AN: I changed the rating to T; I don't think it's going to get much more mature than the occasional cursing, and the violence isn't really gorey enough to warrant the M rating.
/
CHAPTER FIFTEEN:
Percy watched with bated breath as the summit of Mount Tamalpais was consumed in a violent explosion of brilliant light. Black, green, and golden flames licked at the even-more-destroyed ruins that were no longer concealed by the thick layer of mist that had previously hidden them.
Eventually, when the shaking calmed and all that remained was the quiet fires that still lingered, Percy let out a sigh of relief.
"No avalanches or seismic related not-so-natural disasters." He grinned proudly.
Artemis turned to him and raised an eyebrow. "Were you expecting such?"
Percy scratched the back of his neck sheepishly. "It was a distinct possibility, yes."
"Well, just be glad that nothing happened. You already have enough to explain to the council. Speaking of which…"
"Yeah." Percy grimaced. "Time to talk to the big boys."
Artemis nodded and turned to address her hunters, who were beginning to gather and treat their wounded.
"Make camp for the night in the forest and start heading west tomorrow. Zoë is in charge as usual. Thalia will accompany Perseus and I to Olympus to inform the gods of our victory."
After a chorus of 'Yes, Milady's and a quick nod from Thalia, Artemis summoned her moon chariot and climbed in, followed shortly by Percy, who sat next to her, and Thalia, who sat in the back. Once they were seated, the four golden reindeer leading the chariot leapt up and began gracefully pulling the trio across the night sky.
/
As soon as Artemis grew to her godly height and sat down in her throne, Zeus slammed his Master Bolt into the ground.
"I hereby call this council meeting to order. Artemis, you missed yesterday's solstice meeting to carry out your plan with Perseus, yes? Did it bear any success?"
Artemis nodded. "Yes, Father. Atlas has been put back under the sky and Kronos has been cast into the void."
Noise immediately filled the throne room as all the gods began to shout out their various questions and voice their disbelief. Zeus slammed his Master Bolt down once more, letting out another enormous boom.
"SILENCE! Artemis, explain."
Artemis inclined her head toward Percy. "I think it would be best if Perseus explained."
Zeus glared at Percy. "Explain, dem– well not exactly a demigod anymore, are you? Explain, sea-spawn."
Percy stepped forward confidently. "Of course, Lord Zeus. When Zoë, Thalia, and I went to confront Atlas, I trapped him in a time loop that repeated until he willingly took the sky back. Once he did so, Thalia and I went to the cruise ship called Princess Andromeda, where Kronos was reforming in a sarcophagus. Thalia stabbed her spear into the sarcophagus and scattered his essence, which had been foolishly weakened by being put in that vessel. As we share a domain, I can feel that he has faded to the void. And since it is Thalia's birthday, she has completed the Great Prophecy and saved Olympus."
He bent the truth significantly, but the closer to his vest he played his cards, the safer his plans were.
"So you're telling me," Zeus started angrily, "That despite being a god, you broke the Ancient Laws and interfered with mortal affairs?"
Percy just smiled innocently. "Firstly, I have the domain of fate. It is well within my right to interfere how I see fit. Secondly, without my interference, Thalia would not have been the hero of the prophecy. And since I am no longer a half-blood, the role would have likely fallen to one of Hades' children. Is it not far more appropriate for a child of the almighty King of Gods to carry the title of Savior of Olympus?"
Everyone in the throne room rolled their eyes as Zeus puffed up his chest in pride, previous anger completely forgotten. Artemis and Hera gave Percy appraising looks. He hadn't gained much respect for the gods– they could tell– but he definitely now knew how to play the game that was godly politics.
"You are correct, of course, Perseus," Zeus stated haughtily. "It is only fitting that my daughter holds such a prestigious title."
"Indeed, Lord Zeus."
"Perseus," Athena piped up, "Could you explain how each of the lines of the prophecy played out? I'm sure we're all–" she was cut off by the numerous raised eyebrows, "– I'm curious about what the lines actually meant."
Percy nodded, trying to remember what he had planned out with Artemis, Thalia, and Zoë, and realizing that he may have to edit some things. "The first two are obvious with today being Thalia's sixteenth birthday. The hero's soul was Luke, with hero being a loose term of reference for demigods as a whole."
The council nodded in acceptance and Percy breathed a sigh of relief and continued.
"He had acquired the Blessing of the Styx in preparation to serve Kronos as a vessel, so only a blade tempered, or cursed, by the Styx could pierce his skin. I had a sword with such properties which I gave to Hephaestus to fashion into a spear."
The gods looked at Hephaestus who nodded in confirmation.
"Thalia fought Luke using the spear and made the single choice to end his days. The choice could also be referring to Thalia's choice to end Kronos' days," Percy shrugged, "But either way, Olympus was preserved and not razed."
"Interesting," Athena mused to herself.
Please don't ask about the endless sleep. Please don't ask about the endless sleep.
Percy repeated these words like a mantra in his head. He had previously realized that he had completely forgotten to account for that line in the execution of his plan.
Athena finally looked up. "And what of the line that says that Thalia would see the world in endless sleep?"
Shit.
Percy had never been more grateful to anyone than he was to Thalia at the exact moment, who piped up to answer the question. He could've kissed her if his wife was not sitting in the same room. And if he wasn't so damn loyal. And if they weren't cousins. Well, his wife was also technically his cousin… Besides the point.
"We all know prophecies can be very open to interpretation, even after they're completed, but I believe this line ties in with the next one, about reaping a hero's soul. There was a time I l-loved Luke," Thalia choked on her words. "The world in the prophecy could indicate a person who meant the world to me. And there is no sleep more endless than death."
Percy knew this was a lie. Thalia had always seen Luke like an older brother. Love? Sure, familial love, maybe. But to see him as her world? Never. But she was one Hades of an actress, and everyone seemed to buy it, except for maybe Aphrodite and Artemis.
Speaking of Aphrodite, she seemed to have been looking between Percy and Artemis throughout the entire meeting, simultaneously confused and very, very excited. He would have to have words with her later.
"Well," Zeus cleared his throat, uncomfortable at seeing his youngest daughter's eyes welling with tears, "Does anyone believe my daughter to be unworthy?"
At seeing no protests from his fellow gods, Zeus smiled.
"Thalia Grace, we offer you the gift of godhood for your heroic deeds in the name of Olympus. Do you accept?"
Thalia's jaw dropped before she looked down in deep thought. She finally came to a decision and looked up.
"I'm sorry, Father. I have to say no."
Zeus looked more sad than angry like he had when Percy declined his offer the first time. "You would turn down our generous offer?"
Thalia smiled. "I don't believe godhood is the path for me. I was actually hoping to join Lady Artemis in her hunt."
This earned her an excited look from Artemis, who rarely had a biological sister join her hunt, and sympathetic glances from the other gods, who assumed she wanted to forswear the company of men because of her heartbreak over Luke. Percy knew the truth, though. She just wanted a place to fit in and call home.
Zeus nodded. It never was a bad thing for a father when his daughter swore to be an eternal virgin. "Very well, as long as she accepts. Artemis?"
"Of course, Father." Artemis shrank down off her throne and approached Thalia. "Repeat after me. I pledge myself to the goddess Artemis. I turn my back on the company of men, accept eternal maidenhood, and join the Hunt."
"I, Thalia Grace, pledge myself to the goddess Artemis," Thalia recited. "I turn my back on the company of men, accept eternal maidenhood, and join the Hunt."
Thalia briefly glowed silver and when it died down, she was dressed in the traditional silver Hunter's garb and had a faint aura of power common to all of the Hunters.
Artemis smiled at her. "Welcome to the Hunt, sister."
Thalia nodded happily and followed Artemis back to her throne, sitting at the foot while Artemis regained her godly height.
"Now that is done, is there any other news pertaining to the titans?" Zeus queried.
"Indeed." Percy nodded. "Krios and Iapetus were defeated at Mount Tamalpais and Othrys was permanently leveled by an explosive that Hephaestus helped me to craft, designed by Athena, Ares, and I in the future."
Zeus looked impressed. "Then we will no longer face threats from the titans in the future?"
"No, Lord Zeus," Percy confirmed.
"Very good," Zeus nodded thoughtfully. "And you defeated Krios and Iapetus?"
Percy shook his head. "The titans' army was fought by the Roman legion, led by your son, Jason Grace, who dealt the final blow to Krios."
Zeus's face instantly grew older and more serious; his business suit morphed into a full suit of armor, carved with intricate runes and scenes of battle.
"Damn it, Jackson!" Jupiter thundered. "I was just starting to like you, and you go and expose one of our best kept and most dangerous secrets?!"
"Actually, it was Lady Hera's plan," Percy asserted with a mischievous grin.
Hera, despite being upset about being thrown under the bus, was rather impressed with Percy's newfound ability to expertly divert conversations and manipulate their direction to benefit himself.
Jupiter turned to Hera angrily. "Wife? Explain."
Hera quickly shifted into her more militaristic Roman form, Juno. She knew that Percy had knowledge of the future and there was little point in lying.
"I had considered finding a way to unite the camps of our children to create an army to combat the threat of our father. I decided the risk was not worth the benefit it would bring, as I felt confident in our ability to win without combining the demigods. I can only assume that we faced a more dangerous threat further in Perseus' future that caused me to put my plan into action."
Percy nodded. "Indeed, Lady Juno. Your plan involved exchanging the leaders of the camps with their memories erased, having them gain the trust of the other camp, then bringing them together. It sort of worked, but not really. I have a plan that will likely lead to a far more peaceful interaction."
Juno nodded.
"What is this plan?" Athena blurted out. "And what is this 'more dangerous threat' that we will be facing?"
"The plan is something that can be discussed at a later time between you, me, your father, Lady Hera, and Artemis. I think it best that I don't reveal the threat at this moment, but I can advise on preparatory measures that would give us the greatest chance of success in the war."
"Oh?" Zeus raised an eyebrow. "And what might these be?"
Percy frowned. "I had to kill a disheartening number of demigods in our efforts to defeat Kronos."
The faces of the gods darkened.
"And they all had one thing in common. They felt neglected. There is an easy solution, really, to win the loyalty of the demigods, and it will bring immeasurable benefit and an invaluable advantage in future wars. Claim all of your children by the age of 12 and build cabins at Camp for all the minor gods, and Lord Hades."
Hades, who was invited back to Olympus for the day due to the importance of this meeting, raised an eyebrow from his place in the corner of the throne room. He remembered his deal with Percy from earlier and was a little surprised to see that he was actually making moves to follow through, and about how he was actually going about it.
Zeus, meanwhile, nodded thoughtfully. "That sounds easy enough. It does seem like a good way to display the benevolence of the gods."
"Indeed," Percy nodded. "Sometimes the mortals need more obvious reminders of such."
The gods around the throne room snickered at how fake Percy's statement sounded, but Zeus didn't seem to notice, just continuing to nod pensively.
"You are right, of course," Zeus agreed. "We cannot expect them to be so wise as to understand the might of us gods without a tangible display. Is there anything else?"
Percy sucked in a breath through his teeth. "I'm afraid you may be slightly more reluctant to adhere to this suggestion, but hear me out before you pass judgement. It would be eminently advantageous to Olympus for Hades and Hestia to rejoin the council."
Zeus looked at Percy curiously. "Hestia stepped down for Dionysus to join the council, and Hades was removed for the threat he posed. How do you suggest it would be advantageous for them to rejoin? And who would they replace?"
Percy looked him in the eye. "There is no rule regarding the number of gods on the council. They could join as the thirteenth and fourteenth Olympians, could they not?"
Zeus' eyes widened in realization and nodded. "Indeed they could."
"Hestia and Hades are the eldest children of Kronos," Percy continued, "And thus, among the most powerful. While Hestia is typically a peaceful goddess, her fighting prowess is formidable when her family is threatened and she can provide invaluable guidance from a throne rather than from the hearth."
Zeus nodded. "What of Hades?"
"Well," Percy reasoned, "The reason he was initially removed was because he posed a threat to Olympus, yes?"
Zeus nodded.
"If you were removed from Olympus, would you take revenge on the family that cast you out?"
Zeus looked thoughtful for a moment before nodding again. "I suppose I would hold quite a bit of anger."
"Indeed," Percy nodded, "As would anyone. Yet even Hades, who is renowned for holding grudges, has not made a single move to oppose you or Olympian rule, except for occasionally sending some monsters after your children. What reason would he have to attempt a rebellion, especially after you show him goodwill by allowing him his rightful place next to his family?"
"You make a good point," Zeus acquiesced reluctantly.
Percy saw his progress and jumped on his gaining momentum. "Also, I know for a fact that Hades knows how to remove the curse from Apollo's Oracle, who will be monumentally important for the future. I'm sure that if he were to reattain his throne, he would happily lift the curse as his own gesture of goodwill."
Apollo sat up straight at this and the gods looked to Hades, who nodded in confirmation, glad that Percy did not reveal the fact that it was his curse in the first place. The kid really knew what he was doing. Well, not really a kid anymore.
Zeus sighed and snapped his fingers. A red throne lined with comfortable, homey cushions spouted out of the ground on the goddesses' side and a black throne surrounded by bones and living shadows emerged from the ground on the gods' side.
"Brother, sister. Welcome back to the council."
Hades nodded at his little brother gratefully and made his way to his throne. Hestia smiled at Zeus, gave Percy a quick hug, and hopped onto her own throne. It was quite a comical sight to see a 15-foot eight year old sitting on an enormous throne.
"Anything else, Perseus?" Zeus gave Percy an annoyed look.
"Just one more thing, Lord Zeus." Percy smiled. He could tell Zeus was starting to lose his patience and he had just the thing to pull him back onto his good side.
Zeus groaned in a manner that was rather unbefitting of the King of Gods but gestured for Percy to continue.
"No more pact of the Big Three. There have been enough fights started over this issue. No more killing each other's children and lovers, and no more feuds over siring demigods." Percy looked at Hera apologetically, but she waved him off. Zeus' libido wouldn't be stopped by some silly promise anyway.
Zeus looked up, rather pleased by this last suggestion, and instantly used his powers as the king to dispel the oath.
"Well, I did always say you were my favorite nephew. Wise beyond your years, you are."
The fight to prevent himself from rolling his eyes was rather uphill for Percy. He just barely managed to restrain himself from pointing out that not only had Zeus threatened to kill him multiple times up to this point in the timeline, but he had also been alive for far longer than Zeus had.
Zeus didn't seem to pick up on Percy's internal struggle and appeared eager to wrap things up, perhaps wanting to go off to sow his wild oats with his newfound freedom.
"What of the plan you mentioned regarding the combination of the camps?"
"A topic for another day," Percy said dismissively. "I will return to discuss it at a later date."
Zeus nodded. "Then I hereby call this meeting adjourned. You are dismissed!"
He quickly disappeared in a flash of lightning and a crack of thunder, followed by the other gods until only Hades and Poseidon remained.
Hades stepped forward first. "I have to admit, I am impressed, Perseus. I had my doubts, but you certainly followed through. Consider us even, but you will always be welcome in the Underworld. I have never seen anyone manipulate my little brother so skillfully. It was quite entertaining to watch."
Poseidon nodded in agreement as Hades melted into the shadows. As soon as they were alone, Percy stepped forward and wrapped Poseidon in a tight hug.
"Dad."
"Percy. I'm so proud of you. When did you get so good with godly politics?"
Percy chuckled. "Thousands of years of practice, Dad."
Mischief suddenly filled Poseidon's eyes as he began giggling uncontrollably.
"What's so funny?" Percy raised a questioning eyebrow at him.
"I'm just–" Poseidon barely managed to gasp through his desperate laughter, "I'm just wondering how your mother reacted to you being thousands of years old."
A look of dread spread across Percy's face.
"Oh, shit! Mom!"