Chapter 8 - Lasso of Truth

LA

Constantine and Lucifer had just finished putting enchanted duct tape over the doors, and they stepped back to admire their work. "Honestly not a bad job, this should work," John mused.

Lucifer shrugged, "Well if this is done, let's go get that little brat then shall?" "I'm not sure I would describe him as 'little' Lucy. He did go blow for blow with you after all."

The devil scoffed at the mystic. "You really believe I was trying there? I underestimated him, sure but I wasn't expecting him to put up that much of a fight. To top it off he ran away, not me. I think I won that fight."

"Whatever you say, We just have to track him down. At least we somewhat know who we're dealing with now. Percy Jackson. A demigod, who's feats seemed impressive I'm not going to lie."

"Well, yeah, they kind of did didn't they? What do you suppose 'Bane of Gaea' meant? I always thought in myths she was the whole world."

John shrugged and started walking to the car. "Maybe he was a threat to the world? Perhaps the bloke got mad with power after saving Olympus, and that's why he was banished?"

Lucifer opened his car door and got in, starting it up. "If you're right John, then we really need to find him. He could be a danger to everyone on earth. Do you have a tracking spell you can perform to find him?"

The blond shook his head. "I would need more than his name, I'd need his DNA, and I don't think he dropped any in that fight. He seemed almost invulnerable to your demon blades."

They drove off, thinking about what to do. After awhile, Lucifer spoke, "Well, if he is a threat to the world, then all we gotta do is watch the news until he makes his move, right?"

"Surely it can't be that easy?"

"Well do you have a better idea?"

Silence.

Washington D.C.

Percy emerged from the Atlantic on the beach, completely dry. Some of the people that were relaxing got freaked out and started running away, more proof that he indeed wasn't on his world. The mist didn't appear to be a thing here.

'It doesn't matter,' he thought to himself. 'My world or not, a godly weapon has no business in the hands of an unworthy mortal.' With that he walked into the city, no idea where he was even going to start looking. Luckily, Lady Luck was on his side. He stumbled upon a big building called the Hall of Justice, and there was what seemed to be a press conference happening. He didn't realize it at first, but he could practically feel the presence of his Father.

He started pushing his way through the crowd of people, trying to get as close to the front of the conference as possible, and when he was close enough, he saw a bunch of people standing in costumes talking to the crowd. He saw a man who had a red and yellow suit, lightning bolt symbol on his chest with little wings on his feet and cowl, a bigger man in a red and yellow suit, lightning bolt symbol on his chest...

Percy had to shake himself out of his random thoughts about people being obsessed with red and yellow suits and lightning bolts. He quickly looked at the rest. There was a man in blue with a red 'S' as his emblem, an attractive female wearing what looked like fancy Amazonian armor, sword on her back with a rope at her side. Next was a guy in a black suit, with pointy ears. Weird. There was a Half-man half-machine. He wasn't even sure how that was possible. The next guy had a black and green suit with a mask over his eyes, he couldn't tell what it was on his chest honestly. It looked like a fat 'I' to him. As he looked at the last guy he instantly knew who it was.

It was him, the so-called 'King of Atlantis,' his father's trident on his back. Percy could fill himself fill with anticipation, that did not belong with just any mortal. It just wasn't right. He looked around and took a deep breath. If he was going to confront all these people, best not do it here, he'd have to wait for there to be less civilian lives in the way.

He wasn't paying attention to what they were talking about, but he did catch one question that a reporter asked them. "How do you guys walk around knowing you are gods among us regular folk? How are we supposed to live our lives knowing that there are beings like you guys seemingly around every corner, good and bad?"

Percy tried hard not to roll his eyes, they think these guys were gods? He's met gods, and none of these guys compared, at least not in his book. The female warrior looking lady was the one to step forward and answer the question, though.

"I assure you, I've spoken to the gods, and we are not they. We simply want to protect as many lives as possible from the growing threats that this planet faces. As long as there is a Justice League, you need not fear it. Instead, as my colleague preaches, look to it for hope. We fight today for a better tomorrow. We fight, so other do not have to. We take up arms, so that people may enjoy the pleasures of life. We are not gods, sir. We are just here to help."

As much as Percy wanted to scoff, he couldn't help but he impressed with her words. It really was a good speech, he had to give it to her. But it wasn't any of the other Leaguers he was worried about. All he wanted was to talk to the Atlantean.

He pushed his way to the back of the crowd and waited for the conference to finish, zoning out the rest. After about an hour, people started filing out, until he was alone in front of the building.

"Hey kid, want an autograph or something?" He looked over to see the guy in the green and black suit. Percy shook his head and walked up the steps, ignoring the man. The guy, however didn't like that very much.

"Hey kid, the Hall is about to close to tourists, maybe come back tomorrow? Until then, I can show you some sweet tricks that Green Lantern has learned with his powers. What'd you say?"

Percy was trying really hard not to punch this guy into next week, he wasn't here for him. He looked at the "Green Lantern" and tried his best for a polite smile, "I'm sorry, I won't be long sir. I just want to have a look around before they close, that's all. I'm not one for big crowds, is that alright?"

The guy looked embarrassed as he put his hands up. "Yeah, yeah, no problem kid. Just be out before they close, alright?" With that, he turned around and flew away, which freaked Percy out a little. Mortals can fly now. Good to know.

He turned around and shook his head, "Still doesn't mean he wasn't an idiot," he muttered.

As he opened the doors to the Hall of Justice, he saw two people inside. One was the Warrior Lady, the other was the Atlantean. He walked right up to both.

"Excuse me, would you happen to be King Arthur?" Percy asked politely.

The man looked down from his conversation with the women and smiled, nodding and extending his hand out for a shake. "Yes I am, and who might you be young man?" Percy didn't reach to shake his hand though, instead, he stared at the man, as if analyzing an opponent.

"I am here to see if you are worthy of the power which you wield. In combat, you ready?"

The man looked confused as the woman stepped in, hands raised. "Calm down child, we have no idea who you are or what you are talking about"

He looked at her and held up his hand. "I am not here for you miss, I don't even know who you are. I just know that this one," he gestured to him, "has something that does not belong to him. I'm here to see if he deserves it."

The woman was taken back. "You don't know who I am? I am Diana of Themyscira, Daughter of Zeus, also known as Wonder Woman. How could you not know me?"

Percy looked at the 'Daughter of Zeus,' and had to admit he could see the similarities; black hair, blue eyes, that ego. He laughed a little to himself, before speaking.

"It's good to meet you cuz, but right now I have things I need to focus on." Diana's face would've been priceless if not for the fact the Percy was doing everything in his power to keep his rage controlled.

"Are you prepared to be tested in combat to see if that weapon is in the hands of someone worthy of it?" He breathed, his eyes darkening. The Atlantean took a step back, unsure of what to think of the kid in front of him. He cleared his throat before speaking, "Are you referring to Poseidon's Trident that the King of Atlantis passed down to each generation?"

"No shit, Sherlock. That's my Father's Godly Weapon, are you ready yet?"

This time, both of them were caught off guard. "Poseidon has had no demigod children in thousands of years, why do you disgrace the gods and lie to us?" Diana spoke up.

Percy smirked, "You do not know everything, Daughter of Zeus. I do not wish to fight you, just let me see if he is noble enough to wield it."

"LIES! Why do you pretend to be the heir to my patron?" The Atlantean was getting in Percy's face, raising his voice to a yell. "You dare mock Atlantean heritage, claim to be the son of our God, what is it you wish to gain here, child."

"Get out of my face, and be warned, I am no child."

"You want the to test me? Go to hell. I have important things to do that is none of your concern. Leave us, pretender."

Percy smiled a creepy smile, "Been there, done that. You had your warning, what comes next is your trial by combat." Percy stepped back and raised his hands while the Amazon and Atlantean drew their weapons, getting in their battle stances.

Percy called forth all the water in the building, and a wall appeared surrounding the Trio. He then willed the water to compress as much as he could get it, and then froze it.

"I do not want any mortals to be caught up in our affairs." Percy then withdrew Riptide and his Black and Gold sword, and charged the two.

Arthur and Diana, being battle hardened, reacted quickly, blocking each of Percy's hard, quick precise strikes. They each gritted their teeth, they knew they wouldn't be able to hold back against the kid like they planned. Like a welled oiled machine, Arthur jumped back and raised his trident, while Diana jumped in, dual wielding her sword and Lasso, causing Percy to have to go on the defensive. "Damn, they're stronger than I thought," was all he had time to process before he got hit by a bolt of electricity, throwing him back.

He looked at Arthur, to see him pointing his trident, the tips cackling with electricity. He shook his head, shaking off the surprise attack. "Two can play that game," as his swords vanished and a sea green and silver trident appeared in his hands.

Percy then blitzed the two faster than before, silently regretting not getting those lessons in Godhood that his Dad had tried giving him. He was a firm believer that he would learn everything in time, but the pit didn't offer the type environment where he could practice all of his powers. He mostly relied on the powers he already had, along with his swordsmanship.

As Percy violently attacked with the trident, Arthur became hopelessly outmatched. Diana however, was going blow for blow with the former demigod. As Percy went in for a jab with his trident, Diana sidestepped and punched Percy hard, harder than he's ever been punched before, and Percy flew back, breaking his compressed ice barrier and flying out of the Hall of Justice.

As Percy reached the apex of his flight, he tried to control the water molecules in the air like he did against Lucifer, but he was still disoriented. Panicked, he started falling, and he hit the pavement, hard. He stood up and shook himself off, realizing he no longer had his trident. That did not matter though, he just had to summon it for it to appear. Before he could though, Diana landed in front of the new god, sword pointing directly at Percy.

"You cannot win, I have trained for centuries to hone my battle skills. You are but a child."

Percy growled, glaring at the Amazon. "I have bested beings far beyond your power. You are now just another obstacle. I did not want to fight you, cousin, but you give me no choice." Percy then dispersed his body into water molecules, appearing right behind the stunned Daughter of Zeus, and struck her with the staff of his newly summoned trident. Diana went flying, but she twisted her body in mid-air, dug her sword into the ground, and landed on her feet. Percy cursed, that should have been enough to knock the Amazon out, but here she was, still standing and clearly pissed off.

"You are going to regret that," before flying at Percy at speeds he could barely comprehend. If it wasn't for his battle reflexes, he would have been a pancake smeared on the road. Luckily though, he was barely able to dodge before getting rid of his trident. If he wanted to stand a chance against this woman, he would have to use what he was best at. He withdrew Riptide, and charged the Amazon. They traded blow for blow, and to the outside eye, it would almost seem like they were evenly matched. They would jab, parry, strike, almost on par with each other.

But Percy knew he was losing. The Amazon had him outclassed in speed and strength, and one wrong move from the Son of Poseidon would cost him. As Diana went an overhead strike, Percy saw his chance and used the first move ever taught to him. He caught her sword with his, slid his sword down to the hilt and twisted. Diana's sword went clattering away and Percy saw an opening. He went to strike, but the Amazon wasn't even fazed. She blocked his strikes with her silver bracelets, and before Percy knew what was happening, he was wrapped in gold glowing rope.

"The Lasso of Truth compels you to speak the truth. Who are you?" Percy struggled to free himself, but before he knew what was happening, he was talking.

"I am Perseus Jackson, Son and Heir to Poseidon." He stopped struggling and stared at the Amazon woman. The Amazon went silent before asking her next question.

"As far as I know, Poseidon has not had any demigod children recently. How are you his son?"

"I do not think I am from this world. On my world, I was Poseidon's only demigod son of this generation. After saving Olympus for a second time, he asked my to become his heir. I accepted, and then the fates decided that I was to be made a god. After receiving godhood, to fulfill a promise I made I went to Tartarus to track down the enemy, and after centuries I found the Doors of Death, and found myself on this world."

"You are a god? What are you the god of?" Percy winced, he didn't exactly get his domains yet and didn't want to say, but again he found himself talking against his will.

"I am the God of Heroes and Vengeance. I am the God of the Lost, the 15th Olympian. I am the Heir to the Ocean, and when my Father decides to not be a god anymore, or if dies, I will inherit his domains as God of the Ocean, Storms, and his Title as Earth Shaker."

Diana almost had an aneurism from what the kid in front of her told her. "You really are a god, and an Olympian at that? How was it that I was able to defeat you so easily?"

"Easily? I was fighting for my life! And my Father tried to teach me the basics of being a god, but I left for the Pit before he could. I am self taught, thank you very much."

Percy shot back. Diana laughed, which caught Percy off guard. "Lord Perseus, we must take you to Themyscira so we can meet with the gods. I am sure they will be more than willing to meet with you and, if they deem it necessary, they could teach you the basics. What do you say, Lord Perseus?"

Percy looked at the Daughter of Zeus in confusion. "Why would you help me? We just fought to the death like two minutes ago?"

"I respect you as a warrior, and the Lasso makes you speak the truth. You are indeed my cousin, even if you are from another world, and a god who does not know his own powers is not someone who should be walking the street. You say you saved Olympus a twice, and I could tell from what you were saying that you are not a bad person, but things are run a little differently on this world. For example, Olympus has had no threats recently, and I am the only demigod to be born in the last few thousand years. Plus, you could meet with the Poseidon of this world and have him explain to you why he gifted the Atlanteans with his trident. I think it would be beneficial to you. So what say you, Son of Poseidon?"

Percy thought about it for a few seconds before answering. "I am on a new Earth, with nobody to turn to for help. At the end of the day I want to help people, and if it takes people like you to save this world from threats, I need to be at my best. I will take up your offer, Daughter of Zeus. I hope we can put this transgression behind us and become allies sometime in the future."

Diana nodded before taking the Lasso off of Percy. "Good, we will leave for Themyscira as soon as you are ready. After your training, when we start accepting new members into the League, hopefully you can join. Until then, I will convince Arthur not to speak of this to anyone, or tell him who you really are. When the time is right, we will reveal you to everyone. How does that sound Perseus?"

"Please, just Percy. I'm really not all that into that 'Lord' stuff either. Thank you, Diana. I'm ready whenever you are to leave."

Diana smiled at the new god. "Lucky for you I'm ready now, little cousin."