A/N: To all the people who bookmarked this story, or favorited or followed this story (Big Thank You to you all!).
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Rachel Elizabeth Dare swore silently, cursing her calculus textbook in five different languages. For all the knowledge and power that she now had as the Oracle of Delphi, she still couldn't solve this one problem. Just this one problem! But nope, being the Oracle of Delphi meant giving prophecies at the weirdest of times, and turning into some green eyed mummy.
"Fuck," she slammed her head onto the table, eyes watering at the impact.
Why can't this stupid gift be useful for once? she thought to herself.
Later, when the young Oracle looked back and wondered what had gone wrong that day, she would realize that it was that string of thought that had started it all.
It began with the vision.
For probably the hundredth time, Rachel inhibited someone else's body, probably some wind god or spirit or something. She floated above the Argo II along with an entire platoon of wind spirits.
Why not attack?
"Dylan," Rachel felt her head turn, "Tell Gaea the Argo II is two days away."
The wind spirit, Dylan?, nodded and morphed. It was not a pleasant experience.
Seconds later, Rachel was left with a churning stomach and blurry vision.
She stood atop Mount Olympus, in the eye of a churning whirlwind of earth and some dark substance. Before her, rising from the mud, was a stone slab etched intricately with a Greek lettering, telling the rise and slumber of Gaea. It reminded her much of Kronos' coffin, but seemed to have an almost gravitational pull upon her soul, an urge to lie upon it, and sacrifice her soul.
The wind spirit began talking to the stone, "Milady, they are only two days away."
A warm, yet also chilling voice responded, "Good. Prepare my sons, tell them that our moment of vengeance is nearly upon us."
"Of course, Milady."
"Please, call me Gaea, I do not wish to be worshipped and feared, only loved and respected."
"Yes Mi-Gaea."
As Dylan turned, and began to leave, Gaea called out, "Oh! And one more thing."
Rachel could feel the wind spirit freeze in fear.
"Yes?" his voice was shaky.
"I think you deserve a promotion, Dylan," even though Rachel couldn't actually see the goddess, she sensed the smile that must have spread across her face. "For allowing me to deliver such an important message to a certain acquaintance of mine."
Impossible, she cannot know I am here.
And then the storm cleared, revealing a legion easily five times the size of Rome's.
"Your legion is outnumbered, this is your last chance to surrender, Percy Jackson."
She thinks I'm Percy.
"Is that a no?" Gaea whispered.
Rachel struggled to answer, but her mouth wouldn't move.
"Very well, I respect your bravery."
"But are you brave enough to face my husband a second time?"
And then everything went dark.
Percy stood at the front of the ship, his unseeing sea green eyes burning with a new intensity. They didn't seem to register the hand waving frantically in front of his eyes, or the other flying ship that grew closer and closer by the second. And that couldn't have been possible, because the other ship was a massive trireme, shining like a second sun with all the armor and equipment scattered across its deck. If the ship hadn't been so close, Piper might've mistaken it for Apollo's chariot.
"Percy!" Piper shouted.
She waved her hand in front of his face, but he didn't respond.
"WAKE UP!" This time, Piper refused to be ignored, pouring conviction and anger into her voice. Immediately, he recoiled and stumbled, falling to the ground. If the other ship hadn't been there, Piper might've laughed at his expression.
She grasped his arms, and struggled to haul him up, barely managing to succeed.
"What the fuck was that for?" he shouted angrily.
Piper only needed to point.
"Why didn't you wake me up earlier?" he muttered under his breath.
"Me? You were supposed to be on lookout anyways!" she sighed, shaking her head, "Never mind, it doesn't matter, we have to do something."
"No shit."
Percy raised his arms, muttering something along the lines of "stupid voice" and "stupid ship".
Voice?
She filed that thought away, reminding herself to ask Percy about it later.
And suddenly, the sea, which had to be at least hundreds of feet beneath them, came to life.
Hands sprang out from the water, massive cyclones that stretched far up into the sky, and grabbed at the boat, holding it suspended and a safe distance away from the Argo II.
"Where's Leo?"
"LEO!" Percy shouted.
"What's up Aquaman?" he shouted back.
"Get the rest of the guys here!" Percy told him.
Seconds later, the seven all stood at the prow of the ship, staring at the heavily armed ship clutched in Percy's watery fists. Annabeth walked up to his side, and placed a hand around his waist, a gesture that had an instantaneous effect. Percy immediately relaxed, and the pain in his eyes and face dropped as he struggled to keep the cyclone up.
"Leo, can you talk to them?" His teeth were clenched, and he struggled to get the words out.
"Uh... Yeah, sure."
Leo took out a megaphone from his tool pouch, which looked vaguely familiar.
"You recognize it?" he smirked.
"Coach Hedge's megaphone?" Piper grinned.
"Yup."
Annabeth cut them off. "Now's not the best time," she glanced worriedly at Percy, who was now beaded with sweat.
Leo nodded, and lifted the megaphone to his lips, but the other ship spoke first.
Hello, little demigods. The voice was cold, lifeless, seemed to suck the air right out of Piper's lungs
Percy's watery fists suddenly collapsed, and he stumbled.
"No, no, no, no, that's not possible..." he whispered.
Annabeth didn't look much better, the terror in her eyes were almost infectious, and she was suddenly clutching at Percy's shirt, both of their eyes wide and unbelieving. A tear leaked from Percy's eyes and he buried his face into Annabeth's shoulder.
"We're gonna be okay, Percy, we're gonna be okay."
He only shook his head, but something didn't seem right.
The voice laughed, Normally, I would sit these wars out, but this one? Oh no, I believe it is finally the time for the gods to fall, the voice paused for a second. And for me to finish business with a son of Poseidon.
Percy seemed to age ten years — his back slumped, his face grew weary and sad.
"How are you even here?" he shouted.
Ah, Perseus Jackson, you have survived surprisingly long. For that, you have my respect. Very well, I will answer your question. It was my dear wife that was kind enough in giving me this body, although it is temporary and weak. It would bring quite the smile upon her face if I were to capture you and the daughter of Athena.
This, unfortunately, will have to be the end of your little trip.
A tendril of black lightening streaked from the ground and slammed into the Argo II, plowing through the bronze shields and streaking towards Annabeth. With inhuman speed, Percy sprang up, straight into the path of the bolt of shadow. It sent him flying, and he crashed into the Argo II's mast.
"PERCY!" Annabeth screamed, rushing forward.
"Everybody, MOVE!" Piper yelled.
Jason was the first to unfreeze, grabbing Leo and shooting off toward the control station. Seeing Jason awake broke Tartarus' spell over Frank and Hazel's mind, and they sprinted off, leaving Percy and Annabeth still slumped against the mast, holding on to each other. Percy seemed to be okay, although his pupils were dilated and slightly dazed. Piper knelt next to them, and tried placing a comforting hand on their shoulders.
"What's wrong?" Piper asked.
Annabeth's voice was croaky and barely a whisper, "The voice, it's him."
"Who's him?"
"Tar-" she choked. "Tartarus."
And then Piper understood, Annabeth and Percy's sudden fear, the shame and the trauma that was etched in every feature of their body.
Percy clutched at his head, shaking, "It's him again. That voice, I've been hearing it every minute of the last few weeks, every fucking minute!"
"I thought - I thought that when we finally got out, it would all be over," he looked up, eyes empty and broken. "It's only gotten worse... so much worse."
For a moment, Piper was entranced, those eyes, usually warm, beautiful, and calm, were cold, angry and terrified, and completely shattered. She felt something in herself break as well.
After everything they've done for Olympus, the Fates still cast them into Tartarus?
And Nico, oh gods, he had it so much worse. At least Percy and Annabeth had each other, and managed to escape, he was all alone, subject to whatever fate the monsters would've wished upon him.
Another tendril of electricity slammed into the ship.
Percy swore, "Piper, Annabeth, go. They need you guys. I - I need to catch my breath for a while."
His eyes met Piper's, and were silent and pleading. Please, get her out of here.
Piper nodded, steeling herself. She didn't know what Percy had in mind, but she trusted whatever it was he was planning.
"O - okay. Let's go, Annabeth."
Annabeth glanced at Percy uncertainly.
"It's alright, Wise Girl, I'll be okay," he forced a grin. "You're needed, now go and save the day."
The daughter of Athena flashed an uncertain smile, "I will."
Annabeth forced herself up, a new confidence in her eyes. As she turned, and began to leave, something seemed to stop her, and she jerked upright. Annabeth suddenly spun around and crashed into Percy, pulling him into her embrace, and kissed him, hard and long enough for it to get awkward for Piper.
Percy was the first to pull away, mouth slightly parted, but grinning nonetheless.
"For old time's sake, right Wise Girl?"
For once, Annabeth didn't say anything back, and only held onto Percy tighter.
"But seriously, be careful, alright?" Percy whispered.
A tear slipped from Annabeth's eye, and she squeezed her eyes shut.
"I will, but you better not die, Perseus Jackson."
"Promise I won't," he winked, slightly grimacing. "Love you Wise Girl."
And suddenly, they broke apart, and Piper watched as Annabeth turned her head and stiffly walked away. She sprinted after her, just barely noticing Percy's sad gaze upon her back. Piper forced herself to ignore it, and caught up with Annabeth.
The proud demigod refused to meet her questioning look.
"Sorry about that," Annabeth muttered, clearly embarrassed.
"What do you mean! You guys are so sweet!"
"Whatever, Piper."
She only laughed, and jogged off to help Leo and the rest of the crew.
I'm back, couldn't stay away from this story XD
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