AN
Roy: Hey guys we're back!
Jake: Yeah! So now welcome to the new chapter of our story Perseus Jackson and the Forethought Five: Against All Odds!
Twista: Read your last note Roy, hottest writer ever? *Raises brow*
Jake: HAHAHA
Roy: You wrote that and you know it! Alright, just saying something, lasy chapter was 7k words long, put a lotta effort into it but only 3 reviews? Did we do something wrong?
Jake: Yeah we want your input so if we're doing something wrong tell us!
Twista: Well now before we begin I'd like to say that the POLL IS STILL OPEN! We want to know who's YOUR FAVORITE FORETHOUGHT FIVE MEMBER! Head over to our profile and vote!
Roy: On with the chapter!
Disclaimer: We do not own PJO and HOO!
Frank 3rd Person POV
"This is only the beginning; Death loses its grasp on the lost."
The camp's attention drifted to a sphere of fire floating above the Legion. Thunder rumbled from above as the legionnaires swiftly cleared out as they formed ranks which they practiced before.
As they stood ready, the orb of flames erupted into a pillar of fire as the legionnaires dew their weapons. From the fires, a huge soldier stepped out into view.
The fires died out as everyone looked up at the massive soldier in awe. The soldier was ten feet tall and just looking at him made Frank see Talon as a dwarf compared to him. He wore Canadian Forces desert camouflage and he radiated an aura of power and confidence. He had flat cut black hair like Frank's. His face was angular and brutal which showed he'd been through a lot of battles. He had infrared goggles covering his eyes but they glowed underneath. A utility belt with a sidearm, knife holster and several grenades while in his hands was an oversized M16 rifle.
Everyone else stepped back as Frank took a step forward. Everyone felt his presence and wanted to run away but Frank knelt in front of him. The other legionnaires followed his example and even Reyna dismounted to kneel.
"That's good," said the soldier, "Kneeling is good."
Frank noticed only one person wasn't kneeling and it was Percy. The Son of Neptune still had Riptide in his right hand as he solidly stood meeting eyes with Mars as he said "I…I met you before. With someone, we didn't like you."
Pulling a knife from his belt which could easily kill anyone if thrown properly, the soldier scratched his chin with it and said "I don't know kid; a lot of people don't like me. Did I fight you? Because if I did, you'd be dead."
"You're Ares," said Percy remembering a name, "What do you want?"
The Legionnaires kept their heads down as Percy raised a brow and said "Who are you?"
The soldier gave a small chuckle and said "Ares is my Greek name but to them I am known as Mars, patron of the empire and Divine father of Romulus and Remus."
The soldier then scowled at Percy and said "Now kneel demigod, as befits a child of Rome."
Percy reluctantly followed as Frank gave him a pleading look. The said messenger nodded to the bowing legionnaires as Mars opened his arms and said "Roman! Lend me your ears!"
He gave a hearty chuckle Mars said "I've always wanted to say that. I come from Olympus with a message! Jupiter doesn't like communicating with mortals especially nowadays but he has allowed this exception as you Romans have always been my special people. I'm only permitted to speak a few minutes so listen up!"
Somehow, his voice, tone and attitude reminded Percy of someone he knew. Or at least he thought he knew, the angry voice, the proud and confident tone yet he spoke with sincerity.
The God pointed at Gwen and said "This one should be dead, yet she's not! The monsters you fight no longer return to Tartarus when they are slain! Some mortals who died long ago are walking the earth again!"
A small click of the Gods teeth was heard as he gave a small glance to Hazel and Nico at the distance. He growled and said "Thanatos has been chained!"
The God then closed his hand into a fist and said "The Doors of Death have been forced open and no one is guarding them! The enemy Gaea allows our enemies to roam the earth! Her sons the Giants are mustering armies against you! Armies you cannot kill! Cannot defeat! Unless Death is unleashed to return to his duties, you will be overrun. You must find and free Thanatos and free him from the Giants, only his presence will turn the tide."
He noticed everyone was steel kneeling and he cleared his throat and said "Any question?"
Reyna was the first to rise as she approached Mars with Octavian behind her kneeling and groveling like a pro. Percy gave a small scoff as Reyna said "Lord Mars, we are honored."
"Beyond honored," added Octavian, "Far beyond honored,"
"Well?' asked Mars sharply,
"Thanatos is the God of Death right?" asked Reyna, "Pluto's lieutenant?"
The God nodded as the praetor said "He's captured by the Giants so that means people will stop dying?"
"Not all at once," said Mars with a nod, "but the line between life and death will weaken until it is entirely gone. People who die will find their way back to the living and monsters will never stay dead. Can you imagine a world where no one dies?"
The skinny augur raised a hand and said "But Lord Mars isn't that a good thing? Our armies will never die!"
"Fool!" spat Mars as Octavian took a slide backwards as he said "Do you want that? Endless carnage! Never ending war! A never ending battle of back and forth!"
"But you're the God of War," said Percy, "Don't you want that?"
"Insolent brat aren't you?" asked Mars, "I think I didn't like you back if you said we met before. No I don't want that, I am the Legion's Patron. I protect them from enemies and I crush my foes underfoot but an eternal war? There are some things that just remain undesirable. Eternal war with no reason? That is not what I want, you will discover this as you serve me."
"Don't think so," said Percy looking at him in the eyes,
Once again, the Legion expected Percy to be gunned down but Mars just grinned as if trash talking with an old friend. The war God then said in a booming voice "I order a quest! You will go North and find Thanatos in the land beyond the Gods and thwart the Giants' plans. Beware Gaea! Beware her Son the Eldest Giant!"
Hazel froze as she whimpered "Land beyond the Gods?"
"You know what I'm talking about Hazel Levesque," said Mars as he glared at the girl, "Everyone here does! The place where the Legion lost its honor! If the quest succeeds and you return before the Feast of Fortuna perhaps the Legion's honor will be restored. If you don't succeed, then there will be no Legion to return to. Rome will be overrun, its legacy lost forever. So my only advice is don't fail me."
By some miracle, Octavian bowed lower and said "One thing Lord Mars, a quest requires a prophecy, a mystical poem to guide us! We used to get them from the Sibylline Books but now it's up to the augur to figure out the Gods' will."
The God gave him a hard look and said "Are you the Augur?"
"Y-Yes Lord Mars," answered the Augur shakily,
Mars pulled a scroll from his belt and opened it and gave the Legion a questioning look and said "Anyone got a pen?"
The army gave him a blank look as he pressed his fingers to the bridge of his nose and said "Two hundred soldiers and no one has a pen…"
Giving a grunt, Mars scowled and said "Never mind!"
He plucked a grenade from his belt resulting in several legionnaires screaming in terror. With a gruff sigh, he set the grenade to blow but it just shrank into a ball point pen which he used to write on the scroll.
As soon as he finished, he tossed the scroll to Octavian who caught it barley and said "There! A prophecy! Make a song about it or scribe it onto your floors."
The Augur read the scroll and says "But Lord Mars it says 'Go to Alaska, find Thanatos and free him. Come back by sundown on June twenty-fourth or die.'"
"Is that not clear?" asked Mars with his goggles lighting up,
Octavian gulped and raised the scroll to the crowd and said "The prophecy is clear! A quest is demanded!"
"That's right," said Mars as he looked down on his gun and rubbed it slowly as he said "Now what else did I come here for? Oh yeah…"
He grinned at Frank and said "C'mere kid!"
Frank nervously stepped forward as Mars said "Great job taking the wall kid, you did me proud. Who was the ref of this game?"
Reyna raised her hand as he said "See that performance ref? That was an MVP play from my son. First over the wall for his team."
The Praetor nodded and said "I'll see to it he gets the Mural Crown Lord Mars."
He pointed at Frank and said "My kid here!"
The God gave a soft smile as he said "Emily Zhang's son! A good soldier and good woman, this kid here proved his stuff tonight. Happy late birthday kid, time you stepped up to a real man's weapon."
The God slung off his massive M16 gun and threw it to Frank. The poor kid though he would be crushed by it but the gun seemed to shrink until it was a spear with an Imperial Gold shaft and a strange point looking like a white bone that flickered with ghostly light.
"Tip is a Dragon's Tooth," said Mars, "You haven't learned how to use you mom's talents yet? If not then that'll give you some breathing room until you do. You only get three shots but use it wisely. A word of advice, when the charges run out, keep the shaft, I think you'll like it."
Frank gripped the spear tightly with his him shaking his head in disbelief. His father was the God of War?
The God nodded at him and said "Now Frank here is going to lead the quest. He can bring two people with him but one of them has to be this kid."
He jabbed a thumb at Percy and said "He needs a lesson on respect and he's gonna learn it or die trying. The final companion? I don't care, talk about it."
The sky rumbled as Mars looked up and said "That's my cue Romans! Do not disappoint me!"
He vanished in a flash of light as the Campers looked at Frank with looks of surprise, envy, awe and pity. He had just been handed a quest that decided the entire fate of the Camp.
Timeskip (Departure from Camp)
Hazel 3rd Person POV
AN: The council plus everything else in between seemed unnecessary sorry!
Standing before the border of the valley after yesterday's events, the trio of quest goers wearily stood before the statue a few meters away. After Bobby had dropped them off on Hannibal the Elephant, the three had been left here to their own devices for the quest.
Percy had his hands inside the pockets of the jacket he was wearing with a troubled expression in his gold rimmed green eyes as Frank looked really nervous. Hazel couldn't believe Frank wasn't freaking out right now. He had just been issued a quest to Alaska, the Land Beyond The Gods, and been declared Lord Mars' son along with the fact he had been promoted to Centurion.
He had gotten his first stripe earlier today and Hazel felt sorry for her friend. He looked like he was going to crack. Gripping his bow, he fidgeted as he sighed and said "This is it huh?"
Hazel put a hand on his shoulder and said "You okay Frank?"
"Not really," said the Son of Mars, "this is just happening too fast. I can't even control the buzz in my head and gut."
"It's just pre-quest jitters mincemeat," said a familiar voice, "suck it up. You're a man now."
The trio turned to see Nico, Talon and Riley all suited up and ready to leave as well. Hazel looked surprised and said "Guys! Where are you going?"
Frank, Hazel and Percy hoped the trio would join them since they absolutely had no idea how to do this. Riley shook her head as Nico said "Nah, just here to speak to my sister."
Nico looked at the two companions of his sister and said "Mind if I borrow her?"
The two nodded as Nico put a hand around Hazel's shoulder and walked the two of them a few meters away from her two companions and said "Hazel, you have to be careful alright?"
"I will," said Hazel, "Where are you three going?"
"Going to a few places then the Underworld," said Nico, "We're going to look for the Doors from the other side. Its hectic down there, aside from Elysium, the entire system is out of whack."
Hazel nodded as she gave her brother a hug and said "Be careful Nico"
"Same to you Hazel," said Nico in reply,
They parted and walked back to the others to see Talon grinning his usual smile as he said "Careful with that thing mincemeat. Hazel, Percy, make sure he doesn't jam that thing in the ground unless necessary."
"Why is that?" asked Percy with a raised brow trying to remember,
"Oh that would be telling," said Talon with a chuckle,
Riley rolled her eyes and "Good luck you three, we'll see each other soon."
Two large shadows loomed above them as the group looked up to see Chain and Asteron in their massive forms landing before them. The dragon looked way bigger now than eight months ago and from his height of twelve feet tall, he rose to fifteen feet in height.
Chain looked the same as the Griffon cawed as Riley got on and said "Nico you hopping on or you riding with Talon?"
Hazel gave a small chuckle as Nico gulped at the thought of riding either one of these beasts in the air. Talon walked up his brother's tail to his back as he waved an arm and said "Yo Nico come on!"
"Can't we just Shadow Travel?" whimpered the Son of Pluto,
Taking the skies was not the poor Son of Pluto's ideal way of travel. He nervously glanced to Riley and said "I can take all of us there faster!"
"Wont you be exhausted by then?" countered Riley,
Talon laughed and leapt down and picked Nico up by the wait and slung him over his shoulder like a bag. Hazel, Frank and Percy chuckled a bit as Nico pounded his fists futilely on Talon's back and said "Put me down!"
The half breed paid him no attention and leapt up on his brother's head and waved to the three and gave a small smirk and gave a small salute as he said "See you around guys, I want a rematch Percy."
Despite Nico's protests, the large blue dragon spread its wings and soared into the air. Riley gave a rare smile to the three and pushed her glasses up as she ruffled Chain's neck feathers and said "Follow the lizard Chain."
With a caw, the hybrid monster spread its wings and soared up in pursuit of the other flying creature. Once they started fading into the distance, Hazel smiled at her two friends and said "Let's go? Octavian and Reyna has permitted us to use the Legion Navy so I guess we head there."
Frank felt the medal on his chest and said "Where is that?"
"Let's ask Terminus," said Hazel,
"Isn't he back in the City?" asked Percy scratching his head,
Pointing at the statue a few meters away, the idol's face came to life and it scowled as Percy recognized the God of Boundaries, Terminus. He seemed to be crossing his invisible arms as he barked "Leaving are we? Line up! Identifications please!"
As soon as it was all sorted out, Hazel cleared her throat and said "Umm, Terminus, any idea where the Roman Navy is?"
"That old rinky dink?" said Terminus, "By the bay, you'll know it when you see it."
Hazel gave a nod as the God said "And Jackson, be careful. I've been hearing reports of Polybotes roaming the area with a group of monsters. He can smell a Sea God from miles away so be careful."
"Polybo what?" asked Frank,
Alas Terminus' statue turned back to normal and the lifeless idol remained unmoving as a unfamiliar voice said "Such a stiff Terminus is...at least he just teleports where he needs to be since he has a for there."
The three turned to see a man as tall as the Mars who wore a Legionnaire Messenger's uniform. A leather bag was around his body while his blue eyes flicker with power. He adjusted the helmet on his head as he supported himself on a caduceus where a pair of living snakes intertwined as their forked tongues felt the air and the metal wings on the staff glistened brightly as a pair of winged shoes were worn at his feet.
He leaned on the staff and said "Not like my job, always dashing around with breakables and important stuff."
Frank raised a brow and said "Uhhh, excuse me but who are you?"
Percy's eyes widened and said "I know you too! You're Hermes!"
"Mercury actually," said the God with a slight wince, "Hermes was me in Greek."
Hazel, Frank and Percy gave a small kneel as he pushed his hands and said "No guys I'm here for a delivery!"
He dug through his bag with one hand as he said "Jupiter doesn't want any interactions between mortals and us Gods but I got paid quite a bit for this and well Vesta would kill me if I didn't get to deliver this."
He pulled out what seemed to be a Rolex Yacht Master-II and its gold body seemed to glisten in the light. Mercury handed it to Percy and said "Your patron sent it with love, she said to tell you to keep safe."
"My patron?" asked Percy,
Mercury shrugged and said "Just a messenger"
In a flash of light, the God was gone and Frank was there dumbfounded and Hazel surprised to see another God after last night. Percy looked at the watch suspiciously as Hazel said "I heard gifts from Gods should be good. Try it"
Percy put it near his left wrist but the watch just latched onto his wrist and clamped shut. The watched glowed as it expanded into a large kite shield that was plated with a smooth coat of Imperial Gold from behind while the front was a large mirror framed with Imperial Gold patterning.
"Is that a shield?" asked Frank,
"I think so," said Percy moving around, "but that's a mirror, it looks like it could break."
The mirror shrunk back into a watch as Percy sighed and said "Some gift…lets go."
Eventually they made their way to the bay where yachts, fishing boats and different kinds of transportation. Scanning the area, Percy smiled at the familiarity and said "What do you think the boat looks like?"
Frank pointed at the end of the line of boats where a small boat was covered by a purple tart that was imprinted with a gold colored lace of S.P.Q.R.
"You've got to be kidding me," said Percy in disbelief,
The trio untied the knots and folded the tarp to reveal an old steel rowboat with no oars. Left over marks of its original coat of paint were seen while the boat's hull was crusty with salt and tar from long times of being unused.
"Well behold the mighty Roman Navy," said Frank sarcastically,
Percy narrowed his eyes as he imagined Octavian laughing at them right now. Hazel shook her head "This can't be what we're going to use, this is a piece of useless crap."
"We'll have to make due," said Percy as he hopped on the boat and crossed his arms,
As he crossed his arms, the boat seemed to act on its own and tried to mend itself at its best for the Son of Neptune who would ride it. After it seemed to be done, Frank and Hazel hopped on and Frank said "Uhh Percy, there are no oars."
Silently, Percy nodded in the direction of the bay as the boat moved forward at a steady pace. Frank shrugged as Hazel shakily sat down and sighed. Gaea's voice crept in his head and said "You chose pain and misery boy, you will regret making this choice."
He saw surprised but his stern expression said nothing as he muttered "Get off my boat…"
"Excuse me?" asked Hazel nervously,
Percy shook his head to dismiss it as the boat steadily moved away. His silence was not meant to be disrespectful but as he stepped on the boat and caught a glimpse of the massive mountain on the other side of the bay, a heavy ache found its way to his head as glimpses he could not recognize rapidly flashed in his mind.
"My memories…" muttered Percy, "damn this void."
Hazel and Frank kept silent as they understood Percy's words and left him be. Percy drove the boat with his affinity to water and sailed through the San Fransico bay in peace. He met eyes with a man who looked like a sea lion and it just gave him an acknowledging nod.
Percy raised a brow and shut his eyes tight as he focused his energies and sat down with his legs crossed in perfect balance despite the swaying as he put his hands together and made a small circle under his stomach as the ship sailed to their destination.
Timeskip (After Hazel was taken by Karpoi)
Percy 3rd Person POV
Percy lugged a bag on his shoulders as he stepped out of the Pax and said "You have been a faithful ride. I thank you."
The boat seemed to sway as if nodding as Percy turned and walked towards where he left Frank and Hazel. His poor friend had blacked out on the boat for some reason and they had to go to shore to give her some attention. Glancing at the watch he had, he guessed he had only been gone for ten minutes.
As he got closer to where he left them, Frank ran towards him lumbering as if he was going to trip which made Percy step back as he put his hands out and said "Slow down Frank, what happened? Why are you here and where's Hazel?"
The boy had a frantic look in his eyes as he said "That's exactly it! Hazel was kidnapped by the grass!"
"Grass?" said Percy flatly giving Frank a weird look, "Really?"
"You don't believe me?!" said Frank, "Come on!"
The Son of Neptune slung the bag on his back and dashed after his friend who stood before a field of tall grass. A feeling of nostalgia filled Percy's mind to when he used to play Pokemon and he said "How long ago was she taken?"
"Around three minutes ago," said Frank who drew his bow, "The grass is too tall and she was taken fast, she's in danger and I don't know where she is!"
Percy sighed and took a deep breath as he whispered "Sight of Truth"
Opening his eyes, his eyes turned back to the deep, violent purple color he sometimes had and he scanned the area and seemed to see everything differently. For starters, the world was in black and white and he had a three hundred sixty degree field of vision. He could see Frank who was behind him shifting from foot to foot in nervousness.
Secondly, he saw Frank in a different light. The boy had a massive storm of energy around him and the energies seemed to shift from different animal forms which seemed to growl and snarl.
Concentrating, Percy narrowed his eyes and gave a wide scan of the area, aside from himself and Frank, he saw a glowing figure with a colorful ethereal form. Surrounding it were green colored entities that seemed to stay away from the figure for some reason. Farther away, he saw a massive collection of malicious figures while one of them was larger and more powerful from the rest.
Percy smirked and pulled out Riptide as he said "Frank, I can see Hazel, she's a two kilometer run from here. She's surrounded but keep up with me and let's go!"
The Son of Neptune dashed through the tall grass and felt Frank from his behind. The two kept their sprinting at an even pace as they closed in on Hazel. At the distance, Frank could now see Hazel on top of a giant rock but she was surrounded by a lot of things that looked like little cupid piranhas.
The little things hissed as Hazel and Percy blinked his eyes off back to their regular color. Frank notched an arrow as a gentle yet familiar voice in his head spoke "Perseus, there are far too many, scare them off with the flames on the hearth."
Percy knew what it meant since Lupa had instructed him to keep things minimal but Frank and Hazel could know about this since he trusted them. Frank shot an arrow to the nearest one and it turned into a pile of seeds.
The rest turned and hissed at Frank and Percy while Hazel gave a sigh of relief and said "Guy! Thank the Gods you found me!"
One of the little green things hissed and said "I am Wheat! Surrender or die!"
Percy growled as they pointed their weapons at him and he pushed out his hand as it ignited in golden flames. Hazel was surprised once again while Frank scrambled back in fear of the fire. Percy felt some feeling overcome him as he said "Leave now or you will burn!"
"We do not fear you!" said the Karpoi, "Surrender or die!"
"You dare make demands with me?" said Percy lowly, "You have had your chance, now burn!"
In a single hand gesture, golden fire exploded from Percy's body as it harmlessly went through Frank and Hazel but scorched the field into a three meter radius to nothing but ash. Percy didn't know why but as soon as it was over, he couldn't seem to believe he had just killed all those things in cold blood.
Frank slowly got up and said "The heck was that!"
"I remember," said Percy, "My patron is Vesta! That was one of her abilities bestowed on me."
Just then, Percy's smile turned dark as he hunched over and felt weak in the legs as he nearly fell over but was caught by his two friends. He glanced at the distance and felt something coming, something big, dangerous and very deadly. He gave a weary and sick look to his friends and muttered "Run…"
AN
Jake: Done! A bit boring I know…
Roy: Progression progression my simpleton of a cousin.
Twsita: No fighting you two, anyways, we are going to move on with some very interesting things for Son of Neptune! Just a hint, if you want to make sense of the following chapters, make sure you read Demigod Diaries!
Roy: Anyways, vote on our poll! We really want to know!
Jake: If you enjoyed this chapter leave a follow, favorite and a review below! It helps us out a lot!
Twista: This is me Twista Etervo signing off… Don't forget to vote girls and boys!