I don't own Percy Jackson or Inheritance Cycle.
This is a semi alternate universe and takes place somewhat in the future.
Chapter One: A Whole New Problem
(Percy Point of View)
A sigh escaped Percy. Junior year was hard, and it was even harder when you were a demigod. As heavy as such a backpack of trouble would have been for others, it was even harder when you were a demigod.
As he walked along the sidewalk, he frowned when he saw Triton coming towards him. Groaning internally, he watched as Triton, in modern jeans and a t-shirt walked towards him. That could only mean one thing: training.
Out of the sea, Triton had black hair and sea green eyes, his Mediterranean look matching Percy's in such similar ways that no one could deny that they were related. When he walked up to Percy, the young demigod did an awkward bow and muttered, "Lord Triton." The god nodded to him in a cordial manner. Now that he was getting along with Triton and Amphitrite, things were much easier.
Assuming a mischievous grin, he continued, "Prince of the sea, ruler of the golden-"
"Ahhh!" Triton put his hand to his head and held up the other hand trying to stop him. "Don't! You know I don't like that!"
Percy chuckled. "If I were a regular mortal, I would be required to call you at the very least Prince Triton."
"But you're not," Triton muttered softly, eyeing Percy up and down with worry. "You're neither mortal nor immortal, just like every demigod and legacy. You're something in between with the immortality that runs through you."
Percy shrugged. "Yeah," and there was that. Something was off, he knew, but he also knew better now than to ask. Triton was holding something back.
They stared at each other slowly for some time before Triton motioned him further. They walked side by side. "You know you're to be a god," he began. Percy shuddered.
"Yeah," the demigod somewhat stiffly replied. At least all the seven, plus Nico, and their future spouses would be gods as well. It was practically forced on them. He then turned to Triton. "Is there something going on that I should worry about?"
Hesitation ensued. Finally, Triton nodded. Water traveling them, they landed in the vast ocean, inside Triton's personal palace. Percy was surprised. He usually trained in his father's palace, or occasionally Amphitrite's when his father wasn't present. Percy didn't know why that was. But he'd never been to Triton's personal place before.
It was huge, just like all palace's were, and it was made of gold. The seashells strewn along the wall glowed with an olive glow. The room was vast with a vaulted ceiling.
When Triton caught him staring, he motioned him forward. He was now in his merman form. "You'll have a chance to look later," he summoned him, going to sit on his seashell throne. After seated, he looked at Percy, his fin twitching slightly. "When you're a god," he added mischievously.
Percy smiled. He liked it when his jokes were returned. After that, they both stared at each other, Triton silently observing Percy. The two had grown surprisingly close, especially since Triton was initially hostile to Percy. But, they had become close.
Finally, Triton sighed, waving his green hand in the air. An image of a far away land with vast mountains soared in front of Percy. "What's this?" he asked.
Triton frowned. "There are many pantheons, Percy. I know you've encountered some of them. The Olympians also govern many worlds as well. You have other half siblings and cousins on other worlds. However, this world hasn't been governed by the Olympians for some time. It's been on loan to another pantheon. But their term has ended, and as such Zeus has demanded this world back. Once everything is complete, Poseidon shall retake his seas again in this world, and I shall retake my rightful place in these seas beside him. Amphitrite shall be queen of these seas again."
As Triton looked back at Percy, the demigod nodded. He waited for Triton to continue as he knew that everything wasn't being said. Finally, Triton continued. "You've been chosen to be the next King of Alageasia, the only legitimate and true king. Only someone appointed by one of the gods can rule legally and legitimately. It's sad, but the mortals don't seem to follow this rule anymore on this world, or on this one I'm showing you. Not so on other worlds."
Triton paused and then continued. "Jason already has his own empire as a reward. So does Annabeth and the others of the Seven. Nico is the ghost king. That leaves you, Percy. You are a child of the gods. Only a child or a descendant of the gods has the right to rule. No mortal has that right. And the gods are the ruler of them all. Once you are a god, Percy, this will truly be your empire. But as a demigod, you will rule as king under the direction of the gods, especially Poseidon. Poseidon had the right to choose next who he wanted to rule one of the lands, and he chose you."
Shaking, Percy took a step back. "King?!" he echoed.
"And emperor one day," Triton added, watching Percy closely.
Percy was beside himself. He didn't know quite how to respond. "They need to be guided by the gods, Percy," Triton cautioned deeply. "All the children and descendants of the gods are legitimate princes and princesses. They are known by title of the gods they are children and descendants of. You are a prince of the sea; you always have been. You may not have realized that your whole life, and while the gods are not necessarily in the attitude of telling their non immortal children and descendants this, but they are legitimately princes and princesses. You're royalty. You already knew this. You CAN rule."
"But we're talking about an entire kingdom!" Percy protested, waving his hands wildly. The sea began stirring some. Why on earth hadn't his father brought this up to him personally, and instead relied on Triton to tell him?
"And I'm legitimately king of the Golden city," Triton smiled wryly. "I'm a king as well. But don't go calling me that since you're not my subject. You're father's child. However, since we're on the subject, you should know that your coronation is not immediately. Since you are the next king, you are needed to clean up this nation and to rid the land of the last illegitimate king it has. Since it's in the midst of transferring back to us, and since you are the rightful king, this pantheon of gods has conceded for you to come to this land.
"You're going to clean it up, and you're going to reinstall the rule and worship of the gods. Finally, this nation shall honor father as their patron. I'd like to ask that mother and I also be given special prominence in the kingdom as well. But when you are a god, you'll also be patron and they shall more especially honor and worship you."
Shaking, Percy felt the sea quake. It was a lot to take in. He already watched Annabeth try to fulfill her major responsibilities with her empire, and it seemed difficult to manage. He wasn't sure how he was going to do this.
"Peace," Triton held up his hand. "You don't have to think about your coronation yet. All we ask is that you clean up the nation and reinstall the worship of the gods."
Shaking, Percy nodded. Triton stood up. "Good," the god responded. "I shall take you back to your home.
With a wave of his hand, they were back at Percy's apartment. Triton left him there.
His mother or stepfather wasn't home when he came in. He didn't care. He just wanted some time alone. It always seemed that whenever the fact that he was royalty was brought up, something unexpected and frustrating happened.
Laying down on his bed, he thought about what was asked of him. But as he thought on things, and as the shock wore off, the thought that this meant that Annabeth was technically a princess before she was Empress was pretty cool. He'd never thought of that before. And the fact that he was prince and future king...
"Prince," Percy said firmly. "I'd rather a prince than king."
Sighing, he fell asleep.
(The next day)
It turns out, he didn't have to wait long for things to get frustrating again. He was in Mr. Dill's class when the speakers came on. "Percy Jackson to the front office, please. Percy Jackson to the front office."
Everyone stared at him as he got up, sighing. He wondered what it was now. It wasn't until he saw Triton arguing with the woman at the front desk that he wanted to cringe.
"I demand Percy's release now!" Triton pointed his finger down. If only the woman knew it was a god she was arguing with, then maybe she wouldn't have argued back.
The arguments stopped as he approached. "Percy, do you know this man?" she pointed rudely at Triton.
Percy frowned and grimaced. He didn't appreciate the mortal's attitude. "That's my half brother you're talking rude to," he coolly remarked, and he didn't miss as Triton's mouth twitched in satisfaction. "I'd appreciate it if you'd treat him nicer." 'If only so that he doesn't incinerate you on spot,' he added rudely. He'd hate to clean up that mess.
The woman was in shock, mouth open. "Oh," she began, and then turned back to Triton. "I didn't realize that he had a half brother."
"He has many. Father has many children," Triton added wryly.
"Oh," the woman began again, somewhat awkwardly. It was well known that Percy didn't talk about his father or that side of the family. "I wasn't aware that Percy knew his father's side of the family."
Triton raised his eyebrows innocent. "I thought you'd met Annabeth?" Percy grimaced more. Of course Triton would bring this up.
"Annabeth!" the counselor asked in shock. "I thought she was Percy's girlfriend!"
"Girlfriend and our cousin," Triton pointed out. "Once removed."
The woman turned back to Percy, a peculiar expression on her face. "You're dating your first cousin once removed?!" Her voice made it sound taboo.
Triton shrugged noncommittally. "It's not uncommon in our family to marry family members. It's quite common in fact." With that, he began towing Percy away as the woman's mouth was in shock. Percy decided to call out for good measure, "She's my fiancée, by the way!"
"F-Fiancée?!" the woman gulped, gasping for air.
"Father and Percy's mother and Annabeth's parents gave permission!" Triton chuckled. "It's common in our family to marry the children off at a young age!"
As Triton pulled Percy to the door, the woman still in shock, she seemed to recover. "You can't take him!" she screeched at Triton.
Triton turned on her, full power on his face. The woman cringed. "And why not?" Triton demanded. "I'm his brother."
"It-it requires the legal guardian's permission. That's his mother!" The woman stuttered.
Sighing in frustration at the mortal, Triton put his hands in his pocket, pulling out a piece of paper. "Fine!" he snapped. While Percy didn't catch the whole message written, he saw his mother's signature on hit. 'What is it?' he asked Triton mind to mind.
'Father requested it of your mother,' Triton added.
'And why are you taking me?' Percy prompted further as the woman read thoroughly through it.
Triton frowned. 'So many questions!' he replied in amusement. 'Don't forget, Amphitrite is your mother too, by adoption. She's requested your presence.'
'Ah,' Percy folded his arms. He couldn't deny his new mother anything. But he had a strange feeling that it was leading to what Triton had showed him yesterday.
Once again, the woman read through the paper. Then she sighed. "Very well," she put the paper down. "I'll have to get to the record transfer tomorrow. A private tutor, of all things! What, is your father royalty?"
An amused smile was on both Triton and Percy's face. She had no idea how close she was. Shooing them away, Percy followed Triton. "You have a plane to catch," he heard the woman grumble one last time.
When they were outside, Percy turned back to Triton. "Tutor?" he demanded of his half brother to know. "Is that what this is about?"
Triton shrugged innocently. "It's not the lady's fault if she doesn't know how schooling happens in other countries," Triton vaguely replied. "And the request of records was for just in case."
"I'm moving?" Percy demanded?
Triton shrugged. "Not really. At least not right away. In the day time, you will be tutored by mother, but at night you'll return to your home. We'll be taking your education over from now on. We did this so that, even though you're not in school, you'll have time to say goodbye to your friends at school."
Nodding, Percy sighed. At a motion from his brother, Percy concentrated and vapor traveled them to Amphitrite's palace.
Amphitrite was there waiting for him. "Percy," she acknowledged.
"My lady," Percy bowed, remembering his manners.
The woman smiled warmly at him. "I trust that Triton's informed you of everything? Let's begin!"
(The next day)
"You what?" one of Percy's mortal friends with red hair exclaimed.
Percy sighed. Sometimes he wondered if manipulating the mist (which he could now do) and showing them his true demigod nature would make things easier. "My father sent me a tutor," he told the story that everyone had prearranged. "He thought, that since I was growing up, and since Annabeth and I are engaged, that I should get a proper education, uphold the family honor and everything."
"I still can't believe you're dating your cousin!" the redhead exclaimed, some jealousy in her voice. She'd never believed he'd had a girlfriend until Annabeth showed up. And then, she'd always been jealous of her. But it was only now that it had come out that they were related. It was part of the story they were telling. And he'd never meant to announce his engagement and marriage, but the new story had ruined all that. Some of it was true, though.
"If it weren't for the fact that you were dating her, I'd have thought it was an arranged marriage!" Serena, the redhead, continued to gossip. Charles, the brown haired athlete on the swim team, second to Percy, James, the blonde who was in chess club nodded with Selena.
"Yeah, well that has been done in the past," Percy confessed under his breath, thinking of Zeus and Hera.
"But why now?" Charles pushed. Percy gritted his teeth. He'd wanted his marriage to Annabeth to be quiet, attended only by demigods and close relatives.
"Because," Percy strained. "It's family custom through father's side. We marry young. We always have. It's the family's expectations. Now that Annabeth and I are closely dating, they want us to marry to preserve the family's honor. In fact, lately we've been marrying later than it's customary and approved of."
"How young is too young?" Charles frowned.
Sighing, Percy replied, "It's usually expected that we marry at fourteen in cultures that accept it. Twelve is the family marrying age."
"Too weird!" Serena scrunched up her nose. "And to think you're going to be the only married man in this high school."
"I'm being tutored, Serena," Percy spelled out slowly, sharply. "I'm not going to high school anymore."
Serena pulled back. "Oh."
An awkward silence ensued. Percy knew he needed to head home soon, or some monster might find him. And so, he began jogging away. "See ya!" he waved.
They waved back awkwardly. The last thing he heard was Serena's voice.
"I think it's an arranged marriage."
(A few months later)
Poseidon stood in front of Percy with proud eyes. Percy stood in full armor at his throne. Amphitrite was practically glowing with pride, dressed in her full regal glory. Triton was in merman form, floating beside Percy.
"Father," Triton announced. "Percy is ready."
Poseidon nodded. "I know," he murmured softly. Then he shook himself out of his reverie and sat up straight. "I'm proud of both of you. You are indeed the best heir that any king can have, Triton. And you will make a great king, Percy."
Percy raised himself in pride, glowing at the compliment. He was different now, more mature, more ready to rule. And though he was still nervous about inheriting a kingdom, for the first time, he believed he could do it. "Thank you, father."
Nodding at him, Poseidon lapsed into silence and looked at his wife. Amphitrite clapped, and several of the mermaids swam towards Percy, a chest placed in front of him. "You will not be without a friend, my dear son, Perseus." And with that, the mermaids opened the chest.
Percy gasped in shock. Before him lay a dragon's egg. It was Alagaesian, that he knew. He'd come to know the history of every culture the Olympians associated with intimately. Looking up, Amphitrite nodded. "My gift to you will help you on your journey. She was made out of the sea, created in the image and the race of the Alageasian dragons. While not born of them, and instead born as a creation of the sea, she is indeed one of them. They will sense her and know she is one of them."
Bowing deeply, Percy felt tears coming to his eyes. He knew what this meant. The gods were going to help rebuild the race of the dragons. "Thank you, Royal mother," he knelt in front of her.
Poseidon stood up next and clapped. This time, merman sat a chest in front of Percy. Percy opened it and gasped. Inside was a golden bow carved with seashells in it, the wood a sea blue. It had the power of the sea in it. Percy had spent a lot of time with Apollo and Triton until he was finally able to do archery with grace and ease.
"I trust you know how to enchant things to always return to you?" Poseidon asked in amusement, something Percy had begged Poseidon to teach him.
Bowing, Percy acknowledged Poseidon, "Thank you, Royal father."
Nodding, Poseidon looked at Triton. Triton smiled and clapped his hands. "Little brother," he teased.
One mermaid and one merman swam a tiny chest towards Percy. This was the fanciest of them. "You may always summon it with a thought, Percy," Triton began explaining. "It doesn't matter where you're at. It doesn't matter if you're even on a different world. If you want it, it will always appear on your head, and the box will always appear beside you."
At first, Percy was confused at what his brother was saying until the merpeople opened the box. He gasped. Inside was a princely crown, a mark of his identity as a prince of the sea. It was made of coral, gold, silver, and precious jewels of the sea. Pearls studded the crown. Kneeling, he greeted in an emotional voice, "Thank you, Royal brother. I shall wear it with honor."
The merfolk placed it on his head, and Percy stood up. "You were born a prince, Percy," his father began. "And you've more than earned your place. It's far time you take your rightful place amongst the godly family."
Tears of gratitude flowed down Percy's face. "Father, mother, brother, I shall not let you down," he pledged. "On the river Styx, I shall restore to you what is yours."
A brief thunder echoed, and they all nodded at him. "Those are grave words, Percy," his father warned. "But I know you will succeed. Go, my son. Claim your kingdom. Restore Alagaesia to the rightful gods."
Percy bowed once more, and then he swam to the surface. As he emerged on the beach, his faithful steed Blackjack awaited him, dressed in the royal horse garb of the sea.
Percy mounted him. He would wait until he reached Alagaesia to take the egg out and let it crack for him. "Come, Blackjack," he summoned. An adventure awaits us."
(Eragon Point of View)
Walking back from the forest, Eragon looked behind him. Saphira was doing well and growing more than ever. He wasn't sure how much longer he could hide her in the forest. After all, she would scratch the trees and leave poop that was the size of a boulder.
Sighing, he walked back to the village. Already, he missed Roran. But when he went to the village, he noticed a stranger there, someone from one of the caravan, he suspected. He'd forgotten that they were coming over.
Brom was trailing the man, suspiciously enough. He caught up to him. "What's up?" he asked.
Brom looked around wildly. "Shh!" he hissed and followed the caravan man into the pub.
They sat inconspicuously in the booth a couple of feet away, yet still close enough to hear the whispered conversation somehow. The man was talking to another man from Carvahall. "What's the latest news?" the Carvahall man asked.
The man shrugged. "Yet still, two years later, that rumor is still going around. Some strange prophecy and all that."
"What prophecy, Alma?" the man demanded.
Alma sighed. "Oh, I don't really know! The dwarves do, though! It's before the elves arrived! They say there used to be gods before the gods of Alagaesia. They say that the old gods, the dwarves remember. And apparently there's a prophecy that in a time of need, the old gods will return and claim their rightful land again. Then, says the prophecy, the rightful king shall rule."
"Rightful king?" Albem asked.
"Yes," the man asked. "Apparently the old gods appointed all the rulers of the past. They say the kings are not legitimate unless appointed by the gods. And the prophecy says that the gods have appointed a king who will come at a time of great turmoil and restore the land to the gods of the old."
Eragon listened in shock. This was the first time he was hearing this. But as he turned to Brom, he saw that Brom had his face hard set. "Brom?" he asked quietly, hoping the historian might know something. "What's he talking about?"
"Just a bunch of superstition," Brom firmly replied, standing up. "Come," he pulled Eragon up, and dragged him out of the pub. "It's nothing to worry about. Off you go to home."
Eragon didn't like being pushed around, but after asking Brom about dragons the other day, and Brom purposefully taking his glove off, he wasn't going to start anything more with the man. The man began walking away.
Walking home, he shivered. The night was cold. It wasn't until he was attacked from behind that he began screeching.
It didn't take long for Brom to catch up to him. The creature was hooded, but when Brom began banging him with his stick, it began running away.
A fearful look was on Brom's face. "Head home, now!" he demanded.
Eragon didn't wait. He ran. But it wasn't until he saw his home burning that he ran harder. Gasping, he saw the creatures attacking his home. When they saw him, they turned around. 'Eragon?' he heard Saphira say into his mind.
The creatures ambled towards him, but they didn't get far. A mysterious rider on a black horse with wings with a glowing bow and arrow showed up. After firing three silver arrows, the three creatures exploded into dust. When the creatures in the distance saw him, and saw their counterparts incinerated, they ran.
The stranger ran up to Eragon. "You okay?" he asked, a hint of an accent on his tongue.
Eragon shook hard, but he ran into the house. It was completely collapsed, and he felt Saphira flying towards him. The hooded rider took off his black cloak, revealing himself to be a young teenager, slightly older than Percy. He had black hair, green eyes, and features that weren't quite Alagaesian but were definitely human. He was also dressed with jewels in his armor, which covered his entire body, the under clothing having hints of gold. Whoever he was, he was wealthy. He followed Eragon into the house.
Digging through the rubble, Eragon found his uncle barely alive. "No!" he whispered, as the man's breath came out of him in a wheeze.
"Peace," the stranger soothed. "It can be fixed." With that, the man began whispering in a mysterious language, and Eragon's uncle gasped, convulsing a little.
He sat up slightly, watching his wounds heal. "How-" he asked the stranger.
The stranger shook his head. "Rest," he commanded. "You need to focus on recovery." With that, the man walked outside.
Eragon glanced at his uncle. Taking him in his arms, he dragged him outside. He needed to get him to the village healer. Eyeing the man's strange horse, he asked, "We may need a ride to the local village. I need your horse."
The stranger grimaced. "Not a horse. Pegasus. And ordinary mortals aren't allowed to ride them."
Eragon didn't have time to ask the stranger what he meant when the young man sighed, waving his hand. Suddenly they were back in the village. Eragon was confused at first. He wasn't really sure what had happened. But he also didn't have time to contemplate it now with Garrow's life on the line.
It didn't take them long to enlist the help of the village healer. While they were there, the stranger headed out, everyone looking at his strange clothing in awe and curiosity.
The man went into the woods. But when Eragon followed him in, he wasn't there.
"Hello?" Eragon asked. He turned around. The man was nowhere to be seen. "Hello?" he demanded again.
The forest was silent. Sighing, Eragon waited a few more minutes before heading out.
(The next day)
"Uncle!" Eragon gasped when he went into the room next door. Gertrude and her husband had kindly allowed him to stay with them while his uncle was healing.
"Eragon," Garrow roughly coughed, sitting up. "It's good to see you. Have you eaten?"
Eragon shook his head. "And what of our mysterious rescuer?" his uncle sat up, waiting for Gertrude to bring breakfast.
Shaking his head, Eragon sighed. "I can't make sense of him. He just disappeared."
"Disappeared?" Garrow asked in disbelief, shaking his head. "No one just disappears."
"Well he did," Eragon confirmed.
At that point, Gertrude brought breakfast. "Are you hungry?" she asked. They both nodded their heads. "Good." She set the tray down in front of them, and then Eragon served himself.
It was as he was eating, that he nervously glanced at his uncle. "I have things I need to do," he informed Garrow.
Garrow nodded, likely knowing where his thoughts were going. He knew that Eragon was going to try to find the mysterious strange. "See to it," he gave his permission.
Standing up, Eragon stretched, and then he jogged outside.
His first thoughts were going towards Saphira, but he wanted to check out the spot that the stranger had disappeared to first. As he entered the woods, walking for a ways, he came to a river.
All was calm until he was attacked from behind. Struggling to throw the weight off of him, he heard a hissing noise. "Dragon rider," it hissed.
"What?" Eragon gasped, screeching. 'Saphira, help!' he called, and with a final kick, he dislodged his attacker.
He was surrounded. About a dozen of the hooded creatures stalked towards him. "Dragon rider," he hissed. "Come with us! We make plenty of food of you!"
Picking up a stick, they attacked, and Eragon swung at the wildly. He gasped in pain as he received a scratch in his side. But he managed to knock one on the head.
It wasn't until he got pinned by them that he began yelling furiously. "We kill you now!" they hissed.
"Saphira!" Eragon cried out.
Suddenly, a whoosh sounded, and Eragon felt himself going underwater. He thought he was going to drown for a minute until the water lifted off of him. Wet, he turned around to see the creatures drowning in balls made of water, the mysterious stranger back, hands raised. With a flick of his hand, the creature's necks broke, and the teenager lowered his hand, the water returning to the river from whence it came.
"Must you always run into trouble?" the strange asked in exasperation.
Eragon stared at the teenage boy in shock. "Who-who are you?" he demanded, somewhat suspicious. This man only continued to surprise him more and more.
The stranger turned back elegantly.
"My name's Perseus Jackson, and I'm the rightful King of Alagaesia."
If you've read, please review!