Sorry about the delay guys, I had a multitude of problems:
My uncle took the laptop which had this chapter on it.
My finals are going on.
Hope you all still don't want to kill me because you wouldn't know how the story ends.
Now here's the story before you decide on what do with me.
I was still on my knee waiting for Hestia's reply when all of a sudden the door the throne room burst open. Zeus ran in followed by everyone else with his lightning rod by his side.
"YOU DARE ASK MY SISTER'S HAND IN MARRIAGE." Zeus yelled.
"Brother, you stay out of this." Hestia threatened while I stared dumbstruck at the two of them.
"But sister, what of your promise to be an eternal maiden?" Zeus asked rage building up inside him.
I knew that Hestia was embarrassed to answer that question, and messing with gods being my personal hobby, I decided to ask a question of my own.
"How the hell did you find out about my proposal?" I asked out of the blue. The question surprised him but he answered nonetheless.
"Foolish boy, do you think my wife wouldn't notice that 'marriage' was in the air." He said in a tone similar to talking to a five year old. I mentally cursed myself for not thinking about Hera.
"Why in the name of Hades don't I ever get some privacy?" I said a little loudly then I should have. Seriously, does every God I know enjoy reading my mind? What in the world do they get from my thoughts?
"Hey don't bring me into this." Hades said trying to look invisible among the shadows. I was about to apologize when Zeus started to yell.
"FIRST YOU DISRESPECT US AND NOW, YOU HAVE THE GAUL TO PROPOSE TO HESTIA." He yelled.
"First off, you don't deserve my respect. Secondly, it's Hestia's decision and you really have no say in it." I said pissed off at the guy.
"I WILL DESTROY YOU FOR YOUR ACTIONS!" Zeus yelled transforming his lightning rod to a sword. Everyone, fearful that they would be involved in the fight, began to move away creating a huge circle around Zeus and me.
"Brother, have you forgotten what I will do if you harm Percy?" Hestia asked as she came to my side.
"Do what you must but I will not have you marrying this scoundrel. He has insulted us beyond any other demigod in history and for that he must pay." Zeus replied as he came forward still dressed in his pinstriped suit.
What the hell is this guy thinking? Is he really going to try and destroy his last chance to win the war? I wondered if Gods just appear dumb at times or do they become smart for short periods of time, and decided with the latter.
I realized what was happening and readied myself for what I was about to do. I kissed Hestia in the mouth while saying a mantra in my mind, "Please do not interfere, for I don't want you to get hurt." I guess Hestia was able to read my mind and went to edge of the circle.
"YOU HAVE DISRESPECTED US FOR THE LAST TIME." Zeus said angry that I had just kissed Hestia and wasn't taking his threat seriously.
"Zeus, Zeus, Zeus." I chided. "Don't you know that arrogance and anger is a warriors downf-" I was about to finish when I was cut off by Zeus's war cry.
He lunged at me with his sword which almost missed my head hadn't I backed away. I unsheathed Riptide and got into my stance and thought of following Theseus's advice; to make your opponent disorientated due to anger.
"Fine, if this is the way, then so be it. All I ask is that you don't make up excuses at the end once I win." I said smirking.
My plan worked as he began to attack me relentlessly. Even If he was wearing a ridiculous suit and was probably older than the dinosaurs, he was still a good fighter. He never left me space to breathe and had forced me into defense early into the battle.
Just to make sure you don't think that I have lost my touch, I had managed to get lucky and was able to stab his left hand which started to bleed, albeit slowly, but also got a few bruises and cuts from him. I guess that when a god goes against a person who bears the curse of Achilles, they both cancel each other out.
We fought for ten minutes continuously, weaving, ducking and performing various battle techniques, but I was getting slower. I knew that if I'd keep this strategy up, I'd become tired and loose soon. I had to scout out Zeus's battle style in my own free time.
So, I decided to a simple trick. I summoned my shield to make sure that Zeus wouldn't be able to see what I was planning. While I blocked Zeus's attacks with my sword, I summoned some fire in my hand and tried to make it white-hot. While this happened, I made the air around me humid in order for me to be able to control water quickly. Zeus on the other hand didn't realize what was happening and was still attacking me without a thought as to why I wasn't using the shield.
As soon as the flames in my hand became white-hot, I summoned the water around me to freeze which turned into a thick veil of steam as soon as it met the flames. I commanded the vapor in the steam to stay in place, making a perfect hiding place. I edged away from Zeus and began to attack him with my bow. I could hear a few grunts and suddenly sensed that his movements were getting slower. This could mean one thing; Zeus had changed into his battle armor.
Great, just great. He was already a formidable foe in his suit, but now that he's got his armor, I knew that I was in deep trouble. I had to learn his moves, his habits, everything which could help in this fight. I used some of the water in the air to create some water silhouettes of me and used them to attack Zeus.
Zeus destroyed the first one easily, thinking that it was me, bellowed," See, you demigods are no challenge for us Gods. We can easily destroy you in a matter of minutes." Oh, how arrogant he sounded.
I sent more of my doppelgangers after him, which surprised him but he attacked them relentlessly. "What is this? Poseidon, are you playing games with me?" He yelled. I laughed evilly and interrupted what Poseidon was about to say.
"Oh Zeus, if only you knew how predictable you are. Do you really expect me to attack you head on, like Ares?" I said maniacally. Before you all think that I've gone insane, I'd like to remind you that I have a fetish for grand entrances and I really like it when the good guy, namely me, taunts the bad guy.
"How are you still alive? I destroyed you." Zeus said wavering.
"That's something for me to know and for you to find out." I said. Having already figured out how he fought: all offense and favoring his right side more than the injured left, I attacked him. I used the vapor around me to find holes or kinks in Zeus's armor and sensed some near his shoulders and elbows. I aimed mostly for his left and often surprised him by occasionally attacking his right.
I began to move quickly, avoiding his attacks and defending with equal quickness. The wounds afflicted on my body had disappeared which I assumed was due to the presence of water in the air. I summoned fire all over my body and took out my second sword and began to fight more aggressively forcing Zeus to go on the defensive. I ducked, weaved, rolled, swiped and often stabbed. Most of my attacks found their marks and made Zeus weak whereas most of the attacks he dealt often left cuts which healed in a matter of seconds.
As I fought, my concentration over the steamy, vapor around me began to wane until it was the same clarity as it was before the fight. I noticed the campers and the other Gods were watching the battle with awe, but I couldn't risk looking away from Zeus who was weak at the knees from my continuous attacks.
I was about to deal the final blow when I felt my sword being held back by an unknown force. I turned my head back and saw that Ares was holding my sword back with a triumphant look on his face, which I got the meaning of a little too late.
I waited to feel the electric coolness of Zeus's sword but instead heard the clang of metal on metal. I hit Ares in the middle of his head with the hilt of my sword and turned back to Zeus and was met by a surprising scene. Marcus had his sword held horizontally across his body stopping Zeus's sword in the middle of his strike.
I nodded my head to Marcus as both of us hit the sides of Zeus and as he fell to the floor, we raised our swords up to strike downwards for the final blow. And again we were stopped but this time instead by Hera standing in front of Zeus with her arms outstretched.
"Please, spare my husband's life." Hera begged uncharacteristically.
"Why should I? He was the one who attacked me. He was the one who used an underhanded technique." I yelled in her face.
"Please Perceus, you were and still are a kind-hearted hero. So, please spare him." She pleaded. I nodded my head to Marcus who, along with me, lowered our swords.
"Fine, I do not wish to be similar to neither Titans nor Gods who would destroy those who do not show respect." I turned my back on the two and walked over to Hestia who was beaming up at me. I held out my hand but she gave me a hug.
"Hera, go help him get ready for the war council which will take place in thirty minutes." I said still hugging Hestia. I could feel the godly power of Hera as she vanished with Zeus to someplace I really didn't care about.
"What are all you staring at? Move on. I only wish Artemis, Apollo and Hermes to remain in my presence. The rest of you, go back to where you were and meet back in the throne room in thirty minutes." I commanded after Hestia ended the hug. The Gods and Goddesses grumbled but regardless went to the throne room to await the council. The campers were still looking at me until they realized that I was looking at them expectantly, which made them rush to the throne room.
I was surprised to see that Marcus was still in the corridor and had his hand extended for a shake.
"Even though you saved my life, I still do not trust you nor will I ever forgive you." I said condescendingly as he looked downcast at my statement. "But still, thank you." I said in a low voice. He smiled at this and went back to the throne room with his head held high.
I turned back to the others who had remained and smiled one of my AWESOME billionaire-dollar smiles as I was glad that they had helped me fight Zeus even though they didn't get directly involved. Oh come on, you didn't really think that I was able to defeat Zeus all by my lonesome. I knew that Apollo had healed me during the battle and that Hermes and Artemis gave me the speed and agility to avoid Zeus's attacks, for which I would like to thank them personally.
"Thank you my dear friends for your help during my fight." I said my arms outstretched. I registered the shock on their faces but it was soon replaced by grins.
"Well considering the amount of time we spent searching for you, we didn't want you to die so soon." Apollo said trying to look stern but failing miserably.
"I just did it to see the looks on Zeus's face when he lost." Hermes said cheekily. "And also to help you win." He added noticing the glare on Hestia's face.
"I just did it for it seemed unfair for a god to fight a demigod." Artemis said smirking.
"Regardless of reason, I thank you all for you help." I said. "Now, may I please talk to Hestia in private for I have a small question to ask her?" I asked.
Hermes and Apollo caught in to my idea and dragged Artemis away as she wanted to see what was going to happen. The disappeared in the throne room and left me alone in the corridor with Hestia. I got down on my knees and put my hand into my pocket in search of my ring and instead found it held in front of my eyes by Hestia.
"Don't you remember? I was holding it before we were interrupter." She said grabbing me by the collar of my shirt and kissing me on my lips. I felt weak in my knees and fainted on the spot.
What happened to Percy? Is he dead? Wait for the next chapter to find out.
Anyway, I may post chapters a little later than usual due to my finals but I hope that you all like and continue to read what I write.