Chapter 9
WHAT'S UP EVERYBODY! Zayden here with another addition to the New Titans: Fall of Olympus. I would have done it sooner but when you get sick for a whole school week and have to stay in your home, you have a lot of makeup work and test to do, so it crunched my time. Plus, I got this a game called Marvel's Contest of Champions, and despite the wait times and that its glitches me out on my iPad, its a really good game. I have been going back to looking at Pokemon and Marvel/DC material to catch me up on what has been happening just in case for any of the stories I have been considering making. I have also caught up with the FNAF(Five Nights at Freddy's) world and it is really addictive to uncover all its secrets. But all that stuff is unimportant in this place, we have to check on where Percy went to meet. Also in case you may be confused later on, he meets two people by himself, but we won't see who the last one was, its a surprise. Then Percy will meet another person, but with a little backup.
Anyways, enough spoilers, its time to get rolling in.
Percy Jackson is owned by Rick Riordan, I have no rights to his creation or his world, and let's get on right into the story.
Redemption
Right after the meeting between Percy and his allies.
Third POV
Up north, in the freezing land of Canada, far from the gods of Olympus, is the city of Quebec. Known to the mortals as a Canadian province with French cultural ties, however, to the gods and deities of the supernatural, its known as the home to the god of the North Wind and Winter, Boreas, or Aquilon, whichever preference you side with. Anyways, here the god of the North Wind spends his days, keeping track of the northern winds, spending time with his children, as he had done for millennia.
That is until the Giant War.
Ever since the old winter god sided with Gaea and her Giants and lost, Boreas has been under the wrath of both Aeolus, the chief god of the winds, and Zeus. The once joyful, mischievous ruler of the North was but a broken shell of himself, one that spends his days simply grovelling and begging for mercy to Aeolus. He wasn't the only one that had it bad. He and those of his kin who sided with the Giants were put into more harder labor as penance for their actions during the war. Some of his children who didn't back down after Gaea's defeat, such as Zethes and Calais, his winged warrior sons, were massacred by Zeus's rage. But not before their immortality was stripped. Their death was one they wouldn't reform from.
But the one child of Boreas that had it worse than any of the others, even more so than Boreas, was his daughter, Khione, the goddess of snow, former lackey of Gaea.
Inside Boreas's penthouse/secret castle, inside one of the icy dungeons, in a cell guarded by two ice warriors, was the goddess of snow. And she looked like she had seen better days. Her once black lush hair was messy and disoriented through her time in her cell, her coffee-brown eyes seemed dull and lifeless, devoid of their fiery, piercing look, her pale, snow like skin seemed even more paler than you would think and had scars and gashes on her arms and legs that showed signs of abuse and torture, possibly by the hands of her angry, disappointed father, and instead of her usual white dress and tiara, she wore a grey, ragged prison clothes.
The once pompous ice princess was laying down on the floor, looking out through the window bars in her cell, her wrists in separate cuffs with chains that stretched to the wall she laid upon but enough for her to move without discomfort, even if being in an icy cell was already uncomfortable enough. The reason for the cuffs were to cancel out her powers making her unable to even create a snowflake. It made the snow goddess feel...mortal. The though disgusted her, her feelings towards the mortals reminding her why she joined Gaea in the first place. She wanted to be recognized, to be worshiped, to be noticed. I mean, how does a snow goddess get recognized and paid any respect when in ancient Greece, it barely snowed? Not to mention she had to be constantly under her father's shadow, who was somewhat recognized as cold winds where noticed back then. People would bestow offerings to her father for him not to destroy their crops and to not bring a harsh winter, but did they ever consider that she had a hand in that process as well? No. They barely noticed her, even the gods of Olympus barely know her, at least until the Giant War, then she became known as a number one bitch and traitor towards Olympus. Khione thought that having people hate and notice her would give her what she wanted, but it wasn't, if anything it made her feel more hollow and depressed than she ever had in her immortal life.
But if there was anything that time in this prison taught her was how much worse everybody else had it. She would hear the whispers and sometimes bribed or manipulated the guards into telling her the news from the outside. Apparently, the Olympians have cast their precious savior, Percy Jackson, into Tartarus. She never really interacted or came across Jackson, but she knew of his reputation and what he looked like. Every god knew who he was, being the child of the Prophecy, turning down immortality and saving the world, TWICE, and asking for the minor gods, even her, to receive recognition. When she first heard about what he did, she was shocked beyond belief and started to hope that her future would turn bright, but of course her hopes were smashed when the Olympians didn't hold out their end, they still barely recognized her and she felt more bitter and angry towards them that she joined Gaea. She, however, held little respect for the Jackson boy, even considering asking Gaea to keep her as her plaything after they won the war. Of course that didn't happen, but a girl can dream.
Anyways, when she heard that the Olympians not only sent the demigod into Tartarus, but Poseidon, who makes her more enraged when she hears his name, for seducing her and leaving her with child and then ignore her, disowned him. And if that wasn't too preposterous to hear, she found out that the Olympians, including Poseidon, planned the betrayal almost immediately after the rewards ceremony. She then heard how worse things had been occurring for the past 30 years and how things were looking like how Kronos and the Titans ruled. She never was alive during that time, but she heard enough to know when things were bad, and right now, she feels as if the Zeus is, somehow, channeling Kronos's evil into him, even with the Titan of Time gone for good.
Made her wonder who really was the prisoner here? Her or the rest of the world?
Khione returned from her subconscious train of thought, to fully concentrate on the outside world that she can see. Contrary to what most may assume, for an ice goddess, she never like to stay put in one place. She wanted to be like the snowflakes, blowing in the free, cold wind, unrestrained by the earth and soar into the air, to wherever the wind pleases. She wanted to be both the wind and snow, fully unchained, and out in the world, even if she had to sincerely repent her actions to the Creator himself, even if she had to kiss up to that wretched daughter of Aphrodite, that humiliated her.
'I will do anything.' Khione thought to her herself. 'I will do anything to be free from here. I would swallow my pride to that little princess to be free. Change my ways. Please. If there is an All-Powerful God out there, then please, give me the chance to make it right, the chance to be happy and free again.'
Suddenly, the sound of a metal door opened and she heard footsteps coming down the hallway to her cell. Her heart clenched in fear, thinking it was her father, coming once again to torture her for convincing him to join Gaea. Ever since Zeus and Aeolus mistreated and demote him, especially after Jackson took the boot to Tartarus, her father's cheery self, one that she, although it drove her nuts, loved and cherished about her father, was all but gone and replaced with a cold, more than usual, angrier self. He would at times come and whip her with a whip made of icicles, blasts her with small doses of freezing blasts, and even going as far as sexually harassing her, but, thankfully, he never took it too far. She would think it was what was left of his once cheerful self, but she would question it time and time again after every torture session.
Looking towards the entrance to to her cell, where her guards stood, there stood another guard, wearing the same icicle-like armor, blue skin, and ice spear. She almost sighed in relief, but would still be fearful that he was here to send her to her father, or, even worse, he being her punishment and having him do with her as he pleases, which terrified her.
The new guard walked up to the other guards and spoke in a clear husky voice "Move aside my comrades, I have received orders from Captain Fries, he said you guys may take your hour-long lunch break, I have been sent to guard the prisoner in your absence."
The two guards looked at each other, a look of confusion on their faces. The one on the right said "Are you positive about these orders, we thought that there should always be at least two guards watching the bitch at every time."
The newer guard said "Positive, the Captain knows about the precautions and has sent me to see to guarding the girl. I am from the Elite Frost Platoon 02 and I have extensive training in how to guard war prisoners and traitors."
The two guards looked at each other again before shrugging. The one on the left this time said "Whatever, as long as we have an hour long break, I'm good. We barely have those anymore. You may guard the prisoner."
The two guards saluted in the signature salute made to make sure that each person is legit. The newer guard made the following second part of the salute which is a three clawed signature to the heart and then tracing it into a six lined star, like a snowflake, which proved he was legit. The two guards were convinced and left right after to take their break. The sound of the metal door opening and closing sounded, leaving Khione alone with the new guard. He then looked directly at her, a blank look on his face. He then reached into his side to reveal a frozen key and used it open her cell. The goddess's heart started to race and her eyes widened at the possibilities of what was going on. But she recompose herself and put up a brave, strong face, like what she would always wear. The man closed the cell behind him and walked until he was standing a few feet from her sitting position.
He looked at her silently for a while, to the point where Khione started to feel uncomfortable. She couldn't see his face through the helmet and raven black hair. She then snapped towards him with a trademarked sassy remark "What? You just gonna stand there like a statute, even my ice ones could move more than you right now."
The guard instead of responding, turned towards the cell bars and waved his hand towards them. She thought he was crazy, but a moment later the shadows in the cell started to grow darker and larger, beyond the normal capacity. They then started to fully encase the cell room, shutting of the light from the windows or from outside the cell bars. Khione almost shivered, which stunned her because even with her powers suppressed, she still couldn't feel cold unless if it was of a really high power, even higher than Hades as she could stand his shadows. She actually felt more fearful at this revelation as this could be some powerful god or assassin sent to kill her. Suddenly, the room started to light up again and Khione saw the shadows receding to normal, yet when Khione looked towards the window and cell doors, it looked almost hazy, like a mirage.
Khione snapped her head towards the mysterious guard and said in a demanding tone "What have you done just now?"
The guard finally responded with "Illusion magic, I have encased the shadows around the room to make it appear as what I require it to be. Should allow us to interact and talk without raising suspicion, in case anyone comes by."
Khione was stunned at this news as she knew for a fact that none in her father's ranks of soldiers was there someone who could control the shadows, much less use this advanced form of shadow magic. Khione then said "Who are you? You are not really a guard or from my father's soldiers. Are you some god or assassin sent here to kill me? If so, go ahead. It's not like I could get out of here if I wanted to."
The guard made a lop-sided smirk that was somewhat endearing, like that Leo Valdez only more handsome and flawless. The mystery man then said "I heard that you were smart and cunning, it would seem that the rumors are true. Also are you sure you don't want to leave? Not even if I made a proposal for you."
Khione's eyes were raised in surprise before relaxing into one eyebrow raised "What makes you think I would accept or that you can free me?"
The guard responded with "Because I can tell that you are miserable and desperate to leave here, even if you have to swallow your pride over something. Plus, I have experience in getting out of tight situations worse than this."
The guard the took a deep breath through his nose and exhaled through his mouth. Suddenly, his form started to turn hazy like the windows and the cell doors. When the haziness stopped, a completely different person was in front of the goddess. Standing in front of her, stood a 6'5 foot looking figure, covered in a black cloak with a hood obscuring most of his face. From what she could tell, he had tanned skin, a face that looked chiseled out of marble, and had wild raven black hair. As for his clothes, besides the cloak, she saw a weird, technological sort of armor mostly in black and some cybernetic green lines tracing along the armor, it seemed to combine the concept of an assassin and a cybernetic warrior. What was also weird was the the symbol on his strong-looking chest, it looked like a the image of a dragon with what looked like lightning and ice coming from it. All in all, Khione grew more interested at who the man was.
"I'm gonna ask one more time." Khione said, trying to sound confident and strong. "Who are you and how do you know so much about me?"
The cloaked figure continued to look at her with what she though was a blank expression. He then said "Because you tried to me and my friends a while back."
The man raised his hands and touched the sides of the cloak's hood that was obscuring his face. He then pulled back on the hood and from what Khione saw left her paralyzed in shock. His fierce eyes were a mixture of icy blue, that looked cold enough to freeze even her father, and a beautiful sea green, that looked like flames. She only say those kinds of eyes from only one kind of people. Poseidon and his children. And the only child of Poseidon that Khione knew that had hair, eyes, and face like this was...
"Perseus Jackson!" Khione said.
The said demigod made his trademarked smirk, which somewhat calmed her down. He then said "Glad some people still know who I am. I thought by now the Olympians would try to rewrite history and say that Ryan or Zane were the Heroes."
Khione didn't know what to make of this situation before her. For one, Jackson was supposed to be in Tartarus, secondly, even for him, he should have died with all the time that had transpired since then, and thirdly, he wasn't suppose to have shadow powers.
Perseus seemed to have noticed the Khione's was thinking and said "I know you must be asking as to why and how I am here, but I will tell you, as long as I know you are on board."
Khione asked "On board with what?"
Perseus replied with "I assume you know what the Olympians did to me, especially my so called father. I was betrayed by what I thought were my allies and friends, people I trusted on, fought for, suffered for. And what I received in return was betrayal, heartache, and pain." Perseus eyes seemed to darken, and Khione almost swore that his pupil straighten like a snake. His fist clenched in remembrance of what transpired to him ages ago and the room seemed to darken in response to his anger. "I was cast out, betrayed, broken, forgotten. Much like you, goddess of snow." Khione would normally retort in anger for what she would thought was mockery, but she realized that he was sincere. She could see the hardship he had to go through, the crushing betrayal, and the pain of being cast out by his own family, the pain she has suffered for so long.
Perseus continued with "Because of this, I was cast into Tartarus but I was saved by a very special being. He showed me the numerous atrocities and crimes that the Olympians have done throughout millennia, including what my former father did to you and your son, Eumolpus."
Khione's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates. She thought no one knew what really happened! She remembered how she gave birth to the legendary Thracian king with Poseidon, how she feared what her father would do about this, and how she let go of her son. But myths said that she tossed her son into sea to save her own skin, when really that was the work of Poseidon. He twisted the myths to make it seem that he saved her son and she tried to kill him. What really happened was that Poseidon offered to hide Eumolpus from her father and raise him in the sea. She agreed, not to save herself, but to save her son from his father's wrath. She watched her son became the legendary king he was and was proud of him. But one day, Poseidon tried to bed her once more but Khione refused. This angered the sea god and he swore he would take his vengeance out on Eumolpus. She tried to warn her son about what would happen and tried to hide him. But the King of the Seas, with the assistance of Zeus, found Eumolpus, killed him, and make it seem that it was her doing. She was heartbroken for decades and Greece had unexpected, long, ferocious winter that year. Ever since, she became more cold-hearted to everyone, began her hatred towards the Olympians and Poseidon, and never had children again.
She was so deep into her memories that didn't notice the warm hand that rested on her shoulder. She snapped out of her memories by the touch and was going to instinctively destroy the person, until she realized that it was Perseus, with a comforting gaze, and that she couldn't kill him if she wanted. Perseus then said "I can see the pain still etched into your soul to this day. I don't wish to give you my pity, for I know it won't change what happen or make the burden any easier but I, with as true heart that I have now, I am sorry for what my father did and wish to help you exact the vengeance that has eluded you for millennia."
Khione was surprised, and slightly touched, about the words the former son of Poseidon said. She then took notice of the last thing he said. Exact her vengeance? He wouldn't mean...
Khione sat straight in realization and said "You mean to go to war against the Olympians, don't you?!"
Perseus silently nodded his head.
Khione then asked "Why would go against the Olympians? I know that they betrayed you, made many of us suffer, and I'm not saying they shouldn't be brought down but because of you Kronos and Gaea are gone for good, meaning no Titans or Giants to try to rise again and no allies, do you plan to fight this war on your own?"
Perseus replied with "A man can make a difference by himself, but only a fool would turn away a helping hand, especially in times of war. No, I don't mean to fight this war alone, for I have help from the most unlikely of beings, Chaos and the Primordials."
Khione thought she couldn't be anymore surprised or terrified after hearing that. The Primordials were one huge thing, but the Creator himself?! Might as well fling yourself into the darkest corner of Tartarus. She would assume he was lying but there was something in his eyes that told me he wasn't lying. Perseus proceeded to tell her how Chaos saved him from the Pit and how he has been helping him gather an army to destroy the Olympians and finally have a new generation of immortals to rule, this time with Chaos's full permission and acceptance.
Khione then asked the big question "Then why are you here? What possible purpose do you have to tell all this to me, a traitor, a former servant of Gaea, and a weakling of a goddess?"
Perseus then reached out his hand and said "Because I want you to join me."
Khione's earlier assessment was wrong. She was more shocked than ever. Not only had this demigod, now practically a god himself, been raising a powerful army to finally defeat the Olympians, but he was asking her, a former enemy and an easily forgotten goddess, to join such a force. Khione responded with "Why would you want me to join you? If you forgotten, I almost killed your friends numerous times and nearly helped destroy the world, wouldn't that be a bad image on you? Besides why would you want a weakling goddess like me?"
Perseus stood there silent for a moment, before kneeling to the ground, to where their eyes were at the same level. He then responded "To answer your first question, I know of what you did to my friends, especially Piper but I have seen that you are truly remorseful of your actions and wish to amend them. I can see that it just started out as an excuse to get out of here, but I can see your cold heart breaking under the guilt. I wish to help you achieve that goal, along with your other goal. Revenge against Olympus, for what they have done to us, something we have in common. Especially against Poseidon, another thing we have in common. As for you being a weakling, you couldn't be father from the truth. You are the goddess of ice and snow, a force that many in ancient times could barely survive against, and one that is still powerful today." Perseus then reached out his hand before Khione and his started to glow blue. Khione witnessed as a crystal made of ice was formed in his hands, surprising the goddess. Perseus continued "Your power, our power is a very dangerous force, one that gives coolness and joy, yet weakens and destroys. You control both aspects and can become a just, yet powerful goddess, if you let me show you the path. And I'm not the only who agrees on this. You are stronger than you know goddess of snow, far from being a D-listed goddess."
Khione stayed silent, processing the information she had received. To be praised and forgiven by a former enemy was a concept that many in the immortal world had barely ever witnessed. The gods spend more time and care on their desires and hubris than forgiveness and generosity. And if this man here, no, this new kind of god here, can show such an act, than maybe there is hope for the world of mortals and immortals after all.
Perseus then asked the big question "So, what do you say Khione? Do you really wish to make up for your past transgressions?"
Khione looked straight into Perseus's icy blue eyes, some of her former pride and courage rejuvenated and brought forth. She said "How do I know you aren't lying to me? How do I know that all you have said as of now isn't nothing but meaningless words? And if they are true, how do I know you will help me and not stab me in back when it begins? And how do you know you could trust me and that I would accept?" Khione grimaced internally the second the last word came out. She thought that she messed up her only chance, that Perseus would rise and shout at her in anger and leave her to her fate in this cell. But something else happened, something that she never thought would happen in all of existence.
Perseus neither yelled out in anger or grinned in amusement. He instead raised his hand towards her as like asking for a handshake and said "Because I'm willing to make a promise on the Creator, to swear to Chaos."
Khione's eyes widen in fear and shock. She heard how Perseus made his threat towards the Olympians on Chaos's name, a promise that transcends the River Styx and the Fates, one that comes with a unbelievable risk. Oblivion. To not just die or fade, but to be completely erased from existence, never to set foot in the Underworld or Land of the Faded, where immortals go when they fade. No one made an oath like that since the time of the Primordials.
Khione was about to tell him of what a fool's task it was to do such a thing, but Perseus beat her to the punch with "I know of the dangers of the oath, as well as the punishment. Which is why there can be no oath greater for immortals than this. If I were to make this pact, I will help you free from this cell in due time, when the time to strike is right. To free you from here and come to me and my allies without being noticed by your father. To help you kill your father and exact your vengeance on the Olympians, to a fate worse than death if necessary. And to make you fully recognized, worshiped, and more powerful than ever before. And in return, you would swear allegiance and loyalty to not just me but my allies, as well as Chaos. To be a servant to the Creator's will. And as a bonus, I will help you find the peace and happiness that you seek, if not by me than by another. Besides, if you refuse I can just wipe your memories and forget this ever happened. But I wish not to take that route. And I sense neither do you. So, Khione, goddess of Snow, Ice, and Cold, will you join me and accept the risk?"
The snow goddess looked upon his hand and saw what could be. A chance to get her revenge, on her father and Poseidon, to be praised and respected, to be free, but at the cost of being the Creator's soldier and ally to his will. Which didn't sound so bad to have the Big Man on your side and him willing to offer forgiveness. She made up her mind.
Khione finally said "I accept. I shall do the oath."
Perseus grinned and reached his hand fully to the goddess, to which she reached out as well. Their hands met and clasped onto the far back of their wrists (sorta like Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, where Snape made the Unbreakable Vow, which is this to put it simply. Anyways back to the story.). Perseus then proclaimed "I, Perseus Jackson, son of Sally Jackson, former son of Poseidon, champion of Chaos, Balerion, the King of Dragons, champion of the Primordial Council, heir to the throne of the new immortal council chosen by the Creator, Child of the First Great Prophecy, Member of the Chosen Seven, Former Twice-Over Hero of Olympus, Slayer of Kronos, Slayer and peace-bringer to Gaea, Retriever of the Master Bolt, the Helm of Darkness, the Golden Fleece, and the Eagle of the Twelfth Legion of Rome, former Praetor of the Camp Jupiter and unofficial leader of Camp Half-Blood, Traverser of the Sea of Monsters, the Labyrinth, the Mare Nostrum, Rome, Greece, and Tartarus, Slayer of countless Monsters and Titans, hereby make an oath with Khione, goddess of Snow, Ice, and Cold. I hereby swear to help her exact her revenge on her father, Boreas, and the Olympians, to help her find peace, to free her from this prison and grant her access to Arcadia, the Realm of Chaos, if so Chaos and permits, and to make her more powerful and a part of the new kingdom of immortals, in return that she swears allegiance to Chaos, the Creator, to swear on her immortal life to do his will and be loyal to us. This I swear this on Chaos."
Perseus's and Khione's hands started to glow blue. Then, suddenly, blue strings of magical energy, intertwined one another to to each other with a symbol on top of them, a Supernova with a Black hole around it, the symbol of Chaos. This commenced the start of the oath, and would be fully complete and pending when Khione swears in agreement.
Khione was at first frozen due to all his titles, especially that of being Chaos's champion and some Dragon King? She shook her head to clear her thoughts, took a deep breath and said "I Khione, goddess of Snow, Ice, and Cold, daugther of Boreas, the god of Winter, and Oreithyia, the lady of mountain gales, hereby make an oath with Perseus Jackson, Former Hero of Olympus and Champion of Chaos. I hereby swear to help him defeat the Olympians, swear loyalty and allegiance to Chaos, the Creator, to do his will on my immortal life. In return that he frees me from my prison, allows me passage to Arcadia, if Chaos permits, be a part of the new immortal kingdom, exact my own vengeance on the Olympians and my father, and help me find peace. This I swear on Chaos."
The glow and the lines around the two's hands started lower more brighter and the air cooler. The symbol above blazed in blue light, before vanishes, as well as the cold and glow and lines on their hands.
The oath was made.
Khione felt a cold shiver up her spine, signalling the burden of the oath taking presence in her immortal soul. She saw Perseus shrug his shoulders which signified that he must have felt the same feeling. Khione then asked "So, what happens now?"
Perseus replied with "Right now, we shall go to Arcadia, introduce you to Chaos, the Primordials, and my allies, and begin your training."
Khione raised an eyebrow and asked "Firstly, why do I need training for and secondly, what about the guards, aren't they going to notice me gone and alert my father?"
Perseus smirked and said "Well you need to train to have enough power to fully take down your father or any of the Olympians. You have it in you, but you need the proper training to fully tap into it and give that power a little boost wouldn't hurt now would it? As for your father's guards, the illusion filed I put in here and out of the cell will alert me if your father or any other guards show up and will automatically make it so that you are still in the cell. But to make it convincing, you will have to come back at some points to sell you are the real deal, ad don't worry about your father's cruelty, the field will also subtly influence his mind to leave and cause you no harm."
Khione was shocked at the realization at what he said. She knew shadow illusion magic was very convincing, but to do all that is unheard of. She had a sneaky suspicion that this wasn't just any old illusion magic, it was something more ancient, more powerful.
Perseus snapped Khione out of her thoughts by respectfully tapping her shoulder. "You ready?" He asked
Khione nodded at Perseus to whom replied with "Alright, I will transport you to the Arcadia in just a moment. You will meet one of my allies there and just tell him or her who you are and that I sent you here. They will get you up to speed on the place and your training."
Khione tilted her head in confusion and asked "You are not accompanying me?"
Perseus shook his head in response and said "No, I have some other business to attend to, but I will see you there soon. Ready?"
Khione nodded her and closed her eyes waiting the transport as she thought that the process would be bright. Perseus placed a hand on her shoulder and used his spatial powers to teleport her to Arcadia. She disappeared in a bright blue light. Almost immediately, the illusion field created by his shadow powers and, his non-disclosed space powers, made an illusion copy of Khione and the guard Perseus impersonated outside.
Perseus looked over his work and took a deep breath and said "Well onto the next. Let's hope he doesn't get all emotional." And with that, Percy created a spatial portal to his next destination.
Location: Arcadia
Time Skip: After Percy's meeting with Khione and his other meeting. (It's a secret :))
Perseus teleported into the Primordial throne room, to see Khione talking with Chaos and Piper. He saw how uncomfortable the two looked and Chaos talking to the two. 'He must be explaining Khione her training process.' Percy thought. 'These next few hundred years are going to be complicated.' Percy then looked at the other people in the room, which included Ouranos, Pontus, and Hydros, and Zoe and Calypso who were patiently waiting beside Chaos's black, galaxy throne. 'Seems that Khione will be trained by Hydros and Pontus on her ice powers just like I did. Then Ouranos will help her on her North wind powers. I'm still surprised that even though she used those powers against us during the Giant War, that she only tapped into only a fraction of her the true power she wields inside.'
Chaos noticed Perseus's presence and seem to tell the three Primordials to explain the rest to Khione. The three Primordials then introduced themselves to the snow goddess and, in a little bit, they left the room, leaving Perseus with Chaos and the two daughters of Atlas. Chaos walked over to him and Zoe and Calypso finally noticed the demigod's presence and they too came. Unlike Chaos and Bianca, however, Zoe tackled Perseus into an embrace and furthered it with a passionate kiss, signifying the feeling the two developed and revealed to each other through 300 years in Chaos's world.
After breaking apart, Zoe said to Perseus "It was nice to see Lady Artemis and the Hunters again, as well as meeting your sister, wasn't it? When are we gonna tell My Lady, Aphrodite, Thalia, and Piper about, you know, us and what they are?"
Perseus replied with a smile and said "I think it best to tell them after I spend time with them. You know, truly solidify the feelings me and they have. Then we can tell them about how they are my soulmates. I really hope Artemis doesn't rip me in two." When Perseus said that last bit, he looked absolutely worried and terrified.
Zoe smirked and said "Oh she probably won't. If anything she will probably have the Hunters and her wolves chase you, turn you into jackolope, and then skin you alive. And that's if she is in a generous and understanding mood. What you really should be worried about is Thalia." This caused Perseus to turn pale and start sweating like a terrified anime character.
Perseus gulped and said "I didn't even think about that! Not to mention there's Piper and Aphrodite too. If there is anything I know about those two is that they are terrifying when riled up."
Zoe pouted and said "I still don't know why Aphrodite of all people is your soulmate, much less her daughter. My experience with her and her daughters wasn't all that pleasant."
Perseus sighed and lifted Zoe's chin to see him directly and said to her "Hey, remember what I told you, she isn't the person that you and most people think she is. There is more to her than you know. And her daughter is something else. Trust me, you will love them. But don't forget, if you feel in anyway you are being forgotten or paid no attention, remember that I love you. In sense, you were the first one I ever really loved and I weeped and mourned your loss, and rejoiced when I saw you again. Know that no matter how much I love the others, remember that I love you just as much, the first woman that I ever fell for."
Zoe teared up a bit from that loving, comforting speech and kissed the champion of Chaos. They stayed like that for a while until they heard the clearing of a throat. It came from Chaos who waiting patiently for them to talk, while Calypso was there crossing her arms, with a mischievous, happy grin on her face. The two lovers blushed and separated clearing their minds and thoughts to talk with Chaos.
Chaos said to Percy "I see you, Percy, have met and brought Khione to our side. I'm glad you did, I pitied the poor thing and wished to help her and you, my champion, have taken such a role. Well done."
Perseus bowed slightly to the Creator and said "Thank you Lord Chaos."
Chaos smirked playfully and said "How many times do I have to tell you? Stop with this 'Lord' business. Just call me Chaos or Dad, remember, my dear adopted son?"
Perseus grinned and replied "Then you may want to stop calling me Percy or your champion, Dad. It's Perseus, and I'm but just a son loyal to his father."
Chaos smiled proudly and amused and said "Touche. Anyways, pleasantry aside, have you met with your other meeting?"
Perseus turned to a more serious demeanor and said "Affirmative. We met, discussed things, like apologies and such, and he has agreed to help us and join up when the time is right."
Chaos nodded, pleased, and said "Excellent, so I understand you have one more visit that you have to make?"
Perseus nodded and said "Yes, this one will be a bit more difficult than the rest, even Khione but to pull it off, I need to bring Zoe and Calypso with me."
Zoe and Calypso looked curious as to what Percy Jackson meant. Calypso asked "Why would you need to bring us along?"
Perseus grinned and said "I will tell you on the way there." He then turned to Chaos and asked "Are you alright with the procedures and the means to which I have to take?"
Chaos nodded grimly and said "Yes, of course. But I want to make this clear, do you really wish to recruit him. Last I checked, you two didn't left things off under good circumstances. Not to mention the means to free him would potentially alert the Olympians. Are you sure this is what you wish?"
Perseus paused and had a contemplative look on. He then looked fully at Chaos and said "I'm sure. I know that somewhere in his cold heart, that there is a seed of redemption in there. He needs a chance, just like Khione."
Zoe then asked in an impatient tone "Alright enough, spill. Who is this person we are getting?"
Location: Mount Tam
Over in the sunny land of California, was the one place where it normally isn't sunny, Mt. Tamp, the new mystical location of Mt. Othrys, former base and home to the Titans. The mountain itself looked the same as always, a black mountain, the size of a New York skyscraper. It became bigger during the Second Titan War, making closer to the formerly mentioned size. It once looked like a fortress, a worthy base for the mighty Titans of old, where the sky met with the earth and the Black Throne of Kronos laid inside the golden halls of the Temple, where at its roots laid the the Tree of the Golden Apples of Immortality, home to the Hesperides and Ladon, the legendary Hydra. Truly a magnificent sight.
Except, that was then. Now, it looked nothing like that.
The mountain maintained the size, hidden thanks to the Mist, but there was no longer any Temple, no castle, no golden halls, no Black Throne. It was merely a black mountain, nothing within it but the garden and ruins. Once inhabited by the Hesperides, but now gone. The only living being that remained were Ladon, still guarding the Apples of immortality.
And, especially, the bearer of the skies.
At the very top of the mountain, laid Atlas, General of the Titan Kronos's army, the Titan of Endurance and Strength, and, most notably, Bearer of the Skies. The Titan looked the same as he did when he was freed during the Titan War. He wore an expensive brown business suit, which now looked tattered and worn out, and Greek armor. His slick black hair was messy, unkempt due to the Titan holding the Skies, his grey, stone-like eyes were bored and tried looking, and his regal, statue-like face was staring off into nowhere, as he kept formulating plans to free him from this prison and destroy Olympus. But all those thoughts he brushed off as quickly as they came, each impossible and worthless in the long run. In the end, there would be no point. Kronos is gone, for good this time, as well as Gaea. Most of Titans are either dead and still reforming, in hiding, or simply been released and given up, as far as he knows. Most of Giants too had faded when Gaea did, and the remaining ones are in chained in Tartarus. Even though the Jackson boy is gone, which he heard from the rumors flying around, he heard that the supposed Andromeda was just like Percy Jackson, but in this case female and with fire powers instead. Even if he could break out of this cursed burden, he would stand no chance against the might of all the Olympians, he wouldn't be able to form a large enough army. He would fail, just like his brothers and mother before him. The only option were the rest of the Primordials, but they are either long sense faded or simply uninterested in the affairs of this world.
Instead, Kronos thought of the reasons he was he in this damned prison in the first place. These were the things that fueled his hate for the Olympians and gave him the blood lust that nearly rivaled Ares. He remembered having his daughters, especially his proudest two, Zoe and Calypso. He remember how he helped kill and overthrow his father, Ouranos, how he ruled with an iron fist alongside his younger brother, Kronos, how he fought alongside him during the Titans War and punished with this task, of carrying the weight of the skies. Ironic, considering he held down his father, the Skies themselves and killed him, which led to this curse to begin and soon placed under in the first place. He then remembered how the Castellan kid freed him, helped place the goddess, Artemis, under his curse and finally be free since millennia. But all that was all ruined by the Jackson boy and his won daughter, Zoe. He remembered being placed under the sky once again. But most vividly, and secretly painfully, he remembered how he struck his own daughter into a pillar of rock that he could see now if he'd turn his head. He felt how her life force disappeared and how secretly distraught he was, having to murder his own daughter. Uncharacteristic considering who he is yes, but with all his ruthlessness, all his hatred, all his anger, he never wanted to kill Zoe. If given the chance he probably would have gave up everything to see her and Calypso again. To live on that island she was unfairly cursed to, to give up being the General, to be just a father with his loving daughters.
But, sadly, that dream existed in the realm of fantasy and make-believe, something that even the world of fantasy couldn't create.
Atlas would have continued with his continued self-pity and despair, but suddenly three cloaked figures suddenly appeared in front of him. Atlas looked surprised at the unexpected group. Regaining his composure, or whatever composure he had in his position, and said to the cloaked figures "Who are you three? Are you gods, here to gloat and jeer at me at my expense?"
The figures were silent and un-moving like statues. He took this time of silence to examine the three figures, as to who they are. He could tell the man in the middle was a male, he was tall maybe 6'5 feet tall, and strong looking, and the only things he could see past the hood of the cloak was a strong, sculpted jaw and raven black hair peeking through the cloak. The other two were females, as he could tell by the assets poking through the cloak and the regal, smooth, angled lower face of the two, and the one to the right had silky black hair and the other, on the left, had braided caramel hair going over one shoulder. What was interesting was the stance and demeanor of the figures. The male in the center seemed calm, collected, and unaffected by meeting a Titan of his stature. The female to the left seemed to look sad, almost pitying, something that the Titan hated worse than jeering. And finally, the female on the right seemed to be shaking, at first the Titan thought it was of fear, but he realized that it was of rage, he could feel the hate and malice coming of in waves from the cloaked female.
Unable to identify any other important traits or figures to fully reveal who these figures were, Atlas said "What have you forgotten to speak? Just get on with the taunting, its better than having three creeps in cloaks just staring at me."
Finally, the cloaked male responded with "No, Atlas, Titan of Strength and Endurance, we are not here to mock or jeer at you. We are simply here to talk and fully understand your reasons for joining the Titans during the Second Titan War."
Atlas sneered at the mysterious man and said "You must be stupid or new around here to not know why I joined my brothers in the war. Do you really not know who I am?"
The man replied calmly with "I know perfectly well who you are Atlas, we even met, you and I, a while back and if there is anything that I know about you is that you are a patient ruthless man, yet I can see into your cold heart and find torment in it, especially for people you care about."
Atlas tried his best not to show any signs of confirmation or surprise onto the man. The Titan attempted to lie in a snarky tone with "If you really knew anything about me is that I don't have a heart, much less care for anyone. Did you not know that I struck my own daughter for being in my way?" Even though the words were painful for him to say, he need to show that he didn't care for anyone. Caring meant weakness, and Atlas hated being weak.
The man replied calmly with "I know fully well that you struck your daughter, just as much as I know the pain it aches for you to say it or think about it."
Atlas tried to hold in his shock from the man. The Titan shouted at the man "Who are you and how would you know how I feel?!"
Showing no response to the Titan's anger, the cloaked man said "As I said before, we already met, we even tried to kill each other. At first I saw you as a ruthless, heartless man, but now, looking back on and seeing you right now, I see that you were desperate, desperate to free yourself from this curse, to see your daughters again." Atlas couldn't hold in the shock from how this man had just revealed his most secret intention for helping Kronos. The cloaked man continued with "Yes, I know of why you joined Kronos in the first place. It wasn't just for revenge's sake, or for power, or just to free yourself, it was for your daughters. I know you joined Kronos because with him in charge, you would be free, free to see your daughter, Calypso, on her cursed island, to free her from her unfair punishment. But most especially, you would be free to find, reunite, and recruit your other daughter, the same one who you struck down, Zoe Nightshade."
The Titan of Endurance was as still as a statue. Who is this man that has managed to find every crack and breach through his wall of lies, able to find every secret intention he had for what he did during the 2nd Titan War, and uncover secrets that not even the former Titan Lord was able to know?
The man continued with his speech saying "You may lie to Kronos, to your brothers, to yourself even, but I know that deep in that cold exterior that you bear a burden much heavier than the skies you hold. You are guilty. Guilty for condemning Calypso to Ogygia, condemning your daughter to punishment she only received for being your daughter, and you are even more guilty for Zoe, to strike down your child in your pursuit of power and to be free, guilty over killing the one person that you worked so hard to see and reunite again, that you cared for more than your brothers."
Atlas was trembling in both rage and sadness. The images of him striking Zoe flashed before his eyes, how he realized that she was already poisoned by Ladon, and that what he did sealed her fate. His flared dangerously and if it weren't for the skies he hold he would have jumped the man and pummel him straight through the mountain. In then end, Atlas decided with angry yelling at the man "WHO ARE YOU?! WHO ARE YOU TO PRESUME HOW I FEEL?!"
The cloaked figure said "I'm someone who can help you, someone who can free you from this prison, someone who can help you see your daughters again."
Atlas's rage vanished, and in its place was shock and disbelief. The words that the man spoke, Atlas almost thought he hearing things. The chance to be free, the chance to exact his revenge, the chance to see Calypso. But wait, he said daughters, plural, but that can't be possible, he only has one daughter, he killed Zoe and the Hespirades, Zoe's full blooded sisters were gone, vanished to the lands of the faded. So what did the man mean by daughters?
Atlas finally decided to ask his question. "What do you mean daughters? I only have one daughter, the rest are gone, faded and killed, all because of me. I must admit, that sense you know me so well, that I will leap at the chance to see Calypso again, but my other daughters are gone, and I will never see them again till I fade, and one I will never see again even then, so I ask, what do you mean by daughters?"
The mysterious man replied "You are wrong Atlas. One of your daughters lives."
Atlas almost let go of the sky in rage. "DON'T LIE TO ME! I KNOW THEY ARE GONE, I CAN TELL. I FELT MY DAUGHTERS, THE HESPIRADES, FADE DIRECTLY BELOW ME AND WITH EACH ONE FADED I YELLED AND MOURNED FOR THEM! I FELT MY DAUGHTER, ZOE, FALL INTO THE HANDS OF THANATOS AND RAISED TO THE STARS! I SEE HER VERY CONSTELLATION NOW! HOW DARE YOU TRY TO LIE TO ME! WHAT GIVES YOU THE RIGHT TO SAY THAT?!" Atlas let his power and aura surge, almost to the point that his true form was mere inches from being let out.
Surprisingly, the man and the two women felt unaffected by the burst of energy surrounding Atlas. Their cloak blew back revealing black looking armor, and some different colors depending on the person, on the figures, however their hoods stayed in place, still not revealing their faces.
The man stayed silent for a while. He seemed to be thinking. He then turned his head to the cloaked female to his left and said "Do it."
The female opened her mouth in what seemed like a tiny silent gasp. She then finally spoke, in a voice that Atlas could have sworn heard before, "Are you sure? I believe you now that does miss us, but are you sure he won't join any other way?" Atlas's eyes widened. Miss us? What did this girl mean? He doesn't even know who she is. Suddenly, in a blast of earth-shattering realization, Atlas pieced it together.
The man nodded his head at the two female figures. Then the two lifted their hands to their hoods and started pulling them down. Everything started going in slow motion for him, the anticipation, the slight fear, the wondering, whether what he thought was really true. 'They couldn't be..." Atlas thought. He saw the figure to his left started to reveal her face as well as the right and what he saw confirmed his suspicions. The one to his left had light tanned skin, caramel hair braided over her shoulder, almond eyes, that reminded him of her mother, Thethys, and beautiful timeless face that he fell in love with the moment she first opened her eyes to the world millennia ago. It was Calypso, his daughter, the one that was supposed to have been trapped on her island. This fact made him wonder why was she here. He almost spoke to her but noticed the girl to his right a sight that both shocked and terrified him. What he saw was lush, midnight black hair much like his own, copper like skin, black eyes with what looked like starts in them, and beautiful Persian face that he saw first when she was a baby and lastly when he knocked her into a pillar. Zoe Nightshade. His favorite child among the Hespirades, his greatest failure, not because she stood against the Titan or anything about her, but because he couldn't save her, couldn't reunite properly with her, because Atlas killed her.
Atlas stood there shocked, unable to move or breath. It was something out of a dream and a nightmare. Zoe coming to taunt and ridicule the Titan and Calypso crying and looking fearful at him. Those were what would haunt the Titan's dreams and visions. Now, it seems like they may come true.
Atlas finally spoke to his daughters with "Calypso? Z-Zoe?"
Calypso smiled sadly at her father and Zoe tried to look away from the Titan, resentment and awkwardness in her eyes. Calypso then spoke "Hello father, it has been a very long while hasn't it?"
Atlas spoke "But how are you two here? "You are supposed to be on Ogygia." He then turned towards Zoe "And you, you were...I..." The Titan couldn't speak the words, his heart clenched to tightly in pain and guilt.
Zoe, finally looking at her father, said "Yeah I know. You attacked me and sealed my fate to die. I was then reborn into the stars by Artemis. I'm here now because we wish for you join us, despite my numerous denials of it." That stroke pain in the Titan's heart, him feeling the resentment and hate put into that final statement.
Calypso spoke "Father we are here because you know that the Olympians are going too far, you can see how Zeus is becoming like your brother, Kronos. We are here because we wish for you to join us, this is your chance to the right for once, a chance for redemption."
Atlas was silent, contemplating on the words that have been uttered. A chance for redemption? For him? He almost scoffed at the words. Atlas decided to speak his thoughts "Forgive me daughter, but that does not seem possible. Even if I were to agree to join you, I still have this curse to bear on my shoulders, literally, less I wish to bring destruction to this entire continent, or even the world. Besides, there is no such as thing as redemption for me. For the thousands and thousands of years of my existence, I cause nothing but torment and pain to mortals and immortals alike, to my own family, to my father, and to my brothers of the Cyclopes and the Hecatoncheries. I even caused torment and despair to those who are related to me, and kill those who even near me. I have been a failure of a Titan, but most importantly, I'm a failure of a father. So, unless you can say one perfect reason why you should bother giving this old fool a chance of redemption, I cannot join you."
At response to the words of hopelessness from her father, Calypso looked down, tears in her eyes, unable to see her proud father in a guilty, crippling state. Zoe even felt the guilt and sadness and she tried to look away, to keep her from tearing up or showing she still slightly cared for her father. As for the cloaked man, he walked closer to Atlas till he was mere feet away from him, but not close enough for Atlas to play any tricks to give the man the skies. Though at the state of the once proud Titan now, tricks and schemes seemed to be the last thing on his mind. The mysterious man then said "4."
Atlas, as well as his daughters, were confused on what the man meant by that one simple, yet mysterious number. Atlas asked "What?"
The man continued "4. There are 4 things in that one speech of yours that I find worthy of redemption. First, you claim to cause only misery, yet it was you that help give birth to these two women, two of the best that I have ever met. Without you, they wouldn't have been born, and I can sense the love and care you hold for your daughters, as what any father would have for their own children. Second, you acknowledge the amount of pain you caused for many people throughout your life, which shows that you know of the consequences for your actions and the magnitude to what you need to atone for. Thirdly, you claim to cause pain for your family, but I can look into your soul and tell that you are feeling guilt, which shows you have loyalty, love, and a sense of compassion for others. Besides, if you really were a heartless monster with no chance of redemption, you would have let go of the skies and teleport yourself to a safe location eons ago, but you didn't, because you wouldn't hurt your family, no matter what, even if you had to face this eternal punishment."
"And lastly," the man then raised his and pulled down his hood. What Atlas saw shocked him, so much that he didn't know who he was more shocked about, his daughters or this man. He knew who he was. It was hard to remember that raven black hair, with a grey strip that can only happen due to carrying the skies, that, newly noticed, smell of the sea, and those those same, yet somewhat different, sea green, now mostly icy blue, the same eyes that held that same determination, strength, and fierceness that carried the skies and caused his defeat so many years ago. It was Perseus Jackson. "I don't need to look into your soul, merely listen to the sound of your voice, to know that you feel remorse for all the things you have committed, that you feel yourself responsible for the fates of your children, that all you have done was for the sake of your family, for the sake of your daughters. And that, in my view, makes you someone worth redemption, and worth be able to receive forgiveness, including my own."
In all the years the Titan has lived, he had never heard anything more shocking in his life. In less then a minute, a former enemy, has shown that he was worth a chance of being forgiven, even being forgiven by said enemy that he caused much harm to. He always heard how Jackson had a knack for breaking the boundaries of the impossible. Now, he has seen it for himself. The proud Titan would never admit it, but the dams to his waterworks were not living up to the title of Titan of Endurance, as they were almost about to burst.
The former Titan general looked up, recomposing himself and looked at the, recently heard, former son of Poseidon. He then spoke to the demigod "So, Jackson, it's really you huh? And hear I thought you were going to be the Olympians puppet for eternity."
The demigod responded with "Things change, so do people, that includes you and me. To be perfectly honest Atlas, I was skeptical of you at first, but after talking with your daughters and some other people, I can see you aren't the tyrant Titan monster that you claim to be. As I said you have a heart in there worth being redeemed, and, if you want, you can join me and not only save the immortal world from Zeus's tyranny but save yourself as well. Or, you can be left here to rot, and spend the rest of your days wallowing in guilt and sadness. So, what is it going to be? Are you in or not?"
Atlas looked down, thinking about the pros and cons of the situation. If he joined Jackson, then he could be signing himself a ticket to oblivion if they lose, or worse have an even worse punishment. But the good side of things would be freedom from his curse, a chance to reconcile with his daughters, and redemption.
Atlas looked back up at Perseus and said "I know there is something else. I may be an old fool, but I'm not idiotic. What would I have to do in return?"
Perseus answered "All you have to do is swear that you won't attack me or try to run away when I free you. And I don't want you to swear on the River Styx, I know by now the Styx doesn't really affect the gods and Titans much, no, I won't you to swear on you r honor."
Atlas was slightly surprised and impressed at this news. He knew that an oath to the Styx only slightly punishes gods and Titans of his caliber, and it wouldn't really be of major consequence. But an oath to his honor is the biggest oath a Titan can make. While some honored their oaths to the Styx, the Titans' greatest and most dire oath was their honor. To make such a oath, you would be putting your domains, powers, and immortality on the line. A grave oath to make. But seeing his options, Atlas made his decision.
"I'm in." He said
Perseus nodded. Calypso smiled brightly while Zoe just turned her head to the side. Perseus then said "Then make the oath on your Titan honor. Say that you will join us, meet our boss, and to not do any tricks against us."
Atlas was curious about this so called boss, but he figured he would meet this person soon enough so he made the oath "I, Atlas, Titan of Endurance and Strength, former General of the Titan army, bearer of the skies, hereby swear on my honor and immortality that I will follow, obey, and join Perseus Jackson to meet his boss and to not try any form of trickery or deceit against them."
The Titan felt a surge of golden light come from in him that felt slightly painful. This was the signal to tell him that his oath has been made and that should he turn against his oath, he will rendered mortal, weak, and old.
Perseus then said "Alright now I shall begin the process to get you out of your punishment."
Atlas asked "Are you gonna try to mend the bond between the skies and the land?" What he meant was the original foundation between the sky and the land that once stood here on Mount Othrys. He remembered it being like a big, impossibly strong marble pillar that connected the domains of Gaea and Ouranos. But when Ouranos died by the hands of Kronos and his children, the beam itself was destroyed. When that happened many Titans would make routine switches to keep the skies from colliding towards the ground. They then made a new pillar to keep the skies and earth in check, until the Olympians came and destroyed the pillar, endangering the world just to put Atlas into this curse for eternity.
Perseus answered the Titan's question with "No, I won't be fully mending the connection between the earth and sky. I feel that is not my place or task to do, but I sense that it will be fixed by another. But for now, I shall make a temporary pillar with some of my power to hold the skies until such time." Perseus then stepped back a bit. "Atlas, stand up and raise the skies as high as you can. When I say so, let go and dive out of there. Ready?" The Titan nodded and he stood from his kneeling position, fully rising to his staggering 6'9 height, even using his powers to make him grow larger like the Olympians.
Perseus concentrated on his earth, storm, and space powers to create a pillar that should last as long as 90 earth years, but he knew that they will be mended sooner than later. The air around Percy started to glow purple and the earth rumbled. Pieces of rock and stone from all over the mountain started gathering together, while storm clouds gathered powerful winds came forth. Calypso and Zoe were also concentrating on their own task, to keep an illusion around the whole the mountain to keep the Fates and Olympians from noticing. Lightning crackled and earth thundered as Perseus's power grew. Then a ball of pure chaotic energy formed around Perseus's outstretched hands and the pieces of earth and wind gathered into the orb. Perseus the started to speak in ancient Greek saying in translation "I, Perseus, Champion of the Primordials, Champion of Chaos, former son of Poseidon, hereby call upon the land and sky. I call upon the land and ground to create a pillar to rejoin your other half, the sky. I call upon the mighty winds to strengthen this pillar and to join once again with your lover, the earth. I call upon power from myself to make this pillar stand until the time comes for this schism to be healed. May earth and sky meet again!"
The orb of energy started to make shape into that of a big pillar, the earth and sky were brought for into this structure to create and enforce it. A minute went by and the structure was complete and placed right behind Atlas, ready to carry out its purpose. After a it was done, Perseus shouted to the Titan "NOW!" The Titan let go of the skies and dived towards Percy and his daughters, away from the crushing weight. The weight of the skies fell onto the pillar and with a resounding boom, the pillar held and the skies were set in place.
Percy and Atlas panted, their own tasks done and the Titan marveled at the results of this endeavor. He then fully realized what position his was in. No giant weight on his shoulders. No uneasy discomfort. Free movement. He was free once again. The Titan let out a triumphant laugh filled with joy. He turned to the demigod and said "I do not like saying such things, but I must thank you for getting rid of this curse of mine."
Perseus just shook his head "It is fine. We made a deal after all."
Atlas looked back at the pillar now carrying the burden he once held. He said "Will it hold?"
Perseus answered "I put some of my energy into the pillar to make it last longer. Should hold for the next 90 years or so. Well don't just stand there like an idiot, go hug your daughter."
The last statement snapped Atlas out of his trance and looked towards Calypso. She raised her arms in a welcoming hug and Atlas took it. The two hugged tightly, father and daughter fully reunited. "Father." Calypso whispered happily. "My sweet Calypso." Atlas said with longing and joy in his voice. The two hugged for a while, until they broke apart with smiles on their faces. He then his attention towards Zoe and was about to walk over to give her a hug as well, but Zoe stopped him with a raise of her hand.
Zoe said "I am happy that you have seen the error of your ways and will try to amend for the wrongs you have caused, even towards me. But for now, I just need time to think and accept things. I still haven't forgiven you, not yet, you have a lot to make up for, father." Atlas looked distraught but he quickly accepted, knowing that a few sorry's and words won't cut what he did to her. But he was determined to reconnect and bond with her, even if it meant eternity.
Perseus interrupted with "If that is all, we should be going. Even with the illusion cast here to make it seem you are still holding the skies, I can sense that Zeus has still felt a tiny disturbance in the skies and will be coming shortly, which means we must go, now." All three nodded and Perseus created a black portal, that stunned the Titan enough as it is, and they all went through the portal, disappearing right before a flash of lightning appeared in the sky.
AND CUT! That is Chapter 9 folks! I'm so sorry that it took so long for this chapter but a lot of shit has happened recently. For instance, I had a series of unfortunate events that revealed to me that some of my friends may not have been really honest or seen me as a friend. They normally tease me for being shorter than them and for being more 'unique', but this time they took a bit too far. I won't go into detail, really personal, but it almost got me as much rage and sadness as Percy.
Anyways, enough of that, you didn't come here for a sob story. Anyways, onto the story. We have seen Percy recruit more help and allies, those which you wouldn't have believed, unless you watch a similar fanfiction, in which case, not that big of a surprise. Also before anyone says it, No, there is no Percy/Khione, I have plans to put her with someone else. And yes, I know Atlas and Khione were a little OOC in this story but I have some plans for the Titan and goddess. And for those wondering who the other person that Perseus met was, it is a secret that will be revealed later on. Anyways, I also what to say that I almost made this story more than 16,000 words because I wanted to continue and then I thought this was enough, so I will be taking the remaining parts in the original version to make it into a new chapter, so the next one will come faster than most. Who know, I may release it on the same day or in a few days? It is my way of apology for making you guys wait so long.
Anyways there is only one more chapter left before the real fun begins. I know I said this would be it, but I have to make another to bridge the story together. By the way, for those who are looking for lemons in this story I have a message for you. For the sake of time and space, I will be putting any lemons on another story which will be the lemon collection of this story, like Percy/Artemis lemon or a whole threesome, it just won't be on THIS story. I will will upload it when the first one is said to have happened and I cut off from it.
As for my future in this fanfiction career, when I have successfully completed this story, I will take a break from Percy Jackson and make a new story from either the Pokemon idea or the Spider-man or Nightwing one. This doesn't mean I'm done with Percy Jackson, oh no, I will make sequels to this story, yes, but I need to explore new ideas and stories so don't be sad or mad.
Anyways, that is it, reviews always welcomed, helpful advise appreciated, and I will see you guys next time.
UP, UP, AND AWWWWWAAAAAAAAAYYYYYY!