VI- We're going on a quest
" So wait Naruto is the son of Hades and Percy is the son of Poseidon..." Asked a bewildered Grover. " Boy I really missed something yesterday..."
" Yeah talking about that where were you ?" Asked Percy while swallowing another piece of toast. They were having breakfast with Grover, not on Hermes table but in the woods, close to the lake. After last night's events, they preferred to avoid the other campers.
" Well as you guys know, I was tasked with bringing you here" said Grover as he started munching on grapes. " I was supposed to look after you guys and make sure you arrived here safe and sound but with how things went that night lets just say that... I failed".
" Bullshit" Said Naruto with a frown. " We're alive ain't we? Its all that matters".
" Yeah screw these old goats and this mister D guy" said Percy with a smile. " They're just a bunch of assholes anyway".
Grover's eyes widened as he looked around vividely, as if he was scared that one of the goats from the council or mister D was going to jump out of one of the bushes around them.
Naruto and Percy shared a laugh at Grover's paranoia and they kept on eating under a pleasant silence.
Suddenly there was noise behind them and Annabeth appeared from thin air, removing her baseball cap.
" Everyone is looking for you guys" she said with a reproachful tone. She had got up in the morning and had immediately set for Hermes cabin, in the hope of talking to them. But when Luke told her that they didn't sleep inside the cabin, she thought that they might have ran away or something of the kind.
" We're not very eager to see everyone right now" said Naruto while sipping on a cup of tea. The nymphs had first complained about them not eating on the tables, but after Naruto had managed to charm them into bringing them food in the woods, they made sure that they got a perfect breakfast.
" well you don't really have a choice". Said Annabeth while stealing a pancake from on of the plates. She sat down next to Naruto. " Percy has to move into the Poseidon cabin and after that you both have to go and see Chiron. He wants to talk to you".
" wonder what its about" said Grover as he got up. " Well this was fun, but I have some things I need to see to, don't worry Perce, Naruto, I'll be there when Chiron will talk to you guys".
He walked away toward the camp, his goat legs skipping in a comical manner. A few minutes later, Naruto, Percy and Annabeth also got up and the wood nymphs appeared to pick up the plates they left behind, blushing when Naruto winked at them and thanked them with a bright smile.
" Lets go Casanova" said Annabeth with annoyance as she grabbed Naruto's arm and started dragging him toward the cabins, Percy waving politely to the nymphs before following the others.
They arrived at Hermes cabin and found it close to empty, everyone was most likely already at the activities.
" Lets get your stuff". said Annabeth as she threw a dark look to the cabin's occupants who where throwing nasty looks at Naruto. There was a rumor going around the camp, that since Naruto was the son of Hades, that maybe just maybe he was the one who had summoned the hellhound. The rumor had started last night of course and it had taken less than a minute for Naruto to become a pariah.
Percy grabbed his minotaur horn and left the cabin. He also wanted to grab his sleeping bag, but decided against it, assuming that there must have been some in Poseidon cabin.
They left cabin eleven and made their way toward cabin three in relative silence.
They stopped at the front door of the cabin. Percy held his breath. Annabeth gave him a slight push with a smile.
" Go in" she said in a quiet voice.
Percy breathed in, climbed the small staircase and opened the door. Inside, six empty bunk beds and the walls were painted with glowing blue paint. It looked a lot nicer than Hermes cabin, but it was empty. Dreadfully empty.
" It's nice" said Annabeth from the door. She looked hesitant to step inside. But Naruto showed no restraint. He walked in the cabin and sat on one of the beds.
" Yeah I missed those" he said while bouncing on the bed under Annabeth's scandalized stare.
" Yeah lets wait until we see yours" said Percy with a smirk.
" There's no Hades cabin here Perce" simply said Naruto.
Percy stopped and looked at Annabeth, who nodded with a sad expression.
" There king of the underworld isn't very appreciated..." She elaborated with a frown. " He doesn't even have a permanent throne in Olympus, people don't trust him too much".
" Hey that's bull" said Percy with an angry expression. He really disliked the gods so far. They really were a big bunch of discriminating assholes. " You know what, you can sleep here Naruto, It's your cabin too".
" It doesn't work like that Percy" said Annabeth with a sighed.
" It does now".
Naruto smirked and thanked his friend before claiming the top bed with Percy trying his best to shake him of it. They ended up rough housing for a good two minutes before realizing that there were six bunk beds, there for they could both sleep on top. Annabeth waited for them to finish before she reminded them that they had to go and see Chiron. They got out of the cabin, closing the door behind them and went to the big house. On their way there, they encountered stares from the other campers, ranging from curious to downright hostile. Naruto kept on walking, with a frozen smile on his face.
" Hey Naruto" said a voice from behind him. He turned around and saw Silena Beauregard from Aphrodite's cabin who was running up to them, a smile on her face.
" Hey... Silena" said Naruto in an unsure tone. Percy on the side, was trying his hardest not to stare at the girl who was on year older than them. She was simply put, a beauty.
She smiled at Percy who managed to gurgle something back before looking to the side in embarassment. She ran up to Naruto and hugged him.
" Aphrodite's cabin supports you" she muttered in his ear before kissing his cheek and running back to her friends who were waiting for her a little far away. They waved at them and went back to their business.
" You lucky bastard" muttered Percy.
" I didn't know they appreciated me that much" Naruto let out in a genuinely surprised tone
" Yeah people like you, shocker" said Annabeth in a sarcastic tone. " You guys are coming or what ?" She added while pointing to the door. She turned around and left them, saying that she wasn't allowed in the meeting.
They went straight for the patio at the back, where they knew they would find Chiron and probably mister D playing a game of cards. They did found them, plus Grover and they were playing poker with Cheetos as betting chips, but there was a slight tension present.
" Ah Percy, Naruto" Said Chiron with a smile. " Come in"
They sat down at the table, Naruto aiming to join the game, under Mr D's panicked look. Naruto always won every game he played at. He had the devil's luck. Litteraly.
" So what are we here for ?" Asked Percy with a frown.
A short silence followed his question.
" Percy tell me", said Chiron while shuffling his cards. " What did you feel when you fought the minotaur ?"
" Fear and Anger... Mostly" said Percy with an empty gaze, as if he was trying to remember.
" Good, good" said Chiron in a distracted tone. "There will be many more monsters like him Percy. These feelings will keep you alive".
" Yeah but you still haven't answered Percy's question Chiron" said Naruto. Chiron seemed distant, troubled.
" almost three weeks ago, the king of olympus symbol of power disappeared from the throne room. It was stolen ".
" By the King of Olympus you mean..."
" Zeus yes Percy but you need to learn not to say names" Said Chiron in an exasperated tone.
" So... Who did it ? " Asked Naruto slightly interested in the matter.
" who ?" Repeated Chiron. " It was you". He said it while pointing at Percy.
" what the what now?!" Spluttered Percy in shock.
" well that's unfortunate" said Naruto while laying down a royal flush in front of mister D and Grover's defeated expressions. He took all of the Cheetos on the table and started munching on them with a demonic smirk.
" I didn't steal anything Zeus is crazy" yelled Percy in anger.
" Percy please avoid using the "C" word to describe the lord of the sky" said Grover with a fearful look.
" My point stands" said Percy with an apologetic look to Grover. " I've never been anywhere near his throne. Hell I don't even know where Olympus is"
" You're not necessarily the one being accused here" said Chiron with a sight.
Naruto's face illuminated.
" Ah Zeus thinks it's Poseidon" he said.
" Yes, but since gods can't steal each others symbol of power or even enter each others territory without being invited, Zeus concluded that Poseidon must have used a hero". Said Chiron in a single breath.
" Exactly and Poseidon claiming you yesterday did not help his cause at all, since he broke his promise". Completed Naruto with a sharp conclusion.
" Promise ?" Asked Percy.
" Come on Perce !" Exhaled Naruto while rolling his eyes. " Annabeth told us about it a hundred times. After world war two, Zeus , Poseidon and Hades swore on the river styx never to father children again, because their power was too great and therefore they were dangerous".
" Oh so I'm not even supposed to exist huh" said Percy with a dark expression.
" Likewise" said Naruto with a smile.
" So Zeus thinks I stole from him because I'm Poseidon's son and I'm going to assume that Poseidon claimed me..."
" To clean up is name" said Chiron in a sad expression.
" He's using me" concluded Percy in a low tone.
The room was oddly quiet. Even Mr D refrained from talking, as if he knew the emotional turmoil that was going on inside the boy's head. Percy realized that his father had claimed him not out of love, but because he could be useful. That... Sucked.
" What do I have to do Chiron ?" enquired Percy in a small voice.
" First you're going to meet the Oracle" finally said Chiron after a minute of thinking.
" Why not tell me now ?" Retorted Percy.
" Because I'm afraid you won't accept unless you meet the Oracle first". Responded Chiron. " Grover will lead you there".
Percy got up and silently made for the door, Grover following after him. They closed the door behind them and left behind Naruto, Chiron and Mr D.
Naruto stayed silent for a minute, enjoying the feeling of the sun on his skin.
" I thought you were going to say I stole it" he finally said while looking straight at Chiron with a smile.
" Because you're "His" Son ?" Asked Chiron with a sigh.
" I'm the likeliest candidate" said Naruto while extending his arms. " Besides I too I'm a son of the big three. I'm not supposed to be here either".
" I'm sure Lord Zeus has considered the possibility but the quest is Percy's Naruto not yours"
" I got a bad feeling about all of this" muttered Mr D while opening another can of coke.
A few minutes later, a distressed and confused Percy came back from the Oracle, Grover trailing behind him.
" What did the oracle say exactly Percy" asked Chiron with a worried expression.
" she said :
You shall go west, and face the god who has turned,
You shall find what was stolen, and see it safely returned,
You shall be betrayed by one who calls you a friend,"
" Is that all she said ?" Insisted Chiron.
Percy hesitated for a few millie seconds but finally nodded. But Naruto knew that there was something that he wasn't telling and it seemed Chiron suspected him of withholding information too.
" Well don't dwell on it too long child", said Chiron with a sight. "Prophecies are often very misleading".
" He's going to need a team" said Mr D with a bored look.
" We already know who's going" intervened Naruto with a smirk. He slapped Percy's back in a friendly way.
" You know I'm game brother" he said with confidence. Percy smiled and gratefully nodded. With Naruto aboard, his chances of succeeding were definitely going up.
" You know you can c-count on me t-too" stuttered Grover with a miserable smile. He was not ready for a quest, not at all. But he had a duty to his best friends.
"You don't have to G-man..." Started Percy but Grover stopped him with a determined look.
" Okay so that makes three, so we can..."
" WAIT I WANT TO GO" yelled a feminine voice.
The occupants of the room except Mr D, looked around worriedly before the air shimmered and a flustered Annabeth appeared, her baseball cap in hand.
" Oh really wisegirl" said Naruto in a teasing tone, " you're spying now ?"
" Oh shut up you" she said in mock annoyance. "There is absolutely no way I'm letting these three go on the quest without me. No way"
" You really want to do this ?" Asked Percy with a surprised look. Usually things like this involved death and well death wasn't a very attractive thought.
" If you're going to do this, I'm the most qualified person to stop you from screwing up"
" I vouch for her !" Bellowed Naruto with a laugh, "Just for the heck of it".
Annabeth stuck out her tongue at him in a playful manner but grew serious again when she turned to Chiron.
" Usually it's the number three" said Chiron with an unsure look.
" Chiron I have to go" pleaded Annabeth, " you know why, you've heard the prophecy"
" what prophecy ?" Inquired Percy.
" The oracle told Annabeth that she would finally go on a quest when a child of the big three would set foot in this camp".
" But there's two of us" countered Naruto. "Maybe its me you're waiting for"
He wiggled his eyebrows at her in a playful manner, which drew a chuckle from Chiron.
" We don't know that for sure" said Annabeth sternly. It was her chance to go and she wasn't going to pass it up for nothing.
" Percy's going to need all the help he can get sir, especially with where we are going" argued Grover with a small smile.
Chiron sighed. He knew that if they wanted to succeed, they would need to take every chances.
" Okay", he finally conceded in a serious tone. " But you have to be careful, promise me Annabeth"
" Of course I'll be careful Chiron you know me". Said Annabeth in an indignated tone.
" Then it's settled" concluded Chiron. " The four of you will go to the underworld, take back Zeus master bolt, and be back here before the deadline of the summer solstice".
" Okay sure... WAIT WHAT?!" Erupted Percy. " What do you mean Underworld ?" He continued but in a more settled voice.
" It's kind of obvious seaweed brain" replied Annabeth, smirking at the opportunity of showing her deductive capabilites. " If your dad didn't take it, then there's only one guy left who could have done it"
" Oh you mean Hades" said Percy who had finally caught up with the situation.
" Yeah so basically we're visiting my dad" said Naruto in a dark tone. " How exciting".
" I know this is not the best configuration for you Naruto but..."
" No It's all fine" cut Naruto with a broad smile. " I've been waiting to meet my parents for a while now"
Everyone shuddered a bit at the sinister tone he used, his smile not reaching his eyes.
" So you guys will go to the Underworld, look for Hades, get back the master bolt and make your way back here before the summer solstice".
Everyone nodded, it was a sound explanation of the plan.
" Well that's done, so I'm going to head out" said Mister D with a bored tone. He got up from his chair, and turned back toward the other occupants of the room when he reached the door. "Useless of me to remind you brats that failing is not an option right ?" He said with a raised eyebrow. " So unless you want a celestial war on these turfs you better show up".
He walked away, satisfied with his last warning. Chiron nodded as if the warning was also for him and he turned to the children, who all had dark expressions, suddenly conscious of how much was resting on their shoulders.
" I wish... I gave you more training" said Chiron in a worried tone of voice, while putting his hand on Percy's shoulder. " Go get ready, you leave in two hours".
" So soon ?" Asked a surprised Percy.
" Every second counts" simply answered Chiron while motioning them out.
They all went to their rooms to gather some stuff for the trip. Extra clothes and Underwear, reusable waterbottle, money, dried food, whatever they could use during the trip was welcome. Naruto also took with him a map of the U.S (you never know when that can come in handy).
Percy then proceeded to the camps quest office, where the harpies gave him two hundred american dollars and forty golden drachmas. It wasn't long before Percy, Naruto and Grover, found themselves on the hill, with their backpacks filled waiting for Annabeth with Argus, the blonde one hundred-eyed giant.
" Took you long enough Annie, bet you were overthinking on what to take with you aye? " said Naruto with a smirk, as he saw her running up the hill, her backpack on, with shorts having replaced her dress, showing of her tanned Californian legs.
She blushed prettily at the nickname but pouted at the jab.
" If I don't think no one else will" she said while darting out her tongue at Naruto.
Grover and Percy rolled their eyes at the interaction, and looked on with interest as Luke and Chiron made their way toward them, with Luke holding what seamed to be a pair of Jordan four in his hands.
" That is the worst color pattern I have ever seen" muttered Naruto with a disgusted look at the shoes which were a mix of Green, Orange and Red. Annabeth sharply elbowed him and smiled at Luke, her legs starting to twitch.
" What are you doing here ?" She tried in a mature voice.
Naruto let out a muffled laugh which caused Annabeth to glare daggers at him.
" I couldn't let you guys go without a proper goodbye" he said in a friendly tone. " Also I wanted Percy to have these".
He pushed the shoes forward.
"Maia" he said in a loud voice.
Tiny wings appeared on the sides of the shoes and they started levitating.
" They can adjust to your foot size and they can carry you wherever you want to go" he added with a smirk. " Since you are going on a quest, you'll need them more than me. Promise me you'll wear them".
" Of course man" said Percy with a small smile.
Luke smiled again, then nodded to Grover before hugging Annabeth who seemed on the verge of fainting. He then took a step toward Naruto, putting himself in front of him. Annabeth edged forward a bit, as if to prevent a catastrophe from breaking out.
" Take care of them" said Luke in tone that he might have thought menacing, but that Naruto was definitely not impressed with. He had been with Grace all his life, and there were times where that girl had seemed like a demon to him. Compared to her, Luke was a dead chicken.
" That was the plan from the beginning" answered Naruto with ice in his tone, his frost blue eyes glowing with a promise of pain. Luke staggered a bit but managed not to outright run away. He just turned and made his way back toward the cabins. Annabeth let out a loud breath. She had been stuck in the middle of both of them, not knowing what to do, and had therefore taken the sheer force of Naruto's bad vibes.
" Can't you guys just chill for a minute ?" She asked in an annoyed tone of voice.
" Tell that to your boyfriend" said Naruto with a sigh as he made his way downhill, toward the small white truck waiting for them, with Argus already inside, warming up the motor. On the side of the truck, was written: Halfblood hill strawberry delivery service.
" HE IS NOT MY BOY-ARRGH" Yelled Annabeth, taking of after Naruto in a fit of anger.
Grover, Chiron and Percy watched them go down with amused expressions on their faces.
Percy looked down at the shoes and sighed.
" I can't use them right ?" He asked Chiron with sadness, after all flying shoes were pretty cool.
" Yes Percy, for the same reasons that your mother has never put you on a plane, It's too dangerous for you to be in Zeus's domain".
" Yeah I get it". Shrugged Percy, hurting a bit at the reminder of his mother. " Hey Grover you want a magical Item ?"
" Hell yeah !" Answered Grover with light in his eyes.
Percy handed him the shoes. Grover looked at him incredulously.
" Here G-man, go and be our first flying goat". Said Percy with a smile. Grover grabbed the shoes and put them over his fake feet.
" Maia" he said with eagerness. He suddenly took off toward the others, yelling about him getting the hang of it.
Percy started following him too when Chiron held him back with a hand on his shoulder.
" I almost forgot, I can't possibly let you go without this".
Chiron took out a pen from his shirt pocket and handed it Percy.
Percy's eyes lit up in recognition at the pen he used to slay Mrs Dodd back in that museum.
" Thanks Chiron" said Percy with grate-filled voice.
" I should have trained you better" lamented Chiron with worry. " This pen has a long history of sadness Percy treat it carefully".
" Well there's a good chance of me losing it so... I wouldn't be so sure about it's safety".
Chiron gave him a good natured smile.
" It will always return to your pocket tru..."
Argus honked with displeasure. They had to leave.
Chiron sighed. " Good luck my child".
Percy returned Chiron's smile as best as he could despite the knot of fear that was currently tying his stomach.
He ran down the hill to the car, the pen in his pocket, his backpack on his shoulders.
Set for the first ever quest of his life.
Hey so it's been a while but I'm back. Please leave a review I promise to update more from now one.