CHAPTER SIX
THE GREAT RACE OF THE HOOVES
We must act immediately!" said Athena, looking around at us.
I was still a little shocked at what I'd just seen. It took a jolt from Thalia to get my mind back on track.
"You must leave here." said Hades.
"Don't worry Hades, we'll make our visit finished." snipped Athena.
"Good-bye," said Persephone, swiftly hugging Sarissa.
"Be careful." said Sarissa.
"You as well," she replied.
Hades gave us a cold, deathly stare. He turned on his heel and headed off toward his palace. Persephone followed.
Athena raised her arms. My vision began to get blurry and when I blinked we were standing in the lobby of DOA Studios. Charon and Dr. Chase were in a deep discussion.
"...bodies everywhere." Charon was saying.
"Really?" intrigued Dr. Chase. "How many would you say? Civil War texts aren't very accurate."
"About a couple hundred easy." said Charon.
"Frederick," said Athena.
Dr. Chase turned around and saw Athena, standing next to Annabeth.
"Annabeth!" he cried.
Annabeth ran into her father's arms.
"Hi dad!" she exclaimed.
"Your okay," he said, breaking the hug. He looked at me, Thalia, and Sarissa. "Thank you."
"No problem, sir." I said.
"Hello, Frederick." said Athena.
Dr. Chase's eyes went unfocused for a moment and came back when he realized who he was looking at.
"A-A-Athena," he said breathlessly.
It looked as though they were about to have one of those soft romantic moments.
"What are we going to do now?" interjected Sarissa, absentmindedly.
"You all will go back to Camp. The second war begins on Percy's birthday, which is dangerous to say, is only in one week. The first of August. You must begin preparing the campers." said Athena, registering herself again. "Hades and Persephone will begin to raise your dead army. We're going to need them."
"How will we get back to Camp, mom?" asked Annabeth.
"These," said Athena, opening her hand. In her palm were four white marble spheres. "Use them to get to New York."
She gave each of us a sphere.
"Leave this place, heroes. And safe journey." said Athena. She gave us a nod and a smile. She looked at Dr. Chase and it seemed some type of goddess-like understanding passed between them. Then, she began to glow. We looked away as she turned into her true form and when the light died, Athena was gone.
"Bye, dad." said Annabeth, kissing him swiftly on the cheek.
"Bye, dear, be careful." said Dr. Chase, misty eyed.
"Always," answered Annabeth.
"Better put these to some use." said Thalia, looking at her sphere. She threw it at the ground and she vanished behind a puff of white smoke. Sarissa and Annabeth followed her example.
I looked at the sphere for a second and then threw mine at the ground too. A puff of white smoke rose upward. It began to surround my entire body, until all I was looking at was nothing. Smoke was all around. But, just as quick as the smoke came, it left. I blinked twice and saw that I was standing at the base of Half-Blood Hill.
Sarissa and Thalia headed up. Annabeth and I waited for a moment.
"I can't believe it's really happening." said Annabeth.
The sun was slowly rising.
"Yeah," I responded.
She took my hand and gripped it.
"Percy, I'm so scared."
I wanted to say I was too, but it got lost in between my throat and my mouth.
"It's gonna be okay. I promise."
She giggled.
"You should know better then to make any promises." she said. Obviously, she was talking about the promise I'd made to Nico about protecting Bianca. I was slightly irritated at the remainder, but hey.
Together, we headed up Half-Blood Hill. The baby dragon was sleeping in the highest branches of Thalia's pine and the Golden Fleece, glittered on the lower branch. It was sparkling in the rising sunlight. We crossed the boundary line and looked down upon the Camp. No one was awake. Everything was still and silent. We crept across the lawn and over to the Cabins. I kissed Annabeth and we went our separate ways. Sarissa waved good-bye and headed into Cabin Four. Thalia looked troubled.
"What's up?" I asked her.
"I don't which Cabin I should sleep in." she said, glancing at Cabin One and Eight. "I mean, I am a daughter of Zeus, but I'm also a Hunter of Artemis. So, which one should I choose?"
"Your dad's," I answered.
"Huh? Why?" she said, a little taken aback.
"Well you wouldn't be here if it wasn't for him, biologically speaking." I said.
"'Biologically speaking'?" repeated Thalia.
"Science," I said, feeling rather dumb that Thalia just tried to down play my intelligence.
"Thanks, Percy." said Thalia, heading off to Cabin One. She turned around just as she'd reached the door. "You'll do fine."
"Thanks, Thalia." I said, opening the door to Cabin Three. All I remembered after that was falling asleep on my bunk and being awoke the next minute by someone poking me in the shoulder.
"I'm almost up mom." I mumbled.
"Mrs. Jackson and I look nothing a lot. She doesn't have goat feet." said a familiar voice. I recognized it as Grover just as I opened my eyes.
I sat up in my bed and gave Grover a high five.
"What's up, man?" I said. "How've you been?"
"Tired, scared, and more scared, but fine though." he answered.
"How's your work in the wild with Pan?" I asked. I remember getting an Iris message back at the end of winter that Grover and Pan were heading out into the world, to clean it up a bit. I have to say they did a good job. I hadn't seen or felt any kind of water pollution.
"Its cool." said Grover. "The satyrs, nymphs, and dryads are so happy to have him back. We're even going to have the Centennial Race!"
"Centennial Race?" I said, puzzled.
"The race where a satyr can marry a nymph. It happens twice ever century. Most satyrs don't participant because they don't have the energy to catch a nymph. But I am. You know nymphs are hard to catch. So, if you catch one, you get to marry her and she falls in love with you for eternity. The first try is always the hardest. My daddy-goat was the first satyr to ever catch a nymph on the first try."
"When is it happening?" I asked.
"This afternoon. The second race is tomorrow."
"Good luck." I said, still a little puzzled. "Did I miss breakfast again?"
"Yeah," said Grover. "But tell me about last night. I want all the details. But, could you leave the scary bits out?"
I told him basically everything and everything that was going to happen on my birthday. And of course, I left no scary parts out.
"I guess now it's time for you to talk with Chiron." said Grover.
"Talk with him about what?" I asked.
"The prophecies," said Grover. "You know, the one about you turning sixteen and his prophecy."
I'd almost forgotten.
I got showered and got dressed. I glimpsed Mr. D as I walked past the Big House. Some of the Apollo kids, including the Cabin Head, Erica Portman were making arrows and practicing archery. I guess the word had been spread about the Titans being released. Charles Beckendorf and some of the campers were locked away inside of the Armory making and sharpening as many blades as possible. Silena Beauregard was brushing her hair by the lake, sitting on a log, and looking into a jeweled mirror. It had ancient symbols on it----Ancient Greek. I walked over to her.
"Oh, hi, Percy." she said brightly, setting aside her brush.
"Hi, Silena. I was just looking at that mirror your holding."
"It's gorgeous, isn't it?!" said Silena.
I didn't think gorgeous was the right word.
"It's a gift from mother." said Silena. "The Mirror of Evol. The might of this mirror can trump an army. She told me it has amazing and secret powers."
"Cool," I said. I walked away from her and almost ran into Sarissa, holding a wooden stick.
"There arriving, Percy!" said Sarissa, holding up the stick.
"What?" I said, dumbfounded.
"Gifts from the Olympians." she answered. She pointed at a chariot, littered with swords, axes, crossbows, bows, javelins, spears, and arrows. "They've given all the Heads gifts and a ship load of weapons for us to use. My mom sent me this. It's called the Eidos Wand. Cool, huh? Watch this." Sarissa waved the wand and pointed at the ground. A bright green light ignited on the end and a rock formation erupted. It rose about four feet and stopped growing.
"Whoa," I said. I put my hand in my pocket and felt my dad's gift, Riptide. It made me feel good the Olympians were reaching out to their heroes.
As I walked through Camp, I saw Clarisse teaching battle tactics with some of the less experienced campers. The Stoll brothers had come over and the next minute, Clarisse was chasing them away with a sword. I walked on and found the centaur just near the entrance to the Woods, watching.
"Hello Percy," said Chiron, as I approached.
"Hi," I replied.
"The time looms upon us Percy. It is almost here."
"Yeah, one week from now."
"What are your plans?" he asked.
"Plans?" I hadn't thought about any plan. I just thought about saving and keeping as many people alive as I could. If you call that a plan, well, it's a plan.
"Your plans for the war. You are waging it now you have chosen the side of the Olympians." said Chiron.
"I know," I said. "But I hadn't really thought about stuff like that."
"I'll make a small suggestion and say that you should consult the Oracle."
"I was thinking of that." I said. It wasn't all true, but I had been thinking about prophecies and destiny. Who else to answer it all but the Oracle in her cryptic prophesied way.
"The Oracle has many answers." he said.
"Speaking of prophecies, Chiron, are you ever going to tell me yours?"
"Of course," he answered. "It's now time that I told you everything, Percy. From start to finish." He knelt and I sat Indian style on the ground in front of him.
"After the Titan-Olympian War was over, the Olympians continued on their lives in the Western Civilization. At that time it was in Greece. It wasn't until 1930s, did the Olympians----meaning Zeus, Hades, and Poseidon make their oath. You see, your father, Poseidon, went to see Nereus. Nereus told your father that the Titans would someday return. It was then that the three elder gods consulted Phoebe and the Oracle."
"Phoebe?" I repeated.
"Phoebe, the Titaness who could see the future. She had great seeing abilities before she went into the mortal world. She foresaw the Titans return and it wasn't until the Oracle was consulted did everyone hear the prophecy. The prophecy of the child of the Big Three Gods. This is the prophecy:
A decision a child will have to make
Great courage and wisdom is what it shall take
Beware the words I have spoken to thee
For this child will decide if Titan or Olympian shall rule free
A child of the three elder gods is what I have foreseen
The fate of the Olympians rests on their shoulders when that child turns sixteen
"A prophecy, as you can see, referencing either a son or daughter of Zeus, Poseidon, or Hades. You have taken on the responsibility of the prophecy. Your destiny and the prophecy shall intertwine together."
"What do you mean by that?" I asked.
"It means that everything you do henceforth shall be connected to the prophecy."
"But what does that have to do with your prophecy?" I asked.
"My prophecy intertwines with your destiny. It's no coincidence we met, Percy. My prophecy states:
You shall train the greatest hero of the age
Beginning with Latin and Greek myths from each page
He shall be greater then all the rest
And with your help shall be the very best
"No way," I said. I couldn't believe it. I couldn't believe it. I couldn't believe it. I just couldn't believe what he'd just said. He could tell that I was in shock and laughed.
"Yes, Percy, my prophecy means you----you are the hero I shall train of my prophecy." said Chiron.
"I'll be the best hero?" I repeated. There had to be some mistake. It was comical. It was ridiculous. Well, in my life time, a lot of people have called me ridiculous, but that's not the point! I'll be the best hero of the ages! That's super cool and super depressing. Cool, because who wouldn't want to be the greatest hero! Depressing, because what if I let everybody down and someone ends up getting killed because of me acting the hero.
"Yes," said Chiron. "You shall wage the greatest war in history and it is no doubts in my mind you shall succeed and have eternal glory as a hero by unlocking the zenith."
Chiron's prophecies were on my mind all day. I couldn't concentrate on anything and sent a Demeter kid to the Infirmary by accidentally shooting an arrow at them. When it was time for lunch, just as we were going inside, I pulled Annabeth, Grover, Sarissa, and Thalia aside to tell them about the prophecies.
"You?!" said Thalia, cracking up. "The greatest hero?" She continued to laugh.
"It's not funny, Thalia." said Sarissa, coolly. "Percy makes a wonderful hero." She took my hand, but I quickly dropped it. She felt it too and Annabeth's gray eyes bore into my green ones. I gave a sheepish smile that didn't go over to well.
"That's awesome!" said Grover. "I always knew Percy was awesome. I'm so glad I'm your best friend." He began to tear up.
"Grover, man, you don't have to cry." I said.
"I know," said Grover, sniffing. "I know, it's just so awesome."
"When's the race Grover?" asked Annabeth, changing the subject.
"After lunch," he said, registering himself again. "Look at them."
He nodded his head over to a group of tall, beautiful teenage girls. They looked like Olympic track runners. One of them, I could tell Grover was watching, was more beautiful then the others. She had long curly shiny blond hair like the sun. She had a warm and kind face, along with greenish-blue eyes that told the secrets of nature.
"That's Rose," said Grover, obviously in love. "She's so into nature."
"Didn't you say that about Artemis?" asked Thalia.
"Yeah," said Grover, breathlessly, "she is too."
We ate lunch and then headed down to the old chariot racing track for the Centennial Race. The group of nature girls stood at the race line. A group of satyrs, including Grover stepped up to the boundary line behind them. Annabeth, Thalia, Sarissa, and I sat up in the stands, watching. The Lord Pan appeared out of thin air and a large smile spread across his face. Applause rang from every corner of the stands. Pan raised a hand for silence and spoke.
"I just would like to say thank-you once again to the brave heroes who I have brought me back; Perseus, Annabeth, Sarissa, and Clarisse. And with a special thank-you to my dear satyr, Grover Underwood." More applause exploded and I saw Clarisse with a big grin on her face.
"Now, the Centennial Race will begin in a minute. I would just like to take the time to talk to you all. As you know, the Titans have returned to Mount Othyrs. It is now your job as the heroes to protect your mortal world, while the Olympians and myself figure out strategic plan of attack. But in the mean time, let us BEGIN!" He bellowed the last word. He snapped his fingers. It was a loud clear echoing snap. Almost like a gun shot. It looked as though he was about to summon the Mist. At that moment, the nature girls and the satyrs raced.
Grover explained to me that you had to make it back to the boundary line before the nymph did. I was watching with sadness on my face. Grover was falling behind. He wasn't the fastest runner and with hooves made it worst. His competition, on the other hand, was gaining speed by the second. He was continuing to fall behind. One of the satyrs, a boy named Mikell, caught a beautiful nymph named Chloe around the waste. She smiled at Mikell and even kissed him right there.
Rose was in the lead and had dodged a nerdy looking satyr. She jumped into the air, did a fantastic tumble, and kept running. She ran and did a hop and a twirl over the boundary line. Grover looked miserable and he gave up. He fell to the ground, just as three more satyrs caught three beautiful nature girls.
