AN The good news is that google docs works on my laptop besides the enter key. If I push the enter key then it says an error has occured. Also I have been having a writers block for the last 4 pages. Also my fanfiction account has been acting crazy. Also I am doubting myself like one day I will get most of it done then the next day I erase it because I don't like it. I have been having internet troubles as well. Then stupid college projects and homework. Sorry for the really really late update.
A bright flash of light blinded the occupants in the throne room. When the supernova of light died down to revealed a crib. The sounds of a crying infant sounded throughout the the once quiet throne room.
Kushina walked over to the crib and gasped because inside the crib was her precious perfect baby boy Naruto.
Kushina quickly ran to the crib and picked him up and whispered "Naru chan mommy is here."
The goddesses cooed at the touching sight of the mother and son.
Baby Naruto stopped crying because he recognized this beautiful voice. He slowly opened his blue eyes to see a red head woman that he knew was his mother.
Kushina smiled and cooed at her baby boy. Tears were streaming down her face because she didn't have this opportunity ever before, so why not start now.
The goddesses and the female demigods were cooing at the adorable sight of baby Naruto.
Baby Naruto just giggled and looked over to Thals and Sil. He then raised his hands up to them and cooed.
Kushina giggled and said "he knows you."
Aphrodite squealed and cooed out "true love!"
Kushina blushed and shouted "mom please."
Persephone looked at the baby critically and thought 'he is a little cute I suppose.'
Kushina smiled at Persephone and Persephone had to smile back because Kushina's grin was infectious.
Hades smiled at his wives and thought 'my other you lucky bastard.'
Artemis just scowled at Hades because she knew what he was thinking then she thought 'men are pigs.'
Meanwhile Aphrodite sighed but then grinned again at her little baby grandson. She then bounced up and down screaming "I am the happiest grandmother ever!"
Baby Naruto looked at the love goddesses then giggled at her.
Aphrodite cooed and thought 'I love my grandson.'
Thals and Sil thought with a happy smile 'I love him so much.'
Athena said "I don't mean to interrupt but who will read the next chapter?"
"thee will read Lady Athena" replied Zoë Nightshade.
Artemis smiled at her oldest huntress.
As soon as Zoë touched the book she glowed softly.
A note appeared and said "only when Zoë is reading will she sound like a person who has no accent." "But will regain her accent when she is interrupted by anyone."
Zoë looked gratefully because she didn't want to make a fool of herself and keep on repeating herself to the demigods in the throne room of the gods.
Zoë began by flipping the book to the right page and started.
In a way, it's nice to know there are Greek gods out there, because you have somebody to blame when things go wrong. For instance, when you're walking away from a bus that's just been attacked by monster hags and blown up by lightning, and it's raining on top of everything else, most people might think that's just really bad luck; when you're a demi-god, you understand that some divine force really is trying to mess up your day or just trying to rid the world of you.
"A little more the latter than the former" said Poseidon looking at Zeus.
The sky god had the decency to look elsewhere from his brother's glance.
Hades just smirked at Zeus and thought 'serves him right.' Because he remembered how his brother killed Maria Di Angelo.
That was what was going through Naruto's mind as he walked alongside Percy, Annabeth, and Grover. Currently, they were walking along the Jersey riverbank, with the glow of New York City behind them.
"If the scenario was different it would be so romantic" giggled the love goddess.
"No" shouted a blushing Percy and Annabeth.
Aphrodite laughed and said "you two are blushing so that means I am right and I have done this for eons I know my stuff."
Hephaestus chuckled and said "now calm down dear."
The lady of Doves blushed.
Thals and Sil nodded their head because she really does know about love.
"Enough read huntress." boomed out Zeus.
Zoë nodded her head and began once more.
Meanwhile Artemis was smiling at her closest friend and most loyal hunter she has ever had.
Grover was shivering and braying, his big goat eyes turned slit-pupiled and full of terror. "Three Kindly Ones. All three at once."
"Come on! The farther away we get, the better." Annabeth said, still looking shaken.
"A wise choice daughter" praised Athena.
Ares just grunted and said "bull shit."
In response to that statement he got a heated glare from the Wisdom Goddess.
"All our money was back there," Percy reminded her. "Our food and clothes. Everything."
"At least you have your lives, some aren't so lucky" said Hades.
Zeus looked away and knew he was thinking about his lost love Maria Di Angelo.
Hades just waved his hand and told the hunteress to start reading once more.
"Well, maybe if you hadn't decided to jump into the fight—"
"What did you want me to do? Let you get killed?"
"You didn't need to protect me, Percy. I would've been fine. Besides, we also had Naruto."
"Sliced like sandwich bread," Grover put in, "but fine."
"Shut up, goat boy," said Annabeth.
"Naruto won't have let his friends get hurt if he could help it, even if he has to take the wound for you" said Thals.
Sil just nodded to her head in agreement.
Kushina meanwhile smiled at her son's lovers and thought 'you are very lucky to have them son.' But then turned her focus on the infant in her hands and smiled.
Baby Naruto eyes were wandering around the throne room with amazement because he has never seen stuff so bright and shiny.
Suddenly his eyes caught something on his .
His arms tried to grab it but couldn't reach it.
Kushina looked down at Naruto and softly said "No baby this is all pointy and sharp."
Naruto's eyes started to fill up with tears.
Kushina began to panic and soothed her baby by saying "don't worry baby mommy will get you something to play with."
A scroll suddenly appeared with a note on it.
Kushina quickly made a Kage Bunshin and gave her son to her clone.
She lifted up the scroll and read the note and smiled. Kushina bit her thumb and focused chakra and a cloud of smoke and in her hands were a little stuffed fox. She gave the fox to Naruto which he instantly took a liking to.
The goddesses cooed again at the cute scene before them.
Annabeth smiled at the sight while Percy being clueless to this type of stuff just looked.
Zoë Nightshade admitted it was somewhat cute but would never say it outloud to anyone.
Zoë began after the throne room became silent once more.
Grover brayed mournfully. "Tin cans ... a perfectly good bag of tin cans."
"OK! ENOUGH!" Naruto growled out. By the end of the arguing, Naruto's eye was twitching. "I got my money so I got enough for the trip."
"How" questioned Percy and Annabeth had a gleam in her eyes because she figured it had to do something about sealing.
"Sealing dear" grinned Kushina.
Zoë had to admit she admired Kushina's beauty and deadliness in combat.
Artemis had to agree with her old time friend that she saw as a daughter.
"Oh right." Percy said thoughtly.
Annabeth just looked lost and said, "What do you mean?"
"Oh Naruto has a lot of money thanks to his old world." Grover replied, suddenly remembering as well.
"That too" said Hades meanwhile Kushina just grinned.
Percy and Annabeth pouted and thought 'I wished we had him on our first quest.'
"Oh…well that is good." Annabeth said softly.
After a few minutes, Annabeth fell into line next to Percy. "Look, I..." Her voice faltered. "I appreciate your coming back for us, okay? That was really brave."
"We're a team, right?" Percy asked with a smile.
She was silent for a few more steps. "It's just that if you died ... aside from the fact that it would really suck for you, it would mean the quest was over.
"Wow Annie smooth real smooth" laughed Thalia because this could be blackmail material.
"THALIA HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO TELL YOU STOP CALLING ME ANNIE" shouted a red faced Annabeth Chase.
"Well Annie that was about the 2001st time now" said a grinning Thalia.
Annabeth pouted and said "I am not a little girl anymore."
"Well a good older sister will always make fun of her younger sister" said Thalia.
Zoë just sighed and said "are thy done with the the daughter of Athena so thee can read the book."
Thalia nodded her head and scratched the back of her head and apologized.
This may be my only chance to see the real world."
"Technically, this is a double quest for both me and Naruto." Percy replied. "Besides, Naruto would never let me die….just like back in the bus."
"Like the time we went to band camp" grinned Apollo and Hermes.
Everyone either laughed or had smirks on their faces besides a certain individual with silver eyes and her hunters.
Artemis groaned at the lack of maturity of her brother and said "pigs."
Thalia, Zoë , and Phoebe just nodded their heads agreeing with their lady.
"Got that right!" Naruto smirked. "Of course I would not let you two die either." He said, pointing to Grover and Annabeth, who looked grateful.
"Awww my grandson is so caring and cute" squealed Aphrodite.
Kushina smiled at her baby boy in her arms and cooed "Mommy will always love you never forget that."
Naruto smiled then leaned forward a gave a sloppy kiss to his mom.
Kushina grinned and kissed him as well.
Everyone in the throne room grinned at the cute sight of mother and son relationship.
"Then I guess it is a good thing that we have two children on the Big Three on our side." Annabeth smiled.
"Yeah, especially one that is the son of the Lord of the Dead." Grover shakily said
Hades nodded his head and thought 'I would never hurt my children intentionally.'
as the storm finally subsided, leaving them in total darkness as they drifted back into silence once….well until Percy broke it.
"You haven't left Camp Half-Blood since you were seven?" He asked Annabeth.
"No ... only short field trips. My dad—"
"The history professor." interrupted Percy.
"Yeah. It didn't work out for me living at home. I mean, Camp Half-Blood is my home."
The demigods nodded their heads in response.
The hunters on the other hand stayed quiet because to them the hunt was their home.
Artemis smiled at Phoebe and Zoë. Then she nodded her head towards Thalia who just grinned back at her half sister.
She was rushing her words out now, as if she were afraid somebody might try to stop her. "At camp you train and train. And that's all cool and everything, but the real world is where the monsters are. That's where you learn whether you're any good or not."
"Very true" grinned Ares.
Athena sent a death glare to the war god.
But the god of war just struggled it off and leaned back into his throne.
Kushina said "how do you feel now with that statement Annabeth?"
Annabeth just looked at the mother of Naruto and said "I stand by my words still."
Kushina smiled at the daughter of wisdom goddess and focused her attention on baby Naruto again.
"You're pretty good with that knife,"
"You think so?"
"Anybody who can piggyback-ride a Fury is okay by me." Percy replied.
"Smooth Perce" snickered Nico.
Percy gave his cousin a glare for mocking him but was ruined due to his red dusting on his cheeks.
Annabeth giggled at her boyfriend's response to Nico.
While Thalia grinned at her cousin's misfortune.
Thals and Sil both questioned 'they never change do they?'
Kushina shook her head and said "they won't be them if they didn't"
Thals and Sil nodded thier heads agreeing with their lover's mother.
"You know," she said, "maybe I should tell you ... Something funny back on the bus ..."
She didn't get to say much about it because a few second before, Naruto was silently chuckling at the couple in front of him and Grover. Said satyr glanced at the blond nervously and brought out his reed pipes and gave an experimental blow and the sound of a tortured owl came out.
Poseidon bellowed which got a glare from Athena.
Before an insult battle could take place Artemis said "you can settle your differences later."
Apollo grinned and shouted out "my little sis is growing up it hurts to watch" he started crying at the end.
Artemis glared at her twin and opened her mouth but Zeus slammed his master bolt aka (his precious toy of mass destruction) and thundered "Enough! let us continue with this story!"
Artemis, Apollo, and Athena said "yes father."
Poseidon on the other hand just waved his hand and said "oh yes mama's boy lets continue the story." He laughed at the end as well as his siblings while Zeus' face turned red and opened his mouth. Was interrupted by Hera who had a grin that promised pain if you don't agree with me and said "now honey we should start this story once more right?"
Zeus gulped and quickly nodded his head in agreement because he would be very stupid to argue with his wife.
"Hey, my reed pipes still work!" Grover cried. "If I could just remember a 'find path' song, we could get out of these woods!"
"Well, let's just hope you know how to play that. I don't want my ears bleeding." Naruto growled as he got the full blast of the screeching sound.
"Ouch" muttered the demigods while the gods just nodded their heads.
Kushina gripped her son and softly in the sweetest voice said "aww my poor baby."
Naruto giggled and snuggled in his mother's arms to get comfy. Then Naruto yawned and was dozing off. Kushina smiled softly and hummed to her baby a lullaby to get him to sleep faster. Then after he was asleep she quietly place a silencing seal on him because all the shouting would not disturb her baby boy's sleep. If someone somehow would wake her baby boy up they would face off against a pissed off mother, her.
"Oh don't Naruto, I can play just fine." Grover smiled and puffed out a few notes, but the tune still sounded suspiciously like Hilary Duff, making Naruto's eye twitch.
"Oh the legendary Uzumaki temper" chuckled Thals.
Sil meanwhile was giggling at Kushina's face.
Kushina's laughed and said sweetly "you don't mean me do you girls."
"N-noo Kushina!" shouted out both girls.
"That's what I thought you said, oh and dears remember call me mom" grinned Kushina.
"Right m-mom" said a scared Thals and Sil.
Zoë said "are thy done so thee can finish." The two girls nodded and so Zoë began the story once more.
Percy was too busy listening to Grover playing on his piped that he never noticed a tree in front of him in the darkness and smacked right into it,
The throne room just erupted into laughter.
Percy meanwhile was blushing because that was one of his stupider moments.
Annabeth was trying to control her laughter but failed while reaching out and grasping her boyfriend's hand.
Thalia and Nico were snickering because this was perfect blackmail material. Grover playing and Percy not paying attention and hitting a tree. Thalia said "Percy I didn't know you liked that trees so much."
Percy blush deepened and he said "Pinecone face shut up."
Thalia stuck out her tongue and said "No."
Nico shook his head at his cousin's interactions.
Zoë sighed and thought 'this will take weeks to read' but waited to read again.
making laugh out loud. He mark infrared vision off his list of possible superpowers that he could have.
"The closest to infrared vision is Artie's power" smiled Apollo.
Artemis growled at her annoying twin because he knew how much she hated that cursed nickname of hers.
Zoë knows when her mistress is annoyed with her brother and quickly began reading lest a fight would break out.
Suddenly, he remembered that Naruto had good night vision. "Hey! You're the one with the night vision here, why didn't you warn me!"
"Well I guess it would be funny" snickered Nico and Thalia.
Thals and Sil were smiling while Annabeth had a smirk on her face.
Percy crossed his arms and muttered "traitors."
The gods and goddesses had to agree it would be funny to see someone hit a tree.
Kushina cooed at her sleeping baby.
Baby Naruto just kept on sleeping soundly.
Zoë and Phoebe smiled because the boy, Percy got what he deserved in her option. Zoë continued where she left off.
Naruto shrugged nonchalantly, "Sorry, I was too busy listen to the pop star over here." He said, making Annabeth giggle a bit.
Like everyone in the throne room did.
After a about a mile or so of listen to Percy curse as he bumped into things and Naruto chuckling to himself,
"I would so enjoy seeing you on that quest" laughed Thalia and Nico.
Percy pouted and said "best cousins ever."
"Thank you" said a smiling Nico and Thalia.
Thals just thought to herself 'is this how I act with Percy?'
Sil just giggled and nodded her head making Thals blush.
Annabeth was smiling at Percy because she loves him so much. Percy also makes life more interesting and fun to live in.
they saw a neon sign in the distance. Naruto sniffed and asked, "Please tell you guys smell that too."
"If you are smelling fast food like it am, then yes. Yes I do." Percy replied. "I really need a double cheese burger right about now."
Thals and Thalia both drooled thinking about a nice tasty burger right now.
Annabeth thought with a grin on her face 'Thalia will never change at all even in an alternative dimension.'
Apollo and Hermes waved their hand and a a double cheese burger appeared then taunting the two girls in question.
Thals and Thalia looked at one another and screamed out "MINE! MINE! MINE! MINEEE! MINEEEE!" Then charging at the two gods in question rip the burger out of their hands.
All the demigods looked scared because they have learned never ever taunt Thalia Grace with a burger.
The other gods and goddesses were snickering at the faces of both Hermes and Apollo.
Finally, they came upon a deserted two-lane road through the trees. On the other side was a closed-down gas station, a tattered billboard for a 1990s movie, and one open business, which was the source of the neon light and the good smell.
"A rest stop!" Grover said happily.
"With food!" Naruto commented with joy.
Sure it was not a true fast food place; it was one of those restaurants you see on the open road. You know, some locally own place. It looked like it also sold those lawn flamingos and wooden Indians and cement grizzly bears and stuff like that. The main building was a long, low warehouse, surrounded by acres of statuary. The neon sign above the gate was impossible for normal demigods to read, because if there's anything worse for their dyslexia than regular English, it's red cursive neon English.
The demigods groaned at the thought of reading it.
The gods and goddesses chuckled at the looks of the demigods.
Kushina smirked at the faces as well.
Percy and Annabeth shuttered and thought 'stupid horrible neon cursive english'
Suddenly an iris message showed the image of Aunty Em's Garden Gnome Emporium. The demigods in the room groaned while the gods renewed their laughter.
While Percy just said "my eyes it burns!"
Annabeth just blushed while hitting Percy's head and thought 'seaweed brain.'
"Ow Wisegirl that hurts" whined Percy rubbed his now sore head.
Annabeth smirked and said "good that is for being an idiot."
"But I am your idiot" smiled Percy.
Annabeth blushed once again while the rest of the demigods laughed.
Apollo and Hermes had popcorn and was watching the "show."
Meanwhile Dionysus thought to himself 'maybe I should do that to the cards for camp.'
All the demigods around the world shivered in fear for some reason.
The demigods at Camp Halfblood silently prayed to their godly parent to protect them.
Sadly they were too distracted with the reactions to the demigods in the room or paying attention to the reading that is about to start.
Zoë began the story once more.
Naruto growled at that. He could normal English just fine, but throw in that cursive crap and he just gets confused.
"Don't we all" said all the demigods in the throne room.
To Percy and Annabeth, it looked it this: ATNYU MES GDERAN GOMEN MEPROUIM.
To Naruto, it looked like some kid's drawing.
"Well that is interesting" said Athena.
The gods and goddesses in the throne room nodded their heads in agreement.
Athena looked at Kushina and thought 'it might have to do with her bloodline.'
Zoë sighed and thought 'thy will never get done with this chapter' but like a strong huntress she began once again. Bound to be interrupted again in the next five minutes or so.
"What the heck does that say?" asked Percy.
"I don't know." Both Naruto and Annabeth said at the same time.
Grover translated: "Aunty Em's Garden Gnome Emporium."
'Medusa' thought Annabeth and Percy.
"Hmm…I bet Ino could give them a few tips." Naruto commented as he observed the place a little more. Flanking the entrance, as advertised, were two cement garden gnomes, ugly bearded little runts, smiling and waving, as if they were about to get their picture taken,
The god of the seas eyes widened slightly and thought 'Medusa.'
Meanwhile Athena's eyes were twitching because that stupid Poseidon's lover then hissed out "Medusa."
The gods and goddesses eyes widened slightly in surprise because it has been awhile since Medusa has encountered a hero.
The demigods gasped and thought 'Percy does have bad luck indeed.'
making Naruto's eye twitch.
Percy quickly crossed the street, following the smell of food; the others quickly following.
"Hey..." Grover warned.
"The lights are on inside," Annabeth said. "Maybe it's open."
"Snack bar," Percy said wistfully.
"Snack bar," she agreed.
"Awww they are thinking like a couple" cooed Silena.
The two demigods blushed and grabbed eachothers hand.
Zoë glared at the daughter of Aphrodite and Percy. Because she hates the lady of doves herself and she hates boys as well.
Zoë hissed out "thou are so infuriating."
Percy just grinned at her and bowed which made Zoë's glare to increase in intensity.
"Oh I hope that serve Ramen!" Naruto smirked.
Kushina cooed "that's my precious baby boy!" Kushina then looked at her sleeping son in her arms and smiled softly at him with all the love she could muster.
Hera smiled at the young red headed mother.
"Are you three crazy?" Grover said. "This place is weird." Of he was ignored in favor of filling their stomachs.
"Men" said the Zoë, Phoebe, and Artemis.
The gods chuckled to one another thinking 'somethings never change.'
Artemis blushed and quickly waved to Zoë to continue.
Zoë nodded and began once more.
The front lot was a forest of statues: cement animals, cement children, even a cement satyr playing the pipes, which gave Grover the creeps. "Bla-ha-ha!" he bleated. "Looks like my Uncle Ferdinand!"
They stopped at the warehouse door.
"Don't knock," Grover pleaded. "I smell monsters."
"Your nose is clogged up from the Furies," Annabeth told him. "All I smell is burgers. Aren't you hungry?"
"Meat!" he said scornfully. "I'm a vegetarian."
"You eat cheese enchiladas and aluminum cans," I reminded him.
"Those are vegetables. Come on. Let's leave. These statues are ... looking at me."
"BOO!" Naruto said from right behind the goat boy, making him jump.
"Oh I wish he was mine" sighed out Hermes.
Apollo being Apollo couldn't be outdone by his half brother and said "no he would be mine Herms!"
"But he is mine" smiled Hades which silenced both of the younger gods.
"AH! Don't do that!"
"Sorry Grover, but that was the perfect moment. Besides, they are just statues!" Naruto said with a chuckle. "Besides, whatever meat comes your way…I'll eat it!"
"Gee thanks" Grover deadpanned.
Then the door creaked open, and standing in front of them was a tall Middle Eastern woman because she wore a long black gown that covered everything but her hands, and her head was completely veiled. Her eyes glinted behind a curtain of black gauze, but that was about all anyone could make out. Her coffee-colored hands looked old, but well-manicured and elegant, so they imagined she was a grandmother who had once been a beautiful lady.
"She was indeed" sighed Poseidon.
Athena just glared at him for reminding her of what they did in her temple.
Her accent sounded vaguely Middle Eastern, too. She said, "Children, it is too late to be out all alone. Where are your parents?"
"They're ... um ..." Annabeth started to say.
"Please don't let Percy talk, please" joked Annabeth.
"Hey!" shouted out a blushing Percy and thought 'my plans aren't that bad are they?'
"We're orphans," Percy said, hoping Naruto would not be too mad at him for that.
"Orphans?" the woman said. The word sounded alien in her mouth. "But, my dears! Surely not!"
"Oh yeah! We are orphans lady" Naruto jumped in. "You know people who live off the streets, people who must move through the trash just to get a bit to eat!" He said with fake tears, making his three companions sweatdrop. "But, when in a group…it eases the pain!"
What….did you take theater Naruto?
"No he is just that good, he got it from his mother" laughed Kushina.
Hades opened his mouth to object to that statement but was silenced by Kushina's glare.
The gods and goddesses laughed at the lord of the underworld's predicament.
Heck even Persephone smiled at Kushina's attitude with her husband and decided she would get along with her sister wife just fine.
Hermes shouted out "burn!"
Which made Hades grit his teeth and glare at one of the messengers of the gods.
"We got separated from our caravan," Percy said, a little put off by Naruto dramatic speech. "Our circus caravan. The ringmaster told us to meet him at the gas station if we got lost, but he may have forgotten, or maybe he meant a different gas station. Anyway, we're lost. Is that food I smell?"
"Way to be obvious Kelp Head" remarked Thalia.
"Hey you would be obvious because of the cheese hamburgers" said Percy.
Thalia blushed and thought 'he is right unfortunately… Damn.'
Nico snickered and said "owned sparky."
Percy laughed and said "sparky I like that name Thalia."
Thalia eyes narrowed dangerously and shot a bolt of lighting at the son of Hades and Poseidon who yelped.
Zeus chuckled at the punishment of his nephews.
Zoë sighed and thought 'thy are not going to be done soon me thinks.'
Artemis smiled at her old friend then said "let us continue the story please."
"Oh, my dears," the woman said. "You must come in, poor children. I am Aunty Em. Go straight through to the back of the warehouse, please. There is a dining area." They smiled and thanked her and went in.
"Were you kids that naive back then" questioned Hermes.
Annabeth blushed meanwhile, Percy smiled then nodded at the messenger of the gods.
Who laughed while Annabeth gave a playful glare to her boyfriend because he embarrassed her in front of the other gods and goddesses.
Annabeth muttered to me, "Circus caravan?"
"Always have a strategy, right?"
"Your head is full of kelp."
"Annie I am so glad you see it my way" grinned Thalia.
Thals smirked and thought 'watching Annie getting messed with is so much fun.'
Annabeth just glared at the daughter of Zeus and seethed and shouted out "I hate it when you call me that!"
Thalia and Thals said "I know Annie."
"So why do you do it then" questioned an annoyed Annabeth.
"Because that is what a sister does right" replied Thalia.
Annabeth blushed then looked in the opposite direction.
Athena smiled at her daughter in amusement.
Zoë coughed to get everyone's attention and said "may I continue now?"
The gods and goddesses laughed wave their hands as a sign to continue with this interesting story from another dimension.
"We excuse me! I got that idea by watching Mr. Drama over here."
"And my flair for drama made you think of a circus…I am hurt!" Naruto fake pouted.
"Oh shut it. It worked right?" Percy asked annoyed, Naruto just smirked.
The warehouse was filled with more statues—people in all different poses, wearing all different outfits and with different expressions on their faces. Normally, they would not be going to some strange place in the middle of nowhere but they were hungry and tired and this place was just convenient.
"Too convenient" sighed Hades.
"Paranoid much brother" questioned Demeter.
Hades scowled at his sister/ mother in law.
Meanwhile Poseidon looked worried for his son and friends but kept it to himself.
Percy looked worried for him and his alternative dimensional friends.
Annabeth thought 'all those demi gods and mortals with satyrs wasted.'
Athena had the same look on her face as her daughter.
That was when Naruto felt weird. The smell from those cooking burgers was intoxicating and they seemed to be dulling his senses a bit.
"Possibly a little toxins that numb the senses" murmured Hades.
Kushina narrowed her eyes and thought 'she better not hurt her baby boy or there will be hell to pay.'
Ares cheered demanding action aka battle, gore, and violence.
Aphrodite hissed out "shut up, Ares!"
Meanwhile Hephaestus was laughing at his scared brother.
Artemis coughed to everyones attention and said "I think my huntress wants to continue with the chapter."
The lieutenant of the hunters of Artemis sighed in relief but began none the less.
He also noticed Grover was whimpering a lot now and add in the fact that he heard the door lock behind him was NOT a good thing. So for now, he would just play along….something was definitely going on here.
"Good find out what she is planning" smirked Hades.
Athena looked interested in what the son of Hades was planning.
Annabeth and Percy thought 'what are you going to do clones? Or a jutsu?'
Zoë said "thy are frustrating."
Artemis smiled at her hunter and said "Zoë, you may continue."
Zoë nodded her head and said "as thy wish milady."
As soon as they go to the back of the place, they noticed a fast-food counter with a grill, a soda fountain, a pretzel heater, and a nacho cheese dispenser.
"mmm" groaned out Apollo, Hermes, and the other gods.
While the goddesses in the throne room just rolled their eyes and thought 'men.'
The demigods were also drooling slightly dreaming about food.
Meanwhile the demigoddesses shook their heads but laughed thinking 'boys.'
Everything you could want, plus a few steel picnic tables out front.
"Please, sit down," Aunty Em said.
"Awesome," Percy said.
"Um," Grover said reluctantly, "we don't have any money, ma'am."
Aunty Em smiled and said, "No, no, children. No money. This is a special case, yes? It is my treat, for such nice orphans."
"More like turn into statues" muttered Athena.
Poseidon frowned but let it go because he was more concerned about his son.
Annabeth frowned and whispered to Percy "why didn't you listen to me?"
Percy blushed and said "sorry Wisegirl."
Zoë groaned at the lovey dovey scene before her.
Thals and Sil meanwhile were grinning at the huntress then thought 'you will get used to it Zoë.'
"Thank you, ma'am," Annabeth said.
Aunty Em stiffened, as if Annabeth had done something wrong, but then the old woman relaxed just as quickly.
"Properly thinking of Owl Head's eyes when she was cursed" drawn out Poseidon.
Athena glared at the Sea God for bring up her memory of that event.
"Enough" boomed out Zeus.
Athena bowed and said "yes father."
Zoë sighed in relief before beginning reading the story again.
Percy just shrugged it off, but Naruto was not suspicious. Ok…something is going on here…BUT WHAT? This lady is giving me a bad vibe….like those times when some of the villagers back would be nice and then try and kill me.
Kushina's frame shook with motherly rage at those beasts hurting her precious baby. Her eyes went to the sleeping Naruto and thought 'I will not let anything hurt you again I promise.'
Hera smiled at the touching scene and thought 'Such a touching scene.'
I so hope it is not that.
"Quite all right, Annabeth," she said. "You have such beautiful gray eyes, child."
Ok my memory is not that bad…we never even introduced ourselves! Naruto thought quickly.
"That didn't ring off warning calls to you" chuckled Poseidon.
Annabeth blushed but said nothing.
Meanwhile Athena narrowed her eyes and thought 'you dare try and embarrass me with my daughter's actions.' The Goddess of Wisdom thought 'what does the sea god not like fish…. no. seaweed... kind of. squids… Oh I remember he got into a fight with one and it ended in embarrassment.'
Athena sneered at her rival and hissed out "shut up Squid god."
"I AM NOT A SQUID GOD! I HATE THAT NAME ATHENA!" bellowed Poseidon then he groaned because he has just said valuable information to his rival, well shit.
Athena smirked in delight and sang out "squid god."
Poseidon eyes were twitching and sighed waved his hand to Zoë to start reading again.
Their hostess disappeared behind the snack counter and started cooking. Before they knew it, she'd brought them plastic trays heaped with double cheeseburgers, vanilla shakes, and XXL servings of French fries. In little time at all they started chowing down. Naruto only ate because he didn't smell anything thing wrong with them.
"Good always be alert" said Hades.
Ares cried out "needs more action and less lovey dovey stuff."
Aphrodite rolled her eyes and said "Silence Ares or you will feel my wrath."
Ares being the stupid god he is laughed out loud saying "what wrath? A bad hair day or even a broken nail? Oh I am sooo scared."
Aphrodite's face was red with rage and she silently vowed 'she would make Ares life a living hell.'
The demigods snickered at the poor unfortunate war god.
The daughters of love noticed the gleam in their mother's eyes and knew Ares was going to be in trouble.
Sil and Silena with Kushina smiled at their mother's future actions on the war god.
Ares huffed and growled out "read girl."
Artemis glared at her half brother and snarled out "DO NOT THREATENED MY HUNTERS ARES!"
Ares snarled back and said "Oh yeah Miss. Girly Scout"
Artemis silver eyes glowed with power and sneered out "Do you wish to test me brother?"
"Ares, Artemis, that is enough" boomed Zeus.
The two immortals glare at one another said 'this is not over by a long shot.' But backed down while glaring at one another.
Naruto gulped down his food with ease. It may not have been ramen but this was just as good at the moment.
Kushina smiled at her favorite food in the world.
Persephone smiled at the reactions given by this interesting book.
Meanwhile Demeter grumbled that Naruto should eat more cereal to be stronger.
Hades groaned because now he will have to hear about this argument in this book as well.
He noticed that Percy was halfway through his burger before he realized he need to actually breath while Annabeth just slurped down her shake.
Grover picked at the fries, and eyed the tray's waxed paper liner as if he might go for that, but he still looked too nervous to eat. "What's that hissing noise?" he asked. Percy and Annabeth looked around but shrugged, not hearing anything. Naruto, however, shivered. It was ALWAYS snakes!
'Stupid Python' thought the twin archers.
"Hissing?" Aunty Em asked. "Perhaps you hear the deep-fryer oil. You have keen ears, Grover."
"I take vitamins. For my ears."
"That's admirable," she said. "But please, relax."
"If you do then you will die, always be watchful of your surroundings" said Athena.
Annabeth smiled due to she was thinking the same thing and the wisdom in her words as well.
Aunty Em ate nothing. She hadn't taken off her headdress, even to cook, and now she sat forward and interlaced her fingers and watched the four children eat. It was a little unsettling, having someone stare at you when you couldn't see her face; it was boring very creepy in Naruto's opinion….Orochimaru creepy. Percy decided to be nice and make some small talk, even though the full stomach was making him a bit sleepy.
"Must be a small dose of poison mixed in with the food" said Athena,
The gods and goddesses nodded their heads because it sounds like the most logical explanation.
Percy laughed sheepishly thinking about the instinct with Medusa.
Annabeth meanwhile was grinned at her boyfriend.
While Thalia and Nico were taunting their cousin like any good cousin should do.
"So, you sell gnomes," Percy said.
Really Percy….you asked her that! God those thing creep me out! Naruto thought annoyed.
"Oh, yes," Aunty Em said. "And animals. And people. Anything for the garden. Custom orders. Statuary is very popular, you know."
"Indeed Persephone does love those statues, says "it adds character in the underworld" said Hades.
Persephone blushed and looked away from her husband.
Demeter grumbled that "no good rioted brother stole her Kore from her."
Persephone sighed and thought 'I wonder when mother will stop because I am a grown goddess now.'
"A lot of business on this road?"
"Not so much, no. Since the highway was built... most cars, they do not go this way now. I must cherish every customer I get."
"I bet because it might be the last" said Athena.
Annabeth looked uncomfortable at that statement.
I bet. Naruto thought as he saw Percy suddenly turn around, like he thought he was being watched, only to find the statue of a young girl with an easter basket looking at him.
Artemis narrowed her eyes at the thought of a maiden's lost of life just because of Medusa glaze.
Meanwhile the other goddess felt a pulling feeling at their heart strings because somewhere in the world a mother lost her child forever.
What was weird though was the look of terror in the face. That is when Naruto felt strange. He looked more closely and saw a ghost like figure behind the statue! The girl was silently trying to tell them to get out of there before it was too late. "Oh this is so not good!
"Ah," Aunty Em said sadly. "You notice some of my creations do not turn out well. They are marred. They do not sell. The face is the hardest to get right. Always the face."
"Well seeing Medusa's face is not really pleasant" commented Athena.
The gods were snickering because she still hates Medusa with a passion.
The demigods were silent throughout agrument because they did not want to die a very painful death.
"You make these statues yourself?" Percy asked, a little creeped out
"Oh, yes. Once upon a time, I had two sisters to help me in the business, but they have passed on, and Aunty Em is alone. I have only my statues. This is why I make them, you see. They are my company."
'Yeah the only company you will ever have' thought a frowning Athena.
The sadness in her voice sounded so deep and so real that you couldn't help feeling sorry for her, but that also made her more dangerous.
'Indeed' thought all the immortals while Kushina smiled fondly at her baby boy sleeping face.
The demigods on the other hand looked at one another and agreed with the gods and goddesses.
Annabeth had stopped eating. She sat forward and said, "Two sisters?"
Athena smiled and thought 'so she is finally realizing who she is.'
"It's a terrible story," Aunty Em said. "Not one for children, really. You see, Annabeth, a bad woman was jealous of me, long ago, when I was young.
"BULL SHIT I WAS YOU DEFILED MY TEMPLE WITH FISH FOR BRAIN HERE!" screamed out Athena.
Zeus frowned at one of his favorite daughters and said "Athena."
Athena blushed and waved her hand to continue the book.
I had a... a boyfriend, you know, and this bad woman was determined to break us apart. She caused a terrible accident. My sisters stayed by me. They shared my bad fortune as long as they could, but eventually they passed on. They faded away. I alone have survived, but at a price. Such a price."
'Then you shouldn't have defiled my temple bitch' darkly thought Athena.
"SHIT SHIT SHIT! Naruto thought frantically. "THIS HAS GOT TO BE MEDUSA! He Then saw Percy getting really sleepy now and his and Annabeth's eyes met and they both knew they were in trouble. He gave her a barely noticeable nodded.
"Percy?" Annabeth was shaking him to get his attention.
"And it fails badly" sighed Annabeth.
Percy blushed and wrapped his arms around Annabeth.
Thalia and Nico snickered at Percy's focus skills.
Percy saw what his cousins' teasings and stuck out his tongue at them.
The gods and goddesses had smirks on their faces or were laughing at the amusing scene before them.
"Maybe we should go. I mean, the ringmaster will be waiting." Naruto notice that Grover was nervously eating the wax paper from the trays, but either this lady didn't see it or already knew what he was. Naruto's guess was on the latter.
"Such beautiful gray eyes," Aunty Em told Annabeth again. "My, yes, it has been a long time since I've seen gray eyes like those."
"Yes it has" remarked Athena still remembering that fateful day.
She reached out as if to stroke Annabeth's cheek, but Annabeth stood up abruptly.
"We really should go."
"Yes!" Grover swallowed his waxed paper and stood up. "The ringmaster is waiting! Right!"
"Heh, and he will be pissed that the main actor won't be there!" Naruto said, getting up as well, but Percy seemed reluctant to get up and leave.
"Of course a sea spawn would endanger my daughter" remarked Athena.
Poseidon frowned at his rival but turned his attention to the the 2nd in command of the hunters of Artemis and said "you may continue before this gets ugly."
Zoë nodded her head and resumed where she left off.
"Please, dears," Aunty Em pleaded. "I so rarely get to be with children. Before you go, won't you at least sit for a pose?"
"A pose?" Annabeth asked warily.
"A photograph. I will use it to model a new statue set. Children are so popular, you see. Everyone loves children."
Annabeth shifted her weight from foot to foot. "I don't think we can, ma'am. Come on, Percy—"
"and here goes Percy putting us in danger again" teased Thalia with a smile on her face.
Percy just blushed and knew his cousins were joking, so he smiled and stuck out his tongue at the daughter of Zeus.
"Sure we can," Percy said, a little irritated with Annabeth for being so bossy,
"Excuse me" questioned a grinning Annabeth.
Percy's eyes widened and tried and failed to make excuses to calm his newly made girlfriend.
Annabeth started laughing because she knew she can be bossy at times but wanted to see if she could freak out her boyfriend.
As soon as Percy heard Annabeth's laugh he sighed in relief.
Athena just looked at her daughter and the sea spawn and thought 'that sea spawn is corrupting my daughter.'
Poseidon just smiled at his son because he has finally found someone he loves. The sea god also hoped to the fates he would have a happy ending that heroes rarely get.
so rude to an old lady who'd just fed them for free. "It's just a photo, Annabeth. What's the harm?"
"Yes, Annabeth," the woman purred. "No harm."
Annabeth reluctantly allowed this and they followed the lady to the front door, into the garden of statues. Aunty Em directed them to a park bench next to the stone satyr. "Now," she said, "I'll just position you correctly. The young girl in the middle, I think, and the two young gentlemen on either side and the blond one behind the girl since he is a bit taller."
"Not much light for a photo," Percy remarked.
"Oh, enough," Aunty Em said. "Enough for us to see each other, yes?"
"Where's your camera?" Grover asked.
Aunty Em stepped back, as if to admire the shot. "Now, the face is the most difficult. Can you smile for me please, everyone? A large smile?"
Grover glanced at the cement satyr next to him, and mumbled, "That sure does look like Uncle Ferdinand."
"Grover," Aunty Em chastised, "look this way, dear."
She still had no camera in her hands.
"Percy—" Annabeth said. The boy wanted to listen, but for some reason, the sleepy feeling was coming back again.
"I will just be a moment," Aunty Em said. "You know, I can't see you very well in this cursed veil..."
"Percy, something's wrong," Annabeth insisted.
"Wrong?" Aunty Em said, reaching up to undo the wrap around her head. "Not at all, dear. I have such noble company tonight.
"Definitely what a monster would say" said the demigods.
What could be wrong?"
"That is Uncle Ferdinand!" Grover gasped.
"WAIT!" Naruto interrupted, getting all the attention on him. "How about I get a picture of just me! After all, I am the star of the show and you can even get an autograph!"
The woman smiled behind her veil. If that is what you wish Naruto. If you three would please move away, I will get to you later." This was odd, why was she listening to this boy? She wanted all four of them now!
'Charm speak bitch' thought Kushina with a smile.
Meanwhile Aphrodite just smiled because her favorite grandson had used some of her powers.
As the three moved, Annabeth looked at Naruto worriedly before she saw him wink at her. She widened her eyes. She hoped Naruto was not thinking was she was thinking he was going to do! The kind lady interrupted her line of thought though. "So please give me a pose and a big smile!"
Naruto smirked as he got into his fighting stance and made a cross seal over his chest and gave a fox smile. The lady thought nothing of it and removed the veil, making Annabeth and Grover look away while Percy pushed down by the blond girl, who then disappeared thanks to her hat. Grover just ran for all he was worth.
Percy looked around from his position on the floor and saw Naruto, only he was encased in stone.
Thals, Sil, and Kushina frowned because they were worried about him.
Kushina picked up baby Naruto and said "you listen here young man you will not scary your mother like this again or there will be consequences."
Baby Naruto slept on due to the seals on him.
Kushina smiled and fondly thought 'he is my little angel.'
That made him fully awake and freaked out now. He didn't want to be stoned like his friend!
"Sucks to be a shadow clone right now!" Naruto's voice echoed out to them with cheer as the statue poofed away.
Medusa, as they now knew what to really call her, growled. "So you are the son of Hades! I will enjoy killing you, but tell me how you knew it was me!"
"Heh, that girl's statue. I saw her soul and she was not happy."
"I wouldn't be either if I got turned into a statue" said Kushina.
Everyone agreed in the throne room that being turned into statues were not something they wanted.
came Naruto's voice, but it was serious now.
"Aw is the son of Death no happy? I thought you would be but I guess the rumors are true….you are so not like your siblings."
'Thank the gods' thought the girls of Naruto's world.
"Thanks, I take pride in that!"
Medusa was getting annoyed now, so she turned her attention to Percy and smiled, not that he would dare to look up.
Throughout the exchange, Percy was freaking out. He now heard the soft hissing of the snakes on her head, he also saw that her heads had turned into gnarly claws. Great, another old lady that wants to kill me!
"Such a pity to destroy a handsome young face," her voice told him soothingly.. "Stay with me, Percy. All you have to do is look up."
He fought the urge to obey. Instead he looked to one side and saw one of those glass spheres people put in gardens— a gazing ball. He could see Aunty Em's dark reflection in the orange glass; her headdress was gone, revealing her face as a shimmering pale circle. Her hair was moving, writhing like serpents. Aunty Em….Aunty M! Ugh, how could I have been so stupid!
"Percy…use the lessons Chiron taught us back in school, use your brain on this one!"
"Brain… What brain" teased Thalia, Nico, and Annabeth with matching smiles on their faces.
Percy pouted and thought 'even my girlfriend betrayed me.'
"Oh will you shut up!" Medusa yelled.
"Make me! In fact would you please just come after me instead of my friend?" Naruto asked.
The snake lady felt an odd pull on her heart when he said that. "Oh I would love…" She then regained herself. "So it is true! I did not want to believe it but you also have some Aphrodite's blood in you.
"And proud of it" screamed out the love goddess.
Kushina smiled at her mother who just grinned back.
I will not let you charmspeak me!"
"Ah man….wait what? Nevermind. Percy, looks like you are on your own on this, so I am going to find the others."
Percy was freaking out now. Naruto couldn't help him and his other friends are too scared to help him out of this mess. He needed to think of a way to somehow beat her before she turns him to stone! Come on! Think!Wait….the guy who I was named after….he beat her!
"Theseus" chuckled the sea god.
Percy just blushed and laughed with his father.
Annabeth looked at her boyfriend and said "I will help you remember these legends."
Percy gulped and mouthed 'help me.'
The rest of the demigods shook their heads with smile on their faces.
Percy pouted and thought 'traitors.'
I just can't look at her….this is so hard!
"The Gray-Eyed One did this to me, Percy," Medusa said, and she didn't sound anything like a monster. Her voice invited him to look up, to sympathize with a poor old grandmother, though what she was a grandma of, he did not know. "Annabeth's mother, the cursed Athena, turned me from a beautiful woman into this."
"BITCH!" screeched Athena.
Hestia frowned and said "Athena."
Athena blushed and apologized to the most friendly goddess in the throne room.
"Don't listen to her!" Annabeth's voice shouted, somewhere in the statutory. "Run, Percy!"
"Silence!" Medusa snarled. Then her voice modulated back to a comforting purr. "You see why I must destroy the girl, Percy. She is my enemy's daughter. I shall crush her statue to dust. But you, dear Percy, you need not suffer."
"Because she still loves Poseidon here" said Aphrodite.
The sea god blushed and said "you can continue before any more interruptions come."
The daughter of Atlas nodded her head and continued.
"You Aunty Em…you gotta lot of rage for an old hag! Of course you wouldn't be here if you didn't get jiggy with Percy's dad and in Annabeth's mom's temple of all things. So, your fault!"
"The son of Hades is very smart" nodded the wisdom goddess.
Poseidon rolled his eyes and said "of course because he is on your side."
Athena just smiled at her rival.
"I told you to shut up you annoying pest!" Medusa spat out. "I will enjoy doing the same to your statue as well!"
'She better not' angrily thought out Kushina.
"No." Percy said firmly as he tried to get on his legs.
"Do you really want to help the gods?" Medusa asked. "Do you understand what awaits you on this foolish quest, Percy? What will happen if you reach the Underworld? Do not be a pawn of the Olympians, my dear. You would be better off as a statue. Less pain. Less pain."
"But he won't have experienced love like he is now" said a frowning Aphrodite.
Sil, Silena, and Kushina nodded their heads in agreement.
"Percy!" Grover's voice was heard behind him, but it was coupled with a buzzing sound. "Duck!"
The son of Poseidon turned, and there the flying satyr was in the night sky, flying in from twelve o'clock with his winged shoes fluttering, Grover, holding a tree branch the size of a baseball bat.
Hermes said in an announcer voice "in this corner we have Grover Underwood with a branch and in the other corner we have Medusa, the gorgon."
Percy and the rest of the demigods smiled.
Zoë sighed and thought 'why are boys always so immature.'
His eyes were shut tight, his head twitched from side to side. He was navigating by ears and nose alone.
"Duck!" he yelled again. "I'll get her!"
That finally jolted Percy into action. Knowing Grover, he was sure the goat boy would miss Medusa and nail him, so he quickly dove to the side.
Thwack!
"You miserable satyr," Medusa roared with rage. "I'll add you to my collection!"
"That was for Uncle Ferdinand!" Grover yelled back as Percy scrambled into the maze of statues and Grover came in for another hit.
Ker-whack!
"Arrgh!" Medusa yelled, her snake-hair hissing and spitting.
While Percy was regaining, Annabeth appeared next to him with her cap off, "Percy!"
"Use the force" said Hermes.
Poor Percy cleared a gnome in fright.
"Or not" pouted Apollo.
"Percy what did the gnome ever do to you" joked Annabeth and Thalia.
Thals just smiled at the scene before her.
Meanwhile Percy just blushed because his girlfriend was teasing him.
"Jeez! Don't do that!"
"Ah get over it….you should be used to it by now." Naruto said as he appeared next to him as well, further scaring the boy.
"Why didn't you help me!"
"I am not going to fight all your battle for you.
"You are so weak punk" sneered Ares.
Percy smiled at the war god and questioned "well I beat you so that means you are weaker than me then?"
Ares just scowled at jab at him then glared at the son of Poseidon.
This one is all yours since it is an old family thing." replied Naruto as he casually leaned next to a statue.
"You have to cut her head off." supplied Annabeth.
"What? Are you crazy? Let's get out of here."
"Medusa is a menace. She's evil. I'd kill her myself, but..." Annabeth swallowed, as if she were about to make a difficult admission. "But you've got the better weapon. Besides, I'd never get close to her. She'd slice me to bits because of my mother. You—you've got a chance, and like Naruto said, this is your battle."
"True words daughter" remarked Athena.
Annabeth blushed and said "thanks mother."
Athena just smiled at her favorite daughter.
"What? I can't—"
"Look, do you want her turning more innocent people into statues?" She pointed to a pair of statue lovers,
Aphrodite frowned because the potential there wasted.
a man and a woman with their arms around each other, turned to stone by the monster.
Annabeth grabbed a green gazing ball from a nearby pedestal. "A polished shield would be better." She studied the sphere critically. "The convexity will cause some distortion. The reflection's size should be off by a factor of—"
"Would you speak English?"
"That was not English it was like mathy talk that makes my brain hurt" shouted out Percy.
Annabeth looked at her boyfriend and thought 'well duh I am the daughter of the Wisdom Goddess.' Annabeth then sighed and said "what am I going to do with you Seaweed Brain."
Percy smiled and said "aww Wise Girl you love me" and wrapped his arms around Annabeth.
Annabeth blushed and looked away but if you could see her face she had a smile on her face.
Athena frowned at the sea spawn and her daughter.
"I am!" She tossed him the glass ball. "Just look at her in the glass. Never look at her directly."
"Hey, guys!" Grover yelled somewhere above them. "I think she's unconscious!"
"Roooaaarrr!"
"Wrong G-man try again after the beep" snickered Percy.
Annabeth just shook her head at her boyfriend's antics.
"Nope not unconscious just pissed" smirked Thals.
Thalia just nodded her head.
"Ok…maybe not." Grover corrected. He went in for another pass with the tree branch.
"Hurry," Annabeth told me. "Grover's got a great nose, but he'll eventually crash." She then put the cap back on and disappeared.
Naruto smirked and said, "Well…good luck man!"
"Wow he just left me!" shouted out Percy.
"Its okay Seaweed Brain I still love you" joked Annabeth.
Aphrodite cooed at the touching romantic scene before her.
Kushina smiled and thought 'looks like they are hitting it off just like their alternate selves.'
He then jumped away.
Scowling, Percy took out his pen and uncapped it, making it turn into his bronze sword, Riptide. He slowly followed the hissing sound of the snakes on her head, while keeping his eyes locked on the globe. Finally, he was able to see her reflection in the ball.
Grover was coming in for another turn at bat, but this time he flew a little too low.
Medusa grabbed the stick and pulled him off course.
Ares laughed and roared "get rejected faun boy."
The other gods and goddess, mostly Athena gave Ares a warning glance or glare in Athena's case.
He tumbled through the air and crashed into the arms of a stone grizzly bear with a painful "Ummphh!"
Medusa was about to lunge at him when Percy suddenly yelled, "Hey!"
Annabeth sighed and said "why do you always direct unwanted attention to yourself."
Percy scratched his face and said "because Tyche hates me."
Annabeth shook her head and stated "I don't think so or she would have…." but trailed off. Then shook her head and began "maybe you are right or maybe….." The daughter of Athena paused then sighed and said "Nevermind Seaweed Brain."
Her attention was on him now so he was able to catch a glimpse of Naruto saving Grover's ass.
Percy slowly made his way over to the snake hag, but she seemed to expect him to do that. He could see the reflection of her face now. Surely it wasn't really that ugly.
"No she is uglier than that" said Athena and Annabeth.
Both looked at one another and smiled.
The others in the throne room thought 'like mother like daughter.'
The green swirls of the gazing ball must be distorting it, making it look worse than she actually looks.
"Actually the ball helps her image" remarked the Wisdom Goddess.
Poseidon just sighed at his past lover and her horrible fate.
"You wouldn't harm an old woman, Percy," she crooned. "I know you wouldn't."
Percy hesitated, fascinated by the face he saw reflected in the glass—the eyes that seemed to burn straight through the green tint, making his arms go weak.
From the cement grizzly, Grover moaned, "Percy, don't listen to her!"
Medusa cackled. "Too late."
Apollo began to sing "its never too late-" But was interupted by Artemis who threw a shoe at Apollo. Apollo winced at the force of the shoe thrown and Artemis smiled and silently thought 'payback is a bitch.'
She then lunged at the boy with her large talons and in his panic, he swung his sword for all he was worth. He heard a sickening shlock!, then a hiss like wind rushing out of a cavern—the sound of a monster disintegrating.
Something fell to the ground next to his foot. It took all of Percy's willpower not to look.
"Which isn't much" joked Nico and Thalia.
Percy huffed but if you looked closely you would see a smile on his face.
Annabeth smiled at her boyfriend and thought 'I am so glad you chose me, Seaweed Brain.'
Percy just smiled at Annabeth and thought 'I am the luckiest demigod alive for having my Wise Girl.'
He could feel warm ooze soaking into his sock, little dying snake heads tugging at the shoelaces. Not a good feeling.
"Oh, yuck," Grover said. His eyes were still tightly closed, but Percy guessed he could hear the thing gurgling and steaming. "Mega-yuck."
Annabeth came up next to him, her eyes fixed on the sky. She was holding Medusa's black veil. She said, "Don't move." Very, very carefully, without looking down, she knelt and draped the monster's head in black cloth, then picked it up. It was still dripping green juice.
"Nice job!" Naruto suddenly appeared between the three of them rattling their nervous even more.
"AH!" they yelled as they fell on the floor.
"Ninja moves" Apollo and Hermes fist pumped the air.
Artemis sighed and thought 'why couldn't I have a mature twin.' But deep down she wouldn't change Apollo, well except maybe not flirting with her hunters and not being such a play boy.
Annabeth got up and smacked the back on Naruto's head while asking Percy in a shaking voice, "Are you okay?"
"Yeah," Percy replied, but he felt like he want to upchuck the cheeseburger he ate before."Why didn't ...why didn't the head evaporate?"
"I LOVE SPOILS OF WAR" cheered Ares.
Hera gave a glare to her son which cowed him into silence.
"Once you sever it, it becomes a spoil of war," she said. "Same as your minotaur horn. But don't unwrap the head. It can still petrify you."
"Do us all a favor Jackson look at the head" sneered Ares.
Hestia frowned and made a mental note to talk to her war crazed nephew later.
Annabeth glared at the war god's words.
Ares saw this and growled out "what little girl?"
"Nothing just looking at something stupid" stated Annabeth.
Ares' eyes glowed hotly and said "do you want to go little girl?"
Athena glared at her brother and said "touch my daughter Ares and you will pay dearly."
Ares gulped and back off because he doesn't want a celestial bronze spear up his ass again thank you very much.
Grover groaned from his position next to Naruto. He would never get used to the speed Naruto traveled at. Though, the big welt on his forehead from the snake hag wasn't helping any. His green rasta cap hung from one of his little goat horns, and his fake feet had been knocked off his hooves. The magic sneakers were flying aimlessly around his head.
"Wow, talk about getting your shoes knocked off." commented Naruto.
"The Red Baron," Percy said to Grover. "Good job, man."
He managed a bashful grin. "That really was not fun, though. Well, the hitting-her-with-a stick part, that was fun. But crashing into a concrete bear or going at the mind numbing speeds Naruto goes at? Not fun." He said as he snatched his shoes out of the air, while Percy recapped his sword and put it away. They quickly made their way back into the warehouse, hope that they might find something of use.
Hermes grinned at the mention of stealing his favorite sport and thing to do in his free time. Which isn't a lot because all the deliveries he has to make during the day.
Thankfully, they found some plastic bag where they double wrapped Medusa's head in it. After that they plopped it on the table where they ate before, three of them too exhausted to doing anything else. Naruto then got an idea. "Hey, Percy."
"Yeah?"
"I am going to put that in a scroll for later for you. All you have to do is put some blood on the seal and you'll get the headless snake back."
"Uhh…no thanks Naruto, I am not taking this with me." Percy said shakily, Naruto just shrugged.
"So we have Athena to thank for this monster?"
"Oh no you think" said Poseidon.
Athena glared at her rival and hissed out "silence Poseidon!"
There was a pause and Athena sneered and growled out "don't think I have forgotten Poseidon of your little moment with her in my temple!"
Poseidon response was just waved his hand which infuriated Athena more.
Percy then asked Annabeth after a few seconds.
Annabeth flashed him an irritated look. "Your dad, actually. Don't you remember? Medusa was Poseidon's girlfriend.
Poseidon coughed with blushing on his face and murmured "lover."
Athena casted her glare on Poseidon once again for interrupted.
They decided to meet in my mother's temple. That's why Athena turned her into a monster. Medusa and her two sisters who had helped her get into the temple, they became the three gorgons. That's why Medusa wanted to slice me up, but she wanted to preserve you as a nice statue. She's still sweet on your dad. You probably reminded her of him."
"Man, why are all snake like people pedophiles!' Naruto growled and then said, "Percy, didn't you listen to what I was saying to Medusa?"
"Not really, only bits and pieces since I was freaking out!" Percy said, a little irritated, "And how is this my fault!" He rounded on Annabeth.
Annabeth tried to imitate Percy's voice, but it was not that good. "'It's just a photo, Annabeth.
What's the harm? Naruto almost got stoned!'"
"Forget it," Percy said. "You're impossible."
"You're insufferable."
"You're—"
"Flirting" said Silena.
Aphrodite smiled at her daughter.
Sil just smiled at her alternative self and thought 'they are so cute together.'
"Hey!" Grover interrupted. "You two are giving me a migraine, and satyrs don't even get migraines. What are we going to do with the head?"
Percy seemed to be in thought for a moment before he said, "I'll be back."
"Percy," Annabeth called after him. "What are you—" Then he was gone as he rounded a corner. Annabeth just threw up her hands and walked off in another direction,
"Percy is properly doing something stupid" said Nico.
Thalia remarked back in a jokingly manner "when is he not."
Percy pouted at his cousin's harsh words. But thought back and nodded his head that yes it was stupid but he got away with it.
Annabeth smiled and said "if you didn't do anything stupid then I wouldn't have to correct you."
Percy said "we wouldn't want that now would we?"
Annabeth just laughed and whispered in his ear "only you Seaweed Brain."
taking a look around.
It was only Grover and Naruto left. Naruto started chuckling to himself. "What is so funny?"
"I may be clueless to love directed at me, but you got to admit that they might have a thing for each other."
"So he is dense only to him but others he can see the attraction" said Aphrodite.
Sil and thals nodded their head with smiles on their faces.
Kushina cooed at the sleeping baby Naruto and said "you grow up to be big and strong my little baby boy."
Grover looked at the blond like he was nuts. "They are only on this quest together because Percy had a quest and Annabeth wanted to get out of the camp for a while. Besides, their parents hate each other!"
"So. How does that dictate them, they are their own persons. They have a right to judge themselves." Naruto paused and smiled. "Besides, they might just be acting that they don't like each other."
"Speaking of acting…you did a pretty good job on that. You had me going there, heck you even scared me when you were going to get the 'picture'.
"Man, you guys keep forgetting about my shadow clone jutsu."
Sil and Thals blushed brightly at the images of multiply Narutos.
Kushina snickered at her half sister and the daughter of Zeus.
"Well I guess I am not used to it yet…I mean it is not every day a demi-god has that power."
"Well, that is a good thing then. People will never know what to expect! You'll be like, POOF! Where did he go! POOF! Where did he go! POOF! Where did he go!" Naruto smirked as he poofed to a different seat of the table with each Poof!, making Grover shake his head.
"You really need to lay off the Disney movies."
Thals giggled and thought 'awww then our dates wouldn't be as romantic.'
Sil just blushed at the reminder of her dates with Naruto.
Grover replied.
Before Naruto could retort, Percy was back with box and a delivery slip. It read:
The Gods
Mount Olympus
600th Floor,
Empire State Building
New York, NY
With best wishes,
PERCY JACKSON
Zoë sighed in relief that the chapter is finally done and asked "who thy wants to read?"
Everyone looked at one another before a hand raised itself.
AN: Please tell me if the bold saved itself. If it didn't then I will update it.
