Chapter 9
Jason awoke with a smile upon his face. Today was his Eighth birthday! He couldn't wait to see Percy and Nico again. He especially couldn't wait to see Aunt Aphrodite, she always had a special present for him on his birthdays. Speaking of presents he couldn't wait to see what they got this time. On Percy's birthday the new armor and sword was so cool. Plus getting to battle all together was awesome. He couldn't imagine anything that could beat that.
At least until he finished getting dressed and went outside to see his dad standing next to a Griffin. "Is that for me?!" Jason yelled running and jumping into his dad's arms.
"Yes. He is your new pet. His name is Valor. Can you say hello?"
"Hello Valor. Are you my new pet?" Jason asked wonder and awe evident in his voice as he looked up into the eyes of his new friend.
"Yes my prince. And I promise to always arrive when you call. Now shall we take to the skies? I believe your friends are awaiting you there." The Griffin said with something akin to a smirk playing in its voice.
Jason looked to his father first for a nod of affirmation, then quickly climbed aboard the already saddled beast. "Come valor. Let's go!" He shouted pulling his sword out and thrusting it into the sky.
With a chuckle Valor leapt into the sky climbing quickly into the air, soon as they cleared the clouds they were flanked on both sides by Percy riding on a muscled Black Pegasus, and Nico upon some sort of skeletal Pegasus.
"Guess what Jason?" Percy yelled as he and his mount climbed a little above and behind Jason.
"What?"
"Tag you're it!" Percy shouted as his mount flipped giving Percy the ability to tap Jason on the back and then sweep into a dive away from Jason.
"Oh no you don't Percy. Get back here." Jason laughed as he and Valor went into a steep dive after Percy.
"My Prince. Might I suggest calling lightning down in front of them to scare them back so we might tag them? Don't worry about striking me. This saddle makes me immune to such things." Valor once again smirked as a light turned on in Jason's eyes with anticipation of using his powers.
Concentrating he focused and suddenly lightning shot from the clouds right in front of Percy and his horse. But the horse just dove down towards the ocean below them. Running on the water without his wings.
"Ah. Those blasted hooves of his. He was gifted with Shoes that allow him to walk on water. I forgot about that. I apologize my prince." Valor sadly said, upset that he'd forgotten about that.
"No worries Valor this is just as fun besides-" With that he dove off of Valor falling and managing to tag Percy as he fell only to be caught by Valor again. "We can still do that!" Jason yelled exited that that had worked.
"Hey Valor?"
"Yes my Prince?" Valor responded diving to avoid Nico coming in to tag them.
"Do you know what Nico's Pegasus does? Can it raise an army of dead horses to fight?!" Jason asked excitedly, the thought of an army of dead horses being pretty cool.
"Ha. No my liege. His mount is something special, Hades made it himself. Her name is Rose if I remember correctly, and she can leave the current body of bones she's in to inhabit another. Which is a handy ability, if she finds something larger she'd like, or if Nico needs a specific mount she can just find the bones and inhabit them. A neat trick to be sure." Valor informed chasing after Percy having been tagged by Nico.
"Oh. That's pretty cool. You guys are all pretty cool. What's Percy's Pegasus's name?"
"Blackjack my prince."
"That's a cool name. Everyone's pets are pretty cool. But you know what Valor?" Jason questioned.
"What my prince?"
"I think you're the coolest." Jason said once again diving off of Valor's back in an attempt to tag Nico, controlling the winds to push him the right direction.
"And I you Jason. And I you. Perhaps this will be quiet fun." Valor thought to himself as he dove after his young master.
They played tag for several hours before Blackjack and Valor needed a break, and Nico's butt had started hurting from sitting to long. They ran to where theyir parents and Aunts and Uncles had gathered to watch them, with some Nectar and Ambrosia on a table to snack on.
"Not too much Percy. You remember what happened last time? You were sick for a weak, and burning up." Amphitrite said slightly chiding Percy as he grabbed way more than he should have of the Ambrosia.
"Moooooommmmm. You're embarrassing me." Percy whined as Apollo and Hermes chuckled at their young nephew's antics, as he put some of it back trying to stuff a few in his mouth while his mother wasn't looking.
"Percy." Amphitrite said giving him her best I caught you look.
"Sorry mom. I'll put the rest back." Percy said around a mouthful of Ambrosia.
"Jason, come here. Percy, Nico, you two as well. We have someone we'd like you to meet." Hera called standing next to Aunt Artemis and a little girl none of them recognized, but felt they'd seen before.
"This is Thalia. She is your twin sister Jason. She is now Artemis's child, but we wanted you two too meet today." Hera said watching intently to see what would happen.
"Hello Sis!" Jason called excitedly running and hugging Thalia.
"Get off me stupid boy!" Thalia yelled trying to sound tough and like Artemis, even though she really didn't care.
"Yeah! Hello Sis!" Percy and Nico yelled tackling Jason and Thalia to the ground in a hug, which soon broke out into a powered wrestling match. Lightning, skeletons, and water shooting all over the place.
"All right! Calm down you four. Why don't you go play with some of your new gifts over in the garden." Poseidon said as he, Hades, and Zeus all tried reigning in their children's powers.
"Ok dad. By!" Percy said quickly kissing his mom and dad on the cheek before following the other kids, each grabbing a different present of Jason's.
"Look at this guys. This is from Aunt Aphrodite. It's a special mirror she said. She said if I looked hard enough that it would take us all on an adventure and back. Should we try it?!" Jason asked excitedly.
Back at the party Aphrodite approached Athena. "Remember that problem we both had? Well it should solve itself momentarily." She whispered while passing Athena.
"You didn't. You are so dead if they catch you." Athena said, although she made no moves to stop whatever was about to occur.
"Jason! Nico! Look there's three little girls in the mirror. They look really sad." Percy sad as the gang all looked in and sure enough they saw three little girls, One blonde curly haired princess looking girl, one brown haired girl with a feather in it, and the third had long Black hair in a braid.
They were standing back to back, the one with the feather in her hair was crying, while the blonde and Black haired girls were trying to fight back their own tears. They seemed to be in a dark forest. And they weren't sure what to do.
"We should go help them!" Jason yelled.
They all looked at each other, and smiled as all of them were in their armor and had their new swords with them, even Thalia had on come cool silvery looking armor, and a shield and spear with her.
"Come on how does this thing works?! This will be an adventure come o-" But Percy never finished as suddenly they found themselves falling onto the ground in front of the girls they'd seen in the mirror.
"Who are you?! Back up! Or I'll! I'll!" The blonde girl yelled as she stepped protectively in front of the brunette.
"Hey! We just came to help. No worries. I'm Percy!" Percy said excitedly pulling his sword and striking his best impersonation of a hero's stance.
"Yeah and I'm Jason!"
"And I'm Nico!" The two boys yelled matching Percy's enthusiasm with their own attempts at poses.
"Hi. I'm Thalia." She said shaking her head at the boy's antics.
"Sssshhhh! You'll let them know where we are!" the Blonde whispered at them.
The boys quiet confused looked around to see who they were hiding from.
"I don't see anyone." Percy said fairly perplexed as to what was going on.
"Well stupid. There's monsters after us because. Well you wouldn't believe me anyways. Just go away!" the Blonde yelled.
"Try me. Here I'll go first. I bet mines more unbelievable than yours." Percy whispered sticking his tongue out. "I'm Percy Jackson. Son of Poseidon and Amphitrite. Demigod."
"And I'm Jason Grace. Son of Zeus and Hera. Demigod."
"Oh! Oh! And I'm Nico Di Angelo Son of Hades and Persephone. And this is Thalia. She's new. But she's Jason's twin, Daughter of Zeus, adopted by Artemis!" Nico said enthusiastically receiving a smack on the back of the head from said girl.
"I can talk to you know!" Thalia sassily remarked, striking her best intimidating pose.
The girl with the braid giggled at young Nico's face at being smacked. "I'm Reyna. I'm a daughter of Bellona!" she said excitedly rushing forward to quickly hug Nico then run back to the safety of her friends.
"I- I'm Piper. Piper Mclean… and I'm a daughter of Aphrodite…" Piper said shyly from behind Annabeth peeking around to stare at the blonde haired boy who was looking her way with interest.
"You must be why Aunt Aphrodite gave us the mirror. To find you!" Jason said excitedly.
"Well. Since everyone else had said. I'm Annabeth Chase daughter of Athena, and the smartest person you'll ever meet." She said looking up haughtily.
"Hahahahaha. Sure." Percy giggled falling over and clutching his stomach at how ridiculous Annabeth looked with her nose in the air.
"What are you laughing at? You! You SeaWeed brains!" She yelled turning and crossing her arms over her chest dramatically sticking out her lower lip.
"Oh. I'm sorry Annabeth. I didn't mean to make you upset. You just looked funny. See I'll do it." Percy said standing up and pointing his nose so far up he fell backwards landing on his butt.
At his antics everyone started laughing as Percy grinned up at them from underneath his messy hair.
A loud crashing sound followed by a loud roar, then a deep voice calling out. "Looks like we found them! Over here you stupid cow!"
"Oh no! They found us!" Piper yelled running behind Annabeth again.
"Come on we got to run. Camp should be near here somewhere. Mom said it was this way in the dream!" Annabeth said only to be grabbed by Percy and pushed behind him, as Jason and Nico did the same to Piper and Reyna.
"Don't worry. We got this. We've been training!" Percy said excitedly, suddenly feeling a hunger to battle whatever was chasing these three little girls.
"Yeah. This'll be easier than fighting Nazoriaos." Jason exclaimed as Nico giggled his agreement.
Emerging from the trees came two massive beings. The Minotaur and a Cyclops. "Looks like there'll be plenty to eat tonight." The Cyclops excitedly said turning away from the children to look at the Minotaur who bellowed his agreement.
That was the Cyclops first mistake as suddenly Nico and Thalia jumped together Thalia striking at the monster's eye while Nico slashed his feet.
"Jason take the girls and get back, join us when they are safe!" Percy yelled charging the Minotaur.
"Got it!" Jason yelled grabbing Piper's hand and pulling her as he backtracked into the forest some.
Percy slid underneath the Minotaur's legs slicing at his feet trying his best to harm the beast. But it seemed to barely hurt the large monster. Looking over quickly he noticed Thalia and Nico being backed up by the massive Cyclops who was angrily swinging a club at the little demigods who had hurt him.
But that was all the time Percy had to look as he was quickly engaged by the Minotaur again. Barely dodging the massive fists of the beast. Feeling around with his mind he searched for nearby water, and found a stream a little to his left. "This way stupid. Come on!" He yelled running towards the water, as the Minotaur bellowed in anger and charged after.
"Percy be careful!" Nico yelled before slicing at the Cyclops hand and knocking off one of his fingers.
As the monster pulled back yelling in pain Thalia leaped forward and stabbed him in the eye, losing her spear as his head shot up and back yanking it from her grasp. Before they could do anymore Jason fell from the sky landing on the Cyclops's shoulders calling forth a lightning bolt, pouring all the energy into Thalia's spear in the beast's eye.
When Nico and Thalia could open their eyes, Jason was on his butt in a huge pile of golden dust with Thalia's spear next to him.
"Nice job!" Nico yelled jumping into the pile to high five Jason.
"That was so much fun!" Thalia said.
"Where's Percy?" Jason asked pensively.
"Percy!" Nico yelled as they all three got up and ran in the direction Percy had headed.
Percy was standing in the water using it the best he could to hold off the beast. "I'd better come up with something quick I don't have much left." Percy thought before an idea struck him. Jumping into the air and using the water to boost him over the Minotaur as hit ran at him he swung his riptide, barely missing the beast's head but slicing off one of its horns.
He landed and turned to find the beast roaring in pain and clutching its head. With another leap he called the water to him helping him get higher and higher. As he came down he drove Anaklusmos with all his might in the beast's neck. It disintegrated into dust so fast Percy lost hold of his sword as it flowed into the stream and was gone before he could get off the ground.
As he started to tear up he remembered something. The sword was magic! It should return to his sheath. Feeling slightly better he turned around and ran smack into Annabeth.
"Ouch! What are you doing here?" Percy asked, clutching his head. Then bending to grab the piece of horn he'd struck off the Minotaur that was still in one piece next to him.
"Trying to see if you needed help Seaweed brain." Annabeth responded likewise clutching her own head. At that moment Jason, Nico, and Thalia came out of the trees to their right, and Piper and Reyna from their left.
"Everyone alright?" Jason said gazing around at his friends.
"Where were you guys trying to go? Camp?" Nico asked.
"Don't you guys know? There's a camp for demigods, that trains them to fight monsters, and helps prepare them. Chiron the ancient teacher of Heroes runs the camp. Surely you guys know. How else did you get so good with swords?" Annabeth asked incredulously
Looking amongst the four of them seeing if the other's had heard of the camp Percy answered. "Well… We live with our parents. We've been trained by different people." Percy awkwardly responded nudging the ground with the toe of his boot.
"Oh… That's cool…" Annabeth said looking down tears in her eyes. "Your lucky your parents like you." She whispered staring to cry.
"Don't cry. Your mom loves you trust me!" Percy said running up and hugging her. "I bet she told Aphrodite to give us that mirror just so we could help you guys!" He said trying to cheer her up as she crying into his shoulder softly.
"Mom gave you a mirror?" Piper asked confused.
"Yeah. It showed us you guys, and we decided we wanted to come help. And it brought us here." Jason responded.
"Does that mean you guys will help us get to camp?" Reyna asked quietly looking at Nico.
"Of course. We'll help you get there in no time. Right guys?!" Nico said receiving a smack to the head by Thalia.
"No. We're going home." She demanded grabbing Nico's arm and dragging him away from the group, but Reyna specifically it seemed.
"Thalia stop. We're going to help them. Like it or not." Jason said putting his foot down on the matter as Percy nodded his agreement.
"I wonder if Blackjack and the rest can hear us down here?" Percy said.
"It's worth a try." Jason spoke as he Percy and Nico closed their eyes concentrating on their newest friends.
"Who's Blackjack?" Annabeth asked ever the curious one.
"He's my Pegasus!" Percy exclaimed happily. Before he was interrupted by a growl coming from the shadows.
Up on Olympus the gods where just beginning to wonder why the kids were so quiet when suddenly Blackjack's ears perked up, and Valor raised his head from where it was resting. Looking in to the distance for moment, both suddenly stood up and shot into the sky diving off the edge of Olympus. Followed by Rose in her Skeletal Pegasus body.
"What could that possibly be? They shouldn't leave, they only hear Percy and the-" But Amphitrite never finished as what was possibly happening dawned on her. With a speed that surprised their husbands she, Hera and Persephone took off to the garden, followed closely by Artemis.
"You are so dead." Athena said as Aphrodite's face blanched white.
Percy, Jason, and Nico stood in front of the girls as they were backed up to the stream with two huge black dogs with eyes the color of fire facing them.
"Nico. You take the girls while Jason and I try and hold them off." Percy said sounding a little down, knowing that this fight would be different as these monsters were obviously faster than their earlier opponents.
Right as Percy and Jason prepared to charge they heard a loud screech from the sky right before Valor pulled from a dive impaling one of the hell hounds with his claws grabbing onto its neck with his beak effectively snapping the beast's neck, right as Blackjack came in stomping the other hound to dust.
"Are you alright my prince?" Valor inquired.
"Yo boss you all good?" Blackjack asked looking at Percy.
"Yes!" Percy and Jason said at the same time looking at each other weirdly as they had forgotten no one but themselves could hear their pets.
"Do you think you could take us to… camp. A camp for demigods? And take our new friends here with us?" Percy asked.
"Totally boss. Have the blonde hope on." Blackjack responded enthusiastically, as Jason and Nico received similar answers from their pets.
"Thalia you can ride with me and Reyna." Nico said excitedly.
"Fine but I get to be front." Thalia grumbled hoping onto Rose before Nico could respond.
Shrugging his shoulders Nico jumped on behind Thalia then reached his hand down to pull Reyna up behind him, where she then wrapped her arms around him pulling close and resting her head on his back.
"Put your hands around me Death Breath." Thalia grumbled pulling Nico's arms around her waist.
"Calm down Thalia. Come on Rose follow Jason and Percy." Nico said patting Rose's side as they took to the air behind Jason who was following Percy.
They flew for around for thirty minutes before Blackjack began his descent to a large open area next to a lake where they saw several cabins arranged in a U formation. As they started to land suddenly out of the cabins came fully armored kids ranging from seven to fifteen.
"Whoa children calm down. Calm down it's alright. Back up. Now what do we…" But words failed Chiron as he stared at the three children he'd delivered to the gods eight years ago. "But how. Why are?" he stuttered out.
"Hi! My names Percy Jackson. And these are my brothers. Jason and Nico. And that's our new sister Thalia. We were just bringing Annabeth, Piper, and Reyna here." Percy said excitedly hoping off his horse and helping Annabeth down, as similar scenes unfolded between Jason, and Nico. "But I must say. If you don't put your weapons up we'll have to make you. You're scaring the girls." Percy said stepping in front of Annabeth as he Jason and Nico all drew their weapons.
"You've got to be kidding me. You're what seven little kid. You probably don't even know which side is the pointy side of that weapon." A tall kid at the front in red armor snickered to his friends.
"I must ask young Josh. That you hold your tongue. These three should not be trifled with." Chiron said with a smirk on his face as he beheld Percy getting upset, with Jason and Nico frowning as well.
"Chiron you've got to be kidding me. These three are barely out of"
But he never finished as suddenly the lake rose and a huge wave swept in dragging the unfortunate camper into the water, as lightning struck near the rest of his group, and as they leapt back to avoid it hands shot from the ground tripping them into the lake as well.
Percy and the group irrupted into laughter falling down at the scared expressions on their faces, while several campers carefully joined in themselves.
"Percy, Jason, Nico. I believe a proper introduction is due. And then I must ask what you all are doing here." Chiron spoke trying to stifle his own laughter.
"I'm Nico. Son of Hades and Persephone. Blessed both by my parents and by Artemis." Nico said removing his shirt to show the marks of his father and mother, as well as their blessings, and Artemis's.
"Jason. Son of Zeus and Hera. Also blessed by parents and Artemis." Jason followed also removing his shirt to show his tattoos.
"And I'm Percy Jackson. Son of Poseidon and Amphitrite. Blessed by both, along with Artemis. And I thoroughly enjoyed dousing you." Percy said removing his shirt as well, and moving his hair to show his Mother's Mark.
As the boys removed their shirts, it could be scene that almost every girl their age present, especially Piper, Annabeth, Reyna, and even Thalia blushed deep red. For though young and still developing having to train so hard already had left the three boys extremely well-muscled for ones so young.
"All right you show offs. Return your shirts to your body and tell my why you're here."
"There's no need Chiron. We were about to ask the same question."
The entire group turned to see three angry looking goddesses, and the big three trying to not smile at their children's rebellious behavior. Like father like son they thought.
"Perseus Alexander Jackson. Get your butt over here and tell me why in the world you left Olympus." Amphitrite sternly said glaring at a suddenly shy Percy who slowly walked over head hung in shame.
Jason and Nico's laughter at Percy's full name being used ended quiet fast.
"Don't think you've escaped this Jason Patrikios Grace. You are grounded for a month." Hera said walking over and seizing Jason by his ear dragging him away from the campers to give him a talking to.
"Nico. I will ask once. And once only. Get your butt over here." Persephone intoned quietly in a voice that Nico knew meant he was in deep trouble if he didn't move.
"Chiron we are sorry for interrupting you today. I'm glad our boys were able to get the girls here safe. I'm fairly certain Athena and Aphrodite had their hand in this. But take good care of the girls. They have an important future." Poseidon said still chuckling to himself.
"Of course my lord." Chiron bowed.
"Mom. Before we go… can we say goodbye." Percy asked giving his mother his best puppy dog eyes, as Jason and Nico followed suit.
Her anger leaving her almost immediately Amphitrite nodded.
"Goodbye Annabeth. It was nice meeting you."
"Am I going to get to see you again?" She asked shyly looking down.
"I hope so. But… Oh I know." Percy exclaimed pulling out the Minotaur's horn.
"Percy where did you get that!" Amphitrite nearly shouted catching sight of the horn.
"Oh. Jason, Nico, and me defeated the Minotaur and a Cyclops." Percy nonchalantly shrugged returning his focus to the horn.
"Oh you are so dead mister." Amphitrite mumbled her anger returning. "And don't think you've escaped unscathed Aphrodite. Athena." She whispered knowing the two goddesses would hear her. What she didn't know is Hera and Persephone had just whispered almost the same thing.
Focusing on the horn Percy said a silent prayer to his Uncle Hephaestus. Suddenly the horn began to glow for a moment before it separated and formed into two necklaces. One was a trident, the other an owl. "Here you go Annabeth. This way you'll always remember me and I'll always remember you." Percy said putting the Owl necklace on her and the Trident one on his.
Blushing Annabeth responded "Thanks Seaweed brain. Maybe you aren't so dumb. I'll see you later." She said before leaping forward and kissing him quickly upon the cheek then running off.
Piper seeing Annabeth so bold did the same thing and ran off giggling after her.
Reyna who hated being outdone by them kissed Nico square on the mouth and ran off looking back to see a blushing Nico being smacked by an angry Thalia. Smiling she ran on.
That night the boys had to clean their rooms from top to bottom. It was a long night. When they finally finished they crashed in their bed, dreaming of adventures flying through the sky and sailing on the sea with each other and the new people they'd met that day.
As Chiron prepared to sleep a glow lit up the night behind him. "Ah. Lady Athena how may I help you?" He bowed.
"Rise. You know better than to bow to me Chiron. You do so much you deserve the right to stay standing. Now, I am here to ask that you move Reyna into my cabin with Annabeth. And to let you know. Take care of those three girls. They have an important future ahead of them. As well as with the prophecy." Athena seriously intoned.
With a sad nod Chiron bowed again. "As you wish Lady Athena." By them time he'd risen the golden glow of her leaving and the soft sound of a sigh at his subservient attitude was gone.
"My children. My young children. Stay strong. You'll need it." He sadly spoke to the night.
