Hey guys! I hope you all enjoy this chapter! Please do review because I live for reviews, anyway, just to update you, I'm starting to get easier writing my version of Leo- and I gotta say, I've realised that while Leo's much better off now- more confident and experience and he's had some help with his trauma- he's also been through some shit- and also- Aelous got pissed about Typhon- guys everyone would know who weakened the chains so that's gonna be super duper fun when the time comes. Like- imagine the guilt Leo feels as well. He's the guilty type. Anyway, enjoy! And like i said, review. And to the person who said about it- the big reveal about the Styx thing is gonna be very fun for you guys- just to give you a hint- Percy is done with these idiots shit and is also scary levels of badass.
Percy blinked slowly as she woke up, the first thing she noticed was that she was no longer aching at all. She was still a little bit tired but other than that she felt pretty much fine- and clearly someone had noticed her waking up because a familiar voice said;
"Percy?" and Percy sat up quickly, her eyes wide, "I- Tyson." she blinked tiredly, vision swimming slightly as she did- and she looked around, the rush of panic she'd felt fading quickly when she recognised the room she was in.
"I'm in Atlantis aren't I?" it was the room she'd woken up in after she'd escaped from Alabaster, the same bed made of silky woven kelp, the walls panelled with abalone shells and the pearl lights floating around the ceiling.
"Daddy got the prayers." Tyson said quickly, "Triton was free so he sent him with a some warriors to get you." he had a relieved look on his eyes, his smile was wide, "Daddy was worried you'd be bashed silly-"
"I'm fine." Percy pushed herself out of the bed, brushing her fingers through her hair before she hesitated, almost afraid of the answer to the next question she was going to ask, "Did- did they find Luke and Beckendorf?"
"Daddy got Luke's prayer first." Tyson grinned widely at her, "They're in the infirmary."
"What?" Percy's eyes widened, "Are they okay?" and Tyson's smile slipped slightly.
"Luke will be fine. Beckendorf-" he hesitated, "The medics had to chop off his arm. It was poisoned-"
"Oh gods." Percy sucked in a sharp breath, "His arm-" she remembered seeing the wound- it had been horrendous, even from a distance she'd seen that. It had been bad, smoking even. "He-"
"He's alive though." Tyson smiled slightly, hopefully, "Leo can build him a new arm-"
"Yeah." Percy let out a breath, biting her lip, "Yeah he will." admittedly it would have to wait until after the war was over. He certainly wasn't likely to be able to fight when the battles came.
Still, she'd been terrified that they'd both died so losing an arm might be bad but at least they were alive.
She was drawn out of her thoughts by Tyson's hand on her shoulder and she surged forward, hugging him tightly, "I missed you Ty. It's good to see you, even if I'd have rather it wasn't like this."
"I missed you too." Tyson declared, "I've been busy helping daddy-" he almost pouted, "He won't let me fight-"
"Oh Ty." Percy pulled back slightly, "It's just because he's worried-"
"I know. But I want to help more-"
"I'll speak to him about it." sure. Sure she would. She'd much rather Tyson was safe away from the fighting- though... he was capable- ugh. She hated knowing that she should probably actually speak to their father about letting him fight. She didn't want him to get hurt but he wasn't weak.
"Thank you big sister!" Tyson lit up, "Daddy listens to you."
"How is-" Percy was cut off mid sentence by a distant blast that shook the room. Green light blazed outside, turning the whole sea as bright as noon, Percy felt her mouth drop open and she gasped, "What in the gods names was that?"
"Daddy will explain." Tyson had a worried look on his face, "Come, he said he wanted to see you when you woke up. He's blowing up monsters."
"Oceanus." Percy breathed out, "I should have realised." she grimaced, and she followed Tyson as he led her through Atlantis.
It was both the same as she remembered and different as the same time, still beautiful, but as she was led past the main courtyard- which was filled with warriors- mermen, some tending the wounded, some sharpening spears and swords.
Outside the main courtyard stood large fortifications—towers, walls, and antisiege weapons—but most of those had been smashed to ruins. Others were blazing with a strange green light that Percy recognised as Greek fire- it could burn even underwater.
Beyond that, the sea floor stretched into gloom. Percy could see battles raging—flashes of energy, explosions, the glint of armies clashing. Even Percy's vision- which was much better than most humans underwater, but even her vision couldn't make out exactly what was going on in the darkness.
At the edge of the palace complex, a temple with a red coral roof exploded, sending fire and debris streaming in slow motion across the farthest gardens. Out of the darkness above, an enormous form appeared—a squid larger than any skyscraper. It was surrounded by a glittering cloud of dust—at least it looked like it was dust, until Percy realized it was a swarm of mermen trying to attack the monster. The squid descended on the palace and swatted its tentacles, smashing a whole column of warriors. Then a brilliant arc of blue light shot from the rooftop of one of the tallest buildings. The light hit the giant squid, and the monster dissolved like food coloring in water.
Percy glanced at Tyson, who grinned proudly and nodded.
"That was daddy-"
"Our dad is so badass." Percy hooked her arm through Tyson's, looking in the direction of the blast, "So, we gonna go say hi to our dad?"
"Yep." Tyson grinned and together they headed towards the temple the light had come from.
The roof of the temple was a big open deck that had been set up as a command center. A mosaic on the floor showed an exact map of the palace grounds and the surrounding ocean, but the mosaic moved. Colored stone tiles representing different armies and sea monsters shifted around as the forces changed position. Buildings that collapsed in real life also collapsed in the picture.
Standing around the mosaic, grimly studying the battle, was a strange assortment of warriors, but none of them looked like Poseidon to Percy- but she did recognise Triton, clad in armor studded with pearls, his black hair was tied in a ponytail and he looked worried- and there was Ampitrite too, wearing rich green armor- and a dolphin too, which meant- Percy's gaze focused on the man between her brother and step mother, and her breath caught as she realized who it was.
He looked old, with a bushy white beard and gray hair. His battle armor seemed to weigh him down. He had green eyes and smile wrinkles around his eyes, but his usual smile wasn't there. He was studying the map and leaning on a large metal staff.
"Delphin." Poseidon's voice was firm, "Seld Palaemon and his legion of sharks to the western front. We have to neutralize those leviathans."
The dolphin spoke in a chattering voice that Percy could understand easily enough. "Yes, Lord!" and it sped away.
Percy swallowed hard, swimming forward, "Dad?" her voice was hesitant, "Triton? Amphitrite."
And all three of them looked up at her voice and her dad gave her a tired smile, "Persephone. I'm glad to see you awake and well."
"You worried us there." Triton managed a smile, though he looked worried, "You really need to stop getting knocked out and having to have me show up and save you-"
"You like being the big hero." Percy shot back, a faint smile playing across her lips. "Sorry if you were busy."
"Luckily you caught me between battles." Triton frowned, "Really though Persephone, you did a good job. The ship went up in flames."
"Yes." Amphitrite nodded, "The ocean was buzzing with the news of what you did."
"I didn't do it alone-"
"We know." Poseidon nodded, "Has Tyson told you that your brother and your friend-"
"Yeah, he told me." Percy's smile was tight, "At least they're alive- I honestly wasn't sure we'd all get out alive."
"You did well." Poseidon said firmly, "You wiped out a good portion of father's army I have no doubt."
"Very good for us." Amphitrite almost hesitated before she sighed, "I should get back to the battle- but I'm sure we'll get the chance to speak again soon Persephone- I am
sorry we can't talk more."
"It's okay Amphitrite-" Percy smiled and gave a little wave as her step mother left quickly enough before she focused on her dad and brother.
"Dad- uh- are you okay?"
"I have been better." Poseidon gave a wry smile, "I must admit that much, I reflect the state of my realm Persephone, and my realm is suffering in this war."
"We'll stop him father." Triton's voice was slightly pained.
"Oceanus?" Percy's voice was worried, "He's causing trouble."
"A lot of trouble." Poseidon admitted, "The battle against Oceanus is going poorly." he raised his staff and it transformed into his Trident, the tip glowing with a bright blue light as the water around it boiled with energy.
As he did a huge sea serpent appeared from above them and spiraled down toward the roof. It was bright orange with a fanged mouth big enough to swallow a gymnasium.
Hardly looking up, Poseidon pointed his trident at the beast and zapped it with blue energy. Ka-boom! The monster burst into a million goldfish, which all swam off in terror.
It was impressive, Percy could admit that much.
Poseidon shifted then, pointing to the edge of the mosaic. With the butt of his trident he tapped the image of a merman larger than the rest, with the horns of a bull. He appeared to be riding a chariot pulled by crawfish, and instead of a sword he wielded a live serpent.
"That's him then?"
"Yep." Triton scowled, "He stayed out of the war last time from what I was taught but this time he's giving us some trouble."
"Yes." Poseidon nodded, "He was neutral in the first war of the gods and Titans. But Kronos has convinced him to fight this time. It's not a good sign. Oceanus would not commit unless he was sure he could pick the winning side."
Percy pressed her lips together, a heavy feeling in her gut. "You know I won't let him win right-"
"I have faith in you my daughter." Poseidon's expression softened, "Never doubt that."
Triton grinned, "Maybe we should take you to Oceanus, let you at him, you'll make him change his mind, you're stubborn enough-"
"No-" Poseidon gave Triton a warning look, "I don't trust you not to be serious about that."
"Well." Percy declared, eyeing the picture, "I bet I could take him. He looks stupid. I mean, who fights with a snake?"
"You're as bad as your brother." Poseidon's lips twitched, "You will not be going to challenge Oceanus by yourself or with Triton-"
"Damn it-" Triton gave a mock disappointed look, "I was looking forward to it. I guess we'll have to leave it all to you father."
"Daddy will tie it in knots," Tyson said firmly.
Poseidon smiled, but he looked weary. "I appreciate your faith. We have been at war almost a year now. My powers are taxed. And still he finds new forces to throw at me—
sea monsters so ancient I had forgotten about them."
There was an explosion in the distance. About half a mile away, a mountain of coral disintegrated under the weight of two giant creatures. Percy could dimly make out their shapes. One was a lobster. The other was a giant humanoid like a Cyclops, but he was surrounded by a flurry of limbs. At first Percy thought he wearing a bunch of giant octopi. Then I realized they were his own arms—a hundred flailing, fighting arms.
Percy lit up, grinning widely, "Briares!" she hadn't seen him since he'd left after the battle of camp.
Poseidon nodded, "He fights well. I wish we had a whole army like him. But he is the only one. Triton, son, as much as I know you likely wish to speak to Percy I need you to go and lead the front while I talk to her."
"Of course father." Triton gave Percy a small nod and a mock salute, "I'll see you soon Percy." and he was swimming off, leaving Percy and Tyson alone with their father.
Then Poseidon turned his gaze to Percy. "Now tell me of your mission? What happened my child? You escaped fairly unscathed it seems, and you managed to destroy the bulk of the invasion force, you've brought us all some time I think."
Percy hesitated before she let out a breath. "They were expecting us- They've been spying on camp- I know how and I'll deal with it when I get back but... we were ambushed but he didn't know the details so they didn't know our plan, I distracted the monsters for as long as I could, I gave Luke and Beckendorf time to set up the explosives before they were spotted. They managed to get off first and I followed close behind them, couldn't get far away from the explosion though."
"Persephone." Poseidon's voice was pointed, "What of father? Did you see him?"
