Ch26

As Ethan slept he found himself in a small room with a young man in old fashion clothing pacing the room awkwardly. "Ojiisan!" He recognized his grandfather from the pictures he saw of him.

What is going on? His grandfather looked worried about something and that was when he noticed the date on the calendar. December 7th 1941, the day of Pearl Harbor.

He watched as his grandfather carefully went to the door and opened it as the sound of people arguing could be heard.

"What does this mean?" A woman asked. "Why would Japan…"

"You know exactly why," A man snapped. "The kami always feared a confrontation, it was always a matter of time." The voice was betrayed a mixture of anger and fear. "The western gods are arrogant they would never tolerate competition."

He watched as his grandfather watched with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. Ojiisan always mentioned his parents never had citizenship.

"The Emperor surely he wouldn't have-"

"The Meiji emperor could barely use the power of Amaterasu-sama. The Taisho emperor was too frail and looked how young he died. I doubt this emperor can even call upon her power."

The scene shifted and he saw his grandfather in front of his parents as they took down a kamidana or a house Shinto shrine. "But how are we going to pray to Inari-sama? Will our crops even grow?"

His great grandmother went over and gripped his grandfather on the shoulder tightly. "We never had one ok? Do not mention anything about the kami to anyone do you understand?" She asked her voice a mixture of fear and sorrow.

His grandfather looked confused. "But why do we have to stop-"

"Do you understand!" His great grandmother yelled tears falling down her face.

His great grandfather set the small shrine and came over to his grandfather. "We cannot talk about the kami anymore. The gods of this realm will not tolerate it." His great grandfather rummaged through his pocket and took out a rosary and handed it to his grandfather. "Take this if you need to pray. You still have the bible those white missionaries gave you?"

His grandfather nodded as he took the rosary. "Is this because we are Japanese?"

His great grandparents slowly nodded. "Memorize the Lord's Prayer and John 3:16. If anything happens hopefully it won't draw too much suspicion on us. Don't speak of the kami anymore."

The scene shifted and he saw his grandfather and his family in tears as they were escorted into a military vehicle. "Where are we going?" His grandfather asked.

His great grandmother gently hugged. "It's ok. We are together and that's what is important."

"But we are Americans they can't do this to us," His grandfather protested.

His heart wretched as he saw his grandfather enter a US army vehicle before it drove off leaving all the farmland that his family worked hard for gone for the taking. All that his family had built in America was gone in the blink of an eye.

When he awoke his heart was racing. Ojiisan. He shook his head as he cleaned the tears from his face. He had always heard stories of his grandfather's internment but seeing it up close was heart wrenching.

He slowly sat up and noticed Percy and Alabaster were awake. "Did Quintus leave?"

Alabaster nodded as he examined the area with his torch. "He did."

"He seemed odd," Percy said. The son of Poseidon looked at him. "Are you ok Ethan you look pale?"

He avoided his gaze. "Just a bad dream."

Alabaster raised an eyebrow. "A dream?"

He got up and stretched. "Yeah a personal dream."

Percy and Alabaster looked at each other and didn't press the issue. Frankly he wondered why had that dream here of all places.

"Still that Quintus guy seems odd. Why is he here in the first place?" Percy asked.

Alabaster frowned. "I don't know but he doesn't seem like an enemy and more like a neutral passerby."

He nodded as he thought of the strange man with the dog. "Yeah he is." He looked down at his spear and picked it up. He wanted something even if it was to observe us. "Come on lets go."

Alabaster nodded and raised his torch its flames flickering slightly pointed northward. "This way."

They continued into the labyrinth. It didn't take long for them to run into a group of Telekhines.

"Demingods!" The monsters hissed as they charged at them with their axes in hand.

Alabaster raised his torch and summoned a blinding light causing the monsters to wince. Ojiisan I'll make you proud.

His heart raced as the memory of the dream made his blood boil. He did nothing wrong. He thrusted his spear into the Telekhine. The monster yelped loudly as he kicked it to the ground. My family didn't deserve that. Something awoke inside of him as the memory of his grandfather's tears, the brokenness in his gaze at the prospect of internment.

No one deserved that. He thrusted his spear into the monster taking it out before charging at the other monsters, it was as if he were given the strength two more people as the anger and resentment filled his body. Percy was by his side as they charged at the monsters. Ojiisan I'll remember all that you did for our family. I won't die I won't let the sacrifices and humiliations of my family be in vain.

A burning energy flared inside of him. The images of his grandfather's misery flashed through his mind as he fell onto the monsters with frenzy. I will avenge you. He sank his spear into the heart of a monster before pulling it out and thrusted it at another. I'll get justice for you I swear.

It didn't take long before they took out the monsters. "Uh are you ok Ethan?" Percy asked.

"I'm fine," he sighed as he looked at the ground. "Just something personal." Shaking his head he looked at the ground as his arms gripped his spear tightly. "My family suffered a lot in the past century…I've been thinking of them lately."

Percy and Alabaster looked at each other. "What were you dreaming of? Percy asked curiously.

His gaze drifted to the ground. "My grandfather right before he and his family lost everything."

Alabaster's eyes flickered in the torch light. "Dreams for us demigods always mean something. Perhaps there is a personal reason you have those dreams?"

"Yeah maybe," He muttered as he looked down the dark paths of the labyrinth. Just why would I have them though? Mother if you sending me a message what do you wish of me?

Percy patted his back. "Don't worry we'll help you if you need it."

He nodded as a sense of gratitude filled him up. "Thanks." His gaze drifted towards the labyrinth. "Come on lets go."

Alabaster nodded and stepped forward. "The enemy scattered with little coordination. It won't be easy but we could clear a lot of them out if we can." Raising his hand the son of Hecate muttered some words in Latin. A green light flew from the flame and lit up the corridor.

Percy stepped forward. "Come on lets go."

He nodded as they continued down the labyrinth as the bitterness of that dream gave him strength to move on.

Hecate looked at Hades through the flames of the pyre. The lord of the underworld was not happy in fact she could tell he was furious. "Do not worry," she said calmly. "Lou will keep your daughter safe."

She and Hades had a frank relationship with each other and that girl with Lou had her father's aura so it wasn't hard to put two and two together.

Two of my children on a quest, what strange times. She had watched Lou from afar and had her subjects monitor her in case of emergency.

Hades face grimaced. "The other one have you found him?"

"He's been quiet."

She had her suspicions about the girl who was Lou's teammate and upon closer inspection she could tell Bianca di Angelo had her father's aura. When pushed Hades freely admitted it, they always did have a frank relationship.

The lord of the underworld swore his palace shaking. "Damn it all!"

"I'll order my subjects to keep an eye out for him," she said calmly.

Hades rubbed his brow. "I can't believe I lost one of them."

"You have many paths you could take. Tread carefully," she warned.

"I know that," Hades growled. "My brother will be furious." He rested his head in his hands. "I put them away for a reason."

"Prepare for the inevitable," she said calmly. "Your brother would be a fool to cast you aside and punish you severely now of all times."

Hades sighed. "I know."

"I have an important meeting I must attend to," she said calmly. "Rest assured I'll pass the information I find about your son to you."

Hades met her gaze and nodded. "Be safe with what you're doing."

I always am. Hades' image disappeared in the flames. Taking a deep breath she stared in the pyre. This is happening rapidly but I shall not be a bystander.

One of her polecats came up to her. "My lady, the queen of the seas is approaching."

"Let her in," she said firmly.

She had been planning this coming meeting meticulously, passing messages between Amphitrite and Tethys. She knew Oceanus and his wife liked a good bargain more than willing to negotiate.

The smell of the ocean filled the air and Amphitrite was wearing a regal dress with sea motifs and a pearl necklace. "Good evening Lady Hecate."

She nodded. "A pleasure to see you Lady Amphitrite. If all is ready I'll open the line of communication."

Amphitrite nodded. "Do it."

She waved her hand over the pyre. The green flames roared to life as she began to chant in Ancient Greek. It didn't take long for Oceanus and Tethys to appear in their deep thrones. Both of them wore final outfits while their expressions were neutral.

"Ah Amphitrite what a fine young lady you've become," Oceanus said politely his voice echoing throughout her hall.

"Yes it has been ages," Tethys said with a diplomatic smile. "How are things on the upper crust of the ocean."

Amphitrite nodded. "Things are well at the moment."

Oceanus folded his arms and chuckled. "Well to be seen by the wife of Poseidon herself, I haven't had such an honor in a while."

"My lord husband sends his regards," Amphitrite said diplomatically. "We hope harmony can be maintained in the seas."

Oceanus nodded. "Such exciting times. Your husband sired a forbidden child while my brother establishing himself." The old god sat in his chair and stroked his beard. "What a time it is."

Tethys sat on her throne and eyed Amphitrite coolly. "You and your husband have long ruled our former realm. We chose not to fight in the last war yet it feels as if our realm is always being pushed on."

The atmosphere tensed as the scent of the deep ocean filled the room. Amphitrite's face remained calm. "Our realms have long had peace. My lord husband and I hope to maintain that peace."

Oceanus raised an eyebrow. "The ocean can be a difficult place for peace. Should I just abandon my brother when he seems so confident?"

Straight to the point as always. Oceanus was many things but she knew the old sea god cared about the defense of his realm over anything and always had his own interest at heart.

Amphitrite's gaze remained calm. "Lord Oceanus I'm sure you're well aware of what your brother did to my husband and his siblings. With all do respect I don't think he is the type to share."

Oceanus laughed. "He's not." The old sea god folded his arms. "But you and your husband have been too complacent with me and my family."

"What is it you desire?" Amphitrite asked.

Oceanus and his wife looked at each other before turning to face Amphitrite. "We just want respect and acknowledgment," Tethys said it frankly. "Your husband has been too complacent if you both wish the seas to be neutral you must show us your desire to be good neighbors."

Amphitrite studied both of them before nodding. "What do you propose?"

Oceanus and his wife looked at each other. "Respect."

Clarisse swore as the giant boar they were riding nearly tossed them off. Out of the corner of her eyes, she saw the skeletons advance. "Hey goat boy can this thing go any faster?"

Grover trembled as he gripped the boar tightly. "I think it's going as fast as it can."

The skeletons crashed into the large boar. "Squiii!" The boar bucked and they all grabbed onto its hide as it began to crush the skeletons.

"Grover!" Thalia yelled as the satyr was hanging on the side of the boar looking as if he were about to fall.

"AHHH!" Grover screamed as he barely clung to the boar's side.

They all tried to grab the satyr but the boar was jumping up and down crushing the skeletons. "Squii!" The boar squealed jumped and Grover fell.

"Grover!" Lou Ellen yelled as the satyr fell down the cavern of a cave.

"Stop we have to get him!" Thalia yelled as the boar began to race down the road.

"It's too late," Zoe said. "We'll have to come back."

"Are you crazy we can't leave him!" Thalia yelled tears falling down her face. "Please we have to get him."

The somber mood was quickly broken by the boar running at top speed.

She swore and gripped her spear. "How can we even control this thing?" Her instincts kicked in as she quickly grabbed the stick Grover was using to control the boar. The animal reacted to the apple at the end of the stick and tried to control. "Hey magic girl any spells to calm this thing?"

"I'm on it!" The daughter of Hecate muttered something in Latin and a green smoke filled the air.

Come I can do this. She was a daughter of Ares, she could control some boar. The animal slowly calmed down as it decreased its speed before slowly coming to a crawl at a river bank.

Her heart raced in her chest as she gripped the stick tightly. "Lets get off this damn thing."

No one argued with her as they quickly fell off. "We shall set up camp nearby," Zoe said. "We'll leave first thing in the morning."

"You ok?" She asked Thalia who was shaking on her knees. They were in New Mexico and had just survived an ambush now they had lost one of their own.

"I-I'm fine," Thalia muttered as she got up. "Grover we have to find him."

"We have more important things to do at the moment," Zoe said firmly. "We shouldn't delay in saving Lady Artemis."

Thalia shot Zoe a murderess look. "What do you know you venomous hunter?"

Ah shit. She quickly got in between the two as the atmosphere thickened. "Hey calm down both of you!"

Zoe glared at Thalia. "Arrogant child can't though see that there are more important things at the moment?"

"Hey lets just calm down," Lou said as she and Bianca stood between the two girls. Her voice was calm and the tension slowly dissipated "We'll talk in the morning."

"Yeah I don't think he's dead," Bianca said as she rubbed her head "At least I didn't feel anything weird."

She frowned at Bianca but said nothing as Thalia turned around to set up her own sleeping bag.

So far the quest had been going more or less smoothly. Up until now with the loss of Grover they had been doing well making their way across the country. After an encounter with the Nemean lion which she managed to help beat with the help of everyone they were helped by Apollo with a train westward.

She looked up at the starry sky. Hang on wise girl, we'll rescue that big brain of yours. The sound of a car pulling up made them all go to their weapons.

"There's my little girl," said a voice that nearly made her heart stop.

Her eyes widened as she saw her father in an army uniform standing a few feet away with a cocky grin on his face. "F-Father," she said before bowing politely.

She had a mixed relationship with him, usually daughters of Ares were overlooked but she still wanted to earn his value.

"What does thou want?" Zoe asked.

Ares pointed to her. "Just checking up on my little girl, come here Clarisse lets talk."

"I'll be right back," she muttered as she followed her father to the car.

Her father then placed a hand on the fur coat she was wearing, she winced at his touch but tried to not appear afraid. "Your second quest and you already defeated the Nemean Lion."

She swallowed and nodded. "Y-Yes father."

Ares laughed and patted her shoulder making flinch with each pat. "That's my girl. You're making me proud here."

"I-I'll bring honor to you and save Artemis," she said quickly.

Her father's gaze was curious, despite being calm she still flinched under them. "Do not forget you are my daughter, call upon my strength when you need it the most."

She nodded. "I-I will."

Ares then turned around and looked at the distance. "Be careful going through Hephaestus' junkyard, that bastard has all kinds of things in there."

With that, he disappeared along with the car leaving her alone in the desert. I swear I'll make you proud father.

The next morning they awoke to Lou Ellen and Bianca looking at some tarot cards. "I don't think Grover is dead," Lou said.

Thalia raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

Lou flipped a card over. "Just a hunch. My mother is the goddess of pathways and I was praying all night to see if I could find him."

"And did you?" She asked.

Lou frowned as she stared at her weird cards. "He's somewhere important. We just need to have faith in him."

"She is right," Zoe said. "The satyr isn't one to easily give up. Come we should go."

She noticed Thalia look into the distance with unease and reluctantly turned away. I hope you're right about him magic girl. Grover was alright and frankly she didn't want to break the bad news to Annabeth that he might be gone.

With that they quickly packed their things and headed forward. The atmosphere was still somber as they found Hephaestus' junk yard. It was a tall foreboding pile of trash that ominously stood in the middle of nowhere.

"Remember take nothing for this place is cursed," Zoe said as she eyed the area cautiously with her bow and arrows in hand.

The hairs on her neck stood up, all her instincts and training were telling her this place was enemy territory. Gripping her spear tightly she eyed the any and all things that could be suspicious.

As they stepped out of the junkyard a loud moan roared through the area as the junk pile began to move. She swore and gripped her spear as she saw something emerge from the pile of junk.

"Who stole?" Zoe yelled her gaze turning to her.

"Hey don't look at me I'm not stupid," She snapped. Out of the corner of her eyes Bianca di Angelo looked towards the ground her face racked with guilt. Oh great. "What did you do?" She snapped.

Lou placed a hand on the girl's shoulder. "It's ok just tell us."

Bianca opened her hands revealing a small figurine. "I-I wanted to give it to my brother when I see him again," she said softly.

She swore. "Stupid girl."

The large figure emerged from the garbage that looked like a broken Greek statue. "Looks like a defective Talos," Thalia muttered.

The statue's eyes glowed red. Shit. "Run!" she said as the statue began to charge at them.

Gripping her spear tightly she charged at the statue. Father give me your strength. She thrusted her spear at the foot only to be kicked back.

Damn this thing. She rolled on the ground and stood up and that was when she noticed the green smoke. Lou Ellen was standing and chanting from her small book an ominous green aura flew through the area and the Talos froze.

Everyone paused as they were enchanted by Lou's words, a mixture of Latin and Ancient Greek. She could make a few words out: calm, pause, sleep, stop. Over and over again mixed with other words. Her gaze turned green as an otherworldly aura danced around her and up the Talos.

Then the Talos creaked as it slowly froze before slowly falling to the ground. A thud reverberated throughout the area as it crashed to the ground.

They all stared at Lou at what she had just done. Lou Ellen stumbled to the ground but Zoe caught her. "Good job daughter of Hecate."

She nodded and met Lou's half-vacant gaze. "Nice spell."

Lou Ellen met her gaze and nodded. "Thank you. I think I need to rest a bit."

She nodded. "Rest all you want." Deep down she had to admit Lou's magic was pretty interesting. A lot of things happen in warfare. Father would be proud of her abilities. War was cruel and merciless and tricks were frankly fair game.

AN: I know a lot of PJO fans headcanon the Shinto pantheon acting like the Greek pantheon. Yet as I studied the Shinto pantheon I'm more likely to think they would act somewhat more like the Egyptian pantheon due to the fact that in Shintoism there is a tradition of beliefs where the Kami speak and act through priests and followers.

In this story I sort of took inspiration from what happened to the Pharaohs in Kane Chronicles as what happened to Japan. Similar to how the Cleopatra failed to use the powers of the Egyptian gods a similar thing happened to the emperors of Japan where the Meiji emperor was the last one to be able to wield their power well. His successors were less successful.