Chapter 14: Want Some Lettuce?

Everyone was laughing at Percy's reaction to what might happen in the next scene. Reyna was a little pale and trying to move away as Nico looked at her worriedly. She smiled meekly and Annabeth got up moving over to her as well.

"Thank you," Reyna said.

The scene rose with them arriving at a port. With multiple ships of all sorts from many periods of times. A lady with a clipboard greeted them smiling.

"Ships like that in the sea of monsters. And a weird smiling lady? What are you still doing there Prissy?" Clarisse yelled.

"There's no right answer to that," Percy said.

"And that is no monster," Reyna said.

"No it's not," agreed Hazel. "That's Hylla."

"Hylla?" asked several of the Greek's and Roman's who didn't know about Reyna's past only of her relation.

"Who's Hylla?" Jaz asked.

"Her sister," Thalia said pointing to Reyna. "Now also an Amazon—"

Thalia tried to continue and found she couldn't. It didn't matter either because now everyone was looking at Reyna. She looked down. "You shall see and hear everything. I suggest we just watch."

"That's a good idea," Percy sighed. "Let's get this over with."

Hylla asked if it was their first time at the spa and received no answer. She started to suggest herbal wraps for Annabeth and a complete makeover for Percy who yelped.

"Why would Percy, of all people, need a makeover?" asked Piper. "I mean he was a little scrawnier back then from what I can tell. But I don't think that meant he needed one."

"He didn't," Annabeth agreed.

"Either way it wouldn't be as good as the one Thalia and I gave him," Sadie smirked devilishly.

Percy flipped his blue streak of hair. "Yeah. This makeover is much better."

Hylla kept walking and urged them to come along. They exchanged glances. Annabeth muttered it couldn't hurt though they both looked skeptical as they went along.

"You guys really need me," Grover said. "This is just like Medusa."

"Hey," Percy groaned. "Hungry, tired and injured makes traps easier to walk into. And we kind of had no choice but to go along here."

"That's not really true. I think," Annabeth muttered.

"No. You would not have been able to leave," Reyna told them.

"See?" Percy said arms raised. Grover rolled his eyes at the gesture, braying quietly.

The scene skipped until Percy and Annabeth entered a room with Hylla. In front of them was a lady weaving a loom and singing. She was kind of like Calypso with how enchanting she was. Her hair was dark and her eyes green.

Calypso paled and muttered in greek. "Run. Get away. Especially Percy. She will have you in her trap soon."

"You know who it is? C'mon mamacita," Leo urged. "Tell me."

"Never."

The woman asked if Annabeth liked weaving. Annabeth nodded excitedly starting to say her mother was goddess of the loom before she stopped midsentence. The woman smiled and introduced herself as CC.

Piper's eyes widened. "Her?"

"Yep," Percy agreed.

"Yeah. You should leave Percy," Piper said.

"As you all keep saying. Now would you like to explain who this is?" groaned an annoyed Leo. He got no reply making him groan again.

Animals started to squeak in a cage nearby. CC looked at Percy and frowned saying she really did need his help.

Everyone scoffed and Percy blushed a little. CC was a little right in his opinion.

CC continued saying Hylla would take care of Annabeth and her hair first. Annabeth petted her head feeling hurt asking what was wrong with it.

"Nothing at all," Percy told her. "Ever."

She blushed a little. "You're sweet seaweed brain but that's not true."

"Not really. There's never anyone more beautiful than you."

She blushed and Reyna pushed her back toward Percy. Nodding she sat back down next to him. After a quick peck on the cheek.

CC told her she was wasting her potential and at the spa they could show a person their true self and do lots of improvement's. Annabeth seemed to look at the door for a long time curiously. Then she asked what about Percy.

"Not that he needs any improvements," she said.

No one disagreed. A few girls looked at him quickly and blushed and he could hear Juniper and Jaz giggling. Grover was looking at him in a 'really man?' fashion. Percy shrugged.

CC told Annabeth that she would take care of Percy personally. He'd need a lot more work. Percy seemed to droop frowning slightly looking at CC upset.

"That's wrong," Frank said.

"Very," agreed Nico. "Normally Percy would tear the place apart."

"She's an enchantress of some kind," Hazel told them. "She has him under a spell."

"Like Medea," Jason shivered. "Bro you really need to leave."

Percy rolled his eyes. "No one's mentioned that yet."

"Burn!" Leo yelled. Both guys looked at him unamused though others were laughing loudly.

Hylla led Annabeth out. CC pulled Percy towards a wall of mirrors. She told him the first step to unlocking his potential was admitting that he wasn't happy as he was.

Alex scowled and Hearth looked down. Both of them had many issues with that. Then Hearth signed suddenly. "Never change for anyone but yourself."

Percy nodded. "I won't."

Percy fidgeted. He stared at the mirror hard. CC stood behind him smiling. Guinea pigs squealed harder.

A note then fell down in front of Annabeth. She picked it up and scanned it quickly. "It's from the fates. They're giving us some of Percy's point of view so we can understand this better."

Percy sighed. "No choice but to read it I guess."

Annabeth nodded. "Percy thought about the zit he had on his nose last month and how his hair was always messy. And that his teeth were never straight. And looking in the mirror made it worse."

Piper looked at him. "Everyone has things they hate about their appearances. And no one else usually notices them as much as we do. You're amazing Percy. Don't be like majority of mortal teenage girls and get caught up in a perfect appearance."

"Cause you are perfect anyway," Annabeth muttered to him. He blushed and kissed her.

"I'll try Piper. After I thank the fates for bringing all the issues and insecurities I've ever had forward."

CC asked if they could try something else. She snapped her fingers and fabric shimmered in front of Percy. Suddenly there was another him on it looking a lot like he did now but even more perfect.

"She just made you look older," frowned Chris. "That's a cheap trick."

"What? I don't look like that," Percy protested.

"You do," Hazel told him squeaking as she spoke. "I kind of mistook you for a god when I first met you."

She turned a furious red. Percy's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "How's that even possible?"

"It's very possible," Sadie said. "Very."

Walt looked surprised and growled. Annabeth rolled her eyes. "Can we stop all this appearance talk? Either way Sadie and Hazel are right. That's pretty much what you look like now. Just that image is a little more perfect as nothing else should be. Not that the younger you could have known you would be that way anyway."

Percy frowned but didn't disagree.

CC promised a full makeover after Percy agreed that's what he wanted. He asked what the trick was and she listed a few things. Along with giving him a smoothie with some mixture she added in. Then she told him he'd see results as soon as he drank it.

"Magic," Zia scoffed. "And probably a cruel trick too."

"I know who she is," Hazel said eyes wide. Jason caught on not a second later looking at Percy who nodded.

Jason mouthed. "Dude, that's harsh."

"Very," Percy mouthed back.

Then Percy asked here why there were no guys at this Spa.

Everyone looked at him surprised he caught on. Piper frowned though. "Now will you please realize who she is and leave?"

CC assured Percy he'd meet the other 'guys' soon. She continued asking who he'd rather trust her judgement or his own. He looked down at the cup and nodded he'd rather trust hers. Then he took the cup.

Everyone looked at him worriedly. Percy's shoulders seemed to keep sinking further and further. He looked down. Annabeth wrapped an arm around him trying to add support as of her boyfriend's insecurities started to come to light.

Percy drank the mixture and doubled over asking what was happening. CC smiled saying this was the immediate result she promised.

Percy gasped. He yowled in pain keeling over as he felt his insides burn up and turn smaller like the rest of him had back then. Will frowned wanting to help but knowing he could do nothing.

Percy started to shrink. His teeth started to grow and so did his fingernails. Fur erupted everywhere and suddenly he was gone into his own clothes.

"A transformation," Carter frowned. "Those are painful when someone else does it to you. Lizard is not the funnest thing to be."

"It's only when someone else does it to you. Not when you transform yourself," Sam said as Magnus opened his mouth to ask the next question. He closed his mouth.

Frank nodded in conformation.

Percy ran out of his clothes. CC picked up the guinea pig that was Percy in her hands telling him he'd unlocked his trued self.

Percy was trying to burrow into himself now, not a lot unlike a guinea pig as everyone stared at him. Then Thalia looked at him strangely. "Is that what you meant by your transformation? I got a tree, Nico got a dandelion and corn plant. And you got a guinea pig?"

"Yeah."

"At least his is adorable and cuddly," Nico said scowling. "I was made into part of a future flower crown."

People were giggling all around the room now forgetting the tension.

CC held Percy and told him about how she used to make men into real pigs which were a lot bigger and smellier. These guinea pigs were a lot more convenient. She started to lower him into the cage to meet the other men. He tried to scratch her for her to squeeze harder telling him he could be fed to the owls or sent to a classroom.

Percy yelped again as he felt the squeeze. Then he scowled at the idea of being a classroom pet again.

CC told him that the other guinea pigs in the cage were discipline problems who had been there three hundred years, which he might be like. Then Annabeth's voice arrived and CC ran to hide Percy's clothes.

Everyone cheered and Percy looked up at Annabeth thankfully not able to say anything again.

Annabeth entered in a chiton wrap dress. Her hair was braided with gold and she was in makeup. Percy's guinea pig eyes popped as he stopped squeaking for a second then shook it off squeaking again.

"Man, even as a guinea pig you're totally in awe of her," Walt muttered.

"Always has been," Grover said. "Took too long for them both to realize that though."

"I know the feeling," Jason admitted. "I mean seeing a girl suddenly become an even more beautiful goddess."

Piper blushed. Then she looked at Percy. "You got over that faster than I thought you would."

He opened his mouth but couldn't talk. Frowning Percy pointed to Annabeth then shook his head rapidly.

"No Annabeth?" guessed Juniper.

"Not Annabeth. Yeah, that wasn't really me," Annabeth smiled at her boyfriend. "Just like that cute guinea pig wasn't really you."

Percy smiled.

Annabeth asked where Percy was and CC told her he was getting a treatment before asking Annabeth about the tour. She brightened commenting on the library.

"Of course that's what you would choose to talk about," Magnus laughed.

"What's that mean butthead?" Annabeth asked.

"Nothing poopface," Magnus shot back.

"Do I wanna know?" asked Thalia loudly.

"Old childhood nicknames," Annabeth shrugged. Thalia nodded remembering the adorable insults Annabeth used to use.

CC nodded saying Annabeth could study anything. Annabeth asked about architecture. CC frowned and disagreed saying Annabeth could be a sorceress like her.

"You did do pretty well with magic," Sadie agreed.

"Not my thing," Annabeth shook her head.

"I have to say yes to that. Annabeth's to logical. Let's leave the mist usage and magic to Hazel," Piper said. "Though when did you use magic?"

Sadie and Annabeth exchanged glances. "Long story."

Annabeth backed away. CC explained her mother was Hecate and she knew that Annabeth's was Athena. That they were both similar. Annabeth mumbled that she didn't understand.

"Princess doesn't understand something?" Clarisse asked sarcastically.

"It's the end of the world," agreed Thalia.

Annabeth rolled her eyes.

Percy squealed. Even louder as the other guinea pigs came out, each large, dirty, red eyed and yellow teethed. CC was still talking to Annabeth telling her she could become a sorceress and immortal. That this spa was better than camp for females. She challenged Annabeth to name female half-blood heroes.

"All the half-blood girls in this room, Harriet Tubman, Amelia Earhart, Eleanor Roosevelt, Rosa Parks, Joan of Arc, Queen Elizabeth the First, Atalanta and Helen wasn't a hero but she started the Trojan war—"

"That's enough Wise girl," Percy teased.

She shoved him.

CC started to complain men got all the fame. Sorcery was the way to power for a woman, like Calypso and Medea.

"Calypso is a whole different league then Medea and CC," Percy said.

"A better one, prettier, braver, smarter and all that," Leo declared.

Calypso blushed. "Both were much more powerful than I ever have been. My magic is much smaller."

"But it's used for better things, and you're a better person," Hazel said. "And a better sorceress."

"I have heard of your sorcery," Calypso said curiously. "Can I see?"

"Sure," Hazel said brightly. "Later though."

Annabeth finally figured out who Circe was. Circe laughed and told her she wouldn't hurt her. Annabeth demanded to know what happened to Percy. CC told her she showed him his true form. Annabeth immediately started to look around and saw the guinea pig cage.

"Yes!" Grover cheered. "Guinea pigs are almost as bad as rabbits. I can't have my best friend be one."

Percy laughed but didn't say anything again.

CC tried to get Annabeth to join her again saying that Percy would find a home in a kindergarten as Annabeth would get powerful having everything she ever wanted.

"Not Percy," she said. Percy grinned goofily in reply and kissed her.

"Get a room," Nico told them.

Percy stuck his tongue out.

Nico just stared at him as if he couldn't understand the planet Percy came from.

Annabeth looked dreamy and asked to have a minute alone to think and said goodbye. CC agreed and placed iron bars on the windows. The door locked behind her.

"Now Annabeth is trapped too," Rachel said. "How bad is Percy's luck again?"

"Worse than before?" tried Apollo.

Will sighed at the teenage mortal version of his father.

Annabeth's dreamy look melted away and she ran over to the cage looking in. She asked which one was Percy.

Everyone sighed. Alex nodded, "She at least has acting skills, and lying skills. Enough to trick the spa lady and save the day. You could all learn something."

"Too true. Now she can free Percy, and turn him back somehow," Chris said thankfully. His father was also the god of lies of course.

"Percy and Annabeth can do it," Tyson said confidently. "She will save my brother and do something smart."

"Isn't that the way it always is?" asked Magnus.

"True," Annabeth agreed as Percy nodded.

Percy and all the other guinea pigs squealed in response. She turned around and ran torward his jeans finding something in the pocket. She took out the vitamins from Hermes and ate a lemon one as CC entered.

"How will the vitamins help?" asked a confused Sadie. "Besides tasting really gross."

"Hermes said to use them when we needed to feel ourselves again. He might have had a clue we'd run into CC," Annabeth grinned. Everyone else brightened up as well.

CC asked for Annabeth's answer and she drew a bronze knife. CC sneered and asked if the knife against magic was smart.

"Annabeth is always wise," Piper said. "So your not the smart one CC."

Annabeth grinned.

CC started to talk to herself about what Annabeth's makeover would be. She smiled suggesting a shrew as blue curled around Annabeth from CC's fingers. But Annabeth only stayed Annabeth now with a knife on CC's neck saying she'd rather be a panther with claws at CCs throat.

"That's a good one," Alex nodded. "Big cats are fun too."

Frank wrinkled his nose disagreeing.

Then Sadie looked at them both."You guys are pretty much from Harry Potter with multiple Animagus's. And mine would be a hawk sadly."

"Please don't say Percy's a guinea pig then," Thalia laughed. "Though it might be funny."

"I don't really know."

CC yelped and Annabeth showed her the vitamins. Annabeth demanded she turn Percy back which CC said she couldn't. Annabeth dragged her over to the cage and opened it pouring the vitamins inside.

Annabeth winced and looked at Reyna. "Sorry."

"You needed to save Percy. It was part of my fate as well. Don't apologize."

"What is she apologizing for?" asked a confused Piper.

"You'll see," the other two girls said together.

Percy ran and got a Vitamin as CC screamed. The cage exploded as Percy now in clothes sat confused along with six other guys. CC screamed those men were the worst again. The man with a long black beard and black teeth and pirates clothes growled.

Percy sighed. "I can talk again."

"Good thing too with what's about to happen."

Annabeth gasped recognizing he was Edward Teach the son of Ares. The man told her he was to be called Blackbeard and he meant to kill CC and find some celery.

The room erupted into a loud laughter. "Celery? Seriously? Please tell me you don't crave Celery?" asked a laughing Rachel.

"It's lettuce," Percy said embarrassed.

Everyone erupted into new fits of laughter except Grover who was grumbling. "I'll have you know that Celery and Lettuce are both very good."

CC screamed as the pirates chased her and her helpers out. Pery thanked Annabeth who hugged him quickly saying she was happy he wasn't a guinea pig. Percy turned red and said he was as well.

"You guys were oblivious for three or so more years how?" asked Piper.

"No clue," Percy said.

"It's his fault," Annabeth said.

"You were the confusing one," Percy argued.

"Yeah but you kept hanging out with other girls and never gave me a sign. What was I supposed to think?" Annabeth said.

Percy turned red again. Rachel looked down as did Calypso. Annabeth frowned in a slight apology to them both.

Annabeth pulled the braids out of her hair and told Percy they needed to leave while the Pirates were distracted. The pirates were ransacking the place. Annabeth asked which ship as they ran. Percy looked around and pointed at the pirate ship called the Queen Anne's revenge saying he could make it work. Blackbeard screeched they were stealing his ship.

"That's blackbeard's ship," said Sam dumbly.

"Yeah," Percy agreed.

"You stole one of the most famous pirate's ever ship," breathed an impressed Sadie. "You just keep getting more awesome."

"Thanks," Percy grinned. "Though I could say the same about you."

Sadie beamed.

Percy closed his eyes and yelled suddenly. As he did the ropes around him tightened and the sails came out. Pulleys creaked as Percy flexed a little and the rudder turned.

"How are you even doing that?" asked Carter.

"Son of Poseidon."

Carter's look said that wasn't answer but Percy didn't seem to care.

Meanwhile Magnus was looking at Percy again and thinking about his future quest. Then about his own godly family. He muttered, "My grandfather is the god of boats and I can't even do that."

No one heard him because Leo was looking at Percy and yelling. "How come you never did that on the Argo II? It would have been helpful."

"Dude, if I got anywhere near you when you held that Wii remote you heated up. How would you have liked it if I just stole the control of the ship you built?"

"Not much," Leo conceded. "But it still would have been pretty awesome. And helpful!"

"It is," Frank agreed. "At least it was on our quest."

Hazel looked nauseous. "Can we stop talking about that trip? Being seasick wasn't fun."

That's when Percy's stomach growled and he looked up. "Anyone else craving some lettuce?"