Chapter Text
The walls of the Olympian Palace shone a blinding white as rainbow and gold hues reflected off of it, dazzling those who were lucky enough to lay eyes on the magnificent building created by none other than Annabeth Chase. Hera, the queen of the gods, stood on her balcony, overlooking the scenery. A white robe made of fine silk hung loosely to her frame, her hair blowing softly in the wind. Her husband still lay in bed, asleep after their...ahem nightly games.
Moments like these, she could almost forget his cheating tendencies.
Almost.
She knew many thought it cruel what she did to young Jason Grace and Perseus Jackson. But they did not understand how half-bloods worked. The did not mature like normal mortals, but much faster. Mentally, at least. Physically, they appeared to age the same. Because both boys were seventeen physically, mentally, they were nearly thirty. A fine age. She would not sent helpless children to war, much to the belief of many.
Slipping off her shoe, she turns and throws it in her husbands face, announcing to "Get up."
Like she said, she could almost forget his cheating tendencies.
Almost.
~~~~
The throne room of Olympus was an impressive sight to behold, just as the rest of the palace was. With marble walls reaching towards the sky, smoothed and sculpted so that not one single imperfection could be seen, it invoked a sense of inferiority to those who didn't frequent it. For the gods though, it had become just another place.
The only thing more impressive then the palace itself were perhaps the thrones, and those who sat atop them. From Apollo, with his golden hair and tanned skin, and Hermes, with his messy brown curls and sly grin, to even Hades, who had been given a temporary throne that appeared when he entered, so that he could have a place to sit during the meetings.
Despite all this, Zeus hated meetings. Sitting in his throne, his eyes shifting over his Godly relatives, it was a fact most---if not all---of them agreed wholeheartedly with. But alas, after the wars, many, including his favored daughters, Athena and Artemis, had pushed for more frequent meeting to "check in" as they had put it. Personally, Zeus agreed. Having just the Summer and Winter Solstice's had proven to be not enough time and time again.
He still hated meetings.
This one had begun with the Satyr, Grover, and new Lord of the Wild, giving them a report. It was incredibly boring, but Zeus listened all the same. Or, he was listening, before his sons Apollo and Hermes hushed conversation trapped his attention.
"---tooth fairy, honestly I don't even know what that is, much why you would want one to visit you so bad you would pray to a God." Apollo ranted. Hermes let out an amused chuckle.
"It does bring a rather... interesting image to mind." He agreed, and Zeus took a second to picture the so-called Tooth Fairy. He imagined a small, humanoid creature with wings sprouting from it's back. made entirely of teeth. It was revolting. As the two continued, the Satyr took notice.
"Lord Apollo, Lord Hermes, is there something you wish to discuss?" The creature asked innocently, if not a bit nervous. Apollo and Hermes on the other hand, looked slightly sheepish at being called out. Then Apollo brightened, leaning forward.
"Actually yes---" Grover perked up, maybe they were listing to what he was saying, "what is a Tooth Fairy."
...
What.
"Uh... Tooth Fairy, Lord Apollo...?" Grover asked hesitantly. Perhaps he misheard?
"Oh, do you not know either?" Apollo asked, looking disappointed. Grover backtracked.
"No, no I do, I just..." He trailed off.
"Well, spit it out." Poseidon commanded, curious as well.
"Um, it's a thing parents tell their children. You know how when children are born, they don't have any teeth, and as they get older, they grow in? Well when they lose those teeth, they put them under there pillows so the Tooth Fairy can come and collect it. In return it gives them money. Then new teeth grow and replace them. It's just a tradition, like Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny."
There was silence for a few seconds. Then; "They... don't have any teeth?" Artemis asked, a bit horrified.
"Uh... no?"
"What is this... Santa Claus and Easter Bunny you speak of?" Hephaestus asked. After explaining it to the Gods, Grover made the mistake of offhandedly mentioning; "They usually stop believing in that stuff once they're teenagers though."
"Hm," Demeter titled her head, "mental teenagers or physical?" Grover paused at that, confusion evident.
"Both...?"
This time Hera huffed. "Nonsense. Everyone knows Demigods mature faster than normal mortals, mentally if not physically. Which is it, Satyr?"
Grover shuffled from hoof to hoof. "That's... not true." He said, getting increasingly more exasperated. "Demigods age at the same speed as mortals."
Time seemed to pause as all twelve Olympians froze. "They what." Zeus asked, his voice a like the moment after thunder, right before lightning strikes.
Grover shrunk, "um... they mature just like mortals. They don't stop growing until they're sixteen to eighteen, but their brains aren't fully developed until mid-20's---"
He's cut off as Ares howls, "THEY DON'T STOP GROWING UNTIL WHEN!?" At the same time Athena screeches, "THEY'RE BRAIN'S AREN'T FULLY DEVELOPED!?"
Grover shrunk back even more, already inching towards the door. "N---no."
Poseidon rounded on Hera, fury in his eyes. "You sent my son to war before his brain was fully developed!?" And suddenly everyone was fighting and freaking out.
"SILENCE!" Zeus roared, and everyone went quiet.
Then, in a deadly voice, Hades asked a damming question; "I have heard that some mortals can develop things such as PTSD from traumatic experiences. Do and of our children...?"
Grover took in a deep breath. "Yes. Nearly all demigods have anxiety and paranoia, but the ones that fought in the wars almost all have some form of PTSD. The ones who played more prominent roles have it more extreme. They can be set off easily, and have horrible anxiety attacks."
"Who." This time it was Dionysus, an odd look in his eye. "Um... Pollux, Will Solace, Annabeth Chase, Percy Jackson, Nico Di'Angelo, Leo Valdez, Clairsse La Rue, Connor and Travis Stoll... and those are only the Greeks...." Grover stops talking when he notices the atmosphere in the room. In some places, such as next to Hades and Poseidon, the temperature had dropped considerably, as if he's been dunked into a snowy lake then made to stand in a powerful winter breeze. In other places, like next to Ares and Hephaestus, it was as if standing next to a raging fire, making him wince and take a step back . The pressure had risen dramatically as well, enough to make his ears pop. Grover swallowed audibly.
"R-right... I'll just... go now." As the Satyr scurried out, unaware of what he has just unleashed, the Gods turned there attention to Camp Half Blood.
Or, more accurately, its inhabitants.