Point of View: Third Person Artemis wakes up before Percy this time and starts to wonder what her father is going to think. He looked appeased and happy enough at the wedding, so...he's got to be expecting kids, right? It worries her because of what her father is known for. She looks up at Percy's peaceful face and smiles, knowing it is truly what she wants.
She caresses his cheek and his eyes fly open. She giggles and he relaxes at the sound. "Did I startle you?" She asks.
He chuckles. "No, I am a light sleeper, my Moon."
"It doesn't seem like it." She points at him and replaces her hand on the side of his face.
"Maybe not, but I am ready for a threat at an time." He whispers and holds her closer.
She sighs. "Will you ever truly be able to let go and just relax?"
His eyes turn dark and he looks away from her with pain on his face. "You do not want me to answer that question, my Moon. It would hurt you to know."
"Please, tell me. I promise it will not bother me." She begs.
He shakes his head. "You do not understand. My answer would be devastating to you. I do not want that for you."
"Percy." She says and he groans at the way she uses his name.
He looks into her eyes. "I would only be able to relax if I was being tortured again, Artemis. I would know that no one else is being hurt, know that nothing else can happen as long as they are appeased with hurting my soul,and knowing that others are safe because I can make a deal."
She freezes. "What?"
He sighs and holds her face in one hand. "There would be one other way, but you would have to push me to get it to really happen. The threat to our world would have to be over. You would have to be completely safe, along with all those I love." his voice breaks on the last word.
She knows she might have pushed too far, but she sees he is not holding it against her. He wants to give her everything, even if it does hurt her, which he doesn't want. He's at a stalemate until she tells him he's okay. "It's alright, Percy. I am fine. What about you?"
He nods, not saying anything more. He just holds her closer.
"What are we going to tell my father? Oh..." Artemis starts and then realizes something.
Percy starts laughing some as he hears her thoughts. "You mean our father?" He chuckles. "I am adopted, Artemis, not his by blood. I am not even Hera's by blood. I am your adopted sibling, but really I am your cousin." Then he moves to whisper in his ear. "Godly blood doesn't count anyway, not for me. Even though I did get turned into one, it's of my own blood, not Poseidon's. Don't worry about it."
She calms down some and finds that he is right. "What are we going to tell father though?"
Percy sighs. "I have no idea. But I will take care of it."
"And my brother?" Artemis prompts.
"I'll kill two birds with one stone. You don't have to be in the room when it happens." Percy tells her and she breathes a sigh of relief.
"I am going anyway." She says and he nods.
"Do you think Apollo is back by now or would you like to wait until it's nearly impossible for them not to know?" Percy asks, giving her a choice.
"Let's just get it over with." She gives in. "I won't hear the end of it and neither will you if we don't tell them immediately."
"Well, we are already one day late. I swear Hera and Hestia already know. Possibly even Aphrodite. Let us hope not." Percy says and is up in the next second on his feet with Artemis in his arms. She laughs. "Come one." He smiles down at her. "I think there are people waiting for us."
"Okay." Artemis consents.
He kisses her before pulling away and flashing to the throne room. It surprises the rest of the council that they are back. They were thinking they would be longer. But what surprises them more is that Artemis is being carried instead of walking on her own. Percy sets her down and they both head to their thrones.
Apollo's eyes narrow at Percy once he looks at him. Percy catches his gaze and then enters his head. 'I plan on talking with you about it after the meeting with your father. I did not plan on hiding it from you or else I would have blocked Artemis and I from your knowledge.' Apollo nods and smiles a little bit, to Percy's amusement.
"Now that all of us are here, shockingly, we may start the summer solstice meeting for real." Zeus clears his throat. "What is the first order of business?"
Athena looks at Percy. "Perseus?"
"What?" Percy raises an eyebrow.
"What all have you been able to figure out?" Athena asks him.
Percy sighs and Artemis frowns as she sees his entire guard going back up. "Too much and too little. I have come up with so many possibilities to surmise that only a very few of them might actually be possible. I have also considered the different deities working on the other side and how much they have grown into power. Your daughter," Athena flinches. "Sorry, but Annabeth Chase has grown more powerful since my second visit down in the Pit. Tartarus is more malevolent with Corruption's presence and all the more deadly if one of us should enter again. Almost impossible to escape unless you know how or have my permission to get through my magic, and that's only assuming you can get back to the entrance to the Underworld, let alone get far enough away from the depths of the Pit like Nico and I did.
They have also knowledge on my being a god now, my domains. Corruption is old and though he is evil, he is wise. He knows things we do before we even realize we know it. He revealed to them what I was when they saw me in that pathetic illusion. That damned magic is so corrupted I didn't remember to look for it until it was almost too late and it cost us dearly." He growls. "They know about the new immortals, but I do not believe Corruption understands what kind they are. I feel him growing stronger. He is able to become a person all on his own, but I sense the intent for a host." He breathes deeply and stops suddenly, looking at the ground and won't look anywhere else.
Artemis is the first to notice because she knows something is wrong with Percy, but the others are thinking on his words, not caught up with him at the moment. "Perseus, has he decided who he wants as a host?" She gets out and Percy won't look ather.
"He has." Percy murmurs. This shocks everyone into reality.
"Who is it?" Athena asks.
Percy sinks into his throne, still refusing to look at anyone. "He doesn't want it until after the war is over and that is only if he wins." He avoids answering the question.
"Perseus, tell me, now." Artemis says sternly.
Percy looks up at her and then back down at the ground. "He wants a pawn at his feet to kneel and come whenever he calls. That's me, but what if I wasn't at his feet, but under his complete control?" Percy looks at her. "Not as a vessel or a host for his power to grow, but to be more powerful and take over that person completely." He seems to stop and then before anyone can say anything. "He wants me as a body to be able to influence the world without the fear of being erased from existence by the Fates. My presence makes him weak. He would have to neutralize my soul and meld it with his. He wouldn't be Corruption and I wouldn't be Perseus anymore. We would be a different person entirely, and if he succeeds in neutralizing me, he would be in control and I would never wake up again." He looks at everybody. "First to break me, then to bind me, and finally to be is what he wants at the end of the war. He will rule using my body and my soul as well as my powers. He could take Artemis if he just wanted a body to be free from Ancient Laws, but he wants my soul in particular. He wants to make slaves out of all of you and then enslave the world as we know it. He will bend it to his will, but...for that to happen, he would have to win this war." He looks at Zeus and seems to steel himself. "I am prepared to do anything to win this war. We will win it, it's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when. Nico di Angelo and I have given all of us time to prepare and that is what we all must do.
Now I must warn you, and i hate to say it, but we will not only be combating someone wise, old, powerful, and nearly all-knowing in strategy, but someone who knows our defenses like the back of her own hand, smarter than all her siblings put together, and a person who can think of any trick to get out of any situation. Her mother and I will be the only two able to outmaneuver her. Apollo can help with that, but not that much. Unlike his sister, he is restricted greatly. We will be hard pressed to stop one of the brightest minds of her generation. I plan on making her fade at the end of this war. She's smartenough to know the weaknesses of the immortals once she learns them." Percy snaps his fingers and all of the Guardiansappear, along with all of the Protectors. "Guardians and Protectors, in time, you must be ready to stop an expected threat to those you serve. Protectors, the symbols will be major targets in the coming threat. I ask you, to find Tenders to help you watch over the symbols you protect for your Guardians, your immortals, and your gods. You will be a vital point in this war. If it is stolen, get it back, if it is destroyed, restore it, and if it is under attack, defend it. Guardians, your gods will be targeted to get you away from the war, distract you. Stay at there sides as much as possible, watch for anything, and never let your guards down." Percy tells them and they all turn more serious. "The majority of you know who Annabeth Chase is, correct?" Nearly all of them nod and Percy explains quickly for those who do not. "The mastermind behind the enemy lines. Do not underestimate her. Protectors, do you know what you can do for the symbols if it is nearly impossible to defend?" He looks at the group.
"We can take the symbol to the Realm and keep it stable there. We are able to carry any symbol we protect and keep it there. We have to use our light." Teliria answers first. Her knowledge about being a Protector more prominent since she guards over the God of Protectors's symbol.
Percy nods. "Yes."
"How is Dadarios going to take a tree with him?" Ares asks.
Dadarios grins and holds out his hands, a tiny version of the tree forming in his hands. "We store the symbol in our light and carry it with us." He makes sure the tree returns to where it was. "It doesn't matter the size. And other Protectors guard over material things that don't require several versions to populate the world, it is just one single object for Malath to guard. He can just carry it with him wherever he goes and help another Protector keep a light going for the symbol in which they watch over. It depends on what symbol you guard. Like, for Lord Zeus, it is his weapon, so it is normally with him and so is his Protector. If Zeus should fall, which is unlikely, that Protector would take his symbol and hide with it and protect it. He could also use it tobring the god back. So can his Guardian." Dadarios explains easily.
"It is a system created by our patron so that there is always a way to save something instead of just letting it die out." Malath grins. "We would keep it in our homes in the Realm of the Moon. There are altars there for the symbols so that we may keep them up even if we are weakened severely. We cannot die until the symbol we guard is destroyed."
"Amazing." Athena breathes and looks at Percy, who is sinking into his throne. "How come you did not inform us?"
"It is too complicated to explain to some people and then it takes forever to go through every single little detail. All Guardians have my blessing and then the blessing of those they guard. All Protectors have my blessing and that blessing of whoever's symbol they protect. All Companions have my blessing and that of those they are connected to. Which reminds me." Percy sighs and summons all of the Companions that weren't already in the room. "Protectors, you also have Companions that will help you guard. So will your the Tenders. But there aren't any yet. So, I will bestow upon you your Companions." Percy comes down from his throne and places a hand on Teliria's forehead, a white snake appearing around her feet that slithers up to her hands and arms. She pets it.
Percy moves over to Dadarios and places his hand on the Protector's forehead, his eyes and hand glowing again. A hawk appears on his shoulder. Next is Malath, who is bonded with a black cheetah with white spots. "In all the confusion and pressed time, I forgot to give you three your Companions. Forgive me for being so forgetful. The rest got theirs because they were being assigned at the same time. You were already assigned and I was working on something else or grieving." Then Percy addresses all of them. "I hope all of you find Tenders, many of them. I wish those whose symbol you guard help you with it. Find them and then call on me."
"How do we know who is worthy?" Teliria asks.
"You will know. It is within your power to tell." Percy smiles warmly. "I will send you all back to continue your duties. Be wary of anyone who enters or even comes near the place where you defend the symbol you are meant to guard."
He snaps his fingers and they return to where they were. The Guardians head to the sides of those they protect or wherever they were before. The Companions follow after those they love or were flashed away with those if they were meant to be.
"Nico." Percy says and Nico is at his side in a second, waiting for him to say something. "Start searching."
Nico's eyes darken and his expression turns absolutely serious. "Right away."
Then Nico's Hellhound turns into his human form. "We will find them." They both shadow travel in separate directions to start looking for whatever it is Percy wants them to look for.
"What are they looking for, Perseus?" Hera asks.
"The other ends of the entrances to Tartarus and the Underworld. Once they find them, we will seal them." Percy answers.
"Nico's Companion has magic?" Athena asks.
"Yes, whichever Guardians have magic, their Companion has that same magic, abilities, and other talents. Companions are like copies of those they are bonded to, just with their own little personalities so you are able to tell the difference." Percy replies.
"Why do you have girl Companions?" Hephaestus asks.
Percy sighs and snaps his fingers. A small fuzzball of a bobcat appears on the floor. It is on its feet in the next second and staring up at Percy. Percy crouches down before it and holds his hand out to it. The little bobcat sniffs at it experimentally and then brightens considerably. It bumps its nose against Percy's hand and Percy smiles at it. They both glow navy blue in an explosion of light and when the light fades, the baby bobcat is a small boy. Everyone gasps at the sight of the boy. He looks exactly like a smaller version of Percy. Percy sighs and turns into a seven year old like his Companion.
"Hello, Arthur." Percy says.
Arthur grins and speaks in the exact same voice. "Hello, Lord."
"There is no need to call me Lord, my friend." Percy tells him.
Arthur looks excited. "Truly?" Then he hugs Percy, but pulls away quickly, not one for hugs and neither is Percy. Percy chuckles. "You called upon me sooner than should have been expected."
"Yes, I know. You may still grow though. I will not take that away from you." Percy says.
Arthur looks happy. "I sense I have sisters and many missing others. Brothers and sisters both."
"Delilah, Asale." Percy calls and those two are at his side in the next second.
"Hello, brother." Delilah greets him.
"Greetings, sister." Arthur says.
Asale jumps on Arthur and hugs him. "Yay! Hi!"
Arthur just goes with it and hugs her back. "You are my age?"
"A little older actually." Asale pulls back and smiles at him. "I am Asale and this is big sister Delilah." Asale points at herself and then Delilah.
Arthur smiles warmly. "I am Arthur."
"Delilah, I trust you can handle searching while these two stay with me." Percy looks at his oldest Companion.
Delilah grins, kisses his cheek, and then runs out of the throne room. Percy laughs as she leaves. "I sense someone else bonded to you in a different way." Arthur comments and looks at Percy. "Many little lights flooding around both of you."
Percy nods. "Yes. We are aware. Do you have my memories?"
Arthur turns serious. "I do. Do my sisters?"
"Delilah does, but Asale is still growing to acquire them. It will be soon though." Percy answers evenly.
Arthur takes ahold of Asale's hand and doesn't let go. Asale giggles and enjoys holding hands with her brother.
"You two should go to the Realm and explore together. Go have fun. I will remain here." Percy tells them.
"Okay!" Asale says and drags Arthur out of the throne room.
Percy grows into a fourteen year old again and returns to his throne. "There. My other Companions will come in time."
"I notice that the girls look the same as each other and the boy looks exactly like you. The others, will this happen to them?" Athena points out.
Percy chuckles. "Yes."
"Good luck with that, Artemis." Aphrodite giggles.
"There are ways to tell the difference between my Companions and I." Percy tells Aphrodite. "She won't have trouble telling which one is me."
"Just how many Companions do you have?" Hestia asks.
Percy shrugs. "I have no idea."
"Anything else we need to meet about?" Zeus asks and there is silence.
Percy speaks just before Zeus can end it. "I think we need more time to gather more information. If we find anything else out, we should convene then, but until there is more to know, we are stuck at square one."
"We have made some progress. It is no longer square one." Athena says.
"You are right." Apollo sighs.
"This is war. A war that will decide the fate of the world." Ares looks at all of them.
"Not only that, this will decide the course of wars to come. If we win, this will be the last war unless another being comes if we lose, we would have to rebel." Percy says.
Everyone looks grim. "Then we will win." Artemis speaks up.
Zeus nods, knowing that is the final matter. "Meeting adjourned."
She caresses his cheek and his eyes fly open. She giggles and he relaxes at the sound. "Did I startle you?" She asks.
He chuckles. "No, I am a light sleeper, my Moon."
"It doesn't seem like it." She points at him and replaces her hand on the side of his face.
"Maybe not, but I am ready for a threat at an time." He whispers and holds her closer.
She sighs. "Will you ever truly be able to let go and just relax?"
His eyes turn dark and he looks away from her with pain on his face. "You do not want me to answer that question, my Moon. It would hurt you to know."
"Please, tell me. I promise it will not bother me." She begs.
He shakes his head. "You do not understand. My answer would be devastating to you. I do not want that for you."
"Percy." She says and he groans at the way she uses his name.
He looks into her eyes. "I would only be able to relax if I was being tortured again, Artemis. I would know that no one else is being hurt, know that nothing else can happen as long as they are appeased with hurting my soul,and knowing that others are safe because I can make a deal."
She freezes. "What?"
He sighs and holds her face in one hand. "There would be one other way, but you would have to push me to get it to really happen. The threat to our world would have to be over. You would have to be completely safe, along with all those I love." his voice breaks on the last word.
She knows she might have pushed too far, but she sees he is not holding it against her. He wants to give her everything, even if it does hurt her, which he doesn't want. He's at a stalemate until she tells him he's okay. "It's alright, Percy. I am fine. What about you?"
He nods, not saying anything more. He just holds her closer.
"What are we going to tell my father? Oh..." Artemis starts and then realizes something.
Percy starts laughing some as he hears her thoughts. "You mean our father?" He chuckles. "I am adopted, Artemis, not his by blood. I am not even Hera's by blood. I am your adopted sibling, but really I am your cousin." Then he moves to whisper in his ear. "Godly blood doesn't count anyway, not for me. Even though I did get turned into one, it's of my own blood, not Poseidon's. Don't worry about it."
She calms down some and finds that he is right. "What are we going to tell father though?"
Percy sighs. "I have no idea. But I will take care of it."
"And my brother?" Artemis prompts.
"I'll kill two birds with one stone. You don't have to be in the room when it happens." Percy tells her and she breathes a sigh of relief.
"I am going anyway." She says and he nods.
"Do you think Apollo is back by now or would you like to wait until it's nearly impossible for them not to know?" Percy asks, giving her a choice.
"Let's just get it over with." She gives in. "I won't hear the end of it and neither will you if we don't tell them immediately."
"Well, we are already one day late. I swear Hera and Hestia already know. Possibly even Aphrodite. Let us hope not." Percy says and is up in the next second on his feet with Artemis in his arms. She laughs. "Come one." He smiles down at her. "I think there are people waiting for us."
"Okay." Artemis consents.
He kisses her before pulling away and flashing to the throne room. It surprises the rest of the council that they are back. They were thinking they would be longer. But what surprises them more is that Artemis is being carried instead of walking on her own. Percy sets her down and they both head to their thrones.
Apollo's eyes narrow at Percy once he looks at him. Percy catches his gaze and then enters his head. 'I plan on talking with you about it after the meeting with your father. I did not plan on hiding it from you or else I would have blocked Artemis and I from your knowledge.' Apollo nods and smiles a little bit, to Percy's amusement.
"Now that all of us are here, shockingly, we may start the summer solstice meeting for real." Zeus clears his throat. "What is the first order of business?"
Athena looks at Percy. "Perseus?"
"What?" Percy raises an eyebrow.
"What all have you been able to figure out?" Athena asks him.
Percy sighs and Artemis frowns as she sees his entire guard going back up. "Too much and too little. I have come up with so many possibilities to surmise that only a very few of them might actually be possible. I have also considered the different deities working on the other side and how much they have grown into power. Your daughter," Athena flinches. "Sorry, but Annabeth Chase has grown more powerful since my second visit down in the Pit. Tartarus is more malevolent with Corruption's presence and all the more deadly if one of us should enter again. Almost impossible to escape unless you know how or have my permission to get through my magic, and that's only assuming you can get back to the entrance to the Underworld, let alone get far enough away from the depths of the Pit like Nico and I did.
They have also knowledge on my being a god now, my domains. Corruption is old and though he is evil, he is wise. He knows things we do before we even realize we know it. He revealed to them what I was when they saw me in that pathetic illusion. That damned magic is so corrupted I didn't remember to look for it until it was almost too late and it cost us dearly." He growls. "They know about the new immortals, but I do not believe Corruption understands what kind they are. I feel him growing stronger. He is able to become a person all on his own, but I sense the intent for a host." He breathes deeply and stops suddenly, looking at the ground and won't look anywhere else.
Artemis is the first to notice because she knows something is wrong with Percy, but the others are thinking on his words, not caught up with him at the moment. "Perseus, has he decided who he wants as a host?" She gets out and Percy won't look ather.
"He has." Percy murmurs. This shocks everyone into reality.
"Who is it?" Athena asks.
Percy sinks into his throne, still refusing to look at anyone. "He doesn't want it until after the war is over and that is only if he wins." He avoids answering the question.
"Perseus, tell me, now." Artemis says sternly.
Percy looks up at her and then back down at the ground. "He wants a pawn at his feet to kneel and come whenever he calls. That's me, but what if I wasn't at his feet, but under his complete control?" Percy looks at her. "Not as a vessel or a host for his power to grow, but to be more powerful and take over that person completely." He seems to stop and then before anyone can say anything. "He wants me as a body to be able to influence the world without the fear of being erased from existence by the Fates. My presence makes him weak. He would have to neutralize my soul and meld it with his. He wouldn't be Corruption and I wouldn't be Perseus anymore. We would be a different person entirely, and if he succeeds in neutralizing me, he would be in control and I would never wake up again." He looks at everybody. "First to break me, then to bind me, and finally to be is what he wants at the end of the war. He will rule using my body and my soul as well as my powers. He could take Artemis if he just wanted a body to be free from Ancient Laws, but he wants my soul in particular. He wants to make slaves out of all of you and then enslave the world as we know it. He will bend it to his will, but...for that to happen, he would have to win this war." He looks at Zeus and seems to steel himself. "I am prepared to do anything to win this war. We will win it, it's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when. Nico di Angelo and I have given all of us time to prepare and that is what we all must do.
Now I must warn you, and i hate to say it, but we will not only be combating someone wise, old, powerful, and nearly all-knowing in strategy, but someone who knows our defenses like the back of her own hand, smarter than all her siblings put together, and a person who can think of any trick to get out of any situation. Her mother and I will be the only two able to outmaneuver her. Apollo can help with that, but not that much. Unlike his sister, he is restricted greatly. We will be hard pressed to stop one of the brightest minds of her generation. I plan on making her fade at the end of this war. She's smartenough to know the weaknesses of the immortals once she learns them." Percy snaps his fingers and all of the Guardiansappear, along with all of the Protectors. "Guardians and Protectors, in time, you must be ready to stop an expected threat to those you serve. Protectors, the symbols will be major targets in the coming threat. I ask you, to find Tenders to help you watch over the symbols you protect for your Guardians, your immortals, and your gods. You will be a vital point in this war. If it is stolen, get it back, if it is destroyed, restore it, and if it is under attack, defend it. Guardians, your gods will be targeted to get you away from the war, distract you. Stay at there sides as much as possible, watch for anything, and never let your guards down." Percy tells them and they all turn more serious. "The majority of you know who Annabeth Chase is, correct?" Nearly all of them nod and Percy explains quickly for those who do not. "The mastermind behind the enemy lines. Do not underestimate her. Protectors, do you know what you can do for the symbols if it is nearly impossible to defend?" He looks at the group.
"We can take the symbol to the Realm and keep it stable there. We are able to carry any symbol we protect and keep it there. We have to use our light." Teliria answers first. Her knowledge about being a Protector more prominent since she guards over the God of Protectors's symbol.
Percy nods. "Yes."
"How is Dadarios going to take a tree with him?" Ares asks.
Dadarios grins and holds out his hands, a tiny version of the tree forming in his hands. "We store the symbol in our light and carry it with us." He makes sure the tree returns to where it was. "It doesn't matter the size. And other Protectors guard over material things that don't require several versions to populate the world, it is just one single object for Malath to guard. He can just carry it with him wherever he goes and help another Protector keep a light going for the symbol in which they watch over. It depends on what symbol you guard. Like, for Lord Zeus, it is his weapon, so it is normally with him and so is his Protector. If Zeus should fall, which is unlikely, that Protector would take his symbol and hide with it and protect it. He could also use it tobring the god back. So can his Guardian." Dadarios explains easily.
"It is a system created by our patron so that there is always a way to save something instead of just letting it die out." Malath grins. "We would keep it in our homes in the Realm of the Moon. There are altars there for the symbols so that we may keep them up even if we are weakened severely. We cannot die until the symbol we guard is destroyed."
"Amazing." Athena breathes and looks at Percy, who is sinking into his throne. "How come you did not inform us?"
"It is too complicated to explain to some people and then it takes forever to go through every single little detail. All Guardians have my blessing and then the blessing of those they guard. All Protectors have my blessing and that blessing of whoever's symbol they protect. All Companions have my blessing and that of those they are connected to. Which reminds me." Percy sighs and summons all of the Companions that weren't already in the room. "Protectors, you also have Companions that will help you guard. So will your the Tenders. But there aren't any yet. So, I will bestow upon you your Companions." Percy comes down from his throne and places a hand on Teliria's forehead, a white snake appearing around her feet that slithers up to her hands and arms. She pets it.
Percy moves over to Dadarios and places his hand on the Protector's forehead, his eyes and hand glowing again. A hawk appears on his shoulder. Next is Malath, who is bonded with a black cheetah with white spots. "In all the confusion and pressed time, I forgot to give you three your Companions. Forgive me for being so forgetful. The rest got theirs because they were being assigned at the same time. You were already assigned and I was working on something else or grieving." Then Percy addresses all of them. "I hope all of you find Tenders, many of them. I wish those whose symbol you guard help you with it. Find them and then call on me."
"How do we know who is worthy?" Teliria asks.
"You will know. It is within your power to tell." Percy smiles warmly. "I will send you all back to continue your duties. Be wary of anyone who enters or even comes near the place where you defend the symbol you are meant to guard."
He snaps his fingers and they return to where they were. The Guardians head to the sides of those they protect or wherever they were before. The Companions follow after those they love or were flashed away with those if they were meant to be.
"Nico." Percy says and Nico is at his side in a second, waiting for him to say something. "Start searching."
Nico's eyes darken and his expression turns absolutely serious. "Right away."
Then Nico's Hellhound turns into his human form. "We will find them." They both shadow travel in separate directions to start looking for whatever it is Percy wants them to look for.
"What are they looking for, Perseus?" Hera asks.
"The other ends of the entrances to Tartarus and the Underworld. Once they find them, we will seal them." Percy answers.
"Nico's Companion has magic?" Athena asks.
"Yes, whichever Guardians have magic, their Companion has that same magic, abilities, and other talents. Companions are like copies of those they are bonded to, just with their own little personalities so you are able to tell the difference." Percy replies.
"Why do you have girl Companions?" Hephaestus asks.
Percy sighs and snaps his fingers. A small fuzzball of a bobcat appears on the floor. It is on its feet in the next second and staring up at Percy. Percy crouches down before it and holds his hand out to it. The little bobcat sniffs at it experimentally and then brightens considerably. It bumps its nose against Percy's hand and Percy smiles at it. They both glow navy blue in an explosion of light and when the light fades, the baby bobcat is a small boy. Everyone gasps at the sight of the boy. He looks exactly like a smaller version of Percy. Percy sighs and turns into a seven year old like his Companion.
"Hello, Arthur." Percy says.
Arthur grins and speaks in the exact same voice. "Hello, Lord."
"There is no need to call me Lord, my friend." Percy tells him.
Arthur looks excited. "Truly?" Then he hugs Percy, but pulls away quickly, not one for hugs and neither is Percy. Percy chuckles. "You called upon me sooner than should have been expected."
"Yes, I know. You may still grow though. I will not take that away from you." Percy says.
Arthur looks happy. "I sense I have sisters and many missing others. Brothers and sisters both."
"Delilah, Asale." Percy calls and those two are at his side in the next second.
"Hello, brother." Delilah greets him.
"Greetings, sister." Arthur says.
Asale jumps on Arthur and hugs him. "Yay! Hi!"
Arthur just goes with it and hugs her back. "You are my age?"
"A little older actually." Asale pulls back and smiles at him. "I am Asale and this is big sister Delilah." Asale points at herself and then Delilah.
Arthur smiles warmly. "I am Arthur."
"Delilah, I trust you can handle searching while these two stay with me." Percy looks at his oldest Companion.
Delilah grins, kisses his cheek, and then runs out of the throne room. Percy laughs as she leaves. "I sense someone else bonded to you in a different way." Arthur comments and looks at Percy. "Many little lights flooding around both of you."
Percy nods. "Yes. We are aware. Do you have my memories?"
Arthur turns serious. "I do. Do my sisters?"
"Delilah does, but Asale is still growing to acquire them. It will be soon though." Percy answers evenly.
Arthur takes ahold of Asale's hand and doesn't let go. Asale giggles and enjoys holding hands with her brother.
"You two should go to the Realm and explore together. Go have fun. I will remain here." Percy tells them.
"Okay!" Asale says and drags Arthur out of the throne room.
Percy grows into a fourteen year old again and returns to his throne. "There. My other Companions will come in time."
"I notice that the girls look the same as each other and the boy looks exactly like you. The others, will this happen to them?" Athena points out.
Percy chuckles. "Yes."
"Good luck with that, Artemis." Aphrodite giggles.
"There are ways to tell the difference between my Companions and I." Percy tells Aphrodite. "She won't have trouble telling which one is me."
"Just how many Companions do you have?" Hestia asks.
Percy shrugs. "I have no idea."
"Anything else we need to meet about?" Zeus asks and there is silence.
Percy speaks just before Zeus can end it. "I think we need more time to gather more information. If we find anything else out, we should convene then, but until there is more to know, we are stuck at square one."
"We have made some progress. It is no longer square one." Athena says.
"You are right." Apollo sighs.
"This is war. A war that will decide the fate of the world." Ares looks at all of them.
"Not only that, this will decide the course of wars to come. If we win, this will be the last war unless another being comes if we lose, we would have to rebel." Percy says.
Everyone looks grim. "Then we will win." Artemis speaks up.
Zeus nods, knowing that is the final matter. "Meeting adjourned."