Percy POV

I thought for quite a while. Then I came to my conclusion...

And what a tough decision I had to make it was. Choosing between assured freedom, but being the rebel from the Olympians or taking a chance and being the broken Hero of Olympus. I will admit the decision was no easy feat.

"I will bear testimony of anything the Olympians ask of me." I declared, very sure of myself. Dionysus nodded.

"Your testimony of the giant will not be required. You are to testify of your experiences that led you to leave camp with no permission," Dionysus stated. Then, he held out a berry that was succulent and blue. "You ought to eat before going to the council. You will need your strength."

I was perplexed, but took the berry. He seemed genuinely pleased to give me the berry. "Uhmmm... Thanks?" I tried. I ate the berry.

It tasted nothing like it appeared. It looked like a blueberry. It tasted like a cucumber had a child with a raspberry; and I was eating it. I started to feel a little woozy. Must be a madness, drunk berry. Darn gods and their darned domain based foods. Why did Hermes introduce the idea by starting fast food?

When I had swallowed the berry, I was flashed to Olympus. I appeared in the center of the throne room. Dionysus was standing in front of his throne.

"Father, Perseus Jackson, son of Poseidon, Hero of Olympus, has come as requested to bear his testimony to the Council of the Gods." Dionysus reported. Zeus nodded then turned to me.

"Perseus Jackson! You have been called to explain the reason of your unapproved absence from Camp Half-Blood," Zeus said. "Begin now."

And I obeyed that order. I told the council many details that I did not tell Dionysus and every one that I did.

Flashback

It was quarter past noon on the day that I returned from my quest. I was hiking up Half-Blood Hill. I had told Chiron that morning that I would be at camp soon via Iris Message. The grass was green, the wind was cool, and the dragon was asleep at the bottom of the tree. A normal day.

My girlfriend was even waiting for me, so I thought. When I got to the hill, I was expecting a hug. In stead of that hug, Annabeth pushed me down the hill firmly and yelled at me. I couldn't understand her while falling a little ways down a hill.

"... AND DONT COME TO ME AGAIN!" She screamed. That's all that I heard.

I proceeded to walk down the hill and enter the Big House, in it's tall, blue glory. Chiron was resting in the living room, in his horse form. He looked at me with a joyful, tired look.

"Percy, how went your quest of astronomical proportions?" He asked with only a hint of comedy in his voice. I chuckled briefly.

"It went well, Chiron. What have I missed? I take it something changes in the camp; Annabeth seemed to be in an inexplicable rage." I responded.

"Nothing has changed, except maybe in her heart. I will call her here and have her explain herself." Chiron replied, taking the conch. He sounded the conch eight times; the fastest way to get Annabeth, Nico and I to the Big House. I sent Nico to the Underworld, so he wont show up. When Annabeth showed up, she glared at me, then turned to Chiron.

"Why were we called?" She inquired.

"You were called to tell me the story of the last ten minutes. Tell me of why Percy was so confused by your welcome of him to camp. Explain your former rage." Chiron instructed. Argus, stepped out of the shadows and blocked the door, almost as if in tune with Chiron. Annabeth sighed.

"Percy took too long on his quest without telling me that he was on a quest. I do not welcome him. At all. I am done being with Percy." Annabeth said with venom in her voice.

Chiron nodded, Argus moved, Annabeth left. I stayed. Chiron smiled. "Go see Piper. She has been waiting for your return and was the first to notice your absence."

And I did. Many times. And Piper cared for me. She made me laugh, went monster hunting with me, and made sure I got food.

Over the next 2 weeks, everyone else turned on me and her because of me. I felt bad. I trained hard. I spent most of my time hunting monsters or training against automatons. One day, while training in the arena and blowing off steam, Piper came into the arena. She sat on the side and waited for me to sit next to her. When I sat down, we locked eyes, her brown kaleidoscopes against my steady, sea green orbs.

"Percy," she began, "you need to heal, and for that, you need to leave camp. It will get lonely, but you need to get over all of us. In one year, return to this spot. I will be waiting." She looked to pleading and genuine, that I couldn't say no.

"Alright Pipes, for you, I will go. But if you aren't here, then I will find you and never let you go." I responded. And I kept my word. That evening, I left camp.

Flashback End

"And that, my lords and ladies, is why I left camp. To escape their harmful words, to fulfill Piper's request, and to restrain from destroying camp," I concluded. Silence spread over the room. After a few minutes, Athena asked a question.

"What would you like to happen next, Perseus?"

"I would like to return to my dwelling, approximately twenty miles from camp. Now I will leave the room, and wait just beyond the door, to allow you to council freely." And I kept to my word. I left the room.

What ensued was a series of explosion sounds, chatter and a screamo-rock concert. After five minutes, all was quiet. Hermes opened the door.

"Come on in, Percy."

I walked in an scanned the gods. Significant notes; Artemis is angry, Athena is surprised, Zeus is laughing, Poseidon is puzzled, Hephaestus seemed apathetic.

"Perseus Jackson," boomed the thunder god once again, "step to the center of the room." I complied. Shortly after Hera stood and attempted to match Hephaestus's expression, but could not hide her sadness.

"It is the decree of the council," she began, "that Perseus Achilles Jackson is to accompany the Hunt of Artemis until he is to return to Camp Half-Blood or instructed by an Olympian or the Fates or Chaos to take up a quest. At that time, the council will reconvene and discuss again on this matter."