Outsider Chronicles: Storm at Sea
When I was born into the world of Worm, I thought that maybe I'd end up with powers. To be fair, I wasn't wrong, but I never would have believed that I'd get them like this! Turns out, inherited powers are a thing, at least when your Dad is the God of the Seas!
OK, so this idea is admittedly utterly mad, but I did make it fair! I rolled a dice to determine who our heros Godly parent would be and it landed on Poseidon...and no ones gonna believe that for a moment. Anyway, enjoy!
I Douse a Bully
Before we begin, I should probably warn you. This story will sound so utterly unbelievable that you probably won't believe a word of it. However, I swear that every word of it is the gods honest truth.
It all started when I died. Yeah, I know, off to a flying start. I won't go into how, but I certainly wasn't expecting to wake up again, especially not as a baby in the world of Worm. Yeah, not exactly the luckiest guy in the world, am I? Then again, I suppose I should consider myself at least a little lucky. Why? Well, my name is Percy Jackson, but I'm pretty sure that there aren't any Gods running around America in this world. Well, other than Scion, but I don't think he counts.
Urg, anyway, I spent my childhood and most of my teen years living with my Mum (who was called Sally incidentally) in a relatively nice area of New York, paid for by Mum's job as an author and teacher. I admit that I spent a good deal of my childhood expecting to be shipped off to Camp Half-Blood when I turned 12, but it didn't happen. Oh, I was shipped of to summer camp, but it was a perfectly normal one, with no Centaurs, Satyrs or Celestial Bronze. Once that happened, I breathed a sigh of relief. I really shouldn't have.
To be honest, I'm surprised I didn't see it coming considering I was diagnosed with both ADHD and Dyslexia, on top of being labeled as a troublemaker on a regular basis, despite not actually doing anything wrong. Well, I did tend to get into fights, but its not my fault I don't like bullies damn it! Still, at least I didn't get kicked out of school, so that was something I guess.
When I was 15 things got a little...odd. It started when Mum lost her job thanks to cutbacks at the school she worked at and, although she made a good chunk of money off her books, she still needed a job to keep things in balance. Fortunately, there was a well paid job available that she got easily. Unfortunately, it was a teaching position at Arcadia.
That meant we had to pack up and ship off to Brockton and, since apparently having a parent teaching there isn't enough to be bumped up the transfer list, I wasn't able to get into Arcadia this late into my second year of highschool. Looks like I'm destined for Winslow! Joy.
On the...odd side of things, we moved into a house just next door to someone rather unexpected. Like I said, while we weren't mega well off, we still had enough to get a place in a semi-decent neighbourhood, which around here basically meant that you could actually go out at night without getting mugged. I think that probably had something to do with the fact that an awful lot of the Dockworkers from the DWU lived in the area and really didn't like the gangs trying to hurt them at home as well as at work. Considering that, it doesn't take a genius to figure out that my new neighbour was Taylor.
To my suprise, Danny actually made a point to welcome us to the neighbourhood. No offence to him or anything, but I was half expecting him to still be wallowing in grief. Maybe something was different in this world? Taylor was a little less eager to meet and greet, but I did manage to get her to show me around the area, during which I managed to bring her out of her shell with a conversation on classic literature. Like, really classic. I'm talking stuff like the Odyssey and the Iliad, along with Greek myths and legends. She knew rather a lot about it and her eyes never failed to light up whenever she talked about it.
Strangely enough, her eyes were one of the things that I wasn't expecting about her. Normally, shes depicted with either brown or green eyes in the fics I'd read, but this Taylor had jet black eyes that, even under the weight of two years of bullying and a Trigger Event, still gleamed with a light that I found rather unnerving. And strangely familiar.
The rest of the weekend was spent unpacking and hanging out with Taylor, who quickly proved to be an absolute joy to talk to about all things Literature. Mum quickly reached the point where she adored the tall girl and broke out her baking gear to make sure we were never without freshly baked goodies during unpacking.
Eventually though, my first day at Winslow rolled around and things got...interesting. I'd convinced Taylor to give me a quick tour before I headed to the office to finish up getting sorted, which she reluctantly obliged to. As you might expect, it didn't take long for Sophia and Emma to start on Taylor. We were walking between lessons when a voice spoke up from behind us.
"Well hello there Taylor," said Emma in a faux friendly voice, "I haven't seen you all day!"
We stopped, Taylor getting a look of resignation on her face as we turned. Emma was just as gorgeous as I imagined, other than her saccharin smile and eager gleam in her eyes.
"Oh? And who's this?" asked Emma, looking me up and down, "A new friend?"
I plastered a smile on my face that probably looked as fake as hers.
"Thats right," I said, "I just moved into the City with my Mum for her job. Taylor lives nearby and she offered to show me around the school. Percy Jackson, nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you Percy," said Emma, shaking my hand before putting a faux concerned look on her face and glancing at Taylor
She lent in close and stage whispered in the perfect tone that her words could clearly be heard by Taylor, who looked like she knew and was dreading what was to come.
"You know, you might want to be careful," said Emma, "Taylor has...a bit of a reputation around here."
I twitched slightly.
"Does she now?" I asked.
"Oh yes," said Emma, "I think shes involved with the Merchants. Be careful of anything she gives you, because…"
I held up a hand.
"And let me just stop you there," I said.
Emma blinked.
"Is there something wrong?" she asked.
"Yeah, I'm allergic to bullshit," I deadpanned, "Sorry to disappoint you, but I can see right through blatant lies like that."
"Why I never…"
"I have plenty of experience dealing with bullies and people who enjoy spreading false rumors," I said, cutting her off, "People like you are easy to read if you know how and I most definitely do."
My ADHD made concentrating in class a bitch and a half, but for some reason it also gave me excellent observational skills and I'd refined those skills so I could easily read people when needed. Plus, the fact I knew exactly what she was like helped to.
"Now, I'm pretty sure I just craitered my social life around here, but I really don't care," I said, "If you'll excuse me, I've got a tour to finish. Lets go Taylor."
I turned to leave, only to walk straight into a fist to the gut. The blow knocked the wind out of me and I stumbled as a black girl who could only be Sophia, who had snuck up on me, grabbed me by the neck.
"Well, that wasn't very nice," she sneered as she dug in her fingers, "I think you need to be taught a lesson nea kid."
She started dragging me towards the loos, apparently completely ignoring my attempts to get her off me. She was incredibly strong, enough that I was certain that she'd gained different powers than in canon at the time. I noticed out the corner of my eye that Emma had grabbed Taylor by the arm and was dragging her after us, likely to force her to watch.
The toilets were pretty much exactly as you'd expect for a shit hole like Winslow and I quickly redoubled my struggling. I was NOT going in that thing! It looked like it hadn't been cleaned since I was born!
Unfortunately, they were to strong and I couldn't get lose. Then, I felt a sharp tug in my gut and the plumbing exploded. Water came shooting out of the john, arching over my head and hitting Sophia full in the face. Naturally, she dropped me and stumbled back, cursing loudly, but it wasn't over. The other toilets also erupted with the force of a fire hose, dowsing and shoving Sopha back into Emma, knocking both to the floor in a tangle of limbs. Then, the sinks also decided that they didn't like what was going on and erupted with the force of a firehose, hitting the bullies full force and sending all five of them skidding out of the room in a deluge of stinking water. As soon as they were gone, the tug vanished and the water shut off, leaving the room flooded and dripping.
Even Taylor had not been spared, although it looked like it was just water from the sinks rather than the bogs. I however was stood on a perfectly dry circle of floor without a single drop of water on me.
"H-how did you do that?!" spluttered Taylor.
"I...have absolutely no idea," I said.
Incidentally, I was lying through my teeth considering I had a pretty good idea how. Taylor and I left the bathroom to find Emma and Sophia untangling themselves, dripping and looking furious. Emma looked a little worried, but Sophia was glaring at me with a look of absolute hatred on her face.
"You…" she hissed, "You are so fucking dead! You hear me, DEAD!"
I probably should have kept my mouth shut, but I couldn't resist.
"You want to gargle toilet water again?" I asked, "Shut your gob Sophia."
Sophia snarled and looked like she was about to attack me, but a teacher emerging from a classroom to investigate the commotion made her think twice. Instead, she turned and stomped away with Emma on her heels like a loyal dog.
"Well, that was interesting," I said.
Taylor just gave me a flat look.
The rest of the day went by without incident, although Taylor kept shooting me strange looks and I occasionally felt Sophia trying to burn a hole in the back of my head, although she didn't try anything else. Eventually, school let out and Taylor and I caught the bus home. For the first part, we sat quietly, although I could tell that Taylor had something she wanted to ask me.
"Whats up?" I asked.
Taylor nearly jumped out of her skin.
"W-what are you talking about?" she asked.
I sighed.
"Taylor, I can tell somethings bothering you," I said, "Just ask. I promise I'll answer if I can."
Taylor hesitated for a moment, before she blurted out:
"Are you a Cape?"
I blinked.
"Where did that come from?" I asked.
"W-well, you did that thing with the water, so I thought…" said Taylor, trailing off at the end.
"No, I'm not a Cape," I said, "I'm pretty sure I've never been through a Trigger Event and I'm pretty sure I'd remember something like that."
"I suppose that true," said Taylor, "But then, how did you do it?"
I shrugged.
"Who knows?" I said, "Maybe I inherited it from my Dad or something."
"I thought you had no idea who he was?" said Taylor.
"Exactly."
Taylor finally cracked a smile at that.
That night, I dreamt.
I found myself stood in a meeting room that was basically pure white, other than the chairs and the people sat in them. And what an eclectic bunch of people it was. It took less than a second to recognize all of them and realize that my first Demigod dream (because what else could it be?) involved the Cauldron.
Dr Mother sat at the head of the table with Contessa at her left, while Alexandria held the seat directly across from her boss with Eidolon at her side. Legend sat half way down the table across from a perfectly normal looking man with blond hair and stormy gray eyes who had to be the Number Man.
"So, what do we know?" asked Alexandria.
"Very little," said Dr Mother, "All we know is that the Path changed abruptly around six hours ago, Bet time."
I frowned. Six hours ago would put the moment of change at around the same time I doused Sophia.
"Changed?" asked Legend, "Changed how?"
"I don't know," said Contessa, looking annoyed, "I can't see anything anymore. Instead, all I see is a blinding light and a lot of green smoke."
Alexandria scowled.
"Great, and how are we supposed to beat Zion without the Path?" she asked, "I mean, even with it, our chance of victory is miniscule as is. Without it…"
"Yes, I am aware," said Contessa, "But theres nothing...I...ca…"
She trailed off as an odd look crossed her face. The other members of the Cauldron frowned as the Hat wearing woman stared of into the middle distence.
"Um, are you…" started Legend, but was cut off as Contessa suddenly let out a gasp and hunched over in her chair.
"Contessa?" said Dr Mother, leaning down to check on her right hand woman.
The moment her fingers touched the other womans shoulder, Contessa jerked back upright, showing that her eyes had rolled back into her skull and were glowing faintly. Naturally, everyone in the room, including me, jolted back at the unexpected and eery sight, not helped in the least when her mouth opened and green smoke began to billow out. The smoke pooled around her feet as Contessa's body began to rise, moving like a marionette on strings with, to be fair, probably wasn't that far from the truth. Then, she turned to me.
I am the spirit of Delphi, Speaker of the Prophecies of Phoebus Apollo, Slayer of the Mighty Python. Approach Seeker and ask.
I gulped. Even compared with everything that came with living in the Wormverse, I suddenly felt like I'd rather take on the Nine armed only with a toothbrush than face the Oracle. And I wasn't even really there! The Cauldron members didn't look much better, although Number Man looked like he was about to shit himself.
"Whats going on?" demanded Dr Mother, "Contessa, control yourself!"
"Thats not Contessa," muttered Number Man.
"Whoever you are, let her go!" demanded Alexandria, stepping forwards with her fists clenched as the other two members of the Trivumate tensed and readed for a rumble.
Number Man quickly headed that off by stepping between them.
"Don't," he said, "Seriously. That THINGS too strong to fight and I don't think we could hurt it if we tried."
Through all this, the Oricle remained stock still, staring into my eyes with blazing green orbs. I swallowed again and cleared my throat.
"What is my destiny?" I asked.
I wasn't sure if it could actually hear me, but apparently it could because the Oricle responded. The mist began to billow, rising up to form an image of twin snakes twining together, before that to dissolved and reformed into what looked like an office with Armsmaster, Miss Militia and a large woman who could only be the Director sitting around the desk. Armsmaster looked up, his eyes blazing like green torches
The Cycle is paused, but not ended.
Miss Militia was next.
You who fight will fail alone.
Finally, Piggot looked up and spoke.
Only with the Blood of the Gods shall you succeed.
The scene dissolved and reformed into what could only be the sitting room of the Big House a world away, complete with cardigan wearing Centaur in a wheelchair, a near mirror image of me and a blond girl in a baseball cap. Chiron looked up from his book and spoke.
Ten Great Heroes shall answer the call.
Annabeth was next.
Children of the Council, lost to the Seas of Reality.
And finally, Percy.
Ten Heroes, to Preserve all worlds or see them burn.
The scene dissolved once again and the smoke began to regather into a serpentine form.
The tip of the cloudy serpent's tail vanished back into Contessa's mouth and she collapsed. A moment later, the vision dissolved and I fell into fitful sleep.
Hoo boy, that was certainly a wild ride! Before I sign of, a few important points.
Point one, Bet obviously doesn't have any native supernatural creatures, although it is possible for Gods and Monsters to cross over using various methods. However, doing so is rather rare. Some hop across more than others, but generally theres not more than 100 Demigods on Bet at a time.
No, Contessa is not an unknown host for the Oricle, she was just used as a mouthpiece for it thanks to some machinations from the Fates.
I wonder if you can guess who I have in mind for being the Children of the Prophecy? Percy's obviously one, but the other eight might be a bit harder to figure out. Well, mostly. Two of them are a tad obvious from this chapter. You can probably even guess who their Parents are.
That said, there will be a few more Demigods popping up who aren't connected to the Prophecy. In fact, we met one in this chapter.
Anyway, I'm done. Don't forget to leave a review on the way out!