I do not own PJatO and HoO, Spider-Man, or Avengers.

Chapter 3: The Revelation

It was going to be a long drive. Going from Upstate Central New York to the Big Apple was going to be at least a four hour drive. Zack decided to ask Percy a few questions, since they would be together for a while. "So, Percy, the books didn't come out that long ago, and in the last one, which came out last year I might add, you're only seventeen. If these books are true, how come you're like, I'm guessing twenty-nine?" asked Zack. "Zack, do you know how long it takes for a book to get published, even for an accomplished author?" responded Percy. "Oh, right takes a while. So that gave you guys plenty of time to have your other adventures while Rick was writing one. Got it. I have another question, though," said Zack.

"What is it? Anything at all as long as it's not about one of my quote-unquote "adventures"," said Percy. "Why did you name your daughter after the cursed nymph that Leo and Hazel met?" asked Zack. "Oh, I figured you'd ask that sooner or later. Well, Echo's story is not a happy one, so we thought we'd name our daughter after her so that one Echo at least can have a happy ending," explained Percy. Zack smiled, Percy was right. That is a very good reason to name your daughter after a cursed Nymph.

"I suppose you saw this next question coming too. Does Echo here have any of your abilities? Even to a lesser extent?" asked Zack. He had always wanted to know people with super powers. Now it was his chance to. "I don't know. Do you E?" Percy asked his daughter. "I've never tried before. Maybe I will when we get to camp," said Echo. Zack nodded, that seemed like a good idea. "Zack, it's my turn to ask you a question," said Percy. "Shoot," said Zack.

"Do you have any of the usual Half-Blood problems?" asked Percy. "No. I'm a little hyper active but no ADHD. No Dyslexia, actually I love to read, especially Stephen King and comic books. I'm not even lactose intolerant like Frank," Zack said. Echo looked at Percy wide-eyed. "Uncle Frank is lactose intolerant," said Echo, sounding very surprised. Percy gave Zack a look that screamed "Oh, crap!" then Zack looked at her confusedly. "I thought you read the books," Zack said. "I'm still working on 'The Lost Hero'. Dyslexia is a horrible thing for someone who loves to read," said Echo. Zack looked at her understandingly and nodded.

"Wait, I have a question for you Zack," said Echo. "What is it?" asked Zack. He would answer any question she had. She was pretty cute, but he would let her find out he thought that. Relationships never really worked out to his favor. "Who do you think your dad is?" she asked. Zack stared straight at the highway in front of them. He had no idea. "I don't know. I love to write music and play instruments, although I'm not that good. I'm good with machines, using them I mean. I can't really make things. I love the water, but I'm not water proof like Percy, and I can't read the water to navigate. I enjoy some fights, especially when I win, but I don't go looking for them. I'm clever and enjoy a good laugh, but I'm not pranking people twenty four/seven. I love the theater and movies, but I promised myself I would never come anywhere near wine or any form of alcohol. I also loves gems and thinking about what would happen after we die, but I'm terrified of the dark. I love flying and electricity and stuff too, but I'm terrified of heights. It seems like that for everything I have that gets me near a dad, there's something that puts me back at square one," Zack explained.

"Well, I bet that you'll be claimed almost as soon as we get to camp. Your dad probably didn't want to claim you until you were safe," said Percy. "I hope so," said Zack. The last three hours of the drive were in relative silence. The only noise coming from the car was the radio and Echo's eventual snoring. Zack didn't understand how she could be so tired. Sure a lot had happened, but it was only half after one by the time she fell asleep. After a while Zack started to feel a little drowsy himself. His family often went on road trips, so the car had a relaxing effect on him. But then he smelled strawberries.

"We're here!" Zack screamed. Echo sat upright so fast the seat belt locked. "What's going on?" asked Echo, terrified, but half-awake. "You have arrived at your destination. Thank you for riding Bus Jackson and enjoy your stay at Camp Half-Blood," Percy said, getting out of the car. "Ugh, dad, enough with the dad jokes," said Echo, not terribly impressed with her father's sense of humor. "If I don't tell jokes, the only way to get you to laugh then is to do this," said Percy. He then proceeded to tickle his daughter. She jumped so high she leapt into the tree by the car. Literally.

When she got down Zack asked "How did you do that?" "I do gymnastics and I probably got a little boost from the rain that fell here recently," Echo explained. "Alright, come on guys. Let's go meet Chiron," said Percy. "Oh yes. This is turning into the best day ever!" said Zack.

The three walked to the Big House. They saw people moving inside, one on a wheel chair and another standing up. The standing figure was limping however, and one could see that he was terribly disfigured. Zack knew exactly who it was and ran to the door. As soon as he got on the porch, Zack knocked, trying very hard not to break down the door. Zack was so excited about who answered the door. It was Hephaestus, Greek god of machinery. He looked rather sad to see Zack. As he knelt down Zack asked "Is something wrong, Lord Hephaestus?" "No, son, stand up," said Hephaestus, something was off. Hephaestus didn't get emotional, even with Aphrodite as his wife, he wasn't very good with feelings. "Are you my father? That would be awesome!" said Zack.

"Zack, that's why I'm here," Hephaestus said as he brought him to the couch, "Zack, you're not like most Half-Bloods." "In what way?" Zack asked. "You… you weren't born physically," said Hephaestus. "Wait, so like Athenian kids? Is she my mom?" asked Zack, really confused. "No, you were born of your mother in CNY, but you were, an experiment. I was tasked with taking a source of DNA from every major god or goddess on Olympus, and turning it into sperm so that your mother would give birth. You see, the gods need a new champion now. We don't know what it is, but Apollo warned us of a huge threat on the way, and you are the only Half-Blood to figure it out on your own, as well as read the books your brother half-brother Rick wrote," explained Hephaestus.

"Wait, when you said every major god and goddess, does that include the ones like Hera and Artemis?" asked Zack, just trying to get the story straight. "They were rather argumentative at first, but after I informed them that this would not break their vows of chastity and virginity respectively, they resentfully complied," explained Hephaestus. "Why did they do it at all?" asked Zack.

"The spirit of Delphi normally goes through the Oracle, but Apollo sensed the danger of this one and allowed himself to write this prophecy," explained Hephaestus as he handed Zach a piece of paper. Zack unfolded it and read it aloud.

In twelve plus one days,

The boy must begin the journey without delay.

The child of the twelve and a mortal one,

Will do what no previous hero has done.

He must journey to the end of the gods' reach,

Then learn the lesson that none can teach,

Then upon the journeys end

Fail to see a friend again.

This all will occur in the time of days thirteen,

To be back at camp on Tuesday the thirteenth.

This must be completed before that noon,

Or all on earth will face all doom.

Everyone just stared at each other with terror. The most terrifying part of this was, much as with most prophecies, it was so unclear. But another thing was off. This was parchment. In the books, the gods had managed to keep with the times. "Why is this parchment?" Zack asked. "The prophecy was written almost one thousand years ago. Look at the top left corner," said Hephaestus. Zack looked and saw that it was dated 3/29/1015. "The prophecy couldn't be about me. It was dated for the eleventh century," said Zack. "Look at the bottom right corner," ordered Hephaestus. Zack did, and saw that it read "Give to Zack Adrian on the twenty-ninth of March in the year 2015."

"Alright, now that that's straightened out, what can we make of the rest of this?" asked Chiron. Percy was the first to speak, "I can understand the fourth and fifth lines. I've experienced them both." "I understand those lines too," said Zack, "The end of gods' reach obviously refers to Alaska. Do what no previous hero has done, I have to bring someone back from the dead. If that's the case, Chiron assign me a quest, in thirteen days. I know exactly who to bring on my quest." "Just who would that be Mister Adrian?" asked Chiron. "I need to bring Echo Jackson, and Ned Tyson," said Zack.