Chapter 11

Annabeth POV

'what the Hades is he doing' I thought. I get he might be distraught over losing Grover but this is just suicidal. Percy, to his credit, seemed to be holding his own against Ares but it was only a matter of time. Ares had more skill and experience the only thing that was keeping Percy in the running was his erratic style.

Percy POV

I was ready to sing praises and thanks to my brother at this point. His fencing lessons and advice on being inventive was actually the only thing keeping me alive. I could tell Ares wasn't doing much more than toying with me I was just amusing him. The conundrum I was facing was how to free him from this thing that was controlling him 'What ever this thing was it had a gold aura so lets see deities and monsters with goldish auras Hyperion, Helios, Kronos, Chronus, Apollo, and Eldons. Ok Apollo's not really into fighting so he's out, Helios hasn't been heard of since the very start of Greek history, and I don't think even a thousand Eldons could control a god so I'm left with Hyperion, Kronos, and Chronus. Great two really powerful titans and a Primordial what the Hades can I do against that.' I thought.

I mean they've probably got enough power to keep controlling him even if I managed to knock him out (AN: he's new and fully understand things yet). Pretty much anything that I do is going to make...him...mad. That's it! I took a step back and my fatigue disappeared 'the ocean yes!'. Lucky for me the tide was coming in, taking a step back, I silently willed the tide back and just prayed. At first the pull in my gut was minimal but as the energy I was holding back built up so did the pull and the pain. At this I think I finally realized exactly how much power my father had he ruled the whole sea daily. I have having trouble controlling maybe 30 feet of tidal waters for 10 minutes.

Ares made a wide slash sacrificing his stability for power and I let the tide go. In three seconds Ares had been was soaking wet and half way up the beach and really mad, I wasted no time in taking a swing at him. Ares to his credit was able to pull himself and put his sword up to block me but it was a faint and I stabbed him in the foot.

For the first time since I challenged Ares I was starting to think this might not be my best idea. Again, almost like I had a double sight of some sort, I could see this gold aura straining to contain Ares' blood like aura and this time it wasn't going down. I tried to block his next strike and I was knocked flat on my back, yay he was definitely holding back before. I did that little trick where you launch yourself from you back to your feet, something I had taught myself just because I thought it was cool.

Ares was a lot closer to me than I thought but it work to my advantage. Ares was to close to really use his sword at all so he took a step back. I used his knee as a stepping stone and punched him right in the face, later I would learn from Annabeth that I had screamed 'snap out of it' as I did so but I actually don't remember that much after that I was just exhausted. Ares left and I think the fury's showed up at one point. I snapped out of it right as the airplane started taking off "Annabeth". "I know, I know but we need to get back to New york today". Thankfully Zeus didn't blast us out of the sky but it sure felt like he was slapping the plane around.

Poseidon POV

"Looks like your time's up brother" Zeus said smugly "your son has failed". "We still have over an hour left little brother and I'm confident Percy will show". I said returning to the current topic on the council floor 'who's the Awesomer god Apollo or Hermes'. Ugh I think my time with Athena is starting to get to me, I'm picking out grammer mistakes. Normally we'd just go over the important stuff and finish early but we had to hold out till midnight to give Percy a chance, oddly enough Ares had decided to skip this meeting. "Uncle your vote please" Apollo said. "Abstain" I said pulling out a book, Athena had got me hooked on Sherlock holmes books and I was currently on The Valley of Fear.

"Hold everything" Hermes shouted "Poseidon's reading". At this Zeus perked up "I never knew you could read brother". I rolled my eye and set the book on my armrest, seriously yes I'm not the smartest man alive but this is getting really old. Before I could retort Percy ran into the room with Annabeth in tow, Zeus' master bolt in hand. "You were wise to betray you father" Zeus said summoning the bolt from Percy's hand. "Percy didn't steal the bolt" Annabeth said "someone else stole it for Ares". "That's quite an accusation" Zeus said darkly "what evidence do you have to back it up".

Annabeth mouth opened and closed like a fish but said nothing "I can provide the evidence they need" Hades said materializing from the shadows. "Now dear nephew he's your satyr as per our deal. If the council wants the evidence I have feel free to send his royal highness to fetch it" he said as he walked out the door. Zeus was furious that his own son would do such a thing and I had to sympathise with him "Why would he do such a thing, he knows what his punishment would be". I was about to dismiss Percy and Annabeth when Percy spoke up "Lord Zeus about Ares I don't think he was fully in control of his actions". "When I fought him he had this golden aura around him but it wasn't co-". "You fought him" Hermes said in astonishment "and you won". "Well I didn't exactly win" Percy said "I got him mad enough that he overpowered the golden aura then he gave us the bolt and left".

"Why would you defend him" Artemis asked "he did try to kill you". Percy spun to face Artemis and froze. It wasn't for very long and most of the council missed it but I didn't 'little Percy has a crush on a maiden goddess' I thought it really helped that she appeared to be the same age as him. "My mother raised me to stand up for what I believe in and I believe Ares shouldn't be punished for something out of his control". I knew at this Athena probably just wanted to scream, this was so conflicting, yes she raised him right but let Ares handle it. "We'll take what you've said into account you may go, we'll send Chiron the verdict" Zeus said. 'I should probably sit him down and tell him not to pursue Artemis…what am I saying his mother/my fiance was a maiden goddess he should go for it…but carefully. I'll have Athena talk to him about it' I thought as Percy walked out.

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(AN: As for pairings my final 3 choices are Thalia x Percy, Artemis x Percy, and OC x Percy. I just want to see what you do with this info later in the story)