The tension in the water was palpable as Percy and his friends drifted deeper into the heart of Atlantis. The city sparkled with an ethereal glow, shimmering structures rising from the ocean floor, ancient and majestic. The demigods-turned-gods moved cautiously, still adjusting to their newfound power.

As they neared the royal palace, a grand structure that seemed to pulse with the energy of the sea itself, Percy’s heart pounded. He knew this was more than just a meeting with Aquaman. This was about something bigger—something he hadn’t fully realized until now.

The grand doors of the palace opened, and inside stood the Atlantean royal family. King Orin, Queen Mera, and Triton, the prince who had been defeated, stood in their regal attire. There was a shift in the air, a quiet but undeniable recognition in their eyes as Percy stepped forward.

King Orin stepped toward Percy, his expression neutral but respectful. "We have been expecting you, Perseus Jackson."

The sound of his full name, spoken with such reverence, sent a chill down Percy’s spine. He glanced at the others—Jason, Thalia, Nico, Piper, and Will—who were equally confused but standing firm.

"I’m not here to take the throne," Percy said, his voice steady but uncertain. "I just came to stop Triton."

Queen Mera smiled softly, though her eyes held the weight of centuries of wisdom. "It is not a matter of choice, young god. The throne of Atlantis belongs to you now. The sea has chosen its new ruler, and that ruler is you."

Percy blinked, his heart racing. "No… I didn’t ask for this. I didn’t want to be a god—let alone a king."

Triton, standing off to the side, finally spoke, his voice devoid of the arrogance he once carried. "The ocean obeys you now, Percy. It recognized you before any of us. The sea knows its true master." His words were a begrudging acknowledgment of defeat, but there was also an odd sense of peace in his tone.

"I can’t do this," Percy muttered, running a hand through his hair, his mind spinning. "There’s got to be another way. I’m not—"

"The sea does not make mistakes," King Orin interrupted, his tone firm but understanding. "It is already done. The throne is yours, and the ocean will bend to no one else. You have already been crowned in the eyes of Atlantis."

Percy’s stomach dropped. He glanced back at his friends, desperate for some kind of out. But even they knew the truth of the situation. There was no way around it—this was his destiny now.

As the reality of the situation settled in, the royal family exchanged glances, and Queen Mera spoke once more. "With great power comes great responsibility, Percy Jackson. As the King of Atlantis, you must also choose a queen."

Percy’s heart stopped. "A queen?" he repeated, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Yes," Mera said gently. "You must have someone to stand beside you, to share the burden of the sea. Someone worthy of ruling the ocean with you."

Percy felt the weight of the world crashing down on him all at once. Of all the impossible choices he had faced, this felt like the cruelest. He glanced at the two women beside him—Thalia and Piper. His stomach churned. He cared deeply for both of them, but this… this was too much.

Thalia, ever fierce and independent, raised an eyebrow, her eyes hard. "You’re not seriously considering this, are you, Percy?"

Piper, who had always been more in tune with her emotions, looked more hesitant. Her eyes darted between Percy and Thalia, and she took a small step forward, her voice soft but steady. "Percy, you don’t have to do this. We can figure something out… together."

But the decision wasn’t just his anymore. The sea had made him its king, and the ocean’s will was undeniable.

King Orin stepped forward, his gaze intense. "The throne of Atlantis demands a ruler and a queen. The choice, Perseus, is yours."

Percy’s mind raced. Thalia—his long-time friend and comrade, the fierce and determined daughter of Zeus. Piper—his compassionate and brave ally, the daughter of Aphrodite with a heart as strong as her charm. How could he possibly choose between them?

Thalia’s eyes narrowed. "Don’t do this because you feel like you have to, Percy. I’m not interested in being someone’s queen if it’s not what they want."

Piper, on the other hand, stood silent, waiting. There was no pressure in her stance, but Percy could see the hope in her eyes.

He closed his eyes for a moment, trying to calm the storm inside his mind. The sea pulsed around him, as if urging him to decide.

Finally, Percy opened his eyes, meeting the gaze of the royal family and his friends. He opened his mouth to speak, but Thalia stepped forward, surprising everyone.

"Percy’s not exactly the best at making decisions," Thalia said, her voice teasing but affectionate. She glanced at Percy, a smirk playing on her lips. "He’s too much of a softy at heart, and someone needs to protect him from himself."

Percy blinked, startled. "Thalia—"

"I’ll be his queen," she announced, her tone firm, leaving no room for argument. "Not because I want power, but because someone has to make sure salt breath doesn’t do something stupid like trying to save everyone all by himself. And let’s face it, Percy, you need someone who’s not afraid to tell you when you’re being an idiot."

Piper raised an eyebrow but smiled softly, a hint of relief in her eyes. She gave a slight nod of approval, understanding that Thalia’s decision wasn’t just about power—it was about protecting Percy, the person they both cared about deeply.

Percy stood there, dumbfounded. "Thalia, I—"

"Don’t get all emotional on me now," Thalia interrupted, rolling her eyes but grinning. "We’ve been through too much together for you to act surprised. You know I’ve got your back."

The room was silent for a moment, the Atlantean royals watching with quiet approval. Queen Mera nodded, her voice calm but resolute. "The sea has chosen well. With Thalia by your side, the ocean will have its true rulers."

Percy still wasn’t sure how he felt about all this. He had never wanted to be a king, let alone have someone forced to be his queen. But the weight of the sea’s power thrummed inside him, and he knew that there was no running from this destiny.

And with Thalia by his side, he wasn’t alone in facing it.

"Okay," Percy finally said, exhaling. "Let’s do this… together."

Thalia smirked, leaning in slightly. "Good, because I wasn’t asking."

Percy couldn’t help but chuckle, shaking his head. "Yeah, I figured."

With the decision made, the Atlantean royals bowed in respect. The throne of Atlantis had its new rulers, and the ocean was theirs to command.

But Percy knew, deep down, that this was only the beginning. There were still challenges ahead, and the world above was far from finished with them. Yet for the first time in a long time, he felt like maybe—just maybe—he could handle whatever came next. Especially with Thalia watching his back.