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

Story: Divided Soul

Chapter 27: Reunions

Argo II

Percy stood on the elevated bow of the ship. He looked down at the two gods and the demigods that surrounded them. Mars just stared at him wide eyed.

"Percy," Juno said. Percy smiled at her, but it wasn't friendly. He looked like a lion that had a gazelle cornered. He seemed to be waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

"Bingo," Percy quipped.

"How did you…?" Mars asked, but stopped when Percy held Riptide in the air. The blue green aura that surrounded the sword stunned the god of war into silence.

"I bathed in the Styx and found not only my sword, but many other things," Percy said as he lifted his sword into the air.

"Like what?" Juno asked. She was curious now, but she was also wary of the powerful demigod before her.

"Well, I found out that I'm really Percy Jackson, I found out that you and your son stole my memories and replaced them with a new persona," Percy explained. His voice got louder as his anger rose.

Mars sheathed his sword and stepped away from Jason. "We had to do it. You were needed, but the Romans couldn't know you were Greek," Mars explained. Juno nodded.

"Well, I found out something too," Percy said. He pointed his sword at Juno. "I found out that I'm Greek and Roman." The demigods all looked at Percy in confusion. Annabeth had a curious look on her face. She had an expression on her face that would make you believe that she was only one puzzle piece away from finishing a project that she had worked on all her life. Juno and Mars didn't act surprised. "You knew?"

Mars stepped closer to the stairs that led to the bow of the ship. He looked up at Percy with a look of regret on his face. His expression took Percy by surprise. "We found out later on. We didn't know until after your memory had been taken," Mars explained.

"Okay, I believe you, but it still doesn't excuse you for trying to ruin my life, or those that care about me," Percy said as he snuck a peek at Annabeth. The daughter of Athena just stared at him; Percy couldn't tell what she was feeling.

"We didn't try to ruin your life," Mars denied. He looked at his mother hoping she would agree, but she just stared at him blankly. "Well, I didn't try to."

"I guess that must make you feel better," Percy said sadly.

"I don't know what you mean." Mars said, but his face showed that he knew exactly what the boy meant. Juno rolled her eyes at her son's bad lie.

"Stop trying to deny it. You care about the boy. You're definitely no Ares," Juno scoffed.

Mars's eyes glowed red. "I wish I could say the same thing about you and Hera," Mars hissed as his anger rose.

Juno glared at her son. "What do you mean by that?" Juno asked. Her voice dripped with venom.

Mars was too mad to care now. "You act like the world revolves around you. You and Hera are exactly alike," Mars explained. Juno stepped towards her son threateningly. "I'm your mother. You will respect me."

Mars stepped towards her. "I did once, but not anymore," Mars said.

Percy just stood there. The war god's actions completely surprised him.

"That daughter of Athena disrespected me. She must pay a price for insulting the Queen of the gods," Juno declared.

Percy jumped and flipped in the air before landing on his feet in front of Juno and her son. "You lay a hand on her and I will send you to the Styx," Percy warned.

Juno's eyes glowed with power. Two beams of light shot from her eyes, but Percy deflected them with Riptide. Juno just stared at him in disbelief. "That's not possible. Those beams should have destroyed that sword," Juno exclaimed.

"I'm not the only one that bathed in the Styx," Percy explained. Percy pointed the sword toward the goddess. Juno flinched at the sight of the glowing sword.

Mars stepped beside his mother. "Sci… Percy, don't do this. I… a…apologize… for hurting you," Mars said with difficulty. Percy stared at him curiously.

"I accept your apology, but I didn't hear one from her," Percy said as he motioned towards Juno with Riptide.

Mars stepped between Percy and Juno. "I can't let you hurt her," Mars said.

Percy's eyes narrowed. "You can't," Percy said. "What about the things you said about her?"

Mars sighed. "I meant them, but she's still my mother," Mars said.

"I think your loyalty is misplaced," Percy began. He glared at the goddess. "She wouldn't do the same for you."

Mars looked down at the deck sadly. "I know," Mars admitted. "Still, I can't let you hurt her." Hera gave Percy a smug smile.

"Then I guess you're just going to have to stop me," Percy said as he lunged forward with Riptide toward the goddess. Mars moved at incredible speed and blocked the strike of the son of Poseidon.

"We don't have to do this Percy," Mars said. Percy looked at him strangely.

"Since when have you not wanted a fight?" Percy asked incredulously.

"I'm not Ares. I'm the god of war not needless suffering," Mars explained.

"War is needless suffering," Percy retorted.

"Yes, it includes suffering, but wars can also save lives," Mars explained. "The war we face now. We can stop the giants and save the world from darkness and destruction." He pushed back against Riptide, but Percy pushed back just as hard. Mars looked at the son of Poseidon curiously. "You're stronger than before."

Percy smiled. "I'm the only child of the big three to be Roman and Greek. I'm the only being to ever bathe in the Styx twice and live. I think a little extra strength is not too much to ask for," Percy said before he pushed even harder knocking the god of war from his feet as he fell onto the deck hard. "Get up Mars. Show your mother how someone with courage fights."

Mars stood up his eyes flared with the flames of war. He moved his sword so quickly that the other demigods could barely see it. However, Percy could. He caught Mars's sword with the edge of Riptide's blade. Mars pushed with all his might, but Percy seemed to get stronger as the god strained against the power he exhibited.

Percy smiled at the god. Mars was taller and appeared to be stronger, but Percy knew that looks could be deceiving. The two fought for several more minutes, but Percy always managed to block the war god's strikes.

Mars huffed in frustration again as his sword strike was blocked. Riptide glowed brighter as the fight continued. Mars couldn't help but admire the beauty of the sword. Suddenly, a terrible thought occurred to the god. He pushed against Percy's sword, but at the same time he studied Riptide. The sword glowed brighter the harder the god pushed. The sword gained power as force was exerted against it.

Mars knew the only way he could win was to knock Riptide out of Percy's hand. He kept pushing on Percy's sword, but at the last moment he slipped off the sword. Percy stumbled forward. He was shocked at the sudden movement of the god. Mars took the opportunity and hit the pressure point in Percy's hand. Riptide fell from his hand and skidded across the deck of the ship.

Mars took his chance and swung his sword at Percy's head, but Percy's hand moved in a blur as he grabbed the sword with his bare hand. Mars stared at the demigod wide eyed. Percy held the blade with his bare hand, but the invulnerable son of Poseidon wasn't hurt. Percy pushed the god away from him with a mighty shove.

Mars was getting tired. He knew there was only a limited chance he could win now. He lunged toward Percy again with all the speed he could muster. Percy side stepped the strike while lifting his left leg into a short kick to Mars's ankle. A loud crack could be heard around the ship as Percy broke Mars's ankle bone. The god of war cursed loudly as he hobbled away from the demigod. "Where did you learn that?" Mars asked through his pain.

"It just came to me," Percy said. Percy raised his hand and Riptide flew from the deck to his grip. Percy charged forward. Mars didn't have much time to react. He blocked Riptide as Percy sent blow after blow against the Roman god's sword. Mars was getting tired and Percy looked like he hadn't broken a sweat. Mars was panting now he knelt on one knee as he held his sword up protectively. "Yield."

Mars shook his head. "No, you'll have to kill me," Mars declared. He was a god; he couldn't be killed, but there was something about Riptide that made him reconsider.

Percy held Riptide above the god's head. Mars stared into the boy's sea green eyes without fear.

"Percy," a female voice said. Percy turned to see Annabeth standing behind him with Piper at her side. "Let him go. He was just protecting his mother. You beat him fair and square."

Percy just stared into Annabeth's eyes. His anger subsided almost immediately. He turned back to Mars and with one quick motion he knocked the sword out of his hand. Mars fell on his butt after the impact. "He's defeated now," Percy said. He turned back to Juno, but the goddess disappeared into a golden light. Percy huffed in frustration. He capped Riptide. He turned back to Mars; he extended his hand to the god. Mars looked at the hand for a moment before grabbing it. Percy pulled him up before slinging his arm over his shoulder. "Alex go get some ambrosia and nectar." Alex nodded before running below decks. Percy helped Mars to the stairs and sat him down.

"I can't believe you beat me," Mars exclaimed. He didn't look mad. He looked proud.

Percy grinned at the god. "Well, you're pretty fast," Percy said. Mars laughed softly, but he winced as pain shot through his ankle.

"What is it with you and hurting war god's feet and ankles?" Mars asked.

Percy's smile widened. "I don't know. I guess I was checking for an Achilles heel," Percy said.

Mars laughed, but he stopped as again a burning pain shot through his leg. Alex appeared and handed a canteen of nectar to his father. "Thank you son," Mars said. Alex smiled at his father.

After a few minutes of drinking nectar and eating ambrosia the god stood testing his ankle. He smiled when the pain finally disappeared.

"What are you going to do now?" Percy asked curiously.

"I need to persuade the Roman gods to fight alongside their children," Mars said.

Percy nodded. "Good luck," Percy said.

Mars smiled at him, and then he turned toward the other demigods. "I'd wish you all luck, but you've got the greatest piece of luck right here," Mars said as he pointed to Percy. The demigods closed their eyes before the god of war disappeared.

Jason, Alex, Nico, and Leo stepped forward and officially greeted the son of Poseidon. Jason stood in front of Percy carefully. He didn't really know what to say. "Scipio, I mean Percy," Jason began.

"Don't worry Jason. Scipio is inside me. I guess he always was. I still think you're a great leader," Percy explained.

Jason smiled. "Not as good as you," Jason said.

Percy smiled. "Well, you can't beat perfection," Percy said mischievously. The boys all looked at him until Percy started to laugh at their surprised faces. "I'm kidding; you all got to loosen up a bit." The boys smiled at him.

Gwen and Piper approached him next. Percy gave them his classic crooked grin. "Percy, it's good to meet you," Piper said.

Percy smiled at both of them. "The pleasure is all mine," he said. He looked away from them as he spotted Annabeth walking up the stairs toward the bow of the ship. "Excuse me." Percy walked up the stairs. The other demigods walked away to give the two privacy. Even Leo, but Nico and Jason had to forcibly remove him.

Annabeth stood near the dragon's head. Percy walked up to her carefully. He really didn't know what to say to her, but he knew an apology was in order. He stood only a few feet behind her.

"Annabeth," he said. Annabeth turned around slowly. Her eyes were red from when she had cried over him and her face was still a little pale from when she had fallen through the sky. "I'm sorry."

Annabeth just stared at him. "What are you sorry about?" Annabeth asked curiously.

"For being kidnapped and for forgetting you," Percy explained.

Annabeth smiled. "You couldn't help it. She took your memories," Annabeth said. She looked down at her feet. "She took you away from me."

Percy couldn't control himself anymore. He rushed forward and held her tenderly. Annabeth nearly collapsed against him. She cried again, letting out all the pain and heartache. It had been a long time since Percy had seen her cry; it broke his heart. Percy hugged her tightly as he whispered in her ear, "I'm here now and I'm not going anywhere."

Annabeth pulled away to look at her boyfriend. It felt so good to think about him that way again. "I missed you so much Seaweed Brain," Annabeth said. Percy smiled at his nickname.

"I missed you too, Wise Girl," Percy said with a big smile. Annabeth smiled happily. It was the first true smile anyone had seen from her in months. Percy was back.

Annabeth's smile faded. "How do you feel?" Annabeth asked as she studied his face. Percy knew what she was asking, was he still Percy?

He tried to smile, but he knew that it looked forced. "I remember everything, but I am different. I guess I'll always be different than the boy I was before," Percy said with a little sadness in his voice.

Annabeth nodded. "I really liked the boy you were," Annabeth admitted. Percy looked at her in concern. "However, I think I'm going to like the man even more." She placed her arms around his neck as she reached up on her toes to kiss the son of Poseidon on the lips. Percy froze at the sensation. It was better than their underwater kiss. Percy felt his brain melt, but he felt more than that. He felt a connection to the young woman kissing him. A connection he could never describe before, but now he knew what it was. He was in love with the daughter of Athena.

AN: A little Percabeth reunion. I hoped everyone liked it. Not a big fight scene, but this just shows that Mars is different from Ares and that the Roman god of war really cared about Scipio and now Percy. Stay tuned more to come.