Note: I'm going to try something new and write without worrying if I genuinely like the idea. If it works, I should be adding more chapters to this fic during the next few weeks.

IIIII

"So..." Apollo trailed off, trying to think of something to break the silence which had fallen over everyone after Artemis's angry yell. "Anyone have a request? The fates obviously listened to Father if what we saw before was any hint."

"Please, Zeus is lucky he didn't lose his tongue." Demeter clicked her tongue.

"...Can they do that?" Hermes asked, eyebrows raised. It was the first he'd ever heard of such a thing. The fates were powerful. All the gods knew that. Few dared to cross them; those who did usually did so unknowingly... But still, losing a tongue? That didn't sound pleasant, no matter which way it was worded.

"Oh yes, let me tell you-"

"Enough!" Zeus coughed, staring at Demeter. The last thing he wanted was some of the past from his younger days to be brought up. He'd spent far too much time over the years covering it up from his children and the mortals for it to go to waste now. "I think Apollo's question is reasonable. I, for one, would like to see our future a millennium from now."

"Yes, because we'll still be in power," Artemis replied, slightly sarcastic. She was usually respectful to her father, but these last few years had opened her eyes to a few things. Chief among them, the gods weren't the strongest out there. It'd taken their children, demigods, to help win their war. She truly doubted without demigods like Jackson, they'd still be in power, let alone a thousand years from now.

"Of course we will," Zeus replied, his tone as if there was no other possible answer to Artemis's words.

"Brother, calm yourself," Hestia said, standing, drawing everyone's attention towards her. As well as the screen, which was now turning on, having gone unnoticed until now. "I feel we shouldn't miss this one."

Hearing this, Poseidon and Hades shared a glance between them, not liking the words. Hestia usually didn't speak much. When she did, it was usually important. Her feelings, however, were scarily accurate and always demanded attention.

"...Is it that time already?" Groaning softly, Percy raised his head, the movement rattling the shackles binding his arms to the wall as he peered through the long tangled strands of hair in front of his eyes towards the opening of his cell door. The soft footsteps that echoed from the other side in the otherwise silent room came to a pause at the door, the darkness hiding the figure of the being standing there, not that Percy needed light to tell who was standing behind it.

"Zeus, why is my son in Tartarus?" Poseidon demanded with more than a bit of anger, instantly recognizing his son's location. How could he not? The cell was identical, if not a downsized version of the prison their father was sealed away in, as were the other titans. The only visible difference was the chains binding his son's arms. The glowing etched markings were clearly magical in nature, yet in a language he couldn't understand.

"Peace, brother." Zeus frowned, a little concerned himself about Perseus's location. He doubted he would ever sentence the boy to Tartarus... Really he wasn't sure he could if he tried. The last potential future had shown him how capable the demigod could be if provoked. So whatever had forced Poseidon's son to be imprisoned was most likely also a threat to Olympus.

"Hello, Percy. Miss me?"

"Eris." Percy simply replied flatly, not even a ghost of a smile crossing his face at the sight of the goddess as she entered his cell. Nevertheless, he was happy to see her, if the dull, almost nonexistent emotion welling up inside him before being snuffed out could be called happiness. Ten years of being stuck in a rotting cell in Tartarus really did screw up a person's emotions... That and isolation.

"Oh, you've got to be kidding me." Apollo groaned, placing his head in his hands.

"Eris? Isn't that our fake daughter?" Hera frowned, glancing at Apollo. "If I remember correctly, it was one of your songs, Apollo, that confused the mortals about her birth. There have been multiple versions ever since."

"I know. I've apologized countless times." Apollo said, wincing slightly. It hadn't been his brightest moment. He knew that. But in his defense, Eris had thrashed him after trying to hit on her. So the idea to make the mortals believe she was the daughter of Zeus and Hera as revenge seemed alright at the time... As it was, it turned out to be a terrible idea that ended with Apollo on the bad side of his father for decades.

"I think you two are missing the bigger picture," Athena said, studying the screen's display. "Why does Eris know Percy? She may prefer to reside in Tartarus, but that doesn't explain how they got to know each other. Eris doesn't usually like demigods."

"Ha, shows what you know." Aphrodite jeered at Athena, flipping her hair behind her shoulder before summoning a mirror to touch up her makeup. "I happen to be good friends with Eris. Except for not having the bad boy look, Percy is exactly her type. He's heroic, brave, handsome, a downright vicious warrior when he needs to be, and not afraid to speak his mind. I'm surprised she hasn't met him in our current future yet."

"...I see," Athena replied, unsure if she should believe Aphrodite's words but considering them all the same.

"Oh, don't be like that, Percy. I promise this plan is way better than the last one. So... Ready to hear it?" Eris grinned wickedly, plopping down on the stone floor beside Percy, not at all like how a dignified goddess should act, even a minor one such as Eris. Not that she seemed to care. It'd been this way for the last ten years, and he doubted it would change anytime soon.

"TEN YEARS, ZEUS!" Poseion raged, standing from his throne and turning to the king of the gods.

Zeus, in turn, raised his hands, also standing from his throne. "I told you it wasn't me, Poseidon."

"Shoot. Anything's better than your last idea." Percy said, blowing out a bit of air in an attempt to move the hair out of his eyes. He wasn't sure what scheme Eris had in mind this week, but he was sure it would be better than before. The goddess had been visiting him for the last nine years and was probably the only reason he still had the majority of his sanity. Every week, she came up with a new idea for him to use to take revenge on the gods. Decent plans, too, not that he'd really liked them.

"...Styx," Zeus muttered, sitting back on his throne, now growing a little worried. He was sure that not a single god or goddess in the room missed Percy's mention of getting revenge on the gods and what that implied.

Last week, however, was terrible.

For some strange, inexplicable reason, Eris had come up with the plan of Percy seducing the goddesses and turning them against the gods of Olympus. Not the Olympian goddesses either, no, the minor goddesses. She'd wanted him to lure hundreds of goddesses and turn them into soldiers for him. It was absurd. Even now, Percy had trouble understanding how the goddess thought it was a good idea... Though, given her chaos alignment, maybe he was better off not trying.

"That would never work." Hermes scoffed, Apollo beside him tapping his throne in consideration.

"Quiet!" Demeter snapped, something surprising a few at the rather sudden action from the ordinarily quiet goddess. "Can we get through a portion of this future without interruptions, please?"

"Oh, please." Eris scoffed, rolling her eyes. "We both know it was an amazing plan. Can you imagine the outrage and betrayal all the gods would feel seeing their wives and lovers become your soldiers, going against them? Most of them already like you because of all your accomplishments and because you managed to best the gods in your last battle against them before being imprisoned here."

Feeling a spike of anger fill him as well as pain that he tried to ignore, Percy glared at Eris as she twisted facts around to suit her purpose. "I thought we agreed not to bring that up again."

"We did. I'm breaking the agreement," Eris replied, the wicked grin back in place on her face. "So tell me? What was it like to battle against all the Olympians? Your father? Fun? Did it get your blood rushing when you butchered Ares and almost caused the god to fade? Better yet? How was it watching your girlfriend die? Anna, something, right? I be-"

"Yeah, no way Jackson did that." Ares scoffed, ignoring the niggle of doubt he felt in his mind as he said it.

"More importantly, why is my daughter dead?" Athena asked no one in particular, lips pursed in a firm line. Annabeth was her favorite for a reason, and hearing about her daughter's death without context didn't sit right with her. There must have been a reason they weren't being told yet.

"Enough, Eris." Percy bit out, voice hard, as he looked directly into the goddess's eyes. They both knew he couldn't do anything to her, the runes etched into the material of his stygian iron chains preventing him from breaking out, let alone moving anything more than a step. Still, Eris did as asked, that same smile still on her face.

"Hecate?" Hermes raised an eyebrow. "Why would she do that? Father's the only one who should be able... Nevermind."

"I'm innocent." Zeus glared at his son, even as the sign painting him as the cause for Percy's predicament began to become thicker.

"Oh, fine~!" Eris said in a sing-song voice. "You should be angry enough now."

"For what?" Percy asked, wondering where the conversation was going now. Eris usually steered away from mentioning Annabeth, knowing how sensitive of a topic it was for him. For her to bring it up now and in the way she did was more than a little strange. "This better not be another attempt at a Hulk serum. That's a make-believe comic. Give it up, Eris."

"Nope, and no, I still haven't given up just yet on that one," Eris replied. "I'm serious this time, Percy. This idea can work. I know it can. But I need to know how far you'll go if I manage it. Are you still willing to kill the gods once free? I don't want any of that; live your life peacefully, done with battle nonsense."

"Zeus, what did you do?" Hades asked, his curiosity growing the more Percy and Eris talked. Whatever had happened between Percy and the gods must have been quite the affair for him to be imprisoned.

"Maybe he tried to seduce the Bethany girl? Wouldn't be the first time dear old dad went after a demigod." Dionysus tossed in his guess.

"Brother," Poseidon warned as soon as he heard his nephew's guess.

"Father, you didn't," Artemis said as she clenched her fist, trying to keep her composure. If there was ever one thing that would turn Percy against the gods, that was it. The last problem Olympus needed was a furious savior of Olympus who had countless minor gods in his debt because the king of the gods couldn't resist starting another affair.

"Never." Zeus denied firmly, being completely honest for once as Hera's eyes burned into the side of his skull from beside him. He knew he was lustful and spent more time in the mortal world, starting affairs left and right. Regardless, he had some limits. Percy's wife had never been a thought in his mind. Truthfully though, he'd never said it aloud. He treated Percy the same as his brothers in that regard, the line in his mind for their spouses something he wasn't going to cross.

"Please, have more faith in my daughter." Athena sighed, not getting as worked up as the others in the room. Though if anyone bothered paying closer attention, they would have seen the slight narrowing of her eyes, showing the only change in the goddess's mood at Dionysus's words.

Silent, Percy stared Eris in the eyes, his hands clenching into fists at the question, his mind flashing back to the day everything changed. That fateful battle with the gods... The day he lost Annabeth.

- Ten years ago -

"Is that the best you've got, nephew!" Zeus roared with a laugh, his bolt slinging Percy across the ground, crashing into a boulder. "I expected more from you."

"As did I, father," Athena replied, her voice cold as she stepped beside Zeus, Annabeth barely appearing conscious being dragged behind the goddess. "It seems even taking on half of us proved too much for Perseus."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever." Apollo floated down in his chariot and stood next to Percy. "So, Perce man, want me to heal you? Let bygones be bygones? I mean, what made you think you could take us?"

"My daughter, most likely." Athena frowned. "Her hubris exceeds all my children. An unexpected development I hadn't planned."

"Shut up." Percy ground out as he looked up at the gods, a spark of renewed anger growing inside him as he tried and failed to stand, his legs simply refusing to respond to his commands. A quick glance let him know they were crushed and shattered beyond any mortal care. Pieces of bone sticking out of the denim of his jeans and blood soaking the material until you couldn't recognize the original color. Still not giving up, Percy tried to push himself up with his arms, only to fall back against the boulder behind him.

"How dare you all," Poseidon growled, eyes storming as he glared at his fellow gods, all of them quiet as they kept their eyes on the screen. "How could any one of yo-"

"Brother, let's finish first." Hades stopped Poseidon and pointed at the screen before the other god spoke further.

"Son, give up," Poseidon warned, anger boiling in his eyes. "This is not a fight you can win. It was idiotic to even attempt so."

The fight draining out of him, Poseidon fell back into his throne, slumping into it, a little bit of horror building inside him as he began to get the picture of where the future was going. Why Percy was in Tartarus, and why his son wanted revenge on the gods.

"Glad we agree on something, Poseidon." Athena nodded, though her face didn't look too pleased at the fact. "Out of curiosity Jackson, what made you attack the gods? You swore to always be loyal to Olympus. What made you change?"

"...Did he really? Fascinating." Athena nodded, intrigued by the detail and making sure to remember it for later. As for her agreeing with Poseidon on something, that was another future. She wasn't going to bother counting that into the small number of times she'd actually gotten along with her uncle on something.

"You know why, goddess," Percy muttered, blood beginning to fill his mouth that he spat out before Athena's feet, his eyes going to Annabeth as Athena dropped his girlfriend on the rubble-covered ground before he masked his worried gaze. "You all know why."

"Oh, harsh Athena." Apollo winced as he scanned Annabeth's injuries through the screen and noticed the rather extensive list of broken bones. Whatever battle the girl had been in hadn't been an easy one. Something that was more than understandable if she'd faced Athena. Even against her siblings, let alone children, the goddess of wisdom rarely showed mercy.

"I don't." Hermes raised his hand, a smirk on his lips. "I was happily visiting my children before you came at me, sword swinging. I think that calls for an explanation, don't you?"

"Eh, Percy's right, actually." Aphrodite raised her hand, still sitting in a chair she'd brought with her before the battle started. "I know why. How do you not, Hermes?"

"I was being sarcastic," Hermes replied with an eye roll. "Of course, I know why. The world knows why after Percy challenged us and tried to kill us all. I'm sure the mist will have a field day trying to cover this battle with something plausible. The entire city of New York is destroyed."

"A faulty nuke." Ares huffed, throwing out an idea as he staggered into a seated position on the ground. Golden ichor bleeding from the hole in his chest, as well as his missing right arm and fingers from his left hand. "The damage scale fits. Plus, doesn't the kid already have a watch order the police filed from those quests all those years ago?"

"Ha, do I look butchered there!" Ares crowed, happy to be right for once. "I'm a little damaged, I'll admit. But I'm still in one piece!"

"That's debatable." Artemis rolled her eyes.

"You're telling me," Aphrodite said, her face scrunched up in disgust. Ares on the screen looked worse than Hephatsus, and that was saying something. If he looked like that now, she'd sooner stay with her husband than go off with Ares for one of their dates. Though now that Aphrodite was thinking about it. It may be time she gave her husband another chance. It would beat being humiliated by the forge god's inventions and broadcasted on Olympus for all to see... Plus, Percy had made it clear he wasn't interested. So changing her relationship for the next century or so might be the spice she needed to get over the demigod.

"That... That's not a bad idea." Zeus raised an eyebrow, looking a little surprised at Are's suggestion. "I'm sure it will be solved with minimal difficulty. Now, I know we've heard the reason. But let's give my dear nephew a chance in return for his service to Olympus."

"Father, is that wise?" Artemis frowned, bow drawn, having never let her guard down, even with Jackson in the condition he was in currently. "What is to stop him from breaking such an oath? I doubt the Styx would truly keep him to his word."

Briefly closing her eyes, Artemis groaned inside, hoping with all of her being she didn't appear that way in their current future. Surely she didn't act like that completely, right? Artemis could admit she wanted to please her father, even if she didn't like most of the tasks assigned to her. However, there was following orders and acting like a hound dog.

"That is a valid point," Zeus said. "Very well. Percy, I want to kill you. I should kill you. But I won't. You've given too much to Olympus despite this betrayal to die now. So I, Zeus, King of the gods, hereby declare Perseus Jackson is to be banished into the depths of Tartarus for all eternity."

"Still proclaim your innocence, brother?" Hades smirked, finding a bit of amusement in the annoyance flashing across Zeus's face. On the other hand, Poseidon was still silent, with a defeated air around him since his future counterpart's little reveal at the end of the short battle scene.

"No need to rub it in, Hades," Zeus replied grudgingly.

"Brother, is that not too harsh?" Hades asked, frowning. "Tartarus isn't like the underworld. The boy won't last a year down there."

"Nice vote of confidence for Perce, there uncle." Apollo laughed as the Hades on the screen spoke. "He beat your estimate by nine years."

"That is not me." Hades lips bent down for a second before he continued. "Nevertheless, it is an impressive feat. The boy always does seem to surprise, doesn't he?"

"That's up to the fates to decide," Zeus answered, not sounding too bothered by Hade's point. "Poseidon, what do you think? This is your son, after all."

"I believe you are going too lightly," Poseidon said, the answer one that in the past probably would have hurt Percy at his father's attitude. Yet, given everything he'd learned about the true face of the gods, not what they portrayed to the outside world. Instead of feeling hurt, Percy just glared at the man who dared to say he was his father. "The boy needs some form of punishment."

"No..." Poseidon said, staring at him on screen in disbelief at what he was hearing. There was no possible way that was a potential future. How could he ever be so cruel to his son? That was his only demigod child and his favorite. Percy had even managed to worm his way into Amphorite's heart. The goddess liked the boy more than her own son. So to think in any way that he could one day do this, encourage and enforce banishment and punishment on Percy, was unbelievable.

"Yeah, I take it back." Hermes leaned back on his throne, avoiding looking in Poseidon's direction as he spoke. "Athena went easy on her daughter."

"What do you have in mind, Poseidon?" Athena questioned, the interest evident in her tone.

"How much do you care for your daughter?" Poseidon asked the goddess with a question of his own.

"I see."

Feeling a sudden silence fall over the room, Hermes slowly summoned a pair of shades and slid them onto his face. "...I think I'm gonna be quiet for now."

"Enlighten us, why don't you, brother, daughter." Zeus sighed.

"Simple, father." Athena nodded, spinning her golden spear. Then to Percy's shock, she stabbed it into Annabeth's stomach. "We kill my daughter."

"This is why you need to have real children." Aphrodite sighed, turning her attention to Athena. "You'll be far more attached if you give up your brain birth nonsense. This is obvious proof you don't feel much affection if you could kill your favorite daughter without a blink of an eye."

"Any laying with anything that walks on two legs is your so-called better option?" Athena asked dryly, eyebrow raised at the love goddess. "I don't think so."

"One day, Athena. One day."

"Ouch, really, Athena. That's harsh even for you." Apollo commented as he made no move to heal Annabeth despite the words spoken.

Feeling a part of himself shatter, Percy, choked on some of the blood from his internal wounds and screamed. A primal yell from deep within him with more hatred and fury than Percy had ever felt before as he locked gaze with Annabeth. Strangely enough, the grey eyes of his girlfriend looked more peaceful and resigned than any anger that Percy felt as he watched the woman slowly bleed out from her mother's weapon.

"Ooh, that got a reaction." Aphrodite clapped excitedly as if watching a show. "Think we should do his mother next?"

"Ah, can I just point out that I like Sally?" Aphrodite raised her hand as she received glares from all the gods who regularly visited Percy. Meeting Sally was almost like a ritual to be accepted in the weekly Jackson household visits. Everyone loved the woman. She was a rare and kind soul that few could bear to hurt, and Aphrodite was one of those who would never even dream of harming Sally... Percy would probably skin her alive if she tried... Though clearly, the other her hadn't gotten that message.

"Cold Aphrodite." Artemis gave the other goddess a look. "You know her death is what started this whole thing. Is there really a need to bring it up again? Let's just imprison Jackson and get a move on. I have hunters to gather and trai-."

"Wow, sis, focused as ever." Apollo clicked his tongue, not truly surprised.

"Naturally." Artemis gave Apollo a look but otherwise ignored her twin, for now, her attention more on the mention of her hunters, the group surprisingly alive from what they'd heard the other her say, which didn't make sense unless Artemis had avoided taking them into battle. A definite possibility... Or Jackson showed mercy.

"Why?" Percy cut Artemis off though his words weren't addressed to her as he spoke, his voice a deathly whisper as he drew closer to drawing his last breath. "She was your own daughter, Athena. How could you kill her!?"

"And he raises a good point," Aphrodite said, smirking, knowing she was no doubt poking a sore spot for Athena. It didn't stop her from doing it, though. Quite the opposite. "How could you kill dear Annabeth, Athena?"

"...I'm sure I'll explain if we watch some more," Athena answered after a short pause, suppressing the flare of annoyance that begged to be released. Now wasn't the time, and she was far more interested in the potential future they were watching than a verbal spar with Aphrodite.

"I don't know what you two are talking about. It's not hard." Ares slammed his fist on his throne with a grin. "All your doing is weeding out the strong from the weak. In fact, I should probably bring some of those teachings back to my cabin now. I'm sure Clarisse would love the challenge it'd bring."

"That'd be a massacre," Apollo muttered off to the side to Hermes, getting a snicker from the god.

"It wasn't difficult. She stopped being my favorite the second she turned on me." Athena replied idly, pulling her spear from Annabeth's quickly cooling body as the rain began to fall from the sky. "A simple but effective battle strategy to hurt you more than our blades or punishments ever could... Don't you agree, Jackson?"

"I swear, no matter how far you run. No matter how long you try to hide. No matter the time or place. I will have my revenge on you all. I swear it on the Styx." Percy groaned out past his labored breathing, glaring at each and every god standing around him as he swore his oath.

"Great, now we're dead." Zeus sighed.

"Really, brother?" Hades raised an eyebrow.

"I still haven't forgotten the last few futures, Hades," said Zeus. He was still determining exactly why Pereus lost the battle against them in the current future they were seeing. However, as much as it hurt his pride, Zeus was more than sure it was a fluke. Jackson had exterminated the gods and killed them and the other pantheons in the different versions of the past. Someone like that didn't simply lose or go down fighting as easily as what they were watching. A far worse consequence would come down the road. He could feel it.

"I would say I'm afraid, but we did kind of just curb-stomp you, kid." Hermes clicked his tongue.

"...Yeah, the oath kind of loses effect after what we just did. Still, Percy, you're welcome to try." Apollo nodded at Hermes in agreement.

"Enough joking around," Hera said, walking up to the group. "Do whatever you're planning with the boy before he dies."

"There's our dear kind sister," Demeter said in a clearly sarcastic tone that was missed by no one, the goddess of the harvest still a little cross with the queen after one of her children was caught amid a spat between Zeus and Hera.

"I agree. Should he die, I don't want to deal with your complaints and requests to retrieve Jackson from the underworld." Hades said.

"I doubt I could." Hades shook his head at the words of his counterpart. He was sure the other him knew as well, which meant he was most likely placating his siblings.

"That would be a problem. I can't take back my sentence now, can I." Zeus replied, then waved his hand, opening a black pit-like portal that Percy knew, even without seeing the bottom that it led to Tartarus. How the king of the gods could even open such a portal, though, he didn't know... Not that it truly mattered in the long run.

Feeling Hermes and Apollo each grab his arm and begin dragging him to the portal, Percy didn't even try to resist. The fight all but drained from his body as they passed Annabeth's body, and he saw the dead open eyes of the woman next to him. At that moment, not looking at the gods, surroundings, or even the portal. Percy kept his eyes on his dead girlfriend as he got tossed into the air, swearing this time silently in his mind. He would do as he'd promised whether the gods thought it was a joke or not.

"So, who here thinks we're gonna end up being exterminated? Anyone, or is it just me?" Apollo raised his hand while looking at the others. He didn't need to check to see if Percy was telling the truth. Apollo could feel the determination coming off the boy. Percy would do as he swore he would. There was no doubt in the sun god's mind about it.

"Ooh, I agree too." Aphrodite raised her hand, playing along. The other Aphrodite threatened Percy's mother. A miracle would have to happen for Jackson not to kill her.

"Same," Artemis said.

"I think that's clear to us all." Hestia sighed, the goddess silent until now as she watched everything play out from the hearth.

"Bye, Percy!" Aphrodite cheered, the last thing Percy heard before the portal closed above him, and he fell down below to the depths of hell.

"If I don't die for that remark, I'll be amazed," Aphrodite replied helplessly.

- Present day -

Anger boiling beneath his skin, Percy let his thoughts of the past scatter as he refocused on Eris and answered her question. "Would I have lasted this long otherwise, Eris? I swore an oath, one I have no plans on breaking."

"Ah, but it could be broken. You and I both know that." Eris gave a nod of her head in agreement. "I'm happy to see your anger hasn't waned, though. This plan is on the more... How should I say this... Disgusting side.

"...What?" Hermes said with a start, breaking his period of silence. "Anyone got any ideas about what she could mean by that?"

"None." Apollo shrugged.

"...Perhaps he needs to sacrifice a part of himself?" Athena spoke, thinking her thoughts aloud. "It is possible, and Eris would certainly know some of the darker rituals created."

"Percy would never do that... I know my son." Poseidon said, raising his head to glare at Athena. "Those abominations created by your followers aren't something he would touch."

"Those knowledge-seeking fools weren't my followers." Athena hissed, revulsion boiling inside her at the thought. "They were madmen seeking excuses to pillage and butcher cities."

"All in your name." Poseidon shot back instantly, the scorn in his voice audible.

"Enough, you two!" Zeus yelled, slamming his hand down on his throne, ending Poseidon and Athena's little spat.

"Disgusting? How so?" Percy raised an eyebrow. That wasn't a word he'd thought he'd ever hear come out of Eris's mouth. The goddess loved chaos and everything that caused ruin, part of why she'd approached him all those years ago. So to hear her say her plan was bad enough to earn the disgusting label? It had to be some plan or another possibility... She didn't come up with it.

"You'll understand as soon as I explain." Eris laughed. "To put it in more simple terms for you to understand. This plan will be the creation of a new realm. One that is like one of those video games that has caused such a sensation in the last few decades. Naturally, the realm can't be empty. So we'll bring the souls of all mortals, demigods, and creatures from myth and legend on the surface into this realm."

"That sounds cool," Apollo smirked, quite liking the sound of such an idea. He loved role-playing games, and playing multiplayer with his children was always fun. But actually, experiencing one? That'd be a blast.

"I'll create the thief classes," Hermes whispered quietly to Apollo as if reading the other's mind. After giving Hermes a thumbs up, Apollo turned his eyes to Artemis and quickly began thinking up some challenges he could bet with her to later get her to create the ranger class. Once she was in, the others would be a cinch for him to get to agree.

"...Is that even possible?" Percy questioned, now a little unsure if Eris was joking with him or not. "This isn't one of your plans where we have to figure out how to accomplish such a thing, is it?"

"Nope! It's all possible and ready to go. All you need to do is give the green light, and we can get started... Anyway, moving on. The only hiccup about the entire idea is what we'll have to use to power such a complicated creation." Eris said, then hesitated for only a split second before continuing. "Every mortal soul in Tartarus, as well as all the wandering souls still unassigned in the underworld, will have to be absorbed into this realm's creation... So, as Tartarus put it. We'll use the dead to then use the living."

"SHE DARES!" Hades yelled, the shadows around him darkening as the god's fury grew. Someone interfering with the soul, especially in his realm, one of Hades biggest reverse scales.

"That's messed up." Aphrodite wrinkled her nose. "Think Percy will agree?"

"He will." Athena nodded, no doubt in her mind that Jackson would agree with Eris's proposal. Not a thought she would've had before they started watching these potential futures, but after the last few... She was beginning to rethink exactly how much she knew about her daughter's husband.

"Use the living how?" Percy kept up with the questions, not immediately shutting down the idea. He now could see why Eris said her plan could be seen as disgusting. Souls weren't something to take lightly. Given how small he'd believed the world to be, he hadn't known in the past. However, now, years after camp and learning about other pantheons, meeting other gods and demigods among the many different creatures in the world. Percy knew touching the soul, especially a mortal's soul, would have the world in a fury, and he'd be hunted for the rest of his life by anyone and everyone when it was discovered.

"Ah, that is where the fun part begins. The gods are too powerful for even Tartarus to drag into a newly created realm. It needs food, as any new creation does. The souls used initially can only do so much, so the ones on the surface are the next part in the plan." Eris calmly explained. "When they are brought to this new realm, and eventually die in its challenges. Their souls will be absorbed automatically into the realm, increasing their strength. Given time and enough souls. The realm will be capable of holding the gods themselves."

"That wouldn't really work, right?" Artemis asked, feeling a little unsure of herself with how confident the chaos goddess sounded. Yet, the idea of a plan like that actually being possible... It was ridiculous.

Frowning, Athena replied to Artemis's question. "It could be possible. I will admit such a thing is outside of my range of knowledge."

"...So millions will be sacrificed to strengthen this other world... Only to imprison the gods?"

"No, no, no." Eris denied. "Better, much better. I wasn't making a joke about this being a game realm. In that world, leveling up, growing in power, and gaining skills. All of it aims to increase the strength of the user's soul. When they die, the goal is that the increase in power will make one soul worth ten."

"Nonsense." Hades snorted, the glow in his eyes showing the god still hadn't come out of his unpleasant mood from the discovery of Eris's plan to steal the souls in the underworld.

Standing up, Eris continued talking as she began pacing around the cell before Percy. "Not only that, your role in all of this will be the saboteur. When you think someone is growing too strong or has matured enough. You finish them off however you like. After some time, should everything proceed smoothly, the gods should be brought to the realm in no time at all for you to battle... Of course, we wouldn't want a repeat of the battle ten years ago. So bringing them over one by one will be best."

"I see... It is an interesting idea..." Percy paused as Eris came to a standstill, allowing him to look her straight in the eyes. "But tell me, what's in it for you? What's in it for Tartarus? He and I aren't on the best terms, so I doubt he's doing this out of the goodness of his heart."

"That'd be the day," Zeus muttered under his breath.

"Ha, easy, Tartarus is gaining those souls," Eris answered, her grin returning. "His realm feeds back into him, a pro of it being his creation, you see. Plus, without the gods and demigods to oppose him by the end. Who's to stand in his way of conquering Earth later when he wishes? Why wouldn't Tartarus take such a deal?"

Taking a minute to think it over, Percy didn't have to think much longer than that to see it from Tarterus's point of view. Yet it still didn't explain Eris herself, so he asked his next question. "And you?"

Curious about Eris's answer, Athena subconsciously moved forward in her throne as if it'd help her hear better. A few of the other gods doing similar actions, all curious about Eris's reasons.

"Are you kidding!?" Eris laughed, her eyes alight with a glint that Percy had never seen in the woman's eyes before. "Percy, the chance to stir something this crazy up is once in a goddess's lifetime. I'm not about to go and lose this opportunity. The destruction and chaos that will be brought because of this plan will be glorious. Nothing in history will be able to compare by the time it's over."

"Okay, not as good as I hoped, but okay." Apollo nodded.

"At least she's still acting exactly as we know her to be." Hera agreed. "Better than how we acted to Percy earlier. I don't know how such a future came about."

"Because of a little choice, no doubt," Hestia said quietly. "Those always bring the largest changes."

Watching Eris, Percy, for a brief moment, felt something fall over him as if his next choice would change everything, and perhaps he shouldn't but instead tell Eris no again. It would probably be better, right? Such a plan had no way of working anyhow, so why try? However, as soon as that thought came, Percy threw his head back against the wall of his cell and felt the feeling vanish from his mind.

"Fates again?" Eris asked, noticing his actions.

"Of course, they love meddling." Percy hissed as the pain slowly receded, his mind clear and wholly his own once more. "Their mistake, I'd say it's a sign this plan might work... Eris, I'm in. Let's do it."

"Hold up, the Fates can do that?" Hermes paled, losing a shade of color as he turned to look at the others. "They're both kidding, right?"

"I hope so... They believe it's the truth, though," Apollo answered, looking just as pale as Hermes.

"Let's not question it," Zeus said, looking completely calm and not nearly as outraged as his siblings would have thought he would at the possibly mind-twisting ability of the Fates they'd just learned of.

"How can you be s-" Hera started, only for Zeus to raise his hand.

"Do you really think such an ability is that much of a surprise? Look at what they've done for us here?" Zeus said, throwing the question at them all. "Would any of you have believed we'd be able to witness possible futures? I never did."

"An excellent point, Father." Athena agreed though that didn't stop her from searching her memory for a book to protect the mind.

"Wonderful! Now all we have to do is transfer our consciousness into the realm when Tarterus creates it. A slight challenge with those rune-engraved shackles of yours, but I'm positive we can do it."

"...What?"

[Do you choose this future?]

"No," Poseidon said immediately, no one arguing differently as the screen faded to black.

"Yeah, so..." Apollo began, already putting up his hands in surrender as he spoke. "I don't mean to disagree with you there, uncle. But was anyone else curious as to where that future was going? I think seeing a game world would have been awesome. Eris, crazy as she is, has some good ideas."

"Insane is more like it." Artemis scoffed, giving her brother an incredulous look.

"Hey, what do you think she used to make a deal with Tartarus?" Aphrodite asked randomly, surprising Athena as she was just thinking the same thing. Not that the wisdom goddess would ever admit to that aloud now that Aphrodite had spoken first.

"Who knows," Ares replied in a bored tone.

"Oh fine, your no fun." Aphrodite rolled her eyes and then began picking at her nails while speaking. "By the way, since none of you want to see Percy with one of my daughters. I'm asking the Fates if the next one will be with one of your daughters."

"What?" Hermes frowned.

"I don't have any, Aphrodite," Hades said, frowning. "Who are you talking about? Whose daughter?"

"Oh, who knows." Aphrodite smiled. "The Fates know... Here's a hint, though. I never said the daughter had to be a demigod~!"

Relaxing on her own throne, Artemis, not for the first time, was grateful she'd never had a child of her own. Able to relax and enjoy the discomfort Aphrodite was causing the other gods and goddesses as they tried to figure out who the love goddess was trying to get the Fates to show them with Percy. It was amusing, especially as she knew it couldn't be her.

"Well, whatever." Apollo sighed, giving up on guessing for now. "I just hope whoever you're requesting is interesting. I'd rather not watch Percy kill us or plan to kill us for yet another potential future."

"Agreed," Poseidon said, throwing his vote on the matter.

Watching this all play out, Zeus couldn't help but wonder whether Artemis and Athena realized exactly what Aphrodite was doing. Oh, he knew she made it seem like it was someone's daughter, and it was. But it was clear to Zeus that the goddess of love's targets hadn't changed, and she still wanted to see a future where Percy was with Artemis or Athena. He wasn't sure, however, when the both of them would remember they were also his daughters and included in Aphrodite's count.

IIIII

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