A/N: For the record, the title for this is totally inspired by the Return of Donna Troy, and I'm not gonna even bother denying it. Of course, Thalia hasn't been kidnapped by Titans and isn't being used as some inter dimensional chess piece, but details, details.

This follows up on the ending of From the Heart and will cover Lightning Thief and Sea of Monsters. Although, be warned, Imma kinda just burn through them to get them out of the way

Percy's fight with Ares is also totally not inspired by Dark Tide II: Ruin. Nope. Not at all. I've no idea what you speak of.

Published: 10/27/2018

Warnings: None

Return of Thalia Grace

There are some things that are, sadly, unavoidable, no matter how much you change things around. There are some things that are meant to happen, because the Fates are running around in the background and they've got a set plan and everyone is going to follow that plan, as far as they're concerned.

Sure, they leave room for deviation, but not much. End game is the same. At least, in some cases.

Unfortunately, this just so happened to be one of those cases.

Years earlier, Percy Jackson had first stepped into Camp Half-Blood with a secret. A secret he was well aware of, and a secret he'd hidden for years. A secret of blood and parentage and cousins and family.

Percy Jackson was the Son of Poseidon. He was the Son of Poseidon, and no one could know it. He was the secret Son of the Sea God, hidden away, who spent his regular school days literally on another world because this one was infested with monsters that his mother did not approve of.

Unsurprising. Percy would have been surprised if she did.

Anyways, Percy had arrived, and the secret had been kept. It had been kept, because it was too dangerous to speak. Percy knew it. His closest friends knew it. Dionysus no doubt suspected it, but even he wouldn't have guessed the real truth. Not all of it.

But, no one outright said it, and, to the camp at large, it was a hidden thing.

All they knew was that Percy was a particularly strong Demigod that could move quicker than others could blink.

Percy had a few friends around the camp. Annabeth, for one, who seemed determined to pin Percy down with a knife at his throat anytime they spared. Luke for another, who was Percy's sword Instructor.

Percy liked Luke. That disarming trick Luke had taught him was so effective it had worked on Nico, of all people. Well. Once. Nico wasn't one to fall for the same trick twice, annoyingly, but hey, the fact that it had worked at all spoke for itself.

Grover was the best friend a guy could ask for, hands down. Percy had forever won the Satyr's friendship when he handed him some homemade enchiladas. Loyalty for life.

The Stolls were also amusing. They gave Percy the best prank ideas.

Clarisse was a bitch, but Percy could handle her.

There was, however, one itsy bitsy thing Percy could not, in fact, handle.

In the middle of lunch, Percy was betrayed.

By who, might you ask?

Percy twitched.

Beside him, the Stolls gasped. Chiron let out an exasperated sound. Dionysus didn't even bother looking surprised. Chiron sighed, looking utterly disappointed. Annabeth looked pissed. Clarisse looked like Percy had insulted her mother twelve different ways.

The most amusing, though, was Luke.

The Son of Hermes literally spat out his drink. Percy appreciated the dramatic effect.

Percy looked up.

There, shimmering above his head, for all to see, was a glowing trident.

Glowing trident from an asshole father who'd ignored him for years but, oh gosh, Percy was suddenly needed again so by golly it was time for Poseidon to finally acknowledge him! (Even though they had blatantly agreed years ago that doing so would be a baddd idea, but nope, not anymore)

Percy decided to poke at the trident.

"Hey, dad, can you make your sunny thing go away? I'm trying to eat here." Percy told the trident.

It shifted into the form of Percy's father. The small figure frowned at Percy, displeased at the blatant lack of respect.

"Perseus Jackson, I-" Poseidon began.

Percy gagged.

Poseidon paused.

"Please do not call me 'Perseus'. Only bad guys call me 'Perseus', usually followed by really bad assassination attempts." Percy told his father, then paused. Eyes narrowing, Percy leant back, suddenly suspicious. "You aren't planning to assassinate me, are you?"

Poseidon was startled by the accusation. Leaning back, eyes widening, the Sea God answered.

"What! No! Of course not, my son! Why would you think that?" Poseidon denied, sounding genuinely wounded by the accusation.

"You've revealed my true identity now that Zeus' Lightning Bolt has been stolen, literally painting me as the primary suspect even though I was… Elsewhere when that happened." Percy pointed out.

Poseidon opened his mouth. Once. Twice. Closed it again. The Lord of the Seas truly looked like a fish out of water.

Ah.

"You didn't even think about it, did you?" Percy guessed, jabbing a fork at the little figure of his father, more amused than anything else.

Poseidon, in response, scowled at him.

"Perseu- Percy." Poseidon amended as Percy shuddered. "Now is the time for you to finally be revealed, my child. I let you hide as many years as I could, however, in the current state of things… Secrets such as this can no longer remain." Poseidon told Percy.

"Yes. Mhm. Can I eat my lunch now?" Percy, utterly uninterested, asked.

Poseidon rolled his eyes before giving a nod of assent. Then, the shimmering image broke apart into mist, water spraying everywhere. Percy twitched.

Rude dads, showing up out of nowhere and soaking his kids food.

Percy took another bite of his food.

One second.

Two.

Three.

"WHATTTTT?!"

And all hell broke loose.

"If I know my father, and I know my father, he's going to claim you did it. Which means, to prove you didn't do it, you're going to have to retrieve it." Thalia's spiritual form said, pacing back and forth.

On the bright side, Percy did get one positive thing out of all of this: his own Cabin.

"That form of yours still freaks me out a bit, Thals." Luke commented.

Thalia waived him off.

"That Esper woman practically made me into a Nymph. Kind of ish. Maybe I was one in a past life?" Thalia tilted her head in wonder.

Percy frowned. Turning towards Grover, Percy spoke.

"Is that possible?"

The Satyr considered this.

"You know… Normally, I'd say no, but Thalia is standing right in front of us." Grover answered. Or rather, didn't answer, to be more accurate. In Grover's defense, Thalia was a pretty unusual case.

Anyways, back to business.

"The real question is, though, who actually stole the Lightning Bolt?" Percy asked. "If we find that out, then problem solved."

Percy received several incredulous looks. The boy squirmed uncomfortably under the combined gazes. "What?" he asked.

"Percy," Annabeth began in that patient, 'you're such a dumbass' tone of hers that Percy severely disliked, "who could possibly benefit from two of the Big Three fighting each other? Who could possibly have something to gain from a conflict between the two of them that would kill millions? Who has the motive, who benefits, from something like that?"

Oh. Percy felt kind of stupid for not seeing it before. Put in those terms, it made perfect sense.

"Ares!" Percy curled a hand into a fist, smashing it into his palm. "Duh. I can't believe I didn't see it before! Of course, the God of War would want them to fight." Percy felt like facepalming since he was the last one to arrive at the conclusion, but ignored the urge.

Annabeth, apparently, did not.

"Percy, NO. Really, Ares? You think Ares is behind this?" Annabeth sounded exasperated.

Percy was offended. It made sense in his head pretty well, but apparently he was in the minority with that kind of thinking. Crossing his arms, Percy huffed.

"Oh really? Then who do you think did it?"

"The answer should be obvious." Luke stood. Percy turned. Anger painted the older teen's face, splashing across his scarred visage. Anger as Luke trembled, fists clenched at his sides. Looking away, Luke spoke. "Who set the armies of Hell on Thalia in the first place? Who was forced into a vow only he obviously kept while the others broke it? Who would stop at absolutely nothing to see his brothers suffer, as he has, over the centuries because of what they've done to him?"

Oh. Oh.

"Ha-"

Thalia's hand covered Percy's mouth. Looking up, he met her gaze.

"Don't say it. Don't even think it. We don't want him to know we're on to him." Thalia said. Percy nodded, and Thalia let her hand drop.

Wait… Hades? They thought Hades was behind this all? Percy tilted his head. Okay, Luke's argument was pretty solid and Percy personally had no love for the Lord of the Dead. Something about that theory just didn't seem right to Percy, though.

"Maybe we should come up with a nickname?" Grover spoke.

"Sassy gay bestie." Percy said without thinking. Grover stuttered, looking at him in surprise. Percy squirmed again. "What? Have you never seen Hercules?" Percy asked. Or learned half the Disney movies have literal worlds floating out there because of course they do?

"No, that's not going to work. Hm… Hela?" Annabeth said.

Percy turned to her, arching an eyebrow.

"That's even worse than mine."

"Captain Underpants." Luke suggested. At the looks he got for it, he rolled his eyes. "What? I have it on good word that the darkest punishment in all of Hell is being sewn into his underwear."

Holy tonberries, what sort of crime did you have to commit to receive that kind of twisted punishment?

"Let's just call him Sam." Thalia shrugged. "It doesn't have to be something overly complicated." she added.

"We're getting off topic!" Annabeth snapped. "How, exactly, are we going to stop him?"

Several thousand miles later found Percy, Annabeth, and Grover fighting against magic shoes that seemed intent on killing Grover. Or, more accurately, dragging him down into the darkest pits of hell. Not nice. Not nice at all. Very, very mean. And, very rude.

Not as rude as Percy's Uncle, apparently.

And, disturbingly… Luke had been right. Right in so many terrible ways. Right, because Percy could literally see the suffering souls sown into Hades' clothes. What terrible deeds had they performed to get that sort of punishment?

Beside Percy and company, Alecto snarled. Percy didn't like her. She looked like the kind of person who'd force him to do hard math problems and expect him to get them right before teaching him how to do so.

"I've brought the thieves before you, my Lord." Alecto told Hades.

Thieves? Now hold on just one secon-

A traitorous voice began to whisper to Percy. A traitorous voice that ranted about very suspicious war gods, cheeseburgers, and an amusement park from hell full of metal spiders.

The voice was wrong, though.

Ares wasn't the bad guy.

Darth Death Breath was, period.

"Thank you, Alecto. You may go." Hades nodded to the Fury. The creature smiled, which really was an unpleasant sight. Then, leathery wings sprang forth before she leapt up, departing, leaving them alone.

Hades then turned towards Percy, inclining his head towards them. Percy had known, instinctively, that Hades might look somewhat like Nico. They were blood, after all. This was Nico's father.

He hadn't expected the resemblance to be so strong, however. He also hadn't expected Hades' presence to feel so… So… Similar.

Most people were frightened by Nico's aura, but not Percy. Whenever Nico walked, the cold seemed to follow. Cold and darkness, shadows wrapping around their master. A presence that demanded that you look at it, that you acknowledge it, that you fear it.

Percy didn't feel frightened by that. If anything, it made him feel safe. It made him feel protected. It made him want to curl up, close his eyes, and sleep, knowing full well that he'd be okay if he chose to do so.

Normally.

This was not a normal situation.

Percy jabbed himself sharply as he felt his eyes start to droop against his will. Hades raised a single eyebrow, smug.

Percy's lethargy left him in an instant. Barring his teeth, Percy snarled, remembering full well who exactly he was dealing with.

Hades, Lord of the Dead, Slayer of Thalia Grace. Father of Nico and Bianca. The Lightning Thief, trying to trigger a war that would tear this entire world apart out of pettiness and jealousy. Percy detested him instinctively.

Or, at least, he wanted to.

Hades' aura was too much like Nico's, that same calming darkness, the wrapping cool embrace that Percy took comfort in. It… It was annoying as hell, to be honest.

"Perseus Jackson," Hades intoned, standing to full height. Percy couldn't resist the shudder that past through his body. Hades arched an eyebrow at this but otherwise did not comment. "It seems you and I have both been… Deceived." Hades spat the word, fire dancing in his eyes.

Percy blinked.

"Come again?"

"Of course, dearest nephew and stealer of my children," Hades replied with a smile. Percy was locked between offense and shuddering at the look Hades was sending him. It's not like he'd busted Nico out of that Casino. Nico had done it all on his own.

Well, technically, he'd had a bit of help in the form of a few unlocked memories, but details, details.

Beside him, Grover started mouthing the words 'Hades' and 'Children' over and over again in growing horror.

"It seems you and I have both been played, by the most obvious party of all. What you seek… You've carried all along." Hades jutted a finger in the direction of Percy's backpack.

Slowly, Percy let the backpack drop, before opening it.

One second. Two. Percy looked up, straight at Annabeth. Then, back to the bag. Annabeth. The bag. Annabeth. Bag. Annabeth.

Then...

"HA! I TOLD YOU SO! I told you Hades was too obvious and that Ares was behind this shit, but did any of you listen!?" Percy cried victoriously.

"That isn't proof!" Annabeth snapped before rounding on Hades. Jabbing a finger at the Elder God, Annabeth spoke, "how do we know you didn't plant that there?"

"When? That one wonderful day I'm allowed to properly leave this dreadful place, even though Jackson was literally offworld?" Hades deadpanned.

Ah. That's where Nico got his snarkiness fro-

Wait.

Wait, wait, waiiiit. Just one second. Back up a bit, pretty pretty please with a blue cherry on top.

"How do you know that?" Percy demanded, startled.

"Do you truly believe I wouldn't notice my children taken off world from their safe space by one of the last survivors of a race of ancient gods?" Hades asked incredulously.

Yep. Nico definitely got his snark from here.

Grove looked so lost. Which, of course, meant they'd have to explain everything to him in painstaking detail as soon as they got out of this place. Hm. And Luke too, now that Percy thought about it.

Then again, this information was strictly need to know, and Annabeth only knew because she'd been there when Tina had pulled Thalia's astral form from that pine tree.

"But, you didn't try and stop us!"

Hades shot Percy a look. Then, in a tone that clearly questioned how many times Percy may or may not have been dropped as a baby, Hades continued. "I did. I set Alecto on my child. He sent her back to me in literal pieces. I understand when a child needs space." Hades declared.

…

Why was Hades the best parental figure out of all their parents?!

Wait. No. Bad Percy. Hades equaled bad. Only bad would do what he did to Thalia.

"A Fury going down didn't stop you from harming Thalia!" Percy thundered, then promptly froze.

Grover gasped.

Annabeth was staring at Percy as if he'd lost his mind.

And Hades?

Hades… Sighed.

"That… Perhaps, was one of Zeus' more butchered plans." Hades admitted.

…

Percy's jaw dropped.

Wait, what?

"How…" a trembling voice whispered. Percy turned. Annabeth was shaking, grey eyes more wild than Percy had ever seen them. Looking up, she stared straight at Hades. "How dare you?" Annabeth shouted. "How dare you stand there and claim your crime was someone else's, how dare you claim you had nothing to do with that, how dare you-"

"The crime was ours," Hades interrupted coldly. "Zeus and I's. We both agreed… To have one of his children be the Child of Prophecy was far too dangerous. Still, we did not wish to slay her," Hades sounded very reluctant with that 'we' of his, "but neither could we let her continue. So, we orchestrated an opportune moment… Have you never wondered why, instead of saving his daughter, instead of striking down the beasts that had chased you, instead of Camp Half-Blood rising to your defense on the very outskirts… Zeus instead turned his daughter to wood?"

Percy didn't want to believe. He didn't want to believe a parent could be so cold, so calculating. Didn't want to believe, but had to admit… Hades' words were cool, seductive, and convincing. Percy-

"You're just trying to decieve us! Trick us with your lies, with your silver voice!" Grover interrupted.

Hades eyed the satyr coldly.

"I am not Aphrodite, nor am I that fool Loki. I've no time for word games. I speak reality. All else is irrelevant." Hades told him. Then, without giving the satyr a second glance, he turned to Percy. "I will be blunt, child. I know I cannot harm you. If I do, I shall never see my children again. If I do, I know all they shall have for me is… Scorn." Hades looked pained at the word.

Percy eyed the Lord of the Dead wearily. He wasn't being serious, was he?

Either way…

"There's nothing you can do to make up for what you've done. Nico and Bianca-" Percy began.

"Hidden within the Sea of Monsters lies the essence of the wild. Ancient and powerful, with healing power beyond all measures. Golden, hallowed light that can break even the darkest of curses." Hades interrupted. Again. Gods were rude. "That… Is my gift to you. Regardless of what Zeus thinks, I've come to realize I care little for these games: the Golden Fleece lies hidden within the Sea, and it's glow can restore Thalia Grace. That is my gift to you. Do with it what you will."

Percy gasped.

Hades… Hades really was serious. He wasn't lying. He was…

"You really do care for them, don't you?" Percy asked softly.

Hades' gaze lost it's hardness.

"As you've no idea. Now… To business. Ares stole not one, but two artifacts. My helmet, and that bolt. In return for the location of the bolt, I ask that you gain my helmet back. Now… Go."

Wait, Ares did what?

Ares, apparently, did not like when his evil plans didn't go the way he wanted them to.

"You goddamn little shit! How dare you get away! Stand still, so I can roast you!" the war god thundered.

"Nah, no thanks!"

Fighting by a beach was giving Percy an advantage. It was his only advantage, really. Ares kept flinging blasts of red destructive light, Percy kept dodging, stomping his foot and forcing water covered sand to make a maze around him, but it wasn't working.

What Percy needed was to get a good hit in. To do that, he needed Ares to be distracted. Which was easy when fighting someone your age, but much much harder when fighting a several millennia old war god born and bred for death and blood.

Screw it. Go for broke.

Ares slashed again, blasting the sand away.

"Can't hide forever, brat!"

"Not trying to!" Percy yelled back.

Ares looked up as Percy came swinging down from above. Ares lifted his sword, parrying Percy's strike. Pushing down and using the momentum of his swing, Percy somersaulted over the wargod. Landing back to back with the Olympian, Percy spun and began to jab away.

Ares twisted to face him, parrying the blows back and forth.

"To think I have to get my hands dirty with Poseidon's brat. No matter. I'll kill you and watch this world tear itself apart."

Percy was being beat back by a very bored looking Ares. Jarring blows that left Percy trembling as he blocked them, again and again. This monster was going to tear him apart.

Hell.

No.

Percy refused.

Then, Percy performed a rather unorthodox move. A rather wild move. A move he wouldn't dare try on Ares twice, but, for now, would do. It was suicidal. It was insane. It was his only shot. As Ares swung, Percy pressed against Riptide's hilt…

And the sword became a pen again.

Ares, no meeting no resistance, overswung. Surprised, the war god could not stop his momentum. Dodging under the blow, Percy pressed the pen to Ares chest, right below the armor plates, and let it loose.

Ares spun at the last second. Riptide ripped out of him almost quickly as it had ripped in, Ares leaping back, a deep gash torn from his chest up to his arm, golden ichor dripping everywhere.

Wide eyed, the god of war started at Percy in shock.

Percy, gasping for breath, stood his ground.

"Want more?"

With a vicious snarl, Ares dissipated, red energy ripping about and crystalizing the sand. And, where he had stood fell a single item, a helmet, dark as midnight and adorned with so many twisted horns that Percy wondered for a second if Hades had commissioned Edward Elric to make it for him.

Panting, Percy turned, letting riptide his the ground. Annabeth and Grover were gaping at him, in shock or awe or something else. Who knows.

Grinning, sweating, and exhausted, Percy pumped his fist.

"Victory screech!