Read the author's note at the end of this chapter.

I do not own Percy Jackson and its universe other than this story-line.

CHAPTER 8

Take a deep breath, close your eyes and center yourself. Think of all the trainings and fights you had before in past.

Taking deep breath and closing my eyes, I calmed myself. I thought of all the training and fights I had in my past. Some were gore, some were eventful and some were even peaceful that brought small smile on my face.

Good…remain focused on that. Now, let the magic begin!

Suddenly my sixthsensometer sensed few figures ahead of me which was odd because I was pretty sure that I was alone there. I opened my eyes and what I say made my jaw drop. Infront of me stood a legion of roman army just like I saw before the battle with Polyphemus in New Rome, hundreds of monsters almost everyone I fought and many of Camp Half-blood campers. They were standing silently and perfectly in a row. They stood so still that one might confuse it with a wax figures except they were not and they weren't real either. Ofcourse I didn't know that until Chaos explained.

'What the hell…!'

Do you like it?

'Did you do it…? Ofcourse you did it, silly question… How are you doing whatever that is you doing?' I said watching them from near and I wasn't disappointed with what I saw. They were perfect manifestations.

I walked around, watching them in awe. It was like walking through army of robots in the movie 'I, Robot'.

I touched few of them and they were too smooth to be real. It was like running through oily figure. They weren't making any movement, neither blinking nor breathing at all. They were just…there.

I could literally see her puffing her chest out in pride.

What you are seeing right now is the manifestations which I picked from your memories that only you could see and feel.

'Holy shi…"

Now enough of that, let's start!

They, all of a sudden, took out their weapon of choice and assumed fighting stance all in unison. That gave me hell of a surprise which got me tensed resulting me assuming fighting stance. I still hadn't got Riptide yet so I was bit more heedful because with unbalanced weapon I had to keep sure it doesn't go where it was not supposed to go.

I gave reproving glance in every direction. Who knows who might jump and starts attacking me. They were Chaos's creations even though she picked it from my memory and she love putting me in very difficult situations.

'What is your goal Chaos?'

To re-establish your muscle memory, Ofcourse.

Figures moved in unison again, forming files in many rows facing towards me. I cautiously moved between their ranks, my eyes snapping in every direction looking for danger. Since I could feel them, then this was gonna end very painfully for me and I knew it.

Take a deep breath, Percy… concentrate.

I did what she asked. As soon as I exhaled, I detected movement to my left from my peripheral view. I quickly reacted; I blocked the spear to my gut with my unbalanced sword. Rolling my body, my sword still locked with his spear, I threw my elbow at his face and then gave a kick to his stomach that threw him back. How far? I didn't know because rank changed, files changed and now it faced my right. It was like a changing maze, unpredictable. I couldn't realize who were who because of their helmet, which made it quite difficult. They all looked the same.

I moved further into the ranks, making my every step cautiously, my hand gripped sword like a life-line. My heart raced in excitement and from adreline pumping through my veins.

Feel the air, sense the shift in it.

Another one attacked from my right with the sword. I parried it, he turned towards my right, I turned slightly towards right with him to give the indication that I fell for his trick and just as I expected he suddenly turned left, swinging his sword which I blocked it easily, turning on my heels I gave a hard kick on his face making his head snap back and he stumbled few steps back. Then again rank moved, files changed and it now faced the same direction I was facing.

Always remember, it won't be same every time.

I sensed someone attacking from behind; I blocked his javelin but then someone other than whose javelin I blocked threw kick at my side, throwing me back. Someone came from my right; I parried and slashed across his torso. Rank moved and files changed again facing towards my left. I grunted, clutching my side. Even though they weren't real I felt hell of a kick at my side. I took deep breath and chose to ignore the pain and moved further into the rank, this time closing on Greeks.

Everyone has different way of fighting. Romans are all about formations.

This one came from my left, I sensed him as soon as he raised his sword at me. I sidestepped the attack at the last moment. He slashed at my legs; I jumped to avoid it and rolled away from him. When I looked back he disappeared into the rank. Another just beside me, threw kick at him but I rolled away again to avoid it which was a big mistake since clearly he wanted that to happened because when I looked back he disappeared too into the rank and I felt a painful punch at my abdomen, making me fall on my knee then a sharp pain across my chest. When I looked, I realized bastard slashed across my chest with his sword but there wasn't any blood since they weren't real at all. I could just feel them. I still don't understand how Chaos did whatever she did. Rank moved and files changed again but facing the same direction as earlier. I clutched my chest, this was very painful but I stood up again and moved further into the rank and now entering Greeks rank.

Greeks are all about trust and individuality….

Greeks broke the formation and made a circle around me. Four came forward from all the direction with their weapon of choice. I tensed looking at every one of them. There was Clarisse, Luke, Annabeth and Nico. Their faces were blank, their weapons ready. Then they all attacked at once. I should mention that they were all best fighters in the camp and them attacking me at once was not gonna end good. I slashed, parried, blocked and attacked. I was getting pretty tired and this unbalanced weapon was making my arm burn. I threw kicks and punches too but they were all fruitless as they evaded like a pro they were. It was bound that someone or other would get through my defense since I was getting tired and they weren't at all. That did happen, Nico got through my defense and slashed at my side making me fall on my one knee which was all they needed and they descended upon me like a pack of hungry wolf after a meat. They kicked, they punched, stomped, slashed with their weapon of choice. If they had been real then I would've been dead. Yes, at one point in my life, I would have fought them all together but that was all in past.

It was still very painful with all their kicks, punches, stomps, slashing. It hurt like hell. But I still couldn't give up. I am stubborn like that. So, I kicked, as hard as I could, Nico's legs away which made him fall hard on ground. Ideally, that fall would've been really painful but he was expressionless. I got hold on wrist of Annabeth, twisted it and rolled making her fall. I stood up and faced the rest two. They both came forward at the same time, their weapon ready. I blocked, parried, then blocked again, jabbed, punched and kicked. It went on for a while. Fake Annabeth or Nico didn't join the fight, which I was grateful for, otherwise it would've sucked.

Then the first real attack came.

I was fighting these fake projections of real ones, when I felt the abrupt and extremely painful attack on my mind, making me gasp and fall on my knee. Fake Clarisse took that as an opportunity and kicked me hard. I fell down a meter or two away. Although it was really painful kick (That kick got me airborne, obviously it was really painful.), it was nothing compared to attack on my mind. It was familiar and excruciating.

My vision blurred.

I knew what that meant.

"No…no…no…"

I blinked my eyes repeated. I slapped my head to clear out the blurriness. I tried to stand up but my body felt like it was losing its strength.

I really tried to claw out of the blurriness desperately but it was of no use. I wasn't slipping, I was pulled into it. Any attempt to claw out of that, made whatever holding me, resolve harder to pull me down into this abyss.

Into the abyss of nightmares

It generally doesn't happen with demigods, you know, these blackouts. It is above us. We are stronger than any mortals; we are immune to many diseases and mental conditions. We were wired like that from start but that doesn't mean we are not prone to stress, the headaches, tiredness, fatigues. I mean we are part humans hence the term Demi-God, part god part human. So, some mortal conditions are entitled to be happened to us at one point or other.

So sometimes demigods who went through something so venomous for their mind, generally fall prone to blackouts, anxiety, uncontrollable thoughts and nightmares or what doctor term it as PTSD- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

For me it wasn't the time battling Titan lord Kronos, or his mother Gaia or Giants or anything to do with my journey in Tartarus I think needed to clear that because when people usually hear my story they associate it with something with my quests.

It wasn't because of that.

Or it wasn't my break-up with Annabeth. I mean as tragic experience as it was, it wasn't that tragic to make me blackout. I like to think of myself stronger than that and I am. But it did play a major role. Just a major role or a catalyst you could say.

It was because of something that happened after everything… after the Second Giant War. When everyone was in peace, reminiscing stories with their Roman-Greek counterparts, mourning the past and enjoying the present.

I was as good as dead.

'Chaos…!' I tried desperately to call her but if she heard and ignored or not heard at all.

Then everything went black.

"I am going to die."

That made me stop abruptly on my path. I turned around and looked at the little girl sitting on bench in the central park, innocently licking away ice-cream I bought her. There was no hint of sadness or tears. It was like she announced a world fact or something.

"What?"

"They say I am gonna die." She said, licking her ice-cream.

"Who said that?"

"The doctors, my mother, my aunt…."

My breath hitched when I felt the implication of it. At first I didn't want to believe that. She couldn't die. I thought. Maybe she heard something else. I could feel my heart accelerate. I did not want to believe that another one would be taken away from me, It just can't happen. I could feel dull pain at the bottom of my heart as I looked at the innocent toddler sitting infront of me innocently licking away her ice-cream. I just couldn't let her go, so went and hugger her. I could feel rage building inside of me, the anger forming at the gods for unfairness, at me for not able to do anything, at her, at the world.

"They think I don't hear it but I do. I her everything…"

She said, softly. I felt a shift in the air…

"I could feel it. I sometimes feel strange warmth. Sometimes I see a really long tunnel and I'm at the end of it and at the other end there's bright light. I hear their voices, feel urge to walk up to the light at the other end of the tunnel and so I do, I walk."

She wasn't licking her ice-cream now. There was a hint of darkness in her eyes. There was strange calmness in her voice. I could feel the wind picking up and shadows grew darker. Maybe it was just an illusion of my eyes or trick of the light.

"I walk and walk until I see them. They smile at me and reach for me. Then I wake up."

The way she looked at me when she finished that sentence chilled my nerve. I had seen pretty gruesome things that would give anyone else nightmare for the rest of his life but something about her was different all of sudden, that wasn't sitting well with me. The alarms were blaring inside my head, my heart was pounding…

"Who…who are them?" I asked

She took a chunk of ice-cream in her mouth and ate it slowly.

"Your friends Ofcourse." She said with a mouth full of ice-cream.

I woke up gasping, my eyes wide and my heart almost at my throat. I looked around and noticed everything was blue, slippery and I felt strangely fresh. That's when my mind registered that I was in the lake. Now the question came as immediately as I registered that I was in lake- How did I got there because I remember I was good few feet away from the water and so if I fainted I couldn't have walked upto water and did.

'Chaos?"

Answer came out immediately; Thank god you were worrying me! You were gone for almost an hour this time.

'An hour, really? It certainly didn't felt like it.'

Yes, an hour. You lay on beach like a dead person, so I had to take control of your body and dump it in waters but that too didn't seem to work. So I tried to call you up or intercept with your nightmare but I couldn't do it… this time it was something else isn't it?

'You could say that- wait, you took control of my body?!'

Hey, now don't get angry with me. What was I suppose to do then? I couldn't intercept with whatever you were seeing this time and I couldn't call you out.

'I did mention right, whatever you do. Never. Take. Control. Of. my. Body! Only in emergencies you are suppose to do that.'

Didn't you hear what I said? You were unresponsive I had to do something to wake you up. So I temporarily took control of your body.

'Was I dying?! This is what my version of emergency is, Chaos.'

How could I know. For all I know you would've been-

'You are Chaos, how could not you've done something other than that!'

First, I am not at the height of my powers. I can't do everything; it will take some time to get there. Second of all, I can only take temporary control of your body for few minutes for now and that too drain too much of my powers. Third: I had to do something, you were unresponsive.

I was breathing hard, I was clenching my teeth hard and balling my fist as if I was gonna punch someone really hard.

'Fine, make sure not to do that again.'

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath to calm myself. That blackout made me edgy; it always did and taking control of me, literally or not, doesn't sit well with me, especially after Giant war. Still she had best interest of me for doing that, so, it was useless and wrong to be angry with her.

'These blackouts…!'

It was that terrible, huh?

'What?'

That nightmare.

'I don't want to talk about it.' I replied immediately.

We went silent for few minutes before she spoke up,

Don't let them control your emotions, Percy or They gonna eat you up inside-out.

'I know, I had them for years now.' I said to her, 'But what I don't understand is, Why am I still having these blackouts, nightmares, anxiety… why do I suddenly see them dead? Everything remind of something terrible that happened or would happen here! Shouldn't it be over?'

We have gone through this before, Percy. You came here with your memories intact, so, having nightmares and blackouts are logical…because they're engraved with your memories.

'You can't, I don't know, suppress it. I mean you do reside inside my brain.'

I cannot because nightmares and blackouts are part of your memories as I've mentioned it thousand times before, so taking out these nightmares, by any external factor, would mean losing your memories. Only you could stop it.

She said it as if explaining the working of solar system to four year old child.

Now stop whining because you are losing any sense of logic you've got.

'I'm not whining. I'm just frustrated. It's one thing that I want to get over with and can't.'

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

I was sitting at my table in the dining pavilion eating my breakfast after that tiresome practice and another frustrating blackout. That was fourth in a month and it always came at much unexpected moment. I was thankful that it wasn't infront of anybody else, and then it would've been tiring to maintain another lie. I couldn't afford slip-up, now, more than ever after learning that I have been watched almost by everyone in their own subtle or non-subtle way.

There were things I needed to make happen and I can't have entire camp against me or not trust me at all, especially some people whom would play vital role in the success of my plan. Therefore, I had reputation to make and maintain.

But I couldn't let what I learnt go away like that. There were many questions going through my head right then. Why did Clove disappear? How did he disappear? Did he disappear like that in my past time-line? Was Groove of Dodona supposed to sprout that warning? Was it supposed to be me- no wait wrong question…I mean it did warm that I would betray somehow. Now question is how, why and when am I gonna betray because it's very unlikely that I would do so.

Don't think about it too hard, you'll know about it soon. Focus on the present. Chaos advised.

Yeah, she was correct. I was gonna know soon when plan goes as I planned.

'Hey, you still haven't told me the mystery gift you gave me after that fight with Kelly. Are you gonna tell now?' I thought to Chaos.

Exactly. It's a 'mystery' gift…that means you are suppose to find out on your own.

'Why do you have to keep playing these mystery games with me? It's getting tiring and I have lot to think about at the moment.'

Uh uh, nice play Jackson but you are not going to guilt trip in telling you that. Good luck with that on your own.

'Ok, fine don't tell me.'

Yes, good boy-

'Can you atleast tell me something about that dream or vision I had about a month ago I told you about?' I asked.

I could see her sigh as if mildly annoyed at my repetitive poking.

Percy, I told-

'Yes yes that you can't because some things are better to be found than learnt. I get that, I do but something about that dream was terribly wrong…'

Aren't all dreams are terribly wrong somehow?

'Yes they are but something about that dream was too powerful and daunting to be considered normal terrifying demigod dream. Chaos, I saw seven figures and a huge army but those seven figures stood out like a sore thumb… what was that all about?'

Seven is powerful number for Demigod. It could mean something…else.

'Voice told me that we are in the Endgame… '

Tony, we are in the Endgame now… She said in Dr Strange's voice, imitating the character from the movie Avengers. Then she started cracking up.

'You are such a dork.' I said to her, shaking my head. 'I know what you're doing but you can't stall for long, Chaos. '

It won't be long for that. I thought I heard her mutter but choose to ignore that.

'Anyways, What about Luke and Annabeth? They are proving to be difficult to gain trust and it doesn't help they are suspicious of me for Cloves disappearance.'

Hmmm, that is bump on the road.

'They are the important factors.'

Yes, they are.

'So, How are we gonna convince them? I mean old friendly tactic didn't work, they got little more suspicious and it felt like I wasted a month achieving nothing.'

How are you gonna convince two people who doesn't trust you, are smart and powerful, respect the family….She said it slowly as if teaching a chil D….

'They don't trust their family. I think you're looking for the word loathe-'

No, I am not talking about their godly or mortal family. No, I am talking about their other family. Family which matter to them most.

'No, it won't work.' I did think of that possibility but discarded. They're close knit family born out of love, despair and understanding and I would come out as a threat if I planned to cross that boundary.

Trust me it will.

'No it won't. I know that because I felt the same after two wars. You just can't trust anybody when you spend even a year on run, like I did, like they did. You become closed and trust only those whom put their trust on you and life at stake for you. That's what human part of us is, Chaos. I know why they would consider me a threat and they have valid reason to think that. We've to approach this from different angle.'

You humans are more complex than I thought.

'Yeah and if you try to understand us, you'll outlive your immortal life. So, leave that part for me. May be we can try talent tactic?'

No, it won't work. You've only here for about a month.

'But I defeated Annabeth a week after I got to camp with an unbalanced sword in past.'

You got her surprised, that's all it was. If she had really tried you would've been a dead moth.

'I can get her sup-'

No, she'll suspect you more. It's in her nature.

'How would I earn their respect and trust? Uggh! I think it's immature of them to suspect like that-'

Ofcourse it is. They are still kids. They don't have their memories of future like you do or understanding like yours. You might look like a ten year old kid to them but you have got memories of nineteen years. They still have lot to learn-

That's when bulb lit in my mind. I got an idea. Just like that. There's something about the moment like that, that makes your brain process faster.

'Chaos you're a genius!'

Ofcourse I am you unruly brat. Chaos imitated Mr. D.

I now knew what I got to do.

Ok, seriously what is it?

'I mean you can't see it? I thought it and you are residing in my head, so-'

I can't see it that's why I asked, Percy.

'Really? Ok, whatever. I think we can move forward plan C with little modifications for Luke!' I said proudly. Proud for thinking something genius or an Annabeth worthy.

I held my head higher and puffed my chest a little, feeling slightly conceited.

We have plan C? and what about Annabeth?

'I should've thought about it. Then it would've been easier to get through her walls.'

Propose to her? Yes you should do that-

'Wha…! No!'

Kiss her?

'No! I meant-'

Make her part of your harem. That would be really cool. You could ensure her loyalty that way-

'Harem? No! Shut up! What is going through your head right now?'

You don't wanna know buddy.

'Ok, leave it. Now don't interrupt me. What I meant was to challenge her. That would definitely get her attention and less on suspecting me. I should've thought about it a month ago… Then again we had lot in our plate, it may've slipped-'

I tried to explain it very smartly and not come out as a fool.

That's it? That's your ultimate plan to get through Annabeth? She said deadpanned.

'Yes?'

I thought we were already doin' that.

'No, we were trying a different approach- friendly approach.'

No wonder she got more wary of you. Didn't you know her for eight years already?

"I do-'

Then why would you waste-

'I knew what was I doing, Chaos. It definitely would've worked if it wasn't for Clove. He fucking disappeared and messed up with my plan!'

I felt like ramming my head through walls.

You got me excited for no reason. My way is cooler than yours. Then she pouted like a five year old kid. I still didn't know then how could I see her.

'Proposing her or kissing her is no way to gain her trust Chaos and certainly not forcing her part of my harem would.'

Who said about forcing her?

'I am not forming a harem Chaos. I came back to save everyone and do your stupid suicidal quest. I have already too much on my plate for next maybe ten years. On top of that keeping a harem? No!'

Oh come on! Think about the benefit-

'Chaos, we can talk about that later. It's no time for that. Now do you want to know what I planned for Luke?'

Then I remembered something.

'You seriously don't know what plan C is? I mean we discussed it for about a week last month.'

I paused for a moment and shook my head at her careless behavior. Seriously, couldn't she focus for once when I was making plans almost all day after tiring day at school and on weekends?

I was kidding about that. But her nervous laugh told different story.

What's little modification in the plan C? She asked quickly, to hide her embarrassment.

Sorry about the long delays between the chapter, if it weren't for the externals...i would've published 2-3 chapters. So the next update would be from first week of New Year. By then I would finish up wrapping up most of the story line for the first book. From the first week of jan, the pace for the update would be on every alternative days, I want to finish upto 3 books by the end of August.

Next chapter would include percy's friendship with Charlie, Selena, Katie and Grover. Slow frienship with the twins, Mark, Clarisse and her group of posse. There would also be Catch the Flag game. I always enjoyed that part in fan fiction. Then there's this mystery of Clovis disappearance. See there is so much to write! before lightning theif would happen but dont worry it would only be 5 to 6 more chapters of this.

Then there is his interaction with his mother and Rachel.

I tried to make characters in this story as simple yet extraordinary as possible. I mean they are teanagers not gods or mutants, they would behave like teanagers even though they are part gods. Because there are so many stories where 12 to 13 years of age group would act like a 20 to 22 years age group.

Although Percy is bigger than them as per age of mentality and understand most of the things that only adults would but He also wants enjoy whatever time he has and push his plans forward at same time. You cant blame him for that cause after 1 and half year many things are gonna change and would get worse.

These interactions would play a main role in their character development, so, there gonna be 5 mor chapters of thsi and they are gonna be long ones because there is so much to write before the main plot starts

Anyway I hope you enjoyed this chapter.

guest review- Um i did mention right i was building a mystery right? so Clovis disappearance is not a co-incident. I think i meantioned that many times in last chapter.