AN: Last chapter! (Not counting the epilogue) Not much to say before starting.
Please read the end note! I have an important question there!
"If anyone has any objection to his death, speak now."
The room was quiet beyond Apollo's pained breaths.
Percy stood above Apollo, Kronos's scythe in her hand. Her ancient domain adding to her presence in the room.
Eyes fell to Apollo. Blood dripped down his arm, he trembled as he sat back onto his heels, keeping his head down. He moved to grip the hilt of the dagger in his shoulder.
"Don't," Percy commanded. Her trembling ceased as her voice grew steadier.
The sun god froze, dropping his arm back into his lap.
Apollo...
He stopped breathing when Percy grabbed his collar. "You are not getting away unscathed." In between blinks, she pulled him forward and he only barely caught himself before going face first into the floor. His sword was thrown out of his hand.
He tensed when Percy spoke to the rest of the council. She's serious, she wants to kill me. He stared wide-eyed at the floor between his hands. She's going to make me fade. He could fight still. The dagger would have to go. Keeping his posture submissive, Apollo tried to get it out.
Percy's command froze him. He couldn't gauge what her reaction would be. What would truly send her over the edge?
He heard the scrape of metal over the floor. Fear spiked and he tried to hunch into himself further.
Artemis...
Apollo made a pitiful sight.
Artemis was frozen as she watched her friend lift the scythe from where it was resting on the ground.
Apollo made a noise at the back of his throat, spurring Artemis to speak.
"Wait!" Almost all eyes snapped to her, she saw shock in the other gods' eyes, moreso from the sudden appearance of the missing duo than her outburst. She caught Poseidon's eye and shuddered at the rage contained in them. Apollo didn't move, either too scared of the goddess behind him, holding his life in her hands or resigned to his death.
"Not a permanent death, of course." Percy didn't move her stare from the back of Apollo's head. She removed Riptide from her hair, the sword elongated in her hand, reflecting light from the hearth.
Hermes was suddenly grateful that Percy was on Olympus's side. She made a terrifying figure. She held Kronos's scythe with familiarity, despite never having seen her use it, he was sure she knew how to wield it.
"Don't kill him." Artemis continued.
"Just a little?" Riptide's point rested against the back of Apollo's neck.
"At least tell us why you want to kill him when you didn't before," Hades asked, seemingly unmoved at what was happening before him.
"Tell them." Percy dragged the cold point of Riptide farther along his neck.
Apollo shuddered. There was nothing he could do to get out of this. If he fought, would the other gods restrain him? Could he even fight against Percy? He was injured and if she turned the scythe into its sword form he was sure to lose.
"P-percy, please." He couldn't say what he was really begging for. He just wanted away.
"Tell them." There was a blade on his neck, he didn't dare move.
"I-eh," He pressed his hand into his thigh, willing it to stop shaking. He was starting to regret so many things. "I used Kronos's scythe t—" Apollo took a shallow breath. "To reverse time to before I..." His throat closed, tears clouding his vision.
"Cheated on me." Percy, in contrast, sounded so together. Her voice was controlled. Most of the gods had never seen her so angry and it hit them that in front of them stood a side of her they never saw, the vengeful goddess. "He messed with time, he hurt me once again." Her voice wavered on the words before she forced it even again. "That's why I was sick. It was because of you."
The blade at his neck bit into his skin.
"Sick?" Artemis asked gently, stepping closer. She had to stall, had to get the weapons away from Percy. She hated what her brother did, but she loved him. She couldn't let him die.
Percy didn't answer.
"Don't kill him," Hermes said.
"Why not? He's killed for less. A lot of gods have. Why can't I?"
Artemis looked over to Poseidon when he let out a heavy sigh. "Because you're better than us." It looked like it pained him to say.
"Why? Why am I always supposed to be the hero? Why do I always have to give? Why am I never allowed to be selfish?"
No one could give her an answer. Apollo felt her trembles through the blade on his neck. He took his chance. He ripped the dagger from his shoulder, using it to bat away the blade, which he was relieved to see was Riptide and not the scythe. He scuttled back, admittedly a little ungracefully, until he ran into his father's legs.
Percy's eyes shined with tears, even as they glowed gold. "You saw what his actions caused." She finally lifted her gaze to meet Poseidon's. "You know how he made me feel after he cheated on me." She made eye contact with Aphrodite and Artemis.
"Percy," Apollo said. "I'm sorry. I am so so sorry."
Percy was unmoved in the face of his apology. "For what?"
"Eh," His throat worked, "...everything."
Riptide went back to her hair, the scythe turned into Backbiter before being sheathed. Apollo relaxed marginally once the weapons were put away.
"For some strange reason...I don't believe you." Percy ignored the wetness of her eyes and put her hands behind her back. "I don't trust you." The room was tense as Percy stared Apollo down. "Hera?" Percy looked up to the goddess. "I want a divorce."
"What about Jessica!?"
"This is between you and me. And we don't have to tell people why I divorced you until after she's gone."
"Of course, Percy," Hera answered. It was unusual for the goddess of marriage herself to dissolve a marriage. But Percy asked personally. Hera closed her eyes briefly. The thread tying Apollo and Percy lit up in her vision. It was frayed with only Apollo's magic going into it. This, more than anything, showed Hera how much Percy was done.
"No," Apollo muttered in horror when he felt Hera's magic against his. "No!" Hera yanked his away, severing the bond permanently.
Poseidon...
Poseidon winced when Apollo yelled out. He sounded so...defeated. Poseidon looked up towards his daughter who was glaring at Apollo. She was every bit the goddess of time in that moment and he had trouble seeing his laidback daughter.
Hera opened her eyes once she was finished and nodded to Percy.
"Phoebus Apollo," Apollo stood slowly, looking pained, "for your thievery and use of Kronos's scythe, I sentence you to live out your mistakes." Percy pulled out the scythe and it extended into its true form. "Repeatedly."
"Wait. Wait! Don't I get a trial? A vote?" Apollo looked wildly at the other Olympians.
Poseidon didn't look inclined to agree with him and neither did Aphrodite. Artemis looked desperately torn, glancing between her brother and her friend. Other gods looked either hopelessly confused or completely blank.
Apollo turned toward his father. Zeus was the god of justice and compounded with his title as King, Apollo hoped that would temper Percy's declaration.
"Father, please." He met his father's eyes. Zeus looked pained.
"There is no law that prohibits the use of the scythe. You cannot punish him for it, Percy."
"What about theft? He stole the key from me then stole the scythe." Her hand convulsed around the scythe.
"Those are punishable offences." Zeus conceded.
"He doesn't get punished for manipulating time? She was sick in the other timeline! What would have happened if you hadn't fixed time?" Poseidon turned to his daughter.
"That timeline would have furthered destabilized. I would have gotten sicker and sicker until I finally died. As the only soul Apollo would bear the full weight of the timeline and he too would die. To try to fix the messy job Apollo did, this timeline would try to pull us back. After pulling back nothing, this timeline would also start to destabilize. It would try to move all souls into another, but similar, timeline but without enough time deities, the move wouldn't work. And everyone would be lost to the void between times."
"What do you mean Apollo would be the only soul? Wouldn't there be the others in that timeline?" Hades asked.
Percy sighed. "I'm not talking about the souls that you deal with. In those timelines, those do exist. There are infinite timelines but only one carries real souls." This didn't erase the confusion on anyone's faces. "I don't want to explain further!" She said when Ares tried to ask another question. "Are we or are we not punishing him for nearly destroying reality itself!"
"You're proposing he live his mistakes repeatedly? In a time loop?" Athena asked. Percy nodded.
"How long?" Zeus asked.
"I was thinking forever but you all probably think that's too harsh." Percy spat. "Every other god can set their punishments for forever, but not me."
Apollo looked away from Hades' pitying stare. The god of the Underworld probably saw his fair share of punishments and torture. Even some of the punishments written about in the mortal's books were still going on.
"He lives out his crimes thirteen times. Returning to this timeline in..." Percy tilted her head in thought. "Five years."
The gods were surprised. Five years were practically nothing to most of them.
"Everyone in agreement?" Zeus asked.
Hestia, Hermes, and Artemis were the only ones not to raise their hands. But eleven out of fourteen still counted.
"Any last words Apollo?" Percy asked, stepping forward. The scythe was still out but held lowered to the ground.
"Thank you." His sentence could have been much worse. He only had to live out stealing her key onwards. That wasn't so long. It wasn't much of a punishment.
Percy's smirk was as cold as her fingers where she touched his forehead. Apollo's vision went dark and his body moved without his consent before he was able to see again.
Apollo disappeared and Percy dropped her hand to her side. The scythe disappeared from her hand along with the sheath for it.
Percy raised her gaze to Zeus. "Tell Asclepius that he should take over for his father for the foreseeable future."
The light quite literally left her eyes as they returned to their normal sea green. Her eyes fluttered and she fell back, Poseidon close enough to catch her.
"Hermes, retrieve Asclepius so he can see to Percy and so we can tell him of the recent developments." Hermes nodded to Zeus and flashed out. Poseidon lowered Percy all the way to the floor, summoning a pillow for her.
"Council." Asclepius bowed. "What can I do for you?" His gaze finally landed on Percy and he stepped forward without an answer. He was first and foremost, a healer. "What happened?"
"Probably energy expenditure. But we want to make sure nothing else is wrong." Poseidon answered.
Energy lighted Asclepius' fingers as he held them by Percy's temples.
"Lady Percia, can you hear me?"
Percy's eyes rolled before she was able to get them open. "Ascl'pus?"
"Hello, you've overexerted yourself. Almost dangerously. You'll need to rest and limit your power usage."
She nodded dazedly. "Tol' you to call m'Percy." Asclepius smiled before sending her off into a healing sleep.
"Lord Poseidon. I think it would be best if she recuperated in the sea."
"You'll fill him in?" Poseidon asked Zeus, putting a hand on Percy's arm in preparation to flash away.
Zeus nodded. "Of course."
"Fill me in?" Asclepius asked as he stood, backing up so he was more in the middle of the room.
"A long story-"
"That you can't tell anyone yet." Athena cut in.
Artemis...
Artemis stretched as she stood to leave. Telling Asclepius what happened took a while and Artemis was feeling restless. She needed to process what had happened.
She flashed away, the gold glare of the throne room giving way to the softer fire-lit inside of her tent. She barely sat down when a voice rang in her head.
Lady Artemis, I've finally finished. I'm chilling in Canada right now.
Artemis winced. She had forgotten about Thalia in all of this. How would her protective lieutenant react to everything that happened to Percy? Artemis sighed as she prepared herself for the following conversation.
Apollo...
Apollo took in his surroundings, trying to pinpoint exactly what his start time was. With sinking realization he took in the room. It was their bedroom. Percy walked in.
No, no, no
"When was the last time you spent any time in a mortal city? With that jacket, you'll stick out." She walked closer, running a hand over his shoulder. A new pattern spread from her touch and the jacket's cut was changed.
She looked so genuinely happy and he was about to ruin all of it. He'll watch her break apart again and again. He couldn't do anything to stop it.
He wasn't just going live out his thefts, something that spanned maybe a week. He was living from, arguably, the beginning of it all. Tonight they would go to dinner. Tonight he would kill three mortals.
In approximately six months, he would cheat on Percy.
Percy...
It had been three days and she was still exhausted but she needed to talk to Jessica. Percy debated whether she would tell the Camp the truth. She didn't really want to, mostly for Jessica's benefit but how else would she explain Apollo's five year disappearance?
"Mom!" Tessa exclaimed, sitting up in bed.
"Hello, Tessa."
"Percy!" Rey jumped when he caught sight of the goddess as he walked in.
"We were so worried! We couldn't contact you and the gods said you and Apollo were missing!" Tessa jumped up to hug Percy.
"I'm sorry to have worried you." Percy wrapped Tessa in a hug, running a hand through her hair. Rey edged over closer.
"What happened?" Percy grabbed the boy's sleeve and brought him into the hug he desperately wanted to be a part of but didn't want to admit.
I can't lie to them. If I had to lie to Camp I would. But not to them.
"I'll explain once Jessica is here. I want to tell all of you together."
"Last I heard she went to the archery field," Tessa mumbled into Percy's neck.
"Can one of you get her? I don't want the Camp to know I'm here yet." There was a beat where they were reluctant to let go. "And can you grab Andrew as well?" He already knows so much. And would probably hear it all from Jessica at some point anyway.
Tessa sniffed, her eyes shiny as she pulled away. "I'll get Jess."
Rey ducked his head, trying to hide the tears that had gathered. "I'll find Andrew."
"Thank you." Percy kissed them both on the forehead. Rey pretending to be disgusted as he walked out.
Tessa returned with Jessica in a few short minutes.
"Percy!"
"Jessica." Percy smiled as she received another hug. This one shorter than the last though.
"Hello, Lady Percia." Andrew walked in behind Rey.
"Hello, Andrew."
"As my children know, I've been missing for the past...week?" Glancing around she receives nods. "I," Percy sighed before sitting on Tessa's bed, "Apollo used Kronos' scythe to turn back time. Taking me from this timeline and putting me, us, in another."
"Why would he do that?" Rey asked.
"Ah," Percy sent a glance at Jessica, asking her permission. Upon receiving it Percy glanced between Tessa and Rey. "Apollo cheated on me." Tessa gasped. "He had-" Percy took a deep breath, trying not to cry. "He had a child."
"Me," Jessica said, her siblings turning to look at her.
It was a struggle, to go from beginning to end again. But it...helped? She felt a little better for it.
"So now he's in a time loop living out his transgressions." Rey had progressively gotten angrier as her story went on. He had taken to shredding a stress ball to pieces and picking at the remains. Tessa still looked horrified and her eyes were red from tears. Andrew looked shocked and frozen that way. Jessica was...stony. She was glaring harshly at the floor. "And that leads me to my question. Jessica." Jessica looked up at her name, the glare barely softening. "I can either tell the Camp the truth of what Apollo has done in order to explain his five year absence or I can come up with something."
"What's the question?"
"I won't purposefully out you as his daughter, but it might come out. Would you be okay with that?"
Jessica thought it over. Theoretically, her fellow campers shouldn't turn on her. She isn't her father. But...
"If...if the others, the campers start to bully me..."
"It probably won't be ideal but I'll come to your defense," Percy promised.
"I will too," Rey growled, ripping a chunk of stress ball into even smaller pieces, some of them turning to ash as he sped up the time around the chunks. Tessa nodded along, a serious look on her face.
"If any of my siblings give you trouble I'll deal with them," Andrew added.
"Thanks, guys. Tell the Camp what really happened. Besides, how else would you explain away Apollo's absence?" Jessica gave a strained smile.
"Thank you," Percy said. "I'll have Chiron call a meeting after dinner." Percy stood to leave, starting to pull whatever energy she had left together.
"Wait! I-uh..." Jessica trailed off as she struggled with the clasp of her necklace. "Can you—is there any way you can get this to Apollo? I mean, I know he's in a time loop and all but I just..."
"Don't want it? He gave it to you on your birthday, yeah? What about the bracelet?"
Jessica looked at her wrist. "It's...different. I got it before I knew he was my dad. It's from this idea I had of him. The necklace I knew what was going on. It almost felt like a bribe more than an apology."
"I understand, just making sure." Percy took the necklace, contemplating it for a second before tucking it into a pocket. "I'll see you all later." Percy flashed away to the Big House. Chiron had long grown used to gods appearing and disappearing suddenly so his drink stayed in his cup.
"Hello, Percy. I'm glad to see you up on your feet."
"Thanks, Chiron. Still not feeling a hundred percent but there are things to be done. Speaking of, can you call a meeting after dinner. I have to tell the Campers something."
"Of course. May I ask what?"
"I would love to tell you personally but I don't want to explain it more times than I have to." Chiron didn't even look disappointed.
"I understand. Will you be staying here until then?"
"I have a couple more things I need to do. Then I should stay in Atlantis until I need to come here."
"Take care." Percy always felt so warm when she talked with Chiron. He was such a wonderful parental figure.
"Thank you." The homey walls of the Big House gave way to the brightness of Olympus. She walked up to the palace and knocked.
"Oh, hello Percy. What can I do for you?" Hephaestus asked as he leaned on the door jam.
After speaking with Hephaestus briefly she made her way to the stables. Artemis' reindeer turned their heads at her entrance but went back to grazing. The sun chariot's horses snorted in surprise but let her be. Poseidon had explained to them the situation while she was recuperating some of her strength. Asclepius looked up from where he was checking on the harnesses.
"Percy! You shouldn't be out of bed!" He walked closer, looking like he was ready to catch her if she decided to faint.
Percy waved a hand dismissively. "There are too many things to do."
"I'm sure there's nothing that can't wait." While that was technically true, she wanted people to hear the story from her and not from any other god.
"I have a favor to ask."
After she visited Asclepius, and after he gave her a little bit of an energy boost, she left the stables to walk to the throne room to speak with Hestia.
It didn't take long before she returned to Atlantis. She hadn't realized how tense she was until the water took her weight. She wished she had enough energy to throw the necklace in Apollo's face but that would have to wait.
Camp, later that evening...
Percy appeared outside the dining pavilion when she heard Chiron make the announcement. "Campers! Please make your way to the Amphitheater when you are finished eating." There was a swarm of complaints that evening activities would be interrupted. When it quieted slightly he continued. "A god wishes to speak to you." Everyone went silent.
"Who?" A general question rose up, several voices overlapping.
Chiron looked hesitant before making eye contact with Percy, who was hiding in the shadows outside the pavilion. She nodded and turned away, heading to the Amphitheater herself.
"Lady Percia."
There were questions and theories pinging back and forth but eventually, everyone finished eating and made their way over. Percy was standing behind the fire as if it was some sort of shield, hands behind her back.
"Some of you might have been privy to the fact that I was missing." She spoke to the fire as the last of the campers rushed to sit down. "To fully explain the who and the why I must tell a story."
Her tone remained passive and her face never changed from its stare into the fire.
"Asclepius is taking over his father's duties in the interim. I will take up any remaining slack and be acting as the fourteenth Olympian until he returns." Percy finally lifts her gaze, scanning the crowd. "Any questions?"
"What happened to Apollo's kid?" The son of Hermes preemptively shied away.
"No one will be privy to their fate unless willed otherwise."
"Beyond Apollo's punishment...is it business as usual?" An Athena kid asked.
"Yes. We only needed to explain Apollo's absence and who his replacement is. Any prayer to Apollo should be direct to his son until his return.
"Any other questions?" Percy scanned the crowd. "If there are any more at a later date feel free to ask. However, for the next few days, I'll be in my father's kingdom restoring my strength. Thank you." Percy turned and left. With all the teleporting she didn't feel up to magicing herself away. Pausing, with her feet in the water, she pulled strength from the ocean to do one more thing. She took a box and a paper from her pocket before willing them away.
Jessica...
Jessica followed the mass of campers out of the Amphitheater. Hearing the story again wasn't any easier and Rey snuck out part way through. She and Tessa returned to their cabin where only Rey's lamp and Tessa's string lights were on. Rey was writing angrily in his journal but the room was otherwise silent.
Jessica then noticed the box on her bed. A note underneath it.
Hey Jessica,
If you haven't already I'd recommend opening the box.
Her eyes jumped down the page slightly, realizing it was in Ancient Greek, before putting it down. She wiggled the top off the box, her brows coming together in confusion.
I understand why you wouldn't want Apollo's gift. But it was extremely useful. I got you another one with similar capabilities. I had Hephaestus make it. Asclepius charmed it with its original healing properties. Perhaps stronger since he surpassed Apollo in healing. I asked Hestia to charm it to glow with the light of the hearth fire. I believe she added more but you'd have to talk to her about it since I don't really know what she did.
I don't want to scare you with all this preparation, but it's better to be safe than sorry. Who knows what Apollo's broken Oath will bring, or if the Styx will consider his punishment fulfilled.
Stay safe. I'll be there for you.
Percy
PS. I was unsure of the pendant design. I wasn't sure if you'd want the sun charm again. I didn't want to assume you'd like any symbol of mine. The charm will change shape if you wish it too, just picture it in your head.
Jessica turned back to the necklace. It was just a circle with a fancy J in it. After a moment of thought, Jessica pulled it out of the box. Just picture it? She closed her eyes and upon opening it the necklace was an hourglass.
Part of her had only really gone with Percy as a parent because of the protection it would afford. But after everything that had happened...
...if you hurt Lady Percia any more. If you hurt me. If you keep messing up, then that's it. You'll just be another god to me.
She didn't want Apollo as her dad anymore. And embracing Percy as her mom just...felt right.
Poseidon, a day later...
Hey, Poseidon?
Artemis?
Thalia has returned from her hunt and I told her what has happened in her absence. She got upset. It's been a few days and I think she'll be okay if she saw Percy.
It would be best if Percy stayed here as to not set back her healing. I'll ask her and if she agrees then I'll grant you and Thalia passage.
I will inform Thalia. Thank you.
"Percy?" Poseidon called and he got closer to his daughter's room. "Percy?" He knocked.
"Yeah? Come in." Her and Triton were both squinting at a board between them. Different figurines were grouped together. Percy smiled, "Get ready to lose Eina." She slid three figures forward and grabbed one of Triton's cards.
"Hey!"
"That's what you get for spreading yourself too thin!"
"Am I going to have to make her crown princess? Sounds like you're not doing too well, Triton." Poseidon teased.
"I had to start from scratch!" Triton defended, twisting to look at his dad.
"Anyway, Percy, Thalia is done with her hunt and wants to see you." Percy paled. Though it was hard to tell since she had transformed into her mermaid form.
"I, uh, forgot I'd have to talk to her. When is she coming and how angry is she?"
"Artemis asked for passage, so whenever you're ready. And, apparently, it's been a few days."
"Huh, alright. Let 'em over then."
There was a couple second delay but two forms flashed in.
"PERCIA JACKSON!"
"Thalia!"
Apollo...
He screamed mentally when his attempts at moving proved futile.
"Hey, Kada*." Percy breezed in like she had the last two times at this point. The affectionate nickname rolling off her tongue. She still called him that even when she knew what he did. It forced him to reevaluate all their interactions.
Except, this time, Percy didn't continue to the bedroom to take a shower. Apollo suddenly realized he had agency over his own body again and looked up sharply from the book he was forced to read again.
"Percy?" Her demeanor changed and that was when he knew he was talking to the present Percy...or future?
Her eyes glinted as she stepped closer. Apollo quickly realized only his neck up were free.
"I have a present for you." Apollo's eyes were drawn to the gold glint as Percy removed her hand from her pocket.
He didn't believe it could have gotten worse. But he was wrong.
In Percy's hand was the sign of his daughter's rejection of him.
"Did you...did you tell her how useful it is?" Anything. Any reason to get her to keep it.
"I replaced it. Healing and light. Easy peasy."
"Why," Apollo swallowed. "Why show me?" His voiced defeated.
"I couldn't leave you here forever."
"You're already punishing me more than the other gods think!" Percy shrugged, no denying it.
"Not my fault people assume I only meant your thefts." Percy moved around behind him. Apollo watched the pendant lower into his eye line. She clasped it, letting it rest fully around his neck. It burned as it settled.
"Have fun."
AN: I hope you guys liked this! Does this satisfy at least some of your need for revenge?
Important Question!
I've written a little bit of an epilogue and will be posting that in maybe a week or so. My question is: Are there any "loose ends" you want me to address? Any characters you'd like me to check in on? (One of them might be that Poseidon promised to hurt Apollo but never did so I might include that in the epilogue.)
Let me know and if I can't figure out a way to write it in then I'll at least address it in the ending AN.
There will be a sequel! Currently, it has no title but I will post a sort of "notification" chapter after the epilogue once I post the first chapter of the sequel. So if you don't want to be subscribed to me you can just subscribe to the story itself and not miss the sequel.
*Kada is a nickname for Apollo that Percy made up. It's from the Greek word Liakáda meaning 'sunshine' (as told to me by google translate. Forgive me if that's incorrect.) I just felt weird when I tried 'sweetheart' and 'honey'. I don't have anything against them I just personally didn't think they fit.
Thank you all, especially ones who came back after I was gone for a year!
Leave comments for any epilogue suggestions!