Half-Blooded Harmony: The Lightning Thief

“It’s remarkable the lengths to which humans will go to make things fit their vision of reality.”

Even after all this time and distance away from Camp Half-Blood, the group still remembered when Chiron had told them that. And they truly appreciated it after the battle against Ares. According to the LA News, the explosion at Santa Monica was caused when some crazy kidnapper (as the Mist had made Ares appear) – who had kidnapped Percy and the others for a ten-day-long cross-country reign of terror – fired a shotgun at the police, his shot accidentally hitting a gas main that had ruptured during the earthquake.

Percy Jackson and his friends weren’t wanted fugitives anymore – they were victims. They’d only caused a commotion on that Greyhound in New Jersey to escape him (later witnesses would even swear he was there somehow, though none of the others remembered him there), and he blew up the bus in retaliation.

He also caused that explosion in the St. Louis Arch, and a concerned waitress in Denver had seen him threatening his abductees outside her diner, gotten a friend to take a photo, and notified the cops. Finally, Percy and the girls had stolen weapons from their captor and his associates and battled it out on the beach with police arriving just in time, but the explosion destroyed five cop cars and the kidnapper escaped. Amazingly there were no fatalities, and Percy Jackson and his kids were safely in police custody.

Of course, the reporters fed the kids the whole story – they just nodded along and acted tearful and exhausted (which wasn’t that hard after the long trip) and played victimized kids for the cameras.

Percy in particular really played it up when it was his turn. “All I want…” he said for the camera, choking back fake tears. “…is to see my loving stepfather again. Every time I saw him on TV, calling me a delinquent punk, I knew… somehow… we would be okay. And I know he’ll want to reward each and every person in this beautiful city of Los Angeles with a free major appliance from his store. Here’s the phone number.”

“Man, you just know Gabe’s gonna be ticked about that,” Rainbow whispered to Applejack, who simply chuckled in response, doing her best to make it look like weeping.

The press and cops were so moved by their story – and Percy’s admittedly hammed-up performance – that they passed around the hat to pay for nine plane tickets to New York. Flying was the group’s only choice; they knew that and they were at least somewhat optimistic Zeus would cut them some slack given the circumstances. But it still took a lot of cajoling to get Percy on the plane – Applejack practically had to wrap him up in her Thracian Lariat to get him to board, but it thankfully didn’t come to that.

Takeoff was a nightmare, with every pocket of turbulence more terrifying than a Greek monster – Percy and Fluttershy didn’t unclench their hands from their armrests until they touched down at La Guardia airport in New York.

And as if all that wasn’t bad enough, the press was waiting for the group outside airport security. “I’ve got an idea for this.” Twilight smiled and quickly whispered her plan to Annabeth, who nodded before slapping on her Yankees cap and disappearing.

Just a moment later, the press all heard her voice. “They’re over by the frozen yogurt! Come on!” Immediately the press raced over there, with Annabeth rejoining the group at baggage claim, before they all made it out to the taxi stand.

“This is where we split up,” Percy said, seemingly out of nowhere. “The girls and I will go to Olympus – Annabeth, Grover, you two go back to Camp and tell Chiron what’s happened.”

“What? Percy, no way. I am not letting you go to Olympus alone; not after all of this.” Grover bleated in objection.

“Believe me, Grover, this isn’t exactly an easy decision for me either,” Percy assured. “But this is something we have to do ourselves.”

“But-”

“Annabeth, he’s right.” Twilight insisted. “Hades wouldn’t listen to us and we almost died. If Zeus doesn’t understand, then Chiron should at least know the truth.”

Annabeth sighed in relent. “All right. Good luck.”

Rainbow smiled as she watched Pinkie walk toward the street. “We’ll say hi to your mom if we see her.” she grinned.

“TAXI!!!” Pinkie yelled and flung herself out in front of the next coming cab, which screeched to a stop just in front of her as Percy, Annabeth, and Grover all yelled in worry.

Though her friends didn’t look alarmed at all – they’d seen it before. “Very effective, darling.” Rarity mused as she helped Pinkie up.

“Yeah, it’s great when it works.” Pinkie smiled as she brushed herself off.

“WHAT?! That doesn’t always work?” Twilight asked in surprise.

“How are you guys so calm about that?” Annabeth asked seriously. “She just jumped in front of a cab! I’m assuming not for the first time!”

“Annabeth darling… she’s Pinkie Pie.” Rarity excused before Pinkie gave a broad grin with a proud squee sound.

“That answers… none of my questions,” Annabeth remarked.

“You’ll get used to it. I did.” Twilight assured.

“Did you really?” Rainbow Dash asked as she walked over to the cab.

“Did you?” Twilight argued.

“Touché.” Rainbow shrugged as she opened the cab door, her friends all piling in along with Percy before she glanced at the driver. “How fast can you get to the Empire State Building?”

As it turned out, the answer was “pretty fast” as the group was standing in the building’s massive lobby in only half an hour… though Rarity was more than a bit against how they looked when they arrived; tattered clothes, scrapped up faces, and bags as if none of them had slept in the last 24 hours.

Percy didn’t seem to mind as he marched up to the front desk. “Six hundredth floor,” he said simply.

The guard took a while to look up from the fantasy book he was reading before he looked almost incredulously at the kids – he looked especially surprised by the girls’ pony attributes. “No such floor, kid.”

“We need an audience with Zeus.”

The guard gave him a vacant smile. “Sorry?”

“You heard me.”

The girls almost thought the guard was a normal mortal before… “No appointment, no audience, kiddo. Lord Zeus doesn’t see anyone unannounced.”

“Oh, I’m sure he’ll be willing to make an exception.” Rarity smiled as she carefully plucked Percy’s backpack from his back. “Once he sees what we bring him.” She ever-so-slowly unzipped the pack and opened the top for him to see.

The guard looked lazily into the bag at the metal tube as if he didn’t get what it was for a moment. Then it came to him and he went pale. “That isn’t…”

“It is.” Rainbow smiled as she walked over, reaching into the bag as if ready to pull it out. “Why? Want a better look?”

“No! No!” the guard quickly objected as he scrambled out of his seat, fumbling around on the desk before he produced a key card. “Insert this in the security slot. Make sure nobody else is in the elevator with you.”

“Now was that so hard?” Rainbow smiled as she accepted the card with an arrogant grin. With nothing more to say, the group all loaded into the elevator and Rainbow slipped the card into the slot… which then disappeared and a red 600 button appeared on the console.

Percy pushed it without hesitation. Twilight saw someone heading their way, but she quickly held her hand out to stop them. “Sorry, no room,” she said quickly before the doors closed.

“Gonna be a long ride up.” Applejack mused.

“Well, in that case, the least we can do is make sure we look presentable before we arrive.” Rarity insisted as she drew her sword… which was a bit dangerous in the tight quarters of the elevator, but it still left her just enough room to use her magic along the blade. With a swift poof, the whole group was redressed in fresh clothes, including Camp Half-Blood t-shirts and button-ups matching their pony coats for the Mane 6 – even their faces were freshened up… though that didn’t stop Rarity from taking an extra moment to do some more work on her makeup.

It was a long ride up as the muzak played over the elevator stereo. “Bored,” Rainbow remarked, resorting to spinning a drachma on what little floor there was to try and amuse herself… but it wasn’t working. “Bored. Bored… Bored.”

“We get it, Dash. You’re bored.” Applejack remarked as she adjusted her hat. “Join the club.”

Ding!

“Ugh! Finally!” Rainbow remarked and raced out of the elevator as soon as the doors opened… nearly falling off the floor before she caught herself and flew to stability with her wings.

The others all carefully stepped out of the elevator and Percy nearly had a heart attack as he saw what Rainbow had nearly fallen off of – a single, narrow marble walkway, miles upon miles above Manhattan. White marble steps wound up the spine of a cloud ahead of the elevator, up into the sky. Everyone followed where the stairs led… and all their jaws dropped at once.

There before them, from the tops of the clouds, rose the decapitated peak of a massive mountain, its summit covered with snow with dozens of palaces clinging to the slopes, all with white-columned porticos, gilded terraces, and bronze braziers glowing with a thousand fires. Roads wound madly up toward the peak where the largest and grandest of all these palaces gleamed against the snow. Precariously perched gardens all over the mountains bloomed with olive trees and rosebushes as the group could clearly make out a massive open-air market filled with colorful tents, as well as a massive stone amphitheater built on one side of the mountain, and a hippodrome and coliseum on the other. A massive city built just like the cities of Ancient Greece but looking as though it had only been fully built maybe a few weeks ago.

The group had to literally shake themselves from their stunned stupors before they could move across the treacherous walkway – though those with wings eagerly used them – trying hard not to question how the summit of Olympus itself could be here hanging above New York City like the moon without being noticed.

Rarity stammered in awe as the group walked the streets of the great city, almost like she had when she first saw the Palace of the Crystal Empire, but much less breathlessly. “There are no words.”

“You got that right.” Rainbow almost wanted to mess with her like she had in the Crystal Empire but found herself unable to do so – she was just as blown away as Rarity was. It almost felt like trotting through Cloudsdale a thousand years ago, or even the far more ancient home of the Pegasi from before Equestria was even founded.

The group barely even minded the wood nymphs tossing olives at them from their garden, or the hawkers in the market trying to sell them stuff. What truly drew their attention were the Nine Muses tuning and rehearsing for a concert in the park where a small crowd of satyrs and naiads and good-looking teenagers Twilight could only assume were minor gods and goddesses was gathered. No one there seemed at all worried about an impending civil war – if anything, this looked to be the beginnings of a festival.

The palace at the very summit almost looked like an inverse of Hades’ castle in the Underworld – there it was all black and bronze; here it was glittering white and silver. “Built in honor of this one.” Twilight mused to herself not quite so quietly.

The group couldn’t help but feel a small pang of sympathy for the God of the Underworld – to be banished to such a place away from beauty like this would make anyone bitter. The steps led through the palace to a central courtyard, and beyond that… the throne room.

Though calling it a “room” didn’t really do it justice. The massive marble columns were as big around as the tree-like foundation of Twilight’s castle in Ponyville, all reaching up to a huge domed ceiling with moving constellations imposed upon it. The twelve massive thrones in the center of the room, each built for the scale of massive beings like Hades, were arranged in the same inverted U shape as the Cabins at camp with an enormous firepit crackling in the middle. Only two thrones were occupied… and the group knew exactly who these occupants were, even despite being barely able to look at them without feeling as if they might burst into flames.

Zeus was a truly titanic being wearing a dark blue pinstriped suit with a well-trimmed beard marbled gray and black like an angry storm cloud on a face that was proud, handsome, and grim, his eyes a rainy gray as he sat upon a throne of solid platinum, the air around him crackling with electricity and smelling of ozone.

Next to him… sat Poseidon. Percy’s father… who looked far less like a god and more like a beachcomber, seated on a massive swiveling deep-sea fisherman’s chair with a black leather seat and built-in fishing pole holster – although his holster held a massive bronze trident with green energy flickering between the points – wearing leather sandals, khaki shorts, and a Tommy Bahama shirt with coconuts and parrots on it. His skin was deeply tanned, his hands scarred like a fisherman’s, his hair and eyes the same jet-black and glimmering sea green as Percy’s, with the same sort of brooding look that got Percy often treated like a rebel… but the sun-crinkles around his eyes said he was a smiley guy too, which Pinkie easily respected.

The two gods were stone-cold, unmoving, and clearly tense, as if they’d just finished an argument before the group walked in. Percy made the first move, with the others following his lead as he walked to Poseidon’s throne, kneeling at the god’s feet. “Father,” he said simply.

“Lord Poseidon.” the girls all said at once as they knelt alongside him, no one daring to look up. They could feel the power radiating off the great sea god – greater than Ares, on the same sort of level as Hades, but nowhere near the level of that darkness from the beach in California, whatever it was. But it was definitely enough for them all to think that if they said the wrong thing, they would be smote into dust.

“Should you not address the master of this house first, children?” Zeus spoke, sounding almost bitter. Even Rainbow Dash had to hold her breath in response to that remark, simply keeping her head down and waiting with her friends… trying hard not to sweat in fear.

“Peace, brother.” Poseidon finally said in a calm yet still thunderous voice, which – judging from his expression – clearly jarred some memories in Percy. “The boy defers to his father, as do his followers. This is only right.”

“You still claim him then?” Zeus asked menacingly. “You claim this child whom you sired against our sacred oath?”

This was really where Rainbow had to catch herself – she wanted to make some off-hand remark about Thalia to Zeus, but she also really, really, really didn’t want to die. “I have admitted my wrongdoing,” Poseidon said simply. “Now I would hear him and his allies speak.”

Applejack quietly clenched her fist at that, and it was clear Percy was thinking the same thing – was that really all Percy was to Poseidon? A wrongdoing? A divine mistake? She would never want to hear anyone say something like that about her or any of her friends, especially not family.

“I have spared them once already,” Zeus grumbled like a thunderstorm. “Daring to fly through my domain… pah! I should have blasted them out of the sky for their impudence.” Fluttershy was practically hyperventilating at this point as if going through all the scenarios where they could’ve died on this quest… especially by Zeus’s hand.

“And risk destroying your own Master Bolt?” Poseidon asked calmly. “Let us hear them out, brother.”

Zeus only grumbled more as he shifted in his throne. “I shall listen.” he decided. “Then I shall make up my mind whether or not to cast this boy and his foolish friends down from Olympus.”

“Well, as long as we’re clear on that…” Rainbow couldn’t stop herself from muttering that but was only glad it was as far under her breath as she could manage.

“Perseus.” Poseidon said. “Look at me.”

Percy rose to his feet, followed by the girls… but even Pinkie was struggling to read his face – no clear sign of love or approval, no encouragement. But at the same time, no disdain or loathing. It felt as though they were looking at the ocean itself – understandable on a good day, but by and large unreadable and mysterious.

It almost felt like the sea god didn’t know how to feel about Percy – whether to be happy to have him as a son or not. In a strange way, Percy was almost happy for this distance; if he’d tried to apologize or say he loved the boy or even smiled… it would’ve felt disingenuous to him.

“Address Lord Zeus, boy,” Poseidon instructed. “Tell him your story.”

And so they did – everything, as it happened, was relayed to the king of gods. As Percy finished the story, Twilight tentatively retrieved the backpack from his back and pulled the Master Bolt out, setting both at the god’s feet as the metal cylinder started sparking in its master’s presence.

There was a long silence, only broken by the fire in the middle of the room… before Zeus opened his palm and the Bolt flew into his fist, the metallic points on the ends flaring with electricity until he held a massive twenty-foot-long javelin of pure lightning – far more dangerous than anything that had ever been brought about by Pegasi in Equestria.

“I sense that the children speak the truth,” Zeus muttered. “But that Ares would do such a thing… it is most unlike him.”

“He is proud and impulsive.” Poseidon pointed out. “It runs in the family.”

Twilight was surprised Poseidon would have the nerve to say something so bold… but the two were brothers; it only made sense that he would be the only one who could get away with such a remark. Then she remembered something. “Uh, Lord?”

“Yes?” both gods answered.

Twilight was still more than a bit alarmed by this but cleared her throat as she stepped forward. “Ares didn’t act alone. Someone – something – else came up with the idea.” Percy took the hint and described his dreams, and the rest of the group explained the odd feeling they’d gotten on the beach, the momentary evil that seemed to freeze the world, and made Ares stand down.

“In my dreams,” Percy finished. “the voice told me to bring the Bolt to the Underworld. Ares hinted that he’d been having dreams too. I think he was being used, just as I was – just as we were,” he gestured to his friends. “to start a war.”

“You are accusing Hades, after all then?” Zeus asked.

“Definitely not,” Twilight assured. “Hades is as much a victim in this as anyone – whoever set this up framed him.”

“Trust us; we’ve met Hades,” Rainbow assured. “And whatever that thing was on the beach? Way different.”

“It felt almost the same as that… thing… in Tartarus.” Rarity nodded. “Something powerful and evil stirs down there… and far older than any of you gods.”

The two gods appeared concerned by this as they looked at each other, getting wrapped up in a quick, intense discussion in Ancient Greek. The kids could barely keep track, but they did catch one word: Father. Poseidon appeared to be trying to argue a major point, but Zeus just cut him off and raised his hand angrily. “We will speak of this no more.” He said. “I will personally go to purify this thunderbolt in the waters of Lemnos, to remove the human and Equestrian taint from its metal.”

Rarity had to try her hardest not to be offended by this remark as Zeus stood and looked down at them. “You have done me a service, boy. Few heroes could have accomplished as much.”

“I had help, sir,” Percy assured. “These girls. And Grover Underwood and Annabeth Chase-”

“To show my thanks, I shall spare your life.” Zeus interrupted, glancing at the Equestrians. “And as I am friends of the rulers of your realm, I will spare yours as well.” This surprised Twilight beyond words, but she didn’t dare say anything yet. “I do not trust you, Perseus Jackson. Nor these mares in mortal skin. I do not like what your arrival means for the future of Olympus. But for the sake of peace in the family and between our two worlds, I shall let you all live.”

“Um… thank you, sir.” Percy nodded simply.

“Do not presume to fly again,” Zeus warned. “Do not let me find you here when I return. Otherwise, you shall taste this bolt. And it shall be your last sensation.”

A truly massive clap of thunder shook the palace and in a blinding flash of lightning, Zeus was gone.

The only ones that remained were the Equestrians, Percy Jackson, and Poseidon… who said in what seemed like boredom, “Your uncle has always had a flair for dramatic exits.” he shrugged to Percy. “I think he would’ve done well as the god of theater.”

An uncomfortable silence followed before Percy finally got up the nerve. “Sir…” he said. “What was in that pit?”

Poseidon regarded the children. “Have you not guessed?”

They had. “Kronos,” Percy said uncomfortably. “The king of the Titans.”

“Your father,” Twilight added… before darkness overcame the throne room, making the hearth fire seem not quite so warm against Rainbow’s wings.

Poseidon grasped his trident. “In the First War, children, Zeus cut our father Kronos into a thousand pieces, just as Kronos had done to his own father Ouranos.” he recounted. “Zeus cast Kronos’s remains into the deepest pit of Tartarus. The Titan army was scattered, their mountain fortress on Etna destroyed, their monstrous allies driven to the farthest corners of the earth. And yet Titans cannot die, any more than we gods can. Whatever is left of Kronos is still alive down there in some hideous way, still conscious of his eternal pain, still hungering for power.”

“I can scarcely imagine an existence like that.” Rarity remarked, almost feeling sympathy for Kronos.

“He’s healing,” Percy remarked. “He’s coming back.”

Poseidon just shook his head. “From time to time, over the eons, Kronos has stirred. He enters men’s nightmares and breathes evil thoughts. He wakens restless monsters from the depths. But to suggest he could rise from the pit is another thing.”

“That’s what he intends, Father.” Percy pointed out. “That’s what he said.”

Poseidon paused impressively before he finally spoke again. “Lord Zeus has closed discussion on this matter. He will not allow talk of Kronos,” he said firmly, though it was clear that he was just as annoyed by this as the kids were. “You have completed your quest, children. That is all you need to do.”

“But-” Applejack almost stepped in before Percy stopped himself – it was clear he knew that arguing and potentially angering the only god the kids had on their side wouldn’t be a good idea. “As… as you wish, Father.”

A faint smile played on Poseidon’s lips. “Obedience does not come naturally to you, does it?”

“It really doesn’t.” This was the part where Rainbow finally dropped the formalities and smirked at Percy.

“I must take some blame for that, I suppose.” Poseidon mused. “The sea does not like to be restrained.” He rose to his full massive height and took up his trident. Then he shimmered and shrank down to the size of a regular man, standing directly in front of the group. “You must go, child. But first, know that your mother has returned.”

Percy just stared at his father, completely stunned. “My mother?”

“You will find her at home. Hades sent her when you returned his helm.” Poseidon answered. “Even the Lord of Death pays his debts.”

The girls could scarcely believe it themselves – Sally Jackson was back. “Do you… would you…” Percy hesitated – it was quite clear that he wanted Poseidon to come with him to see his mother, but… well, it sounded ridiculous. Bundling the God of the Sea into a cab and driving to the Upper East Side. If he’d wanted to see Sally at all over the years, he would have. And then there was Gabe to think about.

It was clear Poseidon was a bit upset, understanding what Percy was getting at. “When you return home, Percy, you must make an important choice. You will find a package waiting in your room.”

“A package?” Percy asked.

“What package?” Twilight asked.

“You will understand when you see it,” Poseidon assured, turning back to his son. “No one can choose your path, Percy. You must decide.” Percy nodded, but it was clear he didn’t know what Poseidon was talking about – neither did any of the girls. Poseidon just grinned wistfully as he continued. “Your mother is a queen among women. I had not met such a mortal woman in a thousand years. Still… I am sorry you were born, child.” Applejack would’ve been angry at that remark if he hadn’t continued. “I have brought you a hero’s fate, and a hero’s fate is never happy. It is never anything but tragic.”

It was clear Percy was trying hard not to be hurt by this, but Rainbow took the opportunity to set her hand on his shoulder to try and comfort him. “I don’t know.” she smiled and pointed back at her friends who all grinned as well. “It’s worked out pretty well for us so far.”

“Nevertheless…” Poseidon insisted, quite upset.

Percy wiped some small tears from his eyes. “I don’t mind, Father.”

“Not yet, perhaps,” Poseidon said simply. “Not yet. But it was an unforgivable mistake on my part.”

Percy gently brushed Rainbow’s hand off his shoulder as he bowed awkwardly. “We’ll leave you then,” he said and turned. “I- I won’t bother you again.”

The girls mirrored his bow and followed him away, trying to think of ways to comfort him as they walked toward the door… before Percy stopped on the fifth step and started singing.

(Play “Son of Poseidon” – TLT Musical [Edit the spoken word and certain stanzas – especially Ares’ parts – to make them fit here])

Percy: Seems my good intentions
Always crash and burn

Everything I try to do will fail,
Never once will I prevail
Going wrong at every turn

Nereid (in his head): What belongs to the Sea
Will always return

Percy + Nereid (in his head): What belongs to the Sea
Will always return

“Perseus.” They all turned and saw a different light in Poseidon’s eyes – a fiery pride. “You did well, Perseus. Do not misunderstand. Whatever else you do, know that you are mine. You are a true son of the Sea God.”

That filled Percy with a similar pride as he looked around at the girls’ eyes, filled with comfort and pride in their friend as they all left the palace, still singing and even singing as they walked through the streets of Olympus, everyone around them – even the Muses, who started playing in time with their song – turned toward them and knelt in respect as if they were heroes.

Rainbow: Maybe your dad was a screw-up too

Rarity: His best-laid plans always falling through

Fluttershy: Maybe he did the best that he could do

Twilight: Maybe your dad wasn’t always there

Pinkie: Maybe he never knew how to care

Applejack: But hey; that’s life, and life ain’t fair

Percy: And I know right now, things are less than fine

He looked back at the palace.

But I think my dad may have thrown me a line.

And better late than never to finally get a sign…!

He ran and posed next to a large statue of his dad as the girls quickly followed him before he jumped and stood strong.

I’m the Son of Poseidon!
And I am gonna win!

The Son of Poseidon!
And I’m done runnin’!

He turned to the girls with a grin on his face. “Guys, thanks so much for all your help,” he said. “I couldn’t have managed half of this stuff without you.”

“Now-now Darling, there’s no need for modesty.” Rarity assured.

“Yeah. You could’ve handled this without us no sweat.” Rainbow agreed as she flew around his head. “But hey, what are friends for?”

“Absolutely!” Pinkie smiled. “It’s like I always say; ‘if you can’t count on your friends to help you save the world from a crazy gods-against-gods war, then what kind of friends are they anyway?’”

Twilight knew Pinkie had never said anything like that before, but it didn’t matter. “Truer words were never said.” she agreed.

The other girls all cheered in agreement as Twilight shot a quick magic firework from her pencil almost like a wand. “This isn’t over yet though. Y’all know we’re gonna need to be ready for anything else.” Applejack pointed out. “Still got that package to worry about at Percy’s place.”

“Poseidon said he’d know what to do with it.” Fluttershy pointed out.

“I just hope it’s not a trap from Ares,” Percy remarked.

Rainbow: Well, if it is, it’ll go through me!
We’ll all last through this… Odyssey!

Pinkie: Plus that satyr with a cute goatee! “Let’s do it!”

Percy: So this could be the end, but I ain’t sad
Cause you’re all the best friends this screw-up ever had!

“Aw!” The girls all grinned and hugged Percy as they kept walking, still being bowed to by the citizens of Olympus.

Percy: And now I’ll make this right!
For me and for my dad!

I’m the Son of Poseidon!
And we beat who’s to blame!

Percy + Equestrians: The Son of Poseidon!

Percy: You may be a god, but you’re goin’ down all the same!

Rainbow: “Whoo!” Ares was talkin’ trash!
We made him rinse it!

Spike: He took his shot
And he went and missed it!

Twilight: There’s gonna be no war!
Now give us some space!

Equestrians: We’re gonna dance and break it down all over this place!

Percy jumped to the top of a large public fountain and manipulated the water around him in a grand display as the girls all danced around him.

Percy [at the same time]: I’m the Son of Poseidon
And I am gonna win!

Twilight (and her friends) [at the same time]: Oh, you have found (Oh, he has found)
Yes, you have found (Yes, he has found)
Yes, you have found your place!

Percy [at the same time]: The Son of Poseidon!
And I’m done runnin’…!

Twilight (and her friends) [at the same time]: Oh, you have found (Oh, he has found)
Yes, you have found (Yes, he has found)
Yes, you have found your place…!

“Still can’t believe you beat Ares,” Spike remarked to Percy as he dropped down from the fountain.

“Seriously!” Rainbow agreed.

“I know, right?” Percy grinned as they all laughed and cheered over the victory.

“We’re just lucky we were so close to the ocean,” Twilight noted.

“Who knew the God of War was afraid of a little water?” Applejack smirked.

“Well, we saw how he felt about a lot of it.” Percy pointed out as he stopped right before the walkway to the elevator down to New York.

Percy: I’m… the… Son of Poseidon!
I never asked to be

But I’m (+ Equestrians) the Son of Poseidon!

Percy: Now face the tide!
Inside of me…! (Equestrians: Ah, ah, ah, ah…!)

(Cut it)

Finally, after what felt like ages – though it had only been an almost entranced few minutes in the elevator down from Olympus and a fifteen-minute cab ride across town – Percy and the girls were back in front of his apartment, where Percy rang the bell. Much to the whole group’s relief and happiness, when it opened, there stood Sally Jackson with the same smell of peppermint and licorice about her as ever the weariness and worry evaporating from her face as soon as she laid eyes on her son. “Percy!” she cried as she grabbed him in a crushing hug. “Oh, thank goodness! Oh, my baby!”

The girls didn’t dare interfere, even as it was clear Percy was getting the air crushed out of him – they knew that both of them needed this as they just stood there in the hall. Finally, the hug broke and Sally gave her story – she said she’d just… appeared in the apartment only that morning, scaring Gabe out of his wits. Apparently, the last thing she remembered was the Minotaur and she could barely believe it when Gabe told her that Percy and the girls were wanted criminals blowing up national monuments all over the country and had been going completely out of her mind with worry all day as she hadn’t heard the new news from LA… mostly because Gabe had forced her to go into work saying she had a month’s salary to make up and she’d better get started.

Applejack had to literally hold Rainbow back to keep her from marching in there and beating Gabe senseless at that, as the group told their own story of what had happened… with Percy trying his best to make it sound much less scary than it really was, despite how hard it was. They were just getting to the fight with Ares, when… “Hey, Sally! That meatloaf done yet or what?!”

The girls all rolled their eyes in annoyance at that, but Twilight raised an eyebrow. “Is it me or does he sound more annoyed than usual?” she asked.

Sally just shook her head. “He isn’t going to be happy to see you, Percy. The store got half a million phone calls today from Los Angeles… something about free appliances.”

“Oh yeah. About that…” Percy said nervously.

“It was my idea.” Rarity said quickly. She was right, of course – she had been the one to plant that idea in Percy’s mind before they went on camera. “I thought it was the least he could do.”

Sally managed a weak smile. “Just… don’t make him angrier, all right? Come on in.” The group wandered into the apartment… or as best they could; it was pure filth, which Rarity could barely stand to be seen in, even with Gabe and his three goony friends at the table playing poker.

As soon as he saw Percy, his cigar dropped from his mouth and he stood up, redder in the face than even Tirek. “You got nerve coming here, you little punk. I thought the police-”

“He’s not a fugitive after all,” Sally interjected. “Isn’t that wonderful, Gabe?”

He certainly didn’t seem to think it was that wonderful. “Bad enough I had to give back your life insurance money, Sally.” he snarled. “Gimme the phone, I’ll call the cops.”

“Gabe, no!”

He raised his eyebrows. “Did you just say no? You think I’m gonna put up with this punk again? I can still press charges against him for ruining my Camaro.”

“But-” Sally stopped and recoiled when Gabe raised his hand.

Applejack reacted on instinct and grabbed his wrist firmly. “You lay one finger on her and you’ll lose it,” she warned firmly.

“Get your hands off me, you little brat!” Gabe snapped as he tried to pull his hand away, but Applejack’s grip held firm. “Who the hell are you anyway?”

“We’re friends of Percy,” Twilight answered simply. “And she’s right; you’re not going to touch Ms. Jackson.”

Percy grinned at his friends backing him up, but Gabe just scowled as he finally pulled his hand free from Applejack’s grip. “Yeah? Well then, you can all go to jail forever with the punk.”

“Hey Gabe, they’re just kids.” one of his poker buddies remarked.

Gabe repeated him mockingly and his friends laughed like idiots before he turned back to Percy. “I’ll be nice to you, punk,” he remarked, showing his tobacco-stained teeth. “I’ll give you five minutes to get your stuff and clear out. After that, I call the police.”

“Gabe!”

“He ran away.” Gabe barked at Sally. “Let him stay gone.”

Percy thumbed his pen, clearly eager to draw Riptide and cut him down. But he knew it wouldn’t work on humans, however little Gabe counted as such. That was when Sally took Percy’s arm. “Please, Percy. Come on. We’ll go to your room.”

Percy was pretty numb, but still let her pull him away, the girls slowly following… though it was clear Rainbow was considering hitting Gabe over the head with her wing.

Just like the rest of the apartment, Percy’s room was a total dump full of dead car batteries and rotten sympathy flowers from someone who’d seen his interview. “Gabe is just upset, honey,” Sally said. “I’ll talk to him later. I’m sure it’ll work out.”

“Well, that makes one of us,” Rainbow remarked.

“Mom, it’ll never work out. Not as long as Gabe’s here.” Percy pointed out.

Sally wrung her hands nervously. “I can… I’ll take you to work with me for the rest of the summer. In the fall, maybe there’s another boarding school-”

“Mom.” Percy interrupted.

“You know that’ll never work, Ms. Jackson.” Twilight pointed out.

Sally lowered her eyes. “I’m trying, Percy. I just… I need some time.”

“You’ve got about four minutes. Then he calls the cops.” Rainbow pointed out… before she saw something on the bed. “Hey, was that there before?”

Everyone looked and saw a battered cardboard box about the size of a basketball… with Percy’s handwriting on the mailing slip; “The Gods, Mount Olympus, 600th Floor, Empire State Building, New York, NY With best wishes, Percy Jackson”. And over the top in black marker, in a man’s clear bold print, was the address of Percy’s apartment, and the words Return to Sender. “Wait a moment, isn’t that…?” Rarity remarked in realization.

Percy instantly understood what Poseidon had said on Olympus – about the package that awaited him… and the decision he would have to make. And he remembered the last thing he said before the group left: “Whatever else you do, know that you are mine. You are a true son of the Sea God.”

He glanced over at Sally. “Mom, do you want Gabe gone?”

“Percy, it isn’t that simple. I-”

“It’s a yes or no question, Ms. Jackson.” Applejack pointed out. “Anyone with eyes could tell he hits ya. So do ya want him gone for that or not?”

Sally hesitated, then nodded almost imperceptibly. “Yes, Applejack. I do. And I’m trying to get up the courage to tell him.” she said, looking at all the kids in turn. “But you can’t do this for me. You can’t solve my problems.”

Percy glanced at the box – he could solve it, in the easiest way possible, just like all Greek heroes. But all Greek heroes had tragic endings, so said Poseidon. The group had seen the Underworld with their own eyes and to condemn a man to its pits or fields of pain… even Gabe… A month ago, Percy wouldn’t have hesitated. But now… “I can do it,” he said to his mother. “One look inside this box, and he’ll never bother you again.”

Sally glanced at the package and seemed to understand immediately. “No, Percy,” she said and stepped away. “You can’t.”

“Poseidon called you a queen,” Percy remembered. “He said he hadn’t met a woman like you in a thousand years.”

Sally blushed in response to this praise. “Percy-”

“You deserve better than this, Mom,” Percy said firmly. “You should go to college, get your degree. You can write your novel, meet a nice guy maybe, live in a nice house. You don’t need to protect me anymore by staying with Gabe. Let me get rid of him.”

Sally wiped a tear from her cheek as she looked at her son. “You sound so much like your father.” she smiled. “He offered to stop the tide for me once. He offered to build me a palace at the bottom of the sea. He thought he could solve all my problems with a wave of his hand.”

“Well, between a guy who would – and let’s be honest – could do all that or Gabe, I think it’s kind of a no-brainer.” Rainbow pointed out.

“Yeah, what’s wrong with all that?” Percy asked.

Sally sighed as she looked at Percy. “I think you know, Percy. I think you’re enough like me to understand. If my life is going to mean anything, I have to live it myself. I can’t let a god take care of me… or my son. I have to… find the courage on my own. Your quest has reminded me of that.”

The noise from the living room echoed through the apartment, still more than enough of a message for the group. Percy made his decision. “I’ll leave the box,” he said simply. “If he threatens you…”

Sally looked pale, but she nodded in understanding. “Where will you go?”

“Back to Camp Half-Blood, I suppose.” Rarity shrugged, earning a nod from Percy.

“For the summer… or forever?” Sally asked.

“I guess that depends.” Percy shrugged. The way the two of them looked at each other made it clear that they had made a decision – depending on how things stood at the end of summer, they would see.

Sally smiled and kissed her son’s forehead. “You’ll be a hero, Percy. You’ll be the greatest of all.” she praised.

“Ya got that right.” Applejack nodded as they all stood up. Percy took one last – almost final – look around his room, like it would be the last time he ever saw it before the group walked to the door.

“Leaving so soon, punk?” Gabe sneered after them. “Good riddance.”

“Just say the word,” Rainbow whispered to Percy.

It was clear Percy wanted to, but then… “Hey, Sally! What about that meatloaf, huh?” The steely look of anger in Sally’s eyes made it clear that he didn’t have to.

“The meatloaf is coming right up, dear,” she said. “Meatloaf Surprise.” She looked back out at the kids and winked before she closed the door as she stared at Gabe as if contemplating what pose would look best when he was petrified.

Rainbow just grinned. “Have I said how much I love your mom, Percy?”

Percy grinned right back at her as they walked away from the apartment. “You could stand to mention it more.”