To that guest reviewer, you are right!
Harry woke with his blood feeling like ice. He raised his right hand, and found a golden band on his ring finger. His veins were visible near it, and they glowed golden. The ship lurched dangerously, and Harry slammed against a wall.
"What the heck?" Harry asked to no one. He busted open his door and ran to the deck. Annabeth, and Hermione were both tied to a pole, and Percy was steering with some stuff in his ears. Just as Harry reached the deck, they broke out of the dark and hazy gloom of the storm and rode into the bright blue ocean.
Both of his hands glowed blue briefly, and the ropes around Hermione and Annabeth fell. Percy ripped the things out of his ears and came over to Harry. "While you were asleep, we passed by the Sirens. Annabeth and Hermione wanted to hear them, so I tied em up. Let's go see how they're doing." Percy explained, walking to Hermione.
Harry nodded and walked to Annabeth. "Hey, Annie, you good?"
No, she was defiantly not good. Her eyes looked like she'd been crying-which was a surprise in its own, Annabeth never cried. She was breathing like she had just run a marathon. Harry grabbed her into a tight hug and let her cry until the tears subsided.
"I-I…It was amazing, Harry. If it wasn't for the ropes, I would've gone all the way to those beasts. My fatal flaw was clouding me. Hubris…in the vision, I was the architect of Olympus and I was the greatest architect alive." Annabeth whispered into Harry's ears.
Harry rubbed her back, until Percy tapped his shoulder. His eyes were frightened. "What's wrong?" Harry asked.
Percy pointed out to the horizon. Approaching rapidly, was a saddle-shaped island with forested hills and white beaches and green meadows. Harry knew what it was instantly. He gave Percy a grim nod. "Showtime."
Annabeth wiped her eyes. "Harry, you know how the story went right? How Odysseus tricked Polyphemus."
"Yep. I think you should bring your cap. And remember"- Harry looked at everyone in turn-"keep a cool head, and if he asks your name, say Nobody. Do NOT, under any circumstances, say your name. Unless you're Percy of course, because Poseidon wouldn't kill him."
Percy smiled. "Yeah, Dad wouldn't kill me." The ship stopped moving. The quartet made its way to the island, where there was a rope bridge strung across a caver.
"Looks like the kind of place you'd find an evil Cyclops." Percy commented, peering over the edge. At the base of the ravine, several dozen sheep were milling around. They looked peaceful enough, but they were huge—the size of hippos. Just past them was a path that led up into the hills. At the top of the hill, there was a huge oak tree. Something gold glittered in its branches.
Harry could feel its power thumping through the land. He had no doubt this would save camp. "Let's move on." Harry urged.
He floated them all up a cliff. ROAR! Harry grabbed Annabeth's arm to stop her from toppling over the edge. Harry's hairs all stood. The noise came from below them.
"You're a feisty one!" the deep voice bellowed.
"Challenge me!" Clarisse's voice, no doubt about It. "Give me back my sword and I'll fight you!"
The monster roared with laughter. Harry could see that below them stood Polyphemus and Grover, still in his wedding dress. Clarisse was tied up, hanging upside down over a pot of boiling water. Harry wanted to leave Clarisse there, but he didn't want to get in any more hot water with Ares than he was already in.
"Hmm," Polyphemus pondered. "Eat loudmouth girl now or wait for wedding feast? What does my bride think?" He turned to Grover, who backed up and almost tripped over his completed bridal train.
"Oh, um, I'm not hungry right now, dear. Perhaps—"
"Did you say bride?" Clarisse demanded. "Who— Grover?"
Harry felt Percy tense next to him. He grit his teeth. Not even Clarisse was this stupid, was she? Harry saw Polyphemus glower. "What 'Grover'?"
"The satyr!" Clarisse yelled.
"Oh!" Grover yelped. "The poor thing's brain is boiling from that hot water. Pull her down, dear!"
Polyphemus's eyelids narrowed over his baleful milky eye, as if he were trying to see Clarisse more clearly. "What satyr?" asked Polyphemus. "Satyrs are good eat-ing. You bring me a satyr?"
"No, you big idiot!" bellowed Clarisse. "That satyr! Grover! The one in the wedding dress!"
"That's it." Harry seethed. He faced Percy. "Percy, go and get the fleece. I'll take care of Polyphemus."
Annabeth glared at him, "We're not leaving you."
Harry gave her a rueful look. "I'm not letting Grover die." The wind carried Harry down, right before Annabeth swung her arm to stop him.
"Listen." Percy commanded, his aura flaring. His eyes followed Harry's body down. "I promised Harry something, and whether he makes it or not, I will complete my promise."
"Don't you care?" Annabeth yelled, spit flying from her mouth.
Percy's eyes pooled with tears, but glowed like molten emeralds. "Yes, that's my brother down there. I've known him longer than you, and I hate to see him do this, but sometimes, doing the right thing for someone else means doing something that feels wrong to you. Now hurry the Hades up, we have a fleece to get!" The trio ran towards the fleece.
"What is this?" Polyphemus demanded. "Is it another satyr for me to eat?"
"No. It's nobody." Harry replied, while Accio-ing Grover to himself.
"NOBODY!" roared Polyphemus swinging his club around. "I will kill you! I will tear you apart!"
Harry muttered 'Portus' at a rock and threw it at Clarisse. He also pushed Grover to her. They both disappeared in a twirl of light. His shoulders began to sag; creating portkeys was not easy.
Harry stood and faced Polyphemus. The band on his hand grew hot, and a lion's roar echoed through the cavern. In his hand, was an exact replica of Narasimha's sword, with his head as the hilt. It vibrated in his hand. "Well, then, let's see you try."
Polyphemus swung his club and Harry used the air to propel his sword forward. The explosion caused shockwaves to vibrate and Harry to stumble back. There was no way he could win this after creating that portkey, but who said he had to? Odysseus didn't beat him either, he used his brains.
But what could he do? What could he use against Polyphemus? Aha! His hatred against Nobody and his pride! Perhaps he could make him act irrationally and subdue him. No, definitely not. He was knackered. He was not even in a shape to subdue him. A distraction is what he actually needed! A plan began to formulate in his head.
Harry laughed nervously, but it must've seemed genuine enough for Polyphemus as he lowered his club. "What is so funny?"
Harry swallowed. "I was merely testing you! I am not Nobody, I am a healer sent by Lord Poseidon to heal your eye and help you gain revenge on that low-life bastard!" He crossed his fingers that his plan worked.
Polyphemus pondered It. "Ah, my father sent you!"
Harry nodded. "Yes, oh yes. He said his favorite son needed help, and I of course knew it was you. I told him 'Send me my lord, I would love to heal the great Polyphemus!' My lord Polyphemus, your tale survives the test of time itself. IT would be a grave sin to not want to help you!" Harry was really laying it thick, but Polyphemus was eating it up.
"YES! I am the greatest son of Poseidon to ever live! Come, climb up to my eye and heal it!" Polyphemus yelled, throwing his club to the floor. "Then we'll go kill Odysseus! I will reward you greatly, young one! Do you like satyr? I have one! They are the most tasty morsels!"
Harry grimaced, but put on a pleasing smile. "I will heal your eye now, milord."
"Yes." Polyphemus sat down and kept his eye unblinking.
IT unnerved Harry, but he remembered his plan. "Erm, okay, I'll climb on up." Harry 'climbed' to Polyphemus' eye. In reality, he just flew up while tossing rocks at him. He floated right in front of Polyphemus, but he didn't notice in his excitement.
"Are you ready?" asked Harry, discreetly pooling lightning in his left palm.
Polyphemus grunted. Harry sent a quick prayer to all of the gods and put his hands together. He yelled "Fiendfyre!" and let the lightning arc at the same time. Not waiting to see the result, he flew past Polyphemus, who fell backwards as a large flaming serpent ravaged his eye.
Harry grinned as he saw Percy take the Golden Fleece while Hermione Annabeth watched his back. They fended off sheep the size of large cattle. Once the fleece was taken, they turned smaller and the skies grew gray. The beautiful island moments ago was now a gloomy island. The white sand was darkened, almost blackish and the palm trees shriveled up and died. Suppressing a shiver, he dove down, and stumbled as he made contact with the ground. "We really need to get out of here." Harry told Annabeth as she caught him.
"Harry are you okay?" Annabeth asked worriedly. "Did you kill Polyphemus?"
"TRAITOR!" A voice answered Annabeth's question. "I will kill you for your insolence!"
Harry groaned in Annabeth's arms. He shakily got up. "Like I said before, we need to get out of here."
Percy nodded and slung one of Harry's arms around his shoulders and they all ran back to ship. Percy said something and the ship tightened its mast and took off. In the horizon, Polyphemus rose. His eye was still aflame and he glared murderously across the sea. "Your aura…champion of powerful god. I will END you-"Polyphemus roared in pain and fell again, but not before throwing a giant smoldering boulder at the ship. It ripped a hole in the mast.
Harry felt a twinge of guilt at tricking the cyclops, but decided it was for the best. That Cyclops would've killed him without a single thought. Percy glanced towards him. "This boat was damaged pretty badly, but it'll be able to take us to San Francisco at the least."
Annabeth looked like she swallowed a lemon. "Can't you just make one of your magic tings that'll take us there instantly?"
Harry shook his head. "I've used up most of my energy making one for Grover and Clarisse. Looks like we'll have to hitch a ride."
The boat docked at a port. In the distance, the sun was setting behind a city skyline. Harry could see a beachside highway lined with palm trees, store-fronts glowing with red and blue neon, a harbor filled with sailboats and cruise ships.
"Looks like the boat couldn't hold together that long," Percy informed. "I had to stop us at Miami or else the boat would've capsized."
"Don't worry about it." Harry assured him. Now since they were among mortals, the Fleece had transformed from a sheepskin to a red and-gold high school letter jacket with a large glittery Omega on the pocket. Harry put it on for safe keeping, but then something weird happened.
A black ghost burst from Harry's head. It made a loud wailing noise and looked around before flying off. Harry's face paled. That was no ghost…that was Voldemort. Harry would never forget that snake-like face and those red eyes, but what the heck was he doing in his head?
Unbeknownst to Harry, his hair had changed back to jet black and his eyes were back to an emerald green. The scar that had made him famous zigzagged down his forehead, but it was lighter now.
"Harry," Hermione began. "You look like when we first met."
Harry was confused. He walked to the nearest store and looked at his reflection in the window. She was right! Harry tried to look closer, but then the store owner came out and started yelling at him in Spanish.
TBC
