Percy spit out about a mouthful of teeth on the ground, clutching his sword. He glanced behind him to see Michael clutching his shoulder and then turned back at the titan Hyperion. Faster than he could blink, Hyperion turned into a ball of light and there was a cut opening up on his side and Hyperion was behind him.
“I honestly don’t know why step dad is so interested in you. You’re still way too weak.” Hyperion sneered at him, practically fidgeting with his sword and not sparing a second glance.
“You don’t have any nature spirits to help you, not this time Jackson.”
Percy grit his teeth. Fighting a titan was not on his Tartarus bingo card but it seems a lot of things that happened down here weren't on his bingo card. Frankly, he was getting frustrated. After what he did to Ahkyls, he told himself he wasn’t going to use his powers for things that weren’t natural, but when he looked at Hyperion and the injured Michael Yew behind him, quickly losing blood he knew he had a choice to make. Maybe he did this action out of guilt, out of a desperation to finally save someone, to have a clear conscience (he knew that wasn’t it – another excuse), or maybe he just had enough. Ever since he did what he did his power itched to be let out, it was uncontrollable (acting on its own?– no that doesn’t make sense).
It’s safe to say when he finally snapped out of his mind and let loose, it was conveniently when Hyperion bursted into a walking fire, only recognizable by his armor and helmet. It’s also safe to say not even Hyperion was able to comprehend what happened when his entire body just… stopped.
The flames were still and Percy had his arm stretched out but no, this wasn’t blood or water or anything like that. He couldn’t feel the churning in his gut, all he felt was a burning tingling feeling rushing up his arm.
“What…?” Percy looked at his arm in wonder. He looked up at Hyperion to see he was struggling with… something.
“What did you do, demigod?! You’re a son of Poseidon! What d–”
A sharp echoing laugh boomed throughout Tartarus. A shadowy, dirty looking figure formed from the ground in armor. “Well well well Perseus! I did not expect for your domains to have evolved this quickly. What have you been doing to that poor Phlegethon?” Percy’s head shot behind and as soon as he saw him (it? He didn’t know and he wasn’t in the state of mind to think on that) fear seemed to latch on and fuel every part of his body.
“No need for fear. I just wanted to check your progress, Grandson.”
“‘M not your grandson.” He said with a shaky voice.
“Of course not, but adding all those greats is definitely not convenient, Perseus. I’m proud of you. I didn’t think you’d expand your domain again so quickly. I have to say I am very intrigued. How far do you think you could go? If this is it for just a puny demigod what would happen if it was your precious Annabeth? Or maybe Nico, he was a fine specimen to experiment with for a while but unfortunately he was more of a sad pet. But you–” Percy imagined if Tartarus had eyes they’d be looking him up and down right now. He let out an audible gulp. His fear quickly switched to rage after his brain caught up with what he(it? whatever) said. He was talking about Nico like he was some sort of pet, like a human experiment. And not to mention him threatening Annabeth? The fear in his gut was replaced by a flare of rage.
“Have all this darkness within you. Perseus – to destroy – fitting is it not? Such raging darkness in a son of Poseidon is…unusual. I want to see what you can become.” Tartarus raised its hand(?), “Come Hyperion, let him be won’t you? After all the work he’s put in, I wouldn't want his reunion with his friend to be cut so short, at least for now.” Percy looked back at Michael and rushed towards him, ripping the sleeve of his shirt to try and help him. “You can sink your teeth into him later,” Hyperion only let out a grunt but by the way he felt a gaze into the core of his soul, he had a feeling Tartarus was talking to him “You bleed red with traces of gold in them Grandson. I wonder what awaits. Will you bleed gold ichor, or vanish in a blaze of golden dust?”
The implication sent shivers up his shine. Honestly, that explained a lot. Michael never explained why he had dark fingertips and unusual sharp nails. As Tartarus and Hyperion left like they were never there, Percy picked up Michael and started heading towards the Phlegethon. He had to get out of his place and back up to the seven and Annabeth ASAP. Percy already felt like a monster for all the people that died for him, for leading them to their deaths, for leaving Annabeth all alone (Just like Luke the voice deep within his head reminds him) he wasn’t interested in becoming a literal one too, no fucking way.
I'm pretty sure this is like pure fanfic stuff but I like the idea of it a lot. The idea that the reason Percy can control things like blood and poison is because while he was in Tartarus his domains evolved and expanded out of the ones his father gave him.
And basically its one of the reasons demigods are so powerful, because they can cross and seep into another God's domain (not easily of course) but they aren't restricted by being a god because they have mortal blood within them.
So that had me thinking a little bit. If Percy (and by extension other characters but it would be a little bit tricker to apply it to) falling into Tartarus where he is pushed to such extremes that the capabilities of his domains shift, then what the hell could he be capable of?
Not to mention possible blessings from the gods and Primordials. (Yeah this is lowkey apart of my Tartarus AU because I think I want to write that one first. Maybe I'll just switch and swap until I finish one lol).
Because I'm not gonna lie I could lowkey see Percy being offered blessings from multiple and I have a few ideas.
But just as a normal demigod what could he domains expand to? Would it be a stretch for fire to become apart of his domain due to the exposure and use of the phlegethon?
I've already thought about the basic things people usually do, pulling magma from the earth, ice manipulation, poison, blood, pulling water from thin air, etc etc.
But I want to do something different because I do want to incorporate "dark!percy" into it somehow.
But not like super op, edgy. dark Percy because realistically he wouldn't be like that. I just see him as more of "falling for you" type if you've ever read that.
So like if you have any ideas PLEASE comment I have none. I really just want to explore his powers out of the basics. (Maybe to can tap into different epithets from Poseidon and from other pantheons because syncretism??
An AU where Percy falls into Tartarus alone (Percy and Nico parallels would go crazy for this ngl) but when he gets there like its actually sort of a system there.
There's like (very few) demigods, and like actual gods there (original gods though probably) and like beings that are apart of two different pantheons and just like beings too dangerous or demigods too dangerous and the gods just chucked them in there.
And if I wanted to take it a step further maybe demigods like Michael Yew and Ethan Nakamura who fell from the bridge and olympus respectfully ended up falling into tartarus (and somehow didn't die for plot reasons) or like maybe even Luke was sent there after his death because the gods def didn't want his reincarnated soul running around.
And so Percy's just traveling around there while he's down there and meeting all these people (some of which were just punished by existing) and not to mention the natural exploration of his powers.
But I wouldn't want it to be like an edgy, op, Annabeth breaks up with Percy type thing nothing like that.
it would also be interesting to see how differently I could get the prophecy to play out like
'the oath to keep with a final breath'
and
'to storm or fire'
or even 'and foes bear arms to the doors of death' because i feel like if i wrote bob into this fic i probably wouldn't have him last until the doors of death.
Also the effects of Percy going into Tartarus alone on the rest of the seven + Nico which is always fun.
Lowkey a Percy, Michael (Yew), and Ethan trio traveling through Tartarus could be a fun dynamic to explore.
Post-tartarus Percy and Annabeth and even post tartarus Nico weren't written well at all. Tartarus makes them manic, always on edge, jumpy. This is PTSD and it doesn't just go away. Not to mention, they lost Bob and Damasen.
Yes, sure, one could argue there weren't many opportunities for Rick to explore how Tartarus changed Percy in Heroes of Olympus series. There still should have been mentions.
Rick focused on Bob and Damasen part for a bit and then never again. It's like after Tartarus arc, Percy and Annabeth were back to being themselves, which is such a character assassination. Here are a few ways in which I think Tartarus changed Percy:
PART 1-PERCY
Percy becomes hypervigilant at all times.
He can barely sleep, and whenever he does, he is always affected by terrible nightmares.
He feels extremely guilty about not being able to save Bob and Damasen and hence is now extremely protective of his other friends and family.
He no longer feels at all safe in his cabin or at camp and avoids it since Hera abducting him from there led to the whole thing.
He spends large amounts of time away from the camp and avoids other demigods because he is constantly afraid he is going to hurt someone.
Percy only ever feels truly safe by the sea .
Percy knows how delicate Sally and Paul act around him, and he hates it and hates himself for it. They don't say a word even when his screams wake them up. In fact, they just sit beside him, holding his hand and letting him cry or scream. Mostly, he just finds himself shutting down.
Poseidon also makes his own protective tendencies known, and when Percy gets too manic to stay anywhere, he whisks him away to Atlantis to calm him and give him comfort.
Every night, Percy finds a place to look at the stars and repeat the same message : Bob says hello.
He becomes an entirely different person when attacked when fighting monsters. A killing machine. It scares most people especially Annabeth.
Percy becomes a lot more aloof and likes being by himself (so he doesn't have to bear the responsibility for protecting someone other than him for a while)
He becomes a bit more pensive and talks less than usual.
He hates his own power but doesn't shy away from using it in dangerous situations. But this leaves him with a long internal struggle.
He begins to think of himself as monstrous.
He can't feel at ease without feeling Riptide in his grasp.
Somedays the nightmares, the memories get so worse that he has to make himself bleed to take the worst of it away.
He becomes skeptical of most things: people, and food and objects.
Everyone makes sure not to bring Calypso in the same room as him lest he kill her then and there. It takes him a long time to forgive her.
Percy is now so good at sensing monsters that he is always ten steps ahead of everyone.
The worst of it is Percy's constant need to fight something. He spars with multiple strong opponents to at least make it a bit challenging for him. It makes him feel like Ares, and he hates it.
Percy's first true genuine smile is when he finds out he is going to have a baby sister.
Will cover Annabeth's and then Nico's in the next parts. This is enough ptsd for all of us for one day.