Hey, ya'll! Sorry stuff has been slow, it's gonna be like that for a bit, unfortunately. Anyhow just wanted to say 2 things, the first being that, starting soon, I'll be crossposting onto AO3 in case any of ya'll prefer that! However, FFnet is still my main platform for now and the foreseeable future. Secondly, I've just reached 250 followers on my two stories combined, thanks a lot for that! It may not be a lot, but it's more than I thought I'd get for my shitty writing abilities. So thanks, I'll stop wasting your time, and enjoy my nonsense.
The Atlantean trident zipped towards Percy's throat before he batted it away with his gauntleted arm.
"Don't throw your damned weapon unless you know it's going to hit! You're just disarming yourself!"
Triton only replied by summoning his weapon back to his hand.
Oh, he's trying to be smart with me? Like hades.
Percy played the fight defensively for a while until there was enough distance to where Triton decided to hurl his trident again. Percy batted it away, but this time he was in Triton's face in an instant, grabbing him by the face, lifting him off the floor of the arena, and smacking him right back down into it. He loved sparring with Gods, you could go all out without having to worry about killing them.
"Remember brother, you're a god, and you have abilities because of it. But anything you're fighting will have abilities of it's own. Don't give anyone an opportunity, no matter how small you think it may be."
Percy pulled his younger brother off the floor, before waving his arm and flooding the arena once more.
Triton glared at him, with little heat behind it.
"You know, for not even being a full god, you hit like a damned hellhound"
"Practice, brother. Decades, and Centuries of Practice. I've been fighting for longer than anyone alive today, spare for the elder Olympians themselves, and even they don't spend as long as I do in actual fights. Although they could still crush me with a look, which I don't doubt."
Triton Simply clicked his tongue, before shaking his head vigorously, and dissipating his trident.
"Done for today then? Fair enough. Tell Dad and Amphitrite that I'll be back by for dinner"
"Off to maul mortals again?"
"Hey, I need something to give me a challenge."
"Asshole."
"Love you too brother." Percy grinned as he vapour traveled up to a quickly darkening surface world. He knew that Artemis was on her monthly vacation that night, meaning the moon wouldn't be in the sky. This meant two things. One was that bandits would be rife on the various roads. Which also meant he'd have plenty of entertainment. He found himself rather aimlessly wandering, vapour travelling himself to secluded roads and villages almost at random. Every time he found bandits attempting to rob merchants, he sent them to Thanatos before they knew what was happening. Despite what he said to Triton, they were no challenge. Really, nothing could challenge him in a fight anymore. Even Ares and Athena, in a fight where they were in their mortal forms, could not truly challenge him. He missed having death around. Don't get him wrong, he'd killed plenty, but he hadn't been close to death himself in decades. He sighed. He could vaguely see Apollo's chariot beginning to rise in the distance. He cracked his neck, as the bloodied mess of a man beneath his sandal whimpered. Percy raised an eyebrow; he had forgotten about him. In a flash, he brought his foot up and back down, and his prey suddenly had a dent in it's skull. Bits of grey matter leaked out of the cracks, and Percy wiped his foot on the grass in disgust. As he began to travel away, he saw something that made his breath hitch. For the briefest of moments, he saw a dark cloak, and a pale arm, holding a scythe. Then he was back in Atlantis. He blinked. Twice. And then he went back. Nothing. Percy was breathing harder than any fight had made him breathe in years. Either his mind had finally given out on him, or he had just seen death.
Atlantis, approximately 2 weeks later
"When was the last time he was anywhere other than his bedroom or the arena? He hasn't even eaten anything. He does need to eat right?"
"Calm yourself, Amphitrite. Perseus knows how to take care of himself. If it comes down to it, I'll speak to him. But I trust that my son will pull himself back up to his former stature soon."
"He's been getting worse. Barely talks anymore."
"He will be fine"
Poseidon felt pressure in the back of his mind. Gentle, but it had an electrical tinge to it that he knew well. His brother. A summons for a council meeting on Olympus. He turned to Amphitrite, but as he opened his mouth, he heard something he hadn't expected
Bring Perseus. I feel this may require his work. It is big, brother.
Poseidon's eyes widened. That… hadn't happened in a while. If Amphitrite was worried about Percy's inaction, she could safely lay it to rest. He told her as much, before appearing in front of his son's door and rapping on it three times.
"Percy! We are needed on Olympus. Zeus has requested the presence of the council, and you as well."
"Wha? Yes Um- I'll- yes"
"Are you alright my boy? You sound winded"
"Yes! Yes, I'm fine I'll be there in a moment!"
Poseidon was confused. He knew for a fact his son hadn't left his room in at least a few hours, yet he sounded like he had just finished a training session. He slowly cracked the door open.
He was met with a face full of bubbles, which disappeared to reveal Percy, hidden under the covers of his bed.
"Sorry, was sleeping. I'll be out in a moment. Just need to put something on."
"Oh, of course. Hurry though, Zeus is expecting us."
Poseidon stepped out, and the door began to close behind him.
"Also, what were those bubbles fro-"The door slammed in his face.
Percy took a deep breath. Close. He'd have to apologize to Cleone later, but he was also certain that she was glad to have gotten out when she did. He took a breath, quickly conjuring his most ceremonial-looking armour onto himself. It consisted of beautiful green and blue fins, scale-like plates, and imagery of waves and tridents emblazoned all over it. It was the representation of his position as the crown prince of the sea and came complete with his crown, made from various vibrant coral pieces, wrapped around a perfectly shined rim of Atlantean steel. Far from his most practical armour, but what he needed for this meeting. He stepped outside and nodded to his father, who still looked slightly confused, and then they were both in the Olympian throne room. He quickly bowed to the elder Olympians, who were all already there, including, and this made him raise a brow, Hades. Things were serious then. It was rare that his uncle was allowed in the gilded halls of Olympus and rarer that he came. As more of the younger Olympians warped in, many of them giving Percy small smiles or nods, he seated himself at the foot of his father's throne and waited till someone addressed him, or the gathering at large. What he noticed first, were the dirty looks being thrown between Hera, Aphrodite, and Athena. So, it had to do with them. Apollo was looking rather concerned, which confused Percy since Apollo tended to not care about much at all unless it involved music or him getting with a mortal. Zeus cleared his throat
"We have a problem. As some of you may know, A challenge was presented to Hera, Aphrodite, and Athena by Eris. The context around it does not matter, what matters is that Prince Paris of Troy was asked to make a choice, in which he chose Aphrodite. As a reward…. Aphrodite gave him Helen of Sparta as a wife."
Percy choked on his own spit. That would end poorly for every mortal in Greece. Helen, the wife of Menelaus, was beautiful. Arguably the most beautiful mortal alive. And more so, stealing a man's wife, especially a king's? That was asking for war. He knew now why Apollo was nervous. Troy was in danger.
"Greece has declared war on Troy. You may pick sides as you wish depending on what you see the morality of this conflict as. However, none of us gods are allowed to interfere. If you do, I swear on the river Styx that I will punish you for it myself. Mortals will deal with this conflict themselves. We are not to interfere. .Clear?"
This was a waste of time. Gods were too cocky. They'd interfere If they wanted to, and Zeus' punishments would likely be too little too late. The only question he had was why he was here. He didn't come under the guidelines Zeus had just laid out.
"Now, for the rogue variable. Perseus."
Percy set his jaw. He had to ask.
"I will be direct. You are not a god. You are permitted to take part in this conflict. But. There has been a prophecy, that says that if this war is to occur, it will last ten years. I have only one order for you. I care not which side of this conflict you choose. But we all know you are more than capable of burning troy to ash within a day or sinking the Greek ships days before they even see the shores of troy. You are not permitted to do so. You cannot try to bypass the prophecy. Fight, if you wish it. But this conflict will last. Is that clear?"
Percy bowed his head
"Yes, Milord. I will decide which side to support, based on who I feel has the right to morality. Based on what I've heard it seems that Troy is at fault, but my mind can be changed."
Zeus nodded. "Unless any of you have anything to say, that will be all. If you plan to try to convince other gods to take your side in the conflict, do so in private."
A moment of silence. Zeus nodded, and with a bolt of lightning, he was gone.
There was a moment of silence. Percy looked to his father and got a small nod. The room grew humid for a moment, and the king and prince of the sea had returned to their world.
"Despite what Zeus said, you know for a fact that you hardly have a choice about this."
"Well Aware. From what I've heard so far, it seems that Paris is a fool who stole a queen. My only question is if Helen went willingly, and if so, why?"
"Does that matter my boy? In the end, she left her husband, the king of Sparta, for a king of a foreign kingdom. In my mind, if those accursed walls are to fall, it's a good thing."
Percy chuckled but also failed to hold back a wince. His father's punishment had been… rough. He'd had to take over the ocean for a while, and begged Zeus repeatedly to let the punishment end. The walls of troy were a symbol of shame to house Poseidon. This was a chance to destroy them.
Poseidon looked at him knowingly. "I shall assume you've made your choice."
" I have. I need to go talk to Achilles. The time has long since passed to destroy the monument of shame to house Poseidon, and now I have a chance to do exactly that."
Poseidon nodded. "I shall ask Thetis when and where you can find him."
Percy cracked his neck. He could already feel the excitement, seeping into him. It took everything he had to not smile. He swore to himself, and to death, that once the fates had decided that the mortals had suffered enough, the walls of Troy, and her people…. Would burn.