Check out a New Voice, my newest Once Upon a Time oc story, inspired heavily by Aaron. Same with A Dairy of the Unbound and Unblessed. All great new stories.
I am not giving up on this story, even slightly, I just was really inspired and wanted to embrace what I was feeling.
Holding a dancing flame, Annabeth could not help but gasp at her grandmother Metis' smirking face. " I am really doing this?"
"Yes, my sweet. You are your mother's strongest child by quite a margin, you've inherited my potential for magic and you have a powerful mind even for a child of Wisdom. I do believe Circe confirmed you have the potential for magic and immortality. Why have you never practiced this?"
She sighed, feeling shame. "I am not sure to be honest... it was foolish."
Her grandma frowned. "Or you feared what your pride would do with such power?" Annabeth gasped at her Grandmother's words. "I saw what Zeus did, he watched you and Percy in the Sea of Monsters. I saw so much, mainly that you are immensely prideful to the point of insanity at times. You are wise and more capable than most immortal beings, but you are also deeply flawed and stubborn. The simple truth is that you have great potential but you are hiding under a veil of fear and doubt. Common enough to be honest, but not helpful for one with so much potential."
Annabeth would have responded but without warning her beloved ancestors started to shiver uncontrollably, her dark skin paling until she was almost translucent, her face one of deep disgust and pain. " Are you alright?" She asked, with some fear.
"A byproduct of being in Zeus' stomach for so long. I healed yes, but I was kept in his body, resisting fading for more nearly five millennia. That has had side effects. There is a reason the Big Three are so powerful, they were in their father for the least amount of time, at least that is part of the reason... being there, suppressed and bound, it stunted their growth. Had Hestia been freed earlier she would have become far stronger than even her father, they would have been. The gap between siblings would never have been so large." She sighed, focusing until her color returned. "My essence has been corrupted and damaged more than you can imagine. Compare it to metal being rusted, I need to work on restoring my essence entirely, which may take decades."
Annabeth nodded, horrified to see a diety so damaged. "Will you be ok?"
"I will, eventually. Now... since I am too weak to help you much more, why not work on your potions. I want you to memorize everything you can in the book, from herbs to the usage of blood. I expect a full report tomorrow."
"Easy." She smirked, pleased with her mental powers.
Her Grandmother laughed. "You are far too much like me..."
:::
Zeus growled at the mortal before him, rage in every part of his essence. " You mean to tell me, that a mere mortal has discovered how to sever an immortal's essence?" He edged towards his masterbolt, all too aware of Hades' eyes on him. His brother knew all too well of his itchy trigger finger and had the means to protect this arrogant mortal. It would be a losing battle and he knew it.
Hades nodded to him, smirking. "My lover has in fact discovered this. He, like the Telkhines before him, mastered magic to a high enough degree to craft such a weapon... at least with aid. And unlike them, he has sworn or agreed to swear to never turn this knowledge against us."
Aaron nodded, his face solemn and cold. "I am no fool, Zeus, I know what this magic can cause. I will never allow it to fall into the wrong hands. My mind is strong enough to combat your potent magic, you have little to worry about. However, since I know it will worry you, know that Hades has already confirmed that he will render me a god and I will be bound by ancient laws to never reveal it."
"WHAT!" Zeus flexed his hand but before he could smite the arrogant mortal, shadows wrapped around his bolt, stopping him. "You would commit treason against me, Brother?" He growled at Hades, who rolled his eyes.
"No, I am stopping you from slaughtering another of my lovers and a potentially incredible ally. You need to stop being so trigger happy. Not everything is solved with violence, that is partly why so many have turned against you." Hades' tone was soft, kind even, but the threat was very, very clear in it. Even Zeus knew better than to overly anger Hades, while he was the weakest of the Big Three, his domain gave him the means to easily overthrow Olympus...
Sitting back, Zeus' eyes were ice cold. "I will allow you to make him immortal, but he will serve all of Olympus, not just you."
"He will serve the world." Everyone froze as the Fates appeared in a rush of power. "The boy's destiny is thus, he will be like Hecate, a connector of the three realms. He will be a God of Magic, Lord of Asphodel and the Weredogs, God of Humanity, Equality, Balance, and Clearsight. He will serve on the Olympian council, representing mortality and choice, something long since ignored by the gods of Olympus."
Zeus gritted his teeth. "Are you certain daughters?'"
"This comes from our Mistress, The Lady of All Fates, the source of our Powers. Ananke! It is by her decree, as it was when Rome formed, that a great change must occur. The boy is to take his place among the gods, just as Dionysius and Hercules have become before him, he will take his place as an Olympian!"
The room thundered with their declaration and Zeus knew he was defeated. His daughters' powers far surpassed him, he had little choice if they made their declaration. "Very well... When?"
"Once Kronos has been defeated, if his plan succeeds, he will become a god. If not, his own magic will kill him. Without divine blood, the magic he has managed to summon will burn him out. We will never allow this, nor will our Lady. Enough of your petty arguments, this has been declared and so will it be."
Zeus turned to Aaron, who seemed baffled. "Do you accept?"
"Yes... I do."
"Hephestus will assist you in crafting this blade, then all of the gods, minor or major, will cast the spells needed to protect the blade."
"That was the goal."
"So be it..."
Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.
Small but of huge impact.
Love, your Ninja Overlord,
Mika.