…Percy…

It took me a little while to process what had just happened in the past five minutes.

Hecate had fallen. We had won. There was a bright light, so powerful it stung my skin.

Now, here we were. Thalia, Annabeth, Amber, Nico, and I all stood in the center of a large room on Olympus, before the council of gods.

I quickly realized we had been summoned here. It was just like all those days ago when I stood in this very spot with Annabeth when Zeus offered the quest and we had taken it. The difference now was that I stood beside more of my friends, had seen our lives flash in front our eyes too many times to count, and the deed had been done. Not to mention, this time it wasn't Athena's powers of wind travel that brought us here, thanks the gods, since I was still on my feet and not on my butt.

A bad feeling shot through me as my eyes fell on Hecate. I hadn't recognized her at first, but there she was in front of us, without her armor, shrunken down in size, her black hair fallen over her face, and weakly kneeling on the floor at the feet of Zeus' throne. I could only hope we had done enough to save Olympus as my eyes slowly fell to each one of the gods' grim faces.

Zeus pointed his Master Bolt at Hecate, and I almost held my hands out in front of me for protection on instinct. I was ready for Zeus to blast Hecate to pieces, but instead, a steady glow of golden liquid poured from the Bolt and down to Hecate's hands. I didn't know what the golden stuff was, but it pulled Hecate's hands together, biding itself around Hecate's wrists over and over.

Once Zeus' pulled back his Lighting Bolt, the golden chains around Hecate's wrist looked like nothing but golden light, cuffing her. I realized it must have been suppressing all of Hecate's powers, chaining her before us. For the first time in days, I felt some pressure taken off my shoulders.

I looked over at my friends faces and knew they felt the same way.

"Perseus Jackson," Zeus said suddenly, reminding me of where we stood. I stepped forward and bowed. "Thalia Grace," Zeus called next, his voice just slightly calmer.

"Father," Thalia bowed, as she came up to stand next to me with.

"Annabeth Chase, Nico Di Angelo, and Amber Ellis," Zeus stated, as all of my friends lined up beside me after bowing. Usually, hearing your name from the Zeus was the most frightening experience of a lifetime, but this time it felt different. It was as if Zeus had just honored each one of us.

I suddenly found myself meeting my father's eyes. Poseidon looked a little more relaxed than the others gods as he leaned back in his throne. There was that signature twinkle in his eyes that suddenly made me remember how much my father had helped me on this quest. I thought about every feeling I had in my stomach as the ocean obeyed me, or every time Poseidon would sent a ship just when we needed it most. As I looked at my dad, for the first time in my life, I felt extremely thankful.

I had a feeling Thalia might have been thinking the same thing as she bowed a second time to honor Artemis.

"The five of you have done well," Zeus continued. "You have managed to stop Hecate just before she could act."

Athena nodded at her father's declaration. "Annabeth Chase," the goddess said, her eyes piercing into Annabeth's. "You have succeeded," she said, suddenly softening her gaze.

There was a look on Annabeth's face right then that I wouldn't forget. I thought about how hard she pushed herself this past week, and getting a special shout out from her mother was more than the satisfaction Annabeth had needed.

"However, there are still matters to be dealt with," Zeus stated, gripping his Master Bolt. I could feel it raging with power. "Hecate!" Zeus bellowed.

This whole time I hadn't seen Hecate move. She didn't resist the golden cuffs binding her, nor did she react to her defeat. The minor goddess just seemed to weakly obey, knowing that she was powerless before the council of gods. As Zeus bellowed her name, she only raised her head slightly.

"What you have done is unimaginable," Zeus raged, addressing Hecate. "Attempting to harm Olympus, your home, threatening your children, and all for what? For power?"

I could feel the ground shaking as Zeus spoke.

"Well your powers are absolutely nothing now!" Zeus declared. I didn't know what he would have done with the Master Bolt tightly in hands, but from my side, I faintly heard Amber whimper. I glanced at her, suddenly realizing that seeing her mother in this state, despite her doings, was difficult. Hecate had done all of this out of bitterness of the gods disregarding the minor gods. She had taken a stand for the acknowledgment of minor gods themselves, not just their children. It was given that attacking Olympus and threatening all of us was wrong, but I could actually see where Hecate was coming from.

Poseidon stirred on his throne. "Now, brother, don't be hasty. Let us discuss this first."

"She must be punished!" Zeus said. "Her deeds are unforgivable."

"I'm not defying that," Poseidon said, calmly turning back to the five us. He seemed to look at each one of carefully before saying, "Amber, daughter of Hecate. Do you have anything to say?"

Amber's eyes went wide as she got the spotlight. I knew from personal experience that having twelve gods staring at you when you were expected to speak wasn't the most comfortable feeling.

"I know it wasn't right," Amber started, her voice shaky, "the things my mother did, but maybe if she were given a second chance, she wouldn't be so angry."

Poseidon nodded thoughtfully, although Zeus didn't show any signs of mercy.

"A god who abuses her powers shall be stripped off them," Zeus stated.

Aphrodite blew on her fingernails. "Don't you think that's a bit harsh, father?"

There were flames in Ares eyes. "I think it's the perfect punishment. She threatened Olympus right after a war!"

I wasn't one to back talk Ares, especially because I was really looking forward to a peaceful life after all of this was over, but I found myself clearing my throat. Zeus watched me curiously as I tried my best to explain. "I agree, Hecate should be punished," I stated. "But it's true that she did this out of neglect. My wishes in the war were answered - children of minor gods are acknowledged now. But, from what I can tell, I don't think minor gods themselves get the respect they deserve."

I was ready for Zeus to blow my head off with the weapon he gripped, but thankfully, Thalia chimed in. "Right," she said. "Maybe new laws have to be passed. It couldn't hurt anyone."

Zeus honored his daughter as he considered our words, but our chances seemed slim. I looked over at Amber, who looked extremely grateful for our help.

Athena sighed, seeing Zeus was still set on a placing a sentence for Hecate. "What would an alternative be?" the goddess asked, referring to a punishment.

"Instead of a removal of powers," Annabeth reasoned from next to me, "what if Hecate were sentenced to aiding Olympus or the camp somehow?" she offered.

"Yes," Amber peeped. "My mother's powers of magic could work wonders for the camp."

"Yeah," Nico added, supporting Amber. I resisted the urge to give him a look. Even in front of the council of gods, Nico was trying to gain points for his love life.

"The cabins," Annabeth remembered. "There's so much construction at camp now. If Hecate could help, her powers would finally be used and respected."

Poseidon looked towards Zeus. The brothers seemed to exchange glances and come to an understanding.

"Do you have anything to say for yourself, Hecate?" Zeus asked, slightly calmer as he addressed the minor goddess this time.

As a few strands of hair fell away from her face, I could see her purple eyes. They were much lighter - a shade of lavender even. "Do as you wish," she finally said. "Respect for us minor gods is all I've ever asked."

Zeus sighed. "Then I sentence you to time at the camp. You will not be dismissed until you have done everything in your powers to help. You may use your magic only to fix, improve, or build something that will better the life of the half-bloods, your children, at the camp."

Demeter nodded. "I agree."

Hestia was next. "I also second it."

Hera was stiff. "Agreed," she said. I watched in line as each god stamped their approval.

"Then it is settled," Zeus said flicking his Bolt once again, which seemed to remove only one single band from Hecate's wrists, while the rest of the light stayed intact.

…Thalia…

"And now for the demigods who helped us," my father said, turning away from Hecate as if she mattered no longer. Then, before my eyes, Hecate disappeared in a flash of gold, and I realized she had been sent to Camp Half-Blood to begin her punishment already.

"We realize that this quest has been trying for all of you," Lady Artemis said, "but despite it, you did well and succeeded in stopping Hecate."

"Yes, you did as we asked," Athena agreed with a nod and a special look just for Percy that amused me slightly.

"For that, we thank you," my father added.

"Thank you for what you did," Poseidon said, smiling at all five of us.

I know that I didn't know what to say to the gods. They had asked us to help, so we did. Their thanking us was nice to hear, though, because sometimes it is hard to know if they appreciate what demigods do for them. There are mixed signals quite often when it comes to the gods, but they were quite clear this time. None of us had anything to say in return; our actions had spoken for us.

"Now onto the tool belt and shield," my father continued. With a wave of his hand, the tool belt I hadn't noticed was sitting where Hecate had once been flew into his hand, and the shield pulled itself from Percy's arm to join it. "We must do something with these. They are all far too dangerous to leave alone, and as this quest has just proven, even leaving them hidden, lost, and in pieces does not stop them from being used."

"Perhaps if we combine our powers, we will be able to destroy them," Athena suggested. "This way, they will never be able to be used against us again."

"Yes, but what if we need them at a later time?" Demeter asked. "They are strong weapons that can be used for us.

"Weapons can be used by either side," Athena replied. "The danger they pose in the wrong hands outweighs any good they could possibly do for us. Did this quest teach you nothing?"

"I was just making a suggestion, niece," Demeter said, raising her hands slightly in surrender.

"All in favor of destroying these weapons?" Zeus asked the council. The vote was quickly made and was unanimous: the gods would work together to destroy the tool belt and shield.

My father threw the objects into the air in the middle of the room and controlled the winds so they stayed there. Together, each god or goddess pulled out his or her weapon of choice and aimed it at them, before, on my father's signal, they all sent blasts of their power. It only took moments for the tool belt and shield to just disappear, completely destroyed by the gods' power.

Once that was complete, we were basically dismissed, and I followed the other four out of the throne room. Raevin remained behind, moving over to Lady Artemis, and I knew my wolf would be sent back to the Hunters shortly.

Coming together in a courtyard, I stood slightly apart from the others. The sun was basically set, night upon us, and I knew they would need to return to Camp Half-Blood soon while the best time for me to return to the Hunt was at night, when Lady Artemis was strongest. It wouldn't be long before I would be leaving my friends.

"Well, this just proves it, Kelp Head," I said, and he turned to me suspiciously as I grinned.

"Proves what?" he asked cautiously when I didn't continue.

"It proves that no matter what I'm doing with you, it always goes insane," I finished, and everyone but Percy laughed while he just groaned before a smile forced its way onto his face.

"Oh, be quiet, Pinecone Face," he said. "You know you love it."

"I wouldn't go that far, but I'm willing to put up with it when I hang out with you." I grinned and moved forward to hug my cousin. "Do you think next time we can try to have a normal visit and maybe go grab some burgers?" I asked when I pulled away.

"It's a plan," Percy agreed, smiling. I turned to Amber and smiled at her.

"I'm glad I got to meet you, Amber. Am I right to think you wouldn't consider joining the Hunters?" Amber glanced at Nico, blushed slightly, and nodded.

"Sorry, Thalia," she said. "You're really cool, but I think I like it at camp." I shrugged, having seen it coming after what happened during the quest, and smiled.

"Oh, well, your loss. Still, I'll be sure to find you next time I'm at camp. Keep my two cousins in line, will you?" Amber smiled in response.

"Of course!" I had to laugh at that.

"Hey, Nico, keep an eye on her, or you'll be answering to me, got it?" I asked him, and he blushed very lightly and nodded. "Keep in touch." I didn't bother to hug him, knowing he wouldn't like it, but I held out my fist, and he tapped his to it.

"I'll IM you soon," he promised.

"Come here, Annie," I said, opening my arms as I turned to Annabeth. She smiled and hugged me tightly. "Keep an eye on Kelp Head, and don't let him get away with anything, you hear me?" She laughed and nodded.

"When do I ever?" she joked, pulling away.

"Hey!" Percy cried, pretending to be upset, but Annabeth and I just smirked.

"Be good to her, Kelp Head. I'll talk to you both soon, I promise."

Just as I said that, I sensed Lady Artemis coming up behind me. The moon was rising higher in the sky, so I knew it was time to leave.

"I will send you four back to camp," Lady Artemis said to the others. "Thalia, I will send you to where the hunters are now camped, and I will talk to you soon." I nodded.

"See you next time," I said to the others, and they all said their goodbyes.

Lady Artemis waved her hand, and the others disappeared in a flash of moonlight. She waved her hand again, I saw my own flash of moonlight, and I was gone.