Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians or the Heroes of Olympus Series.

Story: Champion of Olympus: Child of the First One

Chapter 22: Protector of the Light

Third Person POV

The Garden of Yggdrasil (Tree of Life)

Percy stood in knee high grass in a garden full of live oaks. In the center was the largest tree he'd ever seen; the tree was hundreds of times larger than the other oak trees. It was a live oak with twisted limbs and a massive canopy. However, this tree glowed with a white light that pulsed through the trunk of the tree and its limbs.

"Where am I?" Percy asked aloud to no one.

Suddenly, an eagle that was the size of a passenger airliner appeared on one branch of the massive tree. The bird was the color of a golden eagle and its bright yellow beak shined in the light of the tree. The bird had golden eyes that peered into the soul of the boy.

"This is the garden of Yggdrasil, child of the Aesir," the eagle said.

"Who are you?" Percy asked.

The bird flapped his wings before settling into a giant nest that was perched near the top of the tree. "I am one of the guardians of the tree of life. My name is Arnkell," the eagle said.

"I have come to unleash the power of the tree," Percy explained.

Arnkell looked around the tree. He looked back down at Percy and screeched. "You wish us to fight Loki?" he asked.

"Are you the power of the tree? What do you mean by us?"

"I am one of two protectors of the tree of life." The eagle looked down into the tree before its eyes began to glow.

"Who's the other?" Percy followed the eagle's gaze. The base of the tree began to glow before a creature stepped out of the trunk. The creature was larger than the Midgard Serpent, but Percy could tell it was a drakon.

Arknell squawked. "He is no drakon; he is a dragon. He is the child of the first one; the son of Chaos. His name is Níðhöggr, or Nidhogg in the human's tongue."

The dragon had blood red scales with a snake-like body and four legs. Each leg had a clawed foot with five claws tipped with Uru metal. The dragon's head was shaped like a horse's head, but instead of a mane of hair, the dragon's head was covered in scales and hundreds of horns of various sizes. Nidhogg walked toward Percy; his eyes never left the boy's. "Greetings, child of the Aesir; I know of Loki and his plans. My father has explained the mission," Nidhogg said.

Percy was frozen in shock. The dragon spoke to him, but the voice was so soothing and calm. "You'll help me?" Percy asked. 'Didn't I fight you before on Earth?"

Nidhogg laughed; the sound shook the garden and the tree. "You fought a cheap imitation of me. Loki holds no power over me," Nidhogg explained.

"Will you both come to Earth to stop Loki?" Percy questioned.

Arnkell sighed. "It is my duty to stay with the tree," he explained.

"I will go to Midgard and fight the evil one," Nidhogg said. The dragon eyed the boy carefully. "However, I do not have the power to go to Midgard and fight Loki. I need help to go there."

Percy stepped closer. "I chose my path. My power is at your disposal. I will help you," Percy explained.

Nidhogg looked at Arnkell; the eagle nodded. "Agreed, but you will lose yourself in the process," the dragon said.

Percy nodded. "I knew this would be a one way trip for me. I will fade into nothingness," Percy said.

The dragon snorted. "You will not fade," Nidhogg said. He stared into Percy's eyes. "The two of us shall merge; I will no longer be alone and neither shall you."

Percy's eyes widened. "I won't cease to exist?" he asked.

The dragon laughed at the question. "No, you and I will be as one. We shall fight Loki together. The champion and the guardian combined. We shall be the Protector of Life; blessed by the first one himself, an immortal being beyond the gods or titans. We shall be the embodiment of the power of life and light. We shall be the opposite of Loki," Nidhogg explained.

Percy just stared at the dragon in awe. He would unite with the dragon. "I'm here to serve," Percy said.

Nidhogg smiled. His massive teeth glowed in the light of the tree. "Come closer child," the dragon said. Percy walked towards the dragon. The dragon placed his head on the ground. Percy climbed onto the head and held onto the scales of the dragon. The dragon began to chant in a language more ancient than any Percy had heard before. A magic aura covered the body of the dragon. The light was red and brightened as the dragon spoke.

Arnkell watched the dragon and Percy begin to glow. He smiled sadly at his friend and companion. He was happy that the universe would be saved, but he knew that Nidhogg would not return from this mission.

The light around the dragon and Percy grew brighter until no creature could look at the light without the destruction of their eyes. An explosion rocked the base of the tree. Arnkell held on for dear life. The entire garden shook as the tree itself poured life and energy into the two beings.

Suddenly, the earthquake stopped and the light faded. A lone entity stood at the base of the tree. The dragon and the boy were gone. In their place was a young man. The man had pale white skin without any imperfections. He wore golden armor and he had no eyes, instead his eye sockets were filled with a white light, the power of the tree. The man's hair was orange flames that moved back and forth around the man's head like a great bonfire.

Arnkell watched the creature in awe. Where was his friend? Where was the boy?

The man looked up at the giant eagle. "Do not fret my dear friend. I am Nidhogg and I am Perseus, but now we are so much more. From this day forward we shall be known as Njall," the man said.

"Njall means champion or protector in ancient Norse," Arnkell replied.

"Yes, my friend," Njall said. Njall looked up into space; he followed the light of the tree as it led to a speck of light in the distance. "I go to Midgard; to fight the evil one."

"I wish you good fortune, my old friend," Arnkell said.

Njall smiled. "I wish you the same my friend. Guard the tree well," Njall said as he began to float into the air. Njall's body began to glow before he turned into a massive white comet that streaked through space toward Midgard and the final battle.

The Void

Chaos watched Njall transform into energy before his long trip to Midgard. A noise in Chaos's palace drew his attention away from the image. Sally Jackson stood before the creator of all. "Yes, my dear," Chaos said.

Sally looked up at the creator of the universe. "What shall happen to my son?" she asked.

"He has merged with my first child. They are more than they once were. However, his future is unclear to me. Only the Fates, my grandchildren know what is to pass. I too worry for my child. I hope that in the end they will both find happiness. Maybe they will find it united or in some other form," Chaos replied.

Sally gave him a hopeful smile. "I pray for the same thing, my lord," Sally said before she disappeared.

Chaos leaned back into his throne. He looked toward the tree of life and smiled. "Great spirit of Order, please watch over Njall. He fights for light, goodness and life. Hope is not lost. I Chaos, creator of all, the first living being of the universe pray to you Great Spirit, may your will be done," Chaos recited.

AN: A very short story, but it had a purpose. To setup the next chapter; the fight between the light and the dark, between good and evil, Njall and Loki.