Author's Note: Hello my lovelies! Enjoying the holiday and giving mama a good hug? Good! Now then, before the chapter, some serious thoughts to answer thanks to some things brought up in reviews.

Character Behavior:

Yes, Percy and Co are changing from what they originally started, even if at times looking cold and cruel. That is to be expected. Years and in some cases, decades, have passed for them. They are no longer mortal, their minds and priorities are different and the experiences has affected them all, both positively and negatively. Its a major theme of mine and something for constant observation.

Power Levels:

Yes, they are primordials. They are so OP in comparison to titans and Olympians that honestly any single one of them could do enough damage to not only end the Olympians but human civilization itself. That's why Gaea waking up was such a shit-storm in the first place. Now, to not make this short or a bore I made rules and conditions to make it more fair and I'll also explain that fight between Artemis and Medusa.

Medusa has Olympian level power, yes, but she is not a goddess, she does not have a divine form. No matter how much training, Medusa at best can equal and hold off an Olympian if they assume divine form but at the end of the day she won't win. Yes she beat Artemis in the earlier chapter but remember. Artemis was hurt, disoriented, and cut off from a significant portion of her power. If she had only been cut off but in a more neutral environment and not hurt, Medusa would have had to retreat or suffer serious injury.

Just to set a rule of power for divine beings, even though the actual power usable between different classes of god is varied, I'll use Bleach and Naruto to make sure everyone gets a similar idea.

Mortal Form = Basic Zanpakuto = Naruto standard form

Basically a grand majority of the abilities are unusable and generally limited to bodily ability but can be pushed to higher extremes

Godly Form (Olympians being 15-20ft, Titans a little bigger, Primordials being 100ft) = Shikai Release = Naruto Sage Mode

Significantly stronger with some abilities being usable and perks of the state like higher healing, recovery, so forth.

Divine Form = Bankai = Naruto Sixth Sage Mode

Near absolute control and use of power and abilities to the most devastating degree. Walking nuclear reactors during a meltdown. Physical abilities to the top limit and the stuff that mortals told legends about (such as throwing mountains). Primordials cannot assume Divine Form in the mortal plane since they are basically Ichigo in Vaste Lorde form compared to captain level gods.

NOTE: Demigods are significantly tougher and stronger than regular mortals. Remember, we haven't really seen adult demigods in the series during battle.

Hope this clarifies some things, now onwards to the story!


A Week Later, Percy

Percy sighed as the council session ended, several of said members heading out to go about their own business or prepare for the Olympians. They'd tracked the movements and so far those 'task forces' or specialized groups had formed up rather quickly however it wasn't to the joy of their demigods. His words in Ares' execution had done much to cast doubt on the Olympians, added their constant losses and their own treatment of the demigods and it was a recipe for disaster. Granted a good chunk of the demigods were gunning for them for similar reasons though it was their assumption that Hestia was dead too but they could work that to their advantage soon enough.

So far the discussion had been on the point Persephone had brought up to him before, though he omitted her name or the circumstances of how she told him just to respect her privacy on the matter. Of course there had been some immediate voicing against even the thought of sparing any of the Olympians. Thalia in particular wanted them gone considering she had next to no positive view of them and calling them negligent, abusive, opportunistic bastards willing to pop out demigods only to suite a purpose. He really couldn't blame her on that front but he still thought to give some doubt.

His motion to spare Demeter had passed but she wasn't off scot free by any sense of the word and Rhea had been appointed to handle that particular case though they decided any captured or willingly surrendered Olympians would face a trail before any sentencing. Apparently she intended to give the spanking that was millennia late to her wayward daughter and Hestia had some choice words for the goddess she once called sister as well. Other gods were under a grey area leaving their fate undecided for now though the council had agreed to offer surrender any time said gods were encountered in combat, with willful surrenders gaining them far more leeway.

Others were straight up getting the noose or sword the moment they were encountered unless a specific primordial or chosen god was placed with the responsibility of the fate of the Olympian in question. That matter had actually gotten his attention, or more specifically, Andy's actions on taking responsibility for a particular goddess. His fiancé was in fact still sitting on her throne and intently reading one of her monitoring tablets. The golden edges and heart let him know that the tablet was set for a god. Getting up from his throne he walked towards her until only just a step or so away before clearing his throat to get her attention.

"Oh, hey," she said after a small start while setting down her tablet. "Can I help you with something?"

He looked at her silently for a few moments, before simply asking, "Why?"

It wasn't hard to get what he was talking about as she got more comfortable in her throne and hummed in thought before answering, "It's complicated."

"I've got time," he continued, standing comfortably.

"So you do," she murmured before sighing and then looking at him in the eyes. "I think she could change."

"Millennia old goddess with one of the biggest egos of the Olympians."

"And one of the most adaptive that actually pays attention to the mortal world without screwing it up by sleeping with half the population or murdering the other half just for shits and giggles. Yes, she's got a lot of injustices and abuses to answer for but I really think she can if given the chance."

"And how exactly do you plan to do that?" he asked somewhat skeptically.

Really, of all the gods on the council to redeem or reform, Andy had to pick one of the toughest cookies. At least she wasn't trying to pull Artemis' ass out of the fire. Now that was one goddess Percy was killing regardless of what anyone else said about reform and mercy. Was it for personal revenge? Absolutely. Did he give a damn? No sir!

"I'm keeping my plan a secret for now but first I have to get ahold of her," Andy answered as she made the tablet disappear and stood up. "Though, if things go well, part of her punishment could be used to help you deliver one of the final blows to Artemis."

"You devious little minx," he commented with a fanged grin.

"I know, I'm spending too much time with you," she retorted before closing the distance and giving him a quick peck. "Now get going, I believe that Rhea wanted to show you something and even Raven tagged along with her. Wouldn't want both of them upset with you for taking your sweet time, would you?"

Percy felt a shiver of fear run down his spine at the thought. Between Rhea's steely glare and Raven's kicked puppy face he was a goner.

"Right," he said before all but dashing off to the sound of Andy's laughter. 'I'll get her later,' he swore as he moved out of the throne room, shrinking all the while, and raced towards the hall with the doors leading to the offices.

He jumped over some god in his way and ducked under another carrying a log before passed into the hallway and skid to a stop right at Rhea's office. The thick oak door opened without him even having to knock, letting him know he'd been a tad too slow and now Rhea was antsy. At least with Raven he knew he could fix it with a trip to a recently opened ice cream parlor in the residential district. Sighing in resignation to his fate he walked in but was surprised to see what was usually a dense forest thick with all manner of trees was covered in a light coating of snow.

Normally Rhea's office looked a forest straight out of one of those dinosaur documentaries covering a large mountain with a large, two floor cabin somewhere in the center. The forest itself she used as a testing ground for new plants and animals she was creating or she could will a portion of her forest to mirror somewhere in the world and let her get a direct view of the natural conditions. However he didn't think that would need her to cover the whole mountain and forest in snow. Well, at least it gave him an idea of what she was working on and it had to do with cold weather.

Knowing that he was already on a tight schedule he seamlessly shifted into his wolf form, keeping his size to that of a rhino, and dashed across the terrain. His footfalls were almost silent as darkness and cold mist wafted off his pitch black fur, his movement little more than a blur to the observing eye as the shadows cast by the trees almost merged with him as he passed.

It took him little more than ten or so minutes to ascend the mountain in the direction of Rhea's cabin at his pace. He could see it closing in, the single chimney billowing smoke, no doubt with a kept of some hot soup cooking inside. He slowed to a trot of sorts as he neared, pausing when he caught the sound of flapping. Knowing what was coming he glanced up in time to see a bright and cheery face and icy blue eyes of his daughter.

"Papa!" she eagerly chirped as she tackle-hugged his head, wrapping her wings around his snout and looking at him without a care in the world.

"Hello," he returned, his voice carrying the underlying growl as she scrambled over his head and quickly moved to sitting on his shoulders making him sigh. "… Reduced to a pony of all things," he muttered with a low chuckle.

"Aunty Rhea is in the back with the surprise," she instructed, nearly vibrating with excitement about whatever it was. "So giddy up!"

He gave an indignant snort but moved regardless, purposely bumping his shoulders up to bug her because why not? A father should strive to annoy and embarrass his daughter on principle, regardless of suffering feminine retribution later on. In another minute or so he got around Rhea's cabin to spot said goddess standing to a massive, light blue crystal measuring nearly three stories in height and wide enough to fit a decent sized house. Within the massive structure was an equally large animal as far as he could tell though he couldn't get a definitive shape.

He walked up to Rhea's side as Raven slipped off and then shifted back to his regular form, all the while keeping his eyes on the crystal. He then looked to Rhea with a questioning gaze as she finally looked at him too.

"You're late …"

Her tone alone rang danger bells in his head.

"Had to talk with Andy for a moment about the session," he explained quickly.

She gave him a stern look, probably taking joy in watching him sweat it out, before nodding. He wasn't sure whether to sigh in relief or not. Regardless they both turned their attention to the crystal again before he asked, "So … what am I looking at?"

Rhea started as he glanced at her. "You know how you've been having trouble coming up with a creature to safeguard the North and South Pole?"

"Yes."

"Well, since wolves weren't working out, I thought about a different creature that could survive in the regions and maintain the climate while also being strong enough to ward off potential human hunters and I came up with this," she said gesturing to the crystal.

At the wave of her hand the crystal started to crack and shudder, the figure inside starting to shudder slightly. Raven who had been studying the crystal from barely a foot away squeaked as a piece nearly hit her, making her dash around and hide behind him while peaking over his shoulder. He watched curiously as dust and mist started to billow up obscuring the sight. It took a few seconds for it to clear and all the while Percy could hear the massive figure moving slightly, the ground shaking slightly with the careful steps taken. Once the dust settled Percy couldn't help but whistle while Raven gasped and Rhea smirked.

Before them was what Percy could only call a Woolly Mammoth on steroids. Standing a good seven meters at the shoulders, thick legs with densely coiled muscle that was barely hidden the thick, dusted grey coat. Long, barely curved tusked that looked sharp enough to punch through a foot of steel and tipped with a familiar, light blue crust and similar icy blue eyes to his wolves. The creature literally radiated cold as the temperature slowly dropped around it, though none of the three were bothered by it.

"You so went to the Underworld and talked with my mother before this didn't you?" he asked as he walked forward, meeting the gaze of the newly awakened pre-historic creature, or did being newly created make it post-modern?

"Yep, how else was I supposed to know mammoths were one of your favorites?" she retorted, the amusement ringing clear in her voice as Raven approached as well looking at the woolly beast in awe.

"He's strong," Percy murmured as he rested a hand against the foreleg, still meeting his gaze, noticing the gleam of intelligence in his eyes one would expect from the likes of a chimp or dolphin, possibly smarter.

Raven walked up to the head, the mammoth looking away from Percy to Raven and eyeing the small woman curiously. Tentatively it used its trunk to poke Raven experimentally, his daughter giggling all the while before she hugged his trunk.

"And he's fluffy," she said with glee before the mammoth raised his trunk and her along with it much to her delight.

Percy smiled before he bent down and picked up a crystal fragment, recognizing the signature of his own ice within it.

"So this is why you asked me for all those chunks of ice," he said as he looked at her.

"Yeah. I have a decent grasp of your Cold domain being married and all but sometimes it's better to work from the source," she said as she walked up to Percy's side and watched as Raven and the mammoth continued to study each other much to their amusement. "It took a few tries but I finally got it right and this bull is the first to fully grow. I'll make him a few cows to start up a herd soon enough."

"But what about food?" Percy asked. "I can't imagine that being this big comes with a little appetite. They'll have the same problem I had with creating wolves to guard the artic regions."

"Follow me and see," she replied as she walked off to a small garden a slight distance away.

He followed, hearing the heavy steps behind him as the mammoth, and Raven riding atop, followed him. They walked for only a few minutes, approaching a large garden Rhea had formed. Within were an expanse of small shrubs and even small trees with odd, round white fruits hanging from the branches.

"Haven't really gotten around to naming them but after eight tries I finally figured out how to form these artic plants," Rhea explained as she picked one of the orange sized fruits and tossed it to Percy. He found it surprisingly cool to the touch and smelled somewhat like grapefruit. "They'll grow best in nearly freezing weather and can absorb minerals from even the deep, frozen bedrocks of the Artic and Antarctic. If planted on an ice sheets, the roots will grow until it reaches the actual sea underneath which is also nutrient rich."

Percy gave his wife an impressed look as he took a tentative bite of the fruit, a nearly clear, blue-ish juice spilling out. Orange sized, smelling similar to grapefruit but its taste was closer to that of melon and biting it felt similar. He enjoyed it but it wasn't really his take so he offered it to the mammoth who took it with his trunk and after eyeing it curiously, tossed it into his massive mouth. Apparently the taste was just right to him as not a moment later he started to pick the fruits himself, even going as far as passing one to Raven before returning to his treats.

"Scientists are going to go bonkers when they find these," Percy commented getting an agreeing nod form Rhea as the pair continued to move while Raven stayed with the mammoth.

Once a slight distance away Percy glanced at the mammoth again before asking, "What about population control?"

"Your wolves will do nicely from time to time just to keep the future herds in check," Rhea replied as they both watched the kids, from their view, continue to eat and play making Percy frown slightly as he watched his daughter smile. Rhea glanced at him before asking in a near whisper. "Percy, how are you and Andromeda feeling about Raven?"

He sighed as his shoulders slumped while looking at his wife. "Honestly, neither of us want her to start her duties as Andy's guardian. Even if she's more or less come into an adult mentality, though she sure doesn't act like it when alone with us."

"The domains are a mess, aren't they?" Rhea asked with her own frown.

"Aphrodite's relationship with Ares did so much more than she realized. Her confusion between love and lust for a violent and abusive disgrace of a man has left deep marks in human society. Sure, it's not like she is the reason certain tendencies in regards to sex and love exist because of her but she did unknowingly, or possibly knowingly, spread and ingrain them. Hell, even the regions that haven't had contact with Greek culture and religion can show traces of that influence."

"And now Raven is meant to be Andy's direct hand in the affairs of mortals which entitles being a killer … even if those cases are little more than rabid dogs," Rhea said as she absentmindedly looked up at the mountain overhead.

Percy gave a mirthless chuckle as he followed her gaze. "You know, I used to wonder where gods got off in the way they judged for mortals. Even if most in not all have abused that authority for petty reasons at times, but now I find it hard to criticize them. Here we are, demigods turned gods and we're already casting judgement on the mortals, deciding who dies and how they should progress." He then looked at his own trembling hands. "I'm a hypocrite too … I want to make Artemis and Poseidon suffer just as much as I did. I want to rip apart everything they have and only end them when they have nothing left to live for. I even started a fucking war for it and now hundreds of lives will be dragged into it."

He then looked at his wife, searching within her eyes for the answers to his troubled thoughts ever since his encounter with Persephone.

"Who's to say down the line in a decade, a century, maybe even millennia away that we won't become worse than the Olympians and the Titans ever were? Who will-"

"Percy," Rhea interrupted in a stern voice as she cupped his cheek. "Calm down and listen to me carefully." She waited for him to nod slowly, her free hand moving up to rest against his chest, right over his heart. "You are a primordial god, the highest tier of power possible and only answerable to Lady Chaos herself … but you are not infallible, you are not omnipotent, you are not perfect. None of us are so you are bound to make mistakes but you know what makes you so different from the previous ruling councils? That you question yourself, that you doubt, that you remember where you came from and how you started out."

She glanced down softly at her hand still resting over his chest before looking at him with a fire in her eyes.

"So what if the start of all this was for revenge after the murder of your parents? I don't think anyone could judge you for it and regardless, if not you, then who? You have lived it, you know how demigods and many a monster alike were created and later made to suffer from the injustice of the Olympians just like the Titans were betrayed by many who sided with the six Olympians during the first war. Again the oppressed rise against the tyrants as history knows it, you were simply the first to take a stand and Nyx offered you the chance. And yet you're still trying to be the hero and save as many as possible. You've gone and done the illogical thing and instead of forming an army or using your power to crush everything representing the Olympians, you're trying to spare those who follow and support them because it is the only thing they know."

Rhea paused to take a breath, glancing over her shoulder to check and make sure Raven was still thoroughly entertained before returning her attention to Percy.

"You could have covered the world in pitch darkness and frozen everything until it is a wasteland. The last dregs of the labyrinth and the impressive cavern base of the Amazons? Gone, crushed and entombed with a wave of my hand. Mount Olympus and the camps? Jason and Thalia could blow it all to bits within hours from our house above the planet. Nico and Styx could unleash literal hell on the mortal world, Hestia could cause eruptions and infernos to scorch the land while stripping humanity of Hope itself. Just one of us assuming our divine forms in the mortal plane would cause as much devastation, not to mention radiation, as the entire US's stockpile of nuclear weapons set off at once. We could have won already … but instead of taking it easy, we're trying to spare the world for the crimes of the few."

She then paused as she moved her hand from his cheek and chest to cup his hands together. "And, even if it sounds arrogant and entitled, being gods we stand above man. It is our right to control and protect our domains even if by those decrees some humans will always hate us. I want to protect the earth and nature which means regardless of what corporation or government starts to complain when we're revealed will have to suck it up if they don't like it. I will protect my domains just like you protect your wolves or the innocent in the night and Andromeda has the right to do so as well… even if it means Raven can't be your innocent little princess like you want."

Percy dipped his head as she said that, barely managing from muttering that it wasn't fair. Of course it wasn't but then again life simply wasn't. Every demigod's live was a testament to that and sadly that included his daughter regardless of how much he wished against it. Even his future children would have to see the ugly side of life and humanity because even without war horrible things existed and he couldn't hide them away from everything. After stewing for a few minutes, digesting Rhea's words he slowly nodded, understanding that she had a point and denying it would be useless.

He started a war and now he had to finish it, accepting the consequences and lives that may be lost because of it but he couldn't hesitate now. He was king, a leader, and his conviction to carry through with his decisions needed to be resolute. However, at times doubting himself and analyzing his own thoughts had merit as well, to keep him grounded and balanced. His inner turmoil slowly started to clear as Rhea's words and their meaning truly registered and a faint smile as he looked at his wife.

"You really are too good for me. I really don't know what I would do without you and Hestia," he said as he gently wrapped his arms around her waist to pull her closer until their foreheads touched.

She smiled softly before giving him a tender kiss and then pulling back. "And we'll always be there to keep your head on straight and eyes forward. You're not only my king but my husband and I won't stand for anything but the best from you so chin up mister."

"Yes mam," he replied with a wolfish grin before the pair turned their gazes to see Raven approaching, covered in snow from the heap that the mammoth tossed on her.

She smiled at them as she got close and was about to say something but before she could Percy pulled her in between himself and Rhea to hug her close, Rhea quickly joining in to smother Raven in affection.

"Papa?" she asked as she wiggled enough to move her hands from her sides to his chest while looking at him curiously.

"Oh I just felt like hugging you …" he said innocently, simply enjoying the moment and knowing they would become rare in the near future as the war picked up.

Raven didn't offer any protest in the slightest, giving him a big smile before she snuggled closer, sighing contently within their arms as Rhea smiled down at her near-stepdaughter. He smiled as well, the war and Olympians slipping to the back of his mind for now…


Next Morning, Amphitrite

Amphitrite panted as she tried to recover her breath, her throat soar and pain continuously feeding back through her body. Her arms were shackled to the stone ceiling above, biting into her skin as ichor slowly oozed from the broken skin. Her skin felt dry, her sweat having all evaporated some time ago. Her knees shook with the weakness of lacking energy and dehydration. Her body was bare and exposed much to her indignation and humiliation, the mocking laughter echoing in her head after days of the repeated performances.

She flinched as the first rays of the morning sunlight passed through the celestial barred windows of her prison. She looked through those same windows, the sea beyond taunting her like her tormentors. Like the one currently sitting across the small cell from her, lounging back in his seat with a glass of wine in his hand and dirty rag resting on a small table beside him. He was tall for mortal standards, reaching over eight foot with a muscular body. His attire was an odd mix of the new and old. Jeans stretched to their limits with celestial bronze tipped boots, a glowing celestial bronze breast plate with a black leather jacket over it to cover his arms. She could see the edges of his bracers just past the cuff of the sleeves. His helmet was off to reveal his dirty blonde hair and glowing gold eyes.

Not wanting to see his smug face she glanced again at the rag. That rag, soaked in her ichor after he used it to clean his hands. She would have growled and cursed him if she had the energy but sadly she didn't. She looked down to see a massive handprint seared into her side just below her right breast, the skin cracking with small trails of ichor. 'Hyperion, you bastard,' she thought as she looked at her 'uncle' again. Her chief guard and tormentor, the titan of light had been more than adept at making her stay far from enjoyable. She could only count her lucky stars that her mother's intervention had kept her from being used as 'entertainment' … for now.

Who's to say Poseidon wouldn't keep her as a broken trophy later on just to spite her? Granted that's been her existence for the last couple thousand years anyways. Still, thoughts of the future would do little for her considering her circumstances. Over a week, locked up on some tropical island under a barrier erected by Pontus. It was the perfect location for a small operations base and her torture. Being a god she couldn't starve, beatings and rape was too simple apparently, and they didn't want her anywhere she could get help. So here she was, slowly being dried into a husk, cruelly close to the waters that could restore her but also impossibly far with her uncle practicing how to brand on her.

"Getting quiet are we?" she heard her uncle chuckle in amusement but she kept her head down. "Too tired to scream."

His chuckles didn't last as his taunts carried no effect but she heard him set his glass down and stand up, his steps getting closer before she felt him grab her head to force her head up. She saw his smirking face but it disappeared when she spit a glob of ichor in his face. No sooner than a second passed before he backhanded her, knocking at least two teeth out and probably fracturing her jaw but she still didn't scream. It hurt but it didn't compare to being branded alive. Luckily he couldn't for now, no, the possibility of killing her stayed his hand. He practiced his skills at night after giving her some water. Just enough to keep her stable enough and then make her nights miserable. The day she was merely taunted, put on display so that the human mercenaries and monster forces could leer at her.

Filth. If she could slaughter each and every soul on this damn island with a rusty knife she would lose no sleep over it. So, even through the pain she glared back at him defiantly as he wiped the divine blood of his face before scowling down at her. He responded by grabbing her still injured shoulder, the puncture wounds from Poseidon's trident getting a sickly copper tone, and squeezed. She bit down on her own lips to stop from screaming even as tears trailed down her eyes.

"Ho? Still being tough are you? No matter, they all break eventually and then you'll practically beg me for mercy … at any price," Hyperion commented as he finally let go and strolled back to his seat. "Makes me wonder why you still try that act. Your mother's last kindness aside, no kingdom, husband, or allies to come for you, and a bleak future. I've seen many men break down at such odds and prospects."

"Maybe because I know you'll get what's coming to you," she finally answered as she glowered at him with contempt. "Big bad Hyperion, bested by a demigod and satyrs in the last war and now that same demigod and others have grown too strong for you," she said, ignoring his near snarl as he stood up and continued regardless. "War has already been declared, several gods dead or MIA and the remaining titans like you ran under the skirt of Pontus like the cowards you are."

"Mouthy little cunt," Hyperion snarled as her grabbed her jaw, his face only inches away. "Jackson and his little merry band will fall. Powerful they may be but at the same time they are weak. They think that nine and only a handful of warriors is enough when our armies grow by the thousands and even then we have our elite added with the blessings and training of Pontus himself."

"But not for you since you aren't worth it," she ground out, enjoying holding his failings over him.

She heard enough talk around along with a visit from her oh so dear husband. His presence along with Oceanus' had changed, pulsing with new and unexplored power but Hyperion wasn't like them. One of the eldest titans and powerful but a warrior like Poseidon and Oceanus he was not. He also didn't have an affinity for the sea so why give him power specific to it if he couldn't even use it properly. His face literally burned with rage as she slapped her again, making her head spin as she heard him muttering about how he'll teach her a lesson.

She could see through the haze as he was unbuckling his pants but also the door to her cell opening. Her head cleared slightly as she heard Hyperion cry out in a mix of surprise and pain, her face breaking into a smile at the sight. It was Triton, dressed in standard Atlantian armor of forged silver with a crystal sword, a similar dagger jabbed into Hyperion's lower back as the elder titan reached for it to pull it out. She was about to say something but her son shouted, "No time!" as he swung his sword, shattering the chains holding her up.

She fell almost limp into his arms before her grabbed onto her waist and half-dragged/carried her out of the cell but not before delivering a wild slash to the still recovering Hyperion, forcing the titan to backpedal as he was unarmed. Triton ran with her through a network of tunnels as a siren suddenly went off and Amphitrite could feel the temperature beginning to rise as the light around the island intensified.

"I'm so sorry it took me this long," he said to her as they ducked down one passage and away from thundering footsteps.

"It's okay… you came," she replied as her feet weakly trudged along the dirty stone floor, a few weak lamps being their only source of light as they moved deep through whatever fortress they were in.

"No," he replied with a shake of his head as he tossed her over his shoulder before turning into a set of stone steps to the side, jumping two or three steps at a time. "I shouldn't have stood there like a fool while you were attacked. I shouldn't have even let them take you away."

Amphitrite smiled at his words, but just barely as she fought down grimaces from the pain. Riding over her son's shoulder with several open and still bleeding burns along her body was not a pleasant experience. He kept moving, passing several floors.

"Damn dungeons," Triton muttered before he finally stopped at one floor and exited into far more spacy halls.

However with the space there were already some mercenaries mixed with monsters, primarily telchines. Triton didn't stop though, charging forward and covering the distance before any of the men could properly aim. With a roar Triton swung his sword, cutting down up to three men at a time while knocking over others. He ducked to the side, narrowly avoiding the lance of a telchine before it could impale him in the side. He would have turned on the attacker but the sound of more steps approaching clued him into the fact that there were running low on time.

With a snarl he turned and ran, still carrying her over his shoulder even as mortal bullets pelted them uselessly. She thanked the heavens above that celestial bronze bullets were in very short supply and regular lead bullets of lower calibers usually weren't enough to even pierce a god's skin. Still she raged within her mind with her inability to help her son and instead weigh him down. If only she could get to a larger source of water but then again, that could prove disastrous if Pontus is already aware of their attempt of escape. She highly doubted it was beyond the great primordial's ability to drown even them if he wished.

She was broken out of her thoughts though as Triton exited the hall over the shouting of human forces and into the morning light of a large, stone courtyard. She flinched at the light as she adjusted, a cool sea breeze washing over her to soothe some of the ache of her burns. Triton then stopped as looked around before spotting a large gate and broke into a sprint towards it.

"Almost there," she heard him ground out as more mercenaries appeared from bastions along the roof of the fortress around them and fired another salvo onto them.

She winced at the sting of the bullets and looked back to see another group of telchines, this time joined by some cyclops, charging after them with celestial bronze tipped spears and steel clubs. She couldn't make much other observations though because Triton suddenly cried out after a rather large bang as he staggered. She almost fell of his shoulders but he held tight and she looked down to see that a slowly closing bullet hole meaning there had to be a human or two with higher grade guns. At least mortal weapons couldn't make lasting damage but it was enough to slow them down.

Then Triton stopped, panting lightly with a thin film of sweat coating him, just a few more meters from the gates and the expanse of land leading to the sea beyond. Another group of cyclops, these outfitted with large, celestial bronze clubs and axes, stood before them, five strong along with the ones catching up behind them. Triton gently set her down as he positioned himself protectively in front of her with his sword at his side. The two sides remained at a standstill as the pair was surrounded in all sides, modern and ancient weapons pointed at them from all sides.

"Dammit," Triton muttered under his breath as his free hand pulled out a small dagger into a reverse grip. "… Mother listen, do you think you could sprint the last bit on your own?" he asked while scanning around them.

"What?" she asked him in return, hoping that he wasn't about to suggest what she thought he would.

"If I make an opening, could you make it to the sea and then hopefully flash away," he continued. "The barrier stops just at the shore and from what I gather, Pontus, Oceanus, and … father are all busy at the moment."

"No! I'm not leaving you!" she protested at once, just barely forcing herself to a knee and looking at Triton with pleading eyes.

"We don't have a choice!" he snapped back, finally taking his eyes off their enemies.

"I don't care!" she retorted as she looked at him. "Then you escape, I'm probably too weak to flash anyways and I don't have my pearl."

Suddenly Triton's eyes widened as he dropped the knife and fished into the pocket of battle skirt and brought out a familiar white pearl with a broken chain. She gasped at the sight of it, her hopes looking up before she heard and felt the approach of Hyperion, the ambient temperature seeming to rise as the morning light grew in intensity.

She glanced back to see Hyperion now armed with a massive, claymore like sword glowing gold in his hands. His confident grin only made her grow agitated so without a second to spare she turned to her son and grabbed his hand with the pearl inside it.

"Crush it!" she ordered and he complied, turning the pearl to a fine white dust in a moment before the dust seemed to envelop them.

She could feel the energy stored starting to coat them as she heard Hyperion shout an order but she didn't care for it, just knowing that they would escape even the barrier around them prevented flashing but hopefully other means of teleportation. However, just as she felt the beginnings of transport she heard another loud bang followed by an excruciating pain making her scream.

Through tears she looked down to see a celestial bronze harpoon lodged through part of her lower gut, the barbs digging and tearing into her skin. She couldn't do anything before it was violently pulled back and her along with it, separating her from her son as he cried out for her … but it was too late. In a white flash he was gone as she fell back, bleeding out with the sound of Hyperion's laugh in the background. She couldn't stop the new tears, her last hope slipping away as she realized her hell was about to get worse…


Jason, Same Time

At least once a week they would all gather for a shared meal, usually dinner but this time around it had been breakfast in the courtyard behind their temple in a picnic style. Jason had just been debating with Hercules about his new dream and obsession to spread the wonders of Crossfit across the world while some of their friends snickered in the background. He'd been arguing against the need for such extreme measures of fitness for those of a more civil lifestyle but the newly named god of Strength and Fitness of all things was adamant on converting the masses.

Off to the side they would also occasionally glance at their king as Percy was metaphorically and literally pulled from all sides. Medusa had taken to teasing her king for his attention much to the chagrin of Raven, being daddy's little princess and all so both were vying for his attention. Medusa wanted him to feed her, Raven pouting all the while and offering to feed him while Lamia pressed up against his back and generally throwing more fuel into the flame and Lupa sat back about while shaking her head at them. Lastly were the queens and Andy sitting just a little further, all three looking on in amusement and pretending they didn't notice the pleading looks Percy sent their way.

Styx sat with Nico and Will, still hounding both of them but if rumor was to be believed, slowly warming them to the idea through teasing and suggestive ideas. Lastly was Thalia sitting with Phoebe and some other goddesses, namely Hecate, Theia, and Eos and discussing some of the businesses the goddesses were starting up or expanding through their growing influence with the Canadian government.

Sadly the joy of the morning couldn't last as Jason's head snapped up from his meal as he felt the pearl he'd given to Amphitrite break, his action being noticed by the rest of the council and guests.

The light atmosphere evaporate as he shot to his feet as he felt the light condense in front of him, the other gods shooting up too with some willing their weapons to them. However they all stopped in surprise as the light flashed out to drop a tired and slightly injured dude that vaguely resembled Percy in front of him. The man, with oddly blue toned skin, looked around wildly with his sword in hand before his eyes landed on Percy.

"Jackson!?" he shouted in surprise as he took a step back, forgetting the Jason was behind him and bumping into him.

"Wow there!" Jason said as Triton wheeled around with sword raised. He was about to ask who he was and where was Amphitrite but Percy beat him to it.

"Triton," he said as he approached quickly. "What's going on?" Jason could tell that he was on guard, and now all others who weren't before were, knowing that they were in the presence of the lieutenant of Poseidon.

"No time, my mother needs me!" Triton shouted as he gave the warning signs of beginning to flash but was stopped when Jason clapped a firm hand on his shoulder, effectively grounding him to the spot.

"What happened to Amphitrite?" he asked in a deadly serious voice as Triton glared at him.

"What happened? What happened is that Oceanus and Pontus came and revealed that she was consorting with you and for the last week she's been held on an island and being tortured!" he nearly roared as he tried to shake Jason's grip but he wasn't letting go.

"What island?" he asked as the pressure of his divine aura started to manifest in a white glow, making it harder to breathe for most of the present gods save the council members.

"A remote one fifty miles north of Funchal near the Canary Islands," he replied, his agitation being cowed but the power rolling off Jason.

He focused his sight through his domain near the Canary Islands, searching for Amphitrite but instead found a blank spot roughly the distance north that Triton said. He clicked his teeth, knowing that it would take even them a few minutes to break a barrier that had been held up for a week or longer by Pontus and he wasn't sure if that barrier prevented his own forces from flashing in or out. Last thing he needed was to tip off whoever was holding Amphitrite.

"Is the barrier physical?" Jason asked quickly.

"No, they have mortals that need to come and go. You just can't flash there without the express permission of Pontus," he answered as he started to fidget. "Now let me go! She was left weak and injured with Hyperion and who knows what they'll do to her now."

Jason did let go of Triton but the sea god didn't get a chance to do much more before he was knocked on his ass as Jason flared his power, his wings springing out of his back as his coat of light materialized and his sword appeared in its sheath at his hip. He then noticed Percy and Nico nearing him quickly but before they could stop him he shouted, "Don't try it. She's there because of me and I'm not leaving her!"

"Who said we are stopping you?" Percy shot back as he gave off a far more controlled release, his wings, coat, and swords appearing in a moment with Nico doing the same. "We're going with you," Percy added with in a clipped tone.

Jason nodded back as the three looked to the others, giving a quick wave and in Percy's case receiving and hug and to be careful from Raven. Without another second's hesitation the three primordials kicked off the ground and soared into the skies above, clearing the morning clouds in their wake before Percy and Nico each grabbed one of his arms.

"Flash us there," Percy ordered to which Jason nodded, the familiar silvery glow encompassing them before they were gone in an instant only to reappear above the Atlantic, just over a thousand feet above the island Triton specified.

"Leave Hyperion to me," Jason all but growled as the rage literally made him steam.

"I'll get Amphitrite out of there and to Will," Nico said as all three drew their weapons.

"And I'll cut down the rest," Percy finished while nodding to the specks of boats, all coated black and without markers, headed for the island.

Without another word all three closed up their wings, plummeting to the earth below. The wind roared in their ears and assaulted their eyes but they didn't so much as register it as the island drew closer and more of the forces became visible. Human mercenaries, telchines, cyclops, and two distinct figures in the center of a ring of them. They weren't aware of their approach but their ignorance wouldn't last.

They hit terminal velocity soon enough and by now were getting close enough to see faces turned up from the monsters that felt them approaching. Jason spun around to have his feet facing the ground and sword drawn to his side before he braced himself.

BOOM!

Their arrival was loud and rough, shaking the very island as the ground crater underneath each of them but Jason shook off the tension in his legs as the dust settled, idly noting that he'd crushed a gate and some humans on impact but they weren't his concern. His eyes instead fell on Hyperion, or more importantly, what was in his hands. Held by her hair was Amphitrite's bloody face with a clearly broken jaw and body hanging limply as Hyperion held her up. The sight only enraged him more, making him vow to pay Hyperion back for every ounce of pain he put Amphitrite through.

"HYPERION!" he roared as the island and sea around them shook beneath his wrath, his body launching forward like a cannon ball and his blade already poised to cut him to pieces…


Author's Rant: And there you go! Battle is one people and if I do say so myself, it will be epic! The consequences will go far and wide with this one people, just you wait! Be sure to drop a review!