Vanishing Hero

by gpbumann

Guardian story pulling from others I've read. Camp turns their back on him in their time of peace, tossing him aside like a blunted weapon. He discovers his parents death and subsequently the orphaning of his sister. Vanishes from the Greek world only to return years later, changed. Pertemis pairing, Hestia patroning, and Hera adoption. Will update as views go hopefully I get some

3. Chapter 3

Chapter 3: Normality

3RD PERSON POV

Percy has been traveling throughout Canada for the past year training and fine tuning his birthright abilities to unmatched potential. He began training with temperature manipulation of water on his own finding no success. Frustrated, he steeled his determination and took a step back to try simply controlling ice. Not creating it on his own or manipulating nearby water to cool to the solid state, but starting with the snow itself. It was straining work. His muscles were aching constantly, but after some time he was able to use the snow to create barriers and shapes to his liking. However he couldn't take the water itself and manipulate its state of matter. That is, until he met someone he hoped he wouldn't come across again.

~Flashback~

Percy had been out in the cold wilderness of Canada for 2 months on his own finally being able to manipulate the snow that coated the forest on his own, but was still unable to take the water from the flowing stream and turn it to ice or steam. Beyond frustrated, he let out a massive yell before falling on his back in the snow and sighing deeply.

"Well, look at how the little hero has turned out." He snapped up and drew Riptide at inhumane speeds and took up a defensive position against the voice. "Relax hero, if I wanted to kill you, I would've already done it."

"Khoine." he growled. "What do you want? I already put Gaea back in her slumber, there's no need to fight me now." "Tsk. Tsk." she clicked with a smirk on her face making Percy feel very uneasy. "After you demigods managed to escape me and I heard word of Gaea's slumber, I simply returned to my ice palace to escape retribution from the Olympians." Percy eased up slightly at this, but still remained on guard. "So, what do you want?" he nearly spat at her. "I see you're exploring the extent of your father's powers and trying to manipulate the ice. I wish to offer you a deal." Khoine said with a sickly sweet smile on her face.

Percy narrowed his eyes and motioned for her to continue."If you can defeat my annoying brothers in combat, I will train you." Percy stared at her wide-eyed before narrowing them again and asked, "And pray tell, why would you want me to defeat them? How do I know this isn't a trap?" She chuckled lightly at this and said, "Again hero, if I wanted you dead, then you would be. Besides, my brothers are annoying brutes who bicker with each other all day and then complain to me about it."

Percy weighed his options. On one hand, he would progress much faster with the Goddess of Ice and Snow directly training him. But what was to stop her and her brothers from keeping him trapped and torturing him for his exploits in the Second Giant War? After contemplating for 5 minutes, he had his answer. "Alright Khoine. But you must swear on the Styx this isn't a ploy to capture and torture me." She rolled her eyes at the demigod and said "I swear it on the Styx." Thunder rumbled in the background and she flashed him to her palace.

Percy's fight with the brothers of the snow goddess wasn't the hardest he had been in. Not by a long shot. But trying to adapt on the fly to the icy ground while dodging strikes from the two gods wasn't all sunshine and rainbows either. Eventually he saw his opening. He blasted one of the brothers with a high pressured stream of water to buy time as he parried the strike of the other and disabled him, hitting the hilt of his katana to the temple. He fell like a sack of bricks. He then rushed the disoriented brother whom he blasted with water and slipped into his guard with one of his throwing knives at the god's throat and his katana at the back of his neck.

Khloine stood from her throne and clapped at the display of skill shown by the demigod that wasn't present years ago. "Rest now Perseus. Tomorrow we begin your training." And she flashed him to a room where he proceeded to collapse onto the bed and drifted off to a dreamless sleep.

~End Flashback~

PERCY POV

As a year of my training came to a close, I had discovered full control over water in all its states and it proved extremely useful. I was able to summon weapons of ice in the event I was ever disarmed, could superheat the water to steam to provide distractions, and even my powers over the liquid form were strengthened. The trick to learning it all was a shift of my mind. Naturally for liquid water, my usual free flowing and unpredictable state of mind played off of my powers, allowing free reign over the water. With steam and vapor, my mind state was often one of serenity and calm, unlocking the gaseous manipulation of the molecules to serve as distractions and blinding attacks. Ice manipulation was the hardest to learn. Khoine repeatedly lectured me that my mind needed to be cold, calculating, and decisive to obtain full mastery over the solid state. I often found myself with an emotionless mask whenever I called upon this power. I became purely objective, no room for subjectivity.

By the end of my year in training, my final test was to fight Khoine herself and she is not an Ice Queen for nothing. The battle lasted for nearly an hour and I was drenched in sweat by the end of it. But I finally beat her by using an ice barrier to block one of her attacks. It didn't buy me a lot of time, but enough to create an ice clone of myself (an ability I trained in secret). Khoine was shocked as the clone rushed her, but regained her composure and dispatched it quickly, but not before I vapor traveled behind her and had a knife at her back and katana against her neck.

KHOINE POV

I was thoroughly impressed by the son of Poseidon's performance in the final test. The ice clone was completely unexpected and served its purpose to draw my attention long enough for him to subdue me. "I am impressed, Perseus. You've exceeded my every expectation over the past year." I smiled with pride at my student as he rubbed his neck sheepishly before a shit-eating grin was plastered on his face. "Thank you Lady Khoine, and please for the millionth time, call me Percy." I shook my head as his antics. "Perse-Percy. You have learned all I can teach you, but I don't doubt that you will find ways to improve these abilities further on your own. If that ice clone is anything to go by, you may even surpass me." "Thank you milady," he said with a mischievous smirk on his face. "Now before you return to your travels, I have a gift." He looked at me questioningly as I pulled out an icy blue pen. He took the pen and clicked it to reveal a duplicate of Riptide, but made of Stygian Ice.

PERCY POV

I started at the new sword in disbelief. It was twin to Riptide and beautiful. "T-Thank you milady!" I looked like a kid on Christmas as I gave it a few practice swings, first by itself and then with Riptide in my other hand. 'Looks like I have new sword techniques to develop' I thought giddily. "What will you name it?" Khoine asked sweetly as a smile graced her lips. I thought for awhile testing out names. 'Blizzard? No, that's not quite it. RipIce? No, too cliche.' Then it hit me. "Frostbite." As I spoke its name the sword faintly glowed icy blue and hummed in approval.

"Very well," Khoine said with pride in her eyes. "Wield it well Percy." Khoine said before bidding me farewell. 'Another year gone and it's almost time for school to start for Estelle. Gods she's so excited to get off of Olympus. Good thing Hera arranged for an apartment in Seattle for us, that way she can attend school and stay with the Amazons while I'm away on rescue missions.

3RD PERSON POV

Hera and Percy had discussed that Estelle would attend school in the mortal world in Seattle once she was old enough. Hera was slightly upset about her little girl leaving her, but Percy insisted that she should try to live as normal as she was able to, something he never got the chance to do. Estelle was excited as she finally would be around kids her own age with enough similarities to make friends. Both children however promised to visit and Iris Message their mother about the developments in their lives, though Estelle more than Percy as he would be receiving assignments from both his mother and Hestia.

ARTEMIS POV

Throughout the year since I discovered that aura, the hunt has been searching with new vigor. Some of them speculated that it very well could be Perseus, but we weren't certain. The only thing we knew was that whoever it was must be found. We followed the lead to the north shortly after the discovery and I tried to reach out with my senses and grasp for any inkling as to where it was, but within 2 months of the discovery it had vanished again. I felt like a failure. Me. Goddess of the Hunt has NEVER gone this long chasing my prey and it was a huge hit to both mine and the hunters egos. We found several campsites that seemed to be used, but none of them formed any discernible pattern. But I had my hunters press on. 'Hopefully I will catch a break soon.'

POSEIDON POV

4 years. 4 years and no trace of my son's existence. Artemis shared with the Council about her discovery of the aura a year ago and we all hoped it was Percy. My favorite son. That spawn of Athena caused him to disappear and I miss him terribly. And my poor Sally. I felt grief well up in my heart for the amount of suffering I caused my son and his mother. Amphitrite and Triton even began to sympathize and wanted to make amends with my boy.

I don't know how much longer I can go on desperately trying to cling to hope. 'It'll be okay brother. He's not dead. He will come back to us.' Hestia said in my mind. I turned to look at her and she offered me a warm smile, no doubt her abilities over hope backing it up. I gave her a slight nod before flashing out to my kingdom to see if there were any new leads on my boy.

ANNABETH POV

I sighed deeply as I gazed upon the construction of the new city I had designed after the war. Mother and I finished our plans 2 years after he disappeared and construction of the city was going smoothly. But with the designs done and construction underway, I found myself with more free time and that didn't help the crushing guilt I felt. I wasn't upset at myself for accepting godhood, if anything I was slightly angry that he didn't and that he walked out on us. 'No. Me. He walked out on me.'

Despite all of these feelings, I hated myself for it. I knew he wouldn't accept and I know if he could go back he wouldn't change anything. Maybe my pride had finally caught up with me. With another deep sigh, I headed to the dining pavilion to go eat and I couldn't help but think, 'Wherever you are Seaweed Brain, I hope you're happy and doing well. Just come back and maybe we can rectify this and give it a chance.'

~Timeskip 1 month~

PERCY POV

I woke up in a cold sweat and panicked. Ever since I returned to the land of the gods, my nightmares of Tartarus have begun to stir back into my mind.

~Dream Sequence~

Ann- no she and I were in Tartarus. The House of Night to be specific and about to die at the hands of Akhlys and her poison. In a pure fight or flight response, I felt a painful tug in my gut and began manipulating the poison like I do with water. I ended up saving us by using her own poison to kill her, but SHE never looked at me the same after that.

~Dream Sequence End~

I calmed down and went to the kitchen to get a glass of water. Mom and Hestia set Estelle and I up in a small, but homey apartment in Seattle for Estelle to go to school. It wasn't all that big, but had two rooms, a shared bathroom adjoining said rooms, kitchen and living room. I made sure it was on the ground floor in case of an emergency and I needed to get Estelle out through the window. 'I might be a bit of an overprotective brother' I thought, chuckling lightly and drinking my water, revitalizing my energy.

I crept to Estelle's room to check on her and she was still fast asleep. No doubt excited for school to start tomorrow. I had Mom make a charm necklace that connected the two of us so I would know if she was ever in any danger. 'Yeah. Definitely overprotective.' I shook my head and went back to bed, but I couldn't sleep. Not out of fear of the dream, well slightly, but also because my mind began to race at the possibilities of what I could control with my the amount of water in the human body I can detect from my training, I tried to wrap my brain around the possibilities. I sighed one last time and drifted off back to sleep.

ESTELLE POV

I woke up early, but who could blame me? I start school today! Yeah it's just kindergarten and from what I've heard from big brother, school isn't all that great, but I finally get to meet people my own age! I scrambled out of bed and rushed to Percy's room to find him asleep and drooling. I shook my head and giggled at him before climbing onto his bed and poking his cheek.

"Broooother." I got no response so I tried again. "Brooootherrr." Still nothing. I stood up and jumped right on top of him, getting a groan in response. I giggled at him. I know he's not a morning person. "Wake up! It's the first day of school!" He rolled over and sighed "Good morning my little star." I just rolled my eyes at him and then he grabbed me and started tickling me. I couldn't escape and through the laughing fit I squealed, "S-Stop it!". "Come on, I'll make you a special breakfast," he said smiling as he picked me up and he headed for the kitchen.

Thanks to Auntie Hestia and Mommy, our kitchen magically replenished all the cupboards and refrigerator every few days, that way Brother wouldn't have to go get a job. I was going about the apartment making sure all of my school stuff was together for my first day. Backpack, snacks, and my favorite peacock plushie that Mommy gave me for my 2nd birthday.

"Esteellee! Come eat." my brother called out to me and I rushed into the kitchen to see two plates stacked high with pancakes. I smiled as Brother pulled out my chair for me and was about to dig in when I noticed the pancakes were blue. "Brother?" "Yes my little star?" he said smiling at me. "Why are the pancakes blue?"

PERCY POV

"Why are the pancakes blue?" I froze. Because Estelle was barely a year old when our mother died, it wasn't something I sought to openly talk with her about all the time. She knew about the Greek world from Hera and Hestia of course, but if I could spare her at least some heartache, I would. Who wouldn't?

"Well my little star, blue is my favorite color and mom used to make me blue food all the time and especially on big days like the first day of school. Besides, it's more fun than regular old pancakes right?" I managed to get out with a small smile, hoping she couldn't see the grief welling up inside my soul. "Do you mean Mommy Hera?" she asked innocently and it broke my heart. "No Estelle. I mean mom." I said softly. "Okay!" she said cheerfully and began to eat. After we ate, I helped her get ready to leave the apartment.

The apartment was a few blocks from the school and we walked hand in hand while mortals on the sidewalk gave us weird looks. Probably thinking I was too young to be a parent or otherwise was some delinquent who knocked some poor girl up. I didn't pay them any mind though. As long as I had Estelle with me, I didn't care.

Estelle gave me one last hug and a kiss on the cheek before bounding off into school and I couldn't help but smile. I quickly vapor traveled to the roof of the school and reached out with my senses to make sure no monsters were near. Once satisfied that I found nothing, I returned to the apartment to experiment with my water abilities on other liquids.

I sat in the living room with juices, sodas, and the blue food dye from breakfast in front of me and began meditating. After several minutes, I felt the tug in my gut and my eyes snapped open. I gestured to each liquid in front of me, feeling the water that lay in each mixture and began to manipulate it into desired shapes. After a couple hours of this, I was satisfied, got dressed, and grabbed my weapons to go to the woods to train.

My archery skills were polished, my katana surgical, and my dual wielding was coming along nicely when I felt multiple prescences nearby. I quickly vapor traveled to the top of a tree a couple miles away and observed something I hadn't hoped to see so soon. The Hunters of Artemis were engaged in battle against a group of about 60 monsters.

THALIA POV

The hunters and I were engaged in battle with a group of about 60 monsters just outside of Seattle. We had tracked the group for a few days before catching and ambushing them. Silver arrows rained down destroying any and all organization they had and a few of the older hunters, along with myself, Atalanta, Phoebe, and Lady Artemis rushed to engage in close quarter combat. I brandished my spear and shield, Aegis and began to slice and stab anything daring to get in my way.

The battle only lasted about 5 minutes as the rest of the monsters scattered and tried to flee. Battles never seemed to last as long nowadays. Probably the result of nearly 30 irritated hunters not being able to track down the mysterious aura Artemis sensed a year ago. As the hunters grouped up to assess any damages, we missed one dracnae who notched and arrow and fired without my notice.

PERCY POV

I watched with satisfaction as the hunters dispatched the group with ease in a storm of silver arrows. Artemis was something else. She fought with an unknown tenacity that was almost feral. And yet, she had the elegance and grace of a dancer. Dodging strike after strike in a whirlwind of gold dust. I felt a light blush creep into my cheeks as I watched.

Thalia was also a force to be reckoned with. Stabbing anything that got near her with her trusty spear and battering enemies away with Aegis. My heart leapt at seeing her and Artemis again. So much so that I nearly climbed down to hug them, but then thought better of it. As I turned to leave, I noticed an arrow flying straight toward Thalia while her back was turned.

My heart dropped, but before the grief could settle in, I summoned Nightshade from the now glowing tattoo on my arrow and fired with insane speed to intercept the arrow in the air. The arrows collided a few meters from Thalia who whipped around to see what had happened, but Artemis was quicker. She notched an arrow faster than me and hit the dracnae between the eyes causing it to explode into gold dust. I sighed from relief and quickly vapor traveled away before they noticed I was there.

ARTEMIS POV

I quickly dispatched the last dracnae who tried to pick off my lieutenant and whipped back around to the hunt to make sure everyone was okay. They are like my children/sisters after all. Then I noticed the arrow embedded in the ground a few meters in front of Thalia. It wasn't a hunter's. The jet-black arrow had an icy blue lining along the arrowhead, almost like frost. But the strangest thing about it was the tiniest fraction of the hunters aura that seemed to surround it.

I quickly climbed to a vantage point in a tree and pushed my senses outward to see if anything was out there, but whatever or whoever it was was already long gone. 'They escaped me again Di Immortales'. I regained my composure and joined the hunt only to be bombarded by questions. I held my hand up for silence and got it immediately. "That arrow was fired by the same person we are trying to track down. At least now we know whoever they are, they reside somewhere in the Pacific Northwest." I said gazing upon all my hunters and then stopped at Thalia.

"Set up camp. This is the newest and best lead we have." The hunters complied, but Thalia hung back with her head held down. "Do not fret my lieutenant. I should've sensed that attack coming. You are not at fault for this." She sighed deeply and spoke, "It's not that Milady. It's just that… I was hoping - no praying that this person we are tracking was Percy." She finally looked at me with tears threatening to spill from her electric blue eyes. "But that Kelp-Headed idiot wouldn't be able to make such an accurate shot so quickly."

I hadn't even considered that and now I too was somber. I too was hoping that this mysterious aura was our and admittedly MY missing hero. "Do not give up hope Thalia. He is still out there and we will find him and this figure. Maybe they know of Perseus's whereabouts." Thalia looked at me quickly. Thalia gave a reluctant nod before running off to help set up camp.

'Gods dammit Perseus. Where are you?' was my last thought before returning to my own tent.

PERCY POV

After saving Thalia, which in hindsight was NOT my best move considering I wanted to stay hidden for a little longer, I went to pick up Estelle from school. She chatted my ear off about her first day and how much she loved it. She already has a couple of friends and, much to my satisfaction, thinks boys are gross and have cooties.

I laughed heartily at that and told her, "Oh is that right? You do know I'm a boy right? Does that mean I have cooties too?" wiggling my eyebrows at her in a playful manner. She just rolled her eyes at me and told me, "You're my big brother you don't count." I laughed another hearty laugh at this. Gods it felt good to genuinely laugh again. As we made our way home for the day.

3RD PERSON POV

For the next 7 months, that was the schedule for Percy and Estelle. Often getting visits from their mom and Aunt Hestia to enjoy dinner together and talk about Estelle's schooling and assigning Percy missions.

Percy continued his training while Estelle was at school and in between rescue missions, saving both Roman and Greek demigods and sending them to their respective camps or to the Hunt if their circumstances were… less than pleasing. After Percy's close call with the Hunt on Estelle's first day of school he began experimenting with his water abilities on living things and himself.

He found that he could draw the water out of plants causing them to wither and die, as well as manipulate the blood within beings and get them to do what he wanted. Of course he never harmed wildlife or other people; no, he saved that ability for the monsters, both mortal and Greek, he came across. Making them inflict wounds on each other and restraining them against their will.

He also decided to test his abilities on himself to change his appearance, as the more demigods he rescued, the more likely someone was to describe his looks to the people he didn't want to be found by, even with a hood and half-mask. He manipulated the water in his own being to change his eye color, from a swirling sea green with an orange ring around the pupil to a deep ocean blue that seemed to dance like flames. He wanted to honor his heritage and patron still, so that is what he settled on.

He also altered his hair color. Once raven black, but now a dirty blonde that flowed like gold and honey at the ends. His hair was still shoulder length as he couldn't bring himself to cut it after his travels and contained the grey, now almost silver streak from holding the sky. And yes, if things got dicey he sported a man-bun that somehow worked for him.

When Percy took on his missions he adopted the name of his late brother "Theo" short for "Theseus", and Estelle stayed with Hylla and the Amazons. Hera had called in a favor and Theo met Hylla as Percy, to ensure that she would be taken care of and kept top secret. Hylla was enamored with little Estelle and Percy and Estelle both knew it. She had somehow gotten Hylla to agree to start training her in archery. Hylla was reluctant at first, but once Estelle gave her puppy-dog eyes and said she wanted to be able to help her big brother, she caved immediately.

Monster attacks still occurred on the same scale as the prior year, but they were getting more organized. They varied in size, but it was clear that someone was starting to pull some strings and it made Percy and the Olympians uneasy.

Percy was enjoying his peace. He still trained at least 5 days a week to keep his skills polished down to every last detail, but he was the happiest he had been in a long long time. The wounds to his heart were finally mending and he felt normal again, something that was few and far between for the demigod. Alas, the Fates would not have him get settled in peacetime. Not from lack of training, no. They were determined to fuck with his life again once more. And it would be coming sooner rather than later.

AN: That's it for Chapter 3! Percy is just about developed powers-wise. I got the idea from watching One Piece (big anime guy) that with his Earthshaker powers from Poseidon that he can channel them into martial arts forms similar to Whitebeard with the Gura Gura no mi. To come further in the next chapter: Percy is going to be discovered after saving the Hunt (typical Guardian stuff), but Estelle is going to join him (refuses to let him leave again really). But we shall see! Until next time y'all!