A/N: Whyyyy Dissidia Opera Omnia. Whyyyyyyy
I wanted a Moogle Big Bad, butttt nooooo I get Necron the Second. Grrr.
Eh. Still better than the PS4 version of the game.
I predict there will be one more chapter to this. Mind you, I predicted there'd be like 3 or 4 more chapters halfway through From the Heart, so these predictions are not always safe.
Published: 11/23/2018
Warnings: None
Return of Thalia Grace: Part II
Percy felt the menacing presence the second he stepped into camp. Normally, this presence would make Percy smile, bring him joy because he knew he'd be safe in it. That, unfortunately, was not the case now. The preteen froze, coming to a complete and utter stop.
After they'd gotten the Bolt, getting it to Zeus had been relatively easy. He'd actually let Percy fly in a plane which was actually not as cool as flying with Sabin, but hey, Zeus did not need to know that. They'd delivered the bolt, Percy had given a warning based on creepy Deepest Pit of Hell voices he'd heard, and they'd been on their way back to camp.
Now, however, Percy would have to face the greatest, most terrible threat. A threat he had actually seen coming and that he had dreaded.
Crap. He'd really hoped he'd have more time before it came to this. Percy wasn't ready to die! He'd just come back from the Underworld! He didn't want to go back!
Spinning around, Percy shot a pleading look at Annabeth.
"Save me," he begged.
Annabeth and Grover exchanged looks.
"Nico?" Grover asked.
Percy whimpered.
"Nico." Annabeth nodded.
Then, proving themselves to be evil beyond all measure, the two of them gripped Percy by the shoulders and began dragging him forth to his doom.
"No! Guys! No! Seriously? I hate both of you!" Percy complained.
"I'm sorry, you did what while I was gone?"
Percy gave an awkward laugh.
"Heh heh. Yeah. Funny thing, Neeks. Who'd have guessed that Poseidon would claim me as his kid in the middle of that whole Lightning Bolt mess, right?"
Nico's glare hardened. Eeep.
"And you didn't think to call in reinforcements?!" Nico snapped.
Percy felt offended by this.
"Me, Annabeth and Grover handled it fine! Besides, it's three to a quest, always," Percy pointed out.
"YOU. ARE. TWELVE!"
"You're eleven and a half, but who's counting?"
A tick mark appeared above Nico's head. Percy eeped again. Shit. He-
Nico's arms wrapped around him.
Percy froze.
"You- stupid- idiotic- moronic- I- and you went down there- and you know what he did to Thalia- and you went anyways- and what were you thinking- I was so worried but I couldn't find you- moron!"
Percy awkwardly hugged back. Ah hell. This was worse than what he'd expected. Angry Nico, Percy could deal with, even if he really, really did not want to.
Worried out his mind and fighting back tears Nico, though?
Yes, Nico, tug right at my heartstrings and make me feel bad for something I absolutely had to do and didn't have a choice in, Percy thought, trying to keep the bitterness away. It wasn't hard. Percy was pretty sure Nico was incapable of real emotional manipulation.
Something in Nico's words tugged at Percy's memory.
Oh. Wait. Duh.
Pulling back, Percy grinned. Nico sniffed, narrowing his eyes.
"Nico, Thals!"
"What?"
"Thalia. Darth Death Breath told us where we can find- stop laughing, dammit, that's a covert name for him to keep him from listening in and you will not laugh at my brilliance!"
Percy, sadly, could not relay the information over to Thalia herself. She'd gone back into the tree while he'd been off on the other side of the country, and gods knows how long it would take her to step right back out. She'd be out for at least another week, if not longer.
However, he could relay the information over to the others. Sure, Annabeth and Grover already knew, but Luke did not. Come to think of it, maybe he should tell Bianca too. Where was she, anyways? That girl was wayyy too slippery.
Luke, however, was not, and it was quite simple to drag the head of the Hermes Cabin into Percy's own Cabin. Which, actually, might not be a good idea if Poseidon decided to snoop, but beggars can't really be choosers. So, Percy brought Luke along and relayed everything.
The sight of Luke staring, bug eyed and shocked, was not a common sight. As such, Percy enjoyed every second of it.
"He actually told you were the Fleece was? The Golden Fleece, so we could fix Thalia?" Luke repeated, dumbstruck.
Percy nodded.
"Yeah. I was a bit surprised too, but he sounded genuine. I honestly think the guy is just plain lonely." Percy admitted.
Lonely, and will g to go behind Zeus' back if it meant a chance at seeing his kids again.
Luke crossed his arms, attempting to process the information. Percy was personally reminded of the episode of Spongebob where Patrick tried thinking from the expression on Luke's face. He seriously hoped smoke wouldn't start to come out of Luke's ears. Still, if it did, there was a handy fountain nearby.
Thinking quickly melted in the face of raw destructive fury so hot that Percy actually had to take a step back.
"That… That utter monster. Z planned it? From the beginning? I mean, I knew he was twisted, but… Arg!" Luke spun and, fist clenched tightly, he swung right at the wall. Percy winced.
Luke heeved. Once. Twice. Then, blond locks falling over his face like a curtain, the older boy looked back at Percy.
"How sure are you of the information? Remember, Percy, this is the Lord of the Dead that we're talking about."
Percy considered this. He didn't have an ounce of doubt. Not one. Maybe he should have, but… The look on Hades' face had said it all.
This was no lie. This was no deception. Hades genuinely just wanted his kids back. Not that Percy would march either of them down there. For all he knew, Hades would pull a Mother Gothel on them and lock his kids away in some creepy Underworld tower while claiming it was for their protection and yadda yadda yadda.
"Entirely sure." Percy admitted.
Luke stared at him for several seconds. Then, he gave a single tense nod.
"I see. Alright. Then, that makes what I have to do all that much simpler." Luke said.
Percy frowned, confused. What did that mean?
Percy found out his answer only a few short days later.
He really, really wished he hadn't.
It's always the ones you least expect.
This… Though… This was just…
"Oh, I'm leaving alright. I just wanted to bring you here to say goodbye."
Goodbye?
Goodbye?
If this was Luke's idea of a 'goodbye', Percy didn't even want to see what his idea of a proper 'hello' was.
A black scorpion was poised over his knee, red eyes glaring at him. Percy looked up, meeting Luke's gaze.
Luke… Who'd taught him how to wield a sword properly. Luke, who'd been one of the first friends Percy had made here at Camp Half-Blood. Luke, who'd they'd let into so many secrets because of who he was and how important he was to Thalia. Luke, who Percy had trusted and cared for and looked up to.
Luke was the traitor.
Luke was the Lightning Thief.
Luke was…
"You complete and utter dumbass."
Luke blinked.
"What?"
"You heard me! Dumbass!" Percy repeated. "Do you honestly think Kronos is going to help you achieve anything? Okay, I'll admit, Big Z is a bit of an asshole," understatement of the year, "but going off and swearing your allegiance to a guy that makes Z look like a skipping Fairy is not a good idea!"
Luke arched an eyebrow to this.
"There's nothing charming about actual Fae, Percy. They eat children. Literally."
Percy was offended by this. Tinkerbell did not eat children!
"Besides, do you really think," Luke began, a tremble in his voice of barely controlled fury, "that I could ever stand here, in this camp, created by a monster that would condemn his own daughter to a half life? No. Not even a half life. Eternal sleep that we found a work around for." Luke's eyes took a fanatical light.
Percy didn't like it.
He also didn't like how a traitorous part of Percy agreed with it.
Luke's fury came from him in waves. Brutal burning waves, calm destruction. Luke's lips pulled back in a snarl.
"I'm going to butcher every last god. They deserve it. They all deserve it. Percy," Luke lifted a hand towards him, as if to help him to his feet. Percy stared at it, then at the owner. "Join me."
Join?
"Join me, Percy. Together, we can do it. Together, we can end this facade. Together, we can bring an end to the era of gods. Together-"
"Step. Away. From. Him."
Luke froze.
Percy honest to god's did not blame him.
Luke turned so slowly Percy could have sworn he heard metal creaking.
At the age of eleven and a half, Nico di Angelo should not have been so utterly terrifying. Kindly go take your complaints to the literal rupture in the ground, the ice forming at his feet, or the shadows curling at his sides.
Nico's eyes, though, were the most terrifying aspect.
His sclera were already fading, replaced by a mix of blue and black, the blue running along it like veins, as if broken shards of glass had been infused into them.
"Nico… I see." Luke's sharp eyes missed nothing, and his intuition was second only to Annabeth's. "You're a Child of the Underworld. You should join me too."
"When hell freezes over."
"Considering that's one of our future targets, that can be arranged."
Nico roared, lifting his hand… Only to be blasted by winds, smashing into his side and sending him sprawling.
"Nico!" Percy cried, moving to stand. Luke's sword appearing at his throat froze him in place.
Nico rolled, coming up in a crouch. Glaring, he looked up.
Alabaster, tall and proud, strode into the clearing.
He was in on this too?!
Luke shot the teenager a look.
"I told you to wait."
"And I felt Thanos Junior over there getting ready to turn you to dust." Alabaster snakred before promptly before shooting Nico a look. "I'd tell you to learn to control that aura better, but considering I've only just now figured out what you are, I'd say you have that much figured out, when you actually care."
Nico let out a feral growl.
"I'll tear both of you apart if I have to," the boy threatened.
"You won't have to," Luke smiled pleasantly at him, letting the sword drop from Percy's neck. Nico relaxed considerably. "The choice is Percy's." Luke continued.
Percy blinked.
"Huh?"
Luke looked at him.
"Choice is yours, Perce. Either stay here, and be a slave to the gods… Or come with me. Your choice. Not Nico's. Not Annabeth's. Not your father's. Yours."
Percy would like to say he was not tempted. He would like to say that, but that would be a lie. Maybe if Luke had been a stranger, if he had been someone he had just met, Percy's mind would have been clear. But, that wasn't what Luke was at all.
No.
Luke was someone he knew and trusted.
His hesitation must have shown because Luke smiled, victorious.
Percy didn't like that. At all. So, of course, Percy did as all teenagers did, even though he technically wasn't one yet. He rebelled.
"Bite me!" Percy snapped.
Luke's eyebrow arched. The disappointment on his face was palpable.
"Very well. I see you've made your choice. Too bad. You're too dangerous to let live. Goodbye, Percy."
Then, the one factor Percy had forgot came into play.
Bloody scorpions.
The tail swung and stabbed.
"Luke did this?" an incredulous voice asked.
Percy winced at the hurt in Annabeth's voice. Not that he could blame her. He felt the exact same way.
"You, sir, are lucky you were so close to the water." Lee Fletcher told Percy in no uncertain words as he patched up the wound. The older Demigod met Percy's eyes. "Luke must not've known the water would heal you."
Percy resisted the urge to glance right at Annabeth and scream what the pit of them were thinking. What the pair of them knew very, very clearly.
Luke knew.
Luke knew damn well that water healed Percy. There was no way Luke would make a mistake like that, at all. Luke had known who's Percy's father was for years, he wouldn't have forgotten something so crucial while plotting an potential assassination.
"All better!" Lee smiled, finished wrapping up Percy's arm. Leaning back, the teen grinned. Then, he frowned. "Waiiiit, Luke did what to you know? Luke harm-my-two-twerps and you'll answer to me Callestan did this to you?"
…
Percy liked Lee. He really did. Truly. However, at times, Percy was convinced that the Apollo Cabin and Sabin had to be related due to how absentminded all of them were. This was one of those times.
Knuckles cracked.
Percy turned.
"I'm just going to run off the assumption Luke is under some sort of creepy mind control," Nico declared before a dark smirk overtook the boy's features. "I suppose I'll just have to… beat him to his senses."
An ominous chill filled the room at Nico's words. Percy sighed in relief. Ah good. Neeks would take care of it.
Annabeth and Lee did not sigh in relief. In fact, the pair paled.
"I still have no idea why my little brother likes you so much," Lee muttered. Apparently, he had intended for none of them to hear, but he should have known better than to try that among a group of Demigods.
Nico actually flinched.
Lee froze.
Nico spun and left the room.
…
"Asshat!" Percy proceeded to assault his doctor. Perhaps not a wise decision in the long run, but whatever.
"Owe! Hey! I'm sorry, man! He's a bit cree- owe!"
Good. Everyone was distracted. No need to mention the details, or think over then. No need to consider that Luke had never actually intended to kill Percy, unless he was completely and utterly incompetent at it.
No need to mention how utterly tempted Percy had been to take that hand, and how he wasn't sure what would have happened if Nico hadn't stumbled along.
Percy would have never turned on the rest of his friends here at the Camp. That was a fact. That would never change.
But… Could he turn his back to Luke? Other than that potentially resulting in him getting stabbed, Percy wasn't sure he could.
"Wait. Let me get this straight," Bianca spoke, gritting her teeth as she clenched a hand. Uh oh. Percy sensed an angry Di Angelo. Few things in the universe were more fearsome. "Not only does Ha-"
"Darth Death Breath." Percy couldn't help but interrupted.
Bianca glared. Percy wisely shut his mouth.
"Not only does HADES," she pronounced the name loudly and slowly for good measure, no doubt to get the god's attention, "dump us here at random without so much as a go you bye, but he's also trying to bribe us with what's most likely a trap?" Bianca growled.
"I don't think it's a trap, sis. What if… What if he really does care about us?" Nico spoke, sounding hopeful. Yearning, even. It took Percy several moments to register that, and even more to remember that, despite how mature Nico acted, he was technically a kid just as much as Percy was.
Bianca turned on him, ready to start shouting before she too noticed the hopeful, yearning expression on her brother's face. Bianca melted. A rare smile splayed across her face.
"We'll see, little brother. We'll see."
Apparently, the surprises were not done.
If Percy singlehandedly preventing a war between the gods was not enough, if one of the head councillors defecting to the enemy had not been enough, it of course, had to be topped.
By what, may you ask?
Once more, Percy found his dinner interrupted. Due to his parenting reveal, Percy was now forced to sit alone at Poseidon's table. Percy did not think this was fair, but Chiron did not agree.
Alone, but, apparently, not for long.
In a swirl of water and what Percy could swear was coral, Poseidon appeared.
Several gasps escaped the campers.
"Hey pops." Percy greeted casually, munching away at his salad, not in the least perturbed by his father showing up in the middle of Camp.
Percy seemed alone in this. Even Disonyus was stuttering a bit, a fact that the Wine God quickly corrected. It wasn't everyday that one of the Big Three strode into Camp Half-Blood, afterall. Come to think of it, Poseidon was probably going to get shit for it from Zeus. The guy was way too sensitive.
"Percy, my most wonderful son, my joy, my pride, my marvelous creation and what brings a smile to my face each and every single time I hear your-"
Percy set down the fork with a thud, looked up, and narrowed his eyes. Lifting the knife, Percy pointed it at his father.
"What do you want?" Percy deadpanned.
Gasps again filled the camp at Percy's audacity in interrupting his father.
Poseidon, surprisingly, was not offended by Percy's blatant disrespect. Instead, the Sea God waived his arm and in a flurry of splashing water, a cyclops, of all things, appeared.
Percy's jaw dropped. Wait. No. Nooo. Don't you dare old man. Even Poseidon wouldn't…
Poseidon would.
"This is your little brother, his name is Tyson, take good care of him, thank you, bye!"
Poseidon vanished as quickly as he had come, leaving Percy gaping like a fish.
Tyson looked around, confused. Big, tall, with a hulking frame that would no doubt tower over most men, Tyson had no right to look so weak and meek. No right, but he was doing so anyways.
Big brother instincts kicked in, overriding Percy's initial blast of annoyance at his father for literally dumping a kid in his lap.
Percy pulled the chair next to him. Tyson, noticing it, looked up hopefully. Hopefully, and a bit apprehensive and fearful. Ah hell, it was like dealing with Leo all over again.
"Sit. I don't bite." Percy ordered, then smiled at the other for good measure.
Tyson grinned, plopping down beside him happily.
Poseidon so owed him for this one, but time.
"What do you mean, you think it's a bad idea?"
Percy, once again, felt utterly betrayed. This time, the betrayal came from two fronts. Two fronts he'd never expected to stand against him in this.
Annabeth and Grover exchanged looks.
"Well… Percy… It's just…" Annabeth, for once, looked like she was struggling with words.
Percy crossed his arms, shooting the pair a defiant look. When neither offered an explanation, Percy huffed.
"Well?" he demanded.
More looks were exchanged.
"Well… You see, there's the whole matter of the prophecy, which is actually what probably got Thalia in the tree in the first place." Annabeth pointed out.
Percy's jaw dropped.
"Wait, wait, wait, what prophecy?"
Annabeth and Grover looked surprised before rounding on each other.
"You never told him?" Annabeth asked incredulously.
"I thought you'd told him!" Grover claimed.
Percy could only twitch.
"Oh, you mean that Greek Prophecy that states you might end the world?" Jason asked, tilting his head and giving Percy a 'will you get to the point' look. "What about it?"
Percy twitched.
Did everyone know about that damned prophecy before he had?
"% #$!" Percy screeched incoherently.
Jason frowned.
"You okay, bro? It sounds like you've got a banshee stuck in your throat."
Percy screeched some more.
"Ah, I see they have finally advised yee of the prophecy."
Okay, now this was just getting offensive.
Despite Annabeth and Grover's misgivings, Percy was determined to get Thalia out of that tree. From the looks on their faces, so were they, even if they were a bit apprehensive about the whole thing. So, Percy had done the logical thing and approached a not crazy adult(aka one of the gods, who should never in any circumstances be considered adults, period).
Which was how he'd ended up on the Syldra, the literal pirate ship of the one and only Faris Scherwiz. (Nico had yet to stop fanboying about the fact that they were now pirates, so much so that he'd gotten Jason into it). How she'd managed to get it here in the first place was still a mystery to Percy, but her words were not.
"Aw, come on! You knew too?" Percy whined. They'd told Faris and Jason, but not Percy? How was that fair?
"Of course. I fail to see how it matters." Faris replied.
"Fail to see how it matters?" Percy repeated incredulously. "I could either save the world or destroy it! That's a pretty big deal!"
"We have experience in saving worlds," Faris pointed out. "And besides, who told yee that you would have to do it alone? We stand with yee. That, I promise."
With that, the pirate turned and made her way towards the steering wheel.
Next stop, the Sea of Monsters.