A/N: As mentioned in the summary, a different take on how small events can shape big ones. I'm also going to incorporate some events from 'Battle of the Labyrinth' - sorta mix it up a bit. This is my first story on this site. Please let me know what you think. Reviews, favourites and follows lend me encouragement. The first two chapters will be kind of similar to the book(building up the story) and it will really start to diverge from chapter 3. And now, without further ado, I present "A Tweak in Fortune" :
Disclaimer: I don't own anything which is not mine.
'Ouch! Percy, that's my toe.' A girl with spiky hair and an aura of funk around her said. Her electric blue eyes gazed at Percy with mild annoyance as Percy mis-stepped for the fourth time that evening.
'Sorry Thalia.' Percy said sheepishly, as erratic as ever while dancing(or trying to, at least). He cut a noticeable figure on the dance floor as the most well-built yet unbalanced person present. His blue eyes scanned his feet.
'Up here.' Commanded Thalia. Percy reluctantly agreed to what to would lead inevitably to another mishap.
Annabeth and Grover stood a little in the distance, looking at a pair of kids at the side of the hall. Grover was sure they were unclaimed demigods, and powerful ones at that.
The pair of demigods looked to be around 13 years old. They were brother and sister, both had dark hair and dark eyes and were trying to fit in awkwardly with the crowd. Their bodies betrayed unsureness in every movement they made. But it was clear that they were close, they trusted each other.
'They smell of death.' Said Grover with the confidence of an experienced Satyr.
'No way!' Annabeth shot back. But her stormy grey eyes betrayed her uncertainty. Her lean figure shifted a bit on the right and then to the left in confusion. The big three pact, had it been broken again?
What they hadn't noticed was a monster approaching the two. Thalia was the quickest to react, she dragged the other three out into the snow. It was a manticore and Nico and Bianca were captives. Annabeth charged; with sudden agility the manticore knocked the dagger out of her hand and held Annabeth at the throat.
'Annie, no!' Screamed Thalia.
Before anybody could do anything else, a horn sounded in the distance.
'Oh, no, no, no!' Thalia said. Before she could be asked about this comment a group of young girls came running out of the forest. They were all clad in silver and endowed with flawless skin and bows on their back to complete the picture.
The girl with silver crescent eyes seemed to be in charge at the front. Her eyes seemed to be assessing the situation in front of her.
'Permission to shoot, milady?' Another girl stepped forward. She had onyx black eyes and black hair braided at her back. Her skin was coppery and confidence oozed out of her being. A tiara was placed on her head to affirm her status as liuenatant. This was Zöe Nightshade, daughter of Atlas.
The manticore was enraged,' Direct interference! Against the Ancient Laws! You can'not do this!'
This was met with a proper response. The hunters had their prey at their mercy.
But a cornered beast will still fight. The manticore dropped Annabeth and charged at the hunters. They were caught unawares.
The girl at the forefront, Zoe, would have been crushed by the monster if not for her years of experience. She got away with a long gash on her forearm. But the manticore attacked again, blinded with fury. Zoe was an archer, not a close distance fighter. She nimbly avoided the manticore's strikes. The hunters were still hesitant; a few arrows flew but it did nothing to deter the monster.
The hunters were afraid of hitting their liutenant. Just when it seemed the monster would finally land a blow on Zoe, a sword suddenly jutted out of his chest. The light in the manticore's eyes dimmed before it vapourised into golden dust. Zoe stared in shock before her onyx eyes met her saviours green ones. Percy's heart skipped a beat while Zoe was careful to not show any hint of gratitude in her manner.
She turned back and walked to her mistress and bowed, a murmur of apology escaping her lips. Her mistress smiled,
'None of that, Zoe. I do not place any fault with you.'
'Thy hath never done so.' Was Zoe's response.
The girl with silver eyes turned back to the audience. Her eyes steeled as she addressed Atlanta, an old huntress.
'Make sure Zoe and Athena's daughter gets to the infirmary and bring the other demigods to my tent, I must talk to them, especially the girl – she looks young enough.'
Atlanta nodded.
Percy looked around with round eyes inside Artemis' tent. It was covered with fur and hides of very animal he could imagine.
'Listen very carefully, boy.' She said boy as if there could be no insult greater than it. She then proceeded to explain how Zeus would have to be informed about this and why he was not dead yet. She ended on a grim note,
'You seem respectful enough, but you better thank your stars that your sword did not touch Zoe. Another time, your stupidity coud get someone killed.'
And somehow, Percy felt that this was the real reason why Artemis had called him to her tent.
He slowly trudged outside as Bianca was escorted inside the tent. He looked around for Thalia, but there was no sign of her. Then he remembered that she would probably be with Annabeth inside the infirmary tent.
But which tent was it? He was scared stiff of entering any hunter's tent by mistake, the repurcussions were terrifying.
With a sigh of relief he noticed Zoe walking out of a largish tent with her arm completely healed. She tried to walk past Percy but he stopped her.
'Ummm, Miss Nightshade?' He said tentatively.
She turned around, her eyes flashing.
'If thy have come for any words of appreciation, thee will not get it! I do not thank boys and nor do I praise luck. Get out of mine way now, boy.'
Percy rankled at the injustice but he kept his civility. Somehow in spite of her rude behaviour, he did not want to anger Zoe; and it went beyond being scared of her arrows.
'My name is Percy Jackson.' He said,' I only wanted to know if Annabeth and Thalia are inside this tent or not.'
'...Yes, they are.' Zoe nodded, after a moment of hesitation.
Percy quietly thanked her as he entered the tent. He could have almost sworn he heard her whisper, 'Percy Jackson' as the tent flap closed.
A/N: That's how the story's going to start and it will slowly progress from there. You can expect a new chapter every 4-5 days, more or less. Please support the story and review. This is my first story here - hope you like it.
