Hello Everyone and welcome to the New Year! And so the story must go one but first some results from the questions in the last chapter and explanations.
First, if I ask a question in the AN, it is because I really can't decided on what to do and is the only explicit time I write according to reader requests. I appreciate suggestions and ideas at any time though so that doesn't mean you can't let me know what you think.
Anyways, first off, this isn't a romance story so pairings won't have much building unless crucial to the story. Like Percy with Rhea/Hestia. That affects the story alot so I'll give chapters to build them up. If it is a harem member, I might just show up with them suddenly being together or a little exposition, just don't expect the whole courting and all. On that note, for Percy. He is going to be king with Rhea/Hestia as queens. It isn't Percy's harem but their harem (if someone wants to please the king, they need to please the queens too). It won't be big though but I will try to make it satisfying.
On that note: Thanks to overwhelming majority (35+ reviews and 50+ IM's) Thalia will be with Percy! It will take some maneuvering but I will give it my best to make it work!
Jason on the other hand, after some very well thought out opinions from my readers, wouldn't match a harem to his personality so officially: Jason with mystery goddess only!
Thank you to my readers and for your support! Love you all!
Disclaimer: Only plot is mine.
With Percy (Same Time to Thalia Leaving Hunt)
Percy quickly walked out of the shadows of a palm tree and back onto a familiar beach, the first rays of dawn coming over the horizon. He didn't stop to admire the view though as he walked directly towards the hulking figure looking out over the sea, his trusty club at his side. Percy walked up until he stood at Hercules' side, looking out over the sea as well before beginning.
"So … you made a choice?" he asked.
"Hmm," was Hercules' reply without looking at him. "What is your goal in the end?"
"Removing the Olympian council and generally fixing all the shit they screwed up … and making them suffer but that's a little more personal," he answered with a shrug.
"And you don't think you'll become the very same thing in a couple of centuries?" Hercules asked dubiously.
"Who knows," Percy replied with a shrug. "Maybe we might turn out better, maybe not. The best I can do is try and I certainly won't remain silent while the Olympians keep running this show and their enemies keep coming back just to mess everyone up again."
"Considering their mostly immortal and or don't have souls and reform anyways, you'll face the same problem," Hercules replied.
"Oh I wouldn't worry about that," Percy replied slyly while not mentioning the Law of Succession.
Chaos made it only for the eyes of the primordial originally and it could be risky letting it become common knowledge to other immortals or demigods. Last thing they needed was power-hungry gods and mortals alike challenging each other left and right for power and titles, luckily there were several safety measures in place meant just for that situation. For one, power and domains taken would remain mostly dormant until the successor gained approval from the governing bodies. In other words, a new primordial needed the approval of a protogenoi council to make a full claim, same with gods and titans though the protogenoi council supersedes all of them.
Hercules could technically duel him and challenge him for the right to become the heir of Night, but without Nyx's approval, Hercules would only gain a minor blessing's worth of power and control which Nyx could strip in a heartbeat. Two is that a challenge can be denied but then again, with the pride of gods, who would? Not to mention if someone was already in a death match than the law could be called in mid fight to raise the stakes. The only reason Percy himself had gained so much power when he defeated Gaea was that she didn't share her domain with anyone so there wasn't anyone to try and pry control from him or limit the power.
'Still … maybe later on he could earn the right to know as well,' Percy thought as he waited for Hercules to ask anything else. It took a few minutes but then Hercules snorted before asking, "So if I leave with you, what will you have me do?"
"Well, you are a powerful fighter but that wasn't my original goal," Percy answered while tucking his hands into his pockets. "I wanted you either out of the fight completely or on our side but not to fight for us."
"And why not?" Hercules asked with a raised eyebrow.
"I won't be starting this war for you so I don't expect you to put your life on the line for me," he answered with a shrug. "Personally I would have been happy fighting the entire thing alone."
"You have got to be kidding me?" Hercules said as he looked at Percy as if he was an idiot.
"Not really," Percy replied nonchalantly. "In terms of fighting skill I know the Olympians aren't a threat and with the power I'll gain soon, they won't be a threat even with their symbols of power … but a war fought by one man would undoubtedly take decades or even centuries. Too many innocent lives could be dragged into it and I know the Olympians will use every bit of threats, favors, and blackmail they have to get their forces up against me for a war that is only aimed at them. That's why I'm not even bothering to raise an army … just a few trusted friends is all I need."
"And if you won, what of the surviving demigods and minor gods?"
"Well obviously oaths to not betray or try to create chaos but otherwise they can be left alone. This war isn't on them so if they just want to live out their days in peace, then by all means," Percy replied while giving Hercules a small smile. "So … any more questions?"
Hercules looked at him intently for a few minutes before smirking slightly. "Only one … when the Hades are we getting out of here?"
Percy grinned before responding, "Not to offend you big guy but I will need an oath on Styx to not run off or betray me the moment you're free."
Hercules didn't even hesitate, probably expecting just that. With his oath done and the thunder signaling the sealing of it Percy cheered.
"Now that's what I wanted to hear!" Percy said while clapping Hercules on the shoulder before walking further down the beach.
He could hear Hercules follow behind him but at the moment he wasn't focused on him. Instead he spread his senses as far as he could around the island, looking for the focus point of the island's enchantment meant to keep Hercules here. Sure, the Olympians could erect barriers with their power but to contain strong immortals or gods it would require constantly fed power from the gods so they usually focused the barrier to a point with a rune of some kind connected to an alternate power source or domain. These runes were usually invisible and hard to reach but with his shadows, he could search and contact the rune.
It took him a few minutes but soon he found the rune, this one formed of constantly shifting wind a hundred or so meters above the center of the island. He grinned as he reached forward as if grasping a lock, his shadows mirroring his action as they contacted the winds forming the runes. Had it been night it would have been all too easy to break the rune but with the sun rising he had to generate the darkness rather than control what was available.
So with that he focused his shadows while his hand slowly closed. He could feel the rune resisting as if in his hand as his power faced off against the godly signature of several Olympians. 'I'm impressed it took this much to contain Hercules,' he thought as he brought his second hand up and grasped it as well. He started to flare his power to the point he was radiating darkness as the wind picked up around him and the sand below him was blown back. He actually felt a slight sweat form as he started to pry his hands apart, imagining his shadows doing the same to the rune.
The wind around the entire island picked up and the ground started to shake but he wasn't deterred as with a final roar, he ripped his hands apart. Following that he felt the rune break along with the sound of shattering glass ringing around the island.
"Damn," Percy sighed as he let his arms fall to his sides before taking a look around him. He scratched his neck sheepishly as he noticed that he was in a crater now and a good portion of the beach looked chewed up and was steaming slightly … odd considering some bits of sand and palm trees were froszen. "Note to self, practice flaring power and not destroying everything around me."
He then searched for Hercules and found him on his ass a few meters away with his hair all messed up and blown back along with frost on his beard. Percy had the decency to look sheepish before offering the famous hero a hand up. Once they were both up and Hercules fixed his face as best he could with his hand Percy looked around, feeling several godly signatures focusing on the island and moments away from arriving.
"Get ready to jump," he said.
"Wha—"
Hercules didn't get a chance to speak as they shadow traveled before any god could arrive. Percy could have sworn he caught Hercules nearly shriek in surprise but he didn't let the thought bother him for now as they soon arrived at their destination. They both materialized out of the shadows into Nyx's grand meeting room. It was basically a mini throne room in a U shape facing a large set of tables in the center so that everyone could speak. And the room was currently in use with most of the forces currently allied with Percy aside from those that may be summoned to Olympus with the current breakout of Hercules.
Several sets of eyes focused on them before widening comically as most recognized Hercules standing beside him. Hercules shuffled under the attention before glancing to Percy to see what he was supposed to do. Percy couldn't really answer him since at the moment he had a very angry ex-hunter to deal with. The moment his eyes locked with Thalia's, who was sitting beside Jason and Nico at the tables, Hades broke loose.
Thalia shot up while looking at him with a glare to rival Nyx (damn terrifying) before she rushed at him with a lightning coated fist. He knew dodging would not help him in the end so he maned up and took it. It stung like a bitch but he didn't say anything as several more fists followed until Thalia was panting while looking at him, the skin of her knuckles torn with possibly fractured or outright broken bones but she seemed to be ignoring it for now. He could taste the coppery tinge of blood in his mouth from having a split lip but he still smiled before speaking.
"Hey Thals," he said warmly, much to the incredulous looks or in the case of the protogenoi present, amusement.
Thalia didn't reply, instead just sniffing as her eyes got watery before she tackled him in a hug, her face buried in his chest. He kept his smile as he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her closer as his head rested on her head. He simply held onto her as she sobbed for a few minutes, letting her emotions after several years of burying them finally out. While she did that he did a quick headcount of who was present at the moment.
So far it was Nyx, Tartarus, Eros, Phanes, Hemera, Aether, Rhea, Andromeda, Leto, Phoebe, Jason, Nico, Mnemosyne, Damasen, Medusa, Lamia, and Styx. Some gods were missing like Hecate so he guessed that the Olympians had already called a council meeting to discuss the disappearance of two children of Zeus. 'Good headcount all things considered and besides, I'm pretty sure we have a few more to add later on,' he thought before pulling back from Thalia which required a little coaxing from him to get her to loosen her hold.
"Thals, come on," he whispered gently, too low for anyone else to hear.
All he got was a muffled response as she shook her head so he brought down his head lower to hear her better.
"What?"
"Do … ve me … ian …" she whispered in a soft voice.
He sighed a bit as he got a finger under her chin and softly tilted her up to look at her face, using his thumb to clear away her tears.
"Tell me again," he said softly looking into her electric blues eyes.
"Don't … don't leave me again … please," she said as she pulled closer again to hug him to her.
He smiled as she said that and returned the embrace.
"Of course," he said while rubbing her back before adding, "It was already hard enough to leave so many of my precious people behind so I'm not letting you go any time soon."
He felt her nod a little before she took a shaky breath and finally released him, her face clearing up as a small smile grace her face.
"Feeling better," he asked cheekily to which she lightly smacked his shoulder.
"Yeah," she replied while looking around for a moment before muttering, "Still hard to believe you have this many people behind you on this." She then looked at her godly half-brother. "Umm, hi."
"Hello," Hercules greeted after blinking a few times. "I'm Hercules and you?"
"Thalia Grace, daughter of Zeus," she replied though at the mention of Zeus it came out bitter.
"Oh, a sister, I see," Hercules said with an understanding nod before looking at Percy.
"Don't look at me, I don't run the show here," he said while pointing to Nyx.
She giggled in response before gesturing to the available seats, "Then why don't you get seated so we can get on with this meeting?"
The three nodded before moving towards the tables but stopped as Eros cleared his throat as he stood up with everyone's attention.
"I do believe some seating needs to change though, just to get them used to it."
"Seating?" Percy asked with a tilt of the head.
"Why, the seats of the new protogenoi council," Nyx cheered before waving her hand.
At that several thrones, seven in fact appeared. Two were directly beside Nyx, one between Eros and Phanes, Hemera and Aether, one beside Tartarus, and then the rest at the ends of the U, all plain.
"If you would," Aether said with a gesture to the thrones.
Percy smiled as he nodded and took one of the thrones beside Nyx, Rhea taking the other next to him. Andy was between Eros and Phanes while Jason mirrored her with Aether and Hemera. Styx and Phoebe took two of the remaining thrones much to the shock of some.
"Ah, what about the seventh?" Percy asked curiously but was then surprised to see Nico take it. "Wait, what!?" he asked in surprise since he hadn't been aware at all the Nico was to be an heir as well.
It was then that he noted Nico looked different, with swirls of red in his normally pitch black eyes, a slightly larger build, and a slightly darker than usual aura around him. It didn't take Percy long to guess who's blessings he had as he looked at Tartarus in a silent question.
Tartarus caught his look before simply saying, "We had a good talk earlier and he seemed up to the challenge."
"Well damn," Percy muttered as he settled in his seat before looking at the tables. "So … how are we starting this?" Before anyone could reply there was a flash in the center of the room making most have to look away.
When the glow died down everyone looked back to see a man, around 6 foot'2 with a very light build bordering on skinny but not quite. He had white hair with a grayish tone and small goatee, dressed in grey suite with small constellations on it. His gray-blue eyes were brimming with intelligence and wisdom thanks to millennia of experience, his aura commanding respect like only a primordial could.
"A, Ouranus, what a pleasant surprise," Nyx greeted as her younger brother smiled while nodding at her.
"A pleasure sister, though I do believe business comes first," he replied.
"Indeed," she agreed before Ouranus turned and looked straight at Thalia, making her squirm slightly under his gaze. "Ah, Thalia Grace, just the girl I was waiting for."
"M-me?" Thalia asked nervously while pointing at herself, her hands freshly healed by Leto when Thalia had sat down a moment ago.
"But of course, I need an heiress don't I?" he retorted to many surprised gasps while Thalia gapped like a fish. "Don't worry dear, we'll talk in detail later but for now, would you do me the honor allowing me to bless you?" he asked before adding, "And don't worry, unlike your brother you don't need to disown your father since his domains already align with my own so there is no risk of you spontaneously combusting from power overload."
"What about the blessing of Artemis?" Jason asked in concern. "Could that with her natural power already be a little much?"
"No since the blessing only gives skills and partial immortality, nothing in the terms of powers," Ouranus replied as Thalia numbly walked up to him before looking him in the face.
"Are you sure it should be me?" she asked as she searched his eyes but Ouranus simply returned a smile.
"You're far stronger than you think Thalia Grace and I know you'll make me proud as an heiress," he said, "Now, hold still."
Ouranus quickly tapped her on the shoulder, making her glow with her blessing for a moment before it died down. Not much changed aside from Thalia suddenly looking in her mid-twenties, her natural age, which meant that she filled out to it leaving her hunter apparel a little too tight. Nyx fixed that though with a snap of her eyes while removing the silver coloration. Percy appreciated the view for a few seconds before noting her eyes. They had deepened to a darker blue with a very light, almost grayish-blue tendrils of electricity passing within her irises and equally glowing pupils.
With her changes finished Ouranus nodded before waving his hand as two new thrones appeared so that he and Thalia could sit. Once everyone was settled Nyx cleared her throat to have the spotlight.
"Okay, now that we have eight seats set, I do believe we can progress with the plan," Nyx said as she turned to Percy. "You remember what I said before about the new council right?"
Percy nodded before facing the others and explaining. "Well, to begin with, most of you already know how the protogenoi have decided to move on and so find heirs to take over their places and form a new council. Nyx originally wanted me to wait until I had at least five seats ready for claiming so that the actual council could form before anything like war is declared. Now that we have eight, it is all a matter of having five claim their domains along with creating a center point to our rule."
"So what are the seats filled exactly?" Lamia asked while raising her hand adorably.
Nyx chuckled before answering, "Percy, heir of Night, Darkness, and Shadow. Andromeda, heiress of Love, Attraction, Desire, and Procreation. Rhea, heiress of Earth. Jason, heir of Light, Day, and Upper Atmosphere. Nico, heir of the Pit. Styx, a new primordial seat of Oaths and Hatred which will be instated with the formation of the council and make sure that even protogenoi will be held to any oath on her name or suffer the consequences. Phoebe, once a titan of Prophecy and now heiress of Anake and the domains of Inevitability, Compulsion, and Necessity. And now Thalia, heiress of Ouranus, the domain of Heavens or All Sky."
Nyx paused for a moment before continuing, "Mind you, these domains might not necessarily be the only ones. Until Phoebe makes her claim and takes her seat in the council, the full control of the domains and the extent of domains to each primordial won't be known. She will be the equivalent of the Fates to the new council."
They sat in silence for a moment as everyone digested the information before Nyx looked to Percy again. He nodded in understanding before clearing his throat and beginning to speak.
"So, though the seats are filled for now, it doesn't mean we are ready to move on. At the moment, aside from myself, Andromeda, Rhea, and Phoebe, the rest haven't even claimed their rights to being heirs yet and are certainly not ready to take over the domains. So until at least one more is ready to become a full primordial, we are going to bid out time and train."
"Jason, Nico, Thalia," Tartarus said in a deep and gravelly voice. "I know this is sudden for you three considering it has only been a few days but you need to prepare for the worst training of your lives. I will oversee it personally."
At his words the three mentioned shuddered, already having premonitions of what Tartarus' training would bring them.
"You'll be in my prayers," Percy said to them while wiping away a tear of sympathy.
All three flipped him the bird in response to many amused chuckles.
"Why are you all laughing?" Nyx suddenly asked before smirking deviously at them. "You've thrown your lot in with us and that means training for you too."
Percy was sure he caught several pathetic whimpers coming from the table as many looked at Nyx in horror.
"But I'm not even fighting," Leto protested.
"True but that doesn't mean I can't prepare you in case you need to defend yourself. The war won't be fought from here but on the surface so you need to be ready. You know the Olympians won't take kindly to you trying to stay neutral," Nyx replied seriously making many sober up.
"So," Damasen started as he leaned down slightly due to his immense size. "What is the plan moving forward?"
"Mostly to train but I will continue on the surface and try to see if there are any other gods that could be convinced to remain neutral. Monsters too now that I think about it … but I really don't like Echidna so that might not work out," Percy answered while rubbing his chin. "I've already got Atlas with us too so the plan for removing the Pillar of the Skies is already prepared."
"How'd you get Atlas!?" Hercules asked incredulously while others just stared at Percy.
He smirked before replying, "I made him a deal. Part of it is me taking the skies from him and then him doing one request for me."
"And after?" Leto asked curiously.
Percy glanced at Rhea who smiled back before he replied, "I'm still angered about how he caused his own daughter's death so there will be a price to pay. It won't be sending him to the Pit or anything but Rhea plans on having him make up for his errors while also taking him off the battlefields … unless he willingly joins on our side. Otherwise, he'll be in a form of house arrest without the actual punishment."
"So how do you plan on making him pay back for his crimes?" Phoebe asked this time.
"Don't worry sister, it will be a productive use of his many skills and talents," Rhea answered this time with a small smile.
"Okay, and how long do you think we have before the Olympians realize something is going on?" Medusa asked.
Before she could be answered another flash illuminated the middle of the room. With it appeared Hecate, dressed in a green chiton and shawl while her brilliantly green eyes glowed with annoyance as she huffed while glaring at Percy.
"What?" he asked after a few seconds of staring.
"You just had to make a show of freeing Hercules?" she asked while tapping her foot.
"It wasn't that bad, all I did was wreck the beach a bit," Percy replied sheepishly.
"Not that bad!?" Hercules chimed in as he looked at Percy as if he'd grown a second head. "You didn't just tear up the beach flaring your power, you made the whole damn island shake and created a storm."
"Whoops?" he said after a few seconds with a shrug.
"Whoops he says!" Hecate shouted while raising her arms in exasperation before looking at some of the others. "The lot of you have basically driven Olympus insane in just a few days."
"Do tell," Nyx said eagerly as she leaned forward.
"Let's recap," Hecate said as she snapped a chair into existence before sitting. "Olympus was already tense with Percy's disappearance and even the Hunt failing to find him. Then, three years ago, Artemis's adopted daughter which was actually a kidnapped Andromeda after Artemis murdered her mortal mother, was taken back by Rhea and Percy in his wolf form under the name 'Umbra'. Don't even forget how he killed her eldest huntress, Phoebe, which made Artemis even worse than before."
"She was her lover," Thalia said making everyone look at her in confusion. "Phoebe … turns out she was Artemis' lover so the death really hit her. The Hunt hasn't had any new members since and Artemis is mostly a shell of herself now."
"Huh, who knew?" Nyx muttered before looking at Hecate to continue.
"So, all of a sudden in the span of three days guess what? Jason finds out his girlfriend is cheating on him with Apollo and catches them in the act …"
"Damn Apollo," Percy and Jason growled at the same time before looking at each other.
"Whoever gets ahold of him first gets to end him," Jason suggested.
"Fair enough," Percy agreed before looking to an increasingly annoyed Hecate as she glared at him. "Ah sorry … please continue …"
Hecate huffed before doing just that. "So that led to a fight which ended with Jason beating Apollo up a little and then Andromeda intervening and actually knocking Apollo out with Mnemosyne clearing his memories along with Jason's ex. So that leads to a confused god thinking he got bested by a demigod that shouldn't be that powerful which, as you all know, Olympus does not like the thought of a demigod strong enough to fight on par with gods running around unsupervised. But, surprise, Jason and Nico disappeared leading to higher tension. Then, the unthinkable happens and Thalia quits the Hunt while telling Artemis off … by the way, very clever to throw out Artemis' relation with her deceased hunter out in open. Zeus caught that since he was listening in because you were badmouthing him and now he's grilling Artemis about it."
Hecate then paused before adding a glare to her look directed at Thalia, "However, saying, 'Umbra says hi' before you left not only sent Artemis into hysterics but also tipped the Olympians off that 'Umbra' is something to watch out for and now they have Lupa's pack on a search for this mystery wolf. Granted what they're most worried about now was the unfamiliar godly power they felt when Hercules was released and trust me when I say, that island was not the only thing shaking… Oh! And Camp Jupiter is going nuts without their Pontifus Maximus and there is even more drama with the actual Olympians themselves."
"Such as?" Hemera asked curiously while chewing on popcorn … since when did she have that?
"Well, with Apollo's recent affair and the fact that he doesn't seem to realize he is married now, Annabeth went off on his ass which meant that Athena was trying to skin Apollo as well. Then there was Zeus going between trying to hold Athena back while glaring at Artemis for finding a loophole in her maiden oath. Then there was Aphrodite crying her eyes out ever since she had a falling out with her daughter a day after the cheating incident which meant Ares was annoyed to Hades and back while trying to pick a fight with anybody. I swear, at this point just keep doing what you're doing and Olympus will implode before you can even think of declaring war," Hecate finished while slumping in her chair after getting everything off her chest.
Everyone sat in stunned silence after listening to all that, trying to simply imagine the havoc on Olympus at the moment. Percy would have laughed at some of the faces if he wasn't concerned for a particular goddess. He glanced at Rhea beside him and he saw that she was thinking along the same lines as him so he turned back to Hecate and asked, "What of Hestia?"
He got some odd looks but he ignored them as Hecate sat straighter before answering, "The same as she's been ever since your disappearance. Quiet, doesn't really even bother trying to stop arguments anymore. I hear she sometimes talks with Hades when he bothers to show up for meetings but otherwise she's just … there."
Percy frowned as he looked down at his lap. He felt Rhea take his hand and squeeze it for comfort but he still couldn't shake the feeling of wanting to see Hestia. If there was anyone who deserved to know what was going on and be taken away from Olympus and their misery, it was Hestia. He wanted to contact her so badly but then again, most of the hearths she goes to are in the camps or the main hearth and her palace. He could get to her easily but not unnoticed which would mean letting the Olympians officially know that a threat is rising.
He glanced at Rhea again, meeting her gaze as they had a silent conversation on the span of seconds before nodding. Perhaps they could openly declare war yet but it didn't mean they were going to wait that long to get Hestia with them.
"So, moving on …" Nyx continued after some silence, discussing in detail some of the movements and plans made for the future and who's roles would be where.
Percy tuned it out though, already knowing most of them as his thoughts strayed to warm, orange eyes and a smile capable of melting anyone's heart. 'I'm coming Hestia … just remember my promise …'
Oh, nearly done with the building chapters and close to the true beginning of the story! BTW, everyone's clear that there will be lemons right? Good but I'll put warnings otherwise.
Another question: Who should be the first Olympian to die because I can't decide how to properly kick off the war. Any Olympian save: Artemis, Zeus, Poseidon, is fair game.
Hope everyone enjoyed the chapter and hope to see you all next time! A pleasure.
