Jason was furious, to say the least. Walking on the crowded golden streets of Olympus, minor Gods and spirits alike parted like the Red Sea once they saw the look on his face. His eyes were like a lightning storm and electricity danced across his body.
"I should've known!" He berated himself, gritting his teeth. He should've known that something was up when he hadn't seen the Gods for weeks or when the throne room had been closed. It was so obvious yet he couldn't see it because of his new life as a God. He had been blinded by all the fame, glory, and power it had come with. He was no better than the Olympians and look what his lack of action brought to their front door because of that, another war.
Arriving at his destination and seeing his friends through the window of a coffee shop, talking and sipping their drinks casually, the son of Jupiter wasted no time storming inside. They all turned around in their seats once they saw him walk inside, already being able to tell that something wasn't right.
"What's wrong?" Piper was the first to speak, slightly standing up but her boyfriend softly pushed her back down before taking his own seat. He looked around the shop, making sure that no one would ease in on their conversation. That brought serious concerns to all of the new Gods, wondering why he was acting like this. They hadn't seen Jason like this in a long time.
"What I'm about to tell you stays between us, got it?" He whispered, leaning in closely to the table. The six Gods nodded, leaning in to hear what he had to say. It seemed serious, the look in Jason's eyes fierce yet laced with anxiety. "There's another war and it's happening soon."
That caused all of the quest mates to reel back in their chairs, shock written across all their faces. The son of Jupiter put a finger to his lips to silence them before they could say anything. He could already tell that there were unwanted eyes on them, courtesy of being the new Gods in town. If this information leaked, it would be disastrous.
"I don't know who it is but when I went to New Rome, Reyna had told me. Guys, they're preparing for it in a way I've never seen before. The city is in a state of total war. That's never been done before. Whoever this new enemy is, it's serious."
"Are you sure? Why haven't we heard about it?" Annabeth eagerly asked, her gray eyes already filled with endless questions and curiosity. The others nodded their heads, wondering as to why the Gods hadn't spoken about such a thing.
"Notice how we haven't seen or heard from the Olympians in weeks? My guess is they're doing the same thing they did in the last war. Leaving the mortals to figure it out themselves while they hide in the throne room."
"But even then word should've leaked out by now. If all of New Rome is preparing for war, someone up here on Olympus would've heard about it!" Leo said, his voice getting a little too loud. With Piper promptly smacking him upside the head, she turned back to her boyfriend.
"Leo's right as much as I hate to say it. Word would've gotten out. Hades, we didn't even know about it until just now." She said.
"Something's up then. The Gods are hiding this from the rest of us. They don't want this leaking. Why though? Shouldn't they know by now that hiding in the throne room and keeping us in the dark just puts us deeper in shit?" Annabeth continued, causing Jason to rub his brow angrily.
"You would think but as the saying goes Gods don't change."
The group was silent for a moment, contemplating what exactly the Olympians were up to. Why would they hide something like this? Why weren't they preparing for war like New Rome was? Endless questions racked their brains until eventually, Annabeth couldn't take it anymore. Standing up brashly, she walked out of the coffee shop without another word, causing the group to look at one another in confusion before following her.
"Annabeth…what are you planning?" Jason asked, quickly catching up to the Goddess who was beelining it to the throne room.
"I just want to talk is all." She replied, her tone curt. The son of Jupiter could see that wasn't exactly true, however. Annabeth looked angry, her gray eyes pulsing with power. Every stride she took caused her aura to grow more and more. No, she didn't want to just talk. No, she wanted to berate each and every last one of the Olympians. Hazel and Piper tried to talk her out of it, saying they could think of something else but Annabeth was determined. She wasn't going to hear anyone out. She knew how it felt to be left out high and dry by the Olympians. How it felt being alone and dealing with matters that no demigod that young should ever have to face. She wouldn't let that happen any longer. Now that she was a Goddess, she would do everything in her power to help the demigods.
"Percy would be doing the same." She thought to herself, looking upward at the towering double doors that led into the throne room.
"It's locked. I've already tried." Jason said, standing next to her.
"Did you try this?" She questioned before kicking the door open with her Godly strength. The force of the impact was enough to send the doors flying off their hinges, causing the five standing behind her to jolt backward, unaware that she would do such a thing.
"Should've thought of that." He smirked, entering the throne room with the others in tow. The Gods seemed to have been in the middle of a conversation before their dramatic entrance. They all were quiet now as they watched the new Gods walk into the middle of the room. Zeus looked furious, his eyes bubbling with anger and lightning. No one had ever dared to do such a thing, especially new Gods who didn't know their place in the pecking order.
"How dare you?!" His thunderous voice echoed across the room.
"No, how dare you!" Annabeth yelled back, her voice equally as loud. Her reaction caused all the Gods to lean back in their thrones, abashed by her reaction. "Not telling us about the new war?! Are you fucking kidding me?! Haven't you learnt anything from the past two wars?!"
"How…?"
"New Rome's Augur received visions about the war. The Praetor brought the information to me, Father." Jason stepped up, interrupting the King. Zeus's image quickly flashed into Jupiter, giving his son Apollo a withering glare that promised punishment later.
"It needed to be done, Jupiter. I couldn't sit back and do nothing like last time. The demigods needed to be prepared." The sun God said, crossing his arms. Jupiter quickly turned back into Zeus, sighing tiredly as he rubbed his brow.
"Why can't anyone just follow instructions?" He muttered.
"Because your instructions will get us all killed." Annabeth said, not letting up for a single moment. "You Olympians have to do something for the demigods. They're dangerously low on manpower and supplies due to the last two wars. They need help or else we won't win this next one."
"You think I don't know that!" Zeus snarled. "Of course I know that, you stupid child!"
"Then why don't you help instead of hiding in the throne room?!"
The Grandfather-Grandaughter duo looked ready to slice at each other's throats, their eyes squinted in withering glares. It wasn't until Hestia came into the scene with her aromatic, calming aura that things started to settle down.
"Easy now, my family. Now is not the time to be divided." She said, her voice sending warm goosebumps across Annabeth's skin. Looked up at Zeus who slumped into his throne exhaustedly, he continued to speak about his lack of action.
"You think I don't want to help, Annabeth? Of course I want to help. The demigods are one of our only lines of defense to Olympus."
"Then why aren't you helping? Why doesn't anyone on Olympus, save us, know about the upcoming war?" She asked, not understanding his reasoning. It didn't make any sense and she couldn't see any benefit to it. Everyone should know about this so Olympus can be prepared. They'll get steamrolled if they don't.
"Because, like you said, we don't have the manpower or supplies to fight another war. And as I hate to admit it, we Olympians are far too weak at the moment to put up a fight. We've tried to hide it but these past two wars have left us drained. Along with many demigods dying, we don't receive as many prayers anymore either, weakening us even further."
Jason bit the inside of his cheek, almost not believing what he was hearing. His father, the King of the Gods, was actually admitting that the Olympians were weak. It was such a foreign thing to hear him say that it almost made him laugh. For Zeus to actually admit such a thing, the situation must be really dire.
"We don't know who the enemy is. We don't know their numbers. We have zero intel on them, Annabeth. So what do you expect me to do? Expend all of our available resources to go out in search of that, leaving Olympus undefended?"
"I-I…" The daughter of Athena was truly at a loss of words. She couldn't think of anything to counteract his question. If what Zeus said was true and they were actually that weak at the moment, the best thing that she could think of was to stay on Olympus and bide time. It was the only plausible thing to do. If they did try to go out and get answers about the enemy then that'll only take away the vital resources that Olympus needed.
"I see that you've come to the same conclusion." The God of lightning said, his features solemn.
"But not telling the citizens of Olympus! What's the benefit to that?" Jason interjected. He could see no benefit to that. People needed to know and be prepared for an attack. At least then Olympus could have a chance.
"Think, son. If everyone knows that the Olympians are weakened and there is soon another war on our doorstep, it'll cause panic. All of our potential allies will flee Olympus, leaving it in an even more dire state. They'll go hide until the danger is over or join the enemy in hopes of saving themselves. We cannot let the other Gods of Olympus know about such a thing."
Once again the six new Gods deflated as they quickly began to understand Zeus's reasoning. They had to admit it did make sense. No doubt Athena had a hand in this as well, quelling their anger even further. The minor Gods would flee Olympus if they knew about the war, he was right about that. It was the same situation in the Second Titan War.
"You put too little faith in the minor Gods, Lord Zeus." Leo stepped forward. "They have temples and cabins dedicated to them now. Their children are treated equally at the camps now too. They'll defend Olympus if it means protecting those things."
Zeus laughed at that statement. These new Gods had much to learn but he decided to spare them the embarrassment. "And who was responsible for that? Who wished for the minor Gods and their children to be treated equally?"
"Percy…" Annabeth said, her tone wistful as countless memories quickly flashed across her mind.
"That's right and look where he is now."
"Zeus." Poseidon growled, his eyes warning his brother that he was treading on thin ice. The younger brother dipped his head apologetically before continuing.
"Without Perseus, the minor Gods won't have the confidence or will to fight for Olympus. They were loyal to the man rather than their King. As much as I hate to tell you six, the prophesized demigods of the Giant War, you do not have the same influence over Olympus as the son of Poseidon had. If he were still here then maybe they'll have the courage to fight but that just isn't the case."
Everyone in the throne room went silent, the dire circumstances they were in weighing down on them heavily. They wanted to help, truly, but Zeus's words did make sense much to their dissatisfaction. If only Percy was here then maybe things wouldn't look so bleak. Maybe they'd have a chance to win this war.
"I want you to leave now. We have much to dis-" Zeus tried to say but was cut off by his son Apollo suddenly seizing up. His eyes rolled to the back of his head and veins popped out of his neck. Artemis hopped off her throne and ran up to her brother, cradling his head before he could hurt himself. He looked as if he was having a seizure, saliva seeping out the corner of his mouth.
"The…The…The…" Apollo tried to speak, his voice amplified ten times over. The Olympians leaned back in their thrones, cringing at the obvious pain their fellow God was in. It was only when Hestia walked up to him, laying her hand on his head, that he began to speak.
The war spirit rises, dark and tall,
From realms below, he hears the call,
His armor gleams with ancient might,
He's come again to join the fight.
With fiery eyes and sword in hand,
He storms the Earth, he takes his stand.
Thunder roars as armies fall,
The war spirit answers battle's call.
A thousand years, he's waited still,
Now rising with an iron will.
No force too great, no foe to wide,
The spirit of war will not be denied.
From depths below where shadows crawl,
A man shall rise, despite the fall,
Through fire's kiss and Hell's cruel gate
He climbs, defying twisted fate."
Once he was done, Apollo gasped as he awoke from his trance. His heart raced rapidly as he scanned his surroundings, confused as to what had just transpired. Artemis tried to console him, telling him that everything was okay but he clearly wasn't listening. Looking up at his father, fear danced in his eyes, realizing what was to come.
"He's here." Apollo whispered, his skin turning white and cold. Not a moment later came the image of an Iris message in the middle of the room for all to see. The Goddess of the rainbow's frantic voice soon came into the scene, her tone frantic and frightened.
"Lord Zeus, Chiron is sending you an urgent message! I implore you to accept!"
"Yes, Iris. I accept." The King replied instantly, causing the mist to swirl for a moment before Chiron's face came into frame. Everyone could see the old Centaur's features were apprehensive and laced with anxiety, something they ever rarely saw him have. He was dressed for battle with his infamous bow strapped to his back. Behind him were the campers of Camp Half-Blood, all adorned in armor and running off to find their cabin leaders.
"Lord Zeus, sorry to interrupt but there is a red portal forming on the hill of Thalia's Tree! Nothing has come out yet but I suspect this is the first attack of the enemy!" He said, his eyes drawn to it for a moment.
Annabeth immediately tried to flash away to camp to help but found that she couldn't. Her furious wide eyes were drawn to Zeus who immediately knew what she was trying to do and blocked her. It seemed even with an attack on camp, no immortal was leaving Olympus to help. Her anger flared as she looked to her mother for help but found that she wouldn't receive any.
"Chiron, do whatever you need to do but keep me informed on the situation. May the Fates be in your favor." Zeus replied. The Centaur thanked him before trotting off to help out his campers.
"Iris, keep this video message going. We need to know what we're up against."
"Yes, Lord Zeus." The Goddess said before a golden veil surrounded the mist, keeping it going for however long the King wanted it to. Seeing the furious look on Annabeth's face, Zeus pinched the bridge of his brow, annoyed that he would have to watch over these six new Gods in case they tried to do something. "What did I just explain to you, girl? No one can leave. We need all the immortals here on Olympus to protect it."
"And what of the demigods, father?! Are we just going to leave Camp Half-Blood to defend itself? What about New Rome? What will we do when they're attack?!" Jason yelled, lightning racing across his arms.
"Those two camps have defended themselves from threats for thousands of years! They'll have to do the same this time as well! End of discussion, children or else!" The Olympian replied, leaving the threat hanging.
The other Olympians stayed silent, not wanting to incur their King's wrath and instead focused on the Iris message in front of them. They all wondered what was about to happen and if the demigods will be able to prevail. There was no time to help or time to decipher the prophecy Apollo had given. All they could do was watch and hope for the best.
A/N To the latest review from user SteveSteve. You make a good point. I'll make sure to incorporate further Percy's qualities that you mentioned. I know his decision to help Polemus is a little odd considering where he's at. I wanted to convey just how desperate he was to get out of Tartarus. I want to show the decisions, right and wrong, he'll make to get back to the surface. If that means aligning himself with obviously evil Gods then so be it. But your point still stands and I'll make sure to remember it going forward. Thanks for reading!