Not Your Hero ✔

-1-

"In honor of our fallen children, we will have a memorial for all of the loved ones who have fallen in any of the wars. They will always be remembered." Zeus's loud and authoritative voice echoed off the halls of Olympus. "It has been decided, if you all agree, to give everyone who fought and survived the wars partial immortality. Everyone except for The Seven, Nico di Angelo, and Reyna Avila Ramírez-Arellano, please step forward." Everyone who participated in one or both of the wars except the ones told not to stepped up, and were given partial immortality. The number of campers had decreased drastically, just 1 to 5 people per cabin.

               Not everyone lost had been in the second Titan War or the war with Gaia. There were dozens of minor wars that lead to major losses. It's been 3 years since the war with Gaia. Three years and the camp still hasn't been able to rebuild. Three years. The camp was close, then a monster army attacks out of nowhere. Just 1 or 2 campers lost. Then it happened more frequently. The losses added up. It was like demigods were becoming extinct. It's been hard on Camp Half-Blood and Camp Jupiter and their leaders.

              Everyone stepped up except for the ones told not to. The only ones who didn't were the younger campers, all about 6 and down. There were even a few 8-year-olds. They were all given partial immortality, the younger ones would stop growing when they get a certain age though. "The Seven, Nico di Angelo and Reyna Avila Ramírez-Arellano step forward." They did so without a word, their heads bowed. Some out of respect, others out of utter exhaustion. "You will be given any gifts your godly parent decides to give you. Leonidas Valdez."

              Leo stepped up. He stood their silently, his head still down. "We offer you partial immortality and free access to your father's workshop. You'll be able to come and go from his palace here on Olympus. Do you accept?" Zeus said. "I accept," Leo said. Zeus nodded in approval and gave him partial immortality.

              "Frank Zhang." Frank stepped up. Along with partial immortality, he was given the ability to get battle weapons out of thin air. It went on like this until there was only Jason, Annabeth, and Percy left.

             Everyone got partial immortality. Since Pluto couldn't remove Hazel's curse completely, he made it so it was easier to control.

Piper got the ability to charm using just her eyes. Like charmspeak, it magically made people do what she wanted them to do, but this time with just her eyes.

            Nico was made Hades' right hand. He was the Prince of the Underworld, and he was in command of thousands of souls.

            "Annabeth Chase." Annabeth stepped forward, her stormy gray eyes showing she was trying to work out what she was going to get. "In place of partial immortality, we offer you godhood. You will be known as the minor goddess of wisdom, battle strategies, heroes, architecture and Athena's most trusted adviser. Do you acce—" Zeus couldn't even finish talking. "Yes! Yes! Yes!" Annabeth squealed.

           Percy's head shot up, his eyes round with surprise. In his eyes, there was a surprise... and confusion. Like he didn't understand why she would accept godhood. The transition from mortal to goddess was a painful one, for Annabeth screamed in agony when the sphere of power hit her square in the chest.

             "Jason Grace." Jason stepped forward and raised his head high, looking like the poster boy for all Romans and children of Jupiter. "In place of partial immortality, we offer godhood. You will be known as the minor god of the sky, electricity, thunder, and heroes. Do you accept?" Zeus boomed. "I accept." Jason took the feeling of his red mortal blood turned into the gold ichor of the gods better than Annabeth. He clenched his jaw and fists in pain. But he stood straight.

             "Perseus Jackson." Percy stepped up but some of his old self was back. He put his hand on Jason's shoulder and said, "Now all you need is your mighty hammer, Thor." Which got a couple of campers snickering.

           "In place of partial immortality, we offer you god—" Percy stopped Zeus at that sentence. "You already know I don't want godhood. I'll take partial immortality though. And I'd like to make a teeny tiny wish. Or two." The gods all groaned. They really thought since Annabeth accepted godhood Percy would too.

              "Okay, if your wishes are within our abilities, we can give you your wishes," Zeus says. He sent a glare at Hermes who was grumbling about losing a bet with Apollo, who was silently celebrating, only to be nudged by Artemis, who was also there with her hunters. "My first wish— Hestia and Hades both get thrones on Olympus since you've seemed have forgotten from when I wished the first time." Zeus looked hesitant. "We can do that, my son," Poseidon told Percy. "Can't we brother?" He said to Zeus.

             Zeus snapped his fingers and two thrones appeared. Hades and Hestia both looked stunned. "Well don't just stand there, try out your new thrones," Percy told them. They slowly made their way to the giant thrones and sat. "This is... strange," Hades said. Hestia nodded in agreement. "In a good way though." Hestia then gave Percy a warm smile and Hades gave a wide toothy smile, which seemed to change the whole 'king of the underworld' air. They both said their thanks and Hestia even gave him a hug.

                   Percy smirked, which let Hades know he would never hear the last of that smile. "Next?" Zeus said. He didn't appreciate such a big decision being made and he had no say in it.

                    "I want everyone to be recognized. Everyone who did something. They should get more than partial immortality. I'm not saying make everyone a god, just treat them like you did the Seven. Give them a gift from their parent. As for the four of the seven you didn't offer, godhood, please do that." Percy said. "Ahh, I love the whole 'I'm a manly stand-up fair punk' thing you got goin' on, but punk I have to ask. Why do you care?" Ares asked.

                 "Because the only reason you're giving us more is because we're more popular. Clarisse, Travis, Conner, Will, Grover, Katie, Thalia, they just got partial immortality, except for Grover 'cause he's lord of the wild. You didn't even call their name." Percy said. "Thalia isn't a camper." Athena pointed out. Percy sighed. The wisdom goddess wasn't so bright. "That is correct, Thalia is not a camper, she is a hunter. But I'm not a regular human, I'm a demigod, but I still had to go to school. There are a lot of people you need to recognize and—" Percy stopped mid-sentence. "Where's Tyson?" Poseidon snapped his fingers and Tyson appeared with his mouth and fingers covered in peanut butter. "Tyson needs to be recognized more too. He was a big help during the war." The gods were all looking intensely at the demigods, pondering on what they should do. "Look, I could talk for three days about everyone who's under-appreciated and I'd still be talking. I wish for you to work on this." "We can do that Percy, but let's not do it today. Since you refuse godhood we'll give you partial immortality and you'll get free access to my palace on Olympus and you're welcomed in my kingdom."

Percy nodded his thanks and the King of the Universe teleported each and every demigod to their respective cabins.

I want to continue. I probably will continue. What do you think?