How was the lightning blot recovered in The Lightning Thief?

Percy Jackson doesn't actually *recover* the lightning bolt in *The Lightning Thief*. He is accused of stealing it, and the whole story revolves around him trying to prove his innocence and find the real culprit.

Here's how the situation unfolds:

* Zeus accuses Percy of stealing his lightning bolt. This sets the story in motion, forcing Percy on a quest to clear his name.

* Percy embarks on a journey to the Underworld. He's guided by his friends Annabeth and Grover, and faces various challenges along the way.

* The real thief is revealed to be Luke Castellan. He's a former camper at Camp Half-Blood who is secretly working for Kronos, the Titan Lord who wants to overthrow the Olympian Gods.

* Luke used the lightning bolt to fuel Kronos's awakening. He intended to use it to overthrow Zeus and seize control of Olympus.

* Percy confronts Luke in the Underworld. He manages to fight him off, but Luke escapes with the lightning bolt.

* The bolt is never actually recovered. Instead, Percy manages to convince Zeus that he is innocent. The story ends with the tension still hanging in the air, leaving the fate of the lightning bolt unclear.

So, while Percy never physically recovers the bolt, he does play a crucial role in uncovering the truth and preventing Luke from using it to overthrow the gods. This sets the stage for the rest of the series, where Percy and his friends continue to battle against the forces of evil.