DA : Chapter 56: New Home II

He thundered off the cliff and took to the night sky, his new home as his body became one with the darkness. She watched him fly away with pride before she sighed as she looked down. The shadows seemed to seep together to form a puddle below her before she sank, leaving the cliff without a trace …

...

The shadows condensed to form Medusa again as she arrived at a familiar garden. She turned to the sight of the infamous Tree of Golden Apples. Off to the side the four Hesperides stood slack jawed with a grinning Percy beside them, his wings hidden and hood up to hide his face for the time being as they all stared at the tree. Still wrapped around the tree was Ladon but the massive dragon's hundred heads all were trained to the same spot.

Sitting comfortably on the grass was Hestia with several of Ladon's heads resting around her, one even curled up partially on her lap as giving the dragon equivalent of a purr as Hestia, her wings also hidden, giggled and scratched the dragon's nose.

Medusa chuckled with amusement as she walked to Percy's side and watched as Hestia seemed to whisper to Ladon, the dragon purring and blowing snorts of approval before she, like Medusa had before, kissed his nose.

From the kiss a crimson flames spread over Ladon but the dragon made no gesture of alarm.

Soon the entire dragon's body was awash with the flames for several seconds without actually burning the floor or tree even as the temperature rose to the point the Hesperides were all sweating while Percy and Medusa remained as cool as cucumbers.

After the flames dispersed Ladon was revealed with a new color. His scales gleamed like molten rubies with steam billowing off the dragon, his glowing orange eyes taking himself in.

Then the massive dragon stood up, the ground trembling at his movement as he uncoiled himself from the tree for the first time since being posted as the guard.

Then, with a swipe of his left foreclaw, the dragon unearthed the tree, roots and all, before picking it up with several heads while the largest of the heads turned to face Hestia. She nodded as she waved her hand as a portal of fire opened before him, raising the ambient temperature even more.

Good thing Percy erected a barrier to hide power for this or else the Olympians would have come running. Ladon didn't hesitate to walk through the portal, heading to the same location Medusa had sent Pegasus to. Once the dragon was through the portal closed and Hestia walked up to Percy, the silent Hesperides watching on in stunned silence.

Hestia giggled at Percy's smirk before giving him a quick kiss making Medusa a little jealous but she kept it hidden as the pair separated.

"We'll be waiting," Hestia said before she disappeared in a swirl of fire making Medusa breathe a little easier thanks to Hestia's chosen form of transport.

Hestia was still new to the power she had and tended to burn her surroundings when flashing so she stuck to flame teleportation for now … not that any of the new protogenoi were much better at the moment.

"So …" Medusa started as she glanced at the stunned girls with their eyes glued to the former location of Hera's little tree. "What now?"

"Now, I make good on my promise to Atlas," Percy said as he started to walk and Medusa fell in step behind him and slightly to his right.

She could hear the Hesperides shake themselves from their surprise and start to follow them making Medusa curious so she leaned closer and whispered to Percy.

"So why aren't they calling to Olympus or anything since we basically took the only reason they are here?"

"Hestia convinced them that her sister wanted the tree moved. They weren't that hard to convince to stay quiet and they don't remember the last time I was here. Now I think they're just too curious to see what I'll do to bother contacting the Olympians," he replied under his breath, too low for anyone other than Medusa to hear.

She nodded in understanding as they made their way up the mountain and to Atlas, the titan still in his personalized prison while turned to their direction. No doubt that he sensed the spikes in power with Ladon's change and the portal but then his eyes fell on Percy's approaching form.

"So …you've returned," the titan said, sounding surprised that Percy actually kept his word.

"Of course," Percy said before grinning as Atlas got a good read to his new power as Percy got close enough, even while suppressed.

Medusa snickered as the titan paled, probably now just realizing just how much of a threat Percy was … granted at the moment he only felt like a strong titan on par with Kronos.

Now that she thought about it as she glanced back at the Hesperides, the four seemed to be standing on shaky legs while giving nervous glances to Percy.

'My-my, it seems my King has become quite the imposing figure,' she thought while barely restraining herself from licking her lips. She shook off those thoughts though before focusing back on Percy and Atlas.

"So, get ready to move over a little," Percy said casually as he walked up to the titan's side.

Without warning Percy gave Atlas a shoulder shove, pushing the surprised titan a couple of meters away while he barely kept himself from falling over. All the while Percy grunted a little as the weight of the skies dropped on him alone barely even getting him to slouch. Atlas approached with an incredulous look, eyeing Percy up and down.

"Just who are you?" Atlas asked with suspicion in his voice. "Nothing short of a god could hold that and certainly none bare Hercules or myself could with such ease."

"Oh please," Percy said as he looked at Atlas. "First off, Ouranus used to hold the skies with his thoughts alone and it was your father with his three brothers that wanted to play with the big kids so Ouranus divided the task between them. I can handle it easily."

"But who are you?" Atlas persisted as his daughters neared him while still looking at Percy and now Medusa nervously.

"Hmm," Percy hummed before grinning, his fangs flashing as he spoke again. "First that one order. I order you, Atlas, to take the portal opened for you and upon arrival, you will swear on the Styx to serve Rhea faithfully until she deems you fit to release from service."

Atlas looked enraged at the trick but was stunned into silence as Percy flicked his hood back, letting Atlas see his face for the first time since all those years ago. "Yep, it's been a while big guy but we can catch up later."

With that a portal of shadows formed behind Atlas and before he could try to protest in any way Medusa moved. Launching herself like a cannon ball she dashed forward and jumped at Atlas before he could even notice her.

With both feet she kicked Atlas in the chest, surprising the titan with her strength and sending him careening back through the portal before he could so much as utter a sound.

"Did you need to do that?" Percy asked in amusement as she looked back at him and grinned.

"I didn't want to hear him complaining about being unfair," she replied sweetly before looking at the silent Hesperides. "And you girls can follow after your father."

"Why? What are you going to do with us?" one of them asked with narrowed eyes but Medusa could tell that all four were terrified at the moment.

"Well do you really want to stick around?" Medusa asked with a shrug. "Your father isn't here and you can't guard the tree … just makes me wonder what will happen with you four in the hands of the Olympians now without any excuse." That got to them as all four shiver in fear and disgust, knowing the more than likely treatment they would receive if taken to Olympus.

"O-okay …" another one said as all four moved through the portal.

Once they were gone Percy allowed it to close before looking at Medusa again.

"You didn't need to scare them like that," he said in a slightly reprimanding tone but she replied with a pout.

"I wasn't lying though," she defended getting a shrug from him. "So what now?" she asked as she moved closer to him while looking out at the city off the mountain.

"We wait, Rhea and Thalia will handle the rest," he said as he rolled his arms to get them in a more comfortable position.

"Fine …" she drawled out as she sat down in front of him and the pair remained silent for a while.

"…"

"…"

"… So wanna play I spy?"

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Don't forget to throw some power Stones, to keep the story going.

...

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