Chapter III

The First of May

Five Days Before the Battle of Manhattan

Percy let out a breath he didn't know he was holding as he looked up at the enormous engraved golden doors before him. The doors depicted tales and epics through the ages. Zeus banishing Typhon, Kronos cutting up Ouranos as his brothers held their father down, Zeus casting Kronos off of Mount Othrys with his Master Bolt. Athena being born from the head of Zeus. Come to think of it, there was a lot of Zeus.

Steeling his nerves, Percy pushed open the doors to the throne room of the gods. Percy had been here five times before, but the power flowing through the throne room never ceased to overwhelm him. This time, however, it was surprising how weak the energy in the room was. It was still enough to erase his mortal existence with the effort of flexing a finger, but it was significantly weaker than the times he had been here before.

As he entered, he noticed the physical effects as well. His father was looking older than he had even been when Oceanus was attacking Atlantis, and Zeus was looking older and more sickly than he could remember any Olympian ever looking. Looking to his left, he noticed Hephaestus, as well, was looking worse. Instead of being dirty and ugly because of his deformities and his forges, he looked like a sickly hermit. Even Artemis, on his right, had lost much of her divine glow.

Focusing on the event at hand, he started to walk towards the center of the throne room and recalled why he had been called here. The invasion. Normally, the Olympians did not meet outside of the solstices, but they had made an exception for the current circumstances. It seemed they had much invested in this endeavour, which was not surprising considering their appearances.

Finally reaching the center of the throne room next to the hearth, he bowed to his father, before moving a few feet towards Zeus and kneeling.

Percy stared up at Zeus expectantly, waiting to be addressed. Kneeling alone was enough to send the sea in him wild, let alone to Zeus, but despite his naturally rebellious nature, and him having saved Olympus multiple times, Zeus was still the king of a pantheon of beings which could all erase him with a thought.

Glancing slightly to his right, he peered into the shadows of Artemis' throne, where he knew that Nico was keeping watch.

It seemed Zeus had finally decided to address him, after several seconds of waiting.

Zeus' booming voice echoed over the throne room. "Perseus Jackson."

Percy winced slightly at the use of his full name. "You are before the gods today to report on the progress of the invasion of the mortal city of Manhattan."

Ah. So the gods had grown impatient. That was the problem. Shaking off his frustrations at the gods calling him all the way to Olympus for such a simple report, he responded. "The invasion is set to commence on the sixth of May, in five days. His Majesty Poseidon-" he nodded at his father "-and I have discussed the occupation of the city, which will mainly be carried out through Nature Spirits and Cyclopes. His Highness Dionysus and Lord Grover have both agreed that nature spirits in the Manhattan area will be requisitioned to aid with the occupation of the borough."

The Olympians stared back at him expectantly. He stared right back. That was it. Unless they wished for him to go in depth into their strategy and plans for the city after the battle was over (Which they admittedly had little of, due to the very limited time) then he was done. What did they expect, calling him all the way to their throne room to give a report that only consisted of one sentence.

"Is that it?" Zeus rumbled.

"Yes, Your Majesty, unless you would like to know how we plan to ration our meals." Percy replied, the slightest bit of mirth in his eyes.

Zeus didn't look satisfied. "Very well. Council dismissed."

The gods teleported out one after another, the flashes as they teleported looking less bright than usual, a sure sign of their declined power, all of them looking miffed at being brought to a meeting for such a short report as he was. Finally, only Zeus was left.

Percy turned to leave, but he was stopped by a hand suddenly on his shoulder.

Percy's battle reflexes kicked in. Whipping out Anaklusmos, he whirled around, placing it at neck height to threaten whatever had grabbed him.

The king of the gods looked thoroughly unimpressed. Percy quickly withdrew his weapon and capped it. Noticing Nico behind Zeus with his hand on his sword, seemingly ready to intervene if anything turned violent, he looked at Zeus expectantly.

Zeus still wore his frown, but he didn't blast Percy into a million pieces, so he was pretty sure he was fine for now.

Before he knew what was going on, Percy was enveloped in a blinding white light, and he felt himself being torn into a hundred trillion molecules, moved trillions of miles, — or a couple feet, he had no idea — and then being shoved back into the form of his body.

Percy barely had time to look around and note his surroundings, a dark room which consisted mostly of marble, and notice that Nico was still with him, his sword barely in the scabbard, before Zeus started speaking.

"Perseus. The knowledge I am about to bestow upon you is not to be shared with any individual outside of yourself, and perhaps —"he paused to send a glare at Nico, "— those sworn to you. Swear it on the River Styx."

Percy blinked at the rapid change in tone. Zeus brought him here to tell him something? And from the sound of it, it was something not even the gods knew. That was a scary concept in and of itself, but that it was Zeus of all people trusting him was very… strange for the king of the gods, to say the least.

"I swear on the River Styx to the terms you have just laid out," Percy grumbled as thunder rang in the distance, binding the oath when Percy realized something.

"You planned this. You called me to Olympus for such a menial task so that you could talk to me without suspicion from the other gods. You broadcast to your entire pantheon that there was a reason that I was on Olympus, and that it was no secret. I wouldn't imagine it would be likely the other gods would know that you spoke to me anyway, but whatever this is is so important you don't want to leave behind any loose ends. What could be so important to even you that you'd go to those lengths?" Percy wondered aloud.

It seemed Zeus was not very pleased that Percy had figured out his motives, but Zeus wore the same perpetually frowning face he always did, so it may have just been his normal mood.

"Listen and find out, boy." Zeus scolded. "There was a pondering that Hydros, the primordial of water, had shared with me many millennia ago, when I was a young god, before he faded. He shared with me speculations about my brother. He suspected that Poseidon could control all liquids, as he could. That there was no real reason that Poseidon could not control liquids, and if he could not, then surely, after Hydros' inevitable passing, Poseidon would be able to control the primordial forces of water, that being all liquids."

Percy just stared back at Zeus at the reveal of information. He didn't know what to make of this. Percy, at his very core, wasn't very surprised by this new information. He knew what he was capable of at his worst. He remembered Akhlys. Using her own poison against her, what was essentially her own being was used to nearly kill her. It was likely the lowest point he had gone in his life. He had always thought it was because of Tartarus messing with the rules around his godly blood, but if there was a way to control liquids like poison, or even… blood, at will, when he wasn't desperate, when he could use it to help people instead of hurt them in a crazed madness, then he would need to try to hone his power.

Zeus seemed to pick up that Percy knew what Zeus was telling him, but there was more.

"You have known this," Zeus concluded. "You must have used this ability before. You have known it existed."

Percy barely registered Zeus' words, too deep in his own thoughts, but nodded.

Percy was interrupted from his musings by Zeus speaking up. "This is very important, Perseus. You must tell me everything you know about this power. It is vital to the survival of Olympus."

Percy considered for a moment. He had to tell Zeus something, but he didn't need to tell him everything he knew. Then again, what was the point? Zeus had said it was important, and it was not like Zeus to over exaggerate threats. Hell, it was the last thing he would do. Making up his mind, Percy decided to tell him everything.

"It happened by accident." Percy admitted. "It was out of desperation. I was in Tartarus, backed against a wall. Akhlys was about to kill me and Annabeth. Slowly. I was backed into a corner and acted out of desperation. I took the poison she was using to kill us and used it to choke her. I felt her blood, too. I could feel the moisture in the air — little as it was in Tartarus — I felt everything. It was… surreal."

Zeus looked even more upset than usual. Percy could hear him muttering under his breath, and he didn't sound happy. Finally, Zeus asked one question. "And Poseidon, does he know about this?"

Percy stared back. Of course that would be his primary concern — his brother overthrowing him with the admittedly frightening power.

"No, he doesn't," Percy finally told him.

Percy watched as Zeus breathed a sigh of honest relief. It was the most human that Percy had ever seen a god act, other than perhaps his father.

But there was still one thing Percy didn't understand. "You didn't know I knew. Yet, you brought me here to volunteer this information. Why?" Percy questioned, before coming to a realization. "Unless there could be some threat to the gods and your power!"

Zeus didn't seem to like being questioned by a mortal, but answered the question nonetheless. "Despite the confidence many on the council have, believing mortals still primitive and unable to defend themselves against divine might — even weakened divine might — we both know this is not true. You will need as much help as you can get if you are to serve Olympus well. There are others on the council that share my sentiments, but they lack the ability to actually do anything." Zeus revealed.

Percy, while slightly miffed at Zeus' dismissal of his abilities, had had the same doubts over the past month. Percy surely had much to think about and practice over the next few days.

"Well, if that will be all…." Percy trailed off.

Zeus shook his head. "There is more. First, you must understand the importance that no other deity find out about this power. I have suspicions that this knowledge could cause the others to grow curious and explore their domains once more with this newfound knowledge. I believe this is a gateway to a primordial level of powers we have not seen since the golden age. You are but a demigod. I perceive your control over liquids other than water will be dismal at best. Nothing more than a last out in an unwinnable scenario. In the hands of a god… this power would be unnatural. Impossible to control. The forces of chaos would overtake Olympus and it would be the end of western civilization."

Percy understood — sort of. He assumed the real reason someone like Zeus would want this information kept secret is so that he could keep his power. That being said, Percy could still see how gods with control over some of the basic facets of life — primordial facets — could be incredibly dangerous.

Percy nodded. "Very well. I won't tell anyone. I told you that already."

Zeus just shook his head again. "You misunderstand me. You may not tell anyone, or show them intentionally, but they will still see. There is something you must learn before you use this power — or even practice it. You must learn to block yourself off from the vision of the gods." Zeus revealed.

Percy, slightly taken aback by this revelation, nodded once more.

Zeus gave it no delay. "Reach around yourself. Like you are trying to find a river or lake, and then increase the intensity. Do not increase how far you are looking — only how small the body of water. Do this until you feel as though you can sense the air around you — the very movement through time and space."

After minutes of an agonizing headache, he managed to successfully do as he was told, and it was…. Incredible. He could feel everything. Every nook and cranny of this room they were in, every microscopic life form making up himself and Nico, the divine energy making up every living being in the room, and…. Every single little piece of moisture in the air, every blood vessel in everyone in the room, every pump of the heart, every flow of a brain fluid. Zeus didn't know it, but he has just taught Percy how to connect with liquids other than water. Sweat was coming up on his forehead, even performing such a task for a few seconds was… incredibly draining. As such, he barely heard Zeus' next words.

"Now, cut yourself off from the lifeforce. Everything you feel around you, you must cut yourself off from. Your divine blood makes you a literal force of nature. By blocking yourself off from that same nature, you can create a shroud over yourself. Everything you do will be hidden from beings using their divine senses to see you. As though a mirage, you will fade and become truly indistinguishable." Zeus said.

Percy, after concentrating for several more seconds, managed to break himself off from the world around him. He couldn't feel the walls, nor the microscopic movements of the molecules in the room with him. And then suddenly, after only a few seconds, his concentration broke, and everything came rushing back. Falling to his knees, Percy gasped for breath, covered in sweat and exhausted.

Unable to form words, he let the god of the skies continue.

"You must practice this ability. It will be necessary before you first learn to use your power over all liquids. But before you go, there is one last thing that you will need to help you. Here." Zeus said, handing him something. Percy did not even have the effort to look up at what it was, exhausted as he was, he was not willing to put in the extra mile to see whatever Zeus had for him next.

Zeus seemed to notice this. Grunting, annoyed, he snapped his fingers. Percy gasped as he was filled with energy, more energy than he had had in months. It was truly incredible to be at a full tank again.

Able to stand up, Percy did so, and looked at what Zeus had been offering him.

Percy blinked. Zeus was offering him…. A crown? Percy stared in confusion at the item in front of him.

Zeus moved it closer to him. Breaking out of his reverie, Percy took the crown. It was silver — or platinum, or titanium, he really had no idea, just that it was silver in color, with green and golden jewels adorning it. His confusion still hadn't gone away, but he did notice something.

All godly items — which he presumed this was — had a sort of aura surrounding them. An aura of power, which usually reflected the domains of the creator and owner, as well as the power imbued within it.

He could feel the power of the ocean drifting inside of the crown, but it was more than that. It was the ocean, and the rain, and the lakes, and the groundwater, and the mist, and… everything. On top of all of this, he could feel the power of the item. It was extraordinary. It reminded him of the weapons of power of the big three, only less concentrated. Where the master bolt had been a cache of intangible power contained in a cylinder and vying to get out, this was less contained. It was more like the power was freely oozing out of the item — as if it knew that despite the large amounts of power it was giving up, it would never run out. Like it was a fire, and the power coming off of it was the heat. It was almost as if it had never been a weapon or a tool in the first place, and that simply by its own existence it was this powerful.

Percy stared at the item, wondering what he could do if he could hone such power. It was incredible. It was beyond anything he had had as his. Even Anaklusmos, which contained an immortal essence, was not this powerful.

Zeus seemed to not notice his gaping. "This crown belonged to Hydros, when he ruled over his domains. I believe its connection to liquids will help you. Unfortunately, despite belonging to a primordial, its powers are quite dismal, but it may be of some use to you."

Percy nearly spluttered in shock. This was dismal power? Percy had felt Zeus' master bolt first hand, and this was at least in the same league. He may not be able to hone it well, due to its naturally uncontrollable nature, but it was certainly powerful. Percy considered telling Zeus this, but refrained. Was it possible that Zeus couldn't sense the power of the crown? Was it because of Percy's connection to the sea that he could? Before Percy could ponder more, Zeus spoke up once more.

"You will need to disguise this item. As this directly correlates with your power over liquids, it must not be used unless you are hidden. Though, you must be careful. Too much use of Primordial power will burn you up from the insides. Here," Zeus said, snapping his fingers. Suddenly, the crown in his hands turned into a necklace, with a small two dimensional crown chained to the end. Percy couldn't sense any power coming off of the necklace, which was a relief.

Putting on the necklace, Percy looked back at Zeus. "Are we done now?" Percy asked with an arch of his eyebrow.

Zeus nodded. "Indeed. Do not forget your oaths, demigods," and just like that, Zeus was gone in a flash of lightning, leaving himself and Nico alone in a dark room with no doors.

Percy was about to start looking around the room for a secret passage of some kind when he saw Nico's hand suddenly in front of him. Mentally smacking himself, he took Nico's forearm, and held in his lunch as he was shadow travelled out of the room.