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9. Trust and Belief

(Recap: "Percy. We are doing it for the greater good. It will ultimately benefit them. We will save so many lives if we achieve our goals." Iapetus suggested.
"I know...It's just...Their faces. She was on her knees Bob! On! Her! Knees! For me..." It took a while, but Percy eventually calmed down.
"Percy, look. Our plan will soon fall into place." Bob spoke, pointing to the screen of the cellphone-like object. The red dot was rapidly blinking, and Percy couldn't resist a smile at that.
"Calypso's tracker is beeping. This means-"
"They are here. Leo is here. That'll bring some comfort to the campers." Iapetus interrupted.
"Of course it will. But now that Leo is here, the prophecy can finally begin Bob. The beginning of our own phase two has begun. We have to find Tartarus' weaknesses fast. Leo will leave no stone unturned in doing his job even if he has no idea about it."
"Oh yes the prophecy. Finally Percy. It all begins now....")

NARRATOR'S POV:

AT CAMP HALF-BLOOD, WHILE PERCY WAS STILL CRYING...

"Annabeth, get up and stop crying. I'm sure the Fates aren't that cruel to you." Piper was trying to reassure her friend. Though herself in despair, Piper knew she had Jason. As a charm speaker, she also considered it her job to try and console everyone. Spread as much comfort as possible. To a great extent she knew she would have success. Annabeth and Chiron were altogether a different story though. Such was Annabeth's grief, even charm speak that had rendered Gaea helpless was unable to provide her some relief from her suffering. Piper was trying her best, all the campers who'd been Percy's best friends were trying to think straight. These campers also happened to mostly be the senior campers of the cabins, so they knew they had responsibility. A war was approaching in two day's time, much earlier than either of them had expected. To say they weren't physically ready would be an understatement. The training they had been doing was good, but just hearing the enemy's name sent goosebumps down their spine. Especially those who had heard Percy and Annabeth recount their adventures of their journey in Tartarus appeared to be at a loss as to how they could win the battle.

Just then some people started screaming, but most of them in happiness. With all that had happened, an event that could make the campers jump in delight was totally unexpected. Annabeth and the rest were confused, even Chiron had to come out of the big house to see what the commotion was about. They didn't have to wait long, because soon their eyes caught sight of a bronze dragon, one that Annabeth, Piper and Jason knew all too well.

"Festus." Piper whispered. They had been right in not underestimating Leo, for he had successfully visited a place that no man could find twice, brought back the love of his life and was standing right there in front of them holding Calypso's hand.

"Hey guys! Miss me!" He smirked. Piper and Jason rushed to hug their best friend. Even Annabeth's face contorted into a small smile and she gave Leo a hug.

"Leo! I can't believe it's you!" Nyssa, cabin 9's head counsellor and Leo's cabin mate and close friend spoke, actually poking Leo to be sure he was indeed real.

"Hey Nyssa! Yeah it's me. Leo Mcshizzle's back baby!" He screamed delightfully, joyous on seeing his old friends back. He introduced them to Calypso, who the camp welcomed with warm smiles. Of course Leo had to glare at a few guys who were eyeing his girlfriend, but soon they got the message. This particular Titaness was taken. Even Artemis shook her hand, though she didn't speak a word, just nodded as welcome.

Leo suddenly asked a question that deflated the mood in the camp like a sharp pin would deflate a balloon. "Where's Percy, Annabeth? Don't tell me he's on a quest or something, I wanna meet him right now, then let's visit Rome! Dying to meet Hazel and Frank!"
Chiron, who was standing there quietly after formally welcoming both the dragon riders at camp spoke in a depressed voice

"A lot has transpired in the past few days Leo, and you need to be filled in." He then went on to narrate the entire story right from Triton's death up to a few moments ago when Percy had left camp. To say that Leo was dumbfounded, speechless, stunned, all the adjectives would be an understatement. And nobody blamed him.

"This was so not the kind of reunion I was expecting..." Leo said shocked.
"I hate to say this child, but maybe you and your lover should have stayed at Ogygia...as if the horrors you were made to see in the last war weren't enough..." Chiron spoke for the first time since Percy's visit. So depressing was his tone and his words emanated such sadness that the Leo felt his heart would cry. Unfortunately he knew that Annabeth, Jason, Piper and even himself would have such voices when they spoke. Nonetheless, he could still not believe Percy could ever harm them. He found his voice and spoke

"Gather your emotions, bundle them and keep them aside. We face one of the worst wars we have ever faced. Percy has led us multiple times, and we have all followed him with blind faith. He suppressed the sadness of insurmountable losses and played down hardships like a pro, not once, not twice but always. And the way you say, they had a recorded confession showing he agreed to his supposed crimes, then while venting out all his anger he didn't once bring the videos up..."

"Where are you taking this conversation Leo?" Calypso asked, as she could see the others had questions but were too numb to ask.

"Sunshine, just think...he confessed, then all the while he was supposedly venting out his anger on the Gods, not once did he mention that he was forced to give a confession. How likely is it that you won't remember the events of a few minutes ago while venting out your anger if those minutes were forcefully obtained from you?"

"Maybe he didn't consider that as huge?" Piper spoke softly.

"Pipes, this is Percy we're talking about...he may act dumb but we know he's smarter than he let's on and usually nothing slips by him."

"So he didn't mention the fact that he was forced to confess. Then what are you suggesting Leo? I honestly don't get you." Now it was Jason's turn to speak.

"That maybe...just maybe it wasn't a forced confession after all..."
"Of course it wasn't boy! We are Olympians, not criminals! How dare you all suggest such a vile thing."
Artemis, who was controlling her rage till now spoke.

"Lady Artemis, might I remind you that you haven't exactly been pre informed of what happens on Olympus. You didn't know about Percy till it was too late." Chiron spoke, politely but firmly. He was certainly not going to let Artemis kill one of his campers in anger. That shut Artemis up, but Annabeth was in a different situation altogether.

"Leo...what do you mean by 'it wasn't a forced confession'? Are you implying Percy killed Triton in cold blood? That he actually murdered an innocent! Because if yes, then so help me I will break every single bone in your body and-" Annabeth interrupted a scared Leo who was raising his hands in surrender.

"I'd be damned if the idea ever occurred to me Annabeth! But what if Triton wasn't an innocent? What if Percy is playing a big gamble here? Maybe he just needs us to trust him."
"He swore on the Styx that the Romans had allied with him that they held Thalia prisoner. Have anything to say to that?" Jason argued, worrying about his sister.
"Dude, even the Gods don't have all the answers...I am but a demigod. But my theory is that if he trusts the Romans, he wants us to trust the Romans and in turn him. Besides, he swore that Romans had allied with him, not with Tartarus...maybe he's playing Tartarus..."

"Your theory sounds exactly like the stupid, selfless, suicidal thing Prissy would do, but it's a bit too farfetched Valdez. Sounds like all but a glimmer of hope, a desperate attempt at convincing ourselves that we have him with us. Tartarus is neither an amateur nor a fool." Clarisse spoke.

"Hey, farfetched or not, it isn't a matter of theory. It's a matter of how well you know and trust Percy Jackson. If you trust him as much as I do, then Percy's actions should scream absurd and weird to you, just like me. I can't stop you from calling him a traitor if you have lost faith in him so soon. But when calling him that, I suggest you find out who lead an army of 40 campers against thousands of monsters and Kronos, or who led new Rome to victory against Poryphyrion, or who was one of the Prophecy Seven, or who went on an involuntary unplanned trip to Tartarus, the literal hell just because he couldn't let his girlfriend fall alone...and you all know if I counted every monster he's ever killed we could well be here for the remainder of the day....So chose - Trust him and try to talk it out with the Romans when they arrive, or brand him a traitor and attack them straightaway. That's all I have to say."

And with that little speech, off Leo went, holding Calypso's hand firmly and going to cabin 9. He had already decided Calypso would stay here in a new bunker, even though she wasn't a daughter of Hephaestus. He didn't care what the Olympians thought, with all of the camp in chaos, he needed her.

He may act childish, but his journey to Ogygia and back had made him more mature. Besides, he was confident of his theory. He trusted Percy and believed that never ever could Percy take away an innocent's life. But what if he was wrong? What if Percy's plan all along was to scatter their brains and divert them from the war? There were a few things he knew for sure; 1 was that there would most certainly be war; 2 was the Romans would be involved and so would Tartarus; 3 was Percy would rather die a million painful deaths rather than kill even one innocent. Now the things he did NOT know: 1 was the number of monsters they would face; 2 was whether his theory of Romans being friends was correct or not - if it wasn't but the camp ended trusting him they were all doomed; 3 was if Percy was really the same guy. His entire theory revolved around the fact that Percy was still the same guy he was during the war with Gaea. But what if he had changed? Could a man change so much that he would declare war on his home and friends? Luke had in the past, and by the time he'd realized his mistake too many lives were destroyed....Yeah he gave his friends a theory, but only because he knew they needed some hope if they were to prevail in the upcoming war. In truth even he was not a 100% certain about his theory...

*LINE BREAK*

MEANWHILE SOMEWHERE NOT FAR FROM CAMP, IAPETUS AND PERCY HAD DISMISSED ALL THE MONSTERS AND WERE PATIENTLY LISTENING TO LEO'S WORDS, HAPPY THAT THEIR PLAN WOULD SOON TASTE SUCCESS.
AFTER LEO HAD STOPPED SPEAKING, Artemis had contacted Percy through the bracelet and told him what happened at camp just like she was supposed to, only she lied. Percy was at first shocked, but didn't say anything. They had heard Leo through the little piece of technology they had injected in Calypso's veins. Percy smiled and thanked Artemis. The Goddess thought Percy was happy with the information and thus the thank you. In truth however, Percy had thanked her unknowingly for not betraying Olympus. He realized it was her plan to misguide them all along. He also realized Artemis hadn't believed a word Leo had said. Considering she was a man hating Goddess that was no surprise that she didn't have faith in a man. Either way, the plan was now in place, and Percy could see them succeeding already. With a smile on his lips he travelled to Tartarus, believing in himself and Iapetus to somehow find Tartarus' weakness.

(A/N: I KNOW IT'S NOT VERY EVENTFUL, BUT THIS CONVERSATION WAS NECESSARY. ANYWAYS, JUST WANTED YOU TO KNOW THAT THE DECIPHERING PROPHECY CHALLENGE IS STILL ON. DECIPHER 7 OUT OF 10 LINES CORRECTLY AND YOU'LL GET '2' FOLLOWS. GOOD LUCK. VOTE AND COMMENT IF YOU LIKE WHERE THE STORY IS GOING.)

(FROM THE EDITOR'S DESK:
Sooooooooooooo.....

The winner was @pj__lover and @pj_lover for being the first to comment.

It's a tie since you guys had a difference of a minute or two between your answers.

GAME CONTINUES; RULES REMAIN SAME: WINNER GETS SHOUTOUT AND ONE FOLLOW...

New question:

Who claims to be the nephew of our dear Uncle Rick?...

A hint for you guys...he is a popular author on Wattpad and has many stories...)

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