Chapter 3

70 years later,

It was a beautiful day, the clouds like wisps of candy floss, the sky a blue as rich as a sapphire. As Percy walked through the forest, she thought about her father, and why he left him at such a young age. She understood his punishment, though she did not see why he could not have just sent letters. He was an all powerful protogenoi, but could not even send a letter. Percy snorted at that thought, and continued to trek through the bright forest. He was in San Francisco, looking for something to do, she could not slay monsters as they were all loyal to her, that was when she saw the garden. The garden was the most beautiful thing she had ever set her eyes on, It was on a mountain, Mt Othrys, and there were rows upon rows of out of this world flowers. Ironic, she thought dryly.

The sun seemed to favour this spot over the the rest of the state, shining as brightly as a star. Water sparkled like diamonds, twinkling in the light. There was a beautiful tree, that stood out though. It was incredible, bright, rich golden apples hung of its branches, but the image was ruined, however by the dragon. It was the biggest monster Percy had ever seen, most people would scream in fear and run, but not percy. She just thought the dragon was majestic, and one of the most impressive things she had seen that day. As she walked closer, she wracked hers brain to think of what legend this came from. Then she remembered, it was The Tree of Immortality. Guarded by the son of Typhon, and Echidna. Ladon. But she caught something in her peripheral.

The "Mighty" Heracles stood there, just like she was, admiring the garden, but unlike her, he wrinkled his nose in disgust, looking at the dragon. Then, he did a stupid thing, he charged, yelling a battle cry, straight towards one of the most deadly monsters known to man. Ladon woke from his slumber, and hissed all one-hundred heads at Heracles, and he faltered, giving Ladon enough time to realize the threat. He was trying to steal a golden apple. Percy saw this and, flipping up the hood of his cloak she wore, went to help Ladon. I know what you're probably thinking, why would you help a monster that can rip you apart. Percy knew this, but in what she was trying to accomplish, she had to get the trust of the monster. She proceeded to collide with Heracles and started pummelling him with her fists. She was soon thrown off, but Percy just flipped in the air, landing gracefully on her feet. Suddenly, she shot a fireball made of Hellfire at Heracles, catching him unsuspectingly, straight in the chest.

"I am Shadow, Daughter of Tartarus. I have come to help you mighty dragon. I too, despise Heracles, all he is, is a jerk" She whispered to Ladon, and upon receiving the message grumbled a distorted thank you. Percy was alarmed that he could speak, but she brushed it off, thinking it was a bonus of being the daughter of the monsters Lord.

"Who are you," Heracles grunted in pain, fireball burning his muscled chest severly, the smell of charred flesh and smoke hung in the air.

"Who am I, Who am I, I am the Shadow of Destruction. I am also your demise." Percy replied once again lighting her fists up with Hellfire, getting in to a ready position.

"Foolish girl, you should know better than to challenge the might of Heracles!"He roared in reply, running towards Percy swinging wildly. This was getting him no where. Heracles was a tall figure who, although heavily muscled, was a coward inside. He had a slightly defined six pack, and strode with an air of arrogance around him.

Percy proceeded to take of her cloak, showing her very slim, beautiful figure to a petite woman, who cowered in fear behind her 4 sisters, who where busy trying unsuccessfully to comfort her. Her name was Zoe Nightshade, daughter of the Titan Atlas, and the sea goddess Pleione. Her four sisters, The Hesperides, were the Guardians of the Tree of Immortality. Zoe was once a hesperide as well, Heracles bullied her in to helping him find the tree. She knew of his intentions, but was to frightened to do anything about it. Heracles gasped in shock, Shadow was beautiful, he almost lost himself in her Onyx eyes, but he managed to regain his composure, not showing his amazement to her. So once again, he charged.

Percy responded by delivering a jaw shattering upper cut and, with the added force blew Heracles back 20 feet. This made him extremely angry, but he knew that, no matter how strong, he could not beat Shadow. So he did the next best thing, he charged at Ladon. However, Percy was a lot faster than he was. She darted straight towards Heracles, and grabbed him by the throat. She lit her hands alight, and slowly burned him. Before Heracles could die, however Percy let go, only to deliver a punch so powerful, it could make a mountain crumble, straight in to Heracles chest. Which shot him in a straight line towards the ocean, 7 miles away.

"Thank you Shadow, I am eternally in your debt, I could not have beaten Heracles without you. I am not loyal to Tartarus as you may think, only to Atlas, however now I am loyal to you as well. Dare I say even more loyal to you than Atlas."Ladon spoke in Percy's mind, startling him. Percy then started to pet the dragons heads, much to Ladon's pleasure. The four hesperides came out from their hiding spot behind a tree, and walked over to Percy.

"How can you pet Ladon, my lady, he does not even let us near him!"Spoke one of the hesperides in shock, looking at the pair. Percy did not reply, but instead walked towards Zoe, and knelt down to her hight, staring into her emerald like eyes.

"What bothers you...,"Percy asked trailing off at the end, not knowing her name.

"Zoe, Zoe Nightshade. Thank you for helping us beat Heracles, my lady. He,... He,..."She broke of in sobs, only to be held in Percy's arms. She whispered that everything would be alright, that everything will be fine, but she knew better, and so did Zoe.

"No it will not, Heracles. He kissed me, thus breaking my oath of being a maiden for all eternity. I have lost my immortality, my sisters cannot not do anything about it either..."Once again she broke off crying. Percy stood up and started walking to Ladon. One Hesperide called after him, asking him what she was doing, but she did not answer. Instead she spoke in Ladon's mind.

"You know what I am thinking, my friend. I know what your duty is but please this once, that is all I ask of you, do it for me, and consider your debt repaid."Ladon was apprehensive, but finally he agreed, and as Percy thanked him. He just shook his head, telling him that nothing he did could repay Percy. Percy walked towards the tree, Ignoring the Hesperides shouts of worry and warning, and picked a Golden Apple. She knew how delicious it was, it would make anyone immortal. That was what she planned. She proceeded to walk back to Zoe, and told her to eat it.

"Eat it Zoe, it is the only way to become immortal once again." and so she did, and once the golden glow returned to her, she leapt into Percy's arms and wept with happiness.

"Thank you Percy, Thank you. I don't know what to do to repay you."Percy knew a way, but he needed Zoe and the rest of the Hesperides permission.

"I know of a way, I presume you despise men correct?"To this she nodded, not knowing what he meant,"I could take you to Artemis's Hunters. There, if you were to accept the oath, you go and hunt monsters for eternity, living with excitement, instead of boredom." Zoe thought of this idea, and nodded, knowing this would be a better life for her than sitting around.

"I accept, thank you Percy, I thank you for your help, and generosity. Please come and visit me sometimes, I would like someone to talk to other than hunters. Please."

Percy knew she could'nt help but break, her puppy dog eyes were just way to cute.

"Fine, I will visit sometimes, but don't forget, it may be a time in between visits as I still have things to do."Percy replied, relenting. So they started their journey, running through the forest, they both loved the feel of the sun, the air and the rush of adrenaline. As they darted through the forest, both were screaming and whooping in joy.

Eventually they arrived in a clearing and saw the silver tents, they whooped in elation form the run, but that was mistaken for a battle cry by the hunters, as everyone ran out of their tents and started shooting arrows at the hooded figure. They were shocked, though, when the Percy just flipped, twirled and dodged every single arrow the hunters shot at her. To Percy this was easy, but the hunters were in awe, the only person that could dodge that many arrows was Lady Artemis. But eventually Percy got tired, and simply raised a shield of Hellfire, which melted all the arrows as soon as they touched it. The hunters were petrified, as they stopped shooting and instead ran towards him, pulling out their hunting knives in the process. Percy simply created two swords made of fire, and started parrying blows. It was a sight to behold, 29 hunters, fighting Percy, and he seemed fine. But then it went wrong, for the hunters, Artemis flashed in expecting to see the hunters making a campfire like they had been told, but instead she saw a girl, about 18 years old fending off all her hunters with ease!

"Hunters, fall back," she screamed, pulling out her own two hunting knives and rushed towards Percy, Artemis expected her to be scared, but instead she just rushed forwards to meet her. At first Artemis thought the hunters were just toying with her, but then she saw Percy fighting her hardest and she quickly back-peddled. Just then there were 13 flashes of light, all of the olympians had flashed in. They saw a smirking Percy, and a scared Artemis, to say they were surprised would be an understatement! Athena, seeing Artemis scared, rushed forward to help.

"So these are the mighty Olympians, Wow, you've really degraded over the years, I watched you fight in both the Titantomachy and the Gigantomachy, I was born even before the titans and the giants. I saw Cronus cut up Ouranus. I saw you Zeus, when you toppled Cronus of his Throne. I watched as Athena was born. I was the one that helped Leto give birth to Artemis and Apollo. I am Shadow, Daughter of Tartarus."Percy grinned at all of there bewildered faces, Artemis then recovered,

"You're the one? My mother told me of a woman, she helped give birth to my brother and I. Thank you."Artemis said, kneeling, and apollo proceeded to thank him as well, also dropping to his knee. "And Athena,"Percy started," who do you think gave Hephestus that axe. Hephestus, who do you think cushioned your fall when you where thrown of Olympus. Hera, who do you think stopped Porphyrion. Dionysus, who do you think convinced Hestia to step down, Zeus, who do think gave you Cronus scythe, Hades, who do you think gave you your palace, and all of you who do you think convinced the romans to worship you, I have evolved this world, moulded it to fit your needs.I am Shadow." At this all of the Olympians were, having read about this incredible warrior being able to defeat Cronus himself, were cowering in fear.

"Goodbye Olympians, You're On Your Own Now. Be thankful Artemis did not fight me longer, it would not have gone well for her."Percy said in a silky smooth voice, and Aphrodite was shocked to find Dionysus staring at Percy dreamily. Once Percy had finished his speech, she stepped back and spread her arms, blowing a kiss to Dionysus, before vanishing in huge explosion of flames.

With that the Olympians flashed back to Olympus, but not before Aphrodite sent a smirk at Dionysus. What had come over her, Percy thought as she practised her powers over energy, she had to admit she did like Dionysus, but that was so uncharacteristic for her, to show that much emotion. He was handsome, young and muscular, wait why was she thinking this, she shook her head and continued to practise her powers. She shot energy beams at targets made of Hellfire, and constructed enemies to fight out of flames too. She practised sword fighting with swords constructed out of earth. Since she can control the earth, she can also control metals, so she can make a perfect steel or diamond sword shoot from the ground.