Finally Together [Perlypso] - Sequel {COMPLETED}

Eight- War

Percy

Artemis was right.

It was way too quiet to be enemy headquarters.

While we were gone, a guerrilla warfare attack was launched on Camp Half-Blood.

A spell was put on some hellhounds in the woods sending them into battling into camp commons and targeting and attacking campers.

"This is war." Artemis paced the golden floors of Mount Olympus. An emergency meeting had been called. "They're off to destroy Olympus again."

"It's a cycle, isn't it?" Apollo said. "What if we can't keep fending them off."

"They've got to get over themselves," Zeus said. "All they are is selfish. They just want power."

One to talk, big guy.

"What can we do to shut them up?" Aphrodite asked. "I really don't understand their motives."

I do.

I sat there bored.

"There must be some strategy for this." Hephaestus mused.

"Mortals are always causing problems," Zeus declared. "Always full of themselves, and small minded. They see the world through their puny human eyes."

"Or maybe they just want change," I finally spoke up, as the only experienced Half-Blood in the room. "Maybe we weren't listening to their peaceful attempts to get our attention, because the only way for them to distract us from ourselves is by starting a war."

The throne room was silent. Zeus's eyes bore in to me. "What are you trying to say, young one? And what experiences do you have?"

"More than you'll ever have, and an actual perspective." I said.

"You better not raise your voice at me," Zeus warned. "Maybe you haven't completely adjusted from being a mortal, Perseus."

"I'm with Half-Bloods every day." I said. "I hear and see their opinions and their struggles. Maybe you'll listen to me, if not them."

"What are you trying to be, some voice for the people? You-"

"Father." Athena broke in. "The boy is right. It's going to be a cycle. When poor leadership begins to set in- and I mean from all of us- it can be disastrous. We must be on our toes. We've been far too laid back in the past few years. It's a cycle. Hard times create strong people. Strong people become strong leaders and end hard times. Strong leaders create good times. Good times create weak people. Weak people create hard times."

Silence spread across the vast room.

"9 were killed." I said. "9 lives. 9 people I worked with every day, that I laughed with, that I smiled with, that had friends and families."

"You can't be everybody's friend, Percy." Poseidon spoke up softly. "It will be a lesson you have to learn... in time."

"Or maybe it's just, over time, you lose yourself in all your glory and only look at yourself." I said. "This is turning into a war for all the right and wrong reasons."

"What side are you on, Percy?" Zeus said.

"We're not picking sides." Athena declared. "We fight together. For one."

"Everybody here is," Zeus said. "Except Percy."

"If we fight together," I said. "Then we fight half-bloods and Olympians. Together. All for one. Until that happens, there is no Together."

•••

I sat on the edge of my sea green bed and watched the fish outside my window swim around. Outside, I could see a gorgeous, giant coral reef. A few miles away, you could catch a glimpse of the entrance to a gigantic trench. The mermaids outside tended to the gardens of different sea plants and sea life.

Calypso came in in her elegant Greek toga.

"That wasn't all I hoped it would be," she decided.

"I want to go to camp," I said. "Help them."

"You're not allowed to be in mortal affairs," Calypso reminded me.

"I don't think the mortal part of me ever died..." I said. "Or... the humane part. Why are immortals so inhumane?"

"I don't think... I don't think pain is the same for mortals... look at Heracles. Bitter and resentful." Calypso said. "I feel like... mortals can't ever let go of that mortal part of them."

"The pain?" I asked. "Why?"

"Maybe it's because pain is a little addicting," Calypso shrugged. She sat down beside me. "It can consume you sometimes. Just like bitterness and hatred."

I bit my lip and sighed. "I think I should be allowed to fight alongside the half-bloods."

"Then they'd never get their moments of glory like you," She said.

"I never wanted moments of glory." I said. "I wanted a normal life."

"Calm down," she rubbed my back. "I know. Percy, times get hard."

"Times don't get hard. Times have always been hard." I said. "I've never known a time when it was easy."

"I just know you make it easier." Calypso said quietly.

I turned and looked into her beautiful glistening eyes. Specks of silver and gold dotted the light brown. I pressed my lips to hers.

"I love you," I said in between kisses.

"I love you too," she replied. "And I'm always here, hero."