A/N: I have no idea where this comes from. Trust me, I never do. I just need to let it out. If anyone wants this story to continue, ask for it. Inspiration is a gift and also a curse; it bugs me until I unleash it. So well, enjoy folks!
Plot: I've read the whole Percy Jackson and the Olympians series, but for the second one, I've only read Son of Neptune. The lost hero didn't mention Percy much so I skip it. Mark of Athena didn't arrive in my country yet. This story happens after Son of Neptune. The Romans would come to camp half-blood in my story.
Chapter 1: Plans are crap
Percy's Point of view:
Four hours ago:
I'd expected my stay in camp half-blood would be peaceful enough after my quest for camp Jupiter. But man, fairness and life never went along. After my new friends in Rome and I won the battle with the giants, I told them to go to camp half-blood. Frank, Hazel and I had heard the prophecy and we really didn't like the "Mark of Athena would burn through Rome" part. I had advantages being the Roman's praetor and had persuaded them to go to the Greek camp with me. It took a great amount of time and a lot of help from Frank, Hazel and Tyson. I was really grateful that I was quite an optimist or I would have given in after the first discussion. Reyna's reaction to my offer was okay but the rest wasn't cool with it. But everyone wanted to see their old leader, Jason again so after fights and hesitation, we were finally here.
Present:
Regret has never been in my dictionary. There might be fear, hesitation, doubts but never regrets. I had always learnt to understand and accept the past so that I can deal with the present and move on to the future but right now, I really just want to run away from everything in front of me. Jason is standing face-to-face with me and his face is bright red with anger. Since we reached the camp, the Greeks and the Romans have already tried to start a civil war but with Jason and my great effort, we have calmed both sides down a bit. But Jason has problems with me and even though I didn't really do anything to him, I know he's jealous because in a short time, I have taken his place as a praetor of camp Jupiter. The heat of this place starts to come up higher every second and something inside me really wants to punch the kid straight in the face.
"We should attack the giants and search for the Doors of Death right now! We have no time to rescue that son of Hades!" – growls Jason, his spit flies everywhere.
"Jason, I know there isn't much time left but we have to stay calm and come up with something good enough that can guarantee our success. Besides, Nico probably knows where those doors are. He's a son of Hades after all!" – After a deep breath, I reply Jason. He is obviously not pleased with my answer.
"We can find those doors ourselves. Gaea is using that kid as bait and she knows that you will foolishly stumble right into that trap to save the brat then she will capture you. Why are you so blind?"
The two camps divided into two groups. The Greeks stands behind my back and the Roman's after Jason while Piper, Leo, Frank and Hazel are in denial of which sides should they take. I don't blame any of them. My blood is boiling in my veins and I can feel that every single second passed, Nico's life is nearer to the end. I had let Bianca go there and I will absolutely not going to let that happen to Nico.
"Jason, Nico's our cousin. Hazel's his sister. She can't fight this war without him. I know it's a setup but we can avoid being caught if we're careful. We need to make sure that everybody here is in shape for the war, both physically and mentally. Gaea is trying to hurt us and create conflicts between the camps, Jason!" – With a monotone, I explain my reasons to him and hope that they can somehow enter his thick skull but like father like son, he was just as big-headed as Zeus or Jupiter, or whatever.
"Jackson, the Roman warriors can defeat the enemies easily and with the numbers of both sides, we can find the doors in no time…"
"Yeah and during that time, Gaea will happily leave us alone so that we can wander around and ask for the directions, huh?" – Clarisse backs me up. Even we have a rough relationship, she still considers me as a faithful companion. I appreciate her siding with me, but the way she expressed it wasn't so wise.
"We Romans don't need help from anyone, Greeks!" – Now Jason has completely lost his mind.
"Jason, please don't think about us as Greeks and Romans in this time. Why can't we just be demi-gods, children of a god and a mortal? Why can't we just let go the past and cope with reality that we need to co-operate?" – I'm on the verge of losing my mind myself but my tone is still unbelievably collected and patient.
"Then listen to me and just go for it! Stop paying the damn concern about rubbish things and make plans! Prove that Greeks are smart and fast enough for this!" – Jason screams into my face, his voice is humiliating and unfortunately for everyone, he has just crossed my limit.
My hand has formed into a fist without me recognizing and I wonder if my face has changed color too. But it seems like it didn't since everyone is suddenly unusually quiet and stare at the ground. I don't have the feeling of blood burning my skin whenever I get angry anymore, but a thrust inside my stomach. I don't remember sensing the earth shaking under my feet but the next thing I know is Jason's blasting lightning at me while everyone shouts at me to stop. Then a punch hit my chest and catches my attention. It doesn't hurt but I startle and see Annabeth who is trying to calm me down. She's holding her fist after the punch, it's certain that I'm not easy to be harmed now. I blink and quickly take a step back to prevent myself from hurting her accidently. Taking more breathes and closing my eyes, I get my control back and look at everyone's faces. Then Octavian's voice reaches my eardrum and it's the final drop that makes the water spills:
"See everyone? The Greeks are trying to kill us! That traitor brought us here to kill us!"
"QUIET!" – My voice escapes my lips and it nearly tears my throat off.
Everyone is already frozen and now no-one dares to move a muscle. I realize that it's the perfect time to continue:
"Listen to me and listen well. I know it's HARD for both sides to let go the grudges, the hatred from the past. I know we have different fighting styles and skills and the way we prepare for fights are COMPLETELY THE OPPOSITE. I'm sorry if I offend Lady Athena or Minerva or whatever, but in real life, PLANS BACKFIRE! Yes, I admit that I really don't have a clear plan about what the hell we are going to do, because things are a damn CHAOS around here. I want to rescue that kid because he hasn't just helped all of us once, but many times already. Who cares he's a son of Hades? It's not about HOW we fight; it's about WHY we fight. When there's a good reason, a strong will then there will be a clear way! I know Romans don't care about that as long as they win the war, but to win, we must make sure we have enough CONDITIONS to win! Jason, if you thirst for admiration THAT badly, let me tell you something! If you want people to admire you, you have to keep them ALIVE first! You don't know a crap about the feeling when someone is being tortured or dying in front of your eyes and there's nothing you can do, do you? If you don't then I do and yeah, that's CRAP! But I'm glad that I have that in me, because it proves that I'm a living creature!"
Everyone is still deadly still after my long uninterrupted speech. I never know I can speak that long without pauses or loss of words. Even Annabeth gives me a strange look. My mind is a big mess right now. I have a bad feeling that Hera/Juno's plan to unite the two camps isn't going to help at all. While the demi-gods are trying to come back to their senses and ingest my speech, I glance at Clarisse and say:
"Hey, do you mind telling everyone to have dinner when things cool down a little? I need to clear my mind. Thanks."
She just simply nods and starts gathering the Greeks around while shooting daggers at the Romans. I sigh at the sight and walk towards the beach. The ocean may make me think straight about the issue. I stroll along the coast slowly and watch the sun goes down. Then a crazy, insane but hopeful plan flares up in my dull mind. Perhaps a son of Poseidon might be slow, but he can obviously do things that no-one can. It's a completely risky but reliable plan; especially the others wouldn't suffer the consequences even when the results turn out bad. It depends on how brave, daring, crazy, strong I am because it has to be me, always me. Looking back at everything that happened since I was twelve, I make the decision. Maybe this is what Phineas the blind fortune-teller meant before he died: I would suffer great pain and there will be a sacrifice that I wouldn't dare to make. Since I hate being restrained, I think I'm going to break a prophecy.
The sun finally goes to sleep and I smell the smoke from campfire. Watching the waves chasing each other, I whisper:
"Gaea, beware."
A/N: What do you think? If you want to know what happens next then just give me some reviews. Make me feel the love! Pretty please with cameral cream and a cherry on the top? Thank you guys!
