At first, I thought the comment was unappreciative but I quickly realized what you meant, and I am very glad that you reviewed the story, I now know that those few chapters had many flaws despite how good or bad they may have seemed.

I want to make it clear that there are two major Aztec myths, and I've chosen to write about a different myth from the old one, Quetzalcoatl is the twin of xolotl and the older brother of Huitzilopochtli while being the younger brother of the moon and the stars, though he is technically the father of xipe totec and Tezcatlipoca because in this story he created those two gods.

And I lied, actually I changed my plans, Zia's mother does appear in this chapter, but she isn't introduced and I only hint at what/who she could be.

All Rick Riordan's characters belong to him.

Let's start this story.

Deep in the Caribbean Sea a sunken raft and casket laid scattered around in the silt was the ashes of an old god, and scattered throughout the America's his ashes lay, on land in the sea, deep in the molten crust, or even out in space.

If you believed hard enough this god could be found anywhere, but the thing is, this god still lives, his heart still beats, and while it may not pump blood anymore it still beats, and it's still warm.

When this god died his heart became the planet Venus, or the morning star, this god still had enough power to answer a person's wishes, as long as they truly believed it was him, and this god also had a destiny to rise again and return to his people, that day was today.

And just like his last birth he was being brought into this world through the help of a mortal, and let's just say he had to get his consciousness awake if he wanted to get back to his people.

The next thing this god knew he was in an apartment laying in a crib, with his "twin" next to him.

The god jumped up and climbed out of his crib, his unfused bones making it very hard to move, but he managed to do it, and then thinking he was an idiot, became his serpent while using his domain of creation to create wings with a few of the things scattered around the room.

"Now, now Quetzalcoatl, you can't get away that easily." the newly named Quetzalcoatl was snatched up, the touch of his "mother" making him change back to a baby while forgetting about the wings he was trying to make.

"Oh uh. Hello mother, can I leave? I need to get back to my people."

"That depends, are you going to be able to make it there yourself, and is the other one actually mine or not?"

The god raised his eyebrows, "you aren't surprised that I'm here?"

"I prayed to you, I thought I'd see you eventually, and I've seen weirder."

"Like what?"

"Never mind, answer my question."

"I'll make it there myself yes, but I just ask that you tell the kid who her father is, I'll try to visit, though I don't know if my brothers will let me visit until I'm older."

"So, I'm being left, just like that?"

"Uh. yeah." the god admitted sheepishly.

"Kay, get out of here then."

"You're not upset?"

"Well, look at it this way, I'll be fine because no matter what your brothers say you WILL visit right?"

"Of c-course"

"Good answer, now get going, your gods need you after all these years"

Quetzalcoatl didn't question it and his lower body became a serpent but he stopped suddenly "Do you know her destiny?"

"Yes."

"You know you'll probably have to die or abandon the child for that destiny to come true?"

"Yes."

"You're a strong woman, good luck with your journey as a mother."

"As I said earlier get going, and I expect to be called mother when we meet again"

"Of course, mother, Goodbye" Quetzalcoatl put emphasis on the desired word, before becoming a full serpent again, and attaching the wings he created, he gave one low loving and thankful hiss before leaving out an open window, wondering why his new mother smelled like a bunch of old forgotten Greek gods, and how she knew of her daughter's destiny.

"Goodbye, try not to have it end like last time." but her call was never heard amongst the rushing wind.

XXX

[x]

XXX

It was night when he left, and it was now midday when he arrived, and since he was an immortal this time. he had gone from a foot long to three feet long with his feathers fully developed, though they were still quite small and still had to gain their multicolor green, blue, red, yellow, and purple.

When grown they would shimmer like a rainbow as he flew, his serpentine body flicking his tail with each flap of his wings, but while his feathers had grown his golden crown of horns had not even started yet, there were just small nubs where they would soon appear.

He also had not gained all of his powers yet, the lightning that would flicker in his eyes and around his body had not come yet, he would still have to wait for that, and he would have to wait for the wind and life control, they lagged behind the others since they aren't his direct domains.

However, his creation powers were already exceptional, the order and learning parts of his domains were more physical, he had to keep order with actions and he could only learn by reading and talking with others, so for now those were out of the question.

But he had landed, his muscles exhausted, his wings had nearly fallen apart on the way there, but he was lucky, he was just outside the border of the new Tenochtitlan, where the demigods that didn't want to fight lived along with the last few mortals who believed in the Aztec's and if he remembered correctly a few priests from the old days still lived after being kept alive since xolotl never collected their souls.

Quetzalcoatl shook his serpentine head, there are many predators that would eat him, both natural predators and mythical predators, specifically the black jaguars that hated him so much.

But none of these predators were the ones who got to him first, no a small hand closed around his neck gentle not to hurt him but firm enough to not allow him to turn around and bite the hand.

"Aren't you a beautiful one, I bet mommy will want to see you."

Quetzalcoatl mentally sighed and got prepared for a bumpy and unpleasant ride in this small girl's grip, but he didn't want to get away from her, he could sense his brother's blood that flowed through her veins.

And as if to confirm his suspicions the girl spoke "and daddy's visiting today, I can't wait for him to see you."

The girl with Quetzalcoatl in hand skipped off into the jungle and towards the new city, full of the innocence and joy only a child could have, sad to think she would likely die young, either too a monster or a fellow Aztec demigod who decided to challenge her.

The girl quickly reached the small village of Tenochtitlan and ran into the village, avoiding anyone on the street, and then the girl ran up to a house and flung open the door, then closed it behind her.

The door led to a kitchen and the girl ran past a table flinging Quetzalcoatl onto it where he curled up, not concerned with what was going on, besides after such a long flight he needed some rest, but he did keep an eye open, even he can't predict what might suddenly appear in his godly world, but he did leave an eye open, just in case, you never know what could appear in the godly worlds.

"Mommy." the girl called from around the corner

"Yes dear?"

"I've got something to show you."

"Hmm what is it?"

"It's a snake" from the girls tone she sounded like she was beaming with joy.

"Oh… didn't I tell you not to bring snakes in the house?"

"Yeah, but this one's special, it has feathers."

There was a moment of silence before a door opened and the immediate sound of feet running on tile echoed throughout the house, and for the third time within twenty-four hours Quetzalcoatl found himself in the grip of human hands.

"Your back, your back you feathered fuck, where've you been?"

"Language."

"Yes dear, now where have you been?" Quetzalcoatl had been snatched off the table and his eyes had trouble focusing, but he did recognize his brother's voice.

"As of late, I've been deep in the ocean, my ashes scattered while my heart was the morning star, aside from that it's been pretty uneventful."

"Gods dammit, I've only seen you for a few minutes and it's so good to have you back, everyone will be happy to see you."

"Everyone?" if Quetzalcoatl had eyebrows, they would be raised

"Okay, three quarters."

"totec you're still overestimating."

"one fifth?"

"Better."

"Uhm." totec glanced at the two other occupants "sorry you two, but I think we have to end this visit early."

"No, no" Quetzalcoatl's jaw unhinged slightly mimicking a yawn "I flew all the way from Manhattan, I need rest, and while I rest you can stay with your child, just wake me before we ascend to tlalocan"

"Thank you, my lord,"

"Oh dear, you don't need to call me that."

"Why?"

"Look back at my stories, I hope you find your answers there."

XXX

[x]

XXX

Many hours later Totec walked through the golden grain fields of tlalocan, with a slightly irritated Quetzalcoatl wrapped around his left arm, scattered amongst the golden fields were lakes, rivers, and waterfalls, all of varying sizes.

"I see the ahuitzotl are thriving."

"Yup, they were nearly extinct so Tlaloc brought them here, now he slowly releases them and as a result the demigods are stronger and often avoid the water, except Tlaloc's own son of course."

"Any other monsters that I should know about?"

"Why?"

"Please answer the question."

"No, not really, the demigods are fine as long as they stay inside the protection of the guards, but if they step out of the cities borders then a few monsters can start tracking them, and it should be noted that all monsters now have stable populations."

"troublesome."

"I guess, but it has made the people stronger through natural selection, the idiotic and arrogant ones have mostly been weeded out or have learned to accept the truth that they aren't the strongest things out there."

"Mostly?" the serpent questioned while storing the other information away for later.

"Well." the god sounded regretful "you know we gods can't stop having children, and the odd few have one or more bad traits, it usually gets them killed, but some do survive."

For a while the two brothers were silent, walking as the golden dome of the gods rose on the horizon, "who ah… who should I be expecting?"

"No many, everyone left, we are a fractured and weak pantheon, only me, and your brothers are left, toci rarely shows up and Tlaloc doesn't show up, and this is his land, after a loss of followers and gods Huitzilopochtli has had some major changes, and so has xolotl"

"Like?'

"They're both old and gray, a few centuries from fading, I looked in the bright side and after so long they got depressed your death hurt them, now they only call meetings to talk, the meeting doesn't even hold any significance anymore, nothing useful is discussed, just me trying to comfort them with the very rare help of toci."

"I see, what happened to your brother?"

"Tezcatlipoca was banished, mostly for indirectly killing you, Huitzilopochtli refuses to call him nephew, again we are a fractured pantheon and now a fractured family."

"Oh… that's upsetting"

"Indeed, but don't be disheartened, we're here, and don't worry about Tezcatlipoca, he may represent evil, but he tries to be good, family always finds their way back to each other, it's only a matter of where and when."

"Now go in father, find your seat, I've kept it around in case this would happen, but I need to light the braziers, I'll come in when the other gods appear."

Totec crouched so Quetzalcoatl could slither off his arm safely, before the little snake went into the domed building, the skylight casting light on his body and the surrounding ground.

Most of the building was made of precious metals with some jewels making the pillars while also being scattered around on the metal walls and floor.

The Aztec people never had any use for gold, crystal, diamonds and other jewels so instead the gods used it to make their place of gathering, golden walls and floors supported pillars made of crystal and diamond which in turn supported the small ring that formed a donut shaped platinum roof.

The building was mostly for display rather than showing the Aztec's wealth, it was just to impress the few gods that had visited their pantheon, but those days were in the past, the days when their religion was the main Mexica religion, now it's just a slow, cold and unforgiving path of fading as their followers slowly dwindle.

Quetzalcoatl sighed while his eyes drifted around the room, most of the old thrones he remembered were gone while a few remaining ones stayed, his was tucked away in the shadows, assumed to never be used again despite his prophesied return, its normal colorful appearance had turned ashen after so many years of being left to rot

The small god slithered up the golden lightning bolts that sprung out from his throne, connecting to the ground and some wilted vines that wrapped around the rest of his throne.

The god curled up on the throne and it lit up like a firework, shooting sparks in every direction, the vines perked up and regained their color while the golden lightning unfroze, returning to an electric blue as it started to dance around his body

A crest sprouted from the headrest making a golden crown and the rest of the throne grew his traditional multicolored feathers making it shimmer as the wind from above blew them, and Quetzalcoatl, he had never felt more alive, his eyes were glowing with power, he had immediately grown a few meters and his feathers had lengthened while his crown of horns had poked through his skin, the sharp points just barely sticking above his feathers

Small appendages, two on each side had appeared, they would soon become wing membrane that would stabilize him during flight so he wouldn't require powered flight, all he had to do was get in the air and glide, somewhat sadly none of his demigod children had inherited that gene.

After a few minutes of silence Totec led two old men into the room, neither looked even remotely close to their former selves.

Xolotl still had ashen skin, was still blind, still had a dog head, and his feet were still reversed, but his skin clung to his bones, xolotl always looked sickly and weak, but he never actually was, however now he actually looked the part, having to be held to stand up.

Huitzilopochtli on the other hand looked better than the other god though he was nowhere near his old healthy self, his skin just like xolotl hung to his bones, though he managed to still somehow look frightening, glaring around the room while leaning on his weapon that housed the spirit of Xiuhtecuhtli.

Toci had apparently also showed up as totec led xolotl to his throne toci appeared and led Huitzilopochtli to his throne in the middle, and the throne that faced the south

After Huitzilopochtli sat down toci walked over to the newly reactivated throne "I see our young serpent has shown himself once again."

"Who are you calling young? If I remember correctly Huitzilopochtli created you after he created the moon from our sister's head"

"You remember correctly" the goddess nodded "but now with the boost your throne gave you, you're equal to a five-year-old child, so I think I have every right to call you young."

"It is good to hear your voice again brother, just like it was in our youth, I had truly lost hope, but hearing you speak, it helps, I now have a real reason to fight against our sister" Huitzilopochtli didn't physically look any better but he did sit straighter in his throne.

"May I hold him?" Quetzalcoatl didn't move so Toci picked him up and set him in his brother's hands.

As xolotl ran his hands over Quetzalcoatl's feathers he smiled and if he could he would've cried "it's you, it really is, your back from the dead achcauhtli, you truly have and always will be the best of us."

Toci and Totec each had a smile, each knowing that neither god would fade now, not now that they reason to live and fight, it would take a few years but they would eventually become their old strong and powerful selves.

Huitzilopochtli like the others had a smile, and he stood up and spoke with a commanding yet soft and calm voice. "It's time I became king again, what do you say?"

"Tecihuitl" totec started and the others took up the word

"Then may we grow strong and powerful."

"Tecihuitl"

"May all the monsters, mortals, and gods bow before us and our children."

"Tecihuitl"

"And finally, may those who find themselves within the borders of the new Aztec empire be under our protection"

"Tecihuitl tlatoani Huitzilopochtli tlamacuilti yehuatlNami cemicac"

"This" the reinstated king spread his hands, "this is the beginning of a new age, an age that starts with the serpents return, and an age where we will regain our power, one where we won't fear coyolxauhqui and her army of my brother's, and finally one where our demigods won't fear the monsters and one where we will finally put my mother and the earth monster to rest."

The gods' cheer was underwhelming but their eyes and minds blazed with possibility and ambition, each knowing what their king said was true, and each overjoyed for any children they may have and their future ones.

"My council, this meeting is kept in secret, and we know of your daughter brother, she as of now is a guarded secret, informally and in secret she is your daughter, but in public she can be addressed as one of our children…."

"I understand brother."

"Thank you." The gods looked to the sky and watched the rising sun, as the moon and stars faded away, they each gave a glare of hate, and with one last look to the future the gods disbursed each staying in the golden hall, but each also going to do their own thing and maintain their domains.

After just one small event the Aztecs were rebuilding and would soon be powerful again, the only thing that stood in their way was gathering the rest of the council including Tezcatlipoca, but it could take years and it would likely be up to these gods' children to do so.

[x]

I have no excuse as to why this chapter is so delayed, however due to my ps4 being a piece of shit and due to it having to download an update I was thankfully able to grind out this chapter.

The part where they speak what I think is Nahuatl, was meant to say "hail king Huitzilopochtli may he live forever." and the earlier words were just "hail"

but since there are so many different translation sites out there it went pretty badly, if anyone reading this knows how to speak Nahuatl then please let me know the correct words in the reviews and I'll fix it.

Since the telling of the myth, I'm using varies I'm probably going to post a short author's note telling the myth and a few other things I think need to be addressed, expect the author's note to be deleted within a few hours.

I want to mention that the Aztec's reimagined Quetzalcoatl as mostly human, and two theories for this that I've heard about are either a very lost Viking, to even something as weird as Jesus. (I believe they mean that Quetzalcoatl left and became the son of the Christian god, which I personally feel is impossible)