*Random Disclaimer* I don't own Percy Jackson or any other affiliated characters; I wish I did but alas I'm just a lowly fanfiction author that needs to update way more often.
Chapter 6 - The Trials
-Percy's POV-
I was sitting in a small preparation chamber in the colosseum that seemed to tower over New Rome. I didn't have any armour and my only weapons were my large golden sword, strapped to my hip for once, and a borrowed bow and quiver over my shoulder.
"Reyna said I'd face 5 trials but you said there's only 3 fights… What are the other trials?" I asked Frank, he jolted upright like he had zoned out.
"Uh well the first was the auguries but I don't know what the fifth would be" He answered sincerely.
"Well then we better get this show on the road." I said cheerfully.
"Aren't you going to put on armour?" Questioned Frank, I just smiled and shook my head as I walked out of the room and into the main area of the colosseum. Above me it looked like the entire population of New Rome, both living and Lares, were in the stands. They were all eager for some action.
"Percy Jackson, you stand here today requesting to join the legion. The auger has vouched for you so now we test your prowess in battle. Let the games begin!" Yelled Reyna as cheers broke out throughout the stands.
-No POV-
Percy stood still as a guy wearing an entire set of roman armour came out of another preparation room. On his hip was a standard legion gladius.
"The first trial, Matthew son of Mars, expert swordsman." Yelled Reyna as Matthew pulled his sword out of his sheath.
"You're going down sea scum." He said as he stood in a ready stance. Percy smirked before pulling his own sword out, holding the large blade in one hand.
"I don't appreciate people insulting my heritage." He replied calmly, Matthew's stance was sturdy and rigid, while Percy's was loose and ready to move.
In a rush Matthew surged forward, sword raised above his head. He attempted to finish the fight before it could begin with a quick downward slash, but met nothing but air as Percy rolled to the side. Without losing his momentum Matthew swung his sword again trying to hit Percy before he could gain his footing.
Percy however was too quick and was already on his feet and ready, using his sword he blocked Matthew's strike easily. Their swords pushed against each other as the boys battled for who was stronger. Percy smirked and pushed harder with his sword, the result was the son of Mars back pedalling, losing ground as Percy started a sequence of quick slashes and strikes that stopped any and all forward momentum that Matthew attempted.
"Is this really a son of the war god?" Percy yelled mockingly, the crowd was just staring in shock. Matthew ground his teeth as he tried even harder to restart his offence. Percy smirked slightly as he let Matthew push him back bit by bit. The two continued to fight until Percy's sword slid down to the cross guard of Matthew's gladius, as soon as his sword connected instinct took over and as if he had done it hundreds of times before he twisted his sword and flicked it up; causing Matthew's sword to fly out of his grasp. In an instant Percy's sword was resting in the hollow of Matthew's neck, the sword was on fire at the base and was slowly working its way up the blade.
"Yield" Percy said seriously, Matthew gulped before nodding.
"I, Matthew son of Mars, yield." He yelled, as soon as he had, Percy smiled and put his sword away. Reaching out he shook hands with Matthew and grinned widely.
"Don't feel too bad, you're not the first to be bested by me." He winked.
The crowd paused momentarily before exploding into cheers.
Reyna watched as Matthew left the colosseum and another guy walked in, he was tall and broad shouldered. Another son of Mars.
"The second trial, unarmed combat against Joseph son of Mars." Reyna yelled as the second son of Mars stood up straight and flexed his muscles, much to the ladies in the crowd's approval.
"You may have beaten my brother but nobody beats me in a test of strength." Joseph gloated, Percy just stared at him before putting his weapons on a rack to the side of the colosseum and coming back to stand in front of Joseph. Cracking his neck Percy looked up at the bulking mass of muscle and frowned slightly.
"Well this may be a challenge, not used to fighting without a sword." He remarked dryly as he got ready to fight.
Without waiting for a signal Joseph swung his fist toward Percy's head, Percy ducked and rolled to the side. When he came up he tried to swing a few of his own punches but the pure muscle mass that his fists connected with effectively blocked any damage or pain that Joseph may have felt.
"Are you done yet?" Questioned Joseph smugly.
"Just getting warmed up you big oaf." Percy replied, Joseph's smug grin turned into a snarl as he started swinging faster and harder. Percy kept dodging them, throwing a few half-hearted punches every now and then.
Joseph was breathing heavily after a few minutes of constant attacking, not used to wasting so much energy so quickly thanks to his anger.
"I thought you were supposed to be the best?" Questioned Percy as he dodged a significantly slower punch.
"I am the best!" Growled Joseph as he swung a heavy handed blow at Percy's stomach, he was surprised when Percy didn't dodge. His surprise turned to shock as he clutched his hand, his fingers broken and pointing in the wrong directions.
"Just give up, you can't hurt me." Percy said which was technically true as no damage could be done to him, although it was still quite painful to feel the power behind the blow. Even in his weakened state Joseph packed a mighty punch.
It seemed that Joseph took a while to process this new information, it seems what he had in muscle he was lacking in brain as he just roared and started swinging again. A slight red haze surrounded him, invigorating him and lending new strength to his tired body.
"Well that's just unfair." Percy muttered before he began his dodging routine again. When it became evident that Joseph was no longer tiring Percy's expression hardened. If he didn't take this seriously he would be too tired to move after.
The next punch that swung towards Percy was caught, although it required both of his hands to catch it. With the other boys meaty hand still in his grasp he pulled, the sudden force yanking Joseph forward and making him lose his balance. As he stumbled Percy swung his fist straight up into his jaw. Again the change in force knocking Joseph back viciously. His jaw was hanging loosely, partially dislocated but he got up and charged forward again without bothering to reset it.
Using his one good hand Joseph tried to grab Percy in a headlock, this was a mistake. The second he had his arm around Percy's neck he received a powerful kick to a rather sensitive area, the wind was knocked out of him as he fell to the floor clutching his wounded crotch. The red glow around him slowly dissipated causing him to black out.
Percy sat down in the dust as he tried to catch his breath and rest a bit before the next challenge. While he was doing that a large group of Apollo campers came and picked up Joseph on a huge stretcher.
"The final trial, ranged combat against Kalya, daughter of Apollo." Yelled Reyna.
-Percy's POV-
This was what I was dreading. When I picked up a bow all I could think of were arrows shooting way wide and angry shouts from people nearly getting impaled. Even though I had won enough fights to get into the legion I was always a show off and couldn't let myself do anything but my best.
The girl across from me was wearing light armour with a quiver strapped across her back. In her hand was an immaculately carved bow, I expected somebody to come out and set up some targets but she simply put an arrow to the string and waited.
I retrieved my borrowed bow and arrows and a Lares came and ushered me over to a spot 50 metres away from the girl.
"This is a test of bravery, accuracy and agility." Yelled Reyna, "You will each take turns in shooting at your opponent. You may block with your armour or dodge, but you must not move more than an arms width from your starting point. The first combatant to land a successful shot on their opponents chest will be crowned the victor."
"You better put your armour on now Son of Neptune, I will win and it will be quite painful for you if you receive an arrow between your ribs." Mocked Kayla, ignoring her taunt I gestured for her to begin. Laughing she fired an arrow aimed directly at my heart, as it neared I leant to the side and let it pass by harmlessly.
Smirking I pulled an arrow from the quiver on my back and got ready to fire. Kayla looked at my stance and almost broke out into a giggle fit. Before I could pull back on the bowstring I had a sudden memory of someone else laughing at my stance, the feeling of hands gently pushing my arms and body around. The memory was gone again, leaving behind the faint memory of the smell of pine forests.
Standing straighter and with my shoulders spread I shifted my footing and stance, and with a swift tug I had pulled the string back and fired. The arrow shot true but was blocked by a thickly padded piece of armour on Kayla's forearm.
Seeing my stance suddenly change she started taking it seriously, nocking another arrow she aimed and fired. I watched it coming and decided that I had dodged and avoided enough for one day. Raising my hand into the path of the arrow I let it strike my palm. The audience collectively gasped as my palm remained unscathed, the arrow on the other hand had splintered and snapped upon collision with my invulnerable skin.
Kayla's jaw dropped, understanding now why I hadn't bothered with armour. She looked down at her arm guard and realised she couldn't block with it again, the leather and padding was ripped from the previous arrow.
I prepared to shoot another arrow and, figuring that she was going to dodge, aimed slightly to her left. As soon as I had shot I knew I had made the right choice, she ducked to her left aiming to protect her bow and shooting arm with the hopes that her right arm with its damaged armour would be able to avoid injury.
Instead the arrow collided solidly with her breastplate, directly over her heart. She looked down at the dent that the arrow had left in her armour with disbelief.
"Winner Percy Jackson. Percy Jackson you have passed 4 of your 5 trials, the auguries and trial by combat. But now you face your final trial, a battle of wits and strategy. Report to the temple of Bellona in an hour, I will be your final combatant." Reyna yelled
I sighed, before taking my equipment back into the preparation room. Frank was sitting in the doorway with his jaw hanging low.
"Close your mouth Frank, you're going to catch flies." I laughed, he slammed his mouth shut but was still staring at me in awe.
"That was awesome Percy." Frank said, I just shrugged it off as I returned the borrowed equipment and put my sword on my back again.
"Now Frank I need to a place to grab a snack and a quick rest before heading back up to the temples. Would you happen to know of one?" Frank thought for a second before gesturing for me to follow him. He led me out of the camp and towards what I could only assume was the main city of New Rome.
"There's a really great café a few minutes walk into the city, they have some great coffee and food and there's a couple couches that you can collapse on once you're done eating." He explained as we walked. When we reached the city line we were stopped by a marble bust resting on a pillar.
"Halt, IDs please." The statue said, Frank walked forward and talked quietly with the statue.
"Alright Zhang, just this once I will allow your friend through as he is not a legion member yet. This will be the only time I allow him through before his trials are completed, is that understood?" The statue said.
"Of course Lord Terminus, thank you." Frank said as he bowed. He then grabbed his bow and quiver and placed them in a tray that a young girl was holding out to him. She came over to me and held the tray out.
"Julia here will take your sword young man, don't worry she's a professional." Terminus said, I hesitated.
"It's quite heavy, this sword was forged to be wielded by a titans strength." I said, she just nudged me with the tray, I sighed before taking the sword from my back and placing it in the tray. Instead of the tray dropping to the ground like I expected the young girl held it easily, as if it weighed nothing.
"The tray's enchanted by the way." Frank whispered, "And what's that about it being for a titan?"
"Long story, I'll explain what I can over coffee." I replied, unsure of the blades story myself.
Frank nodded before leading me further into the city, we arrived at a small café and I realised how hungry I was. It had been some time since I'd eaten and I was running on empty.
We ordered food and once we had gotten our food and coffee we sat down and I began to talk.
"From what I've gathered from Lupa and other monsters, the sword I wield was wielded by the titan Hyperion. I don't know how I came to wield it or why it even stays with me when it should return to its rightful owner." I explained.
"Maybe its owner changed. If you killed Hyperion than maybe his sword was the spoils of war. So the sword would rightfully be yours now instead of his. And from the way I've seen you fight it doesn't seem so far-fetched that you killed a titan." Said Frank seriously, I just laughed thinking he was joking but when I saw the look on his face I stopped.
Frank told me stories of his family and how he grew up while I ate and rested. When he talked about his mother and her bravery I had flashes of a face that I assumed was my mother, but I couldn't be sure.
"Ok we should get going." Frank said while looking at a clock on the wall, I looked at the clock and nodded. Yawning I got up and Frank led the way back out of the city and towards the temple.
A brief run in with Terminus to collect my sword and a jog uphill later, Frank and I found ourselves outside the temple to Bellona.
"This is as far as I can go with you, you gotta face her yourself." Frank said, obviously nervous about interacting with Reyna.
"Take care Frank, I'll see you on the other side." And with that I stepped inside.
I can honestly say I was not expecting to see Reyna sitting behind a chessboard with two metallic greyhounds at her heels. One gold and one silver.
"Hello Jackson. This is your final trial, a game of chess. To test your strategy and intelligence." Explained Reyna as she gestured at the pieces set out in front of her.
"Ok then. I'm not sure how good I'm gonna be at this but I'll try." I said as I sat in the rickety camp stool that had been provided. After a few seconds of eyeing each other off the game began.
It was evident that Reyna was a superior strategist, using all of her pieces effectively and as a unit. My tactic however was more focused on opening a hole in her defences and getting a small group of pieces into position to kill her king.
The game ended in a stalemate, her army of pieces in position to end the game but my pieces had surrounded her king.
"While your strategy is strange it worked nonetheless. You have succeeded in this trial and with it you will be instated into the mighty Twelfth legion." Reyna said while narrowing her eyes at me.
"Sorry but you keep looking at me like you hate me… Have we met before?" I asked as I looked at her.
"Does the name CC mean anything to you?" She asked with her eyes still narrowed, I tried to remember why the name meant something but came up blank.
"I'm sorry but I can't remember much prior to waking up at the wolf house." I said sheepishly.
"My sister and I worked for CC at her resort for years until you released a boat load of pirates on the island." She explained, it struck a few chords within my mind but nothing concrete.
"I'm sorry that I caused that but I have no recollection of it. But still I will make it up to you if you require it of me." I said sincerely, she looked at me and seemed to stare straight into my soul.
"I believe you, also if you had been lying my dogs would have eaten you." She said sounding a bit disappointed that I didn't get eaten.
"Well I'm glad I didn't bust out a fake ID or something..." I laughed quietly.
"Indeed" Said Reyna with a serious expression on her face, "Now leave me in peace, your cohort will be assigned at the evening meal." I nodded before leaving the temple.
"Hey Frank, Reyna said my cohort will be assigned at the evening meal, so uh what cohort do you think I'll end up in?" I asked, Frank looked me up and down before laughing quitely.
"Well if your fighting skills were all that the centurions based it on I would say easily first cohort, but being a son of Neptune makes you lose some points with them. So probably second or third cohort, unless you're really unlucky and end up in the fifth like Hazel and me." Frank said.
"I don't see how being with friends is unlucky" I said with a smile.
"Friends are good but the ridicule associated with the fifth cohort isn't always worth it... new friends are easy to come by" Frank said glumly. I just laughed and put my arm around Frank's shoulder.
"Hey cheer up buddy, just show me where I can clean up and then we'll have some sweet food and I'll join the legion officially." I said with a smile, it appeared to be infectious because soon Frank was smiling too.
He led me to a public bath (which was quite the experience) and then from there to the mess hall, tables filled the floor, the tables were surrounded by couches for laying on while eating. The walls of the hall were lined with horns that Frank informed me were cornucopias (horns of plenty).
When we arrived there were only a few people already there but slowly more people filed in until the room was bustling with activity, Frank went and sat with his cohort while I was made to wait with Reyna and Nico up the front of the mess hall.
"Romans of the Twelfth legion. Today we welcome Perseus Jackson into our ranks as Probatio." Reyna said as she passed a small lead tablet to me, similar to a dog tag. "Centurions which of you will accept Perseus into your cohorts, who will accept him as one of your own?"
The centurions from the second, third, fourth and fifth all stood up, Octavian remained seated as did his partner in the first.
"Out of those standing which cohort would you like to join Perseus?" Reyna said calmly.
I looked around and examined each of the cohorts in front of me, none of them really jumped out as friendly or inviting. Sure they were strong and smart and all that but I wanted something more welcoming. The fifth wasn't welcoming but they seemed downtrodden like they knew that I wouldn't choose them.
"I'll go with the fifth, I've made some friends there and I mean look at those faces... saying no would be like kicking a puppy" I joked, the members of the fifth all looked up shocked, even Frank and Hazel. The other cohorts exploded into yells and shouts of anger, laughter and a couple of shouts that couldn't be deciphered other than yelling.
"QUIET! He has made his choice now he can live with it." Reyna yelled above the noise.
The yelling died down quickly and just like that my decision was completely out of the minds of almost everyone in the legion (except for the fifth cohort that is, they were now ecstatic to have someone as skilled as me).
Soon food was flying around the hall and I was sitting with the fifth cohort.
"Percy this is Dakota and the girl over there is Gwen, they're our centurions and in charge of everyone here in the fifth." Explained Hazel.
"So Perseus what made you join the fifth?" Asked Dakota as he took a swig of his drink.
"It's kool-aid" Whispered Frank.
"It just felt right, and I've been chilling with Frank all day and if you guys are anything like him then this is the place to be. Oh and call me Percy." I explained.
"Well no offense Percy but with skills like yours I would expect you to be in as high a cohort as possible. The only person I've seen fight like you was our missing Praetor Jason Grace, who was ironically in this cohort too." Laughed Dakota as he drank more of his kool-aid.
"Welcome to the Fifth Cohort of the mighty Twelfth legion of Rome, Percy." Said Gwen as she came and sat down next to Dakota, "The fifth will always welcome a new member."
"Well I'm glad to be a part of it, even if Rome doesn't like my father I'm gonna show you why the children of the sea are awesome!" I said with a laugh, my laugh was echoed by those around me.
-Future, No POV-
"Look at me making friends so easily, I'm like a social genius." Laughed Percy while Artemis shook her head.
"You are not a social anything you moron, you're just too trusting" She rebutted.
"That hurts me, right here." Percy said as he pointed at his chest.
"Get over it." Artemis said as she pushed him off of the couch and onto the floor.
"You know the floor is pretty comfortable..." Percy said as suddenly a second Percy appeared behind Artemis and shoved onto the Percy on the floor.
"See you in a few minutes." Said the second Percy.
"Hey can you remind me later to come back in time and push you over so to avoid paradoxes and stuff?" Percy asked with a laugh as he wrapped his arms around Artemis and nuzzled into her neck.
"I will do no such thing Perseus Jackson." Artemis said as she slipped out of his grasp and walked off, "You know sometimes I wonder why I agreed to marry you."
"Because of my charming good looks and unique personality?" He responded.
"You're unique alright..." Artemis said as she disappeared down a corridor, leaving Percy to pout on the floor.
Percy stood up and stared out of the window next to the couch, outside the window was blank space as far as the eye could see.
"Do you think I am doing the right thing old friend? I have changed my own future and she might not know it yet but she will figure it out. Do you think she will be angry with me or happy for our past selves, or both?" Percy asked to what appeared to be nobody.
Out in the darkness two lights appeared, stars in an otherwise blank sky.
"Hmm I guess you're right, I won't know until it happens. Good night Chaos."
A/N I am really sorry for neglecting to update for so long... I just got incredibly depressed thanks to exams and school work but now I'm done, graduated and stress free (mostly). I should begin updating everything again in the coming weeks and I should be able to write more than usual.
Happy New Years and all that crap.
Thanks Trigger2332 out!