Pandemonium raged in the Olympian Council, as Apollo entered the chamber with a self-assured gait. He couldn't help but smirk the entire time. So far it had been a very productive day. He had pissed off his little sister, his champion had killed yet another powerful monster and to top it all he had met a very pretty woman in a bar after he had finished his duties and dropped Percy off at his school. Yes, truly a great day. Not even this unexpected meeting of the council could ruin his day. Or at least he thought that.
He was the last to arrive, not that he minded that, since his arrival was not seen by any of the other gods. All of them were either bickering or watching what looked like a major disagreement between Zeus and Poseidon.
He casually strolled over to Hermes, to tell him about that great new bar he had found earlier and the mortal woman he had spent the rest of the night with. The two gods often went out, partying together. For a moment Apollo idly thought about how many years he would have to wait until he could bring Percy along. The boy had yet to learn so much about how to woo the fairer sex and Apollo intended to teach him everything he knew. And Hermes would surely welcome another friend for their nightly 'hunts'. Ah, good times that will await them in the future. He felt giddy like a child in a toy store just thinking about it.
But all thoughts came to a quick end when Zeus bellowed in his anger, "Enough! SILENCE!" All other gods knew better than to test their luck, so they stopped talking and returned to their thrones.
Zeus looked at the other gods in anger, daring any of them to speak out of line again. But to his satisfaction they all remained quiet. This calmed his anger somewhat, but he wouldn't let go of it. Not yet.
"A grave injustice has been done. Someone had the audacity to break into Olympus and steal from me. But that thief has not just stolen some fancy trinket, but my Master Bolt!" Zeus voice thundered through the room, shocking all the other gods in attendance. That someone managed to steal Zeus' weapon and symbol of power was a great shock.
"But how can this be possible, father?" Athena asked, a look of concentration on her face as she tried to think of every possibility. "Gods cannot steal other gods' symbols of power."
"No, gods cannot, but demigods can." Zeus replied in anger, his eyes directed at his brother, Poseidon, as he said that.
"Are you accusing me of being the on who has orchestrated this theft, Zeus?" Poseidon asked with an ice-cold voice.
"You are the one who would gain the most, brother." Zeus spat the word brother with all the distaste he could muster. "As it is, you are the one who has betrayed us all, by breaking the oath we made."
"Just like you did. Or do I have to remind you that you have sired a demigod as well?"
"My child is gone from this world, not dead, but lost forever. I was punished for my plunder. But you, you kept your son a secret to this day. Did you really think you could keep his existence a secret and get away with stealing my weapon?"
"Leave my son out of this or you will pay!" Poseidon yelled furious as he jumped of his throne and marched over to Zeus. Just like the sea, Poseidon could be calm, deadly silent, one moment, only to become wild and furious in the next.
"The thief will pay."
"Father, Percy cannot be the thief." Apollo interjected, much to Zeus' and Poseidon's surprise.
"You know this demigod, Apollo?" Zeus demanded threateningly.
"I do. Young Perseus is my champion and student. He cannot be the thief, I can vouch for him." Apollo spoke with insistence. Sure, Percy was a child that should technically not exist, but Apollo had come to like the quirky demigod.
"How dare you defy me and shelter this sea-spawn?"
"Father, when I met Perseus I had no idea that he was the son of Poseidon. But that doesn't matter. He is my champion and my friend. He is no threat to you or Olympus."
Zeus glared in anger at his defiant son, while Poseidon seemed to be absolutely gobsmacked. He had no idea that his son had been in contact with any of the gods, let alone that he had become the champion of Apollo. For Percy's own safety he had ceased all contact to the boy and his mother. He did not want to draw any attention to them. The memory of what Zeus did to Hades last mortal lover was still present and he did not wish that for Perseus and Sally, the boy's mortal mother.
"How did you meet my son?" Poseidon asked calmly, since Zeus was still fuming and seemingly unresponsive.
"Ah, you know, it was a little more than five years ago. I had met this beautiful blonde in that bar... Gabrielle... no Laura... or was it Nicole..."
"Get to the point, you chauvinist pig." Artemis interjected, openly repulsed by the way her brother talked about the women he met and seduced.
"Geez, little sis, please stop interrupting me." Apollo said with a mock stern look at Artemis. "Where was I... ah yes. So I left her apartment and decided to take a little stroll through Central Park, since the night was still far from over. So I walked around aimlessly, when I happened upon an almost tragic scene. I found a young boy, no older than seven, fighting against a lone Hellhound. It was easy to see that the boy was a demigod, so I watched, since the laws forbid me from helping. What I saw astounded me. The boy managed to kill the monster, armed only with a broken stick. An awesome display of power in a child that young."
Poseidon paled greatly when he heard Apollo's words. He knew that the boy must have been Percy. But why was his son alone in that park? Where was his mother? The question haunted his mind, but he kept silent, waiting for Apollo to finish his little tale.
"So I stood there, watching the boy until he had finished his fight. After he had won I approached the boy, intent on healing him, since he was badly hurt and bleeding profusely. The boy was very reluctant to accept help from a stranger, but eventually trusted me enough to let me help him. While I healed his wounds I asked him why he was alone and he told me of what he had gone through before I met him. Apparently his mother had died in an accident only a few days before and the boy got thrown out of his home by his stepfather."
Poseidon felt a surge of sadness hit him when he heard that Sally was dead. Though he was forced to leave her behind, he still loved the woman, as he had done with all those mortal lover she had. But at the same time the actions of her last husband angered him greatly. Oh how he wished to stand up and hunt that wretched mortal down. But he had other matters to attend to. His son and the theft of the Master Bolt were more important at the moment.
"So, being the awesome person that I am, I offered the little orphan a deal. I had seen his power and I had no doubt that he would grow even more powerful the older he would become. So I offered him to become my ward and champion."
"Gods are not allowed to raise demigods." Hera interjected with a frown.
"Not necessarily..." Athena said carefully. "We are forbidden to take care of our own children. The law never concerned the children of other gods."
"And we have a winner." Apollo said with a grin.
Athena looked at Apollo with an unamused expression, "I am surprised though, that you managed to figure this out by yourself." She stated dryly.
"Then we will have to amend this immediately!" Hera insisted.
"Ladies, please. Nothing bad has come from this."
"Nothing bad? I shudder to think how you raised the boy. Taking him to bars no doubt." Hera accused.
"Apollo, for your own sake I hope that you did not take my son with you on your nightly excursions." Poseidon said with a low growl.
"Hey, just for you information, I can be an awesome dad. My children would have all become awesome, had you allowed me to raise them. And Percy is the best example. I sent him to boarding schools, while training him at night. It's been a blast and he has grown up well. You will like what the boy has become and..."
"Enough of this." Zeus voice boomed through the chamber. He had finally cooled down enough to not lose his temper, at least for the moment. But he was far from happy about this entire situation. "I will only ask this once, so I warn all of you. Do not lie to me." The room suddenly became deadly silent. "Who else beside Apollo and Poseidon knew about this child?"
All gods looked around, until several raised their arms, though some seemed to be hesitant to do so. When Zeus looked around he couldn't believe his eyes. This was worse than he had expected. Not only had Poseidon and Apollo lied to him, but Hermes, Artemis and Ares as well.
"Hermes, explain yourself." Zeus commanded.
Said god smirked lazily, before he answered, "I've met the kid now and then, when I had to deliver messages to Apollo while he was training Percy. He is a really nice kid, though I did not know who his father was."
Zeus gaze wandered to Ares next. "And you, Ares?"
"We had some... unplanned sparring sessions over the last few years. Beating the kid up was the best fun I had since the last world war. I sometimes wondered whether he could be one of mine, seeing his increasing skill with swords."
"You did what?" Poseidon exploded again, though an angry look from Zeus forced him to shut up again.
"It's called training, uncle. The kid has to learn how to fight and I doubt sun-boy could teach him properly."
"Hey, I resent that statement. I'm an awesome teacher!"
Apollo was ignored by all others, while Zeus gaze wandered to his daughter, Artemis. She, too, had raised her hand. He wondered how she would fit into this. So far she had never disobeyed him like this, not when something a big as the Prophecy threatened them all.
Artemis sighed, before she spoke up, mustering all her pent up anger at her brother and his interfering ways. "That boy has interfered with my hunt several times. Apollo likes to send Perseus to bother me and my Hunters, killing our prey, aiding us when his aid was neither desired nor needed."
"I've sent you a guardian whenever I could, little sis. If you remember correctly, every time I have sent Percy to help your Hunters, he saved the lives of several of your girls. Never has he done anything out of the line, never has he done what you expect from all men."
"A guardian? Are you mad? A young boy, who cannot even guard himself properly? All he did was interfere. All he did was undermine the self-confidence of my Hunters. How are they supposed to feel when a male shows up to help them every time they face a dangerous enemy?"
"Grateful would be a good start..." Apollo mumbled. But Artemis either didn't hear him or purposely ignored him.
"I've heard enough. This boy... this thief... I want him brought here, so he can pay for what he has done!" Zeus commanded imperiously.
"Father, when exactly was your bolt stolen?" Apollo asked with a frown. He really did not like how this meeting progressed.
"Somewhere within the last 24 hours. Tell me Apollo, did you bring him here? Have you aided him in this theft? Are you trying to overthrow me?" 'Of course he must believe that his son will overthrow him, just because he has overthrown his own father before. Everyone has to be after his power..' Apollo though angrily, when he heard that ridiculous accusation.
"I have no desire to overthrow you father. I would not benefit from that. And Percy cannot be the thief. Percy has spent the last day in Yellowstone, hunting monsters on my order. Even Artemis can confirm that. They met there yesterday." All eyes were directed at Artemis, who nodded in confirmation, albeit it was obvious that she only did so reluctantly. She did not like the fact that she helped the boy who had offended her Hunter's pride on numerous occasions. But she was also a goddess that wouldn't allow injustice to take place, not when she could stop it. "See, I'm telling the truth. And after he met Artemis he spent the entire rest of the day with me in my sun-chariot, before I dropped him off at his school again."
"Fine." Zeus huffed angrily. He did not like that he had to start his search for the thief from square one. It would have been far easier to blame the son of his brother. The boy wasn't supposed to live in the first place. "But that still leaves us with a child that could endanger us all. For the sake of the prophecy this boy has to die!"
"Percy is of no concern for the prophecy, father. He is bound to me, just like the Hunters are bound to Artemis. His loyalty to Olympus is unquestionable." Artemis glared at Apollo. To hear him compare this boy to her beloved Hunters made her angry, though she couldn't fault his logic. "Believe me, I know enough about prophecies. I'm the god of prophecies after all."
Poseidon sank back on his throne, relief visible on his face. To hear that his son would be safe from the prophecy eased his worries. But at the same time he felt disturbed by the thought to leave his son alone with Apollo. The god of the sun wasn't exactly a favorite of Poseidon.
"Still, this boy has to prove his allegiance to all of Olympus, not just to you." Zeus bellowed. "I want him brought here, so we can get him to swear his loyalty to all of Olympus."
Apollo knew that this was probably the best he would get for his champion, so he resigned to that. "Fine. I will fetch him and..."
"No. You will not interact with him until he has sworn his allegiance to Olympus. You will not be allowed to influence him in any way or form until this is done." Zeus decreed.
"Then who will bring him here? Let Hermes bring him. Percy likes him enough to trust him without any problems." Apollo replied, slightly miffed about his father's decision. As if he would try to turn Percy against any of the other gods.
"No, you and Hermes are far too close." 'And there is his paranoia again...' Apollo thought in annoyance. "Artemis, you know the boy, but I trust you more than your brothers." That last part earned Zeus angered looks from both Apollo and Hermes, but he ignored his sons. "Find Perseus, the son of Poseidon and bring him here! But remember, we need him alive and unharmed if possible."
"At once, father."
"Then this council is dismissed. We will reconvene once we either get new information on the thief of my Master Bolt or Artemis returns from her quest." With that the gods left, until only Poseidon, Apollo and Artemis remained in the room.
"Apollo, where is your champion?" Artemis demanded to know.
"Oh, little sis, he could be anywhere. Maybe he is here in Olympus. Maybe I've sent him to Delphi to see the ruins of my old temple. Or maybe he is already at Camp Half blood. I guess you will have to find out yourself." Apollo said with a challenging smirk.
"Then I shall hunt him down and bring him here. You will see that my Hunters are far superior to him!" Artemis vowed, before she stormed away.
"Good luck, you will need it." Apollo yelled after her, before he chuckled. Oh Percy would have some fun and learn some valuable lessons by escaping Artemis and her man-hating maidens.
"Apollo, I do believe we have to talk. Now!" Poseidon stated firmly, as he stood next to his nephew. Apollo gulped slightly, before his grin returned. Ultimately he had no reason to fear Poseidon. He has been an awesome teacher and patron for Percy after all.
When Artemis returned to the camp of her Hunters she was met by her lieutenant, Zoe Nightshade. The demi-titan looked questioningly at her mistress when she saw the ferocious smirk on Artemis face.
"What are your orders, my lady?"
"Gather your sisters, we have to hunt!"
"May I ask what we are going to hunt, my lady? Whatever it is, you seem to anticipate it greatly."
"Lord Zeus has given us orders to hunt down Percy Jackson and bring him to Olympus." A malicious smirk spread on Zoe's lips, not unlike the expression of her mistress. Finally they would have a chance to get back at the presumptuous boy for his audacity, without having to fear Poseidon's or Apollo's wrath.
Unbeknownst to them, at Yancy Academy, one twelve year old student with black hair and sea-green eyes shuddered, as he felt like his entire life would suddenly become even more dramatic than it already was. Little did he know what would await him in the near future.
A\N: Okay, the hunt is on. This story will be parallel to the Lightning Thief, but Percy won't be the one to be concerned with it too much. There will be a Quest to find the Bolt, but Percy will merely meet them, maybe help them a bit. But this story is more about him and the prophecy. Well I can't tell much more without Spoilers and I'm sure no one wants that.
I know there was nothing about Percy in this chapter, but I believe this was still a very important part. To show more about how exactly Apollo met his champion and how the other gods are involved. I hope the gods weren't too ooc.