A/N: Anyone who wants to do a story where the characters read 'The Legacy of Athena and Hermes' series is allowed to do so as long as they tell me before hand.
In this chapter and the next chapter there will be parts based off of SoulReaperCrewe's Son of the Huntress: The Lightning Thief
I don't own Percy Jackson series or Naruto series, or any of the characters of either series. Nor am I the writer of the Son of the Huntress series
Warning: Read these stories if you haven't before reading this story:
'The Legacy of Athena and Hermes: The Lightning Thief'
'The Legacy of Athena and Hermes: The Sea of Monsters'
'The Legacy of Athena and Hermes: The Titan's Curse'
I do not own the Percy Jackson or the Naruto series nor do I own or any other fanfics that inspired some of the scenes in the stories.
Do not forget to vote on the poll if you haven't for the story you want me to update next month. Every month there is a new poll with four new stories and one story that lost the previous month's poll
Naruto Meets the Three Bodied Rancher
They finally stopped in a room full of waterfalls. The floor was one big pit, ringed by slippery stone walkway. Around them, on all four walls, water tumbled from huge pipes. The water spilled down into the pit, which even with the flashlights they couldn't see the bottom of.
Briares slumped against the wall. He scooped up water in a dozen hands and washed his face. "This pit goes straight to Tartarus," he murmured. "I should jump in and save you trouble."
Although Naruto wanted to stop Briares, he had the urge to back away from the pit. Two years ago, he and Grover came close to having a one way ticket into Tartarus when a pair of winged sneakers Grover was wearing dragged them to the underworld entrance, and Naruto didn't want to come close to going there again. Naruto looked at Grover and saw an expression that told him their satyr friend didn't want to risk it either.
"Don't talk that way," Annabeth told Briares. "You can come back to camp with us. You can help us prepare. You know more about fighting Titans than anybody."
"I have nothing to offer," Briares said. "I have lost everything."
"So you're going to disappear from the world without trying to find a new purpose?" Naruto asked. "Your brothers maybe gone, but you are still here. You can still have a purpose in life. Stop being a coward and go out and find it! Otherwise that loneliness you're feeling will win!"
Percy Annabeth and Grover stood back in complete silence as they had a sinking feeling what Naruto just said was something he told others and maybe even himself many times before. After all, it's no secret to them that the fate of a Jinchuriki is often a fate of loneliness.
Briares must of realized the truth between Naruto's words too as his expression morphed to shame. He turned and trudged off down the corridor until he was lost in the shadows.
Tyson sobbed as Naruto patted him on the back. "Don't worry about it big guy. Even heroes can lose their way after losing hope, but that doesn't mean you should," Naruto told Tyson.
Annabeth stood and shouldered her backpack. "Come on, guys. This pit is making me nervous. Let's find a better place to camp for the night. Hinata, lead the way."
Hinata led the to a corridor made of huge marble blocks. It looked like it could've been part of a Greek tomb, with bronze torch holders fasten to the walls. Annabeth saw it as a good sign as she still cling to the hope that the workshop was at the oldest part of the Labyrinth.
"Well, if it's not, we can always ask Hephaestus," Naruto pointed out, reminding everyone of his theory that if Daedalus was still alive, he could of modernize that area of the Labyrinth.
Despite the fact that Naruto didn't have good encounters with some of Hephaestus' machines, the thought of meeting the God of Forge peaked Naruto's interest. After all, from what Naruto heard from Cabin 9, and what he read, Hephaestus wasn't the kind of god that let anyone pushes him around because of how deformed he was when he was born. Not even from his brother Ares and wife Aphrodite. Something even Naruto can't help but respect.
Soon Grover Tyson and Hinata were asleep, leaving Annabeth Percy and Naruto awake.
"Thanks Naruto," Percy said, "For what you said to Tyson earlier."
Naruto shrugged. "It isn't a big deal. I just wish I was able to convince Briares to help us."
"He may of not join us, but you at least convince him not to jump into Tartarus," Annabeth explained. "If he'd done that, he might as well be gone from the world for good. Even with no logic to this place, at least here Briares can go back to the mortal world if he choose."
"Maybe this is how Nico disappeared from camp," Percy said. "He found the Labyrinth. Then he found a path that led down even farther—to the Underworld. But now he's back in the maze. He's coming after me."
"I doubt he's after you," Naruto explained. "Sure your birth is against Poseidon's oath, but you're not suppose to be dead either."
"Then who could he be after?" Percy asked.
"I don't know, maybe someone from the sound village," Naruto said. "After all, we don't know how many of those ninjas were part of Orochimaru's experiments, nor do we know what kind of experiments he used."
Eventually they fall asleep and Naruto and perc y dreamed they were back in Daedalus Labyrinth, which means Naruto was taking part of Daedalus.
Obviously Daedalus had turned his prison into a workshop. The tables were littered with measuring instruments. A forge burned red hot in the corner. The boy Naruto looked after as Daedalus in the last dream was stoking the bellows, except he was taller now, almost Percy's age. A weird funnel device was attached to the forge's chimney, trapping the smoke and heat and channeling it through a pipe into the floor, next to a big bronze manhole cover.
It was daytime. The sky above was blue, but the walls of the maze cast deep shadows across the workshop. After being in tunnels so long, Naruto was shock to see any part of the Labyrinth that open to the sky. Somehow that made the maze seem like an even crueler place. Naruto saw Percy at a corner of the room where he could see everything.
Judging from what Naruto could see of himself, he was sickly, and terribly thin. Naruto's hands were raw and red from working. Judging from the hair over his eyes, his hair was white. His tunic was smudged with grease. Naruto was bent over a table, working on some kind of long metal patch-work—like a swath of chain mail. Naruto picked up a delicate curl of bronze and fitted it into place.
"Done. It's done." Naruto said, which he took as Daedalus word for it as Naruto normally wasn't the greatest at forging. It's one of the reasons why he often asked Beckendorf from Hephaestus cabin to make him something.
Naruto picked up Daedalus' project. It was so beautiful, Naruto's heart leaped—metal wings constructed from thousands of interlocking bronze feathers. There were two sets. One still lay on the table. Naruto stretched the frame, and the wings expanded to twenty feet. Too normal eyes, it look like something that wouldn't get off the ground, as it was too heavy, but looking at it, Naruto got a feeling Daedalus designed it to do just that, and Naruto knew better than anyone not to question what is normally the impossible. After all, he's willing to defy the impossible at a daily notice.
I wonder if it's the blood of Hermes in me, Naruto wondered. After all, grandpa Hermes is known for defying odds.
The boy left the bellows and ran over to see. He grinned, despite the act he was grimy and sweaty. "Father, you're a genius!"
Naruto smiled. "Tell me something I don't know, Icarus. Now hurry. It will take at least an hour to attach them. Come."
For once Naruto was all to happy that Daedalus has command as he was just curious how Daedalus plan to make it work. Although at this point Naruto started getting an idea what exactly was going on, as he remember reading something like this, but Naruto knew seeing it is totally different from reading about it. Not to mention, if these wings really work, Naruto will finally be able to fly.
Ever since Naruto flew on a plane two years ago, Naruto felt slightly jealous of his aunts and uncles of Cabin Eleven who get winged shoes from Hermes as it meant they can fly without mortal transportation, and wondered what it's like to fly with wings of his own. But Naruto knew his grandparents won't give him his own winged shoes as they want him to work on his own jutsus and improve his ninja skills.
Not to mention this is only a dream vision, Naruto thought. I bet if I can get my hands on wings like this and figure out how to integrate my wind style jutsus to these kind not only could I fly, but my wind style jutsus would be stronger too. Maybe even as strong as Temari's.
With that thought in mind, Naruto started picturing how he can create tornadoes with his wind style jutsus with just a wave of his wings. Something even Athena and Hermes couldn't argue against if it was possible.
Unaware what was going on, Percy watch as Daedalus form flickered to Naruto for a second, but long enough for Percy to see a familiar glint in Naruto's eyes.
Naruto is up to something again, Percy thought with a sigh.
Fortunately, Icarus broke Naruto out of his train of thought "You first."
Naruto protested, which meant Daedalus protested, but Icarus insisted. "You made them, Father. You should get the honor of wearing them first."
The boy attached a leather harness to Naruto's chest, like climbing gear, with straps that ran rom his shoulders to his wrists. Then he began fastening on the wings, using a metal canister that looked like an enormous hot-glue gun.
"The wax compound should hold for several hours," Naruto said nervously as Icarus worked. "But we must let it set first. And we would do well to avoid flying to high or too low. The sea would wet the wax seals—"
"And the sun's heat would loosen them," the boy finished. "Yes, Father. We've been through this a million times!"
Naruto had to agree with Icarus on this. Even he knew what heat and water can do to wax. But unfortunately Daedalus didn't agree.
"One cannot be too careful."
"I have complete faith in your inventions, Father! No one has ever been as smart as you."
Naruto felt the love Daedalus had for his son, more than anything in the world. It actually made Naruto jealous of Icarus for having a father like that when Naruto doesn't even remember his own.
"Now I will do your wings," Naruto said, "and give mine a chance to set properly. Come!"
It was slow going. Naruto's old hands fumbled with the straps. He had a hard time keeping the wings in position while he sealed them. Naruto felt the wings weigh him down, getting in his way while he tried to work. It reminded Naruto why he hated being Daedalus in the first place. As great inventor he was, Naruto was stuck being Daedalus back when he was a frail old man, which doesn't go well with Naruto.
"Too slow," the Naruto muttered. "I am to slow." At the same time Naruto thought, You think! Why do I even have to be old man Daedalus?
"Take your time, Father," the boy said. "The guards aren't due until—"
BOOM!
The workshop doors shuddered. Naruto could tell Daedalus had barred the doors from the inside with a wooden brace, but they shook on their hinges.
"Hurry!" Icarus said.
BOOM! BOOM!
Something heavy was slamming into the doors. The brace held, but a crack appeared in the left door.
Daedalus must have been your average ADHD demigod with a lot of self-control when not pressured, because with the banging at the door Naruto felt the familiar urge to rush into the work as he worked furiously. A drop of hot wax spilled onto Icarus' shoulder. The boy winced but did not cry out. When his left wing was sealed to the straps, Daedalus began working on the right.
"We must have more time," Naruto muttered. "They are too early! We need ore time for the seal to hold."
"It'll be fine," Icarus said, as Naruto finished the right wing. "Help me with the manhole—"
CRASH! The doors splintered and the head of a bronze battering ram emerged through the breach. Axes cleared the debris, and two armed guards entered the room, followed by the king with the golden crown and the spear shaped beard.
Great, the second coming of Tantalus is here, Naruto thought even though he had no idea if Tantalus was before Minos' time or after. All Naruto knew at this moment is that Tantalus and Minos are sons of Zeus and both have become a pain in Naruto's side.
Only difference is Naruto haven't been able to put Minos in his place like did with Tantalus since he only seen Minos in a dream visions where Naruto don't have control over his actions. Especially when he's in a form of a frail old man.
"Well, well," the king said with a cruel smile. "Going somewhere?"
Naruto and Icarus froze, their metal wings glimmering on their backs.
"We're leaving, Minos," Naruto said.
King Minos chuckled. "I was curious to see how far you'd get on this little project before I dashed your hopes. I must say I'm impressed."
The king admired their wings. "You look like metal chickens," he decided. "Perhaps we should pluck you and make a soup."
The guards laughed stupidly.
"Metal chickens," one repeated. "Soup."
If those two are his guards, I hate to meet his generals, Naruto thought jokingly. Makes me hope there aren't dumb people like that in the leaf.
…Leaf Village…
In a prison in a middle of an active volcano, two overweight former ninjas with spiky hair done in a high ponytail were cheering as they headed to their cells for dinner. Reason was that apparently it was soup day.
"Soup! Soup! Soup!" the duo cheered as prisoners back away from the duo.
…Dream Vision…
"Shut up," the king said. Then he turned again to Naruto. "You let my daughter escape, old man. You drove my wife into madness. You killed my monster and made me the laughingstock of the Mediterranean."
I wish Daedalus did that, Naruto thought, knowing Minos was just using Daedalus as a scapegoat for everything gone wrong in his life just because the old man only assisted the real culprits. Not that Naruto would blame Ariadne for turning against Minos. He met the former princess of Crete, and after learning what kind of person her father was, he would betray Minos too in her shoes.
"You will never escape me!" Minos finished.
Icarus grabbed the wax gun and sprayed it at the king, who steppe back in surprise. The guards rushed forward but each got a stream of hot wax on their face.
"The vent!" Icarus yelled to Naruto.
"Get them!" King Minos raged.
Together, Naruto and Icarus pried open the manhole cover, and a column of hot air blasted out of the ground. The king watched, incredulous, as Naruto and Icarus shot into the sky on their bronze wings, carried by the updraft.
"Shoot them!" the king yelled, but his guards didn't bring bows. One did threw his sword, but it was no good as Naruto and Icarus was already out of reach. Naruto didn't see Percy, but he got the feeling Percy was following them through the dream vision as they wheeled above the maze and the king's palace, then zoomed across the city of Knossos and out past the rocky shores of Crete.
Icarus laughed. "Free, Father! You did it."
The boy spread his wings to their full limit and soared away on the wind.
At that moment Naruto started getting a sinking feeling as he remember something else he read about this event… one of the tragic parts of Daedalus' story.
Naruto could also sense the concern Daedalus had for what his son was doing. "Wait!" Naruto called. "Be careful."
But Icarus was already out over the open sea, heading north and delighting in their good luck. He soared up and scared an eagle out of its flight path, then plummeted toward the sea like he was born to fly, pulling out of a nose dive at the last second. His sandals skimmed the waves.
It was clear to Naruto that Icarus was ADHD as well, but unlike Daedalus, Icarus has no self-control over it.
"Stop that!" Naruto called. But the wind carried his voice away. Icarus was drunk in his own freedom.
Naruto tried to catch up with Icarus, but it was obvious Daedalus' old body wasn't as easily adaptable to flying as Icarus as he struggle to catch up, gliding clumsily after the boy.
They were miles from Crete, over deep sea, when Icarus looked back and must of saw the worried face of his father.
Icarus smiled. "Don't worry, Father! You're a genius! I trust your handiwork—"
The first metal feather shook loose from his wings and fluttered away. Then another. Icarus wobbled in midair. Suddenly he was shedding bronze feathers, which twirled away from him like a flock of frightened birds.
"Icarus!" Naruto cried. "Glide! Extend your wings. Stay as still as possible!"
But Icarus flapped his arms, desperately trying to reassert control.
The left wing went first—ripping away from the straps.
"Father!" Icarus cried. And then he fell, the wings stripped away until he was just a boy in a climbing harness and a white tunic, his arms extended in a useless attempt to glide.
That was when Naruto woke with a start. He wasn't the only one as Percy had shot up as well. It was clear on his friends face that they both just watched Naruto's cousin Icarus fell to his death.
There was no morning in the maze, but once everyone woke up and had a fabulous breakfast of granola bars and juice boxes, they started traveling. Neither Naruto or Percy brought up the dream, but for different reasons. Percy's was the fact that he was shaken by it. Naruto's however was more of the fact that watching his cousin die reminded of him of last year when he saved a son of Athena from being stranded in the middle of the ocean attack by Sharkmen. At the end, both times Naruto felt powerless as he watch family members he just met die.
Although Naruto didn't really meet Icarus, but after seeing his cousin in two dream visions he felt connected to his cousin. Naruto don't know why. Maybe it was because Naruto was related to Icarus, or maybe the fact that Daedalus tried his best saving his son made Naruto wondering if his dad did something similar the night he sealed the fox into Naruto. Either way, Naruto found himself upset that he didn't got to actually meet his cousin.
Hinata was the only other person in the group that noticed the change in Naruto's demeanor. In fact, she recognized Naruto's expression from the night Naruto's mystery uncle died on the CSS Birmingham. Annabeth doesn't seem to recognize it, but Hinata knew that was because at the time she and Percy weren't with them. Hinata wanted nothing more than to go back and find out what was wrong, but she had a job to do first.
The old stone tunnels she led them through changed to dirt with cedar beams, like a mine. Annabeth started getting agitated.
"This isn't right," she said. "It should still be stone."
"I'm sorry," Hinata responded. "I'm trying my best."
"It's okay, Hinata," Naruto said. "I wouldn't be surprise the labyrinth is full of corridors that changes from one setting to another even with a guide."
"In other words, we might of just followed the wrong path," Percy grumbled.
Naruto shrugged.
They came to a cave where stalactites hung low from the ceiling. In the center of the dirt floor was a rectangular pit, a grave of some sort.
Grover shivered. "It smells like the Underworld in here."
"That's because Nico been here," Naruto said lowering his kunai into the hole. "Look!"
They did and saw a half chewed cheeseburger floating in brown carbonated muck.
"He's right," Percy said. "Nico was summoning the dead again."
Tyson whimpered. "Ghost were here. I don't like ghost."
"We've got to find him," Percy said with sudden urgency.
"Hinata," Naruto said.
Hinata nodded and reactivated her Byakugan to get a good look ahead.
"It looks like there's a dead end up ahead," Hinata said.
"An exit?" Naruto asked.
"Hold on…" Hinata focused harder. "Yes. I think so."
"Then let's go!" Percy rushed forward, giving everyone else no other choice but follow.
The tunnel led them to a dead end, but they could clearly see the exit. Above the tunnel was a steel grate made out of metal pipes.
Then a shadow fell across the grate and a cow stared down at the group. It looked like a bright cherry red cow.
At first something about the cow seem familiar to Naruto, until it dawned to him why. "It's one of Apollo's sacred cows!"
Percy frowned. "How do you know that?"
"Uh duh! Gramps told me about them last summer," Naruto responded. "When gramps was just a new born god he snuck out of the cave he was living in with his mother: Great-Grandma Maia and stole a bunch of Apollo's sacred cattle and herded them back to the cave before Apollo was able to catch him. It's the main reason gramps became the god of thieves as well as god of roads and bargaining."
"Oh, right," Percy muttered as he remember hearing a story like that when he met Hermes.
The cow mooed, put one hoof tentatively on the bars, then backed away.
"It's a cattle guard," Grover said. "They put them at the gates of ranches so cows can't get out. They can't walk on them. Or any hooved animal."
"Ranches…" Naruto muttered before turning to Hinata. "Didn't your grandmother mention something about passing a ranch before we get to meet Hephaestus?"
Hinata nodded.
"We need to check it out," Percy said. "Nico might be up there."
Annabeth wasn't all too agreeing to the idea but she reluctantly nodded. "All right. But how do we get out?"
Tyson solved that problem by hitting the cattle guard with both hands. It popped off and went flying out of sight. They heard a CLANG! And a startled Moo! Tyson blushed.
"Sorry, cow!" he called.
He gave each of the a boost out of the tunnel onto a ranch with rolling hills stretched to the horizon, dotted with oak trees and cactuses and boulders. A barbed wire fence ran from the gate in either direction. Sacred cattle roamed around, grazing on clumps of grass."
"Yep, definitely Apollo's sacred cattle," Naruto responded
"But what are they doing here?" Annabeth asked.
"Wait," Grover said. "Listen."
At first everything seemed quiet. But then they heard a distant baying of dogs that got louder and closer. Then the underbrush rustled and a sleek brown greyhound with two heads that v'd at the neck broke through. Both heads started snapping and snarling and generally not very glad to see them.
"Bad Janus dog!" Tyson cried.
"It's Orthus," Naruto said. "The two headed brother of Cerberus. Hold on, I think I got something…"
Naruto dig through his pack before finally taking out two rubber ball.
"Really, you brought a rubber ball?" Percy asked.
Naruto shrugged. "I thought we might need it in case we ended up finding ourselves in the underworld searching for Nico or a clue on Daedalus. I even have a third one sealed in my bag. I just hope Orthus likes rubber balls as much as his brother. Orthus, hey boy, see the ball!"
At first Orthos doesn't seem interested, but then Naruto juggling the two balls in the air, and slowly but surely one head started follow by the other.
When Naruto noticed it was working he stopped and held it over Orthus. "Sit boy! Sit for the rubber balls."
Orthos growled a little before sitting impatiently as if saying: there, now give me the ball!
"Go Fetch!" Naruto threw both balls the same direction as Orthus. Within minutes Orthus was back carrying both balls in both mouths.
"Huh! I never seen demigods tame Orthus like that before," a new voice said.
They jumped and turned to see Orthus' master. He was a huge guy with stark white hair, a straw cowboy hat, and a braided white beard. He was wearing jeans, a DON'T MESS WITH TEXAS T-shirt, and a denim jacket with the sleeves ripped off so you could see his muscles. On his right bicep was a crossed-swords tattoo. He held a wooden club about the size of a nuclear warhead, with six-inch spikes bristling at the business end.
Naruto knew he haven't met this guy before, but something about him was familiar.
Orthus circle back to his master's feet, still carrying the rubber balls in his mouth.
"Hello," Annabeth greeted. "We're travelers on a quest."
The man's eyes twitched. "Half-Bloods, eh?"
"How did you know what we are?" Percy asked.
"Because he's a half-blood," Naruto said realizing how this guy was familiar. Shave the beard and wrap the guy's lower face with bandages and switch the club for a giant sword, and he would look somewhat like an old man version of Zabuza, "You're a son of Ares."
"That's right! My name is Eurytion, the cowherd of this ranch. Now who are you?" The man asked.
Annabeth took over. "I'm Annabeth, daughter of Athena. This is my nephew Naruto, grandson of Athena as well as Hermes. That over there is Percy, son of Poseidon. Our guide Hinata, daughter of Hebe. Grover the satyr and Tyson the—"
"Cyclops," the man finished. "Yes, I can see that. I recon you guys came through the Labyrinth like the other one, I reckon."
"The other one?" Percy asked. "You mean Nico di Angelo?"
"We get a load of visitors from the Labyrinth," Eurytion said darkly. "Not many leave."
"Wow, I bet you can make your brother Zabuza feel right at home talking like that," Naruto responded.
Eurytion looked at Naruto confused before noticing the headband. "You're from the elemental nations, aren't you? You and the blue hair girl." Eurytion said. "I heard of that world, but never been there. Boss was actually hoping to expand there one day."
"Well you have plenty of places to choose from," Naruto responded. "And yes, Hinata and I are from the Village Hidden in the Leaves."
Eurytion glance behind him like someone was watching. Then he lowered his voice. "I'm going to say this once, demigods. Get back to the maze now. Before it's too late."
"We're not leaving," Annabeth insisted. "Not until we see this other demigod. Please."
Eurytion grunted. "Then you leave me no choice, missy. I've got to take you to see the boss."
"Then let's go see the big boss," Naruto said.
They followed Eurytion and Orthus. Once in a while Orthus shot to the bushes to catch some kind of animal, but he always came back, mostly to Naruto to play.
They walked down a dirt path that seemed to go on forever in hundred degree weather. Heat shimmered off the ground. Insects buzzed in the trees. It wasn't long before they were sweating like crazy. Flies swarm them. Every so often they'd see a pen full of Sacred Cows or stranger animals. Once they'd pass a corral where the fence was coated in asbestos. Inside, a herd of fire-breathing horses milled around. The hay in their feeding trough was on fire. The ground smoked around their feet, but the horse seemed tame, although one big stallion snorted red lames from it's nostrils.
"Aren't those the horses your dad use for his chariot?" Naruto asked.
"That's correct," Eurytion responded with a scowl. "We raise animals for lots of clients. Ares, Apollo, Diomedes, and… others."
"Like who?" Percy asked.
"No more questions."
Finally they came out of the woods. Perched on a hill above them was a big ranch house—all white stone and wood and big windows.
"It looks like a Frank Lloyd Wright!" Annabeth said as they hiked up the hill.
"Don't break the rules," Eurytion warned as they got closer to the steps to the front porch. "No fighting. No drawing weapons. And don't make any coments about the boss's appearance."
"Why?" Percy asked. "What does he look like?"
"I got an idea what," Naruto responded as his mind started piecing it together. The ranch, Orthus, the son of Ares name Eurytion, the clients who are either immortal or now dead.
"Welcome to the Tripple G Ranch," A new voice called out.
Naruto look to see a man on a porch with one regular head attach to a normal shoulders, but from there, the normal appearance stopped. Instead of one body, the man had three bodies each connected to the shoulders with only a few inches in between. He had two arms, four armpits, one enormous torso, and two normal but very beefy legs. His head was at least attached to the center body.
Other than that, he also had silk black hair and a black pencil mustache. He smiled at them, but the smile wasn't friendly; more amused, like Oh boy, more people to torture. He wore the most oversize pair of Levis he'd ever seen. His chests each wore a different color Western shirt—green, yellow, and red.
And here I thought this quest can't get any weirder, Naruto thought.
Eurytion nudged Percy. "Say hello to Mr. Geryon."
"Hi," Percy said. "Nice chests—uh, ranch! Nice ranch you have."
Naruto slapped Percy in the back of the head.
"Sorry about my friend, Mr. Geryon," Naruto apologized. "But we do like your ranch."
Before Geryon could respond, Nico di Angelo came out of the glass doors onto the porch. "Geryon, I won't wait for—"
He froze when he saw the group, namely Naruto and Percy. Then he drew his sword. The blade was sharp short and dark as midnight.
Instinctively Naruto drew out Uzushi no Oroarashi and was about to click the button when Geryon snarled. "Put that away, Mr. di Angelo. I ain't gonna have guests killin' each other."
"But that's—"
"Percy Jackson. Naruto Uzumaki." Geryon supplied. "Annabeth Chase, Hinata Hyuuga. And a couple of their monster friends. Yes, I know."
"Monster friends?" Grover said indignantly.
"That an is wearing three shirts," Tyson said as if just realizing it.
"They let my sister die!" Nico's voice trembled with rage.
"Bianca isn't dead!" Naruto argued. "She's with your dad!"
"That's a lie!" Nico yelled.
"Then why would a fury kidnap your sister!" Naruto responded.
"It killed my sister!" Nico argued.
"Furies work for Hades, Nico. I doubt they would kill their master's children unless he ordered it," Naruto argued. "But you of all people should know Hades won't order the death of his children!"
Nico was speechless as he tried to think of a comeback.
"Wait a minute!" Annabeth responded before turning to Geryon. "How do you know our names?"
Geryon winked at her. "I make it my business to keep informed, darlin'. Everybody pops into the ranch from time to time. Everyone needs something from ole Geryon. Now, Mr. di Angelo, put that ugly sword away before I have Eurytion take it from you."
Eurytion sighed, but he hefted his spike club. At his feet, Orthus growled as if now remembering what his job was.
Nico hesitated. He was thin and pale. His black clothes were dusty and his dark eyes were full of hate.
Reluctantly, he sheathed his sword. "If you two come near me, Percy and Naruto, I'll summon help. You don't want to meet my helpers, I promise."
As frightening as Nico made it sound like, Naruto got a feeling the worse Nico could summon is a spacti—a zombified human remains. Something Naruto knew how to defeat as he done it in the past. But Naruto didn't want to make Nico anymore his enemy than the kid already think he is.
"We believe you," Naruto said as he put up his pen sword.
Geryon patted Nico's shoulder. "There, we've all made nice. Now come along folks. I want to give you a tour of the ranch."
Geryon had a trolley thing that is used at zoos. It was painted black and white in a cowhide pattern. The driver's car had a set of longhorns stuck to the hood, and the horn sounded like a cowbell.
Nico sat in the very back, probably so he could keep an eye on everyone. Eurytion crawled in next to him with his spiked club and pulled his cowboy hat over his eyes like he was going to take a nap. Too everyone's surprise, Orthus decided to sit next to Naruto on the third seat.
"You want to ride with me, huh?" Naruto scratched Orthus behind both of his ears. "Is that okay?"
"I don't see why not, as long as he remembers who it's master" Geryon said as if trying to hide a threat behind it. "Besides, it's not every day Orthus takes interest in a guest."
Hinata sat behind Naruto as Annabeth, Tyson Grover Percy stuck to the middle cars.
"We have a huge operation!" Geryon boasted as the moo-mobile lurched forward. "Horses and cattle mostly, but all sorts of exotic varieties, too."
They came over a hill, and Annabeth gasped, "Hippalektryons? I thought they were extinct!"
At the bottom of the hill was a fenced-in pasture with a dozen of the weirdest animals. Each had the front half of a horse and the back half of a rooster. Their rear feet were huge yellow claws. They had feathery tails and red wings. Two of them got in a fight over a pile of seed. They reared up on their back legs and whinnied and flapped their wing at each other until the smaller one galloped away, its rear bird legs putting a little hop in its step.
"Rooster ponies," Tyson said in amazement. "Do they lay eggs?"
"Once a year!" Geryon grinned in the rearview mirror. "Very much in demand for omelets!"
"That's horrible!" Annabeth said. "They must be an endangered species!"
Geryon waved his hand. "Gold is gold, darling. And you haven't tasted the omelets."
"That's not right," Grover murmured.
"No offense Geryon, but you do realize if those rooster-ponies go extinct you lose prophet anyways. You should cut the amount of eggs by three quarters at least to give the creatures a chance, and triple the price for them," Naruto explained.
Geryon pondered about it. "That's actually a good idea, kid! I might actually consider it."
"Naruto, those creatures are endangered!" Annabeth argued.
"Yeah, but if we are to get out of here, we need to be on Geryon's good side," Naruto explained quietly, "Not to mention, if we find out anything really illegal going on here, we can take it up to Hephaestus when we meet him and he can take it up to Olympus where the rest of Geryon's clients will learn of it."
"That's actually clever," Annabeth said. "But what if we can't get out of here?"
"Then we destroy him," Naruto said.
Eurytion was still pretend napping but over heard Naruto's plan, and silently agree with the male blonde. Mostly because after thousands of years of working for Geryon, Eurytion was getting tired of putting his life on the line for the guy. Plus, he really didn't approve the idea of making prophet off their client's animals.
Fortunately, Geryon was too busy giving the tour to pay attention.
"Now, over here," he said, "we have our fire breathing horses, which you may have seen on your way in. They're bred for war, naturally."
"Makes sense, they do belong to the god of war," Naruto muttered.
"And yonder, of course, are our prize red cows," Geryon continued.
Sure enough, hundreds of sacred cattle were grazing the side of a hill.
"So many," Grover said.
"Yes, well, Apollo is too busy to see to them," Geryon explained, "so he subcontracts to us. We breed them vigorously because there's such a demand."
"For what?" Percy asked.
Geryon raised an eyebrow. "Meat, of course! Armies have to eat."
"You kill the sacred cows o the sun god for hamburger meat?" Grover said. "That's against ancient laws!"
"Not to mention Apollo will hunt you down once he finds out," Naruto said. "And I doubt he'd go easy on you as he was to my Gramps."
"Oh , please! If Apollo cared, I'm sure he would of done something about it now," Geryon responded.
"I bet you haven't even told him!" Naruto responded.
"They're just animals, Mr. Uzumaki."
Nico sat forward. "I don't care about any of this, Geryon. We had business to discuss, and this wasn't it!"
"All in good time, Mr. di Angelo. Look over here; some of my exotic game."
The next field was ringed in barb wire. The whole area was crawling with giant scorpions.
"Naruto, those are…" Hinata responded.
"Yeah, the same scorpions from the war games," Naruto responded. "That means the scorpions we fought came from here."
Percy got the idea what Naruto and Hinata was talking about. "Have you ever done business with a guy name Quintus?"
"Quintus…" Geryon mused. "Short gray hair, muscular, swordsman?"
"Yeah."
"Never heard of him," Geryon said.
"Liar," Naruto muttered.
"Now, over here are my prize stables! You must see them."
They didn't have to see them, because soon they were able to smell them. Near the banks of a green river was a horse corral the size of a football field. Stables lined one side of it. About a hundred horses were miling around in the muck of horse poop. There were at least four feet of stinky horse poop, and the horses were really gross from wading through it, and the stables were just as bad. As for the smell—
"Gah! It smells worse than the inhumanly transport truck!" Naruto cried as he covered his nose with both hands.
"That's my stables," Geryon said. "Well, actually they belong to Aegeas, but we watch over them for a monthly fee. Aren't they lovely?"
"They're disgusting!" Annabeth said.
"Lots of poops," Tyson observed.
"This is animal cruelity!" Hinata responded.
"How can you keep animals like that?" Grover cried.
"Y'all getting' on my nerves," Geryon said. "These are flesh-eating horses, see? They like these conditions."
"Plus, you're too cheap to have them cleaned," Eurytion mumbled from under his hat.
"Quiet!" Geryon snapped. "All right, perhaps the stables are a bit challenging to clean. Perhaps they do make me nauseous when the wind blows the wrong way. But so what? My clients still pay me well."
"What clients?" Naruto asked. "Last I check Aegeas died thousands of years ago!"
"Maybe so, but you'd be surprised how many people will pay for a flesh-eating horse. They make great garbage disposals. Wonderful way to terrify your enemies. Great at birthday parties! We rent them out all the time."
"You're a monster," Annabeth decided.
Geryon stopped the moo-mobile and turned to look at her. "What gave it away? Was it the three bodies?"
"You have to let these animals go," Grover said.
"If you don't we'll tell Olympus about your illegal actions," Naruto said. "If you think Apollo was mad when Gramps stole his cattle, just wait until he finds out you been killing his cattle for beef!"
"Not to mention feeding them to Kronos," Annabeth said. "That's who your client is, right? You're supplying his army with horses, food, whatever they need."
Geryon shrugged with his shoulders. "I work for anyone with gold, young lady. I'm a businessman. And I sell them anything I have to offer."
He climbed out of the moo-mobile and stroll toward the stables as if enjoying the fresh air. Naruto had to admit if they get rid of the horse muck, the place would be beautiful.
Nico got out of the back car and stormed over to Geryon. The cowherd Eurytion hefted his club and walked over to Nico.
"I came here for business, Geryon," Nico said. "And you haven't answer me."
"Mmm," Geryon examined the cactus. His left arm reached over and scratched his middle chest. "Yes, you'll get a deal, all right."
"Nico, be careful! If he's working for Kronos, he might be—" Naruto warned.
"Butt out Naruto!" Nico yelled. "My ghost told me you could help. He said you could guide us to the soul we need. Now, can you help me or not?"
"So it wasn't my soul he was after," Percy responded.
"Told you," Naruto responded.
"Oh, I imagine I could," the rancher said. "Your ghost friend, by the way, where is he?"
Nico looked uneasy. "He can't form in broad daylight. It's hard for him. But he's around somewhere."
Geryon smiled. "I'm sure Minos likes to disappear when things get… difficult."
Immediately Naruto's eyes flickered from grey-blue to red as the memories of his dream visions were still fresh. "Minos! Where is he? I'm going to kill him!"
"Tyson, stop Naruto!" Percy yelled realizing what was going on
Tyson forced Naruto into a head lock as everyone tried to calm him down except for Orthus who decided to back away.
"Naruto, Nico just said Minos can't form in daylight!" Percy said. "Besides Minos is already dead! You can't kill him again!"
"I don't care! Let me go!" Naruto yelled. "I'm going to make that king regret his own existence!"
Even Nico was taken back by Naruto sudden outburst as he felt the killer intent coming off the blonde. But Nico shook it off, reminding himself that Naruto couldn't harm a ghost, and turned to Geryon. "What do you mean about things getting difficult?"
The three-bodied man sighed. "Well you see Nico—can I call you Nico?"
"No."
"You see, Nico, Luke Castellan is offering very good money for half-bloods. Especially powerful half-bloods. And I'm sure when he learns your little secret, who you really are, he'll pay very, very well indeed."
Nico drew his sword, but Eurytion knocked it out of his hand.
"Very good, Eurytion. Now if you be so kind, secure Nico."
The cowherd spit into the grass. "Do I have to?"
"Yes, you fool!"
Eurytion looked bored, but he wrapped one huge arm around Nico and lifted him up like a wrestler.
"Wait!" Naruto yelled immediately stop trying to break out of Tyson's hold to search for Nico. "I got a better deal for you. Better than anything Luke can offer."
Geryon stopped as interest got to him. "What kind of deal?"
"Eurytion said you are hoping to expand your ranch to the elemental nations, right? What if I can get you the land you need there to do so?" Naruto responded. "Think about it, you can make twice the amount of money by expanding to both worlds."
"Yeah," Annabeth said picking up where Naruto was going, "And Naruto the 5th Hokage's cousin and friends with the 5th Kazekage. He can see about getting you land somewhere between the land of fire and land of wind, that way you can profited from two of the five great nations."
"Ha!" Geryon laughed. "Nice try, but even I know it's the feudal lords of the elemental nations that can offer land, not the Kages."
Naruto felt his mind going a thousand miles per hour trying to think of a comeback. Then Naruto remember the d-rank Cat catching mission new genin always were assigned too, and the client who always pay for it.
"But I know the feudal lord of the land of fire!" Naruto responded, using a bit of lying to make it sound good. "His wife's cat always ran away and he always pay my team to catch it. I'm sure if we talk to him he be happy to give us some land. All we ask in return is you let Nico go and cancel any contract you have with the Titan Army."
Geryon seemed thoughtful as Naruto hope he can seal the truth.
"How do I know this isn't a trick?" Geryon asked. "Your grandfather is, after all the god of trickery."
"In that sense, how can you trust Luke to keep his word?" Naruto asked. "He is my uncle through Hermes after all."
Geryon laughed at that comment. "That's true. Tell you what kid, add cleaning the maneating horses stables by sunset and you have a deal."
Naruto wanted to gag at the response. "Seriously?"
"You want me to trust you on this deal right?" Geryon asked. "Do this and you earn my trust? And since I like you so much, I'll even let you pick one of your friends to help you."
Naruto saw no other way around this. But this might give Naruto some breathing room to come up with away to make his end of the deal work.
"Fine," Naruto responded. "And I want Percy to assist me."
Percy gave Naruto a 'really' look, as if cleaning some stables was the last thing he wanted to do.
"Very well," Geryon said. "Then you have a deal. And to make sure you don't run away, I'll take your friends with me back to the lodge. We'll wait for you two there at sunset."
Eurytion gave Naruto and Percy a look of sympathy as Percy got off the car. Geryon got behind the driver's wheel. Eurytion hauled Nico into the back seat and they rumbled of with the cowhorn going off and Geryon laughing.
"I hope you know what you are doing?" Percy asked.
"You and me both," Naruto responded.
A/N: Sorry about the long wait on any updates the last few months. It been a little crazy, and it didn't help my biological mother got me into a new Apocalyptic book series called the Blue Plague with seven books written by Thomas Watson. i even was late on this months poll for those who didn't know about it.
Anyways, in case you miss the obvious why Naruto wants to beat up Minos it's the fact that so far in his dream visions whenever he feel weak and helpless as Daedalus often Minos has to do with the reason why and Naruto doesn't like feeling weak and helpless as it reminds him of the time he froze while the Demon Brothers of the Mist attack his team and Tazuna while everyone else had to save him.
Also for those who know that with Greek Mythology often the greatest heroes has to deal with snakes at one point, such as Hercules strangling one as a baby and why Riordan had Percy strangle one as a toddler and when Hera tried to make Leo poke a rattlesnake, I'm not going to do that with Naruto while he's in the Olympian world as he already had snake encounter everytime he saw Orochimaru such as the forest of death and the Sanin Battle. Heck, if Naruto making a snake explode by using shadow clones inside the snake's belly don't count as a sign of a hero in greek terms, I don't know what is. So technically that's one thing we can cross off the list thanks to Orochimaru.
