Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians or the Heroes of Olympus. I don't own anything written by Rick Riordan.
Author's Note: Hey guys! If you haven't figured it out yet, I do weekly updates - usually on the weekend. So here's your chapter! Oh, and this is another chapter where the POV switches around. As a special treat for getting me to 54 reviews with just 2 chapters, you're all getting Poseidon and Aphrodite's POVs as well as Ares and Percy's.
ptl4ever419: Unfortunately, I can't tell you... That would reveal half the plot. :)
Charlee56: Thanks for the compliment, but I do still need a beta for at least grammar and spelling mistakes. I've recently read the Sea's Recovery and, oh my goodness, there were sooo many mistakes. Anyways, I hope this chapter explains more of what was going on in Ares and Poseidon's minds as the whole trial was going on.
nynrahghost: The stripping of her powers is just for her banishment, yes. Percy's definitely going to become darker, but she's not going to become evil - I think. I agree with you that I prefer stories where the truth about Percy's innocence is revealed quickly. She shouldn't spend too many chapters in Tartarus since I don't really have any adventures planned for her time down there. It's likely that she'll only spend a couple of chapters down there with a lot of time skips. And don't worry, I don't intend to quit this story until I am completely satisfied that it's done.
Shuuwai: She's definitely going to be twisted a bit. You're right. One can't be banished and not change.
Guest: They didn't protest her innocence because they were in shock. And then by the time they might have started to protest her innocence, there was irrefutable evidence that Percy was guilty.
the Oracle of Akemi: No, eidolons can't possess gods. Well, some (super powered ones) might be able to... :)
Fairy Princess Yuugi: Please read my other story Fire to the Rain. I think you will understand Anthony better then.
Everyone: Thanks for reviewing and all the compliments! Now here's your chapter.
Chapter III: Coping
The moment the meeting ended, Ares flashed into his chambers and let himself collapse, because, Hades, he deserved a chance to let go and express his emotions! The girl he loved - who he thought loved him - had betrayed him like no other could. She had wormed her way into his heart and then stomped on it - shattered it - by killing his favorite demigod daughter.
And the worst part was he still loved her. He should hate her, but he loved her. Ares let out a strangled cry. She had looked so desperate - so innocent - kneeling there, begging for him to believe her. And he almost had.
But then came the irrefutable proof that she had murdered those six demigods. Chiron had witnessed the last few moments of her raging attack. The Styx wouldn't let her make the binding oath that would have proven her innocence.
But still, every particle of his body was screaming for him to believe her, to fight his father for the rescindment of her banishment.
Ares stood from where he had fallen onto his bed and flashed himself to his half-brother.
"Dionysus," he said, "give me your best stuff."
He would forget Persephone Jackson if it was the last thing he did.
Poseidon flashed himself to Atlantis, rage and sadness swirling through him. He stormed into his throne room which was empty at that time of day and plopped himself down on his throne to brood.
He couldn't believe his daughter had betrayed them all like that. He had trusted her. Loved her. And then she had shoved all that in his face.
Even when he had ignored her pleas for him to believe her, some part of him had clung to the hope that she was innocent. But then she hadn't been able to make the oath on the Styx...
Triton and Amphitrite burst into the throne room.
"What was the emergency meeting about?" asked his wife, coming to sit at his side.
"Percy... She-" Poseidon broke off, unable to articulate the betrayal that had shaken him the core.
"Percy? Is she alright?" asked Triton, concern for his half-sister apparent on his face.
Poseidon shook his head. "She's been thrown into Tartarus." His breathing was shallow.
"What?!" exclaimed the queen and prince in unison.
"She betrayed us," forced out the sea god, almost on the verge of hyperventilating as everything suddenly became that much more real.
"She couldn't have," stated Triton, convinced. "How could you even believe that?"
"You didn't see the proof, Triton," growled Poseidon, suddenly angry.
"What proof?" asked the sea prince.
"Tell us, Poseidon. What could ever convince you support your daughter being thrown into that infernal pit?" demanded Amphitrite.
"Zeus received an Iris Message earlier today. It showed Percy killing six demigods - one of them being Zeus's daughter, and another Ares's daughter," explained the Olympian.
"She must have been provoked!" exclaimed the queen, defending the woman who had quickly become like a daughter to her.
Poseidon shook his head. "She wasn't. In fact, she denied even killing them!"
"Then what makes you think she did?" asked Triton.
"The Styx didn't let her swear that she didn't!" burst out Poseidon, ocean roiling around him. "Even Chiron said he saw her do the deed, and he loves - loved - the girl like a daughter."
Amphitrite let out a muffled whimper and Triton stepped forward to comfort his mother. "How could she?" whispered the queen, tears silently trailing down her cheeks.
"I don't know," said Poseidon, shaking his head. "I just don't know."
Percy was not having fun falling into Tartarus a second time. Every single horrible memory of the pit was flashing through her mind as she shook with sobs. Additionally, the betrayal she had just faced at the hands of those she had considered her family pounded against her heart.
Poseidon had turned away from her, refusing to so much as look her in the eye. And Ares... Ares had hit her. He'd told her he no longer loved her.
Another sob wracked her body at the memory. And that was ignoring what the rest of the gods did. Not one member of her family had stood up for her - had believed her. Gods, except for Hestia, not a single god had requested a lightened punishment! They all knew what Tartarus had done to her. How it had broken her down until she was nothing but a shell - especially Ares. But not a single one of them lifted a finger in her defense. And...
Oh gods. Thalia, her sister in all but blood, was dead. And so were Clarisse, Lacy, Travis, Nyssa and Malcolm. All five were - had been - her friends in their own rights. She hadn't killed them, though, despite what everyone thought. She knew that much and derived consolation from that fact.
And her mother... Her mother would be hurt beyond belief that her daughter had seemingly forgotten her. But it would be better than the worry and anger that Sally would have felt if she had learned of Percy's sentencing. Once Percy got back, she would go to her moth-
Her mother would be dead when she got back, realized Percy with rising horror. She would never see those sparkling, loving blue eyes again. She never see the warm smile again or be able to bury her face in the silky brown hair when she was feeling down...
She would be left without anyone who truly loved her.
Percy's breath was coming in harsh rasps at this point. Gods, she needed to get herself under control. She allowed herself one last heartbroken sob before clamping down on her emotions. She wouldn't survive Tartarus if she allowed her feelings to get the better of her.
She would have to forget. She would have to forget her pain. Her love. Her loyalties. Her trust. Her betrayals.
Her everything.
In that moment, Percy swore to remake herself. There would be no mercy - no feelings of pity from her. And her loyalty would only belong to those who had proven they would die for her - Bob and Damasen.
Percy Jackson would no longer exist.
Instead, she would be known as Persephone Jackson to her enemies and Seph Jackson to those who proved their loyalty to her.
Aphrodite stepped into Ares's palace the morning after Percy's banishment to find the war god sprawled on the couch, stinking of alcohol.
"Ares!" she called sharply, prodding the man. "Wake up!"
The black-haired god groaned as he woke, eyes blinking open. "Who-"
"Sit up!" ordered Aphrodite, unsympathetic of his hangover.
He did as she ordered, moaning and clutching his head in pain.
"What the Hades do you think you were doing, getting yourself drunk like that?" exclaimed the love goddess.
"I'm trying to forget her," hissed Ares. "I wasted the last three years of my life with someone who never loved me."
It was on the tip of Aphrodite's tongue to tell him that Percy was still in love with him - even after betraying him - but she held the words in. At this point, it wouldn't help Ares - just make him more miserable and confused. After all, who would kill the daughter of the man she loved? Instead she said, "Even so, you should hardly spend the rest of your immortality drunk. You need to move on. Find someone else. Eris, maybe?" She hated to break up a pairing as perfect as Percy's and Ares's, but she had to do what would be best for her friend. Besides, Percy clearly wasn't the person she had been made out to be.
Ares was shaking his head. "Not yet. Maybe someday, but I can't move on yet. You are right, though. I can't drink away my memories of her."
Aphrodite smiled, satisfied that she'd averted a disaster in the making. "I'll see you later, then."
Ares nodded and escorted her to the front door. "I need to get to work figuring out how to make World War III end the way I want it to."
Aphrodite left and quickly headed back to her palace. She needed to get ready for her date with Hephaestus.
Ares downed some nectar to get rid of his hangover and then headed to his desk to work. He could use the distraction from his thoughts about Percy. Maybe later he could grab some of the war gods and goddesses to train with.
If he worked hard enough, he wouldn't have enough time to contemplate Percy's betrayal.
A voice at the back of his mind told him he wasn't acting healthily, but he suppressed it and sped up as he moved towards his desk.
By the time Seph caught sight of the River Cocytus beneath her, she had long since repressed her memories and emotions and begun devising the best path to Damasen's home. Both he and Bob would no doubt be there.
A/N: What did you guys think? There wasn't much action there, but I thought it would be important for you all to see everyone's reactions to Percy's supposed betrayal. And of course, I can't just leave Percy as her goofy ever-loyal self. Even she should have limits and she's reached them. So she's going to change a lot.
As a head's up, we discover a new power of Percy's next chapter! Also, do you guys think it's appropriate for Percy to lose her clothing? No one would see her naked or anything - it would just fill one of the holes that comes with her powers until I figure out a way around it. Review to let me know...
Also, the option for betaing for me is still open.