Percy

Being the son of the sea god and all, Percy wasn't entirely thrilled about his lack of trust with water. The only good thing about that fear was the fact that it wasn't real. Now to convince his brain that.

It didn't help that he and Annabeth had just come out of Tartarus, home of the scariest-forms-of-water-known-on-earth (not really earth being that Tartarus wasn't in earth, thank the gods). Between drinking from the Phlethagon, taking a dip in the river Cocytus (apparently home of misery), and jumping over River Acheron, Percy was starting to think that water had it out for him.

On top of that, the Argo II traveled on the sea (apparently Zeus hadn't forgotten his threat [don't ask]) which didn't help to loosen up his mood.

Now Percy stood, leaning against the railing. Annabeth, and Piper, and Jason, and Leo and frank had all insisted in his rest and well being, but he hated feeling unneeded. He needed to do something. And he didn't want them to pity him either-Annabeth had come back from Tartarus too, but she was still working harder than him and the entire crew combined.

He focused on the water, helping to direct them towards Athens. The day that he and Annabeth came back from Tartarus, Frank had said that they had fourteen days until Gaea rose. That didn't leave them much time to save the world, reunite the camps, and stay alive.

Percy sighed inwardly. If only it weren't so complicated. He remembered his battle against Kronos, in the last Great Prophecy. It seemed so much easier than this prophecy. He and Annabeth were looking forward to millennia without worry, since the prophecy wasn't supposed to start until after they were long dead. But of course the Fates had to pluck Percy from happiness and into Camp Jupiter with no idea what so ever about what he was doing there.

Such a happy life.

Behind him, Percy heard footsteps and turned to see Jason. Jason stood beside him.

"Hey. Thought you were sleeping." Percy said, staring out into the sea. He suddenly felt a wave of calm wash over him as he listened to the sea (no pun intended).

"Nah, gave up on that a while ago." Jason replied, shrugging. Then he added, "You're the one who needs sleep."

"Well, you guys need me to get us to Athens faster. At least I can get us a head start before the monsters come to kill us." Jason laughed.

"We need you for battling. Leo's the one who navigates."

"Sure." Percy tried to withhold a yawn but it came out anyway.

"You should really get some sleep." Jason said seriously. "Who knows what we'll meet. If we need you in a battle, you'll be too tired to help."

"Yeah, Percy." A voice chipped in from behind. Piper walked to where the two boys were standing. "Get rest. You look like you need it." He could feel the charm speak flow over him-it wasn't strong, so Percy knew she wasn't doing it on purpose. But it was still strong enough to get to him. He nodded.

"Sure. 'Night, guys."

"We'll see you in the morning, Percy." Jason replied, but by then Percy was already in his bunk.

The room was silent, the only sounds of crickets (which made no sense since he was in the middle of the ocean). Then he heard something.

Percy Jackson, you're time is near. A raspy voice whispered in his ear. Percy recognized the voice.

"Gaea." He immediately uncapped riptide. There is no point. Going to Athens. You're battle is already lost.

"You're lying." He said to no one. He glanced around, but the bunk was empty except for the darkness. Am I? Would I lie to you, Percy Jackson? Have I ever lied to you?

The truth was that she never had, which scared Percy even more. But she didn't need to know that. The room sounded with laughter. I know everything, Percy Jackson. I know you're fears. You can hide nothing from me.

"You can't change the Fates." Percy said. "The prophecy says that we will defeat you. At least one of us will." But didn't you hear? Oh, no, of course not. While you were in Tartarus, the rest of you were talking about the prophecy. It is either you, Jason, or Leo. And the one to save the world will be dead. Do you know that it can be you? Do you know that you may die in saving the world from itself? She laughed cruelly, sending shivers down Percy's back.

"You're lying." He repeated, standing up and out of the bed. "None of us will die." His voice was firm, convinced, almost to the point that Percy believed himself. Almost. Gaea laughed again. Even you cannot agree to that, Perseus Jackson. Even you must admit that that is not true.

"The only one who will die is you." He growled. Me? Mother Earth? How will you defeat me? I am more powerful than Tartarus. More powerful than him and Kronos combined. How is it possible to defeat me, an immortal, when you trembled before the sight of Kronos, when you dropped your sword at the mercy of Tartarus? You cannot defeat me, Perseus Jackson. None of you can. And I will have your blood, as well as that daughter of Athena.

"You won't have my blood." Percy said, in his I-am-this-close-to-snapping voice. No one ever had the honor to hear it. "And you won't get Annabeth!" His last sentence was a yell, and, sure, it was a bit corny. But it did make him feel better. Oh? She taunted, and he saw movement out of the corner of his eyes. He swung wildly, but his blade sailed through the outstretched fingers. They scraped the side of his face almost caressingly. Each nail was as sharp as a knife. Underestimate me, Perseus, and you are dead. Percy grabbed the hands with his own, and almost threw up at the feeling. It felt like a rotting corpse. Go figure. This was Mother Gaea he was talking about. She probably ate rotting flesh for breakfast.

He scrambled backwards, choking on the smell. "Jeez," Percy muttered. "You really need to take a shower. You smell like a giant's butt." For a second Gaea was silent, as if trying to figure out how exactly to respond to that. If she even had a response, she wasn't able to say it, because just then, his door burst open.