Percy was still disoriented. Once his head stopped spinning, he looked down and gasped. He was no longer wearing the clothes Calypso had made for him. Instead, he wore a white toga brimmed with gold, and steel arm straps that coiled into the shape of a conch shell around his elbow. Percy no longer had to look up at Hestia—she was at his eye level now.

The first thing he noticed was that the soreness in his muscles was gone. In fact, all of his scars had completely disappeared, even the one Luke had given him several years ago. He felt amazing—perfect, in fact. Hestia smiled warmly, placing a hand on his shoulder.

"Welcome to the family, Perseus."

Percy didn't know what to say.

"I wish we had more time. There is more to immortality than is often let on—but for now, you will have to learn as you go."

"So what happens now?" He asked.

"That is your job now. I think you know the answer," Hestia said.

"Camp," Percy said, "I need to go there. We can make our last stand, here on Olympus. They'll come to us, and we'll be ready. But…It'll take days to get everyone here. We can't wait that long."

"Well, then it is time for your first lesson as a god." Hestia paced around the hearth.

"We are never always in one place. We can project fragments of our consciousness across the world, no matter where we are physically. Of course, this takes a great deal of our energy and focus. Or, you can simply will yourself to appear wherever you please, granted there is no magic preventing you."

"So…I can teleport? How does it work?"

"Think of where you want to go, and focus on the image in your mind—nothing else. And remember, mortals are too weak to gaze upon our true form. Their bodies will crumble before the light."

"Good to know," Percy mumbled.

Percy closed his eyes, focusing on camp half-blood: the smell of the forest, the strawberry fields, then the pine tree by the hill. He felt a warmth throughout his body, though this time not as intense as before. He opened his eyes, and saw that he was enveloped in white light. Hestia watched proudly, and Percy smiled. But when he blinked, he was no longer in the throne room.

He turned to find himself in a familiar looking forest. The Golden Fleece was still right where he'd left it, glittering along the branches of the pine tree. Below him was camp half blood, a valley lit by orange lights and fire. The campers were sitting by a distant bonfire. Percy smiled. He wondered what his friends looked like now.

He looked down, frowning at his toga. He didn't feel cold anymore–but it was probably still a good idea to change clothes. He didn't want to look like a giant Greek jester on his new first impression.

Percy closed his eyes. If he could teleport anywhere he wanted, then surely he could make some new clothes. After all, he'd seen the gods do it plenty of times, with nothing but a wave of their hand. He focused on the image in his mind: an orange t-shirt and jeans. Nothing fancy. Sure enough, when he looked down, there was a pile of clothes by his feet. Percy frowned. He was hoping they would magically appear on him. He'd have to try again later.

Percy walked down the hill into camp, fiddling with Riptide in his pocket. It helped calm his nerves, but strangely enough, he didn't feel hyperactive anymore. It was like his ADHD had just disappeared.

A group of campers spotted him by the fields, pointing in his direction. They raised their weapons. It was a good thing he had decided to wear his camp half-blood clothes, otherwise he probably would've been shot on sight.

"You! Who are you? What's your name?"

Percy looked at the guy in the middle, narrowing his eyes. He put his hands up in surrender, but then realized that a sword probably couldn't even kill him anymore.

"Nate? Is that you?"

"Percy?" Nate lowered his spear. "Is it really you?"

"You still haven't given me back my toothpaste." Percy said. "You do know there's a convenience store a mile from camp, right?"

"It really is you! I can't believe…you're alive!"

His expression softened, and he went in for a hug. The other two campers were much younger, but they lowered their bows, recognizing his name. They whispered excitedly to each other.

"I like the beard by the way. It suits you. Also, you grew. A lot."

"Thanks."

Nate's smile faded quickly.

"It's been over a year, Percy. Where were you? We searched for months, all over the world. Nobody found you–not even a clue."

"It's a long story. I'll tell you soon, but first I need to talk to Chiron. Things on Olympus aren't so great right now."

Nate nodded in agreement.

"I heard. Mr. D left a couple months ago to fight Typhon. From what I've heard, they're not doing so well."

"The gods have their own job to do. We have ours. That's why I'm here."

Nate looked confused.

"What do you mean?"

"I'll explain on the way. Come on."

Percy explained everything that had happened in the last year–or in his case, the last six years. The explosion on Mount St. Helens, getting stranded on Ogygia, and then his decision to stay and live out the rest of his life with Calypso. Nate stayed quiet and listened. He used to be a year older than Percy–but now Nate was sixteen, and Percy was twenty. He also decided to leave out the part of the story where Hestia granted him godhood. He would announce that later in front of everyone.

"Here we are. It hasn't changed much, besides some new fences."

As they walked down the main path, heads turned to face them. Familiar faces, new faces–everyone looked and murmured amongst each other, wondering who the new demigod was. More heads turned their way. Archers stopped shooting their targets and swordsmen paused their spars to see what was going on.

Percy looked up at the Big House. It looked a little worse for wear. Nate nodded, and Percy left him outside. He was immediately greeted with the sight of Argus, who was playing a game of chess with Chiron. Percy couldn't help but smile at his old teacher.

"Hey. It's good to see you again, Chiron."

Chiron looked up from his game and focused on Percy. After a moment, he sat up with a smile, revealing the horse-half of his body.

"Percy Jackson? By the gods…I can hardly believe it!" He put a hand on his shoulder.

"How are you here? Did someone find you? I believed you to be dead."

All one hundred of Argus's eyes were watching him.

"Hermes sent me," Percy said.

Chiron's excitement faded. He studied him carefully.

"You are older. Far more than a year. There is something different about you…" He paced around the room, keeping his focus on Percy. "Where were you, Percy? Why did Hermes send you here? Something within you has changed…and I do not simply mean your physical appearance."

"Yes. I have been granted godhood by the goddess Hestia." Percy said.

Chiron knelt.

"Please. There's no need for that," Percy said, "I'm no different than before. It's just that I'm immortal now."

There was a brief silence.

"Ok, I'll admit that's a pretty big difference. But I'm here because of something important. The gods asked me to come here–to rally camp half-blood and defend Olympus from Kronos. They'll never admit it, but they need your help."

Chiron thought for a moment.

"And if we decline?"

"Then Mount Olympus will be toppled, and the gods will take Kronos's place in the pit of Tartarus. The world will plunge into chaos, and demigods will be eradicated. Camp half-blood will cease to exist."

Chiron did not change his expression. "We have scouts tracking Kronos and his army. More and more demigods join him every month. His forces are constantly on the move–they attack us weekly, and each time we are barely able to defend ourselves. The naiads, tree spirits, even the centaurs–they are all gone. There is a shift in power coming soon. If we leave camp, even for a few days, we will return to ruins."

His face was sewn with exhaustion.

"Maybe. But now you have me," Percy stepped forward. "As the protector of warriors, I will lead our camp to victory. Camp half-blood can always be rebuilt. The demigods–your family–they cannot."

Chiron sighed to himself.

"What is it?" Percy asked.

"You remind me of my old student. His name was Theseus. Poseidon was his father as well–though some people believed his true father was Aegeus. He was amongst the wisest heroes I ever taught."

They both smiled.

"By the way, you had me at 'godhood'."

Percy sat with Chiron for what felt like hours, telling him everything about the past six years. He didn't realize how much he had missed camp half-blood. Just being around people energized him. When the dinner bell rang, they paused.

"How's Grover doing? And Annabeth?"

Chiron took a deep breath.

"Grover is trying to convince the nature spirits to help us. He has been a vital asset these past few months. Unfortunately, Annabeth is not in the best condition."

"What do you mean?" Percy spoke with a hint of worry.

"A few weeks ago, she was injured in a skirmish with Kronos's forces. There is little she can do until she recovers–but that may be weeks from now. Annabeth is very much like you. She refuses to stay in the infirmary, insisting that she can help."

Percy's hands grew restless. He wished he could've been there to do something. Calypso had taught him it was important to let some things go, especially things out of his control. She said loyalty was his greatest strength, but also his greatest weakness. What mattered right now was that he was here, and he could help.

When it was time for dinner, the two of them made their way towards the mess hall. Chiron got everyone's attention by stomping on the ground. The campers didn't seem to recognize Percy, instead wondering who the new camper was.

"Attention, everyone! I have some news I'd like to share with you. Tonight, one of our campers has returned to us–one whom we have been relentlessly searching for. He returns not as a demigod, but as a new god. All hail Perseus Jackson, the god of the tides and protector of warriors!"

Percy stepped forward. The campers knelt. They stared at him for a moment, until the realization washed over them. Then they all got up from their seats and started running towards him, whooping and jeering, chanting his name. Some were too shocked to move. Percy fended off his old friends with hugs and greetings, scanning the crowd for a glimpse of Annabeth or Grover. They were nowhere to be seen. After the commotion died down, Percy spoke.

"I know I've been gone a long time. I know it's been hard for you guys. Kronos is growing stronger, and his armies won't stop until Olympus is destroyed, and camp half-blood alongside it. But that's why I'm here."

The bonfire roared with energy, brighter and hotter than Percy had ever seen. He could feel it even on his godly skin.

"The gods have called upon us to defend Olympus from total annihilation. Even now, Kronos will be preparing to launch an invasion of Mount Olympus–a final battle to topple the gods. But we're not doing this just for them. If we fail, then camp half-blood dies too. Our friends, our family–they're depending on us to succeed. I have come to lead you in battle; a final stand to save our world. Will you join me?"

The demigods raised their fists and yelled in agreement. Out of the corner of his eye, Percy saw a familiar head of blonde hair. Annabeth. For a moment, they locked eyes. She was holding crutches, doing her best to avoid the rowdy campers. Percy smiled, but Annabeth looked back with sad grey eyes. She was on the verge of tears. She quickly looked away and left the mess hall. Percy started towards her, but got swarmed by campers. He politely dismissed them, but when the crowd had cleared, she was gone. Percy wondered how she could've moved so fast with crutches, then he remembered her invisibility cap. He knew exactly where Annabeth would go–the same place they always went when they wanted to be alone.

The canoes bobbed in the water, barely visible in the evening light. Percy immediately spotted Annabeth by the docks, dangling her legs over the lake. He sighed and went to sit next to her.

"You stayed, didn't you?" Annabeth kept her eyes on the water.

"Yes."

"All this time…I thought you were dead. I thought I'd left you to die."

She turned to look at Percy. Annabeth's face was tired, red and puffy from crying. She made no attempt to wipe the tears from her eyes. He'd never seen Annabeth like this before; not in the Sea of Monsters, not on Mount Othrys, and not even in the Labyrinth.

"Why'd you leave me? Did…you ever even care?"

"Of course," Percy said, "there wasn't a single day where I didn't worry about you. I can't explain why…but something told me I needed to stay. It was the hardest thing I've ever done."

"Part of me believed that after everything was over, once Kronos was defeated, we could go and live out the rest of our lives together. I was almost ready, Percy. But I guess I waited too long."

Percy had no response. Annabeth turned back towards the lake.

"At least tell me—how long were you On Ogygia?"

"Six years."

She scoffed.

"And you're a god now." Annabeth said. "Must be great."

"I'm sorry I left. I didn't know you…" Percy stuttered. "The only reason I became a god in the first place was to break the curse. Thousands of years, and now Calypso can finally be free."

"So you came here for her?" Annabeth asked.

"Yes. And no. When Hermes told me camp was in trouble, I knew I had to come back. Not just for Calypso, but for my friends. For you. There's only so much one demigod can do, Annabeth. If Olympus is going to stand a chance, they need a leader–someone who can unify us."

"You don't get to say 'us' anymore," Annabeth raised her voice. "You're not a demigod, Percy. You're immortal. Do you understand what that means? Even when all your friends become old and wrinkly, and their children have children, you'll still look the exact same. Nothing will change for eternity. Camp half-blood may follow you into battle, and so will I–but things can't go back to the way they were."

Percy felt his chest bubble with anger. He took a deep breath.

"I know. I never expected things to return to normal. But even if you hate me, even if you don't want to look at me–I'll still be your friend. That's never gonna change. The Fates are cruel, Annabeth. You and I know that more than anyone."

Her anger began to dissipate.

"It's just…there was so much I had planned. So much I wanted to do. I needed you, Percy, and you weren't there. And now I can't even walk." She started to cry again.

"You're not alone."

Percy put a hand on her shoulder. He drew Annabeth into a hug and she sobbed into his shoulder. They sat like that for several minutes, listening to the lake and the birds, until the sun finally disappeared below the horizon.