Hero of Remnant
Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians/Heroes of Olympus or RWBY
.O.0.O.
If there was one thing Percy was completely and utterly 100% sure of, was that when he dies he would STAY dead. No matter where he ended up in, whether that be Elysium, the Fields of Asphodel, the Fields of Punishment, or even the elusive Isles of the Blest, he would stay dead because, really, Thanatos got everyone in the end.
He expected his old friend Death to take him from the mortal realm, carrying him to DOA Recording Studios. He was to check in with Charon, wait his turn to ride the Ferry Boat of Death, and arrive in the banks of the River Styx. He would then take a place in line and wait his turn. He would be judged by the Underworld Judges, to be tried and then sent wherever he may end up in and stay there. That's it. A bit anti-climactic, for dying in what was an epic display of divine power and human resilience, but that was how it was supposed to be like. Supposed to be.
What he did not expect was the sight before him.
"What in the…"
Those were his words before he felt.
The sight before him was… unexplainable. Percy could not comprehend what he was seeing.
As light streaked around him, he felt both weightless and heavy. The area around him was like a kaleidoscope, changing colors frequently from white, blue, red, green, gold, purple, and thousands of other shades and colors he didn't even know could existed. He just absorbed what he could.
It was now that he realized he didn't seem to have an actual body. Yet, even without nerves and a physical manifestation of his self, he felt everything. He experienced emotions, actions, and wills, all at a magnified level, and all he could do was succumb to them.
His senses were in overdrive, and were even becoming blind. They worked, and yet they didn't function. He fundamentally knew his senses were processing, and yet he couldn't detect anything. Maybe the closest thing he could think to compare this to would be being in room you know everything about, yet being forced to roam the room blind, not knowing anything. Even then, this didn't seem to completely articulate what he was going through.
His surroundings completely engulfed him, and then images started flashing in his mind's eye, forcing themselves to be seen, erasing any other thought in his head, all he could do was try and process and comprehend, in a vain effort. He felt worlds burning, flooded, under tyranny, under prosperity, he felt a living hell and a safe heaven, he felt hope and despair, he felt all these and more in some fashion, a fashion where it felt he was hit with a direct attack from the Master Bolt, the Trident, and the Helm of Darkness, all while holding the sky again.
Percy gained all the knowledge of the world, galaxy, Universe…
Percy ascended. He felt fulfilled.
Completely overwhelming.
And then, as quickly as it all happened, it stopped.
Percy was mortal. He felt incomplete.
The stars where laid before him.
"Mother of Zeus…"
It was beautiful, no other way to go about it. Living in New York, the pollution made seeing the stars difficult, and he never really paid much attention to them except in the cases where he looked up at Zoe Nightshade's constellation; the Huntress.
Looking at them now, he could comprehend his now dead ally's interest of the stars in the night sky.
Surrounding him was a beauty that humans had not corrupted. This was so chaotic that it felt orderly. All the hues and actions were amazing. The complete serenity that was portrayed was breathtaking. Meteors, comets, moons, suns, and planets were all seemingly connected. Part of a larger system. Part of something bigger than themselves…
His only regret was that his mother was not at his side to see it…
"Glorious, isn't it?"
Percy moved around, somehow doing a complete 360, yet saw no one.
"Who's there?" He asked, apprehensive. The voice was riddled in power, so much he felt the entire space vibrate.
"Who am I? I am the beginning of all things, I am the end of all things, a judge, jury, and executioner. I am the one who is omnipotent, omniscient, and omniscient. I can be everything, and nothing at all. I am but a divinity who has been both forsaken and always revered. I am the One. I am the one who ultimately creates and I am the one who completely annihilates. I am known by many names, Aten, Adonai, Allah, Jehovah, and most commonly God, but to you… I am Chaos"
The voice was a voice. A male, and yet a female. An adult, yet a child. Soft, yet strong. Forceful, yet soothing. The voice of a criminal, yet a saint.
Percy was, for the lack of a better word, stunned. This was monumental, obviously, yet he couldn't help but feel the least bit annoyed. Yes, he was sure such an action would not do him well, but he could not help it.
He was done! He did his part! He suffered his horrors! He fought his wars! He had died a hero's death! What more could the divine possibly want from him!
Perhaps, if he was in a better state, he would have marveled and wondered and questioned and done so much more than any human or god or Titan or maybe even Primordial could have done, but right now he was tired. Right now, this God or Chaos or whatever he went by was in his way. He just wanted to rest. Maybe even rest in peace.
The voice—God, or Chaos, or whatever—started speaking again, "I have a request for you, Perseus."
And just like that, Percy was off.
"Oh no. No. NO. Whatever it is, no. I'm done. I will have none of whatever it is you want of me. I don't take quests or favors or orders or commands or even requests from anyone. Not anymore. I won't put up with this, I am DONE. You can go on down to Earth and ask someone else. I'm dead, remember? I can't do anything anymore. Speaking of me being dead, I have a place to be, you know? Prepping to be judged and all… so if you don't mind, I have to go. NOW."
Percy's voice was vehement, he was dead, after all. He was done. As selfish as it may be, let some other hero help. Perseus Eli Jackson was done. He would not be revived, because he doubted Chaos would want to just request something that didn't require him to fight, just because the Creator of the Universe said so. No.
"PERSEUS ELI JACKSON" Percy, if he had a physical body, would have flinched. Only one person had ever called him by his full name. Others simply used his full first name, but he never told anyone his middle name. Percy guessed being omniscient had its perks.
Chaos' voice literally seemed to distort everything around him, Percy felt like even he was being warped. And Chaos seemed angry. Tartarus was no competition compared to Chaos. The air seemed to still, making Percy think Chaos had calmed down as quickly as he had blown up. "Your mother would be disappointed in you…"
"DO NOT SPEAK OF HER! DON'T EVEN SAY HER NAME! WHO GAVE YOU THE RIGHT! YOU DON'T HAVE A SINGLE RIGHT! DO NOT SPEAK OF HER!" Percy's voice bellowed. His voice did not shake the space like Chaos' own, but it did have a power behind it.
If there was one thing Percy was infamously known for, it was for his rage.
Ignoring how this was a being of immense power and—no, this was a being with absolute power, and he was nothing but a (possible) conscience, this was not a wise move on his part. But he was Percy Jackson, telling off gods and flipping immortals of greater power than him was a regular thing for him by now. Creator of the Universe or not, he was still an immortal.
It was a gift, really.
A beat of silence, and the space broke.
"YOU WILL NOT SPEAK OF ME IN SUCH A MANNER! YOU WILL LISTEN TO WHAT I SAY, AND YOU WILL THEN CONCEDE TO MY POINT! I DARE BECAUSE I HAVE EVERY RIGHT! YOU MIGHT BE ASHAMED OF YOUR POWERLESSNESS, BUT YOU HAVE NO NEED NOR RIGHT TO TAKE IT OUT ON ME! YOUR MOTHER WOULD BE ASHAMED! ASHAMED OF YOU NOT FOLLOWING THE CREED!"
Chaos' words resonated in him. Both literally and figuratively. Omniscience was a real bitch to deal with.
He was in a sea of black now. He was standing, yet there was no ground to step on. He checked his surroundings, just to see if there was any speck of stars, yet there was none. This place was truly empty.
"Perseus," Chaos' voice was calmer now, and Percy marveled at how Chaos was in control of himself. Maybe it was because he was the oldest being in the Universe, or maybe it was because Chaos has to be self-controlled, being God and all, but Percy quietly appreciated how he was not erased from existence. Yet.
Chaos continued, "There are forcers that I cannot intervene with. I may be all-powerful, but I cannot change the decisions my creations. Merely guide them, nudge them in the slight direction. I cannot and will not do everything. That was part of the reason of 'free will'
"But there comes a time where I must take a more direct action. That is the reason for as to why I have summoned you, I am in need of you and your presence. Someone has interfered with the Multiverse—"
"Whoa, wait, like, from comic books? That type of Multiverse?"
Yes, Percy will admit to having limited experience with comic books—he has read some, but he never had the money or the necessity to fully invest himself in them—but he was genre savvy enough to know some of the common themes surrounding comics.
"Yes, young one, there are indeed many Universes I have created. The Universe you originate from is one I am quite proud of. I will sometimes walk the streets as a mortal man named Rick Riordan for my own enjoyment, marveling at how far you have come from the tiny little basic specks of life, festering on my daughter's surface.
Percy tried to ignore how disturbing that sounded
To what you are now. I will not tell you what I think of the world, but I am amazed of how far the human race come."
Percy wondered about that. Chaos is not telling him what he thinks of the world, whether that be humans, the world, or both, but he does find it impressive how far they have gone and how much they have achieved. Percy doesn't know what to feel about that.
Chaos continued, "In any case, I cannot and will not directly interfere with my creations, but this is an unprecedented event. Someone has jumped from one Universe to another." Chaos' voice turned hard, "This must not be allowed. The renegade has broken one of my unbreakable laws; no one else but myself may enter another world. By breaking this law, the perpetrator has forfeited his existence."
Percy shivered. He did not know if the concept of having one's existence erased was the same a fading like for immortals, but it did not sound pleasant. "That's nice and all… but where do I come in?"
Even as he said this, he had an inkling as to what exactly Chaos wanted of him. Even so, he prayed he was wrong. But who does one pray to when God is right in front of you? When you are praying against the wishes of God Himself?
"I need you to save the world again, Perseus. I need you to restore the balance in a world that is losing hope. I need you to be a hero. The hero"
Chaos' words were spoken firmly, but there was an underlining tone of need. He needed the young half-blood to accept the position. He needed the young boy to abandon all the familiarity of his old world for one where everything will be foreign to him. For both that world and his own sake, Perseus needed to travel to this Universe and save it.
Percy new it. He just knew it. The gods—in this case, God Himself—needed him. They just didn't seem to be able to leave him alone. Even after his death, he was needed for something. It was part of what he hated of being a half-blood, he felt like a chess piece, constantly used and moved. Except this time, after finally fulfilling his use, he has been brought to a different game. It was completely demoralizing. Humiliating even.
"The world will perish if you do not, that entire reality will collapse on itself, and every single thing on that Universe will die if you do not help. Can you really stand aside and not help at all? Let all those people die when you could have done something to help?"
Percy laughed mirthlessly. Omniscience really was a bitch to deal with. Chaos really knew what to say. It was part of his creed, or his mother's, really.
"We must always help those in need, if not then we have no right to call ourselves humans… it's what separates us from the monsters..."
Percy shook his head, memories haunting him. He took a shuddering breath (?).
Of course, this all didn't happen, he is just a consciousness after all, but that is what he felt he did.
Percy took a deep breath and released, "… Alright. You win. I'll save the world again."
Immediately after he said that, two things happened;
One, Percy wanted to punch himself in the face for sounding so arrogant about it. His mother would give him her disapproving look, he could never handle that look.
Two, the space cracked. Whiteness contrasted against the darkness, showering him in light. The entire vicinity warped and blended. Percy felt the space and himself implode into a single focal point, then, when everything seemed packed into what felt like a grain of salt, an explosion occurred. He felt himself be stretched and squished, every molecule and every atom seemed to convert.
Percy loss his consciousness.
.O.0.O.
"Ugh… my… everywhere!"
Everything hurt, everything. Holding the sky was a close estimate of the pain Percy felt, like his bones where parboiled and dipped in cement, his muscles fried and beaten with a tank. He could barely move. His skin was smoking, and it felt as if not a single cell of it was not stung by a Pit Scorpion.
The pain was unbearable, and Percy loss consciousness once again.
.O.0.O.
The next time Percy awakened from the grasp of blissful unconsciousness, Percy felt as if all his senses slammed into him in a single moment.
His sight cleared and sharpened. Everything in his sight was visible, that being the night sky. Oddly enough, a shattered moon illuminated the night, the gaping hole clearly visible and remnants of the moon seemed suspended by the surface. He could see dim lights dotting the sky, stars. Even with that, the moon was a piece of the sky he could not ignore.
Percy figured Artemis would not be a happy camper (hunter?) if she saw this.
His hearing sharpened, he picked up sounds. The rustle of the trees, the wind, the hoot of the owls and many other forest animals dwelling in the shadows. He could detect some artificial noise as well, noise not manifested by the whims of nature, but created though human interference, familiar with the comfort of civilization. It was a haunting reminder of the world he once lived in.
Percy felt his body come to life, a shock rippling through his nervous system. He began to move, the creaks and the groans of his muscles and his bones resonating within him, the small pains and aches a reminder his body was, fortunately or unfortunately, in working condition. He stretched his body; arms, legs, back and neck. Percy shook the numbness out of himself, bringing himself to his feet.
He caught the earthly scent of the woods, inhaling both the pleasant and unpleasant odors that resided in nature. The air was moist and cool, and the scent of recently fallen rain smelled nice in Percy's opinion.
Percy's mouth was incredibly dry, desert-like dry. What was it about crossing Universes that made the body so godsdamned weary?! He tasted bile in his mouth, and when he sucked the air inwards he could also taste the moisture in the air.
Also, he had a migraine. Fan-fucking-tastic.
He needed to find a river or a stream or a lake or the ocean for gods' sakes. At the rate he was going, stumbling, tripping, and basically dragging himself to just lean on a tree, he didn't think he was going to last long.
He was in an unknown world with unknown dangers all around him. That was fatal. Chaos apparently didn't have the courtesy or foresight to properly inform him of the mechanics of this place… oh gods, now that he thinks about it he doesn't even know the actual name of this world. Oh joy.
To be fair, he also didn't ask for information regarding this world, but still. What is it about immortal beings always making things so complicated for mortals? Can't the mortals ever just, for once, have a straight answer from the divine beings? Even so, there is no point in crying over spilled milk. He has a job to do, and he's going to finish it.
This world is dangerous. He wouldn't be here if it wasn't. So logically he needs to find civilization. People. Preferably people who can help him learn more of this world and hopefully he'll eventually find the intruder, fight and defeat him or her (because that always seems to be the case) and Chaos can then zap him back to his Universe's Elysium. Hopefully.
Oh, the wishful thinking of a half-blood. Percy knew it's never that easy.
As Percy headed up a narrow cliff, hoping to use the height as a way to map out the forest and find more humans, he became increasingly aware of how hungry he was. And also how hard it was to breath.
'Man, what I would give for a cheeseburger right about now…' His stomach rumbled, awakened by the thought of food. 'With fries,' It rumbled louder, 'and a milkshake.' It growled this time.
Wait.
"Shit."
Percy turned, coming face to face with a creature he had never seen before.
Percy had seen a variety of monsters in his short life, unfortunately. These ranged from small to big, deadly to moderately harmless, poisonous to non-poisonous, and everything in between.
Really, it was ridiculous how many monsters can exist.
But because of his vast experience with monsters, coupled with his inherent need to survive, Percy has learned to classify threats and come up with 'plans' to defeat the monster, with or without prior knowledge.
Said plans do not always work, nor are they actually 'plans' but instead half-cocked ideas set in motion.
But Percy digresses.
Point being, Percy had learned to adapt at a level that astounded even him at times.
So, when Percy looked at the beast for the first time, he immediately came to several conclusions;
This was one of the monsters in this world.
The razor sharp teeth and claws were perfect for tearing off the limbs off of Percy.
The wolf-like creature had strong looking legs, meaning it was a powerful jumper and probably a fast runner, meaning Percy would have to fight it out.
The head seemed to have bone on it, meaning strikes to the head would not be effective, but the back and underside of the belly were unprotected and exposed. The temples are also a possible choice. The bone-like material also ran along the back, some appeared on the forearms, this can be used offensively and defensively.
Percy slowly shifted his feet, taking a more defensive stance. He spread his arms, all the while looking at the beast in the eyes.
This, Percy realized, was probably not smart, but he could not stop now. Both half-blood and monster acknowledged each other's existence, and in a way Percy found this calming. This was familiar, the very brief and precious millisecond where both opposing parties seem to synchronize with the enemy. It was something that Percy found normal amidst the foreignness surrounding him.
'Okay, I must have something wrong with me if the most normal thing to have happened today (?) would be that I am fighting a monster I know nothing about.' Percy bemoaned his situation. 'In a situation as surreal as what I am experiencing, fighting this wolf-thing is the calmest thing to happen to me. I am in serious need of a therapeutic session…'
Even while Percy was humoring himself, he knew his situation was dire. Usually, he could feel Riptide in his pants pocket, the weight was a constant comfort for Percy over the years, but all he felt now was an unfamiliar and unwelcomed emptiness.
It was chilling to realize he was weaponless in a world where he did not know anyone, was occupied by monsters, and did not previously exist.
Big Bad Wolf, as Percy dubbed the creature, growled at him.
"Geez, don't monsters ever have proper hygiene? Seriously, take some breath mints"
Big Bad only snarled, and launched himself at the teen.
Thankfully, Percy was prepared and jumped backwards as Wolf managed to land on the spot he was once before.
Adding deadly accuracy to the monster's attributes.
Percy picked up an adequately sized piece of wood that laid at his side. Anything was better than nothing.
As the creature neared Percy, he swung the wood as hard as he could while aiming at the sides of the head. The wood splintered at the force of the impact, but while Big Bad Wolf was pawing at his injured side, Percy deiced to take the very desperate choice of running away.
Not very dignified or badass, but self-preservation was vastly underestimated by people.
'Not enough room, danger of falling off the cliff, no more possible weapons, all very bad. Need new location.'
Well, Percy reasoned his self-preservation wisely.
Percy dashed through the woods, but his body was still not at 100%. Maybe if he could find a water source…
A sudden impact made Percy skid on the ground, Big Bad was on his back and lifted one of its arms, ready to strike his unprotected back.
Panic filled Percy as he struggle underneath the beast. This was not the ideal situation. Well, ideally Percy would be in Elysium like he was supposed to, like he deserved, but such was not the case. Ideally, in this reality, Percy would have Riptide in his hand, an ocean next to him, the Universe intruder at his feet, begging to repent for the trouble he/she caused, and a smoking hot babe in a bikini next to him.
Okay, he was a teenage boy, granted he was a teenage boy who saved the world several times already, but he was still a hormonal teenage boy nonetheless. He was absolutely certain that as such, he was entitled to the fantasies that accompanied with such an age.
The paw came down, and white-hot pain filled Percy's senses. Blood oozed out, trickling down his back and his sides. A moderately deep cut, but nothing a little salt water can't help heal up. It was going to be a real bitch to deal with though.
Percy struggled underneath, attempting to escape but the weight of the beast was too much. He focused; right now the most pressing issue was to be released from underneath and gain distance. Percy managed to twist his body enough to meet Big Bad Wolf. He saw the claw coming down on his head in time, and managed to move his head in time to prevent having an early death.
The claw was dangerously close to his head, but the monster, instead of retracting the limb, instead used his other arm to attack. Percy dodged that one too, barely, but it allowed him an opening. He raised his fist and punched the monster with an uppercut.
So Big Bad is impatient. Or just bloodthirsty. Probably a combination of both.
"YEAGH! Have a taste of my 2x4! Two fist, four fingers!" Percy proceeded to punch Big Bad two consecutive times, before ceasing his chance and escaping the monster from underneath.
Percy slid away and ran without breaking pace, time was of the essence, and he could not afford to lose any.
The forest blurred around him, and he continued to escape, right now his survival depended heavily on
'There!'
Percy skidded to a halt, lifting up a fair amount of dust. He located the source of his only real chance of survival, a creek that ran a couple meters away. Percy dashed to the water source, thankful for the safety it provided.
He submerged himself in the water, although it only reached mid-thigh at its deepest level.
It would have to do.
Percy released a sigh at the cool waters, feeling some reach up to his back and heal the wounds, like a parent to a child. Percy also relished and welcomed the burst of energy that spread across him.
He allowed a small smirk to appear on his face, and turned just in time to meet Big Bad Wolf as it broke through the trees.
Percy, quick as lightning, raised his hand and a high-pitched FWIP! noise echoed.
The head of Big Bad Wolf had a hole drilled in it, and Percy could see through the head to even the scenery in the back.
Big Bad feel forward, unmoving. Strangely enough, Percy could see smoke rising from the corpse, almost like it was evaporating…
It was hauntingly similar to how the monsters in his Universe would disintegrate into gold dust.
"Pretty anti-climactic… all that build up in the chase for nothing… well, not like I'm gonna complain about it. Haaa…"
Percy, for the third (?) time that day (?), lost consciousness.
.O.0.O.
Percy was standing in a white room, mist floating high in the air and low on the ground.
"Perseus"
"Uh, yeah?" Gods, the Creator was speaking to him and he could only respond with an 'uh'! How mortifying. He should have said something more dignified than that!
"Do not concern yourself with that, it is of no importance. Moreover, I am more concerned with your wellbeing. Are you ill?"
"Oh, ah—I'm good, I think. Just, you know, without a weapon in a hostile environment, no biggie. Oh, and, well, you know, a case of mild bodily dysfunction, nothing too severe."
"I see. It is to expected, your body is adjusting to the new atmosphere and environment. Some mishaps are not unusual nor are they unexpected."
"So it was normal?"
"Yes."
"And you didn't think of, oh I don't know, telling me!?"
"I did not expect you to gain consciousness so early. It was an unexpected result when I focused on your existence"
Percy, even in this state, felt a migraine was going to form.
He didn't even attempt to feel slightly offended considering Chaos was the one who asked for his help, nor did he try to comprehend what Chaos meant by 'unexpected' if he was omniscient.
Then again, an unknown entity has slipped through the cracks and managed to come to this Universe. Maybe the whole omniscience thing worked differently than he thought, there must be many things God had to do, and so maybe even if he was all-knowing didn't mean he always processed what he knew? Did that even make any sense? Was it just because Chaos wasn't paying attention to him? Or maybe…
Yup, Percy was absolutely certain the migraine was there now.
"Okay, whatever. My body will eventually get used to this world, right?"
"That is correct."
He sighed, "Good, but there is still the matter of me having no weapon."
"You will wake up in exactly 3.45 milliseconds after I finish speaking. As for your weapon, just look at your most prized possession and you will find your sword. Use it wisely."
Percy barely opened his mouth when everything went black.
Even so, one lone though was processed in his mind.
'Oh, so now the omniscience works flawlessly.'
.O.0.O.
This time, when Percy woke up, he felt more grounded than before. Maybe because he was currently submerged underwater, but he felt the difference from when he first woke up.
His back was healed, which was a definite plus.
Percy rose from the water; hair, skin, and clothes drying as he simply walked out of the creek.
Now, without the added help of water, Percy realized he did indeed feel better.
'Guess He was right about my body adjusting, I do feel better now…'
Percy scanned his surroundings, making sure he wasn't about to be ambushed by another Big Bad Wolf. One was enough.
Chaos' words echoed in his head, "Just look at your most prized possession"
'Damn immortal, just give it to me straight!'
Even so, he did not need to think to know the one object he valued above everything else.
He nearly let the world succumb to WWIII because of it, after all.
Percy lifted his right hand, and on his index finger was a fairly simple ring.
A silver band, a single blue wave engraved in it. It was by no means extravagant, nor was it opulent. It was by all means fairly simple.
Even so, Percy treasured it more than his own life.
"So… what now?" He asked no one in particular.
Percy gently removed the jewelry piece, placing it gingerly between his cupped hands.
He cleared his throat, "Ahem, well… uh, open sesame?"
Nothing happened.
"Sword activate?"
Again, nothing.
"Super-Ultra-Mega-Powered-Nitro-Alpha Weapon Activate!?"
As before, nothing occurred.
"…Please?"
Oh, how low he has fallen, pleading to a piece of precious metal to turn into a sword.
And he was getting desperate.
"This is getting me nowhere…" Percy muttered dejectedly, "And I must look like a complete idiot. Thanks again Chaos old buddy old pal, you've really come through for me."
His head hung low, he gazed at the band, and a surge of emotions filled him.
Anger.
Resentment.
Guilt.
Sorrow.
Revenge.
Righteous fury.
Love.
Happiness.
Yearning.
Despair.
Hope.
He released a sigh, and rubbed the ring.
A bright flash of light.
And promptly fell on his ass as he almost skewed himself.
That wasn't his sword, Anaklusmos.
Percy allowed himself a moment of peace. Looking at this sword, he felt like it was justified.
It was truly a glorious weapon.
Double-edged, glowing a whitish-blue color, a fuller running through the blade. It possessed a wonderful and truly masterful display of beauty. Saying that though, felt wrong. Describing the sword as 'cool', 'badass', 'awesome', and maybe even 'epic' felt wrong somehow, as if sullying the blade.
The only real was to describe it would be glorious.
Percy, still on the forest floor, reached out to grasp the handle of the sword. He rose with the blade, and took a few experimental swings, enjoying how the sword felt like an extension of himself.
Percy felt strong.
He allowed a smile to overcome his face.
Now he felt like could take on this world. To save it.
'Get ready world', Percy thought, 'here I come.'
