(Recap: Once he finished, Percy looked at Zeus questioningly.

"As much as I hate to admit, these times are for survival, not power. But this is too much to give away. Some of us would rather die than become mortal and die at the hands of Tartarus. We will still call for a vote. This time only Olympians may vote. All in favour of Percy's idea raise your hands...")

For a moment no hand was raised. Looks were exchanged, insecurity and unsureness spread throughout the throne room. Then one by one a few hands were raised.

The Gods who raised their hands were :
Hestia, Hermes, Apollo, Aphrodite, Hephaestus, Demeter, Athena.

The Gods who did not raise their hands were :
Hades, Zeus, Hera, Artemis, Ares, Dionysus.

7 FOR, 6 AGAINST. A majority was required to pass the decision, otherwise, the plan would not be approved. The crowd was now staring at Poseidon anxiously.

Poseidon just stared at his son. Just like his brothers he did not wish to lose immortality. But his own son was asking for something for the first time ever, after having endured so much for them.

"Uhm...Uhm." Zeus coughed.
"Looks like it all depends on you, Poseidon."

Poseidon meanwhile was torn between life and death, quite literally.
With one last look at Percy, he spoke
"I.. I... I'll go with my son. Hestia and the others.... I stand by them."

That made the votes 8 FOR, 6 AGAINST.

The demigods let lose their breath, the Gods were at a loss. Especially the Gods that voted in favour of staying immortal were dumbstruck, not at all liking the idea if losing mortality. There was no point in arguing, and although some very vehemently opposed the idea, it was all in their mind. In reality, they didn't want to challenge the Gods on the other side.

Zeus soon came out of the shock and coughed.
"Uhm. So it's decided. We have to leave this area and let Percy blast Tartarus. The pit and the monsters shall never return, and Tartarus will have no choice but to fight us alone. Since the pit will permanently be destroyed, if we win this war we shall have complete riddance from monsters."

"But no immortality. This is preposterous! Zeus! You would let me die?" Hera asked her husband super sweetly. Before Zeus could utter a word, Jason of all the people interrupted with barely controlled fury and clenched teeth

"You stole our memories, killed so many of my brothers merely out of jealousy. You literally put us through shit. And now, even after we have lost so many friends, after so many children have given up their lives, you dare be so selfish! I don't care that you're a Goddess. You're a shitty one at that." His anger was rising gradually and he stared at the Goddess of Family and Marriage with complete and utter hatred.

Hera's eyes widened. She was about to say something, possibly attack Jason out of anger when Percy interrupted

"Lay one finger on him and you'll be up against an army of demigods. You may be able to take us down, or you may not. Willing to take any chances?" Percy threatened and raised his sword, as angered as Jason. As if on cue, the seven of the prophecy followed by Reyna, Nico and everyone else stood with murderous expressions. Even Grover had his reed pipes in his now trembling hands - trembling with anger, not fear.

Hera visibly looked shaken. She gulped and decided to have her revenge later on. She looked at Zeus for support. Zeus was meanwhile staring wide-eyed at the demigods. Every God resembled these expressions except Hestia, who looked as calm as ever.

"If this is the situation now, I don't even want to imagine what they'll do after we're mortal," Ares said, the last word tasting like acid in his mouth while describing himself.

Zeus looked at Ares

"They have the majority. As a king, I am bound to go with them even if my opinions differ. Let's just get it over with. Besides, it's just speculation that we'll become mortal. Who knows, we might become weak for some decades then regain full strength. Let's end this fast. If Tartarus begins an attack again we'll be too late."

Zeus had spoken with an air of authority that befits a king. The words rang in the walls of the throne room, creating an all too familiar echo. The feeling of Deja vu from Percy's planned execution swept over the crowd.

"Let's teleport to camp half-blood. It's the only safe place left for us." Poseidon suggested. Zeus nodded apprehensively and with a snap the demigods along with Chiron - who had been awfully quiet the entire time found themselves staring at the all too familiar interior of the big house. The numbers were so diminished that campers from both the camps comfortably fit. The teleportation was followed by bright flashes of white light as the Gods appeared in the house in human size.

Then Zeus created a screen. That's all he seemed to be doing off late - conjuring screens out of thin air. At first, the screen showed an image of the Throne room but soon the view had shifted. Now the whole building - the empire state building was visible.

"Percy, show me the remote," Zeus ordered.

Percy hesitantly outstretched a hand towards the Titan Iapetus who handed him the remote. Percy displayed it to Zeus instead of handing it over. The King of Gods and soon-to-be mortal father of Jason and Thalia Grace looked satisfied.

Before Percy could Press the remote, Athena interrupted.

"Wait! I want to change my vote!"

Wh...what!" Percy spluttered.

Sudden chaos followed. Annabeth was staring at her mother dumbfounded.

"SILENCE!" Zeus' voice ironically thundered.

The big house vibrated by the intense power and everyone quieted down.

"Athena, a vote once made cannot be changed."

Before Athena could reply, Artemis spoke up.

"Father, what you say is true. However, given the importance of the circumstances and taking into account that she is the wisdom Goddess, we should hear her logic first." She tried to reason.

The demigods didn't look convinced. But Zeus had a habit of conferring with Athena on every strategy. One of the main reasons he had decided against his own beliefs was that inarguably the smartest Olympian of the room disagreed with him. Now, this was just a chance to reverse the verdict. He looked thoughtful for a moment, then coughed

"Very well. We should hear her out." He finalized.

"Thank you father, you too Artemis. There was indeed logic in what I said. We are concentrating so hard on the present that we have not given a thought to the future. Just think...As Olympians, we have made so many enemies out of minor Gods. We forget that after the throne room is destroyed, only Gods that have thrones there stand a chance to lose immortality. The minor Gods will then become the only Gods and they won't follow a word from Zeus' mouth. They will come for revenge." She finished.

Zeus' eyes widened - he hadn't put a single thought into the aftermath.

"That is a serious complication. It seems as if changing votes will have to be allowed. Athena, are you absolutely sure you will change your vote?"

Athena merely nodded.

"Mother! I have seen death and been through hell and back. I have seen enough deaths for one lifetime. All this while if I've been quiet it's just out of respect for all that you have given me. But not anymore. I agree with Percy here. It's time you fought your own battles. You made enemies off your own actions and we shall no longer pay the price." Annabeth spoke resolutely.

The demigods once again showed unity and nodded their assent.

"Once made, the vote cannot change. The ancient laws state that. I have seen my children suffer innumerable burdens and perils. I have seen them face tragic and untimely death, all because of these laws. Now I shall not allow for those laws to be broken because you are too scared of facing consequences for your own actions, Athena." Poseidon spoke. But Zeus seemed to have gone deaf. He just said "7 FOR, 7 AGAINST. A tie means the plan will have no majority to be allowed to execute."

"So much drama..." Nico sighed. That earnt him looks from everyone.

He just disappeared into whatever shadow he had come from. Meanwhile, Athena was staring at both Poseidon and Annabeth with calculating grey eyes.

"Wait...we can't have a war amongst ourselves." Spoke Percy.

"Lord Zeus, if votes can change, voters from both the sides can switch sides, correct?" Zeus nodded.

Then Percy looked at Hades.

"You had a throne built by a demigod for you. Your power still ebbs from the underworld, not that artificial throne. Once Tartarus is destroyed, the underworld will have more power, meaning you will have more power."

At Percy's words, every eye went wide as a saucer and every God looked stunned.

Hades stood there pondering. He had been shunned too long and this was his one chance of payback for all these years. And with no threat from monsters, it was a double win for him - a major god having no competition and no enemies brave enough to fight him. He could literally rule the worlds, both under and above the ground.

"Just think, none of your brothers will be Gods, just you." Percy continued. When Poseidon looked at his son with disbelief, he sent a reassuring nod his way indicating he knew what he was doing.

Hades was momentarily at a loss, never having realized what he was voting against. He coughed and said, "It seems that I will be changing my vote as well."

"You power hungry imbecile! Have you no idea what you are doing? This again gives them the majority!" Zeus said aghast.

Hades simply stated "I support young Perseus' here. He is the reason I have my throne back, and he is also the reason my son Nico was saved. I owe it to him, that's all brother. You are needlessly getting enraged."

Zeus knew he was lying and so did every single soul, but neither of them could find valid points to retaliate. So Zeus just nodded his head in surrender.

"Seems like the plan will still be carried out on a majority. Perseus, do it before there are further interruptions or chaos erupts again.

Percy nodded and every single eye was glued to the screen.

The son of Poseidon breathed in a long breath, then proceeded to press the button that would trigger the detonation. 

"BOOM!BOOM!BOOM!" Not one, not two, but a series of blasts echoed in the air as the ground was destroyed from within. The empire state building shook from its very foundation as the blast rocked the base upon which the monumental structure was created.

The impact lasted for about 30 seconds, after which curious looks were trained on the Gods. For a while, nothing happened. Then one by one every God and Goddess screamed in pain. The scream must have lasted barely a few seconds before they all fell down unconscious.

"Apollo campers, do something," Annabeth ordered. Will Solace, the head counsellor of the Apollo cabin, however, stared at the fallen lot of Gods with uncertainty.

"How do we know we still have our healing powers?" He asked unsurely to no one in particular.

"We don't, just like I don't know whether I can still control water or not. The only way to find out is to try it. Take them to the infirmary and feed them some nectar and ambrosia." Percy replied.

"But if they're mortals, won't that stuff burn them?" Jason reasoned.

"That's a fair point, but then how do we heal them?" Will asked.

"Try the nectar and ambrosia," Jason said without much thought.

"And if they burn..?"

"Amen and rip and all that stuff then," Leo said. Unsurprisingly nobody argued.

Then Will said something that earned him smiles and winks from many demigods "I'll begin testing with Hera, see how much they can take up before...ah...something happens."

Even Chiron didn't say a word, and that didn't go unnoticed to Annabeth and Thalia.

"Chiron, why have you been so awfully quite?" Thalia asked.

"Yeah, you have not spoken a word since like forever."

Chiron just smiled sadly. "There is nothing to say, my dears. You all have done me very proud and it so rarely happens that you need me. When you do, I'll be here. Just keep up what you're doing and don't worry about me."

"Mars Almighty, look!" Frank suddenly shouted pointing at the still glowing screen.

The cracks from which Tartarus and his army had retreated for the day was emitting lava worse than when the cracks and ruptures had initially formed. The lava was so hot that vapours were released from the inside. And suddenly, a very angry looking Tartarus seething with rage, wrapped in lava appeared out of the opening.

"PERSEUS JACKSON! IAPETUS! I WILL END YOU!" He bellowed. Percy and Bob exchanged a wry smile. The others gulped as they could see anger radiating off Tartarus in waves of power. The power was clearly felt even through the screen, and that did little to boost the demigods who now didn't even have the Gods.

"We need to go and attack now, the Apollo campers will send the Gods once they heal. We can't let him wreak havoc in the city." Percy said. Everyone nodded, agreeing that they would test their powers while battling. Percy also decided to summon blackjack, he whistled a New York taxi cab whistle and his Pegasus came galloping down in a few seconds.

PRAYERS ARE WITH THOSE HIT BY HURRICANE HARVEY, HOPE YOU ALL ARE/WILL BE FINE