Hello, after a good eternity or so, I'm back. I don't have a very good reason for being dormant, so I'm not going to try and make one. I simply was caught up in the ways of life, and kinda ran out of motivation to be honest. But, here I am again. Ready to finish this horribly-started story. Shall we?
Dawnwizard8010, I don't know how to say how grateful I am that you review so much. Thank you so much... and sorry. I didn't exactly update very soon, now did I?
Disclaimer : I do not own the Percy Jackson series or any of the characters. All rights go to Rick Riordan
Percy's POV
The golden sunrays casted a warm glow over the horizon. I let my eyes stay glued to the magical sight for a few minutes, then forcefully ripped myself away from it. I couldn't let things distract me, not when there was so much at stake. I had time for one last breath before a digital beep sounded.
All heads turned to Annabeth, her hair shining, liquid honey in the setting light. She looked up from her watch, her silver eyes meeting those of her team carefully. "It's time."
I grimaced, nodding my consent. Slowly, I grabbed Annabeth's hand, giving it a reassuring squeeze as I did. I watched as our group prepared themselves to pass through the garden of dangerous dragons and even more dangerous dancing girls. This was it, the journey would begin.
Striding cautiously into the garden, I waited for the Hesperides I had been so severely warned against. Just when I was about to breath a sigh of relief, the spirits came. They seemed to be woven from pure sunlight as they appeared, ghostly and beautiful. Their features were unrealistically perfect, creating a sense of unease in me as I observed them. Their figures were clad in milky white chitons while beige sandals twisted over their feet, as if the ground itself was growing to accommodate their feet. Their obsidian eyes held the spark of superiority, the cold distance shining as they stared at our approaching figures.
"Come back again, fools?" The Hesperide in the middle spoke, her tone as cold and beautiful as herself.
"You know us, always forgetting things." I answered calmly, taking measured steps towards the beings. "Can't leave anything behind, now can we?"
"Then you are trapped in a deadly cycle." The Hesperide regarded me disinterestedly. "You can never leave this mountain without leaving behind one of thy friends."
"I guess we'll just have to keep coming back and kicking you and your father's butts, then." Leo retorted from the back of the group.
The Hesperide to the leader's left took a step forward, an expression of anger clouding her beautiful, stone face. "You would do well to remember your place, half-blood. Our father will not take kindly to you revisiting his home."
"We'll take our chances, thanks." I blurted out before Leo could make another comment. Shooting him a quick look, I turned back to the Hesperides. "Well if that's all, we'll just be going…"
The lead Hesperide laughed, an unpleasant sound like the wind howling on a dark, winter night. "Although you and thy friends have no chance against our father, we cannot let our entertainment go so easily." She turned to her sister on the end of the line, her smile becoming more malicious by the second. "Rouse the dragon."
The sister nodded, stepping forward in the direction of the giant snake like dragon curled around a tree.
Sad to say, I had failed to notice the gigantic lizard not twelve feet away. It's scales glistened in the setting sun, it's body massive and strong. Before I could analyze it anymore, the Hesperide stepped forward.
"Ladon, wake!" Her voice rang through the clearing. Most people would've let the voice by as a simple raise of volume, too focused on not being eaten in the next two minutes. However —being the hyperactive demigod I am— I noticed the slight difference in her voice compared to the others. Her voice rang with a deep power, embedded in the cool tone. *
The one in the middle didn't wake the dragon. I thought as I took Annabeth by the hand and taking out Riptide with my other. She had to ask her sister to. The dragon can obviously wake at any sound, given that it's loud enough. But I wonder if the sister is the only one who can control the dragon…
My thoughts were cut short as a deafening roar rang out. My eyes snapped to the dragon, now on it's feet and not looking all that happy. Glancing over my shoulder, I watched as Jason and Leo stepped up together, creating an easy target for the dragon. Nico grasped Thalia by the waist while Frank took both Hazel and Piper by the hand. Grover took Annabeth's hand while I took my mom's. **
Ladon took rumbling steps towards our group, menacing eyes observing us all. Its hide was a bronze, coppery color and it shimmered in the evening light. The Hesperides opened their mouths, presumably to start their song. Personally I couldn't hear a thing, but my mom tensed in my arms, signaling that the silent power had begun. I pressed my lips into a small grimace, quickly gesturing for the others to get going. We didn't have anytime to waste.
"Hey!" Leo's shout rang out, bringing the dragon's attention to him. 100 heads turned towards the figure, seeming suddenly so small compared to the mass before him.
The Hesperides merely watched, their mouths still moving to their silent melody. Mom started to drag in my arms, slowly resisting my pulls as I heaved her across the garden. With a quick glance, I could tell that Nico, Grover and especially Frank were all starting to have trouble as well. Piper and Hazel both seemed to be faring mediocre, a slight tremble in their movements as they forced themselves to keep walking. Annabeth had her eyes tightly shut as she allowed Grover to guide her to the other side of the beautiful garden.
I grunted, praying to the gods that we could all pass in one piece. Swiftly maneuvering around snow-white roses, we were almost three quarters of the way. And that's when we heard it.
A blood-curdling scream ripped through the air. Spinning on my heel, I watched in horror as Hazel broke free of Frank's strong grip. She ran straight towards the Hesperides, like she was about to strike. I knew better, though. I knew she was about to start the eternal dance of death. One Hesperide held the smallest smirk on her olive-toned face, as she stared coldly at my friend.
"NO!" There was a flash of curly hair, and suddenly Leo tackled Hazel to the ground. The two wrestled on the ground, one trying their best to get up while the other tried the best to stay down. Although Hazel had summers of training behind her, she was also entranced by the music. Her movements were slow and sloppy. Leo, on the other hand, was swift and alert, easily winning the wrestling match.
I started to move forward, until I felt a pull in my arms. Mom. I couldn't just put her in danger as well. I thought frantically of a way to help, but before I could get anywhere, a yell broke my thoughts.
"Keep going! We're fine!" Leo shouted as he stumbled towards us, fighting Hazel every step of the way.
I reached out to help, but Frank had already caught the arm of a thrashing Hazel. Together, Frank and Leo dragged Hazel towards the path. I almost breathed a sigh of relief, but that was before I remembered. Jason
Jason's POV
I heard Hazel scream, the silent song finally getting to her. I flinched, about to run to her aid when Leo had already reached her. So instead of creating more of a crowd, I focused on keeping the dragon's attention.
"Hey!" I shouted loudly, throwing a rock at the writhing, bronze creature. "Hey, ugly! I don't know if you can understand English, but I just wanted to tell you that you're slower than the myths say!"
I'm not sure if it was the rock, the insult, or just the shouting, but I definitely succeeded in capturing its attention. All one thousand heads swiveled towards me, two thousand ruby red eyes glaring at me. A quick glance told me that my friends needed more time. Grover and Annabeth slowly made their way towards the path, followed closely by Nico and Thalia. Together, Frank and Leo dragged Hazel to the pathway while Percy guided his mother as well as Piper. I knew that they wouldn't be able to get to the path with all the commotion Hazel was making, not safely anyway.
Keep her safe. Was the thought as I stared at Piper's retreating form. Her shoulders were slumped, but she was soldiering on anyhow. As if feeling my stare, she turned towards me. Her eyes, a million different colors that I couldn't even name, stared into mine. I gave her a smile, before I turned my attention back to the matter at hand. I picked up another rock. I fired at Ladon with all my might, aiming for a head, any head.
The dragon roared in outrage, moving slowly towards me. It loomed over me as it rumbled forward, shaking the very ground. I slowly backed away, unsure how far it would wander from the tree it was meant to protect.
If I can just bring him farther away from the path, the others could get Hazel through. I thought as I analyzed exactly how much movement Hazel was making. I need to get it as far away from the tree as I can.
"I thought you were supposed to be strong and powerful. Why, I bet you couldn't even fly, dragon." I summoned the winds as I spoke, slowly letting it lift my feet off the ground. I could feel the power surrounding me, as if it was assuring me that it was there.
The dragon glared at me, coming to a stop not five feet away. The look of rage told me that it wasn't far from losing itself to anger, yet I knew it was going to take more than a few weak taunts to take it away from the tree it had guarded for a millennium. I let myself rise higher, urging the winds to help me.
"You can't fly, can you?" I sneered as best I could. "Well so long, I suppose, I'll just be on my way and tell everyone of the weak, earthbound dragon on my way back to camp. I'm sure everyone will get a kick out of that!" With a final glance towards my friends, I let the wind take me up, heading away from the enraged dragon. Please, please, please let this work. I thought, unsure if I was actually praying to a god or just thinking to myself.
A furious howl sounded below me, the great dragon who guarded the tree for millennium finally giving into anger. He pushed off the ground and followed me. I would like to say I acted heroically, giving way to a long and fast chase as my friend valiantly struggled to the path. But I'd be lying. As soon as the dragon got within 12 feet from me, it seemed to realize what a stupid thing it had done. Without a second glance to me, it wheeled around and started to glide back. Yet I could see the smallest difference in its course. It wasn't heading towards where it originally had been, but to where my friends were staggering the last few yards till the path. Piper turned her head over her shoulder, her beautiful kaleidoscope eyes widening in fear. That did it.
"No!" I screamed, shooting forward in a diagonal towards the dragon. I would not let my friends die like that, crushed under the weight of a stupid dragon. They were counting on me, and I was not going to let them down. "Over here, you overgrown snake!" My voice was desperate, but I knew there was no other way. As the dragon turned to look at me for a split second, I let the winds drop me just enough to slid under its chin. I turned around, my back towards my friends not five meters away and blasted a gust of wind at the dragon. It reeled back, stumbling.
"Jason!" Piper screamed, "You idiot, what are you doing? You're going to get hurt!"
She's not wrong. A small voice squeaked inside my head. The dragon had recovered and was flying towards my friends and I in fury. "Just get up the path! I'll be okay!" At the time I hadn't heard the sharp intake of breath that both Grover, Annabeth and Thalia. Instead I was focusing on creating another wall of wind, hoping against hope that I would withstand another headbutt from the monstrous billy goat people called a dragon.
Ladon crashed into my shield, shoving me backwards. I clenched my teeth, tensing every muscle in my body as I did my best to absorb the force. It sent shock waves through me, loosening my 'grip' on the wind wall. I let out a gasp of pain as the pressure increased. Slip, slip, sliding away…
Suddenly, a strange quality filled the air. Not strange as in unnatural, but more strange as if it didn't belong in such a violent fight. I could hear water running, birds tweeting and even feel the sun on my back. A soft wind brushed against my cheek, unlike the fierce wind I had created as a wall, instead being a soft warmth. The warmth seemed to spread from my cheek throughout my entire body, engulfing me in a peaceful yet powerful embrace.
Grover.
I allowed myself the quickest of glances over my shoulder. In the millisecond I spared, I caught the figure of the satyr, reed pipes to mouth as his melody danced through the air. I had experienced Grover's woodland magic before. But this… this was something different. Instead of the expected airy tune or the calming creek, there was something powerful in this melody. I didn't just hear a creek flowing over rocks, I heard the element that carved rocks, that eroded mountains. Instead of hearing the joyful air, I heard the battle cry of the wind as it whipped through the atmosphere, running faster than any monster could. The melody was not so much threatening, as it was purely powerful. I shook my head, knowing full well that it was not the time to start analyzing songs. Yet I was a second too late.
Turning back, I realized that I had been too slow, the dragon was already charging. Unable to brace for the dragon flying right at me, I did the only thing I could to keep my friends as safe as I could. Instead of keeping the wall of air (that would inevitably fall anyway) I twisted around, wrapping it around my friends instead. I barely had time to register Piper's look of horror before everything went dark.
o.O.o
Grover's POV
My guilt flew as Jason fell.
It was my fault. If I hadn't started the stupid song, then maybe Jason wouldn't have gotten distracted by it. Maybe it wouldn't have made him miss that crucial second to brace for impact. Maybe it would've kept him from being flung like a rag doll into a tree.
"Jason!" Piper's screech echoed through the garden. Oblivious to the danger of running straight through the path of a hundred-headed dragon, she sprinted to Jason. I was about to follow before the dragon decided it was time to make another charge. It backed up slowly, it's nasty eyes locked on Jason, as Piper struggled to pull him out of the way.
Hades no. My eyes narrowed. Gone was the self-conscious satyr with questionable woodland magic. I didn't even think as I brought my pan pipes to my lips. Ladon was going to regret this.
If you asked me what I played back there, I wouldn't be able to tell you exactly. I didn't play some old, blessed song from Pan. Nor did I play some powerful song incorporating fields and creeks. I played anger. I played hurt, desperation, pain. I played my terror, letting it escape through my lips only to be captured by the pan pipes I so dearly loved. I played my sorrow as I thought of Ms. Jackson. I played my loneliness as I relived all those solemn nights under the moon. No Percy, no friend, not even a dryad or nymph. No one but me. But mostly, I played the protectiveness welling up deep inside me. Because that's what I was as a satyr. I wasn't just an eco-friendly, socially awkward kid that was part goat. I was a protector, and that was what I was going to do.
Vines cracked the surface of the hard ground with a massive crunch. The dark green of their limbs climbed and curled as they started to rise like a wall. Sharp thorns started to sprout out of gods-know-where, covering the thick vines in razor teeth. Ladon took a startled flap backwards, looking perturbedly at the suddenly-formed wall. That wall was new for him as he cautiously eyed it.
Narrowing my eyes, I could feel certainty washing over me. I could take care of this just fine. "Percy!" I yelped, as I took a quick breath keeping my eyes on Ladon. "We're fine, Piper and I can handle this! Head up the mountain. You can't waste any more time here, okay?"
"Bu-"
"It's fine, just go! I've got this and you're wasting time!" I allowed myself a quick glance at my old friend. Percy stood indecisively, yet I could see my logic was working. His mouth turned down into grim acceptance, nodding towards me. Another swift look over my shoulder, and my confidence doubled. Piper stood in front of Jason's dazed form protectively, a fire in her kaleidoscope eyes that screamed vengeance. Yes, we would be just fine.
Annabeth placed a hand on Percy's arm in reassurance before quickly leading the others up the trail at a fast pace. With one last nod, Percy gave me a quick smile and set up off the mountain. Although unseen, I returned the smile before turning back to the matter at hand. Ladon was in for a surprise.
Annabeth's POV
Although we had to leave Piper, Jason and Grover, we made a fast trip up the mountain. I finally allowed myself to think that maybe, just maybe we would be able to make it up to the summit before complete dark. Maybe they didn't set another line of defense somewhere. These thoughts fueled me, that was until we were ambushed.
Thank you so much! If you'd like you could possibly maybe follow, or review? Just a thought…. Regardless, I hope everyone has a wonderful day/night/some-other-time. I will try my best to update soon, but I can promise that I WILL finish this story!
* I don't believe there is such a thing as that, a certain power that one of the Hesperides have to wake the dragon, but for the purposes of this story I decided to put that bit in.
** Although my first thought was to have Annabeth and Percy go together, I believe that it would be much more natural and comfortable for all parties if Percy went with his mom and Grover took Annabeth.