Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians nor do I own The Heroes of Olympus.
Story: Champion of Olympus: Child of the First One
Chapter 4: Healing and Reconciliation
Camp Half Blood
Percy's POV
My body felt like it was on fire, like the blood in my veins was made of lava. I tried to concentrate and focus on something else instead of the immense pain. Suddenly, I felt like my body was thrown into cold water. The heat and burning sensation , the feeling subsided. I could focus again. I opened my eyes and sat. I looked around at my surroundings. I was in a dark room; a narrow beam of light was visible through the only window I could see. I stood up and my body felt strange, like I was a ghost or something. The memories of the battle with the two giants and the injuries I had sustained filled my mind. I stumbled toward the window as I realized that I must be dead, but this wasn't the Underworld.
"You're very much alive," a familiar voice said.
"You're that voice that I heard when the volcano erupted," I realized. "You're the one that helped me."
"Yes, I'm your friend, remember?" The voice sounded hopeful.
"My friend. But who are you?"
"I cannot tell you now; if I did it would only confuse you."
"Why not? Is this one of Loki's tricks?" I was frustrated and quite suspicious. My mind raced with terrible possibilities, I was starting to get angry now. I couldn't understand what was going on.
"No, I swear it on the Styx." Thunder sounded throughout the room as the promise was sealed.
"Then tell me who you are," I pleaded.
"I'm sorry, I cannot." The voice spoke with sadness and regret evident in his tone.
"Okay, but I don't have to like it." I looked around at the dark room. "Where am I?"
"This is a part of your mind. Your body was greatly injured, but your friends and family have helped you."
I closed my eyes and tried to concentrate, but I felt so tired. "I can't wake up. What's wrong with me?"
"Do not worry. Your body is strong and you will get through this." The voice was confident and for some reason it gave me hope.
"Why are you here?"
"To help you, the Odin Sight gives you visions of the present and future, but sometimes you need help."
"What kind of help?"
"Look out the window," the voice urged.
I walked carefully to the window. My feet felt like they were filled with lead. I finally reached the window. I held onto the window frame as I pulled back the curtains.
The window looked into a cave that was lit with torches. A tall figure walked through the dark passageway that led to the cave. I could tell that the figure was a tall man, probably a Titan. He had dark grey hair and silver eyes. His body was covered in silver armor and he walked into the cave with a confident stride.
Suddenly, a dark haired woman with dark brown eyes stepped out of the shadows; she looked so much like Hera that I thought she might have been the woman that I once called my mother. She was taller, though, and she seemed much older.
"Rhea," the Titan said, "a pleasant surprise, little sister."
"Iapetus, that is no way to speak to your Queen," Rhea said.
Iapetus, the Titan of mortal life, laughed. "My brother is no more, so you're no longer my Queen."
Rhea narrowed her eyes. "Why are you here?"
Iapetus smiled at his sister knowingly. "I think you know."
Rhea stepped toward her brother, an aura of power spread around her body. "You will not hurt her."
Iapetus smiled before walking toward his sister threateningly. Suddenly, the Titan of mortality stopped in his tracks. Rhea looked at her brother's eyes. A surprise look shown across his face. Rhea looked down to see a bright blade sticking out of his breast plate. A dark energy surrounded her brother as all of his life energy was pulled into the shining blade. The blade slipped out from behind him and Iapetus's body fell to the ground.
Rhea stood in middle of the cave in shock at what she had witnessed. She didn't feel anything for her brother, but she looked into the darkness behind where her brother once stood with fear evident in her eyes.
Rhea could see someone in the darkness.
"Who are you?" Rhea asked nervously.
Out from the shadows clad in golden armor was the god of evil himself, Loki. Loki walked further into the light. He held a large weapon in his hand, a scythe. Rhea stared at him in shock.
Loki looked down at the lifeless body of the Titan, Iapetus. "Thank you for leading me here," Loki said ominously to the lifeless corpse.
"You're Loki," Rhea said.
Loki smiled evilly at the mother of the eldest Olympians. "Yes my lady."
"You will not hurt my mother." Rhea's body began to glow with even more power.
"I do not wish to hurt your dear mother." Loki smiled fiendishly.
Rhea's eye widened. "What do you want?"
"To discuss the war that is currently taking place between the Titans and the Olympians." Loki smiled at Rhea making a cold shiver run down her spine. "I would like her… assistance."
"I have spoken to my mother about my husband's useless search for vengeance."
"And what did she say?" Loki stared at the Titaness curiously.
"She has agreed not to attack my children." Rhea smiled.
Loki's face distorted into a look of pure evil. Rhea stepped back as a dark aura appeared around the Norse god of evil. "Then there is no need for these games. Too bad."
Suddenly, a wave of dark energy and magic engulfed Rhea. Her scream filled the dark cave.
I sat up quickly in my bed and looked around the room. It was a dream, but I knew that those events were quite real. Loki was after Gaea, but why?
I looked around the room I was in. The walls were a pale white color and the room smelled of disinfectant. I searched the room for signs of a presence, but it was empty. The door just outside my room opened and a flash of golden hair was all I saw before I was engulfed in a massive hug. I looked down to see the familiar golden curls of my girlfriend, Annabeth. She clung to me for dear life.
Annabeth pulled away and looked into my eyes. "I'm so happy you're alright," she said, and then she hit me in the shoulder, hard.
"Hey, that actually hurt," I protested.
Annabeth laughed, and it was the best sound in the world. "You deserved that for scaring me," Annabeth said.
I placed my arms around her and held her to my side. "I'm sorry, but I saved them, and I'm back. That's all that matters."
Annabeth's smile widened before she kissed me. My mind went blank and all I could feel was the beautiful girl whose lips were locked with mine.
Someone cleared their throat breaking Annabeth and I away from our special moment. "Sorry, but I need to check on my patient," Apollo said, but the glint in his eyes showed that he wasn't sorry.
Annabeth stepped away from me. Apollo walked over and sat on the edge of my bed. He placed a hand on my forehead.
"So doc, what's the verdict?" I asked playfully.
Apollo gave me an amused smirk. "Your fever is broken. It looks like you made it through," Apollo said.
I turned to sit on the edge of my bed until I realized I was only in my boxers. My cheeks turned red before Annabeth and Apollo began to laugh.
"Hey, that's not funny. Uh, who undressed me?" I asked nervously. Annabeth's face turned red at the thought.
Apollo smiled at the two of us. "I did, I wouldn't want Athena to kick your butt for having inappropriate thoughts of her daughter," Apollo teased.
"Shut up Sunny," I said. Apollo smiled at the nickname I had given him when we became brothers.
"I'll leave you two for a few minutes," Apollo said, but before he left the room he turned and said, "Get dressed and no funny business." Annabeth and I both turned red in embarrassment. Apollo laughed as he closed the door.
"Gods, he can be so annoying," I said.
I pulled the sheet off me and Annabeth blushed at the sight of me in my boxers. She turned around quickly. I threw on the clothes that Apollo had left for me.
"I'm dressed," I declared. Annabeth turned around and walked over to me. She pulled me into a warm embrace that felt incredible. We pulled apart as I grabbed her hand. We opened the door to my room and stepped out into the main room of the infirmary. Apollo and the other gods had all left, except for Poseidon and Hades. Jason, Thalia, Nico and Bianca were in the room as well. They all came over to me for a group hug.
Poseidon and Hades stepped over to Annabeth and me.
"I'm glad you're better," Poseidon said.
"You had us worried," Hades admitted.
I smiled at both of them. "Thank you for the concern," I said.
"Where's Athena?" I asked.
"She's with Zeus," Poseidon answered.
The door to the infirmary opened as Athena and Zeus walked in. They both smiled when they saw me up and about.
"Percy, thank the Fates that you're well," Athena said. Zeus nodded. I knew he wanted to say more, but there was an uncomfortable silence between us.
"Would you all excuse me, I would like to speak with Lord Zeus, alone." My friends and the other gods all nodded as the realization struck them. Annabeth squeezed my hand before letting go. I watched as all of them left the infirmary leaving Zeus and I alone.
"What would you like to discuss, s… Percy?" Zeus said anxiously. I knew he wanted to say son.
"I'm still upset with you about Maria Di Angelo," I admitted.
Zeus looked down at his hands. "I know, I've tried to make amends to Hades and his children," Zeus declared. "I know it will never be enough."
"I know you feel remorse. I don't know if I'll ever understand how the gods can act the way you do with mortals."
Zeus nodded. "We do not know what it's like to be mortal. That can make even the best person do things that they regret. I've done terrible things in the past, because I had the power. My temper is horrible, I know that."
"F-father, I… I forgive you." I looked at my adopted father, the only person I ever really considered as one. I walked up to him; he was at his human height, which was the same height as me now. I hugged him tightly. I knew the gesture surprised him, but he hugged me back. We pulled apart a moment later.
Zeus smiled at me. "Thank you, it means more than you will ever know."
"What about m… I mean Lady Hera?" I asked.
Zeus looked at the door to the infirmary. His expression was a mix of anger, sadness and regret. "We're separated, I don't know if I can forgive her for trying to kill Thalia."
I understood exactly what he felt like. "I know. I can't forgive her either."
Zeus put his hand on my shoulder, and then he looked into my eyes. "Maybe someday we'll be able to, but for right now, I want to be a family again with you, Thalia and Jason."
I smiled at my father. "I'd like that."
We were about to step out of the infirmary, but then I remembered the dream or whatever it was.
"Father, I had a dream, a vision."
"What did you see?" I relayed the whole dream to Zeus and his eyes widened throughout the explanation, until I could see his eyes change to barely restrained fury.
"Are you okay?"
Zeus shook his head. "No, if Loki hurt my mother, I will destroy him personally."
"You can't beat him. He killed Iapetus in just a few seconds. He's too powerful." I gave my father a concerned glance.
Zeus nodded. "I know, but Rhea is such a good mother, she risked so much to save me."
"I understand. Let me help. I have already sworn to the allfather that I would defeat Loki. Now I swear the same to you. I will fight him until my last breath and beyond. I will never stop fighting him until he is defeated."
Zeus gave me a warm smile. "I'm very proud of you, son. You've grown into a great hero. I know Odin must be proud of you too."
"Thank you." It felt good to hear my father say he was proud of me. It gave me the courage and the strength to finish what I started.
Zeus placed his arm around my shoulders before he opened the door to the infirmary. "Let's go outside. It's too nice of a day to be stuck in this dreary place."
I returned my father's smile as we stepped out of the infirmary. I felt happy that my father and I had reconciled. I just wished that I could escape the feeling of danger that seemed to cloud my mind. I knew that the end was near. The great prophecy was coming to a close. Would I still be alive after my sixteenth birthday? Would this realm still exist?
AN: A big thank you to Starlit Reader for another outstanding job betaing this story. Stay tuned more to come. StarlitReader sends her apologies for the insanely late update.