Hey what's up guys, the fourth installment of ACA is here! Finals are finally over and my happiness is at an all time low, so I decided to start writing some more. As always I don't own PJO or any of Rick Riordans intellectual property. Sadly. Hope you guys enjoy.

If nothing else Percy Jackson had great stamina. Sure he made more noise than the Minotaur in a china shop, and he had absolutely zero grace despite that he has covered a great distance in the span of a week and a half, and the knowledge of the impending hunters chasing him did not help his search for the other pantheons at all. Also Percy isn't the greatest at taking stock. What he believed to be enough food to last him a good while, at the very least the two weeks he had before the hunters had begun their hunt, Perseus Jackson had eaten it all. Well eaten wasn't the full story, as someone didn't think about the fact that he's sharing a large space with the local wildlife, and a family of raccoons had put a very large dent in Percy's supplies, along with one stealing his only silverware.

"All I know is if I don't do something soon then I'm fucked." Percy noted aloud.

"Language!" A very familiar voice said behind Percy causing him to almost get whiplash from spinning to look at the perpetrator quickly.

"But despite you horrid choice of words, I may just have the solution for my personal favorite demigod" Hestia said with a twinkle in her eye. "You honestly didn't expect me not to be watching you right Percy?"

The surprise on Percy's face had quickly been replaced by happiness as he lurched forward and hugged Hestia, not noticing the reddish-Brown glow that enveloped him as he hugged her.

"Well why would you be watching little ol' me?" Percy said coquettishly, not yet noticing what Hestia had already done.

"Because, Percy, you need us. And we need you. You could use some hope right now Percy. And I can help you there." Hestia said waiting for the demigod to catch on to her implications.

"Oh so you're gonna make me your champion or something?"

"Or something Perseus. I have already given you my blessing if you have not noticed yet, but you are much too important to be my champion alone. But with my help I have given you basic control over fire, the ability to summon food, and a few other small things that are currently unimportant." Hestia explained while pushing Percy slightly to get him to start moving forward again.

"I just don't know Hestia, what if I'm not enough." Percy said voice almost trembling.

"No Percy, not only is that not true, but for all our sakes you cannot think like that young hero. You realize all you've done correct," Hestia said looking him in the eyes while simultaneously stopping the short walk they started.

"Yeah, but"

That was as far as Percy got before Hestia cut him off with a genuine laugh

"No, Percy. No buts. You have done too much to discount yourself so quickly."

"I was never alone"

"Yes," Hestia said nodding her head, "and you'll never have to be. But to ensure that we have enough power, enough of a chance to win against the next threat, well... we will need anyone and everyone willing to help. That is your true power Perseus. Not your amazing fighting skills, or your unparalleled control of your domains, but your ability to unite people. Despite the consensus, Zeus knows what he's doing almost all of the time, and the mission he has sent you on was the most thought out thing he's done in centuries. It is good to see my brother need less of the hearth. You've given him hope, Percy. You've given us all hope."

Percy sat down on a stump, shell shocked. Being as dense as he was he never truly realized just how much he had done, maybe not just in deeds but in the relationships he has forged. "I guess when you put it that way, you're right Hestia. I know what I have to do."

"Well then Percy, what are you waiting for?"

Percy looked up, a glint in his eyes. "Well I have no clue where to start. My studies are confusing and inconclusive. There's too many theories on each and every mythology, I'm lost Hestia."

"Well I figured you'd need some help Percy, you are right in the fact that you're unable to do this alone. And that is the exact reason I have taken it upon myself to help you get started." She said handing Percy a compass. "Follow the arrow Percy. It may not point North, but it does point towards an ally. One who has been sent to aid you."

"Thank you Milady." Percy said, with a renewed vigor in his voice, and eyes. Before a confused look came into his eyes "how'd you even find out about my mission? Zeus said it was top secret, ya know. Like need to know."

"No matter how stoic and eccentric Zeus seems to be he is my baby brother. And he is unable to hide much from me, also I have friends in high places. Not to mention he fact that both you and Zeus are in need of the most hope recently. The stirring of a dark and ancient evil has been noticed Percy. More and more are becoming aware, I'm surprised it took this long in fact. Eventually others will start to seek you out. The next battle will be one of indiscriminate destruction. And it will effect us all."

"What are we facing Hestia?"

"I'm currently unaware. But what I do know is that it is old. And too powerful. Kronos, Gaia, the Egyptians struggles, and what has happened elsewhere, it's not a coincidence. Whatever it is that is coming, is already influencing the events that are currently unfolding." Hestia said as the thunder rumbled in the distance "I must go soon Percy. Just remember to come to the hearth whenever you need some hope." And with that Hestia turned into embers and floated away in the breeze.

"Thanks Hestia," Percy whispered on the wind, taking note of the warm breeze that caressed his face like a mother strokes her child's cheek, "for everything."

And on that note Percy began his trek westward once again, but with a general direction in mind now and a compass that would help him in his quest.

It wasn't but another day before Percy Jackson was in Salina, Kansas (not that Percy actually knew this). Now if you've ever been to Kansas then you know that it's a whole lot of nothing. Percy had begun to realize this very fast. The compass had led him to a dirt road in the middle of nowhere. In fact Percy was roughly thirty minutes away from the town where he currently stood. The compass had led him here and started freaking out. Spinning constantly and heating up to the point of Percy actually dropping the compass out of pain. Either Percy was in the right place or he broke the compass. Both were very possible knowing his track record. So Percy took stock of his surroundings. The dirt road he currently was on had a few houses along it, and a field beside it as well. The highway was easily visible and the sounds from it were actually quite calming. The night sky above him was the clearest he had seen in a very long time, easily making out the huntress and some of the other well known constellations. He was broke from his star gazing by a male voice.

"Perseus Jackson, I've been expecting you."

Percy spun around expecting a monster or a god of some sort, as anyone who used his full name either meant business or was intending to attack him. Either way riptide materialized in his hand, ready to strike down his foe, but what Percy saw throughly confused him. The sight that Percy was met with was that of a teenager, cracking up at Percy's reaction. He was roughly a year or so younger than Percy, he had short auburn hair, and was about the same height, perhaps a little shorter than Percy's average 5'9" height.

"Aw man I'm sorry dude, I just had too. Ah Percy it's good to meet you man, come on inside it's cold out here, as it's December and I am currently shirtless."

"Who are you?" Percy interrupted, thoroughly confused. Was this who Hestia had sent him to?

"Listen dude all will be explained let's go I'm freezin my balls off out here, shit"

And against whatever judgement Percy had, he followed the strange guy inside.

"Anyways Perce, can I call you Perce?" Simply nodding at the stranger Percy allowed him to continue "expecting you is a strong word, as I was only recently notified of your impending arrival, and of my new duty.

"Okay dude slow down first of all I don't know who the fuck you are, what you are, where we are, what is even going on right now?" Percy exploded looking at the stranger and demanding answers.

"All in good time Perce, all in good time. But to start off I am human, for now at least." The stranger explained while heading toward an open area with a large flat screen tv, and a few couches facing said tv. "You can call me J, as my name shall remain anonymous for the time being. In fact it's actually quite unnecessary as I have been tasked with helping you."

"Woah woah woah, what do you mean you're human 'for now'"

"I mean I am currently human, but that won't be the case forever? Come on Percy I heard you were dense but damn."

"Okay first tune the sarcasm down a bit, and second answer my question, 'J'. "

"Alright alright. What I meant was that while I am currently human, I am a 'high priest' to a very powerful entity. One that you will meet soon enough. Don't worry, he is a good guy. But my patron I guess is planning on making me immortal cause apparently he likes my company. He's an odd guy."

"Alright who's your patron then? Cause I can't think of any of the gods in Olympus that take mortal high priests other than Apollo, and he already has Rachel."

J looked at Percy eyebrows raised, " I never said anything about a god. He will make himself known when he so much as sees fit. But now Percy we must take into account the present." J said gesturing at a suit case and a book bag sitting next to him.

"Wait, What?"

"Hestia meant it when she said you won't be alone. We are heading out in the morning. I'll be driving you south. It's time to get started Percy."

"But I don't know you, and it's too dangerous for a mortal anyways."

"Woah Percy chill with the elitism, I get that you're an all powerful demigod and all but chill, I can handle my own."

"That's not what I meant J"

"Nah I know I just like teasing you, it's easy. But you need the help. As I'm sure you're aware, the hunt will begin their search for you quite soon, and you still don't know exactly where to start. That's where I come in and where my patron helps." J said, going from a joking tone to a serious one in seconds. "You trust Hestia, Hestia trusts my patron and he trusts me, Percy. In all honesty you don't have a lot of say in it. Cause either I take you to where you need to go, or I follow you wherever you decide to run off to until you come to your senses."

"Alright, alright. You're right I do need the help." Percy sighed rubbing his hand down his face, "when do we leave"

"We'll leave at dawn; go get a good nights sleep Perce. Your gonna need all you can get soon."

And with that Percy had made his first companion on his journey.

Thanks for reading guys, I plan on trying to continue to make chapters longer, and update a little more consistently. Just fair warning if you're reading this, my interpretation of the Norse gods will be my own, I'm going to act like the magnus chase series doesn't exist, mostly cause I never read it. Make sure to favorite, follow and review. I'm thankful for the support you guys have given me.