AN: Hey guys! So this chapter turned into 6.5k words, not really sure how that happened. I think we're getting close to the end. I can't say how many chapters are left. Maybe one or two? I can't really see it going farther than that. However, there will be a sequel! I will post a chapter here to notify you. As of now, I am planning only one version. Percy is not paired with Hermes in it. Apologizes to those who voted for them. And HUGE thank you to DragonLover1551 and JustMyOpinion74! Both of them helped me plan out details of the sequel. And another thanks to DragonLover1551 for being so enthusiastic about Pumpkin Eater, even after my year long disappearance!
Despite having a several hour nap, Percy felt no better for it. Apollo had left at some point, replacing his lap with a pillow. She dragged the blanket with her as she trudged her way to the bedroom. She looked between the bed and the closet, trying to decide whether she should just go back to sleep. She felt rather listless and wasn't sure what she should do.
Percy wasn't sure why she felt the way she did. Waking up in a panic probably contributed to her current mood but there was no nightmare to remember.
Sighing, she changed out of her sleep-rumpled clothes and into a warmer dress. She picked the blanket from the floor and tossed it onto the bed before heading out. Her garden was a favored place to be. No matter where someone was in the garden they would be able to hear running water. Her garden paled in comparison to the likes of Persephone's or Demeter's; she didn't have a very green thumb.
Just hearing the water made her feel better. When she became a goddess she was a little sad that her waters powers weakened, but at least she still had them. Sliding off her shoes she stepped up and into the main fountain, letting the bottom of her dress get wet.
Percy made a lap of the fountain before taking a seat on the edge. She started playing with the falling water, focusing on just the feel of her power, the water making nonsensical shapes.
"Hello, Percy."
The sudden voice made her jump. Instinct had her aiming the water toward it before she realized who it was, with the half-second she had she softened the water. Turning around she was met with a rather unimpressed and wet Athena. Percy sheepishly made the water return to the fountain and turned her body sideways, keeping her feet in the water.
"Oh, hi Athena. Sorry 'bout that."
"Is something the matter?" The older goddess approached, taking a seat next to Percy. "You're usually not so unaware."
"I don't know." Percy shrugged. "I had a nightmare last night and ever since I've just felt...off."
"May I ask what about?"
"I don't remember." Percy turned back to face the center of the fountain wiggling her toes a little. "Not unusual though."
There was a bout of silence and Athena turned to face the fountain, sitting crisscross to keep her feet out of the water.
"Is something else wrong?"
"I...no."
"What?" Athena probed gently, tilting her head to see Percy's profile.
"I'm—I'm weirdly cold."
Athena frowned, taking in the temperature and Percy's attire. The time goddess should be sufficiently warm, if not overly so.
"Right now even?"
"Yeah. I don't get it."
"Are you ill?" Athena brought a hand up to feel for Percy's temperature. It certainly felt normal to her.
Percy shrugged. "I don't think so. I didn't ask Apollo but he didn't say anything. And what would I get sick with anyway? Aren't we immune to sickness, besides, like, poisons?"
"Have there been any changes in your domains?"
"I have pretty stable domains. Trust and loyalty are pretty give and take but considering the population that should equal itself out. And time? That's pretty constant."
"I suppose."
"I'll be fine. It'll pass and I'll be fine tomorrow."
Athena...
Percy was not fine the next day. They were in a rather boring meeting but the time goddess was typically good at least pretending she cared. Percy was just staring off into space this time around. She was about to try to talk to her but Percy blinked back to herself before looking at Poseidon.
Poseidon...
The sea god noticed his daughter's strange behavior and Athena's concerned staring. Glancing at his brother and making sure he wasn't saying anything important he turned his attention to Percy
Percy. Keeping his puzzlement off his face he tried again. Percy? He repeated urgently. He relaxed slightly when she focused on him. Are you okay? You're staring into space. You usually pay attention to these meetings.
I don't know. Something feels off.
About the meeting?
Percy had looked away as to make it less obvious they were talking but glanced back at him briefly.
What? No, the meeting is fine...if boring. No, I was talking about in general. Something is off.
Any clue as to what?
I'm having a hard time pinpointing it. I don't know if it's some sort demigod instinct or if something is wrong in one of my domains.
"—Brother?"
"What?" Poseidon turned to Zeus who looked annoyed. He saw Hermes snicker from the corner of his eye. Apollo and Percy were making pretty steady eye contact, Apollo's eyes glowing slightly. He must be doing a remote scan of her, easier done if eye contact was held.
"I asked how Atlantis was doing." Poseidon raised an eyebrow. Zeus always asked and it was always the same response.
"It is well." Poseidon was sure Zeus wanted more information about Atlantis. He kept to himself under the sea and Atlantis was self-sustaining with little trade deals with others. He was sure Zeus suspected that Atlantis was more than anyone on Olympus knew.
Apollo says that I'm physically healthy and that there's no foreign poisons or such.
That's good.
Except I have no idea what's wrong.
How about you come to Atlantis for awhile? It could help clear your mind and let you figure it out.
I'm going to Camp for a few days, the kids wanted me there for Capture the Flag and Tae wanted to catch up, he's back for a while.
Tae was her son. His godly father was unknown and Poseidon wasn't sure if either Tae or Percy knew. After training with his new powers from Percy, Tae took to wandering the country, either doing random tasks from different gods or escorting demigods to Camp. Last he could recall Tae was approaching forty. A rarity among demigods. But his skill with a sword and dagger and his knack for slowing time got him out of several situations.
But I'll come afterward. Probably Sunday.
Four days. Poseidon was worried. If Percy wasn't feeling well then she should try to get better as soon as she could. She could decline in the following days. But he let it go. Maybe it would clear up in that time.
The meeting dragged on and Poseidon thought Athena and Percy talked for a little bit. The meeting finally ended and they were free to leave.
The following day...
"Hey, Percy! What are you up to?" Hermes jogged up, walking in line with Percy once he caught up.
"I'm going to Camp. I've been neglecting Jessica's training."
"Who's Jessica?" Hermes took a few more steps before realizing Percy wasn't beside him anymore. He turned back.
"I don't know. I don't know who she is or why I'd be training her." Percy's face was scrunched in confusion.
"Did you ever claim a kid named Jessica?"
"No, no Jessicas. Why did I say that?" Hermes shrugged. "I—I'm not going to Camp yet. I'm going tomorrow for Capture the Flag. Apollo and I are going on a date in the mortal realm tonight."
"Aw, so no pranking?" Hermes gave an exaggerated pout.
Percy rolled her eyes but smiled. "No today. And probably not tomorrow. We'll see about Saturday."
"Yes! Thank you!"
Percy realized she probably should've asked about the who and whats of the prank as Hermes dashed away.
She returned home in order to get ready for her date with Apollo.
Apollo...
He was concerned. Percy didn't get sick the first time around. Plus, he couldn't detect anything that would cause her symptoms. She was layering clothes and tended to space out. After the meeting yesterday and they returned to their palace he found it hard to maintain a conversation with her. She had grown frustrated with herself and went to bed early.
But tonight was the night. This was where everything went wrong. As long as he didn't repeat his actions he won't get banished like he did.
Percy...
Fashion was cyclical in the years since her godhood. Not much changed in the way of fabrics. Skirts and dresses grew and shrank and grew again, and colors shifted in and out of favor.
Her own style was very much impacted by her own mortal life but also what the Campers wore. It often resulted in hybrid outfits while at camp or on Olympus. But while in the mortal world she tried to blend in.
After exchanging Apollo's outdated jacket for one that would be less inconspicuous, they left for the restaurant.
It wasn't anything too fancy.
Percy smiled while taking in the decor. There were pictures of the founders of the restaurant with captions explaining who, what, and when. Paintings with little placards detailing the artist and mediums used were hung around the main seating area.
The waitress smiled and lead them to their seat. "Are we celebrating anything?" They were dressed nicer than a random dinner out would call for.
"No, just date night." Percy smiled as she sat down, Apollo taking the seat across from her.
"That's sounds lovely." The waitress said sincerely. "I'm Katrina and I'll be your server. Can I start you off with anything to drink?"
"Ah, not yet." Katrina nodded and turned to Apollo.
"Water for now." Katrina smiled before heading off, reappearing briefly to drop off the requested water. "So how are you feeling?"
Percy shrugged. "Less out of it but still cold."
Apollo took a quick glance around before dropping his voice. "Maybe we should ask Hecate if there's any spells or curses placed on you that we can't detect."
"I'll ask before I go to Camp tomorrow. Now enough of that." Despite being married for over a century they still found things to talk about and if they didn't the silence wasn't awkward. Percy blinked as her vision doubled for a moment before glancing over to the small bar where a group of men were sitting.
One licked his lips before winking at her, lifting his cup slightly before drinking and turning away. Apollo was glaring at the man but wrenched his gaze away.
"Things like that happen. I'm a goddess. Don't let it get to you." Percy reached across the table to take one of Apollo's hands in both of hers.
That's when the world went wonky again and a pounding set itself up in her temples. The world dimmed slightly as Apollo stood up but...didn't. She still held his hand, was still looking into his eyes and he was smiling. But she was also now looking up at him as he stormed towards the bar. Another man was making a lewd gesture and laughed as Apollo approached him, his buddies jeering.
As the men increased in volume she heard derogatory and foul comments towards her and Apollo.
The Apollo sitting in front of her was smiling as he took a sip of water with his free hand.
"So," he started, "Any idea what you want?"
She released his hand to open her menu at the same time Apollo punched the first guy in the jaw.
She tried to focus and either consolidate the two scenes or get a clearer picture of both of them. Neither happened and she was frozen as Apollo let out a wave of power directly into the second man. The last two men, who took part in the jeering, froze.
She jumped up, feeling disconnected from her movements. Her head pounded but she quickly made it to the first man, all the while demanding Apollo stop. She recoiled in horror as she realized the punch killed the man.
Other her smiled and calmly ordered her pasta with a glass of wine, laughing when Apollo horribly mispronounced the name of his dish.
Anger washed over her and she stood abruptly, her vision blackened at the corners but she glared at Apollo. He hadn't stopped when she said. One man was slumped across the bar and the last was in a heap on the floor after being thrown into the wall, he was smoking.
"Percy?" The Apollo sitting across from her asked. Anger and joy fought each other. Her head pounded and everything was dim.
"I'm okay." Her voice sounded far away yet she was able to conjure a smile. Both of her selves did so, the one standing in the carnage looking deranged.
"Percy?" There was residual anger on his face and he was glowing too much but it was dimmed in the face of his angry wife.
She marched forward, her own power filling the air, manipulating the Mist so that the four men got into a bar fight. Flimsy but the best she could do at the moment. She conjured drachmas for their fares before seizing Apollo and demanding a Council meeting then flashed them to Olympus.
"I'm sorry." She told the Apollo across from her. "I'm suddenly not feeling well. Can we-?" She put her head in her hands as her vision and hearing went blank. She blinked her eyes open and the two Apollos were overlaid, both with glowing eyes. Apollo knelt next to her seat gently feeding his power into her. Trying to heal whatever was wrong. It brought her vision back completely and the second Apollo disappeared.
"Are you okay ma'am?" A waiter approached nervously.
"I'm-I'm," blinking a little more to collect herself, "better." She settled on. Her head hurt but not as severely. However, she was sure she would get lightheaded if she tried to stand at the moment.
"Do you want to go home?" Apollo asked, moving his slightly glowing hand to her back.
"My dad's place is closer." She needed the ocean and it was the only way to let Apollo know without tipping off the waiter. The headache surged.
"Okay let's go." Apollo left money on the table to cover cost before helping her to her feet. Vertigo had her clinging to Apollo as they made their way.
Katrina held the front doors open for them as Apollo was supporting Percy. "You can get where you need to go?" She asked.
"Yes, it's not far."
They made it just far enough to get out of sight of anyone before Percy mustered enough concentration to flash them to Atlantis.
Apollo held his breath, doubting she could supply him with oxygen. As a god, he didn't really need to breathe but it was helpful in talking. They had ended up in Percy's room luckily and he helped her to bed.
Hey Poseidon, Percy needs help. The sea god appeared quickly.
"What happened?" He demanded while granting Apollo the air he needed.
"We went to a restaurant. She spaced out for a moment before going white and saying she wasn't feeling well. She has a migraine I can't cure and earlier her vision and hearing went."
"Percy?" Poseidon asked quietly, approaching his daughter. "Percy?!" Apollo drew closer, putting a hand on her head.
"She's unconscious?"
"That's a question?!"
"Well it doesn't feel like sleep and it's not a coma. I don't what it is!"
Poseidon sighed. "I'll see if our healers can help."
"A- I'm the god of healing! If I can't help then they won't be able to!"
Poseidon never paused in his walking. "It's worth a try."
Poseidon...
He was extremely worried about Percy. Gods just don't get sick. The alternative explanations weren't any better. She was either poisoned or curse by someone. Or something was wrong with one of her domains. He didn't know which to wish for. On one hand, if it was poison they might be able to cure it or reverse a curse. But it could also be a curse or poison that no one can heal. If it had to do with her domains the fix could be easy. Trust and loyalty could repair themselves in time and she would be okay. He had no idea what it took for a time domain. His time in his father's stomach didn't lead to much observation.
"Your Majesty."
"Thias." Poseidon greeted. "Percy needs help." It made Poseidon happy that the Atlanteans liked Percy. Thias straightened in alarm before grabbing his bag. They started back toward Percy's room. "Do you know what's going on, my lord?"
"Apollo brought her here. She had been fine before suddenly falling ill. Apparently, her vision and hearing went out and she has a migraine. She fell unconscious before I left."
"Lord Apollo." Thias acknowledged before approaching.
"Apollo, leave the man to work."
"What!? No! I'm not leaving her! Why can't he work while I'm here?" Apollo demanded.
Poseidon hesitated, Thias glancing back at him.
"There are..." Poseidon searched for the right word, "Aspects of Atlantis we don't let outsiders know. Our medicinal practices among them."
"It won't take long Lord Apollo. You can wait outside the door and I shall retrieve you once I am finished."
"I'm her husband!"
"I'm sorry Apollo," Poseidon said.
"Why keep it a secret?" Apollo asked harshly once they were in the hallway.
"Watch yourself," Poseidon growled. "We do it to protect ourselves."
"How come I don't know it? I'm the god of healing."
"It's...not originally for medicine but something we've discovered...helps." Poseidon felt the flare of magic through the door. "Don't tell Zeus any of this. He's the last person I want to know."
Apollo was about to respond but Thias popped his head out and beckoned them back in.
"So?" Apollo asked, reclaiming Percy's hand.
"Good news, she should wake up in the next day or two. Not so good news is that the cause of her sickness is rooted in a third party."
"What?"
"Physically she's fine, apart from being unconscious. There's no poisons or toxins of any sort."
"I knew that." Apollo felt obliged to point out. "Anything else?"
"We can only speculate but it must be something in one of her domains."
Apollo was growing agitated. That wasn't really news. He had the same information as this healer!
"Call Pistis and Eusebeia." Apollo continued snidely at Thias's confused face. "They are daimons of trust and loyalty." Maybe he shouldn't be so haughty since he only knew of their existence because Percy worked with them and talked about them sometimes.
"I shall call Pistis. Will you talk to Eusebeia?" Poseidon asked.
"Yeah." A rainbow simmered into place next to Apollo while Poseidon and Thias left. The gods still used Iris Messaging instead of contacting Fleecey. After throwing a coin in and mentally reciting the phrase, Eusebeia was in front of him.
"Lord Apollo." She bowed. "What can I do for you?"
"Percy is ill and we think something in one of her domains is causing it. How is loyalty?"
"Oh! I haven't felt anything. It's ebbing and flowing like it usually does but there haven't been any major changes. Is she going to be okay?"
"We hope so." Apollo glanced over at the still form of his wife. Why was this happening? Was it his fault? Was it the time traveling? "Thank you. I'll have Percy contact you when she feels better."
"Thank you, Lord Apollo. Please send my well wishes to Lady Percy!"
"Of course." He swiped his hand through the image.
Poseidon didn't fair well with Pistis either. The trust domain was doing fine. That only left time.
Triton...
"Nothing?"
"I'm sorry Lord Poseidon. Everything is fine in the trust domain. I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help."
"No, no. Thank you, Pistis."
"Father?" Triton asked as he entered the throne room.
"Yes?"
"Why were you speaking with Pistis?"
"Percy has fallen ill. And unless it lies in her loyalty domain, it has to do with time."
"Eusebeia didn't have anything." Apollo strode in. An odd sight to Triton since everyone swims everywhere.
"All good in trust."
"There's nothing to do to check time! She's the only time deity!" Triton exclaimed.
"We know that!" Apollo snapped.
"Is she in her room?" Triton asked his father.
"Yes, she's unconscious right now."
"I'm going to see her." With a flick of his tails, Triton was out of the room.
"Apollo, I know you'll want to stay but I have to ask you to leave."
"What are you hiding?" Apollo turned to face Poseidon more fully, narrowing his eyes.
"Things that protect my people." Poseidon straightened.
"What could be so bad as to endanger an entire kingdom if it got out?"
"Why ask questions you won't receive answers to?" There was a tense silence. "Leave Apollo. I'll contact you when Percy wakes up."
Knowing he was at a disadvantage in Poseidon's own domain and kingdom, he left.
Percy, the following afternoon...
The time goddess woke slowly. Her head ached and she had several overlapping memories fighting for dominance.
The first thing she was aware of was the water surrounding her. It soothed some of the pain. The next was the person next to her bed. At first, she thought it would be Apollo. But her blurry vision told her it wasn't her fair-haired husband. Whoever was next to her had black hair.
"Percy?!" Ah, Triton. "Percy, can you hear me?"
She let out more of a huff than anything else but her vision was clearing so she supposed that was a good thing. She had a hard time thinking past the pain in her head.
"I cursed a wench." Her eyesight was still a bit wonky but she was sure Triton hadn't moved his mouth. "Kate. Kate Barnes." "Jessica's mom?"
"I'm still mad at you about that."
"About what?"
"Kate."
"What?" His baffled face was amusing. But Percy quickly realized that, like Jessica, Percy didn't know this Kate.
"Never mind."
"Who is Kate?"
"No one."
"She's someone. Why else would you mention her?" Triton grilled.
"I don't know! I really don't know who she is or why I'm mad at you for it."
Triton leaned back in his seat, thinking. "Is it possible she's from another timeline?"
"What?"
"We're almost certain that whatever is causing you to fall ill is in one of your domains. We talked with Pistis and Eusebeia and they say everything is fine. Thus something is up with time."
Percy stayed quiet. If something was wrong with time and she hadn't been able to immediately put a finger on it then...someone else manipulated time.
"She could be. But timelines don't cross like that for me. I don't confuse who's in what reality."
"Something is wrong Percy."
"Something is wrong," Artemis said, sending concerned glances between Apollo's and Percy's empty thrones.
"It's not like her to just fall off the map like that," Aphrodite added.
"And where's Apollo this time?" Poseidon asked.
"You don't think he...kidnapped her, do you?" Hermes added tentatively.
"Percy? Are you okay." She blinked back to herself. Triton had moved to float closer to her and her dad was in the doorway. The voices continued.
"Should we issue a quest like when Artemis was missing?" Zeus asked. Even if he was wary of the goddess, it would be bad news for the goddess of time to be missing.
"I'll have my hunters look for them. When was the last time anyone saw either of them?" The Olympians looked to one another.
"I saw both of them at Camp. I had just finished talking with Apollo when Percy came with an injured demigod. I'm sure he had been trying to steal something from her. After healing the demigod Apollo left and Percy said she was going to the Big House." Hermes reported.
"I haven't seen them since that night either." Hephaestus chimed in. There were murmurs of agreement.
"At least he hasn't taken the sun with him, wherever he went."
"Percy!" Triton had moved even closer and was shaking her shoulders.
"There's...there are two timelines. This one and another. They keep overlapping." Percy sat up. "I don't know why."
"Is there anything to do to fix it? If time has been tampered with..." Triton trailed off.
"I need," Percy paused. What did she need, to her knowledge this had never happened before. She could meditate but the other timeline would be too distracting. She needed to go deep. "I need to go to Mount Othrys."
"What?" Poseidon nearly jerked back in surprise. "Why?"
"It was Kronos's seat of power. I need to meditate and the power there should help me."
"I'll take you there." While the trip usually wouldn't be hard, Percy was feeling drained and had a hard time concentrating.
"Thank you."
"Triton, alert your mother that I'll be gone."
"Be safe."
"We can't find them anywhere! We've combed through North America. There's no scent to follow, which considering who we're trying to track shouldn't be this hard to pick up. I checked with the Romans and I checked Delos once again." Artemis reported.
"Do you think they're in Greece?" Hera asked.
"That's our next stop. The original Olympus." Artemis stood to leave, eager to find her friend and brother.
"Check Mount Othrys." Poseidon blurted. The gods usually avoided the mountain like the plague but something possessed him to mention it.
Artemis hesitated, flashing back to her own imprisonment on the mountain, before nodding and flashing away.
"The other timeline is moving faster." Percy realized they were on Mount Othrys already, the original one in Greece. She could feel the power in the air and at her feet. Kronos's crumpled throne sat before them.
"Well, we better get to the bottom of this." Even though Poseidon lowered her carefully to the ground it still turned into a flop. The strength she lost from leaving the ocean was being replaced by the power around her. Though not nearly fast enough.
Percy closed her eyes, pulling all her consciousnesses together before diving into her domain.
Apollo...
"Why didn't you get me sooner! You said you would when she woke up! And now she's gone!"
Amphitrite held back a glare. Apollo had been contacted and now stood shouting at her in Atlantis's throne room. With Poseidon suddenly gone she was acting queen. Her son floated next to her, his tail twitching every once in a while.
"It was imperative that she go to Mount Othrys as soon as she could. Your feelings aren't a priority here. Her health and the health of her domain are." Amphitrite said.
"Why are you being so possessive? She's ill and that's cause for concern. But we all are." Triton asked.
"My wife is sick from unknown causes! Her family won't let me stay with her for the "good of the kingdom" and then they fail to tell me she's awake and requesting to go to Mount Othrys! I'm going to her!"
When he tried to teleport out, he got winded and stumbled back.
"You aren't going to interrupt her," Triton said. While Apollo was an Olympian with many domains, he was on-in, their turf.
"What? You're going to arrest me?" Apollo scoffed. Pausing when he registered the tense water deities in front of him. "You're kidding."
"Either stay here peacefully or we put you in a cell."
One thing about being in water was that he couldn't hear people coming.
Guards materialized at his sides. One was floating eye level with Apollo, his greens eyes glowing eerily under his helm.
The other was shorter with skin between red and pink.
"Fine," Apollo growled.
"Follow the guards," Amphitrite said lowly.
Poseidon...
Poseidon leaned against the wall next to the entrance. Despite being in a space made for titans, Percy kept a human size. He wasn't sure if it was because she was sick or if it was a conscious decision.
She sat on her knees in front of Kronos's crumbled throne, head bowed as if worshiping the faded titan. Her hair fell forward, covering her face.
The sea god straightened when the energies in the room changed. His father's dormant energy surged, controlled and lead by the familiar feel of his daughter. A gold aura formed around Percy, growing brighter by the second. She was showing her Divine Form.
Percy...
It was hard to focus around the pain in her head but she tried her best to meditate. Slowly the physical world faded away. It was dark but she was able to feel Kronos's power in the very stone of the palace and throne. She tugged on it, using it to bolster her own power and sink even deeper.
Time was different for everyone who imagined it. She knew Rey liked to picture a river, him on a raft, traveling down it. Tessa never visualized it but felt it. But since it wasn't concrete in any form for her, her control over time was weaker. Jessica imagined a golden river.
For Percy, it was far more complicated. It resembled strings of spider silk connected together; connected like the synapses in the brain. She felt like she was floating for a moment before the confines of her current timeline let her out. She was in the non-space between the timelines.
While all possibilities and timelines existed, only one was the true one. Souls only traveled through one string. Percy surveyed the strings around her.
All the non-soul bearing timelines were fine, normal. But one timeline stood out. It was blurring with the one she was currently living in.
The string was normal up until date night. Each timeline string was composed of numerous individual ones. Two strings appeared, anchored to the real timeline before floating off. It drifted closer, explaining the blur she was experiencing.
The two strings were looped. They doubled back on themselves before splitting off.
A foreign force surrounded the timeline. Kronos's power. Whoever put us here used his scythe.
Hovering as close as she dared, she followed the real timeline. Faltering when she realized what it held.
The pain of what she saw dragged her back to her body the wrong body.
"Percy?" Poseidon took a step forward but paused.
"He...he-" Her Divine Form was receding, heartbreak weighing down her form.
Her father stepped closer, kneeling next to her. "Who?"
Percy looked up and sniffed. "Apollo." She said as her hand came up. A film of images swarmed his vision.
They were too bright, too fast and the colors blurred at the edges.
"How dare he!" Poseidon stood, breaking the connection.
"Wait!" Percy called when it looked like the sea god was about to flash away. "I need to fix this, but I need you here in case anything happens."
"Alright." Poseidon forced his shoulders down and made his trident disappear.
Percy righted herself and she started shimmering again.
She rarely followed people in their personal timelines, it drained power and was just an invasion of privacy. But she had to. She had to see what Apollo did.
Using Kronos's power she followed Apollo's strand back to the split-off point, following it along the real timeline. This section was stretched and distorted, explaining the differing rates time was traveling at in the timelines. Then she got to the loop. She inserted herself into the minutes leading up to the abrupt turn.
She stood next to Apollo who had flashed onto Olympus. She was horrified to learn that he had her key. She was grudgingly impressed at his ingenuity in using her wedding ring as her power signature.
So it had been Kronos's scythe. Easy enough fix...hopefully.
"I know what I need to do."
"What's happening?"
"Can you take me to my palace and I'll explain."
The oppressive air of Mount Othrys let up until the brightness of Olympus nearly blinded them.
"Apollo used Kronos's scythe to pretend he never cheated on me. He, rather inelegantly, maneuvered time to his whims. Since it was not my own power, it affected me more than it should." Percy stopped abruptly. "That's why I'm cold." She looked down at her attire. "The lack of souls." She whispered to herself.
"So you're going to return to that timeline?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Why?" Percy echoed incredulously.
"I mean, in this timeline Apollo doesn't cheat. I just...just thought that you'd be happier here."
"Apollo doesn't cheat in this timeline but that Apollo did. He's the one that cheated on me. Doesn't matter which reality." Anger started to bubble up. "And this timeline is destabilizing rapidly, there are only two souls in it!"
"Souls?"
"All timelines exist, every single one of them. But only one is the true one. Everyone has vessels, but everyone only has one soul. With only two souls in this one, it will fall apart." Percy turned away in the face of Poseidon's stunned silence. "No matter how much I hate it, I have to return the timeline to the way it should be. My duties as the goddess of time come first."
"Nothing yet." Artemis shook her head.
"I know," Poseidon said, he seemed hesitant. "We should wait."
"What?" Artemis snapped her gaze to Poseidon.
"Percy is fixing it."
"How do you know?" Athena narrowed her eyes.
"I don't really understand. There's this...there are these memories or something."
They waited...and waited...and waited.
Percy marched into her palace, and down to the door of the vault. She paused as she heard footsteps. "Dad, you can't...I can't let you see these artifacts. Just like we can't show people the true Atlantis."
"I understand." Poseidon nodded before backing up slightly. Percy entered, sparing a glance at the hourglass. With its cracked glass and tumultuous sand, everything was not well.
She faltered in her steps as she became aware of an odd buzz in the air. As she approached the scythe it became more intense.
Percy pulled the scythe down while also leaving it on the wall. There were two in this timeline. That would certainly lead to the break down of this reality. Turning the scythe into Backbiter she put it in a conjured sheath. Running her power through it briefly she made sure to bring the correct one back with her.
When she left and locked the vault she saw her father's eyes glance down at the sword.
"It would be easier if I could have contact with Apollo, do you know where he is?"
Did Apollo show up? Poseidon telepathically asked his wife.
Yes. He's currently under guard in a guest bedroom.
Thank you.
"He's currently in Atlantis." Percy wordlessly reached a hand out. Her power was low and she needed to conserve it in order to send her and Apollo back to the proper place.
Poseidon landed them in the throne room of Atlantis.
Neither Amphitrite nor Triton asked about the sword at her hip.
Percy glanced at a guard standing at attention from his king's return. "Take me to Apollo."
"Right away."
"Percy!" Apollo shot up to his feet. He engulfed her in a hug, either unaware or ignoring her stiffness.
She shoved him away roughly. She was not going to pretend anything was fine. Her memory wasn't completely filled in yet but she knew enough.
"Percy?" He froze. "Why do you have that?"
She drew it slowly, advancing while she did so. She only held it loosely at her side, but the aura coming off of it chilled the room.
"You know full well why. You used this yourself didn't you?"
"I don't know—"
"Stop talking!" The water boiled around her free hand, coiling up her arm like a pet snake. "Otherwise I cut your tongue out." She crowded Apollo, forcing him back. Power built in the sword, mixing with what power she had left. "I was willing to let you off as light as I did. The only thing I asked was for you to leave. Me. Alone." Percy growled.
"Percy, what's wrong?"
She couldn't believe Apollo would try to play innocent.
"YOU KNOW WHAT'S WRONG!" Anger made her power flare. At this point, she gave up on concealing it. Her aura grew and her eyes turned gold. "How did you think you'd get away with tampering with time."
Backbiter turned back into its original form. The point of the sword extending towards Apollo's shoulder, saved only by Percy lifting it slightly. The blade curved into its true form around the back of Apollo's neck. The sun god stilled.
"You have neither the insight nor the control to manipulate time properly—fully." Apollo flinched as the shaft of the scythe came to rest on his shoulder. The power emanating from it made his core throb. He had to get away. His left hand snapped up to grab Percy's right, the one holding the scythe. Ducking his head forward, just in case, he lifted the weapon and jumped to the side.
Percy spun the opposite way and Apollo fell back as a dagger hilt sprouted from his shoulder.
She's not attacking with the scythe, not truly. Apollo just had to trust that Percy didn't actually want him to fade. Although the way power was lashing out around her, he wasn't sure she cared.
He wasn't sure what to do. Fight her? Take and try to conceal the scythe? Even if he did that...she would remember.
Someone clenched a fist around his heart. He...lost her, again.
Light reflected off his sword as it shimmered into existence. Her smile was dark as she saw the sword.
"What are you going to do? Kill me?" He tried to speak but he didn't know what to say. He didn't know what he would do. "Didn't think so."
He tried to take a step back, he tried to edge toward the door but he was paralyzed. The water wouldn't let him move.
Percy walked towards him, confident in his immobility. She roughly grabbed his collar, balling it in her hand. "You are not getting away unscathed."
There was a bright flash of light and when Poseidon opened his eyes they were gone.
No one was happy. The inaction was making everyone antsy. Poseidon was annoyed with the council's questions of how he knew things. How he know Percy was working on it.
His vision whited out and he saw one of the guest bedrooms in Atlantis. He felt Amphitrite and Triton at his side as he stood in the doorway. Apollo stood cornered by Percy who held...Kronos's scythe?
His body became more real to him in whatever reality they were in. The him who usually possessed the body tried to move but Poseidon stopped it. He had a feeling Percy didn't need any interference. With what connection had left to his own body he called for a meeting, before getting himself there.
"Why have you called this meeting?" Zeus demanded of him. He sounded far away. His vision was still that of Atlantis.
"Brother?" Hades asked. He heard his older brother's robes as he moved closer. "Poseidon?"
"Percy's fixing it now." He muttered.
"What?" Triton asked from his side.
"Are you okay?" Hades asked.
Poseidon scowled as Apollo materialized his sword. Percy's mouth moved but the words were too quiet for him to make out. She strode forward purposefully, grabbing Apollo and in a flash of light, they were gone.
Poseidon's vision came back abruptly. Hades was in front of him, the rest of the council was staring at him with differing levels of concern or alarm.
The sound of a body hitting the ground drew all of their attention. Apollo had been thrown to the ground on his hands and knees, his sword slid across the floor.
Percy was trembling as she turned. Poseidon couldn't tell if it was rage or exhaustion.
"If anyone has any objection to his death, speak now."
AN: Whew! 6.5k words later, how was it? So the stuff about Atlantis will make sense in the sequel. I hope nothing was super confusing. As the author, I have more understanding of what's going on and what I'm trying to say. Also, I think I go between uppercase "Council" and lower case "council" and I'm sorry about the inconsistency. If it truly bugs anyone I'll go back to fix it but as of now, I've read this so many times I'm leaving it, at least for now. (Also, anyone know how to do strikethrough on this site?)
And in case it wasn't clear, the whole "date night" was the reason Apollo got banished to live as a mortal. It relates back to the whole "he killed three mortals and cursed one" from a previous chapter (might not be verbatim quote).
Tae, as you know, is Percy's kid. He's another claimed kid. I realized Tessa and Rey would be super young kids and I wanted Percy to have a kid. If you're curious Tae is Korean. He likes to travel a lot and his skill in slowing time has allowed him to survive many battles and such with monsters. Like Percy's other kids you don't know the parent (with Jessica as an obvious exception). His mom moved to America before he was born and her English is pretty good, but they speak Korean in the household. (Meaning Tae is bilingual at least). I'm telling you this here because I don't foresee him coming up again.
Also, the next chapter is planned out and I will not be budging on the main plot points. I usually encourage suggestions since, most of the time, I'm winging it. However, that is not the case this time.
Thank everyone for reading! New and old! Especially those who came back after I was gone for a year.
~Dawnmoon