Hey guys! I hope you all enjoy this chapter. I have to say my version of the Titans curse is looking to be longer than I expected so I hope you guys are looking forward to that. As always please please do keep reviewing they really do make my day.
The other girl turned her head to look at Percy, eyes narrowing slightly, "So what if I am? Who are you?"
"I-my name's Percy." she hesitated, looking back at the calm water of the lake. "Where is everyone?"
"This isn't real." Thalia rolled her eyes, "Just you and me here. Usually it's just me so I kinda want to know who you are."
"I told you, my name is Percy." she brushed her hair out of her face. "You... I dunno if you look younger than I expected or older." the girl was older than her, maybe fifteen or so, which didn't make sense, Thalia had been twelve when she'd died and she'd be seventeen now.
"I look as old as I am." Thalia said with a roll of her eyes, her own gaze drifting over the lake, "It's lonely here."
"I guess." Percy said after a moment, "If you're always alone here it would be."
"It's not always here. But I'm always alone."
"Camp's not usually lonely." Percy gave a small smile, "It's really great."
"I wouldn't know." Thalia gave her a sidelong glance, "I never made it."
"Okay that's a fair point." Percy flushed, "I probably shouldn't have said that." it was strange. This dream didn't really feel like a dream, it felt too
real. She could smell strawberries from the fields, feel a light breeze against her skin.
"Eh, no hard feelings." Thalia waved a hand dismissively, "This isn't real anyway."
"Right." Percy nodded, "Not real." she tilted her head back slightly, looking up at the blue cloudless sky, feeling the heat of the sun on her face. "Don't you think it feels kinda real?"
"If it was real we wouldn't be alone." Thalia pointed out. "What I don't get is why are you here Percy?"
"I dunno. I could ask you the same question." Percy pointed out, "As far as I know this is my dream."
"Huh, well to me it's mine."
"You're dead." that earned a laugh from Thalia, the girl tossed her head back with the force of it.
"Okay, okay good point Percy. So then why are you dreaming of me?" there was a glint in those electric eyes as Thalia focused on Percy, "And why are you dressed up like some ancient Greek princess or something?"
Percy's cheeks flushed at that and she looked down-and she was still in the dress that she'd been given at Circe's place.
If she was honest she did kinda like it even if it wasn't her usual style and she smoothed the fabric out over her knees, "Oh, this. I just had a run in with Circe at her spa-"
"Spa?"
"Yeah, long story."
"I'll bet." Thalia leaned back, laying in the grass. "So, you didn't tell me why you think you're dreaming of me."
"I guess because I've been thinking about you a lot over the past few days." Percy said after a moment, "When you died your father preserved you in a tree-"
"Huh." Thalia pulled a face, "Couldn't he have, y'know, actually saved my life?"
"I dunno. Maybe it's because they're not meant to interfere-"
"Then he could have at least turned me into something cooler than a tree."
Percy laughed at that despite herself. "Like what?"
"I dunno, a badass statue or something."
"Hm, fair point." Percy shrugged, "You'd probably have been safer."
"So what's happening to me then?"
"This guy Alabaster, he's poisoned your tree-your soul's been powering the borders, with your tree dying the borders are weakening and monsters keep getting in. I'm on a quest to find something that can cure your tree."
"Really?" Thalia frowned, "What a dick."
"Yeah, yeah you can say that again." Percy snorted, shaking her head, "I have a very bad history with him, but even I didn't expect him to sink that low."
"So from what you're saying I'm dying all over again and you're on some quest to save me. Guess it makes sense that you'd dream of me." she turned her head to watch as Percy led down herself, the grass tickling her skin as she did. "I appreciate it I guess. Gods that's weird. I'm thanking you for trying to save my tree form."
"We're Demigods. Life in general is weird." Percy remarked easily, closing her eyes, "I could tell you some crazy ass stories I really could."
"Listen.. Percy if you're the real one and I'm just a part of your dream could you do something for me?"
"Depends on what it is."
"There's this girl. She was seven, dunno how old she is now. I traveled with her for a while, she was like a little sister to me. I think she got in safely-that was why I stayed behind on that hill, to make sure she survived, but... I can't fail her like-" she shook her head, expression turning grim as her lips were pressed into a thin tight line. "I just can't... can you make sure she's okay for me? Her name's-"
"Annabeth." Percy smiled, "She's thirteen now, nearly fourteen. Like me, she's with me and my brother-"
"She is." Thalia sat up, her eyes wide and Percy followed her lead, "Really? She's okay then?"
"Yeah, she's one of my best friends, she saved my life last year and she's probably gonna save my life a bajillion more times before we're through,"
"That sounds like Annabeth," Thalia was smiling, a bright wide thing, "Listen, if you're friends with her then... just look after her for me okay? Protect her like I can't."
"I will." Percy nodded, "I'd do anything to protect her I promise you."
"Thank you." Thalia reached out, laying a hand on Percy's shoulder and squeezing.
"She misses you you know." Percy said suddenly, "She was devastated when she found out what Alabaster did to your tree. I've never seen her like that before."
"I was all she had." Thalia's voice was sad, "And she was all I had. At least she has other people to look out for her now-"
"She doesn't need it much y'know." Percy tucked a loose lock of hair that had fallen from the pile on top of her head behind her ear, "Annabeth's one of the strongest people I've ever known. But... whenever she needs me I'll do everything I can to be there for her."
"Good." Thalia looked away, back over the lake. "Save me okay? Or my tree anyway."
"I will." Percy nodded, "I... I wish there was something more I could do to help you-"
"Just look after Annabeth for me and I'll be happy-or as happy as a dead person can be."
"It's a deal I guess." she looked down as Thalia held out a hand to her, and she took it, shaking it quickly.
Then she felt a hand on her shoulder, and she saw Thalia smile sadly. "You're about to wake up aren't you?"
"Yeah, I think my brother's shaking me. And I need to tell them about a conversation I had with Grover."
"Right." Thalia nodded, "Back on my lonesome." she gave a small shrug, "Eh, at least it's peaceful and there's no monsters attacking me."
"True." Percy felt guilty. She wondered if somehow this was Thalia she was talking to. If a part of her consciousness was still alive. It seemed impossible but.. well so did a lot of things.
It made their quest even more important though-if Thalia was alive, even if it was just a part of her then she owed it to the other girl to try and save her-and not to mention owing it to Annabeth.
She felt herself being shook again and she opened her eyes slowly.
She was still curled into Luke's side, but Annabeth was now sat across from them.
"Welcome to the world of the living Seaweed Brain." the familiar voice was teasing and Percy found herself yawning, "You really wore yourself out with those waves huh."
"Biggest thing I've ever done." Percy gave a somewhat lopsided shrug as she sat up and Luke moved, his arm slipping away from her shoulder.
"You were pretty out of it Sephie." Luke's voice was slightly concerned "You feeling okay?"
"Yeah." Percy nodded.
She considered telling Luke and Annabeth about her meeting with Thalia-but it would probably only upset Annabeth-and she didn't even know if it was really Thalia or just a figment of her imagination because she'd been thinking about the girl so much.
She did however have to tell them about Grover, which was why she shifted in her seat, brushing her hair out of her face, the loose strands falling in her eyes. "You guys remember I told you about my first dream with Grover?"
"Of course." Luke nodded, "How could we not?"
"Well I had another one-he says that he established something called an empathy bond with me so that he could reach out and talk to me in my dreams."
"He did?" Annabeth leaned forward, "You've spoke to him? Is he here? Were we right?"
"We definitely were." Percy nodded quickly, "And we were right about it being the Fleece that he was drawn too."
"That's good." Luke grinned, "We're definitely on the right track then. So do you know where exactly we need to go."
"I do. Polyphemus' island."
"Polyphemus?" Annabeth's eyes widened and her face paled-and Percy winced, remembering how Annabeth had initially reacted to Tyson, remembered Annabeth's explanation as to just why she was so terrified of Cyclopes', and Percy reached out, leaning over the table and grabbing her best friends hand and squeezing it reassuringly.
"We can handle it. I know we can."
"Of course." Annabeth nodded, letting out a breath, getting a determined look on his face, "We'll find Grover and save Thalia."
"We'll work out the details when we're close enough to get a good look at the island." Luke decided, "What is Grover even doing there by the way-
don't the nasty Cyclopses tend to eat Satyrs?"
Percy couldn't help the way her lips twitched, "Well Luke, look at it this way. You might not actually have the most embarrassing story coming out of this quest. I feel like as bad as getting turned into a guinea pig, ending up sorta engaged to a Cyclops is probably worse-"
"Wait seriously?" Luke's eyes narrowed, "Are you saying-"
"Does Polyphemus want to marry Grover?" Annabeth gasped out, her hands flying to cover her mouth to stifle her stunned giggles, "How in Hades name did that happen?"
"I assume he put on the wedding dress while trying to hide from Polyphemus, and somehow he convinced him that he was wearing Satyr perfume-and since Polyphemus is partially blind-"
"He thinks Grover is a lady Cyclops." Luke said slowly, "He wants... that... okay that is so much worse than getting turned into a guinea pig. At least I'm definitely not coming out of this quest with the worst story."
"Well." Annabeth grinned, "Percy and I will make sure you both never live it down I know that much. Is he going to be okay until we get there Percy?"
"He said he'd be able to drag it out for a couple more days." Percy nodded, "It's not ideal but we should have enough time to get there and figure out how to rescue him."
"Good." Luke nodded, "So we're going to Polyphemus' Island. That sound be interesting." he ran his fingers through his hair, messing it up as he did. "Annabeth, can you come up with some sort of a strategy based on the old myths?"
Annabeth almost preened at that, straightening up and nodding, "Of course. From the sounds of it Grover is in Polyphemus' lair itself right?" at Percy's nod she continued, "Did you see the Fleece inside at all."
"No." Percy shook her head, "Not that I know exactly what I'm looking for."
"It should stand out somewhere like that." Annabeth pointed out, "Which means it's probably not inside." she frowned, "I'd say we'll have to split up-Luke do you have your shoes.
"I always have my shoes." Luke grinned, "Good to know they'll be useful."
"We'll want you to do a flyover, see if you can give us a rough idea of how the island looks, where we need to go. One we know that we can plan it better but I think you'd be best finding and retrieving the Fleece while Percy and I get to Grover- in the old myths Polyphemus called for his father to curse Odysseus, I don't think that Lord Poseidon would curse either of us Luke but I know for a fact that he won't curse Percy."
"That's a good point." Percy nodded, "We're both kids of Poseidon that puts us on a slightly more even footing."
"See, see this is why you're in charge at Capture the flag." Luke remarked, "Because you're the best strategist we have." he leaned over, ruffling Annabeth's hair, which made her blush and swat his hands away.
"Shut up Luke."
"No, no he's right." Percy grinned, "Face it Annabeth, you're the best."
"I'm a daughter of Athena. Athena always has-"
"A plan." Percy finished with a grin, ""Which is why it should be mandatory to have one on every single quest ever."
If anything Annabeth's blush got brighter, and Luke and Percy's laughter filled the air. And there was a sense of hope around them.
