Hey everyone! So, if you somehow didn't see the story description, go read the first book if you haven't already, or stuff won't make sense. To everyone that's read it, welcome back! Hope you enjoy it lmao.
Percy and Alex skidded to a stop at the edge of the hunters' camp. Alex looked up at his brother. "Do we tell them that we're leaving, or..."
Percy frowned thoughtfully. He'd rather not face Artemis again, but it would be unfair to the hunters to not let them know.
"I think we're gonna have to tell everyone. Come on, let's go get everything we need first." They walked to the ice hut that they'd set up at the edge of the camp.
Ducking inside, they quickly packed all of their clothes into ice backpacks. They didn't need many clothes, due to Percy being able to literally wash their clothes with water vapour as they were wearing them.
Alex melted all of the furniture and sent it out of the window in a thin stream and neatly into the lake, causing barely a splash. Then they walked outside, and Alex melted the rest of the hut. Percy took over, and raised the water above the lake. He was going to try a cool trick to place it in, but his concentration was interrupted by a voice he knew very well, coming from behind him.
"Percy... Why are you guys packing up?"
In shock, Percy unceremoniously dropped all of the water into the lake with a massive splash and half turned around.
"Artemis."
Then he realised what he'd done and spun back to look at the lake. Sure enough, there were some very angry naiads.
"Sorry!" He yelled, waving at them. Realising who he was, they all started to blush and giggle, waving back. Suddenly, their eyes locked on something behind Percy and they dived underwater suddenly.
Percy turned to see Artemis glaring ferociously at them. He rolled his eyes, and walked past her, back to where the house had been. Artemis shouted at his back.
"You didn't answer my question!"
Percy looked back at her over his shoulder. "I'm going to tell the rest of the hunters. You might as well come along and hear there." He said, walking away.
Alex walked beside Percy, their dogs padding along beside them, and Artemis followed behind, head down and deep in thought. How could she get Percy to trust her again?
In no time, they had reached the central campfire of the camp. It burned brightly in the evening darkness, starkly contrasting with Artemis' current sad mood.
Some of the hunters that were already near the fire for one reason or another looked up curiously at the boys, noting the icy packs slung over their shoulders.
Percy took the conch horn that was hooked on a post near the fire in case someone needed to sound the alarm, and blew into it. The rest of the hunters all came running in soon after, wondering what was wrong. Once Percy was sure all of them were there, he started.
"So. Um... I don't really know any soft way to put this. You won't be seeing us for a while, I don't think. We're leavin-" The son of Poseidon was cut off by a young figure sprinting at him and hanging onto his shoulder.
Shoot, he thought, all of the younger hunters are gonna kill me for this.
"Grace," he said, trying to gently peel the young girl off. "Grace, let go."
"No!" The girl yelled. "You can't leave us, Percy Jackson! I'll hang onto you as long as I need to!"
Percy sighed, and turned back to the rest of the hunters. "I'm sorry, but I don't really want to stay here anymore. I'm sure our paths will cross again." He said solemnly. The girls all just stared back sadly. They could quite easily guess his reasons.
Suddenly, Artemis stepped up in front of him. "I won't let you leave, Percy," she said, making direct eye contact with him. "I won't lose my boyfriend."
Percy shook his head slowly. "Don't you get it?" He asked, his voice breaking a little. Then he steeled it, and turned away. "You already did."
The hunters gasped at his newfound coldness towards Artemis. The goddess herself almost sat down and cried right there. Nevertheless, Percy walked towards them all, hugged them, deposited Grace gently with her friends, and got up.
He nodded at Alex, knowing that his brother would take a little longer due to a certain person. Alex simply smiled a little in reply.
Percy got onto Blackjack, and the black pegasus flew off in the direction of the Empire State building. Percy rubbed his steed's neck gently as they soared through the air."Blackjack, am I doing the right thing here?"
Well, you want my honest opinion, Boss?
"Of course. I value your opinion, Blackjack!" Percy said indignantly.
Blackjack snorted. Sure. Well anyway, what I think is that you may be running away from this now, but you'll eventually forgive her. You're too loyal, and she didn't really do that much wrong.
Percy closed his eyes and thought about it. Then he shook his head. "No. No, you're wrong, Blackjack. She's broken my trust once already. I won't ever let her in again." He said resolutely.
Blackjack turned his head so that one eye looked back at Percy balefully. Whatever you say, Boss.
"Hey! Don't you get sarcastic to me!"
Alex looked up and watched as Percy soared away on Blackjack. He then looked back at the hunters, who were looking at either him or his brother's receding back sadly, some even with tears.
Alex nodded sadly at them and mist travelled out. But he only went as far as the bushes at the end of the camp. He watched as the hunters all slowly dispersed, walking with their heads down, until only two were left at the fire.
Artemis and Celyn.
They sat next to each other, staring into the depths of the flames and talking quietly. Soon, Celyn excused herself and got up. She walked straight out of the camp, and Alex smiled a little. She'd be going to the spot they'd found when they went out on patrol together.
Sure enough, Alex followed her, and soon she came to a small stream. She followed it upriver for a few minutes, and then came upon a small waterfall, with a rock overhang. She sat on the rock, tucked her knees to her chest and started crying softly, her tears dripping down into the pool beneath her.
Alex stepped out behind the girl, already grinning. "Careful, woman! You cry any more, and the pool will overflow!" He snickered.
"Alex!" Celyn cried out, jumping up, spinning, and sprinting towards him. Alex opened his arms for a hug, but received a mighty slap instead. He staggered back, gingerly touching his cheek.
"Ow! What'd I do?"
"Alex, what's wrong with you! I thought you weren't going to at least say goodbye to me!" She yelled, jumping into his arms. "And why couldn't you just convince Percy to stay?"
Alex hugged her back, and kissed her forehead. "I'm sorry. But I couldn't see any way to change his mind, and I'm sure as Hades not abandoning him." He said quietly.
Celyn nodded and sighed. "But now I'll barely get to see you anymore." She murmured into his chest.
Alex grinned suddenly. "Ah well, maybe you'll see me again soon. Bye!" He said, jumping backwards into the waterfall and vapour travelling away, making it look like he'd merged with the mist the waterfall created.
Celyn stomped her foot. "ALEX GET BACK HERE RIGHT NOW! AGH!" Then she smiled. His antics were, at any rate, a small price to pay for seeing him one last time in their spot.
Unknown to her, a pair of eyes had been watching from the treeline. Artemis turned away, tears emerging in her eyes again. Celyn got her happy goodbye, she thought. But I'll never get one from Percy. Dammit, if not for my foolishness there wouldn't even be farewells in the first place!
She began walking back to the camp. They'd already gotten a new target to hunt, so they'd set out now.
But for Artemis, it wouldn't be the same now without Percy.
In New York...
Alex appeared at the doors of the Empire State building, and immediately saw Percy waiting for him. He wondered what their tridents looked like to the mortals. Staffs? Sniper rifles? Nah, they'd get arrested real quick for that. Maybe-
"Took you long enough." Percy said, interrupting his thoughts. "I got here ages ago."
"Yeah, because you wanted to get out of there quickly. You couldn't decide whether to kiss Artemis or scorn her." Alex retaliated smartly, snickering.
Percy responded by slapping Alex upside the head. "Ow! What, are you adopting her habits now?" Alex cried.
Percy sighed, then slapped his brother again, harder. Maybe a bit too hard. Ah well, he could take it.
"Let's go." He said, strolling into the skyscraper. He walked straight by the lobby guy without a word, going to stand in front of the elevator while he waited for Alex to get the key.
"What's up with him?" The guy asked, looking at Alex. Recognising the two, he tossed the key at Alex.
"He's just sorting through some stuff. He'll be fine. And thanks." Alex replied, and the boys went up in the elevator. As always, when they reached the top and the door opened, Alex gasped at how amazing the place looked. He looked at Percy to see his reaction, but his brother seemed too lost in thought to even focus on it.
Alex pinched him, snickering.
Percy, yanked off of his train of thought, hissed in pain. "What was that for, man?"
Alex gestured to the home of the gods, sprawled out before them in all its glorious splendour. "Look! Stop moping about and enjoy the view! It's amazing, right?" He exclaimed.
Percy looked slowly around at everything. "You do know that Annabeth designed most of this, right?" He asked, raising his eyebrow. Alex suddenly looked at the place in a new light.
"It's horrible."
Percy snickered, then stepped forward. "Let's go already." They walked slowly towards the throne room, gods nodding at them in respect for preemptively saving Olympus, before a war could really even start.
A lot of the minor gods actually scattered in fear, not wanting to accidentally offend the two powerful demigods after seeing their show of strength against Orion's horde.
Percy looked around, then suddenly took a left. Alex looked at him in confusion. "Where are you going?"
Suddenly, Percy jumped down a well. Alex jumped down after him, and saw that Percy had immediately been surrounded by dozens of fish.
Lord! You came back!
It's been like two years!
Did you find your new brother?
Percy smiled. "Just dropped in -literally- to say hi. And yes I did, there he is." He said, pointing a thumb at Alex.
Alex's eyes widened as he was surrounded by even more curious fish.
Another Lord!
Nice to meet you, your Majesty!
How are you doing?
Is it true that Lord Perseus broke up with the Lady Artemis?
Alex had been smiling before, but he froze at the last question. Percy, hearing it too, had the smile wiped from his face and he shot to the surface. Alex spun to face the fish that had asked the last question, a rather guilty looking starfish.
"Wha- How do you know that? How did you know they were together in the first place?" He asked in surprise. The fish all just stared at him.
We know all, Lord Alex.
Alex, beginning to feel creeped out by the all-knowing gossip fish, quickly said goodbye and shot to the surface. He erupted from the well and landed beside it, to see Percy lying on the floor, staring up at the sky.
Alex looked at him warily. "Hey, man. You good?" He asked.
Percy jumped up. "Yeah, fine. Let's... Let's just go, okay?" He said. Everything that had just happened wouldn't leave his mind, and he needed something to force his mind off of the events.
They walked, and suddenly Oscar and Sadie were walking beside them. That's odd, both boys thought, I swear they weren't there before. Ah well, he probably brought them, they reasoned, each thinking that it had been their brother.
In no time at all, they were standing before the huge doors of the throne room. They looked at each other silently, reminiscing about what had happened the last time they were in this position, and both hoped that this time would go significantly better than then.
They nodded at each other, and each poked a door, pushing it wide open.
It was time to see what Zeus had in store for them.