Chapter Text
Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase were at the movies, taking a break from all the drama after Gaea, when they disappeared in a flash of light.
Nico di Angelo and Will Solace were at Camp Half-Blood, hanging out in the infirmary, when they disappeared in a flash of light.
Grover Underwood was at a meeting with the Lords of the Wild, when he disappeared in a flash of light.
Jason Grace and Piper McLean were interupted in the middle of a make-out session, when they disapearred in a flash of light.
Leo Valdez was on Festus's back shortly after being resureccted, when he disapearred in a flash of light.
Thalia Grace was hunting a wild boar with the Hunter's of Artemis when she disapearred in a flash of light.
Meg McCaffery was sitting in a dumster when she disappeared in a flash of light.
Frank Zhang was practicing shooting a bow, Hazel Levesque watching him, when they both disapearred in a flash of light.
The gods were in the throne room of Olympus, sitting in their chairs as they watched Zeus condemn his son to mortality when they disapearred in a flash of light.
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There were screams of shock and suprise when everyone suddenly dropped from the ceiling onto the floor of what looked like a movie theater. The demigods immediately went to draw their weapons, only to be greeted with empty pockets and sheaths.
The gods went to teleport and call upon their divinity, only to find themselves...powerless?
"Who dares to god-nap the mighty Zeus?" Zeus cried, standing indignantly and looking around.
"Dude, it gives off a bad vibe when you talk in the third-person." Percy Jackson muttered, more than a bit miffed at Riptide not being in his pocket.
The gods and demigods alike looked around themselves, trying to size-up the situation at hand. It was quiet for less than a moment before a relieved and high-pitched voice screamed.
"Oh my god, Leo?!" Piper screeched, launching herself at a very confused latino.
"Pipes, ugh! You're-squishing-me!" He said, being crushed by his friend.
She let him go, looked over him for a moment, then slapped him across the face.
"Where have you been!? We all thought you were dead! No, screw that, Nico sensed your death. How the hell are you alive?" Piper yelled, so upset Leo expected fumes to be coming out of her ears.
The demigods around him looked equally torn between upset and relieved.
"Well, Mamacita, it was all thanks to Festus. I did die, not a good feeling by the way, but he administered the Physician's Cure and set me straight!" Leo said, spreading out his arms dramatically.
"Man, we literally had a funeral. We burned your shroud." Jason said, glasses fogging up (DEFINETELY NOT FROM TEARS HE'S A MANLY MAN).
Leo atleast had the decency to look guilty. "I was coming back! I just...had some unfinished business. Had to go find something." He said, looking down at the ground sheepishly.
Hazel looked at him knowingly, assuming correctly as to what 'unfinished business' he had to do. She was the one who sketched Calypso for Leo, so she could guess what-or who she was trying to find before he returned.
"As great as this heartfelt reunion is, why exactly are we here?" Dionysus said, interuppting the tender moment.
This brought many of them back to attention, as they once again tried to figure out what was happening. They scanned the room and saw a table with food and drinks, along with a multitude of colorful bean bag chairs. It was at this moment when another flash of light occured, and a piece of paper fluttered cinematically down from above.
Athena caught it gracefully, and read it, her expression shifting from suprise to confusion back to suprise.
"Care to share with the class?" Percy said mildly. Frank and Hazel looked at him with horror, though they had seen plenty of examples of Percy mouthing off to the gods, they still couldn't get over it. Jason, like the king he is, merely snorted.
Zeus and Athena shot a glare at him, but nevertheless, Athena read the paper out loud.
"Gods and Demigods, we are the Fates. We have brought you here today to read 5 books about Apollo."
Everyone turned to Apollo expectantly. He preened at the attention, soaking it up as if he were basking in the sun - er - himself.
Athena continued, "The books contain personal thoughts and feeling, and what's in them contain events of the future. A great hero died in the span of these books, and his story is not quite finished. Time is paused in the world, and you may leave once you finish. Read these and change the future. Or don't, we don't really care. Your loss."
Everyone stared dumbly at her. She shrugged helplessly.
Suddenly, a large crack rang out, and Will screamed like a little girl. 5 books dropped from the ceiling, and Will picked one up sheepishly. It was a plain black book, nothing really special looking.
"Well, demigod? Open the books, as requested by the fates." Zeus said impatiently, wanting to go home.
Will tried to pry the book open, but it wouldn't budge.
"Here, let me try." Nico offered, and Will passed it off to him. Nico, try as he might, was not able to open it.
"Maybe only a god can open it!" Hermes suggested helpfully, and jogged over to the demigods.
He pulled with all of his divine strength, but it still stayed closed.
"Apollo, you try. They are supposed to be about you."
Apollo flipped his golden hair behind him and held out his hands to recieve the book. Hermes sighed, but jogged right back over to where he started, passing off the book to his half-brother.
Apollo tried to open the book, but it stayed closed. He pulled and pulled until Athena finally walked over.
"You idiot. That book is clearly lettered! See?" The godess said, turning the book over and showing the little white number on it, saying: 5, "Demigods, try to find one that says one."
Percy rifled through the stack, flipping books until he found the right one. He opened the book easily.
Percy scanned the page and snorted, before showing it to Annabeth. She rolled her eyes and spoke, "Who's going to read?"
Nobody spoke. After a minute, Artemis's voice rang out.
"We can alternate between readers so nobody gets tired. I shall go first, as it is my brother the story contains."
She calmly strode to Percy, and he gave her the book.
"Shall we sit?" Hera suggested, gesturing towards the bean bags.
Zeus and Hades eyed the chairs disdainfully, but sat once they realized this was the only choice, besides standing.
Artemis cleared her throat, and began to read.