Chapter 1: Not Puberty Again!

Word: 4,836

Recap: Everything started with a dream...well, to be exact, it started way further than that but let me just tell you my story and cleared it up.

"ACHOOO!"

"That was a really loud sneeze Percy, are you getting a summer cold?" Rachel Elizabeth Dare asked in concern.

I sniffed my nose and kept following her through the northern woods, "Nah, probably just Annabeth talking how much she misses me."

"Like you miss her?" Rachel pointed out with a smirk.

I brushed my hair with my hand and had a tinsy blush, but just drawled out a confirmation. I mean...who wouldn't miss Wise Girl and her stormy gray eyes, her quirky retorts, and her dreamy expression whenever she imagines her own buildings she'll one day make? My ADHD mind wandered off toward my girlfriend, and almost got me tripped from a freakishly large tree root that I should have noticed. Rachel laughed, seemingly giving me a knowing look from what's on my mind, and I only gave out a dry har-har.

"By the way, thanks again for accompanying me, Percy."

"Hey, it's not like I'll let you walk on this alone, besides I'll take an errand through the Amazon any day rather than a Quest to Wallmart."

"And that's supposed to better...how?" I raised an eyebrow at her with a deadpan.

"Right...withdrawn," the ginger-haired girl admitted.

Her feet then stopped upon a hill, an Ant Hill, and not just any ant hill, this one could pass off as a normal hill- only that it led toward the lair of giant, acid-spewing. Ants. You would have to ask why me, a senior who's on the road of getting into university, and swore off from getting killed and Rachel, a mortal with no ability whatsoever, would even think of entering a myrmekes' lair.

It all started this morning when I decided to check out Camp Half-Blood, the day after the whole giant-naked-statue-crushing-the-camp fiasco and maybe help out rebuilding it a bit. After climbing down Half-Blood Hill though, I was immediately tackled down by the one and only used to be Oracle of Delphi running out from her cave. I'm glad no one was there to see it, or the campers would never live down the Great-Percy-Jackson KO'd by a mere mortal. I turned to Rachel, who was sweating like she had just run a marathon. Her expression was changing between being delighted or horrified, which kind of confused me since what could possibly make you happy and scared at the same time?

"Percy, I had a dream!"

That explains everything.

Ever since the Second Giant War, Rachel had long lost her ability to predict the future enough to stress and infuriate her, and having no means of hearing prophecy kind of held up campers from going on a quest. So finally getting signs her ability is coming back was something to be welcomed, but at the same time that would mean something bad will happen, which is kind of the whole point of every prophecy. After a brief explanation from her, she decided she needed to go and visit the Groove of Dodonna, an ancient tree planted by the Great Titaness, Rhea herself, that could announce prophecies.

Really? A fortune telling tree. Somehow the gods never ceased to amaze me.

I thought it was a bad idea though, the only entrance to the groove is going through the lair of giant ants that needed an army of demigods to get through without dying, and it's also not a pleasant place to be. Believe me, I've been there. Smelly Gabe's smell would have been more tolerable.

Anyway, Rachel, being Rachel in all of her Rachel-ness, made a dash to the forest as if all the answer would be found there, and knowing she would be too stubborn to talk out of this, I decided to accompany her. Besides, even though I fought off Kronos's army, beating up Giants with gods, and also help put Gaea to sleep, I'm not an idiot enough to test my strength on fighting an army of myrmekes.

I made a long whistle with my hand and within the rustling bushes, came out Ms. O'Leary. She was happily wagging her tail with a myrmekite hanging through her mouth as if she just found her new favorite snack.

"After you, my lady..." I said, motioning her to the Hellhound's back and trying to pull off being a gentleman.

Okay, so Annabeth has been saying I'm obtuse about girls, don't tell her that comment got to me.

This seemed to give out an opposite reaction, Rachel looks at me like I just called her Medusa, but then she sighed and shook her head as if it was typical of me.

Why?

She lifted herself up to Ms. O'Leary's back, and I climbed behind her. "Alright girl, you know what to do, to the groove!" She replied with a You-got-it-Percy kind of bark (at least that's what I assumed), and the world was enveloped with shadows. The wind rushed past our skin like on top of a speed bullet, and for first-time riders like Rachel, she looked like she was about to hurl.

The black surroundings then changed to what I assumed was the groove. I let out a whistle, and it's not something I would usually do after all the things I've seen, but looking at a giant shining tree is pretty awesome.

I looked to Rachel, intending to help her down, but she's already walking away toward the most gigantic tree I've ever seen, maybe enough to reach Olympus if it should fall. I could feel the ancient power radiating all over, raw energy similar to Kronos but more calming and peaceful and doesn't make you feel on edge.

There was a wind chime hanging in one of its branch and Rachel began to gently touch it, sounding the chime. A murmur started spreading throughout the groove like the trees just realize we were and started talking rumors about us. Like a bunch of housewives gossiping about last night's soap opera, things like: 'Hey isn't that one of the Seven? Scrawnier than I imagined and not much muscle like Hercules' kind of talk.

I heard bits of pieces of it though, ' Flying broom' and ' spell of doom.'

Nu-uh, not gonna hear it.

That didn't stop the trees from murmuring.

'Gold of pleasure.'

'Brave's successor.'

I inched closer to Rachel, seeing as she kept staring dazedly at the tree.

' The owl's quil.'

'Truth will kill.'

Okay, that was a morbid one... darn it me, don't mind it!

'Dark Lord wake.'

'Western snake.'

La...la...la not listening to this.

'Secrets unfold.'

'A price to behold.'

I'm obviously not good at keeping my mind off things when I hear all these snippets. I reach beside Rachel, and suddenly a loud whistle, you usually heard when Coach Hedge wanted us to go and try killing stuff. Before I could get my bearing, a prophecy was foretold in the same tone as a pep-rally cheer.

'Percy Jackson not aware
Evil comes, house ensnare
Fate will be evade
Exposing a charade
A Hero's end in warfare.'

The first thing I thought was ' Well...they're making my death sound cheerful' then I would have gone cursing the Fates if not precisely at that moment, a bright light shone behind us, and I had a feeling it was a god. My fist clenched tightly, but I inwardly count from five to calm myself down.

"Let me guess, the Olympians wants a word with me?"

It was really frustrating getting the big job, but do I have any say of it? No. It's like getting an underpaid job. We finished the job overtime and the boss just, 'Oh good work, you can go home now, have a nice weekend.'

Rachel turned toward our esteemed guest and bowed respectfully, "Lady Hecate," she let out. I turned around and did the same thing as her.

"Rise you two," Hecate softly told us, "And yes, Perseus Jackson, the gods would like to have a word with you along with a request."

As much as I wanted to resign to the Fates and just get on with the quest, I do like to have a word or two before I leave because I have not the slightest interest in getting myself a suicide-quest.

Again.

But hey, this is a Prophecy. Those things always have a double meaning. I've been wondering for my death since I was 12 and look where it got me. I'll just pray to Tyche that I'll survive this one as well. Sometimes I wonder if she loves or hates me considering my own luck.

The god- no Titaness, Hecate touched my shoulder, and a bright light enveloped as we Light Travel. (Yeah I said it, we have shadow travel so why can't light travel exist?)

I was transported to a nostalgic place. The gods never looked different, still gigantic, still ooze out godly aura, even the same intense eye as if you had just accidentally let out a giant squid on a rampage or something.

"So here I am, how may I be in service?"

Zeus scoffed, "Hmm, still cheeky as ever I see."

I just gave him a light smile in return, I then turned to my dad and waved at him.

"Hey dad, nice new shirt by the way, really captured your essence." I made a friendly smile at him, but my voice was laced with a demanding tone and holding back a need to scream: "Explain!"

I noticed the smile he made beneath his thick black beard and his softened eyes hinting remorse within them. As if putting your child in more prophecy than the typical demigod was bad enough, I assumed facing the Olympians means I'm going challenge at least a god-class risk level quest.

Oh man, mom and Annabeth are so going to freak out when they find out about this.

Usually, I would argue a bit, despite knowing it's a little pointless, how I'm not up to the job and how they should rely on other demigods because- News Flash! I'm not the only demigod they could send to their doom.

Unfortunately, the moment I heard the Prophecy where my name was clearly said in the first line, I knew there was no escape from this.

I'm still hoping there's another demigod with the name Percy Jackson that could get me out of this, but considering how much the god of luck loved me, probably not.

"I see you demand an explanation from us," Dad said with a spot-on remark.

"Gee, was I that obvious?"

My least favorite god, Ares growled lowly at me and banged his armrest, "Cease your smart mouth, boy, you are in front of the gods!"

Dad raised his arm and silenced Ares, just because he's not the King of the gods, doesn't mean he doesn't mean the other gods wouldn't think twice defying him.

"You must understand Ares, the boy has gone through many deals of challenges and accomplishing feat greater than the average hero, I assumed he felt stressed from all the responsibilities weighing him down and going past high hurdles all the time."

Oh, stressed is too light of a word from what I'm feeling, dear father.

He shot me a look though, expressing something akin to 'The sarcasm can wait, son.', before I squashed whatever I was going to say.

Ares just grumbled on his seat, then me and the few of the gods turned their attention toward the sound of cleared throat emitted by a guy I just noticed was beside me.

He was a good-looking guy I admit, light blonde hair, a beauty spot beneath his eyes, and shimmering red eyes that seemed to remind me of blazing fire. Yet for a guy with great looks, his fashion sense could make the Aphrodite kids faint seeing as he looked no different with a bum with gray worn out winter jacket, repeatedly sewn pants, and a cheap Beatles T-shirt that he seemed to have bought during one of their concerts.

"Forgive me for interrupting, but perhaps the Great Zeus would allow me the opportunity of me explaining things for the young man."

I noticed Hades snorted at the word 'great,' but whether Zeus heard it or not, he doesn't seem to pay attention.

"Go ahead, Caerus."

I blinked at him, confusingly, "Who?"

The one I assumed as a minor god stood in front of me and bowed, which was kind of shocking. I mean getting bowed, even as a greeting, was the last thing I imagined happening from a god. You get the same sort of treatment as the chance of getting Annabeth catching a spider with her bare hand.

"Greetings Percy Jackson, my name is Caerus, God of Opportunity. It's an honor for us, minor gods, to meet you from hearing your great accomplishment."

I snorted, "You say accomplishment, I say survival really."

Caerus chuckled even though I was half-aware that I'm being disrespectful, "I really loved your sense of humor Percy, me and Momus, the embodiment of Mockery, by the way, enjoyed the great retorts you made for your enemies at every opportunity you made, it's pure gold I tell you."

Well, to hear my attempts of becoming fish bait for my enemies is proved enjoyable by the gods, I wouldn't let it pass them of making a remake of my adventures and turn it into a movie or something. Though if the gods can get it accurately and get my good side then I'm okay with that. After all, what's the worst they could make? Making Annabeth brunette?

Anyway, you'd find wonders about the god's strange sense of humor, and you don't want to know the sickening ones I've heard.

The guy, Caerus, then began to start his story with Circe (cue grimace), how Hecate had been suspicious of her movement, about the wizarding world, a dark wizard called Voldemort (Who called themselves Voldy wart?) A prophecy was made for his demise yadda, yadda, yadda... When he mentioned something about Circe capable of sending herself to the past, which should have been flagged red alert for me since not even Kronos, the Titan of Time could do that, but my point went somewhere else.

"Wait...from what you said, Circe had already sent herself to the past right? So how am I...I don't know...stop her evil master plan when I'm in the Now, and she's in the..." Even with my seaweed brain, I could tell where this is going, and I am desperately hoping it's not true,

"So, you have picked up upon of what our request will be," Annabeth's mother pointed out.

"No..." the gods perked up at my words, they didn't look unhappy at my refusal, even to them it must have been a crazy plan. "No, nope, nuh-uh, no way, you can't possibly send me to the past! Don't you guys have some sort of Ancient Law about tampering with history? What if I go there and accidentally brought out World War III?"

"As much as I love wars, that's the least of our problems when someone tampered with the past, not to mention the Fates," Ares begrudgingly admitted to me and if that isn't a bad sign, I don't know what is.

"All the more reason you can't send me there, I'm a disaster waiting to happen! I couldn't stay at one school for a year without blowing up stuff, heck I almost start the apocalypse from a nosebleed!"

I tried to make them see reason since the only reason I could stay at Goode was because of my step-dad. What's more, considering I've watched Doctor Who (courtesy of Leo) and as fictional as it is, it does give you ideas how delicate the time stream is, one mess up and boom you wiped off an entire city or better yet, facing homicidal angels for you when you do.

"And yet the most ancient oracle has spoken your name, just as we had decided to entrust you with the world's future." Artemis gave her sentiment, and it didn't lift off the pressure on me.

I was about to say more when dad stood up, turning everyone's eyes from me to him as he spoke, "Brother, I would like a private word with my son before continuing our council."

With a thoughtful look, Zeus nodded and dad morph into a mini version of him, which for me make him only a few inches taller. We locked eyes for a moment, reminding me how we have the same vivid green eyes. He reassuringly gripped my shoulder and gestured for me to come with him.

We stood by outside the palace where it's possible to witness Olympus as its finest. The few mansions spreading throughout the clouds, various plants and flowers blooming colorfully, I saw satyrs and nymphs and a few minor gods going through their everyday lives, and I noticed every building Annabeth had personally designed, and I couldn't help but smile at it- Especially when I spotted the small, carved owl faces as her special little logo.

I sighed wearily as I run my fingers through my hair, "I know what you're going to say."

Dad raised an eyebrow at me, and there was an amused glint in his eyes, "You do?"

"Yes, you're going to say that you know how difficult the gods made my life, how you're sorry you couldn't stop it for me, but then you would go on about how you believed in me and making me feel bad so I'll think about the right thing to do and I'll end up going anyway." Saying it aloud sounds a little stupid, but I claim it's reasonable enough.

"Actually, no, I'm not," he hummed softly.

His response got me to tilt my head, and warily observed him, "Really?"

"Seeing as you're aware of it already, I don't have to repeat yourself, am I right?"

I grumbled, knowing he made a point, "Dad, this sounds like serious business, not that the previous time wasn't serious, but those times I always had friends to back me up- And this time you're asking me to do this alone and not messed up ."

"You don't have to do it alone, though."

Now he's just confusing me, "What are you talking about? Didn't Caerus explain I had to be sent alone because sending one is already messing up all the cosmos."

Dad nodded, "Yes, it is unprecedented for a hero to be sent to the past, but that won't mean you won't find your very own allies. It is as you said, you have never done things alone Percy, but that's because you met people who would stand by your side no matter what and help
you along the way, and it won't be much different there."

I thought about his words, I always regard myself less than a hero because most Greek heroes were able to get through things alone and I'm aware of the help the gods and my friends had always given me. I know I'm not as strong or as smart, but having my friends have always what kept me going.

Dad looked me straight in the eye and put a hand on my shoulder, "You have a knack of choosing great allies Percy, and always has been your greatest strength, don't overthink about the changes you'll make, and decide what you think it's best." He put his hand on my shoulder and gave me a reassuring smile.

It annoyed me how much he makes sense, and at the same time, I felt my a burden lodge inside my was slightly lifted. "Just...if I'm going time traveling, can you make sure I get back before my mom would go into labor, I want to be with her when she needed me most and make sure you watch over her all right?"

My dad nodded, and I knew I can relax a bit knowing mom would be safe here. I was about to ask if I could at least contact Annabeth before I go since she would freak if I go missing again, but a loud BOOM then shook the very Olympus, and I knew something was wrong. Olympus is the home of the gods, they don't shake.

My dad and I both looked at each other and rushed back to the throne room. "What happened?" My dad demanded.

It was the first time I saw Mr. D in a shocked that he forgot his open Coke and let it flow out of his hands. "You should try watching that," he pointed slightly upward. I turned, and there was a plasma TV hanging just above the door, I never realized they had one. They were watching the Hephaestus TV, but the channel looks like one of the news channels in the mortal world. What caught my eyes was the Greek letter in the headlines.

' MORTALS ARE SEEING MT. OLYMPUS, WHAT HAPPENED TO THE MIST?'

"That...that's impossible...how are they seeing that?" I choked out.

"And not just Olympus itself, mortals have been spotting Nyads, Ghost, Satyrs and other creatures the mist should have kept hidden" Artemis explained.

"I'm afraid Circe's meddling has come to a part where the wizards and witches have come involving themselves with the greek world. They've taken over the Spring of Achlys where the Mist comes directly from it," Caerus explained with a straight face, Hecate's expression was a mix of anger and shame, and it was confusing seeing them all once. "We must immediately send Percy Jackson to the past, our present is in your hand, Young Hero."

"Wait, you're going to send me now ?"

Another boom and this time Zeus looked up at the sky and cursed in greek, I looked up as well where the constellation of various stars such as the zodiacs and the Greek characters with one my friend, Zoë the Huntress running across the night sky. She skidded into a stop then back away slowly with a bow aiming at one spot. At a strange constellation that shouldn't have been there.

The stars glowed eerily green, shaped itself into a skeleton and snake that jotted out of its mouth into a number eight and was snapping at the other stars. The gods all muttered something like 'impossible' or 'how?'

"The Dark Mark, their influence is getting stronger," Hecate whispered but enough for me to hear it.

"What's that?"

"It's the mark of Voldemort's follower, the Death Eaters."

The name confused me, who in the right mind would want to eat Thanatos? I mean death doesn't sound as tasty as cheeseburger and fries.

"I fear there's no time to delay. Percy Jackson stand before me!"

It was the first time I see the gods all looking flustered that I did as she told without a second thought.

"Now, I must first warn you that after sending you to the past, you would not find much help there, so we each have given you a blessing to go through the trials that are to come."

I would have been honored or gleeful, being given blessings by all the Olympians, and how lucky I'd be if it weren't for the damn quest. My mind was still frantic from all the events happening like a storm, I barely listen most of the blessing being given to me.

"Percy Jackson."

The sound of Mr. D's voice saying my got my attention better than anyone, and he just gave one (Pitiful? Scornful?) look at me, scoffed, then tossed me a can of coke for me.

"Use it right when you need," he simply stated without giving it much away.

"Uhm...okay…"

"Haha, Dionysus is just shy Percy. It's not every day he's concerned about anyone, but his own sons," Hermes laughed while standing beside me to pat my back in reassurance.

"Hermes," Mr. D growled, "One more word out of ya, and I'll shove the damned snakes of yours down your throat."

Hermes's smile became a bit more strained, then he turned to look back at me and shoved me a watch? What?

"Here, this is from me and H over there, good luck!" Then just as quickly went back sitting on his throne.

Seeing that the gods seemed to have their blessing out of the way, Hecate nodded, "Then let us start the. . ."

"Wait!"

We both turned toward the source, and I was caught off guard to find Athena looming over me in her human version of herself. It was a little painful seeing her looking at me sternly with her gray eyes, she reminded me of Annabeth so much I wished she was here with me or at least say goodbye to her. Athena then reached out for my neck. I thought she was going to strangle me in Annabeth's place since that's probably what she'll do if she finds out about all this, but instead, I heard a clip from behind, and a feather necklace was added in my collection of necklaces, which is to say just the other one

"It is a feather of my sacred animal, the owl. If you ever need to seek the truth, use it for guidance." She didn't say more as she rushed back to her throne. I was pretty zoned out from getting a gift personally from Athena herself that Hecate had already gone into full-ritual mode and ready to send me away.

"A warning before I sent you off Percy Jackson, my spells will affect your physical constitution -so you must bear with it until you get back."

"My physical what ?"

"And have an additional request, but put it as much importance as your quest."

She put both her hand to her torch, and with a small blow, smoke began to appear from it enveloping me. It didn't smell or feel like smoke, it didn't make me gag or feel uncomfortable, but it did take all my senses away after I heard the last few words Hecate made. My sight was all gray, and I lost my footing as I felt being lifted from the air.

Before long, the smoke disappeared, and replacing my sight was a town.

I blinked a few times seeing identical houses lined in rows, the soft mist surrounding it, and the bright sky twinkled with stars that I hadn't seen one since the voyage with my friends.

I also realized I'm seeing all this from above.

And now I'm screaming from falling down.

It was a long way down, and I wasn't sure if I was going to survive and do the quest, but it would seem my time hasn't come as I came crashing to a pile of trash.

Now I know how Apollo felt falling face first to a dumpster.

I groaned for a while and finally managed to stand after getting a banana peel off my head. That's when I felt something was wrong. You know that feeling when you got back to your room, and you just know someone had been there when something is just not right.

That's what I felt about my body.

I mean, Hecate did tell me I would have some changes. I still look human and everything; five fingers two feet and not a third eye I was half-hoping. So I rummaged through the dumpster and found a broken mirror and try looking at my reflection.

I was freaked out that I threw the mirror away because I looked young. Enough to be 7-6 years younger.

I tried looking, and surely the ground looked closer than I remembered them to be. I sneaked out of the alleyway, observing my surroundings, I felt the buildings were bigger than the average houses than they were supposed to be. Or I just turned smaller.

I looked up to the sky, and mindlessly shouted because it's the only way I can let out my frustration, "Really, you had to turn me to a 10-year-old?!"

Doesn't this quest just keep getting better and better?