The Lightning Thief Pt. 2

And the lovely Asteria Jackson takes the stage with all the vigor of a child on a sugar rush. A few eons ago, I once asked if y'all wanted me to update Leviathan, or go for royal ass-fuckery of canon. Well, the majority voted for Leviathan, but rejoice, for now it time for…royal ass-fuckery of canon.

And expect it to be royal.

Disclaimer: I don't own AVP or PJO

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Meanwhile, before Asteria ripped a hole through the Big House

The campers and Hunters were all in their respective cabins, chatting about the recent CTF game, the Hellhound, and how Asteria was finally getting a quest to put an end to this madness. The main topic of conversation was who the daughter of Poseidon was going to pick for her questmates.

The Hunters hadn't the faintest idea, because they hadn't been here long enough to see who Asteria's friends were. The campers all thought it was a tossup between some combination of Clarisse, Beckendorf, Silena, Drew, and the Stoll brothers. Most people were placing bets on Clarisse and Drew.

All conversation among the demigods was abruptly silenced by the deafening shriek that erupted seemingly from everywhere, shattering the windows of each cabin. When the ear-splitting sound faded, it didn't take long for everyone to rush outside to see what the Hades just happened.

Then Asteria came barreling out of the attic with all the force of a condensed typhoon, before shooting up into the sky.

Thalia broke the silence. "Um…does she usually do that?"

"No," Drew shook her head. She could feel the boiling emotions that Asteria had just radiated. Anger, rage, fury, every synonym for mad spilled out from the girl in an endless torrent. Whatever the Oracle had shown Aster, it had triggered something really bad. "She doesn't."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Asteria came back down to earth sometime later, making sure she didn't burn up upon reentry. She made quite the entrance too, dive-bombing straight into the canoe lake, sending a tidal wave washing over most of the camp. The soaking-wet campers helped brighten Asteria's mood.

She made her way to the Big House, very much aware of the crowd following her. They all had the same basic thoughts running around in their head: what happened, what was the prophecy, why did you blow up half the attic. She ignored them, and they were smart enough to not push anything.

Entering the Big House, she saw Chiron sitting with Dionysus on couches around a table, playing pinochle. Well, the wine god was sitting, the centaur was in horse form, with his legs curled up beneath him.

"Well if it isn't Miss Anger Management Issues. Have you calmed down yet, or do you need to crush something's skull underfoot?"

'Shut up, Dionysus.'

"My, my. Such disrespect. Maybe I should turn you into a dolphin, so that you and your father could be together always."

"Let's not be rash, Mr. D," said Chiron. "I admit, your, ah, outburst last night was most irregular, Ms. Jackson, but we need to know the prophecy."

Instead of saying anything, Asteria showed Chiron and Dionysus what happened last night, using her telepathy. When the replay was over with, Dionysus had the decency to cough in embarrassment, and Chiron had the familiar look of sympathy.

"Well, I'm off to Olympus for some emergency meeting. Ciao." The wine god vanished, leaving the scent of grapes in the air.

"Do you have a plan then, Ms. Jackson?"

'Yeah. Go to the Underworld and try to get my Uncle to give me back the Bolt before the earth is scorched.'

"As good a plan as any, I suppose. Do you know where the entrance is?"

'DOA Recording Studios, Las Angeles. Valencia Boulevard.'

"Any ideas on who you want with you?"

'Annabeth and Thalia.'

Chiron almost fell over. "A-Annabeth? Thalia? You hardly know Thalia, and the history you have with Annabeth is extremely rocky. Are you sure you want them? Why not Clarisse, or Drew?"

'Because that's what everyone expects. And I'm not going to choose between my friends. Besides, I want to see what Chase can do in the real world, and I want to get to know my cousin.'

Chiron made that 'if-you-say-so' face. "It's your quest. I'll just get a bag ready while you go pack whatever you need."

Asteria nodded and walked out. Without hesitation, she made a beeline straight through the crowd, everyone practically diving out of her way. 'Annabeth. Thalia. Pack whatever you need for a cross-country trip, now,' the telepath broadcasted to everyone.

Thalia blinked a few times, and Annabeth was torn between mortification and exhilaration. She was finally going on a quest! In public! Dressed as a toddler! Shit!

"Um…what?" Thalia said dumbly from somewhere in the crowd.

'I didn't think it was possible to stutter using telepathy, cousin. Now you two hurry up; we have a war to prevent.'

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Annabeth's excitement won out over her reluctance, and now she was throwing random clothes into a bag. Hades, she was so excited right now, she didn't even think twice about what she was doing when she opened her underwear drawer and started packing her pull-ups.

The designs had been changed. The faded white had been replaced with solid pink. The princess designs on the front were bigger, and more detailed. And the fade-when-wet designs had been changed to a more flower-oriented style.

Someone coughed off to the side, Annabeth looked at her sister, Mckayla. "Yes?"

"Oh nothing. I just find it interesting that you're not complaining about having to wear a bunch of pull-ups while on a quest."

Annabeth juts blinked, not getting the point. "Is that supposed to mean something?"

"It means I need to have a chat with Asteria."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Celestial bronze bullets? Check.

Nickel-plated Desert Eagle with black pearl grip and muzzle break? Check.

Multiple 8-round, .44 Magnum cartridges? Check.

Neatly polished and well-maintained combi stick? Check.

That's all Asteria needed for this quest. Now, to answer the questions of the daughter of Athena at her door. The Princess of Death calmly walked over and opened her cabin door, just as Mckayla was about to knock. Blinking her grey eyes, the girl asked, "Did you know that Annabeth has grown accustomed to her pull-ups so much, that she didn't even hesitate to throw probably twenty of them into her bag?"

'Yes. I also know that she's grown used to her lifestyle now, and I'm bringing her with me to see just how much of a lesson she's learned over the past year. If she lives up to my expectations, then she can go back to big girl clothes…or if she prefers, she can stay the way she is.'

A brow raised. "You seriously believe she would want to stay dressed as a toddler?"

'Maybe. Maybe not. The human mind works in strange ways. But can you say that Annabeth has been entirely opposed to what's happened to her?'

Mckayla thought about it, recalling the embarrassment and vehemence at the very beginning, to the calm and acceptance of now. No, Annabeth wasn't opposed to this. Not anymore. It was almost as if…as if…call her crazy, but Mckayla could swear that there were times when it looked as if Annabeth was enjoying her punishment.

'Don't dwell on it too much. I'll ask her on the quest, and she'll be free to choose which she prefers: panties or pull-ups.'

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Minutes later, the three girls were standing at the top of Half-Blood Hill. The camp had gathered to send them off, all of them waving. The Hunters were there too, most of them ecstatic over the fact that this was a quest of all-girls, with no boys at all.

The Stoll brothers felt wounded that they weren't going on the quest with their beloved Asteria. Clarisse was fuming over the fact that Annabeth had been chosen over her. Silena was understandably worried, as was Beckendorf, but they were both happy that at least they would still be together. Drew, despite her own envy, understood what her baby sis was doing. By choosing Thalia and Annabeth, none of Asteria's friends would get jealous or mad at each other, just mad at Annabeth or Thalia.

Drew could also read little Aster's emotions. The girl was nervous of something—apprehensive, even. Something had her on guard right now, and whatever put Asteria Jackson on edge, was enough to bode ill for everyone else.

With one final farewell, the girls walked down Half-Blood Hill to the waiting van, driven by Argus the Security Head, who would take them all to a bus station in Manhattan. Then Luke came running down after them, with a box of shoes in his hand. Annabeth blushed, Thalia smiled, and Asteria's poker face activated.

"Hey, I don't know if these will help, but I figured I should give them to you anyway, just in case." Luke opened the box, and shouted, "Maia!" Asteria recognized the name as Hermes' mother's name. Little wings sprouted from the ankles of the shoes, and they fluttered up out of the box.

"Wow," Annabeth gasped, clearly amazed. "Flying shoes!"

"Yeah…f-flying shoes," Thalia said with false enthusiasm.

Asteria merely stared at the flying footwear intently. Something felt off about them, but she couldn't place her doubt. And why would Luke want to give them flying shoes? As far as he should be worried, Asteria wasn't allowed in the air. Regardless, Annabeth accepted the gift with a broad smile.

Luke and Asteria locked eyes. Neither said anything, but the silent message passed between them was clear only to themselves. Asteria knew he was the thief, yet didn't harbor any ill-will towards him, and Luke was firm in his belief that he was doing the right thing.

Something was sparked then. Maybe it was admiration, some kind of understanding, maybe it was just their collective imagination, but something had just started between Luke Castellan and Asteria Jackson.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"I can understand you bringing Thalia, but why did you want me to come too?" Annabeth asked nervously from the back seat of the van.

'I want to see how you do here in the real world. All that talk of training and experience, well here you go. Also, I want to test you, and see how far you've come from calling me a lesbian fuck.'

"Oh…thanks. And I'm sorry about that. It was a year ago, and I never apologized for it."

Asteria smirked. Progress was showing. However, 'Don't thank me yet. If I don't like what I see, I think I'm going to completely wipe your mind, and re-raise you from infancy. And apology accepted.'

Annabeth whimpered slightly at the thought of going from toddler to baby. Having to ask to go to the bathroom was one thing, having absolutely zero awareness of when she needed to go was an entirely different nightmare altogether.

"Hey! Why did you want to bring me?"

'I wanted to get to know my cousin better.'

"Bullcrap. You know everything about Thalia already because you her mind." Annabeth immediately clamped her hands over her mouth after she registered her own ADHD outburst. Oh Gods, what was Asteria going to do to her now. The poor girl's mind ran through everything from loosening sphincter muscles to complete brainwashing.

Asteria was highly amused by little Annie's outburst. The girl was panicking over what type of punishment she would go through now, but it all for nothing. Aster could hardly fault her for her ADHD.

Argus finally pulled up at the bus station, and drove off.

"So what now?" asked Thalia.

'Now we head for the John F. Kennedy International Airport.'

The daughter of Zeus stumbled. "Airport!? B-but we can't go to the airport! This is a quest, you know, monsters, danger, dramatic situations…"

Annabeth now realized the real reason behind Asteria bringing Thalia along. Thalia was the daughter of Zeus, Hades was obviously the 'god who had turned' and his base was in LA, and the Sky God wouldn't blow a plane out of the sky on its way from Manhattan to the City of Angels if his daughter was on it, regardless if a child of Poseidon was on the same plane as well.

In short, Thalia Grace was an insurance policy, because Asteria was not about to drive across America.

Speaking of the alien hybrid, she had wrapped an arm around Thalia's shoulder's and brought the trembling girl close. Asteria had the strangest smile on her face, like she knew something the others did not.

'Dearest cousin. We are on a mission to stop the outbreak of World War 3. Our destination is in Las Angeles, California, and we have to be there and back here within ten days. Now, on foot, that is a most difficult task, and you are correct in that there would be monsters, which would prolong our endeavor. Besides, once we board the plane and take off, you won't even know we're in the air. You won't even have to worry about the window, and if you're truly terrified of being in your home territory, I can knock you out for the entirety of the flight. Regardless of your ironic acrophobia, we are not hiking across a continent. Now unless you want me to put you in one of Annabeth's pull-ups, move. Your. Ass.'

"Y-yes ma'am!"

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

They hitched a taxi, went to the airport, pulled some Jedi mind tricks and manipulated some Mist, and viola, first class seats on the 10:00 A.M. flight to Las Angeles for free.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Meanwhile, on Olympus

Zeus palmed his face at the stunt his niece was pulling. Athena couldn't help but marvel at the brilliance of her cousin. Poseidon was as proud as a father could be.

"So Dad, are you going to blow them out of the sky?" Apollo asked.

"No, Son. I'm not going to bring intentional harm to my daughter, granddaughter, or niece. Besides, we're not actually going to war, and the strategy Asteria is employing is plausible enough for our enemies to believe."

"Aww, you do actually care for your children."

"If you don't shut up, I'm going to strip you of your godhood and throw you down to the mortal world."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Asteria and Annabeth managed to get Thalia on the flight, but after that, acrophobia kicked in, and the daughter of Zeus threw a temper-tantrum/freak-out that resulted in Asteria knocking her cousin out.

Their first class seats were as luxurious as you would imagine, and sectioned off into their own personal cabin with a sliding door, three windows, two chairs, a couch, a circular cushion in the middle of the cabin, and a twenty-inch TV complete with 200 channels.

Asteria was sitting in a chair, Corinthian leather, cushioned, with pillows, staring out the window at the passing clouds. Across from her in the other chair, Annabeth was valiantly trying to distract herself from her growing need for the toilet by reading a book about architecture written in Ancient Greek. She was embarrassed as hell about asking Asteria to go potty, and she couldn't ask Thalia because…well, the punk/goth girl was passed out on the couch that was on the cabin wall, contentedly sucking her thumb.

Asteria was rather ticked off with Thalia's tantrum at the beginning of the flight, and this was her version of payback for the embarrassment.

'You're going to need a new pull-up if you keep that up,' Aster said in Annie's mind.

Annabeth paused in her reading. What would cost her more pride, willingly going in her pants, or asking Asteria to go potty? A few hours ago, the daughter of Poseidon had said that she would be testing Annabeth on this quest, perhaps this was part of the test. Taking a deep breath, the daughter of Athena pushed her pride to the very back of her mind.

"Can I please go use the potty?"

'You may.'

Annabeth bolted away in a blur of blonde and orange.

Asteria smiled faintly. Well that was as good a sign as any that Annie had changed for the better. For one who's fatal flaw is hubris, to ask the one responsible for putting her in training pants, with the stipulation of having to ask to go to the bathroom, lest she use her underwear, to ask to go potty, was a milestone indeed.

Annabeth came back minutes later, clear relief on her face. Asteria couldn't resist the opportunity to tease. 'Did you wipe good?'

Annabeth blushed. "Y-yes."

'If you're sure, then I better not see any stains in the seat of your underwear later on.'

Annabeth was thoroughly embarrassed as she reopened her architecture book. Asteria was not yet done with her questioning, however. 'Do you like wearing pull-ups?'

The girl was so surprised by the question, that she managed to choke on the air going down into her lungs. "N-no! Of course I don't like wearing these things! They're tight, restrictive, childish, warm, soft…stop looking at me like that," Annabeth blushed, and looked away from the soul-piercing eyes of Asteria Jackson.

'Why don't you tell me the truth, Annabeth Chase. Do you like wearing pull-ups, or are you ready to go back to regular underwear?'

Annabeth grit her teeth, subject to her own inner turmoil. After a year of wearing these things, she could barely remember what cotton felt like, and the thought of wearing panties again seemed so foreign, but the thought of wearing diapers for the rest of her life was hardly appealing. She hated the times when she had an accident; the feeling of her waste smashed up against her body was disgusting, but the feel of the trainers themselves…

"I-I don't know yet."

Asteria shrugged. 'You don't have to decide right away. But when we get back to New York, I expect an answer.'

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The plane was about an hour away from Las Angeles when Asteria detected the presence of someone who just appeared on board. Only a god could do that, and Asteria knew the feeling of this god well. Why was Ares on the plane?

Luckily, Annabeth had fallen asleep in the chair, and Thalia was still out, still sucking her thumb (the amount of blackmail Aster had on her cousin was astounding), so neither girl ever knew about the god of war entering their cabin.

"Sup, cousin? How's this plane ride going?"

"It's going good. Why are you here, Ares?"

"To aid in your quest, of course. It's recently come to my attention that you're in desperate need of supplies."

"Thanks, but we have plenty of-"

Ares snapped his fingers, and all three quest bags suddenly vanished. "You sure about that?"

Asteria hoped Annabeth wouldn't need a change sometime in the future. Ares held out a blue nylon bag, and the girl accepted it, and looked inside. Clean clothes, underwear, some Oreos, and a few protein bars. Everything in here looked to have been randomly thrown in. The underwear that Ares had 'packed' was a black-lace thong, a package of Disney Princess themed panties in a size many times too small for either girl, and actual baby diapers that would never fit around Annabeth's waist.

"No need to thank for my generous hospitality, Asteria. I am a nice guy, after all…aw who the fuck am I kidding? I just thought that everything was going a little too smoothly for a quest, and decided to spice things up. Your welcome."

"Thank you," Asteria said through gritted teeth. She had to act like this was a major hindrance so Ares would leave before he did something seriously debilitating, like disable the plane, or give Annabeth explosive diarrhea.

"Eh, no problem kid. Good luck saving the world and all." Ares disappeared in a manner similar to Dionysus, but instead of grapes lingering in the air, the god of war left behind the scent of magnesium. The scent of fired guns.

Asteria looked at the bag, getting the same weird vibe from it as she did the shoes tied around Annabeth's feet…and that was the final piece of the puzzle. Luke—the Lightning Thief—gave the quest a pair of flying shoes with an off-feeling aura, and Ares—the pigheaded war god—just shows up out of the blue for no other reason than to be a dick by making the quest's perfectly good supplies vanish, only to give Asteria a bag that had a similar feeling to Luke shoes, that was packed with subpar shit.

Now it made sense as to why Luke didn't look nervous the day after the theft. He had been found by Ares, and had somehow managed to convince the war god to keep the Bolt hidden instead of using it for himself-hold the fuck up.

Ares has the Bolt. This blue bag felt really strange. Could it be?

Asteria promptly dumped everything inside the bag on the floor, spilling out diapers, panties, shirts, jeans, skirts, socks, and food stuffs everywhere. Nothing that remotely resembled a lightning bolt. Looking inside, running her hand along the inner lining, just to make sure there wasn't some hidden compartment, Asteria was disappointed-and highly suspicious-to find no such thing.

Even so, there was something strange about this bag, and those shoes. Asteria's instincts were screaming that these things were not to be trusted, and if there was one thing Subject 3 listened to above all else…

…it was her instincts.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Mostly talking this chapter, I'm sorry. But I couldn't leave my adoring fans without a Saturday update, especially after my Friday absence.

Speaking of, the waterpark was a blast. Rode some slides, got glued to the Lazy River, got to watch the girls dig their bikinis out of their asses, and flirted with the lifeguards. Funny story, that: there were these two lifeguards, girl and guy, standing next to each other. So I went up, sunglasses hiding my eyes, and said that I think you're really hot. The girl blushed and said thank you, but I interrupted her by saying 'Sorry, I wasn't talking to you.'

The looks on their faces after that…made my day.

Also, went to go see Suicide Squad today. Movie was good, characters were well-played, but the plot was kind of dumb. I liked Enchantress better as the shadowy Aztec-girl, instead of Disney's live-action Elsa.

Anywho, a serious question regarding Annabeth Chase. Do you guys want her to go back to panties, or have her punishment lifted, yet still wear pull-ups because she likes how they feel? I'm interested in what you all have to say about this.

Fav, Follow, and Review!