Let's get this quest started.

It didn't take long for him to pack.

He left the Minotaur horn hanging in his cabin, but he slung a backpack that had been given to him containing loaned out cash and drachmas, Greek currency, from the camp store. He also stuffed it with ambrosia and nectar given from Chiron for emergencies. Annabeth brought her hat and knife. Grover wore his "passing as a human" clothes and took a backpack full of scrap cans and his reed pipes.

Chiron waited for them at Half-Blood Hill alongside Argus, the security with eyes all over his body. Chiron was explaining that Argus would drive them to the terminal when Luke suddenly ran up the hill, carrying a shoe box. "Hey" he panted. Annabeth blushed like she always did around Luke. "Glad I caught you. Just wanted to say good luck. And, uh…I thought you could use these."

Luke handed the shoe box to Percy and he opened it. Inside were seemingly a pair of high-top Chuck Taylors. But when Luke said "maia" they sprouted wings and flapped in the air until they came to rest on the box and the wings disappeared. Percy nodded in approval. "Nice."

Luke smiled. "Gift from Dad. Worked well on my quest. Of course, I don't use them much these days."

Percy smiled at him. "Thanks, dude."

They shook hands. He shook hands with Grover, too and hugged Annabeth, who looked almost about to pass out. Annabeth caught Percy watching her and he shook his head in mock disapproval. Annabeth rolled her eyes and decided to wait in the car. Percy didn't end up keeping the shoes anyways as Chiron explained that it would be a bad idea for him to fly at all, so Percy gave them off to Grover. He tried them on and he went off flying to the car. Percy meanwhile, felt like when he is about to go on a long trip and no matter how much he checked, he still felt like he was missing something. And then, it occurred to him.

"Hey, Chiron."

"Yes, Percy?"

"Where's the sword you gave me at the museum?"

Chiron sighed. "I was wondering if you'd ever ask." He took out a pen from his shirt pocket and handed it to Percy. Percy immediately uncapped it and it grew into the same double-edged bronze sword that he had held at the museum.

"It's a gift from your father. I didn't know if you were the one, but it's clear to me now that you are," Chiron said. "It's name is Anaklusmos."

"Riptide. And for once, a sword feels balanced in my hand." Percy said, swinging the sword around with ease. "What if I lose it in battle?"

"You can't. It will come back to your pocket. Try it."

Percy threw the sword as far as he could, waited a few seconds and checked his pocket again. It was there, in pen form. Percy smiled at Chiron as he held up the pen.

"Thanks for this. Really. I felt like I was still missing something."

"Keep your head clear, Percy. Remember, you're about to prevent the biggest war in human history. No pressure."

Percy raised an eyebrow. No pressure? He was going to prevent World War III. He felt nothing but pressure. But he knew Chiron was right, he had to keep his head clear. "Yeah, no pressure," he said, nodding.

"Good luck, Percy and may the gods be with you."

Percy nodded his thanks and climbed up the hill. He got inside Argus's car. He turned to see Chiron standing on the hill, waving his bow in a farewell manner. And then he turned back and disappeared down the hill.

It was strange being out in the world again, Camp Half-Blood felt like a completely different planet. On the ride to the bus terminal, Annabeth spoke up.

"Hey, um...I just wanted to properly say that I'm sorry," she said.

"Don't mention it. All water under the bridge, now."

"No, it's just…since you've come to camp, I've…made a bad impression. Said some mean things, done horrible things to you. And I…just want to redeem myself."

Percy looked at her curiously. "You haven't done this a lot, have you?'

Annabeth smiled nervously. "No…not really. I'm not really one to apologize. I'm...prideful, I guess I would say. I don't like to be wrong. But, our parents hate each other enough as it is and I don't want us to be like that. So…how about we start over?"

Percy smiled at her. "Yeah I'd like that." Percy held out his hand. "Hi, I'm Percy Jackson."

Annabeth gleefully shook his hand. "Annabeth Chase."

"And from now on, we are companions on this quest And we shall work together...to save the world."

Annabeth looked impressed. "Nicely said, Percy."

Percy grinned and they all rode the rest of way until they reached the bus terminal. They were dropped off at a Greyhound station not far from Percy's apartment. Percy thought about what Gabe might be doing at the moment. Probably the same thing he did everyday: play poker and drink beers.

"You want to know why she married him?" Grover said, seeing where Percy was looking. "She married him for you. To protect you. You talked about how when you got expelled in third grade, your mom met Gabe. You said he smelled, but you have no idea. Even a week after, I can still smell traces of him on you. So when you would stay with him in the summer, you would take that smell with you to school, and no monsters would attack you for that."

Percy sarcastically said, "Remind me to take a shower."

"You should be grateful. Gabe smells so repulsively human, he masks any demigod's scent. Your mom was smart. She did everything to protect you from monsters."

Yeah, well I would've been fine, Percy thought. Percy was a natural-born fighter and he would've taken down any monster he came across. Even as a kid. He never told anyone this, but he had killed a snake back in preschool. He remembered it was nap time, and a snake had crawled in the open window. Percy remembered the snake had crawled up to him and tried to bite him but he had grabbed hold of its neck...and squeezed. His mom had found him later that day and had absolutely freaked out that her son was napping with a dead snake in his arms. Percy figured his mom must have figured out that that was his first monster he encountered and she had put him in taekwondo not long after that. Just another memory that had lingered and made him question his life. Especially, when he read in Latin class that freakin' Hercules had done the same thing as a toddler.

Now he was in sixth grade. In the span of two months, he already killed three monsters, two of them with zero training, one of them with his bare hands. Percy didn't like to brag, but he understood not a lot people had done what he has done already. He would be fine, he didn't need anyone's protection. Not even his mother's. He was ready to get her back, that was after all what he was on the quest for. Sure, he could pick up the bolt along the way as a side mission, but his main mission was to rescue his mother.

The bus arrived and as they got in, Grover looked around, sniffing the air. Grover could clearly smell danger and Percy started to look around as well. They found seats at the back of the bus. As the last passengers got on, Annabeth grabbed Percy's knee and whispered, "Percy, look."

And old lady was getting on the bus and Percy recognized her immediately, it was Mrs. Dodds.

"Well, she didn't stay dead very long," Percy commented. Two more joined her and they sat behind the driver.

"All three of them!" Grover whispered. "Di immortales!"

"It's ok, no problem. They're just the Furies." Annabeth whispered. "We'll slip out the windows."

Annabeth tried opening the windows, they wouldn't open. Back door, there wasn't one.

"Well," she said. "We're stuck in here. Just hope the Mist don't make us look bad."

One by one, the old ladies declared that they needed to use the restroom and they started coming down the aisle.

"I got it. Take my hat." Annabeth whispered to Percy.

"What?"

"They just want you. Turn invisible and try to get away. Maybe they'll ignore us." Annabeth said.

"I'm not gonna leave you guys."

"Don't worry about us. Go!" Grover whispered.

Percy reluctantly took the cap and put it on, turning invisible. Mrs. Dodds suddenly stopped, staring at an empty seat for a few seconds but kept walking. They immediately recognized Grover and Annabeth and transformed into leathery bat-ladies that they were. "Where is it? Where?", they screamed. Everyone in the bus screamed. Percy couldn't tell what they saw but whatever they saw, it wasn't good.

"He's gone!" Annabeth replied.

She drew her knife and Grover prepared to throw a can when suddenly the bus lurched sideways and the Furies were thrown across. The bus driver wrestled for control of the wheel. Shooting off into New Jersey, the bus crashed into some trees and everyone rushed out of the bus. The Furies regained their senses and Annabeth yelled at them in Ancient Greek. Percy took off his cap.

"Hey!" Percy shouted. "Looking for me?"

Mrs. Dodds turned to him. "Perseus Jackson, you have offended the gods. You shall die."

"Ah, shut up and fight me." Percy said uncapping Riptide.

Mrs. Dodds unleashed a whip and threw it at Percy but he wasn't having it. He grabbed the whip with left hand and pulled. Mrs. Dodds was yanked forward and Percy kicked her away. He promptly pushed away Fury #2 and sliced Fury #3 through the neck. One down. Meanwhile, Annabeth wrapped her arms around Mrs. Dodds and she tried to get Annabeth off her back. Grover yanked the whip out of her hands. Fury #2 went at Percy again and he sliced her in half. Two down. Suddenly Percy felt his arm hair stand on end, Spiderman-style, and he smelled ozone in the air. He signaled to Annabeth and Grover to get out and rushed Mrs. Dodds.

"Zeus will destroy you! Hades will you have your -oof!" she was interrupted by Percy barreling past her, football-style. As Annabeth and Grover ran out of the bus, he grabbed his backpack, and smacked Mrs. Dodds with it as she tried to recover. He ran out as thunder shook the bus and he jumped out just in time for lightning to strike the bus. Percy hit the ground, hard. He groaned and coughed as Grover and Annabeth helped him up.

"You okay?" Grover asked.

"Yeah." Percy panted. "Let's get the hell outta here."

The trio ran and disappeared into the New Jersey woods.

Just one review I'll answer to and that's:

Kaos: Sorry, buddy. Annabeth wont be "Percy's bitch." She was simply apologizing like a decent human being would.

Thanks for the reviews as always. Always feel free to drop something.