A/N: I don't own the rights to any of the Percy Jackson series or it's characters. That right gaoes to Rick Riordan. I also don't own the rights to Animorph including it's title.
I am, however, the person who posted 'The Tales of...' series.
This is not a crossover of the Percy Jackson series with the book/tv series Animorph, despite what you might think from the title. I just thought it be a proper name for the ability to turn into animals since that's why the tv/book series 'Animorph' was called that in the first place.
Also, ever since I got my latest Laptop I been stuck using Google Docs and Copy and paste my chapters and for some reason when I save what I paste any formats I made is turn to normal format. I even have to bold the chapter titles, but as I'm sure you noticed sometimes I forget to do that. So anything I normally itallilize like thoughts come out normal text. A/N at the beginning and end of each keep the format changes because I add them without copying and pasting from google doc.
If you haven't read this yet, read:
Animorph Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief
Animorph Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Sea of Monsters
Animorph Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Titan's Curse
Animorph Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Battle of the Labyrinth
Animorph Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Stolen Chariot
Animorph Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Sword of Hades
Animorph Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Bronze Dragon
I Sit On My Dad's Throne
"Why? What were you thinking?" Clarisse scolded.
"You wouldn't listen. Ares Cabin would only follow you," Silena said.
"So you stole my armor," Clarisse in disbelief. "You waited until Chris and I went out on patrol; you stole my armor and pretend to be me," She glared at her siblings. "And NONE of you noticed?"
Ares campers developed a sudden interest in their combat boots.
"Don't blame them," Silena said. "They wanted to believe I was you."
"But you charged at a drakon?" Clarisse demanded. "Why?"
"It's all my fault," Silena said, as tears streaking the side of her face. The drakon, camp endangered-"
A cold fist closed around my heart. "You mean... you were the spy?"
Silena tried to nod. "Before I liked Charlie, Luke was nice to me. He was so... charming. Handsome. Later I wanted to stop helping him , but he threatened to tell. He promised... he promised I was saving lives. Fewer people would ge thurt. He told me he wouldn't hurt Charlie. It wasn't until you told me how close you and Charlie were to dying on the Princess Andromeda I realized he was lying."
"Where the charm?" Annabeth asked.
"In the hearth. I threw it in it when I decided to fool Ares cabin to rejoin the war," Silena said.
I met Annabeth's eyes. Her face was chalky white. She looked like somebody had just yanked the world out form under her feet.
Behind us, the battle raged as the bronze dragon let loose another bolt of lightning.
Clarisse scowled at her cabinmates. "Go, help Beckendorf. Protect the doors. GO!"
They scrambled off to join the fight.
"We need to keep Silena away from Kronos," I said. "He thinks she died in the previous attack. If he finds out she not only still alive but betrayed him he'll go after her."
"He'll have to get pass m y cold dead body first," Clarisse growled.
...
Even though Clarisse wasn't wearing her armor or had her spear, she might as well became a demon. She rode her chariot straight into Titan army and crushed everything in her path.
She was so inspiring, even the panicked centaurs started to rally. The Hunters scrounged arrows from the fallen and launched volley after volley into the enemy. The Bronze dragon torched and electrocute anything in its path. The Ares cabin slashed and hacked, which was their favorite thing. The monsters retreated toward 35th street.
Clarisse drove to the drakon's carcass and looped a grappling line through its eye sockets. She lashed her horses and took off, dragging the drakon behind the chariot like a Chinese New Year Dragon. She charged after the enemy, yelling insults and daring them to cross her. As she rode, I realized she was literally glowing. An aura of red fire flickered around her.
"The blessing of Ares," Thalia said. "I've never seen it in person before."
For the moment Clarisse ws as invincible as I was. The enemy threw spears and arrows, but nothing hit her.
"I AM CLARISSE, THE DRAKON-SLATYER!" she yelled. "I will kill you ALL! Where is Kronos? Bring him out! Is he a coward?"
"Clarisse!" I yelled. "Stop it. Withdraw!"
"What's the matter, Titan lord?" she yelled. "BRING IT ON!"
There was no answer from the enemy. Slowly, they began to fall back behind a dracaenae shield wall, while Clarisse drove in circles around Fifth Avenue, daring anyone to cross her path. The two-hundred-foot-long drakon carcass made a hollow scraping noise against the pavement, like a thousand knives.
Meanwhile, we tended our wounded, bringing them inside the lobby. Long after the enemy had retreated from sight, Clarisse kept riding up and down the avenue with her horrible trophy, demanding that Kronos meet her battle. Silena finally was allowed off the chariot as she made her laps.
Chris said, "I'll watch her. She'll get tired eventually. I'll make sure she comes inside."
"What about the camp?" I asked. "Is anybody left there?"
Chris shook his head. "Only Argus and the nature spirits. Peleus the dragon still guarding the tree."
"They won't last long," I said. "But I'm glad you came."
Chris nodded. "I'm sorry it took so long. I tried to reason with Clarisse. I said there's no point in defending the camp if you guys die. All our friends are here. A part of me is glad Silena's plan work even though it could have cost her life."
"Percy, I never got the chance to ask, but did you ever got word from Nico?" Bianca asked.
"Yeah. Hades is being a big pain," I said.
"Maybe I should go down there and back my brother up," Bianca said. "It's about time father do something."
I thought back to what Hades said-or rather what he didn't say about me pleading.
"Do it,' I said. "Take Mrs. O'Leary to the doors of Orpheus. She should still know where that is. Tell him that I'm not the child of prophecy, and I'll admit it to him in person only if he joins the war."
Bianca nodded and headed off to find Mrs. O'Leary.
"The rest of the Hunters will stand guard," Thalia said. "Annabeth and Percy, you should go to Olympous. I have a feeling they'll need you up there-to set up the final defense."
"Yeah, we will," I said. "I need to do something up there anyways."
The doorman had disappeared from the lobby. His book was facedown on the desk and his chair was empty. The rest of the lobby, however, was jam-packed with wounded campers, Hunters, and satyrs.
Connor and Travis Stoll met us by the elevators.
"Is it true?" Connor asked. "Silena brought the entire Ares Cabin to the rescue?"
"Yeah. She did," I said. "She saved the day."
Travis shifted uncomfortably. "Um, I also heard-"
"She saved the day. She's a hero," I said. "You can ask Clarisse yourself if you don't believe me."
"I'm good," Travis said. "Listen, we figure the Titan's arm y will have trouble getting up the elevator. They'll have to go up a few at a time. And the giants won't be able to fit at all."
"That's our biggest advantage," I said. "Any way to disable the elevator?"
"It's magic," Travis said. "Usually you need a key card, but the doorman vanished. That means the defenses are crumbling. Anyone can walk into the elevator now and head straight up."
"The n we have to keep them away from the doors," I said. "We'll bottle them up in the lobby."
"We need reinforcements," Connor said. "They'll just keep coming. Eventually they'll overwhelm us."
"Bianca is working on getting us reinforcements." I said. "I'm going up to see about getting the Olympians reinforcements so they can take Typhon down so they can get back here and help us out."
"How do you plan on that?" Annabeth asked.
"You'll see," I told her. "Come on!"
On the way to the elevator, we spotted Grover kneeling over a fat wounded satyr.
"Leneus!" I said.
The old satyr looked terrible. His lips were blue. There was a broken spear in his belly, and his furry goat legs were twisted at a painful angle.
He tried to focus on us, but I don't think he saw us.
"Grover," he murmured.
"I'm here, Leneus." Grover was blinking back tears, despite all the horrible things Leneus had said about him.
"Did... did we win?"
"Um... yes," he lied. "Thanks to you, Leneus. We drove the enemy away."
"Told you," the old satyr mumbled. "True leader. True..."
He closed his eyes for the last time.
Grover gulped. He put his hand on Leneus forehead and spoke an ancient blessing. The old satyr's body melted, until all that was left was a tiny sapling in a pile of fresh soil.
"A laurel," Grover said in awe. "Oh, that lucky old goat." He gathered up the sapling in his hands. "I... I should plant him. In Olympus, in the gardens."
"We're going that way," I said. "Come on." Easy listening music played as the elevator rose which was better than Stayin Alive.
"Percy," Annabeth said quietly. "You were right about Luke." Sh e kept her eyes fixed on the elevator numbers as they blinked into the magical numbers: 400, 450, 500.
Grover and I exchange glances.
"Annabeth," I said. "I'm sorry-"
"You tried to tell me." Her voice was shaky. "Luke is no good. I didn't believe you until... until I heard how he'd used Silena. Now I know. I hope you're happy."
"That doesn't make me happy."
She put her head against the elevator wall and wouldn't look at me.
Grover cradled his laurel sapling in his hands. "Well... sure good to be together again. Arguing. Almost dying. Abject terror. Oh, look. It's our floor."
The doors dinged and we stepped onto the aerial walkway.
Depressing is not a word that usually describes Mount Olympus, but it looked that way now. No fires lit the braziers. The windows were dark. The streets were deserted and doors were barred. The only movement was in the parks, which had been set up as field hospital. Will Solace and the other Apollo campers scrambled around, caring for the wounded. Naiads and dryads tried to help, using nature magic songs to heal burns and poisons.
"I know we need as much help downstairs, but what would you guys say if I have Apollo cabin to stay up here," I suggested. "That way they focus their attention on the wounded and protect Olympus."
Neither Annabeth nor Grover argued against it.
As Grover planted the laurel sapling, Annabeth and I gave Apollo cabin their new orders and tried cheering up the wounded. I passed a satyr with a broken leg, a demigod who was bandaged from head to toe, and a body covered in the golden burial shroud of Apollo cabin. I didn't know who was underneath. I didn't want to find out.
My heart felt like lead, but we tried to find positive things to say.
I found the Dionysus twins: Pollux and Castor, propped up against a tree. Pollux had a broken arm and Castor had a broken leg, but otherwise they were okay.
"We can still fight," Pollux said, gritting his teeth.
"No," I said. "You two have done enough. I want the both of you to stay here and help with the wounded.
"But-" Castor complained.
"Promise me to stay safe," I said. "Okay? Personal favor."
They frowned uncertainly. It wasn't like we were good friends or anything, but I wasn't going to tell them it was a request from their dad. That would just embarrassed both of them. Finally, they promised, and Pollux sat back down. I could tell both were relieved.
Annabeth, Grover and I kept walking toward the palace. There's where Kronos would head. As soon as he made it up to the elevator-and I had no doubt he would, one way or another-he would destroy the throne room, the center of the gods' power.
Just stick to the plan, I reminded myself.
The bronze doors creaked open. Our footsteps echoed on the marble floor. The constellations twinkled coldly on the ceiling of the great hall. The hearth was down to a dull red glow. Hestia, in the form of a little girl in brown robes, hunched at its edge, shivering. The ophiotaurus swam sadly in his sphere of water. He let out a half-hearted moo when he saw me.
In the firelight, the thrones cast evil-looking shadows, like grasping hands.
Standing at the foot of Zeus' throne, looking up at the stars, was Rachel Elizabeth Dare. She was holding a Greek ceramic vase.
"Rachel?" I said. "Um, what are you doing with that?"
She focused on me as if she were coming out of a dream. "I found it. It's Pandora's jar, isn't it?"
Her eyes were brighter than usual, and I had a bad flashback of moldy sandwiches and burned cookies.
"Please put down the jar," I said.
"I can see Hope inside." Rachel ran her fingers over the ceramic designs. "So fragile."
"Rachel."
My voice seemed to bring her back to reality. She held out the jar, and I took it. The clay felt as cold as ice. I had expected it to show up again after the last attack, but I didn't think Rachel would be the one to find it. Then again, I didn't expect Rachel to be able to go up the elevator to Olympus.
"Grover," Annabeth mumbled. "Let's scout around the palace. Maybe we can find some extra Greek fire or Hephaestus traps."
"But-"
Annabeth elbowed him.
"Right!" he yelped. "I love traps!"
She dragged him out of the throne room.
Over by the fire, Hestia was huddled in her robes, rocking back and forth. As much as I want to get my plan over with, something in my gut told me Rachel and I need to talk to her first.
"Come on," I told Rachel. "I want you to meet someone."
We sat next to the goddess.
"Lady Hestia," I said.
"Hello, Percy Jackson," the goddess murmured. "Getting colder. Harder to keep the fire going."
"I know," I said. "The Titans are near."
Hestia focused on Rachel. "Hello, my dear. You come to our hearth at last."
Rachel blinked. "You've been expecting me?"
Hestia held out her hands, and the coals glowed. I saw images in the fire: My mother Paul and I eating Thanksgiving dinner at the kitchen table; my friends and me around the campfire at Camp Half-Blood, singing songs and roasting marshmallows; Rachel and me driving along the beach in Paul's Prius.
I didn't know if Rachel saw the same images, but the tension went out of her shoulders. The warmth of the fire seemed to spread across her.
"To claim your place at the hearth," Hestia told her, "you must let go of your distractions. It is the only way you will survive."
Rachel nodded. "I... I understand."
"Wait," I said. "What is she talking about?"
Rachel took a shaky breath. "Percy, when I came here... I thought I was coming for you. But I wasn't. You and me..." she shook her head.
"Wait. Now I'm a distraction? Is this because I'm 'not the hero' or whatever?"
"I'm not sure I can put it into words," she said. "I was drawn to you because... because you opened the door to all of this," She gestured at the throne room. "I needed to understand my true sight. But you and me, that wasn't part of it. Our fates aren't intertwined. I think you've always known that, deep down."
I stared at her. Maybe I wasn't the brightest guy in the world when it comes to girls, but I was pretty sure Rachel had just dumped me, which was lame considering we'd never even been together.
"So... what," I said. "'Thanks for bringing me to Olympus. See ya.' Is that what you're saying?"
Rachel stared at the fire.
"Percy Jackson," Hestia said. "Rachel has told you all she can. Her moment is coming, but your decision approaches even more rapidly. Are you prepared?"
I wanted to complain that no, I wasn't even close to prepared.
I looked a tPandora's jar, and for the first time, I had the urge to open it. Hope seemed pretty useless to me right now. So many of my friends are dead. Rachel was cutting me off. Annabeth was angry with me. My parents were asleep down in the streets somewhere while a monster army surrounded the building. Olympus was on the verge of falling, and I don't even know if the two gods I need help from would put aside their problems to help out. Then there's the cruel things the gods had done: Zeus destroying Maria di Angelo, Hades cursing the last Oracle, Hermes turning his back on Luke even when he knew his son would turn evil.
Surrender, Prometheus voice whispered in my ear. OTherwise your home will be destroyed. Your precious camp will burn.
Then I looked at Hesti. Her red eyes glowed warmly. I remembered the images I'd seen in her hearth-friends and family, everyone I cared about.
I remember something Chris Rodriguez said: There's no point in defending camp if you guys die. All our friends are here.
And Nico, standing up to his father Hades: If Olympus falls, he said, your own palace safety doesn't matter.
That surge in me the will I need to continue on with my plan.
I looked at Rachel. "You're not going to do anything stupid, are you I mean... you talked to Chiron, right?"
She managed a faint smile. "You're worried about me doing something stupid?"
"But I mean... will you be okay?"
"I don't know," she admitted. "That kind of depends on whether you save the world, hero."
I picked up Pandora's jar. The spirit of Hope fluttered inside, trying to warm the cold container.
"Hestia," I said, "I give this to you-the last Olympian-this as an offering."
The goddess tilted her head. "I am the least of the gods. Why would you trust me with this?"
"Because Hope survives best at the hearth," I said. "Guard it for me, and I won't be tempted to give up again."
The goddess smiled. She took the jar in her hands and it began to glow. The hearth fire burned a little brighter.
"Well done, Percy Jackson," she said. "May the gods bless you."
"We're about to find out." I said as I heard footsteps.
Annabeth and Grover came back into the throne room and stopped when they saw us.
"Come on, guys," I told them. "I'm about to do something risky, and I need the support of my friends."
I marched toward my father's throne.
The seat of Poseidon just to the right of Zeus', but it wasn't nearly as grand. The molded black leather seat was attached to a swivel pedestal, with a couple of iron rings on the side for fastening a fishing pole (or a trident). Basically it looked like a chair on a deepsea boat, that you would sit in if you want to hunt shark or marlin or sea monsters.
Gods in their natural state are about twenty feet tall, so I could just reach the edge of the seat if I stretched my arms, but I don't need to.
"Wait here," I said. "I'm going to sit on my dad's throne."
"Are you crazy?" Annabeth asked.
"Percy," Grover said, "the gods really don't appreciate people sitting in their thrones. I mean like turn-you-into-a-pile-of-ashes don't appreciate it."
"It's the only way I can think of to get his attention," I said. "That's why I told you two to stand back. I don't want you guys get disintegrated along with me."
I shrunk down and feathers sprouted over my body as I turned into a cardinal and flew up to the seat. I perched myself at the edge of the throne and morphed back to human form and sat down.
I felt like a baby with my feet so high off the ground. I looked around at the other gloomy, empty thrones, and I could imagine what it would be like sitting on the Olympian Council-so much power but so much arguing, always eleve other gods trying to get their way. It would be easy to get paranoid, to look out only for my own interest, especially if I were Poseidon. Sitting in his throne, I felt like I had the entire sea at my command-vast cubic miles of ocean churning with power and mystery. Why should Poseidon listen to anyone? Why shouldn't he be the greatest of the twelve?
Then I shook my head. Concentrate.
The throne rumbled. A wave of gale force anger slammed into my mind.
WHO DARES-
The voice stopped abruptly. The anger retreated, which was a good thing , because just those two words had almost blasted my mind to shreds.
Percy. My father's voice was still angry but more controlled. What-exactly-are you doing on my throne?
"I'm sorry, Father," I said. "I needed to get your attention."
This is very dangerous thing to do. Even for you. If I hadn't looked before I blasted, you would now be a puddle of seawater.
"I'm sorry," I said again. "Listen, things are rough up here."
I told him what was happening. Then I told him my plan.
His voice was silent for a long time.
Percy, what you ask is impossible. My palace-
"Dad, Kronos sent an army against you on purpose. He wants to divide you from the other gods because he kn ows you could tip the scales."
Be that as it may, he attacks my home.
"Dad, if Olympus falls, you will fade whether your palace is saved or not," I told him-rewording the same words Nico told Hades.
The floor shook. A wave of anger washed over my mind. I thought I'd gone too far, but then the trembling eased. In the background of my mental link, I heard underwater explosions and the sound of battle cries: Cyclopes bellowing, mermen shouting.
"Is Tyson okay?" I asked.
The question seemed to take my dad by surprise. He's doing fine. Doing much better than I expected. Though "peanut butter" is a strange battle cry."
"You realize you got the camp to thank for how well Tyson is in fighting," I said. "Maybe if we survive you should consider sending more of your cyclops children to camp after reaching a certain age like we do for demigods, that way they can still get some on street experience and not turn out like Polyphemus."
Stop changing the subject! You realized how long I've been worked on remodeling this palace? The game room alone took six hundred years.
"Dad, if you fade, you won't be able to save palace anyways."
Very well! Poseidon sighed. It shall be as you asy. But my son, pray this will works.
"Who else can I pray to?" I asked. "Seriously, Artemis mention praying once before, but I don't get who you gods pray too."
That's a god's secret, son. As for your cyclopes suggestion, if we survive I'll consider it, but you might need the other gods support on this. We are talking about putting their kids at risk inviting Cyclopes to camp.
"Oh yeah. I didn't think about that," I admitted.
Amphitrite-incoming! My father yelled. The sound of a large explosion shattered our connection.
I slipped down from the throne.
Grover studied me nervously. "Are you okay? You turned pale and... you started smoking."
"I did not!" then I looked at my arms. Steam was curling off my shirtsleeves. The hair on my arms was singed. "Okay, maybe I did."
"If you sat there any longer," Annabeth said, "you would've spontaneously combusted. I hope the conversation was worth it?"
Moo, said the Ophiotaurus in his sphere of water.
"We'll find out soon," I said.
Just then the doors of the throne room swung open. Thalia marched in. Her bow was snapped in half and her quiver was empty.
"You've got to get down there," she told us. "The enemy is advancing. And Kronos is leading them."