Disclaimer: I do not own any characters from the Percy Jackson series. All rights remain to Rick Riordan.
Jesse
I kicked a stone as I walked through the forest. Why is Themis so expectant of me? Sure, that running fast thing was cool. Somehow I "pushed" myself forward through time. So every thing seemed slower and I was able to react to everything faster.
But I can't be a leader. I'll just let everyone down.
"I believe in you big brother."
That voice sent chills down my spine. It can't be…
I turned to see myself facing a ten year old girl. She had my black hair but it was longer for a girl. Her eyes were a golden hazel. She wore the same thing she had on the day she died. A yellow sun sweater and shirt with jeans. She had on that weird combination of socks and sandals. Her smile was the thing that tore out my heart.
"Jenna?" I called.
"Yes, big brother?"
"Am I…are you…"
Jenna reached her hand out but something seemed to push it back.
"You need to save me. Find me and you will be able to release dad."
"What? Kronos?"
"Save me!" Jenna yelled. Her body became blurry and was fading quickly.
"No!" I reached out to her but I was too late. Jenna was gone like she was an illusion.
I fell to my knees. My baby sister. The one I killed…
"You really need to get a grip."
A turned to see a guy standing casually behind me. He was older than me at about two years with black hair that fell onto his face like a split waterfall and sea green eyes. He had on a blue windbreaker and regular running shorts.
Seeing my dead sister was still bothering me. I had to calm down before tears came into my eyes.
"What?" I asked trying to be a little more casual. "First of all, who are you?"
"It's okay," the guy said. "I know you won't go fan girl on me. I know you know me."
I blinked. "Not really."
The guy looked at me with surprise. "Come on! I have seven popular teen books about myself and a hit movie with a sequel coming out soon! You know me! My last book was named after me: The Son of Neptune!"
I thought about it. "Harry Potter?"
"Percy Jackson," the guy corrected.
Didn't Themis mention a Percy Jackson?
"I honestly don't know you."
Percy scowled. "You suck eggrolls."
"Hey! I'm allergic to eggrolls."
"What are you? Son of Apollo? Please don't say Ares."
I shook my head. "Son of Kronos."
"Demititan scum!" Percy yelled randomly.
"Hey, watch it."
"Come at me bro!" Percy said taking out a pen. "I'm ready for you."
I bit back a laugh. "You want to defend yourself with…a pen? Classic."
Percy uncapped his pen in a split second it grew into a three foot long leaf-shaped blade. It grew in the forest with a faint glow from its bronze.
My jaw dropped. "Listen Percy, I don't want to fight. Can't we take a nice walk by the creek?"
Percy definitely came at me. He did an overhead slash and I ducked. I rolled to the left and took off running.
"Coward!" Percy yelled after me.
Something in me made me stop. I remembered Jenna and how she was depending on me to save her.
My baby sister needs me, I thought. I messed up with her but now here's a chance to fix everything. I need to be better and stronger.
I turned back to Percy Jackson. "Percy, we live in a society where honor is everything."
Percy shrugged. "We also live in a society where pizza gets to your house before the police from personal experience."
I stood in a dramatic fighting pose. "Prepare for defeat!"
I super sped to Percy. I jumped up and came back down punching him with a good right hook.
Percy fell back into a tree and leaves rained down around us. He smiled and came at me with his sword. He slashed and hacked but with my super speed I was able to dodge his attacks.
Suddenly, things began to change. The wind picked up and water slashed in my face like I was walking through a storm. Lightning flashed at my side.
"What the peach fuzz?" I yelled over the howling wind.
Percy smiled like he was enjoying my fear of the storm. I realized that Percy had created his own personal hurricane.
"Who is your parent? Oceanus or are you Tyler's Titan brother?"
Percy continued to smile. "Neither."
The force of his hurricane was too much. I was lifted off my feet and was thrown back almost thirty feet. I landed hard on the moist soil near a small creek.
Percy stepped out of the forest calmly. His hurricane was already gone.
"Try harder son of Kronos."
I got up to my feet. "You want me to whoop your butt? Fine!"
"I lead my friends to victory. Can the same be said for you?"
"Of course! I have purpose to fight!" I said thinking of Jenna.
"What about Vanessa and Tyler?" Percy asked. "Aren't they your comrades?"
I thought about it. I finally feel like I belong to a proper place. Being with Tyler and Vanessa feels…right. I felt guilty for leaving them. I let down Jenna once. But I won't do the same to my friends.
"Yes, I will return to them. I will bring down the gods!"
Percy frowned. "Why does that bother me? Whatever," he shrugged. He leapt into the air and brought down his sword on the mud where I used to be.
We ran at each other for one final clash. The part where it will be decided who will be the victor.
"Stop!" Percy yelled. For some reason, I listened.
"This is dangerous," Percy pointed out. "It's muddy and one of us could slip, smashing their head into a rock. Or even fall into the creek."
I nodded. "I agree. Where do we continue this battle?"
Percy shook his head. "You found your purpose in this war. Well, a temporary one but still motivating. Your friends are counting on you. One last thing, I'm a son of Poseidon."
Everything around me began to dissolve into bubbles, even Percy himself.
I opened my eyes to a new place. I was back in the forest just after I kicked the stone.
"So Jesse, have you found your resolve?"
I turned to Themis. This was her plan. Everything was an illusion. That made me angry…again.
"How dare you use my sister on me!"
Themis gave a look of confusion. "Come again?"
"My sister, Jenna," I repeated.
Themis continued to look clueless. "You have a sister? My illusion was only the famous fictional character Percy Jackson."
Even an immortal couldn't have pulled off looking like a clueless badger. Themis can't be faking. My anger disappeared and hope filled me up.
I will save you Jenna, I thought to myself as a silent promise. I'm sorry for what I did, but I will things right.
Jenna even mentioned bringing back our dad, Kronos.
"Themis, there's something you need to know."
