Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The body of the hero of Olympus lay on the cold, hard stone floor of the throne room of the Gods, struggling for every breath. The gasps of air echoed around the almost silent room. Achilles had warned him of the pain of his mortal point being pierced but it was nothing like he had anticipated. After holding the sky, being erupted from a volcano and battling titans, gods and monsters he had thought that he knew what pain was. Turns out he knew nothing of the limits of pain. He now knew that he was going to die but he didn’t want to let go until he knew that everyone was safe, especially Annabeth and Grover. He didn’t even know if they were alive or just knocked out when Kronos blasted them across the room and into one of the thrones. Their bodies were slumped in a pile last he had seen them. The only positive that Percy could see was that at least he had taken Kronos out with him.  

Poseidon had rushed from the battle as soon as he had felt that something was wrong with the sea. It is a little known fact that all children of the sea are connected to every body of water due to the fact that roughly 80% of the human body was made up of water. It made Poseidon more aware of his children as technically they were a part of his realm under the sea. He knew that both his wife and Triton were safe as they had retreated to a safe distance after he had decided to assist his siblings with Typhon and consequently retreating from his palace. The only other person connected to the sea was Percy who was currently in the throne room battling his grandfather in some form or way. 

The other gods and goddesses knew something was wrong as soon as Poseidon rushed away. He had stayed only long enough to see that Typhon was dealt with but then quickly fled towards Olympus. They followed, of course, but none of them expected the scene they came across in their own throne room. The child of Athena and satyr were in a pile at the base of Demeter’s throne, unmoving and battered but alive. The same could not be said for the child of Poseidon. He lay on his back with Riptide situated nearby to his right as if it had been dropped expectantly as he had collapsed. His skin was pale, clammy and his breathing came in erratic gasping attempts at pulling air into his lungs. Poseidon had knelt next to his only demigod son and was pushing some of his own powers into his son to try and help him. Apollo took barely any time before rushing forward and assisting his uncle. 

“Oh Percy, what happened to you?” Poseidon mumbled as he pushed more of his powers into his son. He had also pulled in water from a nearby broken fountain in an attempt to help heal his son. 

It wasn’t working. 

“We can’t heal him. It’s his mortal point you see,” Apollo gently rolled Percy onto his side and pointed to the wound on the small of his back, “even if I did heal him, he would have to deal with this pain for the rest of his life. That is no way to live, uncle. I won’t let him suffer with this longer than he has to.” 

“I know Apollo. I can feel the pull of the sea weakening on him. I just can’t give up on him.”  

Hera stepped forward and approached her older brother, “You aren’t giving up on him, just letting him out of the pain he is suffering in. Let him rest with Hades. He deserves the rest that only he can provide now.” 

Poseidon released his son from his hold and placed a kiss on his sweaty forehead giving his son one final blessing. Percy’s body relaxed as he gasped for a breath of air one last time and exhaled his final gasp, his whole body relaxing as his body shut down and his soul passed gently into the underworld. Poseidon seemed to age before their eyes in grief for his son, his hair now streaked with grey and his sea green eyes dull and sadly looking at his son’s corpse as he felt the connection to the sea fade as his soul slowly left his body. Poseidon summoned a shroud to cover his son and after placing a drachma into his hand and folding his hands upon his chest holding riptide in its pen form for one final time. 

And with a final glance at his son’s peaceful face, he lifted the shroud and covered his son from the sight of the world for the last time. 

The other gods and goddesses had been busy fixing the throne room back up to the way it used to be before the fight. Apollo had seen to both Grover and Annabeth, healing them as much as he could as Poseidon looked after his son. They would wake up soon as there was little wrong with them other than being knocked out and exhausted. Apollo was standing at the side keeping an eye on both the demigods and Poseidon. It wasn’t long before Demeter, Hades and his wife walked into the throne room. Hades made a beeline towards his younger brother who was still knelt at the side of his son covered in the shroud. 

“Do not mourn the death of your son, brother but celebrate the good times you had with him. He wouldn’t want you to suffer for his noble death.” 

“You are right. Thank you for reminding me Hades.” Poseidon sent a small sad smile at his brother. With a final look at the shroud covered body, Poseidon waved his hand and turned it into sea mist. His son’s body was quickly transported into his father’s temple which had been left mostly untouched by the battle's destruction on Olympus to be cremated later along with the rest of the dead. before standing up and leaving the side of his son so that he could help in the repairs of the thrones and the room.

One and a half hours later the room had been mostly repaired and the surviving demigods gathered along with the Cyclopes from Poseidon’s army, or navy depending on your opinion. Zeus had called everyone to order and started on a rant about the bravery of the gods. Poseidon didn’t talk or make any notice of his youngest brother and just sat in his throne contemplating his son and what he would tell Sally.  His attention drifted till he heard his name mentioned by Zeus.  

“We must be thankful for the help of Poseidon and both his army for their assistance and the son of Poseidon, Percy Jackson who gave his life for Olympus. May his soul rest peacefully in Hades' realm.” 

The demigods were shocked. Percy had died in the last battle?  

They had last seen him running up to the elevator to take him after Kronos. Thalia was gutted she hadn’t been able to help her cousin because she had been pinned by the statue of Hera. Her help could’ve saved her cousin from his death. Instead he died alone. 

“Unfortunately we have no idea what happened in the end fight with Kronos. I suppose we never will either.” Zeus spoke regrettably.  

Hades coughed to interrupt, “Maybe we can know. But I will ask you to be patient brother; there is a reason the dead have to go through a waiting room before entering the underworld.” 

Hades waved a hand and a hazy, unclear and unknown form of a spirit emerged in front of him. “I know I have no reason to ask, but will you tell us what happened. You can rightfully refuse.” Hades softly asked the spirit who thought for a moment and then nodded their agreement. Hades waved his hand again and the form solidified slightly into the soul of Perseus Jackson, the hero who had died only a few hours before. His form was made up of faded colours that used to belong to the clothes that he had been wearing on his body hours before marred with tears, dirt and blood stains, especially on the small of his back where his mortal point used to be. Percy looked down at his hands and clenched them slightly, his eyes following his movements as if something was off. 

“Take your time Perseus. You are not used to this form yet and I would not have summoned you if there was another option but we need to know what happened in the time leading up to your passing.” Hades spoke softly to the new spirit. Percy looked at his uncle and gave him a small smile. 

“It is alright uncle. I will be able to manage for a while.” Percy turned and looked around the room he had fought and died in. He spotted all the gods, goddesses, demigods and cyclopes standing or sitting around the room but his eyes fell on a single goddess who sat tending her fire just out of view of everyone’s eyes unless they were looking for her. “Lady Hestia.” Percy spoke softly, but in the silent room it was as if he had shouted. 

“Perseus Jackson,” Hestia looked up from her flames she was tending; tears falling from her eyes. She walked forward to stand in front of the fallen hero. “Your mother survived the fights on the streets as well as your step-father. She already knows you didn’t survive.” 

“If she survived then it was worth it in the end. Thank you for the aid, Lady Hestia both now and when I was fighting Kronos.” 

“You are welcome my champion, you who defended the hearth and saved us all.” Hestia and Percy shared a small smile. Percy turned to the gods, specifically Zeus as it was finally time to answer their questions. 

“Lord Zeus, you wanted to know what happened with my battle with your father, correct.” At the positive agreement, Percy started to tell the gathered people what happened. 

“When we entered Olympus we could see no-one around but we heard Kronos yelling about destroying the throne room. We rushed ahead until a statue of Hera fell and landed on Thalia who had pushed the rest of us out of the way. She told us to leave her and to go stop Kronos instead. When we got to the throne room Kronos was already there and waiting for us. He was strong and gaining strength quickly. He knocked Annabeth into a throne and Grover quickly followed. I think they were just knocked out but I couldn’t tell. I jumped up onto a throne to get to the high ground and the defences in the throne attacked Kronos and I was able to slash the straps on his armour so that the chest piece fell to the ground.” 

The demigods in the room were enraptured by the story Percy was telling. The gods listened carefully as they realised what must’ve happened to kill both Kronos and Percy at the same time. 

“We fought for a while. I am sorry but I don’t know exactly how long it was until I got a chance to hit the spot under Luke’s right arm. Turns out that was his mortal point. He made one last attack at me. It failed but it glanced off my sword and was redirected into my mortal point as I turned away to avoid it. Then I died. The last thing I saw was Luke’s body being consumed by Kronos’ power from his fractured mortal spot.” Percy finished with a final sigh. A small smile lay upon his face as if he was wishing that no one had any fault in his death. 

The throne room filled with people echoed with silence. Not a sound was heard as Percy finished his story off.

“I am sorry dad, but I knew I wasn’t going to survive today once I was told the prophecy. I was once told that my sword was cursed.” Percy spoke to his father, looking at him directly in the eyes, “I knew that it could cause my death. ‘A heroes soul cursed blade shall reap.’ But I didn’t care. It helped to save lives and I could not damage Zoe’s trust in me by abandoning her blade.” 

Artemis spoke up at that point to the spirit, “She would be proud to know that it was used to kill Kronos. But I get the feeling that you will be keeping that blade until you see her again.” 

“You suffered so much for us, my son. And all you got in return was death. It doesn’t seem fair.” Poseidon said tears filling his eyes as the faded sight of his youngest child. 

“To be perfectly honest dad, I think that I am fine with being dead. It is peaceful in a way I don’t think my life would ever be. In the end I lived for exactly 16 years and I wouldn’t change it for a second but I am happy now, even if I did die on my birthday. This was SO not the best birthday present!” Percy joked lightly. Poseidon cracked a small smile at Percy’s attempt at lightening the darkening mood of the room. 

Zeus cleared his throat and surveyed the room with his gaze. Before him stood one of the greatest heroes they had ever had the pleasure to meet. His actions had saved the world and cost him his life.  

“I believe it is necessary to thank you nephew for all that you have done for us and all that you have sacrificed.” Zeus announced in his booming voice. 

“You are welcome, Uncle.” 

“It is a shame to lose such a great and worthy hero.” 

“Maybe we don’t have to. It would take some research but we have used something similar in the past,” Athena admitted hesitantly. “I can’t quite put my finger on what exactly it was though.” 

“Athena will look up that for us if Percy is willing?” Zeus asked. Percy nodded and bowed to Zeus before making his way to stand next to Hades. 

“Do you not wish to be judged, nephew?”  Hades spoke as Percy went to leave the centre of the throne room. Percy stared shocked at his uncle but quickly accepted. “Well, I did summon you and it is not like the council can reward you, but I can give you this.” 

Percy was stunned but he quickly gathered himself together and quickly responded to his uncle.

"I would be honoured, Lord Hades." 

“Well it seems you have a choice, either Elysium or the Isles of the Blessed? Your soul has completed the three lives clause to get in.” Hades smiled lightly down at him from where he was sitting on his guest throne. “The people on the Isles visit Elysium regularly but you wouldn’t be able to do it the other way round.” 

“It might as well be the Isles then uncle. The best of both choices I think.” Percy smiled widely. Hades nodded as waved a hand over Percy’s head. A feeling of contentment settled next to Percy's heart and he knew that his judgement had been marked on his soul, not that anyone could see it.

“You know where to go I assume from your little quest, just skip the lines. From what I can tell, you are going to have quite the welcome when you get there. I think there are a few of your cousins and siblings that have heard of your story and will wish to meet you.”  

It was at this moment that Percy’s soul flickered, disappearing momentarily leaving nothing behind. A confused and slightly pained look appeared on Percy’s face when he reappeared again, looking even more see-through than before. 

“What is happening brother?” 

“A soul is made up of the last breath of its owner and needs time to gather before it is sent to the underworld. By summoning Percy here, I stopped the process temporarily and as such his soul is not all together yet. Time’s up unfortunately and he will return to the waiting room with or without my help. It’s time to say goodbye Percy. I am sorry it could not be longer.” 

The demigods went first saying goodbye to their friend. The last ones were Thalia, Grover and Annabeth who were all distraught. Percy didn’t say much to anyone during all this. He would miss people but he would see them all again at some point. Poseidon stood up from his chair and stood in front of his son.  

“I never told you how much I love you son. You have made me so proud. I am sorry it ended like this but please remember that I love you.” Poseidon whispered.

“I love you too dad. Look after mom for me please.” Percy whispered back just as quietly as he faded once again from view, however this time when he reappeared he held onto a drachma in his left hand. Looking down into his hand at the coin, he flicked it up into the air and caught it with a smile. Percy looked around the room and smiled once more before finally fading from view as his hand clenched around the falling coin. 

From Percy’s point of view he had faded from the Throne room and reappeared almost instantly in the DOA Studios waiting room. The honest answer was that it had been a couple of hours but time doesn’t matter to the dead so they don’t keep track in the same way that a living person does. 

The waiting room of the dead was the same as always. Percy had seen it only once before in his life and he didn’t think that he would be back so soon. The room looked the same as it had before with the gloomy and depressed atmosphere, but this time there were more familiar faces in the crowd of dead souls waiting to go to Hades’ realm. Percy saw Ethan Nakamura in the corner of the room, sitting peacefully to one side, resting with his head in his hands. 

Percy walked towards the counter where Charon was talking to an elderly woman at the moment. It didn’t take long for the God to notice Percy. 

“Perseus Jackson,” Charon spoke quite loudly and most of the room fell silent as the demigods from both sides of the war were still in the room. “So I see that the battle is over then. You won but at the cost of your life.” 

“My life was the cost for keeping my friends and family safe. I would do it again if I had to.” Percy smiled slightly at the God who smiled back. To Percy he didn’t seem as threatening as he did last time. Percy handed the golden coin to the Ferryman and boarded the boat that would take him into the underworld. 

The boat ride down the Styx was quicker than Percy remembered but he supposed that this time he didn’t have the dread of his uncle finding him and trying to kill him on his shoulders this time around. The dead exited the boat and floated forward slowly towards the queues to be judged. Percy watched as the people in front of him had their key memories shown in a quick blur above their heads as they were judged.  

Luckily he didn’t have to suffer through that. 

When his turn in the queue arrived, the main judge William Shakespeare nodded at Percy and pointed at the path to Elysium and the Isles of the Blessed. Percy bowed and walked away. He could hear a few grumbled complaints from the ghosts in the line behind him which made him chuckle slightly. 

After walking for a while down the path Percy came across the Gates of Elysium. These two huge golden gates had stood since the founding of Hades realm and were decorated in ornate patterns of beauty. The gates were open at the moment but Percy knew that he needed to go to the Isle of the Blessed first. 

The winding path led him down to the shore of a massive lake which contained a collection of islands that looked kind of out of place in the underworld. A small boat rested on the shore next to a post that it was moored to. 

The island entrance was plain but to Percy it was paradise. You could feel the peace that emanated from the ground and the air around him, like it was an element of nature just for this island. Walking further in and through the gate, Percy saw people stood around waiting. 

‘They can’t be waiting for me, can they?’ Percy thought to himself as a person seemed to notice him just standing there. 

“You must be the new arrival. We’ve been waiting for you ever since Hades said you might be arriving.” A tall man walked up to Percy and was flanked by two other men, all of them wearing ancient greek togas in different colours. They were all around six foot tall, give or take a few inches either side, and stood at least half a foot above Percy. It was just one of the disadvantages of dying young, he had missed his last few years of growth. 

“Sorry to keep you waiting, Hades summoned me to the throne room for a bit. Not that I knew that you would be waiting on me.” 

“Well, I am Theseus and this is Achilles and Perseus.” 

“Perseus Jackson but everyone calls me Percy.” Percy smiled at his cousins, “Nice to meet some more of the family. My father is Poseidon.” 

“Nice to meet you as well, little brother,” Theseus said, “Now let us give you a tour of the island and get you to your house. I think you are going to love the beach huts that we have here.” 

Chapter Text

Percy settled down easily into the routine of the Isle and Elysium. He visited friends that had passed away, spoke to Hades when he checked in on the hero and exchanged stories with the other deceased heroes.  

Life was easy for the deceased.

Hades had popped in and updated his nephew on the clean up after the war. Camp Half Blood had suffered barely any damage but the demigods themselves had suffered major losses in the war. 

The gods had honoured Percy’s memory by making changes to the way they handled demigods. Going forward, all demigods would be acknowledged by their parents by the time of their 12th birthday. They had also arranged to create cabins for all minor gods and goddesses who currently had children or would expect children to the camp in the next few years. Eventually they would have a cabin for everyone, or atleast a designated place per group. The Muses had expressed that they would want their kids to bunk together as had Hades and Persephone.

Another thing they were considering, but was not finalised as far as Hades was aware, was the release of peaceful Titans and previous enemies of Olympus. Calypso was at the top of the list after her care for Percy the previous summer. 

Poseidon had made sure to inform Calypso personally of Percy’s passing in the final battle. She had been heart broken but was honoured that he had kept his promise to plant a garden in Manhattan for her.

Hades was also keeping Percy up to date with the real world chaos and drama of the immortal side of the family.

Poseidon had taken to hiding under the sea and had been replaced by Triton in recent meetings. Hades had 

Meanwhile, Athena and Ares had been working on the plan in an unusual show of cooperation.

It had taken Athena a month to work out the ritual. It would allow Percy to become the Guardian Hero of Olympus. It was a simple summoning that would allow Hades to directly summon a single soul into the position of Warrior of the Dead. It was a version of Ares’ old ritual that he had used to summon a Spartan Warrior if needed in a battle, most of the time the spell summoned dead spirits. Needless to say that it was not a spell that got much use, even in the olden times. 

As soon as the ritual had been worked out, they set about making Percy aware.

Percy had been summoned once again to the throne room and the ritual explained to him. He had agreed to it 100% and the oath was made before the entire council and all the minor gods as well. The oath was simple but it had to be said in Ancient Greek which surprisingly Percy had gotten down instantly. It did help that Perseus, Achilles and Theseus all regularly spoke it and he had picked it up from them constantly switching languages to try and confuse one another. 

And so Perseus Jackson became the Soul Warrior for the Olympians, 

It was the hope of all the Gods that Percy would never be needed. Little did they know what was about to happen. 

It is as they say; history is bound to repeat itself eventually. 

It was just over one year after the Titan War had ended that the time came where Percy was needed to help defend the Earth again from another threat. History was repeating itself and after the defeat of Kronos came the battle with Gaia and her Giants. The Romans and the Greeks had joined together in an uneasy alliance to help battle the monsters on the lands of Olympus, Camp Half Blood and New York whilst the gods and goddesses joined with the seven and a couple of the hunters of Artemis to attack the giants and Gaia herself. 

The main battle was going well at the start. Monsters fell as the combined efforts of the demigods caused them to have the upper hand. The tides quickly turned when Gaia showed her face, bringing with her double the monsters and the remaining Giants that had been missing on the battlefield up until this point.

Most of the council of the gods had been summoned to assist with the exceptions of Dionysis who was Guarding Camp Half Blood, Hera who was watching over the Roman camp and city and Apollo who was manning a medical station and taking pot shots when he could into the hoard on the opposite side of the battlefield.

“Hades, summon him now. We need his help to defeat this.” Hades nodded at Zeus’ command and quickly withdrew from the main battle and chanted quickly in a very old language. A few Greek demigods around recognised it as the same language they had heard last year at the presentation ceremony. It wasn’t long before a person arose from the shadows, covered head to toe in traditional armour and with a very familiar sword in his hand. 

“A year, really! Can’t last long without me, can you.” The warrior joked and teased the god of the dead with light hearted banter that hadn’t been heard by either side since the war commenced. The helm covering his face cast a shadow over his features but the amusement could still be heard clearly in his voice. 

“You know what to do.” Hades replied and the warrior saluted the god in a slightly sarcastic manner before leaping into the battle, a small hurricane starting up around him as he slashed and sliced his way through the enemy forces, monsters falling left and right at his feet before erupting into plumes of golden dust. Only death lay in his path as he fought to even the odds in the favour of the gods. Eventually he stood side by side with his father, Zeus and Hades as a few giants approached. His sword was ready by his side and a small grin could be seen upon his face from under his helm. Demigods were in awe at this force of nature before quickly being snapped back to the reality of the battle.

Then the giants approached. The anti-Poseidon, Polybotes, and the anti-Zeus, Porphyrion had held back until now and they were some of the most dangerous to be at full power. They were now the top priorities to get off this battlefield before they caused total destruction via storm, electricity or poison.

Suddenly and with little warning he raced forward in a spurt of pure speed and under the guard of the first giant, Polybotes before he could unleash any of his poisonous presence on the battlefield. The warrior quickly got behind the slow Giant and with a swipe of his blade, slashed behind Polybotes’ knee causing it to stumble and collapse right in front of where Zeus and Poseidon were positioned. They both blasted the downed enemy giant, Zeus with his master bolt and Poseidon with a high pressure water blast, reducing the giant to golden ashes that scattered into nothing on the windy battlefield. This didn’t stop the warrior for long as he once again picked up pace and leapt forward to engage another enemy monster that was about to kill a young demigod. The warrior spent only a second to confirm that the demigod was okay before rushing at another giant, this time with Artemis by his side. 

The anti-Fate Giant was not particularly big but it was clever and sneaky. They had captured a hunter and were dragging them closer and closer to the pit where Gaia was rising from. It seemed that a male demigod had already given half of the blood sacrifice to summon the manifestation of the Earth and now all they needed was a female. The hunter was young and seemed well trained if a bit new.

Percy considered that she may have been recruited post-Titan War but soon pushed the thought from his head.

Artemis kept the attention of the giant as Percy created ice along the floor of the path they were taking. One step… Two steps… and on the third step a raised stone caused the giant to lose its footing and its grip on the hunter who quickly escaped and retreated to their sisters. Percy lunged forward, grabbing the giant’s head and slashing their throat as a silver arrow pierced them through the heart.

Gold dust settled between the goddess and the warrior. She bowed her head slightly in thanks before they both rushed off.

Percy restarted his hurricane and became a literal force of nature. Slashing, stabbing, blocking and overall just demolishing everything in his way.

Soon the hurricane died down for a moment as the warrior dodged to the side, avoiding a blow from two cyclopes and towards another giant. Some demigods had managed to topple the to the floor but were struggling to land a killing blow. Percy raced up the giants legs onto its back and pushed his sword through the centre of the giants back, through its heart. At that point an arrow fired from the other side of the field from Apollo landed dead centre into the giant's head, causing it to fall into the gold monster dust. 

The few monsters left were quickly being dealt with by the demigods or retreating quickly away, only to be followed by the Huntresses of Artemis. The warrior had turned the battle around in their favour, decimating the monsters that had approached him.

Gaia was screaming in anger at the death of the last of her children. She looked furious even half asleep, she was rapidly waking up.

“Can I? Please can I?” The warrior glanced at Poseidon. If the helmet wasn’t covering his face in shadows, everyone would have seen the biggest set of seal puppy eyes that no-one could ever say no to.

“Sure, go wild.” Poseidon stood next to his brothers and watched eager for this all to be over.

The warrior stepped forward. Percy raised his foot, felt for that clench in his gut and stomped. The ripple in the ground rushed towards the Earth Mother in one massive but targeted and controlled earthquake, knocking her down before she could be pinned by two massive hands of water, courtesy of Poseidon. Zeus wasted no time to blast lightning at her whilst Hades struck with his helm of darkness.

Never before had the Big Three worked so well and in unison and it was all thanks to Perseus Jackson.

Gaia screamed as she crumbled into dry earth before trying to reform and crumble some more. Another zap of lightning, strike of darkness and a wave of water and she was no more.

She was gone.

The battle was over and the war won. Demigods celebrated and mourned their dead friends and family, covering them in shrouds summoned by their parents. Everyone was helping out including the mysterious warrior who stuck close to Hades and Poseidon, helping with whatever he could. Many of the demigods needed healing and so the warrior took it upon himself to help out using his powers from Poseidon on the smaller wounds. 

“Who are you?” Thalia asked as she approached the warrior who was still in his armour. Everyone seemed to pause to look at the conversation taking place between the huntress and the person who turned the odds in their favour winning them the war. 

“What! Don’t you remember me, Pinecone Face?” The warrior teased as he removed his helm to reveal the bright sea green eyes and black hair with a small grey stripe, unmistakably the face of Perseus Jackson. “I’ve only been gone a year and you already don’t remember me. I am ashamed of you!” 

Thalia rushed forward and embraced her cousin in a hug that could’ve crushed a giant. Nico also rushed forward and joined in, the three cousins reunited. The Romans didn’t have a clue what was going on but looked on in shock as a huntress hugged a boy. They whispered amongst each other in outrage. Artemis knew what was happening and smiled a sad smile in the direction of the cousins, more like siblings. 

“We miss you Percy.” Nico muttered into his cousin’s shoulder. Percy tightened his hold on his youngest cousin, trying to send as much comfort to him as possible. Thalia leaned into Percy as well smothering his side in a hug, tears leaking from her eyes and onto his shoulder. Percy was still a head taller than Thalia still as neither of them had grown for obvious reasons but now Nico nearly matched Thalia in height. Percy rested his chin on her head and closed his eyes as tears threatened to fall from his eyes. 

“I know Nico... I know… But it was my time and I still watch over you even if you can’t see me. Besides, this way I get to stay out of trouble and avoid annoying and angering every monster in existence on a regular basis.” Percy gave his little brother a small grin, ruffling his hair with the arm that had been hugging him previously, all the while Thalia was still hugged tight to his chest with his other arm.  

The rest of the seven, Thalia had been chosen as their last member for the trip, walked forward at this point. They leaned on each other and looked exhausted but they knew that it was finally over. They meandered towards Thalia and Nico, not recognising the other person stood next to them. Percy, upon seeing the others moving towards them, released Thalia and Nico from the embrace so that he had both his arms free. Annabeth froze when she saw who was standing in front of her, her face paling until no colour remained.  

“Hello,” Jason said as he held out a hand to Percy, “My name’s Jason Grace and this is Piper, Frank, Hazel, Leo and Annabeth. Thanks for the help with the battle, you really saved us there.” 

“It’s a pleasure to meet you all. I’m Perseus Jackson but please just call me Percy.” Percy shook Jason’s hand and received a small static shock. “I am guessing you are Thalia’s brother. She shocks me as well but most of the time I have probably done something to deserve it.” Percy laughed as he spoke. 

“You guessed that right. I am a son of Zeus’ Roman side, Jupiter. Who is your parent?” Jason asked curiously. 

“Poseidon but I currently serve Hades when he needs me.” Percy shrugged nonchalantly. 

“I’ve heard of you!” Leo exclaimed, “You’re the hero they spoke of at Camp Half-Blood. You defeated a few titans last year. We left on a quest before they told the end of your story though.” 

“It’s not a nice end to the story unfortunately. Last year Kronos attacked New York. I and many other demigods defended Olympus. In the end, I fought Kronos in the Throne Room and died. Not quite as simple as that and skipping the tonne of pain I was in and the gory parts. Hades summoned me to assist with the giants at Zeus’s command. I’ll be sent back to the underworld in a bit I suppose.” Their faces fell as they realised what he had told them. He was the same age as them and yet he had died protecting the world and no-one outside of the pantheons knew his name. 

“S-s-seaweed Brain?” Annabeth spoke quietly, so quiet in fact that Percy almost missed what she said. 

“Yes, Wise Girl?” Percy responded with a sad smile on his face. Annabeth rushed forward and hugged him tightly around the waist. She sobbed hysterically into his chest and his heart hurt at the pain he heard in her crying. “I’m so sorry I died, wise girl. I fought for you and I always will do but you need to move on. I want you to live your life, become the best architect in the world and live for both of us. I was fated to die and even if he hadn’t knocked you out, I still would’ve died.” 

“I-I miss y-you.” Annabeth whispered, her voice cracking as she spoke. 

“I miss you too. I will be waiting for you and remember, just because you can’t see me doesn’t mean I am not watching.” Percy smiled at her and lightly placed a kiss on her forehead as he hugged her close once more. 

Percy let go of Annabeth and walked back towards where his father, Zeus and Hades were waiting.  

“Time for me to go I think. I promised Theseus, Perseus and Achilles a rematch from our last battle. You know where to find me if you need me to fight again.” 

“What is it with you four and your battles?” Hades shook his head in disbelief. Ever since the heroes of old had found out about their little cousin or brother and his sacrifice they had adopted him into their group in the underworld. Needless to say that this group organised surprise battles every few weeks, causing mayhem and chaos for Hades to clean up. Hades of course would never admit that he enjoyed the battles and mini wars they raged as they made his job more exciting.  

“It’s fun and anyway, you can’t stop them or you would have a riot on your hands. Better we four fight each other than another Zeus-Hades-Poseidon demigod battle. Now that was a beautiful sort of mayhem.”

And so the story of Perseus Jackson was over and also not at the same time. He would be there if they needed him, his sword Riptide always ready to defend his family and the rest of his time would be spent with his deceased brethren causing chaos in the afterlife together.