" No monsters so far..." Breathed Percy while looking out the window with a worried expression.
" Yeah don't jinx it seaweed brain" angrily muttered Annabeth with a dark look.
They had been on the road for thirty minutes, their destination, the bus station. There wasn't a lot of conversation aboard the mini-van, Naruto was reading another one of his mangas and seemed really absorbed, Annabeth was absent-mindedly fingering her camp necklace and Grover and Percy were looking at the New-york scenery, which mostly consisted of cars and tall buildings. A couple of minutes later, and Argus dropped them of in front of a Greyhound station, close to Percy's home. Close to his mother's appartment.
" She did a hell of a job" said Grover when he noticed Percy's sad gaze. " The only reason she got with Gabe was because of his smell".
" erm... What ?" Intervened Naruto with a raised eyebrow.
" Sally" continued Grover, " Only stayed with Gabe because he smelled so human that he could very much hide a demigod of Percy's caliber. It was a very smart play from her, I mean you haven't been near him in days and I can still smell him off you".
" Thanks man" said Percy only half joking. "Where's the nearest shower ?"
Annabeth who they hadn't noticed had left the group, had come back with four bus tickets in hands.
" The next one should be here any minutes now" she muttered more for herself than the others.
She was proven right when a large greyhound bus pulled up toward them, the driver waving at them with a kind smile.
" let's go", said Naruto with a determined expression. They got aboard the bus and took the seats at the far back, close to the escape window. The other passengers looked normal, they were safe.
Percy breathed in relief. " No monsters in sight"
The others were about to agree with him when another passenger stepped on the bus. Naruto, Percy and Grover's eyes widened in horror. It was their despicable math teacher, Mrs Dodd.
" Shit, Annie is right Percy you're a jinx" said Naruto while throwing an annoyed look at Percy who looked apologetic.
" But I thought we killed her ?" Wondered Percy with fear.
" Monsters don't die Percy" said Annabeth with a somber look, " they dissipate, for a while, a lifetime if you're lucky, but they always come back".
" And she didn't come alone", chimed in Naruto with a feral grin. To the others's horror, two other old bats, identical to Mrs Dodds climbed aboard, all wearing the same outfit. A dress and a feather hat. The driver starred at them in wonder. It's not everyday that you enconter three old ladies that were identical triplets and that were wearing the same clothes. What a day. They sat at the very front of the bus, between them and the group was a few passengers and the toilet. They sat apart from each other, two of them extended their legs over the passage. It could be perceived as a lazy gesture, but to our adventurers, it was a clear message. Nobody leaves.
" Oh zeus", yelped Grover who was sweating bullets. He let out a meek sound that was at the same time funny and pitiful. " what do we do ?!"
The bus doors closed and the driver took off. Getting out wasn't an option anymore.
" Okay" said Annabeth while pushing her hair behind her ear, her golden locks looking as wild as ever. " We got Hades's personal flying monkeys after us, and we need to find a way out... Okay no problem at all".
Percy and Grover looked at her like she was crazy. Naruto on the other hand seemed in deep thoughts.
" Hades's personal flying monkeys, huh" he repeated in an absent tone, gears spinning wildly in his head. He had a plan.
" I have a plan" furiously muttered Annabeth before Naruto could voice his thoughts. He decided to let her speak, keeping his idea as a back up plan. " Percy take this" said Annabeth while handing her cap to Percy. " They're most likely looking for you since you're the one they think stole the bolt, put this on and get ready to move toward the front of the bus".
" What about you guys ?" Enquired Percy, reluctant to leave his friends.
" We'll be okay" added Annabeth with an unsure expression. " Besides Naruto is with us and he's the son of their master. As long as they don't find you here, we're fine".
It had been ten minutes since the bus ride started, when the furies finally made their move.
" I wanna go to the loo" said the first one with a trembling voice.
" So do I"
" So do I"
The three got up and started walking toward the back of the bus, the passengers not paying them an ounce of attention. Percy slipped the cap on and made for the front of the bus. They were moving so slowly that he caught up to them in no time and slipped in an empty seat, next to a big boned sleeping man. The furies stopped in front of him and breathed in heavily, looking for his scent that was luckily masked by the smell of sweat and fire doritos which was emanating from the guy next to Percy. They kept on moving forward, unsurprisingly ignoring the toilet and were soon upon Naruto, Annabeth and Grover. Percy closed his eyes and prayed for his friends when he heard a blood curling scream. It was a blond woman one of the passengers, she was pointing to something with a horrified expression. Percy followed her line of sight and saw a sword sticking out of one of the furies. The monster dissipated and at the other end of the sword he saw Naruto with a cold smile.
There was a undecisive second, before hell broke loose in the bus.
The two remaining furies started morphing into their true forms, their bat wings extending out of their backs, their canes turning into whips of flames. Naruto was fighting as he best as he could, but there was only so much he could do in such a cramped space. Suddenly the bus took a sharp turn to the right and the furie he was fighting was thrown on the ground. He was about to stab her but she got up quickly enough to avoid the hit. Annabeth had better mobility with her knife but had to also avoid getting hit with the really hot looking whip. Grover was throwing cans at the furies while spewing insults in ancient greek.
" Oi let go of the wheel whatever the hell you are !" Yelled the bus driver to Percy who was still covered by the cap and was trying his best to assist his friends.
The other passengers of the bus were hanging on for dear life, having all moved toward the front. They didn't know for sure what was happening because of the mist but they were seeing something.
Naruto avoided another hit by the furie he was currently fighting and was about to deal her a finishing blow when he heard Annabeth's cry of pain next to him. The other furie had managed to wrap her whip around Annabeth's throat and was about to choke the life out of her.
" enough". Growled Naruto with a deep voice, his eyes turning red with slits. His friends were in danger, he had to do something. The furies frozed and Naruto took this opportunity to cut the whip and untie it from Annabeth's throat. One of the furie came back to her senses and was about to attac again.
" I said ENOUGH" Naruto repeated in a dark tone. There was a shockwave in the bus and the engine let out a weird noise before starting to fume. Everyone on the bus was frozen still. They couldn't move even if they wanted too, and some of the mortal passengers passed out from the pressure.
" You come in here, you attack my friend, you disturb my peace" continued Naruto in the same voice, every word was like added pressure on all the others present. " You must not value your life very much Alecto". How did he know her name ? He had no clue. Only thing he knew for certain was that he was angry, very angry.
" Your father..." Started the fury named Alecto with her head down.
" I DON'T CARE WHAT MY FATHER SAID, LEAVE !"
The fury looked like she wanted to speak again but saw the aura that started appearing around Naruto and looked toward her accomplice, who had made herself scarce during the short conversation. They both nodded to the other and disappeared into thin air. Naruto grabbed his backpack and silently made toward the door of the bus and passed by Percy who had removed the cap, he too was frozen. Naruto threw a look at the bus driver who quickly opened the door and he stepped out. They were close to a random forest. Perfect place to cool off.
As soon as he was off, everyone sighed in relief. The driver himself got off to check the still smoking bus engine. Annabeth, Grover and Percy followed after Naruto, under the weary stares of the other bus occupants.
" Hey why the fuck we ain't moving ? I paid for a functionning bus" said the guy Percy hid next to. He had finally woke up from his nap.
The other passengers looked at him dirtily and got off the bus to stretch their legs and talk about the freak show they had just witnessed.
" so how did it feel"
" Shut up"
" you can't keep on ignoring me you know I'm part of you"
" I said shut it"
" I make you stronger, the least you can do is being a little more grateful"
" Go fuck yourself"
" Now that's a foul word for a twelve years old, wait until I tell Grace, I'm sure she'll..."
" SHUT THE FUCK UP" Naruto roared before punching a tree.
The tree withstood the hit but there was slight crack on the center of it.
" Ar-are you okay ?" Asked a small voice behind him.
He turned around and saw Annabeth standing behind him, worry in her eyes.
" Yeah I'm fine... What about you ?" He pointed to her neck and got closer to examine it. There was burned circle around her neck which didn't seem to grave but looked nasty.
" demigods skin is hard, we're part deities after all" she said with a reassuring smile. Naruto reached into his backpack and got out a plastic boc filled with ambrosia. He extended it to Annabeth.
" here, that should help".
Annabeth took it with a grateful look and ate a little bit before giving the box back to Naruto. The burn marks around her neck started fading, her wounds healing before their very eyes.
" Where are Grover and Percy ?" Asked Naruto.
" Their trying to go back inside the bus to get our bags" said Annabeth as they started walking back toward the bus. " There are some adults playing vigil and stopping anyone from going back into the bus. A lot of carbon dioxide in the bus so they don't think it's safe to go in the bus as long as the engine is not fixed.
" We should go help them" Said Naruto with a smile. He tried to hurry back but Annabeth caught his arm.
" Annie..."
" whatever happened back there..." she cut with a determined look. "... You better tell me about it when you're ready"
Naruto sighed in relief.
" Thanks Annie" he said with a smile.
Annabeth blushed.
" Yeah whatever skull boy"
" Oh really wise girl" said Naruto in a teasing tone. " the thing about teasing nickname is that they shouldn't be cool. And skull boy is mighty cool".
Annabeth let out a small laugh and they ran back to the bus to find Percy and Grover arguing with a middle aged man standing in front of the opened bus door.
" We just want to check on our bags that's all" argued Percy with an annoyed expression.
The african american man stood at least six feet tall and had the muscle to add. If rightuousness and fairness had a face, it would be his.
" I really want to let you go inside, but I can't. If people see you going inside, everyone will want to go inside too. Besides we're all strangers so what tells me that you won't take anything when I let you inside ?", he scratched his head. " The best option is to keep everyone out until this is fixed. Then you'll check on your bag".
" I hate to say it but he's right" muttered Naruto to Annabeth. They were watching from the sidelines, one eye on the conversation and an other on the bus driver who was trying his best to fix the engine.
" It's hard to argue against sound logic" said Annabeth with a shrug.
Percy and Grover made their way back to them with a defeated expression.
" That guy must have been on a debate team when he was in highschool" said Percy.
" Yeah, Impossible to argue against him" agreed Grover with a sigh.
Naruto laughed at their expense.
" Oh yeah ar-are you ok man ?" Asked Percy while looking at Naruto.
" YEah back there in the bus you..." Grover came to a stop when Annabeth whacked him on the head and negatively shook her head.
" I'm fine guys thanks for worrying" said Naruto with a smile. " For...that I'll tell you another time".
They all agreed and stayed silent. Suddenly they heard clapping and cheering. The bus engine had restarted and was roaring loud.
" great let's..."
" GET AWAY"
Grover's yell was loud enough to reach everyone. They all jumped back, away from the bus.
" I don't see what you mean boy..." Started a voice.
There was a deep rumble and a blue lightning bolt brutally hit the bus from the top, pushing everyone away. The bus exploded.
" Let's go" yelled Naruto. They all got up and started running toward the forest, leaving the other shocked passengers behind.
" Our bags" muttered sadly Annabeth as she outran Grover and his fake legs.
" How many times must I say it, it's not our fault".
Annabeth was walking ahead, brooding. Percy and Grover were trailing behind her, trying to convince her that it wasn't their fault that the bus had exploded, and their bags with it. Naruto was at the back, thinking.
" why would Zeus try to murder us ?" He asked the others, " I mean we are retrieving his bolt damn it, the least the fucker could do is..."
" He didn't mean it" Yelled Grover with fear his hands extended toward the sky.
" what are you doing man ?" Asked Naruto with annoyance. " he tried to kill for God sakes"
" Do you want to give him another reason to try ?"
" Well when you put it like that... And quit your brooding Annie".
" Yeah... It's just a few bags..." Chimed in Percy before Annabeth violently turned and bumped into him.
" It's not just a few bags percy, everything was in there, money, change of clothes, food, everything !" She yelled at him in anger. " besides it's not just the bags. You ruined the whole plan! You were supposed to hide while we took care of them".
" I couldn't just leave you guys..."
" We didn't need your help damn it"
" Woah this is getting out of hand" said Naruto while putting himself between the two. " Annie, Percy's actions while not very bright gave us a slight avantage in the battle".
" What do you mean not very bright", mumbled Percy.
" Dude, you tried to crash the bus" said Naruto with a deadpanned expression. " It wasn't the best way to help".
Percy sighed and nodded. He needed to think more before he acted. Naruto turned to Annabeth.
" Is there something that's not being said here ?" He asked with raised eyebrows. Annabeth shut her mouth and gave him a look. They starred at each other for a good minute before she relented.
" I'm sorry for getting mad Percy" she said in a resignated tone. " I just didn't want you to die".
" ah thanks that's sweet" replicated Percy with a surprised expression.
" Yeah because except the fact that it would really suck for you, it would mean the quest is over and we'd have to go home. This might be my only chance to see the real world".
Percy nodded, a bit down when he realised that she worried for him more for her own interest.
" You see, there we go !" Naruto clapped both of them on the back. " Besides I still have my backpack with the money I won from Gabe and his goons, you remember that one Percy ?"
Percy laughed when he recalled Gabe's furious expression when he lost to Naruto.
They kept on walking in the forest, their mood a lot lighter.
" you guys smell that ?" Asked Percy in a tired voice.
They had been walking for several hours, and the sun at already set. They were following Grover's nature instinct who was leading them near a gas station that he could smell, thanks to the strong smell of petrol and other oil rolling off it.
" Yeah smells like... Cheeseburgers" muttered Annabeth with excitment.
" steak" said Naruto with a gleam in his eyes.
The three started walking toward the smell.
" Hum guys, I don't know about this" whimpered Grover. The smell of food was mixed with a smell very close to the one monsters gave off and that was not good.
" Oh come on man" drawled Percy, his eyes wildely moving, looking for the origin of that smell. " we'll just take a look that's all".
The followed the smell of meat, which led them to a deserted two-lane road and across the road was the gas station that they were looking for. It seemed abandoned. Next to the gas station, was one of those weird roadside curio shops that sell lawn flamingos or other kinds of garden decorations. The wonderfully pleasant smell was coming from there.
" Let's take a closer look" whispered Annabeth breathlessly.
They crossed the road, Grover looking aroud worriedly as if a monster was going to jump out of somewhere and kill them all. They stopped in front of the sign of the shop.
" Can somebody read this for me please ?" Asked Percy with an annoyed expression, his dyslexia making the words dance around infront of his eyes. Naruto and Annabeth stayed silent, having the same difficulty with the words. Grover sighed.
" It says Aunty Em's Garden Gnome Emporium".
They tore their eyes away from the sign and looked at the tons of statues of kids, satyrs and animals out front.
" Those are very realistic" let out Naruto, a bit surprised at the amount of detail on the sculptures. Those were good enough to rival with the ones he had seen with Grace in italy last summer.
" Burgers" said Percy like a zombie.
" chill dude we gonna get some don't worry" replied Naruto with a smile. He went to knock on the door.
The other three stayed back, two staring at the door in hunger and one getting more and more scared.
" Guys that one really looks like my uncle Ferdinand" whispered Grover while poiting at a statue of a satyr. He seemed to share a bit of Grover traits, but had a terrified expression on his face. " he disappeared when he went looking for Pan, after getting his license".
Suddenly, the door opened. It was a lady. She was wearing a long black gown that covered everything but her hands, and her head was completely veiled. Her eyes glinted behind a curtain of black gauze.
" Oh dear lord" she said in a used up but beautiful feminine voice. " what do I have here, four children at this time of the day ? Are you alright ?"
" Yeah we got lost and we have trouble finding our way..." Started Naruto cooking up an S rank lie.
" We were traveling with a circus and we got lost when our bus had an issue" interrupted Percy.
Everyone looked at him with wide eyes.
" That is certainly peculiar..." Said the woman in an unsure tone of voice. She took a good look at them, her head lingering a bit in Annabeth's way.
" yeah it's very unfortunate is that food I smell ?" Asked Percy. He seemed to be in a trance. Naruto resisted the urge to facepalm and even Annabeth got out a bit of her dazed state to throw a sharp look at Percy.
" Oh yes" said the woman in a cheerful voice, " children like you must be very hungry you are growing after all"
" we don't have any money" said Naruto, trying to save as much money as he could, this lady looked like she would offer them a free dinner. He was right.
" Oh don't you worry about that" she said in a voice that reminded them of a caring grand-mother, " Anything for sugars like you, come on in, my name is Aunty M".
" thank you lady" said Percy before entering, Naruto and Annabeth going in after him, Grover hesitating a bit before following them. Aunty M closed the door behind them. Inside, the shop was filled with more statues of all kind of people in all kind of poses, various expressions on their faces, mostly fear.
They sat at a table at the back of the shop.
" stay here young ones" she said in a sultry tone. " I'll make the food".
She disappeared through a door at the back, most likely the kicthen.
" A circus Percy ? Really ?" Deadpanned Annabeth.
" You had a better idea ?" Challenged Percy, annoyed at Annabeth always having something to say about his methods.
" In fact I did" intervened Naruto with a sighed, " but it doesn't matter, Percy's plan worked and we're getting free food, so good job man".
They high fived each other over the table, Percy pleased at the fact that Naruto took his side instead of Annabeth's, who huffed and crossed her arms.
A few minutes later, Aunty M made her appearance, her arms full of plates filled with cheeseburgers, french fries, shakes and tall glasses of soda. How she managed to keep her balance while bringing all of this in a single trip ?, one of life's greatest mysteries.
As soon as she set the plates down, all hell broke loose. After mumbling a quick thank you, Percy and Naruto dug in the food, shoving their faces with fistfuls of fries and preparing to dig in their large cheeseburgers. Annabeth was trying to eat with all the dignity she could muster but hunger got the better of her and she soon started eating the same way as the boys. Grover was the only one eating his fries one at a time, a bit unsettled by the statues around them. Aunty M sat down on a chair in front of them, and silently watched the spectacle unfold.
" You're not eating ?" Enquired Percy after chewing down a very large portion of fries, and drinking from his shake to down them better.
" I already ate my child" she simply stated with a kind tone.
A few minutes later, the frenzy was over and they were eating at a more regular pace. Percy who had regained a bit of his spirits decided to partake in a bit of conversation with their host.
" so how long have you been in the Gnome business ?" He asked with interest.
Naruto lifted his head and pretended to pay attention. It was good behaviour after all. From the corner of his eyes, he saw Annabeth sipping on her shake, her eyes fixing the table, her ears on the conversation.
" Oh a very long time" answered Aunty M in a nostalgic voice, " I started this business with my two sisters, before the bigger road on the south was constructed, but now since it's here, I barely have any clients and my sisters left so I'm all alone".
Percy felt a bit sad. Sad, and sleepy. That food was really good.
" And how do you make such beautifully detailed sculptures ?" Asked Naruto, this time paying close attention to the conversation.
" It's fairly easy" she answered simply but her voice turning a tad cold. " But I never seem to get the face, they always come out looking bad."
Annabeth's eyes widened and she threw a look at Naruto. Naruto frowned. Annabeth looked terrified. She must have picked up on something very bad. She made small signs when Aunty M was talking to Percy. She pointed to her, then to the stones then to herself. Naruto froze. What the hell is that supposed to mean ? He thought with a sigh. Annabeth had pointed to Aunty M and to the statues, which was logical because she made them. But then she pointed to herself... Why?
Naruto looked at Aunty M and thought back to what she said. Two sisters, very long time. Something in his mind clicked. Annabeth's mother was Athena and he remembered that Athena had cursed three sisters a very long time ago, he forgot the names but Annabeth had told him about it during their ancient greek history lessons.
" Grover you're not eating ?" Asked Aunty M.
" Yes of course Aunty M" said Grover who was now sweating bullets, he picked up a french frie and munched on it like a robot.
Naruto staggered, they never told her their names.
"Why would Aunty M know our..." He started thinking. Then for a second time, it clicked in his mind. Aunty M. M for Medusa. The gorgon who could turn people to stone. The woman who was now seating in front of them. Shit.
" Thanks for dinner Aunty M but we have to leave our ring master must be waiting for us" said Naruto as he got up. If there was a way, then he was sure as hell going to try and avoid a fight. He picked up his backpack, his sword was inside, shrunken to the size of a knife. He looked at the others with a hurry up expression written on his face.
Aunty M got up.
" are you sure you want to leave now Naruto" she said in a pleading tone, " you just got here"
" we wasted a lot of time in the forest" chimed in Annabeth who had noticed her use of Naruto's name, despite them not telling her about it, " we just don't want them to leave without us".
" But we could..."
" No Percy we have to go" firmly stated Naruto, shocked at the fact that his friend had yet to realise who truly was Aunty M.
Percy bristled at his friends rudeness. This woman had fed them for free and they were treating her badly. Not cool at all, and he really needed to sleep.
" Let me at least take a picture of you guys before you go" she cooed in a seductive tone, " For a souvenir, I get very few clients, I must cherish every single one i get".
Annabeth blanched.
" We're really in a hurry so..."
" Of course we'll take the picture" forcefully said Percy with a smile.
Annabeth brought her hand to her face, Grover bleated and Naruto resisted between strangling Percy or throwing himself out of the shop's window.
" I'll be right back" she said. She went into the back. Naruto quickly grabbed his shrunken sword and hid it in his jacket.
" Percy we have to go" muttered Annabeth in a strangled voice, " that woman is monster, that's Medu..."
Annabeth instantly quieted down in fear of being noticed. Percy shook his head stubbornly.
" It's just a picture guys"
"Percy is right Annabeth", said Aunty M in a very happy voice, " It's just a Picture".
Percy was going to agree with her when he noticed that she didn't have a camera, but his brain was addled by sleepiness.
She took them out on the front of the shop, and she asked them to stand next to "Uncle ferdinand".
" Grover look toward me, Naruto stand straight, Annabeth stop looking so uncomfortable" said in a dry tone, like an annoyed photographer who had to deal with middle-school kids on Class picture day.
" how are you going to take the picture" asked Percy who was coming back to his senses. That picture thing was starting to smell very fishy to him, after all it was dark outside and Aunty M had yet to take out a camera.
" Don't worry about it", she said with a dismissive wave, " just stand and smile".
Naruto elbowed Percy in the ribbs.
Medusa, he mouthed silently with his eyes darting to the statues. Percy caught on. Oh god he was stupid how did he not notice. He turned back toward her, trying to act normal. Grover was still looking from time to time to the sculpture that looked like his uncle, trying to find more clues to relate it to him. He then saw the mole on the forehead, at the exact same spot that his uncle had it on. He yelped.
" Perfect" muttered Aunty M while starting to take of her veil.
" DON'T LOOK/ IT IS UNCLE FERDINAND" screamed Annabeth and Grover at the same time.
They all averted their eyes. Annabeth closed her eyes and jumped backward before turning around and hiding behind a statue. Naruto rolled out of the way and hid behind the statue of a large man, his sword extending in his hand. Percy ang Grover hid behind the statue of uncle ferdinand, their backs turned toward Medusa. They heard a hissing noise. Snakes.
" How... Eventful" said Medusa. Her voice had changed. It wasn't kind anymore, it was seductive and aggressive with a slight hiss to it. If Percy wasn't so scared, he would have blushed.
" What do you want Medusa ?" Asked Naruto from behind one of the statues. He was trying to gain some time by getting her to talk. It was the oldest trick in the book but it had a tendencie to work.
Medusa turned toward the spot Naruto was in.
" What I want you ask, I want her head".
Naruto's breath hitched. She was after Annabeth, most likely because of her mother's curse.
" Why thought ?" Continued Percy from where he was hidden. That seemed to bring medusa to a stop.
" You see..." she started with a melodramatic air, Naruto took advantage of the distraction and used his "Ninja skills" to sneak around her, "...eons ago, I was a young beautiful girl, with all the curves in the right places. Men desired me, gods and mortals alike I was a gem (Grover made a gag motion as he quietly slipped on his flying shoes), I rejected all these fools of course I was destined for better than this". She took a breath, eyes closed as if she was reliving her past.
Naruto took position in her blindspot, he had managed to get behind her while she was talking. He had his sword, and he was going to throw it with as much strengh as possible, in the hope of severing her head. He nodded to Grover who had his shoes on and had grabbed a stone arm of a destroyed statue. He was ready to pounce, they just had to wait for a window. Meanwhile, Medusa resumed her monologue.
"...But there was one, a god... He managed to woo me, to charm me, it was your father young one" she said while turning in Percy's direction, " we were happy, I was a simple mistress sure, but I was well treated... Until one day we decided to have a bit of fun in Athena's temple". Medusa's voice turned icy again, and she took a step toward where Annabeth was hidden. Annabeth was trembling. She couldn't see Medusa, but she definitely heard the hissing sound of the snakes get closer, " because of her jealousy, Athena turned me and my sister's into this, cursing me and my sister's to a life as monsters. But today, you're here young Annabeth, you and your mesmerizing grey eyes... Come my dear, open your eyes, be MINE".
" NOW GROVER" yelled Naruto. Grover jumped from his spot, eyes closed. After muttering the keywords to activate the shoes, he flew over Medusa, giving her a good hit on the head with the severed stone arm he had picked up. A sickening crunch was heard and Medusa fell down with a cry. Annabeth lept from her spot and joined Percy.
" Percy you have to kill her"
" what the hell why me ?"
" Because you're the only one who can get closed without immediately being diced".
Medusa who had recovered from the assault, was preparing to pounce on them when she was violently stabbed in the back by a high speed sword. She turned around, but Naruto had already ducked behind a stone statue. Deciding that she would take care of him later, Medusa made her way toward Percy and Annabeth, trying her best to ignore the pain from the wound made by the celestial sword.
" Ok Ok i will slice her" Panicked Percy when he heard the hissing get closer to their spot, " but to do that I have to at least be able to see her..."
" Ouch !"
Grover's other attempt at whacking Medusa had malfunctionned and he had crash landed in a statue. Annabeth was thinking fast. She turned her back to Medusa who was coming quite slowly behind them and look around for anything that might help them. On the ground there were various objects unrelated to sculpture, that woman sure needed to clean up that place. That's when she saw it. An old reflective disco ball, the size of a baseball. She picked it up and handed it to Percy.
" Look at her through here and here only, now go"
Percy shuddered, sighed, then came out of behind the statue.
Medusa stopped. Percy was walking backward toward her, his sword in hand and the ball he was using to look at her in the other. She smiled.
" come to me Percy" she said in her enchanted voice, " I missed your father very much, you remind me so much of him, come be with me"
Percy frozed. Medusa came closer. She had him, she was going to put him in her livingroom, and keep him as a reminder of her good time with Poseidon. she was going to...
There was a distinct slicing noise. It was as if time had stopped. Then medusa's head rolled of her shoulder on the ground, a shock expression on her face. The hissing noise of the snakes died down.
" Yeah Perce you did it" Yelled Grover as he walkied over them like a blind man, solely relying on his nose. He took of his jacket, then his hoodie and threw the hoodie on Medusa's head.
" Y'all can open your eyes now she's covered".
Naruto opened his eyes and looked at the starry black sky.
" How...eventful" he said, mimicking Medusa's tone.
Happy new year guys, we made it to 2020 yay. So here's a new chapter and I hope it pleases you, I had almost forgot that Kyubi was an important part of the story because he will be at the origin of most of Naruto's power, so I promise you more interaction and more backstory. The Pairing is In fact. Naruto x Artemis for all those who are asking, but don't expect them to get together right now ( They still haven't even met), and Besides Naruto is not going to immediatly get with her, I have great plans for his romantic life. :))
Anyway, thanks for everyone following this story and make sure to leave a review, I'm open to criticism.