i would apologize for my extended absence but as my updatesare almost always this infrequent, I can't say it won't happen again. This chapter isn't quite as good as the last two, but at least it's done. Hopefully the next will be a bit more interesting. :)
Annabeth would have continued had the front door not decided to slam open at that exact moment.
"Regina?" Someone called. A woman with blond hair, wearing a red leather jacket, rushed into the room. 'What's wrong, where's Henry? I can have backup here in a minute." If she hadn't reached for her gun, everything would have been fine. Thalia's bow appeared from nowhere, pointed straight at the woman.
"Hands off the gun." Thalia said menacingly. The woman didn't move.
"Wa- where did that come from?" She said, more confused than surprised. Annabeth noted this before speaking.
"Come on Thals, no need to be hostile." She said, eyes on the woman. She heard Thalia's bow string relaxing, and the room let out a breath.
"What's going on-"
"Nothing we can't deal with, no need to call in the cavalry." Mrs. Mills said, the last part in a nasty tone. Percy looked from Mrs. Mills- Regina, to Henry to the woman who'd just walked in.
"Are you related?" He asked in the insensitive fashion of a teenage boy.
'Yeah I'm-"
"She's his birth mother." Mrs. Mills said with a scowl. A few eyebrows rose amongst the demigods.
"Rachel did say a weird family." Annabeth muttered.
"We're one to talk." Percy said softly, and Annabeth cracked a smile.
"Alright." Annabeth said. "May I continue?"
"Just make this quick." Regina said. The blond woman stood in a more relaxed position but crossed her arms. Her stance near a reflection to many Annabeth had known… The others seemed to realize the same thing. The boy's birth mother was a veteran of hardship, whatever the kind.
"Are you familiar with Greek Mythology?" She asked again. Henry nodded brightly. "So you've heard stories about demigods, the half blood children of the mortal and immortal."
"Yeah," The blond woman said. "What does it matter?"
"You see, the Greek Gods are real, they're still around, and they're still running around having children with mortals." Mrs. Mills scoffed, but the other woman shot her a look.
"Henry." Annabeth said, addressing the boy. "You're related to a god." The boy tilted his head and seemed to ponder this for a moment.
"Cool!" He said perking up.
"You've got to be kidding me." Regina said.
"How is that possible?" The blond woman said. "Neil isn't-"
"Demigods are the direct children of gods, but those who are related more distantly are called Legacies."
"So you think." Regina said. "That my son is related to some ancient long dead god?"
"One," Percy said, "They're still around, you're lucky Zeus didn't hear that. Two, Gods can't die, occasionally they fade but that's a different story. Three, it could always be a goddess. Seriously, be careful with stuff like that, I still remember when Grover called Nemesis a god. Let's just say everyone decided to 'pay him back' that week." Grover bleated, recalling the misery of having all of your enemies (though Grover had few) coming after you at once.
The blond woman paced for a few minutes before she spoke.
"Okay, Greek gods, that's not the weirdest thing I've ever heard." She muttered to herself.
"Really?" Percy asked being a seaweed brain. The woman was momentarily startled.
"I guess." She shrugged, trying to brush it off. "So, Henry's related to a god- or goddess, obviously you're not just here to share that information."
"You're pretty good." Thalia said. "Any chance you want to swear off men for eternity? The hunters would be happy to have you." The woman scoffed. An electric pulse shot through the room.
"I was dead serious, but whatever." The huntress said, folding her arms and leaning against the back wall.
Annabeth coughed to gain the room's attention once more. "You're right, we didn't just come here to tell you, we wouldn't do that, if you aren't on your way to camp you're better off not knowing."
"What do you mean better off?" Regina asked in a protective mother fashion.
"Everything in Greek Mythology still exists… including the monsters." Annabeth explained. "They can… track people with godly blood, they hunt us down, that's why we always have searchers about, Satyrs like Grover, to find young demigods and bring them to camp before the monsters get to them."
The two women looked at Henry, who appeared to be thinking this over himself. "What's camp?" He asked.
"Camp Half-blood." Percy said proudly, pulling at his t-shirt. "One of the only safe places for demigods in the world." The boy squinted at the faded greek letters.
"Camp Half-blood," He read slowly, "Long Island Sound."
"Long Island?" The blond woman said. "Like New York City?"
"No, like the Island." Thalia said snarkily. Both Regina and Annabeth shot her a look, even though the ferocity of their looks was very different.
"So let me get this straight." The blond woman said. "Henry, is related to a god or goddess, and you want to take him to a camp on Long Island to protect him from monsters we've never even heard of or seen."
"Yes," Annabeth confirmed with a nod. "You can't see the monsters because of the mist, a magical barrier that keeps the mortal and immortal worlds apart through the manipulation of thoughts and perspectives."
"Kinda like the barrier that's surrounding this town." Percy put in thoughtfully (for once).
"True, though the barrier here is for the most part physical, and we don't know what it's separating." Annabeth confirmed. Percy then turned to the three dumb struck residents of Storybrooke.
"What's up with that anyway?" He asked. Regina was twitching, Blondie was gaping, and Henry was bouncing up and down.
"You got through it?" He asked excitedly.
"Psh." Thalia said. "It takes a lot more than a magic wall to stop Lady Artemis."
"The goddess?" Regina asked sceptically.
"Who else." Was the reply. A counter formed on the woman's lips but Annabeth cut her off.
"Thalia is a hunter of Artemis, one of her Ladyship's immortal attendants. She helped us get here as her mistress had business with one of the other residents."
"Who?" The blond woman asked, concerned.
"Robin Hood, but don't worry she blessed him once, it's unlikely she's currently striking them down, though of course it's always a possibility." Thalia said. Annabeth glared at her.
"I apologize for my friend's hostility." Thalia rolled her eyes. "She takes after her father's flare for the dramatics."
"Oh, oh, is he Apollo?" Henry asked. Thunder boomed in the sunny sky and the demigods cringed.
"Actually that would be Zeus." Grover said.
"Hence the thunder." Thalia said, gesturing at the sky.
"Introductions then, I'm a daughter of Athena, my boyfriend Percy-"
"Son of Poseidon." He interrupted. "And Grover here's a Satyr." Grover tipped his ball cap at the trio, exposing his slow growing horns. "Your turn."
"Regina Mills, I'm mayor here."
"Emma Swan, I'm sherif here."
"Henry Mills, her birth son, her adopted son." He said pointing at the respective women. A strange look appeared on his face. "Wait, does that mean that by birth you're my gr-"
"Don't even think about it." Regina said cutting him off. Annabeth and Percy exchanged a glance but didn't say anything. "I suppose you want an explanation." She continued, addressing the teenagers.
"Nope." Annabeth said. Percy glanced sideways at her but said nothing. "Your secrets are your secrets, gods know we understand. Anyway, we should get going if we want to be back before midnight." The entire room looked surprised.
"You're leaving?" Henry asked.
"Yes, and it might be a good idea for you to start packing." She replied. Henry jumped up, then froze at the horrified looks he got from both his moms.
"Hold on a second, we haven't O.K-d anything." Emma said standing up. Annabeth looked at her eyes narrowed slightly.
"You would risk your own safety and your son's safety by keeping him here?" She asked in the dead serious tone of voice that sent shivers down Percy's spine.
"Trust me you don't want to do that, my mom learned the hard way. She was nearly killed by a minotaur." He continued. Emma and Regina looked at each other and seemed to be silently arguing.
Finally Emma spoke. "Just for the summer?" She asked.
"Yes." Annabeth confirmed. "As a legacy Henry shouldn't have much to worry about, only the high-risk demigods stay year round." Emma nodded.
"Alright Henry," Regina said. "Start packing." Henry immediately jumped up and started to run out.
"Wait." He said to himself, having an after thought. "What about Mary-Margaret and David?"
"I'll go get them so you can say goodbye." Emma said quickly, glancing sideways at Regina who didn't seem too keen at that idea.
An hour later, the boy was ready to go. Having said his goodbye's to most of the town. The two eople Henry had mentioned earlier turned out to be his grandparents, though they looked a bit too young to fill that role. Both had expressed their concern at Henry leaving with four strange teenagers, but the appearance of Lady Artemis was enough to convince them of the demi-god's authenticity. (Though we won't go into details for the mortal's sake.)
Annabeth convinced Percy to let her drive on the way back. Grover and Henry could figure out the directions (she hoped). After parting with Thalia and the Goddess of the Hunt they started back to Camp, and Annabeth knew why she would be in the Big house tomorrow, she just wondered what to tell Chiron.
Next chapter should be a bit more interesting if not as eventful, i'll warn you now that it may be a long time coming, these chapters are a bit longer thanthe ones I usually do. But, It will be updated eventually, I WILL NOT ABANDON MY EPIC CROSSOVER! So please be paitent. I find review quite inspirational, and they do motivate me greatly. (I received an update request earlier today, thank you very much!)
Until next time
-Waaaaaay2manyfandoms