HAPPY HOLIDAYS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR Y'ALL THIS IS MY PRESENT TO YOU! HOPE Y'ALL LIKE IT!


CHAPTER TWO ⸺ Explaining Time Travel Is NOT Fun At All


NICO IS PRACTICALLY BUZZING WITH QUESTIONS SO SARAH RELENTS AND TELLS HIM SHE'LL ANSWER SOME OF THEM SINCE HE HAD DID HIS BEST TO HOLD BACK. Most of his questions pertain to the change of scenery and the cars around them, which almost has Sarah panicking but, alas they would find out eventually. Naturally, the two siblings don't take it well, Sarah doesn't blame them for that.

Leo, Percy, and Cher, although thoroughly confused and in disbelief of what they hear Sarah tell the other two, don't interject with their own questions or arguments. Although they squirm in their seats, the questions and protests clearly on the tips of their tongues, but they stay silent because the seriousness in which Sarah speaks to the siblings is enough to keep them so.

Nico is weeping quietly, Bianca looks like she wants to cry as well but is struggling very hard to keep it together for Nico's sake.

"But the funeral," Bianca says weakly, "Papa told us that we had to stay in a special hotel while the storm was going on, he told us that once the storm had passed he would come get us and we'd have the funeral for mama."

"I know and I'm sure he wanted to come get you to have a proper funeral for your mama but it was just too dangerous. The prophecy against the kids of the eldest gods had Zeus thoroughly paranoid, it took dad months to convince Zeus to let me live, I don't think Zeus lent the same courtesy to you two which is why he left you in the hotel so long."

"How long do we stay there," Nico whines out.

"Not much longer in the old past, two years from now dad took you out of the hotel but he actually began scouting out schools for you a few months ago. However he was sidetracked by a theft and he had to deal with that first. Good thing to, Yancy would've been a terrible school for you two."

"Do we get to visit mama's grave when we get out," Bianca asks, blinking back tears.

Sarah nods "It takes awhile but yes, you do get to visit her grave, you get to go to the city you were born in, you get to see the house you lived part of your childhood in before coming to America."

Nico looks hopeful "We get to go back to Venice?!"

Even Bianca looks slightly cheered by the revelation.

Sarah nods "Yes, you get to visit Venice, it's only a short trip. Trips for Demigods, especially powerful ones like us, are hard to do but from what I heard the trip went smoothly."

"You did not come with us, why not?" Bianca questions, looking troubled.

"I was . . . I was very ill at the time."

"Why did we not wait until you were better," Bianca presses, brow furrowing together.

"It wasn't really a family trip, exactly, Cher is the one that did it for you guys. I think it was only a week long trip just before she had to go back to school."

"Me," Cher finally spoke up, her voice is so small and full of confusion, she looked at her brother who was just as confused as she was then she looked to her mother, who gave her a reassuring smile.

"Yes, you take Nico and Bianca on a small trip to Venice. It was Bianca's belated birthday present, you'd been saving up for months and you had some help from Lord Hermes and although it's not actually confirmed but I believe my dad helped some once he found out what you were doing. My dad would never admit it but I think he has a soft spot for you, you took wonderful care of Nico the first summer he had at camp and my dad was more grateful than he'll ever confess. I believe, by what you tell me in the future, he helped add to your savings as one of his smaller domains is riches."

Cher looks flabbergasted, many questions must be racing through her mind but she's too stunned to voice them. Next to her, Percy raises his hand, looking stunned as well, at this Sarah struggles to hold back a laugh.

"Yes, Perce, you have a question," Sarah says, trying and failing to hide her amusement.

"You're talking about the Greek Gods like they're actually real ⸺ why?"

Sarah grins slightly at this and then almost frowns when she can't remember what Chiron's teacher name had been while he was away at Yancy. It was Brenner? No . . . Very close, it definitely started with a B, but Brenner does not feel right . . . Brunner! Oh thank the Gods she remembered.

"Well, doesn't Mr. Brunner do the same when he talks about them?"

Percy's eyes widen "How do you know my teacher?"

Even Cher looks surprised, she looks to her mother, who catches her stare in the mirror and sends Cher a reassuring smile.

"Mr. Brunner runs a summer camp that I've occasionally spent time at, I've known him for years and years. His name is actually Chiron and he came to Yancy to scout you and your sister out."

"Chiron like the Centaur teacher from the myths ⸺ who names their kid that?"

Sarah laughs at Percy's remark.

"He is the centaur from the myths, they're real, Percy. I know it's a lot to believe but it's true. The Gods from Greece are still around and currently at this moment they are here in New York, the current heart of western civilization. Pretty much all the Gods are real, they all co-exist, but the most prevalent ones to use are the Greek Gods."

Percy gives Sarah a disbelieving glare, he opens his mouth to protest but Cher, grabs Percy's arm and squeezes it tightly.

"Why is it important to us," Cher cuts in, "Let's say it's real, you're not crazy, why are we important to the Greek Gods?"

Cher was always more open-minded compared to Percy, thank the Gods for that. If Percy didn't believe his mother, well, he'd definitely believe his twin if all else fails.

"We're their children. They still do what they do in the olden days, they mess around with mortals and sire children with them, we are their Demigod children. I am the daughter of Hades, so are Bianca and Nico here, but they are also the chosen children of Lady Persephone. Leo here is a son of Hephaestus, and you and your brother are children of Lord Poseidon."

Percy and Cher stare at Sarah, absolutely flabbergasted, Nico and Bianca look as though they think this story checks out, and Leo bursts out laughing.

"Yeah, right!" He exclaims but his face is pale and Sarah can tell that he feels it's right in his bones.

Sarah gives him a gentle smile "It sounds insane, I know, it's a lot to take in but it's true. And I think your mom knew it too . . . Lord Hephaestus is not one to reveal his identity to his mortal romances but you are the first of his children in a very long time to be able to control fire so he must've come back and explained some things to her. At least that is what I presume happened. I am not close to you in the future nor am I close to your father in fact I am still displeased with him after that encounter with Talos. I only know a few things in passing which I overheard, we've only had a couple conversations none of which were personal."

"Wait, wait, wait!" Percy cuts in, "You're from the future?!"

"Yes, in a sense ⸺"

"No, nope, no! Listen, I can get with the idea of Gods being real but time travel, nope! Absolutely not!"

"That's totally understandable but time travel is also real. Unfortunately, it does not work the way it does in any movie or book, travelling to the future is impossible. One, if given the proper blessing and the proper resources, can only travel to past. But, it's not common knowledge in fact, every attempt to time travel in our world is noted in ending with complete failure. But that's only to stop people travelling to the past in masses. I have come from the future in hopes of derailing two wars but there is still a me left in that future who believes that her attempt to come back has failed. This present time we are in now has completely branched off into a new universe because of my actions. Confusing, I know, I don't expect any of you to understand it because even I still don't understand it myself, but I need you all to know that this is true and I am here to help you."

"Do we all die in the future," Cher asks, pale and horrified.

Sarah shakes her head quickly "No, no one in this car is dead! I came back to give you all better childhoods, I can't say I've completely derailed the war but I know it won't happen now as soon as it did in the old past. In fact, I think I just voided the Great Prophecy which can not be good for me but then again the fates would never have allowed this if this is not what they wanted. My goal was to stop you all from having to fight in a war so young and maybe get the Gods to be better parents."

"Right," Leo says slowly casting a look to Cher, who was to his left, his raised eyebrows and wide eyes seemed to be asking her if she believed all that Sarah was saying.

Cher shrugs "It does sound crazy but if it wasn't true then mom wouldn't be letting her say all this, so maybe it is real. I mean Poseidon as my dad, that does sound fitting, I love swimming and sharks and pretty much all the sea creatures and so does my brother! And if the Greek Gods are real who's to say that Time Travel isn't?"

Percy looks unsure as he turns to look at his mom "Is it real, mom?"

"It is," Sally says solemnly, "This isn't how I wanted you two to find out but if your dad and Sarah are right then it's better you found out this way."

The car falls silent as the Jackson twin come to accept the half-told story they were given, Bianca and Nico may have said more on the matter but the revelation of how much time had passed them took precedence, and Leo didn't look completely convinced but at the same time he couldn't possibly refute it. He could touch fire with no qualms, this old teenaged girl could teleport, who was he to say that it was impossible. Still, he didn't want to accept it but he'd continue to go along with it especially if it came with free food and a warm place to rest.

Sarah is just glad that they're almost to Olympus, only five minutes from the Empire State Building. Seeing a Centaur, a Satyr, and the monumental sized Olympians would surely seal the deal for these kids.

Soon, her plan to save the kids and her sort of boyfriend from multiple near death experiences, wars, and Tartarus would be well under way.

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ

BRING ON THE MONSTERS, BRING ON THE REAL WORLD

ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ

LUKE DID NOT THINK THIS NIGHT COULD GET ANY STRANGER BUT THEN THE GOD HELIOS ENTERED THE THRONE ROOM WITH HIS UNCLE AND BABY COUSIN ALONG WITH ANOTHER LITTLE GIRL AND HE HAD TO RESIGN HIMSELF TO THE FACT THAT, YES, IT CAN GET WEIRDER. Luke was sure that Helios had faded centuries ago but here he was lighting up the darkened throne room by just existing. But he didn't radiate the same aura that most Gods and minor Gods do so perhaps he was just barely hanging on to his Godhood.

Luke blinks at the sight of his baby cousin, Daphne, who had yet to notice him. Annabeth, now wide awake, looks shocked as Luke felt and she asks if that's Helios. Luke is too shocked to answer her.

"Daddy, I think we're late to the sleepover," Daphne says, looking confused as she looked over at her disgruntled looking friend.

"He got us up for this," The other little girl mutters looking disappointed.

Helios smiles fondly "Piper, darling, this is Mount Olympus we are in the kingdom of the Gods as much of a pain it is to be respectful, you must be."

"I don't see any Gods," Piper points out.

"I am a God, remember, I just told you," Helios says gently.

Slowly Luke's brain starts to work again as he realizes that his cousin had referred to Helios as her daddy. His little cousin was a Demigod! He would never have guessed, her entire life she had both of her parents ⸺ Luke's uncle Jeffrey and her other father that he couldn't remember the name of. It had been years since he had seen them. Uncle Jeffrey was always travelling as he made a career as an actor and he only stopped by in between gigs. He hardly remembered what his uncle in law looked like but he didn't think he looked like the way Helios presented himself now.

The girl that Helios had called Piper flushes and bows her head.

"It's alright, dear, it's a new thing for you and I'm not the most Godly-looking of all the Gods. Just remember when the Olympians come in that you must be respectful even if you feel like they don't deserve it."

Piper frowns, her brown hair is pulled back into two sleep-tousled braids and her eyes are now wide and all too much like a kaleidoscope ⸺ like Silena's!

"But ⸺ but, why am I here my dad's ⸺" Her next words are cut off by a huge yawn, she quickly continues on with, "My dad's not a God! He's just a stupid actor who makes stupid movies."

"Lio, here, suspects your mother was a goddess, or at the very least, you are clear-sighted, which is why we chose to take you with us rather than dumping you back at your house."

Daphne grins widely and she grips onto Piper's shoulder "Oh, that's so cool, Pipes, that means you could be just like me! A Half ⸺"

"Demigod," Jeffrey quickly cuts his daughter off, "The better term is Demigod, the other term means something else in the mortal world, Daffy. But, yes, Piper it would seem that you may be a Demigod like my daughter although we are unsure of of your parentage. We have guesses, of course, but we don't wish to say just yet. Your mother will claim you when she sees you if she is one of the Olympians."

"My mother has never been around, she left after I was born and never looked back," Piper huffs.

Luke feels his rage at the Gods start to rise again.

Helios nods understandingly "A lot of them do leave early on in their child's infancy but that is due to their aura attracting monsters and, of course, there are the ancient laws that are mostly overlooked by many in many different ways. You may not have met her personally as your mother but that doesn't mean you haven't met her as a stranger. She could be looking out for you, it could explain why you don't seem to attract monsters despite having a decently strong Demigod aura. Of course, I do help with that myself ⸺ can't have any monsters attacking my daughter's best friend."

Piper looks thoroughly freaked out at the thought of monsters being around her.

"Monsters are not a frequent occurrence for you especially when I'm around and before we met you I would assume you rarely attracted any monsters and if you did I would assume further that your mother somehow found away to indirectly interfere with them and keep you safe."

"So, my dad's co-star, the lady with the donkey leg! When the wiring went haywire and started that big fire on set ⸺ that was my mom's doing?"

"Sounds more like Hephaestus' doing but he doesn't often interfere with other Demigods' lives outside of his kids, your mother must've asked him to."

Piper looked thoughtful for a moment "If you stayed with Daffy, how come my mom didn't stay with me?"

"It's one of the many perks of being a fading God, I have no domain to look over, no job to handle as a God, and no other children to look after. I am hanging on by history textbooks alone basically. Your mother from my guesses is either an Olympian or a much stronger minor God meaning she has duties, ancient laws, and other children binding her. I stay because I am able to, unfortunately not many of us can do the same. It's a terrible thing, even more terrible for a child who often can't understand nor should be expected to understand but unfortunately that is how it is."

From what Luke remembered of his uncle in law, he had liked the guy and finding out that he had been a God should have changed that but Helios was different. So far, what Luke has heard of this conversation, Helios is the only God to not gain Luke's immediate ire for simply being a God.

"So my mom didn't leave because she didn't love me or my dad," Piper says, sounding and looking childishly hopeful.

"Your mom definitely loved you, she loved your dad too or else she wouldn't have created you. Gods do not create as mindlessly as they once did, yes they create just as carelessly but they always love the children they bring into this world. None of us want to leave our children but for most of us, we must. No one, not even Zeus, likes leaving their Demigod children in the mortal world but that is what the ancient laws dictate, hopefully we are here to rework some of them. Your mother, whoever she is, loves you so very much and hopefully after this is done, she will be able to show her love for you in ways that you can understand."

Piper smiles looking nervous "Okay . . . So when are the Gods coming?"

Her eyes rake over the Throne room, her eyes land on Annabeth who is starting to sit up then they move to Luke as well "Oh, erm, I think we woke some of them up."

"Those aren't the Gods, Pipes! Those are other Demigods they're visiting for the Winter Solstice!" Daphne laughs lightly.

Piper flushes "No, I know they're not the Gods but we still woke them up!"

"Perhaps not, we have been very quiet, they must've already been awake and too surprised to say anything. After all they're the first Demigods to have seen me in over, well, in a very long time. Most of our world thinks that I have faded along with my siblings but we are still here clinging onto our Godhood. Anyway the Gods are discussing things with the Moirai and the Poet Of History, they should be finished shortly, hopefully not long after the other Demigod arrivals and the star of the evening ⸺ Sarah Willoughby." Helios explains to Piper and Daphne gently as he took looks around the room.

His golden eyes that glow in the dark, make him like he has flashlights glued to his head but not quite as overwhelmingly bright. They land on Luke who squints slightly, and grows nervous, what if he doesn't recognize him? What if he does.

"Ah, there he is, Luke did make it to Camp safely, I told you," Helios says to his uncle.

"Well forgive me for fearing the worst when you told me he vanished off the face of the earth," Jeffrey retorts.

"I did not say he vanished I said I could not find him which was probably because Apollo was guiding him. When I can't look over Demigods suddenly it usually means that Apollo has an eye on them. I cannot interfere with Apollo especially because he is the main reason I am fading." Helios counters.

Luke blinks owlishly ⸺ Apollo was guiding him to camp all those years ago? This night really can get stranger. Well, that does explain the guitar.

"They know you," Annabeth whispers to him, tugging on the sleeve of his pyjama shirt. Luke glances at her, she looks nervous.

With her free hand she is pinching at one of her many blonde braids. Silena Beauregard, the Aphrodite counsellor, had spent two days on them. Annabeth had wanted her hair done all 'nice and pretty' for this trip despite Malcolm trying his best to convince that no matter what her hair is always nice. No one had the heart to tell Annabeth that Athena wouldn't care much about hairstyles. Both Silena and Luke were both blindsided when Athena had actually complimented Annabeth's hair when it was pointed out to her by Annabeth. Although Luke wished the Goddess had sounded more enthused when giving the compliment, it had Annabeth beaming for the rest of the night and that was enough for Luke. He did wonder if Athena had felt his, Silena's, and Malcolm's eyes on her when Annabeth had asked what she thought of her braids.

"Yes," Luke replies blandly, "Those are my uncles, apparently one is a God, and the blonde one is my little cousin. I'm not sure who that Piper girl is, I've never met her."

"Oh," Is all Annabeth says as she looks at the group with a calculating look.

Daphne finally spots Luke and she lights up. He swears that she almost glows like Helios but not as bright. Her smile is big and warm and just as he remembers it but this time all her teeth are in tact. Despite feeling shocked, Luke can't help but grin back at her.

"Daddy, aren't we supposed to be reading a book, then why is everyone sleeping?"

"Well, originally we weren't supposed to read this book but help has come from the future instructing us to do so. I suppose these Demigods know nothing on the matter just yet, my dear . . . I suppose I shall wake them up, I can do so better than the Olympians."

Helios is gentle in everything that he has done since arriving, he is a stark contrast to Apollo. And it reminds Luke just how much he misses his mortal family. His Uncle Jeffrey, and Uncle Lio has he now remembers calling him, and little Daphne who was hardly three when he left.

The God claps his hands together, the sound is not loud in fact it almost makes no sound at all, but the room begins to glow brighter. It's not an unbearable brightness but rather the warm glow of the sun peaking over the horizon. Luke suddenly feels more well rested than he has in months, around the other kids begin to wake with ease as if they've all had a goodnight sleep, even Clarisse La Rue from the Ares cluster stirs her sleeping bag without a single swear. Clarisse is not a morning person, so it was strange to see her waking up without a scowl on her face.

Upon waking up collectively as a group, the kids seem to realize something is up and they all look to Luke. Naturally, Luke forgets he is the unspoken 'leader' of the camp and stares right back at them unsure of what to say. In the summer, most campers defer to their cabin counsellor but since it's the winter holidays, pretty much all the campers are off at their houses or on family trips, if they can manage that. Since there were only a handful of campers, most of whom Luke had taught the ropes of this world to them, they all looked to him for an explanation.

Silena, ever the expert of picking up on when people's words fail them, speaks up "Luke is everything alright? Are the Gods requesting an audience?"

Her soft voice, although much more confident than Luke thinks he can sound in that moment, is still laced with a nervous edge. Silena is not one to be nervous, she is the definition of confident. The only time Luke remembered her sounding nervous is when she showed up to sword practice with Lorelei for the first time and everyone started laughing at them for just showing their faces. Luke had quickly put an end to that then, he hadn't cared that they were children of Aphrodite, if they wanted to learn to fight who were any of them to laugh at them for trying.

Luke hates the fact that she sounds so nervous, he hates the fact that any of them look so off put from simply waking up. He gets that it's weird to see everyone all waking up collectively and sure they should be nervous about it but they shouldn't be as nervous considering they are in the home of their parents. The Gods hold too much over them, Luke tries to fight back a scowl for the sake of the kids.

The Hunters are looking for Lady Artemis, not all that bothered by this situation. At least they weren't until they noticed that Sarah was missing. They begin to whisper amongst themselves, sounding clearly panicked as they turn to their leader, Zoe Nightshade. Nightshade handles this much better than Luke would've, assuring them that Sarah must've excused herself to the bathroom or left to speak with Lord Hades about something. She assures them that Sarah is fine and she'll ask the other Demigods on Sarah's whereabouts.

Before Luke can say anything to his fellow campers, Nightshade is questioning him on Sarah. She seems to be too concerned to even think that it was unlikely he would know where she was. After all, he and Sarah are no longer on good terms because of his stupidity and Zoe Nightshade should definitely be aware of that.

"Uh, she left," Luke says smartly.

Nightshade raises an eyebrow, unimpressed "She left, why and to where?"

"She said she had to gather some Demigod kids," Luke said, putting it into the simplest terms, he wasn't even gonna attempt to mention the time travel nonsense as he's still wrapping his head around that.

Another Hunter speaks up in a haughty tone "And why would she tell you?"

"Er, I was awake, we ran into each other as she was leaving. She shouldn't be much longer, she seemed to know exactly where to go."

That surprisingly seemed to appease them.

Randall, the oldest kid from the Ares cabin, lets out a low whistle "These kids must be in some dire straits if Zeus is turning a blind eye to the Gods asking Sarah to pick their kids up."

Clarisse rolls her eyes "Okay, yeah, whatever but what does that have to do with us waking up like we have a hive mind or some shit."

From the corner of his eye, Luke sees Annabeth start to open her mouth. He immediately knows she's going to make a snide remark, he puts his hand in front of her and shakes his head, muttering "Not right now, Annie."

Annabeth scowls but listens, promptly shutting her mouth and crossing her hands over her chest.

"That would be my doing," Helios cuts in, dragging everyone's attention to him.

Everyone stares at him, shocked. It was easy to piece together which God he was. He was so much like Lord Apollo but definitely not Lord Apollo that it left little room to believe he was any other minor God besides Lord Helios.

"Hello, yes, it's me. Lord Helios, no, I have not faded as many suspected but I do spend most of my time in the mortal world so it is hard for my Godly companions to find me. You needn't worry, I am here simply because the fates requested I be here with my only ⸺" Helios falters as his eyes land on a young Hunter, the other Hunters glare at him but the little girl looks at him with wide eyes.

"Celyn, you ⸺ you're alive!" Helios gasps, looking delighted.

"Papa . . . no, that can't be right! You and mama died, the ⸺ the ⸺ I'm not sure, it's not clear but I was so sure you were mortal like mama," the Hunter that Helios had called Celyn stammers, looking distraught.

"That would be Ate's doing, I managed to anger her and she took out her revenge on you and your mother. I thought you were dead but it seems that Lady Artemis and her hunters saved you and for that I am eternally grateful. We can speak more on this matter later, I assure you that I will answer any and all questions you have, Celyn but for right now there is another matter we must all attend to," Helios says, giving Celyn a soft smile.

Celyn nods "Of course, well, may I ask one question before we move on?"

Helios nods "Of course you may, ask away, my dear."

"The little girls with you, are they my half-siblings?"

Celyn and Daphne both look delighted at the prospect of having a sibling, in Celyn's case, another sister.

"Daphne, the blonde, she is your half-sister. The other girl, Piper, is not. She's been friends with Daphne for years and she may be a Demigod but she is not my daughter. I have no other living children outside of yourself and Daphne at this current moment."

Celyn nods again, looking less confused at this revelation and more pleased with it. Behind her one Hunter hands over some money to another Hunter, looking displeased as she mutters something about how it was supposed to be Apollo. Their muttering is quickly cut off by Zoe Nightshade who gives them a look before turning to face Helios.

"The matter you speak of, Lord Helios, does it have anything to do with my sister's disappearance," Nightshade asks, looking more and more worried over Sarah.

"In a sense, yes it does, but fear not, Miss. Sarah Willoughby will make it back here completely unharmed and probably within the next five minutes. I believe I saw her coming in with a gaggle of kids and a mortal woman just as the elevator was closing."

Malcolm Pace raises his hand.

Helios laughs lightly and he says "Yes, Mr. ⸺"

"Malcolm Pace, er, son of Athena. Lord Helios, what exactly is this matter you speak of?"

"Ah, yes, the Fates have brought us here to discuss future events they wish to change. I am unfortunately a little unsure of what the future entails, I was merely told to get here and to bring my child with me and my boyfriend seeing as he is a clear-sighted mortal because we have a future to rewrite."

The youngest of the Athena cabin, and the third of them attending the Winter Solstice, Pallas Viotto, clings to Malcolm as she stares at Helios with a calculating look.

Pallas had just been introduced to this world in September. Her father, an arrogant but extremely brilliant man, had no use for Pallas and so instead of bringing her to school for the year, he brought her to camp. Apparently Athena had came back to tell Pallas' father about the camp seeing as Pallas' father was not taking good care of Pallas.

Luke had been the one to see Pallas get dropped off and if it had not been for the fact that Pallas was in hysterics at being abandoned by her only family, Luke might've actually beat the shit out of the man. Pallas was even younger than Annabeth had been when Luke found her ⸺ only five years old. She was just about to start her first year of school and already she knew all too well just how uncaring the Gods could be, it was even more unfair that her mortal parent was just as uncaring.

Pallas looks to Luke, or maybe she looks to Annabeth, either way he nods his head and from the corner of his eye, he sees Annabeth do the same. Pallas' hand shoots up in the air.

Helios nods his head at her "Yes, dear."

"Pallas Viotto, daughter of Athena," Her words come out in a heavy lisp which causes her to blush but no one dares laugh at her now, "Wouldn't changing the future cause too many problems?"

"Good question, the answer is yes and no," Helios says amusedly, "This is partly the fates doing so whatever problems it may cause far out way the problems that would've occurred."

"What if we do something in the future that pisses the Gods off, will we be punished for it or does it not count cause it's the future," Connor Stoll blurts out from behind Luke.

Leave it to Connor to ask about punishments, Luke smiles slightly at his half-brother's question but immediately his amusement is squashed by the fact that he would be the one being punished. Sarah knew that he was ⸺ or, well, he did steal the Masterbolt and Helm, which means the Gods knew as well. Luke pales, he was going to die tonight wasn't he?

"No, no one will be punished for their actions or words in the future. It is a future that is no longer going to occur, there would be no point to punish someone for something they are no longer going to do or say."

"And this would be the throne room where everyone is now apparently awake! Oh, goody, at least I'm no longer at risk of being punched by Clarisse for waking her up," Sarah's voice pipes up from the main entrance to the throne room.

The Hunters immediately turn to look at Sarah, and like Luke had, they completely blanch.

"You're not Sarah," Nightshade says immediately, narrowing her eyes at Sarah.

Sarah looks tongue-tied, absolutely gutted upon spotting Nightshade. It's the same look that she gives Thalia's tree. Nightshade is dead in the future, Luke knows this at once.

"I'm not not Sarah," She counters weakly, "Good to know that no one explained the whole time travel mess."

"Time travel," A Hunter says, looking like she might burst out laughing at any moment.

"Er, yes, I'm from the future . . . The fates helped me, we want to change the future for the better . . . It gets pretty, er, messy in the future."

The same Hunter looks like she might laugh but then she blinks and nods "Okay, yeah, you know what, that tracks. Leave it to you to do something as reckless as creating time travel."

"I didn't create time travel, I had help! Several people have created time travel but it just never works as far as we're aware. In reality it does and part of that person is sent back in the past while the other part stays in the present thinking they failed to create time travel. And it was not a reckless decision, well, okay, it was at first but once I actually thought it through, I realized it wasn't a terrible idea." Sarah says defensively.

"Thou hast left the Hunt," Nightshade points out, looking betrayed.

Sarah turns back to her and almost burst into tears, her face crumbles and she nods "I did leave the Hunt . . . Two years from now. It wasn't an easy decision but it felt right, you . . . you understand in the future. You told me to follow my heart, which is the most cliche thing I have ever heard you say but it meant a lot to me."

"For whom didst thou leave for," Nightshade inquires, giving Luke a dirty look.

Luke blinks, definitely not for him. She hadn't left before when, as much as he hated to admit it, he had stupidly and selfishly asked her to leave before. She certainly wouldn't leave for him now in the future where he steals from her father.

"I left for a myriad of reasons, Zo, not just for Luke. I left for the camp. They needed me just as much as I needed them. I left for my cousins, I left for my half-siblings. There are so many reason I left that I cannot explain them all," Sarah answers, her voice is soft and she blinks back tears.

'Not just for', Luke blinks at her choice of words. He blushes, probably, no, he definitely blushes. He played at part in her reasons for leaving, for some reason it doesn't make him as happy as he thought it would but it's enough to leave him flustered.

"I am dead," Nightshade says bluntly.

Sarah's face twists as if she's in pain and then she nods her head "Yes . . . You died, you died saving Lady Artemis. You fought so bravely, everyone was devastated by your death, Lady Artemis especially. You shouldn't have went on that quest it was prophecized you would die!"

"Did I succeed in saving Lady Artemis?"

Sarah nods.

"Then it was worth it . . . No one else was slaughtered?"

"No, it was just us two on the Quest. The other Hunters stayed at camp, the rest of the Questers were campers, well, one was almost a new recruit but she ended up choosing camp at the end of it."

"Thou made it out of this quest uninjured," Nightshade asks, looking her over, eyes zeroing in on the scars that marred Sarah's face.

"No permanent injuries, did get into a squabble with a Manticore, almost drowned, but I survived ⸺ oh, I almost died at the hands of Atlas but I didn't! I cut his one hand off with shadows in return."

Nightshade's eyes narrow at the mention of Atlas and Luke pales even more. Had he been responsible for Nightshade's death? Kronos wanted Atlas on his army, he had plans for this. Once Luke had stolen the Masterbolt and Helm for Kronos, his next move was to gather the other Titans ⸺ Atlas first. There was another task Kronos was working on as well but he had yet to indulge any of that information with Luke just yet.

"Atlas was freed? By whom?"

"I cannot tell you just yet . . . I will say that the person who helped free him was heavily manipulated into doing so and while they're definitely to blame if only partly, they wouldn't have done so if they hadn't been manipulated. They certainly never meant for anyone to die and certainly not any children."

"But they planned to harm Lady Artemis?"

"Not exactly, they only knew part of the plan. The mastermind behind everything only told them the information that would appease to their goals of creating a safer world for us Demigods. They did know that a God would be harmed but they didn't know which one for sure, my best guess is they were hoping to trap their Godly parent but Atlas had a clear target in his mind ⸺ Lady Artemis."

"And whom is this person, the mastermind and his accomplice, we must stop them while they're ahead," Nightshade demands.

"The accomplice has already been stopped, the mastermind ⸺ Kronos, will continue to rise just not as quickly as he did in my future."

There's a collective gasp from everyone in the throne room at the mention of Kronos rising.

"But ⸺ but, he's in Tartarus! He's been chopped up into a bunch of tiny little pieces, how can he just reform," Randall asks, sounding absolutely flabbergasted as he reaches for his half-sister, Clarisse, who easily dodges his grasp despite looking like she needed the comfort.

"He doesn't reform, he's too weak to reform properly but he has enough power to infiltrate Demigod and minor Gods' dreams ⸺ he used to come to me in dreams and turn me against the Gods, he did that for centuries but I wouldn't bend and he eventually resulted to tormenting and trying to manipulate me with threat into helping him. I never came that close to listening to him save for the time after Thalia's death. I am not the only one to be contacted by Kronos. He has gone after many other Demigods and Minor Gods who are angry with the Olympians and some of them have been chorused into siding with him. He gains power by tricking Demigods into believing he will create a better world for them, he has many tricks and lies up his sleeve and eventually he does get a vessel but he doesn't reform."

Everyone save for the kids by Sarah's side have gone pale, even the middle-aged woman with Sarah had gone pale.

"Kronos does not want a better world for us, he wants back the power he once had and those that sided with him for this reason learn that a little too late. Which is one of the many reasons I am here, I want to stop Kronos from rising to power the way that he did and hopefully save those that have died in that process."

Charles Beckendorf, the Hephaestus Counsellor, raises his hand.

Luke expects Sarah to bark out a laugh and tell the kid that he doesn't have to raise his hand but she just bites down on her lower lip hard. No, Luke thinks, not Charlie.

"How many of us die ⸺ here in this room, how many of us die?"

Sarah blinks back tears and takes a deep breath "Before I tell you, I must stress that none of you will be dying now. I have circumvented these deaths by coming back in time with the intentions I have. Okay, no one will be dying any time soon if I have anything to do with it."

Everyone nods, still looking nervous as they glance around at their half-siblings and friends.

"Okay, good . . . Zoe Nightshade is the first death, at the hands of Atlas. I am next but I was resuscitated with Necromancy, I died at the hands of Kronos's vessel, well, briefly died. Lord Pan faded, we found him and he passed on his godhood of sorts to Grover Underwood ⸺"

There's a sound of a body hitting the floor, no doubt Grover Underwood, either passing out or just falling over from shock. Luke grins, although sadden to hear of his long lost half-brother fading, he was glad that is was Grover who found him just in time.

"Wait," The tan boy besides Sarah blurts out, "Grover Underwood as in my friend Grover?"

"Yes, he's involved with this world as well, that will be explained in due time, Percy, please be patient with me."

The boy, Percy, frowns but nods his head and looks around at the room. He must be the child of Poseidon, the little girl next to him must be his twin sister that Sarah had mentioned, Luke guesses. Their eyes give it away. They're so small, Luke immediately wants to protect them but almost folds in on himself when he remembers Sarah's early comment about them being the scapegoats to his thievery.

Sarah takes a deep breath as she continues to answer Beckendorf's question "Castor Boivin, briefly killed by shadow shrapnel but resuscitated by me. Pallas Viotto, Lee Fletcher, and several unnamed Demigods from Kronos' army were killed in the battle of the Labyrinth. Charles Beckendorf, killed in an explosion meant to sabotage Kronos' army. Louisa May Danvers, killed by Kronos for 'betraying' him. Silena Beauregard briefly died after getting attacked by a Drakon but was resuscitated by me. Michael Yew, killed in the fall of Williamsburg bridge. Luke Castellan briefly killed by Kronos after killing Kronos himself but he was resuscitated by me. And finally, myself. I was killed by resuscitating Luke Castellan, I was injured and had already resuscitated Silena early on, I was exhausted and by resuscitating Luke, I succumbed to his injuries that I took on to bring him back."

The room falls into a hushed silence, Beckendorf had grown pale and Silena is crying. Pallas is trembling as she clings onto Malcolm, she looks like she wants to scream and cry but she is trying very hard not to. Lee and Michael look to their older sister, Louisa, she is grabbing each of their shoulders with her hands as she stares straight at Luke.

She's out. And Luke cannot blame her, he himself wants out. The seeds of doubt had been planted when he found out that Nightshade had died and as soon as he found out Beckendorf was killed fighting against Kronos, Luke knew he had been wrong all along.

Kronos made it seem like he would create a better world by taking out the Gods with the Demigods help. Luke remembered at one point he didn't believe it but Kronos kept promising him things and fulfilling those promises that he made it seem worth it. But if he's responsible for so many of these Demigods' deaths, Demigods that Luke had helped raised in a way, was it really worth it?

Sarah and Luke lock eyes, her dark glittering eyes burn into his baby blue. She looks at him, almost passively, but he can see that she is haunted ⸺ how can she stand to look at him?

Sure, it seems that Luke too had come to his senses a little too late and realized that Kronos had tricked him. Apparently Luke had been the one to kill Kronos but Kronos had already killed so many of his friends and family, who knows how many other Campers died, Campers that are at home right now blissfully unaware. Kronos killed Sarah, Kronos killed Lou. All this death and devastation because Luke decided to listen to him.

He had only wanted a better and safer world for the Demigods, Kronos had promised him that, he had assured him that once the Gods were disposed off, the Demigods would be left alone, the Mortals would be left alone. Kronos had made it so that everything he promised Luke made sense but as he thought of it now, Luke realizes it doesn't make as much sense as it did this morning.

"None of these deaths will happen now, I can promise you that. I have circumvented the events that caused it all to happen, changing the future almost entirely."

While everyone still looks distraught, they look less terrified as they look at Sarah who smiles gently around at all of them.

Suddenly Annabeth is tackling Luke into a side hug, she sobs into Luke's pyjamas. Luke is shocked for a moment until he realizes she's reacting like this because Luke technically died, even if it was briefly. He wraps an arm around Annabeth, rubbing her back in a pathetic attempt to calm her down, she's obviously distraught over the news of Sarah dying twice as well. The second time she had made no mention of how she came back to life ⸺ perhaps she created time travel while in the fields of Elysium?

"Now, as much as I'd love to give you more time to process this news, I unfortunately cannot. The Fates, The Poet, and myself have come here to read the event that caused this all in hopes of learning from it. These events span years into the future but we only need to read the first quest that put the Great Prophecy into effect. Between breaks I will answer any questions you may have about the future save for questions regarding the quest that we will be reading about." Sarah explains to the group, who surprisingly take this explanation very well.

"When the Olympians come in, we will introduce ourselves to them and each other for the sake of the newcomers," Sarah paused momentarily to smile at Daphne and Piper, "The Olympians will claim the children here that haven't been claimed yet, and have already agreed to claim their children once they arrive at camp. They've also agreed to pop in more often, they're considering rewriting the ancient laws since nearly half of them have found loop holes to avoid them anyway. Things are going to get better, we'll get the world that Kronos lied about creating to those Demigods without almost taking out Olympus. All we have to do is read a guidebook of the future narrated by my twelve-year-old cousin, it'll be so much fun!"

The last part is spoken as a joke to lighten the mood and for the most part it works, even the Hunters crack small smiles.

The door off to the side where the Gods had went through opens up and Chiron comes trotting in.

He looks surprised to see that everyone is awake and even more surprised to see that the amount of people in the throne room have grown but before he can say anything, he's interrupted by several loud gasps from the kids with Sarah.

"Mr. Brunner," The son of Poseidon blurts out, "You're a horse?!"


THE AUTHOR'S COMMENTARY!


okay so this chapter took a turn that i did not expect so now there is ONE more chapter left and then. i promise we will get into the actual reading! the next chapter is everyone introducing themselves to the newbies that helios and sarah have gathered for this reading and also the Gods claiming the children they haven't claimed yet!

reminder that sarah willoughby is my OC from my pjo fanfiction called THE SWORD OF DAMOCLES IS SWINGING which you don't have to read to understand this considering the lightning thief happens before sarah's story starts and also this is a fun lil AU! so events that you don't recognize from canon or certain characters mentioned to be alive that should be dead are because it's from tsodis which is not canon compliant!

anyway thanks for reading hope you're looking forward to reading this cliche mess as much as i'm having fun writing it, please leave a comment and let me know what you thought of it!