Summary: Perseus, first-born child of Poseidon and Amphitrite, God of the Stars and Constellations, of Navigation and of the Astral Plane. Patron of Heroes and Mentor to the Goddess Artemis. Sitting upon the ruling council of the Gods for thousands of years – and now facing the end of Olympus.

Preface – The Legend of Perseus

Long ago in a time beyond the memory of mortals, the legend of Perseus began to unfold. He was born with a different name, in a time of war when the Gods were young and the world was already old. The laws of nature and time itself were ruled by immortal beings known as the Titans, children of the Primordials, and in particular by the Titan King Kronos within his stronghold of Mount Othrys.

Kronos and his wife Rhea would give birth to the first generation of the Gods, beginning with their eldest daughter Hestia. However, long ago when Kronos had killed his own father, Ouranos, his father had cursed him, predicting that he would be killed by his own child in the same way. When Hestia was born Kronos realized that she wasn't a Titan, but rather a more powerful and beautiful immortal which had never been seen before. Fearing that she may one day try to kill him, he assumed his true form, which was massive, and swallowed Hestia whole.

His wife, Rhea, was horrified.

He was able to calm her at the time, but Rhea would later give birth to two more beautiful daughters and two handsome sons, all of whom were born similar to Hestia and carried a great power within them. They were called Demeter, Hera, Poseidon and Hades. Rhea pleaded with her husband to spare them, but he refused, and he swallowed them whole as well. For his savagery, he became known as the 'Cannibal King'.

Rhea was distraught, especially when she realized she was pregnant once more. She was advised by her mother Gaea to flee to the island of Crete, where she could have her final son in privacy. She would name him Zeus. She left him with nine nymphs to be raised while she traveled back to Mount Othrys where Kronos had remained. He had five Gods, undigested and growing within him and he was severely weakened. Gaea gave her a large, smooth stone that she formed to look like a child and told her to deceive Kronos. The Titan King swallowed it without even looking beneath the swaddling blanket.

When Zeus grew to adulthood, he followed his mother's advice and transformed himself to look like a Titan, successfully infiltrating Mount Othrys. She convinced Kronos to hire him as his royal cup-bearer. Zeus, over time, was able to convince the other Titans to like him. He then suggested a drinking contest between them, and gave them all drinks he had prepared. Nectar, mixed with a sleeping potion for Kronos' nephews and brothers, and an extremely powerful mix of nectar and mustard for Kronos himself.

The other Titans fell into a deep sleep, while Kronos was forced to immediately disgorge all of his other children in reverse order to how he had swallowed them. First the stone shaped like a child, then Poseidon, Hades, Demeter, Hera and finally Hestia. They escaped with Zeus before their enemies could recover.

They hid themselves away for twenty years, training their skills and powers so that they could declare war on their father. They were all fully grown, but many of them had been entrapped for their entire lives and they would need to gain experience in order to face the Titans.

It was during this time that Poseidon, while investigating the sea, would come across the daughter of Tethys and Nereus, Amphitrite. She was one of the fifty Nereids, nymphs of the sea, and he was stricken by her beauty. He would take her for a lover, and she would birth him a son whom they named Astraeus. He was born a God, like his father before him, though he was not as powerful as the sons of Kronos and Rhea. Poseidon could not stay within the sea, as he would be found, and Amphitrite was not powerful enough to hide the child from the Titans, especially Oceanus who ruled the sea, and so he was given to the Goddess Hestia to raise.

He would grow to adulthood within a few short years, and would train alongside his father and uncles for the coming conflict with the Titans. While unable to match the sons of Kronos in raw power, he was at the very least equal to the Titans themselves and even outmatched some of them. The Gods made their stronghold on Mount Olympus, which was the second tallest mountain in Greece after Mount Othrys.

As they trained in secret the Elder Cyclopes, whom the Gods had freed from their imprisonment, fashioned items of great power for the Gods. For Zeus, they created the Master Bolt which discharged energy from the sky itself that would later be called lightning. For Poseidon, they created a magnificent Trident that could harness the wrath of the sea. For Hades they created a Helm of Darkness, which allowed him to travel the shadows themselves and radiated a fear so intense that it could drive a person insane. For Astraeus they created a sword called Tmima, and it was capable of calling upon the stars in the heavens.

Weapons in hand, the Gods declared open war on the Titans and met them in the opening battle of what would later be known as the Titanomachy upon the plains of Thessaly in Greece. The war would last for ten long years, as the Gods were far more powerful but the Titans had been around for a very long time and were difficult to defeat as they were masters of nature and ruled all aspects of the world.

Eventually they were able to overpower and force the Titans back to Mount Othrys, and there they had the most terrible battle the world had ever seen. Zeus, as the one who freed his siblings and with his Master Bolt in hand, was the one to challenge Kronos. Poseidon would match Hyperion, Titan of the East and Koios, Titan of the North. Hades would take on Iapetus, Titan of the West and Atlas, the Titan General. Astraeus had his opponent in Krios, Titan of the South.

Hestia, Hera and Demeter would face the rest of the Titan's army alongside the Hekatonkheires (Hundred-Handed Ones) and the Elder Cyclopes. Rhea was able to convince the female Titans, as well as Oceanus (who feared Kronos) to stay neutral.

The Gods very nearly lost, for Kronos had regained his power after his children were disgorged from him. Zeus tearing the sickle from the hands of Kronos was the turning point, and with his own Master Bolt in one hand and the cursed blade of his father in the other, he smote Kronos and nearly brought the entirety of Mount Othrys down on their heads. His lightning was so powerful that it sheared the top of the mountain off completely (incidentally making it the second-tallest mountain after Mount Olympus).

While unable to kill Kronos fully, he destroyed is earthly form and cast him into the pit of Tartarus – securing his rightful place as King.

With the defeat of their King the other Titans fell quickly. Astraeus nearly split Krios in half as Tmima was thrust into his chest, the light and the heat of the stars themselves burning him as the God overcame him within his own domain – something thought to be impossible at the time. Poseidon caused an earthquake that buried his opponents, and he thrust his Trident into the neck of Hyperion. Hades ripped open a hole that lead directly to Tartarus and cast Iapetus into it while he used his Helm to dominate Atlas into submission.

The war was won.

The Gods celebrated their victory by returning to Olympus and declaring themselves as rulers of the world. Upon the agreement of his siblings, and by right of conquest, Zeus was named King of the Gods as the Fifth Age began and the so-called Golden Age ended.

The Titans were to be punished for their long and brutal rule. They were to be cast into Tartarus, never to return. However, if the Titans of the North, East, South and West were gone, the sky would fall and touch the earth. Thus, after angering Zeus with his taunts it was Atlas who was cursed to forever hold the sky from falling.

When they had finished with the Titans, they knew that the forces of nature would need to be kept in balance, and with the Titans no longer within the world, Zeus claimed the entire sky for himself. Hades, despite wishing to feel the sun upon his face, knew that the Underworld had to have a King as well. He took that task upon himself. They could not allow Oceanus to continue ruling the seas because, despite his neutrality during the war, he was still a Titan and they could not trust him. Poseidon, with his trident in hand thought of the mother of his son and wished her to be his Queen, but she could not leave the sea as she was born from it. Thus, he decided to take that realm for his own.

Gaea was still Mother of the Earth, and though she slumbered, she had helped them achieve their destiny and so they would not infringe upon her domain.

Astraeus knew that with Krios gone, defeated by his own hand with a sword that called to the stars themselves, that was to be his domain. Despite them being technically in the sky they were beyond it, and so Zeus allowed him to claim them as his own.

Demeter would take the realm of Agriculture and Harvest, which once belonged to her father though he had detested it and used his power over Time to dishonor it. Hestia, ever the gentlest of them decided that their home was the most important thing, and so she ignited a hearth fire within their throne room that she swore would never burn out so long as they reigned. She took the domains of Home, Hearth, Fire and Family. Hera, after spending time with Oceanus and Tethys at her mother's urging, came to desire a loving and stable marriage similar to theirs for herself. She took the realms of Women, Marriage, Childbirth and Familial Love for her own.

In reverence for their release from the prisons that Kronos had kept them in, the Hekatonkheires and the Elder Cyclopes worked together to create a magnificent city atop Mount Olympus with temples dedicated to each of the Gods. In honor of this, the Gods took on the title of Olympians.

Over the following years, more Gods would be born that would join them. Zeus would win over Hera and name her his Queen, Poseidon returned to the sea and married Amphitrite. Hades, meanwhile, would be mostly relegated to the Underworld, though in his loneliness he would eventually take a queen of his own – whether she wished it or not.

The Gods would go on to have many children, some with each other and others with beings spread throughout the world. The ruling council was slowly formed, though it caused much strife when Hades was refused a seat. Zeus claimed that it was because he could not leave the Underworld often, as he had to keep watch over the entrance to Tartarus so their enemies could never escape, though in truth he feared his brother as the eldest son of Kronos.

Zeus declared that there would be no more than twelve Gods to sit upon the ruling council, and slowly began to fill those positions with his own children. First came Ares, the God of War and first son born to him by Hera. Afterwards, in his first act of infidelity came the twins, Artemis, Goddess of the Moon and Apollo, God of the Sun. In a rage that he would betray her in such a way, Hera impregnated herself with the God Hephaestus in revenge, but he was born deformed due to his unnatural conception. Thus, disgusted, she cast him from Olympus. As a way to appease his wife, Zeus allowed him to sit upon the council as the God of Forges and Craftsmen, even though she herself had cast the lame God aside.

Next came the Goddess Athena, Zeus' second act of infidelity, though he attempted to hide this by tricking her mother Metis into turning into a fly and swallowing her whole while she was pregnant. This didn't work as he'd planned, because after being swallowed Metis took the form of intelligence and her energy took root in Zeus' head. After complaining of a splitting headache, he convinced Hephaestus to split his head open while seated upon his throne. When he did so, Athena sprung from the gash fully armored for battle with a spear in hand. As a being born from intelligence, she became the Goddess of Wisdom and Battle Strategy, as well as other intellectual pursuits such as civilization and the arts.

Next was Hermes, God of Thieves and Travelers. Within moments of his birth, he stole the sacred cattle of Apollo, and then cleverly tried to cover it up. When confronted by Zeus, Hermes tried to lie and claim he was an innocent child. Zeus was amused but not fooled, and told him to compensate Apollo. He did so by inventing the lyre, which enchanted Apollo immediately and he forgot his anger.

Those who fought in the Titanomachy were all granted positions on the council – aside from Hades, who was refused by Zeus, and Hestia, who foresaw that her position would cause strife – and the rest were filled by the children of Zeus, with the exception of Aphrodite who arrive upon Olympus dressed in white lace and wearing a golden crown, escorted by the three Horai.

Problems arose, as Hestia predicted, when the twelve positions were all filled, but Zeus still wanted one of his sons – Dionysus, who was originally mortal – to sit upon the council. He wished for Astraeus to relenquish his position, but the God refused, and it nearly started a war. Due to his service in the Titanomachy as well as him being the first born son of the Gods, Zeus eventually relented, though he was not happy about it.

As the centuries marched forward, the Gods began to interact more and more with the mortals, and eventually began to birth more children with them. These half-bloods, or demigods as they became known, began to show themselves to be heroes in the mortal world. They carried some small amount of the divine powers of their Godly parents, but retained the lifespan and weaknesses of a mortal. They were also not held to the same ancient laws that the Gods were. Thus, they became useful.

As the demigods became more and more useful to the Gods, Astraeus decided to become the patron God of heroes in recognition of their service to Olympus. However, he believed that to become their patron, he had to know and understand them. Thus, he petitioned Zeus to allow him to spend one mortal lifetime as a demigod, without the memories of his immortal self to aid him. Zeus agreed, and while not actually born from Zeus himself, the mortal version of Astraeus had his essence infused into a thunderstorm. The mortal woman Danaë was locked into a prison by her own father Acrisius because it was foretold that her son would kill him. The prison was open to the sky, and Zeus allowed the thunderstorm infused with Astraeus' essence to fall on the woman, impregnating her.

She gave birth, and gave him the name Perseus Eurymedon. He would then go on to live a mortal life, and be known as one of the single greatest heroes to have ever lived. He married the Princess Andromeda after saving her from Poseidon's wrath, and they had seven sons, one of which would go on to found the Persian Empire. When his mortal body died and he returned to Olympus, he kept the name Perseus his mortal mother had given him in honor of her, and he created an entire constellation of stars in honor of his mortal wife Andromeda. Humans later would name a galaxy after her.

From that ancient time until the present day, his name was spoken with reverence.

Perseus, the fifth Olympian.

Chapter One

The argument between Zeus and Poseidon was nearly legendary.

A vow made and then broken, the sea God was furious and his realm was proof of that. New York was in the midst of a storm the likes of which it hadn't seen in centuries, and though he wasn't present on Olympus, Hades fury was soon felt as well. He had released the worst creations the Underworld had to offer – the Furies, along with his own hellhounds from the Fields of Punishment. Within the storm half a dozen cyclops emerged from the surf, all of them armored with the symbol of Poseidon himself on their breastplates. They were soldiers in his army, and much more deadly than any uncontrolled cyclops found in the wilderness.

Perseus gripped the arm of his throne in silent fury. Directly across from him Athena was tense as well. Her jaw trembled slightly though she held onto her stoicism. Hermes was slumped down within his own throne, eyes closed and a single hand tangled in his hair. Most of the rest of the council seemed interested in the view at their feet. At the word of her King, Iris had opened a view of the mortal world as a trio of half-bloods tried their best to fight through the storm and make it to safety. A single satyr guided them, though he was apparently young and inexperienced. He wasn't handling the pressure well at all, and twice he had led the children directly into danger – their own fighting ability all that had saved them thus far.

They were close to the camp but it was clear from the view of the Gods that they wouldn't make the boundary before they were overtaken. The cyclops were herding them, spreading out in such a way as to force them into a position of no escape. The hellhounds prowled from shadow to shadow unseen, while the Furies circled far overhead and waited for their chance to strike. It was nearly sickening – Athena's daughter was only seven years old, and the other two, while slightly older, had done nothing to earn this.

The chase continued on for hours into the night and the children were exhausted and terrified. They were shaking and the youngest of them was crying while the eldest of them, Hermes' son, was trying his very best to stay in control and keep them moving. The daughter of Zeus was ready to drop from the strain of using her abilities like she never had before. While the storm was a product of Poseidon's rage, it had also empowered her somewhat and she'd begun using it as fuel to keep them a step ahead of their enemies. The blinding flash and crack of lightning had already destroyed two of Poseidon's soldiers and kept the Furies at a distance – the children still didn't realize they were hunted from the shadows by the hellhounds.

A low groan, almost too quiet to hear had escaped Athena. It was a sound of despair, and as Perseus watched, the children were soon surrounded at the top of the hill bordering the camp. They had nearly made it, a few hundred more yards and the monsters wouldn't have been able to cross the boundary. The hellhounds had finally made their appearance though, and blocked their advance as the rest of the hunting party caught up. It was over – they didn't have the strength left to fight, and the camp hadn't been alerted yet to send aid. Out of the corner of his eye Perseus saw a small slip of paper flick from Hermes' hand and disappear, likely to Chiron. It wouldn't be fast enough.

Poseidon and Zeus argued still in the background, neither of them taking notice of what their foolish actions had brought.

As he thought on the matter and prepared to witness the death of three children, Perseus nearly shouted as he felt the slipping of his bonds. Like invisible steel cables the Gods all felt them. They encircled them and held them to the most ancient of laws. They would stop direct interference, and could be felt tightening as they pushed their luck in various endeavors. As his loosened, only slightly, Athena's eyes snapped to him in disbelief. A single grim look was spared to her before he disappeared in a massive flash of light.

Rain pounded on them, freezing and unyielding as Thalia trembled in a mixture of anger and despair. They couldn't move any further and she had no energy left to fight. Her legs barely held her own weight and her muscles quivered from the strain. Grover was the same and Luke was no better, maybe even worse as he had been forced to carry Annabeth on his back for more than half an hour. The tiny girl just couldn't run anymore under her own power – her feet were bloodied and torn within her shoes. The snarling growl of the beasts at their back caused a chill to race through her, and her grip on the beaten and battered old bronze sword she held tightened in response. They were done for and they all knew it. The monsters knew it too, and they seemed to savor the moment rather than rush them immediately.

That was a mistake.

A bright flash of light blinded them all for just a moment. When her vision returned Thalia was able to see a tall, broad shouldered man in intricate silver armor standing among them all. A black cloak flowed like liquid off his shoulders to brush the muddy ground at their feet and within the dark fabric it looked like actual stars swirled and spun in a hypnotic and beautiful dance. A truly massive sword hung from his waist, his left hand resting on the pommel leisurely. Dark hair and a well-trimmed beard dominated his features, though his eyes jumped out to be noticed as well. They shone with a white-blue light that glowed in the darkness.

"No," the lead Fury shrieked in defiance. "NO! This is direct interference! This isn't allowed!"

"Be silent," the man snapped in response. "The chase is over. With the amount of half-bloods currently at camp the boundaries have been expanded, effective immediately." He seemed to ignore the way the storm intensified in response. The wind howled and screamed through the nearby trees and the rain forced itself down even harder. He flicked his right hand in a negligent gesture, and suddenly Thalia was warm and dry and the rain forced itself into a dome around them but never seemed to penetrate. "Thus, these children have made it to Camp Half-Blood, and your hunt is failed."

There was a pause, and then one of the hellhounds howled a sharp, furious sound and the lead cyclops smacked the broadside of his weapon against his armor. It almost looked like a challenge.

The man stilled completely. A dark look stole over his face and his eyes flared even brighter in response. The Furies, seeming to realize the danger a second earlier than the rest launched themselves into the sky and disappeared into the clouds. Grover whimpered pitifully. The was a flash of light and heat, and the next second there was a charred circle surrounding them – the cyclops and hellhounds were gone, not even golden dust remaining.

Thalia nearly cried in relief. Her shoulders slumped and the weapon she was holding slipped from her fingers. Luke dropped weakly to the muddy ground and Annabeth hugged herself to his side, crying and trembling. Grover was breathing heavily and tears were in his eyes as well as he looked reverently up at the man who had turned to face them.

"Peace, children." he said gently. His tone was much kinder than it had been before, his words no longer carrying a quality that seemed like a whip cracking. "You've acquitted yourselves well and you should be proud – survival is the first and most important trial. You were placed against heavily unfavorable odds and you triumphed. Heroes, one and all."

Thalia's hands trembled harder in response and tears stung her eyes. Perhaps it was emotion due to his seemingly-genuine praise for a young girl that rarely experienced any, or maybe it was anger at the Gods for the hardships they endured just trying to make it to safety. She wasn't really sure, she was far too confused at the moment. All she knew for certain was that she was drained. She was cold and hungry and tired above all.

"Brace yourselves," he said, after giving them a moment to rest. "I will take us to the house in camp, where you will be introduced to your new guardian and trainer."

"Wait," she said quickly. "I...who are you? I mean, I know your one of the Gods, but..."

He smiled at her, a sign that she wasn't to be reprimanded. "I'm Perseus, patron of all heroes, past and present."

Perseus, the fifth Olympian – God of the Stars, Constellations, Navigation and the Astral Plane. Patron of heroes and mentor to the Goddess Artemis. Firstborn of the second generation of the Gods, son of Poseidon and Amphitrite. The Starcaller, the Conqueror and the Navigator. Champion of Olympus. Also known as Astraeus. His symbol was the bronze compass, and his sacred animal was the Orca, hunter of the sea.

Thalia swallowed heavily. She'd done her research after joining up with Luke and Annabeth, and questioned the hell out of Grover when he found them. This was the one who'd thrown down Titans and Giants, who ripped the majority of his realm from the grasp of Krios himself during the Titanomachy. One of the warrior Gods of Olympus who was said to rival the very strongest of them.

Luckily, as patron of heroes he was one of the few Gods who was said to be favorable should a demigod run into him. He was the one they prayed to when navigating their quests and sometimes those blessed by him could find their way to anywhere or anything by just glancing at the stars. Of course the opposite could always be true. Those who found themselves on the wrong side of him could wander forever without finding anything of substance – they'd freeze or starve to death in the wilderness, wandering beneath a blanket of stars until they died. Apollo's light would never reach them again as the night seemed to stretch on forever.

Thalia shivered as a thrill of terror swept through her at the thought.

"Peace," he repeated again, more gentle this time. Before she could do more than blink the world seemed to fold in on itself, there was a brief sensation like vertigo, and then she was just there. In a large room with empty cots along both sides, each of them with a small bedside table and a wooden trunk at the foot. The floors were a dark wood and the walls cream colored. There was nobody in the room besides them, though there was an odd stomping sound just outside the wide double doors, which were closed.

They opened a moment later to reveal a centaur, and she almost screamed, though she was able to swallow it back down. The creature took a single look into the room and suddenly lowered himself onto his horse-knees, his head bowed. It allowed her to see a quiver of arrows strapped to the back of his human half. A well worn bow was clenched in his left hand.

"Rise, Chiron," Perseus said, his tone more normal than she had yet heard it. "These three made it to the border of camp, barely, and thus have completed their first trial. They will need to spend the night here – they can be introduced properly in the morning. For now, summon one of Apollo's to have a look at them. They could all use some nectar and ambrosia."

"I received a message that we were to expect them, though I had barely readied myself to meet them at the border when you arrived," Chiron answered, rising back to his impressive height once more. Thalia realized that the ceilings were extra high, and she thought it was likely built to accommodate him. "Forgive the question, but I didn't notice anyone at the borders when I looked."

"The border has been expanded," the God said. "The number of heroes has grown in recent years, thus the boundary will now extend to the top of the hill to the west. The creatures following these three challenged that – they will not do so again. I will speak with Hecate to be certain a more potent barrier is put into place so there can be no more confusion."

It seemed Chiron was relieved by that, though it was hard to be sure.

"So what now?" Luke questioned, his exhaustion evident.

"Now you stay here, child," Chiron answered. "Within the borders of Camp Half-Blood you will be safe. You will be trained so that, should you venture out from here, you will be as equipped to handle the dangers of doing so as we can make you."

Perseus nodded. "I have something to see to in Olympus, so I'll leave them in your care. I'll return in the morning. The summer session has already begun, so I'll give them the standard orientation then." He turned to them, and a tiny grin formed on his face. "In the morning you'll meet the other campers at breakfast. When you've finished eating you'll present yourselves for the claiming ceremony at the front of the amphitheater. You will each receive a sign from your parent, claiming you as theirs and determining which cabin you will belong in. Until then, get some rest. You've earned it."

Then he was just gone – no lights, no flashy spectacle. Just vanished as if he never occupied the space. The room itself seemed to sigh in relief, as if his presence had been adding an extra weight to it.

Perseus arrived in the Olympian throne room, and it was in chaos.

Poseidon and Zeus were standing, shouting at one another while Athena had summoned her shield. She was standing close to the two of them and she looked murderous. Most the of the council were still seated though Ares was on his feet, grinning in delight at the chaos surrounding them. Aphrodite was examining herself in a small pocket mirror. Hermes looked much more relaxed than when he left, and was the first to notice his return. He greeted Perseus with a small nod, a smile gracing his tense features.

It was quickly realized that he was back, though and his own father turned on him in fury.

"You dare," Poseidon roared stalking across the room, his brother forgotten for the moment. "You dare interfere in this and side against me?" His trident was gripped in a white-knuckled fist and his face was thunderous. His anger seemed to ignite something within Perseus – probably Ares' influence – and he stalked forward to meet him.

"I dare!" he agreed. He knew the fight was coming when he interfered and he would meet it head on. "You should feel ashamed of yourself for my interference even becoming necessary! Unable to express your fury on your King you would turn it upon a group of children who could not have possibly stopped their own conception!"

"We made an oath!" he answered, his rage unrelenting.

"Which you have both broken!" Perseus shouted in response.

There was silence in the throne room then. Confusion, and then rage exploded from Athena "You what?" her question echoed in the silent room. "You dare try to kill my daughter while your own spawn lives safely and hidden?"

Poseidon stared at him, ignoring Athena and looking as if he had been betrayed.

"You have no right to this anger," Perseus said, his tone calmer as he attempted to force the situation into a more civil discussion. "I'm the patron of all heroes – I know when a child is within my realm of influence. Your daughter is what? Six or seven? I have yet to see her, but the sea is strong within her, I can tell. And when the time comes, I will defend her just as I have done for Zeus' daughter. Just as I have done for all of our children."

"And the prophecy?" Demeter questioned, interjecting in an attempt at ending the feud. It wouldn't work, Perseus knew, but it was a good try.

"The Moirai will not be denied, we can be sure. I can't say if either of these children are the one they speak of in the Great Prophecy or not, as there is no guarantee that either of them will make it to sixteen," Apollo answered, his feet thrown over the side of his throne leisurely. "Even if they aren't, you can bet that no oath made between Dad and Uncle P. will stop them from having their way."

Suddenly the shadows lengthened, the world dimmed, and they weren't alone. From the darkness stepped the one God who could make this situation even worse. Hades strolled into the center of the room at a slow and even pace, his infamous helm flickering into the faces of nameless horrors and his long, soul-thread cloak brushing the floor with a whisper.

"Once again, foolish little brother, you have overstepped yourself," Hades said, his voice rich and deep and dangerous. He was looking at Zeus, though his attention turned quickly to Poseidon. "And you as well, if I heard correctly." He paused. When he spoke again his voice was dripping with malice. "I believe I did."

"If you even think about-" Poseidon began, but Hades interrupted him. "You'll do what!?"

Perseus knew he was putting his foot in it, knew he should stay out of this one. To face the three brothers was literal suicide, but he could handle the danger a lot easier than a few mortal kids, so he'd take it on himself. "How are Bianca and Nico, Uncle?" he asked.

There was a pause, as if the calm before a storm, and Hades was suddenly looking at him as if he were an ant beneath his boot. "What did you just say?" he asked, his voice nearly a whisper. "Please, dear nephew, I'd like for you to repeat yourself."

"They've been around since before the oath was taken, this is true," Perseus said calmly, his own trepidation well-hidden. "I'm not even sure exactly where they are, but I do feel them. They haven't aged or changed in decades. I was just wondering how they are, and was curious at why you'd think to threaten a couple of young girls when you yourself have children of a similar age."

Ares cackled in glee as the knowledge settled into the room.

"You should also know, Hades, that I would defend your children just as fiercely as my own mortal sister. They are equals to me, and they will all fall beneath my protection." He continued, pretending he hadn't heard the War God at all.

"They don't need your fucking protection!" Hades snapped in return. "That you would even bring them into this discussion shows that your protection means nothing!"

"Your wrong," Perseus answered. "This is the perfect time to introduce them. They were born long ago, and you alone have held to the oaths sworn after the last World War. I would know if you hadn't. Now, at the moment, we have a daughter of Zeus, a daughter of Poseidon, and both a son and daughter of Hades, all of similar age. Don't you think this is important? Or would you have preferred to introduce them when all eyes would be on them alone?"

Perseus knew he would have preferred to never introduce them at all. However keeping them in whatever form of stasis they were trapped in couldn't last forever. The aging of mortals could perhaps be stalled, but not stopped.

"We all know the dangers associated with all three of your children in the past," he said, motioning to the three eldest brothers. "However, much of that was due to the constant alienation they all received at one point or another. We also all know that there's a Great Prophecy coming to pass, and now with each of you having children of a similar age, it looks as if it's upon us. The only other option would be to kill them all, and this I will not accept. Anyone who would suggest it can feel free to draw their weapon of choice – you will war with the stars themselves, I can promise you."

His own hand tightened on the pommel of his blade as he threw down the gauntlet. While he most certainly could not stand against a combined force of Hades, Poseidon and Zeus, he also knew they would never stand together on this issue – that would mean sentencing their own children to death to soothe each other. That would never happen. They had either too much pride or too much love for their children for that to ever come to pass, and too much bad blood between each other besides.

"This is getting out of hand," Artemis said, her fingers adjusting the fletching on one of her arrows, though her bow was nowhere in sight. Though not perhaps obvious to the others, she was signaling that she would stand with him – he could have kissed her then and there, if she wouldn't skewer him immediately afterwards. Since taking on their realms and their duties, Perseus and Artemis had ever stood together in friendship – the Moon and the Stars

"Agreed," said Hephaestus, the single word coming out as a grunt. "You've all bedded some mortal women, who cares. We have better things to do than worry about that, and anyone who thought for a minute that you would stop doing so because you promised each other, well….more the fool, they are." Hera's answering scowl was most severe, but the deformed God shrugged it off with practiced ease.

Zeus was pinching the bridge of his nose in annoyance, and tempers were beginning to calm, though Hades still looked as if he could gut Perseus happily. "We need to sort this out, now." he said. "Thalia is safe in camp, no thanks to the two of you who had no right to attack her in the first place. I propose a peace – I will not attack your children, and they may safely make their way into Camp Half-Blood, though the normal rules still apply. No direct help from either of you. Also, if this is to be the coming of the Great Prophecy, my own daughter will be the one to bear it. It speaks of a choice to save or destroy Olympus, and as daughter of the King, it is her rightful place. There will be no argument on this."

Hades chuckled darkly in response. "Bianca is older, she would turn sixteen first if I were to remove her from her current place."

"Then you will leave her there!" Zeus snapped, his eyes sizzling with electricity.

"Peace," Artemis interjected. "Lord Hades' daughter is a young maiden. I would offer her patronage, and she could join my handmaidens for as long as she might wish. She would not age, and she could be released from whatever place she now resides. His son, the younger of the two I assume, could be taken to Camp Half-Blood. That would ensure Thalia Grace is the first in line to take her place in the Prophecy."

It was a good plan, Perseus thought. It would soothe Zeus' need for his daughter to be the chosen one, and Bianca would largely avoid the stigma of her father. Nico would have to bear it instead, and it seemed somewhat cruel to separate the two, but it was the only option that would ensure their safety from Zeus' wrath, which could be legendary.

"And my daughter?" Poseidon questioned. "If we agree to this pact, she remains safe – from both of you."

"If I'm right she's the youngest of them, and therefore the least likely to be the child of the Great Prophecy," said Perseus. "I would advise having her moved close to camp, where she can live with her mother and attend lessons with Chiron in the summer. We need not break any ancient laws – just tell her mother to drive her to camp and drop her off when the time comes. There is no reason to wait until the Mist is forcibly removed from her and she has to flee for her life. Likewise, Hades' children could be brought to camp by a group of demigods. Send them on a quest – no direct interference."

Zeus was nodding, apparently liking the idea, though they all knew he didn't trust the children of either of his brothers. It was beginning to look like disaster had been averted. That is until Hades once again intervened.

"There's just one problem," he said, his tone still confrontational. "You killed my children's mother and tried to kill them, little brother, and we will have a reckoning for that."

Zeus glared at him, nostrils flaring.

"A peace offering, then," Poseidon said. "Nothing we say will bring her back, the ancient laws forbid it. What would you have in return for the slight against you?"

Perseus glanced at his father, a slightly sick feeling in his stomach as he spoke of a mortal woman slaughtered as if Zeus had merely insulted Hades. He knew they didn't really view mortals with the same eyes as he did, they couldn't for a lot of reasons – they had never been mortal, as he had – but the callousness of that statement bothered him. While Perseus himself had also had mortal children, he'd never viewed their mothers with the same disregard as some of his fellow Olympians.

Hades removed his bronze helm, revealing a ghostly-pale face with dark hair and black pits for eyes. He grinned. "A simple exception will suffice. Nico will not go to Camp Half-Blood and be shunned and relegated to another one of Hermes' cast-offs. He comes with me, to the Underworld. A prince and a lieutenant. Should war come to claim us with the passing of this prophecy, he will lead my forces."

That was a dangerous idea. There was a reason why the Gods were not allowed too much interaction with their children. The demigods were not held to the same laws as they were. They could go wherever and challenge whomever they pleased. To raise a demigod that could then be used to circumvent the ancient laws was the exact reason it wasn't permitted.

"No," Zeus answered immediately. There was not even a seconds hesitation. Just as Hades started to respond, a thought came to mind.

"A counter offer," Perseus interrupted. "I say we agree to Hades' demand, but on the condition that Nico swear an oath to not act directly against Olympus, even on his father's orders. In return, in preparation for the Great Prophecy, I will be allowed to directly train Thalia Grace. As patron of heroes and Director of Camp Half-Blood, I will make sure she is properly equipped to survive and face her choice. I will also secure her loyalty to Olympus as a whole, and do my best to ensure that on the day when she makes the fated choice, she does so knowing that Olympus stands with her."

It was a bold idea, for sure. Even though he was Director of the demigod camp, he was not allowed to directly train the heroes. While he certainly had more leeway than others regarding his contact with their mortal children, even he had to follow the ancient laws. He also really didn't have any bargaining power in this discussion, but was playing on the belief that Zeus would want his daughter to stand triumphant at duty's end.

"The wording of this…oath...would have to be agreed on beforehand," said Hades. He apparently didn't care about Thalia Grace one way or the other, which wasn't really surprising. What he was really after was anyone's guess. Hades had always been the craftiest of the three brothers, and he had a way of getting exactly what he wanted without anyone realizing it until the very last moment.

"An amendment to this agreement, if I may," Athena interjected. "If the Great Prophecy is soon to pass, it is likely to bring war and strife with it, as Hades alluded to. If this be the case, then all of our children will be involved, as it is through them that we interact with the mortal world. I say we do not limit his interaction to Thalia Grace, but allow Perseus to have a more active role in training all of the children alongside Chiron. If the possible destruction of our very pantheon is at risk, we need all the preparation we can manage."

"This conversation may be setting a dangerous precedent," said Hermes. "While I agree that we need to prepare if things are as dire as they seem, there was a reason we agreed that we Gods weren't allowed to raise demigods directly."

"Time changes everything, and that agreement was made when many of our children were Kings and warriors in ancient Greece. To have a direct hand, back then, meant the rise and fall of nations." Athena argued. "The world has changed since then, and we have adjusted a great many of our own laws and even the way we interact with the world as a whole. Back then the Mist didn't even exist, and look what a change that made."

"Fine," Zeus finally answered. "I tire of this conversation. We will agree to a tentative truce for now, with details to be ironed out in the coming days. Astraeus may work more directly with the demigods until this Great Prophecy has reached it's conclusion, though I will be watching closely."

As usual, the King refused to acknowledge Perseus' preference for being called by the name he'd taken within his mortal life. Zeus had never understood the impact and the perspective that living a mortal life – without any knowledge of his divinity – had given Perseus. He would never refer to him by anything but the name he'd been given by his immortal mother Amphitrite, who hadn't raised him, or his father Poseidon, who favored his second son because his first had never fit into the rest of the family. They had all taken positions as sea deities, while Perseus had ever resided amongst the stars.

Zeus vanished then, in a flare of blinding light and heat as he assumed his true form and his energy dissipated into the skies surrounding the earth. Likewise, the rest of the council followed suit, each of them returning to their own domains and leaving just Perseus and Athena standing in the throne room. He raised an eyebrow at her in question.

"Thank you, for saving her," she said simply. "All of my children are important to me, but Annabeth...I don't know. Perhaps I infused a little more of myself into her creation, but she is special to me. So, thank you, and please look after her."

And then she was gone as well, and Perseus stood there, allowing himself a deep breath as the events of the night finally came to a close. He walked over to his own throne – the second seat on the right side of Zeus, between Poseidon and Artemis. It was transparent, appearing as if made of glass and filled with starlight. He allowed himself a moment to just slump into his seat, the familiar energy of it soothing to his mind. The tension of the evening was finally leaving him and he wondered what would come of the choices made in the last several hours – not the least of which that he was now allowed to train the children of Camp Half-Blood directly.

One thing was for certain. Things were changing rapidly with the addition of these children of his father and uncles. It was always this way. The mortal children of the Big Three had a way of shaping the world around them in unforeseen ways. Whether or not it was for the better or worse, time would tell. With a sigh, Perseus allowed the energy that he was made of to stop being contained. He allowed it to overcome and vaporize his flesh as it exploded from within, and in an instant he was back among the stars, a perfect view of the world below and of Artemis as her twin stags pulled her chariot across the night sky.

In a few hours Eos would arise to throw wide the gates of the heavens and allow Apollo to burst through with the dawn – another cycle complete.

Author's Note: So this is an idea I've had for a while now and just decided to actually make something of. I've seen dozens of stories about Percy becoming a God of this or that, but it's usually after some 'betrayal' or something and just seems to be an excuse to make him the strongest being in the universe.

This isn't really going to be like that at all. He is a God, for sure, but it seems that the Greek Gods are just as fallible as mortals, sometimes even more so. I attempted to make his domains seem believable – at least as much as they can be believed within this context. He is replacing Dionysus on the council and as Director of Camp Half-Blood, and I have my own reasons for that but it's an integral part of the plot.

Feel free to leave a review, or not. I don't review a lot of the things I read unless it's really great or there is something that just jumps out at me. I won't take personal offense if you absolutely hate it and wish to tell me so. I actually write as an exercise for myself mostly, so it doesn't really bother me if people's reviews are positive or negative. If there is constructive criticism, I will try to take it into account moving forward.

Thanks.