Percy Jackson and the Four Horsemen

Chapter 6: How to Prepare for a Trial 101

PREVIOUSLY ON THE FOUR HORSEMEN:

"I am sorry, Percy, but the Olympian Council has come to the conclusion that you must be trialed for the murder of Lou Ellen Blackstone and Argus."

Percy sighed, barely audible over the deafening silence. The next week was going to be one hell of a week.

Percy, Annabeth and Chiron managed to shoo away the crowd before leaving the common area and walking to the Big House. Annabeth was talking with Chiron about the changes in Camp so that he could stop worrying. Meanwhile, Percy was going over everything in his head, despite it clearly going to be an easy win. Unsurprisingly, his focus slowly drifted to the person who was trying (and despite definitely being way too obvious succeeding somehow?) to frame him for… some number. 'The Four', Percy said, to rejog his memory.

He did say it a bit too loud and both Annabeth and Chiron glanced at him, confused. He decided to take the opportunity to consult the most Greek mythology knowledgeable people/horse he knew.

"You guys ever heard anything about the Four?"

"It's a number, Percy."

"No shit. As in, are there any mentions of a group of four in those ancient books you read in your free time?"

Chiron frowned. "As per my memory, almost all Greek and Roman legends contain significance with the numbers three or twelve."

Annabeth nodded with that statement.

"The only four I can think of is that old Biblical thing about the horsemen and the apocalypse. But that's not our thing, and I don't think we could even interfere with that, could we, Chiron?"

"Correct, my child. Unfortunately, our domains are restricted to purely Greco-Roman and Ptolemaic problems. Biblical problems are far too… different for our skillsets to take action even if we could."

Percy spoke. "I mean, if it was possible for Greek and Egyptian gods to merge, perhaps Christian problems could become ours too."

Annabeth added, "Even Emperor Nero had ties to the Biblical legends, did he not?"

"If Nero was still alive, we would know."

Percy butted in before Annabeth and Chiron could continue on their tangent about the fabric of religion and whatnot.

"This 'Four' is a future problem. What do we do about my impending trial, y'know, the more pressing matter?'

Annabeth said, 'You should be fine, Percy. It's probably just the Dairy Queen being hateful to us in specific for no reason. Anyone can see that you're innocent, and the gods wouldn't exile you unless they were crazy.'

Lightning boomed and Chiron sighed, two noises that went together most of the time because of how many times the demigods (the older ones, at least) didn't respect the gods.

"Percy, my boy, do not worry. The gods cannot vote against you, even if a majority wanted to, without incurring the wrath of Lord Poseidon. You just have to go there, not enrage Lord Zeus, and the trial will be over. I would suggest that I help you with your trial if you need it. After all, everyone needs a good teacher-taxi-lawyer."

Percy chuckled. Annabeth said, "Yeah, I can help Chiron with the preparations part if that helps you feel less worried. It's a simple open-and-shut case, though. The 'victim', i.e. Lady Lotus-staff will present her case, which is riddled with more holes than a block of Swiss cheese. Then you present your case, which I'm sure Chiron and I can make so rock-solid that even Mother herself wouldn't be able to break through."

"Do I have to present my case?"

"Most likely. But Chiron and I will be there for you."

Percy was grateful for his girlfriend's and Chiron's help. He still couldn't shake the feeling that something was gonna go wrong. And his gut usually was right.

Annabeth said, "Percy, how about you sleep for a bit? I'll come wake you in time for dinner. Chiron and I will go try and get your case concrete; and try and figure out what the Four is or are."

"Yeah, I will. Thanks for the support, guys."

Percy hugged Annabeth and went to his cabin, to while away his time.

Percy was beyond happy when someone finally knocked on the door. He had spent the past few hours (which were very long, mind you) cooped up in his cabin. He did try to go out but he was just met with awed stares and kids coming up to him to sign their helmets or chestplates or faces and he could not be bothered; let alone the fact that the news of him being a possible murderer brought even more stares. He could see the Camp Half-Blood Chronicles headline: 'Percy Jackson: Lived Long Enough to Become the Villain?' He really did hope this stupid trial went his way.

He opened his door to see his girlfriend standing there.

"Hope you had a good rest, Seaweed Brain."

"Eh."

"Hmm. Anyway, tonight's plan is dinner, and then Olympus. How's that sound?"

"Dinner in Olympus with you would be better."

"We can do that tomorrow, once you're done with this trial."

"Promise?"

"Promise."

Percy turned to look at the sunset over one of the green hills surrounding Camp.

"This is kinda nice."

"Right, Wise Girl?"

He turned back to see… nothing. His heart began to thump faster. Where was she? Where did she go? He scanned the surroundings, looking for her. And then, he saw her again. All the way near the Big House, way too far from where he was to even sprint there in such quick time. And she was coming towards him. And the dinner horn sounded.

"The Hades?"

Percy saw Annabeth begin jogging towards him, her blonde hair almost golden in the fading sunlight.

"Hey, Percy. Looks like you came out early. Saved me all the trouble of walking into your cabin."

"Um.."

Noticing the panicked look on Percy's face, Annabeth said, "What's wrong?"

"You were the one who got me out of the cabin."

"But-"

"Exactly."

"You think it's your head or this dude who's trying to get you framed?"

"I'm hoping it's the dude."

"It better be the dude. If it is, where is he right now? Is he a shapeshifter? Or is he just an illusioner?"

"It can't be a shapeshifter. There was no one here once you disappeared."

"So he's an illusioner."

"I'm not even sure it's a he."

"Fine. It's an illusioner."

"A Misting? A Mist-bender?"

"Both names sound way too epic for someone who can manipulate Mist."

"A Mist-bender."

Annabeth grumbled. "Fine. Our foe is a Mist-bender."

"Yup."

"C'mon. We got to go meet Chiron, eat and then head to Olympus. I don't think the gods take punctuality lightly."

Good food meant a good mood, at least for Percy. And Camp Half-Blood always had good food. With a full stomach, Percy and Annabeth met up with Chiron at the head of the table, along with good old Mr. D.

"Good luck, Priscilla and Anamitra, and of course, to you too, dear Chiron.'

Chiron glared a bit at Mr. D.

"Fine. If you must know, I will support you unless very conclusive evidence is given by dear Stepmom, which is highly unlikely. In other words, you have my vote."

He proceeded to get up and shake Percy's and Annabeth's hands and clasp Chiron's hands, before flashing them all to the capital of the gods, Mount Olympus.

He managed to get them smack-dab in the middle of the throne room, which was not like the last time Percy had seen it (though to be fair the last time he had seen it, his grandfather was in the process of demolishing it.) It was beautiful. More beautiful than last time, all thanks to Annabeth's work on it. He looked at his girlfriend, who was looking back at him with a proud smirk.

"Like it?"

"You're insanely good at architecture, you should take it as your career."

She laughed, and started pointing out tiny details that Percy assumed she loved.

"Look, there."

"Where?"

"On the Doric column, there."

"Isn't that Ionic?"

"I mean the one next to it."

"Oh, the one with the gold top and bottom?"

"Yes, can you see the engravings on the top?"

"Yeah…"

"I made every Greek hero get credited for what they've done."

"I can see that. Theseus with the Minotaur, Odysseus with his wooden horse, Perseus with the head of Medusa… I can't recognize the last few, though."

"You sure you can't? I said every Greek hero, Percy. That includes you."

And that's when it clicked. He could see Kronos' scythe looming behind Percy in the engraving. He could see that Percy holding a small knife, not his usual sword. And he remembered.

Family, Luke, you promised.

He looked at Annabeth, who was obviously staring at him instead of that specific scene.

"There's another one, too. You're not the only Greek hero, after all."

He followed her pointing trail to another engraving which showed her and a weird block-thing that looked somewhat like the Chinese handcuffs he and Frank had bought all the way back before Gaia, before… the pit, back in Phorcy's aquarium. He looked back at her, smiling, remembering the tale of how the daughter of Athena defeated her worst fear.

There was another engraving of the Battle against Earth, where what seemed to look like Festus had its claws on a woman as a small fire rested on the back of the dragon.

"You did not have to do Leo like that."

"What? The kid deserves that for pulling this shit on us. He's lucky he's even on this, the bastard."

"Keep my son's name out of your mouth, young lady."

Both Percy and Annabeth turned around to see that a few of the thrones had been occupied already, including one grumpy mechanic looking at the two demigods with a smoldering glare. Still, the trial would not begin until Zeus, the judge, and Hera, the 'victim', would arrive.

Percy scanned the room. Despite the gods being in their giant form, he did not feel so intimidated. Not anymore, not after the actual giants, after Gaia, after Tartarus. Only his father (who waved to him, and he waved back), Athena (who glanced at Percy and Annabeth, nodded to her daughter, before turning her gaze on Chiron who had dressed up for the occasion, wearing his old tweed suit. Dionysus, in the meanwhile, had his hands on a pile of grapes, as he chatted with Apollo, who winked at Percy like 'I got you, bro'. His counterpart and twin sister, Artemis was stringing and unstringing her bow, not looking at anyone. The only people yet to come were Aphrodite, Ares, Zeus, Hera, Hermes and Demeter. The latter two flashed in simultaneously, both seeming to be in discussion about a flower delivery to Persephone. Then Aphrodite and Ares flashed in, both with a light golden tinge to their skin like they were up to something just before coming here. Second last and therefore not least, the Mighty King Zeus flashed in, dressed in a judge's outfit complete with a wig and a gavel (for humorous reasons, Percy assumed, cause he could not take Zeus seriously). A few minutes later, Hera flashed in, which was quite a statement considering she was the one who called for the trial.

Percy watched as all the gods took their thrones, growing to giant forms. Chiron gestured to Percy and Annabeth to come to him.

The three mortals stood on a circular dais at the centre of the grand hall. Zeus watched them take their positions and with a wave of his hands, he closed the doors of the throne room. He nodded towards Athena, who had summoned a pen and paper, ready to record everything that they said.

Zeus bellowed, 'Let's get this over with, shall we. May the case of P-"

Annabeth interrupted him, "Sorry, Lord Zeus. Mustn't Lady Hera, the prosecutor in this case, I assume, also be down here with the rest of us who are partaking in this half-baked attempt to banish the Champion of Olympus?"

Hera glared at Annabeth.

Zeus grumbled, "You are, of course, right, daughter of Athena. Hera, go down to the dais if you wish to continue this, quite frankly, stupid case."

Hera turned her glare on Zeus, "No."

Zeus frowned.

"Do not forget your place, goddess. I am the judge of Olympus, and if you wish to not get your case thrown out, it would be advisable to follow my instructions. This case wouldn't even exist if it weren't for that archaic rule about trials being called by any member of the Olympian council without a vote. And, when court is in session, you would do well to address me as Your Honor, or Lord."

Hera cowered (haha, get it, cowered) under the judge persona of Zeus, which Percy was impressed by. It was quite clear that he was pretty impartial in his judge form, which meant better for him. Meanwhile, the queen of the gods shrunk down to their level and stood on the dais too, away from the two demigods.

"Let the case of Percy Jackson v Olympus…" Zeus sighed, "…begin."

A/N: The end of the first arc is coming to an end. I'll see you all soon enough with the conclusion to the case of Percy Jackson v Olympus.

I hope you all liked the way the Olympian council has been portrayed because most writers tend to either favour them extremely positively or negatively, or even worse, half extreme positive and half extreme negative.

I'm sorry for the lack of action in this chapter and the previous chapters too, and as you can expect the next chapter won't be packed with action too. It's going to be written like a lawyer drama but obviously Hera doesn't have any good points to use. I'm sure she'll figure out something along the way ;). After all, this is a betrayed!Percy story innit.

Thanks for reading.

-Scythe7137