Chapter-1
Percy
30,000 years. 30,000 years since he'd lost his throne and had been cast into the primordial abyss, cut into a thousand pieces by his own children.
30,000 years, that rage and hatred kept him conscious. Unable to do anything to the world without being a soft whisper in the depths of the minds of creatures.
But even in this condition, he could feel it.
The flow of time.
The movement of the Protogenos Chronos himself guiding all of creation and bringing change to the static nature of the Cosmos.
He could feel it all, and he knew of the several ripples that move across Chronos' flow, a mere result of the countless timelines clashing and interacting with each other.
Suddenly, a violent wave erupted
Immediately, his attention was gained.
"...A…disturbance…" A soft voice spoke, so soft it could be mistaken for a soft wind blowing in the empty plains of Tartarus.
A disturbance of that magnitude could only mean only one thing.
"...My…power…"
Percy immediately stood up as he got off from Annabeth. Annabeth stared at Riptide in fear as she stared at her hammer which Percy had hit away behind him.
Annabeth made a dash for the hammer as Percy immediately stood in front of her. Annabeth picked up the hammer and raised it defensively, her eyes filled with terror.
How the…? Percy, meanwhile, was still in a daze as he stared at Annabeth, the friend who now stood before him as the same little child he'd seen in Hestia's vision.
How did Annabeth go from being 16 in the Empire State Building to…7 in Richmond? Percy thought before he heard footsteps.
"Hey, leave her alone!" Percy heard a familiar voice as he turned around to see Luke and Thalia…
…Except they looked younger than him as well. Luke did not have the scar, nor did he have a sneer back when he was possessed by Kronos. Instead, Luke had a look of desperation…almost like his last moments.
Percy blinked. Is Kronos messing with his head? Luke wasn't even looking at him like he knew him. Luke seemed to treat him more like a stranger.
Thalia also looked a lot more younger, and with a much fiercer expression on her face.
Luke? Thalia? What the hades is going on over here?! Percy thought before Annabeth's hammer bounced off the back of his head.
It didn't do anything as Annabeth took a step back in surprise, while Luke raised a familiar bronze knife along with Thalia brandishing Aegis. The visage of Medusa immediately made Percy want to run away, but he kept himself standing, although his legs were wobbling trying to resist the shield's effects.
Think about baby Annabeth later, first get out of a fight.
"W-W-Woah, hold on there, I'm a demigod! A demigod!" Percy spoke raising his arms as Luke and Thalia exchanged looks.
"A demigod?" Annabeth whispered in confusion as Thalia narrowed her eyes.
"Are you actually a demigod? So why was she screaming?"
"Look, I heard something moving in this alley and went to check it out. I couldn't take risks and let my guard down, especially when she tried to attack me." Percy reasoned.
"Look, we don't need to fight. I won't fight any of you…"
Percy swallowed.
"...I swear on the River Styx."
A low rumble was heard as the oath was made. Luke's eyes widened.
"River Styx?" Thalia spoke.
Luke looked at Thalia. "I've heard of this. It's a really serious oath that has consequences if you break it. If he's going this far…" He turned to Percy.
"...Then we're good. Thalia, stand down." He spoke lowering his knife.
"Yeah, and could you do the shield, please? I don't want to keep standing with my legs wiggling all morning." Percy spoke as Aegis collapsed back into a bracelet.
Percy let out a deep sigh as he turned back to Annabeth, putting the cap back on Riptide and transforming it back into a pen.
"Hey, don't worry. I'm not going to hurt you. I know…it looks weird considering I pinned you down with a blade hovering over your back, but I swear I don't mean to hurt you." Percy spoke slowly stepping towards Annabeth, who stared in wonder at his hand.
"What…was that?" She spoke as Percy tilted his head.
"What was what?"
"The pen…wasn't it a sword just now?" Annabeth asked as Percy looked at riptide.
"Uh…it's magic." Percy explained, relieved. He took the cap off of riptide as its blade sprung back.
"Woah…" Annabeth spoke. "Do demigods have things like that?"
Percy glanced at Luke and Thalia, who were standing awkwardly, unsure what to do.
"Yeah."
Annabeth's eyes stared at him, almost like she was looking into his mind.
Ugh, even when younger, she still has that stare. Percy thought with a shudder.
"You just called me a demigod too…" Annabeth spoke as Percy nodded.
"Yeah."
"Are demigods…monsters?"
Percy glanced at Luke and Thalia and beckoned them to come over.
"No…we're not monsters." Percy spoke.
"We fight monsters." Luke pitched in, again making Percy jolt with the sheer weirdness of standing beside Luke and not fighting him.
"Really?" Annabeth spoke.
"Yep, we fight monsters. And we survive. Just like you do." Luke spoke, starting to relax from the awkward position he'd been when Percy talked to Annabeth.
At that point, Annabeth's attention shifted to Luke, as Percy stepped back to let him take over so that Percy could take note of his situation.
It's just like what Hestia showed me. Percy thought. He was looking not just at Richmond, but one 9 years from his time when Annabeth first met Luke and Thalia.
Am I in a dream or something? Percy thought as he remembered the fight with Kro…
Percy's mind stopped.
Kronos.
Kronos.
Titan of Time.
Time…
Percy slowly looked back towards the other three, with Luke handing Annabeth the knife in his hand.
Percy's grip tightened.
"It can't be." Percy spoke softly.
Luke suddenly heard the sounds of waves crashing as the James River moved violently.
"What's going on?" Thalia spoke warily.
"The river…It's not this turbulent." Annabeth noted, the three of them not noticing Percy's growing anger behind them.
Percy's mind was churning with emotions.
Anger.
Hatred.
…Despair.
He's taken me from them… Percy thought shutting his eyes. Images of Annabeth, Grover and Tyson appeared.
All of his friends, they were gone.
Kronos had been defeated, but not without one last act of revenge.
And that was ripping me away from my loved ones. Percy thought.
Annabeth…
Grover…
Tyson…
Thalia…
He was not coming back to them.
At that moment, one last image popped in Percy's mind.
Sally Jackson standing on the ground, shotgun in hand…expectantly staring at the Empire State Building. Hoping for it to turn blue.
One last image of his mother waiting with expectant eyes…
…Waiting for a son who she would never see again.
Percy's eyes snapped open, and a section of the James River erupted, flying over the warehouse and falling upon their group
"Ah!" Thalia and Luke grunted as the water knocked them to the ground while Annabeth shrieked.
But the water was not enough to sweep them away, as the three demigods lay on the floor coughing out water.
"What in hades' name was that?!" Thalia spoke getting up as Annabeth's eyes went towards Percy…
…Whose momentary rage evaporated. For a second, Percy felt hollow. And then, the burden of sorrow fell upon him.
Percy's grip slackened on Riptide as he fell to his knees, his sword falling to the ground. Percy's face was stone cold, but his eyes welled up in tears.
He had no home to return to. No victory to return to. He had been thrown away to a different time, before the war.
"Are you…alright?" Percy heard Annabeth's voice as he turned around to look at her staring at him in concern. She was confused, but scared to walk up and ask.
Luke stepped up.
"Was that you?" He asked as Percy raised his hand. His tears suddenly floated from his cheek and hovered over his hands.
"He asked a question." Thalia spoke but Percy was unable to listen.
Percy hung his head as he let go of his grip over the tear droplets, which dropped back to his hand.
"...Yes. Sorry." He spoke as he got up. Percy then turned to Annabeth.
"I-I'm fine. It's just…" Percy trailed off as he found himself unable to speak.
Percy tried to speak but…he couldn't bring himself to say it. He needed some time alone to process it. Not while he was still with people.
"Let's go." He spoke, taking a deep breath. "We could attract monsters."
Luke nodded. "There's a safe house downstream. We can stay there."
Percy looked at Luke. For a moment, he saw Luke's eyes turn golden.
Gah! It's been a long time since I was able to properly talk to Luke. Percy thought. He just could not look at Luke and not imagine Kronos attempting to take his head off and then trying to kill Annabeth while he watched, frozen in time.
"Something wrong…Actually, I don't think we've introduced ourselves. You're…?"
"Per…" Percy went to say his name before stopping.
Wait a minute. I'm right now probably back in New York getting a yelling from Smelly Gabe. Percy thought. If he said his name, and Annabeth's meets his other self later on…
But she'll figure me out way too quickly. Percy thought. Annabeth was too smart not to make the connections between him and the 'Percy Jackson' who was going to turn up 5 years later.
So…there was no use lying.
"Call me Perseus." Percy spoke. He didn't like the full name, but it'd give him some time to explain things rather than outright saying 'Percy Jackson' and setting himself up for a 'revelation' moment earlier than expected.
"Perseus, huh." Luke noted in interest.
"It's for good luck. Perseus was the only greek hero to have a good ending, after all…"
"Didn't he turn himself to stone by accidentally facing Medusa's head towards himself?" Annabeth spoke.
"...He did?" Percy asked warily. "He must have been an old man then, right?"
Annabeth nodded as Percy sighed.
"Whatever…that's the name my mom gave me?"
"And where's your mom now?" Luke asked.
"She lives in Manhattan. I stay with her for a greater part of the year." Percy spoke.
"So what are you doing here, then?" Annabeth asked.
"I…got into a scuffle. Got out of it alive, but found myself here in Richmond. I'm looking to get back to New York." Percy spoke.
Percy then heard howls.
"Hellhounds." He spoke as Thalia took a defensive position. Annabeth simply held her knife. Luke raised…a golf club?
"Where's your weapon?" Percy asked in confusion.
"I used to have a sword…not anymore." Luke spoke shaking his head. "And I just gave my only weapon to Annabeth."
"You do know that won't kill the monsters, right?" Percy spoke.
"No, but it'll stun them."
Percy, looked at the bunch of dark shapes heading their way across the grounds of the plant.
"That's a lot more than normal…" Percy spoke, before looking at Thalia.
"Thalia, we'll have to take them head-on. Luke, Annabeth, stay back." Percy spoke.
"Ok…wait, how'd you know our names?" Thalia spoke in confusion.
Percy realised his mistake and let out a string of curses in his mind.
Come up with an excuse, Percy! Percy thought before they got suspicious.
"I…heard your conversation?"
"Oh…right. We did introduce ourselves to Annabeth." Luke spoke.
"But anyways, Luke, Annabeth. We'll keep them focussed on us. Luke, you whack them, and Annabeth…"
Percy looked at Annabeth.
"Do you want to help us?"
Annabeth looked at her knife and then at the hellhounds. "I, uhm…"
"Leave it. Luke, guard her. Leave the cleaning job to us two." Percy spoke before dashing forward to meet the hellhounds.
Thalia brandished Aegis as the hounds stepped back in fright, as Percy moved forward and sliced Riptide through the neck of one before turning its blade and stabbing another in the throat.
"YAAHH!" Thalia yelled as she drove her spear into a hellhound's mouth.
She's gone way too far ahead. Percy thought as he rushed to guard Thalia's back, decapitating another hellhound while Thalia recklessly charged ahead, trying to kill the hellhounds.
"Thalia, wait!" Percy called as he grabbed Thalia's collar, pulling her back right before the jaws of a hellhound clamped around the space she'd been.
Percy noticed another hellhound come up, before a blur came in and attacked it.
"Luke?" Percy spoke as Luke Castellan moved at much faster speeds than normal, rapidly striking the hellhound with his golf club.
"They're focussing on Thalia!" Annabeth spoke as Percy frowned.
Now that he noticed it, none of the hellhounds had really properly attacked him, or even headed towards Luke or Annabeth. No, they all seemed to be more interested in Thalia.
That meant these weren't random monsters attacking them. They were attacking with a purpose…
Someone had sent them. Despite Percy and Luke's assistance, the hellhounds had managed to score a few gashes on Thalia. Percy could rip through all of them, but their complete focus on Thalia completely overrided any sense of self-preservation as they attempted to tear Thalia to pieces even when Percy had cut their heads off.
Thalia was so far doing well to hold them off, but Percy could tell she was a far cry from her future self. If they did not do something soon, the hellhounds would soon get a more serious wound on Thalia.
"We need to clear them out at once." Percy spoke frowning as Thalia kept the hellhounds at a distance around her with Aegis.
Thalia looked at Percy. "…I can do that." She spoke as Percy understood what she meant.
"Everybody stand back!" Thalia called as Luke nodded in understanding and dragged Annabeth, who'd managed to launch herself at a hellhound and manage to stab its shoulder, away.
"Perseus, get back?!" Thalia spoke.
"If you're about to unleash something to take all of them out, then it's better to have someone protecting you."
"But it might hit you too!"
Percy thought of the time Thalia had hit him point blank on the chest.
"I can handle it." He spoke simply, a sad smile appearing on his face instead of a confident smirk.
"What? Perseus, you don't know what I'm capable of…"
"…!" Percy shoved Thalia aside as one of the hellhounds not under the effects of Aegis snuck up on Thalia and pounced on her. As Thalia stumbled away, Percy raised his left arm as the hellhound bit into it, knocking him to the ground.
"Perseus!" Luke called out in concern as the hellhound attempted to rip Percy's arm off, only for its fangs to do nothing to him.
"Thalia, now of never!" Percy spoke as Thalia stared at him before sighing and raising her spear to the sky, just as Percy stabbed the hellhound in the head with riptide and kicked it off him.
One moment, there was a loud rumble of thunder. The next, a bright flash tore through Richmond's misty morning and struck the ground.
The hellhounds were vaporized, while one of the lightning bolts hit Percy right in the chest, sending him tumbling away.
Luke and Annabeth's eyes widened in concern, thinking Percy was dead, before he got up, his chestplate smoking. This lightning did not feel as controlled as future Thalia's did. Its almost like all Thalia did was pull lightning down from the sky and then just let it go instead of trying to direct it towards a specific target.
But in the end, it's just how I remember it. Percy thought shaking his head as Thalia watched him stand up, dumbfounded.
"You…You…"
"Yeah?"
"It hit you in the chest!"
"And?"
"How was that only a slight burn on your chest?" Thalia questioned, flabbergasted.
Percy scratched his head. "Well, you see…"
"Hey, what's going on over here!" The demigods heard voices as security guards rushed to where Thalia had unleashed a lightning bolt.
"We can decide where to go at a later time! Let's get out before they catch up to us!" Luke spoke as the four demigods made a run for it.
As they ran out of the smelting plant, Luke led the group downstream of the James River.
Once they'd run a suffiicient distance, the group stopped.
"Alright…that was different." Luke spoke before patting Annabeth on the shoulder.
"Good catch, Annabeth. I don't think we would have put as much effort if we hadn't seen the pattern."
Annabeth's cheeks turned pink as she blushed. "T-Thanks."
"Yeah. But looking at how stuff turned out, I can guess why this has happened."
The others looked at him.
"From Thalia's last attack…she's a child of Zeus." Percy spoke pointing at Thalia.
"The hellhounds were focussing on her and ignoring us, a behaviour abnormal for the usual monsters…"
"Which means someone sent them!" Annabeth spoke as Percy nodded in approval.
"Yeah, and looking at Thalia's heritage…that person would be Hades."
"Hades…god of the underworld…" Annabeth spoke.
Thalia scowled. "He wants me dead? How can you be so sure?"
"The Hellhounds themselves. Have you ever seen so many of them in one location, all coming for one demigod?"
"No…" Luke spoke.
"Exactly. Plus…if there's anyone who'd want a child of Zeus dead, Hades would be on the top of that list." Percy spoke.
"Huh? I know the rivalry between the Big three is pretty bad from the myths, but I don't think I've ever heard of…"
"The Prophecy." Percy spoke. "There was…a prophecy made by the Delphic Oracle during the time of World War 2. It said a child of the Big Three would be given the choice to either save or destroy Olympus when they turn 16 years old. To avoid that, Zeus, Poseidon and Hades all made oaths on the River Styx to never sire children."
Luke and Annabeth looked at Thalia, who stared at Percy.
"Never sire children…are you telling me I wasn't supposed to be born?" Thalia spoke as Percy winced.
Oh wait, I didn't realise how badly Thalia might take to the revelation that she was born from a broken oath. Percy thought.
Percy raised his hands. "I'm sorry…but that's what the oath implied."
Thalia stared at Percy as her grip on her spear tightened.
"But that doesn't mean you don't deserve to live." Percy spoke slowly, trying to reassure her as Thalia looked down.
"Yeah…maybe." She spoke, dejected.
"But anyways, after the prophecy was spoken…Zeus killed Hades' surviving children, and Hades never forgave him for that." Percy spoke, his mind going to Nico and Bianca.
They must be in the Lotus Casino at this time. Percy thought.
"So, you're telling me Hades wants Thalia dead because of a…grudge?" Luke spoke, his voice taking an edge as his eyes narrowed into a glare, something that eerily reminded Percy of Luke's future.
He knew how much Luke disliked the gods, although he doubted Luke would really start losing it before he met Hermes again. Percy could have defended them, but after all Prometheus and Hestia had shown him, he wasn't really so enthusiastic about doing that anymore.
"That's the gods for you." Percy spoke, shaking his head.
"But how did Hades find Thalia?" Annabeth asked.
"I don't know that." Percy spoke, honestly. "But what I can tell is that with Hades hunting you…It's not safe being out in the wild for so long."
"We can take them. We've been surviving against these monsters all these times." Thalia spoke.
"Not with Hades." Percy replied. "These hellhounds are just the beginning. The Underworld has plenty of nasty things that Hades can throw at you. He might even send an army too big for you to take down…"
Thalia glared at him, but Percy stared back neutrally.
"Are you saying you can help protect Thalia?" Annabeth asked.
Percy shook his head. "There's a place…"
"Camp Half-Blood." Luke spoke as Percy stared at him in surprise.
"Yeah, that's right. Did someone tell you about it before?"
Luke scowled and looked away, telling Percy who that 'someone' was.
Thalia stared at Luke in surprise. "Luke, what's this about a 'camp'?"
"Camp Half-Blood. Its said to be a safe haven for people like us…" Luke looked at Percy.
"And you're from this camp, aren't you?"
Percy nodded.
"In that case…I want to ask you something." Luke spoke. "Will we be truly safe at this camp?"
"...You wan't be completely out of danger, that's for sure." Percy spoke. "But you'll have many others helping you defend yourselves. You'll have a lot more people watching your back."
"Really? We'll have people like us?" Annabeth asked, as Percy knelt down and wrapped an arm around her shoulder.
"Absolutely. And they'll treat you like family." Percy spoke with a smile as Annabeth's eyes sparkled.
Luke crossed his arms, looking down in contemplation, doubt written in his expression. Percy waited silently before Luke's shoulders slumped.
"Thalia, do you think we should go to Camp Half-Blood?" He asked with a smile as Thalia glanced at Percy.
"...I still think we can handle ourselves."
"Fighting monsters is one thing, Thalia. Pushing back against an Elder Olympian is something completely different." Percy spoke.
"Thalia…" Luke spoke, putting a hand on Thalia's shoulder before glancing at Annabeth, who was still excitedly staring at Percy.
Thalia frowned and stared at Percy as they silently looked at each other…
…Before Thalia sighed.
"Fine. I accept."
Annabeth giggled as Percy let out a sigh of relief.
"Alright, then. Camp Half-Blood's located in New York, so we have a long journey ahead of us. The trains to Manhattan should be starting at about this time…"
"Wait. It's…been a bit of a tiring day for us." Luke spoke as Percy spotted a red diary in his hand.
When did Luke have a diary? Percy thought before noticing Luke and Thalia look at the diary with grief in their eyes.
Percy got the implication. Truth be told, his little outburst with the James River had given him some rejuvenation with the water. But the exhaustion from the Curse was taking hold again.
"You know what? I accept. You guys have a place?"
"Just a little bit further downstream. We'll rest, then take a train." Luke spoke.
"Got it."
The four of them soon reached the safe house, a small tent in the woods south of Richmond, which had as Percy remembered, supplies to sustain the four. It was still quite dark, so they could some hours of sleep.
"So…are demigods like…half-god half-human?" Annabeth spoke as Luke looked at her.
"Uh…uhm, yeah…honestly, I didn't think you would really understand it, but I guess you're smarter than you look, Annabeth."
Annabeth beamed. "My uncle Randolph talked about them the last time he visited."
Percy blinked. "You have an uncle?"
"Yeah, and an aunt named Natalie." Annabeth spoke, although her tone grew wary at the mention of her uncle and aunt.
"Any cousins?"
"Well, there's Emma and Aubrey, who…my family said died a long time ago. And then there's Aunt Natalie's son, Magnus." Annabeth spoke, her tone growing sad at the mention of 'Magnus'.
This is the first time I'm hearing about Annabeth's other family members. Percy thought. And from what she said, Annabeth must have been pretty close to this 'Magnus'.
"So, your uncle told you about demigods?"
"Yeah! He's ane expert on all those viking legends and stuff…and he also has done research on greece as well."
"Well, that spares us the explanation. But yes, we're demigods…and you're one."
"As in…my mom is a goddess?" Annabeth asked with a gasp.
"Mom?" Thalia spoke
"Child of Athena." Percy spoke. "All of them have grey eyes like Annabeth's."
"Wasn't Athena a virgin goddess?" Luke asked.
"Oh, a friend of mine told me children of Athena aren't born the normal way. They have a different way, although I doubt any child of Athena would want you to know about the details of their birth."
"And Perseus said you are a child of Zeus, Thalia." Annabeth spoke as Thalia smiled in pride.
"Yep."
"Wow, you must be really strong, then!"
"Y-Yeah." Thalia spoke as Luke laughed.
"Luke? What about you?"
Luke's smile fell. "...Hermes." He spoke as Annabeth stared at him in a little concern before snapping to Percy.
"Perseus! I think I can guess your parent!"
Already? Am I that bad at maintaining secrecy? Percy thought.
"You controlled the James river, which is made of water. That makes you…a son of Poseidon!" Annabeth declared as Thalia's eyes widened.
Luke and Thalia both stared at Percy with flabbergasted expression, confusion then realisation dawning on their faces as they put two and two together.
Percy regarded them silently, unsure whether to lie or to tell the truth…before deciding on the latter.
"She's right, my dad's Poseidon." Percy spoke. "Which makes me super resistant to heat. So…I can basically take a lightning bolt to the chest and all it'll do is give me a little jolt."
"So, you're immune to lightning?" Thalia asked.
"No. I'm resistant. I think you're immune to lightning, Thalia. But whatever the case…before you ask, Hades isn't after me because then those hellhounds would have actually attacked me."
After that, the four sat in silence for a few moments before Annabeth started talkin to Thalia. At that moment, Percy took note of his situation.
He'd basically travelled back 9 years into the past, like some 'Back to the future' magic, although he supposed 'back to the past' would be more appropriate.
But whatever the case, he didn't know how to get back. He didn't even know if he could get back. But…
He was here with Annabeth, Thalia and Luke. Back when they were still fending for themselves. 5 years before Luke would steal the master bolt from Olympus.
He was here, with knowledge of all that would happen in the future.
I could prevent everything that happens. Percy thought. The Second Titanomachy had claimed many lives, not only through death but also through demigods abandoning camp to join Kronos' army. Camp Half-Blood had gone from the bustling haven for demigods when he'd first come there to an empty place filled only with young boys and girls who had seen nothing but despair and war in the course of 4 years.
All because of Kronos manipulating Luke and his desire for demigods to have a better life than they had.
All his friends…he could save them from a cruel war.
That thought kept growing in Percy's mind as he realised all that he could do.
He had the curse of Achilles.
He was practically invincible.
He could take on Titans and beat them.
…He could change fate itself.
I can do it all to save my friends and family. Percy thought with a smile blossoming on his face.
He could stop everything. Maybe even delay the prophecy. The possibilities were endless, and suddenly Percy felt a new-found excitement grow within him.
He looked at Luke, Thalia and Annabeth chatting happily.
They don't need to go down the path they did, with Thalia nearly dying, Luke turning to Kronos and Annabeth being left behind… Percy thought.
He'll make sure all three of them would reach camp Half-Blood safely. And before that…
Percy looked at Luke.
He'd make sure Luke never goes over to Kronos.
"I think we should call it." Luke spoke as Annabeth yawned and rubbed her eyes. Although it was only morning, the demigods were tired from their respective ordeals and needed to rest.
"I'll go on guard duty." Percy spoke before stumbling.
"Woah, woah!" Luke caught him. "You're really tired, Perseus. I guess this and your previous fight tired you out a lot, huh?"
"I guess so. But it's fine…I can take care."
"No. Let me do it. Get your rest, then you can take over for me." Luke spoke as Percy pursed his lips.
He had the curse of Achilles. They'd be much safer with him guarding, but…
Percy's body really felt like lead now. He had not taken any rest since the dawn of the final day on Manhattan.
"...Fine." Percy spoke before walking over to beside the campfire, and taking a pillow that was stashed within the safehouse's supplies.
"See you in a few hours." Percy spoke before his head crashed against the pillow, and he drifted into the world of dreams.
Percy found himself in a throne room, with windows for walls, that gave a view of the skyline of New York. Potted trees hung from some of the windows, while the floor was lined with rugs that Percy doubted even millionaires could afford. There were black marble pillars, eerily reminiscent of Othrys.
A man sat on a purple sofa, with a bit of a belly, but with brown hair and a neck beard around a smug expression that would put even Luke's to shame. He wore a white tunic with gold embroidery as well as a purple toga like one of those senators from old movies on rome, except golden laurels sat on his head like some sort of emperor's.
A bunch of buff, bearded men with bronze scale-mail armor and heavy wooden shields along with swords stood behind the sofa. To the right of the throne were young women with serving-trays, their green hair showing their nature as dryads. But to the left of the man…
"Demigods." Percy whispered in shock as twelve demigods stood with stone-cold expressions on their faces, wearing the same purple togas over shirts and jeans. The oldest one seemed to be a son of Athena, his blonde hair combed upwards and his face having a bit of a stubble, while his dull, storm-grey eyes were a sharp contrast to Annabeth's much wider ones.
In this throne room, Percy noticed the emperor dude talking to someone…
Hades. Percy thought in surprise as the god of the underworld stood in front of the throne, wearing a black overcoat over a grey sleeveless jacket and a white shirt with a black tie. Hades' face was impassive as he sat opposite the other man.
Hades was all alone in the room. But despite that, Percy knew he did not need any sort of armed support. No one in the entire room would be stupid enough to actually attack Hades.
"It is an honour for you to grace my household, Lord Pluto." The man spoke with a bow as Hades hummed in disinterest.
"I come to you as a client at the moment." Hades spoke bluntly before he looked at the obsidian pillars.
"Interesting design choice." He spoke as the man chuckled.
"Obsidian imported from Mexico, Lord Pluto. Very, very fine-quality."
"Hm, Othrys' obsidian was much darker. They actually felt like a void in reality." Hades commented. "I do remember Zeus being relieved when the Hekatonkheires demolished the wall in the Titanomachy."
The demigods, despite their cold expressions, did give a slight nervous twitch around Hades.
"I require your resources." Hades spoke as the shadows of the pillars converged into a dark sphere, with Thalia's face floating in front of it.
"Ah…I believe that is Thalia Grace, daughter of Jupiter…I mean, Zeus." The man spoke as Hades frowned.
"Yes. And I trust you realise what that means."
"Of course, of course! That makes me understand precisely what you mean…" The man spoke taking a sip from a goblet served by one of the attendants.
"Do you require any one of my children to put her down?" The man asked, glancing at the demigods.
"I can assure you that even if she is more powerful as a child of Zeus, she lacks the training and experience to survive against them. What do you think would be her chances of surviving?" The man asked the son of Athena.
"Very little, imperator. She would have been much harder to deal with if she had someone to teach her to use her powers properly. But if she has been trying to survive by herself, then we can hunt her down." He spoke in an almost robotic voice.
The man looked back at Hades with a smirk and cocked an eyebrow.
"Whether Thalia Grace dies or survives is for me to decide. Right now, I want nothing from you but the closing of New York."
The man frowned. "Closing off Olympus? That's all?"
"I want her dead, through my own resources. All I need from you is to ensure she has no place to escape to."
"Hm, but you should also know I am the Emperor of the East. Should Thalia Grace head out of my territory, you will have to conduct negotiations with my colleagues as well."
"I shall see about that. Right now, all I need from you is the closing of New York. If your forces capture her, I shall send one of my furies to collect them."
The man shrugged. "Alright, fine…if you say so. Will you be open for payment?"
"Name your price. The riches of the Underworld are more than enough to accommodate whatever you want."
"Really, Lord Pluto? I would think it would be rude of me to demand payment from my own god."
"I do not mind. I am not like Zeus. If I am to ask for your services, I will be willing to play by your rules." Hades replied.
"And besides, its not like whatever payment you require will make a dent on my treasury."
"Of course, of course. You are the god of wealth, Lord Pluto. Not even the wealth we have accumulated over a millennium can compare to your vault in the Underworld. But…I do not seek something monetary."
Hades cocked an eyebrow. "Oh? Is that so?"
"No. What I need…is something special."
The room grew dark as Hades narrowed his eyes.
"What?"
"Perhaps a plant from Lady Proserpine's gar…"
"You will not receive anything from my wife's garden. I am not wagering them against the life of Zeus' brat…" Hades spoke.
The man gave a fake sad frown. "Really? Is there no space for negotiation?" He asked, almost sounding like a disappointed child.
"No." Hades immediately spoke. "The fruits of the underworld are not meant for the surface. And they are anyways owned by my wife, who maintains none of the flowers or fruits from her garden ever leave the underworld."
"What about…"
"Absolutely not. Waters from the styx are something I only give out in very little quantities to Hephaestus and his children, that too diluted to ensure it's primary properties do not take effect. I will not freely give out the bridge between life and death itself to the land of the living."
The man sighed. "...What about the Lethe?"
Hades stared at him silently, contemplating his decision.
He then snapped his fingers as a golden amphora materialised, the milky-white waters of the Lethe swirling inside.
"This is all that you shall get." Hades spoke as the man smiled in satisfaction, beckoning one of the dryad attendants to take it.
"Careful, Areca. One little drop spilling out would be disastrous." The man spoke as Areca handled the amphora with fear in her eyes.
"Very well. I shall inform my mercenaries, Lord Pluto." The man spoke as Hades turned around.
"What about her companions?"
"Leave them. They are of no concern to me. If they wish to enter New York, they may pass. Even if they resist, do not use lethal force."
"Very well." The man spoke before Hades' body turned pitch-black as he warped out of existence.
At that moment, Percy felt an extremely cold chill in the room, which made him shiver. He'd say it was a hyperborean, but this level of cold would be difficult even for Hyperborean giants to achieve with their breaths. And whatever this was was causing the cold with their mere presence.
"Goodness me, the millennia haven't treated him well." A soft, calm voice spoke as the emperor rested a fist against his chin.
"Well, Lord Pluto has been very grumpy." The emperor spoke.
"A lot grumpier than he used to be. Shows what ruling with someone like Zeus can do to you." The voice spoke.
"Impressive with locating Thalia Grace." The emperor spoke.
"It was easy to locate Thalia Grace. That old goat Amaltheia rarely leaves Olympus unless Zeus' bloodline needs help. If she ever pops into the world of humans, then a child fo Zeus isn't too far away."
"And it seems like things are going as you said they would."
"Of course they are. But…I observed something. Something very interesting." The voice spoke. "They have been joined by another demigod."
Percy inhaled sharply.
"And that demigod seemed to have strands of the power of Kronos floating around him."
"Oh, a demigod with a connection to Saturn?"
"Possibly. But rest assured, we have a separate assignment to do as well. I need further observations on him. Unlike Thalia, you'll need to be more active on him."
"I see. Do we have a name?"
"No. But don't worry…" Suddenly Percy felt the cold stab at his body.
"I have already seen your face, demigod." Percy's world went dark as two ice-blue eyes opened in front of him.
"I will be coming for you."
Percy sat up, panting.
"Luke!" He spoke, noticing Thalia and Annabeth just waking up while Luke turned to him.
"We can't go to New York!"
A/N: Writing this chapter from Oxford right now. The prologue was released on the same day I had a flight to the UK, and the past few days I'd been really busy at Oxford, so yeah. Here's the first chapter. I was thinking of having Percy fight Luke and Thalia (And beat them easily), but then...I decided not to. I guess I didn't feel right having Percy fighting Luke and Thalia. Maybe it's because I felt it would take the focus off of Percy's realisation what had happened to him. So, I put a fight scene with the hellhounds later just to give the four a taste of fighting together (Which they'll of course be doing a lot in this story)
And then the dream segment, after ToA confirms the Princess Andromeda supplied to Luke by Triumvirate Holdings, I just had to put Nero into the story. Because considering I won't be sticking much to the canon storyline, I need a sort of a background war to take place behind the scenes of the Second Titanomachy. So yeah, we'll get Percy vs the Triumvirate in the future.
Now with Hades making a deal with Nero, I think Triumvirate Holdings would be more looking towards profit. With how they are structure, it won't be surprising if they had done deals with some Olympians in the past.
Plus, I need something to ensure I had a proper storyline (Since going to New York would mean we're getting towards the end).
Hope you guys enjoyed and constructive criticism is appreciated!
Response to Reviews:
Guest: I think Silena is only 9 at this time. So, a relationship between her and Percy would be really weird and probably not possible.
Deeznuggets2121: I don't think the choice of setting is much of a problem. You could put Percy at the time of Lightning Thief and put drastic changes in the storyline. But Richmond works best for me because of how distanced yet important it is from the main storyline. It is essentially Luke's past that defines a lot of the PJO storyline, and any changes here would completely shift the rest of the story.
surya25addanki: Ah, doubtful. I don't want a 'Percy-stomp' story. Sure, Percy will be able to plough through most enemies, but I still need some struggle for Percy along the way.