The One Who is Free (Percy Jackson - Maki Zenin & SI-not-MC Chapter 4)

I don't know how long I've been sitting in the living room, staring at the TV and watching my reflection on the black screen.

Dad was similarly sitting at the dinning room's table. Hands clamps in front of him, covering his mouth, eyes staring in a glare straight ahead. In any other time I'd jokingly call it a Gendo Pose, but there was no creeping machiavellian looked to him. It was a quiet focused raged that kept churning and building in intensity, while being kept contained and focused.

Thoughts and plans drawn and discarded every second as he thought on what to do. How to retaliate. How to make the the gods, make Athena pay.

I should know. I was doing that too.

Mai was here. My sister, my twin was alive and here in this world. And I never knew it.

I was comfortably living here in bliss, while she was going through god knows what. Literally in this case. Only Athena knew of what Mai's life is like. And she kept her away from me.

"Dad." I said as I went to him. I pulled his hands down and leaned in his chair. His glare still present but lessened for my sake. I want to go save Mai. I want to run out and search for her right now. But I'm young, I'm too weak. However there is something different for me in this life than in the last. I am not alone. My dad, Vincent Goodman, was with me. "There's something I want to tell you."

After a moment he nodded, and I took a seat next to him.

I told him everything.

I told him the life of Maki Zenin.


For a long while, dad said nothing as he just stared at me with an expression that I couldn't not decipher.

Nothing bad, there was amusement in his eyes, but I couldn't figure out the rest.

"Your life was a fucking shounen anime." He said at long last.

"Buwa-Wha!?" I spat out, an unintended laugh erupted for me. "That's all you have to say! And what do you mean my life's a 'shounen anime'? What the hell's your life then? A seinen?"

Dad bellowed out in laughter. The tension that's been building for the last hour seemed to desipate, and I found myself laughing with him.

"Maki." Dad finally said. "That Heavenly Restriction thing, you said it freed this Toji person and you from fate, right?"

I blinked and nodded, following his thought process.

"Yes, it made us free from whatever cycle or path Cursed Energy had made for the lives of Sorcerers, but... I'm not sure if that's the case here." I said looking down.

"No," he shook his head. "Our souls tend to our fates, our achievements and our actions with us. Those things become a part of our essence."

"What does that mean?" I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion.

"It means," he gestured for me to come to him. I did and he seated me on his lap, with an arm holding me. His smile was so gentle yet overflowing with gratitude. He looked at me like he found his hope or light through this peril we were in. "Maki, genuinely, thank you for being born."

"...Wha..." The words hit me with such force in my heart, that my eyes teared up.

"There is... a path. A method I considered on how to cure you of your problem. Of how to remove your divinity. Its why I took a month to come back. I simply didn't take it because I felt that would be unfair to you. That it might be an extreme solution, thus opted for something simpler like the Apples of Idunn." He said, then scoffed and shook his head. "Also I feared all it would do is make you weak and vulnerable to the dangers of this world. A demigod without their divinity would just be a mortal without any power. Wouldn't even change that they're a demigod. You'd still be tied to the gods. Your fate would still be there's to play with. But with what you told me," he smiled at me once more. "Then that is the answer. Maybe not just for you, but for me and your sister."

I hugged him. I cried and buried my face in his neck, as if all the pain that I constantly felt and forgot from the past was revisited and healed. As if dad in this life was a recompense for the suffering of my past one.

I let out all that was inside me. He ignored the wetness of his shirt, and waited for me to calm down.

"So, what is that answer?" I finally asked.

"Pack your bags." He said as he and I got up. "We're going to contact your grandpa to help out with something, then we're gonna go make moly."

I blinked, looking at my dad flabbergasted.

"What the hell? How did we go from saving my sister to making drugs!?"

My dad guffawed.


There was a small standing fountain in the back garden of our home. In all the time I've lived here, I've never seen it used. I didn't know why it was there.

"So, is grandfather really gonna help us?" I wondered.

Dad talked about grandfather when I asked. I thought he had a bad relation with him due to him not liking the Greek Gods, but he never seemed bitter when talking about Hades, so I wasn't sure.

"Of course. I'm his favorite son." Dad shrugged.

"Really!?" Okay, that I did not see coming.

"Yeah, I wing—helped him with something decades ago—that is never to be mentioned—and he declared me as such then."

"Helped him with what?" I raised an eyebrow.

Dad turned on the fountain and it spared misty water at an angle that with the light of day made a rainbow.

"So, here is what you usually say, or just think it in your mind." Wait, you're ignoring the question? "'Iris, Goddess of the Rainbow, please accept my offering'." Dad said. He chuckled a golden drachma in it. It vanished into misty water. "Name and location, or at least the name o who you want to talk to afterwards, you need to say out loud. Underworld, Hades."

An image began to appear in the mist.

It was a throne room. It looked like ghostly place, dark with light sources that made everything have a scarier hue, rather than make things look brighter or more clear.

In that room was a god, sitting on his throne, a scowl that I could easily place on my dad on the god's face. He was pale white, with intense black eyes, and shoulder-length black hair. There was something of a terrifying presence to him. Yet maybe it's because I was used to dad's scowling and frowning expressions, along with his own scary presence that this didn't bother me as much.

"So, you finally deem to speak to me after all these years." The God of the Underworld with a low rumbling echo. "And now that Zeus has turned his attention upon your brood, you come to seek my aid?" He said, sounding disappointed.

"Father, please dispense with the theatrics. They're not gonna scare her." Dad gestured to me with his head.

Hades snorted in amusement and his presence lowered a bit as he seemed to not look so tense and irritated.

"So you sought to stay away from the West altogether to stay away from Fate's machinations, yet the Fates called upon you all the same." He spoke in a more normal voice. "I told you, avoiding fate isn't a solution."

"I thought I was done with it since I fulfilled my prophecies and role." Dad shrugged. "Didn't think they'd entangle my daughter in this bullshit." Dad held a comforting hand against my back.

Hades turned his attention to me. It felt like he was looking through me into my entirety.

"Um, it is great to meet you, grand... father?" I looked to dad for guidance. He subtly shook his head. "Grandpapa!"

Dad snorted, covered his mouth and looked away.

The God of the Dead for the first time lost his controlled expression, looking at me confused, before a familiar amused smile I'm used to see on my dad was on his face.

"Grandfather works well enough. Grandpa if you really must." He said with a chuckle. "It's nice to finally see you, and you no longer feeling close to death." I blinked at that. How did he know? Was he watching over me? "It's a shame someone didn't deem to have you visit or speak to me earlier." He gave a pointed look to my dad.

"You know why. She couldn't visit the Underworld, lest whatever strength she had keeping her alive is zapped. I wanted her to be stronger before she could visit." Dad explained. I looked up at him as I didn't realize that was a concern of his. "And I'm sorry I didn't reach out as much as I used to. Over the past fifty years I just... wanted to forget everything. It ended up including you, and you didn't deserve that. Maria, Bianca and Nico didn't either." I blinked at those names as dad never mentioned them before. "Heh, I'm not sure if they even remember me anymore."

"No. They would not."

The way Hades said those was definitive. Something about them must have been odd, as dad furrowed his eyebrows in suspicion.

"Hey dad, I wanna pull off a bit of a prank on Olympus. Wanna help me out? Take you mind off the dreary paperwork for a while." Dad suddenly suggested.

"And what will you be doing during this obvious distraction?" Hades said in a bored tone to mask his interest.

"I'm gonna do some chores for the cure to Maki's condition." Dad clarified.

"Those 'chores' being?" Hades continued his questioning.

"Plausible deniability, dad." Dad said with a nod.

"Tell me." Hades said back, holding his stance.

Dad took a breath. "I'm gonna hunt down Picolous."

Hades crunched his eyebrows in confusion. He held his chin in thought, moving his finger along his jawline.

"You wish to make the flower?" Hades asked.

"Yes."

"It would kill her." Hades pointed out. I blinked as I looked between my dad and granddad.

Dad mimicked eating a fruit in his hand with a crunch sound.

Hades raised an eyebrow.

"And how will you get past the garden's protector?"

"I'm not." Dad said with a determined glare.

Grandfather raised an eyebrow, looking intrigued for a while before he smirked.

"Very well." He agreed. "Might as well ruffle Olympus' feathers some more while we're at it. Would be the most entertainment I've had since last year when I sent monsters to hunt down Zeus' daughter."

I blinked and looked back at Hades taken aback. He took note of my reaction but ignored me. I said nothing for now, as I learned to wait and see when it comes to gods.

Dad however looked surprised and voiced it.

"The fuck? Why the—? You know what, when I'm done with my thing, I'm gonna visit. We're gonna sit down and talk because clearly I missed some important things." Dad said.

"Yes, that's what happens when you act, a perpetual sorrowful artist of Apollo that need not be mentioned, who kept crying till the nature itself wanted to drown." Hades leaned back into his chair, with a scowl back on his face.

"I'm gonna take that as you just lashing out because something is bumming you out. Because we clearly need to sit down and have a talk about this." Dad pointed at Hades.

Hades huffed and rolled his eyes. For a while the two let the silence fill the air before Hades grunted.

"So what is this plan of yours that would distract all of Olympus enough for you to move around in the U.S. undeterred?" Grandfather questioned.

"Simple, when she goes to the Camp you claim her, and since there's no cabin for her, you keep her in the Underworld. She can stay there for a while now since we have some Norse Golden Apples, so it should be fine." Dad told him his plan. Hades' eyes widened before he bellowed out in laughter.

"There's absolutely no way that can work. That's ridiculous and childish!"

"And that's exactly why it will work." Grandfather said with a laugh.


"Are you sure its wise to ride a plane?" I asked nervous as I put on my seatbelt the moment we get on the plane and sat down.

"Yeah, of course it is." Dad said, putting on his Sleep Mask, and resting his head on the neck pillow. "Don't you know, statistically, flying is the safest way to travel."

I wasn't sure if that's something I could count on given that gods are real, and I don't know if Zeus might be offended, or have a grudge against my dad for some reason or another or not.

The plane did fly smoothly for the most part. The few turbulences here and there made me hold onto my seat like it's a lifeboat.

Dad was snoring, and I was not sure if he was pretended to be asleep or not.


"So this is it, huh." I said as I eyed the hill of Camp Half-Blood. The boundary that separated that place from mortals and monsters.

"Just remember the plan, honey." Dad reminded me.

"Keep quiet and kept acting bewildered. Got it." I nodded and got out of the car.

Atop the hill was a centaur dad told me about, and I've read about in lots of book. Chiron the trainer of heroes.

Not even a few steps away from the car, when it drove away. Dad had to act the part of the parent who didn't care anymore.

I walked up Half-Blood Hill, greeting the centaur.

"Hello." I said politely.

"Greeting, child. You must be Maki Goodman. I am Chiron, and I welcome you to Camp Half-Blood." Chiron said with a smile. "I must say it was quite the pleasant surprise to hear that Vincent of all people had, had a child."

"You know my father? Did you train him?" I asked as I walked with him.

"Know him? Yes. Train him? Sadly I hadn't had the honor, as never he deemed to come to the Camp. His legend was something forged different from other demigods." He said, sounding proud even if he wasn't part of my dad's growth into who he became.

"Really? Then how did dad train and grow?" I asked.

"Well—"

Whatever Chiron was going to say it was stuck in his mouth as the very second I cross the threshold, entering the Camp, a large shining sign appeared over my head.

A giant helm made of darkness. The mark of Hades.

All the other campers stopped what they were doing as they looked at me with awe and dread.

Yep, the plan was for grandfather to be the one to claim me.

"Th... That's..." Chiron didn't have time to collect his thoughts, because in the very next moment, the ground at the center of the Camp rumbled, crumbled and was sucked into the earth as a portal to the Underworld opened.

The Campers panicked with some screamed as the Lord of the Underworld arose from it.

"Ah, Maki! My beloved granddaughter! How are you this day! Welcome to Camp Half-Blood." Hades strode joyfully toward me. His cheerful face making the nymphs, harpies and satyrs run away even fast than just his arrival. Some of the campers looked like they're on the verge of fainting from freaking out.

"Ah, um, g-grandfather...?" I asked confused. Wait, was this part of the plan?

"Hahaha!" Hades gathered me in his arms and carried me. "To think I had a granddaughter all this time and didn't know about her. That rascal Vincent! Shame on him for keeping such an adorable girl from seeing her grandpapa!"

Okay, please stop! This is definitely not what dad and you spoke about. Did they plan this behind me? My face was so red I felt it was going to burn.

"Now to take you to your cabin—Oh? There is no cabin for the children of Hades. My, my, such a shame." Hades clicks his tongue in a very obvious manner, as he slowly shook his head in disapprove.

"L-Lord Hades, we mean no disrespect and I'm sure we can—"

"Well, nothing to it then. I suppose we'll both stay in the Hermes Cabin. That's were the kids without a cabin go, right?" Hades said.

"I, um, aaaah!" I genuinely felt sorry for Chiron for how lost he was about this situation. "W-Wait, stay!?"

"Of course! Why wouldn't I want to spend time with my granddaughter?" Hades said nonchalantly.

"W-What about the Underworld!?" Chiron cried out.

"Eh, the Underworld isn't going anywhere. It will remain till I return. Now, granddaughter, tell me all about yourself!"

So, grandpa carried me to the Hermes Cabin, casually walking in and sitting on the cabin leader's bed, me still on his lap as he began to tell me stories about the Underworld.

All the Hermes Cabin kids, and those in the cabins next to us, had ran out of their homes to stay away, opting to just watch us warily.

A god came to our cabin looking annoyed at all the noise. He was a stout round god, with a chubby face, a red nose and curly hair so black, it looks purple. He was wearing tiger-striped Hawaiian shirts and purple running shoes.

The god took one look at my grandfather sitting me on his lap telling me stories, and turned around and walked away.

Every once in a while, as granddad was talking, he would swat his hands at something above my head. It looked like a sign trying to form, but kept being dissipating. Grandfather's sign stayed over my head, even while he talking to me.

Eventually after long enough another god arrive.

"Errr, hello, Uncle? Whaaaat are you doing here?" Hermes asked as he tentatively stepped into his own cabin.

"Why, spending time with my granddaughter, dear nephew! Maki, say hi to your cousin Hermes." Hades said boastfully.

"Hello," I gave an awkward wave.

"Hi, we already met." Hermes said looking confused. "Well, why are you taking my cabin and scaring all the other kids, Uncle?"

"I didn't tell them to leave. And why sit here? Well, there is no cabin for my children, so of course that means she lives in this cabin, right? I'm simply sitting here with her as well. Abiding by the rules and all that." Hades said with a smile that took on a more sinister look.

"Ooooh-kay, I'm not paid enough for this." Hermes said looking down. Then he looked at us again and smirked. "This is how he's getting back at her, isn't he?"

"Who knows?" Hades said back.

Hermes chuckled.

"I'm not one to interfere with a good show." Hermes held his hands in surrender and left.

After a while another god arrived. My mother.

"Lord Hades! What is the meaning of this? Why are you keeping my daughter with you? Why are you claiming her? It's unprecedented for a god to claim a child not their own." Athena cried out.

"But she is my own, of my own son. Why can't I claim my granddaughter?" Hades simply with an amused grin said back.

"I was suppose to claim her!" Athena argued.

"Then why didn't you? If you truly cared for her this much, then why not claim her earlier?" Hades calmly said back.

"You literally didn't give me a chance!"

"It sounds like you simply didn't care enough, niece."

The gods argued for a while, much to the fascination and horror to the other campers, nymphs, harpies and satyrs that returned to watch from a distance. Chiron looked like he was watching a horror show, and Dionysus smirked as he realized what's going on.

"Oh, I fucking miss the shit you used to pull, Vincent." The God of Wine said as he drank a Diet Coke.

Eventually the argument between the two gods was taken to the courts of Olympus, where the first civil dispute in Camp Half-Blood's history over which cabin a demigod should be in occurred.