Percy

I fell into total darkness, the light of day growing smaller and smaller as the pit closed.

Though I despaired about returning to Tartarus again, I was content in the knowledge that Annabeth did not share my fate.

Though I had no doubt she was angry with me for sacrificing my safety for her, I also knew I would do it again and again in less than a heartbeat for the love of my life.

As I fell though, I realized that there was a possibility that I may never return to her arms.

My last thought before darkness consumed me was me hoping that she would find happiness.


I awoke slowly and painfully from my unconscious state, the first thing in my mind being amazement.

Not only was I still alive, but the nightmares that I seemed to be bound to did not come to me while I slept.

As I woke up fully and the full impact of where I was hit me, I realized that I was not entirely correct. I hadn't dreamt any nightmare because I was in a nightmare.

I was lying in what looked to be a shallow cave. I remembered the last time I fell to Tartarus that there where hundreds of these caves scattered throughout the endless pit. I also remembered that for whatever reason, the monsters never bothered to check these caves. Probably because there was generally never a reason to. A flaw that Annabeth and myself had exploited to no end the last time we were here.

As I looked outside of the cave, I realized that while Tartarus was always dark, for it is not the endless pit without a reason, it was darker than I remembered it.

"Not good. Really not good," I thought to myself.

For another things I had found out on my last trip, was that the closer to the top of Tartarus one got, the lighter it became. Now, however, it was so dark I would not be able to see a thing outside of my cave if not for what appeared to be random fires a distance away from my cave.

"The monsters that reside here will be far more powerful than I faced before," I thought to myself. "The only thing I want to know is how much more powerful?"

I knew I would have to be careful, for I didn't have Annabeth at my side to cause havoc and tip the scales with her invisibility cap.

I turned back towards the cave, intending to rest and recover some more before I dared brave the deepest parts of Tartarus, but I stopped in shock. I had been so sure that the cave would be empty as that was all I was used to them being. I would have to remember to fix that line of thought if I managed to get out of here.

I stared a glowing blue crystal on the far side of the cave, it was floating at a level equal to my chest height. It didn't seem to be doing anything, good or bad.

I slowly approached the crystal, drawing out Riptide in preparation for anything. For, as I was well aware, this was Tartarus.

Nothing happened, or seemed to happen as I slowly walked right next to the crystal.

After waiting a few seconds I began to study it, hoping for some sort of clue as to what it was.

It looked to be a perfect sphere. I saw no edges nor faucets on it, or any other sign of an imperfection.

As I looked closer, the glow seemed to emit from within it. When my eyes where merely centimeters away from it, I noticed the light was pulsing steadily. So faint was the change in the sphere that one would not have noticed it, unless they were as close as I was to it.

I knew it was a terrible idea, even for me. But my ADHD kicked in right at that moment, and the desire to touch the crystal was overwhelming. My mind screaming no while I watched my treacherous body reach out and place my hand on the orb. Then everything went to Hades I placed my hand on the orb, a bright flash of light went off.

My first thoughts were about my immediate safety, but, surprisingly not from the orb as I had sensed that it would not harm me. I was praying the monsters outside didn't see the flash, and that the dazzle would fade from my eyes so I could actually see if I did wind up fighting.

All those thoughts and preparations immediately fled when I felt another mind touch my conscious.

The mind I felt was vast and incomprehensive, I knew that this being could easily tear my mind to shreds if it wanted to and there was no way I could fight it.

So I did the only thing I could do, I let my mind relax and allowed easier access to my thoughts. My hope being that this foreign mind would recognize my gesture of good will, and generously leave me sane.

I felt amusement, understanding, and, shockingly, pride as I lowered what little defenses my mind had. The vast conscious swept through my mind like a gentle breeze.

I knew it was there, but I could barely feel it as it examined at my thoughts and memories faster than any mortal mind could comprehend.

As quickly as it had started, the mind retreated, lingering on the fringes of my conscious, giving me my privacy back, but still allowing it to communicate as I soon found out.

"You have traveled a long and difficult road demigod," echoed through my mind.

The voice was kind and gentle, but those traits merely covered the steel behind it. As the voice intoned, I could also feel the wisdom and experience behind it. This being, I realized, had a voice that was even more ancient than Kronos, which spoke volumes to me.

"Untrusted by your own family," the voice continued, while images of myself searching for the master bolt swam through my mind.

"Danger at every turn." Images of all the monsters that had ambushed me throughout the years.

"Forced into leadership and to war." The battle of Manhattan, and the battle against the giants appearing before me.

"But overcoming every obstacle that has been thrown at you," I saw myself after defeating Ares, Hyperion, Kronos, and many more.

"You are truly a paragon of your kind young demigod."

I relaxed a bit and allowed myself to smile slightly. If this ancient being was not going to destroy me, at least not yet, and compliment me? I could definitely find it in my heart to flatter it to give myself a great survival chance, "You flatter me great one," was my answer, "but you are most impressive yourself."

I probably wasn't going to be able to win any contests with that complement. But considering I generally annoyed divine beings more than I made them happy, I thought it was a good start.

The voice chuckled in my mind, "You are also wise young one," I couldn't help but smirk at that, wishing Athena were here to hear it.

"To be wary of the unknown, but there is no need for flattery, not when my time is limited by powers beyond even my control."

I gave a mental nod, showing I understood and silently asked him to continue. Mostly so I didn't have to think about powers beyond this powerful beings control. I had no doubt they weren't cute and cuddly.

Then again, for all I knew he could be talking about Ferbies, which were truly evil. I had managed to set some on fire once in a story I really don't want to get into. The moral being that even after the fire had died down, the creepy things could still talk. They still give me nightmares occasionally.

My thoughts were quickly dragged back into the present, "My time has long since past young hero, and I wish to rest. When we are finished talking, I will finally fade. However, I am not quite done influencing the world just yet."

That last part was said with a feeling of amusement accompanying the last part. "First off, I have chosen you to continue my work, and my line. Secondly, I wish you to know this wasn't a spur of the moment decision. I have had many chances to pass on my knowledge and power, but none were worthy until you."

"So more people than we realize have been lost into Tartarus?" I said with an air of sadness, thinking about all those lost in the endless pit.

"No child," was my reply, which brightened my day slightly.

"My power and essence have been stretched over much more than Tartarus. You are in fact the first to bear witness to my influence down here.

"So what does taking over for you entail?" was my sensible question. There had to be a catch for me to be granted that much power.

"When we are finished here, right before I finally fade, I will cause the part of my essence, which you right now touch with your hand, to be absorbed into your body, and all the benefits that come with that."

Now I was even more sure there was a catch, as this seemed to be too easy. But a suspicion was beginning to form in my mind. "My body? Benefits? Shouldn't I at least know who you are before I absorb your...essence?" was my confused reply.

"Yes my child, with my essence flowing through your veins, your power and soon your skills will be increased beyond your imagination." I'll be the first to admit at this point, I was daydreaming about what I could do.

"As for who I am, you already know the answer to that my child." I thought for a second, a voice of soft steel, essence scattered all over the place, the ancientness of the everything and it came to me in a flash.

"You are Ouranos , first true God of the Sky, and husband of Gaia." I knew that I was right, and I also knew what the catch was.

Ouranos had been cut to pieces by Kronos, and Ouranos had confirmed that his essence was scattered of everywhere. I would no doubt have to find all the pieces before I could attain the full power of the sky lord.

"Indeed my boy, and the only being Gaia ever feared. An achievement, that will hopefully be achieved by you."

"Mmm...mmm..me?" I stuttered out. "Why would she ever be afraid of me?"

Don't get me wrong, I had managed to beat Gaea its true. But I doubted very much that she feared me. Mostly becomes I already knew that if I hadn't caught her by surprise, while she had to keep all the Olympians bound no less, she would have eventually ended me. A fact I am confident she is aware of.

"You will see eventually my dear boy. Let me just say that you will be a force for balance in the future, and a powerful one at that. Now, back to the matter at hand. There are two more pieces of my essence in Tartarus, when you have gathered both, you will possess the power to take yourself from this wretched abyss."

At those words, my heart lifted up so high I thought it was in my throat. I was about to become more powerful, and I only needed two more pieces to escape? I might not be stuck here for an eternity like I thought.

"When we are finished here, you will be able to sense where they, and all the rest of my essence scattered through out the world are. Be warned though, you will faced many difficult challenges here in Tartarus. They are for the most part, fortunately or unfortunately, a mere warm-up for what is to come."

I could feel power start trickling into me while Ouranos talked, the amount the essence contained seemed endless. When he stopped talking, I could feel it rush into me like a great wave of the ocean I was so familiar with, and that I missed with every fiber of my being.

Finally it stopped, and my vision began to grow dark, and then Ouranos spoke, for what I realized would be the final time ever.

"Sleep well great-grandson. When you awake, take the time to analyze what has changed. You will see the surface world again someday, and when you do, make sure you give my regards to my ex- wife."

Tears flowed down my face as I fought to stay conscious. Though we had just met, this being was granting me everything he had once been, and asking for nothing in return. A trait that was definitely not shared by his descendents.

"Do not mourn for me my boy, my time has long since past. Look towards the future and knows this, I am so proud of you."

His connection with my mind faded faster and faster until suddenly, he was no longer there. With that final act I fell into darkness again.