Percy woke to the smell of salt water and brine. He smiled at the familiarity and snuggled deeper into his blankets and pillows.
That… didn't make sense though. Blankets and pillows by the sea? He wasn't under water though. So where—?
Memories came flooding back and he shot straight up. The familiar ache in his gut protested, but it wasn't the worst thing he'd ever experienced, so he ignored it. He was in his father's temple on Olympus. He was sure of it. It had the same feel as when he'd been there last, if not the same look as after Annabeth had redesigned it. The walls surrounding him were encrusted with seashells and coral, and he lay on a bed that his father had likely conjured. There had never been beds in his father's temple as long as he could remember.
"Percy."
Speaking of. The demigod tried not to wince at the pain still in his gut as he turned to his father, who sat in a coral chair by his bedside. That was… nice, actually.
"Hi, Dad."
His father raised an eyebrow, both amused and frustrated. "Do you do anything that doesn't end in utter catastrophe?"
Percy rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "Well, I mean, sometimes? Every once in a while? Maybe…?"
Poseidon sighed, shook his head in a 'what am I going to do with you' gesture, and sat forward. "Percy, the council has been waiting for you to awaken. I have to take you back there. You understand what is happening, right?"
The time-traveler sighed and slumped back into the pillows. "Yeah," he muttered. "They know."
"They suspect," his father corrected, "but Athena has a pretty strong case for it from what I understand. She hasn't presented it yet."
Percy groaned and pulled the green-and-blue blanket over his head. It was his father's turn to huff at the childishness.
"I think you should tell them," he said. "It will help them trust you more."
"I don't wanna," Percy said, the blanket muffling his voice. He knew he sounded like a brat, but had he mentioned he really didn't want to tell the council? That he didn't trust them? And he had good reason.
But if they'd already figured it out, was there still a good reason to hide it?
"Percy." His father's voice didn't sound accusing, just… tired. Old. The demigod could relate.
"Fine," he grumbled, pulling the blanket down.
"I think it will be for the best."
Percy wasn't so sure, but he didn't want to argue either. "Yeah."
They sat there in an uncomfortable silence for several seconds before Percy broke the stillness again.
"So I'm the subject of this new Great Prophecy. Again."
Another tired nod. "So it would seem. I'm sorry."
Percy looked over at his father, studying the god for several seconds. He looked like his usual iteration, but older. Not as old as when the demigod visited Atlantis during the Titan war, but well into his forties or fifties. He had streaks of gray in his hair and wrinkles on either side of his mouth, crow feet beginning to form under and at the corners of his eyes.
"Has Oceanus risen up yet?"
Poseidon shook his head. "No. I'm just tired of the fighting. After everything you told me it all seems so… petty."
Percy snorted. "It is."
The god snorted back, a small smile coming to his lips. "It's easier to remember and focus on the petty than the harder things, I think."
"Yeah," Percy said. "But that doesn't make it better."
"No," his father agreed.
"So, the prophecy?"
Poseidon sighed. "We have a little bit of leeway if you'd like to go over it."
"Good," Percy nodded. Because they really needed to. "I barely remember it. The old fulfilled, the world is… new?"
"The world anew."
"Thanks. Pretty sure that means me coming back in time. Yay.
"Cannot prevent the crooked two?"
His father nodded again.
Percy frowned. "But before it was just the crooked one. You know, Grandfather. Unless…" He glanced at his father, who gestured for him to go on. "Unless the prophecy means both Great-Grandmother and Grandfather."
"Or, perhaps, father," Poseidon practically spit the word out and the world around them trembled a little before settling again as the god went on, "and his main minion? Or one of the other Titans?"
Percy sighed. "No way to know, is there." He didn't say it as a question. Poseidon just looked on sympathetically.
The demigod moved on. "Fifteen years must be fulfilled, or see… Olympus yield?"
"Men and Olympus," his father corrected.
Percy nodded slowly. "Okay, but fifteen years of what?"
"Life?" Poseidon asked, gesturing to his son as if it were obvious.
Percy's eyes widened. "You think? Didn't you tell me the Fates aren't straight forward?"
"Well, yes, but sometimes they pull the 'straight forward' line as a trick.
"But it doesn't have to be," Percy pointed out. "It could be fifteen years of punishment, or of sunlight, or under the water or something." He watched his father carefully. His expression didn't change. "But you don't think so, do you."
Poseidon shook his head.
Percy sighed. "So, you think I'll have to reach fifteen or Olympus 'yields'… likely to the Titans?" The sea god nodded thoughtfully, if unhappily. "Great," Percy muttered.
"The next line said something about change arising?"
"If Change arises ere their time, above the new, the old shall climb. I believe that means you again, Percy. You cannot ascend before your time."
Oh. That…
Percy swallowed, mind drawn back to that new sense of both 'other' and 'self' that was a domain within him. Right. Change.
"The Fates practically confirmed it," Poseidon went on. "That's why they showed up to stop you from ascending. According to them, if my brother's bolt had hit you, not only would I have very much gone to war with him, but it would have ensured you either died or ascended, and they had to prevent that. Apollo and Dionysus did the rest." He slumped back in his coral chair. "It seems I owe them."
"Oh," Percy said. "I…" but what was there to say to that? "I guess I do too." He did not like acknowledging that, but bad things happened when one didn't acknowledge their debts.
"Anyway," he continued, not wanting to dwell on that. "Something about fruit next?"
"The fruit, for love, once consumed, shows awful choices then exhumed."
Percy thought about that for several seconds before shaking his head. "There wasn't any fruit last time that I remember. Except for pomegranate seeds, but that was during the Giant war."
"You say that so casually," his father grumbled.
"It happened a long time ago for me," Percy said. "But yeah, I got nothing on this one. Nothing I can remember, anyway."
Poseidon frowned. "Perhaps it will be new to this timeline?"
"Maybe.
"But what was that last line then?"
"The world in peril, once again, may thus be saved by gods and men."
"So we all have to work together to fix this. Good to know."
"And that's it," Poseidon said, still tired.
"Great," Percy muttered. He hated prophecies, especially when he was the center of them. He thought he was done with that. Maybe that had been naive of him, but… had he mentioned he hated it?
Once again, they sat in silence for a couple of seconds.
"Why does it have to be me?" Percy asked, eyes unfocused as he recalled his first life.
He wasn't sure what kind of an answer he wanted to that. His father could have told him it was destined—his fate—or gone off on how it was an honor to be thought so highly of by the powers that be. Thankfully, he must have sensed that would be the wrong thing to say as he simply looked sadly at his son.
"For what it's worth, I'm sorry."
"Well, we should probably return to the throne room before my brother has an aneurysm," his father finally said, standing and stretching.
"I know you don't need to stretch," Percy said dryly.
"I like to." Poseidon shrugged, smooth and kingly like always.
"And gods don't have aneurysms."
"Not naturally."
"Dad," Percy said, rolling his eyes, but he couldn't keep the smile from his lips. "If he hears you say that, he'll freak out."
"Good thing we're here in my temple where I have the most power and have set up a barrier then."
Percy chuckled. "Yeah." Then his smile fell as he remembered what they'd be going back to. "We'd better get this over with."
Poseidon nodded, his own face serious. Percy rose from the bed and his father placed a hand on his shoulder. He closed his eyes as they flashed into the throne room.
"Finally!" Zeus thundered.
Oh, goody.
xXx
It took all too long for the Council to settle down enough to actually start again.
Before Zeus could say anything, though, Percy decided to preempt him. "Before we start, I have something to say." He looked around the room at every god there, meeting their gaze unflinchingly. "Yes, I am from the future."
Cue utter chaos. Again.
This time, Percy had to stop himself from smirking.
His father, who had flashed to his seat, already had a hand at the bridge of his nose. What? He was the one who wanted Percy to confess. Most of the gods were discussing him, or shouting. Athena was glaring at him, though. What was her problem?
"So, you were right," Apollo said to the Wisdom Goddess.
Athena didn't take her eyes off of Percy. "So it would seem."
"You can't be serious!" Ares said.
"I'm the god of truth," Apollo returned.
"Well—"
"SILENCE!"
Everyone did, indeed, fall silent, thankfully. Zeus fixed his electric-blue eyes on Percy.
"Your claims are… unlikely at best." At least he was trying to keep it professional. "Do you have any proof?"
Percy just stared at him. "Lady Athena has an entire presentation, no doubt," he said, incredulous.
"Poseidon!" Athena practically hissed.
"I was the one who told him to come clean," his father said. Percy didn't like his phrasing. "Of course I knew."
Well, his father had been right in that Zeus looked apoplectic. "Then why didn't you tell us?"
Poseidon shrugged. "He made me swear on the Styx that I wouldn't before he said anything."
"Why didn't you tell us then?" Athena asked Percy.
The demigod raised an eyebrow. "I did."
"You did not!" Hera said.
"Well," Percy held up a hand, "I told some of you. Those I trusted and had personal access to—though that was rough with Dad."
"Who else did you tell?" Athena asked.
"Hestia." He nodded to the hearth, where the figure of a woman could vaguely be seen.
"You don't trust the council?" Hephaestus asked thoughtfully.
"Not really, no."
"Why not?" Artemis asked.
"Other than the fact that I knew someone would try and fry me for no good reason," he said, narrowing his eyes at Zeus.
"I had good reason. Disrespect is good reason."
"Agree to disagree. In any case, to be fair, I didn't have access to most of you, and it was hard enough to get ahold of Dad who had a reason to listen to me. No one else would have believed me."
"Why should we believe you now?" Ares asked, red eyes smoking.
"Oh, for—" Percy cut off, rolling his eyes. Once a proktos, always a proktos*. At least in Ares' case. "I swear on the Styx that I, Perseus Achilles Jackson, am from the future." Thunder rumbled and Ares looked put-out.
"That still doesn't excuse you from telling us," Athena said reproachfully. "This is important information. Why did you swear your father to silence?"
Percy raised an eyebrow at her. "Do you truly not understand the concept of trust?" he asked, knowing he was treading on thin ice, but this was closer to the relationship he'd had with her in the future and something he felt far more comfortable with.
Her eyes narrowed in warning.
"Percy," his father said.
He sighed. "I didn't want the information to get back to those I didn't trust. Putting aside the fact that you wouldn't have believed me—don't deny it, no one here is truly stupid—why should I tell people who would take the information, do with it what they want without listening to any consequences, and completely screw the future up?"
"Ignoring that you assume you know better than us, we had to know at some point anyway," Athena pointed out.
"Unfortunately," Percy agreed, he'd address the other part of that comment later, "but the longer I put it off, the more I could do something about the Titans' rising!"
Gasps.
"Do not speak of such lies!" Zeus thundered. And lightning-ed. Because it definitely flashed on the ceiling.
"I rest my case," Percy said, rolling his eyes. He hated council meetings. Dealing with these overgrown children just…
"I am the King of the Gods! You will respect my judgment!"
Percy laughed. He couldn't help it. "Oh, gosh. Good one."
"Impertinent, disrespectful brat! Give me one reason why I shouldn't destroy you right now?!" Zeus was pouring his aura out again in an attempt to overshadow the mortal in the room. If Percy hadn't known his own power as well as he did, it would have worked. Even now, he struggled to keep up a nonchalant facade, but he did it.
The only muscle he allowed himself to move was a raised eyebrow. "Fifteen years must be fulfilled or see men and Olympus yield. If Change arises ere their time, above the new, the old shall climb. I mean, if you want to actively make sure Olympus falls in the next three years, go right ahead."
Poseidon tensed, glancing nervously between Percy and Zeus. He wasn't the only one, though he was the most obviously worried.
"That could mean anything," Zeus returned, face red.
Percy shrugged, though he hated that Zeus of all people made the same point he had earlier. "Maybe. Are you willing to take that chance?"
The god's grinding teeth could probably be heard on the Earth's surface, but Percy only found some satisfaction in that. Zeus, yet again, wasn't listening. He was stuck in his own little world, and because he was the King of the Gods, everyone had tried to make his view of reality true. But that wasn't how reality or truth worked. Not absolute truth in any case.
"Your impertinence should still be punished!" Hera said.
"Punished? For telling the truth?" Percy shot back, "Isn't that what you wanted? Do you want me to tell you things or not? Make up your mind!"
"You will show us the respect we deserve!" Zeus roared.
"I am!" Percy yelled right back. "I'm giving you the exact amount you have earned from me! You—all of you—seem to have this idea in your head that just being in your position will make everyone respect you. It doesn't! At best, it makes people fear you. And if you want to mistake fear for respect, or settle for that, that's your choice! But I will not just bow down to those who use the same tactics the Titans and Primordials used! Unbound, they have just as much power as the most powerful of you! But guess what, I'll give them just as much respect as I give you until they—and you—earn it: None!"
"You dare?!"
"I will always dare!" Percy shouted. "I dare because you need to hear it! This, right here, is why I didn't want you to know! You don't really want to! You would rather see the world burning under Kronos' thumb than face the fact that he's coming back! And as I've told you, he is! I swear it on the Styx!" Thunder. Also, his destruction was boiling under his skin… he was getting reckless. Well, more reckless. Of course he didn't care. "You would rather no one tell you the truth about your future than face it! So what will you do now that I won't give those who would unjustly hurt me and mine the respect you seem to so want but are unwilling to work to maintain? Kill me? Punish me? Do something to me for trying to save your ungrateful borborópēs**? For doing exactly what you wanted me to do and proving why I made the right choice?! Go ahead, and doom yourself and the world. You'll only prove to everyone once and for all exactly what you are! An overgrown toddler who can't take any criticism because that makes you wrong!"
Zeus was glowing now, lightning seeming to spark off of him like a plasma ball. But he wasn't attacking… which, kind of surprised Percy. He took a deep breath and pushed his destruction down.
"And you know what's sad?" he asked, his voice lower. "You used to be someone who would have my respect. You were raised in exile, away from your parents, and yet you fought. You fought against your tyrant of a father to save your siblings. You did everything you could to tear down an unjust rule. You earned the title of 'God of Justice'." Percy shook his head, looking the god up and down, noting the surprise—and some confusion—in the other's eyes. "I became a god of loyalty. I know you have it and cherish it. So why?" He swallowed. "That's an honest question. Please tell me why you are so close to giving that up over a little extra perceived power? Over a title that's just as cursed as anything on this planet has ever been? Why do you feel that that's the only thing that makes you worthwhile?"
To be fair, Percy had wanted to ask the god that for a very, very long time.
For some reason none of the gods seemed to want to speak after that. Even Zeus was just staring at Percy.
"That's why I'm angry. Why so many of us—demigods—are angry. Well," he had to concede, "one reason. But we know you can be better! All of you. And I've seen it. I've seen you all grow and change. It's slow, but it happens. And the world is better for it. You can all be better, and you're worth far more than you realize…." He faded off, shaking his head. "Not even only your domains, but just as people—as sentient, sapient beings. You're worth more than the power you have. How is it that I, a human born so recently, know this but you don't? I—I don't understand."
Well, he did, but he didn't get it at the same time.
Once again, no one seemed to know how to answer that question.
"So it's true. You ascended," Hermes finally managed to break the silence, his voice firmer than Percy would have expected.
The time-traveler sighed and nodded.
"Yeah. I did." And it gave him such a different outlook on so many things. But that didn't mean they weren't wrong. "And will again."
"Why do you say that like it's a bad thing?" Apollo asked. "The Fates told us our futures depend on you not ascending yet, but… why don't you want to?" He sounded so confused.
The time-traveler's lips pressed together. "I'd prefer to move on. Maybe ascending is good for some mortals," he nodded to Mr. D, just in case, "but it's not for me. It's not what I want. That's all." Because he wasn't going to give them ideas about how to really hurt him and tell them how much it killed him to be separated from his family. It would be easier in Elysium because he'd know or at least have very good reason to believe his godly family was still alive.
"So you will truly ascend no matter what?" Aphrodite asked suddenly, looking entirely too happy. "How… tragic."
Percy glared. "Stay out of my love life or you will regret it." She didn't answer and he felt his expression darken.
"I think we've lost track of why we're here," Ares growled. He really didn't like that Percy had outed him in front of the council, but that was better than what happened last time. The guy was so petty sometimes. "My Lord?" the war god said, glancing towards Zeus. The blue-eyed god was frowning and staring at the ground. When he didn't answer, several glances passed between more or less everyone, even Percy. He frowned. That wasn't like their King.
"My Lord, Zeus," Athena and Hera said at the same time.
He blinked and glanced up, regaining himself and his superior poise in moments. "Repeat the question." He didn't even apologize. He was fine.
"What do we do with the brat?" Ares asked, gesturing at Percy.
Zeus' gaze met Percy's. For several, very long moments, he didn't say anything. Then, finally, "Apollo."
More confused glances as the sun god sat up. "Yes, My Lord?"
"Is the boy telling the truth? Did he make his decisions with the good of our pantheon in mind?"
Percy wasn't the only one whose eyebrows rose nearly to their hairline. Apollo glanced around uncertainly again. "Yes, My Lord."
"You should have him swear it on the Styx," Ares muttered.
"I swear on the Styx," Percy said dryly, glaring directly at him, "that I had this pantheon's best interests in mind when I kept that information to myself." Something brushed by him that he couldn't see. A presence… but before he could identify it, it vanished. He touched his cheek where he'd felt it. That presence had seemed familiar….
More thunder sounded around them, and Percy kept standing there, perfectly fine, if confused. Had that been…
His continued existence, of course, made Ares even angrier, but what could he do about it? Well, get back at Percy later, but he'd deal with it when the time came. Like usual. As if that prospect would make Percy Jackson back down. Never had before.
"You risked your life to save my daughter," Zeus said. "You've risked your life in and above that to save this Pantheon. For that reason, and that reason alone, I will allow you to walk away today."
Outcry from half the council. The other half just blinked in shock at their king. Percy, himself, was definitely in that group. Who was that and what had he done with Zeus?
"However," the King of the Gods held up a hand as his voice echoed through the room, stopping all other voices. "If you ever speak like that to me or this council again, I will make sure you regret it. Do I make myself clear?"
Percy blinked and didn't answer for several seconds. That had been closer to the Zeus he knew, but was still… far more fair than he'd expected. Maybe a little more than fair without even a punishment.
"As crystal," Percy said.
"Dionysus will give you a punishment he finds acceptable when he returns to camp."
Well, that was annoying, but still fair. If Dionysus didn't decide to go overboard.
"Father! That's a slap on the wrist for what he did to you!" Ares protested.
"Then it evens out the great service he's done," Zeus said nonchalantly before returning to staring at Percy. "Tell Hestia if anything else comes up. Until then, you are dismissed. The Council has much to discuss right now."
Wait… what?
"Father," Artemis said, glancing between him and Percy subtly, but Zeus cut her off, not cruelly or abruptly even.
"Go," he said to Percy.
"Um, yes… sir," he found himself saying. Because that… that had been respectful. Maybe not perfect, but it was Zeus. Percy would take what he could get at this point.
Still wondering what had just happened, Percy turned towards the doors. They opened for him, and he strode out onto Mount Olympus without seeing it. He could feel the warmth of the sun on his head and arms, but his mind was still thinking back on Zeus' uncharacteristic actions.
The doors clanged shut.
"That was reckless of you."
Percy turned to see his father standing there, disapproving. He must have split himself into aspects and teleported out here while the doors were open.
The time-traveler sighed. "Yeah. I know I shouldn't have yelled like that but—"
"That too," his father cut in, "but I mean when you used your new power on him."
Wait. What?!
"My… I didn't use my power on him!" Why would he do that? It was suicide.
"You did."
Percy just stared in horror at his father. After a moment, the sea god's expression softened. "You really didn't mean to, did you."
"No. I told you, I'm reckless. Not stupid." Okay, maybe a little stupid. Not that stupid, though.
The Sea God's mouth thinned in frustration. At Percy or at the situation, he didn't know. "That could only happen because you didn't mean to, son, and because my brother wasn't looking to guard against it. But you cannot do that to him again. Understand?"
The time-traveler swallowed and nodded. He didn't want to die via smiting.
Poseidon sighed. "I think my question from earlier still stands. Do you do anything that doesn't end in utter catastrophe?"
Instead of answering, Percy just snorted and shrugged, exasperated. He wasn't so sure he did anymore.
After a moment, his father sighed. "Let me get you back to camp. Who knows how long that meeting might be."
"Yeah," Percy said, relieved. "Thanks, Dad."
"Thank me by not trying to fight with your uncle like that again, hmm?"
"If he keeps acting like he did at the end, I don't think that'll be much of an issue," Percy said, frowning. Then what his dad said sunk in and he paled. "Wait, was that because of me?!"
Poseidon didn't answer for a couple of seconds. When he did, he tipped his head back and forth. "I got the impression that you didn't add anything new, rather, you just helped him… refocus. I only noticed because I was watching for something like that. But yes, that likely wouldn't have happened without you."
Percy groaned.
"And we have no idea how long your influence will last. Maybe minutes, maybe forever. But for that reason…" he held his hand out.
Nodding emphatically, Percy took his father's hand and they flashed away.
xXx
*A-hole in ancient Greek.
**Literally 'opening of filth'.
AN: So, here's the chapter. I felt it was kind of rushed, but I tried to fix it. Beta readers were a huge help, so I hope it's okay.
I've already sold a couple of copies of my book! How cool is that? But because some people asked, if you look up 'The Thirteenth Element: Mage Call' on Amazon, it's the first one that comes up. If you'd like to read it, GREAT! If you'd like to read it and review it? Even better! No links, though, because of rules here on the website. I'm adhering to those.
Thanks to my beta readers: Srinikha, Snow, Asterius Daemon, Shadow Slayer, Starlight3, The Chromancer, Fiah, Pan_theytic_idiot, and Quathis for their help on this! Also my tier three and four patrons. You're the best!
Thank you for reading!
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