Chapter 66

Annabeth

At first we went back into Vegas for lunch, but after passing a news stand and seeing a local paper with the headline that police were seeking several young women for a disturbance at Chippendales the night before decided to weigh discretion and valor and leave town. We ended up after several apparations in Cimarron, New Mexico, an artist's and old west community that Rachel was familiar with and settled in for some local cuisine. The Boy Scouts had a ranch near the town so the locals were used to teen mobs hanging around and we drew no attention as a result. We started at the St James Hotel but it was too haunted and the ghosts there were trying to be scary, which was annoying to Nico as he was trying to sort out the previous evening with Will, and how it came to be that Will woke up in a bed full of half naked and naked girls. So we went to a trailer that had some picnic tables behind it that served probably the best burrito in existence.

"Who would have thought we'd be spending the day of our rehearsal in New Mexico on the lam?" I asked Percy.

"Oh, you know. Its us. Nothing surprises me. Tell me, did you use sword or magic or both?"

"On the bouncers? None of the above. I... uh"

"She broke a bar stool and used the legs. It was amazing." Ginny said.

"You must think me awful" I said, ashamed of myself.

"Nah, I'm just glad you didn't kill anyone. Muggles hate that and the mist has a hard time covering it." He grinned.

"Well, it was Reyna and Hazel that put us all in bed half naked and naked together, that wasn't anything me, or Will, or any of the girls did. That was all Reyna and Hazel!"

"You don't know that" Hazel said without emotion.

"You have no proof at all." Reyna dead panned.

"Right, it just so happened that when all our guys showed up you two were the only ones not in bed and fully dressed. And you just happened to be the ones to summon the guys. Sure. Right." I said while they smiled smugly.

"Naked? Nobody said anything about naked," Jason said with a grin.

"Well I wasn't. And if you're that curious, ask Will." Piper replied and it was clear she was still fuming from the embarrassment.
"The guys weren't so innocent either" Luna said, looking up from the Las Vegas newspaper story.

"What do you mean?" Piper asked.

"It was in the Prophet today. Don't you all read the Prophet? You should read the Quibbler, but sometimes the Prophet is okay too."

"Where did you get a copy of the Prophet this morning, and what did it say?" Harry asked.

"Oh. LasVegas has a large witch and wizard community. It was at the news stand, the one beside the Lotus casino? That's like a witches retirement center. People go there and"

"And they live forever, or at least a long time. That is where I lived for 65 years" Nico said.

"Right. Exactly. Well they want to keep up with the news, so the newsstand carries the American magical press, as well as the Prophet. I asked them to stock the Quibbler too, and they said they would look into it. Anyway, there is this picture on the cover." Luna said as she laid the paper down.

The photo was of Harry and Percy getting kissed on the cheek by players from the Holyhead Harpies, an all women quidditch team. The guys were grinning ear to ear and the picture was animated of course.

"Wow I didn't know anyone was taking pictures!" Harry said.

"Percy, you care to explain why that girl is kissing you and you're grinning about it?" I asked, trying to sound angry but probably failing at it.

"Oh, yeah they all came over to meet us, war heros and all. They gave Harry the honor of, uh, throwing out the first pitch? Whatever, but he passed it to me. This was when they were asking us for autographs."

"Uh huh. And you didn't mention this because?" I grinned at the harmlessness of it.

"Uh, because I was in shock at finding my girl in bed half naked with one of my best friends?"

"Fair enough. Bachelor and bachelorette parties are forever off limits for discussion, agreed?" I said after a moment's thought.

"Agreed."

"No wait, who was naked?" Harry asked, laughing.

"Let it go Potter!" Ginny nearly shouted as she coldly stared him down. The issue was then forever dropped from all our conversations.

You wouldn't think Tex Mex would be good for the post alcohol shakes but the spiciness, along with a bit of nectar and unicorn draught did the trick. By one I was feeling fine, and it was about then that it occurred to me that it was noon in San Francisco Bay and that meant we had about six hours to burn. I also noticed that neither Jennifer nor Leo were with us, and it occurred to me that I had not seen either in days. I looked around, saw no mortals, and zipped off a patronus for them to join us. As I understood from my research a corporal patronus delivering a message will constantly accelerate until it finds it target. I had figured that the couple was either at the Leodis or Hogwarts, so it might take a few minutes for a response.

"Who was that to?" Piper asked.

"Jennifer and Leo. I haven't seen them in days, they should have been with us last night!So,,,, I want them here now!"

"Are you going bridezilla on us?"

"Just give me what I want and nobody gets hurt." I laughed. Some of our friends weren't laughing with me. Geez after this wedding I had some bridges to rebuild. I had been a bitch for weeks and although everyone seemed understanding, I know I had worn some nerves, especially Piper, Rachel and Hazel's, quite thin.

"Well your majesty, what shall we do now?" Piper quipped.

"Oh, it might take a bit for them to get here, why don't we shop?"

There was exactly one block of local artsy stores and an outdoor shop, we all still had sacks of muggle money as they had replenished during the night so we would never know exactly how much we spent in Vegas, which was good. I think that was a number all of us were glad to be ignorant of. Percy and I had already gotten the bridesmaid and groomsmen gifts, coincidentally the half bloods got things from Diagon Alley, while the magicians got things from the shops on Olympus. Everyone also got a small dagger, or dirk, that was made and tempered in the forges of Atlantis and gripped with wood from one of mother's olive trees. It was made of all the magical metals and was quite beautiful to look at, and perfectly functional. We wouldn't learn how functional until much later. Percy's father and my mother were generous enough to have one made for us as well, so it was a sort of gift to unify the whole party.

We started at the outdoor shop and it was amazing the advances in outdoor gear that nonmagical folks have made. Of course we had weightless tents that replenished food, clothing and drinks, as well as shoulder bags that could carry everything in the store and then some, we didn't really need any of it, but some of it was still pretty cool. After spending a half hour mostly looking at axes and fire starters we were just leaving when Leo and Jennifer showed up.

"Hey! Where have you two been? I haven't seen you in days!"

"Oh, uh, well, I guess its okay to tell you.." Leo started to say before Jennifer interrupted him.

"No. It isn't."

"Well, its okay to tell them who, uh, why we haven't... We've been working on a project that Hermes brought to us, and we can't say more." Leo said.

"Oh. Okay."

"But you will find out shortly." Jennifer grinned.

It felt to me as though a wall had arisen between us all, and I knew my recent behavior was the cause. I remembered when Percy apologized to Jennifer when we were first in the Leodis, and it felt like it was my turn now.

"Guys, since we're all here and we probably won't be alone after the rehearsal starts, can I just... well, I'm sorry. I've been intolerable and you guys... well, you've just been wonderful. The wedding couldn't have come together without each of your helping and...I... I'm not as good at this as Percy"

"What apologizing? You probably don't have as much practice" Hazel said, totally expressionless for a moment until she burst out laughing and made us all laugh.

"Well that's true, no doubt"

"Hey!" Percy exclaimed, wondering how he got dragged into my estrogen fest.

"But yeah, I've been stressed and I've taken it out on everyone of you and you've all just been great, and I'm sorry, and... well,... thanks."

"Girl, what are you talking about? You're getting married, throw a fit if you want, set your hair on fire, chase us with sharp sticks it doesn't matter, we're happy for you and happy to help." Leo grinned.

"Exactly. If Jason ever proposes I'm planning on enjoying my bridal psychosis so you best be enjoying yours. I'll be paying it back in full!" Piper said while Jason tried to look as small and insignificant as possible, even though all stared at him.

After that it was like all the pressure was released and I could just enjoy being with my friends, and Percy, and sharing our last day as singles together.

We were over Cimarron so someone, Piper I think, suggested Taos and we, thanks to Jennifer, teleported there. It had a much larger arts district and the girls at least enjoyed going through it all. Piper was really into it, given her Cherokee ancestry, but of course none of what we saw was Cherokee. Finally about five o'clock it was suggested that we get back to the Leodis to get ready for the rehearsal, and it was then that Jennifer took charge.

Jennifer teleported us all to the door room at Bob's, then stood in front of the door so that none could enter.

"Leo and I want to show you all something, and since it will be busy later, Percy, Annabeth, we'd like to give you your wedding present now, if that is okay? I'm not really familiar with traditions in America on such things."

"Uh, you didn't have to..." was all I got out before Jennifer put a finger to my lips and told me to "shush."

"Annabeth," she said as she led us all into her home and down to the main foyer that connects to Hogwarts, "I've studied half bloods the last few months and the one thing I've noticed is that some degree, be it slight or horrific, your home lives have been, well, and I mean no offense, wanting. Compared to most kids your age, well, even I never had to live on the streets growing up. Even the gods have taken note of this, and, well, Hermes a week ago brought Leo and I a message, you want to show them Leo?" She grinned, her eyes twinkling.

Leo had his hands on a set of double doors I had never noticed before. "Guys, and this is for all of you. We love you. Jennifer and I can't get enough of ya, you all know that. But, we're hoping that very soon our issues will be resolved with the pantheon and we can move on with our lives. So... we're throwing you out. If we get married we don't want a house full of college aged kids running loose, and especially not a house full of newly weds having kids. But we're not going to make anyone homeless either." He said as he finally opened the doors with a smile.

"Welcome to New Ionia, named after the sea that joined Greece and the Roman Empire." Jennifer said. "We're throwing you out, but we don't want you to go far!"

We, all of us went through the door to find a lovely brick street with wonderful touches like street lamps, shrubs, benches and the like, and lining the street were the most beautiful granite and brick homes you ever saw, each a mansion in itself. Directly across the street was a stunning house, that looked as though someone read my mind as to what a dream house would be and then built it. In fact it looked just like one I had designed on Daedelus's laptop. In front was a small wrought iron sign that simply read "Jackson" and had both a owl and a trident. I turned in shock to face Percy who was just as stunned as I was, then Leo held up a key and said "Why don't you take a look at your new home Annabeth, we've already had Percy's things moved there."

"But... but... why, thats just..."

"Well we want our friends to be close, always. And they lead dangerous lives, so we want them to be somewhere safe. All of the new homes have doors to Hogwarts, Halfblood, Jupiter and any appropriate parents homes. So you'll be able to go to school, and teach, and be somewhere safe at night, and even though we are all just next door we won't be tripping over each other or waking up naked in the wrong bed Piper and... well the gods asked us to, so there's that. That is why the aerials have been slow, most of them have been here." Leo said, still grinning.

I was about to hug him when Percy did, so I hugged Jennifer instead. Everyone was in shock as much as Percy and I. Many of us had no where really to call home, Percy and I were lucky in that regard, but of the rest of the half bloods only Piper had any real stability, though I doubt she had spent a single night in her father's home in the last three years. I knew that if it was at the beckoning of the gods there was a catch, but at the moment I could only be in awe at the generosity of Leo and Jennifer.

"Annabeth as I understand there is a tradition of the groom not seeing the bride on the day of the wedding, so actually your personal things are still here. But really, stop hugging me and go check out your new home! I hope you like it, we took the plans from your laptop. Your mother and Hestia adapted them some. Goddess of architecture and all that." Jennifer said.

We all rushed across the street, everyone to our home initially, though I knew we would be visiting everyone's before the day was over. Percy stopped everyone though and opened the door. Even though there was a key I don't think anyone ever expected to lock a door in this community. Its not like it would do any good, and no burglar would survive contact with the neighbors. After the door was open I moved to step in but he held up a hand, causing me to wait, and stared into my eyes with a grin a mile wide.

Percy scooped me up, taking me by total surprise, and carried me in his loving arms across the threshold. It was a simple, romantic, antiquated gesture, and I loved that he did it. It was awkward however being carried in my fiancee's arms into the throne room of Olympus with all the majors, except Apollo, but with Hecate and three camp and school leaders staring down at us though.

I recovered faster than Percy, who was truly startled to find the gods in his living room, and I sort of rolled out of his arms and quickly kneeled. Everyone else followed suit and I noticed Aphrodite, Artemis and Hestia giggling at my lack of gracefulness. Just as Zeus was ordering us to all rise I noticed that Bellona was in the crowd as well, but the other Romans were not. I guess it would be hard for both facets to be somewhere at the same time.

"As it is the day of the equinox is here by current measurement of global time, I declare this conclave to be open. Greetings to all the Olympians, and our guests, Lady Bellona, Lady Lupa, Lord Chiron and Lord Merlin."

We all looked off to the side of the room to see Chiron, some super fit woman in a grey fur coat, and Dumbledore.

"Oh yes. That is one of his names, almost his oldest, and certainly the best known. He has also been known by past generations as Nicholas Flamel, and of course for the last century or so as 'Dumbledore'." Zeus answered before we could even ask. Your professor, like Chiron and Lupa, are the three immortal trainers of the children of the gods. For the last year you have been hearing of a reckoning to be held. Many heard of you have speculated that it involved Apollo and the release of the great prophecy. Well, you're wrong. That is a private matter between the gods. What we, the pantheon of Olympus, and of Rome, have been debating is another matter, one brought to our attention by Mr Jackson on the day of the most recent defeat of Kronos. For millenia we have reared our children with mortals the same way. It is a good way and it works. However, following Mr Jackson's statements in Olympus that day, Hestia, Hera and others have challenged that perhaps a review was in order. Mostly our system for the care of our half blood children will not change. The gods will not interfere in the lives of our children, nor will we show favoritism towards them. Our children are more powerful that their mortal equivalents and will remain so by their very nature. We will not interfere in the lives of mortals but will continue to send our heros to the quest in our stead. However, while our values have not changed and are eternal, the mortal world has. In Athena's realm of the arts and sciences the mortals have raced forward, and Hephestus reports that the mortals emerging technologies outpace their ethical and moral abilities to control. Our heros should be at the vanguard of these developments in humanity, yet in our current system they lack the education of the mortals and many have died before reaching an age that one might expect them to contribute. I have ordered Hestia, Athena and Hera to propose a solution, and they have. After much debate, the following has been decided.

Hestia rose to speak. "While preserving what has worked, the schools of magic, Camp Half Blood, Camp Jupiter, and continuing those activities which have fostered greatness in our children, such as the quest at our beckoning, we will be adding new education and training. First, the use of practical magic as taught by Hecate's followers via wands, potions and the ilk, will be available to all our children. The teaching of martial arts and our other arts as learned at the camps, will likewise be offered to the children of magic. You heros have led the experiment this year, oh yes, your quest as it were was an experiment carried out by the gods to see if this would work. It will and it has. You have all performed excellently."

It is clear that Lord Chiron, Lord Merlin and Lady Lupa would be far over stretched if they alone had to conduct this, and so the following will occur. Certain others will be made immortal lords and ladies of Olympus, to serve much as Chiron, Merlin and Lupa have, and to assist them in the training of our youth. Professors McGonagall, Lupin, Snape, and Sirius Black shall be these instructors. All of the Lords and Ladies of Olympia named today will be expected to assist them. In addition, Frank and Alice Longbottom as well as Molly and Arthur Weasley shall be named as their knighted immortal assistants for so long as they wish." Hestia concluded as Aphrodite rose.

"The quest," Aphrodite began, "shall remain as the main activity by which our heros are measured, however the fatality rate has been far too high of late. This is not due to the lack of training by Chiron and Lupa, but rather because the dangers of late have been so very extreme. Each of us who has children has lost children, and each of us, whether you know it or not, has felt the pain of having suffered that loss. Quests have began with a prophecy. Of late that too has been problematic. Rachel Dare, you are released of your oath of chastity. It was inequitable for you to swear to it at this juncture. You will continue to be the voice of the Delphi as the adoptive child of Athena, should the need arise, and you shall carry the will of the gods to those heros appropriate, which you will for the time receive from Hermes. You too are granted immortality."

"It is important that our children learn the knowledge of the mortals. Hermione Grainger, Piper McLean and Reyna Ramírez-Arellano, it shall be your duty to ensure that the children at each camp and school are taught a curriculum which includes those matters that mortal children learn. A year round school shall be built for this purpose at each of the camps and Hogwarts and staffed by graduates of the programs. In the interim the mist will hire instructors from the mortal world."

"A promise was made that all our children would be claimed by age 13. We hope to do better by claiming the children and beginning their nurturing in our arts earlier. To do this, Ladies Calypso, LaVesque and Ginny Weasley shall identify and monitor the younger children, along with the Counsel of Cloven Elders, to place them in the proper camp. In Europe Miss Weasley and Miss Lovegood shall assist Lord Merlin in gathering the magical children by the method already prescribed." Each of you shall be granted immortality in order to carry out this task.

"Leo Valdez. As an immortal lord of Olympus it shall be your duty to keep our children abreast of emerging technologies and instruct them as needed. Nico De Angelo you shall continue in your role of Lord of the Undead and Prince of Ghosts as prescribed by your father, only now as a Lord of Olympus as well."

Poseidon rose to speak. "As stated by Hestia, the quest shall remain the tempering of our youth. Far too many have been lost, yet there is no way to make it safer. It is dangerous work and that is why it is reserved for demigods. We therefore create a new group of Lords of Olympus comprised of Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley, Neville Longbottom, Frank Zhang and Jason Grace to train our children for the quest and assist them in those darkest times in which assistance may be warranted. Will Solace, you shall be responsible for the health of those who quest and who survive the same. This training, a merger of the three skills of the three schools, shall be taught to all our children."

"That leaves us only our wedding couple to deal with. Percy Jackson, once you turned down immortality. At the time we thought it was due to arrogance of youth, yet now Aphrodite has determined you may have had the best of reasons. Hera agrees. As a result of your turning it down, this time, we offer no choice. Percy Jackson, you shall be the Lord of all martial, academic and magical training, and the guardian of children on quests. Annabeth Chase, you shall be the Lady of all martial, academic and magical training and the guardian of children on quests. You answer to the gods of the ruling chamber, in both facets. Only you two may decide when to intercede in a quest, and you may do so yourself, or send one of the other Lords or Ladies we have given to assist you. In addition, it shall be your responsibility, along with Lord Zhang and Lady Ramírez-Arellano, Lord Potter and Lady Grainger to ensure lasting peace between our tribes of children and any disagreements will be settled by you and that company of friends. Olympus owed you both a debt for the defense of Olympus, the destruction of Tartarus, as well as your part in the defeat of Gaea and Voldemort. That debt is now paid."

"Your see shall be the town that Leo Valdez has named 'New Ionia.' Your jurisdiction is wherever our children fight in the name of Olympus, Rome or to defeat the powers of dark magic, or merely for their own survival or the defense of mortals. You may use all the skills of a god and Poseidon gives over his ship the Argo III to provide you with mobile residence for you and the company of former demigods, now Lords and Ladies of Olympus. Oh, and in case you're wondering, for the next century or so your children shall be has half bloods themselves rather than godlings. The gods have spoken, this conclave is dismissed."

With a nod from Zeus, a smile from Poseidon and what I think was a whisper from my mother "see you tonight", the gods glowed bright white, then after a moment disappeared. I realized I had just seen their true forms for the first time as I didn't look away so shocked I was by their pronouncements. I wasn't dead or insane, so I must be a minor diety now.

Weird.

After a long silence where we all stared at one another, trying to take in all we were told, Hermione asked the question that was on everyone's mind.

"Merlin?"

"Oh yes. One of my better kept secrets. Much better than the password to my study for instance. You see, even magic students would have a hard time with a head master who never died, so every hundred years or so I leave my worldly possessions to the new me, write a glowing letter hiring myself for a professorship, fake my own death and come back in a few weeks to teach as a younger facade and new name. Its worked out well since the founders of the school originally prayed to Hecate for a headmaster to run the school as they couldn't agree on which of them should. But we'll have an eternity to discuss this. You had a wedding rehearsal to attend."

"Ya know, it would have made figuring the prophecy out a bit easier if we had known the person we thought was too young to die was actually immortal and couldn't be killed." Frank said with a smile.

"Yes, I suppose so. But like you, I can be killed. Just not by the likes of Tom Riddle. And like you, I would heal from it quickly."

After congratulations from Chiron and Dumbledore/Merlin, as well as all of us being introduced to Lupa in her human form, it was decided that we really needed to get ready for the wedding rehearsal. One of the advantages of deification as it turned out was being able to appear however we wanted to, so that made getting ready a breeze and gave Percy and I time to explore our new home. True to their word, my things were still in Calypso and Leo's home, but our house was amazing with wonderful libraries, office and work space, more bedroom suites than we would ever need, a pool, a gym and a few rooms I couldn't identify. It appeared we had a game room with a bowling alley, and a media room that was like a theater. The bowling alley was a bit curious since neither of us bowled, but we later learned that Hestia was a fanatic about the sport and demanded that all the homes in New Ionia have lanes installed.

We met up out on the street as we were preparing to leave, even though all of us had our own door to the Argo III. It just seemed right to arrive at the same time and leave together.

"Hey guys, you want to step over to my grandfather's before we leave, he has some... well he needs you for a minute." Calypso said.

Calypso led the way and on the way, and as we walked through their home Leo came in from the Hogwarts door with Draco and his mother. I had a pretty good idea then what was going on.

We arrived at Bob's and of course Draco's father was there. He looked horrible, like he had never gotten over the beating we had given him at the Hall of Mysteries. Still, his eyes, like those of his wife and son, lit up when they saw each other. The fell into each other's arms.

Another guy was there, tall, blond, incredibly muscular, and really hairy. He was dressed in a toga and held a stave of bone. It took me a minute, but as I was about to speak, Percy beat me to it.

"Damasen?"

"Yes my lord. I changed course and plotted a new life. Thanks to you and Lady Annabeth. And thanks to you, I am the shepherd and warden of Ogygia. I could ask for no finer position. Mr. Malfoy, in 3000 years you are only the second to be released from Ogygia. I urge you to also make a new life and turn your back on your old ways. The world of magic has declared that you may never use magic again, for any reason. If you are caught doing so, you will be returned to the island to live out your life. You are here because Lord Jackson pleaded with the gods for your release for the benefit of your family. He also pleaded for mine, and we are both in his debt. Go from this place with your family in peace. I do not wish to see you again."

Iapetus then touched Mr Malfoy, said "owie" and healed his injuries.

"Lord Jackson, Lady Chase..." Damasen said as he kneeled in front of us. "Thank you for my release, the new job... it is perfect." He smiled.

"It suits you and.. well you don't owe us, Arise! The world owes you. Without you the doors would have never been returned to the control of Thanatos. The world would be over. You and Bob, I mean Iapetus, you owe us nothing." Percy replied and we hugged them both.

Draco, his mother and especially his father, wondered who exactly they had picked to wage war on so many months ago. "Lord Jackson? Lady Chase?" Oh well, wait until they heard DA 1 called by those titles... Draco had training resuming in a few nights and would no doubt hear the story then. It would be retold many times to many generations of heros who wondered at the origins of their instructors and guardians.

The wedding went off without major problems, the honeymoon was even better. I may tell you about it sometime. We stayed at New Ionia a few days then went to the Argo III in Pearl Harbor for a couple weeks of sailing and surfing. It turns out I didn't have to have a full term pregnancy anymore, or lose my figure. Being deified had its advantages!

Maybe someday we can tell you the story of raising Grover Tyson and Calypso Piper Rachel Reyna Hazel Ginny Hermione Sally Jackson as well. As you might expect, they were a handful.

_

Well, that is the end of my story. I hope you enjoyed it, and hope you will review or drop me a line as to what you thought. Feel free to write your own sequeals. Until next time! -JPA