Disclaimer: Δεν έχω τη δική τίποτα να κάνει ή σχετικά με Percy Jackson και οι Ολύμπιοι!
(By the way, that's the Greek translation for saying that I don't own Percy Jackson and the Olympians but I'll bet you already knew that)
Author's Note: Once again, I want to thank you guys repeatedly for reviewing and it's to see new readers with each chapter. Also, keep those ideas pouring in as I will, in time, use some – if not all – of them. Also, since the drawing idea seems pretty popular, I'll try to use that but keep in mind that this is a diary and not a journal. Thus, Percy wouldn't be writing loads of stuff like he does in the actual novels. Even so, here is the next chapter and I hope you like it!
Chapter 6: License to Quest
Dear Diary, Juniper read in a cheerful voice, unaware of the rather gloomy atmosphere the diary was in at that point in time. Naturally, this caused some snickers but they quieted down right away at what came next. If you ever think that getting a quest will mean honour and glory, a huge party, and an Oscars – don't! You will just be extremely disappointed. It's worse than getting a visa.
At this, everyone just froze, looked at each other, and burst into laughter. Juniper, Grover, and Nico were a little lost since they didn't know what a visa was but the others knew. There was so much red tape revolving around all that paper-work. It was a nightmare!
Luckily, most of them were already citizens from birth in their respective cities so they didn't really need to go for regular follow-up visits to get a visa. Paperwork was no big deal for them because they were all demigods and could use the Mist to hurry up the laidback and painfully-slow authorities.
Grover kind of knew what Percy was talking about though as it hadn't been such a nice and relaxing time for him, what with Mr. D being nasty as he always was. Percy was new and just hadn't realised how pissed off the God of Wine was with his long-term punishment. Now, he wished he hadn't been so nervous as he was since he could have brought it on easier for Percy.
They were friends, after all!
Heaving a sigh and shaking her head, Juniper just started reading while all the laughter died down. We met in the Big House where I was sure a punishment, no – my execution was waiting for me. Instead, there was something worse: A quest. Now, if I had a say in it, my quest would be to get my mom out of the Underworld and not to retrieve some grumpy and paranoid old god's lightning bolt.
Everyone winced at this as thunder rumbled menacingly, rattling the windows. Percy was really dull sometimes when it came to matters of respect with the god. Annabeth was just relieved that he had changed somewhat after all their adventures, together...together! The Daughter of Athena sighed dreamily at how nice that sounded. She was rudely interrupted, however, by Juniper who was reading again in a slightly frustrated voice.
You see, apparently there's been this big clash with the gods at the last Winter Solstice. Would have explained all the freak weather of late and some other stuff, like Mrs. Dodds attacking me at Yancy Academy.
"Who's Mrs. Dodds?" Annabeth exclaimed furiously, rounding on a hapless Grover who stuttered and stammered excuses while all the others chuckle and grinned.
They all knew that Annabeth had feelings for Percy deep down inside, whether for a friend or girlfriend, and she would not want him to get hurt. They had gone through so much together already that it was plain to anyone that if Percy would ever get together with a girl, it would be her.
"She used to be Percy's math teacher," Grover finally managed although it was more of a squeak.
Annabeth relaxed somewhat at 'used to be' and pulled away reluctantly when Juniper gave her a disapproving look. She would be dammed if Percy was attacked before he knew how to protect himself. That boy always seemed like a trouble-magnet! She resolved inwardly to ask Percy about his past when they were finished, but Juniper was reading again.
Zeus blames Poseidon for some reason and my father takes offence to that accusation. Why wouldn't he? I mean, I know they had a turbulent relationship in the past but they were allies in the Great War. It just wouldn't make sense. Nonetheless, the gods are rather narrow-minded when it comes to this sort of thing. So, I now have to clean up their mess.
Once again, all the campers gave furtive glances over their shoulders and muttered uncomfortably.
"Why does Percy have to be so thick?" Nico demanded to no one in particular.
"Boys," Was all Thalia could mutter.
"Excuse me?" Nico said sharply, causing Thalia to start in surprise.
The unlikely couple went read in the face when Juniper called them 'lovebirds' and told them to shut up while she continued reading. They decided that silence was the better part of valour and, also, they were too interested in this diary page to get into a fight.
Besides, it was nearing its end and they wondered if anyone else had received Iris Messages. They were also wondering who was giving them.
So while Grover, Chiron, and Mr. D were gambling, Juniper read with a faint grin. My doom was revealed to me and now I have to troop off to the Underworld to get some stupid lightning bolt back from Hades. Worse yet, this means we have to travel across the States to Loss Angels where lies the only portal to the Underworld. And guess who has to travel with me?
"Grover and girlfriend!" Conner and Travis Stoll answered in sync, giving each other a high-five.
"I am NOT Percy's girlfriend!" Annabeth shouted, while everyone else smirked and chuckled.
"That's true," Clarisse smirked. "Prissy's too stupid to have a girlfriend.
"Watch it, Clarisse," Annabeth growled.
"Oh, sorry," Clarisse said, her eyes all-innocence. "Did I say something wrong? I thought you didn't like Percy!"
Annabeth just took a deep breath and clenched her fists to stop herself from pulverising the Daughter of Ares. It wouldn't do to get the God of War angry with her!
More importantly, Juniper said, her voice raised purposefully. I got this creepy prophecy from this ultra-creepy mummy. Not like Mummy mummy – like a mummy, you know?
"No I don't know," Grover replied, in mock confusion.
The others grinned while Nico placed an arm on his shoulder and said in a voice mimicking Thalia's. "Grover, you're talking to a book."
Thalia punched him in the arm while the others laughed. Nico rubbed his arm and pouted, grinning inwardly at Thalia's smug expression. Being a Son of Hades, it didn't really hurt him. He just liked making Thalia pleased for some reason. It was weird! He decided to listen to Juniper before he'd have to visit a physiatrist.
Anyhow, there's this prophecy that says I'm meant to find some 'god of the west,' find what was lost, and fail to get what means most to me in the end. Wow! I feel so loved. Oh, well. It's late now since I was packing for a while and I am zonked. So if I don't wake up tomorrow, if Zeus kills me to get his revenge, at least there's this diary – pathetic as it is – to answer a few questions.
Goodnight world!
Silence.
It was odd how Percy could do this to them, how he could just twist their mind to make them feel guilty and ashamed. It was like he could Charmspeak or something.
Juniper was no Daughter of Aphrodite but she knew a thing or two about that power and it was powerful. A true Daughter of Aphrodite could charm a whole crowd into listening and obeying them. Was Percy a son of Poseidon and Aphrodite? Now there was a thought!
Whatever she thought next though was lost when the door banged open one more time. Aggravated at the constant interruptions, Nico, Thalia, and Annabeth spun around angrily – as did the others – and they were all mildly surprised to find themselves face to face with Selena and Beckendorf.
Was this like Valentine's Day or something? It really was a hotspot for couples, the Poseidon Cabin, and the Stoll brothers were feeling sorely out of place here. Thalia and Nico were feeling a tad bit uncomfortable as it seemed that everyone save Conner, Travis, and Annabeth were paired up. Were they meant to be a team or something?
No way!
They were saved from any further consternation though, when Selena asked a question after sitting down on Beckendorf's lap.
Ignoring the embarrassed camper, she asked. "Hey guys, we were just going for a walk on the beach when we received this Iris Message that told us something very important was happening here."
"Urn, yeah," Beckendorf blurted out, nervously putting an arm around Selena's waist. "It said that something was being read here, something we should know. What exactly does that mean?"
All eyes turned to Annabeth who took a deep breath and explained what they were doing. In quick words, she informed them of Percy's diary up-to-date which made sense to some of the newcomers. Finally, when she was finished she grinned at their wide-eyed looks.
"How come we never knew Percy was writing a diary?" He asked.
Conner and Travis Stoll, looking sheepish, hummed pointedly or whistled as they gazed everywhere else but at the Son of Hermes. After all, they were the famous pranksters of Camp Half-Blood. They were the eyes and ears of the place and they were rather ashamed that they hadn't found out sooner.
"Does anyone else wanna read?" Conner asked emphatically.
Annabeth sighed and agreed, taking the book from Juniper's hands. She hadn't had a turn yet and was feeling kind of bad for treating Percy like she had. This was one small way she could make up to him for it, and she aimed to be nicer to him than she had been. Flipping to the appropriate page, she cleared her throat and began to read.
"Dear Diary..."
To Be Continued...
A/N: Well there you have it! Just to inform all my wonderful readers and reviewers, that will – most probably – be the end of the influx of couples and campers to the Poseidon Cabin. There just isn't enough space and I wouldn't be able to think of so many things for them to say, since Percy's diary pages are short enough as it is. Well, I hope you like it and can only know so if you leave a review. So comment away and stay tuned!
P.S. Just thought to ask as I don't really know myself, when should they stop for meals and stuff? These chapters aren't as long as others so I thought they could get a lot more done than normal but I could be wrong. I don't really know but they are kind of trapped in the cabin. A god of food or something will bring them their meals and there are already beds in the cabin. One more will come to clean up the mess and so on. I just need to know when they should pause for a break as I am kind of clueless so any advice would be super!
~ Elf Knight ~