Disclaimer: I do not own the works of Rick Riordan nor the story image

AN: For all those new to this story, welcome, I hope you enjoy it. For those who have been following this story from when I first wrote (and pretty much abandoned) it 3 years ago, I don't know how many of you are still on this site but welcome back. I have completely and utterly rewritten this story, so it is barely like what it used to be before. I know that a lot of you enjoyed that other story, so I apologize if this was actually a step back for you. I'm interested to hear your thoughts on which story you think was better. Nonetheless, I personally enjoy what I have written here more, and I guess that's what mostly matters. I do hope that you all enjoy.

When the dusty remnants of Mother Earth finally settle, the lone figure of Percy Jackson is seen atop Half-Blood Hill.

The adrenaline from the battle moments before escapes him, forcing him onto a knee, whilst exhaustion floods his system and nearly overwhelms him into unconsciousness. The view is the only thing that keeps him from doing so, as he gazes out at the ruined remains of his camp. He grips the hilt of his sword harder as tears form at the edges of his eyes.

Percy can't help but feel like this victory was in reality a failure. The battle itself had been gruesome and many demigods—Greek and Roman alike—had been slain in the final acts of this war. Combining the survivors of both camps along with the hunters of Artemis, roughly a hundred demigods had come out with their lives—barely enough for two Roman cohorts. Out of the Prophecy of Seven, Percy, Jason, and Piper were the only ones left.

Hazel was manipulating the mist to make the demigod army appear larger than it was, when she was struck by a rogue arrow. After her magic disappeared from the battlefield, the opposing army of monsters attacked with renewed vigor.

Frank lost all sense of rationale after seeing his lover fall. He bellowed out a fierce battle cry as he transformed into a massive war elephant and charged through the enemy lines, leaving a trail of golden dust behind him. It wasn't long until he was completely surrounded and overwhelmed by a swarm of flesh-tearing hellhounds—his screams of pain were silenced underneath a wave of black.

Leo attempted to kill Gaea by dragging her into the air with his mechanical dragon, Festus. When he was thousands of feet off the ground, he blasted the Primordial Goddess with all his firepower. He exploded in a fiery rain, dealing significant injury to the Earth Mother, but was not able to kill her.

And Annabeth. Her death is one that will haunt Percy for years, for he believes he could have prevented it. On top of the hill, he and Annabeth were the last able fighters to stand in the way of Gaea and her revenge. The fight was long and tedious, as Percy and Annabeth's strikes did little against Mother Earth's unyielding defense. At one point in the battle, Percy made eye contact with his grey-eyed girlfriend, and they had silently agree on a plan. It was only a brief moment—less than a second—but the years they had spent together in their difficult demigod life had forged a connection like no other. Percy quickened his strikes on the primordial goddess, earning her increased attention, while Annabeth slipped on her Yankees hat, as she had been doing throughout the battle, and patiently waited for an opening. When she thought she found one, the blonde daughter of Athena pounced with her celestial bronze dagger and aimed at Gaea's heart from the back. In that same moment, Percy was hit hard with a wall of earth, sending him tumbling back into the grass. Annabeth had already committed to her attack, but Gaea is barely able sidestep enough to wear the dagger sunk into her left shoulder instead. The Earth Mother continued her movements as her right arm quickly sharpened into a deadly stalactite and she buried it into the blonde demigod's stomach. Annabeth's stormy grey orbs widened in shock as maroon blood instantly spurted from her mouth. Percy was frozen on the ground, horrified at the moment in front of him. His sea-green eyes locked onto the teary silver-orbs of the love of his life one last time before they fluttered into the back of her head. Gaea unsheathed her bloodied arm from the Annabeth's stomach, who then fell into a lifeless heap on the ground.

Percy doesn't have much memory of what occurs afterwards, only the emotions stick with him. Sadness, hopelessness, misery, guilt, anger, and finally rage. Pure, unfiltered rage at the deity who was the source of so many deaths to the people he loved. When he regains control, he is left atop the hill, alone.

Finally, his muscles cannot hold him up any longer and he collapses onto the grass. The sun is shining brightly down onto him and he has to shut his eyes to avoid the visual irritation. He silently curses Apollo for being so bright. When the sun is suddenly blocked out, Percy opens his eyes to the remainder of his closest friends. Jason has an arm around Piper's shoulders as she supports him—Percy notices the nasty gash on Jason's foot, likely from a hellhound bite. Both have tears in their eyes from losing most of the Seven. Thalia is kneeling next to him with a somber expression etched onto her face. Not only did she lose Annabeth, someone who she saw as a baby sister, but she also lost more than a dozen hunters, something that the lieutenant of the Hunt took particularly hard. Reyna and Nico stood a little farther back, but both donned similar looks of sorrow.

"C'mon Perce." Thalia says quietly. "Chiron says we've all been summoned to Olympus."

Percy doesn't have the energy to speak so he simply nods, and Thalia and Nico lift him to his feet and support him. They steadily walk away, down the hill; Percy doesn't have it in his heart to face the carnage of his camp once more.

On Olympus

The surviving demigods arrive on Olympus a few hours later. The city is as beautiful as ever, seeing as how it was not defiled in this war, and the streets are bustling with excitement that the war was over and Olympus survived to see another day. The demigods couldn't help but feel bitter, however. They suffered through so much pain and lost nearly all their friends and family, yet those on Olympus seemed to care little for their sacrifices. Though there was nothing they could do to change that, so they continue to march on mournfully until they reach the massive doors of the Olympian throne room.

Entering the room, it was difficult not to be at awe of the sheer size and power the room emitted. Pristine marble decorated the floors and walls as the ceiling was capped by a large marble dome. Annabeth had been the one to help redesign it after the Second Titan War, and Percy could not be prouder of what she accomplished in such a short amount of time. The thought of his grey-eyed lover brought fresh tears to the brim of his eyes, but he did not let them fall.

When the demigods finish filtering into the room, the Olympians quickly hush their seemingly serious conversation. A few moments later, the eldest daughter and son of Kronos, Hestia and Hades, flashed into the room. Hades takes his place at a temporary throne made of whispering shadows, while Hestia settles next to steady embers of the Hearth of Olympus. The goddess acknowledges the exhausted demigods with a sympathetic smile. Although he still feels depressed over the result of the war, he cannot help but feel a little better whilst meeting the gaze of his favorite goddess.

"Welcome warriors of Olympus!" Zeus thunders, stealing Percy from his thoughts and garnering the room's attention. "Today is a day that will forever be immortalized in history! The day where we accomplished the impossible, stopping Gaea and her children from taking control of the world and plunging it into chaos!"

Zeus fully expects to hear the loud cheers of the remaining campers, excitement at the thought that the light of Olympus still burns bright. So he is surprised, and a bit pissed off, when his magnificent introduction is met mostly with silence, many of the campers not even giving him their attention but instead lost with faraway looks in their eyes. Even to his annoyance, he presses on with his speech.

"You have done a great service to Olympus demigods, and you shall be rewarded!" Again, silence dominates the room, but Zeus now has the attention of most of the campers. They were still upset, but that doesn't stop the curiosity in wanting to hear what the King of the Gods has to say. "You will be immortalized in texts and art so that demigods generations down the line will hear of your bravery and strive to be like you." He states proudly.

Nearly all the campers can't believe what they just heard. "Are you kidding me?!" One camper shout. It turns out to be Clarrise La Rue, the head counselor of the Ares cabin. "After we fought through two wars for you and most of our friends and family are dead, you think writing our names in some little book will make up for that? My siblings are dead, my boyfriend is dead, what do you expect us to do from here?" She's almost screaming, and the edges of her eyes appear wet. It was the first time anyone had seen the aggressive daughter of Ares so vulnerable.

Most of the council shifts uncomfortably in their thrones, but the Lord of the Skies grits his teeth in insult as his hands grip the arms of his throne tighter. "You accept our gift gratefully, that is what you do!" Zeus booms. He swats his hand away in a dismissive manner as he slides back into his throne. "Move on and get over it, wait a few years and we'll have your camps refilled in no time."

The Queen of the Gods scowls at her husband at the insinuation, but refrains from saying anything. Artemis is disgusted as well but also chooses not to speak out against her father and king.

Clarisse looks at the Zeus in disbelief, along with all the other demigods. The blatant disrespect their supposed king showed their fallen comrades infuriates them, but they know they cannot do anything for Zeus could vaporize them in an instant. Clarisse looks towards her father for any form of support—even if she has been terrified of him her whole life. Many of his children had been among those who perished, surely their death would mean something to him, right? His sun-glassed eyes do face her, hiding his sockets of fire from view, but he merely grunts and shrugs.

"Now that we have settled that," Zeus continues. "Its time to reward the heroes who truly made a difference in this war!" he says, glaring mockingly at the daughter of Ares.

"Jason Grace! My son, step forward!" The king boasts proudly.

Jason is embarrassed by the sudden attention, but a quick squeeze to the shoulder from Piper and nod from Percy gives him the confidence to limp towards his father. When he reaches the foot of his father's throne, he kneels down and bows his head in respect.

"Jason, my boy, you have proven to be a fierce warrior and your services to Olympus are invaluable." Zeus begins proudly. "It would be a mistake for you not to remain a loyal subject of Olympus, and so I bestow upon you the gift of godhood!"

Shocked gasps escape the mouths of many of the campers, most notably from the Cherokee daughter of Aphrodite. Piper's hands fly to her mouth and she doesn't know if she should feel happy that her boyfriend was offered such a prominent gift, or scared at the prospect of him leaving her for it. Jason, who is still kneeled on the floor, looks up at his father with utter shock in his sky-blue orbs, his mouth hangs open and he can't find any words to say.

But then he begins thinking about all the friends he just lost in the war, and how if he accepts this gift then he will never die to see them again. He thinks about Leo's impish smile and eccentric behaviors. About Hazel and how the young girl was the kindest soul he ever met. He thinks about Frank, who's baby face and clumsy nature did nothing to match his hulking figure. And about Annabeth and how the wise daughter of Athena was prepared for anything, while being such a loyal friend. Finally, he thinks about Percy and Piper. If he was receiving such an award, then there was no doubt in his mind that Percy would receive something similar. That just left his beautiful girlfriend. She was part of the Seven too, would that mean she would receive godhood as well? He wasn't sure, and because of that he knew what his decision would be.

Slowly making his way up to his feet, he once again gazed up to his father, but this time with a determined expression. "Father, I thank you for your gracious offer, but I cannot accept."

Gasps are once again heard around the throne room, coming from campers and deities alike. Piper is in tears, and again she's in a dilemma on not knowing how to feel. Should she be happy that he chose her, or guilty that she might have taken this away from him?

Zeus looks down at his son is disbelief as well, never thinking that someone would again turn down his gift of godhood, let alone his own flesh and blood. He grits his teeth in slight annoyance before speaking. "May I ask why you cannot?" he says slowly.

Jason continues to stand resolved in front of the Lord of the Skies. "I wish to once again see my friends one day." He says undoubtedly, before his voice softens and he turns slightly and makes contact with kaleidoscope eyes. "And I still have people here that I don't want to leave behind."

Zeus sighs at the Romeo and Juliet-esque response and looks towards the Goddess of Love, who gives him an excited nod. "Very well, son." He says tiredly. "What is your response if we were to make both you and Piper McLean gods?"

The demigods in question are stunned, before their gazes meet as if they were participating in silent conversation. After a few moments, they both close their eyes and nod their head in conviction. Piper moves to stand next to Jason and he reaches out to grasp her hand. "We must thank you Lord Zeus," Piper says. "But we again must decline your offer. While it is an honor to be considered for something as big as godhood, we simply would like to be able to see our fallen friends one day."

Zeus cannot believe what he is hearing, as does most of the council. Within the last two years, three separate demigods have declined to receive the highest honor possible. The king shifts his gaze to his son once again and raises a brow for confirmation. Jason simply nods his head.

Zeus huffs in annoyance but makes sure to reign in his temper. "Very well," he says tightly. "You may ask—"

"If I may interrupt, father." The Goddess of the Moon butts in. Zeus looks annoyed at the interruption but motions for his daughter to speak. "What if instead of godhood we offer them something similar to my hunters' blessing? Immortality with the ability to still be mortally wounded."

Both Zeus and the demigod couple take a moment to consider Artemis' proposal. The king once again faces the two demigods. "And what say you?" He asks.

Piper and Jason think a while longer before seemingly coming to a decision. "Father, we would be honored to accept this gift." Jason says while Piper nods her head in agreement.

Zeus can't help but smirk lightly. Sure, it wasn't what he initially wanted but at least his warrior son still had some use to fight whatever enemies the Olympians still had. Him and Aphrodite both stand from their thrones and shrink down to their mortal size. They walk up to the two demigods before blessing them with the same partial immortality as Artemis with her hunters. Their powers inherited from their parents amplify from the blessing.

Thalia was the next to be called forward, seeing as she was also a child of Zeus. She had been offered godhood as well but turned it down to remain the lieutenant of the Hunt. She felt like she didn't deserve such a gift after failing to protect so many of her sisters. Once again, Zeus was angered, but Artemis' silver orbs shone with pride. Instead, the daughter of Zeus asked that Hestia and Hades thrones be returned to them and that they join the Olympian Council. Hestia because the goddess was one of the few who actually treated demigods well, and Hades as a favor to Nico.

Speaking of Nico, like the others, he was offered godhood and turned it down. Instead, the son of Hades asked that all the campers who died in the last two wars find a home in Elysium. Hades was able to promise that, but he still wanted his son to become immortal. Like Piper and Jason, Nico also received the blessing of partial immortality, as well as the official title of "Ghost King".

Reyna was offered partial immortality like the rest, which she did accept. Like Thalia, she felt that she had let down her legionnaires of New Rome. With this blessing, she was determined to rebuild the camp to its former glory and make sure the sacrifices of her people were remembered forever in its history.

Finally, it was the moment most of the campers were waiting for—what would the Olympian Gods offer Percy Jackson? Even though he was practically the same age as the rest of them, he was already a legend in the mythological world. They all looked up to him, not just as a hero, but as a leader and friend as well.

Unfortunately for Percy, he wasn't in the mood to act like the hero they thought he was. Instead, his eyes were red from past tears and he could still barely move his body. He was utterly exhausted, both physically and emotionally, and he didn't really care about this damn award ceremony. Why should he be rewarded when so many others sacrificed their lives to win this war? Where was their reward? If anything, he thinks that he should be down in the underworld with them. He was no hero in his mind, just someone who accepts the achievements of others.

His thoughts are broken when thunderous voice of Zeus calls his name. "Percy Jackson!"

The son of Poseidon switches his gaze from the floor to the King of the Gods, noticing the mistrust in the god's eyes. Percy steps forwards regardless, to stand in front of the Olympian, not bothering to kneel down like the others. This obviously hurts Zeus' ego, but Percy really could care less.

Zeus' face becomes tight as he clenches his jaw. "We thank you for your service to Olympus once again, Jackson." He gets out almost too bitterly, as if it were difficult for him to say those words. "You truly have become a formidable individual, and for that reason you cannot be allowed to roam freely on this planet."

At those words, silence envelops the throne room. 'Wait, what did he just say?' was going through the minds of each and every last demigod in the room. Wasn't Percy Jackson supposed to receive godhood like the rest of the heroes?

Hestia was the first to break the silence, quickly standing up from her new throne. "Zeus, what are you saying?" she asks unbelieving.

Zeus' is still staring straight into the eyes of the Hero of Olympus, but then turns his steely gaze to where his older sister stands. "His power is immeasurable; you saw what he did to the Gaea after the wisdom child fell. He completely erased her! We cannot have such unrestricted power free to do whatever he so pleases, when one day he could turn it against Olympus and my rule." He states without a doubt.

The campers and Hestia are stunned at the king's reasoning. When they look towards the other Olympians to see how they are going to defend the son of Poseidon, they are surprised to see the impassive expressions on each of their faces.

Hestia, the always peaceful goddess of the Hearth, bristles with frustration. "Will none of you stand and defend our hero?" she says almost pleadingly.

Ares in his bloodied throne just snorts offensively, his huge arms crossed over his broad chest. "That punk's had it coming to him for the last five years." He says bored. "We just needed him to clean up some shit before we tossed him to the curb."

The Queen of the Gods speaks up after her son. "And now that he has completed his tasks, its best to dispose of him before he decides he wants Olympus next." Hera says as if it's obvious.

Hestia stares at them as if they have lost all sense. "How could you say that!? He has saved us from the verge of destruction twice in as many years! He would never turn on Olympus!" She tries to defend.

"Ah yes, just as Prometheus or the minor gods." Athena spits mockingly. "They supported us in the previous wars just to turn around and try and backstab us afterwards." Athena was particularly furious with the son of Poseidon as she believes him to be the reason her favorite daughter did not survive the war. "Some hero he is, he is responsible for death of hundreds of demigods, including my daughter!"

Percy who had just been standing in the middle of it all numbly, was suddenly stung by the words of the Wisdom Goddess. 'Its true´ he thought, 'I failed them. I failed them all. Leo, Hazel, Frank, Annabeth. They should all still be here. It should have been me, I should have taken their place'. Percy falls to his knees in a heap of silent tears while most of the demigods are frozen in their spots because they can't believe what is happening. Thalia and Nico quickly make their way to their broken cousin and try to comfort him.

Hestia at this point in angrier than she has been in millennia. "Artemis, Apollo, Hermes!" the Goddess begs. "Surely you will defend Percy? After he's done so much for each of you!"

The three Olympians have trouble meeting the brown eyes of their aunt. They truly loved her as she was the one goddess who always treated them as family. And while they did like Percy, maybe at one point, the recent deaths of so many of their children/hunters was so fresh in their minds that they couldn't help their godly pride and blame the black-haired demigod. And so, they remained silent.

Hestia becomes ever more desperate until her eyes gaze upon the throne next to Zeus. She meets the same sea-green eyes of the hero she is trying to defend, and her emotions nearly explode out of her body in waves of energy. "Poseidon, dear brother." She pleads desperately. "He is your son! Your flesh and blood! Will you do nothing, say nothing, when our brother intends to bring him harm?"

Poseidon's eyes don't meet hers for many moments, his brows scrunch as his mind is in a state of constant turmoil. The Lord of the Seas loves his son, he really does. But there's just something about his godly brain that is afraid of the power hidden within his boy that brings fear to his heart. He has to think about Atlantis, about his wife and his other immortal children. Is his favorite child really worth more to him than his kingdom and power? He isn't sure, and because of that he makes his decision.

Finally, his sea-green orbs meet those of his elder sister. "I must think of my kingdom." He says almost too unconfidently. "Athena raises valid points as much as I dislike agreeing with her logic. We do not know what his motivations will be in the future. If anything, he may despise us for not being more involved in the wars and seeing his friends die. We simply cannot take any chances…" his voice begins to shake. "This is for the best." He finishes quietly.

Silence reigns over the throne room once more after Poseidon's words. Imagine being betrayed by your own father, someone you looked up to, someone you wanted to be like. Hestia didn't know what to say. All of the Olympians agreed with Zeus and turned their backs on their hero. She turned to look at the dark-haired boy she respected so much only for the image to break her heart. Percy laid in the arms of his cousins, virtually lifeless as his body ceased moving and his eyes glossed over with a faraway look.

"Very well," Zeus suddenly continues. He enjoyed watching the sea-spawn verbally abused by the other gods. "If there are no other interruptions, let us put Percy Jackson's fate up to a vote." He grins smugly.

"All those against ridding of the boy?" The demigods watched with bated breath as Hestia was the only Olympian to raise her hand. "All those in favor?" Zeus asks, pretending to not know the outcome. Immediately nine hands are raised in the air. After a few seconds pass, the remaining four hands of Hermes, Apollo, Artemis, and Poseidon raise shakily as well.

"Then it is decided." Zeus says satisfied. "Percy Jackson, you are hereby banished from this world and will spend the rest of your days in the Pit below."

The campers release their held breaths only for their faces to freeze in shock and fear. They couldn't be serious right? They wouldn't send him there? Would they?

The grin on the King of Olympus' face is nearly face-splitting. "I hope you meet many enemies who would welcome you to your new home." He says sneeringly.

Nobody has time to say anything else before the floor beneath him begins to crack. While Percy has so many thoughts racing through his ADHD spazzed mind, he instinctively pushes his cousins away from him just as the cracks open revealing an endless hole. The feeling of weightlessness tingles in his hips before he feels himself drop. The last thing he sees before darkness consumes his vision is the smug, smiling face of Zeus as he is cast down into Tartarus.

Path to Tartarus

Percy continues to fall for what feels like forever.

He really has no concept of time as the darkness surrounds him—it could have been for hours, days, or even weeks. The void space he flies through is hot and humid, causing his ripped clothes to cling to his sweaty body. The air sails past him and his disheveled black hair constantly whips into his face. But none if this really bothers him, as the solitude has left him alone with his deadly thoughts and emotions.

It was difficult for Percy to recount what had just happened to his life. One moment he helps in defeating the Titan Lord Kronos, believing that his life from there could only go up. He finally started going out with Annabeth and they were in love. Next thing he knows, he's waking up without his memory and apparently loses months of his life. Gaea and her giant children begin to rise, and he's dragged into another major prophecy. They defeat Gaea, but not before losing hundreds of demigods, including his Wise Girl. And now here he is, falling to the depths of Tartarus—the most sinister place in the mythological world—merely for the fact the Olympians are too paranoid of his apparent power.

Even though Percy is still emotionally distraught at the loss of so many of his friends, the thought of how the Olympians turned on him ignited a seething fire in his heart. In his drifting mind he made a solemn promise: 'I will never submit to the Olympian's will again. For my love for my friends and fallen heroes will push me to stay alive in this desolate pit. For if I ever return to the surface, the Olympians will pay for their crimes against the demigods, and I shall be their executioner.'

After his vow, something inside him cracked, whether he realized it or not. His usual vibrant sea-green orbs darken considerably until they are a deep emerald color, swirling with unrefined power and fury.

Shortly afterwards, Percy's vision gave way to a slight crimson glow that emitted beneath him. He flipped his position midair so that he was prone to the Pit floor as to get a better view. When he saw what laid below, his skin tingled in fear. The dark blue, nearly black, waters of the River Styx churned beneath him, excited to claim the demigod's soul. Percy knew that the patron goddess of the river would never let him survive a second bathe in her river, but he really had no other option as he continued to fall at terminal velocity. Accepting his fate, Percy shut his eyes tight and silently prayed to Hestia that he would survive this encounter. A few more seconds pass until he feels the impact with the roaring currents, and the red hue of Tartarus is replaced with black.

As soon as he lands in the river is when he is reminded of the same excruciating pain he endured years ago. He tries to do what he did last time, thinking about something, someone, to tie him down to his mortality. But with Annabeth gone, Percy honestly can't do it, even when he thinks about his friends who still are alive or his loving mother. The pain further increases, and it feels like his soul is being ripped out of his chest.

But then it all stops. The pain is gone, and he slowly sinks to the bottom of the dark river. The wild currents seem to calm and its as if he's at the bottom of the lake at Camp Half-blood. Percy looks around for any idea of what is happening but is unable to see anything past a few feet due to the poor visibility. Suddenly, he feels a slight shift in the currents around his neck and the hair back there erects at the stimulation. He quickly turns around and mere inches from his face is the goddess of the river herself.

Lady Styx is a beautiful Oceanid with long ebony hair and lithe blue body. Percy would go as far as to say she is the most attractive sea nymph he has ever encountered…if it weren't for her obsidian eyes that gleamed with absolute hatred and the suffocating aura she emitted in front of him.

"Perseus Jackson." She says fiercely. "You are not a very wise demigod, are you? Not many would chance a second bathe in my river with hopes to survive."

Percy gulps hard as he quickly tries to decide what to say. He first kneels before the eldest Oceanid and bows his head deeply. "Lady Styx, I apologize if I have insulted you, I had no intention of disrupting your waters." He says honestly.

As the goddess of the River of Hatred, her hard obsidian eyes do not change from their fierce glare, but one of her brows does raise slightly in curiosity. "Then why have I found you here sea-spawn?" she asks critically.

Percy's jaw clenches as he thinks back to his time in the throne room, and the water surrounding them begins to sway slightly. The river goddess' brows slightly widen in surprise, as she has yet to meet a being who could control her waters—not even the Lord of the Seas himself. Percy looks up from his kneeling position to meet her eyes, and the goddess can't help but feed off the hatred that emits from his emerald orbs.

"The Olympians fear my power supposedly." He spits scathingly. "After all I have done for them, they believe I would turn on them for power. So they've banished me here to Tartarus, where I have landed in your river." His tone then shifts to be more apologetic. "Again, I'm sorry my lady, I didn't mean any disrespect."

Lady Styx inquisitively gazes down at the young demigod. She can't say she is surprised with the Olympian's behavior; they've always done what benefits their agenda the most. An idea suddenly pops into in her mind and a thin smile spreads across her face. "And what would do if you ever met the Olympians again?" she asks almost innocently.

Percy looks up at her with determined and fury-driven eyes. "I would make them pay." He says seriously, and the power in his tone makes the goddess shiver involuntarily. "Not just for the crimes they have committed against me, but for everything they've done to their children and other beings. They respect no one, thank no one. If it isn't of use to them then they discard it without a care. Why should dishonorable beings like that be allowed to rule over the world?"

The smile on Lady Styx's face grows larger. 'Perhaps he is the one?' she thinks to herself. 'I've waited for an opportunity like this for hundreds of years. What better way than with the Hero of Olympus himself?'

"Perseus Jackson." She says lightly. "How about you and I make a deal?"

The son of Poseidon's brow rises in confusion and he debates in his mind if this is a trap.

"Don't worry demigod, this is not trick." Lady Styx says as she reads his expression. "We both have our grievances with the Olympians, why not align ourselves to plan for their demise?"

Percy considers her proposition. True, having the support of an ally as powerful as Lady Styx would be beneficial, especially while he is stuck in Tartarus. Plus, if he were to decline her offer then she could easily take his soul right then and there. Ever skeptical though, he wants to ask her why she has decided to do this. "Respectfully my Lady, but why go against the Olympians in the first place?" he asks.

A scowl forms on the river goddess' face, which along with her hateful eyes, makes her appear even more threatening. "My river has been sworn to for thousands of years to keep the most powerful of oaths. Those who break them are severely punished for their actions. However, even though it was the Olympians who gave my river this power, they do not abide by their own rules. They make oaths on a whim and break them just as fast. Their repentance is long overdue, and I want to collect." She finishes bitterly.

Percy's eyes widen. He knew that the Olympians often broke their oaths but he never realized the Goddess of the Styx would be so irate by it. "And if I am to accept your offer, what would you want in return?" he asks a bit curiously, even if he can somewhat guess what she wants.

Lady Styx sighs. "All I want is that after you tear the Olympians down, their souls are given to me and my river. They will not get the luxuries of reforming in Tartarus, and they will wish the Pit had gotten them first." She says tightly.

Percy thinks about the proposal for a while longer. "That seems like a reasonable deal." He says finally. "I appreciate your offer my Lady, and I accept." He says respectfully with a thin smile.

Lady Styx returns his smile and suddenly wraps the demigod in a light hug. Percy freezes at the sudden contact, unsure of the goddess' intentions. His hands remain to his sides and he just stares down the path of the river. A few moments later, she unwraps him and he's glowing a dark blue—the same color as the river. He looks at the river goddess with a questioning gaze, and the smile she had on earlier is still there.

"I've blessed you," she simply says. Percy's brow raises in surprise, but he doesn't say anything. "You have a long and difficult journey ahead of you Perseus Jackson. I do not have the authority to get you out of this pit, that, you must do on your own." She says sympathetically. Percy deflates a bit at that information, but he should have known his quest for justice would not be easy.

Lady Styx's voice interrupts his thoughts. "I, however, can try and make your journey a bit easier." She says. "You may have already noticed, but you should feel more control over the waters we reside in."

And it's true, he hadn't noticed yet but his control of the dark blue waters was much easier now. "I know you also drank from the Phlegethon while you were down here last." Lady Styx continues and Percy nods in confirmation. "While you may still do that here and I recommend you do, my blessing allows you to drink from my river as well."

'Well that's actually very useful.' Percy thinks to himself. Drinking from that river of fire was hardly a pleasant experience.

"Fair warning, however." Lady Styx warns. "My river is called the River of Hatred for a reason. When you drink from my waters, you will feel your strength and stamina replenish as well as increase above your normal levels. However, the hatred that flows through this river will bring forth the hatred you already possess in your heart, driving you into a frenzied state. I'd choose when you drink from this river wisely." She finishes, waving her finger at him.

'Ah so that's the catch.' Percy thinks to himself. 'Of course things can't be easy. We already went over this.'

"Anyways, I believe it is time for your journey to begin, young one." Lady Styx says softly. Her eyes that were once completely filled with hatred have toned down. While the emotion was still present, probably because that was what her river embodied, there almost appeared to be a motherly glint in her obsidian orbs as well. "If you even need to speak with me, you may enter my river at any time. I wish you luck Perseus." She concludes.

Percy looks down at the river goddess and gives her one of his signature crooked smiles, the first one he's given since before the final battle with Gaea. He was glad to have met the goddess. After Hestia, she was the only god who he could truly trust now.

"Thank you again, Lady Styx. I really do appreciate your help." He says earnestly. "I will do everything I can to uphold my deal to you."

A smirk graces along the Goddess of the Styx's face. "I am sure you will child. Now hurry on." She says while guiding him to the edge of the river.

Percy smiles one more time at the goddess before he continues up the banks and breaks free from the surface of the water. He inhales deeply and instantly regrets his decision as the toxic air of Tartarus infiltrates his lungs, causing him to drop to the shore and desperately attempt to inhale as much oxygen as possible. He could return to the river where it is safer, but he knows that if he is to embark on this journey, he needs to adapt to his surroundings. He willfully pushes himself up to his feet with a resolute expression and begins his trek following the flow of the river.

On Olympus

The cracks where the son of Poseidon fell quickly seam together to reveal an unblemished marble floor—as if a demigod had not been sentenced to Tartarus moments before. The campers and Hestia were at a loss of words…their hero couldn't just be gone like that, right?

When the truth finally hits them, a variety of emotions erupt from the ranks of demigods. Some are breaking down in tears at the loss of their leader and friend, while others are shouting in indignation at the Olympian gods. Piper is curled in Jason's chest as she has trouble dealing with the loss of another one of her close friends, while Jason can only hold her to stop himself from attacking his father. Nico, Thalia, Reyna, and Clarisse on the other hand cannot stop themselves and draw their weapons, bearing them at the Olympians.

Before the gods can retaliate, Hestia shrinks down from her throne to the mortal size of a young woman. She quickly rushes to stand in front of the restless warriors and her presence does its job in calming them down a little.

"Now is not the time my heroes." She whispers to them cautiously. "I understand your pain, you're hurt and you're angry. I am too, but we cannot let the council punish you and the other demigods now. Put down your weapons, and I promise you we will get Percy back, somehow." She pleads.

The four warriors look amongst each other and silently debate the Hearth Goddess' words. Finally, they sigh and bring their weapons, heeding her advice. Hestia releases her own bated breath in relief, before turning to glare at her younger brother and 'supposed' king.

"Are you happy Zeus? You and the council got what you wanted, let these other demigods go, they have suffered enough." She addressed him sternly.

Zeus' hand is clamped on his master bolt, but he makes no move to use it. "Very well sister, I will forgive their blatant display of disrespect as thanks for their help in this war." He says arrogantly. "Now get them out of my presence before I change my mind." He growls.

The Goddess of the Heart glares at Zeus one last time before flashing herself and the rest of the demigods out of the throne room.

Among the rest of the council there are various expressions of satisfaction and regret. While most of the council is happy to have survived the war and rid themselves of the powerful son of Poseidon, some of the others debate whether they truly made the right decision. These include Hermes, Apollo, Artemis, and Poseidon. The God of the Seas looks as if he aged many decades with the tired weight in his eyes.

"That concludes this meeting!" Zeus thunders. "I say let the celebration begi—"

He's interrupted when an ethereal light erupts in the already bright throne room, blinding all of the Olympians. When the light briefly lessens, the gods see that it is emitting from the God of Prophecy himself. The sockets where Apollo's golden eyes should be are expelling the brightness along with his stretched jaw. They have seen something like this before, he is about to communicate a prophecy, something he rarely does now since his oracle was created. But the Olympians have never seen a display like this, and Apollo looks to be in pain this time.

When the words finally free themselves from the God's mouth, the Olympians are unable to suppress sudden chills. In a commanding voice, Apollo speaks:

Olympus renewed another hour

Makes a mistake for prolonged power

As an ancient enemy lurks below

Aiding a champion whose army grows

For if he captures the heart of stone

None shall oppose his path to the throne

The light immediately dissipates and Apollo collapses in his throne unmoving.

Another Great Prophecy.

Soon after, shouts come from the various Olympians trying to comprehend what the prophecy could entail. They didn't know it at the time, but a mighty hurricane was brewing, and it had Olympus in its sights.

AN: Story-building. Can be boring, I get it, but it is necessary for the plot. Hope y'all enjoyed and feel free to leave a review if you would like. Our co-protagonist gorgon will appear early in the next chapter.