Percy pov

It's been weeks since I met Rachel now. I remembered to ask her name. Next week, she has Thanksgiving break, and she's agreed to give me the entire weeks so we can have fun. I know exactly what I have planned. A whole-go-around-the world thing. For each day of the week, we'll go to one of the wonders in the world. Just for fun.

The only boring part about our friendship is going to the art exhibits and stuff. Its pain on paper, and molded steel, but she loves it, so I have to go. This one time she covered me in gold paint and made me stand like a statue. It was torture. She laughed so hard watching me stand there. I did get my revenge though, because a near-by fire hydrant 'accidentally' flooded, and 'coincidentally' doused one person. I had the last laugh.

These last few weeks have been amazing. I have had so much fun, that I almost forgot I was a god. I mean, I haven't called a meeting in a month, and Artemis has been ignoring me, and I don't even care. Before Rachel, I would've been so nervous that she wasn't talking to me because I really liked Artemis, but Rachel has all my attention.

I was currently in my new palace, (I had new ones built) Mine was the size of the colosseum-from the outside. It was endless from the inside. Like the labyrinth, but it doesn't have a mind of its own. It does whatever I tell it too. From the outside it seems to have 45 rooms, but it actually has a hundred. I have a game room, training room, underwater room, basically one for everything I care about.

I planning the weather for the next week. I mean, it has to be perfect. I will also have to use the mist, because Rachel can't know how we're really going to get from place to place. I just realized that I'm so focused on Rachel. Why don't I have anything better to do? A tiny voice in the back of my head answered. 'Easy dummy. There are two reasons: You are a lonely loser.' 'But-' 'Shush, I'm talking. The second reason is you like her.' 'Pfft. No I don't' 'really? You've spent so much time on her.' 'You know what? You are a figment of my imagination. You don't tell me who I like and who I don't. I pushed the voice into the back of my brain. I'm not going to listen to it. But something was telling me it was true.

I was spending way too much time on Rachel. Now that I think about it, I haven't seen any of the other goddesses for the past months! I should probably call a meeting. I then heard a voice in my brain, but it sounded like a whole jumble.

'Oh dear god.'

'Please help me live'

'Please let me survive this'

'Is this my ending point now?'

Because of the natural powers thing, I knew these were prayers. But one stuck out to me the most:

'Oh dear god. Is this how I'm going to die? Because of this?"

I (somehow) knew it was Rachel. I reached deep into my all-knowing mind, and found out that there was a fire at the high school she goes too. 12 injured, none dead-yet. I use my powers and calm the fire, reducing it to nothing. THEN the firefighters came. I sigh. I turn my attention back to the matter at hand. I hadn't seen any of the goddesses, and I have patrolled Olympus so much. There's no way this is a coincident. There must be something wrong. I reached into my mind, and formed a one-way iris message with Athena, because she was the one I trusted the least. She was currently with Hera, and they seemed deep in discussion. I didn't bother to listen to what they were talking about. I reached into my mind for Aphrodite, because her mind is usually unguarded. I decided to read her mind instead of a one-way iris message.

It was a jumble:

I don't really agree with this.

Should I tell Rider?

Can I trust him?

I wonder how Piper's doing.

What should I do?

I was confused. What does she mean with telling me? I flash to her. She jumps, really startled. "Is there something you need to tell me?" I snarled, trying to sound like I already knew. She stuttered. "Wh-what are you talking about?" I stepped forward one step, and she took one back. "You know what I'm talking about. I'll give you one chance to tell me." She hesitated, and then took a deep breath. "Athena, and the rest of the council is plotting to overthrow you." She then tried to use charmspeak. "But you won't remember this, you'll forget this." This made me even madder.

"Are you seriously trying to use charmspeak on me? I immune…" I said, pinning her to the wall. I've got much of a temper, and this was pushing it. She struggled, and then stopped struggling. I spoke in a low tone. "Now, you'll tell me exactly what I want to know or else…" I said, squeezing her throat and leaving the threat in the air. She nodded, or at least I think she did. I release her neck. She eyed me warily.

"What do you want to know?" I thought of my first question. I conjured up two chairs, both lush with arm places and comfortable leg seating. "Sit down. This'll take some time." Since the chairs weren't ugly in any way, she sat down. Then the secret cuffs cuffed her legs and arms to the chair. She tried to flash out, and failed. "Those are god-proof." I told her. She stopped struggling. "Why do this? I'll tell you everything." I shrug. "Insurance. Besides, are you uncomfortable?" She didn't say anything. I nodded.

"Then, shall we start?" She nodded. I asked my first question. "Who all is in this?" She started. "Athena is the leader, and for her cause she has recruited: Me, Hera, Hestia, Hecate, and Artemis. But Hestia and I were unsure if we were still in it." She added quickly. Artemis was planning against me? A little bit of my heart hurt, but I pushed it away. I thought of my second question: "How exactly will you overthrow me?" Aphrodite was reluctant, but then answered: "We were planning to use Hephaestus's golden net, which is inescapable." I snorted.

I moved on to the next question. "How were you planning to spring the golden net on me?" Aphrodite looked sheepish. "Artemis is supposed to lure you." My heart burned, and I think my eyes blazed with the fire of anger. Aphrodite looked scared. "Why Artemis?" I ask. "You like her" Aphrodite muttered. Usually I'd be surprised, but this was the love goddess, so whatever. I was so mad at Artemis though. I would get my revenge. I had it mostly planned. I thought of my next question: "If I weren't to have come here and asked you these questions, whose side would you be on. Remember, answer truthfully." She shrugged.

"I would probably have just removed myself from both sides, and Hestia would probably have stayed with Athena, the big three being her family and all." I nodded pondering. I sit in silence, and Aphrodite looked kind of uncomfortable. "So…what are you going to do?" She asked nervously. I thought about it. Apparently, my plan for a council of goddesses wouldn't work. I was going to have to disband it, and along with that, punish those for even thinking of trying to do this. Especially Artemis. Athena-well, this was expected. I looked toward Aphrodite. "Since you have cooperated, I won't punish you, but the council is going down." She looked relieved of the non-punishing part.

But-I need to have even a bit of revenge for even joining their group in the first place. I will let her stay a god, but instead of just decreasing her energy levels, I'll take them away. I press my fingertips on either side of her forehead, and pull energy. I could feel her power pulsing through me. I felt even more powerful in the domain of love, but she was still the goddess of it. Just a minor one. She had passed out from the power pulling. I'll let her keep her palace. I flash her back to her palace.

Artemis pov

I was going to be the bait. Aphrodite had told everyone that Rider liked me, and my heart spiked. But I didn't care, I was a maiden goddess, and he was not supposed to be the ruler. I haven't even heard from my brother Apollo in a long time. Or Hermes. I'm worried about them. I start to think. How am I supposed to be bait? He has an interest in some girl named…Roxy? I'll admit I was jealous at first, but I'm over it. 'No you're not' shut up. Anyway, I'm over it. ''*cough*' 'Shut up or I'll make you dormant for centuries.' 'Shutting up now.' 'Thought so.'

How am I supposed to bait him though? Maybe I'll ask him somethings. I could ask him some things about Percy, and not Rider. I mean, his auburn hair and blood-red eyes were pretty intimidating, but the sea-green was like pulling the information out of you. I'll just ask him something random. I have to do this today, because we've been ignoring him for about a month, and he's bound to notice. I meet up with Athena.

"So…You ready?" She asked. I shook my head. She smiled. "Good. You can go now." I rolled my eyes, and went to search for him, and walked all over Olympus.

Athena pov

I tell Artemis to leave, but as soon as she leaved, I'm pinned to the wall, my stomach facing the wall. Some guy has his arm on my mouth. Luckily, I'm a goddess who knows martial-arts. I throw a few moves, but he seems to know them all. He easily dodges each one, and pins me, my hands around my back. I see it was Rider, and he was furious. Oh gods. He found out. Who could've snitched? Hestia? No…she's really devoted to Zeus and Hades and (ugh) Poseidon. I struggle, but seem to be powerless. He glares at me, and then pushes his finger tips to the sides of my forehead. I could feel something leaving me.

I feel like my power and smarts were draining out of me, and I soon felt dumb. Like I had the intelligence of a regular 18-year-old. His eyes, however, seemed to be glittering with intelligence, that my eyes used to have. I slink back, feeling powerless. I soon black out.

Hecate pov

When I heard there was a new ruler, to be honest I was excited. Maybe I could get recognized or taken onto the council. But I was disappointed to know that only Olympian goddesses were allowed. When I heard they were rebelling, well Sign me up! I was supposed to be near, Artemis, to fling the net, but I was tiring. Artemis wasn't able to find Rider. I see Artemis turn a corner, and then feel sharp pain in my back. In the blink of an eye, I was being held above the ground by my neck. I turn to see a man with amazing looks, auburn hair, and red eyes. His eyes seem to contain…is it intelligence?

He lowered me, and I was about to flash to alert the others, when he pushed his fingers against my forehead. I could feel my power and mystic energy just draining out of me. I was getting weak. I could feel my power rushing into his hands, leaving me. I could sense the amount of power he now had. It was all I use to have. I start to black out, feeling weak, human. I hope Artemis gets him…

Hera pov

I was supposed to meet up with Athena after Artemis is ready, but I get there to see Athena collapsed on the floor. I rush to her, and sense her powerful faint. She had a very faint aura. She opened her eyes in alarmed, and pointed behind me, but before I could do anything, I felt something on either side of my head, and felt all my power flooding out. I felt…human. Is this how humans feel? I almost passed out, but instead I got up and started woozily walking. I see…is that Rider? Did he take my powers? I could sense he did exactly what he did to Athena to me? "Wh-" I collapsed before being able to get anything out.

I did feel two strong arms grab me before I left though.

Hestia pov

Rider maybe nice, but he took away my brothers-and nobody does that. I maybe the hope, but this was MY family, and NOBODY messed with it. He's going down. You see, I normally have hopeful, calm thoughts, until the hope diminishes. Most of my family are in the prisons that take away hope. I can't stand that, being the goddess of home and hearth. I was supposed to watch through the flames, and make him dizzy with wonderful smells-trust me, it works.

But before I could do that, I saw Hecate getting ambushed, and Artemis not knowing. Before I could say anything to Artemis, I felt fingertips on the sides of my head. I think I know what was going to happen. I was going to collapse. But I wasn't fully right. I first felt my power drain out, then collapse. I felt human, but not exactly human. I blacked out.

Back to Percy

I had finally done most of it. You see, the plan was to take their powers to the point they were only immortal. They had no powers, just they couldn't die. No godly powers or anything. I had also sat them down in chairs, and tied them to that chair. They were all currently tied up and sleeping, probably from having blacked out from all the weakness. Except Hestia and Aphrodite, instead of rendering them defenseless, I let them be minor gods. Just not as powerful as before. Me, however, I felt even stronger, if that was even possible. I felt so….I just can't describe it. I feel….like I'm above gods, crossing into something else. I could just ask Creator.

Hey Creator?

Oh hey Percy, how are you doing?

Hey, I was wondering if there were any side effects to absorbing powers?

Oh...uh…I think if you absorbed enough, you could cross over into mainly primordial powers. See, right now, except for your form, you have the power of about….I guess a REALLY powerful god. If you take enough power, you could become maybe a normal primordial.

How much power is required for that?

Well, each god's power will enhance your power, giving you more power and strength in a certain domain and each goddess will triple your powers or give you even more domains. Goddesses tend to have more locked-up-power that you can take. But you can also take away their immortality, but it could kill them. I would advise not to do that. So around 3 minor goddesses will make you a primordial, 3 major goddesses will make you very powerful as a primordial, and 5 major goddesses will take you to the ruler of primordial. Gods too. If you absorb more than 10 goddesses, your powers will become equal level to mine, but you can't create anything. Like planets and stuff. Anything else…all yours.

Oh, thanks.

No problem. I'm currently hanging out with my friends in the other universes.

Other universe?

I believe the term is multi-verse.

Cool.

Well, anything else?

Can I take up a primordials powers?

If you take 2 primordials, you have enough power to take Chaos's powers.

Oh really?

Yeah, if you want to. Chaos hasn't sent me a birthday card in years.

Ok, well, I got to go.

Yeah, me to, have fun!

I shook my head. Chaos is so weird. But back to the plan, I have one more goddess to take. I feel so betrayed, now that my mind was off of Rachel. She was going to pay the most. Athena I could expect, but Artemis? Freaking seriously? She was going to pay, and I wasn't going to make it easy.

Artemis pov

I was wandering around now, trying to find him. Hecate disappeared an hour ago, but I guess it was because she was tired. I tried to contact Hestia, but she busy. So were Athena and Hera. What was going on?

I hear shuffling behind. I take out a bow and arrow and shoot it. It was going straight for the heart, when said target caught it. With their hand. I couldn't see who it was because they were wearing a cloak. They moved a few steps closer. Now that it was closer, I realize it was a man. I sigh. No kidding. Only a man could be sneaky. 'Except Percy' Shut up. The man moves closer. I put up the bow. This was going to be hand-to-hand combat.

I lunge at him, and we start to fight, but he was putting up so much of a fight. This was harder than I expected. Even worse, I could sense he was holding back. A lot. Well, if he's going to hold back, I might as well use it to my advantage. I fight harder, and unluckily, he started fighting even harder too. Harder than me. I could feel myself tiring. I made a wrong move and his hand was at my throat. I was too tired to do anything.

I groaned. His hold on my neck softened a bit. He released my throat, and put his fingers to my head. What was he doing? I suddenly felt like I was in front of some suction and immediately blacked out, not sure what happened. The last thing I saw was him removing his hood. It was Rid-Percy. Looking mad. I was in some seriously trouble.

Percy pov

I got Artemis, and took her powers, leaving her only with immortality. I was furious with her, but I decided to wait until she was awake. I chained all the goddesses to the walls in a certain dungeon, but made sure Aphrodite and Hestia had very comfortable hidden arrangements. I'll let them go, but I need to get a point across first. I stand back and look. I had the Olympian goddesses plus Hecate all chained to walls, powerless. I smiled.

They started to awaken. I snapped myself a chair and sat down, looking at all of them. In a couple of minutes, all of them were awake, scared, and confused. It was deathly silence. I broke the silence. "I have gotten information from a source that has led me to believe that I was being plotted against." It was quiet. They were all looking at me.

"For that, you are to be punished, and then I shall let you go. Am I clear?" No response. I shrugged it off. I got up, and moved to Athena. "Athena?" She looked me right in the eye, defiantly. I just stared back calmly. "For arranging all of this, you are to be stripped of your powers, leaving you ONLY with immortality." She looked so horrified.

"What? You can't do that! I'm needed! You need my intelligence!" I smirk. "Not anymore." I snap my fingers, and she was unchained. I then flashed her outside the Empire State building. In about a decade's time, she shall be given another trial. I then moved to the next one-Hera. Hera looked sad. "What's wrong Hera? Feeling bad? Scared?" She looked at me. "I'm ready to face my punishment, I do admit I deserve it."

I thought she really did, and so I told her "Instead of being out there for a decade, I'll let you come back for a trial in 5 years." She smiled, and I unchained her. I flashed her to outside the Empire State building. I then moved to Hecate, who was desperately trying to get out of the chains. I smirk. "Hecate right?" She stopped struggling and glared. "I'm always overshadowed." I chuckle a bit, and she goes back to struggling. "Well, since I did ignore you, you shall be called back in 5 years' time, but until then you are only immortal. I decided to check if I left any of her powers with her, so I press my fingertips to her forehead. A little bit of power goes into my hands. Hecate looks at me warily. "What did you do exactly?"

I hold up my palms, and try to use Hecate's power. My palms begin to grow a deep purple, and show off her essence. She gasps. "My power….You?" I nod. I unchain her and flash her to outside the Empire State building. I move on to Hestia. "I know you just wanted to protect your family, so I'll let you keep some of your powers. You are now a minor goddess. You are allowed to stay on Olympus. I unchain her, and flash her to outside the throne room.

I turn to Aphrodite, who was struggling to stay awake. I smile. I unchain her. "You have the same case as Hestia, understand?" She nodded, and left. I change my face back to my original one-with my amazing looks. I turn to the last one-Artemis. I snarl at her. "You, have betrayed me the most." She hung her head. I make a dry laugh. "I actually-I can't believe you. I let Apollo and Hermes go." Her head spiked up. I continue. "I let you have a palace, your dad imprisoned you, and I imprisoned him, I let you stay on the council. I let you keep the hunt."

She lowered her head. "What more did you want from me? I gave you everything! And you hate me because what?-I'm a boy!" I calmed my voice. "I actually-" "I actually liked you." Her head snapped up. "I actually fell in love with a man-hating goddess, and what do I get? She ends up bait for ME?" Her eyes were wide in shock. I scoffed.

"I can't believe I actually loved you. I still do, and I hate myself for it." I walk up to her, up into her face. "You broke my heart." I then remove any left over power and skill she ever had, and flashed her outside the Empire State building. I had a pang in my heart. I shook it off. I need to take this off my mind. I remember Annabeth. I guess I could talk to her. Just to make myself feel pain.

I flash to the dungeons, take her out, and flash her to my palace. She was a dirty mess, sobbing, her eyes blood-shot. I snap my fingers, and she's all cleaned up, back to her original beautiful form. She looked up. "Percy?" I shrug. "In the flesh." I figured she would say sorry and continue crying, but she said nothing and just sat there.

I raised an eyebrow. "You ok?" She didn't reply. I knit my eyebrows in confusion. "Annabeth?" She looked at me. "Yeah?" I sighed. "Are you not even going to apologize?" She looked at me with confusion. "Would you forgive me if I did?" I was thrown aback. "You won't even hope?" She shook her head. "Those prisons taught me something." I was curious now. "And what was that?" She sighed. "That there is no hope for anything. Life is just a mess."

She has silent tears coming down her cheeks. She may have betrayed me, but she was still my first love and I had a bit of a soft spot for her. I walked to her and pulled her into a hug. I sat her down, and got her something to eat. She took a tiny nibble. "Aren't you hungry?" I asked, confused. She shook her head. I was confused, but pushed it away. "Are you ok?" She nodded, but I could see she was still shaking, trying to hold back tears. I pulled her into a hug, and she hugged me back, silently crying.

While a question pondered me.

Did I still like Annabeth?