Hey everybody,

How is everyone doing? Good? That's awesome. Here's the next chapter. I had some things that I were going to tell you about while writing this chapter... but they've all slipped my memory. I might put them at the end of the chapter if I remember. By the way, I do the introduction whilst writing the story and add the end when I put in on FanFiction.

With best regards,
SharkAttack719


Chapter 2

This is War

"It is good to see you, mother," Achilles said, deepening the hug.

"It is good to see you too, my son," Thetis said. The water goddess-nymph looked casually dressed, a plain white dress with a couple of sea-stones added as decorations. All in all, she looked as though she were coming to watch Achilles help the other Myrmidons in practice.

After he broke the hug with his mother, Thetis turned to Perseus. She gave him a kind smile and opened her arms for a hug. He accepted it.

"Oh, you have certainly grown," the woman said. "I know I came to the campsite, but I didn't actually get a good glimpse of you. My, you have changed since the days of the Argonauts. Immortal now, aren't you?"

"Yes but I can still die in battle," he informed her.

"Still, you're much taller and more fit than you used to be," she said. "You were scrawny, though it was probably from the lack of food."

"I really can't imagine you as a scrawny little boy," Achilles snorted. "Hades, I can't even imagine you as a boy. You're ageless now, though I know those eyes hold thirty-seven years of knowledge."

Perseus rolled his eyes. "You know, sometimes it is okay to be a kid sometimes. Sometimes, a person just has to relax and have fun. Unfortunately, that isn't the case for anyone else aside from very wealthy people. Most have to work gruelling jobs."

"And your job is fun in your opinion. Am I right?"

He smiled. "You know me so well."

Thetis was holding in a smile of her own, seemingly happy that her son was having fun training and learning how to protect himself. But Perseus could also sense some worry, some anxiety radiating from her. There was something bothering her.

"Is everything all right, Lady Thetis?" he asked, furrowing his eyebrows.

Any trace of happiness disappeared off of the water nymph's face. She gave him a look that made a bad feeling grow in his gut. Thetis said, "I need to talk to you in private later, Percy. I have some news that may dearly affect you."

"What is it?" Achilles asked.

"It has no relevance to you," she replied quickly. "Train, my son. Learn to protect yourself and teach others how to fight. That is all you need to know, for now."

He stared at his mother for a little while before he nodded. "I will do as you say, mother." He turned to Perseus. "See you later, master. I will be going to help train the others. Then maybe the Myrmidons will finally make a worldwide name for themselves as the fiercest warriors in all of Greece."

Achilles jogged away, leaving the other two standing alone along the beach of Aegina. As soon as he was sure Achilles was out of earshot, Perseus turned to Thetis with a worried look on his face. "What is wrong? I can tell something is wrong."

She turned out to face the ocean. "The war will come soon. The Trojans against the Greeks. It is inevitable, and nothing will stop it from commencing. Of course, all Greek warriors will be assembled to head to Troy to take Helen back. That is not it. The goddesses are angry as well. Athena and Hera resent the Trojans because Paris wouldn't choose either of them. Aphrodite, meanwhile, is keeping order in Troy, helping out the Trojans because she was chosen by the prince of Troy. Demeter and Hestia, obviously, are shying away from this war because they are peaceful, usually. Dionysus is also withdrawing from choosing a side, along with Hermes. Zeus, of course, will not choose. Hephaestus and Hermes are drawn to the Greek side, as they are considered to be more Greek-like than Trojan-like. Ares is a Thracian god, in which Thrace is closer to Troy, and his lover is on the Trojan's side. Apollo is the most worshipped god in Troy, so he is joining the Trojans. Artemis may flock to her brother's aid, though if your stories are correct, that wouldn't make Zoë the happiest Hunter. Then your father is joining the Greeks, for Greeks are more seafaring people."

"The gods are actually choosing sides?" Perseus asked astonished. "Like all of them, except for Demeter, Hestia, Zeus, Hades and Dionysus?"

Thetis nodded making him feel like his world was tipped upside-down, and then tipped right-side-up.

"I didn't expect them to go to war, aside from Athena, Hera and Aphrodite," he said. "Why would the other gods choose sides?"

"To protect the lands they are worshipped in," she said. "What would you do if you were Apollo, the land you were worshipped most in to be destroyed? Feeling important is what we gods and goddesses need most. Athena and Hera fight for their pride and dignity, Poseidon fights because he wants revenge for the payments he never received for helping Troy, Ares fights because he enjoys war, and Zeus knows what else."

Thunder rumbled in the distance.

"Forget what I said. Zeus doesn't even know."

Thetis took a deep breath as Perseus collected those thoughts in. He muttered, "I should have thought that this would happen. Being relaxed has its consequences. And the gods will try to tip the war into the favor of whichever side they fight for? Will the gods actually fight themselves?"

"I don't know," Thetis breathed. He noticed that her eyes were beginning to tear up.

"Don't cry, Lady Thetis," he said, trying to calm her down. "Please don't cry."

She wiped her eyes, trying to rub the tears away. "I'm sorry, Perseus. Do not think less of me because of my undignified crying. It is just that... that... I went to Delphi to see if the oracle had any word about the outcome of the war, to see if Achilles would be fine." She sat down in the sand, not caring that her dress was getting quite sandy. It suddenly shimmered, turning from white to black, a color of Hades.

He came to the shocking realization. "Achilles is going to die in the war?"

"A half-blood hero shall sail to Troy, where fire that burns will come to destroy. A stick and some metal shall pierce the skin, much to the enemy's chagrin. Beware of the curse and of the prophet, revenge to ignite and the city to plummet."

Perseus went wide-eyed. A half-blood hero shall sail to Troy. That could mean Achilles, but it could also mean any half-blood hero that will sail to Troy.

Where fire that burns will come to destroy. He figured that this was an added piece of information, describing what Troy held. If his guess was right, that would mean Troy would be burnt to the ground.

A stick and some metal shall pierce the skin. If it was a stick and some metal, it could mean a spear. But then again, how could someone aim a spear so badly that they would hit Achilles' heel. It was highly unlikely.

Much to the enemy's chagrin. That wouldn't really make sense. Those who killed Achilles would definitely be happy that the warrior was dead. What kind of person would feel embarrassed or annoyed that the enemy's hero was dead?

Beware of the curse and of the prophet. The curse, Perseus could understand. It could easily mean the curse that was given to Achilles when he was dipped into the Styx. He became invincible except for that one mortal point, but it was a curse. The prophet could be the one that kills the hero of the prophecy, but did the prophecy mean a real prophet was going to kill the hero or did the prophecy mean a prophet was going to prophesize something that would lead to the hero's death? Or to be aware of both the curse and of the prophet, did it mean that the prophet would be issuing a curse upon the hero.

Revenge to ignite and the city to plummet. When the hero was dead, revenge would ignite in the warriors and Troy would fall. At least, that was what it sounded like. There was pretty much no other option.

The prophecy was quite vague and it could have meant any hero if none knew of Achilles' curse. In fact, something that Perseus feared was that the prophecy could have been of him. It would just be like that vision Apollo had sent him years ago, lying dead on the battlefield with stunned Greek soldiers standing before him.

The line "much to the enemy's chagrin" did not really make sense in either case, Perseus still not able to find a suitable reason why someone would be embarrassed by killing him.

"You think Achilles is the one in the prophecy?" he finally replied.

She nodded. "Beware of the curse. A half-blood hero. A stick and some metal shall pierce the skin. All of those things point to Achilles: his curse, being a demigod, and having one exposed spot that is made of skin. It says the skin, not his skin. The is usually referring to a certain object, or it this case, a certain area of skin." Thetis grabbed some of the sand and played with it. She brought it up in an enclosed fist and let it trickle down, like a waterfall made of sand.

"That doesn't mean it will be Achilles," he said. "The oracle could be speaking vaguely; she could be just speaking of how metal and a stick will pierce the skin of the hero, killing him. In fact, it could be that the hero doesn't die at all. Piercing the skin doesn't mean a fatal blow. Beware of the curse and of the prophet. That could mean it is a different curse, not Achilles'. And you must not forget that I am a half-blood hero."

"I—I am worried, that is all," she said. Cool blue eyes, like the color of the deep ocean waters, stared at him. They looked like they were swirling with emotions, like the currents of the water. "When I first heard that, I immediately thought that it would be Achilles. I worry for my son, for I know despite what you teach him, he will have his own ambitions, to become glorious and forever known. Not many can be like you. Not many can live forever until a tragic death."

He gave her a dry smile. "I like the way you put it. Tragic death."

She let out a soft chuckle before sighing and giving Perseus a pleading look. "Try to convince Achilles not to go to war. Do as much as you can to ask him. If you fail, I will try. If I fail, and my son goes to war, I will have no choice but to join him on the battlefield until his death."

"Either that or you will be proven wrong," he added. "I'm not saying that it is certain that Achilles will not die, but you cannot believe that it is only him that is fated to die. It could be another man you don't know, or it could very well be the most unexpected person you do know."

Clip-clop! Clip-clop! Clip-clop!

The sound of a galloping horse grew in the distance, and this time, Perseus knew it wasn't a centaur.

"It sounds as if a horse is coming," Thetis remarked. She stood up from her place in the sand. "Remember what I ask of you. I know you will do this, not for me, but out of the kindness of your heart and for your friend."

She smiled and snapped her fingers. In doing that, her body turned into a giant blob of water that splashed down into the ocean. There was no visible trail of the goddess leaving, but her presence was definitely fading, streaking out further into the endless ocean.

The horse was alone, no rider riding him. He was a free horse, the only free horse in the entire kingdom of Aegina. That was because the horse had belonged to a Thessalian family which mistreated as mis-fed the animal. Perseus had saved him from them by stealing him. He regarded the demigod as his savior and protector, which was more than what the other horses regarded him as... which was just as their lord.

Percy, my lord, the horse spoke. Master Achilles requests your immediately attendance at his royal palace. A man from Athens comes with important news.

He nodded. "All right. Let's go."

The horse neighed and allowed him to climb on his back. Then, Perseus told him to head to the palace as quick as he could. As the horse raced toward the palace, he noticed that the sun chariot of Helios was beginning to reach the horizon. To the demigod, this was a symbol.

The light of Troy was fading. Soon, King Agamemnon and King Menelaus would set sail for Troy to get Helen back. This was the beginning of dark times and what Perseus believed was going to be the bloodiest war the world had ever seen.

Line Break

"Percy!" cried Achilles when the son of Poseidon strode into the throne room. "There you are. King Menestheus of Athens is here to talk about something that he needs you to hear as well. I sent for your arrival as quickly as possible."

He gave Achilles a curt nod before turning to look at Menestheus, king of Athens. He was a usurper of the throne, taking it from Theseus when the son of Aegeus was gone.

"Menestheus," he said tightly.

The king of Athens, who no doubt knew who this was, didn't ask for any royal treatment from him. He didn't take warnings from the gods lightly, and the gods told him that Perseus was a dangerous man who fought for Greece yet didn't like some of those who had come to the thrones.

Internally, it would have been quite a show for Menestheus as King Agamemnon of Mycenae was uniting Greece to lead them into battle against the Trojans. In his mind, he thought that Perseus and Agamemnon would fight often, as it was clear the latter was power-hungry and ambitious. He thought that Perseus would dislike Agamemnon more than himself. He was wrong.

"Perseus," the king replied. "I have news from Mycenae. I believe you are aware of the treachery of the Trojans, seeing as you two were there. Menelaus has come back from his little journey to his grandfather's funeral and is quite mad. It is an amusing sight. But other than that, this is a serious business. All six suitors have been ordered to head to Mycenae for a grand meeting that is to take place. Then, Agamemnon has ordered that all kings of all kingdoms in Greece must report to Mycenae. That includes you and your Myrmidons, Achilles. And of course, that includes your master, Perseus."

"Very well," the son of Poseidon said. "When is this meeting?"

"Next week, same day at noon," he answered.

"And if we choose not to come?"

"Then you will be forced to, to serve Greece and fight for her honor. It is better not to refuse to come. A prophecy states that Achilles must come in order for us Greeks to win."

Perseus narrowed his eyes. "Does that prophecy also talk about his sacrifice, his death to rally the Greek forces behind him?"

"No. Why would Achilles die? You have got the curse of the River Styx, right?"

Achilles nodded.

"Then you are near impossible to kill." Menestheus bowed to Achilles. "I do hope I see you two at the meeting next week. Oh, and I almost forgot. Menelaus and Agamemnon have declared that the Greeks be called Achaeans, named after the area of Peloponnese that Mycenae lies on."

Without another word, Menestheus and his Athenian guard briskly strode out of the room, leaving the other two men alone with five Myrmidons, all commanders of Achilles' army.

The second-in-command, Eudoros, walked up to Achilles and went on a knee. "My lord, is it true? That the bride of Menelaus ridiculed Greece as she left?"

"Yes, Eudoros," the son of Thetis said.

"Then, why is Menelaus going to get her back from Troy, to destroy the city in hopes that he will get his wife back?"

"Menelaus isn't going to get her back," Perseus said, making six heads turn his way. He looked at every single one of them. "He and Agamemnon will want to sack Troy to kill Helen. Finally, their pride and dignity will be restored, and no more will a city in the east rival the power of great Mycenaean Greece." He remembered the words of the prophecy. "They will stop at nothing to destroy Troy, burning it to the ground, leaving nothing but the ashes of the men lying in its wake. The women and children will be taken as slaves, to never see their home again. This isn't a petty diplomatic conflict. This will be total annihilation. And it is all because of one willing woman whom wanted to escape Menelaus' grasp so badly, she makes fun of Greece and leaves."

"What are you saying?" Achilles said.

Perseus knew that this went against everything he'd promised over the years, everything he said he wouldn't do. It was a bold and daring move... and he went for it.

"Helen must die, by Menelaus' hand or, if he cannot do it, by mine."

Line Break

"What do you mean that I should stay here while you lead the Myrmidons?" shouted an enraged Achilles. "Do you think all of the training you gave me these past fifteen years was for nothing? That all of this training will go to waste when I have the opportunity to go fight in a massive war? I have a chance to follow in your footsteps, that I will be known throughout history as a brave man who fought for the Greeks!"

"These are the Achaeans, led by Agamemnon, not Greeks, even if they are by blood," Perseus said sternly. "And glory is not everything, Achilles. Sometimes knowing love and growing up with your children is better than dying young."

"Like you would know," he growled. "You're an immortal freak who can live until you are killed in combat. Not even sickness can affect you! Yet still, you feel that you should be the one in the war, not I."

"You are already the king of an entire island," the son of Poseidon argued. "What more do you want?"

Achilles stepped in front of Perseus, stopping them in their tracks. He gave the immortal demigod a deadly glare. "Why? Tell me the reason that you don't want me to go. Does it have to do with some stupid promise you made to my mother. I love my mother dearly, but she does not control me. I make my own decisions and if I don't go, none of the Myrmidons go. You heard what Menestheus said."

"I don't care what Menestheus said," replied the immortal demigod coldly. "He's a usurper of the throne of Athens. He is not a royal in my eyes. For all you know, it could have been a lie."

"You wish to let the Greeks lose the war?" Achilles said, knowing Perseus' oath to Chiron and Hestia. "You serve her and are to hunt down her enemies. What is it worth hunting down an enemy that you cannot defeat? The Trojans stole Helen. They are Greece's enemies."

"Then by that logic Aphrodite is an enemy to Greece as well," Perseus snapped.

"So what if she is! Strike her down and you fulfill your promise."

"Do you not know the dangers of 'killing' an Olympian god or goddess?" He laughed at his ignorance. "Should I manage to evade the powers of a goddess who can control my romantic feelings, seduce me so I cannot kill her, I still cannot rid her from the world, not effectively 'hunting' her down. What is more, if I can slice her up into a million pieces, the Olympians will deem me too powerful to live. Zeus will ask for my head. There is nowhere I can hide unless I side with the gods' enemies. Even so, we all know that the times of the Titans were horrible. I'd much rather have the Olympians in power."

"What did you promise to my mother?" Achilles yelled, desperate to find a way into the war.

Perseus stayed silent.

"WHAT DID YOU PROMISE TO MY MOTHER?!" the son of Thetis screamed at the top of his lungs.

"Let all the gods and goddesses witness that I tried to convince you not to come on this journey to Troy," the son of Poseidon said, gritting his teeth. "I did everything in my power to try to convince Achilles, son of Peleus and Thetis, not to go to Troy. In the end, I've failed."

He put a hand on Achilles' shoulder, who was still seething. "You know I care for you Achilles. You are like a brother to me. Like I always say, everyone has that inner child waiting to burst out."

"And you know, Percy, that I don't really want that glory of a superior, dignified warrior," he replied, trying to calm himself. He let out a sigh. "I just—I want to be one of the Greeks, the Achaeans. I don't have to be the Greek, but just for people who descend from this generation to know that the prince of Aegina, or king as it should be since my father has passed on, served his country well."

"Of course." Perseus gazed in the far distance, where a military trireme was sailing away, carrying the flag of Athens. "I did promise something to your mother, Achilles. I promised her that I would do my best to prevent you from going to Troy."

"Why?" asked Achilles.

He was going to tell Achilles about the whole prophecy and the possibility that he would be slain in battle against the Trojans. He was going to explain everything that he thought the prophecy was pointing to. Then he decided that it would only make Achilles worry too much.

"One thing you must be warned of though, Achilles," he said, trying not to worry his pupil too much. "Beware of the curse and of the prophet."

Then, leaving his pupil to ponder on his words, he walked away to the palace, ready to go to sleep after a quite eventful day.


Hey everyone,

Hope you enjoy this chapter.

I apologize for any grammatical errors in the chapter above and if any historical facts are actually wrong. I have spent my time looking through different websites, and even a couple of books, but the story that will continue may have incorrect historical info. Still, I believe it just adds to the effect.

With best regards,
SharkAttack719