HI PEOPLE!

Sorry for the late update. My imagination and creativity decided to elope, so I had to go find them. So my mind was slow and dull. And I bet you'd much rather wait and have a good chapter, then get a crappy chapter early, so…

Anyways… hurray for the new chapter!

Disclaimer: I do not own PJO series

ENJOY!

Chapter 9-

Percy POV-

Capture the flag.

I've heard of the game before… but this will be the first time I've actually played. Basically, as Annabeth explained, there are two teams and the goal is to get the other's flag to our side before the other team can get our flag to their side. Simple right?

Wrong.

It would be pretty simple if it was just that, but life isn't fair. Since were demigods, we play with weapons and any and all magical items are allowed. The only rules are no maiming or killing… but we should definitely have a better punishment than just losing your desert privilege, since it isn't really motivating to not maim or kill someone you're ticked off at.

Anyway, Annabeth set me to guard the creek, but it felt more like I was placed here just to be out of the way. Also the creek was out in the open, so in order for me to not just be a sitting target, I climbed up into the trees above. I think I might've fallen asleep at one point since I haven't really had any action… well until I woke up to the sound of loud reckless idiots.

The Ares kids.

"Where the Hades is that punk Clarisse!? My hair still smells like the sewer! And it's been three days!"

Clarisse rolled her eyes. "Would you shut up Andy? Gods, you're starting to sound like an Aphrodite kid. I'm sure Miss bookworm placed Prissy somewhere around here."

They walked on, looking around. I waited for them to pass the trees, then jumped off the branch I was sitting on, down to the floor below, landing without a sound. I snuck up behind Ugly number one and hit him in the back of the head with the flat of my sword. He fell to the ground unconscious, while a loud clang echoed around the forest. The other three turned around. I smiled at them and said teasingly, "Looking for me? Wow, I must be popular."

Clarisse snarled and said, "Well, finally showed your face Prissy? I was starting to think you ran away like the coward you are!"

I rolled my eyes and gestured to my sword, "Um… yeah, are we going to fight? Or are you all just talk and no action?"

She glared and thrust her spear at me. I deflected it with my shield, but a painful tingling sensation spread throughout my body. I gritted my teeth; of course her stupid spear just had to be electric. I backed up towards the creek while deflecting Clarisse's strikes. I distracted Clarisse while I navigated the water in the creek to knock out the other two Ares kids. Two thumps were heard and I smiled triumphantly. But then Clarisse managed to make a small cut on my arm, and I quickly hid it behind my back. Bleeding would be bad since I am immortal. I don't have red blood, I have golden ichor. I won't let a small cut from Clarisse be the thing that gives me away.

"What's the matter Prissy? Afraid to see your own blood?" She taunted.

I just glared and dodged her attack, rolling to the side, "You know, there are rules. No maiming."

She put on a mock pouting face, "Guess I lost my desert privilege. But oh well, I'll make it up by getting my revenge."

I dodged and she landed in the lake. I smirked and said, "You know… if you hadn't been so hung up on getting revenge, you'd notice that you're holding an electric spear in water."

Her eyes widened, but it was too late. I knocked the tip of her spear into the water. She froze up and fell into the water. (AN: Not sure if that's how it looks like if you are electrocuted, since I've never been electrocuted, and hopefully I'll never experience that…)

I'm not cruel, so as soon as she passed out, I parted the creek and willed her dry. No way was I touching her while she was wet. I'm not stupid; I'd be electrocuted if I touched her while she was still wet. I grabbed her arms and dragged her to the forest floor. I looked around. No one was near, so I quickly placed my wounded hand in the water. I watched as the golden ichor cleared up and the cut on my hand healed.

I heard cheering, so I looked towards the noise to see Luke cross the border with the flag. Clarisse groggily got up and saw Luke with the now silver flag with a caduceus on it. "A trick!" She shouted and glared at me like it was my entire fault that they lost, "It was a trick!"

Everyone picked Luke up and started carrying him on their shoulders. Chiron came out of the woods and blew the conch horn. Finally the game was over. We won. I was going to join in the celebration, when a voice said, "Not bad Percy."

I turned to see the woods. No body to match the voice, but I knew it was Annabeth. The air shimmered and there she was holding a Yankees baseball cap. I stared at her annoyed, "Yeah, no thanks to you. So that was your plan, huh? I was the distraction for the Ares kids. But I guess I can't really blame you, since it was a good plan, but next time you'd better tell me your plan, since I may be okay about it this time, but the next time you need my help. Swallow your pride and ask. It doesn't hurt to ask. I could tell your fatal flaw is hubris, Annabeth, and it will be your downfall if you don't learn to control it."

She glared a bit, but nodded. Looking a bit reluctant, she sighed and said, "Sorry for not telling you."

I was about to respond, when a growl sounded. I quickly turned to see a black hound the size of a rhino, with lava-red eyes and fangs like daggers. Ah styx! It just had to be a hellhound. One after me by the way it's looking me in the eyes. I searched the crowd and saw everyone with surprise in their eyes, all except Luke, who looked to be holding back a smile. Yeah, there's something going on with him, something I will find out no matter what.

I turned back to the hound and an idea formed into my head. I need to get a quest, and in order for that to happen, I need to get claimed. I glared a bit at the water, well father, if you're waiting for me to do something worthy of getting claimed, then I swear you're going to get an earful from me later on once you find out I'm Persephone.

It lunged towards me and I thrust my hand towards the water. A huge wave rushed out, knocking the hound to the side. I ran towards it and brought down my sword. Like always, it turned into gold dust. (AN: I seriously need to get better at writing fight scenes…)

"Di Immortales!" Annabeth exclaimed, "That was a hellhound from the fields of punishment. They don't… they're not supposed to…"

"Someone summoned it." Chiron said. "Someone inside the camp."

Chiron opened his mouth to address the campers, but then everyone gasped. Chiron turned towards me and his jaw dropped open. I looked up to see a fading glowing green trident. Annabeth looked as though I betrayed her. Yep, I'm going to have to fix that. Everyone got out of their shocked states and started kneeling.

"All hail Perseus Jackson, son of Poseidon. The Earthshaker, Stormbringer, Father of Horses. The god of the sea." Chiron said.

-Line Break-

The next morning I was placed in cabin three, but I snuck back to the Hermes Cabin. Truth is… being in cabin three reminds me too much of being stuck in the palace. I felt like I was trapped, so I barely spent any time in there, plus it was really lonely. Also everyone started to avoid me. Well almost everyone. I grabbed Annabeth and told her that she shouldn't hate me do to the rivalry between our parents, since it isn't our fight and that she shouldn't try so hard to be a carbon copy of her mother. It took a while, but she finally gave in to reason, after I stated the facts. When dealing with Athena's kids, appeal to logic and reasoning and you'll be fine. If you want to tick them off… insult their intelligence.

The next morning, I snuck back into my cabin, just as Grover knocked on the door. I opened it. "Hi Percy… Chiron needs to see you."

I nodded and walked to the big house. I went inside and Chiron gestured for me to take a seat. "Percy-"

I interrupted him, "I get to go on a quest to find the stolen symbols of powers?"

He looked surprise, "Yes but-"

"How did I know? Uh… demigod dream." A lie, but it's the best explanation.

He nodded, "Well then I suppose you should go to see the oracle. It's in the attic."

I nodded and got up. The attic was filled with Greek hero junk. By the window, sitting on a wooden tripod stool was the oracle… mummy… the mummy oracle… whatever; I've encountered weirder things than an oracle mummy.

She sat up on her stool and opened her mouth. Green mist poured from it, coiling over the floor in thick tendrils, hissing like twenty thousand snakes. Inside my head I heard a voice slitherin into one ear and coiling around my brain: I am the spirit of Delphi, speaker of the prophecies of Phoebus Apollo, slayer of the mighty Python. Approach seeker, and ask.

I cleared my throat and said, "Uh, what is my destiny?"

The mist swirled more thickly, and suddenly Amphitrite, Poseidon, Triton, and Annabeth stood there. Mother spoke in the raspy voice of the oracle. You shall go west, and face the god who has turned.

Triton spoke in that same raspy voice: You shall find what was stolen, and see it safely returned.

Annabeth spoke: You shall be betrayed by the one who calls you a friend.

Dad delivered the worst line: And you shall fail to save what matters most, in the end.

Then the mist gathered and slithered back inside the mummy's mouth. My audience with the oracle was over. I tried to keep myself from worrying. Calm down Perce, prophecies always have double meanings, it doesn't mean that what I fail to save will never be saved… just not during the quest. I replayed the prophecy to Chiron and he looked a bit worried. He told me his idea on who he suspects, of course everyone suspects Hades, but I knew it wasn't him… but I could pretend to be going after him and probably lure out the 'god who has turned'.

I nodded to Chiron. "You may choose two companions to go with you."

I thought about it and said, "Grover and Annabeth."

He nodded, "Funny how you chose Annabeth, since she volunteered."

She stood there with her Yankees cap. I rolled my eyes, "I know, you really got to stop snooping around Annabeth. Curiosity killed the cat."

She just smiled, "But Athena always has a plan."

I mockingly looked around, "I don't see Athena." I looked her in the eyes, "You should stop saying that Annabeth. You are yourself not your mother, sure you're proud to be her daughter, but saying Athena always has a plan is a total topic changer, why not just say, 'I have a plan'?"

She blushed embarrassed, "Fine! I always have a plan!"

I smiled, "That's better!"

Chiron looked on in amusement, then finally said, "Well then, it's time to go on the quest."

I nodded, "As long as Wise girl is up to it."

She rolled her eyes and looked at Chiron, "Please, seaweed brain here is probably just acting tough. I believe the real question is if he's ready."

I stuck my tongue out at her. We were lead outside the border by Chiron and met up with Argus, who was going to drive us to the city. I heard footsteps behind me and Luke showed up with a pair of Hermes winged shoes. Annabeth blushed when she saw him, and I faked a gag. She playfully punched me and I snickered.

"Hey! Just wanted to say good luck… and I thought you'd um… maybe you could use these."

I stared him, "Uh Luke, you may have forgotten but um… I'm Poseidon's kid so I can't use these."

His facial expression dropped, "Oh yeah… I forgot. Sorry." He saw Grover, "Hey Grover! I was going to give these to Percy but I forgot he was Poseidon's kid… do you want to use them instead?"

His eyes shone with tears and smiled, "Wow! Thanks Luke!"

Luke nodded and said, "The way you activate them is saying Maia."

The wings started moving, he repeated it and the wings stopped moving. Then he said goodbye to us and headed back to camp Half-Blood. I was about to go to the van when Chiron stopped me, "Oh! I almost forgot." He took out riptide and a smile split across my face. Finally! I get riptide back, geez after days of dropping hints he finally gives it back! I missed my sword.

I thanked him and got into the van. Annabeth and Grover getting in after me. We drove throughout New York and finally stopped at a bus stop. We waited for the bus to come, played a few games until the bus finally came. We boarded and sat at the very back, and the bus was about to go… until three shriveled up old ladies boarded and my breath caught in my throat.

The furies… Oh gods, why me!?

AN: Yay! Finished. Sorry for the sucky chapter… I promise to do better next chapter! Seriously sorry for not updating and for my sucky chapter… I just had such a hard time with this chapter! I don't know why, it was soooo frustrating! Well see ya next time, hopefully soon.

-IAmTheDaughterOfHades