Jason felt like he was floating. No, he was lying on the most comfortable object imaginable.

A cloud.

It was a good thing too, because he was pretty sure he couldn't move any part of his body.

In front of him stood a man, about seven feet tall. His skin was the same color as the sky. A dark night with twinkling stars. Even his shorts were the color of the sky. In front of the man was a woman in green. Her dress seemed to be made of trees and waterfalls, her brown skin contrasting the night sky. Despite her mortal appearance, Jason knew who she was.

"GET OUT OF MY WAY!" Gaia yelled at the man made out of the sky, Her anger echoing through the cosmos. Jason had never felt this much rage emanate from her before. It scared him.

Despite her fury, the man didn't move. "I won't let you kill my kin." His deep voice echoed in a similar way. Jason felt at ease when he spoke.

"Your KIN? Since when did you care about your kin!?" It was more of an accusation than a question.

"I do not have to explain myself to you." He responded calmly.

She laughed cruelly at his retort, "If only you cared this much about OUR children!" Her eyes narrowed in resentment. "Where was this love when you threw them into TARTARUS!? HUH!"

"Gaia please, I don't want to fight." He put his right arm in front of him firmly, ready for the primordial goddess to attack.

"You should have thought of that before…", Jason coughed up golden blood. All eyes were on him. While the woman's red eyes glared at him, the man approached him, his eyes filled with concern.

"Son of Jupiter. Why did you bring her here? Why didn't you finish her?"

Jason, barely able to move, clasped the man's forearm. He didn't know why, but he felt a kindness in him that he hadn't felt in anyone else. A love he didn't think could exist. It was so deep and sad and beautiful. Jason knew the man needed to let it out.

"Tell…" Jason coughed, "tell her… how… how you feel…" He could hardly sound out the words, but the man's expression told him he got the message.

"You brought her here for that reason?"

The demigod gave a tierd nod. His eyesight was slowly giving way. He felt himself drifting. It was time for him to sleep. The clouds were too comfortable.

The man's grip tightened, keeping him awake.

"Don't sleep just yet. I'll make sure to keep you safe." Jason felt a drop of water land on his cheek. The man's face turned into a light sun shower, despite the night sky above.

"It was so nice to finally meet you." His smile strained.

As the man let go, Jason thought he would leave forever. Jason didn't want that. He raised his weak hand to the empty air. No… don't go…

"Ouranus!" Jason awoke from the memory in tears. He was sitting up in a cart, arm outstretched. He wailed in pain form the ache in his left shoulder blade.

"Yes?" A voice to his left asked. Jason turned, startled at the site. A man with pale skin was sitting next to Historia. He wore a gray three piece tailored suit, along with a familiar gray hat. Light blue freckles were spread across his long face. It was his nebulous eyes that gave him away.

Before Jason could confront the man, he heard a yelp to his right. Half of Erens body had fallen outside the cart in shock. Luckily, Levi caught the titan shifter. The Captain pushed him back into the cart. Eren sat down, staring at the neatly dressed man.

"Hello son of Ymir. I hope you are well." The man said politely.

Eren pointed and asked, "What are you doing here?"

"Eren, you know him?" Jason asked.

Hange let out a disgruntled gruff, "Eren, what are you pointing at?"

Both boys stared at Hange. She was lying next to Jason, still banged up from the cave. Both eyes then met the mysterious man.

"Ms. Hange," Eren slowly said, "You can't see the man sitting next to Historia?"

Historia, noticing the commotion, looked next to her. Her eyes could not focus on the passenger to her right. "There's someone sitting next to me?" she asked.

"Everyone, shut up!" Jason yelled.

The cart became quiet.

Jason took a deep breath. He still had a headache from releasing the lightning earlier. And what he dreamed about… was that a memory? He had so many questions, but he started with an easy one.

"Are you… are you really Ouranus?"

The man gave a sly smile, "I go by many names, son of Jupiter, but yes, I am the one you call Ouranus. King of the Universe, at your service." He gave a slight bow.

Jason rifled through his hair, "No, no, no, no, none of this makes any sense. You're supposed to be…"

"Evil?"

Jason gave him a sidelong glance, "I wasn't going to put it that way."

The man sighed, "Well, whatever the case, I am who you think I am. Granted I used to be evil, but I have changed. Being exiled from your home for eons will make you think about life differently."

"What's going on?" A new voice joined the fray. Jason was surprised to see Commander Erwin right outside the cart to his left. He rode his steed right next to Ouranus, staring at Jason. He didn't notice the man.

"I think I can explain sir." Eren chimed in. "There is a man sitting next to Historia, but… only me and Jason can see him."

Erwin stayed silent for a bit. Then he asked, "Will this man harm us?" He was looking at Jason for an answer.

Jason looked to Ouranus, then to Erwin. "I don't think so. He's the one who saved all of you from Ga… the trees." The memory slowly came back to him, "The ones outside the walls."

Erwin kept his face neutral at the comment. Then he looked to his right. Jason hadn't noticed due to all the mayhem of his awakening, but in the distance there was a creature of some kind crawling slowly on the plain. It released immense amounts of steam into the air and its skin was a grotesque shade of pink.

"We have more pressing issues at hand. Whatever happens here, there better be a report for me to read later. Is that understood?" Jason unwittingly gave his commander a "Yes, sir." Before the man rode past the cart, giving orders to the others.

Ouranus kept his sight on the Commander, "I have to say, son of Jupiter, you have surrounded yourself with an interesting class of mortals."

Jason returned his gaze to the enigma of the cart, "You say that like I had a choice."

He chuckled, "You could have left at any time. Yet, here you stay. You enjoy their company."

Jason was glad the others couldn't hear the full conversation. "They… aren't bad people." He admitted

"But you have a hard time following orders." He wagged his finger disapprovingly, "I know you have the blood of a king, but you can't gain their trust unless you work with them."

Jason's eyebrow narrowed. Is he… lecturing me?

The man continued, "Despite that, you made the right decision by joining their ranks. They are the only way you will be able to keep your promise to the son of Poseidon."

"You know about Percy? How…?" Stop. I need to focus. What's the most important thing to ask right now?

"Is… is there any way I can get home?"

The cart was quiet for a bit. Jason waited.

"I'm not sure." He finally answered, "I was stuck here for eons, and could never find a way back." Jason made a visible frown, "But that is not the question you should be asking, son of Jupiter."

Jason was about to ask what he meant by that statement, but they heard a girl scream instead.

All eyes were on Sasha, who was riding a horse directly behind the cart. Her body shaking, she pointed at Ouranos. The man gave a knowing look. "If it isn't the huntress." He turned his body towards her, "You look well. I never asked, was the ambrosia you made any good?"

"CONNIE!" She began yelling, "SHES HERE! SHE'S GOING TO KILL US!" She ruffled her hair in despair, "I TOLD YOU IT WAS A BAD IDEA! I TOLD YOU SHE WOULD FIND OUT! WE'RE ALL GOING TO DIE!" The tears exploded from her face.

Jason saw the visible confusion on Ouranus's face. He looked to Jason, "I'm not sure how to respond to that." Jason saw Connie and Armin trying to calm her down.

"Oh!" The man shifted his attention back to the cart, "I almost forgot why I'm here. I came to tell you both that you passed!" He gave a single clap at the announcement. Both Eren and Jason tilted their heads. "Passed what?" Eren asked.

"Gaia's test of course."

"We were being tested by Gaia?" Jason asked.

"Well sort of… you see my wife and I made a bet. If you passed her test, she would leave both of you alone. If you didn't, then she would have killed all of humanity. I of course bet on you." He gave a cheeky smile.

"Why… why am I included in this?" Eren asked shakily.

"You asked me to help the son of Jupiter."

Eren's mouth was agape. Jason didn't think the boy could make such an expression.

Jason returned his attention to Ouranus, "I… I don't understand. Why would Gaia even give us a test? She's been fully revived, hasn't she?" He remembered how much effort it took him and the other six demigods just to put the women to sleep. There was no way she wouldn't try to take revenge now.

The man gave a smile, "Mind you, she fully planned on rigging the test, but then she witnessed the exchange between the Queen of the Walls and the Son of Ymir. She couldn't believe a human would give up that much power." His freckles illuminated when he chuckled. Eren's eyes widened, Jason stared at Historia. She gave them a questioning look.

The man patted his thighs, "Well, now that I have delivered my message, it is time for me to leave." He rose to his full height, "I wish you both the best of luck."

"Wait!" Jason tried to get up, but his legs weren't responding.

The king of the cosmos turned around, waiting for Jason.

"She… there is no way she would leave things the way they are. You," Jason narrowed his brow in worry, "You made another deal with her, didn't you?"

The man smirked, "It seems you know my wife better than I." He kneeled to Jason's height, giving him his full attention. Jason could see the many galaxies in his eyes, "Do not fear, son of Jupiter. There are worse fates than the one I have chosen." He took off his hat and placed it on the boy. "You have my eternal gratitude, Jason Grace."

As soon as Jason raised his head, the man disappeared. Replacing him were small balls of light. Jason tried to grab them with his uninjured arm, but they floated away from him, towards the night sky.

Everyone in the cart looked at the ball's light. Those outside the cart began to notice it as well. Even Sasha, who had her hands on Connie's collar, stared in awe.

"It's beautiful." Historia said, filling the silence.

Jason stared aimlessly at the sky, "Yeah, it is." He closed his eyes, not wanting the tears to come out. He clutched the hat to hide his face. As the tears fell, he thought the following.

It was nice to meet you too, Ouranus.