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

Story: Divided Soul

Chapter 26: Godly Encounters

Greece

Percy stepped out of the cave and into the light of day. He rubbed his eyes as they got used to the light. Great, I get to walk around barefoot trying to find my friends, he thought. He walked along the gravel path. Any normal person's feet would have been cut to shreds, but Percy had bathed in the Styx, twice no less. His skin was invulnerable. He remembered Styx telling him that his mortal spot wouldn't kill him as long as he didn't forget those things that tied him to the mortal world. His Greek side had Annabeth; the love of his life. His Roman side had the legionnaires. The children of the gods that needed his leadership and training. He couldn't forsake either of them, but could he have both?

The son of the sea god walked for two miles until his feet touched the sandy beach. He walked towards the sea, The ocean beckoned him forward. Percy stopped to look out towards the inlet that held the Argo II, but the ship was gone. He was too late to meet up with his friends.

"Don't worry son, you'll see them again," a familiar voice said. Percy turned to see a man in Bermuda shorts and a Hawaiian shirt. He had an old fishing hat on his head. He smiled happily at him.

"Poseidon," he said. The sea god frowned. Percy always called him dad.

"You don't remember me?" Poseidon asked sadly.

Percy smiled. "Of course I remember you," Percy said, but he didn't sound happy.

A familiar laugh startled the father and son. They both turned toward the noise to see a tall woman dressed in celestial bronze armor. She had black hair that peeked out from under her helmet. Her grey eyes stared at the two men like she was trying to figure the best way to take them down.

"Athena," Percy said.

"Perseus, you have returned," Athena asked hopefully. Poseidon looked at her questioningly. Athena rolled her eyes. "My daughter cares for him, so I guess I have to as well."

Poseidon smiled. "I'm glad you do. It appears that my son has returned to us," Poseidon said. "How did you get your memories back?"

Percy frowned slightly. "I was always your son," Percy began. Poseidon just stared at his son curiously. "Why didn't you tell me?" Poseidon's eyes widened. "You knew I was both Greek and Roman."

"Percy, I..." Poseidon started, but stopped as his son raised his hand.

"I don't want any excuses," Percy said. "I'm tired of being a pawn of the gods. I never thought my own father would use me too."

"Percy, that's not true. I never used you. Zeus ordered that we never tell either camp of each other's existence. The civil war nearly destroyed all demigods. We couldn't afford to let that happen again," Poseidon explained.

"Listen to your father Percy," Athena urged. "He's right. We had to keep the secret."

Percy looked into the eyes of the goddess. For the first time in her immortal life Athena felt the calculating stare of someone. A stare that was more than worthy of one her children.

"Annabeth is Greek and Roman too," Percy said.

Athena's grey eyes widened. "How did you?" she asked.

"Know. I could see it in your eyes. That's why Annabeth was so much more powerful than her siblings," Percy explained.

"You didn't answer my question son. How did you get your memories back?" Poseidon asked.

Percy stepped forward. He pulled his pen out of his pocket and uncapped it. Riptide sprang forth into his hand. The celestial bronze sword glowed with a bluish green light unlike any the two gods had seen before.

"What happened to Riptide?" Poseidon asked curiously.

"I bathed in the Styx again," Percy said. Athena and Poseidon just stared at him in shock.

"Why?" Athena asked.

Percy smiled. "I didn't have much choice. I had to kill Iapetus," Percy said.

"You killed a Titan?" Poseidon asked.

"He couldn't survive a bath in the Styx," Percy explained.

"And you could?" Athena asked.

Percy's smile widened. "I did it once before, but this time I had a little help," Percy said.

"Styx; she helped you," Athena guessed.

"Yes, she helped me, but it was Riptide, it called to me. It returned my memories, but in the end I made it out alive," Percy said. "I'm a part of the Styx now and I'm no longer one of the seven."

Poseidon grinned in relief. "I'm glad son; I don't want to lose you again," Poseidon said.

Percy shook his head. "No, I'm going to fight. I have to help the others. I'm the wild card now. I can make the difference," Percy explained. Athena smiled at his reasoning.

Poseidon frowned. "You don't have to," Poseidon said, but he knew he was defeated once he looked into his son's eyes. "I could stop you?"

Percy smiled. "You could try," Percy said. Athena smiled; she was starting to like the new and improved Percy.

Poseidon sighed in frustration. "Its hard being your dad," Poseidon complained.

Percy laughed. "I imagine it is, but try walking in my mom's shoes for a day and see who has it worse," Percy joked as he capped Riptide. Poseidon grinned at his son.

Poseidon stepped toward his son and engulfed him in a hug. Athena was Poseidon's rival, but she knew he was a good father. He really loved his son.

"Are you two going to stop with the father and son moment, because there is a war going on?" Athena asked sarcastically.

Poseidon and Percy broke apart. They turned to look at the goddess. Athena had her hands on her hips as she glared at the two men before her.

"We need to go son. We have to get the others to fight," Poseidon said. Poseidon walked to Athena and stood in front of her. He smiled at her, but Athena just rolled her eyes.

Percy bowed his head to her. "I love your daughter and I'll do all that I can to save her," Percy said.

Athena studied the young man before her. He was the same boy that helped defeat Kronos, but he wasn't a boy any more. He was confident and smarter than she ever thought possible. However, there was something more about him. He was a leader now. She couldn't believe someone could change so much in a few months, but his Roman side had awakened and the training that had been instilled in him by Mars had made him into an incredible warrior, but most of all he was a leader.

"I may have misjudged you, Percy," Athena said. Percy's eyebrows raised when Athena called him Percy. "Help my daughter and treat her right and you just might have my blessing."

Percy smiled. He bowed his head one more time. "As you wish my Lady," Percy said. Percy turned to his dad with a sheepish look on his face. "Dad, you didn't happen to bring me a ride did you?"

Poseidon smiled at his son. He was glad that the boy he loved was still inside the young man he had grown into. Poseidon closed his eyes and suddenly a black Pegasus appeared in the sky. Percy smiled at the sight of his old friend.

Hello Boss, long time no see, Blackjack said in his head.

"Hey buddy, didn't I tell you not to call me boss?" Percy asked.

Maybe

Percy laughed. Same old Blackjack. "Get down here," Percy yelled.

Blackjack landed on the beach. When he saw the two gods he bowed in front of them.

Poseidon grinned at the Pegasus. The two gods turned to Percy. "Good luck son," Poseidon said before he and Athena disappeared into a golden light.

Percy climbed onto the back of his Pegasus. Boss, you don't have any shoes.

Percy laughed. "You don't see me for months and the first thing you notice about me are my feet," Percy said in disbelief before his Pegasus flew into the air.

Annabeth was really sad when you disappeared.

Percy frowned. He felt a pain in his chest. He stayed quiet for a few moments. Blackjack dove lower breaking the son of Poseidon away from his thoughts.

"What are you doing?" Percy asked.

You stopped talking Boss.

"I didn't know what to say. I feel terrible about hurting her. How do I make it up to her?" Percy asked.

Tell her how you feel about her. Boss, I may only be a horse, but I know that girl loves you.

Percy gave his Pegasus a pat on the side. "Thanks buddy," Percy said.

So Boss, where are we going?

"Mount Olympus, the original," Percy said. Blackjack changed direction as he began the flight to the original home of the gods.

Argo II

The seven all stood on the deck of the ship. Leo was at the controls and Jason worked the sails directing the flying ship towards the original home of the gods. The group was still very sad over the loss of the son of Neptune.

Annabeth sat near the bow of the ship as she looked out over the blue sky. She felt hollow inside. She thought nothing could feel as bad as when Percy disappeared, but she was wrong. Scipio or Percy's death felt like her heart had been ripped out of her chest. She had started to resign herself to the conclusion that Percy was gone and that Scipio would have to take his place, but now they were both gone. Annabeth felt someone sit down beside her; she knew it had to be Piper.

"How're you holding up?" Piper asked. She knew it was a stupid question, but she was worried about her friend.

Annabeth put on a fake smile. "Okay," she said. Piper looked at her skeptically. "Terrible, are you happy?"

Piper frowned. "Of course not," Piper said. She grabbed Annabeth's hand and held it tightly. "You have friends here. We care about you. You don't have to suffer through this alone."

Annabeth nodded. "I know, but everyone is stressed.," Annabeth explained. "You all don't need some heart broken girl to worry about."

Piper sighed. "We all cared about him," Piper said. Her eyes changed color as she stared into Annabeth's eyes. "Not the same way you did, but we cared."

"I know," Annabeth said.

Suddenly, two golden light appeared on the deck of the ship. When the lights faded a god and a goddess stood on the deck. The goddess wore a goat skin and a white Roman toga and the god wore golden armor with a red cape and dark sunglasses.

Jason bowed before them along with Alex and Gwen. The Greeks just stood there and watched them curiously.

"Lady Juno and Lord Mars; why are you here?" Jason asked. The two gods stared at the son of Jupiter curiously. Mars looked around at the rest of the demigods. When his gaze settled upon Nico, he frowned.

"Where is Scipio?" Mars asked harshly.

Alex stepped forward. "Father, he's..." Alex began, but Mars raised his hand and his son instantly quieted.

"I'm asking the son of Jupiter," Mars said. He took off his sunglasses and his eyes burned with the flames of war. Jason gulped.

"He's dead my lord," Jason said.

Mars growled with the ferocity of a Lion. He grabbed the son of Jupiter and lifted him off the ground. "You let him die. He was worth two of you," Mars yelled in the demigod's face.

Juno stepped up to her son. "Mars, let him down," Juno ordered, but her son didn't listen to her.

"This fool got the greatest demigod in history killed," Mars said. His eyes glowed with power.

Piper ran forward next to Mars and Jason. "Put him down," Piper said her voice laced with charm speak. Mars shook his head vigorously. "Put... him... down." Mars let go of Jason. The son of Jupiter fell to his feet.

Juno pulled her son away from the demigods. Annabeth stepped toward the goddess. "How dare you show your face," Annabeth yelled. Piper tried to grab her friend, but Annabeth was too fast.

Juno huffed. "You better stay away from me child," Juno warned.

"He's dead because of you and your son," Annabeth said.

Alex and Gwen looked at her curiously. "What does she mean?" Alex asked.

"He wasn't really Scipio. Scipio is who they made him be," Annabeth said as she pointed toward Mars and Juno. The two gods glared at her.

"Father, is that true?" Alex asked.

"I did what was needed. You needed him to lead your camp," Mars explained.

"Who was he really?" Gwen asked.

Juno looked at Annabeth. The daughter of Athena glared at her. "He was a Greek; the son of Poseidon," Annabeth said. Annabeth looked down at the ground sadly. "He was my boyfriend." Gwen and Alex just stared at her in shock.

Juno stepped toward Annabeth. "He served his purpose well," Juno said. "His fatal flaw finally got him. Your mother warned him." Annabeth lunged toward the goddess, but Juno hit her with a powerful blast that knocked her over the side of the ship. Annabeth fell towards the surface. She screamed in terror as she fell toward the ground. She closed her eyes and waited for the inevitable. Something grabbed her and the free fall stopped. She opened her eyes and saw the black hair of an animal. She looked down and the ground was hundreds of feet below her.

Back on the Argo II

Once Annabeth was knocked over the side, all Hades broke loose. The demigods grabbed their weapons and confronted the two gods.

Juno and Mars glared at the six demigods before them. "Children, we are gods; you can't hope to defeat us," Juno said arrogantly. Mars glared as a sword appeared in his hand.

Jason stepped forward with his golden gladius. Lightning flashed over head. Gwen aimed her bow at the goddess. Alex held his sword while Leo held his hammer. Nico unsheathed his Stygian iron sword and stood next to Piper. She held her dagger at the ready.

"We are on the same side here," Mars said.

Jason looked at him like he was crazy. "She kills one of the seven and you think we're on the same side. You're both insane," Jason said with barely controlled rage.

"Stay back or I'll kill you punk," Mars said.

Suddenly, a black Pegasus landed on the deck of the ship. Annabeth was sprawled across its back. Her hair was a mess, but no one else was on the flying horse. Piper ran to her friend and helped her off the Pegasus. Annabeth looked around bewildered.

"How did I get here?" Annabeth asked. Piper pointed toward the black Pegasus. "Blackjack?"

The horse whinnied at his name. "How did he get here from camp?" Nico asked as he stepped toward to the Pegasus.

"I thought we were going to fight, but I guess you will give up now that the daughter of bird brain is still alive," Mars said.

Jason stalked toward the god of war. "You dirty bastard," Jason said.

Mars smiled fiendishly. "Ah, I guess, you do have a death wish, little brother," Mars said before he stepped toward Jason.

"Stay back; leave him alone," Piper ordered.

Mars smiled. "Not this time little girl," Mars said. He continued to walk towards Jason. He spun his sword in his hand like Scipio. Jason's eyes widened. "This will be fun. Who do you think taught Scipio?"

"Many people taught Scipio. Many people taught me," a voice said. Mars and the others turned toward the bow of the ship. Standing on the platform above the main deck was the son of Poseidon. His clothes were torn and he still didn't have any shoes, but he held Riptide in his hand as he smiled at the god of war.

"Scipio," Mars said.

"Guess again," Percy said.

AN: Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Stay tuned more to come.