Chapter 8

A/N: Hey guys! Back with another chapter! Sorry it took so long! The next few chapters up until Percy's revival will be tough to write because I have a lot of important plot points to hit whilst still making the story enjoyable to read and not feel rushed. This story has surpassed all my other stories put together in terms of words, favourites, follows and reviews; so, thank you guys so much for the continuous support! It means a lot!

Jontybh: Thank you for reviewing! I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter. My week was decent enough, times are tough at the moment; world is going through tough times at the moment but I hope you're staying safe! Enjoy the chapter and enjoy the week and weekend!

AgellosIsAngel: Thank you for reviewing and for your compliment. I'm trying very hard to actually keep Percy as canon as possible in terms of the characteristics he had whilst still adapting him to the plot I have. There will be slight differences as is expected in fairness but hopefully you continue to enjoy the way Percy comes across in my story. I feel like a lot of people fall into the trap of making Percy too perfect, if that makes any sense. Like they try to make him this powerful guy who can do no wrong whilst losing who Percy is as a person. I feel like the better the character development and the more character growth, the better the story is to read for readers. I'm not saying that my way of writing is correct, people can write Percy the way they want, it's just what I feel. Lol I rambled a bit there. And don't worry about your previous reviews, I genuinely appreciate you taking the time to post them. Hope you enjoy the chapter!

Craziest strange: thank you for reviewing, I'm glad you enjoyed the chapter! To answer your question, I am posting the chapter now lol! Took some time but we got there. You wanted to know why monsters tremble at his name, well we see it in this chapter! I hope you find it as awesome as you found the last chapter!

NiHar OP: thank you for reviewing! Glad you enjoyed that scene. In regards to Zoe I mean the pairing and love story is like a small subplot but a lot of the focus is on Perseus. That being said I will try keep things as canon as possible minus the pairing of course but obviously there might need to be some leeway there. But don't worry, Zoe won't be rude, nor will there be any of this "omg he looks handsome" *blush* or "he's a boy…no man, a good man" stuff either if you get what I mean. You'll see in due time. Enjoy the chapter!

On to the story-please review and let me know what you think. Usual disclaimer etc.

The campers were on edge tonight as they gathered around the fire. Many of them had come up to the Stoll brothers to find out about the night's story. This time they received none in return.

There was no tricks, no lies. There was nothing to say. After constant nagging, the brothers had been forced to reveal that they didn't know. That in itself was a shock. There was not much that happened within the camp's borders that the Stoll's didn't know about.

This revelation caused a fresh wave of curiosity to flow through the campers, who kept a careful eye on Lady Artemis and Chiron, in the hopes of finding out. The Stoll brothers had tried everything, and had found out zilch in return.

They vowed to the rest of the camp that Artemis and Chiron knew both tonight's tale and the storyteller. Neither of them had let slip. Even Artemis's own hunters were keeping the campers in the dark.

As the campers took their seats, they noticed that tonight's guest speaker was already present. The man in question didn't seem to have noticed that all the attention was on him. He was lost in thought as he gazed into the campfire.

The vibe the man was giving off could only be described as sombre. The sadness was reflected in the campfire, which was less intense as it burned. As the campers looked around, they saw the sadness in the air also reflected on the face of Chiron, Artemis and even some of her older hunters. It was a look of grief that they all knew well.

A look of grief that symbolised the mourning of those who had died.

It was then that the campers realised that it was Apollo who was the man present. Gone was his younger, jovial form. Instead, he took the form of a man in his thirties or forties. Blond hair that had started to contain grey. The dancing flames reflecting in blue eyes that no longer held the childish mirth they usually did.

It was a few seconds before Apollo seemed to snap out of his reverie. He looked around at the gathered demigods as he tried to think of the right words to say. His eyes shifted emotions; they now held a steely resolve.

"These stories you have all been hearing at your recent nightly campfires are all about my Flagbearer. What is the point of us telling you these tales? What is it you want to know?" There was silence. No one had the answer. "What you want to know is who is Perseus? That is the question isn't it. Who is Perseus?" The flame had grown ever so slightly as the demigods listened closely to Apollo.

"You asked those in the Godly World this question and they will tell you all the titles that nature spirits, Gods and even the Titans and monsters had given him. The Flagbearer, the Conqueror, the Destroyer. A demon on the battlefield, amongst a few others." The demigods held on to every word being spoken. Apollo seemed to be in a trance like state as he spoke. "There were many poets and historians in the ancient times that transcribed the events that took place back then. Some of whom were my children. If you asked them, they would describe Perseus in a slightly more exaggerated way; and yet that did not mean they were any less true. A bringer of Victory. The Right Hand of the Gods. The Lion of the Gods."

The campers sat in awe. These were no measly titles. Each one as significant as the next. The weight of expectations that would come with these should have been nigh impossible for one person to handle. And the fact that even Gods, monsters and Titans had given him titles spoke volumes about the man.

"These very people will tell you the stories of the battles he went through when you ask them the question who is Perseus. They will paint the picture of a warrior of unmatched skill. And so they should. He was a fine hero. In fact, I would go as far as saying that there was, is and will be no one better. And there can be seldom few who would argue against my claim. And they would be wrong." This was a bold statement. A statement that held significance on a lot of different levels.

There had been many great heroes in ancient times. Perseus the son of Zeus, Achilles, Theseus to name a couple. But to say that the son of Amphitrite was better than all of them was a huge thing to say. To also say that even in the future there would be no one better. But perhaps the most significant, especially to those present, was the fact that the God of the Sun had just told them all that no matter how hard they tried, no matter what they accomplished, they would never reach the level of the Flagbearer.

A few of those present had looked towards Artemis and her hunters, just waiting for them to jump in and deny this statement that Apollo had spouted that he claimed was fact. But they found no such denial from the moon Goddess. Some even nodded in affirmation. The demigods were dumbfounded as they turned back to Apollo.

"My point is simple. You hear these stories of Perseus and all you hear about, is the warrior that Perseus is…was. But that doesn't answer the question who is Perseus." Apollo took a breath as he tried to recompose himself. This was difficult for him to get through. "To answer this question all you need to do is ask someone who knew him personally. And they will answer the question like this."

Apollo looked around. He had their attention. They all wanted to know about Perseus the person.

"Perseus was a man of exemplary morals and character. He had to be, to travel with the hunt so long and gaining their respect. Always putting the wellbeing and safety of others first. His duty was of utmost importance. Sometimes when you hear the stories, they neglect to tell you all of this." Apollo held out his arms, gesturing to the whole crowd. "He was a demigod, just like you. Flesh and blood, just like you. He also had feelings, just like you." Apollo took a deep breath.

"It was the time when Lord Zeus assigned us with the task of capturing Prometheus, who had angered him by escaping from his punishment. The titan joined up with the large monster forces that were gathering. Artemis and her hunters had completed their own mission but wouldn't reach us until the night, so we were on our own against at least a thousand of them. Perseus himself was in Atlantis at Poseidon's request, but he was on his way to us after we messaged him."

Some of the campers and hunters had already pieced together what the story of the night would be. Tonight, was going to be a tragic tale. A story of loss and grief. The tears were threatening to flow from Apollo's eyes. This was personal for the Sun God and he had not relived the moment he lost his companions so publicly before.

"Being a hero and tragedy go hand in hand," Apollo continued. "Achilles and Patroclus. Heracles and his family. Just a few examples. Tonight, is the tale of the tragedy in Perseus's life. Why he was the last one of my army remaining. How he became the lonely one. Tonight's story is about how the Army of Apollo laid down their lives in battle."

Line Break

It was an early dawn in Greece. A warm summer breeze flowed through the clearing. A bright green field, surrounded by an assortment of tall trees. A large and wide river ran through, ebbing and flowing as it ran through the field and into the forest. The sun starting to rise, bathing everything in a yellowy-gold glow would've made this a peaceful and picturesque scene, had it not been for the hordes of monsters camped here.

Apollo's men had been trailing Prometheus, the Titan of Forethought and Crafty Counsel, on Zeus's orders. The Titan had consistently pissed off the King of Olympus, who demanded the former ally be brought in front of him bound in chains. They had tracked him down the night before, only to see that he had joined, and now led, an enormous army composed of Empousa, Dracaenae, Hell Hounds, Lycanthropes and others. It was an ominous sight.

The Army of Apollo had reported back to Apollo who had then told Zeus. Zeus's message was clear. Engage the beasts and stop their march on Olympus. It was a daunting task. Apollo had pleaded to his Father to rescind the orders that would be suicidal. But to no avail.

That was what faced Apollo's men. The twenty of them were outnumbered at least fifty to one. Those were not good odds. Their Flagbearer had been summoned by Poseidon to Atlantis for political matters sometime a couple of weeks ago and had still not returned. So, to make things worse, their best warrior was not amongst their ranks.

Apollo stood in front of his men, with KD and Doc by his side in the absence of Perseus. They all watched warily as Prometheus sauntered forwards towards them waving a white flag. He was accompanied by a couple of Dracaenae and a Cyclopes.

"Apollo," the Titan greeted the Sun God with a nod of acknowledgement. The titan had long, flowing black hair and grey eyes that darted around, constantly in thought. The Titan had opted for a shortened height of seven foot, rather than the original twenty. The trio tensed as the titan and his entourage stopped in front of them. Their peace party did nothing to quell their nerves.

"As you can see, we outnumber you. Heavily so. There needs to be no blood shed today. Zeus is power hungry and he cares not whether you or your men are hurt in his quest to rule with an iron fist. Take my word for it. You shall lose this battle should you fight. I have foreseen it." Apollo's fists were clenched tight as the Titan spoke. "You know me Sun God, we were allies once. I always choose the winning side. You will all die in vain. Save yourselves."

"We do not wish to hear your words silver tongued Titan. Save your crafty counsel and surrender, otherwise we shall be forced to capture you, regardless of the potential harm that may be inflicted upon us. We shall die as heroes." It was KD who spoke as he scoffed at the titan. Doc nodded at these words. The Army of Apollo had trained for these moments. They knew death was inevitable either sooner or later. And they would welcome it with open arms.

"Very well. You shall have an hour to prepare. After which this pristine green clearing shall become laden with the red of your men Apollo. Such a shame to make this into a battlefield." And with that, the temporary truce party was disbanded as the sides prepared for a fight.

Apollo gathered his men round. He eyed them all as they started donning their armour and readying themselves for the fight of their lives. He knew they had vastly improved over the years, but this was something else entirely. Lives would be lost. But the monsters were gathering and mounting a charge towards Olympus and they had to be stopped.

"I have had the pleasure of your company over the many years," Apollo began. "You have become brave warriors and each of you should be proud of the achievements you have gained. That being said. None of you have to give up your lives today. Any of you can leave and no one would think any less of you."

The members of Apollo's Army looked at each other as they took in Apollo's words. An unspoken understanding passed between them all. None of them would leave and abandon the others. A proud smile crossed the Sun God's face. Whilst he was upset with what Zeus had decreed, his men were doing what they had been taught to do. There were many lives that they were defending. Those nature spirits near Olympus, other demigods, and even mortals. The monsters would go after them all. It was their duty to protect them or die trying.

They were all on alert as they heard the unmistakeable sound of hooves clip-clopping their way towards them. They all turned, weapons drawn towards the sound. They were met with the sight of their Flagbearer making his way towards them. His faced held a worried expression as he looked at Prometheus's army.

"Brothers, I apologise for reaching so late. And for being away." The sight of Perseus arriving, sword drawn in his right hand, and the Flag in his left hand, had caused morale to increase.

"Just in time Perseus." He was met with grins from them all, showing him that they were glad he was here. Perseus turned to Apollo.

"So, what's the plan Lord Apollo?" Before Apollo could answer, he hunched over in pain clutching his head. When he rose again, his eyes were a piercing gold. Apollo swayed from side to side, in a trance. His men tried to snap him out of it, but they knew there was no point.

Apollo could feel an unfamiliar presence form inside his head. The pain was excruciating and unbearable.

Apollo, son of Zeus and Leto. I am Ananke. It is my duty to ensure that the course of Fate remains absolutely balanced. And for Fate to be in balance, Perseus should not be allowed to fight. He should not be allowed on to the battlefield. The reasons are not your concern. Should he fight, Fate shall be forced to maintain the balance, and the price will be hefty. As the God of Truth, you know that I speak nothing but the truth. Ensure the will of Fate is carried out.

And with that the presence vanished. Apollo's knees felt weak. That was the power of a Primordial. They had to be followed. Perseus was not going to like this.

"I'm sorry Perseus. You know that sometimes Fate speaks through me. And it has spoken again. You are not permitted to fight. I don't know why you have been singled out. But if we don't want the wrath of Fate brought down upon us, then we have to listen to the will of Fate." Perseus and the rest of the army stood dumbfounded. Then Perseus snapped as he dragged Apollo to the side.

"Then did you call me hear to watch helplessly as my brothers die in front of me?" The Flagbearer was near tears. These were his brothers. How could he stand by and watch as they fought and fell in front of his very eyes? His eyes regained their steely resolve. "there must be a mistake. Some way I can fight. Please Apollo. I can't just sit by." Apollo shook his head sadly as Perseus's shoulders sagged.

"Then I shall enter the battlefield and retrieve the bodies to make sure they are not desecrated by the enemy. And I shall protect them that way." Apollo's eyes glowed gold again. He nodded once Ananke had confirmed that this was allowed.

"You will be allowed to go to collect their bodies and fight your way to them, but that is all. For all our sakes, do not tempt fate." Perseus nodded. KD put his hand on Perseus's shoulder.

"Do not worry brother. If we fall, we fall in battle. A death worthy for heroes. We have trained for these moments. We shall do you proud." Before Perseus could respond, a horn went off. Their hour was up.

The archers were set in place as the monster army surged forward. Once they were in range, Apollo's archers fired arrow upon arrow into the mass of monsters. Gold dust and a sulphurous smell was the only evidence remaining to indicate the loss of monsters. To the naked eye, the army of monsters just kept coming.

Once the monsters had come too close for the arrows, the members of Apollo's army drew their other weapons as they engaged them head on.

Perseus watched on from his horse, perched on a small knoll. He felt pride as he watched the skill with which his men fought. But he felt even more worried as he watched on. How he yearned to be among them, fighting alongside his brothers. He was the Flagbearer, their commander, and yet he sat away from the enemy.

They fought for a while, his men holding their own, until stamina became an issue. The sun was beating down, the heavy armour doing them no favours against the heat and the men is Apollo's army started to feel the fatigue. The first man fell, calling out to Apollo, his Lord in a final farewell.

Perseus surged forward towards the fallen comrade. His horse understanding his master's plight as it sped across the clearing to the voice that had called out. Riptide sliced through the monsters that had gathered around, hoping to loot, pillage and mutilate the body. He slid off his horse and fell to his knees beside the body. There was no pulse and no breath. Perseus closed the eyes of his brethren, and with a gentleness that was reminiscent of a lover's touch, he brought the body back to the campsite, laying him down on the ground.

One by one, more bodies fell, calling out to Apollo in a final farewell. The God himself was unable to fight due to ancient laws. Perseus knew how he felt. Frustrated, angry, yet sorrowful as he saw his friends' blank, dead eyes as he carried them back to the camp.

Perseus was snapped out of his reverie by Lethe's cry. The spear of a Dracaenae had pierced his armour and gone through his chest.

Before Perseus knew it, he'd torn through the monsters to reach Lethe. He dismounted off the horse and knelt by his friend. The blood was pooling around and Perseus knew he was seconds from having his soul taken by Thanatos. Lethe coughed up blood as Perseus brought Lethe's head on his lap. Lethe chuckled shakily.

"Perseus my friend. This is where we part ways. I hope we meet again in Elysium." He coughed up more blood. "I know people say I forget a lot of things. But I could never forget you or any of the others. You were my family. I'll never regret a moment we spent together. Don't forget me hmmm." Lethe's breaths were ragged and shaky. He never even heard Perseus's response of never as he died in Perseus's arms. Perseus wept openly as he gently laid Lethe on the ground.

"Fates give me strength," he cried as he put his hands on the spear and dislodged it out of his brother's chest. He lifted Lethe up gently and placed him on the horse with him as he rode back to the campsite.

One by one his brothers in arms fell. Perseus fought away hordes of monsters as he reached their fallen bodies, and with gentle hands that shook from grief, he brought them back to the campsite they had once shared. Even KD had fallen.

The son of Ares had been cutting monsters left and right. His prowess on the battlefield there for all to see. It had taken thirty of them ganging up on him to fall the mighty son of Ares. Doc had been the last to fall. The son of Apollo was the main medic and had been going round trying help those with treatable injuries before he joined the fight himself. Perseus was once again by his friends' side, frantically trying to help.

"Tell me how to treat you Doc. You're the medic so tell me what to do." Perseus was pleading him. They were the final two alive out of Apollo's army. After this Perseus would be all alone. Doc chuckled for a split second, before it turned into a hacking cough as he spat out blood.

"There's no treating this one Perseus. Before I die, I just wanted to thank you. It was because of you that we had the strength to go on. We were never good enough before you arrived. But you instilled this confidence, this drive in us that pushed us. I will forever be grateful to you for this." And with that the son of Apollo passed away.

Perseus held the body in a tight embrace as he wept aloud unashamed. He had lost his family today. He may have his mother and father and brother in Atlantis, but they were Gods. These were all demigods, like him and this was the first place he felt he truly belonged. As Perseus placed Doc's body with the rest of his brothers, he heard the gloating of Prometheus.

"Is that all Apollo? the battle started just after dawn and now, at midday, when you are at your most powerful, your army has fallen. You should have accepted my offer at the beginning. Now you shall rue the day you ignored the counsel of Prometheus.

Perseus seethed with rage. This Titan had caused him to lose many of those who were dear to him. His eyes were full of tears as he glared at the offending deity. All of a sudden, his head exploded in pain as he felt a presence force its way into it. it said just five words.

Go Perseus. Unleash your rage!

Perseus listened. He trudged forward, finally allowed to grace the battlefield to fight. He had been granted permission, and he was going to annihilate the titan. He felt the familiar tugging at his gut, but he held it for a bit as he reached the top of the hill and stared at Prometheus and his army.

The titan laughed as he saw the lone demigod standing with his sword drawn in his right hand. "Did you not see what has already occurred? Go demigod and report back to the Gods that their reign is coming to an end." Perseus didn't budge, allowing his anger to accumulate. Prometheus got tired of waiting.

"Who are you demigod? So that we may tell your tale when we describe what happens to those that refuse to listen to us." Perseus finally let the tugging in his gut loose. Instead of the usual calmness, there was an angry rage building. Like a storm brewing, on the edge of erupting.

"I am Perseus." Prometheus couldn't control the gasp that escaped his lips; nor could he control the words The Destroyer leaving his mouth. Just the name had caused this effect. The Titan took a shaky step backwards, before he turned to his gathered army.

"Attack him! And finish this." The army roared as it advanced towards the lone demigod. Perseus stood still as his rage and despair took over him. The deaths of his brothers running through his mind. Having to lift their broken bodies back to their camp. The tugging in his gut was at bursting point. He finally let it loose with a cry of anguish.

It was like all the pressure had been released at once in an explosion of power. The winds started whipping around, building in strength as they swirled around the clearing. Amassing at such quick speeds until they formed a miniature hurricane. The hurricane caused the army to break into disarray, spreading them out across the clearing.

Perseus took a step forward. A colossal earthquake resonated through the clearing, causing them to lose their footing and fall onto the ground. Some landed on their own weapons as they turned to gold dust.

Perseus thrust out his hands. The river that flowed behind the monster army exploded from its bank. Watery hands emerged and plucked monsters into the river, drowning them, causing the crystal-clear waters to glimmer with gold.

Prometheus and the few monsters who had managed to escape watched on as the very elements turned against them. And all this demigod had done was said his name, taken a step forward and thrust out his hands. That was all it had taken for the army of monsters to diminish in numbers from the thousands to a hundred. The elements trapped the monsters and funnelled them out, leaving them with only one route of escape. Towards Perseus.

The demigod waited for the monsters to reach him; a feral grin etched on his face. It was like watching a demon. Monsters were being sliced in half as soon as they reached him. Slice, jab, parry. It was like Perseus was invincible as he tore through the hordes that came at him. Anyone that was not killed by either the hurricane, the earthquakes or the river, was dealt with swiftly by the son of Amphitrite.

Prometheus watched as his victory and revenge was snatched away by one demigod. A powerful one though. His own domain of foresight was not working. He couldn't look ahead and see what was coming. He had not seen Perseus, which only meant one thing. Perseus was above his powers of foresight. There was no planning for Perseus. You could only do as Prometheus had done and run away and hope that you weren't caught in his wrath. Prometheus ran away before his army had been obliterated. Their loss was inevitable. There would be no victory today, it would be a battle for another day.

There were no more monsters left, yet Perseus's rage still remained. The hurricane and earthquakes still caused their destruction on the clearing. The river still continued to burst out of its banks as it threatened to drown anything in the surrounding area. Perseus had lost control of his anger as it manifested in his powers lashing out.

A flash in the clearing signalled the arrival of the Queen of the Seas as she materialised, taking note of the carnage that was being unleashed. Perseus was kneeling, his face marred with sweat. His jaw was clenched in anger, but his face also showed clear fatigue. She embraced her son, whispering calming words as she tried to bring Perseus back under control before he destroyed the clearing.

Slowly, the winds died down, the tremors halted and the river calmed. Perseus had been reduced to a weeping mess in his mother's embrace. Amphitrite and Poseidon had noticed the earthquakes, and had quickly deduced that Perseus was the cause. Amphitrite's motherly instincts had immediately told her something was wrong, and she had flashed out in an instant.

"What happened?" She received no reply from her son, who was inconsolable as he muttered, I am all alone again over and over. She was about to ask again when she felt Ananke's presence again. I wish we were speaking under different circumstances but alas, this was necessary. Perseus's full range of powers have been unleashed. You had asked for a weapon; well, a weapon is both protective and offensive. The protective side came out when he fought against Oceanus. But this is his destructive side. He needed a strong negative emotion to unlock this, and he finally has one. He was still fighting for a cause; to not let their deaths go in vain. But the underlying intentions were of revenge, and that is why things happened as they did. He is capable of such destruction, even he does not fully know the extent to which he can improve. I am but a representative of fate. I only ensure that fate is at a balance. Unfortunately, the lives of Apollo's army were to be sacrificed. He shall gain control of even this aspect of his powers. Look after him Amphitrite.

Amphitrite decided that she would not tell this to Perseus. He would simply shoulder the blame. For his own wellbeing, she vowed she would tell him after a few years.

She gave him a couple of minutes to clam down, before he rose and wiped the tears from his eyes. Amphitrite watched as he made his way towards the bodies of his fallen brothers. He went inside one of the tents, returning moments later with a spade as he began digging the graves for the fallen.

Amphitrite made to dig the graves by a flick of her hands, but Perseus stopped her. He wanted to bury them by hand. It was the least he could do. The Queen of the Seas understood that he needed space at the moment. She hugged him briefly before placing a reassuring arm on his shoulder.

At some point the night had fallen as Perseus buried his brothers, tears falling freely as he did so. Artemis and her hunters arrived, only to take in the scene surrounding them. There were a pile of bodies by the camp. The clearing itself looked like it had been through hell. Large cracks in the ground, the clearing flooded and trees uprooted. But Artemis and her hunters had eyes for only one thing. They all watched as the Flagbearer, with the gentleness of a mother carrying her infant, carried the bodies of Apollo's men and buried them. The Hunt bowed their heads as they carried out a moment of silence for the fallen.

When the sun had risen of this day, it had seen the Army of Apollo gathered as a family. But it was the moon, it was the moon that saw the Flagbearer mourning that army.

A/N: done! Let me know how it was. Leave a review about what you thought. I wasn't overly satisfied with this chapter so may change it later but I finally got it to be satisfactory for my standards which is why it took so long to release. I do hope you enjoyed it! We saw that Percy's powers have a destructive and a protective side depending on the situation.

Only about 5/6 chapters left until the timelines merge. See you next time!