Son of Transformation
An impossible child, born of Human and Denizen, trained by Heaven's Flame, pulled into the world of Greek Myths in time to save a man hating Goddess. How will Harry Potter, son of Transformation affect the future of the world? Answer to Whitetigerwolfs Monstrous Challenge.
I know I said last time that I'd finish Titans Curse this chapter, but it came out a little longer than I was expecting, so I decided to split it into two chapters. Enjoy this one!
Chapter 21
"Luke," Thalia snarled, "Let her go!"
Said teen gave a weak, pale smile. He looked absolutely awful, with pale skin, dark bags under his eyes and bloodshot eyes.
"That is the General's decision, Thalia," he said, "But it's good to see you again."
Thalia spat at him. The General chuckled.
"So much for old friends," he rumbled, "And you, Zoe. It's been a long time. How is my little traitor? I will enjoy killing you."
"Do not respond," Artemis groaned, "Do not challenge him."
"Wait a second," said Percy, pointing at the General, "You're Atlas?"
Harry groaned and smacked a palm to his face.
"Percy, there's a limit to how stupid you can be," he said, "Yes, that is Atlas."
The General glanced at the Mage and the Son of Posidon.
"So, even the stupidest of heroes can finally figure something out," he said, "Yes, I am Atlas, the general of the Titans and terror of the gods. Congratulations. I will kill you presently, as soon as I deal with this wretched girl."
"Screw that," said Harry, drawing his sword, "I won't let you hurt my friends!."
The Titan chuckled, sounding like two boulders grinding together.
"Well, aren't you a feisty one?" he said.
"You have no idea," said Harry with a grin.
"Well, as much as I'd love to fight you, little Changeling, my companions here have already asked to be the ones to kill you."
He waved to Bel Peol and her companion, who were examining Harry with interest.
"Besides, you have no right to interfere, little hero," continued the General, "This is a family matter."
"And that makes it even worse," growled Harry, "What kind of a family tries to kill each other?"
"Wait, family?" asked Percy
"Yes," Zoe said bleakly. "Atlas is my father."
Percy looked between the Hunter and the Titan in shock, trying to process that thought.
"Let Artemis go," Zoe demanded, shaking off her fear and glaring at Atlas.
Said Titan just laughed as he walked closer to the chained goddess.
"Perhaps you'd like to take the sky for her, then?" he asked, smiling evilly, "Be my guest."
Zoe opened her mouth to speak, but Artemis spoke up.
"No! Do not offer, Zoe!" she yelled, "I forbid you."
Atlas smirked as he knelt next to Artemis and tried to touch her face, but the goddess bit at him, almost taking off his fingers.
"Hoo-hoo," Atlas chuckled, "You see, daughter? Lady Artemis likes her new job. I think I will have all the Olympians take turns carrying my burden, once Lord Kronos rules again, and this is the centre of our palace. It will teach those weaklings some humility."
"I don't understand," said Percy, "Why can't Artemis just let go of the sky?"
Harry sighed.
"Percy, how can you not know this?" he asked, "This is the point where the sky and the earth first met, where Ouranos and Gaia first brought forth their mighty children, the Titans. The sky still yearns to embrace the earth. Someone must hold it at bay, or else it would crush down upon this place, instantly flattening the mountain and everything within a hundred leagues. Once you have taken the burden, there is no escape. Originally the sky was held up by four Titan Lords, but when they were cast into Tartarus Atlas was condemned to hold it up alone."
"You certainly know a lot about history, little hero," said Atlas.
"I like to read," said Harry.
Atlas approached the group of Questers, studying Thalia and Percy.
"So these are the greatest heroes of the age, eh?" he asked, "Not much of a challenge."
"Fight us," said Percy, "And let's see."
Atlas let out a booming laugh.
"Have the gods taught you nothing?" he asked, "An immortal does not fight a mere mortal directly. It is beneath our dignity. I will have Luke crush you instead."
"So you're a fool and coward," said Harry.
Atlas's eyes glowed with hatred as he snarled at the Shapechanger.
"That smart mouth will be the death of you one day boy," he hissed, before he turned his attention to Thalia, "As for you, daughter of Zeus, it seems Luke was wrong about you."
"I wasn't wrong," spoke up Luke.
He looked terribly weak, and he spoke every word as if it were painful, "Thalia, you still can join us. Call the Ophiotaurus. It will come to you. Look!"
He waved his hand, and a pool of water appeared next to the Questers: a pond ringed in black marble, big enough for the Ophiotaurus.
"Thalia, call the Ophiotaurus," Luke persisted, "And you will be more powerful than the gods." "Luke…" said Thalia, staring at her old friend, her voice was full of pain, "What happened to you?"
"Don't you remember all those times we talked?" asked Luke, desperation in his voice, "All those times we cursed the gods? Our fathers have done nothing for us. They have no right to rule the world!"
"And you do?" asked Harry, "You truly believe that you can rule the world? More to the point, you actually believe that Kronos will allow you to once he returns?"
Luke glared at the Mage who met his eyes without flinching.
"You have no idea how I feel," he snarled.
"Your right, I don't," said Harry, "And to be honest, I don't really care. The only thing I care about is protecting the innocent. By any means necessary."
"The Gods aren't innocent!" yelled Luke.
"Your right," said Harry, "But the Mortals are, just like that girl in your arms. They are the ones I fight for, the ones I risk my life to protect."
Luke glared at the Shapechanger for a moment longer, before turning back to Thalia with a pleading look in his eye.
Please, Thalia, you have to join use," he pleaded, "If you don't agree…" His voice faltered, "It's my last chance. He will use the other way if you don't agree. Please."
"Do not, Thalia," Zoe warned, "We must fight them."
Luke waved his hand again, and a fire appeared. A bronze brazier, just like the one at camp. A sacrificial flame.
"Thalia," said Percy, looking at his cousin, "No."
Behind Luke, the golden sarcophagus began to glow and images began to form in the mist all around the Questers: black marble walls rising, the ruins becoming whole, a terrible and beautiful palace rising around us, made of fear and shadow.
"We will raise Mount Othrys right here," Luke promised, in a voice so strained it was hardly his, "Once more, it will be stronger and greater than Olympus. Look, Thalia. We are not weak."
He pointed toward the ocean where a great army was marching up the side of the mountain from the beach where the Princess Andromeda was docked. Dracaenae and Laestrygonians, monsters and half-bloods, hell hounds, harpies, and many other nameless horrors. Harry could even see some Rinne and Denizens mixed in among the army.
"This is only a taste of what is to come," Luke said. "Soon we will be ready to storm Camp Half-Blood. And after that, Olympus itself. All we need is your help."
"Don't do it Thalia," said Harry, "If you do, you will regret it for the rest of your very short life."
For a terrible moment, Thalia hesitated. She gazed at Luke, her eyes full of pain, as if the only thing she wanted in the world was to believe him. Then she leveled her spear.
"You aren't Luke," she said, tears glimmering in her eyes, "I don't know you anymore."
"Yes, you do, Thalia," pleaded Luke, "Please. Don't make me… Don't make him destroy you."
"The only one being destroyed today is him," said Harry, hefting his sword, "Lets get this over with."
The Questers glanced at each other, making a decision that, if they had to die, they might as well die fighting.
"Now," shouted Percy and together, they charged.
Thalia went straight for Luke, the power of her shield causing his dragon women bodyguards to flee in a panic, dropping the golden coffin and leaving him alone. However, despite his sickly appearance, Luke was still quick with his sword. He snarled like a wild animal and counterattacked, his sword meet Thalia's shield with a flash of lightning erupted between them, frying the air with yellow tendrils of power. Percy on the other hand did the stupid thing and went for the Titan Lord Atlas, who just swatted him aside with his Javelin.
Harry went to help his friend with the Titan, but was hit in the side by a length of weighted chain and sent flying through a nearby wall. He landed on his back and immediately flipped back to his feet, just in time to dodge the follow up attack that would have crushed his head. He turned to face his attacker and slid into a fighting stance as Bel Peol stepped forwards, slowly spinning her Treasure Tool, Tartaros.
"Your opponent is me, little Shapechanger," said the Crimson Lord.
"Alright," said Harry as his eyes began to glow green and purple, "Lets see what you got, Judge of Paradoxes."
The Shapechanger darted forwards, ducking under the weighted end of Tartaros as Bel Peol threw it at his head, bringing his sword around, aiming to remove the Crimson Lords head. Bel Peol ducked under the strike and retaliate by firing a ball of golden flame at Harry, forcing him back from the impact. Harry hit one of the walls of the Titans Palace feet first and pushed off, rocketing towards his opponent fast enough to blast the mist away. Despite the Shapechangers speed, Bel Peol was able to avoid the strike and bring her chain around, wrapping it around Harrys sword and using it to slam Harry into one of the walls, sending the sword spinning away from him. Harry struggled to his feet, glaring at the Crimson Lord as she stepped between him and his weapon.
"So, what will you do now, little Shapechanger?" asked Bel Peol, "You have no weapon."
Harry smirked.
"Don't be to sure," he said, "I'm never truly without a weapon. I am a mage after all."
He raised a hand and a green magic circle appeared.
"Oh, isn't this interesting?" said Bel Peol, "Alright then, lets see what your magic can do."
"Petra Lonchi!"
The magic circle moved from his hand to the ground, before the earth shifted and rose up, creating a lance of stone. Harry crouched, before pushing off and shooting at Bel Peol, lance held at the ready.
"Very impressive, but…"
The Crimson Lord stepped to the side, avoiding the charge.
"You don't actually think you can hit me with such an obvious attack, do you?"
Bel Peol went to throw her chain at Harry exposed back, only to be forced to duck under a sword strike as a second Harry appeared next to her and aimed to take her head off. The weighted chain hit the Harry next to her, only to pass through him as he shattered like glass. The original Harry skidded to a stop next to his sword and grabbed the Treasure Tool, before throwing the lance of rock at his opponent, who just battered it aside.
"Not bad, little hero," said Bel Peol, "But surely that's not all you have?"
"Not even close!" said Harry, "I'm just getting warmed up!"
He leaped forwards, charging Bel Peol once again. This time though, his form seemed to blur and split apart.
"Oh, illusions?" asked Bel Peol as she spun her chain, before throwing it to the side and swinging it around to scythe through the illusionary clones before her.
The chain hit the group of Harrys that were charging her, only to pass through them, causing them to flicker out. Before she even had chance to register the lack of solid target, the earth beneath her feet exploded up as a fist made of stone caught her in the stomach, grabbing hold and trapping her arms. The Crimson Lord struggled against the earthen hands grip for a moment, before a chanting voice reached her ears.
"Venite ad me pro victoria! Immortalis Sun, praebeat velox, lucens equi. Ignis Solis fugat tenebras offundunt fiat vobis!"
She looked up to see Harry stood on top of one of the knocked down walls, a hand extended to the sky as a massive, green magic circle appeared in the clouds. As the chant drew to a close, the clouds around the circle were blasted away, revealing a blinding white orb that excluded heat like the noonday sun, chasing away the shadows and mist that surrounded the battle field. The orb swirled, before surging forwards, taking the form of a huge horse made completely of white flame. Before the flame could hit, it was intercepted by a dragon made of light blue flame, creating an explosion.
"Enough," said Hecate as she lowered the flute she had used to summon the fire.
"Yes, I believe I have seen enough," said Bel Peol as the stone fist around her crumbled to gravel, "You are extremely powerful, Changeling. A true credit to The General's power."
Harry narrowed his eyes.
"You know?"
"How could we not?" asked Bel Peol, "Your Aura is almost identical to Sydoney's, as are you abilities. Combined with the Blood of the Gods, you could become one of the most powerful beings in any world."
"A Flame to consume and build," said Hecate.
"Indeed," said Bel Peol, "You could be a valuable ally in the future."
"I have no interest in joining the Bal Masque," said Harry, "Or did you forget I fight with the Flame Hazes?"
"Ah yes," said Bel Peol, "I forgot about that. Well, perhaps you would not be so resistant should you hear about our true plan."
Harry frowned,
"What do you mean?"
"Oh, thats for another time," said Bel Peol, "For now, you should be focusing on helping your friend. Don't worry, the Bal Masque will not be providing any additional aid to the Titans. We have found what we were looking for and have no more need of their assistance. Until we meet again, Son of Transformation."
She turned on her heel and vanished in a flash of golden flame. Hecate eyed Harry for a moment, before bowing lightly and following her companion, vanishing in a pale blue flame.
"What was that about?" muttered Harry, staring at the place the Crimson Lords had vanished from.
Before he could ponder the strange actions of the Bal Masques leaders any more, he was broken from his musings by a scream. He turned to face the other fights, just in time to see Zoe jump in front of Atlas as he brought his javelin down on Artemis and shoot an arrow into his head. The Titan let out a bellow of rage and swept Zoe aside like a rag doll, sending her flying to slam into the black rocks with a sickening crunch.
"NO!"
Harry dashed over to the Lieutenant of the Hunters and turned her over.
"Zoe, Zoe!" he called, shaking her gently, "Come on, wake up!"
The girl didn't move.
"No, come on, you can't die! You're the Lieutenant of Artemis, you can't leave your Lady alone!"
The girl stirred slightly and opened her eyes, blinking up at Harry.
"H-harry?" she whispered.
"I'm here," he said.
"I'm so tired…" she said, "The Stars...I can see them…"
Harry looked up and saw that his last spell had evaporated away the clouds that had covered the sky from view, revealing the shining stars.
"Their so beautiful," said Zoe, "Stars…"
Her eyes closed as she went limp.
"Zoe, don't you dare," said Harry, "Don't you dare die on me Zoe!"
No response. Harry gritted his teeth as he lay Zoe down gently and got to his feet.
"You bastard," hissed Harry, "You utter bastard."
Said Bastard didn't hear him, instead settling for looming over the downed Artemis, his Javelin healed ready to skewer the Goddess.
"The first blood in a new war," Atlas gloated as he stabbed downward.
Before the weapon could reach its target however, it was met by the wide blade of Harrys Treasure Tool and stopped cold.
"What the hell?" demanded Atlas, shocked that someone could have stopped his weapon so easily.
He didn't have time to don anything else, before a foot slammed into his gut, sending the Titan of Strength flying back into a wall. Atlas shrugged of the broken bricks and got to his feet, glaring at the one who had stopped his attack. Harry lifted his blade and rested it on his shoulder, his eyes hidden in shadow as he stood in front of Artemis.
"You dare get in my way?" snarled Atlas, "You little brat!"
"Oh I dare," growled Harry, "Scum like you don't deserve to live."
The teen vanished and Atlas found himself once more flying through the air, this time with a painful gash across his chest. The Titan skidded to a stop, his hand pressed to the wound as golden blood flowed from the gash in his armour. Atlas brought up his hand and stared at the golden liquid as if unable to believe that he had been injured.
"You cut me," whispered the Titan, "You actually managed to hurt me!"
He looked up at the black clad teen.
"Who, no, what are you?"
"I am the Changeling," said Harry, "Son of Lily and James Potter and the Crimson Lord known as Thousand Changes, Sydonay, through the use of a Ritual. I am the Grandson of Hecate and I'm the one whos going to put you back in your cell!"
He pointed at the swirling clouds where Percy was struggling against the sky. Atlas glanced back and scowled.
"Their is no way in Tartarus you are going to be able to get me back under their!" shouted the Titan, "I'd die first!"
He charged, swinging his Javelin at Harrys head, aiming to take the Shapechangers head off, only for the bronze spear to meet Harrys sword. The sword lit up blue as the engravings on the blade began to fill with the Power of Existence, before an almost invisible ripple emerged from the weapon and Atlas's shoulder gained a deep cut on it, completely ignoring his armour.
"W-what the?" stuttered the Titan as he staggered back, his uninjured arm moving to his shoulder as his weapon clattered to the floor.
"What do you think?" asked Harry, "Thats the power of my sword, Blutsauger. When the Power of Existence is placed into the blade it can damage my opponent simply by touching their weapon. Now, its time to end this!"
He slammed a foot into the ground, causing the earth to shift and a wave of spears to rush Atlas, slamming into him and carrying him back towards the Sky. The Titan slammed into Percy who had loosened his grip on the sky, allowing him to be pushed out from under it and the full weight of the sky to slam down on Atlas' shoulders, almost smashing him flat until he managed to get to his knees, struggling to get out from under the crushing weight of the sky.
"Noooooo!" He bellowed so hard it shook the mountain, "Not again!"
Percy tried to get to his feet, only to fall as his body burned with pain. Harry let out a breath and allowed the cold focus he had during the fight with Atlas melt away as he walked over to where Artemis was cradling Zoes head in her lap, falling to his knees beside her, tears swimming in his eyes.
"Shes still alive," said Artemis, "But the wound is poisoned."
"Ladon," muttered Harry, "She must have gotten bitten by Ladon."
Before either the Goddess or Changeling could say anything more, Percy, Thalia and Annabeth skidded to a stop next to them as javelins slammed into the rocks.
"Artemis!" yelled Percy, drawing the Goddesses attention.
Artemis and Harry looked up to see the advancing army of monsters.
"The stars," Zoe murmured, "I cannot see them."
"Nectar and ambrosia," said Percy, "Come on! We have to get her some."
No one moved. Grief hung in air. The army of Kronos was just below the rise. Even Artemis was too shocked to stir. That could have been the end of the Questers had a Sopwith Camel biplane not swooped out of the sky and opened fire on the Monsters with Celestial Bronze bullets, turning ranks of Monsters to dust.
"Get away from my daughter!" yelled a man in a flight cap as he swooped around for another pass.
"Dad?" yelled Annabeth in disbelief.
"Run!" he called back, his voice growing fainter as the biplane swooped by.
The strangeness of the event was enough to shake Artemis out of her grief filled stupor as she stared up at the antique plane, which was now banking around for another strafe.
"A brave man," she said with approval, "Come, We must get Zoe away from here."
She raised her hunting horn to her lips, and its clear sound echoed down the valleys of Marin.
The Sopwith Camel swooped down again. A few giants threw javelins, and one flew straight between the wings of the plane, but the machine guns blazed.
"That's… my dad!" said Annabeth in amazement.
"I think I see why Athena was attracted to him," said Harry as he watched the man as he continued to attack the monsters, "Hes definitely unique."
Then, the moonlight brightened, and a silver chariot appeared from the sky, drawn by the most beautiful deer Harry had ever seen.
"Get in," said Artemis as it landed next to the group.
Annabeth helped Percy get Thalia on board, who seemed to be catatonic with grief as Harry helped helped Artemis with Zoe. Harry wrapped Zoe in a blanket as Artemis pulled the reins and the chariot sped away from the mountain, straight into the air.
"Like Santa Claus's sleigh,"murmured Percy, still looking slightly dazed.
Artemis took time to look back at me.
"Indeed, young half-blood," she said with amusement in her tone, "And where do you think that legend came from?"
Seeing that the Questers were safely away, Dr. Chase turned his biplane and followed them like an honour guard. It must have been one of the strangest sights ever, even for the Bay Area: a silver flying chariot pulled by deer, escorted by a Sopwith Camel. Behind them, the army of Kronos roared in anger as they gathered on the summit of Mount Tamalpais, but the loudest sound was the voice of Atlas, bellowing curses against the gods as he struggled under the weight of the sky.
The Questers landed at Crissy Field after nightfall. As soon as Dr. Chase stepped out of his Sopwith Camel, Annabeth ran to him and gave him a huge hug. Harry ignored the father-daughter bonding moment in favor of examining the green, oozing wound in Zoes side.
"Annabeth, Percy," said Thalia, interrupting the twos conversation.
She and Artemis were kneeling at Zoe's side, binding the huntress's wounds. Annabeth and Percy ran over to help treat the Huntress, but their was very little they could do without Ambrosia and Necter.
"Can't you heal her with magic?" asked Percy, looking Artemis and Harry, "I mean… you're a goddess. And Harry, your so strong, surely you know some healing magic?"
Artemis looked troubled while Harry shook his head.
"Life is a fragile thing, Percy," said Artemis, "If the Fates will the string to be cut, there is little I can do. But I can try."
"I'm afraid I can't do anything either, Percy," said Harry, "Out of all the branches of magic, healing is the one that I have no talent in. The most I can do is fix small cuts and bruises. I don't think that even Ambrosia and Nectar would be able to do anything."
Artemis ignored Harrys explanation and tried to set her hand on Zoe's side, but Zoe gripped her wrist. She looked into the goddess's eyes, and some kind of understanding passed between them.
"Have I… served thee well?" Zoe whispered.
"With great honour," Artemis said softly, "The finest of my attendants."
Zoe's face relaxed.
"Rest, at last," she whispered.
"I can try to heal the poison, my brave one," said Artemis.
But Zoe shook her head.
"No my Lady," she said, "Its more than the Poison…"
Artemis bowed her head as the Huntress looked over to Thalia, and took her hand.
"I am sorry we argued," Zoe said, "We could have been sisters."
"It's my fault," Thalia said, blinking hard, "You were right about Luke, about heroes, men—everything."
"Perhaps not all men," Zoe murmured, looking up at Harry and Percy who were holding back there own tears, "Do you still have the sword, Percy?"
The Son of Posidon didn't speak and pulled out Riptide and put the pen in her hand. She grasped it contentedly.
"You spoke the truth, Percy Jackson," she said, "You are nothing like… like Hercules. I am honoured that you carry this sword. And you, Harry Potter, you are a true Hero..." A shudder ran through her body, "...I just wish I could have seen what you will do in the future."
Harry frowned.
"You can," he said, "You're not going to die here Zoe. Not when there's still so much more to do. You still need to stick it to that arsehole Hercules."
He reached into his coat and pulled out a small, crystal bottle with a small measure of thick, bloody red liquid.
"I still have this. I can still save you."
"What is is?" asked Artemis, "If Ambrosia and Nectar won't work, what makes you think that can?"
"Its Elyxa," said Harry, "This stuff can save a person from death even if they are knocking on his door, heal any wound and extend life by years. But, like all magic, it needs a spark to make it work. Unless she wishes to live, it won't do anything. So tell me Zoe, do you want to live on? To see your sisters, to kick Hercules in the balls, to see many more sunsets and to look upon the stars far into the future?"
Zoe blinked up at the Shapechanger, once more noticing how beautiful his three coloured eyes were. For a moment, she was resolved to say no, to fade into darkness and receive the rest she desired, before that small, rebellious part of her spoke up.
"No, we can't die yet!" it said, "We still have more to do! Like that handsome Shapechanger for example."
It was only the fact that she was dieing that kept Zoes face from turning red, but she could see what that voice meant. She did still have more to do.
"I-I want to live," whispered Zoe, "You're right, I do still have things I need to do."
Harry nodded and pulled the stopper out of the bottle and helping the Huntress to drink. The liquid was almost disgustingly sweet as it flowed over Zoes tongue. As it flowed down her throat, Zoes body seized up and red energy began to crackle around her injuries as they closed. After a few seconds, her body went limp again and she slumped in Harrys arms.
"Zoe?" said Thalia, "Is she OK? I thought you said that would heal her!"
"It did," said Harry, "But it also used her energy to do so. Shes asleep."
Thalia looked back at the Lieutenant of Artemis and saw that she had a slight smile on her face as she snuggled a little closer to Harry, making the boy blush slightly.
"Oh, sorry," said Thalia, looking a little sheepish.
Artemis eyed her Lieutenant as she mumbled something to quietly to hear and snuggled against Harry, an odd look on the Goddesses face. After a second, got to her feet and looked down at Harry, who looked a little nervous.
"You have my thanks, Son of Transformation," said Artemis, before moving towards her Chariot, "I must go to Olympus immediately. I will not be able to take you, but I will send help."
She glanced at Harry once more.
"Take care of her."
The goddess paused next to Annabeth and put a hand on her shoulder.
"You are brave beyond measure, my girl," she said, "You will do what is right."
Then she looked quizzically at Thalia, as if she weren't sure what to make of this younger daughter of Zeus. Thalia seemed reluctant to look up, but something made her, and she held the goddess's eyes. Something passed between them and Artemis's gaze softened with sympathy, before she turned to Percy.
"You did well," she said, "For a man."
She mounted her chariot, which began to glow. The Mortals averted their eyes and there was a flash of silver, and the goddess was gone.
"Well," Dr. Chase sighed, "She was impressive; though I must say I still prefer Athena."
Annabeth turned toward him.
"Dad, I… I'm sorry that—"
"Shh," He hugged her, "Do what you must, my dear. I know this isn't easy for you."
His voice was a little shaky, but he gave Annabeth a brave smile, which the Half-Blood returned. Then the sound of beating wings was heard as three Pegasi swooped out of the sky and landed in front of the Questers.
"Blackjack!" greeted Percy, moving to the black one and petting its nose as it nickered at him.
As the boy spoke with the horse, Thalia looked over at Harry and Zoe where they were still sat on the ground, Zoe having wrapped her arms firmly around Harrys waist, much to the embarrassment of the Shapechanger.
"Well, it looks like Zoes walls have been well and truly destroyed," thought the Daughter of Zeus.
She was broken from her thoughts by Percy.
"Hey guys, we need to go," he said, "Harry, can you fly on your own?"
"Yeah, sure," said the Shapechanger, "I'll carry Zoe as well."
He gently disentangled himself from Zoes arms and got to his feet with the Hunteress in his arms, before morphing into his Chimera form, somehow transferring Zoe from his arms to his back in the process.
It didn't take long to be under way and, with a bit of space bending magic, the journey from San Francisco to New York only took a couple of hours. Harry ignored the conversation going on between his companions in favor of thinking about the girl currently drooling on his fur. He knew he liked her, despite her initial standoffish behavior, he just didn't know how. Did he like her as a friend? Or as more than that. Despite his massive stores of knowledge about magic, fighting and myths, he had never really been exposed to the matters of the heart. Oh sure, he knew about them academically, but he had never truly experienced them.
He thought back to how he had felt when he saw Atlas throw her into the wall, the fury that had shot through him as she had fallen unconscious. That wasn't the rage that accompanied the death of a friend or companion. No, it was far more dangerous than that. The last time he had felt it was when he saw the state the Blazing Eyed Girl had been in after the attack at the Palace of Heaven's Road. However, he did know that he didn't view Zoe as a sibling like he did the Girl, so that meant…
He was broken from his thoughts by Thalias voice.
"There it is," she said, "It's started."
Harry glanced over at the Daughter of Zeus and saw that she was pointing towards the Empire State Buliding. High above the Empire State Building, Olympus was its own island of light, a floating mountain ablaze with torches and braziers, white marble palaces gleaming in the early morning air.
"What's started?" asked Percy.
"The winter solstice," Thalia said. "The Council of the Gods."
Right, I'm going to end it here. This is the single longest chapter I have ever done and once again I'll warn you not to expect these with any regularity. My normal chapter length is about 5 pages and this one is over 10.
The next chapter will definitely end the Titans Curse segment of this story. The next segment will be set mainly in the Shakugan no Shana storyline and will include some interesting twists. See ya then!