Just to clear things up, I am not Hans50 with a new account. I am adopting this story and possibly his other, I have permission.
Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson or any characters mentioned in this story. All rights go to Rick Riordan. This is all purely made up and written for entertainment.
Ocean's Fury, Ocean's Despair
Previously…
Sitting on the beach, Percy reflected on those painful memories and wondered why did the fates hate him so much? Hasn't he done enough to deserve some peace and happiness? Apparently not.
Pushing up from the ground, Percy began his trek once more to get away from Camp Halfblood as fast as he could. He needed to come up with a plan to take care of his demigod scent or he wouldn't last very long. Wait! Didn't Leo, Piper, Jason say that they ran into Medea once and she had all sorts of potions for all types of stuff? Maybe there was a potion that could get rid of his scent! That's a good place to start as any, Percy thought as he began walking once again.
Now…
Percy POV
First thing that I needed to do before I set out is to get rid of my scent and begin my new life. I need to see my mom one last time and let her know I'm gonna be okay. I can only imagine how worried she was when I disappeared those eight months and how frantic she must have been. She was just as frantic as Annab-No, as SHE was when I disappeared.
Walking along the familiar streets of New York, I began to feel a bit of nostalgia run through me. The lights, the sounds, the hustling and bustling of the City that Never Sleeps, the place where I grew up and the place that was my city. Walking along the cracked sidewalk, looking up at the old buildings around me, I couldn't help but remember the battle that took place on these very streets, the sounds of past friends' defiant war cries as they met the monster army head-on, sounds of metal and battle howling through the streets, and, worst of all, the screams of dying demigods as they fell into Thanatos' cold grip defending Olympus and each other.
Shaking my head vainly trying to clear my mind of the painful memories, I kept on walking until I reached the familiar old apartment building where my mom and Paul lived. Looking at the building, I felt a bit unease and a little tingle on the back of my neck as the little hairs began to stand up. I instinctively reached into my pocket, pulling out my trusty pen Riptide. Something wasn't right. Years of being a demigod made me trust my senses and instincts in a lot of situations and they are rarely ever wrong. That little voice in the back of my mind was yelling at me 'Danger! Danger!' as I made my way into the building.
Walking up the stairwell, I kept a hand on Riptide; ready to uncap it at a moment's notice should there be a threat. Turning into the hallway leading to my mom's apartment, I noticed something odd, or lack of something. There was no noise. An apartment filled with people and it was eerily silent as I made my way to my Mom's door. A cold sense of dread began to grip my heart as I saw the door slightly ajar. Suddenly, a cry of pain and fear broke through the building like a gunshot sound and panic filled me as I recognized that cry: the cry of my Mother. Uncapping Riptide, I barreled into the room and what I saw froze me in horror.
A trio of monsters was standing in my mother's living room; two dracaena and an Empousa were standing there over the bodies of my mom and step-dad. Two bronze spears were pierced through Paul's chest and stomach and blood covered his clothes and the ground he was laying on. But what chilled my blood was the blood trickling from the empousa's as she hovered over my mother, who had two small teeth holes on the side of her pale neck.
Seeing that, anger roared in my ears as I let out a yell of anger and water burst from the sink and pipes in the wall. The water swirled around me in an angry maelstrom as I created four tentacles of water with sharp ice tips and willed them to slam into the two snake women that were standing over Paul's corpse. They let out a wail of pain as the water spears slammed into them, piercing through their chests and stomach killing them in a similar manner in the way that they killed Paul. Ironic justice, I thought grimly before turning back to the monsters.
The Empousa turned towards with apprehension and slight fear on her face before it was replaced with a malicious smile. Wiping some of the blood from her mouth with her fingers, she brought them to her mouth as she licked the blood of them.
"Who are you? Why are you here?" I yelled, leveling my sword at her as water continued to swirl around me.
"Oh, the son of Poseidon, fancy meeting you here. I was just in the neighborhood and decided to come up her for a quick snack. I had no idea how deliciousdraining the Hero of Olympus's mother could be. " She replied in a peppy voice of cheerleaders with an undertone of malice in her voice. Her red eyes glittered with gleeful hatred as she said those words
Trembling with rage, I shot my hands out to her, willing the water spears to pierce her through her arms, legs, shoulders and pinning her to the wall. She screeched in pain as the cocky smile was wiped off her face as fear replaced it as she looked into the glowing, rage-filled, sea green eyes of the son of the sea god as he stalked towards her.
"You killed my mother." I said in a deathly quiet voice, "You killed the greatest woman on this planet! For that, your death will be painful. I will rip you limb from limb as you beg for death! But first, who sent you?"
"I don't know what you're talking abo-AHHH!" She screamed as I slammed Riptide into her stomach.
"Tell me who sent you!" I yelled in a constrained voice.
"GAEA!" She gasped out, "Gaea sent me! She came up with the plan that should she fail in rising that we were to seek out and kill your family!"
I froze as her words registered in my mind. Gaea. SHE did this. SHE ordered the death of my mother and step-dad because we beat her and her children. SHE was the one that took the best person in my life away from me.
With a roar of fury, I yanked riptide from the empousa's stomach and in one swift motion, severed her head from he body and watched as she crumpled into golden dust.
I turned around and ran to my mother's side, dropping to my knees by her body. Her skin was a ghostly white and blood continued to trickle out of the hole in her neck. Suddenly, I saw her eyes flutter a little bit and with a groan of pain, she opened her eyes and looked at me.
"Mom!" I carefully wrapped my arms around her in a hug. Oh gods, she was so cold.
"Don't worry mom, I'm gonna call the paramedics, you'll be alright, you're gonna be alright." I tried to reassure her, but I knew that she is only moments away from death; I could see it in her eyes.
"Percy," She said weakly, "Percy, I just want to let you know, that I am so proud of you. You are everything a mother could ever want in a son." Tears began to trickle down both our cheeks, as we both knew it was almost over and she would die soon.
"Listen to me Percy, don't let your heart be lost to anger, bitterness, and hate." My mom whispered, "Don't lose yourself and don't lose yourself to grief. Know that I will always love you and I want you to move one from this."
"But mom, I can't lose you too! I can't!" I sobbed out. I could feel her hand starting to weaken and her eyes were beginning to close. "I already lost so much! Please don't leave me too. Please!"
"It's my time Percy." I could barely her voice, "You are so strong Percy. You will do so much more in this world. I love you, baby. I love you."
"I love you too mom." I whispered in a voice chocked with emotion. With that final comment, mom closed her eyes with a faint smile on her lips. I could feel the life leave her and I knew she was gone.
Throwing back my head, I let out of wail of pain and sorrow. The ground shook violently and storm clouds were swirling in the sky outside. I just lost my mother. She was brutally murdered in front of my eyes. Nothing would be right ever again. 'Don't lose yourself Percy. I love you' my mom's words whispered in my mind.
Wiping the tears from my eyes I stood up and went to the closet in the hallway. I got out some bed sheets and carrying back to my parent's bodies, I began to wrap them in the sheets. After the bodies were fully wrapped, I placed two drachmas on each body, praying for quick and safe passage to my uncle's realm.
"Please uncle, let them pass to your realm quickly and peacefully. Let them enter Elysium, they more than deserve it." I prayed as I fell to my knees in grief.
Third person POV
Suddenly, the fireplace in the living room erupted into flames and out of the flames stepped Hestia, goddess of the Hearth and Home, in her twenty year-old form with a saddened expression on her face. No words were needed as she crossed the room and sank to her knees as she wrapped the young man in her embrace as he cried into her shoulder wrapping his arms around her.
"Perseus, I am so sorry for your loss. I saw through my hearth on Olympus what happened and I came as soon as I could."
Percy didn't even reply as he was now softly weeping onto the goddesses shoulder.
Hestia looked down at the young hero in front of her and she could hardly recognize her favorite demigod. His hair was wild and disheveled while his once bright sea green eyes were a dull green and bloodshot from crying. Not only was his appearance different, but also his posture was that of a broken man, with slumped shoulders and a hopeless expression on his face. He did not look like Percy Jackson, Hero of Olympus; he just looked like a defeated man who lost nearly everything in this world.
"Lady Hestia" Percy said in a small, broken voice, "Could you please take care of their bodies? Could you take them to Montauk beach where they can be buried by the cabin please?"
Hestia nodded her head sadly and with a wave of her hand, she, Percy, and the bodies vanished in a column of flames.
They arrived at Montauk beach by the cabin Percy and his mother always went to when he was a kid. The goddess and the demigod were still holding each other in an embrace still feeling the effects of grief. Hestia again waved her hand as both shrouds were engulfed in warm flames and the ashes were spread over the beach and the water.
Finally, Percy released Hestia from the hug, knelt down, and bowed to the goddess.
"Thank Lady Hestia for doing this. This place means so much to me and I know my mom would want to be buried here."
Hestia looked at the kneeling demigod before she reached out and lifted him from the bow.
"Percy, please do not bow to me. You of all people should never have to bow to me for what you did for me. You saved my family twice and you have returned my throne to my brother and me. No one else would have ever done that for us but you did, so please don't bow. And please, just call me Hestia" Hestia said with a small smile.
Percy only shook his head at Hestia with a ghost of a smile appearing on his lips for the first time since his mom died.
"It is because I respect you and because what you do for Olympus that I bow to you. You keep hope alive on Olympus and when all else fails, you protect and are the last line of defense. You keep the Olympians a family and it is because of that that I bow to you. Why do you think I gave you Pandora's Box during the Second Titan War? It is because Hope survives best at the Hearth. You are an goddess worthy of respect and you are my favorite goddess."
Hestia was stunned. Never had a demigod ever shown her this level of respect and it touched her heart. She even felt a little wetness on her as she raised a hand to her cheek and felt small fiery tears on her cheeks.
She stepped forward and wrapped Percy in a hug. He returned the hug and they stayed like that for a while, both trying to calm the raging storm of emotions within them.
Stepping away Hestia once again looked at Percy and asked him a question that would begin his journey into his new life.
"Percy, I know what happened at camp and I know how much hope you have lost from losing your mother. I know how much you are hurting right now but I would like to offer you something."
Percy looked up curious at the tone of voice she was using and to what she wanted to offer him. What she asked next left him stunned.
"I know that no one could ever replace your mother but I would like to know if you would allow me to be your mother now? Percy, will you allow me to adopt you and to be my champion?" Hestia asked in a hopeful voice.
Percy was stunned speechless. His eyes widened to almost comically proportions and his mouth was opening and closing like a gaping fish. Even though he just lost his mother, he longed to have another mother figure in his life and who better to fill the position than his most favorite goddess? Even though he loves his mother with all his heart, it doesn't mean he can't have another one and looking into Hestia's hopeful eyes, he caved.
Finally shaking off his surprise, he looked to Hestia and smiled the first true genuine smile in a long time.
"I would love to…Mom."
Hestia beamed in happiness as she once again hugged her new son. An aura of orange and red flames swirled around the two before the flames were absorbed into Percy. Percy felt a sudden rush of power enter his body. He could feel some hope return to his heart and he could feel a new sensation that he couldn't quite identify.
He reached out to this new sensation and brushed against it as he felt a new rush of strength flood into his system. He held out his hands as he felt the tingling sensation rush through his arm into his wrist, into his hand before a small flame formed in his outstretched palm.
He looked at the small flame dancing in his palm in wonder. Mesmerized by the small flame he tried the same thing as he does with water and willed it larger. A similar tug in his gut signaled that something was happening and he watched as the flames grew larger as they licked and curled around his fingers in a tantalizing dance.
Hestia watched in happiness as son began to discover his new abilities. Her son. She never thought she think those words due to her maiden oath but now she couldn't be happier. Percy finally put out his fire and looked about ready to collapse before she rushed forward and caught him. He looked at her and she gasped as she saw his eyes.
They were still their old sea-green but now that she officially adopted him, they had a swirling ring of reddish orange circling around his pupil. 'Like actual flames' She thought. She had to admit, they went really well with his eyes; the continuous swirl of the colors matching the flames of the hearth and the waves of the sea were mesmerizing.
"What?" He asked, "And why am I so tired?"
"Your eyes. They're different." She conjured up a mirror for him. "And you're so tired because you need to practice using your new powers."
"Wow." Was his only response as he looked at his new eye color. He had to say, they looked pretty damn good.
He turned back to see a smiling Hestia looking at him in amusement.
"Thank you mom." Damn that felt nice to say. "What other powers do I have?"
"Well, being my son and champion gives you the power over the hearth and home. This means that you have the ability to summon and conjure fire. You can project it from any part of your body, manipulate it any shape you want, and you can absorb it. Also, if you get angry enough, you can change your fire into Greek fire. You can also travel using fire. From the Home part of my sphere of power, you can summon any type of homemade food that families are suppose to have. You also have the ability to instill hope in others. Also, remember, the Power of the Hearth has the ability to heal as well as harm." Hestia replied
Percy was just left there gapping at her.
"Well, I guess there's a reason you are the eldest daughter of Kronos" He said as he got over his shock.
She smirked at him. "Well, you didn't expect an elder goddess, especially not the eldest daughter of Kronos to have some pretty cool powers now don't you?" She said in a teasing tone.
Percy blushed. "I didn't mean…um…I don't…what I meant was-" He was cut off as Hestia laughed.
"I just teasing son. Now, I know you what to start a new life and I will not send you back to live at Camp Half-Blood, that is choice for you to decide. I have an idea on what you can do, since you are now my champion, how would you like to find lost or hunted demigods and make sure they get to camp safely?"
Percy stiffened a little when she said Camp Half-Blood and felt the familiar hurt worm it's way back into his heart but he pushed it down and looked at his new mother.
"That sounds like the best idea I've heard in a while." He said with a blank look on his face.
Hestia frowned a little bit as she saw the pain flash through his eyes. She was a really peaceful goddess but after seeing what that camp did to her son, she really wanted to go to that camp and hurt someone.
"Good. I do know you plan to go to Medea's shop to find a potion to get rid of your demigod scent so no one can find you. I will send you there. Make sure to look for a black potion with the little swirls of purple and silver. That will remove your demigod scent."
"Okay. Just give me a minute so say one last goodbye." He turned to where the ashes were spread.
"Goodbye mom, goodbye Paul. I love you guys and I will miss you. I'll never forget all you did for me. I will work on not losing myself mom. I promise. I love you"
He turned back to Hestia and said, "I'm ready."
Hestia nodded and waved her hands and Percy vanished in a column of flames.
And done! So what do you guys think? Is it coming along alright? Hope you guys enjoyed it!
Please leave a review if you liked it and for any suggestions on how to make it better. Thanks!
In answer to one of your questions in the reviews, Percy and Zane will definitely never be friends. I won't exactly give away anything, but my ideas for this new story will have a lot more than just rivalry.