Chapter 2: Unexpected Ally
Percy was getting exhausted. Trying to stay close to the River Styx to keep him and Hestia going toward the swamp area where he once traversed through but only with the help of following a cannibal cheerleader monster, a friendly giant, and stumbling into the Realm of Night. But the cursed realm was once again taxing on his breathing and skin as blisters formed. The pit also influencing the Goddess of the Hearth.
It felt like they have been traveling for years with only the waters of Styx to heal and sustain them. Fighting onslaughts of random appearances of monsters, giants, and titans that wished them dead. Though it gave plenty of experience for Percy to familiarize himself with Backbiter and be able to effectively use both the sword and scythe forms.
But now Hestia was on the verge of collapse as Percy tried to carry her with what little strength, he had in his body now. His vision blurry, Percy tried to reach the waters of Styx again but was too weak to reach it. Only allowing himself to cover his goddess as he let himself take a short nap to regain his strength. Letting his warrior instincts sense if danger was nearing them.
A few minutes later, Percy heard something slithering across the rocks of the pit coming towards them. Was it a Basilisk? A Scythian Dracanae? Or worse… the former jailer of Tartarus, Kampe, messing with Percy by using her draconic tail to hide the stomping of her draconic legs that could squash a dozen demigods.
However, he sensed that this monster had no ill-intentions towards them which is quite odd for it being Tartarus of all places. He was still too weak to lift his eyelids to get a look at whatever was coming near them. Percy then heard water being picked up in hands as he felt it touch his dry lips as he accepted the drink of whoever gave it to him which slowly began to rejuvenate him.
His answer came when he heard a familiar voice once she went back to get more water from the River Styx. "Could you please let the goddess up from your protective care. I mean you no harm and wish to help you and the most benevolent of the Olympians."
Percy's voice cracks as he picks Hestia up so their savior can rejuvenate her too. "M-M-Medusa?"
"Sshh. You and your goddess should recover your strength. I have been watching you for some time, young demigod." Medusa says as she gives Hestia her water.
Feeling more rejuvenated, Percy can open his eyes more to see their unexpected savior. He is shocked to see Medusa's true form as the bottom half of her body was that of a snake with golden scales while the upper part was darkened by the soot of Tartarus and a barbed rattler at the end of her tail. Her sharp brass nails were covered by Stygian Iron gauntlets that reached up near her elbows that matched well with her Stygian Iron bow and breastplate with gold highlights. Her upper half stayed humanlike except for having light reptilian skin and having a nest of darkened green snakes for her hair. Her eyes were covered by an iron headband that went over her eyes.(A/N: Think Medusa from Clash of the Titans 2010 with a Fate Medusa Avenger blindfold, breastplate, and skirt when in human form)
Percy was surprised to say the least that he just could not help but ask the youngest of the gorgon sisters. "Why? Why did you save us? You could have joined the fight during the Titans or the Giants War like the Minotaur and other monsters that revived did. Why did you stay down here?"
She gave a faint smile from her beautiful lips as she shared her tale. "I was a bit angry when you had slain me with the help of that satyr and daughter of Athena. Yet I had a feeling that you would come to understand at how petty the gods could be once you fulfilled the Great Prophecies that would stop Kronos and Gaea. The monsters are also privy to prophecies due to Python.
When I told Kronos that I would not fight his wars for him, he banished me down here while I had just revived both body and soul once again in the mortal realm. A living monster cannot revive to the mortal world when they are already inside Tartarus, so I was trapped here for eons as I fought for my survival. How fitting that you now wield the weapon of that demigod that became the Titan of Time's vessel." Medusa complimented to Percy wielding Backbiter before she continues her story.
"As I fought with tail, fang, claw, and arrow, I heard the stories at how you had defeated Kronos and fulfilled the first Great Prophecy. Then the primordial of earth had decided to revive her Giant children to overthrow the Olympians while the gods manipulated their demigod children from both Greek and Roman sides that had always remained separate. Only to reunite to fulfill the Prophecy of Seven to put Gaea to rest for all time. It was no surprise that you and that daughter of Athena were also counted as one of the Seven. I watched from a distance as you fell with Arachne into Tartarus as you then killed her and traversed with that girl to the Doors of Death.
I could have killed you and escaped through those doors before you and the others closed it, but I decided not to. I instead helped you from the sidelines by taking out the monsters that were trying to stop you from shutting the Doors of Death. You are certainly your father's son, in the right ways. But you are better than him in my opinion and the opinion of Lady Styx and Lady Hestia who has certainly taken a shine to you, mortal. Tell me, why do you keep going after going through so much that would break even most demigods?" Medusa asked. Wanting to hear Percy's response.
"I do it to honor the memory of those whom I called true friends and allies that didn't make it after the Titan War or the Giant War. Also because of my mom. I was lucky that my mother was brought back to life after my first quest that you were a part of, and she could later find someone better to care for her than that drunken slob that she stayed by to protect me when I was younger. I do not give up because my mother would never give up on me and I want to make her proud by keeping her and my new sister safe from the manipulations of Olympus." Percy told Medusa.
Medusa was quiet for a moment before her blindfolded face looked at the Son of the Sea with a small smile. "I wish I had that kind of resolve so that I could have avoided or better pushed through some of the hardships I went through before and after I became a monster."
"What do you mean?" Percy asked.
"Surely you know of my tragic tale. How I, a former lover of Poseidon and priestess of Athena, was changed into a monster more terrifying than my sisters. In truth, I did love your father, but he wanted to push our relationship too quickly than I felt ready for. So in a way, I was raped in the temple of my patron goddess that was jealous of my beauty and growing popularity among the denizens.
My curse that petrified any who would dare look at my gaze had me choose exile with my sisters who were not affected by my gaze. We were secluded on our island while mortals and who wished to claim fame wished to claim my head for its power. I only fought in self-defense while Euryale and Stheno were too shortsighted to not give into bloodlust. Their actions painted me too as a more terrifying monster."
Percy was captivated at hearing the gorgon's point of view and felt bad that he chopped off her head. Hestia stayed quiet as she watched things play out, with the help of her serenity aura, before she gathered enough power to generate food for their unexpected ally and maybe future companion. He bowed his head to Medusa before giving his apology.
"I am sorry for chopping your head off back then. But I must thank your petrifying stare for getting rid of the scum that hurt me and my mother while I was growing up. Why haven't you been able to turn your cursed power on and off after all this time?" Percy asked curiously.
"I tried to regain Athena's favor and forgiveness, but she is as stubborn and petty as Zeus that she sent the hero of your namesake to take my head for his selfish quest while the Goddess of Wisdom now uses the image of my decapitated face to embroider her image among mortals and immortals. After I had reformed centuries later, I asked my parents, Poseidon, and some of the other gods for help. My mother and father thought my change was an improvement of my 'hideous' human appearance.
I can understand that Hestia was not as bold as she is now to confront her younger siblings that she was made the peacekeeper of the family that many seemed to ignore most of the time. Your father only helped me by sparing my children Pegasus and Chrysaor while my winged-stallion gave birth to the pegasi race. Artemis and her hunters saw me as target practice as they had several gorgon hunts that had me and my sisters go through several reformations before I just had enough and went into hiding in the mortal realm where I put down my weapons and past the time in creating 'realistic' sculptures to pay for my lease on life. Alone." Medusa summarized for Percy.
"…Maybe I could help you." Percy offered.
Medusa was surprised to hear Percy say that, but her little hope was squashed at having to live with her curse for thousands of years.
"How? What power do you have to stop this curse that is powered by a hardened hypocrite!?" she asked as her tail rattled in irritation.
Percy then realized that this must be the first time in history that Medusa has been offered help by someone. A demigod no less. He then did the unexpected to prove that Percy was serious in his claim to help the fallen child of the titans.
"I swear upon the River Styx that I mean what I say that I will help you in not having to petrify every living thing comes across your gaze." Thunder boomed within the prison as the waters beside them brightened for a short moment to show that his oath was accepted.
Surprisingly, Hestia spoke up again after having a large picnic basket filled with food to be eaten later as she summons a fire pit near them. "I too wish to help you in alleviating the curse my niece had put on you. But instead of on Lady Styx's river I would rather we maintain and preserve this oath around my hearth. For in ancient days, families and ambassadors would make their important oaths by my hearth. In doing so, you would be effectively joining our group and family that will be reshaping the world of gods and mortals in our quest."
Percy and Medusa our stunned by Hestia's proclamation. Having been traveling with Hestia for a while, Percy had gotten to know the petite goddess more and was surprised when he eavesdropped on a discussion between Lady Styx and her that she could now be in a relationship with someone after keeping her Vow of Virtue for so long. Yet, Hestia was very hesitant as she admitted to Styx that still had nightmares of Kronos eating her and her siblings and taunting her that she would never escape. Percy was able to comfort her and if she wanted to be in a relationship that they would take it slow as Hestia confessed that she was growing to love Percy.
They would only have little hugs and cuddles here and there while they traveled to the Mansion of Night that was in the swamps of Tartarus. Not ready to take the next steps until they were out of Tartarus and Percy will get over Annabeth. Now they were adding Medusa into the mix.
"Are you sure, Hestia?" Percy worried.
"Yes. I may no longer hold a seat among the Olympians, but I still have my jurisdictions when it comes to hearth and bonds. And now I get the chance of experiencing true motherhood thanks to Styx giving me her blessing to be in a relationship with you. With another joining as well." That last part had Percy and Medusa flabbergasted as the demigod was not used to the idea of a multi-relationship that Hestia was discreetly hinting.
Tears were falling under the gorgon's blindfold as she was moved that these two would make such strong oaths to help her when she had given up hope. Now she had a chance and an opportunity to be free from her burden and be in a relationship with someone that will not abandon her so easily. Plus she was not against the idea of a plural relationship with the Son of the Sea and the Daughter of the Hearth. She grew up in ancient times when such relationships with royals and deities were of the norm.
Wiping the tears of her Caucasian skin, she gives the two a hug with her clawed hands and tail as she accepted the oath as the fires in the hearth grew brighter and hotter. After finalizing things, they had a picnic with each other as Medusa got to know Percy and Hestia a bit more while they ate. Once they had eaten their fill, Percy led them on as they reached the delta of the River Styx where it conjoined with the other rivers to form the swampland and entrance to the Mansion of Night where Hestia had a sneaking suspicion on who would be their next ally.
After crossing the river, the land grew dark as they crossed into the Realm of Night as they soon were staring at the foreboding Victorian style palace that had eerie light in one window. The mansion had its black gates slowly open wide as the entrance of the mansion was opened by a cloaked figure holding a lantern that glowed what seemed to be a galaxy. Removing her hood, Percy recognized the Night herself as she let her space nebula hair shimmer in the darkness that showed her mischievous little light quasar eyes.
"Welcome, I have been expecting you." Lady Nyx spoke as she let out a terrifying giggle at the end.
"W-W-Who told you?" Percy never got over how scary Nyx can be despite her proud and gullible her personality was. With even Hestia hiding behind Percy with Medusa showing off her Imperial Gold wings that surrounded them protectively.
"Tee Hee! You sillies, one of my children are the Fates that have something special planned for the three of you. Plus, Styxie told me of your deal to humiliate my grandnieces and grandnephews. It will be a spectacle to see once you gain the power needed to topple the tower since Hera is struggling currently to keep the Hearth of Olympus steady and aflame. Oh, but I am getting ahead of myself. Come in, There is much to do!" Nyx turned around as she let her shadows grab hold of Percy and them as they were glided inside the mansion with the doors slamming behind them.
Inside Mansion of Night
Percy, Hestia, and Medusa were brought into what seemed to be a study room that had dark books on carved African blackwood shelves with silver décor. The fireplace in the room gave off a menacing silver white that sometimes-let random colors spark here and there which nerved Hestia greatly. They were seated onto a leather couch that had monster foot legs on each end as Nyx walked on over to sit in a single chair that had a small table next to it that had a dog whistle and a glass containing jellybeans.
Nyx took several jellybeans to chew in front of the trio of misfits. No one made a sound as they listened to the nerve-wracking chewing of Nyx before she finished her snack and spoke to them. "Well? Is there something you wish to ask your divine ally?"
Percy looked to his companions before looking back at Nyx. "I am sorry if this may seem sudden, but what in Hades is going on?! I thought Hades or one of his agents would be meeting us near your mansion, but you are helping us? I thought you'd rather see me dead after the last time we met?" Percy blurted out.
The darkness intensified in the room as Nyx's eyes took on a darker orange color that looked like two stars had died and was about to form black holes in the center of them. "Please refrain from raising your voice in my house, boy! I am still mad at how you and that Wise Girl had the nerve to pull an Odysseus off me! Then you both ran towards the Doors of Death while not even letting me have a good family picture by having my children squabble with one another!"
Medusa and Hestia were bewildered at not hearing this part of the story from Percy who looked scared and ashamed of being reminded of that. Nyx reached for her whistle as she blew for it. Summoning her shadowy children of Cerberus, the hellhounds.(A/N: I was quite surprised to learn in RiordanWiki that the watchdog of the Underworld had kids with a primordial like Nyx) Only one giant black dog showed as it leapt from the shadows near Percy and pounced on him. Causing the couch and its occupants to topple over.
But to the shock of the trio, the giant mastiff looking breed licked Percy's face many times before sniffing the two females and giving a playful loud bark. Percy immediate knew that this was the former companion of Daedalus and his new pet he had not seen in a while, Mrs. O'Leary. Mrs. O'Leary then playfully kissed the Goddess of the Hearth, and the youngest Gorgon before Percy ordered his dog off them.
Nyx's mood did a 180 as her eyes shined white again as she giggled at that prank, she pulled on them. The darkened whistle left her lips as she used her shadows to take Percy's new pen weapon to enchant the two. After watching them push the dog off them, lifting the couch, and wipe the drool of their faces they looked at Nyx.
"My child has taken a great shining to you after she was trained by that old inventor. I know that you had to play your parts in taking down my 'dirty' sister. But that brat of Athena did a big no-no in dumping you and bagging the golden boy in becoming new gods. Now I can, what is the mortal saying, 'kill two birds with one stone'. But first I need to give you back your tools that have now been enchanted to return to your person." Nyx handed the whistle and pen to Percy, before looking at the pen intently before returning her eyes to her guests.
"Now then. It may surprise you that now there is a new prophecy involving you all. But that comes later, first, we need to summon the last of your fellowship before you head on your journey to another realm." Nyx informs them.
Percy is confused as he looks at Nyx while after feeling his new pen and whistle in his left pocket his hand is petting the red-eyed hellhound with Hestia and Medusa petting her too to calm themselves and get used to Percy's dog.
"What do you mean summon our last companion? And another realm? I thought we would be out of Tartarus and slowly getting more allies in the mortal world before going to against Olympus and the camps of demigods." Percy voiced on what the plan he made up was.
"Come now, Son of the Sea. Do you not recall the notes my granddaughter, the Goddess of Mists and Crossroads, bestowed to you. Follow her instructions by using your horn trophy as the catalyst." Nyx instructs to Percy.
Percy slapped himself in the head at forgetting Hecate's notes after he had used his half-sister's notes to improve on his water abilities and unlocked the ability to better use ice by changing water into ice and vice versa. Quickly, he pulls out the note as he rereads Hecate's instructions. Getting Lady Nyx's permission to create a summoning circle within the room as he places his Minotaur's horn in the center and lets some of his blood spill and begins chanting.
"Heed my words, My will creates your body, And your sword creates my destiny. If you heed the Grail's call, And obey my will and reason, Then answer my summoning! I hereby swear, That I shall be all the good in the world, That I shall defeat . . . all evil in the world! Then let thine eyes be clouded, With the fog of turmoil and chaos, Thou, who art trapped in a cage of madness, And I, the summoner, who holds thy chains! Seventh heaven clad, And the great words of power, Come forth from the circle of bindings, Guardian of Scales!" (A/N: Fate/Zero summoning with Berserker text)
Once he finished chanting, a light engulfed the room as the circle with bloody runes and drawing had vanished. In its placed stood 9ft9in tall humanoid that with messy yet beautiful white mane of hair. Having a bulky tanned torso littered with scars from countless battles as well as a long red loincloth with an iron belt/corset. His human arms and legs had iron bands while balls and chains attached to each leg. He wielded two long axes that had a straight edge to them, but his most striking features were on his head. Having two curving bull horns that protruded from his head and pointed upwards and wearing an iron mask that looked like a bull's face with a gold nose ring.(A/N: FGO Berserker Asterios 1st form)
The tall figure turned his masked face towards Percy before it speaks in a slow booming voice. "…Servant…Berserker. Are…you…Master?"
