Hi readers, long time no see! Just kidding, I am so sorry that it has been literal years since I looked at this story. I had gotten so busy with school and never got back to it. However, with quarantine, I have reread PJO and rewatched Gravity Falls and felt this story calling back to me. I've had the ending of this story in my mind since I started it back in 2012, so hopefully I'll find the motivation to finish it. Since it's been a while, I recommend rereading the story, but not required. Seeing the occasional notification that one of you followed or commented reminded me why I loved these characters and wanted to continue. Thank you!
I was very stupid to make that oath, I know. It might be the first time I have ever done something without thinking logically. But I don't have time to worry about that right now. Luke definitely has something up his sleeve, and I'll need to make sure that my friends complete their quest safely. That means Luke's secret is safe with me, for now.
It's hard to see him as evil, though. I'm against him because I know Artemis will probably send me back to Hades and I'll get punished for all of eternity, but I can see why he's resentful. The gods haven't really done anything for me but put me into several life-threatening situations. But Mabel is my priority, and I would never do anything to put her life in danger. I suppose Luke doesn't have anyone like that in his life. At first, I thought that person was Annabeth, but even she seems oblivious to the hatred behind his eyes.
While the dark presence that spoke through Luke seems to have faded away, I'm still sweating in uncomfortable places. How do you continue a conversation after the other person threatens to destroy the gods? However, Luke picks up his speed to a light jog and turns back at me with his usual smile. It's uncanny… I'm not even sure who the real version of him is. We continue through the forest and make it to the "Welcome to Gravity Falls" sign where Annabeth, Travis, and Mabel are already gathered and planning our next steps. The sun is starting to rise and makes Mabel's sweater sparkles reflect on the trees like a tiny disco.
Annabeth is the first to hear us, and she runs up and grabs mine and Luke's hand. "Thank gods you guys are okay! We were worried you two had become gnome kings," she laughed. I was surprised to see her in such good spirits, but I suppose gnomes are pretty funny compared to the Greek monsters in the stories. She hauls us over to Mabel and Travis, who are standing closer to each other than how normal people would stand next to each other.
"Sorry my plan to summon Eris didn't go as planned," Annabeth apologizes. It's fine, no one could have predicted that Jeff would have tracked Mabel down so fast. "I really think that our plan could work. We've basically had the answer the entire time since we first found Harmonia," she explains.
The thought of summoning Eris, the goddess of chaos, sounds like a horrible plan that can't succeed under any circumstances. However, we don't really have any other choice. Apollo is expecting us to cure his donkey curse in… um… 4 days? I think it was originally 7 days left but the time in the underworld really threw us off course. But if we can find and convince Eris to give us the antidote, we might be able to finish early! That's the overachiever in me speaking.
We agree to follow Annabeth's plan. If we can try to call for Harmonia but think destructive thoughts, we might be able to get Eris to come to us instead of trying to hunt her down. "Alrighty, I'm sure we all have some childhood trauma to work through," Travis says with a cheeky grin. "Daddy issues. Mommy issues. The works." I guess one thing we all have in common are abandonment issues. I close my eyes and breathe in slowly. It probably wouldn't be a good idea to think about my, um, mother… since I'm a threat to her honor. But there's a lot of chaotic thoughts I have handy. Let's see… two weeks ago I learned that my parents have been LYING to me my whole life. Who even are they? I probably should have grilled Grunkle Stan but maybe he didn't know the entire truth. He's proven his loyalty to Mabel and me. Instead, I imagine what my so-called parents are doing right now. They probably got on a different flight to New York and are celebrating the holidays in the city… shopping around… completely forgetting that Mabel and I exist. I don't even think about all the other times I felt crappy in my life. I just see their faces.
"Oh honey, don't waste your thoughts on them. They for sure aren't sending you any well wishes."
I open my eyes, surprised that the voice isn't Annabeth or Mabel's, but another girl. I'm still by the Gravity Falls sign, but Mabel, Travis, and Annabeth are gone. It's just me, staring at Luke and a woman who looks like a bunch of people at once. One second I see Harmonia, but when I blink, I see my mother. My fake mother who abandoned us a week ago. Then I see Robbie, but it's just his face on the woman's body, which I almost laugh at.
"Why Luke, Dipper, it's about time we met. I thought you'd forgotten about me," she smiles, but it looks wicked. Luke still hasn't moved, his eyes trained on me. At least she addresses Luke, so I don't think that he has been working with her all this time.
"Eris. Where are my friends?" I reply, ignoring the fact that for a split second, I see the face of Artemis I saw in my dream back at Camp Half-Blood. She doesn't acknowledge my question and continues her monologue.
"I knew that Apollo would send the two most promising pawns to me. He really is the most foolish of all the Olympians," she muses. "Now, one of you will live. One will die. The decision is up to you."
