The spectators all gathered inside the arena on the south side of the mountain, sitting beneath the blue sky and waiting impatiently for the spar to start. Olympus hosts many duels or spars every few months, but this fight was the biggest event happening in the decade, if not a century.

Crowds of gods and demigods had all seated themselves in the seating area, counting down the seconds till the spar started and they got to see some action.

Chiron, Sophia, and Heracles were already in the middle of the arena, waiting for Percy impatiently. They didn't have to wait for long as the scent of froth permeated their senses as Percy Jackson appeared in the middle of the arena.

A simple smile on his face as he stood opposite to Heracles and waved at his wives and children. Making them smile back at him.

"Olympus," Chiron began announcing, "Today we are here to witness the duel between Heracles, God of Heroes and Strength, the champion of Olympus." A loud clapping and shouts of approval went through the crowd. He was one of the strongest demigods born in their era and the most legendary one. This was the demigod turned God that everyone worshiped.

"And Perseus, the God of Fate, Time, Tide, the Prince of Night." This time all the future gods and immortals shouted at the top of their lung to show their support to their king. Now this was the King of Kings. None knew him from this era, but they would soon do. They will know why he was revered and respected at his time. Even Theseus and Perseus, who were supposedly 'friends' with Heracles were showing their support for Percy.

Sophia, the daughter of Perseus and Athena stepped forward and addressed the two combatants, "Now on to the rules, since my father has advantage due to his domains, there will be no use of powers, just pure skill. There would be no maiming or killing, the first to draw blood or render the other immobile wins.

Once the victor is announced, all fighting ceases and the person who won't follow through will suffer the consequences. Agreed?"

Both Heracles and Percy nodded, agreeing with the goddess of duals' decision and rules.

Sophia nodded in satisfaction and walked out of the arena with Chiron behind her.

The tradition of causing mayhem at every event on Olympus, this time Hermes' children took the torch for him. Travis, Connor, and Chris were going around, collecting bets on who would win. Going over to every single spectators and giving them the 'inside scoop,' on the battle.

"Who do you think is going to win?" Ares asked the brothers without bothering to take his eyes away from the two in the arena, not wanting to miss out on a single second of action.

Travis looked at his brothers with a mischievous glint in his eyes, he leaned down and whispered next to Ares' ears. "I didn't want to say this, but Percy always uses his surroundings, his powers to win a fight. That's his big secret, he cannot fight a battle based on pure skills. Everyone in the future knows it, but they are afraid of his powers, so they don't speak it out loud."

From the other side of his shoulder, Connor leaned down and spoke in the same convincing tone, "We would not tell this to anyone, but since you are the God of War, the most honorable one, we wouldn't lie to you."

On the far side of them, Hermes and Apollo were sitting and listening to the bets being made, they shook their heads when they saw Ares got a proud glint on his eyes. They knew that he was going to be angry later on.

"You kids are smart, nothing like the other brats," Ares appraised the children of Hermes and fished out a big pouch of drachmas, "1000 drachmas on Heracles." Chris graciously accepted the wager with a deep bow of his head.

The three brothers went around collecting bets, laughing internally at how much money they were going to make. None of these people knew Percy and his skills that much, and they were waging pretty heavy drachmas on Heracles, and only a handful of the people from past bet on Percy, and the brothers had banned the future people from betting.

They didn't mind that these people had such low faith in Percy, they weren't offended for their kings. This was good business for them, it meant more money.

As soon as Chiron and Sophia were out of the faction of their battle ground, Heracles held a hand up and smiled darkly at Percy, "before we start the duel, I would like to wager a bet with you."

In the seating area, the demigod children of Hermes, Apollo and Hermes stopped in an instant and paid close attention when they heard of a bet. The rest were all also interested in what this bet was going to be, except the ones who knew what Heracles really was. They sneered at the son of Zeus from their seats.

With a raise of his eyebrows Percy asked, "What would you like to gain should you win?"

The chuckle Heracles gave back could only be considered evil. But what came out of his mouth was even more sacrilegious. "If I win, I would like to have one of your domains, and your wife Thalia."

A massive thunderclap was heard at the background as everyone from the future and most from the past stood up in rage. The power they were radiating was so immense that the demigods felt like being washed up by thousands of pressure hose. Yet, the most significant one was the feeling of electricity crackling up at everyone's spine.

Their heads turned towards Thalia; the goddess was relaxed on her seat without a care of the world. She rose one hand and all the protests dropped down; she knew her husband. There was no way he would lose, so there was no need to create a scene yet.

The dark look that crossed Percy's face should've been an indication that he had crossed a line, but the son of Zeus was too drunk on his arrogance. In the infinite number of possibilities there wasn't one where Heracles walked out of here as the victor.

Percy's lips curved into a sneer as he spoke, "I agree to wager my domains at your behest, but I would not agree to the second bet. While I don't have any fear of losing to you, my wife is not an object or a possession that I could wage upon whenever needed."

That statement alone was enough to qualm the hearts of many spectators and make Artemis and her Hunters beam at the God. Even in the heat of a moment or in anger, he didn't forget to respect his wife. Their respect for him, and hatred for Heracles grew.

As much as Heracles wanted to goad Percy into putting Thalia up for a wager, he was far too gone in his lust to gain a major domain. He had already decided that he would ask for the domain of fate and become the strongest god alive. So, he conceded, "Then I would only like your domain of fate."

Another gasp of shock ran through the crowd at the stupidity of him, and this time even Zeus couldn't help but shake his head in disappointment.

With a smile on his face Percy extended his hand and stated his term, "If I win, I would like you to formally apologize to Thalia," watching Heracles' face twitch in annoyance, Percy's smile transformed into a devious smirk, "And Zoe."

An awestruck Zoe, and equally awestruck Artemis and her hunters could only look ahead at the two combatants surprised. With all Percy could have asked of Heracles, this was the last thing that they had expected. Though they couldn't deny the tiny bit of petty, cross that, huge pettiness that blossomed in their heart at the thought of that scum apologizing to Zoe.

They noticed that Thalia was sitting just as relaxed, a small smile on her face signifying she already knew what her husband was going to do.

While their attention was divided, Percy and Heracles got into a fighting position. Heracles withdrew his club and his infamous shield, with the picture of Akhlys on its front. Percy eyed the shield silently, remembering his own adventures with the Primordial goddess.

Instead of drawing a weapon of his own, Percy decided that he didn't need a weapon to beat some sense into his opponent. He would humiliate him and enjoy while doing so. Was Percy being petty and arrogant? Yes! Did he give a damn about it? No sir!

The son of Zeus growled at the disrespect aimed at him. He was the revered Heracles, slayer of many, champion of Olympus, and this upstart god from the future would disrespect him by not even wielding a weapon against him? He decided that after he won, he would make him pay for it.

In the background the auspicious sound of a conch shell being blown could be heard, announcing the beginning of the duel. Both the combatants eyed each other warily, looking for an opening to attack. "You would be wise to use a weapon, cousin," Heracles suggested.

Percy circled around Heracles like a wolf stalking his prey, while his opponent did the same. Percy was cocky enough to know that he could beat him blindfolded, but he would still not underestimate his opponent. That's how Ares had lost to him all those years ago, because he underestimated him.

Knowing perfectly well how short-tempered Zeus' children tend to be, he decided to goad the son of Zeus into attacking him.

"I decided that a weapon would be a waste on you, I will rather use the club you have on you to defeat you." Percy said smugly, enjoying as his opponent lost temper and charged at him head on.

Swinging his club to bash Percy's head, Heracles was surprised when his club made no contact. Even without his powers the god was inhumanely fast.

More efforts were made, this time Heracles actually coming close to making contact, but as usual at the last moment Percy would move out of the way. If that wasn't enough, he started giving him tips in the middle of the duel.

"Close your opening, I can see fault in your stance," he would bark out instructions after instructions, and while they were all really good points, that Heracles should work upon. The only thing it did in the moment was to make him angrier.

The son of Zeus roared loudly, and banged his club against the ground hard, making the solid floor crack up and chunks of debris fly out in the wind. In that moment he had lost the sight of his opponent, and the very next second a huge force impacted against his back, making him stumble forward and lose his footing.

Up on the spectators' pavilion everyone was mesmerized. No one more so than the war gods. Athena, Ares, and Enyo were watching with rapid fascination as Percy toyed with Heracles, an opponent even they wouldn't scoff at. Artemis and her hunters had their eyes glued to the duel, relishing every second of Percy putting Heracles down on his place.

A low growl escaped Heracles' lips as he turned around and watched his own shield in Percy's hand. The god was carefully examining the shield and looked particularly bothered by the image of Akhlys.

Lost on his own rage, he moved forward incredibly fast, and swung his club at Percy with all the strength he could muster. His club contacted the shield and a sonic boom passed through the arena, the force of his swing so hard that it made a huge dent in the celestial bronze shield, even Percy had taken a couple of steps back after feeling that hit.

Percy smiled, and that smile seemed to have sent a shiver down the spectators' back.

From there on forward, it was a lot of grunting, swinging club from Heracles, and lots of dodging and shouting out instructions from Percy. It was clear from everyone's view that Percy was just toying with Heracles.

From between the gods, Annabeth shouted at him, "Percy, finish it now honey, the kids are getting hungry."

As soon as Annabeth had finished speaking, Percy moved with incredible speed, making Heracles' eyes widen as he saw him coming toward him. A powerful punch was thrown at his shoulder and a kick to his gut. The club that was in his hand dropped to the ground, and Percy had forced him to his back against the ground.

His knee resting at his chest and a small dagger pressed against his throat tightly, "I win," Percy whispered only for him to hear.

They could hear the sound of Chiron's hoofs as he came near them. A look of surprise on his face as he watched his best student losing like a 4-year-old. Up at the seating area all the past gods and demigods were watching with open mouths as Percy disarmed and dropped Heracles as he was nothing.

Meanwhile, the three children of Hermes sneaked out of the arena to avoid an angry Ares, they would deliver the winnings later, when they weren't in immediate danger.

Aside from them no one could speak anything, not until Sophia came up to the middle of the arena and announced, "The victor is Perseus, God of fate."

Silence.

Silence was all there after the duel, and then the crowd stood up and roared in cheers.

Getting up from where he had pinned Heracles down, Percy turned to the crowd and did a little dramatic bow. Smirking as he saw his wives rolling their eyes at him. Athena, Artemis, Zoe, and Hestia smiling at him, with clear shock written over their faces.

During this he failed to see something move behind his back. Yet, his daughter was paying attention. Heracles had stood up, summoned a sword and was about to attack Percy behind his back, when a huge beam of light shone and blasted him away.

Shocked, everyone's eyes turned towards the now charred Heracles, and Sophia who had summoned a spear and was walking towards the son of Zeus menacingly.

Standing with her foot at his chest, and her spear leveled at his throat, Sophia spoke in a low yet resonating voice, "You would dare go against my rules?" She pressed the spear harder against Heracles' throat, to the point of drawing blood, "I am the goddess of duals, and yet you would dare dishonor the rules set by me, in my presence?"

The aura and anger radiating from her was worthy of Athena. She looked identical to her mother when the wisdom goddess got angry.

Before Sophia could permanently damage Heracles, a warm yet firm hand rested at her shoulders. Her blazing eyes turned and found the pride filled eyes of her father, that immediately helped deflating some of her anger. "Calm yourself daughter, he's had enough already." The loving tone behind her father's words worked and she stepped back. Looking down at the charred and battered body of the god of strength, Sophia couldn't help but scoff at the so-called 'Champion of Olympus.'

Returning to the spectators' line, she found Athena waiting for her with open arms, and she did not waste a second to run into them. She could also see the respect filled gaze of Artemis, the hunters, and the rest of the goddesses.

Joining his family, Percy soon found himself in the line of very lustful gazes from his wives. Thalia walked up to him with grace and pulled him in for a kiss. The kiss between them was gentle yet filled with passion, after they separated, she leaned and whispered in his ears, "There is a battle waiting for you when we get back inside our bedroom Jackson."

Looking over her shoulder he found the same wanting looks from the rest of his wives. Percy knew that his day wasn't over just yet.

Oh boy! Percy thought to himself, "Now, this is what I am going to enjoy."

Line-Break

The next day started out great and everyone gathered once again inside the throne room to start reading again. The mood was different than usual though, there was an air of gaiety among them, everyone seemed to be happy for some reason.

None more so than Percy and his wives, but that's a different story on its own. Athena, Artemis, Hestia, and Zoë could still see the dark red marks on Percy's visible neck. They didn't need it spelled out to know what it was, and a small sense of jealousy could be seen igniting in them.

Ignoring that for now, everyone had already seated themselves to their usual seats and were waiting for the one person missing to arrive. Heracles. The god was not seen since the end of his dual and getting blown away from Sophia.

They didn't have to wait long for that, as the throne room's door flew open, and the god of strength walked inside. His body looked better than before, but still receiving the full force of a god's power still had some of his muscles bruised. Walking to the middle of the throne room, he held the attention of the entire room, their eyes wandering over his figure and their mind wondering what he was going to do next.

Taking a deep breath, Heracles turned towards Thalia and addressed her, "I would like to make an apology to you. I should not have disrespected you by asking your husband to wage you as an object." The tone of his voice conveyed the message, he deeply felt ashamed of his actions.

Next was Sophia, "I am sorry for going against your rules niece. I am deeply ashamed of my actions. I did not behave like a true warrior yesterday." His heartfelt apology to the goddess of dual was met with a curt nod, with a little smile.

Moving to Percy he spoke, "I would like to apologize to you too. I had been rash about my ways and for being so crude with you since the start of the reading. I would offer an explanation for my behavior, but I don't have one. In my lust for power and fame I lost sight of myself. Over the years I have turned bitter, and that bitterness got the better of me."

Instead of lording over Heracles, Percy smiled and waved his concern over, "I accept your apology cousin, I cannot say that I haven't lost the sight of things over the years myself. I am very protective of my family, and when a disrespect is aimed at them, I cannot just sit idle and let it happen."

Heracles turned to Zoë, his breath coming up to stop at his throat, this was going to be the hardest. Gulping his fears, he started, "I cannot hope to atone for the betrayal I delivered you. I needed to finish a task and I didn't care who I hurt along the way for it. You caught the brunt of my arrogance and selfishness, and for that I must apologize." His head dropped down to look at the ground, a mountain of emotions washing over him.

The hunters and the Artemis were all looking at Zoë for her reaction. She had spent centuries trying to forget that particular memory, but now at least she would get some closure. Deciding to not speak anything, Zoë gave him a small nod and returned to chatting with his sisters once again.

Seeing that the matter was all resolved, and everyone seemed to feel better now, Percy addressed the room, "Shall we start now?"

"I will read," Reyna announced and opened the book. WE CAPTURE A FLAG

As soon as the title of the chapter was read, Percy and Annabeth shot each other a glare and went back to listen to Reyna, as she started reading.

The next few days I settled into a routine that felt almost normal, if you don't count the fact that I was getting lessons from satyrs, nymphs, and a centaur.

Each morning I took Ancient Greek from Annabeth, and we talked about the gods and goddesses in the present tense, which was kind of weird. I discovered Annabeth was right about my dyslexia:

"You'll find out that I am right about most of the things seaweed brain" Annabeth drawled out, smug little smile at her face.

"I know wise girl," Percy replied, smiling widely at his wife, without her he would've lost his life hundreds of times over by his stupidity.

Ancient Greek wasn't that hard for me to read. At least, no harder than English... Chiron tried to teach me archery, but we found out pretty quick I wasn't any good with a bow and arrow. He didn't complain, even when he had to de-snag a stray arrow out of his tail.

"That couldn't have been possible..." Artemis looked over at Percy with wide eyes, she was the goddess of archery, and to hear that someone was able to achieve such a level of being shit at it, she was perplexed to the say the least. Her hunters themselves sitting open mouthed in incredulity. Zoë giggling in a faint voice at the image of what was just read.

Whereas Thalia was outright laughing at her husband's face, and a flabbergasted centaur who was giving Percy a look of fear.

"And to think that this was the guy who gave advice on my archery," Frank shook his head, enjoying as Percy's face went red in embarrassment and Hazel giggling from his side.

"It was not my fault." Percy's voice raised an octave at all the different looks he was getting, "Children of Poseidon generally aren't good with bows, even before the curse that was placed in our lineage, and after the curse, forget it."

"A curse?" Hazel asked absentmindedly, she knew perfectly well of how a curse can hold back a person. How arduous it can be, and with Rome practically distancing themselves from Neptune out of fear, there wasn't much she had known about him and his lineage, not until Percy came into their life. Still, a curse on the children of Neptune was something she didn't know about.

A pair of growls resonated through the throne room, and the sound itself was enough to make people shiver at the hatred and intensity behind it. "Orion," both Apollo and Damon hissed at once. An aura of pure malice emanating from the pair of them, making the room's temperature drop several degrees.

Artemis scowled remembering the day all too well. She remembered the rage she had felt, but even far greater than her own was the anger of her twin brother. The sun had never shone so bright like that day, and the trees around them had started catching fire from the intensity of it. She always knew how protective her brother was of her, and that day was the pinnacle of it. Now though it seems that her son had joined the role of being her overprotective caretaker. The thought warmed her heart.

"Is this the same Orion?" Hazel asked softly, not knowing the full story behind it, but given the reaction of Apollo and Damon, it must have been bad.

Percy sighed and nodded, "Yes Haze, Orion was a son of Poseidon and a great hunter at that. He was extraordinary in his skill of archery, such skill that he rivaled Artemis' hunters, even though they are blessed by the goddess herself. Seeing his skill, Artemis commended him and gave him the opportunity to join her hunt, he was the first male hunter to ever step foot inside Artemis' camp. However, he mistook my wife's respect for something else. He became obsessed with her."

"He had tricked Artemis into some celestial bronze grade shackles and was planning to rape her. Thankfully, in time, Apollo was there to save his sister, and he slayed the son of Poseidon with one of his golden arrows. After that in his rage, Apollo laid a curse upon the children of Poseidon for them to never be able to wield a bow with accuracy ever again." Percy explained and the people from the future nodded in understanding.

Poseidon stayed silent through the whole ordeal, while he couldn't defend Orion for his actions, it was still painful to hear about his child's death.

Percy, the hunters, and everyone from the future shot Apollo a thankful smile and went back to the reading.

Foot racing? No good either. The wood-nymph instructors left me in the dust. They told me not to worry about it. They'd had centuries of practice running away from lovesick gods. But still, it was a little humiliating to be slower than a tree.

"Hearing it like that is so funny," Leo snickered, lightening up the air of the room that was tensed by the previous discussion. His comment started a chain reaction and soon the room was filled with chuckles and laughter.

"Not only lovesick gods," Thalia mused, "Why do you think Grover runs this fast?" She commented, bringing forth another torrent of laughter from their friends.

While the poor Satyr could only glare at the floor with a flushed face. To make it even worse, even his Lord, Pan, was laughing at his discomfort.

And wrestling? Forget it. Every time I got on the mat, Clarisse would pulverize me... Luke told me I might be a child of Hermes, a kind of jack- of-all-trades, master of none. But I got the feeling he was just trying to make me feel better. He really didn't know what to make of me either.

"No one did," Katie commented, "It was frustrating to say the least, however now, looking back at it, we were just plain stupid." The rest of those that were present during that time also said something similar.

Despite all that, I liked camp. I got used to the morning fog over the beach, the smell of hot... magical stuff was possible, surely there was some way to save her, to bring her back. . . . I started to understand Luke's bitterness and how he seemed to resent his father, Hermes.

The statement came as a slap to the gods' face, but none more so than Hermes. To hear that one's child was bitter against them, and that they resented them. No parent liked to hear that. Hermes made a move to ask the others what had made Luke become such bitter against him, but he realized that they would not answer. So, he sat in silence and waited for the time to come.

The macabre of the room was felt by most of the gods as they could very clearly see Hermes' crestfallen face. They all knew that among them, Poseidon, Apollo, and Hermes were probably the ones who loved their children the most.

And to hear what was read, it was the worst slap Hermes could ever receive.

The demigods of the time were wondering how a newcomer was able to deduce Luke's farce and his acidic feelings, better than they ever could. Even Annabeth, who had spent the most time following Luke around had failed to see his true face, though that might have been because she was too entranced worshiping him to see it.

Yet, the most noticeable thing they felt was fear. Percy was resenting the gods just as Luke did, and Chaos forbid, had he joined the Titans. There wouldn't have been any chance for their survival. They all looked wary of it, terrified and paralyzed by the inconceivable thought.

"My son..." Poseidon began but he couldn't think of anything to say. He so desperately wanted to qualm the thoughts of his son, but he just couldn't find the word. He had always the ancient laws, but never more so than right this moment.

"I know father," Percy replied, "I was a terrified little child back then, who had just lost his mother, and was resenting the other parent for not being there for me."

The demigods around him lowered their heads, at one point they had all felt the same. None could say that they never felt an inkling of resentment towards their godly parents. They all came to learn that the gods couldn't interfere with them due to the ancient laws, but the yearning of their heart to know their parent didn't go away because of it.

They couldn't imagine how Percy can just sit silently and have his most innermost thoughts read out to everyone. However, they could understand his reason, he wasn't doing it for himself, his wives, or his children. They were all immortals and wouldn't gain anything personal from this now.

No, he was sacrificing his privacy for the sake of those he was honored to care for. Ridiculing himself under the eyes of the other gods, showcasing his inner loathing and self-doubts to the rest of them. He was doing it for them, for the half-bloods under his care. For the small chance of miracle that their lives could turn better and they don't go through the same he had been through, or don't feel the same resentment, bitterness he had felt.

A true king of demigods. Their utmost respect for him only increased at that.

So okay, maybe gods had important things to do. But couldn't they call once in a while, or thunder, or something... We started with basic stabbing and slashing, using some straw-stuffed dummies in Greek armour. I guess I did okay. At least, I understood what I was supposed to do, and my reflexes were good.

"Calling your reflexes good would be a joke," Travis commented, "Even when you were a newbie, you fought at least equivalent to someone who has had at least 6 months training." His brothers all nodded their assent behind them.

They all knew this day vividly; they had never been so thoroughly shocked. The entire Hermes cabin was present that day to see their counselor, who was the best swordsmen in the last 300 years, get bested by a newbie who was holding a sword for the first time.

"Even in his first day at New Rome, he tore through the army of trained soldiers like they were nothing more than paper figures in front of him." Frank commented, he had never seen someone fight like that. The Greek fighting style was unknown to him, he remembered wondering if Percy was a demon of some kind.

Reyna nodded her assent with Frank's story, remembering watching the entire battle from the sky riding on Scipio. She was wary of Percy Jackson, only remembering the boy that had turned Circe's Island into chaos. But watching him fight through the legionaries effortlessly, it was the first time she had felt like he was someone she wanted by her side.

The gods more prone to battle paid more attention to the story and the demigods recalling Percy's skills. They wanted to know more about his skills, and how he came to hone them. Heracles himself was transfixed and focused completely on the story now, wanting to know how this god had become such skilled in fighting.

Poseidon sat straight; his sea green eyes shone with pride. His children were always good with battle skills, but it seems that Percy was more talented than others. He wanted to hear more about it.

The problem was, I couldn't find a blade that felt right in my hands. Either they were too heavy, or too light, or too long. Luke tried his best to fix me up, but he agreed that none of the practice blades seemed to work for me.

"That is highly unusual," Athena commented, her train of thoughts wondering why none of the weapons worked for Percy. She knew that warriors tended to be picky about their weapons, but even then. He was just a kid and learning, at least some of the swords should've worked for him.

Poseidon smiled slightly and answered, "I suppose I should take some blame for that; my children are more comfortable with weapons made in the sea or forged by cyclops. Normal weapons won't feel right in their hands, their blood always calls out for the seas."

The sea deities all smiled and nodded; they had known that already. Yet, the rest of the gods were amazed once again, amazed at how deeply Poseidon's blood runs in his broods. Their connection to their father's domain was by far stronger than most of their kids.

Maybe that was the reason why Poseidon's children tended to be so destructive. They took after their father.

We moved on to dueling in pairs. Luke announced he would be my partner since this was my first time. "Good luck," one of the campers told me. "Luke's the best swordsman in the last three hundred years."

Hermes' chest puffed up as he sat upright, he loved hearing about his children's expertise. To hear that his son was the best swordsman in the last three centuries filled him with pride. Before he could start boasting Thalia spoke.

"Not anymore," she said, pride coloring her words, "Percy takes the title away from him." She had seen Luke fight and sparred with him on the year they were on run. He had been the most competent opponent she ever had; his dexterity in wielding a sword was unrivaled. But then Percy had come into the story, and as much as her younger self would've hated to admit it. He was better than her, and way better than Luke.

He didn't need to use his powers to defeat his enemy. That was one of the main reasons she had resented him in the beginning, because his skills and power came to him naturally, while she had to work on it. Yet, she was thankful for that, because without him none of them could've survived the second Titan war.

"I am not that good," Percy commented blushing straight to the roots of his hair, his face resembling a tomato. Even though he was a god now, and the most powerful one at that. The small sense of self-doubt still remained in him. He still hadn't learned how to take compliments very well.

Annabeth rolled her eyes, an act that was followed by a lot more eye rolls. She jabbed her husband in his stomach with her elbow, making him lean forward and glare at her. To which she just glared back, and a silent conversation passed between them.

"Don't cut yourself short seaweed brain, we have all seen you fight. I don't think even Achilles, who was supposedly the most skilled swordsman could last a full minute against you." Annabeth said knowing full well it was the truth. Her seaweed brain had defeated enemies that were thought unkillable, and he did it all on his might and with the help of her brains.

She would be damned if she let him put himself down like that. And the way his face lit up red in embarrassment was just too adorable.

"Maybe he'll go easy on me," I said. The camper snorted... "No, not that far up!" Whap! "Lunge!" Whap! "Now, back!" Whap!

By the time he called a break, I was soaked in sweat. Everybody swarmed the drinks cooler. Luke poured ice water on his head, which looked like such a good idea. I did the same. Instantly, I felt better. Strength surged back into my arms.

"Finally," Poseidon cheered in glee as he felt the same rush of water. He had been feeling the blunt of sword hits, every time it was being read, due to the curse. He wanted nothing more than to travel far in the future and ground the son of Hermes into the ground for hurting his little kid like that.

"Cheater," Hermes muttered silently, knowing perfectly well what was going to happen now.

Percy smiled widely looking at Hermes, "I don't think so. Being your son Luke always had the help of your domains, your trickery, your speed. While, I was a newbie, I didn't know how to channel my father's domain all the time and being in contact with water was the only way I could do so. If anything, I think it was a fair match after that."

Hermes still didn't seem convinced and glared at him, to which Percy responded in a snort of laughter.

It hadn't even been a full week since the reading had begun, and already Apollo, Percy and Hermes had all become good friends. The rest were amazed to see how the ties of their kinship transcended through even time itself.

The sword didn't feel so awkward.

"Okay, everybody circle up!" Luke ordered. "If Percy doesn't mind, I want to give you a little demo." Great, I thought. Let's all watch Percy get pounded... how to twist the enemy's blade with the flat of your own sword so that he had no choice but to drop his weapon.

"That is a difficult move to learn, most would take weeks if not months to master that. How long did it take you?" Athena asked curiously, it was another thing if her children of Ares' children were the one in question. They were children of wars, battle and fighting was ingrained in their blood. They adapted to fighting quicker than most.

She knew that Poseidon's children were powerful, but they weren't prone to fighting quite like Ares' or her children, who were born to fight. Ares himself along with the other gods looked at Percy for an answer. Similar questions running through their head.

"I suppose you'll have to wait and watch dear," Smirking mischievously he replied. Ignoring the looks he was getting from the rest of his wives. He knew perfectly well how much it bugged her to not get a straight answer, or know something right away. It was still too much fun to tease her.

"You're an asshole," Piper commented from his side, he always had to go out of his ways to annoy them. It was a wonder that they all didn't just pile up over him and beat the crap out of him. Or, better than that, no sex for him. That would get his seaweed brain to know better.

Athena glared at him, and much to her dismay that only got Percy's smile to grow wider.

"This is difficult," he stressed. "I've had it used against me. No laughing at Percy, now. Most swordsmen have to work years to master this technique... My blade hit the base of Luke's and I twisted, putting my whole weight into a downward thrust. Clang.

Luke's sword rattled against the stones. The tip of my blade was an inch from his undefended chest.

The gods all sat open mouthed as it was read. None of them knowing how to act other than to sit in shocked silence. It was a big feat for an untrained child to achieve. Meanwhile, his children, his wives, his friends all sat proud of the way every past god was looking, Gob smacked at his achievement.

After a while, a wide smile appeared in Poseidon's face and he addressed his son, "I hope you do know this my son, that the water might have given you a surge of boost, but it doesn't increase your skills or affects it in any ways possible. This was all you." His happiness knew no bounds, always had he listened to his younger brother brag about his children. Proudly displaying his children's abilities or feats, but now it was Poseidon's turn.

Percy was going to be a legend among legends, he just knew. And that would give him bragging points for all the millennia to come.

Percy just smiled slightly and looked down, while his wives all puffed up in pride. Knowing that he wasn't going to take the compliments well and accept them, they will do it for them. They will bask in his glory and be proud for him.

The other campers were silent. I lowered my sword. "Urn, sorry."

"Stultus"(Idiot) Reyna stopped her reading to glare at her husband, "Only you would be stupid enough to win a fight and apologize for it."

"That hurts my love," Percy put a dramatic hand against his chest, "Right here."

"Deal with it," Reyna answered impassively and went back to reading, ignoring the laughter of those around her, and Percy pouting adorably at her. It was a good thing that she had controlled herself to not act on her emotions from long ago, because he really did look adorable right now, with his sea green eyes shining along and his face all scrunched up like a guinea pig.

For a moment, Luke was too stunned to speak... Luke wiped the sweat off his brow. He appraised at me with an entirely new interest. "Maybe," he said. "But I wonder what Percy could do with a balanced sword...

"He's smart," Ares commented, much to Hermes' pleasure, "He knew that wasn't a fluke. He'll keep a keen eye on you from now on." He paid closer attention to Percy, wanting to know how he had such good reflexes, even without having wielded a sword before. Maybe I should spar with him later on he thought to himself.

"That is not a good thing," Thalia whispered silently so only Percy and the rest of her sister wives could hear. Luke was manipulative, and if he took a special interest in Percy, then it wasn't going to be good. The electricity running in her veins wanted to break free and all she wanted to do was revive Luke for long enough to send him back to Hades herself.

A warm hand rested and gripped at her thighs tightly, breaking her train of thoughts, she looked up to find Percy smiling lovingly at her. She hadn't realized it, but her knees had started bouncing up and down in anxiety, but Percy had noticed it. He raised his eyebrows at her, asking a silent question of, was she okay?

She didn't know the answer to that, she knew that he was going to be okay. However, reading all this and knowing firsthand what was going to happen, had brought up some strange emotions in her. Instead of mulling over her negative thoughts she looked over at Percy who was looking at her with the utmost love and caring eyes.

She leaned forward and pressed her lips against his, relishing at how comforting his lips, his touch was.

Friday afternoon, I was sitting with Grover at the lake, resting from a near-death experience on the climbing wall... "Fine," he said. "Just great." "So, your career's still on track?" He glanced at me nervously. "Chiron t-told you I want a searcher's license?"

"What's a searcher license?" Pan asked, at the same time Athena asked, "What are you searching for?"

Their questions were met by hushed whispers, the demigods and Grover turning away their heads to avoid any eye contact. A pit formed at the gods' stomach seeing their reaction. Something had to have gone terribly wrong for them to react like that.

Even Zeus, who had been sitting impassively and listening to every single word of the book closely, gave up away his look of worry. While Pan had seen the few tears that had formed in the eyes of his Satyr from the future, he didn't know what had made them act like that, but he was sure that he wouldn't like finding out about it.

"Well . . . no." I had no idea what a searcher's license was, but it didn't seem like the right time to ask. "He just said you had big plans, you know.

. . and that you needed credit for completing a keeper's assignment... "Blaa-ha-ha! He might as well have transferred me to stable-cleaning duty. The chances of you getting a quest . . . and even if you did, why would you want me along?"

"I would always want you along with me Grover, you're my best friend," Percy said with the utmost respect he could muster in his words. He could still remember the days from decades ago when he had no friend. Grover was the first friend he had made, and even though the Satyr was assigned to him, Percy was good at judging people, he knew that Grover's friendship towards him was earnest.

"You're the best person apart from Annie to keep him out of trouble Goat-boy." Thalia praised him too; she knew that he still blamed himself for losing her all those years ago. It wasn't as bad as before, since both Percy and her had drilled it inside his goat skull.

"I have said this before, and I must say it again dear Satyr. You're brave, perhaps the bravest Satyr I know, and your journey hasn't even begun. I know this in my blood, like I know the nature around me, you are going to do more extraordinary things." Pan acclaimed him once again. The god of wild was proud of the Satyr, and impatiently wanted to know what will happen to him in the future.

Grover kept his head down to hide away the tears that were forming in his eyes. His heart filled with gratitude as he thanked the fates for giving him the most wonderful and kindhearted friends. Like Percy, his thoughts were often dejected and depressing, but the support of his friends helped a lot.

"Of course, I'd want you along!" Grover stared glumly into the water. "Basket-weaving . . . Must be nice to have a useful... "Number eight, the silver one, belongs to Artemis," he said. "She vowed to be a maiden forever. So of course, no kids. The cabin is, you know, honorary. If she didn't have one, she'd be mad."

"Not mad per se, but my hunters need a place to rest every once in a while. Also, I am an Olympian, if everyone else got one instead of me, it would be a disrespect," Artemis answered looking bemusedly, and failed to notice the demigods all scowling at the hunters staying at camp part. But a look from Percy had all of them smiling and acting normally.

"Yeah, okay. But the other three, the ones at the end. Are those the Big Three... When we say the Big Three, we mean the three powerful brothers, the sons of Kronos." "Zeus, Poseidon, Hades."

All the three sons of Kronos puffed up their chest and held their heads high in pride, while their wives rolled their eyes at them.

An indignant noise came out of the brothers' throat collectively, as Artemis commented, 'Pigheaded," while covering her mouth, yawning. Smiling innocently as she saw the glare, they were sending her way and the rest of the room laughing at the big three.

"Right. You know. After the great battle with the Titans, they took over the world from their dad and drew lots to decide who got what." "No. He does not have a throne on Olympus, either. He sort of does his own thing down in the Underworld. If he did have a cabin here . . ." Grover shuddered. "Well, it wouldn't be pleasant. Let's leave it at that."

"Nice to know what you really think about us Grover," Nico said with a slight glare aimed towards the Satyr, and Grover could see Hazel frowning at him.

Grover spluttered and looked around the room for help, but none came to support him, and he saw Percy laughing at his scared look. Both Percy and Nico knew that he didn't think like that anymore, but it was too much fun to see him freak out.

Looking at Hades, Grover squeaked, "I assure you Lord Hades, that I do not think that way now. Your children are welcomed in camp with open arms." Sweat started piling in his forehead as the Lord of the Dead stared at him with his obsidian black eyes.

Hades' face remained emotionless as he asked, "Has things changed in the future then? My children are accepted?"

Grover gave him a smile and nodded his head, "Yes, my lord, things in the future do change with time. Your children are accepted and are treated as family, as an equal."

Hades gave a rare smile, and the women of the room were reminded why Persephone was always so mesmerized and in love with her husband. The eldest son of Kronos looked friendly and handsome when he wasn't brooding all the time. "Then I have no problems with you Satyr. I do not care what people think of me, my own family does so. As long as my children are welcomed and given a place, I don't need anything else."

Nico allowed a rare smile to grace his features as even Hazel moved a little closer to her father smiling. Persephone moved her hair to the side and nuzzled against her husband's chest contently smiling softly. They knew by now that Hades/Pluto was not a man to show affection very often or of many words, but he did care. More than the others.

The rest of the room were reminded once again about how Hades was the opposite of how he was depicted. The scriptures, the history books always made it out to him forbidding and aloof, while it was true to some degree and the god often lost himself on his own darkness.

However, now they would all learn that despite his darkness, Hades was a god bitter because of the treatment he got from his family, and most of all, he was a father suffering seeing his children being rejected like him. That in all of it, he was a father who loved his children but didn't know how to.

Grover smiled a little and nodded, happy that he wasn't about to be blasted to bits.

"But Zeus and Poseidon - they both had, like, a bazillion kids in the myths. Why are their cabins empty?"

Both Poseidon and Zeus made indignant sounds as the rest of the room started roaring in laughter. They would've said something, anything to defend themselves, but their wives were glaring at them menacingly, so they opted on staying silent.

Between the laughter Annabeth turned to Percy scowling, "bazillion? Seriously seaweed brain? That's a made-up word."

Percy was about to reply when from the front of them, where the children were all sitting in the ground, Damon turned and gave Annabeth the same smirk she knew meant trouble. "All words are made up, mom." The son of Percy Jackson said, causing everyone from the future to laugh once again and for Annabeth to blush red.

Seeing Percy air fiving his son, she kicked him out of their couch and the god made seat with his children on the floor.

Grover shifted his hooves uncomfortably. "About sixty years ago, after World War II, the Big Three agreed they wouldn't sire any more heroes. Their children were just too powerful... Zeus and Poseidon, made Hades swear an oath with them: no more affairs with mortal women. They all swore on the River Styx." Thunder boomed.

Thunder boomed in the throne room too, as all talking came to a halt. The significance of the reading starting from here on. An oath was the Styx was the most powerful oath, and for the big three to swear not having demigods, the future must be grave.

No one had been more shocked than Zeus and Poseidon. Hades generally didn't have that many mortal children, so he wasn't affected, but the fact that his brothers made him take an oath was bothering.

And it seemed that Hera was the only one particularly happy about the oath, thought that soon was taken away from her when Apollo asked a question, "But you are a son of Poseidon, meaning he broke the oath." He turned to Thalia, "Same with you too."

Percy and Thalia smiled painfully, "Yeah... Both my father and Zeus broke the oath, and Thalia and I had to face the repercussions for that."

Hera and Amphitrite both turned to their husband, glaring intensely, "Not even an oath on the Styx can stop you?"

Before Zeus could say anything, there was a bright flash of light in the middle of the throne room and a beautiful woman emerged from the light. Dressed in a shimmering purple and black dress, eyes as black as the midnight, volcanic smoke clinging on to her figure, the woman looked powerful. This was the Goddess Styx, the first of the Oceanids, the daemon of Stygios, personification of hatred itself.

"What is it I hear about oaths being broken on my name?" A raspy voice emanated from her, and despite her melodious voice, a shiver ran through the back of the gods.

A bead of sweat escaped Poseidon and Zeus' forehead as Styx asked the question. Even if they had broken the oath in the future, breaking an oath on Styx meant the absolute horrid punishment of having to drink from her rivers for a year and staying away from nectar and ambrosia. They didn't know why they didn't have to do it in the future, but they definitely didn't want to pay the price right now.

"The price was paid in the future, not by them but by their children," Thalia spoke, and it was hard to ignore the resentment in her words. Making Zeus and Poseidon wonder, exactly what had happened to the children.

Styx didn't say anything, instead she opted to nod at her and gracefully walked to an empty couch and sat herself. But not without bowing her head to Percy first.

"What about Hades?" Zeus asked glaring at his elder brother, "He has children right there too." He pointed his fingers at Nico and Hazel.

"Those two are different cases," Annabeth answered, Nico and Hazel were born before the pact was made, so Hades never broke any oath.

"What do you mean?" Zeus impatiently asked again.

"Wouldn't you like to know, weather boy?" Percy said, and the people from the future snickered at the meme implied there.

Zeus went to snap at Percy for the disrespect but found that the Lord of Fates was giving him a glare, which had him cower and look away.

Hermes who was listening to everything carefully and silently, leaned over to Apollo and whispered, "Now I understand his deluxe 'I'll kill you later' stare." To which the God of Sun nodded wholeheartedly.

I said, "That's the most serious oath you can make." Grover nodded. "And the brothers kept their word - no kids?"

Grover's face darkened. "Seventeen years ago, Zeus fell off the wagon. There was this TV star with a big fluffy eighties' hairdo - he just couldn't help himself.

"When is he ever able to help himself?" Hera sneered looking at her husband. Anger and disgust etched into her words, but Zeus along with the other goddesses could sense the pain and hurt in her voice. The King of Gods looked down to hide from his wife's eyes, feeling ashamed for the first time for his actions in a very long while.

Percy smiled seeing Zeus' face. Maybe, this reading isn't going to be so bad.

He thought to himself.

When their child was born, a little girl named Thalia . . . well, the River Styx is serious about promises. Zeus himself got off easy because he's immortal, but he brought a terrible fate on his daughter."

"Typical day for a demigod, eh?" Leo joked, which caused the rest of the crowd of demigods to laugh at the humor and truth in his words. It had always been like that, the immortals that ruled the world would pull off some shit, and their children and the mortals suffer for it.

This was the reason why there was a rebellion and the demigods started siding with the Titans. Because they couldn't trust the judgment of their own parents. The gods, the rulers of heaven, their name didn't bring any sense of salvation anymore for them, instead all they could hear, all they could feel was a bitter resentment that had been slowly building up inside their chest.

So, a promise, a false promise of a better life. It was enough to sway the children away from their parents, and enough to convince them to betray their own family. After all, how could you owe your allegiance to a family, who has never been there for you?

Zeus looked over to his daughter and couldn't form a single word to say, he didn't know how to or what to say. His daughter had suffered in her mortal life because of him, he could finally understand why his daughter seemed so resentful against him.

Even though he wasn't as good of a father as either Hades or Poseidon, he was still a father. To hear that he was the cause of suffering for his children, it was not what a father liked to hear.

The King of Demigods, sensing their bitter thoughts leaned back from his place on the floor, to the queen of demigods and whispered, "Demigods take the term 'daddy issues,' and 'mommy issues,' to a whole new level."

To which Annabeth snorted and slapped his chest for him to keep quiet, and not disturb her like that.

"But that isn't fair! It wasn't the little girl's fault."

"Thanks babe," was the only response Thalia gave to him. While Zeus looked down to hide his own shame.

Grover hesitated. "Percy, children of the Big Three have powers greater than other half-bloods. They have a strong aura, a scent that attracts monsters. When Hades found out about the girl, he wasn't too happy about Zeus breaking his oath. Hades let the worst monsters out of Tartarus to torment Thalia.

"HADES," Zeus screamed in anger as his master bolt flashed in his hand. Within a second, thousands of volts of electricity flashed through his body as he looked ready to blast his brother out of existence.

At the same time, a low whisper but more menacing of "Hades..." echoed throughout the room from Poseidon's lips. He had seen his daughter in law flinch at the sudden remember and grip the hands of daughter of Athena for assurance.

The lord of dead looked at the book shocked; he didn't know why he was doing stuff like that in the future. First the son of Poseidon and now the daughter of Zeus. There must be something seriously wrong with him.

"Peace brother," Hades raised his hands looking at Zeus, "I haven't done any of this yet, nor I know why I would do that in the future." Seeing Zeus calm down just a fraction he turned towards Poseidon, "And why do you care? She isn't your daughter."

A low growl escaped Poseidon's lips as he clutched his trident tightly, "That is not of importance brother, she was a child. Even if Zeus had broken the truth or I had, you take it out with us, you do not attack a child under any cost, no matter the reason. That is something we just don't do, that is something only our father or Zeus would do." The implications of his words were clear as the occupants of the room took a deep breath.

Zeus himself forgot his anger and sat back at his seat, watching Poseidon with mournful eyes. It was one thing for the others to call him that, but to hear his own blood, his own sibling compared to their father was... hurtful to say the least.

Before the siblings could start fighting and damaging the throne room, Hestia waved her hands, and a warm comforting aura was spread around the room.

Bringing the tension to a halt and all the parties to relax a little.

Seeing as no one was going to say anything, Reyna began reading once again.

A satyr was assigned to be her keeper when she was twelve, but there was nothing he could do. He tried to escort her here with a couple of other half- bloods she'd befriended. They almost made it. They got all the way to the top of that hill... So, Thalia made her final stand alone, at the top of that hill. As she died, Zeus took pity on her. He turned her into that pine tree. Her spirit still helps protect the borders of the valley. That's why the hill is called Half-Blood Hill."

Everyone turned to look at Thalia who had gone silent and was staring at the floor without blinking. Tears fell from her eyes as she was reminded of that day. Just because she was bought back to life, doesn't mean that the pain and horror of that day was erased from her memory. She could still remember falling down and the claws of the hellhounds digging at her chest, ripping her apart as her life was being taken away from her.

She had thought that would be the hardest and most painful thing she would ever feel. But the day she had gotten out of the tree and found out that Luke, one of the persons she had sacrificed herself for, had turned traitor against them. All her sacrifice, all her pain felt worthless.

She didn't know how long she had zoned out for, but at the next moment a warm light had surrounded her, and she was transported into Percy's lap in the floor. Her husband rested his chin at her shoulder and wrapped his arms around her torso, clutching her close to him.

Soon, his children all came up towards him and cuddled or held their stepmother tightly. Wanting to give her as much love and support possible.

Thalia felt her heart warmed at the care and love, the children and her husband had for her. She looked up to find that everyone in the room was giving her a look of respect. Even her father, and her half-brothers, Ares, and Heracles.

Percy caught the curious eyes of Athena and knew that she was wondering how Thalia was alive right now, to which he just mouthed 'later' to the goddess.

I stared at the pine in the distance. The story made me feel hollow, and guilty too. A girl my age had sacrificed herself to save her friends. She had faced a whole army of monsters. Next to that, my victory over the Minotaur didn't seem like much.

As soon as the last part was read, Reyna put the book down and threw a dirty look at Percy, along with the rest of his wives, not that he could see. Thalia herself shifted in his lap and pinched his arms roughly, "Don't you dare think that way Kelp head, I had years of training while you were just a newbie. There wasn't any comparison."

Percy smile and kissed her cheek, "Still, even though we fought and argued over almost everything in our early age. I have always looked up to you Thals, and I always wanted to be as brave as you."

Thalia smiled, feeling content at hearing how much he liked her even back when they were frenemies. She sighed and sat her back against his chest and got comfortable once again.

I wondered, if I'd acted differently, could I have saved my mother?

"Grover," I said, "have heroes really gone on quests to the Underworld?" "Sometimes," he said. "Orpheus. Hercules. Houdini." "And have they ever returned somebody from the dead?""No. Never. Orpheus came close... Percy, you're not seriously thinking- " "No," I lied. "I was just wondering. So... a satyr is always assigned to guard a demigod?"

"I should've known he was lying," Grover muttered to himself, even if the empathy link wasn't established yet, he still should've paid more attention to his feelings.

"Not a bad lie, but not a good enough either," Hermes said exasperated, the children didn't even know how to lie properly. What does their mortal 'schools' teach them? He should discuss with Athena about how to fix that later in the future.

"But good enough to fool Grover," Rachel said with a snort as the goat boy went red instantly and made a noise of indignation from the back of his throat.

Grover studied me warily. I hadn't persuaded him that I'd really dropped the Underworld idea. "Not always. We go undercover to a lot of schools.

We try to sniff out the half-bloods who have the makings of great heroes... Or maybe even one of the minor gods, like Nemesis, the god of revenge. Don't worry, okay?" I got the idea he was reassuring himself more than me.

"I was," Grover admitted, "I just didn't want to accept that Percy could've been the child of an elder god, I was afraid of what it would mean for the future." He turned towards Percy and gave him a wide smile, "You always did know what I felt," Even without the empathy link, Percy and Grover were a lot closer to each other than any others.

Ignoring the loving interaction between the two friends, an offended, "Excuse me?" rose from amongst the minor gods. Nemesis, glared at Grover and spoke harshly, "I am a goddess, not a god." The daughter of Nyx looked mad enough to blast him out of pieces, but it was the effect of her appearance. She was the embodiment of anger, just looking at her had people shivering.

"Oh shit..." Grover mumbled, ignoring the laughter coming from Percy,

"That's why I always had such shit luck. The Goddess of revenge herself was offended by me." How many things had gone wrong with him during the years? Was it all because of just this one mistake? Sighing Grover just shook his head and thanked Percy that he didn't have to deal with things like these anymore.

That night after dinner, there was a lot more excitement than usual. At last, it was time for capture the flag... I turned to Luke and yelled over the noise, "Those are the flags?" "Yeah."

"Ares and Athena always lead the teams?" "Not always," he said. "But often."

Everyone in the throne room sat straight and paid more attention to the story now. Finally, will they learn what is so bad about this particular game. They had all heard whispers and figured out that something extraordinarily good or bad was going to happen. And they couldn't wait to find out about it.

Meanwhile the aforementioned God and Goddess of the two cabins held their chin high in pride, that their children were the natural leaders of such sports.

"Here we go again..." Percy said and gave Annabeth a dirty look.

"So, if another cabin captures one, what do you do - repaint the flag?" He grinned. "You'll see. First we have to get one." "Whose side are we on?"

The teams were announced. Athena had made an alliance with Apollo and Hermes, the two biggest cabins. Apparently, privileges had been traded - shower times, chore schedules, the best slots for activities - in order to win support.

Ares licked his lips in anticipation, this was the first thing that excited him in this reading the entire day. Athena merely looked towards Reyna with an impassive look, waiting to see what schemes or plots her children will use.

While the immortal demigods were all silent, knowing perfectly well what was going to happen. They weren't too happy to relieve that night again, as they could still recall the sight of Percy being all red and torn.

Ares had allied themselves with everybody else: Dionysus, Demeter, Aphrodite, and Hephaestus... Aphrodite's sons and daughters I wasn't too worried about. They mostly sat out every activity and checked their reflections in the lake and did their hair and gossiped.

A couple of snorts left the hunters' area, and some laughed outright, "Of course they would not participate in the actual fight and worry more about their looks or gossip." Said one of the hunters in a mocking tone. Causing the rest of her sisters to laugh along with her.

Immediately, a bunch of people glared their way, which included, an angered Aphrodite, Piper, and Clarisse. Their glare was fiery enough to melt diamonds, but the hunters never did have any tact and took no notice of it.

It was only when Clarisse spoke that they stopped, "What do you mean by that?" She asked threateningly, her hand moving towards her spear and gripping it tightly.

Ignoring the weirdness that was a child of Ares defending a child of Aphrodite, Phoebe stated, "It was only the truth, the children of Aphrodite aren't that suited to fight, except look pretty and gossip." In her arrogance the hunter had forgotten that the Goddess whose children she is insulting was sitting right in the room with them.

Piper who was listening to the hunters angrily went to speak, but before she could do so, Clarisse had stood up. A fiery red aura surrounded her that had the people in the room tense up, she moved towards the hunters, aiming her spear menacingly at them.

"ENOUGH," Percy spoke loudly, and the room quaked, and every head turned towards him, including Clarisse. The aura disappeared from her as she turned to look at him in anger, but later sighed and went back to sit with her boyfriend.

The rest of the room were wondering why the daughter of Ares had gotten such angry that she would summon the blessing of Ares, which was quite hard to do so. However, their focus was turned towards the Lord of Fate as he spoke from his seat.

Percy looked at the hunters and sighed, "You are all rash hunters, do not forget that like you have the blessing of your mistress, the children of Aphrodite have their mother's blood on their veins too. They just don't like fighting unprovoked. But given a justifiable and good reasons, they are as ferocious as you hunters or Ares' children. I myself have fought alongside many children of Aphrodite and am proud to call them my brethren in arms, because they are one of the bravest soldiers I have ever seen."

Seeing the bewildered looks of the hunters, he continued, "While it is true, that Aphrodite's children take after their mother and don't particularly care about battles, it's also true that they are not to be trifled with. Your mistress is one of the most powerful goddesses in the pantheon, yet she would not foolishly go against Aphrodite, despite their many differences."

The hunters turned to their mistress and were surprised to see Artemis nodding along with Percy, "While I might have my squabbles with Aphrodite, it doesn't change that she is the eldest goddess. Even my father, the King of Gods, in all his humor and arrogance would not be foolish enough to go against her."

Hearing their own mistress admit that the illusion the hunters had was slowly lowering and they lowered their head to their mistress, accepting her wisdom in all its perpetuity.

Aphrodite smiled and gave a nod of respect in the direction of Percy and Artemis.

Hephaestus's kids weren't pretty, and there were only four of them, but they were big and burly from working in the metal shop all day. They might be a problem. That, of course, left Ares's cabin: a dozen of the biggest, ugliest, meanest kids on Long Island, or anywhere else on the planet.

"How much more are you going to keep calling us ugly prissy?" Clarisse asked glaring at him, but everyone could see the humour behind her eyes. She and Percy had a difficult and weird relationship, where they were friends who respected each other, but pretended to be enemies for the sake of drama.

The only reply she ever got was a sheepish smile from him as he rubbed the back of his head.

Chiron hammered his hoof on the marble... He spread his hands, and the tables were suddenly covered with equipment: helmets, bronze swords, spears, shields made of ox-hide coated in metal.

"Whoa," I said. "We're really supposed to use these?"

"No, you're just supposed to hold those and look pretty." Reyna uncharacteristically gave a sarcastic remark, interrupting her own reading. She had thought that she would learn how her idiotic husband came to be the legend he was. Surely, it must be in his blood. But all she was reading was how much of a dumbass he really was.

"You think I look pretty?" Percy asked with the wiggle of his eyebrows, making his wives, and his children groan at his childish antics.

Luke looked at me as if I were crazy. "Unless you want to get skewered by your friends in cabin five. Here - Chiron thought these would fit. You'll be on border patrol...

Annabeth yelled, "Blue team, forward!" We cheered and shook our swords and followed her down the path to the south woods. The red team yelled taunts at us as they headed off toward the north.

I managed to catch up with Annabeth without tripping over my equipment. "Hey." She kept marching.

"Ooof..." Thalia winced in fake regards, "Pretty cold there Annie."

"Yeah... I just didn't want him distracting me," She replied and turned towards Percy, "Sorry seaweed brain."

The reply she got was a roll of his eyes from Percy, "It's alright love, you don't have to apologize such often. We were both young and annoyed each other to our extent, but that's how we grew closer together. It just took us a while. So, stop apologizing for everything sweetheart."

Annabeth gave him a genuine smile and both the parties looked at each other dearly. Making Aphrodite giddy at how much love she felt from the both of them.

"So, what's the plan?" I asked. "Got any magic items you can loan me?"

Her hand drifted toward her pocket, as if she were afraid I'd stolen something.

Seeing the confused looks of everyone she explained herself, "I thought he was a son of Hermes, you don't know much I have to yell at them, because they keep trying to steal from me."

Hermes laughed loudly and patted his sons on their back for a job well done. He was probably the only parent in the world that felt proud of his children's thieving antics.

"Just watch Clarisse's spear," she said. "You don't want that thing touching you. Otherwise, don't worry. We'll take the banner from Ares. Has Luke given you your job?" "Border patrol, whatever that means."

"It's easy. Stand by the creek, keep the reds away. Leave the rest to me. Athena always has a plan." She pushed ahead, leaving me in the dust.

"Okay," I mumbled. "Glad you wanted me on your team."

"It's okay Perce," Connor said in a tone that mimicked a wise old man. "You put yourself out there, and you struck out. It doesn't matter you stop trying, you will find the one for you."

Immediately, he was being glared at by eight goddesses in the room. The most withering one came from a certain daughter of Bellona, "He already has 9 wives, he doesn't need to find any other ones."

Most of the room snickered as Connor nodded his head reverently and squeaked a 'Yes Ma'am.'

It was a warm, sticky night. The woods were dark, with fireflies popping in and out of view. Annabeth stationed me next to a little creek that gurgled over some rocks, then she and the rest of the team scattered into the trees... A blue-plumed ally from Apollo raced past me like a deer, leaped through the creek, and disappeared into enemy territory.

Zoe snorted in amusement, "So, like Lord Apollo then? He will come at our camp and flirt with the hunters. Then run into the woods to hide, exactly like that, before Milady can sense him." It had become almost a custom for the hunters to start firing their arrows at him, every time he stepped inside the camp.

"ZOE," Apollo screamed her name in betrayal, and yelped soon after as Artemis started firing her arrows at him. Some pretty particularly close to little Apollo, and he didn't want little Apollo to get hurt.

"How many times have I told you to not flirt with my hunters?" Artemis screamed angrily, and a little delighted to see Apollo running around the room to save himself from her. She wasn't particularly mad, she knew her brother would never take advantage of a hunter, because that would hurt her. And that was the last thing he would ever do.

As the twins of Leto chased each other around the room, the twins of Percy and Artemis glared at each other, "You run the same as Uncle Apollo, like a little runt." Penelope commented to her twin brother, which had Percy heaving a sigh of "Kids... behave."

At the same time Zeus decided to intervene, knowing that the twins won't stop unless Apollo ends up in his own infirmary. "That's enough you two, not get back to your seats." He said in his dad voice, and the twins listened.

Great, I thought. I'll miss all the fun, as usual.

Then I heard a sound that sent a chill up my spine, a low canine growl, somewhere close by. I raised my shield instinctively; I had the feeling something was stalking me. Then the growling stopped. I felt the presence retreating.

"Percy," Annabeth yelled at him, "When you sense something like that, you tell me or someone."

"Like you would've stopped to listen Princess," Clarisse commented with a snort. To be fair, Annabeth had been a little meaner to him during their start, but who knew, maybe Prissy was into that.

On the other side of the creek, the underbrush exploded. Five Ares warriors came yelling and screaming out of the dark. "Cream the punk!" Clarisse screamed.

Her ugly pig eyes glared through the slits of her helmet. She brandished a five-foot-long spear, its barbed metal tip flickering with red light. Her siblings had only the standard-issue bronze swords - not that that made me feel any better.

"Five trained campers against a single untrained kid? That isn't honorable," Ares frowned looking over Clarisse, while he was in glee about the fight that was coming, an honorable battle wasn't enjoyable.

Clarisse looked down embarrassed of her own younger self, "I know, but he had disrespected our cabin, we don't take well to that."

Ares went to speak some more when Hera decided to speak, "Leave the girl alone, she's your daughter and it's obvious that she inherited your short temper and irascible ways."

As they were having their thing Athena turned to Annabeth and nodded in understanding, "That was a good plan."

After their little conversation was over, Percy turned to an already nervous Poseidon and said, "Brace yourself dad, it's going to get ugly." With the curse still active, Poseidon was going to face the full force of it, more so than any others.

Poseidon sighed and resigned himself to the fact that his son wasn't going to be safe by any means in the story.

They charged across the stream. There was no help in sight. I could run. Or I could defend myself against half the Ares cabin... "Give him a haircut," Clarisse said. "Grab his hair."

I managed to get to my feet. I raised my sword, but Clarisse slammed it aside with her spear as sparks flew. Now both my arms felt numb.

As each sentence was read Poseidon felt the brace of every impact Percy had gotten that day. He looked down to see the trident in his grip faltering and falling back against the couch as his arms grew numb.

"Oh, wow," Clarisse said. "I'm scared of this guy. Really scared."

"The flag is that way," I told her. I wanted to sound angry, but I was afraid it didn't come out that way.

Before anyone could say anything, Percy spoke up to defend himself, "I pointed them towards the wrong direction, I am not a traitor."

"No, you're just bad at following your parts and listening," Thalia mumbled, and was immediately pinched hard at her waist, "I told you; I had a clear sight of the flag, so I went for it."

Seeing as the two were going to start arguing again, Piper decided to interject, "Quit it you two," her voice was laced with charm speak and both him and Thalia went silent.

"Yeah," one of her siblings said. "But see, we don't care about the flag. We care about a guy who made our cabin look stupid." "You do that without my help," I told them. It probably wasn't the smartest thing to say.

The throne room was filled with groans as everyone turned to look at Percy incredulously, their eyes all asking the same question, 'What the fuck is wrong with you?'

Instead of answering Percy looked away and started twirling Thalia's hair in his fingers. Seeing as he wasn't going to say anything Grover snorted and said, "That is just the beginning, his greatest enemy is his own mouth, because he never knows when to stop speaking."

Knowing perfectly too well how accurate that was, Reyna picked up reading once again.

Two of them came at me. I backed up toward the creek, tried to raise my shield, but Clarisse was too fast. Her spear stuck me straight in the ribs. If I hadn't been wearing an armoured breastplate, I would've been shish-ke- bobbed. As it was, the electric point just about shocked my teeth out of my mouth. One of her cabinmates slashed his sword across my arm, leaving a decent size cut. Seeing my own blood made me dizzy - warm and cold at the same time.

Droplets of ichor bled from Poseidon's arms to the floor, staining the white marble floor of Olympus gold. A nasty wound opened up across his arms, and his siblings and family all looked towards him worriedly. But he wasn't paying attention, his eyes were strained as he looked towards his son, wondering if he should yell at the daughter of Ares or not, for cornering his untrained son like that.

"No maiming," I managed to say. "Oops," the guy said. "Guess I lost my dessert privilege."

He pushed me into the creek, and I landed with a splash. They all laughed. I figured as soon as they were through being amused, I would die. But then something happened. The water seemed to wake up my senses, as if I'd just had a bag of my mom's double-espresso jellybeans.

The sea deities smiled and cheered, Theseus and Triton both grinned ear to ear and leaned forward in anticipation. "Now, this is getting interesting." The heir to Poseidon spoke in glee, a little relieved that his father's injuries had started healing up.

Clarisse and her cabinmates came into the creek to get me, but I stood to meet them. I knew what to do. I swung the flat of my sword against the first guy's head and knocked his helmet clean off. I hit him so hard I could see his eyes vibrating as he crumpled into the water.

"Damn!" Leo looked at Percy in amazement, "That surely is some hit for a newbie."

Everyone in the room was giving Percy a look of respect, and his son had started asking him different questions that he just couldn't keep up with.

Ares tried to control himself as he felt the brace everytime his children got hit. All the same while wondering if he should congratulate Percy for turning the tides on his fight, or to yell at him for hurting his children that hard. Since, he wasn't the one to fight his kids' battles for them, he decided on not doing either.

Ugly Number Two and Ugly Number Three came at me. I slammed one in the face with my shield and used my sword to shear off the other guy's horsehair plume. Both of them backed up quick. Ugly Number Four didn't look really anxious to attack, but Clarisse kept coming, the point of her spear crackling with energy. As soon as she thrust, I caught the shaft between the edge of my shield and my sword, and I snapped it like a twig.

"Ah!" she screamed. "You idiot! You corpse-breath worm!"

"I thought that was Nico," Thalia joked, and the result was immediate, most of the room started laughing, while the Lord of the Dead and his son, threw her a dirty look.

She probably would've said worse, but I smacked her between the eyes with my sword-butt and sent her stumbling backward out of the creek... "A trick!" she shouted. "It was a trick."

They staggered after Luke, but it was too late. Everybody converged on the creek as Luke ran across into friendly territory. Our side exploded into cheers.

Cheering rose through the throne room too, as the gods from the past and everyone from the future (except Clarisse and Ares,) celebrated the blue team's win. While Percy, lifted Thalia and sat her down beside him, then he proceeded to stand and perform an over exaggerated bow to the audience.

The boar and spear were replaced with a huge caduceus, the symbol of cabin eleven. Everybody on the blue team picked up Luke and started carrying him around on their shoulders... "Not bad, hero." I looked, but she wasn't there. I felt myself getting angry. I wasn't even fazed by the fact that she'd just been invisible. "You set me up," I said. "You put me here because you knew Clarisse would come after me, while you sent Luke around the flank. You had it all figured out."

Annabeth shrugged. "I told you. Athena always, always has a plan."

Athena looked on at her daughter proudly, as the rest of the room groaned at the catchphrase. They had heard it all the time, and it was always annoying. "Great plan," Athena appraised Annabeth.

Annabeth smiled and nodded but her victory was short lived when Ares commented, "That was not a good plan."

A sneer was thrown his way from Athena, who looked back at him with her gray eyes aflame, "What do you mean? They won."

Ares looked back at her with the same ferocity and the room was reminded again, that he was not just the God of War, he was war. Every weapon in the room buzzed and called out for blood as the God's aura flared.

"Only you and your brood would think that, just because something is smart, doesn't make it great. Sure, your daughter's strategy won them the game, but in the long run it could've done more damage than necessary. The brat was against five of my children, and he won by the sheer luck that he was near a creek. If he hadn't, he might have gotten seriously injured."

"The reason behind holding games like this is not just for sports, they are warriors, it's training for when they have to go for battle or war in real. Tell me, Oh! So wise Athena, what would happen if in a real battle, when your children's comrades suddenly don't trust their leaders? because they are unsure about their intentions.? Thinking that they can sacrifice them to win the battle at any times?" Ares snapped and everyone was left speechless.

While the room reflected over his words, Athena's mind wandered over someplace else too. Yes, she was the wisdom goddess and people listened to her opinions, but they didn't always respect it. Her thoughts were always highly calculated, and as such, she often forgot to take anything other than strategy in consideration. Like, human nature and emotions.

Annabeth went over the same words too, agreeing with the God of War, for the first time ever it seems. If it were anyone other than Percy, they wouldn't have just let it go, considering only few days after, Percy had accepted her as his quest mate. An adventure where they were responsible for each other's life. She herself wouldn't have trust a person, who had pulled something similar on her.

As both the goddess of wisdom and the goddess of plans, didn't had a response to that, the reading began once again.

"A plan to get me pulverized." "I came as fast as I could. I was about to jump in, but . . ." She shrugged. "You didn't need help."

Then she noticed my wounded arm. "How did you do that?" "Sword cut," I said. "What do you think?" "No. It was a sword cut. Look at it." "I- I don't get it," I said. Annabeth was thinking hard. I could almost see the gears turning. She looked down at my feet, then at Clarisse's broken spear, and said, "Step out of the water, Percy."

The wound that had appeared on Poseidon's arms healed away and the god cried out in relief, "Finally! Someone gets it! How is it that no one was able to tell he was my child? He looks just like me."

The Greek demigods from the future shrugged like 'what can we do.' It was probably because of the oath, which considering Percy a child of elder god was out of question.

"That is totally unfair though, Percy being Lord Poseidon's son got so many good water powers and stuff including healing, why didn't I heal from the air around me or Nico from the shadows?" Thalia questioned, not expecting an answer but just wanting to rant.

Hestia smiled, "You sound like your father my dear, when my brothers were younger, they too use to whine like that, and Poseidon has always been the most versatile with his powers among us."

The barest of smile appeared on Zeus' face at the comparison with his daughter, which he quickly forced away, not wanting to show any emotions to the rest of them.

"What-" "Just do it." I came out of the creek and immediately felt bone tired. My arms started to go numb again. My adrenaline rush left me. I almost fell over, but Annabeth steadied me.

"Oh, Styx," she cursed. "This is not good. I didn't want ... I assumed it would be Zeus... The campers' cheering died instantly. Chiron shouted something in Ancient Greek, which I would realize, only later, I had understood perfectly: "Stand ready! My bow! "

"What is it?" Poseidon screeched for his son's safety, but given he got no answer, he urged Reyna to read it a little faster.

Annabeth drew her sword. There on the rocks just above us was a black hound the size of a rhino, with lava-red eyes and fangs like daggers.

It was looking straight at me. Nobody moved except Annabeth, who yelled, "Percy, run... By some miracle, I was still alive. I didn't want to look underneath the ruins of my shredded armor. My chest felt warm and wet, and I knew I was badly cut. Another second, and the monster would've turned me into a hundred pounds of delicatessen meat.

Poseidon screamed in pain as his chest was cut open and ichor flew through the floor. The throne room started shaking as the god lost control over his power, all the while he was gripping his wife's so tightly, she was sure that it was going to leave an immortal bruise.

Everyone in the throne room was worried about him, and his siblings all looked one second away from running over to him and hold him down.

"Please read my love," Percy called out to Reyna, his eyes were closed as he tried to focus on anything except his father's pain filled screams. The God of the seas was immortal, he wasn't as accustomed to pain and injuries as mortals, which was the reason he was feeling so much pain.

Then there were his children, the four elder ones were tearing up seeing their grandfather and imagining their father in a state such as that. Even Catarina was crying like she could understand everything.

Chiron trotted up next to us, a bow in his hand, his face grim.

"Di immortales!" Annabeth said. "That's a hellhound from the Fields of Punishment. They don't . . . they're not supposed to . . ."

"Someone summoned it," Chiron said. "Someone inside the camp."

Luke came over, the banner in his hand forgotten, his moment of glory gone.

Clarisse yelled, "It's all Percy's fault! Percy summoned it!"

As everyone in the throne room except few glared at Clarisse for her comment, Frank shook his head and wondered how he was related to her.

"Be quiet, child," Chiron told her. We watched the body of the hellhound melt into shadow, soaking into the ground until it disappeared.

"You're wounded," Annabeth told me. "Quick, Percy, get in the water." "I'm okay."

"YOU'RE, OKAY?" Thalia, Reyna, Rachel, Piper along with the three maiden goddesses all screamed at the top of their lungs. They could see Poseidon looking over at his son incredulously as he continued to bleed all over the floor.

Everyone, including Zeus and Heracles were looking at Percy with wide eyes.

How can even one say that they're okay, when their chest is cut open? His wives all swore that the moment they get him alone, he was not going to okay.

Percy looked at Annabeth for support, but instead of that she just shook her head, "Now you know how I felt all those times dealing with him," and got a few sympathetic nods from others.

"No, you're not," she said. "Chiron, watch this."

I was too tired to argue. I stepped back into the creek, the whole camp gathering around me. Instantly, I felt better. I could feel the cuts on my chest closing up. Some of the campers gasped. "Look, I - I don't know why," I said, trying to apologize. "I'm sorry... "

Poseidon's wounds finally healed up and he heaved a sigh of relief. Falling back against the couch he thought about how much pain his children suffer, he didn't know when he had felt such pain last. However, one thing was clear, he along with few others were realizing the sufferings the half-bloods go through.

While everyone was distracted overlooking Poseidon and checking up on him, Apollo frowned at Percy. The constant denial of his own pain, plus his pathological habit to apologize for everything was overly concerning. He looked over at Artemis and she was looking back at him with the same look, both were thinking about the same thing. A look was passed between the twins, and they agreed to pay more attention to Percy's psyche going forward.

But they weren't watching my wounds heal. They were staring at something above my head. "Percy," Annabeth said, pointing. "Urn . . ."

By the time I looked up, the sign was already fading, but I could still make out the hologram of green light, spinning and gleaming. A three-tipped spear: a trident.

"Your father," Annabeth murmured. "This is really not good." "It is determined," Chiron announced. All around me, campers started kneeling, even the Ares cabin, though they didn't look happy about it.

"My father?" I asked, completely bewildered.

"Poseidon," said Chiron. "Earthshaker, Storm bringer, Father of Horses. Hail, Perseus Jackson, Son of the Sea God."

Poseidon nodded and smiled, happy that his son was finally claimed. He didn't know why he took so long to claim him, but he was happy that Percy didn't have to stay away from his own cabin for much longer.

"That was a good claiming," Nico whined, "So dramatic, why couldn't we have something like that?" He asked and Thalia nodded agreeing whole heartedly with him.

Percy rolled his eyes at their childishness and answered, "because you two weren't in camp to get claimed." Causing both the gods to pout and Reyna to shut the book with a loud 'thump.' He looked around the room and his eyes caught Annabeth's; a silent conversation went between them.

Hecate stretched from amongst the minor gods, where she was sitting and stretched her hands forward saying, "I will read now," and had the book teleported to her hands.

Before she could start reading Percy's voice stopped her, "Wait," he held his hands up to stop her. Everyone looked over at him and wondered what he was waiting for.

"Clotho, Lachesis, Atropos," Percy summoned the three fates, and the people of the past were reminded once again at the power he held. The master of fates was above each and every one of them in leagues of power and strength. None of them would ever even dare to announce the fates name like that, ever.

In an instant the three Morais were in front of them, bowing to their master.

Percy smiled looking at them, "My wife," he pointed towards Annabeth, "Has a request." Nothing more needed to be said, as the fates nodded and flashed out. Immediately after that a bright flash of light was lit in the middle of the throne room and when it died down, few more people had appeared inside.

"Bianca..." Nico spoke in a hushed whisper, watching his dead sister stand among the middle of the group that had appeared.

"Ciao Fratellino"(Hello brother) she replied.