Disclaimer: I do not own Yuri on Ice and Percy Jackson and the Olympians. They belong to their respective owners.
Chapter 3
Percy's POV
"Morning, mom!" I happily greet my mom with a kiss on the cheek.
"Good morning sweetie! Your up early, heading to the rink already?" my mom asked.
"Yup. Taylor wants me in early for a few extra practice hours."
Taylor Green is my coach, and I have to say, he is amazing. Back when still a competitive skater, he managed to win a ton of gold medals, 5 in the Grand Prix and 3 in the Olympics. He retired at 30 and has been coaching ever since. I'm really lucky he lives in New York and teaches at the rink nearby, he is patient and full of brilliants ideas to help his students improve their routines. At 49, most people would assume that he coaches from the sidelines, but that's not the case. Taylor is almost always on the ice and will even demonstrate some of the steps or even multiple parts of a routine that he choreographed. He is a very hands on type of person and is helping me improve by leaps and bounds.
After eating a full breakfast, Taylor constantly preaches about having a healthy diet and breakfast being the most important meal of the day, I kissed my mom goodbye and headed out to catch a bus to the rink. I made my comeback to the figure skating world two months ago and for someone who hasn't been on the ice for a few years, I'm doing really well. Taylor hasn't let up on training, though and is giving me the whole nine yards.
I placed first in the competition I entered and apparently, my score is almost the same as Leo de la Iglesia's highest score in a local competition. Taylor heard through the grapevine that Leo de la Iglesia's coaches see me as a threat in the future when I'm at my peak. I may not be one of the top figure skaters in the ISU* yet but it's definitely flattering to be compared to America's current top skater. The USFA* recently placed me in the top 1000 skaters in the US and I'm extremely happy! I'm not ready to compete in the Grand Prix yet maybe in a year or two. One thing is for sure, though, I will take the Grand Prix by storm and go to the Grand Prix Finals. For now, however, I keep training. And with that, I reach the rink, change into my skates and go to the ice.
"Hey, Taylor!" I wave to my coach who just finished his warm-up routine.
"Morning Percy! Get your warm up done so we can proceed with lessons. I'm thinking of doing some quads today. Maybe we could..."
"Is there something bothering you sweetheart?" my mom asked me.
"Not really...ok maybe...oh fine, yes, yes something's bothering me ." She gives me the look to tell me to go on. "Well...Taylor just informed me that there's a tournament in California in three months that could boost my standing in the USFSA* by a lot and may get ISU* to pay closer attention to me as a professional skater if I place in the top 5. He says that if I impress the USFSA enough, I may get invited to compete in the Grand Prix this year*."
"I'm sensing a but here."
"But I'm not sure if I'm ready to compete at that level yet. I mean, what if I mess up my entire performance and miss all my jumps? What if I injure myself and ruin my entire career because of it? What if-" mom's laughter cut me off.
"Sweetheart, I'm pretty sure that's just your nerves talking. You're going to do just fine. All you need to do is have confidence in yourself and think positive. But if you feel that your not ready yet, I'm sure that Taylor will understand and will just get you ready for other competitions to gain more experience first." With that, she told me good night and for me to go turn in for the night as well. I do just that.
As I lie in bed, I can't seem to get my mind off of the impending decision that I have to make. I make up my mind and get up to go to the bathroom. Once there, I turn on the tap and use my powers to turn the running water into mist.
"O Fleecy, do me a solid. Show me Triton, Atlantis." I chant as I toss a drachma into the mist.
"Sure thing, Percy!" was the enthusiastic reply I get from Fleecy before the mist showed me, my brother.
"Hey, Tri! How you doing?"
"Hello, Percy. The question is asked as 'How are you doing?'. And to answer that, I am doing fine thank you." Was the reply I receive.
"You're never going to let me live my 'less than satisfactory English skills' as you so nicely put it, down are you?" I asked with a laugh.
"Not a chance!" my brother replied with a laugh of his own. "So, to what do I owe the pleasure of your call this evening?" he asks with his eyes full of mirth, in spite of the seriousness in his voice.
"Lay off me will you?" I continued I replied playfully. "I need some important big brother advice here."
"Fine, fine, I'll stop." He said while waving his hand good-naturedly. " So, what do you need my advice for?" he asked with full sincerity although you can clearly see the blatant glee in his face at being addressed as, big brother. And so, I proceeded to tell him about the upcoming competition and my concerns upon entering said competition.
"Alright, so lay it on me. I really need your opinion on this."
"Honestly, I think you should do it. I mean...you've been doing very well so far and win or lose, you're going to gain some experience that will help you a lot in the future. Also, your mother is right, it's only your nerves talking. You are Perseus Jackson, son of Poseidon, brother to Triton, Prince of the seas and a lot more titles that I'm sure you're more than happy to forget existed. You're going to do just fine so don't worry too much." Was his firm reply to me.
"I guess you're right." I relented. "Thanks, Tri. This means a lot to me."
"No problem, that's what big brothers are for." I could definitely see the ego boost I gave him by calling him about my insecurities and not dad or anybody else. I don't call him out on it, though because I know that he genuinely cares for me and my well-being. " It's almost the witching hour Perce, you should go to sleep. You early morning practice tomorrow, yes?"
"Yup. Night Tri!"
"Good night little brother."
That said and done, I wave a hand through the mist to cut the call and then headed back to bed to get some sleep. I do need to wake up at 7:00 am to have enough time to get ready before practice at 8:00 am. With my mind made up, I drifted into the realm of Morpheus with ease.
Well, here I am. In California. Going out of my mind. I was starting to question myself again if it was wise to enter a competition of this calibre so early into my comeback when somebody slaps me in the back.
"Stop worrying so much, kiddo. You'll do just fine. I know you will. Just show them who you are and I'm sure that you'll captivate everyone in the judges' panel and the audience, maybe even some of the other competitors too." was the kind and useful advice Taylor gave me. "Your family came right?"
"Yeah, my mom and stepdad came. I'm not sure if my brothers will make it, though."
"That's good. At least you already got someone in the crowd rooting for you."
"All participants of the Men's Single Division Group B please head to the rink for your warm up session. I repeat, all participants of the Men's Single Division Group B please head to the rink for your warm up"
"Well, that's our cue. You can look for your parents later."
I head on to the ice with that. I'm wearing an admiral blue jacket with gold piping. A trident and the Greek Omega are stitched, on the left and right breast pocket respectively, using gold thread. I'm wearing my black and blue skates* for today's performance as well.
"Well," I say while taking a deep breath "here goes nothing." And with that said, I take my first step into the ice rink.
*USFSA-United States Figure Skating Association: Basically it's the counterpart of the JSF.
*ISU-International Skating Union: They're the organisers of the GPF and manage everything else that happens in the skating world.
* He says that if I impress the USFSA enough, I may get invited to compete in the Grand Prix this year – To qualify for the GPF, the skater must be seeded or invited to perform in the assignments. Seeding is when the organisers take into account a skater's placement in the previous World Championship or ISU international ranking. The hosting country for the assignments can also invite skaters who have not qualified in the seeding. However, the hosting country can only invite three of their own skaters ( This allows them to showcase their skaters but also maintain fairness for the other competitors. This is also the reason why more than one skater from a single country can compete in the finals.).
*My black and blue skates – They are the same skates from the last chapter.
Hisashiburi mina-san! Sorry, it took so long for a chapter to be posted. I was having a minor case of writer's block after Yuri lost to Yurio but, I am okay now and shall proceed like the GPF did not happen as per canon. So, on to more important matters! Yes people, the unknown person from last chapter is Yurio. And to all of you who are dying to see how the Demi-gods will react, here is a little teaser. *Whispered in a small clear voice* It happens in the next chapter. Thank you to everyone who has already followed/favourite this story. A special Thank you goes to TheSilverHunt3r, dauntlessofthesea, NocturnalCreature998, Sea and Chaos, otakufujoshilover101, RepeatingSimplePhrases, HermioneX, Devil Wolf Girl, Elements1999, PSML and the one guest user for the reviews. Please keep the reviews coming! Also to those who have read my other story, My Secrets Revealed, don't worry, I have not forgotten about it. In fact, I have begun to write chapter 2 already. It should be ready in a few days, or maybe in a week or so if I run out of ideas. Happy New Year everyone! Until next time, mata ne!
~Ren-chan
