Chapter 20
I have been getting some question so let me answer them.
When Cooper was blessed by the creator he was not given all the powers in the world right them and their he can learn any power in all the universes but he must learn to use the power correctly.
Percy POV
My assasins cloak billowed against the wind as I gazed over my old home, Camp Half Blood. So many memories were here, both good and bad, but what they did to me at the end came up, and I felt a strong hatred stirring in me. I quickly pushed it down, but remembered Hestia's words to me. This hatred would have to be dealt with sooner or later. But right now that wasn't my mission.
I came here without telling my plan to anyone. The majority of the Olympians still believe me missing and the opinion of Olympus has shifted against the hunters, especially since Lady Artemis is absent. My first priority was to go in, get the hunters and get out. Once they are with me I could then move to find Artemis, and talk to the rest of the Olympian council to let me restore the hunters.
I lept down silently, keeping to the shadows. I wanted to keep to the shadows and get the hunters out by stealth, but something told me that it wasn't going to work. I have always trusted my instincts, so I decided to do the same once again...
Ares POV
I was watching young Percy through the trees, mildly surprised that he did not recognize my signature. Before he could jump in and begin his dramatic rescue mission, I stepped in front of him. Before I could even blink I had a sword pointing to my throat, and I gulped, slowly raising my hands.
I saw Percy's eyes widen in shock as he lowered his sword, and bowed to me. HE BOWED TO ME! I looked at him in shock and he spoke simply, "Lord Ares. I have seen what you did for me with the Olympic council, thank you for clearing my name." A huge grin spread across my face as I pulled him up to his feet.
"Perseus, I came here for a different reason. I know what you think about me, about what all the gods think about me, but once it wasn't so. I remember the times of old, where I had my own cult who showered me with titals and respect. I remember jumping in to help fight for my children, to take revenge from bastards who raped them. But that was a long long time ago.
Do you have any clue what it is like to just be respected with 1 half of your children, and hated by the other. Only as Mars do I find respect. But you have shown me some as I am now, and so I am going to do something that I have never done before.
I, Lord Ares, God of war will share a title of mine with you. From now on may the World know you as:
Perseus Jackson Obrimus
Son Of Poseidon and adopted son of Athena
Bane of the Minator
Killer of Kronos
Destroyer of Gaia
Champion of Zeus, Hades, Hestia, Hera, Apollo, and Aphrodite
And the Guardian of the Hunt"
he stared at me, shocked. "Who the Hades calls me that!" He shouted, and I smirked. Then he got a confused expression and said " Percy Jackson Obrimus?" I laughed and said, "Yes, Perseus, thats your title. It is the one you share with me, and it means the strong one or the mighty one. Your name means the destroyer, and now you have the title to go with it."
His eyes were wide open with shock as he bowed to me again, and I laughed, waving him off. "Go, save the hunters. But be warned, Poseidon has been keeping a eye on them to make sure that none of them try to recreate the hunters. Since you haven't informed the Olympic council there might be warriors after you..."
He sighed and his shoulders shrugged. I felt like I had to do... something!? I sighed and said, "Perse... percy" His eyes widened and I groaned. From 'punk' to 'Perseus' to 'Percy'! Soldiering on, I said," I would, if you are willing, like to remove the curse that I put on you all that time ago and in its place bless you to be my champion sense Cooper is two.
His eyes were wide, disbelief written clearly across his face. "I you champion whaaa?" I laughed heartidly before wiping the curse from him and blessing him with my power.
Percy POV
Sufficient to say that this was the weirdest encounter ever. Ares helped me, and now gave me his blessing! Riptide felt lighter in my pocket as well, and I felt stronger. Much stronger. I could feel the connection that I have built with my weapons increase, and now my aura of power was stronger than any major god. But what do you expect? Blessed by 8 Olympic gods, son of Poseidon and adopted son of Athena? Thats a hell of a lot of power. I swear I have too much of that in the first place...
My thoughts then went back to the job at hand. Giving a deep bow I gave Ares the respect he deserves and thanked him for my gift, before deciding to give the campers one hell of a show. Leaping from the trees I started thundering my way to the camp. I jumped high, higher and higher still, before falling to the ground. I tucked into a tight roll in midair and then landed squarely on my feet, creating a massive crater where i stood, smoke blowing outwards, far more then there should of been courtesy of my powers of Hestia.
I then slowly made my way out of the massive crater, and looked around the camp, the memories overwhelming me. I was glad for my cloak, it covered my appearance and my eyes that were threatening to tear up. Slowly, the campers began to approach the crater, and I stood to my full height, waves of power rolling of me. The campers kneeled, thinking that I was some sort of God. "Stand UP!" I bellowed, and they immediately straitened.
I saw Chiron gallop out, and stop dead when he saw me. Approaching slowly, he bowed and said, "What can we do for you, lord?" I couldn't help but smile at my old mentor and wanted nothing more than to hug him, but I resisted. I would not show myself. Not right now.
I spread my wings out, earning gasps from the campers and shouted: " I am the guardian of the hunt, Titled Obrimus by the God of war, and I come for those that I protect." There were several gasps at this, and then some demi gods appeared nervous and seemed to be trying to get away. I pounced immediately, pulling out Dragonforce and my spear, pointing them at the 3. "What. Do. You. Know!" I thundered, and the 3 visibly flinched. I noticed a liquid coming out of one of them, the coward wet his pants!
" lord. We didn't know the hunters had a guardian. The, there has been a prn, prank organized for the hunters, some of the Ares, Aphrodite and Athena campers are planning to um 'sik em' My eyes widened and I shot into the air, scanning the campsite. There I saw something that chilled me to the bone. The hunters were cornered off near the archer range, with a large group of campers approaching menacingly towards them. The hunters were clearly nervous, and backing up slowly, only to be cut off by another group of campers from behind them. The biggest problem were that there were lots of old campers there too, clearly wanting revenge from the capture the flag games...
I smashed down, but this time I wasn't holding back. Huge amounts of flames, water, light, darkness and lightning smashed around, bringing each and every camper to their knees. I smashed down next to the hunters and then screamed, "IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE DAWN OF THE NEW DAY THEN STAND DOWN!" The campers immediately layed down their weapons, but the hunters were still suspicious. There was nothing that I could do in the open, and they clearly didn't recognise me in my latest cloak that hid my body and face.
"The previous hunters and I am going to walk out of here. If ANY of you try to stop us you shall taste my blade." I hissed out menacingly. Then came some faces that I never thought that i would see again. Jason, Piper, Leo, Frank, Hazel and... and... and Annabeth came out of the crowd, carrying weapons.
"Who do you think you are, to come in here and to take out our new campers without authority of permission? Show yourself!" my eyes narrowed behind my hood. I may have realized that what happened wasn't their fault, but that is DEFFINTLY not the way to make me want to open up." I sighed lazily, and pulled out Dragonforce. "Why don't you come and make me, son of Zeus and his sidekicks."
The immortal campers snarled and charged at me, and I smirked. They still carried the same weapons, Jason with his Gladius, piper with her knife, Leo with his hammers, Frank with his bow, Hazel with her Gladius and Annabeth with 2 daggers. I snarled and went all out. Before Jason could move I smacked his Gladius twice, making it clatter against the floor and spun around, keeping my leg straight and hit him across the head, knocking him out.
I held that position for a second before lowering my foot and jumping up, avoiding Frank's arrows. Pulling out 2 Hunting knives, I threw one at the last arrow coming towards me, and the other slicing his bow string. At the second he looked at the bow string another knife smashed his head, hitting him hilt first.
Leo and Piper attacked from both sides, Leo with his flaming hammers. I was getting bored of this, so I zapped Piper with critical level lightning, just stopping it being enough to hurt her permanently. I waved my hand and a legion of undead warriors charged at Annabeth and a shocked Hazel, who couldn't control them and then I summoned a huge wave to quench Leo's fire, before setting my sword alight with greek fire and attacking.
Leo let out a yelp as the sword swiped across his stomach, fire for the first time ever having a effect against him. Deciding to make it quick, I spun my sword left, disarming his right hammer, then swung it right, disarming his left hammer before scissors kicking him hard enough to send him barraging into the stable's and staying there.
Hazel and Annabeth had defeated the warriors, but Hazel was facing the wrong way. I was about to throw a throwing knife when I felt my weapons trying to leave me. Hazel was using her powers over metals! I growled and strengthened my connection with my weapons, built with years upon years of training and meditating. I drew my wooden bow, and pulled back a arrow with a boxing glove at it, and hit Hazel straight in the face, causing her concentration to break.
I ran up and swiped her legs from under her, making her crash on her back with her head swimming before facing Annabeth, who was still up with both her daggers. I raised a eyebrow even though she couldn't see it and flicked my wrist, causing her daggers to fly out of her hands before assaulting her mind mentally, with my powers of Hera. Her screams were penetrating, and I stopped quickly before I lost control of myself and caused her permanent damage, but she was still screaming for another 3 or 4 minutes for some reason, must be Cooper, the damn bastard he always loved to torture people to their braking point.
Pointing to a Apollo camper I snarled, "Get them healed and then get out of my sight!" The campers broke out of their shock and created a path for me and the hunters, who followed me out abide hesitating first. We strode right out of the camp without me saying a word, but as soon as we were out of eyesight the hunters turned their bows at me and said "Who are you! Why did you take us out of the camp!"
I was about to answer when there was a massive crash in front of me and then out of the smoke came a tall and lean figure, towering 10 feet high and rippling with muscles. Next to him stood a muscular man with a lion coat over him. Hercules... The 10 foot tall metal monster from heaven creaked out, "I am Portitus, The watcher of the disbanded hunt. I have been created in the forges of Hephaestus himself, and given power by my lord Poseidon to stop anyone from taking the once were hunters, and to stop them from escaping!"
Then Hercules spoke, "And I am, as you must know, HERCLUES, GOD of STRENGTH, and the strongest man alive!" He bellowed with a scream. I saw the older hunters glare at Hercules with anger, clearly wanting revenge with what happened with Zoë. I felt the exact same way.
They both pointed their weapons at me and said, "And now we kill"
I laughed and said, "Well, we meet at last Hercules. You, know, I have always wanted to meet you, but not because of what you think. No, I wanted to meet you to gain revenge for a friend. You might remember her... Does the name ZOË NIGHTSHADE ring a bell?!" I bellowed. The hunters gasped, and realization dawned on some of them
"You have announced yourselves, now know who you are dealing with:
I am PERSEUS JACKSON OBRIMUS
Son Of Poseidon and adopted son of Athena
Bane of the Minator
Killer of Kronos
Destroyer of Gaia
Champion of Zeus, Hades, Hestia, Hera, Apollo, Ares and Aphrodite
And the Guardian of the Hunt"
I yelled before showing of my hood, and causing gasps through the hunt, but right now all I felt was anger. Pure and unquenchable. I mearly pointed at Portitus and snapped my fingers, causing his water essence to be engulfed with fire. "You are not worth my time, but I know a certain group of girls who would want to get some time with you for what you did to their past lieutenant." I ran faster than Hercules could follow, kicked him in the groin, punched his club so hard that it broke and then threw him to the hunters, who were currently looking at me in pure shock.
They didn't even bait a eye at Hercules though, they were all looking at me, with sorrow in their eyes. Ella was walking towards me slowly. The hunters all gazed at her, and Thalia was already standing still, looking at me with tears in her eyes. Ella halted a little way in front of me before she ran towards me, and I held my arms open.
She crashed into me, and I hugged her tight, tears threatening to spill as she hugged me, tears spilling from her eyes. Slowly, the rest of the hunt gathered around us before Atlanta hesitantly stepped forward and hugged me, saying "I'm so so sorry..." I just stood there, rooted to the spot. The person that I should be saying sorry to, is saying sorry to me!?
It was like a dam broke then. All the hunters rushed forward and joined in the huge group hug, yelling out sorry's and begging for my forgivness. When they finally came apart I had tears running down my face, and Ella, who was sitting on my shoulders whipped them away before putting her finger into her mouth and giggling, saying, "salty!"
We all started laughing, first softly, but then the laughter got louder and louder until we were all laughing hysterically. I guess we were all relieved that the silence was broken. I wiped a lone tear out of my eye before saying, "You arn't mad at me? I got your hunt disbanded and yet you are still apologising?"
They looked at me in shock and then I was slapped by a angry Ella. "You really think that bad of us? After everything we did to you, you think that we will be mad!?" I looked at her in shock, holding my cheek where she slapped me before pulling her in a hug and saying "Its ok, I'm sorry. It's ok, I'm sorry" Over and over.
Finally I stood, and saw the hunters looking at me with new faith in their eyes. "Alright ladies, we have a hunt to restore" I shouted, and they all cheered.
"What's the plan?" Asked Het, and I smiled, saying, "Well the Olympians don't have a clue that I'm back, they will be looking for blood after i destroyed their champions, speaking of which, I think that we have left a certain son of Zeus go unpunished so far" I said, raising a eyebrow over to Hercules, who was currently being held in place by my water bonds.
"Ok, here it is. You hunters are going to go find a new campsite where you can avoid attention for a day or so. Take Hercules, do whatever you want short of killing him." I said, much to their delight. "And what about you?" Asked Carol. "I gave them my trademark lopsided smirk, saying "I have a certain hunter to free..."
The hunters around me gasped, looking at me in shock. "Yo. You mean Phoebe don. Don't you?" She asked hesitantly. "Of course! No other hunter has been captured have they?!" They laughed and then one of them asked the question that I had been dreading.
"But why? After all that she has done for you, how can you forgive her? How can anyone forgive her for what she did to you after what you had been through. That sort of mistake..." I cut her off.
"What mistake? The mistake of treating men like pigs like she has been taught for millennia. The mistake off, granted mistakenly, but trying to protect her sisters and lieutenant from the evils of men? Like we have been taught for millennia? How was she supposed to know he's different?" said another. This erupted into a full scale argument and I knew that I had to stop it.
"ENOUGH!" There was immediate silence. "I am a long way of forgiving her, she cost me the last link that I have to my mother, but no one deserves to rot in the underworld, being personally tortured by Hades for such a mistake. I will bring her out, and we will see what happens from there. Until then, I don't want this topic to be raised again." I said, firmly, and was amazed to see that the hunters were silenced and were listening to me. I didn't expect them to actually obey my orders!
At the end only Thalia was left. She came towards me, tears brimming and hugged me tight. "Im so sorry seaweed brain, this is all my fault. All my fault" She said, over and over and over. I held her at arms length and shook her. "Thalia! Whats gotten into you? This is not you fault, not your fault at all!"
She looked at me, miserable. "I failed you, Percy. You saved me, protected me and cared for me. The one time that I could have helped you, taken care of YOU in YOUR weakened form, I turned a blind eye, and thus the hunters broke you. I'm a terrible sister. I didn't even know what happened at camp and why you left 10 years ago."
I ignored everything and hugged Thalia, bringing her into my chest. She struggled furiously, trying her best to get out of it but I didn't let her move. She shocked me with her strongest lightning but I didn't even flinch, just kept her there.
Eventually she melted into the embrace, and sobbed into my chest. I made smoothening swirls on her back and tried to comfort her. "None of this was your fault, Thals. I should have spoken to you, not shut myself off. I didn't tell you or anyone what happened at camp, about the betrayals, about ANYTHING! You are the best sis." Thalia broke into a smile and I decided to lighten the mood.
"Awww my lil sis is adorable when she smiles!" Thalia immediately frowned and I cooed. "Is lil sis angry? Come to big brotha!" I said. Thalia's eyes widened in shock before she blasted me light lightning. "Now now lil sis, you know that blasting your big brother with lighting is never a good idea!" She had a confused expression before she noticed that Ice was growing across her face. She looked at me in shock, and just managed to shout out, "WHAT THE HADE..." Before the ice covered her whole mouth and she wasn't able to speak.
I rolled over laughing and then gave a yelp as Thalia almost kicked me where the sun doesn't shine. Then I started running around hunters with a angry Thalia chasing me, and when I got to Petis I grabbed her and hid behind her, before making Thalia run around her. Whenever Thalia tried to move forward, I put Petis in front of her, laughing at Thalia's furious expression and Petis's hysterical one.
Finally I removed the ice from Thalia's mouth and shadow travelled away, the last thing I heard was Thalia screaming, "Im gonna skewer you KELP HEAD!"
I laughed and Watched the hunters start to go into the woods, before I prepared to make my way into the underworld, and free Phoebe, and bring back the hunters Once and for all. Then I could turn my focus to Artemis, then Cooper with the might of the Hunt backing me up.
There was a smile on my face as I dissolved into the shadows, going to the Underworld.
Poseidon POV
I flashed into the Olympic throne room, furious. Raising my Trident, I shot a powerful bolt of sea green power into the sky, and waited for the Olympians to flash in. All did, of course, except Artemis. Everyone was worried, and even though Apollo tried to hide it after he gave his sister a good telling off for her actions, everyone could see he wanted nothing more than to scrounge and find his 'lil sis'
"Brother, why have you called this meeting?" Asked Zeus from his throne. "Have you any news of Percy or Artemis?" He asked, before he could stop himself. I shook my head and said, "No, have called this meeting because the demi gods that were once the hunters of Artemis have been broken out of the demigod camp that they were placed in. A single warrior defeated all the heroes of the prophecy of 7 minus... Percy".(Cooper was never one of the 7 he just stuck with Percy sense he was with Percy the hole time)I faltered when I said his name, "and after that the demigods let them through. The overseers what we assigned must have been defeated. Mine and Hephaestus's water creation returned to the ocean, his very water essence removed, and Hercules hasn't been seen since..."
Just when I finished there was a huge flash before the body of Hercules appeared in the middle of the throne room. His body was in tears, sliced all over the place. His head was limply resting on his body. "Apollo! Heal him!" shouted Zeus, and Apollo rushed over and began to do just that. "After a nervous second Apollo said, "He'll live. Give him a few days. Unfortunately, there wont be any mini Hercules's running around" He said, and all the male gods cringed.
"Hunters" hissed Zeus.
"Indeed, but who can blame them, after what he did to their previous lieutenant. We have all been told how he hogged the glory and left her to suffer, it was a foolhardly move to leave him to oversee my sisters hunters. We should let him recover, and then he can tell us who removed the hunters from the camp." Said Apollo. The council looked at him in shock. He was so mature, so down to earth now!
Just before we where about to go the doors where blasted off, "I can have him tell you right now" Cooper said in a dark voice.
Hercules then started to scream uncontrolled, we then herd Cooper say " well looks like Someone is back, and is getting the hunt back to gather" he looked up and said " Ms.D you might what to repair his and Annabeth's mind" he then disappeared
Thalia POV
I growled at the thought of that stupid Kelp Head freezing my mouth. Ohhh im so gonna get him back hard! I mentally went through all the ways I could get him back, completely forgetting the fact that I was crying a few minutes ago because everything had gone downhill. The previous hunters carried Hercules, or more like dragged him with his head on the ground and holding his feet.
They might have accepted Percy, but Hercules? A big no no. We then arrived at a waterfall, and one of the hunters gasped. Zambi. "I, I know this place! This is where Percy and Cooper saved my life from the monsters and and my stepparents that were chasing me!"
The hunters looked at Zambi shocked, but she was just looking at the waterfall. "I remember... They had all gathered around me... my extended family, when suddenly two black arrow pierced two of their heads. Two cloaked figure jumped down next to me, throwing everyone back with their power. Percy then waved at the waterfall, and the water suddenly slammed backwards against the cliff.
Cooper then created a ring of fire around us, and then when the water thing was done Percy...Percy halted the waterfall, and made a bridge of ice going behind it! He told me to go there, and I accepted without question. As soon as I went there, I saw that it was a huge cave that was just... made!
As soon as i stepped in the waterfall started again and the ice bridge fell. After what seemed like forever they came through, telling me that it's safe. I have always been scared of people, but Percy took my fears in his hands and destroyed them. When he heard about what happened he took me to the hunters, my first actual family."
All the hunters smiled at that, but Im sure they were in awe. To stop a waterfall and control it! Then Chloe realized something. Being the daughter of Athena, she was pretty darn bright. "Hey, If Percy created that cave, then it would be like a natural cave. It must still be there now. Wouldn't that be the perfect hiding place until he comes back?"
The hunters all looked stumped that they hadn't thought of this, so I decided to take charge. "That's a great idea, Chloe! But before we try going through a waterfall, I think there is a certain piece of trash that we need to get uuh, rid off?" the hunters all grinned evilly and took out their knives, and started hacking away.
Het then took a bow out and shot him so that his hand was attacked to the tree. The same quickly happened for his other hand and his legs. Arella then took her knife right next to his manhood and said, "Anything short of killing him, right? Well, what about killing his pride? She grinned evilly. Everyone smirked, and without pause she cut of his dong and it slid right down his leg. Golden Ichor spilled down his leg as the hunters made faces and then start lashing onto him again. When he was just a hairs breath away from dying I commanded the hunters to stop.
Then I proceeded to using some water to create a rainbow and tossed in a drachma, said, "Oh Iris, goddess of rainbows, show me Percy Jackson, most likely near the entrance to the underworld.
Percy shimmered into existence, looking to be hiding. "Percy!" I whispered urgently. He whipped his head around and had a sword pointing to where my throat would have been had I been there. He realized that it was me and capped his sword, saying, "Thals, this is really not a good time, what do you need?"
"Well, umm, we might have gone a bit overboard with Hercules and now kinda need to get rid of him..." He barely even reacted, only clicked his fingers and there were yelps from the hunters, when Hercules disappeared.
"Ok done, he is in the Olympic council now. Hehe, hope that didn't cause a disturbance!" He said, grinning.
"Umm, how did you do that?" I asked
"oh, I water teleported him. Quite easy."
"Wait, you can control your water powers from so far away?"
"Umm, yeah"
A idea dawned in my head. "Listen, we are at the place where you and Cooper saved Zambi's life. We are going to hide behind the waterfall where you made that cave, can you help?"
He frowned, "Lemme see. That cave wont fit all f you but..." He paused and there were several gasps from the hunters. I turned to see the waterfall halted in midair, and we could see the cave from behind it. The water suddenly became 10 times in volume, and crashed against the cave, eroding the rocks way faster then nature, expanding the cave to fir us all. Then out of the blue a wave of fire swept through the cave, drying it. A campfire appeared in the middle. All around it were several plates of food and snacks, enough to feed a army! Then a ice bridge formed, leading from me right to the cave!
"All of you sit on the bridge! Now! This is really draining! We all complied, not seeing how this will help at all. Suddenly the bridge went on a slope, and we all slided really fast towards the entrance to the cave... and the very solid cave walls...
I screamed as loud as I could, but before we all crashed and died soft heather appeared on the walls, making it a comfy stop. As soon as the last one made it through, the waterfall continued... and the ice disappeared.
It was Pelli that said what we were all thinking... "Bloody hell, how powerful is he!"
"I don't know but the more I think of it the more it scars me" I said, witch the hunters looked at me confused, "why" said Chloe because "Cooper was always stranger wen it can to his powers"
Percy POV
When Thalia called me, I was hiding from a squad of security ghouls that Hades kept around his domain. As soon as I shadow travelled in here I had to be careful, considering I wanted to get in, Get Phoebe and then get out... without being noticed...
I looked over the boulder and saw that the ghouls were literally right next to me, and then a devious idea began to sprout in my mind. I called my assassins cloak, and stood out of the boulder proud and still. The Ghouls approached me cautiously, so I bellowed, "Is that how you greet the torturer of the Underworld! Do you want to spend the next 100 years experiencing your worst nightmares by my hand!"
The Ghouls instantly bowed, and I smirked under my hood. I was throwing my aura around, mainly the blessing of Hades, but all my other aura's made me seem very powerful, a good thing in this instance.
"Right! Take me to the demigod Phoebe. I am to make her feel pain..." I hissed out, and the lead Ghoul gulped and approached me, saying," Milord, we are restricted from going there by Lord Hades himself" It said, its voice dull and empty. I didn't even spare it a glance. Faster then it could see, I took out a Stygian Iron throwing knife and threw it, embedding it right between the Ghouls eyes.
Calmly, I yanked the knife out and cleaned it before putting it in my cloak. "Now... where were we?" I said, my voice low and powerful, and the Ghouls stiffened before leading me in a random direction.
After about 20 minutes of travelling they left me in some secret area of the Underworld. There, I saw Phoebe, hanging by her fingernails from the ominous walls. The very place screamed out "DOOM!" and made me want to run and hide and never come out. I soldered through, and saw that Phoebe was in deep pain.
Frowning, I put my hand on her head and used the powers of Hera to see into her head. There, I saw her memories. I saw what happened to Phoebe, and what I saw made me forget everything that she did. In that instant I forgave her, because what she was going through? That really tops of bad, it actually tops insane. What I saw at that moment chilled me to the very bone, and it really scared me.
