A chance to go back home
Percy was tossing and turning in his bed. Every time he tried to close his eyes to sleep, he saw a girl alone in what seemed to be ruins. He was used to having weird or should he say shitty dreams ever since they defeated Kronos. The columns around her were once gleaming white, but now they were covered in slimy seaweed. As Percy explored the seemingly empty rooms, he couldn't help but feel he had been here before. But he didn't remember this place at first sight.
It wasn't the first time she contacted him through his dreams. Kym had started calling him after they first met on the boat all those months ago. Since then, she hasn't stopped.
He finds her standing alone in the middle of what could have been a throne room. Percy walks up the stairs to meet her, mindful of the debris that lies on the floor and the ones that might fall from the ceiling.
"Kymopoleia?" He calls. The young lady did not move an inch as he got closer. She didn't acknowledge his presence, she kept looking ahead. She kept looking far ahead.
"Look, it's not like I don't want to talk to you but I would like to get some sleep, so if you have something to tell me, just say it." He tries to say.
She finally responds after a few moments of silence mixed with the sounds of the waves around them. "I've been waiting for you little brother." His brows burrow in confusion.
She sure had been bothering him for a long while now. And he was getting irritated, to be honest.
Percy crossed his arms over his chest. He knows better than to ask the Gods what they're talking about but she was slow. "Okay… What is it?" It was getting very late and he only wanted to sleep peacefully for once.
Kym starts to make a storm with her hands. "Remember when you and your friend came into my domain the first time." He nods, keeping an eye on the small storm forming in her hands. "You attacked our boat and you almost got me killed."
"Watch what you say to me next, Perseus," she narrows her eyes, almost directing her storm at him as he steps back. "You owe me one just for helping you two with your quest by telling you how to kill Gaea." The teen sighed, it was going to be a long night.
Percy rubs a hand over his face but tries to appease the stormbringing goddess before she tries to kill him this time around.
"Look, I'm sorry, I would have loved to give you something back for the fact that you left your half-brother almost poisoned to death, but I didn't think about it then." Percy snarks back. He's tempted to close his eyes and readies himself for her wrath to come at him after insulting her.
Gods are proud beings and do not take being insulted lightly.
But to his surprise, nothing comes he opens his eyes once again.
Kym is now sitting down on the staircase overlooking the throne room. Her storm is nothing but small winds now, wrapped around her, acting like a protective barrier as she lets herself become more vulnerable.
"I didn't mean to kill you, if I truly wanted you to die, you wouldn't be here with me, little brother." She says, still avoiding his gaze. "I was happy to finally be able to see someone after so many years alone." Percy looks at her confused. "But I also wanted recognition." She pauses as a silent tear starts to drop from her eye. "I've been forgotten. Nobody knows my name. My own family has left me here. Maybe one day I'll start to fade away completely."
Percy bites his lower lip, he hasn't seen their meeting like this before. He thought she simply wanted to annoy him for a quest. Now he's starting to feel bad for her.
And so he comes to sit beside her. "Kym I know, it's not my place to tell you how you should feel or not, but I'm sure Amphitrite and Dad didn't forget about you."
She turns around and faces him."Then why wouldn't they even talk to me?"
Percy sighs. "Have you tried to call on them? They probably would come if you did." He tries to explain. But she shakes her head.
"I used to pray to him. But he never answered, and he made it very clear that I was unwanted, he never loved me anyway."
The boy can relate to the feeling of abandonment. For years he thought his dad didn't care about him, but now that he knows the truth he tries to reassure her. "I'm sure they do love you Kym."
"That's easy for you to say, Father loves you. But it seems like they forgot my existence." He puts his hand over hers as she starts crying. He never thought Poseidon could be so cruel to leave one of his children alone like this.
Even though he was known for being loving and protective towards them.
….
Percy remembers her words in his mind. Kymopoleia had asked him to convince their Father to bring her back home.
"All I want as retribution for the help I gave you and your friend, is for you to convince Father to let me come home."
Percy had been the one to suggest her return. He had talked for a long time to their father specifically about the possibility of bringing her back because, in Percy's eyes, she deserves another chance.
"You know, the first time I met her I was scared, I admit, because she did try to sink our ship. But she technically didn't try to harm us directly." He says as they walk through the gardens of Atlantis.
His father doesn't look at him directly but he's listening closely. Poseidon stops in front of a few sea fans and if they are well-treated by the gardeners. He was taking in the vibrant colors.
"Percy, my son, I understand where you're coming from, but Kymopoleia is too unpredictable, and could cause great harm to Atlantis if she doesn't learn how to control herself."
He knows it will be hard to convince him, but he promised her. She had asked him to help her come back home, in exchange for her helping him and Jason against Gaea and she kept her end of the deal.
So Percy would do his. Even if it meant pushing his father to the edge and he might get disowned for this.
"Dad, I need to ask you a question." Poseidon finally tears his eyes from the scene in front of him to look at Percy. "Yes, Percy?"
Percy takes a silent breath before he drops his last card on the table, praying to the other Gods that might hear him to let him live one more day.
"Do you really want to become like Kronos?"
The young boy noticed the shift in the atmosphere, as soon as he finished his sentence. His Father stops in his tracks. The sea around them starts to get more chaotic.
Even the gardeners who had been there left for their homes in the hope of not facing their King's wrath.
The young demigod waited on halted breath for his dad's response, he knew he had touched a very touchy subject but he did what he needed to move forward.
Poseidon hasn't responded to the accusation yet. He's looking down at the sand. Percy can see how tense his father is though. His fists are clenched.
"Percy, you have no right to compare me to him." His voice is harsh but Percy can see the sadness behind it. He knows he hurt a deep wound within his dad's heart. And he will probably live to regret it. But Percy still thought Gods needed to stop acting like a bunch of assholes.
Poseidon's knuckles were white now. His breathing was harsh. Percy starts to think he angered his father too much. But then Poseidon turns and looks at him. His sea-green eyes are sad. Sadder and more human than Percy has ever seen them.
"I never saw this coming from you," Poseidon says. "I tried to be a better a better father, but I guess it wasn't enough." He walks towards Percy. "You should go back inside, Amphitrite will be happy to spend time with you." He says. Percy feels his hand on his shoulder, it's surprisingly gentle despite the mix of emotions Poseidon is feeling.
"Dad I didn't mean-" Percy tries to repair the possible damage he had caused but his father stops him with his hand.
"I know Percy. I know that your heart is in the right place." Poseidon continues. "But I need some time alone."
Percy feels tears coming into his eyes. He didn't mean to hurt him. Maybe he had gone too far this time. His father had been kind and gentle to him since he first met him. He only wanted to help Kymopoleia. But maybe he didn't do it the right way. He doesn't want to ruin his relationship with his Dad.
Poseidon sees Percy's tears and he gently rubs a thumb over his cheeks as they start to fall. "Percy, my son, look at me." He looks up and he sees his Dad smiling down at him sadly.
"I'm not angry with you. I know that you mean well." Percy sniffles, Poseidon feels his heart ache at the sight, he cups his son's face in his hands. "I love you, Percy. Never doubt it."
"I-I didn't want to hurt you, Dad. I thought that was the only way to get you to think about her." Poseidon smiles sadly. "I understand, I will indeed reconsider her case." Percy looks at his dad again. "Thank you". Percy whispers.
"You should go now," Poseidon says. And Percy nods before taking his leave.
He feels that some things were left unsaid about his godly family dynamics.
Percy thinks about the conversation as he walks back to the palace. Was his father sincere in his consideration of Kymopoleia's fate? After all, Gods can be deceiving.
….
Unknownst to the teenage demigod Poseidon was alone in the garden. And once he was sure Percy was safe and away from him, he let his wrath out. The sea god decides it would be better to leave the area completely. He feels his muscles tense as he reaches a secluded area in the abyss.
It's dark and cold. Just like his Father's stomach was.
Poseidon hunches over and chokes on a painful sob as he remembers the fear he felt inside of Kronos. He grips his hair tightly and screams. His cries echo around the seas.
Some whales stop in their tracks as their sonar gets disturbed by it.
Merpeople feel the current ripples are harsher than usual and the water is colder. They huddle together as the currents come and go. Then they flee towards their homes.
After letting out his fear and sadness. Poseidon feels angry. Not at Percy, but at his Father for making him this way. He's angry at his siblings who abandoned him when they escaped when he was alone and scared in his new domain.
His breathing is hard. He has to calm himself down before he causes massive destruction on everything, and before he gets a panic attack.
He's angry at himself for hurting his youngest daughter. Whom he had carried and created himself. He also created her older siblings.
He sits down on the ocean floor. And sobs. He feels like a terrible father. He vowed to protect and love all of his children monstrous or not. But he failed many times.
He did have favorites, Percy was one of them along with his four godly children he had with Amphitrite. His dear Theseus who died far too young too. His little Tyson. He also loved Pegasus, Chrysaor, and his little Charybdis. He feels sad that he didn't raise many of them. But his love is there.
Poseidon adores his four immortal children. He became "Papa" when he had them with his dear Amphitrite. He found the joy of actually being involved in raising a little one. And he loved each of them deeply.
Poseidon tries to concentrate on the love he has for them as his sobs calm down. Memories flash in his mind, their births, their smiles, the love and cuddles he could finally give freely because he never had that with his Olympian family. When they called him Papa the first time. How proud he was of them.
But then he remembers Kymopoleia. Her creation had been complex. Her birth was painful and turbulent amidst a war in Atlantis. Sadly, he didn't bond as much with her as he had with the others. Neither did Amphitrite. They had both been very stressed and busy then.
They missed out on a lot of her early childhood. And by the time she was a young teen in human years, things took a turn. She became more angry and disruptive. And because she inherited his storm-bringing abilities, he did reject her a little bit. Because she was a constant reminder of his own violence.
Despite everything, he still cares for her. Even if she isolated herself and never went home.
He remembers that day very clearly. And it haunts him still, he acted out of anger.
He didn't mean it that way.
She was always different and distant when they tried to give her the same affection as her siblings. Which, did hurt him a bit.
But then he remembers when he told her to leave and he vows to himself to make things better. He wonders if she'll even accept his apology. And if Amphitrite will agree to let her come home.
After all, they both struggled to understand Kym. Poseidon rises from the ocean's floor, he rubs his tears and breathes. He's now exhausted from his sobs, but he didn't destroy anything this time.
Poseidon rises from the ocean floor, he rubs his tears and tries to calm his breath.
He's now exhausted from his sobs, but he didn't destroy anything this time. As he makes his way back to Atlantis to see Percy and apologize for making him cry.
He wanted to hold him until Poseidon was sure Percy knew how much he loved him. Poseidon also promises himself that he will never be like his Father.
….
He arrives a few hours later. He sees Amphitrite is making a brownie it seems like and she sends him a concerned look as her husband arrives and she sees that his eyes look sad.
"Poseidon, my love, are you alright?" She asks knowing the answer already.
To which he merely smiles, to try and hide the pain. But she knows him like she knows the sea. "I'm fine."
She dusts off her hands on the apron she's wearing before coming to stand before him and she pulls him into a tight embrace. "You don't have to hide it. We've been over this already." She says as she holds him tenderly. The sea nymph rubs a gentle hand on his back and she feels him clutch to her smaller form.
"It's okay Po." She whispers. "We can talk about it if you want."
Amphitrite lets go of him only when he does first. She knows Poseidon needs a lot of physical affection.
She kisses the side of his head tenderly. And then he releases himself from the cuddle.
"I'd rather talk about it tonight." He says not looking at her directly. "Where is Percy?" He asks. She smiles sadly at him.
"He's in his room. I tried to talk to him, but he seemed very sad." He nods and rubs a hand on his face. "I messed up again."
She takes his hand into her own and tries to reassure him. "He loves you deeply. But I think he needs to know that you're not angry at him." She doesn't know the conversation they had prior, but Amphitrite knows that Poseidon struggles with communication sometimes.
"Thank you, Amphi. I'll go see him now." She smiles. Her eyes are gentle and full of love.
"No problem. But please tell him that the brownies are almost done, I need someone to tell me if they're good or not."
He smiles. "I will." Amphitrite smiles again and goes back to her brownies.
Poseidon and Percy talk for a long while. By the end of it, Percy falls asleep in his Father's arms. Poseidon holds him like a small child until he tucks him into his bed carefully.
He feels guilty but at least, he knows Percy feels safe enough around him to fall asleep in his embrace.
Sleep tight my little one. Papa loves you." He says as he tucks in the sea foam fluffy blankets around the teen. He kisses his forehead before he makes his leave.
…
He joins Amphitrite in their nest. He remembers the brownies so he grabs one quickly before he hits their quarters. They taste amazing as always. She smiles at him as she sees that he ate one of her brownies.
He finishes the pastry before he changes into his nightclothes and comes to cuddle close to his wife. Amphitrite rubs his head gently and then they approach the subject. "Do you want to tell me what happened?" She intones gently.
Poseidon fidgets with the blanket that is draped over them. But he agrees. "Percy compared me to Kronos in regards to what I did to Kymopoleia."
Amphitrite stiffens at the name. She holds Poseidon tighter. "You are nothing like him, Po. Trust me." Her reassurance acts like a soothing balm to Poseidon's pain.
He finally meets her mocha eyes. "Percy says that Kymopoleia wants to come home, but she thinks I banished her."
Amphitrite doesn't respond at first. "I mean, Kymopoleia was always a bit more disruptive than the others. And she did have a few incidents." Poseidon sees her hesitation.
"I sadly never bonded the way I would have liked with her. She was always more distant and chaotic.' Poseidon listens, he also felt the same way. Amphitrite continues. "But, I feel as if I should have done more. I regret not showing her that I love her despite everything."
Poseidon sighs sadly. "I wish we spent more time with her when she was little, maybe things would have turned out differently."
Amphitrite holds him closer. She also feels guilty. "I pushed her away then because I was too busy and now I regret it because she never came asking for a cuddle after that." She confesses.
Amphitrite rubs her tears. "She remembers little Kymopoleia, with her white eyes and colorful jellyfish hair holding her seahorse plushie. And then she remembers her older. Her storms, her destruction. Their arguments.
Poseidon holds her closer to his chest. Amphitrite cries softly. "I hurt my baby-" Before she can finish her phrase, she's interrupted by a heart-wrenching sob. He knows exactly why she feels so heartbroken. Kymopoleia had been their last baby after they had many miscarriages.
The sea God holds her even tighter as he feels her tears soak his nightshirt. They both grieved the loss of their child together.
"I'll bring her back Amphi, I promise." He says. And Amphitrite looks up to him, her eyes are red and puffy from her cries.
"But what if she doesn't want to come back? If it's too late?"
Poseidon bites lip, he didn't think about that. "We can hope she will be willing to give us a second chance. If we show her that despite not being here physically we still made sure she felt loved."
That seems to appease Amphitrite a little. "I hope she will let us in and not push us away."
He leans down and kisses her forehead. "I hope she will too. She's still young so there is hope that we can still be better parents to her."
"I'll prepare a room for her tomorrow," she adds. "Even if she doesn't come back right away, she might feel more welcome."
Poseidon nods. They had moved from their old Palace to this one, a long time ago. They did keep Kymopoleia's belongings but they hadn't made her an official room despite Rhode and Benthesykime having one when they came to visit.
They stay huddled together for a while. Trying to put the pieces back together withing their hearts and family.
"Do you think she received the dolphin I sent her? " The sea Goddess asks.
Poseidon hums gently. "I think she did but maybe she didn't think it came from you."
Amphitrite sighs as she traces patterns on his chest. "I hope it comforted her when she felt alone."
He puts his hand over hers. They fall asleep after a little bit. Both are exhausted from the pain and heartbreak. But hopeful for Kymopoleia's possible return.
…..
Kymopoleia had not expected to feel a surrounding presence behind her as she was mindlessly playing with her metal disk, creating small sea storms on the sea's surface above them.
The only thing she had still in her possession after she was banished, she slept with it on most nights, it felt comforting somehow. She didn't even get to keep her seahorse plush.
She doesn't turn to face the spirit. But she asks tentatively.
"Percy, don't tell me. I already knew he wouldn't want me back." Poseidon raises an eyebrow but stays silent. "They find my presence disruptive anyway." His heart breaks in his chest as he hears her words.
The young goddess sighs and goes back to her green metal disk. But she gets no response, which makes her feel even more lonely than she was. She's starting to think insanity is not far away.
Suddenly she watches as sailors make their way into her storm, their boat gets stuck into the currents and the giant waves come crashing onto the front of the ship. She can feel their fear as they desperately try to escape. Some of them are praying for their safety, for a way to go back home with their family alive.
They do not pray for her to stop. No one sees her or knows her name. But she hears their silent pleas.
Poseidon watches her storm on bated breath. His eyes follow his youngest daughter's hands on the metal disk. He's also keeping an eye on the fishermen, at the surface, ready to intervene if she takes things too far.
Kymopoleia waits, both hands on her disk. The boat gets closer and closer to the eye of her storm. Her breath is deep, exhilarating even.
A proud smile crosses the Sea god's features when she turns her disk to the right side, giving the sailors a chance to escape her storm.
"You are safe now, you may go back home to your families." She whispers into the waves as she guides their boat toward the nearest shore.
The sailors stand on their ship in shock, as they watch the waves calm down and the dark clouds start to disappear, letting the sun shine brightly in its place. Kymopoleia sighs contentedly when one of them says thank you.
Contrary to popular belief, she does not relish on mortals fear of her power.
After spending thousands of years forgotten and shunned away, Kymopoleia chose to help those who needed it, and whom she felt deserved her help too. She loathed to admit it, but it did make her happy to see the sailors go back home, it reminded her of a sense of belonging she didn't know she remembered.
The Goddess rises from her bed and places her precious disk back on its bronze display after she decides she's finished playing for the day. Then she turns around and is startled by the sight waiting for her.
"Fa-Father?" Kymopoleia stumbles backward into her nightstand as Poseidon approaches her. She almost drops her disk trying to steady herself with shaking hands. He retains the disk from hitting the floor with a wave of his hand. "I apologize, Kym, I didn't mean to startle you." He admires her creation for a moment before handing it back to her.
The young goddess takes it into her small hands and puts it back safely before she eventually breaks it. She then looks up to him. Her heart is beating fast in her chest. She waits in silent hope for his opinion of her request.
"I have been keeping an eye on you for a long time, Kymopoleia." Poseidon starts. Kym feels her heart stop for a second. "I wanted to come to you sooner, but I thought you would reject my advances after the mistakes and heartache I caused you for so long."
Poseidon closes the distance between them even more. The goddess feels fear bubbling into her stomach as he reaches to cradle her cheek with a gentle hand.
She involuntarily flinches, Kymopoleia won't admit it, but she is terrified of her Father now.
His heart breaks, but he retrieves his hand so as not to scare her even more. "My anger blinded me and I lashed out at you when you needed me the most. "And for that, I want to apologize."
Kymopoleia feels tears streaming down her face. She had never expected him to say sorry. But even though she was relieved to hear him admit his wrongdoings, years of isolation had left her conflicted about his intentions.
"While I accept your apology, it doesn't change the fact that you cast me away because of what I represent. I did not choose to be born this way." Her voice trembles with anger. "And instead of helping me and making me feel safe, you shunned me away when I needed you the most!"
Poseidon listened carefully, he longed to take his youngest daughter into his arms and tell her that he loved her. And how much he regrets everything he has done. But he knows she won't let him get too close.
"And the worst part is, it took your favorite son to make you see what you have done wrong as a father!"
Poseidon can't hold his shock back.
"Do you really think your brother has that much power in swaying my judgment? I came to you on my own terms." Kym huffs not believing him.
She accuses him, the anger she held for so long was now bursting through her words. But she doesn't stop here.
"You don't actually give a shit about me, do you?" Ignoring the way he crosses his arms over his chest sternly as Kymopoleia starts getting closer to him.
"Mind the tone you use with me, child. I understand your anger and frustration, but I will not tolerate such disrespect." He warns gently, as he tries to control his own temper.
To Poseidon's surprise, she does listen to him and retreats. Kymopoleia takes a breath as she tries to calm her nerves. "I'm sorry," she whispers, as she sits down on the floor and pulls her knees to her chest.
He sighs sadly and kneels in front of her.
"You do not think I would have come to you had he not asked me to?" Poseidon asks, as he finally sees the true extent of his neglect. She shakes her head, and he feels his heart sink in his chest. "I prayed for you Father, but you never seemed to care."
"Oh, Kymie." He says sadly. "Please understand. I wanted to come to you, but was too afraid that my presence would cause you more harm than good after the pain I caused you."
He doesn't tell her that he was scared of being like his own Father was. That would be another discussion for another day.
He sighs when she doesn't respond or look at him. He knows she doesn't believe him. " I did hear every single one of your prayers, every plea for help. And each one broke my heart."
Poseidon looks down in shame. His voice fills with regret. " It may seem like I didn't answer them because I wasn't here with you physically like I should have, but I did answer them in my own imperfect way".
She shakes her head in disbelief.
"No, you didn't, you left me here, out of sight out of mind. You could have at least visited me to see if I was okay, but you didn't." Poseidon sighs once more.
He takes her hand in his own. "Listen, Kym, I know this seems unbelievable after what I have done to you. But, I was here. Within the storms you create, within the currents of the sea, I visited you in your dreams."
She tilts her head to the side. And he knows she's starting to put the pieces together. He holds her small hand to his heart, letting her access his true divine essence.
Kymopoleia feels the pulsing rhythm of her father's divine essence beneath her hand, it's the same color as his eyes, sea green. It feels comforting and soothing. But also strong and completely unrestrained, almost dangerous. She closes her eyes letting the sensation wash over her. It feels like a warm embrace. One that she remembers feeling when conjuring her storms, even when she was at her angriest.
Tears start to fall from her eyes as she realizes that she felt his presence many times while being so far away from home.
"I was always by your side Kym. Every time you called me, I came in a heartbeat." He whispers. Kymopoleia retains a sob as she remembers now.
Memories flooded her mind, she remembers the presence she felt earlier that day, it was the same one that embraced her at night when she cried. The way her storm seemed to soothe her pain when she felt rejected by her family. The dreams she had with her father telling her how much he cared for her and how much he missed her.
She opens her eyes once more, and he looks down at her lovingly.
"It was you, wasn't it? The presence I felt all this time when I thought I was going insane."
He shakes his head, still holding her hand to his chest. "You were not insane. I should have made my presence known differently."
Kymopoleia bites her lip. "And the dolphin? Was it you too?"
He smiles down at her but shakes his head. "It was your Mom."
The dolphin would visit her every single day. Sometimes staying with her at night.
Other days it would bring her seashells and other treasures. She thought it was lost but now she wondered. He smiles down at her but shakes his head.
"It was your Mom's idea. She was heartbroken when you left. So she tried to make sure you were safe. Hoping that you would see her love."
Kymopoleia listens carefully. Trying to analyze any sign of her dishonesty in her father's words but she finds none. He sees her conflicted so he adds.
"I was very angry then, I crumbled through my duties as King, we were in the middle of a war, then you tried to attract my attention by destroying the palace and I exploded. I didn't think correctly."
She sighs. And crosses her arms over her chest. "I thought you both found my presence disruptive though?"
Poseidon looks away in shame. "I admit that we did find you challenging at times." Kymopoleia rolls her eyes. "But that doesn't mean we didn't love you."
"So you're telling me that you found me too disruptive to stay home, but now you're saying that you want me back because you and Mother love me?"
Poseidon nods, hoping that she might believe him. "I now realize that we weren't present as much as we should have been and for that, I'm truly sorry." He tries to get closer to her but she moves back. So he stops trying to reach out to her and gives her space.
"I came here to ask you if you want to come home. Your mom made a room for you, and we would be overjoyed if you gave us a second chance."
The young lady looks away. "You told me to leave, and now you suddenly want me back?" They both feel how the atmosphere of the room gets more tense as the currents get faster.
Kymopoleia is angry. "You forgot my existence for decades, how am I supposed to believe you love me?"
Poseidon feels his heart drop in his chest. "We never forgot about you my little one." Kymopoleia looks up at the pet name she hasn't heard for some time now. "Don't call me that, you lost that right when you abandoned me."
Poseidon sighs sadly. "I thought that you needed time alone to calm down. And when you didn't return I assumed that you wanted to be left alone."
"I'm sorry Kymopoleia. I-We want you back Home."
He watches silently as she seems to think about it. It takes a long time. Poseidon starts to think of the possibility to tell Amphi that Kymopoleia didn't want to come home.
So he stops trying to reach out to her and gives her space.
"I came here to ask you if you want to come home. Your mom made a room for you, and we would be overjoyed if you gave us a second chance."
The young lady looks away. "You told me to leave, and now you suddenly want me back?" They both feel how the atmosphere of the room gets more tense as the currents get faster.
Kymopoleia is angry. "You forgot my existence for decades, how am I supposed to believe you love me?"
Poseidon feels his heart drop in his chest. "We never forgot about you my little one." Kymopoleia looks up at the pet name she hasn't heard for some time now. "Don't call me that, you lost that right when you abandoned me."
Poseidon sighs sadly. "I thought that you needed time alone to calm down. And when you didn't return I assumed that you wanted to be left alone. You were never banished."
Kymopoleia never thought of it this way, she thought her parents didn't love her at all. And didn't care she was gone because that's what they wanted.
"I thought you wanted me away. All these years I thought you banished me.' She tries to refrain from crying. He wants to comfort her so badly but he can't yet. "Please come, Home Kym. We missed you, me your Mom, your siblings."
Kymopoleia stands there, conflicted still. She finally looks up to Poseidon who's waiting eagerly to see if she'll accept to come home.
"I always thought you just… forgot about me," she says quietly, her voice trembling with the weight of her unspoken pain. She takes a deep breath, trying to steady herself. "So that means I could have returned home? You wanted me back?"
"Yes. I always wanted you to come back home. But I was afraid and angry at myself for what I did to you, so I never reached out the way I should have."
Kymopoleia's conflict is wavering. "I-I want to come home." She whispers as she grabs her disk, and hugs it against her chest.
Poseidon smiles gently and extends his hand towards her, hoping she will accept it. "Let's go home, your Mom is waiting for you." He feels relief when she pulls her disk on her back like a backpack and grabs his offered hand.
Kymopoleia seems surprised to hear that her mom wants to see her again. But she follows her father.
He'll send a servant to grab the rest of her belongings.
Kymopoleia looks back at the throne room she saw Percy in last time. And she sighs in relief. She missed her family so much even if she wouldn't admit it out loud.
She's finally coming home.