Hello my lovelies!
This chapter is relatively similar to what happens in the actual MoA.
I just wanted to say that this story will sometimes be a little canon (obviously adding Penelope!) and them again sometimes very different!
Though that's kinda obvious isn't it?
Ah well, just wanted to say it.
I think by now you have all realised that I'm not Rick Riordan, and if I were, I would be in trouble
Enjoy!
Chapter nineteen: A familiar feeling
~Penelope's POV~
After Leo had disappeared with the creepy Roman guy, Penelope felt a little lonely.
Jason and Piper had gone off to wander the streets of New Rome and Reyna had insisted on talking to Annabeth privately.
This left Penelope alone with Percy after the two other Roman kids, Frank and Hazel, had excused themselves as well.
"So.." Percy said, a little uncomfortably.
Penelope found it difficult to look at him directly. When she'd seen him for the first time, no special recognition had come to her, but when he'd introduced himself...
Somehow the words Perseus Jackson from his mouth had stirred something inside her, like the name of an old childhood friend. But that was impossible, or was it?
She decided to give it some more time.
"You're quite famous" she smiled at Percy, who blushed a little.
"Yeah, not really. Just annoyed quite a few people."
Penelope chuckled.
"So you've got amnesia as well, have you?" Percy asked, and for some reason Penelope didn't mind him asking her. Maybe because he had suffered from memory loss as well, maybe because he was simply nice.
"Yes. I woke up at camp without any idea who I was or how I got there."
Percy winced, his face sympathetic.
"Believe me, I can relate. It's a pretty crappy way to feel. But can't you remember anything at all?"
Penelope remembered Percy telling them how he'd still known the name Annabeth when he'd awoken at the wolf house. Sadly, the same wasn't true for herself.
"Only my name. Penelope R. Well, I guess that's not even my full name, is it" she laughed a little embarrassedly, but Percy didn't join in.
"That must be hard." he said, and Penelope was surprised at his compassion. Annabeth had always described him as a little, what had she said, full of kelp?
Yet Penelope decided she like this Percy Jackson. And maybe he could help her find out who she actually was.
So, she chose to trust him and said, looking directly into his sea green eyes,
"Listen, Percy. When I arrived at camp, the Hecate cabin wasn't the only one I felt a connection with. There was another one. Yours.
And when I heard Annabeth tell me your name, it rang some sort of bell, though I have no idea why. We haven't met before, have we?"
Percy's face was serious. He didn't answer immediately, hesitating.
Then, he said. "No, I don't think we have. But..." he struggled to find words "I kinda have the same feeling. That I know you. No idea why, though."
This surprised Penelope. So Percy recognised her, too. What did it mean?
"Hey," Percy smiled kind of helplessly at her, shrugging his shoulders "If it means anything, we'll probably find out soon. My guess it's just Hera messing with our heads again. Or the mist. Like that girl, Piper? Didn't she say that her and the Hephaestus guy thought they knew Jason as well?"
Penelope nodded, unconvinced.
Somehow, she knew that the familiar feeling between them was not a trick of the mist, but something else.
What, she didn't know.
"Maybe you're a descendant of Poseidon. Frank is." Percy offered.
He was kind of cute, in a scruffy way. Penelope only wished she knew why he felt so familiar, almost important, to her.
She opened her mouth to suggest they go find the others, when there was a huge boom like an explosion, coming from the direction of the Argo II.
"What was that?!" Percy yelled, starting to run towards the ship.
Penelope followed him, reaching to pull out the dagger-like knife she had taken to carrying around after the incident with Mormo. It was called a stylet, and out of all the weapons in the tool shed back at camp, it had felt the most fitting.
Then she realised it wasn't there, as the statue hadn't allowed them to take any weapons inside New Rome.
When Percy and her rounded the corner, it was a terrible sight.
Angry Romans were picking up random objects to use as missiles, aiming them at Piper and Jason, who were trying to fight them off, Piper desperately talking to the Romans.
But the charmspeak didn't work, and just then a brick hit Jason above the eyebrow, making him crumple to the ground.
"Piper!" Penelope yelled, as she charged through the angry crowd, getting punched in the side a couple of times. She didn't care though, all she needed to do was reach her friends, to protect them.
Then, another blast erupted right next to them, coming from the ballistae of the Argo II.
What was happening up there? Penelope thought desperately, as she tried to shield off more bricks and objects being thrown at them.
Dimly, she was aware that some of the Roman kids, Frank and Hazel, were trying to help them, and that Percy had reached the rope ladder with Annabeth.
Piper and herself dragged Jason over, with Hazel riding around on a magnificent horse to protect them.
The creepy Roman guy who killed stuffed animals came running at them, but Penelope slapped him across the face so hard he fell to the side, dazed.
"Quick!" Hazel yelled at them, and they latched onto the rope ladder, though Jason's dead weight pulled them down.
At that moment, a huge bird flew at them, grabbed Jason and flew away.
Piper shouted "No!" but Hazel yelled back "It's fine, it's Frank! Meet you later!" and she rode off, scattering the mob so Piper and Penelope could climb the ladder.
They reached the top to find Percy, Annabeth and Jason already there.
And standing at the ballistae, firing at New Rome stood ..
"Leo!" Penelope yelled, running at him and wrenching him away from the weapons. "What are you doing?!" she cried, scanning his face, which didn't look like her friend at all.
His eyes glowed golden, and his features were cruel. This was not Leo.
"Annabeth, something's possessing him!" Penelope yelled at the blonde girl, whose eyes widened in horror.
Just then, something hit the Argo II and the ship tipped precariously to the side.
Penelope had to loosen her grip on not-Leo to stop them from falling over, and not-Leo used the moment to shove her away, making her fall hard on her back.
For a moment, she couldn't breathe and stars danced before her eyes.
Then, she felt the ship shoot upwards, as Annabeth yanked at the controls.
With some effort, Penelope sat back up and saw Percy restraining Leo, who was still trying to get to the ballistae.
She hurriedly walked over to them, and did the only thing that came to her mind.
She slapped him across the face like Octavian, so that he staggered in Percy's arms.
But when he looked up at her, his eyes were mercifully their usual chocolatey brown colour.
"Pen..wha-?" he mumbled, before slumping over.
"Give him here" Penelope told Percy firmly, who complied willingly, giving her the motionless from of Leo.
Carefully, Penelope guided him onto the floor, putting his head in her lap.
"Oh Leo. What happened to you?" She murmured.
Just then, the boy's eyelids fluttered, and he opened them, confused at all the attention.
There was a lot of explaining to be done.