This was a good chapter then and it is a good chapter now. Ripples are real here.
"Who would have guessed poodles could be so helpful?" Aaron grinned at a still flush and happy Grover. The other boy hadn't stopped grinning at him since he woke up, revealing that Aaron had spend his watch cleaning the field they had rested in. The lack of trash on the ground and quick offering to Pan to help the area more then smoothed over their spat from the night before. He may have meant what he said still but that didn't mean he was okay with being rude to the people he was questing with. It wasn't a smart idea to piss off people who were supposed to protect your back, even if that person was Grover...
Said fellow Quester, Grover, beamed a shy but proud smile as he cuddled back into his seat. "Who would have guessed we'd get enough money to travel so far? I like this train."
They had spent two peaceful and relaxing days on the Amtrak train, heading west through hills, over rivers, past amber waves of grain. It was a wonderful thing, feeling safe and happy. Keeping a hand on the money and having stored food in his bag from both Camp half blood and Medusa's shop, they had managed to save enough money for the entire group of them to travel instead of just three of them. Relaxing for the first time since they left the Camp, they each actually had a full night of sleep.
It was fun watching the others, noting their behavior and just relishing in their peaceful expressions. Percy drooled something fierce, Annabeth snored louder then the entire train and Grover was known to bleat and moan about food.
Since he was a borderline insomniac, a trick from years living on the street and surviving six attacks from territorial hobos, he spent most of his time reading his Grimoire and boy had he learned a lot though all of it was just basic level information. None of it particularly useful at the moment, he was amazed to learn that magic wasn't just spells and potions and runes as he had originally thought. It was about having a fundamental knowledge on countless subjects from dreams and prophecies to each of the elements and how they affected the world on a physical and spiritual level. There were sections of knowledge on each of the three realms and how they were tied philosophical, cultural and practical purposes which also went on to explain the Big Three were so powerful, their domains intersected with so much everything that it infused them with connections of all types!
He gained a lot of respect for Alabaster and their fellow witches, the sheer knowledge they had to have to really master the art of magic rivaled whatever the children of Athena consumed on a regular basis. It had to be to gain a regular understanding of magic. He realized in that moment just what kind of future he was going to have before him if he really decided to stick with it. Days upon days of reading countless scrolls and tomes on hundreds of subjects... it sounded amazing, he loved to learn no matter how daunting of a task it seemed.
As delightful as it was to read the Grimoire and learn, something more amazing happened during their trip. Not to Aaron, but to Percy. They found a paper with Percy's face on it, and his beautiful Mother was on it too giving a statement.
The caption read as follows:
Twelve-year-old Percy Jackson, originally wanted for questioning in the Long Island disappearance of his mother two weeks ago, has now been freed on any and all charges related to his mother's disappearance. Having returned mostly unharmed, the women explained that after their crash they were helped by a local camp for a few days before she returned unharmed. Her son stayed at the Camp due to making friends, and having had a friend already at that Camp.
"See Percy, some good news." Aaron said, looking at his Step brother. " And I told you Hades wasn't a bad guy, your mom is back safe and mostly sound."
Percy's smile had been radiant. "I would have never guessed but I'm glad you were right."
"We should contact your mom soon, just to let her know how your doing."
Percy's smile turned all the sweeter, the kid really loved his mother. The rest of the day Percy spent alternately pacing the length of the train or looking out of the window with happiness and a sense of ease he just hadn't had before.
Currently he was the only other person awake, they were two hours away from their second to last stop in Saint Louis, Missouri and so the others decided to take a nap before they were set to stop. Unable to sleep during the day, he lay back in his seat and continued to read as he had done for the majority of the trip.
Chapter Fourteen- The Power of Choice and Magic
"Oooh, interesting... I wonder what this is going to be about." Eager and happy, he ate some of the nacho chips he had stolen from Medusa and dug into the book further.
A true mage is not defined by power but skill and the ability to choose what path to walk. It is true that a countless many, be they demigod or mortal, believe that true power was something you were born with, this could not be less true. So many have altered their paths by making powerful choices, opening one door or closing another. Take making the Hunter's oath, just that one decision grants a girl immortality, nymph status and a great many powers that makes them formidable warriors and hunters. Great forces that have shifted the very path of the world in their own right.
It is the power of choice that has allowed those that practice magic to become great. An example of this can be seen between Asclepius and Medea. Asclepius, God of Healing and Son of Apollo, actually managed to surpass his father in healing and craft a potion to resurrect the dead due to choosing the path of being a healer over all things. Medea, a legacy of the Titan Helios, actually nearly rivaled his powers in healing through use of dark magic such as invoking the tears of infants and ritualistic sacrifice. Medea, a mere legacy actually rivaled someone literally born to heal and was destined to become a God of Healing and Asclepius managed to surpass his Olympian father in an area that was vital to his identity.
Such is the power of choice, in this case choosing to dedicate yourself to your goals and tasks. Be it in battle, in enchantment or potion making, healing or casting the darkest of curses, this hold true. Never forget it for this is the center of magic.
Choice, Dedication and Knowledge.
Shock still, a smile carved it's way onto his face. 'I can do this... even me, a mere human, the son of a repugnant mortal monster can become great.' The feeling warmed his soul and he stood, walking away from his friends with chip bag in hand to the closest restroom.
Quickly he summoned a flame in the sink and tossed in a few chips.
"I know this isn't a great sacrifice, but I just wanted to say thank you, Lady Hecate... for the power and the path I am walking. I didn't really think I could accomplish much as a mere human... I know better now, so thank you, your kids and frankly this stupid quest. Knowing that I, by forcing Percy to make his oath, restored his mother to safety."
""""
When he returned, his brother and Annabeth were awake and chatting. "So," Annabeth ask him, looking up to smile at Aaron as he slipped by them. "Who wants your help?"
"What do you mean?" Percy looked at her like she was crazy.
"When you were asleep just now, you mumbled, 'I won't help you.' Who were you dreaming about?"
Unable to stop himself, as he was in a rare good mood, Aaron ribbed the girl in the ribs. " So, you like watching him sleep?" She flushed... and then Percy revealed the contents of his dreams, stopping his good mood where it was. "Wow... heavy stuff Percy."
Annabeth was quiet for a long time. "That doesn't sound like Hades. He always appears on a black throne, and he never laughs."
"How do you know that? Have you met Hades?" She turned to him scowling. "It's not very wise to run your mouth about the guy who decides where in the Afterlife you go. Why do you hate him so much, I mean it feels like it's more then just him being the God of the Dead."
Her scowl deepened. "He's deceitful, heartless, and greedy. I don't care if his Kindly Ones weren't aggressive at all this time-"
Aaron's eyes widened. " That's right, you were with Thalia when she died... you do get it that she had to die right, like based on the Oath and the fact that her siblings were a threat to everyone. It makes sense that they can't live, it sucks but put that on her father not the only person invoking and upholding the oath forced on him."
"Luke may have kept me from seeing it, but I heard her screams. I carry them with me every day, every night. I don't care about the oath, he killed my sister and forced me to listen to it."
Realizing it was an uphill battle, he turned to Percy. "What else happened in your dream? I mean besides the voice from the Pit and the Spirits of the Damned."
"Not much else, it felt... unfinished. Like there should have been more, he seemed irritated." Percy said, frowning.
"Huh... I don't know a lot about the Underworld, my Grimoire has little about it so I can't help you there... but my guess, and this is just a guess, what if it wasn't just the Underworld. Wasn't there supposed to be a portal to Tartarus there? I don't know if that part of mythology is true but it would explain the Pit..."
Annabeth's gasp drew them in, no matter how slight it was. "Pit... I... it can't be... it has to be Hades, not... no." She shook her head, making the same weird claw gestured Aaron had seen Percy do towards Gabe right before the door slammed on him.
"Use your words, who can't it be Annabeth?"
"No one, it can't be them... forget it, just... forget it."
;;;
Nearly two hours later, towards the end of their second day in the train, the group passed through some golden hills and over the Mississippi River into St. Louis. Annabeth craned her neck to see the Gateway Arch, eyes wide and filled with something that bordered on lust.
"I want to do that," she sighed.
"What?" Percy asked.
"Build something like that. You ever see the Parthenon, Percy?"
"Only in pictures."
"Someday, I'm going to see it in person. I'm going to build the greatest monument to the gods, ever. Something that'll last a thousand years."
He laughed, a soft but uncruel sound that made Aaron smile. "You? An architect?"
Her cheeks flushed and it seemed that she read too much into his laughter. "Yes, an architect. Athena expects her children to create things, not just tear them down, like a certain god of earthquakes I could mention." There was a moment of silence but before Aaron cold scold her, still tired of their bickering, Annabeth let out a long sigh. "Sorry," Annabeth said. "That was mean and Aaron is right. We aren't are parents and we shouldn't carry their grudges. Why did you laugh?"
"I just can't see you sitting down that long. Your ADHD is worse then mine at times."
She flushed. "Oh, well... " She may have stuck her tongue out at him, making the three of them laugh.
Eventually the train pulled into the Amtrak station downtown. The intercom told us there would be a three-hour layover before departing for Denver.
Grover stretched. Before he was even fully awake, he said, "Food."
"Come on, goat boy," Annabeth said. "Sightseeing."
"Sightseeing?"
"The Gateway Arch," she said. "This may be my only chance to ride to the top. Are you coming or not?"
"No!" Aaron sighed at their looks. "Annabeth, I don't care how much you love architecture, we cannot risk anything. We need to stay put and keep our guard up. I swear If we survive this I will take you to see this myself. Hell I am almost certain that there is some place in the Godly world to sell Potions and I plan on doing that, So I will actually fund the trip, just not now. Please be wise about this and just... calm down. Let your brains beat your emotions here. Please." He held out his pinky, begging her with his eyes.
His puppy eyes seemed to work and he got a long sigh from the wise girl. "Fine... just please, keep your word." Then wrapped her pinky around his own.
"I always do, If it is possible." They shared a pinky promise, binding them together for at least one more adventure as they made their way out of the train and waited. Then he stole her hat, smirking at her for a minute as she gaped at him. "Keep watch and wait. I am going to get us the money to get to L.A." He whispered before he vanished, a strange feeling that made it hard too coordinate his limbs.
He may or may not have picked the pockets a few people, another skill he picked up from years on the streets.
Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.
This was fun and powerful to write. There would have been no Echidna actually, since Zeus is on their side now due to the oath on Styx from an earlier chapter.
Love, your Ninja Overlord,
Mika.