Hey guys! I hope you like this chapter- in which Annabeth gets the chance to speak her mind to her mom, and Percy and Annabeth have lotsa gods wanting to talk to them. Also, lil update for you guys, I have officially started the first chapter of the Labyrinth, the little mini fic- so to speak, that fits between this one and that is officially all written up. I quite enjoyed writing it honestly but it shows some stuff that I needed to establish between the two books because there's some changes to cannon obviously. Also, feel very sorry for Percy at the end of this chapter- honestly, she's just got a bunch of trauma at this point, and most of it's Alabaster related.
It was Zeus that broke the silence. "My daughter- do not take this lightly... if you are wrong-"
"I'm not." Thalia squeezed Percy's hand, "Grandma Rhea helped me understand father."
"It does sound like something mother would do." Hades spoke up, "We already know she's shown herself to Persephone and my children."
"Yes." Zeus' eyes narrowed, "The huntress is clearly not a possibility but the boy-"
"I don't for one second believe my son is the child of prophecy and nor would I want him to be. Perhaps once I would have-" Hades waved a hand dismissively, "But I like the girl, I'd hardly do anything to prevent her from reaching sixteen, and in any case, I've come to realize that such a burden isn't something I'd want for my son-I already nearly lost him once I will not suffer that again."
"And I wouldn't let it be him." Percy spoke up quickly, "Nico isn't a possibility." she swallowed hard, face pale, "I... Thalia's right I think. Last summer when we were on our quest to get the fleece, my brother's prophecy mentioned an offer given under the stars that would be refused- Lady Artemis offered for me to join the hunt and I turned her down, and it also mentioned that by turning down that offer I'd be choosing my fate." she felt slightly sick.
"You claim the prophecy as your own." Apollo pulled his shades off, leaning forward slightly. "You won't fight fate."
"I do." Percy let out a slow breath, "I chose the prophecy as my own."
"That is brave of you." Artemis spoke up, giving Percy a reassuring smile, "A true heroes choice-chosen not for wish of glory but for love of your brother."
Zeus looked distinctly unhappy, his eyes focusing on Percy, who resisted the urge to cringe away. "Persephone Jackson, do you understand the full gravity of what you are doing here?"
"Yes." Percy nodded, "I do. And I do it anyway. I don't know what's going to happen. I don't even know the prophecy, but it's my prophecy. And I will defend Olympus with every breath in my body."
"So be it." Zeus intoned after several moments.
"Now for the Ophiotaurus," Artemis said.
"The creature is still dangerous," Dionysus warned. "The beast is a temptation to great power. Even if we spare the girl—"
"No." Percy looked around at all the gods. "Please. Keep the Ophiotaurus safe. My dad can hide him under the sea somewhere, or keep him in an aquarium here in Olympus. But you have to protect him. He doesn't deserve to die."
"You are still young." Athena spoke up, "Only fourteen-there are years to come. Are you truly certain you will never be tempted by Kronos-"
"Mother!" Annabeth's voice was suddenly furious as she stepped forward, "Percy is the best person I know. After everything that's happened there's not a chance that she'd even consider joining Kronos! If there's one thing I'm sure of then that's it. And don't forget, Kronos doesn't want Percy to be the child of prophecy-he brought Thalia back to try and interfere in that because he knows-he knows that Percy would choose to die rather than join him."
Percy felt her face flushing a bright shade of red at that, giving Annabeth a small grateful smile.
Then Poseidon stood. "My child, you are right and I will not have a sea creature destroyed, if I can help it. And I can help it."
He held out his hand, and a trident appeared in it: a twenty foot long bronze shaft with three spear tips that shimmered with blue, watery light. "I will vouch for my daughter and the safety of the Ophiotaurus."
"You won't take it under the sea!" Zeus stood suddenly. "I won't have that kind of bargaining chip in your possession."
"Brother, please," Poseidon sighed.
Zeus's lightning bolt appeared in his hand-and Percy found that rather ironic considering the fact that the only reason he had it was her returning it to him, a shaft of electricity that filled the whole room with the smell of ozone.
"Fine," Poseidon said. "I will build an aquarium for the creature here. Hephaestus can help me. The creature will be safe. We shall protect it with all our powers. Persephone will not betray us. I vouch for this on my honor."
Zeus thought about this. "All in favor?"
There was a moment and then hands were raised-and Percy let out a shocked noise. The only ones that stayed down were Athena's and Ares'.
"We have a majority," Zeus decreed. "And so, since we will not be destroying these heroes… I imagine we should honor them. Let the celebration begin!"
And just like that the mood shifted, and before Percy even had much time to react the serious meeting had turned into a party.
The nine muses were in charge of the music, which Percy realized pretty quickly was whatever you wanted it to be; the gods could listen to classical and the younger demigods heard hip-hop or whatever, and it was all the same sound track. No arguments. No fights to change the radio station. Just requests to crank it up.
Dionysus went around growing refreshment stands out of the ground, and a beautiful woman walked with him arm in arm—his wife, Ariadne. Dionysus looked happy for the first time. Nectar and ambrosia overflowed from golden fountains, and platters of mortal snack food crowded the banquet tables. Golden goblets filled with whatever drink you wanted. Grover trotted around with a full plate of tin cans and enchiladas, and his goblet was full of double-espresso latte, which he kept muttering over like an incantation:
"Pan! Pan!"
Percy, Annabeth and Thalia stuck together for a little while, until Zeus waved Thalia towards him, and she moved to talk to him quickly, leaving Percy and Annabeth alone-though it wasn't for very long, since Aphrodite moved towards them, cornering them with a smile, waving away the people who had been coming to try and congratulate the two girls on their great feat.
"Lady Aphrodite." Annabeth grabbed Percy's hand, and the goddess looked incredibly pleased.
"Well just look at you two- aren't you just so sweet together-though I must say-" she looked them up and down, "Your outfits have seen better days-" she waved a hand and the two girls looked down quickly.
Their clothes were transformed-and Percy flushed when she glanced at Annabeth-her girlfriend was wearing a silvery gown- much like her mothers, and when she looked down at herself she saw she was wearing a flowing blue dress-both were the type worn by the goddesses and Annabeth's eyes flicked up and down, taking in Percy and she grinned, "You really do look like a princess now-"
"This coming from you-"
"So cute!" Aphrodite winked at them, clapping her hands together, "Honestly you girls are just the sweetest-" she looked over their shoulders and rolled her eyes, "I've got to go dears- Ares wants me." she smirked slightly before pausing, "My husband won't tell you himself but he's grateful to you-"
"For what?" Percy frowned, "All we did to do with lord Hephaeustus was destroy the faulty Talos-"
"You also saved his son-"
"Saved his-"
"Leo!" Annabeth's eyes widened, "He's Leo's father-that makes sense, though none of the Hephaestus kids at camp can burst into flames."
"Yes, the boy's gifted-well I shall see you two again-I'll watch your relationship develop with pleasure."
As soon as she was gone Hermes was sliding in front of them, a grin on his lips, "Well girls, I think you did pretty well-"
"Hey Hermes." Percy grinned, "Want us to tell your kids you said hi?"
"Of course." Hermes grinned, "Tell Luke I'm proud of him too, and I'm glad those shoes were so useful-"
"They really were." Annabeth laughed, "Honestly I've never been more relieved in my entire life than I was when I saw Luke flying up into view holding Percy."
"It was pretty badass." Percy acknowledged, "I'll let him know-"
"Hermes. I wish to talk to my daughter and her... friend." Percy's eyes widened and her head snapped to look behind her-and Athena was stood there, an unreadable
expression on her face-and Annabeth's grip on Percy's hand tightened as Hermes snickered.
"Good luck girls." then he was gone and Percy swallowed hard as they both turned to look at Athena.
"Uh, hi mom." Annabeth looked incredibly nervous-"
"What is the nature of your relationship?" Athena asked coolly, "I saw Aphrodite speaking to you both-and I've noticed the way you two seem attached at the hip."
Percy and Annabeth exchanged looks and Annabeth looked at her mother again, a defiant look on her face. "I love her. I'm in love with Percy mom. And Percy loves me too. I know you won't approve, but... I don't care." and Percy felt a rush of warmth at that as she looked down at their hands, shifting so that their fingers were threaded together.
"You play a dangerous game daughter." Athena's eyes were focused on both girls "The future is uncertain, and you make yourself a target- we both know what Persephone's fatal flaw is-"
"I care too much-about my friends and family." Percy spoke up, "You're not the only one who knows it-"
"Kronos knows it. And he will use it against you now that it is clear you are the one who will either guide him to his victory or be his downfall- he has already used your loved ones against you before-what is to stop him from taking my daughter-"
"I know the risks mother." Annabeth stated quickly, "And I'd like to point out that I'm not some helpless damsel in distress. I'm a strong fighter. I've proven that time and time again and I think Percy is worth the risk."
"Annabeth-" Percy's voice was incredibly soft-and Annabeth gave her a soft smile.
"You are Seaweed brain."
"Well." Athena shook her head, "I do not approve-but I will not interfere- just know this Persephone Jackson-" her eyes drilled into Percy's very soul, "If you ever falter-if your loyalties shift-"
"Athena-" the voice came from behind Percy and Annabeth, and Percy felt a flood of relief flowing through her at that voice, "Please don't threaten my daughter. You don't see me making threats towards young Annabeth do you?"
"We shall see." the goddess turned and walked away, and Percy whirled around, letting go of Annabeth's hand and tossing herself forward to hug her father, throwing her arms around him as he caught her and hugged her tightly.
"Dad!"
"Persephone." Poseidon's voice was warm as he hugged her tightly, "My beautiful daughter-I'm glad you're safe-though it sounds as though there were several near misses."
"Kinda." Percy laughed softly, "But I'm fine. I knew I could handle it-"
"Yes. Well." Poseidon sounded like he didn't know if he should be laughing or telling her off. "Your brother told me about the advice he gave you-"
"It was very good advice-"
"And he may have made some good points. But I did order you to stay in camp and you ignored me-I'm not pleased with that my daughter-even if it ended well. But I have
no doubt that Chiron has some form of punishment in mind for you so I won't tell you off now-"
"Thank you father." Percy pulled back slightly when he loosened his grip. "I am sorry I disobeyed I just-"
"Obedience doesn't come naturally to any of my children-I just fear for you Percy. Your courage and skill are unquestionable, but you are my daughter-my only half-blood
child. I think I'll send your brother to camp during the summer-"
"Tyson?" Percy asked, a bright smile spreading across her lips, "Tyson can come for the summer?"
"Yes. I'd rather have you both together-he can help protect you. I do worry." he pressed his lips to the top of her head, "And your fate is a dangerous one- especially now-"
"What do you mean?"
"I am sorry." Poseidon shook his head, "I'm sure you believe Alabaster Torrington to be dead-"
"Of course he is." Percy frowned, "I threw him off of mount Tam, I saw him hit the rocks beneath us-there's no way he could have survived that-"
"I am sorry, but I have seen it. His boat sails from San Francisco with the remains of Kronos even now. He will retreat and regroup before assaulting you again. I will do my best to destroy his boat with storms, but he is making alliances with my enemies, the older spirits of the ocean. They will fight to protect him."
"B-but- he's dead he has to be." Percy could feel panic rising in the pit of her stomach as she stepped back from her father. "I saw him fall dad-"
"Percy-" Annabeth was grabbing Percy's arm, "Percy breath-"
"How could he be alive."
"I don't know my daughter, but beware of him. He is more dangerous than ever. And the golden coffin is still with him, still growing in strength. I fear for you- I do not know how he'll react to what you did-but if there is one thing I'm certain of it's that his obsession will not just disappear."