Chapter 25

Jason had not seen Percy in two days. Since Gwen's death. He was extremely worried about his cousin as the funeral for their Senior Centurion approached. He knew Percy would regret not being there for her burial rights, and he wished there was some way to contact him. The only assurance he had gotten was from Bianca and she assured him that he was not dead yet. That was slightly assuring because Jason might just kill him when he returned.

The Praetors had called for a meeting of the Senior Officers where Dakota was sworn in as the new Centurion for the fifth cohort, and Bobby the son of Vulcan was selected as his optio. They had two deserters in the fifth cohort, a son of Trivia, and a son of Somnia. Their cohort had the least number of deserters with the most coming from cohort two. They almost had ten. Reyna managed to kill one who had attempted to attack her before the first boom. It was one of her half brothers, a son of Bellona. It was through this that they had learned that they had lost these people to the Titans. The boy Reyna had killed tried to convince her to come with him, but when she refused he attempted to force her. It obviously didn't workout that way.

All the children of Hercules had left, most likely being led by Gwen's killer Kyle Logan. There were only three of them, but two were in the second cohort. All the sons and daughters of Trivia were gone except Dylan in the guard. There were five of those. It seemed very few Olympian children had deserted, but they found a calling card in the ruins of the Jupiter Optimus Maximus. A flag was hung around Jupiter's neck from a brazer that made it look like they were hanging the King of the Gods. The flag held a golden scythe with red eyes etched into a banner. It was the new symbol for the Titan army.

In the two days it was also confirmed that every scout that had been sent out was either dead or captured. It had been weeks since the initial detachment had been sent out, and none had returned. The rising enemy in their backyard must have been very close for all these things to have gone so wrong in such a short time.

Bianca was sitting in the Centurion office with Jason both putting a hand on their heads trying to work out a growing headache. The two had argued for days about going after Percy, but Jason refused, "I can't just leave the fifth B. Dakota has only been sworn in for less than a day now, and everyone is scared of another desertion or all out seige. Besides Percy could be literally anywhere including Atlantis which we can't even get to. Unless Percy wants to be found he won't be."

Bianca crossed her arms, "I say we go back and negotiate with the wind spirits. I doubt Percy went to Atlantis to blow off steam. I can almost guarantee he is out there laying waste to our enemies. I want to be out there with him, dammit not sitting here with the rest of the legion being scared out of my mind wondering where we are going to get hit from next."

Jason sighed, "I know Bianca and I want to fight too, but we can't go in half cocked. We lost one person, and yeah we loved her, but if we go in without a good plan dozens could die."

"So we just sit here and do nothing?" Bianca said, standing angrily.

"I DIDN'T SAY THAT!" Jason roared, also standing to his feet.

"Centurion Grace, Optio Di Angelo. Percy is back." A voice came from the door. It was Bobby and he looked terrified to come in on their argument. The children of the Eldest Olympians were NEVER seen fighting, and Bobby was probably the first to ever see it.

With that being said Jason and Bianca shot to their feet and followed the running son of Vulcan. A crowd was gathered at the doors to the principia. Both guards from the first cohort looked absolutely terrified of whatever they had seen. Jason approached the doors, and one of the boys said, "Centurion Grace I wouldn't go in there sir."

"Is Percy in their Legionnaire?" Jason asked firmly.

The two exchanged looks, and the one he addressed nodded his head, "Yes Centurion."

"Okay then get out of my way." Jason said, stepping forward, but Michael came from the crowd, "Jason wait."

Jason turned to see the Primus Pilus coming towards him shaking his head, "We should give Percy a few minutes with the Praetors. I am sure he is verifying he is not in trouble, and then he will talk to us. I got a brief look at him when he came. He was dressed in full battle armor with a shield I had never seen before, and a large sack over his shoulder. I don't know what he's got in that thing, but I bet it isn't good."

Jason stared at the door, and finally sighed stepping aside to wait for Percy. It wasn't long before the door rocketed open, and Percy came out looking extremely angry. Jason recoiled at the sight of him, and the son of Neptune didn't even look his way. He marched straight out of the principia and marched towards the praetoria with a clear purpose. Mark and Cassie came out dressed in their Praetor robes, and immediately began following Percy ignoring those that greeted him. They also looked very angry.

By the time they were done following Percy his destination was clear. He marched straight into the Temple of Bellona, and the legion followed him. When the legionnaires all piled into the massive red crypt they saw Percy lining up a dozen helmets on the floor. The temple was decorated with human skulls, and iron spikes. The whole scene was horrific, and none were sure what had happened. When Percy dumped the rest of the bag out and soil began to cover the ground before him did Jason realize what was about to happen.

When Percy finished he took off his helmet, and his armor dissolved as he quickly placed his charm back on his necklace. He then screamed out, "GODS OF OLYMPUS HEAR MY CRY FOR WAR. THE TITANS HAVE RALLIED IN OUR BACKYARD ON MOUNT TAMALPAIS. I HAVE SEEN WITH MY OWN EYES THE RISING OF MOUNT OTHRYS."

Shouting began immediately as more and more legionnaires and people of New Rome came into the crypt. Percy however turned to the crowd silencing them with a fierce look, "It wasn't just the Titans headquarters I found. When I arrived a dozen Roman helmets were lined up in the ground on pikes. THEY KILLED OUR PEOPLE. OUR FRIENDS OUR FAMILIES."

Percy spit on the soil before him, "LET THIS BE THEIR LAST MISTAKE. ROMANS THESE TITANS THINK US WEAK. THEY KILLED OUR OWN, TOOK OUR PEOPLE, AND NOW THINK THEY ARE GOING TO GET AWAY WITH NO CONSEQUENCE. ARE WE GOING TO ALLOW THIS TO STAND?"

The screams of anger were immediate, and Percy continued, "Then follow me into this declaration. WE CANNOT REST UNTIL WE RAZE THE BLACK FORTRESS, AND KILL EVERY MONSTER, IMMORTAL, DEMIGOD, OR TITAN THAT STANDS IN OUR WAY."

Raising his spear over his head he called out to the riled up crowd, "I have assembled the weapons of the greatest Trojans in history. With the spear of Hektor, the Shield of Paris, and the Armor of King Priam I will lay waste to our enemies, and together we shall fight. Let us fight to the last man, woman, and child if that is what it takes. ROME TO WAR!"

Then Percy took the spear in his hand and threw it into the ground and Mark called out, "Rome is at the War with the Titans."

The screams for blood and triumph were immediately answered back by the legion. Jason had to give it to Percy; he knew how to stir a crowd into a frenzy. Legionnaires ran back out towards the Pomerian line to spread the word that the Praetors, and Percy Jackson had declared official war, and assembled ancient relics of Rome. The time for preparation was over.

The only few that remained were the Praetorian Guard. Percy turned back to Jason seeing him walking over to him. Percy held up his hands and an apology was on his lips, but Jason reared back and punched him in the face. People shot forward to pull Jason back expecting the son of Neptune to rise furiously, but instead the boy laughed as he got back to his feet, "I guess I deserved that."

"You're damn right you did." Jason spat.

This time when Percy came forward though Jason embraced him tightly in a full hug, "I'm sorry Percy."

Percy embraced his best friend back feeling the grief in his heart take a small step back. When they separated Bianca jumped into his arms next, "I thought the Titans had captured you."

"No, your father and I found their fortress. Almost convinced him to raise an army of the dead and take them right then and there too, but other Olympians got in our way." Percy explained.

Mark came forward, "So this is the part of the story we are missing. You went to Lord Pluto to do what exactly?"

Percy looked sheepish as the memory replayed in his head.

Percy had made it to the Underworld unopposed. He supposed his anger was radiating off him in waves that even the bravest monsters dared not face the son of Neptune when he would likely kill anything that stepped in his path in a very unmerciful manner.

Neither cerberus nor the furies even dared approach him as he marched straight into the Palace of his uncle. In his mind he was planning on demanding his Uncle to release her soul, but when he reached the throne room of Lord Pluto and saw a woman nearly identical to Gwen standing before him all the wind came out of his sails. This blonde woman appeared to be in her late twenties with her hair done exactly like Gwen's had on Percy's birthday. This woman however was wearing a beautiful black chiton, and her soft eyes made him extremely weak in the knees. She greeted him sadly, "Hello Perseus."

He wanted to call Gwen's name, but he knew that wasn't who stood before him. He dropped to his knees, "Lady Ceres. I beg your forgiveness. I wasn't strong or wise enough to protect your daughter."

He felt a hand on his shoulder immediately, and the woman had crossed over to him in a flash. He looked up to see those familiar beautiful hazel eyes, and his heart seemed to fall apart even further, "I do not hold you responsible for the loss of my daughter Perseus. I only hold you responsible for bringing her killers to justice. Can I count on you to do that?"

Percy bowed his head back down, "I swear it on my life, My Lady. If there is anything left of these traitors when I get ahold of them there won't be when I am done."

"I don't usually condone such violence, but in this case I find myself sharing your bloodlust. Gwen was one of my greatest demigod children. Obviously I don't have very many children who are raised to be Centurions as we are not warriors at heart, but I gifted her with the godly ability of healing. She was very talented. It didn't have so much to do with my domain as it did my own godly energy. She was my pride and joy…" The woman explained sadly.

Percy swallowed a huge lump in his throat, "My lady, if I may ask, why are you here?"

"She is here to talk you out of doing something incredibly foolish. Your heart is not in a good place at the moment, and her arrival is what will keep us on good terms nephew." Pluto said, answering his question.

"Gwen cared for you very much, Perseus. I did not wish to see you harmed by my brother. Had you come in here with the intentions you had set out for, it could've only ended poorly."

Percy nodded giving a bow of thanks after he rose to his feet, "Thank you Lady Ceres. I must ask then if there is anything you can tell me about the Titans base. We keep hearing that it is in our backyard, and that we should be prepared, but obviously that didn't work. All our scouts have failed to report, and Gwen is gone. The Titans are enemies of Olympus, and immortal beings, surely some exceptions can be made?"

Pluto and Ceres exchanged looks, and the woman disappeared immediately. Pluto sighed, "What we are about to do may not be against the ancient laws, but it is definitely against what my little brother wishes. Close your eyes."

Percy immediately did as he was told and felt the godly energy of Pluto consume him, and when he opened his eyes dawn was breaking, and he stood at the base of a mountain. To his left was a garden with a dragon resting on a small nearby peak, and above him was a smaller plateau that seemed to reek of an old power. On his right though was what stopped his breath. A fortress rising from out of the mountain. The palace seemed to come from nowhere, and seemed to be slowly rising out of peak. Pluto stared in distaste, "The Titans old headquarters rises from the ashes. At the end of the last Titan war Jupiter hurled his master bolt at this place decimating it from existence, but here it stands five millenia later as if nothing has changed."

Percy growled, stepping forward, "Uncle we could take them. You and I go in there and we could end this war now, before the Titans ever gain traction. We could storm this base, and defeat the Titans, and root them out by their stem. I am the Child of the Prophecy, and we could complete it here and now making my sixteenth birthday nothing but a celebration and finality."

Pluto considered his words which surprised him, "Only a handful of Titans could possibly be here, and no way have they gained full strength. At worst Hyperion, Krios, Koios, and if we are really unlucky Atlas will have been freed from his burden. My father couldn't be beyond a fragment of his power. With the armies of the Underworld, and the Minor Gods I could summon to battle we very well could end this here and now."

Percy nodded his head feeling his righteous anger burn through his body, "We do this and Olympus will restore your throne, and you will be the hero among your family."

Just when Pluto looked like he was going to agree, a female voice entered the area, "That's a lot of testosterone their boys. What do you say we take a time out?"

Percy turned to see a woman who took his breath away. He always thought Gwen was one of the more beautiful girls in camp, but even he had to admit he was looking at perfection. This blonde haired woman was wearing a white chiton, and her hair was tied back neatly in a bun. It did not take a genius to figure out the woman who was standing before him, "Lady Venus."

She nodded to Percy, and looked to Pluto in exasperation, "Your desire for battle is surprising Pluto, and I am afraid misplaced. Intelligence says Atlas has been freed from his burden. You hold great power, but you two, the army of the dead, and a few minor gods are no match for the combined power of five Titans."

Pluto said nothing, but Percy growled, "I like our odds if you fight with us Lady Venus."

She scoffed at this, "I would be banished from Olympus, and we would likely level the bay area in a fight like this. A time is coming to do battle, but first we must allow time to divide the forces of the Titans before we strike them down a few at a time."

The Lord of the dead, and son of Neptune looked displeased by this plan neither saying a word. Venus finally spoke again breaking the silence, "Perseus Jackson your heart is broken, and currently in the wrong place. I myself was feeling the power of your feelings for the girl, and I felt your loss on Olympus, which is why I appear to you now. For that, and to give you a gift."

Pluto sighed, "I leave you in this lady's hands Perseus. I assure you the daughter of Ceres will be streamlined to Elysium."

Percy gave a bow to his Uncle who walked away and disappeared in the shadows. Percy turned back to Venus who snapped her fingers, and Percy felt himself wrapped in godly energy, and when they reappeared they were sitting in a cafe with food already served, and waiting on them. Percy looked around before turning to the woman, "Where are we?"

The woman grabbed a cup before her with some hot drink shrugging, "Paris."

Percy felt his throat tighten. They had just crossed an ocean in seconds. He wasn't often blown away by the power of the gods, but he was feeling it now. She spoke when he said nothing, "Your loss is immense, but I assure you the great love of your life is still ahead. Nothing will replace what you lost, or fill the hole that will always be there, but your happiness is still a possibility if you survive the great prophecy."

Percy wanted to snort, but merely sighed, "That was a good caveat to add there at the end my lady."

She smiled at him before tapping her foot on something metal, "Reach under the table and receive your gift Perseus Jackson."

Percy gave the woman a worried look before looking under the table to see a beautiful golden shield in the shape of a circle with divots on each side. A true Trojan styled shield. His breath caught, and he grabbed it standing from the table placing it through his arm, "This is the shield of Paris isn't it?"

The goddess gave him a smile, "Yes. He was one of the few mortals I ever favored. His love for Helen was immense by the time the war was over, and I saved his shield upon his death knowing that one day someone capable of such love would deserve to hold this relic of history. I had originally intended to put someone through great trials to earn this, but instead I find myself giving it to you as a prize of grief. You prayed to me for many years for a chance with Gwen Brown. I am sorry it wasn't as much as you may have wanted, but sometimes that is how love works. But what is grief if not loving, persevering?"

Percy stared at the shield, and then looked back to Lady Aphrodite, "I've done it then. I have assembled the three Trojan artifacts."

She nodded her head at him, "You have, and you will need them in the war against the Titans."

She rose to her feet, and gave him a look, "Do not forget my advice Perseus Jackson. I would transport you back, but I think you need sometime to yourself. Goodbye Perseus."

When Percy finished telling his story the group looked shocked. Bianca was the first to break the silence, "I can't believe you almost convinced my father to wage war on the Black Fortress."

Percy gave the girl a slight grin, "Would've been a hell of a fight."

The others all shook their heads, and Cassie asked, "Well what's next?"

Percy turned to her with a dark shadow seeming to cross his face, "We know where the Titans are based. I am going to assemble the Praetorian Guard, and train them to the breaking point as we prepare for an attack. In that time we will come and go from camp as we take reconnaissance from the area, and break up monster war bands before they can form. The nature spirits I talked to in the Ocean said they have heard rumblings of powerful monsters not seen in a millenia rising. With the greatest demigods of our generation I will lay waste to them. Just as I swore to Olympus I would."

Mark nodded, "I will follow you into combat on these missions. Gwen was my friend, and once her funeral is complete today I want blood. From the monsters, from the deserters, and any Titan supporter that crosses our path." Percy gave the man a nod of respect, and he sighed, "But we do need to hold her burial rights. It should've been done yesterday, but we held out as long as we could for you. We should see to it immediately."

Percy didn't give much acknowledgement to that, but a slight nod of his head sent everyone heading towards the door. It didn't take even an hour to assemble the legion, and move the shroud that had been made by the fifth for Gwen out into the field of Mars. Mark had asked Percy if he wished to light the shroud, and Percy agreed without a word.

The assembled legion stared forward at the shroud, many still feeling the loss of the fifth cohort Centurion, but none more so than Percy. Mark stood in front of the group to give the final word, "A mutiny has not happened inside the walls of Rome for many years. Since the days of Caesar never have we had such a betrayal inside our hallowed walls. Thirty two people have fled the city, and the legion. Thirty two people have been branded traitors to the twelfth legion, and have been given an automatic death sentence upon capture. These were our friends, family, legionnaires, citizens of New Rome, and worst of all they were just like us. They were demigods, and legacies that felt Olympus, the Senate, and the Praetors were not doing a good enough job. They felt they had been given an unfair shake of things, and decided to strike us where it would hurt us the most, our home." Mark said passionately.

Percy was beginning to feel the exhaustion of not having slept since the attack on camp. He stared at the shroud feeling the pain of the loss, but not moving an inch.

Mark continued, "When I speak of home I think of Centurion Gwen. She was one of the most welcoming voices in the entire legion. She was always happy to welcome anyone into her cohort, and took a chance on many, sometimes paying off in ways that no one would've guessed." Percy could tell many eyes were on him when he said this, but Bianca put a comforting hand on his arm as Mark continued, "Gwen was one of the greatest healers I ever knew. I remember when she entered the legion with all of the optimism, and hope in the world. Most of you know that she was close to retirement, and it breaks my heart that the world lost out on the opportunity to see what she might do for the world. Gwen's death will not be for nothing. We will hunt down her killers, and bring him to justice. This I swear on my life."

With that Mark nodded to Percy who was standing in the front with the rest of the fifth. He walked forward and took a torch from a brazer that had been brought out for pyre. The shroud was covered in plants, medicine, and her officer sword sticking through dozens of small pages that contained notes from her friends and family. Percy stared at the shroud for a long moment before throwing the torch on it, making it go up in flames instantly. He felt a rage in his chest that he had been unable to contain for days. As the shroud was burning he heard the familiar clang of a sword on shield. It was a soft beat, but many took it up to catch the steady rhythm. It was a farewell to a friend, a colleague, a fellow legionnaire, and a member of the family. It only lasted about thirty seconds, and when it was over the legion disassembled. Percy however stood until the last ember went out. He stared at the shroud, and as the fire died his rage swelled. He wanted to scream. He wanted to rock the world with his power as an Earthshaker so it knew he was angry, but he knew that wouldn't solve anything. It would only create more problems. His final thought when he turned away was that someone was going to pay for this...in blood.

(A/N) The fallout of Gwen's death is clearly displayed throughout this chapter. Welcome back to Chapter 25 of this Story. I am sure many of you caught my WandaVision quote in here, but I thought it was appropriate placement. Moving forward from here we enter the events of the Titans curse, so stand by for more development. See you in two weeks!

A shout out to JamesMarx for Beta approving this chapter.