Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians or the Heroes of Olympus Series.
Story: Brothers United: The Legend of the Dioscuri
Chapter 7: Return of the King
Third Person's POV
Manhattan, NY – three days later
Theseus and Percy stepped out of the train station. Percy had called camp earlier that day and Chiron had promised that Argus would pick them up in one of the camp vans. The two sons of Poseidon stood on the sidewalk waiting for the van. A white van pulled around the corner with the familiar strawberry farm sign on the side. Percy smiled as he watched the many eyed guardian of camp pull up in front of them. Percy opened the side door and stepped inside. Argus's eyes all stood open wide when they saw Theseus.
Theseus smiled at Argus. "It's been a long time my friend," Theseus said. Argus nodded before a bright smile crossed his face.
Percy smiled at the two. "Argus, let's get home," he said. Argus nodded before pulling back into traffic and steering for Long Island.
Theseus marveled at the sights of the city before him. He looked up at the skyscrapers and sat in awe at the sheer numbers of people that lived and worked there. Percy smiled at the awed expression on his brother's face.
"Don't worry Theo, I'll make sure to bring you back to explore. This is my home turf," Percy said with a broad smile on his face.
Theseus grinned. "Thanks little bro, I'd like that," he replied.
Argus drove the van through Manhattan toward Long Island. After an hour they were finally in Long Island headed toward the strawberry farm. An hour and a half later they pulled down the farm road and entered the farm. Argus stopped; Percy and Theseus got out of the van and gave their thanks to the camp security guard. Argus smiled before driving off.
Percy looked up the hill toward Thalia's tree; he smiled at the sight of his home. He turned toward his older brother, Theo stood straight with his mouth open. His eyes were closed and Percy was trying to understand what was going on.
"Theo, are you okay?" Percy asked.
A broad smile crossed Theo's face. He opened his eyes to reveal sea green orbs that almost glowed with happiness. "It's beautiful here and I can feel the demigods at camp. So many in one place was unheard of in my time."
Percy nodded. "Come on, I'll show you our home." Theseus grinned at the sound of the word home. He nodded and followed his brother up the hill to the tall pine tree.
The two demigods passed the through the magical border of camp and stood on the hill looking down upon the camp.
"It's more beautiful than I imagined," Theo said.
"It's the best place for demigods." Percy grinned at the sight of his home and all the campers that walked around. "Come on let's go see Chiron." Theseus nodded with a wry smile on his face.
As Percy and Theseus walked through camp many of the campers said their hellos to the son of Poseidon while they shot curious glances at Theseus. None had ever seen a demigod in their mid-twenties before. Percy smiled as he wondered what they would do when they found out the truth.
The two sons of Poseidon walked quickly toward the Big House. They climbed up the wrap around porch before Percy knocked on the door. Chiron called for him to enter. Percy opened the door and the two stepped inside.
"Percy, welcome back," Chiron yelled, but his voice faltered when he saw the man standing at Percy's side. "Theseus"
Theseus stepped forward. Chiron was in his wheel chair, but Theseus knew the face of his old teacher. "Chiron… you old horse." Theo smiled broadly at his old teacher before the smile shifted into a curious expression. "Speaking of the horse… a… where is your horse's ass?"
Chiron was happier than Percy had ever seen him before, but when Theo asked about his horse's rear Chiron's face turned crimson. "This is a special contraption. Let's just say that it's a… hidden from view." Chiron turned back to Percy. "So, this is what the quest was about. You brought back your brother."
Theo smiled. "The Fates brought me back old friend. Percy just happened to free me from Prometheus and his monsters."
Chiron nodded. "Well it is certainly good to see you Theseus."
Percy smiled. "I call him Theo," he exclaimed. Theseus rolled his eyes.
Chiron grinned wickedly. "Theo huh, I like it."
Theseus shook his head. "I might as well get used to it," he replied sarcastically.
"The Fates must need help if they brought you back, but why did you accept?" Chiron asked.
Theseus's face darkened. "They gave me a second chance. I can make amends for what I did," he replied.
Chiron frowned. "No one blames you. Medea had you under her spell," he said. Percy listened closely. Annabeth had read to him about Theseus and he understood that Chiron was talking about the affair with Medea that led to his wife Hippolyta's death and the death of their son Hippolytus.
Theseus nodded, but Percy could tell it was a reluctant gesture. "Some would argue with you," he commented. Chiron sighed.
Percy cleared his throat. Chiron and Theseus both looked at him curiously. "Can I take Theo to our cabin, and then give him a tour of camp?" Percy asked.
Chiron's serious expression faded. He looked up at Percy with a broad smile. "A good idea Percy," Chiron began. The old Centaur's smile shifted to a mischievous one. "Theo it's good to see you again."
Theseus shook his head as Percy pulled him out of the Big House. The two brothers walked toward cabin number three. Percy smiled at the low, long and solid building made of grey stone. Theseus smiled when he saw the pieces of sea shell and coral imbedded in the walls. Percy opened the door to the cabin and the walls inside glowed like abalone. The cabin smelt like sea salt and the fountain stood in the back of the cabin emitting a fine mist into the air. Theseus's smiled widened as he took in the interior of the cabin. He looked out the windows and saw the ocean in the distance.
"What do you think?" Percy asked.
Theseus just walked around the cabin in a daze. He marveled at the feel of the place. "It feels like home," he said as a broad smile stretched across his face.
Percy grinned at his brother's words. "I know." Percy placed his bag on his bunk and sat down.
Theseus continued to look around the place. He turned toward his brother and said, "Which bunk is mine?"
There were six bunks in the room. Percy's was in one corner and a larger bunk was in the opposite corner. "That's Tyson's bunk," Percy said as he pointed toward the large bunk in the other corner. "You can take any of the others."
Theseus nodded before he sat down on a bunk across the room from his brother's. "I'll take this one," he said as he leaned back on the bunk. "Are we going for that tour now?"
Percy jumped up and clapped his hands together. "Sure, let's start with the other cabins."
Theseus stood and followed his little brother out of the cabin and around the horseshoe group of cabins. Theseus noticed other cabins under construction. "What's going on here?" he asked.
Percy grinned. "These are the cabins for the minor gods," he said.
Theseus looked toward a pitch black cabin that was under construction close to the horseshoe group of cabins. "Which cabin is that?" he asked.
Percy grinned. "That's the Hades cabin. The gods agreed to respect Hades and also build cabins for the minor gods."
"Why is that?" Theseus questioned.
Percy's crooked grin spread across his face. "They wanted to reward me for my help during the war, so I asked for them to respect the other gods and to claim their children by the time they are thirteen years old."
Theseus listened curiously. "You did a good thing there Perce," Theseus said.
"Thanks, I didn't want demigods to never be claimed. They deserve at least that much from their parents," Percy replied. Theseus nodded.
Percy led his brother passed the cabins. Percy stopped in front of a grey building with an owl carved over the door. When Theseus saw the owl he frowned. "Why are we here?" Theo asked.
Percy looked at his brother worriedly. "This is Annabeth's cabin; I was going to check to see if she was here," he said.
Theseus nodded. "Can we finish the tour first?" Theo asked. Percy looked at the cabin again, and then sighed. "Okay, I'll take you to the sword fighting arena." Theseus smiled as Percy led him away from the Athena cabin. They walked to the armory first, Percy opened the door and the two brothers stepped inside. The old armory was filled with all types of weapons, but Theseus had his eyes peeled for two weapons; a sword and a club. He analyzed the shelves of weapons before he saw the glint of celestial bronze. Most weapons in the armory were made of the material, but this sword sat perched on the top of a pile of weapons near the ceiling of the armory. Theseus looked around the floor until his eyes fell upon a ladder. He picked it up and propped it up against the shelves.
"Did you find something?" Percy asked curiously.
Theseus smiled at his brother. "Maybe"
Theseus climbed the ladder until he was in front of the sword. He pulled on the handle of the blade, but it was stuck. Theseus pulled harder before a large celestial bronze club rolled forward. Theo caught the club and the sword before they could fall off the shelf. Theo held the club first; he smiled as he recognized his old weapon. The leather strap was still attached. He marveled at how the weapon could be in such good shape for being thousands of years old. Theo strapped the club to his back. He picked up the sword and looked at the blade. On the side of the blade was the royal symbol of Athens, an owl with an olive branch in its mouth. Theseus's mind was flooded with memories. He closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths. He searched the top shelf until he found a leather scabbard for the sword. He strapped the scabbard around his waist before he sheathed the sword. He climbed down the ladder and faced his little brother.
"A sword I can understand, but what about the club?" Percy asked.
Theo smiled as he patted the club on his back. "An old spoil of battle," he began. He took out the club and swung the weapon in the air. "You'd be surprised when a club comes in handy." He strapped the club to his back again and stepped out of the armory. "Are we going to the arena or not?"
Percy chuckled. "Sure," he said as he led the way next door. They both walked into the arena. A dozen kids with blonde hair and grey eyes were practicing. Theseus frowned at the sight of so many children of Athena. "Malcolm, over here."
Malcolm Stewart, the second in command of the Athena cabin sheathed his sword. He gave a few orders to his siblings before he jogged over to Percy and Theseus. He gave Percy a short nod before his gaze rested on the eldest son of Poseidon. "Who's this?"
Percy grinned at the question. "You know my solo quest, right?" he asked.
Malcolm nodded. "Of course, it was the only solo quest in over a thousand years. I can't…" Malcolm began before Percy cut him off.
"Malcolm, this is my brother Theseus," Percy said.
Malcolm's mouth dropped in shock. "Like the ancient hero Theseus?" he asked.
Theseus rolled his eyes. "Yeah kid, the eldest son of Poseidon," he said with a bit of resentment in his voice. Percy eyed his brother curiously.
Malcolm looked a little unnerved by Theseus's tone. "Sorry, I didn't mean to upset you," he said.
"Do you think you could get your cabin to exit the arena floor?" Theseus said stiffly as he gestured between Percy and himself.
Malcolm nodded once he realized what Theseus was asking him. "Sorry, we were just finishing up," he said before he ran off to lead his cabin out of the arena.
Percy looked at his brother with a stern expression on his face. "Are you feeling okay?" Percy asked.
"I'm fine; I just want to practice," Theseus replied.
Percy sighed deeply. He knew something was wrong, but he could tell that Theseus wouldn't explain. "Okay, we'll practice."
The two sons of Poseidon stood in the center of the arena with their swords in hand. Clarisse and a few other campers sat in the bleachers. They watched the two siblings closely.
Theseus bowed his head toward Perseus; Percy mimicked the gesture. Percy lunged forward with the point of Riptide aimed toward his brother's chest. The strike was quick and deadly, but Theseus was too fast. He spun out of the way and swung his own sword in an arc that nearly cut his brother in half. Percy moved quickly, but he now understood how good his older brother really was.
Percy concentrated on his inner power. He remembered the training with his brother. His ADHD would help in the fight, but would it be enough, Percy wondered.
The two brothers regained their composure and so their stand-off was renewed. Percy jabbed his sword forward with an experimental strike. Theseus slapped the strike away with the edge of his sword. Percy recovered quickly; he gave a wry smile to his brother. He faked to the left with a slash from his sword before he spun to the right with his sword in a wide arc. The blade passed over Theseus's head as he ducked out of the way. Theseus pushed his leg forward toward Percy's shin. Percy jumped over the kicked and jabbed his sword forward toward his brother's side. Theseus caught the edge of the blade and began a move that Percy knew well. Percy responded in kind as he spun his own sword. The two swords struck together, but the usual disarmament of one opponent was replaced with both swords falling to the floor of the arena with a loud clang.
Theseus looked at his little brother with a surprised expression on his face.
"I know that move as well bro," Percy said.
Theseus grinned at his little brother. "Good, because I invented it," he said.
Percy shook his head. "I should have known," Percy replied. He looked down at his forearm and frowned. A small cut was on his arm, blood dripped onto the floor. Percy watched the blood with a shocked expression on his face. Theseus felt a little sorry for his brother; he knew there would be a little adjustment period for him when he lost the Achilles' Curse. Theseus put his hand on his brother's shoulder. Percy looked into his brother's sea green eyes. "I'm okay; it's just going to take some time to get used to it."
"What's wrong Prissy, did you hurt your pride?" Clarisse asked mockingly before she walked toward the two brothers. When she saw the blood on the ground she realized that Percy had been injured. "How?"
Percy sighed as he ran his hand through his hair. "I lost the curse," he said. Clarisse stood in front of him in shock. "I had to free my brother." Percy motioned toward Theseus.
When Percy said brother Clarisse turned toward Theseus slack jawed. "Brother?" she asked.
"Theseus, son of Poseidon," he said. Clarisse's eyes grew big when she heard the name. "You must be a daughter of Ares."
Clarisse cleared her throat. "You have a problem with that?" she asked with her eyes narrowed.
Theseus's grin widened. "No, your dad and I go way back," he said.
Screams from outside the sword arena drew everyone's attention. "What's going on?" Clarisse yelled as she ran for the door. Percy and Theseus were close behind her. They reached the center of the horseshoe of cabins. In the center of the horseshoe stood a very familiar Cyclops with an equally familiar minor god in his arms. Tyson looked bruised and battered, but the minor god looked worse. His usual blue skin was almost a chalky white.
"Tyson," Percy yelled as he ran to his little brother's side.
Theseus remembered the name, but he was too shocked to look at the Cyclops because the minor god in his Cyclops brother's arms was none other than Triton, the heir to the throne of Atlantis. "Triton," Theseus yelled as he joined his brother. Little did Theseus know that this was the beginning of the second phase of the prophecy; a beginning to events that would change his life and that of his brother's forever.
AN: Another chapter done. This a little similar to the previous story, but it will become increasingly different as the chapters go on, so stay tuned.