PERCY
6. In Equestria, horses ride you.
Percy felt really strange.
Actually, he didn't really feel much of anything. He was in a state of intense paralyzation; the only thing he seemed to be able to do was breathe, but even then it was only barely.
Percy was starting to regain some form of consciousness. He moved his head weakly. He moved his arms, they were above his head. His wrists felt like they were bonded together and all of his weight felt like it was pulling down on them. Percy moved his fingertips across his palm—his nails felt sharper for some reason. He would have wondered about it if he wasn't so delusional.
Percy was starting to open his eyes, though be it, very weakly. He opened them and saw his legs cast in front of him in a dim light. His vision was incredibly hazy, but he could just barely make out his lower body in front of him. From his perspective, his legs looked green in his blurry vision.
Percy dropped his eyelids again. He heard very muffled sounds coming from all directions. In the most amount of effort he made, he tried to listen in on what all the noise was. He was beginning to wake up slightly—Percy's hearing was starting to improve, but only enough to make out what the noises were.
Once his hearing was on a good level, he could make out the noises. But they weren't just noises, they were voices, and they sounded like they were arguing.
"What?!" A deeper voice exclaimed. "Only two of them? You fool! You let the girl get away!"
A familiar voice replied laughing, it was that same voice as the attacker he fought.
"You don't believe that I would just let her run off, do you? I think you worry too much." She argued.
"This isn't a joke!" The deeper voice snapped back. "This is very detrimental. She could be on her way back to that camp—she might acquire reinforcements."
"She won't get far," The other voice said with certainty. "My minions will stop her before she can even leave the city. Besides, where is she going to find her precious boyfriend if she does bring help? She has nowhere to look." The voice chuckled.
Annabeth. Percy's consciousness increased when he heard that.
"Your lack of concern for this situation is worrying me." The deeper voice said.
"What is there to be concerned about?" The other asked. "She has no one to turn too, not even her stubborn rulers can help her." She assured.
"I'm having a hard time believing that," The deeper voice denounced quickly. "The Olympian gods might not be at their prime at the moment, but even when weakened they are powerful. They are sure to notice foreign magic in their presence. Which is why your method of attracting the demigods was incredibly foolish!" The voice stated.
The other voice sighed in annoyance. "Sometimes I wonder why we had to resurrect you."
"Hey!" The deeper voice snapped. "Don't you dare insult me!"
"Oh calm down." She groaned. "You're giving me a headache."
"I won't calm down until the girl is here! Your ignorance might jeopardize everything!"
"You exaggerate." She replied.
"Exaggerate?!" He winced. "You could have alerted all of Olympus with those blasts!"
"The fact is, you fear taking risks," The other said. "What matters is that we've gotten these two half-bloods here. I promise we will acquire the third one. But seeing as we just found the most crucial element to our planning, I don't think we have much to be fretting about."
"Your handling of that wasn't too smooth either." The other voice grumbled. "There were many different ways you could have carried it out, and you chose the most destructive."
"I will take blame on that one." She giggled mischievously. "I just couldn't help it, but weren't they marvels? So, destructive..." She hummed happily.
"Your kind is all about disguise and stealth, isn't it?" The other asked. "You could have easily sent your scouts to retrieve her, instead of using those...automatons."
"What's done is done." She concluded. "All that matters is that she has nowhere to go. She has no choice but to summit to the king. Though, she's a curious one. I expected her to be more excepting of this offer. But that goody-two-shoes of a princess might have corroded her mind with her sentimental nonsense."
"She knows the consequences of refusal." He stated. "It will be of her fault if she doesn't comply. Our king has been generous in giving her a chance, but she has to know her fate if she refuses."
"She knows well enough." She concluded. "Now, we mustn't argue while these two are here. They need their beauty sleep, even in these forms, they are precious." She said nicely. The other voice grumbled.
"Very well, we will discus our conflicts else ware. But don't think you are off the hook for your behavior." He said in a serious tone. Percy then heard a loud groan, click, and then stopped. "I could easily forgive your tactics regarding your executions, but I'm certain our king isn't as forgiving as I am." He warned. Percy heard footsteps walk farther away then the loud groan of what sounded like a door close. Percy heard a heavy sigh. Then he heard steps coming his way.
"I hope you've been paying attention, little hero," She whispered coldly in his ear. "Your part is yet to come." She laughed very unsettling. Then, a hard blow impacted him in the head and knocked him out stone-cold.
Percy was starting to wake up again.
His eyelids slowly cracked open, but what he saw wasn't too pleasant. He woke up to a horrible blinding light shining right in his eyes. He covered his eyes in response. He groaned like he would when he would have to rush in the morning. In a lazy attempt, he rolled his head over to the side and laid his arms down.
Percy opened his eyes fully and blinked a few times, he was staring at wavy green blades. Percy moved around, he felt very stiff.
In a attempt to regain his bearings, Percy began to rise. He sat up holding his head in his hand. He gazed around his surroundings and saw that he was laying in a small, green meadow dotted with yellow blossoms. He looked up and saw the sun shining right down on him from above the clear blue sky.
"What..?" He croaked tiredly. Percy tried to stand up, but his legs were too weak. He fell backwards onto his back. "OOF." He grunted. He crawled on his side and coughed. His entire body was sore and stiff, like he had just been flatten by a steamroller. Percy tried again to rise—he managed to rise, but he stumbled around a few times to keep his balance.
Percy looked at what was in front of him and croaked. He gazed down at the humongous landscape that lied in front of him: Ridged mountains, forests, meadows, and rivers. He was on a mountain.
Percy rubbed his eyes again in confusion.
"What the—?" He groaned. "Is this, Elysium?" He asked in disbelief. Then shook his head. "No, it's not. I still feel like garbage." He grumbled. He looked around himself. From behind, there was a large cliff side that went up. Percy then looked back to the beautiful wide open landscape, while a light breeze was brushing by.
"Where am I anyway?" He took a breath of the air, it was clean, too clean. "I know one thing, I'm not in Manhattan." He said. Percy rubbed his head in tired confusion.
"What happened?" He asked himself. "And how did I even get here?" He had very foggy memories on what happened before he woke up. All he could remember were voices. He couldn't remember what they were saying, but he remembers them talking about something. But what was it?
Percy couldn't remember anything else before that, but he did remember feeling scared.
As soon as he dug up that feeling—as if like a flash back—he could hear a scream echo in his mind.
PERCY!
Percy then shot his head straight up.
"Annabeth..?" Percy squeaked. "Oh gods." Percy returned back up on his feet. "She's in trouble, I remember now. I have to find her!" Percy reached into his pocket and pulled out Riptide—the shiny bronze pen reflected in the sunlight. He nodded confirming it was still there. He put the pen back into his pocket and scanned over the small field of tall grass on the summit of a mountain.
Percy's urgency was slowly silenced when he just realized he didn't know where he was. He looked around, and this place didn't look familiar to him at all. Where would he even look first if he didn't even know where he was? But it didn't seem to matter to him, someone much more was at stake than his own safety.
His body was still sore, so he limped his way across the field, determined to find out where he was and Annabeth. But before he could go any further, Percy could hear a low moan coming from his side. He stopped himself and looked to where it came from. He saw a small pit of grass spread out a few feet away. Percy walked over to where the noise came from.
Percy came up to the pitted grass and gasped a little. Laying in the grass was Nico di Angelo, lying helplessly in the grass. What was he doing here? And was he knocked out too? Percy pondered for a second, not really knowing what to do. In recent times, Percy came to realize that Nico wasn't really the sort to surprise off guard. He was a little unpredictable in that way.
But before Percy could make up his mind on what to do, Nico began to wake. Percy backed up a few steps to clear his way. Nico rubbed his hand against his neck.
"Wha..." Nico murmured. "What happened?" He croaked. Nico sat up on his knees, then looked at Percy in a confused gaze, like he just uncovered fools-gold. Percy didn't know what to say to him.
"Uh, Nico? You okay?" Percy asked, trying not to startle him. Nico looked around nervously.
"Where... Where is she?" He started to hesitate. "Where's Bianca?"
Percy just remembered another fragment of memory, he remembered hearing Bianca's voice in the museum, but he didn't remember much after that. Nico must have heard it too, and he looked like he was ready to blow if he didn't get an answer.
"I don't know," Percy admitted, trying to sound bold. "I don't even know where we are now, and—"
"NO!" Nico angrily slammed his fist into the ground, gritting his teeth. "She was so close! I could have saved her!"
"Nico!" Percy tried to calm him down. "We were tricked, we had to be."
"No, she was there." Nico squeezed his fists harder. "I heard her, and I know you did too. And if you say you didn't I will snap you in half." He pointed at Percy with pure rage in his eyes. Percy felt that familiar hateful power emit from him—the same kind of power his father Hades has. Feeling threatened, Percy instinctively reached into his pocket to grab Riptide. He didn't uncap it yet, he wanted to calm Nico down.
"I did hear her, Nico," Percy assured him. "I won't deny that. But I just can't shake the feeling that it was a trick to trap us."
"No. It was her. It was her voice." Nico said, lowering his arm with his face softening. "It...It sounded so real." Percy was feeling bad; he had heard Bianca's voice too, but he had a feeling it was a trick. There was no way she could have been there, she was dead. But Nico looked like he couldn't accept it—that was her sister's voice, it should have only been instinct to react the way he did.
"I'm sorry, Nico." Percy said. Percy saw a tear go down Nico's cheek. Percy felt horrible, this must have been heart-wrenching for him. Hearing his sister plea for help must have ignited so much hope for him, that she might be alright. Percy didn't know how it was possible to hear her voice. Could her spirit have been in peril? It couldn't have been possible.
Nico lowered his head and sighed, possibly trying to take all of this in.
"You're right, it couldn't have been possible." He admitted sadly. "That couldn't have been her."
"But, we don't know that for sure." Percy tried to give hope.
"No, she wasn't there." Nico corrected. "She's dead. If anyone who should have known, it should have been me. I'm the son of Hades for goodness sake."
"Nico," Percy said. "I'm terribly sorry. I can't—"
"Will you just stop it?" Nico looked up annoyed, wiping his face. "I got over it already. Jeez..."
Percy lowered his defenses, but still feeling a little concerned of Nico's sudden emotional change.
Nico stood up, brushing off his legs. "But I'll find who ever tricked me. And when I do, I'll make them wish they were never born." He tapped his fingers on the hilt of his sword. Percy nodded slowly, still feeling a little perplexed.
"Well, glad you're feeling motivated." Percy complemented.
"Spare me with the nice talk, buster." Nico grumbled. "Have you talked to Annabeth about..." He looked around, with a confused expression. "Hey, where is she?"
Percy's grimaced uncomfortably. "I don't know."Percy pained. "I don't know where she is, but I know she's in trouble. We have to find her. But, I have no idea where we are."
Nico looked around his surroundings, then off to the mountains in the distance. He whistled in amazement.
"Now, I have thin memories of Italy, but I feel like the mountains there didn't look nearly as breathtaking as those over there." He marveled.
Percy considered that. "Do think we might be in Europe?" He asked.
"I know we're not in New York," Nico shrugged. "How did we even get here anyway?"
"I don't know," Percy admitted. "I can't remember anything after I blacked out."
Nico looked back at him.
"Me neither. But I do know who knocked me out. I'll make her pay."
"Who?"
"You don't remember?" Nico asked.
"No, I don't." Percy rubbed his neck. "But I feel like there was—"
"Where did you get that?" Nico's eyes widened.
"What?"
"That." Nico pointed to Percy's neck. "Did you get into a fight with a python or something?"
Percy felt the bottom of his neck, he didn't like what he felt.
"What the..?" Percy rolled his eyes all the way down and saw a horrible bite. He didn't really understand what he saw.
"How did I get this?!" He panicked
"I just asked you that." Nico reminded.
"I have no idea then," Percy grimaced. "How the heck did I get this bite? And how did this pierced through my curse of Achilles? It's supposed to block any form of attack, isn't it?"
"You tell me," Nico asked. "You fought the Titan lord and survived right? The last I remembered it could."
"Well I don't know about you, but I'm worried this might be poisonous." Percy bit his lip. "Unless you know how to treat poisonous bites, I might need to get some help."
"Alright, but we have to find out where we are first. This place looks pretty remote." Nico looked around. He was right—they were on a mountain as well. This place did look nice; If Percy didn't know any better, this might have looked like some underrated vacation get away, but there was something a little suspicious about this place. But Percy knew he couldn't just stand around for awhile, he had to find help to find out if the bite was deadly or not, and find out where they were.
Percy and Nico both walked over to the edge of the cliff and scanned the vast landscape. Being completely lost and confused, Percy couldn't help but admire the breathtaking view. There wasn't a cloud above them, the sun shone above them, and Nico tended block it with his arm. There were clouds by the tall mountains in the distance—and they swirled as they passed through the large and ridged mountains.
Vast valleys and large forests covered the landscape bellow. There were several rivers spreading and twisting across the land. The light breeze still blown across them, Percy looked down and saw a steep slope that descended down into a rocky abyss. Percy backed up a few steps, he didn't think falling down would be to much fun.
Percy looked around below and something caught his eye. A small patch of something was down below. Percy tapped Nico's shoulder.
"Look at that down there." Percy pointed. "Could that be a town down there?" Nico gazed down bellow.
"It might be."He guessed. "I think I see a windmill down there."
"Well, It's a pretty long way down..." Percy kicked a stone down. "Suppose we should start walking?"
"Are you kidding me?" Nico exclaimed. "That town is miles away. We'd be lucky enough not to fracture something before we even get down."
"Oh. Well, what to you propose?" Percy asked.
"I know a faster method of travel."
"Shadow traveling, right?" Percy asked. "Are you sure you can handle it?"
"I believe I have a decent handling of it. Though, I hope I don't pass out for a week again doing it." Nico squinted at the town, possibly calculating the distance.
Shadow traveling is an ability that all creatures of the Underworld can preform, including children of Hades. Percy worried whenever Nico tries to preform shadow traveling, mainly because the first time he tried it, he passed out for a week somewhere in China. When Percy experienced shadow traveling with his pet Hell hound, Mrs. O'leary, it was unlike anything he's ever experienced before.
The user (or passenger) teleports into complete darkness and they feel like they're going so fast you feel like their faces are peeling off. It only lasts for a few seconds, but its both exhilarating and terrifying at the same time.
Percy shifted his legs. "Well, If you're up for it."
"It doesn't look like we have much of a choice." Nico shrugged.
"Practice makes perfect, right? I'll carry you if you pass out."Percy offered.
Nico scowled. "Don't try to baby me, Jackson."
"I was just trying to be helpful." Percy remarked.
"Don't be. Lets just get down there and find out where we are. There are probably pay phones down there we could use, and we'll find someone to treat that bite of yours." Nico planned.
"Sounds like a plan." Percy said. "We'll probably need euros though..."
"Lets just go." Nico prompted. He put his hand on Percy's shoulder firmly. He closed his eyes. Percy did the same—he closed his eyes and prepared for the hyperspace-jump through the shadows. But before Nico could commence their joyride of darkness, a quite but noticeable whistle sound from the left fallowed by a loud crack in the air. Percy and Nico both looked in the direction.
"Did you hear that?" Nico wondered.
"Yeah, I did." Percy said. "But what was it?" They both turned the direction of the noise. "It sounded like a firework didn't it?" Percy guessed. "A little early for a—"
"Hey!"A loud and gritty voice said from behind. "You two aren't supposed to be here!" Before Percy could turn around and see who persecuted them, Nico grabbed his shoulder and they both melted into shadow.
Complete darkness shrouded Percy and the velocity in which they traveled in was so intense his arms felt like they would tare off. Only seconds later did he return physical. After his mind could regroup, he saw that him and Nico were sitting on a branch of one of the pine trees that were beside the small cliff side meadow they were standing on.
Percy shook his head. "Gwah..?" Percy rolled his eyes from dizziness.
"What the?!" The gritty voice from above exclaimed, sounding a little farther away. "Where did they go?!"
"Did you see that?" A female voice said. "They've disappeared!"
"I've got a bad feeling about this, Captain." The gritty voice said. "What if they were the the thieves we were told to keep a look out for? And on a day like this, it's a good chance they might strike again." The voice said with worry.
"We better tell the rest of the watch about this, then alert the checkpoint. Tell them we might have intruders in our midst." She ordered.
"Yes Captain. I will inform them right away!" The gritty voice sounded off. Then the sounds of hooves sounded like they were trotting away.
'Thieves?' Percy conceived. Percy pushed the pine branches out of his face and spit out a few pine needles.
"What was that for?" Percy whispered, trying not to be heard by the people from above the cliff.
"I panicked, okay?" Nico whispered back viciously, though weakly. "Now they'll be looking for us. Fantastic." Nico slumped in frustration.
"Who were those guys?" Percy asked.
"Maybe rangers." Nico guessed. "We're up in the mountains and what not, maybe some trouble makers were making a ruckus around these woods. Now those guys are off to get help, this day can't get any easier." Nico sneered.
"But don't you know what that means?" Percy asked. "That means we can't be far from help."
"No, those guys will be looking for us, and they'll only bring more guys. We better get down to that village."
"Can you even shadow travel again?" Percy wondered.
"Sure I can." Nico said sleepily. "That was just a setback, lets do it for... Nico fell off balance and fell off the branch and onto the ground on top of dead pine needles.
"...Ouch." Nico muffled on the ground. Percy lowered himself off the branch and landed on his feet next to Nico. Percy leaned down to help him up.
"I don't think you're able to shadow travel for a little while." Percy lifted Nico up on his feet. "You better save up for another try."
"You're not the boss of me." Nico hissed, then pushed Percy off. "I don't need you ordering me around."
"Could you lay off the bitterness for one second?" Percy leaned against the tree. "Why don't we just look around? Those guys up there said something about a checkpoint, right? We could fallow the road if we have too." Percy proposed.
"Yeah, but it's obviously fortified. How would we get past without them knowing? Besides, it looks like they'll be on high alert for "thieves", we could be easy suspects. Taking the road might not be a safe way."Nico said doubtfully.
Percy pushed a few branches out of the way to clear the view of the cliff side from above, he rubbed his chin thinking of an Idea. He turned back to Nico who had his arms crossed impatiently.
"Alright, how about we climb over it?" Percy suggested. Nico raised an eyebrow.
"And if we get caught?" He tapped his fingers.
"They said they were running back to the watch, right? They might be a little ways away right now."
Nico gazed up at the cliff side and thought about it. The hill wasn't that steep, at the very least they would have to hang on to a branch if they had to for support. Nico turned back to Percy who was awaiting a response.
"Okay." Nico rocked his head. "We'll check out the top."
They both emerged from the foliage and began to ascend up the steep hill. It was steep enough to walk up on, but they had to hang on to the ground to keep themselves elevated and from slipping off. Percy grabbed onto a branch and hoisted himself up, and came up to the summit of the hill.
A smooth, dirt road laid in front. Percy looked from side to side, the road turned around the hill in both directions. There were no signs of any kind of patrol around. Percy looked down to Nico and signaled the okay.
Percy crawled up onto the road and climbed to his feet. Nico fallowed up behind and climbed to his feet. He gazed both ways to make sure nothing was coming.
"Well, we've got two options," He said. "What do you think?" Then, the same crack as before sounded again. It came from the left of where Percy was standing as he faced the mountains. They both looked to where the sound came from.
"We could try over there?" Percy pointed to the direction of where the distant sound came from.
"Maybe that's where they ran over too." Nico theorized. "We would be walking right into a bear trap."
"Would you rather climb all the way down and walk who knows how many miles to that isolated town?"
"We could go the other way?" Nico proposed.
"Why don't we just climb up a little higher?"Percy asked. "Just to get better bearings?"
"Fair enough, I suppose." Nico said. "But I'll go check, you stay here and see if we're being watched."
"Alright, but be careful."
"Whatever." Nico walked past him and began climbing up the taller hill next to the road. As Nico ascended up, Percy turned around and sat down and crossed his legs. He gazed off into the distance and rested his head on his arm.
Percy found himself thinking about this place, where were they? All of the features that presented this vast landscape looked beautiful and all, but this place had a weird feeling about it.
The air smelled clean and the calm breeze blown past along with a variety of undefinable smells, but all of them smelled amazing. The sun's raise was beaming down right on top of him. Percy felt its light casting down his body, its embrace felt welcoming as Percy's mind was filled with happy memories of lazy summer afternoons, or when weekends began. Percy lowered his arm and consulted, then looked back out into the distance.
An odd place this was. Percy couldn't recall any sort of country that had land as beautiful as this. This place might rival the Swiss alps, but Percy thought this place was better for some reason. He had no idea where he was, but this place had a weird feeling, it didn't feel normal.
Percy started thinking about Annabeth, his feelings of happy summers were fading away, he was worried about her, she might be in real trouble. But if Percy knew Annabeth enough was that she wasn't one to underestimate. Percy knew she could get through anything. She could hold up the weight of the sky and she could still hang in there, and she literally did.
But Percy's protective instincts were dominating his subconscious, he couldn't help but be scared for her. He barely even remembered what even happened before he blacked out, but he knew she was in trouble. Whoever attacked them was after her, he just knew it, and he had to find her.
But Percy was worried, he felt completely separated from her. Even though they have only been dating for a few weeks, they almost couldn't be apart—he felt like he just lost a part of himself.
Nico suddenly called from above. "Hey, I don't think we'll walking too far." Percy stood up.
"What? Did you find a ranger station or something?" Percy shouted back. Nico took a few seconds to reply.
"Come see for yourself."
Percy didn't know what he meant, but he took his word and started climbing up.
This hill wasn't as easy to walk up as the last one, there was a little more climbing involved. He grabbed chunks of rock that scattered about, this reminded him of those old rock walls that he used to climb during his youth, but he always used to fall and hurt himself. Percy tried to ignore his past humiliations and tried to climb up. Besides, he's climbed a lava rock wall back at camp before, so he's redeemed himself long before this anyway.
Percy began to reach the top when he began to see something, an astronomer's scope. At first, Percy thought that they might be near an observatory high up in the mountains. That made good sense at first, but when Percy climbed higher is when his perspective on where they were started to change.
Percy began to see towers and buildings. Once Percy reached the top, he stood next to Nico. Percy stared confused at what he was looking at. Off in the distance, about half a mile away, was a whole cluster of structures hanging off on the edge of the mountain, it looked like a castle if it got the cliff side house idea for location. The dirt road they were previously on expanded and widened to the edge of a long gate that led to an entrance.
The architectural design of it reminded Percy if a planetarium merged with a cathedral; gold incrested roofs lined with constellations behind purple backgrounds ran along the ivory towers, and seeing the large astronomers telescope really fit along with the theme the whole thing had.
Percy blinked a few times in confusion as he stared at the odd sight. He then turned to Nico, who had a very serious look as he stared at it.
"This isn't right." He said coldly.
"I'll say." Percy agreed. "I don't think I've ever heard of this place before."
"Me neither." Nico replied. "I've got a bad feeling about this."
"Well, we better check it out." Percy tried to sound a little upbeat.
"I don't think so."Nico denied. "Look over there." He pointed in the distance. Half-way between them and the castle was a boom-gate connected to a small outpost building with several figures standing around it. Percy then saw two figures wearing shiny clothing running to the stationary figures.
"Oh yeah, we're still in trouble." Percy remembered.
"So, any plan?" Nico wondered doubtfully, leaning on the butt of his sheathed sword's hilt. Percy suddenly felt a sharp point poke him in the back.
"You two aren't going anywhere if that was your plan." A rugged voice said from behind. Percy turned around quickly, and what he saw sort of baffled him. Two stallions were wearing golden armor around themselves. Their tails where trimmed and their mane's were tapered up into their helmets and into bushy frills, like a classic Athenian helmet.
They both had a single horn on each of their foreheads coming out of their helmets. Colored auras covered their horns, and so did the weapons they were...holding? No, their spears were floating, and the shafts were covered in the same aura as their horns. Unicorn soldiers?
Percy backed up, he didn't really understand what he was being interrogated by.
"What are you two doing here?" The other colt huffed, pointing his spear at Nico.
"We, uh..." Percy hesitated. "We were just going for a stroll?" He blurted out.
"Don't play games with us kid," The colt in front of him poked his chest. "You shouldn't be out here. You two better have a good explanation for why you're near city limits with weapons." He eyed Nico's sheath. Percy tried to reason with these armored horses with telekinesis. It's not like Percy hadn't encountered aggressive horses before; the Flesh-Eating horses of King Diomedes didn't even bother to talk to him but instead wanted to eat him whole.
Being a son of Poseidon he could talk to horses—his sacred animal and creation. Maybe these guys didn't get the message that Percy was kind of like royalty. Percy swallowed down the knot in his throat and tried to reason with them.
"Look, lets not get up on the wrong foot, or hoof." Percy corrected himself. "We're a little lost. I'm a son of Poseidon, you guys can be cool with me, right?"
"A son of who?" The colt tilted his head. Percy gulped, how could they not know who Poseidon was?
"Uh, you know, the sea god? The earth-shaker? Your creator?" Percy said nervously. "Any of those ring any bells?"
The armored colt huffed.
"You're testing my patients, kid. I have no idea what you're talking about. Now quit talking bogus or you'll have to come with us." He arced his weapon up at Percy's throat. Percy struggled in disbelief, he was getting a little worried.
"I, you haven't... huh?" Percy hiccuped like a kid caught stealing cookies. The other colt turned to his comrade.
"Corporal, it has to be them. They have to be the thieves we're looking for." The other colt shook his head.
"We'll have to detain them to find out for sure."
"Huh?" Percy blinked. "What thieves?"
"Enough chit-chatting, kid, you're going to have to come with us."
"What? Whoa, wait a sec—!"
The guards then levitated their spears in aggression.
"Now, don't resist. We're going to have to detain you two for the time being. Flint, disarm the smaller one." The other colt nodded. Before he could make any action towards Nico, Nico forced his arms forward and caught the guards by surprise. The guards sank into the ground until only their heads were exposed. Percy gasped, but Nico only smirked.
"Now who's little?" He crossed his arms.
"You'll pay for this!" The guard barked his teeth angrily.
"Get us out at once!" The guard, Flint, struggled in the ground. Nico didn't respond, instead, he ran off down the hill. Percy looked back and forth between Nico running away and the tipped off guards. Uneasily, he chose to run off with Nico. Percy slid down the hill in a hurry.
"Get back here!" The guards yelled. Percy didn't feel like sticking around, he ran down and joined Nico who was rubbing his head.
"What was that for?!" Percy exclaimed.
"I had to get them out of the way somehow."
"Now we're in trouble." Percy rubbed his neck.
"Quit whining," Nico complained. "It'll take them a long while before they can get out. Besides, they don't even have any—"
A sharp screech of a whistle sounded from on top of the hill the guards were trapped in. Percy looked back at Nico and raised his eyebrow.
"Now look what you've done!" Percy pointed up. "Now more will be all over us."
"Just come on already!" Nico kept running. Percy groaned and ran after him. Percy and Nico tried to run behind some foliage to hide, but were soon stopped by more guards that came around the corner—and yes, they were also horses with gold armor.
"Halt!" The lead colt slid to a stop and aimed his spear. The other three did the same. Nico took out his black sword—its dark contrast was unchanged by the bright sunlight. Percy reached into his pocket and uncapped Riptide.
"Stop them!" Two more colts trotted over and aimed their spears. Percy blocked one of their blows and knocked one back. The other came around for another shot, but Percy slashed and knocked his weapon out of his grasp and landed a few feat away. Nico blocked his opponents blow by slicing the colt's weapon in half with his sword and forcing him to the ground.
Before the other guys could ram up to them, Percy and Nico bolted away as fast as they could. Percy looked back and saw them gaining on them, it just goes to show that having four legs is always better than two when it comes to running.
"Any idea on where we are going?" Percy asked impatiently.
"Anywhere but here, obviously!" Nico snapped. Out of nowhere, four more guards dropped down from the air. They scraped their hooves on the ground, preventing their escape. Now they were pegasi wearing armor. Percy and Nico stopped and readied their weapons. Suddenly, another guard came around the corner, her horn was glowing with blue energy.
"Not so fast!" She cried. Before Percy could ready his defenses, she fired a bolt of energy at Nico. Nico was suddenly wrapped in a glowing net-like material, then fell to the ground with a grunt. Percy took a glance at him in confusion, and then was suddenly being wrapped in the same net that Nico was wrapped in. Percy then fell to the ground on his side.
Unable to move freely, Percy dropped Riptide. The blue energy that encased him covered his mouth as well, he couldn't say anything, only frustrated muffles. Percy quit struggling once the guards began to surround them—Percy could only watch helplessly as they analyzed them with puzzled faces.
"Excellent shot, captain." One of the colts cheered. The mare that complement him and walked forward.
"I'm just fallowing protocol, Gigs. Now, what do we have here?"
"Two wanderers, Captain,"A guard stood next to her. "They've trapped Bars and Flint in the ground up the hill during they're patrol. Not sure how they did though."
"Hey! Could somepony lend a hoof?" A cry up the hill pleaded.
"Yes! Come quick! My leg is falling asleep!" The other complained. Ponies? They were soldier ponies?
'Well, today just gets weirder and weirder doesn't it?' Percy thought to himself. The unicorn mare pointed to that direction.
"Somepony help them out."
"Right away, mam." A colt saluted with his foreleg, then ran off up the hill. The mare captain looked back at Percy and squinted. Percy stayed silent.
"I've never seen beings like these before. Could these be the suspected thieves?" She asked them all.
"Hard to tell, Captain." A guard shrugged. "If they are, I'm surprised that they're still hanging around. For what they've stolen, and from who, I wouldn't want to stay in the country at all."
"We can't take any chances," The captain shook her head, then looked down to Riptide. She picked it up with her telekinesis and examined it. She picked up Nico's sword too. "Either way, they could have been dangerous to the city. We're going to have to detain them."
She put their confiscated weapons to her side. Percy muffled and grunted, trying to protest. She only stared at him. "And make sure they're being kept under close watch. If they managed to stuff Bars and Flint in the ground, there's no telling what else they're capable of." She confirmed their fate. She then pointed to the four pegasi pony guards.
"You four, make sure they are safely transported to the detention center. Inform Prince Shining Armor we have possible suspects."
"Yes, Captain." They all saluted. The captain conjured more energy. Two, blue beams fastened themselves on Percy's back. Then she let them lose and the other ends were then tied around the two pegasus's collars by themselves. Percy watched the same thing happen to Nico.
The guards that Percy was tied too opened their wings and began to ascend up.
"Come on, big guy," The guards hoisted him up off the ground. "We have things to discuss." Percy was being lifted up from off the ground, he ascended up into the air. Percy was struggling to free himself from the ropes made from energy, but the higher up he went up, the less he thought that getting freed that high up was a good idea.
Percy saw Nico being carried off in front of him as they both headed off into the city.
Percy has been through a lot in recent years: he's played dodge-ball against cannibal giants, turned into a guinea pig, and even fought gods one-on-one.
But being carried off by aggressive pony pegasi over a strange city in a strange unfamiliar land to a jail to be interrogated? Out of all the recent events he's been through, this was one of the weirder ones that's happened to him.
He couldn't really decide whether this was incredibly humiliating or absolutely terrifying, but he knew for sure this was somewhat damaging to his incredibly small ego. He was a son of Poseidon for goodness sake, he shouldn't be pushed around by his dad's proudest creation like this, he had to stand up for himself and show them who he really was. But he did just that, and they had no idea of what he was talking about, and that kind of concerned him.
Percy recognized every feature that made them horses, but these guys were different. Their faces seemed more defined and much more expressive. Their proportions were just as big as an average person but their bodies seemed more stout. And not to mention, the two unicorn ones could use telekinesis with their horns to lift their weapons it looked like.
Percy never knew that unicorns could do that. He had heard stories of unicorn horns having the ability to heal, but the unicorn who tied him up in a net made from blue energy might have been more experienced than the average one.
How come Percy never heard of these guys before? Talking to horses was an ability any child of Poseidon could do, but Percy could talk to them through the mind, these guys were talking through their lips. And Nico looked like he could understand them too.
Percy began to drift over the city, he scanned below him and saw more ponies walking about, with their coats the colors of many. Percy shook his head in confusion as he drifted by the tall buildings.
'What is this place?' Percy wondered. 'Am I dreaming? Is this a hint at my future? If not, I'm kind of at a lost for words right now. I can't really believe what I'm seeing right now, and compared to everything I've seen and been through before, that's saying something. This is really really weird.'
Percy looked up at the two pegasi that carried him by materialized rope. They weren't paying much attention to him, which is what he was hoping for. He looked ahead of himself and saw Nico struggling in his net, keeping his two pegasi flying off balance. Percy felt like it's been long enough, so Percy inched his fingers into his pocket, to see if his pen had reappeared. Percy felt Riptide and grabbed it in his grasp.
Riptide would appear in his pocket after a period of time whenever he lost it. A useful feature indeed, he couldn't really complain about it. Percy watched his captors carefully as he slowly slid Riptide out. Waiting for the right moment, he uncapped it, and Riptide emerged as his trusty sword.
Percy carefully cut the ties that wrapped him. He cut the tie in front of him and the whole thing started to disintegrate. One of the guards noticed his action.
"Hey!" One of them yelled. Before they could stop him, Percy fell from their custody and landed on a roof: Thump! Percy tumbled uncontrollably until he fell off the roof. Acting fast, Percy grabbed the edge of the roof line and swung onto a balcony. Percy looked up and saw the guards swooping down towards him.
Without thinking at all, Percy leaped backwards off the balcony. The guard's hooves missed him by only inches. Percy turned himself around and landed face-first into a goods cart. Percy stood up and brushed boxes off of himself and eyed the pullers of the cart, the two mares gasped.
"Monster! Runaway!" They screamed. They dropped their harnesses and ran for it. Percy looked around and saw bystanders looking at him and slowly backing away, fallowed by them sprinting away in fear. Percy then heard a cry from above.
"Get him!" Percy turned around and saw one of the guards charging at him with a spear. Percy evaded the attack by jumping out of the way. The other one came down to the ground and raised his spear with his front leg. Percy was so marveled on how he was able to do that he almost didn't react in time.
Percy raised his sword in defense and blocked the attacker's blow. The guard pushed him back aggressively while Percy slashed his weapon out of his grasp. Percy looked over and saw the other guard run over to him and shoved his spear in his direction. Percy blocked it quickly, but the guard hastily tried to outmaneuver him. The guard growled and shoved his spear into Percy's side. The end of the spear only clanged when it impacted his body, his cures of Achilles was still working despite his fear.
The guard's eyes widened and the other one gasped. In a silent moment, no one said a word.
"How..?" The guard said in disbelief. Percy took this moment to raise his sword—he swung down and sliced the spear in two, causing sparks to ignite. The guards stepped back, then took off into the air. Percy watched them fly up only to stop high enough so that Percy couldn't attack.
The guards looked down on him angrily—Percy held his sword in a ready position. Suddenly, Percy heard another whistle sound from his left. He looked that way. Down the street corner, another guard sounded a whistle, then several more guards with weapons came around behind him. The lead horse pointed to Percy's position.
"Freeze!" Percy did the exact opposite—he ran in the opposite way as fast as he could. "Halt!" The guard cried, blowing his whistle again. The squad of guards then pursued after him.
Percy was wondering how he got into this situation. As he ran down the street, bystanding ponies ran out of the way in fearful screams, they probably never seen a human before. Then again, Percy had never seen ponies like these before either. Percy looked behind himself and saw the proceeding squad of guards turning the corner to catch up to him.
'I guess this really is happening isn't it?' He slowly excepted his situation. 'I guess I could say this is a slight change in pace, but I can't really say the formula has changed a whole lot. All I wanted was a nice time alone with my girlfriend, but no, this had to happen. The Fates can be so cruel sometimes.'
Percy decided he didn't want to play cops and robbers with these guys all day—he needed a place to hide to get away from them. Percy was advancing farther up the street and he dashed by a colt who was crying like a six-year-old—Percy cold have sworn he was wearing a hat and monocle too.
Percy turned the corner again, he surprised another mare by making her faint. He resisted the erg to help her up and continued to run. Percy continued to look for a place to hide; soon he spotted an alleyway coming up to him. He assumed it was his best bet, so he took the chance and veered into it.
Percy quickly jumped behind the first thing he saw—which happened to be old boxes filled with old muffin baskets for some reason—he ducked behind the pile and tried to hide from the guards' sights.
Percy could hear the sound of their hooves trot closer and then suddenly stop.
"Hey, where did he go?" One of them asked. Percy tried to keep so quiet he wanted to make his heart stop, in fear that they might hear him.
"He must be faster than we thought," Another voice said. "We'll have to put this sector on lock down. I'll inform every guardspony in the sector to keep on alert, he shouldn't be to far."
"Should we inform Prince Shining Armor, sir?"
"If you must," He authorized. "Now, cover as much ground as you can, that runner can't be that far off. Now move!"
"Yes sir!" The others collectively chanted. Percy then heard them all trot away in different directions. Percy slowly peeked his head up, no one was there. Percy rose fully and sighed.
"Great, now what?" He put Riptide away. Percy looked behind himself and saw a manhole cover down the alley. Or is it a 'ponyhole cover' here? Percy figured that he didn't have anywhere else to go above ground, he might as well make due with his options in the stinky sewers.
Percy quietly walked over to the cover. The pivots were much larger to lift it up with. That made sense seeing how the residence had no fingers to lift it up with. Percy grabbed the cover and placed it gently on the ground. Percy looked to the street to see if he was being watched, and then jumped down into the sewer.
Percy's feet landed into knee-high water, but he didn't get wet from it. Another ability he had, he couldn't get wet unless he wanted too. Percy looked back up at the hole then down the lantern-lit tunnel. Percy decided to make his way.
Going on the assumption that no one knew he was down here, Percy made his way through the tunnel, trying to find a sign that may lead him to the cover outside of 'the detention center.
Walking through the sewers was very peaceful and relaxing.
Not really something Percy would ever describe a stroll through the sewer would be like, but it was oddly calming. The river flowed gently against his legs as he made his way—Percy could feel the water's power flow through him. And speaking of the water, it didn't feel that dirty, or look dirty for that matter.
The walls were lit by flickering lamps, and the quiet noise of water drops dripping through out the whole system made for a very peaceful atmosphere. It might have been because Percy was surrounded by water that made him feel peaceful, but this might have been the best rated sewer in the world, if that was even a thing people did.
World.
As Percy made his way through the tunnels, he really tried to put this whole situation together the best he could. Percy was feeling more convinced than ever that he wasn't home, it was just a weird hunch he had. He's never heard of a place where only multicolored ponies walk around freely without any human being in sight. Not to mention that they could speak, not with mind, but actually speaking.
If Percy wasn't home, than where was he? How did he even get here in the first place? He was really confused.
That also brought up the question on how he was even going to get home. He couldn't just walk up to someone and ask them directions, they would run away in fear of him.
Percy also found that discouraging; horses were his brethren in a way, he was kind of their celebrity, being son of the sea god and what not. But here, they were all afraid of him and saw him as a threat. He could definitely conclude that these were not normal ponies. Obvious features aside, he could read their faces just as well as he would a person.
And how could they not know who Poseidon is? He is the superstar of the whole equine lifeline. If they don't know who his dad is, does his dad even know these guys exist?
Percy felt very lost; he had many unsettling questions buzzing around in his head, like how he would even get back home, and hopes to find Annabeth.
'Oh gods, Annabeth, where are you?' Percy shook his head sadly. Knowing that Annabeth was in trouble somewhere, and probably looking for him already, convinced Percy that giving up wasn't an option. He had to find her, no matter how hard it would be. Percy and Annabeth had been through so much together and done so much for each other, it would be stupid of him not to do everything he could to find her.
Percy had been down in the city's sewer line for about a half-hour—he argued with himself to stay beneath ground until the heat on the surface wore down. Though, there was the occasional patrol looking for him down there, but he easily avoided them by hiding underwater.
Percy fallowed the signs that lead around to were the different 'ponyhole' exits were.
Maybe it was just his dyslexia, but he literally couldn't read a thing that any of the signs said. They were written in a curvy looking alphabet—it almost looked a mix between old English and Chinese. At least there were arrows on the signs, that sure was helpful, right?
Fortunately, Percy caught a conversation from above a grating vent. He heard guards talking about the prisoner they managed to detain, Nico. They said to a worried mare who was asking the whereabouts of that creature running lose.
Percy got slightly offended when heard that, but he also heard them talking about patrolling by the detention center, just a few blocks away. Incredibly convenient, but he sure wished he knew where to go. He fallowed the signs around the tunnel in about the same length as a block would be, and much to his surprise he found and exit, and they were steps not of the less. That must have meant some form of significance.
Percy came over to the steps and rose out from the water completely dry. The steps led up to a light source, the surface. Percy looked to the sign that pointed up to the exit.
"I have no idea what it says," Percy's quite voice bounced in the tunnel. "So that must mean I'm going the right way." He nodded, confirming his lack of knowledge for this alien language. Percy then climbed the steps going up to the surface, he put his sword away so he wouldn't make a harmful impression if met any bystanders. Percy slowly came up to the door, the light coming from the window was bright enough that he couldn't see outside.
Percy finally came up to the last step—he extended his arm out and slowly pushed the door open. When Percy's vision adjusted to the brightness, Percy didn't dare to move.
"Freeze, turkey." The door opened up to a courtyard of sort, with an entire legion of guards holding spears at him with their legs and telekinesis. Percy blinked, he looked around and saw that on the bridges and balconies around him also had guards with their own weapons readied. Pegasi hovered in the air holding their spears with their forelegs. They were all waiting for him.
Percy tapped his foot uneasily.
"Bit of an overkill, isn't it?" He said dryly.
"Now, are you going to fork over what you stole, or are we going to have to take it from you?" One of the lead guards interrogated.
Percy shook his head. "What are you all even talking about? I didn't steal anything. I don't even know what this place is!"
"Bogus!" A familiar gritty voice in the far back protested. "You corkscrewed me into the ground! You're hiding something! I say we run him down!"
"I didn't even do that!" Percy yelled to the voice in the back."
"Bogus!" The guard snapped back. A few guards upfront rolled their eyes in annoyance, then returned to their stiff scowls. Suddenly, another voice came from the back.
"At ease, Corporal Bars. I'll handle this." A confidant, commanding voice said. As if all the guards in front of Percy recognized that voice, they all started to move away backwards until they faced each other in an orderly manner. Down the path the guards had made, Percy saw a very proud looking figure.
A tall unicorn stallion stood firmly down the other end of where Percy was standing. He wore violet armor sealed in gold outlines. His helmet matched the rest of his armor and but the frills on the top of the helmet stood up higher and thicker. He also had a long sheath with a swords hilt sticking out, and it looked long enough to be a clamor.
His sharp gaze looked like it could smash rocks to bits, and he didn't look very happy. Percy raised his brow, and slowly slid his hand into his pocket to ready himself.
The colt put his leg forward. "On behalf of the royal guard, I order you to surrender." He interrogated.
Percy bit his lip. "How about telling me where I am first before you all decide to shove spears down my mouth?" He suggested. Only their voices sounded through the air.
"Playing dumb won't aid you," The colt said. "You're going to surrender the jewel, and return it to her majesty, and face the harsh consequences for your crime."
Percy groaned. "I'm telling you I didn't steal anything!" Percy denounced impatiently. This was going nowhere. "I don't even know what jewel you are talking about, much less even know where I am. Why don't you tell your prince or whatever that you've got the wrong guy, whoever he is."
"That would be me." The stallion corrected. "Prince Shining Armor, captain of the royal guard. And I find your excuses to be daunting."
Percy raised his eyebrow. "Shining Armor?" He looked at his armored complexion. "Fitting name."
Shining Armor gritted his teeth in annoyance. "I'm getting tired of this," He stepped forward a few steps. "Either you surrender yourself quietly or I'll have to force you down." His horn began to glow velvet, and a aura of the same color appeared around the hilt of his long sword. Percy took out Riptide, but didn't uncap it yet.
"How about telling me where my friend is first?" Percy eyed the aggressive stallion.
"I've been informed that he has escaped custody, and what he has done to my guards is unspeakable." Shining Armor looked down to the ground uneasily. Percy gulped, Nico couldn't have.
"He... He didn't kill them, did he?" Percy asked worryingly.
"No, he didn't," Shining Armor confirmed, then looked back up to Percy. "But my guards might as well seen death coming. They are petrified—by what, I'm not sure—they are in the infirmary getting treated. As far as I know, your 'friend' is lose in the city. I will not let the likes of you two harming innocent ponies."
Shining Armor then pulled his long sword out with his telekinesis. The long, silver blade gleamed in the sunlight. He held it up high so that everyone could see it. Percy guessed that everyone there would have awed at it, but they would be breaking their ranks.
Shining Armor brought his sword down and brought it down in front of himself, pointing it at Percy. "If I must, I will have to bring you both in myself if I have too." Shining Armor scowled. Percy squinted at him, moving his thumb around his pen, getting ready to uncap it. "This is your last chance," Shining Armor interrogated. "surrender, or your punishment will be fierce." He warned one last time.
Percy shook his head. "Sorry, pal, but I'm not the guy you're looking for." Percy said his final statement. Shining Armor nodded slowly, confirming Percy's fate.
"Than so be it." Shining Armor slowly walked toward him. "I will do what I must to retrieve the stolen jewel, though I know a lier when I see one."Shining Armor squinted suspiciously.
"Then I must be invisible, because I stole no such thing." Percy said back. Percy began to slowly walk towards him. All the guards around them moved way back to give their prince and Percy the room needed for the upcoming event. Shining Armor and Percy stopped.
"Don't make me do this," Shining Armor tried to sound modest "You still have a chance to confess."
"I can't, because I didn't do anything, nor did my friend."
"Than you leave me no choice." Shining Armor floated his sword to his side. Percy fallowed it up by uncapping Riptide and activating his watch-shield. His sword sprang to life into his three-foot-long xiphos and his shield spiraled out on his arm.
Shinning Armor's eyes widened, fallowed by silent gasps and soft chatters from the surrounding guards—they were all certainly surprised. Percy put his shield in front of him and held Riptide to his side.
"Your move." He prompted. Shining Armor stood his ground, then dashed to attack. Percy did the same, and he sprinted to his opponent.
"Kick his flank, Captain!" That corporal cheered. Percy and the Prince met in the middle of the yard, and swung their swords against each others in a clang that rattled the whole yard.
They lifted themselves off each other and continued to fight, blocking each others strikes. They slashed at each other a few more times before they paused at another strike as they stared into each others angry eyes.
"You seem well armed for someone who doesn't want trouble." Shining Armor spoke through his teeth.
"Well, if you're someone like me, something is always out to kill you." Percy smirked. They released themselves and paused.
"I can't imagine what that means." The colt grunted, with a hint of sarcasm.
"It's complicated." Percy said. Shining Armor raised his sword and slashed—Percy blocked his blow with his shield and sparks ignited from it. The Prince began to form dominance over Percy, his heavy strikes from his long sword against his shield were hard to counter-act. Percy began to move backwards from the Prince's strikes.
Percy tried to think fast, he swung Riptide against the incoming sword and stopped it. He pushed as hard as he could to force the floating sword down. Shining Armor suddenly pulled his sword back, he then swooped it down to Percy's feet. Percy jumped, just barely missing the sword. Percy then slashed Riptide down, and Shining Armor blocked it. Shining Armor grunted and swung so hard he knocked Riptide out of Percy's hand.
The sword flew a yard away and landed next to a few guards and they backed away from it. Percy realized his disadvantage and looked back to a very angry Prince. Shining Armor slashed down again and Percy blocked it with his shield. Shining Armor continued to slam his shield until Percy was crouching on the ground. Not really wanting to back down, Percy decided to act.
'Well, better improvise!' Percy sprang out to Shining Armor, shield first. They toppled onto the ground. Percy then rolled out of the way and stood up and readied his shield again anxiously. Shining Armor stood back up on all four hooves. He brought his sword back up to his side and huffed. Percy readied himself as Shining Armor charged in his direction. He swung his sword in a fast circle and slashed sideways—Percy just barely blocked it.
Feeling a little smarter from last time, he tried not to block the colt's strikes, he instead wanted to push forward. Shining Armor seemed to use tough force to try and suppress Percy; so having less body mass than he did, Percy wanted to outmaneuver him.
Percy and the Prince found themselves at another impasse. Percy was breathing heavily, but Shining Armor hardly looked winded.
"Given up yet?" Shining Armor asked tiredly.
"I'm just warming up." Percy cocked. Percy then dashed, catching the stallion off guard. Percy shoved the Prince back, skidding on his hooves. Percy regrouped near a humble lamppost. Readjusting his bearings, Shining Armor swung his sword in front of him, then leaped to where Percy was. He slashed to Percy's waist, but Percy evaded it by jumping and grabbing on to the lamppost.
Percy then leaped down and rolled behind the colt. Percy got up and turned backwards, swinging his shield into the side of Shining Armor's head. He grunted in pain as his helmet flew off and rolled a distance away on its side.
There was a long stretch of silence after that. Shining Armor slowly rose onto his hooves, he turned himself around to face Percy again. Shining Armor snarled in frustrated anger, a bruise accumulated on his jawline. Shining Armor seemed to stare deep into Percy's soul, like he decided he wasn't playing around anymore. A few of the guards from behind ran up to his side.
"Captain! Let us help you rid of this vermin!" One of the guards helped him up. Shining Armor shrugged them off.
"No." Shining Armor slowly brought his sword up. "I will finish this myself..."
Percy gulped nervously, that probably wasn't a good idea to ram his shield in his face. A confused cry came from behind Percy.
"What? Where did that sword go?" Just the thing Percy was waiting to hear.
"Ah..." Percy reached into his pocket and brought out Riptide. He uncapped it and it sprang into his sword. Percy banged his sword against his shield in intimidation. Shining Armor didn't bother to put his helmet back on, he went ahead and charged at Percy. He and Percy both swung their swords, as they collided in a loud clang. Put no pause took place, they continued to slash at each other.
Shining Armor's attacks were a lot harder, he must have been really angry. Percy still tried to shove him back, but Shining Armor managed to push back his attempts to knock him down. Percy found it being a little difficult trying to knock a sword out of the grasp of a magical field of energy, so his disarming method probably wouldn't work. Percy knew he had to figure out a way to come around to this guy, but he was feeling a little cornered, literally.
It didn't take long before Percy realized that he was being backed off to a near edge. Percy didn't have any form of time to look back and see what was down there, but Percy did try to fight back the best he could.
Percy did his best to oppress his opponents strikes; Percy manage to grab a good foot-holding and stood his ground. With one quick shove, Percy managed to push back his opponent in a jump. Percy was now a little farther away from the edge—Shining Armor stumbled, but that hardly stopped him.
He gritted his teeth aggressively and swung his sword around in a circle. Before Percy could ready himself, Shining Armor dashed and brought his sword up high and then quickly swung it down above Percy's head.
Not having enough time to raise his shield, Percy only raised his exposed arm in his only defense. Shining Armor swung his sword down on Percy's arm.
CLANG! The sword struck against Percy's skin—the unnatural sound echoed through out the whole yard, no sound attempted to break the silence. Percy opened his eyes slowly and saw the long sword lying motionless on his armored skin. Percy looked to Shining Armor, who's jaw was quivering with confusion.
"Impossible..." He spoke in disbelief. Percy's curse of Achilles managed to save his butt yet again. Percy readjusted his sword, giving a cheeky smirk.
"Think fast." Percy said, as he pushed Shining Armor off. Shining Armor walked backwards in hesitation, Percy guessed that the reveal of his curse was a bit of a game changer.
Percy readied his weapons again, adjusting his shoulders. Shining Armor backed away uneasily, not really sure what to make of Percy. No guard in the crowd spoke a word, the suspense was too strong to interrupt.
Percy didn't advance towards the Prince, he wanted to demonstrate that he wasn't the aggressive one. Percy lowered his defenses half-way, but that was a bad choice. Shining Armor unexpectedly dropped his sword and then a velvet beam shot from his horn and then hit Percy in the chest.
Percy fell backwards against a wall. He looked down and saw he was trapped in the same sort of net that he was trapped in before, but his mouth was still exposed.
Percy looked back up at Shining Armor, who had a very impatient look.
"Aw come on!" Percy complained.
"I've seen enough." Shining Armor slid his sword back into his sheath. "I've should have done this in the first place."
"But that wouldn't be nearly as fun, wouldn't it?" Percy grumbled "Save your breath, fighter. I'll admit, you were a tough one, but I shouldn't have let this drag on as long as it did, I should have known better."
"So what? You were just testing me?"
"Perhaps it was just my own curiosity. Which is why I'm curious as to what other dangers you posses other than being impenetrable." Shining Armor said. Percy didn't respond, he only glared in a scowl.
"If you stole the jewel or not, you still pose a threat to everypony, and I will not let your powers get out of hoof."
"You haven't seen half of it yet." Percy growled.
"All the more reason to detain you. You are dangerous." Shining Armor said. He then turned to face one of his guards. "Somepony take this prisoner to where he can't cause any trouble. And keep an extended watch for the other one. We could use this one to help us find him."
The guard saluted.
"Yes, Captain." He nodded. Shining Armor walked over to his helmet and levitated it back onto his head.
Percy just now felt something from behind the wall. He put his fingers on it, and he felt the steady rush of water flow from behind. He could feel its power channel through him. Percy sneaked a grin; he now felt the time was right to show everyone here what he was truly capable of.
"Hey, metal shoes, I'm not done talking to you." Percy shouted. Shining Armor turned around and gave an annoyed sneer.
"There is nothing left for you to say, it's over." Shining Armor reminded.
Percy only grinned. "Not if I have anything to say about it." Percy said. With a swift thrust of his hand, the wall next to Percy burst open, and an entire gust of water surged out of the wall and submerged a very surprised Shining Armor.
While all the guards surprised at what just happened, Percy found this time to fall down and role over to his sword. He grabbed the hilt by his restricted fingers. He picked up his sword and cut the glowing net that trapped him.
The netting canceled and began to dissolve instantly. Once he was free, Percy came up to his feet and turned to Shining Armor.
Shining Armor stumbled back up soaking wet and very startled. Percy didn't just let the water flow on its own, he raised his arm and the entire flow changed current and turned towards him.
Percy commanded the surge to swirl around him upwards in a large spiral. Percy wasn't satisfied yet, he still wanted to make a bigger impression. He tried channeling all the water around he could find. A few seconds later, water began to pass his feet from behind, and it eventually grew into a wave coming up from the sewer entrance in which he came out from.
The water surged up from behind him, and Percy commanded it to lift him up. Percy rose off the ground in his own personal fountain with an entire wall of water behind him, suspended in place as he controlled it. Percy was in his zone now.
Percy looked down at the crowd of guards; he looked around and saw that pegasi flew in place with their weapons, but they barely attempted to stop him. Percy looked back down to Shining Armor, who looked amazed and terrified at the same time.
"...Who are you?" Shining Armor managed to speak. Percy grinned in response to his sudden adrenaline.
"Me? I'm Nobody." Percy said. He felt like he wanted to carry on that famous name in some way. Percy then waved 'goodbye' and submerged into his wave. The water had rejuvenated him, he felt his full power resurface.
Percy did a risky move; by forcing all his power to shoot him out from behind his wave, and then fell off the edge and out of sight.
Percy took one last gaze back and saw that he had lost control of his wave, the wall of water came down on the crowd of guards.
Percy looked back down and saw he was heading straight for a roof. He slammed his feet on the edge, he swung his arms vigorously to keep himself from falling off.
Once he regained his balance, he looked down and saw a small canal. Percy jumped off the roof and headed down to the small artificial river.
Percy commanded the water to rise, and it did just in time to catch him. Ponies who were walking by dropped their things and ran. Percy decided to go the direction the water was flowing, so he then surfed in his own mini wave down the canal to see where it would take him.
The way wasn't entirely clear to surf uninterrupted. he had to jump over a few bridges with pony bystanders on them. When they realized Percy was coming, they moved out of the way in fear.
"Pardon me!" He would say as he passed over the bridges. Obstacles aside, Percy tried his best to look around while he could.
As Percy swiftly passed by, he couldn't help but look at everything. This place was a real wonder; if all the questions in Percy's head could be counted up, it would be enough to fill a gumball machine. Percy was getting a little distracted by the fact that he was even here, and why he's never heard of this place.
Then, he started to think of Nico, he was still missing. Percy had to find him, but where could he be? Where could a child of Hades feel safe?
'Dark.' Percy thought. 'Probably somewhere dark. I guess I'll have to find someplace dark.' Percy decided to start looking as soon as his little surfing session was done, the canal might take him far enough away to get out of reach from the Royal Guard.
Percy also wondered about that jewel Shining Armor was talking about, and how it was stolen by her royal highness. He had every reason to believe that this place could have been the palace, or castle or whatever. But this place was built on the edge of a mountain, that even amazed Percy to an extant for someone who isn't the architect genius, that someone would be Annabeth: she would probably love investigating the schematics of this city, castle, palace whatever. Just its overall look alone was eye candy for sure.
As Percy continued to surf down the canal sulking in his thoughts, he was wondering when he would run out of canal.
'This seems to be heading towards the mountain, maybe it'll take me to some foliage to hide out.' He thought. 'Maybe Nico had the right mind and headed over there. You know, with all things considered, I'm not really doing so—' Suddenly, a blue light appeared from the corner of his left eye. Percy turned to see what, but he was to late A tremendous force of energy knocked him off his wave and he rocketed into the air. Percy tried to refocus, and once he did, he found himself flying off the edge of the city, and into the abyss below.
Before Percy had the chance to scream for his life, he slammed into an extremely sloped surface. He toppled down without control, he tried desperately to grab onto something, but the surface was to slick.
Percy began to fall off, but he managed to grab the ridged edge of the surface. He was hanging with two hands on a gutter of sort.
Percy looked down as his legs swung around, he mustered a panicked shriek as he looked down at the abyss before him. Percy looked back up and saw his sword slide down the slope and fall far down until it kept getting smaller, until only the glint of its light glow was visible.
Percy—in a shivering state—hastily tried to climb up, but his grip was very fragile. Percy held on like his life depended on it, and it did. Percy began to slowly pull himself up, but the mettle gutter began to groan and creak.
"Oh gods, oh gods, oh gods, oh, gods. I don't think the fall in the St. Lewis was this high!"Percy exclaimed. The gutter groaned even louder, then a terrifying snap shook the gutter and Percy began to swing further out and started to lower, until Percy was holding onto it like a fire pole.
Percy closed his eyes and squeezed the gutter so hard his arms and legs started to ache.
"Don't look down, don't look down, don't look down."Percy demanded himself. "I, I, I don't think my curse can save me from this! I, I just have to get-!" The gutter began to snap again on the top. Percy didn't dare to breathe. He lowered his head and began to pray.
"Annabeth, I'm so sorry." Percy whispered. "I'm sorry I couldn't find you. I'm sorry I couldn't spend my last moment with you, my passing wouldn't be happy without being with you." The gutter groaned louder. "Oh gods, if you're hearing this in any possible way, I love you, I will never stop loving you. You are the best girlfriend any loser like me could ever have, you've changed my life forever. From all the torment and exhausting journeys we've been through together it was all worth it. You've made my last few days a paradise, so much that it would give Elysium a run for its money."
Percy's hands began to slip against the rusty gutter, Percy prepared his final words. He was just poring every sorrow feeling out at this moment.
"I might not survive this, but that doesn't matter, you've made me feel like I had purpose, a reason to live." Percy's was only holding on by his fingertips now. His time was up.
"...I love you." He cooed shakily. He let go and excepted his fate. Gravity was pulling him down faster as he plummeted to the ground at an excessive rate. Percy had his arms out to his side with his eyes closed, not willing to watch how much time he had left among the living.
Assuming his curse of Achilles didn't work, which it probably wouldn't. His skin might have been impenetrable, but it probably wouldn't stop his entire body from being smashed on the inside from the shear velocity he was traveling at.
Percy was about to let go of everything he held dear until he heard a loud cry. "Hang on!" A shout from above said. Percy shot his eyes wide open and looked to where it came from. A pale, purple blur was coming at him like a missile. Percy was about to react, but the blur reached him and flew under his back, carrying him off into another direction.