Octavian blinked, "are you sure? It is a very painful process and-"
"Just do it," Percy repeated himself as he took off his shirt presenting his chest to Octavian.
The effects of Goblin's growth was clearly seen as Percy's muscles were bulging with power. They weren't big like a weightlifter, but they contained a lot of power within them. Thalia blushed along with some of the other female romans at the sight of his body.
"Damn boy give me some of that!" a female demigod called out causing the rest of the female population to cat call Percy. Thalia frowned at but said nothing, after all it wouldn't do for the daughter of Zeus to blast a bitch in the middle of a Senate, no, that wouldn't do at all.
"I must say that I jealous you get to have that," Julia sighed, "if only he was available."
Thalia blinked as she snapped her head towards Julia, "how did you-"
"-How did I know? Pretty easily actually. The way you two act around each other and the way you two look at each other gives plenty of evidence to the status of your relationship. If you didn't want anyone to know I would recommend you hide it better."
Thalia didn't know what to say. She just looked on at the Praetor and noded with a surprised look on her face.
Octavian pressed his hand over Percy's chest and slowly the skin started to burn. Octavian looked up to see whether this was causing Percy any pain, only to find the son of Poseidon look at him with emotionless eyes.
"Doesn't this hurt?" Octavian asked.
Percy chuckled, "you underestimate me Octavian. It is rare that I feel any pain. Many have tried, Hyperion tired to burn me, the minotaur and Alecto herself have tried to kill me. I have fought demons and even Gergosas. I have faced a God of the Sea and I left him nothing but ashes spread along the ocean floor. Two days ago I fought the Giant who is born to fight and kill Pluto. And do you know what I did to him?"
Octavian was growing paler and paler, "n-no."
"I threw a mountain on him," Percy said as his skin finally stopped burning, "that is the enemy you wish to make Octavian. Now tell me, do you think that is a wise choice?"
The Legacy blinked, "I I'm not your enemy Percy I-"
"-Shut up," Percy hissed, "I can see it you eyes. The anger, the hate. Don't lie to me Augur, you won't like what happens next."
Octavian nodded as Percy stepped away. He looked down at the make he obtained. It was a trident on top with the words OLYMPUS written below. And underneath those words was one bar.
Percy quickly put on his shirt, much to the disappointment to the ladies gathered, and Julia stepped up. "Romans! I present to you, the Praetors of the Greek camp! Percy Jackson and Thalia Grace!"
The Romans cheered as most got on their feet. The cheering lasted for a while, and soon the alliance between the Greeks and the Romans was finalised.
A couple of Hours later,
"Do you have to go?" Jason asked. Thalia, Percy and the romans all stood at the entrance to the service tunnel. After a heavy lunch everyone gathered here to say their goodbyes.
"I don't want to leave little bro, but I have to," Thalia told him wrapping him in a hug, "I am needed back in camp Half-blood, plus that's my home. Just like camp Jupiter is yours."
Jason nodded sadly, "yeah. I guess."
Thalia smiled, "don't look so glum chum! I promise to visit often! In fact if I have to I'll have Percy bring me here every week!"
Jason blinked, "is that even possible?"
Thalia shrugged, "like I care. That's his problem."
Percy in the meanwhile stood to the corner with Julia and Rob talking about the new alliance.
"So I'll send a few of the cabin members here," Percy told them, "could you guys teach them how to lead? If there is one thing I am willing to admit the Romans do better is that you guys can fight as one. We need that."
Julia nodded, "agreed. Send the demigods in a week's time. We shall have something ready for you by then."
"And what do we get in return?" Rob asked lifting an eyebrow.
Julia elbowed him in the gut, "Percy has given more than enough to us in exchange for a simple lesson that we give to every roman Legionaire. I think it is us who still owes him a few favours."
Rob pouted as Percy chuckled. "No, Rob's right. In exchange I am willing to help train your fighters in different battle scenarios. Heard from Jason that you guys have war games?" Julia nodded, "well then what I'm going to give is my own personal version of said games."
"What's it going to contain?" Rob asked.
Percy winked, "that's a secret." Julia chuckled while Rob groaned. "By the way Julia," Percy turned to the female Praetor, "that law Edgar mentioned, about killing anyone who touched the Eagle who isn't roman? That was how they were planning on betraying us wasn't it?"
Julia sighed but nodded, "yes, that was."
Percy nodded, "glad we avoided that then. Who introduced the idea?"
"I can't say for sure....but many believe that Octavian did it."
Percy sighed, "then it's a good thing I warned him off."
"Percy!" Thalia called him over.
"Coming!" Percy called back. He turned to his new two friends, "we'll, see you in a week's time I guess."
Rob and Julia nodded. Percy then joined Thalia and said a final goodbye to Jason. After waving goodbye at the gathered crowd the two greek demigods turned and walked into the tunnel.
"I'm going to miss those guys," Percy commented.
"I'm going to miss Jason," Thalia sighed sadly.
Percy hugged her, "don't worry sweetheart. You can visit him anytime you want."
Thalia nodded, "yeah. Wait....did you just call me sweetheart?"
Percy grinned, "yup."
Thalia smiled, "I like it. Anyway....next stop, Olympus."
Percy nodded, "right." Percy looked to the side and saw the blue glowing symbol of the labyrinth on the side of the tunnel. Percy stopped in front of it and approached the symbol.
"Percy?" Thalia asked, "what are you doing?"
"I'm taking a short cut," Percy explained to her as he stood next to the symbol;
Ping!
You have spotted the entrance to the Labyrinth: Dungeon Lv-20
Do you wish to enter?
YES/NO?
Or
Do you wish to fast travel to another known Labyrinth location?
YES/NO?
Percy pressed yes for the second option and another box appears;
Please chose the location you would like to travel to;
1. Yancy Academy
2. Camp Half-Blood
3. Central Park
Percy pressed the last option, Central Park, and suddenly the wall on the side of the tunnel opened up revealing a set of stairs leading upwards.
Thalia stood next to Percy, "what the hell is that?"
"It's the Labyrinth," Percy explained, "well, at least the american version of it."
"How did you know how to do that Percy?"
"Because I have seen these before. There is one in camp, one here, one in Central Park and even one in my school. I can somehow control the tunnels to a certain degree and move through it. Using one of these things I can go to any location that I already know off. So technically speaking I can use this tunnel to go directly to-"
"-To Camp," thalia realised, "Percy, can you teach me how to do this?"
Percy shrugged, "I honestly don't know how I'm able to do it Thalia. Maybe we can try later, but for now we have a meeting with the Gods to get too."
Thalia nodded as she followed him into the tunnel. They walked hand in hand for five minutes through the deep multi turning tunnel. It honestly felt like this thing was going on forever and it didn't obey any of the laws of physics.
Fist when they entered it there was a set of stairs that lead upwards and then a small slide that some hor brought them into what looked like the sewers of a city. Then that ended leading into a garden of sorts before a long halfway replaced it.
Thaai was worried they were lost, but Percy didn't look scared at all. It was almost like he knew where he was going. And that confidence of his and her trust in him was the only reason Thalia wasn't freaking out.
Soon however the long tunnel they were in ended and the very end was a ladder that lead up to what looked like a metal hatch.
Percy smiled, "I remember this. My dad took me here for my birthday. The park should be right up here, why don't you go first?"
Thalia nodded and climbed the ladder first followed by Percy. Percy looked up and saw his girlfriend's large ass sticking out as she climbed further and further up. Percy kept pace but made sure that he wasn't close enough that he would end up face first into her behind is for some reason Thalia stopped. Because that would be bad.....yeah....bad.
The daughter of Zeus threw open the hatch and climbed out. Percy followed suit and closed the hatch behind them and covered it with leaves, don't want anyone to find that by accident.
Thalia patted down her clothes as she looked around at the afternoon sky. "Damn," Thalia said as she noticed the people walking around, "we really did manage to go across the country in five minutes."
Percy nodded, "yeah. Cool right?" Percy walked onto the pathway and held out his hand. Thalia smiled as she grabbed onto it as the couple started walking hand in hand.
They drew a lot of curious eyes but for the most part Percy and Thalia were left alone. The two teens eventually reached the Empire State Building where, after Percy threatened the gaurd, they got into the elevator and went to the 600th floor.
The door of the elevator opened up revealing Olympus in all it's glory. Thalia looked around in wonder at the place, she had been here before, but that was at night. It was now in the middle of the afternoon and the entire mountain was abuzz with activity. There were nature spirits and minor gods running all over places, eating, playing and generally having a good time.
Percy and Thalia walked straight up the mountain until they came in front of golden door leading into the throne room. Percy stopped and turned to Thalia, "you ready?"
Thalia nodded, "ready as I'll ever be."
Percy nodded as he pressed his hand against the door and pushed it open. Inside the Olympian council was in full session as every single one of the Gods were argueing with someone else. Ares was fighting Hermes, Apollo was dodging arrows from Artemis while Dionis just sat down next to the hearth with Hestia drinking his soda.
"Enough!" Zeus shouted silencing everyone in the room, "they have returned."
The Gods all stopped what they were doing and slowly turned to see Percy and Thalia standing by the door. Percy looked at them all, Arteis gave Percy a brief node while Poseidon smiled at his son. Hermes waved at him while Ares glared.
"Thalia," Zeus shouted startling the girl, "come forth daughter of mine."
Thalia nodded as she came forward with Percy right behind her. Zeus looked at her and smiled, "have you united the camps?"
Thalia nodded, "yes Lord Zeus, Percy and I managed to find and return the Eagle back to camp Jupiter. " Zeus didn't like Thalia calling him that but he hide it well.
"And I also hear you two have been declared as the Praetors of the Greek camp, yes?" Zeus asked.
Thalia nodded as she took off her jacket presenting her right arm while Percy pulled down his shirt collar low enough to reveal his own marking on his chest.
"One strip?" Zeus said looking applaud, "why for the things you have been through you deserve three!"
"Three brother?" Poseidon asked raising an eyebrow, "what for?"
"One for this quest, one for saving camp Half-blood by sacrificing her life and the other one is the standard one everyone gets when of probation. In fact," Zeus turned to Apollo, "make it so Apollo!"
"At once father," Apollo said as he got off his chair and shrunk down walking towards Thalia.
Apollo was a handsome God, Percy couldn't deny that. The man wore a simple set of loafers, jeans and a sleeveless shirt. He had golden blonde hair with eyes that burned like the the sun, along with a very tanned complexion that complemented his muscles. If there was anyone who could charm himself out of being arrested Percy would bet it would be this guy.
"Hello beautiful," Apollo said with a dashing smile, "may I have your hand?"
Thalia blushed and Percy felt angry take root in his heart. Apollo ran his hand over Thalia's skin, "my, such smooth skin, truly Aphrodite has blessed you with-"
Apollo stopped in his tracks as suddenly a feeling of dread came over him. He slowly turned and saw Percy glaring at him with blood red eyes. Apollo could almost feel the waves of Bloodlust targeted at him, and what's more no one else seemed to notice, even Thalia who he was standing right next to him looked confused as to why Apollo suddenly stopped. It was like all that anger was focused only on him.
Apollo gulped, "ah, I award you with two more lines of duty." Thalia's hand glowed gold and two more black bars appeared on her hand. Percy however didn't stop glaring at the God. Apollo moved to sit back down when Poseidon spoke.
"Wait!" The sea God said, "if Thalia deserves more strips then so does my son."
Apollo paled, "w-what?"
"Well....I suppose you are right," Zeus grumbled, "he did do many a service for us."
"Yes he did," Artemis nodded, "he returned the lightning bolt and the helmet of darkness. He fought back Hyperion and revived the souls of the dead demigods. He destroyed Argo's base, defeated Janai'ngo-"
"What?!" Zeus roared, "he defeated what?!"
"Yes brother, he defeated a Great Old one," Poseidon said with a smirk, "didn't I tell you that?"
Zeus looked like he wanted to argue further but Artemis cut him off, "as I was saying," she glared at her father. "He defeated Janai'ngo, helped return the Golden Fleece and brought back information regarding Kronos's revival. By my count that's a total of six stripes, not including the one he has."
"Wait," Athena frowned, "do you not count as returning the helm and warning us about Kronos as noteworthy tasks?"
Artemis frowned, "I wasn't sure. Both of them were considered bonuses than anything else."
"Let's add it," Athena said, "plus let us not forget the standard one everyone gets when joining camp."
Zeus paled, "9...9 stripes?!"
Poseidon grinned at his brother, "yup. Apollo, make it so!"
Apollo turned to Zeus who gave him permission to do so, albeit after Poseidon sent a blast of water into his face.
Apollo approached Percy and smiled, "hey little cousin."
Percy glared but didn't say anything. He lowered his shirt collar and let Apollo hover his hand over his chest.
"I award you 8 more strips of duty!"
Percy's skin glowed as the marks appeared. Percy formed, 'so the process is painless. Octavian, that little worm!'
