Yo, so first thing. Rather impressed it took 26 chapters to get a transphobic comment.

Now then, as someone who's best friend is intersex (as in born with genes that don't match up to male or female) I can tell you that there are more than two sexes. On top of that, there are definitely more than two genders. Gender being binary (one or the other) is a very western view. I will not get into all the details because if you care you can research yourself, but I am aware that there are more than two genders.

On top of that, this is a fantasy story, if I decide to make the merpeople (who are half fish basically, and fish definitely do not go follow what one might see as proper sex/gender laws, look at the clownfish) have more than two sexes biologically as actual categories, then I very well can and you can't stop me.

TLDR: don't be transphobes in my comments.

Reminder that this is a percabeth fic, not pertimis. I very much view artemis as aroace and romantic/sexual relationships are not happening with her in my story.

Now then!

There is angst ahead

There is also mentions of WWII so please be careful in reading. I did not describe anything graphically, but I did imply some bad things happening.

I hope you enjoy the chapter, let me know what you think.

Come yell at me on tumblr: percabeth4L1fe

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Know your history.

Know your history.

I stood in a field. No. Not a field. A graveyard.

In front of me was a man, pale skin, black hair, and sharp gold eyes.

He had his hands raised and was chanting in a language that sounded like twisting whispers.

The air felt of burning shadows and steady rocks.

Suddenly the air was filled with faded figures. The gold haired man (he was in his twenties I think) lowering his hands, his gold eyes glowing.

He spoke, the strange twisting whispers filling the air. The ghosts (because that's what they were) spoke back.

He spread his hands drawing my attention to the shallow pit that was in front of him.

"Abel!" Cried a voice.

I turned to see a man striding forward, with black hair like the man with the ghosts, but stormy blue eyes and dark skin. Beside him was a woman, green eyes (like mine) shining bright.

The man in front of me ignored them, speaking quicker.

One of the ghosts stepped forward, stopping to drink from the pit (making me realize it was filled with a liquid). It rose, it's appearance now firmer.

It was a man in an army uniform, a medal visible with a strange cross on it.

"Abel, stop right now!" Cried the woman.

He spoke, a language that had lots of rolling r's and soft vowels with hard consonants. He spoke slower, seemingly uncaring of the two figures heading this way.

Abel (I guess that's the man's name) ignored them both. He spoke again, that whispery language, and the ghost responded.

The scent of salt water filled the air.

Abel nodded solemnly then suddenly jerked, throwing himself back just in time for the liquid in the pit to surge up, nearly wrapping around him.

I spun to see the woman with her arms raised and her eyes narrowed. She swept her hand out and the liquid scattered, misting through the air and emptying the pit.

Abel spun to them with a snarl, looking very angry.

"What do you zink you'rre doing?!" Abel snapped with a clear accent. It reminded me of the language the ghost he'd been talking to spoke.

"Abel, you can't mess with spirits," The woman implored. "I know that you want to find them-"

"You know nothing."

"Abel," the man entreated. "We understant dat you want to know what happenet. But you cannot endanger others in dis quest. People are dying."

"I vill find zem," Abel snapped. "You kannot stop me."

The man's gaze hardened. "We will not let you keep hurting people. We will stop you if we must."

Abel scoffed, gold eyes flashing. "So, you do not kare about children zat vanished? Zey are not dead. I vould know if zey verre."

"Of course we care!" The woman cried. "But hurting people won't bring them back. We cannot bring more harm in an attempt to find them."

Abel's gaze turned to her, softening slightly.

"You have alvays kared so much for many. Zey do not kare same as you do." He glanced at the man. "I hold no hate for you kousins, but I vill not stop my quest."

"Do not make us fight you. Please, we do not want it to come to dat." The man looked almost desperate then.

Abel shook his head, "Calisto, Esme, It vill not be you zat lives to regret."

"Abel," the woman (Esme?) whispered even as she seemed to prepare for a fight. "Please."

Abel simply raised an eyebrow. "Leave, before you make me regret."

The man (Calisto?) stepped forward, drawing a knife, "We will not. Come with us peacefully ant allow de camp to puniss you."

Abel laughed. "No."

The air filled with electricity but Abel simple shook his head and spread his hands.

He spoke one word in that whispery language, and hands pushed through the graves.

I reached out, they shouldn't fight. They all clearly love each other, they're family!

I fell through darkness.

Understand what they will allow.

I stumbled onto what looked like a battlefield, but it was from above.

There were figures around me, standing tall and some… betting?

A woman with brown hair in battle armor exchanged a bet with what looked like Ares. The sensations surrounding me were so much like the cabins at camp. I was completely unable to figure out most of them.

"Please! My kid will kick that Hades kid's ass. He might have won so far, but that's cause he sticks to graveyards. If he was actually battling then he would be dead by now!"

"Strategy is the most important there. And one of my children aids the child of Hades. The strategy is full proof."

A tall figure in a pinstripe suit with a black beard and matching hair stared at the children with stormy blue eyes. "The Hades child will die for his crimes. He will not escape his punishment for killing my son."

"Or my daughter," Snapped another figure. For a moment I thought I was looking at the Titan with gold eyes, the face was identical and the hair in a similar style. But the eyes were different, a sharp sea green (like mine, like Lara's, like Esme's).

My eyes widened, Poseidon?

"Oh please, both of you have kids siding with him." Scoffed a woman in a soft green dress with a matching green veil over her hair. Her skin was dark with matching dark eyes. She was holding a sickle and looked kind, but stern. "Three of your kids Poseidon, and two of yours Zeus."

Poseidon shrugged, "I don't care what they do. But he killed my daughter, I always punish those that harm my children."

"People are dying," A man with bright blue eyes and heavily tanned skin pointed out. His hair was covered in a gold veil that seemed to glow.

Zeus waved his hand, "What do I care for the lifespans of the mortals that defy me."

I turned to the battle field, hearing them bickering over if the lives of the mortals were truly that important in the long run behind me.

It was a massacre.

One side clearly had the strength in numbers, ghosts and skeletons and zombie like figures moving across the field and viciously fighting the living.

Lightning flashed, thunder crashing down, and a dozen of the undead fell in smoking heaps. Two dozen more rose to take their place.

I could see the man from before, Abel, standing with his arms out, gold eyes glow visible from here. The undead moved slowly for the most part, but they had overwhelming numbers.

I could see a blond-haired girl beside him, studying the battle field.

The gold-eyed Titan is showing me a war.

It was children for the most part, there were some adults, the one's fighting the hardest, the most skilled, but for the most part… it was children.

"There's only one Hades kid, it's not like it should be that hard!" Snapped a voice amongst the gods.

I watched though, able to feel the burning shadows from here.

I don't think he's fighting alone, Abel is definitely being supported by someone. But I'm not sure who (his father maybe?).

The gods exchanged more bets as the bodies filled the field.

I slipped from the sky with a cry

See who they didn't save that had to be saved by others.

I fell into a building, seeing an infirmary almost.

There were children there, about twenty of them. Many were huddled together, others sat stiffly.

Many had scars.

There were doctors around, being soft and kind and soothing.

I heard one mention how they were glad they found the children, but they couldn't make head's or tails of the notes "those horrible men" left behind.

I took a step closer, seeing a child with blonde hair and grey eyes curled as far away from a book that had been placed on her bed as possible.

A doctor removed the book.

"Traumatized-"

"Afraid of their powers-"

"Won't touch books-"

"He flinches if we get light near him-"

"We need some specialists-"

The doctors seemed worried, but they seemed to care a lot.

One with sharp blue eyes and a bright smile (though he seemed like he was faking it, like he felt he had to show happiness and reassure the children) crouched in front of one child, making himself seem smaller.

"Hey kiddo, how are you feeling?"

The child with dark red eyes stared at him, tense and afraid.

"I'm Doctor Fred," the child flinched. "But you can just call me Fred."

The child eyed him, wary but seemingly slightly less afraid.

"I'm going to help you," murmured the doctor. "And you'll never got back to those monsters again."

I slipped right through the floor with a cry of surprise.

They allowed the pain of their children. They allowed the deaths.

The child of Hades stood tall once more, determined to fight. His gold eyes were hard, and his back straight.

I stared at him, remembered what Annabeth said. The Godly war that happened alongside the mortal World War Two.

"Please, we found the children." Said a man, stepping forward. "We don't need to fight anymore."

"Children are found but zose who harmed zem are not punished enough yet. Zey vill not be until zey are dead and in my father's hands." Abel's gaze was firm and his resolve uncracked.

The man before him, with green eyes and a pleading expression looked pained.

"The gods are aiding the children! And all go to Hades in time. You can trust that the mortals will not allow those atrocities to stand either. The criminals will be punished. Please, end this war between us. It is on something we need not fight over."

Abel shook his head. "I vill not stop, not until spirits zat linger from zeir crimes know zat every last one is in eternal torment."

"The spirits are driving you too far! Remember the living! You cannot live for the dead, Abel." The man looked at him desperately. "You're not lost yet, please, come home."

"I vas lost vith ze children."

And he attacked.

He was lost, and he was abandoned by those he once stood by. Know that he was not remembered for his goals, but for the death he brought.

I stumbled back as a skeleton rose right in my face and blinked as I was standing in front of a burning shroud.

The symbol of Hades, his helm, painstakingly embroidered onto it.

A man stood at the front, stormy blue eyes staring out at the crowd.

"Abel was family, he was a friend to many of us. He lost himself to the spirits he summoned, and so we mourn. He did good things once, and he did good in leading to the return of our family that we thought lost. But he is the reason for hundreds of deaths. He became family that was lost. He was defeated though, by my cousin Cecil, by my sister Jayla, at the cost of their lives they ended his crimes. He will not be remembered as the hero he once was, but as the villain he became. This does not mean we cannot mourn."

He looked out, solemn and serious.

"He is the reason that over a dozen children of Zeus and Poseidon are dead. He is the reason dozens more of the other gods' children died as well. We mourn for them, for the lives we lost. We will remember them, and we will never forget. And we will give thanks to Zeus, we will give thanks to Poseidon. They aided Cecil and Jayla, they aided the two in defeating Abel. They gave weapons, they gave advice, and they gave guides. Mourn tonight, for tomorrow we will celebrate our victory and the safe return of the children that those men that should be monsters took."

Know that they have turned their back on their people before.

I was standing on a road, seeing a figure before me. A young man, in traditional chiton, with black hair and stormy blue eyes, whispering payer to Zeus.

"Please Lord Zeus, Father, I need to return home to my mother. I humbly request thine aid in my quest to slay Medusa."

My eyes widened, is this?

The image blurred, and I stumbled as I fell upon a forest scene, the same figure there, now kneeling before two figures.

Know that their aid to one side dooms another.

One was a guy, with winged sandals, sandy blonde hair, and even from here I could see the sharp blue of his eyes. He looked like an older, more traditionally dressed, Luke.

The other was a woman, her hair uncovered and a golden blonde, she wore armor and held a spear in hand, her eyes were a stormy grey.

"Go, Perseus, to the Graea, the Grey Sisters, sisters of the gorgons, will give you the answers you seek."

Perseus, the Titan is showing me the myth of Perseus.

"Take these gifts to aid you in your quest," the woman said. "My shield to look in and see Medusa without fear."

"My Adamantine sickle, to cut her head off smoothly."

I watched Athena (for that must be her) and Hermes (because who else could that be) hand Perseus two very valuable items, the Adamantine sickle being one of the most valuable weapons around. Adamantine is extremely rare after all, and the most powerful metal to fight a God with.

They enable and encourage the children's crimes.

I was tumbling through the ground, seeing a flash of Perseus stealing the eye and tooth from the Grey Sisters, threatening them to gain information.

Threats.

I landed in the branches of some trees, seeing Perseus take a pair of winged sandals (that felt of tickling feathers even in this dream), a bag (that hummed lightly), and a Helm that felt strongly of burning shadows. Is that Hades' Helm of Darkness? I think it was mentioned in the myth. How did the nymphs get it though?

Theft.

The trees melted away and I stumbled to my feet on a familiar island, stars glittering above, with a familiar girl in front of me.

Lara.

She had her soft fox fur shawl wrapped around her shoulders, and a pretty sea-green veil over her hair.

Perseus stood in front of her, the helm off his head.

"You need not fear anymore young maiden, I am here to slay the vile gorgon Medusa. You will be safe soon."

"You cannot!" Lara cried, stepping forward. "This island is peaceful! The gorgons have done no wrong."

"They are monsters, step aside and let me free you from her."

Lara stood firm though, raising her chin.

"You shall not pass."

Perseus narrowed his eyes. "Step aside, I have no quarrel with you."

"And yet I have one with you. Leave our island, you are not welcome here." Lara's voice was made of steel, her hands raising, and the air seemed to freeze.

"If you side by the monstrous gorgons then you must be but a monster yourself. I will give you one last chance to stand aside, or else I will be forced to remove you from my path."

"I will not stand aside, and you shall not move me."

Perseus drew his sickle, but Lara struck first.

On first glance she was unarmed, she held no weapons, not even a waterskin like I do. The air was humid but not nearly enough to be used as an effective weapon, not against someone as prepared as Perseus.

But she had another skill I had not realized.

She thrust her hands out, much like me when I guide water, but she did not guide water.

The earth cracked and shattered, Perseus stumbling over himself to scramble out of reach.

The earth followed him, the ground shaking as her expression furrowed and she let out a slow breath. She slammed her hands together, the Earth rising and crashing together.

Perseus just barely got out of the way.

"Who are you!" He cried.

She stood tall, looking to all the world like the princess she was. "I am Lara, partner of Medusa, daughter of the Earthshaker, Poseidon. And I will stop you here."

His eyes widened as she announced herself, but he pushed himself to his feet.

"If you are in my way I will strike you down myself," he declared fiercely, raising his sickle.

"Only in death will I allow you past me," she snapped.

Remember her.

She slid her feet into a stronger stance, raising her hands once more, and pushing forward.

The ground rolled, shaking violently as it shifted forms to crash down onto Perseus.

He took the skies, he winged shoes flapping rapidly as the winds aided him in escaping the earth, just in time.

Lara frowned, tilting her head as she seemed to try to hear something.

"Where did he go," she muttered.

Their crimes are many.

Perseus raised Hermes' sickle, the sky crackled, and electricity sparked over my skin.

Oh no.

"No!" I cried.

But Lara couldn't hear me.

"Aid me Father!" Perseus called.

I felt the electricity burn over my skin as horror filled me.

Lara looked up in confusion.

And include death.

Light seared my eyes, thunder booming.

I screamed.

The light faded to show Perseus flying onward, but all I could see was Lara.

Know what they have done, know what they have tried to do to you.

Her shawl, the opening courtship gift from Medusa, burned beyond recognition. He expression trapped in a show of pain. Her hand reaching out, to where Medusa's cave stood. Her necklace the only thing undamaged, the shell hanging from the end still visible.

Know all this and choose.

I woke yelling Lara's name.

OO OO OO OO OO OO OO OO OO OO OO

Thanks for reading!

Don't forget to comment! They feed my soul.

Do you hate me? Do you miss them already? What do you think about my history for the godly war? What did you think of Lara's death?

For the beginning author's note TLDR: don't be a transphobe in my comments.

Also a note that my OC's are my characters and do not use them in your stories without gaining my permission first.

Once again, requests are open for sexualities/gender identities and disabilities (but only physical, I will not be doing mental disabilities or illnesses for personal reasons)
Requested (or planned to be included) so far:
Sexualities/Gender Identity: aroace, grey-aro, ace, demi-sexual, pan (sexual and romantic), omni, a polyamorous relationship, non-binary, genderfluid, demigirl/boy, and genderless
Disabilities: hard of hearing, Rheumatoid Arthritis, chronic pain, chronic fatigue, asthma/breathing issues, amputee, paralyzed, OCD, dyspraxia