In which the saga continues and Percy's plan to deal with Cerberus is simple but perfect.
Replies:
Undeath9087: Percy is ridiculous I know lol. And yeah, but hey, Percy's plan would involve her avoiding Zeus entirely, if she can win Hades over.
Guest: I mean, Percy will be meeting Hades very soon. As for your other questions- it is a magician, one who doesn't like the Kanes, not one we've seen before. And uh- they're 'working with' someone who's giving them lots of ideas and tips on what to do. I will say no more.
Guest: Set just dropped them off there.
Guest: It is the sort of thing he would do now isn't it. Though as a spirit he can only do so much.
To say that Percy's giggles were a touch hysterical at Piper's outburst was probably an understatement- but still, it was just something about the way she blurted out the question that got to Percy, and the daughter of Poseidon had to spend a good few minutes trying to reign in her hysterical giggles, but hey she did a good job. She managed to get herself under control surprisingly quickly.
"Uh- yeah." Percy took a deep breath, her lips twitching as she stared out at the busy looking city, "Yeah it is. We're at the Hollywood sign."
"In all the times we've visited LA I don't think we've ever actually come up here." Piper straightened up. "So what now-"
"First- because I don't fully trust him-" Percy swung her backpack off her shoulder, quickly unzipping it, and she nodded when she saw the other backpack inside, unzipping that one to peer in and- "Yep, everything's still all in one piece."
"That's good." Piper shifted, "He- I don't know what I expected but he wasn't as scary as I thought he'd be-"
"That was because he didn't want to be." Percy shook her head, "I mean, I don't find him scary but that's because I've known him for years and I've fought him before, I know him." she gave Piper a wry smile, "You were amazing you know that. You impressed him. Which- I mean, probably isn't the greatest thing in the world but- there's worse people out there than Set. He's annoying but I know him and I know how he works."
"Of course." Piper nodded, "He likes you."
"I know." Percy let out a huff, a wry smile crossing her lips, "Which is a good thing for us I guess or he'd have never actually helped us."
"He just cut down our journey a lot."
"We were probably still flying for an hour or two but it was probably faster than any plane."
"Still, I'd definitely take the comfort of a plane over- over that." Piper pulled a face, "I still kind of feel like I'm going to puke. I definitely think bird form was a lot more fun."
"Bird form is awesome." Percy declared firmly, staring out over the city. "Well, I hate to say it but Set actually did a good job. Gah, remind me to bleach my brain after this- having to thank him is not going to be fun." as she spoke Percy zipped up the bags again.
"I mean, you don't really have to." Piper pointed out, "They all owe you guys for what you did."
"Eh, you're not wrong." Percy paused, "And ironically Set's more laid back about that sort of thing so he probably won't mind too much if I don't thank him." she rolled her shoulders. "Right. We have two options here."
"Oh?" Piper raised an eyebrow, "Okay, what are our options?"
"Well our first option is to hike down, which usually I'd actually probably choose because I love a good work out and it'd be pretty fun and I know you quite like stuff like that too."
"Not as much as you." Piper laughed, "The only reason I even went on my first hike was because you gave me that pleading look 'cause your mom said you couldn't do it alone."
"Which is ridiculous, I'm totally badass I'd have been fine on my own but that's not the point." Percy waved a hand dismissively. "Hiking would involve getting past the fences around the sign- which, is kinda annoying I won't lie but we could pull it off. But it'll also take time. Which, I don't know how much of that we have."
"And our second option?"
"I turn us into birds again and we fly down to the city." Percy declared, "Which is probably our best option I'm not gonna lie. It'll be the fastest option and probably the least tiring."
"As much as I enjoy hiking with you we probably don't want to be too tired in the Underworld." Piper paused, "What do we do about Cerberus-"
"Oh that'll be easy." Percy beamed, "We should stop by a pet shop or something, buy a jumbo pack of treats, I am gonna cuddle the shit out of that dog-"
"Percy isn't Cerberus meant to be huge?"
"Yes." Percy didn't even falter, "Yes he is."
"Percy we aren't bringing him home with us-" Piper was clearly trying not to laugh.
"That's what you think." Percy winked at Piper. "We'll see when the time comes."
"Uh huh." Piper laughed, shaking her head, "You're ridiculous Percy. Why do I put up with you again?"
"Because I'm the best friend you've ever had?" Percy asked mock innocently. "And now that we've established that fact are you ready to turn into a beautiful bird again?"
"Yeah, yeah I think I am." Piper snorted, "Gods if you'd told me a few years ago that this would be my life I'd have thought you were totally crazy."
"But you don't regret it?" Percy tilted her head curiously and Piper grinned, shaking her head.
"Not even a little bit-" She paused, "Well, I won't lie that- everything with my dad gets to me sometimes. But- that would have happened with or without you. My life is a billion times better than it would have been without you in it."
"That's sweet." Percy smiled faintly, grabbing Piper's hand and squeezing before, "Brace yourself." and then she focused- letting go of the hand as Piper transformed, shrinking down, turning into a dove- and she smiled softly as Piper let out a cooing noise and fluttered her wings.
Then Percy focused herself, savoring the feeling of the transformation- her fingers hands and arms tingling as she shrunk down into a familiar form- and she really, really did love being a hawk- she knew it was probably strange for a child of Poseidon to love flying so much but she did, she really, truly did. There was something so freeing about being a bird and soaring through the sky.
As soon as Percy finished her transformation she was turning her head, letting out a proud shriek, and with a powerful flap of her winds she was in the air. She turned her head, focusing on Piper, who ruffled her wings before she gave a strong flap of her wings and took to the air too.
And together they soared through the sky, Percy tilted herself forward slightly, wings outstretched as she surfed on the air currents, she was much bigger than Piper in their transformed forms, Percy could move faster than Piper, but she didn't, she made sure to slow herself her eyes scanning the city beneath her.
Walt hadn't been able to give her a specific address, which was annoying but it did make sense that it wouldn't be somewhere easy to find on a map- you wouldn't want mortals stumbling into the Underworld by accident.
But he had managed to figure out that the entrance was in West Hollywood somewhere.
Admittedly that was still a lot of ground to cover but they could search, they were getting close. Percy could feel the anxious energy thrumming through her.
She was so close, it would all be over soon, one way or another. They just had a little bit further to go.
And soon enough Percy tilted herself downwards, fluttering her wings to slow her descent, they landed in a back alley behind a building, and Percy made short work of transforming them both back.
Percy blinked rapidly, adjusting to the shift in her eyesight- her vision was always so much sharper as a bird, and she focused on Piper, who was straightening herself up, brushing her fingers through her hair, pushing it back out of her face.
"Does it always have to be a dove?" Piper huffed, "I know that's Aphrodites sacred animal and we think that she's, y'know, my mother but really? I mean, I'm so much smaller than you do you have any idea how hard it is to keep up?"
"I slowed down for you." Percy laughed, hooking her arm through Pipers, "C'mon Pipes. You have to admit it is fun flying like that- but I mean, if you really want I could turn you into some other bird- maybe a turk-"
"Finish that sentence and I will stab you." Piper elbowed her with a laugh, "You're a nightmare you know that right?"
"Well now that's just rude." Percy chuckled, shaking her head. "Honestly I think I'm a wonderful person."
"You are." Piper's expression softened, "So, we're close now we have to be."
"We're getting there." Percy agreed, "We're gonna meet our first Olympian soon enough-"
"I mean technically you've already met your grandmother- which sounds crazy." Piper shook her head, "I can't believe I missed that."
"She wanted to talk to me alone." Percy pointed out. "It was nothing personal against you I don't think. She just wanted to learn more about the strange girl who had her sons stolen property." she paused, "Which I mean, I get but it does kinda suck if I'm honest. I'd have rather met her for like, any other reason. I didn't think my first contact with the Greek Pantheon would be like this."
"Well what's done is done." Piper declared, "It's going to be okay Percy. If anyone can handle this it's you. Now let's go look around- find a pet shop maybe, like you said you wanted to." she snorted, "Though I am concerned that our strategy for dealing with Hades guard dog is to fuss a giant monster dog."
"Hey! Don't call the puppy a monster, I'm sure he's a good boy at heart."
"Most people would say hey, we've got to fight him-"
"Not all of them, didn't Orpheus sing to get past him I think?" Percy asked thoughtfully.
"Yeah." Piper nodded, "So okay, you have a point there. But still, I doubt anyones ever decided to treat Cerberus like a giant puppy."
"That's why they failed then." Percy decided as they made their way out from behind the building. "And it's why we're not going to fail. Because we're going there with a totally different mindset than most of the heroes who's gone before. And we're going to be showing my uncle the respect he deserves."
And with that said together the two girls started to explore West Hollywood.
It didn't take them long to find a pet shop, in which Percy selected several of their largest chew toys and a dozen of the biggest dog treats that they had, all of which she stowed in the Duat whilst ducking and covering in an alley around the side of the shop. It would be easier than carrying them, and Percy was pretty sure she'd be able to reach into the Duat to get them whilst she was in the Underworld. At least, she hoped she would.
They did get a few looks- but Percy did have to admit that one of the best things about LA was the fact that while people did recognise her, none of them made a big deal about it. After all why would they, LA was the home of the rich and famous, they were used to seeing famous people wandering the streets.
And the two girls walked for hours, looking around desperately.
It was infuriating. Neither of them knew exactly where they were supposed to go.
"We're going to find it." Clearly Piper could sense Percy's frustration, "You know we are Percy."
"Yes." Percy muttered, "Of course I do. It's just annoying- if we just knew where to-"
"Hey-" the voice came from an alley that they were passing and Percy turned her head, eyes narrowing when she saw a group of older teens, probably around eighteen or nineteen, there were maybe a dozen of them, and all of them had knives. "Aren't you that girl from those films?" the boys were surrounding the two girls pretty quickly, and Piper scoffed.
"That girl from those films, very specific," she moved closer to Percy. "You can just see how smart these guys are right Percy?"
"I know right?" Percy let herself smirk slowly, "You know, I was in a real bad mood, we've been walking for ages. But this- well, this is just going to cheer me up very nicely."