DISCLAIMER: Percy Jackson and crew are the intellectual property of Rick Riordan

WARNING: Somewhat OOC Characters

Hi? (ducks behind a solid, bulletproof glass shield/wall) I'M SORRY FOR LEAVING FOR 9 MONTHS! I just, well. Problems came up, and I lost the will to write when I lost someone dear to me. I'm sorry, though, and somehow, I've dug myself out from whatever ditch I managed to bury myself in and get this chapter together, though, admittedly, it's very choppy, seeing as I'm just getting back to writing stories altogether. So, please excuse the chapter being not on par with my usual self, and tell me all of your feedback so I can imrpove. OK? :D

Thank you, all of you. From those who favorited, followed, or just read this story of mine, thank you for your continuous support. I pray that I won't disappoint you all!

Uh, I'm not sure if replying to your reviews is still allowed in this site, so I just skip that one for now, since the review count for Chapter 25 is, well. Especially since it was 9 months ago that I posted last, so if I could answer any questions you guys have, just PM me. I'll answer as soon as I can, I promise. :)

Εδώ είναι το επόμενο κεφάλαιο! (Here's the next chapter!)

Chapter 26: The Boiling Point

Hera sighed once more, surveying the room at large with a practiced eye of a mother caring to the needs of her family, even if said family is one as chaotic and powerful as the Olympians are. Yes, many times, many have seen fit to question if she ever fulfills her role and domain as the Goddess of Motherhood, but she actually does them, despite the rumors. Although, she does acknowledge that she has failed quite spectacularly with her own son, and her relationship with her husband. Fortunately, though, one of those bridges is now mended. The other one, unfortunately, would most likely need a chain link as big as Zeus' head just to mend it. And that is saying something, for truly, her husband's ego has grown quite large during his so-called 'reign'. They have really let him get the power in over his head, and now they're just reaping the consequences of their actions, with the rest of the world falling into collateral damage. He really is out of their control this time.

She let out another sigh at this thought, her eyes getting a mournful sheen to it as she subtly watched Zeus' shifting features as he studied the projection of their niece successfully escaping the Underworld, with Hades' blessing at that. The rage, frigid and burning and horrifying altogether, was quite visible on his face, if you knew what to look for. The twitch of the nerve beside his jaw, the narrowing of his pupils, and slight clenching of his hands were all present. Oh, she wanted to do something, but she didn't know what, exactly. She wanted Zeus and Poseidon to stop arguing with one another, to just go back to making a brotherly bond that was never there in the first place. She wanted Hades in Olympus, her kind, misunderstood brother smiling ruefully as he watched all of them banter like a family. She wanted her family, like Hestia wanted it so badly. She wanted Zeus to fall back on his womanizing and just be happy with her. She wanted Ares and Athena to at least view her with a semblance of respect for one's mother. She wanted Dionysus to stop emulating his father so much and just settle down with Ariadne. She wanted a lot of things, most of them quite impossible. How to attain her wants was another thing entirely.

And that was the crux of the matter, wasn't it?

…..oo00oo…..

Apollo leisurely walked back to his throne, secure enough with Percy's temporary safety that Poseidon won't go off the deep end again until it was time for her to face off with that scumbag Ares. Oh, he knew. Of course he knew. He knew even before Hades all but announced that stupidity was inheritable by father and son. But then, knowing something and having the power to do something about that knowledge was another thing coming, he mentally admitted to himself as he sat back on his throne. Hephaestus took one look at him and sighed before signaling Hermes to untie the Sea God, much to the whining of the Messenger God.

"But, Heph! If Uncle manages to blow up again, it'll be a pain to tie him up again! Can I please leave him tied up?"

The God of the Forges just raised an eyebrow at his question, directing his most bland expression on his so called brother. Hermes just grumbled as he touched the rope binding Poseidon to his throne, hand glowing a beautiful shade of mercury. The ropes, still glittering in shades of silver, red and gold, went limp and fell down to Poseidon's lap. Hermes snapped his fingers and instantly, the rope appeared coiled around on his shoulders as he pouted at Hepahestus. The god just rolled his eyes upwards in a show of patience as he ushered the sandy-haired god to his own throne.

"Apollo, back me up on this!" Hermes whined as Hephaestus all but restrained him on his throne before the God of Forges went back to his own, lips twitching in amusement.

"But bro, this is too much fun." Apollo just smirked at the Messenger God, crossing his bare legs as he reclined at his throne.

"This is revenge on the Hebe thing, isn't it?" Hermes just glared at his unruffled brother

"Whatever gave you that idea, brother of mine? You know I'm not one to hold grudges."

"Uh huh. And I'm Ares."

"Never took you for the lanky type, Ares."

"Gah!"

"Would you two stop? You'll make us miss the important part here!" Aphrodite impatiently shushed them, intently looking at the projection. 'Please, just please let her come here safely!'

The two just looked at each other before shrugging and focusing at the projection, though as Hermes saw Luke clinging to Percy as the girl dragged the four of them to a nearby buoy, he just sighed and buried his head between his hands, muttering 'better be holding on somewhere Uncle P won't kill us both, son'.

Apollo just mentally cackled, leaning back to enjoy the show. 'Never imagined a different colored thread woven into the tapestry would make so big of a difference to the mural. The Fates may have created their best work yet.'

…..oo00oo…..

"Your shoes are magical, idiot. Besides, why would I take away your only use? Anyway, what do you think the Coast Guard would think? That we're bionic children who got experimented on at birth and Grover was the one who they made half goat?"

"Remind me to thank Nemesis on making this one." Apollo guffawed as he clutched his stomach in laughter, doubled over his throne and writhing like a maniac.

"Yes, he's a refreshing change from most of her revenge seeking children." Hera chuckled, smiling approvingly at Ethan.

"I'm torn. Is it normal to hate someone a second then love them completely the next?" Hermes grimaced as they watched Percy offer her heels to Grover, which the satyr was edging away from.

"You're really the only one who could go to the Underworld in heels, Percy." "Comes with the job."

Almost all of the goddesses laughed at that, with Artemis wearing a superior smirk.

"Of course. Women do the hardest job, after all."

"And what would that be, Sis?" Apollo asked, unknowingly digging his grave as every goddess present gave him an unrepentant smirk.

"Why, keeping you boys alive, Apollo. Did you think you'd survive without us?" Demeter mock sniffed as she smoothened her kimono like dress and pinned him with a raised eyebrow.

"Uh…"

"It's better to stop while you're ahead, Apollo." Hephaestus gruffly said, sporting a small smile aimed at his wife. Aphrodite just giggled as she grabbed his hand from his throne's armrest and laced their hands together in thanks.

"Just, agree with them? I don't like their smiles, bro." Hermes whispered to the Sun God, trying but failing to hide a frightened shiver at the shark like smiles the fairer sex wore. Apollo just nodded, whimpering.

"At least the brat's using that thing between her ears." Dionysus grumbled as they watched Percy make herself presentable before boarding the boat.

"Yes. She really is a wonderful example of why Poseidon was so often credited with being the Goddess of Wisdom's eternal rival." Demeter chuckled, internally smirking as she saw Zeus glare at her out of the corner of her eye.

"Wasn't she the one to declare that, though? I'm pretty sure Uncle P was the first one to call dibs on Athens." Hermes wondered a little, making his father's not so subtle glare turn his direction. He did his best to ignore the prickling of his skin to grace Apollo with a raised eyebrow. The Sun God just shook his head a quarter of an inch before nodding towards the projection. Hermes' raised eyebrow was joined by its counterpart as surprise flickered through his face, but it completely vanished in a blink of an eye. When he faced the room once more, he had his signature grin pasted on his face, only his eyes held a calculating gleam as he gazed at the projection.

Hephaestus' eyes narrowed contempletatively at the quiet exchange between the two, certain he was the only one who saw what had transpired between the brothers.

…..oo00oo…..

"To think we came all the way for nothing."

Poseidon gripped his throne at the way the words of Nemesis' child seemed to put an invisible weight on his daughter's shoulders. Oh, how he longed. How he longed to go to his daughter and sweep all that was tomenting her to the bottom of the Atlantic. If only Zeus was less of an egotistical bastard that he was, maybe, maybe he could be reasoned against that staying away from their children was a Bad Idea (and yes, capital letters are a must). But then, if he was, they wouldn't be in the middle of this crisis, now, would they?

"Not exactly, though. We found out your parentage." "Who would have thought, huh. The Goddess of Balance and Justice. Really don't see it."

The Sea God smiled as the lighthearted teasing brought a smile to his daughter's face, no matter how small it was. As it is, no matter his previous feelings for the two punks who managed to befriend his precious daughter, they managed to somehow protect her. And that was good enough for anyone to get on to his good books.

"Some Son of Nemesis I am, if I didn't react to obvious bias of Olympus against anything of the Underworld."

A pained keening sound, like someone wanted to loudly protest to the statement but refrained, reached his ears. His green eyes flickered to the distressed face of Hera, with Demeter subtly rubbing her arm in silent comfort. He eyed his little brother, noting the extra tightness of his eyes. Ah. An ongoing debate between the two of them. His lips tightened to prevent the most likely cutting words he wanted to address his youngest brother with. No. He won't be the one to open their relationship behind closed doors to the rest of the Council, no matter how a badly kept secret it is.

"The Prophecy was right. 'You shall go west and face the god who has turned.' Only, Uncle Hades wasn't that particular god." "But, who would do something like this? Even Hades' own Helm? Who would be suicidal enough to want a three-way war with the Big Three?" "I can think of someone."

"No. No, no, no, no, no! NO!" Poseidon roared as he spotted the current bane of the Council leering at his precious daughter. Oh, all bets were off now, by the Fates! He'll teleport down there, right now, Ancient Laws be damned! Though, before he could move a single muscle, he was once again bound to his throne like some common criminal, the ropes glowing with even more power than awhile ago. "Apollo! Hermes! Hephaestus! Release me this instant! I'll rip his head off his body!"

"Uncle, calm down. You know you can't do that! There's no knowing what the Fates would do to either you or your daughter if you actually manage to break one of the Laws!" Hermes tried to reason with him, his hands moving in a placating manner, but all he was seeing was the bastard and the mere feet between him and his precious Percy.

"Let them try, by Chaos! They weren't even the ones to lay down those stupid laws! Let them try something to her and I'll vaporize them myself!" He roared, his power flaring and covering the entire Throne Room with the smell of the sea in a turbulent storm.

"That's the point of restraining you, Uncle. You'll most likely vaporize the demigods down there if you flash down there right now." Hephaestus pointed out his leaking power, making him almost freeze with realization of his uncontrollable temper as of the moment.

"Damn you, Hephaestus." He sat rigidly, clenching his teeth in frustration at the circumstance. He knew himself well enough that with his current state, there would be no chance in Hades he could control his powers enough to not be a hazard to the children currently facing off with that blasted War God.

"Besides, Uncle, I think Ares is currently digging his own grave at the moment, you nonwithstanding." Apollo's calm voice pierced through the red homicidal haze his mind had conjured the moment he knew that his daughter was in danger from an actual god.

"Well, as for the stealing part, nope. Not me. Gods taking other gods' weapons is a big no-no in the Ancient Laws. But then, you're not the only hero able to succeed in a little errand for us."

Thunder rumbled, causing everyone to momentarily look at Zeus, his impassive mask crumbling a little to reveal uncontrollable rage.

"Who did you use, you worthless boy." The Lord of the Sky hissed out the question, his right hand clenching and unclenching on thin air, as if longing for the Master Bolt to be in his hands for him to hurl at whoever dared steal from him. The younger gods all blinked at him, shocked into speechlessness at his anger at his so-called favorite son. Though, those who knew just remained grim-faced.

"Who did you use? One of your children?" "That wimp of a girl? I'll be lucky if she even kills the Minotaur, and he's one of the weakest monsters there is."

"How dare you!" Aphrodite's voice sliced through the tension like diamond. The Love Goddess' eyes were a current red, blazing with hatred for the callous god. "How dare you belittle your own children, you pig of a god!" Artemis just sighed and took hold of Aphrodite's hand, squeezing it in silent comfort, though her own silvery eyes were as hard as flint as she gazed at the unthinking god.

"But then, as impressive as surviving the Underworld, you're impending the war efforts, Babe. You were supposed to have acquired a permanent residence down there, so old Barnacle Beard would go berserk at the Corpse Breath. Now, dear old Lightning Brain of a dad would be fuming because Corpse Breath had his precious Bolt. And our dear Uncle H would be boiling because he doesn't know who took this." "The Helm of Darkness."

Utter and complete silence reigned inside the room as they swallowed in the fact that Hades wasn't really lying. That the betrayal of one of their own to them was real. That everything that Zeus was advocating for the last thousand years was nothing more than a bag of lies and deceit.

"Pretty soon, if it went that way, we'd have a nice three-way slugfest going. Best one of the century, I'd bet." "You do realize they're your family, right?" "Best kind of fight there is. More angst, more anger, more emotions, more passions. Nothing beats a fight between relatives, especially between three petty brothers."

"I swear upon the River Styx, that if by this time tomorrow, Ares would be paying for his transgressions in the most painful of ways. His first session will be with me." Zeus declared as thunder without lightning boomed across the sky, signaling the sworn promise. The others were all grim, all planning their own punishments for the arrogant god. No, the last punishment was at best laughable to what they were going to do to him. They would draw blood. Blood and tears from the ignoramus of a god.

"Where did I go wrong with you." Hera whispered, her chocolate eyes blurring with tears as she gazed at the contemptible god that she no longer recognized as the son that she birthed.

"Nothing. You did nothing wrong, Hera. It's his decision." Demeter's voice was just as loud as Hera's, though the steel in hers bellied the warbling of the Queen's.

"Anyway, the closer you got to the Underworld, the Bolt would return to its sheath. Once you face Hades, well. He would have been one happy god. If you somehow died along the way, I still had the weapon."

"Someone's helping him." Dionysus' voice floated about the room, making the others look to him in askance. "He may be the War God, but he's never had the aptitude of modifying magical items. He's too much of a dunderhead." The Wine God bluntly said as the truth of the matter presented itself to the room.

"The only question, is, who's helping him?" Artemis might as well have shouted the statement at the silence that permeated the room.

"But that's what I don't get. You already had the Bolt. You know, the most powerful weapon in all of Olympus? If you're a War God worth any salt, why would you give a weapon as powerful as that to anyone else? Wouldn't it have been better to keep it to yourself, to, I don't know, overthrow your father for the throne?" "Yeah…. Why didn't I…? With that weapon…!"

"He's being influenced." Apollo grimly stated, looking at the confused visage of his half brother trying to listen to an invisible source that was beside him.

"Is it possible that it's Athena?" Hermes asked, just before he was backhanded rather hard, making him tumble down to the ground. He then turned startled blue eyes at Zeus, who still had a hand raised menacingly.

"You dare badmouth her!? She's the best out of all of you worthless deities I call my spawn!" The Lord of the Sky roared at the Messenger God.

"You may be our father, but you have no right in doing that to Hermes who was only speculating, not accusing." Hephaestus growled as he slid directly in front of his stunned half brother, hiding him from the furious grey eyes of their father. Apollo had crouched to help Hermes up, though the other was still unresponsive.

Zeus' eyes narrowed as steely brown eyes met his unflinchingly. "You're not mine."

A shriek full of unrestrained fury resounded throughout the room as Hera all but tried to launch herself at Zeus, propriety and manners all forgotten. "You dare-!"

Key word was tried.

Before Hera could do anything but get a few feet closer, the air turned heavy with power, more so than awhile ago. Ice began creeping up the pillars adorning the room. Sleet wrapped the floor in an alarming speed. The air around them turned violent, all convalescing on a single point, forming a massive tornado that shook the entire room. And in the center of the violent wind was Poseidon, somehow freed from his bonds, his glowing green eyes fixed at the form of his arrogant brother, his Trident in his right hand.

"And I had thought that you could sink no lower, brother." He whispered, though his voice rebounded through the room as if he shouted it for the world to hear.

"And what do you mean by that?" Zeus' eyes flashed as he fully turned his back on the three younger gods as he faced his arguably more powerful brother head on.

"You deny your claim to one of the most powerful members of the Council. You assaulted one in the misguided defense of another. Need I go on?"

Zeus snarled wordlessly, flexing his hands repeatedly as if he was grabbing his Master Bolt. Wind also started to curl around him, the noise starting to become deafening with the two maelstroms raging for dominance. "Yes, please, give me more reason to start this war right this second."

Poseidon didn't even bat an eye. "You have failed in raising one of the members into a worthy deity deserving of his seat in this Council. You cannot deny that. Everyone knows you pulled Ares to your side ever since his birth." The rising smell of ozone in the air was slowly but surely being overpowered by the smell of the turbulent sea.

"I am his father. I am the Lord of the Sky. You should all just close your mouths and not complain. I know what I'm doing. I'm the most powerful, after all." Grey eyes bored into green ones, daring him to say anything further.

"Maybe you are." Poseidon looked past Zeus' shoulder at Hephaestus' smoldering brown eyes. Hephaestus nodded as he ushered a still shell-shocked Hermes and a fretting Apollo from behind Zeus to Poseidon's side. Zeus' eyes widened but his stare didn't waver from his brother's.

"Maybe you hold all those titles and positions." Here, Demeter was standing beside Poseidon, with her hand on the shoulder of a still livid Hera.

"Maybe you are their father. Maybe you know everything." Artemis instantly flashed to Hermes' side, helping her twin in holding up the unresponsive god, not paying any attention to her fuming father. Aphrodite just walked calmly to Hephaestus, linking their hands and looking at Zeus with raging red eyes. Dionysus just cocked his head to one side and slouched down further on his throne, intense violet eyes indicating his will to not be involved.

"But can you honestly say that you have their best interests at heart? Or do you only have yours in mind?"

"You bastard." Zeus' bit out, for the first time showing his hesitancy in declaring a war with the Sea God. He knew that the odds were against him this time. He was not as inane as to delude himself into believing that he could take on Poseidon with almost no help from the others. His eyes flickered to the only one who had not taken a side, demanding that he be the one to be loyal to his father. Dionysus just narrowed his violet eyes, not moving an inch. Zeus let out a silent scream of rage at that and immediately began to glow to a blinding white. As the light disappeared, so did Zeus. The whirlwind that was congregated around the Lord of the Sky also disappeared, making the noise inside the room more bearable for everyone.

Slowly, as Poseidon relaxed, the tornado and the resulting noise disappeared. The tangy smell of the sea that was overpowering everything was slowly fading as the ice and sleet that wrapped the room like clear cold vines melted, leaving behind evidence of the almost start of another war between the Big Three. The tense atmosphere was also evaporating as one by one, the gods that formed flanks behind Poseidon slumped down in their relief. Well, that was until Hera remembered what sparked up the confrontation in the first place.

"Hermes!" The Queen of the Heavens leaped from where she was almost sagging against Demeter to where the Messenger God was still being supported by the Twins, his blue eyes glazed and unresponsive. She hesitantly put her hand against one his cheeks, concern doubling over as the god apparently didn't even react at all.

"He's in shock. A very bad shock. Here, help me get him to his throne, sis." Apollo sighed as he and Artemis slowly but surely helped the god into his own throne.

"Can we snap him out of it?" Aphrodite asked, biting her lower lip in concern as she clenched Hephaestus' hand tighter. If the god noticed, he didn't say a thing.

"No. We'll only make it worse if we do something to him. Just keep him warm and comfortable. He needs to get out of this on his own." Apollo murmured as he snapped his fingers and made a blanket appear out of thin air. He then wrapped Hermes comfortably. "That's the most we can do about it."

"I am going to kill him." Hera snarled already stomping towards the doors as her rage came back twofold in seeing the state one of her sons was in (and no, it didn't matter that they weren't hers. He was still her son!). Though, before she could move, a steady hand was again clutching her shoulder.

"It's not worth it, Hera."

The Queen of Heaven's brown eyes flashed as she looked up at Poseidon, who could only shake his head in the negative. She bit her lower lip and closed her eyes, the rage suddenly evolving into weariness as her posture slumped, Poseidon's hand the only thing to anchor her.

"It's not fair. All I want is a family. A loving, caring family that has each other's backs constantly. A loving family that isn't divided by petty rivalry and ignorance. I want that. So badly. And yet, why don't I have the power to make that happen? Why am I always at the side, anxiously looking on at the fight like a worthless wallflower? It's not fair." She trembled as her knees lost the power to hold her upright. She slid down on the floor in an undignified slump and wrapped her arms around herself, all but abandoning her powerful image behind and leaving a lost woman in its place. All she wanted was a family. Was that too much to ask? What had she done in the past to warrant the Fates giving her this life?

She wasn't surprised when she felt arms going around her, positive it was Demeter. Her sisters were the only ones, after all, who were compassionate enough when it came to her. But then, the smell that permeated her senses wasn't that of wheat and grass, but of a perfume so wonderful that one cannot describe it. She looks up at that, surprised as instead of meeting the brown eyes of her sister, she found everchanging eyes, the colors shifting from blue to indigo in milliseconds it was disconcerting. "Aphrodite?"

"You're not alone anymore. We promise that to you."

"Thank you." Hera's voice wobbled as she clutched at the Love Goddess, needing to feel someone being her support instead of shouldering it all on her own.

"Still, father isn't usually that bullheaded." At the many raised eyebrows directed at her, Artemis amended. "Well, more bullheaded than normal, but you get the idea."

"I agree. He was much more aggressive after we found out about Ares." Demeter stated as she ushered the two hugging women to Hera's throne. Aphrodite was still draped over her stepmother, eyes slowly but surely filling up with tears at the obvious torment Hera was in.

Poseidon just sighed as he replaced his Trident in its holster as he sat down on his throne wearily. "He just can't accept that Ares being this way is largely his fault." He put up a hand to stall Hera blaming herself as she had immediately looked at him at his statement. "No, Hera. This has to come into the open. As of now, only half of the Council knows anything, and Hades isn't even in the Council in the first place."

"What do you mean, uncle?" Dionysus asked, violet eyes fixed on the grim visage of the Sea God.

Poseidon looked at the Queen, prompting her to swallow all her denials. The Goddess of Marriage instead just clenched her hands tighter, squeezing her arms as she nodded at Poseidon.

"I think it's for Hera to divulge."

Hera looked like she wanted to sink to the ground and disappear from the inquiring looks the others all shot her, but Hephaestus had flashed to her side and laid a comforting hand on her shoulder, prompting her to take a deep breath and clutch back at the God of Forges' hand in thanks.

"I -," She bit her lip and hesitated, even with Hephaestus' obvious support behind her.

"I think it's time to tell us your problems, isn't it, stepmom?" Apollo's voice rang clear and true as the rest of the council nodded in affirmation.

"Ares has a twin." Hera whispered so softly that all of them had to strain their ears, but they heard it just the same.

"Excuse me?"

Artemis' exclamation pretty much summed up the expressions of the younger gods, though the Original Six were resigned, like they were unveiling a secret that should have been known from the start. And in essence, it was.

"Ares has a twin. Enyo." Hera whispered as thick salty tears poured down her face.

"I see." No one raised an eyebrow at Apollo being uncharacteristically serious. It wasn't the time for fooling around. No one could say that the gods were all power and no brain. Well, except for Ares. They all saw the implications of the statement, and everything else that wasn't being said.

"Please don't force me to say more." Hera murmured, her breath hitching as her sobs continuously wracked her frame.

"Of course not. You can tell us the whole story when you're ready." Aphrodite said, soothing the Queen as she let her sobs take their course.

"In the meantime, though, aren't we supposed to be watching over Percy's quest?" Artemis deflected as she ushered Apollo back to his throne, giving her still unresponsive twin a glance filled with unspoken worry as she walked back to her own throne. Hephaestus gave his mother one last lingering smile as he ushered a hesitant Aphrodite back to her own throne, but not before the Love Goddess gave the Queen a tight hug.

"Yes, thank you for reminding me, Artemis." Poseidon rumbled as he stood up and started glowing, obviously going to the battlefield before anyone could stop him. Though as he was accumulating enough energy, a sharp smack against his head had him pausing and blinking at the culprit, who still had her hand raised as she glared at him menacingly, with him unconsciously letting go of the energy.

"Stop threatening to flash down there! Hera can't take much more stress! If something bad happens I'll show you why Zeus himself had backed down when I was giving birth to Persephone!" Demeter growled as she lowered her raised hand to plant it on her hips firmly, giving Poseidon the gimlet eye. Well, given her current attire, it was a tossup between frightening and hilarious. Though, given her 'try me' stare, Poseidon wisely backed down.

"And besides, uncle, it looks like she doesn't need your saving after all." Dionysus pointed out to the others, making them all turn to the projection to find Percy being blown away from Ares as he let out a massive shockwave from the shock of her managing to graze his left cheek.

"She did it. She injured the War God!" Apollo whopped and seeing as Hermes was slowly but surely coming down from his unexpected meltdown, the Sun God compromised and turned towards Hephaestus, all but hauling him up from his throne and dancing in circles, laughing his ass off as Hephaestus just stood rotating on one spot, a deadpan look on his face.

"Could you release me, Apollo?"

"Not until you dance with me! You're happy, too! I know you are!"

"Idiots." Artemis just sighed in combined exasperation and relief as the three boys caught the clearly exhausted girl before she could injure herself further. Maybe she'll reconsider her attitude towards men if she meets these three. Maybe.

"It's not over!" Aphrodite urgently said as the War God approached the downed teens with murder in his every step.

Poseidon ignored Demeter's sharp exclamation of his name and hurriedly gathered energy as fast as he can, even though he knew in heart that he wouldn't be fast enough to save his only daughter from being cursed (but he could give the bastard the fight of the century he was craving for!). He needed a distraction so he could finish! And as though reading his own mind, Hermes' son had provided himself as a shield and buffer for his precious daughter. There! If he survives Ares' curse, he'll definitely earn himself a massive advantage over anyone else who would want to court his daughter (because, deluding himself or not, he could see that his daughter would be quite the looker when she grows up).

Though, as he let out the energy to hold him, signaling the start of the teleportation, something suddenly blocked him, preventing him from flashing down. The Sea God appeared from the light, bewildered.

"What the-!"

"Poseidon!" Aphrodite's sharp remark cut off whatever foul language he could utter as she pointed towards the projection, a horrified glint in her black eyes as her face contorted horribly in fear. The Sea God slowly turned towards the fire, dread curling up on his stomach as nothing good could cause Aphrodite to call him by his real name.

Dread instantly turned to unadulterated fear as he saw someone influence the surroundings. The horrifying thing was that even though they were only watching, the gods could feel the effect it had on the demigods. They could even feel the color inside the throne room leeching away as time was slowing down. The younger gods were all frozen, not knowing how to react. The Original Six, or rather, those who were present, were frozen due to an entirely different reason. They knew that feeling. They'd recognize it anywhere.

They could only move when the feeling disappeared.

"Poseidon, please. Call off your call to war. We won't survive if you go to war when all of this is happening!" Demeter immediately begged, turning to the Sea God who was as pale as freshly turned snow.

"Please, Poseidon. Listen to us. We've no bad intentions. Please." Hera's warbling tone joined in as her horrified face turned to him, tear tracks still visible in the fading light.

"I'll see if I can talk some sense into Zeus' thick skull." Poseidon bit out, the chilling feeling lingering in his stomach.

"You have interested me beyond belief, Persis Jackson. You have sealed your fate. I will become a part of your thoughts as you raise your blade. I will become a part of your life. Eventually, you shall seek me to be my intended."

"Is he serious?!" Apollo blurted out, shaking off his frozen state at the shock at his stepbrother's actions. "Seriously, first you attempt to kill the girl, and now you're proposing to her!? Are you brain-dead!?"

"We assume that he is." Hephaestus sighed, eyeing his brother still in an awkward pose, hands still wrapped around him in mid-dance. "Now, can you please release me?"

"Eh, I'll think about it."

"That won't happen as long as I am alive."

"The boy has spunk." Artemis pointed out, her lips in an amused smirk.

"He's my son, after all." A quiet, nut nonetheless clear voice snarked back, making the others focus on the still pale but smiling Messenger God

"Hermes! Any nausea? Feeling faint?" Apollo immediately jumped from tormenting the God of Forges into the professional but concerned doctor persona as he hurried back to the salt-and-pepper haired god.

"Just, shock." Hermes smirked sardonically.

"If you're sure." Apollo hummed as he methodically checked the god over.

"Then, Son of Hermes, you have made an enemy in me. Every time you raise your blade in battle, every time you hope for success, every time you fight to protect her from me, you will feel my curse. Beware, Lucas Castellan. Beware."

"And I'll do my very best in thwarting every attempt you make! No one separates this couple!" Aphrodite tittered, though to those who knew her well enough could see the strain she was putting herself under in order to make a normal comment. No one called her out.

As the questers discovered that the only choice left for them is to fly, Poseidon sighed and stood up.

"I should talk to that stubborn brother of ours and convince him not to attack my daughter while she's holding his precious Bolt." He shook his head as instead of gathering energy he just leisurely walked out of the room, grumbling about how he was going to put up with more temper tantrums. Though, as he opened the massive oaken door, he looked back at the still seated gods. "Someone should contact Hestia to tell her to put away her fire. They're going to be here soon."

That snapped the others into action.

Aphrodite immediately volunteered to find Hestia, already glowing as she teleported to who-knows-where, as Apollo and Hermes walked out of the room, Artemis sort-of grudgingly helping her twin with the Messenger God. Hephaestus had approached the two elder sisters and helped them out of the room. Dionysus just sighed and morphed out of the room, leaving the crackling fire in the middle of the room, projecting an image of the questers resolutely marching towards Olympus.

…..oo00oo…..

"Well?"

"I think frying him in a vat of boiling oil is too good. The brute might even enjoy it."

"That wasn't what I was asking about, Hades."

A sigh. "I know, Hestia. At least I know that the girl is dependable."

"Like her father?"

"Sometimes."

"You're too stubborn for your own good."

"I know. Trust me, I know."

So, here it is. Sorry if it's not up to my usual standards. Give me a few chapters and I'll be as right as rain. :D

Yes, I have not included the punishments for Ares, though I am feeling adventurous for him and trying out things that are not exactly hardcore, but not soft either. So, well see. :)

For the earlier chapters, I'm still trying to muddle my way through them. Ugh. Stupid rule not allowing selecting things. :/

The Next Chapter: The all awaited Olympus scene! We're almost through with TLT, guys! Just a little more! :D

So! Read and Review, guys! Tell me what you think! :D

P. S.: PRAY that I finish this before New Years, so I can give you a special Christmas gift, okay? :D