Chapter 7: Planning a Vacation

~Olympian Throne Room~

Thalia POV

'Son of… Susano'o?' was the thought that echoed in my mind after Percy's display of power. And yes, I was extremely jealous of it, 'Could I learn to do that? Would he teach me?' I mused as the Gods still remained silent. Finally, my father reacted and reached for his Master Bolt and my eyes widened.

"The boy must die! He is an abomination to this Pantheon!" he roared and Artemis and Apollo sprang to Percy's side to protect him while Poseidon leapt up to stop Zeus. "You DARE raise your hand to my son?!" Artemis roared back and it was absolutely terrifying. I vaguely heard Aphrodite mutter something about how cute it was before my father exploded.

"You DARE defy YOUR KING AND FATHER?!" Zeus roared back and everyone flinched except Hestia who placed a calming hand on his shoulder. Zeus looked at her and his rage quelled slightly before he spoke again. "He is a threat to our Pantheon. How do we know he is not a spy for the Shinto?" Father asked and looked at everyone around.

Nobody had an answer for that, but I felt the need to protect him. Percy had been through too much and lost too much; he saved me and now it was my turn to save him. "He's not a threat, Father. He's loyal to Lady Artemis and Lord Apollo and the Hunt. He could also be a powerful friend," I said and everyone whipped around to look at me.

"It is possibly he inherited Poseidon's Fatal Flaw of Loyalty, making him incredibly loyal to those mentioned. Plus, if we kill him and Susano'o finds out, it could mean war with the Shinto Pantheon," Athena added wisely and I sent her a "thank you so much" look. It was Percy that finally spoke up and made my heart race.

"I am loyal to my true father, Susano'o. But I am also loyal to my mother, Uncle Apollo,and the Hunt. I have taken a liking to Lady Hestia and Lady Athena for their kindness. I feel deep regret for not being able to save Lord Hades' daughter… But if you feel you must kill me, then I will not prevent it. I can't avoid Fate. Take your vote," he said and I could tell Artemis' heart clenched along with mine.

"Very well. Who believes the boy should die?" Zeus asked and the hands went up. I glared at each one of them; Ares, Demeter, Hera, Zeus, and Dionysus. "And who believes he should live?" The other sevene Council members' hands raised and I shot a look of gratitude to all of them; Artemis, Apollo, Aphrodite, Hephaestus, Hermes, Athena, and Poseidon. Well, a look of "you didn't have a fucking choice" to Poseidon, but that hardly mattered.

"Very well. The boy will live so long as he swears loyalty to Olympus," Father said and I rolled my eyes again at him. "I swear on the River Styx that I will remain loyal to my mother, Lady Artemis, my uncle, Lord Apollo, and Lady Hestia and protect them and their interests with my life, should it be necessary, until the day I perish," Percy said and the thunder rumbled along with Zeus' growl.

"That's as good as an oath of loyalty you're going to get out of him, Father. Trust me, this one is stubborn," Apollo told him and Zeus begrudgingly accepted. The meeting adjourned shortly after and the Gods all flashed out except Artemis, Apollo, Hestia, and Poseidon. Poseidon looked at Percy unsure of what to say or do, but a glare from the remaining parties sent him packing before Annabeth and I too left.

Percy POV

My heart was hammering in my chest the entire meeting. 'First seeing all of them. Seeing Poseidon and having to face him. Revealing my secrets,' I thought as I struggled to get my breathing under control from my rage. Apollo came and put a hand on my shoulder along with Hestia and my breathing steadied and I flashed my uncle a weak but grateful smile.

"Why did you swear loyalty to me, young hero?" Hestia asked me and I shuffled my feet nervously and rubbed the back of my neck. "Well Lady Hestia… I think you're the most level headed Goddess in the entire Pantheon and maybe even ever," I told her and she smiled and shook her head. "And between you and me, you'd make a much better ruler than Gramps," I whispered and she laughed lightly making me smile again.

"You are an interesting one, Perseus Jackson. I'm going to be watching you even closer now," she said before she stepped into the Hearth and disappeared. I turned to my mother and quickly looked down. "Sorry Mom," I muttered and she just pulled me into a hug and kissed my forehead. "It was going to happen sooner or later. I'm proud of you for facing them and him" she told me and the tears pricked my eyes again.

"I love you, Mom," I mumbled into her chest and I felt her smile against the top of my head. "I love you too." "Come. Let's get back to camp. We have to inform your sisters," she said finally and I wiped my eyes and nodded. We disappeared in a flash of silver light and reappeared at camp.

I clutched the Hades figurine in my pocket and turned to my mother. "I… I need to go see Nico," I said and she nodded to me solemnly. I made my way over to the Hermes Cabin and knocked on the door. One of the twins answered, I think Stoll was the name. "I-Is Nico awake?" I asked and he nodded and went to get him for me.

I took a deep breath and Nico came out a moment later. "Hey Percy!" he said super energetically and started rattling off questions about the quest so fast that it made my head spin. "Nico. I need you to be quiet for a moment," I said and he quieted down, but one look in my eyes told him everything he needed to know.

I handed him the statue and swallowed thickly. "S-She wanted me… to give this to you… A-And to tell you she was sorry and s-she'll always love you," I managed to get out as the tears gathered in my eyes. "Y-You said… you said you'd protect her," Nico whispered and the tears started to fall. Nico stepped forward in anger and punched me right in the nose, sending me backwards to fall on my ass.

"YOU SAID YOU'D KEEP HER SAFE!" he yelled and was shaking with anger and sorrow. "It's your fault," he spat as his own tears blurred his vision. I knew my nose was broken, but I didn't care; I deserved it after all. I stood up and looked at Nico. "I'm sorry, Nico. I said I would protect her and I failed. She was my sister too… Even if you hate me, I-I'll continue to look out for you… Bianca w-would've wanted me to," I whispered, my head drifting toward the ground with every word.

"J-Just… leave me alone you… you monster," Nico said and slammed the door in my face. For the second time in a few hours, I felt numb again. I didn't register what was happening as I walked back to Cabin Eight and opened the door. All of my sisters were asleep; all but one.

"Percy?" Phoebe whispered and I looked up to meet her eyes. She had tears gathering in hers as my own fell down my face. She quickly got up and pulled me into an embrace onto the bed. We quietly sobbed for all we were worth that night in each other's arms. The quest was too much and I cried myself to sleep, praying for a dreamless one. I had no such luck.

~Dream Sequence~

I woke up in the eye of the storm again as I always did whenever my father visited me. "Son," he said and I turned around slowly. I knelt before him and spoke. "Father. To what do I owe the pleasure?" I asked and he sighed, pulling me to my feet. He placed his hands on my shoulders which was more affection that he ever shows, even if it was brief.

"I saw. I'm sorry for your losses, but you cannot lose yourself to grief," he said and I hung my head and sighed as well. "I know, but it hurts so much,"I whispered and felt his eyes on me. "You were weak, hiding your powers. I have an offer for you," he said and my head snapped up before I narrowed my eyes.

"What do you mean?" I asked back. He tucked his hands behind his back and began to pace. "Return to Japan. I can train you further and reconnect you with your heritage. Introduce you to your rightful kind," he said and my eyes grew to the size of dinner plates.

"R-Really?" I asked and he nodded. "How long?" I asked him. "However long until you are ready. My guess, it would be about a year," he said and it furrowed my eyebrows in thought. 'Could I really be away from home for a year?' I thought to myself.

"Okay. I'll do it," I told him and his eyes shined with pride. "How am I to get there?" I asked him and he smirked which made me a little uneasy. "Part of your training is getting there on your own. When you arrive, go to the Susa Shrine in the Shimane Prefecture," he said and I started to regain consciousness.

"Goodbye, Son. Good luck on your journey," was the last thing I heard before I woke up.

~Dream Sequence End~

3rd Person POV

Percy woke up in the bed alone and assumed Phoebe had gotten up earlier. He decided to shower and change clothes while trying to figure out how he was going to tell his mother and Phoebe about his trip. He brushed his teeth and went to breakfast like they normally do at camp, but today was to be the day they would leave camp and resume hunting.

"Mom? Can I talk to you and Phoebe?" Percy asked after breakfast and they nodded but looked worried. "I had a dream about my father… he wants me to go to Japan and train," Percy said and their eyes widened. "Absolutely not!" Artemis snapped right away.

"Mom," Percy began but Artemis cut him off. "I will not have my son traveling alone to another Pantheon's land where I cannot protect him," she answered and Percy was irritated. "Mom. I am a part of that Pantheon too. Truthfully, if Poseidon didn't do what he did, I never would have been a part of the Greek Pantheon," Percy replied and Artemis looked hurt.

Percy hugged her quickly and whispered, "What I mean is that they are just as much a part of me as you are and I am forever grateful for what you have done for me, Mom. And I love you… but I need to go get stronger so I don't lose anyone again."

Percy let go of his mother and Phoebe gave him a huge smile and a hug. "You better be careful out there, Little Brother. Make sure you come back to us," she said and Percy gave a watery smile in return. Phoebe promptly left to go help manage the Hunt and left the mother and son alone.

"You're really going to go?" Artemis asked and Percy nodded. Artemis let out a hefty sigh and pulled him into a hug. "If you ever need any help, just pray to me and I will do all I can. I love you and I'm so proud of you," she said and a few tears fell from Percy's eyes again. "I love you too, Mom" Percy said in reply and got a kiss on the forehead.

"You really joined, huh?" Percy asked Thalia who was now decked out in the silver garb of his sisters. A small part of him hurt to see her with them, but he dismissed it just as quickly. "Yeah," she said sheepishly and shuffled her feet. "I-I didn't think I could handle the pressures of being the prophecy child," she said softly and her eyes conveyed the message. 'I'm sorry,' was that look.

"Well, that's very brave of you to know your limits and admit to them. Though it does worry me that Steven is now in line," Percy said and the two shuddered together. Percy then pulled her into a tight hug and with fiery cheeks, placed a kiss on her forehead. "Welcome, sister," he whispered and Thalia was fire red too. Her heart leapt for joy at the warmth of his lips on her forehead and then pained at the mention of "sister". "Stay safe," she said with a smile and that was that.

Percy waved goodbye to his sisters as they disappeared over the hill to resume their hunting and went back to the cabin to pack his things. 30 minutes later found the male hunter at the top of the hill as well, looking back down at the camp. He took one look into the locket on his neck and up to the sky where he knew the Huntress constellation was.

"Here we go, Zo. Wish me luck," he whispered and disappeared from the Greek world. At least, for now.

AN: Chapter 7! Super short, but just a set up. Until next time!