First Shot
AUGUST 18, 1997
A faint giggle can be heard in a solitary dark room of New York. It is a baby. A new born one. Raven black hair swept across its head, sea green eyes glimpsing to the stranger over the crib. A sweet chuckle escapes the stranger's mouth. "You have a long path ahead of you. I do not know who you will become. But after millennia's of planning I am ready to take the risk. You have great potential. Never have I seen a newborn demigod with so much raw energy. May this gift help you, for you are now beyond even my touch .Goodbye; till we meet again." With this the dark figure vanished into the dark. The sea green eyes turn black for a moment and the next moment it returns to vibrant green. The newborn son of Poseidon and Neptune fell asleep soon.
A roar sails through the night sky of Olympus at that exact moment:
"Let the fate run its course."
August 18, 2013( 16 years later)
Olympus is thrown into chaos. THE clashing sound of metal against metal can be heard throughout the throne room. Inside are engaged in battle two legendary blades along with their masters- Percy Jackson, son of Poseidon, with Riptide or Anaklusmos and The Titan King Kronos with his scythe. The battle is raging for half an hour and Percy can feel himself getting tired. He has to advance with surprise and end the battle quickly as his adrenaline rush is slowly fading down though the curse of Achilles making it possible to fight without major injuries.
"Give up Jackson. You are not winning this battle and I will make sure to end your fate here."
"Perhaps you are getting retarded grandpa. I am beyond the fates, the fates themselves deliver the message when I saved Zoe."
"Not this time. You are gonna die here."
"You know, the dialogue is getting pretty old, from Minotaur to you, every monster I have faced had said the same thing. Perhaps something new like " I am surrendering ". That will suite you, coward. Hiding behind my friend's body."
"You dare compare me to worthless monsters! I will make your death very painful."
"You are nothing better and I am not planning to die today, so not happening."
"You imbecile lowlife!"
Kronos thrusts his scythe with brutal force, effectively throwing the demigod to the other end of the power dome they are in.
"You are going to lose anyway. Why not pledge loyalty to me? I can give you a position as my commander. You are the strongest demigod alive; surely you need a high praise than what the gods give to you. Join me and I will spare you and your pretty girlfriend."
Percy stands up abruptly; clutching his sides, and takes a minute to stare at his surroundings. The force field casted by Kronos is not letting the gods and his friends to come close. He quickly scans the faces in the crowd in the throne room. Annabeth, his girlfriend of almost 11 months, is on the verge of crying. Thalia, Grover, Nico, Zoe, Katie, Clarisse, Chris, Stolls and Chiron ware the expression of fear and worry. His dad Poseidon and adoptive mother Hestia are desperately trying to break the shield. Surprisingly Apollo, Artemis and Hermes are accompanying them. The rest of the gods are trying to contain the energy reflecting from the shield. But, to his astonishment even Zeus and Ares are looking somehow worried. Then Kronos' offer hits him like a train. He can have an actual life if he accepts. What good have the gods done to him anyway? They are only trying to kill him since birth. May be he should accept …..
He shakes away the dreadful thoughts. Kronos is playing with his mind again. He is manipulating him like Ares. He has to defeat Kronos. He is the champion of hearth. He has held the sky. He has survived Labyrinth. He has formed a family and has a loving girlfriend and best friend. He cannot let them die. He cannot let the sacrifices go in vain. Beckendorf, Silena, Bianca, Michel Shaw, Lee Fleecher, Ethan Nakamura and many more. May be the some gods have tried to kill him sometimes. But he cannot hold grudges. He has to let go. He will change the gods. He will make them the whole family again, not some grown up idiots yelling at each other. He is Percy Jackson and Jacksons do not make promises they cannot keep. Or his mother is going to ground him for an eternity… ah! He has to focus. Stupid ADHD.
He once more assessed his situation. It is very unlikely for him to win. Just like Mount Othrys. May be he just has to…..
He makes up his mind. If his plan goes well, he will not survive, but his family would. Hermes's words ring in his ears; how he regretted not for being with his family in need. He thinks about Luke's broken promise to Annabeth- how he abounded her for his revenge. HE is not Luke, he is going to defend his family even if take his ultimate sacrifice. He will never get to go home. Sally and Paul will grieve, but he has to do it. A fate worse than death he will embrace.
Percy POV
"I yield."
"Ah! At last you have come to your senses.", Kronos grins, "Come Perseus, surrender and join me."
Meanwhile the energy shield has gone down and the gods are staring at me with mouth open agape, and pain of betrayal in their eyes. The worst is that of Annabeth. I know what she is thinking of me- just another Luke. But I have to stick to my plan. I cannot let them suffer for an eon in exchange of a moment. Just if I can establish a mind link with my father…
Suddenly an image flashes into my mind like a distant memory, one I am not supposed to have, but it feels familiar…..
A dark figure is hovering over a baby. The baby is just like me, like a baby version of me. The figure said," You have a long path ahead of you. I do not know who you will become. But after millennia's of planning I am taking a risk. You have great potential. Never had I seen a newborn demigod that can trace me. May this gift help you, for you are now beyond even my touch. Goodbye till we meet again." The sea green eyes turn black for a moment and the next moment it returns to vibrant green. Then the figure turns to me, "It is time." I try to ask when what he does mean, but he slashes a hand over my face and the flashback ends.
I gasp into the present and a new kind of power coursed through me. Not the I-can-lift-and-smash-you kind of energy, but a calm one. I can feel every energy signature in the throne room. Every god, minor deity, ruin, demigod, naiad, nature spirit, wind spirit and space. The entire space if full with small energy pouches, but the biggest signature is radiating from Kronos, who is grinning evilly at me. If I can gather the rest of the free energy, maybe I can execute my plan.
"Jackson, stop day dreaming and embrace your destiny like a man", snarls Kronos.
"Yeah, I am going to embrace my destiny, but I am doing it my style"
Confusing the entire room, I lock eyes with my confused father and mother (Hestia, not Sally), and speak through a mind link, "Give me your full immortal blessings"
"Percy!", they both hissed, " Achilles' curse or not, it will kill you."
"Mom and Dad, please trust me."
They reluctantly nod and close their eyes. Suddenly I feel a major energy rush, which will burn me if I do not use it at once. And concentrating on the free energy around me I feel a familiar tug in my stomach and let loose.
Third Person POV
A sudden burst of energy erupts from Percy and he lets loose a ear-piercing cry. The entire room shakes from the radiating power from the son of earthshaker and slowly the energy concentrates around Kronos and him. Percy can feel Kronos trying to sustain the energy and failing. Slowly he pulls everything within him and concentrates on opening a portal.
"No, no, no!", Kronos howls in pain as the energy barrier around them stars to bind him.
"YOU cannot contain me demigod! I am the titan king." Kronos tries to create an energy doom around Percy, but fails miserably.
"Impossible! A single demigod cannot posses as much as this energy."
"Then there are many things that are impossible, but I am Percy Jackson." Percy answers in a deep voice, while encircling Kronos and himself into the energy barrier required opening the portal.
All of a sudden a 10 scale earthquake hits the room and a portal appears below Percy and Kronos, revealing a dark pit under it.
Kronos and the gods have their eyes open fully in realization and fear. "Grandpa, time to go home", chides Percy.
"No, no I am not returning there! Jackson close it or we will both fell into It.", Kronos exclaims in fear.
"Actually that's the plan", Percy replies, drawing themselves into the portal.
Annabeth POV
"Actually that's the plan." Realization hits me like train. My Seaweed Brain is going to drag Kronos back to Tartarus and he is going to fall there himself to ensure Kronos' fall.
No, no, no …. He, he cannot leave me like that, not when we are going to settle in peace. He promised me to build something permanent for me, with me. He cannot leave me alone again. I madly dash to him but two strong pair of hands held me back- Chiron and Thalia. "Let me go!" I scream like a mad woman.
"Percy no!"
His sea green eyes, glowing from the raw power pulsing through him, lock with mine for a last time and he mouths "I am sorry; I love you".
The next moment the portal closes taking the energy shell containing Percy and Kronos.
Third Person POV
Chaos erupts in the throne room. The Olympians rush to the spot where the portal previously was. The floor is completely intact, as even the cracks from the battle have vanished, but no sign of Percy. Poseidon begins to open second portal to Tartarus, but it does not work, as if Tartarus himself is preventing him. He angrily begins to slam his fist into the floor, while Hestia tries to keep him at bay. All the present demigods and gods have tears in their eyes.
After a while the gods pull themselves up and with a motion of their hands instantly repair the damaged room and thrones. The demigods are not in so pleasant state. The sacrifice of their leader has moved them. Annabeth has collapsed from crying and is taken to the infirmary along with the injured ones.
-Time Skip 1 hour-
"Let the reward ceremony begin." Zeus starts the meeting with a thunderous BOOM! Many gods and goddesses roll their eyes at his dramatics. Hades, who is now sitting on a temporary throne, mumbles under his breath, "Drama Queen."
The demigods and hunters have assembled in front of the thrones, where their leader has stood last time. Cyclops and the underwater army of Poseidon also stand by them with a black piece of clothing on their shoulder to represent the loss of the SEA PRICNE. Clearly they are not over the shock yet. Annabeth, Thalia, Nico, Zoe stand with each other with red puffy eyes. They have taken the blow the worst. Even Chiron still has tears in his eyes as well as Percy's close friends and the new oracle Rachel Elizabeth Dare. The hearth of Hestia is representing the mood of mass- a dim blue glow.
"Well as we know," Zeus starts with a cough," we have gathered today on Olympus to thank our allies in the war and award the worthy heroes and heroines. "At first I want to thank my brothers, without whom it will be diffi..", he stumbles upon the glares he is receiving from the rest of the council,"…..impossible to defend Olympus. We want to thank every deity present in this room to help us in winning the war. Now let the heroes and heroines receive their award."
"Zoe Nightshade and Thalia Grace", Thalia winces at the mention of her last name. "The council has decided to make you two complete Immortal and assignee you as the immortal companion of the hunt. Do you accept?"
Zoe and Thalia almost burst in joy and exclaim together, "We accept."
Artemis shoots two orbs of silver at them. They glow with energy and grow to a new height, before returning to normal. They happily sit at the steps of the throne of Artemis.
-Line brake after the award giving to rest of the demigods-
As the award ceremony reaches its end, Lady Iris suddenly stands up and raises hand.
"Yes, lady Iris?", Poseidon asks.
"I have an important message to deliver. You can see it through the mist recording. But before that, I swear on river Styx that I have not interfered or manipulated in any part of the message nor have I forced the person behind the message into recording anything in it." Thunder roars in distant sealing the oath. Nothing happens, thus proving Lady Iris' innocence.
An Iris message pops up into the middle of the throne room revealing none other than the Hero of Olympus. The background is showing a room of the palace of Iris on Olympus. Percy has Riptide open in his hand, like he is in middle of something haste.
"If you are seeing this message, I am probably dead. Do not worry, I have known of this from the beginning. I am sorry Dad, Mom, Paul, Mother Hestia, Grover, Annabeth, Thalia, Zoe, Clarisse, Nico, and my family, for I cannot stand by you in the moment of victory. Wisegirl, I am sorry for not keeping my promise to never leave you. Dad, please tell Mom that I am sorry for not returning home, and for all the pain I have ever caused to her. I hope she does not ground me in Elysium." Percy grumbles in the recording, erupting a wave of laughter in the room.
"However, when I was discussing the aftermath of the war with Mother(Hestia), she told me that the council is planning to offer me immortality if I save them. Sorry to disappoint, but I am not accepting Immortality or godhood. It is my sophomore year and I still have a big life to live with my Wisegirl. However I want some favors from the council which I want you to swear on Styx to fulfill."
"My wish is that, all demigods must be claimed and brought to the camp within the age of 13. No more unclaimed sad demigods. This is one of the major reasons of the titans getting stronger. They use our family against us. All the minor god and goddesses should get their own cabin in the camp. No more crowded rooms in the Hermes cabin. They have reason to rebel against us. They are our family, major or minor, stronger or weaker, it does not matter. And Uncle Hades also should get a cabin. Nico has already proved the worth of the house of Hades. I want you to forgive every demigod alive and dead who have joined Kronos' side, and peaceful titans like Leto and Calypso. Punishment will make Olympus no better than the titans. And before you ripe my head open, Lord Zeus, with due respect, I want to say that Fulfilling those wishes will not hurt the Olympians' dignity, it will only make our family more compact. God or not, we are Your family. Family will support you nonetheless. Just give everyone their due respect and…. Please control your temper. Do not kill somebody for a stupid prophesy. They cannot be avoided no matter what you do; perhaps meddling only will make it worse. No more rule of the big three. We are going to accept all the demigods regardless of their parentage and train them. Please build a monument representing every hero who has fallen in the war on Olympus. And lastly, please return the throne of Hestia and Hades on the council. They deserve more than what you give.
Sorry I have to go. Please fulfill my wishes. I request not as a warrior or hero, but as your son, cousin, or nephew." With that the Iris message dissolves, taking the last sign of the hero of Olympus.
Silence fills the entire room. Everybody thinks Zeus to deny anything to Percy.
Instead Zeus extends his hand and says, "Anybody objects to not fulfill any wish of my nephew?"
Gods-smacked is the expression of the rest of the people in the room. Poseidon and Hades nearly fell out of their throne. Even Athena looks surprised.
"All in favor?"
All the gods present in the room lifts their hand, even Dionysius. It is a sight to behold as all the council members agree on an argument.
"We, Olympus council, swear on River Styx and our immortality to fulfill the wishes of Perseus Jackson as soon as possible."
As soon as the verdict passes, all the demigods cheer in joy," For Olympus."
Zeus interrupts them," You are saying it wrong."
Seeing all the stares he is getting, Zeus shrugs, "Is there anything on my face?". That breaks the gods from their stupor.
"Now repeat after me; For Percy Jackson!"
"For Percy Jackson!" A collective roar louder than ever rolls off the entire Olympus.
Olympus has finally reunited under a single man.
-Line brake-
Three months later
It is a pleasant evening in Camp Half-blood. Chilling wind is blowing from the sea; a silent feeling of warmth covers the camp. All the campers are fast asleep. Well, except a blond girl in the bathroom of cabin three. For nightmares, she is allowed to stay there along with the rest of the possessions of the Hero of Hope. Yea, that is what they are calling the demigod leader. There is also a statue of him, holding Riptide in one hand and wielding Kronos' scythe in another in triumph, while holding the sky on his shoulders. The statue is designed by Annabeth herself. There is also a metal plate describing all his achievements and titles, including "The son of Poseidon, The chosen son of Hestia, Wisegirl's Seaweedbrain". Annabeth blushes recalling the topmost title. Aphrodite and Hestia have insisted on it, against all the protests.
Annabeth is feeling uneasy for a couple of days. She is vomiting now and then and is tiring too much. She has gone the Apollo campers, but nothing wrong has been detected. So Will Solace, the current Apollo counselor, has taken her aside and given her a box of pregnancy test materials. She is currently in the bathroom of Poseidon Cabin, waiting for the result with a rush of happiness and anxiety in chest. She has not still moved on from Percy, and has no intentions for the rest of life. She has only had sex once with Percy. If that means that Percy has still left her something permanent…? With shaking hands, she holds up the result.
There are three strips in the reading. She is pregnant.
## Slow update. Just bear with me and the spelling mistakes (English is not my mother tongue).