Percy stumbled, blinking rapidly, trying to regain his vision. Blinding stars of white flashed in front of his eyes, temporarily blinding him.
Before he could completely fall over he felt someone pull him to his feet.
"Of course it would be you that didn't cover their eyes, when you were specifically told to seaweed brain."
Annabeth.
"You know me, rules are made for breaking and all that." He rubbed his eyes furiously.
When Percy finally regained his vision he stared up into the suspicious face of Zeus who towered over the group menacingly.
Percy was used to receiving the full force of these glares, but this time they were angled straight at his younger brother, who was sending back a deathly glare of his own.
Percy nudged him. "Glaring might not be the best way to send a good impression." Percy whispered.
Dick ignored him, staring tensely up at Poseidon, who studied him with a troubled gaze.
It was Zeus to first speak. "It was as we thought, we sense no divinity from the boy." His angry voiced boomed towards Poseidon. "He cannot be your son."
"And yet he was not incinerated when entering the portal." Athena countered. "How can that be so if not for his blood."
"Just because he isn't mortal doesn't mean he's a demigod." Aries sneered. "There are all manner of monsters that may enter Olympus."
"And what manner of glamour is it that would hide his true form from us exactly." Aphrodite questioned with a raised eyebrow.
Poseidon simply stared at Dick, his mind clouded over in thought.
So this was why he hadn't met them at camp half blood. The gods themselves weren't in agreement about his heritage.
They didn't trust him.
Finally Poseidon stood. "Enough!" He demanded, and shrunk down to Human size to face Dick properly. "I know this child."
Percy's mouth hung open in shock. What? How? When?
He looked around at his friends and the other gods in the room. They seemed to carry similar expressions of confusion.
Dick continued to stare wordlessly up at Poseidon, a troubled expression of recognition evident on his face.
"Five years after I left your mother, I returned to see her once again. We… did not part on the best of terms and my intention was to apologize." He bent down on one knee to search Dicks face. "When I first saw you I couldn't believe my eyes, I was sure you were mine yet I could not sense any divinity from you. Your mother assured me you were the son of the fortune teller in your troupe." He stood up and took a deep breath. "I should have known it was a lie."
Dicks eyes clouded over momentarily with worry, before he attempted to steel his face into a neutral expression.
"This does not explain why you cannot sense him." Zeus's voice boomed. "Other gods and monsters may not be capable of sensing these children until they are of age but as his father your connection should be felt clearly." Zeus glared at the boy with suspicion.
"He at least deserves a chance to prove himself, does he not." Athena suggested, taking Poseidon's side for once.
Zeus leaned back in his throne, considering her words.
"Very well." He growled, sitting up straight. "You will face three tests."
Poseidon nodded and returned to his throne, once again achieving his full height.
Zeus stood. "The first test shall be combat against your brother, who I have heard is quite proficient with a sword."
"That's not fair!" Percy cried. "The kid just started learning!"
"Enough child." Zeus boomed, Percy received a disapproving glance from his father. "I do not expect him to win, however his skills, when in contact with water, should be evidently enhanced."
Percy nodded stiffly, this would be fine, right? Dick had been practicing all week after all.
A large shallow bowl of water, the size of a kiddie pool was brought into the centre of the room. Percy and Dick took their positions on opposite sides of each other, pulling out their respective swords.
Percy sent a reassuring smile Dicks way, which only slightly eased the tension in the young boys shoulders.
Something was wrong.
The last time Dick had stood in a pool of water his entire faces seemed to glow with renewed energy. Now he simply looked tired.
"Begin." Thundered Zeus.
Dick charged at Percy with vigour, but despite the clear skills he'd gained from his week of training at camp, it was clear that whatever extra power Dick used during their last sparring session was gone.
Percy sent him a worried glance to which Dick responded with even more force, swinging the sword back and forth with precision. But Percy's heart wasn't in the fight. Even if Dick defeated him, it would not convince the gods.
Nevertheless, he soon disarmed his brother, with the same move Dick had perfected just days before.
Percy winced as Dicks sword clattered to the ground, leaving an echo to ring throughout the large hall.
Dick was panting and sent Percy a panicked look. While Dick seemed breathless Percy hadn't even broken a sweat. He glanced at Zeus and from his furious look he knew Dick had failed the first test.
Hera stood to announce the second test. "As a son of the sea, you should be capable of moving water at will. For your second test you must transfer water from one goblet to the other."
The kiddie pool was removed and two large goblets of water were brought in there place.
"Perseus, a demonstration if you would." She asked.
Percy, only slightly peeved at the formal use of his name, easily transferred water from one goblet to the other, but he was worried. Even if Dicks mojo wasn't lacking, they had never practiced moving water at camp.
Before he let Dick go Percy whispered, "Just focus on the water. Find your connection with every drop. Give them an order and they'll do it." He squeezed his shoulders reassuringly. "You'll be okay."
Dick looked up at him but did not return the smile. His usually energetic face was pale, as though he was about to be sick.
Dick took his place at the centre of the room and tried to copy Percy's movements. For five whole minutes he tried, with obvious effort, to move the water but nothing happened. He could see Dicks hands beginning to tremble.
Percy could feel his heart beating out of his chest when Zeus declared, "Enough!" His glare looked like it would burn a whole into Dicks head. "Final test."
Poseidon stood, sending a look of sympathy to Dick. "For your final test you will communicate with Pegasus. I understand you have already spoken to a dolphin."
Dick nodded, no longer looked at Poseidon with hatred but with fear.
A large white Pegasus with gold tipped wings flew into the room and allowed Poseidon to whisper something into his ear. It then flew to Dick and looked between him and Percy.
'Your father wishes for me to relay to you that he loved your mother dearly and that he is sorry for the pain he caused.' The horse brayed. But as Percy looked towards Dick it was clear that he was the only one who could hear what was being said.
Despite not understanding what the animal said, Zeus seemed to come to the same conclusion Percy had.
"Imposter!" He roared, sending a bolt of lighting straight towards Dick!
Dick and the Pegasus dodged out of the way just in time.
The gods were in an uproar, arguing over what they had just learned.
Percy and his friends circled around Dick trying to protect him from their wrath. Percy looked to his father for help, but he simply hung his head, resigned. Percy could hear Dicks silent sobs from behind him, and that's when it hit Percy that his brother might die.
The gods didn't take lightly to being deceived. And yet Dick wasn't trying to deceive them! Wasn't it just yesterday that Diana had found them because of a message Dick sent to a dolphin? Hadn't they just sparred together? Hadn't Dicks scars healed because of his contact with water?
What was going on?
All Percy knew was that they had to get Dick out of here. He would keep his promise to Bruce or he would die trying.
Zeus stood with his bolt of lightning menacingly poised to strike. "Move aside children." He glared.
"Not on your life!" Annabeth growled.
Weapons drawn, Percy began to accept that he might die here, when suddenly a glowing golden lasso wrapped tightly around Zeus.
"That is enough!" Diana leered menacingly. Wonder Woman cemented herself in front of the throne and threw four blue orbs towards Percy, which he just barley managed to catch. "A gift from Hyppolyta!" She yelled. "Eat them!"
"Insolent child!" Zeus yelled outraged. "You dare break your oath! You dare come here!" Thunder seemed to shake the very foundation of the mountain.
"Now Dick!" She screamed, before Zeus could break free from her bonds.
Percy passed the orbs around and just as he crushed down on it he saw three different gods lunge towards his group.
A scream pierced the room.
Was that Diana?
Shielding Dick, he closed his eyes preparing for the strike… but felt nothing.
When Percy opened his eyes he realized he, Annabeth, Grover and Dick were standing in a barley field in the middle of nowhere.
"Diana." Dick whispered, than collapsed to the ground.
