Disclaimer: I do not own Hero: 108 or Percy Jackson.
Chapter 9:
All the senior counsellors were called in for the prophecy, anxiously waiting for Annabeth, who finally showed up. Her face was pale, but she recited the prophecy anyway.
"You shall delve in the darkness of the endless maze,
The dead, the traitor and the lost one raise.
You shall rise or fall by the ghost king's hand,
The child of Athena's final stand.
Blind shall end this hero's breath,
And lose a love to worse than death."
"So, first thing's first. Who are you going to bring with you on your quest, Annabeth?" Chiron asked.
"Percy," Percy nodded, glad to be included, "Grover, and Tyson." Chiron shifted uncomfortably.
"Are you sure, my dear? There have always been only three for anything. I would prefer it if you had five in your quest." Annabeth frowned, but considered his advice.
Blind shall end this hero's breath.
"Lin Chung." The blind teenager nodded, neither his eyes nor his face revealing anything.
"Alright!" Chiron banged his hooves on the floor. "Tomorrow at dawn, the five shall enter the labyrinth."
Percy did not sleep well that night. He found himself somewhere he couldn't tell, floating in the sky, until an explosion brought him to his senses. As he regained his senses, he looked around, seeing several large rockets - like planes - that flew along the sky.
Life-sized eagles were on the other side, dropping bombs on the villages down below. He saw a large person behind who he presumed was the leader yelling out orders.
He turned, seeing another rocket. This one had a female on it, with Lin Chung behind her. From the way he could still see the dark colour of Lin Chung's eyes, he guessed that Lin Chung still had his sight.
He saw a third rocket, one which carried a single man with an eyepatch. More bombs dropped before rockets were fired on the large red ones from the other side. Bats on the large red rockets immediately turned the rockets, allowing them to dodge any sort of bombs thrown at them, until missiles started coming.
Percy saw them fighting until they realised that they had no hope, and started to retreat. However, his eyes widened as Lin Chung turned around in the vision, shouting at the man with the eyepatch. The man with the eyepatch turned around, but it was too late. A missile hit the rocket, the explosion shaking the scene and ending it.
He woke up, panting, wondering when that had happened. He shakily lay down again, looking out. Time to go to the Labyrinth. He passed Quintus, who was playing with Mrs. O'Leary. He walked up to Percy, golding out a whistle.
"Stygian ice. Forged in the River Styx. I've talked to Lin Chung, and he advised me to do so. Call Mrs. O'Leary if you need it."
The group started into the labyrinth, all ready with their equipment and weapons. It was dark until Lin Chung put up a hand, allowing a glowing purple orb to light the path ahead of them.
Percy noticed that Annabeth was looking stressed as she led them, wondering around seemingly aimlessly until they stopped for lunch. "Do you know where we're going, Annabeth?" The other three also turned. She shrugged helplessly.
"There were so many stories about the labyrinth, so many ways and versions, I don't even know what to do anymore."
Lin Chung shook his head. "Don't worry, Annabeth. I was once in a labyrinth like this before."
"You were?" This perked Annabeth's attention; and the others as well.
"Yes." He nodded. "We were captured to fight like gladiators as entertainment for the Minotaur. We escaped and we thought the Minotaur died within the labyrinth, but he survived."
"How did you know how to get out?" Annabeth questioned. Lin Chung sighed.
"Tracking spell. Not like the ones the satyrs use though. I'll show you later."
"So back on topic: how can we stop an army? We are only five people." Grover pointed out. Lin Chung shook his head.
"They can't navigate through the labyrinth. The only way is to get Ariadne's string, which Daedalus has with him."
They finished lunch quickly, continuing to wander around until they came to an abrupt stop at a sort of junction. Lin Chung first walked to one, hand in front of him. He shook his head and walked to another. Again, he shook his head before stopping at the third. "Here."
They continued on, stopping once again as the shadows solidified around them.
"Nico." Lin Chung turned to the boy. Nico looked better than he did before, and had clearly lost some of his previous childishness. The boy smiled.
"Hey guys."
"Nico, how are you doing?" Percy grinned. The boy shrugged.
"My dad told me that you were in the labyrinth. Decided to see if it was real or not." He looked ahead. "So, where are you guys headed?"
"Trying to find Daedalus."
"Daedalus?" Nico frowned. "I heard one of the ghosts speaking about him. Minos constantly complains about him. The way to find Daedalus would be to go to Hephaestus, I've heard. Daedalus was Hephaestus' favourite inventor."
They nodded at the useful piece of information. Lin Chung continued to lead them, indicating where to and where not to go until they came to five passageways. He walked through all of them, before returning to the group.
"One of them is the way to Hephaestus, I think. The trail to Daedalus has ended for some reason. But there is another presence in one of the other tunnels. Reminds me of nature, forests."
Grover quivered with excitement. "Pan!" He turned to Percy and Annabeth. "I have to go and see him. I have to!" Percy nodded despite looking worried for his best friend.
"Bring someone else with you as well." Tyson volunteered.
"I'll go with goat boy!"
Grover looked unsure, but seemed too excited to care. He rushed down the indicated tunnel with Tyson hot on his heels. Lin Chung turned to Nico.
"Does your father know you are here?" Nico shook his head. "Then you should go before you get in trouble." Nico tried protesting, but was quickly silenced. Sulking slightly, he vanished into the shadows.
Lin Chung led them on again for several minutes before suddenly breaking into a sprint. The other two followed, panting heavily as he continued on for what felt like hours. Eventually, they stopped at an entrance. Loud metallic sounds - one which Percy associated with a forge - could be heard inside. Lin Chung opened the door, revealing a crippled person in a large brace tinkering with something. A strong fire was going on behind him.
"Hephaestus." Hephaestus acknowledged the three as they knelt on one knee. They rose again, before looking around. He looked at the two.
"I know what you want." The two nodded. "And I will help you get it…on one condition." They waited. "My favourite forge in Mount St. Helens in taken over by something I can't see. Everytime I go there, they push me back out. Reclaim it, and I'll help you find Daedalus."
"What about Lin Chung?" Annabeth questioned him, to which he shrugged.
"I need to talk to him about something." Percy nodded, looking hesitant, but followed the mechanical spider as it scuttled across the floor, dragging Annabeth along as she froze up in fear.
They reached the volcano, where they hid in a small cave, eyes widening as they overheard the plans for Kronos' scythe. Their eyes widened as they planned on destroying the forge, but Annabeth reluctant to leave.
Annabeth shook her head. "I won't leave you behind."
"You don't have a choice."
Annabeth hesitated as Percy drew Anaklusmos, before kissing him. He froze, his brain going empty for a moment, before Annabeth pulled away.
"Don't die."
With a goofy grin still on his face, his expression turned serious as he walked out, lava being thrown at him by monsters. He frowned, feeling a burn, before closing his eyes and calling on the power of the sea. He could feel it coming up, before something akin to an explosion took place. He was sent flying out of Mount St. Helens…and he knew no more.
AN: 9th Chapter up! As usual, lots of thanks to Better left Anonymous for reviewing!