Hey guys! Once again I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Weirdhead: Hera definitely deserves it- but Zeus is an asshole so would he even care that she hurt a bunch of demigods. And I can just picture it- Gaea would be the sort to not even realise how much harm she's doing, she'd want to protect Percy but she'd go about it all the wrong ways.
JjlovesPJO: Well Hera is a bitch- and Percy has to resist the desire to punch her very often.
The Official Clairsse: Yeah, she deserves a sliver of credit for that but given the shit that Percy's gone through it doesn't balance out much.
Undeath9087: Percy just has this annoying dislike and she's there like, 'I don't know why but I kinda wanna kick your ass, but at the same time you are probably my only chance of getting my memories back' whereas she just wants to throw hands at Mars, I mean it's on sight with their history.
Drizzle: It would make sense, and you're recommending a fic I've read- lol. Or read as much as has been published since it's not finished. Or it wasn't last time I checked.
Percy froze at the sight in front of her. Spread out at her feet was a bowl-shaped valley several miles wide. The basin floor was rumpled with smaller hills, golden plains, and stretches of forest. A small clear rivercut a winding course from a lake in the center and around the perimeter, like a capital G. The geography could've been anywhere in northern California—live oaks and eucalyptus trees, gold hills and blue skies. That big inland mountain—what was it called, Mount Diablo?—rose in the distance, right where it should be.
But Percy felt like she'd stepped into a secret world. In the center of the valley, nestled by the lake, was a small city of white marble buildings with red-tiled roofs.
Some had domes and columned porticoes, like national monuments. Others looked like palaces, with golden doors and large gardens. He could see an open plaza with freestanding columns, fountains, and statues. A five-story-tall Roman coliseum gleamed in the sun, next to a long oval arena like a racetrack.
Across the lake to the south, another hill was dotted with even more impressive buildings—temples, Percy guessed. Several stone bridges crossed the river as it wound through the valley, and in the north, a long line of brickwork arches stretched from the hills into the town. Percy thought it looked like an elevated train track.
Then she realized it must be an aqueduct.
The strangest part of the valley was right below her. About two hundred yards away, just across the river, was some sort of military encampment. It was about a quarter mile square, with earthen ramparts on all four sides, the tops lined with sharpened spikes. Outside the walls ran a dry moat, also studded with spikes. Wooden watchtowers rose at each corner, manned by sentries with oversized, mounted crossbows. Purple banners hung from the towers. A wide gateway opened on the far side of camp, leading toward the city. A narrower gate stood closed on the riverbank side. Inside, the fortress bustled with activity: dozens of kids going to and from barracks, carrying weapons, polishing armor. Percy heard the clank of hammers at a forge and smelled meat cooking over a fire.
Something about this place was achingly familiar and yet somehow it seemed wrong at the same time- she hated the conflicting feeling but- well, she'd made her choice. She was here now wasn't she?
"Camp Jupiter," Frank said. "We'll be safe once—"
Footsteps echoed in the tunnel behind them. Hazel burst into the light. She was covered with stone dust and breathing hard. She'd lost her helmet, so her curly brown hair fell around her shoulders. Her armor had long slash marks in front from the claws of a gorgon. One of the monsters had tagged her with a 50% off sticker.
"I slowed them down," she said. "But they'll be here any second."
Frank cursed. "We have to get across the river."
June squeezed Percy's neck tighter. "Oh, yes, please. I can't get my dress wet."
Percy twitched- she honestly twitched, gritting her teeth harder, "A thank you would be nice." she snapped- ignoring the looks the guards gave her. It was too late to dump her and go back now. As much as she might want to. She couldn't give up half way- that just wasn't her- besides, June had given her that warning hadn't she?
And she'd given Percy a hint. Luke, the brother she couldn't remember. Still it was better than nothing.
She stumbled a few times as they ran to the river- and gods but she wanted to just fall over and sleep for ten years but she knew she couldn't, she had to keep going.
Thankfully Frank and Hazel were there to keep her on her feet- and they pased for a brief moment when they reached the riverbank and Percy took the chance to catch her breath. The current was fast but the river didn't look too deep. Only a stones throw across stood the gates of the fort. They could make it.
"Go, Hazel." Frank nocked two arrows at once. "Escort Percy so the sentries don't shoot her. It's my turn to hold off the baddies."
Hazel nodded and waded into the stream.
Percy started to follow but something made her hesitate- an uneasy feeling flooding over her. The river seemed powerful in a sense that she couldn't explain- and not friendly.
"The Little Tiber," said June sympathetically. "It flows with the power of the original Tiber, river of the empire. This is your last chance to back out, child. The mark of
Achilles is a Greek blessing. You can't retain it if you cross into Roman territory. The Tiber will wash it away."
Percy was too exhausted to understand all that, but she got the main point. "If I cross, I won't have iron skin anymore?"
June smiled. "So what will it be? Safety, or a future of pain and possibility?"
Behind them, the gorgons screeched as they flew from the tunnel. Frank let his arrows fly.
From the middle of the river, Hazel yelled, "Percy, come on!"
Up on the watchtowers, horns blew. The sentries shouted and swiveled their crossbows toward the gorgons.
Percy closed her eyes, there was something in her tiredness- something more than just physical exhaustion but she couldn't understand it any more than she understood anything else now. But- a part of her felt like she'd been presented with a choice like this before- even if she wasn't sure how she knew. And she'd chosen to fight- though what she was fighting for she didn't know.
Annabeth, Rachel, Luke- the others who her memory wouldn't let her reach out to- she had to get back to them. No matter what she had to find her way home.
With that thought in her mind she forged forward into the river.
It was icy cold, much swifter than she'd imagined but that didn't bother her, water would never both her she knew that much.
She felt strength surging through her limbs, her senses tingled like she'd drank six shots of espresso and downed an energy drink- which- she might have done before because that seemed weirdly specific.
She reached the other side and out the old woman down as the camps gates opened and dozens of kids in armor came pouring out. Hazel turned with a relieved smile.
Then she looked over Percy's shoulder, and her expression changed to horror. "Frank!"
Frank was halfway across the river when the gorgons caught him. They swooped out of the sky and grabbed him by either arm. He screamed in pain as their claws dug into his skin.
The sentries yelled, but Percy knew they couldn't get a clear shot. They'd end up killing Frank. The other kids drew swords and got ready to charge into the water, but they'd be too late.
There was only one way.
Percy thrust out her hands, an intense tugging sensation that was incredibly familiar filled her gut and the Tiber obeyed her will as all water seemed to do.
The river surged. Whirlpools formed on either side of Frank. Giant watery hands erupted from the stream, copying Percy's movements. The giant hands grabbed the gorgons, who dropped Frank in surprise. Then the hands lifted the squawking monsters in a liquid vise grip.
Percy heard the other kids yelping and backing away, but she stayed focused on her task. She made a smashing gesture with his fists, and the giant hands plunged the gorgons into the Tiber. The monsters hit bottom and broke into dust. Glittering clouds of gorgon essence struggled to re-form, but the river pulled them apart like a blender. Soon every trace of the gorgons was swept downstream. The whirlpools vanished, and the current returned to normal.
Percy stood on the riverbank. Her clothes and skin steamed as if the Tibers waters had given her an acid bath. She felt exposed, raw and vulnerable in a way that felt strange- and somehow she knew, she knew that if she cut herself she'd bleed.
In the middle of the Tiber, Frank stumbled around, looking stunned but perfectly fine. Hazel waded out and helped him ashore. Only then did Percy realize how quiet the other kids had become.
Everyone was staring at her. Only the possible goddess possible old hippie lady, June, looked unfazed.
"Well, that was a lovely trip," she said. "Thank you, Percy Jackson, for bringing me to Camp Jupiter."
One of the girls made a choking sound. "Percy…Jackson?"
She sounded as if she recognized her name. Percy focused on her, hoping to see a familiar face. She was obviously a leader. She wore a regal purple cloak over her armor. Her chest was decorated with medals. She must have been about Percy's age, with dark, piercing eyes and long black hair. Percy didn't recognize her, not really but there was something familiar about her, like a face seen once years before, and the girl stared at her as if she'd seen her in her nightmares.
June laughed with delight. "Oh, yes. You'll have such fun together!"
Then, just because the day hadn't been weird enough already, the old lady began to glow and change form. She grew until she was a shining, seven-foot-tall goddess in a blue dress, with a cloak that looked like goat's skin over her shoulders. Her face was stern and stately. In her hand was a staff topped with a lotus flower.
If it was possible for the campers to look more stunned, they did. The girl with the purple cloak knelt. The others followed her lead. One kid got down so hastily he almost impaled himself on his sword.
Hazel was the first to speak. "Juno."
She and Frank also fell to their knees, leaving Percy the only one standing. She knew she should probably kneel too, but after carrying the old lady so far, she didn't feel like showing her that much respect.
"Juno huh." for some reason Percy felt the dislike she felt for the woman intensifying. "If I passed your stupid test can you give me back my memories and my life?"
The goddess smiled. "In time, Percy Jackson, if you succeed here at camp. You've done well today, which is a good start. Perhaps there's hope for you yet." and that made a feeling of cold resentment well up in her chest- the nerve of the goddess to dare say that- as if she hadn't- hadn't what? Percy didn't know. It made her want to scream and rage.
She turned to the other kids. "Romans, I present to you the daughter of Neptune. I have sent her to you for a reason. Her fate is in your hands, the Feast of Fortune comes quickly, and Death must be unleased if you are to stand any hope in the battle. Do not fail me!"
Juno shimmered and disappeared. Percy looked at Hazel and Frank for some kind of explanation, but they seemed just as confused as she was. Frank was holding something Percy hadn't noticed before—two small clay flasks with cork stoppers, like potions, one in each hand. Percy had no idea where they'd come from, but he saw Frank slip them into his pockets. Frank gave him a look like: We'll talk about it later.
The girl in the purple cloak stepped forward. She examined Percy warily, and Percy couldn't shake the feeling that she wanted to run him through with her dagger.
"So," she said coldly, "a daughter of Neptune, who comes to us with the blessing of Juno."
"Right." Percy didn't like the way the girl was looking at her. "Listen, my memories been stolen- I kinda think by Juno actually based on what she just said but you
look like you really don't like me so have we met? 'Cause I feel like I annoy people a lot so we may have met."
The girl hesitated. "I am Reyna, praetor of the Twelfth Legion. And…no, I don't know you."
That last part was a lie. Percy could tell from her eyes. But she also understood that if she argued with her about it here, in front of her soldiers, she wouldn't appreciate it.
"Hazel," said Reyna, "bring her inside. I want to question her at the principia. Then we'll send her to Octavian. We must consult the auguries before we decide what to do with her."
"What do you mean," Percy asked, her eyes narrowing, "'decide what to do with' me?"
Reyna's hand tightened on her dagger. Obviously she was not used to having her orders questioned. "Before we accept anyone into camp, we must interrogate them and read the auguries. Juno said your fate is in our hands. We have to know whether the goddess has brought us as a new recruit.…"
Reyna studied Percy as if she found that doubtful.
"Or," she said more hopefully, "if she's brought us an enemy to kill."