LET THE GREAT GAME BEGIN
ANNABETH POV
I didn't know what to make of Percy Jackson.
I first heard his name from Grover when he was talking with Chiron and Mr. D about a demigod with a very strong scent and as the discussion went on I didn't know if I was jealous of him or felt pity for him but now I am pretty sure I have a crush on him now.
Snap out of it dumbass. You are in the Underworld heading to the Lord of the Dead's palace after almost being pulled into a pit that leads to hell on Earth.
In no essence was Percy perfect like Luke. He is a rash, disrespectful, stupid, oblivious (Luke was oblivious too but for different reasons), has no sense of self-preservation, low on confidence and not mention a little crazy and yet I found myself staring at him whenever he wasn't looking and the idiot didn't know.
He looked so remarkable. I mean even if he wasn't yet give him two years and he would have been. All demigods look good. They just have to grow into it.
Percy grew into it alright. He had long unkempt raven black hair that stuck out in all the right ways making me want to run my hands through it. He was tall. Heck, I prided myself in being one of the tallest at my age but Percy easily had two inches on me. The scar on his face gave him a rugged handsomeness. He was well-built too. All the swimming, archery and sword fighting helped him with it.
You heard me right. Percy Jackson was trained and very well trained at that. He had been able to continue in the same school for three years because of his achievements in the sports arena for his abilities as a demigod. His dad was Poseidon and swimming came as easy to him as breathing and his general talent as a demigod let him excel in both Archery and Sword fighting.
He was above average at best but the sports achievements kept in the school. He might not be invited this year because he got into too many fights defending Grover this year from bullies but still for a demigod to go to the same school for more than a year was unheard of.
He came to camp half dead and carrying an unconscious Grover after losing his mother to the Minotaur and killing it. He carried the horn with him and used it to make a dagger and carry it in his shoe, paranoid much. He stayed in camp for two months but it was more than enough to establish him as a very capable demigod.
He could wield the sword and bow well. Almost too well in case of the bow making Chiron eliminate him being a son of Poseidon almost immediately. He was no slouch with the sword either. He was no Luke and had flaws but he more than made up for it by being completely crazy and random. You would expect him to do one thing and he would do something completely different.
He picked up the basics of all the other weapons easily. Almost too easily. I had seen Clarisse train her abilities for three years under the best tutor she could even have and Percy put her in the ground with barely a scratch. It was almost pitiful to look at.
Grover even said he was trained in hand to hand combat. So boxing, mixed martial arts and karate. His mother had apparently joined him when he was nine and he has been regularly going there ever since. Grover had seen him take out older and uglier guys then him with little to no difficulty. They weren't demigods so it didn't count.
But, I had seen him fight too. He had talent and put up a good fight against Clarisse and her goons until Marcus snuck up from behind him. Then there was the waterworks. The kind of training he had would have made even an Aphrodite camper jealous (they don't even learn to fight. They just point and giggle when the guys are fighting).
But that wasn't why I was jealous. His mother cared about him. Cared about him enough to go through abuse of a useless drunk so she could protect Percy while my father couldn't care less. I then remembered what Percy said in the Truck.
I had seen first hand results of the abuse. Belt marks on Percy's back, the slash on his face and the horrible piercing on his shoulder. I shuddered remembering that and had half a mind to huge the clumsy fool when I saw him change when at the Casino but managed to restrain myself and my blush during that time. The image of his tanned torso came to my mind, making me blush again.
His mother was okay with the abuse to protect him but when it was round up on Percy she blew up. Went ballistic causing the neighbors to get involved and one long summer full of court procedures later the Jacksons were free from Gabe Uligano and had a huge sum of money as money from the divorce. They took up a nice apartment and got a new car and joined Percy in a good school for him to follow his talents in swimming and later archery and sword fighting. It was shocking to know a school to have sword fighting classes but it was considered some time of sport so who was I to object.
But the talent or his looks didn't draw Annabeth Chase's heart and eyes to him. He was just so good. He was nice to almost everyone even Clarisse though it all went down the drain when he got claimed but still he was nice, caring, understanding (even to the Gods though everyone was bitter), fun to talk about though I tried my best not to laugh or smile about any of his jokes and it was getting harder and it didn't cause any problems that the idiot was cute.
She had seen more of his nature during their journey to the Underworld. He kept throwing himself in to help and keep her and Grover safe. The bus with the Furies, the Griffin, the Chimera, the Orcs, the Warthogs and even at the Amusement park for the Spiders.
This was where they were different. While Luke cared and he was kind, that was only to them. Percy Jackson was a kind human being in general. Trying to get her courage up, making Grover more confident. Tackling a Chimera off a national monument to protect me, I meant the people. He was the kindest and most self-sacrificing individual I had the pleasure and displeasure to.
The boy seemed to take great delight in making my beat much faster than the healthy limit. The things he did might have left others in awe and fascinated by him but not me.
I didn't know it then but I was falling for Percy Jackson.
They had entered the castle of Hades and walked to the Throne Room.
Stop thinking about him Annabeth concentrate.
Five minutes was all it took for everything to go so wrong. Hades didn't steal the bolt and top of that his Helm of Darkness was missing and to tap it all of he was blaming Percy for the theft too. Oh for god's sake no one could have luck as bad as this.
"Return my helm now, or I will stop death," Hades threatened. "That is my counter proposal. I will open the earth and have the dead pour back into the world. I will make your lands a nightmare. And you, Percy Jackson-your skeleton will lead my army out of Hades."
The skeletal soldiers all took one step forward, making their weapons ready. At that point, I was terrified. This was how it was going to end. Looking for the King of the God's favorite toy while being accused of helping my crush threaten a God of Death.
I looked at Grover who looked frozen in shock but it was Percy's face that was difficult to understand. He looked offended.
"Nothing gets me angrier than being accused of something I didn't do. I've had a lot of experience with that " he told me on our way here when I asked why he was so angry.
"You're as bad as Zeus," Percy said. "You think I stole from you? That's why you sent the Furies after me?"
"Of course," Hades said.
"And the other monsters?" I asked.
Hades curled his lip. "I had nothing to do with them. I wanted no quick death for you-I wanted you brought before me alive so you might face every torture in the Fields of Punishment. Why do you think I let you enter my king-dom so easily?"
"Easily?"
"Return my property!"
"But I don't have your helm. I came for the master bolt."
"Which you already possess!" Hades shouted. "You came here with it, little fool, thinking you could threaten me!"
"But I didn't!"
"Open your pack, then."
A horrible feeling struck me. The weight in the back-pack, Percy was complaining about when they entered Hades's realm . It couldn't be...
Percy slung it off his shoulder and unzipped it. Inside was a two-foot-long metal cylinder, spiked on both ends, hum-ming with energy.
"Percy," I said shocked. Words didn't come out of my mouth. My throat felt as dry as parchment. "How-"
"I-I don't know. I don't understand."
"You heroes are always the same," Hades said. "Your pride makes you foolish, thinking you could bring such a weapon before me. I did not ask for Zeus's master bolt, but since it is here, you will yield it to me. I am sure it will make an excellent bargaining tool. And now ... my helm. Where is it?"
I was speechless. Percy had no helm. I could say that confidently. I might have doubted him ten days ago but now after I have traveled with him I could say that for sure. How the master bolt had gotten into the backpack. I wanted to think Hades was pulling some kind of trick. Hades was the bad guy. Flashes of the night Thalia died played in my mind.
But suddenly the world turned sideways. I realized that all of us had been played with. Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades had been set at each other's throats by someone else. The master bolt had been in the backpack, and we had gotten the backpack from ...
"Lord Hades, wait," Percy said. "This is all a mistake." He seems smarter than I gave him credit for.
"A mistake?" Hades roared. The skeletons aimed their weapons. From high above, there was a fluttering of leathery wings, and the three Furies swooped down to perch on the back of their master's throne.
"There is no mistake," Hades said. "I know why you have come-I know the real reason you brought the bolt. You came to bargain for her."
The image of Percy's mother was up and he moved towards it in an almost trance like state. Suddenly he stopped and his face hardened he looked to the God of the Underworld and said, "I swear on the River Styx neither me nor my father had anything to do with the theft of the Lightning Bolt or the Helm of Darkness"
Thunder rolled in the back and it was huge. Lord Hades just about lost his footing, almost falling to the ground. Even the Furies looked unsure.
"Godling."
"You heard me. I had nothing to do with it, neither did my dad"
"That was a dangerous risk you took Godling," said Hades, looking at Percy unsurly.
"I trusted my father like you should your brothers," said Percy.
Hades got angry, "You should be careful of what you say, half-blood," said Lord Hades his hands on Fire that was balck in color.
"Touch that boy brother and you face my full wrath," said a new figure who appeared in the middle of the Throne Room standing in the middle of the God and demigod.
The girl couldn't be older than eight but she was easily eight feet tall. She had long brown hair and fiery ember eyes. Instead of Ares's raging inferno's these were warm and comforting. She wore a hood over her which covered her regal features. The girl was glaring at Hades. The glare made the God of the Dead recoil into his throne.
"Hestia," said Hades, shocked.
"Sarah, what are you doing here?" Percy asked, shocked.
"Hello, Percy," said Sarah, Hestia. I am not sure.
"What are you doing here sister?" asked Lord Hades, looking unsure.
"I came to tell you that what he says is true and you know it. If you touch that boy you would have more than Poseidon to worry about," said Lady Hestia, the eldest daughter of Kronos and Rhea.
"Lady Hestia," said Percy, falling on his knees.
"It's aunt to you Percy," said Lady Hestia smiling.
Percy smiled a huge smile and thanked her.
"You can't interfere," said Mrs Dodds. "It's against the laws,"
"Ah, but not when the demigod is my champion which I just made him right before coming to the Underworld," said Lady Hestia with a cheeky smile.
"Champion," said Percy looking at the Goddess in shock.
"We will talk later, Percy," said Lady Hestia.
"But, what about my Helm," said Lord Hades, almost sounding like a petulant child.
"I will get it back Lord Hades," said Percy "In exchange for my mother,"
"You will do no such thing. Hades release the poor woman," said Lady Hestia sounding a lot like an older sister chastising her younger brother.
"But, Hestia..." the God spluttered.
Percy snickered in the corner and covered it up with a cough. It was hard not to. The scene was too funny.
"Perseus and Poseidon did nothing wrong, Hades. You know this now release Sally Jackson and give her to me," said Lady Hestia.
Hades grumbled for a few seconds but snapped his fingers. The fire around Percy's mother vanished. Percy was off almost immediately and he caught her in his arms. He checked her for a heartbeat and pulse.
"Thank you, My Lord and My Lady," said Percy, bowing to both of them.
"It's aunt Percy. I already told you," said Lady Hestia smiling.
"Give her to me, Percy. I dare say you have to head to Olympus and give the lightning bolt," Percy walked over to the Goddess and gave her his mother to the goddess. "I hear something happens to the boy Hades, you were there during the Titanomachy. You don't want to incur my wrath."
Lord Hades got paler than he already was, which was saying something because he looked like a sleek snow man until now. I was pretty sure I could see through him now.
"Oh, and Percy dear, use the pearls. I daresay they are more comfortable than anything I or your Uncle could whip up," said Lady Hestia as she vanished with Percy's mother. That was a lie. Those things had no way to be driven.
The Lord of the Underworld just stared at us looking like a thoroughly chastised puppy. Percy distributed the pearls among the three of us and we smashed them. Percy told the god about playing with Cerberus and reminded him of Charon's pay raise. He finally finished it with saying,
"The only way you can make them respect you is by doing something different Uncle,"
I didn't hear what was said after that.
LINE BREAK
PERCY POV
"Face it kid, you are not my level," said Ares glaring at me from behind his glasses as we locked blades at the beach of Santa Monica.
'Kick his ass Percy. I am growing tired of this obnoxious shit bag,' said Sirius from within some corner of my mind.
'I am trying and you are not helping,' I told Sirius as I pushed Ares back with as much strength as I could muster.
Things had gone well. I had said my piece to Lord Hades and got him thinking for the time being and the fight between me and Ares was going as it should.
"The results of the fight were different. The Cunning Aspect had suppressed Ares's desire to be dishonorable and attack after the fight was done. In actuality he would have attacked you and Grover would have taken the blow instead and dies. Your father sends help and manages to stop things before they could blow out of proportion and get you killed," said Clotho.
"Was that an important change. Quiet an instrumental one. It wasn't until Zoe died that you put extra time in your training. It would have started earlier and you would have been a better fighter and a few more lives including Bianca's were saved," said Lachesis.
I didn't need Grover to die for me because I had a plan. Well part of a plan.
A police voice on a megaphone said, "Drop the guns.' Set them on the ground. Now!"
Guns? I looked at Ares's weapon, and it seemed to be flicker-ing; sometimes it looked like a shotgun, sometimes a two-handed sword. I didn't know what the humans were seeing in my hands, but I was pretty sure it wouldn't make them like me.
Ares turned to glare at our spectators, which gave me a moment to breathe. There were five police cars now, and a line of officers crouching behind them, pistols trained on us.
"This is a private matter!" Ares bellowed. "Be gone.'"
He swept his hand, and a wall of red flame rolled across the patrol cars. The police barely had time to dive for cover before their vehicles exploded. The crowd behind them scattered, screaming.
Ares roared with laughter. "Now, little hero. Let's add you to the barbecue."
We began our dance again. Ares swiped and I deflected and I tried to fake him out with a feint but he blocked. The beachside was nothing more than a wreck of slashes and stabs from Ares that I had dodged. Vaguely I could see the cops crawling away for cover. I could feel Annabeth's necklace swinging about my neck and hitting my clavicle.
I dodged an overhead strike from Ares's sword by moving back and I immediately somersaulted and struck Ares with feet in his stomach making him grunt and move back. It was the momentary lack of composition on his part that gave me the opening I needed. I dashed forward getting close to Ares's feinting to my left and Ares on instinct went left but I stopped midway and moved the sword across horizontally. It was only Ares's fast reflexes that kept him from cleaved in two at his waist by sword.
Be that as it may I cut him across his abdomen making him hiss and bleed ichor. It wasn't very deep but deep enough to be uncomfortable. I didn't want to let the momentary victory away and immediately went on the offensive. I slashed left, right, center. I swung from above and below. I gave him feints, stabs and the occasional kick. He deflected and dodged all of them except for a kick that hit him on his sternum.
'Come on Perce, stop holding back. You have nothing to prove,' said Sirius.
In a way he was right. I had nothing to prove to anyone other than myself. I hadn't used any of the powers to prove to me that I was better and I won't use any till I win but I had a few tricks up my sleeve.
I swung to his left which Ares blocked and then I threw a feint to his right and half way through I spun around to landa strike to his left. Ares came up to block but on it's way to him my Riptide transformed into a War Hammer and struck him in his side. I could hear the distinct sound of his ribs cracking. Ares flew in the air and went flying for about fifteen meter and crashed into the sand.
Riptide went back to the familiar form of a six and a half foot tall Spear with foot and half tall blade. It had intricate designs of sea waves on the shaft and it's name inscribed near the blade. I could see Annabeth staring in shock and Grover staring in awe at Riptide.
Ares got up and spit out a bit of Ichor which gave me a huge amount of satisfaction.
"Not bad Punk. You got spunk but THIS ENDS NOW," said Ares as his biker clothes vanished to form a Greek Style armor. An ax was hanging on his back and his eyes and sword were on fire. The fire was red hot and the ground was sizzling where the God of War walked. He had a red hot aura around him. For the first time since this fight started I was scared. If it went too bad I always thought I could retort to my old plan but looking at Ares now I wasn't even sure if I was going to survive beyond this fight.
I felt Sirius's voice in my head, 'I have seen you kill a flying Pig while riding a flying horse. You can do this and you will do this. So, put aside your stupidity and use your powers.'
I didn't have to be told twice. I called a huge wave and made it crash on Ares but it did little to deter the man he kept taking deliberate steps towards me. He seemed to sizzle quite literally.
Riptide transformed into an English Longbow. I plucked out four arrows from my quiver and shot them in rapid succession. Ares deflected them all using his sword and they got embedded into the floor. As it turns out there were only twenty five arrows for the quiver but they returned after being used and in a few seconds. As I saw the four arrows embedded into the surface, an idea came to me. A very dangerous and crazy idea. I willed the arrows to stay where they were and started shooting the rest of the arrows hoping against hope for all of them to do something very specific.
The 25 arrows formed a sort of intricate pattern around Ares and as he walked by one of them to reach the trap sprung. Each arrow had a taser function and as Ares passed them they let out a high voltage electric shock. It caused the red aura Ares to crash back towards another arrow and get another shock. I transformed Riptide to my spear and felt it was almost two feet short. I paid it no mind and threw the spear at Ares. It went straight through the man's right pectoral pinning him to the ground. Immediately the arrows reacted and all of them let out a huge shock.
There was a bright light after which Ares looked barely recognizable. There were burnt and charred parts of him all over his huge torso. His leg looked like it was peeled off and heaps of Golden Ichor was flowing all around him.
'Great job lad now let's go torture a god and make him confess the truth we know you want your girlfriend to know,' said Sirius.
'Shut it,' I told Sirius
I walked towards Ares. Even in such a bad condition he was still smoking from the aura. As I got closer, I could feel a heat wave wash over me but I felt no damage from it. In fact I felt comforted. It was an odd and new feeling.
'From Lady Hestia's blessing,' said Sirius.
'How do you know that?' I asked him as I got closer to the prone and unmoving Ares.
'I got bored,' said Sirius defensively.
'So, you read about Greek blessings,' I asked him as I stopped by Ares and stabbed the spear deeper into his pectoral making him scream in pain. I placed my foot on his abdomen, specifically the cut to pin him down.
'No, I checked about other worlds. You know in one world you get adopted by Hades of all people,' said Sirius clearly amused by the whole concept.
I snorted at that and said, 'We are discussing about these other worlds later,'
'Okay, lad now finish this shit show,' said Sirius.
"Who stole the Bolt and who ordered you to do this?" I asked Ares as I stabbed deeper.
"Fuck...You, Punk. I will burn you to a crisp," he spat at me through his pain.
"You can try, but I have Lord Hades and Lady Hestia on my side along with my dad. Touch me and you will spend at least a few centuries in the Pit. I heard it's rather dreadful at all times of the year," I told him. His half burned face turned pale and he grimaced.
'You would do well in Slytherin,' said Sirius in my mind.
"You lie," he managed to rasp out.
"If you think I could walk into the Underworld, confront it's Lord, demand something he doesn't have and yet escape you are more of an idiot then I thought you were," Ares didn't say anything.
I pulled out the Minotaur horn dagger. It was an excellent thing to do. Crafting this into a weapon. This version of me had Beherdorf make it for me. I wonder if this version of me was more paranoid than general.
'Or just smarter' said Sirius.
'Shut it,' I hissed at him.
'You just said it was an excellent idea,' said Sirius. I could literally see the smirk written all over his face.
I didn't say anything and instead stabbed him in the thigh with the dagger. Ares howled in pain. I twisted the spear and another burst of electricity went through him courtesy of my arrows. I formed a small armor of sea mist formed around me to protect from the shock.
"Keep pulling this on and they don't have to do it. I will send you to that pit myself and Lord Zeus will make sure you stay there for eternity. So, tell me who stole the weapons and who told you to orchestrate this plan?" I emphasize my point with a kick in his groin making him howl in pain.
"KRONOS. IT WAS KRONOS'S PLAN AND LUKE CASTELLAN WAS THE LIGHTNING THIEF," Ares screamed out. I knew the answer but still for the sake of the audience, I acted surprised. Annabeth and Grover moved to my side some time later after Ares stopped his nuclear meltdown. Most of the sand had transformed to glass around us.
"You lie," I hissed at him, stabbing the spear further into his muscle. I thought I was doing a wonderful job at this acting thing.
'Yes, you deserve an Oscar,' snarked Sirius.
'Oh, shut up, you are just jealous,' I said to him.
Grover looked broken and shocked while Annabeth hissed, "Luke would never do something like this,"
Ares just barked out a laugh but it sounded more like a dying donkey braying for water while wheezing.
'That's quiet a picture'
"I swear on the River Styx what I said about Luke Castellan is true," said Ares. Thunder flashed in the sky and it was sealed.
Annabeth let out a shuddering breath and took a few steps back. Grover had tears in his eyes but Annabeth looked ready to faint. I let go of the Riptide and caught her as she was about to fall to the ground.
She looked unconscious and I let the hair away from her face and checked for a breath and a heartbeat. I let out a breath I didn't even know I was holding when I heard the breath.
'As romantic as that is at least for you, You let the God of War go,' said Sirius.
As if on cue Grover screamed, "Percy"
I turned back to see Ares standing up. He looked horrible. Chunks of skin from his legs are missing. Half his face burned. His armor broke and pierced him in a few places. There were burns all over his skin and he looked pissed. He was holding Riptide and pulled out the dagger and threw it aside.
"I am going to kill you, Godling. I will break all your bones and..." before he could continue he got thrown about fifty meters in the air. Lord Hades appeared and glowered at the God of War.
"You lost Ares, fair and square. Return the Helm to him," said Hades, "or my brother would be missing his brute."
Skeletons rose up from the ground and that was the first time I observed that everyone close by was asleep. I looked up to Hades asking if he caused this and he nodded.
Ares rose up shakily to his ground. It seemed Ares had a few brain cells because he flashed away leaving the Helm behind. I got up and collected the Helm and gave it to my Uncle who took it and nodded appreciatively.
"You have done me a service, Percy Jackson. The House of Hades will help you in your time of need," said Lord Hades. "I would suggest asking the sea for help in terms of transport and dealing with this mess,"
I nodded my head as Lord Hades' shadow traveled to the Underworld taking the Furies who arrived with him.
'Well you didn't get cursed. So, that's good,' said Sirius.
'Not to mention Hades had interfered. We might have not convinced him but we got him thinking, so that's also good," I told Sirius.
"So, what now?" asked Sirius.
"Now we ask the sea for help," I told him as I placed Annabeth near Grover who started treating her.
LINE BREAK
Well asking the sea for help involves getting two hippocampi to transport us away. I had to share with Annabeth while Grover got his own. For some reason the beautiful creatures refused to let her be placed on them on her own. It was the same with the horse. It seems my dad holds a bigger grudge in this world.
A nereid showed up to help us. She said I had to get to Olympus with the master bolt and she would handle things here. So, I got on to the Hippocampi with an unconscious Annabeth and we rode off on the water to New York.
The first part of the journey before Annabeth woke up was spent with me going through all my memories of this new life. The first thing I noticed was the lack of Gabe for almost three years but I also realized that the amount of abuse on me was more in this universe. Just like the Fates said this scar across my face did not vanish and instead found a way to be ingrained into my story.
Gabe had gotten more violent with belt marks over my back and running a knife all over my skin. It was horrifying to look at and suddenly all the weariness, difficulties and insecurities that came with the scars and the memories came back to me.
The next thing I noticed through the memories were the humongous amount of training I did everyday in archery, sword fighting and Swimming. Not to mention the mixed martial arts and boxing. I did more practice in three months of this life than I ever did in my last life. I could quite literally feel the difference. I was taller, stronger and sharper than I was during my first quest.
The quest was the only thing different apart from that. In addition to what I already did, I managed to get some sort of unlimited bag from Connor and Travis over a game of Poker. I had for some reason decided it was an excellent decision to place the head of Medusa inside the thing. I had found a bag of magical seeds of some sort and an old bottle of Wine. I put those things in my bag too.
During my watch for the night a wild Griffin thought it was a good idea to attack us. That fight nearly killed me and left behind it's wings. Then we ran into the Pink Poodle and then I had to tackle a Chimera of a national museum into a stream and choke it to death while Annabeth dealt with Echidna. I collected it's hide and placed it inside the bag too. Then we were attacked by Orcs.
That's right. O-R-C-S. That was how Sirius and Annabeth identified it. They were grotesque and difficult to look at. Sirius told me there was a rather interesting spell to deal with them but I paid him no mind. These creatures were from the Magical World and both the worlds were intermingling. This was not good in any way whatsoever.
Some quick thinking from Annabeth and we had ten grotesque looking statues in the middle of nowhere. Then the Warthogs attacked. I took them down with a very placed arrow in all three of their hearts. Seriously this English Longbow worked like some sort of automatic rifle ripping apart armors, bones, wood, concrete, muscle. Anything.
Then there was Ares and the scarf which I decided should be in the bag and of course Lotus Hotel. I collected all sorts of things there. Weapons and books and other stuff which left Sirius breathless. I saw something else in the corner but I decided to go back later and see what it was. Sirius had taught me Occlumency and I decided it was a good thing to be able to defend against mind reading even if he said that was not what it was. It would serve me well to fight off these kinds of effects.
On the collection side I managed to find an Imperial Gold stringed guitar made of what Sirius called Laurel. There was a beautiful metal spear made of Othrnythic Silver that I took. There were all sorts of guns with enough mortal and godly ammunition to arm a whole army. A short sword made of Celestial Bronze was stacked up to but what caught my attention was the name under it. Themistocles. The sword belonged to Themistocles and I was giving it to Annabeth later. I collected all of them and placed them together in my bag. I even saw what could be an unopenable fish tank with a creature that Sirius called Kelpie be placed in this bag. I talked to her and she understood what I was saying and talked back. According to Sirius the Kelpie's were endangered creatures and I decided maybe I should give it to him.
An idea struck me. A dangerous idea but one that could be done.
"Hey Jasper, could drive carefully, I might fall asleep and I don't want to fall off," I told the now named Jasper the Hippocampi.
The hippocampi gasped in surprise and said, "We would never let harm come to the Prince of the Sea. Sleep well, My lord. Jasper will ensure you reach your destination with time to spare,"
That was exactly what he needed. It was time to sleep and maybe pay a visit to his favorite goddess.
'What are you thinking Perce?' asked Sirius as I closed my eyes.
'Something very epic or very disastrous,' I told Sirius as exhaustion took over me and I fell asleep.
LINE BREAK
"Lady Hestia," I called out into the empty dreamscape of my mind.
I had told Sirius to keep away since I needed to have a serious conversation with my Patron. If this worked a lot of lifes could be saved. Apparently the old Percy took the Wine bottle to give Dionysus to mock him and the seeds were for Katie. He was good friends with her and Drew. Not that I wasn't but I didn't hang out with Katie like he did and I didn't get to talk to Drew until I turned fourteen. Even then Selina set me right when it came to her.
To be talking to her in these conditions was odd.
'You look better than you do then. Maybe she want's dibs,' Sirius told him when they discussed it.
It wasn't out of the realm of possibilities.
'Call her Aunt Hestia,' said Sirius.
"Aunt Hestia," I called out, taking his advice since I had no other plan.
'Didn't I tell you to stay away?'
'I'll leave once she is here,'
"Aunt Hestia," I called out for her again.
"What is it Percy?" asked the voice of Lady Hestia behind me.
'Told you,' said the voice of Sirius before fading.
"I need your help aunty. War is coming and we need to prepare for it," I told her and she nodded interested.
LINE BREAK
I woke as Manhattan came into our sights. Annabeth wasn't up yet and I had this very intense need to kiss her. Just seeing her now I didn't understand how I was so stupid and oblivious to her obvious intrest in me. I remembered the time she kissed me on my cheek after the Chariot Race. I remembered the Dance on , I remembered the kiss at the Volcano, the time in the Cabin when she was inspecting them before the Battle for Manhattan and of course the kiss on . That kiss was the most beautiful three minutes of my life.
'Keep going down that line of thought and you will ask her before it's time and you will lose your chance with her,' said Sirius,'Or you might kiss her and lose her forever,'
'Yesh, I wouldn't just kiss her or something,' I said back to Sirius.
'This takes me back to first years in Hogwarts where James hopelessly followed and made doe eyes at Lily. Atleast in your case, Annabeth is interested in you. Lily didn't even like looking at your father,' said Sirius.
'I am not making doe eyes at her,' I told Sirius hotly and looked at Annabeth.
Seeing her face even if she was younger I went back to the time before the Battle of Olympus. It was during the summer. I was tense and twitching uncontrollably. She had taken me for a picnic by the beach. We ate, talked and had fun in general. She had placed her head in my lap and fallen asleep. Her face was peaceful and calm without the general nervousness. She had never looked as beautiful as she did then.
'What was that again?' said Sirius with a smirk.
"Shut it," I hissed at him.
"Shut what," asked Annabeth groggily as she was waking up. She was a vision with honey blond curls in a mess with bleary eyes and a small smile that she wiped off her face suddenly. She got that expression that I knew meant she was thinking about Luke.
"Ares might have been...," was how I started but she shut me up with a finger on my lips.
I had half a mind to suck it for some reason.
'You are a seventeen year old, that's why. If you were thirteen you would want to bite it off and glare at her,' Sirius supplied telling me just how much of a complicated situation I was in.
"Shh...," said Annabeth.
It took a long time for Annabeth to talk and I did consider biting her finger.
'Don't be a childish idiot,' said Sirius.
'I was a childish idiot and she still fell for me,' I retorted a little pleased.
'James was too and it took Lily five years to just drop the image and consider him an option. You want the relationship to start early, be a little mature,' said Sirius.
I didn't have anything to say so I wisely shut up.
"Ares's is right," said Annabeth, suddenly breaking me out of my preparations for the time with the Olympians. It was mid-day and we had entered the Hudson. The coast wasn't far. I knew this place well. It was here that I jumped into the rivers during the fight for Manhattan.
"What are you saying, Annabeth?" said Grover horrified.
"As much as it pains me to say this Grover, Luke is not the same as he was. Not since the quest and even less so since the Winter Solstice. He was angsty and nervous and besides Ares had no reason to lie. If Percy wore those shoes, he would have been driven into Tartarus with the Bolt to give it to Kronos," said Annabeth. The air chilled and the temperature dropped. Both the Hippocampi let out a neigh of fear and displeasure. I was pretty sure they would have thrown her off if it wasn't for me sitting with her.
"Kronos," I asked Annabeth unsurly.
"You remember that dream you told me about, during a crooked one, that was the name for Kronos," said Annabeth, "Besides, I remember Luke saying something about the Gods having to pay one night when we were talking. He might have seeked him out," said Annabeth.
"What do we do about it?" I asked Annabeth. I didn't want to push but I had to know. I had to know Luke wouldn't cause us problems. He didn't have to die for us to be together.
"There is nothing to do," said Annabeth. "The Gods will handle this after we tell them about what happened in the Quest."
"But..." Grover tried.
"But nothing G-Man. He betrayed us. Betrayed our trust. Something no one would do," said Annabeth, giving me a glance and a small smile.
'She means to say something you would never do,' said Sirius. "One and a half year. That's all you need before she is accepting you,"
That was enough for me to have butterflies in my stomach while my heart went a million miles a minute. I just looked at her as we went across the river and I didn't realize until we were at the coast. Who was I kidding, I am definitely making doe eyes at her something Grover seemed to have picked up if the smirk was anything to go by.
We docked and Annaebth was the first off.
She gave me a hand and said, "Come on, Seaweed Brain." There was a smile on her face and
LINE BREAK.
The ride to Olympus was horrendous and it gave me dejavu of the time we were there to stop Luke. Thalia was the only one missing. Annabeth and I stood close by and I could feel her shoulder and her fingers touching me. I couldn't care less about that.
The music was horrifying and I added something to the list I already had. Better music for the elevator. The elevator dinged open and Olympus as usual took my breath away.
From the top of the clouds rose the decapitated peak of a mountain, its summit covered with snow. Clinging to the mountainside were dozens of multileveled palaces-a city of mansions-all with white columned porticos, gilded terraces, and bronze braziers glowing with a thousand fires. Roads wound crazily up to the peak, where the largest palace gleamed against the snow. Precariously perched gar-dens bloomed with olive trees and rose bushes. I could make out an open-air market filled with colorful tents, a stone amphitheater built on one side of the mountain, a hippo-drome and a coliseum on the other. It was an Ancient Greek city, except it wasn't in ruins. It was new, and clean, and colorful, the way Athens must've looked twenty-five hundred years ago
Annabeth and Grover passed through the city in a daze but I was a man on a mission. I walked straight for the Throne Room that looked as big as Grand Central Station. I opened the door to find all the Gods except Ares and Hades in attendance.
'Show time' said Sirius and I nodded.
I took a deep breath and walked into the Throne room when everyone's eyes were on me. Grover stopped at the door and stood there awkwardly.
Hermes was there browsing through his phone. He gave me a cheerful smile and a wink and I felt guilty he would go through something like that again but I steeled myself.
Apollo was dressed like he was about to go to a beach party immediately after this. He had shades and a pair of earpods in his ear which was cool. Oh, yeah the year changed too. It was 2021 now and I had no idea why but I went along with it. When I first discussed this with Sirius he told me something about a world in which people were locked in their house for almost a year due to something called the COVID pandemic and I was grateful it wasn't a thing in this new universe. I would have gone stir crazy if it was.
Dionysus was asleep and Hephastus was tinkering. He looked cleaner because he must have cleaned up. He was a huge lump of a man with a leg in a steel brace, a misshapen head, and a wild brown beard, fire flickering through his whiskers.
Ares was probably still licking his wounds after the beating I gave him
My dad gave me a kind smile and I had a huge sense of nostalgia. He reminded me of a beachcomber from Key West. He wore leather sandals, khaki Bermuda shorts, and a Tommy Bahama shirt with coconuts and parrots all over it. His skin was deeply tanned, his hands scarred like an old-time fisherman's. His hair was black, like mine. His face had that same brooding look that had always gotten me branded a rebel. But his eyes, sea-green like mine, were surrounded by sun-crinkles that told me he smiled a lot, too.
Zeus, the Lord of the Gods, wore a dark blue pinstripe suit. He sat on a simple throne of solid platinum. He had a well-trimmed beard, marbled gray and black like a storm cloud. His face was proud and handsome and grim, his eyes rainy gray.
On the ladies' side of the throne room, a dark-haired goddess in green robes sat next to Hera on a throne woven of apple-tree branches. Demeter, Goddess of the Harvest. Next to her sat a beautiful gray-eyed woman in an elegant white dress. She could only be Annabeth's mother, Athena. Then there was Aphrodite, who smiled at me knowingly and gave me a wink. It made me blush in spite of myself. Did she know already. Please say she doesn't. By the looks of things even Athena seemed to be aware of things.
All the twelve Olympians in one place. It won't be twelve anymore if I had anything to say about it.
I approached the fisherman's throne and knelt at his feet. "Father." I dared not look up. My heart was racing. I could feel the energy emanating from the two gods. If I said the wrong thing, I had no doubt they could blast me into dust.
To my left, Zeus spoke. "Should you not address the master of this house first, boy?"
I kept my head down, and waited.
"Peace, brother," Poseidon finally said. His voice stirred my oldest memories: that warm glow I remembered as a baby, the sensation of this god's hand on my forehead, "The boy defers to his father. This is only right."
"You still claim him then?" Zeus asked, menacingly. "You claim this child whom you sired against our sacred oath?"
"I have admitted my wrongdoing," Poseidon said. "Now I would hear him speak."
It hurt even though I knew it was coming.
'That was... something,' said Sirius in my head.
Apollo hissed from the side. He must be going along the same lines as Sirius. They would get along well. Hermes elbowed Apollo and said something making the Sun God snicker slightly.
"Perseus," Poseidon said. "Look at me."
"Address Lord Zeus, my son," Poseidon told me. "Tell him your story."
So I told Zeus everything, just as it had happened. I took out the metal cylinder, which began sparking in the Sky God's presence, and laid it at his feet. Everything from the bus to Hades interfering in the quest. I told them what I did last time when asked about how I got out of there by Athena. The Olympians were a good audience. They gasped at all the right places at all the right times.
The death of Medusa seemed to make Athena happy while my dad slid a little in his throne. The flying adventure on the Griffin had everyone laughing. The orcs had them share a few concerned glances and the warthogs had them openly fuming. We went on with everything until the fight at the beachside. As I went on the room started getting heavier. The air grew in power. I had a difficult time concentrating and had to use my Occlumency exercise to right myself.
After the interrogation which made Hephaestus, Athena and Artemis happy. Apollo was snickering but Hermes was ashen faced and I wondered if he already knew but didn't do anything.
The minute I gave them the answer to the question the whole throne room broke into a huge amount of noises. Everyone was screaming at everyone. My dad was by my side and led me away from the center to a side and then banged his Trident to the ground. The whole Throne Room shook and Poseidon glared at everyone in the room, making them go back to their seats. He turned to Apollo who after a few seconds nodded and said, "The kid speaks true."
"Why and how?" asked Hera into the room but this was where I had to take control of the situation before it went out of hand.
"Luke must have stolen the Helm of darkness first and then used it to take the Lightning Bolt. Ares must have caught up to him and but Grandfather must have acted to stop and hatch this plan," I told the room.
"For someone who is on our side you seem to know an awful lot about their plans," said Lady Artemis, giving me a suspicious once over.
"It's simple enough, Artemis. Even a son of Poseidon could stumble upon it after giving it enough though," said Athena.
My father seemed to be on the verge of saying something but decided against it. Annabeth stood by my side as my dad led me to the center of the room again. Grover was still in the corner not moving and just watching.
"But that Ares would do such a thing ... it is most unlike him." said Aphrodite.
"He is proud and impulsive," Poseidon said. "It runs in the family."
"Lord's and Ladies?" I asked and everyone looked at me. Lord Zeus gave me a nod as if to say continue.
"Luke is smart. He managed to steal the weapons and frame me for it. He wouldn't launch a war without allies,"
Lord Zeus seemed to want to say something but before he could Hera said, "Continue,"
"I hung around with Luke a long time my lords and ladies and I think I know what his plan is," I told the room.
"Elaborate," said Athena and even Zeus seemed interested to hear what I had to say.
"The Hermes cabin is stuffed with Unclaimed demigods and I was with them for some time. I saw how they interacted with others and how others interacted with them. We might try to deny it but there is a gap in between us. A gap that Luke seeks to exploit," I told the Council which caused all of them to go into contemplation before my father spoke up.
"A civil war among demigods," said Poseidon.
I nodded and I could have sworn Athena gave my dad a nod of approval and he blushed slightly. I recognized it because it was the same expression that came onto my face.I wonder what that was about.
"They could not overthrow Olympus on their own. That is impossible," said Lady Artemis.
"Even if they betray Olympus, I will blast them with my Bolt," said Zeus twirling it in my hand.
Most of the room rolled their eyes at that. I had to hold back my snort and talked again.
"They are not alone Lady Artemis and they are certaqinly protected," I told her.
"Kronos," said Athena.
"Don't say that name," hissed Demeter to Athena.
"Not just him. How many Titans are alone and could go to their side. Atlas, Hyperion, Oceanus, Krios, Pallas, Peres, Menoetius, Promotheus..." I counted them down and half the Throne Room paled. Even Zeus looked uneasy.
'Now, quickly,' said Sirius,'Before something else happens.'
"That's what the Great Prophecy is about. We could sit here and twindle our thumbs and let it crush us or we try to fight it,"
'Boom,' muttered Sirius.
A pin could be dropped in the room and could be heard. Everyone was looking at me in surprise and Artemis was the first one who talked.
"Who told you about the Great Prophecy?" asked Artemis.
"That's not important. I know all of you are wondering if you should kill me or not so that I don't destroy Olympus when I turn...seventeen," I said.
'Seventeen. I though you said sixteen,' said Sirius.
'Yes, I know but in this new world it is seventeen. Hestia told me when I was in the dream' I told him.
Everyone looked a little disgruntled by this. As if they were ashamed that I caught onto the discussion and not the fact that they were actually discussing this.
I took a deep breathe. I didn't want to give them to much time and so I went forward with what I wanted to do.
"The Titan's are rising and they are going to break the demigods apart. That is what the Great Prophecy is about. Lord Apollo can confirm it and Lady Athena and Lady Artemis should have already seen the signs," I told the room.
Lady Artemis nodded and said something rapidly in Ancient Greek that I didn't understand and Athena nodded for this.
"The major question for the Prophecy is what my role is and I am willing to fight and swear to Olympus," I told Zeus looking at him directly.
"Swear it," said Zeus.
"For a price," I answered and the Room. My dad raised an eyebrow but let me continue Hermes looked a little better now but still looked dejected and Apollo just said, "Some one is prepared,"
Zeus broke into an aggressive rant of how I must serve Olympus and how they were benevolant and all that. Even the Gods looked bored by it before Hera managed to calm him down and pull him back to the his throne.
"Here him out Zeus, he could have just done nothing and let things be as they were but he went out of his way to stop this war. That gives him the right to talk," said the Queen of the God's. She gave me a nod and told me to continue.
"I want three favours to fight this war but these favours will help you out in the long run. If you want I could swear it is for the advantage of Olympus if you swear you will fulfill them," I told them.
"You don't trust us," asked Lady Aphrodite aghast.
"I just want a binding contract. It is better to be safe then sorry," I told her shrugging my shoulders.
Lady Athena spoke next, "Even of we want to Perseus we couldn't. The Ancient Laws forbid us from doing something like this without you serving us or giving ius something in return."
"Then it's good thing, I got gifts didn't I?" I told the room and the atmosphere changed suddenly. I placed my bag down beside me and looked around the room. The whole room was buzzing with excitment. Even Lady Artemis seemed ready to give me the benefit of the doubt.
Everyone looked to Zeus with glares and puppy eyes. Apollo was almost whimpering for the gifts. Zeus grunted but finally relented and said, "I will swear as soon as he does for the favours,"
'Cue the thunder. The river is busy,' said Sirius.
Thunders rolled twice after we made the oaths. I could feel Annaebth's awe from behind me and I couldn't help but feel prideful.
'One year,' said Sirius and I could feel him smiling. He was happy for me.
Feeling a little mischevoius I said, "Shall we go alphabatic order,"
The room broke into all forms of agreements and Zeus just grunted and sulked.
I went searching into the bag as a sacrificial fire formed in front of me. After searching for some time, I managed to pull out Lady Aphrodite's scarf.
"For Lady Aphrodite, her scarf I retrived from the Thrillride of Love in Denver," I said and dropped it into the fire.
She squealed as the scarf wrapped around her and gave me a saucy and seductive smile and then a wink. "If you need anything don't hesitate to ask," she said and I swallowed thickly.
"Next one," said Apollo.
"For Lord Apollo, a guitar," I said as I pulled it out of the bag dropped it into the fire. His excitment dipped a little about that.
'It will change once he sees that Guitar,' said Sirius.
He caught the guitar and gave it a once over before breaking out into a megawatt grin, "Thank you Cuz, this is amazing," I could hear him expressing the specialities of the Guitar to a bored Dionysus in Ancient Greek.
"For Lady Artemis, the Wings of Griffin I managed to kill,"
I threw the wings in and Lady Artemis gave me a nod.
"For Lady Athena a spear made of Orynithic Silver, I retrived from Lotus Hotel and Casino,"
The spaer appeared beisde the Goddess and she examined the beautiful Spear. I had a diffcult time giving it away but managed to soldier through.
On it went with Demeter getting the magical seeds, Dionysus the wine bottle, Hephastus got Chimera's hide, Hera the Medusa head and Hermes a Lotus Hotel and Casino card, I gave my dad the Kelpie as a pet. He seemed reluctant to go and I was relcutant to give him away. I grew close to the little guy in the short duration I knew him. I managed to convince him telling him my father was the God of the Sea and he would be safe there. It worked and finally I came to Zeus.
"I have something special for you Lord Zeus, but it is only for your ears to hear," I told him.
"What is it?" asked Athena and most of the Gods looked intrested in knowing what it was.
"It's only for Lord Zeus to hear, "I told them and Zeus looked curoius and nodded and told the people to leave the room.
"What is it that you have for me half-blood?" asked Lord Zeus.
I took a deep breathe and finally said, "I can revive Thalia."
The room was quiet for a long time before Lord Zeus gave me a nod and told me, "I trust you demigod. You did well here and came prepared. Help Thalia and you have my eternal gratitude, Perseus"
He nodded again and everyone returned and they tried to get something out of the King of the Gods but he held true and didn't say anything.
"Perseus's gift to me isn't up for debates."
"What is it that you wanted?" asked Athena.
I took a final deep breathe and started. I must not be stopped in the middle.
"From now on, I want to you properly recognize the children of the gods," I said. "All the children . . . of all the gods."
The Olympians shifted uncomfortably.
"Percy," my father said, "what exactly do you mean?"
"Kronos wouldn't have tried to do something like this if Luke didn't feel abandoned by his parent," I said. "He felt angry, resentful, and unloved, and he had a good reason. I would say half the camp feels the same way. That is half our army just gone."
Zeus's royal nostrils flared. "You dare accuse—"
"No more undetermined or neglected children," I said. "I want you to promise to claim your children—all your demigod children—by the time they turn thirteen. They won't be left out in the world on their own at the mercy of monsters. I want them claimed and brought to camp so they can be trained right, and survive."
"Now, wait just a moment," Aphrodite said while Apollo said, "I can't keep count of all of them."
An arrow made out of the fletchling of the Griffin feather hit his throne just under Apollo's groin and Artemis hissed, "Then keep it in your pants,"
An arguemnt was sure to break out so I didn't let it. "Not just the Olympians. I want cabins for all the Gods, Hecate, Janus, Eros, Nemesis, Morpheus, Eris all of them. This way they would worship Olympus which would enhance our own power and they would never betray us. I want a Cabin constucted for my Uncle in the Camp,"
Some of the OIympians looked severly discmoforted by this but I didn't let anyone to say anything.
"My second request is for My Uncle and Aunt to have thrones on Olympus. Thrones they never should have lost in the first place" I told the stunned crowd. In the middle of the silence I could make out my father's pride and it gave my the confidence to finish.
"The peacful titans must be freed from their prisions. All of them. They have served their sentence long enough,"
Zeus snorted. "Is that all?"
"Perry," Dionysus said, "you ask much. You presume much."
"I hold you to your oath," I said. "All of you."
I got a lot of steely looks. Finally, it was Athena who spoke up: "The boy is correct. We have been unwise to ignore our children. Briniging my Uncle back would also be wise. he controls one of the relams of the World and we could use a calming presence like my aunt on the council. As for the Titans go, I agree. it would show us as better rulers than the Titans who didn't how to forgive. This might prove to be the best plan we have in preparation for the war. Percy Jackson, I have had my doubts about you, but perhaps"—she glanced at Annabeth, and then spoke as if the words had a sour taste—"perhaps I was mistaken. I move that we accept the boy's plan."
"Humph," Zeus said. "Being told what to do by a mere child. But I suppose . . ."
"All in favor," my dad said.
All the gods raised their hands.
"Um, thanks," I said.
Zeus clapped his hands and a throne was erected between Poseidon and Zeus made of Gold, Obsedian and Bones. It greatly resembled the one Lord Hades ahd in his palace. Another one which was red in colour and had slight fire rose out beside Demeter.
"Hermes be kind and go collect my brother, it's high time he and my sister joined us," said Hera giving Hestia, sitting at the hearth with a shocked expression on her face, a smile.
Hermes flashed out immediately while Hestia grew from her eight year old form to her thrity year old form and took a seat at the throne. There was a companioable silence in the room which was occasionaly broken by the three sister who were talking, Dionysus snoring or Apollo tuning his guitar.
After nearly ten mintues when Grover and Annabeth walked and stand beside me and look around the place. She gave me a smile and butterfiles went of in my stomach making me slightly dizzy and weak in my knees.
'You play the room of high powered individuals like they were clay but this girl makes you wozzy, I will never understand love-struck fools,' Sirius said in the recess of my brain but I chose not to comment and just waited.
Our hands touched slightly on occassion but neither did much to stop it. None of this went unwatched by the Council going by the smirk my father directed at Athena and the glare she shot me and my dad. Annabeth didn't budge an inch and I could have kissed her right there. How was such a perfect person even intrested in some one like me.
'Oh, it's just your heart talking she is normal. This reminds me of James and Lupin in sixth. Dear God that was bad year," said Sirius.
'No, she is perfect. Even more so now then she was before,' I told him not taking my eyes off her for more then a few seconds to look at the room. She seemed to enjoy me staring at her.
'If you tell her the truth don't tell her that. It will make unecessary problems for you,' advised Sirius and I took it into heart.
Finally Hades was back with Hermes who patted him on his shoulder and went back to his throne. He had a sword by his side and the Helm hung to his belt. he took unsure steps to his Throne before Poseidon got up and hugged him shocking half the room. Not me. I knew my dad the best other than perhaps my mom. He would take Hades back with open arms all they needed was a push.
They had a conversation in Ancient Greek rapidly where Poseidon apologized for some stuff and thanked him for protecting me. It made Hades immensly uncomfortable but he smiled nonetheless and took a seat.
Zeus looked wary due to this but he wisely shut up. Throwing a fit now would be unwise. If my dad and Uncle teamed up Zeus was done for.
Athena asked a final question after that:
"How do you know so much? As far as I am concerned you have been at the camp for about two and a half months," she asked and everyone looked to me. Time for the last reveal.
Hestia flashed from her throne and stood behind me.
"That was because he is my champion and I taught him everything there is to know," she said to the stunned audience.
"How?" asked Hera.
"He saw me sitting alone at the Camp and seeked me out and talked to me. A few conversations was all it took for me to know enough to say he would be a good choice for the Prophecy. I told him enough about things and then I trained him to be ready for the Quest and told him what needed to be done," said Hestai proudly.
Most of the Gods nodded at that. It spoke volumes of the amount of respect she commanded in this room for them to take this at face value.
"Now swear your oath. What you ask for will be done," said Zeus.
I was about to when my dad interupted me, "Percy I know what you said but please just think this through,"
Zeus was about to say somethin when Hades interupted him with pulling out his sword and placing it on his lap and shaking his head.
"I know dad. I know what the Prophecy says. Life is only worth living if you have something worth dying for and I just discovered what mine was three months ago," I told the Council.
I could have sworn I saw Apollo tear up while Aphrodite had tears flowing. Even Artemis looked a little uncomfortable by my admission. Hestia gave me a squeezeof my shoulder and after I swore my vow she took us away.
LINE BREAK.
3rd person pov
The Throne Room in Mount Olympus was left silent with the admission. Poseidon looked so proud and so sad it was diffucult to look at. Even Zeus looked concerned by the way it was said. That kid would jump into Tartarus if it meant some one would live a day more. They had seen their kind before and they were dangerous and useful.
"Poseidon, you son is one heck of boy and I am not the only one who agrees when I say I am glad he is on our side," said Hera from her seat.
"I wonder how much Cereal he eats everyday. Must be a lot," said Demeter getting half the Throne Room to groan and Poseidon gave a chuckle.
Hestia was back and took a seat on her throne.
"Where did you drop them?" asked Hermes.
"Near his mother's house. He is dying to see her again," said Hestia.
"I have never met one so young and yet be unflinching in the face of death," said Hades finally.
"He get's that from his mother," said Poseidon looking at Hades.
"She sounds like a remarkable woman," said Hades.
"She is," said Poseidon.
The throne room was in silence for some time. Even the generally noisy Apollo was deep in thought.
"I would like to petetion for my daughter to be allowed to design these new cabins. She earned it in helping Percy Jackson retrive the Master Bolt," said Athena.
"All in favour," asked Hestia and almost everyone agreed with it. Aphrodite was the only who obstained from voting in either case.
"Is there anyhting else?" asked Zeus.
"Yes, what about the Titans that will be free what do we do?" asked Hades.
The meeting went on where it was decided that the ones who were let go would swaer never to turn on Olympus and live however they want. Once this rising threat was dealt with in four years they would help them reconstruct and let them live there. Until then they could take up residence in Camp Half-Blood, Camp Jupiter or Atlantis or anywhere really.
A message was sent to Camp to apprehend Luke Castellan while Ares was unallowed to gallivant with Mortals for another hundred years as punishment. They couldn't lose one of their best fighters at such precarious moment.
They had a heated debate about the Norse monster that attacked the Quest and Posedion and Apollo who were closest to the Pantheon agreed to have a word with them.
They were other minor concerns and Artemis and Athena got permission to hunt monsters and check up on the imprissioned Titans and see how things were.
One thing that remained unsaid in the room. They would keep an eye on Percy Jackon.