The Untamable: Just the Beginning Chapter 25, a percy jackson and the olympians fanfic

I do not and will not ever own anything, all of the rights belongs to Rick Riordan!

Thank you to everyone who has left a review!

Thank you "Nobel Six" for your review as well; I am glad you thought I did excellent work my good friend, well we will find out what happens now.

Thank you "FrazelZhang" for your review as well; I am glad you though it was a great chapter even though it was a short chapter!

Thank you "Elpis21" for your review as well; Glad you thought it was a nice chapter.

IMPORTANT AUTHOR'S NOTE: I have began the second quarter of college on January 3 2018 (1 - 3- 2018) and that work. I WILL be unable to update as often. I will update when and where I can, but it will be slow coming. I will NOT abandon this story nor any of MY work!

IMPORTANT AUTHOR'S NOTE: I begin working on a new job on October 8 2017 (10 - 08 - 2017) I WILL be unable to update as often. I will update when and where I can, but it will be slow coming. I will NOT abandon this story nor any of MY work!

IMPORTANT AUTHOR'S NOTE: I go to take my Wisdom Teeth pulled on January 12 2018 (1 - 12- 2018). I will be unable to write or post for couple of weeks...

The story continues onward like a river to the sea...

(Camp Half Blood)

(Peter's Point of View)

I woke at sunrise, when the first of the sun's rays hit me in the face. I muttered "Time to get up!"

But when I tried to move I was pinned...

I was pinned by Annabeth and Percy.

I groaned and cut the web hammock, that caused Annabeth and Percy to hit the ground, I simply stuck to the web as it fell, though I did hit the tree with the back of my head...

Percy hit the ground and Annabeth landed on top of him.

Percy groaned and sat up and grumbled "You could have told me to wake up, before you did that!"

I chuckled and said "I did, but you two were sleeping like the dead. So I had to come up with a way to wake the two of you up."

Annabeth groaned and said "Could you not have just dumped water on us or something?"

I said annoyed "Percy does not always get wet. So he can sleep right through it."

Annabeth rolled her eyes and muttered "Sea Weed Brain..."

I said with a small smile "Come on Owl Head and Fish Face, the sooner we eat the sooner we leave and the sooner we stop a war."

Percy asked almost cheerful "Breakfast?"

I reached into the bag and pulled out a couple bags of chips, I tossed one to each of them and said "Here you go. You can eat on the go. We have to catch the train otherwise we have to walk across the country." I thought for a second and "There is an Amtrak station half a mile that way. The westbound train leaves at noon."

That made the two of them walk a little faster.

We were on our way, with the unlimited debit card that I got from Hades, there was no need to worry about money. I paid for three first class tickets with meals and everything.

We spent the next two days on the Amtrak train, heading west through hills, over rivers, past amber waves of grain.

We were not attacked once, but I reminded them that this was likely a calm before the storm so we did not relax. I felt that we were being watched from above and maybe from below, that something was waiting for the right opportunity. I thought it may be Zeus and the other goods wanting to know about the quest and to figured out WHO and WHAT I was.

Percy and I spent our time alternately pacing the length of the train (because we both had a really hard time sitting still) or looking out the windows.

Once, Percy and I spotted a family of centaurs galloping across a wheat field, bows at the ready, as they hunted lunch. The little boy centaur, who was about the size of a second grader on a pony, caught my eye, but Percy was the one that waved. Percy looked around the passenger car, but nobody else had noticed. The adult riders all had their faces buried in laptop computers or magazines.

I chuckled and said "Come now Percy, between the Mist and the mortals' lack of attention you should know by now that many thing are hidden right under their noses."

Another time, toward evening, I saw something huge moving through the woods. I saw a lion its fur glinted gold in the evening light and this thing was the size of a Hummer . Then it leaped through the trees and was gone. I knew Percy and I saw the Nemean Lion.

Percy looked at me slacked jawed I said "You just saw one of the more powerful of the monsters of Greek Mythology, almost nothing can cut its hide. What you saw brother was the Nemean Lion.

We went as far as Denver because I did not want to be trapped the whole time with two ADHD demigods for more than I have to.

(Line Break)

(Time Skip: 3 hours later)

(Peter's Point of View)

Well we were standing in line to get onto the Gateway Arch in Denver, Percy and I tried to talk her out of it. Key word there being tried, but she is as stubborn and about as prideful as her mother. There was no convincing her that it was a bad idea' despite my danger sense going off.

Annabeth demanded we go "Sight seeing" so we did.

I could tell that Percy was not a fan of heights and confined spaces.

I could have told you that from when we were younger, when I locked Percy into a small dark closet, (I was a brother ok?) I realized the sea inside of him did not like being restrained, confided or controlled. The sea was one of the truly Untamable things there were, and the sea held much, MUCH power.

On the way up I smelt a familiar scent, a scent from Tartarus.

I looked around and I saw a big fat lady and her dog, a Chihuahua with a rhinestone collar.

I nudged Percy and whispered "Two monsters, twelve o clock?"

Percy frowned and said "Dude, check you sun dial, it is like 3: 30 pm!"

I rolled my eyes and said deadpanned "In front of us..."

Percy blushed and muttered "Oh..."

I sighed and said "Looks like Sea Weed Brain IS a good nick name for you, but I think I let Annie use that for you Kelp Head."

"No parents?" the fat lady asked us.

She had beady eyes; pointy, coffee stained teeth; a floppy denim hat, and a denim dress that bulged so much, she looked like a blue jean blimp.

"They are below," Annabeth told her. "Scared of heights."

"Oh, the poor darlings." the fat old lady said.

The Chihuahua growled. The woman said, "Now, now, sonny. Behave." The dog had beady eyes like its owner, intelligent and vicious.

Percy said, "Sonny. Is that his name?"

"No," the lady told me.

She smiled, as if that cleared everything up.

At the top of the Arch, the observation deck reminded me of a tin can with carpeting. Rows of tiny windows looked out over the city on one side and the river on the other. The view was okay, but I could tell Percy was getting sick, I guess being a son of Poseidon, Zeus made him have a fear of heights, not to mention a confined space six hundred feet in the air. To say that Percy was ready to go pretty quick would be an understatement.

Annabeth kept talking about structural supports, and how she would have made the windows bigger, and designed a see through floor. She probably would have stayed up there for hours, but luckily for us the park ranger announced that the observation deck would be closing in a few minutes.

Percy was looking green and pale, in short; he was not very well.

I ushered Percy and Annabeth toward the exit, loaded them into the elevator, and I was about to get in myself when I realized there were already two other tourists inside. No room for me.

The park ranger said, "Next car, sir."

"We'll get out," Annabeth said. "We will wait with you."

But that was going to mess everybody up and take even more time, so I said, "Naw, it is okay. I will see you guys at the bottom."

Percy and Annabeth both looked nervous, but they let the elevator door slide shut. Their car disappeared down the ramp.

Now the only people left on the observation deck were me, a little boy with his parents, the park ranger, and the fat lady with her Chihuahua.

I gave a cold smiled at the fat lady, I said "It has been a few years since we met Echidna... I remember the scar you gave me on the base of my spine..."

I made sure to use the Mist so that the Mortals would not see or hear anything.

Echidna looked surprised and then a look of realization hit her as she said "Oh yes the Son of Arachne." She gave a cruel crackle and said "How does it feel to have no family? The gods will reject you and kill you for being a monster spawn. But the Titian Lord is forgiving he is willing to give you command of his army and give you anything you like; respect, women, riches, anything..."

I chuckled and said "If I remember rightly Kronos is called the Crooked One, he is a liar and a deceiver. What will make him keep is word? The Styx? He is immortal and a king at that. Look at Zeus and his daughter Thalia. Zeus broke the oath he made, yet he lives. The same will go for Kronos."

Echidna said "Come now, think about the offer..."

The Chihuahua bared his teeth at me, foam dripping from his black lips.

She rolled up her denim sleeves, revealing that the skin of her arms was scaly and green. When she smiled, I saw that her teeth were fangs. The pupils of her eyes were sideways slits, like a reptile's

The Chimera was now so tall its back rubbed against the roof. It had the head of a lion with a blood caked mane, the body and hooves of a giant goat, and a serpent for a tail, a ten foot long diamondback growing right out of its shaggy behind. The rhinestone dog collar still hung around its neck, and the plate-sized dog tag was now easy to read: CHIMERA RABID, FIRE BREATHING, POISONOUS IF FOUND, PLEASE CALL TARTARUS-EXT. 954.

I shuddered at my memories of Tartarus...

Echidna said her voice was more of a hiss "This is your last chance, come with me or die..."

I looked at the people, they were oblivious to the danger that was around them, I was exhausting my already depleted energy reserves.

I sent a quick request to Hecate mentally "Hecate I need you to hold the Mist strongly in the Gateway Arch in Denver. I cannot hold the Mist at this level much longer."

I did not get a reply, but I felt my burdens ease.

"Choose now hero!" Echidna.

I said slowly "Trust me on this one, I am not a hero, or I was not always..." I stood up and looked at my necklace, I began to plan what thing I should use, it had to be Celestial Bronze, otherwise it could kill a mortal. A gun would be quick..."

I said "I have made my choice Echidna." I stealthily undid one of my charms as I took off my necklace.

I looked at the necklace and threw it off the bridge.

Echidna was surprised she said in shock "I was not expecting that, that was truly unexpected..."

I chuckled and said darkly "I want Zeus's throne to be the first to crumble next to Athena's."

Echidna smirked and said "I think that can be arranged..."

I walked towards her, I looked at The Chimera.

I asked "Lady Echidna?"

She replied in a oddly sweet voice "Yes dear...?"

I cleared my throat and said "Can you tell that to Kronos?"

"That you want Zeus's and Athena's throne to be turnt to ruble first?" She asked.

I gave her a nod I said to her "I swear on the Styx, that is what I wished for." I was careful to use the right term, true I STILL do, but first we have to deal with this war THEN I can be picky.

Echidna said with a wicked grin "I think that can be arranged..."

I gave a nod.

I then forced my Trident Charm to grow full sized, I stabbed Echidna in the head, throat and heart with the three different prongs.

I then shifted my attention to the Chimera who was in a state of shock that his "mother" was killed right before his eyes.

I switched my grips and slammed the Trident into the side of the great monstrous beast.

The Stygian Iron tipped prongs gouged deeply into its side, I pulled out and I thrusted under its jaw I snapped its neck with the brute force of it.

I said "Well that was Unexpected."

I said out loud "Ok Hecate you can pull down the Mist's highness back down to normal I think. Thank you for your help, I could not have done it without you."

I could almost feel her acknowledge me.

(Line Break)

(Peter's Point of View)

I met up with Percy and Annabeth a few minutes later, I found them in a museum.

Percy was eating blue candy while Annabeth spoke about the facts I cleared my throat and said "Come on guys, we do not want to miss the train."

I quickly ushered them back to the Amtrak station without getting stopped or slowed down. We got on board the train just before it pulled out for Denver. The train trundled west as darkness fell, the St. Louis skyline behind us.

The next afternoon, June 14, seven days before the solstice, our train rolled into Denver. We had not taken a shower since Half Blood Hill, and I could smell Percy's body odor from across the train, Annabeth was not much better and that much was obvious.

I said "Next stop we are all taking a shower, and having some steak!" I really wanted a bite of meet, hmm maybe beef strew...

Percy asked "Where?"

I arched an eyebrow and said "We can spend a night in a hotel no? There are public areas where we can take showers. You two need it bad, especially you Perse, you reek! Annabeth you are not much better you are certainly ripe!"

Both Annabeth and Percy blushed.

I chuckled and said "I need to bathe as well."

I sighed and said "What would you guys like to eat?"

Percy said "Hamburger and fries!"

I muttered under my breathe "Of course..."

Annabeth blushed and said "That does sound good..."

I groaned and said "Fine, but we are going to a dine in restaurant, I am tired of fast food and I want some REAL meat!"

Percy said sadly "I like junk food..."

I growled annoyed and said "Percy..."

Percy looked at my very annoyed expression. He sighed and muttered "Fine..." He gave a look to Annabeth.

Annabeth said with puppy eyes "Please Pete... pretty please with a cherry on top?"

I growled and shut my eyes...

I said "...-"

The next thing I knew we were standing in a booth in a gleaming chrome diner.

I muttered "What did I get myself into?..."

All around us, families were eating burgers and drinking malts and sodas.

Finally the waitress came over. She raised her eyebrow skeptically. "Well?"

I said, "We would like to order dinner please."

The waitress asked "You kids have money to pay for it?"

I pulled out a Hundred Dollar Bill and said "Yup, my adoptive father made sure I would have enough money to make it cross country with his nephew and his grand- niece."

The waitress went wide eyed and she said "Ok, what will you have?"

I opened my mouth to order but Percy said "Three double meet double cheese burgers, two milkshakes one chocolate and one strawberry, one large fry, one large onion ring, and a large Coke."

I arched an eyebrow and asked "Anything else brother dearest..." my voice was heavy with annoyance...

Percy blushed, and shook his head.

I sighed and muttered "boys will be boys..." A few seconds later I asked "What would you like Annabeth?"

She paused and thought and said "I want two burgers, a large fry, and a Coke please."

I gave a nod and did a quick math, I pulled out a Fifty Dollar Bill and said "I think this should cover it Miss."

The waitress smiled and asked "What would you like sir?"

I was about to say something when a rumble shook the whole building; a motorcycle the size of a baby elephant had pulled up to the curb.

All conversation in the diner stopped. The motorcycle's headlight glared red. Its gas tank had flames painted on it, and a shotgun holster riveted to either side, complete with shotguns. The seat was leather but leather that looked like ... well, Caucasian human skin.

The guy on the bike would have made pro wrestlers run for Mama. He was dressed in a blue muscle shirt and tight jogger shorts. He wore red wraparound shades, that made me think of the comic book X- Man Cyclopes. He had a very cruel, very brutal face I had ever seen in a very long time, I guess, but long blond hair going down to his shoulders and cheeks that were scarred from many, many fights. The weird thing was, I felt like I had seen his face somewhere before.

As he walked into the diner, a cool, dry wind blew through the place. All the people rose, as if they were hypnotized, but the biker waved his hand dismissively and they all sat down again. Everybody went back to their conversations. The waitress blinked, as if somebody had just pressed the rewind button on her brain.

I growled when I realized I DID meet this creep before, in my old life: Heracles the infamous son of Zeus.

The biker slid into our booth, which was way too small for him, and crowded Annabeth against the window.

I stood up and he said "Sit."

I growled and said "Why have you abandoned your post son of Zeus?"

He ignored me and turned to Percy and said with a wicked grin. "So you are old Barnacle Beard kid, huh?"

I wanted to rip this guy's head off old emptions were returning to the surface.

Percy said defiantly "What is it to you?"

Annabeth's eyes flashed Percy a warning. "Percy, this is-"

The biker raised his hand.

"It is okay," he said. "I do not mind a little attitude. Long as you remember who is the boss. You know who I am, little cousin?"

I growled and said "Heracles... MINOR god of strength."

Hercules growled and said "GOD of strength..."

Annabeth placed a calming hand on my arm and whispered in my ear "Calm down, he is a god, do not provoke him."

I snorted and thought "He is a rapist, a liar and a murderer!"

Heracles said with a growl "Watch your thoughts boy!"

I said coldly "Go fuck yourself."

My spider sense went off like a nuke, I shoved Annabeth and Percy off the booth. Just as the Son of Zeus brought his fist down destroying the table.

I did a back lip and landed on the glass.

Heracles growled and said "Ah yes the Monster Spawn. I have heard much about you... what would father say should he find out?"

I snarled and said "Most of the counsel is on my side. It is a council not a kingdom for a reason." I thought ''not that it seems to matter, Zeus does his own thing anyway most of the time..."

Heracles smirked and said "I am Zeus's favorite son!"

I smirked and said "But Hera's most hated, she will likely side with me just to be against you and Zeus. Artemis will likely be on my side because you are a known rapist, murderer, liar, cheater."

Heracles said after thinking "Artemis will remain neutral, you are a monster and she will likely be sent to hunt you down."

I sent Percy a message telepathically "Go! Take Annabeth and head to the DoA Studio! NOW!"

Heracles growled and summoned a crowbar.

I growled and said "Come on Muscle Head, bring it on!"

Heracles stopped and took a deep breath calming himself down.

After a few seconds he said "I need you to do me a small favor..."

I said "Nope, we are on a quest."

He said "You need a ride."

I said "I got that covered. Now be gone."

He grabbed Annabeth by her throat, (I thought I told him to get her and himself the hell out of here) Heracles said "Go on the quest or I break her neck."

I growled and said "I could kill you..."

Heracles said with a snort "I am a god. You stand no chance."

Percy asked with about as much respect as he showed Mrs. Dodd "Can you just flash it to you? Why are you having us do?

Heracles growled "Why don't I turn you both into a prairie dog and run you over with my Harley? Because I don't feel like it. A god is giving you an opportunity to prove yourselves. Will you prove yourself a coward?" He leaned forward. "Or maybe I will turn you (Peter) in a spider so your mother will love you, maybe..."

I snarled in rage, I could feel my anger activating something deep inside that had been dormant.

Percy cut me off and said "What do you need?"

Heracles smiled and said "Smart boy... I left something at an amusement park. I was on a date and then I had to scram. I left my club."

I snorted and said scornfully "What kind of idiot leaves his symbol of power behind?"

Heracles growled, I realized I made a folly, he held Annabeth by her throat.

"Fine, I will get your bloody club. Leave us alone after that." I said very, very, very annoyed.

He gave a nod and said "Good... now get going."

"You are lucky you met me, punk, and not one of the other gods. They are not as forgiving of rudeness as I am. I'll meet you back here when you are done. Do not disappoint me."

After that I must have fainted, or fallen into a trance, because when I opened my eyes again, Heracles was gone.

"It's probably some kind of trick," Percy said. "Forget Hercules. Let's just go."

"We can't," Annabeth said. "Look, I hate Hercules as much as anybody, but you do not ignore the gods unless you want serious bad fortune. He was not kidding about turning you into a rodent or turning you into a spider."

I growled "As much as I hate to admit, but Annie is right. Let us get going..."

(Line Break)

(Time Skip: Sixty Minutes Later)

(Peter's Point of View)

The sun was sinking behind the mountains by the time we found the water park. Judging from the sign, it once had been called WATERLAND, but now some of the letters were smashed out, so it read WAT R A D.

The main gate was padlocked and topped with barbed wire. Inside, huge dry waterslides and tubes and pipes curled everywhere, leading to empty pools. Old tickets and advertisements fluttered around the asphalt. With night coming on, the place looked sad and creepy.

"If Heracles brings his girlfriend here for a date," Percy said, staring up at the barbed wire, "I would hate to see what she looks like."

"Percy," Annabeth warned him. "Be more respectful."

I growled and said "I still say Heracles should go-"

Annabeth said in a warning tone "Peter..."

I growled low.

"Come on boys, let's finish this." Annabeth said.

I chuckled.

Both Annabeth and Percy looked at me.

Percy asked "What?"

I said "Let's finish this mini- quest, this quote unquote mini game."

Percy chuckled and said "I want out of this game."

I smiled and said "You can't, this game we play is called Life."

We approached the gate and Percy asked "So how do we get in?"

I made one of my charm, turn into a sword, a Stygian Sword.

I cut the chain linked fence with ease, and lead Percy and Annabeth into the abandon amusement park.

The shadows grew long as we walked through the park, checking out the attractions. There was Ankle Biter Island, Head Over Wedgie, and Dude, Where's My Swimsuit?

No monsters came to get us. Nothing made the slightest noise.

We found a souvenir shop that had been left open. Merchandise still lined the shelves: snow globes, pencils, postcards, and racks of clothes

We continued searching for the Tunnel of Love. I got the feeling that the whole park was holding its breath.

In front of us was an empty pool that would've been awesome for skateboarding. It was at least fifty yards across and shaped like a bowl.

Around the rim, a dozen bronze statues of Cupid stood guard with wings spread and bows ready to fire. On the opposite side from us, a tunnel opened up, probably where the water flowed into when the pool was full. The sign above it read, THRILL RIDE O' LOVE: THIS IS NOT YOUR PARENTS' TUNNEL OF LOVE!

Marooned at the bottom of the pool was a pink-and-white two -seater boat with a canopy over the top and little hearts painted all over it. In the left seat, glinting in the fading light, was Hercules club, a polished bat of bronze.

"This is too easy," Percy said. "So we just walk down there and get it?"

Annabeth ran her fingers along the base of the nearest Cupid statue.

"There is a Greek letter carved here," she said. "Eta. I wonder ..."

I had a feeling...

Percy asked me, "You sensing any monsters?"

I said "No... nothing... but I do have an uneasy feeling..."

Percy gave me nod.

Percy took a deep breath. "I am going down there."

I chuckled and said "I am going with you Percy, Annabeth you stay up here."

Percy and I went down into the tunnel.

We reached the boat. The Club was propped on one seat, and next to it was a lady's silk scarf. I could tell Percy was trying to imagine Hercules and his lover here, a couple of gods meeting in a junked out amusement park ride. Why? Then I noticed something I had not seen from up top: mirrors all the way around the rim of the pool, facing this spot. We could see ourselves no matter which direction we looked. That must be it. While Heracles would be smooching with each other they could look at their favorite people: themselves.

The moment Percy touched the club, I knew we were in trouble. My Percy's broke through something that had been connecting it to the dashboard.

A cobweb, I thought, but then I looked at a strand of it on his palm and saw it was some kind of metal filament, so fine it was almost invisible. A trip wire.

Noise erupted all around us, of a million gears grinding, as if the whole pool were turning into one giant machine.

Grover yelled, "Guys!"

Up on the rim, the Cupid statues were drawing their bows into firing position. I could react, they shot, but not at us. They fired at each other, across the rim of the pool. Silky cables trailed from the arrows, arcing over the pool and anchoring where they landed to form a huge golden asterisk. Then smaller metallic threads started weaving together magically between the main strands, making a net.

"We have to get out," Percy said.

I rolled my eyes and said "Duh!"

Percy grabbed the club and we ran, I pulled him up the side of the pool, thank goodness that I had my wall crawling abilities.

We scaled the walls with ease.

"Come on!" Annabeth shouted.

She was holding open a section of the net for us, but wherever he touched it, the golden threads started to wrap around her hands.

The Cupids' heads popped open. Out came video cameras. Spotlights rose up all around the pool, blinding Percy, with illumination, and a loudspeaker voice boomed: "Live to Olympus in one minute ... Fifty-nine seconds, fifty eight ..."

I unsheathed my Stygian Iron sword and cut through the fine golden threads as if it was a hot knife through butter.

I growled and said "The show is over..." I dashed using my spider speed mixed with Hermes speed, and I destroyed the Cupids.

I destroyed them all before the began to film.

"Well the show was over before it began..." Percy said.

I growled and said "No the show has yet to begin..."

I could tell Percy was angry he hated being teased. Both he and I hated being tricked. And Percy and I had plenty of experience handling bullies who liked to do that stuff to us.

Percy hefted the club onto his arm and turned to me and Annabeth. "We need to have a little talk with Heracles."

I cracked my knuckles and said "I want to knock a few of his teeth out..."

(Line Break)

(Time Skip: 45 Minutes Later)

(Peter's Point of View)

The god of strength was waiting for us in the diner parking lot.

"Well, well," he said. "You did not get yourself killed."

I knew I had to bite my tongue otherwise I could get us all killed.

"You knew it was a trap," Percy said.

Heracles gave him a wicked grin.

Percy shoved the club into Heracles and said "You are a jerk."

Annabeth caught her breath.

Heracles grabbed the club and it changed form, morphing into a baseball bat with nails nailed into it.

"See that truck over there?" He pointed to an eighteen wheeler parked across the street from the diner. "That is your ride. Take you straight to Las Anglos., with one stop in Vegas."

The eighteen wheeler had a sign on the back: KINDNESS INTERNATIONAL: HUMANE ZOO TRANSPORT. WARNING: LIVE WILD ANIMALS.

Percy said, "You're kidding."

Heracles snapped his fingers. The back door of the truck unlatched. "Free ride west, punk. Stop complaining. And here is a little something for doing the job."

I growled and said coldly "I do not need a ride. We can get to Hades without anything meat head."

He slung a blue nylon backpack off his handlebars and tossed it to Percy ignoring me completely.

Inside were fresh clothes for all of us, two hundred bucks in cash, a pouch full of golden drachmas, and a bag of Double Stuff Oreos.

Percy said, "I do not want your lousy-"

"Thank you, Lord Hercules," Annabeth interrupted, giving Perse her best warning look. "Thanks my lord..."

Percy and I gritted our teeth. It was probably a deadly insult to refuse something from a god, but I and I know Percy enough to know he did not want anything that Heracles had touched. Reluctantly, Percy slung the backpack over hiss shoulder.

I knew my anger was being caused by my past life in this god's presence, but I was still itching to punch him in the nose and castrate him. He reminded me of every bully I'd ever faced, every jerk who would called me and Percy stupid in school or laughed at us when we would get expelled.

I looked back at the diner, which had only a couple of customers now. The waitress who had served us dinner was watching nervously out the window, like she was afraid Heracles might hurt us. She dragged the fry cook out from the kitchen to see. She said something to him. He nodded, held up a little disposable camera and snapped a picture of us, but before he could I made the Mist make it look like I had a black eye and a bloody spot on my head, and the club had some blood on it.

He revved his Harley, then roared off down Delancy Street.

Annabeth said, "That was not smart, Percy."

"I do not care." Percy said. I love the boy!

"You do not want a god as your enemy. Especially not that god." Annabeth said.

I sighed and said "Unfortunately Annabeth is right. Heracles is the god of strength, we do not want our strength to be gone or cursed."

"Hey, boys," Annabeth said. "I hate to interrupt, but ..."

She pointed toward the diner. At the register, the last two customers were paying their check, two men in identical black coveralls, with a white logo on their backs that matched the one on the KINDNESS INTERNATIONAL truck.

I growled, I shut my eyes, and I felt a pull of fate. I sighed and muttered "fine..."

We ran across the street and climbed in the back of the big rig, closing the doors behind us.

The first thing that hit me was the smell. It was like the world's biggest pan of kitty litter, my heighten senses made me want to gag, actually I puked in my mouth...

The trailer was dark inside until I turned one of my charms in a lantern. The light showed over a very sad scene. Sitting in a row of filthy metal cages were three of the most pathetic zoo animals I had ever beheld in this life: a zebra, a male albino lion, and some an antelope.

Someone had thrown the lion a sack of turnips, which he obviously did not want to eat. The zebra and the antelope had each gotten a Styrofoam tray of hamburger meat. The zebra's mane was matted with chewing gum, like somebody had been spitting on it in their spare time. The antelope had a stupid silver birthday balloon tied to one of his horns that read OVER THE HILL!

Apparently, nobody had wanted to get close enough to the lion to mess with him, but the poor thing was pacing around on soiled blankets, in a space way too small for him, panting from the stuffy heat of the trailer. He had flies buzzing around his pink eyes and his ribs showed through his white fur.

I growled and the animals back up.

I sighed and said "Ok everyone, I think we can deal with this. Leo," (the lion, I made it up) "Do not eat me or the other kids and I will get you the hamburger, deal?"

The lion gave me a nod, that surprised Annabeth and Percy, it was shocking to me, but stranger things had happened before.

I found a water jug and refilled their bowls, then used a spear to drag the mismatched food out of their cages. I gave the meat to the lion and the turnips to the zebra and the antelope.

I calmed the antelope down, while Annabeth used her knife to cut the balloon off his horn. She wanted to cut the gum out of the zebra's mane, too, but we decided that would be too risky with the truck bumping around. We agreed to ourselves to help the animals more in the morning, then we settled in for night.

Annabeth opened our bag of Double Stuff Oreos and nibbled on one halfheartedly.

We were halfway to our destination. It was only June fourteenth. The solstice was not until the twenty first. We could make it in plenty of time, but I had a feeling that fate would not allow has to go that smoothly...

On the other hand, I had no idea what to expect next. The gods kept toying with us. I had a feeling our quest was being watched. We was a source of sick amusement for the gods...

She pulled apart an Oreo, handed Percy half and tossed me a whole one.

We munched our cookies in silence.

We rode in silence for a few miles, bumping around on the feed sacks. The zebra munched a turnip. The lion licked the last of the hamburger meat off his lips and looked at me hopefully.

Annabeth rubbed her necklace like she was thinking deep, strategic thoughts.

"That pine tree bead," Percy asked . "Is that from your first year?"

She looked up startled. She had not realized what she was doing.

"Yeah," she said. "Every August, the counselors pick the most important event of the summer, and they paint it on that year's beads. I've got Thalia's pine tree, a Greek trireme on fire, a centaur in a prom dress now that was a weird summer..."

"And the college ring is your father's?" Percy asked, I was listening from the ceiling.

"That is none of your-" She stopped herself. "Yeah. Yeah, it is."

"You do not have to tell me." Percy

"No ... it's okay." She took a shaky breath. "My dad sent it to me folded up in a letter, two summers ago. The ring was, like, his main keepsake from Athena. He would not have gotten through his doctoral program at Harvard without her... That is a long story. Anyway, he said he wanted me to have it. He apologized for being a jerk, said he loved me and missed me. He wanted me to come home and live with him."

"That does not sound so bad." Percy said, I gave a nod that went unnoticed.

"Yeah, well... the problem was, I believed him. I tried to go home for that school year, but my stepmom was the same as ever. She did not want her kids put in danger by living with a freak. Monsters attacked. We argued. Monsters attacked. We argued. I did not even make it through winter break. I called Chiron and came right back to Camp Half Blood."

"You think you will ever try living with your dad again?" Percy asked.

She would not meet either of our eyes. "Please. I am not into self inflicted pain."

"You should not give up," Percy told her. "You should write him a letter or something."

"Thanks for the advice," she said coldly, "but my father's made his choice about who he wants to live with."

We passed another few miles of silence.

"So if the gods fight," Percy said, "will things line up the way they did with the Trojan War? Will it be Athena versus Poseidon?"

She put her head against the backpack Heracles had given us, and closed her eyes. "I do not know what my mom will do. I just know I will fight next to you."

"Why?" Percy asked

"Because you are my friend, Sea Weed Brain. Any more stupid questions?"

Annabeth was asleep before either of us knew it, I said "You may want to fall asleep Percy, get as much rest as you can."

Percy had trouble following her example though, I hummed a slow lullaby that used in my old life at the Hunt. Percy soon drifted off into a sleep.

I sighed, I wished I could see the moon...

But I eventually fell asleep into a dreamless sleep...

I once again do not and will not ever own anything, all of the rights belongs to Rick Riordan!

I am also sorry for such a short chapter and such a long wait!

How was the chapter? How did you like the chapter?

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Please leave a review and or PM me and tell me what you think of the chapter and the story so far. Also, if you have any ideas, suggestion I would love to hear of it, if I like it I might be able to put it into the story!

IMPORTANT AUTHOR'S NOTE: I go to take my Wisdom Teeth pulled on January 12 2018 (1 - 12- 2018). I will be unable to write or post for couple of weeks...

Also this story is now 102,635 words!

Thank you for all of your constant support and favorites and follows!

Out.