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Unbetad Version

Everlasting Fire: The Lightning Thief – Chapter 3


The Fishcake and the Beefcake


Naruto, Percy, and Grover tore through the night like ninjas on an emergency retreat after a failed assassination. The rain fell cold and the wind harsh against their forms as they ran along the road at full force, and away from their pursuer.

Naruto looked at Grover in the lead to see him gritting his teeth and running as fast as he could. It worried him to see his friend pushing himself to get the two of them to safety, despite how scared and nervous he was.

Thunder cracked and lightning flashed above them, and his ears caught a distinctive bellow in the distance. It really was hard to tell what was after them, or how far it was in this darkness and rain.

"So," he started, "mind sharing just where we are going?"

Grover didn't turn towards him. "The summer address I told you about,"

He looked at Percy, thinking back to their talk before Grover had arrived. "The place your dad wanted you to go to? The only safe place for demigods?"

"Yeah, though I never really wanted to go there before now." Percy spoke in a tight voice.

Grover casted a nervous glance at the son of Poseidon. "Mr. D isn't exactly happy about that, you know. Your father has been putting a lot of pressure on us to bring you to the camp but you always gave us the slip."

Percy remained silent at that.

Naruto was curious about this Mr. D but instead decided to ask, "So then why did you suddenly decide to go there now?"

A dark look crossed his black-haired friend's face. "It's not safe anymore, not only for me, but for you two as well."

"And not safe from what exactly?" Even though he said that, he did have a gut feeling about the whole thing.

"Oh nobody much," Grover began in a small, strained voice that was barely audible over the howling winds, "just the Lord of the Dead and some of his blood-thirstiest minions."

"What?" Naruto blinked at the rather blunt response, then shook his head. "Then wouldn't it be better to just fly? That would be fast–"

"What!? No!" Grover snapped so sharply, it was as if he had just been suggested a revisit to the Fates themselves.

"Yeah, we really should keep away from flying." Percy agreed and mumbled under his breath about being able to do without getting crushed, fried, and spat out of the sky.

Grover suddenly turned to Percy at that. "You can fly?" There was a look of disbelief at the nod he got in response, "but you are the son of the Lord of the Sea, you shouldn't be able to fly!"

"I don't know about shouldn't, but I can."

They took a left there and ran along a narrower road running past darkened farmhouses and wooded hills. Naruto opened his mouth to speak, and instantly shut it close when his instincts started tingling madly and he along with Percy tackled Grover forward mere moments before a bolt of lightning blasted the spot they had been on.

While they avoided a direct hit, it still sent crashing into the trees.

Naruto groaned as he recovered and sat upright mumbling, "Right… it's a bad idea to fly when the Lord of the Sky is pissed." He turned to look at his friends to see them gathering themselves as well. It was a good thing that they had reacted when they had, or they would not have come out with just these scratches.

It was then that a deep, rumbling growl caught his attention – his two friends also turning towards the source.

They saw the silhouette of a huge figure lumbering towards them on the shoulder of the road. As he got closer, there was another flash of lightning, allowing them to get a better view of the monster. A big, fuzzy bull head with two pointed horns was attached to a huge bulky body with coarse brown hair starting at about his bellybutton that got thicker as it reached his shoulders; with two large arms bulging with muscles and meaty hands swinging by his sides. He wore no clothes except for – as Percy would put it – a bright white Fruit-of-the-Looms.

Grover let out a terrified bleat. The half-man, half-bull was rather easy to recognize.

From his sitting position, Naruto started, "That's the Min–"

"Don't call out his name!" Percy cut in, "Names have power. Let's just call him Beefcake."

"What!? Beefcake!?" He was ignored.

Percy stepped forward and took out his cheap-looking ballpoint pen. He casually took the cap off, and it started transforming. In half a second, Percy held a shimmering medium length bronze sword with a double-edged blade, a leather-wrapped grip and a flat hilt riveted with gold studs.

While it was his first time seeing it, Naruto knew it was Percy's beloved sword, Riptide.

"Let's get this done with," said the son of the sea god as he started towards the bull-man closing in on them slowly and deliberately with every intention of ending it with the first strike. 'So much for trying to get away without a confrontation,' he thought.

"Wait Perce!" Naruto called out, jumping to his feet. "Let me handle it!"

Percy stopped and looked at the blond as he walked by and towards the Minotaur.

He made his way over to the monster that was snuffing and nuzzling, trying to pick up their scents with a determined face. And was soon face to face with him.

Naruto looked up at the monster with a smirk. "Hey, you, become my pet!" He exclaimed, leaving his friends dumbfounded. Not paying them any attention though, he continued, "You're Beefcake, and I'm Fishcake! We're meant to be!"

Percy deadpanned. "What is this? Some sort of messed up love confession?" He commented but was yet still ignored. Then again, it was Naruto and he did have his rather eccentric, impulsive tendencies. And admittedly, said Fishcake was not very good with words.

Naruto waited patiently.

Beefcake tilted his head to the side, took one sniff, and punched Naruto straight across the face. His head was sent snapping to the side with a loud crack!

The fishcake was silent for bit, then snapped his neck back in place, cracked it a few time, and spat out the blood and a couple of teeth. The remaining blood in his mouth lighting up in flames and healing the damage – his teeth regenerating.

He looked back up again and simply said, "I will take that as a no." In the next moment, the responding punch he dealt had his arm nearly entirely buried into Beefcake's abdomen.

The sound of bones breaking and flesh tearing was in the air before Naruto withdrew his fist and the Minotaur fell to his knees, groaning pitifully in pain.

Naruto turned and went back to his friends with a disappointed pout. "Let's just get going."

It was then that Beefcake started to try struggling to his feet with a pained and angry growl.

Percy sighed with Riptide resting on his shoulder. He then made his way over to the downed monster. "Don't just leave him to wander around the camp border." He said and in a swift strike, cleaved the Minotaur in two. The two halves then crumbled to sand and were carried away in chunks by the wind and the only thing left behind was a single horn.

He picked the horn up, stuffed it in his bag, and made his way back to his friends. "Spoil of war." he said to Naruto's questioning look. "Anyways, were you serious about wanting him as a pet?" He asked, not knowing just what to make of it.

Naruto shrugged. "I was. I was thinking he could be something like a Stand. You know, to summon and fight along with me. Now normally I would have liked giant toad monsters but since there aren't any – and you called him Beefcake – I thought he would do."

Percy raised an interested eyebrow but did not comment. There was probably more to it. Although, he did find it rather offending that Naruto would dare compare a Monster to a Stand!

"So how much further G-man?"

Grover, who had been staring at them in silent wonderment, seemed to snap out of it, "Huh? Oh, right, see that pine tree," he pointed towards what appeared to be the shadow of a huge tree at the crest of the nearest hill, "that's the property line. It's just over that hill and down the valley."

There was another flash of lightning and they saw what he meant.

Percy touched Riptide at the tip with the cap and it shrunk back to its pen form. He put it back in his pocket and followed his friends as they made their way over to the said pine tree and looked down to see the illuminated lights of the farmhouse situated at the heart of the valley.

They took to walking down the path before them, and after not too long, came upon a large stone structure of a gate with the words CAMP HALF-BLOOD written on top. There also appeared to be a figure riding a horse waiting for them.

When they reached the gate, Naruto's face lit up at seeing the familiar face of their Latin teacher standing there under the dim lighting. "Mr. Bru…" He trailed off when he saw that the said Latin teacher was not riding a horse like he first thought, but rather had his upper body grafted to the body of a huge white stallion from the trunk, "…ner?"

Brunner let a good-natured smile play on his face, but had the same mischievous glint in his eyes like when he would pull a pop quiz in class with all the choice answers B. "Ah, good, Percy, Naruto, Grover," he said, leaving Naruto's unasked question unanswered, "you made it. Welcome to Camp Half-Blood."


Naruto along with Percy and Grover followed Brunner along the path that led towards a large, sky-blue house with white trims. He kept glancing at Brunner like he wanted to say something but was stopping himself.

Finally, the centaur caught his gaze and asked, "Is there something you would like to ask, Naruto?"

He did not let the opportunity slip and asked without missing a beat, "Who exactly are you, Mr. Brunner?"

"Who am I?" He seemed to repeat to himself, before smiling down at Naruto. "You may know me as Chiron."

Naruto perked up with a surprised look, and even Percy looked up curiously.

"Are you saying that you are the Chiron?"

His smile widened at the looks the two were giving him. "The Chiron from the stories? The trainer of heroes and all that? Yes, I am that Chiron."

"But shouldn't you be dead?" Asked Percy.

"Yeah, weren't you shot with a poisonous arrow by… Hercules, was it?" Naruto put it.

Chiron looked ahead and paused, as if the question intrigued him. "I honestly don't know if I should be dead." He spoke, ignoring what Naruto had said, "The truth is, I can't be dead. You see, eons ago the gods granted my wish. I could continue the work I loved. I could be a teacher of heroes as long as humanity needed me. I gained much from that wish… and I gave up much. But I am still here, so I can only assume I am still needed."

"Doesn't it ever get boring?" Percy asked. It sure wouldn't be something that he would be able to do. Teaching brats with ADHD and Dyslexia for three thousand years? Forget it.

"No, no," Chiron answered, "Horribly depressing, at times, but never boring."

Naruto could not help asking, "Why depressing?"

Chiron masterfully brushed aside the question once more and said, "Oh, would you look at that! We have made it to our destination."

They turned their attention ahead to find that they had indeed made it to the big, baby-blue farmhouse. They then further followed Chiron as he led them down at the end of the porch wrapped all around the house, over to the only two occupants. One was sitting on a chair at the pinochle table while the other stood leaning against the wall.

"Ah, Chiron! And I see that you brought the stray and the spoiled brats along with you." Said the one sitting at the table.

He was a small but porky middle-aged man with a red nose, big watery eyes and curly hair so black it was almost purple. The man wore a tiger-printed Hawaiian shirt and held a can of diet coke in his hand. And he really did not look happy to see the two of them.

Naruto was about to show the guy just how 'happy' they themselves were at the meeting when Grover stopped him and murmured to him and Percy, "That's Mr. D. He's the camp director. Be polite." He then pointed to the guy leaning against the wall. "The other man over there is Argus, he is the chief security guard at the camp."

The guy, Argus, was a husky blonde dude like a surfer. He had blue eyes. And a lot of them – like on his cheeks, forehead, and the back of his hands etc. Naruto wondered if he was the real Argus. He caught a glance at Chiron. On second thought, he most likely was.

He looked back at the hundred-eyed security guard to see him looking back at him and Percy welcomingly. It was so unlike the sour look Mr. D had given them that Naruto just had to give him a wave. He was happy that at least one of them did not look like they had just murdered his puppy.

Argus' eyes seemed to twinkle at that, and he waved back.

His attention was once more brought back to Mr. D, whose eyes had zeroed in on Percy and he all but glared. "You have been giving us a lot of trouble, Perseus Jackson." Was all he said before turning his gaze to Naruto. He did not look any less displeased. "And you, Naruto Namikaze, what bit you to get involved in this silly demigod business? I doubt your mother will be very happy to find you here–"

"Dionysus," Chiron abruptly cut in, "maybe you should welcome our new campers."

That sparked a bit of a stare down between the two.

Mr. D broke his gaze and grumbled under his breath, apparently giving up the point. He then looked back at Naruto and Percy in irritation before giving a very much practiced speech, "Fine, if I must. Welcome to Camp Half-Blood. There. Now don't expect me to be glad to see you."

Now normally, Naruto would have all too eagerly responded just how much they shared the sentiment, but right now he found himself much more curious about Mr. D's reaction to him. He caught Percy's eyes and the two conveyed the same message: why did the god of wine speak of him like he was not a demigod?

Chiron turned to the two and smiled. "I am afraid that you have come after curfew so there won't be any dinner."

Naruto turned to the centaur. "That's alright. We've had dinner." Well, more like after wolfing down everything – which was a lot – his grandmother had prepared for them, dinner was not an issue.

"That is a relief." The Trainer of Heroes said, "Now normally we would have a lot more to discuss, but since it is past curfew and you just made it here, we will put that off for a later date. Let us first get down to your placements." He turned to Percy and spoke, "You, Percy, are already claimed by your father, Poseidon, so it's Cabin 3 for you."

Percy nodded. He already knew about his father's cabin, and how it was reserved for him.

"Naruto on the other hand," Chiron turned to him, "is a bit of a problem. He has yet to be claimed by his godly parent so we will have to place him in Cabin 11 for now. He can sleep in the Big House for the night." He then turned to the camp director. "Is that alright, Mr. D?"

Mr. D simply waved him off with a, "Yes, yes."

Naruto felt like pouting, but then Percy spoke.

"That won't be necessary," he said. "Naruto can stay at Cabin 3 along with me. He doesn't have to go to Cabin 11 or sleep at the Big House."

Mr. D snorted. "That's not how it works, boy."

Chiron smiled calmly. "I am afraid we cannot have that Percy."

"And why not?" Percy asked with narrowed eyes. He was not liking this one bit, the camp director even less.

"Aside from Cabin 11, Hermes, who accepts the undetermined demigods, you will need special permission from the other gods to stay at their Cabins. Or they will not be pleased."

"I'm sure my dad won't mind." Percy spoke firmly. 'You won't mind… right, dad?' He prayed to his father, and like always, the answer sure did come.

"Listen boy, even if you–"

A sudden green glow caught their attention. They turned to see a light-green trident hovering above Naruto's head. When they all had their eyes on it, the trident morphed into a bright green checkmark. It was as if the sea god had just said, "Sure, go ahead."

Percy turned to Mr. D, feeling a little smug despite himself. "That does qualify as special permission, doesn't it?"

Chiron too turned to the camp director. "Mr. D?"

The wine god though, simply shrugged. "Well, if old Barnacle-Beard is fine with it,"

Chiron once more turned to Naruto – who was standing there the way he always did when the teachers discussed his report cards with his mother – and spoke, "Well, since you have the permission of the Lord of the Sea, you will be placing with Percy in Cabin 3." He then added, "until you are claimed that is."

Naruto nodded, pushing the disappointment that he was not claimed by his own dad aside. For now, he was at least glad that he would be staying with Percy.

"I'm tired." Mr. D said and rose to his feet. "I believe I will be going to sleep. But first, Grover," he turned to the satyr, "we will talk about assessing your performance on this assignment tomorrow. For now, go and get some rest."

"Y-yes, sir." He spoke meekly. Naruto was curious about the way he always cringed when it came to Mr. D, but considering it was Dionysus, he figured it was a natural satyr reaction. He was still concerned though.

Mr. D then turned towards Percy. "Cabin 3, Percy Jackson. And mind your manners." He faced Naruto next. "And you, Naruto Namikaze, if you have your father's blood in your veins, then you would know better than to get involved …much less take sides." He warned, casting a glance at the son of the sea god as he did so. "And Cabin 3." He added and swept into the farmhouse.

Argus nodded to them, before he followed the god inside.

Grover turned to the two and smiled nervously. "Um, see you guys tomorrow." He said and went about his way with his shoulders slumped in worry.

"See ya, G-man!" Naruto and Percy watched him go in worry. They could tell that something had him dreading meeting Mr. D again tomorrow. "Will he be okay?"

Chiron smiled at their concern for the satyr. "Grover his big dreams, and tomorrow's assessment will have a deciding impact on his career path. Although, he should be fine. This time did not turn out like the last."

Naruto looked at him questioningly, "This time?"

Chiron started to move, beckoning them to follow, "Come, let me show you two your assigned cabin."

Naruto and Percy exchanged looks. They were starting to see a pattern. On another thought, it would seem that despite his attitude, Mr. D held the word in this camp. The little meeting had ended rather quickly after his dismissal.

They shrugged in unison, though, and followed after Chiron as he led them towards the cabins. They walked by the huge forest that took up at least a quarter of the valley, choosing to ignore the strange and creepy sounds coming off from with the woods. Monsters, maybe?

"The woods are stocked, if you ever care to try yourselves, but do go armed." Said Chiron.

"Stocked with what?"

"You'll see. Capture the Flag is Friday night. Percy already has his weapon. As for you Naruto," he looked at the blonde in thought, "I am afraid someone else has yours. So we will have to find you something before then."

That caught their attention. Naruto was about to ask more but didn't get the chance.

"Ah, we have arrived."

They had made it to the cabins.

The entire area was lit with lights, giving them a visible view of them. There were twelve of them in total, nestled in the woods by the lake. They were arranged in a U, with two at the base and five in a row on each side. And they were without a doubt the most bizarre collection of buildings they had ever seen.

Some of the cabins seemed to be buzzing with life, particularly number 11, some were quite but had the lights on, while others were dark and quiet. And four of them did not show any sign of living. They were number 1, 2, 3, and 8.

Chiron led them to the first cabin on the left, Cabin 3. Poseidon's cabin. The place they will be staying at.

It wasn't high and mighty like Cabin 1, but long and low and solid. The outer walls were of rough grey stone studded with pieces of seashell and coral. Lights flared to life the moment Percy stepped through the door, giving an abalone glow to the interior walls.

Naruto followed after Percy, and couldn't help but find himself impressed. Despite giving no sign that anyone had lived there in years, it still gave off a calm and serene feel, like the tranquil floor of the ocean.

There were six bunks in total, with sand-white silk sheets turned down, placed in order by the walls in rows of three.

"Well then, I will leave the two of you to get settled." Chiron said, catching their attention.

They turned to the centaur to see him standing outside by the front – the door too low for him to come inside.

"I will send Grover to fetch the two of you tomorrow morning." He spoke, "We will give you your tour of the camp then, for now, you two should get some rest." Saying this, Chiron turned to start walking away, but not before adding, "and remember not to wander outside past curfew."

Naruto and Percy watched their former Latin teacher gallop away, before turning to each other and wordlessly claiming a bed. Percy taking the one in the middle and Naruto the one beside his, by the wall opposite to the front.

They put their bags away and crashed onto their respective bunks. Neither saying a word.

It had been a long and exhausting day even for the two of them. And yet, instead of feeling tired, they felt wide awake and brimming with energy. A lot had happened this past day, and the two found their minds rushed over everything. They had come to learn a lot, and have come to question a lot of things they thought they knew.

For what it was worth though, they did come to learn one definite thing: a lot more was happening than what they had first thought.

After a while of silence, Naruto spoke, "So, quite the day, huh, Perce."

"Yeah…" began the son of the sea god almost absent mindedly before turning to his friend, "isn't there something that you would like to share?"

Naruto resisted the urge to roll his eyes and met bright green with his own, equally bright blue. "I could say the same. Isn't there something that you would like to share? I mean, there has to be a reason a god would warn me against getting involved with you."

Percy sighed. "I only wish I could share the reason with you, but well, I'm just as lost as you are." His eyes then narrowed at a certain thought: what did the god of wine mean by taking sides? Or rather, taking his side.

"Something much bigger is going on, isn't there, Perce…"

"Yeah, something a lot bigger is going on," Percy agreed meeting Naruto eyes, "something that involves my dad …and something that the gods don't want to involve your dad in."

Naruto's eyes widened a bit, and a thought nagged him at the back of his head, without revealing itself. He pushed it aside though, and spoke, "but it does involve you, right?"

Percy was silent for a moment, before saying, "That it does. And for whatever reasons, they don't seem particularly serious about killing me."

Naruto gave his friend an almost incredulous look, "Not serious in killing you?"

"It sounds strange, but that's how it looks. Sending one monster at a time? Those half-assed attempts at smiting me? They should know by now that I would never die with just those." He paused here, "It almost looks like they want something from me."

Naruto suddenly perked up, "Now that you mentioned it, didn't Mrs. Dodds say something about a theft?"

"That's right," Percy gave an irritated sigh here, "and I have been having these dreams about the gods fighting over something like little kids over a toy; 'give it back!', 'give it back!' they go."

Naruto had to stop himself from laughing at that as he commented in an amused tone, "and they think you have it?"

Percy's eyebrow gave a twitch as he gave the blond a sour look, "it's not funny."

"Sorry, sorry!" Naruto said, he too would think it was not funny if the all-powerful gods were after him over something that he did not have. "But do you have any idea what it is that they are fighting over?"

"I've got no clue."

"And what do you plan on doing from here on?"

"I don't know," Percy replied, "help my dad out in any way I can …I guess."

They were silent after that, before Naruto spoke, "Well, whatever you decide to do, you can count on me to help you throughout it all."

Percy looked at Naruto with a raised eyebrow, "even though the gods won't like it?"

Naruto grinned at his friend, "I don't care about that! Even if the gods won't like it, or even if my mom won't be happy, I am a still going to take your side!"

Percy smiled at his blond best friend, a strange feeling taking a hold of him. It would seem that for the first time ever, he will not have to fight alone.

There was not much to be said after that, and despite both not feeling it, sleep grabbed ahold of them abruptly – bringing along with it something ominous.


(Dream)

For demigods, dreams were as frequent an occurrence as sleep was. That is to say, sleep was almost always accompanied by some sort of precognitive dreams.

So naturally, both Naruto and Percy were no stranger to demigod dreams.

That night, after sleep came out of nowhere, they found themselves in yet another dream. And admittedly, their most bizarre and creepy dream ever.

Naruto and Percy found themselves standing side by side in what appeared to be, for the lack of a better word, a dark world.

Night appeared to have fallen with a pitch-black sky covered in more stars than they would ever see. But what truly drew their attention were what appeared to be a black sun and a blood-red moon.

The earth below their feet was dry and moist, sandy and rocky at the same time. As if it had been scorched, flooded, and then razed at the same time. There was also this black cloud of dust laying thick on the surroundings, like blood that had dried and turned to dust carried by the wind.

And then there was the creepiest thing of all. Far away from them, a gigantic beast – much, much bigger than even the mountains – was giving out a strangled cry. It looked human-like with a human head and torso. Although, it only had a single eye shut closed tight, a single ear, and single mouth with a number of horns decorating its crown. It had two large and muscular arms, and ten towering tails with human hands for tips. And sprouting from its back was a huge tree, with an equally huge flower blooming on top, that was extending towards the moon.

Naruto and Percy instinctively took a step back at the sight, and turned to one another, unable to do anything more.

What happened next was chaotically sudden.

A thundering boom shock the very world, and large bolts of lightening fell from the heavens and blasted the earth. Giant wave upon wave of water swallowed everything in their path. Razor sharp torrents of winds tore apart the very mountains. Spheres of flames dropped like a number of small suns. Chunks of earth the size of cities came crashing down like oversized pellets of hail.

In the blink of an eye, utter chaos and destruction had claimed the world, and Naruto and Percy, though unharmed by it all, found themselves horrified at the sight. It was like watching the calamitic end of the world, and they were powerless to do anything but watch as it all fell apart.

It was then that four shadows fell over the two of them, and try as they might, they just could not turn towards the source. Then in a language that neither knew but for some reason understood, a deep voice said mournfully,

"So, in the end they just could not forgive one another."


To be continued…

An: I just could not resist that JoJo reference.

So anyways, there you have it. It came out a little bit shorter than usual, but it packs everything that it needed to deliver.

Well there isn't anything else that needs to be said other than please do let me know of your thoughts about this chapter in a nice long review! And what did you think of the dream at the end? Thought this was unrelated to the canon Naruto did ya? Well, think again.

Well then, see ya! (Hopefully much sooner this time…)

- El Emperador