Chapter Text
A Dream
He was underwater. Deep down under.
He was in a very big hallway with wide windows, outside he could see the fishes swim.
He started to swim relaxed through the halls. For a moment he wondered where he was, before he remembered. He had already been here once.
It was his father's palace in Poseidonís. He had a goal now, so he started swimming with a target in mind.
The last time he was here he had meet his father in his throne room and now he hoped to meet him there again.
Faster than he thought he was before the wide door leading to the throne room, for a moment he hesitated,
before he pushed open them open and strode through them.
At the far end of the room his father sat on the throne.
He didn’t look good and instead very ill. He had deep dark circles under his eyes and his face was pale.
His father seemed to have aged decades since Percy last saw him.
The Nereid told him he was well! Did she lie?
When Poseidon saw him a wide grin appeared on his face.
Then he laughed and bellowed: „Perseus! My son. You have returned to me! I didn’t dare to believe it, when I felt you in my realm.“
It was strange, he never had seen his father so happy before.
Poseidon swam towards him and before Percy could react Poseidon embraced him.
„I did not dare to hope that you would return alive.“, he whispered into Percy’s ears.
Before Percy could even react to the hug. His father had let him go and seized him by his shoulders.
Loud he said still with a wide grin on his face: „It is a miracle to see you so well!“
Were that tears in his eyes? Then he got hugged again.
Needing to ask but unsure how he just blurted out: „How are you?“
„I’m well, do not worry.“, his father assured him. „But how are you?“
„Are you sure?“, Percy questioned. „You look ill.“
He answered: „Only with worry for you, but enough about me! How are you?
You just survived something horrendous and now you will need to fight again soon.“
Percy wasn’t sure if he believed his father, but he didn’t want to ruin his fathers mood so he let it be.
„I’m feeling fine enough, but I have enough of quests to last a lifetime.“
„Yes, you did enough. After this you deserve to rest!“, his father agreed.
Percy nodded smiling. It would be nice to not have to save the world again and instead just live his life.
„Do you eat enough and how is your sleep?“, worried Poseidon.
Percy blushed and abashed he answered: „Dad, it’s only been a day. I have eaten and am currently sleeping!“
„Yes, only a day, since you returned to me miraculous! Tell me what do you plan to do now?“, he demanded.
Percy shrugged his shoulders and answered: „Well, now we need to go to Athen and fight.“
„And after? What will you do then?“
„If I survive-“, he started speaking.
But Poseidon interrupted him: „You will survive!“
His eyes burned with determination and his face twisted to a fierce grimace.
He roared: „I won’t tolerate anything else!“
Percy recoiled. He hadn’t ever seen his father that emotional.
He looked around for anyone to help him navigate this situation, but the palace was abandoned since the beginning of his dream.
Poseidon shook his head and began to speak again: „No matter. Tell me about your future, son.“
„Okay, after this I will stop with the quests. I think I did enough for the gods.“, said Percy with a shaky smile.
Poseidon nodded and agreed: „Yes, I will ensure that you won’t be bothered.“
„Thanks.“, he said bevor telling him of his plans: „Then I’m going to finish school and I thought about going to college in New Rom.
There I wouldn’t be bothered by monsters and I know that Annabeth wants to study anyway.“
„If that’s what you wish.“
„Yeah, it will be nice not having to fight every day.“, commented Percy.
„I would like to talk more with you, maybe later when everything is over you can visit again.“, said his dad.
Percy smiled at that image and responded: „That would be nice.“
His father stated: „Yes, but sadly we need to talk about some serious topics.“
Percy nodded and started listening intensely.
„The only way we gods can win against the Gigantes is, if you managed to settle Nike.“, Poseidon explained.
„She is running wild in Olympia, because of her split personality. She doesn’t know who she wants to win the Greeks or the Romans.“
„Do you have an idea how we could do it? Does she wants something specific or?“, he questioned.
„She wants a clear winner and if you do not want to kill the Romans on your ship you will need a plan.“
Percy asked: „Wouldn’t a simple fight be enough?“
„Perhaps, but would that be a clear enough winner for her? She can’t doubt the winner so that one of her personalities win.“, he explained.
„Of course, it couldn’t be easy.“, complained Percy resigned. „Then we will have to think about something.“
„You will. You inherited my cunning.“, said Poseidon while he smiled. Then he spoke further: „There is also something that will help you. The twins have angered their father, my brother and did flee his wrath. Now they’re hiding on Delos, desperate to appease their father.“
Percy realized fast what he meant: „You think they will help us?“
„If they think that it will help to pacify my brother and don’t underestimate their regard for you. Neither of them have forgotten that you freed Artemis and hold the sky.“, he told him.
„You really think that still matters to them?“
„Of course, Apollo adores his sister and that you can help him appease my brother will help matters.“, he explained. „Of course it would help with Artemis if you were a girl, but you proved your devotion to one and her captain likes you. There is also the matter that they won’t leave their island although Artemis’ hunters are in danger.“
„You think they can’t?“, asked Percy puzzled.
„I think they can’t be harmed on their island, so either they’re more incapacitated than the other gods or something else is keeping them there.“
Percy’s surroundings got fuzzier and suddenly he could only see his father clearly. His smile and his blue eyes.
He heard his father call: „We will see each other in Athen to fight together.“
For a moment he thought that he could feel his dad hugging him.
And then he woke up.