I am sorry about this update i uploaded the wrong file to this story. this one is the finished version. please for give me.
I do not own any of the Percy Jackson books or other things that i incorporate into this fic that is from an outside source.
Chapter 2: Dreams and the future
Dreams. Dreams are a series of thoughts, images, and sensations occurring in a person's mind as they sleep. Those are what dreams are. Thoughts and sometimes memory's mixed together. What she was experiencing was not a thought that ever occurred to her or a memory that she's ever had. No, this was a vision. Of what, she could not fathom. All she knew is that this was no dream.
What she saw was strange. What she saw was a multitude of opened doors in a circle that surrounded her; each with different scenes in them. She could almost compare it to a clock with each direction representing a number. Which one started the clock was a mystery to her.
In the door of the current way she faced was of what looked like the Olympian throne room, but it was different. It was dark in the room and there were no gods within the room. There were cracks and ash all around the marble that once was flawless and clean. It looked like a fire had its way with the room and left nothing. The thrones themselves were all broken in some way. With either entire pieces missing or cracks that went along the entire throne and what that meant was that the thrones before her held no power. This frightened her, but there was something else that frightened her more.
There, behind the middle throne was a hole in the wall. It allowed the room to be filled with light and the light that was produced came from the moon. Only, the moon didn't look like the moon at all. No, it looked like it was shattered. As if a meteor had come and destroyed the moon, making it look like the moon was nothing more than a clump of asteroids that stayed together.
She looked to the next door and there was a city that looked like it had been dropped into Tartarus. The clouds blocked out the sun, city buildings were on fire and monsters roamed free killing and slaughtering the people in the street like they were nothing but another meal.
The next was an overview of a city that was not destroyed or on fire but oddly seemed… vacant. It looked like a city from a gothic novel. With buildings close and compacted together, the atmosphere looking heavy and the color scheme seemingly being made up of blacks and grays. Though as she looked at the door longer the view changed to a city square.
There in the middle of the square stood a boy who was covered. No, drenched in blood. He wore an overcoat that reached almost down to his feet and seemed to be looking at the sky. He was motionless as if daydreaming. The only thing that seemed to have his attention was the red moon that was in the dark purple cloud filled sky. Nothing seemed to bother him. Not the blood on him or the amount that seemed to have accumulated around him. That looked to be almost even with his ankles.
She wished not to see the sight before her and decided to turn to the next door. In this one she saw a house that was cover in snow in the distance. The house was in the middle of a field that looked to be surrounded by a forest. The trees of the forest were devoid of all there leaves and not a single sign of life could be made out. Besides a small light that emanated from one of the windows of the house. The sight was peaceful and relaxing in a way, but something drew her attention from the house and snow-covered forest.
It was single drop of blood that lay right beyond the door that allowed her to see the scene. She knew that the blood didn't belong to a human because of the color. The blood was not red or gold like the gods or mortals. No, it was black. And from that blood on the snow cover ground something moved.
She watched both curious and frightened as the thing seemed to soak in the black blood. The thing moved like a snake; constantly swaying back and forth. She stood there watching for a bit longer before she decided that nothing would happen and began to turn back. Until at the last second right before it left her field of vision it elongated and grew.
She quickly turned back to the thing and watched as it grew from a little twig like creature, the size of a pencil. To a small tree that was almost four feet in height in a matter of seconds.
She looked on as the tree once again swayed back and forth, though this time it swayed discreetly as if trying to blend in to its surroundings. She continued to stare and began to walk towards the door that led to the snowy scene. When came to the doors edge she looked at the small tree and examined it, like one would examine a fine piece of art.
"Odd, isn't it?" said a voice from behind her.
At that Medusa jumped and yelped in surprise at the voice that spoke from behind her. She then quickly turned around to see who had scared her and there in the doorway were Medusa once stood was a woman.
The woman had fair pale skin that was unblemished and looked smooth and soft to the touch. She had black hair that matched the darkest nights with eyes that were heterochromatic; one being a dark amethyst. While the other was a very dark blue, almost black. What she wore seemed to be similar to what the old dancers and oracles of Greece wore when performing rituals. Though nowadays her clothes really wouldn't be called clothes. It looked to be fine silk that cover only the nipples, crotch and fell over only half of her rear.
"Who are you?" Medusa questioned while tensing her body in case she need to flee or fight.
The woman giggled softly and smiled. "You needn't worry lady Medusa. I mean you no harm and even if I did I really couldn't do much. Dreams aren't really my domain. I can only brush upon that domain and with the little I can, I can only give images and scents to the one's dream I enter."
The things she said only confused Medusa more to whom this woman, if it was a woman, really was. "There are a few things that I either don't understand or I'm uncomfortable with. Pertaining to what you just said."
"Then ask thine lady, but I suggest you hurry. There's a limited amount of time we have here." She said again with that small smile.
"Really? Just like that? You're going to let me question you?" Medusa asked confusingly.
The woman simply nodded. "Ask thy questions."
Medusa looked over the woman and thought which of the questions to ask first until she decided. "Who are you?"
The woman nodded. "A good first question. I am Phoebe, primordial of prophecy and future."
Medusa could only nod dumbly. As the shock didn't allow her to form words. Though she was able to quickly get out of it. "mhm… I'll be honest, I'm shocked but not as shocked as the first time seeing one of you."
"It's understandable." She said and giggled. "Any others?"
"Why am I here? Where is this? What is this? Why did you call me lady Me-"?
The woman silenced her by raising her hand. "Good questions and the ones I thought you'd ask. I will answer them in order. Though first why not take a seat behind you?"
"What seat, were in the middle of a-" She stopped herself because as she spoke she turned around, and saw a bench that wasn't there before.
"Yeah, I got to get used to you guys and this stuff." She then sat down and waited as the primordial walked towards her and sat down next to her.
"To answer the first questions. I don't really know. Though I sense it has to do with something involving the lack of control fate has had." Phoebe looked around the forest. "Are you aware of Fates fate?"
Medusa gained a loving look and looked towards the ground and smiled softly. "Yes." She then looked up at the primordial. "They are no longer in control."
"Hmm, then you know that fate is running as it wants to. Without a chain and unhindered, as it should be."
Medusa nodded. "Yes, Without the fates to control it; it runs wild."
"Child, fate does not run wild. It runs as it please and knows what it does. Fate is like a being that has no body but yet still lives. It is something that plays along and goes against, and in all intents and purposes can be compared to a luck and randomizations game. Fate has no favorite, that I have ever seen at least. It is only there to balance the world. Though, as to why it pulled you and me into this…dream. I haven't the slightest clue. I could only suggest that it pulled you into this place to show you the possible futures."
"Wait, you were pulled in here to?" Medusa asked.
"Yes, most of the primordials slumber and choose not to wake. Allowing the power of domains to be held by our offspring and there's after them. Though I believe the reason I was pulled into here, is so that fate can have an easier way to show you this through me. For I am the primordial of prophecy and future. Though now my domain now is really only limited to prophecy." She paused to let what she said sink in. Before continuing.
"As to where you are. This is a dream, your dream to be exact. My guess is fate pulled me into your dream and conjured something up to help you understand what it wants to show you. In your case it was three different doors that led to possible futures."
"Ok, wait hold on. Everything that I've seen through those doors is going to happen? Like the shattered moon, the city that's burning a to the ground, and the boy that stands in the pool of blood the size of the town square? There were still a few doors left. That's not even including the one we're both standing in right now. What does the one that we are in now even mean?"
Phoebe sighed and stood up from her spot on the bench and walked towards the tree that swayed in front of them. "No, not everything that you saw will happen in the future. They are all possible futures that may occur at certain points throughout time. I believe that you know who they are all linked to though."
"Perseus." Medusa let out a sigh as she said the name of her son.
"Oh, Perseus is his name?"
"Yes."
The primordial squatted next to the tree and began to examine it curiously before looking up at Medusa questioningly. "Even with knowing, and what you almost did?"
There was a silence. An awkward and uncomfortable silence as the primordial waited for the answer that Medusa would give.
The woman in question could only look at the ground in shame and with guilt. She knew what the primordial spoke of. It was a moment that Medusa will never forget, always regret and feel guilt and shame for the rest of her life when remembering.
"Y-yes, I believed it was strong name." Medusa responded quivering and shaking at the memory that was beginning to surface.
Phoebe stood and walked towards her and hugged her. "Shush child. I know that you feel shame for it, but what matters is that you overcame the anger and didn't fall into it. You are strong woman, and an even stronger mother. Never let anyone tell you otherwise." She stood there and held the once proud and might monster like one would comforting a child and trying to ease the pain that she felt.
"Now, I believe that it's time to wake. Someone is waiting."
And with that all around her light began to shine. Until it blinded her and she disappeared.
"Mama, Mama, are you ok?" Asked a quiet voice.
Medusa opened her eyes to see her baby boy over her. His reptile green eyes looking down at her with an innocence that she so desperately wishes to keep there forever.
"Mama your eyes are watering. Did you have a bad dream?"
Medusa could only smile and grab her baby boy into a hug. "No, honey. I didn't have a bad dream." She said as hugged him. "Nothing you need to worry about."
"Are you sure? You were tossing and turning mama. If it's the monsters I'll get'em." He then tried to make a scary face that only made his little adorable face even more cuter.
"No, it's nothing to worry about ok. Now why don't you go and wake your sisters up?"
"Ok!" And with that she let go of him to go and wake them up. Though knowing them they'll just drag him to their bed and sleep for another hour or two.
She smiled at the thought of her odd yet wonderful children. All four of them were a blessing to her in their own way.
Chloe the first and youngest of the three sisters was a bundle of energy that was always happy. She always found a way to lift hers and the other spirits.
The second oldest was Sophia and she'd say her sons favorite, even though he would never admit it. She was a quiet girl and very shy and when they first met two years ago. It took her almost a month to get her to talk with normal conversations. The thing that she was known for among them was for her overprotectiveness. When Medusa wasn't near him or had to do something, she would always leave Perseus with Sophia. Sophia would always try to be by Perseus and was always there when he need something or was troubled. Medusa noticed this and even teased her about loving him and marrying him later; which always got Medusa a reaction from her.
Now the oldest of the sister, Eva, was the most mature. She was always looking out for all the other three and was like a second mother. Which sometimes helped Medusa when it came to the other sisters.
Lastly was her baby boy Perseus. Perseus was now five years old. He now stood at around 4'2 now and looked similarly to how he did in the past life he lived. He had jet black hair, but no longer had his sea green eyes. Now he had reptile green eyes that resembles a snake's. Perseus was always smiling and cheerful. He was kind and generous and loved his older sisters.
Medusa could say that she was happy and couldn't ask for a better son, but there was a problem that she worried about. A problem that scared her and made her worry for her son's safety. That being his domain.
His domain was wide and vast. Allowing it to stretch into almost every other domain. Meaning that he should and would be very powerful when he learned about his power. Though that's what was odd and scared her. He hasn't awakened his power yet. Chronos had said that even without knowing about the other side of the world his powers should have manifested in some form. Maybe when she tells him what he really is in the next year will his powers finally awaken but again it was only a guess. Though there was another possibility. One that she really hoped wouldn't have to happen.
That possibility being that he needed something akin to a push, and when she meant a push. She meant as in mentally scarring her son with something that was horrific.
Now she knew that most deities didn't need this, but she knew that it was sometimes needed. An example of this, and her only example, would be Hephaestus.
Many didn't know that that was the real reason that Hera threw him off Olympus. Yes, the story goes about how he was ugly and she didn't want him because of his appearance. No, that wasn't the reason. The reason was because his domain never activated while on Olympus. In fact, from what Athena told her, when she worked at her shrine oh so long ago, was that Hephaestus was thrown off because Hera had thought she had produces a child that was only immortal and held no power over a domain.
That was what she feared. That she or someone else would have to do something to invoke a large amount of stress so that it may trigger his power and domain. That was something that she didn't wasn't her child to experience. Especially with the recent dream she just had of all the terrible thing that she saw.
No, if it was something she could avoid, then by all means she prayed that he was only a late bloomer.
Later that night in a deserted field
Hades was pissed. He was never called upon unless it was the summer or winter soloists, and even then, he knew the other gods were reluctant to call upon him. With maybe the exception of Hestia. Who always wanted the family to be close.
Why they called him he didn't know or care. All he knew was that he wanted to get back so he could finish the paperwork he needed to do and relax with his wife for a bit, but no. He was needed here in the middle of a field in gods know what state.
So, it only pissed him off more when the time came for this 'secret' meeting and no one SHOWED UP! He's been here sitting on his throne made of bones and obsidian for an hour and twenty-three. Just, sitting here with nothing to do. and the only thing that kept him here was the sound of twigs breaking near the edge of the field. Hades then stood up and looked at the man who approached him.
"Brother." The man said in a gruff voice.
"Poseidon" Was Hades monotone response.
"Zeus, wanted all of us here. In fifteen minutes."
Hades mood soured furred and it showed on his face. "In fifteen minutes?"
"Yes." Poseidon said with a confused tone. "How long have you been here?"
Hades eyes were overshadowed and an angry and aggressive aura started to emit off his body. "How long? I've been here for almost an hour and a half! I swear I'll rip his spine out and use it as a cane if he doesn't sh-"
Just as he was about to finish his threat; a bright flash … well… flashed, and there appeared Apollo.
"Yo, how you doing uncle hades and uncle Poseidon? Been a while."
"Yes nephew. A whopping four days since your father felt the need to call us to show up for one of his consul meetings."
At that Apollo scratched the back of his head and smile. "Yeah, sorry about that. You already know how he is."
Hades scoffed. "Oh yes dear nephew we all know how he can be. One day that attitude will make him fade though and when that happens I'll laugh."
"It will surely be a sight to see; I'll admit but one shouldn't wish such things on family." Demeter said as she appeared in the clearing.
Hades could only snort as sounds of varied teleportation were heard. Each one of them bringing an Olympian. Each walking to the circle that was slowly forming as more appeared.
Hades just sat back down on his throne and watched as the other gods made similar thrones for themselves.
Poseidon's being made of a navy-blue coral like metal and smelled of sea water, Apollo's of a spotless shining gold, Athena's of white polished marble, Demeter's of stone and grain, Artemis' of a polished silver, Hermes's of rough cobblestone, Hephaestus of gears and smaller mechanisms, Dionysus' of clay and a mug of wine in his hand, Aphrodite's of wood and pillows, Persephone's of stone and flowers, and Ares' out of swords and other weapons.
Each throne was a sight to see; all beautiful in their own odd way. From the coral of the ocean to the gold that shone like the sun. Each serving to represent a part of the sitter's domain in some way, shape or form. Though there were three thrones missing and as Apollo was about to comment on the missing thrones, but as if on cue the missing Olympians appeared.
With a crack of thunder, the King of Gods and God of The Sky appeared in a throne that appeared to be made of dark lighting cloud. His wife Hera also appeared with him but within a throne of her own, that was made of polished marble. The last to appear teleported exactly right after the godly couple and not to the surprise of anyone. Sat on what appeared to be a lavish wooden foot stool. Though she appeared a bit out of the circle they made. As if implying that she was not as important, compared to the other gods.
"Aunt Hestia please, join us." Apollo softly asked Hestia as she appeared.
Hestia, who appeared in the form of a twenty-year-old girl, looked up from the ground to look at Apollo and smiled softly at him before responding in a low voice. "It is quite alright nephew. I'm only here to listen." She then continued to look at the ground.
A few of the gods there could only sigh at how Hestia responded. She was like this since the end of the Titan War. The few that knew, sighed, knowing the reason of her sorrow, that being a single demigod that perished at the hands of Kronos.
His death had hit everyone hard but none harder that Poseidon and Hestia. Poseidon because he was his son, but the other was confusing. From what they could guess and already knew was that she had watched over him in the years leading up to the final battle and had spoken to him on a few occasions. When they spoke of and what it was about, none new. The gods through around suggestions as to what it was that made her feel such pain when he had left them. Some said that she planned to make him a champion or that he was already her champion. One offered that he was a bed partner, but that was quickly debunked because she was one of the three virgin goddesses. Along with the fact that his loyalty to Annabeth was not once proven to be false or was ever broken. Thus, debunked the suggestion of love later. None could grasp as to why she felt such sorrow. None, except one.
"Well, now that everyone is here we may get started." Said Zeus in a rather loud voice.
"Yes, what is it that you can't just wait to tell us till the next meeting Mr. Thunder?" asked a curious Poseidon.
Zeus scowled at the name but continued nonetheless. "I have gathered you all here today to discuss something that will affect the rest of world, depending on the outcome of the decision of course." This got the gods attention. Nothing concerned the world except great prophecies, and maybe the occasional diplomatic argument. "You all may be thinking that I have news of a great prophecy, but that is not the reason. No, what I'm going to ask you is something that I have thought long and hard since the death of our young hero Perseus."
There was a tense silence as everyone absorbed what they just heard. Zeus, a god that was sometimes mistaken to not care at all for demigods has thought of something because the death of one. This was something that both shocked and interested all the gods present.
"I've have thought long and hard on this topic and I have come to a decision, but because of what I ask I know that I cannot act on my own in this instance."
Again, another silence entered the meeting place as the gods watched there normally rash and egotistical king think and speak logically.
"because of this I knew that I could not run the risk of me or any of us being overheard. That is why I have chosen this location as a meeting point." He stopped to catch a breath before he told them what his big idea was. As if an extra flare to it.
"I… I believe it is time for a regression."
Silence.
Silence was the only thing that existed at that moment, place, and time. Even the wild life that existed just beyond the forest that surrounded the field. It was as if the animal themselves realized the weight that the words spoken by Zeus entailed. Complete and utter silence. That is until one god spoke up first.
"ARE YOU OUT OF YOU GODS DAMNED MIND!" Hades yelled standing from his throne in the process. "Do you know what you are asking? You're asking for the genocide of western civilization."
Zeus looked down as if in shame at what he suggested. "Yes, I know." Was his quite response.
"Then why even offer it as a suggestion?"
Zeus looked at hades with a fire in his eyes that Hades hasn't seen in a long time. It almost freighted him, almost.
"It is because we are weak."
No one said anything because it was true. No one was as powerful as they were during the golden years of Greece. During that time, they were powerful young gods; gods that could do almost anything they pleased. Of course, they always stayed within the limits that the fates allowed them, but still they were powerful beings.
"It is, because we are week that we are always in need of assistance. Assistance that comes from our children. Children that are forced to bare things on their shoulders that no mortal child or godling should have. So, because of that fact I believe that we should make ourselves known once again."
"And the right way to do that is to slaughter the mortals in masses. Oh, they'll definitely welcome us back with open arms and not with hate filled hearts." Was hades sarcastic response.
"He does have a point father. I doubt that the mortals will love us as they once did if we choose to show ourselves in such a way." Artemis said.
"Yes, I understand this, and while I don't like it myself it-"
"It's the fastest way to guarantee that they'll believe in us and pray to us. Thus, boosting our power in a rather quick way." Finished Poseidon in cold tone.
"Precisely. I have already estimated the time period we would need to do this with as little hate directed at us as possible."
Athena looked to Zeus after he finished his statement in a rather curious way. "And what would be the estimated time to do this."
At that question all the gods looked at Zeus with curious gazes. While Zeus looked back at the gods before him with a face that masked all emotions, letting none slip. "It would take roughly six months." He quietly said.
The field grew quiet again with each god thinking on how the six months would pass if they allowed this to happen. All the while seeming completely unfazed by what they were just discussing. Which in all honestly wasn't that hard to do. after several millennia a person can become quite unfazed by the things one sees after such a time period; such as war and other heinous acts. It wasn't that they grew uncaring, far from it actually, but it was the fact that they all had seen, committed and assisted in many things that have left them desensitized to certain situations like the one they discussed now.
"Zeus, if you want to protect our children then how about you don't do this. Think of all the demigods that died within the last two wars and how you would disrespect them if you decide to do this." He said looking at Zeus and then to the rest of the gods that sat there. "Think of your children. The ones that live now and what they'll have to see you do and what they'll have to face because of this decision."
Athena stood up then. "I agree with father." At that all the gods looked to her. "Yes, if we do this it will be something that we may regret and may look back on in shame, but I know that for a fact we will be more powerful." She stopped to look around at the gods. "when we were young powerful gods we didn't need assistance. We didn't need to drag in our children and even when we needed them, they were older and wiser. Not children that were not even close to adulthood." Athena stopped and sighed. "When we were powerful, we were able to stop the Titans by ourselves, we were able to subdue typhoon in a matter of days instead of almost a month, and we were able to handle the giants and with no problem. Yes, we couldn't kill them by ourselves, but were didn't struggle as much as we did this time around.
That is why I will side with father. Yes, it may be cruel to do this to the mortals and it may disrespect the dead, but I know for a fact that in doing this we will gain power to protect the things we love… the children that are here now, and the children that are yet to be." She finished with a quiet voice near the end.
All were quiet but hades noticed the way Athena's words hit gods. Most of them would never admit to it, but most of them blamed themselves for the deaths of their children in the last two wars and that included both Roman and Greek. They, believing that they weren't able to do as much because they weren't as powerful as before.
"I will assist in the regression." Stated the calm and cold voice of Poseidon.
"Poseidon! You wouldn't?"
"As long as it means that no more demigods are to be dragged into our wars. Then yes I would."
Hades then looked at Poseidon directly with a face belonged to Hades. It was a face that almost seemed… pleading. "Poseidon, think of what Percy would say."
Most of the god's faces looked down in shame when remembering the demigod Percy Jackson. The demigod that had changed their worlds for the better with his ideas. A demigod that wanted nothing to do with a war that was not his to fight. Though none the less took the burden that was thrust upon him. He completed his tasks even though at all odds he shouldn't of won, and would, unknowingly, kill him. But as the gods thought about the son of Poseidon, his father could only stare at hades with both sorrow and anger.
"Well hades, tell me. Is he here… Is he alive and well and able to tell me what he would say?" He waited for a response that he knew wouldn't come and continued. "No, he's not. He's dead. Just like my other son that took his place in the Giants war. There both dead because they were forced into wars that shouldn't have been theirs to begin with. Percy because he kept our thrones safe while confronting Kronos, and he defeated him but at the cost of his life. My other son Draco is dead because he was powerful by the end of the Giant war. Dare I say close to even rivaling Percy, but we feared a prophecy that predicted a son of mine would destroy Olympus. A prophecy that was told only a few days after the war ended. Hell, you all feared him even though my children's fatal flaw is there loyalty!" He said, yelling the last part.
"But yes hades; I know what he would say. Do not think I don't when I'm going to do something that I know my favorite son would despise me for."
"Yet you still do it!" hades yelled back.
This time Poseidon got up from his throne and approached hade, grabbing him by the collar of his shirt before responding. "I DO IT TO PROTECT MY FUTURE CHILDREN! I no longer want to see my children be buried when I could have done something that could have prevented their deaths."
He then turned to the other gods that sat in their thrones. Each having an expression that resembled shock at seeing the normally calm sea god so upset and angry.
"Wouldn't you've all liked to do something of we could have prevented the deaths of all our children in the last wars."
Then, for a third time the field was quiet. As each god thought about the sea gods words. Each one mulling over what they should do. Each, contemplating whether they should side with Zeus and gain the power that may protect their children or keep things as they are now, and not disrespect the wishes and memories of the fallen heroes that had died in the last two wars.
"I will support father." The gods turned to see that Apollo had spoken this time. "I don't like what this entails or the means to do so, but if it means that I can protect my children that roam this earth. Then I will do what must be done."
"I as well." Hephaestus spoke up. "I may not be the best father or social person, but with more power I may be able to build machines that can protect them."
One by one the gods voted. Each explaining why they agreed or disagreed. With different reasonings that ranging from protecting their children like Poseidon to other reasons such as destroying the land like Demeter.
As the final gods that were there voted. It ended up coming down to a four to five vote in favor of a regression, and this had Hades worried. He worried because he knew that in time this decision will eventually catch up to them. Like how all their mistakes did. Now his only hope was Hestia. Who he hopes would be able to sway their hearts with some family talk about power not being important, and that family was what really matter or some mumbo jumbo like that. Though before that he had to listen to Ares who had been uncharacteristically quiet since the beginning of this meeting.
Instead of being a hot head like he normally was about everything; he remained quiet. Instead of arguing for one side or the other he remained… neutral. Not taking a side in whether to defend him or his father. And lastly, he didn't seem as confident. As seen by the way his body sat upon his throne. Instead of sitting tall, he slouched slightly. He would look down as if something were on his lap and he sat in a way that seemed both tired and confused. He also emitted an aura that felt nothing like his own. His, normally felt hot and dense and filled with a bit of killing intent. Though now it seemed… mildly, warm? And was thin with almost no killing intent in his aura.
"Ares, what is your vote on the matter?" Athena asked.
She received no response.
"Ares?" she asked again. "Are-"
"Don't"
The gods looked at each other confused and waited to see if he would speak further, but they got no response. So, Athena spoke again. "Ares, what do you mean?"
"Don't, don't do this regression or whatever your calling it."
Athena gave him a puzzled look. "Why?"
"Sister" he said and paused as if to collect his thoughts. "Sister, whatever father has planned don't do it. I don't know why, but I just get this bad feeling. It's like I know something is going to happen but… but…. I just don't know what."
Flags went up in all the gods heads as Ares finished. What he said in the way he said it wasn't normal for him. One such flag was that he never called Athena sister. Except for one time and that was right before the giant war started; which he tried to warn them of. They knew something was troubling him if he used the term sister, though what it was they had no idea.
"What do you mean Ares?" questioned Zeus.
Ares looked up from his lap to look a Zeus. Allowing the gods to see his face. What they saw was a facial expression that normally didn't appear on his face. That expression being fear. Hard to notice, but there none the less.
"I don't know, but all I will tell you is that this is a bad idea. It's like a gut feeling." He explained.
"See, Ares agrees with me. We may have different reason as to why, but he agrees all the same." He then looked to Hestia, and the others did as well.
Hestia who had stayed silent during this entire meeting had at some point stood up from her chair turned around and walked a few steps towards the forest. Thus, not allowing the other gods to see her face.
"Hestia, what do you think about this?" Zeus asked.
He received no response from her. She just seemed to be staring out towards the forest as if in a trance were all other things seemed to not exists. Except for her, and her thoughts.
Hades then turned to Zeus. "She would disagree brother. You know this. She cares for the demigods and for the boy that changed our views. She wou-"
"Hades, stop."
At the sound of Hestia's quiet voice everyone stopped, and looked to see something that brought back memories of the aftermath of the Titan war. Something that once again shock all the gods there.
What they saw instead of the normally quiet and pleasant Hestia. Was a crying and sad Hestia. Something that was uncommon and normally revolved around strong grief, like the day the Percy Jackson died. As she cried she looked at all the gods before her with an expression that could be only described as sadness. Until, that is she landed on Hades.
"I will give Zeus my blessing to go on with this plan. I may not entirely agree with it…but…if it helps prevent the deaths of our heroes and champions I will support him. I do not wish to see another hero such as Perseus fall."
Hades stood their gaping at her while she paused to take a breath.
"I know that Perseus would never approve of such a decision and dare I day…. he would hate me for it, but like Poseidon said…" she paused as if accepting the words that she was about to utter. "… he is not here and it's because we weren't strong. I will not assist in the killing. I will watch and heal the fallen. I will push them in the right direction so that they do not react as violently." She then turned back to face the forest and continued to silently cry.
Zeus looked to the gods after getting over the shock of Hestia's vote and spoke. "Then it is decided. In two years we will begin." And with that he disappeared, teleporting back to Olympus with the other gods following his example. Leaving to where ever they were needed or wanted to go. Though three gods did not follow. Them being Hades, Hestia and surprisingly Aphrodite.
Hestia turned around, knowing that Hades was still there sitting on his throne. She looked at him with red puffy eyes and a face that still had the streak marks of tears. They didn't speak, but they really didn't need to. Hestia could see all the words that hades wanted to say through his eyes; all the sadness, pain and betrayal.
"He would be disappointed." Were the only words he said to her before disappearing back to the underworld and when he left her damn broke. Letting out tears that had built up over the last two years. Tears and emotions that she knew shouldn't have felt for a demigod and even tried resisting, but still fell prey to in the end.
She fell into her little chair and cried. She knew that he would be disappointed. She knew that he would probably hate her if he were alive. She wondered how he would react to hearing about how the ones he protected; ended up doing the same thing that his enemies wanted. Though to a way lesser extent. Still though, she went with the decision even knowing how he would feel; she went through with it. Would this make her a bad person?
All these thoughts left her mind in turmoil but this time she wasn't alone. As she grieved she felt a pair of slender arms themselves around her body.
"It's alright. Let it out aunt Hestia." Aphrodite said in a quiet voice.
And she did. She wrapped her arms around her niece and cried harder. Even letting out cries of anguish as she sobbed in the love goddess' arms. She stayed like that for almost thirty minutes, and when she finally started to quiet down did she finally speak.
"How long?" Hestia asked quietly.
"Hmm?"
"How long did you know?" She asked again.
"Oh that, well…probably since the first time he walked onto Olympus." She said in a surprisingly caring voice. "I saw you staring at him from your little spot by the fire. It was rather cute," She giggled at the memory. "and after that I would always see glimpses of him through your fire. I know you watched over him in your own way. Though I must say that you are surprisingly bold when it came to him. I mean not many of us would transform into a young girl or something akin to that when we wanted to be with the people we meet in the mortal world." At that statement she could feel her chest grow a bit warmer. She guessed that it was Hestia's embarrassment.
"You know about that?"
"Oh yes." she said with a giggle. "I also saw how you befriended that Rachel girl when they were together and how asked her to tell you everything that happened. I know how happy you were when you found out they never really went farther than a kiss in their relationship. I must say you were quite the little stalker." Then she went quiet.
"I also know how much pain and worry you felt when you sent him to the river of Styx and how much pain you felt when you saw him again and his anchor was the daughter of Athena. Lastly, I won't forget when your heart broke. When you saw him after the battle?" She stopped to let Hestia collect herself before she continued in calm soothing voice. "I won't lie to you aunt. I really thought after his death that you would have moved on. I'm not say that you would have moved on fast, but over time."
"Aphrodite, why… why are you being so-"
"Caring?" Aphrodite finished.
"Yes, not to be offensive, but you're not this caring about these things. Yes, you tease the others but you've never shown this type of side of you." Hestia said while letting go of her and sitting up straight on her chair.
The goddess in question looked up at the night sky and the stars in it. "It's because it was pure."
"Pure?"
"That is the only type of way to describe it. If you asked me to describe it differently I wouldn't be able to. It's like the love a mother would give her child but not the same thing. Like… unconditional… you loved him unconditionally. He could have blown up a building and you would still love him. He could torture you, broke you or even kill us all off and you'd still love him. You had no motive or second agenda. You just wanted to be with him and if you couldn't; you wanted him to be happy. Whether it be in heaven or hell. That would be the only other way to describe it. Yes, a bit over the top with the examples, but still.
It's that kind of love that's rare and the few that do have that kind of love…. it…. normally doesn't have the best ending."
"What do you mean" Hestia asked.
"The pure types normally end in tragedy. You remember Romeo and Juliet, Troy and Helen or even Diarmuid and Grainne. They are but a few of the tragedy's, and I prayed that you weren't one of the many, but as you can see it did next to nothing." She said with a snort at the end.
Hestia smiled sadly. "At least you tried."
They both let a somewhat comfortable silence befall them as they watched the stars above them, but still a single question burned in Hestia's mind that she knew only Aphrodite would know. So working up the courage and preparing herself for the answer, she asked.
"Aphrodite?"
"Yes, aunt Hestia."
"Do you think Percy would hate me after today?"
Aphrodite looked over to her aunt and saw through her eyes just how worried she was. "Honestly?"
Hestia nodded her head at her question.
Aphrodite looked back at the star filled sky and for a while she was quiet until she finally spoke in a voice that almost sounded curious. "I don't know."
Pm me with questions, but with this wrapped up R&R and have a good day or night wherever you are BD out.