A/N: Okay guys, sorry for not updating for a while. I just had a busy week, but this will probably be my weekly schedule from now onwards. I'll probably post a new chapter every Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. Anyway, I just put up a poll for the pairing you want me to make for this story. Sorry I didn't do it earlier, since I'm new to this site I didn't know what polls were or that it was a thing. So check out my profile and vote please, and if it's not there, please tell me, because I might have messed up. But for now, here's a Chapter 4. Oh and i accidentally forgot to put the disclaimer in the previous 3 chapters, so
Disclaimer: I do not own PJO or HoO
-Chapter 4-
-4 years since Percy was found-
It has been 4 years since my mom died. 4 years since Hestia found me. 4 years since I started my training. The time I've spent on my island has been rather uneventful. A few times there have been monsters unlucky enough for me to practice my skills on. Mostly minions of the Titan of the Sea, Oceanus, who wanted to claim the island, probably as a base for the followers of the Titans.
Time can do a lot for you, if you use it right. In this time, I gained a large control over the powers I have. Many things which I could only dream of doing when I began my training came easy to me now.
Now I could easily summon lightning and control the winds, enough to help me fly even. I could control bodies of liquid at my will, being able to create hurricanes and waves which are 15 feet tall. I could make small earthquakes and large cracks in the ground. Summoning the dead was a handy tool too. Though I had no use for it, I could see how it could help in a war. I could control shadows, and shadow travel.
But above all else, my control over fire was unmatched by my other powers. Fireballs, fire walls, control over existing fire, Greek fire, even coating my body and weapons in flames were all possible. You name it, I can do it.
My swordplay came naturally to me, with my willingness to learn and my sword, Riptide, guiding my movements. The monsters which came to my island were easily killed. None of them could report back to their masters of my existence. It was all fun practice once I learned how to deal with combat well. Throwing knives became my secondary weapon, mainly being used when I needed some range. My aim with throwing knives was impeccable, usually hitting 9 out of ten throws.
I would have chosen the bow instead of throwing knives, but that was the one weapon I couldn't progress in AT ALL. Even when I was concentrating my hardest, the best I could land was just the edge of the target, and most of the time, my arrow went 20 feet from the target. Yeah, that bad. At least I don't shoot behind me anymore.
However, I made sure that this power did not blind me. Don't get me wrong, I still want revenge on my "fathers", using the rage to push me through my tough training, but unlike most of Zeus's children, I was not power hungry. If I could have chosen, I would have traded all this power for a peaceful life. One where my mother was still alive, and I could be content without the whole 'great prophecy' thing weighing down on me.
It wasn't what I wanted, but with my patrons' help, I managed to gain enough skill, where they said that I could beat some minor gods if I wanted to. That's right, I said patrons, as in plural. You might wonder what I meant by that. Well, now I have 2 patrons. One being Hestia, and the other one, surprisingly being Hera. Yeah, big, scary, spiteful Queen of Gods made me her champion, despite me being Zeus's child. Well, one quarter his demigod.
Anyway, the reason behind this is simple. Hera isn't as cold and mean as the stories make her out to be. I've learnt many things about her. She actually wasn't the one who threw Hephestus off Olympus, it was actually Zeus, because he didn't believe such an ugly child was his. Hera also wasn't against Zeus's latest demigod, next to me, Thalia Grace. She was actually the one who convinced Zeus to make her into a tree, rather than letting Hades kill her. She pitied Thalia's broken family, where her mother was a drunk and was now dead, and her little brother was taken when he was just a child.
Though neither of these goddesses were my mother, I treated them as such. They were the only parental figures in my life, after my late mother, so it felt like they were my actual mothers.
I sighed as I walked back to my cabin, reflecting on the past 4 years. It was about 4pm, and I had just gotten out of the shower as I had finished my daily training, going back to take a short nap and relax. But once again, just like 4 years ago, I was interrupted on my way back to the cabin.
I heard a loud roar coming from behind me. As I turned, I saw a large creature, with a the head of a man, the body of a lion, and the tail of a scorpion. It shot toxic spikes out from his tail, but it wasn't directed at me. I looked around and saw multiple hellhounds and empousai surrounding the creature. They surrounded the monster which I had now identified as the Manticore. It seemed to look at the other monsters in fear, but continued fighting. Despite his efforts, he was brought down onto his back as monsters swarmed him.
From the mess of monsters, I heard a raspy female voice, "Manticore, you have betrayed Lord Kronos. For that, he wishes for us to kill you. To be left in Tartarus to rot. Prepare to die!"
My brain wanted me to let the monster die, and let the monster kill its ally then I would go in and clean up, but my heart told me otherwise. My instincts kicked in and I shadow travelled behind the empousai who was poised and ready to make the finishing blow. I stabbed her through the stomach as soon as I uncapped my weapon. I then made a wave rise and crash over the rest of the monsters, and sweeping them off to the sea, where they would likely drown unless they found land.
I turned to the Manticore with a pitiful look and helped him up. At that point my brain was yelling: What are you doing? He's going to kill you! Stab him right now! But I ignored the rational part of my brain as the compassionate part took control.
To my surprise, the Manticore spoke up and thanked me, "Thank you, demigod. Do not worry, I will not attack you. But why did you save me? Most would leave me to my fate or take my life themselves."
"Because I don't believe that letting those monsters kill you would help any one of us except Kronos. Now, why are you here?" I inquired.
"I was escaping the Hunters of Artemis, and I fled here, thinking it was an abandoned island. Please spare me, I swear on the Styx that I will not aid Kronos in the war if you let me live. I owe you that much. But what is your name, that's something I want to ask for the future, in case we meet again." He pleaded. Thunder rumbled as I replied him.
"My name is Perseus Jackson, but just call me Percy. Do not worry, I was not planning on killing you anyway, but thank you. Just don't fall under the influence of the Titans again and we'll call it even. I can shadow travel you away to New York. You can try to survive in the forest from then on. Don't ask how I can do that." I chuckled.
He nodded his head in appreciation as he thanked me one last time. I quickly wrapped him in shadows and transported him to the forest in New York. I capped my Riptide as it went back into pen form. I headed back to my cabin, intent on having my nap. But once I entered my cabin, I was yet again interrupted, but this time it was by somebody I knew.
Hestia was there waiting for me. She approached me with a worried look on her face and revealed, "Percy, this is important. The Hunters of Artemis are coming in about an hour. They have tracked the Manticore here, and have sought my permission to enter the island. If I were to decline, they would find something suspicious so I allowed them to enter. I have cannot hide you, because your power has increased to the level that I cannot hide you anywhere other than here anymore. So for now I will change your eyes to a warm orange color is what my children would have if I had any. It will remain When they come, I'll tell them that you are my son, given life to from the Hearth."
I laughed lightly as I heard about the Manticore, who I had just had a run in with. I explained to my first patron about the Manticore's situation, which she just responded with a face of amazement,
"Wow Percy, I knew that you were kind hearted, but sparing a monster from the wrath of others? You have outdone yourself once again, my champion. But for now, back to the topic." She stated.
"Oh right. Yeah. It's fine. I don't want to reveal my true identity yet, but I think it would be fine if I hid under the identity of your son, which I think of myself as, instead of a child of the Big 3." I responded casually.
She laughed at how casually I took the seriousness of the situation. She smiled at me and snapped her fingers, causing my eyes to turn to the warm orange color, with small flames dancing around the irises.
"I'm going to flash out now, I'll come back when the Hunters come, but for now, you may rest. Once you hear a hunting horn and teenage girls with silver outfits, you know that the hunters have arrived. Just don't do anything stupid. They'll hit you where the Apollo doesn't shine if you so much as try to go within 2 feet of them." She advised as she disappeared to gods know where in a bright flash of light.
I lay down on my bed, just waiting for the Hunters to arrive. I closed my eyes as I dozed off. After a while, I woke up to the sound of a hunting horn, just as my patron had predicted. I looked out my window as I shook myself out of my stupor. I saw teenage girls in silver parkas, approaching my cabin.
They were lead by a seemingly 16 year old girl with a silver circlet on her head, showing that she was the Lieutenant of the Hunters of Artemis. She had long black hair and volcanic black eyes, filled with determination. Flanking her was a girl about my age, with aburn hair that most girls would, pun intended, dye to have. She had silver eyes and walked with confidence towards the cabin. She had power rolling off her like an Olympian god or goddess, telling me that she was Artemis, Goddess of The Hunt.
I waited in my cabin, in fear that they would shoot me on sight if I made myself seen all of a sudden. Not long after, I heard the turning off the doorknob as Artemis and her hunters entered my cabin.
What I had counted to be around 20 hunters stood on either side of the door as their mistress stood in front of the door, in the middle. I immediately dropped to one knee in respect. It was genuine respect, not forced just because she could easily turn me into some furry animal. She was one of the Olympians who I actually liked, other than the whole man-hating shenanigans, because she fought for a cause. She helped girls who suffered from the company of cruel men and took them in, giving them a place in the Hunt, giving them the family they never had.
She raised her silver bow to my head and questioned rudely, "Boy, where is the Manticore? And why are you here? Actually who are you? Demigods should be at camp half blood. You have the power of a minor god rolling off of you." Her hunters readied their bows defensively, as their mistress had said that I had the power of a minor god, who could likely take them down easily were it not for their mistress's presence.
Just then, Hestia appeared in a bright flash of light. Finally, took you long enough. I thought as she took a step forward, and beckoned me to rise to my feet. She then spoke up, "This is Perseus, or Percy as he prefers to be called. He killed the Manticore not long ago. He is my son…" But she couldn't finish her statement.
"Hestia? Your son? You're a MAIDEN goddess! Or were now, I'm greatly disappointed in you aunt." She snorted with a look of anger on her face.
"You didn't let me finish. He's my son, but I am still a maiden. He is born from the Hearth, but he is my son nonetheless. I can't believe that you have so little faith in me that you would think I broke my vow." My patron replied, with a look of annoyance on her face.
"Oh." Was all the Goddess of The Hunt managed to say as blood rushed to her face in embarrassment for accusing her favorite aunt of something like this. But she continued talking, now facing me, as if I had just committed a crime, if being a boy is a crime. I could feel her trying to enter my mind, but thanks to Hestia and Hera, who taught me how to shield my mind, she could not get in to access my memories or thoughts.
"Why has father not heard about this? We must bring him to Olympus for trial." She demanded, only to be responded to with a glare of annoyance from the Goddess of Fire, "Why? He has done no crime." She questioned.
"Though he has done no crime, I can feel the power of a minor god coming from him, probably because he is your first and only child. He could be a threat to Olympus and as such must be brought to the council for judgment." Artemis decided.
"He is my child! Though I have limited contact with him as part of the Ancient Laws, he is completely loyal to me. He would never think of opposing Olympus as long as I still reside there." She replied, much to Artemis's annoyance that Hestia would be such a protective parent. My patron lied about the Ancient Laws part however. She can freely take care of me because the laws only state that the godly parent cannot care for the child. It says nothing about other gods or goddesses.
After about 5 minutes of back and forth arguing between the two goddesses on bringing me to Olympus, with Artemis saying I could be a threat and Hestia defending my innocence, the goddess supporting me finally relented,
"Fine, we will bring him to Olympus for judgment, but he is not to be harmed in any way." She agreed as she put a hand on me to flash us to Olympus. Artemis nodded in understanding as she made her Hunters line up so she could flash them all to Olympus.
In a bright flash of light, all of those who were previously in the cabin appeared on Olympus, in the middle of the empty throne room.
Many of the Hunters began to stumble around, with some of the younger ones seeming like they were about to throw up. Flashing does that to most demigods. However I remained perfectly fine and calm, because I was used to the feeling after practicing shadow travelling for so long.
Artemis began to make her bow appear out of thin air, and shot a flare arrow into the sky, which exploded into a silver flash as it flew high enough, signaling the calling of a council. She quickly made her way to her throne with her hunters in tow. Her hunters went to sit by their mistress, and I followed their example, heading towards the Hearth where Hestia stood.
Soon, the entire council arrived. Zeus and his wife appeared in a white flash of lightning and took their seats. What a drama queen. Does he really have to make such an entrance? I thought. As the gods took their seats, I looked around. I shot my 'fathers' disgusted looks, but they either didn't notice or didn't care. They seemed to not recognize me, likely because they didn't even have one good look at me before they tried to kill me.
I stood up and proceeded to bow to a few gods. I proceeded to bow to the few immortals I respected other than Hestia. First I made my way to Hera, then Artemis, then Athena. The Goddess of Marriage sent me an amused look for only bowing to those certain gods, and not the others.
Suddenly, Zeus boomed, "Who are you demigod? And why do you only bow to those 3 goddesses? I am the King of the Gods! How dare you not bow to me! I should smite you where you stand!" He shook with anger, blood rushing to his face as he questioned me. Just as arrogant and prideful as I thought he would be. I thought.
"To answer your first question, my name is Perseus, son of Hestia, born from the Hearth. To answer your second question, it is just because I only bow to those who I respect. And it just happens that those 3 are the only 3 who I respect." I calmly replied, knowing very well that Zeus would not be able to harm me without his oldest sister wreaking vengeance upon him.
Zeus seemed prepared to throw his master bolt at me for my defiance, but Hestia came to my rescue as I knew she would, "Zeus, you shall not smite my only child! I am the eldest child and you would do well to remember that. You should keep your arrogance in check, youngest brother." She replied, but not so intimidating now that she was in her 8 year old form which I was not used to seeing as she usually took the form of an older woman, so as to appear as a more motherly figure to me.
Added to that, Hera gave him a death glare from his side, causing him to sit back down on his throne in silence, though clearly still angry and glaring daggers through my head. Artemis then decided to break the silence and speak up,
"Father, I have brought this demigod here because as you can tell, he is extremely powerful, but this is because he is the first and only child of Hestia," This drew gasps from almost the entire council, at least those who were listening, "But he is born from the Hearth as she has told me, not from normal ways, so she is still a maiden as she has told me." She continued, calming the council who was accusing my patron for breaking her oath.
"So I have brought him here to be judged by the council, whether he will be allowed to live or not, as he may be a threat to Olympus. However, it might not be necessary as Hestia has vouched for his unswerving loyalty to her. I recommend that he is forced to swear loyalty to another one of the council." Artemis offered.
Zeus finally spoke once more, his anger now quelled, "All in favor?" Everybody except Zeus himself, his pride still hurt by my defiance.
"Motion passed… Perseus, pick a god to swear loyalty to." Zeus grumbled. I slowly walked up to Hera's throne and dropped to one knee,
"I, Perseus Jackson, swear on the Styx to be unswervingly loyal to the goddesses Hestia and Hera, and to defend them to the best of my ability." I swore. Thunder rumbled in the distance as I rose to my feet and made my way back to the Hearth where I took a spot next to my mother-in-spirit.
"Very well, now we must find out what to do with the child now. All against him going to Camp Half-Blood?" Zeus inquired. The only one who raised his hand was Dionysus, the camp director, who wined(A/N: Sorry for another terrible pun), "Oh no, not another brat in my prison I have to take care of." Zeus ignored him and concluded the council,
"Agreed, Perseus shall take his things and go to Camp Half-Blood before midnight today. Council dismissed." All the gods except for Hera and Hestia flashed out, leaving us alone.
Hera gave me a hug and smirked, "Defend us to the best of your abilities huh, Percy." She chuckled, "And good luck at camp. I'll let you stay in my cabin if you want. I'll tell Chiron about the arrangements. Stay safe my champion." As soon as she finished, she bid her farewells and hugged me once more and flashed out.
Hestia smiled and flashed us back to my cabin, where I said my goodbyes to the place which I called home for the past 4 years. I quickly opened my cabinet and took out all my belongings and put it in a black duffel bag which the Goddess of Fire handed me.
Once I had all of my things in my bag, I slung it over my shoulder and let Hestia teleport me to the camp where I would spend the next few years of my life. Soon, we disappeared in a flash of light, causing us to reappear on the bottom of a hill, which Hestia told me was the bottom of the hill which Camp Half-Blood is on.