All I can say is this Maverick. You must wait and see. Lolz.
And to you JordanReads thank you for answering my question in the last chapter. I really appreciate it. Just for everyone else's knowledge I'm Central UTC time.
And my final thing. If we can get 100 reviews by Sunday. I will update a new chapter every day for the week Monday to Monday. But you must meet the requirements of this challenge. Again that's 100 reviews (I could be talked into 75 if some of them are fairly longer) and I'll update a new chapter every day. I've already got some pre-written chapters, and I'm going to be doing more in preparation. So, I hope you guys enjoy this next chapter.
Chapter 37
Preparations began immediately for the Argo. Technically it was the Argo II since Jason and the Argonauts named their ship that, but most of the crew just called it the Argo.
There were many teams set up, they had a team that cut lumber all day to make the planks for the boat, and a team who prepared plenty of pitch to paint the boat in as they built it, there was a team actually working on the ship which was led by Leo, and a team that prepared meals and bathe's for everyone else so less waiting had to be done, and this crew was led by Calypso who decided to stick around till everything was prepared. Secretly though she was masking their presence even more so from those searching outside. For all the world the crew of the Andromeda was presumed dead.
The ship began to take shape after a month of working on it. It quickly became apparent this would be a ship in size to rival that of Luke's ship, and for the few who'd scene them the guard ships of the Greek Flagship.
Annabeth herself was admiring the blue prints of the boat that day, taking into detail all the changes and adjustment's Leo had made as per orders from Percy. It would stand at its lowest point over sixty feet high, its highest point, not including the mast was almost a hundred feet high. It would be three hundred fifty feet long, and seventy five feet wide. Mounted with twelve canons inside on either side, and six canons on either side atop the deck, mounted with a special weapon Leo had invented on the front that looked to be twenty or so small canons mounted, that when a special lever was turned would fire each one consecutively and then reload immediately afterwards allowing for continuous fire at the front. The crow's nest was even mounted with a huge crossbow that shot several types of spears from it, its range dramatically increased from its height.
It would have private rooms for Percy, Jason, and Nico, along with Beckendorf and Leo as they were the head blacksmith and the "ship master" as Leo called himself. Included would be six guest bedrooms for visitors and other such occasions. Two large rooms close by would be filled with bunk beds mounted on the wall around the room, with several chest's in the middle for personal belongings, one being the males and the other the females bunks. Leo had even found a way to get running water that was both heated and cooled throughout the whole ship, allowing for full bathroom's in every private room, along with a new invention Leo called a shower, there would also be two large bathroom's connected to the bunk rooms for both genders that would be filled with sinks, showers, and toilets for each.
There were several blank areas that Leo had yet to fill in with what they would be, but Annabeth was excited to see what they would turn out to be as they kept building. She was impressed by Leo's ingenuity, and his abilities as more than just a youthful jokester.
These thoughts were running through her mind as suddenly she felt herself being transported away. When she appeared wherever she'd been sent her dagger was drawn, fearing the worst. But these thoughts melted as she saw where she was. Atlantis.
Piper was working at the stove making a meal for all the workers when she felt a tingling sensation at the back of her neck, then suddenly found herself transported away. Opening her eyes she found herself in the last place she'd expected. The garden of Olympus.
Reyna was hammering planks onto the ship forming one of the rooms when she her body being transported away, fearing the worst she prepared for a fight. She quickly found herself in the most beautiful garden she'd ever seen. It was then she noticed there was a ceiling high above her, and no sunlight pouring in, just as Persephone rounded a bend, a serious glint in her eye.
Annabeth could only stand in the middle of the room she was in and admire all the architecture around her. It was beautiful, and to think, that other than Percy she was probably the first mortal from the land to ever set eyes on it. It astounded her, as she turned around staring above her at the high arching ceiling. It was then she realized she was under water and should not be able to breathe, let alone survive in such depths. Looking around the room she came face to face with Amphitrite.
"So. You are the girl who has won the heart of my son then?" She questioned with a steely gaze directed on Annabeth.
"Um…. Yes ma'am." Annabeth answered, fidgeting under the gaze of the Queen of the Oceans and Atlantis.
"The real question, Annabeth, is does my son hold your own heart in its stead?" Amphitrite asked.
"Yes!" she shouted, almost too soon after the question, drawing back and calming down. "Yes, your son does hold my heart, he has almost since the day he saved me I think." Annabeth stated looking back to the ground, failing to see the look of pleasure that crossed Amphitrite's face.
"Now tell me one last thing Annabeth. Do you love my son, and would you do anything in your power, no matter the cost to keep him? What would you give for him? He's my only demigod son, and I love him more than I can put into words. More than anything I want him to live. And after he fought Nosiri and the rest, I've never felt so dead before, so…. So defeated as when I felt his life force shimmer and begin fading. It was the worst feeling I've ever felt, and I do not wish to feel it again. So I ask you. What would you give for my child?" Amphitrite questioned.
"Anything! Anything… I love him your Lady. He's everything I wish for, after all this time, I just know he's the one for me. And trust me… I know the feeling. When I saw the sword pierce his side, it felt as if my whole world was falling apart around me. As if the very air I breathed was ripped from my lungs…. I can't… I just… it hurt so much." Annabeth began saying, tears forming in her eyes as she rethought what had happened that day. "I would give anything. Even my life." Annabeth stated with finality.
"Then I accept it." Amphitrite spoke, shocking Annabeth who looked up to her, confusion masking her face as Amphitrite stepped closer to her. "I accept your life in my son's stead. I cannot be there to protect him, so go in my stead. Keep him safe, do whatever you must. For this I shall give you a special blessing. It will give you the powers of one adopted by me but without changing you. It will make you strong, increasing your physical and mental abilities, you will be able to breathe and go to any depths in the ocean. You will be able to sense Percy's life through the ocean, the fish will obey you and the dolphins and sharks shall bow to your command. You will not command the tides as Percy does, but neither will they work against you. Do you accept?" Amphitrite questioned one last time.
"Yes." Annabeth said, speaking with firm determination as she felt a fire spread from the bottom of her spine and up her back as the Trident of Amphitrite began appearing along her back, each of the side tines ending by her shoulder blades, the middle tine ending at the base of her neck. She then felt the fire spread down the sides of both arms as waves came flowing from each side of the trident and down the backs of her arm wrapping around them to end on the bottom of her wrist.
It was with a jolting suddenness that Annabeth suddenly became aware of all the ocean, its vastness, all the life within. She could feel the flow of the currents, hear the fish talking outside the room, and she could breathe in the water freely.
"So this is what Percy feels like all the time?" Annabeth thought to herself as she just felt the water run through her.
"Protect my son Annabeth. Keep him warm at night, and safe by day. As he shall protect you, so you protect him. For you are as my daughter now, as I know soon you will be through my son. I will love and protect you from now on, so love and protect my son. Please." Amphitrite begged before waving her hand, flashing Annabeth back to Calypso's island. Though when she reappeared it was night and everyone was away at the camp fire eating, Percy sitting next to Jason and Nico.
Piper began wandering through the garden, admiring all the flowers when she entered a clearing and found Hera waiting at a table with a small plate of Ambrosia and Nectar, along with tea and some small sandwiches. "Please sit Piper. So tell me. How is dating my son?" Hera questioned amusement playing on her face as Piper tried thinking of the appropriate words.
"It's…. wonderful. He's everything I could hope for. He's loving, a gentleman, sweet, charming, he's always thinking of me. I don't know what I did to deserve him honestly." Piper said quietly thinking on Jason and all he was, and how little she was.
"That's where you're wrong my dear. My son is lucky to have you, not the other way around. You my dear, are a beautiful and strong woman, don't think otherwise. You are smart, and cunning, and have gifts that others could only dream of. Don't ever forget that Piper. Jason needs a strong woman in his life, not a push over. You are strong." Hera lectured offering Piper a cup of tea as she poured herself some Ambrosia.
"I… thank you. I just… it's hard to think anything of yourself with those three around. They're so strong… so powerful. I tremble in their presences. Except Jason's. I don't know why but he feels different to me. Percy, he's a wild sort of untamed power that could run rampant and destroy the world if he so felt. But somehow Annabeth has managed to tame him, she's the only one who could stop him I think. And only because he'd never hurt her. And Nico… he's a dark mysterious sort of power, a power you don't wish to rile up, because when you do, it'll be your death you uncover, not his power. But Jason's. Is a power you admire, like the sky when you gaze at it, out of reach, yet right there, powerful but visible and understandable. That's how Jason is. He's understandable for me, and to a point I think I am to him." Piper explained.
"You know something? This used to be Jason's favorite spot to come when he was but a small child. He'd lay for ours in my arms, or on my lap and just gaze at the sky with his blue eyes alight with curiosity and wonder. Some days I'd read him a book as we sat, he was to young to really understand, but he loved the sound of my voice. It soothed him." Hera fondly reminisced. "What I wouldn't give to have those days back. Him here, and young again. No quest, No prophecy, just him and I and this garden. Safe. But that's not the case anymore is it? Now he is out of my reach, and almost out of my protection. But i have one last trick up my sleeve. If you'll help me?"
"I'd do anything to keep him safe. You need just tell me." Piper said standing up with excitement at the prospect of being able to help protect Jason instead of him always protecting her.
"There is a special blessing, those of us woman who are older than the others, it can only be done but once a millennia. And I wish to give it to you. It will be a very special blessing, the power contained in it will be as if I'd adopted you almost. You will increase in your physical and mental abilities, you charmspeak will become stronger, you will be able to set up a small mental network like Jason's with three other people, along with a private one with Jason. The birds of the air will come at your beck and call, and you will be able to pull on the strings of your family, the one you all are creating. Jason, you, Percy, Annabeth, Nico, Reyna. All of you are becoming a family, and you will be able to tie them together, and bring them together even more so than they already are." Hera explained. "Do you accept this charge? To protect Jason as I have done his whole life?"
"I do" Piper said with finality.
What happened next was seared into her mind, as she felt a burning pain erupt from her right wrist all the way up her shoulder and across both shoulder blades ending at the end of her left shoulder blade and at the bottom of it. Looking she found a huge and colorful peacock now tattooed on her arm. Its tail feather's wrapping up her arm and across her back, in blues, and greens, and purples, and every color imaginable in a swirl of beauty up her arm, the power seemingly pulsating with it and her. She could feel her mind opening up, searching for minds to link to and connect, she could feel the love she bore towards Jason, and the love Hera had for him, and now her as well. "Accept my power Piper and protect my son and love. Good bye." Hera spoke smiling to Piper as she flashed her away.
Reyna quickly began backing away from the angry looking goddess in front of her, drawing her dagger for some sort of protection. "Do you love my son Reyna Avila Ramírez-Arellano?" Persephone questioned, not bothering to dance around the bush, going straight to the question that plagued her.
"Y…Y… Yes…." Reyna stuttered out, shocked at her question, along with her knowledge of her full name.
"I've watched my sons love for you grow daily like a flower well watered in the sunlight. I've seen it grow strong like the trunk of an ancient tree, unable to be uprooted by neither strong winds nor hurricanes. I've seen it reach into everything else in his life, like roots stretching through the ground and all over. But your heart I do not see. So tell me. What is your love like? A seed just planted, a dead vine that should be cut away?" Persephone questioned protectively, almost sneering at Reyna.
"My love is like you flower freshly grown by Nico. Young and inexperienced, but capable of many things, like loving you son to my fullest with all my being. Colorful and full of joy at your sons touch and voice." Reyna said, gaining her resolve as she met the glare of the goddess. "Is that answer acceptable you majesty?" Reyna questioned.
Looking at Reyna with a new light in her eye, Persephone laughed at the insolent tone she heard on the edge of Reyna's voice. "Yes. Yes that is. I do believe you'll do well for my son. I don't know how he managed to earn your affection, but I am glad it was you, let that be known. Now on to why I summoned you here. I wish for you to protect my son." Persephone began before being interrupted by Reyna.
"I already do, you must know I'm a competent fighter and can hold my own with any female or male, and only a few can best me, and those being Annabeth, Clarisse, Percy, Jason, and Nico when I can't distract him with a well-placed kiss, or dropped item." Reyna confidently spoke, a small smirk playing across her mouth as she thought of the fight's she'd had with Nico.
"Yes. That I do know. But as I was saying before you so…. Unwisely interrupted me, was this. I wish to make you stronger, and more capable of helping and protecting my son." Persephone spoke a smirk of her own marring her features.
"….." Reyna was stunned into silence at the unexpected offer she'd been given. "You mean to bless me your highness?"
"Of a sorts yes. Do you accept it?" Persephone questioned, brushing aside Reyna's own question.
"Of course! For Nico I'd do anything." Reyna said excitedly stepping forward, eagerness apparent in her every movement.
"Good. Then here is a special blessing, one that will give you power over plants rivaling that of my mother's or my owns demigod children, you will be given the knowledge of all plants out there, the ability to grow them like my son, just not as quickly or strong. Whatever you call to grow shall grow, and should you be in danger the plants around shall assist, binding your assailant in vines and roots, trapping them to be eaten by the ground, or if they be bad enough, drag them down to the underworld itself to meet Nico's father themselves." Persephone said, taking pleasure in the thought of Nico's attackers facing the anger of Hades. "Here little one. Here is my blessing." Persephone spoke as Reyna could feel the blessing as it burned up the outside of her right thigh and up her ribs and side, wrapping around and up her right arm all the way down to the bottom side of her wrist.
Looking she found Persephone's flower, flanked by two rose's on either side had grown up her body, vines and green leaves crisscrossing up the side of her body and down the inside of her arm.
"Now I shall return you to the island, though is hall warn you now, time has passed since you were there. Night has fallen, and there will be two waiting there for you." Persephone spoke, waving her hand and flashing her away.
When Piper arrived back on Calypso's island, night had fallen and the crew was eating at the fire by the house. It was then she noticed Annabeth beside her, and Reyna on the other side of her. Looking at each other they all knew what had happened. Before anyone could speak, Piper held up her hand to stop them. Then feeling for each of them she began linking them all together, like Jason did with Percy and Nico. Choosing them as two of her three links.
They gasped as they felt their minds open up and they began hearing the other's thoughts. As they slowly adjusted they began replaying all that had happened, and each knew they now had a duty to protect their boyfriends, and they now had a strong ability to do so. Running off they went to change into something more appropriate to show off their new blessing.
Percy was sitting with Jason and Nico on either side of him as they enjoyed stories around the fire and ate their food, smiling, though all they time each knew they were wondering where their girls had gone.
Just as the thought once again played through Percy's mind, suddenly everyone went silent as he and his brothers looked around for the point of interest that silenced the crowd. What they found was a sight to behold.
Weaving their way through the crew, who were scattered in little groups, some with their own fires and other's around Percy, Jason, and Nico's where the girls.
Only they were different, Percy could feel it. They were stronger, more dangerous. Then Percy looked to their clothing and discovered why, each was dressed in what they'd begun calling a sports bra, along with short workout shorts. They could plainly see the peacock wrapping itself up Piper's arm and across her shoulders as she circled Jason, sitting directly on his lap as he stared in awe unable to move, let alone think as Piper began eating from his plate.
Nico quickly caught sight of the flowers weaving themselves up Reyna's body, where they disappeared at the bottom of her top, only to reappear at the top of it and down the underside of her arm, as she sat on the ground between his legs, leaning her head back into his lap smiling contently, as almost automatically he began massaging her head.
Annabeth played more coy as she walked up to Percy, stopping directly in front of him, turning seductively, with a grace that could have seduced him alone, as he stood to meet her challenge. It was then he saw the trident upon her back, glowing with power as she pulled him towards the sea to cat calls and shouts from the crew.
Smiling to herself, Annabeth loved the look Percy held. A mix of amusement, confusion, and if she did say so herself, a little excited and nervous. She pulled him into the water till it was over their heads, then pushed on deeper, and deeper till they could barely make out the top of the ocean when they looked up. Turning she plunged into his embrace, wrapping her arms around his head, and entwining her fingers in his hair as they kissed. And to her. It was the best underwater kiss she'd ever had. Who cared that it was her first?