Chapter 11
A/N: Well everyone, before you continue on with this chapter, you must know that this is in fact the final chapter for Operation: Pothena. It's sad, but it has to end every once in a while. I want to thank whoever placed me into two communities. It was a nice surprise. I've gotten more favorites and follows on this story than any other.
Poseidon: This was a strange experience for me.
Athena: I agree. This is just strange.
Me: Will you guys behave from now on? You see how many people like you guys fighting for each other than fighting with each other.
Athena: Those were some good fights.
Poseidon: I still can't believe you swapped my throne with a throne made of snakes.
Hermes: It was all her idea. I just provided the snakes.
Poseidon: That really tested our immortality.
Me: Umm, anyway. Athena, do you want to deliver my final disclaimer?
Athena: Sure. Newage doesn't own PJO or HoO. What's it going to be? Newage or Unknown?
Me: Haven't decided yet. Anyway…
ON WITH THE SHOW!
3rd POV:
"STUPID, ARROGANT BROTHER!" Poseidon boomed as he threw a bust of Zeus at a wall.
Ever since he stood up to his brother on Olympus, Poseidon had sat in his throne room ignoring sleep and the concern from his subjects. He destroyed everything related to his brother. The monument of the Olympian throne room was missing a stone Zeus, all of his busts were busted, and even Zeus's messages before Iris.
Triton returned to collect his weapons, and when he saw his father throwing a Zeus bust at a wall, his anger quickly turned to concern. He tried to approach his father, but his anger prevented him from entering the throne room.
"Unless you feel like visiting Hades, I suggest you don't enter Triton," Poseidon warned.
Triton fled immediately afterward. After a few more hours of trying to calm down, and small truth sparked in Poseidon's mind and created another anger flash. He roared at the top of his lungs. "IF I WASN'T SWALLOWED UP BY KRONOS, I WOULD'VE SAVED EVERYONE AND BECOME KING OF THE GODS! EVERYTHING COULD'VE BEEN AVOIDED IF I WAS KING OF THE GODS! WORLD WAR TWO COULD'VE BEEN AVOIDED!"
Another bust flew into the wall. "THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO TREATY IF I WAS KING! NO! THE FATES DECIDE OTHERWISE!"
Another Zeus bust was destroyed. He reached for the pedestal, but there were no more busts of Zeus. Poseidon sighed as he slowly trudged to his throne. His trident was locked away for two things. 1) His trident enhanced his power and 2) He could spear an innocent fish in a flash of anger. He sat down and stared at the ceiling.
Like the space themed ceiling on Mount Olympus, Poseidon had his environment depicted on the ceiling. The shores of Hawaii lit up the room with its roaring, yet majestic blue waves. The warm glow of the Sun relaxed the Sea God. Sail boats were also depicted treading the waters with the few humans who sought knowledge in the days of old.
"What-what am I doing?" he said. "I'm throwing a fit like I'm 300! I'm the freaking Lord of the Sea!" He stomped on the ground. "All for what? Athena?" He sighed. "Her beautiful grey eyes and that wonderfully glowing skin. Oh, and her smile. Her amazing smile warms my heart."
The only think he wanted to do now was to sleep, but his anger toward his brother prevented him from doing so. "You can't have hatred fueling your powers," Athena once said.
Poseidon chuckled. "She's right, but what can I do? I tore Olympus apart over love," he said.
"I couldn't agree with you more," someone said.
Poseidon turned to the voice, and there standing under an archway, was the mighty Zeus. The scabbard where he kept his Master Bolt was empty. He wore a simple white toga and sandals. He beard and white hair floated in the underwater palace. Poseidon's surprised faced morphed into a face of anger. "What are you doing here?" he asked.
Zeus sighed. "You won't believe me when I tell you," he said.
Poseidon rolled his eyes. "OK, second question. How did you come down here? Aren't gods forbidden to enter each other's domain without permission?"
"You granted permission to me if I ever want to apologize. That and one of the mermaids let me in." He motioned to the mermaid swimming behind him.
Poseidon smirked. "Well, I don't remember telling you how to enter exactly."
"You left me to figure that out myself," Zeus said.
Poseidon chuckled. The mermaid behind Zeus stared in disbelief. "Um, Aquariana, can you leave us alone for a few minutes?" Poseidon asked.
She bowed, and swam away. Once the doors closed, Zeus slowly walked/swam toward the Sea King. "The only time you let me down here was when your son proposed to Athena's girl, and yet this place is foreign," he said, staring at the ceiling.
"Yes. I don't usually let anyone enter my throne room without me, but the Merpeople somehow find their way in from time to time. It's helpful when you trust some people," Poseidon said.
Zeus sighed. "You couldn't help yourself, could you?"
Poseidon shook his head. "Well, I do deserve that little remark."
"Stick around, I'm prepared to give you more than a little remark," Poseidon said.
Zeus nodded. "Look, about my daughter—"
Poseidon raised his hand. "It's my fault for doing this to you. If I didn't cause Hurricane Romana, none of this would've ever happened. I forced us all to live on one mountain while we tried to stop it when I should've done it alone. I'm the one who should apologize to you," he said.
"But—"
"I also should've never questioned your command. You are fit to rule, but you're such a stubborn big head to let others help you. I guess it was the anger that prevented me from seeing that. I'm sorry for causing you all this drama, Lord Zeus."
"Now hold on a moment!" Zeus said.
Poseidon looked up. "Yes, Hurricane Romana was your fault, but not all of it was. Before the whole hurricane incident, I got into a fight with Athena. She first proposed to revoke her oath because of the recent changes to the world. I was the reason she went off on you in the beginning. Then, when I see you two not fighting anymore, I was glad. I was glad because my brother finally made up to my daughter and stopped the 3,000 year fighting. I was also scared. Scared because you went from enemies to friends without a problem."
Poseidon chuckled. "Well, the running in the halls thing was a small problem, but anything could've happened. Anyway, I was scared because what if you two actually got together and something happened. I just wanted to keep Athena happy and safe, but what happened these past few weeks scared me."
Poseidon smiled. "You love her so much, it aches you to see her finally happy. I should've realized that and just ignored my feelings."
"But you didn't! You followed your heart, not your lust like I do to every mortal I see. You found love, not another excuse to have an immortal child," Zeus said. "I'm happy that there was love, but now I think I blew it."
"You think?!"
"Well, the whole battle in New York was bad. I should never have hurt you like that. I saw love in your eyes, but I feared I was wrong. You can't blame me for being a father," Zeus said.
Poseidon chuckled. "I knew you were going to say that, and no, I cannot blame you. I understand the whole fatherly instinct."
Zeus nodded. "I can't keep you and Athena apart any longer. It pains me to see her without happiness."
"It pains me too," Poseidon said.
A spark flashed in Zeus' eye. I'm going to set things right, he thought. He looked up to the ceiling and shouted. "Athena, can you come down here for a moment?!"
Poseidon looked up just in time to see a flash of light. No way, Poseidon thought.
The light dimmed, and in the room was the Wisdom Goddess with an owl on her shoulder. Her brown hair danced in the water, which captured both of the god's attention. The owl didn't look happy to be underwater, but it was its fault for being around Athena 24/7. Poseidon's eyes were wide with surprise.
"A-Athena?" he stuttered. "W-why?"
Zeus stepped forward. "I know how much you love Athena as much as you love Sally Jackson. Your relationship with the mortal has actually opened my eyes. You loved and cared for her from her lowest point in life to her parting from our world. I do believe you can give her the same happiness you showed to the mortal." He looked back at his daughter. "Can you bring her the happiness I couldn't bring her?"
Poseidon and Athena both stood there, shocked. "A-are you serious?" Athena asked.
Zeus turned to his daughter. "I cannot stand to see you unhappy. While I may be a thick headed ruler of Olympus who knows all—"
Poseidon coughed. Zeus glared at him while Athena chuckled. "Well, I don't know what my daughter feels. I trust you, daughter. Can you forgive your overprotective father?"
Athena nodded and gave Zeus a hug. A single tear flowed from his eye and landed on her shoulder. "My little girl has finally grown up. I cannot be more proud," he muttered.
Athena smiled and broke the hug. She slowly walked toward the Sea King with grace for someone who was underwater. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up. "Do what makes you happy, Poseidon. Follow your heart for it will guide you to happiness," Chaos had once told him. His only real contact while he was in Kronos' stomach.
"Can we try that kiss over again?" Athena asked.
"I believe we can," replied Poseidon.
Athena wrapped her arms around Poseidon's neck and he wrapped around her waist. They both leaned in, and the unforeseen event took place. Poseidon's lips connected with Athena's in a sweet and gentle embrace. This was Athena's first kiss. Zeus stood in the background with a tear streaking down his cheek. "This was my first kiss with Hera. I remember," he thought.
Suddenly, a purple glow enveloped Athena. The two separated to see what happened. The purple glow was her father's symbol above her head like she was claimed as a demigod. The voice of Zeus echoed in the Throne Room. "With this gentle embrace, my daughter be free from her Oath. May you find happiness my daughter."
The light dimmed. Athena was in shock. She breathed in a deep breath and she felt free. For the first time in 3,000 years, she had actually found happiness. "Oh Us, I feel…different," she said.
"The oath has been broken. This is the transition from childhood to adulthood. What? You thought it would kill you or something?" Zeus said. "Everyone takes the Virgin Oath at some point. Some break it before it's time, like Apollo."
The new couple chuckled. Athena hugged Poseidon. "Will this last?"
"The Fates do not control our love lives. I will make this last," he vowed.
Zeus nodded, and before they could leave, an Iris-message appeared in the middle of the Throne Room. On the other end was their mortal contact. He had dark hair and black eyes with a small scar running down his right eye. He appeared to be in his mid-thirties.
"My Lords and Lady. They've returned," he said.
Poseidon and Athena both looked at each other in shock. "They arrived a few moments ago, and both were heavily armed. I will fill you in later, but right now, I have to stop Percy from taking my armor. I will bring them to Olympus as soon as I can," he said. Then, the message disconnected, leaving the Olympians in the room.
Poseidon nodded, and together, the gods flashed out of Atlantis and to Olympus where Percy, Annabeth, and their mortal ally would arrive.
A/N: Well that's it everyone. I guess you could say that Operation: Pothena failed, but love conquered. I hope you liked this story as well as I have enjoyed writing it. I will finish Book 2: Back in time, which is Percy and Annabeth's adventures in the Nazi controlled U.S. Afterwards, I hope to have a Thalico story up. Spread the word, and if you like Thalico, be ready for it. I bid thee adieu.
-Unknown
