Disclaimer: I do NOT own Naruto nor Percy Jackson and the Olympians series. I am just a lowly writer with too much time in my hands.

Warning: This is a sequel story. Read the following first before you read this story.

Child of the Moon: The Lightning Thief

Child of the Moon: The Sea of Monsters


Chapter 23

A blonde boy stirred. Well, he tried. The moment he attempted to move a muscle, he was met with intense pain.

"Argh," He growled as the wave of aches hit his body.

He, then, remembered the last thing he did before falling into consciousness. He managed to save her sister from her fate. That was good. But did that mean he traded places with her? Damn...That sucked.

"Well, shit," Naruto cursed out loud.

He was broken out of his thoughts when he heard a child-like giggle in the background. He sat up despite the discomfort and looked around. Beside him, his eyes met with a pair of green and black eyes. Her hair was the same color as the dirt on the ground and her dress matched the color of her eyes.

Naruto slapped a hand over his mouth. Despite how angry he was, he still remembered not to curse in front of a child like that.

"S-sorry about that," He scratched the back of his head and apologized.

The girl giggled again. "You're funny. I like you."

Naruto let out a nervous laugh. He didn't know what to make of this little girl. He didn't know if he should trust her or not. Especially in an unknown place like this.

Wait. That's right.

For the first time since he woke up, he realized that he didn't know where he was. Heck, was this even still the Earth he had come to know? He had been to the Underworld already, and this doesn't look anything like it.

"Hey, little girl," Naruto said, studying his surroundings. "Where are we?"

"That's not important," The little girl got up and skipped away.

"Oi oi oi, where are you going?" Naruto protested. "At least tell me what I am doing here!"

"Oh, nothing," The girl sent him an innocent smile. "I just wanted to meet you before I sent you back."

"What? Send me back?" Naruto asked, getting more confused by the second.

The girl giggled and started to walk away again. "It's still not your time. I still want to play with you."

"What?" The girl was starting to irk him. She wasn't making sense at all. "What are-"

He was about to ask more, when his body began glowing a golden light. He was definitely surprised. He stared at himself stunned at what was happening. And then, his body turned corporeal. It was see-through! That meant he really did die. So, was he really getting sent back to his body? That's what the little girl said.

Wait, he was still calling her 'little girl'. He didn't even know her name yet.

He looked back up to the girl to ask her name, but now, the girl was gone. There was nothing in front of him except a pile of dirt that got blown away by the wind.

Naruto was completely dumbfounded by what he found. He didn't even sense the girl disappear, and he had refined ninja senses.

Yet, he didn't even get to ponder on that, because it was his turn to disappear.


SOMEWHERE IN THE SKIES

Naruto woke up for the second time. He almost panicked because he found himself on a familiar pegasus's back flying a thousand feet in the sky.

To their right, there was a white horse he had come to know as Porkpie, who was carrying a slumbering Thalia. That was weird, the height didn't even bother her. Was she that tired?

Anywho, to their left was another white horse that looked like a unicorn with that weird horn on her head. It was the horse that took a liking to him in pegasus-riding lessons. What was her name again? Right, I think Selena said her name was Sierra. This particular pegasus was carrying her older sister figure. That brought a smile to his lips. He had succeeded in saving them.

And lastly, in front of them was a pure black pegasus that they had liberated from Luke's ship last summer. It was Blackjack and he was carrying his adopted brother, Percy.

As for him, he was riding another white pegasus who he recognized as Guido, but he didn't feel like he was alone on the winged horse. He felt the soft hands holding his hand and the familiar voice of a girl that was repeating words almost like a chant.

"Please be okay, please be okay," She repeated constantly.

Before he could say anything, he was met by the bright lights of New York flashing before him. He could never get over it. It was so… overwhelming. but he had to say, he still preferred the quiet woods of Camp Half-Blood. It wasn't Konoha, but he will take what he can get.

"There it is!" Thalia's voice came from beside him. She had woken up sometime in between his thoughts. "It's started."

Naruto was amazed by the lights of New York, but it was nothing to Mt. Olympus. From where they were, they could see that it was its own island of light floating above the Empire State Building. The whole mountain was there, filled with white marble palaces and lit ablaze by torches and braziers.

The pegasi circled around the mountain, making a complete orbit around Mount Olympus before flying through the streets that bustled with demigods, nature spirits and minor gods and goddesses. He could hear the Nine Muses performing a song unique to everyone present.

Despite being in the dead of night, the whole place seemed to be awake. It seemed that the whole place didn't sleep. And you wouldn't even know it was winter outside.

The winged horses landed in front of the greatest of all the palaces that stood on the Mountain of the Gods. Naruto surprised everybody by getting down on his own. They were supposed to enter the hall of the gods, but this even delayed them.

"Ow," He nursed his head as he landed on the ground. His body still ached from the heavy blow. Man, he underestimated Atlas's strength big time.

Before he could say hi and apologize to his friends, Annabeth immediately wrapped him in a tight embrace. That brought a smile to his face. The girl wasn't mad at him anymore for whatever reason that he never even knew to begin with.

"Hey guys," Naruto said in his trademark grin. He then looked at Annabeth and placed a hand on her head. "Hey Annabeth. What did I miss?"

"You idiot," The daughter of Athena sobbed into his chest. "What were you thinking?"

"Sorry about that," Naruto chuckled nervously. "I wasn't thinking."

"Yeah, you better be sorry," Thalia lightly punched Naruto in the shoulder. "I think we almost lost you there."

"Glad to have you back, Naruto," Percy came by as well to welcome back his brother.

"This is good and all, but we must not keep the gods waiting," Zoe suddenly spoke up, but she was trying to hide her shock.

That seemed to get the demigods out of their surprise. And so, they readied themselves for a meeting with the council of the gods.

Upon entering the hall of the elegant palace, they immediately noticed the twelve massive thrones arranged in a U-shape similar to how the cabins at Camp Half-blood were arranged. All those seats were occupied by their respective god or goddess, each in their fifteen feet form.

First, there was Zeus wearing his signature pinstriped suit, his beard neatly trimmed and his eyes sparking with energy. Next to him sat a beautiful woman with silver hair braided over one shoulder and a dress that shimmered a multitude of colors, like a peacock. She was the Queen of the Gods, Hera.

On Thunder God's right, there was Poseidon, looking vastly different from his brother. He was wearing a casual get-up consisting of a Hawaiian shirt paired with beach shorts and sandals. Next to him was a completely different looking man from what you would expect. He still had the steel brace on his feet, but the upper part of his body was different. He was still bulky, a trait he got from working the forges for millennia, but his head was completely wrapped in bandages with only one red eye showing through the wraps. By position alone, you could deduce that it was the Lord of the Forges, Hephaestus.

There was also Hermes, who was wearing a business suit. He was constantly checking a mobile phone with a caduceus symbol on the back. Apollo was lounging on his throne wearing those headphones that didn't have a wire on them and in his hands was an iPod which was probably playing music. Dionysus looked the way he always did at camp, complete with the wine magazine and an extremely bored look on his face. And lastly, there was Ares, who was sitting on a chrome and leather throne. He was glowering at the demigods, perhaps at Percy in particular.

On the ladies' side of the throne room, on Hera's left, there was Demeter, the Goddess of the Harvest. She was a dark-haired goddess in green robes, and she sat on a throne made of woven apple tree branches. Next to her was an elegant and beautiful goddess with grey eyes and a white dress. The eyes alone would tell you that it was Annabeth's mother, Athena. And finally, there was Aphrodite, who looked the same way as when she met Naruto and Percy. She looked knowingly at Percy and Naruto, but for the latter, I couldn't be so sure. She seemed kind of disappointed.

Well anyway, those were the gods present. As soon as the massive doors swung open in order for the demigods to enter, these super-powerful beings trained their eyes towards them. That unnerved them, to say the least. I mean who wouldn't? A room full of gods goes silent and all attention turns on you as soon as you walk in. You'd sooner want to fight a monster.

"Welcome heroes," Artemis greeted.

"Mooo," came the familiar sound of a certain sea cow as soon as the Goddess said that.

That was when they also noticed that Grover and Bianca were kneeling in front of Zeus's throne as if giving a report. Along with them, there was Bessie, er the Ophiotaurus, surrounded in a sphere of water hovering in the center of the room, next to the hearth. He was swimming happily around, swishing his serpent tails, and poking his head out the sides of the spear.

Grover rose happily when he heard the doors open and picked up the scent of his friends. He hurriedly ran to them.

"You guys made it!" He cried as ran to his friends.

"Uh, Grover. Wait!" Bianca tried to stop him.

Fortunately for the satyr, the King of Olympus ignored Grover's disrespect because he was staring intently at her daughter. And Grover, realizing what he had done, he looked to the master of the house for permission. No other god or human dared to speak. Only the clop of Grover's hooves on the marble floor, Bessie's water splashes, and the crackle of the hearth fire was heard in the whole hall.

"Go on," Zeus absentmindedly said. It was clear he wasn't even paying attention. His focus was solely on his daughter.

Grover continued on his way to greet his friends, and Bianca joined him briefly.

It was a heartfelt reunion. All six members of the quest were once again gathered, which was rare for quests to begin with, yet here they were defying odds and maybe fate itself. One thing to note though was that Bianca seemed relieved. It was like she had learned of something that the others didn't know about, and that something didn't happen. When it was her turn to greet Naruto, she looked at him like he had come back from the dead.

"You look like you've seen a ghost," Naruto joked.

Bianca looked at him like he grew a second head, "I can't explain it, but it was like I felt a soul leave a body. And somehow, I knew it was you. D-did you die or something?"

"This idiot acted rashly and threw himself in front of Atlas's attack," Annabeth answered for the shinobi.

Grover was shocked at what he heard. He couldn't believe it when Bianca told him on the way to Olympus, but now, the words Annabeth had said confirmed the youngest demigod's premonition of sorts.

"You did what?!" Grover all but screamed at the blonde who was now acting sheepish. "B-but how are you here?"

Before Naruto could answer, the satyr quickly pivoted remembering what the gods had talked about before his friends arrived, "Wait! That's not important right now!" He panicked, causing the subject he had pushed aside to let out a sweatdrop. "Naruto, Percy, you have to stop them! They can't do it!"

"Woah, woah, woah," Thalia calmed down the goat man. "What are they about to do?"

Grover opened his mouth to speak, but he didn't get the chance to because Artemis called out. "Heroes!"

The Moon Goddess slid down her throne and shrunk down to the size of the demigods. She walked towards them with no emotion on her face. She was keeping it professional even in the presence of her son. I guess she has to be in front of the council.

"The Council has been informed of your deeds," She began. "They have also been told of Mount Othrys. They know of Atlas's attempt for freedom and the gathering armies of Kronos. We have voted to act."

The other gods mumbled in their seats, while some shuffled nervously in their seats. It was weird seeing the gods like this. Despite being super-powerful beings, something still unnerved them. While others looked like they weren't happy with the decision, they didn't protest.

"At my Lord Zeus's command," The Moon Goddess continued. "My brother, Apollo, and I shall hunt the most powerful monsters and strike them down before they can join the Titan Lord's cause. We will also eliminate the shinobi who had joined his side if they continue to oppose us."

Naruto wanted to protest at that statement, but Artemis gave him a look that told him not to say anything.

"...Lady Athena will personally check on the other Titans' to make sure they do not escape their prisons. Lord Poseidon has been given permission to unleash his full fury on the cruise ship, the Princess Andromeda, and send it to the bottom of the sea. And as for you my heroes…" She announced

She, then, turned to face the other immortals."These heroes have done Olympus a great service. Would any of you deny that?" She looked around to the gathered gods, meeting their faces individually, probably daring anyone to challenge.

"I gotta say, these kids did okay," Apollo cleared his throat and stood up, raising his hands. "Heroes win laurels-"

"Um, yes, first-class!" Hermes hurriedly said to prevent the annoying poem. "All in favor of not disintegrating them?"

"Disintegrating?" Percy protested. "After all we-"

Before he could say anything more, Grover placed his hands over the boy's mouth.

Demeter and Aphrodite raised their hands tentatively.

"Wait just a darn minute!" Ares growled. He pointed at the three main demigods of the quest. "I understand not disintegrating blondie over here, but why the other two? They are dangerous! It would be safer to disintegrate them while they are here! Or we could imprison the blonde brat like we did the Titans!"

"I am surprised you understand something," Athena said under her breath.

"Ares," Poseidon countered. "They are worthy heroes. We will not blast my son to bits."

"Nor my daughter," Zeus grumbled. "She had done well." That comment caused Thalia to blush.

Artemis glared at Ares for his suggestion.

Athena cleared her throat and sat forward, "While I am proud of my daughter, the three pose a security risk."

Annabeth protested. "Mother! How can you-"

The Goddess of Wisdom cut her off with a calm but firm look. "It is unfortunate that my father, Zeus, and my uncle, Poseidon, chose to break their oath, and only Hades kept his oath. It is a fact I find quite ironic. As we all know, the Great Prophecy speaks of a Child of the Eldest Gods, such as Percy and Thaila, who are dangerous. As thick-headed as Ares is, I fear he might be right."

"Right," Ares nodded smugly, but he realized what Athena called him and stood up for a fight. "Hey! Who're you calling thick-headed!"

Before anything could happen, a grapevine wrapped around Ares and plopped him right down on his throne. "Oh please, save the fighting for later." Dionysus sighed.

Ares cursed and ripped the vines off his chest, "You are one to talk, you old drunk! You wish to protect these brats!"

Mr. D regarded them wearily. These were his campers, not that he cared for them or anything. "I have no love for them," He said. "Athena, do you really think it is wise to destroy them?"

"I do not pass judgment," Athena explained. "I only point out the risks. It is up to the Council to decide what we must do with them."

Artemis spoke up again, "I insist that we reward them. They have done us a great favor, and this is how we reward them? If that is how we think, then we are no better than the titans. If this is Olympian Justice, then I want no part of it."

"Geez, calm down, sis," Apollo said. "Lighten up a little."

"Don't call me, sis!" Artemis snapped. "We are at the council. At least be formal!"

"Well," Zeus grumbled. "Perhaps, but we all agree that the monster is to be destroyed at least?"

A lot of heads nodded in agreement.

"That's what I wanted to say!" Grover whispered. "They want to kill Bessie!"

Percy picked this up and spoke up, "You want to destroy Bessie?"

"Oh, here we go," Naruto sighed and looked at his brother nervously.

"Mooooo!" Bessie protested for fear of his life.

"You named the Ophiotaurus, Bessie?" Poseidon frowned.

"Dad," Percy said. "He's just a sea creature, a really nice sea creature. You can't destroy him!"

The Sea God shifted uncomfortably, "Percy, the monster's power is considerable. If the Titans were to steal it or-"

"You can't!" Percy insisted.

He then turned to Zeus and looked him in the eyes. Naruto noticed this and tried to warn the boy. "Oi, Percy! Don't-"

Percy didn't listen. He continued, "Controlling prophecies never works. Isn't that true?" Besides, Bess- I mean the Ophiotaurus is innocent. Killing something like that is just as wrong as Kronos eating his kids!"

His friends were impressed. Percy was presenting quite a point. It was still to be seen if it would affect the stubborn King of the Gods, but still, it was uncommon for the boy.

"And what of the risk?" Zeus said, considering the boy's argument. "Kronos knows full well that if any of you were to sacrifice the beast's entrails, you would have the power to destroy us. We cannot let that possibility remain."

"You have to trust them!" Annabeth argued.

"Trust a hero?" Zeus scowled.

"Well, I don't know what all those quests you gods make us do if you don't trust us at all," Naruto said honestly.

"Why, you-" Zeus began, only to be cut off by Artemis.

"My son and the girl make a fair point," The moon goddess came for the save. "Which is why I will give my first reward."

"Before that, my lady," Zoe said with a bow. "I feel as if I have failed you as the Lieutenant of the Hunt. I have allowed for your capture. I wish to step down."

"Zoe…" Artemis looked at her fellow hunter with pity. "Nobody blames you for my loss. If anything, my carelessness was just as much to blame."

"I insist, my lady," Zoe insisted. "With all my years at your side, I have learned nothing. Besides, we already have a worthy candidate present."

Artemis smiled. Despite what she was saying, her lieutenant was still on the same page as her. "Very well, if that is what you wish," She relented. "Lord Zeus, I wish to speak with you privately."

Grover's face was pale as he watched the Moon Goddess speak to Zeus's ear. It was like he knew who Artemis and Zoe were talking about. He must have hidden it from them. Naruto and Percy looked at their best friend. They tried to ask what was the satyr's problem, but they couldn't get to it. Artemis was finished with her conversation.

"It settled," She said. "I shall have a new lieutenant if she will accept." That got the attention of everyone.

Artemis was now standing in front of Thalia. "Thalia, daughter of Zeus, will you join my Hunt?"

Naruto's heart sank upon hearing what his mother had to say. He had to say, he didn't understand what he was feeling, but he knew that he was happy when he was with the daughter of Zeus and now that he was about to lose her, he felt a little ache in his heart.

He rushed to Thalia's side and grabbed her hand. "Thalia...are you going to leave us?" That was what he said, but, by the way, he was saying it, it sounded like 'are you going to leave me?'.

Thalia's eyes met with Annabeth who was looking hurt. Although, she knew that it wasn't because of her choice. She moved her eyes to Naruto and tightened her grip on the blonde's hand. "I have thought this through, Naruto. I have to do this."

"Consider this well, daughter," Zeus interjected.

"I have, father," Thalia looked to the King of the Gods. "It is as you said, there is a risk involved in letting us run free. I do not know if I can handle another temptation from Kronos. I am afraid I might give in. Besides, isn't this what you wanted? Control the prophecy? With this, I will not turn sixteen tomorrow. The prophecy will never be mine. And the Titan Lord will never be able to tempt me ever again."

"Did you forget?" Naruto countered, causing Thalia to look back at him. "I will always be by your side in your weakest times."

"How about the times when we are not together?" She argued. "Naruto, despite what you say, you will not be by my side all the time. He might take advantage of the times when we are apart. You might even have your hands full with me and Percy. No, Naruto, there is too much at risk. I have already made up my mind."

She wrapped Naruto in one last embrace. She may have made her decision right then and there, but it doesn't mean that she didn't have any regrets. This was the boy who didn't give up on her when he met her in the Limbo. Despite how impossible it was at that time to get her out of the tree, he persevered and we all know how that ended. After all, she was standing in the arms of the blonde idiot. If she were honest to herself, the decision hurt, but she had to be mature and accept that it was necessary.

After a good long while in each other's arms and not bothered by the stares of her friends and the twelve powerful beings, she let go of him and pressed her lips on the blonde's forehead. After that, their eyes once again met. "I know you can make it without me. Besides…" She didn't complete her statement. She left that for the blonde to find out. Naruto just nodded as she wiped the tears from his eyes.

She walked over to Percy and embraced him, not as tightly as she did to Naruto, but the emotion was still there.

When she broke their hug, Percy asked, "Are you really going to join?"

"I must join them, Percy," She explained. "I had a blast with you guys, but I still haven't felt at peace ever since Half-blood Hill. I was supposed to be dead, remember? This way, I will finally have peace, without worrying when Kronos will strike next, but you, are you ready to take on the prophecy?"

"Great," Percy muttered. "Don't remind me."

"Even though I tease you a lot, just know that I am proud to be your friend."

She then moved over to Annabeth. She embraced her as well. The Daughter of Athena was trying hard not to cry, but she did listen to what she had to say to her.

"Take care of the idiot for me, will you?" Thalia whispered in her ear. "She will be needing you more now…"

"I will," Annabeth sniffled.

She also hugged Grover. Well, she was one of her closest friends. He was the one who tried his best to escort her to camp, even if he failed. She still didn't blame him for it. It was her choice to make her last stand at the top of the hill. Anyway, Grover looked like he was about to pass out from the contact. Naruto wasn't in the mood to make fun of the satyr, so he got a free pass on that one.

And lastly, she embraced Bianca. After all that they've been through in the quest, she couldn't help but get close to the young demigod. Although, she still wondered who her godly parent was and it might be any one of those that were gathered in this building.

"Train hard, Bianca," she said. "Things will only get worse from here."

"I will," the young demigods nodded.

Thalia, then, took a deep breath after all the farewells were done. She knelt in front of the Moon Goddess and said, "What is my pledge, my lady?"

"Say this," Zoe dictated. "I pledge myself to the goddess, Artemis. I turn my back on the company of men…"

Thalia repeated those words and her oath was complete. She, then, stood up and clapped Zoe on the back before joining her on Artemis's side.

"That is good and all," Mr. D broke the moment. "But there is still the risk of this boy and the Ophiotaurus. Even if we spare the boy-"

Percy almost forgot about that. That moment made him forget that the gods were discussing whether or not they were to kill him.

"No!" He interjected. "You must keep the Ophiotaurus safe. He is innocent. My dad can keep him safe under the sea or you can build an aquarium here! You have to protect him!"

"And why should we trust you?" Rumbled a lazy Hephaestus.

"Why have us go on a quest if you don't trust us?" Thalia muttered under her breath.

"I am only fourteen," Percy said. "If the prophecy is about me, that is two more years."

"Two years for Kronos to deceive you," Athena said. "Much can change in two years."

"That also means two years to prepare, Lady Athena," Naruto added. "Would you deny that?"

"They are right, Athena," Poseidon confirmed Naruto's words. "I will not destroy the sea creature. I can help it. I can protect it under the sea." He even summoned his signature weapon to prove his point.

"You will not take the animal under the sea!" Zeus refused, even summoning his weapon to match the Sea God. "I won't allow you to have a bargaining chip in your possession."

Poseidon sighed. "Fine, to appease you brother, Hephaestus and I shall build an aquarium to house the creature. We shall make sure the creature is safe here with all our powers. As for the boy, he will not betray us. I vouch for him in my honor."

"All in favor?" Zeus asked once his concerns were addressed.

To the demigods' surprise, a lot of hands went up. Not all hands came up, though, but it was still most of the gods present. Naturally, Dionysus abstained, he still didn't have a love for heroes, and Ares and Athena did the same as well. Ares declined cause he was still miffed about getting beat up at Santa Monica Beach and Athena did so cause she wanted to protect Olympus in any way possible.

"We have a majority," Zeus decreed. "And since we will not be destroying them, I imagine a reward is in order. Let us celebrate their triumph tonight!"


A/N: And here we are. Our heroes weren't destroyed. Zoe steps down because she feels responsible for Artemis's capture. And Thalia joining the Hunt to prevent the prophecy from falling to her hands. Oh yeah, I wonder who that kid is who woke Naruto up? Is she a friend? Is she a foe? All I can say is she had to intervene. Well, that's it from me. See you when I get back.

I can't stress enough how much I'm thankful for you guys reading and following my story. Honestly, this just started as something for me to get my thoughts into writing. I know I'm not that good, so you guys sticking to it really means a lot to me. Well, there are those that left, but I didn't want you here wracking up my medical bills. Sheesh! Anyway, to those that stayed. Hope we can get through all of Rick-sama's strories