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Pain pierced through Percy's being as he collided with the sea, its tempestuous waters wrapping around him as his legs gave way to a familiar tail.
He blinked his eyes open, watching his blurry vision dissipate to reveal his home. The water greeted him like an old friend, and he allowed himself a moment to revel in his familiarity.
That moment passed in an instant as the pain subsided. Percy shot through the ocean. He grew up in the military base, he could find it with his eyes closed.
He instantly found himself in the belly of his army. Below him, Merman soldiers moved about, arming themselves with projectiles. He could see the foragers at work, keeping their artillery loaded.
"Stop this," he shouted as he inched closer, voice booming across the waters, albeit coarse. It was shocking to hear himself after so long.
The base grew thick with whispers and tension. The apprehension of his soldiers was evident.Of course. The prince had returned to the sea.
Through the hubbub of chaos that plagued the army at his return, emerged a figure moving at rapid speed.
"Your Highness," the general swam towards him, giving a light bow, "I-"
"Ceasefire, commander," Percy said, not giving him a chance to speak. He could hear the urgency in the general's tone, the anxiety in his posture. But right now, that was not his concern.
This war had to be thwarted, it began due to him and the responsibility of stopping it rested solely atop his shoulders.
He'd always hated bloodshed, a sentiment drilled into him as a prince. His job was to protect his subjects and guard the ocean to the best of his ability. Putting them in harm's way was not correct. He would not stand for this.
The ocean...it trusted him. He must have passed its test. The incessant voices had ceased in his mind, allowing him to speak directly to the sea seamlessly.
It was different now, as opposed to when he was on land. Something changed the second he set foot back in the ocean. It burnt through him, raw, unadulterated might. It melted into his bones...it was within him now. The ocean was now his. And he was his princess's.
"I..I cannot, your highness. The king commanded us to-"
"And I'm commanding you to stop," he replied, raising his brows, "If this war was waged for me, I have authority to stop it."
"But-"
A sudden, strange feeling overtook Percy. His blood tingled, goosebumps erupting across his flesh as his senses. He could sense every inch of the ocean, every living being within it. But now, rage was all that he could feel, as his senses were flooded with a twinge of iron.
Power sources are woven into the essence of their wielder. They were tied to each other inexplicably.
Perhaps that was why he couldn't stand to be away from his princess, her breath was his life force. It fuelled him.
If commanding the ocean was his birthright, then she was his destiny.
His senses sang with rage as he felt her blood spilt into his domain. He knew it instinctively...she was hurt. She was injured. It was his fault. This war was raging because of him.
His thoughts formed before he had a chance to regain his composure, the ocean heeding his command as he flexed his fingertips.
Soldiers at the base camp were swept up in invisible cages, the general included, being carried up to the surface by a torrent. Screams were muffled within the water.
To any onlookers, his face was thunderous. Green eyes betraying the depths of his rage.
"Perseus," a voice sounded from behind him.
He whipped around to find his father, a look of pure confusion on his face, "my son..."
"Father," Percy bowed, averting his eyes. How could he face his father after everything?
"You...you were chosen. You found your power source," he stated, posing it as a question. Poseidon clutched his trident closer, an echo of the king's power.
"I have, father," he admitted.
"That princess...the one you used to dream about. She's the reason you went on land? The source of your power?" he asked.
Percy nodded, "Yet she is much more than that. She's the ruler the world needs..."
"Son-"
"Father, let me speak, please," Percy interrupted, raising his head, "This war was disastrous. The rift between land and sea...it's unfounded. How can we allow our people to be hated and hated so brazenly? It's wrong. I refuse to allow such...fear to fester between our realms. My princess deserves to be celebrated across the world, not heralded as a monster within my own home. Our kingdoms deserve harmony, our children deserve peace."
"I agree," Poseidon smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling as he looked at his son, "The late queen Athena agreed with me as well...unfortunately...our treaty died with her. And her sister did not share the same sentiments."
"That is not a reason for war."
"I didn't sanction the war, Percy. My words were twisted. Queen Minerva has made it her quest to destroy my throne or....should I say your throne?"
"What?" Percy blinked, taken aback.
Poseidon cupped his son's cheeks, pride shining within his eyes, "The ocean chose you, Percy. It's time for you to fulfil your destiny," he handed him his mighty trident with a sad smile.
The object felt foreign in Percy's hand, he seemed small compared to its massive size
"Stop the war, son. Honour the late queen's treaty. Heal the world," his father whispered.
"Treaty?''
"It seems your betrothal to the princess was foretold by the stars," Poseidon chuckled, "Athena did truly, always have a plan."
"Father I...cannot," he pushed the trident forward. How could he wield the symbol of his father's status? Could he bear that responsibility?
"You are my son, there is nothing you cannot do," Poseidon smiled, placing an arm on the boy's shoulder, "Today, I heard you speak like a true king. You are ready, the sea is never wrong."
Percy took a deep breath, clutching tightly onto the gold trident before him. He...might not be ready, but he promised his princess he would stop the war and that he would return to her side. In his hands, he held the tool to ensure it happened, and he would not take that for granted.
After all, her blood was still in his home.
Percy nodded, thanking his father. Holding his trident, he rose to the surface.
The horizon shimmered before him, and screams and metals echoed across it. He saw the humans he'd befriended as he'd learnt to be a combatant. Behind him stood the brethren he'd grown up with, the soldiers who taught him how to wield a sword.
His eyes searched desperately for his princess, yet there was no sight of her. He could feel her presence, distant yet close.
Blood pounded in his ears as the brutality continued, a rampage of blood on his ocean's shores. How could it come to this? How much longer could he allow his homes to be at war? To fear each other?
This had to stop now.
Percy's eyes shut tight with concentration as he raised his arms high above himself, a wall of water, rippling waves emerged from below him. It birthed a wall, a creation of raw power as it tore through the ocean shore. A barrier between land and sea, to prevent any more damage.
His army turned towards him, some shivering in fright. They had never seen their crown prince like this, shining as if he were a God himself.
The prince of the seven seas' stood atop the massive tidal wave, green eyes betraying the depths of his rage. The world seemed to still as he spoke, raw power rolling off of him in waves. The earth seemed to quake in anticipation.
"I am Prince Perseus, the sea bows to me," Percy's voice boomed, rich and velvety as he raised the trident high above his head, "I ask only one thing of all of you, ceasefire."
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Apoligies for the late update people! I was having major writer's block with this chapter- so that's why it turned out this crappy XD
There's like 3ish chapters left so...grab some popcorn I guess? Or maybe a water bottle makes more sense.
(Posted 2/2/24- 12:24am)
Stay tuned!!
—S