Apollo and his Persephone
DISCLAIMER: IO NON RICK RIORDAN
Apollo Pov
When Percy snapped her finger I was surprised to be in another room that I did not recognise, the itself was grand but had an air of simplicity that the our own throne room did not and than there were the massive thrones that were 100ft tall and had elegant yet simple designs that only displayed there symbols of power. As I was just looking around I was shocked to see my uncle Poseidon and Aunt Hestia sitting on the thrones along with Triton and Amphitrite and one person I never thought I would see, Zoe nightshade sat on a throne looking at home on it. My eyes continued to dart around the room and noticed that there were four thrones that looked vacant and one of them sat in the middle with another throne grander than the rest but equally as simple in design, but it was obviously made for a queen.
After a few moment there were a couple of bright flashes and when the light died it revealed that all the other council members had arrived and I could recognise that they were all primordial gods. During this time I could see that Olympians felt small in comparison though we stood at 25ft, but still they were 100ft and each was radiated more power than the whole council combined a few times over. As I was busy mulling over my thoughts I failed to see Percy moving to one of the two grand thrones and the closer she got the taller she became and stood at 100ft like the others. I saw that father was fuming that he king of the gods was not invited to join their council and before he could continue his rant someone shout silence and that person was none other than Percy herself and she looked every bit queen. "Uncle Zeus, this is a council room and not disco, so raise your hand and you shall be heard, but either than that we would ask you to leave the room, due to you causing disruptions and also you Dionysus leave if you are not interested and know you will be banned from the throne room in future" the afore mentioned gods stood there gaping at how she spoke to them, thought it wise to say nothing about it.
"I on the behalf of the other council members would like to welcome you to Olysia the city of the heavens and we would like to have Olympus as an ally" said Percy gracefully in a voice laced with power, but not forceful either. "Why should we ally ourselves with punk?" asked Ares and everyone muttered idiot at him and Athena said "That because they are far more powerful than we are and for one Persephone there is the overall master of the heavens, which include father's domain and barnacle beard is the true lord of the seas and just those two could annihilate Olympus and to make it worse she probably has other domains we don't know about" and I could see all the other gods agreeing, before father said "We agree to be allied with you so long as you take an oath to serve Olympus" The whole council descended into laughter and one of the council members said "We said we want to be allied with you not serve you child and don't confuse the two our power is greater than you own and if we make an oath of loyalty, you too would be required to do the same". Father shifted uncomfortably and he agreed to their terms and we all went to say our oaths and when we were done, Percy thanked us and said "The Olympian council will be required to train intensively every day to regain the power you lost during the years and than some" most of the Olympians agreed only Ares looking offended by her statement. Percy continued to tell us of her plan to make us stronger and told us were the training area is and than she said "Council Dismissed" and all of the Olysian flashed out leaving Zoe and Percy who came over to me and took me by my hand and went over to chat with Zoe and Artemis. When she finally stopped dragging me to Artemis and Zoe I saw Zoe and Atemis crying and hugging each other and barely noticed us approach at them. When they saw us Artemis went over to Percy and hugged and thanked her for convincing the council to bring back Zoe and Percy just said she is welcome and asked my sister if its ok if she came to talked to Thalia tomorrow and not to tell her about me being like this just I was found by Apoll and Artemis nodded and flashed out with Zoe in tow to go to her hunters leaving me with Percy who just smiled and I went to her and gave her a hug and asked her if she wanted to go somewhere we can be alone and she nodded and flashed us to her Palace on Olysia.
3rd Pov
When Apollo and Percy arrived at her palace he was surprised to see that it was as simple as it is homely, not like the one on Olympus which were mostly for show and were overly to large but this was just right not to big and nor was it small. "So Delian how you like my home?" she said with a grin. "It's beautiful, and I would love to live here with you", "Than what's stopping you?" asked Percy, "I don't what to inconvenience you" Percy rolled her eye and muttered idiot under her breath, which got a chuckle from Apollo. "So the sky queen wants Mr Awesome to stay" he said with a smirk, before being led to the kitchen. "What do you want to eat that's not Ambrosia and nectar?", "Anything you make I will try as long as it looks like food and not a science experiment I'm up for it" Apollo said looking at his girlfriend with a smirk and Percy just rolled her eyes and started making something for them to eat while they talked.
"Why do you want us to get stronger?" Apollo asked looking at her curiously. "I feel that the Olympian council always seem to rest on their laurels, though in reality Olympus has no shortage of enemies and you need to be ready to take on the next threat head on even if its against another Primordial not on the Olysian council" she answered truthfully. Apollo just sighed and agreed that they just assume that the enemy will be afraid of them because of how they won the two wars. "You're right, we do rest on our laurel too much, but when you have been in power as long as we have its hard to admit that you may not be as powerful as you once had been, all the gods are prideful no matter how kind some us may appear we sometimes let our pride cloud us from the bitter truth that we are weak" he said glumly and Percy just nodded and said "That's why you train, you train to get stronger, to reduce your weaknesses". After she had said that they stayed silent for a little while, before Percy gave little peck on the lips and saying she needs to shower and Apollo could only nod and watched as Percy left the kitchen with a smile.
After Percy had showered and got dressed she went back to the kitchen only to see Apollo playing his lyre softly and did not notice her arrival until she clapped and said that the song he was playing is very beautiful, he was startled and a little embarrassed that she heard it, but he said "Thank you, its an old song my mother used to sing for Artemis and I when we younger, it holds one of my happier memories, before we left Delos" he said with a faraway look I his eyes. "You miss her don't you?" asked Percy and her nodded. "What happened to her?" she asked looking him in the eye, "she faded five thousand years ago, twenty years after my birth, she said she could now go to the realm of the faded and rest as we were now strong enough to look after ourselves and also that she was proud of us and than she shimmered out of existence" he said with tears filling his eyes. "What of Artemis? Doesn't she cry for your mother?" asked Percy. "No, she does not I'm afraid" he said. "Ok enough of the sad talks for now; we have time to tell our tales though mine will be shorter" she said with a small smile. "Well good cause I'm starving and the cook just left me to pan while she was having a shower, you can't find good help these days" Apollo said with a smirk and Percy hit his shoulder with smile on her face and she went to the oven and pulled out the pollo alla cacciatore she made earlier and served it to him with polenta and after he put it in his mouth, his eyes widened with delight and said to Percy that this is amazing, which made Percy giggle and she too served herself a plate to eat and they started eating and having light conversations, mostly with Apollo teasing Percy.
When they were done eating their supper, Percy told Apollo that he could stay at her palace if he wants to and for as long as he wants and gave him a key, which he happily accepted. "Delian, tomorrow I will change into my old form for a bit, while I'm at the hunters' camp so don't worry, it will only be for a little while" said Percy and Apollo nodded and told Percy that they should rest and she agreed and led him to his room and he pouted and said "I thought you were sleeping with me" Percy laughed, "I never said that and its too soon for that, but in time, Goodnight my love" she said giving Apollo a passionate kiss, then walking to her room, leaving behind a smiling Apollo who just laughed to himself and said "she will be the death of me" and then went over to his bed and he fell asleep a happy god.
Line Break
Next morning at the hunter's camp
Thalia's Pov
When Milady returned from Olympus she told me that they had been transported to the Primordial council's throne room and were surprised to see how orderly and controlled everything was, but still had an air of ease. "Thalia, go call the other hunters" Artemis said to me and quickly obliged and went to gather all of the hunters and tell them that Artemis means to tell us something of importance. When I gathered all the hunters we waited for Artemis to arrive. When Artemis arrived she said "Hunters, I have come with great news, firstly Perseus Jackson was found my brother" she said embarrassed that Lord Apollo had found him, so I asked "Milady where did Lord Apollo find Percy?", "Thalia it seems that Perseus never actually left New York and also Lord Poseidon and Hestia knew of his whereabouts the whole time we have been searching for him" I was extremely happy that Percy was safe but pissed off that he didn't tell me where he was. "I'm going to kill that kelp head" I muttered to myself, all of the hunters heard me and burst into laughter. "The other reasons I have called for you is to inform you that Perseus will be here later on to talk to Thalia, and the other is I found out that my former lieutenant had been returned to life and she was made a primordial goddess by the primordial council, thanks to their queen who asked that she get a throne on Olysia". "Milady what's Olysia?" asked Phoebe. "Olysia is the City of the heavens, the eternal city" she answered and than suddenly a figure flashed in and she had black hair and volcanic black eyes and I instantly recognised her as Zoe Nightshade, former lieutenant of the hunter. Upon seeing her they all ran up to her and hugged her. "Hello hunters" said in a regal voice befitting of a queen and that got me wondering if she is the queen of the primordials and Zoe noticing my thoughts said "I'm not the queen Thalia". She and Artemis walked towards Artemis's tent when she was done greeting all of the hunters.
4 hours later:
Artemis and Zoe have been in that tent for four hours now and I'm starting to wonder what they are talking about and as I was thinking all of this they both walked out the tent with grins plastered on their faces. "Hunters, Zoe will be rejoining the hunt, but not as a hunter, as she is no longer mortal" Artemis said with a smile. I could see that the hunters were extremely happy that Zoe has been to them. After the announcement Zoe told us she had to go back to her palace on Olysia.
The rest of the day was rather uneventful, until two figures flashed in and one of them was a smiling Percy and Lord Apollo. The hunters started to groan when they saw Apollo, he didn't seem to care, and it was as if his thoughts were elsewhere. "Hey little sis" he said with a smile. "I'm not "she said before being interrupted by Apollo raising his hand in surrender. "Hey Pinecone face, you miss me?" Percy said with a small smile. "Why didn't you tell me where you were kelp head? Do you know how worried I was?" I said screaming at him, which caused him to laugh. "Come Thalia, let's go talk in Private" he said and I led him to a small creek where we could chat. "I'm sorry for not telling you where I was but I wanted to be alone, I couldn't shutout my parents and Aunt Hestia, I just couldn't stay at camp any longer, it was torture to stay there, literally, and Annabeth cheated on me with Will Solace and now she is pregnant with his child, but its fine I forgave her and Will" he said. "Tell me what exactly happened" I said and he agreed and began to tell the events that led to him leaving camp half blood.
After he told me what happened I wanted to go there and rip their heads off, until he said they are being punished in the underworld as we speak, "What? The gods killed them?" I asked and he said "No, it's just for week". "Thals close your eyes". Was confused, but I did what he told me and when I heard him say I could open them, I did and Percy wasn't there anymore and in his place was a beautiful girl with Jet black hair and the brightest sea green eyes and a crooked grin I know well enough Percy. "So what do you think thals?" she asked, I was still in shock and all I could come up with was "you're a girl" she just laughed and said "I hadn't noticed" with a smile. "How did this happen?" I asked and she said that it was her true appearance. "Let's go back to the hunters" I said and she nodded and we continued to talk about the little things we did over year. When we got camp all of the hunter were shocked to see Percy and Atalanta asked "Who are you?" and Percy just smiled and said "I'm Percy Jackson" and at that moment all of them were gaping like fish. "Close your mouths or you will catch flies" I heard Percy say. "Are you joining the hunt?" asked a hopeful Phoebe. "No I'm afraid I am not joining the hunt, I'm in a relationship with Apollo" she said blushing, and for an umpteenth time, today the hunters were shocked. "Of all men in the world, why him" Phoebe asked pointing at Apollo. "He is not a bad guy once you seriously talk to him. "A lost cause, this one ladies" said Artemis who was grinning. "I resent that" said a pouting Apollo went to Percy and gave her a peck on the lips and when he was done he had a hand around her petit waist. "Now, on to serious news I have also come here for a reason" she said looking at Apollo and said.
"Apollo and I have to go, see you soon' then they flashed away leaving behind bewildered hunters and a smiling Artemis, who said "still a seaweed brain" causing all of us to laugh.
3rd Pov
When Apollo and Percy arrived back on Olysia, she told her boyfriend that it was time for them to train so he must go and get ready and they went their separate ways to get ready. Ten minutes later they both flashed in wearing training gear and percy told Apollo to fashion him self a sword and Apollo nodded and made a xiphos appear in his hand. "Lets get into a fighting stance" said Percy, as she analysed the flaws in his stance and corrected them and then she started showing Apollo some basic parries, slashes, thrust, counters and blocking techniques and noted that his grip on his sword was to rigid and asked him to loosen it a bit so that his movement could be both strong and agile. After five hours of non stop basic sword training Apollo was sore and sweating profusely, he now knew how hard demigods had to work in order just to be skilled enough to survive never mind defeating their opponents, he could now understand their plight, even though Artemis I up close with monster she barely ever has to fight for her life, so she too doesn't understand the true value of training, she could just use her powers to defeat her enemies, none of her hunters besides Thalia have physical powers, so they are always fighting for their lives. "I will never complain about how hard it is being a god, it's a holiday compared to being a demigod" he muttered to himself. "Perce, can't we rest?" he complain to her "For today we are done, but tomorrow we will do the same thing and next week you try to teach me archery" she mused.
Apollo and Percy training for weeks and weeks turned into months and months turned to years, until five years had passed. Apollo's skill had grown exponentially and Percy's skill had also grown to near total perfection and still they trained. Their love grew deeper in that time, they were near inseparable, they still did things away from one another, but in the end the pull to see each other was stronger.
"Apollo" Percy called .Apollo flashed in to see what Percy wanted. "It's time, I return to camp half blood, for a while at least". "Why would you return there?" Apollo asked. "I want to see what's happening there, besides Chiron needs to know" she said with finality evident in her voice. "Ok fine when do we go" he asked, "Now" she answered. Percy transformed into her old form for the last time she thought to herself. Apollo could only watch as Percy change, he knew it would be easier for Percy this way, but it doesn't mean he likes it.
Apollo took Percy and flashed her to the borders of camp with bag in hand and gave her a soft kiss before flashing out. It was the first time in six years that Percy stepped foot on the borders of camp and what she saw didn't surprise her, camp hadn't changed at all since that day. She walked towards the big house and everywhere she could see camper staring at her and the nature spirits could sense the godly power presence in her and all tried to show respect, Percy just shook her head and continued walking, but a camper who looked 15 said "Hey newbie" in malevolent tone, which Percy ignored and continued walking, but said camper tried to lunge at Percy, but Percy intercepted and disarmed him and threw the sword aside, then she collected her bag and continued walking without a word. When Percy got closer to the big house she could see Mr D, Chiron and Grover playing Pinnacle. "Well, well, it seems things never change do they Chiron and Gman" she said with a smirk, both Chiron and Grover's heads shot up to see Percy standing there after six years. "Percy" Grover croaked before engulfing her in a mighty hug. "Where have you been?" asked Chiron with tears in his eyes. "I never left New York, but I was sometime on Atlantis" she answered. Chiron led Percy into the big house since she is too old to be a camper. "Chiron, I won't be staying here to long" she said. Chiron already knew as much, but nodded anyway and they stayed in the big house for the rest of the day talking and when dinner came Chiron excused himself to go blow the conch shell.
When percy heard the conch shell she made her way to the dining Pavilion and as she got there she saw Annabeth talking to four year old girl with blond hair and blue eyes and looked a lot like will and she could see that she was also expecting another child and Percy couldn't help but smile, that her one time best friend has a family of her own. When Percy walked into the pavilion, all of the older campers were gaping at her, and Percy just chuckled and waved and went to sit on the Poseidon table. "Who are you to sit on that table newbie?" said a boy with black hair and light blue eyes, son of Triton I presume, the camper was taken aback but nodded. "Sit, the table is for children of the sea, is it not?" Percy asked with a smile, and the boy smiled too. "Seaweed brain, where have you been?" asked a surprised Annabeth, "Well, hello to you too wise girl" Percy said with a grin. "You are glowing Annie, congratulations on your pregnancy" she said to Annabeth who flushed red, "Percy I…" she tried to say before being interrupted buy her daughter.
Percy just smiled and said "She is beauty, is she not". "Yes, she is" answered Will who came and kissed both Annabeth and their daughter on the cheek, before turning to Percy to apologise, but Percy stopped him and said "All is forgiven Will" Immediately after Percy said that Apollo flashed in wearing a well fitted suit and looked older than normal, he looked to be 28 and in truth looked better in this form than the other. All the campers after seeing him arrive all bowed to him except Percy, who just kept sitting, "Percy why aren't you bowing?" asked an obviously scared Annabeth who had been told that the sun god doesn't like her much. Percy smiled and said he won't hurt you or Will. Apollo smiled and went over to them and kissed his granddaughter on the cheek and patted his son on the shoulder and went to sit with Chiron and Mr D. All the camper went back to sitting down and Chiron tapped his glass lightly to grab everyone's attention, "Campers, it has come to my attention to let you know that Percy Jackson has returned, even though it's for while" that got the campers to all look at Percy in awe and fear especially the camper who attempted to attacked her. After the little announcement Chiron motioned for the naiads to bring in the food but he was shocked that the Naiads where fighting over who should serve Percy and when the arrived they bowed at her feet not even noticing the others, Percy simply said "You need not bow to me" Annabeth was shocked to see Percy commending such respect, but thought nothing off it.
The rest of dinner was uneventful, beside the fact Apollo was constantly stealing glances at Percy, before he got the courage and went to Percy and got on one and took out a gorgeous diamond ring and said "Perce, I know this is not how you wanted thing to be revealed, but you know I have never been one for plans, so I kneel before just as a man in love not a god, I love you Percy, five years with you and everyday I would wake up with a smile because I got to see you, yes sometime you infuriate me to no end and I the same I love you with all my heart, so please, will you marry me?"