I have decided to write my own fic after years of reading and re-reading fanfics of other great authors, and honestly, the line between cannon and fannon is so blurred that I do not remember what is true anymore…
I have made the ending of the Giant War different than the cannon, as I want to keep some characters *cough* Leo *cough* and get rid of other characters who do not really interest me. Not too sure what pairing to opt for so any suggestion would be greatly appreciated!
Rated M because idk where this could go ;)
My discord server - /nPJrVajZ
Anyways, enjoy!
-LostHouse
Camp Half-Blood
A warm summers breeze blew across the beach, with the rays of Apollo bright and blinding as he made his way across the afternoon sky. Yet floating in the air there was another distinct element. The feeling of peace and calm that left the heart warm and the mind cool, no more worries or fears of death that would lead to sleepless nights and restless mornings. However, there was a lone man who felt different to the campers and mythical beings flourishing inside the protective barriers surrounding Camp Half-blood. And that man was no other than the legendary swordsman who defies all sense of reason. A man who once had it all, but in the end was left with nothing more but with the Chains of his Past.
Narrators POV
''It never makes sense, does it?'' Percy hummed quietly to himself as he watched the waves gently swash back and forth down the beach, carelessly brushing away the sand.
''After all the long years of quests and wars we finally achieved peace, yet it does not feel right…'' He whispered seemingly to no-one, starring absentmindedly into the horizon. A beautiful day, seemingly ruined by the memories that countlessly plague his mind, memories that will not lay rest however hard he tried to forget, and all of them pointing towards the single day that changed it all…
LINEBREAK
Flashback-Giant War
Still Narrators POV
They have been fighting for what seemed to be eternity, facing off countless waves of monster hordes, all ranging from hellhounds to giants and a soon to be rising primordial. Percy would never admit it directly to the gods, but as he fought side by side with the Olympians and the other prophesized seven from the quest, he felt truly unstoppable. A complete force of nature which was impossible to contain.
Currently, the chosen seven were doing their utmost best to aid their respective parents against their opposing giant counterparts, with each individual battle between god and giant seeing the battlefield be battered with showers of lightning, earthquakes and powerful explosions which distorted the land into a patched mess of mud and rock. Yet everyone present – be it both monster and god, could not keep their eyes off a single black-haired warrior who absolutely terrorized everything that stood in his path. His normally sea green mirthful eyes have transpired into pitch black, green orbs of acid which only promised swift death.
His moves were precise and accurate, his sword telling a dance of sparks and blood with every move and therefore resulting to the shrinking numbers of the enemy force, which cowered away from the seemingly possessed demigod. As the black-haired man tore his way through the center of the monster army, he had a personal storm leaving a blazing trail which only added to the ever-increasing list of lives taken on that fateful day.
At this point in the battle there were only three Gigantes left standing. Porphyrion, who was engaged in a static battle with the Lord of the Skies, King Zeus, and his son Jason Grace. Orion, who was locked in gruel-some battle with Artemis, the said goddess slowly losing ground and being forced on the backfoot. Finally, Periboia, who was pitted against Aphrodite and her daughter Piper McLean, whom battled her with the use of Charmspeak. The rest of the Olympians and the prophesized seven were held busy with holding off the army of monsters which stood roughly ten thousand strong at the start of the battle, but now with Percy's demonized onslaught, the numbers have already been lowered drastically to the point were victory could be seen on the distant horizon.
And that was exactly where everything went wrong.
Annabeth POV
I could not help glancing in Percy's direction from time to time. To think that from killing the Minotaur at the age of twelve he would move on to fighting whole armies with no help other than riptide, his loyal blade, was something that even I could not foresee. Yet as I looked at the pure destruction he left in his path, the raw aura that his body released could be easily on par with that of a minor God or even that of a weak Olympian, and thinking that he is only 17 I could only imagine what he will beco-
''Annabeth! Go aid Artemis with taking down Orion!'' Commanded my mother as I snapped out of my thought process, remembering that it was no time to be lost in my mind as I once again observed the battlefield and tried to keep up with my mother as we fought side by side on flank.
''What about you Mother?'' I asked as I dodged the sharp claws of a hellhound which managed to sneak up on my blind side.
''I shall assist Poseidon and father, now go Annabeth!'' She shouted as in one swift movement she impaled the hellhound I was locking blades with and gently shoved me into the direction of Lady Artemis whilst simultaneously flashing to the side of Percy's father to help support the center column against a lone basilisk which was proving to be some trouble, as the poison it wields could be fatal, even to a God.
As I was swiftly cutting my way through the battlefield towards Lady Artemis, I assessed that she was on the backfoot and would not last another minute against the Giant; as his bow contained multiple strings and re-enforced celestial bronze pulleys, allowing him to shoot arrows at a pace the mortal eye can keep up with. Even though Orion was the smallest of his brethren Giants, standing at roughly ten feet tall, although he made up for his lack of size by being extremely agile and on par or even better in terms of archery compared to Lady Artemis herself, leaving the Goddess to undertake multiple wounds and slashes which only further hindered her movement.
I knew I had to do something and do something fast before it was too late.
And that was when I realized that if Orion had a bow and skills to match Lady Artemis, then her smaller 5''9 physique will still allow her to be a faster and a more challenging target to hit compared to the Giants own ten-foot-tall stature.
''Lady Artemis! Use your hunting knives!'' I shouted from behind her, out of sight to Orion thanks to my Yankees cap.
Instantly upon hearing my words and switching out her bow for her dual hunting knives with a flick of wrist, Artemis dropped into a low crouch and sprung at the lower body of Orion who was too slow and surprised at the sudden change in fighting style combined with the pure speed which the goddess could achieve, caused him to suffer deep cuts across both his thighs and calves and drop to his knees as he screamed bloody murder, traces of bloodlust evident in his eyes.
''Argh, you WHORE! You will SUFFER AT MY HANDS GODDESS!'' Grunting in pain, Orion stood from his kneeling position and got ready to face the goddess again by taking a defensive stance, lower than normal to be ready for any more attacks aimed at his legs and tendons.
''It seems men of any kind are all nothing but disgusting pigs!'' Growled Artemis, as she got down into her previous low crouch in order to feint the Giant into lowering his stance and center of gravity, her burning eyes of deep hatred and outright fury forced Orion to tense up and prepare for the onslaught.
Taking this opportunity to make my move on the Giant, I took off my invisibility cap and jumped onto his back whilst slashing and stabbing with my dagger at any vital points I can reach, inflicting the most damage I could to the lungs, nape and spine, until I greatly underestimated his agility and reflexes when in a single fluid move, he managed to grab the back of my head and single-handedly throw me into a boulder with such force that I could only close my eyes and prepare myself for the pain to come whilst sailing through the air to my fate.
Before the darkness engulfed me, only a single thought ran through my head…
Forgive me Percy.
Artemis POV
It was foolish for the daughter of Athena to do such a bold move, I thought to myself as I watched her fly past me and slam into the boulder with a sickening crunch. Wincing at the sound made by her shattered bones, I reverted my glare back onto the opposing giant and let my anger take control over my mind. The damage done by the girl's dagger will be sufficient for me to land the finishing blow, and with a final roar of anger I charged at the man who just laid waste to the life of an innocent child.
Percy POV
Blood red.
That was all I saw as I fought the seemingly never-ending hordes of monsters.
I never even stopped to think about anything, with the last thing I remember seeing clearly was Annabeth fighting Orion with Artemis before I got tunnel vision and entered a blank state of mind. It has got to the point in the battle when even the monsters surrounding me would freeze and stare, fear evident in their eyes as they shakenly watched me advance on them. Yet I couldn't care less.
''Boo'' I snarled at the monsters surrounding me as I watched them turn and flee as far as possible from me. Of course, they never got far; for as in this is Hell, I was Judge - Jury and Executioner. However, as soon as I was about to take my next step, I suddenly felt a deep tremor shake the very core of the Earth until the battlefield was filled with a powerful aura like no-one other that have felt before, rooting everyone including the Olympians to the spot.
''PERSEUS JACKSON…'' Spoke a guttural voice, seemingly from below the earth itself. The voice sounded like a dry whetstone was vigorously being scrubbed against a rusted blade.
''YOUR EFFORTS ARE IN VAIN, SON OF POSEIDON, JOIN ME AND YOU WILL STILL HAVE THE CHANCE TO BECOME MY RIGHT HAND IN THE NEW GENERATION, YOU WILL HAVE AN ARMY AND A KINGOM LARGER THAN ROME ITSELF SHALL YOU SO DESIRE…''
The tension in the air became so thick it could be cut with a knife, and it only got progressively worse to the point when it felt as if was drowning in sea of raw power. As I tried to move my scrambled legs in a hopeless attempt to escape the suffocating aura of the primordial, her voice sounded out again.
''HEAR ME ALL AND LISTEN WELL. I, GAEA, PRIMORDAL OF THE EARTH SWEAR ON THE NAME OF LADY CHAOS TO UPHOLD MY PROPOSAL SHALL PERSEUS JOIN ME!''
There was no thunder or visible cue to signify an oath being made, but a dark presence seemed to appear and assess the situation before disappearing just as fast as it came.
I am honestly ashamed to say I stood there and thought deeply about her oath to Lady Chaos herself. An oath which if broken will purge your soul and take it to the shadows of the Void, where for eternity you shall be nothing but a speck in eternal darkness where nothing can ever reach you…
''Never'' I whispered.
''I do not fight for glory or for the Gods. I fight so that innocent children can grow up to explore this world, however cruel it might be. I fight so that those I love will have to fight no more. If I become your sword, Gaea, then It means that my whole life I have fought against those whom I despised, only to become the very thing I have hated the most in the end.''
After I finished speaking, I felt the time slowly trickle by, as seconds quietly ticked into minutes, not a single soul dared to move or speak, seemingly waiting for the events which are to unfold.
''VERY WELL THEN, PERSEUS.'' Rumbled Gaea as the earth started to vibrate and shake ever so gently.
''YOU SHALL BE REMEMBERED AS THE FOOL WHO WAS BLIND TO THE GODS AND THEIR DOINGS.''
The gentle vibrations of the earth slowly turned into powerful tremors until suddenly, the rear of the monster army erupted with such vigor and sheer force that all monsters in close vicinity got turned straight into golden dust, even faster than you can say the words 'Open Sesame'.
This was when the flood gates opened, and all Tartarus broke loose.
(Thanatos also prayed for a pay rise)
Flashback End
LINEBREAK
Narrators POV
The battle against Gaea and the Gigantes deeply affected all those who were present on the battlefield.
After Gaea formed out of the ground in a humanoid form made from mud, metal ores and volcanic glass, Percy and Jason worked in unison on a plan to lift her body into the sky where she would be greatly weakened once she lost contact with her domain. Both sons of the Big Three combined their powers and created a giant vortex which engulfed the goddess and slowly started to drive her off the ground when suddenly, out of no-where and amidst the reverberating shouts of panic from Gaea, Leo who was riding Festus managed to ram into the then suspended goddess and self-detonated himself exactly at the same moment when King Zeus summoned the largest bolt of lightning he could muster and fired upon the goddess.
That day the sun was blocked out with plumes of smoke and littered with flames from Leo's suicidal final act combined with the Master Bolt, resulting in a mushroom cloud far greater than the czar bomba and signified the end of the Second Great Prophecy.
Seven half-bloods shall answer the call.
To storm or fire, the world must fall.
An oath to keep with a final breath,
And foes bear arms to the Doors of Death.
After the fall of Gaea there were no shouts of victory. There were no celebrations upon winning the war. Only silence, as those present formed conclusions of the battle and their thoughts were echoed by the dry rasp of the crows which landed on the field to scavenge whatever scraps they loot.
The long-winded battle left everyone exhausted, with many demigods and gods sprawled across the battered land. Yet, after everything that Perseus has been through, no amount of preparation or experience could possibly prepare him for what came next.
LINEBREAK
Flashback- End of Giant War
Percy POV
After I recalled my half of the dual vortex me and Jason created, I could not help slumping to the ground as my knees seemed to fail me and my hands shook violently once the adrenaline rush from the battle started to withdraw from my body. My mind was racing, yet not a single emotion was portrayed on my visage. We have lost Leo and Festus in his final act (talk about going out with a bang) and no doubt his name will be preached for the ages as the Son of Hephaestus who secured our victory over a Primordial goddess. As I clenched my fists in order to prevent myself from inadvertently doing the jazz hands, I took deep breathes to calm my mind.
And then it hit me.
Anna…Annabeth! Where is she?
Quickly scanning what was left of the barren and treacherous land post battle, my eyes fell upon a single grey-eyed Goddess. Even though I knew she hated me purely based on the fact I was a mere spawn of Poseidon, I still respected her deeply for reasons I can't explain [*cough* Annabeth *cough*]. Yet Athena would only avoid my gaze and stare at the ground, which was the exact opposite of how the prideful goddess would carry herself no matter the given situation. She must have been worn out from the battle like the rest of us, I guess.
Why does everyone keep staring at me in a… depressed way?
Confused, I started to slowly limp my way towards her when suddenly my path and line of sight got blocked by a particular sun god, who for once in his life looked sad and borderline serious.
''Percy! How are you feeling?''
''After being slam dunked by the very mother earth herself, I feel just like Dory from Finding Nemo'' I grumbled out before pushing past Apollo to continue my way towards Lady Athena. Something was wrong. Every god whose eyes I have met only shook their heads or simply gazed sympathetically in my direction.
After taking a few steps, Apollo once again made his way in-front of me and laid his hands on my shoulders.
''You sure you don't wanna lay down or take a moment to relax cuz?''
''Apollo I am FINE. I need to see Annabeth anyway.'' I replied tiredly whilst shrugging him off.
''Let me heal your wounds at least Perce'' The sun god insisted again.
''Apollo, for fucks sake, I AM FINE. Do you know where Annabeth is? I don't see her anywhere…'' I fired off at the annoying ways of the god. Honestly, what's gotten into everyone all of a sudden?
At this point Apollo has given up on following me and gave out an exasperated sigh.
''She's with Uncle Hades and my lil sis. Just… take it easy Perce…''
''Thanks 'pollo. And what's up with you man? Seems like you're the one who needs to take it easy.'' I said as I, for the second time might I add, pushed past the sun God in the direction of two kneeling gods mentioned by Apollo.
Apollo POV
''He was bound to find out sooner or later…'' I muttered as I watched the retreating figure of the raven-haired man who is about to find out the truth behind the abundant somber mood in the atmosphere.
Well. There's nothing I can do know.
I thought to myself as I already imagined the outcome of the coming events. Yet in the back of mind, I was still troubled about the recent vision I received from the Fates. I'm not entirely sure why, but I believe it will somehow be intertwined with man who is about to have is very world rocked and turned upside down.
''Oh, Fates…how could you be so cruel?'' I whispered before a distinct shout rang across the heavens.
''NOOO, ANNABETH!'' Rang the broken cry of the man.
Chains will be cast in the Palace of Night,
Of the chasing shadows there will be no sight.
His soul left to wander the blackened lands,
Past the gate within the devils' hands.