Third Person Pov:
The mythical island-shaped mountain floating above the Empire State Building was shrouded in mist, hidden from the awareness of the mortal world below. This ethereal layer of magic served as a barrier, separating the mortals from the immortals of the Greek Pantheon who once ruled over the supreme empire.
In the past, the empire thrived with countless mortals who prayed to the gods for their well-being and sought their blessings in their daily lives. The empire housed thousands of immortals, each renowned for their unique functions and powers throughout their reign. They were once regarded as gods of supreme power, commanding the prayers and devotion of at least a thousand individuals.
The immortals took great pride in their divine children, born from unions with mortals. These children undertook impossible tasks and achieved heroic feats, bringing honor and glory to both their immortal and mortal lineage. Some of these immortals were known for their cunning and wisdom, while others relied solely on their physical prowess. The children, representing a blend of their immortal and mortal heritage, became legendary figures but are now relegated to mere myths.
As time went on, the mortals' worship of the gods diminished. With the invasion of Greece by the Romans and the rise of Christianity, the gods' importance gradually waned. The temples dedicated to them were destroyed, their priests perished at the hands of invaders, and their once-vibrant heritage was lost to the passage of time. Mortals began to sever their ties with the gods, no longer offering them reverence with every meal. Consequently, the gods' strength dwindled, and they now clung to the mortal realm through their demigod offspring.
On the mythical mountain, a jubilant atmosphere enveloped the gods and demigods who gathered for a festive celebration. The air was filled with mirth as gods and demigods indulged in a variety of dishes, the demigods devouring the food with great gusto.
Inside the grand throne room, its magnificence and radiance so intense that it would blind the eyes of ordinary mortals from miles away, the walls were adorned with depictions of battle scenes. One particular depiction showcased a demigod with blue eyes and sandy yellow hair, brandishing a knife as he valiantly fought against gold-coloured monsters. The hall housed thirteen massive thrones, each occupied by one of the most powerful gods of the Greek Pantheon, engaged in a discussion among themselves.
Amid the festivities, an eight-year-old girl attended to a pit in the hall, using a shining bronze stick to tend to the burning embers, ensuring they burned evenly. However, her expression betrayed a profound sadness, with dry tears streaking down her soft and beautiful ember eyes.
Suddenly, the young girl lifted her head, sensing the presence of someone teleporting into the throne room. Moments later, a pillar of light erupted from the floor, momentarily obscuring the faces of the gods. Two females emerged from the light, their bodies adorned in tattered silver parkas, bearing visible wounds and bruises.
The gods, shielding their faces with their hands, slowly lowered their hands to reveal their identities. Artemis, the goddess of the moon and hunt, with auburn hair and silver eyes, leaped toward the fallen females, exclaiming cries of joy upon recognizing her lieutenant and a hunter she had believed to be deceased. Another god, Hades, rose from his temporary throne, his face albino and his eyes an intense shade of darkness, wearing a charcoal black robe. Hades approached his daughter, whom he had believed had transitioned into the cycle of rebirth, now lying sprawled on the marble floor.
Tenderly, Hades cradled his daughter in his arms and transformed her body, covered in cuts, into inky smoke. Artemis called out, urging her brother to heal her. Apollo, who had been seated on his throne, rose and approached the fallen demigod, placing his hand above her forehead. A yellow light enveloped her body, causing her wounds to gradually heal.
Once the healing was complete, a bright light emanated above Zoe's body, eventually fading to reveal a sword—the very same sword that had once embodied her immortality. Anaklusmos, also known as Riptide, the legendary weapon wielded by the traitorous son of Poseidon, now lay across her body.
As the sword made contact with her, it transformed into a hairclip. Tentatively, Zoe opened her eyes, greeted by the sight of her mistress. She mustered her voice and croaked, "Mi—Milady," before continuing, "Per—Percy is in trouble. He didn't betray you, but..." Her voice trailed off as she struggled to stay awake, her eyelids drooping.
Zoe's whispered words in the silent hall ignited a flurry of arguments and threats exchanged among the Olympians, all sparked by the revelation of Percy's peril and the sacrifice made by the daughter of Athena, who had traded the life of her love, Luke, in exchange for Percy. The weight of the news hung heavy in the air, igniting a tumultuous debate among the gods.
Athena, adorned in her battle regalia, including armor, spear, Athenian helmet, and the original aegis shield with the face of Gorgon Medusa, stood atop her throne, vehemently defending her daughter against the accusations of treachery. Her voice reverberated through the hall as she hurled profanities and called the Titaness nymph a liar. Hermes, his face consumed by unadulterated anger, brandished his caduceus and stood beside Athena, his Talaria adorning his feet.
As they moved toward the fallen hunter with the intent to inflict harm, an eerie breeze swept through the closed hall of the gods, causing a shiver to run down the spines of those present. The hearth ember was dampened by a presence that halted Athena and Hermes in their tracks.
The Fates slowly lifted their fingers, and Zoe's body started to glow with a golden light, levitating in the air. The intensity of the glow became so overwhelming that it obscured her body from view. The glow began to fill her, causing scars to vanish and leaving behind flawless, radiant golden skin. Her tattered clothes disappeared, replaced by a sea-green chiton with blue embroidery, along with a celestial bronze bracelet adorning her wrist and ancient Greek sandals upon her feet. Her hair was styled in a bun, with some delicate curls left loose, and a meticulously crafted celestial bronze hairpin was placed within the bun.
The levitating nymph of sunset gently descended onto a couch summoned by Hestia, and gradually, the glow surrounding Zoe subsided.
"All Hail Zoe Nightshade, Titaness of Riptides, Sunset, Strength, and Hunting," proclaimed the voices in unison, acknowledging her newfound status and powers.
The Fates remained solemn and unwavering as they spoke to the Olympians, their voices carrying the weight of the consequences at stake. "Someone has dared to meddle with Fate," they declared in unison. "The Fates cannot be trifled with, and this transgression must be addressed. Otherwise, the delicate balance of the world's destiny will collapse, leading to the destruction of both humanity and Olympus."
Upon hearing these words, the faces of the gods turned pale, as if their very life force had been drained from them. Zeus, in particular, trembled on his throne, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
Apollo's face paled, his vibrant blue eyes widening in shock. His breath quickened, and his body shook uncontrollably. He clutched his hand and covered his eyes, as if in immense pain. Slowly, his trembling intensified, and ichor, the divine blood of the gods, trickled from his mouth and nose. Witnessing Apollo's condition, Artemis swiftly leaped toward his throne, her body maturing into that of an adult from her usual twelve-year-old form. She cradled Apollo's head in her lap, gently tending to his hair, her face filled with grief. With a voice heavy with anguish, she turned to the Fates and asked, "Why is my brother suffering like this?"
The Fates, their faces devoid of emotion, answered in unison, "He now bears the curse of the domain of Prophecy, the domain of sight. He can see the impending future that you all will face, including the consequences of your actions or inaction. Why does this concern you, Goddess of the Moon? You have not shown such care for your brother in the past. So why now?"
Artemis, stunned by the revelation, did not fully comprehend their words and instead exclaimed, "He's fading? How is this happening?"
"The future is shrouded in such darkness that the light itself is extinguished, and without light, there can be no God of the Sun," the Fates responded. The flickering of Apollo's form ceased, and he slumped in Artemis's lap.
At that moment, Zoe rose from the floor and began surveying her surroundings. She then turned and respectfully bowed before the Fates. In response, the Fates snapped their fingers, and Apollo opened his eyes. With the assistance of Artemis, they carefully placed the god back on his respective throne.
The Fates then spoke to Zoe, "Daughter of Titan Atlas and Pleione, please explain what has transpired from the time of your death until now."
Zoe nodded and began to explain the events that transpired. According to her, after her death, the Titan of the South, known as Atlas, took her from the sky and sent her to the depths of Tartarus because she had aided the gods. When she arrived in the pit, her grandfather, Iapetus (also known as Bob), retrieved Bianca's soul from the Underworld and provided her with a new body. They were held captive in the pit as a form of ransom, in case their captivity could be used as leverage in the future.
Later, Kronos, the Titan lord, returned with Perseus (also known as Percy Jackson) and revealed to him a scene where the Olympians had voted for his banishment. This occurred because the daughter of Athena (presumably Annabeth Chase) and the Castellan boy (possibly Luke Castellan) had presented a distorted version of events, hiding the complete truth. Furthermore, it was mentioned that the daughter of Athena chose the Castellan boy over Perseus, which further influenced the council's decision.
The Titans then informed Percy that they had betrayed him, aiming to exploit his fatal flaw and allow Kronos to use him as a vessel until he grew to full power. However, Percy refused to comply, leading to continuous torture inflicted upon him. Due to his suffering, Percy's curse of invulnerability to the River Styx vanished.
Tears started dripping from Zoe's eyes and then we were here.
As Zoe finished recounting the events, Athena and Hermes, filled with disbelief, began to shout, declaring that Zoe's story was a lie. However, Zoe locked eyes with them and swore upon the river Styx,
As the thunder boomed, indicating the solemnity of the oath, Athena stood in anticipation, waiting for Zoe to be punished for her words. However, to her surprise, nothing happened. The oath remained unbroken, and Zoe stood before them unharmed.
Lachesis the Fate who controls the thread of life, addressed Athena, acknowledging the truth in Zoe's words. She declared that Athena's daughter and Hermes' son would indeed embark on the path of redemption, regardless of their personal preferences or objections.
As Clotho, one of the Fates, continued the narrative, she revealed that " Percy had made a desperate decision to save Bianca Di Angelo and Zoe Nightshade. In exchange for their safety, he made a pact and sold his soul to a deity. Furthermore, he had also given up his sword, symbolizing his commitment to their protection."
Lachesis, another Fate, added to the story, stating that " Percy's body started to dematerialize, as he leaped into the river Phlegethon, the river of fire, declaring his actions to be for the sake of Poseidon. Subsequently, his thread, representing his life, vanished, signifying that he had faded into the void or oblivion."
Atropos, sensing the need for stability and the preservation of the future, addressed the gathered gods with a firm tone. " Be warned and remain cautious and refrain from meddling with the fates. Especially you Zeus, the king of the gods, cease your impulsive actions." Atropos emphasized that "failure to heed this warning would result in severe repercussions, regardless of the outcome."
Acknowledging the gravity of the situation, Atropos declared "We would now venture back in time. This drastic measure was deemed necessary to safeguard the future of both humanity and Olympus from the imminent destruction caused by the Olympians' foolishness and rash actions."
However, Atropos also cautioned that "Tampering with the time stream would come with consequences. People could be added to the existing universe, their presence seamlessly integrated into the fabric of reality. Conversely, individuals could vanish without a trace, as if they had never existed in the first place. The delicate balance of the timeline was at stake, and tampering with it could alter the course of history in unforeseen ways."
As Atropos carefully snipped a few threads from the yarn in Clotho's lap, a piece of the rainbow-colored yarn extended and began to move toward the Ophiotaurus. It encircled the creature, swirling around it like a sinuous snake, before finally plucking the Ophiotaurus from its tank.
With each passing moment, the rainbow-coloured yarn started to break apart, fragmenting into smaller threads. As this occurred, ancient Greek hieroglyph letters began to emerge and manifest within the rainbow yarn. The vibrant symbols danced and weaved themselves into a coherent message, forming a language of their own.
The hieroglyph letters conveyed a message encoded within their intricate patterns, a message that carried ancient wisdom and hidden truths. It was a language that transcended the limitations of conventional speech, speaking directly to the essence of those who witnessed it.
The gods and those present in the throne room were captivated by the spectacle, their attention fixated on the mystical display unfolding before them. They strained to decipher the meaning behind the hieroglyph letters, hoping to uncover the secrets they held.
In this moment of revelation, the ancient symbols represented a gateway to knowledge, offering glimpses into forgotten realms and hidden prophecies. The true significance of the Ophiotaurus and its connection to the fate of Olympus and humanity began to unfurl, beckoning those present to unravel its mysteries and shape the path that lay ahead.
As the gods seated in their position there, seemingly frozen in time, a profound stillness enveloped the air around everyone. Out of nowhere, a pure, white circle materialized, its ethereal presence captivating and mysterious. Within this mystical boundary, ancient Greek hieroglyphs danced and swirled, encircling the atmosphere with an enigmatic aura. The ophiotaurus slowly disintegrates into nothingness.
Suddenly, a radiant beam of golden light burst forth from the center of the circle, reaching out with an irresistible force. Its intensity grew with every passing moment, pulsating with otherworldly power. The gods could feel its warm touch on their skin, simultaneously gentle and commanding.
In an instant, the beam consumed everyone in the throne room, As it coursed through everyone's essence, a peculiar sensation took hold. It was as if every existence was unraveling, disintegrating into minuscule fragments.
Piece by piece, everyone dissolved into a vast expanse of shimmering particles, each carrying a fragment of everyone's essence. Everyone was as if they were stripped down to their core, stripped of all that defined them, and yet, simultaneously, being woven into a new tapestry of existence.
The swirling particles of essence danced and intermingled, forming intricate patterns within the vast expanse of the golden beam. The threads of destiny intertwined, creating a new tapestry, shimmering with the combined essence of gods, mortals, and all the beings connected to the fate of Olympus.
As the tapestry took shape, glimpses of different timelines, alternate realities, and potential futures flickered through the threads. The fates were meticulously weaving a new narrative, seeking to restore balance and protect the future of both humanity and Olympus.
Yet, within this grand tapestry, there were consequences to tampering with time and the manipulation of fate. Some beings would be added to the existing universe, seamlessly woven into the fabric of reality. Others, however, would disappear without a trace, as if they had never existed at all.
The gods, frozen in their positions, watched in awe and trepidation as the ancient Greek hieroglyphs in the rainbow-colored yarn revealed cryptic messages, hinting at the intricacies of the new tapestry being woven. They felt the weight of their actions and the potential repercussions that lay ahead.
The process continued the beam of golden light pulsating and radiating its transformative power. The tapestry grew more elaborate, each thread representing a life, a destiny, and a story to be told. The gods could only wait, their fate and the fate of Olympus hanging in the balance as the fates wove the fabric of a new reality.