Disclaimer: I do not Percy Jackson and all related characters

Chapter 2: Camp Half-Blood

*Long Island, New York*

Percy stirred from his sleep, groggily wondering why his arm was numb. As his senses returned, he remembered that Annabeth had snuck over the night before, and they had fallen asleep cuddling.

Gently getting out of bed so as not to wake her, Percy stretched slightly. Cabin 3, Poseidon's cabin, smelt slightly of the beach, and the walls were dotted with small pink seashells.

Stepping out of the cabin, Percy was surprised to see that the sun was barely up yet, with the horizon just showing the slightest bit of orange. The Athena Parthenos stood tall on Half-Blood Hill, pale and aloof, next to the Golden Fleece resting on Thalia's pine tree. Peleus curled contentedly around the sturdy trunk, steam rising from his nostrils. Percy walked past the craters of the Colossus' footsteps. The dining pavilion was being reconstructed, under Annabeth's supervision, as was the Demeter Cabin. Both structures were half-finished, still shrouded in scaffolding.

Percy hiked up to the summit of Half-Blood Hill, wanting to enjoy some peace and quiet. Admittedly, life had been rather peaceful since Apollo, Leo and Calypso had left on their quest. Still, despite the peace, Percy felt like something was missing.

Percy sat down next to Peleus. The dragon grunted a greeting. Percy smiled and reached out to pet the scaly beast. "Hey there, Peleus." Percy said.

The dragon shifted slightly, raising its head to look at something in the distance. Percy turned to look as well. In the dim light of the rising sun, Percy could barely make out a figure, sprinting towards Half-Blood Hill, with two misshapen lumps of monsters chasing him.

Percy rose to his feet, pulling Riptide from his jean pocket. Uncapping the ballpoint pen, the celestial bronze blade sprung to full length. This new demigod was the first in a long time, and Percy was determined to make sure he reached camp safely.

As it turned out, his help was not needed.

Ben sprinted hard, not daring to look behind him. The panting of the two huge wolf-like creatures was motivation enough to keep running.

Ben crashed through dense undergrowth, determined to escape. As he broke past another bush, he was greeted with a large hill, which was adorned with a very strange sight.

Atop the grassy hill, there was a large pine tree, with something golden glittering in its branches, and even stranger, a dragon appeared to be curled around it. Next to the pine tree, was a massive ivory statue of some woman with a spear and shield.

Ben dashed across the empty two-lane road, fixated on getting to high ground. He sensed the hounds had slowed slightly, perhaps in trepidation. He knew he had to take advantage.

Pouring on the speed, he hit the bottom of the hill running. He climbed maybe four or five steps, before pushing off the hill with his foot, unsheathing his blades as he somersaulted over the hounds.

The hounds skidded to a halt, paws scrabbling for traction. He landed behind them as they started to turn, and without hesitation, he sliced through them, carving them up.

The hounds did not collapse as he expected, but rather exploded into golden dust, like the bull-headed man at the dojo had. Ben was too busy catching his breath to try and think about the implications of that.

Ben looked up as he heard footsteps. A tall, young man was approaching with a strange bronze sword drawn. As Ben prepared for another attack, the stranger touched something to the tip of his sword, and it shrunk, disappearing from sight.

Ben was surprised, and as the stranger drew near, Ben could've sworn he saw him putting a pen into his pocket. The stranger had wavy black hair and sea-green eyes. Right now those eyes were filled with caution, a look Ben appreciated. Here was someone who had seen combat, and was no doubt trustworthy.

The stranger reached the bottom of the hill. The two regarded each other. Ben spoke first. "Do you know where I can find a place called Camp Half-Blood?" He asked.

The stranger looked surprised. "How do you know that name?"

"My master told me to seek it out before he died." Ben replied. "He said to ask for Chiron."

The stranger turned grim. "Well, you're in the right place. Come on, I'll take you to Chiron."

The stranger turned and started up the hill. Ben sheathed his swords and followed him.

Percy was rather surprised at the stranger's swordsmanship. He had also never seen someone wielding such strange blades. Of course, Apollo had told him how the traitorous daughter of Demeter Meg had dual-wielded crescent-shaped blades like a dimachaerus, but this guy's blades were nearly straight, with a slight curve near the top.

Percy stopped outside the Big House, whose lights were all out. Turning to make sure that the stranger was following him, he then knocked loudly on the door. There was no reply.

Percy turned to the stranger. "Chiron's probably not awake yet, we'll have to wait a while."

The stranger nodded. Percy looked him over. He was young, much younger than Percy, yet he was well-built, arms bristling with lean muscles. His two blades were sheathed in a cross over his back, and on his belt were what looked like throwing stars and small daggers. A short blade was also slung low across his hip. A large backpack was also on the stranger's back, with a hastily-packed sleeping bag poking out of the top.

Percy extended a hand. "I'm Percy. Nice to meet you."

The stranger shook his hand firmly. "My name is Ben. It is nice to meet you Percy."

Percy guided Ben to the porch of the Big House, and sat him down in the same place where Percy had first met Chiron and Dionysus. As Percy took his seat, he glimpsed flowing blonde hair and a lithe, athletic figure emerging from the Poseidon Cabin.

Annabeth looked around, before spotting Percy on the porch of the Big House. Even from this far away, Percy could see that her brows were knitted and her lips pursed.

Percy's long-time girlfriend started striding towards the Big House, just as the door opened, and a groggy, unshaven Chiron emerged.

"What's the matter Percy, waking me at this ungodly hour?" The aged centaur rubbed his eyes and stretched. As he clopped around the porch, Chiron finally registered the presence of young Ben.

"Ah, who do we have here?" Chiron asked kindly.

Percy watched, bemused, as Ben rose from his seat and bowed deeply to Chiron. "My master, Sensei Takuya sent me here, and told me to ask for you before he died. I was hoping I could get some answers here."

Chiron's face seemed to age 10 years in the blink of an eye. "Takuya is dead? Well, then come inside. We have a lot to discuss."

Chiron turned and clopped into the Big House, followed by Ben. Percy got up from his seat just as Annabeth arrived. She shot him a quizzical look, and he just shrugged.

Annabeth was intrigued by the newcomer. Despite his obvious youth, he was clearly strong, and according to Percy, had slain two hellhounds with relative ease. The blonde was most interested by the newcomer's swords. Ben, as Percy told her he was named, was carrying a literal barrage of medieval Japanese weaponry.

Chiron turned on the lights in the lounge. Seymour the leopard head growled at them, clearly not happy with being woken so early. Chiron absentmindedly tossed a bundle of Snausages at the mounted head, and Seymour snapped it up.

Chiron turned, carrying a platter of tea and biscuits, ducking his head to avoid getting a concussion. "Oh!" Chiron exclaimed. "I didn't see you come in, Annabeth. Come, sit with us."

Annabeth noticed that young Ben seemed to shrink upon noticing her presence, almost as if he was afraid. Trying her best for a friendly smile and to tone down her usually fierce, intense glare, she sat down on the arm of the sofa, trying to smooth her bed-head.

Percy slumped in the sofa, leaning back and causing it to creak. Ben sat down on the edge of an old, worn armchair. Chiron set the platter of tea and biscuits down on the low table, and folded his legs underneath him, laying down so his human part was on the same level as Ben.

Annabeth watched as Ben gingerly took a small biscuit and popped it into his mouth. "Why don't you tell us your story Ben?" Chiron asked.

Ben swallowed his biscuit, and began his tale. Annabeth watched as Chiron's brow furrowed deeper and deeper as Ben's story progressed. It seemed as if he aged 50 more years through the whole process.

Ben finished his story. The groups' cups of tea lay cold and undrunk. Outside, the first rays of sunlight trickled in through the windows. A conch horn blew in the distance.

Chiron slowly stood up. "Wait here with Percy and Annabeth, Ben. I must fetch something." He clopped out of the room.

Ben sat uneasily, rucksack at his feet. He looked shyly at Annabeth and Percy. Annabeth wanted to ask Ben more about his weapons, but the young boy spoke first.

"Percy, I saw you coming towards me with a sword, but then that sword disappeared. How did you do that?" Ben asked.

Percy chuckled. "That's my magic sword, Ben. It shrinks into a ballpoint pen when I'm not using it." Annabeth watched as her boyfriend pulled Riptide out of his faded jean's pocket.

Percy continued. "This sword is called Anaklusmos, or Riptide in English. It used to belong to Heracles, and I unsheathe it by uncapping the pen." He handed the pen to an awestruck Ben.

Annabeth smiled. Boys would be boys, she thought. She decided it would be a good time to inquire about Ben's swords, but then Chiron re-entered. He was carrying a small leather pouch. Chiron knelt slowly, tucking his equestrian legs beneath him.

The wizened old centaur spoke. "Takuya mailed me this package a while ago, telling me not to open it until his disciple arrived. This was just before all communications known to us started failing, so I was unable to ask more." He passed the package to Ben, who held it reverently.

Chiron rose. "Percy, bring Ben to Cabin 12 and make sure he settles in." Percy lifted himself off the sofa and headed out, followed closely by Ben. Annabeth turned to Chiron, all business now.

"Chiron, if what he said is true, the Triumvirate could pose an even larger threat than it had before." Annabeth said.

The old centaur nodded. "Indeed, in all my life I have not seen such troubling times. We can only hope that Apollo will succeed in his quest."

Annabeth looked out the window, stormy grey eyes drilling a hole into the back of the head of the young Ben.

Ben was awestruck by the camp, which Percy told him was called Camp Half-Blood. Takuya's package weighed heavily in his hands, a last gift from his master. Percy led him to the camp green, where over 20 elaborately decorated cabins were arranged in an omega shape. One of the cabins was shrouded in scaffolding for some reason.

Ben was half-listening as Percy talked him through the different cabins. Something about ancient Greek gods and how the old stories kept them alive. He gently caressed the small leather pouch from Sensei Takuya. He looked up as they crossed the common greens. A young girl tending to the large campfire smiled at him as he passed.

Percy stopped outside a plain-looking cabin. "Here we are, Ben. This is the Hermes Cabin, its where children of Hermes stay, as well as those who haven't been claimed by their godly parent yet."

Ben looked inside. The cabin was mostly empty, save for a few kids still sleeping. There were close to twenty bunks, most with various paraphernalia scattered around them, but empty.

Something Percy had said rang a bell in Ben's mind. Turning to find the tall young man still next to him, Ben opened his mouth to ask a question, but Percy silenced him with a wave, saying, "I know what you're wondering. Who's your godly parent?"

Surprised, Ben nodded mutely. Percy ruffled the younger boy's hair. "Don't worry about it, I'm sure whoever it is will claim you soon. I made sure of that." Percy finished with a wink.

Ben wasn't quite sure what he meant by that but nodded nonetheless. Percy patted him on the shoulder and left. Ben put his stuff on the nearest empty bunk and sat down on the edge of the mattress. The sun was coming up now, and Ben didn't know if it was a sign of things to come.

A/N Hey y'all, sorry for not updating in so long but I have a brief break before my A levels start and I remembered I still hadnt finished this chapter in forever so I decided to finish it and upload it to get it off my mind. Hope you guys enjoy, and I'll see you guys soon.

As always, feel free to leave a review with any criticisms and/or suggestions for the story, all advice is welcome!

Happy reading!

Darkrai