Third Leg Of The Challenge

"Good morning, Percy," Lucia told me.

I stared in shock as I realized who I was sharing a bed with.

"Lucia?" I asked.

"Yes, Percy," Lucia rolled her eyes. "What's the big deal?"

"Why are you my Queen?" I asked confusedly.

"Don't you remember?" Lucia asked. "After your mom's pregnancy, our relationship had a breakthrough, and we came to an understanding. It's how it was supposed to go, I guess."

"Huh," I said. "Well, how's the world looking today?"

"Honestly, not too shabby," Lucia said. "Our worry today is Neptunia, she's been trying to annex some of her powers from Amphitrite."

"Like Oceanus in the old world," I noticed with some amusement.

"Yeah," Lucia said. "Seems like some things just have to carry over, don't they?"

"Thankfully, not all," I said.

"Thankfully," Lucia said, snapping to her godly form.

"So, what can we expect from this meeting?" I asked Lucia as we walked towards the Council Hall.

"Well, Neptunia hasn't just been revolting against Amphitrite," Lucia explained. "She's suggested bringing back the old ways."

"How does she even think she can accomplish that?" I asked.

"Through the Fates," Lucia said. "She's working with Hecate and Athena, they're trying to look into the doorway of your soul to pull old Threads, and the Fates are supposedly trying to work with them."

"So, it's a bigger problem than it seems," I said.

"Yeah," Lucia said. "The problem is that I don't see any easily available outs here."

We entered the Council Hall, where Amphitrite and my remaining Queens were waiting for me, and Neptunia was chained to the floor.

"Your... Father is rather disruptive, my king," Amphitrite said in her official tone, but I could tell she was teasing me.

"He is no son of mine," Neptunia said, and I have to admit, that hurt a little.

"So, I hear you're trying to bring Zeus back?" I asked as I sat in my throne.

"What is it to you, you vile, corrupt, arrogant, cruel upstart?" Neptunia exclaimed.

"See, I'll admit that I'm vile," I said. "Maybe a little corrupt, there's a tad bit of arrogance in me, but to call me cruel when you're trying to summon Zeus? Oh, that's rich."

"He made you a mortal at one point, to punish you for rebellion," I said. "I could do that as well, but I won't."

I turned to the Council. "Any suggestions?"

Someone spoke up. "Strip her of her Domains, make her just an immortal!"

I inclined my head, gesturing that I accepted the input.

"Turn her into the next Atlas!" Someone else suggested.

"I'm rather against that, but it is an option," I said.

"Send her to a world where Zeus is still in power," Amphitrite suggested. "If my ex-husband is so insistent on groveling to her brother, let her learn the folly of her beliefs."

"That's probably the best and worst option," I said. "Neptunia, I've come to a decision. You will be stripped of all your Domains barring Sea Travel, then you shall be tested for a hundred years. If I find your behavior satisfactory, then I will restore your Domains. Also, you are banned from conversing with Hecate and Athena, until I expressly pardon you."

I felt the power draining out of Neptunia as I snapped.

Now, I just had to deal with Athena and Hecate.

"Morning, Daddy," Sadie greeted.

"Morning, pup," I said. "How are things?"

"They're great, Daddy," Sadie said. "Judging the newly dead souls has been great, and everything is just going smoothly!"

"That's great, Pup," I said. "It's great to hear that the Underworld is doing so well."

"Yeah," Sadie said. "Anyways, I hear that you and your Queens have finally decided on how to create the Council Hall?"

"Who told you?" I asked.

"What, you think that just because I'm not an Olympian I can't know things?" Sadie teased. "Grandma told me."

"Oh, that makes sense," I said.

"Yeah," Sadie said. "Anyways, Daddy, how do you feel about helping me out a little down here?"

"Anything you need, Pup," I said.

"Silena has been slacking off on her duties managing the Isle of The Blest," Sadie said.

"Why is that?" I asked.

"... She's been spending too much time on Olympus with Clarisse," Sadie said.

"Of course," I rolled my eyes. "Do you know if Silena is right now?"

"She's not managing the Isle, that's all I know," Sadie said.

I groaned as I teleported Sadie and I to Clarisse's house on Olympus.

Without knocking the door, I barged into Clarisse's room, where Silena and Clarisse were aggressively kissing each other while naked, to no one's surprise.

"Ah!" Silena yelped in embarrassment, and Clarisse and her immediately pulled apart from each other.

"Clarisse, Silena," I greeted.

"Percy," they both greeted me embarrassedly.

"I don't know about you, Clarisse, but Silena, Sadie tells me you've been slacking off on your duties in the Underworld. Is that true?"

"I didn't realize it," Silena said.

I sighed. "Silena, return to your post. You'll have an official hearing in front of the Council tomorrow."

"I understand," Silena said, flashing away.

"How'd that happen, Clarisse?" I asked. "You of all people should've been aware of your duties."

"We were just happy to be reunited," Clarisse said softly. "But, I realize our mistakes, and I'll work to fix it."

"See to it, Clarisse," I said. "Things could've gone really bad in the Underworld. We're more than just lovers, we work together."

"Understood, my liege," Clarisse officially said.

With a nod, I flashed away.

"It is time for thee to awaken, My Percy," Zoë sweetly called out.

I woke up to the most beautiful feeling of being cuddled with two of my Queens.

"Zoë," I kissed her lovingly. "How was your sleep?"

"It was comforting, as it always is with thee," Zoë said. "I trust thy sleep was restoring?"

"The best," I said, getting up. "How was yours?"

"Better, as it was with thee," Zoë said.

"Where's my morning kiss?" Someone asked from my other side.

I turned and gave my other Queen a deep kiss. Once we parted, she looked semi dazed, and blushing heavily.

"Is that a good enough kiss, my dear Artemis?" I asked.

"It'll do," Artemis said.

"It is always a pleasure to spend time with the two of you," Zoë said. "However, we have to discuss the matter of the Titanesses with the Council, then we may engage in any frivolity we wish."

"Of course," I said.

Closing my eyes, I mentally focused on the Council Hall located in its own dimension, where my Queens had all gathered.

I looked two thrones to my right, where Zoë was seated, in her true godly form.

"So," I said. "The Titanesses are going to be a problem."

"Not going to be, they are already a problem," Zoë said. "We've had a situation with Atlasia punching the Sky, and I believe Artemis has had her problems as well."

"Oriena has seen to trying to eradicate the Hunt, just as her predecessor Orion once did," Artemis said.

"Look, this is a whole faction of Goddesses we're talking about," I said. "I accept that they're causing problems, this isn't the first time we've discussed this. However, that doesn't mean that we can make a decision of war against the Titanesses, some of them are our friends, after all."

"We can place the rebels in cages similar to their predecessors," Zoë suggested.

"I'm not against that," I said. "But it's a temporary solution, as the old world taught us. It'll be successful for hundreds of years, maybe thousands, but chains are meant to be broken."

"We can employ them under Clarisse's banner, or mine," Artemis suggested. "Therefore putting them under subservience, while giving them freedom."

"It's not a bad idea," I said. "Clarisse, please stand in front of the Council."

Two minutes later, Clarisse flashed into the Council Hall, and kneeled.

"What is the issue, my king, queens?" Clarisse asked.

"As you should know, some of the Titanesses are openly rebelling," I said. "The suggestion came for you and Artemis to bind the rebels under your service. Do you see an issue with that?"

"It feels temporary," Clarisse said bluntly. "Anything that's not correction or execution will be a temporary solution until they undoubtedly rebel once more."

"Hmm," I said. "I don't want forceful correction, and execution would have to be permanent, sending them to Lady Khaos. Both options aren't good."

"There's a middle path," Clarisse said. "Bind them under our services. We should have five years to see what each Titaness needs, then we can choose a lower level of correction like removal of Domains, or we can go all the way to execution."

"Alright," I said. "Then, let's get to divvying up the Titanesses between the two of you."

This would be a long ass meeting.

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