THIS AN IS VERY IMPORTANT!
Hey all! Before I get into my review responses, I just wanted to update y'all on something! I am back in college now! I've come to have an…epiphany of sorts. As many of you have probably noticed, since March of this year, my writing style/wordplay has begun to change for the worse. It became a tad bit sloppy, simplistic, and not as enjoyable as I feel like it was before.
There's my first excuse out of the way. Onto the second one:
I've been writing a novel! Yes I know, shocking. Imagine a fanfic writer who can barely finish his stories writing a full ass novel.
It's at about 10k or so words, so it is nowhere near finished. I don't know if it will be good enough to publish...like ever, but I wanted to try my hand at writing an original story for once.
Maybe, if it doesn't get published, I'll upload it to Amazon or something lol. (And no I won't give any spoilers or any info about it until I'm ready to)
After a bit of thinking, I've realized something. Outside of school, classes, and clubs: there isn't anything that is constantly challenging me mentally. I came to the, most likely correct, conclusion that my writing is best done when I am at school. Therefore, while my chapters will take a bit longer to complete and upload, I believe the quality of them will be increased tenfold.
Now, my favorite part of the AN: REVIEWS!
SpartanBoi: *wink*
Sandford9687: I answered this concern before in recent ANs, but I wanted to answer it once again. My summary never said that Percy would be taking EVERY immortal down a peg. It does say that it is what he does well, and if you have seen all of the Marvel movies, you will have a general idea of which immortals it will be. Like I've said multiple times before, the idea of the Fates being avoidable and beatable, in both a logical and a personal viewpoint, is bullshit. As someone who has written a few stories about Percy overruling the Fates' power, I will tell you right now: it is boring, predictable, and foolish(and kinda cringe) to make an MC that can go against the Fates. It removes future possibilities for character development, story progression, and tension/drama. I still cringe at my Guardian of Olympus story to the point where I keep debating on deleting it. Edit:I've deleted it.
victorsan12345: I love writing, but I also have a healthy respect for key scenes that were vital to the Marvel movies. There is much that I am very willing to change and experiment with, but scenes like the Phase 2 weapons, the Loki discussions, and the first city fighting scene are some of the few that I will always refuse to change. Those scenes are far too important to the series to change. In regards to the Fates, which I've noticed is pretty much the only thing many people wanna comment about, I am well aware of how heavy handed it looks. But I would like to ask you a question: which story are you more likely to enjoy and come back to: a story by an author that keeps his hand close to his chest? Or an author who explains everything about a situation right away in a matter of fact manner? Maybe it is just me, but I prefer stories that leave you wondering about the future chapters. In time, the reasons for my story choices will come to light. Until then, I hope you can hang around until that moment arises. Thank you for always reviewing and reading my stories 3
Chimera628: whew. I always forget just how many reviews you write! It is readers like you that challenge me to make my stories even better! Ok. So in order: 1: I already explained about the Fates in past ANs. 2: the arrow will be explained in time. 3: most soldiers at the age of 19 don't look like they've fought two wars for seven years. 4: Percy has grown exponentially in his power levels. 5: Percy has tapped into his magical power, but nowhere near enough to completely utilize it. 6: he still has the powers from his Father. 7: Percy's mortal family is still alive, they will appear later on. 8: most of Percy's new powers are passive, except for the first time he calls upon a power from his Heroes and Heroic Death domains. 9: the future tense wasn't meaning he had access to all of them now, but that he would in the future. 10: I can't answer this one right now, but it will be explained in time.
Alexvsjsn: thank you very much! I hope I can continue to entertain you with my stories!
thunderofdeath97: I haven't decided on whether there will be a pairing or not. Also, maybe I am wrong, but I didn't think that Thor knew he was part Frost Giant at this time. Please let me know if I am wrong.
Alexvsjsn: aw thanks Alex! I hope I can continue entertaining you!
Halojones06: you know, I might just go back and add that haha.
Please enjoy the 7th chapter of Mortal Reminders!
Palace of Perseus Jackson, Loki's cell
The groan of the celestial bronze cell door sliding open echoed throughout the lower halls as the God of Tragedy stepped into his prison cell.
"Comfortable?" Percy asked, glancing around him, checking and double checking the security runes along the walls of Loki's cell. "You should be thankful that I was considerate enough to give you the best cell on Olympus."
The green-eyed immortal didn't respond to his captor, continuing his staring contest with the ceiling, throwing a weakly conjured ball of magic in the air and catching it on the way down.
The silence lasted for what felt like an eternity, as the initial tension in the air began to dissipate. Percy sighed in slight exasperation, wanting to be anywhere but here right now.
"Have you decided on your answer?" Percy finally asked.
"Playing the fool doesn't suit you anymore, it seems."
"Immortality changes everyone. You know that already though."
Loki smirked, snatching the ball out of the air abruptly and standing up from his cot. Loki gracefully made his way more towards the center of the room, planting himself about ten feet away from Percy. "What could you even say to convince me that you, of all the beings in this universe, could stop Thanos?"
Percy stared at the God of Mischief, barely preventing his eye from twitching in frustration. He had a chance here, a small one, but was it worth the gamble?
Percy thought back on all that had been taught to him about the Norse Pantheon. Loki was known to be a wordsmith and a trickster, though he rarely outright betrayed someone he worked with(other than Thor). He was a chaotic neutral force, only looking out for himself and, very rarely, Thor. Whatever side provided him the most.
"I know his goals, his weaknesses, and his strengths," He took a large step forward, causing Loki to back up against the wall, his chains clanking against the cool metal behind him. He was now trapped between a frustrated Greek God and a celestial bronze wall. "I know his moves, his ideas, and the basics of how he thinks."
"Does that convince you?" Percy nearly growled, staring hard into the emerald eyes of the prisoner.
"You'll have to excuse me for not believing you right off the bat," Loki replied, a sarcastic smile on his face.
Percy was silent for a beat, mentally considering his options as he stared at the God in front of him. Deciding on his course of action, he smirked slightly.
"Let's say I let you go, right now, with a full pardon for this invasion. Where will you go? The Chitauri don't appreciate failure, and I'm certain you'd rather not experience what they do to people who fail them," he leaned closer to Loki, his gaze hardening as he glared into the immortal's eyes, "you may have experience in Asgardian torture, I hope your face is okay by the way, but the Chitauri are a whole other beast."
Loki stiffened at the reminder of his punishment for Baldr's death. His face still stung from the snake's venom.
"Think about it, I'll come back later today. I do hope you choose to join me, because I'd hate to kill you," The God of Tragedy left Loki in his cell, alone and lost in thought, and headed back upstairs.
Back with the Avengers
Upon entering the main hall of his palace, Percy was approached by both Thor and Clint, the latter looking very uncomfortable around him.
"Thor. Legolas." Percy greeted politely, glancing between the two of them. He had an idea of what they wanted to talk about.
"I take it you want to know what Loki's fate will be?"
"He is my brother, Perseus. I wish to see him face Asgardian punishment instead of yours." Thor answered firmly. His hand was twitching every few seconds at the thought of his brother facing Greek justice.
"I just want to sock him in the face," Clint replied curtly, causing Percy to snort in amusement.
"I gave your brother a way out, a full pardon for his invasion of both Earth and Greek territory. It is up to him if he accepts. In exchange for his freedom, he will be joining me in the protection of this world."
"Timeout," Clint said, his tone clearly showing his unhappiness at the situation, "you're pardoning him? He invaded Earth and killed civilians!"
Thor's eyes flickered nervously between the Greek god and the mortal as he mentally prepared himself to step in if a fight broke out. "Clint, I would highly suggest you watch how you speak here."
"It is fine, Thor. I can handle a bit of gruff from a mortal," Percy replied with a small smile, coming closer to Clint until he was only a few feet away. "Let me inform you of something, Clint Barton. The events that are about to transpire will change the universe itself. I will do anything and everything in my power to carry out my duty as a protector of this world. If that means pardoning a God of crimes against humanity, I will gladly do so."
Clint stiffened slightly at the way Percy spoke with such determination. It was both terrifying and amazing how dedicated he was to his duty.
"There is only one thing I wish to do in the rest of my existence, and that is protect all life in this world. I will pardon Loki for his crimes, and you will not be happy with my decision. As long as you don't hinder my duty, you can do and feel whatever and however you want,"
Clint stared at the God of Tragedy with trepidation and fear, deciding to not continue the conversation as he quickly left the room, searching for Natasha within the palace.
"Was it necessary to be so forceful, Perseus? He means no harm with his words." Thor asked softly, following Percy as he walked towards the common area.
"I know he didn't, Thor. Despite the archer having a perfectly valid opinion of Loki, extenuating circumstances overrule his opinion fully," Percy responded, holding his hand up before Thor could respond, "I am forbidden from telling you of said events for now. But know this: the entire universe is at stake here, and I will die a thousand deaths before I let it burn."
Thor nodded his head slowly, believing the words of Percy to be correct, even if it pained him so.
"So the God of Grumpiness returns!" A sarcastic voice remarks loudly as Percy steps into the large main room. The marble walls amplifying Tony's voice tenfold as it echoed.
"And the mortal with a penchant of being egotistical and self-destructive graces me with his presence once again."
"Oh come on now Aqualad, you might just break my heart with talk like that."
Percy's smirk never left his face as he stared at the blank face of Tony Stark, clearing seeing through his plan of getting to know more info of why he's been...grumpy as of late.
"It is none of your business, don't ask." Percy stated softly, clapping his hand on Iron Man's shoulder before striding past him and towards where Steve was sitting down in one of the softest recliners in the universe.
"Rogers, I hope you can still hear me." Percy asked with a slight bit of hesitation. One did not simply sit in this recliner and get back up easily. It was the softest recliner in the world for a reason, and that reason was because it warped your mind into thinking it was the softest damn seat you've ever been in.
"I'm assuming this thing is like you?" Steve replied with a slight twitch of his lips as he swung himself up and out of the chair.
"Truly impressive that you can withstand the effects of the Recliner of the Eternal Reaching." Percy replied with a whistle, checking Steve's vitals and mental condition with a quick flare of his powers.
"Did you seriously call it the Recliner of Eternal Reaching?" Tony Stark asked in bemused sarcasm.
"Are you seriously leaning on the Ottoman of Ownership?"
"Wait, that's what this is?" Tony asked, looking down at the very simplistic ottoman table that was beneath his arms.
"Yes. Get off it please," Percy replied calmly, stepping away towards the balcony that overlooked New York. Steve and Tony glanced between each other, both silently arguing over who would approach the immortal first.
"If you want answers, you'll have to ask first," Percy called out suddenly, smirking slightly as they sighed quietly.
"What is your plan after this?" Steve asked, walking up and standing next to Percy. "We could use another god on our team, if it's ok with you that is,"
"Plus, it doesn't hurt that you have a very awesome house and probably infinite amounts of resources." Tony remarked to himself, stepping up on the other side of Percy and gazing out at the city that never sleeps
Percy was quiet for a few minutes as he thought of his plan and whether or not to join the Avengers.
On one hand, it would be highly beneficial to be a part of the team of heroes. It would give him access to a more versatile approach to situations and a better chance at success. But it also left him open to the possibility of attempts to "control" him.
Thanks to the Fates, he knew all about the Accords and how they tore the team apart. If he could somehow prevent that event, the team would stand a much better chance against Thanos.
"The last time I worked with a team, a third of them died in the final battle. I'm not ready to go through that again. If I do join your team, nothing is given the green light until it gets everyone's clearance, understood?"
Steve and Tony glanced at each other for a few moments before both coming to the conclusion that Percy's demands were reasonable. The four men spent the next few hours relaxing, sharing some of their stories from wars, attacks, or other violent situations. When the discussion began to trail off after one of Steve's wartime memories with Bucky, Percy checked his mental clock and decided it was time to see what Loki had decided.
"Well. Let us go see what the God of Mischief has decided on doing," he declared, standing up from his seat on the couch and walking back through the main hall, down the stairwell, and out the cellar's back door.
When the four Avengers came out the other side, they were greeted with the stench of iron and blood. Fortuneately, they were all able to keep their stomachs down as they followed Percy down the hallway. It was only a few minutes before the men were face to face with Loki's cell.
"Stay here. Do not interfere," Percy commanded them, shooing them away from the cell a few feet as he opened up the door and slipped inside. With the gate closed behind him, he snapped his fingers and the light came on.
"Have you decided?" Percy asked, staring down at Loki. He waited a few seconds before asking again, "Yes or no, Loki?"
The silence stretched on for a few more moments before Percy's eyes widened. "FUCK!" He screamed, pulsing his power outwards and pushing his senses to the extreme as he took in the pool of blood underneath Loki's bed. He pulled out a necklace from his pockets and handed it to Thor through the cell bars. "Thor, take this and get to the Throne Room! Inform the Council that we have been breached. Everyone else, get your teammates down here and keep watch! They could still be here!" He called out, picking up the body of Loki and thanking Chaos that he was still alive and breathing.
"Rogers. Check the doors beside this cell and make sure they are locked." Percy did not want to deal with the monsters that were Loki's neighbors anytime soon. Percy inspected the knife wedged in Loki's stomach and grimaced. "Loki! Stay with me, I'll get you fixed up."
The god in question groaned in pain as his eyes opened slowly. His hand grasped the front of Percy's jacket and pulled him downwards, "it...was the...Chitauri. Not...him" he rasped out, before finally falling unconscious. Percy swore in anger and focused on the knife wound. He closed his eyes as he poured his powers into the wound, cursing as the wound continued to fight him.
Poison.
"APOLLO! I'M CALLING IN THAT FAVOR!" He bellowed, his voice echoing throughout Olympus as his powers went haywire.
"I'm already here. Move aside, Percy." Apollo informed him, pushing past the God of Tragedy and placing his hands on the wound. The light that came out of his hands was brighter than he had ever seen them, forcing even him to look away as Apollo continued to fight the poison in Loki's body. "Slow his ichor flow around the wound, Percy." Percy nodded and reached out for the ichor within Loki's chest and slowed it as much as safely possible. It took nearly thirty minutes of Apollo slowly burning the poison out of Loki's bloodstream before he was finally out of Death's doorstep.
"He'll live. But I am unsure when he will wake," Apollo gasped out, exhaustion hitting him hard as he picked up his patient. "The Council needs you, my sister and I will watch over him."
Percy hesitated for a few seconds before nodding and taking off towards the throne room. Before he could leave, however, Steve stood in his way.
"The cells were opened but nothing was in them. What do we do?" He asked, glancing back at the now assembled Avengers who were staring at Apollo in poorly disguised awe.
"You will be returning to your compound while I reinforce Olympus. You were not exactly supposed to be here in the first place, and now that our security has been breached, you will more or less be sentenced to death if you are caught." He firmly replied, snapping his fingers to teleport the Avengers back to their tower, before flashing himself to his throne.
When he opened his eyes, he nearly facepalmed as he saw Thor and Zeus glaring at each other with their weapons at the ready.
"Uncle, please allow my guest to explain himself before you start a war with the Asgardians. Thor, please don't fight my uncle." Percy said calmly, drawing their attention as he spoke.
"Within the last six hours, Olympus has been breached by the Chitauri, a prisoner has been stabbed, and my palace's defenses have been rendered useless," Percy declared, rubbing his forehead to quell the headache that was coming on, "I sincerely hope that someone has some type of evidence to what the fuck happened."
The gods were silent as they digested the bomb that was just dropped on them. Their security hadn't been beaten since they rebuilt Olympus after the Second Titan War. His eyes roamed the room as he looked between the assembled immortals, his eyes not stopping as he pushed his senses out to the max.
There isn't any foreign entity on Olympus. They had to have opened a portal into the cell itself, or have known how to mask their presence and undo the magic of my cells. Which means…
When Percy spoke next, his voice was at a whisper, trembling with rage.
"Where... is Hecate?"
It is 3 AM so I may have made some errors lol. Please let me know in reviews or DMs if I did