This is a work of fan fiction using the world and some of the characters created by Rick Riordan. He owns them, I don't.
Recap, since it's been forever: Cassie woke up in a hospital. She got to Yancy and met Grover...
Not much has happened, actually.
Cassie could hardly contain herself. She had been waiting for this day for weeks now. This was it! The field trip! This is where it all started! And she would get to witness it firsthand! How cool would that be?
Cassie could barely sleep the night before their fieldtrip. She hadn't been sleeping well anyways- she kept having nightmares about trapped in that void, but this time she was stuck staring at her ceiling hours after the lights had been turned out because of excitement.
None of the other students at Yancy really cared about going to a history museum, but still, every one of them was thrilled to have a day off from classes. There was an air of excitement during breakfast and Cassie practically bounced to the bus when they had finished. She trailed right behind Percy and Grover in the line to get on so she could be sure to sit directly behind them.
This was it. This was it!
She could have squealed.
It would be perfect; she would be able to see and hear everything. It was really happening!
Cassie felt someone sit down next to her; Megan, her best friend. She gave a quick greeting to be polite and focused onto the two boys in front of her.
"Marcus said some of the guys were going to watch the game tonight," She heard Grover start, "Want to join?"
Percy seemed to think a 'guys' night' and watching 'the game' sounded "awesome" and started talking with Grover about who was probably going to win.
Cassie frowned and sunk back into the seat just a bit. How lame. Though, it was stupid really, she decided, to think that the two guys in front of her would be doing anything other than boring 'guy talk' the whole trip into the city. Or that Nancy Bobofit would have enough PB&K (Because only Nancy would use ketchup instead of jelly) to throw at them for the whole ride.
Cassie's mood quickly fell. The whole ride was rather dull and she began wishing she had picked a better seat closer to the rest of her friends.
Uggh, she sighed, she should have thought this through better.
Thought it through better, or paid more attention to the pair in front of her. The only reason Cassie noticed something starting to happen was when one of Nancy's sandwich wads ended up one row short of Grover and landed in Megan's hair instead.
Megan had a short temper. And she wasn't a fan of Nancy. She sprang up and whipped around to look at the redhead in the row behind her.
"Can you not?" Megan snapped, and Nancy started laughing. Of course, that only irritated Megan more, and she lunged over the seat and grabbed at Nancy's hair.
"AHH!" Nancy shrieked, and tried to fight off the other girl, "AHH!"
Cassie jumped to quickly pull on Megan's arm and try to get her friend off of Nancy. Not because she really cared if the bully got beat up, of course, but because she didn't want Megan to get in trouble, "Hey, cut it out!" She ordered.
Megan, like any true friend would do, ignored her. "You're such a brat Nancy! Why don't you-"
"Mrs. Dodds!" Nancy continued to squeal, "Mrs. Dodds! Mr. Brunner!"
Oh, come on, Cassie rolled her eyes, still trying to separate the girls, "You're going to get in trouble! Megan! Come on! The teachers are going to-"
"GIRLS!"
The whole bus froze.
Megan didn't dare move a muscle as Mrs. Dodd's voice boomed throughout the bus. "Megan! Get up here, now!"
Still, no one moved.
"Now!"
Slowly and reluctantly, Megan let go of Nancy and turned towards the front of the bus. Everyone watched silently as she made her way to the front.
Way to go,Megan, Cassie huffed. Now Megan would probably be stuck with Mrs. Dodds the whole trip. Cassie wouldn't be able to be with her friend at all! She brought her legs onto the seat now that there was extra room, and pulled her knees into her chest.
She huffed again. That would hardly even be a punishment, too! Being stuck up there with the teachers, or really, being stuck near Mr. Brunner sounded like an awesome way to spend a trip to a museum. It was more a punishment for Cassie, who wouldn't be able to talk to anyone for the rest of the trip.
Unless she started talking to Nancy and her delinquent friend. Or Percy and Grover about sports. Cassie rolled her eyes, deciding she would rather brood in silence.
She was glaring at the other kids on the bus a few minutes later, her frustration growing at them being able to have fun and her stuck there alone, when at last, she heard Grover, "It's okay. I like peanut butter."
Then, Percy's "That's it."
Cassie perked up as she saw the dark haired boy start to stand but couldn't hear anything else they said under all of the noise.
Grover pulled Percy back into his seat and Cassie watched intently…. And nothing happened.
Was that it!? Cassie clenched her jaw. How.Lame. If she didn't get to see some good action later that day... She had been looking forward to this trip all semester. And it better not disappoint.
Now, Cassie thought the museum was nice, but she just wasn't all that impressed with ancient artifacts. They were old and weathered and you couldn't make out half of the words and pictures on them anymore. Not that she thought modern art was any better, but she just wasn't too psyched about seeing anything on the trip. She was, however, interested in hearing Mr. Brunner's commentary on it all. And not just because he had lived through half the stuff.
Chiron had perfected the art of storytelling. It's why his classes were so interesting and why everyone loved him. People actually wanted to hear him teach.
Besides Nancy, of course, who had been talking throughout half of his tour. Cassie had been so absorbed by Mr. Brunner's lessons that she hadn't even noticed when they finally come to a huge stele with a giant sphinx on top and a naked man on the side.
Nancy was just a few feet away from Cassie though, and Cassie did notice when the girl commented on his "wiener" (her words).
Cassie rolled her eyes.
Nancy and her friend sniggered.
Percy told them to shut up.
Everyone laughed at him.
"Mr. Jackson, did you have a comment?" Mr. Brunner asked.
Some of the kids giggled again. Percy's face was totally red and he was looking at his feet, his mouth opening and closing like a fish.
"No, sir." He finally stammered.
"Mhmm," Mr. Brunner acknowledged, completely unconvinced.
Cassie's head snapped up, Oh gosh, she thought as she dug her nails into the palm of her hand so she wouldn't start fangirling, This is it! This is it!
"Perhaps you'll tell us what this picture represents?" Mr. Brunner asked Percy.
Cassie didn't think Chiron thought very much of Percy.
Cassie had been in his class all semester. Mr. Brunner had taught them a lot. After being his student for months at Yancy, how could you not know what the picture was of?
It was a giant guy holding a baby to his mouth, like he was eating a sandwich. They'd talked about it what seemed like every day in class. Cassie knew Percy knew the answer though. Or, most of it.
"God?" Mr. Brunner cut Percy off, asking in that teacher-sort-of-way that makes you know you said the wrong thing.
"Titan," Percy remembered, "And, he didn't trust his kids, who were the gods. So, um," Percy said every line like it was a question, "Kronos ate them, right? But his wife hid baby Zeus, and gave Kronos a rock to eat instead."
"Kronos was an idiot," Cassie heard Nancy say to her friend. Nancy's friend and Cassie both nodded.
"And later," Percy was on a roll now, "When Zeus grew up, he tricked his dad, Kronos, into barfing up his brothers and sisters-"
"Eeew!" Nancy's friend said.
"-and so there was this big fight between the gods and the Titans, and the gods won."
Nancy added in more of her own commentary, this time about how they'd never need to know that in the real world.
Mr. Brunner, despite his regular tolerance for stupid remarks and interruptions, called her out on it.
"And why, Mr. Jackson, to paraphrase Miss Bobofit's excellent question, does this matter in real life?"
Cassie bit the inside of her cheek to keep from grinning. Got 'em. Most of the other kids didn't restrain themselves though and a couple laughed at the redhead's expense.
"Busted," Grover smirked.
Nancy crossed her arms like she was trying to hide herself and under her breath she told Grover to shut up.
After a moment Percy spoke up again, "I don't know, sir."
Mr. Brunner nodded, "I see. Well, half credit, Mr. Jackson," He said, like he was ever going to remember to give Percy any sort of credit for the answer. Then Mr. Brunner explained, for the nth time that year, the story of Kronos and Zeus, and finished, "On that happy note, it's time for lunch. Mrs. Dodds, would you lead us back outside?"
Cassie struggled to walk normally as they made their way outside. This is it. This is it! She thought, yet again, This is where the whole story started. It's really happening.
Cassie quickly sat down on the front steps with her friends. She made sure to get a good view of the fountain.
THE fountain! This is it!
Cassie looked around after she took out her lunch, searching for where everyone was.
Nancy was trying to steal from some lady's purse (not that Cassie cared- if the lady left her purse unguarded in New York City she deserved to be robbed), right on schedule. Mrs. Dodds was standing erect in front of a wall with her arms crossed over her chest, her eyes constantly scanning the students like a watchdog. Cassie was mildly impressed at how seriously she was taking her role as chaperone.
Cassie saw Percy sit down with Grover. And Mr. Brunner. Chiron. Last but not least. He had parked his wheelchair away from the students and was starting to read.
Cassie frowned. She didn't get Chiron. And not because he was a couple-thousand year old centaur. And not because he had set up an umbrella from the back of his wheelchair despite the fact that it was neither sunny and helping create shade, nor raining (although there were some storm clouds headed their way).
Cassie didn't get why he was there in the first place.
She knew why he was there- because Grover had 'detected' Percy as being powerful, but it's not like Chiron being at Yancy had helped with anything, had it? He hadn't warned Percy about anything. He hadn't really taught him anything special.
Percy was doing just as well as if Chiron had never come. Right?
Cassie finally shrugged. Maybe he was preventing Mrs. Dodds from attacking Percy or something. Then she paused. Chiron didn't even do that!He made Percy fight her himself!
Speaking of which...
Cassie watched with interest as Nancy, followed by two of her friends, strode towards Percy and Grover. The redhead stopped directly in front of the boys and placed one hand on her hip while the other held the half sandwich she hadn't thrown at Grover while on the bus.
Cassie wasn't close enough to hear her say anything, but she did clearly see the girl stick her hand straight out and drop her food all over Grover's lap.
It was almost instantaneous, and despite knowing and seeing what happened, Cassie could still hardly believe it.
One second Nancy was standing there all smug, and the next, the water and engulfed her and drew her into the fountain. She was sitting in the fountain, completely drenched, screaming "Percy pushed me!" before Cassie could even process what happened.
Almost as quickly, Mrs. Dodds had come to see what was going on.
"Did you see what happened?" One of Cassie's friends asked, now that everyone was staring at the spectacle.
See what happened... Magic. Percy's powers! Oh gosh, this is real. The gods are really real.
"Percy just pushed her in the fountain," Someone answered.
"No he didn't," Cassie quickly corrected, "He was sitting down the whole time."
Another of her friends nodded in agreement. "The water... It was like it grabbed her."
"What?" Her friend asked, "Haha. I think you guys are seeing things. What kind of drugs did they put in your sandwiches?" A couple of the girls laughed and continued joking with each other. They didn't pay the fountain incident any more attention.
But Cassie couldn't look away.
"Wait!" Cassie barely heard Grover yelp. She still couldn't make out anything that they were saying, but she knew what was going on. Grover looked at Chiron desperately, but the centaur was oblivious. Only when Mrs. Dodds and Percy were at the top of the museum steps did Grover dare move to warn Chiron.
This is it! Cassie wondered if it would be okay to go and try to watch the fight.
Mrs. Dodds didn't care about Cassie at all, and she probably wouldn't even notice her if she made sure to stay far, far out of the way.
Yep. She would try it.
"I'll be right back," She told her friends, and got up to follow them all into the museum.
A Fury! She was going to see a real life Fury! Cassie sped through the front entrance. She could just see Mr. Brunner's wheelchair at the end of the hall when she heard Grover call to her from behind.
"Cassie!"
Cassie would have pretended not to hear him, but at that moment the loudest and longest bout of thunder she had ever heard shook the building. Her surprise at the boom made her pause in her step, but she quickly grinned, realizing that the eerie sound fit the situation perfectly, and it only fueled her determination to see the fight.
"Cassie, wait!"
But then there was that again. Grove quit ruining this! Cassie spun around but continued walking backwards, "I'll be right back!" She said with forced cheeriness, "I have to use the bathroom real quick."
Cassie turned back around but didn't see Chiron anywhere in sight. Shoot, where'd they go!? She was going to miss it!
"The restrooms are that way!" She heard Grover call out. And then she heard the clatter of crutches and a soft thump as he tripped and fell.
Grover! Cassie balled her fists in frustration when she saw him on the floor. She couldn't ignore him- she would have seemed like such a jerk. "Are you okay?" Cassie sprinted back to where he had fallen and tried to get him back on his feet as quickly as possible.
"I'm fine," He responded instantly, and then Cassie could see him change his mind. "Err, actually, I think I hurt my leg. Could you help me back outside?"
What!? No! Cassie could have screamed at him. She was missing it! He was totally lying! She could totally tell! He was just doing this so she wouldn't get in the way of Mrs. Dodds and Percy and Aggg!
Cassie bit her tongue. Why did he have to make this so hard! "I actually really have to pee, give me just one second though," Cassie was about to dash off once she made sure grover was standing okay when she heard, quite probably, the worst sound possible.
"Grover. Cassie." Mr. Brunner said in surprise from down the hall. "Why aren't you outside with the others?"
Why aren't YOU!? She could have screamed.
Well, there went her chance at seeing the monster.
"We were just headed back out there, sir." Grover said flatly, but Cassie could see the worried and questioning look on his face.
As their teacher rolled closer, Cassie saw him give the slightest nod to Grover. She could see him visibly relax as she heard him let out an audible breath.
Chiron calmly turned to Cassie. "Why don't you go finish your lunch," He suggested, "I need to ask a favor of Grover."
Yeah fat chance, you prick. Making me miss my Fury, "I was actually helping him back out. He hurt his leg just now." Cassie was careful not to let any hint of smugness show. If they were going to ruin her show, she was going to be difficult. "I can wait a second."
But Chiron wasn't fazed at all which made Cassie the slightest bit disappointed.
"Very well," He said, and then held up his hand and snapped his fingers.
But it wasn't a normal snap.
It was loud, sharp, like a firework, and a gust of wind seemed to explode from his hand.
Cassie blinked. Was that…? She blinked again.
Woah. That was the Mist, wasn't it!
Cassie wished she could do that. She could get away with anything! But she couldn't snap her fingers, so she figured she was out of luck for now though.
"Cassie, shouldn't you be outside with the others?" Mr. Brunner finally asked.
Mrs. Dodds. Cassie was repeating the name to herself. Yep, she concluded, she remembered. Ha, Cassie thought smugly. The mist hadn't worked on her.
"I just had to use the restroom, sorry." She replied after a moment, and turned towards back towards the doors.
Ha!
Stupid Mist, Can't even work right. And then she remembered and corrected herself, Stupid Chiron and Grover… Didn't even get to see the Fury.
But then again, Cassie did get to see the fountain incident; the water completely attack Nancy.
Oh, gosh. Cassie paused in her step. There was absolutely zero doubt about it now. It was all real, and Percy was the son of Poseidon.
The son of Poseidon! How do they not realize it? He completely controlled the water back there, who else's kid would he be? Apollo's? Cassie rolled her eyes. They were sort of dumb, she thought, for not realizing his parentage. Black hair, green eyes, water powers. Totally obvious, she thought.
Cassie wasn't so lucky. She couldn't figure out her father's identity at all. There was nothing special about her. Blonde hair, average looks, athletic, but not amazing in gym. She was smart, but she didn't care about learning (not that she thought Athena was in the lineup for potential parents), but nothing stood out.
Cassie's exhilarated mood became a little more glum. She supposed she didn't expect her father to claim her out of the blue- she was still at Yancy. She wasn't even at the camp yet. Hadn't made any sacrifices to him to get his attention or anything...
Cassie's interest was piqued again as she sat back down with her friends but she ignored them as she started eating her lunch. Sacrifices. That could do it, maybe. Or maybe people at camp could figure it out. Summer was just a few weeks away, after all. Camp's summer session should be starting any day…
She needed a way to get there first though.
Cassie frowned as she saw Percy come out of the museum. She knew how Percy got to camp, but how was she going to manage it?
I've got excuses, but none good enough to justify how long of a break this has been. Not that you guys care, I'm sure. Even I hate this story, and I'm the one writing it. The good news is, TheSockThatEndedUpInNarnia helped beta this chapter. It definitely helped, so many thanks to them.