We arrived in front of the elevators. We got in and pushed the gold button to Olympus. We held hands as some 60s music played through the speakers.

I went through a list of aliases in my head, but I couldn't decide. I was about to ask Hestia for some help when the elevator dinged. We stepped out, my hood covering my face. We walked through the doors of the throne room, and noticed, not surprising at all, that the council was in the midst of another argument.

Hestia let go of my hand and went to her spot by the heart.

I waited for a while for them to notice me, till I got impatient and coughed loudly.

Twelve pairs of eyes turned to my direction. A few looked at me with curiosity. Others with neutrality. The rest, with hidden contempt at being interrupted by a lesser being. Did I care that I interrupted them? No I did not. To interrupt a petty squabble between playground bullies is not something to disturb my sleep over.

"State your name and business, mortal." Zeus commanded from his spot on the throne.

Hestia answered for me, "We need a hero, and I've brought you mine. Treat him well, little brother. He's my friend," I snickered a little, "and he has power seen in no other."

"Really sister? Did you have to call me little brother?" He whined, "Back to the issue at hand, I see no reason for a hero," He bragged, "The council is more than capable of winning this war."

"Sure," I said sarcastically, "You're as capable in winning the war as Ares is capable of reading a book." That got a few laughs.

"Watch your mouth, mo-" Ares threatened.

"The only reason I'm here is because Hestia managed to persuade me," I continued, "With tactics I would consider unwise in normal negotiations." I noticed a blush creeping on her face, "If It were up to me, I'd leave you to your demise."

I had learnt to control my anger a long time ago. Theseus' words "Anger is a warrior's weakness as it can be his downfall" rang through my head. But egging on the gods was something I was born to do. However, I noticed Poseidon in his throne, oblivious as he made bubbles.

Playground bullies.

"Are we not worth fighting for, mortal?" Zeus threatened, "Do you think of us as mere beings wit-"

"Yes, mere beings with no control over anything." I completed his sentence.

"Watch your tone, kid," Ares threatened now, miffed that I wasn't frightened at all. I guess he finally got the insult, "I was going to ignore the earlier statement, but disrespect is something I don't take kindly."

"Aww," I cooed, "Does mommy's little boy want to teach big bad me a lesson?"

"Is that a challenge?"

"You bet it is," I said, pulling out Soul Ripper. Brining out Riptide would be just foolish. I didn't want to bring up any more trouble than what I had already caused.

Ares jumped from his throne and shrunk himself till he was around 7ft tall. He took put his sword and got into a stance. I noticed that his stance was impeccable. Perfect to a T. And the way held his sword was the same way I held mine.

I decided to piss him off.

"Come at me, bro." I said, stretching my arms to the side.

He swiped to my right, which I blocked with my sword. Another sword materialized in his left hand instantly, and he swiped it to my left. On instinct, I raised my hand and a shield sprung out of the sides of my arm.

"Thank you, Charles," I silently said.

"I'll gladly dance with you," I teased Ares as both our hands were occupied. He pulled out both his swords and retreated a few steps. He rushed forward, straight at me. I dropped my sword and, as my shield also retracted, stepped to the side. I flicked my wrist, my hidden blade popping out, and drove it into his back.

He gasped sharply. He turned around slowly, the wound in his back closing up already. And boy, was he mad at me. He rushed towards me with both his swords raised. I rolled under his raised swords and punched him hard in the stomach. True, it felt like hitting a concrete wall, but it hurt him just the same.

He doubled over. While he was disorientated, I quickly disarmed him and held both of his swords under his neck. He looked at me, his eyes wide open.

"How?" He asked, "Who helped you? Which god helped you?"

"I need no help, Ares," I said.

"Then how did a mere mortal beat me?" He tried to rack his head, "I must be tired from the trainin-"

"Yeah, training," Apollo said sarcastically, "You were defeated, just accept it."

Ares was about to retort before Athena asked, "Who are you?"

"I prefer not to say," I said, handing Ares his swords. I picked up Soul Ripper and sheathed it, "However, I do request an audience with Hermes, Apollo and my patron." I looked at Zeus expectantly.

"You may speak." Zeus said regally.

"In private." I stated forcefully.

"If you want to talk to them, you must do so here," He countered, "Otherwise, you may not talk to them at all."

"Zeus, I am the one person you can't and won't control," I stated firmly, striding out the throne room. I was followed out by Hermes, Apollo and Hestia. Once outside, I felt Hestia's hand in mine. I looked at her, and she nodded, knowing what I was going to do, and showing her support.

"So, what do you want to talk to us about…" Apollo trailed off, waiting for me to tell my name.

"Oh come on," I said, "Don't you recognize me?"

"You're wearing a hood," Hermes stated with an exasperated look, "Kinda hard to see under that, don't ya think?"

"I'll give you a hint then," I said with a laugh, "The world lost the most awesome person in the world 50 years ago, and," I raised mine and Hestia's interlocking hands, "that person is your aunt's boyfriend."

"Hello," Apollo said, "I am not Hestia's boyfriend, even though I've tried."

"You are not awesome," Hermes quipped before turning his attention to me. He looked at our hands with a raised eyebrow.

"It's Percy," Hestia stated, a blush creeping on her face, "And you, mister hero, are going to regret that once we're alone."

"Percy?" Apollo asked.

"As in Percy Jackson?" Hermes finished.

I pulled down my hood, and held out my hands for a bro hug. I think it's safe to say I got a huge one.

"Where were you?" Hermes asked, "Everytime I was delivering something, I made sure to keep an eye on the lookout. And even when I was free, I was still looking."

"Yeah, Percy," Apollo said, "England didn't get some sun for a whole month. I though you went over to Greenland."

I laughed a little and told them everything I had done. I told them how I trained. Who I was with. Everything. They looked at me with joy in their eyes.

"So you being exceptionally happy on certain days," Hermes asked Hestia.

"Was it because of what we think it is?" Apollo finished with a wink. I could detect Hestia's blush growing a little more.

"You're definitely going to bed alone," She threatened me. But, realizing what she had just said, she put her hand over her mouth.

"Alone? Please don't tell me you both are sleeping together." Hermes said, his face scrunched up as he tried to not picture it.

Well, I guess I didn't tell them everything.

"Okay," Hestia answered, "We won't."

"My cousin," Apollo said, "And my aunt. Sleeping together. Di immortals that is so," He noticed the glare Hestia was giving him, "How do pancakes in Alaska taste?"

Hermes and I laughed for a while, till Apollo and Hestia also joined in. We stopped for a few minutes. I looked back towards the doors to the throne room, and pulled up my hood.

"Guys, please, can you not tell the others who I am?" I begged, "I don't want them to know. I don't want to deal with the past."

Hermes and Apollo nodded and walked with us towards the throne room. They returned to their respective thrones, while Hestia returned to her fire. I stood in the room, letting the council inspect and scrutinize me.

"Take a picture," I said, "It'll last longer."

"At least tell us who you are," Athena asked, "Or your name?"

"Call me "Hope," I said, almost laughing a little at my choice.

"Flattery will get you nowhere," Hestia whispered in my head, "You're still sleeping alone."

"Are you implying that if we lose you, we lose any chance at winning this war?"

I pretend to ponder that thought, "No," I said, "It just sounds like a nice name." I could almost picture Hestia facepalming herself.

"The camp is surrounded," Dionysus stated unconcerned, "I'm guessing that it's going to be attacked in a minute, two minutes tops."

I knew that fear wasn't the best way to get back at the council. They're too proud to scare. And being feared is something Zeus would do. But getting them to realize that I was their equal, that would be a good course of action.

"Very well," I said, "I'll go help out."

I closed my eyes, readying myself to mist travel.

"If this is a trap," I heard Hestia threaten the council, "And he gets hurt, I will personally come after you." A few gasps soon followed.

I mist travelled to camp, glad that I had the found the most amazing girl ever. I appeared hundred feet or so above the battle. Noticing that the monsters were already attacking, I took out Soul Ripper and my crossbow and dived.

I aimed for the head of Laistrygonian.