Okay, since I know it's torturing you, I shall update, my lovely readers. Rick Riordan owns PJO/HOO.

Chapter Nine: Battle of the Brains B00K_ADDICT05

Point of View: Third Person

"Riddles." Athena smirks.

"Fun." Percy says simply.

She starts to turn pink at his casual acceptance of the challenge. "We shall do this in the dining pavilion." Athena huffs.

It takes ten minutes for everyone to file in and Athena and Percy stand in the center of it. Percy leans on his sword and Athena has a hand on her hip. 

"You are the challenger, so you begin." Percy tells her.

She grins and clears her throat. "I have seas with no water, coasts with no sand, towns without people, mountains without land. What am I?"

"A map." Percy rolls his eyes. 

"Correct." Athena grumbles.

"My turn." He says and then speaks, "Alive without breath, As cold as death; Never thirsty, ever drinking, all in mail never clinking." 

It takes a couple minutes as she mouths the words. "Fish." She answers.

"Well done." Percy nods. 

Athena doesn't pause and does the next riddle. "I'm rarely touched, but often held. If you have wit, you'll use me well." 

"My tongue." Percy chuckles.

"Yes." Athena says grudgingly.

"This thing all things devours; Birds, beasts, trees, flowers; Gnaws iron, bites steel; Grinds hard stones to meal; Slays kings, ruins towns, and beats mountains down." Percy says and it's like his voice is timeless.

"Time." Athena answers after a few minutes.

"Very good." Percy compliments.

"Often will I spin a tale, never will I charge a fee. I'll amuse you an entire eve, but, alas, you won't remember me." Athena smirks.

"A dream." Percy replies.

Athena huffs. "Your turn."

"It cannot be seen, cannot be felt, cannot be heard, cannot be smelt. It lies behind stars and under hills, And empty holes it fills. It comes out first and follows after, Ends life, kills laughter." Percy says coldly.

Athena takes a small while, then it clicks. "The dark."

"Yes." Percy nods.

"What has roots as nobody sees, Is taller than than trees, Up, up it goes, And yet never grows?" Athena asks.

"A mountain." Percy answers easily.

"Go on." Athena crosses her arms.

"Voiceless it cries, Wingless flutters, Toothless bites, Mouthless mutters." Percy speaks his next riddle.

"The wind." Athena says after mouthing the lines several times.

"Indeed it is the wind." Percy agrees. 

"What asks, but never answers?" Athena presses on.

Percy snorts. "An owl."

She seethes. "Yes, my sacred animal."

"You know, I haven't once provoked you, but you are acting like a bear poked consistently with a stick. It is quite unbecoming of a goddess." Percy comments.

"Is that your riddle?" She ignores the jab, but it seriously bothers her.

"It is not." Percy sighs. "What gets broken without being held?"

Athena becomes stumped.

"It is quite easy, Lady Athena. A pure, simple answer. You gods should know this term well, but never use it truly intentionally. You know this one. Come on. It's so easy and it's right in front of you." He taunts her. "Oh you speak the words so easily, yet the actions are never taken. The reputation of the council worsens and in the dark, its opposite finds you." 

Athena asks the question to herself over and over. "An oath?" It comes out as a question, not a confident answer.

Percy sighs and she grins. "Wrong answer." She pales. "The answer is so simple." He shakes his head. "A promise. That is your answer."

"An oath is the same thing!" Athena screeches.

Percy remains calm. "I am afraid it is not. An oath can never be broken without severe consequences. A promise, however, can be broken so easily. A promise is nothing in the shadow of an oath. Left and right humans throw them, but never fulfill them. But promises broken are easier forgiven than oaths. Go back on your words and there is a price to pay. Go back on your friends and there is hell that way. Turn around those who love you most, the arrogant and greedy will boast. In the end, a promise is always shattered should you turn your back. You should learn not to let people get inside your head, especially someone like you. Pride sets in and gets in your way. You become overconfident, arrogant, and you lose anything you play."

"You didn't get inside my head!" She screams.

"Actually, I planted it in your mind before the game. I made you snap, took away your calm demeanor. Then I made it worse by egging you on during the game. I used easy riddles and then asked a simple question that broke your thinking process. I even gave you hints as to what it was and still you ignored the help, because of your fatal flaw. Hubris is ugly, just like you are and there is no shame in being ugly, but you wear it well. Not all of your kids have the same fatal flaw of course, but those who do, end up just like you. Selfish, arrogant, petty, foolish, and in the end, envious of what all others have as they realize their pride was so stupid. Your fatal flaw is a deadly sin in humans and animals alike. It's what truly gets people killed." Percy states.

"Best two out of three?" She steams.

"I think not." Percy shakes his head.

"Afraid you'll lose?" She counters.

"No, just watching your sanity." Percy chuckles. 

"I demand a rematch." Athena slams her hand on a table next to her.

"That is your pride talking. Just do what you are supposed to since you lost." Percy says without fear.

"I refuse." Athena huffs.

"And there it is." Percy smirks. "The answer to my question given in plain sight. A broken promise. You want one more riddle? Here is one, We hurt without moving, And poison without touching. We bear truth and lies, But are not judged by size. What are we?"

Athena thinks it over. "That doesn't make sense. The only thing I can think of are injuries, but they touch your skin."

"Is that your answer?" Percy asks.

"There is no answer. That is my answer." She tells him.

"Words, Athena. Words hurt without moving and poison without touching. The bear lies and truth and are not judged by their size. Just like your poisoned tongue on which they roll off of. Face it, you lose and you cannot beat me." Percy says sadly.

"I have two faces, but show you one. I once had guests, but now have none. I'm rarely bloody and seldom blue. I'm often promised and sometimes new." Athena says back.

"The moon. Now swallow your pride. You have lost." Percy answers without thought.

Athena turns tomato red. "Why should I? She challenged me."

"And won. Hers was obviously better. But you couldn't stand the fact she was better than you at something you created. Just like right now, you can't stand that a mere son of Poseidon bested you in your own game. What are you going to do? Curse me to be an owl? Just try it and see. I'll throw your curse right back at thee." Percy smirks.

Athena huffs. "Y-"

"Yes, I dare to challenge you right back without fear. Blah. blah, blah." Percy rolls his eyes.

"Don't be so-" She starts.

Percy cuts across her again. "Rude. Whatever."

"Di-" Athena begins.

"Didn't my mother ever teach me my manners? She tried to when I wasn't bleeding to death, yes. I don't think it all really sunk in. But the nymphs seem to like me. They don't complain. Neither do the Hesperides. Besides, I think my mother meant for me to use etiquette towards a lady, however, you are not acting like one." Percy interrupts.

"St-" Athena is about to say something.

"Interrupting you, but it is much too fun to stop." Percy smiles at her.

"You are a servant, not an equal." Athena says coldly.

"And I am just fine with that. Have I ever complained?" Percy answers without anger.

"Keep quiet. You will follow my orders." Athena snaps.

"I don't follow your orders." Percy shakes his head.

"You follow Zeus's." Athena spits.

"Because he is king and it is his kingdom that is endangered. I have sworn to protect that kingdom and since he is it's reigning leader, I have no qualms with following those orders. But the orders of the Hesperides and Ladon take top priority in my mind. Not to mention you lost our little bet." Percy explains without worrying about Zeus commanding him to listen to Athena.

"Sister, give it up. You lost fair and square. You are just ruining yourself fighting against it. The children laugh at you even now." Artemis whispers.

Athena glares at Artemis. "You only side with him because of that little slut you let out of the Hunt." 

Artemis looks offended and is about to lunge at Athena when Percy stands between them in the next second. "I do not appreciate you antagonizing my wife's best friend nor do I approve of you calling my wife that term. Watch your tongue or I will cut it out." Percy has a growl building in his chest.

Artemis smiles. "Thank you." She tells him for only him to hear.

"Well it's true. She was the last one of the original group and all the others have died or broke their oaths long ago. She probably lied to Artemis." Athena says.

"I wouldn't speak of my wife in that manner if I were you." Percy warns.

"Well she's pregnant isn't she? Probably with a whore just like her." Athena says.

Percy sheathes his sword and looks at the ground. Then he slams Athena into the wall clear on the other side of the dining pavilion by her throat. "I am going to make you regret those words, hag." He snarls dangerously and Athena turns frightened.

Hera puts an arm in front of Zeus to stop him from interfering. "This is a matter that must be dealt with. Let him put her in her place. She insulted his holy matrimony, I don't approve of her words either." Zeus nods hesitantly in understanding.

"Am I in your head now?" Athena smirks halfheartedly.

"Oh, in my head is not the greatest place to be. And you are definitely in it, but I am still clear from fog and pride. I defend my wife, not myself and you really shouldn't make me angry." His growl rips out of his throat. He draws his knife and digs it into her arm, dragging it all the way down and repeating it on her other arm. "Should I let you bleed out in your misery? This kind of blade causes pain for the type of metal it is. It still burns, doesn't it?" He brings the knife up and traces her facial features with it. "Should I take your eye, your tongue? What about your lips?" He presses the tip of his blade on her bottom lip, drawing blood. "You say my wife is a whore, should I curse you to be one? Make you break your oath on the Styx? Sending you to Tartarus to reform. Great this time of year. Around the time I went there for your wretch of a daughter. She cannot hold true love because of her pride and ego. Now, she's jealous of my beautiful wife."

Athena doesn't nod or shake her head. She doesn't speak because of the knife on her lip.

"Silent? That's amazing." Percy laughs. "But I am serious. Oh, I know of so many curses you've placed upon mortals and immortals alike. Being blind, deaf, unable to speak, and unable to think. Going crazy or unable to learn. So much more. So which shall it be? Hmm?" He lightly touches the blade to one of her eyes. "An eye?" He puts it on her tongue. "Your ability to speak?" Then he places it on her neck. "Or should I just take your life?" He taps it against her neck. "What do you think? Maybe even your fingers so you cannot weave or write. You have godly powers, you can write with those if you concentrate. Apollo could even restore what you've lost...over time. Magic can be used for several things as well. You can ask me nicely for it back, unless I take your tongue that is. Which Shall it be?"

"Please, stop." Athena begs.

"Oh, is this the mighty and righteous Athena begging for mercy? What a sight to behold. I really do think Arachne is much more appealing to the eye than you. Even in her form now. Not her fault either." Percy chuckles. "You show no remorse though. You insult left and right like a spoiled brat with no consequences. But you picked the wrong target this time. I am far more deadly than you give me credit for. I am also cold and hateful and want to spite a majority of the gods I am sworn to protect. But I bite my tongue. You however, I cannot stand you. How I ever fell for a daughter so much like you is beyond me. Maybe I cracked when I saw the Minotaur, I don't know. But to fall for her." He laughs. "You would have to be pretty desperate. And maybe I was, who knows? It's all gone now, thank goodness. You hubris induced idiots make me sick and you never learn. Funny, isn't it? The goddess of wisdom loves learning, but she can't Now that is a riddle." 

"If I complete my side, will you please let me go?" She pleads with him.

"It depends. Maybe I will, maybe I won't you'll just have to take that chance. Like i said, I don't take kindly to those who insult my wife. Especially people like you." Percy squeezes her throat tighter and presses the blade further into her skin, breaking it. and letting immortal Ichor run down it and onto the floor.

Athena snaps her fingers and Percy glancs behind him to see Arachne and a lot of spiders. 

"Lady Arachne." Percy calls and she spins, shocked. "It is so nice to see you. I have a surprise for you."

Arachne raises an eyebrow and looks around her. "Stay where you are children." She makes her way over to Percy and Athena and sneers when she see who Percy is holding. 

"My, my. Athena is caught. But by whom?" Arachne looks at Percy's hooded face, which she cannot see. "Show your face, young man."

Percy laughs. "I am far from young." He takes the knife away from Athena's throat and he pulls back his hood.He lets his hand with the knife fall to his side.

Arachne studies him. "Very handsome. I smell matrimony on you though and absolute faith to your wife. Very rare these days." She compliments. "Now, why have you brought me here?"

"I believe Athena would just love to explain." Percy smirks and Athena looks embarrassed.

At the end of explaining the whole story, Arachne is cackling with glee. "Beaten at her own game once more. Perfect."

Athena snaps her fingers grudgingly and Arachne returns to her former beauty. "The children as well." Percy clears his throat.

"You want spiders to die out?" Athena asks.

"They wouldn't exist if you weren't such an evil witch. Just do it. All of them alive. All over the planet." Percy tells her. When she starts to argue, he slams her head into the wall and closes off her airways. "You heard me." 

Arachne giggles and she feels it as all her children turn to humans. "Now, I can recreate spiders that cannot turn human, yet are still my children." She jumps up and down excitedly. 

Percy lets Athena go and Apollo comes to heal her arms and the scratches from the knife. "Anyways, glad you finally have your justice." Percy tells Arachne.

Arachne squeals and hugs Percy, squeezing him mercilessly with overwhelming strength. He is unaffected by it though. "Thank you!" She screams. She kisses his cheeks and holds out her hands as she creates all the species of spiders again. "And now all those who turned back to the forms they are supposed to have are here. In thanks, I shall remove my curse over the Athenians, but only because you got Athena to do all this. And," She hands him a piece of indestructible silk. "You can give that to your wife. My gratitude to you yourself. I assume you can find a charm or something to put on it. It's a necklace of sorts."

"You don't know who I am, do you?" Percy chuckles.

"You were Perseus Jackson. Then all that crazy Guardian rubbish. Now you are both. Yes, yes. I am already aware. My children are everywhere you know. Now I suppose I should get started with everything else. Will my children have a cabin?" Arachne looks positively happy.

"Are they even demigods?" Artemis comes over.

"No, I would suppose they aren't. But maybe they are. They are part human and half me." Arachne muses.

"Then they should have a cabin. What should it look like?" Artemis decides.

"Oh, let them pick." Arachne waves her hand.

"Will your demigod children be the same as them?" Percy asks her.

"Only one way to find out I guess. But that won't be for a little while." Arachne concludes. 

"Well, I hope you have a wonderful time." Percy tellsher.

"Thank you! I will! I am going to explore all over the place." Arachne kisses his cheek and then pops out.

Zeus clears his throat. "Is your wife pregnant?" He looks suspicious.

"I wasn't for sure until Athena said something. She might be with child." Percy watches Zeus warily.

"Summon her here." Zeus orders.

Percy looks desperate but flashes his wife to his side and stands in front of her some. "What do you want with her?"

"The child isn't allowed to be." Zeus says.

"Father!" Artemis exclaims.

Percy looks at the floor and Zeus snaps his fingers, bringing Phoebe right in front of him. Just as Zeus is about to touch her, Percy speaks. "Fuck orders." He launches himself at Zeus and crashes into him.They roll out of the pavilion and grapple for the upper hand. Percy throws Zeus by kicking him in the stomach, using his momentum against him, sending him flying. Zeus makes a huge smoking crater right through both stands of the arena as Percy rolls to his feet. He sends Phoebe back to the Garden and waits for Zeus.

The Master Bolt is hurled at him and it strikes him in the chest, making him land in the sea at the beach. Everybody runs after them. Percy drips with salt water as he rises out of the sea and Zeus makes the sky black with storm clouds. It beats the rain down as Percy also makes it rain. Howling wind from both immortals clash against each other. Percy draws his sword and readies himself. "You won't touch my wife and child." He growls. The sea begins to rise and fall around Percy dangerously as the storm centers around him, hurricanes whipping all around him. Zeus is in shock. The earth starts to shake in a huge magnitude because of Percy.

Percy turns feral and everything about his power starts turning the very nature around him dangerous. He has a continuous growl and he bares his teeth at Zeus. The wind howls like a wolf, the earthquake rumbles the ground like a Giant's footsteps, the sea crashes like it is breaking amountain down, the hurricanes scream their rage and defiance, and the sky blackens further, the rain freezing and pelting Zeus.

A huge bright flash of light and three young women stand between Katharos and Zeus. Katharos kneels and everything but light rain come to a stop. Zeus makes his rain go away and the last of the wind dies down. The sky clears and the rising sun dances across Percy's back. The women look livid. 

"Forgive my actions, my ladies." Katharos says and his head hangs in shame.

The women smile kindly at him "Rise, young Guardian. We do not come to punish you. You have not angered us on this day." They speak together.

Katharos looks surprised and rises from the sea again.

"It is Zeus, God of the Sky, we are upset with." The one on the right answers.

"Who are they?" One little girl whispers.

"They are the Fates, child." Katharos tells her.

"Aren't they supposed to be old?" The same girl asks innocently.

The women sigh. "We do not have to be." The one in the middle shakes her head as she speaks.

I shall end it there for now, my lovely readers. I am going to take a break and play SKYRIM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!WOOT!!!!!!!!!!!