The school holidays end today, sadly, so pray for me.

And I made a cover for this fic, finally.

Not much to say, so here's chapter five!

CHAPTER 5: HARD TRUTHS

Perseus stared at Nereus, his heart skipping a beat. "Waiting for me? Why would they-"

Nereus smiled, his yellowed teeth showing as he slowly stood up. "Oh, Perseus, haven't you realized by now? You are at the center of this war, whether you like it or not. The Titans, the gods... all their plans, all their strategies, have been leading up to you. The Ophiotaurus is merely the bait, a way to lure you to Othrys. Kronos is patient, and he's preparing for your arrival."

Zoë stepped forward, her eyes cold. "Enough riddles, Nereus. What does Kronos want with Perseus?"

Nereus shrugged, his gaze drifting lazily toward the horizon. "What does Kronos ever want? Power. But this time, he's playing the long game. He knows that forcing his way to Olympus isn't the answer, not with the gods alert and ready. So, he waits for the right moment-"

"Which is?" Perseus interrupted, feeling a knot tighten in his stomach.

Nereus' grin widened. "You."

Perseus blinked, shaking his head. "What do you mean, me? I'm just—"

"You're more than you think, Perseus," Nereus continued, his voice growing darker. "You are not just an immortal anymore. There's another power brewing inside you, a power that neither god nor Titan fully understands. The pit gave you power, and Kronos... oh, he wants that power for himself."

Grover, who had been standing quietly, cleared his throat. "Uh, what power is he talking about, Percy?"

Perseus shrugged helplessly. "I... I don't know." He turned back to Nereus. "What do you mean?"

Nereus gave a mysterious chuckle, stepping back toward the pier. "That's not for me to say. You'll discover it soon enough, hero. Kronos is expecting you, and when the time comes, you'll have to decide where your loyalties lie."

Perseus' blood ran cold. "I know where my loyalties lie - with my friends, with Olympus."

Nereus smirked again, but this time it lacked the usual humor. "We'll see. The line between god and Titan is thinner than you think, Perseus. You'll learn that soon. Now, I've given you what you wanted. The Ophiotaurus is on Othrys, and it's waiting for you. Kronos wants you to burn its entrails and topple Olympus. Whether you'll be able to stop what's coming... well, that's the real question, isn't it?"

"Why does Kronos think I'll do that for him?"

Nereus wagged a finger. "One question, remember? I've been far too nice already, revealing all of this."

Thalia clenched her fists. "We're done here. Let's go."

Zoë nodded, her eyes never leaving Nereus. "Yes. But remember, Nereus. We will be watching thee. If any of this is a lie, you'll regret it."

Nereus waved dismissively, already heading toward the sea. "You know where to find me if you need more answers... which you will."

As he disappeared down the dock, Grover exhaled loudly. "That guy gives me the creeps."

Perseus didn't respond, his mind spinning. Kronos was waiting for him? Why? What was this power Nereus was talking about?

And why was Kronos so sure that he'd sacrifice the Ophiotaurus for him?

Zoë touched his arm, her expression serious. "We must move quickly, Perseus. If Kronos knows we are coming, the Ophiotaurus may already be in danger."

Thalia nodded. "And we can't let that happen."

Perseus clenched his jaw, pushing the growing unease aside. "Right. Let's get to Othrys."

But as they turned to leave, the weight of Nereus' words lingered. Hard truths were coming, and Perseus wasn't sure he was ready for them.

ETERNITY

Percy found that Zoë and Thalia should never be in enclosed spaces together.

Under any circumstances.

They were currently packed inside a small, rickety van that Grover had managed to procure from a nearby rental service. It smelled faintly of wet grass and rust, and with each bump on the road, Percy was convinced the whole thing would fall apart. But the real problem wasn't the van.

It was the tension between Zoë and Thalia.

Zoë sat stiffly in the front passenger seat, her gaze fixed out the window, as if looking at Thalia directly might cause her to turn to stone. Thalia, meanwhile, gripped the steering wheel with white knuckles, muttering curses under her breath every time Zoë so much as sighed.

Percy, sitting between Grover and the endless ocean of awkward silence in the back, pinched the bridge of his nose.

Thalia grumbled. "So, are we just going to ignore the fact that Nereus basically said he's some kind of… ticking time bomb?"

"We're not ignoring it," Grover said quickly. "We're just… processing."

Thalia shot Zoë a sideways glance. "And I thought you were the expert in all things prophecy-related."

Zoë didn't take the bait. "Prophecies are seldom clear. The only certainty is that they will come to pass, one way or another."

Thalia rolled her eyes. "That's so helpful. Thanks."

Percy groaned inwardly. They'd been at each other's throats for the past hour, ever since they had left the docks. Neither would admit it, but their rivalry was as deep as their loyalty to Artemis and Zeus. Being trapped in a van together was clearly pushing them both to the limit.

Zoë shifted in her seat, her voice cold. "We cannot afford to waste time on petty disagreements. The fate of Olympus is at stake."

Thalia's grip on the steering wheel tightened. "You think I don't know that?"

Percy could feel the tension rising again. He leaned forward, desperate to stop another argument before it started. "Hey, hey, we're all on the same team here. We just need to focus. Once we get to Othrys, we can figure out the next step."

Thalia muttered something under her breath, but Zoë remained silent, still staring out the window.

The van hit another bump, jostling everyone. Grover bleated in surprise, grabbing onto Percy's arm for balance.

"Maybe we can all agree that Kronos is the real problem here?" Percy tried again, throwing a half-hearted grin into the void. No one responded.

With a heavy sigh, Percy leaned back, staring at the ceiling of the van. The uneasy silence stretched on, broken only by the rumble of the van's engine and the occasional bickering over directions.

"You know, I wasn't always called Perseus."

Thalia frowned. "What?"

Perseus shrugged. Telling stories was a better way to pass the time than… whatever they were doing. "During the days of Kronos' rule, the Titans called me Apokálypsis. There was an old prophecy, about a grandson of Kronos…" he shivered. "So my name was just that."

"Seems pretty bleak." Grover commented.

"I know. And during the golden age of humanity," Thalia muttered something about thousand-year old demigods living in the past, "I lived in Corinth. Had a farm there, actually. So they called me Perseus of Corinth. I was actually the king for a little while, but that's a different story."

Zoë cracked a rare smile. "Thou seem to be glossing over how thee was only king because of the war thou started."

Perseus groaned. "Do we really have to go over that part?"

Zoë's smile widened, something rare and mischievous in her eyes. "It is only fitting. If thee wishes to pass the time with stories, thou should at least tell them properly."

Thalia raised an eyebrow. "Wait, so how did you end up with the name Perseus? I thought you were just named after the hero who killed Medusa or something."

"I'm older than him." Perseus rubbed the back of his neck, feeling the embarrassment creeping in. "My father, Poseidon, thought the name 'destroyer' fitting after I toppled Othrys."

"And how'd this whole war that Zoë was talking about start?"

"Well... it's not exactly a glorious story. You know how I mentioned I was in Corinth, right? One day, I was on my way to my farm when I ran into a goddess. Long story short, I did something incredibly stupid-"

"Shocker," Thalia interrupted, smirking.

"-and insulted her accidentally," Perseus continued, ignoring her. "It was all a misunderstanding, really. But she didn't see it that way, and neither did her friends."

Zoë chuckled softly. "A golden apple, was it not?"

Perseus sighed, glaring at her. "Yes. The golden apple. I was just trying to return it to the goddess of discord, but apparently, mortals touching sacred apples isn't acceptable."

Grover's eyes widened. "Wait, you touched Eris's apple? That's like... curse level bad!"

Perseus nodded solemnly. "Oh, it was curse level bad, all right. The three goddesses - Athena, Hera, and Aphrodite - ended up fighting over the apple because I... may have complimented one of them."

Thalia snorted. "And you wonder why you get into trouble with the gods."

"Anyway," Perseus said quickly, ignoring her comment, "things spiraled out of control. Next thing I know, they were throwing this massive argument about who was the fairest, and somehow I got roped into being the judge."

"Thou should have simply run," Zoë teased.

"I tried!" Perseus shot back. "But they weren't exactly giving me a choice. In the end, I was stuck with the decision, and after some intense... negotiation, I chose Athena. She wasn't thrilled that I picked her because I just wanted them to stop fighting, but she still gave me her spear as thanks."

Thalia raised an eyebrow. "She gave you her spear for settling an argument?"

Perseus looked sheepish. "Apparently, she thought it was fitting. Doesn't really matter, I lost it on Othrys."

"How do you even manage that?"

"Zoë's fault," he muttered.

Grover laughed. "Wait, where's the actual 'war' bit Zoë was talking about?"

"No!" he shouted.

They all turned to look at Perseus.

Perseus threw his hands up. "It wasn't my finest moment, okay?"

Zoë shook her head, still amused. "Thou hast a talent for understatement."

Grover chuckled. "So, let me get this straight. You touched Eris's golden apple, started a fight between three goddesses, and somehow that led to a war?"

Perseus grimaced. "Yeah, pretty much. There were... consequences. The goddesses decided my decision wasn't satisfactory, so they got a mortal prince and used his judgment as an excuse to pull the gods into the conflict. The mortals got caught in the crossfire, and before I knew it, there was a full-blown war."

Thalia smirked. "And this is why I try to avoid golden apples."

Perseus gave her a wry look. "It wasn't just the apple. There was a lot of bad luck involved."

Zoë chuckled softly. "Bad luck, indeed. Yet thou somehow survived the wrath of three goddesses."

"Barely." Perseus muttered, sinking back into his seat. "And Athena wouldn't hurt me. She's a friend."

Thalia snorted. "Only you could survive that mess and come out with a new name."

"Well, Perseus of Corinth doesn't exactly have a spotless record," he admitted with a sigh. "I still think Apokálypsis was worse."

Zoë smirked. "And yet, it seems fate has a sense of irony. The hero named for peace now stands at the heart of a war between gods and Titans."

"I don't think I was named for peace." Perseus sighed, leaning back into the seat. "Although I did like being called Perseus Jackson. That one actually stuck."

Thalia frowned. "What?"

"Long story short, a woman very close to me, died in front of my eyes." Perseus trailed off, shaking his head. "She begged me to make sure her family was taken care of. Her name was Sally Jackson. I figured the least I could do was honor her somehow, so I took her name. That's how I became Perseus Jackson."

Thalia blinked. "So you just… took some random woman's name?"

Perseus shrugged. "She wasn't random. She was a good person. Kind, loving. And honestly, I wanted a fresh start. After everything that had happened, I didn't want to be tied to the past anymore."

Grover tilted his head. "That's... kind of sweet, actually."

Zoë's expression softened just a little. "Perhaps there is more to thee than a troublemaker after all."

Perseus chuckled softly. "Don't get used to it. I still get into plenty of trouble."

Thalia rolled her eyes. "We know. You practically attract it."

"Yeah. Life has a funny way of doing that."

Thalia shook her head, her expression softening slightly. "Well, at least now I know why you're always neck-deep in trouble. It's practically in your name."

"Be quiet."

Percy's mind kept drifting back to Nereus' words, the hint that there was something more at play here than he understood. A power he didn't even know he had? It felt like the weight of the world was pressing down on his shoulders, and for the first time in a while, he wasn't sure how he was supposed to carry it.

As they drove on toward Othrys, the looming sense of destiny settled over Percy like a dark cloud. Whatever awaited them on that mountain was going to change everything.

ETERNITY

"Here we are," said Thalia. "Othrys."

The van came to a halt, the engine sputtering as it finally gave out. Thalia cut the ignition, and for a moment, the group sat in silence, staring out the windshield at the ominous peak of Mount Othrys looming in the distance.

"Othrys," Percy muttered under his breath. The weight of it settled heavily in his mind, like an anchor dragging him down into the depths.

Zoë was the first to step out of the van, her hand instinctively going to her bow as she surveyed the landscape. "This is it," she said quietly, her voice more solemn than usual. "The heart of the Titans' power."

Thalia followed her, gripping her spear tightly. "So, what's the plan? We go up there, free Artemis and Annabeth, and... hope for the best?"

Percy slid out of the van, his heart pounding. He felt a strange pull toward the mountain, as if someone - or something - was calling him. "Yes," he said, his voice firm. "We end this."

Grover stood beside him, looking nervously at the peak. "Yeah, uh... I hate to be the one to ask, but how exactly are we supposed to do that?"

Percy glanced at his friends, the people who had fought alongside him through thick and thin. They had faced monsters, gods, and Titans together. But this... this felt different. It felt final.

"I don't know," Percy admitted. "But whatever it is, we have to stick together. No one goes off on their own. If we want to survive this, we do it as a team."

Thalia nodded, her eyes flicking to Zoë. "Agreed."

Zoë, to Percy's surprise, gave a small nod of acknowledgment. "As thee say, Perseus. Together. Let us hope the prophecy-" her face went pale.

Percy slowly turned to Zoë. "Prophecy? You never said anything about a prophecy."

"Thee never asked," she replied quietly, her voice strained. "But... there is always a prophecy, Perseus. This is no different."

Percy's heart sank. He had been around prophecies long enough to know that they were never straightforward and never simple. "What does it say?" he asked, his voice low.

Zoë looked away, the weight of the words pressing heavily on her. "I cannot say."

"Zoë…"

"I will not." She said.

Percy wheeled on Grover, and suddenly he didn't look like the playful demigod who had told them stories in the van, he looked every bit the immortal he was. "Satyr," he all but growled. "Tell me the prophecy."

Grover shifted nervously, glancing at Zoë, then back to Percy. "I-I... uh… It's not that simple, Percy," he stammered. "Prophecies... they're tricky. I don't know all of it, just bits and pieces."

"Then tell me what you do know," Percy insisted, his voice low and firm.

Thalia stepped forward, placing a hand on his arm. "Percy, calm down. We can figure this out."

But Percy didn't move, his eyes still locked on Grover. "I've seen enough prophecies come true to know when something's being hidden from me. I need to know what we're walking into."

Grover swallowed hard, shifting from foot to foot.

Zoë hesitated, her gaze flicking to the peak of Mount Othrys, the very heart of their destination. For a long moment, she was silent, as if the words themselves carried too much weight to be spoken aloud. Finally, she took a breath and recited in a low voice:

"Five shall go west to the goddess in chains,
One shall be lost in the land without rain,
The bane of Olympus shows the trail,
Campers and hunters combined prevail,
The Titan's curse must one withstand,
And one shall perish by a parent's hand."

The silence that followed felt suffocating, as if the very air around them had thickened with dread.

Percy's heart skipped a beat. "Perish by a parent's hand?" he repeated, his voice barely above a whisper. He felt a cold knot tightening in his chest. "Ok. Logically, it cannot be me. Poseidon would not harm me. Grover, who are your parents?"

Grover swallowed. "They died in the search for Pan."

He nodded. "A noble cause. So then it cannot be Grover. Bianca fell to Talos, and Zeus would not touch Thalia. Zoë, we are marching atop Othrys, where your father, the Titan you're fighting against, resides. It is you."

For a moment, Zoë didn't speak.

Thalia shook her head, disbelief clear in her eyes. "No. That can't be right. Prophecies don't always mean what they seem." She turned to Zoë, her voice desperate. "There has to be another way."

Zoë's gaze remained distant, as if she had already accepted the truth long before Percy had spoken it aloud. "Thee know as well as I do, Thalia, that prophecies are rarely wrong. My father... Atlas..." She trailed off, her voice trembling. "It has been clear to me for some time."

Percy clenched his fists. "We're not letting that happen. We'll find a way to stop it."

Thalia took a step forward, determination blazing in her eyes. "Percy's right. We don't have to play by the prophecy's rules. We've beaten the odds before."

But Zoë shook her head, a sad smile playing on her lips. "Thee cannot change fate, no matter how hard thee try. I have accepted this. My time is near."

Percy's chest tightened. He hated prophecies, hated the way they bound everyone's lives in chains, like some cosmic game with rules none of them could escape. But even worse was seeing the resignation in Zoë's eyes - the acceptance of a future that she didn't deserve.

"No," he said, his voice firm. "I'm not letting you die."

Zoë looked at him, her expression softening. "Perseus, thee are noble. But thee cannot fight this." She glanced back toward Mount Othrys. "We must finish what we started."

"No."

"No?" Zoë said.

"No. You are not going to Othrys. I refuse."

Zoë's eyes widened in surprise at Percy's sudden declaration. "Thou refuse? What dost thee mean, Perseus?"

"I mean you're not going," Percy said, his voice low but resolute. "You're not setting foot on that mountain. Not if the prophecy says-" He stopped himself, gritting his teeth, the weight of his words pressing down hard. "If it's your father, then you're not going up there."

Zoë's shock quickly turned to anger. "Thou cannot forbid me from doing my duty! I swore an oath to Lady Artemis, to the gods, to protect Olympus. This is my fight."

"This isn't just a fight, Zoë!" Percy shot back, his voice rising with frustration. "This is your life! The prophecy says you'll die - by your father's hand! And I'm not going to stand by and let that happen."

Thalia stepped in, her face tense. "Percy, she has a point. We can't just stop her from doing what she's sworn to do. If she doesn't go, then the prophecy might fall apart. And that could be worse."

"Worse than dying?" Percy snapped. His fists were clenched, his knuckles white. "There has to be another way. We don't need to follow the prophecy exactly."

Zoë straightened, her voice steady but with a flicker of pain. "Thee do not understand. Prophecies do not work like that. I cannot run from this."

"You're not running," Percy argued, stepping closer, his eyes locked with hers. "We're finding another way. I'm not losing you, Zoë."

For a moment, her face softened, and Percy could see the years of burden, of loss, etched into her eyes. "Perseus… thee cannot always save everyone. Some things are destined."

"I don't care about destiny," Percy said through gritted teeth. "Not when it's someone I care about."

Zoë blinked, her usual stoic demeanor faltering, just for a second, before she hardened once more. "Thee are a fool if thou think thee can stop this."

"Then call me a fool," Percy replied, standing firm. "But you're not going. Not to Othrys."

She jutted out her chin. "Would you stop me, Perseus? Remember what you did to Achilles? Would you do the same to me?"

The question hung between them, sharp and stinging, and for a moment, Percy hesitated. He could still remember that fateful encounter. The weight of that choice pressed down on him now, as Zoë's gaze bore into him, unyielding.

"I-" he started, then faltered. "No. I wouldn't. But this is different! You're not just a weapon or a foe. You're my friend."

"Friendship does not shield one from destiny," Zoë replied, her voice low. "Perhaps I should have told thee sooner: I have long accepted my fate. I carry the weight of my lineage with pride. I do not wish to be saved from my own choices."

"You shouldn't have to carry that weight alone," Percy insisted, frustration boiling over. "We're all in this together. I'm not backing down just because some ancient words say we have to follow them. We can fight this!"

Thalia stepped in again, her voice urgent but calm. "Percy, you can't force her to abandon her duty. We need to focus on how to save Artemis and Annabeth, not on what's written in some prophecy. Let's deal with that first."

Percy clenched his jaw, torn between the fury of the prophecy and the fear of losing Zoë. "I'm not just going to accept it, Thalia. I can't just sit here and let her walk into a trap."

Zoë's expression softened again, though it quickly hardened once more. "I understand thy heart, Perseus, but sometimes the bravest choice is to accept what is to come. I have lived in the shadow of my father's power for too long; if I must face him, then let it be on my own terms."

Percy shook his head, refusing to give in. "It's not just your choice to make! What if you're wrong? What if we can change the outcome?"

"Some things cannot be changed," Zoë said, her voice firm yet tinged with sadness. "And what is worse - losing me now, or losing me later, when I could have saved everyone?"

The reality of her words struck him, and for a moment, Percy was speechless. He didn't want to think about losing anyone again. But he couldn't just give in, either.

"Maybe it's not about what we lose," he said finally, his voice softer. "Maybe it's about what we're willing to fight for. I don't want you to sacrifice yourself, Zoë. I care too much about you."

The silence that followed was heavy, filled with unspoken feelings and unacknowledged fears. Zoë's eyes glistened, but she remained steadfast, her chin lifted high.

"And I care for thee, Perseus. But caring does not change fate." She paused, taking a deep breath. "If I must go, I will not go quietly."

"Fine."

Thalia stepped forward, her gaze flicking between them. "We've all made it this far together. Let's not start falling apart now." She tightened her grip on her spear, the electricity in the air around her buzzing faintly. "We'll figure it out, one way or another."

Grover gave a nervous nod. "Yeah, and if we can avoid the 'perish by a parent's hand' thing, that'd be great. I really don't like that part."

Percy exhaled, the tension in his chest loosening just a little as he glanced at his friends. "We've faced worse before. We're going to make it out of this - together."

Zoë nodded, though there was still a shadow in her eyes. "Then let us waste no more time. Artemis and thy friend Annabeth will not wait for us."

With that, they turned their gaze back to the looming peak of Mount Othrys.

They walked up the mountain, only stopping when the reached the garden of the Hesperides.

Percy's gaze swept over the area, recognizing the place from Zoë's stories. "The Garden of the Hesperides," he muttered under his breath.

Zoë stood at the entrance of the garden, her posture rigid. Her eyes glistened with a mixture of emotion - nostalgia and pain. "Yes," she said softly. "Home."

Percy knew how she had left it behind when she joined Artemis. Now, standing before it again, he could sense how difficult it must have been for her.

"Zoë…" Percy started, unsure of what to say.

She shook her head, silencing him with a single gesture. "Thee need not speak of it. We must pass through. I… I am ready."

But the moment they stepped into the garden, a voice called out, high and clear like a bell. "Sister."

A figure appeared between the trees, stepping lightly, her golden hair shimmering in the fading light. It was one of the Hesperides. Her expression was cold, yet not without some trace of affection. "You should not have returned."

Zoë stiffened. "I do what I must."

The Hesperide's eyes flickered with disdain as she glanced at the rest of the group. "You bring mortals into our sacred garden. Does their lives mean so little to you?"

Percy stepped forward, but Zoë stopped him with a gentle hand. "This is my burden. Stand back."

"Are you sure?" Percy asked, reluctant to leave her alone in this.

Zoë nodded, her expression resolute. "I am." She turned her gaze to her sister. "Let us end this, sister. There is no need for conflict."

The Hesperides lips curled into a smile. "Oh, Zoë. There is always a need for conflict when one betrays her family. Ladon!"

With a sudden rustle, a massive dragon emerged from the shadows of the garden, scales shimmering like emeralds in the dim light. Ladon, the guardian of the golden apples, coiled menacingly around a tree, his eyes glinting with malice.

"Ladon!" the Hesperid commanded. "Do not let them pass! They wish to destroy what we have preserved."

Ladon hissed, baring its fangs, and the air thickened. Percy felt a surge of protective instinct as he stepped closer to Zoë, ready to fight if necessary. "We're not here to destroy anything!" he shouted, his voice steady despite the fear crawling up his spine.

Zoë stood her ground, unwavering. "We seek only to rescue our friends. Release your grip on your anger, sister. We can find a way to coexist."

The Hesperide laughed, a chilling sound that echoed through the garden. "Coexist? You left us, Zoë. You chose a life of servitude over your own blood. You are no sister of mine."

Ladon lunged forward, his massive body winding through the trees like a living shadow. Percy instinctively stepped in front of Zoë, sword drawn. "Get back, you oversized lizard!" he shouted.

But before Ladon could strike, Zoë raised her hand. "Wait!" she commanded, her voice strong and clear. "Let me speak."

The serpent halted, its eyes narrowing as it studied her. "You think your words hold any power here? You abandoned us, Zoë. You chose the hunt over your family."

"I did what I thought was right," she said, her voice steady despite the circumstances. "But this isn't about the past. This is about the future. Our future."

The Hesperide sneered. "You think there's a future for you among us? You have tarnished our name."

Percy glanced at Grover and Thalia, who were readying themselves for a fight. "What if we're all on the same side?" he suggested, trying to bridge the gap. "The Titans are the real enemy here. We need to unite, not fight each other."

The Hesperide's expression faltered for a moment, her eyes flickering with uncertainty. "And why should I trust you?"

"Because," Percy replied, his voice firm, "last time I was here, I remember destroying this mountain. Yes I left your garden alone. Do you want to test me?"

Ladon hissed, shifting uneasily. The tension in the air hung thick, and for a moment, it felt as if the world held its breath.

Zoë stepped forward, her gaze unwavering. "Sister, I know you feel the pain of betrayal. But think of what we could accomplish together."

The Hesperid hesitated, her cold demeanor cracking just slightly. "And what do you propose?"

"We work together to defeat the Titans," Zoë said, her voice ringing with determination. "I will not fight you if you let us pass."

Ladon tensed, poised to strike, but the Hesperid raised her hand. "I will allow you to pass," she said, her tone cautious. "But know this, Zoë: you will never escape what you have done."
"I know," she said quietly. "Believe me sister, I know."

The Hesperide's eyes glinted as she watched Zoë. "Then go, before I change my mind. Ladon will not hold back a second time."

Zoë nodded, her face unreadable, but Percy could sense the storm of emotions. She turned back toward the group.

"Thank you," Percy said, though his voice held little warmth.

The Hesperid gave him a long, cold stare, her lip curling slightly. "Do not mistake this for kindness. I allow this only out of mercy. But tread carefully, for the mountain holds more dangers than you can imagine."

With a final glance at Zoë, the Hesperid faded into the shadows of the trees, disappearing as quickly as she had appeared. Ladon slithered back into the darkness, his massive form retreating, though his eyes lingered on Percy and the others as if memorizing their faces.

Thalia let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding, her grip loosening on her spear. "Well, that could have gone worse."

Grover, who had been eyeing Ladon nervously, nodded vigorously. "I vote we get out of here before she changes her mind."

Percy glanced at Zoë, who was already moving forward, her face a mask of determination. He could tell that the encounter with her sister had left its mark, but she didn't waver. She led them deeper into the garden, toward the mountain's looming peak.

As they walked, Percy fell into step beside her. "Zoë… you okay?"

She didn't look at him, her gaze fixed ahead. "I am as I have always been, Perseus. Focus on the task at hand. The battle is yet to come."

Percy frowned but didn't press further. He knew Zoë was strong, but even she couldn't hide the pain of facing her family and the weight of the prophecy. Still, they had a mission, and as much as he wanted to protect her, he couldn't ignore the dangers that lay ahead.

Mount Othrys awaited, and with it, the fate of the gods, their friends, and perhaps Zoë herself.

Ok, so Percy and Zoë are good friends. Percy's names have been revealed, and someone's gonna die! Next chapter is going to be absolutely nuts.

And we're slowly seeing Perseus switch to Percy.

Review responses:

Robotdocter: Maybe! I don't know if they'll get together, but there will be hints. Thank you for the support!

Guest: I can't reveal that yet, sorry man.

Vallier2417: Thank you so much dude! Yeah, Percy is powerful, but who is he off the battlefield? Fight scenes? Next chapter is going to be a bunch of them. Othrys is going to be crazy. Thanks for the constant reviews!

Guest: You asked, and I gave!

TheReaderOfTheOlympians: Indeed he did.

Sageofchaos: Thanks!

Greed720: Well, I answered that this chapter, so hope you liked the answer.

Guest: Appreciate it!

That's all the responses. Next chapter is actually really really really packed with just a bunch of fighting lmao, and what I hope is a pretty badass Percy scene, so look out for that! Make sure to review!

Much love to all of you, especially Vallier2417 and Robotdocter for the consistent reviews!

See you (hopefully soon).