I don't own PJ&O. Rick Riordan does and that is not me.
Thank you to everyone who reviewed, favourited and followed last chapter.
The three stories are Battle of the Labyrinth, The Last Olympian and The Sword of Hades (no one got the Sword, you all guessed Demi-god files).
I also needed to fix up Rick's mistake- you realise what I mean when you read.
The Winter Solstice
"What did you think of Olympus during a solstice," asked Hera clearly interested in the demi-gods opinion.
"I was terrified as I, a son of Poseidon, was flying into Zeus's palace," said Percy with a grin.
"It was beautiful," said Annabeth glaring at her boyfriend "torches and fires made the mountainside palaces glow a number of different colours."
"The streets were full of demi-gods, nature spirits and minor godlings, I guess no one sleeps in Olympus," said Percy.
"Winter didn't seem to exist as I could smell roses and Jasmine coming from the gardens, I could also hear music from lyres and reed pipes," said Thalia who had spent the whole flight asleep or with her eyes closed.
"The pegasi set us down in the outer courtyard in front of the huge silver gates that opened before we could knock," Annabeth informed the group.
"Blackjack wished me luck and then asked me if I didn't come back, could he have my cabin for his stable," informed Percy.
"What a good idea," said Zeus an evil grin on his face. "Poseidon's cabin could be turned into the stables."
"I would prefer my cabin NOT be turned into a stable," said Poseidon but there was a twinkle in his eye. He was really looking forward to meeting this Pegasus.
"Maybe all the empty cabins should be used as extra storage and overflow of campers," mused Zeus.
"That is a great idea," said Rachel. "Which cabins are empty at camp at the moment… oh yes, Zeus and Hera's."
"WHAT, NO. You are not turning MY CABIN into storage or …a…. dirty hay room," said Hera her eyes flashing in a dangerous way making Zeus clearly gulp in fear.
"Damn we needed more room for our awesome props for pranks, Clarisse's weapons and the contraptions from the Hephaestus campers," said Connor.
"Hang on why is my cabin empty?" asked Zeus.
"I'm a Hunter; I stay in Artemis's cabin with the other Hunters. Plus that statue of you in there is just plain creepy," said Thalia but whispered the last line so only the demi-gods heard.
"We walked into the throne room together and the twelve most powerful gods all looked at us, it made facing monsters feel like a picnic," said Percy.
"Are we really that scary?" asked Lady Demeter.
"Yeah… you are a dozen all powerful super-huge beings that could turn us into ash …. And it could be for saying the wrong thing," said Thalia. The rest of the demi-gods nodded in agreement.
"Also in the throne room was Bessie," said Percy.
"Oh so the satyr got him to Olympus," said Ares.
"How was he in the throne room?" asked Hermes.
"Bessie was happily swimming in a big magic bubble, while Grover was giving a report to Zeus," said Annabeth.
"Dad didn't seem to be listening, he was staring at me intently, it was really unnerving," said Thalia.
"Artemis came forward and informed us that the council knew of our deeds, that they knew that Mount Othrys was rising in the West, and of the gathering army of Kronos," said Percy.
"She had also informed them of Atlas bid for freedom," said Thalia.
"Which had FAILED, Thankfully" said Will.
"We were informed that the council had voted to act, but we could tell that some were not happy with the plan," said Percy.
"What was the plan?" asked Lady Athena.
"At Lord Zeus's command Apollo and Artemis would hunt down the most powerful monsters and bring them down before they could join the Titan's side. Lady Athena would personally check on the other Titan's prisons to make sure they hadn't escaped. Lord Poseidon had been given permission to unleash his full fury on the Princess Andromeda cruise ship and send it to the bottom of the sea," Annabeth informed the group.
"I don't see why I needed to get permission from Zeus," grumbled Poseidon.
"Because I am King," said Zeus.
"No you are a princess, in your little pink dress," said Hades and he and Poseidon burst into laughter as Zeus pouted.
"Maybe it was a good thing we vetoed Thalia and left off the fairy wings," said Nico, causing the jaws of most of those present to hit the floor.
"Father, Uncles… Your children are …" stuttered Apollo,
"Wonderful," said Percy.
"Superb," said Thalia
"Magnificent," said Nico.
"Awesome," said Percy, Thalia and Nico with huge smiles on their faces. The rest of the room just rolled their eyes.
"Can you describe the gods assembled for those of us who weren't there?" asked Rachel.
"Dad was in a dark pinstriped suit, to his left was Lady Hera her silver hair braided over one shoulder and wearing a dress that shimmered like peacock feathers," said Thalia glaring at Rachel.
"Dad was on Zeus's right and was wearing clothes similar to the first time I saw him," said Percy.
"He loves his Hawaiian shirts and sandals," said Demeter.
"THEY are comfortable, and if I am stuck in long boring meetings, I WANT TO BE COMFORTABLE," said Poseidon, his mood changing as quickly as the tide.
"To Lord Poseidon's left was Hephaestus Lord of the Forges. His leg in a steel brace and his brown beard flickering with fires, his clothes had small traces of oil, grease and soot on them," Annabeth informed the group ignoring Poseidon's outburst.
"So your cleaning schedule doesn't improve on removing those stains," said Aphrodite.
"Hermes was next, he was in a business suit and was checking messages on his caduceus cell phone," said Percy.
"I hate people who are always on their phone, never talking to the person in front of them. Happens so much at school," said Rachel.
"Don't you go to a finishing school? Haven't they taught you that it is bad manners?" asked Will who was glared at by Rachel.
"Apollo had his shades on and his iPod headphones on, so I wasn't sure if he was even listening but he gave me the thumbs-up," said Percy.
"WHAT HAVE I SAID ABOUT PAYING ATTENTION AT MEETINGS?" yelled Zeus.
"But they are SO BORING," whined Apollo, Hermes, Ares and Dionysus.
"Dionysus looked bored as he twirled a grapevine between his fingers," said Thalia.
"Ares was sitting in his chrome-and-leather throne, glaring at Percy while he sharpened a knife," said Annabeth. Ares was glared at by Poseidon.
"On the ladies side of the throne room sitting next to Hera was Lady Demeter her dark hair adorned with flowers, and wearing green robes. Next to her was Lady Athena in an elegant white dress, her startling grey eyes assessing the situation. I don't remember what Lady Aphrodite wore but she radiated beauty, but when she smiled at me I know I blushed in spite of everything," said Percy.
"Oh is that why you turned bright red?" said Thalia giving Percy a nudge.
"So did you learn anything?" Annabeth asked Rachel and the others who had not been there.
"That their outfits don't change much, and their meetings are still long and boring," said Chris.
"Where was I?" asked Hades.
"I didn't notice you," admitted Percy. The three demi-gods looked at each none of them had noticed the God of the Underworld at the meeting.
"WHY WASN'T I THERE?" shouted Lord Hades, and everyone shrank back in their seats terrified. "THE ONLY TIME I AM ALLOWED ON OLYMPUS, AND I'M NOT THERE."
"Maybe you had left, not wanting to praise the demi-gods," said Hestia clearly shaken but trying to keep the peace. "By the sounds of it, all the major decisions had been made." Hades huffed but sat back down, having jumped to his feet when he started yelling.
"That was when the council debated on whether or not to disintegrate us," said Thalia glaring at her dad.
"We," said Percy pointing at Thalia and himself, "were dangerous, but thankfully our fathers didn't want us blasted to bits."
"Lady Athena pointed out how ironic it was that Lord Hades was the only one who kept his word with the oath," said Thalia. Hades was glowering, why was his family thoughts about him so poor.
"Actually I have found that Lord Hades keeps his promises. I just haven't always agreed with his methods for doing so," said Percy. Shock was shown on the faces of most present, but Hades noticed the grateful look Nico gave the son of Poseidon.
"If you destroy heroes who do you a great favour, than you are no better than the Titans," said Chris.
"Lady Artemis declared that she would not have them punished and she would reward them," Annabeth informed the group.
"Zeus informed those present that Bessie needed to be destroyed but I pleaded with him to rethink that decision," said Percy.
"I agree how they can make decisions like that without me?" asked an angry Hades.
"We make decisions like that all the time at the summer solstice," said Ares. Zeus, Hephaestus, and Poseidon had to step in to stop Hades from harming Ares.
"The Ophiotaurus is very powerful, if the Titans were to steal it," said Poseidon.
"Controlling the prophecies never works," pointed out Thalia.
"The Ophiotaurus is innocent, and killing something like that is just as wrong as Kronos eating his children, because of something they might do," said Percy.
"He has a point," said Hades who was still glaring at Ares and Zeus.
"Lady Artemis asked that she make her reward. She informed that she intended to choose a new lieutenant and asked to speak to Zeus in private," said Annabeth.
"Oh who is she going to choose?" asked Travis.
"That is the mystery," answered Connor, as the pair ignored the looks and eye rolling from their peers.
"Percy seemed to panic and words stuttered out of his mouth. I thought he was going to be sick," said Annabeth.
"I thought YOU were going to join the Hunters, that I was going to loose you," said Percy. Aphrodite squealed while Thalia, Clarisse and Nico turned pale.
"Now I'm going to be sick," muttered Thalia with Nico nodding in agreement.
"Lady Artemis then proceeded to ask Thalia if she would join the Hunt," said Annabeth.
"And I of course accepted. I was a day off sixteen and I will never turn sixteen. Kronos would never tempt me again as the prophecy would not be about me," Thalia informed the group.
"So Percy is again the child of the Prophecy," said Athena looking at said demi-god.
"Thalia then surprised me by giving me a hug," said Percy.
"Thalia I thought you were not allowed to hug boys anymore?" asked a confused Katie.
"I was honouring a friend. I also felt that I had to explain why I had joined. I mean I was handing him the role of child of the Prophecy," answered Thalia.
"I was still dangerous. There was still two years till I turned sixteen, two years for Kronos to deceive me," said Percy.
"It is bad strategy to keep the animal alive," said Athena.
"I will not have a sea creature destroyed," said Poseidon glaring at Athena.
"Lord Poseidon made his trident appear and vouched for the safety of the Ophiotaurus," said Thalia.
"Lord Zeus stood suddenly declaring that Lord Poseidon wouldn't take the Ophiotaurus under the sea, as he didn't want that kind of bargaining chip in his possession, and made his lightning bolt appear in his hand," Annabeth informed the group.
"Paranoid," said Hades as he and Poseidon rolled their eyes.
"I AM NOT PARANOID," yelled Zeus.
"You did make your weapon appear in your hand," said Thalia.
"Poseidon decided to build an aquarium for Olympus and Lord Hephaestus would help," said Annabeth.
"Oh good the creature will be safe, all our powers will protect it," said Lady Hestia.
"Dad then vouched on his honour that I would not betray the gods," said Percy.
"That is A BIG promise," said Hestia looking at her brother and demi-god son.
"The honour was accepted with the majority of the gods agreeing not to kill me," said Percy.
"That is always good," said Nico.
"Since they were not going to destroy us, they decided to honour us and started the celebration," said Thalia.
"A Party," said Travis and Conner.
"What was that like?" asked Will.
"Imagine a huge, major blow-out party," said Percy "and then triple it."
"The Nine Muses cranked up the tunes, the music was whatever you wanted it to be," said Thalia.
"Cool, so we could listen to hip-hop and the parents can listen to their boring music," said Travis.
"Their boring music is okay at times," pointed out Rachel "The Beatles and Rolling Stones for example."
"At least there are no arguments or fights to change the radio station," said Apollo.
"Just requests to crank it up," replied Hermes and he and Apollo high fived.
"At the party when Dionysus was walking with his wife was the first time I had seen him look so happy," said Percy.
"Mr D HAPPY?" said Travis and Connor in shock. Dionysus glared around the room, really wishing he could have a drink.
"Gods kept coming up and congratulating me, thankfully they had reduced their size to human, least they trample the guests," said Percy.
"I hate when that happens," said Hermes his eyes twinkling with amusement.
"Hermes started to chat to me; he was so cheerful I hated to tell what happened to Luke. Before I could work up the courage he got a call on his caduceus and walked away," said Percy.
"Lucky, you don't want to be the one to tell someone the bad news," said Hades not noticing the look Percy and his son shared.
"Apollo told me I could drive the sun chariot any time…" Percy informed the group.
"NOooo, the world will be burned up by the sun," said Clarisse.
"You would be better to give him archery lessons," said Will to his father.
"Actually he did offer. Target practice from the chariot as we fly over the U.S.," Percy informed the group.
"I don't like the sound of that," said Zeus "If he is anything like his father…"
"Knowing Kelp Head and his archery, Apollo will probably end up with an arrow in his butt," said Thalia.
"What is with everyone aiming for arrows in my butt? What has my butt ever done to you?" asked Apollo.
"The next god who talked to me was Dad. He told me I had done well, and he hoped that I wouldn't let him down," said Percy. "I told him I wouldn't let him down."
"Demi-gods promise that all the time," said Zeus offhandedly.
"Dad told me Luke once promised Hermes the same, that he was Hermes pride and joy. Dad told me that I needed to bear in mind that even the bravest can fall," said Percy.
"Luke fell pretty far and hard," said Clarisse.
"That was when Dad told me that Luke was not dead," said Percy.
"How can he be alive?" exclaimed Ares, Apollo, Artemis and Dionysus, all turning towards Athena and the older gods.
"Luke was still alive as his boat was sailing away from San Francisco. I was informed that he would retreat and regroup before attempting an assault on us," Percy informed the group.
"He attacks CAMP?" exclaimed Athena but no one answered, the demi-gods all hated that their safe-haven had come under attack, and from one of their own.
"Dad told me that he would do his best to destroy the Princess Andromeda, however Luke had made alliances with older enemy spirits of the ocean and they were fighting to protect him," said Percy.
"Damn," whispered Poseidon.
"Why do you have so many enemies?" asked Zeus.
"You need to beware of Luke, he is more dangerous as he didn't die," said Athena.
"Yes and the golden coffin, was still with him, growing in strength," mumbled Thalia.
"What about Atlas, what is preventing him from escaping again?" asked Rachel.
"The curse of the sky can only be forced upon a Titan. Anyone else must CHOOSE to take the burden at their own free will," Lady Hestia informed the Oracle.
"No one from the enemy's side would be brave enough to do that," said Chris.
"Luke did it," said Thalia.
"Luke was …. An interesting case," said Annabeth.
"Bessie started mooing from across the courtyard. Some demi-gods were playing with his water sphere, tossing it around like a giant beach ball," Percy said. Most of the gods looked at the Stoll brothers.
"Don't look at us like that," said Connor.
"It wasn't us," said Travis.
"We weren't even there," Connor pointed out.
"Percy, can you make a water sphere like that, for our next fireworks night?" asked Nico.
"Oh yeah, so cool, a giant water filled beach ball," said Will.
"Half-way through the night you could POP the ball, soaking everyone," said Clarisse.
"Except you and probably Annabeth," said Thalia with a laugh.
"Dad left to take care of Bessie and I continued through the crowd until I found myself talking to Lady Athena," said Percy.
"Oh so I get to know what you two discussed," said Annabeth looking at her boyfriend.
"Lady Athena could tell I was a little resentful about what she had said in the council meeting. She informed me that wise counsel was not always popular but not to judge her too harshly. She spoke the truth, that I am dangerous," said Percy.
"Don't you take risks?" Will asked Lady Athena.
"I concede the point. Percy may perhaps be useful," replied Athena.
"Lady Athena told me that my fatal flaw may destroy myself and the world," said Percy.
"WHAT IS YOUR FLAW?" asked Hermes.
"My fatal flaw is personal loyalty. Kronos knew this as he had taken my mother, best friend and Annabeth," answered Percy.
"How is that a fatal flaw?" asked Aphrodite.
"He doesn't know when to cut his losses. He would sacrifice the world to save a friend. Very dangerous in a hero of the prophecy," said Thalia.
"The most dangerous flaws are those which are good in moderation. Evil is easy to fight. Lack of wisdom … that is very hard indeed," said Athena.
"Athena then informed me that she would be watching me. She didn't approve of my friendship with Annabeth. She also warned me if I should waver in my loyalties to her daughter well I got the impression that she would make a terrible enemy. She would make a plan to destroy me, and it would not fail," said Percy.
"Well at least she didn't give you too hard a time for dating her daughter," pointed out Apollo.
"But she didn't approve of our friendship and that took all my confidence from telling Annabeth what I wanted to," said Percy.
"You mean without that talk they may have admitted their feelings for each other SO much earlier," said Katie.
"We could have had peace so much earlier from the Aphrodite campers," said Clarisse rolling her eyes.
"But then we wouldn't have had a betting pool," said Connor.
"There was a betting pool?" asked Annabeth her eyes flashing dangerously.
"WHY DIDN'T ANYONE TELL ME?" asked Thalia.
"How did you get the grey streak in your hair?" asked Aphrodite.
"It is our souvenir from holding Atlas burden," admitted Annabeth wrapping the grey streak around her fingers.
"Is that how you got it? I was wondering about that," mumbled Nico.
"I asked Annabeth to dance as we had been interrupted at Westover hall and I owed her a dance," said Percy.
Thank you for reading: PLEASE please review.
I don't know when I will next update- I am moving at the end of the month and I really need to pack. Can't believe how much stuff I have got. Fanfiction has been a very good procrastination tool, for packing but now I really need to pack.