Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Chapter 12: Change in Plans
Mount Taranaki, New Zealand
Percy's POV
I fell asleep in my tent easily, but I woke up fully refreshed four hours later, I guess with these new abilities I didn't need to sleep as much. I stood up and found the washbasin that was close to my sleeping bag. I washed up carefully reveling in the coolness of the water. I found my clothes and got ready for the battle ahead. I had my gauntlet and my wristband, but something told me that I wouldn't need them. The power of the Earth itself flowed through me, if I concentrated I could feel the life force emanating not just from living animals and plants, but from the planet itself. I knew that Gaea once was the first god, she had been born from Chaos and had been the mother of all the other Protogenoi. This must have been how she felt before she had her children and then distributed her power to them. I walked out of my tent it was only four in the morning and it was still dark outside. I walked to the command tent that was setup on the far end of camp away from the sleeping tents. I walked in and was a little surprised to see Theseus, Athena and Artemis looking over the map of the terrain. As I approached them I had a great idea an inspiration, well sort of.
"Percy, you're up early how did you sleep?" Theseus asked.
"Good, best nights sleep that I had in a while." I said as I bowed toward Athena and Artemis.
"No need for formalities Percy, we're just studying this map." Artemis said. I looked at the map and suddenly my eyes glowed with recognition. Suddenly, I knew all about this place, how it formed and where the obstacles were located. I grabbed a pen off the table and started feverishly marking landmarks and obstacles on the map. I found places to hide and terrific ambush points. When I was finished the three gods stood shocked before me. "How did you do that?"
"I just saw the map and suddenly I knew everything about this place." I said. I was pretty confused as well.
"The power of Gaea certainly is with you my brother." Theseus said with a smile. "Why did you come to the command tent?"
"Yes, I had an idea on how to give us a new surprise advantage." I said. All three of them looked at me curiously. I told them my idea and I noticed Athena and Artemis both smiling, but Theseus only wore a frown. He pulled me away from the table and I knew I was about to be grilled.
"You're not acting reckless are you, this plan of yours will put you in harms way more than anyone else?" Theseus asked skeptically.
"No, I want to help and I know with my power I will be fine. This plan will allow you all to attack with better odds. Besides my little emotional outburst last night has surely convinced Crius that many died in the drakon attack. If you leave early enough for your attack, but wait until Crius sends his forces to attack us, we will have the advantage." I said.
"All right, I agree, but you better come back alive little brother." Theseus said as he squeezed my shoulder. I looked in his eyes and nodded. We walked back to Artemis and Athena, they tried to hide the fact that they were watching us intently, but neither of them were very good actors, that's more Hermes's game.
"Percy, this is a good change to the plan. I'm proud of you, but I'm sure you want us to hide this change from Annabeth." Athena said.
"Yes, she is worried enough about me, thank you all for keeping this a secret." I said.
"I do not like to lie, but in this instance it will prove beneficial to the plan." Artemis said.
"Thank you again." I said as I bowed and walked out of the tent. It was still early, but I noticed that a Luke, Annabeth and Terra were awake. They were cooking breakfast over the fire pit. I made my way over to them and sat down. I gave them all a happy smile, the first true smile I had given anyone in days. They all looked at me surprised, but I could see relief in Annabeth's eyes.
"Hey, seaweed brain, you're up really early, couldn't sleep?" Annabeth asked.
"No, actually I slept well, but with these powers I only need to sleep for a short period of time. Its like the Earth itself is refreshing me, I guess the same way water can." I said.
"Well, have some breakfast you look hungry." Luke said as he handed me a plate. I ate the food like I hadn't eaten in a week. "Damn, Perce you were hungry."
"I guess so, I'm going to take a little walk in the woods. I'll be back in a few minutes." I said as I stood and proceeded into the forest. I walked for a few minutes until I found the log that I sat on last night. I sat down again and focused on the world around me until I could feel Gaea. I knew she was in pain she was trapped in that cage without the ability to feel the grass upon her feet or to feel the fresh outside air. I sent a feeling of reassurance her way that we would free her and save the Earth. I was broken out of my focus by a few leaves rustling along the forest floor. I looked up to see Annabeth standing just a few feet away from me. I motioned for her to sit down on the log next to me, which she did.
"Annabeth, I'm sorry that I hurt you last night. That was the last thing I wanted to do. I spoke to Theseus and I feel a lot better. I finally let my sadness settle in and it no longer controls my thoughts and feelings. Also, I suppose you heard about the titaness." I said.
"Yes, Theseus told me and I accept your apology. I know the last several days have been a nightmare for you, but I will always be there for you." Annabeth said. I grabbed her hand and held it carefully as I laced my fingers through hers. A smile crept across my face and then I could see Annabeth smile in return.
"I missed your smile." I said.
"I missed yours more." Annabeth said as we rested our foreheads together and stared into each other's eyes. We stayed that way for a few minutes until I leaned forward and kissed her softly. It was only a short kiss maybe a few seconds, but that was all I needed as I poured all my love into it.
"Wow, that was incredible." Annabeth said.
"Well, if you felt the earth move I can't say for sure it wasn't me." I said sarcastically. Annabeth laughed at my statement and I laughed with her.
"I think I missed your laugh more than the smile." Annabeth said.
"Well, thank you, your laugh makes me happy." I said.
"All right seaweed brain, let's break with the mushy stuff and get ready for battle." Annabeth said.
"You always know how to ruin the moment wise girl." I said incredulously. Annabeth stood up and glared at me.
"I told you that I wasn't going to make things easy for you." Annabeth said. I stood and grabbed her hand as we walked out of the forest and back to camp. We reached camp to see everyone preparing for our attack. Annabeth walked over to Luke and Thalia who were talking or I guess you could say arguing about who was leading, which group.
I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned around to see Theseus standing behind me. "Are you ready for your part of the plan?" Theseus asked.
"Yes, I will fly off making people think that I'm going to scout ahead for the Pegasi and the huntresses, then I will fly back to camp." I said.
"Good that's why I ordered everyone to keep the fires going. I want the enemy to believe we are still here." Theseus said, I nodded in agreement and then walked over to my friends to give them a farewell. None of them knew about my real plan.
"Hey, Perce are your ready to fly like a bird." Chris said. I looked at him and smiled.
"Birds have wings you dolt." I said. Terra and Annabeth both began to laugh loudly. Chris's face turned as red as a beet.
"Perce, you know what I meant." Chris said angrily.
"I did know, but your such an easy target my friend." I said. I looked at all my friends and then I felt very serious. "All of you be careful and come back, or I'll kick your butts." I said as I added that last piece of sarcasm. Everyone grinned, even Clarisse.
"You wish Jackson." Clarisse quipped. I smiled at her bad attitude.
"Save it for the enemy hot head." I said as I began to glow green and suddenly flew into the air. The last thing I heard from my friends was Annabeth saying, "Show-off."
I flew high into the air and watched from a distance as my friends and the gods left camp. When I was sure they were far enough away I made my way back, but before I did I saw a large line of monsters heading towards our camp. My plan was working Crius sent almost all of his monsters to attack our camp in hopes of catching us in mourning and unprepared. I flew down and sat near one of the still burning campfires. I focused on the world around me and gathered energy. I could feel power flowing into me. I made sure to keep my body from glowing because I wanted the monsters to think I was just a normal demigod. I could feel the monsters close in. I sensed several different monsters like cyclops, hellhounds, cecrops, empousa, and finally my old friend the minotaur. Crius left the griffins and the last drakon back at his camp, but all the other monsters were here focusing on me.
I finally sensed that all of the monsters were within striking distance and as they rushed forward I unleashed my power into the largest tornado I had every seen. The monsters were sucked into the vortex. I spun them around at over three hundred miles per hour and then I let the vortex end. The monsters flew in all directions. I uncapped Riptide and as they hit the ground, the fire pits or the trees I dispatched them easily with my sword. I moved like the tornado itself, I moved faster than the speed of sound as I sent the monsters to Tartarus. After eliminating all of the cecrops, the empousa and the hellhounds I focused on the Cyclops and the minotaur.
Only three Cyclops remained and they struck first. I focused on the ground and large boulders exploded out of the soil and struck the Cyclops, they were thrown back and landed hard against the ground. I pounced on them with incredible speed and cut off their heads in three swipes of Riptide. That left my old friend the minotaur. He stood off to my right he wore his battle armor and carried his massive celestial bronze ax. He looked directly at me and then I actually heard him speak, "Jackson, what have you become?" His question was one of pure shock and fear. I could hear him somehow and I was also able to feel his fear. I never thought the minotaur could feel fear or dread, but he was definitely feeling it now.
"More than you can handle my old friend." I said sarcastically then he made his fatal mistake. I saw his fear subside and then anger replaced the worried look in his eyes. He charged at me with a look of blinding anger and hatred. He moved faster than I remembered, but then I focused on the fire pit in front of him and as he passed it I exploded the fire and sent it to envelope him. I saw his eyes grow wide with shock and then I heard the terrible roar that I knew would reverberate throughout the volcanic mountain. As the wall of fire subsided, all that remained of my arch nemesis was a few golden embers smoking on the ground in front of me.
I looked around at our camp and it was completely destroyed, but in the end it served its purpose. I focused on the world around me again and then I began to glow green, then my aura enveloped me. I flew into the air and headed for the titan camp.
Next chapter is the beginning of the fight at the titan camp.