This chapter is great. I just realized Percy was supposed to go to the Roman Camp's college, but he doesn't in here for a reason..

Jason's Death.


Percy was oddly happy to hang out with Pandora, for the first three days they just sparred while he spoke of his woes. Pandora was a scarily good fighter, better than he was by far, she disarmed him in seconds then they fought at a more even level for three whole hours. It was great, he was learning a lot from her with just the fights. He always felt lighter, happier, more peaceful to get those rougher emotions out of his system for a bit.

Then there was the actual talking. he mentioned the pain of losing Jason and so on. For the first three days only that was spoken of... and then, something shifted. Maybe it was the magic of the room or the fact that he was coming to trust Pandora, but the words spilled out before he could stop them.

"And I am just so freaking tired of losing people to the GODS!" He screamed, twisting his blade against hers. The words were so startling he barely stopped himself from lunging and actually recoiled, looking around in terror, knowing he would be killed for those words and leave his Mom, Annabeth and Estelle all alone...

Pandora's soft hand on his cheek made him stop. "The Gods cannot see into this room, you are safe here, my love." She smiled, her eyes wet. "The gods have taken so much from me as well... my daughter, my son-in-law, countless loved ones and enemies... that is all they do. Take and Take and Take... even Hestia, for all her goodness, just takes up space and gives nothing back. I think you are ready to look into my scrying pool..." She moved him towards her scrying pool, it looked like a birdbath made of silver with ornate designs and scenes of peaceful days. "This magical pool will open your heart, allowing only for the truth to be seen. Lies cannot be tolerated, and cannot be forced. Place your hands on it and see the ones you resent the most."

Percy did as she said, his hands shaking, and before he knew the bathwater splintered in many images.

He saw his mother.

He saw Annabeth.

He saw Grover.

He saw his Father.

He saw The entire Olympian council.

He saw Chiron.

He saw himself.

Hands shaking, he turned to her. "Why would I see these people, they all... well not the gods, but the rest of them love me! Especially my mom and Annabeth!" He started to yell at the end, confused and in pain from the emotions invoked by the magic of the scrying pool.

She sighed. "A mother that chose to mate with Posiden, knowing you would be miserable and have a short life? Who chose to get with an abusive man when sending you to camp would have been a safer option for you both?" She got closer. "Or Annabeth who treated you like garbage for years, who strung you along and pinned over a man that tried to kill her and you and so many others? Who denied you your powers when they scared her in Tartarus?

Or maybe Chiron you has literally taught you nothing since becoming aware of your Demigod status, who plays favorites and ignored you at all turns? Or Grover who lied to you, used you and has barely been of any actual help on your quests? Or maybe your father who chose to have you knowing it would break the sacred oath, which is likely the source of your poor luck?"

The boy cringed, shivering at her words, it was like she was peeling layers off of his skin, revealing the bruised and battered soul in his core. Things he had thought but never said, out of fear of losing his supports. The few loves of had...

"I... why am I there?"

She smiled, but it was a sad smile, one of pain and misery and understanding. "You never stood up for yourself, you accepted though with some fighting, the truths of your world. You never fought those that abused you, mistreated you, hated you. You served the unkind gods, bowed to those that used you but inside, you hate them. LIke Luke before you, you see the ugliness of the world but unlike him you never had a safe out so you never searched for it. You resent yourself for that."

It was all too much for Percy, the words and pain and reality of her words, and so without hesitation, he marched out of the room, leaving Pandora to look at him sadly as he walked away. She was too aware of the tears in his eyes, the pain in his heart and the agony oozing from every single pore.

He would be back, that much she knew, but would he be willing to hear the truths within.,. that she could not say.


Chapter end, tell me what you think in the reviews.

This was a blast to write. Short but it sets things up well.

Love, your Ninja Overlord,

Mika.