A/N-Hey, I'm back from my two year hiatus and better than ever-I think? If you're interested in my updating schedule or the fate-so to speak-of this series, please check out my profile. Apart from that, I'm glad to be back and by all means, please go on reading!

3rd Person/Percy-

After completing his dishwashing duties, the son of Kronos and Poseidon sat in the sand, alone, inhaling the fresh air. He needed time to think; there were so many questions racing through his mind at once:

Why did Kronos take his mother to Tartarus?

What did Kronos want with him in the first place? If he needed an evil minion, Luke already had that position.

Just thinking about that traitor made Percy scowl. Last summer, Luke Castellan had revealed his true colors as he had stolen Zeus' bolt and Hades' helmet to start a war among the gods. His efforts failed when Percy and his friends fulfilled a quest to return the items to their rightful owners but the son of Hermes wasn't quite finished with Percy yet. He tried to kill him at the end of the summer, exposing his allegiance to the titan lord Kronos before leaving Percy for dead.

Percy stroked his scar from the scorpion Luke had released in an attempt to kill him. The scar had faded, taking the shape of a white asterisk.

"If you just tell me to stay—I won't go, I'll just stay."

Luke's final words before he left Percy for dead haunted him constantly. What did he mean? How could Percy possibly change his mind? Luke had already stolen the gods' symbol of power and betrayed his own family; Percy didn't know what he could've said to keep Luke from leaving. He wasn't Annabeth or Grover who had known Luke for nearly five years. Sure, Luke was one of the first to welcome him to camp and they had sparred together a few times but Percy had no influence over him.

The demigod shook his head. Ever since last summer, he had these thoughts that he could've stopped Luke. But in reality, Luke had said it because he didn't truly want to join Kronos and wanted someone, anyone—including Percy—to stop him.

"Package for a Perseus Jackson?" A voice said next to him, jerking the demigod from his thoughts.

It was a man wearing a jogger suit, a Bluetooth in his ear, and a mischievous smirk. Percy felt the power that radiated off of the man, he was no mere mortal. The man sat down and sighed, looking out to the water.

"You're Hermes—Luke's dad." Percy said after figuring it out.

"And god of messengers, travelers, and thieves etc. But I'll suppose I'll be "Luke's dad" for quite some time in the future." Hermes wasn't mad at Percy; he appreciated his honesty and regretted his son's actions.

"Better get used to it then." Percy agreed. "I'm sorry about him, by the way."

Hermes shook his head. "I wish I could've done something but there's only so much you can do as a god, there's no room for interference with your children or their lives."

Percy didn't tell the god that he could've stopped Luke but instead stared at the water; as if it would give him all the answers he was searching for.

Hermes followed his gaze and felt pity for the boy. "I know it seems that your father is distant but he isn't. There's only so much he can do, Percy. "

"Which one?" Percy asked bitterly but already knew the answer.

"Poseidon's done more for you than I have ever seen any god or goddess do for their children in many millennia's. He cares about you."

"Really?" Percy asked sarcastically. "Because it seems that he only saved me a few times so I could get the bolt and clear his name. I know I mean nothing to my father. Both of them."

After a brief moment of silence, Hermes sighed. "I'd just hate to see you and Poseidon's relationship end up like Luke's and mine."

Percy drank in his words and put on a tight smile. "You said you had a package for me?" He asked, changing the subject.

"Right," that mischievous smile reappeared on the god's face as he reached into his postal bag slung over his left shoulder. He pulled out a staff with two green snakes intertwined and slithering.

Percy recognized the staff as the Caduceus, the symbol above Hermes' cabin at Camp Half-Blood.

"Hey kid!" a snake said, turning his attention to Percy. "Got any ratsss?"

The voice was clearly male and Percy was bewildered. "They talk?" He asked Hermes almost as if to make sure he was still sane.

Hermes nodded, confirming Percy wasn't crazy.

"Well? What am I chopped liver, you got any ratsss?" The snake repeated, slightly annoyed.

"George, you can't just ask people if they have ratsss, it's rude." The other snake chastised a female voice.

"Alright, alright, we get it Martha and George" Hermes spoke directly to the snakes. "Can you please give me Percy's gift?"

"You brought me a gift?" Percy asked, pleasantly surprised but slightly wary because he knew from personal experience that when a god gives a demigod a gift or does a favor for them, there was always an alterior motive.

Before Percy decided to trust these gifts, Martha and George had regurgitated a lunch box into Percy's hands. Percy caught it, wiping off the snake slime.

"Wow. A lunchbox thermos. You shouldn't have, Lord Hermes."

Hermes looked smug. "Well I just wanted to give you a little something to help you out on your quest."

Percy wasn't surprised that the god knew he was on a quest that wasn't his. The demigod took another look at the old fashioned lunch box thermos with black plastic lid, its sides were red and yellow decorated with an Ancient Greek scene, Hercules killing a lion.

Although the Hercules bit was cool, Percy was expecting something cooler like a shield. "No, Lord Hermes you really shouldn't have." It was practically useless.

Hermes laughed, catching the sarcasm. "Take a closer look at it."

Percy did as the god advised, feeling around the thermos for a moment before grinning.

"It's a compass." He realized. The side of the thermos that faced the ocean-north-was cold.

"Uncap it and release the winds from 4 corners of the earth." Hermes added.

"Thank you, Lord Hermes."

"Don't thank me just yet," Hermes reached into his bag, pulling out a plastic bottle filled with vitamins then tossed at Percy.

Percy stared the bottle, trying figure out what they were.

"They're like a super boost." The god explained. "Only use them in emergencies."

Percy ignored the god's urgent tone and smiled lopsidedly. "Will it get me high?"

"No, unfortunately." Hermes laughed. The pair laughed before Percy became suspicious again.

"What's the catch?"

Hermes sighed. "You know the gods too well, kid."

Percy nodded, waiting for his request.

Hermes' face hardened, becoming serious. "Percy, I want you to try to help Luke. Do whatever you can change his mind. Please."

Percy heard the pleading in Hermes' voice but shook his head. "You might as well take your gifts back because I have a better chance of fighting Kronos himself and winning than to try to convert Luke."

"If there's anyone who can at least try, it's you. You have no idea the power you have over my son." The god said gravely.

"But why?" Percy asked, baffled.

"You and Luke are equals. You are both great swordsmen, you're both passionate—you want to fight Kronos to avenge your mother's death and Luke is determined to tear down Olympus at all costs."

"You're really stretching on that last one Hermes."

"The point is," Hermes continued. "I just want you to try. You're my last hope."

Percy nodded slowly. "I understand, my Lord. I will try but no promises."

"Right," Hermes gave a small smile, getting up to leave. "I should get going."

"Good luck on your quest." The snakes offered.

Percy nodded to the two animals before turning his attention back to the god.

"If you could divert your eyes," Hermes advised. "You know, so you don't lose your eyesight."

"Right!" Percy turned away. " I couldn't help Luke much if that happened.

"It would certainly make things harder than they already are," Hermes mused, flashing out.

When the demigod had felt the god's powerful radiance fade away, he turned his attention toward the ocean. He looked down at his gifts then at the ocean. It was calm, its soft waves gently hitting the sand.

Percy reflected on Luke and Hermes' relationship and looked back at the ocean.

"I don't want us to end up like them," He said to the ocean. "I just don't feel like you even want an 'us.'"

The ocean continued emitting the same waves, unresponsive to the boy.

"The camp's pretty bad," Percy continued regardless. "I mean, I'm no environmentalist but Thalia's tree looks pretty banged up. Speaking of environmentalism, my best friend went on a quest that no satyr has ever returned from and now he's looking for a wedding dress. He asked me to save him but didn't ask me to be his best man, I find that a little insulting. I found out that Luke and I are equals. Never thought I say that in a sentence."

"Luke and you are what?" The daughter of Athena asked, walking over to her friend.

Percy beckoned for her to sit down and as she did, he told her about Hermes visit leaving out the Luke and Poseidon bit.

Annabeth looked at the gifts Hermes had given Percy and nodded. "Clarisse is going by sea—Ares gave her a ship. She'll be leaving tomorrow."

For the past few days, Annabeth had been spying on the Ares cabin with her invisibility hat on, trying to gather as much information as possible.

"Is she taking anyone with her on the quest?" Percy inquired.

Annabeth shook her head, her blonde locks catching the gleam of the moonlight. "She didn't say. I haven't even heard the prophecy yet."

"You try to find out some more info and I'll focus on the transportation. I doubt we'll be able to hitch a ride with Clarisse, she's not out biggest fan."

Annabeth chuckled getting up and offering her hand to Percy. "C'mon. Let's go before we get eaten by the cleaning Harpies."

Percy took her hand and they walked back to camp in silence, and then separated to their respective cabins.

Grover was panting, his furry legs shakings in terror. "Percy! Thank the gods, can you hear me?"

Percy was slightly disoriented in this dream state but nodded.

"I can't stall him for long." Grover said, pointing to a nearby cave. They were in a beautiful field with lush flowers and trees. "He took the sheep out for a walk so we don't have much time. Please tell me you're en route."

"Annabeth and I are leaving tomorrow but Grover; we need to know where you actually are." Percy was staring at a tree in the background, a bright golden feather resting upon it.

Grover bleated nervously. "Somewhere in the Bermuda Triangle?"

"You don't sound so confident." Percy remarked. "Tell me about the island—that should help pinpoint it to your location."

"Uh well there's a series of islands but this is the only inhabited one. I felt a strong force of nature here when I was on the other islands."

Percy looked around at the island—the air was crisp and the scenery was stunning. Every plant and fruit thrived; it was an environmentalist's dream. "Other satyrs must've felt this same power too."

Grover bleated mournfully. "They were looking for Pan too, only to be eaten by the cyclops."

"Speaking of being eaten, dude, how are you still alive?"

"He thinks I'm a lady cyclops—he wants to marry me." Grover said in a hushed tone even though the cyclops was no near within hearing range.

Percy would've laughed if his friend wasn't in grave danger. "How? After eating so many satyrs, you'd think he'd be able to recognize one."

"He's got terrible eyesight," Grover explained. "But can still smell."

"So if he gets too close to you, he'll know you're a goat." Percy finished.

The scene started to become choppy, and Percy no longer had a clear view of the island or Grover.

"We're coming, Grover. Just buy time until then." Percy said, his voice fading. He didn't know whether Grover heard him but it was too late, Percy had been awoken by the bright outside his cabin window.

He pushed his raven hair out of his face, preparing for a long day.

After lunch, Percy met Annabeth at Zeus' fist. Her gray eyes were lost in the distance, thinking of the quest.

"Are you okay?" She asked. Percy's face was pale and he looked like he hadn't slept in days. "You look terrible."

"Thanks," Percy grumbled. "It's just that Grover's in more trouble than I thought."

Annabeth gestured for him to continue, worried for her friend.

"The cyclops is practically blind so he can't tell Grover is a satyr. He thinks he's a lady cyclops and wants to marry him. Grover's trying to stall but I don't think he has much time." Percy said, describing the island as well.

"Hold on," Annabeth interrupted. "What did you see on that tree behind Grover?"

"A gold feather." Percy repeated. "You know what it is?"

"It's probably the answer to saving camp—if I'm right." Annabeth said, a glimmer of hope in her eyes. "I think it may be the Golden Fleece. It has to be, I mean, the satyrs being drawn to that island and the healthy environment. If we get the fleece, we could save Thalia's tree, restore the border, and clear Chiron's name."

"That must be why Clarisse is going by ship. We're heading in the same direction." Percy added.

"And all we have do is follow her." Annabeth said, seeing the pieces come together. "Did you figure out a ride?"

"Yeah, I do." Percy confirmed, praying that his idea would work.

"Alright," The daughter of Athena exhaled. "Plan save Grover and get the fleece starts at midnight."

"It looks like we can kill two birds with one stone."

A/N-Thanks for reading, don't forget to review, follow, fav, and whatnot. I'll see you guys next chapter!