Disclaimer: I only own the plot and my OCs. Anything you recognize as not mine belongs to Rick Riordan, Greco-Roman mythology, and/or their otherwise respective owners.

Author's Notes: Oof, it's been a week. Should be able to get the next chapter out next week, but if I don't, just giving you a head's up.

Anyways, as always, I hope you enjoy. Until the next chapter,

~TGWSI/Selene Borealis

~The Finding Home Saga~

~Finding Home~

~Chapter 72: The Gods Vote How To Kill Us~

Flying was bad enough as a son of Poseidon, but flying straight up to Zeus' palace, with thunder and lightning swirling around it, was even worse.

We circled over midtown Manhattan, making one complete orbit around Mount Olympus. I'd only been there once before, although I'd seen it another time in my dreams. Somehow, that made Olympus even more impressive now than it had been either of those times.

In the early morning darkness, torches and fires made the mountainside palaces glow twenty different colors, from blood red to indigo. Apparently, no one ever slept on Olympus. The twisting streets were full of minor gods and goddesses, whether they be just gods or nymphs or some other type of deity, bustling about, riding chariots or sedan chairs carried by Cyclopes. Winter didn't even seem to exist here. I caught the scent of the gardens in full bloom, jasmine and roses and even sweeter things I couldn't name. Music drifted up from many windows, the soft sounds of lyres and reed pipes.

Towering at the peak of the mountain was the greatest palace of all, the glowing white hall of the gods.

Our pegasi set us down in the outer courtyard, in front of huge silver gates. Before I could even think to knock, the gates opened by themselves.

"Good luck, Boss," Blackjack said.

"Yeah." I didn't know why, but I had a sense of doom. I'd never seen all the gods together. I knew any one of them could blast me to dust, and a few probably would even want to.

"Hey, if ya don't come back, can I have your stable."

I looked at the pegasus.

"Just a thought," she said. "Sorry. Callie will need it anyways if you don't."

Blackjack and her friends flew off, leaving Iphigenia, Silena, and me alone. For a minute we stood there regarding the palace, the way Silena and I had stood together along with Thalia and Katie in front of Westover Hall. It seemed like it had happened a million years ago.

Then, side by side, we walked into the throne room.

Twelve enormous thrones made a "U" around a central hearth, just like the placement of the cabins at camp. The ceiling above glittered with constellations – even the newest one, the one of Zoë the Huntress, making her way across the heavens with her bow drawn.

All of the seats were occupied. Each god and goddess was about fifteen feet tall, and I'm telling you, if you've ever had a dozen all-powerful super-huge beings turn their eyes on you at once...

Well, suddenly, facing monsters seemed like a picnic.

I'd seen pretty much all of them before, and they were taking on the appearances of when I had, just in a much bigger size: Hermes was wearing a suit now but he had the same sandy blonde hair and icy blue eyes as Luke and Mia did, Dionysus looked just as he did at camp, and milady and Poseidon both appeared as they had the first time I had met them...

With a start, I realized that the only two I had not met before were Athena and Hephaestus. Athena looked a lot like Annabeth, except her curly hair was black instead of blonde. Like Hera and Artemis, but only them, she was dressed like how you would've expected in ancient times, bronze Greek battle armor over her white chiton. As for Hephaestus...he reminded me of his children at camp. I wasn't sure why, because he didn't look much like them. Like how the myths portrayed him, he had shoulders of different heights, so it made him look like he was leaning even when he wasn't, and his right leg was in a giant bronze brace. His hair was brown and wild, and his dark brown eyes were beady and hard to make out. His skin was darker than the rest of the Olympians, though whether that was due to genetics or his constant time in the forges, I wasn't sure. He was wearing a brown leather apron over leather pants and a white shirt smeared with grease that had its sleeves rolled up to his elbows.

His kindness, I decided. That was what reminded me of his children. He had the same kind aura that the rest of them did, even though you probably wouldn't notice it at first.

"Welcome heroes," Artemis said, at the same time I was just starting to wonder where Hades was. He was supposed to be here, since it was the solstice, but I didn't see him around...

"Moooo!"

That was when I noticed Bessie, Katie, and...Thalia.

A sphere of water was hovering in the center of the room, next to the hearth fire, which Hestia wasn't actually tending to like I'd expected her to be. Bessie was swimming happily around inside it, swishing her serpent tail and poking her head out the sides and the bottom of the sphere. She seemed to be enjoying the novelty of swimming in a magic bubble. Katie and Thalia were kneeling in front of Zeus' throne, as if they'd just been giving a report, but when Katie saw us, she cried, "You made it!"

She started to run towards me, and so did Thalia – who looked a little worse for the wear but not nearly as bad as I'd been expecting, no doubt thanks to Will and the other healer children of Apollo at camp – at a more sedate pace. But then they remembered that they were turning their backs on Zeus, and they looked to him for permission.

"Go on," Zeus said. But he wasn't really looking at Katie. All of his attention was focused on Thalia.

They went back to rushing over to us. None of the gods spoke. The sound of Katie's and Thalia's footsteps on the marble floor echoed. Bessie splashed in her bubble of water. The hearth fire crackled.

I looked nervously at my father, Poseidon, and my patron, Demeter – but mainly Poseidon, if I'm being honest. I wasn't sure how he would feel about seeing me again, but the corners of his eyes crinkled with smile lines. He nodded as if to say, "It's okay."

Katie gave me and Silena big hugs. Thalia stood behind her, not approaching us, although she did nod at Iphigenia. There was a look in the daughter of Zeus' eyes – I wasn't sure what it meant, or whether or not I liked it. But it was a relief to see her alive regardless. I tried to focus on that.

Then Katie grasped my arms. "Percy, you have to convince them! They can't do it!"

"Do what?" I asked.

"Heroes," Artemis called.

The goddess slid down from her throne and turned to human size, a young, inky black-haired girl, perfectly at ease in the midst of the giant Olympians. She walked towards us, her silver robes shimmering. There was no emotion in her face. She seemed to walk in a column of moonlight.

"The Council has been informed of your deeds," Artemis told us. "They know that Mount Othrys is rising in the West. They know of Atlas' attempt for freedom, and the gathering armies of Kronos. We have voted to act."

There was some mumbling and shuffling among the gods, as if they weren't all happy with this plan, but nobody protested.

"At Lord Zeus' command," Artemis pressed on, "my brother Apollo and I shall hunt the most powerful monsters, seeking to strike them down before they can join the Titans' cause. Lady Athena shall personally check on the other Titans to make sure that they do not escape their various prisons. Lord Poseidon has been given his permission to unleash his full fury on the cruise ship the Princess Andromeda and send it to the bottom of the sea. And as for you, my heroes..."

She turned to face the other immortals. "These half-bloods have done Olympus a great service. Would any here deny that?"

She looked around at the assembled gods, meeting their faces individually. Zeus in his dark pinstriped suit, his black beard neatly trimmed, and his eyes sparkling with energy. Next to him sat Hera, although this time her outfit was a little different now that I got to thinking about it, her hair braided with silver and tossed over one shoulder while her chiton was not white, but colored in the shades and hues of a peacock.

On Zeus' right and Hera's left, my father Poseidon and milady Demeter, but I didn't focus so much on the goddess' side for now. There was Hephaestus on the other side of Poseidon, then Ares on his chrome-and-leather throne, glowering at me while he sharpened his knife. Then there was Apollo as he leaned back in his golden throne, a giant set of iPod headphones on, and I wasn't even sure if he was listening until he gave me a thumbs-up. Hermes winked at me. Dionysus looked bored and like he was barely paying attention as he twirled a grape vine between his fingers.

Demeter was smiling at me, like Poseidon. Athena's expression was much more neutral. Then there was Aphrodite, who was also smiling at me. Remembering our earlier conversation, I couldn't help but flush under her gaze.

All the Olympians in one place. So much power in this room it was a miracle the whole place didn't blow apart.

"I gotta say," Apollo said, breaking the silence, "these kids did okay." He cleared his throat and began to recite: "Heroes win laurels – "

"Um, yes, first class," Hermes interrupted, like he was anxious to avoid Apollo's poetry. "All in favor of not disintegrating them?"

Two hands went up immediately: Demeter's, Aphrodite's.

"Wait just a minute," Ares growled. He pointed at Thalia and me. "These two are dangerous. It'd be much safer, while we've got them here – "

"Ares," Poseidon interrupted, "they are worthy heroes. We will not blast my son to bits."

"Not when he is also my champion," Demeter agreed.

"Nor my daughter," Zeus growled. "Her time on the quest was short, but she has done well."

Thalia blushed. She studied the floor. I knew how she felt. While things were different with Demeter, I'd hardly ever talked to my father, much less gotten a compliment.

The goddess Athena cleared her throat and sat forwards. "I can understand with the daughter of Aphrodite, the daughter of Demeter, and the Huntress. But there is a security risk here with the other two."

My mouth just about dropped open. Seriously?

"It is unfortunate that my father, Zeus, and my uncle, Poseidon, chose to break their oath not to have more children, especially with there being another child of Poseidon out there," Annabeth's mother pressed on. The blush on Thalia's face abruptly died; now she was glaring down at the floor, probably at the reminder of her brother. Once again, I didn't blame her. "Only Hades kept his word, a fact that I find ironic, even though two of his children still yet live. As we know from the Great Prophecy, children of the three elder male gods...such as Percy and Thalia here, but also Callie, Bianca, and Nico...are dangerous. As thickheaded as he is, Ares has a point."

"Right!" Ares said. "Hey, wait a minute. Who you callin' – ?"

He started to get up, but a grape vine grew around his waist like a seat belt and pulled him back down into his seat.

"Oh, please," Dionysus sighed. "Save the fighting for later."

Ares cursed and ripped away the vine. "You're one to talk, you old drunk! You seriously want to protect these brats?"

Dionysus gazed down at us wearily. "I have no love for them. Athena, do you truly think it safest to destroy them?"

"I do not pass judgment," Athena said. "I only point out the risk. What we do, the Council must decide."

"I will not have them punished," Artemis spoke. "I will have them rewarded. If we destroy heroes who do us a great favor, then we are no better than the Titans. If this is Olympian justice, I will have none of it."

"Calm down, sis," Apollo said. "Jeez, you need to lighten up."

"Don't call me 'sis!' I will reward them."

"Well," Zeus grumbled. "Perhaps. But the monster at least must be destroyed. We have agreement on that?"

A lot of nodding heads.

It took me a second to realize what they were saying, what Katie must've been warning me about. Then my heart turned to lead. "Bessie? You want to destroy Bessie?"

"Mooooo!" Bessie protested.

My father frowned. "You have named the Ophisbous Bessie?"

"Dad," I said, "she's just a sea creature. A really nice sea creature. You can't destroy her."

Poseidon shifted uncomfortably. "Percy, the monster's power is considerable. If the Titans were to steal it, or – "

"You can't," I insisted. I looked at Zeus. I probably should have been afraid of him, but I stared him right in the eye. "Controlling the prophecies never works. Isn't that true? Besides, Bess – the Ophisbous is innocent. Killing something like just for this kind of sake is wrong. It's just as wrong as...as Kronos eating his children, just because of something they might do. It's wrong!"

Zeus actually seemed to consider this. His eyes drifted to his daughter Thalia. "And what of the risk? Kronos knows full well, if one of you or any of our other living mortal children were to sacrifice the beast's entrails, you would have the power to destroy us. Do you think we can let that possibility remain? You, my daughter, will turn eighteen on the morrow, just as the prophecy says."

"You have to trust them," Silena spoke up. "Sir, you have to trust them."

Zeus scowled. "Trust a hero?"

"Silena is right," Artemis said. "Which is why I must first make a reward. My faithful companion, Zoë Nightshade, has passed into the stars. I must have a new lieutenant, and I intend to choose one. But since I know the other companion that I would consider for the role, Iphigenia, does not wish it – " I turned to look at Iphigenia at this, surprised, but she was nodding in agreement with Artemis. Huh " – Lord Zeus, I must speak to you privately."

Zeus beckoned Artemis forwards. He leaned down and listened as she spoke in his ear.

A feeling of panic seized me, I didn't know why. If Silena wasn't a maiden, then she couldn't be a Huntress – nor would she want to be, anyways. And Katie wasn't interested in joining the Hunt, either.

Before I could think about it any further, Artemis turned around. "I shall have a new lieutenant, if she will accept it," she announced. "Thalia, daughter of Zeus. Will you join the Hunt?"

...Oh.

I wasn't the only one surprised. Stunned silence filled the room.

But Thalia stood tall and proud, with a smile that I thought was bittersweet on her face. "I will," she said firmly.

Zeus rose, his eyes full of concern. "My daughter, consider well – "

"Father," she said. "I will not turn eighteen tomorrow. I will never turn eighteen. I won't let this prophecy be mine. I stand with my cousin Artemis. Kronos will never be able to tempt me."

She knelt before the goddess and began the words that I had prevented Bianca from uttering, what seemed like so long ago. "I, Thalia Grace, pledge myself to the goddess Artemis. I turn my back on the company of men, accept eternal maidenhood, and join the Hunt."

Afterwards, that faint silver glow surrounded her just like it did with Iphigenia, and had with Zoë. Then she and Iphigenia both went to stand by Artemis' side.

"Now, for the Ophisbous," Artemis said.

"This boy is still dangerous," Dionysus warned. "The beast is a temptation for great power. Even if we spare the boy – "

"No." I looked around at all the gods. "Please. Keep the Ophisbous safe. My dad can hide him under the sea somewhere, or keep him in an aquarium here on Olympus. But you have to protect him."

"And why should we trust you?" rumbled Hephaestus.

"I'm only sixteen," I said. "If this prophecy is about me, that's two more years."

"Two more years for Kronos to deceive you," Athena said. "Much can change in two years, my young hero. It is a bad strategy to keep both you and the animal alive."

"No," Demeter said again. "I will not allow harm to befall my champion on the behalf of this Council."

Poseidon stood. "And I will not have the sea creature destroyed, if I can help it. And I can help it."

He held out his hand, and a trident appeared in it: a twenty-foot long bronze shaft embedded with emeralds, and with three spear tips that shimmered with blue, watery light. "I will vouch for the safety of my son and the safety of the Ophisbous."

"You won't take it under the sea!" Zeus stood suddenly. "I won't have that kind of bargaining chip in your possession!"

"Brother, please," Poseidon sighed.

Zeus' lightning bolt appeared in his hand, a shaft of electricity that filled the whole room with ozone.

"Fine," Poseidon said. "I will build an aquarium for the creature here. Hephaestus can help me. The creature will be safe. We shall protect it with all of our powers. The boy will not betray us. I vouch for this on my honor."

"As do I," Demeter added.

Zeus thought about this. "All in favor?"

To my surprise, a lot of hands went up. Dionysus abstained. So did Ares and Athena. But everybody else...

"We have a majority," Zeus decreed. "And so, since we will not be destroying these heroes...I imagine we should honor them. Let the triumph celebration begin!"

There are parties, and then there are huge, major, blowout parties. And then there are Olympian parties. If you ever get a choice, go for Olympian.

The Nine Muses cranked up the tunes, and I realized that the music was whatever you wanted it to be: the gods could listen to classical and the younger demigods, who had come to join us from camp, heard hiphop or whatever, and it was all the same soundtrack. No arguments. No fights to change the radio station. Just requests to crank it up.

Dionysus went around growing refreshment stands out of the ground, and a beautiful woman walked with him arm in arm – his wife, Ariadne. Dionysus looked happy for the first time. He looked younger, too – though he still wasn't the young man that he was traditionally seen as in the myths (when he wasn't busy dying and getting resurrected again), it was like years had literally been stripped from his face, leaving him in his mid-thirties like Hermes and a bit fitter, but not by much. Nectar and ambrosia overflowed from golden fountains, and platters of mortal snack food crowded the banquet tables. Golden goblets filled with whatever drink you wanted.

Gods kept coming over to congratulate me. Thankfully, they had reduced themselves to mortal size, so they didn't accidentally trample partygoers under their feet. Hermes looked like he wanted to chat with me, but he didn't, which I was guiltily a little grateful for. If that conversation would have gone anything like the one I had with him over the summer had, I don't know what I would have done.

Apollo told me that I could drive his sun chariot any time, and if I ever wanted archery lessons –

"Thanks," I told him. "But seriously, I'm no good at archery."

"Ah, nonsense," he said. "Target practice from the chariot as we fly over the US? Best fun there is!"

I made some excuses and wove through the crowds that were dancing in the palace courtyards. Despoina came over to say hi to me at one point with a giddy grin. She was just as hyper-enthusiastic as ever, and glad that I had adopted Bob. I'd left her with Hestia, who had appeared at long last, and she'd promised me she'd look after my cat until I was ready to go.

Finally, a man's voice behind me said, "You won't let me down, I hope."

I turned around and found Poseidon smiling at me.

"Dad...hi."

"Hello, Percy. You've done well."

His praise made me uneasy. I mean, it felt good, but I knew how much he'd put himself on the line for me, and he didn't even know that I was still dating Luke. Maybe I should've just let the other gods disintegrate me on the spot.

"I won't let you down," I promised.

He nodded. I had trouble reading gods' emotions, but I wondered if he had some doubts.

"Your friend Luke – "

"He's not my friend," I blurted out. Then I realized what I had done. I tried to play it off as anger one way instead of the other. "Sorry."

Luckily, he bought it. "Your former friend, Luke. He once promised things like that. He was Hermes' pride and joy. Just bear that in mind, Percy. Even the bravest can fall."

"Luke did fall pretty hard," I agreed, as nonchalantly as possible.

Poseidon shook his head. "He is not dead, Percy. Not like you think."

Luke was alive. I about wanted to dance with the elation that having confirmation of that caused.

I didn't, just let my eyes widen instead. "What?"

"Luke still lives. I have seen it. His boat sails from San Francisco with the remains of Kronos even now. He will retreat and regroup before assaulting you again. I will do my best to destroy his boat with storms, but he is making alliances with my enemies, the older spirits of the ocean. They will fight to protect him."

"But – but the fall should've killed him!"

"I know, Percy. He should not be alive." Poseidon looked troubled. "You must beware of him. He is more dangerous than ever. And the golden coffin is still with him, still growing in strength."

I wanted to talk with him some more still. Granted, we would have to change the conversation topic, but that could easily be done. I readied myself to ask him about Atlas, about how we were sure that he would stay trapped underneath the weight of the sky.

But then, Bessie started mooing from across the courtyard. Some demigods were playing with her water sphere, joyously pushing it back and forth over the top of the crowd.

"I'd better take care of that," Poseidon grumbled. "We cannot have the Ophisbous tossed around like a beach ball. Be good, my son. We may not speak again for some time."

And just like that, he was gone.

I stared after him, but not for long. Soon, a pair of arm were wrapping around me from behind. I squeaked.

"Relax, Percy," Thalia said into my ear. "I'm just hugging you."

I was surprised. "Aren't you not supposed to be doing that anymore?" I asked her as I turned around. "You know, since you swore off the company of men and all that?"

She gave me a wry grin as I saw that she was wearing a circlet now, just like Zoë had. "I'm honoring a friend," she corrected. "I just came over to tell you that I had to join the Hunt, Percy. I haven't known peace since...since Half-Blood Hill. I finally feel like I have a home. But you're a hero. You will be the one of the Great Prophecy."

I smiled back at her. "I know."

"I know you know," she replied. "Which is why...I wanted to say..." Her smile slipped. "I know. About you and Luke."

My heart didn't just skip a beat. It felt like it actually stopped for longer than few seconds inside my chest, like I was having a heart attack and everything.

"What?" I croaked out.

"I don't – I don't really remember a lot about when I was...the tree," she rushed to explain. "It was like it was all a dream. Not even that, really. I was dying one minute, and then I was alive underneath that tree the next...but I do remember some things from the in between. And I had a lot of time to think when I was under all that rubble and you guys were searching for me, and then after Bianca found me and took me back to camp. It made me remember some of the things that Luke used to tell me: first about Alan and how he wanted to get with him, then when he Alan got together, then when Alan died, and then...about you." She laughed bittersweetly.

I didn't know what I was supposed to do with this news. What was I supposed to say, "I'm sorry?"

"Don't be," she said. Oops. I must've said that part out loud. Thalia's smile returned, and she punched me in the arm for good measure. "Luke and I...we were two very different people, even back then. Not to mention, we were only twelve. I don't think things ever would've worked out between us." She did have a point with that. Her eyes softened. "But they do seem to be working out with you, if what Iphigenia told me tonight is any indicator."

My face was so hot, it felt like it was going to explode. "You...you guys aren't going to tell anyone?"

"No," Thalia said. "You earned Iphigenia's trust. And I know that you'd never betray the gods. I knew that even before this damned quest."

The usage of the word "damn" got to me. I started cracking up.

Thalia gave me a blank look. "What?"

"N – nothing," I said. "Don't worry about it."

She continued to stare at me for a moment, but then pressed on. "You're a good person, Percy," she said. "Which is why...I want to tell you one more thing. Yes, I had a brother. His name was Jason."

I shifted uncomfortably. "Thalia, you don't have to – "

"Shut up, Seaweed Brain. Let me finish," she ordered. I clamped my mouth shut. "He was a year younger than Annabeth. A child of Zeus, like me. He died when...you know what, it doesn't matter how he died. When you and Callie were hanging out around camp this summer, and when Bianca and Nico did the same, all of you reminded me of him. What could've been, if he hadn't died." She shuddered in a breath. "Which is another reason why I joined the Hunt. I need to move on from him. He was my brother, but I can't keep thinking about him – and Luke – all the time. I need to be happy again."

I kind of understood where she was coming from. I mean, I'd never lost somebody like that to me before, but I could understand why she needed to move on from her brother. "I get it," I said. "But, just so you know, the next time you and the Hunt come to camp, we are totally kicking your asses."

Thalia grinned wickedly. "Don't count on that." She held out her hand to me, and I grabbed it; we shook hands. "See you around, Percy."

"See you, Thalia."

Word Count: 4,554

Next Chapter Title: I Have Myself A Merry Little Christmas Pt. 1