A/N: I am a novice writer. That is all. Thank you.

Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson because if I did I wouldn't be writing Fanfiction. This is just for my own-wait I actually don't know why I'm writing this. Hmmm. Okay you know what forget it. Just remember. I DO NOT OWN PERCY JACKSON. I REPAT. I DO NOT OWN PERCY JACKSON. See how I wrote in caps lock there so it would stand out?

The Quest to Retrieve the Master Bolt

Chapter 3

Hi my name is Pearl Jackson. Short for Persephone but people rarely call me that, and the name is to me is disturbing and too long. So I settled on Pearl because pearls are found in the ocean and well I really like the ocean. Like I have a deep connection with it. Call me weird but it's true. Now lets continue on with the story.

My name is Pearl Jackson. And this is my story.

Ok first off. I'll be honest with you. I did the only logical thing I could think up of. And I know it was a bad decision. But if anyone was in my shoes they would've done it too. It was simple really.

As soon as we reached our stop, I rushed out of the bus and ran to the nearest taxi. And your like, how would you have gotten away without Grover noticing? Well it was, again, really simple. Grover had issues that involved going to the 'loo' when he was upset or scared.

And then I knew the moment Grover left my side, this was my chance! A chance that may, or may not ever come to me again, so obviously I took the chance. Once Grover got off he went straight to the loo, giving me the opportunity to hide and run for my life.

So too sum it all up I ditched Grover. Yes, yes, and yes, I know, I know and I know, it was rude, and undeniably mean to do that Grover but the kid was freaking me out. He kept saying things along the line of:

"Oh no, why does this always happen to me!"

"I'm going to die!"

"Sixth grade!"

"They never make it!"

I guess you get the idea right?….right?

Anyways that's the reason I ditched Grover, and if anyone has anything, and I mean anything to say how mean it was, I will karate kick you. But if you have something to back up the argument that is on the opposing side (which is opposite to mine -whatever you call it) go ahead!

And so here I am in the taxi waiting to be dropped off at my house. And no, I am not telling you my address, that would lead to stalking, fights, arguments and possible deaths, and I won't be the one dying….

Anyways I just want to give you a quick summary of my mother. She is the most purest person in the world and nothing can describe how amazing she is. Her name? Sally Jackson. Her life story? Heart-aching.

You see, her own parents died in a plane crash when she was little, barley even five. She was raised by her Uncle didn't even acknowledge her most of the time. Dropped out of college because of the stupid Uncle who got cancer, and when he died? She was left with no money, no job, no diploma and most importantly no family. So all in all the best people in this world, get the worst luck anyone could ever imagine.

And so the only good thing that happened to my mom? Meeting my birth father, who I have absolutely no memory of, only for him to ditch her, with my mom assuring me that he's not dead. 'Lost at sea' she would say to me every time I asked about him.

She worked who know's how many jobs, took night classes to finally get her high school diploma, raised me out of all people, and never complained or got mad at me. Not even once. Even I knew I wasn't an easy kid, how she put up with me? Is a miracle.

In the end she married some random dude named Gabe Ugliano, who on the outside looked pretty okay. But soon after they got married he showed his true colours, as Top 100 idiots, but I wasn't fooled by his looks. I knew the first time we had met. Just by one look at him, I knew we would be sworn enemies, I could just feel it. Instinct man, instinct.

When I was young I nicked name him Dr. Smell. Don't judge people! It was the only thing that I could think up of, and pretty awesome job if I do so say myself. It sounded like one of those evil villain's you see in a TV show. Why I named him this? Simple. This guy smelled like trash, and also a bunch of other smells that I don't recognise.

Too sum this all up. We made my mom's live a living hell. And trust me you don't want to know. They way he treats her, and the way I treat him, and also the way we both treat each other. Would be equivalent to animal territorial behaviour. Just to give you a sneak peek on what happens on in my family, lets use now for an example.

I walked into the small apartment building, up a flight of stairs and into the house, desperately hoping my mom would be home. But to my disappointment, Dr. Smell was there. In the living room. With his 'buddies'. Playing poker. Surprise, surprise. The television blared ESPN. Chips, beer cans, and bunch of other things that the human eye would not want to see, were scattered all over the floor.

"So, you're back" he said without even taking a glance at me, to busy focusing on his 'poker game'. And all I could say was Gabe had put on more weight than the last time i've seen him. Looking at him up close you could see the 3-6 hairs on his head, all combed over his scalp, as if to make him look good or something.

He managed some random electronic store in Queens, but stayed home most of the time.

Though I have absolutely no idea why they hadn't fired him years ago. He spent all his money on beer(of course) and cigars.

So I replied the with the same tone, but with even more exaggeration. "Where else would I be?". I cross my arms and scanned the room. "Where's my mom?" I asked, glaring slightly in his direction, but of course he didn't notice.

"She's at work," he answered, "You got any cash?". That's it! This guy want's a fight doesn't he? The least he could do was say 'welcome back, Pearl' or 'how was school'. But no. Welcoming someone from hell, a.k.a school isn't in his vocabulary. All he did expect me to provide money for his gambling games, every single time I got home from school. Great. Just Great.

He called it, Father-Daughter bonding. Which is disguised for: if I told mom, he would do beat me up or something like that. Sometimes, this guy had more power over me than I had over myself.

"No, I don't have any cash. Why don't you get some from your pay checks? Or have they stopped paying since you don't go to work? You know what maybe if you actually went to work or at least get a decent 'Job' maybe you wouldn't have to ask your daughter if she has cash every time she comes back from school." By the end of my rant I was huffing and puffing, trying very hard to keep a straight face.

He raised a greasy eyebrow as if he was unimpressed. You see the only thing Gabe was good for, is keeping a cool and calm attitude. Which is a disadvantage to me. He stood up from his poker game and turned to look at me. As he walked over to me all that confidence I had before, just evaporated into thin air. Goosebumps, spread all around my skin like a disease, I was scared. As he towered over me, I was visibly shaking, why did I have to be so short?

He smirked, "Lets see shall we? First of you took from the bus station. Probably paid with a twenty. Got 6-8 bucks change. Now where could that change have gone?".

Damn this dude and his maths. It's either he's really good at maths or he could sniff out the money I stuffed into my pocked. Who does he think he is? A Mathematical Champion or a dog?

I stopped my slight tremor and glared up at him. I chuckled darkly, "Gabe, Gabey, Gabe. Smelly, Smelly, Gabe. Your intimidations don't frighten me anymore. You see, I just got a black belt from class, and you do not want to be on my bad side, not that you already are".

Gabe's eye twitched. "Now if you excuse me" I said, but he didn't budge, so instead I kicked him in his soft spot. Earning a lot of groaning form him, and wincing from the other poker players. "I will take my leave" I said dramatically and left the living room slamming the door to my room shut.

As I looked around the room, I couldn't even explain how messy and disgusting it looked. I can't even consider it my room since Gabe dumped all his stuff in here.

I sighed and sat down on my bed throwing my suitcase next to me. Home sweet home. I couldn't help but smile as I stood up to Gabe, for the first time in a long time. I mean i've stood up to him many times especially when I was a kid, but one time when I was little, Gabe got mad and beat me up, and thats when I kept my distance.

He used that to his advantage, many times, but when I finally started taking self defence and offence lessons. The nightmares of getting beat up stopped and I felt a little confidence in me once again, which soon built up and the I regained my trouble-maker self. I never told mom though, but I knew she knew something was up because I stopped eating and kept quiet most of the time.

Out of no where I heard my mother's melodic voice, "Pearl?". And as soon as she walked in and closed the door, all my fears of childhood ran away. "Mom!" I squealed and jumped into her arms. Hah! Bet you thought that I am incapable of squealing and showing affection to someone.

Mom can make me feel like a child again and can melt all my fears away. Just by taking one look at her you can be assured that everything will be a-okay, and she'll make sure of it. Every time I look into her eyes they always twinkle like stars and brighten a few shades lighter. And whenever she looks at me, it's like she only see's the good stuff, as if she can't possibly think of anything wrong with me. And thats what I like about her. She see's me for me and not the crazed kid people think of me as.

"Oh Pearl" she pulled away to get a good look at me and smile, I swear I can see brightness radiating off of her. This woman is an Angel. But more importantly she is my mom. I grinned as she engulfed me in a tight hug, and thats when I think i'm about to faint.

"You've grown so much since Christmas!"

When sat down, I could finally scan her. Hmmm. White, red and blue uniform? Check. Uniform that smells like Candy? Check. A mischievous grin on her face? Che-wait what?

I furrowed my eyebrows "Where is it?".

She tilted her head in confusion, "Where's what?".

I glared at her, "Don't play dumb with me I know you know what i'm talking about".

Her lips twitched upwards into a familiar smirk. "No I don't know what your talking about Pearl, mind telling me?".

My mouth dropped. What is with all these people smirking at me today. First Nancy, then the 3 old ladies, later on Gabe, and now my own Mom? Is it 'Smirk mischievously at Pearl Day' or what? Rolling my eyes I shot my hand out and motioned her to give it up.

With a roll of her own eyes, how dare she, she gave up what i've been waiting for my whole life since my stay at Yancy Academy. Free 'high-quality' candy samples from the Candy store she worked at. But this is not just any candy store. It's the candy store that everyone goes to because the candies are sooo good and it's just my luck that she happens to work there and bring home candy every time i'm at home. Yup, this is the life.

She ran her hand through my waist length hair, and asked me about how well I was and asked about my self offence and defence classes were. When I told her I had got a black belt in karate, while fiercely digging into the sample back and eating whatever I could grab, she was beyond surprised.

"-And then I flipped him over my shoulder and BAM! He landed on his back. I think I broke one of his bones" I shrugged as I told my mom the story of how I flipped some guy over in Karate, "I didn't like him anyways".

She gave a light laugh that made me feel warmth wash over me. She opened her mouth reply but Gabe's voice cut her off, "Sally! I need my bean-dip woman".

I glared towards the door with pure hatred. He doesn't deserve an angelic person like my mom, no, he deserves that drunk lady I saw on the street near the dumpster on my way home. My mom deserves to be married to some rich billionaire that will forever love her and treat her as if they were equal.

She rolled her eyes at Gabe's demands then turned to me and said, "I have a surprise for you since you've lasted well in school," I looked at her expectantly, "Were going to Montauk".

My eye's danced with glee, "Really? When?"

"As soon I get out of this uniform".

I can't believe what I was hearing. We were going to go to Montauk. The only place where my mom and I could stay together. No more arguing with Dr. Smell. No more talk about the summer solstice deadline or Mrs. Dodds. No more creepy smirking old ladies. Just the me, the beach, and my mom.

Just as I was fantasying about Montauk, Dr. Smell showed up in the doorway, blocking the way to my freedom. "Did you not hear me woman? I said, Bean-dip" he growled out.

"Why don't you make it yourself baldy" I glared up at him.

"What did you say?" he stalked up to me.

"I said-"

"How about we settle down and I'll make you and extra large bean-dip. I'll also add in Sour-cream and Guacamole. Then after that, we'll get ready and go to the beach. You'll have the entire house to yourself" My mom cut me off and gave me a warning look before smiling sweetly to Gabe.

He looked at my mom thoughtfully, "Yeah, I could work with that but only if you go there and back", my mom nodded in agreement. "But" he narrowed his eye's at me, "Only if the brat apologises for interrupting our game and for the kick she gave me i'll let you go".

At first I didn't know what he was talking about, but then realisation dawned on me and a small smirk made it's way onto my face. My mom looked between he both of us, confused, but she motioned me to apologise.

With a huff I glared at Gabe and muttered out an apology, "I'm sorry I interrupted your valuable time on playing your precious poker game, and wish you the best of luck. I am also very sorry for kicking you, I hope the pain heals very soon".

He narrowed his eye's at me before turning to go back to his poker game. "That was close he was almost at the point where he wouldn't let us go" she turned to me with relief in her eyes. "Thank you Pearl for coping with him. Now quickly pack up while I'll go and change and make Gabe his bean-dip" she said and turned around and went into he kitchen.

Before I knew it we were outside with our bags packed and ready to go. Gabe surprisingly took a short break from his 'poker' game to watch us leave. As my mum lugged our bags into the car he turned to me and glared.

"If I find one little scratch on his car when you get back, you'll be sorry" he warned.

I stared at him with a blank look before scoffing, "Are you stupid? Me? A twelve year old kid? Driving your sorry excuse for a car? Hah! Your stupider than I thought".

He made a move to grab me but I skilfully dodged and jumped into the car. "Drive, now" I said, putting my seatbelt on. My mum started the engine, no questions asked. As we drove off I rolled down the windows and poked my head outside yelling, "Adios Dr Smell!"

I could hear him yelling back at me but we were to far. If he wanted to catch up and beat me up he'd have to run, and I don't think running is in Gabe's vocabulary.

As we drove I couldn't help but think of all the fun times we've had since we've been there. We always stayed in the same cabin, which looked like a small little cottage with a chimney on top. But despite it being old and made of wood it hadn't changed and still looked as good as new.

But one thing about Montauk that stood out from the rest is that my mom met my dad there. Also there's that one fact that I've been going there since I was a baby but thats not the main point. The main point was that it was special to her and I wasn't going to let anyone take that away from her. Not even Gabe.

….

We arrived at sunset and did the normal routine of packing away our stuff, opening the windows, dusting away the dust, etcetera.

When we finished cleaning up, we walked along the shore on our bare feet-despite the coldness of the sand-,devoured the extra free candy samples (there was a lot of sample bags). Broke the rules and ignored the 'don't feed the seagulls' sign, and fed the many seagulls who were looking for leftovers.

When the sky darkened we built a campfire and when the fire was big enough we roasted kebabs, which we made earlier (and by we I mean my mom), and made delicious s'mores. After a while we were full and settled on making a tower of s'mores.

"Okay mom, are you watching?" I looked up to make sure that she was actually watching and not doing something else. I stopped stacking my s'mores tower and put my hands on my hips, "Mom!".

"Hmm?" she replied casually, not even bothering to stop and look up from her s'mores tower.

I sighed and pinched the bridge of my nose. "Mom, your about to witness the greatest moment in all history! Look!".

"Okay, okay! I'm watching" she reluctantly looked up form tower.

"Good" I nodded my head and reach to grab my s'more tower.

"Pearl no-"

I silenced her with the wave of my hand and picked up the tower, silently praying to whoever was up there that I didn't drop it. I took a deep breath, steadied the tower, and comfortably rested it in my hands.

"I did it" I whispered under my breath, "I actually did" I said louder. I looked to my mum just to make sure that I wasn't daydreaming. But she just sat there, mouth wide open, with an astonished expression on her face.

"Yes! Victory is mine!" I stood up. "I did it!" I yelled put my arms in the air, unknowingly dropping the tower. I instantly stiffened when I couldn't feel the familiar warmness of the tower in my hands.

I slowly looked down and came face to face with a pile of sand covered marshmallows, chocolate and graham crackers. As I looked down at my ruined master piece, my eye's clouded with tears. My heart betrayed me and I let out a small whimper, and a single tear had the courage to leak out and run down my cheek.

I dramatically fell to the ground and questioned myself, why? Why did this have to happen to me? The tears however, didn't waste their time and started to fall, one after the other. I sniffed and wiped my nose with the sleeve of my jumper, but they still continued to pour out like a flood that would wipe out the entire nation.

My mom tried to calm me down and rubbed soothing circles on my back. But I couldn't stop the tears. I mean, she should know this by now. Once they start it's hard to get them to stop.

I looked up at her through teary eyes and said, "Why, mom? Why?".

"Shhhh, it's okay" she engulfed me in a warm hug. "Lets forget this ever happened and go to bed. Tomorrow we'll go out and by more marshmallows, chocolate and graham crackers, whatever. Then we'll remake it okay?".

I pulled back and wiped away the tears, and with a determined look I nodded. "Who cares aways, I can just make a new one".

She smiled and nodded, "That's my girl".

I can't just make a new one.

That night, when we snuggled into the warm covers, I couldn't help but think of my s'more tower. And yes I know it was a stupid thing to cry over, but still! It was a s'more tower that I,the great and all powerful, Pearl Jackson, managed to lift up and carry with my bare hands.

How am I supposed to tell the world of my great accomplishment and hide the fact the I dropped the tower. I can't just say 'Hey guys guess what? I held a s'more tower! But I dropped it after I got over the fact that I could actually do it". No. They would just look at me as if I was weird and think I was lying. I'll never forget about it and the lie with haunt me forever till I die.

Surprisingly, I fell asleep….

...after I thought about my failure. But the dream wasn't any better than the s'mores tower.

I was on a beach and I saw two animals. A white horse stood on the sand, it's silky white mane, flowing in the wind. How the horse takes care of it's snowy white fur? I will never know. I mean what if it got dirty, like really, really dirty? Something that white will take forever to get it's colour back.

I was to caught up in my thoughts that I forgot about the weird looking eagle. And believe me when I say that the eagle is golden. I wouldn't even be surprised if the eagle was made entirely out of gold!

Out of nowhere they started to fight, which is pretty stupid if you ask me. I mean they should've at least been animals of the same species, that way it would be a fair fight. A bird and a horse? Seriously? How am I even dreaming this?

The eagle glared at the horse and started to dive in for the kill. Oh, no! This is it! The moment of truth, the moment we've all been waiting for. But there was only one thing that was wrong about this scene, and I think you know what I mean.

Where. Is. My. Popcorn.

You can't watch a fight scene without popcorn. It just breaks the Top 10 rules in the 'how to watch a battle scene' book. I opened my mouth to complain about the service but nothing came out. I tried moving but it was as if I was glued to the floor. I was completely frozen.

I watched as the eagles beak was pointed directly at the horse's heart. I observed closely as it dived down in slow motion. Come on, come on. Your almost their, just a few more inches.

I woke up.

"Oh, come on!" I yelled, outside there was a storm, and when I say storm I mean the ones that destroys everything in it's path. I squinted and tried to find the horse and eagle, I know stupid right? But what if there was really an horse thats as white and snow and a eagle that is as gold as…as…gold?

Anyways, there is now way i'm going to miss out on this opportunity. I threw the covers on the floor somewhere and rolled out of bed. And when my face connected with the floor my mom woke up.

She was breathing heavily as if she'd just woken up from a nightmare, "Pearl, we have to get out of here".

She raced of bed and ran around the cabin to get important things that we might need just in case something bad happens.

I quickly jumped of the floor and stupidly threw the door open. I was met with the cold harsh winds of the raging storm, and believe me when I saw they were harsh. I almost fell, almost. I scanned the area, trying to detect any life forms.

Then out of nowhere something crashed into me and we tumbled into the cabin. The door shut closed with a loud, bang!

"Ow" the thing that crashed into me and I groaned. We somehow ended up in an 'x' formation with me face first on the ground, and the person on top of me. When I looked up to see who it was, I was met with familiar curly brown hair.

"Grover?!".

"Hey, Pearl…" he chuckled awkwardly and got up. He dusted on his pants and held out a hand to pull me up.

"H-how did you know I was here. No wait don't answer that. Why are you here?" I asked puzzled. I didn't know what to think. I mean, my best friend just randomly turned up at my cabins front door in the middle of the night. What was I supposed to say?

He seemed to be thinking about something before he glared at me, "Why didn't you wait for me?".

I looked at him in confusion before realisation hit me. I had ditched him, and forgot about ditching him. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid. "Uh..sorry?" I didn't know what to say. I was too caught up in being able to see my mom that I had forgotten about everything that happened at Nancy.

"Pearl, what aren't you telling me?" my mom asked in a stern tone when she finished packing. She never talks in a stern tone so I knew this was important and that I couldn't lie to her.

"Three old ladies. Fruit stand. Scissors. Yarn. Mrs. Dodds. Bat-like creature. Pen. Sword. Blonde Witch", I quickly said out random words that stood out front he events that happened at Nancy and hopped that she could connect the dots.

I grabbed the bag she had packed, and put in on my back.

She grabbed her car keys, "We have to leave now!".

She didn't have to tell us twice.

We ran out into the storm and jumped in the car, quickly putting seat belts on. My mum started the engine and raced off into the night, where was she going exactly? I have no idea.

A/N: Thank you For Reading. Please comment about your opinion on the story is. The End