We do not own Percy Jackson & the Olympians or any works of Rick Riordan. All rights go to their original owners. We only own OCs and concepts we're introducing to the canon.
Writing credits go to Uzumaki Ricky, Monsterhuntergod, Sharad the hedgehog, and Traines.
Masters of Defying Destiny
Book 1: The Frozen Trails
Chapter 2: Council of Altered Fate
High above in the heavens, atop the Empire State Building, Olympus roiled under a monstrous storm. It was its center, its eye, as clouds blackened and lighting roared. Under this backdrop came the other great gods of Olympus upon great gleaming chariots pulled by impressive beasts. However, one chariot already beat them to this gathering. Dressed in a simple white and gold toga, Hermes watched as a black onyx and gold chariot pulled by great coal black steeds pulled up, with Hades and Persephone at its helm. The pale and mirthful features of the first Olympian turning to face his nephew.
"Do not fright, nephew. It looks like you have seen a ghost." The Lord of the Underworld dryly remarked as he assisted his wife off the grand chariot.
"Hades. Now is not the time for your petty grudges, dear husband." Persephone, the Lady of the Underworld told her husband as he helped her down.
"Petty? I am the only one here who keeps their oaths to the letter, and I am also blamed for whenever anyone else breaks them. These are frankly intolerable conditions under which I must labor." Hades moaned, turning his back upon Hermes as he did so.
"We can speak to Lord Zeus about it later, darling. He would not have called us to Olympus three months outside of the Winter Solstice if the matter were not of the utmost importance." Persephone told her husband before looking at Hermes with a smile. "Hermes. How have you been, dear brother? It has been weeks since you last visited."
Hermes gave a smile. "Hello, Persephone. I take it that things are still running properly down in Erebus?" He with a slight bow in deference to his sister.
"Depending on your definition of that, yes. What with all the disasters you lot keep causing…" Hades grumbled, only to get a jab from Persephone's elbow for his trouble.
"What my dear husband is trying to say is that things have been busier than usual for us. We are actually in the process of expanding because of the increase in demand." Persephone said, giving her husband a pointed look that said 'Behave or you're sleeping on the couch for the next ten years.'
"Let us just get this meeting over with. I can already feel the backlog of work accumulating." Hades groaned.
"Indeed! Please lead the way, dear brother!" Persephone replied with a chipper smile as two minor godlings made their way over to park the chariot.
As the King and Queen of the Underworld shambled off into the throne room, an even more grand chariot came in pulled by a quartet of hippocampi, the front halves of their bodies being great stallions while their back halves were great, colorful fish. Stepping off came the mighty Poseidon, striding off with confidence only exceeded by the King of the Gods. His green eyes looking down at his nephew with a clear air of sympathy. Hermes gave a bow as he greeted his uncle.
"Lord Poseidon. A pleasure, as always, to have you up on Olympus." Hermes greeted the Earthshaker.
Poseidon nodded, his expression unreadable. "Indeed. For what reason has Lord Zeus summoned us all this time? Has someone done something unspeakable like steal his Master Bolt?" The Sea God asked, raising an eyebrow in curiosity.
"Of course not, Lord Poseidon. He simply has… a change in procedure he wishes to bring before the council." Hermes replied nervously.
Poseidon's eyes widened in shock. "... My brother is changing his mind on something? What in the name of the River Styx has happened?" He asked, a hint of concern leaking into his voice.
"You will learn soon enough, Lord Poseidon…" Hermes replied ominously.
With a nod, Poseidon nodded as he walked off as the minor gods returned to park his chariot. It was then that a strange sound reached the Messenger of the Gods' ears. The sound of… rock music blaring? Thus, the doors to the throne swung open as a great, blood-red chariot pulled by two massive, ferocious wild boars came rolling into the throne room. With one hand on the reins, a massive, muscular man dressed in Spartan armor with a pair of sunglasses under the helm obscuring his eyes. Clinging to his side was a beautiful goddess whose impossibly attractive features shifted from blonde, to redhead, and then to brunette with full lips and a perfect figure. On the back of the chariot was a great boombox with the song "Rollin'" by Limp Bizkit playing on loop. Hermes sometimes regretted his musical realm of influence.
"Ares. It has been quite a while, hasn't it brother?" Hermes said, trying to hide his disdain.
"I know you missed me, brother." Ares said with a cocky grin, tousling his younger brother's hair.
"True. Sadly, my aim is not as impressive as Apollo's or Artemis's is. But it is improving." Hermes commented with a roll of his eyes.
"Hermes. Going the classic look, I see?" Aphrodite said with a small smile as she eyed him up.
Hermes smiled. "What can I say, my lady Aphrodite? The classic look never dies." He playfully told her before motioning Ares and Aphrodite to their thrones.
"Unlike that horrid thing called Disco. Honestly, Ares. I don't understand why you got into it in the seventies." Aphrodite groaned, being reminded of a demon from the past.
"It was just a phase, but I don't regret it." Ares defended with a scoff.
"To be fair, you were one of the only ones who made it look good, you big Disco Duck…" Aphrodite replied with a bat of her eyelashes.
"Oh, by the River Styx, just end me…" Hermes groaned into his hand.
"Come along, dear. Afterwards we can go watch a Rugby match to sate your more violent tendencies." Aphrodite said with a seductive wink before walking off.
"You know just what to say, beautiful." Ares said with a grin as they were led into the throne room.
With a heavy sigh, Hermes shook off the discomfort as the godlings came to park the War God's chariot while he saw the next god coming in. Belching steam and smoke came a great clockwork dragon flew in with a great clockwork chariot behind him. As the great mechanical beast landed with a whir and clang, Hephestus hobbled off his oversized chariot. His face and toga was still covered in soot and grease from his workshop.
"My dear brother Hephaestus! How long has it been?" Hermes greeted the Smith God, trying to keep things from being awkward.
"Is my wife here yet?" The dwarf smith god asked gruffly.
Hermes sighed. "She and Ares arrived just before you did. Ares was playing 'Rollin'' by Limp Bizkit on loop as they made their way in." He sadly informed the God of Fire.
"Oh, goodie. This again. At least he is not doing it at 3 AM." Hephaestus groaned. "Alright, let us get this over with. I have projects to work on, you know."
Hermes nodded and motioned The Forge God in as his chariot was parked for him while the next two gods came down. Rocketing down from the heavens came two chariots racing towards Mount Olympus at near unimaginable speeds. Then, as soon as they came into sight, the two chariots came to a near instant stop in front of the Traveler God. One chariot was made of glistening wood and gold pulled by two fiery stallions, while the other was pulled by a great white wolf and made of polished ivory. Then Apollo and Artemis leapt from their chariots, landing in front of Hermes.
Both gods were tall and well built, but that was where the similarities ended. Apollo towered over the both of them, with a smile that could melt an iceberg. He put his hand through his sandy blonde hair as he turned his sunglasses-obscured eyes to look at his sister. Her own shoulder length raven hair flowed in the ever-worsening storm gales as her silver-gray eyes looked upon Hermes. Even now, on Olympus, he could feel her sizing him up.
"Hah! I beat you here again, little sister!" Apollo told Artemis smugly.
"Just keep telling yourself that, slowpoke." Artemis replied, rolling her eyes at her twin brother.
"Apollo, Artemis. You are both looking well. And fashionably late as usual, I see." Hermes told them with a nod of acknowledgement to his two older siblings.
"Is Father in the throne room?" Artemis asked, raising an eyebrow.
Hermes rolled his eyes. "You know Lord Zeus. Always theatrical and loving to make a big entrance." He told his older sister.
"If he is not in the throne room, then we are not late. You know the rules." Artemis answered as she began to walk off to where the chariots were parked.
The two male gods raised their eyebrows. "Where are you going?" Hermes asked, confused.
"Nowhere. You run along, Apollo. I will catch up." Artemis answered cryptically.
Though Apollo raised an eyebrow, he did not question his twin. As the Sun God made his way into the throne room and the chariots were moved off, Hermes' eyes picked up one of the final council members. A chariot made of wicker and vines soon came down before him, pulled by a pair of majestic pure white stallions. Stepping off it came a tall woman with illustrious black hair and warm brown eyes. Her robes, a lovely harvest green, whipped about in the violent winds. Hermes immediately knew her as his aunt Demeter, Goddess of the Harvest. However, she gave him a simple look, one that spoke of an extremely ill mood. Hermes bowed his head in respect, not daring to face her wrath.
As Demeter silently made her way in, Hermes saw in the distance came a line of Clydesdale horses pulling a red wagon clearly labeled "Budweiser." Hermes raised his eyebrows high as the strange chariot came to a stop. From atop the driver's bench hopped down Dionysus in all his bearded, red-faced, cherub-looking glory, wearing a shockingly well-pressed suit. Even if the god stumbled a bit upon the landing.
"Brother Dionysus. A pleasure as always. Where are the leopards?" Hermes greeted the Wine God.
"They're getting their claws clipped." He said, rolling his eyes.
"Ah. Fair enough. Right this way then, dear brother." The Messenger God replied, motioning the God of Wine inside.
"Wait, I'm going to need this." The Wine God said, turning to rummage around in his carriage, a victorious laugh leaving his lips as he produced a cup labeled "Big Gulp."
"... Brother. Have you been drinking tonight?" Hermes asked, a bit concerned.
"This is a rare opportunity for me, lay off." Dionysus said in irritation, sucking on the straw and letting out a loud, satisfied sigh as he finished his drink. Before Hermes could say anything, the cup had already filled itself to the brim with further alcohol.
"Fair enough. After you, then." Hermes replied, motioning him in as the two godlings arrived to park the Wine God's carriage for him.
"And watch the paint on that thing! It's a rental!" Dionysus snapped at the godlings.
"... What god has a rental chario… never mind…" Hermes sighed as the two headed inside for their thrones.
As Hermes and Dionysus took their places, the room filled with a bit of unease as the final two gods had yet to appear. Athena had even shown up before every other god, dressed in her armor for formality's sake. However, a whiff of ozone soon leaked into the throne room, causing everyone to tense up ever so slightly. Then, in the center of the room, came a colossal flash of lightning. So intense that its light nearly blinded all the gods, forcing them to avert their gaze momentarily. Then, as a serenade of thunder danced through the heavens above them, appeared the King and Queen of the gods. Though their features had wizened from the millennium of rule, the two exuded an aura of invincible might and splendor. Both wearing togas of the finest silks and gold thread. Without a further word, the couple took their seats at the middle two thrones.
"I now pronounce this council to be in session." Zeus declared triumphantly, his voice echoing through the room.
"Yes, Zeus. Let us get this meeting underway, since we are all terribly busy gods." Hera told her husband, trying to be cordial with the other Olympians around.
"Oh please, brother. Do enlighten us on the grand seriousness of this impromptu council." Hades chipped in dryly
"Hades…!" Persephone growled out, a slipper in hand slapping it into the palm of the other as she stood and glared at her husband.
"My daughter, please be civil in these halls." Zeus said sternly.
"I will if Hades behaves himself." Persephone told her father, looking at her husband sternly.
"Persephone. Do not make me ask a second time." Zeus warned, the tone in his voice darkening.
Seeing the mood of their King, Hades and Persephone wisely hushed up as Persephone put her sandal back on. Persephone then sat back down and waited to be addressed.
"I have called this council because it has become painfully apparent that our demigods are not living up to their potential." Zeus explained, which caught many of the gods off guard.
The other gods' eyes widened as the gray-eyed Goddess of Wisdom spoke the words that all of them were thinking. "What do you mean by that, Lord Zeus?" Athena asked curiously.
"This fact became blatant to me recently as I watched my daughter Thalia die. She was put, by the cruel twists of fate, into a situation that was completely avoidable. If we had allowed our half-blood children to be better prepared for the harsh world before them." Zeus explained.
"Normally, I would say something about that, but I have a feeling that you have more to say on the matter, dear husband. So please continue." Hera told the King of the Gods, now curious about what he had in mind.
"We cannot change our nature. Try as we all might, it is something we cannot help. The passion to be with our own creations is too strong. As ordained by the Fates themselves." Zeus continued.
However, Hades then stood up from his own seat. "The situation with Thalia was entirely avoidable, dear brother. After all, she stood in violation of a pact made on the River Styx. Passion, nature, that had nothing to do with it. It merely is another break in our accord." Hades countered.
"Wouldn't you have done the same, Hades? Gave mercy to your child for attempting to defy fate? To stand against impossible odds? Or would you have let the Furies tear them apart limb from limb?" Zeus asked, slowly rising from his seat to stare into his brother's eyes.
Hades heaved a heavy sigh; his eyes closed for a moment in contemplation. But only for a moment. When they opened, pain could be seen behind those onyx orbs. "No, brother. I cannot say I would have acted any differently. Oath or no oath, a parent cannot help but love their child. However, we agreed to the pact. What has been done cannot be undone unless we are made to make another pact that cancels out the previous one." The Lord of the Dead replied, reminding his brother of their oath.
"I must agree with Hades, brother. Even if this was through no fault of Thalia's own, we swore the oath. Even if any of us have violated it, what can we do in the face of fate?" Poseidon sighed heavily, thinking of a child of his own. A black-haired boy with his own seafoam green eyes.
"Look at the mortals and demigods we govern. Whether possible or impossible, they constantly choose to fight against fate. To choose to be different, to be better. To be the masters of their own destinies. If they can do it, then, as the gods who govern them, we have no excuse not to try." Zeus argued in response.
"And what do you propose, then, to combat this 'glaring issue' that we face?" Hera asked with a roll of her eyes.
"I'll bet I know. You're suggesting we even the odds a bit, aren't you pop? Give the brats more of a fighting chance to get the training they need to make it." Ares said, a smirk on his face.
"You are indeed correct, Ares." Zeus answered him, which caught the rest of the gods completely off guard.
"I… I am? I mean, of course I am!" Ares replied in momentary surprise before becoming smugger.
"Camp Half-Blood will undergo extensive renovations and overhauls to accommodate an exponential increase in demigod population. Equally important will be an exponential increase in the number of Satyrs assigned to the Camp in the duties of scouting for demigods. From there, Dionysus will oversee these renovations and enhance the training regime in the camp." Zeus explained, before slowly turning to look at his son.
"I will?" Dionysus asked in shock before changing his tone upon seeing the look in his father's eyes. "I mean, yes, Lord Zeus…"
"The final reform to this process I propose is this: When a new demigod is found, as swiftly as possible, a team of trained demigods will be given a quest to retrieve them. No more will demigods be expected to reach the sanctuary of the camp without proper escort." Zeus explained firmly.
"Lord Zeus… I must do all of this on Diet Coke?" Dionysus asked, already feeling a headache coming on.
Athena thought about this for a moment. "This is a good plan, Lord Zeus. It will give other, more experienced demigods a chance to prove their worth while also allowing for less experienced ones to make it to camp safely to gain the training they will need later in life. More of our children will be able to test their mettle after getting proper training…" She said contemplatively.
"Lovely…" Hera sighed, resting her chin into her hand.
"Any further comment or debate on the matter before the vote?" Zeus asked.
"Is this truly necessary, Lord Zeus? I mean, truly, truly, truly necessary…?" Dionysus asked wanting to experience a migraine, if only to put a concrete feeling to the fatigue and frustration he was experiencing.
"Our demigods are our will made manifest upon the world. They are the scalpel which keeps order at a micro-level, where we cannot so easily affect change. It is they who our legacy lives on through." Zeus explained, staring at his son.
A tired sigh left the Wine God's lips as he glanced longingly at his "Big Gulp" cup, knowing that he would not be able to numb the pain with alcohol.
"Now then. All in favor of this reform vote now!" Zeus proclaimed.
To the surprise of all present, nearly the entire Olympian council voted in favor of it. Even Dionysus, with his legendary hatred for heroes, voted in favor of it, even if only to save on time being added to his sentence. The only hold out was the Queen of Olympus, Lady Hera.
"The ayes have it! Dionysus, we leave it to you to ensure this reform's success!" Zeus yelled before looking again at his son.
Dionysus sighed in response. "If I must, Lord Zeus…" He replied with a groan.
Later: At Camp Half-Blood
As the noble chariot of Dionysus touched down in front of the Camp Directors cabin, the god noticed a familiar face awaiting him. Chiron raised an eyebrow as Dionysus jumped down from his chariot and let out a deep sigh.
"How did the council go?" Chiron asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Dreadfully. Lord Zeus is implementing changes because of the death of the girl to, in Ares' words, 'give the brats more of a fighting chance.' Or, rather, he is delegating implementing these changes to me…" The Wine God groaned in frustration.
"Shall I call a meeting of the Cabin Heads?" Chiron asked with an amused tone.
"You might as well. I need a bottle of those 'painkillers' the mortals invented…" Dionysus sighed, heading for the Big House.
"I highly doubt they will work on you. But I give you tremendous credit for trying." Chiron said with a small smile.
Pulling out a conch horn from his fanny pack, Chiron took a deep breath and blew into it, creating a loud, shrill noise. Dionysus winced at the sound as he downed a handful of pills. Annoyingly for the God of Wine, it took the cabin heads nearly a full ten minutes to assemble in the Big House. However, much to Dionysus' dismay, more than just the cabin heads came. Nearly the entirety of the camp piled into the Big House. Once Chiron made the proper head count and gave the permission nod, the Wine God rose from his comfortable chair.
"I thought you called only for the Cabin Heads?" Dionysus asked.
"Think of it like this. You do not have to explain it again later." Chiron said with a wry smile. With that, Dionysus stood up briefly to address the camp.
"We're getting more of you." Dionysus said with an irritated groan.
"Mr. D… what do you mean by that?" Luke asked him.
"What Mr. D. means, Luke, is that, in the wake of Thalia's death, Lord Zeus has seen fit to… make some changes to how things are run here at Camp Half-Blood." Chiron told the newbie camper.
"What kind of changes?" Annabeth asked curiously.
"The camp will be undergoing extensive renovations and overhauls to accommodate for a massive influx of new demigods, as well as an equally exponential increase in Satyrs assigned to the camp. To top it all off, sufficiently trained demigods will be sent on quests in teams to escort newly discovered demigods to camp safely. And all of this will be overseen by our very own Mr. D." Chiron explained with a smile.
"Right, now that all that's explained, I'm going to take a hot shower to try and kill my headache." Dionysus bemoaned before storming out of the meeting.
Annabeth sat there in awe at what was explained. "That means… no one else will die." She said with hope in her voice.
"Not like Thalia did, at least…" Luke corrected, grumbling a bit.
As Chiron began to explain the more practical side of what needed to be done, Annabeth sat intently listening to it all. Indeed, most everyone was very attentive in listening to the massive new program. However, during all of this, Luke did not hear a word. Turning away to hide his tears, he clenched his hands into fists. Thalia should not have died. For him, this was all too little, too late…
To Be Continued…