In which I love Percy very much- and she calls out a certain drama king on his bullshit. And the next chapter is just as fun so that's good. Also, everyone who loves Percy in this chapter is just trying not to cry because fucking seriously Percy! Do you want to die?!
Replies:
Undeath9087: Heh, Percy's definitely not staying silent in this one. Which I love, Apollo is kinda dumb but the punishment he received was totally unfair and unjustifiable.
Atemeta: :)
Guest: Honestly Rachel is just so relaxed about it cause she knows Poseidon is a pretty reasonable god.
ant-death: It honestly was so much fun-the big twists always make me want to upload like, a dozen chapters just to get to them faster to see reactions. And yeah, things sure do change. That's what we call growth.

Percy had half expected things to be a hell of a lot worse than they were- injury wise in any case. But remarkably they all seemed fairly well- some minor injuries, Annabeth still had a limp and Leo was covered in soot with his clothes burn pretty badly, but all in all the worst were Percy and Luke- the latter of whom had woken up and was looking a lot better, if slightly pale, his father's hand on his shoulder a gentle and silent sign of support.

Percy's eyes scanned the surroundings as her father moved towards Hera, an angry look on his face- the goddess was stood with Demeter looking far too smug for Percy's taste.

She was glad to see that there really was nothing left of the giants or the monsters except for heaps of ash, a few discarded weapons and such. And she was glad to see that the Argo II was still aloft, barely, moored to the top of the Parthenon. Half the ship's oars were broken off or tangled. Smoke streamed from several large splits in the hull. The sails were peppered with burning holes.

Percy would have half expected Leo to look upset over that but he didn't seem to be- he cast her a small grin across the battlefield as he and Ethan- who looked somewhat less sooty then Leo, shakily walked towards the demigods and Rachel-who were all gathering together automatically, Will moving towards Percy with a gleam in his eyes, and a tired Nico following just a step behind him.

Percy looked away quickly-as if doing so could avoid Will's lecture about running off into battle with a hole in her shoulder. Honestly he was far too worried at times.

Her gaze took in the gods as well. Apollo and Artemis stood together in the shadow of a column, as if trying to hide. Demeter was clearly trying to act as mediator between Poseidon and Hera- who was still looking smug.

Meanwhile Nike was trying to put a golden laurel wreath on Hecate's head, but the goddess of magic swatted it away.

The only Olympian who seemed to be celebrating was Ares- who was stood with Frank laughing and pantomiming gutting an enemy while Frank listened, his expression polite but queasy.

And they all shifted as Zeus approached- and Percy decided that there was a first time for everything- in this instance a first time for her feeling grateful to Zeus for showing up because he arrived just as Will reached her- which meant that the son of Apollo couldn't start his lecture quite yet, though from the expression on his face it was only a temporary reprieve.

Percy was glad in any case, though her back straightened slightly and Annabeth and Rachel pressed closer to her as Zeus closed the distance, Thalia and Jason at his heel- and Percy saw Thalia's gaze flicking to Luke, and she could see that flash of relief in her eyes at the fact that the other demigod was well enough to be standing, even going so far as shooting him one of her rare smiles.

"Brethren." Zeus' voice cut through the air like a knife through butter. "We are healed, thanks to the work of these demigods. And the Athena Parthenos which once stood in this temple, now stands at Camp Half-Blood. It has united our offspring and thus our own essences."

"Lord Zeus-" Piper's voice was slightly nervous- Percy couldn't blame her for that, the god was rather forbidding looking. "Is Reyna okay? And Bianca and Calypso and Coach Hedge?"

Zeus knitted his cloud-coloured eyebrows. "They succeeded in their mission. The daughter of Hades-" his expression soured, "Is badly injured-" that made Nico tense, his eyes widening- and Will had to grab his arm tightly to steady him. And Percy could see Hazel stood close to Hades, pressing a hand to her mouth. "But still alive. Whether or not they are okay..."

"There is still work to be done-" Hera interrupted, her voice infuriatingly proud as she spread her arms like she wanted a group hug- which was kind of funny since Percy would rather run her through than hug her. "But my heroes, you have triumphed over the giants as I knew you would. My plan has succeeded beautifully."

Percy gritted her teeth, she could see that Annabeth and Rachel both looked pissed too, though they were distracting themselves by gripping Percy tightly, undoubtedly aware that Percy would, if she could, be tearing Hera limb from limb in that moment.

Of all the self centred arrogant- but it seemed that the demigods weren't the only ones annoyed.

Zeus turned on his wife. Thunder shook the Acropolis. 'Hera, do not dare take credit! You have caused at least as many problems as you've fixed!'

The queen of heaven blanched. "Husband, surely you see now – this was the only way."

"There is never only one way!" Zeus bellowed. "That is why there are three Fates, not one. Is this not so?"

By the ruins of the giant king's throne, the three old ladies silently bowed their heads in recognition. "Please, husband." Hera tried for a smile, but it was shaky- and Percy felt a cold sense of satisfaction as she remembered how terrified she'd been when Hera had chased her down and stolen her memories after she'd been returned to life. "I only did what I-"

"Silence!" Zeus snapped the word, "You disobeyed my orders. Nevertheless… I recognize that you acted with honest intentions. The valour of these seven heroes has proven that you were not entirely without wisdom."

Hera looked like she wanted to argue, but she kept her mouth shut.

"Apollo, however..." Zeus glared into the shadows where the twins were standing. "My son, come here." and Percy blinked, her brows furrowing. This couldn't be going where she thought it was going could it?

She turned her gaze to Apollo, who Apollo inched forward like he was walking the plank. He looked so much like a teenage demigod it was unnerving – no more than seventeen, wearing jeans and a Camp Half-Blood T-shirt, with a bow over his shoulder and a sword at his belt. With his tousled blond hair and blue eyes, he might've been Jason's brother on the mortal side as well as the godly side.

Percy had never really been close to Apollo- but she liked him well enough. He was a terrible flirt but he had helped them more than most of the gods ever did, and he was slightly less of an arrogant dick than most of them- or, his arrogance was less grating and slightly entertaining.

She didn't like seeing him looking so terrified. It didn't feel right. Apollo was meant to be all light and cheerful.

Percy watched as the Three Fates gathered around the god, circling him, their withered hands raised.

"Twice you have defied me." Zeus' voice was strangely carrying, given the fact that he wasn't really speaking that loudly.

"My-my lord-" Apollo's voice had a quaver in it and she could see his tongue darting out to dampen his lips.

"You neglected your duties. You succumbed to flattery and vanity. You encouraged your descendant Octavian to follow his dangerous path and you prematurely revealed a prophecy that may yet destroy us all." and Percy's eyes were narrowing at that, even as Apollo's expression turned pleading.

"But-"

"Enough!" Zeus boomed, "We will speak of your punishment later. For now-" he was raising his hand and Percy moved without even thinking, pulling free from Annabeth and Rachel and throwing herself in front of Apollo, glaring fiercely at Zeus.

"What the fuck do you think you're talking about?!"

There was a brief moment of stunned silence before Zeus' shock faded and he glared darkly at Percy.

"What exactly do you think you're doing girl?"

"I'm doing what someone has to-"

"Father-" Jason rushed forward quickly to stand next to Percy- and Percy noticed that everyone else was looking too stunned to do much of anything. "Father just wait a second please- what is going to happen to Lord Apollo?" and Percy could almost hear the faint whimper Apollo let out.

"It is not your concern. Either of you." Zeus ground the words out, "We have other problems to address."

"As always." Percy shot back with a scowl, though she managed to catch Jason's eye out of the corner of her own and he gave a small nod, stepping forward slightly and taking a deep breath. And Percy would let him take the lead. He was the gods son after all, and so slightly less likely to get smited by a pissed off Zeus.

"Father I made a vow to honor all the gods. I promised Kymopoleia that once this war is over none of the gods would be without shrines at the camps."

Zeus scowled. "That's fine. But … Kym who?"

Poseidon coughed into his fist. "She's one of mine."

"My point," Jason said, "is that blaming each other isn't going solve anything. That's how the Romans and Greeks got divided in the first place."

Percy felt the air becoming charged and her eyes narrowed. She recognised the feeling of course- and it made her feel angry, deep in the pit of her stomach. Because surely even Zeus couldn't be considering blasting his own son.

And she also felt oddly proud of Jason- and from the look on Thalia's face she felt proud too- and she saw Will looking at Jason with an insane amount of gratitude in his eyes. But Jason wasn't finished talking.

"Apollo wasn't the problem. To punish him for Gaia waking is-" he faltered, "Unwise."

"Unwise." Zeus' voice was almost a whisper, "Before the assembled gods you would call me unwise?"

And yep, yep he would smite his son- Thalia looked like she was about ready to leap between Zeus and Jason but Percy got there first.

"Well it's not the word I'd use for you but my word is more like a series of words and my mom would be forced to wash my mouth out with soap if I actually said them out loud." and she could see her father closing his eyes, an exhausted look on his face as Zeus moved forward.

"You dare-"

"I more than dare." Percy's voice was almost too upbeat- a forced happiness to it which was a dead giveaway for the fury beneath. "I will tell you exactly what I think in public with pleasure Lord Zeus-"

"Percy-" Poseidon tried, but Percy held up her hand, though Hades spoke before she could.

"Let the girl speak brothers. This should be interesting-"

"Oh gods." Luke's voice was a low groan. "I swear if she gets herself killed-"

"I am fine Luke." Percy's eyes met Zeus's and she didn't back down as the lightning flickered in his gaze. "First of all, your highness-" the sarcasm in her voice was as thick as treacle. "You so much as hint at threatening your son again and I will find a way to kill a god-" there were several sharp intakes of breath. "And that's a promise by the way. Not a threat- before you go all 'Are you threatening me girl'." she took a step towards Zeus, fingers curling into fists at her sides.

"You have nerve-"

"Yeah." Percy nodded, "I do. And you wanna know something? My nerve is the only reason that Olympus still stands today. Or had you forgot that?" though she could tell from his expression that he hadn't- that he probably wished he could.

"You push your luck-"

"That's what I do." Percy shot out. "And for once in your fucking long immortal existence you are going to be a decent person- hard I know, for a man who has a history of being as big a creep as they come, and you are going to listen to me. And you know why? Because you all owe me. I am the one who stopped you from being tricked into a war when I was twelve. I am the one who fought Atlas and took the sky from Artemis so that she could defeat him. I am the one who repeatedly faced the traitor. I am the one who fought Kronos- not once, not twice but three times. It was me who took charge of the Greek forces. Me who led the defence of Olympus whilst you were occupied fighting off Typhon. It was me who held Olympus for days. And I am the one who made the choice to make the ultimate sacrifice- knowing that I would die, to kill Kronos, for once and for all. You never need fear his rise again, because of me. So I'll say it again. You. Owe. Me."