After she had gone, Tristan, Frederick, Ares, Hephaestus, and the three Kings carried the children to the clinic, Apollo leading the way. Following them were Will, Hera, Thalia, Poseidon, Amphitrite, Triton, Tyson, Hades, and Nico. Athena, Emily, and Aphrodite stayed behind in the Accords Hall, writing down and discussing everything the Oracle had said. Once the children were laid down on the beds, Apollo and the men properly introduced themselves. "We apologize for being so rude, My Lords."
"It's alright, you were worried for the sake of the children." Zeus said. "Will they be alright?"
"The Oracle didn't mean them any harm; after some rest, they should all be fine."
"What about that prophecy?' Hades asked. "I've never even taken my children out of the palace, Hazel can't go on a quest this dangerous-"
"But they will have to." Poseidon lay a hand on his older brother's shoulder. "We have all heard the words. It seems our children will be fighting our battles for us."
"They shouldn't have to!" Hades protested. "I couldn't-
"Father," Nico interrupted, "Hazel will be fine. You and Mother have been training her since birth to use her powers for good; she's been going far places with them. Give her the chance to prove herself to you. The Oracle herself chose Hazel for this quest-that means she almost certainly will play a vital part. It'd be dangerous to keep a prophecy from happening."
Hades stared at his son before sighing and hanging his head in defeat. "You speak the truth. Hazel will have to go." He glowered. "But this does not mean that I am happy about it."
Zeus snorted. "And you think we are?" He said, gesturing to himself and Poseidon. "I don't want Jason going anywhere near Ouranos' spawn. To think that, after all these years, we have to battle him again…" Zeus held Hera in his arms, as his wife had started trembling.
Poseidon shook his head. "Perseus is too young."
"He's sixteen." Amphitrite said.
"He's still ten years old in my mind." Poseidon sighed.
Amphitrite hugged her husband. "He is ready, Poseidon. It's exactly as Nico said. It applies to Perseus and Jason and Hazel, and all of these people's children too. They are essential in the defeat of Ouranos and his family once and for all."
As the Kings and their families spoke, Athena, Emily, and Aphrodite walked into the clinic. Now all of the families were here.
Athena held up a scroll. "My Lords," she said bowing to the Kings.
"There is no need for that, my dear, in times so dire." Hera said. "What is on that scroll?"
"It is the prophecy, My Lady." Athena said. "Around here, we always think it best to write down the prophecy so that we may break down the terms and figure out what the seven will need." She gently pressed the paper into Zeus' hands before going to check on Annabeth. Emily and Aphrodite had already taken their rightful places by Frank and Ares and Tristan and Piper.
"'The forsaken ones awake/The sevens' destiny to make.'" Zeus began. "That isn't difficult. Ouranos and his sons walk the earth, and the seven must stop his children while we take on our old enemy again."
"The next line says, 'Wisdom's daughter to be stolen'". Poseidon said. "Wisdom? Who is wisdom?"
Not-so-discreetly, all of the townspeople looked over at Athena. The three Kings took notice of this immediately.
"So, you are the wisest?" Zeus asked Athena. She smiled graciously. "My Lord, my companions tend to exaggerate sometimes, but I have been told so."
"Alright. A competition seems to be in order, then." Zeus said.
Hera gasped and grabbed her husband's arm. "My Lord, we have no time for such things! The children-"
"Are asleep," Zeus cut her off, "and they shall not be awake for a while. We must figure out who wisdom is."
Despite Hera's many protests, Zeus stood next to Athena and asked Apollo to ask them a question that would prove one of the two to be the wiser.
Apollo cleared his throat. "An old tale, then. In a country, two women were arguing over a child. They both believed that the child was theirs. They went to the king of the country and asked him to settle their disagreement. The king studied the women, but saw no better resemblance to the child in either of them. Eventually, the king suggested that they cut the baby in half and give the equal pieces to each woman. The first woman nodded her head and said that this was an excellent idea. The second woman protested fiercely. Which one of them was the true mother?"
Zeus chuckled. "Easy! The first woman was the mother of the child. She was trying to trick the other woman by agreeing, and the other fell right into her trap. That is my answer."
Apollo stared at the King in wonder, and then turned to Athena. "What say you?"
"I believe the second woman is the true mother." Athena said. "She cared for the child, and she knew that cutting it in half would kill it. She would rather the child be alive and with someone else, than dead with her."
"Well," Hera said, "who is correct?"
"Athena." Apollo said.
Zeus gasped. "What?!"
Thalia gave a little laugh. "Honestly, Father, a woman doesn't mess around with topics such as those, especially before a king. She wouldn't have been trying to trick anyone; the first woman would have let the king cut the child in half without blinking."
"But if Athena is Wisdom," Aphrodite started, "that means-"
"Annabeth." Athena said, hugging her daughter. "Oh, no."
Everyone stood solemnly as Frederick wrapped an arm around his wife.
They stood like this for a few more moments until Apollo interrupted. "A life taken as a token." He whispered. "It's the last line of the prophecy. It doesn't specify whose life, which means that we are all at risk."
When Apollo finished speaking, the Seven jolted up as one.
The parents gasped and reached for their children. Perseus was tackled by his family, as was Jason and Hazel. Annabeth woke to find her mother sobbing over her shoulder. Frank and Leo were hugged by their mothers while their fathers stared at them as though they'd just been given a death sentence. Piper held on to her parents for dear life.
"Where are we?" Perseus asked once his family had finally let go. "What happened? The last thing I remember was the Oracle, and then a blinding pain in my head."
"Me too." Jason, Hazel, Annabeth, Piper, Frank, and Leo said, and they all stared at each other suspiciously.
"The Oracle said a prophecy about the seven of you." Zeus said, and the King explained to the children what they had deciphered so far.
Annabeth's face paled when her told her of her fate. Athena held her daughter even more tightly. "I won't let them have you." She whispered fiercely.
Annabeth pat her mother's shoulder. "Mom, I'll be fine." She whispered back, not letting anyone see how truly worried she was.
"We need to get you the materials," Athena started muttering to herself. "I have to make a plan."
Hephaestus grunted and stepped forward. "I can help build this ship of theirs."
Leo looked up at his father. "Dad…why would we need a ship?"
The prophecy scroll was passed among the seven. "The Oracle said you seven would sail a ship to Ouranos' lands." The blacksmith laid a hand on his son's shoulder. "I'll be helping in any way I can."
Ares nodded. "I can provide you with the best weapons." His face broke out into a grin. "And my boy Frank will teach you how to use 'em all." He hit his son on the back so hard Frank almost fell off the bed.
Across the room, Hazel giggled. Frank's head shot up when he heard it and he smiled at the Princess of the Underworld. She blushed and turned away. Nico looked out the window and grinned like he hadn't seen a thing.
A certain son of Poseidon smiled and said, "So, according to the Oracle, we have a month."
Hephaestus nodded. "I can have it ready in a couple of days. Leo and I were already perfecting one of our inventions, right kid?"
"Dad, you want to use that ship? We didn't even take it out for a test yet." Leo said, brows furrowed.
"How about now?" Poseidon said. "I can ensure safe travels across the sea and transportation just in case something goes wrong."
The parents looked at each other and nodded. "Alright, let's give the ship her maiden voyage."