(A/N This is it. This is all I have written and I have no idea where to take it from here. There are so many possibilities, but I've got no plot! If you have ideas feel free to share them. If you wanna run with it yourself, knock yourself out. I have no plot and no future for this piece.
Enjoy what there is!)
10 years after ToA
It was unsurprising to find that Akhlys held a grudge.
How she escaped Tartarus and learned of Percy's sister was a bit more mysterious.
The moment Sally Jackson informed Camp Half-Blood that Estelle was missing Percy became a single minded war machine.
Chaos herself would not wish to stand in his path.
.
Percy
"Percy?" Estelle whimpered. "She said you'd save me."
"Damn right, I'm saving you." He tried to be lighthearted and make her smile, but the fear on her face was unmoving.
"She said you'd die if you saved me."
"Estelle, I'd die a thousand times if it meant seeing you smile once more. So put on a brave smile for me and let's get out of here."
She tried to do as bid, summon her usual bubbly demeanor, but it didn't reach her eyes. Draping the Nemean lion pelt hoodie-he'd earned it for the second time two years ago-over her, he pulled her up to give her a piggyback back ride out of this nightmare. She held on tight, leaving his arms free to fend off the random monster or two that had escaped his wrath as he entered this cavernous space. She was light, but the poison was already weighing on him.
Reaching daylight he created a small faded rainbow and tossed in a coin.
"Iris, please. Sally Jackson," he mumbled. It took too much effort to stand upright, let alone control the water and speak coherently.
"Oh my-Percy! Estelle!" His mom began weeping, seeing her two children alive.
"Camp Half-Blood. Meet us." She nodded and the vision ended. Percy adjusted Estelle on his back and started walking again, though trudging and stumbling was more accurate. If he could make it out of this bog he could call Blackjack. He just needed to make it that far.
Estelle hadn't spoken, and he wasn't sure if that was good or bad. It was definitely unusual, but he couldn't have entertained conversation with her anyway.
He felt his every cut and scrape oozing blood, refusing to clot. He felt the weariness seeping into his bones. Worst of all, he felt the coldness pooling in his chest. The warmth of his sister on his back was all that kept him going.
But he could only go so long. His body was giving out on him. He could feel the poison settling in. He didn't know what exactly the toxin was or how it would take his life, but he knew he had been infected the moment he called to the water in the area. In a week's time there would be no life within three miles of the cave Estelle had been kept in. It wouldn't matter though, as long as his sister was safe.
He fell to one knee after decapitating another hellhound. Trying to stand back up he faltered and landed on all fours. Estelle slipped off his back and came to kneel in front of him.
"Percy?" Her voice, barely a whisper, was full of fear. Percy tried to hold her gaze, but the world was becoming fuzzy. He could make out the tears in her eyes, but the color was blurred.
He couldn't die now. She needed to be safe. It was his fault she was captured. She was just a mortal, but the sister of a demigod. Groaning he tried to rise again. Even with her slim frame attempting to support him he fell forward.
His mind was working in overdrive. He could accept that he would not make it through this, but Estelle needed to. As he was prone on the ground, panting and bleeding, he tried to figure out what to do.
Estelle wedged herself between his face and the ground, wrapping her arms around his neck. As she hugged him, he felt his pendants press against him. The gift from his father, that he had not removed since receiving, and the moonlace from Artemis.
Rolling to his side, he reached under his shirt and pulled out his moonlace. He couldn't think straight to ask for something specific, but he hoped she would answer him nonetheless.
.
Artemis
Artemis was thrilled to be present. She was fighting alongside her hunters, as they tracked the fox. She'd spent too long away from them and now relished every moment in their presence. They were positively amazing as they swept through the trees. She knew what each one of the girls was capable of, but being with them as they tracked was exhilarating. Even if they were fighting destiny itself.
Of course, that was until she became distracted. She immediately knew what the cause for the disruption was, Percy had activated her token. She didn't know what his request was, just the desperation behind it. The fear was palpable, even from afar.
"Phoebe," her third in command acknowledged her call, "the Hunt is yours. I will be back with Thalia as soon as I can."
"Stay safe, my Lady," was her reply.
Artemis gave Thalia no warning as the two appeared at Percy's location.
.
"No, no, no, no, no!" Artemis fell to her knees beside the demigod and held his sobbing sister. Thalia made a quick perimeter and then joined the three.
"Oh gods! Percy!" she choked out.
"Estelle...camp…" he uncurled his fingers and she saw the token she'd given him.
"The boon was for you. Live and use it." She curled his fingers around it again, pulling the four of them to Camp Half Blood. She couldn't heal him herself, his wish wasn't healing and she wasn't sure it was within her abilities anyway. He reeked of death.
It was chaos when they appeared, but for a moment everything stopped as the campers took in their arrival.
"Healers!" she hollered. She didn't know what was wrong with him, but hoped her nieces and nephews could handle the ailment.
They quickly took him away, shouting for ambrosia and checking his obvious injuries. Thalia sprinted off to find Chiron. Estelle was silently crying on the ground where they'd appeared.
"Come here, child," Artemis soothed, as she picked up the girl. In appearance they seemed similar ages, Artemis in her 12 year old ensemble and Estelle only 10. She morphed to an older state to better hold the girl in her arms, to better comfort her.
"I told him…" she hiccupped a breath and shuddered.
"Do you know who I am?"
"You're Artemis, right?"
"Yes dear, we met once before. And my brother and one of my nephews are the greatest healers known. They will help." Estelle burrowed into her. "Right, Apollo?" she asked sharply.
She didn't see or hear a response, but she knew he heard her. He always did.
"Lady Artemis, how did you know?" Thalia asked as she sat on the other side of the bench.
"He has yet to use the boon I offered him before. He tried to use it now."
"Tried?"
"He asked for her to be brought to safety, that is not supposed to be the purpose of the boon."
.
Thalia
Thalia felt the scowl on her face. She understood why Artemis was determined for Percy to receive something himself, but to her knowledge this was the second time she'd freely given something in place of the favor she offered. First, she blessed Annabeth's childbirth now she brought Estelle to camp. Granted, both those actions could fall under her domain anyway. And that wasn't mentioning the kiss.
She shook her head, dispelling the thoughts. She didn't really want to focus on Percy right now. She needed him to live. She knew she'd watch those she cared about die, but it was too soon. She still mourned Jason when not properly distracted.
First, she tried looking around the camp. Too many campers running around frantically. Then, she looked at Estelle, intending to talk to her. She just reminded Thalia of Percy.
She let her mind drift and saw Artemis's ring. It was oddly crafted, solid ruby, and never left the goddess's finger. Right now, it seemed to be changing color, glowing almost. She watched as the glow got really bright, then dispersed, leaving the ruby ring a dull black and gray. What was once a beautiful gem was now ash that clung to a finger out of pure stubbornness.
Thalia rubbed her eyes and blinked hard, thinking she was imagining things, but the ashen ring stayed.
.
Percy
The light was harsh in Percy's eyes. Everything was white and blurry, he couldn't make out a single thing in his surroundings. Even the floor seemed to be a blurred white.
"Percy," he startled and turned to see his father smiling sadly at him.
"Dad! What's…" Slowly he recalled the day's events. "Where's Estelle?!" he asked with horror.
The white blurred further before color was introduced. He saw Estelle on Artemis's lap at Camp Half Blood. Breathing a sigh of relief he faced Poseidon again, only to see Hades at his side.
"Lord Hades," he greeted somewhat confused. The god grimaced and reality dawned on him. "I'm dead."
"Yes. It would appear so," came a most unwelcome voice behind him.
"Zeus," he greeted.
"Oh, I see. It's 'Lord Hades' for my brother but only 'Zeus' for me."
Percy just stewed trying to figure out what was happening. He'd been to the Underworld and this was not how heroes were usually judged.
"I believe we owe you an explanation, Perseus," began Hades. Percy lifted an eyebrow in response. "You have died, by your own path I might add, and we have gifted you a choice. We, the three of us, decided on offering you this option eight years ago. It has been a long time coming."
Percy fingered his medallion and looked at his dad.
"That was forged by Hades for this purpose. It brought you to us instead of the Underworld upon your death." Percy nodded his understanding. "Our offer is one you have refused in the past. But you would not be giving up your mortality this time should you accept."
"You wish to make me a god?"
"Of loyalty. Pursuing keeping all of us accountable," elaborated Zeus.
"You would act greatly as a conduit between gods and heroes," added Poseidon.
"I… Can I consider this? I mean, it'd be hard knowing all my friends are still mortal. Knowing I'll watch them die."
"Especially when your fatal flaw is loyalty," spoke Hades. Percy cringed at the reminder of his time in Tartarus, falling with Annabeth. "Perseus. You would not be giving up mortality if you accept this position, but you would be giving up something great and considerable alongside your apprehension of watching those you love age."
"The afterlife?"
"This has been your third life Percy," Poseidon said softly.
"If you decline now, the Isle of the Blest awaits you," Hades confirmed.
It felt like all the air had been squeezed from Percy's lungs. The Isle of the Blest was the most pure paradise that could be imagined. He was dead and bliss was within his reach...but so was godhood. He'd refused before on the basis he still had a life to live. That argument was no longer valid. He could refuse now and enter an absolutely peaceful state.
He glanced at the image of his sister again. His mom had made it to the camp and was taking Estelle from Artemis now. They were both mortal. They'd eventually pass away no matter what he did to stop it. But he saw the half bloods buzzing around them at the camp. They'd pass too, but he'd spent the past decade doing his best to make sure they were prepared to live as long as possible.
He trained them.
He spoke to them
He reassured them.
He helped them find a home.
Turning back to the three most powerful gods in the Greek pantheon he made his decision.
"I have some requests."
"We are making you a god," said Zeus, "what more could you possibly ask?"
"I will be stationed at Camp Half Blood-and Jupiter when needed. You said my domain is loyalty, I like that. I'll be a pain in your rear end and make sure you stay loyal to your promises. But I am going to train and defend the kids too. I'll work alongside Chiron for the most part, but I won't be confined to the camp."
"Agreed," the three spoke as one.
Percy felt as if he was set aflame and the white world went dark.
.
Thalia
She stayed focused on the ring. She needed something to think about in order to drown out the sobs from the Jacksons. Her own sobs too, if she was being honest.
She was better than this! She should not be a snotty mess over some puck cousin. No matter if they'd been through hell together. And he'd taken care of Annabeth when she couldn't. And he could be so dam funny.
She scowled at the ring as it changed again.
Could grief cause hallucinations?
Was her mistress's ring a normal thing to hallucinate about?
It was glowing now. The gray and black ash pulsed red again, but glowed with such force it was consumed by an orange haze. The cracks and crevices that had been created when it'd tried to dissolve were now filled with a bright pure gold that made her think of the ichor of the gods.
Sally stood to pace again before rubbing Estelle's back.
Thalia vowed vengeance upon whoever was responsible for this attack.
Poison was a low move, instead of fighting directly. And she would have sought out any who harmed her cousin like this regardless. But kidnapping Estelle to lure Jackson out? That was unforgivable.
.
Percy
He could see...everything.
It was almost painful the amount of information he was taking in all at once. It was like his battlefield ADHD multiplied by the size of the sun.
There was a kid dripping ice-cream on the sidewalk in front of the Empire State building and a dog, that was decidedly not a dog, barking at a hole in Punxsutawney. An elderly couple was teaching a jitterbug class in San Francisco, while a child sobbed in an immortal's arms.
Wait.
He closed his eyes and could still see it all. So he concentrated a little harder.
The child and immortal were in Camp Half-Blood.
It was Estelle.
He focused all his energy on her and willed his form to appear as she would know him. No godly glow or perfect build. Estelle needed him as just Percy.
It took him a moment to realize it'd worked.
He just teleported! Yeah!
Looking around he saw everyone running and panicking and yelling out medical terms and asking for supplies.
Strange, he didn't see a lot of wounded.
A few of the Apollo kids stopped and stared at him, doing double takes between him and a med tent.
He ignored them and went to his sister.
His mom had arrived by then. She didn't take Estelle from Artemis. Yes, Artemis was the immortal. That seemed...right. Sally simply switched between hovering and putting a hand on Estelle and sobbing on the bench with Thalia.
Thalia was stunning.
He could see the power rolling off her. He knew before that she was powerful, yes, but to see it was another beast entirely. Sure, beside her was Artemis, an immortal goddess, but the demigods were different. Looking around he took that in. What they looked like through this new lens.
"Percy!" His mother caught him off guard as she threw her arms around his neck and wept on his shoulder for a moment. Or maybe a minute? Time seemed different too. She pulled back and put his face between her warm palms, moving his head this way and that. "You scared me half to death! You looked half to death when you- Well, that doesn't matter now. You're safe. Oh my heart can't take this much more." She smiled brightly for a moment and then looked at him again with a touch of confusion, running her knuckles over his cheek. "You look...healthy. I didn't think they could- I mean you're not...hurt?"
That's when it really hit him.
Sure, he'd accepted he was going to die. And he'd had a 'you're dead, but that seems like a waste of your resume' interview with his dad and uncles. But…
He expanded his awareness, just a hair's breadth, and realized his dead body was in the medical tent everyone had been pouring in and out of.
They weren't now. The camp was still and all eyes were on him.
He tried to look over at his sister, but his gaze locked on Artemis as she tilted her head and regarded him.
.
Artemis
"What shall you be called?" Artemis asked hesitantly, as she rose and placed Estelle on the bench behind her. His eyes lit up and the smell of sea water hung brittle in the air.
"I am Perseus, Greek god of loyalty, Prince of the sea, and avenger of broken oaths. The earth shakes before me and death awaits any who dare make a foe of one under my protection." His voice was tainted in darker tones than usual.
After the declaration his eyes dimmed and he shook his head. "Man, that was weird," he spoke in a normal voice once more and offered his mom and sister a lopsided smile.
Artemis was stunned. She feared little, but Percy Jackson was a demigod that even the gods did not wish to cross. Now, he was everything he had been and more. All of his experiences, all of his power, and all of his conviction and determination was amplified into the being of a god. Not to mention his new domain was a worryingly wide one. She knew him to be kindhearted, if sometimes sarcastic, so this power was well awarded. She only feared what time would do to his elegant soul. Time and the loss of those two he reassured now.
(A/N If anyone does decide to continue this on your own let me know, I'd love to see your take on where this should go!)