Chapter 20, Act I - The Minor Gods Get Honored.

There was silence in the throne room, so I continued. "Even if the Crooked One isn't rising, it would be a good preventative measure, and it's not like the minor gods haven't earned it, after centuries of kowtowing to all of you. The Hermes cabin is cramped, and the kids are bitter. Those unclaimed kids won't fight for you, and as much as you all don't like to admit it, you need them. You need worship." Zeus started to speak, but I was on a roll.

"But first, I do have some unique gifts for a large portion of the council, if I may be permitted to give them." Apollo perked up at the mention of gifts. "You may provide us gifts, however—" There was a clamoring as gods started asking for gifts.

Hey, don't judge. Gods are greedy, I'm just using that! Don't say I'm bribing them! How dare you accuse me, a member of the Hermes cabin, of bribery?

"Firstly, Artemis. I give you the pelt of the Chimera. It served me well in the fight against Ares, and it saved our lives in doing so. It's precisely like Nemean Lion fur." I tossed it in the hearth, and it appeared in the goddess' hands. She nodded at me, and I carried on.

"To Apollo, I provide a transcript of what approximately occurred on our journey. Feel free to use it how you wish." I tossed a book into the fire, and Apollo opened it, flicking through it. He sent me a grin.

"For Poseidon, a Minotaur horn from the Minotaur his son had slain on his way to camp." I tossed the spare Minotaur horn into the fire. It appeared in the sea god's lap, and he beamed at me.

"Hera, Zeus, and Hermes, I will provide your gifts in private. As for Dionysus, I have a vial of Styx water. Use it as you will." I offered, tossing it into the flames. Dionysus shrugged, slipping it in his pocket.

"For Aphrodite, I offer the same. I theorized it may be worth experimenting with to put in various beauty products." I proposed, placing it in the fire once again. Aphrodite blew a kiss. I tried not to gag.

"To Hephaestus, I offer all the same. I had wondered whether it could be used to fuel a machine, or to reinforce material in some way." I said, providing him the last vial, leaving Demeter, Athena, and Ares. Ares, of course, wasn't there. He got nothing.

"Athena, I did not have much as a gift for you, but if you wish, you can take me in to pick my brain, not literally, of course. I find you may be intrigued by more than a few things." I offered. The goddess of wisdom's eyes bore into mine, calculating as ever, but she nodded.

"Demeter, I'm afraid I did not get you anything, either, though if you remain after with Hera, Zeus, and Hermes, you may be intrigued by what I have to offer you." I told her. She nodded, and the gift-giving was concluded. "We will reconvene shortly to decide on whether to accept Nikomedes' wish." Zeus declared.

Gods left the throne room, to return when Zeus called, leaving Hestia, my questmates, Zeus, Hera, Demeter, and Hermes.

"Lord Zeus, I offer you an opportunity to revive your daughter. I cannot do it currently, and it will need to wait for a year to pass, but it can be done." Zeus looked shocked. "Elaborate, demigod." He demanded. "Thalia can be brought from the brink of death by the Golden Fleece. I know the coordinates where I can find it, and a quest for it is due to be issued for it next year. I intend to go so I can revive your daughter." I explained.

"I would be grateful if you could do such a thing." He said, quickly turning back to his throne, growing to fit it. I'm gonna guess he didn't want to show much emotion or care for Thalia. Next up was Hera. "I know what you're planning. The plan is probably in its beginning stages, but I offer assistance." That was all it took to convince Hera. She gave a crooked grin, and went back to her throne.

Hermes was next. "I am in the process of securing a favor from Hades. I'm also aware what comes after this war, and Luke can be returned that way as well. I'm offering a promise that I will try my best to return Luke to life, after he dies, so he can fulfill his fate, and can live a true life after, not held by Fate." Hermes smiled, a shocked look spreading across his face.

He wraps me in a quick hug, and returns to his throne. Demeter came up, and I told her a name. "Meg McCaffery." She gave me a surprised look. "I cannot promise you her full safety from the Triumvirate, but as soon as these two coming threats are gone, I will aid her the best I can. I will assure that she has a home. That is the best gift I can manage, my lady, and I hope it pleases you."

I didn't really know how to handle Demeter, as the most we ever saw of her in the books was in the Underworld, really, preaching about cereal. The goddess in question gave me a smile. "Thank you, son of Hecate. That is more than enough for me." She turned back to her throne, climbing back up, the same as the other gods.

Zeus called the other gods back. As they reappeared, I looked over each of them, getting a gauge on how they might vote after my gifts. I really hoped the vote would go quickly, so people wouldn't realize I just bribed the Olympians.

"We reconvene to decide on whether the son of Hecate's wish shall be fulfilled. All in favor!" Zeus thundered. All around, hands rose. First was Poseidon. Then Aphrodite. Apollo, Hermes, Hera, even Artemis and Dionysus. Athena raised her hand, giving me a calculating look once again.

I turned to Hephaestus, and he grunted. "I suppose it wouldn't hurt." He raised his hand. Since the king doesn't technically get a vote, and since Ares was AWOL, it was unanimous.

"It is decided. The minor gods will attain honor, and cabins, at camp. We shall plan this privately." Zeus grumbled. I don't think he was very happy about it, personally. But I know I was, and a lot of the gods were happy about it.

I stood back, joining the rest of the group. "Grover Underwood!" Dionysus called. Grover scurried forward. "For your bravery on this quest, I will personally provide you with a searcher's license, as well as your own team, to search for Pan." Grover looked so happy, I honestly thought he was gonna faint for a moment.

Then my thoughts came to fruition. He passed right out, and I brought him back over to us with aerokinesis. "Annabeth Chase!" Athena called. "I believe, unless anyone wishes to contest this, my daughter is deserving." She looked around at the council. Nobody spoke. "I know you wish to be an architect, daughter. I wish to elect you to be in charge of designing the new cabins for the minor gods." Athena said.

Annabeth puffed out her chest, and stood up straighter. "I won't disappoint you, mother. Thank you." She accepted, moving back to join us.

"Perseus Jackson!" Poseidon boomed. Percy rose shakily, his legs unsteadily guiding him to the center of the room. "What is your wish for the council, my son?" The god asked. Percy hesitated, looking around the room. "I want all demigods to get claimed by thirteen. They start getting noticed more at twelve, right? So they should be at camp by thirteen, and I think they shouldn't have to wait to get claimed." Percy asked.

Poseidon smiled at his son, and shared a look with Zeus. "I suppose," Zeus started, "after Nikomedes' wish, that is reasonable. Very well. All demigods that arrive at camp shall be claimed soon after arrival."

I grinned real wide when Percy walked back to us. "Good job, man. I'd ask for that myself, but we were only told one wish." I said, clapping him on the back. He nodded, and Zeus continued. "Now, despite this, I believe there is no question about it. The son of Poseidon goes against a sacred oath, and should not exist."

Hestia and Poseidon alike stood up in protest. Hestia's protest to what Zeus was saying sparked a fire under the other gods. Most of them started shouting, protesting Zeus' ruling. "You let your daughter live, despite that oath. It wouldn't be fair if you terminated Poseidon's son. What god of justice would you be if you did that?" Hestia said quietly.

As soon as Hestia opened her mouth, the room went silent. "Very well." Zeus said, flinching at the mention of his daughter. "We will continue this discussion away from mortal eyes. Council adjourned!" Zeus decided.

Gods started flashing away. The ones that remained, after all of it, were Poseidon, Hestia, and Athena. Poseidon approached Percy, and started to talk to him. Athena, meanwhile, approached me. "Walk with me. Nikomedes. We have much to discuss." The goddess told me.

We left the council chambers, and we started walking along the path, turning into a market. "You had said you had information that may intrigue me. Elaborate." She said emotionlessly. "I have a power unlike many others. I assume knowledge of this power may interest you, my Lady?" I started to describe the System to her, and I confessed that I shouldn't be alive. I told her what happened, how I was reborn, and how I had no previous memory.

By the time we were done, we were outside her temple. She pressed her hand to the door, and it slid open, allowing us entrance to the temple. "You say this System has given you knowledge of this universe, and of the future of this universe?" She asks. I nod. "It allows you to use powers you, strictly speaking, should not be able to use?" She asks.

"Yes, my Lady. My mother typically provides access to only one aspect of her domains to each of her children. I can use most, if not all of them. I cannot see the future as she does, though I plan to try and find a way to develop such a thing, for the good of the campers, and the good of Olympus." I informed her.

"Speaking of the good of Olympus." She mused. "How do we know you're loyal to us?" She asked, uncertainty filling her voice. "My Lady, I think my wish, and the reasoning for my wish, in the throne room would make it clear I do not wish harm upon Olympus. Even then, Lady Hestia has provided me with proper reasoning to side with Olympus, while the Crooked One has only tried to manipulate me into helping. You can ask my mother, too. I knew, in the normal timeline, Hecate would side with the Crooked One."

At Athena's look of surprise at the last statement, I continued. "I have told her the future of her children who joined his side of the war, who joined because she joined him. I have asked her to reconsider. She assisted me in the fight against Ares, to help get the Helm back. I think all of this proves that I am loyal to Olympus." I told her. The goddess nodded. "Good to hear. Now, go. Your friends await you. If I have any further questions, I will contact you through a dream." She said, waving her hand.

The door opened back up, and I started towards the door. "Lady Athena?" I asked. "Yes, Nikomedes?" I looked back at her. "I'd be thankful if you didn't tell your father about our conversation. I already know he's hell-bent on killing Percy, and the meeting only proved it. What would happen if he learned that I had equal, if not greater, power?" I reasoned. She nodded.

"This conversation will remain between the two of us, I assure you. I have no desire to lose out on what information you have to offer." She promised. "Thank you. Have a good night, my Lady." I said, leaving to find my way back to the elevator.

It wasn't long before I found them, alongside a visitor. "Lord Poseidon." I bowed. "It's nice to see you again, Nikomedes. I see you've done as you promised." He said. I glanced at my friends. "You three can go. I'll catch up with you guys later. I promise." I assured them.

The three of them entered the elevator, leaving just myself and Poseidon. "You have done well on this quest. You protected my son, you brought Ares' attention away from him. You are a good influence for him. You brought the end of this quest quickly and efficiently, and you have done a fair share of astounding things on it. I believe that is deserving of a reward, and I do think this is a trend that may continue. We shall see. You have done myself and my son a great service." He summarized, pressing a thumb to my forehead. "Ding!"

I checked the notification, and smiled. "You may find," Poseidon started, "that you are welcomed with open arms in my domain. Your hydrokinesis should expand to other states of matter now, and you will be able to breathe underwater." He said, summarizing what the System told me.

"Thank you, Lord Poseidon." I smiled at him. "Now, I believe there is something you should see." He waved his hand, and a rainbow appeared. "Iris, show me a one-way message of Luke Castellan, at Camp Half-Blood." The rainbow shimmered, revealing Hermes and Luke standing face to face.