Jason ran up and hugged his sister muttering about how much he missed her and how worried he. Hason then turned to Percy and smiled, "thanks for keeping your promise."
Percy grinned, "anytime little bro."
Eventually the cheering all died down. The Praetors ordered everyone back to work as the lead Percy and Thalia to their Principia. This one reminded Percy very ,much of the one back in Alaska, except not that dead. He looked around and sure enough, inside a cupboard were similar books like the ones he found and absorbed back in the Hubbard Glacier, guessed they were standard issue.
"How did you even find this?" Julia asked once they were alone in the Principia. Rob stood next to his fellow Praetor as they both admired the golden Eagle.
"A giant named Alcyoneus was guarding it," Thalia told them, "he killed the Romans that went to the glacier. He also tried to kill us, but we got to him first."
Julia nodded as she gave the Eagle to Rob. The son of Mars carefully opened a display to the back wall and put the Eagle inside it closing it shut.
Percy narrowed his eyes, "I don't' think it belongs in there."
Julia raised an eyebrow, "why do you think that?"
"Because of how I found it," Percy said, "I found it being held up by the dead bodies of the roman soldiers. They were dead, but they used their bodies to support the Eagle, holding it up despite all the years. I and Thalia have made sure it never touched the ground to honour the memory of those who gave their lives to protect it. And now, seeing it locked away...it just doesn't seem right."
Rob chuckled, "you're talking more and more like a Roman Jackson. We might make a capable warrior out of you yet."
Julia nodded, "yes. You are right. Maybe we can create a flag post or some kind of memorial in the middle of the camp site with the Eagle standing in the center. It's sight will inspire the soldiers and serves to remind us of what was lost."
Rob smiled, "that's a great idea Julia!"
The big breasted girl nodded, "yes. It is. Rob is right Percy," she looked at him, "you are thinking more and more like a Roman."
"How so?"
"That speech you gave, it was very....deceptive, to say the least. In just a few words you managed to turn those who previously hated you into allies and turn their eyes onto the senate who will no doubt try and worm their way out of the spot light. I have it on good authority that the Senate was planning on calling you and Thalia as thieves claiming that you wished to steal the Eagle. They wanted the Eagle back, but didn't want to ally themselves with you. They were willing to go against the Gods in order to make sure that New Rome was not involved in the war. But with your little speech....you basically put a wrench into their plans."
"We know," Thalia said smirking, "that's why we planned that speech out well in advance."
Rob looked surprised, "what?"
Percy smiled, "we had a lot of time kill on the way back. So we got to talking, and then one question came up. 'Why would a Roman Senate try allow two Greek demigods to try and obtain their greatest symbol'? Things just didn't add up. So we put our heads together and we realised what their game plan was."
"We didn't know the exact details about how they were going to stab us in the back, we just knew they would," Thalia said, "so Percy came up with the speech and the rest was history."
"I see," Julia said after taking a moment to process the information, "you two would do well in politics."
"Not really," Percy said, "we both would rather fight them on the battlefield than in a closed senate building."
"But that also doesn't mean we are stupid," Thalia said.
Julia nodded, "that's good. Well...I suppose it is time to go see the senate. No doubt those old farts have already called a meeting to discuss what has just happened."
Rob nodded, "one bad thing that I will admit about Roman, we take a long as time to get things done. Oh and Percy, you ah, you sound kind of....different. Your voice is like super deep."
Percy chuckled, "yeah, I know. My voice cracked."
Julia raised an eyebrow, "I must say this is.....different. Your voice has gotten much deeper, thought not to the extent that you become unrecognizable."
Percy shrugged, "you say that, Thalia says that, but I honestly can't tell. Oh, and one more thing. While there I found a few things you all might want to get back."
Rob raised an eyebrow, "like what?"
Percy smiled.
Inside the armoury;
Several Roman soldiers looked through the door and windows of the armoury and watched with disbelieving eyes and open mouths at the sight before them.
Percy kept reaching in and pulling out several imperial gold weapons from his inventory. Julie and Rob's stood next to him and watched as the mountain of gold just kept coming out.
"H-how much did you find?!" Rob asked as he sees all the new imperial weapons and armour that the legion now owned.
"A lot," Thalia replied with a yawn.
"How can you do that?!" Rob asked with a yell.
"What? I was sleepy. I was up all night...ah, doing stuff."
"Not that! I mean just stand there and pretend to not see the mountain of weapons that Percy is bringing out of nowhere?!"
Thalia shrugged, "I have seen him do it before, it's no big deal."
Rob tugged on his hair in anger, he wanted to pull them out in frustration, "you Greeks are crazy!"
Percy took out the last of the imperial weapons and smiled, "damn that's a lot of weapons."
Julia gulped, "i-is that all?"
Percy blinked, "no there is just one last thing." Percy then increased the size of his inventory box and pulled out the solid imperial gold chariot he had found. "There, with this it's done."
Even the stoic Julia had her jaw on the floor. The Romans began to talk as word got around about all the returned weapons and tools that Percy had brought back. Once more the popularity of the Greeks and the son of Poseidon only increased.
After the matter of the weapons deposits were resolved Julia and Rob brought them back to New Rome. After an unbearable criticism of Thalia's hair and clothes by Terminus they entered the city once more.
This time when they entered the senate Percy found that is was full to the brim. It seemed like every legion and every high ranking member of New Rome was in there. From their titles Percy knew that they were big shots. He saw the principal and the dean of the New Rome college setting somewhere in there along with the mayor of New Rome and the members of the Senate.
Percy and Thalia were lead to the front row and the moment the Romans saw them they burst into cheers. Everyone called out their names, the Laurs, the Legionnaires even a couple Senators. Percy smile and waved leading them on while Thalia simply smiled, she still didn't like so much attention on her.
Julia and Rob got up in stage and began the senate. Slowly everyone quieted down as Julia began, "we all know why we are here today. This is the day that the symbol of the camp was returned to us."
The crowd exploded into cheers again while Julia waited patiently for them to stop. After they did she continued, "the Eagle was returned to us by two Greeks who had come to us on a mission of peace and brotherhood. This was the will of the Gods, to unite the camps. But despite that we needed to be certain of their genuinity. So they were sent on a quest none thought they would return from or let alone complete," Julia glared at the Senators. Her actions were mimicked by several other people in the room putting all the Senators on the hot seat.
"But now they have returned," Julia said earning her another cheer, "and as such they have given us the final proof we need to know that we can trust them. The Titans are amassing their army. It is time we demigods did the same."
The room burst into cheers of approval as Julia motioned for Percy and Thalia to come on stage. The demigods did just that as the crowd cheered even louder. Percy looked at Thalia and she motioned him to speak.
"Hello," Percy began, "most of you may already know, but I'd like to introduce myself properly. My name is Percy Jackson, and I am the son of Poseidon." The crowd slowly quieted down as every listened to what Percy was saying, "I was born in Manhattan and I have basically lived my life as a person from the outside looking in. I'm sure everyone here can relate."
Everyone there nodded in agreement, "but then I found camp Half-Blood, the Greek Camp. There I had a home, a family, people I cared about. But now Saturn has returned and with him the forces of the Titans gather. We Greeks are powerful, but few in numbers. If we could fight this by ourselves we would, but we can't, nor should we. All this while I though my family stretched only to the Greek camp, but no. I was wrong. Even if you all are Romans, you are my family as well. And though I may not have spent much time here to have much right to say so, but I truly believe that each and everyone of us are willing to die for each other."
The crowd cheered and Percy waited for them to die down, "The Greek camp is in Montauk. It is on a place called Half-Blood Hill right next to a field of fresh strawberries and the sea. We know where you all live, so I feel it is only fair that you know where we live. So tell me, will you stand by us and fight for Olympus?!"
The crowd yelled out in one voice, "Etiam!"
Percy knew that meant yes, "will you fight by my side as we drive Saturn as his army back to Tartarus?!"
"Etiam!"
"Will you fight by our side to gain glory and victory?!"
"Etiam!"
Percy nodded and turned to the senators, "what say you members of the senate?"
They looked at each other as Edgar slowly got and looked at Percy. He did the roman salute, "Twelfth Legion Fulminata!"
"Twelfth Legion Fulminata!" the crowd repeated.
Percy smiled, "a yes would have sufficed."
The crowd chuckled at Percy's joke while Edgar spoke up, "before you leave there is one last matter to attend to."
Percy and Thalia looked to each other and Thalia spoke up, "what?"
"Technically no one other than a member of the Twelfth Legion is allowed to touch the Eagle. If they do it is required by law for us to kill them."
The crowd erupted in outrage as every started to boo them left and right.
"How dare you even suggest that Edgar?!" an angry Larus shouted out.
"Fools!" Another roman shouted.
"They are not traitors!"
"Fuck the rules!"
"Enough!"Edgar shouted, "I do not plan on killing them! If you all had let me finish I would have told you that we in the senate have come up with a solution for this problem."
The crowd quieted down as Edgar sighed in relief, "thank you. Now, yes, technically no one other than a member of the Twelfth Legion is allowed to touch the Eagle. Hence why we make them honorary members."
Julia raised an eyebrow, "what would that entail Senator Edgar?"
"They would be considered member of the Twelfth Legion, but they would not be assigned to any cohort or any position in the Roman army. They will be considered as free lancers and nothing else. It isn't a glorious position or anything of the sort, but it will prevent them from getting killed."
"Bull shit!" the crowd cried out.
"Make them into Legionnaires at the least!" Some yelled.
"Legionaires?! They should be made into Centurions! Or even the Praetors of their camp!"
"Yeah!" another agreed! "If they are the leaders of the Greek camp then they should be considered as the Praetors of their camp!"
Percy and Thalia looked at each other and shrugged.
"Enough!" Julia shouted silencing everyone. She turned to Percy and Thalia, "Percy, Thalia, would it be right to assume that you two are the de facto leaders of your camp?"
"Well I don't know about me but-" Thalia began only to be cut off by Percy.
"Yes. Yes we are."
Julia nodded, "very well. Then as far as we are concerned you two are the Praetors of the Greek camp, meaning you deserves that level of respect," she turned to the collected senate, "Roman shall recognize Percy Jackson and Thalia Grace as the Praetor's of the Greek Camp! Does anyone have a problem with that?!"
"NO!" the room shouted in one voice.
Julia nodded, "good. Now where the Pluto is Octavian?!"
"Here ma'am!" The thin legacy of Apollo spoke up standing up from the crowd.
"Get up here! We have two new legionaries to induct!"
"Yes ma'am!"
Octavian ran up as fast as he could and stood next to Percy and Thalia. The blonde boy cleared his throat, "do you both swear to serve the Senate and Rome with your lives?"
"They aren't Roman you moron!" somebody from the crowd screamed causing everyone to laugh at the legacy of Apollo.
Activation blushed but said nothing. He couldn't do anything but stand there and take it. Percy looked at young boy and saw hatred brewing in his eyes. Percy knew Octavian would be someone to look out for in the future, with that much blind hate inside him....he might just try something in the future.
"Olympus," Percy spoke up silencing everyone, "we pledge to serve the demigods of Olympus and Olympus itself."
Octavian saw his way out and took it. "Right," he nodded, "present your right arms."
Thalia stepped up first. She rolled her jacket's sleeve and presented her forearm to Octavian. Percy watched like a hawk as Octavian passed his hand over Thalia's forearm.
Suddenly Thalia winced in pain, Percy went to try and stop whatever Octavian was doing but Julia held him back, "it's part of the process."
Percy nodded and watched with rapt eyes as several symbols were burnt into Thalia's arms. The first was an Eagle with it's wings spread open looking like it was going to catch something with it's talons. Below that were the words OLYMPUS with one horizontal black line below the words.
Octavian stared suprised at the words, "that's never happened before."
"What's never happened before?" Percy stepped up and asked.
"Her words are different," Julia murmured as she held Thalia's hand, "it seems since you swore yourselves to Olympus and not Roman your words are different. No matter, it is not a problem."
Octavian nodded, "right. Next please."
Percy nodded as he stepped up. He presented his arms and Octavian blinked in confusion. Percy raised an eyebrow, "something the matter?"
Octavian looked up, "you already have a tattoo on your forearm," Octavian points to the chain seals that Percy had around his hand, "the mark will not be clearly seen."
"I see," Percy hummed, "is there anywhere else you can put it?"
Octavian hummed, "well in ancient Rome many would put the mark on their chest but it extremely painful to do so and-"
"Do it," Percy interrupted him.
