Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson and the Olympians nor do I own The Heroes of Olympus.
Story: Champion of Olympus: The Sea's Wrath
Chapter 21: The Triumphant Return
Onboard the Thalassa
Annabeth's POV
Percy left me standing there; I could still feel the lingering sensation of our hands intertwined. I know I'm too young to be in love, but every time I try to get a little closer to him, he pushes me away. My mom told me last year that Percy loved me. Now it could just be a crush, but Percy doesn't allow me to get closer to him. I know that in the future that the two of us could be a couple, but I'm not even fourteen for another two months, that's pretty young for a serious relationship. I cleared those thoughts from my mind as I walked to the bow of the boat. I sat down on one of the raised portions of the bulkhead. I looked out over the sea as we sailed out of the sea of monsters. For whatever reason it was much easier for us to leave the sea of monsters, then it was to get in.
"Do you mind if I join you?" Percy asked awkwardly. I looked up at him with hurt and pain in my eyes. Percy cleared his throat as he looked down at me.
"I'm sorry about earlier. I didn't mean to hurt you." Percy said. I looked up at him, and I could tell by the look on his face that he meant what he said.
"Why do you always push me away?" I asked pointedly. Percy sighed, and then he sat down next to me, but he didn't take his eyes off me.
"You know about the great prophecy, right?" He asked.
"Sure, it scared the Hades out of me when Chiron showed it to me." I said. Percy nodded in agreement.
"I didn't find out about it until last year. As you know your mother kept that information from me. I was mad at her, but now I understand why she did it. You see, one of the reasons that I'm always running head first into trouble is that I know when I'm supposed to die." Percy said. I looked at him curiously.
"The eldest gods and Athena created me to be the child of the prophecy. Cursed blade will end his days, remember. It's pretty clear that as the child of the prophecy that I'm going to die on my sixteenth birthday." Percy stated.
He really thought that he was going to die when he turned sixteen. "Percy, you can't take prophecies literally. It might not even be you, or end his days may mean something else. None of us know for sure. You can't live your life, and make decisions based on a prophecy." I said. I couldn't believe that he would think like this.
"Sometimes I think that way, but it makes me feel selfish. I don't want to see people get hurt, if I do die." He said.
"You're not making sense. We're already your friends; if you were to die we would be hurt. Getting close to someone is risky, but not anymore than the risks you've been taking." I said. Percy nodded his head in understanding as he looked at the deck. I turned to face him, and then I lifted his head. He had tears forming in his eyes.
"I'm sorry; I ended up hurting you, when all I wanted to do was protect you. I thought, if we remained friends, and never got closer that I could lessen the pain. Instead, I ended up hurting you more." Percy said as a tear ran down his cheek.
"Percy, we're both too young to be in love, but if you'll let me, I would like to be your best friend." I stated. Percy's face lit up, and he gave me that crooked smile that I loved.
"I'd like that wise girl." Percy said as he hugged me. I felt a tear run down my cheek as well. We separated, and then we sat side by side looking out over the ocean.
"We're heading home." I stated.
"It will be good to see camp. Grover and Clarisse should already be there. I hope the fleece did its job." Percy said.
"I'm sure it did; camp owes you a great debt." I said. Percy shook his head.
"Camp owes all of us a great debt, not just me." He said. I smiled at his humility. I still can't get over how someone so powerful can be so humble and selfless.
"You're one of a kind Percy Jackson." I stated. Percy laughed at the comment.
"I feel that way sometimes, but all I wanted was to fit in." He said. I held his hand in mine tightly.
"You fit in well at camp, everyone cares about you. You even got Clarisse to worry about you. Hades knows that's a tough thing to do." I said. Percy laughed at my last comment.
"I guess Clarisse isn't as bad as she seems." He acknowledged. I gave Percy a shocked expression. "What?"
"You actually complimented Clarisse. I think the world might really be ending." I said playfully. Percy bumped his shoulder into mine.
"I seem to remember you and Clarisse getting along pretty well. Almost like old friends." He said with an eyebrow raised.
"Yeah, well we agreed on a truce until the quest was over." I lied. Percy nodded with a sly smile.
"Ok, if you say so." He said. We sat on the deck for the rest of the evening before we went off to sleep. Tyson and I slept while Percy took over the controls. We were making great time thanks to the Champion of Olympus's control of the wind.
The next morning Tyson and I awoke. We ate breakfast, and then we walked up on deck. Percy was still at the controls. Tyson took over as Percy joined me on deck. We sat down near the bow of the ship as the coastline of Long Island came into view. We both watched as the big house came into view. It sat on the hill overlooking the ocean and the beach below. There was a nice pier and boathouse along the beach. I guess the campers built that for the Thalassa, while we were gone. As we approached the pier I could see the campers run down to the beach to greet us. On the pier standing in anticipation were Chiron, Mr. D, Argus, Clarisse, Grover, Nico, Bianca, and Malcolm. I noticed Malcolm standing very close to Bianca. I had to smile that my little brother had grown so close to her. They would make an interesting couple in a few years, I thought.
After the Thalassa was docked with pier, Percy and Tyson tied up the boat, and then we left to greet our friends.
"Children, we are so proud of all of you." Chiron said. He gave the death glare to Mr. D until he shrugged.
"Welcome back brats, I mean heroes, job well done." Mr. D said without any enthusiasm. Percy and I just rolled our eyes.
The twins ran up to hug Percy and me. "We're so glad that you're back." Bianca said.
"Perce, are you going to tell us about your adventures?" Nico asked excitedly.
"You mean our adventures." Percy said as he motioned toward Tyson and me. Clarisse cleared her throat as she stepped forward.
"Don't forget us Prissy." Clarisse said as she dragged Grover with her. Percy gave her a happy smile.
"How could I forget, hot head?" Percy asked mockingly.
"Good to see that you both made it. How is the tree?" I asked curiously.
"The tree is healing, but the tree nymphs tell me that it might be a few days before the barrier is completely restored." Chiron said. Malcolm walked up to me.
"We're all glad that you're back." Malcolm said as he hugged me, and then he shook Percy's hand. Tyson walked up beside Percy, and the campers eyed him warily. Percy cleared his throat loudly making everyone quiet down.
"We could not have completed our quest without my little brother Tyson." Percy said. At the words little brother, everyone stared at Percy.
"Percy, you seem to be in a much better mood." Chiron said.
"I wasn't myself when I left here, but now I feel better than ever." Percy said, as Chiron nodded in understanding.
"I'm sure you're all hungry. Let's go to the mess hall the conch should sound any moment for lunch." Chiron said. We all walked toward the mess hall. I looked over at Malcolm curiously.
"What's wrong Annie?" Malcolm asked. I gave him a sly smile.
"It seems that you've gotten close to Bianca." I stated playfully. Malcolm's face turned as red as a tomato.
"We're friends is that a problem?" He asked.
"No, I think it's great." I said.
"What's great?" Percy asked as he walked beside me.
"Mal and Bianca are friends." I said with emphasis on the word friends. Percy's eyes lit up.
"You better be good to her." Percy stated menacingly. Malcolm visible gulped, and then Percy lightly tapped him on the shoulder. "I'm kidding you, don't worry, if you screw up Bianca will send you to the fields of punishment herself." Malcolm's face paled at the thought making Percy and I laugh in amusement. I put my arm around my brother as we walked to the mess hall. Having the care free and happy Percy really made a difference around camp. Percy sat with Tyson at the Poseidon table, I guess Poseidon no longer disowned him, but Percy really didn't consider him more than a friend. I guess he wanted to sit with Tyson, so the two of them could have some company. Although, Percy would be welcome at any table, except for the Ares one. I saw Percy finish eating, and then he did something that I would have never expected. He walked up to the counselor's table. I probably shouldn't have eavesdropped, but I put on my Yankees cap as I snuck over to the counselors table. Percy stood in front of the table confidently. Ares looked up at the demigod through narrowed eyes.
"What do you want Jackson?" Ares asked hatefully. Percy shrugged off the god's tone.
"I wanted to tell you that I don't hold any bad feelings against you. I know Kronos used you, like he did Triton. I may only be your adopted brother, but I wanted to let you know that I forgive you for what you did. If you would let me, I would like to be a friend to you and your kids." Percy said sincerely. Ares's eyes widened when Percy said this. I couldn't believe it either.
"Is this a trick?" Ares asked as he looked around worriedly.
"No, I don't lie. I mean what I say." Percy said. Ares just looked at his little brother.
"Ares are you listening? The boy just offered you a resolution." Mr. D said. Chiron nodded in agreement.
"I thought you hated me." Ares said quietly. Percy looked down at his feet.
"I apologize for that. I never hated you; I guess I blamed you a little for what happened with Poseidon. I didn't like what you and Triton did to Annabeth, or with the weapons, but I'm willing to forgive and forget. Clarisse showed me that you and your kids aren't bad, maybe a little rough around the edges, but not evil." Percy said. Everyone at the table sat in silence. Ares stood up, and then I noticed Clarisse standing next to her father. She must have just stepped from behind him. Ares looked at his daughter; she gave him a hopeful smile.
"I guess we are brothers now, technically. I'll give it a try." Ares said as he held his hand out. Percy took his hand, and then they both tried to squeeze each other's hand to a pulp. Percy's eyes glowed with power, and at the sight Ares let go of his hand. "That's some handshake you've got there little bro." Percy smiled at his brother.
"Yours isn't bad either." Percy said. Everyone around them sighed. I saw Percy's eyes twitch, and then suddenly my cap was removed. At first I was stunned, but then Clarisse began to laugh as Ares, Percy, Mr. D and even Chiron joined in. I guess my surprised expression was pretty funny.
"I guess curiosity caught the little owl this time." Clarisse said. Percy handed my cap back.
"It's not nice to eavesdrop, wise girl." Percy said. I rolled my eyes as I put my cap in my back pocket.
"Let's go practice seaweed brain." I said as I grabbed Percy's arm. He let me drag him out of the mess hall as Clarisse and the others looked on amused. Once outside the mess hall I turned him around. "That was a really nice thing you did back there with Ares."
"You're not mad that I forgave him considering what he helped do to you?" Percy asked.
"No, I know he was fooled into doing it, besides Ares didn't hurt me, Triton is the one who would have killed me if it wasn't for you." I said. I could see the anger in Percy's eyes.
"I could kill that little bastard." Percy said angrily. I squeezed his arm. Percy sighed softly as the anger drained from his face. "I'm sorry; I wouldn't know what to do if something happened to you." I looked into his eyes as he said that, I felt that familiar feeling of being lost, but I shook it off.
"Let's go train." I said as we walked to the arena. We trained for the rest of the afternoon. Once dinner was finished we went to the camp fire sing-a-long. The Apollo cabin led the rest of the camp in song. Percy and I sat on an overturned log closer to the clearing that looked up half blood hill to the pine tree. The Golden Fleece shined in the moonlight. Suddenly, we heard someone yell from the top of the hill. Percy and I were the first ones up the hill. Nico sat under the tree with a dark haired girl in his lap. The girl looked to be about twelve. Percy bent over to help Nico sit her up against the tree, and I froze at the sight. The dark haired girl looked so familiar, and then her eyes opened. Her eyes were a familiar electric blue. The girl was none other than Thalia Grace, my old friend, the girl who saved my life. I knelt down next to Percy and Nico.
"Thalia" I said. The girl looked at me curiously, and then I could see the recognition in her eyes.
"Annie" She said.
"It's me Thalia." I said.
"Where am I?" She asked.
"You're in Camp Half Blood." Percy said. Thalia looked at Percy curiously, and her eyes grew wide, and then her cheeks turned red.
"Who are you?" She asked curiously.
"I'm Percy Jackson, your brother." He said. Thalia's eyes rolled back into her head as she passed out.
AN: Poor Thalia; more to come. As a part of the alternative universe Thalia will be twelve years old, the same age as when she became the tree. Nico and Bianca are twins; they are currently as of this story eleven going on twelve. I wanted to make this clear as I know some people had some concerns regarding ages for this alternative universe story.