Experience
Chapter One: Memory
Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson or any of Rick Riordan's Work.
Summary: A young adult wakes up in the body of a Baby, and not just any baby, but Percy Jackson. Watch as he deals with the trials of a Demigod, weird biology, and Percy's terrible luck. AU
Text: "Speech." 'Thought.'
Today, was easily the worst day of my life.
I had such a good life, I had family and friends, and I was smart and well respected, but today I wake up, and it's all gone. Instead, I wake up in a cradle next to a sleeping woman.
'Did… did I die?' If I did, then it's only gotten worse. That meant that reincarnation was real, at least for me, and if it was then I will never see them again, ever. I felt my insides curl into themselves as I close my eyes.
I grieve for a while before I try to calm down and get a better understanding of my situation, pushing my pain away isn't a good idea but I couldn't be bothered at the moment.
Looking at myself it was clear I was a baby, and a quick look at what might be my 'mother' showed I have an entirely new look as well. 'Silver lining.' I chanted in my mind as I looked for positives.
'At least I can live healthier this life.' I thought as I let my mind wander about the possibilities. 'I wonder how much time has passed, was it instant? It couldn't have been long considering the apartments' condition.' I mused as I looked around the room.
It looked well worn, something I would expect in a packed city or such. 'I hope not, Maui was such a nice place to grow up at.' My eyes kept moving around the room when I noticed I had a fish doll at my feet.
I move my stubby legs to bring the doll closer, only for it to go beyond my reach. Grumbling, I roll on my stomach before finally looking at the tag, which was when I froze.
'1993… But the toy looks so new.' I thought as I wondered if I might have been born in the past.
'How? If time is different, am I even on Earth? Is the multiverse real? Or am I simply born a decade before my original birth?' With all these new questions and no answers, I promptly decided that it could wait till I get better access to information.
And there was one lingering thought as I drifted off to sleep.
'What's my new name?'
"AAAH!" I cried in rage as my mom my back and whispered sweet nothings, but it did nothing to my anger.
'What the fuck!? Why?!' I screamed inside as I had just learned my name.
'Percy fucking Jackson, why the hell did it have to be him? And how?' It took a few minutes, but I slowly stopped crying as I started reassessing my situation.
'Multiverse is real, I'm a Demigod who becomes a slave, and that can't change due to prophecies.' I thought before realizing I'm wrong. 'No, it can change, I just have to make sure it's Thalia or Nico, and complete the few quests that belong to me.' I thought.
There was nothing to do about the second major prophecy but, 'I have all the cards.' I thought as I tried to make some plans.
'I'm not even going to bother hiding my intelligence, I need all the time I can get, and if finishing school early means I get it if I even go. Dyslexia only made it hard to connect sounds to words right? If I already know the connections then I should be fine.
'I'd rather not go to Camp if I can avoid it, but free food and facilities… maybe. Aren't there other Mythologies out there? If I could learn their magic, it would be invaluable.' I thought as I remembered Norse and Egyptian Pantheons exist.
'Do others exist? Oh God, how fucking small am I compared to the top ten? The moment I can walk I'm out of here, there's no way in Hell I'm going to waste the time I was given, I need to abuse everything I have to not get squashed.' I thought as I review my counterpart and feel the smile on my face.
'I have control over liquids, earth, and storms. I heal in water, sea creatures respect me, and horses as well. I also have a subconscious understanding of a ship if I'm on it. Physical workouts will be a blessing with my healing factor in water.
'And didn't 'I' deflect a bullet? One thousand eight hundred miles per hour for the bullet, neutrons are what, ninety meters per second? One hundred twenty? At the very least my brain functions over 5 times the average human, and that's just to see it, how strong was I at, 14? To deflect that?' I wondered as I reviewed future feats.
'And I managed to flip a Giant with his spear, and these feats were achieved through survival training.' I couldn't help but think about the end game. 'I'll easily be stronger than I would've been, but my scope is so much wider, would I even stand a chance?
'I'll need immortality without being tied to a Pantheon, or at least without putting me in a subservient way, and a weapon. Riptide was given to Chiron, so I won't be getting that unless I'm forced to Camp, so something will have to be done.' Nodding to myself I look to see my guardian looking at me helplessly.
'Ah, well at least she won't have to worry about a child anymore.' I thought as I let her feed me.
'Four years, that's all.'
It was only four years into my new life, but it was during that time did I reflect on what's to come.
Truthfully I couldn't bring myself to leave. I didn't connect to Sally or anything; she will never be my mother, but rather it was I had no other place to go, let alone as a child. Instead, I decided it was best to deal with my disabilities to help with future endeavors.
It wasn't easy, but I learned to lessen the effects of my ADHD a bit through sheer focus, it wasn't much and it would probably get worse when I'm older but it was okay for now. Dyslexia, however, was annoying. I already knew a lot of words and how to speak them, but when I come across a word I haven't heard or read in a while it all goes to shit.
I almost laughed when Sally saw me walking at 3 months, and talking not too long after. I don't know much about Demigod bodies, but I know the Greek gods don't have DNA so my biology must be jacked to insane levels.
'Note to self, compare my DNA to that of an average human, and one with the same disabilities.' I thought as I 'played' in the water. I wasn't so much playing as I was practicing my control over water.
What I've learned thus far was that my powers were like muscles, and the more I worked them the stronger it gets, and the more I stretch them the more I can do. I couldn't do much at first, as I got exhausted too quick to practice but once I turned two I managed a cup.
It was then I got the idea of 'stretching' my power, as I didn't often get access to large bodies of water. Today was the exception actually, as it was my first day at the Montauk beach the other me grew up with.
The main idea of stretching was to take what I control and make complex shapes and figures. I had to start slow, but recently I was managing figurines of cartoon characters, along with more detailed items.
I believe the next step to be changing the temperature of the shapes, where I'll begin to learn the subtypes of my hydrokinesis, but today is the day where I start my 'mass' training.
I was, once again, starting slow but soon I was able to make small waves come to me. I tried to make it seem natural but if Sally does notice then I'm sure she'll think it's Poseidon.
It didn't take long before I felt the strain, my gut tightening as I continued making more small waves. After I couldn't make it anymore I felt pain flaring in my chest but I ignore it as I paint, the pain slowly going away as my stamina returns to full.
It was honestly one of the greatest boons I could have, being able to heal in water. Even my powers recover in it, which is probably why it took so long for me to tire out, what with me doing what's essentially heavy lifting and healing all the muscles that break or become strained.
It would be more effective to go in after straining myself to maximize my growth, but it would be too weird to see a kid become tired while doing nothing and run into the water, and repeat the cycle. It was tedious but in the end, it helps.
Before I could continue making waves, however, I hear Sally calling out to me with a frantic face. Deciding to run up to her she quickly picks me up and runs to the car. On the way, I see why she was frantic, monsters.
'Oh shit. What was their name… Empusa? Why are they here? Can they smell my scent?' I thought warily as we reached the car, Sally setting me down in the front seat with her as she was whispering.
"Why? He promised I had till he was 12, not 4. It has to be a coincidence, right?" It didn't take long for us to start driving off before another problem arose.
"Mrooo!" I heard outside as I see… a Bullman? 'Oh fuck me, it's the Minotaur.' I thought as I turned to Sally. It was clear she heard it as her already pale face turned pasty white. She starts to speed away, though not towards home.
'Camp, huh? I guess I can use this to my advantage.' I thought as I tried to stay as calm as possible. I'm not sure I can put him down, but we're not far from Camp, where I'm sure Chiron can simply kill it.
It only took a few minutes, with Sally speeding, but we reached the hill. At the top though, I notice a Pine tree missing. 'Oh right, Thalia is still alive.' I thought as she stops the car and looks at me with red eyes from crying.
"A-alright Percy… I need you to run up there and find someone, okay?" She says as I nod, she hugs me and whispers "I love you" as I leave the car.
Running up the hill, I ignore the distant moos and try to find someone as quickly as possible.
'I hope there is a barrier because that thing's gonna rampage, I'm shocked it didn't give up.' I thought as I reached the top.
"Hey!" I yelled as loud as I could, grabbing a few campers' attention. "Big Bull dude chasing me!" I elaborated as they quickly got their weapons, one of them running to the cabins to hopefully grab others' attention.
"Get back, we got this." Said one of the campers, he had blond hair and a bow in his hands.
'Apollo's kid probably,' I thought, 'well if it's not my problem then off to greet Chiron and Dionysus go.' Who better to go to than the teacher and director? No one. I stood there for a moment as I recenter myself, and walked deeper into camp.
I ignored the scampering campers who ran up to the hill as I made my way towards what is possibly the 'Big House'. Sitting on its porch around a table was no doubt, Dionysus, with his tiger shirt and slightly stubby stature, and with him was Chiron in his wheelchair, probably playing a card game.
"Hello!" I said as I grabbed their attention. 'Innocent but not stupid, you got this.' I thought as they turned to me. "My name's Percy, is this Camp Half-Blood?"
Author Note: Hello! This was a rewrite of "The Hero I will be" on another site, and will hopefully make more sense and better in every way. Don't expect too many updates as I usually go with whatever's my muse, however that will not stop me from reading your replies.
Constructive criticism is welcome, along with ideas for how the story will continue.