains me to say this, my brother is right. With the Great Prophecy upon us and Kronus attempting to rise, any advantage is worth having."

Hera looked at her family with disbelief, "You're all mad for even considering this. Besides, the demands that letter makes are insulting. Ares, you agree with me, don't you?"

Ares jolted up from his admiration of a particularly elegant looking sword, "Hmm? Yes, of course, mother." He replied, not particularly caring for the outcome of this meeting. After all, He was quite content in fighting Kronus' armies. Advantage be damned.

Zeus massaged his head. Despite his immortality, he couldn't help but feel exhausted. For the past three days, they had argued incessantly about the intelligence in opening up the stupid journal. Or rather, Zeus had sat back and tried to ignore his family as they prattled on about the logistics of his decision.

In his mind, the King of the Gods had made the decision to read and so his family should have seen fit to agree. Of course, that rarely ever occurred in the many years that the Olympians had ruled the cosmos and it bothered Zeus to no end.

As the gods bickered on, Zeus reflected on the events which had brought them to this point.

***

It had been not long after the trial in which it was voted on that Percy Jackson and his friends would live.

The construction, courtesy of Poseidon and Hephaestus, on the aquarium that was to hold the Ophiotaurus was underway and the recent discovery of a son of Hades had left the king of the gods fuming. It was only with the guidance of Athena that he regretfully decided to not smite the child.

In the wake of these developments, Hermes had entered the throne room, a package and letter clutched in his left hand.

"We've got mail, for all of us." the messenger god said, confusion coloring his tone.

The Hall of the Gods had been mostly empty at that time, however Demeter spoke up from her vine covered throne. "From who?" She asked, also perplexed.

It was not often that any sort of mail was addressed to the Olympians themselves. After all, with the exception of a certain particularly impertinent demigod, most people would fear the wrath of the gods if a present or message was not well liked.

"It doesn't say," Hermes replied.

"And can you not track it to it's source yourself?" asked Athena.

That seemed to strike a chord in the messenger god and his expression turned stormy.

Through gritted teeth, he answered, "I've tried. It's not...It didn't work."

"What do you mean, it didn't work?" Zeus thundered.

The messenger god, still looking quite bothered maybe more-so by his own failure than the question itself, replied, "It's as if whoever sent it simply does not exist."

"What is that supposed to-"

Before Zeus could finish his sentence, Aphrodite practically ripped the package and letter out of Hermes' hands.

"Hey!" the messenger god protested, but all too late as Aphrodite had already proceeded to open the letter.

As she did so, the love goddess simply looked at Hermes and said, "Well, aren't you curious?"

Zeus, trying to reign in his temper at being interrupted, spoke up, "It is addressed to all of us. Hermes will summon the others first."

In the corner of the great hall, Athena did not speak, however she stood stiffly, her suspicion palpable.

Eventually, after much trouble, the twelve Olympians all sat on their thrones as Zeus read the note aloud in a booming voice.

Olympians,

In this package, I have sent to you one book that after 3 years, is finally complete. It's a book about the future, and may very well mean the difference between life and death, even for you. Unfortunately, I can't share with you the events which led up to this horrible fate, but I can show you the result of the actions and decisions we all made to lead us to this point. Hopefully, you will use the things you read about and learn from them. I ask that you read this with the following people:

All Olympians, Hades, Annabeth Chase, Thalia Grace, Grover Underwood, Nico di Angelou, Percy Jackson, Jason Grace and Clarisse La Rue.

Even if you don't agree with my choices, don't exclude them. They need to know this just as much as you do. Good luck.

From, A friend.

In opening the package, the Olympians had indeed found a thick journal, as promised.

The peculiar black book looked like it had been through Tartarus, soggy and slightly burned as it was, as if it's owner may have dropped it in the water a few times. Nevertheless, the pages appeared to be in good enough condition.

Regardless of the journal itself, the note seemed to set off its own explosion in the throne room. The arguments had began almost immediately.

Zeus had decided on his stance quickly.

After all, as Athena had said, if what their mysterious writer had given them was true, it may give them a significant advantage in the war.

What else could this book be about but the Great Prophecy?

However some things, though he would never admit it, worried even him.

What had the sender mean't when he or she had said it may very well mean the difference between life and death, even for you?

After all, it was a foolish notion. They couldn't die, especially not at the height of their power.

And who was this mystery sender who called himself/herself a friend and yet dared to send them this without revealing himself/herself?

Zeus didn't like to be out of the loop. And he most definately didn't like the uncertainties this development had wrought. He hoped that whatever this journal held would answer these questions, however much he was beginning to hate it for making him feel such dependency.

After three long days of debate, the decision was finally made in favor of reading the book. Along with it, so too was the decision of who to invite.

"I do not care what the blasted letter said, we are not inviting a Roman demigod into a room full of Greeks!" Athena growled.

"There shouldn't be a need to invite demigods at all," Hera added, "What business do they have with the future?"

"They have quite an important part in the Great Prophecy themselves," came Poseidon, "Don't you think that my son, at least should be here?"

"My son is just as eligible as yours," Hades growled.

"Your son shouldn't even exist," Poseidon said.

"I'm not the one who broke the oath," came Hades once more, glaring at both his brothers.

"Enough!" Zeus yelled over the arguing of his family, "We will invite the Greek demigods and the satyr. My son will not be summoned. Greeks and Romans have never been able to get along. Attempting now will only add more complications."

Though grumbles of dissent could still be heard in the throne room, the last decision had finally been made.

A/N: The next chapter is going to be from either past Nico's or past Percy's POV. Which one would you guys prefer?

R&R