There we have it my friend, the next chapter!
Sorry it took me so long, it was really difficult to get it the way I wanted!
Hope you like it, there'll be only two more after this.
I love you all and I still don't own whatever Rick Riordan owns!
Aw I just realised the first chapter of this story has only one more day of life left in my Doc manager!
Enjoy xxx

Chapter seventy-two: Olympus
~Penelope's POV~

The ride to Olympus took an extraordinarily short time. As it turned out, Hades himself had been
summoned to the council meeting, and Nico and Annabeth managed to persuade him to take them along. Hades grumbled and seemed to seriously consider blasting them all to dust, but Persephone, who was in the underworld at the moment, calmed him down and told him not to be such a grumpy
all the time.
So, with an even grumpier expression than before, the lord of the dead took them along, although
he gave Leo and Penelope a warning look, probably knowing what they were up to.
Yet they had been summoned by Zeus as well, and Hades couldn't defy his brother's wishes.
As they rode on Hades' black chariot, Penelope stood at the back, holding tightly onto Leo's hand.
She still felt extremely shaken up by their sudden half rescue, and it was all she could do not to start trembling again.
It had been that feeling, that terrible feeling of looking at her friends, at Leo and not recognizing them, which had scared her like Tartarus himself. Her thoughts had been so far away, trapped in that endless grey mist which swallowed the souls roaming the fields and which had infiltrated her mind as well, making her lose herself.
Pen wasn't sure why it had affected her more than it had Leo, but she thought that might be because there was less of a lifetime she had to remember...
Suddenly Leo put an arm around her and gave her a tight squeeze, as if reminding her that he was still there, that they were okay. It was amazing how easily he could read her emotions.
Then again it might have been her crushing his fingers which tipped him off she wasn't holding up so well.
"Just a bit more, and then we'll see the gods" he whispered to her.
Penelope smiled at him, noticing how the further away they got from the underworld, the more Leo came into focus. Not only were his features distinct again, but his clothes, skin, hair and eyes had
regained their colour. It was good to see him like this, full of life.
Still, she wasn't sure seeing the gods was really a good thing. Wouldn't they be angry with her, as her mere existence went against the most ancient rules?
"Hey, you're not grey anymore!" Leo noticed, and Pen looked down at herself to see that she, too, was turning back to normal.
"How nice of you to notice" she winked at Leo, who grinned.
"Stop talking back there you little brats, and hold on. We're landing and you might fall of. Come to think of it, don't hold on." Hades grumbled at them from the front, and they both gripped the edge
of the chariot tightly.
With a lot of manoeuvring and some seriously wind-swept hair, they touched down on the pathway leading up to the temple of the gods on Olympus.
Penelope stared, open mouthed as they trotted up the rest of the slope.
"Oh, wow" she whispered, taking in the magnificent buildings, the gardens full of real dancing fairy lights and the young minor gods and nymphs milling around, waving hesitantly at them and bowing to Hades.
Apparently, a party was being prepared, as streamers of garlands, bunting and gleaming signs saying things like "Sweet dreams, Gaia" and "In your dirt face!" were put up all over the place.
Penelope smiled, the reality of what had happened only just sinking in.
Leo had given her a quick summary of Annabeth's summary of what had happened, so she knew next to no details, but the fact alone that all of her friend's were alive was good enough.
It made their sacrifice worth it, and Pen knew she wouldn't have done anything differently.
Soon they arrived at the big building, and its magnificence alone would have been enough to make her turn around and start running, but Leo grabbed her hand and dragged her inside.
Hades had marched ahead, and was already sitting on a throne when Annabeth, Piper, Nico, Leo and herself entered into the huge throne room.
Penelope had about a second to register the high ceiling with its stary designs, and the gods sitting on their thrones before something hurled herself upon her and almost crushed her to death.
"You're back!" Hazel was crying, squeezing Pen to death. To be honest, she didn't mind a bit.
"Come on Hazel, let us say hello as well!" Jason's voice called, and Hazel let go so the boys could
hug Pen and Leo.
When Frank gave her a squeeze, Penelope noticed something cold touching her back, and when he let go, she realised what it was.
"Oh gods, Frank!" she breathed, looking up at him in horror.
Where Frank's arm should've been, was a hand-shaped piece of celestial bronze, moving like a normal hand would, but as cold as ice.
Frank shrugged, still smiling. "It's not as bad as it looks. Apollo patched me up, and Hephaestus made this make-shift one until I get a better replacement."
Pen found it difficult to tare her gaze away from the metal hand, but the gods were done waiting for them, and Zeus cleared his throat loudly.
Penelope and the others turned towards him, and the power which radiated from the twelve Olympian gods was so much that it raised the hairs on her arms.
"Heroes." Zeus rumbled, his voice rolling like thunder across the heavens. "It seems my wife's gamble has...paid off."
He inclined his head toward Hera, with a kind of stiffness around his mouth, as if the queen's undertaking still annoyed him hugely.
Penelope looked at Hera.
So this was the one responsible for her life and for its end. This was the one who'd tampered in her
friends' lives since they were little, just so she could throw them all together in this dangerous quest, leaving them alone to battle the most ancient evil in existence and face death and pain again and again.
But in the end, Hera's dangerous game had been won, and not only regarding Gaia's defeat.
The century-old hate between Roman and Greek demigods was on the way to a better future, and
the world had been saved.
So Penelope bit back the words she imagined shouting at the goddess and let her eyes speak for her instead, knowing Hera would understand just what exactly Penelope was feeling.
The queen of the gods didn't look ashamed at herself or even slightly sympathetic that Leo and Pen
were dead. She simply sat there, cold and proud, glowing with the knowledge that her plan had succeeded.
Zeus' next words brought Penelope back to the present.
"As a sign of the gods' ...gratitude you shall each be granted a reward." The Lord of the Sky told them stiffly, and some of the other gods nodded. "Give us a request, and it shall be granted, as long as the demand is within our power."
They all looked at each other. Any request? Penelope met Leo's eyes and it was obvious they were wondering the same thing.
Suddenly, Percy spoke up. "Er, Lord Zeus? Before we deal with the reward stuff, there's another matter at hand that's really important. When Jason and I were battling Gaia, we managed to get this."
He held up the vial with the golden liquid inside. Penelope shivered as she took it in, glinting tantalisingly, inviting her to take a drink. She knew what that liquid meant, what it could do.
"And your question is, Perseus Jackson?" Zeus asked, raising his eyebrows.
Annabeth quickly stepped forward. "Please, my lord, our question is whether what we think is true or not. Could Gaia's blood bring Leo and Penelope back to life?"
Pen could feel her friends eyes on her, but she couldn't meet them. All she could do was hang onto Leo's hand tightly while looking at Zeus, hardly daring to hope.
The god took a while to respond, and then finally opened his mouth: "No."
A hundred weights were crashing down on her shoulders, making her sink into the ground. Pen tried hard to keep on a brave face.
Then Zeus spoke again. "No, it cannot bring them both back to life. But it would suffice for one. There is just enough blood there for one life to be returned."
Silence.
Nobody spoke, but waited for either Leo or Penelope to say something.
Yet all they could do was look at each other, and let a whole conversation pass between them.
Pen knew Leo would let her drink it, and she couldn't deny that there was a tiny part of her that
wanted to as well. But she could never do that, not when it meant living on without him, no way.
Leo knew Pen wanted him to drink the blood, because she felt horribly guilty for him being in their situation, yet Zeus would work for Poseidon before Leo agreed to that.
And so, Penelope directed her next words at Zeus.
"My Lord." she bowed, slightly nervous under the god's penetrating stare. "Is there no other way to use the blood? Does one of us have to drink it all, or could it be shared?"
"I do not know what would happen if you shared it, Penelope Rider." Zeus shrugged his shoulders, making the stripes on his suit stretch. He looked at Hades, who was looking unimpressed and rather bored.
"You should know brother, shouldn't you? If they shared, what would happen?"
Hades yawned. "It wouldn't be enough to restore their life energy, so no coming back. Sorry."
He didn't look sorry at all, and Pen could feel the heat on her cheeks. Why were the gods so cold? Didn't they care at all?
Apparently, she wasn't the only one who was angry at the Olympians.
"Listen up, Lords" Percy said as he stepped forward, his first clenched. "These two sacrificed EVERYTHING for you! Gaia's blood must count for something, even if it's shared! If you let them go back to the underworld, just like that, without bothering to even try, then I will-"
"Percy" Poseidon said, warningly. He was looking at his son with an odd mixture of reproach and pride, his green eyes twinkling even when his face was serious.
The other gods were muttering, obviously outraged at Percy's rudeness. But Penelope could only agree, and she was thankful to have friends that stood up for her.
"He's right!" Jason said, stepping forward as well. Zeus looked at his son with surprise.
"Father" Jason told him. "Uncle" he nodded toward Hades. "Please, isn't there anything the blood will do if shared?"
Neither of the two gods answered, and Pen could feel her heart sinking when suddenly a voice spoke up, from the back of the room.
"One day."
Penelope looked around, and when her eyes found the woman stepping out of the shadows, her heart stopped.
Even though she'd never seen her, Pen recognized Hecate instantly.
She didn't know why, but she knew, she was absolutely certain that the goddess with the dark purple hair and bright silver eyes was her mother.
"Hecate!" Zeus said, looking angry at the intrusion, but Hera put her hand on his arm.
"Calm, husband. It is appropriate she is here. Let her speak."
"Fine" Zeus grumbled, and motioned for Hecate to step forward. She did so, her hair flowing out behind her.
Penelope couldn't move, couldn't speak, all she could do was watch as her mother walked into the middle of the room and addressed them.
"The amount of Gaia's blood you have collected will not be enough to resurrect both of you, that is true. But if shared, it may provide you with enough energy for twenty four hours. It is a complicated bit of magic, yet I think we can guarantee one last day on earth for the both of you. Can't we, Hades?"
Hades was looking a little nervous actually. Maybe the goddess of magic simply had that effect on everybody. He nodded, and then added. "Yes, that would work. And after that, you return to the underworld."
The council was nodding and Zeus asked Leo and Penelope: "Do you agree heroes? One day, for the both of you?"
Penelope's mind was reeling, she couldn't find words. It was all too much, coming back, seeing the gods, her mother, being offered one more day to live...
Thankfully, Leo wasn't as stunned as her. He squeezed her hand tightly, and Pen knew it was a question. She squeezed back, letting him know the answer.
"Yes, lord Zeus. We want that." Leo said finally.
"Alright" Zeus nodded. "Now to the rest of you."
"My lord" Hecate spoke up "If I may, I would like to speak to my daughter while you reward these other heroes."
"Yes, yes , fine, go ahead." Zeus was obviously getting impatient. Perhaps his favourite TV programme was on, Pen mused.
"Come on" the goddess said to her, motioning off to the side.
"Hey, wait a minute!" Leo said, holding protectively onto Pen, but she shrugged him off gently.
"It's okay, Leo. I'll be back in a sec." she told him, and walked after Hecate.

For a moment, they didn't say anything to each other, but simply looked. Penelope couldn't get her head wrapped around the fact that she was face to face with her mother.
Suddenly, there was only one question that truly mattered.
"Why did you leave me alone?". Her voice sounded a little hoarse.
Hecate contemplated her.
"It was a difficult situation. But I did watch over you, Penelope, just not in ways you might notice.
I showed you how to use your powers, I made the Amazonite find its way to you, and last but not least I gave you a family to help you. Perhaps I should have spoken to you directly, but I never left you alone."
Penelope was taken aback at the honest answer. Hecate's face didn't show any proper feelings, so she had no way of knowing what exactly those words meant to her mother, but it felt good to hear them anyway. And they were true, too.
"I guess if you put it that way..." Pen mumbled. "But why me?"
"Because I knew when I created you that you had the power to do what you must. Not just the magical ability, but the power of will. Even the love you found, which I did not foresee, couldn't stop you from doing your duty."
There it was, the explanation for her whole existence. And even though it was weird and sad, and
extremely confusing, Penelope had to smile a little.
"And the one day, that'll work?"
"I think so." Hecate answered, then added. "But you must not let the gods trick you into thinking that it is your reward. The blood would have been yours even without the Olympians, so you have the right to ask for a different gift."
Pen was stunned. A different gift? "But.. what could be any use to me? If I have to go back to the underworld?"
Hecate leaned in and said, very quietly, "Maybe that is exactly what you should consider. What will happen when the day is over? Where will you go?"
"The fields of A- Oh." Pen thought she understood what the goddess was trying to tell her. Her insides warmed at the wonderful possibility. "Right, I get it."
"You should return to your friends now, and I must leave Olympus."
Penelope hesitated. "Will I ever see you again?"
Hecate's gaze lingered on her face. "I do not know, daughter. You are once again at a crossroads, and your choice will affect the rest of your life. What will happen remains to be seen."
It wasn't the answer she'd hoped for, but it was an answer none the less.
With a final nod at Hecate, Penelope turned around to walk back to the others, but suddenly a random thought occurred to her.
She spun around to see Hecate about to step into the shadows.
"Mum!" she called, without thinking. For a second the goddess hesitated, and then said "Yes?"
"Why is my last name Rider?"
For the first time, there might have been a smile on Hecate's face.
"To be honest my dear, I just liked the name."