NARRATOR'S POV: 

THE demigods had reached Greece where the war was to take place. To their surprise, no army had arrived yet. There was no sign of Thalia or the Gods either. When the demigods looked at Percy and Iapetus questioningly, Percy spoke

"Maybe he's still waiting for Iapetus and me to show up. We were supposed to lead the armies, so technically he's without a leader for now."

"What are we supposed to do then Jackson? Please take this decision for us as well just like you took so many in the past." Clarisse said bitterly, angrily eying Percy.

"Look, I know you're all angry, but we can talk about that later. I promise I have a full and valid explanation for all that I have done."

Clarisse was about to retort but Iapetus interrupted "Let's head to the throne room. You can discuss this later, now is not the time."

Reyna, however was still very much pissed just like all Percy's friends were 
"We do not obey the words of a lecherous Titan." She spat.
Percy didn't like the tone.

"A titan who has put his life on the line multiple times for our sakes Praetor. Don't you dare call him lecherous. He swore an oath of loyalty to the big three already. I understand you must be angry with me, but do not undermine the Titan's efforts. I can't believe that YOU of all people aren't being mature about this. Deflate your ego Reyna, I honestly couldn't care less about how all of you feel, just see the size of their army and tell me if your soldiers don't piss their pants. Living in Tartarus was no fun for me either, but I did what I had to for the survival of Olympus and the Western Civilization. While I'm sorry I kept you all in the dark, I don't regret my actions in the slightest. If you can't grow up, I suggest you leave." Percy said, not at all liking Reyna's demeanor towards his friend. She was for a moment stunned to see Percy openly insulting her for a Titan, but realized she was actually being needlessly difficult.

"Let's talk later, this was the wrong time to bring it up and I'm sorry." She said. 

Percy just nodded and proceeded silently towards the throne room. 

"Unlike some people I believe Iapetus is right. Since you obviously don't trust me anymore and feel like we are criminals, you do what you wish. The Big three along with Thalia will be waiting for me, I need to go be part of some stupid prophecy once again." Percy said bitterly and accompanied by Bob they got the key to the 600th floor and got onboard the elevator. The campers had embarrassed looks when they realized how stupid they had been. Never before had they questioned Percy's decisions. He had led them in wars and won for them. He had sacrificed so much for them, and yet again he was here doing the same and they had treated him like an outsider. Annabeth was also feeling guilty, but after what had transpired she just couldn't bring herself to trust Percy again. She knew she was being unreasonable, but couldn't help it. Maybe 'Percabeth' as the Aphrodite cabin liked to call the two was over......

MEANWHILE Percy and Bob had arrived in the Throne room and were already kneeling in front of Zeus. Once he nodded, they rose to their feet only for Poseidon to engulf Percy in a hug. To Percy's shock not just the big three but all Gods were present.

"I'm so pleased to have you back son. You have no idea how much I've missed you and worried about you." Poseidon said, earning a blush and a warm smile from Percy. He even gave his favourite Goddess Hestia a warm smile which she returned equally warmly. He had made it a point to never ignore the hearth.

"I missed you too dad, but you needn't have had to worry, Bob was very helpful and always had my back."

"Thank you." Poseidon begrudgingly thanked the Titan who merely nodded in response.

Zeus cleared his throat and motioned for Poseidon to take his seat. Thalia once again hugged Percy before standing beside him. He remembered midway through the journey Artemis had spoken something about an emergency Council meeting on Olympus and vanished. 

"Lord Zeus, you filled them in?" Percy enquired to the King of the Gods referring to the rest of the Olympians.

"I did Perseus. They know all that has happened so far. Where are the rest of our children?"

Percy was about to say when Zeus got the answer in the form of the demigods who had just strolled in to the throne room. Many of them went to hug or meet Thalia, especially the huntresses who had arrived with the demigods and a few campers who knew Thalia. They all bowed down then, but Zeus dismissed them

"No time for bows children, we have a war to win, and this time unlike the last time we Gods plan to help you. Perseus has done us a great service, which I believe you are all now aware and thankful of? Zeus asked. When the demigods looked nervous about the thankful part, Zeus was about to scold them, but Percy spoke

"They are. They thanked me over and over again Lord Zeus, I think we should plan our next move now." much to the astonishment of the campers. So what if he had hidden some things, he was still the same old Percy Jackson who could take a fatal blow for his friends if need be. This was just a silly little lie.

Zeus narrowed his eyes but curtly nodded. 

"The plan may have been your father's, but you brilliantly improvised the whole thing. I think even Athena would agree that your actions were very smart." Zeus said.

"Smart indeed." Athena reluctantly admitted.

"So tell us what you think should be the next move." Zeus asked Percy, much to the shock of the Council members and demigods alike who knew Zeus wasn't used to taking advice from anyone let alone a demigod they all thought he hated. 

"Tartarus has believed he was one step ahead of us. He has been planning something and we need to be ready. The sword Thalia holds has been found by me through great effort. We believe the sword can destroy Tartarus."

"Weren't you supposed to be the host? So now how does he have one?"

"Told you he was planning something. Iapetus managed to get a wind of his plan, but it wasn't enough. We don't know everything, but certainly we know something substantial. Bob tell them."

"Tartarus was going to backstab us. He raised a Titan - Palas the titan of destruction, in order to attack the camps in our absence." 

Zeus widened his eyes "If you know that why come here? Shouldn't you have stayed back and defended the camps?" The campers had either incredulous or worried looks."

"Not quite. The army that is attacking both the sides is huge, practically the whole of Tartarus attacking together with a Titan. Tartarus is emptying the whole pit. We will face a lot of enemies, monsters of all kinds - Telekhines, Laistrygonian giants, dracanae, cyclops, The minatour, echidna and chimera, emposai, hydras, hellhounds, you name it. These forces shall be divided. About 60% will attack Mt. Olympus and the remaining will target the camps knowing both camps are defenseless. Tartarus planned to merge this portion into the main army later at one night so all could attack together on the second day. That way he hopes the war ends in 2 days unlike how long the one against Kronos lasted. Tartarus will also retreat every sunrise and attack every sun dawn unlike Gaea because his power is maximum at night."

"You certainly are well acquainted with his plans. You're a good spy" Hades remarked.

"Let's not make it a habit uncle. Unlike you I prefer to do non shady stuff." Percy replied, Hades just shrugged to that.

"You did good Perseus. You too Iapetus. But Percy, if you realized this than you must have done something to stop it from happening? Otherwise the plan sounds so flawless he might as well win on the second day." Poseidon asked his son worriedly.

"Of course I have, dad. Unfortunately you need to allow the Roman camp to be destroyed for that."

A second later, the Romans were protesting loudly. 

"ENOUGH!" Zeus bellowed, then he looked at Percy "Perseus, I can't simply allow one of my camps to be destroyed. And if they can destroy one camp, what's to stop them from destroying the other?"

"Their deaths." Percy said simply.

"I swear Jackson if you don't start speaking something that makes sense I'll bash your head with my shield." Clarisse spoke.

"I know the first camp to be attacked is Camp Jupiter. When I left I already instructed the guard that was left in charge to be ready and pack everything and get out of the camp at a moment's notice from either of the praetors. Now as soon as the camp is attacked they will IM us and we will tell them to sneak out through the underground network instead of engaging with the enemy. All the citizens of Rome that live there peacefully will also be evacuated then the camp will be blasted to smithereens."

"So you will just destroy our home and make all the citizens homeless. Did it ever occur to you that maybe you should ask us or involve us in some of your plans dude?" Frank testily asked Percy.

"We don't have a choice. C'mon think up something and if you can come up with a plan better than this then enlighten us." Iapetus defended Percy.

"Look guys, Tartarus has an army in thousands, quite literally. Just imagine - the whole pit. He's sending a huge chunk of it to destroy the camps. Not because he expects us to defend that place, no he doesn't care about that. The plan is to keep them hidden then attack with them the second day as a surprise. Just imagine. And he hates the camps, so instead of keeping the remaining force in Tartarus and calling them on the second day, he felt like getting something out of this deal. So meanwhile he sent them with Palas to destroy the camps. It's a great plan on his part, Lady Athena don't you agree?" Percy asked Athena.

She looked a bit surprised, but nodded. 

"I have to agree with Perseus here. The strategy, if successful can destroy us. With Percy's plan, there will only be loss of property, not life. And most importantly a huge chunk of the army will be destroyed and leave the enemy in a disarray, rendering Tartarus' two-days surprise useless."

"Then let's take a vote. I won't take such a huge decision by myself. Raise your hands if you agree that Perseus' plan is the only way." He spoke, and all the Olympians raised their hands.

"You demigods are the majority here, you expect me to give you special invitation to vote? Or do I count your votes against Perseus and dismiss his idea?" Zeus asked with narrowed eyes. 

The demigods - myself included were beyond surprised that Zeus would consider their votes. They looked at each other, then slowly they started raising hands. Barring a handful of demigods who were probably very young to realize what was going on, every hand in the room was raised. 

"Very well then. We shall move forward with Percy's plan." Zeus declared.

"Percy, how do you plan to just destroy the whole camp?" Annabeth spoke for the first time, earning a small smile from Percy.

"Annabeth, weren't you listening? Lord Zeus said the Gods will help us! So obviously Lord Zeus will send a huge bolt to strike down the camp monsters!" A stupid son of Ares spoke. 

Annabeth glared daggers at him "Mike, I was listening. But if you had some brains inside that stupid head of yours you'd realize that this is a demigod matter and the Gods can't interfere unless Tartarus himself appears." Ares was glaring at Annabeth but a glare from Athena showed him his place.

"That is correct Perseus, we can't help you with this plan, if that's what you were hoping. It's against the ancient laws to meddle, we can only fight once Tartarus shows himself." Zeus spoke.

Percy was about to reply when an IM appeared in front of Reyna. 

"Praetor Reyna! The camp is under attack, the enemy is massive, about 500 soldiers in all. What should we do?" Reyna stared at Percy for a moment before saying "Percy instructed something before you left, did you do that?"

"Yes, the citizens are safe underground and we are ready to leave."

She stared at Percy again, earning a confident nod from the son of Poseidon.

"Then leave. We have the enemies handled." She confirmed.

The soldier bowed and swiped his hand through the mist. The demigods were all looking at Percy again.

"Lord Zeus, I need your help." Percy spoke, to which a few of the campers snickered.

"Does Tartarus cause you to go deaf boy, father just said we cannot attack the camp." Artemis spat. She may have made a mistake, but she was still the same man hating Goddess. Percy though, wasn't in the mood to have any of it.

"Of course you'd have to ask me, seeing as you've never ever had the courage to actually go there." Percy snapped back. The remark, albeit rude was the bitter truth. Even Gods were scared of venturing into the pit, so Artemis just glared at Percy and curled her lips into a thin line, but stood wordlessly.

Zeus interrupted asking what help Percy needed, and he said he just wanted to be able to look at the camp from here. It was a fairly easy request, Zeus just swiped his hands and a screen like thin layer appeared in front of them, as if a chopper was transmitting live coverage of Camp Jupiter. The demigods and Gods alike were standing wide eyed at the large number of monsters. They were destroying the camp, throwing vials of Greek fire and setting everything ablaze. Percy waited for a while until he was sure all monsters were within camp including the powerful figure leading them - The titan Palas. If only he knew how short lived his return was gonna be...

Iapetus nodded towards Percy, who took out some sort of remote from his pocket. 

"Watch and learn people, watch and learn." He said, as he pressed the button on the remote.

BOOOM! Mt. Olympus must have literally felt the vibrations of the blast as the demigods waited for the smoke to clear. At first they were confused - normal gases and metals couldn't kill monsters, how on earth did a blast kill so many and a Titan on top of that?

"Normal bombs have Sulphur and Phosphorous in them, these were specially built to contain celestial bronze." Percy explained.

"You made them? Dude that's my job!" Leo whined, again being the immature guy he is.

"Nah man, you're still our repair boy. These, I ordered monsters to make. Tartarus thought I planned to blow you all with these, so he didn't say a word. While getting Thalia out of there, Bob planted them."

"And my guards didn't do anything?" Reyna asked incredulously.

"I believe they would have stopped me if they had seen me, which they didn't." Iapetus replied.

"Oh well, can't say I left the brightest lot behind." She shrugged.

"See, that was successful wasn't it. Now we have reduced Tartarus' numbers and just have to wait for him to show up." Percy smiled.

"Let's hope we don't have any more surprises, we can't deal with any right now. We all Gods will be needed here if we want to have a chance at defeating such huge numbers." Zeus said in an ominous voice, knowing that they weren't in a position to handle the absence of even a single God, ignorant ones such as Dionysus included.

"Lord Zeus, you might want to tell them the prophecy now." Percy reminded Zeus, while most of the senior demigods took a sharp intake of breath at the mention of another Prophecy.

*LINE BREAK*

"ATTACK!" The leader bellowed. And the army charged.

The army was not huge, about a few hundred in all. They had lost a large number when Kronos was defeated and they had to retreat back. But the main thing was the leader wasn't dead. He had gone underground after Kronos and Typhon's defeat years ago. But now here was the chance, and a great plan, he just couldn't let the opportunity slide. Only difference being, last time the Gods let him wreak havoc for a while for they knew he would have to eventually retreat. This time, they didn't have a choice. Tartarus' idea was brilliant, and this attack would make his victory sure. 

"Besides, what better way to extract vengeance and wrestle control of the seas back again than allying with Tartarus." Oceanus laughed, for he knew this distraction and Tartarus' numbers would do the trick. And he also knew Poseidon would never abandon his Palace once again. He knew the sea would once again be at war, and the Gods would watch helplessly as they lose the war, and one by one, their pathetic lives.

(A/N: YEAH, I JUST CONFUSED YOU MORE WITH ANOTHER TWIST... COMMENT, VOTE. CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM IS APPRECIATED.)

(From the editor's desk:

Oooookkkk so @Audionic_02 was the first to answer correctly. Congrats.☺️

So the next question is:

As in Harry Potter, Ron felt like the 3rd wheel....Who feels like the 7th wheel in the Percy Jackson and Heroes of Olmpus series? Remember to tag me @lelitsme123 otherwise your answers won't be considered!)