The smell of salt and freshly cut flowers was stronger now, carried by the sea breeze. The sky was that indecent blue, shining as if Apollo were showing off just because it was a festive day. In the distance, satyrs were still trying to keep up with Apollo on the guitar, and honestly, they were failing miserably.
Ikki was already considering making another joke about the off-key tune when he saw Leo running down the sandy path, his messy brown hair even more disheveled by the wind.
"Dude, you're here! I've been looking for you for half an hour!" Leo stopped, panting, hands on his knees. "Grover said you were hiding on purpose."
"He's right," Ikki said, not moving, a half-smile on his face. Artemis and Diana exchanged knowing glances.
"Well, come on already. Sally's gathering the groomsmen at the wooden cabin near the beach. Percy's freaking out, and you need to see this."
Jason and Frank came up right behind him.
"Grover's already there," Jason informed. "Nico too. You were the only one missing."
"I still don't get why so many groomsmen…" Leo added, commenting, "First, he just called Grover and you, Ikki, right? But then he realized he'd hurt the others' feelings and decided to call the whole crew. Now there's six."
"Seven," Frank corrected. "You forgot Tyson."
"Oh, right!" Leo snapped his fingers. "Seven."
Ikki let out a quiet laugh, picturing the scene. Percy trying to balance friendship politics and family ties as if it were easy.
Sophia, still by his side, smiled. "Go, son. And try not to tease your friend too much. It's his day."
"Me? Tease?" Ikki put on an innocent face. Artemis snorted a laugh. Diana just crossed her arms, with that air of someone who knew all his lies beforehand.
That's when Sally appeared, coming down the path with little Estelle in her arms, Percy's three-year-old sister, with dark brown hair tied in two pigtails and huge blue eyes. She let out a happy squeal when she saw Ikki.
"Unca Ikki!"
Ikki smiled and scooped the girl up before she could jump on her own.
"You look beautiful, little princess," he said, spinning her in the air. Estelle giggled.
Sally laughed, her navy-blue dress fluttering. "Sorry for the delay. Percy's about to have a heart attack, and he asked you guys to get over there quick."
"Everyone there already?" Jason asked.
"Just missing you guys. Grover, Nico, Tyson, and Leo are already waiting."
Ikki set Estelle back in Sally's arms. "Alright. Let's go before he bails and swims off into the ocean."
Before leaving, he turned to Artemis and Diana.
"You two gonna be okay without me for a few minutes?"
Artemis lifted her chin. "If you take too long, I'll organize this wedding myself."
"And I'll make it rain arrows if you try to run," Diana added, smiling in that way that would make a dragon think twice before provoking her.
Ikki winked. "I'll keep that in mind."
Zeus gave him a respectful nod, and Sophia, one last hug.
"Go. And try not to knock over the altar before the ceremony," she whispered.
…
The wooden cabin was a few meters from the beach, decorated with shells and garlands of leaves and white flowers. When Ikki walked in, Percy was facing away, desperately trying to fix his tie in the mirror, his jacket slightly crooked and his rebellious hair insisting on staying messy.
Nico was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, with a faint amused smile. Leo had already unbuttoned his suit and was sitting in a chair with a glass of juice. Tyson took up most of the couch, holding a tiny bouquet of flowers compared to his massive hands. Grover was nervously picking at the hem of his dress shirt.
"Finally!" Percy exclaimed, turning when he saw Ikki enter. "Mom, can you give us a minute?"
Sally kissed her son's forehead and left with Estelle in her arms, closing the door behind her.
Percy took a deep breath and pointed at Ikki.
"If you make any jokes right now, I swear by Poseidon I'll drown you in the sea."
Ikki raised his hands in surrender. "No jokes. For now."
Percy huffed and looked at his reflection. "I look like an idiot, don't I?"
"You always have," Nico said.
"But today you're a fancy idiot," Jason added, earning laughs.
Percy sighed, half-laughing, half-tense. "Thanks, guys. Seriously. I know everyone's got better things to do than stand here as groomsmen just because I'm ridiculously indecisive."
"Percy," Ikki said, stepping closer and fixing his tie with a precise tug. "Stop the drama. It's your day. We wouldn't be anywhere else."
"Really?" Percy asked, and in the depths of his eyes, there was still the twelve-year-old kid who stole the master bolt and faced gods.
"Really," Ikki confirmed. "Now breathe, because in twenty minutes, you'll be married."
Percy made a face. "Gods… I need water."
"No, man," Grover said with a nervous smile. "You need to stay dry at least until the 'I do.'"
The tension dissolved after the last joke, as expected when that group got together. Tyson gave Percy a friendly pat on the back—nearly knocking him over.
"You're gonna be great," he said with a wide grin.
Leo raised his glass. "To the guy who thought he'd never get a girlfriend and is now marrying the most stubborn and awesome girl in Long Island."
"And who still puts up with you, which says a lot about her," Nico added, with his usual dry humor.
Percy laughed, his face finally relaxing. He looked at each of them, as if wanting to freeze that moment in his memory. And maybe he did.
"Thanks, really," he said, his voice low but steady. "For everything. For every crazy thing, every mission, every night I thought I was gonna die, and you guys were there. I… wouldn't be who I am without you."
Ikki leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, a faint smile on his face. His blue eyes caught the sunlight streaming through the window, and for a moment, Percy remembered when they were thirteen, facing monsters together for the first time. Now here they were. Grown men. Survivors of wars, challenges, and, toughest of all, life.
"You were always you, man," Ikki said, his voice soft, as if speaking more to Percy than the others. "We were just there to make sure you remembered it sometimes."
Percy nodded, swallowing hard.
Grover discreetly wiped an eye. "Alright. Enough of this perfume commercial vibe. Let's go?"
Jason clapped his hands. "Let's do this. Before Leo comes up with another speech idea."
"Hey!" Leo protested but got to his feet.
They all left the wooden cabin together, following the sandy path to the altar set up on the beach. The smell of sea air mixed with flowers filled the air, and the sound of waves breaking gently provided the perfect backdrop.
The scene was breathtaking.
The altar, built with light wood logs adorned with garlands of leaves and white flowers, faced the ocean. A wooden walkway covered in petals led to it. On either side, rows of chairs decorated with light blue and silver ribbons were filled with guests.
The Greek and Roman gods sat in the front rows, in human forms, though anyone could feel the powerful aura that blurred the air around them. Zeus was imposing, a faint smile on his lips. Poseidon, in beige shorts and a white shirt—because of course the Sea God broke protocol—was chatting with Hades.
The Norse gods were further back, invited because Ikki had asked Percy not to leave Thor out, since the two were good friends. Speaking of which, Thor was already drinking something, Loki was whispering with Apollo (which didn't seem like a good idea), and Odin observed everything with his single eye, his expression neutral.
The campers, older now, filled most of the chairs.
The bridesmaids were already gathered near the altar. Annabeth, Thalia, Sadie, Zia, Silena, and Emily were smiling as they exchanged quiet comments.
Magnus Chase appeared, waving to Annabeth and settling into a chair with his girlfriend, Alex Fierro, who looked absolutely stunning in an emerald-green dress. Annabeth smiled at her cousin, and he gave her a thumbs-up in support.
Chiron was further back, talking to Dionysus, who was… relatively sober, thanks to his wife being there and him keeping things in check.
The only absence was the bride.
The groomsmen took their places at the altar, with Percy in the center, and the sun finally high in the sky, shining shamelessly as if it wanted to bless the event.
Ikki stood next to Jason, hands in his pockets, the wind messing up his long hair. Artemis and Diana sat among the guests, a faint smile on their lips.
The ceremony was about to begin.
The soft murmur of the crowd quieted as a middle-aged man in a light gray suit and a calm expression walked to the altar. Father Callahan, a mortal who, without ever fully knowing, had spent his life occasionally stumbling into myths and legends, adjusted his glasses and greeted Percy with a firm handshake. He positioned himself at the center, opened a small dark-covered book, and nodded to the row of musicians to the left of the altar.
The sound of a guitar began, soft, precisely plucked. Soon, it was joined by the delicate notes of a cello and a few flute tones. The melody, light, melancholic, and beautiful in a way that tugged at the heart, floated in the air, blending with the smell of sea air and flowers.
Everyone stood.
The gods rose too. Poseidon paused his conversation with Hades and stood beside Zeus, who crossed his arms, a discreet smile returning to his lips. Artemis and Diana exchanged a quick, curious glance. Even Thor stopped drinking.
Then, to the sound of an instrumental version of "Can't Help Falling in Love," Rachel Dare appeared.
She walked slowly down the wooden walkway, her arm linked with her father's, a man with stiff posture but teary eyes. Rachel wore a light, flowing white dress with subtle golden details that shimmered when touched by the sunlight. Her red hair was half-up, with loose strands falling over her shoulders. No veil. Rachel was always the type to never hide her face.
Percy forgot to breathe.
And it was ridiculous, because he'd known her for years, had faced cyclopes, dracaenae, harpies, titans, and even an underworld killer bunny by her side, but there, now, she seemed like something else. Or maybe it was him who was different.
Ikki gave a faint, genuine smile, the rare kind Percy always recognized. It was the kind of expression that said *I told you so* without needing words.
Annabeth, at the front of the bridesmaids, smiled too. Not forced or resigned, but a small, sincere smile, full of good and bad memories, and acceptance. Life went on. And sometimes, it knew how to be beautiful.
Rachel and her father reached the altar. Mr. Dare, who, though not Percy's biggest fan, had learned to respect him, placed his hand over Percy's and Rachel's together before stepping back. His eyes, so much like his daughter's, were red as he took his seat.
The music softened and stopped.
"You may be seated," Father Callahan said, his voice calm, the sound of the waves serving as background music.
The guests obeyed, not without the slight chaos of chairs creaking in the sand, Leo dropping his water bottle, and Thor letting out a discreet burp.
Father Callahan opened his book and looked at Percy and Rachel.
"We are gathered here under the sky and before the sea to celebrate the union of two souls who have chosen to walk life's path together. Percy and Rachel," he smiled, "you've lived adventures most of us could never imagine. But above all, you've chosen love—love strong enough to survive storms, wars, impossible missions, and, well, gods with questionable tempers."
Soft laughter rippled through the crowd.
"May today be the beginning of a new journey. May the waves carry away old pains and bring winds of hope. And may the sky witness this choice."
Ikki crossed his arms and watched Percy, his friend standing there with his eyes fixed on Rachel as if nothing else in the world existed. This was the guy who had faced cyclones, curses, and his own fears, but now seemed more nervous than in any battle.
The priest turned to Rachel.
"Rachel Elizabeth Dare, do you take Perseus Jackson as your lawful husband, promising to love, respect, and share with him every storm and calm that life brings?"
Rachel took a deep breath, her green eyes shining, and smiled.
"Yes. With all my heart."
The priest then looked at Percy.
"Perseus Jackson, do you take Rachel Elizabeth Dare as your lawful wife, promising to love, protect, and share with her every adventure, whether in the mortal world or beyond?"
Percy gave a smile—that half-crooked, half-nervous one he used before doing something reckless on missions—and answered, his voice hoarse: "Yes. And probably with a few bonus battles."
More soft laughter. Even Hades raised an eyebrow, intrigued.
Father Callahan raised his hands.
"Then, before the gods, men, and the sea, I pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride."
Percy didn't even wait for the invitation to finish. He pulled Rachel by the waist and kissed her. A real kiss—not the brief, formal kind. But one that said *we survived all this. And it was worth it.*
Applause erupted. Tyson shouted a "YAAAAAY!" that echoed across the beach. Leo whistled. Annabeth smiled broadly. Silena hugged Sadie and Zia. Grover wiped his eyes again, pretending it was the wind.
Ikki just nodded, his smile still subtle.
This was how it was supposed to be.
The music returned, now livelier, as Percy and Rachel walked down the walkway hand in hand, guests throwing white petals around them. And for a moment, the world, full of monsters, complicated gods, and suicidal missions, seemed just… beautiful.
The white petals still danced in the air, carried by the salty breeze from the sea, as Percy and Rachel crossed the wooden path to the circle of flowers set up ahead, where their friends awaited. The smell of sea air mixed with the scent of fresh flowers and damp wood made everything feel ethereal, as if that stretch of beach had been plucked from a good dream.
The music stayed light, now with guitars and flutes alternating in a lively but delicate melody. Nothing overdone. Nothing tacky. Just enough to blend with the sound of waves breaking on the sand.
"Congrats, man." Leo was the first to approach Percy, giving him a quick, slightly awkward hug, the kind only Leo Valdez could pull off. "And congrats, Rachel. Now Percy officially has a saner soul by his side. And one who draws better than him, which, let's be honest, isn't hard."
Rachel laughed, a light, genuine laugh that reminded Percy of when they were teens running from monsters in New York. He squeezed her hand gently.
Grover came up next, his eyes still a bit red but with that smile of someone who could smell something good in the air.
"You two…" He sniffled. "This is so freaking beautiful. And I'm not crying again, it was the wind."
He wiped his eyes with his shirt sleeve. Tyson gave him a pat on the back, and the satyr nearly stumbled.
"Happy wedding!" Tyson shouted, all excited. "Can we eat cake now?"
"Soon, big guy," Percy said, laughing.
Annabeth approached quietly, offering a small, sincere smile.
"You deserve this, Seaweed Brain. Both of you do."
Rachel was the one who pulled her into a tight hug, surprising everyone. And Annabeth didn't hesitate to hug back. They stayed like that for a moment, the sound of waves and instruments filling the silence between them.
Ikki approached last. The man had a serene expression, his long hair swaying gently in the breeze. He wore that calm smile Percy knew well, the kind of someone who saw things beyond the moment but knew how to respect the beauty of the now.
"So this is how it ends, huh?" Ikki said, his voice low but with a slight teasing tone.
Percy raised an eyebrow.
"Ends?"
"The 'we'll be forever young and reckless saving the world' phase," Ikki finished, placing a hand on Percy's shoulder. "Now comes the part where we still save the world… but also have a life with jobs, wives, and all that."
Rachel laughed again, and Percy did too. Deep down, they both knew Ikki was right.
Jason appeared right behind Ikki.
He greeted Percy and Rachel with a respectful nod and a proud smile.
"You two deserve this. And, for the record…" He looked at Percy. "You owe me a water volleyball game later."
"Deal," Percy replied.
The morning pressed on, the sky clear, seagulls gliding in the deep blue distance, and the guests began gathering near tables set up under white tents adorned with ivy and small silver bells. The dessert table looked like something out of an Aphrodite banquet, the three-tiered cake gleaming in the sunlight.
The gods mingled with mortals as if it were normal. Poseidon sat next to Hades, debating with Thor which wine paired best with smoked salmon. Artemis and Diana spoke quietly, smiling occasionally at some private joke.
Leo, Nico, and Tyson were already rushing toward the buffet like hungry demigods.
The food started arriving—fresh fruits, cakes decorated with nautical themes, and some magical treats that glowed faintly in the light. Sadie dove into a tray before any formalities.
"What? I saved the world once. I deserve it."
Zia rolled her eyes. "Twice."
"Oh, right. Twice."
The conversation stayed light, laughter mixing with the sound of the sea. At one point, Annabeth sat near Ikki on the sand, both watching Percy and Rachel take photos with Tyson, who was trying to balance three coconuts on his head.
"I didn't think it'd be like this," Annabeth commented, legs stretched out.
"Like what?"
"So peaceful. After everything… everyone together. No monsters, no prophecies, just… this."
Ikki looked at the horizon, the blue stretching as far as the eye could see.
"It's because they deserve it. Because some things even the gods shouldn't ruin."
Annabeth smiled without saying anything.
They sat in silence.
Time seemed to forget to move there.
The sky, a clear blue, now began to take on golden hues as the sun slowly descended, painting the clouds in soft orange. The sea breeze carried the smell of salt and freshly cut cake. Tyson was on his third slice and, technically, his fourth attempt at balancing coconuts.
The dance floor had been improvised with wooden planks on the sand. Torches began to be lit around it, casting a warm, flickering light that gave the beach the air of an ancient dream. A demigod played the guitar, while Leo argued with a magical speaker that kept spitting out colored smoke.
Percy and Rachel were called to the center. They exchanged a conspiratorial look—the kind that says *this is kinda cheesy, but let's do it*—and the first song began.
Nothing too classical. Just something light, calm. One of those old ballads that, according to Annabeth, "the gods listen to when they're heartbroken and hiding in caves."
Percy placed his hands on Rachel's waist, and she placed hers on his shoulders. Awkward at first, tripping over their own feet and laughing like teenagers. But soon they found the rhythm. The sea broke gently in the background, the torches cast reflections on the water, and in that moment, it felt like the safest place in the world.
Ikki watched from a distance, standing next to Artemis and Diana, holding a glass of nectar he didn't seem eager to drink. His long hair swayed in the wind, catching the torchlight like threads of silver and shadow. His eyes… too blue to belong to any mortal.
As the music changed, couples began to form.
Jason pulled a camper he'd been trying to get with for a while, and she went, laughing, dropping a piece of fruit from her hand. Grover and Juniper glided across the sand, the satyr unable to control his tail from sheer happiness. Even Nico, after much protest, was dragged by Bianca, with Will Solace cheering him on.
And then came the weird part.
Ikki found himself in the middle of the dance floor. Artemis on one side. Diana on the other.
They began to dance. Not like mortals. Artemis spun around him, Diana followed, and Ikki seemed to move with the wind itself, effortlessly.
At the edge of the dance floor, Zia, Sadie, Annabeth, Piper, and a few others watched in silence. The music sounded distant to them. The laughter, the chatter, everything felt muted. There was something melancholic in that scene. A kind of bitter certainty none of them wanted to put into words.
Artemis broke the silence first, spinning closer to Ikki, her voice low but firm.
"They all love you, you know."
Ikki let out a sigh, the kind that didn't come from physical exhaustion but from someone who'd carried too much for too long.
"I tried to fix that."
Diana laughed softly. "Tried nothing. You ran."
Ikki shrugged. "The alternative was worse."
Artemis stopped dancing for a second and looked at him, her silver eyes steady. "Ikki… it's okay. If you want… if you want them too. Diana and I have talked about it."
Diana nodded, completely unembarrassed. "We're not as possessive as people think. And let's be honest… you weren't born to belong to just one."
Ikki ran a hand through his hair, the wind messing up the perfect strands even more.
"They deserve more than… sharing."
"Maybe they do," Artemis admitted. "But that's their choice. And from what I see, none of them will stop feeling for you just because you decided not to complicate things. The past five years, and nothing's changed, only proves it."
Ikki stared at the torch flames. The light danced in his eyes like electric waves.
"I just wanted, for one day… for it to be simple."
Diana gave a faint smile. "Ikki, you were born for the impossible. Simple was never your territory."
The song ended. The couples applauded. Tyson shouted about cake and a competition to see who could balance the most whipped cream on their nose.
The night grew warmer as the sky traded golden hues for deep blue, and the first stars appeared, timid, as if they too wanted to peek at the wedding of the Son of Poseidon and the girl who read the future on walls.
Leo finally got the magical speaker to stop spewing colored smoke, though now it only played 80s hits. Percy swore if he heard *Take on Me* one more time, he'd summon a wave to swallow the thing.
But no one cared.
The torches were all lit, turning the beach into a golden stage. The warm sand underfoot, the breeze carrying the scent of salt, flowers, and nectar wine. And the music changed. From slow and nostalgic to upbeat, the kind no one could resist.
Campers danced like there was no tomorrow. Will Solace climbed onto Austin's shoulders, and they nearly knocked over a barrel of nectar. Clarisse tried, unsuccessfully, to teach two Hermes kids to dance, something that looked like a mix of wrestling and tap dancing.
Even the gods were there. Apollo, with a crooked flower crown, held two glasses of nectar while challenging Bacchus to see who could drink more without stumbling. Dionysus, meanwhile, lounged in a beach chair, wearing sunglasses and sipping from two mortal soda cans through double straws, refusing to touch Ikki's nectar after the last time he woke up married to a tree nymph and a Cretan bull.
Egyptians and Norse mingled in the crowd. Carter and Sadie dueled with harmless spells on the sand (until someone turned a torch into a flying squid), while Thor laughed and told world serpent jokes to a group of Hephaestus kids.
And in the middle of it all, Ikki.
The drink he'd created, something golden and translucent that glowed from within, affected even the immortals. Dionysus tried to pretend it didn't, but he was laughing at everything he saw. Even Hades showed up, with Persephone by his side, to "see if it was really that good." Judging by the smile he gave after the first glass… it was.
The night went on like that, with loud music, laughter, and debates over who'd win an arm-wrestling match: Hercules or Bes. Tyson voted for Bes. No one dared disagree.
And then, in all that excitement, Ikki found himself surrounded.
Annabeth, Sadie, Zia, and Piper. Four beautiful, dangerous women, very aware of the effect they had. They approached casually, like it was nothing. A laugh here, a comment there. And soon they were all dancing with him, like old friends.
To anyone watching from a distance—or drunk enough—it was just the most powerful demigod in history enjoying the party with his friends. No big deal. But anyone sharp enough, anyone who could read the signs (like Nico, who exchanged a knowing look with Will and pretended not to see), would notice.
They'd notice the lingering glances. The slightly defiant smiles. The way, without planning, the four drew closer, and Ikki, with that air of controlling even the wind and time, let them.
It was just another dance. Just another night. But everyone there knew: if the world ended in that moment, none of them would complain.
The night passed quickly. The music slowed, the barrels emptied. Even Apollo stumbled, swore the sky was spinning, and asked to sleep hugging his lyre.
When the first ray of sun tinged the sky a pale blue, the beach was empty. The torches extinguished, cups and bottles scattered, footprints in the sand like traces of a story no one could quite tell right afterward.