I still don't own. I am a female not a male like Rick who does own it.
Sorry for the later update than I planned (i wanted to post last weekend but was unmotivated). I have had writers block for Zeus's punishment, have been unmotivated to write and procrastinating. (Reading other fan fiction stories is a bad distraction for me).
Hope you like Zeus's punishment and this chapter. Thankyou all who reviewed.
Chapter 14- Fun at the Pier.
The group broke up as the punishment council went to decide what the punishment was going to be. "We could make Athena not be able to use the library or read for a week," said Poseidon with glee.
"I don't care what we do as long as Zeus suffers," replied Hades.
"This is going to be fun. Dad probably hasn't been punished very often- being the King, he usually dictates others punishment," said Thalia rubbing her hands together. Percy and Nico were trailing after the group.
"You're very quiet," said Nico to Percy.
"I'm just finding it hard to punish someone who helped me with a quest. We are punishing gods who were trying to help their children. Assistance that kept me alive," said Percy. Poseidon stopped laughing with Hades, he hadn't thought of that.
"Most demi-gods, would love their parents to break the ancient laws to help them," said Nico knowingly. He still wished his father had helped Bianca and not let her die.
"Athena shouldn't really be punished. She gave me advice. I still had to work out who she was and what the hell she was talking about," said Percy.
"And how long did it take you to work it out?" said Thalia ignoring the glare Percy was sending him.
"So what now, no punishment?" asked Hades who along with Poseidon looked disappointed.
"Oh they will be punished," said Thalia gleefully "The King of the gods declared that it will happen."
"What do you have in mind?" asked Lady Hestia knowing that the punishments were inevitable.
"Athena will not be able to enter the library or read for… How long?" asked Thalia.
"Two days," said Nico.
"And for the king of the gods, I'm thinking bright pink polka dots," said Thalia ignoring the confused looks from the gods and Nico. Percy looked at Thalia stunned- was she really going to make him do it? Did she dare?
"Polka dots? Pink? What are you planning?" asked Hades. Thalia looked at Percy,
"It's the perfect opportunity, and he can't hurt us," she said hesitantly.
"What are you planning?" asked Nico apprehension in his voice.
"Just something we discussed once," said Percy. "It was something we thought would never, ever happen."
"I think it will work. It will take him down a peg or two, or even more," said Thalia looking at the group.
"Do you have any idea what they are talking about?" asked Poseidon to Lady Hestia.
"I have no idea. But like Athena's punishment it will last two days," she answered looking at her niece and nephew.
"I can't believe we are going to make him do it?" said Percy and Thalia headed for the door, Nico following them with some trepidation. What were they going to make Zeus do?
"Hey, you didn't tell us what Zeus's punishment was," said Hades.
"No previews for Zeus's punishment," said Thalia.
"My suggestion is to bring a camera tomorrow," said Percy to his father as they left the room.
The next morning Hades and Poseidon arrived early to the throne room anxious to see what Zeus's punishment was. Most of the demi-gods and gods were also in the throne room. All they knew was that Zeus had been taken from his room in the early morning by the big three demi-gods and Aphrodite. Most of the occupants of Mount Olympus had been awoken by Zeus screaming, so everyone was eager to see what his punishment was. They were disappointed when the council representatives on the punishment committee couldn't enlighten them.
"Thalia and Percy wouldn't tell us Zeus's punishment- we know Athena's," said Hades.
"What is my punishment?" asked a nervous Athena. No one blamed her after being woken by Zeus's screams.
"Athena your punishment is no reading or entering a library for two days," answered Poseidon.
"Lame," booed Ares.
"Well our children didn't think it was right to punish gods who had assisted their children, but the King had decreed punishment to occur so it did," said Hades rolling his eyes when he said king.
"Do you have any ideas why Aphrodite was needed for the punishment of the king?" asked Hera.
"All we know is bright pink and polka dots," said Poseidon. All heads turned to Annabeth who had gasped in shock.
"Thank you Lady Aphrodite for your assistance," said Percy who had walked into the room with said goddess and Nico, who had a video camera in his hand. Zeus sneaked into the throne room, well tried to, while Thalia marched in after him. Zeus did not ooze the confidence and conviction of being a King. But that may have been the outfit he was wearing.
"OH MY GODS," said the demi-gods.
Zeus was in a dress, a bright pink dress with white polka dots. He had white socks with lace and black buckle shoes. On his head he had a bright pink bow and his beard sparkled pink from the glitter in it.
Hades and Poseidon got over their shock first and burst out laughing. Thalia and Percy were right this would take him down a peg or two. If the punishment had been for Apollo, Hermes or even Poseidon they would have played on the situation, for example, skipping into the room. Zeus had a scowl on his face.
"Let's get on with the story," said Zeus ignoring the laughing from his brothers and his sons, and the flashes from the multiple cameras that were in use.
"I can't believe you dared to make him do this," said Annabeth to Percy and Thalia "He could have killed you."
"The rules are no killing," said Thalia with a shrug of her shoulders.
"It didn't stop him from trying," said Nico laughing. Zeus found himself up against his throne pinned by his two elder brothers.
"Dad we are fine. I think that's enough photos, plus his punishment lasts for the same amount of time as Lady Athena's. You did inform her of her punishment?" said Percy as he and Nico pulled their fathers off Zeus.
"I was informed," said Athena who was not happy about her punishment but knew she got the better deal than her father.
"Let's get on with the story," said Hera. Everyone made their way to their seats, Hades and Poseidon sending glares at Zeus who had a permanent frown on his face.
"The statues, Hank and Chuck, were very happy to go to Frisco, they wanted to go visit some marble statue ladies they met through mechanics monuments," said Percy.
"They were so excited to get there as they sped up," said Thalia. Some of the group started to laugh. Some rather crude jokes were made before Hera and Demeter pulled them back to the task.
"I have to start separating the statues when they get service," mumbled Hephaestus.
"It was very boring travelling. Grover passed the time by playing his pipes. Zoë started shooting arrows at billboards. Target department store was a favourite and she would peg a few bullseyes at a hundred miles of hours," Percy informed the group.
"I could so do that… maybe," said Will, as Thalia rolled her eyes but didn't say anything. She couldn't challenge Will to a contest as she had spent the whole time with her eyes closed, in fear.
"I asked Percy how he escaped from the skeletons in the generator room, so he informed me about the weird mortal that helped him," said Thalia ignoring the look she was receiving from Rachel.
"That was when I realised that mom was able to see through the mist and why she seemed so scared for me," said Percy.
"It took you that long?" asked Clarisse rolling her eyes.
"I had never really thought about the mist not fooling mortals," retorted Percy.
"Must be nice to be a regular mortal," said Katie.
"Don't look at me, apparently I'm a weirdo," said an annoyed Rachel.
"We never called you a weirdo," said Thalia.
"Weird, strange, special…. But never a weirdo," said Percy with a sly grin on his face which quickly disappeared when the red head mortal tackled him. The group laughed, the demi-gods were laughing because Rachel was attacking the fifteenth strongest person in the room. The gods were laughing because it was a mortal versus a half-blood. Zeus wasn't laughing, but only because he was still in a bad mood.
"Chuck and Hank woke us up when we reached San Francisco and asked us where we wanted to land," said Percy.
"Zoë said by the Embarcadero building and one of the statues made a joke about blending in with the pigeons," said Thalia with an eye roll.
"Do statues like pigeons?" asked Nico "Most of the statues I've seen are coved in bird droppings." No one had an answer for him.
"We landed on the ferry dock freaking out a homeless guy who ran off yelling about metal angels from Mars," Percy informed the group.
"Why would I send Metal angels?" asked a confused Ares.
"The next day was the winter solstice and we had so much to do," said Percy.
"We decided to figure out what the monster Artemis had been hunting and decided to find Nereus," said Thalia.
"I was a bit worried when Zoë, who said she knew where to find him, said we had to follow the smell,"
"That and we stopped at the Goodwill drop box to get Percy a special outfit," said Thalia.
"Oh what was the outfit?" asked Aphrodite perking up in her throne.
"A ragged flannel shirt and jeans three sizes too big, bright red trainers and a floppy rainbow hat," said Percy. Aphrodite didn't look impressed.
"He had to look inconspicuous as he had to blend in with the homeless guys," said Thalia a smirk on her face.
"Apparently Nereus doesn't go far from the sea, but likes to sun himself during the day," said Percy.
"Zoë told Percy that when he found Nereus he had to hold on to him as he would try anything to get rid of him," said Thalia.
"That can't happen, you need to find out the monster," said Katie.
"I headed down the pier stumbling like I was going to pass out, not hard with how tired I was," said Percy.
"Now I understand why you guys sleep so much when you arrive back to camp from a quest," said Will.
"I passed our homeless guy who was still trying to warn the others about metal angels from Mars," Percy informed the group.
"I would be worried if Ares sent me metal angels. They probably would attack," said Hera.
"Angels are sweet and innocent," said Hestia.
"Just like you," said Percy, Nico, Hermes and Hades, which caused Hestia to blush red and the hearth get warmer.
"Angels are not always sweet and innocent," said Chris.
"Example?" asked Thalia.
"The Weeping Angels in Doctor Who," said Chris.
"Agree, they still give me night mares," said Katie with a shudder. The gods just looked confused.
"The homeless guy smelt bad, but not different from someone who was living on the street. I continued on past the lady who glared at me, like I would steal the plastic flamingos in her shopping cart," said Percy.
"She had plastic flamingos?" said Connor before he, Travis, Will and Thalia laughed.
"That was when I reached Santa Clause," said Percy.
"Santa Clause?" asked Nico confused.
"Well if Santa Clause had been dragged through a landfill. He wore pyjamas and a fuzzy bathrobe that must have been white at some stage. He was fat and his beard had turned yellow," said Percy with a shrug. The gods and demi-gods thought again how weird and wonderful Percy was at describing things.
"He smelt BAD, ocean bad. Like hot seaweed and dead fish and brine," Percy informed the group.
"Yuck," said Aphrodite her nose rolled up in disgust.
"How do you know what that smell's like?" asked Nico.
"Community service….. Don't ask," said Percy.
"I tackled him when I thought he was asleep, however he wasn't. He grabbed me and for an old man he was very strong," said Percy
"He is a god," said Annabeth.
"The other homeless guys thought I was rolling Nereus, so I did do that, straight down the pier. I hit my head and while I was daze he tried to get away but I locked my arms around him, trying to ignore the fishy smell," explained Percy.
"I didn't realise you hit your head," Thalia said to Percy.
"How did Nereus react to you?" asked Athena.
"He didn't seem to like Heroes and kept wondering why we pick on him," said Percy.
"We don't pick on him," said Travis.
"He knows everything, of course he will be questioned," said Annabeth.
"Nereus tried to shake me off him, making our way towards the edge of the pier. I pretended that I didn't want to go into the water, the plan worked and Nereus jumped off the pier," explained Percy.
"That's a good plan," said Athena. The group looked at her, "It is a good plan; he becomes stronger in water."
"He was surprised when I tightened my grip as I got my extra strength," said Percy.
"What tricks did Nereus use?" asked Poseidon.
"He changed shapes into a black seal. If I wasn't your son, I wouldn't have been able to stay with him," said Percy.
"Oh seals are so hard to hold onto," said Poseidon.
"Nereus turned into a killer whale put I grabbed onto his dorsal fin," said Percy.
"Percy and the whale burst from the ocean, Percy waving to the crowd," said Thalia. Percy looked sheepish while some people laughed while others rolled their eyes.
"Nereus then turned into a slimy eel so I started to tie him into a knot," said Percy.
"Not a good creature to turn into," said Chris.
"Nereus was probably wondering why you wouldn't drown," said Apollo.
"He wasn't happy that I was Poseidon's son, he called dad an upstart," said Percy. Zeus and Hades laughed.
"I suppose he would think that, he was around first," said Poseidon.
"We landed on the boat ramp. I felt great but Nereus was heaving and gasping. I was allowed only one question. That was the rule," said Percy.
"One question but you have to find Artemis, and find out what the doomsday creature is," said Apollo.
"He also wanted to ask about Annabeth, didn't you?" asked Aphrodite with a squeal. Everyone rolled their eyes but realised she was right when he blushed a pale shade of red.
"I asked about the creature as Chiron had said that it was far more important," said Percy.
"Nereus pointed at the water at Percy's feet and before turned into a goldfish and plopped back into the sea," said Thalia. "Bessie was swimming next to the dock; he told Grover that his name was not Bessie that it was the Ophiotaurus."
"Grover could understand him?" asked Travis his eyes lighting up when Thalia and Percy nodded thinking of all the pranks he could do to Grover. Recording animals and getting him to translate tons of recordings was a thought he had.
"Percy was his protector and he was running from the bad people who were close," explained Thalia.
"I couldn't believe how much information was expressed in a single mooo," said Percy not noticing the strange looks he received.
"That was when Zoë realised that the Ophiotaurus was the beast we were looking for and not some huge dangerous monster," said Thalia.
"I can't believe that cute animal could destroy the world," exclaimed Rachel "How is it a dangerous creature?"
"There is power in killing innocence," said Athena "A prophecy from the fates said that anyone who killed the Ophiotaurus and sacrificed it entrails to fire would have the power to destroy us."
"It almost happened in the last Titan war, Zeus's eagle managed to snatch it up before it was tossed into the fire," said Hera.
"It was a close call," said Poseidon and Hades gravely.
"Thalia's expression bothered me, she almost looked hungry," admitted Percy.
"Power is my fatal flaw, and the power to overthrow the gods is huge," said Thalia. Everyone looked at her.
"While we were discussing protecting the Ophiotaurus we were ambushed by Dr Thorn the manticore," said Percy and the gods groaned.
"He didn't look good, his clothes were torn and stained and he really didn't look any better than the homeless guys down at the soup kitchen," said Thalia.
"Well he did admit that the General thought he was worthless, and would change his mind when he defeated us himself," said Percy.
"Oh problems in the ranks, not good," said Ares "Even if it's the enemy's army."
"The manticore had only four of his mortal mercenaries to help take us down," said Thalia.
"Dr Thorn wanted us to witness Thalia's great victory," said Percy squeezing Thalia's hand that he had grabbed.
"THALIA'S victory?" questioned Hermes.
"I was two days off turning sixteen," answered Thalia with a shrug.
"That is why Kronos brought her back to life, so she could overthrow Olympus?" exclaimed Connor.
"It fits in, she could be the child of the prophecy, she could make the choice to end our reign," said Athena.
"I didn't know whether to feel relieved, horrified or disappointed that I wasn't the prophecy child after all," admitted Percy.
"I was stunned. Could I have the power to take down the gods? To rule the world?" said Thalia quietly looking awkward.
"Thalia was in a daze so Grover played his pipes so that the wooden planks of the pier grew branches and tangled their legs, while Zoë let two fart arrows explode at their feet. The manticore let go of some spikes in our directions but they ricocheted off my lion coat," explained Percy.
"Percy dragged me through the shopping centre on the pier trying to get away from the manticore and his helpers," said Thalia.
"We came to the end of the pier which had a kiosk with these hanging crystals. A water fountain was next to us. Zoë told me to ask dad for help and get away, protect the Ophiotaurus," said Percy.
"But you didn't because you wouldn't leave the others," said Clarisse drastically.
"We used the water fountain to call camp as all the crystals caused rainbows to appear. We thought that camp should know what was happening especially as we were about to die," said Percy.
"We got though to Mr D, who was uninterested, maybe even bored with the fact that we were about to die," said Thalia.
"DIONYSUS," screamed Zeus. Zeus was silenced when half the room burst out laughing. "What are you laughing at?"
"Your threats are so not scary when you are dressed in that outfit," admitted Thalia but gave her dad a small smile, her eyes conveying some gratitude. Dionysus meanwhile was cowering behind Hestia after running away from the sea god and goddess of the moon and hunt.
"Dionysus did ask what our problem was and believing it wouldn't make any difference I told him what was happening. We were soon surrounded by the manticore and his minions. According to the manticore we were alone, with no real help," said Percy.
"Did that pathetic monster just insult me?" asked an enraged god.
"That was when Mr D murmured to me that I could ask for help, I could also say please," disclosed Percy.
"You asked Mr D for help?" asked a shocked Clarisse.
"I noticed a tear rolling down Thalia's cheek and realised that this had happened to her before, on Half-Blood Hill. She had willingly given her life for her friends, but she couldn't do that this time. I couldn't let that happen," Percy declared. Percy was pulled into a bear hug surprising everyone.
"The mortal mercenaries all went mad. One of them put his gun between his teeth and ran around on all fours. The others dropped their guns and two started waltzing with each other while the other did something like an Irish jig," said Thalia who had released Percy with a punch to the shoulder.
"The manticore turned on us but the planks under his paws erupted into vines and wrapped around him. The vines wrapped around him until he was engulfed and was no more," said Percy.
"Wow, scary," said Nico and all the demi-gods were all looking at Dionysus with wariness. At times they forgot that Mr D was a powerful god when they were at camp.
"Please tell me that the mortal minds were not permanently in that condition?" said Dionysus.
"One of the affected mortals had found our homeless guy and they were having a serious conversation about metal angels from Mars," said Percy.
"No it wasn't permanent," said Thalia.
"Good no reports to write," said Dionysus looking relieved.
"That was when Mr D called Percy by the proper name," dobbed Thalia.
"WHAT," shouted all the demi-gods.
"Yeah that was the first time," said Percy smiling.
"He called you the proper name MORE than once," exclaimed Will.
"Mr D had brought us some time, we had to enter the place by sunset or all was lost," said Percy.
"What place?" asked Athena but Artemis looked like she knew.
"Zoë had to go home, to the garden of her sisters," said Thalia.
And the chapter is done. Let me know your thoughts.
And now I'm off to bed as it is late at night here in the land down under.