A/N: We're finally all caught up with the original fanfic and I have already started on the next chapter. Starting next chapter, everything will have been written by me so hopefully I can keep up the consistency. I'm also going to be writing shorter chapters from now on to make it a bit easier on me to get through the books. I have decided to make this book rated M because there is a good bit of cursing in this and a lot of mature humor. I don't think it's too heavy in cursing or the mature humor but I think it has enough for the change.
I would like to thank Guest (There is no name) for the amazing review. I'm really glad you like the story so far and I plan to keep writing all the books. Reviews like this are what keep me writing. A writer wishes for nothing more than the reader's enjoyment; it keeps us motivated. So, thank you for the review and it means a lot to me.
Now onto the chapter.
Rated M for language and mature humor.
2005 Group repeats (normal): Annabeth or Annie, Grover, Clarisse
2010 Group repeats (underlined): Annabeth, Clarisse, Grover. Now Nico, Percy, Thalia, Piper, Leo, Jason, Frank, Hazel, and Reyna are included.
2012 Group/Enforcers (italicized): Annabeth, Percy, etc.
Thoughts are still italicized: Are Frank and I an item in the future? I guess he is kind of cute, with his babyface and all. Hazel blushed at her thoughts and fanned her faced in embarrassment.
Disclaimer: All characters and text in bold belong to Rick Riordan. Cover art is not mine.
How things had turned out like this, the enforcer -aka Annabeth-, didn't know. It was only a couple of minutes ago that she had dragged her boyfriend into the void for some alone time. She had just pushed her boyfriend onto their bed and then started kissing him. But the next moment they weren't so alone anymore…
"…Why is there a third you?" Percy asked Annabeth.
Annabeth was blushing scarlet and turned to stare at her boyfriend with watery eyes. "That's the thing you're worried about!?"
Annabeth turned her head to scowl at whoever interrupted them only to see all the occupants in the throne room staring awkwardly at Percy and her.
One of the enforcers, who turned out to be Thalia, came to Annabeth's side and whispered, "I know you two have been through a lot and take any chance you can get to be all lovey-dovey…but here might not be the best place for that."
Annabeth had been frozen in place and only recovered when Thalia spoke to her. She hopped off of Percy, straightened her skinny jeans, and tried to act like nothing just happened. Her pink ears were the only things betraying how embarrassed she actually was.
"Ahem," Annabeth cleared her throat and put on a straight face. "We were just sparring and somehow ended up in that position. Don't mind us."
"U-huh…" Another enforcer drawled (Nico this time), obviously not fooled by her denial. "There were hearts in both of your eyes and you were kissing each other's faces off. Like seriously, find a room you two."
"Ah, young love," Aphrodite cooed, while cupping her face that was now adorned with a rosy hue.
This time Annabeth could no longer contain her embarrassment. She turned beet red and stomped her feet in a fit of embarrassed rage. "Well, it's not MY fault that the future sucks and we never know when we're going to die! So don't blame for taking every chance I can get to have some intimacy time with my boyfriend! You all are just jealous that we're such an amazing couple! Hmph!"
Annabeth stared at this new version of her older self with a tomato-red face and steam coming from her ears. "You scandalous skank!" She yelled in a fit of embarrassed rage.
"Says the one with a blanket she named after her 'crush' and curls up in it every night," Annabeth taunted.
"Oh, déjà vu," Travis and Connor muttered, while Frank once again solidified his newfound belief that women are crazy.
"Abababababa!" Annabeth's brain short circuited and she instantly fainted into the waiting arms of Leo.
"We need a medic!" Leo called. "(Wo)man down! I repeat, (Wo)man down!"
Apollo ran over and took her pulse, "Patient seems to be having a psychotic break down. There's nothing I can do here. R.I.P Annabeth, 2005."
"Don't try to kill me off!" Annabeth screeched before passing out again.
"What the Hades is going on?" Percy asked, bringing everybody back to reality. "Why is there a third Annabeth and another me?"
There was another flash of light in the throne room and another letter appeared in Athena's hand.
"What does it say?" Hermes asked, trying to catch a glimpse over Athena's shoulder.
Dear gods and demigods,
We have decided that there's no need to keep the enforcer's identities a secret any longer. They will still be enforcing the rules that we have set, so nothing has really changed.
-The Fates
"Is that all?" Zeus asked in annoyance. Athena handed him the letter for him to read himself. Zeus read it and then shook his head in confusion. "The Fates will never make since to me. They always seem to do things on a whim."
"Well, since the Fates said we didn't have to hid our identities any longer, then I'll introduce myself first," one of the enforcers said and pulled her hood down to reveal her face. "My name is Reyna Ramirez-Arellano, Praetor of New Rome." (A/N: I'm not following the canon from 'The Trials of Apollo', so Jason is still alive and Reyna never joined the hunters.)
Reyna raised an eyebrow at her future self in surprise. She was very curious to find out why she was one of the enforcers and could only assume that she played some sort of role in the future.
The remaining seven enforcers looked at each other and shrugged. Each one revealed their faces and introduced themselves one at a time. Nico, Thalia, Jason, Leo, Piper, Frank, and Leo all introduced themselves, much to the shock of their younger selves. None of them looked much different from each other appearance wise, but all of them radiated a sense of power that the younger one's couldn't hold a candle to.
"So, you're me, right?" Percy asked Percy with a thoughtful gaze. (A/N: …The hell am I even writing…?)
"No. You're definitely me," Percy responded.
"Uh, uh. I came first. So that means that you're me," Percy reasoned.
"No, no, no. That makes no sense. All I see is a flimsier me."
Annabeth and Annabeth smacked their respective boyfriends on top of the head. "Stop being idiots you two."
"I'm not an idiot," older Percy and younger Percy said simultaneously.
"Huh, you're not so bad after all, younger me."
"Agreed, older me, maybe we are the same. Truce?"
"Truce," older Percy agreed, shaking younger Percy's hand in what turned out to be a friendship to last the ages.
Both Annabeths gave each other resigned looks that said: What can we do?
"So," Leo said, butting into their conversation. "How are we going to tell ourselves apart?" He asked the enforcers. "We pretty much all look the same."
The 2010 group and the enforcers looked at one another and realized he was right.
"How about we underline the 2010 group and italicize our group?" Percy suggested.
"Great idea! Couldn't have come up with a better one myself!" Percy complimented.
"How does any of that make sense!?" Both Annabeths exclaimed in confusion.
"Don't think so much and pretend that it's a plan," Percy told them, waving off their concerns. Both Annabeths looked at each other and once again shrugged in resignation.
"Just so we don't get our boyfriends mixed up, if you see a scar on his left butt cheek, then that Percy is mine." Annabeth whispered to her younger self. Annabeth blushed but made sure to stow that information into her memory.
"So, what's the future like and how're you guys so powerful?" Jason asked the enforcers.
"That's what I'd like to know as well," Zeus growled in a questioning tone. He could feel the aura of power radiating off of them in waves and he remembered how one of the enforcers blocked one of his bolts head on. Hestia could see that Zeus was about to let his paranoia get the better of him and sent him a glare. Zeus paled and meekly sat back into his throne. "I was just curious," he squeaked.
Percy laughed sarcastically and sneered at Zeus. "Don't worry Uncle, this is only power that the Fates have temporarily given us so we can preside over the reading. No need to get your toga in a twist." Zeus choked on air but Percy continued before he could get angry. "And for your question about the future, we truthfully don't know much. Monster attacks had become more frequent but before we could learn more, the Fates whisked us away and now we're here. Any more questions dearest uncle of mine?"
"No, that would be all. I'm glad you could join us, nephew," Zeus said, forcing out each word as kindly as possible. "Now that we're all here, who would like to read?"
"I would like to," Annabeth, who'd been revived, offered. "You've already read," Thalia told her. "Let someone else read."
"I'll read this chapter," Piper said with a sweet smile. "As long as no one has any issues with that." All of the more weak minded demigods couldn't help staring at her bright smile and nodded dumbly in agreement. "Why thank you! Here goes nothing."
"Chapter 5," she read, "I PLAY PINOCHLE WITH A HORSE"
I had weird dreams full…The rest wanted food.
"That was probably my last dream that wasn't prophetic in nature." Percy said. "I'd kill for my dreams to go back to being random nonsense."
I must've woken up several times…only it was pudding.
"Ugh," Frank groaned. "Please no butter."
"What's your issue with butter," Hazel, who was standing beside him, asked.
"He's lactose intolerant," Hazel explained to her. For the first time since the reading started, she noticed how close her older self seemed to be to Frank. Most of this time she had been focused on Leo because he reminded her so much of Sammy, her previous crush.
Are Frank and I an item in the future? I guess he is kind of cute, with his babyface and all. Hazel blushed at her thoughts and fanned her faced in embarrassment.
"Are you alright?" Frank asked her, concern lacing his voice.
"It's nothing!" She squeaked in a fluster.
Piper squealed and looked at the younger versions of her two friends in joy. "You two were just so gosh darn cute!" Frank and Hazel looked at each other and smiled happily.
The girl with curly…chin with the spoon.
"What were you smirking for, Annie?" Thalia asked.
Annabeth put her hand to her chin in thought. "I'm not sure…it was so long ago, but I'm pretty sure I thought he looked stupid. No offense, Seaweed Brain."
"None taken," both Percys grumbled, obviously a little offended by the comment.
When she saw my eyes open…I managed to croak, "What?"
"And why exactly did you think he'd have any idea what you're talking about?" Poseidon asked Annabeth.
"Sorry…I honestly thought Percy knew a bit more than he did. I'm only now learning how little he actually knew when he first arrived at camp," Annabeth sincerely apologized.
"For real," Percy grumbled. "Everyone expected me to know everything already without answering any of my questions. It was quite stressful."
"Didn't you watch the orientation film?" Beckendorf asked.
"Nope, Chiron decided not to show me it for some odd reason."
Chiron looked sheepish, "Sorry, my boy."
"That sure explains a lot though," Annabeth said and felt shame welling up inside of her. She wished she could go back in time and smack herself for being so mean to Percy.
Percy noticed this and wrapped his arm around her shoulder. "I don't blame you. You were young and desperate for a change of pace…and I know I can be a bit stupid at times so there is no need to feel bad. I'm just thankful you never stabbed me."
Annabeth let out a small chuckle and curled into his chest. "Thanks, Seaweed Brain. I needed that."
She looked around…We've only got a few weeks!"
The gods tensed. Something was stolen during the winter solstice? Something so important that Zeus and Poseidon were fighting?
Something stolen, Athena thought to herself. Then she put two and two together. The lightning thief…father is not going to like this.
"I'm sorry," I mumbled…filled my mouth with pudding.
"That's one way to get him to be quiet," Rachel laughed.
"Or by kiss-" Nico started to say before receiving a shoe to the face.
"Please continue," Annabeth said with a sweet smile, but demigods and gods alike shivered for some odd reason at her tone.
The next time I woke up, the girl was gone…his forehead, the backs of his hands.
"That still creeps me out," Jason said.
Hera glared at her champion. "How dare you judge my creation? Argus is a master piece."
"Yes, yes he is, dear," Zeus said placatingly and motioned for the girl to continue.
When I finally came around for good, there was nothing weird about my surroundings…The breeze smelled like strawberries.
"Sounds like a nice place," Reyna said to which Octavian clicked his tongue in annoyance.
"It's home," Chris said.
"Yeah, the best place to live for demigods," Lou Ellen added.
"Humph, like it could compare to New Rome," Octavian boasted smugly.
"What was that, shrimp?" Clarisse demanded.
"I bet I could take the legion and trample through your pathetic camp with no issues."
"I dare you to try!" Clarisse stood up in a rage, eyes lit like a burning flame.
"Enough, Octavian," Reyna said. "We are here on peaceful terms. I'm sure that the enforcers would agree that stripping your title as augur would be letting you off easy if you started something here."
Octavian looked at Reyna and the other enforcers and couldn't help gulping in fear.
"Coward," Clarisse sneered, with some of the Romans even looking at Octavian in disgust for his un-Roman like behavior.
There was a blanket over my legs, a pillow behind my neck…My tongue was dry and nasty and every one of my teeth hurt.
The future Greek demigods cringed, remembering when Percy was dragged out of the forest by Dryads on death's door.
Percy groaned in pain and grabbed onto Annabeth's arm for support. "This foreshadowing really sucks. This is nothing compared to the real thing though," he complained.
Annabeth looked at her boyfriend worriedly and sent a glare at Luke. She had started to forgive him after he sacrificed himself to destroy Kronos, but now that she remembered the amount of times he had tried to kill Percy, she wished nothing more than to strangle him.
"Why does it seem like you're completely fine?" Annabeth asked her Percy, nudging him on the side.
"Oh, it hurts alright, but compared to what I go through in the future, this is nothing."
Annabeth paled and grabbed onto him. She hated and loved this part of her boyfriend. His stupid hero complex had saved them so many times and gotten himself injured because of it even more times. And he would never take credit for any of his achievements. He would just modestly brush it aside saying 'it was pure luck' or 'I had help'. It was aggravating and endearing at the same time. Now she had to watch him relive every single injury he had ever received just because he refused to let anyone else share the burden.
On the table next to me was a tall drink…Just plain old Grover, not the goat boy.
"I'm sorry to say that I am a Goat Boy and not the plain old Grover," Grover said unhappily, miffed with the nickname.
So maybe I'd had a nightmare…this big house for some reason. And…
Percy sighed. "I was in such denial back then. I wanted to convince myself that none of it was real, that it was all just a figment of my imagination."
"You saved my life," Grover said…the base jagged from being broken off, the tip splattered with dried blood.
"That was kind of you, Grover," Katie told him.
Grover blushed, "He saved my life, I thought that was the least I could do for him in return."
It hadn't been a nightmare. "The Minotaur," I said…I demanded. "Minotaur. Half man, half bull."
"You're really too stubborn for your own good, Kelp Head. Always with the name calling," Thalia said in exasperation.
Percy stuck his tongue out at her, "What can I say? The ocean doesn't like to-"
"Stop right there, sea spawn," Athena interrupted. "I've already heard your dimwitted father say that enough times, I refuse to hear it out of your mouth as well."
Percy chuckled and smirked at his girlfriend. "Looking back on it, I can't believe I ever managed to get your mom to except me, much less not incinerate me."
Annabeth also smirked. "Don't get ahead of yourself, Seaweed Brain. If you ever hurt me in any way, shape, or form; then my mom would obliterate you, if I didn't kill you first."
Percy laughed jovially and kissed her on the lips. "You know I'd rather die than let you get hurt, Wise Girl."
Annabeth looked at him with loving eyes and leaned into his embrace. "How about no dying? I would be quite sad if that happened."
"So would I, dear. No dying it is then."
Grover shifted uncomfortably…Is she really…" He looked down.
"Not your fault, G-man," both Percys said with sad looks on their faces
Grover smiled slightly, but still looked pretty guilty.
I stared across the meadow. There were groves of trees…was the one with the huge pine tree on top. Even that looked beautiful in the sunlight.
"Have a crush on me or something, Kelp Head," Thalia joked. "You keep mentioning me."
"Nah, Pine Cone Face. You just stuck out like a sore thumb; impossible to miss."
"Why you…"
"What even…?" Frank asked the general question for those that didn't understand.
"Just ignore them," Nico said. "They're both idiots."
"Wanna go Death Breath," Thalia and Percy said, ganging up on them.
"Just stating facts."
"You grab his arms," Thalia told Percy. "I'll grab his legs."
"Eek! Stay away!" Nico screamed, shadow traveling to the opposite side of the room.
"After him!" They both charged Nico, chasing him out of the throne room.
"Does this happen often?" Jason asked Annabeth.
"All the time," she said in tired acceptance. "Let's just continue, they'll return sooner or later."
My mother
"AGHHHHH!"
Was gone.
"Aiiyeeeeeee!"
The whole
"HEEEEELLLLLPPPPPP MEEEEEEEE!"
…
…
…
"Shouldn't we go help him?" Hades asked, worried for his son's wellbeing. Before anyone could answer him though, two smug demigods dragged in a bedraggled Nico by the arms.
"I think I saw mom waving to me from the other side of the river," Nico groaned.
"What'd we miss?" Percy asked giddily.
"We-we-we can reread it if you'd like…sir," Annabeth stuttered over her words and added on a sir out of newfound fear of the two cousins.
"You would!? I knew you were amazing Little Wise Girl!"
Annabeth blushed and stuttered out a quick 'thanks.'
My mother was gone…Nothing should look beautiful.
Both Percys sighed sadly, completely agreeing that his world would be very grey if his mother had actually died.
"You'll always have us, Perce," Connor said, completely serious for once.
"Yeah. We might have not known you for long, but you're one of us now," Travis added.
"These dimwits actually said something good for once," Katie said. "They're right though. Whether you like it or not…"
"You're part of our one big crazy family now," all the Greek demigods voiced together.
Hestia beamed at the demigods. This is how family ought to be, she thought.
"Thanks guys," both Percys said, choked with emotion.
"I'm sorry," Grover sniffled. "I'm a failure. I'm-I'm the worst satyr in the world."
Annabeth berated little Grover. "You're not in any way, shape, or form, a failure, Grover. You're the best and most important satyr in the world, even if you don't know that yet."
He moaned, stomping his foot so hard it came off.
"Not his foot, I meant his shoe," Percy said before Apollo could do a 'checkup' on Grover.
I mean, the Converse hi-top came off…if I shaved his curly brown hair, I'd find tiny horns on his head.
"Don't even think about it!" Grover exclaimed.
"Come on," Tavis said.
"It won't hurt a bit," Connor finished.
"Grrrrr," Grover bleated menacingly. "NO."
"Alright, alright." "Down boy."
But I was too miserable to care that satyrs existed, or even minotaurs…I would have to live with…Smelly Gabe?
"Hades no!" Poseidon said. "I'd bring you to live in Atlantis before letting you live alone with that monster!"
"Rules, brother," Zeus reminded with narrowed eyes.
"Screw the rules. They're nothing but a hindrance. I will not allow my kid to be abused by such a disgusting mortal."
Zeus wanted to argue but caught Hestia's eyes: remember what I said, they told him.
Zeus sighed and bit down on his tongue. Being king of the gods is tough. No one follows my rules or listens to me these days.
No. That would never happen. I would live on the streets first. I would pretend I was seventeen and join the army.
Clarisse snorted. "Yeah right. You could hardly pass for twelve as a twelve-year-old, much less eighteen, Prissy."
"I didn't look that young," Percy complained.
All the future Greek demigods gave him blank stares, making him shrink into his chair. "Say something," he begged Annabeth.
Annabeth refused to look at him and coughed lightly. "It's true though."
Percy looked at her in betrayal and pouted at her until she gave him a kiss on the lips as an apology.
I'd do something. Grover was still sniffling…But that's my job. I'm a keeper. At least…I was."
Grover paled at this. "Did-Did I lose my keepers license?" he asked hesitantly.
"Nah. You were just being a pessimistic little goat," Percy told him.
"Phew," Grover sighed in relief.
"But why…" I suddenly felt dizzy, my vision swimming…He helped me hold my glass and put the straw to my lips.
"You two are such cute friends," Aphrodite cooed. "You two would make a very cut-"
"Mom, stop," Piper interrupted. "No one wants to hear you play matchmaker right now."
"Party pooper," Aphrodite glared at her daughter.
I recoiled at the taste, because I was expecting apple juice…blue chocolate chip cookies, buttery and hot, with chips still melts.
"Lucky!" Nico said. "I'd kill for some of your mom's homemade cookies right now."
"Really? What does nectar taste like to you?" Percy asked him.
Nico blushed and mumbled underneath his breath.
"What was that?"
"A McDonald's happy meal…"
"Hahaha! You can't be serious!" Thalia keeled over in laughter.
"Happy meals are very enjoyable, thank you very much." Nico grumbled grouchily.
"I'm sure they are," Will said, patting Nico on the back, making the son of Hades blush a little.
Nico blushed when he saw Will comforting his younger self. Gods he is so handsome, I wish my Will was here right now. I wonder how he's doing.
Drinking it, my whole body felt warm and good, full of energy…me everything was going to be okay.
Percy smiled warmly at the memory of his mom. It had been months since he'd seen her last and was really starting to miss her. I hope mom and Paul are doing well.
Percy also smiled but his was more sad than happy. His mom had just given birth to his baby sister -Estelle- and with the increase in monster attacks, he had decided to stay away from them so they would not get attacked.
Before I knew it, I'd drained the glass…He sounded wistful, I felt guilty. "Sorry," I said. "I should've let you taste."
"You trying to kill the goat, Peter?" Dionysus asked.
"I didn't even know that what I was drinking was dangerous, much less that it would kill a satyr," Percy said in his defense.
His eyes got wide. "No! That's not what I meant… "Like I could throw Nancy Bobofit a hundred yards.
"Do it!" Ares yelled.
"That was an exaggeration as a way of saying 'he feels good', Muscles for Brains," Athena snarked.
"What'd you call me!?"
"Enough," Zeus said, shutting the two up.
"That's good," he said…He took the empty glass from me gingerly, as if it were dynamite and set it back on the table.
Connor and Travis looked at each other with a mischievous glint in their eyes.
"Do you think…?" Travis whispered to Connor. "It's possible…" Connor responded. They nodded together, having come up with an idea.
"Hey Leo," they called. "Come over here for a second. We have an idea that needs your expertise."
Leo came over and they excitedly explained their plan to him. Leo's eyes brightened noticeably, "I'll get on it right away!" he said.
"Oh no," Katie groaned. "Nothing good is going to come out of those three planning something together."
"Come on. Chiron and Mr. D are waiting." The porch wrapped all the way around the farmhouse…I wasn't going to let it go.
"Do you still have the horn?" Thalia asked Percy.
"Yeah. It's still hung up in the Poseidon cabin. Why do you ask?"
"Can I have it if you're not going to use it? I'd like to make a new hunting knife out of it."
"NO."
"Why not!?"
"Mine!"
"Have you not heard that sharing between family is good for a healthy family relationship? How about this? If you give it to me, I'll owe you a favor."
"NO!"
"Give it to me!"
"MY PRECIOUS!"
"Your sister is…interesting," Piper whispered to Jason.
"Yeah," Leo agreed. "She's weird and hot, my type of girl."
"I'll kill you," Jason said.
"Please don't. I repent."
"Alright, let's all calm down and I'm going continue with the reading," Piper compelled with charmspeak, even the gods felt impressed by the compelling force behind her words.
As we came around the opposite end of the house, I caught my breath.
"We all did the first time we saw it," Silena said with a wistful look on her face.
We must've been on the north shore of Long Island, because on this side of the house, the valley marched all the way up to the water…a circular arena-except that they all looked brand new, their white marble columns sparkling in the sun.
"Wow, I'd love to see that someday," Hazel said in admiration.
"As would I," Reyna agreed. "It sounds very different from New Rome."
In a nearby sandpit, a dozen high school-age kids and satyrs played volleyball.
"The satyrs always win," Lee Fletcher complained. "They have the advantage with their goat legs. They can jump close to the full height of the net."
Canoes glided across a small lake…Others rode horses down a wooded trail, and, unless I was hallucinating, sone of their horses had wings.
"Your camp has Pegasi!?" Reyna exclaimed before her tan skin turned a dark shade of red. "Ahem…I mean…I'm the only one with a Pegasus in New Rome so it's just surprising to see your camp having so many…"
Chiron smiled kindly at the young Praetor. "Yes, we have around six Pegasi at camp. Another is on the way."
"Wow," Reyna murmured in awe. "I'd love to get a chance to care for them."
"Maybe one day my dear."
Down at the end of the porch, two men sat across from each other at a card table…was leaning on the porch rail next to them.
"How much longer will I be known as the 'blond girl'?" Annabeth joked.
"Well, I hadn't even learned your name yet," Percy defended himself, then scratched the back of his sheepishly. "But I'm pretty sure I still refer to you as the blond girl for a time even after learning your name."
Annabeth gave a fond shake of her head. "You're such a Seaweed Brain."
"I'm your Seaweed brain though. You can do whatever you want to me," he whispered back, making his girlfriend's face flush a light shade of pink
The man facing me was small,
"Ah…" Percy interrupted Piper. "Before anyone gets mad, just remember that these are my thoughts and I don't mean any offense by them…usually."
But porky. He had a red nose, big watery eyes…That's it. He looked a cherub who'd turned middle-aged in a trailer park.
Mr. D glared at the sons of Poseidon, a purple fire in his eyes. Annabeth wrapped Percy in her arms to protect him, while Percy smiled meekly at the god.
"I meant no offense…" Percy quickly said. "And I told you these are my thoughts from five years ago. I can't take them back now."
"His description is not wrong though," Hermes said with a laugh.
"Yes. It is quite the apt description," Apollo agreed.
Dionysus scowled at his two siblings and then turned back to both Percys. "Watch yourself Perry Jansen."
Both Percys gave each other a wry smile, fully knowing that those weren't close to the last unflattering marks he'd have for Mr. D or any of the other gods for that matter.
Percy groaned. It'd be a miracle if I'm not blasted to smithereens by the end of these books, he thought to himself.
He wore a tiger-pattern Hawaiian shirt…this guy could've out-gambled even my stepfather.
Mr. D grunted in satisfaction. "Of course, I could, Perry. I'm glad you've realized your follies and my greatness."
"That's Mr. D," Grover murmured to me…She's just a camper,
All three Annabeths glared at Grover. "'Just a camper' you say…"
"Sorry," Grover squeaked. "I didn't mean it that way. I just wanted to get the introductions out of the way."
They all "hmphed" but excepted his excuse nonetheless.
But she's been here longer than just about anybody…and made all the multiple-choice answers B.
"Really, Chiron…" Annabeth deadpanned. "That's such lazy teaching."
Athena nodded in agreement.
"I disagree," the centaur said. "Making all the questions the same answer makes you second guess yourself and think harder on the question. I have come to realize that it is actually quite the effective teaching method."
"I've never thought of it that way before," Athena considered, writing notes down on a notepad.
"Ah, good, Percy," he said…Now, don't expect me to be glad to see you."
"Dionysus!" Hestia scolded. "I know you're bitter about your punishment but you shouldn't take it out on innocent demigods."
"Yes aunty…" Dionysus sighed wearily.
"You're not allowed to call me 'aunty' until you get over your petty grudge against demigods."
"But-"
"No buts!"
"…yes ma'am."
"Uh, thanks." I scooted a little farther away from him because…If Mr. D was a stranger to alcohol, I was a stayr.
"Are you calling me an alcoholic, boy?" Mr. D asked Percy.
"Yes."
"Hmmm, you're not wrong. Was just asking. Sadly, I haven't had alcohol in years," he said, resentfully looking at his father.
"Annabeth?" Mr. Brunner called to the blond girl.
"See…" Percy said sheepishly. "For some reason I just had you noted down as the 'blond girl' even when I knew your name."
"What should I do with you?" Annabeth asked him in fond resignation.
She came forward and Mr. Brunner introduced us…a stereotypical California girl would look like, except her eyes ruined the image.
Both Annabeths turned their glare on their respective boyfriend. "What do you mean my eyes ruin the image?" the two demanded. Annabeth was also pouting in her chair though she was pretending not to care what he thought; but her heart wasn't in it and she leaned forward in her chair to hear his response.
"I didn't mean it in a bad way," Percy said.
Younger Percy nodded in agreement. "Yeah. When I think of a California girl, I usually think of blue eyes. Your grey eyes look more…calculating."
"Yeah," Percy concurred. "Listen to younger me."
The Annabeths glared at the duo skeptically, so Percy just told Piper to read and that they'd see.
The were startling gray, like storm clouds; pretty,
Annie let out an embarrassed squeak at having her eyes described as pretty and quickly hid her blush hopefully before anyone could notice.
But intimidating, too, as if she were analyzing the best way to take me down in a fight.
"I was," Annabeth said, impressed by his observation.
She glanced at the Minotaur horn in my hands…Or something like that.
Annie snorted and looked degradingly at Percy. "In your dreams, Seaweed Brain."
Thalia laughed as well. "You obviously didn't know her at all. Pigs would fly before she said anything like that."
"Ugh, why did you have to remind me? Flying pigs suck," Percy groaned.
"You've met a flying pig?" Leo asked in childish excitement.
Percy just nodded and looked a little green. "We'll probs read about that much later," he managed to tell him.
Instead, she said, "You drool when you sleep." Then sprinted off down the lawn, her blond hair flying behind her.
The whole room laughed at Percy's expense. "I do not," Percy complained.
"All the time," Annabeth told him in between her giggles.
"Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up," Percy said with a glare that had no real heat behind it.
Annabeth smiled brightly at Percy and gave him a quick peck on the cheek (much to younger Annabeth's embarrassment and Athena's chagrin). "It's not a bad thing. I think it's quite cute when you drool." Percy gave her a light hearted glare and tickled her sides in revenge, leaving her giggling hysterically and gasping for air.
"So," I said, anxious to change the subject…Totally confused, I looked at the director. "And Mr. D…does that stand for something?"
Mr. D looked up from his magazine at the two Percys, like they'd just belched loudly.
Mr. D stopped shuffling the cards… "Oh. Right. Sorry."
"Sure, you must've been so sorry," Thalia said sarcastically.
"Yeah," Nico agreed. "If you were sorry then you should've learned you lesson by now."
"You two aren't much better," Percy sassed back.
"I must say, Percy," Chiron-Brunner broke in…But Grover alerted me as soon as he met you. He sensed you were something special,
"Just my luck," Grover grumbled unhappily. "Finding two of the most powerful demigods of the decade."
"Four, actually," Nico stated."
"What!?" Grover exclaimed.
"Ah, sorry. Spoilers."
So, I decided to come upstate. I convinced the other Latin teacher to…ah, take a leave of absence."
"What did you do?" Annabeth asked her mentor, suspicious of his shady behavior.
"Did you threaten him? Or did you put him in the hospital?" Clarisse asked in excitement.
"Nothing of the sort, young Clarisse, I just used the Mist to convince him to take a leave of absence."
"Awwww. Lame," Clarisse muttered, losing interest.
I tried to remember the beginning of the school year…let her know we were keeping an eye on you in case you were ready for Camp Half-Blood.
"You have a satyr and centaur stalking you," Chris laughed, making the satyr and centaur glare at him.
But you still had so much to learn. Nevertheless, you made it here alive, and that's always the first test."
"A test that I failed," Thalia mumbled sadly.
Luke heard her and glared at Grover. If it wasn't for the stupid goat then his Thalia never would've died. He had no idea how she came back in the future, but that didn't change anything. She had been dead for five whole years and during that time his once kind heart had become twisted and malicious out of misguided hatred.
"Grover," Mr. D said impatiently, "are you playing or not?" "Yes, sir!" Grover trembled as he took the fourth chair,
"You better not be hurting the satyrs, Dionysus. They are my son's brood and I will have none of them mistreated while I am still alive," Hermes growled warningly.
Mr. D just waved off his concern. "I don't. George is just super skittish."
"It's Grover," said satyr mumbled. "And I'm not that skittish, you're just scary."
"You want to repeat that?" Mr. D asked.
"No, sir!"
"I didn't think so."
Though I didn't know why he should be so afraid of a pudgy little man in a tiger-print Hawaiian shirt.
"Would you like to find out?" Dionysus glowered.
"Don't you dare threaten my son, Dionysus," Poseidon growled. "He had no way of knowing you were a god, especially since you don't act like one. Maybe you'd be respected if you actually acted like a god."
Dionysus' eyes narrowed into slits, but didn't argue back, knowing he shouldn't test his uncle's patience. The Storm Bringer could be quite scary when angered.
"You do know how to play pinochle?" Mr. D eyed me suspiciously…I was liking the camp director less and less.
"The feeling is mutual, Perry."
"Well," he told me…Mr. Brun-Chiron-why would you go to Yancy Academy just to teach me?"
Percy looked down into his lap, his gaze unreadable. He had always had low self-esteem and it was even worse back then. To this day he still didn't think very highly of himself, no matter what people said to him.
Mr. D snorted. "I'm wondering the same thing."
Piper looked at the camp director in amusement when she read the next line.
Mr. D snorted. "I asked the same question." The camp director dealt the cards. Grover flinched every time one landed in his pile.
"Damn, Gregory," Dionysus cursed. "I don't bite, so relax."
"Yes, sir," Grover said while trembling.
Chiron smiled at me sympathetically… He expected me to have the right answer.
"I appreciate your faith, Chiron," Percy said. "But it got old really fast when everybody expected me to know all the answers already."
"I'm sorry, Percy. I should've realized how lost you were and done better at explaining things to you."
"It's okay. It's all in the past now, and I've lived this long, so you must've done something right," Percy joked good naturedly.
"Percy," he said. "Did your mother tell you nothing?" …Mr. D said. "That's how they usually get killed."
"Nephewwww," Hestia warned.
"It's not like I can take back something I haven't even said yet," Dionysus griped.
"I will tell Adrianne how you've been behaving if you don't get your act together," Hestia threatened.
Mr. D's eyes widened in horror. "I'm sorry Aunt. I profusely apologize for my misconduct. I will surely try to do better in the future, so please don't tell my wife. I'm already on her bad side as it is."
"Young man, are you bidding or not?" "What?" I asked… "Orientation film?" I asked. "No," Chiron decided.
"Chironnnnn," Annabeth whined. "Why couldn't you have at least told me he hadn't seen the orientation film? I was so mean to him for no reason because I thought he should've known everything from the film already."
Chiron apologized to her. "I must've had a lot on my plate at the time and wasn't thinking straight."
Annabeth sighed but before she could apologize, Percy stopped her. "Hey, didn't I tell you earlier that you don't have to be sorry?"
She nodded but still looked very ashamed. "You did but it's so hard not to. I can't believe you never ended up hating me with how poorly I treated you."
Percy grabbed her by the shoulders and looked her straight in the eyes. "I could never hate you, now or back then. We were both stupid 12-year-olds. Let's not let things from the past affect us now. I'm so lucky to have a girlfriend such as you. Who else could put up with me after all?"
Annabeth's eyes crinkled happily. "You're so corny, but that's not a bad thing. I feel like I fall more in love with you every day."
"Only every day?" Percy clutched his chest in mock hurt. "I fall more in love with you every minute."
Annabeth let out a truly bright smile this time. "Gods, Seaweed Brain. I love you."
"Love you too, Wise Girl."
"Blegh," Thalia and Nico gagged. "Way too sweet."
"Well, Percy. You know your friend Grover is a satyr… "Oh, a royal marriage. Trick! Trick!" He cackled as he tallied up his points.
"No wonder one of your domains is insanity, bro," Apollo said. "Because you're seriously loco."
"Mr. D," Grover asked timidly…We shan't deal with metaphysical."
"Wait," Percy said. "I know that other pantheons exist as I have run into one before, but I never figured out how that works. How have we kept ourselves separate from one another for so long without any incidents ever really happening?"
Zeus narrowed his eyes. "That's supposed to be a top secret, boy. How do you know about the other pantheons?"
Percy rolled his eyes. "I just told you, Captain Thunderpants. I had a literal run in with another pantheon's gods once. Now can you answer my question?"
Zeus looked affronted at the boy's new nickname for him and the other gods looked at each other, not sure how to answer the boy's question. They turned to Hestia for help, and she just rolled her eyes at their hopelessness.
"That's a story for another time, Percy. Let's continue with the stories for the time being." She told Percy.
"Oh, all right," Percy nodded in understanding, not wanting to make things difficult on his favorite aunt.
"Metaphysical? But you were just talking about –" …the immortal gods of Olympus. That's a smaller matter."
"Smaller matter?" Zeus asked in dissatisfaction.
Chiron just shrugged and refused to explain we he said it as such.
"Smaller?" "Yes, quite…I said. "Hera. Apollo. You mean them."
The three mentioned preened, happy that they were the three the boy mentioned.
And there it was again – distant thunder on a cloudless day.
"Can you stop that?" Hades asked, fed up with his brother. "You're impressing no one with your dramatics."
"Young man," said Mr. D…Mr. D scoffed. "And tell me, Perseus Jackson" –
Both Percys flinched at the use of their full name.
I flinched when he said my real name…And have they, Chiron? Look at this boy and tell me."
The gods nodded in agreement, much to younger Percy's chagrin. "Hey! I have perspective!" he said.
"Sure, you do," Younger Annabeth said sarcastically.
"Do too!"
"Alright, young Percy," Hestia counseled. "The point is that you shouldn't take myths at face value, there is much more to it than most would think."
"Yes, Hestia," Percy said obediently.
"Wow," Annabeth said to Percy. "I'm going to need to ask Hestia to teach me how to make you more obedient to me."
"I'd say I'm already quite obedient to you."
"Yeah, she has you completely whipped," Jason joked.
"I guess, I do, don't I?" Annabeth said smugly.
I wasn't liking Mr. D much, but there was something about the way he called me mortal, as if…Existing, just as you are, for all time?"
"What's so bad about that?" Apollo asked Chiron. "Being an immortal is great."
"It's all about perspective," Chiron said, quoting himself from earlier.
"Is that the reason you turned 'it' down?" Annabeth asked her boyfriend.
"A small part of it, but not the main reason," he responded, looking at his Wise Girl fondly.
"They're in their own world again," Nico muttered.
"Just leave them be, nothing short of an atomic bomb would break them out of it," Thalia muttered back.
I was about to answer, off the top of my head, that it sounded like a pretty good deal, but the tone of Chiron's voice made me hesitate…just created to explain how little boys can get over losing their mothers?"
"Chiron," Annabeth exclaimed in disbelief.
"I'm sure I worded it that way to get the point across quicker, and also as a test, to see if angering him would clue me in on his parentage."
"Still…" Annabeth murmured, looking at Percy sadly, to make sure he was all right.
He waved her off and said, "Don't worry about it. I didn't take it to heart."
"Okay…" she responded, still unconvinced.
My heart pounded. He was trying to make me angry for some reason, but I wasn't going to let him.
"Impressive control, brat," Ares complimented.
"I'll never get used to that," Percy complained to Annabeth. "I'd prefer him threatening me or cursing me over this. It's freaking me out a bit."
I said, "I wouldn't like it… "Before one of them incinerates you."
"Don't you dare," Poseidon growled.
"I know, I know uncle," Mr. D rolled his eyed at his overprotectiveness.
Grover said, "P-please, sir. He's just lost his mother. He's in shock." …The goblet filled itself with red wine.
"Your restrictions, Dionysus," Zeus warned.
My jaw dropped, but Chiron hardly looked up. "Mr. D," he warned, "your restrictions."
"Thank you for upholding my rules," Zeus thanked the centaur.
Mr. D looked at the wine and feigned surprise. "Dear me." … "Mr. D offended his father awhile back, took a fancy to a wood nymph who had been declared off-limits."
"And why exactly would you declare a wood nymph off-limits?" Hera demanded.
"Uhhh," Zeus stammered, "to keep her safe…?"
"He's lying!" Apollo, the God of Truth, sang.
"Traitor," Zeus mumbled darkly.
"We're having a long talk later, honey," Hera said to which Zeus could only nod meekly.
"A wood nymph," I repeated, still staring at the Diet Coke can like it was from outer space…Mr. D sounded about six years old, like a pouting little kid.
"Can't really blame D for being so unhappy though," Hermes said. "He pretty much had a part of him taken away with his ban on alcohol."
"Thank you!" Dionysus exclaimed, throwing his arms up into the air. "Someone gets me."
"Maybe I'll shorten your punishment, if you actually do as I said and work with the kids," Zeus relented, much to the surprise of the other occupants. The King of the Gods is not known for shortening his punishments.
"Is this an imposter?" Artemis looked at her father suspiciously.
"So true," her brother agreed. "He's super sus."
"Oh, drop it," Zeus grumbled. "I am no imposter."
"And…" I stammered, "your father is…" "Di immortals, Chiron," Mr. D said... "You're Dionysus," I said. "The god of wine."
"Nice deduction, Seaweed Brain," Annabeth complimented.
"Why, thank you, milady," Percy said, kissing the back of her hand like a prince kissing his princess, causing steam to come out of Annabeth's ears when she saw that.
Mr. D rolled his eyes… "Then, well, duh! Percy Jackson. Did you think I was Aphrodite, perhaps?"
"Eww," Aphrodite gagged. "I would hope no one could mistake me for someone like you."
Percy smiled sheepishly, remembering how he once compared Aphrodite to Echidna, even if it wasn't purposefully.
"You're a god." "Yes, child." "A god. You."
Dionysus turned to his uncle, "Can I please just make him spontaneously combust, just a little bit?"
"No." Poseidon responded.
"But…you've seen how disrespectful he's been toward me."
"The answer is still no; however, Percy, do you continue being so disrespectful towards us gods in the future too?"
"Yeahhhhh…" Percy admitted. "It's a bit of a talent."
Poseidon sighed in resignation. His son definitely got his talent for pissing off other deities from him.
"Does that mean –" Mr. D began.
"The answer is still no."
"Fine," Mr. D grumbled in dissatisfaction.
He turned to look me straight on, and I saw a kind of purplish fire in his eyes…their faces elongating in dolphin snouts.
"Is this where you got the dolphin idea from?" Frank asked Percy.
"Yeah, that and he's always threatening to turn me into one."
I knew that if I pushed him, Mr. D would show me worse things… "No. No, sir."
Mr. D grunted in satisfaction, glad he put the boy in his place.
"Wow!" Thalia exclaimed. "This is the second time I've heard you doing the safe thing today. It's a new record!"
Percy rolled his eyes at his cousin but he was too busy shivering in his seat to retort. He felt the same feeling as he did back then and couldn't help breaking out in a cold sweat.
The fire died a little. He turned back to his card game.
Percy let out an audible sigh of relief. Any longer and his mind really would've snapped. He was just glad that Dionysus wasn't petty enough to actually harm an ignorant kid. If he was…well, he didn't want to continue down that train of thought any longer.
"I believe I win." … "The game goes to me."
"Damn horse," Mr. D griped. "I swear he's cheating somehow; how else could he beat the God of Festivities at a game."
"It's just luck," Chiron said humbly. There was no way he was explaining himself. A centaur had to keep his secrets to himself after all.
I thought Mr. D was going to vaporize Chiron right out of his wheelchair… But first, Grover, we need to talk, again, about your less-then-perfect performance on this assignment."
"Bah! Don't give me that look, Grover," Dionysus said, seeing Grover looking at him all teary eyed. "I won't be too hard on you I'm sure."
Grover looked at the wine god with wide eyes. "You called me by the right name!"
"I did not, Jorge. A figment of your imagination."
Grover's face beaded with sweat… "Old Dionysus isn't really mad. He just hates his job.
"And we have to deal with the backlash," the Greek campers said in annoyance.
He's been…ah, grounded, I guess you would say… "Well now there's Mount Olympus in Greece."
"Hate that place," Jason growled with hatred clear in his tone.
The rest of the enforcers nodded in agreement, even Annabeth was mumbling how she wanted to burn it to the ground, architecture and all. And Percy was whining about something along the lines of 'fecking nosebleeds' and 'dirt faces'.
And then there's the home of the gods ... "You mean the Greek gods are here? Like…in America?"
"Of course, they are. Didn't you just meet Dionysus?" Annabeth asked, not unkindly like she would've before. Watching him flirt with her older self and the pure love he seemed to hold for her…well, she'd be loathed to admit that looking at him now made her heart rate pick up a bit.
"I thought that he was an exception…and I was still in denial for the most part."
Annabeth sighed in exasperation, "Even so, you can be quite slow at times."
Percy laughed brightly -his eyes sparkling-, making Annie blush a little, and said, "You're not wrong and definitely not the first time you've called me slow."
"Well, certainly. The gods move with the heart of the West." …A collective consciousness that has burned bright for thousands of years."
"Umm…what?" Leo looked at the centaur in confusion. "I hardly understood a word you said and you expect a twelve-year-old to be able to? That makes absolutely no sense, my little pony."
"I may have been a little overeager again it seems," Chiron admitted. "And never again call me 'little pony'"
"Aye, aye cap'n!"
The gods are part of it… "And then they died."
The gods looked offended. "Don't just kill us off," Apollo said.
Percy scoffed. "You killed off Annabeth earlier, so what's the difference?"
"We're gods, that's all the difference you need," Ares said smugly.
Most of the demigods glared at the war god. "That's the exact attitude that caused so many demigods to join the other side," Percy growled, too quietly for the gods to hear. Annabeth was also unhappy with the god's disregard for demigods but held it back in favor or comforting Percy. She was one of the only things that could make her boyfriend heel in times like these.
"Died? No. Did the West die? The gods simply moved…All you need to do is look at the architecture.
All three Annabeths eyes brightened and would've gone off on a tangent if Percy didn't rush Piper to read.
People do not forget that gods…in statues, on the most important buildings.
The gods all smiled smugly, their already massive egos being boosted by every word Chiron said.
And yes, Percy, of course they are now in you United States... Like it or not – believe me, plenty of people weren't fond of Rome, either –
The Romans glared at Chiron. "What exactly do you mean by that?" Hank LeTank asked angrily.
"Are you looking down on us?" Larry Bootlicker demanded.
"Not at all," Chiron answered. "I'm just stating a fact that Rome had a lot of enemies throughout their rule."
The Romans pondered his words for a moment before silently admitting that he wasn't wrong.
America is now the heart of the flame...It was all too much, especially the fact that I seemed to be included in Chiron's we, as if I were part of some club.
"It's more of a cult than a club," Nico said seriously.
"We are not some cult," Zeus said, looking affronted at the mere idea of it.
"Sure, sure," Nico drawled, not afraid of offending Zeus at all. "You're the king so you know best."
"Who are you, Chiron? Who…who am I?"
"A great friend and leader," the future Greek demigods said.
"An amazing cousin," Thalia and Nico said, draping their arms across both Percy's shoulders.
"The best boyfriend a girl could ask for," Annabeth whispered into his ear with red cheeks.
Percy and younger Percy both blushed at all the compliments and begged for Piper to continue.
Annabeth meanwhile was starting to subconsciously anticipate getting to know Percy in the future. No matter how much she wanted to find fault with him, the more she watched her older self and Percy, the more she approved of him. Even a hint of attraction for the older demigod could be seen in her expression.
Chiron smiled. He shifted his weight as if he were going to get up out of his wheelchair, but I knew that was impossible...Besides, there will be s'mores at the campfire tonight, and I simply adore chocolate."
"He really does," Travis said.
"Maybe too much…" Connor agreed.
"Yeah. I stole from his stash of trick or treat chocolates and when he found out, he put me on stable duty for a month. Can you believe it!? A MONTH!" Chris yelled indignantly.
And then he did rise from his wheelchair…At first, I thought he was wearing very long, white velvet underwear,
Chiron blanched and glared at Percy. "How very flattering," he said sarcastically.
"Sorry," Percy said but didn't seem very sorry at all.
"Do we still have the picture of Chiron in a tutu?" Travis asked his brother.
"Of course. I just prepared the next batch of copies for the Apollo cabin," Connor said.
"Why haven't I seen any copies of that photo?" Percy asked Annabeth, Nico and Thalia also listening in out of curiosity.
"Because when Chiron found out about them, he sentenced them to public burning, and all 420 copies of them were burnt into a crisp that day."
"No!" the Stoll brothers, who had been listening in, exclaimed in horror. "Those pics are our largest form of income. We have to find a new hiding place immediately. Operation 'Save The Pic' is now in effect."
But as he kept rising out of the chair, taller than any man…because there's no way it could've held all of him.
"So cool!" Leo yelled. "It's not just a motorized café table, it's a magic motorized café table! The things I could do with something like that…Beck, you thinking what I'm thinking."
"You know it, Leo."
A leg came out, long and knobby-kneed, with a huge polished hoof…I stared at the horse who had just sprung from the wheelchair: a huge white stallion.
"Sounding as majestic as always," Aphrodite winked flirtatiously at the centaur.
"Oh god," Piper groaned. "My mom really has no boundaries."
But where its neck should be was the upper body of my Latin teacher, smoothly grafted to the horse's trunk…Now, come, Percy Jackson. Let's meet the campers."
"That's the end of the chapter," Piper said, handing the book back to Hestia.
"Any volunteers to read next?" The Goddess of the Hearth asked.
"I'll give it a go, why not?" Poseidon stated, grabbing for the book.
"Hmmm," Poseidon hummed while reading the chapter title. "Should I be worried?"
Percy shrugged his shoulders. "Probably?" he said, but it came out more like a question.
"Well here goes nothing," Poseidon said. "Chapter 6: I BECOME SUPREME LORD OF THE BATHROOM"
Question: Which PJO book is your favorite? (HOO books not included)
Edited March 12th, 2022
