Rise of The Olympian Intelligence/Investigation Agency

by Helbane

Summary:

A year before the establishment of the O.I.A, how it all came together, and how The Mist collapsed...or better known as 'the year Percy felt like he was going to get more gray streaks.'

Notes:

This is a sort of an experiment and backstory to my previous fic...here most of the stuff that wasn't mentioned in the last fic will be talked about so expect this to be exposition heavy

Chapter 1: The First Domino Falls

Chapter 1: Percy

 

Percy was sitting in his cabin, staring out the window before looking down at the blank worksheet on the laptop in front of him, then going back to staring out the window.

 

He was supposed to be working on an essay for his criminal forensics science class about the secret contributions of demigods to forensic science, but Percy's mind was elsewhere.

 

The last three years of peace had really helped Percy understand a lot of stuff in his life.

For one thing, studying marine biology at New Rome University wasn't for him. He took one class and quickly realized he'd learn more about the sea talking to fish than reading boring textbooks.

 

People like to think that after studying the ocean for so long they knew everything there was about it. Well, as a son of Poseidon Percy can safely say all those fancy ass scientists knew jack shit about the sea. And demigods and legacies not related to sea gods weren't exceptions.

 

So, Percy had no regrets about dropping the course and shifted to a new one. Of course, Annabeth did convince him to find a new course to transfer to first though.

 

It was by chance, and completely by accident that Percy walked into that lecture on criminal investigation methods and how godly magic could be used to solve crimes more accurately.

He had been looking for Annabeth's class and got completely lost. But he stayed anyway for the full two hour lecture. The professor had been a daughter of Justitia and the way she talked about criminology and crime investigation made Percy think of his own experiences with cops and federal agents. From that time the F.B.I lead a nation wide man-hunt for him when he was twelve, to that one night when he was ten years old and Smelly Gabe had one of his worst drunk rages, that their neighbors down the hall at the time had to call the cops and the drunk asshole spent several days in jail before coming back.

 

By the time the lecture was over Percy made up his mind.

 

Now three years later and Percy was about to go into his final year at New Rome University and he was feeling scared.

 

A lot had changed in three years.

 

That was the second thing that had been on Percy's mind lately. It was the downside of living day to day without much plan for the future.

 

'You survive long enough to have a future that you don't know what to do with it when you get it, I guess.' Percy thought as he stared out the window.

 

He had done what few Greek demigods have. Live long enough to have a future.

 

Unfortunately, Percy had no clue about what to do when he does graduate from college.

The only things he knew for sure was that he wanted to help people. Specifically his people, the demigods. He wanted to protect them from whatever danger came.

 

Even if that danger came from the mortal world.

 

Over the years Percy had been slowly pulling away from the mortal world.

 

Percy had realized that a normal life in the mortal world wasn't for him. It wasn't because he didn't want to. No, it was more like Percy finally had to accept that the he didn't fit into the neat clear-cut mold mortal society wanted him to fit into.

 

And he didn't really want to fit into any mold either.

 

Percy had fought too hard for too long to claim his own identity. If Zeus couldn't make him yield, neither would mortal society's expectations and perceptions would.

 

That resulted in him slowly pulling away from the mortal world. In fact the only reason he ever goes into the mortal world was to visit his mom, Paul, and his sister Estelle. They were the only connections he had left to that world.

 

Though, that might have been a natural course since he was going to a college for demigods and legacies.

 

But either way, it was what it was. And Percy was fine by that. In the godly world he could be fully himself, he didn't have to hide or restrain who he was and be something he wasn't, and no one was going to hurt for being himself.

 

Unlike in most places in the mortal world.

 

There was a reason why some demigods were year-round campers at Camp half-blood after all.

 

'the sea doesn't like being restrained'

Percy remembered his father's most common saying.

 

But Percy had no idea how he was going to be able to do that.

Becoming an F.B.I agent was not in the cards, he was still pissed off at them for all the bullshit they put him through. Becoming a cop in New York was going to be next to impossible with his school records (even with The Mist covering things up), so that was more of a pipedream to.

 

But it was the third problem that was causing the biggest distraction for Percy at the moment.

 

It had been a week since classes had started again after the solstice holidays when Mercury had suddenly appeared in the middle of the Senate and announced that classes need to be cancelled, all demigods and legacies must return to their respective camps, and that ALL the gods were being called in for a full meeting.

 

It was the last one that had all of Percy's alarm bells ringing.

Percy and Annabeth returned to Camp half-blood via the sailboat his dad gifted him for his eighteenth birthday, but shortly before they left New Rome, Percy had talked to Frank and asked about Hazel since he hadn't seen her since the announcement.

 

All Frank told him was that she and the other children of Trivia were meeting at the Temple of Trivia for some unknown reason.

 

That had raised several red flags in addition to still ringing alarm bells in Percy's head.

 

But still, Percy more than knew just what Hazel was capable of and decided to trust one of his youngest cousins.

 

He just wished he could have at least said goodbye to her.

 

When they got to Camp half-blood not long after, what with Percy at the wheel of a boat, they found out that the same thing was happening like at Camp Jupiter.

 

Percy had hoped that it was just the Romans having some kind of crisis. But when he and Annabeth arrived on the docks at camp he saw that his boat wasn't the only one moored there. And just like at Camp Jupiter both Terminus and Mr. D were nowhere.

 

That had been three weeks ago.

 

Sure everything looked calm and peaceful, despite the underlying tension because no one knew what was going on, sure with the sudden influx of demigods, both really young kids and the very few demigods that had managed to survive not just into adulthood but also start families of their own, they had to expand the borders to accommodate everyone. But they were managing just fine.

 

Everything was just fine...

 

Everyone was keeping busy, especially Annabeth who decided now was a good time to start her plans to build a town or something like that for the Greek demigods.

Meanwhile, Percy was helping where he could. Especially in regards to keeping everyone calm.

 

Just like how Percy had found and come to accept that he liked helping people, and protecting them, over the past few years he'd also come to accept that he liked being a leader and that he really did have some skills with leadership.

 

And with Jason busy helping Annabeth, Chiron stretched thin more than ever, and Nico concerningly nowhere to be found, the job of keeping some three hundred more or less demigods from going stir-crazy fell to him.

 

Not that he minded much. In fact, managing camp at present was probably the only thing keeping HIM from going stir-crazy as well. That and the course work that he actually liked doing anyway.

 

Percy was suddenly pulled from his thoughts by the sudden smell of sea salt, fresh fish and the sound of crashing waves and screeching seagulls, followed by the large calloused hand on his shoulder.

 

Looking up Percy found his dad smiling down at him, his smile full of shark like teeth, his glowing sea green eyes reminiscent of an anglerfish's lure despite looking unsettling were kind as always and so very grounding.

 

"Hey Dad." Percy said smiling as he stood up to greet his father.

 

As casual as Percy was with a lot of the gods, Poseidon was still his Dad and a god, and after how much his father had always defended him every time he did something completely insane and almost got smited by Zeus...showing his father respect and manners was the least he could do.

 

"Not that I'm not happy to see you Dad... it's your cabin after all. Aren't you supposed to be in a council meeting still?" Percy asked nervously.

 

The last thing everyone needed right now was for Zeus to show up at camp having a hissy fit about his dad skipping out.

 

His father in response simply shrugged unbothered and smiled looking amused.

 

"My brother called for a momentary recess...things had gotten heated for a moment during our discussions." His Dad said like that wasn't concerning information.

 

It was only then that Percy really took in his father's appearance.

His dad wasn't in his usual 'newly retired rich guy who took up fishing as a hobby' look. Instead, his Dad looked like an old school fisherman. White wool turtleneck sweater, cargo pants, with his Trident strapped to his back, the only strange thing to Percy at least we're the Greek style sandals his dad was wearing.

 

That had the alarm bells in Percy's head turning straight up into siren warnings, complete with the red danger lights.

 

It was something he noticed over the years. How his dad only ever really changed his appearance when something was deeply wrong.

 

"Okay...so I take it that this isn't a social call?" Percy asked politely.

 

Percy didn't need to understand rocket science to know why his dad suddenly popped in out of nowhere first chance he got.

 

Poseidon shook his head and his smile became much more tired and sad.

"No...I don't have much time. I only came to tell you that something is happening...The Mist is weakening and on the verge of collapse. Has been for some time now."

 

And just like that the other shoe dropped and it fell right smack on Percy's face. Hard.

 

Ignoring all the sirens screaming in his head Percy forced himself to pay attention to what his father was saying. After nearly a month of no answers he finally had them and he could give everyone at camp information they needed, desperately.

 

"Okay...how? And is that what the gods have been talking about?" Percy asked.

"You guys have been discussing what to do and how to solve it?"

 

"Yes my son. I don't know all the intricate details, but from what your cousin Nico has told us all the near apocalyptic events that had happened over the years as well as our world leaking heavily into the mortal world has forced The Mist to spread itself too thin. I can't get into this more I don't have time...what you do need to know Percy is that you need to be prepared. I fear the world as you know is about to change." Poseidon said in the most casually ominous way possible.

"Also be prepared. Expect a summons to Olympus at any time."

 

And with that final warning Percy's Dad vanished in a spray of seafoam, fog, and vapor leaving the lingering scent of the sea inside the cabin.

 

Percy stood by his desk for a full minute taking in everything his Dad told him, then he put his face in his hands and groaned.

 

'it just had to be something like this' Percy thought, cursing his demigod luck.

 

After a moment of bemoaning and cursing the greater universe at large Percy cracked his back and squared his shoulders.

Whatever it was that's happening exactly, it didn't matter, all that mattered was that he had a home and family to protect, and by the gods above and below and in the sea he was going to protect his loved ones.

 

Anyone or anything that threatened his family would be seeing the bottom of the Mariana trench.

Chapter 2: Memories and Insights

Summary:

This chapter is more or less a continuation of the first chapter and is meant to give a bit more insight into some of the things that went on in the last three years after canon and is set up for more chapters....also I couldn't help but add some wholesome family bonding moments for Percy and his loved ones there is not enough of those kinds of fics and I will fight any arguments against giving Percy wholesome family moments

Notes:

As I've said before writing Percy's character after everything that's happened to him to do the character justice isn't easy but a friend of mine who did military service gave me an idea on how personality growth goes for people like that so I went with it

Chapter 2; Percy

 

Percy got to work immediately. And by that, he meant he was going to ask for help to come up with a plan to break the news to everyone.

 

Percy wasn't an academic by any means. But he wasn't a complete idiot, he knew that if he just called a councilor's meeting and blurted out "The Mist was falling" it would give everyone a collective heart attack.

 

'could demigods get heart attacks?' Percy thought as he made his way to the second smartest person he next to Annabeth.

 

Jason Grace.

 

As much as Percy hated the quests, and the multiple near death experiences that came with being a demigod, there was one thing that demigod life gave him, that he would never trade for anything.

 

His loved ones. The people who meant the world to him.

 

It was because he was a demigod and didn't need to hide anymore that his mom didn't need to stay with Smelly Gabe any longer, being a demigod was why Percy had his best friend Grover in the first place, being a demigod was how he had his little brother Tyson, being a demigod was why he had four awesome and badass but annoyingly crazy cousins. But most of all, demigod life was how he met the love of his life, his lighthouse who stopped him crashing into the rocks when everything got dark, his anchor who made sure he didn't drift out to sea and lose himself when it was so easy to be a monster, the girl who saw the real him, the fish loving dork who just wanted to do the right thing and take care of his family, his now fiancee Annabeth.

 

So, three years ago when Caligula almost killed Jason Percy was understandably pissed.

 

Percy was still haunted by that day, even now, and remembered it quite clearly.

 

'Percy had been busy doing homework for his make-up classes to graduate, when the first Iris Message he got when communications came back was a frantic Nico having a breakdown.

The normal pen that Percy had been using snapped in half when the first words that came out of Nico's mouth were "Jason's dying!"

Percy felt his world narrow at those words, Jason, his friend, his cousin who he'd just gotten to know was dying. Suddenly, memories of Bianca flashed through Percy's head, the family he didn't know he had until it was too late, followed by a flashback to his first shroud burning ceremony after the battle of The Labyrinth, Percy remembered how broken Pollux was at Castor's death, how he saw purple torch light burning from windows of the big house for days, Percy thought of Thalia who had just gotten her brother back after their mother left him to the the wolves and monsters when he was only two years old, who in the god's name was going to tell her Jason was gone? How the hell was HE supposed to?

And all because an egomaniac wanted to show how he was better than everyone else by becoming a god.

 

Percy felt the sea inside his soul raging and churn into a maelstrom at the thought. A person, not a god or a monster, just a mortal who found a way to live so long wanted to trade away his humanity just because he felt entitled and better than everyone else, hurt his family.

Percy wanted to tear Caligula apart for that, Percy wanted bring down the entire ocean on his head. Caligula was famous for his war against the sea, Percy wanted to see how long an asshole like him would last if the sea fought back.

 

Percy was pulled back to his senses at the feeling someone was shaking him. It wasn't until he heard Annabeth's voice calling his name that his vision stopped blurring and he found her right in front of him, shaking him by the shoulders and yelling his name.

 

When Percy came back to his senses he saw that Annabeth was soaking wet and looking around he found his room trashed and near flooded.

 

"What in Hades happened seaweed brain?" Annabeth asked panicked.

"You started a category five hurricane out of nowhere are you alright?!"

 

In response Percy said the only words that came to mind.

"Jason's dying."

 

The stricken look Annabeth gave Percy just made everything feel so much more real.

 

"Okay...that's a reasonable response. Alright then we need to get to camp ASAP." Annabeth said as gently as she could given her own panic.

 

She took Percy by the hand and gently lead him out the room.

 

"How bad?" Percy asked his voice tight and his mind still foggy.

 

But he wanted to know if his storm caused more damage than just his room, but he was afraid because how Annabeth looked.

 

Annabeth didn't say anything for a moment, a too long moment. Annabeth never hesitated and that was enough confirmation for Percy.

 

Rushing passed Annabeth he went into the rest of the apartment and found the place looking like a hurricane gone through. The windows were shattered, the living room was flooded with a few inches of water, and the pipes were sticking out of the walls, and water was just everywhere.

 

Percy felt like the abyss just opened up in his stomach, which got worse when he turned to look into the kitchen and found his mom just as soaking wet as Annabeth.

 

Percy felt like he'd been punched in the gut by a titan, thankfully it looked like Estelle was relatively dry, but it was the sight of Paul with an ice pack on his face that had Percy wanting to puke.

 

"What...?"

 

"It was an accident Percy. Nothing to be worried about." Paul said kindly, trying to make Percy feel better.

 

Instead, Percy just felt worse as he rushed over and lifted the ice pack from Paul's face before he could argue.

 

Percy felt a the guilt and shame well up in his gut seeing the bruise on Paul's face. It was a familiar splash patterned bruise that could only come from being hit by tremendous amounts of solid water pressure.

 

'I did that. That could could have been Annabeth, or mom, gods that could have been Estelle!' Percy's thoughts were about to spiral again when suddenly the smell of sea salt and burning wood filled the room and then that familiar calloused hand landed on his shoulder.

 

Suddenly, the sea in Percy's soul went still, the waters going calm, like all his power was suddenly quelled.

 

Looking behind him, Percy saw his dad giving him a sad smile so kind that it made his heart clench.

 

Poseidon looked to Sally and smiled just as warm.

"Ms. Chase I would advise you to go ahead to Camp half-blood Percy will follow in a moment." He said addressing Annabeth without looking in her direction.

"Tell my nephew that Percy will be a moment."

 

"I apologize for the sudden appearance Sally...but I think I need to take Percy for some fresh air for a moment." He said warmly not taking his eyes off of her.

"I must say Paul you are remarkably well adjusted to be this calm...I'm actually impressed. Most mortals would be losing their minds in this situation...you always did have an interesting taste in men if I say so myself, don't you Sally."

 

Percy watched as his senses come and go but he did hear his mom snort in amusement at his father's teasing.

 

"As delightful as this is brother...I do believe Percy needs help." Another voice said.

 

That was when Percy realized what the burning wood smell was. It was Lady Hestia, his aunt and the only goddess he had the utmost respect for.

 

Percy wanted to crawl under a rock and die right then and there. He couldn't believe Hestia was seeing him after he trashed his own home.

 

But before Percy could spiral again, he felt his dad's hold tighten slightly and then everything was a rush of light and water.

 

Next thing Percy knew he was in the middle of the ocean, far far away from any form of civilization with just his dad there.

 

"This should be far enough." Poseidon said as he faced his son.

"Percy...as I've said many times before the sea does not like to be restrained. This is one of those times. Your anger is justified my son however I will not allow you to lose yourself to the storm within you."

 

Percy was hopelessly confused by that.

 

"I brought you here to allow you an opportunity to release your anger. Do not be afraid to let you full power go here as we are far from any civilization."

 

Percy was dumbfounded for just a moment, because at the mention of his anger, he suddenly remembered why everything happened.

 

Taking his father's advice Percy stopped restraining himself, he poured all of his rage and created a maelstrom and the biggest hurricane he'd ever made.

 

Percy did that for what felt like hours, and by the end he was exhausted. But for the first time since he heard the news Percy felt his mind clear up, and in that moment several things clicked in his head.

 

He realized what Athena meant about his fatal flaw all those years ago.

Percy always thought that being loyal wasn't a bad thing. And he still did, but now, seeing the mess he made. Percy realized it was less about being loyal and more about how he got when the people he cared for got hurt.

Percy came to the realization that his power made him a tsunami with legs and that when he raged everyone and everything in his path became collateral damage.

 

And he hated himself for it.

 

His mother wasn't just some random person to swept away by the tide, his friends at camp weren't insignificant specks that could be washed away. They were people. His people. And he was treating them like nothing every time he lost his temper. His fatal flaw made him act like a wild monster destroying everything and needed to be put down when his loved ones were hurt.

 

Percy didn't like being like that, he wasn't a natural disaster he was a person.

He thought back to the promises he made to himself after the battle of The Labyrinth. How he felt so ashamed that with all the campers looking to him for leadership he couldn't have been bothered to remember most of their names. Campers he spent years seeing every summer.

 

Looking out at the see floor he turned into a small trench Percy pulled himself together and decided he needed make changes.'

 

 

Pulling himself out of his memories, Percy walked up the path to the remodeled Zeus Cabin and knocked loudly on the polished bronze doors.

 

"Hey Jason! It's me!" Percy said in the most obnoxiously cheerful way possible just to annoy his cousin.

 

It wasn't long before Percy heard the sound of rushing wind behind the door, followed by the squeaking sneakers and the tapping of a cane, then the cabin doors opened and to no one's surprise and mildly tired looking Jason Grace appeared.

 

'at least the eye bags aren't as bad as last week's.' Percy thought as he smiled and brought the basket he had with him.

 

"I brought snacks and soup." Percy said waving said basket in Jason's face.

"And before you tell me your busy I know you weren't at lunch earlier and Katie told me she saw you and Annabeth at the construction sites. So your eating."

 

Jason simply smiled and huffed before shaking his head, but stepped aside to let Percy in anyway giving his permission.

"Fine...I'm kind of hungry anyway. Your welcome inside Zeus Cabin."

 

With slightly smug and mischievous look Percy patted Jason on the shoulder as he strolled on into the Zeus Cabin like he owned the place if only just to annoy a his least favorite uncle.

 

Remodeling and renovations was actually the first thing Jason had done after he had fully recovered from his near death experience at the hands of Caligula and his lackeys (mostly at Nico and Percy's instance) Jason first remade his father's cabin.

 

Jason deserved a real home after not having one for so long, and after a lot of pestering and convincing from both Percy and Nico about how a military barracks wasn't much of a home Jason caved and did it (much to Percy's satisfaction) and while the new cabin was still over the top fancy, it at least felt like a proper home now from what Percy could tell.

 

The new Zeus Cabin was this three story circular Greco-Roman style tower made of while marble, and inlaid with gold, and everything had depictions of clouds and lightning and the sky, the windows were made of stained glass depicting all of Zeus's greatest triumphs and victories, and eagle statues were everywhere on the roof like gargoyles.

 

Inside though, it was a bit more welcoming. the bunk beds covered in eagle motifs were placed around the first floor of the space, which looked like a wide open chamber with a high ceiling, depicting the clear and open sky, at the center was a small circular table next to a spiralling staircase leading to the second floor which was a smaller room that Jason used as an office of sorts, and on the third floor was the open air terrace and where Jason moved the giant scowling statue of his father and set it up with a proper altar (that had been Nico's suggestion on how to move the damn thing to secretly fuck with their uncle while stroking his ego at the same time).

 

Percy set the basket on the table by the staircase and took out the large blue crab shaped pot that began crawling around the table.

 

The pot was a gift from Lady Hestia when Percy turned eighteen and had taken up cooking and baking as a hobby as it did wonders for his stress. The crab was enchanted to be sort of alive, indestructible and could turn into a soup pot or cookie jar, while keeping any food warm.

 

Percy named it Glacier. Because the top shell reminded Percy of an ice glacier.

 

"I made the Di Angelo family minestrone." Percy said as I poured out a bowl for Jason and himself (the recipe had been Nico's birthday gift to him for his birthday that year) and then lit the table lamp as he and Jason burned a handful of cookies as an offering.

 

The two ate in comfortable silence for a bit. The only sounds were Jason's slightly poor table manners and proof he hadn't eaten all day, and Percy's attempts to not laugh and tease Jason as he watched the later practically inhale his soup.

 

After Jason cleaned his second bowl of minestrone, and accepted the offered blue chocolate chip cookies, Jason finally set his bowl down and gave Percy an expectant look.

 

"Not that I'm not grateful for the food. Your soup is awesome Perce...but what's going on?" Jason asked as he drank his glass of water.

"You're poker face is shit and I can tell something's on your mind."

 

"Hey! I have a solid poker face thank you." Percy said sticking his tongue out at Jason before settling back in his chair and ran his hand through his hair as he sighed.

"Dad popped by the cabin earlier. Said something about The Mist collapsing."

 

At the sudden news Jason choked on his water prompting Percy to rush over, patting him on the back as Jason coughed.

 

"What the Hades dude! Don't just blurt out stuff like that!" Jason said shocked.

 

"I know dude! Why do you think I told you first." Percy said as he started pacing around Zeus Cabin.

"I plan to call a councilor's meeting before dinner. Maybe after, but I don't have a clue how to break news like this, not to mention my dad implied that we may all be called up to Olympus at any time!"

 

Now that Percy was saying all his thoughts out loud, he was starting to stress out.

 

The Mist has been around some three or five thousand years and suddenly now it was giving out. Just when he was about to graduate college to.

 

The timing of it all was going to give him more grey streaks more than holding the sky would from the stress alone.

 

"You have a point..." Jason said as he started cleaning his glasses.

"Honestly, I don't think there's anyway people won't panic no matter how you tell them."

 

Percy nodded.

"Yeah I kind of figured. But I want to give some better answers or at the very least an explanation. I want to avoid any possible arguments."

 

"How though?" Jason asked confused.

"I mean as far as I know something like this has never happened."

 

"Dad told me Nico was the one who reported it and has been in the meetings with the gods." Percy said incredulously.

 

"That's where he's been?" Jason said even more shocked.

 

Percy nodded as he forced himself to calm down before he accidentally made it rain.

"I've been leaving voice messages on his phone but he hasn't answered. I've been holed up in my cabin all afternoon, you heard if he's back?"

 

Jason nodded as he ran his hand through his hair with a sigh.

"Yeah, Miranda said that one of her siblings on guard duty at the hill saw him pass."

 

Percy nodded as he began putting the bowls back in the basket.

"Okay we'll ask him for a rundown on everything that's going on then call a meeting after.'

 

"Sound good to you?"

 

Jason nodded as he grabbed his cane and got up.

"Yeah. But how are you going to get him to talk? You know how he gets about secrets."

 

Percy smirk and pulled out a bottle of wine, showing it to Jason.

 

One of Nico's worst habits was keeping way too many secrets, it got worse with the fact that getting him to open up was like pulling teeth.

 

Percy thinks it was something left over from growing in the time he did.

Fortunately, Nico had a soft spot for family and got open to being bribed.

 

And nothing worked better than appealing to his inner Italian grandpa.

 

Taking a closer look at the bottle Jason let out a low impressed whistle.

"This is expensive. I remember some of the richer senators opening bottles like this at the forum during festivals, and during harvest season in the gardens of Bacchus, and sometimes Reyna would find a way the get her hands on one for her birthday. How'd you get this?"

 

Percy smiled as he took the bottle back and place it safely in the basket.

 

After the first war, before he got kidnapped by a certain goddess who he had mixed feelings for now. Percy helped out rebuilding camp and endeavored to get to know all the campers better.

 

He regretted not having gotten to know how amazing and awesome Pollux was before then (even more so Percy regretted that he never got to know Castor at all), and one of the major perks of that friendship meant he got access to the cabin twelve wine cellar in their basement.

 

With a mischievous smirk Percy just shrugged.

"The Stolls aren't the only ones who know people."

 

"Okay. Now we're all set let's go bribe our cousin into exposing himself." Percy said cheerfully.

 

Jason facepalmed at the phrase because hearing it out loud like that didn't sound right. Like at all.

 

"Percy. I love you like the older brother I never had. So, I say this out of love... don't ever say that out loud ever again." Jason said as he directed Percy out of his cabin.

 

Percy blinked for a minute before facepalming himself.

"Okay...in my defense that sounded way better in my head."

 

"C'mon kelp head, let's go get Annabeth and the other half of your brain before talking to Nico." Jason said as he closed the doors to his cabin and he and Percy went of figure out what new mess they had to deal with this time.

Notes:

I might edit this in the future...that depends but I'm saying it now.

Notes:
- yes I changed how Zeus Cabin looked. My headcanon was that if Jason lived and stayed more at Camp half-blood Nico or Percy would insist he make his cabin look more homey and livable so his first project was to renovate the older cabins the change to Zeus Cabin was renaissance architecture mixed with Greco-Roman influence and made to look like a castle or tower and highlight Zeus's status

- secondly if I hadn't mentioned it already while Jason may have survived he didn't get out unscathed and so he has a cane now

- also in my first fic at the end it featured a crab shaped pot this is the origin story for that

Chapter 3: Revelations of the underworld

Summary:

Nico has to explain what he found while still trying to keep certain secrets that the gods have kept for centuries.

Notes:

Okay if anyone wonder about Nico's voice...it wasn't easy either. Especially since I headcanon that as Nico remembered more about his past the more he'd talk using old school manners

Chapter 3; Nico

 

Nico enjoyed being back in his cabin.

 

As much as he loved the traveling part of his position. Being either in the underworld with his father, New Rome with Hazel, or his cabin at Camp half-blood with his family and Will gave him a feeling of contentment no other place on earth could ever come close to.

 

He was currently in the basement of his cabin (an addition Nico put when he and Jason did renovations around camp and he decided to rebuild the Hades Cabin) and tending to his mushroom garden while listening to the radio.

 

Fungiculture was a hobby Nico discovered after his second trip to Tartarus.

 

Some time after the last war, Mr. D's sentence had been reduced again by several decades, and in addition he'd also been allowed limited access to wine again which did wonders for everyone.

 

'like a fish that's been put back in the water' Nico thought as he remembered how less dead looking and incorrigible Mr. D was after being allowed wine again.

 

"I've been spending way too much time around Percy." Nico said to himself as he realized he was making fish analogies now too.

 

But suffice to say once Mr. D had come back to his senses due to the wine, he made several of his own improvements to camp.

Namely, he appointed himself as the camp therapist and made a point to give campers especially the new ones therapy.

 

Mr. D had recommended Nico get a hobby to help manage his anxiety, especially after Jason's near death incident.

 

At first Nico had been skeptical. For one thing he wasn't used to therapy like that, since he remembered psychiatrists being very different back in his day.

Secondly, not long after he'd recovered from his second trip into the Abyss, his father had decided the best way to keep him out of trouble was to finally give him the responsibilities that came with his titles.

 

Apparently, the title of Ghost King wasn't just something Minos like to call himself. It was an actual job title.

The Ghost King was a title for someone whose job it was to guide lost souls into the proper afterlife. Meaning, Nico's job was to bring souls that die outside their jurisdiction to the underworld.

With the increase in mortal migration and immigration it meant that mortals often moved around and often settled in places outside of the Greco-Roman jurisdiction, and like all mortal beings they more or less died there and ended up being taken to an afterlife that couldn't process their paperwork leaving them stuck in limbo.

 

That's where the Ghost King came in.

 

The Ghost King was meant to deal with that issue, their job was to bring souls to their proper afterlife so they could be processed and allowed eternal rest.

 

Now, before Nico came along Minos had been the one assigned by Lord Hades to do the job. Was he good at it? Gods no, but he was the most diplomatic of the judges so Nico's father had no other options, but when Nico took the title by force in The Labyrinth...well Nico now had to deal with it.

 

For the most part Nico didn't mind actually. He'd always cared for dead (in his own way) and often hated it when a soul was deprived the right to cross the styx because they weren't given the proper rights and their bodies simply left to rot somewhere like trash.

 

So, when Nico's father had finally explained what he had to do as The Ghost King. Nico was more than happy to be able to help souls find their peace.

 

What he DID hate though, we're the mountains of paperwork that came with the office. Minos was awful at the task in it's entirety and only did the bare minimum.

 

Nico spent his first six month on the job sorting through a thousand years worth of paperwork. Literally. And this was in addition to his ambassador duties in New Rome.

 

So, once the stress had started getting to him. Nico decided to take Mr. D's advice and looked for a hobby.

 

In an ironic twist of fate, Nico found one.

 

It was during the early days of the cocoa puffs being claimed as minor semi-divine legacies of Hades which caused them to transform into what they now called Godkin.

That day, when Nico had been trying to get camp acclimated more to his cocoa puffs, he'd accidentally stumbled upon Katie Gardner's and Pollux's secret special 'herb' plantation.

 

Honestly, Nico thought it was hilarious and the most mundane thing to ever happen at camp. Something about seeing two teenagers secretly growing stuff like the Mary Jane was so ordinary to Nico that he was more than content to leave them to it before any plants died from prolonged exposure to him. But then he had noticed the strangely colorful mushrooms growing amongst the devil's lettuce.

 

When he asked, Katie and Pollux had been more than happy to explain to Nico what magic mushrooms were, and upon discovering the many uses and varieties of mushrooms there were as well as learning that mushrooms and fungi overall didn't die in his presence and actually thrived to a degree....well things easily went down hill from there after that.

 

Now, three years later Nico had a large and thriving mushroom garden as well as a fully stocked pantry and medicine cabinet.

 

Nico had just finished misting the last of his crop of edible mushrooms when he heard a loud knocking coming from upstairs.

 

Nico knew that loud obnoxious knocking a mile away.

 

Heading upstairs, Nico took one look through the peephole and wasn't surprised to find Percy, Jason, and a slightly less exhausted looking Annabeth standing on the steps of Hades cabin.

 

Anxiety shot through Nico in that moment. He knew things were bad, but for Percy and Jason to be actively doing something meant things must have gotten worse.

 

Nico quietly let out a string of curses in Italian, things were moving way too fast for him to keep up with since The Mist started fading.

First, when the gods ordered all their children and descendants to return to the camps, one of the first young demigods to arrive was a kid named Colton who was claimed by cabin nine, in the first week the ten year old boy showed promise in gunsmithing. A skill amongst the Hephaestus kids that hadn't been seen since the first demigod civil war.

Then, in the second week of their veritable lockdown came the reports of the monsters in the sea of monsters becoming more active.

Now, something must have happened for Percy, Jason, and Annabeth to get involved.

 

Nico felt like his hair was going to go grey from the stress.

 

Over the last three years Nico had gotten very protective of his cousins. After the last war, he, Percy, and Jason finally worked through their issues and bonded as family.

 

There was a reason why he and Hazel didn't tell Percy when the gods started claiming their younger monsters children turning them into godkin and sent them to Camp Jupiter, there was a reason why he didn't tell Jason about his quest to rescue Bob from Tartarus until after he got back and landed in the infirmary.

Jason had enough on his plate fulfilling his duties and promises as Pontifex Maximus and honoring all the gods, and Percy and Annabeth deserved even a modicum of peace after being leaders for so long.

And then, there was the fact that all underworld demigods had been sworn on the Styx to secrecy to avoid mass panic.

 

Nico sighed as he ran his hand through his hair. At least he was the only one in his cabin at present, Will was busy in the infirmary and the cocoa puffs had grown and matured enough that they were allowed their own little cabin of sorts in Rachel's old Oracle cave since she didn't use it as much anymore.

 

'I think she said something about the vibes changing' Nico thought as he tried to remember what exactly Rachel said before he shook himself back into the present.

 

With a deep breath, Nico tried to look as unbothered as possible before opening the door.

 

"Hey guys. Is everything alright?" Nico asked with a raised eyebrow.

 

In response Percy beamed and pulled out the bottle of wine from the basket.

"We need to talk dude." Percy said cheerfully.

"Dad came by the cabin and said a lot of stuff."

 

Hearing that Nico sighed in relief before wincing.

 

The condition for their silence was that no one talked unless the gods talked first.

 

"Okay. Let's talk...but first give me sec." Nico said as he closed the door leaving Percy, Jason, and Annabeth on the front steps and quickly shadow travelled to pick up the other underworld demigods.

 

Nico came out from the shadows behind the Hecate Cabin and hurriedly knocked on the their back door.

"Lou Ellen!"

 

In seconds a rather disheveled looking Lou Ellen Blackstone opened the door with glowing green eyes wide in surprise.

 

But before she could ask what was happening Nico spoke.

"Underworld meeting. My cabin. Now....it looks like you'll finally get a dry run on the presentation you made."

 

"Oh boy...who're we explaining to?" Lou Ellen asked with a wince.

 

"Percy, Jason, and Annabeth." Nico said.

 

Lou Ellen nodded and shrugged.

"Could be worse...at least it's not all of Camp...yet."

 

Nico cringed at that.

"Please don't jinx us. Please."

 

With that Nico stepped back into the shadows and moved to cabin sixteen. The Nemesis Cabin and quickly knocked on their front door.

"Hey White! I'm calling a meeting. Help me wake up Clovis!"

 

Soon enough, Damien White the councilor for Nemesis Cabin came out nodded to Nico and wordlessly went over the Hypnos Cabin and woke up Clovis, while Nico went to Hermes Cabin and grabbed Cecil Markowitz the only Hermes kid who inherited his father's psychopomp domain and was as a result an honorary underworld kid.

 

Once every was standing outside Hades Cabin Nico stood I fort of them all and opened the doors and invited them all inside.

"I welcome you all inside Hades Cabin."

 

As everyone stepped inside the Hades Cabin Nico couldn't help the feeling of pride he felt in his chest as watched everyone look around in awe since he rarely let people into his cabin.

 

When Nico remodeled the cabin he took inspiration from the gothic cathedrals from his childhood, especially Clermont-Ferrand Cathedral which had been his favorite when he saw it as a young boy, while still making the place look like an underground mausoleum.

The new Hades Cabin was still made completely of black lava rock and obsidian, but it now had a rock garden around it filled with polished bone white stones, and actual pieces of bone mixed in, at the back of the cabin was a small flower box of asphodels (the only plant that didn't die at Nico's touch) as well as four pomegranate trees growing along the four corners of the cabin, while on the inside, Nico replaced the flooring with pale grey wooden floorboards the same shade as tombstones, and he had added windows with blackout curtains (he still wasn't a morning person), the windows used stained glass cut into geometric shapes so that everytime light shined through it made inside of the cabin look like an underground gem mine, Nico also replaced the coffin beds with canopy bed that had thick curtains and each bed was placed into their own wall niche.

 

Over all Nico tried not only to better make the cabin show all of his father's domains more, but also highlight the nicer parts of the underworld.

 

Once everyone was inside Nico closed the door, and cleared his throat before showing everyone to the long table he set up on one side of the cabin.

 

"Okay everyone have a seat there's stuff we need to talk about..." Nico said with a sigh as he went to to his pantry to grab a jar of his pickled mushrooms.

"Percy open that bottle would you. I definitely need a drink if we're going to be talking about what I think we'll be talking about."

 

Another change that Mr. D had made at camp once his wine restrictions were gone was that he started allowing the older campers to drink within sane and responsible limits, like making the minimum age being sixteen.

Mr. D reasoned that if the Romans could play by European rules then so could the Greeks.

 

Nico remembers how Chiron looked like he would have a heart attack and planned for the worst since he was used to teenage demigods doing stupid or crazy stunts that landed them in the infirmary.

Fortunately, and oddly enough nothing happened. Apparently, demigods preferred doing stupid stunts like climbing the lava wall blindfolded sober.

 

Once Percy had poured everyone a glass (with Nico had the most in his) and the bowl full of pickled mushrooms was in the in the middle of the table Nico sat at the head of the table, drank half his glass, put it down and sighed as he ran his hand through his hair.

"Okay first let me explain everything that's happened so far for context, then Lou Ellen will proceed to give a presentation. Please refrain from questions until after all the explanations. Capisce?"

 

Percy, Jason, and Annabeth nodded. They've been around Nico long enough to somewhat understand some of his Italian and knew he only spoke formally if he was either tense as hell or pleading, or both.

 

"Okay. It first started around late last year, just after Halloween. We all know on that night the The Mist thins naturally as the borders to the afterlife get blurry for that night. But it was the day after that something weird happened." Nico began explaining in the most collected and professional tone he could manage while internally stressed out, but he knew that panicking wasn't going to help protect his home or his family so, he chose to have a calm facade.

"Will and I were on a date and...we ran into a small monster nest out in Harlem. Relax! We took care of it, no problem, it was just some Telkhines making illegal celestial bronze weapons. But it was afterwards that something weird happened.'

 

"I sort of threw one of them out a window and they landed in the streets...the monster was visible to the mortals."

 

Nico quickly raised his hand to stop Annabeth and Percy from interrupting. He gave them a minute to settle down before continuing.

 

"At the time I thought nothing of it. It was the day after Samhain, I just thought it was nothing, especially afterwards The Mist started covering everything like normal and I just had to tell people who recorded it that it was for a movie.'

 

"But then a week later, something else happened." Nico said as he gestured to Cecil Markowitz.

"As you all know Cecil has been applying for his psychopomp licence. Lord Thanatos is usually the one to oversee the soul guiding exams, but that day he was busy so they dumped the job on me."

 

Nico took a moment to catch his breath and drank more of his wine and munch on a few mushrooms before he spoke again.

 

"Everything went fine. No monsters, no weird bullshit, and all the souls Cecil took to the underworld loved him. Five star reviews all the way." Nico said looking to Cecil who was beaming.

"It wasn't until we met up with Lord Thanatos at the end that the weird shit happened. The three of us were in central park and people saw him. Mortals saw Lord Thanatos even though he was using The Mist to conceal himself."

 

That caused Nico's cousins and Annabeth to go bug-eyed from shock.

 

"But the real problem happened two days after that incident...." Nico took a moment to collect himself as he remembered the worst incident he's ever had in the mortal world.

 

"Every once in a while Camp Jupiter sends a squad or a battalion or even one full cohort to check on the remains of Mt. Orthys to check on it, since monsters are attracted to the damn place.'

 

"During the yearly check in, camp Jupiter sent the fourth cohort and the new sixth cohort comprised of godkin. While there they came across Echidna who was breeding new monsters..." Nico paused his explanation to allow a Percy a moment.

 

"Hazel and I were there for obvious reasons, and it was because we were, that both cohorts survived...the older generation of monsters weren't too keen on the existence of godkin...anyway, we escaped but something happened while we were in San Francisco...the mortals saw everything...from the monsters to our weapons, and the undead I summoned, all of it was out in the open and it caused a massive panic. A few mortals even tried to attack us-" Nico explained but stopped when Percy and Jason suddenly shot up looking pissed.

 

"What!"

 

"Calm down you two. No one got hurt by the mortals...in fact the only reason why it didn't make the news was because Hazel had to actively use to The Mist to make everyone forget...but we later found out during my investigation that the CCTV cameras on the streets recorded everything in full clarity."

 

A full minute of silence fell over the cabin as Nico let Percy, Jason, and Annabeth digest what he just told them.

 

"Hours after the incident I had no choice but to report it to dad who held a full underworld Court meeting where Lou Ellen's mom explained that since Samhain The Mist had been weakening more than usual...emphasis on the last part. I asked why and Lady Hecate said that she couldn't know the full picture because part of the problem was in the mortal world. All she said was it was a side effect of all the near apocalyptic events we had and more." Nico said tiredly finishing his explanation.

"That's why for past two and a half months the other underworld demigods and myself have been investigating the problem."

 

Without missing a beat or giving any of his cousins a chance to freak out Nico gestured to Lou Ellen Blackstone, signaling for her to get started.

 

"Okay!" Lou Ellen said clapping her hands with this manic cheer while having intense dark circles under her eyes.

"My cabin and I have been doing the magical equivalent of forensic science for the last two and a half months now and I've been working on this presentation for four days straight. I haven't slept. like at all. So, let me get through this before anyone interrupts...I also half a dozen pig balls on me so don't test me!"

 

In response Percy and Jason gulped and nodded while Annabeth smirked in amusement, but nodded wordlessly in respect.

 

"Okay. Alright. Let's start." Lou Ellen said as she began conjuring vibrant green smoke from her hands and shaped it into a curtain.

"If some of you don't know. Then let me explain. The Mist is the physical manifestation of the fabric of reality. It's purpose is to maintain and protect the said fabric of reality which are the borders between not just our worlds but the borders to other pantheons and the afterlife, it doesn't just hide us from mortals. You guys following?"

 

"The Mist is the natural security system for the fabric of reality." Annabeth stated plainly, not asked.

 

Lou Ellen gestured in 'not quite' manner.

"The Mist is more like the cosmic equivalent to the human body's immune system. The reason why mom is even in charge of maintaining it is because The Mist can just as easily get out of hand and overdo it's purpose.'

 

"Another thing is that The Mist isn't supposed to subverted or undermine humanity's freewill-"

 

"Freewill is a real thing?" Percy asked interrupting Lou Ellen.

 

Both Nico and Lou Ellen glared at Percy for that. And he sat back down looking embarrassed.

 

"Yes freewill is real. Don't ask how or why. You're better off asking your dad more about metaphysical stuff." Lou Ellen said as she returned to her presentation.

"Anyway. When Nico brought up the issue. Mom explained that The Mist has two sides. Like the Doors of Death. One part on our side, the other in the mortal world. When mom explained everything she said that The Mist had been weakening for a while now, around the eighties or nineties I think, but she didn't know why because the part of The Mist on our side was still working sort of fine and assumed there was something happening on the mortal side. Hence our investigation.'

 

"She was right. When me and my siblings began looking into the problem while mom focused on keeping everything from falling apart. We made several discoveries."

 

For a moment Lou Ellen didn't say anything.

 

Nico knew she was gathering her thoughts. After all, they were all somewhat shocked when discovered the truth.

 

"The Mist plays off of humanity's natural inclinations towards logic, reason and rationality. It directed mortals to focus more on the physical science around them then letting them 'peak behind the curtain' so to speak.'

 

"But with the advancements in human surveillance technology...things changed. The Mist was pushed to covering up the glimpses of our world caught on camera. It couldn't erase the evidence because that required turning back time which was obviously not possible. The Mist covered up the evidence by blurring photos and videos and turning heads away until the mortals forgot the evidence existed....that was until the internet came and things like conspiracy theories became trends..."

 

Nico observed his cousin's and Annabeth's reactions. Percy and Annabeth grew up in the mortal world long enough that they were familiar with what Lou Ellen was talking about based on their reactions.

 

Jason, though. Not so much.

 

"What are you saying exactly Lou Ellen?" Annabeth asked looking disturbed.

 

"What I'm saying is that over the years the mortal world has been ignoring and fighting against The Mist's attempts to redirect their attention. This caused them to slowly see through or cut through The Mist. And then when those same people started actively 'hunting for the truth', people like ghost hunters, conspiracy bloggers, and the like actively digging and going into places their not supposed to, they sometimes accidentally crossover into our world. Worse still, is when they document what they find and share it on the internet causing more people to see and look."

 

And just to further her point Nico watched as Lou Ellen made a sort of puppet show, with stick figures made of mist cutting through the curtain until a hole was made.

 

"Wait... aren't conspiracy theorists niche?" Annabeth argued nervously hoping to be right.

 

That was when Nico heard the stifled yawn and watched as Clovis woke up.

 

"That I can explain." Clovis said speaking slowly and sleepily.

"Remember my brother Sebastian? My cabin's lieutenant?"

 

Percy, Jason and Annabeth nodded, likely remembering the April fool's prank incident gone wrong and the revenge Hypnos Cabin did on the Hermes Cabin.

 

"How can we forget?" Cecil interjected with a shudder.

"You guys made us re-experience the battle of Manhattan on repeat the entire night!"

 

In response Clovis just smirked and shrugged (even as his cousin Damien elbowed him in the side).

"Don't make my younger siblings cry and we won't have issues. Easy."

 

Everyone at the table shuddered at that. Everyone except for Nico.

 

He'd always been aware that while the Hypnos kids were very chill and patient. They could be ruthless and slightly sadistic when pissed.

 

"Anyway. Sebastian is actually a really good hacker....he helped the investigation by checking the dark web and found lots and lots of chat rooms for crazy conspiracy theorists. And I do mean crazy. There are way more people into the conspiracy theory world than you think."

 

"That's said!" Lou Ellen said bringing everyone's attention back to her presentation.

"Annabeth is partly right. Even with that many mortals digging into to our world unknowingly, it should have taken at least a hundred years at the very least for The Mist to even start weakening...that was until the wars."

 

Percy slammed his fist on the table and rubbed his face at that as Jason bumped shoulder with Percy in a show of support, while Annabeth rubbed his arm.

 

No one blamed him for the reaction.

 

It was a hard thing to accept that the wars, after all that time still had some impact on their lives.

 

"Yeah...that was Nico's reaction to when he first found out." Lou Ellen said sadly.

"During the battle of Manhattan and Typhon's rampage across the country creating that hurricane the mortals saw. It was a major incident of our world leaking into the mortal world. Then during the Giants Wars when Gaea revived Clytius my mother's bane and Thoon the bane of the Fates. Even though they mostly stayed in the underworld their very presence was enough to not just corrupt The Mist but also weaken the fabric of reality.'

 

"And when the emperor's along with Python came, it aggravated the already weakened state of The Mist and by time Apollo got rid of Python and The Fates took back control of fate it was too late. Everything was already in a set direction. A downard spiral."

 

"It also doesn't helps that our closest neighbors the Egyptians are also a part of of the problem." Nico added.

 

"Explain." Annabeth demanded tensely.

 

"You and Percy know they had their own near apocalyptic thing to right?" Nico asked and Percy and Annabeth nodded in stunned silence while Jason just shook his head because he himself didn't and was only vaguely aware of other pantheons, and only because of Percy.

 

"Well as you know Carter and Saddie beat their own crazy god...but, as it turned out that the stability of their magic and pantheon required the balance of both order and chaos...they disincarnated their most powerful chaos god who ruled their chaos realm and didn't replace him causing an imbalance of power in their pantheon. And because they were so close to us the unstable power radiating from their side leaked to ours causing further damage." Nico explained tiredly as he refilled his glass with more wine.

 

Lou Ellen ended her presentation showing The Mist falling like a curtain, exposing their world due to all the bullshit that had been happening for the past several years.

 

"Is there any way to fix this?" Percy asked after a minute of full silence with this intense look on his face.

 

'of course that's Percy's first question' Nico thought as he winced from Percy's wolf stare.

 

Lou Ellen just shook her head, avoiding eye contact with Percy.

 

"If there was even a chance. I think Rachel would have had a prophecy by now...that said...Nicoyouexplain." Lou Ellen said hurriedly throwing Nico under the bus.

 

In response Nico shot her a 'you're lucky we're friends' look, as he reached into his new leather jacket and pulled out a crystal ball.

 

"Memory crystal. Hecate Cabin made them to help Oracles document their prophecies. Since even our digital recorders still pick up a lot of static." Nico explained as he set the crystal ball on the table.

"I used this to record the last council meeting earlier today."

 

Without further explanation, Nico tapped the ball and it instantly projecting a video similar to an Iris Message.

 

The recording showed Nico in front of not just the full Olympian council but also all the gods in their pantheon. There hundreds of eyes on him, watching him as he explained more of his findings from his investigation.

 

But that wasn't what caught the other's attention though.

 

"Is that how our parents usually look when we're not around?" Percy asked completely shocked by his father's inhuman appearance.

 

This was something Nico expected though.

 

"There are some things I literally can't explain. Only our parents can, the reason why I know more about certain things is because I live in the underworld most of the time and have unlimited access to the palace library and read about them and asked dad, afterwards I was sworn on the Styx to not talk about it." Nico explained his reasoning.

"Now just pay attention please."

 

Percy, Jason, and Annabeth watched for a full half hour as the memory version of Nico explain everything he just explained to them.

And by the end, the entire throne room of Olympus was dead silent that even Nico found it disconcerting.

 

"What solutions do you propose? Hecate?" Zeus demanded in his usual echoing but apathetic tone, but when Nico had been there in the throne room in person he remembered seeing a flash of fear in his least favorite uncle's lightning filled eyes.

 

That was when Lady Hecate stood up, her ever shifting misty multi-faced form rippling as she moved to stand before the council.

 

"As things stand there is nothing to be done." Lady Hecate said in a voice that sounded like a crowd speaking all at once in hissing whispered tones.

"However, there is one method that may work...this method however is not a guarantee and will cost a heavy price."

 

"Out with it then!" Zeus growled in a voice of pure thunder.

 

"The only type of magic left that I have not and will not attempt is sacrificial magic. A ritual sacrifice that will require me to not only give up all my remaining children but it will call for the deaths of all the most powerful demigods and the most clear-sighted mortals." Lady Hecate confessed.

"And I say now. I will not be part of it. I refuse to give up any of my children!"

 

For a moment there was a tense and deathly silence in the throne room. That was until it was broken by the sound of Poseidon slamming the base of his trident on the floor and pointing at his brother.

 

"Don't you even dare think about laying a hand on my son or his mother!"

 

From there all hell broke loose and everyone was yelling and either threatening war or worse.

 

"For once, Poseidon and I agree brother." Lord Hades said as he summoned his new weapon, a lancea pugnatoria which was made by having the sword Persephone illegally commissioned reforged.

 

"I already almost lost Jason once! He is your son and my champion you gave him to me and I will not let you take him!" Hera threatened to everyone's complete shock.

 

"The last time someone called for the death of any of my children I slaughtered the elder cyclopses. I swear on my life if anyone harms my children I will remind everyone that I' am also the god of plagues!" Apollo called out as he got blindingly bright and scorchingly hot.

 

"Enough!" Zeus yelled causing lightning to flash and the throne room to shake.

 

All the gods settled down to some degree and returned to their seats.

 

"This is not an option so much as it is a gamble." Zeus said plainly like it was an obvious fact.

"However, this gamble calls for more risk than we can afford and without a guarantee of it working. We would have to go about the mortal world and cause more damage just to gather possible sacrifices, and I do not see any reason to risk my daughter's life on such a pointless task."

 

Everyone calmed down at what was basically Zeus's way of rejecting and idea.

Though everyone saw how Hera not so subtly scoffed and rolled her eyes.

 

"As I see further discussion on solutions will not lead anywhere. I call for a short recess so everyone may rethink their declarations of war." Zeus said as he rose from his throne.

"Dismissed."

 

And that was where the recording ended and Nico took the crystal ball and stood up, from his chair and went over to his bed.

 

"Listen, this is just what I think. But we can't fight this..." Nico said tiredly as he put the crystal ball away in a drawer built into the wall.

"Trying to stop this or fix The Mist is only going to make things worse or get people hurt. Let's focus on preparing. On keeping everyone safe. Lady Hecate said that she could slow down The Mist's collapse and buy ourselves time...one to three months at most by then things will change and I don't mean Olympus and camp will be exposed."

 

"Your talking about the monsters?" Annabeth asked her voice neutral but tight.

 

Nico looked at her and he saw she this look on her face that meant she was running through scenarios and possibilities in her head.

 

"Yeah. It will be like back in the old days when monsters ate everyone. Not just demigods." Nico said keeping certain information to himself for the time being.

 

There was a heavy silence at the table hearing Nico's words.

 

Percy grumbled and wiped his hand across his face.

 

Jason cleaned his glasses.

 

Lou Ellen rubbed her temples.

 

Damien sighed and cracked his neck.

 

And Clovis cracked open an eye as he observed everyone around him for a moment.

 

"There's more to that isn't there?" Annabeth said preceptive as ever.

 

"Obviously owl face." Nico said teasingly with a sad smirk.

"But like I said earlier you have to ask your mom. The gods have been keeping certain things under wraps for centuries for safety reasons. Let's take a breather and just...I don't know...let ourselves process what we heard? We can't think of solutions if we're all still shaken up by that."

 

Nico went over to his medicine cabinet and grabbed a tall glass bottle before looking back at his guests.

"I'm going to go check on Will. Everyone get out of my cabin."

 

Everyone slowly left the Hades Cabin and Nico bumped shoulders with Jason and Percy as he closed the door on his way out.

 

"Whatever happens don't forget I'm with you both, no matter what." Nico said smiling for the first time that day.

"Also Percy where the hell did you get that wine?"

 

Percy shrugged as he smirked and took Annabeth's hand in his.

"Pollux let's me into the cabin twelve cellers."

 

The mock upfronted look Nico gave Percy had him laughing.

 

"I can't believe he let you in there, he never let's anyone in. Also, dude I know that brand...it costs fourteen hundred Euro." Nico said smiling like a lunatic as a wisp of darkness rose from his body for a moment.

"I vaguely remember my grandfather drinking that during Christmas. I do remember the taste though...still good."

 

At the shocked goldfish look on Percy's face, Nico couldn't help laugh harder.

"Seriously. Perce you need to read up on wine vintages."

 

Percy shook his head as he started laughing.

"You got to admit though. Pollux has taste, and yeah that was a good wine."

 

"Maybe we should talk to Chiron? Someone should really tell him if no one has yet." Annabeth said pulling Nico, Percy, and Jason back to the subject.

 

Percy nodded.

"Yeah. You have a point."

 

Percy ruffled Nico's hair as he smirked.

 

"We'll call once get the councilor's meeting set up. Now go, go check on my future brother-in-law, and while your at it put a ring on it alread." Percy teased his younger cousin.

 

Nico batted the hand away but was smiling anyway.

"Yeah, yeah...and you should set a date for your wedding."

 

Percy laughs as Nico separated from the group and headed for the infirmary.

 

'i wonder how bad things will get' Nico thought as he felt the sudden but familiar cold chill go down his spine.

 

Death was coming, that much Nico was sure of. He and Lord Thanatos were going to be busy once things start changing.

 

And he was not looking forward to how messy things were going to be.

Notes:

Okay notes:
- I only ever skimmed through trials of Apollo because it made me sad...but I remember in the last book where Apollo was back on Olympus and in front of the council and Hera was furious Zeus didn't save Jason and that she mourned him so I went with that thought and ran with it down a rabbit hole.

- I also remember in the ending of the Kane Chronicles that as Apophis was 'dying' he said something about how if he goes the other gods would disappear.... correct me if I'm wrong though that was ages ago

-i also headcanon that Lou Ellen, Clovis and Nico are a friend group because underworld kids need respect too

Chapter 4: Conversations

Summary:

The gods reveal truths to their children and this marks the turning point.

Notes:

Okay this chapter had to be really edited heavier plot wise...so if anyone finds grammar mistakes please don't be surprised and I will correct it as soon as I can

- warning: this chapter contains themes some might find difficult to read through...so be warned.

Chapter 4; Nico

 

Walking into the infirmary always made Nico feel this bone deep relief.

 

Back then, when he was younger, he never understood why, and eventually when he and Will began dating Nico chalked it up to the place being so linked to Will that he felt safe there.

 

It wasn't until Nico learned what a demigod really was and spent more time guiding souls that he finally understood.

 

He was sensing the all the death within the infirmary. The imprints left behind by every patient that had ever died there, imprints that contained their strongest memories and emotions. and Nico was being drawn to it all because these were reminders that those patients, those demigods had at one point lived , that they existed and left a mark, not just their final moments but their whole lives. Lives that shouldn't be forgotten no matter how much time had passed.

 

"the dead only ever truly die when they fade from memory"

 

That had been something Lord Thanatos had once told Nico, and it became a code he lived by since fully becoming the Ghost King.

So, Nico did what he usually did. He willed the death imprints to him, gathering them up as they were made of death and darkness, and once gathered in the palm of his hand, Nico formed it all into a large shiny looking ball, which he then dropped into his own shadow, with the intent to send the it to the Cocoa Puff's cabin for them to feed on and preserve the memories.

 

Once the atmosphere in the infirmary was now it's usual 'cleaned up after the carnage and freshened up' vibes that Nico associated with all health related places he looked around, noted that it was one of the rare quiet days and so Nico decided to make himself scarce before he could jinx it and went straight to the back office where, as usual he found his walking ray of sunshine boyfriend Will Solace sleeping at his desk.

 

"Buongiorno Amore mio." Nico said quietly as he approached and perched on the desk, and then started running his finger through Will's hair.

 

In response Will's hair began to glow with a soft, warm light as he woke up.

 

"Tesoro." Nico said smiling like a complete sap.

 

"Your such a sappy romantic." Will said as he sat up and took Nico's hand in his and kissed his cold palms.

"You smell like wine."

 

Nico smirked and shrugged.

"I was raised as a gentleman and I'm an Italian from the thirties to the forties, wine and romance are par the course"

 

Will simply raised an eyebrow not buying Nico's attempt at deflection.

 

"True, but you don't usually drink at two in the afternoon." Will said plainly.

"And while I love the romance there's something bothering you."

 

Nico simply chuckled. One of the things loved the most about Will was his uncanny ability to read him like a book without crossing certain lines.

 

"There is...and before you ask if it has anything to do with what me and the other underworld cabins have been doing. It does. I still can't tell you though...Percy will call a councilor's meeting in a few minutes." Nico explained.

 

"Okay how does he know before I do?" Will said pouting adorably.

 

"That's because his dad dropped by and told him." Nico said plainly with an expectant look.

 

That had Will blue-screening for a full minute.

"But-I thought-Mr. D-my dad?"

 

Nico shook his head.

"Still in a meeting...Percy's Dad slipped out when Zeus called a recess."

 

That had Will groaning tiredly.

 

"Like I told you before amore mio, I'm sworn to secrecy. Unless the gods mention it first I can't say...honestly I'm surprised you didn't just pray to your dad and ask him." Nico commented curiously.

 

"That's because I asked him not to ask." A sudden voice spoke.

 

Nico and will immediately stood up and saw a young man standing by the door. He looked to be either nineteen or twenty-five, with slight facial hair, eyes the color of clear skies with streaks of bright gold, slightly long curling bright blonde hair that was glowing with pure sunlight. He was dressed in jeans, Greek styles sandals, a loose button shirt covered in flower patterns, and a wool coat.

 

Over all the whole outfit reminded Nico of the poets and other artists he used to see wandering the halls of the Lotus Hotel and Casino.

 

"Dad!" Will said as he got up and ran to his father to give him a hug.

 

Meanwhile, Nico stood back smiling as he gave Apollo a polite deep bow.

 

As nonchalant as everyone treats Apollo's Lester form, no one treated any of his others forms like that, especially the form he had right now, which was what the cabin seven kids called his 'dad form'.

It was a mental dissociation the campers did when Apollo came by in either form.

 

It was also a good measure to tell how bad any given situation was when something was happening outside of camp.

 

"When the calls went out three weeks ago and I was guiding all my other children to camp Will prayed and I had to ask him not to ask because it wasn't the right time for the truth to come out." Apollo said as he looked to Nico with a kind smile, then look back to his son

"Now my darling solar flare is the time.'

 

"I know Percy was planning on calling a counselor's meeting, but I was already at the big house talking to Chiron when he showed up, and now that my sister and her hunters have arrived at camp, plans have changed.'

 

"I'm calling for a meeting with all the leaders of camp and the adults. Now."

 

Will pulled back and looked at his dad in shock.

"Everyone?"

 

Apollo nodded.

"Yes. Everyone...I'm still in the Big House but I'll keep an eye on the infirmary and the little ones around camp for the time being. Now go, both of you head to the Big House, I already sent Austin and Kayla ahead."

 

Nico and Will went straight to the Big House and saw that the rec-room was full of people. The councilors and lieutenants and even the rare adults that managed to beat the odds all sat on the benches that had to be brought out, while Will's dad stood in front of the crowd with Chiron at his side.

 

But it wasn't just his presence that had Nico internally stressing.

It was that Mr. D was there as well, and so was Lady Artemis, and Lady Athena, and Lady Hestia.

 

But more than anything else, Nico was stressing because of that fact that none of the gods in the room were in their less godly and more comprehensible forms.

 

Apollo. No Lord Apollo. Because nothing less than that would have been disrespectful.

The Apollo standing in front of him wasn't the laid back college age surfer guy he usually showed himself as. No, this Apollo was the sun god, the patron of music and poetry, lord of healing and plague, and the father of everyone in cabin seven.

 

Nico hadn't paid much attention to how the other gods had appeared during the council meetings he'd been part of. Since not paying attention to Zeus when he speaks was a good way to get the bolt. But now that the potential for smiting was out, he paid closer attention to the gods before them.

 

Aside from the getup, Lord Apollo's body looked almost entirely made of golden sunlight (emphasis on almost), because as Nico stared he saw that the god's sandal clad feet and the tips of his hair were stained black like they were scorched, and that the blackened spots emitted faint wisps of smoke the reeked heavily of rot and disease, that was only tempered by the smell of sage, his eyes were this iridescent smokey green like that of his oracles, and when he looked to them and smiled his teeth were blindingly bright.

 

"Good your here, come in and sit, we're about to begin." Lord Apollo said gesturing for Nico and Will to come inside.

 

Nico took note of how the god's voice sounded like pure music being played on strings, with inflections of rhyme.

 

As Nico and Will sat next to Percy and Annabeth he noticed how everyone was staring, and that there was a giant widescreen Iris Message by the wall showing the Senate of New Rome and Camp Jupiter, and that Lord Hermes. Lord Mercury as well as Lady Arcus (Lady Iris's Roman form) standing in front of everyone and we're in their godly forms as well.

 

'this is either going to go really well or end in flames' Nico thought.

 

"Tesoro...remember how I've been making changes over the last three years and I told you it was just my powers growing and I tried easing you into the idea?" Nico whispered to Will who simply nodded as he stared at his father's godly form.

"Well...I was hoping to ease you into some truths I found out over the years but it looks like our parents have other ideas...just don't freak out okay amore."

 

"Alright! Now that we have all convened, let us begin this meeting by explaining the purpose of this gathering." Lord Apollo said his voice echoing pleasantly through the room.

"There is no easy way to say this and I ask everyone to remain in their current state. But The Mist is failing."

 

Nico expected the sudden tense silence that had fallen over both the Big House and the Roman forum.

 

As well as the all hell breaking loose about a minute later.

Everyone was yelling, demanding answers, panicking, or asking if this was another great prophecy and why was there no prophecy at all.

 

Nico was about to intervene and get everyone to settle down but Lady Athena stopped him and then summoned her spear and slammed the base on the floor loudly causing sparks to fly.

 

"Enough!" Lady Athena called out causing everyone both Greek and Roman to go silent.

"As shocking as this proclamation is you are our blood, our sons and daughters and legacies, you are warriors, survivors, you are DEMIGODS. Do not let your fears overrule your judgement for it dishonors your abilities and betrays your intelligence!"

 

Nico blinked. Lady Athena wasn't usually one to mince her words and was often painfully blunt. But there was no doubt that she often made sense.

 

Nico took that moment to observe her (again he was mostly focused on Zeus every other time he was called in).

 

Lady Athena's form flickered between her human disguise and her godly appearance. Her human face was this stern but sincere looking olive skinned woman, with long wiry woody brown hair that turned gold at the tips tied in once single braid, while her less human face was like a living statue, her skin became white marble with gold inlays, hard, radiant, and unyielding. The only constants in either forms were her wide glowing golden eyes, and the markings on her skin that when Nico squinted at turned out to be mathematical equations and scientific formulas.

 

Lady Athena gave everyone in the room as well as through the Iris Message that showed the Roman forum this expectant look that dared anyone to try and challenge what she said as wrong.

 

No one did. And everyone settled down again.

 

"Good." Lady Athena said continuing to eye everyone present.

"As Apollo said The Mist is failing and there is nothing to be done without causing further damage not only to The Mist but to our world as well as the human world.'

 

"We have not gathered you all here to issue a quest or give prophecy. Instead, we have come to give revelations. Revelations we have had to keep from our offspring for the safety of everyone and everything for over several millennia."

 

Nico felt his own heart beat faster with anxiety.

'They're really doing this' He thought.

 

It was one thing to know the truth about how the universe works, it was an entirely different matter to just casually announce it like this.

 

That said, time was a luxury they didn't have.

 

Without further explanation Lady Athena conjured a giant marble tablet about as tall as her spear, and on it carved in glowing ancient Greek script were rules.

 

"This is the tablet that contains all the Ancient Laws in their entirety." Lady Athena said, her tone strict and to the point.

 

"Seeing as how The Mist is falling, I persuaded the council that educating you all on the truth of the matter was of the utmost importance." Lord Apollo explained.

"The Mist separates the world of the gods and mortal men by concealment. But The Mist did not just hide us from human eyes, it kept the monsters at bay by making them forget the taste of human flesh and blinds them to those without ichor in their veins."

 

"Wait! The reason monsters don't attack mortals anymore is because they forgot mortals were edible?" Annabeth asked shocked.

 

Nico had honestly expected her to interrupt way earlier.

 

"Yes my dear daughter. The Mist made it so monsters forgot humans could be eaten, but rather it's not that they cannot perceive them, but instead they do not recognize what they are as The Mist obscures their senses to anything not divine." Lady Athena corrected.

 

Nico watched as Annabeth sank deep in thought as she processed the information.

 

"However, what we must discuss first is the reason The Mist separated the two worlds in the first place." Lady Athena continued as she pointed to the marble tablet.

"The universe and existence itself require balance and continuous change to remain stable and progress. The foundation of this are the forces of creation and destruction, life and death, chaos and order, and at the center is change. For without change the universe stagnates and falls into decay as its own energies fester in stillness.'

 

"In the early days of the world when we interacted more freely with the humans we did not have that understanding yet...it wasn't until we realized that the power of our world was slowly consuming the human world that we knew we had to withdraw from their world before we caused our own destruction.'

 

"We allowed Hecate to loosen her hold on The Mist to allow it to naturally separate our worlds, which it did. The humans could no longer see Olympus or the gods unless we showed ourselves first, the senses of the monsters became obscured so they no longer hunted them, and The Mist also concealed the true forms of our children."

 

For a full minute after Lady Athena said those words, no one said anything.

 

"Uhh...excuse me?" Percy asked breaking the silence.

 

"You heard right Johanson." Mr. D- Lord Dionysus drawled out as he drank his wine, his form flickering between an effeminate young man with horns with deep purple hair wreathed in grape vines that emitted reddish purple smoke, and back to his usual Mr. D form but with this smokey aura that made Nico's head spin, and strange voice ring in his mind just looking at him.

"Take it from me, who, may I remind you kiddies that I used to be one of you myself, that demigods never have and never will be human."

 

Nico decided now was a good time to step in.

 

"With your permission my Lords and Ladies. May I take over for a bit?" Nico requested, giving the gods the most gentlemanly bow he could as he came to his senses.

 

The gods nodded their consent and Nico turned to face the audience, with a deep breath he began to explain.

"Listen everyone. For as long as we can remember we've only ever really relied on the old stories left to us by the ancient Greeks and Romans...let's not forget, more than half of those stories have a deep, deep bias..."

 

Nico then made eye contact with Drew Tanaka, Piper, and their brother Mitchell who was now head councilor for cabin ten.

 

"A classic example would be everything the ancients wrote about my father..." Nico said with only slight bitterness.

"Or how about how Ionian writers wrote about Lady Aphrodite?"

 

Nico tried to remain composed and not smirk as the mere mention of the Ionians had all Aphrodite kids seething.

 

Just as he had expected.

 

"Case in point. We forgot that our parents while depicted with human like personalities by humans. They are in fact not human...'

 

"The gods are beings of function they are the reflections of their domains as much as their will command those domains. None of the other offspring of the gods are human. My cousin Tyson is a godkin cyclopses, the harpies are children of Thauma and Electra and their Lady Iris's sisters, hell my Cocoa Puffs were born from the Primordial Nyx are cacodemons... literally nothing born from the gods are human...just because our parents get it on with humans doesn't mean a kid born from that will be human either. The definition of a demigod is literally half mortal and half god, not half human and half god."

 

Nico sighed in relief as his speech got everyone to settled down, or at the very least he was glad no one was starting a riot over it, but he could still see there were people not happy about that bit of information.

 

"Okay...but why have we ever been told this before?" Travis Stoll asked from his seat.

 

Nico blinked for a moment. He had honestly expected that question more from the Romans, especially those that grew up in New Rome, not the Greeks, since they knew how the human world could be like.

 

"Isn't it obvious?" Nico said pointedly.

"To protect us from persecution."

 

At the words both the Big House and the forum went silent.

 

"Monsters weren't the only threats we faced. Not including Giants and Titans...the only threats demigods faced over the millennia that was as common as monsters were humans." Nico said nervously.

 

"There was a reason why I helped Chiron found this camp." Lord Apollo said from where he now stood by the window.

"When my son Asclepius was young, in the early days of the world's divide, I had not wanted him to grow up only knowing a world of pain, so I had him stay with his human kin, but when his gift of healing became known his grandfather treated him no different from the monsters that rampaged outside his kingdom's walls...."

 

For a moment Lord Apollo went still and the heat in the room grew before quickly dying down as Lord Apollo transformed into his human disguise.

 

"The old fool Phlegyas! my own son's grandfather tried to burn my son in a pyre seeing him as an abomination!'

 

"That was when I took him to Chiron along with any other demigod or chosen champions we had at the time to keep them safe... afterwards I showered that wretched city in a thousand plagues." Lord Apollo said with a sneer at the memory.

 

No one in either the Big House or the forum made a comment on that.

 

While no one knew that part of Asclepius's story, everyone sure knew what happened after. The reason why Asclepius became a god in the first place, and what happened to the elder cyclopses before that.

 

"Returning to the topic at hand." Lady Athena said glaring at Lord Apollo.

"According to Hecate as The Mist slowly falls from her control our world will be fully exposed by the end of of March, probably. First the monsters will be exposed then demigods, and our locations will be the last. Memories modified and erased by The Mist will return some time in between all this, so you must all be prepared and educated on everything..."

 

Lady Athena suddenly paused her lecture as she and the other gods looked up.

 

"Sadly, we cannot further discuss this as we are being called to resume our meeting for long term solutions." Lady Athena said with a sigh.

 

"Long term solutions?" Annabeth asked as she stood up.

 

"Yes...the council is discussing how to proceed long term. Given that simply staying at camp is not a viable permanent solution...as I pointed out." Lady Athena said pointedly not looking up.

"But many feel that returning to the old lands is a viable option."

 

"Lady Minerva...without meaning to be rude...what about New Rome?" Hazel asked through the large Iris Message.

 

Nico watched as Lady Athena's form flickered between her Greek and Roman forms as she looked at the rainbow projection impassively, but with a hint of emotion in her otherwise hard eyes.

 

"Given that Rome is no longer a place for us and you. We have considered Sicily or perhaps Sardinia. That said, the council still has not made a decision. But until a decision is made everyone must remain at camp unless it becomes absolutely necessary to leave." Lady Athena stated.

"Chiron and Lupa shall educate you all respectively on the matter of The Ancient Laws as well as the changes you will all experience to yourselves."

 

With that the gods without warning began glowing and everyone quickly shut their eyes as the gods flashed out of the room, leaving everyone in stunned silence.

 

Nico was also, just about to shadow travel back to his cabin, when someone asked the question he hoped no one would ask.

 

"So, di Angelo you know what we used to look like?" Clarisse la Rue asked from her spot by the door.

 

Nico sighed, but faced the crowd once again.

"More than that actually...I've already achieved it."

 

Nico decided that lying was not going to solve anything and decided to be as blunt as possible.

 

"It started when I delivered the Athena Parthenos to end the war...when everyone thought that my overdoing it with the shadow travel was killing me, it turned out it was my body adjusting to my full power and starting to become Unveiled."

 

"Unveiled?" Annabeth asked with wide eyes.

 

"It's when a demigod reveals their true form and stops suppressing their full power ." Nico stated.

 

"Then show us already!" Clarisse demanded.

 

Nico was hesitant, he'd seen what he looked Unveiled.

The first time he achieved it two years ago, he'd stood in front of his mirror in his room in his father's palace and while he himself wasn't bothered by it. He knew other people might be.

 

The nervousness must have shown on his face because next thing Nico knew both Percy and Jason were standing and at his side glaring at everyone.

 

"He'll show it when he's ready. Anyone have a problem with it answers to me." Percy said giving everyone his most severe wolf stare.

 

Everyone backed off.

 

However, Nico sighed.

'this will only cause tensions to build.' He thought.

 

"It's fine Percy..." Nico said putting his hand on his very, very protective cousin's shoulder.

"Everyone's gonna have to get used to it at some point."

 

And with that Nico allowed his godly aura to unfold.

The shadows he usually held back erupted from his body like smoke engulfing him, Nico's skin flickered, going from transparent, and showing his bones that shone like polished moonstone, before going back to solid, his eyes were pitch black like obsidian with deep red crack marks, and the usual coldness he gave of increased three-fold causing his breath to fog.

 

"Ta-da." Nico said completely deadpan.

 

Nico then proceeded to pull his aura back and Veil himself again, but now only partially as darkness still rose from his skin.

"Every demigod's form is a combination of their personality, purpose, nature, and traits from their godly parents combined. Now if you would excuse me...I still have stuff to do. If anyone has questions save them for tomorrow."

 

With that Nico shadow travelled out of the Big House, leaving everyone in stunned silence.

Notes:

Okay notes:

- since I'm leaning more into the concepts of the gods I wrote Apollo as speaking in poetry when in god form since you know god of music and poetry, while adding both sun, healing and plague aspects since those are some of his stronger aspects

- giving Athena a voice and any degree of image is hard, but I try not to be too cliche or stereotypical...that said after several days of thinking and the face of Cote de Pablo hit me out of nowhere especially in her role as Ziva David in the N.C.I.S series...so now when I write Athena her face is in my head...I think this was the universe's way of giving me something so her face is the one I visualize in any scene with Athena goddess of wisdom, strategic warfare, and crafts

Chapter 5: Worlds collide as the second domino falls

Summary:

A peaceful moment ends in disaster as the first incident begins.

Notes:

Okay this is a shorter chapter than the others since I used this moment to mark the start of change

Chapter 5; Jason

 

Jason was sitting out on the terrace of the new Hera Cabin working on his bone carving trying to clear his head.

 

It had been a week since the gods and Nico revealed the truth of not only the universe, but of themselves as well. Since then, Chiron and Nico has been teaching them about The Ancient Laws and what they really were as well preparing them for the inevitable changes they will experience once The Mist falls and their true demigodly forms are revealed.

 

And now, there was a slowly building tension at both camps as they waited for the other shoe to drop.

 

When January ended The Mist as they were told continued to fall. Using there limited internet access and other scouting methods the Hypnos, Hermes, Aphrodite, and Athena kids were able to figure out that monsters were now fully visible to the mortals- no humans once again and vice versa.

So far monster attacks haven't made headlines yet. At least not in the big and major cities.

 

But the Hypnos Cabin reported that smaller towns out in the more rural parts of the country have had a few reports of people disappearing in the night and a few sightings of people being attacked by monsters.

 

It wasn't good news, while it was slow compared to how the Athena Cabin had theorized it would be if The Mist ever did fall, the calculated results were still the same.

The world was slowly falling apart and most of the humans weren't going to stand a chance. Worse still, they didn't even notice.

 

Putting his latest bone carving charm down. Jason sighed and ran his hand through his hair and set his tools on the table as he looked at his latest work.

 

Having spent years with Lupa and her wolves at the Wolf House, not just living with them, but hunting with them to, Jason picked up many strange habits. Bone collecting had been one of them.

 

Even after leaving the wolves and become a legionnaire Jason would often take walks in the woods outside of New Rome and Camp Jupiter and often find animal bones or shed deer antlers and take them back to his bunk back in the barracks.

It wasn't until he was twelve and had met old man Giovanni a legacy of Aristaeus, who ran a meat shop in New Rome that Jason had discovered bone carving because he would stare at the meat and warded charms in the windows for so long that the old man took a notice to him and they formed a weird friendship over the years.

 

When Jason became Praetor after he took down Krios and helped with the siege of Mt. Orthys he had so much work to do that he stopped. But during his six months of recovery, Jason had taken up the hobby again.

 

Leaning back in his chair, as he set the little charm made of cow bone aside, Jason put his hand to his chest where his scar was and rubbed it as it stung for a moment.

 

Even after three years, the injuries Caligula gave him often ached and depending on the weather outside of camp, the scars could ache badly.

 

Jason heard the sound of rustling feathers and looked to the giant colorful peacock perched on the terrace railing looking at him concerned.

Jason smiled and the bird approached him and nuzzled his hand as if asking the scar ached.

 

Storge the peacock came the day Jason had almost died. From what Jason had been told, that night just as Nico had been about to head to the infirmary with Will, the Hera Cabin lit up like the sun and the bird just flew out from within the cabin, and landed on a very shocked Nico's shoulder where it then proceeded to amplify his ability to sense death, specifically his ability to sense if his loved ones were dying, then the bird made Nico spontaneously shadow travel across the country, and out on to the deck of a yacht in the middle of a battle, where Nico immediately spotted Caligula about to finish off Jason with his spear.

 

Jason didn't remember much from that night, aside from the unmistakable cold of Nico's power being unleashed, then he woke up three weeks later in the infirmary at Camp half-blood with both Nico and Percy at his side, along with the peacock he had since named Storge.

 

Storge meant familial love after all.

 

It wasn't hard to figure out that his patron, his stepmother had intervened and saved his life. Even if it meant that it would go against a prophecy and simply push it back and delay it.

 

Hera/Juno didn't have to, Jason knew that, the same way his stepmother didn't have to put him on a bus and give him two people who became his closest friends that day she had taken him from Camp Jupiter and switched him with Percy when the second Great Prophecy started.

 

Case in point she had literally just dumped Percy in an alley way in San Francisco when she did that. But not Jason.

 

And for all his parental issues with his mom who he barely remembers, his father who doesn't even acknowledge his existence, and his stepmother who was as complicated as they come. He couldn't deny that at least one parent in his life cared enough to look out for him. Even if her methods were a bit crazy.

But then again, she was a goddess and now that Jason was older and more informed of the greater universe at large, he could at least see that she cared for him in her own way.

 

'I'm so glad I rebuilt the cabin when I did to' Jason thought.

 

Eventually, once Jason managed to show the very protective peacock he was indeed alright and it had enough petting, Storge nuzzled Jason's hand one more time before flying off back on to the roof of the cabin where it often liked to spend it's time during the day.

 

As Jason watched it fly off, an acorn came out of nowhere and weakly bounced off of his chest, quickly followed by another.

 

Amused by the display, Jason got up, careful not to put too much weight into his right leg, and walked over to the edge of the terrace, only to reflexively parry another acorn that came at him with his cane.

 

"What the Hades guys! I'm here, stop throwing acorns!" Jason called out as he looked down and to no surprise found Piper, Leo, Percy, and Nico.

 

"Is the crazy bird gone?" Leo quipped smirking as he looked up at Jason.

 

Jason sighed. As much as Storge loved Jason, the peacock tended to get a bit mean when it came to everyone else.

 

Mostly the older capers and Mr. D though. Storge, for some odd reason adored the younger campers.

 

"Yeah Storge went off to his perch on the roof." Jason said waving everyone to come up.

 

He heard grumbling from Leo along the lines of 'crazy bird' and Jason sighed.

 

'why does my stepmom have to be so complicated' Jason thought.

 

The others soon came up the stairs and all of them sat in the table set Jason put out on the terrace in an effort to make the renovated cabin feel more home-y due to the fact that some days Jason just couldn't stand sleeping in Zeus Cabin even after all the changes he made to the place.

 

In all honesty Jason often felt like a kid with parents in a strange 'divorced-not divorced' situation and he was the kid in custody limbo.

On one hand he was a son of Jupiter so he had to stay in the Zeus Cabin, but his dad had given him to Juno/Hera before he was even born, making him essentially her's and often looked after him more than his godly father did since he paid more attention to Thalia in both his Greek and Roman forms.

Meanwhile, he was always welcome in cabin two and it was the only place where the ache in his scars eased up, especially the one on his right leg where Caligula's men had shot him with what were apparently serrated arrows covered in a poison that was a mix of centaur blood and Python's venom, causing the wounds to burn like he'd been injected with the world's strongest acid.

 

The poison had been so strong, that even after everything Will did to save his leg he still ended up needing a cane.

 

'I'm just glad I didn't lose the whole leg' Jason thought as he caught himself remembering that battle.

 

Dragging himself out of his own head Jason sat down and stared at his friends and cousins who looked like they'd seen better days.

 

"I take it you guys have been busy?" Jason asked trying to awkwardly lighten the mood.

 

In response Leo just slammed his head on the marble table and groaned like a man dying.

 

"Ahhh....Por qué tiene que ser tan difícil ser adulto! Fuck!" Leo rambled on Spanish.

"I can't believe I'm saying this! But I needed a brake from Bunker9!"

 

Jason couldn't help but snort as he suppressed his laugh.

 

Two years ago after Leo and Calypso broke up, Leo came back to camp and helped Annabeth with developing demigod tech. Leo was the main engineer for the project and was the one who managed to make a prototype replica of Daedalus's laptop, and then their safe flip phones, as well as their radio towers that allowed them limited internet access and got them audio signals from Hephaestus TV.

And not once had any of the gruelling work have Leo in the state he was in.

 

Ever since their lockdown began and Colton came Leo had been assigned the task of being his main big brother.

 

Hephaestus Cabin had gained a total of twenty new siblings in the past month, and most of them weren't even camp age yet, and even though there more older Hephaestus kids at present helping out...well there was a reason why Cabin nine had the reputation it had. It didn't help that Harley and Colton became the closet of siblings.

 

And since Leo was the most fire proof of all the Hephaestus kids Nyssa put him in charge of keeping them out of trouble and more or less burning camp to the ground with their experiments.

 

Smiling fondly Jason laughed as Leo groaned again.

"What they do this time?"

 

Leo lifted his head and glared weakly at Jason.

"The world's fastest all-terrain tank armed with automatic weapons...." Leo said in the most tired dad™ voice he could manage.

"I spent hours talking them out of turning it into a sentient automaton."

 

Leo then proceeded to bang his head on the table.

"I love them both to pieces but I swear on our Dad's name they will be the death me!"

 

"Welcome to the club dude." Piper said tiredly as well.

"The drama with my older brother and that Ares kid he has this weird rivalry with is getting out of hand, Mitchell and I are considering letting Drew deal with them since they listen to her."

 

"My offer to help still stands you know." Percy as he brought Glacier out and the crab pot transformed into a teapot that started pouring out hot cocoa for everyone.

 

Piper smiled but shook her head.

"Thanks but your stressed enough as it is Percy, I'm not going to drag you into this... besides it's mostly just cabin ten drama, let us handle our own please."

 

Percy reluctantly conceded.

"Fine. But if more people start getting involved I'm stopping it okay." Percy said seriously.

 

To that Piper nodded.

 

It was hard to argue with Percy once he starts using that 'army general' voice.

 

Speaking of Percy. Jason took a good look at his cousin and was hit with this sense of guilt, worry, and pride all at once.

 

Even as he sat here handing each of them cups of hot cocoa, Jason noticed he looked stressed, worried, and strangely at peace.

 

It was a weird mix that for reasons Jason couldn't explain looked natural on him.

 

"Heard anything new about the sea of monsters?" Jason asked.

 

Not long after Nico explained to them everything that was happening he told them about how the sea of monsters becoming restless.

 

Percy sighed and blew a raspberry as he sat down.

"Yeah...talked to a couple mermen friends in the Atlantean army. Apparently, the only thing that's kept the damn place contained all this time was The Mist so..."

 

Jason winced at that.

 

"And it gets worse. Apparently, monsters aren't exempt from evolution because new species of monsters have been found and some of the islands there are moving, it doesn't help that Scylla and Charybdis only ever stopped things from going in, going out of the sea of monsters and it expanding is not part of their jobs." Percy explained with this slight manic look in his eye.

"This is a growing shit storm."

 

"Greeeaat! Just great. Solve one problem and get a new one free!" Nico bemoaned as he let his head fall on the table.

"I'm adding that to the list of things I'll be reporting when I go back up to Olympus tomorrow."

 

Percy put his hand on Nico's back and groaned in agreement.

"That's rough buddy."

 

Jason internally winced as he looked at both of his cousins.

Over the past week, he'd noticed subtle changes in both of them. Now that Nico walked around camp with his demigod aura visible he seemed much comfortable and even healthier, even if he was still as pale as a corpse, his aura looked like pure black fire on his body, the flames even let out this weird pale white smoke that took the form of wailing souls, and would circle around Nico's head in the shape of a crown, and sometimes depending of his mood or the situation the black flames would change shape, often taking the form of a long cloak or cape, and other times a large pair of fiery black wings, and he now almost always reeked of petichor, iron, and pomegranates.

 

Like what was happening right then.

 

In fact, as Percy continued to console Nico one of his flaming wings draped over Percy in appreciation and the scent of pomegranates grew sweeter.

 

And while Leo was snickering under his breath, no one commented on how much of a little brother Nico was being.

 

Or how Percy was acting like a everyone's mom friend.

 

In fact, sometimes when Percy really protective Jason had noticed how his eyes glowed or how he smelled more and more like the sea everyday.

 

It made something inside Jason twist. Like he was being left behind again.

 

Looking at the bone charm he'd just made, Jason had an idea and took stock of his own responsibilities.

 

At the moment, he was actually a head of schedule on building shrines and more cabins at Camp half-blood. 

 

Because of the limited space at Camp half-blood and the fact that the cabins were technically livable temples, Jason realized making full on temples would have been redundant. So, instead Annabeth had convinced Jason to make public shrines instead.

 

That had been a brilliant plan, because shrines were smaller and took a lot less time to build, and since the addition of the minor gods was something Annabeth was already doing, Jason simply inserted himself into her plans to construct more cabins, thus making things easier on themselves.

 

So, once Jason figured he had some free time he decided on where to use it.

 

"I could help you out with the council meetings." Jason said.

 

Nico immediately perked up.

"You sure?-I mean no need I can-"

 

Jason quickly cut Nico off with a slight glare.

"I'm sure. I want to help, besides I'm a head of schedule anyway...Annabeth keeps giving me new designs for shrines and cabins..." Jason said as it now dawned on him just how much Annabeth did give him and looked to Percy.

"Speaking of Annabeth...is she okay?"

 

And in that moment Percy set Glacier down and put his own head on the table and made sad seal noises.

"She's processing...the whole revelation that gods don't have freewill and Demigods having limited freewill which is the whole reason why we get prophecies...I'm not sure if it scared her or pissed her off. You know how she is about control and her autonomy, not to mention the big reveal of us not being human."

 

"I mean who doesn't. But I see what you mean." Piper said.

"The question is what are you doing though?"

 

With that Percy sighed again and sat up.

"I'm giving her space to process. The last thing she needs is me hovering over her like she's a damsel in distress...I'm pretty sure she'd stab for that." Percy said laughing and smiling like a dope.

"All I can do is let her know I'm here when she wants to talk and that I have her back. I also keep giving her, her favorite Earl grey tea and soup."

 

Jason watched as Piper sighed wistfully at what Percy said.

"And you two wonder why my cabin has a poster of you two declaring you both the poster couple for pragma. If that's not enduring love then I don't know what is."

 

At the comment Percy blushed and ducked his head in his arms muttering something about nosy love kids.

 

Jason let a small content smile grace his face as he sat back enjoying the moment despite how tense the world outside was.

 

But the mood quickly died when an Iris Message suddenly popped up next to Percy showing the distressed and very panicked image of his uncle Paul Blofis.

 

"Percy! Can you hear me?" Uncle Paul called out.

 

In an instant Percy was up, face shocked but trying to look calm.

 

Emphasis on trying.

 

"Paul! What's going on? You okay? Mom?"

Percy asked in a rush.

 

"Remember when you told me.that if monsters ever showed up at the school to call you?" Paul yelled through the chaos happening behind him

"Well. Monsters are here, they came out of nowhere...those giant birds with made of metal..." Uncle Paul said trying to think.

"...the-the- stymphalian bird that's it!"

 

Soon after Paul said that, there was a loud crash in the background like a window breaking.

 

"Don't say their names Paul!" Percy said trying to catch a glimpse of what was happening.

"It only makes them more aggressive. Get all the students to the gym and barricade the doors, don't let anyone run out the birds will pick them off. And stay away from the windows. And if you have anything that makes loud noises use it I'm on my way?"

 

With that Percy swiped his hand through the rainbow and got to his feet.

 

And so did Jason.

"I'm coming too."

 

"No!" Percy said with a glare.

 

Jason levelled Percy with his own wolf stare.

 

"He's my uncle too, and you need someone that can fight in the sky." Jason said with finality.

 

Percy glared at Jason for another moment before, Nico pulled them apart.

 

"Jason's right Percy. I'm not letting you risk your own life when it would.be safer with all three of us there." Nico said glaring at both Percy and Jason.

 

Reluctantly Percy yielded, and took a deep breath and steeled himself.

"Fine."

 

Jason watched as Percy looked to Leo and Piper.

"Leo, go tell Chiron what's going on. Piper, your with us."

 

"Crowd control got it." Piper said her mood shifting from her usual teasing to deadly serious.

 

"Okay everyone hold on to me." Nico said as he grabbed hold of Jason, Percy, and Piper.

 

Jason gripped his cane tightly as the shadows emanating from Nico's body flared and engulfed all of them.

 

'This is it I guess.' Jason thought as the other shoe dropped.

Notes:

Notes:
- Jason raised by wolves is a tag that doesn't have enough fics and let's face it Jason spent years with the wolves that would obviously have some effect on him

-i honestly don't know how I did this chapter. Jason being into bone carving as a hobby just hit me and it strangely fits for some reason...I don't know it felt right

Chapter 6: One Thread ends, a new one begins

Summary:

The big three boys deal with monsters, the exposure begins, Percy finds out the cops are looking for him again and The Fates...The Fates keep everything interesting...

Notes:

Okay this one was very interesting to write and more

Chapter 6; Jason

When Jason stepped out of the shadows he quickly shook off the cold that seeped into his bones before taking stock of his surroundings.

In seconds Jason noted three things. 1) they were on a roof top. Presumably the rooftop of Goode High, 2) it was cloudy day, with said clouds were thick and heavy in the sky, perfect for storms, and 3) the sky was filled with hundreds of giant bronze birds that resembled large cranes mixed vultures.

They were five times bigger than the stymphalian birds he'd seen before, Jason remembered his history lessons. The largest stymphalian birds could only mean one thing.

These weren't just stymphalian birds, they were the first stymphalian birds, the elder monsters that Heracles fought, and not the ones the argonauts dealt with.

Jason scowled as he suddenly remember the bitter old immortal son of Zeus stuck guarding the Mediterranean sea and the old lands, but pushed the memories aside as he refocused on the present.

So far, none of the birds had noticed them, as they were too frenzied at the thought of easy prey

"Okay." Jason heard Percy say bringing him back to reality.

"Piper sneak inside, the gym is in the back of the school deal with any stragglers that get past us and make sure none of the students panic or run off."

Piper smirked and nodded as she gave Percy a mock salute.

"Got it I'll handle the students and anything that manages to survive your three."

Jason watched as Percy face Nico.

"Nico your on defense, give us cover as we move out into the open." Percy said before facing Jason with an absolutely feral wolf like smirk.

"Jace you and me we go on the offensive. Just like old time."

Jason returned Percy's enthusiasm with a wolf like grin of his own as he removed the head of his cane, and tapped in on the ground, in an instant the cane body transformed into a large ornate Imperial gold halberd given to him by his stepmom.

It was named Thuella.

"Just like old times." Jason said already feeling the lightning thrumming under his skin.

Without another word Percy and Nico Jason watched as they took out their weapons as while Piper snuck off to the gym.

Percy pulled out his boatswain whistle, turning it into a long harpoon like celestial bronze partisan, made by Tyson and blessed by their father, while Nico twisted the handle on the stamper had had and changed it into a long handled war hammer like maul made of Stygian iron.

Nico then slammed the butt of the hammer on the ground and the shadows rose around the three of them, forming a dome.

Jason looked between his cousins and nodded as they left their cover and moved to the wide open space at the center of the roof.

The damned birds immediately dove for them only to be impaled by giant bone spikes that shot out of the shadows.

Once in place Jason got to work, raising his halberd he unleashed his power. Willing the winds and the clouds in the sky to gather around them, Jason felt the clouds and wind come easily, he even summoned any storm spirits nearby who yielded to his command.

Jason stirred the very atmosphere around them as the sky grew darker and the shadows around them became denser, he felt the hot and cold winds colliding, felt the clouds grow heavy with condensation, the smell of ozone was getting heavier, the thrum of lightning under his skin was becoming steadier, Jason continued pouring his power into the building storm, willing the Venti he called to go faster, he channeled his rage towards the monsters to fuel the storm Percy and him were making, making it bigger, stronger, wilder.

The winds were steadily whipping at his face, but Jason barely noticed, he just kept waving his halberd and stirred the storm until everything was spinning around him and he finally heard the rumbling of thunder.

That was when the rain began to fall. But it wasn't normal rain, no.

Jason could sense Percy's influence in the water as the rain came down like bolts fired from a ballista. Hard, fast, and very, very destructive.

Jason watched as the large drops of water fell from the sky piercing through the giant birds with ease.

Not one to be showed up easily, Jason followed suit, with a final twist of his halberd Jason made the lightning come down striking the stymphalian birds as well, making them explode into clouds of sparks and gold dust, and not long after the lightning came the crack of thunder, the loud noises further disorienting the monster birds causing them to lose formation, but that didn't matter to Jason he just kept the lightning going, striking down the birds until the flock of some several hundred stymphalian birds was soon reduced to zero.

Once all the stymphalian birds were gone, slowly, very slowly, Jason and Percy pulled their power back until the storm died down and dissipated.

Neither of them stopped until sunlight broke through the clouds.

Once the storm was safely scattered Jason let out the breath he'd been holding, only to wince as his lungs burned.

Jason quickly tapped his glasses, turning them into a respirator mask.

Jason sighed in relief as the ache in his chest subsided.

"That was intense." Jason said as he turned to Percy and did a double take.

Jason couldn't believe what he was seeing.

There Percy was standing beside him completely Unveiled.

Percy's aura was as vast as Nico's when he wasn't restraining himself.

Percy's aura consisted of bright spectral water that looked like white water rapids meeting the vast open sea before turning into a waterfall, churning, turbulent, powerful, and unstoppable. Water came rushing down over Percy's head like a clear shimmering curtain, seafoam and sea spray bubbled at his feet, and from that came the strong smell of heavy rain, of sea salt, and fresh icy river water damp and refreshing, looking through the veil of moving ocean blue water, Jason saw that Percy was almost hard to see in his own aura, his skin would fade in and out of visibility, blending in with the sea, the only signs that he was there was his shadowy silhouette contrasting with the light of his water like aura, and the bright glow of his sea green eyes. At least what Jason thought were Percy's eyes, since he had multiple glowing eye like patterns along his body, all of which moved around in random patterns.

Looking at Percy as he was was like staring into the depths of the Mariana trench or an abyss. Cold, dark, fathomless, teaming with life, and above all, capable of staring back at you in the most enticing way that it was hard not to look at him.

"Dude." Jason said completely amazed.

"Your Unveiled."

Percy looked at Jason and smiled, and for a moment Percy's face rippled like water showing shark teeth before going still and showing normal teeth again.

"Your not looking to human yourself Jace." Percy said with this echoing lilt in his voice.

"You okay though?"

Jason tilted his head in confusion.

"Yeah I'm fine. Just winded." Jason said, his voice coming out slightly distorted through his breathing mask.

"Never made a storm that big before...even back then.'

"Ahhh...what do you mean I don't look human?"

If response Percy pointed to Nico who had turned the stone wall of the stairwell door into polished obsidian, and when Jason looked at his own reflection he was caught off guard.

Nico had explained that Roman demigods didn't look the same as Greeks, their powers were more contained, but no less divine.

The reality was much more mind blowing than Jason had expected.

While he didn't have a visible aura emanating from his body. Instead, every blood vessel from his veins to his arteries were now alight with a golden glow, it was like pure lightning was running through Jason's blood, looking into his own eyes Jason saw that they looked like storms, his physical eyes weren't visible and instead looked like they contained literal storms. Thick smoky clouds swirled in his eyes that were cut through by arcing streaks of blue and gold lightning bolts, the edges of Jason's eyes looked cracked, like his own power was trying to break free of his body and his hair was lit up with an electric golden light and thrumming.

Jason couldn't help but feel like he resembled his father's master bolt or even a very powerful storm spirit.

And if Jason was being honest with himself, he didn't really mind.

Not with how happy his cousins looked.

"We should check on Paul and Piper." Percy said as he put his weapon away.

Still a bit dazed at his new development Jason just nodded and followed Percy and Nico into the school and headed straight towards the gym.

Jason sighed in relief once they reached the gym and he found both Piper and his uncle Paul looking out from behind the glass panes on the doors safe and unharmed.

He did noticed though the wide eyed looks he was receiving.

"Hey uncle Paul I'm glad your safe." Jason said as he turned his breathing mask back I to his glasses and entered the gym with Percy and Nico.

Paul more than Piper was wide eyed and taken aback slightly by the sight of his stepson and nephews looking...more otherworldly than usual.

But after a moment, Paul Blofis simply blinked and smiled in relief.

"Are you boys alright? Anyone hurt? I could feel the hurricane outside from here...I take it that you you three?" Paul asked as he smiled warmly at Percy, Jason, and Nico.

Something Jason didn't even know what immediately relaxed at the natural acceptance his uncle gave.

The feeling of calm didn't last long though as the silence was broken by the sound of a camera going off.

Jason suddenly remembered that he was in a highschool gym full of mortals, and all of them had technology.

Looking at the crowd behind his uncle he saw that the entire student body was staring at him and they all had their cellphones out, pointing at them.

'I'm starting to think we didn't think this through.' Jason thought as he slowly backed away towards the door.

His uncle Paul must have noticed Jason's sudden anxiety and looked behind him and saw his students beginning to act like crazed paparazzi.

"I think we need to leave." Piper said as she put herself in between Jason, Percy, and Nico, and the highschoolers.

"Yeah." Percy said giving his stepdad one last smile before he turned and left the gym.

Jason and the other quickly left the gym and planning on just putting some distance between them and the humans before shadow travelling back to camp when Paul sudden ran up to them.

"Wait!" Paul said panting.

"There's something you guys should know...."

Jason watched as Percy ran up to Paul and put his hand on his stepdad's shoulder.

"Is there something else?" Percy asked straight to the point.

For a moment Paul looked conflicted.

"Listen Percy your mother didn't want to worry you, but I think this could lead to trouble down the line."

At Paul's words a sudden spike of fear settled in Jason's stomach.

"Police officers came by the apartment the others day, and yesterday some federal agents came. They were all asking about you."

"But I was cleared of everything." Was all Percy could say.

"That's what your mother told them to. But acted like they suddenly just remembered you and said they were simply updating paperwork they had. Sally didn't say anything because legally she didn't have to...but..." Paul said trailing off nervously.

"But you think they'll start digging and if they get desperate they might get extreme." Percy said voicing Paul's thoughts.

Paul cringed.

"I know it sounds paranoid-"

"It's not...it's completely predictable...the feds act worse than sharks to anything they think is suspicious behavior, they think people wanting to keep secrets and their privacy means that their committing crimes , and can't differentiate between their own curiosity and bias." Percy said looking annoyed.

"Fortunately, I know a fed and a good lawyer at camp if the F.B.I come by again call me okay."

Percy gave Paul a quick hug before stepping back and suddenly they were once again being engulfed in shadows.

Jason was the last one to step out from the shadows cast behind Zeus's fist as they returned to camp.

"I need to tell Chiron what happened." Percy said as started making his way out of the woods.

"I'm calling a councilor's meeting. I have a plan. It's officially started. Monsters are coming."

Jason followed the others as the four of them hurriedly left the woods.

As they stepped out of the woods and back into the main part of Camp half-blood Jason noticed there was this air of unease.

Cutting through the cabins to get to the the Big House Jason suddenly felt the hairs on the back of his head stand on end and he stopped walking.

As he did, Jason saw that he wasn't the only one. Percy, Nico, Piper, and the rest of camp has all stopped what they were doing and we're looking at something.

Following the direction everyone was looking at Jason saw them and wished he hadn't.

There sitting in their rocking chairs, just a little past the cabins, right smack in the middle of Camp half-blood were three of the most terrifying old ladies in existence.

The Fates.

The Fates, The Moirai, the weavers of fate and destiny were literally at Camp half-blood.

Jason felt a fear he never knew was possible. He'd faced Titans, Giants, undead emperors, and even a Primordial, hell he'd even caught a glimpse of Death incarnate once and even then Jason had never felt the kind of fear he was feeling in that moment.

Jason couldn't describe the feeling, just that he felt like he was staring at inevitably unfolding before him, of infinite horrifying endings coming true, and knowing that there was no stopping any of it.

Jason suddenly remembered the final battle of the second Gigantomachy, that day on the battlefield when he witnessed Thoon, the bane of The Fates being beaten to death by the very beings he had been specifically created to kill, that moment had been seared into Jason's mind more vividly than any of his near death experiences. It reminded him that nothing and no one could escape fate not even the being meant to destroy fate.

Jason was pulled from his mental spiral by the strong smell of lotus flowers in the air, as well as ozone and burned oak wood, it wasn't hard to figure out that the gods were aware and were paying attention.

Pulling himself together Jason forced himself to look at The Fates.

At the moment they were simply knitting away the giant blue sock they had been putting together for ages now, but for some reason Jason couldn't help but feel something was different about it, like the sock was complete and there nothing else to add.

And just as that thought crossed Jason's mind the great weavers suddenly stopped their knitting, put their needles down, and let their human forms fall away like snakes shedding their skins.

Jason felt his eyes go so wide he worried they'd pop out of his skull.

Jason watched as The Fates revealed their divine forms, and as they did the very space they occupied shifted with them as well.

Reality and space around the great weavers rippled and collapsed revealing an abyss, but it was not an empty void. No, this void was full of stars, galaxies, planets, constellations, it was like staring into the very expanse of space. But more, Jason soon realized what he was looking at. The background The Fates occupied was the outer cosmos, the very heart of existence and the universe, a space of pure power, potential and concept.

Jason's attention was pulled back as The Fates let their forms of old sphincters fall away to reveal themselves as they were.

All three of The Fates were wrapped in cloth bandages like mummies with red eye markings, they wore weird flowing robes, and the spots the bandages didn't cover, even from a distance Jason could see that under those bandages was something formless, shapeless, covered in millions of constantly moving eyes, and just utterly incomprehensible that even a slight peak gave Jason a headache.

And while they all resembled each other The Fates still looked different from one another that it added to the mind jarring sight Jason and everyone else were being subjected to.

Clotho, The Spinner was wrapped completely in white cloth bandages, she wore robes made of constantly blooming flower petals of all colors that made Jason think she looked like the very concept of life, she held a tall distaff in her hands that she was twisting around in her hands to gather the thread from the spinning wheel that had appeared in front of The Three Great Ladies.

Lachesis, The Measurer was wrapped in bandages of varying shades of grey, and wore robes of flowing sand that made Jason think of an hourglass and gave her this strange air of being time itself, she pulled the thread from her sister's staff, laying it out with her measuring tape and seeing how long the length of thread was, and even though he couldn't see the tape up close, for some reason a part of Jason just knew that tape wasn't measuring in lengths.

Atropos, The Unturnable Cutter donned pitch black bandages, and her robes were made of crumbling ash and dust and as Jason looked at her he couldn't help but feel like he was staring at decay manifest, she was the only one who resumed their knitting as she sat hunched over in her chair knitting the threads together into the sock.

Jason and the rest of Camp half-blood just stood in place unblinking and unmoving as they watched The Fates do their work.

Time passed at a snail's pace, Jason wasn't sure if time really had slowed down or that his poor brain was trying to make sense of the very mind boggling reveals he'd been getting in anyway it could, it was just that whatever it was The Immovable Cutter was doing, Jason wasn't sure if he wanted it to be over with or not.

'I just wish they'd just put me out of my misery because waiting is just torture' Jason thought.

And just when Jason thought nothing more was going to happen, the spinning wheel that stood before the three divine spinsters began moving.

The wheel started turning and as it did Jason saw how all the lights, stars, constellations, and galaxies within the cosmic void just dissolved into golden light and dust before being sucked into the spinning wheel and coming out as threads.

Jason couldn't believe his eyes.

'am I seeing reality being spun into existence right now?' Jason thought and he felt like his poor brain was going to crash out.

But Jason couldn't look away from it. He watched as the newly spun thread being pulled out of the wheel and gathered on Lady Clotho's distaff until there was a thick spool of thread on the end, Jason continued watching as Lady Lachesis pulled the length of thread and he gasped as he saw how at one point the thread had changed color from light blue to this mix of deep red and gold with streaks of black.

As the thread was held out before them for all the see, Jason watched as his heart raced at a dizzying pace as Lady Atropos The Unturnable Cutter pull out the abhorred sheers and with one swift motion cut the thread right between where the two colors met.

The resounding swish of the sheers as they closed echoed through the entire camp, hell Jason wouldn't have been surprised if they heard the sound all the way to New Rome and the underworld.

After that The Fates once again resumed their more human looking forms of old ladies, but this time there was now a big ball of yarn where the spinning wheel once was.

"The Age of secrets has come to it's end.

A new Age has now begun.

A new Age of mortals and gods.

An era long passed reborn a new.

The cycle of seasons now begins.

Oracles bare witness to what the future brings.

From the trees, to the priestesses, to the ghost and the godkin.

All eyes see the paths the threads spin."

The Fates announced in their hissing whispered voices that carried out nonetheless like a resounding echo.

And just like that, without further words The Fates vanished as the void around them simply closed, the space and reality that had been torn open collapsing in on itself until everything looked as it had been before.

The moment The Fates left time resumed it's normal flow and Jason fell on his ass as his legs gave out and he sat on the ground for a moment.

Looking around he saw that everyone else was in about the same shape he was in.

"What the fuck!" Jason heard some yell. He wasn't sure who because his brain was still rebooting.

That had easily been the most traumatic thing Jason had ever experienced.

And that was saying something.

The worst part of was that he had absolutely no idea what in Olympus's name just happened, only that whatever it was that The Fates showed them, it only meant one thing.

Nothing was going to be the same and that things were going to be getting very messy.

Notes:

Notes:
- okay first of the new weapons I gave Percy, Nico, and Jason while may seem strange I wanted to show more of their growth and how they were coming into their own as themselves and not just mini versions of their godly parents.

- making Percy's Unveiled form was difficult because I wanted to show how his own personal growth had made and shaped him he's less a walking sea storm like his father and more the depths of the sea and a rushing river to highlight how he's grown while also showing how his time in Tartarus still influenced him and how he's taken control of his inner darkness and overcome it
- Romans and Greeks still different Romans are more contained to show their inclinations form discipline and focus on structure and uniform beliefs

Chapter 7: Dawn of a new Age

Summary:

Annabeth struggles with the truth only to be given a literal reality check by The Fates as well as some much needed sibling bonding time

Notes:

Okay will say it now...I firmly believe that Athena kids should also have powers I mean they don't need to be flashy but no one can tell me that their level of intelligence doesn't surpass human brain levels...

Chapter 7; Annabeth

 

Annabeth was deeply focused on her latest project, that said she was also deeply frustrated.

For the better part of the past two hours, she'd been working on a design for the next apartment building she needed to start construction on and she wanted it to be perfect.

 

But it was easier said than done.

 

Because while the design for the building itself was good and had all the amenities the soon to be occupants required. Annabeth couldn't help but feel like her design was...lacking.

Namely, the building lacked personality, character and any form of creativity and aesthetic.

 

Simply put. She kept coming up with block shaped piles no different than cargo containers made of marble.

 

Annabeth groaned as she put her pencil and sketchbook down to her side.

 

She knew why that was. She was old enough, smart enough, and spent enough time with her therapist to know why she her work wasn't up to her own standards at the moment.

 

Annabeth was having an existential crisis and as well as an identity crisis and it was distracting her.

 

Ever since her mother and Lord Apollo told them that demigods weren't human and then Nico confirmed it by revealing his own form she'd been having...issues to say the least accepting it.

 

Most people thought that Percy was the only one who was changed by Tartarus. That was simply not the case.

 

It was just that Annabeth's changes were like the many abilities of the children of Athena, less visible and not as flashy.

 

When Annabeth and Percy had been forced to journey through the abyss, she pushed her brain in ways she had never done so just to keep going let alone survive with her sanity intact.

 

An ability all children of Athena had was that they were psychic...but not in the way most people think. No, the children of Athena had the capacity to harness their mental energies and use it to reshape, reconfigure, and remake their very brains and minds.

 

It was why they were immune to mind control and brainwashing abilities like charmspeak, it was why they could touch any weapon (especially old ones) and learn how they were yielded by their past owners, it was why they could process information better than any super computer the mortal world could ever make, and why they could out manoeuvre any opponent with their strategic planning. Their brains could literally be reprogrammed by their own will in anyway they wished.

 

That said they had their limits.

 

When Annabeth had passed through Tartarus with Percy she had to reconfigure her brain and mind to become more logical, more practical, she made her brain lower her capacity to feel pain and fear, to sharpen her senses, and think faster than ever to make plans on the fly and remember every ounce of information she ever read about The Pit. It was the only way she was able to guide the two of them out of that hell in one piece.

 

Unfortunately, when the dust settled Annabeth learned the hard way that most of those changes couldn't be undone, that she had ingrained certain adjustments to her mind so deeply that they couldn't be removed, not without giving herself the equivalent of a lobotomy.

 

The biggest change she discovered was her lowered ability to feel pain and fear, followed by her increase in logical thinking.

 

While most warriors would love something like that. She didn't, because outside of battle she found herself unable to feel most emotions easily.

 

Annabeth realized she dulled her ability to feel emotions. She realized she dulled her capacity to feel love.

 

And that scared her.

 

Annabeth felt as though she made herself less human when she figured out that she was now the real life version of that scifi movie her stepbrothers liked...Terminator if she remembered correctly the movie was called.

 

But what really disturbed her, was the realization that she had lessened her ability to feel love for Percy and her friends.

 

Annabeth thought back to those first six months during her and Percy's freshman year at New Rome University things were rough. Her hubris and her being in denial caused issues in their relationship. On one end they had become concerningly codependent, and on the other end they they argued like their godly parents.

 

It wasn't until after their dorm neighbors filed several worried complaints of them screaming in the middle of the night from nightmares that their dean had them get counseling and therapy that things improved.

 

Granted in her case it was a painfully slow process. Annabeth was stubborn, and hated not being in control of her mind and wasn't too keen on letting people into it.

 

But eventually Annabeth accepted that she needed help and swallowed her pride.

 

That said, she wasn't perfect and sometimes fell back into bad habits.

 

That being to throw herself into her work and ignoring her problems until she self-destruct.

 

But as it seemed, her brain had other plans as it refused to cooperate with her.

 

Letting out a frustrated sigh Annabeth stood up and began walking around the steadily growing urban village aptly named 'Villa Sagittaria' for the one being who was the only constant at camp and had been doing his best with what he was allowed to do by the gods for the past some several thousands of years, Chiron.

 

Annabeth walked around the the cluster of apartment buildings looking back and admiring her work, hoping it would giver her the strength to kickstart the more creative parts of her brain.

 

Taking in the various modernized but still heavily classical Greek style buildings she had built so far Annabeth couldn't help but feel a sense of peace wash over her, and settle her restless thoughts as she felt her power infused in the marble stones give her comfort in the knowledge that her buildings would never crumble or waver.

 

As Annabeth made her way around the town, letting herself sink into the peacefulness of it all, she felt the small part of her that felt emotions stir and she smiled focusing on it as she passed by the large handful of adult demigods living there with their own families and just being more normal than they could ever be out in the morta- human world.

 

Once she had walked the full circuit of Villa Sagittaria and had calmed herself enough Annabeth was ready to try her luck again with her designs when she suddenly heard the sound of boots walking up behind her.

 

Whirling around she ready to stab her pen into the idiot who thought they could sneak up on her, only to let out the breath she was holding and laughed when she saw who it was.

 

Maggie Bell was one of the two surviving older siblings Annabeth had left.

 

"Hey." Maggie said walking up to her sister.

"Still trying to deal with that art block?"

 

Annabeth sighed but nodded.

 

As much as she wished she could be annoyed, Annabeth couldn't find it in her to be too mad at any of her siblings for their near constant hovering.

 

They were after all the only ones who understood her the most (aside from Percy who everyone dubbed the Athena kid whisperer, because he had this weird way of understanding all Athena kids oddly enough).

 

"Yeah...I got nothing." Annabeth said tiredly.

"And before you say it. I know at this point it's time I deal about my own issues."

 

"But?..." Maggie replied already knowing.

 

"But...I don't know where to begin that I haven't already." Annabeth said wishing she could be angry and lash out but she just literally couldn't anymore. At least not when she was awake and conscious at least.

 

'at least I'm less of a walking statue in my dreams' Annabeth thought.

 

"I've already talked about this once with Percy three years ago." Annabeth said.

"I don't want to reopen old wounds you know."

 

Maggie nodded not saying anything for a moment. It was her way of checking if her sister would say more.

 

Annabeth didn't.

 

"But they are reopened. Otherwise you wouldn't be having problems at all." Maggie said in her usual plain buy somehow still kind way.

"But technically wouldn't you call this a good thing? The fact that it bothers you means you feel something without having to consciously let yourself."

 

Annabeth sighed but nodded.

"Your right. This is the most uncontrolled amount of emotions I've felt since therapy and had to relearn how to feel like a normal person again even if only slightly."

 

Annabeth looked to her only remaining older sister who had a small smile on her face.

"Although, even if it doesn't really mean much coming from me. I think you have a lot of humanity on you Annie." Maggie said kindly.

"Take it from someone who's met....mainly arrested, shot, and interrogated all kinds of people. I've encountered a lot of humans over the years. Most of whom don't have an ounce of humanity in them. Like at all.'

 

"Then I met Tyson and I discovered he's more human than most of the actual humans I've met over the years....'

"All I'm just saying you don't have to be human to have humanity Annabeth."

 

Annabeth wince internally at that. Her sister Maggie was an FBI agent stationed at the New York field office. She's had just as many near death experiences as her if not more.

The difference was that Maggie's near death experiences were caused by mortals. Humans.

 

The closest one was what lead her to staying at camp for past several months before the shit show that was The Mist falling started.

Maggie had almost died preventing a terrorist attack in Manhattan, she tried to stop a chemical weapon from being released out on the city and in doing so was exposed to it.

 

And while she spent a month in a mortal hospital, when she finally got out the first thing she did was come to camp.

 

The first thing she did was come home.

 

Annabeth was pretty sure the only reason Maggie even survived after being exposed to sarin gas was because she was a demigod and they had some resistance to certain toxins and radiation.

 

From what Annabeth had dug up about that case when she found out about what happened, the lunatic trying to prove something had died.

 

Which was a good thing. Because if the feds didn't kill him Annabeth and the rest of their siblings would have, and in a far less merciful way too.

 

'and because it was Manhattan if anything happened to aunt Sally...' Annabeth did not finish that train of thought.

 

She knew damn well Manhattan would not have survived either Percy's wrath or his dad's if that happened.

 

Refocusing back on the present Annabeth looked back at her sister. Who for the most part looked much better.

 

"So...your lungs better?" Annabeth asked.

 

Maggie shrugged.

"Will and Austin are miracle workers. They did everything they could, hopefully by the time my medical leave if over I'll be fully healed."

 

"And while we're on the topic of trauma..." Annabeth inquired.

 

She was very aware she was doing this as a deflection from talking about own issues but Maggie was just as much a daughter of Athena as Annabeth was.

 

Stubbornly refusing to open up and admit their trauma was a family trait.

 

Maggie snorts loudly and shakes her head.

"I can see what you did there. But since I gave you the advice about opening up...I might plan on talking to Mr. D at some point."

 

Annabeth nods and smirks.

 

"Good...and if I talk to Percy...you be sure to do the same with Mr. D...?" Annabeth said hesitantly.

 

Maggie sighed at that. Neither of them were ones to back out from a challenge.

 

"Deal." Maggie said as she shook hands with her younger sister to seal the deal.

 

Annabeth was about to say more when out of the corner of her eye she saw a person sized ball of fire running towards them like a spazzy missile.

 

"Leo?" Annabeth stated in shock, confusion, and a decent amount of concern.

 

Leo Valdez came to a very ungraceful halt in front of Annabeth and Maggie, still on fire and panting like he was about to cough up a lung.

 

"Leo I've seen you lift several tons of celestial bronze, concrete, and timber at the same time like all of it weighed nothing, how can a bit of running be what kills you." Annabeth said as she assessed Leo if he was indeed going to pass out.

 

"Hey...cardio is not my forte...upper body strength is more useful...and looks better on me." Leo sassed trying weakly to flex his arms.

"Anyway monster attack Goode High...big bronze birds...major attack...Percy, Jason, Nico, and Piper went to take care of it...already told Chiron."

 

Without another word Annabeth took of running back towards camp dragging Leo along.

 

Annabeth, Leo, and Maggie had just crossed the Eastern hills where they were building shrines and entered Camp half-blood proper when Annabeth saw a sight that rivaled everything she'd seen in Tartarus.

 

It was the sight of The Fates in the middle of Camp half-blood, and it had her freezing in place.

 

Annabeth stood frozen in horror as she watched The Fates reveal themselves in all their divine and frankly unsettling eldritch glory, watched as a cosmic void opened up around The Fates and Annabeth's mind told her that the void was the void where all things began, the starting point of existence just as the Primordial Chaos was the finish line, that void was the force of Ananke. Or necessity.

 

Annabeth just stood there watching as The Fates wove a new spool of thread, and she watched as The Unturnable Cutter pulled out her shears and cut the thread, the sound of the blades as they closed echoed through camp, rattled in her bones as the final nail in the coffin.

 

Then The Fates turned back into old ladies and Annabeth watched and listened as they gave out their warning before leaving.

 

Annabeth's fell to her knees once the pressure from the presence of The Fates left with them and she breathed out like she been holding her breathe for ages.

 

And from the gasping sound behind her Annabeth guessed she wasn't the only one.

 

Annabeth felt her mind begin processing everything that just happened. The familiar warm tingling feeling as her brain went into overdrive to archive, interpret, and dissect the events that she just witnessed.

 

And once her brain finished processing all the information Annabeth had come to several conclusions.

 

1) the god's expected timeline before everything fell apart was about to be thrown out the window.

 

2) everyone was about to be thrown into one hell of a shit show.

 

3) she was never more glad to be a demigod than in that moment because she was sure as fuck a human would have either died or gone completely insane if they witnessed what she just had.

 

4) what The Fates said wasn't a prophecy, it was a proclamation. They weren't warning them about the start of a new Era, they were announcing the start of it.

 

It was that last realization that had Annabeth feeling like the ground was pulled out from under her.

 

A new Age of gods and humans. It was going to be complete chaos.

Notes:

Notes

- among the abilities of the Athena kids in this fic are from superpower wiki:

1) Mindshifting/self brain manipulation/neuro-psychic manipulation as their psychic power

2) they eat olives they get stronger like Popeye the sailor (yes I grew up watching the cartoon and still remember the whole spinach thing)

3) they can manifest owl or at the very least one owl like it was their spirit animal

4) they have psychometry which is how they just learn stuff

5) as the goddess of crafts Athena kids can craft knick knacks and items with wards and enchantments like the Hephaestus and Hecate kids but only with pottery, weaving, knitting, crochet, and in Annabeth's case architecture.

Chapter 8: The hunt begins as the curtain falls

Summary:

The Mist finally falls much to everyone's horror because it happened sooner than they expected so the demigods prepare to head into a new fight.

Notes:

Notes:

- if I didn't say it in the last chapter then I'll say it now. My memories of canon are vague but I don't recall much how Tartarus had affected Annabeth...the effects on Percy were highlighted but I don't remember if it was the same for her... correct me if I'm wrong

Chapter 8; Annabeth

 

When Annabeth entered the Big House the first thing she noted was the cold.

 

It was the kind of cold that settled deep in her bones. It felt like being in a deep cave, the bottom of the sea, and being on top of frozen mountain all at once.

 

Entering the rec room Annabeth found the other cabin councilors there as well as the source of the unnatural cold.

 

Standing in front of everyone were Nico, Jason, and Percy. All of whom were Unveiled.

 

Annabeth had always seen Percy as objectively handsome. But there was something about seeing her fiance Unveiled, resembling a bioluminescent deep sea anglerfish whilst standing under a waterfalls made from his own aura that had Annabeth feeling her pulse quicken, her heart race, and her face heat up. It was like she was staring at the very concept of water. Flowing, fathomless, and just simply powerful. It was so...alluring and just plain hot.

 

'well glad to know I still have physical reactions to Percy...' Annabeth thought.

 

"Whipped..." Annabeth heard Leo cough behind her.

 

She felt her blush deepen, and she smirked as she turned and stepped on Leo's foot. Hard.

 

Annabeth and Maggie contained their laughter as Leo swore in Spanish as he hopped away to where his own siblings sat while his hair was smoking.

 

That was when Annabeth's brain clicked as she connected the dots to the problems that had been on her mind.

 

"We're walking incense sticks aren't we!" Annabeth said as she her snapped towards where Percy, Nico and Jason stood and she saw how faintly colored smoke also rose from the three of them.

 

Percy and Jason simply blinked at Annabeth's sudden exclamation, while Nico started laughing.

 

"Hahaha....that-that's actually the best analogy I've ever heard!" Nico said in between fit of laughter.

"Let's go with that!"

 

Shaking her head at her own incredulous reaction, Annabeth walked up to the front row and pulled Percy by his shirt collar and gave him a quick kiss and leaned into his ear.

 

"It looks good on you. Don't ever hide it." Annabeth whispered, as her smirk turned teasing when Percy choked on his own spit.

 

Stepping back, Annabeth sat next to Piper and they both shared a fist bump before turning their attention to the boys on the platform with Chiron.

 

"Okay I'll start." Percy said as he regained his composure.

 

Annabeth listened carefully, recording everything to memory as Percy recounted the what happened at Goode High. He talked about how it was Stymphalian birds but not the usual one they encountered, Jason cut in saying it was the elder Stymphalian birds the first generation monsters, Annabeth noted how Chiron turned several shades of pale hearing that, and as if to prove that Jason was right Nico dumped an obscene amount of spoils of war out from his shadow.

 

Celestial bronze talons, feathers, and beaks were piled on the floor and Annabeth saw Chiron looked about ready to faint.

 

"Those beasts haven't left their island in the sea of monsters since the argonauts drove them there more than two thousand years ago." Chiron said in shock.

 

Percy nodded.

"Well from what my buddies in the Atlantean army told me. The sea of monsters is essentially shifting since The Mist isn't containing it anymore...we should expect the monsters from the islands there to come to the mainland."

 

Annabeth heard and practically felt everyone behind her gasp and curse.

 

"That's why I called everyone here." Percy said as he looked to the crowd.

"Butch mind starting call to the Praetors of New Rome."

 

Annabeth watched as Butch Walker the councilor for Iris Cabin stand and wave his hand to produce a large rainbow.

 

"Connect me to Praetors Hazel Levesque and Frank Zhang." Butch said using his free Iris Message privileges.

 

Soon enough the call went through and the images of Frank and Hazel appeared.

Both were at the Roman forum and looked to be in the middle of a meeting with the Senate, but turned around as they noticed the light from the rainbow and Iris Message as well as the wide eyed looks of the senators.

 

Annabeth looked fondly at Percy as he smiled seeing Hazel, and she tried not to laugh at the shocked looks on Hazel and Frank's faces.

 

"Percy, Jason?!" Hazel asked in her jaw dropping in absolute shock.

 

"Hello Nico the older brother I love so much." Nico said sarcastically cutting in with a teasing smirk on his face despite his Unveiled form.

 

That had everyone trying to recover from the shock.

 

"I see you guys are in a senate meeting." Annabeth said deciding now was the time to get everything back in track.

"Sorry to interrupt...but somethings happened that we felt we needed to loop you guys in."

 

Percy quickly explained the situation to Hazel, Frank, and the rest of the Roman Senate.

 

"Well...good to know we weren't the only ones." Hazel said as she sighed.

"The Moirai were also just here...they just appeared in the forum a few minutes ago and did the exact same thing and left some kind of prophecy I think before leaving."

 

"Actually I don't think it was a prophecy at all." Annabeth said.

"I think it was more like a proclamation."

 

For a moment everyone was silent. Neither the Romans nor the Greeks said anything, just silently praying that Annabeth was wrong. Even just that one time.

 

"Ms. Chase is sadly correct." Someone said breaking the silence all of a sudden.

 

Annabeth turned around and her eyes widened as she saw Lord Hermes sitting with his kids.

 

Annabeth was very much thankful he was in a human form, she didn't know how much more reality checks her still adapting brain could take.

 

"Ms. Chase is correct that The Fates didn't speak of a prophecy...no, that little announcement was a proclamation to usher in the new era." Lord Hermes explained as he stepped up to the front, pointedly not looking at the Iris Message so he wouldn't shift into his Roman form.

 

'fuck I was really hoping to be wrong about that' Annabeth thought.

 

"As of some ten minutes ago The Fates appeared in Camp half-blood, Camp Jupiter, and in the middle of the throne room and proclaimed the start of a new age...something they haven't done since the age of gods and heroes ended all those centuries ago." Lord Hermes said as he looked out across the the room.

"As the god of heraldry I've been allowed to come down and announce that a new age has begun. An age of mortals and immortals, of human and divine intertwined. And as of five minutes ago the last of The Mist has completely fallen and Olympus is now fully exposed for all the world to see."

 

The silence that fell over the room was so heavy, it was palpable.

 

Annabeth didn't know where to start. Their entire timeline had just been completely fucked over, if Olympus was already exposed that meant both camps were too, along with all of demigod kind.

 

Wiling her brain to go into overdrive (something she hasn't done since the wars) Annabeth went through a thousand different plans and strategies on how to best deal with the current situation, as well as various outcomes from the best case scenario to the worst, all in a matter of seconds.

 

Annabeth hated how valid Nico's fear about internment camps and genocides we're as those there in her top five most likely worst case scenarios.

 

"The other reason why I am here at the moment is because Mr. Jackson is about to propose a rather interesting idea. Aren't you Percy." Lord Hermes said with usual mischievous smirk.

 

Everyone turned to Percy who blinked looking like he just remembered that he was the one who wanted everyone there.

 

"Right, right! Yeah..." Percy said as he fumbled before regaining his composure.

"Now that the monsters are hunting humans again I propose we do the same... hunting monsters I mean.'

 

"A lot of us still have people out in the mortal world right? We can't just abandon them. I'm not saying we go out there and play hero and save the world...again. no, we don't have to people or resources to do that and I'm personally, I'm not inclined to risk our lives for it. All I'm saying is that we protect the friends and family, and allies we do have out there."

 

For a moment no one said anything, Annabeth saw that her own friends were on board with the idea as most of the Greeks would be since they had more human connections, same with the Hunter's of Artemis since they could hunt again. But the Romans were looking less than enthusiastic.

 

"I agree with Percy." Annabeth said as she looked towards the Roman Senate through the Iris Message.

"Now that the monsters aren't hidden anymore, they can rampage and wreak havoc all they want out in the world. They don't run the risk of disincarnating and turning into abstract concepts and falling into primordial Chaos anymore. They're more solid and anchored to reality now than they've ever been in centuries, and they can eat more than just demigods now, they'll just grow in strength. Whatever plans the gods have wheather it's staying or leaving the country, none of it will matter if our cities and territories get overrun by our oldest enemies and they become too strong for us to fight. We'll only end up getting trapped here in our respective camps.'

 

"We need to push back while the monsters are still adjusting...besides now that we're exposed to the mortal world we need to establish our presence some how. We need to take control of the narrative and the perceptions of humans will have of demigods and the gods before someone else does that for us."

 

By the end of her argument Annabeth could very well see that everyone agreed with her, the only Romans that seemed to hesitate were the older, more traditional ones.

 

"The Fates have already decreed that this is a new age. Clinging to the past won't solve our problems, our traditional means of concealment aren't going to work. We need new methods if we're going to survive. Or is the past more important than survival?" Annabeth said challenging the Roman senators.

 

Using words that she was pretty sure Lupa drilled into the head of every Roman alive Annabeth saw that the last of the doubters vanished and she managed to rally everyone to Percy's side.

 

"Impressive." Lord Hermes spoke reminds everyone that he was there.

"While I know all of you don't need it, you all still have our blessings in this endeavor."

 

"Your not mad?" Percy asked surprised.

 

At that Lord Hermes laughed in this very lighthearted tone that reminded Annabeth of rushing winds, flapping wings, hissing snakes, and jingling coins.

 

"Oh Percy you always were hilarious." Lord Hermes said as he settles down.

"Why would we be mad? We did say that you shouldn't leave camp unless it was of the utmost importance and staying alive is very much important.'

 

"As far as I can tell, your plan is well thought out and doesn't carry any unnecessary risks. So, I'm more that happy to bless you all should any of you choose to journey out into the world once again to accomplish your tasks."

 

With that Lord Hermes waved his hand in the air and the atmosphere in the rooms shifted slightly for a moment.

 

"Should any demigod be willing to go forth on hunting expeditions then this blessing will keep you all safe on your travels to and from your destinations...." Lord Hermes said as he gave everyone a teasing smirk.

"Now, with that settled I must be of as the council is about to reconvene again."

 

With that Lord Hermes bid them goodbye before vanishing in a gust of wind.

 

For a moment everyone just stared wide eyed and gobsmacked at the spot where Lord Hermes was.

 

'why do gods have to be so mind breakingly weird' Annabeth thought.

 

"Hey! Dad left a bag of candy!" Annabeth heard Conner Stoll say.

"Awesome!"

 

"Do not finish all of that by yourselves gentlemen." Chiron said from his place by the window.

 

Annabeth sighed in relief at the very audible pout from both the Stolls.

 

'the last thing we need are hyperactive Hermes kids' Annabeth thought.

 

"Returning to the matter at hand." Chiron said warmly but with an exhausted look on his kind face.

"Percy, Annabeth. Please continue."

 

Clearing her throat Annabeth steeled herself to continue the discussion.

 

Annabeth looked to Percy who nodded and continued what he was saying.

"Okay, like I was saying, we don't need to handle every monster sighting we come across. Just the major ones that pop up, our scouts are in charge of monitoring our territories to see what and who comes crawling out of the woodwork. We go out in hunting parties, not quest teams, because these aren't quests. The Romans already deal with monster sightings in Oakland as battalions and squadrons, same with the Hunters of Artemis." Percy went on explaining.

"Demigods joining the hunts go out in teams of five or seven. Not too big that it attracts more monsters, but not too small that they can't watch each other's backs. And no one under thirteen goes out, that's not negotiable. Hunting parties go in take care of the monsters and get out with no fuss."

 

Annabeth watched as everyone shrugged and nodded at Percy's plan.

 

It was a good plan, in Annabeth's opinion. Not too elaborate or convoluted, just straight to the point and efficient, and most importantly it wasn't meant to interact with the civilian humans that would no doubt start questioning or detaining them.

 

"Okay. That's one problem solved, but what about when people starts asking questions?" Piper asked.

 

At that, everyone including Percy looked to Annabeth who simply smirked confidently.

"Simple, we use the problem that helped cause all this to our advantage.'

 

"Part of the reason why The Mist collapsed is because the humans kept chasing conspiracies and accidentally dug their way into our world right? So, I think it's only fair to use that to our advantage .'

 

"With our secure and untraceable network connections we basically troll any and every chatroom on the internet and implant small tidbits of information leading into the truth. Not what the humans think they know about our world, but the truth, the facts, we also use the online pagan communities into subtly spread real information about us and the gods...eventually at some point we'll have to go out and actually announce ourselves to the world, but hopefully this way the shock and potential backlash won't be too harsh and we might get support from the humans."

 

"Normally, I'd say that plan sounds way too manipulative...but Annabeth's right, we need to manage our image carefully. The risks of things getting violent are way too real." Piper added with a very tired tone.

 

Annabeth couldn't help but wince, out of all the people she knew Piper was the one with the most experience with seedy reporters what with her dad's celebrity status.

 

"Okay, so we have a plan. How are we going to get there?" Clarisse chimed in for the first time.

"Because no way are all of us are going to fit in one van or bus."

 

"I can solve that problem easy!" Leo called out looking both excited and relieved.

"Harley's been in his armoured trucks phase the last couple of months, he has enough armoured vehicles to split between Camp half-blood and Camp Jupiter. Best part is that their all tested and in working condition!"

 

"Are you sure Leo?" Annabeth asked feeling a tad bit concerned.

 

Ever since Harley discovered his inclination for vehicles, his inventions had stopped blowing up around camp.

 

That said though....

 

"Yes!" Leo said practically begging.

"Harley has a entire fleet's worth of armoured all-terrain vehicles. He even made several high-speed amphibious tanks. Please! you guys need to take them. My sanity can't take it anymore! Harley and Colton have been wanting to turn them into sentient automatons! They need a clean slate!"

 

For a moment no one said anything and simply stared at Leo's very much contained pleas.

 

"I believe we have a solution to our problem of transportation." Chiron said breaking the silence.

"And I feel that I will need to have a with those two boys on a later date."

 

Annabeth just nodded. She was not going to poke that issue with a ten foot pole.

 

"On the subject of Colton." Nico said trying to looking unbothered.

"How goes his firearms smithing?"

 

"Why are you asking?" Percy asked concerned and slightly suspicious as he looked at Nico.

 

Annabeth instantly understood what Nico was subtly implying.

 

"Insurance and contingency plans." Annabeth said cutting in.

"As difficult as the choice is. Colton's skill set is an advancement we might need...I'm not saying we should ask him to mass produce his guns, but his skills could help us long term."

 

"Are you quite certain of this Ms. Chase?" Chiron asked, his calm and serene expression betraying the old and stressed out look Annabeth could see in his eyes.

"The only other demigod child of Lord Hephaestus gifted in gunsmithing had been Samuel Colt who contrary to mortal history books would say, he in reality grew to regret ever making the first revolvers to aid in the war...he especially regretted even more so releasing his inventions into the mortal world.'

 

"I would be remiss as your teacher and trainer if I didn't caution you of this, even more so in asking a young boy to do what you might ask of him."

 

For a moment Annabeth really hated that she couldn't feel all that guilty about her decision. She really did, she knew Chiron had a point, but logically she and Nico were right to.

 

"Then the responsibility of the consequences fall to me, but better we be prepared and hopefully not need new kinds of weapons than face a problem where we need them but not have them." Annabeth said plainly, but on the inside she was praying to her mother, Lady Hestia, and Lady Aphrodite that her face conveyed all the emotions she wished she could feel to a greater extent.

 

They must have felt her sincerity and desperation because everyone just nodded resigned to the reality of it all.

 

"Then it's official. We prepare and start hunting as soon as possible." Percy said, his tone grave and his expression intensely serious.

"Now let's talk about teams."

Notes:

Notes:

- if I had to compare a demigod's Unveiled form to anything I went with incense sticks because incense is used I religiously ceremonies and I wanted to highlight that aspect.

- here in my world gods and monsters don't fade when forgotten instead when a monster or god forgets their own identity they become consumed by their domains similar to how the river Acheron and the spirit Acheron had fused as one and the river consumed the god/spirit and that's what happened to Helios and Selene.

- gods and monsters only fade when their domains is destroyed similar to what happened to Pan. If you want to kill a god destroy their domain...ex: want to kill Poseidon? Destroy the sea and horses and the tectonic plates under the earth. Want Zeus gone? Get rid of the sky, clouds and weather or maybe even the atmosphere...

Chapter 9: Escalations and lore

Summary:

Piper focused chapter meant to show more lore and it was the only way I could think of to start introducing my OCs from my first fic...

Notes:

This chapter was easier to write that. I expected. The only thing that made it take so long was editing and the fact that I edited this with the flu

Finding Piper's voice was a bit difficult...but after watching a few celebrity interviews online especially young celebrities I noticed how they're choose their words carefully while still trying to look honest...so I figured even if Piper never like being in the spot light she would still learn to talk like that because it would sound normal to her. So I went with that...tell me your opinion on how I did here in the community

Chapter 9; Piper

 

Piper was sitting at her workstation in the tannery working on her latest design for a hydra skin leather jacket for Nico.

 

The Armourer and Tailor's station at Camp half-blood was one of the many new additions made in the wake of the renovations and was the result of giving demigods access to the internet.

 

Piper remembered the day the Athena, Hephaestus, Hecate, and Hermes kids set up the radio tower.

 

The first thing Stolls did was to start illegally downloading movies from the internet.

 

Normally, Chiron would have had several issues with that, but ever since Mr. D went back to normal and Lord Apollo became a god again they'd been vouching more for him to the council every time he petitioned for something new at camp.

 

It was why they managed to expand the farms beyond strawberries, and had to be renamed 'Delphi's Fruit Service' now.

 

So, to keep the Stolls from causing trouble he allowed them to keep stealing movies from the internet as long long as they were appropriate and didn't sell the said movies and started a new activity instead.

 

Camp wide movie night Mondays.

 

Chiron hoped it would boost morale and give a sense of normalcy for everyone, especially new campers.

 

And the first few movies they started with was the John Wick movies.

 

Demigods apparently viewed bloody and violent action movies as family friendly and possible reference material, if not a good bonding experience to make fun of awful action scenes and weak stunts...all things considered.

 

Watching those movies was what started everything.

 

Seeing bullet proof suites inspired the Athena Cabin and Piper and her siblings to create monster proof clothing, since wearing their full armour outside of camp wasn't always possible.

 

It hadn't been easy at first. They tried enchanting normal fabrics but enchantments faded and sometimes depending on the fabric it didn't stick at all, Piper and Lou Ellen even convinced the Stolls to get them military grade stuff like kevlar, and the only ones capable at the time of weaving lasting enchantments on clothes had been Malcolm Pace and Maggie Bell the only Athena kids that inherited their mother's weaving skills, and they could mostly only do it on their own clothes.

 

But they didn't quit. They got way too hyper fixated and determined to solve their issues to give up.

Eventually, Piper, Malcolm, and Lou Ellen and her brother Johann realized nothing in the human world would suffice (even if Johann used transmutation to turn their textiles and fabrics into something more durable) so, they stopped looking there decided to see what they had in their side of the world.

 

The idea was that if Apollo (as Lester) could make an arrow out of a talking Oracle tree, then they could use the old fashioned way of making clothing out of otherworldly materials.

 

Luckily, Percy knew a guy who owned a ranch in Texas. Some immortal son of Ares who was big on cowboy life, and had gotten himself a heard of carnivorous sheep.

Apparently, carnivorous sheep, like regular ones needed shearing too and produced usable wool. It was just that unlike normal wool, the ones produced from the monster sheep had plate armour like qualities.

 

Leather had been harder. For one thing they had no idea where to get hides from and asking Apollo if they could use his sacred cattle felt instinctively wrong to do so.

 

It wasn't until Nico brought back a dozen severed hydra heads to camp asking if they could use that instead as well as flesh eating horses that they were able to solve that problem, and as gross as it was to some people Piper discovered she liked making leather and that hydra skin retained it's regenerative properties even after death, not only that, but flesh eating horsehide was even more durable that the wool and even more fancy looking.

 

However it wasn't until Percy suggested they go actively hunt monsters that Piper was able to make much more progress with her leather making and tanning since she no longer had to worry about limited supplies.

 

Speaking of the monster hunts....

 

It had been over three weeks since Percy organized them, and they started fighting back whenever a monster rampaged through New York City. And already, things were getting tense outside of camp.

 

Piper never liked spending too much time on social media because all she ever found there were the haters and her dad's more creepier fans, but she did take a peak every now and again, especially now with how the world was.

 

Piper wasn't surprised by all the more prejudiced people crawling out of the wood work complaining about the sudden appearance a giant glowing mountain and city in the sky above the Empire State Building.

Nor was she surprised by the said prejudice assholes screaming 'it was the end of day's and that all non believers of whatever church they belonged to would burn in hell...' the usual bullshit she's heard before.

 

She also wasn't surprised by the steadily growing panic amongst the human population at the sudden appearance of monsters, nor about the concern and confusion about the sightings of kids in armour popping up to fight the monsters only to then spontaneously vanish.

 

It was why despite wanting to be out in the front lines Piper made the rational decision to stay behind at camp and provide support via armoured clothing.

 

Piper had always tried her best to stay out of the limelight that came with being the kid of a famous celebrity. But between her very recognizable face, her rebellious streak when she was younger, and her father's life, she knew no matter how hard she tried, she would eventually slip up and she would be recognized out there.

 

She had no intention of being the face that launched a thousand ships, so to speak.

 

Piper didn't want to have to choose between her dad's safety, and that of her siblings and friends. So, she took herself out of the equation.

 

That said though, Annabeth's plan was working well...too well in fact and events were moving faster than they would have hoped.

 

'I think she sometimes forgets to factor in human recklessness and stupidity' Piper thought.

 

It also didn't help that over the past three weeks that monster related incidents kept going up. It was getting to the point that Camp half-blood was getting stretched thin.

 

Just last week the Nemean Lion had rampaged through Brooklyn attracting a lot of people. Percy, Nico, and Jason all had to go there personally and deal with it, and this was while the Minotaur had tried to go on a mass killing spree in Queens NY that had 'The Omens' dealing with it, followed by a giant sea serpent attacking Brooklyn bridge hours later.

 

From what Piper heard when everyone got back alive. That day had been complete chaos.

 

A lot of people, from normal humans to clear-sighted mortals had all been caught in the crossfire and many were injured, some even died during those monster attacks.

And while it wasn't the complete shit show they expected to happen if the world ever fell apart, it was slowly getting there nonetheless.

 

'I'm just glad dad isn't in California right now' Piper thought as she finished dyeing the leather and hung it to dry.

 

Leaving the tannery in the back, Piper went back out front to the main part of the armourer and tailor's station where she found Clovis of all people there with his brother Sebastian.

 

"Hey guys!" Piper said as she walked towards a table with a pile of sealed packages wrapped in brown paper and handed two of them to the two boys waiting by the counter.

"Your orders are all set...one knit armoured sweater for Clovis, and a crochet armoured hoodie for Sebastian.'

 

"That's a total of four drachma."

 

Clovis simply smiled and covered his yawn with a his hand, while Sebastian nodded and handed Piper the gold coins.

"Thanks Piper...your a lifesaver...literally."

 

Piper laughed and swatted at the compliment, but she was smiling brightly.

 

Contrary to popular belief, Hypnos kids weren't boring, they were in fact, some of the most interesting and friendly people in Piper's opinion.

That's if your could stay awake long enough while around them though.

 

It also didn't hurt that they were all varying degrees of hot that could give anyone a sexuality crisis.

 

'if only Sebastian was interested in romance' Piper thought before giving herself a mental smack upside the head.

 

She could sense Sebastian had never been one for romantic or even sexual relationships. Not that it was any of her business, Piper's ability to sense people sexual and romantic preferences and orientation was something all Aphrodite kids could do and it was more of a passive sense like seeing or hearing, it did make interacting with people easier though.

 

"I'll be honest Sebastian...your commission order was surprising...you usually go for a sharp gentleman aesthetic." Piper noted curiously.

 

Sebastian simply shrugged.

"I'm updating my pajamas...and carnivorous sheep wool is really soft."

 

Piper laughed and snorted at that.

"Can't argue with that. Combat pajamas though?'

 

"Not that I'm judging...and honestly I don't think anyone outside of your cabin can pull that look off flawlessly...I mean can you imagine Clarisse going into a fight in pajamas."

 

Sebastian laughed slightly and so did Clovis.

"Call is a gift." Clovis said in his usual sleepy laid back manner.

"No one's ever seen our dad sparring with uncle Than in nothing but his sleeping robes..."

 

That had caught Piper's interest fast.

 

Like she said they were some of the most interesting people she's met, because Hypnos kids had a tendency to say the most random but mind boggling stuff then not add context.

 

Piper blinked stunned by that little visual.

"How...?"

 

Clovis and Sebastian simply shrugged and smirked at the same time.

"Sometimes someone in our family is born with a resistance to Tartarus's effects dad gave us a blessing and let astral project there once for a family reunion." Clovis explained.

 

Piper blinked at that. She's heard some of the stories Percy, Annabeth, Nico, and even Will had about their encounters with The Primordial Nyx.

 

"Mind if I ask the story about that?" Piper asked because she couldn't for the life of her imagine Nyx and all her children having a wholesome family reunion with the burning landscape of Tartarus as the background.

 

Sebastian simply shrugged again.

"Unlike the gods, Primordials don't need worship to stay anchored to their identities. Primordials rely on the collective consciousness and perception of them to maintain their bodies." Sebastian explained.

"The major downside is that it makes Primordials prone to major mood swings.'

 

"And in the case of our grandmother she suffers from near personality altering mood changes since unlike other Primordials she maintains her physical form long term since her domain is constantly moving."

 

Piper simply stared at the Clovis and Sebastian for about a full minute.

"Wow. and here I thought learning about the eight forms of love and discovering my mom was also a war goddess would be the biggest revelations in my life...outside of finding out I was demigod.'

 

"How do you guys know this stuff?" Piper asked.

"The way you guys say it. It sounds like top tier cosmic secrets...like the very mind breaking classified kind?"

 

Clovis and Sebastian chuckled quietly.

 

"Dreams aren't just the stuff that goes on in heads or in our case whatever premonition fate hands us...dreams are cosmic stuff and the dreams of Primordials are like worlds on to themselves..." Clovis explained.

"Honestly if I had to sum it all up I think H.P Lovecraft put it into words best when it came cosmic stuff."

 

At that Sebastian gestured in a so-so manner but agreed nonetheless.

 

"As gods awful of a person as he was his writing got a lot of stuff mildly right....even the mind breaking aspect...which is why we don't tell people half the shit we know." Sebastian said.

 

At that Piper agreed and decided not to ask more along those lines.

 

She may be a demigod, but even her brain had it's limits.

"I'm starting to see why our parents decided to not tell us about all this."

 

"That's normal. Even a demigod's brain has it's limit." Sebastian said as he and Clovis moved towards the door.

"Oh. And two more things before I forget.'

 

"Jason and Percy along with their teams are back from their hunts this morning...their in the infirmary. Minor injuries thanks to their armoured clothes, but things got ugly out there. The Trojan sea monster and a new species of Chimera attacked New York harbor, it was messier than usual. Cops got involved and from what I gathered there was a fire fight, no one got hurt by the cops but...I think Percy might call another councilors meeting soon."

 

Piper looked at Sebastian in shock hearings that.

 

"What's the other thing?" She asked dreading the answer.

 

"That weird thing going on with your older brother and that guy from the Ares Cabin. It got worse and Drew decided to challenge both of them to a duel to finally settled things. Should be going on right about now." Sebastian said as he and Clovis left the tailor's station.

 

For a moment Piper simply stared off into nothing as she let what she was told sink in.

Then, afterwards she shook herself and immediately, ran for the door and hurried off to the colosseum arena.

 

The weird tension between her new older brother and that guy from the Ares Cabin was finally coming to a head if Drew decided to put her foot down before she and Mitchell could ask her.

 

'I hope Percy doesn't get too mad' Piper thought as she sprinted to where half the camp was heading off to watch what could a be a very bloody duel.

Notes:

Notes:
- in this au I made it so that only the children of Aphrodite who inherit their mother's war epithet Aphrodite Areia have charmspeak...it was the easiest way to make it make sense since Drew and Piper are both confrontational when pushed but Drew sometimes acts like an Ares kid while Piper is more rational like an Athena kid when it comes to fights

- in canon monsters drop spoils of war like prizes games but it wasn't consistent. So I made it consistent via the dismemberment method like what Percy did with the minotaur. This pushes demigods to fight harder while also forcing them to not end fight too quickly if they want to harvest monster parts. Parts cut off don't turn to dust when the main body is slain and since most monsters are big they don't need much.
-also here worship is what keeps gods anchored to reality like I mentioned in the last chapter notes worship keeps a god from being consumed by their own domain except for Primordials who rely on the collective perceptions of them

- I also wanted to include the triple G ranch because it seemed the easiest way for demigods to get the resources they would need and because I felt like a ranch would also would have sheep... don't know why just thought it would...and I doubt anyone's would feeling too bad about using monsters that specifically eat people as resources

- also I couldn't not imagine the Stolls not pirating movies the second they have internet

- I made it so here Chiron had for awhile now been trying to petition the council to expand the strawberry farm but kept her denied as his side kept getting out voted. But after Mr. D got fixed and Apollo became a god again they supported the idea and so he got permission...also I liked the idea that since he was the activities director of camp he would be making new activities mostly just to keep hyperactive demigods from doing stupid things and giving them a means to burn energy by dinner.

Chapter 10: The Third Domino: revelations beyond the the campfire

Summary:

When tensions between campers get out of hand and idiots need to be handled. And Percy dealing with things that would give anyone grey hairs

Notes:

- A continuation of the previous chapter meant to add more into the world building and be a transition to future chapters

- okay more tags and fandoms have been added this is because now more of the mortal world will be involved with the demigods and so New York police will be added as well as the feds because remember the feds literally issued a man hunt for Percy when he was 12...they genuinely believed Mist or no Mist that a 12 yrs kid would be a threat to national security a 12 yrs old kid hunted by the FBI fugitive task force...or something equal to that by the feds

- major edit on this because I found major mistakes on my part everyone who wants to reread this it...better now?

Chapter 10; Piper

 

When Piper reach the colosseum arena she found that the place was packed with people.

 

'oh gods why do I have a bad feeling about this' Piper thought as she got up to the stands where she found her brother Mitchell as well as Annabeth, Leo, Thalia, Jason who had bandages around his arms, and a very unhappy looking Percy sitting closest to the arena.

 

"I swear Mitchell and I talked to them both weeks ago and I even threatened to beat both their asses if they didn't stop being dumbasses." Piper said quickly.

 

As much as Percy was one of Piper's closest friends, he was still technically her commanding officer since he was the Commander-General of the Greek army.

 

He earned the titles he had through blood and tears from everything he'd accomplished and she would never not respect that.

 

Before Piper could continue her rambling Percy put up his hand and smiled sadly at her.

"I'm not mad Pipes...at you anyway." Percy said and gestured to Mitchell.

"Mitchell already told me everything. I'm just beyond pissed at those idiots though."

 

Percy then gestured to the fighting pit where Piper's siblings Drew Tanaka and Cotton Mathis as well as that son of Ares named Roman Messer were about to duke it out.

 

"What happened out there?" Piper asked as she sat down next to her brother.

"The passed three weeks those two have been quiet, especially since Drew had been watching them. Weren't they even on separate hunting teams to?"

 

"Drew was on one of the scouting teams. She was the one who called for a pickup and brought them back." Percy said looking both frustrated and tired.

"Their teams were on separate hunts. Small packs of hellhounds down in the Bronx, they ran into each other, got into an argument while hunting and the hellhounds ambushed them and their teams while those two asshats were busy fighting each other. No one died, but everyone was banged up and one guy is in the infirmary for surgery right now."

 

Piper winced as the look on Percy's face got even more intense.

 

"I was in the infirmary myself with Jason when Drew came in dragging them by the ears after she punched them both, told me everything and then challenged them to a duel.'

 

"The only reason why me and Chiron are even approving this is because the Stoll's convinced me it was good for morale and because better Drew beat the crap out of them than me."

 

Piper put her head in her hands and rubbed her temples.

 

'adults my ass. Those two are idiots!' Piper thought as she looked out over the arena where her two siblings and the Ares boy were.

 

"They were right. This is the most upbeat camps been in weeks....and yeah I don't think Cotton or Roman would survive if you beat the crap out of them." Piper said with a sigh.

"I'm betting ten drachma Drew stabs at least one of them in the foot."

 

Piper smiled seeing Percy smirk and she was able to sense his mood lighten slightly.

 

"She better." Percy said as he leaned back in his seat.

"I'm going to have them running laps around camp after this."

 

Piper tried not laugh at the punishment Percy had in store for those two once everything was done.

Instead, she sat back and watched as her bitchiest sister would no doubt knock sense into the two biggest sources of her most recent headaches.

 

Finally after several minutes, Chiron came out in his full centaur glory and walked into the center of the frighting ring.

 

"I would like to remind everyone this is an exhibition duel!" Chiron called out silencing the excited cheers in the stands.

"As such the fight goes until one side yields or can no longer fight. No killing, no maiming, and no crippling injuries understood!"

 

Piper watched as Chiron give Drew a stern look as Drew nodded, and then proceeded to give a look of utter disappointment to Cotton Mathis and Roman Messer who at least had the audacity to look ashamed.

 

It was one thing to be stupid and put yourself in danger, and something else entirely to put other people, especially your own teammates into a life-or-death situation because of stupidity.

 

With the confirmation given, Chiron stepped out of the arena and a moment later Piper heard the bell ring.

 

Piper watched as her sister drew out her personal weapons (a one-handed celestial bronze estoc and a large celestial bronze bladed tessen) in the blink on an eye, and charged right at Cotton and Roman with speed equal to a Hermes kid.

 

When Piper had first found out she was a demigod daughter of Aphrodite she hadn't been all that thrilled. But after the war and having learned more about her Greek heritage things changed.

 

For one thing she learned that her mother was also recognized as a war goddess in many of the ancient Greek cities, and it was why she had charmspeak. To be a chosen or blessed child of Aphrodite meant that Piper just like Drew and Cotton (which was a rare thing among boys) meant that they were born inheriting their mother's war epithet known as Aphrodite Areia. It was also explained why Drew fought the way she did.

Piper also learned that, there was more than one form that love could take on, and that as children of the goddess of love they each had a strong inclination to one or more of them.

 

Piper herself favored philia, storge, and agape, while Drew was inclined to philautia and Eros.

 

Speaking of Drew, bringing her attention back to the present Piper watched as Drew engaged Cotton and Roman by surging towards them.

In response, Roman swung his longsword at Drew while Cotton thrust his spear.

 

Drew ducked down and dodged, sliding across the ground between the two guys, and as she did, Piper saw that Drew used her tessen and cut Roman's ankle before twisting around and stabbing Cotton in the shoulder and moving back to gain distance from her opponents.

 

Piper watched as Drew silently surge forward again, closing the gap between herself and Cotton in seconds.

Drew deflected his spear with her tessen, before stabbing him in the foot, and then headbutting him, only to then pull her sword out and manoeuvre Cotton into a position where Drew somehow managed to lift Cotton of the ground in what resembled a wrestling move and then she threw him straight into Roman who had come charging at them from behind.

 

The two adult demigods collided, falling to the ground, and before anyone could process what just happened, Drew was standing over them with her sword pointing just inches from their throats.

 

Piper watched in complete shock as Drew, her least favorite sibling and the one who hated fighting the most just take down two opponents twice her size in less than five minutes and was now glaring down at them looking like their mother when she was pissed.

 

"damn..." Piper whispered to herself.

Piper was shocked to say the least, she knew Drew could fight, she was the one who lead their cabin during the battle of Manhattan after Selina was removed after all, and just like her she also inherited their mother's war aspect, there was no reason for Piper to think Drew didn't know how to fight.

 

But this was the first time Piper had ever seen Drew in a battle before.

The only other time Piper had ever seen Drew with a weapon in hand before was when she decided to teach their younger siblings to fight with knives and daggers.

 

"I know what your thinking." Mitchell said next to her.

"Drew has a personal rule about not fighting siblings at full strength unless they do something life threateningly stupid."

 

Piper looked to her brother as her jaw dropped.

"She was going easy on me when I fought her for the cabin councilor position?"

 

Mitchell shrugged.

"Ehhh....more like she fought you on a level playing field with that charmspeak off."

 

Piper was a little floored by that sudden realization. That her sibling who liked fighting the least was probably the deadliest person in their cabin.

 

It wasn't just because of her skills though, it was because Drew didn't fight like a warrior or a soldier like everyone else at camp.

No, Drew fought like an assassin, fast, efficient, and going straight for the instant kill right from the start.

 

Soon enough Piper saw Chiron come back out.

"This match is over! The Victor is Drew Tanaka daughter of Aphrodite!"

 

The entire arena spontaneously erupted into cheers. Piper was also slightly drachma richer.

 

As the cheering died down as Cotton and Roman were sent to the infirmary, Percy stood up and clapped his hands grabbing everyone's attention.

"Councilor's meeting! I want all cabin councilors and lieutenants in the Big House ASAP!"

 

Without waiting for anyone to respond Percy and Annabeth left the colosseum arena and Piper quickly followed with Mitchell walking fast beside her.

 

"Aside from what just happened. Know any other reason why Percy would be calling another meeting?" Mitchell asked as he caught up to Piper.

 

"You haven't heard?" Piper asked surprised.

 

Gossip traveled through camp faster than Zeus could throw the master bolt after all.

 

"Clovis and Sebastian told me the monster hunt this morning ended with cops shooting at Percy and Jason." Piper told her brother who understandably choked in shock.

 

"Seriously!" Mitchell commented.

 

Piper just nodded in agreement.

 

When they got to the Big House the other councilors were still coming in and Piper lead Mitchell up front where she sat next to Annabeth again along with her siblings and Thalia who, now that she thought about it must have just come back to camp.

 

"Okay. If you guys don't already know then let me update everyone." Percy said once everyone was in the rec room.

"Early today more of the new monsters attacked the city harbor along with the Trojan sea monster. Obviously we took care of it...but the attack drew the cops there and they...sort of shot first asked questions never...."

 

"What!" Annabeth exclaimed loud enough for Piper's ears to ring as she sensed her genuine shock and fear which was rare nowadays.

"Why are you just now telling that part!"

 

'Percy is definitely the only one who can do that' Piper thought.

 

Percy looked embarrassed as he scratched his head.

"Didn't want to worry you? And also I kind of wanted to just inform everyone in one go and not repeat everything again."

 

Annabeth for the part took a deep breath as she sat back down.

"That part is understandable."

 

"Anyway. After escaping that fiasco, it's become official the humans are now taking action, the government called in the national guard and New York City is locked down and they're surrounding the Empire State Building."

 

For a moment everyone in the room was silent and the only emotions Piper could sense clearly were fear and unyielding resolve.

 

'no one is backing out of this fight that I'm sure' Piper thought to herself as she shared a look with Mitchell.

 

"Moving on! I want an update on that conspiracy thing we talked about... how's that going?" Percy asked.

 

Piper watched as the Stolls clumsily got up with their own laptop.

 

"The whole subtly educating the humans has been going smooth..." Connor Stoll explained.

"...we might have also accidentally... converted Greece and a few other countries in the Mediterranean to old Hellenism though..."

 

Piper and from what she could tell, stared at Connor Stoll in open mouthed shock.

 

Even Chiron was speechless.

 

"Explain." Percy said tiredly rubbing his face.

 

"Well...you see...Travis and I were doing as you guys said. We anonymously reached out to the pagan communities and found the new age Hellenists. I even managed to make friends with a few people in the Supreme Council of Ethnic Hellenes up in Greece...I honestly don't know how but somewhere between getting to know them and subtly teaching them about having a deeper understanding and worship of the gods I may have somehow recruited the current president of the country along with several other government figures...until Hellenism became the dominant religion in Greece and not Orthodox Christianity..." Connor Stoll explained.

"I swear I didn't mean to do that! And it's all over the news...at least news outside camp...."

 

"Okay that's on us. But in my defense, listening to the news is just depressing." Percy commented with a sigh and a slight pout.

 

Honestly, Piper didn't blame him. The news out in the mortal world was like really depressing lately, and she only ever tuned into it if there was any mention of her dad.

 

"Okay...but isn't this a good thing?" Piper said as she stood up.

 

She might not be the counselor for Aphrodite Cabin anymore but she still had some level of leadership at camp.

 

Unlike the Romans, Greek demigods much preferred to follow those more experienced. Age didn't mean much to them since they rarely lived to adulthood, so campers had a tendency to follow those who had survived more quests or had more titles under their belt given to them by the gods as recognition of their accomplishments.

 

And last Piper checked, she still held the title of being her mother's champion and every other title she claimed during the Giants Wars.

 

"Let's look at it this way. If the old countries are going back to Hellenism then if the gods do decide to relocate us then it might be easier. Right? And at the very least we might have some support from the humans."

 

"Piper's right...the purpose of the plan was after all to gain support from the humans." Annabeth said as she stood up as well.

"Which worked...even if it got out of hand.'

 

"Although, the presence of Mt. Olympus floating above the New York sky might also be contribute to humanity's irrationality at the moment."

 

"You think?" Piper said teasingly.

 

"Well as it stands I think we're now in a position to make out next move." Percy said getting everyone's attention back.

"Butch I need you to make two rainbows use one to call Camp Jupiter if you will."

 

Standing on the stage Piper watched as Butch began projecting two rainbows and then used one to contact Camp Jupiter.

 

The image of Frank and Hazel soon came into view and from what Piper could tell, it looked like they were in they're praetor's office doing paperwork and not I front of the whole Senate for once.

 

"Hey guys." Percy said drawing their attention.

 

And even through Iris Message Piper could tell they were both exhausted.

 

"Percy!" Hazel said cheerfully.

"Nico just arrived here by the way."

 

'So that's where he went.' Piper thought as she now just realized the distinct absence of Nico in the Big House.

 

"That's awesome...I don't have to look for him then. I need to make an announcement anyway and we need to talk." Percy said as he fished out a drachma from his pocket and tosses it into the second rainbow.

"Oh Iris goddess of the rainbow and patron of demigod communication please accept my offering. Show me my father Poseidon in the throne room on Olympus."

 

"Percy!" Piper and probably half the camp yelled as Percy once again surprised them by doing something crazy like interrupting the gods while they were having a meeting.

 

Piper watched in slowly dawning horror as the image of Percy's Dad appeared but unlike the many other times she'd had seen him, this time Lord Poseidon wasn't in a human form.

No, Lord Poseidon looked like water itself, as well as a myriad of sea creatures and horses all with glowing sea green eyes, swimming deep within his dark watery form.

 

"Percy?" Lord Poseidon asked as the Iris Message glowed next to him.

"Now isn't a good time!"

 

For the most part Percy smiled at his dad and did look a bit sheepish.

"Sorry dad but I really needed to make an announcement and maybe even suggest a plan."

 

"Poseidon! Who are you talking to?" Came the rumbling voice of Zeus from somewhere.

"Who is interrupting out our council meeting!"

 

"That would be me!" Percy called out as he waved through the Iris Message.

 

Piper face palmed as she had the sudden feeling like someone was about the get smited.

 

"I want to propose something to the council!" Percy said catching everyone's attention.

 

Much to Piper's growing shock, Percy then turned to them and smiled his usual casual, self-assured grin.

 

"If me and the seven along with Nico and Thalia could stand before the council I might have a solution to a few of our problems."

 

Piper, like Percy's dad, could only stare at Percy in absolute bewilderment, because of all the things she had expected Percy to say. Asking to stand before the council of the gods wasn't anywhere near the list.

 

"Tell that boy of yours to focus on his own problems and not ours!" Zeus said, still unseen, but his frustration could be felt all the way there.

 

"At least hear him out brother!" Lord Poseidon answered back.

"It's not like he can suggest anything worse than what we've heard so far!"

 

For a moment there was a tense silence as Lord Poseidon looked off somewhere behind him. But eventually someone sighed.

 

"Very well. Bring the boy and his friends and my daughter here. But I reserve the right to strike him down if he suggests anything foolish!" Zeus said angrily.

 

To which Percy just rolled his eyes.

 

But soon enough Piper soon felt the tell tale signs she was about to be taken to Olympus. The air around her grew warm, and she caught the faint smell of sea salt and the screeching of seagulls, before all she could see was a blinding light.

 

Next thing Piper knew, she was standing in the middle of the the throne room and she was looking out at her mother who looked the most normal, or at the very least the most comprehensible.

 

Piper noted that her mother still looked the way she always did. Appearing as what other people saw as the most beautiful. The only difference now was that her mom's form shifted more, and at a faster rate, and that she was wrapped in a web of red strings.

 

'red string of fate' Piper thought as she realized her mother's more godly form included the connections every person had to each other. It was the very essence of love after all.

 

"Alright boy. What plan do you think you have that will be of use to us?" Lord Zeus called out grabbing everyone's attention.

 

Piper stood back and watched as Percy stood in front of the gods unflinching and unafraid as always, but bowed in respect before his dad and then the rest.

 

"As everyone here is aware by now that for the past three weeks both camps have been hunting monsters to keep their numbers down, we've also been carefully guiding the pagan communities into the right way of worshipping the gods to hopefully gain support." Percy said.

 

"Yes. That was a masterful move." Lady Athena said from where she sat on her throne.

"Not surprising of my daughter."

 

Piper caught the small shift in emotion from Annabeth.

 

"Hahahaaa...it was quite the show." Lord Hermes said laughing.

"It's all over the headlines...I'm so proud of my boys."

 

"Now though, the humans in the country are starting to panic. The mortal government has sent the national guard and locked down New York City, and the Empire State Building is surrounded..." Percy said as professionally as he could.

"It's time we announce ourselves to the mortal world. I'm very aware that you guys can't? Or at the very least shouldn't since it could upset the balance of the universe and it be sort of like undermining freewill? Unlike back then. So, as much as I would prefer not to...I'm volunteering to lead any press conferences."

 

"Not just Percy!" Nico said suddenly jumping in without being asked to speak causing everyone to look at him.

"As my father's ambassador my office is entirely political in nature and should also be considered to allow me to be involved in establishing relations with the humans."

 

"Me too." Jason said much to Piper's, Thalia's, and Percy's surprise.

"As Pontifex Maximus the full scope of my office is maintaining relations between the gods and mortals, not just in terms of religious ceremonies. I don't see why it has to be limited to mortals within our world."

 

For a moment no one said anything to what Percy just said. But then, Lord Zeus smirked.

"For once Perseus. We agree on something."

 

That was when Piper realized that Zeus already planned on having them be the ones to make the announcements.

 

However, it was seeing the displeased look on her mom's face that told her the reason why they haven't been summoned yet was because it seemed everyone else was against the idea. Or at least, most were.

 

And judging by the look Piper saw on Percy's face he was coming to the same conclusion she had.

 

"Very well. Since you have all volunteered to be the heralds of the pantheon then let us make it official." Lord Zeus called out.

"Perseus Jackson I name you the herald of Olympus who shall announce our return to the world!"

 

"Niccolò di Angelo. My son. Are you certain of the path you wish to take?" Lord Hades asked.

 

Piper blinked, because for a split second she thought she was looking at the underworld itself. As Lord Hades's form was all stone, metal, and bones cloaked in writhing darkness, pale green fire, and wailing souls.

 

"I am father. If peace isn't established soon more death will come and everything will fall apart....besides I can't leave these two lugs to navigate politics." Nico said teasingly pointing to Percy and Jason as he spoke to his father.

 

In response Lord Hades nodded with a tired sigh.

"Very well then. As of this moment, you are no longer the ambassador to Pluto. Rather, I rename you the Ambassador of the pantheon and Emissary of the Underworld. This added title will grant you much more protection as you perform your duties as the Ghost King in foreign pantheons."

 

The look of shock every none chthonic god gave Lord Hades was so comical Piper tried very hard not to laugh.

 

"Do not be surprised that my kingdom interacts with other pantheons. Humanity's insistance of moving about has long thrown the borders of the afterlife into disarray. I am merely maintaining order by any means." Lord Hades said bored.

 

"Maintaining the balance of life and death and the afterlife is your responsibility brother. We will not overstep on what is yours." Lord Zeus commented to get everyone to drop the subject and forget it was ever mentioned.

 

"My dearest Jason." Lady Hera said as she smiled fondly at her stepson and champion.

"Are you sure you want to do this?"

 

Piper used all of her self control not to roll her eyes. Now wasn't the time nor place, especially since her godly form was way more intimidating than her human one, and also because as much as Piper really didn't want to admit it. Hera really did care for Jason like her own child and Jason was one of her best friends and he didn't need more drama in his life.

 

"I am...mom..." Jason said quietly.

 

Piper blinked in surprise as she sensed Jason's full sincerity in those words.

 

"It feels right...I'm currently building more cabins, temples and shrines for all the gods of the pantheon. I believe now that humanity knows we're here it would be good to educate them and correct any misconceptions they may have." Jason explained.

 

"That is very mature of you my dear. And even though we have never really needed to preach word of our existence...with the exception of Dionysus..." Lady Hera said waving dismissively at Dionysus.

"Very well then. From this moment on as queen of Olympus I give you Jason Grace my champion, son of Jupiter and Pontifex Maximus of Rome the authority to educate humanity of our teachings that have been lost to their history."

 

"With that matter settled. Let us return to the issue of whether or not we need to return to the lands of our origins." Lord Zeus said passively.

 

"If I may father!" Lady Athena called out.

"We should at least discuss the growing problem these new monsters are posing."

 

"I don't see any reason for that." Lord Zeus said in a very bored tone.

"They are still the same monsters as they always have."

 

"With respect my king. But they are not." Lady Athena argued.

 

Piper didn't need to be able to sense emotions to know she was getting frustrated.

 

"The beasts from the sea of monsters have been allowed to evolve like any other creature without our knowledge due to their isolation for past several millennia and are now coming to the mainland. Not to mention the fact that even though Typhon is still imprisoned in the Abyss he and Echidna have somehow managed to reconnect allowing the she beast to spawn these new abominations." Lady Athena explained.

 

And from where Piper stood she could tell that wasn't the first time Athena had brought up the subject.

 

"If we do nothing we run the risk of these new monsters either inheriting Typhon's strength or growing into it, becoming threats in the future." Lady Athena went on.

 

"I might have a suggestion." Annabeth said speaking up as she faced the council.

"One of my siblings Marie Ardel has suggested we study monsters the same way zoologists study animals."

 

"Yes! Little Marie one of my youngest children. Of course!" Lady Athena said I what had to be a relieved tone.

"I wasn't aware her interest in biology and zoology had carried over to monsters."

 

Annabeth had simply shrugged at her mother.

"It's a recent development."

 

"Well in that case, I see no further need to discuss the topic if a solution is already present." Lord Zeus said calling everyone's attention again.

"If that is all you have to say then you are all dismissed."

 

Next thing Piper knew there was a blinding flash of light as Zeus waved his hand and suddenly she was standing in the Big House rec room again.

 

"Well that was something." Piper said unsure how to describe what just happened.

 

On one hand, she was glad they had a plan moving forward, on the other, she feels like they volunteered to be Zeus's clean up crew once again, but for the most part Piper was worried how what they were about to do would affect their mortal parents, specifically her dad.

 

"Normally, I would hate that I was even remotely on the same page as Zeus..." Percy said as he sat down in a nearby chair.

"But I'm too tired to care and frankly we have more important stuff to deal with."

 

"Like how are we going to break it to our mortal families first?" Piper asked as the fear dawned on her about just how risky the plan was.

 

Percy nodded looking more tired than she had seen him.

"I thought about that a lot...it's why put off talking about this whole thing."

 

"Once we do this our families in the mortal world will be dragged into this mess I don't doubt that. The government will probably try and look into them...but I don't see any other options...we can't hide forever that would just get us and our families in even more danger, at least doing this means we have some legal protection not just from the law but the gods will have to intervene if push comes to shove to protect their sovereignty."

 

Piper, like everyone else simply nodded. She knew hiding wasn't an option anymore, The Fates made sure of that when they announced the New Age. But it was still a hard thing to accept after hiding for so long that it became a reflex by now.

 

Like learning a new way of fighting after getting used to one method for so long.

 

But whether they liked it or not the world outside of camp wasn't the same as it was a few months ago. They needed to adapt and not just them. So did their mortal families. Their more human families.

 

"Well...we can't just sit around and sulk." Piper said as she grabbed everyone's attention with just a barest hint of her charmspeak.

"We have a lot of work to do before we go out there and a lot of people to talk to."

 

"Piper's right." Percy said as he stood up ran his hand through his hair and straightened his stance.

"I'm open to ideas. Let's start with the security detail."

Notes:

Notes:

- if anyone asks it's in the tags that I'm using more of the myths and lore and actual religious Hellenic views on the gods here so...

- yes the supreme council of ethnic Hellenes is real and they are in Greece they started in 1997 but we're made an official religious group in 2017

- I just thought it would be funny if the Stolls could accidentally convert majority of a country's population to Hellenism via the internet without trying and their dad would find it funny

- the more I thought about Drew and how she would fight since she had been in the battle of Manhattan for some reason I imagined she would fight more like an assassin than a regular soldier and that she would play more ad a scout type role in the army while Piper was more direct cavalry type

- I also wanted to show how after the communication blackout during the war with the emperors demigods realized they took Iris Message for granted since it's always there and they realized everyone needed to show Iris more respect since she is the reason they have a communication system and started to call her the goddess of demigod communication...she doesn't mind it much and her kids deserve more respect

- while not canon I wanted to add that children of Iris have free Iris Message privileges and that with their mother's permission they can act as IT guys for the system and had made a few updates (Butch is mainly the one so far unofficially working for his mother as an IT guy and helps Fleecy...gods know that poor nymph needs help)

Notes:

Let it be said that writing Percy's voice properly to do the character justice wasn't easy...it's why I prefer using OC's but I do hope I got it right...and this is with all of his character development in canon so...

Series this work belongs to:

• Part 2 of Olympian Intelligence/Investigation Agency