Welcome to Lord of Alaska! Sorry if this fanfic has mistakes. I will try to revise and edit as much as possible. Disclaimer: The characters and places that you know belong to Rick Riordan, everything else is mine.
Thank you so much for all the followers, favorites, and reviews!
Aster woke up. The world was destroying itself.
The weather was thunderous, lightning striking every other second, as if the sky was about to split himself apart and fall onto the earth, setting dear Gaia on fire. The earth herself was barren, devoid of life for miles, just bare white and black rock. The ocean had decided to take all of his water and recede from the conflict.
The surroundings told him it wasn't the current century. The only structures were Doric marble columns that were clearly chipped, no longer shiny. This could only have been caused due to the Giant War or the Titan War, and because he wasn't present in the former, this dream had to be about the latter. The Fates wanted him to relive all of his memories, didn't they. Sadistic crones.
Aster saw three gods carefully stepping over the white and black-rock platform, following a tall figure bathed in gold. Zeus. And behind him were observant Perseus, timid Poseidon, and silent Hades.
Of course. Aster saw the small hole in the rock formation, an black hole that blended in with the checkerboard rocks. While their sisters were guarding Mount Olympus, the four gods were venturing into Tartarus to free the enemies Kronos had imprisoned. Those enemies would then ally with the gods so they could win. This was when the four gods got their godly weapons.
Aster smiled. This moment was better seen through his old self, not this observer self. He closed his eyes, infused his energy into his old form, and opened his eyes.
.-..-..-.
Perseus followed his brother Zeus, alongside his brother Poseidon and Hades, to the supposed hole in the black and white ground.
Lightning flashed across the blood-red sky. Boom!
He grimaced at the sound. Everything was still bright and, not exactly vivid, but inconstant. He didn't understand how his brother Zeus liked this erratic environment. It was hard to predict, and even harder to control. How could one continue doing without safety? Continue being, without certainty?
Zeus looked back at them and smiled, pointing to the hole right in front of their feet. The hole dropped straight down, seeming to have no end, and even if the sun shone his rays again, he doubted the hole's bottom would be visible. Just miles and miles of pitch black. It truly was the entrance to Tartarus. Perseus gulped. Would the hellhole be less erratic, or more?
Zeus said something, but he couldn't hear due to the angry winds. His brother jumped in the hole, leaving the three gods alone. Their golden brother was their protection in this wild world. Without him, they were bare. Defenseless.
Hades signed to say that they should jump down. Perseus nodded. Hades jumped in.
"Should we do this, Percy?" a small voice behind him asked. "It might be scary. Different. More unpredictable than this place."
Perseus turned to face his younger brother. Poseidon was still not acclimatized to this world, nobody was, but he was the worst off. Why Zeus dragged him for this, he didn't know.
"Let's join them, no?" he said softly. "Zeus promised to protect us. He is not lying: look at his power and confidence. But those can only protect us if he is nearby. We must jump."
Poseidon seemed unsure. "How about we jump in together?" asked Perseus. His younger brother nodded.
Perseus smiled. He turned his back and let Poseidon jump on his back. Then, he leapt into the dark hole that led to Tartarus head first.
The first thing he noticed was the darkness and the constancy, like his father's stomach. It was like home.
Minutes passed.
The hole got larger and larger .
Hours passed.
Perseus saw magenta ground. He tried to slow down his speed by layering heavy air below his head to cause friction, but his speed kept increasing. Tartarus would not let his powers work.
The magenta ground was right below his head. His eyes widened. He turned around and hugged Poseidon tightly. Please don't let my little brother get hurt.
They crashed. He hit the rocks violently, making him lose breath. He wheezed. The small rocks dug into his back, almost like they were trying to extract his ichor. But Poseidon did not land on top of the lecherous rocks as he cushioned his younger brother's fall. Thank gods.
Someone lifted Poseidon up from his chest. He panicked, his breathing heavier. Any miserable creature Kronos had exiled to Tartarus could have kidnapped his younger brother from him.
Perseus saw his brother Hades wiping away the dust on Poseidon's chiton, hugging him tightly. He sighed in relief. Zeus appeared, offering a golden hand to him. He took the hand with a smile.
The lands were empty. Magenta rocks surrounded them with sparse black boulders, the sky a dark magenta as well. A dark blue river beside them flowed indefinitely. Poseidon walked towards it, but Perseus pulled him back. This river was most likely dangerous.
"Brothers, I know the way," said Zeus. "Grandmother Gaia arrived in a dream and told me the directions to where the Cyclopes and Hekatonkheires are imprisoned."
"What about Tartarus?" asked Poseidon.
"Tartarus does not like that Kronos infects his lands with prisoners. Gaia said that he would not interfere with our quest. Follow me."
The others nodded. With Zeus' golden aura and charisma, there was no doubt as to who the Fates decided was the leader. He had led them to victory in battles before, so they would defer to him. And they needed this victory. Best case scenario, the war was heading into a stalemate. But Atlas, the general of the Titan forces, was gathering more and more wins under his belt. If that trend continued, the gods would lose within a year. However, if the Cyclopes and Hekatonkheires who Kronos imprisoned joined the war against him, it would tilt the war in the gods' favor.
They continued walking. And walking. The landscape didn't change. No jail or creature appeared. So they kept following Zeus. Feet stepped on small magenta rocks, the deep sound of Tartarus' slow heartbeat barely audible.
Zeus stopped walking, the others stopping as well. The dark blue river split into two, or two rivers joined into one. It was hard to tell which direction the water was flowing.
"Gaia told me to go left," said Zeus, whose body was more hunched and less golden. He turned left and walked forward, the others following him.
Hours passed. The landscape stayed the same. It was like walking around in circles, except it was Tartarus. Zeus had lost most of his gold aura, his face getting a little green. Perhaps Tartarus was not on their side. Hades summoned some ambrosia. Only some powers work in Tartarus, Perseus deduced. Or maybe Tartarus decides in the moment. Zeus ate some, his aura becoming slightly more golden. But not by much. He wasn't going to last long.
A fork appeared ahead of them. Perseus thought it was the same as the one they passed before, but maybe his memory mixed things up. Zeus pointed right. Then he collapsed.
"Brother!" Perseus yelled, rushed forward, lifting Zeus up to a sitting position so the rocks wouldn't try to extract ichor. The collapsed god was closing and opening his eyes slowly with a slightly open mouth.
"Come on, Zeus, get up," said Perseus rapidly, his breathing increasing. Zeus needed to survive. They needed to get the monsters on their side to win the war, and they needed Zeus for that. He needed Zeus. Tears welled up in his eyes. "Come on, you bastard, get up!" he repeated, voice breaking. "Hades, get some ambrosia."
Hades offered Zeus more squares of ambrosia and a bottle of nectar, which he downed quickly. Letting his brother sit up straight, Perseus stood up. Realizing the wetness on his cheeks, he wiped the tears away. He would not be seen crying. Zeus stood up a second later to lean against a wall of stone, keeping a hand to his head.
"Brother, what's happening to you?" asked Perseus, brows furrowing. He looked around the rocks for the cause of Zeus' problem. Who was targeting his brother? He would destroy that monster.
"I do not know," his brother replied slowly. "I have never been this weak. My head is in pain, my body lacks energy, and my senses are limited. Like poison."
Hades signed a sentence. Perseus nodded, slapping himself in his mind, and translated for Zeus, who hadn't yet learned enough sign language: "Perhaps you are most affected by Tartarus because you haven't lived in Kronos' dark stomach that has a similar environment. But why is Tartarus making you like this? I thought he was on our side."
"I do not know, but we cannot trust anyone anymore," said Zeus, grimacing. "My senses are dulled, so Percy, you must guide us to the prisoners with your gift of direction. We will follow you."
Perseus smiled, but his mind was still wandering. If Zeus was that affected, how would they free the Cyclopes and the Hekatonkheires? What more would Tartarus throw at them?
Hades shook his arm, signing something rapidly: Poseidon is gone. Perseus looked around widely, seeing nothing but magenta rock walls. Where had he gone? Kidnapped? There was no struggle, no rocks pushed unevenly. But maybe he was kidnapped earlier. Oh no. His chest got heavier. Poseidon wouldn't leave on his own, right? No, he had to have been kidnapped.
Zeus tapped his shoulder. "What?" Perseus snapped.
"Keep your head calm," the not-so-golden god replied. "Remind yourself of our sisters and breathe slowly."
He slowed down his breathing, grounding himself to the dark blue river. Zeus was right; it was no use to be emotional. They would find Poseidon. Perseus had promised to protect his siblings in Kronos' stomach and that promise would not be broken. Don't be scared, brother, he wished he could say, I will rescue you.
"We will find Poseidon," Zeus continued. "Use your power of direction. We are with you."
Perseus nodded. He receded from his body into his soul, that crackling white orb in a sea of nothingness which all gods had. To use his power, he had to give it memories, images, sounds, or scents of the living being or object being searched for. The crackling white orb, gifted with the power of direction by the Fates, would then split off a tiny white ball, barely the size of a marble, to appear in his hand. The ball would pull him gently to wherever the object or being was, and once he was found, the ball would rejoin his bigger crackling soul ball.
He sprayed onto his soul orb memories, images, and sounds of Poseidon. Like the flushed face his younger brother had when he first had tea, how he smiled when he beat Zeus for the first time in sword fighting, the way he huddled close to his sisters when screeching noises could be heard. A second later, a white ball appeared on Perseus' right hand, shining light onto the dark walls. The ball pulled him forward, so he followed. "Follow me!" he exclaimed to his brothers.
Perseus led the way, followed by Hades who was half supporting Zeus. The marble told them to go left at the first fork, right at the second one, to go straight at the third one, and straight at the current one.
"Wait, what do you mean?" asked Zeus, who was now able to walk without support and had gained some golden glow. Perhaps it was not Tartarus which was causing the weakness, but the pressure of leadership. He needed a break, and Perseus was glad to provide him one.
"We must go straight," replied Perseus.
"But straight is through that magenta rock," said Zeus. "I think the marble is confused. Let's go right."
Let me try something, signed Hades. He leaned his ear against the wall in front of the three gods, tapping it with his fingers. He nodded and stepped back. It is very hollow. Not a natural formation of Tartarus. Some creature made this.
How do we destroy it, he signed back, translating for Zeus.
Let me blast it with godly power, Hades signed. We don't want it to be too loud or bright or Poseidon's kidnapper will see us. We want discreteness.
Perseus nodded and left him to his work. "Zeus," he whispered away from Hades, "I noticed that you were getting better when you weren't leading us."
"And?" his brother replied with a tone of suspicion.
"Taking charge and being the leader can take a toll on one's body. If you ever want some help with your plans or need to take a step back for your health, I am willing and able. I've been doing great at your job, so you can give me more work. A second voice, who knows. I'm ready for more."
Anger flashed in Zeus' blue eyes. "I don't need help," he gritted out. "I have given you and the others enough work already. You may be doing this well, but your leadership is a one time thing. Gaia told me that I, not you, would replace Kronos. Keep that in your head."
Perseus raised his hands up, privately thinking that he was overreacting. "I don't want to replace you. And a simple no would have sufficed."
Zeus scowled. "No."
Perseus rolled his eyes. Then, he noticed the smoke fizzing through the fake wall. He got ready. Then, the wall collapsed in a quiet flurry of magenta rock.
White blasted through, blinding the gods. Hades screamed. Even covering their eyes with their arms didn't protect them from the white light, strong enough to burn skin ten times over. Perseus heard his brothers' footsteps retreat, but he could feel the marble still pointing forward. Poseidon was in the light. He had to get to his brother. He walked forward, not caring that his brothers' footsteps were now inaudible. They had left, but he would not leave Poseidon.
His hands started to burn and to peel away. He bit his lip, stopping a grunt due to the pain from the blisters forming. It hurt. It felt like someone was peeling his skin and adding salt only to peel it some more. This was what Tartarus wanted visitors to feel, he thought cynically. He needed water, but he needed to find Poseidon first.
The light started fading slightly. The blisters stopped forming. Then, the light remained at the luminosity of the Earth's sky. So dark compared to just before, but so bright compared to Tartarus. He removed his hand, seeing multiple red blisters on his godly skin. Those blisters were not healing. Whoever's light that harmed his arm was very powerful, more powerful than the gods. He gulped.
"I expected more of you gods, but I suppose one is enough," a high-pitched voice said playfully. The sound echoed, the voice becoming deeper as the echoes went on.
Perseus looked past his arm to see a large white-walled hall. His mouth opened with awe. It was grand––even grander than the Titan's hall. Light seemed to shine from every corner. The walls had intricate stone carvings of animals. Multiple ten foot pyramids made of black rock stood on the white floor. It seemed like they were sucking the light in to make the room dimmer. At the center was a god with waist-length black hair wearing only brown pants. He was bathed in a golden aura even stronger than Zeus'.
"I'm sorry, but who are you?" asked Perseus. Was this a leader of another pantheon? He didn't know any gods or Titans who wore pants.
"I am Æther. I first birthed light into the universe and illuminated the world with my partner Hemera."
Perseus tried to remember his lacking mythology lessons taught by Zeus. "You're a primordial––the beings who ruled before the Titans."
"Primordial, protogenoi, they all mean original and primitive. But being more powerful while having less refinement over that power doesn't mean I am primitive. It was the Titans who called us primitive to justify overthrowing Ouranos. And we didn't rule. Ouranos tried to rule, but we were only meant to give."
"Right, so if you are only supposed to give light, why isn't it always bright on Earth?"
"My counterpart Erebos gives darkness, so it is a tug of war between us. Night and day, a forever cycle. But now it is more complex with all the Titans who control the day and night."
Perseus nodded. He didn't expect a hall of this scale and organization to be located in primitive Tartarus. Speaking of, he asked, "Where are we? Is this Tartarus?"
"This is Æther, from where all light originates. But my brethren and mine's domains can only be accessed through the domains of those we are friendly. You can come here through Tartarus, and Tartarus can be accessed through me and Gaia. Not Ouranos, of course, because they hate each other. Most living beings like to reside in the sky or on the Earth, so if they wanted to get here, they would have to go through toxic Tartarus. That might be why you haven't heard of this."
Perseus nodded absently, trying to remember why he had come to this heaven in the first place. Right, Poseidon. He looked at his hand, but the marble had disappeared. That meant Poseidon was here. His lips thinned. "Where is Poseidon?" he asked angrily.
The primordial of light smiled. "I will show him to you. But don't you have one final question to ask?"
Perseus flushed. Why ask it, when rescuing Poseidon was the real goal? But Æther wanted that question. "Why did you shine that blinding and burning light?"
The primordial clapped once. "I had to test the gods who were trying to find their brother. To see if you three were strong-willed and united enough to get Poseidon. It seems not. Your brothers have left–"
"I know that!" he snapped. Zeus left, which was not surprising, but the fact that Hades deserted hurt him more than his blisters did. He thought they were closer.
The primordial side-eyed him. "Either they left you because they didn't want to burn themselves to get Poseidon, or because they didn't trust the marble, and by extension, you."
Perseus looked down. His cheeks burned in shame. Æther was right. The four of them didn't have unity or trust. They were only bonded to get Kronos off the throne, and they only followed Zeus because he had a plan to do so. Were they really brothers?
"Only you survived my trial," continued Æther. "Which means only you must hear my message and retrieve your younger brother."
Here is my twelfth chapter of Lord of Alaska!
I intended for the power of direction to be for things like cardinal directions and knowing your place in the world, but We Hunt the Flame inspired me to expand it so that Aster/Perseus can be directed to any object or living being he's searching.
You readers know better than Zeus. If you are ever too tired or stressed because of something, stop doing that thing! Managing too many things can take a toll on your body and mind, or in Zeus' case, cause a rebellion by the Olympians. Focus on something else. Letting go can hurt less than holding on.
Good news, I have a beta editor now! Whoop whoop!
Have a great day and let's all Mystify!