V: Search-and-Rescue-For-Demigods Isn't Easy
Chapter Summary: Chiron has given Annabeth Chase, daughter of Athena, a quest: go to Goode High School, which is in Manhattan, and find the demigod. Percy Jackson is that demigod, though he doesn't know it yet. This is how they met.
So… Hi!
I plead the fifth.
(For any who may not know what that means, it's the Fifth Amendment on the US Constitution that allows a person not to answer a question on the grounds that answering the question (or, in this case, explaining) will incriminate them.) :)
Here's 'The Search,' finally, after so many days and days of waiting… I can't believe there's only one more chapter left, guys, I really can't. Thank you all for being so supportive, it warms my heart to be able to read the reviews left here and I'm really happy that you've bothered to read my story. I hope that this chapter lives up to your expectations!
Replies to Reviews:
Pjo07 on Chapter 3: Percy's brain was a little muddled, but thanks for reviewing! :)
Peanut-butter-mouse on Chapter 6: Thanks! I hope you enjoy it.
Pjo07 on Chapter 5: There is one more after this one, but it's my take on their actual meeting. I hope you've enjoyed this story!
Pjo07 on Chapter 6: Um… I am not quite sure what you mean by that… My creativity, I guess.
Forever-Fangirl-PJO-HP on Chapter 6: I hope you find it interesting, 'cause here it is! :D
"But, Chiron-" Annabeth protested, but the centaur cut her off before she could even begin her highly logical and convincing argument. It was in her opinion, anyway.
"I know that it isn't what you were hoping for, Ms. Chase, but it is a quest nonetheless." Her gray eyes narrowed and she huffed.
"This is satyr's work! Why don't you send Grover, or… or Caleb?" This cannot be happening, she thought.
"We have sent Grover, and he has found the demigod, but he says that this boy is too powerful for him alone to handle. He needs demigod backup." Chiron hesitated. "This boy… He may be a child of one of the Big Three."
Annabeth gasped. "The child of the prophecy?"
Chiron nodded reluctantly. "Perhaps. Do you understand, now?"
Annabeth nodded, a bit shocked. This changes everything. "Of course, yes." She steeled herself and looked back up at Chiron with a determined gaze. "I'll do it. Where exactly am I going?"
Chiron turned to face the lake out the back window. "As you know, Argus can take you to the edge of the city. From there, you must find Goode High School. I shall give you directions. Percy Jackson is a freshman there."
Annabeth's brow furrowed. "How did someone powerful enough to be a theorized, albeit unclaimed, Big Three kid last until high school?"
Chiron chuckled. "We don't know, but I'm glad for it. Anyways, Grover will be waiting for you. He believes there may be another demigod at the school, and so he shall be staying. You will bring Mr. Jackson here on your own."
Annabeth gave his back a confused look. "I thought you said that Grover needed my help?"
Chiron replied, "He does. He needs you to bring Mr. Jackson back so he can focus on finding the other demigod. There is a monster at the school, Annabeth, so be careful."
Annabeth nodded, then, remembering that he couldn't see her, said, "Right. So when do I leave?"
"Hey, Percy!"
Percy paused and turned, scanning the hallway before grinning. "Grover! Hey, man, what's up?" Grover was coming down the hallway with his crutches, and when he caught up to Percy, they continued walking together to his locker.
"Nothing much. Hey, you got any plans after school today?" Grover asked, stopping at the side of his locker while he grabbed his bag and jacket.
"Nah. Mom's at work, and Gabe's home, so I hoped you might want to do something." Percy shut his locker door, and he and Grover continued walking out to the door.
"I'm busy, but I know this girl that I've been wanting to introduce to you." Percy groaned, and Grover laughed.
"It's not like that, man, she's a great friend and I think you might like her. She wanted to meet you."
Percy chuckled a little. "What's her name?"
"Annabeth, and I think you'll get along excellently," said Grover, smiling as if he knew something Percy didn't.
"Okay. So is she here waiting or something?" Percy snickered as Grover started.
"What? How did you know?"
Percy smiled and replied, "I've known you for almost four years, Grover. That's how you roll."
Grover shrugged. "You know me too well."
They came to the front of the school, and though all Grover had given him was 'blonde hair, stormy gray eyes, you'll know her when you see her,' it was rather easy to find Annabeth. She stood a ways away, but Percy could see her clearly. He noticed Grover smile out of the corner of his eye as he stopped, mesmerized.
Annabeth, as Grover said, had blonde hair and gray eyes. Except… it was more than that. She had curly blonde hair that made him think of a princess. That hair was in a ponytail, pulled back from her face. She was tan, as if she spent a lot of time in the sun.
Grover hadn't been lying when he called her gray eyes 'stormy'. They looked like one of the clouds you'd see in the middle of a thunderstorm, and it wasn't just the color that gave them that effect.
Grover laughed as those eyes met Percy's and he gasped. He noticed that she quirked an eyebrow. "Is that her?"
"Yep. Come on, idiot." Grover nudged his leg with one of his crutches and walked off to Annabeth.
"Yeah." Percy, dazed, followed after him, and could swear he saw a smirk on Annabeth's face.
Annabeth watched the door, waiting to see Grover and the demigod she'd been sent to retrieve. When she finally saw Grover, she looked, and saw Percy next to him. Huh.
He had messy black hair that positively screamed 'troublemaker', and a lean, muscular frame that spoke of a swimmer. That certainly doesn't bode well for the 'Not Poseidon' theory. It was only after he'd stopped and stared at her that she met his eyes and noticed them.
They were beautiful, a rare shade of sea-green that reminded her of the ocean in the afternoon, when it was best to sit on the beach and think. Definitely doesn't bode well. He was nearly an exact copy of Poseidon, though Annabeth supposed that he could conceivably be Hades'. Hades and Poseidon looked more alike than Zeus and Poseidon.
She noticed Grover laugh and they started walking over. "Annabeth," Grover started as they reached her, and Annabeth held up a hand. She scanned Percy's face, and began a circle around to inspect him. "So. This is Percy Jackson," she said, with a blank face and unidentifiable emotion in her voice. In truth, she was impressed, but she wanted to see how Percy reacted to her.
"Yep, that's me. You're Annabeth." Hm. Interesting. Not intimidated in the slightest.
She nodded, then gave Grover a pointed look. The satyr shivered a bit, jokingly, and she internally snickered. "Right, man. I'm off! I-uh, left one of my books in my locker. I'll see you two crazy cats later!" He slapped Percy on the back and took off back in the direction of the school.
Percy looked a bit uncomfortable. He rubbed the back of his neck. "What was all that about?"
Annabeth shrugged. "You know Grover. He's a bit… scatterbrained."
Percy laughed. "That's a good way to put it! How long have you known him?"
She gestured for them to walk, and she began leading him to the path that lead to Camp. We'll get a cab, she thought, and then remembered that she didn't have any money with her. Crap! Walking it is, then.
"I've known him since I was seven. You?"
Percy raised an eyebrow. "Just since sixth grade. We've gone to school together since then. How'd you meet him?"
She smiled. "We go to the same summer camp." She stopped him as they walked through an alleyway, glancing around. She saw no one.
"Speaking of which, there's something that you should know."
Percy raised an eyebrow with a confused expression. "Yeah?"
She rolled her eyes. Hmm…. What's the best way to go about this? She had absolutely no clue why she was telling him now, other than the fact that they might run into monsters. "You know the Greek Myths? About the gods, monsters, all that?" Percy looked even more confused, if that was even possible.
"About the Olympians and them? Yeah, why?"
She took a deep breath. "This is incredibly dangerous for me to tell you. I should wait, but we have to take the more dangerous road and I want you to be prepared."
Percy looked a little scared.
"They're real. They're all real."
Percy stood in shock for a moment. Annabeth seemed to scan him, looking for any signs of… violence, he supposed. The only thing that he could think was, "What?"
Annabeth chuckled a little. "That's most people's reactions."
"Wait…. What? You're saying…" He motioned with his hands.
Annabeth nodded. "Yes. They're all real. Every myth, with a little divergence on how exactly they happened, of course."
Percy scratched his head. "And why exactly are you telling me this?"
Annabeth rolled her eyes again. "Do you know what a person was called in the myths if they were the kid of a mortal and a god?"
Percy nodded. "Yeah, demigod. Like Hercules."
Annabeth nodded. "Yeah, like him. Well, they're real too."
Percy closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "You're gonna tell me you're one."
Annabeth huffed. "Yes."
Percy opened his eyes and gave her a look.
"You're one too."
Another look, this time with raised eyebrows.
"Grover's a satyr."
"What? You mean the half-human half-goat guys?"
Annabeth laughed. "Yeah, the 'half-human half-goat guys.'"
Percy felt ill. "I think I'm gonna throw up."
Annabeth looked mildly amused. "At least you didn't call him a donkey. He hates it when people do that."
Percy blanched. Annabeth's brow furrowed and she pushed him down to the concrete. "Here, sit down."
He felt like passing out. "How am I supposed to believe this?"
Annabeth gave him a sympathetic smile. "Well, there are a million ways I could probably show you." She looked at something over his shoulder, and her eyes widened. "But I think that the best one might just be about to show itself."
Percy turned around, and he put a hand in front of Annabeth, who suddenly had… "What do you-is… is that a dagger?" Annabeth nodded without taking her eyes from the figure in front of them. "Yes, it's Celestial Bronze. The only kind that can kill monsters."
Percy laughed. He looked at the figure walking towards them from the alley opening. "That's not a monster, that's just my, admittedly demonic, math teacher, Mrs. Dodds."
Annabeth shook her head. "Grover knew there was a monster at the school." She spoke up. "Who are you, and what do you want?"
Mrs. Dodds stopped about ten feet away from them. The little math teacher had a menacing gleam in her eye that seriously freaked Percy out. "I am Alecto," she paused, and Percy saw Annabeth's face pale and her gray eyes widened in fear.
"And I want him." Her voice had turned to a growl that sounded like no animal Percy had ever heard. Her eyes turned to glow red, and her teeth were slightly pointed. He stiffened in fear. That was not a math teacher. It wasn't even human.
Sh-it pointed at Percy, and Annabeth took a few steps to stand in front of him. He whispered in her ear, "What is that?!"
Annabeth replied, barely moving her lips. "One of the Furies. We call them the Kindly Ones. She's basically the leader."
Percy gasped. "Uh oh."
Annabeth nodded. "That's an accurate response." She spoke to the Fury, bringing her knife up in front of her face. "If you want him, come and claim him." Percy snorted, recognizing the line from The Lord of the Rings, (probably unintentional on Annabeth's part) and his ADHD mind immediately began comparing and contrasting their situation to that of Frodo and Arwen. Well, Annabeth's certainly pretty enough to take Arwen's place, he mused, and then blinked. Where did that come from?
He turned his attention back to Annabeth and the Fury. Alecto was growling as Annabeth stood in front of him, and then she began to change. Her skin turned gray, almost leathery, and her back sprouted wings. Her fingers became claws and her teeth became fully pointed. She was terrifying.
"You will regret that, Demigod."
Annabeth smirked. "I don't think so, Monster."
Alecto lunged, and Annabeth let her come. When the Fury grew close, she pulled a fiery-red whip out of nowhere and it cracked in Annabeth's direction. He heard a cry as it came down on her arm, but Annabeth recovered quickly, catching the next swing on her dagger. She pulled the whip away and it landed near Percy. He flinched away from it, scrambled back to a safer distance, and turned his eyes back to the fight.
Annabeth was winning. The Fury took a swipe at her with a dangerous-looking claw, but Annabeth caught the edge of her dagger on it and swung it upwards before slicing across the Fury's stomach. The monster exploded into a shower of golden dust, covering Annabeth and the ground for five feet around.
"Believe me now?" Annabeth was smirking, he was sure of it. She turned around and pulled a hand across her face to rid it of monster dust.
"Yes, actually, I do. But…" He hesitated, sure she wouldn't like this question. "If you're a demigod, who's your parent?" He braced for a lecture on privacy and a 'you-don't-just-ask-these-things-Percy!', but it never came.
Annabeth smiled. Huh. Didn't expect that reaction. "My mom is Athena, Goddess of Wisdom and Battle Strategy." Double huh.
"… That's cool. Who's mine, then?" Annabeth raised an eyebrow.
"I don't know. Which parent do you live with, mom or dad?"
"I live with Mom." Percy smiled. "She's the best."
"Then your parent's your dad, obviously, but…" He had a feeling this was something she wasn't supposed to tell him. "Just make sure you don't mention this to anyone before you're claimed. You know the Olympian Gods, right?"
Percy nodded. "Yeah."
"Well, we've got a special name for the three brothers. Zeus, Hades, and Poseidon."
"Okay."
"They're called the Big Three."
"Okay."
"We think your dad is one of them." Annabeth searched his face, probably looking for a reaction.
"Okay. Do you know which one?" She wouldn't find one. Percy felt perfectly calm. He'd seen a bit too much today not to believe her.
She shook her head. "I think I may know, but… There's a way I could be a little surer. Have you ever been in an airplane?"
It was Percy's turn to shake his head. "Nope. We always travel by car. My mom's parents died in a plane crash."
Annabeth furrowed her eyebrows. "Well, that may rule out Zeus… Do you like being in high places?"
Percy shook his head again. "Nope."
"Do you feel at home in storms? Especially thunderstorms?"
"Nope."
Annabeth huffed. "Well, that definitely rules out Zeus."
Percy smiled. "So, Hades or Poseidon, then? Which one do you think?"
Annabeth studied him. "Are you afraid of graveyards? Do they freak you out?"
Percy shrugged. "A little. I've never been drawn to them, if you know what I mean."
Annabeth swore. "Where do you feel most at home?"
Percy laughed lightly. "What is this, a survey of my life?"
Annabeth glared at him. "Just answer the question."
Percy scratched his head. "I guess… There's this cabin on Montauk Beach that we visit. When it's warm, the sea sparkles and it's great for swimming. I've always loved it there. That's where my mom met my dad."
Annabeth swore again. "That basically screams Poseidon."
Percy shrugged. "Is that a problem?"
Annabeth's eyes widened and her voice rose a pitch. "Is that a problem? Of course it's a problem! My mom's Athena! Your dad is probably Poseidon!"
Percy raised an eyebrow. "And?"
Annabeth growled in frustration. "And, Athena and Poseidon have had this… this hatred of each other for millennia. They have a feud that goes back to the height of Athens."
"Oh."
Annabeth rolled her eyes. Percy was just glad she was done lecturing him. "Yeah, oh." She sighed. "I don't know, I seem to like you."
"Well, if my dad is Poseidon, maybe it's high time we just got along. Why would we have to go with a feud that our parents have?" He raised an eyebrow.
She narrowed her eyes. "If your father is Poseidon, I might just be persuaded to go along with that." She smiled, straightening, and Percy smiled back.
"Now, we need to go before more monsters catch up with us." She walked to the end of the alleyway, and Percy trailed behind her.
"Lead on then, Wise Girl."
Annabeth raised an eyebrow after pausing and turning to look at him. "Wise Girl?"
Percy smirked. "Yes. Because you're a daughter of Athena?"
He received an eye roll in response as she took off forwards, walking quickly down the street. There was a smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye as he followed her to his future.
So, tell me what you thought! I really hope you liked it and I really, really hope that it was worth all the waiting!
Thank you to all my wonderful reviewers, and all the favorite-ers and followers. You guys mean the world to me, you really do.
Next Time on 'When We First Met:'
Chapter Preview for VI: The Demigod, also known as 'How It Really Happened':
We all know the story. Annabeth Chase is a daughter of Athena. Percy Jackson is a son of Poseidon, though no one knows yet. She's been tasked with helping him recover.
I hope to post 'The Demigod' within a week. I'll see you then!
MischievousChaos
